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INDEX    TO    ILLUSTRATIONS 


Abies  hracteiitu.  cone  of,  77 
Acer    griseum,    543  ;     palraatum, 

501 
^gle  sepiaria,  r»83 
Ailanthus  glandulosa,  19 
Allium    angiUosum.    531  ;     kara- 

taviense,  531 
Almonds  in  Blossom  at  Kew,  548 
Amelanchier  canadensis.  189 
Androsace    glacialis,    283  ;     lanu- 
ginosa  Leichtlini,    61  ;     primu- 
loides,  283 
Anemone  alpina  sulptiiirea,   576  ; 
apenuina,    261  ;     blanda,    135  ; 
glaucophylla.     331  ;      japonicn. 
366  ;    j.  cristata,  640  ;   narcissi- 
flora.    576 ;    nemorosa    Allenii, 
576  ;    n.    bosniaca,    128  ;    rupi- 
cola,  575 
Anemones,  St.  Brigid,  275 
Annuals,  border  of,  103  ;    hardy, 

131 
Anoplanthus  coccineus.  346 
Antirrhinum,  a  iarge-flowered,  368; 

Nelrose,  368 
Apple,  insects  attacking  the,  66, 
637 ;   Joy    BeUs,    594  ;    sawfly, 
178,  179 
Apple  tree,  curious  core  of,  84 
Aquilegia   Stuartii,   262 
Arabis,  on  a  dry  wall.  241 
Araujia  sericil'era,  fruit  of,  46 
Arbutus   ilenziesii,   622  :    Unedn, 

641 
Aristoiochia  gigas  Sturtevantii,  414 
Asparagus  beetle.  610 
Aster,    a    cedar-tree    t>T)e,    604 ; 
Barr's  Pink,   518  ;    Little  Boy 
Blue,      518  ;       Pioneer,      539  : 
Queen  of  Colwall,  493 
Astilbe  King  Alfred.  414 
Azaleas  in  Woodland,  407  ;  Ghent, 
366  ;  mollis,  434  ;  grouping,  627 


Babiana  Btricta  rubro-cyanea,  278 

Seetle.  dung,  318 

Begooia   Queen   of  the   Belgians, 

253  ;    Sutton's  Duplex,  16 
Begonias,  double,  203 
Berberis  Aquifolium,   260 ;     Dar- 
winii,     260 ;      japonica,     486  ; 
Sibbertoft  Coral  (Lady  Beatrice 
Stanley),      569  :       stenophylla. 
259,     408  ;      (Wisley     hybrid), 
460 
Beschorneria  yuccoides,  345 
Buckling  Hall,"  the  dry  moat  at.  38 
Bog    garden     at     St.     Stephen's 

Green,  101 
Book  plates.  Frontispiece  of 
"  Jardin  d'Hwer."  30  ;  Martyr- 
dom of  St.  Dorothea,  30;  title 
page,  Kalendarium  Hortense. 
649 
Border.     Dalilias     in     the,     495  ; 

of  hardy  annuals.  131 
Borders  at  Munstead  Wood,  452  ; 
herbaceous,    28,    41,    355  ;     in 
British  Columbia,  71 
Bousainvillea  glabra,  374 
Brugmansia  Knightii,  442 
liullai.es,  a  tine  crop  of,  482 
Buphthalmum  speciosum,  507 
Butterflies,  the  White,  358 


Calceolaria  polyrhiza.   144 

Calluna  vulgaris,  27 

Campanula  aniaria?ifolia,  210 ; 
Allionii.  201) ;  carpatica.  80 ; 
ceni^ia,  644 ;  x  R.  B.  Loder. 
385  ;  garganica  hirsuta,  92 ; 
R.  hirsuta  alba,  15  :  lactiflora, 
210  ;  i.  alba,  511  ;  Porten- 
schlagiana,  50  :  punctata,  227  ; 
puailla,  227  ;  p.  Bliss  Willmott, 
293  ;  turbinata.  51 ;  Tymonsii, 
454  ;   Zoysii.  14,  385 

Carnation,  a  typical  Malmaison, 
326 ;  Border :  Crystal  Clove, 
353;  Jessie  Murray,  384;  Kelso, 
251,  .'>28  ;  King  of  Cloves. 
592 ;  Mardchal  Niel,  357  ; 
Steerforth,  268,  592 ;  Per- 
petual :  Eileen  Low,  238  ; 
Nigger,  151;  Tangerine,  542; 
Thomas  C.  Joy,  568  ;  Topsy, 
619 ;  Wivelsfleld  Pink,  251  ; 
Wivelsfl(;ld  White,  151 

Cai  nations,  border,  shewing 
method  of  support,  162 

Ceanothns  Gloire  de  Versailles, 
460 ;    thyrsiflorus  griseus,  447 

Cedar,  a  fine,  462 

Cliamajrops  Fortunei,  430 


Chelsea.  All  wood's  exhibit  at, 
264  ;  Bunyard's  Iris  garden  at, 
250  :  Mr."  John  Wood's  rock 
garden  at.  249  :  Mr.  Jones' 
West  Country  garden  at,  248  ; 
Sutton's  exhibit  at.  252  ; 
Wallace's  Rhododendron  glade 
at.  248  :  Waterer's  Rhodo- 
dendrons at,  263  ;  W^hitelegg's 
rock  garden  at.  249 

Cherry  blossom,  541 

Chionodoxa  Lucilia*.  167 

Clioisya  ternata,  648 

Chrysanthemum  Alice  Jinks.  601  ; 
Baby  Jack.  618  ;  Cissbury 
White.  517  ;  Cuerdrn  Sun- 
flower, 646 ;  Golden  Butterfly. 
618  :  Hilda  Shoebridge.  602  ; 
Miss  A.  Hazell.  568  ;  Oriole, 
595  ;  WeUington  Wack,  601  ; 
Yellow  Cap,  277 

Chrysanthemums,  border  of.  422  : 
disbudding,  359  ;  how  to  stop, 
pot  and  stake.  180  ;  Jones* 
exhibit  of,  595  ;  potting  up 
rooted,  12 

Cirsium  eriophorum  anglicum,  546 

Cistus  crispus.  564  ;  Loreti.  580  ; 
purpureus.  305 

Citranges  in  Ireland.  105 

Citrus  Seedless  Washington  Navel, 
93 

Clematis  Comtesse  de  Bouchaud, 

475  ;  Flammula,  397  ;  Nellie 
Moser,  620  ;  macropetala,  106  ; 
montana,  111  ;  on  a  trellis 
at  Gravetye,  567  ;  Perle  d'Azure, 
567  ;    smilacifolia,  8 

Codonopsis  tibetica.  492 
Colletia  spinosa,  464 
Cordyhne  australis.  402,  430 
Cotoneaster  frigida,  411  ;    Henry- 
ana,  477  ;  salicifolia,  658 
Crataego-Mespilus  Asnieresii,  189 
Crataegus   Carrierei.  615  ;     x  Ell- 
wangeriana.  569  ;  Crus-galli,  591 
Crinum  Powellii,  482 
Crocus   Sieberi,   423  ;    S.   atticus, 

426 
Cyclamen,  a  well  flowered.   297  ; 
neapolitanum,  tuber  and  seeds 
of.  388  :    persicum,  108 
Cydonia  japonica,  647 
Cyrabidium       Miranda       Bronze 

Beauty.  117 
Cynoglossum  amabile,  526 
Cypripedium  spectabile.  186 
Cytisus  Adami.  294  ;    albus,  244  ; 
kewensis,  244  ;    purgans,  243 

Daboecia  polifoUa.  222,  640 

Daffodil.  King  Alfred,  191  ;  Mrs. 
Backhou.'se,  215  :    walk,  174 

Daffodils.  174  ;  at  Gravetye,  413  ; 
at  W'arley,  173,  412  ;  in  Heath 
garden  at  Gravetye,  175 

Dahlia,  an  exceptionally  tali,  10; 
a  typical  Cactus,  237  ;  Cheal's 
White.  237  ;  Cuckfleld  Star. 
503  :  Dr.  Tongue,  237  ;  Dorking 
Star,  466  :  Frank  Galsworthy 
224  ;  Glow,  237  ;  Tfteld  Star, 
422  ;  Lady  Beatty.  237  ;  Lady 
Denman.  237  ;  Lady  Greer, 
466  ;  Leonie  Cobb,  466  :  Mauve 
Star.  476  ;  Merckii.  466  ;  Mons. 
C.  Dupont,  438  ;   Novelty.  224, 

476  ;  Reigate  Star,  224  ;  White 
Star,  223 

Dahlias  in  the  border,  146,  495 

Daphne  Mezoreum,  659 

Davallia  dis.secta.  621 

Delphinium  Belladonna,  314  ;  Col. 
Sir  Wyndham  Murray,  461  ; 
airs.  F.  T.  Neiuhbour,  331  ; 
Nymph,  384 

Deutzia  Wilsoni.  561 

Dianthus  alpinus,  265.  338  ; 
ciesius,  274  ;  x  Mascott,  291  ; 
neglectus,  322  ;  Spencer  Bick- 
ham,  640 ;   superbus,  133 

Dianthus  Herbertii  Bridesmaid. 
268  ;  Gertrude.  528  :  Lord 
Lambourne,  268  ;  Red  Indian, 
268  ;    typical  flowers  of,  339 

Edraianthus  serpyll  folius,  654 
Erica  carnea.  27  ;    darleyensis,  13 
Eremurus  himalaicus,   28  ;    roots 

of,  22 
Erigenm  leionxerus,  645 
Eritrichium  nanuni,  544 
Eryngium  prustratum,  454 
Erythronium     Hendersnui,     208  ; 
Nuttallianum,     2  0  8;       Pink 
Beauty,  398  ;  White  Beauty,  208 


Escallonia     montevidensis,     453  ; 

Phiiippiana,  408,  453 
Eschscholtzias,  border  of,  148 
Eucrvphia  cordifolia,  571  ;  pinna- 

tifoUa,  469,  563 
Euonymus  latifohus,  465 
Exochorda  grandiflora,  500 

Fabiana  imbricata,  320 

Festuca  Crinura-Ursi,  468 

Flower  Garden  at  GraA'etye,  525 

Forsythia  suspensa.  370 

Foxgloves,   white,  653 

Eraser,  John,  94 

Freesia,    a   hybrid,    4  ;    Mouette, 

199 
Freesias,  a  group  of,  367 
Fremontia  cahfornica,  401 
Fritillaria  pudica,  207 
Fruit  trees,  grease-banding,  532 
Fuchsia  procumbens,  607 

Garden,  an  Oregon,  83  ;  a 
Somersetshire.  319 

Garden  design,  illustrating  pro- 
portion, 396.  397  ;  plans  illus- 
trating, 289  ;  shewing  unity, 
354 

Gateway,  a  pleasine,  113 

Genista  cinerea,  564  ;  hispanica. 
256 

Gentiana  Farreri,  492  ;  Gentian- 
ella.  274  :    verna.  287 

Geranium  atlanticum,  312  :  lan- 
castriense.  381 

Gladiolus  Favourite.  515  ;  large- 
flowered  ruflled.  150 ;  Rarity, 
515  ;    Red  Fire.  415 

Gladiolus  primuiinus  hybrids  : 
Argo.  437  :  Gold  Drop,  467  ; 
Linton,  478  ;  Nydia.  421  ; 
Simrise.  479  ;  White  Butterfly, 
437  ;  Zenobia,  478 ;  typical, 
150 

Godetias,  52,  103 

Gooseberry  sawfly,  201 

Halesia  Carolina,  499 
Harewood  House,  terraces,  88.  89 
Heath  garden,  a,  26.  112 
Hedera  colchica  at  Gravetye,  448 
Helianthemum      rosmarinifolium, 

290 
Helleborus  niger,    642;   oriontalis, 

119 
Heloniopsis  japonica,  181 
Hibiscus  syriacus.  460 
Hippeastrums,  some  hybrid,  276 
Holland    Park    Show. "  Bunyard's 

exhibit      at.      519  ;       Sutton's 

exhibit  at,  520 
Hollyhock,    a    cream-pink    single. 

245  :    Palling  Belle.  435 
Horse-Chestnut.  a  fine.  530 
Hottonia  palustris,  107 
Houstonia  ccerulea.  5 
Hover-fly,  the.  428 
Hoya  belia.  81 
Hyacinths  in  pans,  534  ;    Rtuiian, 

33 
Hyacinthus  azureus,  451 
Hydrangea  hortensis,  560 

Imperial  Fruit  Show,  King's 
Acre  Nurseries'  exhibit,  570 ; 
Laxton's  exhibit,  570 

Insects  atacking  the  Apple,  66 

Iris  Bruno.  300 :  Citronella. 
291  ;  Dimity.  301  :  Duke  of 
Bedford.  303  ;  Kiempferi  Morn- 
ing Mists.  394 :  K.  Neptune, 
393  ;  K.  Snowdrift.  393  ;  King. 
300  ;  ochroleuca.  394  :  reglio- 
ryclus  Polyhymnia,  410;  reticu- 
lata cyanea,  399  ;  Sunset, 
303  ;  tfngitana,  34  :  iniguicu-  j 
laris,  25  ;    variegata,  300  I 

Irises,  Bearded  and  Lupins,  389  ;  j 
Bearded,  in  a  pergola,  299 ;  | 
in  a  town  garden.  334  :  in  the  I 
shrub  garden,  319  ;  June,  302  : 
regelio-cyclus,  307  ;  the  Rother-  | 
side  strain  of,  304 

Iris  time,  565 

Italian  oil  jar,  well  placed,  190 

Ixioiirion  tataricum,  481 

Kalmia  latifolia,  221 
Kniphofla   C.  M.    Prichard.   463 ; 
caulescens,  104  ;    corallina,  545 

Lace-wing  fly,  the.  428 
Ladybird,  the,  428 
L^lio-Cattleya  Gulden  (JIuw,   43 
Lavatera  Olbia    441 


Lawn  as  setting  for  flower-beds, 
136 

Leucothoe  Davisiae,  222 

Libooedrus  decurrens,  462 

LiHum  auratum,  63,  533.  629  ; 
a.  platyphyllum.  379 ;  candi- 
dum.  311,  380:  Martagon 
album,  494,  572 ;  M.  dalma- 
ticum.  657 ;  Mrs.  Backliouse, 
380  :    regale,  199 

Limnanthes  DouglasU  and  Shirley 
Poppies.  53 

Luculia  gratissima,  198 

Lupins,  224  ;  and  Bearded  Irises, 
389;    at  Cator  Coiu-t.  315,  316 

Lupinus  arboreus,  143 ;  poly- 
phylhis,  51 

Magnolia  rnnspicna,  129  ;  grandi- 

fl(ir;i    Kxniotith  var.,  438 
Mecnudpsis  aculeata.  177  :  integri- 

folia.      178  ;       latifolia,      504  : 

W'aUichii,  177,  504 
Michaelmas  Daisies  at  Aldenham, 

512.   589 
Jlontbretia  His  Majesty,  681 
Moraine,  plants  in  the,  40 
Morus  alba  pendula,  659 
Moth.  Codlin,   179  ;    the  Mullein, 

344  ;    Small  Ermine.  637 
Moths,  the  Lackey,  387 
Miiseari  Heavenly  Blue,  261 


Narcissus  Bernardino.  480 ; 
Brightling,  213  :  Bulbocodium 
citrinus.  186  ;  Carnation.  480  ; 
cvclamineus.  426 ;  Golden 
P'cdestal.  192  ;  Henrietta,  597  ; 
Jaune  a  Merveille.  192  ;  Orna- 
ment. 191  ;  poeticus.  436  ; 
Phyllida,  480  ;  Silver  Chimes, 
191;  triandrus.  208;  White 
Dame,  159  ;    White  Owl,  141 

Nepeta  Mussini,  308 

Nerine  His  Majesty.  616 

Nerines,  hybrid,  616 

Nymphseas,  196 

Odontoglossum   Purple  Emperor, 

266 
(Enothern  biennis  grandiflora,  512 
OmpIiJilndis  Lucilia,  605 
Oxalis    ;nhiiniihylla,    14 ;     ennea- 

phyllu,  395  ;    lobata,  15 

pjeonia  albiflora  The  Bride,  279  ; 

officinalis  rosea  plena.  279 
Paved  garden,  plants  in  a.  593 
Peach,  thinning  the,  106 
Pentstemon  Daydream,  512 
Pergola,  a  fruit,  383  ;    a  simple 

wooden.  382 
PprL'nl;iv.  .-Irvations  of,  383 
Phila.irlphusCouped'Argent,  332  ; 
gi;iii(iitlnrus.  361  ;   Lemoinei.  88 
Phlox     Hauny     Pfleiderer,     153  ; 

suffruticosa  Snowdon.  357 
Phloxes,  a  border  of,  427  :   alpine, 
and     other     plants,     273 ;      at 
Lingfleld,  590 
Phopuix  Park,  gardens  at,  101 
Phormium  tenax,  507 
Photinia  japonica,  441 
IMcris   floribunda,     222 ;     taiwan- 

ensis.  142 
Planting,  round  a  tank,  196,  197 
Polypndiuin  vulgare  and  vars.,  78 
Pomegranate    at    Chepstow,    65 ; 

blossom  of  the,  95 
Pool,   a  forest,  in   Uganda.  281  ; 
effective  planting  around  a.  195 
Poplars  by  the  waterside,  513 
Poppies,  Shirley,  and  Limnanthes. 

53 
Potatoes,  seed.  82 
Pricking  off  seedlings,  31 
Primroses,  the  Spetehley,  211 
Primula  BuUeyana.  588 ;  X 
pubescens  alba,  57  ;  x  pubes- 
cens  Mrs.  J.  H.  Wilson.  3 ; 
Fortunei,  193;  frondosa.  587; 
hirsuta  ciliata,  160 ;  Involu- 
rrata,  161  ;  japonica,  588  ; 
liittoniana.  313 ;  malacoides, 
75,  416  :  m.  grown  in  sphagnum, 
10;  m.  Princess  Mary.  93; 
marginata,  3,  160 ;  megasete- 
folia,  338  ;  Mooreana  Improved, 
465  ;  "  nivalis,"  57  ;  pulveru- 
lenta,  588  ;  p.  Sirs.  Berkeley, 
137  ;  rosea,  161  ;  sinensis  Ross- 
way  Beauty,  646 ;  s.  Silver  Star, 
55  ■  Sutton's  Improved  Giant 
White  Star,  69 


Pruiuis  dasycarpa.  155;  pendula, 
218,  317  ;  serrulata,  549  ; 
spinosa  much  lichened,  496 

Pyrus  Eleyi,  240,  537 ;  (Mains) 
floribunda,  188.  538  ;  M.  transi- 
toria,  485  ;    Scheideckeri,  538 

Ramondia  pyrenaica,  337 

Raphiolepis  Delacouri,  64 

Rheum  Alexandrte,  312 

Rhododendron  arboreum  cinna- 
momcum,  271  ;  auriculatum, 
455  ;  Aurora,  214  ;  calophy- 
tum,  215  ;  Cynthia,  333; 
Falconeri,  233  ;  Isabel  Mangles, 
325  ;  Lady  Clementina  Mitford, 
125  ;  JIanglesii,  209 ;  Mrs. 
E.  C.  Stirling.  434  ;  occidentale, 
559  ;   The  Bride,  433 

Rhododendrons  at  Aldenham. 
599  ;  at  Kew,  434  ;  by  the 
waterside,  234  ;   specimen,  126 

Rhus  Cotinus,  459 

Richardia  africana,  32 

Rfickery,  a  seaside,  584 

Rock  garden,  a,  39  ;  at  Glasne\in, 
102 ;  at  Olympia.  149 ;  at 
St.  Stephen's  Green,  Dublin, 
62  ;  effective  planting  in  a, 
185,  187  :    steps  in  the,  468 

Romneya  Coulteri,  169;  growing 
through  a  wall.  401 

Rosa  Fargesii,  fruits  of,  542  ; 
Hugonis,  554  ;  lutea.  285  ■ 
moschata.  9,  286,  363  ;  rugosa, 
655  :  r.  repens  alba,  286  ;  spino- 
sissima,  306  ;;Swecinzowii,  hips 
of,  439  ;   Vesuvius,  491 

Rose  Alb6ric  Barbier,  351  ;  Alice 
Amos,  329  ;  American  Pillar, 
551  ;  Arthur  Cook,  490  ;  Charles 
E.  Shea,  324  ;  Coral  Cluster, 
369  ;  electra,  552  ;  Elsie  Beck- 
with,  212  ;  Gardenia.  352 ;  Glory 
of  Hurst,  369  ;  H.  C.  Chandler, 
165  :  Independence  Day,  487  ; 
Innocence,  491,  553 ;  J.  G. 
Glassford,  342  ;  Kew  Rambler, 
356  ;  Lady  Pirrie.  323  ;  Lady 
Verey,  342  ;  Lamia,  324  ; 
Laxton's  Pink  Delight,  609  ; 
Lucile  Barker,  328  ;  Mme.  A. 
Carri^re,  341  ;  Margaret  Dick- 
son Hamill,  343 ;  Margaret 
Horton,  557  ;  Mary  Merrj'- 
weather,  328 ;  Mrs.  Henry, 
Morse,  505 ;  Mrs.  Hornby 
Lewis,  213,  556 ;  Nur  Miha'l, 
491  ;  Ophelia,  555  :  Sovereign, 
212  ;  Sunstar,  556 ;  Tea , 
Rambler,  352 ;  the  Damask 
341  ;  the  Yellow  Banksian' 
417  ;    Yvonne,  239 

Roses  on  pergola,  371  :  weeping 
standard,  552 ;  wichuraiana, 
552 

Rubus  australis  pauperatus,  630; 
deliciosus,   37,   500 

S:Mnt  Dnrnthea.  Martyr,  30 
s.ilix  vitilliiia  pendula,  603 
S;ij\ia  (lii-hroa.  456 
Saxifraga  apiculata,  145  ;   asprra, 
644  ;    Bursenana   crenata,  631  ; 
X    Gem,  166 ;    x  Irvingii,  632  ; 
X    paradoxa,  614  ;    Faldonside, 
2,632;    florulenta,  217;   Grise- 
bachii,      375 :      lilacina.     274  ; 
lingulata,    20 ;    1.,    its  habitat, 
217  ;    1.    lantoscana.     99,    614  ; 
1.    vera.    614  ;    longifolia,   613  ; 
marginata.   632  ;     mossy,  654  ; 
oppositifolia,   167,    200 
Sedum  Ewersi  at  Gravetye,  526 
Seedlings.  ]iriiknis  off.  31 
Si-Mii'crvivuins  without  soil,  429 
simitia  uriitlfira.  489 
Shrubbery,  well  arranged,  18 
Slirubs,  plans  shewing  the  arrange- 
ment of,  600.  628 
Silene  Armeria,  147  ;    vallesia,  608 
Silver-leaf  fruiting  on  Poplar,  66 
Snowdrops  among  Ferns,  1 
Soldanella  alpina,  400 
Sophora  tetraptera.  240 
Spiriea      Lindleyana,      29,      486 

Thunbergii,  500 
Statice,  annual,  229 
Stepping  stones,  196 
Stranva-sia  undnlata,  645 
Strawberry,     Sir    Douglas    Haig, 

254  :   The  Duke,  373 
Streptocarpus  Sutton's  Giant,  247 
Sweet  Pea  Wonderful,  636 
Sweet  Peas,  49 ;    lift,  high    424 


"  The  Garden"  December  30,   1922. 


INDEX 


Symjilioricarpiis  occidontaiis,   477 

Taxodium  disticlium.  603 
Taxiis  baccata  fastigiata,  t> 
Testudinariu  elephantipes,  120 
Thimberaia  alata,  79 
Thymus  Serpy Hum  lanueinosus,  92 
Tigridia  Pavonia,  45,  90 
TUia  petiolaris.  579 
Topiary.  91 
Trapping  mice,  660 
Trillium  jzrandiflorum,  043 ;  sessile 
californicum.  643 


Tropa?oInm  polyphvllum,  139, 
508,  635 

Tsuga  Brunoniana,  spray  of,  77 

Tulip  Ellen  WUlmott,  225 ; 
Fantasy,  267  :  John  Ruskin, 
225,  527  ;    Pink  Beauty,  409 

Tulips  and  Forget-me-nots,  176; 
at  Aldenham  House,  235 ; 
freak,  282  ;  in  a  paved  garden, 
514  ;  in  a  suburban  garden, 
272  ;  May-flowering,  226,  236  ; 
Welsh,  327 


Turnip  gall  weevil,  the,  123 
Ulmus  montana  pendula,  579 


Verbascum  Lychnitis,  456 
Veronica     Dieffenbachii,    spicata, 

564,  639:    Traversii,   577 
Viburnum  Davidii,  633  ;  plicatuni, 

100  ;   tomentosum  Mariesii,  486 
Vines    at     St.     Peter's    Vineries, 

Guernsey,      115 ;       disbudding 

newly  broken,   116 


Viola  gracilis,  654:  Mrs.  Harrison, 
450  ;  Queen  of  the  Whites,  450  ; 
Sir  R.  Baden-Powell.  449 
Violets,  propagating  Sweet.  152 
Vitis  vinifera  purpurea,  540 

Wall,  of  Nature's  clothing,  295 
Wallflowers,  some  typical,   246 
Walls,  plants  on  retaining,  127 
Water-gardening,  plan  of.  163 
Water  Lilies  at  Gravetye,  425 
Wild    garden,  365 ;    at    Olympia. 
149 


Wistaria  bower  at  Kew.  474, 
chinensis,  474;  multiiuga  alba, 
473,  474 

Wistarias  on  a  pergola,  371 

Witsenia  corymbosa,  310 

Woolly  aphis  mussel  scale,  637 

Yew  at  Elvaston  Castle,  7 
Yucca  angustifolia,  463;   fllamcn- 

tosa    (?),   429  :     gloriosa,   522  : 

recurvifolia,  488 

Zenohia  speciosa  vera,  656 ;  s.  pul- 
verulcnta,  656 


INDEX    TO    LETTERPRESS 


Abelia  grandiflora.  560 
Abies  bracteata,  77 
Acer  grispum.  543,  571 
.Esculus  iudica,  332 
AlUums  iu  the  flower  garden,  531 
AllwoodJi,  the,  124 
Alonsoa,  the  genus,  633 
Alpine  house,  the,  2,  14 
Alpine  plants  in  pig  troughs,  193 
Alpines    and    elevation,    156,    204  ;      at 
Mont    Ventoux,    132 ;     at    the    Grand 
St.  Bernard.  403,  430;    cultivation  of, 
in    sphagnum,    10 ;     from    seed,    337  ; 
rare,  at  Hindhead,  644;   the  propaga- 
tion of.  273  ;    under  glass,  454 
Alyssum  spinosum,  82 
American  plants,  so-called.  221 
•'■Amethystine,'"  why?  418.  441 
Anchusa  myosutiditiora ,  118 
Androsace  helvetica,  74 
Androsaces.  some  Pyrenean,  33 
Anemone  glancophylla,  332  ;    Mallenderi. 

608  ;    nemorosa,  127 
Anemones,  St.  Brigid,  275  ;   some  beauti- 
ful, 575 
Ansriecum  Leonis.  215 
Angulocaste  Sanderse,  117 
Annuals,    a    border    of    hardy,    53 ;     for 
cutting,  171  ;    for  the  garden,  103  ;    for 
the  greenhouse.  52  ;    in  garden  decora- 
tion,  131  ;    some  excellent,   386,   405  ; 
some  unusual,  147  ;    under  glass,  416 
Anoplanthus  coccineus,  346 
Antirrhinum  Prima  Donna,  496 
Antirrhinimis,   cultivation   of,   56 :    from 

seed,  368 
Aponogeton    dLstachyon    roseum     alden- 

hamense.  267 
Apple  Alfriston,   570  ;    insects  attacking 
the.    66 ;     John    Standish,    166 ;     Joy 
Bells,    595  ;     Laxton's    Pearmain,    69  ; 
Pope's   Nonsuch.    118  ;     Reinette,    69  ; 
Reinette     Grise     de     Saintonge,     69  ; 
William  Crump.  69 
Apples,  "maggoty,"  178 
Apple  tree,  a  curious  section  of  an,  84  ; 

pests  in  \vinter,  637  ;   the  bush,  84 
Apple  trees,  training  and  pruning  bush, 

19 
Aprirot.  priming  a  young,  107 
Aquilegias.  many-hued.  262 
Araujia  sericifera,  the  fruit  of.  46 
Arbutus  Menziesii.  622 
Aristol'njti.i  giizas  Sturtevantii,  415 
Arums;,  lultivatiiin  of,  32 
Asparagus  beetle,  the,  610 
Asparagus  Lewisii,  165 
Asplenium     F.-f.      angustatum      medi-i- 

decipiens  corymbiferum,  415 
Aster  hvbridus  luteus.  438.  496 ;    Little 
Buv    Blue.    .521  ;     N.-A.    Barr's    Pink. 
521  ;     Queen    of    Colwall,    493 ;     wilt, 
the.  572 
Astilbe    King   Alfred,    415 ;     simplicLfolia 

hybrida  rosea,  415 
Aubrietia    Glory    of    the    Garden,    240  ; 

Maurice  Pricliard.  214 
Aubrietlas,  262  :   from  seed,  230 
Awards,  V.M.H.,  181 
Azalea    Chicago,    215:     Fratemitf,    214 
Frederick  Engels.  215  ;    Korang  Vuki, 
241  :    Thomas  Moore,  215 


Babiana  .-itricta  rubro-cyanea,  278 
Bedding    hardy  flowers  "for  summer,  139  ; 
hardy  plants  to  replace,  593  ;     spring, 
176  .    summer,  190 
Bedding  out.   305 
Beet,  trial  of,  at  Wisley,  510 
Begonia    Aurora.     332 :      Boundii,     493 ; 
cultivation  of  the  tuberous,  16  ;   Eunice, 
332 ;     Ladv    Bell,   292 ;     narcissiflora, 
34:     Sir    J.    Reid,    356;    SteUa,   332; 
Venu«,  332 
Begonia  mite,  294 

Begonias,  basket,  287  :    winter-flowering, 
1     OO     624 

I    C^jBerberis  Sibbertoft  Coral  (Lady  Beatrice 
f^jy     Stanley),  569.  608 
:.^— Berberises,  some  beautiful.  259 
Bonfire  ash  or  humus  ?,  619 
*    Border,    colour    effects    in    the    summer, 
452  ;    planting  suggestions  for  a  nortn. 
8 ;     regulating    the    flower,    397  ;     the 


CO 


late  summer,  439 


Book  Reviews :  A  Market  Grower's 
Directory  and  Haiuibook.  48  ;  Beauti- 
ful Flowers  and  How  to  Grow  Them, 
574,  597,  623  :  Champs  et  Bois  Fleuris, 
348  ;  Cyclopedia  of  Hardy  Fruits, 
586  :  Flowering  Plants  of  the  Riviera, 
586 ;  Gardens  in  Sun  and  Shade, 
586 ;  How  to  Begin  Bee  Keeping, 
124  ;  Oddments,  Being  Extracts  from 
a  Scrap-Book.  586  ;  Practical  Garden- 
ing, 184  ;  Pyrenees,  a  Flora  of  the, 
85  ;  The  Amateurs'  Book  of  the  Dahlia. 
348 ;  The  Rose  Annual,  1922,  158  ; 
Tomato  Cultivation  Under  Glass  and 
Outdoors.  158  :  Willing's  Press  Guide. 
48  ;  Winter  Flowers  and  How  to 
Obtain  Them.  574 

Borders,  herbaceous,  care  of.  355  ;  shady, 
494 

Bougain\illea  Mrs.  Butt,  192 

Brambles,  flowering  and  fruiting,  630 

Brasso-Cattleya  Alma,  594  ;  J.  G. 
Macdonald,  Langley  variety,  543  ; 
Wm.  Pitt.  595 

Brasso  -  Lfelio  -  Cattleya  Camada.  118  ; 
Truffantiana  Low's  Variety,  215 

British  Carnation  Society,  spring  show 
of  the,  151 

British  Empire  Exhibition,  the  fori^h- 
coming,  586 

Brooms  of  fidl  summer.  340 

Buddleia  alternifolia,  292,  332 

Bulb  growers,  Dutch  invade  England,  21 

Bulb  orders,  102,  423,  436,  451 

Bulbs,  care  of,  after  flowering,  278  ; 
Dutch  V.  English- grown,  21  ;  for 
August  planting,  398  ;  for  the  rock 
garden.  425  ;  some  less  fommon 
spring-flowering,  207  :  spring-flowering, 
in  the  wild  garden,  261  ;  surprise 
groupings  of,  544 

Butterflies,  the  White,  358 

Calceolarias,  herbaceous,  317 

Calluna  vulgaris  fl.  pi..  493 

Campanula  x  R.  B.  Loder.  385  :  rotundi- 
folia  Jenkinsii,  332  :   Zoysii.  385 

Campanulas,  a  garden  of,  80  ;  on  the 
Galibier  Pass.  293  ;  some  of  the  lesser, 
227  ;    the  taller.  210.  241 

Carnation  Cream  Saffron,  267  ;  develop- 
ment of  the,  and  its  hybrids,  326  ; 
E.  G.  Quick.  332;  Eileen  Low.  594; 
Jessie  Murray,  385 ;  Mary  Murray, 
356 ;  Master  Michael  Stoop,  594  ; 
Orangeman,  267  ;  Snowflake.  356 ; 
Steerforth.  267  ;  Tangerine,  543  :  The 
Hon.  Neta  Weir,  594  ;  the  Perpetual, 
148 ;  Thorn.  C.  Joy,  569  ;  Topsy, 
618  ;    Viceroy,  267 

Carnations,  Border,  34,  204,  360.  528, 
592  ;  and  Allwoodii,  4  :  for  the  border, 
162  ;    propagation  of,  353 

Catalpa  Fargesii.  292 

Catasetum  TruUa  Dovercourt  Variety. 
215 

Cattleya  Eleanore  var.  Prince  of  Wales, 
415  ;  Our  Prince,  595  ;  Tityus  Wedding 
BeUs.  117 

Cattleyas  and  allied  genera,  43,  107 

Centaurea  cvanus  Silver  Queen.  465 

Chelsea  Show.  247.  263  ;  offieai  list  of 
awards.  270  ;  suggestions  and  a  fore- 
cast of  the.  238 

Cherry  Peggy  Rivers,  332 

Chn,'santhemum  Cissbury  White,  521  : 
Cuerdou  Sunflower,  646;  Dr.  J.  M. 
IngUs.  619;  do  not  "draw"  the. 
190 ;  Godfrey's  Triumph,  543  : 
Golden  Butterfly,  619  ;  Harlow  Bronze, 
44  ;  latest  developments  in  the,  601  ; 
Miss  A.  Hazell,  569  ;  Miss  M.  A. 
Hunter,  594  ;  Mrs.  A.  Robertson,  619  ; 
Mrs.  B.  Carpenter,  569  ;  Oriole,  504  ; 
Pink  Favourite.  619  ;  Radiant,  594  ; 
Robert  Collins,  619  ;  Viscount  Chinda, 
543  ;    Wycombe  Pink,  569 

Chrysanthemums,  a  new  race  of,  572, 
636 :  culture  of,  610 ;  disbudding 
large -flowered,  359  ;  early- flowering, 
for  beds  and  borders,  140 ;  large- 
flowered  single,  130;  new,  493,  521, 
596  ;  spidery,  647 ;  stopping  and 
potting  large-flowered,  180 ;  treat- 
ment of,  277,  444  ;  treatment  of 
rooted    cuttings,     12 


Cirsium  eriophorum  anglicum,  546 

Cistuses  in  North  Wales,  304 

Citranges  in  Ireland,  105 

Citrus  Seedless  Washington  Navel,  94 

Clematis  F559,  93  ;  Jouiniana,  162, 
406  ;    macropetala,  106 

Clematises,  grafting.  622.  647  ;  own  root 
at  Gravetye,  567  ;   pruning,  429 

Climbers  for  pergolas  and  archways,  370 

C'odonopsis  tibetica,  493 

Coleus  Rehneltianus.  124 

Colletia  spinnsa.  4'.M).  534 

Conifer,  the  nuieli-abused.  462 

Convolvulus  major,  58 

Corn,  cooking  Sweet.  545 

Cornus  capitata,  332 

Cotoneasters,  creeping,  650;  the  taller.  411 

Crabs,  decorative  hardy,  537 

Cratsgi.  the,  591 

Crataegus  x  EUwangeriana,  569  ;  FuUeri- 
ana.  569 

Crinums,  hardy,  482 

Crocus  speciosus,  153;  Tommasinianus. 
153 

Croweas,  the,  280 

Crops,  rotation  of,  193,  229,  294,  320, 
346,  374 

Croton  Lord  Balfour,  569 

Cup,  the  Wigan,  533 

Cups,  the  R.H.S.  Challenge,  559,  583 

Cyclamen,  greenhouse,  297 

Cyrabidium  Alexander!  var.  Rosalind. 
142  ;  A.  Westonbirt  var.,  142  ;  Bronze 
Beauty.  117;  Butterfly,  118;  Castor 
var.  claytoniensis,  192 ;  Curlew  var. 
Rosy  Gem,  118  ;  Kittiwake,  118  ; 
Mirande,  118  ;  Redstart,  118  ;  Red- 
start var.  Brighteycs,  118  ;  Thrush, 
118 

Cypresses,  the  true.  496 

Cypripedium  Godefroyse  Splendid,  619  ; 
Golden  Fleece,  646;  Gwen  Dixon.  595  ; 
J.  M.  Black,  646  ;      Linda,  595 

Cytisus  Adami,  294  ;  Donard  Seedling, 
267 

C>*tisuses,  some  early,  243 


Daffodil  Silver  Plane,  510 

Daffodils  in  informal  planting,  173  ; 
naturalising.  412  ;  notable  new,  204  ; 
notes  on,  480  :  the  London  Show  of, 
191  ;    the  Midland  Show  of,  213 

Dahlia,  a  freak.  10  ;  the  ever -improving, 
476 ;     the    garden.    503 

Dahlias,  new,  439,  466,  493,  521  ; 
anemone-flowered,  469  ;  double- 
flowered,  236  ;  present-day,  223  ; 
single  flowered.  223  ;  the  first  known, 
24  ;  to  decorate  the  garden,  146  ;  trial 
of,  at  Wisley,  498 

Daphne  Cneorum,  cidture  of,  9 

Delphinium,  461  ;  Brunoniannm,  584  ; 
Decorator,  332  :  Mrs.  F.  T.  Neighbour, 
332  :    Nymph.  385 

Delphiniums,  perennial,  314 

Dendrobinra  Perfection  var.  Gloria,  166 

Deutzias  for  a  cold  house,  561 

Dianthus  x  Mascott,  292 :  Herbcrtii 
Bridesmaid,  267  ;  H.  Lord  Lambourne, 
267  ;  H.  Red  Indian,  268  ;  Prichardii 
Donnicetti,  332 

Diplacus  glutinosus,  609 

Dipteronia  sinensis.  439 

DLsa  JaUa  A.  Stuckey,  385 

Drought,  effect  of,  143 


Echium  vulgare.  372 

Economies,  garden.  67,  70,  116,  130 

Elscholtzia,  the,  559 

Eremurus,  roots  of  the,  22 

Erica  carnea  King  George,   44  ;    cinerea 

at  midsummer,  318  ;  stricta  as  a  hedge, 

445 
Erigeron     leiomerus,    644 ;     mucrouatus, 

.507,  648 
Erinacea  pungens,  241 
Eritrichium  nanum,  544 
Eryngium  prostratum.  385 
Escallonias,  hardy,  453 
Eschscholtzia  Crimson  Carmine,  356 
Eschscholtzias,  148 
Eucalypti,  the,  46 
Eucalyptus  Globulus,  143 
Euc'yphia  pinuatifolia    154 


Euonymus  europa^ns  aldenhamensis,  543  ; 

Wilsonli,  292 
Eupatorium  Raflillii,  165 
Evelyn's  ICalendarium,  649 
Evergreens  for  various  soils  and  sites,  407 
Exhibition,  an  International  ?    13,  45,  49 

pabiana  imbricata,  320,  345 

Feijoa,  fruiting  of  the,  21 

Ferns  for  baskets,  621 

Fertilisers,  artificial.  21Q 

Flower  garden,  colour  effects  in  the, 
277,  307,  398,  495 

Flower  House.  581 

Flowers,  early  autumn,  421  :  homely. 
128  ;  in  bloom  on  Christmas  Day,  11  ; 
in  rain,  387  ;  New  Year,  21  ;*  that 
ignore  the  late  spring,  199 

Foliage,  autumn.  495 

Frame,  the  garden,  617 

Frames,  shading  and  ventilating,  228 

Freesia  Apotheose,  165  :  Mouette,  192 ; 
Wistaria,  141 

Freesias,  coloured.  367  ;    from  seed,  4 

Fruit,  assisting  the  crop  of,  164  ;  garden, 
use  of  netting  in  the,  164 

Fruits,  poisonous,  531 

Fruit  trees,  grease-banding.  532 :  for 
ornament,  541  ;  for  the  medium- 
sized  garden,  582 ;  pruning.  120, 
155  ;  spraying,  in  spring,  142  ;  summer 
pruning  of,  292 

Fuchsias,  a  selection  of,  606 

Fuel,  greenhouse,  95 

Gaillardia  Knight  Errant,  332 ;   Yeoman, 

332 
Galanthus  Ikarise,  168 
Garden,   a   Campanula,   80 :    an   Oregon, 

83  ;   of  memories,  42  ;    making  a  small, 

319 ;     notes   from   a    September,    475  ; 

the  little,  171  ;    the  town.  561 
Garden    design,    essentials    of,    289.    396, 

479  ;    unity  and  gradation  in.  354 
Gardener,  my  gentleman.  81 
Gardening,   natural,   in   restricted   space, 

149  ;    proverbs,  156 
Gardens,  individuality  in.  499  ;    Queens* 

at  Olyrapia.  118  :    two  Norfolk,  38 
Gate,  the  garden,  113 
Gentiana  Farreri.  320  ;    Kurroo,  493 
Gentians  at  Floraire.  113  ;  some  beautiful, 

287 
Geraniums,  hardy.  381 
Gladioli,  the  large-flowered  hybrids,  515  ; 

the  primulinus  hybrids,  437,  478 
Gladiolus  Butter  Boy,   415  ;    cultivation 

of  the,  64  ;    evolution  of  the.  437,  478, 

515  ;     Fu-ecrest,    385  ;     Oakfield.    543  ; 

Rarity,    439  ;      Red    Fire.    415  ;      Rt. 

Hon.      Countess     Beatty,     465  ;       the 

modern,  150 
Glasgow,  the  International  Show  at,  467 
Glasnevin.  notes  from,  8,  244 
Glass,  why  not  instal  ?  279 
Gloxinia  Bacchus,  202 
Gooseberry  Sawfly,  201 
Grafting,  the  expediency  of.  620 
Green  fly.  enemies  of  the,  428 
Greenhouse  plants,   440 ;    fragrant,   108 ; 

winter,  416 
Greenhouse,  the  unheated  on  a   warmer 

seaboard.  405 
Greenhouses,  shading  and  ventilating,  223 
Groupings,  some  garden,  412 

Hamamelis  japonica  rubra,  44 

Harewood  House,  88 

Hawthorns,  the,  591 

Heaths  for  undergrowth.  577  :    for  winter 

effect,  112  ;    without  peat.  26 
Hedge,  the  roadside  garden,  100 
Helenium  Crimson  Beaxity,  356 
Helianthus  multiflorus  Loddon  Gold,  439 
Hellebores,  119,  642 
Herbaceous  borders,  28 ;    how  to  make, 

502 
Herbaceous  plants  and  their  uses,   511 

early-flowering.  78 
Hesperis  matronalis  alba  plena,  296 
Hlppeastrums,  gorgeous,  276 
Holland  Park  Show,  the,  517 
Hollyhock,  the,  245 
Hornbeam  as  a  hedge  plant,  21 


VI. 


INDEX 


'  The  Garden,''  December  30,  1922. 


Hottonla  palustris,  107 

Hoya  carnosa,  80 

Hyacinths,     "prepared"     Dutch,     120; 

Roman,  at  Christmas,  33 
Hydrangea     hortensis.      560 ;       Paraival, 

267  ;   Professor  du  Bois,  267 

Imperial  Fruit  Show,  the,  570 

Indian  flora,  71 

Insects,  aeroplanes  and,  333  ;  attackins; 
the  Apple,  66 

Iris  Citronella,  292  :  Crestes,  267  ;  nomen- 
clature, 334,  360,  373  ;  ochracea 
coeruiea,  292 ;  progress  with  thf- 
Bearded,  565  ;  reticulata  in  pots,  229  : 
tingitana,  34.  72  ;  ungulcularis,  flower- 
ing of,  9.  21,  45 ;  n.,  forms  of,  68, 
107  ;    u.  seeding,  559 

Irises  and  water,  320 ;  autumn-flowering 
of  Bearded,  560 ;  culture  of  Bearded, 
386  ;  English,  389  ;  for  the  waterside, 
393  ;  June,  302  ;  tall  Bearded,  299  ; 
the  arrangement  of  Bearded,  301  ; 
the  regelio-cyclus,  410;  the  "  Rother- 
side,"  304  ;    winter,  at  Glasnevin,  44 

Iris  garden,  colour  in  the,  399 

Kalmias,  the,  606 

Kniphofla    C.    M.    Prichard,    415 ;     July 

Sun,  415  ;    Rouge  et  Souffre,  385,  415  ; 

The  Rocket,  521 
Knlphofias.  104  "^ 

Kochia  trichophylla,  194 

Lachenalias,  fragrant,  91 

LaBlio-Cattleya     Dodona,     569 ;      Golden 

Light,    439  ;     Idina,    439 ;     St.    George 

variety    Victory,    543  :     Sargon,    439  ; 

Venada,  569 
Lathyrus  puhescens,  292 
Lavender   Lady   Violet,   385 ;    Prudence, 

385 
Lawn  mower,  the  "  Qualcast,"  524 
Lawns  in  winter,  620  ;    spring  treatment 

of,  136 
Leptospennums,  the,  359 
Lewisia  Wisley  Seedling,  415 
Llatris,  the.  502 
Lilies,     European     Martagon,     657;     for 

garden  and  woodland,  379  ;  from  seed, 

388,  417  ;    Japanese,  629 
LlUum   auratum  at   Brodick.   63 ;     a.   at 

Holland  Park,  533  ;     x   gloriosum,  356 

X  sulphurgale,  385 
Limy  soil,  woodland  planting  in,  485 
Lippia  citriodora,  227 
LobeUas,  hardy  hybrid,  533 
Lonicera  nitida,  218,  241 
Lupins  at  Cator  Court,  315 ;    borders  of, 

224  ;    tree,  143 
Lupinus    poiyphyllus — Six    Hills    strain, 

292 

Magnolia  macrophylla,  356 

Magnolias  for  the  small  garden,  129 

Mallows,  some  hardy,  435 

Maples  for  the  garden,  501 

Manure,  sewage,  624 

Marguerite   Golden   Mrs.    F.    W.    Sander, 

241 
Maritime  Alps,  the  Roya  Vailey  in  the, 

471 
Marrow  Rotberside  Orange,  85 
Matthiola  bicornis,  121 
MeconopsLs,    some    Asiatic    species,     68, 

504  ;    the  Himalayan,  177 
Mice  and  voles,  95,  347 
Michaelmas  Daisies,  539,  589,  604 
Mignonette,  138 
Miltonia   Lord   Lambourne,    93 ;     specta- 

bilis  extraria,  543 
Mimulus  luteus  flore  pleno,  292 
Mint,  propagation  of,  180,  229 
Mistletoe  and  its  hosts,  22,  45 
Moles,  hon  to  trap,  417,  456 
Moraine,   plants  for  the,   200,   283,    298, 

322,  362,  375,  400,  444 
Moth,    the    Lackey,    387  ;     the    Mullein, 

344  ;   the  Poplar  Hawk.  496 
Mulching,  the  value  of,  280 

Narcissus  Bob  Berkeley,  215  ;  BrightUng, 
213,  215 ;  Cervantes,  168 ;  Chinita, 
215 ;  Cleopatra,  213 ;  Coronation, 
213 ;  Everest,  213 ;  Firetail,  241  ; 
Glandore,  219  ;  Glorious,  213  ;  Golden 
Pedestal,  192  ;  Henrietta,  597  ;  Magog, 
192  ;  Magnolia,  213,  215  ;  Mountaineer, 
215  ;  Mrs.  Percy  Neale,  213  ;  Orange 
Glow,  213,  215  ;  Pelican,  241  ;  Princess 
Victoria,  118  ;  St.  Bernard,  165  ; 
St.  Valentine,  93  ;  Sea-Shell,  241  ; 
Silver  Chimes,  192 ;  Silver  Salver, 
241 ;  Sunrise,  213 ;  White  Coral, 
241  ;  White  Dame,  141  ;  White  Nile, 
192;    White  Owl,  141  ;    Xenophon,  215 

National  Chrysanthemum  Society,  annual 
show  of  the,  595 

National  Daffodil  Society  ?  35,  57,  70,  108 

National  Dahlia  Society,  annual  show, 
465 

National  Rose  Society,  annual  meeting, 
60 ;  autumn  show,  490,  505 ;  spring 
show,  212  ;   summer  show,  328,  342 


Nature,  busy,  58 
Nephrolepis,  genealogy  of,  98 
Nerine  Ghtter,  569  ;    His  Majesty,  569 
Nerines,  about,  616,  647 
Netting,  use  of.  in  fruit  garden,  164 
Nomocharis  pjirdanthiua  Farreri.  267 
Novelties,  International  Bureau  for  regis- 
tration of,  36 
Nurse  plants,  use  of,  605 

Obituary:    Bain,  William,  86;    Balfour- 

Sir  Isaac  Baylev.   626,  638  ;    Barnard- 

H.    A.,    1.58  ;     Berkeley,    Mrs.    R.    V.. 

472;     Berry,    G.    P.,    612;     Dickson. 

Hugh,    298 :     Elwes,    H.   J.,    626,    638  ; 

Morgan.  John,   472 ;    Tisdale,  Samuel, 

110  ;    Wright.  S.  T.,  232 
Odontioda  Cissic,  118  ;   Cora,  93  ;   Latona 

lilacina,  118;    Opal,  141;   Royal  Scot, 

646:    Venus,  118 
Odontoglossuni  Armstrongii  Aureole,  619  ; 

crispum   Beauty  Spot.   569 ;    c.   Silver 

Moon.     569 ;      eximium     Mabel,     192  ; 

eximillus  Tintoretto,  619  ;  Garnet,  166  ; 

Magniflcent,    619 ;     Princess    Yolande,. 

Genish's    var.,    569 ;     St.   George  var. 

Solum,     543 ;      Tagus,     385 ;      Topaz. 

385  :    Vega,  646 
Odontonia  Merope  var.  vi^icans.  292 
Old  Conna  Hill  garden,  216 
Omphalodes  LucUise,  605 
Oncidioda  Stuart  Low,  192 
Orange,  the  hardy  Japanese,  583 
Orchard,  planning  an.  596 
Orchards,  care  of,  372 
Orchises,  sports  among  wild,  S3 

Paeony,  the  invaluable,  279 

Palms  from  seed,  101 

Papaver  orientale  Thora  Perry,  292 

Paris  International  Exhibition,  598 

Peaches  and  Nectarines  in  pots,  40  ; 
in  spring,  106 

Peas,  dwarf.  40 ;  early  garden,  48  ; 
trial  of  late  culinary,  at  Wisley,  549 

Peat  plants  that  thrive  in  loam,  183 

Pelargonium  Fascination,  569 ;  Pink 
Profusion,  292 ;  Sir  Percy  Blakeney, 
267 

Pentstemons,  178 

Perennials  from  seed.  50, 311,  395.  639,  653 

Pergola,  the  English,  382 

Pergolas,  climbers  for,  370 

Perovskia  atripUcifolia,  559 

Philadelphus  Coupe  d'Argent,  332 

Phlox  suffruticosa  Snowflon,  357 ;  trial 
of  perennial,  at  Wisley,  509 

Phloxes,  herbaceous,  153,  427,  590 

Photinia  japonica,  441 

Pieris  taiwanensis,  141 

Pink,  the  Border,  339 

Pinks,  some  alpine,  246 

Plan  the  garden  first,  154 

Planting,  importance  of  harmony  in,  41  ; 
season,  the.  488 

Plants,  antipathies  and  sympathies  of, 
46  ;  curious,  28  ;  effect  of  drought  on, 
84  ;  for  pillar  and  roof,  169  ;  for  vases 
and  boxes,  190 ;  hardy,  to  replace 
bedding,  525  ;  new  and  rare.  44,  60, 
93,   117,   141.   165,   192,   212,   213,   214, 

240,  267,  (at  Chelsea)  292,  329,  332, 
356,  385,  415,  438,  465,  493,  521  (at 
HoUand  Park),  543,  569,  594,  618,  646  ; 
pandanus-lcaved,  463  ;  uncommon  indi 
genous,  129 

Polyantliuses,  74 

Polypodium  vulgare  and  varieties,  78 

Pomegranate,  the,  65,  95,  108 

Poplar,  the,  513 

Potato  nomenclature,  70,  108 

Potatoes,  seed,  82 

Potentilla  fruticosa  var,  Farreri,  292 

Potinaria  .luliettEP,  117 

Pricking  off  and  its  utility,  31 

Primrose  Ciarkson,  215;  George,  215; 
Lingwood  Beauty,  215 

Primroses,  245  ;    the  Spetchley,  211 

Primula  fasciculata,  241  ;  Fortunei,  193, 
218 ;  JuliiB  X  WUson's  Blue,  118  ; 
malacoides  Princess  Mary,  93  ;  Moore- 
ana  Improved,  465  ;  nivalis  of  gardens, 
57  ;  obconica  Salmon  Queen,  268  ; 
sinensis  varieties,  44 ;  s.  fl.  pi.  Rossway 
Beauty,  646 

Primulas  at  Reading,  55 ;  for  rockery 
and  border.  160 ;  greenhouse,  89  ; 
hardy,  for  garden  and  wild,  587  ;  water- 
loving  hardy,  137 

Propagation,  rapid  methods  of,  634 

Prostanthera  rotundifolia,  241 

Prunus  daaycarpa,  155;    pendula,  317 

Pyrethrum  Eileen  May  Robinson,  292 

Pyrus  aucuparia   moravlca,    385 ;     Eleyi. 

241,  521  ;    Mains  transltoria,  493 
Pyruses,  ornamental.  606 

Rabbit  proof  plants,  345 
Ranunculus  rntaefolius,  634 
Ranunculuses,  the  florists',  481 
Raspberry,  the,  as  a  saprophytic  plant, 

418 
Rheims,  the  little  gardens  of,  21,  72,  84 


Rhododendron  auriculatum  variety,  357  ; 
Aurora.  215  ;  Coalition,  268  ;  Cunning- 
ham's Sulphiu-,  171  ;  dell,  the,  433  ; 
discolor,  332 ;  discolor,  pink  variety, 
357  ;  Falconeri,  268  ;  Geoffrey  Millals, 
268 ;  impoditum.  215 ;  Iveryanum, 
294 ;  kamtschaticum,  131  ;  Mrs.  T. 
Weylenberg.  215  ;  Norman  Gill,  268  ; 
orbiculare,  268  ;  Robert  Fortune,  268  ; 
St.  Keveme,  268 ;  sino-grande,  241  ; 
Souvenir  de  D.  A.  Koster,  215 ;  the 
garden  hybrid,  126  ;  the  ever-improv- 
ing, 209  ;"  William  Watson,  241 

Rhododendrons  and  Azaleas,  grouping, 
233 ;  hardy  hybrid,  in  1922,  324  ; 
some  dwarf,  630 

Rhodostachys  andina  splendens.  569 

Rhus  Cotinus  atropurpiirea,  493 

Richardias,  cultivation  of,  32 

Riviera  notes,  15,  96 

Rockery,  a  seaside,  584 

Rock  garden,  a,  in  autumn,  566  ;  a 
natural,  76  ;  colour  in  the,  185  ;  com- 
mencing a,  39 ;  practice,  489 ;  the 
shaded,  5 

Rock  gardens  and  rock  gardens,  62,  101 

Rock  plants,  propagating,  395 

Romneva  Coulteri  growing  through  a 
wall,"  401 

Romneyas,  169 

Rosa  Fargesii,  543  ;  macrophylla,  124  ; 
moschata,  9,  363  ;  Moyesii,  the  colour 
of,  572,  597  ;    Sweginzowii,  439 

Rose  Alice  Amos,  329  ;  Arthur  Cook, 
491  ;  Atalanta,  329 ;  Bessie  Chaplin, 
329  ;  Capt.  F.  S.  Harvey  Cant,  268  ; 
Capt.  Kilbee  Stuart,  329 ;  Dorcas, 
212;  Elsie  Beckwith,  212;  Florence 
Izzard,  491  ;  fragrance  in  the,  341  ; 
H.  C.  Chandler,  165  ;  Henry  Nevard, 
268 ;  Innocence,  329  ;  Jacqueline, 
332 ;  J.  G.  Glassford,  329 ;  Kew 
Rambler,  357,  3S8  ;  Lady  Roundway, 
329  ;  Lady  Verey,  329  ;  Lucile  Barker, 
329  ;  Mardchal  Niel,  307  ;  Mary 
Merrvweather.  329  ;  Mrs.  F.  S.  Harvey 
Cant^  268,  329  ;  Mrs.  G.  Heath,  491  ; 
Mrs.  Henry  Bowles,  329  ;  Mrs.  Hornby 
Lewis,  213 ;  Mrs.  Miguel  Lacroze, 
329  ;  Mrs.  T.  English,  213  ;  Nur  MAhal, 
491  ;  Pink  Delight,  329,  609  ;  Ruth, 
329  ;  Souvenir  Claudius  Pernet,  192  ; 
Sovereign,  213 ;  species,  622 ;  test 
gardens,  608 ;  Vesu\ius,  491  ;  West- 
fleld  Star,  491  ;    White  Ophelia,  241 

Rose  garden,  planting  the,  598 ;  the 
pictorial,  288 

Roses,  a  trial  of  new,  487,  505,  546 ; 
black  spot  in,  46 ;  decorative,  for 
house  and  garden,  323 ;  dwarf  poly- 
autha,  369.  441  ;  for  cut  flower  and 
indoor  decoration,  555  ;  for  the  shrub- 
bery, 285  ;  June,  and  dry  weather,  306  ; 
late-flowering,  21  ;  Musk,  646  :  new,  491 ; 
planting,  558;  pruning  bedding,  138; 
rambling,  for  house  and  garden,  351  ; 
single,  553,  584, 609,  655  ;  some  new  ?  83; 
some  1921  new,  556  ;  the  best,  583  ; 
the  form  of,  559;  trial  ground  for,  at 
Wisley,  415  ;  various  uses  of,  in  the 
garden,  551  ;  wiehuraiana,  positions 
for,  352  ;    wild,  7,  554 

Royal  Horticultural  Society,  annual 
meeting  of  the.  94  ;  awards  of  the. 
95  ;  fortnightly  meetings  of  the,  (see 
under  Plants,   New  and  Rare) 

Royal  National  Tulip  Show,  270 

Saint  Dorothea,  a  garden  Saint,  30 

Salading,  plants  for  winter,  445 

Salvia  dichroa,  456 ;  Lord  Lascelles, 
569 ;  Princess  Mary,  569 ;  virgata 
nemorosa,  209 

Salvias,  some  beautiful.  63 

Saxifruga  Brooksidc,  118 ;  x  Marise- 
Theresae,  93 ;  hybrida  Gem,  165 ; 
Wallacei,  166 

Saxifrages,  a  selection  of,  613,  631  ;  of 
the  Maritime  Alps.  217  ;    Pyrenean,  20 

Scabiosa  caucasica.  572,  584 

Seilla  sibirica  pallida,  165 

Seaweed  as  manure,  10 

Sedum  brevifolium.  158 

Sedums  in  autumn,  617 

Seed-bed,  the  importance  of  the,  139 

Seedlngs,  pricking  off,  116  ;  thinning,  255 

Seed  order,  the,  1 

Seeds,  poisonous,  531 

Sempervivnms  on  naked  rock,  429 

Shrubbery,  autumn  colour  in  the,  459, 
477.  563 

Shrubs,  among  the,  510,  516,  630  ;  a 
selection  of,  181,  193,218;  flowering, 
for  walls  and  hedges,  648 ;  for  chalk 
soils,  167.  219,  228 ;  for  favoured 
gardens,  602  ;  for  undergrowth,  577  ; 
fruiting  in  winter,  615;  hardy  in 
Yorksliire,  580  ;  some,  of  a  winter 
garden,  658:  the  arrangement  of 
flowering,  599,  627  ;  the  twelve  best, 
507,  533,  545,  559,  571,  583,  597,  608, 
622,  635 ;  winter-flowering,  at  Glas- 
nevin, 64 

Silene  vallesia.  608 


Silver-leaf  disease,  319.  345  ;  hosts  of, 
66 

Soils,  retention  of  moisture  in  light.  202 

Somerset  garden,  October  in  a,  607 

Sophora  tetraptera,  241 

Sophro-Cattleya  Prince  Shimadzu,  142 

Sophro-Lselio-Cattleya  Falcon  Weston- 
birt  var.,  141  ;  King  George,  165 ; 
Lustre,  646;    Mars.  118 

Sphagnum,  cultivation  of  alpines  in,  10 

Spiraeas,  a  selection  of,  29 

Spraying  and  spray  fluids,  657 ;  in  spring- 
time, 142  ;  the  importance  of.  255  ; 
with   paraffin   and  soap  emulsion,  625 

Spring  o'  the  year,  38 

Stellera  Chamffijasme,  26H 

Steps,  informal,  92 

Stokesia  cyanea  prsecox  Perrv's  Purple, 
415 

Stranvsesia  undulata,  646 

Strawberries,  a  new  pest  of,  318  ;  culture 
of,  404  ;    Lax-ton's,  373 

Streptocarpus  Princess  Mary,  465 ; 
Sutton's  Giant  Blue.  215 

Streptocarpuses,  79 

Suburban  garden,  the.  in  winter,  112 

Swede,  the,  82 

Sweet  Pea  Royal  Scot.  455.  481 

Sweet  Peas,  culture  of,  458 ;  germina- 
tion of.  74 ;  next  year's,  506  ;  some 
good,  424 ;  some  superlative,  471  ; 
the  new,  578  ;    trial  of,  at  Wisley,  510 

Taxodium  distichum,  77 

Telopea  speciosissima,  268 

Testudinaria  elephantipes,  120 

Thunbergia  alata,  79 

Tibet,  flowers  of,  282 

Tigridias,  cultivation  of,  45  ;   the,  90 

Tomatoes,  treatment  of  seedling,  168 

Topiary,  as  an  aid  to  advertising,  91 

Tradition,  211 

Transplanting  times,  143,  165,  181,  218 

Trees  and  shrubs,  distinctive,  188 ; 
importance  of  contrast  in  planting, 
18  ;  precautions  in  planting,  17 ; 
pruning  and  thinning  flowering,  313  ; 
winter-fruiting,  641 ;  with  ornamental 
bark,  633 

Trees,  deciduous,  in  winter,  114 ;  fast- 
growing.  513,  529  ;  for  the  waterside 
and  swampy  ground,  603 ;  fruiting 
in  winter,  615 ;  other  people's,  648  ; 
pendulous  or  weeping,  579 

Trench  gardening,  waste-sa\Tng,  116 

Trilliums,  the,  643 

TroUiuses,  69,  341 

Tsuga  Brunoniana,  77  ;  yunnanense,  405 

Tulipa  dasystemon,  256 

Tulip  Carrara,  268 ;  cultivation,  514 ; 
Dido,  268 ;  Fantasy,  268 ;  Phemio, 
268  ;   selections,  527 

Tulips,  arrangement  of  May-flowering, 
235  ;  "  baby,"  29d  ;  branching  in, 
343  ;  early,  409  ;  freak,  282  ;  in  Wales, 
327  ;    May-flowering.  225 

Turnip  gall  wee\-il,  the,  123 

Ulmus  montana  pendula  Camperdo\vni, 
635 

Vanda  luzonica  var.  dulcis,  569 

Vegetables  all  the  year  round,  330,  432, 
498,  574 ;  raising  early,  in  frames, 
166  ;   trials  of,  at  Wisley,  86 

Veltheimia  glauca,  9 

Verbascum  Lychnitis,  456 

Vermin,  notes  on  trapping,  660 

Verse :  Ceratostigma  ptumbaginoldes, 
623 ;  Dame  Daffodil,  204 ;  Iris— 
FIcur  de  Luce,  257  ;  March  Morning, 
99;  Partners,  219;  Requiescant,  9; 
Shelley  "  The  Poet  of  Nature,"  72 ; 
S.  T.  Wright,  282 ;  Sweet  Peas  in 
Bloom.  49 ;  The  Seed  of  a  Flower, 
58;  The  Spirit  of  the  Garden,  360; 
The  Triumph,  648 

Viburnum  Carlesii,  534  ;    Davidii,  521 

Vinery,  the,  115 

Vines,  young  and  old,  115 

Violas,  bedding,  449  ;  trial  of,  at  Wisley, 
420 

Violet  Tina  Whitaker,  141 

Violets,  Sweet,  162 

Vuylstekeara  Aspasia,  646 

VT'allflower'i  in  the  spring  garden.  246 

Wall  gardening,  127 

Walls,  plants  for,  448 

Water-gardening,  economical,  163 

Water  Lilies,  425  ;   planting,  223 

Waterside,  plants  for  the,  195 

Wild    garden,    spring-flowering    bulbs    in 

the,  261  ;    the,  and  its  planting,  365 
Wistarias  and  their  training,  473 
Woodland  garden,  round  about  a.   540; 

planting  on  limy  soil,  485 
Woolly  apnis,  remedies  tor,  105 

Yew,  the.  and  varieties,  6 
Yucca  gloriosa  by  the  sea,  522 
Yuccas,  the  hardier.  488 

Zinobias  ano  allied  genera,  656 


THE 


■i  I'V  I  -^t-tti 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


■^ol.  LXXXVI.— No.  2616. 

Dtered  as  Seooad-class  Matter  at  the  New  York.  N.Y..  Post  Office 


Saturday,  January   7,  1922 


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GREAT  SPECIAL  OFFER  of  HERBACEOUS  P/EONIES 


The  following  list  comprise  the 

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Packing    and   Carriage 

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Duo  de  Cares. 

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finest  varieties  in  cultivation.  They  are 
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Paid    for    Cash    with    Order. 

Duchess     de     Nemours— White, 

primrose  centre. 
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Festive  Maxima — Very  large  white 
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Mons.    C.     Leveque  —  Beautiful 

rosy  salmon. 
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PLANTING     SEASON. 


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ORCH I DS 

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RAISED    BY    THE 

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of  Orchids. 

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[January  7,  1922. 


"THE   GARDEN"  CATALOGUE    GUIDE 


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Rose  Specialists 


ELISHA  J.  HICKS,  M.C.  N.R.S.,  etc. 

HURST,  BERKS 

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PULH^VM  S)  SON 

THE  NUHSEjqts-LLSCNnAM 
STANSTED  •  ESSEX 


Rock- 
AJpine  -b 
Mandg  PlanK 


Seeds  and  Bulbs 


R.  H.  BATH  Ltd. 
The  Floral  Farms 
WISBECH 


Home-Grown 
Bulbs  and 
Seeds 


BLACKMORE  &  LANGDON 
Twerton  Hill  Nursery 
BATH 


Begonias 
Delphiniums 
Qloxinias 
Cyclamen,  etc. 


DAWKINS 

408,  King's  Road 

CHELSEA.  S.W. 


Seed  Catalogue 
and   Gladioli 
List  free  on 
application 


CORRY  &   CO.,  Ltd. 
Shad  Thames,  S.E.i  and 
Bedford  Chambers 
Covent  Garden,  W.C.2 


Mercfiants  and 
Manufacturers 
of  hlortlcultural 
Sundries 
Fertilizers  and 
Insecticides,  etc, 


-lilllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllMMill^ 

KING'S  Acre  I 

78  Gold  Medals  and  18  Silver  | 
Cups  Awarded  to  our  Exhibits  = 
during       Season?       1909-1921.    | 

160  ACRES 


INCLL'UING 


J.  BENTLEY,  Ltd. 
Barrow-on-Humber 
HULL 


Weed  Destroyera 
Lawn  Sand 
Insecticides 
Shrubs,  etc. 


Landscape  Gardening 


R.  WALLACE   &   CO.,  Ltd. 
The  Old  Gardens 

tunbridge  wells 


Landscape  &  Garden 
Architects.  Queen 
Alexandra's  Cup  for 
Best  Rock  and  Water 
Garden.  International 
Show.  1912. 


J.  CHEAL  &   SONS,  Ltd. 

Nurseries 

CRAWLEY 


Landscape 
Qardeners 
Trees  and 
Shrubs,  etc. 


Wm.  wood  &  SON,  Ltd., 

Garden  Designers  &  Contractors, 

TAPLOW,  BUCKS. 

Telephone  No. :  Burnham  79. 
Teletiraphic  Address  :   Gardening,  Taplow 


Appoinlments  kept 
in  any  part  of  the 
Country, 
Effective  Garden 
Schemes, 


THEOPHILUS  a.  ALLEN 

(Garoen  E.npert), 

littlemead, 
wanborough,  surrey. 


Advice, 
Surveys, 
Plans, 
Moderate  Fees. 


FRUIT  TREES, 
VINES,  ROSES, 

FOREST  AND  ORNAMENTAL 
TREES  AND  SHRUBS,  ALPINE 
AND  HERBACEOUS  PLANTS. 

New  Catalogues,  containing  much  use- 
ful information,  free  upon  application. 

King's    Acre   Nurseries 


HEREFORD. 


Ltd. 


-illlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll- 


NATURE    &    ART. 

Largest  and   finest   stock  of   CLIPPED 
YEW  &  BOX  TREES  in  the  country. 
Thousands  of  Specimens  to  select  from. 
Cataloflues  free  on  demand. 
JOHN  KLINKERT.  F.R.H.S.,  M.CH. 
Kew    Topiary    Nurseries, 

RICHMOND      LONDON. 


MISS    EVELYN    F.\WSSETT 

(Specialist  in  Garden  Planning) 
83,    High    Street,    LEWES,   SUSSEX. 

Designs  for  making   New  or  re-arranging  Old  Gardens 

with  full  Planting  Plans, 

Write  for  terms  and  explanation  of  my  methods. 


To    Lovers   of    the    Garden    Beautiful. 

SPECIALITE. 


Hardy  flowering  Shrubs,  Trees,  Climbers, 
Plants  for  the  Shrubbery,  Avenue, 
Woodland,  Bog,  Water,  Dell  and 
Lawn   Gardens. 

^Quality     Supreme, 
CARR  I  AQE       PAID. 


V.  N.  Gauntlett  &  Co.,  Ltd., 

Japanese  Nurseries,  Chiddingfoid,  Surrey. 


SPENCE'S  AUTUMN  LIST  ot  28  varieties 
SELECTED  SCOTCH  SEED  POTATOES  from 
the  famous  Dunbar  district,  post  free.^ 
CHAS.  T.  SPENCE,  Seed  Potato  Specialist, 
DUNBAR. 


THE     SHELLEY 

SWEET   PEAS    AND    ANTIRRHINUMS. 

(For  details  see  fortnightly  announcement.) 
Full  list  of  the   best  and   most   recent  varieties. 

Also  of  choice  Vegetable  Seeds,  post  free, 
T,    H,   DIPNALL,     F,R.H.S.,   The   Shelley  Sweet   Pea   Farm, 

Nr,      HADLEIQH,     SUFFOLK. 


HOW  TO  PRUNE  ROSES  &  FRUIT  TREES. 

A  most  helpful  booklet  bv  Owen  Thomas,  V,M.H.  Sent  post 
free  on  receipt  of  lid.  "  ConNTUY  Life  "  Offices,  20,  Tavistock 
Street,  Covent  Garden,  Vf.C.2. 


SEED  POTATOES 

Scotch  and  Yorkshire  Grown. 

ALL  THE    LEADING  VARIETIES. 
No  Better  Stocks  Obtainable. 


Send    for    List. 


ISAAC  POAD  &  SONS,  Ltd., 
Seed  Potato  Merchants,  YORK. 


GARDENS    OLD    AND     NEW.— Edited    by 

H  AvinY  TirpiXG,  M.A..  F,S,A,  Only  a  few  copies  remain 
of'these  rare  and  bea\itiful  volumes  ;  £2  12/6  neteacli.  Published 
at  the  Offlees  of  "  Coitntkv  LiI'E,"  Ltd.,  20,  Tavistock  Street, 
Covent  Garden,  W.C.2, 


NO  a6x6-V0L  LXXXVI]       NOTES   OF   THE   WEEK 


[January  7,  1922. 


WITH  lengthening  day  and  strength- 
ening sunlight,  life  will  now,  should 
open  weather  prevail,  become  more 
and  more  noticeable  in  the  garden. 
The  Snowdrop  will  expand  its  pen- 
like  buds,  only  to  give  place  to  the  gaudier  Crocus. 
The  winter-flowering  Heaths,  the  earliest  tufted 
Saxifrages  and  the  tiny  Iris  reticulata  all  give 
evidence  of  growth  and  progress,  as  do  several 
species  of  Daphne,  including  the  always  welcome 
Mezereon. 

^The  cold  greenhouse  and  its  furnishing  is  to-day 
a  matter  of  real  importance.  There  are  literally 
thousands  of  gardens  in  which  the  alternative  lies 
between  utilising  existing  structures  as  cold  (or 
practically  cold)  houses  and  demolishing  them.  In 
summer  such  houses  can  profitably  be  devoted  to 
Tomatoes  or  other  food  crops.  Even  Cucumbers 
can  be  managed.  When  flowers  are  really  plentiful 
outdoors  many  people  would  gladly  dispense  with 
them  under  glass.  The  production  of  flowers  in  a 
cold  house  in  winter  and  early  spring  can  only  be 
achieved  by  the  cultivation  of  alpines,  which  can 
afterwards  be  stood  outdoors  or  relegated  to  the 
shelter  of  cold  frames  The  article  on  alpines  under 
glass,  which  commences  in  this  issue,  gives  a  selection 
of  varieties  suitable  for  the  purpose  and  particulars 
of  their  culture. 

The  Seed  Order. — -The  time  has  come  when  the 
seed  order  for  the  coming  year  urgently  calls  for 
attention      The  question  of 

perennial  seeds  was  referred 

to   at   some   length   in   our 

issue  of  December  24th  last. 

It  may  not  be  inopportune 

now  to  devote  a  little  space 

to  consideration  of  some  less 

usual    aspects    of    the  seed 

order.    First  as  to  vegetable 

seeds,   the  ordering  of   Pea 

seeds  need  not  detain  us,  but 

when  one  comes  to  the  many 

varieties  of  Bean  it  is  well  to 

consider  whether  one  cannot 

find  space  under  glass,  even 

in  a  cold  house,   for   early 

French  Beans.     Where  heat 

can  be  given,  there  are  many 

excellent  forcing  kinds,  but 

for  the  cold  house  there  is 

still  nothing  better  than  the 

old  Canadian  Wonder.    It  is 

well  to  bear  in  mind  too  that 

any  overplus  of  French  Beans 

may  be  gathered  when  half- 
ripe — they   are   then   called 

Flageolets  —   and      cooked 

similarly  to  green  Peas.   The 

Runner  Bean  can  often  be 

put  to  double  profit,  being 


used  to  form  an  effective  and  beautiful  screen  as 
well  as  for  its  more  obvious  piurpose.  Where  this 
is  in  contemplation,  one  of  the  strains  of  Painted 
Lady  type  should  be  ordered,  as  these  are  very 
prolific,  more  effective  even  than  the  scarlet- 
flowered  and  infinitely  more  beautiful  than  the 
white-flowered  forms.  When  ordering  seeds  of 
Beetroot,  some  good  Globe  variety  will  naturally 
b  ^  in'iluded,  owing  to  the  early  maturity  of  this  type. 
Unless  wanted  for  exhibition  purposes,  it  would  be 
wise  to  discard  the  old-fashioned  long  Beets,  which 
are  troublesome  to  lift,  in  favour  of  the  newer 
intermediate  type  which,  like  the  Mangel,  grows 
half  in  the  ground,  half  out.  Sufficient  attention 
is  assuredly  not  given  to  those  excellent  winter 
vegetables,  the  Sprouting  Broccoli.  Two  or  three 
varieties  for  a  succession  should  certainly  be 
included  in  the  seed  order.  Seed  should  be  procured 
of  a  good,  quick-hearting  Drumhead  Cabbage  for 
spring  sowing  and  late  summer  and  autumn  cutting. 
With  Carrots,  as  with  Beetroot,  the  man  (or  woman) 
who  gardens  for  table  rather  than  for  exhibition 
would  be  wise  to  grow  only  the  stump-rooted  type. 
If  one  likes  pink  Celery,  one  should  bear  in  mind 
that  the  white  matures  earlier.  To  those  who  prefer 
the  white,  on  the  other  hand,  it  is  necessary  to  point 
out  that  the  pink  keeps  better.  Those  who  have 
almost  decided  to  abandon  the  culture  of  Cucumbers 
owing  to  the  ravages  of  spot  disease  should  give  a 
trial  to  that  excellent  immune  variety,   Butcher's 


^M 


/^ 

'&^'" 

^^S^BSm^^ 

,^^.' 

"       "TO 

^ 

'■^t 

3^&^^B||^^^B 

^ 

■V_'--  ^^^- 

V 

'.'N 

■ .'  ^.^  ■ 

WELCOMING    THE    NEW    YEAR. 


Disease  Resisting.  The  past  droughty  season,  so 
bad  for  Turnips,  served  to  emphasise  the  value  of 
the  still  neglected  Kohl  Rabi,  which  should  be 
included  in  every  seed  order.  The  exhibition  table 
has  not  tended  to  the  production  of  useful  Leeks 
for  the  dinner  table.  It  would  puzzle  any  cook  to 
know  how  to  serve  2ft.  long  specimens  otherwise 
than  in  soup.  For  culinary  purposes,  then,  order 
seeds  of  one  of  the  compact  growing  sorts.  Do  not 
forget  a  few  bricks  of  Mushroom  spawn ;  there  is 
no  mystery  or  difficulty  about  Mushroom  culture. 
Except  for  exhibition,  there  is  no  profit  in  "Super- 
Onions."  A  good  crop  of  James's  Long  Keeping  or 
Bedfordshire  Champion  is  far  more  profitable.  It 
should  be  borne  in  mind  that  fern-leaved  Parsley  is 
useless  except  for  garnishing.  It  is  very  doubtful, 
even  for  that  purpose,  whether  it  is  as  suitable  as  a 
good  curled  kind,  which  should  certainly  be  included 
in  the  seed  order.  Do  not  forget  to  include  seed  of 
Garden  Swedes,  which  are  valuable  when  cooked 
like  Turnips,  and  even  more  valuable  for  their 
bleached  spiouts,  which,  from  a  dietetic  point  of 
view,  contain  most  valuable  salts, 

Flower  Seeds. — Turning  now  to  the  flower  seed 
order,  it  would  be  impossible  to  over-emphasise  the 
value  of  the  .\ntirrhinum  for  bedding.  TaU,  semi- 
tall  and  Tom  Thumb  strains  are  all  invaluable,  and 
all  are  proem  able  in  so  many  shades  that  colour 
harmony  can  readily  be  achieved.  As  regards 
Begonias,  few  readers  will  this  year  succeed  in 
obtaining  the  new  Narcissi- 
flora  strain,  but  those  in 
search  of  novelty  may,  with 
confidence,  try  Sutton's 
Duplex  strain,  which  has 
two  or  three  rows  of  crimped 
petals  forming  a  very  chaste 
and  beautiful  flower.  The 
experimentalist  may  obtain 
considerable  joy  by  raising 
Dahlias  or  Chrysanthemums 
from  seed.  Really  excellent 
single  Dahlia  and  Chrysan- 
themums may  be  obtained 
by  this  means.  Every 
gardener  should  each  year 
raise  a  supply  of  Campanula 
pyramidalis,  a  beautiful 
plant  either  in  pot  or  border. 
Few  plants  arc  so  useful  for 
stopping  the  inevitable  but 
ugly  gaps  in  the  herbaceous 
border.  Many  people  who, 
years  ago,  tried  the  feathery- 
leaved  Cosmos  gave  it  up  in 
disgust  because  frost  so  soon 
cut  short  its  beauty.  The 
early-flowering  strains  now 
of'ered  have,  however,  over- 
come this  defect. 


THE    GARDEN. 


[January  7,  1922. 


THE     ALPINE     HOUSE 

There  are  to-day  in  Britain  many  thousands  oj  greenhouses  which,  owing  to  heavy  taxation, 
and  the  cost  oj  fuel  and  labour,  have  to  be  maintained,  if  maintained   at   all,  without  fire 

heat.     Follows  a  suggestion  for  their  elective  use. 


A  N    unhc-atcd      greenhouse      is      by      many 
/%      considered  a  "  white  elephant."     It  need 
/    %     not     be    so.       It    can     be    utilised    in 
/^^^\   a    variety    of    ways,    but  in  none  more 
*■  '  charmingly     than    as    an    alpine    house 

in  winter.  The  elaborate  alpine  houses  some- 
times seen,  with  stone  pillars  to  support  the 
staging  and  "  rusticated  "  back  walls  "  decorated  " 
with  virgin  cork,  are  an  abomination.  There  is 
however,  no  need  for  such  pretentious  fancies. 
Pots  and  pans  of  alpines  may  be  disposed  on  an 
ordinary  staging  iust  as  other  ornamental  plants 
are  staged.  They  will  not,  of  course,  have  the 
tropic  grandeur  or  oriental  fragrance  of  many 
orthodox  stove  or  greenhouse  plants.  They  will, 
however,  possess  a  simple  beauty  of  form  and 
colouring  and  a  perfection  of  detaU  worthy  of  the 
closest  study.  They  will  flower  .when  blossom 
outdoors  is  scarce  or  non-existent  and  their  blossoms 
will  be  cleaner  than  those  which,  later  on,  will 
adorn  the  rock  garden.  Some  of  the  more  minute 
treasures,  too,  will  be  more  fully  seen  and  far 
better  appreciated  when  thus  brought  closer  to 
eye  level. 

It  is,  of  course,  possible  to  grow  all  rock  plants 
under  glass,  but  most  people  will  prefer  to  keep 
the  stronger  growing  sorts  for  the  rock  garden, 
reserving  stage-room  for  plants  which,  if  not 
difficult,  are  choice  and  which  well  repay  study  at 
close  quarters.  Many  hoary  plants,  such  as  the 
Encrusted  and  Kabschia  Saxifrages  and  many 
others  with  downy  foliage,  such,  for  instance,  as 
numerous  Androsaces,  net  only  withstand  our 
winters  better  protected  from  fog,  mist  and  rain, 
but  present  a  much  better  appearance  when  gi\-en 
protection. 

All  alpines,  if  the  necessary  plants  are  available 
look  better  in  colonies  rather  than  as  individuals 
so  that  6in,,  8in.  and  loin.  round  seed  pans  and 
also  the  large  square  propagating  pans  should  be 
made  use  of.  These  last  can  be  massed  together 
to  make  larger  patches  of  colour  if  and  when 
desired. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  plants  which 
personal  taste  would  select  for  the  alpine  house  : 
Saxifraga  longifolia,  S.  Cotyledon  and  S.  kolena 
tiana  major,  all  "  Encrusteds,"  with  fine  rosettes : 
Saxifraga  Grisebachii  and  S.  Stribnryi,  the  rather 
difficult  red-flowered  "  Encrusteds,"  and  S.  mutata. 
with  cool  green  rosettes  and  yellowish  orange 
spikes  of  bloom — a  singular  lime-hating  plant. 
Of  the  smaller  "  Encrusteds,"  which  are  really 
varieties  of  S.  Aiz(x>n,  rosea,  lutea,  paradoxa  minor 
and  balcana  are  excellent,  if  very  "  easy  "  plants, 
while  Saxifraga  lingulata  lantoscana  should 
certainly  find  a  place,  as  should  two  or  three  forms 
of  S.  cochlearis,  and  the  tiny  but  beautiful  S. 
rocheliana.  Coming  now  to  the  Kabschia  section, 
we  have  a  wide  field  to  select  from  and  the  following 
are  only  put  forward  tentatively.  A  large  selection 
should  certainly  be  grown,  which  might  include 
S.  Burseriana,  S.  B.  major  and  S.  B.  Gloria,  all 
very  distinct ;  S.  apiculata,  S.  a.  alba,  S.  Boydii 
alba.  S.  Cherry  Trees.  S.  Faldonside,  S.  Petraschii 
and  S.  L.  G.  Godsefl.  Of  S.  oppositifolia  and  its 
allies  the  best  forms  should  be  selected.  These  are 
S.  o.  coccinea,  S.  o.  splendens.  S.  o.  alba,  which 
Farrer  ill-advisedly  called  a  dirty  white  (there  arc, 
however,  strains  and  straim  of  this  plant),  and 
S.  retusa.  For  the  sake  of  rontrast  and  to  give 
broad  effects,  some  of  the  "  nios^^y  "  Saxifrages  may 


be  tried,  but  they  are  rather  coarse  for  the  purpose 
and  always  look  rather  "  washed-out "  under 
glass. 

Very  interesting  and  beautiful  are  the  numerous 
forms  of  Androsace  which  all  flourish  exceedingly 
in  pans.  Some  of  the  more  indispensable  are 
.\.  sarmentosa,  with  pink  primula-like  flowers  and 
woolly  rosettes  zins.  or  so  across  ;  A.  primuloidcs 
which  is  similar,  but  smaller  and  very  beautiful,  and 
A.  Chumbyi,  which  in  many  ways  resembles  .\. 
primuloides,  but  is,  in  fact,  a  hybrid  between  A. 
sarmentosa  and  A.  villosa.  Other  rare  and  beau- 
tiful plants  are  the  mauve-flowered  A.  scmper- 
vi\'oides  and  the  \'et  more  uncommon  .\.  longifolia. 


-Androsaces,  until  the  petals  are  rose  and  the 
darker  eye  almost  blood  crimson  in  colour.  This 
is  a  plant  of  the  widest  possible  distribution  and 
it  is  accordingly  found  in  many  distinct  forms,  one 
of  which — carinata — comes  from  the  New  World. 
All  are  worthy  of  cultivation,  but  the  only  other  form 
calling  for  special  mention  is  capitata,  which,  with- 
out being  gross,  is  larger  in  flower  than  the  typical 
plant.  The  rosettes  are  almost  globular  and  the 
flowers  hugged  snugly  close  to  the  plants.  Much 
larger  than  Chamffijasme,  and  singular  in  the  irre- 
gular arrangement  of  the  flower  heads,  is  A.  lactea. 
with  milk-white  flowers  which  do  not  change  colour. 
.\.  foliosa,  so  often  offered   in  catalogues,   usually 


THE     BEAUTIFUL    KABSCHIA    SAXIFRAGE    "  FALDONSIDE. 


The  above  are  all  stoloniferous,  as  is  the  smaller 
glossy-leaved  villosa.  with  white  flowers,  of  which 
there  are  many  varieties,  notably  arachnoidca. 
Smaller  still,  but  wonderfully  beautiful,  with  its 
minute  woolly  rosettes,  is  the  limestone-loving 
.A.  helvetica. 

Entirely  different  in  type  are  the  peat-loving 
Chamaejasme  section,  of  which  the  best  known  are 
the  forms  of  A.  carnea,  than  a  well  flowered  speci- 
men of  which  nothing  more  beautiful  could  be  con- 
ceived. Desirable  forms  (in  addition  to  the  type)  are 
called  brigantiaca,  eximea  and  Laggcri,  of  which  the 
last  has  a  beautiful  glowing  colour,  found  in  no 
other  of  the  sub-species.  Though  perfectly  easy 
to  grow  and  flower  outdoors  in  a  peaty  moraine, 
they  repay  close  examination  so  well  that  they 
deserve  a  place  of  honour  in  the  alpine  house. 
A.  Chamajjasme,  thougli  less  widely  known  than 
A.  carnea  and  very  distinct  in  appearance,  yet 
belongs  to  the  same  section  and  is  very  beautiful. 
The  blossoms  which  open  a  creamy  white  with  a 
yellow    eye    darken,    in    the    way    so   usual    with 


proves  to  be  either  A.  strigilosa,  or  even  some- 
times A.  sarmentosa.  The  true  plant  of  this 
largest  of  Androsaces  has  smooth  leaves  with  a 
fringe  of  hairs  only.  It  is  stoloniferous,  but  the 
leaf  cluster  is  too  irregular  to  be  worth  calling  a 
rosette. 

Other  beautiful  species,  mostly  limestone-loving 
and  belonging  to  the  Aretia  class,  which  all  carry 
their  flowers  on  single  stems  (not  in  trusses),  are 
Charpentieri,  ciliata,  cylindrica — curious  in  its 
habit  of  growth — pubescens  and  hirtella.  The 
more  rampant  A.  lanuginosa,  with  silvery  trails 
of  foliage  and  sarmentosa-like  heads  of  bloom,  is 
too  strong  growing  for,  at  any  rate,  the  small 
alpine  house.  It  is  very  beautiful,  none  the  less  ; 
so  is  the  paler  form,  .A.  I.  Lcichtlini. 

Of  the  Lithospermums  the  most  beautiful  of  all, 
L.  rosmarinifolium,  is  suitable  only  for  the  alpine 
house,  as  it  is  rather  tender  outdoors.  The  little 
rosemary-like  bushes  bear  their  azure  flowers  in 
mid-winter.  This  is  more  lovely  even  than  L. 
prostratum,  and  owing  to  its  neat,  compact  habit 


January  7,  1922. 


THE     GARDEN. 


much  more  suitable  for  culture  undi=r  glass.  L. 
graminifolium,  with  its  grass-bke  leaves  and  azur*' 
tubes,  the  much  smaller  petraum  (Moltkia  petra?a) 
and  the  intermediate  forms  called  respecti\'ely 
L  .intermedium  and  L.  x  Froebeli,  should  also  be 
included,  as  should  the  widely  different  L.  canescens, 
which  is  not  difficult  in  strong  peat  under  glass. 
Its  flowers  are  bright  orange  \'eUow. 

From  the  Lithospermums  it  is  but  a  little  step 
to  the  Onosmas,  which,  with  their  usually  wooll\' 
foliage  and  characteristic  bells,  are  very  charming. 
There  are  a  great  number  of  known  species,  but 
most  of  them  are  anything  but  easy  to  procure. 
Those  best  known  are  O.  tauricum,  O.  stellulatum 
and  O.  albo-roseum.  The  tw-o  first  have  golden- 
yellow  fiowers  and  are  very  similar  in  general 
appearance.  Indeed,  they  are  often  confused  in 
nurseries.  O.  albo-roseum  has  broader,  woollier  (so 
much  whiter)  leaves  arranged,  like  those  of  tauri- 
cum. in  rosettes  and  flowers  which,  opening  white, 
rapidly  become  rose,  so  that  the  trusses  have  a 
•distinct  but  not  displeasing  parti-coloured  appear- 
ance. O.  echioides,  which  is  sometimes  found  in 
catalogues,  is  not  greatly  different  from  O.  tauri- 
cum or  O.  stellulatum.  O.  albo-roseum  is  a  pro- 
nouncedly lime-loving  plant. 

Many  plants  of  special  value  for  the  alpine  house 
are  included  in  the  genus  Primula,  Primula  Winteri, 
for  instance,  is  really  only  suitable  for  culture 
under  glass.  The  same  may  be  said  of  Primula 
floribunda,  P.  x  kewensis  and  the  ne%ver  P. 
nialacoides.  Where  space  permits  such  species 
as  pulverulenta,  Cockbmrniana,  and  their  nume- 
rous hybrids,  Beesiana,  Bulleyana,  Poissoni. 
Parryi,  sikkimensis.  and  even  japonica,  may  be 
given  house  room.  This,  indeed,  is  \ery 
•desirable  if  hybridisation  is  in  contemplation. 
P.  involucrata,  P.  Veitchii  (not  too  hardy). 
and  some  of  the  better  forms  of  P.  Sieboldi  will 
probably  be  included  in  any  case.  \'er>'  similar  to 
P.  Veitchii  is  P.  cortusoides  lichiangensis  (the 
Sieboldi  varieties  are.  to  be  pedantic,  forms  of 
cortusoides).  P.  c.  lichiangensis  differs  only  from 
the  perhaps  better  known  P.  Veitchii  in  the  rather 
more  richly   coloured  blossoms,    the   dark   brown 


BEAUTIFUL    IN    LEAF    AND    FLOWER,    PRIMULA    MARGINATA. 


calyces — those  of  ^'oitchii  are  green — and  in  the 
sturdier,  more  erect  habit  and  stouter,  crisper 
foliage. 

Unless  one  can  afford  it  the  shelter  of  a  greenhouse 
the  rare  Primula  Giraldiana  fmuscarioides)  is  very 
difficult  to  keep.  Under  glass  it  is  relatively  easy. 
Muscarioides  is  a  particularly  happy  name  for  this 
quaint  but  pretty  plant — it  is  a  pity  it  happens  to  be 
an  incorrect  one.  The  beautiful  violet-purple  of 
Giraldiana  calls  at  once  to  mind  the  beautiful 
globular-headed  P.  Mooreana,  which  is  the  best 
of  the  many  forms  met  with  in  gardens  as  P. 
capitata,  which  is,  in  fact,  a  "  miffy  "  plant  rarely 
met  with.  Somewhat  similar  but  less  noteworthy  is 
P.  crispa.  We  have  now  insensibly  reached  the 
many  forms,  varieties  and  hybrids  of  Primula 
denticulata.  These  are  all  robust  growers,  but 
valuable  none  the  less  for  the  alpine  house.  It 
is  good  to  raise  these  from  seed  and  select  and  re- 
select  the  best  forms.  Seed  is  often  listed  as 
P.  cashmiriana. 

Primula  Listeri  and  the  somewhat  similar 
sinohsteri  are  both  alpine  house  plants  and  remind 


BEAUTIFUL    ALPINE    AURICULA,    PRIMULA  x    PUBESCENS    MRS 
This  is  often  listed  as  a  variety  of  P.  hirstiia. 


J.    H.    WILSON. 


one  much  of  Primula  obconica.  If  the  same  deep 
rose  and  ruby  colourings  can  be  obtained  in  these 
as  in  P.  obconica,  that  beautiful  but  venomous 
plant  will  soon  become  a  "back  number." 

P.  Littoniana  should  really  have  been  thought  of 
when  discussing  P.  Giraldiana.  It  has  the  same 
curious  orchis-like  appearance  and  is  most  con- 
spicuous on  account  of  the  brilliant  scarlet  bracts 
which  enfold  the  unopened  blossoms.  The  fiowers 
vary  very  considerabh-  in  colour.  Those  of  violet 
hue  are,  of  course,  to  be  preferred. 

Remembering  how  keen  alpine  growers  strive  to 
persuade  P.  farinosa  to  flourish  outdoors,  it  is 
permissible  to  suppose  that  it  will  be  welcome  under 
glass.  Compared  with  the  stronger  growing  and 
infinitely  easier  P.  frcndosa  it  is,  however,  a  poor 
thing,  nor  does  it  compare  favourably  with  the 
very  distinct,  long  tubed  P.  longiflora.  which  also 
is  not  difficult. 

Those  who  like  curiosities  will  no  doubt  admire 
P.  pycnoloba,  which,  like  Littoniana,  admirably 
disguises  its  race  by  bearing  heads  of  flower  which 
remind  one  of  some  of  the  congested  headed 
Campanulas.  It  needs  similar  treatment  to  the 
forms  of  P.  Sieboldi,  to  which  it  is  related.  Those 
who  have  seen  that  "  miffy  "  treasure  P.  Reidii 
,vill  want  to  try  it,  but  it  is  assuredly  far  from  easy. 
Like  many  others,  it  requires  abundance  of  water 
(best  applied  by  standing  the  pans  in  water)  in 
summer  and  very  little  in  winter.  The  late 
Reginald  Farrer,  with  his  natural  tendency  to  the 
picturesque  in  language,  described  it  as  "  hard  to 
keep  as  love,"  and  "  even  in  nature  as  rare  as 
]>erfection."  There  are  numbers  of  other  rare  or 
beautiful  Primulas  which  might  well  be  given  a 
'.rial,  but  we  must  conclude  by  considering  only 
al  few  of  the  Auricula  section.  The  typical  P. 
auricula  has  yellow  flowers  and  mealy  flower  stems. 
It  is  easy  to  grow  indoors  or  out  and  has  many  forms 
in  its  native  habitat.  Besides  such  cross-bred 
forms  as  .Mrs.  J.  H.  Wilson  and  The  General, 
which  are  often  catalogued  as  varieties  of  one 
species  or  another,  the  most  interesting  alpine 
Auriculas,  if  we  may  so  describe  them,  are  P. 
viscosa,  P.  hirsuta,  P.  villosa,  P.  marginata,  P. 
Clusiaua  and  P.  minima,  with  that  magnificent 
hybrid   between   the   two  last — P.   intermedia. 

Mention  must  be  made  of  two  other  alpine 
species  and  then  we  must  turn  to  another  genus. 
The  species  are  P.  AUionii,  which,  though  rare  in 
the  .^Ips,  is  not  difficult  in  the  rock  garden  cliff. 
It  is.  indeed,  far  easier  there  than  in  an  alpine 
house,  but  if  handled  with  judgment  it  can  be 
managed  there.  T  he  other  species,  P.  integrifolia. 
is  an  abundant  one  It  is  quite  distinct  and  easy, 
but  the  flowers  are  not  particularly  pleasing  in 
colour. 

{To  be  continurd.) 


THE     GARDEN. 


[January  7,  1922. 


The     Raising    of    Freesias    from    Seed 


SOON  the  pots  of  fragrant  Freesias  will  be 
filling  the  air  of  the  greenhouse  with 
delicious  perfume — a  perfume  that  is 
distinct  from  all  other  flowers,  unique 
in  its  qualities.  Perhaps  you  have  a  few 
of  the  newer  coloured  forms  that  cf  late  years 
have  so  changed  the  possibilities  of  the  whole 
family  ?  for  the  Freesia  is  in  a  state  of  transition, 
having  left  behind  the  three  or  four  standard 
varieties  which  had  been  grown  for  generations. 
New  colours  and  varying  habits  have  come  into  the 
family  life  and  the  offspring  have  started  upon 
a  new  road  of  which  it 
is  impossible  to  forecast 
the  end. 

This  brings  me  to 
the  point  of  my  note, 
the  intermarriage  of 
some  of  these  new 
forms  and  raising  the 
seeds  so  secured,  which 
very  possibly  may 
reveal  some  still  further 
advance  on  existing 
varieties.  Once  the 
balance  of  a  plant  has 
been  affected  and  the 
germ  cell  changed  it 
is  capable  of  sudden 
jumps  that  never  happen 
in  the  ordinary  course 
of  life  at  all,  and  the 
Freesia  is  in  this  state 
at  the  present  time. 
Raising  from  seeds  (so 
lengthy  and  tedious  a 
process  with  many  bul- 
bous flowers)  is  a  rapid 
one,  for  the  Freesia 
is  a  quick-turn  plant, 
and  you  have  the  joy 
of  seeing  the  tangible 
result  of  your  experi- 
m  e  n  t  within  twelve 
months  of  carrying  it 
out.  Select  your  parents 
with  a  definite  aim  in 
view.  Either  you  wish 
to  strengthen  colour  by 
intermarr>'ing  two  of 
similar  shade,  you  desire 
to  improve  habit  by 
using  pollen  from  a 
weak  -  stemmed  variety 
of  good  colour  upon  the 
stigma  of  a  sturdier 
form,  or  you  wish  to 
aim  at  something  abso- 
lutely new  by  combining 
two  diverse  colours. 
In    either      case,     have 

a  definite  goal  and  do  not  mingle  indiscrimin- 
ately in  the  hope  of  hitting  the  bull's-eye 
somewhere. 

After  crossing,  take  care  of  your  plants.  Very 
often  plants  that  are  carrying  seed  capsules  take 
longer  to  mature  their  foUage  than  those  grown 
in  the  ordinary  way,  and  no  attempt  must  be 
made  to  hasten  this.  Secure  the  maximum 
amount  of  fertihty  by  the  maximum  of  ripeness. 
Seed  can  be  sown  either  in  April  or  August,  the 
April  sowing  often  coinciding  with  the  period 
at  which  the  seed  matures.  Sow  in  a  rich  but 
light  compost,  sandy  loam  with  a  little  finely 
crumbled  leaf-mould  being  good.  Well  drain  the 
pans  and  cover  the  seeds  but  shallimly  with  soil. 
Even   moisture   is   important,    though   care   must 


be  taken  not  to  get  the  soil  too  wet.  Half  a  dozen 
seeds  are  sufficient  for  a  5in.  pan.  and  the  brisker 
the  temperature  the  more  quicldy  the  seeds 
germinate.  Five  or  six  weeks  are  generally 
sufficient,  and  once  well  through  the  soil  the 
pans  should  be  removed  to  a  lower  temperature. 
Keep  them  in  a  good  Ught,  so  as  to  avoid  drawing 
up  thin  and  lanky,  a  complaint  to  which  Freesias 
are  especially  prone  if  grown  in  shade.  Only 
the  brightest  sunshine  should  be  screened  from 
the  plants  during  summer,  but  sufficient  shading 
is    important    to    prevent    scalding.     By    sowing 


A    BEAUTIFUL    HYBRID    FREESIA. 


half  a  dozen  seeds  in  a  3iu.  pan  any  necessity  for 
repotting  is  avoided,  but  where  they  have  been 
sown  more  closely  than  this  you  must  handle  with 
extreme  care,  for  they  are  extremely  brittle,  and 
it  is  the  easiest  possible  matter  to  break  the  small 
plants  by  rough  or  careless  usage  and  thus  lose 
what  might  prove  a  lovely  flower. 

Another  way.  of  course,  would  be  to  sow  singly 
each  seed  in  a  3iin.  pot  that  would  see  the  resultant 
plant  through  to  maturity ;  but  this  demands  a 
considerable  amount  of  space  if  much  crossing  is 
done  and  there  is  a  bountiful  crop  of  seed,  so  that 
generally  several  in  a  pot  is  better. 

Through  the  summer  the  plants  can  be  grown 
outside,  of  course,  which  will  relieve  the  pressure 
on    the   greenhouse    aceommodation    for    the   time 


being.  An  open,  though  somewhat  shaded, 
position  should  be  chosen  for  them,  especially 
if  the  single  pot  system  is  adopted,  for  where 
exposed  to  full  s\mlight  it  is  quite  impossible  to 
keep  these  small  pots  watered  through  a  spell  of 
real  drought,  for  watering  would  certainly  be 
required  by  some  of  them  two  and  even  three 
times  in  a  day.  Before  frosts  occur  in  autumn 
the  pots  must  be  brought  inside  again,  where  a 
comfortable  temperature  of  between  fio"  and  60° 
is  maintained,  and  should  be  ranged  on  a  shelf 
near  the  glass  where  their  requirements  as  tO' 
watering,  etc.,  can  be  examined  with  facility. 

Watch  for  the  first  signs  of  the  foliage  toppling 
over,  and  prevent  this  by  looping  each  plant 
lightly  to  a  thin  stake,  so  that  it  will  permit 
growth  to  go  forward  and  at  the  same  time  main- 
tain it  in  an  upright  position.  Then  comes  the 
interesting  point  at  which  the  buds  appear — 
buds  so  crammed  with  possibihties.  Will  they  be 
new  ?  Will  they  be  worth  the  while  ?  Time 
alone  will  prove,  but  you  will  at  least  have  had  a 
fascinating  experiment  and.  possibly,  a  big- 
reward.  BULBIST. 


Perpetual  Border  Carnations  and 
Allwoodii 

Mr.  Montagu  Allwood's  own  views  on  the 

cultivation  of  the  Hardy  Perpetual  Border 

Carnations   and  Dianthus   Allwoodii. 

THE  two  most  recent  and  important 
developments  of  the  Carnation,  the 
Perpetual  Border  Carnation  and  Dianthus 
Allwoodii,  are  of  great  interest  to  all 
horticulturists.  The  object  in  raising 
these  new  hardy  races  was  to  produce  plants 
giving  the  same  perfect  formation  of  flower  as  the 
old  Border  Carnation  and  Common  Pink  types, 
yet  hardier  in  constitution  and  perpetual  flowering 
outdoors  from  spring  to  late  winter.  That  we 
have  succeeded  is  evident  by  the  flowers  we  have 
before  us  at  the  present  time,  and  in  the  many 
thousands  of  seedlings  under  test  there  is  found' 
a  larger  range  of  colour  than  in  any  other  sectioa 
of  the  Carnation  family. 

Regarding  the  propagation  of  these  new  races 
of  Dianthus,  the  same  system  is  adopted  heie 
as  with  the  Perpetual- flowering  Carnation,  except 
that  the  best  period  for  rooting  the  cuttings  is 
from  June  to  September.  This  should  be  done 
in  cold  frames  or  greenhouses,  double  shading 
being  necessary  in  excessively  hot  weather  to 
minimise  the  hot,  dry  atmosphere.  After  rooting, 
they  are  potted  direct  into  3in.  pots  and,  when 
established,  receive  one  stopping  only  at  the 
sixth  or  eighth  joint,  after  which  they  are  ready 
for  planting  direct  into  the  garden,  care  being 
taken  that  the  young  plants  do  not  become 
chicked  or  starved  in  the  small  pots  before 
planting. 

As  regards  general  cultivation,  this  is  identicaJ 
with  that  of  the  old-fashioned  Border  Carnation 
In  common  with  all  flowering  plants,  they  flourish, 
best  in  an  open  position  which  has  a  direct  light 
and  is  not  overshadowed  by  trees  or  buildings  ; 
in  fact,  they  will  flourish  anywhere  except  in 
complete  shade.  It  is  not  wise  to  plant  the 
young  plants  closer  together  than  6ins.,  or  further 
apart  than  i8ins.  Our  plants,  which  we  leave 
in  the  same  position  for  three  years  on  our  niu-sery 
beds,  are  planted  at  I2ins.  apart,  but  for  an 
edging  loins.  would  be  the  correct  distance  to- 
leave  between  them  ;    that  is.  from  stem  to  stem. 

Such  reasonable  and  hardy  plants  as  Allwoodii' 
and  Perpetual  Border  Carnations,  which  are  practi- 
cally fool-proof  and  will  grow  on  a  railway  bank. 


January  7,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


naturally  are  not  exacting  as  to  soils,  and  will 
flourish  in  those  of  any  texture  if  the  following 
simple  advice  is  observed.  In  the  case  of  very 
light,  sandy  soil,  which  as  a  rule  is  poor  and  lacks 
plant  food,  autumn  and  early  spring  planting  is 
advisable.  The  advantage  of  light  soil  is  that 
the  plants  have  free  drainage  during  winter  and 
commence  to  grow  earlier  in  spring.  A  heavy 
dusting  of  pulverised  chalk  dug  into  light  soil 
gives  it  substance.  A  top-dressing  of  Carnation 
food,  given  from  April  to  September,  is  beneficial. 
Hoeing  the  surface  soil  once  each  week  in  bright. 
dry  weather  will  help  the  roots  to  keep  cool  and 
moist,  and  also  assist  the  Carnation  food  (which 
should  be  organic,  and  not  chemical)  to  perform 
its  work.  Better  results  are  obtained  from 
repeated  top- dressings  and  hoeing  than  from 
digging  in  large  quantities  of  yard  manure. 

The  soil  at  our  Wivelsfield  Nurseries  is  heavy 
clay,  but  at  our  Plump  ton  Nurseries  it  is  medium 
loam,  and  this  is  ideal.  Allwoodii  and  the 
Perpetual  Border  Carnation  were  raised  and 
reared,  however,  at  Wivelsfield  Nurseries.  Heavy 
soil  is  best  deeply  dug  or  bastard  trenched  in  early 
autumn,  and  left  as  rough  as  possible  so  that 
winter  frosts  can  pulverise  it.  A  dusting  of  lime 
will  help  to  break  the  soil  down.  Old  yard 
manure  or  other  enriching  medium  is  best  added 
when  the  surface  of  the  soil  is  lightly  forked,  or 
Canterbury-hoed  over,  in  spring.  In  heavy  soil 
all  seasons  are  favourable  for  planting,  with  the 
exception  of  late  autumn  and  winter. 

The  soil  in  an  old  town  garden  is  often  sour 
and   infested   with    earthworms,    through   lack   of 


cultivation.  This  soil  simply  wants  correct 
treatment  to  make  it  ideal  for  Allwoodii.  A 
dusting  of  lime  is  the  most  valuable  addition. 
Use  just  sufficient  to  look  like  a  light  snowstorm, 
then  deeply  dig  the  soil,  leaving  it  in  big  lumps 
and  as  rough  as  possible,  so  that  the  light,  air 
and  sun  can  sweeten  it.  when  it  should  be  left 
for  a  few  weeks.  The  soil  is  best  enriched  during 
spring  and  summer  with  Carnation  food,  while 
hoeing  during  bright,  dry  weather  is  of  the  greatest 
possible  assistance  to  the  plants 

It  seems  unnecessary  to  describe  the  various 
ways  of  growing  Allwoodii  and  Perpetual  Border 
Carnations,  because  they  will  grow  in  any  place 
where  plants  will  flourish  and  flower.  This  alone 
will  suggest  to  the  mind  of  an  enthusiastic  grower 
innumerable  ways  and  means  of  cultivating  them. 
As  carpet  plants  under  standard  Roses  they  are 
ideal,  being  shallow  rooted,  while  Roses  are  deep 
rooted  In  window-boxes  or  lawn  vases  no  plant 
can  look  more  beautiful  or  supply  a  greater  show 
of  bloom  from  May  to  October.  We  have  seen 
AUwoodii  making  a  brave  display  in  pots  on 
window-sUls.  Naturally,  as  edging  plants  or  in 
beds  by  themselves  one  first  thinks  of  growing 
them,  but  in  rockeries  or  dry  walls  they  seem  at 
home.  If  you  can  plant  them  with  a  background 
of  dark  evergreen  shrubs  their  blue-grccn  foliage 
is.  in  the  winter,  seen  to  great  advantage.  These 
new  flowers,  with  their  old-world  charm,  have 
only  to  become  known  to  be  loved  by  all.  A  bed 
or  edging  of  one  variety  gives  the  appearance  of  a 
drift  of  colour  and  can  be  fitted  into  a  piece  of  per- 
fect colour  harmonv.       Mont.-vgu  C.   Allwood 


THE    SHADED    ROCK    GARDEN 

SoTne  of  the  many  plants  suitable  for  the  shaded  parts  of  the  rock  garden    are    touched 

upon  below. 


FROM  the  plantsman's  hsts,  the  almost 
unlimited  books  and  articles  that  have 
been  written  on  the  subject  of  alpine 
and  rock  plants,  and  the  constant 
reiteration  of  the  phrases  "  must  have 
full  sun,"  "  a  position  fully  exposed  to  the  sun." 
etc.,  we  are  in  danger  of  losing  sight  entirely 
of  the  rock  plants  that  not  only  thrive  in,  but 
demand  shade  if  we  are  to  obtain  the  finest  and 
best  examples  of  them.  First  of  all.  let  us  get 
this  point  absolutely  clear  and  distinct.  There  is 
shade — and  shade :  the  natural,  cool,  grateful 
shade,  formed  either  by  the  shadow  of  a  large 
Took  or  a  north  aspect,  where  the  soil  is  always 
damp  and  where  colonies  of  Primulas,  many 
Saxifrages,  Haberleas,  dwarf  bulbs,  Ramondias 
etc.,  revel  and  turn  this  into  a  delicious  little 
wonderland  of  captivating  flower  and  foliage — 
that  is  the  kind  of  shade  I  had  in  mind  when 
I  wrote  my  title.  Then  there  is  the  shade  that 
is  utterly  hopeless  and  had  better  be  turned  into 
a  plantation  of  strong-growing  hardy  Ferns  and 
Funkias — the  shade  that  is  beneath  tree  boughs 
where,  whenever  it  rains  the  earth  is  soddened 
with  drip  and  stagnant  wet  and  where  no  self- 
respecting  rock  plant  will  live  through  a  single 
winter.  Not  long  ago  a  lady  asked  me  to  go  and 
see  her  "rock  garden"  where  conditions  similar 
to  the  latter  obtamed,  and  I  must  candidly  admit 
that,  among  the  few  plants  that  had  managed 
to  continue  their  existence,  very  few  indeed  would 
have  been  recognised  as  alpines  by  the  genuine 
alpine  lover.  Where,  however,  a  shaded  slope 
exists  right  clear  out  in  the  open,  with  no  over- 
hanging boughs,  and  where  sufficient  moisture- 
retaining  material,  such  as  peat,  etc.,  can  be 
added   to  the  soil,   we  may  have  a  rock   garden 


upon  which  the  sun  never  shines  in  his  strength 
and  a  rock  garden  as  packed  with  choice  plants 
and  flowers  as  the  most  favoured  suntrap  where 


every  advantage  that  can  be  provided  by  man 
and  Nature  contributes  to  success. 

Though  I  have  spoken  so  far  of  either  sun  or 
shade  in  an  alternative  sense,  the  ideal  rock 
garden  is  a  combination  of  both,  where  one  passes 
from  sunland  into  shadow  and  the  plants  are 
varied  accordingly.  Another  excellent  way — 
where  space  is  ample — is  to  pass  from  the  sunny 
rock  garden,  gradually,  towards  a  clump  of  trees 
that  are  the  shade-makers  and,  by  the  restrained 
use  of  a  few  bold  rocks  and  a  good  deal  of  short 
turf,  etc.,  pass  into  a  really  natural  little  piece  of 
miniature  alpine  pasture — a  refined  and  improved 
pasture,  if  one  may  dare  to  say  this  of  Nature's 
handiwork — with  all  the  coarser,  commoner  plants 
weeded  out,  the  ultra  ultimate  super-planting,  as 
though  she  had  concentrated  there  in  our  collection 
samples  of  her  best  and  greatest  gift  to  one  favoured 
devotee.  Here,  one  large  rock  should  stand 
cracked  and  split  into  clefts  and  crevices,  holding 
back  a  large  body  of  earth  behind  it.  so  that 
Haberleas  and  Ramondias  can  be  packed  in 
horizontally  and  form  immense  rosettes  of  deep 
green  wrinkled,  hairy  leaves,  from  the  centre  of 
which — each  June — push  up  scores  of  stems  of 
rosy  purple,  orange-centred  flowers.  It  is  fairly 
generally  known  now  that  both  these  plants 
must  be  planted  horizontally  so  as  to  throw  the 
rain  from  the  centres  and  prevent  wet  lodging 
among  the  hairy  leaves,  but  at  the  same  time 
they  quickly  perish  if  dry.  They  root  very 
deeply,  and  great  care  must  be  taken  in  packing 
them  to  see  that  the  roots  really  can  penetrate 
far  into  a  large  body  of  peaty  loam,  that  the 
soil  completely  surrounds  the  roots  and  that 
adjoining  cracks  are  filled  as  well,  so  that  cold 
winds  cannot  destroy  the  roots  by  blowing  through 
and  drying  out  the  earth. 

Among  the  short  grass  is  the  natural  home  of 
numberless  hardy  Primulas,  and  never  do  they 
appear  more  captivating  than  when  seen  in  such 
a  setting.  What  can  compare  with  a  mossy  grass 
bank  in  February  and  March  fiUed  with  our 
native  Primrose,  for  instance  ?  And  in  their 
natural  habitat,  remember,  this  is  how  all  the 
hardy   Primulas   grow.     It   is   the   gardener   that 


A    CANDIDATE    FOR    THE    SHADY    ROCK    GARDEN — HOUSTONIA    CCERULEA. 


THE    GARDEN. 


[January  7,  192 


has  segregated  them  and  dropped  them  into 
little  pockets  of  rock  and  earth,  divorced  from 
the  short,  close  verdant  grass  setting  that  serves 
to  keep  the  roots  evenly  moist  at  all  seasons 
and  cool  in  summer.  You  must,  of  course,  choose 
varieties  that  are  suitable  for  this,  and  the  large 
majority  are  on  your  side,  among  which  the 
following  are  all  good :  P.  AUionii,  calycina, 
oarniolica,  donticulata,  hirsuta.  imperialis.  latifolia, 
megase«efoIia,  pubescens  alba  and  villosa.  Do  not 
overlook  the  absolute  importance  of  procuring  a 
really  dwarf,  close-growing,  wiry  grass  for  the 
purpose  of  surrounding  such  plants,  or  they  will 
be  buried  among  the  deep  lush  growth.  A  fine 
little  thing  that  makes  itself  at  home  everywhere 
and — if  the  idea  is  being  worked  out  on  a  small 
scale — might  well  take  the  place  of  turf  is  Arenaria 
balearica,  a  wee  green  carpeter  covered  with  tiny 
white  flowers.  This  wiU,  if  there  is  sufficient 
dampness,  run  all  over  the  place,  even  on  the 
bare  rock  face,  taking  the  shape  of  the  rock  itself 
as  it  runs.  The  effect  of  a  little  patch  of  this 
surrounding  a  dozen  irregularly  planted  plants 
of  P.  Bulleyana  is  simply  superb.  Close  down 
on  the  earth  a  dense  carpet  of  shining  green 
leaves  starred  with  tiny  eye-Uke  white  flowers, 
then  the  Primula,  a  cunning  plant  which  disguises 
itself  as  the  common  Primi'ose  until  its  flowers 
appear.  These,  however,  are  in  whorls,  on  stems 
about  a  foot  high,  with  rich  golden  yellow  flowers 
tinted  on  the  outside  with  apricot.  Speaking  of 
delightful  carpeters,  do  not  overlook  Tiarella 
cordifolia  for  use  among  taller  plants,  for  this 
will  really  grow  itself  and  run  about  by  means 
of  runners  as  freely  as  the  Strawberry. 

A  notable  long-flowering  plant  is  Chrysogonum 
virginianum.  and  this  we  can  use  anywhere  in  the 
shaded  rock  garden  with  the  utmost  confidence, 
for  it  persistently  bears  bright  golden  flowers 
even  under  the  dense  shade  of  trees,  and  that 
for  months.  Another  continuous  bloomer  that 
will  not  disappoint  is  Claytonia,  of  which  the  two 
varieties  that  I  like  best  are  C.  caroliniana,  with 
charming  rosy  flowers  in  July,  and  C.  sibirica, 
a  trailing-habited  plant  with  bronze  foliage  and 
rose  flowers  in  racemes.  One  species  of  Cortusa — 
Matthioli — with  its  umbels  of  drooping  purple 
flowers,  repays  massing  near  its  relatives,  the 
Primulas,  and  gives  a  continuous  effect  from 
April  to  June.  A  very  choice  shade  lover  is 
Galax  aphylla,  the  lovely  Wand  Flower.  This 
is  a  North  American  creeping  plant  that  throws 
up  fine  spikes  of  white  flowers  in  summer  on 
stems  a  foot  high,  though  to  many  its  greatest 
effect  does  not  appear  until  autumn,  when  the 
large  evergreen  leaves  assume  their  winter  dress 
of  bronze  and  crimson.  While  not  easy  to  grow, 
the  Bluets — Houstonia  ccerulea — is  worth  any 
amount  of  trouble  to  ensure  its  complete  happiness 
Set  the  plants  in  the  shady  rock  garden  in  an 
equal  mixture  of  peat,  leaf-mould,  sand  and 
fibrous  loam.  Though  they  like  plenty  of  water 
in  summer,  winter  wet  is  fatal,  and  a  sheet  of 
glass  over  them  (as  with  the  wet-hating  Androsaces) 
is  essential  in  winter.  This  brings  to  mind  a  very 
choice  species  of  these  .Androsaces — foliosa.  This 
is.  again,  a  very  continuous  bloomer,  lasting  from 
May  to  September,  loving  limestone  and  flowering 
in  large  umbels  of  rosy  lilac  blooms. 

Wulfenias,  though  generally  recommended  for 
raised  parts  of  the  bog  garden,  do  well  in  the  shady 
rock  garden,  and  both  of  the  two  species  are 
scarce  plants,  coming  from  the  Himalayas  and 
needing  similar  treatment  to  the  Primulas  ;  that 
is,  a  damp,  peaty  soil  and  cool  shade  for  the  roots. 
Do  not  omit  the  numberless  indispensable  corms, 
bulbs  and  tubers  which  add  so  much  charm  in 
spring  and  autumn.  The  wealth  of  material  to 
hand  in  this  class  is  astounding,  for  the  wee 
miniature  Narcissi — Bulbocodium,  minimus,  etc.. 


with  Muscari,  Ornithogalums,  Fritillarias,  Ery- 
throniums  and  hosts  of  others — transform  the 
whole  scene  into  a  veritable  fairyland  of  beauty  in 
spring,  whileautumn-flowering  varieties  of  the  h.irdy 
Cyclamens,  etc.,  are  no  less  serviceable  in  autumn 
Where  my  suggestion  of  letting  the  shady  rock 
garden  run  out  towards  trees  as  an  extension 
of  the  ordinary  rock  garden  is  followed  out,  you 
will  find  that  there  comes  a  definitely  marked  line 
beyond  which,  towards  the  trunk  of  the  tree,  the 
grass  becomes  sparser  and  sparser  and  finally 
all  vegetation  ceases.  What  is  to  be  done,  you 
say,  with  this  ?  To  leave  it  bare  is  an  eyesore, 
yet  Nature  herself  has  refused  to  have  anything 
more  to  do  with  it.  Oh,  no,  she  has  not — never 
was  a  greater  error  1  Put  in  a  few  bushes  of 
Hypericum.     This  genus  contains  a  large  number 


of  species,  sufficiently  diverse  to  add  a  great  deal 
of  interest,  and  possessing  the  advantage  of  being 
practically  ever-blooming  so  far  as  summer  and 
autumn  are  concerned  ;  while  the  dwarf  Chry- 
sogonum, to  which  allusion  has  already  been 
made,  is  splendid  in  early  spring  to  produce  a 
gold  effect  before  the  Hypericums  begin.  Greatest 
of  all.  however,  are  the  common  woodland  Blue- 
bells, massed  in  hundreds  —  ay,  thousands,  if 
space  permit — so  that  as  one  looks  ahead  in  the 
early  spring  days  the  whole  earth  seems  but  aii 
intenser  reflex  of  the  cloudless  sky  above.  Y'es, 
far  from  the  shady  portion  of  the  rock  garden 
being  a  matter  to  bemoan,  it  is  an  opportunity 
to  grasp — an  opportunity  the  possibilities  of 
which  have  been  but  briefly  sketched  in  the 
above  note.  H.  W.   Can.\'ing-W right. 


THE    YEW    AND   ITS  VARIETIES 

Some  attributes  and  peculiarities  of  one  of  the   most   zaluable   of  our   hardy  evergreen 
trees,  with  a  list  of  the  more  ivorthy  forms. 


THE  Yews  are  widely  distributed  trees 
in  a  wild  state.  Opinions  differ  in  regard 
to  their  specific  nomenclature.  Some 
botanists  make  as  many  as  seven  distinct 
species,  while  others  incline  to  the 
belief  that  they  are  all  varieties,  or  geographical 
forms  of  one  species,  Taxus  baccata.  The  behaviour 
of  the  common  Y'ew  under  cultivation  rather 
confirms  the  latter  view,  for  in  gardens  there  is 
as  much  or  even  more  difference  between  cultivated 
varieties  than  between  some  of  the  so-called 
species,  the  variations  in  which  are  probably  due 
to  climate  and  soil  The  common  Yew  is  a  native 
of  Europe  (including  Britain)  and  Noith  Africa, 
and  extends  in  Asia  as  far  as  the  Himalavas.     The 


A    FINE    AVENUE    OF    IRISH     YEW    (tAXUS    BACCATA 
FASTIGIATA)    at    LAMPORT    HALL. 


Chinese  form  is  known  as  sinensis  ;  the  Japanese, 
cuspidata ;  the  Canadian,  canadensis  ;  and  the 
Pacific  Coast  Y'ew,  brcvifolia.  The  Yew  is  also 
recorded  from  Mexico  and  Florida,  but  these  forms 
are,  apparently,  not  in  cultivation. 

Among  the  numerous  hardy  evergreen  trees 
and  shrubs  planted  freely  in  the  pleasure  grounds 
and  shrubberies  the  Y'ew  is  one  of  the  most 
valuable  of  them  all.  .As  specimen  trees  on  the  lawn 
the  value  of  the  numerous  beautiful  aud  distinct 
\arieties  is  by  no  means  fully  recognised.  Some 
are  tall,  imposing  and  graceful  in  outline  ;  others 
of  moderate  height  and  wide  spreading  ;  several 
compact  in  habit  or  rich  in  colour  ;  while  the 
f.istigiate  character  of  the  Irish  Yew  is  well  known. 
In  the  shrubbery  border 
the  Yew  may  be  planted 
as  a  screen,  where  it  will 
thrive  in  sun  or  shade, 
and  form  an  excellent 
background  for  flowering 
trees,  shrubs  and  herba- 
ceous plants.  For  hedges 
its  oiJy  serious  rival  is  the 
Holly,  while  for  topiary 
work  the  Yew  is  un- 
equalled,standing  constant 
clipping  year  after  year  for 
an  apparently  indefinite 
period,  certainly  for  a 
couple  of  hundred  years 
The  Yew  is  dioecious, 
very  rarely  monoecious, 
so  that  if  it  is  desired  to 
secure  attractive  fruits  in 
quantity,  male  and  fem.ile 
trees  must  be  planted  in 
close  proximity.  The  male 
trees,  as  a  rule,  produce 
pollen  in  abundance,  the 
wind  distributing  it  when 
it  is  ripe  in  almost 
cloud-like  form. 

1  he  Yew  thrives  in  most 
soils  and  positions,  is 
very  hardy  and  useful 
to  pl.ant  in  exposed  situa- 
tions. Liberal  pruning 
does  not  harm  thi-  trees, 
so  that  it  is  quite  easy 
to  keep  the  \'ew  tree 
within  bounds  when 
becoming  too  large  for 
its  position    or    crowding 


i,ii?..!iS,>J 


January  7,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


a  neighbour  in  the  shrubbery.  Very  old  trees, 
Vew  hedges  and  lawn  specimens  derive  benefit 
from  liquid  manure  or  a  dressing  of  old  decayed 
faimyard  manure. 

Seeds  provide  a   ready  means   of    propagating 
the  common  Yew  in  quantity.     Though   most  of 


or  Pacific  Coast  Yew  ;  canadensis,  the  Canadian 
Yew,  a  low-spreading  shrub  up  to  about  .(ft.  high  ; 
cuspidata,  the  Japanese  Yew,  having  a  yellow 
tinge  on  the  underside  of  the  leaves  ;  Dovastoni, 
the  Westfelton  Yew,  horizontal  branches  and 
nendulou';  Iranchlets,  forming  beautiful  specimen 


.^^.^. 


sV   "     .?«* 


Zn^--^' 


-rf^.-^?.. 


SOME    OF    THE    WONDERFUL    TOPIARY    (ENGLISH     YEW)    AT    ELVASTON    CASTLE. 


the  named  varieties  are  seedling  variations,  it 
is  necessary  to  reproduce  these  from  cuttings. 
Among  a  considerable  number  of  seedlings  raised 
from  the  varieties  adpressa  and  fastigiata  in  the 
nursery  here  not  one  has  come  tiue.  They  all 
resemble  more  the  common  Yew  than  either  of 
the  seed-bearing  trees.  August  is  a  good  time 
to  insert  cuttings  in  sandy  soil  under  bell-glasses 
or  handlights.  Make  them  of  the  current  season's 
growth,  some  2ins.  long,  with  a  slight  heel  of  old 
wood. 

The  average  height  of  the  trees  is  from  35ft. 
to  50ft.,  though  at  Midhurst  there  are  specimens 


trees.  Horizontalis  is  similar,  but  the  Iranchlets 
are  not  pendulous — clegantissima  is  a  golden- 
leaved  form  of  it ;  pendula,  procumbens  and 
ericoides  are  dwarf  forms  suitable  for  the  rock 
garden  ;  fructu-luteo  has  attractive  golden  fruits  ; 
while  fastigiata,  the  Irish  Yew  and  its  golden 
variety  auiea  are  well  known  forms. 

Kew.  A.  0s3OR\-. 


SOME   WILD    ROSES 


not  stiff,  and  will  attain  a  height  of  6ft.  to  8ft. 
It  is  suitable  for  covering  large  stones  on  the 
rock  garden  or  as  isolated  specimens  near  the 
lawn,  while  it  should  be  useful  for  making  a  hedge 
around  a  formal  Rose  garden.  The  foliage  is 
pleasing  at  all  times,  and  the  flowers  are  followed 
by  hips  of  a  dark  crimson  colour. 

.  No    pruning    is    needed    except 

cutting  out  a  few  of  the  old 
growths  when  they  become 
crowded. 

R.  WlLLMOTTi.E. — This  pretty 
and  very  distinct  species  was 
named  after  the  well  known 
amateur.  Miss  Willmott  of  Warley 
Place,  and  it  was  discovered  in 
Western  China  by  Messrs. Veitch's 
collector,  Wilson,  some  fifteen 
years  ago.  The  single  rosy- 
carmine  flowers,  which  are  about 
I  in.  across,  are  freely  produced 
during  June.  They  are  borne 
singly  on  short  stems  on  wood 
of  the  previous  year's  growth. 
The  fruits  are  orange-red,  and 
the  elegant  foliage  and  arching 
growths  add  greatly  to  the 
value  of  a  species  which  is  quite 
distinct  from  the  majority  of 
Roses    in    cultivation. 

R.  MoYEsii  — No  species  01 
hybrid  of  recent  introduction 
has  attracted  so  much  attention 
as  this  delightful  plant.  It  is 
quite  distinct  in  habit,  and  no 
other  Rose  produces  just  that 
shade  of  colour  —  it  stands 
alone.  It  was  first  collected 
by  Mr.  A.  E.  Pratt  about  1890 
in  the  mountains  of  Szechuan 
at  an  elevation  from  7,000ft.  to  9,000ft.. 
and  it  was  named  in  honour  of  the  Rev. 
J.  Moyes,  a  missionary  in  China.  Introduced  to 
cultivation  by  Messrs.  Veitch  in  1903,  it  was. 
when  shown  by  them  on  June  gth,  1908,  given 
an  award  of  merit  by  the  R.H.S.  When  it  was 
exhibited  by  Mr.  J.  C.  Allgrove  on  June  30th,  1916. 
it  gained  the  coveted  first-class  certificate,  an 
award  thoroughly  well  deserved.  R.  Moyesii  is 
quite  hardy,  a  free  grower,  and  will  form  a  bush 
6ft.  to  loft.  high.  The  flowers  are  about  2ins. 
across,    dark   red,    the   younger   blooms   being    a 


The  simple  elegance    of   the    single    blossom       shade  of  cardinal  red.  while  an  additional  charm 
in  a  grove  70ft.  to  80ft  high.     Grown  in  the  open      appeals  almost  to  everyone.      This  is  one  of     ■*    'he   large   cluster   of   tawny   yellow   stamens 


the  Yew  is  frequently  wide  spreading.  .\t 
Whittinghame  there  is  a  tree  125  yds.  in  circum- 
ference. One  of  the  largest  trunks  recorded  is 
in  Darley  Dale  churchyard  with  a  girth  of  27ft. 
lu  many  widely  distributed  places  there  are 
notewoithy  specimens,  these  being  frequently 
associated  with  churches  and  buildings  of  historic 
interest. 

Topiary  work,  though  not  so  popular  as  formerly, 
is  represented  by  many  fine  examples,  one  of 
the  best  being  at  Elvaston  Castle,  Derbyshire. 
Among  the  older  school  of  gardeners  clipped 
Yews  still  have  many  admirers,  being  an  interesting 
and  remarkable  phase  of  arboriculture.  ."Vssociated 
with  old  formal  castles  and  mansions,  the  art  of 
topiary  work  may  be  effectively  employed,  as 
■\>w  stands  particiJarly  well  cutting  into  extra- 
ordinary shapes  and  forms. 

An  excuse  sometimes  given  against  the  use  of 
the  common  Yew  in  the  pleasiure  grounds  as  a 
specimen  tree  is  its  sombre  appearance.  This 
does  not  hold  .good  with  many  of  the  beautiful 
varieties.  The  most  distinct  and  pleasing  of  these 
include  adpressa,  adpressa  stricta  and  adpressa 
aurea,  forms  with  smaller  leaves :  aurea  and 
Barroni,   golden   Yews,   bre\ifolia,   the  Californian 


the  principal  charms  of  the  Rose  species. 


D 


URING  the  last  twenty  years  a  number 
of  species  of  Roses  have  been  intro- 
duced from  China,  and  although  they 
do  not  command  the  attention 
bestowed  on  the  various  Hybrid  Teas, 
they  nevertheless  deserve  a  place  in  every  garden 
where  space  can  be  found  for  them.  Wild  Roses 
appeal  to  me,  short  though  their  flowering  season 
be,  for  in  autumn  the  numerous  highly  coloured 
hips  produced  by  some  species  render  them  con- 
spicuous and  exceedingly  bright  at  a  time  when 
most  other  plants  are  past  their  best.  The  finest 
effect  is  brought  about  by  grouping  the  various 
species  in  the  shrubbery  border,  on  the  fringe 
of  the  wild  garden,  or  wherever  they  can  be  allowed 
to  ramble  without  much  pruning.  Thinning  out 
the  old  growths  is  all  the  pruning  they  need. 
One  of  the  most  noteworthy  is  R.  Hugonis,  intro- 
duced from  China  by  the  French  missionary, 
Peter  Hugo,  some  twenty  years  ago.  The  single 
sulphm'-yellow  flowers,  about  ains.  across,  ap>iear 
towards  the  en1  of  Alay,  the  graceful  arching 
growths  being  more  or  less  clothed  with  blooms. 
The  habit  of  the  plant  is  semi-erect  and  certainly 


The  erect  growths  are  covered  with  stout  prickles, 
the  leaves  are  small,  and  the  pear-shaped  orange- 
red  hips  are  a  decided  acquisition  during  the 
autumn  months. 

When  R.  Moyesii  was  growing  at  Messrs.  Veitch's 
Coombe  Wood  Nursery  the  plants  exhibited  some 
variation  in  colour,  and  the  best  form  was  figured 
in  the  Botanical  Magazine,  t.  8338.  Messrs. 
Veitch  only  increased  their  stock  from  the  best 
variety,  but  since  the  dispersal  of  that  famous 
firm  no  doubt  a  number  of  R.  Moyesii  have  been 
raised  from  seeds,  and  consequently  inferior 
varieties  are  to  be  found  in  some  gardens  to- 
day. 

It  is  increased  by  budding  and  grafting,  but  I 
think  such  a  vigorous  plant  should  be  on  its  own 
roots,  then  we  are  not  likely  to  be  bothered 
with  suckers.  This  Rose  is  allied  to  R.  macro- 
phylla,  which  is  found  both  in  China  and  the 
Himalayas. 

Both  R.  Moyesii  and  R.  macrophylla  are  at 
all  times  very  noteworthy  plants  in  the  garden, 
but  never  more  so  than  in  autumn,  when  their 
curious  bottle-shaped  hips  change  colour.  In 
R.  macrophylla  these  are  crowned  by  the  very 
large  persistent  sepals.  T.   W.    B. 


8 


THE    GARDEN. 


[January  7,  1922. 


PLANTING  SUGGESTIONS  FOR 
THE  NORTH  BORDER 

SOME  years  ago  I  was  invited  to  advise  a 
friend  on  the  planting  of  a  north  border, 
backed  with  a  fairly  high  brick  wall. 
Herbaceous  plants  were  preferred,  as 
these  would  form  a  permanent  feature 
entailing  the  output  of  but  little  labour  or  expense 
in  their  upkeep.  Recently  I  have  been  afiorded 
an  opportunity  of  viewing  the  results  obtained 
by  the  adoption  of  my  recommendations  and, 
as  the  whole  proved  satisfactory,  I  am  passing 
the  advice  on  for  the  benefit  of  the  many  who 
require  similar  guidance. 

When  first  I  inspected  the  site  two  fine  specimens 
of  the  Morello  Cherry  furnished  part  of  the  wall 
space  available,  and  the  retention  of  these  useful 
trees  was  advocated.  In  addition  to  the  beauty 
and  great  utility  of  the  fruits  in  late  summer, 
the  flowers  make  a  delightful  display  in  spring ; 
moreover,  the  Morello  Cherry  does  admirably 
when  accommodated  on  a  north  wall.  To  complete 
the  draping  of  the  background,  specimens  of 
Crataegus  Pyracantha  (the  Fire  Thorn)  and 
Cotoneaster  microphylla  (Rock  Spray)  were 
planted.  The  former  is  beautiful  enough  in 
spring,  but  really  glorious  in  autumn  with  its 
vivid  scarlet  berries ;  while  the  chaste  white 
flowers  of  the  Rock  Spray  are  quite  a  feature 
during  the  whole  of  June. 

Among  the  noble  plants  commanding  attention 
at  the  back  of  the  border,  varieties  of  Hehanthus 
(Perennial  Sunflower)  hold  their  own,  and  in  late 
autumn  the  varieties  Rev.  WoUey  Dodd  and 
Miss  Mellish  provide  a  welcome  splash  of  gold. 
The  feathery  white  plumes  of  Spiraea  Aruncus 
(Goat's  Beard)  are  effective  in  July.  Of  the 
Monkshoods  (Aconitums),  the  varieties  Fischeri 
and  Wilsoni  do  best  on  this  north  border.  The 
former  carries  pale  blue  flowers  on  3ft.  stems  in 
autumn,  whUe  the  latter  attains  a  greater  height 
and  its  darker  blue  flowers  are  conspicuous  in 
August.  Michaelmas  Daisies,  such  as  Chmax, 
Blue  Bird,  Orion,  Onward,  Bedding  Queen  and 
Mrs.  J.  F.  Rayner,  vary  in  colour  and  height 
greatly,  but  all  do  well  here  and  are  attractive 
from  August  onwards  into  autumn. 

Varieties  of  Anemone  japonica  find  hosts  of 
admirers,  and  clumps  of  Spanish  Iris  along  the 
foreground  of  the  border  never  fail  to  provoke 
praise.  Campanulas  in  variety  (Canterbury  Bells 
are  the  most  satisfactory)  are  pressed  into  service, 
while  towards  the  front  bold,  irregular  groups  of 
the  charming  Columbine  make  a  wonderfully 
pretty  display.  Fritillaries  are  a  great  feature, 
the  Crown  Imperials  and  F.  Meleagris  (Snakes- 
head)  being  the  best  of  the  various  species  tried. 
Certain  annuals,  such  as  Virginian  Stocks,  Viscarias, 
Candytufts  and  Calendulas,  produce  a  gay  effect 
in  summer,  and  a  spring  display  is  made  certain 
by  the  planting  of  commoner  bulbs,  such  as 
Crocuses  and  Daffodils. 

The  edging  of  this  border  is  entirely  formed 
by  a  wide  drift  of  London  Pride  (Saxifraga 
umbrosa).  and  right  well  does  this  accommodating 
plant  justify  the  complete  confidence  reposed  in 
it  to  shine  under  difficult  circumstances. 

Prior  to  planting  any  of  the  plants  mentioned 
my  friend  dug  the  whole  of  the  site  to  a  depth 
of  2ft.  He  rightly  retained  the  top  spit  in  its 
original  position,  and  incorporated  liberal  quantities 
of  ashes  from  the  garden  bonfire.  This  latter 
naturally  sweetened  the  soil,  while  the  deep 
working  improved  the  drainage.  Without  spade 
work  of  this  kind  plants  cannot  be  expected  to 
succeed  on  a  cold  north  border.  Provide  a  healthy 
rooting  medium   and  the  north  border  may  yet 


be  a  show  corner  of  the  garden.  In  seasons 
such  as  1 92 1  it  is,  at  any  rate,  easier  to  keep 
plants    in    a    flourishing     condition    on    a    north 


border  than  elsewhere  ;  while  in  the  wettest 
seasons,  such  a  border  need  not  become- 
soddened.  F.  W.  Miles. 


NOTES    FROM    GLASNEVIN 


By    lady    MOORE. 


THAT  beautiful  species  of  Travellers' 
Joy  (Clematis  smilacifolia),  of  which 
I  sent  you  a  flowering  spray  and  which 
is  so  well  named  from 
its  large,  handsome 
.leaves,  resembling  those  of 
Smilax  latifoUa,  is  little  known. 
In  Vol.  II  of  the  third  series  of 
Curtis's  Botanical  Magazine, 
October,  1846,  it  is  described. 
The  account  states:  "This 
plant  was  introduced  from 
Java  to  the  stoves  of  this 
country,  where  it  flowers 
in  June  and  July,  and 
reintroduced  by  Veitch  of 
Exeter.  Being  a  mountain 
species,  it  wU]  perhaps  succeed 
in  a  greenhouse,  where  it  would 
make  a  handsome  cUmber." 

Some  years  ago  seeds  of 
Clematis  smilacifolia  were 
sent  from  Siam  by  Mr.  Kerr, 
a  former  student  of  Trinity 
College,  Dubhn,  to  Professor 
Henry  Dixon,  who  gave  a 
plant  to  Glasnevin.  It 
flowered  in  November  and 
December,  the  accompanying 
photograph  being  taken 
from  our  plant.  The  stem 
extends  a  great  length  and 
is  glabrous  ;  large,  undivided, 
cordate,  ovate  leaves,  slightly 
serrated,  are  marked  with  deep 
nerves,  the  racemes  axillary. 
The  flowers,  which  are  very 
numerous,  are  ovate  in  the 
bud  stage  and  of  a  rusty 
orange  colour,  opening  into 
four  oblong,  lanceolate,  sub- 
coriaceous,  acute  sepals, 
which  soon  turn  back.  They 
are  of  a  rich  purple  colour, 
which  becomes  darker  every 
day,  and  are  covered  with  a 
soft  down.  The  numerous  pistils 
are  white,  long  and  feathery. 
The  perfume  is  very  sweet  and 
fills  the  whole  corridor  where 
the  plant  is  grown,  at  a  night 
temperature  of  50°.  The 
petals  of  the  flower  are  thick 
and  fleshy,  like  a  Magnolia 
flower,  and  not  of  the  thin,  papery  substance 
usual  in  the  Clematis  family.  The  flowers  of  the 
Siam  plant  are  much  larger  than  those  figured 
in  the  Botanical  Magazine;  they  are  fully 
ijins.    across. 

The  photograph  sent  was  taken  by  Miss  E.  V. 
Miller. 

I  also  sent  a  bit  of  Lonicera  Henryii  in  fruit. 
This  was  grown  on  a  north  wall.  The  flower  is 
not  very  conspicuous,  but  the  racemes  of  purple 
black  berries  are  very  effective  and  make  most 
beautiful  house  decoration,  especially  in  a  room 
with  a  light-coloured  wallpaper.  The  leaves  hold 
well  into  January. 

That  very  sweet-srnelling  Honeysuckle,  Lonicera 
Standishii,   is    always   the  earliest   of   the  winter 


flowering  varieties.  This  year  it  openedj-  its 
blossoms  in  November.  It  is  much  more  generous- 
with    its    flowers    than     Lonicera    fragrantissima. 


THE    HANDSOME    CLEMATIS    SMILACIFOLIA. 


and  the  clean,  fragrant  perfume  is  just  as  sweet. 
The  leaves  of  L.  Standishii  are  large,  rough  and 
lanceolate  ;  those  of  L.  fragrantissima  are  small, 
rounded  and  of  a  dehcate  green.  L.  Standishii 
strikes  well  from  cuttings. 

The  unusual  heat  of  1921  has  had  a  most 
beneficial  effect  on  Chimonanthus  fragrans.  The 
wood  was  well  ripened,  and  the  result  is  a  crop 
of  flowers  densely  packed  on  every  twig.  The 
perfume  fills  the  air  on  a  suuny  day.  No  garden 
with  a  wall  should  be  without  this  lovely 
Chinese  shrub. 

[Like  most  fleshy  textured  greenhouse  plants, 
Clematis  smilacifolia  is  not  a  good  traveller, 
so  that  it  was  fortunate  Lady  Moore  was  able  tck 
send  a  photograph — Ed.] 


January  7,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


A  NATIONAL   DAFFODIL    SOCIET\'? 

("  III  these  days  we  are  a  trifle  overstocked  with 
officials,  a'  d  official  machinery.  If  the  Daffodil 
could  speak  lor  itself,  I  imagine  it  would  plead 
for  a  quiet  liie^ — G.  H.  Engleheart  in  The 
Garden,  page  654.) 

REQDIESCANT. 

Let  them  dance  their  dance  in  peace,  that  happy 
band 
Of  brothers   and   sisters,    young   with    youth 
eternal ! 
You  think  to  worship  ?     And  do  not  understand 

How  gentle  spirits  hate  the  din  infernal 
Ot  cymbals,  and  sounding  brass,  and  zeal  irrational, 
And  damnM  iteration  of  that  word  "  National  "  ? 

Not  noise,  not  noise  the  incense  they  approve. 
But  the  rapt  homage  mute  of  prince  or  boor. 

And,  giving  what  they  take,  those  glad  folk  move, 
Swinging  their  censers  over  mead  and  moor. 

But  what  they  hate — that  hate  they  can.  'tis  pity — 

Is  the  solemn  official  fuss  of  a  Committee. 

Tie  breezy  hillside,  dell,   and  stilly  glade. 

Their     s\-lvan     haunts — how     I     delight     to 
nimmage  'em  ! 
And  meet  the  dancing  Daffodillies,  not  arrayed 
In    serried     ranks     at     Vincent     Square     or 
Brummagem, 
But  far  from  the  busy  crowd's  oppressive  rattle. 
Its  fume,  its  fret,  its  official  tittle-tattle. 

How  they  hate  a  fuss  !     That  galaxy  of  glor.-. 
Of  gods  and  goddesses,  emperors  and  kings, 

And  damsels  fair,  and  knights  of  song  and  story. 
And  saints,  and  poets,  soaring  on  eagle  wings — 

Cjedmon  and.  Chieftain  of  the  Clan  Poeticus, 

Serene-eyed  Horace — how  they  hate  a  fuss  ! 

SOMERS. 

JN  my  letter  of  November  26  I  stated  that  the 
issue  at  the  meeting  in  1911  was  not  if  there 
should  be  a  National  Daffodil  Society,  but  whether 
or  no  the  Midland  should  "constitute  itself"  the 
National  Daffodil  Society.  Mr.  Jacob  tells  me 
that  there  was  no  such  proposal  before  the  meeting. 
I  accept  the  correction,  and  as  no  good  purpose 
would  be  served  by  discussing  it  further,  1  will 
only  express  my  regret  for  the  error.  I  was  glad 
to  see  Mr.  Cranfield's  letter  of  December  jo — 
his  practical  and  open-minded  views,  and  that  he  is 
willing  to  take  the  matter  up  again  If  the 
proposed  meeting  in  March  can  be  arranged,  it  will 
provide  the  opportunity  for  making  a  definite 
start  and  the  appointment  of  an  organising 
committee,  which,  as  Mr,  Cranfield  suggests,  when 
once  the  general  principles  are  accepted,  would 
discuss  the  various  proposals  from  a  practical 
point  of  view.  I  do  not  think,  however,  that  we 
can  expect  to  obtain  the  opinions  of  the  general 
gardening  pubUc  at  any  meeting.  The  public 
is  notoriously  inarticulate,  and  it  is,  in  fact, 
i  mpossible  to  get  such  general  opinion  beforehand  by 
any  available  means.  It  can  only  be  divined  or 
estimated  by  disinterested  obseri'ation  of  analogous 
cases.  To  do  so  cannot  with  any  justice  be  called 
theorising.  It  is  eminently  practical  being  simply 
considering  the  point  of  view  of  the  average  man 
rather  than  one's  own  particular  interests.  The 
neglect  to  do  this  too  often  spells  failure  or  some- 
thing very  like  it.  Can  anyone  doubt,  however, 
the  success  of  a  National  Daffodil  Society  concei\  ed 
on  broad  lines,  and  not  merely  as  a  specialist's 
or  fancier's  society,  when  we  consider  not  only 
that  the  Daffodil  is  an  incomparable  flower,  still 
with  infinite  possibilities  of  development,  but  that 


it  reigns  supreme  in  the  garden  for  nearly  two 
months  of  the  year  without  actual  or  possible 
rival  ?  Let  us,  then,  boldly  aim  to  have  a  society 
worthy  of  this  Queen  of  Spring,  for  with  such  a 
flower  failure  is  surely  impossible.  Mr.  Cranfield 
remarks  that  "  Daffodil  growers,  by  comparison, 
are  not  a  numerous  body."  but,  from  the  context, 
he  is  evidently  thinking  of  those  who  are  specially 
interested.  Those  who  grow  at  least  some  Daffodils 
must  be  nearly  as  numerous  as  Rose  or  Sweet  Pea 
growers.  If  they  are  not,  they  should  be  !  With 
the  interest  which  such  a  society  will  stimulate, 
not  only  will  Daffodils  be  more  widely  grown,  but 
more  people  will  learn  to  appreciate  the  immensely 
improved  varieties,  many  of  which  are  now 
available  in  quantity.  These  a  really  popular 
society  will  bring  to  their  knowledge. — A.  J.  Buss. 

ONE    "WONDERS    WHY. 

/~\NE  often  wonders  why  some  plants  do  not 
become  more  common  than  they  are.  There, 
surely,  are  many  people  who  appreciate  quiet 
beauty.  How  is  it,  then,  that  such  a  plant  as 
Veltheimia  glauca  is  so  seldom  to  be  seen  in 
greenhouses  ?  It  is  almost,  if  not  quite,  as  long 
suffering  as  a  Nerine  or  as  its  brother  with  the 
shining  green  leaves,  Veltheimia  viridifoUa. 
Here,  after  two  years  of  neglect,  it  is  as  flourishing 
as  ever,  and  I  have  now  five  nice  rosy  pink  to 
blush  spikes  of  bloom,  which  are  very  pleasing 
on  account  of  the  interior  of  the  mouth  of  the 
tubular  perianth  being  of  a  deep  hellebore  red 
(Ridway's  Colour  Chart).  I  was  induced  to  grow 
Veltheimias  in  the  hope  that  a  cross  might  be 
effected  between  them  and 
my  favourite  Lachenalias ; 
but,  although  I  have  gone 
on  the  old  adage  of  "if  at 
first  you  don't  succeed,  try. 
try,  try  again."  I  can  only 
report  "  nothing  doing." 
Now  I  have  managed  to 
increase  the  length  of  stem 
and  the  number  of  flowers 
on  a  Lachenaha  spike  I 
am  getting  reconciled  to 
the  disappointment  and  am 
able  to  say  to  friend  Vel- 
theimia, "  I  think  I  shall 
be  able  to  do  without 
your  help  in  this  matter, 
but  I  shall  always  be  glad 
to  have  you  as  one  of  the 
inmates  of  my  green- 
house." The  general 
appearance  of  a  Veltheimia 
spike  reminds  one  of  the 
Red-hot  Pokers,  but  in  the 
place  of  orange  and  red 
shades  we  get  rosy  pinks 
and  shades  of  blush.  The 
glaucous  foliage  of  V. 
glauca  makes  it  at  all 
times  a  beautiful  plant. — 
Joseph  Jacob. 

F  THE    MUSK    ROSE. 

'pHE  Musk  Rose  (Rosa 
moschata)  is  one  of  the 
best  of  the  rambling  Roses 
both  from  an  ornamental 
point  of  view  and  because 
of  its  delicious  scent.  In 
late  June  or  early  July  it 
is  a  conspicuous  feature 
with  its  numerous  corymbs 


of  whitish  flowers  with  bright  yellow  stamens, 
the  inflorescences  being  often  a  foot  across. 
.Although  it  can  be  grown  as  a  bush  plant,  to 
see  it  at  its  best  it  should  be  allowed  to  ramble 
at  will,  when  it  will  throw  out  vigorous  shoots 
loft.  or  12ft.  in  length,  which,  the  following  year, 
form  graceful  arches  of  flowers.  The  photograph 
I  send  is  of  a  plant  rambling  over  a  large  Pinus 
austriaca.  48ft.  high,  which  forms  an  excellent 
background  when  the  Rose  is  in  bloom.  The 
native  habitat  of  Rosa  moschata  extends  from 
South  Europe  to  India.  Introduced  in  i5')o, 
there  are  several  varieties — Brunonii.  with 
glaucous  leaves ;  Pissardii,  with  pink-tinged 
flowers ;  and  flore-pleno,  a  double-flowered 
variety. — F.  G.  Preston.  Cambridge  Botanic 
Garden. 

THE      FLOWERING     OF      IRIS 
UNGUICULARIS. 

T  HAVE  had  these  in  my  garden  for  twelve  years 
and  they  have  flowered  quite  fairly  well, 
usually  in  January.  Last  year  they  began  to  flower 
early  in  November  and  are  in  bloom  now.  This  was 
tlie  first  year  that  they  have  really  made  a  great 
show  in  the  garden.  There  have  been  more  than 
double  the  number  of  blossoms  at  the  same  time 
and  the  blooming  hasg  one  on  for  many  weeks. — • 
"  Somerset." 

THE  CULTURE  OF  DAPHNE  CNEORUM. 

T  HAVE  always  treated  Daphne  Cneorum  as  a 
shrub  which  tlirives  best  in  a  mixture  of  sandy 
peat  and  leaf-mould,  but  I  have  been  informed 
that  the  species  will  do  just  as  well  in  a  loamy  soil. 
As  I  cannot  altogether  accept  this,  I  should  like 
readers  of  The  Garden  to  give  their  views.  Is 
a  mixture  of  good   fibrous  peat,   leaf-mould   and 


A    FINE    PLANT    OF    ROSA    MOSCHATA. 


10 


THE     GARDEN. 


[January  7,  1922. 


sand  with  paitial  shade  or  a  good  loamy  soil 
most  suitable  ?  Also  if  any  reader  has  achieved 
much  success  with  Daphne  Cneorum  for  forcing 
and   winter  garden  use. — -R.  J. 

[Daphne  Cneorum,  in  our  experience,  succeeds 
wherever  Rhododendrons  and  Azaleas  flourish. 
If  it  can  be  provided  in  addition  with  a  stony 
root-run,  so  much  the  better. — En.] 

THE      CULTIVATION    OF     ALPINES     IN 

SPHAGNUM    MOSS. 

"pOR  more  than  thirty  years  I  have  proclaimed 

,   the   necessity   of   introducing   the   cultivation 

of  alpines  in  sphagnum  moss,   especially  for  hot 


A    CONTRAST    FROM    JAPAN. 

and  dry  climates  exposed  to  a  broiling  sun  I 
once  saw  in  Italy  (Pavia)  a  group  of  alpines  of 
the  most  delicate  nature,  such  as  Arnica  montana, 
Artemisia  glacialis  and  Androsaces.  growing 
splendidly  in  full  sun,  but  in  a  bed  of  sphagnum. 
Later  on  in  the  Genoa  Botanic  Gardens  I  saw 
Azalea  procurabens.  Edelweiss,  Arnica,  some  of 
the  most  delicate  Androsaces  and  Primulas 
growing  quite  well  in  the  same  medium.  Why 
could  not  we  do  this  at  Geneva,  said  I,  and  so, 
more  than  thirty  years  ago,  I  began  to  make 
experiments.  The  results  were  wonderfully  good 
and  encouraging.  I  obtained  more  than  fifty 
flowers  of  Soldanella  on  one  pan,  and  Arnica  and 
Androsace  and  all  the  most  delicate  alpines. 
especially  those  which  hate  lime,  and  which  before 
I  could  not  grow  here  because  of  the  calcareous 
nature  of  my  soil,  flourished  marvellously.  They 
were,  indeed,  much  finer  than  in  their  alpine 
homes. 

Many  of  my  friends  have,  since  that  time, 
tried  the  treatment  and  achieved  good  results. 
This  applied,  however,  only  to  those  living  in  dry 
climates  and  under  fierce  sunlight.  In  England, 
for  instance,  culture  in  sphagnum  is  very  unsatis- 
factory. The  functions  of  evaporation  and  conse- 
quent absorption  of  water  by  the  roots  are,  of 
course,  dependent  upon  sun  heat.  With  such  a 
moisture-retaining  medium  as  sphagnum  it  is 
necessary  that  the  air  should  be  dry  and  the 
work  of  evaporation  as  active  as  possible. 

.^fter  publishing  in  England  the  results  of  my 
first  experiences,  I  received  several  letters  from 
alpine  growers  who  had  failed  in  this  method  of 
cultivation.  Some,  however,  in  the  South  of 
England  and  also  in  Essex  oblained  good  results. 
I  have  received,  more  recently,  from  Japan,  where 
the  atmospheric  conditions  approximate  to  those 


of  England,  a  letter  and  some  photographs  all 
testifying  to  the  great  success  of  sphagnum  culture 
for  alpines  and  other  plants. 

Dr.  I.  A.  Tsujimura,  of  Odawara,  Sagami,  Japan, 
writes  that  he  has  been  very  successful  with  the 
cultivation  of  alpines  in  sphagnum.  "  Not  only," 
he  says,  "  for  plants.  I  sowed,  too,  some  seeds 
on  top  of  pressed  sphagnum,  uncovered  by  soil  or 
sand,  and  they  came  up  all  right.  Care  must, 
of  course,  be  taken  not  to  let  the  plants  get  too 
wet  if  they  are  of  the  genera  Diapensia,  Cassiope, 
Phyllodoce,  etc.  For  those,  however,  which  are 
found  naturally  on  marshy  ground,  such  as  many 
Primulas,  I  simply  leave  them  outdoors  even 
under  heavy  rain." 

He  sent  me  photographs,  one  of  which  I  send 
you  herewith,  to  show  the  difference  between 
Primula  malacoides  grown  in  sphagnum  and  one 
raised  in  mixed  soil.  The  big  one  is  in  sphagnum. 
They  were  sown  together. 

Here  at  Floraire  I  have  a  bed  of  sphagnum  in 
which  grow  all  the  lime-hating  plants  and  such 
delicate  alpines  as  Eritrichium  nanum,  Androsace 
glacialis.  Phyteuma  Balbisii  and  P.  comosum, 
etc.  That  little  marsh  bed  is  a  great  source  of 
joy,  but  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that  we  have 
here  a  very  dry  continental  cUmate. — H. 
CoRREVON,  Floraire,  Geneva, 

[Acting  on  M.  Correvon's  published  advice, 
the  Editor  some  years  ago  tried  seed  raising  in 
sphagnum,  and  also  the  after-culture  of  certain 
genera  in  pots  in  the  same  medium.  Only  sorts 
considered  likely  were  tried,  but  the  experiment, 
as  far  as  it  wont,  was  entirely  successful.  The 
most  noteworthy  successes  were  obtained  with 
Pinguiculas  of  sorts,  Soldanellas,  the  bog  Gentians 
and  Eritrichium — this,  however,  is  not  worth 
growing  in  Britain  except  as  a  curiosity.  Arnica 
montana  is,  in  England,  quite  easy  to  raise,  and 
grows  in  peaty  soil.  A  wide  field  of  experiment 
would  seem  to  be  open  with  regard  to  some  of 
the  Primulas,  the  Sarracenias,  Cypripedium 
spectabilc  and  other  moisture-loving  plants. — Ed.1 

THE    SQUIRREL    PLAGUE. 

VOU  may  be  interested  in  my  experience 
of  the  squirrel  nuisance.  My  garden  backs 
on  to  Richmond  Park  and  the  depredations  of  the 
park  (grey)  squirrels  have  become  noticeable  of 
recent  years.  I  have  frequently  seen  a  squirrel 
sitting  on  the  party  fence  and  stretching  its  paw 
down  to  pick  tlie  fruit  of  the  Raspberries,  Logan- 
berries and  Blackberries  trained  to  the  fence. 
One  Sunday  afternoon  this  summer  I  had  con- 
siderable trouble  in  getting  rid  of  one  invader. 
I  descried  him  coming  along  the  top  of  the  fence 
and  drove  him  back  over  the  park  wall.  It  was 
only  about  two  minutes  before  he  was  back  again, 
and  it  took  six  or  seven  chivvyings  to  induce  him 
to  stay  away — ^at  least,  as  long  as  I  was  in  the 
garden. — F.  Wynn  Hellings. 

THE   HARVEST   OF   THE   SEA. 

"yHIS  phrase  is  usually  considered  to  mean 
the  bountiful  supply  of  fish  that  the  oceans 
contribute  to  the  food  of  man,  but  recently  I 
was  struck  by  an  entirely  different  aspect  of  the 
matter.  For  four  days  mountainous  seas  had 
been  thundering  upon  the  shore,  washing  and 
swirling  as  they  fell  with  a  crash  on  the  rocks 
and  sand.  As  one  watched  one  could  see  that 
each  wave  as  it  broke  was  dark  beneath,  with 
masses  and  masses  of  Seaweed  torn  from  the 
depths  beyond.  Presently  the  tide  retreated,  and 
as  it  did  so,  left  behind  tons  upon  tons  of  weed. 
Then  came  numbers  of  men  and  a  long  procession 
of  carts,  the  weed  was  raked  together  into  great 
heaps,  piled  high  upon  the  carts  and,  as  they  wended 
their  way  inland,  the  men  flung  further  piles  upon 


the  stone-walled  parade,  read>'  for  carting  later 
in  the  day  when  the  sea  should  have  returned 
and  made  further  collecting  impossible.  Those 
who  have  gardens  near  the  sea  might  do  well, 
indeed,  to  consider  far  more  serioush-  than  they 
have  hitherto  done  the  benefits  of  Seaweed  as  a 
manure,  with  its  rich  supplies  of  potash,  salt  and 
humus — especially  in  the  vegetable  garden. 
Peas,  Beans,  Celery  and  Leeks  all  Iu.\uriate  where 
it  has  been  used  in  preparing  the  trenches  in  which 
the  seeds  are  to  be  sown,  while,  of  course,  as  a 
top-dressing  to  Asparagus  beds  it  is  unexcelled. 
The  best  way  for  using  for  garden  purposes  is  to 
cart  it  to  the  garden  and  stack  it  in  a  similar  way 
to  that  in  which  manure  is  stacked.  If  it  is 
available  at  the  same  time  a  splendid  plan  is  to 
mix  and  stack  an  equal  bulk  of  animal  manure  and 
Seaweed  together.  The  admixture  of  manure  greatly 
hastens  decomposition,  and  such  a  heap  should 
be  ready  for  spreading  on  the  ground  at  the  end 
of  about  three  months.  At  the  expiration  of  this 
time  the  bulk  will  have  reduced  considerably  and 
decomposition  will  have  gone  far  enough  for  you 
to  possess  a  heap  of  rich  partially  decayed  material 
that  can  be  spread  on  beds,  borders  and  the 
vegetable  plot  with  confidence.  Where  it  is  desired 
to  use  the  weed  alone,  without  animal  manure, 
stack  the  heap  in  a  similar  way,  but  do  not  use 
for  nine  months,  as  decay  is  much  slower. — 
H.  W.  C.-W. 

A    FREAK    DAHLIA. 

T  ENCLOSE  you  a  photograph  of  a  Cactus 
,  ,  Dahlia  plant,  Dorothy  Hawes,  which  grew 
to  a  height  of  loft.  6ins.  A  roft.  rod  is  seen 
standing  against  the  plant,  which  is  not  one  with 


AN    EXCEPTIONALLY    TALL     DAHLIA. 


January  7,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


11 


a  single  stem.  It  will  be  seen  that  there  were 
four  flowers  fully  out  when  the  photograph  was 
taken  on  September  17  last.  Three  had  previously 
been  cut.  The  flowers  were  all  8ius.  across.  I 
cannot  say  what  caused  this  plant  to  go  up  to 
such  a  height.  Others  of  the  same  variety  in 
the  bed  grew  to  6ft.  or  7ft.  only.  I  know  we  do 
not  want  Dahlias  so  tall,  but  I  thought  the  photo- 
graph might  nevertheless  be  of  interest. — W.  G. 
Cramp,  Streatham. 

FLO^A'ERS    EST    BLOOM    ON    CHRISTMAS 

DAY. 

"VrOU  may  be  interested  to  see  the  following 
list  of  139  different  species  of  flowers  which 
we  counted  on  Christmas  Day  in  two  gardens  here. 
As  we  experienced  4^^  of  frost  in  the  first  week  of 
December  it  is  rather  surprising  to  be  able  to  find 
so  many  plants  continuing  to  bloom.  Erica 
Veitchii  is  much  earlier  than  I  have  known  it 
before,  but,  on  the  other  hand,  E.  darleyensis 
(mediterranea  hybrida)  will  not  be  in  flower  for 
some  weeks  ;  it  generally  opens  before  Christmas, 
but  last  summer  it  nearly  died  owing  to  the  drought. 
None  of  the  plants  in  flower  has  received  any 
protection  whatever  :  Abelia  floribunda,  A.  grandi- 
flora.  Acacia  dealbata.  A.  falcata.  Alyssum  saxatile, 

A.  maritimum.  Alstroemeria  aurantiaca.  Anthemis 
Kelwayi,  Antirrhinum  majus,  Abutilon  mega- 
potamicum.  Abutilon  (large-flowered  variety), 
.Aster  cordifolius.  Anemone  "  St.  Brigid."  Arabis 
albida,     Aubrietia     violacea,     Berberis     Darwinii, 

B.  Gagnepainii.  Buddleia  auriculata,  B.  Colvilei, 
Bomarea  multiflora  (in  bud).  Cassia  corymbosa. 
Campanula  muralis,  C.  persicifolia.  Convolvulus 
Cneorum,  C.  mauritanicus.  Cineraria  (large- 
flowered  and  stellata),  C.  maritima.  Cobaea 
scandens,  Colletia  cruciata,  Cistus  florentinus, 
Cheiranthus  (Wallflower).  Clematis  calycina,  C. 
cirrhosa.  Coreopsis  grandiflora,  Choisya  ternata, 
Crocus  Imperati,  Chrysanthemum  indicum  (many 
varieties).  Cotoneaster  sp.,  Coronilla  glauca,  C. 
emerus,  Cytisus  racemosus,  Chimonanthus  fragrans, 
Citrus  Lemon  (also  newly  set  fruit),   C.   Orange, 

C.  Shaddock,  Clarkia.  Camellia  (red  and  white). 
Cyclamen  Coum,  Cydonia  japonica.  Daphne 
laureola,  D.  Mezereum.  D.  odora  (japonica), 
Dendromecon     rigidum,      Dianthus     (Carnations). 

D.  (Pinks,  Allwoodii.  &.C.).  D.  graniticus,  Desfon- 
tainea  spinosa.  EricaVeitchii.  Escallonia  macrantha. 
Erysimum  Peroffskianum,  Eupatorium  Weinmanni- 
anum.  Erigeron  mucronatus,  Fatsia  japonica 
(Aralia),  Fuchsia  microphylla.  F.  Cottinghami, 
F.  garden  hybrids  (eight  varieties).  Geranium 
(Ivy-leaved  varieties),  Gentiana  acaulis,  Grevillea 
rosmarinifoUa,  Gerbera  Jamesoni,  Helianthemum 
ahree  varieties),  Helleborus  niger,  Heuchera 
brizoides.  Hydrangea  hortensis,  Hypericum  patu- 
lum,  Iberis  sempervirens.  Iris  unguicularis  (three 
varieties),  Jasminum  nudiflorum.  Leptospermum 
scoparium,  L.  prostratum.  L.  rosmariuifolium, 
Lavender,  Lonicera  fragrantissima,  L.  Stan- 
dishii,  L.  Periclymenum,  Laburnum  vulgare, 
Leycesteria  formosa,  Leonitis  Leonurus,  Linum 
flavum,  MjTtus  communis,  Matthiola  (Stock), 
-Mazus  repens.  Narcissus  Bulbocodium  (Hoop 
Petticoat).  Nandina  domestica,  Nicotiana  aSinis, 
Omphalodes  cappadocica,  O,  verna,  Olearia 
macrodonta,  Philadelphus  Lemoinei  (variety), 
Pittosporum  Tobira,  Primula  auricula,  P.  Juli£e, 
P.  cashmeriana,  P.  vulgaris,  P.  malacoidcs, 
Pernettya  mucronata.  Phlox  setacea,  Pentstemon 
(many  varieties),  Roses  (many  Hybrid  Teas,  Ac), 
Reseda  odorata,  Romneya  Coulteri.  Rosmarinus 
officinalis,  R.  o.  prostrata,  Rhyncospermum 
jasminoides,  Salvia  fulgens,  S.  rutilans.  S.  uliginosa. 
S.  officinalis,  Sparmannia  africana,  Solanum 
jasminoides,  S.  capsicastrum  Spartium  junceum. 
Sedum     Bourgsei,     Schizostylis    coccinea,     Spiraea 


arguta,  S.  prunifolia  fl.-pl.,  S.  Thunbergi,  Stylo- 
phorum  diphyllum,  Teucrium  latifolium.  Veronica 
cataractae,  V.  salicifolia,  V.  speciosa  (several 
varieties),  Valerian  (Centranthus).  Viburnum  Tinus. 


Verbena  radicans,  Viola  tricolor  (varieties),  V. 
odorata  (double  and  single),  V.  gracilis  lutea  and 
Yucca    gloriosa.— N.    G.    H.idden,    West    Porlock, 

Snmcrsf^l. 


GARDENING    OF    THEfWEEK 


FOR    SOUTHERN    GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Planning  of  Crops.— Whether  the  garden  is 
large  or  small  it  is  a  sound  and  practical  plan  on  the 
threshold  of  a  New  Year  to  formulate  some  scheme 
of  cropping  as  a  guide  in  allotting  out  each  plot  of 
ground  to  be  occupied  during  the  year.  The 
system  of  a  regular  rotation  of  cropping  is  more 
applicable  to  large  gardens,  but  this  does  not 
necessarily  mean  that  the  possessors  or  managers 
of  small  ones  cannot  to  some  extent  find  it 
advantageous  to  decide  now  as  far  as  possible  how 
they  intend  to  place  their  forthcoming  crops.  .An 
important  point  to  bear  in  mind  is  that  to  get  the 
best  results  some  crops  must  have  plenty  of 
manure  worked  into  the  ground  immediately 
preceding  their  occupying  it,  while  others  are  more 
successfully  grown  where  little  or  no  manure  has 
been  dug  in  for  a  season.  Among  the  former, 
mention  must  be  made  of  Peas,  Beans,  Cauli- 
flowers and  Celery  ;  and  among  the  latter,  Carrots, 
Beetroot  and  some  of  the  green  vegetables  such  as 
late  Brussels  Sprouts  and  Broccoli,  will  stand  the 
winter  better  on  cold  soils  without  manure. 

Cauliflowers  wintered  in  frames,  whether 
pricked  out  or  growing  in  small  pots,  will  need  an 
occasional  examination  for  the  removal  of  any 
damped-off  leaves,  or  for  a  stirring  of  the  soil 
among  those  pricked  out.  Plenty  of  air  should 
be  given  upon  all  favourable  occasions.  W  here 
there  is  sufficient  room  under  glass  to  produce 
an  early  crop  of  Cauliflowers  in  pots  or  deep  pits 
and  no  autumn  sowing  was  done,  some  seed  of  a 
forcing  variety  should  be  sown  now  in  pans  of 
light  sandy  soil  and  allowed  to  germinate  in  gentle 
warmth.  Place  the  seedlings,  when  up,  on  a  shelf 
near  to  the  light  and  prick  out  when  large  enough 
to  handle. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Climbing  Roses. — Where  the  thimiing  and 
trairdng  of  these  plants  were  not  carried  out  in  the 
autumn  they  should  receive  attention  at  the  earliest 
opportunity.  Remove  as  much  as  possible  of  the 
old  wood  so  that  the  healthy  young  shoots  mav  have 
every  chance  of  development.  .Any  defects  in  the 
supports  of  such  Roses  should  be  seen  to  at  the 
same  time,  and  planting  may  take  place  right 
through  the  winter  if  the  weather  be  open  and  soil 
in  suitable  condition.  To  those  intending  planting 
who  have  made  no  selection  the  following  varieties 
can  be  recommended,  but  individual  tastes  differ 
so  much  that  probably  no  two  persons  would  give 
the  same  list  :  .\merican  PiUar,  single,  bright 
pink  ;  Dorothy  Perkins,  clear  pink ;  Excelsa, 
rosy  red ;  Felicite  et  Perpetue,  creamy  white ; 
Hiawatha,  single,  crimson,  white  eye  ;  Jersey 
Beauty,  single,  pale  yellow  ;  Lady  Godiva,  soft  flesh 
pink  ;  Lady  Gay,  rich  rose  ;  Mermaid,  single,  sulphur 
yellow  ;  Shower  of  Gold,  yellow  ;  Tea  Rambler, 
salmony  pink  ;    and  Thalia,  white. 

Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Planting. — We  have  been  fortunate  to  enjoy 
suitable  weather  for  this  work  since  it  was  under- 
taken during  October,  and  in  all  probability  the 
majority  of  it  in  private  establishments  is  finished 
unless  such  work  has  been  on  a  large  scale.  If  not 
already  done,  it  would  be  wise  now  to  mulch  all 
newly  planted  trees  with  partly  decayed  leaves 
and  manure  as  a  protection  should  severe  weather 
be  ahead.  Should  planting  not  have  been  finished, 
take  the  first  opportunity  of  an  open  spell  of 
weather  to  get  it  done,  and  in  the  meantime  make 
sure  that  the  ground  is  all  in  readiness  so  that 
there  shall  be  no  delay  when  once  planting  is  put 
in  hand. 

Plants  Under  Glass. 

Clivias. — ^.-^s  these  plants  throw  up  their  flowei 
spikes  a  slightly  warmer  house  will  be  beneficial 
to  assist  in  the  full  development  of  the  flowers. 
Should  an  increase  of  stock  be  necessary,  choose 
(after  flowering)  an  old  plant  or  two  with  some 
young  plantlets  around  them,  remove  these  care- 
fully and  place  in  pots  of  suitable  dimensions  and 
grow  in  a  warm,  moist  atmosphere  until  well 
established  with  fresh  roots. 

Tuberous  Begonias. — ^It  is  best  to  sow  seeds 
of    these    plants    early    if    good   results    are    to   be 


expected  during  the  summer  months.  Use  a  light 
fine  compost  and  drain  the  pots  or  pans  thoroughly, 
afterwards  placing  them  in  a  warm  house  for  the 
seeds  to  germinate  successfully. 

Lily  of  the  Valley.— To  obtain  the  best  results, 
retarded  crowns  are  necessary,  but  where  these 
are  not  used  and  early  spikes  are  appreciated,  they 
may  be  had  in  quite  good  time  by  lifting  some 
clumps  from  the  outside  supply,  and  placing  them 
in  boxes  of  light  soil  in  a  newly  started  fruit  house 
or  warm  greenhouse. 

Fruits  Under  Glass. 

Pot  Cherries. — .\s  a  pot  or  tub  plant  the  Cherry 
is  one  of  the  most  reliable  of  croppers,  and  one  that 

requires  but  little  warmth  during  its  earlv  stages 

two  points  which  should  tend  to  popularise  the 
above  method  of  culture.  Failmg  an  orchard 
house  to  accommodate  them  they  mav  be  placed 
in  a  Peach  house  about  to  be  started  where  a 
temperature  of  about  45°  will  suit  both  plants. 
.Admit  air  on  all  mild  davs  and  svringe  lightly 
with  tepid  water  during  the  warmest  part  of 
the  day. 

Melons. — -For  early  work  make  a  sowing  now, 
placing  a  couple  of  seeds  in  a  small  60  size  pot 
filled  with  nearly  all  light  loam.  Place  the  pots 
in  a  propagating  pit  or  [where  similar  warmth 
may  be  afforded.       iM'  ^  ' 

Cucumbers. — Make  a  sowing  likewise  of  these, 
for  the  sooner  young  plants  are  in  bearing  condition 
the  better,  so  that  the  winter  batch  may  be 
grubbed  out.  .-Vllow  the  seeds  to  germinate  at  a 
similar  heat  to  the  Melons,  but  use  for  compost 
half  flaky  leaf-soil  and  half  loam. 

H.  Turner. 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland.), 

Albury  Park  Gardens,  Guildford. 


FOR     NORTHERN    GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Early  Sowings  of  Seeds.— With  the  advent 
of  the  New  War  one's  thoughts  turn  naturally 
towards  the  necessary  earlv  sowing  of  certain 
seeds,  but  in  northern  gardens  a  goodly  period 
must  elapse  before  sowings  of  even  the  "hardiest 
kinds  can  be  made  in  the  open  ground.  In 
well  regulated  establishments  one  of  the  first 
duties  of  the  gardener  at  this  time  is  to  prepare  his 
seed  order  and  get  it  despatched  to  his  seedsman 
as  soon  as  possible.  Extreme  care  must  be 
exercised  in  making  a  suitable  selection  of  the 
various  sorts,  as  varieties  that  succeed  in  one 
particular  district  often  prove  a  complete  failure 
when  grown  in  another  locality.  Deal  with  firms 
of  repute,  and  thus  avoid  many  of  the  disappoint- 
ments   associated    with    inferior   supplies. 

Onions. — .A  sowmg  of  Onions  should  be  made 
during  the  ensuing  week  so  that  large  bulbs  mav 
be  produced.  The  soil  should  be  prepared  and 
placed  in  readiness  for  the  sowing.  Use  a  compost 
consisting  of  three-parts  fibrous  loam  one  part 
leaf- mould  and  one  part  manure  from  a  spent 
Mushroom  bed.  Pass  the  compost  through  a  fine 
sieve  and  add  sufficient  sharp  sand  to  render  the 
mixture  porous.  Use  the  soil  in  a  moderatelv 
dry  condition  pressing  it  firmly  into  well  drained 
boxes.  .After  sowing  cover  the  seed  lightly, 
firming  the  surface  with  a  smooth  board,  water  and 
place  in  genial  warmth.  .An  early  vinery  or  Peach 
house  vvill  prove  suitable  quarters.  Cranston's 
Excelsior  and  .Ailsa  Craig  are  still  popular  varieties  ; 
.Austin's  Rival  is  also  an  excellent  sort  for  northern 
gardens. 

Peas  Under  Glass.— Where  suitable  accommoda- 
tion is  available  for  growing  these  under  glass  a 
sowing  may  now  be  made  in  pots.  Sutton's 
Harbinger  is  an  excellent  sort  for  this  purpose,  being 
dwarf  in  habit  and  a  prolific  cropper.  Use  gin.  to 
I2in,  pots,  filling  them  three-parts  full  of  old 
fibrous  loam  with  a  light  admixture  of  leaf-mould 
and  sand.  Soil  saved  from  Melon  pits  or  Tomato 
boxes  will  suit  admirably,  provided  it  has  been 
allowed  to  sweeten  in  the'open  for  a  time.  .Avoid 
overcrowding ;  eight  or  nine  plants  to  each  pot 
will  be  ample.  .A  cool  temperature  with  judicious 
ventilation  suits  Peas  nicely,  and  an\-thing  in  the 
nature  of  forcing  as  it  is  generally  understood 
must  not  be  attempted. 


12 


Plants  Under  Glass. 
Lilium  longiflorum  Harrisii.— Pot  up  more 
retarded  bulbs  of  this  popular  Lily  for  succession 
and  top-dress  previous  lots  that  are  now  growing 
freely  This  LUy,  being  a  stem-rooting  variety, 
responds  readily  to  this  treatment,  producing 
flower  spikes  of  remarkable  size  and  beauty. 

AmarvUideS.— Place  a  number  of  these  in  a  warm 
pit  so  that  they  may  be  had  in  flower  during  AprU, 
Give  a  top-dressing  of  fresh  soil  to  which  has  been 
added  a  sprinkling  of  Clay's  hertihser  ;  this  will 
materially  strengthen  the  flower  spikes,  bpray 
the  bulbs  lightly  overhead  morning  and  evening 
and  water  carefully  at  aU  times,  especially  until 
.growth  is  well  started. 

The  Pleasure  Grounds. 
Shrubs  and  Trees  with  Ornamental  Bark.— 
When  planting  shrubs  or  trees  one  should  direct 
one  s  attention  to  the  various  sorts  which  display 
their  beauty   not    only  during  the  sunimer,   but 
are  more  than  attractive  during  the  winter  and 
earlv  spring  by  reason  of  the  effective  colour  ol 
their  bark      The  red  and  golden  barked  Willows 
are  especially  attractive,  particularly  so  if  grouped 
on  the  margin  of  the  lake  or  water  garden        Ihe 
various  varieties  of  Dogwood  are   also   efiective. 
The  colour  of  the  plants  mentioned  may  be  con- 
siderably   enhanced    by    cutting    down    annually 
and  cultivating  them  as  one  year  old  stems.     Other 
shrubs   noticeable   for   the   bright   green   of   their 
stems    are    such    as    Lycesteria    formosa,    Cytisus 
and    Kerria   japonica,    while   white   bark   is   con- 
spicuous in  Kubusbiflorus   (-The  White-washed 
bramble  ' ).  Salix  daphnoides  and  S.  pruinosa,  with 
wax-like   bloom   on   their  stems,  are  most  attrac- 
tive     Silvery  stems  are  very  noticeable  among  the 
Birches,  the  white  trunk  of  Betula  alba  being  par- 
ticularly efiective,  more  especially  when  planted 
with   Scotch   lirs  or  other   dark-foliaged  conifers 
for  a  background.     There  are  many  other  attrac- 
tively barked  trees  and  shrubs,  so  perhaps  this  note 
may  help  to  direct  attention  to  theu:  merits. 
James  McGran. 
(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart. ) 
Coodham,  Kilmarmck. 


CONSERVATORY   AND   GREENHOUSE. 

Introductory.— For  a  good  many  years  before 
the   war     choice   collections   of   stove    plants   had 
eraduaUy   been   going  out  of  favour  with  garden 
lovers      Many  garden  owners  turned    then  atten- 
tion to  the  cultivation  of  alpines,  hardy  herbaceous 
plants    and    choice    flowering    trees    and    shrubs; 
indoor  gardening  in  respect  of  plants  and  flowers 
was  to  a  great  extent  restricted    to    the    growing 
of  supplies  for  decorative  purposes,  either  for  the 
embellishment  of  the  conservatory  or  for  supplying 
plants  or  cut  flowers  for  decorative  purposes  in  the 
dwelling  house.    W  ith  this  style  of  indoor  gardening 
in  vogue     many  beautiful   and  interesting   green- 
house plants  were  soon  discarded.     1  refer  chiefly 
to  the  many  beautiful  so  called  hard-wooded  plants 
from   South   Africa    and   Australia.     Apart    froni 
Botanic  Gardens,  such  plants  are  only  cultivated 
to-day  by  a  few  commercial  establishments,   and 
they  only  cultivate  a    few  varieties  of  the  more 
easily     grown    Ericas    and    Acacias.      The     war 
vears    with  the  lack  of  skilled  cultivators  and  the 
high  price  of  fuel,  soon  led  to  the  abandonment  of 
most  collections  of  stove  plants,  with  the   result 
that  at  the  present  time  most  garden  owners  devote 
their   plant  houses   to   the   cultivation   of   purely 
greenhouse  subjects  that  require  the  minimum  of 
heat  ■   in  fact,  in  many  gardens  the  houses  are  stiU 
devoid  of  plants,  being  given  over  to  the  cultivation 
of  Tomatoes  and  Cucumbers.     It  is  sincerely  to  be 
hoped    that    this    state    of    affairs    will    gradually 
improve  and  that  choice  collections  of  greenhouse 
plants  may  soon  be  quite  common  in  good  gardens. 
In  the  meantime  the  writer  will  endeavour  from 
week  to  week  to  show  how  the   greenhouse   and 
-conservatory    may    be    kept    more    or    less    gay 
throughout  the  year,   dealing    with    plants    ihat 
may  be  grown  successfully  in  more  or  less  unhealed 
houses   as  well  as  those  plants  that  require  a  certain 
amount  of  heat  during  their  growing  period,  but 
will  stand  in  a  lower  temperature  when  in  flower 
To    keep    a    large    conservatory    well    furnished 
throughout  the  year    a  certain  number  of  growing 
houses   are  required,    and,    as  indicated,    some   of 
them  should  be  kept  at  an  intermediate  tempera- 
ture   during    the    growing    season.     Tor    raising 
quantities    of    plants    from    seeds    or    cuttmgs    a 
propagating    house    with    some    bottom    heat    at 
command  is  essential,  but,  on  the  whole,  the  cost  of 
flring  should  not  be  a  heavy  item. 

In  restocking  empty  houses,  or  where  quick 
results  are  desired,  cultivators  should  first  turn 
their   attention   to   such    plants   as   can   easily   be 


THE    GARDEN. 

raised  from  seeds,  and  it  is  surprising  the  number  of 
useful  and  beautiful  plants  that  can  be  raised  in 
this  way.  Hardy  and  half-hardy  annuals,  for 
example,  may  be  used  with  excellent  effect.  The 
writer  well  remembers  some  twenty-five  years  ago, 
when  many  gardeners  used  to  poke  fun  at  the 
cultivation  of  such  plants  for  the  embeUishment 
of  the  conservatory  at  Kew.  What  was  considered 
strange  and  trivial  then,  is  a  commonplace  thing 
to-day.  as  witness  the  many  fine  examples  of 
such  plants  that  are  staged  every  year  at  Chelsea 
and  other  large  shows. 

Annuals  for  greenhouse  decoration  are  generally 

sown  during  September  in  cold  frames;    m  the 

country  such  sowings  usually  give  the  best  results^ 

In  the  immediate  neighbourhood  of  London  such 

sowings,    through    lack    of    light,    usually    prove 

failures,  the  growth  being  weak  and  weedy.     Here 

we  find  it  best  to  defer  sowing  until  early  in  the 

New  Year.     It  is  true  the  resulting  plants  are  not 

so  fine  as  when  autumn  sown,  but  with  care  quite 

good  specimens  can  be  produced,  and  for  anyone 

who  neglected  to  sow  during  September,  now  is 

a  good  time  to  make  a  start.     The  plants  usuaUy 

used  for  this  work  are  Acroclmiums,    BrowaUias, 

Clarkias,    CoUinsias,  Godetias,  Annual    Larkspurs, 

Mignonette.  Rodanthes,   Salpiglossis,   Schizanthus, 

Statice  Suworowi,  S.  smuata  and  Viscarias.    There 

are     of   course,   many   other   annual   plants   that 

keep  the  display  up  throughout  the  summer  and 

autumn,  but  they  will  be  dealt  with  in  due  course. 

Tuberous-rooted   Begonias.— Seed   should   be 

sown  as  soon  as  possible  this  month,  and  with  good 
cultivation  a  large  proportion  of  the  resultant 
seedlings  should  make  good  flowermg  plants  towards 
the  end  of  summer.  The  compost  for  the  seed 
pans  should  be  of  a  light  nature  and  should  mclude 
blenty  of  weU  decayed  leaf  soil  and  sand  to  keep 
the  whole  open.  The  seed  pans  should  be  watered 
with  a  fine-rosed  can,  aUowing  them  to  drain  weU 
Defore  sowing  the  fine  dust-like  seed  on  the  surface. 
The  seed  should  not  be  covered  with  sod,  but  a 
piece  of  glass  should  be  placed  on  the  top  of  i;he 
seed  pan  and  stood  in  a  propagatmg  case  with 
slight  bottom  heat,  50°  to  55°  bemg  enough. 
They  should  not  require  any  water  until  they 
germinate.  If  water  is  required,  do  not  give  it 
overhead,  but  stand  the  pan  in  a  vessel  of  water 
and  allow  it  to  soak  up.  J-   Coutts. 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kew. 


[January  7,  1922. 

to  press  down  the  compost  equally  all  round 
the  roots;  the  blunt  end  will  then  nicely 
firm  the  soil  without  undue  pressure,  as  at  this 
first  potting  it  is  inadvisable  to  make  the  soil  very 
firm. 

The  ingredients  forming  the  compost  are  shown 
on  the  bench.  No.  4  is  the  clean  crocks  required  for 
one  pot;  No.  5,  the  good  old  fibrous  loam, 
r  bushel ;  No.  6,  coarse,  clean  sand,  a  6in.  potful ; 
No.  7,  wood-ashes  and  rotted  manure  in  equal 
proportions,  a  7in-  potful ;  No.  9,  sweet  leaf-soil, 
half  a  bushel.  Of  course,  charcoal  may  be  difficult 
to  obtain ;  if  possible,  however,  about  half  a  dozen 
small  pieces,  as  shown  at  No.  8,  should  be  mixed 
with  the  rough  compost  placed  on  the  crocks. 
No.  10  shows  how  the  crocks  should  be  placed  ; 
No.  It,  the  small    quantity  of  rough  compost  on 


CHRYSANTHEMUMS 

Treatment  of  rooted  cuttings. 

THE  earliest  batches  of  cuttings,  inserted 
at  the  end  of  November  and  during  the 
first  half  of  December,  will,  before  the 
middle  of  January,  need  re-potting. 
To  the  experienced  cultivator  the  work 
is  simple  enough,  but  the  novice  does  not  find  it  so. 
Plants  intended  to  bear  large,  refined  blooms  for 
exhibition  requhe  a  long  season  of  growth,  the 
naturally  late-flowering  ones  the  longest  of  all. 
The  rooted  cuttings  of  these,  inserted  singly  m 
small  pots,  as  they  generaUy  are,  must  be  shifted 
to  larger  ones  in  the  same  way  as  any  ordinary 
plant  when  it  needs  re-potting.  The  rooted  cut- 
tings must  not  be  taken  direct  from  the  propa- 
gating frame  and  re-potted,  but  first  placed  on  a 
shelf  or  stage  and  gradually  hardened  to  the 
temperature  of  the  greenhouse  itself. 

Should  the  leaves  droop  a  little,  apply  clear  water 
if  the  soil  is  really  dry,  otherwise  merely  spray 
them,  which  will  have  a  beneficial  effect.  In  the 
meantime  get  ready  the  various  ingredients  form- 
ing the  compost,  and  clean  crocks  and  pots.  The 
compost  should  be  placed  in  the  greenhouse  or 
shed  for  a  few  days  prior  to  its  being  used  ;  do  not 
use  it  in  a  cold  state  direct  from  the  open  air. 

We  may  now  closely  examine  the  sketches. 
Having  carefully  turned  out  the  young  plant,  the 
few  crocks  (No.  i)  should  be  very  gently  removed 
from  the  ball  of  soil  (No.  2),  so  that  the  young 
roots,  not  very  numerous  at  this  early  stage,  are 
not  damaged. 

No.  3  shows  a  useful  potting  stick— cultivators 
will  note  its  shape,  blunt  at  one  end,  wedge-sliaped 
at  the  other.     The  latter  end  should  be  used  first 


POTTING    UP   ROOTED    CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 

which  the  ball  of  soil  and  roots  of  plant  (No.  12)  are 

placed  ■    then  the  work  of  potting  is  completed  by 

filling  up   and   gently  firming   the  soil  placed  m 

position  all  round  the  roots  to  the  level  shown. 

Mix  the  ingredients  thoroughly. 

The  young  plants  must  afterwards  be  placed  on  a 

stage  or  shelf  about   i8ins.   from  the  roof  glass. 

Spray  lightly   with   tepid  water   and  shade  from 

strong     sunshine.     Be     careful,     however,     when 

applying    water    not    to    create    a    continuously 

soaked  condition  of  the  soil.     Do  not  shade  at  all 

when  new  roots  are  beginning  to  permeate  the  new 

soil      Continue  the  propagation  of  early-flowermg 

varieties  for  exhibition  ;    also  freely  insert  cuttmgs 

of   the   numerous  single  flowered   and  decorative 

.  George  Garner. 

sorts. 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


Vol.  LXXXVI.— No.  2617. 

Sacered  aa  Seoond-class  Matter  at  tbe  New  York,  N.Y.,  Post  Office 


Saturday,  January  14,  1922 


REGISTERED     AT     THE     GENERAL 

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THE     BEAUTIFUL     CAUCASIAN     PRIMROSE, 
PRIMULA    JULI^. 


MERRYWEATHER'S     ROSES 


FOR    THE   GARDEN! 
FOR    BEDS! 


FOR    EXHIBITION! 
FOR    EVERYWHERE! 


Also  Fruit  Trees,  Shrubs,  Ornamental  Trees. 
Please  state  your  wants. 

H.    MERRYWEATHER  &    SONS,  LTD. 
Garden  Specialists,  SOUTHWELL,  NOTTS. 

GREAT  SPECIAL  OFFER  of  HERBACEOUS  P/EONIES 


The  following  list  comprise  the 

all  free   flowering   sorts.       Strong 

charming   set   1    Plant  each    for 

varieties  they  desire. 

Packing    and   Carriage 

Albo   Plena — Pure  white. 

Albatre — Ivory  white. 

Boule  de  Neige— Pure  white. 

Couronne  d'Or — White  with  car- 
mine edge,  golden  anthers. 

Duo  de  Cares. 

Duke     of    Wellington  —  White, 
yellow  inside  petal. 


finest  varieties  in  cultivation.  They  are 
roots  with  3  to  5  eyes.  We  offer  this 
21/-,    or    customers    may    select    which 

Paid    for    Cash    with    Order. 

Duchess     de     Nemours— White, 

primrose  centre. 
Emelle  Lemolne— Deep  carmine. 
Festlva  Maxima — Very  large  white 
Faust— Rosy  white. 
Mons.    C.     Leveque  —  Beautiful 

rosy  salmon. 
Madame  Calot— Pale  carnation. 


Wm.  ARTINDALE  &  SON,  Nether  Green  Nursery.  SHEFFIELD. 
PLANTING     SEASON. 


GEO.     JACKMAN     &     SON, 

WOKING      NURSERIES,      SURREY 

(Established  over  a  Century), 
Invite   inspection   of  their  large  and  varied  stock  of 

ORNAMENTAL    TREES    AND     SHRUBS. 

ROSES,     CLIMBERS. 

FRUIT    AND     FOREST     TREES. 

HERBACEOUS     AND     ALPINE     PLANTS. 

200  Acres  of  Stock  to  select  from.  Catalogues  free  on  applicatiom 


Advice     given 


■all     matters    appertaining    tn    LANDSCAPE    GARDENING 
and    Estate    Improvements. 


ORCH I DS 

of  vigorous  habit  and  superior  constitution.      A  visit  to  our  Establishment 

is     cordially     invited    to    inspect    our     immense     and     interesting     STOCK 

RAISED    BY    THE 

PURE    CULTURE    SYSTEM 

Choice    Species,    Rare    Botanical    Specimens.       Albinos   in   warm  and   cool 
sections  also  a  speciality. 

Expert    Advice   given    and    all    Requisites    supplied    for    the    good   culture 

of  Orchids. 


GHARLESWORTH  &  GO.. 


HAYWARDS 
HEATH. 


«. 


THE     GARDEN. 


f  J  AN-  U  ARY    14.    19--- 


« 


THE   r.ARnFN  •  CATALOGUE    GUIDE 


NOTICE  TO  OUR  READERS 


f\N  receipt   of   a    Post   Card   the   under- 

mentioned   firms   will    be    pleased    to 

send  their  useful  Catalogues  free  of  charge. 


Garden  Sundries 


G.  H.  RICHARDS 
234,  Borough 
LONDON,  S.E.I 


Trad* 
only. 


XL  ALL 

Insecticides  and 
Fumigants 


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mm mil iiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinim^ 


Rose  Specialists 


ELISHA  J.  HICKS,  M.C.  N.R.S.,  etc. 

HURST,  BERKS 

Tha  Champion   Deoorative   Rosa   Growar    of  England 


WALTER    EASLEA    &    SONS, 

Danecroft     Rosery, 
EAST>VOOD,    LEIGH-ON-SEA. 

Raisers  of  Prince  of  Wales.  Lamia.  Climbing  Chatenay,  Lulu, 
Glow-worm.  Mrs.  H.  D.  Greene,  and  many  others. 
A  Client  writes  :— "  Your  Rose  Catalogue  contains  just  the  informa- 
tion everybody  wants  about  each  rose's  habits.      We  aie  pleased 
with  it." 

AH  the  be«t  New  Roses  can  be  sapplied,  including  William 
F.  Dreer.  ona  of  the  best  of  the  year. 


GARDEN  SUPPLIES,  Limited 
(Boundary  Chem.  Co.) 
Cranmer  Street 
LIVERPOOL 


Fruit  Trees  and  Plants 


PERRY'S 

Habsy  Plant  Farms 

ENFIELD.  MIDDX. 


Naw  Alpines 
and  Perennials 


Completa 
Collection 


KELWAY   &   SON 
Rvtail  Plant  Department 
LANGPORT,  SOMERSET 


Hardy  Plants 
Colour  Borders 
Gladioli 


HARDY    AZALEAS    AND     FLOWER  INQ    SHRUBS 

R.  &   G.  CUTHBERT 
SOUTHGATE 
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Established  1797 


For  planting  and 
Conservatory 
decoration. 
Catalogue  of  our 
naw  and  beautiful 
varlstiaa  poat 
fraa 


LAXTON  BROS. 

NUMERIBS 

BEDFORD 


Strawberries 

and 

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W.  WELLS,  JuNR. 
Habdy  Plant  Nursery 
MERSTHAM,  SURREY 


Specialists  In 
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and  Alpines 
Catalogues  Free 


Seeds  and  Bulbs 


R.  H.  BATH  Ltd. 
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BLACKMORE  &  LANGDON 
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BATH 


Begonias 
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DAWKINS 

408,  King's  Road 

CHELSEA,  S.W. 


Seed  Catalogue 
and  QIadioli 
List  free  on 
applicatioli~ 


All  Qarden 
EstaU 
and  Sport 
Raquirementa 


CORRY   &   CO.,  Ltd. 
Shad  Thames,  S.E.i  and 
Bedford  Chambers 
CovENT  Garden,  W.C.2 


SPENCE'S  AUTUMN  LIST  of  28  varieties 
SELECTED  SCOTCH  SEED  POTATOES  from 
the  famous  Dunbar  district,  post  free. — 
CHAS.  T.  SPENCE,  Seed  Potato  Specialist, 
DUNBAR. 


Marolianta  and 
(Manulaoturers 
ol  Horticultural 
Sundrlaa 
Fartlllzera  and 
Insectloldaa,  ato. 


KING'S  Acre 

78  Gold  Medals  and  18  Silver 
Cups  Awarded  to  our  Exhibits 
during       Seasons        1909-1921. 

160  ACRES 


J.  BENTLEY,  Ltd. 
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HULL 


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Inaaotlcldsa 
Shrubs,  eto. 


Landscape  Gardening 


R.  WALLACE   &   CO.,  Ltd. 
The  Old  Gardens 
TUNBRIDGE  WELLS 


Landscape  &  Garden 
Architects.  Queen 

Alexandra's    Cup    for 
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Garden.  International 
Show.  1912. 


].  CHEAL  &   SONS,  Ltd. 

Nurseries 

CRAWLEY 


Landscape 
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Wm.  WOOD  &  SON,  Ltd., 

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TAPLOW,  BUCKS. 

Telephone  No.  :  Burnham  79. 
TeleBraphic  Address  :   Gardening,  Taplow 


Appointments  kept 
in  any  part  of  tlie 
Country. 
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IN'CLUDING 


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LITTLEMEAD, 
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NATURE    &    ART. 

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Catalogues  free  on  demand. 
JOHN  KLINKERT.  F.R.H.S.,  M.C.H. 
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83. 


MISS    EVELYN    FAWSSETT 

(Specialist  in  Garden  Planning) 
High    Street,    LEWES,    SUSSEX. 


Designs  lor  making   New  or  rearranging  Old  Gardens 

with  full  Planting  Plans. 

Write  for  terms  and  explanation  of  my  methods. 


EUREKA 


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WINTER  WASH 


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The  Shelley  Sweet  Peas 

3d.  <&  6d.  per  Pkt.         Novelties  1/- &  1/6. 

Bicolor— Dora  (light).  M.agic  (darlt).  /.,„...it,  i 

Blae-(dark)  J.  Cornwell.V.C. ;  (light)  Co' ne  Valley  (Noveltj). 

BInsb  Lilac— Elegance.  ,  „  ,   ^ 

Cerise -(deep)  Brilliant.  Royal  Salute. 

Orange— Tangerine  Improved.  .     ,    ,- .  o       . 

Orange  Pink-George  Shawyer  (Novelty),  hdrom  Beauty. 

Purple— Royal  Purple. 

Rose— Rosabelle,  Sunset  (Novelty). 

Salmon  Orange— Stevenson's  Sunset  (Novelty). 

White— Edna  .May  Imp.;  Constance  Hmton. 

F..;;  List  of  Sueet  Pens  ,'nd  AiiliiHuiuims  post  free. 

T.    H.    DIPNALL,    F.R.H.S., 

The  Shelley  Sweet  Pea  Farm,  nr.  HADLEIGH,  SUFFOLK. 


EURCKA 

JSTlC     ALK*LI. 

,rtE   MOST   EFFCCTIVE  WASH     FOR    FRUIT  TREES     ftC. 
IN    1'6  TINS    FOR    10   TO    16   GALLS    OF  WASH. 
WORM    KILLER.     LAWN   SAND    A    GARDEN    SUNDRIES 


HOW  TO  PRUNE  ROSES  &  FRUIT  TREES 


A  most  liclpful  booklet  by  Owen  TaOJUS,  V,M.H.  Sent  post 
tree  on  receipt  of  lid.  "  ConNTPY  Life  "  Offices,  20,  Tavistock 
Street,  Covent  Garden,  W.C.2. 


SEED  POTATOES 

Scotch  and  Yorkshire  Grown. 

ALL  THE    LEADING  VARIETIES. 
No  Better  Stocks  Obtainable. 


Send    for    List. 


ISAAC  POAD  &  SONS,  Ltd., 
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THE    DOG  :   MAN'S   FIRMEST   FRIEND - 

How  to  choose  and  care  tor  him,  by  A.  (aioxTON  Smith,  i 
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NO  a6x7-VoL  LXXXVI]       NOTES   OF  THE  WEEK 


[January  14,  1922. 


THE  announcement,  made  in  our  Corre- 
spondence pages,  that  Messrs.  de  Graaff, 
the  justly  famous  Netherlands  firm  of 
nurserymen,  have  purchased  land  for  a 
bulb  farm  in  South  Lincolnshire  gives 
food  for  thought.  Messrs.  de  Graaff,  it  may  be 
anticipated,  will  employ  to  greater  or  larger  extent 
British  labour ;  they  will  certainly  have  to 
contribute  their  quota  to  British  rates  and  taxes, 
so  that  the  British  bulb  industry  has  no  special 
need  to  fear  their  competition.  It  is  surely  worthy 
of  note  that  while  one  big  Dutch  grower  has  been 
attempting  to  convince  himself  and  other  people 
that  the  British-grown  bulb  is  fast  dying  a  natural 
death,  another  even  more  important  firm  should 
have  thought  it  worth  while  to  establish  a  nursery 
here.  Let  us  once  obtain  a  go-ahead  British  Bulb 
Growers'  Association  and  there  wUl  soon  be  room 
for  inamense  expansion  in  the  industry. 

An  International  Exhibition? — It  is  now 
almost  ten  years  since  the  great  International 
Horticultmal  Exhibition  WtS  held  at  Chelsea,  and  it 
would  surely  be  well  if  the  powers-that-be  were  to 
take  in  hand  the  organisation  of  another  one. 
It  would  not  now  be  possible  to  arrange  such  a  show 
for  the  coming  year  ;  indeed,  it  is  high  time  the 
matter  were  taken  in  hand  for  an  exhibition  in 
1923.  Now  that  the  long  awaited  International 
Iris  Conference  has  turned 
out  to  be  a  French  function, 
it  behoves  British  horti- 
culture to  look  to  its  laurels. 
The  four  years  which  will, 
in  1923,  have  elapsed  since 
the  close  of  hostilities  in 
the  great  war,  should  have 
done  much  to  restore 
nurseries  generally  to  some- 
thing approaching  pre-war 
condition. 

Care  at  Planting  Time. 
— -The  precautions  advo- 
cated on  page  17  with 
trees  and  shrubs  newly 
arrived  from  the  nursery 
may  seem  obvious,  but 
experience  has  shown  that 
they  are,  too  often,  not 
carried  out  in  practice. 
Much  loss  of  valuable  plants 
which  is  attributed  by  the 
purchaser  to  insufficient 
transplanting  or  bad  pack- 
ing by  the  nurseryman  is, 
in  fact,  directly  occasioned 
by  want' of  ordinary  care 
in  the  interval  between 
receipt  and  planting.  Ex- 
posure to  a  bleak  wind  for 
even  a  few  minutes  will  do 


immense  damage  to  the  living  roots  of  plants  ; 
to  leave  them  exposed,  as  one  often  sees  them, 
for  hours — aye,  even  for  days  and  weeks — is  but 
to  invite  disaster.  Where  extensive  planting 
is  to  be  done,  unskilled  labour  is  often  drawn 
upon.  1 1  behoves  those  in  charge  to  be  particularly 
vigilant  lest  grave  damage  come  about  through 
ignorance. 

The  Winter-Flowering  Heath. — The  favoured 
few  whose  gardens  lie  close  to  those  coasts  where 
break  the  waters  of  the  Atlantic  have  usually 
many  flowers  to  select  from  outdoors  at  this  season. 
Even  in  Midland  gardens  it  often  happens  that 
Violets,  Primroses  and  Polyanthuses  may  be 
gathered  in  January;  but  one  always  feels  that  they 
are  stray  flowers  appearing  out  of  season.  One 
cannot  think  thus  of  Erica  darleyensis,  which 
usually  commences  to  flower  in  November  and 
continues  the  winter  through.  The  very  amateur 
gardener — perhaps,  it  would  be  truer  to  say  the 
real  novice — almost  invariably  purchases  all 
kinds  of  plants  in  flower.  He  finds,  in  course  of 
time,  that  this  is  not  precisely  the  right  time  to 
buy  and  so  often  concludes  that  it  is  impossible 
to  transplant  plants  in  bloom.  Because  of  this 
conviction,  some  gardeners  refuse  to  take  delivery 
of  E.  darleyensis  in  winter  or  spring.  This  is 
an  entirely  mistaken  idea,  as  this  Heath  and  the 


JANUARY    FLOWER    ON    ERICA    DARLEYENSIS. 


other  early  flowering  kinds  may  be  moved  in  spring, 
autumn  or  winter  with  the  greatest  ease.  The 
illustration  depicts  the  Darley  Dale  Heath  massed 
in  a  bed,  but  it  can  be  used  most  effectively  among 
occasional  boulders  arranged  to  suggest  moorland 
effect.  If  a  double  season  of  flower  is  desired,  it 
may  be  interplanted  with  the  Cornish  Heath 
(Erica  vagans).  Bluebells  or  Squills  may,  in  any 
case,  be  planted  between.  Like  Erica  carnea,  it 
may  be  used  as  a  formal  path  edging.  So  employed 
it  may  be  kept  almost  as  neat  and  tidy  as  Box 
and  still  bloom  freely  each  season.  Erica  darley- 
ensis, is,  it  must  be  admitted,  a  common  enough 
plant,  but  it  is  uncommonly  useful. 

Do  Not  Forget  to  include  ,when  making  out 
the  flower  seed  order,  a  few  packets  of 
that  charming  hardy  annual  the  Sweet  Sultan, 
so  charming  in  itself  and  so  valuable  for  cut  flower. 
Let  no  one  despise  the  annual  Gypsophila  (G. 
elegans).  It  lacks,  it  is  true,  some  of  the  feathery 
lightness  of  the  perennial,  G.  paniculata,  but  it 
can  be  induced  to  flower  at  any  period  of  summer 
and  autumn,  and  therein  lies  its  value.  Those  who 
have  not  done  so  hitherto  can  confidently  be 
recommended  to  try  that  slender-habited  hardy 
annual  Brachycome  iberidifolia  (Swan  River 
Daisy).  The  cactus  or  star-flowered  forms  are 
particularly  charming.  These,  like  the  now  too 
seldom  seen  Rhodantes, 
make  neat  and  pretty  pot 
plants.  No  annual  probably 
is  more  neglected  or  mal- 
treated than  Phlox  Drum- 
mondii.  The  plant  is  quick 
growing  in  the  early  stages 
as  well  as  a  gross  feeder, 
so  that  it  is  only  too  easy 
to  produce  stunted,  useless 
plants.  It  makes  but  little 
fibrous  root,  and  so  removes 
unsatisfactorily  from  boxes. 
Grown  right  on,  however, 
and  planted  out  from  3ia. 
pots  into  beds  of  rich  soil, 
this  is  among  the  most 
effective  bedding-out  plants. 
Seed  may  now  te  obtained 
in  separate  colours,  which  is 
a  great  advantage.  These 
annual  Phloxes  are  too  little 
used  for  cut-flower  purposes. 
Many  readers  wiU,  no  doubt, 
wish  to  try  the  so-called 
"  Blue  Shirley"  Poppies, 
of  whioh  "  Somers "  wrote 
so  convincingly  a  while  ago. 
Their  colouring,  it  may  be 
noted,  sorts  oddly  with  that 
of  the  true  Shirleys,  so  that 
they  should  be  kept  apart. 


u 


THE    GARDEN. 


[January  14,  1922. 


THE     ALPINE     HOUSE 

A  further  list  of  suitable  plants  with  notes  on  the  proper  composts. 


OTHER  suitable  plants  for  the  alpine 
house  include  the  ^^ithionemas,  all 
species  and  varieties  from  the  compact 
and  not  too  easy  jucunda  (Iberis 
jucunda)  and  the  quietly  beautiful 
coridifolium  to  the  brilliant  new  Warley  Hybrid. 
Then  there  is  the  multitude  of  alpine  and  dwarf 
Campanulas  from  which  to  make  a  selection. 
That  quaintest  of  species,  C.  Zoysii.  so  beloved 
of  slugs,  must  first  have  mention,  but  the  tiny 
Waldsteiniana  and  the  uncommon  Raineri  may 
have  room  found  for  them  in  the  tiniest  of  glass 
houses.  Easy  though  they  be.  Portenschlagiana 
(muralis),  pusilla  and  varieties  and  garganica  and 
its  varieties  are  all  worthy ;  while  if  space  allow, 
the  forms  of  turbinata  and  even  carpatica  may 
well  be  included.  The  pretty  hybrid  haylodgensis 
is  very  desirable,  and  there  is  a  specially  beautiful 
double  form.  The  double  form  of  our  common 
Harebell.  C.  rotundifolia  fl.-pl..  is  beautiful  and 
interesting ;  so  are  valdensis,  Stansfieldi  and 
Steveni  nana. 

Of  the  CranesbiUs,  the  best  for  our  purpose, 
owing  to  their  "  finish  "  and  neatness  of  growth, 
are  Erodium  amanum  and  Geranium  Traversii, 
the  last  named  a  very  welcome  New  Zealander. 
Geranium  sanguineum,  the  Bloody  Cranesbill  of 
our  o\vn  hillsides,  is  beautiful  and  effective  where 
space  can  be  spared  for  it. 

Of  the  Geums  the  only  "  indispensable  "  is  the 
too  uncommon  reptans,  but  the  quietly  pleasing 
rivale  Leonard's  variety  may  be  considered  worth 
a  place. 

Haberlea  rhodopensis  and  Ramondias — p\Te- 
naica,  at  all  events — we  must  have.  The  beautiful 
pure  white  form  is  exquisite  under  glass.  Care 
must  be  taken  to  keep  these  free  from  red  spider 
and  to  turn  them  out  into  cooler  quarters  imme- 
diately after  flowering. 

The  trailing  Veronicas  are  too  coarse  for  tlie 
alpine  house,  but  some  of  the  tiny  "  shrubbies  " 
should  find  a  place.  Such  are  Catarractae.  sali- 
cornoides,  cupressoides,  epacridea  and,  where 
possible,  the  larger  Hulkeana. 


There  are  several  quite  small  species  of  Poten- 
tilla.  but  none  to  approach  the  beautiful  nitida. 
This  should  have  a  place  with  the  beautiful  pure 
white  form  if  possible. 

When  writing  of  Primulas,  the  charming  Julia 
should  have  been  in- 
cluded. There  is  nothing 
better  for  our  purpose. 
There  are  now  several 
rose  to  crimson  hybrids 
between  this  and  our 
native  Primrose  (P. 
acaulis).  Some  of  these 
would  here  be  seen  to 
advantage,  and  their 
foliage  bears  inspection. 
Of  Primula  rosea  it  is 
scarcely  necessary  tn 
write.  Most  people  would 
wish   to   include  it. 

Of  the  genus  Lychnir. 
L.  Lagascas  should  be 
included,  while  the  quaint 
little  L.  alpina,  so  beloved 
of  bees,  may  be  grow  i 
if  desired.  It  should  bo 
renewed  periodically  from 
seed.  Of  Silenes,  alpestri- 
and  Schafta  should  find  a 
place. 

Of  Forget  -  me  -  nots, 
Welwitschii  is  too  rampant 

under  glass,  but  space  will  assuredly  be  found  for 
the  wonderful  Ruth  Fischer,  if  not  for  the  tiny 
Rehsteineri. 

The  alpine  house  is  the  only  really  fitting  place 
for  the  hardy  Sarracenias.  Here,  in  a  compost 
largely  composed  of  sphagnum,  they  will  flourish. 

Of  the  Arenarias,  all  are  beautiful,  but,  despite 
its  freedom  of  growth,  A.  montana  is  too  lovely 
to  be  omitted. 

Among  Woodruffs,  the  tiny  Asperula  Gussonii 
and  the  wee  pink  suberosa  are  charming.  Of  the 
rhizomatous  Anemones  there  are  several  beautiful 


woodland-compost-loving  forms  of  A.  nemorosa. 
Both  Robinsoniana  and  the  newer  AUeni  are 
delightful,  so  is  Blue  Bonnet.  The  chalk-loving- 
Pasque  Flower  (A.  Pulsatilla)  is  worthy  of  the 
closest  inspection,   so  particularly  at  home  here. 


BELOVED    OF    ALL — EVEN    THE    SLUGS  ! — THE    MINUTE    CAMPANULA    ZOYSII. 


THE    VERY    BEAUTIFUL    LILAC-PINK    OXALIS    ADENOPHYLLA. 


Halleri  is  a  very  beautiful  variety,  and  tliere  is 
a  charming  pure  white  form.  Little  colonies  of 
A.  blanda  will,  in  early  spring,  be   very   welcome. 

None  too  hardy  outdoors,  those  two  tiny  Snap- 
dragons, .'Antirrhinum  Asarina  and  A.  glutinosum, 
will  here  be  at  home.  So  will  the  lime-loving 
Douglasia  (Androsace)  vitaliana,  which,  to  flower 
freely,  needs  abundant  sunshine. 

Of  the  forms  of  Alyssum,  montanum  and 
spinosum  are  most  suitable.  There  is  a  pale  pink 
form  of  the  last — A.  spinosum  roseum. 

The  quaint  little  hardy  Calceolaria  poljTrhiEa 
sliould  have  a  place,  so  should  the  gorgeous  heat- 
loving  Calandrinia  umbellata,  which  is  not  a  long- 
lived  plant.     It  is.  however,  easily  raised  from  seed. 

For  a  cool  corner  a  little  patch  of  Cornus  cana- 
densis would  be  charming,  while  contrast  may 
well  be  obtained  from  the  bronzy  rosettes  of 
Corydalis  cheilanthifolia. 

."AH  the  hardy  Cyclamens  are  suitable  and  easy 
if  kept  out  of  full  sunhght  and  given  a  light,  well 
drained  compost  containing  mortar-rubble.  Also 
cool  loving  are  the  numerous  Shooting  Stars 
(Dodecatheon). 

Of  trailers,  Linaria  pallida  is  one  of  the  most 
valuable,  but  the  tiny  Arenarias  balearica  and 
caespitosa.  Hernaria  glabra  and  Hutchinsia  alpina 
are  all  valuable,  as  is  the  bronze-leaved  Epilobium 
Hectori.  Very  different  is  the  procumbent  E. 
obcordatum ;  it  is,  however,  quite  effective. 
Epilobium  naturally  brings  to  mind  those  herbaceous 
Berberids  the  Epimediums,  which  may  readily 
be  brought  to  flower  early  under  glass.  The  best 
species  is  unquestionably  niveum ;  there  is  a 
beautiful  pink  variety  E.  n.  roseum.  Another 
beautiful  species  is  E.  sulphureum. 

Of  the  Hypericums,  H.  reptans  is  alone  worth 
house  room.  This,  everyone  is  agreed,  is  a 
charming  species. 

Of  the  Mertensias,  most  species  are  too  coarse 
for  the  purpose  in  view,  but  this  does  not  apply 
to  the  charming  JVI.  primuloides. 


J.\NUARY  14,   1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


15 


Coming  now  to  the  Wood-sorrels,  tiiose  charming 
exotics,  Oxalis  enneaphylla  and  O,  adenophylla, 
are  specially  suitable,  so  is  the  beautiful  but  little- 
jknown  winter-flowering  O.  lobata.  This  has 
yellow  flowers. 

The  alpine  house  is  a  happy  place  in  wliich  to 
grow  some  of  the  smaller  and  more  beautiful 
Pentstemon  species,  for  this  is  a  genus  which 
-contains,  among  a  deal  of  worthless  rubbish,  a 
few  really  beautiful  alpine  species.  One  of  the 
most  beautiful  is  P.  coeruleus.  which,  also  known 
as  P.  angustifolius.  is  a  neat  plant  which  carries 
its  lavender-blue  flower-spikes  erect,  in  which  it 
differs  widely  from  P.  alpinus.  of  which,  however, 
the  colour  approaches  more  nearly  a  true  azure 
■blue.  A  quaint  scarlet-flowered  species  is  P. 
Newberryi,  which  should  not,  of  course,  be  confused 
-with  the  hybrid  Newbury  Gem,  to  which  it  is  in 
no  way  related.  Neatest  and  most  truly  alpine 
■of  all  is  the  now  generally  familiar  though  not 
widely  grown  P.  Davidsoni.  Its  flowers  are  rather 
startling  in  colour  owing  to  the  touch  of  blue 
■which  enlivens  their  brilliant  red.  Plants  in  pots 
and  pans,  however,  can  always  be  arranged  to 
prevent  colour  clashes. 

Of  the  alpine  Violas,  V.  gracilis  is  indispensable 
and  our  native  V.  lutea  very  lovely. 

There  are,  of  course,  numbers  of  excellent  plants 
vhich  have  not  been  mentioned  in  the  foregoing 
notes,  and  much  will  depend  in  making  a  selection 
upon  the  personal  tastes  and  inclinations  of  the 
■would-be  grower,  his  facilities  for  growing  alpines 
outdoors  and  the  aspect  and  character  of  the 
house  or  houses  to  be  allotted  to  them.  Some 
will  wish  to  grow  species  reputed  to  be  diSicult, 
such  as  Eritrichium  nanum  or  Cyananthus  lobatus, 
though  this  last  is  easy  enough  under  glass.  Others, 
again,  will  try  to  establish  collected  alpine  plants. 
These  are  not  always  satisfactory  from  the  point 
of  view  of  flower,  however.  Silene  acaulis,  to 
take  but  one  instance,  is  in  our  lowlands  poor  in 
colour,  whether  grown  under  glass  or  outdoors  ; 
not  too  free-flowering  even  in  its  native  mountains, 
it  is  usually  over-shy  in  cultivation. 

Important  enough  in  the  rock  garden,  proper 
composts  are  all  important  under  glass.  Plants 
of  the  damp  alpine  pastures  are  best  accommodated 
in  a  compost,  consisting  largely  of  sphagnum,  such 
as  was  described  in  the  article  on  seed  raising 
in  our  issue  of  December  24th  last.  Plants  which 
require   lime   may   have   the   essential   ingredient 


CAMPANULA    GARGANICA     HIRSUTA    AND    ITS 
THEIR    BEAUTIFUL    FOLIAGE    TO 

provided  in  the  form  of  broken  (not  powdered) 
limestone,  old  mortar  rubble  or  broken  oyster 
shells.  Small  washed  gravel  is  very  useful  for 
equalising  the  supply  of  moisture.  In  addition 
to  its.  use  in  actual  compost,  pans  of  drought- 
hating  plants  may  be  plunged  in  it  on  the  staging. 
In  the  case  of  "  miffy  "  plants,  such  as  the  various 
species  of  Cyananthus,  which  need  ample  moisture, 
but  easily  damp  off  in  the  lowlands,  a  liberal 
admixture  of  small  coke  will  be  found  a  con- 
siderable safeguard.  Two  ingredients  the  writer 
has  found  much  overdone  for  alpines  in  pans. 
They  are  peat  and  sand.  The  former  should 
never  be  used  alone,  and  not  at  all  except  for 
peat-loving  plants,  and  sand  as  a  separate  ingre- 
dient should  be  banned.     It  is  usually  employed 


WHITE    VARIETY     (ILLUSTRATED)     DISPLAY 
ADVANTAGE    UNDER    GLASS. 

with  the  idea  of  making  the  compost  porous. 
Its  effect  is,  of  course,  the  reverse.  For  plants 
which  outdoors  flourish  on  the  "  moraine."  a 
moraine  compost  should  be  employed  under 
glass.  This  should  consist  of  at  least  three  parts 
of  suitable  ballast,  fine  gravel,  broken  potsherds 
and  small  coke  to  one  part  of  soil  compost,  which 
should  in  the  main  consist  of  clean  fibrous  loam 
with  additions  of  peat,  leaf-mould  or  mortar 
rubble  to  meet  the  special  requirements  of  the 
individual  species. 


OXALIS    LOBATA    PRODUCES     ITS    FLOWERS    OF    DEEPEST     GOLD    IN    LATE    AUTUMN. 


RIVIERA      NOTES 

DECEMBER  has  proved,  as  usual, 
i  one  of  the  finest  months  of  the  year. 
I  It  began  well  with  two  days  of  good 
'  rain,  but  the  drought  has  not  been 
broken  since,  so  that  much  watering 
is  necessary  to  keep  the  garden  going.  Fragrance 
is,  I  think,  the  note  of  this  month,  for  Chimonan- 
thus  fragrans,  Buddleia  auriculata  and  Freylinia 
cestroides  are  all  in  fullest  flower  and  fill  the  still 
and  sunny  air  with  their  scent  that  lingers  in  a 
way  that  no  other,  season  permits.  No  garden 
on  this  coast  should  be  without  these  delightful 
and  hardy  shrubs. 

Dimorphotheca  aurantiaca  malces  a  specially 
liright  patch  of  colour  on  a  sunny  terrace  also. 
It  is  an  annual  that  is  not  planted  as  freely  as  it 
deserves,  and  serves  as  a  useful  contrast  to  the 
Chinese  Primulas. 

The  scarlet-flowering  Aloes  are  among  the 
succulents  that  enjoy  sunshine  and  drought,  and  are 
.ilready  in  flower  earlier  than  usual,  and  the  trails 
of  pink  Ivy-leaved  Geranium  are  also  prettier  and 
more  full  of  flower  than  usual. 

I  never  saw  Bignonia  venusta  in  better  flower 
than  it  is  now,  spite  of  last  year's  cruel  December 
frost. 

Heliotropes  have  suffered  nmch  from  the 
drought   following  on  that  last   year's  frost   and 


16 


THE     GARDEN. 


[January  14,  1922. 


are  much  less  beautiful  tlian  usual.  Lopezia 
miniata  has,  on  the  other  hand,  enjoyed  the 
season  and  is  a  mass  of  its  dainty  flowers. 

There  is  at  last  a  movement  of  protest  against 
the  poverty  and  banality  of  the  public  gardens 
at  Nice  and  elsewhere.  Journalists  and  French 
gardeners  are  beginning  to  realise  that  Palms 
and  grass,  with  bedded  out  little  parterres  of 
Primulas,  Pansies,  Cyclamen  and  the  like,  need 
some  setting  of  Cypresses,  Carob  Trees,  Umb.ella 
Pines  and  other  indigenous  trees  ;  and  the  Orange 
and  Lemon  and  Olive  tree  are  not  to  be  despised 
because  they  are  so  common  in    the   countryside. 


There  is  a  comparative  scarcity  of  "  Mimosa  " 
this  year,  as  so  many  perished  in  that  bitter 
frozen  wind  last  year  ;  and  Acacia  dealbata  will 
reign  alone  this  season  in  the  markets. 

Iris  stylosa,  which  is  reported  to  be  blooming 
so  freely  in  England,  is  hardly  yet  able  to  make 
a  presentable  show,  the  flowers  are  so  short- 
stalked  and  poor  owing  to  the  drought.  I  have 
no  doubt  that  various  early  forms  of  Narcissus 
Tazetta  will  be  in  bloom  in  some  Northern  gardens 
long  before  they  dare  to  grow  here  ! — a  curious 
inversion  of  the  ordinary  state  of  things.  May  the 
new  year  grant  us  good  rains  !     E.  H.  Woodall. 


The   Cult    of    the    Tuberous    Begonia 

Its  origin  and  developments,  propagation  and  culture. 


C<  at  the  tuberous-rooted  Begonia  as 
we  see  it  to-day  at  some  great  London 
exhibition  !  Proud  and  serene,  conscious 
of  its  incomparable  beauty  and  magnifi- 
cence, in  both  single  and  double  forms, 
embracing  a  range  of  colour  that  few  flowers  can 
excel.  These  magnificent  flowers  have  been 
achieved  by  patient  cross  fertilisation  and  selection, 
by  constant  intermarriage  among  but  a  handful  of 
species,  all  of  which,  by  the  way,  save  one,  bear  red 
flowers.  The  first  of  these  species  was  only  intro- 
duced into  England  as  comparatively  recently  as 
1857.  A  marvellous  story  truly,  and  a  flower 
before  which  we  can  but  bow  our  heads  in  amaze- 
ment. 

The  year  1857  saw  the  introduction  of  Begonia 
boliviensis.  a  species  with  small  scarlet  flowers 
which  is  seldom — if  ever — seen  nowadays,  followed 
eight  years  later  by  the  yellow-blossomed  B. 
Pearcei.  These,  no  doubt,  were  hailed  as  wonderful 
introductions  by  the  garden  lovers  of  the  time. 
They  proved  to  be  the  founders  of  that  gorgeous 
family  which  is  so  appreciated  to-day.  Both 
these  were  natives  of  Bolivia,  but  the  next  intro- 
duction— B.  rosaeflora,  introduced  in  1867 — ^came 
from  the  Andes  of  Peru.  In  the  same  year,  the 
orange  scarlet  B.  Veitchii  was  also  introduced, 
again  from  the  highlands  of  Peru.  Then  came  a 
long  pause,  for  it  was  not  until  ten  years  later, 
in  1875,  that  the  last  species — B.  Davisii — in  our 
chain  of  parentage  appeared  before  the  public. 

From  that  time  a  continuous  improvement  has 
been  maintained  right  down  to  the  present  day  : 
one  triumphant  succession  of  increasing  size  of 
flower,  vigour  of  foliage  and  hardiness  of  constitu- 
tion. At  first  these  plants  were  regarded  as 
demanding  stove  treatment  to  secure  success, 
and  men's  hair  would  have  stood  upright  at  the 
mere  suggestion  of  planting  them  out  in  the  open 
for  summer  bedding  \  Wonderful  as  all  this  is — for, 
in  effect,  an  entirely  new  plant  has  been  created — 
I  have  often  asked  myself  the  question.  "  Are  all 
the  possibihties  behind  us  ?  "  Is  the  modern 
tuberous  Begonia  still  capable  of  fertilisation  by 
one  or  another  of  its  forebears ;  and  if  so,  what 
would  be  the  eSect  of  harking  back  to  one  of  the 
original  parents  ?  Only  last  year  seed  was  offered 
for  the  first  time  of  a  new  strain,  known  as  the 
Narcissus-flowered.  I  have  yet  to  see  this,  but  it 
is  described  as  "  a  remarkable  new  race  of  tuberous 
rooted  Begonias,  producing  flowers  reseu.bling  in 
shape  a  double  trumpet  Daffodil,  the  inner  petals 
being  joined  into  a  large  double  corona,  with  petals 
elegantly  waved  and  frilled  at  margin  ;  in  colour, 
the  flowers  range  from  light  to  dark  yellow,  orange, 
liuff,  blush,  rose,  dark  red  and  scarlet."  This  is 
but  another  step  on  the  way,  to  show  tliat  the  end 
is  not  yet ;  and,  provided  our  "  new  "  plants  and 
strains  still  remain  capable  of  fertilisation  by  one 


or  another  of  the  older  parents,  new  and  still  more 
striking  breaks  may  still  be  procured  by  retracing 
part  of  the  road  and  re-treadmg  it.  There  is  a 
tremendous  fascination  in  all  this  speculation  and 


warm,  the  batches  of  plants  will  flower  within  a 
week  of  each  other. 

Very  fine  soil  is  essential,  as  the  seed  itself  is  so 
very  minute.  Shallow  wood  bo.xes  are  excellent 
receptacles  for  the  purpose  of  sowing  seeds  where 
quantities  are  to  be  raised,  but.  where  possible, 
seed  pans  are  better.  In  either  case,  plenty  of 
crocking  material  should  be  used  to  ensure  eflective 
drainage.  To  keep  this  from  becoming  choked 
up  by  the  finer  earth,  a  layer  of  rougher  soil  or 
moss  should  be  placed  over  this.  It  is  only  the 
top  I  in.  of  compost  that  needs  to  be  very  fine, 
and  this  should  be  made  quite  firm  and  very  smooth 
and  level.  Water  tlirough  a  fine-rosed  can  and  then 
set  aside  for  a  few  hours  to  drain  before  sowing. 
This  sowing  is  a  ticklish  business,  for,  while  it  is 
desirable  to  sow  thinly  enough,  so  that  the  young 
plants  will  not  require  pricking  off  until  of  some 
size,  this  is,  owing  to  the  minuteness  of  the  grains, 
by  no  means  easy  of  accomplishment.  The  old 
time-honoured  dodge  of  mixing  with  a  rather  larger 
bulk  of  very  fine  silver  sand  facilitates  thin  dis- 
tribution as  well  as  anything.  Sowing  completed, 
the  vessels  containing  the  seed  should  be  covered 
with  a  sheet  of  dark  paper  and  a  pane  of  glass,  for 


THE    LATEST    TYPE    OF    BEGONIA,    SUTTOn'S 
P.^ONY-FLOWERED     SECTION    IN    DAHLIAS, 

experiment,   and    I,   for    one,    certainly    mean    to 
investigate  along  the  lines  I  have  indicated. 

Culturally,  the  grower's  thoughts  turn  at  the 
present  time  to  seed  sowing ;  that  is  the  first 
operation  of  the  year  and  the  sooner  it  is  done 
now — provided  that  adequate  heat  can  be  main- 
tained-— the  better.  Early  sowing  means  earlier 
flowering,  with  a  correspondingly  longer  season  of 
flower  harvest  in  summer  and  autumn  ;  but  if  a 
sufficient  temperature  cannot  be  procured  thus 
early  in  the  year,  sowing  can  be  delayed  until  the 
end  of  February  or  early  in  Marcli.  and  the  flowering 
plants  still  be  obtained  by  the  middle  of  August. 
Nothing  is  gained  by  merely  sowing  the  seed  and 
persuading  it  to  germinate,  unless  one  can  keep 
the  youngsters  growing  ;  better  defer  it  for  two 
months  even,  for  I  have  proved  that  a  couple  of 
sowings  may  be  made  six  weeks  apart  and  yet, 
unless   the   earlier   sowing   was  kept   additionally 


DUPLEX,     CORRESPONDS      ROUGHLY     TO     THE 
BUT     HAS     MORE     REFINEMENT    AND     FINISH. 

one  cannot  attempt  to  cover  the  seeds  at  all  with 
soil,  and  the  paper  serves  to  ensure  the  darkness 
that  is  essential  to  germination.  Reverse  the  glass 
daily  to  disperse  the  inevitable  condensation  and 
do  not  water  until  the  surface  requires  it.  It 
must  then  be  done  from  below,  as  it  is  impossible 
to  water  from  above  without  disturbing  the  wee 
seeds,  possibly  when  just  at  the  point  of  germina- 
tion. Lower  the  pans  into  a  vessel  of  tepid  water 
so  that  this  rises  to  half  their  depth  and  wait  until 
it  has  percolated  through  the  surface  ;  then  lift 
out.  drain  and  replace  the  glass  as  before.  A 
temperature  of  60°  to  70°  is  sufficient,  and,  for 
soil.  I  prefer  a  good  yellow  loam  sterilised  by 
baking,  to  which  one  part  of  sand  has  been  added. 
Leaf  mould,  that  is  used  at  a  later  period  of  their 
culture,  should  be  tabooed  as  it  encourages  the 
growth  of  green  moss,  that  overruns  the  seedlings 
and  checks  their  growth.    For  the  same  reason,  use 


January  14,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


17 


main  water  for  moistening  the  soil  wiien  this  is 
required ;  that  in  the  under-stage  tanks  very 
often  contains  the  spores  of  various  mosses  that 
begin  to  grow  as  soon  as  they  fall  upon  the  kindly 
soil.  Germination  should  be  followed  by  the  entire 
removal  of  the  paper  and  the  gradual  removal  of 
the  glass,  and  then  regular  watering,  so  as  to 
keep  the  soil  evenly  moist,  is  all  that  will  be  required 
until  the  first  pricking  off  is  done.  This  needs 
extreme  care,  for  nothing  is  more  brittle  than  a 
baby  Begonia.  To  prick  out  thinly  in  fresh  pans 
or  boxes  is  the  best  method,  for  the  largest  leaves 
will  not  at  this  time  be  larger  than  a  tack  head. 
They  should  now  be  grown  on  until  the  largest 
leaf  is  about  the  size  of  a  penny,  before  finally 
potting  in  separate  pots. 

Let  us  leave  these  at  this  stage  and  turn  our 
attention  to  another  phase — starting  the  tubers. 
It  does  not  matter  whether  the  ultimate  destina- 
tion of  these  is  beds  outdoors  or  culture  in  pots 
for  procedure  is  the  same.  Take  out  the  tubers 
from  their  storage  place  and  carefully  look  them 
over,  to  make  sure  that  they  are  in  perfectly  sound 
condition.  Any  that  show  signs  of  decay  should 
be  examined  to  see  if  this  has  spread  through  the 
whole  tuber  or  if  a  portion  only  is  affected.  If 
the  latter,  cut  this  out  with  a  sharp  knife  and  powder 
the  cut  smtace  with  finely  crushed  charcoal. 
Shallow  wooden  trays  may  be  employed  for  starting 
and,  after  many  experiments,  I  have  found  nothing 
that  is  more  satisfactory  all  round  than  pure  leaf 
mould.  Some  growers,  however,  ■  prefer  coconut 
fibre.  Fill  the  boxes  to  the  top  with  whichever 
is  selected,  firm  slightly  and  press  the  tubers  into 
it,  so  that  they  are  just  level  with  the  surface,  but 
not  covered,  A  temperature  of  55°  to  65°  is  ample 
to  start  these  growing  freely,  a  process  that  is 
facilitated  by  damping  down  and  sprinkling  the 
surface  through  a  fine-rosed  can.  Do  not  get  the 
leaf  soil  over-wet,  however,  and  note  that  the 
surface  of  the  tuber  is  slightly  concave ;  water 
if  allowed  to  collect  in  this  cavity  will  rot 
the  young  shoots.  Keep  in  a  good  light  and  as 
soon  as  well  started,  pot  off  singly  those  which  it  is 
desired  to  grow  in  the  conservatory.  Plants  that 
it  is  intended  to  grow  in  the  open  should  be  allowed 
a  little  more  space  in  tlie  boxes  and  can  then  often 
be  grown  on  more  slowly,  hardened  off  and  planted 
direct  from  the  boxes  into  the  beds,  without  the 
need  for  potting  at  all.  A  good  compost,  both  for 
young  seedlings  and  older  tubers  that  are  to  be 
grown  in  pots  is  a  sir.e  qua  non.  and  one  will  fir.d 
it  hard  to  beat  one  of  three  parts  fibrous  yellow 
loam  and  two  parts  of  leaf  mould  and  one  part  each 
of  decayed  manure  and  silver  sand.  The  size 
of  the  pots  must,  of  course,  vary  with  the  size  of  the 
tuber — a  question  of  age  — ijins,  to  2ins,  all  round 
being  sufficient  margin.  Personally,  I  am  adverse 
to  very  large  tubers  ;  it  is  in  the  second  and  third 
year  that  the  grandest  flowers  are  produced,  and 
after  that  time  the  large  tubers  should  be  used 
perhaps  for  bedding,  while  other  younger  and  more 
vigorous  plants  from  seed  should  replace  them  under 
glass.  Until  buds  form,  a  moist  atmosphere 
promotes  quick  growth,  and  the  staging,  etc., 
between  the  pots  may  be  syringed  freely  with 
advantage  ;  but  once  buds  commence  to  form,  a 
drier  condition  of  the  atmosphere  is  imperative  or 
they  will  drop  these  buds  "  wholesale."  A  certain 
amount  of  shading  from  exceedingly  bright  sun- 
liglit  must,  in  summer,  be  arranged  for,  though  it 
is  an  error  to  shade  the  tuberous  Begonia  too 
heavily.  Break  the  light  with  a  thin  screening 
only  ;  a  thin  blind  is  the  best  method,  as  this  can 
be  run  up  and  down  as  required.  Watering  is  the 
chief  item  that  now  needs  attention,  for  the  more 
even  the  state  of  moisture  in  which  the  soil  can 
be  kept,  the  better  the  flowers  and  buds  expand. 
Over-watering  causes  a  rush  of  sap  to  rise  in  the 
stems  and  force?  the  buds  off  at  the  top  ;    on  the 


other  hand,  drought  reduces  the  flow  of  sap  and 
the  buds  fall  from  that  cause  too.  When  water  is 
needed,  enough  should  be  given  to  soak  the  whole 
ball  right  through,  then  no  more  until  the  surface 
begins  to  dry.  The  circulation  of  air,  too,  must  be 
perfect  ;  a  light  and  buoyant  state  of  the  atmo- 
sphere is  as  important  as  even  moisture  at  the  roots. 
Feeding,  too.  is  an  important  item,  for  the  Begonia 
is  a  very  gross  feeding  plant,  capable  of  absorbing 
large  quantities  of  plant  food,  upon  the  principle  of 
"  weak  and  often."  Liquid  manure,  made  from 
animal  droppings,  chemical  fertilisers,  nitrate  of 
soda,  soot  water,  can  all  be  employed  in  turn, 
varying  these  as  much  as  possible,  using  them  really 
weak  and  always  after  watering  first  with  plain 
water  so  as  not  to  burn  the  roots. 

Towards  autumn  is  a  critical  period,  for  many 
tubers  are  lost  annually  owing  to  imperfect  ripening. 
The  ripening  off  should  be  done  as  slowly  as  possible. 
.As  the  foliage  vellows  reduce  the  supply  of  water — 
but  not  suddenly — and  on  no  account  separate  the 
stem  from  the  tuber  until  it  falls  away  naturally. 
Once  completely  dried,  lay  the  pots  on  their 
sides  in  a  frostproof  place  with  the  tubers  in  them, 
or,  if  they  must  be  taken  out,  clean  them  and  store 
in  dry  earth  until  spring.  Started  tubers,  which  are 
to  be  planted  out  in  the  open,  should  be  prepared 
for  this  by  a  very  thorough  hardening-off  process, 
transferring  first  from  the  greenhouse  to  a  cold 
pit,  which  must  be  kept  closed  and  matted  up  at 
night.  Then  gradually  admit  air  until  the  first 
week  in  June,  by  wliich  time  they  should  be  capable 
of  standing  entirely  exposed  both  night  and  day, 
ready  for  planting  out. 

A  sunny  position  is  better  for  this  than  shade 
and  the  ground  should  have  been  very  thoroughly 
prepared  and  manured  some  time  previously.  A 
mulch  of  old  manure,  a  week  or  two  after  planting, 
is  a  useful  aid  to  keeping  the  roots  in  that  equable 
state  of  moisture  that  is  so  conducive  to  fine  foliage 
and  free  flowering.     Few  things  can  be  more  vivid 


— from  the  poi.it  of  view  of  colour — than  these 
inimitable  flowers,  especially  the  singles,  though  the 
smaller  doubles  (as  used  at  Hampton  Coiu-t,  in 
association  with  Leucopliyta  Brownii)  are  capable 
of  gorgeous  effects  when  confined  to  one  colour 
alone.  When  the  first  severe  frost  comes,  the  tops 
will  be  cut  back  to  the  ground  level  and  the  tubers 
should  then  be  lifted  and  laid  out  in  a  frostproof 
place  to  dry.  When  tlie  soil  has  become  so  dry 
that  it  all  powders  off  the  tuber,  the  skin  of  these 
will  have  toughened  sufficiently  to  enable  them  to 
be  cleaned  and  stored  away  for  the  winter. 

Should  one  have  a  special  variety  that  one  wishes 
to  propagate  true  to  type,  this  cannot  be  done  by 
seed,  and  cuttings  must  be  taken  in  summer.  These 
are  not  easy  to  root,  but  careful  handling  will 
ensure  good  results.  Cuttings  are  formed  from  the 
side  shoots,  wliich  must  be  broken  out  at  the  point 
at  which  they  spring  from  the  main  stem.  It  is 
useless  to  sever  them  just  beneath  a  joint  in  the 
usual  way,  for  when  this  is  done — although  they 
form  roots  freely — the  tubers  never  swell  to  a 
greater  circumference  than  that  of  the  stem  at 
the  time  of  rooting  ;  whereas  those  broken  out 
close  to  the  point  at  which  they  broke  from  the 
main  stem  will  expand  in  the  normal  way. 

Allow  the  plants  to  become  rather  dry  for  a  day 
or  two  before  snapping  out  the  cuttings,  as  this 
reduces  the  sap  flow  and  hastens  rooting.  Very 
sandy  soil  should  be  used  for  inserting,  taking  care 
that  the  base  rests  upon  a  little  heap  of  sand,  and 
keep  the  foliage  fresli  by  placing  in  a  closed  pro- 
pagating frame.  Very  moderate  supplies  of  water 
only  should  be  given,  and  when  growth  recom- 
mences from  tlie  tip,  take  them  up  and  pot  separ- 
ately, growing  on  exactly  the  same  as  seedling 
plants.  Cuttings  can  be  taken  any  time  from  tlie 
period  when  the  side  branches  are  sufficiently 
long  until  August — though  the  earlier  it  can  be 
done  the  better,  as  a  fine  tuber  is  thus  obtained 
before  autumn  stays  furtlier  growth.    H.  W.  C.-W. 


PRECAUTIONS    IN    PLANTING 

Many  trees   and  shrubs  are,  each  season,  lost  through  neglect  of  simple  precautions 

at  planting  time. 


CHRISTMAS  in  this  country  seems  to 
be  a  real  dividing  line  for  work  in 
gardens.  We,  most  of  us.  speak  of 
work  to  be  done  before  Christmas 
and  work  to  be  begun  in  the  New 
Year.  Many  like  to  do  the  bulk  of  their  planting 
operations  in  the  autumn,  and.  indeed,  in  light, 
dry  soils  it  is  the  safest  time  for  most  shrubs, 
at  any  rate.  The  ground,  if  work  is  begun  in 
early  autumn,  is  warm  and,  given  moisture,  which 
in  most  years  comes  with  great  regularity, 
encourages  quick  root  action,  which  is  so  desirable 
in  all  transplanting.  As  the  growth  of  a  plant 
matures  in  autumn,  the  energy  of  growth  goes 
into  the  roots  and  this  is  practically  automatic. 

Root  growth  is  undoubtedly  at  its  ma.ximum 
at  this  period.  In  hot,  dry  soils  the  autumn 
establishment  of  newly  planted  specimens  is  very 
valuable  and  saves  many  anxious  moments  during 
the  following  spring  and  summer.  It  is  wonderful 
how  small  an  amount  of  new  root  in  a  plant  will 
ensure  safety. 

On  the  other  hand  many  favour  spring  planting, 
and  in  heavy  soils  it  is  sometimes  impossible  to 
plant  until  the  soil  has  been  weathered  and  breaks 
up  into  a  fine  friable  condition.  It  is  a  good 
time  to  plant  just  as  things  are  moving  from  the 
dormant  condition,  and  many  evergreens  move 
without  much  check  when  they  are  actually 
commencing  their  growth.     The  writer  has  moved 


Conifers,  such  as  Austrian  and  Corsican  Pines, 
Douglas  and  other  Firs  when  they  had  made 
2ins.  or  3ins.  of  growth  in  late  May  and  June, 
with  great  success. 

In  a  nursery  the  time  to  move  and  plant  up 
stuff  of  all  kinds  is  when  an  opportunitycan  be  found 
to  do  it,  more  than  choosing  the  right  moment,  and 
given  that  plants  are  not  too  badly  rooted,  it  is 
extraordinary  how  little  loss  is  incurred.  But 
this  is  the  important  point  :  Insist  on  good  roots. 
One  might  paraphrase  an  old  saying :  "  Take 
care  of  the  roots  and  the  tops  will  take  care  of 
themselves."  In  choosing  plants  from  a  nursery 
do  not  be  led  away  by  plants  which  look  in  full 
vigour  of  growth,  with  heavy  foliage  and  long 
leading  shoots.  One  may  depend  that  with  a 
gross  appearance  of  growth  on  top  there  must 
be  a  corresponding  vigour  of  roots,  and  once  big 
roots  appear  the  difficulty  of  successful  trans- 
planting is  increased.  Look  rather  for  plants 
with  short  leading  shoots,  comparative  thinness 
of  foliage  and  an  air  of  thriftiness  generally. 
This  to  an  experienced  eye  is  easy  to  see  and 
cannot  be  mistaken,  by  one  who  kno%\'S,  for 
bad  health. 

Another  point  which  is.  perhaps  overlooked  is 
the  difference  of  moving  plants  in  one's  own 
garden  to  purchasing  from  a  nursery  and  receiving 
the  consignment  three  or  four  days  later,  after 
having    been    handled    several    times,    and    that 


18 


THE     GARDEN. 


IJan'uary  14,  1922. 


not  too  carefully.  In  addition,  the  weather  may 
be  dry  with  a  keen,  evaporating  wind.  In  the 
first  case  the  plants  can  be  lifted  with  a  large 
ball  of  earth,  much  larger  than  an  ordinary 
nursery  plant  can  carry,  and  are  taken  from  one 
position  to  another  in  a  few  moments,  and  the 
roots  are  scarcely  exposed  when  they  are  again 
covered ;  so  handled  there  is  little  cause  for 
failure.  In  the  other  case  the  plants  have  to  be 
taken  first  from  the  nursery  to  the  packing  sheds, 
there  to  be  packed  as  carefully  as  possible  and 
often  with  good  balls  of  earth  attached.  They 
then  are  loaded  in  a  van.  transferred  to  the 
railway  authorities,  who  handle  them  again  two 
or  three  times,  and,  on  arrival,  there  is  a  further 
process  of  unloading  and  loading  till  in  the 
piu-chaser's  hands.  Even  then  their  troubles  are 
not  over.  Packing  has  to  be  removed,  and  when 
finally  planted,  it  is  seldom  that  much  soil  remains 
round  the  roots,  and  all  this  after  perhaps  three 
or  four  days  out  of  ground. 

There  is  a  big  difference  in  these  points,  and  it 
is  not  always  the  nurseryman's  fault  when  losses 
are  incurred.  This  comparison  of  home  and 
imported  plants  is  made  with  a  view  to  showing 
that  although  the  season  may  be  right,  there 
are  other  reasons  for  failures,  and  plants  so 
received  should  be  given  every  possible  help 
when    planting. 

Although  there  is  a  best  time  for  everything, 
it  is  not  always  possible  to  avail  oneself  of  it  ; 
but  we  are  so  fortunate  in  our  climate  that  it  is 
not  of  such  great  consequence  after  all,  and  we 
can  go  ahead  with  planting  operations  from 
October  to  May  without  incurring  any  great 
risks.  Of  course,  from  time  to  time  we  are  held 
up  by  excess  of  rain  or,  perhaps,  frost,  although 
in  recent  years  we  have  not  been  aftected  mucli 
in  this  respect.  In  the  winter  of  1895  ground 
operations  were  held  up  by  the  great  frost  for 
about  eleven  weeks.  The  frost  that  year  pene- 
trated to  a  depth  of  2ft.,  and  it  took  nearly  three 
weeks  of  warm,  sunny  weather  to  thaw  it  out 
after  the  frost  had  ceased.  Planting  operations 
that  season  were  much  restricted.  Such  a  winter 
may  occin"  again,  and  after  so  severe  a  drought 
as  we  have  gone  througli  the  last  twelve  months, 
and  taking  into  consideration  the  particular  effect 
of  it  on  last  Spring's  planting,  it  will  be  well  to 
take  advantage  of  the  right  moment  as  far  as  may 
practically  be  possible. 

Another  important  point  is  to  look  after  plants 
properly  immediately  on  arrival.  The  writer  has 
from  time  to  time  seen  a  truck  load  or  more  of 
trees  lying  about  all  over  the  place,  exposed  to 
the  four  winds  of  heaven,  frequently  with  roots 
exposed.  The  planting  gang  cannot  plant  every 
one  at  the  same  moment,  and  it  seems  advisable 
that  a  good  system  of  receiving  stuff  should  be 
adopted.  For  instance,  upon  arrival,  verify  first 
the  contents  of  the  package  or  truck  and  check 
it  with  the  original  order  and  delivery  note.  Make 
sure  the  plants  are  not  dry,  or  if  they  should  be, 
have  them  moistened.  Choose  a  sheltered  spot 
for  unloading,  and  if  any  quantity  has  to  be 
dealt  with,  have  them  laid  out  in  their  various 
kinds,  so  that  each  may  be  easily  taken  out  as 
wanted,  and  cover  the  roots  with  litter  or  loose 
soil.  When  each  plant  is  allocated  to  a  position  it 
is  a  then  simple  matter  to  pull  out  what  is  wanted. 
Never  plant  in  a  dry  condition,  but  first  eithei 
thoroughly  soak  the  root  or  ball  of  a  plant  or 
water  it  in  before  finally  filling  in  the  hole  witli 
soil.  These  precautions  would  save  many  dis- 
appointments and  many  grumbles. 

When  finally  the  plants  have  been  covered  in, 
take  care  the  ground  is  well  trodden,  and  in  light 
soils  it  cannot  be  trodden  too  firmly.  The 
larger  plants  will  require  to  be  staked  or  supported 
so    that    they    cannot    blow    about.     Nothing    is 


worse  for  newly  planted  trees  than  to  have  a 
continual  backwards  and  forwards  movement 
which  by  degrees  produces  a  considerable  space 


round  the  stem  of  the  tree  just  where  it  joins 
the  soil.  Any  tree  loose  at  the  "  collar "  like 
tl)is  will  have  difficulty  in  surviving.       F.  G.  W. 


THE     IMPORTANCE     OF     CONTRAST    IN 
TREE    AND    SHRUB    PLANTING 


WHEN  planting  a  shrubbery  or 
belt  of  trees,  contrast  of  habit 
and  foliage  sliould  be  borne  in 
mind  as  equally  important  as 
variety  and  contrast  in  flower. 
In  the  case  of  deciduous  trees,  contrast  in  arrange- 
ment of  the  naked  stems  and  variety  in  the  colour- 
ing and  appearance  of  the  bark  should  also  be 
provided  for. 

Contrast  in  foliage  is  not  easily  illustrated 
photographically,  but  the  exotic  pale  green  leafage 
of  the  Tree  of  Heaven  (Ailanthus  glandulosa), 
even  in  the  picture,  forms  a  remarkably  effective 
contrast  to  the  more  rigid  habit  of  the  surrounding 
hard-wood  trees. 

The  other  picture  illustrates,  not  ineffectively, 
a  shrubbery  border  in  which  diversity  of  habit 
and  of  foliage  have  alike  been  exploited  to 
good  effect. 

It  may  not  be  inappropriate  to  consider  a  few 
particular  instances  where  such  contrast  has  been 
found  effective.  Silver  Birches  and  Scotch  Firs 
will  probably  suggest  themselves  to  everyone  as 
representing  an  ideal  in  trees.  Hardly  less  effective, 
however,  in  association  are  the  Austrian  Pine  and 
Lime.  The  false  Acacia  (Robinia  Pseudacacia) 
contrasts  effectively  with  the  round-headed 
CJuickthorns,  particularly  the  single  scarlet  variety 
(Crataegus  Oxycantha  punicea).  The  gold  or  silver 
variegated  Negundas  (forms  of  Acer  Negundo)  are 
often  associated  with  the  Purple  Plum  (Prunus 
Pissardii),  but  here  the  contrast  is  almost  entirely 
one  of  colour.  A  bold  but  irregular  grouping  of 
these  Negundas  on  soil  which  suits  them  will  look 
very  beautiful  against  a  background  of  Purple 
Beech.  Reverting  again  to  plantation  effects, 
one  of  tlie  most  effective  contrasts,  albeit  a  seasonal 


one,  is  provided  by  the  tender  green  of  tlie  new 
foliage  of  the  Larch  against  the  black-green  of 
dark  Pine  or  Spruce. 

Their  value  as  contrast  justifies  the  inclusion 
in  mixed  shrubberies  of  some  of  the  upright 
Cypresses,  Junipers  and  Yews.  Their  columnar 
habit  and  characteristic,  if  varied,  foliage  contrast 
wonderfully  with  round-headed  trees  and  bushes, 
such  as  those  of  the  Thorn,  Lilac  or  Broom,  or 
with  spreading  trees  like  the  Laburnum  or  some  of 
the  ornamental  P\Tuses.  Where  space  allows,  the 
Cypresses,  particularly  the  Lawsoniana  forms,  are 
inferior  in  general  appearance,  and  especially 
inferior  for  the  particular  purpose  in  view,  to  many 
of  the  Firs.  No  tree  of  aspiring  habit  can  excel 
in  beauty  a  well  grown  and  reasonably  mature 
Spruce.  The  Oriental  Spruce  (Picea  orientalis)  is 
particularly  fine. 

Plants  somewhat  tabular,  such  as  Cotoneasters 
horizontalis  and  adpressa.  Viburnum  tomentosum 
plicatum,  Taxus  Dovastoni,  and  many  of  the 
dwarf  Junipers,  especially  the  beautiful  tamarisci- 
folia,  are  particularly  useful  for  the  contrast  they 
afford  to  shrubs  of  more  usual  habit. 

The  value  of  the  various  coloured  barks  for 
producing  winter  effects  was  touched  upon  under 
"  Gardening  of  the  Week  "  in  last  week's  issue. 
It  may  be  noted  in  passing,  however,  that  a  very 
pleasing  contrast  alike  of  habit  of  growth  and  bark 
coloration  is  provided  by  associating  Cornus 
sanguinea  and  Kerria  japonica  simplex.  The 
latter  shrub  is  too  often  neglected  in  favour  of  the 
grosser  habited  double-flowered  form  which, 
though  effective  enough  when  massed,  has  little 
grace  of  spray  or  beauty  in  the  individual  flowers. 
The  erert  habit  and  tawny  bark  of  many  of  the 
Deutzias  make  tliem  invaluable  in  tlie  shrubbery. 


"^m 


WELL     ARRANGED    SHRUBBERY     BORDER.        NOTE     THE     CONTRAST     IN     HABIT    AND 

FOLIAGE    COLOUR. 


January  14,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


19 


The   same   may   be  said   of   the   stronger-growing 
varieties  of  Philadelphus. 

Rhododendrons  and  Lilacs  have  tlie  natural 
contrast  afforded  by  the  tough  dark  foliage  of  the 
evergreens   and     the   lighter,    more   flimsy   leaves 


:-'^^\ 


^fff^^ 


^%.:*. 


*---^< . 


,jm^tff- 


AILANTHTJS    GLANDULOSA    IN    A    MIXED    PLANTATION 


proper  to  a  deciduous  bush  ;  but,  somewhat  alike 
in  their  round-headed  habit  of  growth,  either  may 
be  used  to  contrast  with  shrubs  naturally  fount- 
shaped — that  is,  with  arching  branches — such  as 
most  Berberises,  but  especially  stenophylla  and 
many  Brooms. 


Further  contrast  in  the  shrubbery  can  be  well 
afforded  by  the  introduction  of  bold  masses  of 
hardy  Heaths  or  of  herbaceous  plants  of  sorts. 
This  point  has  often  been  touched  upon  in  The 
Garden',  so  that  there  is  no  need  to  labour  it.  but 
the  value  of  groups  of 
coloured  Primroses — per- 
haps blue  ones,  if  these 
are  admired  —  Polyan- 
thuses, or,  better  still, 
coloured  Cowslips,  cannot 
be   over-estimated. 

If  the  slurubbery  is  of 
really  effective  dimensions 
and  in  not  too  bleak  a 
situation,  a  few  kinds  of 
hardy  Bamboos  may 
be  introduced,  always 
remembering  that,  in  their 
place,  the  small  sorts  are 
as  effective  as  the  larger 
growers.  Even  in  a  narrow 
shrubbery  room  can  be 
found  for.  at  any  rate,  a 
few  clumps  of  Yuccas, 
though  they  be  only  fila- 
mentosa  or  flaccida.  Then, 
too,  there  are  the  Pampas 
Grasses  with  autumn 
plumes  of  silver  or  pink, 
as  personal  taste  may 
select.  It  is  a  pity,  though, 
that  the  pink  ones  do 
not  retain  their  colour 
longer ;  while  where 
these  would  prove  too 
large  there  is  quite  a 
variety  o  f  Miscanthus 
(Eulalia)  to  fall  back 
upon. 

Some  people  have  a 
natural  gift  for  forming 
garden  pictures  ;  to  some 
it  seems  denied,  but  it 
is  very  doubtful  whether 
the  "  gift "  goes  really 
much  further  than 
careful  observation  applied 
to  practice.  Whether  by  early  training  or  by 
inheritance,  some  folk  are  undoubtedly  much 
more  observant  than  others,  but  observation  is  a 
part  of  education  not  difficult  to  acquire.  It  is 
undoubtedly  an  invaluable  part  of  the  gardener's 
mental  equipment. 


THE    BUSH    APPLE    TREE 


Its    training   and  pruning. 


IN  your  issue  of  December  14,  page  656, 
Mr.  A.  H.  Pearson  takes  exception  to 
some  details  of  training  and  pruning  I 
recommended  in  an  article  on  page  621. 
In  the  first  paragraph  of  his  notes  he 
states  that  I  "  write  from  an  amateur's  point 
of  view."  I  do  not  know  whether  or  not 
this  is  intended  as  a  compliment,  but  I  do  know 
that  if  our  gardening  journals  were  to  lose  the 
support  of  their  amateur  writers  they  would  be 
shorn  of  many  of  their  most  attractive  and 
interesting  attributes.  However.  I  am  content 
to  write  as  I  have  worked — simply  as  a  gardener  ; 
I  neither  claim  nor  wish  for  a  higher  distinction. 
In  the  article  under  notice  I  advocated  the  claims 
of  what  I  like  to  call  the  "  cordon-trained  bush," 
consisting  as  it  does  of  so  many  main  branches, 
or  cordons,  rising  from  the  base  of  the  tree.     Even 


from  the  start,  such  branches  are  sturdy  and 
rigid,  and  become  more  so  as  they  grow  older. 
Some  are  more  upright  in  growth  than  are  others, 
according  to  the  habit  of  the  variety,  but  aU  are 
practically  rigid  and  strong  enough  to  carry  a 
heavy  crop  of  fruit  without  props  or  help  of  that 
sort.  This  rigidity  and  strength  of  branches  are 
secured  by  shortening  the  terminal  summer  shoot 
at  winter  pruning  to  within  gins,  of  its  base.  The 
pruning  is  repeated  each  year  in  the  same  way 
and  at  the  same  time.  Mr.  Pearson  speaks  of 
"  a  cup-shaped  bush  which,"  he  says,  "  is  quite 
good  for  amateurs  and  admired  by  me,  but  that 
it  has  certain  serious  disadvantages,  because." 
as  he  says,  "  to  make  a  really  nice-looking  tree 
of  it,  it  is  necessary  to  bend  out  the  branches 
at  their  base,  and  then  turn  them  upwards  and 
support  them  with  stakes  while  young,  and  even 


throughout  their  subsequent  career."  I  must 
confess  that  I  have  no  knowledge  of  a  system  of 
training  bush  trees  in  which  the  main  branches 
are  required  to  be  kept  in  leading  strings  for  so 
long !  Then  Mr.  Pearson  goes  on  to  say  that 
he  prefers  the  pyramidal  form  of  training  for 
the  .\pple.  rather  than  the  bush.  One  of  the 
greatest  charms  of  the  art  of  gardening  lies  in  the 
fact  that  there  is  scope  enough  for  each  one  to 
indulge  in  his  own  predilections  as  to  methods 
and  practices  of  culture,  and  yet  for  each  to  reach 
his  own  goal  in  his  own  way.  For  my  part  I 
much  prefer  the  bush  when  trained  in  the  way 
I  have  attempted  to  describe,  rather  than  the 
p>'ramid.  The  latter  is  largely  made  up  of  its 
main  stem,  or  centre  column,  and  the  base  of  the 
main  branches  arising  from  the  same,  and  from 
which  little  or  no  fruit  is  ever  gathered.  The 
tapering  shape  of  the  tree  reduces  its  fruit-bearing 
capacity  very  considerably,  and  its  height  exposes 
the  fruit  to  damage  from  high  winds.  Moreover, 
it  is  more  costly  in  management,  entailing  more 
labo;ir  in  the  use  of  steps  and  ladders  in  pruning 
and  in  gathering  the  fruit.  Heavier  crops  of 
fruit  are.  in  my  opinion,  to  be  obtained  from  the 
same  area  of  land  from  bush  trees,  the  method 
of  training  exposing  the  branches  to  a  greater 
diffusion  of  light,  air  and  sunshine  than  does 
any  other  method  of  training  1  know.  Besides, 
the  trees  can  be  pruned  and  the  fruit  gathered 
from  the  floor  level — no  small  advantage  where 
many  such  bushes  are  grown.  Their  lower  stature 
also  protects  them  more  or  less  from  storms  of 
wind. 

However,  it  is  on  the  subject  of  spur 
pruning  which  I  advocated  in  my  article  that 
Mr.  Pearson  is  so  severe  upon  me.  He  says,  "  I 
have  long  ago  come  to  the  conclusion  that  of  all 
the  evils  which  fruit  growers  suffer  from,  close 
pruning  is  the  most  disastrous.  Yet  Mr.  Thomas 
says  the  spur  system  consists  in  cutting  back 
all  side  shoots  growing  out  of  the  main  branches 
to  within  (in  the  case  of  the  stronger  shoots) 
two  buds  of  their  base,  and  in  the  case  of  shoots 
of  moderate  vigour  to  within  one  bud  of  the  base. 
Now."  says  Mr.  Pearson,  "  this  to  my  mind  is 
rank  heresy,  and  the  result  nothing  but  strong 
wood  growth,  and  no  fruit  could  by  any  possi- 
bihty  result  until  the  tree  was  either  exhausted 
or  very  far  stricken  in  years."  I  hope  by  now 
that  Mr.  Pearson's  indignation  has  somewhat 
cooled  down,  and  that  he  will  permit  me  to  ask 
him  a  question  or  two.  Has  he  ever  seen  the 
branches  of  a  fuUy  grown  spur-pruned  trained 
Pear  tree  growing  against  a  wall  in  full  flower 
in  spring,  and  in  autumn  laden  with  their  crops 
of  fruit  ?  Has  he  not  seen  old  Apricot  trees, 
grown  and  pruned  on  the  same  method,  equally 
as  happy  and  fruitful  ?  Has  he  not  also  seen  the 
spur-pruned  branches  of  espalier  and  cordon 
Apple  trees  equally  as  happy  and  fruitful  ?  Of 
course  Mr.  Pearson  has.  Would  he  be  surprised 
to  hear  that  such  trees  had  been  pruned  on  the 
spur  system  of  pruning  for  generations  by  the  best 
gardeners  of  other  days,  as  well  as  by  those  of 
the  present?  Mr.  Pearson  is  a  bold  man  to  con- 
demn a  system  so  venerable  and  so  venerated  as 
this  for  its  great  services  in  the  past  in  dealing 
with  fruit  trees  grafted  on  dwarfing  stocks  and 
grown  in  restricted  positions  such  as  I  ha\-e  had 
in  my  mind.  What,  then,  may  be  said  of  Mr. 
Pearson's  contention  that,  if  this  old  system  of 
pruning  is  persisted  in,  it  will  lead  to  the 
disastrous  results  he  predicts  ?  and  may  I  further 
ask  what  has  Mr.  Pearson  to  offer  us  in  its  stead  ? 
A  system  which  I  presume  is  his  own — at  any 
rate,  I  have  not  heard  of  it  before — namely,  a 
modification  of  the  old  system,  which  I  think 
may  justly  be  termed  a  sort  of  bastard  spur 
prunijig.     It  consists  in  cutting  back  the  summer 


20 


THE     GARDEN. 


(January  14,  1922. 


shoots  of  the  main  branches  at  winter  pruning 
to  within  six  buds  of  their  base,  instead  of  two 
buds,  as  I  advocate.  By  doing  this  he  wishes 
growers  to  understand  that  after  two  young  shoots 
have  appeared  at  the  top  of  the  cut  shoots  the 
following  summer,  and  they  have  been  stopped 
or  summer-pruned  at  the  sixth  or  seventh  leaf, 
the  undeveloped  wood  buds  below  will  be 
converted  during  the  summer  and  autumn  of  the 
same  year,  or  the  year  after,  into  fruit  buds.  Will 
they,  though  ?  They  may — some  of  them — and 
they  may  not — in  which  case  a  bare  part  is  left 
on  the  shoct  ever  afterwards.  One  of  the  weak 
points  in  this  suggested  method  of  pruning  lies 
in  the  fact  that  the  space  is  so  large  that  the 
sap  is  unable  to  force  all  or  any  of  the  dormant 
wood  buds  into  blossom  buds  as  claimed  for  it  : 
whereas  when  the  shoots  are  cut  back  to  within 
two  buds  of  their  base,  as  in  spur  pruning,  the 
force  of  sap  is  so  concentrated  that  the  latent 
fruit  buds  at  the  extreme  base  of  the  cut  shoot 
are    compelled    to    develop    themselves.     Readers 


in  doubt  can  find  confirmation  of  this  if  they  will 
take  the  trouble  to  examine  the  groups  of  spurs 
which  follow  such  pruning.  They  will  find  many 
of  them  there — flower  buds  comfortably  nestling 
at  the  base  of  the  cut  shoots.  Is  it  quite  fair  for 
the  Editor  to  butt  in,  in  a  case  of  this  sort,  in  order 
to  support  the  critic's  case  against  the  criticised 
before  the  latter  has  had  an  opportunity  of 
replying? — Owen  Thomas. 

[The  Editor  reiterates  that  he  thinks  iit  practice 
Mr.  Pearson  and  Mr.  Thomas  have  much  the  same 
system  of  pruning  in  mind.  Mr.  Thomas  speaks 
of  the  "  latent  fruit  buds  at  the  extreme  base 
of  the  shoots."  which  it  would  seem  he  has  not 
taken  into  consideration  when  pruning  to  two 
eyes.  If,  as  appears  probable,  Mr.  Thomas  means 
to  prune  to  two  sirong  eyes,  Mr.  Pearson  would, 
no  doubt,  almost  agree  with  him.  If,  on  the 
other  hand.  Mr.  Thomas  really  means  to  cut  to 
two  eyes,  most  up-to-date  fruit  growers  would 
consider  it  an  outdated  orthodoxy  rather  than 
"  rank  heresy,"  as  Mr.  PearsoQ  phrased  it.) 


THE    PYRENEAN    SAXIFRAGES 

The  following   notes   on   the   Fyrenean    Saxifrages  "  At  Home  "  should  be  very  helpful 

to  the  Alpine  grower. 


THE  P^Tenees  are  the  richest  centre  in  the 
world  for  Saxifrages.  They  are  a  real 
"  centre  of  creation "  for  the  family. 
Saxifraga  longifolia,  which  has  been 
gro\vn  in  our  gardens  for  more  than  150 
years,  is  the  best  knoivn  of  all.  It  covers  limestone 
rocks  with  a  south  aspect  throughout  the  chain  and 
reaches  to  the  Sierras  of  Sagra  and  of  Aitana  in 
Spain ;  but  there  it  is  a  form  approaching  cata- 
launica  (Boiss),  which  is  rather  S  lingulata 
(Bell). 

The  typical  longifolia  is  very  popular  as  a  garden 
plant  because  of  its  ease  of  culture,  but  it  is 
certainly  inferior  to  lingulata  of  the  Maritime  Alps. 
I  never  saw  anything  more  wonderful  than  lingu- 
lata on  the  precipitous  cli0s  on  the  north  side 
01  the  Alps  above  Nice.  They  bear  long  spikes 
of  flower,  some  of  them  2jft.  long,  overhanging 
the  path.  The  flowers  of  lingulata  are  pure  white 
with  a  red  stalk,  and  the  leaves  narrower  and 
longer  than  those  of  longifolia.  The  cultuie 
of  lingulata.  although  easy,  is  not  so  simple  as 
that  of  longifolia,  which  is,  unfortunately,  mono- 
carpian.  It  dies  after  floweiing,  which  is  not  the 
case  with  its  alpine  sister.  On  the  Spanish  side 
of  the  PjTonees  longifolia  seems  to  be  stronger 
growing  than  on  the  north  side.  Last  year, 
however,  I  went  there  to  find  seeds  of  longifolia, 
which  at  Floraire  never  can  be  got  pure  because 
of  its  being  cross-pollinated  by  insects.  We  found 
that  on  both  sides  of  the  chain  none  had  flowered 
or,  at  least,  none  gave  seeds.  It  was  explained 
to  me  that  this  is  offer,  the  case  and  that  some 
years  they  fail  to  get  fertilised.  This  year 
they  gave  quantities  of  seed,  so  tjiat  I  was 
very  successful. 

The  group  Euaizoonia  is  but  poorly  represented 
in  the  Pyrenees,  b\it  the  Dactyloidcs  species  are 
so  numerous  that  they  seem  to  be  the  fond  de  la 
vegetation  of  the  whole  chain.  The  most  extra- 
ordinary of  them  is  the  rare  cuneata  (Willd) 
growing  in  the  cUfIs  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Pampelona  on  the  Spanish  side.  Boissier  intro- 
duced it  in  his  wall  at  Valleyres  in  1838,  and  the 
plants  are  still  there,  having  grown  undisturbed 
since  that  time.  They  are  now  very  large  tufts. 
very  beautiful  to  see.  I  saw  them  in  ray  days  of 
adolescence,    and    the    sight    of    those    splendid 


Saxifrages   certainly   incited   me   to   grow   alpines 
and  to  become  a  gardener. 

The  type  moschata  (rauscoides  of  some  authors) 
is  such  a  variable  one  that  the  name  varians  is 


together  and  to  study  their  characters.  Of 
course,  some  of  them  (S  S.  aquatica,  ajugaefolia, 
capitata,  tenella,  sedoides)  are  fairly  fixed  types 
and  vary  little.  All  those,  however,  belonging 
to  CEespitosa,  rauscoides,  aphylla,  gemmifera  and 
exarata  are  so  numerous  that  it  seeras  irapossible 
to  study  them  well  except  in  cultivation.  For 
that  reason  I  have  begun  the  culture  of  them  all. 
If  any  of  your  readers  wish  to  help  me  in  this 
direction  I  should  be  glad  to  get  into  correspondence 
with  thera. 

S.  aquatica  sometimes  forms  in  the  Pyrenees 
fields  of  green  foliage  covering  acres  and  acres  of 
ground  where  nothing  else  can  be  seen.  In 
ascending  the  Pic  du  Midi-de-Bigore  (there  are 
several  Pics  du  Midi)  we  found  a  station  of  it 
covering  quite  a  land  (perhaps  two  and  a  half 
acres)  of  ground.  The  plant  is  thick  and  tall 
(sometimes  3ft.  with  the  stalks),  bearing  large  pure 
white  flowers.  S.  ajugaefolia  is  everywhere  and 
covers  the  interstices  of  the  screes  at  low  and 
high  altitudes.  I  found  it  and  Dioscorea  pjTenalca 
growing  together. 

On  the  surface  of  some  rocks  we  found  the  rare 
S.  Clusii,  very  curious  with  its  reddish  shining 
pilose  leaves,  growing  at  the  foot  of  the  cliffs, 
where  we  came  across,  but  could  not  get,  Lilium 
pyrenaicum. 

We  found  the  very  rare  Bartsia  spicata  in  the 
Val  de  L'Herins  above  Aste,  the  village  where 
Tournefort  had  his  seat  when  he  visited  the 
Pyrenees  to  study  its  flora.  This  valley  seems  to 
be  particularly  rich  in  rare  things, 

Florctire,  Chine  Bourg,  Geneva.     H.  Correvon. 

[All  lovers  of  the  mossy  Saxifrages  will 
wish    M.     Correvon    success    in    his    attempt    to 


AMONG    THE    MOST    BEAUTIFUL    OF    ENCRUSTED    SAXIFRAGES — S.    LINGULATA. 


given  to  it  by  some  botanists.  M.  Luizet  made  an 
extraordinarily  interesting  study  of  all  these 
Saxifrages  of  the  Dactyloides  group,  published 
in  the  Bulletin  of  the  Societe  Botanique  de  France, 
from  1910  onwards.  His  work  seems  to  me  to  be 
the  best  on  this  section.  I  searched  for  the  types 
he  mentions  and  found  some  of  them,  but  not  all, 
as  it  is  slow,  hard  work.  Next  year  I  hope  to  be 
more  successful  and  to  be  able  to  introduce  them 
to  the  gardening  world.  We  made  a  little  alpine 
garden   in   the  Jura   in   order   to   grow   them   all 


classify  the  Pyrenean  species.  We  shall  hope 
some  day  to  publish  in  The  Garden  the 
results  of  his  labours — Ed.] 


FORTHCOMING    EVENTS. 

January  17. — Royal  Horticultural  Society's 
Meeting. 

January  rg. — Meeting  of  the  Linnean  Society  of 
London  at  5  p.m. 


January  14,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


21 


CORRESPONDENCE 


DUTCH     BtT:.B     GROWERS     INVADE 

ENGLAND. 

/CONSIDERABLE  interest  has  been  aroused 
in  tlie  bulb-growing  district  of  Lincolnshire 
by  the  announcement  that  the  famous  Dutch 
firm  of  bulb  growers.  Messrs.  de  Graaff  Brothers. 
Limited,  of  Noordwjk.  Holland,  have  purchased 
some  sixty  acres  of  bulb  land  just  outside 
Spalding.  The  bulb-growing  industry  has  steadily 
grown  until  it  is  now  one  of  the  most  important 
in  South  Lincolnshire.  English  bulbs  are  in 
every  way  equal,  if  not  superior,  to  those  grown 
in  Holland,  and  an  increasing  acreage  is  yearly 
devoted  to  this  crop.  The  rich,  silt  soil  of  Lincoln- 
shire is  practically  identical  with  that  in  the 
bulb  areas  of  Holland.  It  is  understood  that 
Messrs.  de  Graaff  will  adopt  the  latest  Dutch 
methods  of  culture  on  their  English  bulb  farm. 
Within  a  week  of  their  purchase  of  the  land  huge 
steam  ploughs  were  at  work  tearing  it  up.  As 
the  present  season  is  now  too  far  advanced  for 
bulb  planting,  the  land  will  be  cropped  first  with 
Potatoes  (for  which  Lincolnshire  is  famed),  bulbs 
being  planted  as  these  are  lifted.  This  is  the 
first  occasion  on  which  one  of  the  great  Dutch 
bulb  firms  has  entered  into  direct  competition 
on  the  spot  with  English  growers  by  starting  a 
farm  in  the  very  heart  of  the  English  bulb  district. 
It  is  not  unlikely  that,  now  the  ice  is  broken, 
other  Dutch  firms  will  follow  suit.  All  varieties 
of  bulbs  do  well  in  the  Holland  Division  of  Lincoln- 
shire, but  Tulips  and  Narcissi  of  all  sorts  are  the 
principal  kinds  grown. — -W,  A.  Jeffs, 

DUTCH     V.    ENGLISH-GROWN     BULBS. 

T  NOTICE  "  Somers,"  page  639  of  The  Garden, 
expresses  his  appreciation  of  the  Dutch  bulbs 
ordered  direct  from  Holland,  His  experience  is 
quite  contrary  to  mine.  I  ordered  from  a  well 
known  Dutch  firm  the  following  bulbs  :  30  second 
size  Hyacinths,  five  varieties,  7s,  6d,  ;  25  early 
Tulips  3s.  ;  120  Darwin  Tulips  in  ten  sorts. 
I2S,  6d,  ;  50  Darwins,  mixed,  5s.  ;  100  Spanish 
Iris  in  ten  named  varieties,  5s.  ;  50  Crocus 
purpurea  grandiflora.  3s.  ;  30  Crocus  Maximilian, 
3s..  totalling  £1  iqs,  I  received  good  Hyacinths 
worth  I2S.  6d.,  but  the  remainder  were  a  very 
poor,  rough  lot.  The  Darwin  Tulips  to  name 
were  all  second  and  third  size.  Two  varieties 
were  Cottage  Tulips,  one  double  early,  the  total 
value  7S.  6d.  The  50  mixed  Darwins  were  15 
first,  15  second,  20  third  size,  value  2S.  3d,  ; 
25  early-flowering  Tulips,  15  second,  10  third 
size,  value  is.  4d.  ;  100  Spanish  Iris,  all  planting 
size,  not  a  flowering  bulb  among  them,  value 
IS,  3d,  ;  50  Crocus  Maximihan,  second  size ; 
50  purpurea  grandiflora,  second  size,  value  3s. 
It  will  thus  be  seen  that  I  received  bulbs  value 
27s.  lod,  for  39s.  remitted.  Many  of  the  bulbs 
are  too  small  to  flower,  and  are  thus  of  no  value 
to  an  amateur,  although  I  have  allowed  something 
for  them  in  my  prices.  The  values  I  have  allowed 
are  made  in  comparison  with  those  of  a  well  known 
firm  of  English  bulb  growers,  taken  from  their 
1921  catalogue. — J.  W,,  Brigstock,  Wisbech. 

FRUITING  OF  THE  FEIJOA 

'JpHE  enclosed  fruits  may  be  of  inteiest  I  have 
had  over  three  dozen  fruits  on  my  plant  of 
Fcijoa  Sellowiana  this  year.  The  thiee  sent  are 
of  varying  size.  What  is  the  normal  size  of  the 
fruit  in  its  native  country  ?  I  also  enclose  two 
sprigs  of  Khaphiolepis  indica  rubra  in  full  flower. 
This  shrub  should,  of  course,  flower  in  April  or 
May,   but   it   is  in  flower  now   and  full   of  buds. 


which  up  to  the  present  have  not  been  injured  by 
the  frost. — -H.  G.  Hawker,  Ivy  Bridge,  South 
Devon. 

[The  fruits  of  Feijoa  Sellowiana  arc  edible ; 
they  are  used  in  the  same  way  as  the  Medlar 
and  Quince  for  making  jam  and  jelliy. — Ed.] 

NEW    YEAR     FLOWERS. 

TN  The  Garden  for  December  31  I  notice 
that  you  mention  Christmas  Roses  and  Erica 
darleyensis  as  the  only  flowers  that  "  usher  in 
the  year."  I  should  like  to  tell  you  of  some  of 
the  plants  and  shrubs  that  were  flowering  in 
abundance  in  my  little  garden  here  on  New  Year's 
Eve.  (i)  Large  bunches  of  Chimonanthus  fragrans 
on  an  old  tree  I2tt,  high — the  beautiful  deep 
yellow  flowers,  not  the  grey  ones.  (2)  Camellias. 
I  picked  a  large  basketful  of  these,  semi-double, 
I  cannot  discover  the  name  ;  some  of  the  flowers 
look  like  Donkelaari,  but  others  are  streaked 
with  white.  It  is  an  old  tree  against  a  wall  and 
has  hundreds  of  blossoms  every  year,  (3)  Daphne 
odora,  grown  under  a  verandah,  covered  with 
large  blossoms  and  glossy  green  leaves,  (4)  Loni- 
cera  Standishii,  flowering  splendidly,  (5)  Cyclamen 
persicum,  flowering  well,  and  also  the  C,  hedera?- 
folium.  (6)  Violets  in  abundance ;  the  large- 
flowered,  long-stalked  single  ones.  (7)  Coronilla 
glauca.  (8)  Jasminum  nudiflorum.  (9)  The  pink 
Lenten  Roses.  (10)  But  the  pride  o£  my  garden 
just  now  is  an  Acacia  Baileyana,  about  20ft. 
high  or  more,  planted  in  191 7  and  moved  several 
times.  It  is  now  a  mass  of  featjiery  yellow  sprays, 
as  beautiful  as  any  oa  the  Italian  Riviera.  None 
of  these  plants  are  protected,  except  the  Daphnes 
now  and  then  during  a  long  frosc,  I  send  this 
little  list  hoping  it  may  interest  some  of  your 
readers  and  perhaps  encourage  them  to  grow  these 
winter-flowering  plants  and  shrubs,  —  Cavendish 
Bentinck,  Dau'lish,  S.  Devon. 

[Jasminum  nudiflorum  is  of  course,  a  regular 
and  welcome  winter-flowering  plant,  but  the 
hybrid  Lenten  Roses  seldom  flower  so  early,  at 
any  rate,  around  London.  The  Daphne,  Lonicera 
Standishii,  Camellias  and  Mimosa  moke  those  of 
us — and  we  are  the  vast  majority — who  have  to 
garden  in  a  bleaker  chmate  envious.  The  Great 
Western  Railway  Company  have,  after  all  some 
justification  for  •.omparing  South  Devon  and 
Cornwall  to  the  Riviera. — Ed.] 

EARLY     FLOWERING     OF     IRIS 

UNGUICULARIS. 

J  HAVE  read  with  great  interest  this  corre- 
spondence, and  from  a  small  clump  in  my 
garden  since  October  i,  220  flowers  have  been 
picked.  The  clump,  which  has  been  left  undis- 
turbed for  the  last  eight  years,  is  in  very  poor 
sunbaked  soil.  The  only  attention  ever  given  to 
it  is  in  the  summer,  when  any  long  fohage  is  pulled 
out  or  broken  oft'  and  all  dead  grass — for  tidiness 
sake — taken  away.  Daphne  indica  on  a  west 
wall  is  flowering  earUer  and  better  than  I  have 
ever  seen  it. — R.  A.  Meares,  Falmouth. 

LATE-FLOWERING    ROSES. 

DIGHT  up  to  the  end  of  the  year  Roses  have 
been  flowering  with  wonderful  prodigality  in 
South-Western  Scotland.  In  several  gardens  in 
this  peninsular  parish,  which  has  the  sea  on  all 
sides  save  one,  Wichuraiana  varieties,  such  as 
the  floriferous  Dorothy  Perkins  and  her  beautiful 
white  derivatives,  are  blooming  almost  as  freely 
(though  with  somewhat  less  artistic  effectiveness) 
as    they    did    during   the    months    of   August    and 


September.  As  late  as  the  second  week  in 
December  I  had  marvellously  large  and  effective 
flowers  on  such  fine  varieties  as  Corallina,  Frau 
Karl  Druschki,  Lady  Pirrie,  Crimson  Emblem 
and  Bouquet  d'Or,  the  fairest  daughter  of  the 
venerable  Gloire  de  Dijon.  Campions  and  Prim- 
roses ha.ve  been  blooming  quite  freely  wherever 
they  found  protection  from  the  desolating  winds. — 
David  R.  Williamson. 

HORNBEAM     AS     A    HEDGE    PLANT. 

T\  the  interesting  article  on  garden  hedges  in 
your  issue  of  the  loth  ult.,  the  writer  says 
that  it  is  scarcely  surprising  that  the  demand  for 
the  Hornbeam  for  hedges  has  of  late  years  greatly 
revived,  as  its  value  for  old  time  effect  has  become 
more  fully  recognised.  I  regret  to  say  that  I  put 
in  some  hundreds  of  yards  of  Hornbeam  hedge 
a  dozen  or  so  years  ago  and  I  would  advise  no  one 
to  repeat  the  mistake.  The  Hornbeam  appears 
to  me  to  have  no  advantages  over  the  Beech  and 
to  be  in  every  way  inferior.  It  is  never  so  effective 
as  the  Beech,  whether  in  the  early  spring,  when 
the  leaves  are  breaking,  in  summer  or  in  autumn 
It  is  like  a  poor  edition  of  the  Beech  in  form  of  leaf 
and  in  richness  of  colour  ;  and  in  the  North,  at  all 
events,  it  drops  its  leaves  as  early  as  December, 
while  the  Beech  continues  to  bear  the  far  richer 
coloured  leaves  practically  until  the  time  for  its 
beautiful  young  green  leaves  to  appear. — J.  H. 

AN     APPEAL     FOR     THE     LITTLE 

GARDENS    OF    RHEIMS. 

ALTHOUGH  the  war  is  really  over,  the  effects 
of    the    catastrophe    are    still    appallingly    in 
evidence   in    the   devastated   districts   of    France. 
All  the  world  has  heard  of  Rheims,  and  few  people 
were  left  unmoved  by  the  terrible  destruction  of 
its    glorious    cathedral.     Constant    bombardment 
for  four   years  worked   terrible  havoc   among  all 
the    buildings  of   Rheims.     Now,  httle    by  little, 
these  are  being  reconstructed,  but  this  generation 
will  not  see  a  complete  restoration  of  the  ruined 
city.     The    poorer    quarters    of    the    city    were 
entirely   destroyed,   and   during  the   greater  part 
of  the  war  the  old  people,  women   and  children 
were    sent    away    to    the    safe    South.     Thai    is, 
those  went  who  did  not  elect  to  stay  on  and  face 
the  dangers.     These  latter  sent  their  children   to 
schools  which  were  carried  on  in  the  champagne 
cellars,   and  most  of  them  lived  in   underground 
shelters.     One  of  the  chief  citizens  who  "  carried 
on  "  in  Rheims  during  the  war  years  told  me  that 
he  became  so  used  to  going  about  on  all  fours, 
to  avoid  shot  and  shell,  that  he  ended  by  forget- 
ting that  this  was  not  the  normal  way  for  a  man 
to  walk.     Most   of  the   people   had   their  houses 
and    all    their    belongings    destroyed.     This    has 
fallen  heavily  on  the  poor,  the  loss  of  their  little 
all  being  irretrievable  until  Germany  is  made  to 
pay  up.     When  it  was  no  longer  necessary  to  live 
in  shelters  and  cellars  the  people  who  had  remained 
in    Rheims    found   themselves  homeless,   and  the 
returned  exiles  were  in  like  condition.     Now,  all 
among  the  ruins  one  sees  huts  made  of  old  planks, 
pieces   of   rusty   corrugated    iron,    wooden   cases, 
cube    sugar-boxes,     sacking,     etc.,     where    whole 
families  live,  and  where,  during  the  bitterly  cold 
weather,    many   die   from   exposure.     These   poor 
people    find    work    in    the    fields    and    vineyards 
round  Rheims,  and  among  the  reviving  industries 
of    biscuit-making,    velvet    manufacture,    in    the 
reconstruction     works     and     in     the    champagne 
cellars.     The  Municipality  of  Rheims  has  gradually 
put  up  four  villages  of  huts  (north,  south,   east 
and  west  of  the  city)  to  house  the  returning  poor. 
These  huts  are  made  of  wooden  planks  roughly 
put  together,   through  which   the  cold  penetrates 
in  winter  and  the  heat  scorches  in  summer.     Two 


22 


THE     GARDEN. 


[January  14,  1922. 


of  the  villages  are  on  the  sites  of  old  battle-fields, 
and  shell-holes,  ruined  houses,  masses  of  barbed 
wire  and  war  dibris  of  all  kinds  still  abound.  There 
is  no  monej'  to  construct  roads  or  to  tidy  the  place 
up,  and  under  present  conditions  the  inhabitants 
add  to  the  squalor  by  throwing  all  their  rubbish 
out  of  the  doors  and  windows.  The  most  spacious 
lodgings  have  four  rooms,  and  there  are  generally 
three  lodgings  to  each  hut.  Old  couples  and 
single  people  have  only  one  room  in  which  they 
sleep,  cook  and  often  work  at  basket-making, 
chair-mending,  etc.  The  greater  part  of  the 
married  people  have  large  families ;  very  few 
have  less  than  six  children.  Just  opposite  the 
hut  where  I  live  with  the  British  District  Nurses 
(working  for  the  Americans)  is  a  family  of  ten 
boys  and  one  girl.  The  youngest  is  three  months 
old.  Five  children  of  this  family  are  dead.  This 
is  by  no  means  unique. 

All  French  people  are  born  gardeners,  and 
they  live  chiefly  on  vegetables.  I  have  started 
a  little  ceuvre  among  these  villages  of  huts.  The 
authorities  have  given  permission  to  the  people 
to  cultivate  all  available  space  round  their  dwell- 
ings, with  the  result  that  this  year  I  hope  these 
dirty,  sordid,  miserable  places  will  be  trans- 
mogrified into  Garden  Cities.  The  people  have 
taken  up  the  idea  very  keenly.  My  aim  is  to 
help  the  people  themselves  to  better  their  con- 
ditions. The  gardens  will  be  beneficial  in  many 
ways — the  vegetables  will  be  an  economy,  the 
■flowers  will  bring  beauty  and  consolation,  the 
cultivation  of  their  plot  will  interest  the  owuers 
and  keep  the  men  at  home  in  their  non-working 
hours,  and  also  be  a  joy  and  distraction  for  the 
women  who  have  nothing  to  lighten  the  grey 
monotony  of  their  lives.  Also  the  gardens  will 
tidy  up  the  whole  village  and  give  an  air  of 
prosperity  and  trimness  which  are  now  lacking. 
Then,  too,  the  ownership  of  these  little  fenced-in 
gardens  gives  a  pleasant  sense  of  proprietorship 
which  everyone  enjoys  having.  The  people  can 
be  private  and  have  their  meals  and  read  in  the 
open  in  the  summer.  These  jardinets  will  remove 
the  mud  and  dibris  from  their  doors.  In  August 
prizes  will  be  given  for  the  best  gardens,  and 
special  prizes  for  those  which  have  been  cultivated 
by  the  boys  of  the  family.  The  Municip  ility  of 
Rheims  has  given  me  about  two  acres  of  ground 
which  surrounds  the  Foyer  Feminin  (a  club  for 
girls  and  women  started  by  the  Americans,  but 
now  carried  on  by  the  French).  This  ground 
has  been  made  into  a  flower  garden  and  recreation 
ground  for  the  Foyer  Feminin  and  a  vegetable 
garden  which  supplies  the  club  with  vegetables 
and  grows  plants  for  sale  and  for  giving  to  the 
little  gardens  of  the  barrack  villages.  A  new 
plant  is  a  real  joy  to  these  poor  people,  and  I 
am  encouraging  the  true  gardener's  spirit  of 
exchange  among  them.  One  poor  widow  woman, 
who  lost  all  three  of  her  sons  in  the  war,  finds  her 
only  joy  and  consolation  among  the  flowers  of 
her  tiny  garden.  Her  face  liglits  up  all  over  if 
.  I  give  her  a  cutting  or  plant.  Another  widow, 
who  has  an  only  child,  a  boy  of  fourteen,  has 
made  quite  a  wonderful  little  garden  out  of  the 
tiny  space  she  was  allowed  last  year.  She  never 
bought  vegetables  all  through  the  summer,  and 
also  contrived  to  have  a  little  border  gay  with 
flowers.  She  has  made  an  arch  over  her  tiny 
gate,  and  I  am  giving  her  a  cUmbing  Rose  to 
cover  it.  My  little  aiivre  is  to  help  and  encourage 
the  people,  and  I  want  to  be  able  to  give  seeds 
and  plants  to  every  garden.  My  great  ambition 
is  to  have  a  climbing  plant  on  every  lodging 
(Roses  for  choice)  to  hide  its  intense  ugliness. 
So  I  am  sending  out  this  appeal  to  ask  everyone 
whom  it  reaches  to  send  me  the  ends  of  their 
seed  packets  when  they  have  sown  their  own 
gardens,  or  to  give  me  a  few  full  packets  or  the 


money  with  which  to  buy  seeds  or  plants.  The 
Royal  Horticultural  Society  has  given  me  a  most 
generous  gift  of  vegetable  seeds,  enough  to  sow 
all  the  little  gardens  and  the  Mother  Garden  at 
the  Foyer  Feminin.  So  now  all  that  I  need  are 
the  flowers  which  by  their  beauty  will  do  much 
to  raise  these  stricken  people  out  of  their  sordid 
misery.  They  will  bring  hope  to  the  hopeless, 
consolation  to  the  bereaved,  and  joy  and  loveliness 
to  all. 

"  Hedge  thy  dwelling  round 
With  the  Divine  companionship  of  Flowers." 

Gifts  should  be  addressed  to  Miss  Slade,  Foyer 
Feminin.  26.  Rue  Simon.  Rheims,  Marne,  France. 
— Victoria  Slade. 

THE    >USTLETOE    AND    ITS    HOSTS. 

TN  the  interesting  note  0:1  Viscum  album  in 
The  G.\rden  of  December  2+  the  writer 
states  that  he  has  seen  it  on  both  the  Wych  and 
English  Elm,  and  also  that  it  is  said  to  have  been 
found  on  the  Cedar  of  Lebanon  and  Larch.  In 
some  Pine  forests  abroad  Jlistletoe  is  regarded  as  a 
pest,  so  it  is,  perhaps,  not  surprising  that  it  should 


Gardens  at  Oxford.  In  no  other  place  in  the  world 
can  Mistletoe  be  seen  growing  on  such  a  variety 
of  trees,  all  within  one  acre  of  ground.  The  seeds 
appear  to  have  been  naturally  carried  from  the 
Lime  trees  near  the  road  to  the  Weeping  Willows 
at  the  back  and  to  have  spread  from  them  to  the 
following :  Pyrus  Mains,  P.  aria,  Cotoneaster 
Lindlej-i,  Juglans  niger,  Robinia  Pseudacacia, 
Crata>gus  orientalis,  C.  tanacetifolia,  ^-Esculus 
octandra,  Ostrya  carpinifolia  and  .Acer  monspes- 
sulanum.  The  Mistletoe  appears  to  be  affected 
by  some  of  its  hosts.  On  the  Ostrya  some  nfty 
plants  all  exhibited  the  characteristic  golden  tinge 
of  green,  but  the  bushes  growing  on  the  .-Esculus 
and  CratjEgus  tanacetifolia  were  a  dark  holly- 
green  and  bore  smaller  leaves,  and,  indeed,  appeared 
to  be  a  different  variety,  though  grown  from  the 
same  seed  as  the  rest. — H.  H.  W. 

THE    ROOTS     OF    THE     STATELY 

EREMURUS. 

""PHERE  are  few  things  in  the  plant  kingdom 
"^  so  weird  and  curious  as  the  roots  of  the 
F.remurus.     The    single    crown    is    like    a    giant 


THE    CURIOUS    ROOTS    OF    THE    EREMURUS. 


have  been  recorded  on  such  trees  as  the  writer 
names  in  this  country,  though  it  will  not  flourish 
on  them.  I  have  never  met  with  it  growing  on  any 
species  of  Elm,  even  where  it  grows  plentifully  on 
Lime  trees  close  to  them.  On  many  a  journey,  par- 
ticularly in  the  South-West  of  England,  one  can 
sec,  without  leaving  the  train,  that  the  .Apple 
tree  is  the  favourite  host  plant,  but  in  Herts  and 
Essex  it  grows  far  more  plentifully  and  easily 
on  the  Lime.  I  have  seen  it  growing  to  perfection 
on  the  .Aspen  Poplar  and  also  on  the  Hawthorn. 
In  an  Essex  cottage  garden  I  once  saw  it  growing 
well  on  an  old  Gooseberry  bush.  So  rarely  is 
Mistletoe  to  be  met  with  on  the  Oak  that  I  began 
to  regard  its  presence  there  and  its  Druidic  associa- 
tions as  a  myth,  till  the  Vicar  of  Hambledon  (who 
kindly  measured  with  me  for  The  Garden  the 
ancient  Yew  tree  over  30ft.  in  girth)  revealed  one 
of  its  rare  oaken  hiding  places,  where  I  trust  it 
may  remain  for  as  many  centuries  as  the  famous 
Yew.  My  chief  object  in  writing  is  to  record  the 
names  of  the  numerous  host  trees  in  the  Botanic 


starfish.  Thick,  fleshy,  tapering  roots  are  seen 
radiating  from  a  common  centre.  With  old 
well  established  clumps  there  are  occasionally 
as  many  as  nine  or  ten  crowns  to  a  root,  and  as 
each  crown  is  capable  of  throwing  an  inflorescence, 
the  promise  of  bloom  is  truly  wonderful.  Much 
of  the  interest  in  these  plants,  as  in  many  others, 
lies  hidden  underground.  Verily  plant  life  is 
full  of  strange  things,  and  if  plants  can  reason, 
no  doubt  they  think  the  same  of  us.  There  is  a 
reason  for  the  strange  appearance  of  these  roots, 
as.  indeed,  there  is  a  reason  for  everything  a 
plant  does  if  only  we  think  it  out.  It  would 
naturally  be  expected  that  roots  should  dilYer 
in  structure  according  to  the  various  tasks  assigned 
to  them.  In  the  case  of  Eremurus  the  plant  sends 
up  robust  flower-spikes,  as  tall  as  or  taller  than  a 
man.  When  we  consider  the  strength  of  the  inflores- 
cence and  the  length  of  the  spike  of  this  Liliaceous 
plant,  we  can  realise  the  great  root  pressure  and 
amount  of  nutriment  necessary  to  support  the 
plant.    These  fleshy  roots  are  specially  developed  as 


January  14,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


23 


structures  for  reserve  material  and  the  absorption 
of  nourishment,  while  at  the  same  time  by  their 
wide  expansion  they  provide  the  necessary  anchor- 
age in  the  soil.     As  one  might  assume  from  the 


shallow  roots,  the  Eremurus  delights  in  a  moist 
soil  and  prefers  an  abundance  of  water  in  the 
growing  and  flowering  season. — Herbekt  Cowley. 
I  iiiibridae  Wells. 


GARDENING     OF     THE     WEEK 


FOR     SOUTHERX    GARDENS . 

The   Kitchen  Garden. 

Seakale. — -This  is  more  easily  forced  now  than 
the  earlier  batches  were.  Should  a  constant 
supply  be  required  it  will  be  necessary  to  place  some 
roots  into  their  forcing  quarters  about  every  three 
weeks.  It  is  never  advisable  to  use  too  much  heat 
in  forcing  Seakale.  The  best  results  are  obtained 
when  the  crop  is  forced  gently.  Preparations 
should  be  made  now  for  forcing  some  of  the  roots 
where  growing.  Place  pots  or  boxes  with  movable 
lids  over  a  portion  of  the  bed  and  cover  well  over 
with  leaves  and  strawy  manure.  Some  of  the 
finest  Seakale  is  produced  when  forced  in  this 
manner. 

Carrots. — Should  a  sowing  not  yet  have  been 
made  as  advised  in  the  calendar  for  December  17, 
the  present  is  a  good  time  to  make  one.  Select  an 
early  shorthorn  variety  and  use  a  fine  light  soil. 
The  seed  may  be  sown  in  rows  or  broadcast,  but 
the  former  affords  the  better  chance  of  having  the 
soil  hoed  occasionally  to  aerate  it. 

Potatoes  in  Pots. — For  an  early  supply  of  new 
Potatoes  to  precede  those  in  frames,  pots  or  boxes 
afford  suitable  means  for  growing  them.  1  he 
former  should  be  from  gins,  to  loins.  in  diameter, 
and  boxes  should  be  about  that  in  depth,  and 
dimensions  otherwise  of  convenient  size  for  hand- 
ling. Let  the  compost  have  a  liberal  amount  of 
well  decayed  flaky  leaf  soil  in  it  and  see  that  good 
drainage  is  given.  1  he  seed  selected  for  this  sowing 
should  be  nicely  sprouted  and  be  of  an  early  variety 
recommended  for  this  work.  Space  should  be  left 
when  filling  pots  or  boxes  to  give  a  good  top- 
dressing  later  on.  and  plants  should  be  grown  in  a 
light  airy  position  when  through  the  soil. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Raspberries  left  untied  in  the  autumn  should  be 
attended  to  now,  making  sure  at  the  same  time 
that  the  supports  are  all  good.  Wheie  the  canes 
are  centred  round  a  stake,  loop  them  all  up  pro- 
poitionately  and  not  in  a  too  besom-like  manner. 
The  training  on  wires  oi  similar  arrangement 
calls  for  even  distribution  to  best  advantage. 
Where  a  new  plantation  has  been  made  the  method 
of  support  should  be  decided  upon  and  placed  in 
readiness  when  time  permits,  so  that  there  shall 
be  no  delay  when  young  growths  require  tying  up 
later.  Should  these  latter  plants  not  have  been 
cut  yet,  do  so  now  to  within  about  gins,  of  the 
groimd,  and  give  them,  as  well  as  the  established 
plants,  a  mulching  of  decayed  leaves  and  manure. 

Pruning. — During  favomable  weather  push 
ahead  as  rapidly  as  possible  with  this  work.  In 
dealing  with  trees  on  old  walls,  which  mav  have 
become  defaced  and  which  offer  such  a  hiding 
place  for  insect  life,  it  will  be  of  great  advantage, 
where  it  can  be  done,  for  the  trees  growing  a.gainst 
the  most  offending  portions  to  be  entirely  liberated, 
and  the  wall  cleansed  with  a  rough  brush  and 
afterwards  treated  with  some  insecticide. 

The  Flower  Garden. 
Perennial  Climbers.— in  addition  to  Vitis  and 
Pillar  Roses,  recently  touched  upon,  there  are 
several  other  valuable  climbers  which  should 
Among  the  best  we  have  the  Bignonia,  Clematis, 
receive  consideration  where  such  plants  are  required.' 
Kccremocarpus,  Humulus,  Jasminum.  Lonicera, 
Polygonum,  Solanum,  Tropajolum  and  Wistaria! 
While  all  are  hardy,  consideration  should  be  given 
when  selecting  the  positions  for  the  plants,  that 
those  known  to  possess  the  most  robust  nature  be 
given  the  coldest  aspect.  In  view  of  the  permanent 
character  of  such  climbers  the  ground  should  be  well 
prepared  for  them  so  that  a  good  start  is  assured 
The  different  uses  to  which  such  plants  may  be 
put  are  several,  among  which  mav  be  mentioned 
the  clothing  of  pergolas,  tripods.'  dead  trees  or 
stumps,  and  for  screen  work.  Some,  more  particu- 
larly Clematis,  I.onicera  aijd  Tropa?olum,  are 
splendidly  adapted  for  association  with  othei 
plants.  To  give  one  or  two  examples.  Clematis 
entwined  among  Roses,  early  flowering  Lonicera 
with  Vitis  and  Trcpa;olum'in  conjunction  with 
any  plant  which  gives  a  spring  display  and  is 
somewhat  bare  later  in  the  season,   such   as  the 


.Almond  tree.  The  Wistaria  should  be  so  planted 
that  its  graceful  pendulous  flowei  heads  may  be 
shown  oft  to  advantage  and  allowance  made  where 
supports  aie  to  be  erected  that  they  are  sufficiently 
strong  to  carry  the  growths  as  the  plant  eventually 
develops  into  a  large-stemmed  one. 

Plants     Under     Glass. 

Amaryllis. — Some  of  the  strongest  and  earliest 
ripened  bulbs  are  throwing  up  their  flower  spikes 
and  should  be  removed  to  a  warm  house.  The 
drainage  of  the  plants  will  have  been  put  in  order, 
and  after  removing  the  top  crust  of  old  soil,  give 
them  a  rich  top  dressing.  The  bulbs  will  get 
sufficient  moisture  for  a  little  while  Ly  occasionally 
spraying  them,  but  when  the  growth  is  more  acti\e 
dryness  must  be  guarded  against. 

Cyclamen. — Young  plants  growing  in  pans  or 
boxes  should  be  potted  into  6'i  sized  pots,  using 
a  light  ccmpost  and  not  potting  too  firmly.  1-or 
some  time  yet  the  young  plants  should  be  kept 
growing  in  a  warm  moist  temperature  and  occa- 
sionally fumigated  should  thrips  show. 

Mignonette. — -This  old  favourite  is  always 
appreciated  in  the  dwelling  and  flowering  house. 
.Jiuturan  sown  plants  requiring  a  further  pot-on 
should  receive  it,  using  a  good  loamy  soil  with  some 
old  mortar  rubble  added.  This  plant  requires  firm 
potting,  and  should  be  grown  w-here  plenty  of  light 
and  air  reach  it.  H.   Turner. 

(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland  ) 

Albiiry   Park   Gardens,   Guildford. 


FOR     NORTHERN    GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Hot-Beds. — Take  advantage  of  frosty  weather 
to  have  a  good-sized  hot-bed  made  up,  p.s  this 
will  be  found  of  inestimable  value  to  the  gardener 
who  is  expected  to  produce  forced  vegetables 
during  the  early  spring  months.  Construct  the 
bed  in  a  sheltered  spot  facing  south,  so  that  full 
benefit  may  also  be  derived  from  the  heat  of  the 
sun.  The  materials  should  consist  of  freshly 
fallen  leaves  and  stable  manure.  Mix  together 
and  leave  in  bvilk  for  a  few  days  before  finally 
forming  to  the  desired  size.  Firm  treading  of 
the  materials  is  essential  as  the  making  of  the  bed 
proceeds,  and  to  ensure  the  heat  of  the  bed  lasting  for 
a  reasonable  period  it  should  be  built  to  a  depth 
of  5ft.  The  bed  may  be  left  to  heat  up  before 
the  frames  are  placed  in  position,  but,  as  theie  is 
plenty  of  moisture  in  the  leaves  at  present,  fermen- 
tation will  speedily  take  place.  A  suitable  compost 
should  be  prepared  beforehand  and  used  for  sowing 
or  planting  in  as  necessity  demands. 

Sprouting  Early  Potatoes. — For  early  forcing 

these  should  be  sprouted  in  shallow  boxes.  Avoid 
coddling  in  any  way  and  aim  at  producing  sturdv 
growth.  The  .Ashleaf  varieties  are  all  suitable 
for  foicing.  Sharpe's  Victor,  May  Queen  and 
Duke  of  York  are  also  good  varieties  for  this 
purpose. 

Lettuces  and  Radishes. — Sow  a  pinch  of  eailv 
Lettuce  seed  in  a  box  so  that  the  subsequent 
seedlings  may  be  pricked  into  hot-beds  later  on. 
Turnip-rooted  Radishes  may  also  be  sown  thinly 
among  the  early  Carrots  in  frames,  as  these  will 
be  ready  to  pull  before  the  young  Carrots  require 
the  extra  space. 

Plants  Under  Glass. 

Chrysanthemum  Cuttings.— 1  he  bulk  of  the 
bush  varieties  will  now  have  produced  "  cuttings" 
freely,  so  no  time  should  be  lost  in  having  the 
necessary  quantity  inserted.  Boxes  are  most 
convenient  where  large  quantities  have  to  be 
struck.  Use  a  fine  mixture  of  loam  and  leaf- 
mould,  with  a  liberal  quantity  of  sharp  sand. 
Choose  firm,  stocky  growths  that  are  breaking 
away  from  the  base  of  the  stool. 

Forcing  Plants.— Further  batches  of  Azaleas. 
Rhododendions  and  shrubby  Spirjeas  should  be 
placed  in  heat  for  succession.  Most  of  these 
plants  will  be  found  to  force  more  readily  now. 

Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine.— Batches  of  these 

which  have  bet-n  at  their  best  during  the  Christmas 
period  should  now  be  cut  over  and  placed  in  genial 


warmth  so  that  they  may  be  encouraged  to  produce 
strong  ••  cuttings  "  for  early  work.  Keep  the 
plants  on  the  dry  side  for  a  time,  giving  the  stools 
a  spray  overhead  occasionally. 

Cytisus  (ragrans. — Large  specimens  of  this 
sweetly  perfumed  plant  are  often  grown  in  com- 
paratively small-sized  pots,  so  should  now  be 
assisted  with  frequent  waterings  of  liquid  manure. 
Being  a  cool  greenhouse  plant,  this  Cytisus  resents, 
any  attempt  at  early  forcing,  as  when  subjected 
to  much  heat  at  this  time  it  rarely  flowers  well. 

Calceolaria  Clibranii  should  now  be  taken  in 
hand  and  repotted.  To  obtain  large  specimen 
plants  those  that  flowered  during  the  late 
season  in  6in.  or  7in.  pots  should  now  be  placed 
in  pots  of  fiom  loins.  to  izins.  They  revel  in 
a  mixture  of  good  fibrous  loam  and  leaf-mould 
with  a  sprinlding  of  old  lime  rubble  added. 

Hydrangea  Hortensis.— Where  these  are  required 
in  fiower  early  in  the  season  a  few  plants  showing 
well  developed  buds  may  be  placed  in  a  warm  pit. 
When  the  plants  are  freely  growing  occasional 
doses  of  weak  soot-water  may  be  given  them^ 
varied  at  times  with  liquid  manure. 

The  Flower  Garden. 
Preparing     Flower-Beds.— Wheie     beds     or 

borders  are  not  occupied  with  spring-flowerin" 
plants  opportunity  should  be  taken  to  have  them 
suitably  manured  and  dug  over.  Use  thoroughly 
decayed  manure  for  this  purpose,  as  many  bedding 
plants  produce  over-luxuriant  foliage  with  corre- 
sponding scarcity  of  flower  when  too  generously 
treated.  Edge  the  beds  neatly  as  the  work 
proceeds.  James  McGran. 

(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Flouldsworth,  Bart.) 
(  oodham,   Kilmarnock. 


CONSERVATORY  AND  GREENHOUSE. 

Greenhouse  Cleaning. — -Cleanliness  is  one  of 
the  chief  essentials  in  successful  gardening,  and 
is  of  prime  importance  in  indoor  operations.  If 
not  already  done,  no  time  should  be  lost  in  clean- 
ing the  interior  of  plant  houses  generally,  for 
very  soon  there  will  be  little  time  to  spare  for 
such  work.  The  roof  glass  should  be  washed 
down  as  well  as  all  wall  surfaces,  which  should 
afterwards  be  sprayed  with  carbolic  acid,  using 
^oz.  to  every  3  gallons  of  water.  All  wall  surfaces 
should  then  be  limcwashed,  adding  half  a  pound 
of  flowers  of  sulphur  to  every  3  gallons  of  limew-ash. 
1  he  best  fixing  medium  for  limewash  is  skim-milk  : 
linseed  oil  is  also  used.  Size  is  often  made  use  oi, 
but  it  is  no  good  for  the  purpose,  as  the  lime  sooii 
destroys  it.  All  propagating  cases  and  frames 
should  be  treated  in  the  same  wav.  replacing  the 
old  plunging  material,  if  necessary,  with  fresh. 
Stages  and  benches  should  also  receive  attention, 
renewing  any  standing  material  which  is  old  and 
sour.  Ibis  is  very  important,  as  plants  never  do 
well  when  standing  on  a  dirty  and  sour  medium. 
Where  pea  gravel  is  used  on  benches,  it  should  be 
washed :  other  material,  such  as  sifted  ashes 
or  coke  breeze,  should  be  discarded  and  replaced 
with  fresh.  The  benches  when  cleaned  should  be 
watered  with  the  carbolic  acid  solution  as  advised 
for  the  walls.  There  are.  of  course,  plentv  of  good 
proprietary  washes  if  one  prefers  to  use  them. 
.\  disinfectant  of  some  sort  is  essential,  especially 
where  collections  are  affected  bv  that  all  too 
common  pest,  eelworm.  All  the  foregoing  labour 
may  to  many  seem  unnecessary,  but  it  is  only  by 
strict  attention  to  such  details  that  success  is 
assured  in  plant  growing. 

Seed  lists. — The  opening  weeks  of  the  New- 
Year  usually  bring  a  shoal  of  seed  catalogues. 
Orders  should  be  placed  early,  espcciallv  for  such 
kinds  as  should  be  sown  in  January  or  Februarv. 
Always  order  from  a  reliable  firmi  even  if  the'ir 
seeds  cost  a  little  more.  It  usually  proves 
economical  in  the  end.  It  has  to  be  taken  into 
account  that  the  work  of  growing  is  just  the  same, 
so  that  it  is  well  to  have  every  possible  guarantee 
that  the  strains  of  seed  purchased  are  of  the  best. 
From  the  great  variety  offered  it  is  rather  diflScult 
for  the  inexperienced  to  make  a  suitable  choice. 
It  is,  in  any  case,  best  to  trust  to  known  varieties 
if  they  are  wanted  for  a  definite  time  or  purpose, 
making  it  a  rule,  however,  every  year  to  try 
something  new  in  addition. 

Potting  Soils. — ^It  is  important  at  this  time  that 
loam,  leaf-soil,  peat  and  sand  should  te  placed 
under  cover,  so  that  they  may  be  in  suitable 
condition  for  potting  and  seed  sowing. 

Lime. — The  use  of  lime  is  too  often  neglected 
in  potting  soils,  although  its  value  is  geneially 
recognised  in  outdoor'  gardening.  Its  use  is  of 
prime  importance  in  potting  soils,  which  is  usuaUv 
obtained  from  old  pasture  or  park  lands,   which 


24 


THE    GARDEN. 


[January  14,  1922 


too  often  have  been  neglected  as  regards  regular 
liming. 

Plants  tor  Forcing. — Continue  to  introduce 
plants  into  a  heated  house  for  forcing.  Care  is, 
however,  necessary,  for  many  plants  are  spoiled 
each  year  bv  too  sudden  a  change  of  temperature. 
Shrubby  plants  from  outdoors  or  bulbs  from  cold 
frames  should  be  gradually  accustomed  to  a 
high  temperature.  In  the  case  of  bulbs  it  is  also 
very  important  that  they  be  well  rooted.  This 
implies  that  they  were  potted  in  good  time  last 
autumn.  Lilies  of  the  Valley  respond  quickly 
to  a  temperature  of  80°  to  85°,  especially  if  they 
have  been  stood  in  the  open  for  some  weeks  with 
the  crowns  well  exposed  to  the  weather.  Needless 
to  say.  plants  grown  in  so  high  a  temperature 
have  hot  got  the  lasting  qualities  of  plants  grown 
in  cooler  quarters. 

Chrysanthemums. — ^Where  exhibition  blooms 
are  grown  a  start  is  usually  made  with  propa- 
gation during  December.  VVhere  grown  purely 
for  decorative  purposes,  cuttings  may  be  inserted 
from  now  onwards  until  the  end  of  March,  or  even 
during  April.  Propagation  in  March  and  April 
is  to  produce  plants  for  growing  in  small  pots  to 
furnish  the  stages  in  the  conservatory.  They  are 
also  excellent  for  use  in  the  dwelling-house,  and 
in  this  form  are  worthy  of  more  general  cultiva- 
tion. Later  on  I  hope  to  enter  more  fully  into 
the  details  of  their  cultivation.  In  taking  cuttings, 
firm,  medium-sized  shoots  some  sins,  in  length 
are  best ;  cuttings  from  the  stem  should,  where 
possible,  be  avoided.  Sometimes  there  is  very 
little    choice,    as    many    fine    new    varieties    are 


notoriously  bad  stock-makers,  a  good  example 
being  that  beautiful  single  variety,  Cateiham 
Bronze.  With  such  varieties  one  must  take 
what  one  can  get.  Better  plants  of  some  varieties 
are  obtained  by  fresh  cuttings  taken  later  on 
from  the  young  rooted  plants.  In  rooting  cuttings 
for  exhibition  work  it  is  usual  to  insert  the  cuttings 
singly  in  thumb  pots.  For  ordinary  cultivation 
this  is  not  necessary  ;  they  may  be  dibbled  fairly 
closely  into  pots  or  into  boxes  where  a  quantity 
of  one  sort  is  required.  They  root  readily  in  a 
shallow  cold  frame  or  under  hand-lights  stood 
on  a  bench  in  a  cold  house.  So  treated  they  wiU 
take  a  little  longer  to  root,  but  the  resulting  plants 
are  generally  stronger  and  sturdier  than  those 
subjected  to  heat.  Care  should  be  taken  that 
they  are  not  kept  too  damp. 

Carnations. — -Continue  to  keep  the  Malmaison 
varieties  on  the  dry  side.  Do  not  on  any  account 
get  the  foliage  wet ;  allow  just  enough  water  at 
the  root  during  winter  to  keep  thera  from  shrivel- 
ling, and  no  moisture  on  the  foliage.  This  is  the 
only  sure  preventive  and  cure  for  rust.  Spraying 
with  supposed  preventives  is  worse  than  useless ; 
it  just  provides  the  needed  moisture  for  the  disease 
to  start  and  propagate  itself.  Rooted  cuttings 
of  Perpetual  Flowering  varieties  should  be  potted 
of  as  they  require  it.  Continue  to  insert  cuttings 
as  they  become  available.  Remember  that  lime 
in  some  form  in  the  potting  compost  is  essential 
for  the  well-being  of  all  Carnations. 


Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kew. 


J.     COUTTS. 


THE     FIRST    KNOWN    DAHLIAS 

The   writer   endeavours    to    clear   up    the    mystery   surrounding    the   introduction   of  the 

Dahlia    to   Britain. 


«    MONG    the    interesting     discoveries     that 
^^        I  have  made  during  some  recent  enquiries 
/  %      into  the  history  of  the  Dahlia,  there  is 
^"-■^    one,  in    particular,  which  deserves    the 
f  ■   attention  of  those  readers  of  The  Garden 

who  are  concerned  with  that  subject.  There  has 
been  so  much  taken  for  granted  and  apparently 
so  little  of  the  historical  matter  submitted  to  the 
test  of  critical  examination  by  the  majority  of 
writers  on  this  flower  that  the  few  notes  which 
follow  may  be  helpful  to  anyone  who  may 
henceforth  desire  to  pursue  a  course  of  indepen- 
dent investigation. 

Every  student  of  floricultural  history  knows 
that  it  is  generally  stated  that  the  first  introduction 
of  the  Dahlia  into  England  was  by  the  Marchioness 
of  Bute  in  1789.  But  nobody  ever  tells  us  what 
was  the  name  or  names  of  the  varieties  so  intro- 
duced. In  fact,  some  of  the  writers  lead  us  to 
suppose  that  there  was  only  one.  My  researches 
prove  beyond  question  that  the  date  given  is  an 
initial  blunder  and  one  that  has  been  permitted 
to  go  vmchallenged  for  a  hundred  years  or  so, 
and  that  the  real  date  should  be  put  at  least  nine 
years  later.  My  reasons  for  this  have  already 
been  published 

The  Bute  introductions  were  imdoubtedly  lost 
through  want  of  knowledge  as  to  the  culture 
necessary  or  from  some  other  cause.  They  were 
followed  by  the  second  introduction,  which  was  due 
to  Lady  Holland  in  1804.  The  discovery  alluded 
to  was  made  recently  at  the  Natural  Historj' 
Museum,  when  I  was  there  on  other  work  connected 
with  the  Dahlia.  Dr.  Rendle  very  kindly  suggested 
that  as  he  had  under  his  care  some  old  dried 
specimens  of  Dahlias  he  would  be  pleased  for  me 
to  see  them  in  case  they  might  be  of  any  service. 
Upon  my  assenting,  they  were  brought  forth, 
and  it  is  a  most  remarkable  circumstance  that 
nobody  that  has  ever  taken  any  interest  in  the 
historical  aspects  of  the  Dahlia  should  have  seen 
these  specimens,  otherwise  they  would  certainly 
have  been  mentioned.  It  may  be,  of  course, 
that  the  existence  of  these  interesting  specimens 


was  unknown  to  former  writers  as  it  was  to  me — 
it  may  be  that  for  the  purpose  of  comparison  and 
identification  the  various  coloured  figures  in  the 
botanical  and  horticultural  publications  available 
were  deemed  sufiicient.  But  whatever  the  reason, 
it  is  certain  that  these  old  dried  specimens  of 
Dahlias  throw  a  new  light  upon  Dahlia  history 
which  has  hitherto  been  unknown. 

Out  of  the  total  number  there  are  eight  which 
deserve  our  special  consideration,  and  three  of 
these  are  of  the  utmost  historic  value  in  helping 
us  to  come  to  a  definite  conclusion  as  to  the  names 
of  those  flowers  which  the  Marchioness  of  Bute  first 
introduced  into  this  country.  The  reader  who 
has  read  my  article  on  the  Evolution  of  the  Show 
Dahlia  in  the  National  Dahlia  Society's  Year 
Book  for  1915  will  remember  that  the  Abbe 
Cavanilles  of  Madrid  named  the  Dahlias  he  received 
from  Mexico,  D.  pinnata,  D.  rosea,  and  D.  coccinea, 
each  of  which  he  figured  and  described  in  his 
"  Icones." 

Now  the  first  of  these  dried  specimens  is  intensely 
interesting  and  instructive  for  two  reasons — firstly, 
because  of  the  inscription  written  in  ink  upon  the 
shell  on  which  the  flower  is  mounted  ;  secondly, 
because  the  specimen  itself  shows  clearly,  as 
Cavanilles'  figure  does,  that  it  was  a  semi-double 
flower.  Andre  Thouin's  figure  of  the  same  flower 
in  the  Annules  du  Museum  also  demonstrates 
this  peculiarity,  which  is  a  remarkable  one,  con- 
sidering that  under  English  and  German  cultiva- 
tion the  blooms  came  absolutely  single  and  are 
figured  as  such  by  almost  every  other  authority  since. 

This  is  D.  piimata,  otherwise  known  as  purpurea, 
the  Georgina  variabilis  purpurea  of  Willdenow's 
"  Hortus  Berolinensis,"  tab.  xciii.  The  following 
is  the  inscription  :  "  Dahlia  pinnata.  Cav.  ic, 
p.  56  and  80,  sent  under  the  name  of  Dahlia 
coeruleo-rubens.  C.  G.  Ortega  (Lady  Bute)." 
This  colour  description  is  in  Cavanilles'  own  wording 
as  the  reader  will  see  in  his  Obs.  in  the  text  to 
tab.  266. 

The  next  of  these  specimens  is  marked  "  C.  G. 
Ortega    (Lady  Bute)    Dahlia   rosea.      Cav.   ic,   p. 


33-1,265,"  It  is  quite  a  single  flower,  not  so  large 
in  its  dried  condition  as  Cavanilles'  figure  of  that 
variety. 

The  third  one  is  a  much  larger  specimen  than 
Cavanilles'  figure  of  it.  It  bears  the  inscription  : 
"  C.  G.  Ortega  (Lady  Bute)  Dahlia  Coccinea. 
Cav.   p.   3." 

They  are  all  undated,  but  there  seems  to  be  no 
room  for  doubt  that,  irrespective  of  any  question 
as  to  the  date  of  introduction  by  Lady  Bute,  these 
dried  specimens  were  the  three  original  varieties 
that  Cavanilles  received  from  Mexico  and  not 
seminal  varieties  bearing  other  names. 

By  the  time  Lady  Holland  had  secured  seeds 
and  had  grown  them  at  Holland  House  for  a  year 
or  two  the  original  three  had  increased  in  number, 
and  the  remaining  specimens  in  the  collection  at 
the  Natural  History  Museum  afford  ample  proof  of 
the  inconstancy  of  D.  pinnata  in  coming  semi- 
double.  We  could  otherwise  have  been  quite 
convinced  of  this  by  reference  to  the  coloured 
figures  of  it  in  the  various  publications  of  the  period. 
Taking  the  fourth  specimen,  we  find  it  marked 
"  Lord  Holland's  Garden.  Dahlia  pinnata- 
purpurea  N.  i."  This  flower  is  a  large,  flat- 
petalled  single.  The  next  one  is  also  marked 
"  Dahlia  pinnata-parpurea  No.  2.  Lord  Holland's 
Garden,"  and  is  a  flower  of  great  size,  a  single  with 
broad  florets  about  5  inches  in  diameter.  The 
following  note  appears  at  the  bottom  of  the  sheet  : 
"  This  plant  came  from  seeds  in  r8o5.  The  colour 
is  stronger  and  dryes  much  better.  8i  feet  high 
to  the  first  top  flower." 

We  get  another  example  in  the  specimen 
marked  "  Dahlia  pru^jurea  N.  3.  Lord  Holland's 
garden."  The  centre  is  gone  and  the  flower  is 
smaller  than  the  preceding  one,  but  it  is  still  as 
single  as  a  flower  can  be.  The  inscription  informs 
us  that  "  This  plant  bears  flowers  of  a  deeper 
colour  than  No.  2,  being  a  medium  between 
r,  2,  3  and  4,  which  is  bipinnata.  The  flowers 
are  double  (?),  but  only  8  leaves  were  perfect." 
It  is  interesting  to  notice  that  although  these 
old  specimens  are  brown  with  age  there  is  in  each 
case  the  original  shade  of  colour  still  more  or  less 
faintly  visible. 

Now  although  the  majority  of  these  old  single 
Dahlias  had  only  eight  broad  radial  florets,  some 
at  times  had  more.  That  can  be  ascertained  not 
only  by  reference  to  the  published  coloured  figures, 
but  by  the  specimens  themselves.  One  of  them 
is  a  case  in  point.  It  is  inscribed  :  "  Dahlia  rosea 
seemly  not,  but  only  a  variety,"  and  at  the  bottom  : 
"  Lord  Holland's  Garden."  In  this  there  are  nine 
florets  of  the  ray. 

Of  the  remaining  specimens  there  is  one,  also 
a  single,  with  eight  florets  still  faintly  showing 
the  original  yellow  colour,  marked  "  Lord  Holland's 
Garden.  Dahlia  coccinea,"  and  rather  the  worse 
for  age.  When  this  was  figured  in  the  Botanical 
Magazine,  tab.  762,  it  had  nine.  Cavanilles'  figure 
also  depicts  the  flower  with  nine. 

The  last  to  be  noticed  is  inscribed :  "  Dahlia 
crocata.  Lord  Holland's  Garden."  Both  coccinea 
and  crocata  are  always  shown  as  singles,  but  they 
were  smaller  forms  than  pirmata  and  rosea,  and 
more  variable  in  the  number  of  their  radial  florets, 
D.  crocata  in  McDonald's  Dictionary  being  showTi 
with  nine,  while  in  the  "  British  Flower  Garden," 
pi.  282,  it  will  be  seen  to  have  ten. 

Such  are  the  essential  points  of  interest  that 
occur  to  the  mind  of  anyone  examining  the 
specimens.  It  must  be  admitted  that  they  throw 
a  flood  of  light  upon  the  subject  which,  up  to  now, 
has  never  been  suspected.  That  they  should  have 
remained  hidden  away  all  these  years  and  never 
yet  have  been  brought  to  the  notice  of  our  Dahlia 
historians  is  one  of  those  inexplicable  mysteries 
with  which  the  student  of  floricultural  history  is 
occasionally  confronted.  C.  1'arman  Payne. 


THE 


Mn^  VFJVoftl 

lira  I 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


Vol.  LXXXVI.— No.  2618. 

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rosy  salmon. 
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RAISED    BY    THE 

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If  you  want  the  best  try  H.  J.  JONES' selection.  12  vtiy 
tine  unnamed,  all  colours  mixed,  ft/-  ;  VI  very  Hne  named 
varieties,  10/-;  12  extra  fine  named,  15/-  ;  livery  fine  New 
varieties,  20/-. 

Ciifalo^iic  of  Ihea/uivc  iiiiii  iiuiiiy  otJicr  f^ooil  plants  from 

H.J.  JONES,  Ryecroft  Nurseries,  LEWISI:AM,S.E.13 


"1HE    PERFECT"    GARDEN    TROWEL 

(Approved    by    Miss    Jekyll) 

Does  not  dan- age  the  Plants,  as.  owing  to  ihe  special 
sweep.  I  he  mould  readily  leaves  Ihe  blade,  and  is  not  torn 
from  the  tender  roots.  The  Handle  is  shaped  so  as  not  to 
cramp  the  hand  in  use. 

Price,  with    solid    Bright   Steel   Blade.  6  in.,  3/9  each 
7  in.,  4/3.    Packing  and  Postage.  i)d.  extra. 

To    be    obtained    only    from 

CARLING,     GILL     &     CARLING,     Ltd., 
Guildford    and    Godalnring. 


FRUITING  APPLES 

I  am  in  a  position  to  offer  250  Fruiting 
pyramids  of  Co.n,  Worcester,  etc.,  from 
4  to  7  feet,  big  stuff,  well  rooted. 

Samples  seen  here.      Correspondence  Invited. 

DIXON'S   NURSERY,  PUTNEY  (and   at  Leatherhead). 


SEED  POTATOES 

Scotch  and  Yorkshire  Grown. 

ALL  THE    LEADING   VARIETIES. 
No  Better  Stocks  Obtainable. 


Send    for    List. 


ISAAC  POAD  &  SONS,  Ltd., 
Seed  Potato  Merchants,  YORK. 


SOW    NOW    to  bloom  in  July  and  August 

BLACKMORE  UANGDON'Sl 


work/  renowned  BEGONIA   SEECS  (56  Gold  Medals) 

DOUBLES, 

none  can   L-qual   this  for  quality,   size  and 
lovely      form      and      colours      of      fiowers 
SINGLE, 

of  wonderful  size  and  form    

FRILLED    SINGLE, 
a  beautiful  selection     

CRESTED    SINGLE. 
very   fascinatimi    

HANGING    BASKET, 

a  grand  novelty,  \-cry  graceful 

GLOXINIA 
seed,    mixed,    in    most    beautiful    selection 

of  colour     1/6.2/6    &   5' 

For    prices    of    tubers    of  ahox'e    and    other    specialitii  s 
zcrite  for  free  catalogue  and  mention  this  Paper, 

Twerton  Hill  Nurseries,  BATH. 


per    paclie: 
2/6  &  51 

1/-. 

2/6   &  5/ 

1/-. 

2/6  &   5/ 

i;-. 

2/6  &  5/ 

1/6 

,  2/6  &  5/ 

HOW  TO  PRUNE  ROSES  &  FRUIT  TREES 

A  most  helpful  booklet  by  Owk.n  Thomas,  V.M.H.  Sent  posi 
free  on  receipt  of  lid.  "  ConsT"Y  I.IFE  "  Offices,  20,  Tavistocl 
Street,  Covent  Garden.  W.C.2. 


SWEET    PEAS     AND     HOW     TO     EXCEI 

WITfl  THE.M.  By  Horace  WinnHT,  9d.  net,  by  post  lid 
Published  at  the  OrBccs  of  "  Codntky  Life,"  Limitep,  20 
Tavistock  Street,  Covent  Garden,   \V".C.2. 


No  a6x8-VoL  LXXXVI  ]       NOTES   OF  THE  WEEK 


[January  21,  1922. 


A  CORRESPONDENT  this  week  calls 
attention  to  the  difficulty  of  applying 
Mendel's  Law  to,  for  example,  the 
Carnation.  It  is  probably  not  wide  of 
the  mark  to  say  that  there  are  few 
subjects  about  which  the  average  gardener  knows 
less  than  about  Mendel's  Law.  There  are  even 
to-day  men  whose  business  depends  very  largely 
on  the  raising  of  new  plants  who  do  not  hesitate 
to  de.'icribe  Mendelism  as  "  all  tosh."  There  is 
no  use  in  mincing  words.  There  is  much  that  is 
out  of  date,  much  that  is  reactionary  in  the  horti- 
cultural trade.  This  obviously  does  not  apply 
to  the  established  firms  who  are  at  the  "  top  of  the 
tree,"  nor  to  some  of  the  younger  and  wonderfully 
progressive  firms  who  are  rapidly  climbing  to  that 
exalted  position.  These,  however,  represent  but 
a  small  part  of  the  nursery  and  seed  trades.  There 
are  far  too  many  who  are  content  to  dismiss 
Mendelism  as  "  tosh,"  scientific  research  as  a 
waste  of  money,  and  packing  as  of  no  importance. 
The  methods  of  their  grandfathers  are  good 
enough  for  them.  Many  of  them  carry  on  a 
precarious  existence.  In  almost  any  other  profes- 
sion they  would  long  since  have  been  out  of  business. 
The  Explanation  would  seem  to  be  in  the 
fact  that  horticulture  is,  generally  speaking,  a  badly 
remimerated  profession.  There  are  to-day  many 
skilled  head- gardeners  with 
a  very  wide  range  of  know- 
ledge indeed  who  are  draw- 
ing a  wage  lower  than  many 
dustmen.  A  similar 
standard  of  remuneration 
obtains  in  commercial 
horticulture,  and  so  small 
is,  even  then,  the  margin  of 
profit  that  it  is  evident 
that  higher  wages  must 
depend  upon  the  introduc- 
tion and  utilisation  of 
labour-saving  and  waste- 
eliminating  devices.  To 
introduce  such  devices  and 
to  utUise  to  their  greatest 
extent  all  helpful  knowledge 
as  exemplified,  for  instance, 
by  the  Mendelian  Law, 
it  is  necessary  to  have  direct- 
ing intelligences  of  no  mean 
order  dowered  with  fore- 
sight and  gifted  with  resolu- 
tion, or  with  what  the 
"  man  in  the  street"  calls 
"  push  and  go."  Here  is, 
then,  a  vicious  circle  with 
low  wages  explaining  incom- 
petence and  incompetence 
making  inevitable  low 
wages. 


Truth  is  Great. — -To  come  back  to  our  "  text," 
the  Mendelian  Law,  from  which  insensibly  we  had 
drifted  away,  one  of  the  commonest  arguments 
brought  against  the  application  of  Mendelian 
theory  is  that  it  is  not  true  or  that  it  is  true  only 
of  certain  genera  of  plants  and  animals.  That 
it  is  not  applicable  to  Carnations,  for  instance. 
The  law  has  been  practically  applied  to  such 
varied  genera  as  Pisum,  Primula  and  Cucurbita. 
It  would  surely  be  worth  whUe  closely  to  study 
its  application  to  genera  in  which  the  component 
factors  would  appear  to  be  more  numerous  and 
intricate.  It  is  quite  probable,  nay!  as  far  as 
certainty  can  be  attained,  it  is  certain  that  Mendel's 
Law  as  now  understood  is  not  a  final  statement 
of  the  facts  relating  to  interbreeding.  Were  that, 
however,  to  be  held  a  valid  reason  for  neglecting 
newly  acquired  knowledge,  however  inexact, 
however  imperfect,  there  would  be  an  end  at  once 
to  human  progress.  The  greatest  English  scientist 
who  has  ever  lived  is  universally  admitted  to  have 
been  Sir  Isaac  Newton.  His  discoveries  were 
epoch-making.  They  might  well  be  described 
as  great  new  truths,  yet  when  all  is  said,  they 
were  but  approximations  to  exact  truths ;  perhaps 
it  wUl  ultimately  turn  out  not  even  that !  None 
the  less,  much  useful  work,  both  practical  and 
theoretical,  has  been  built  upon  them.     The  same 


IRIS   UNGUICULARIS   WHICH    HAS   FLOWERED   AND    IS 

WELL   THIS  SEASON. 


might  be  said  of  the  Atomic  Theory,  for  instance, 
which,  though  now  admitted  to  be  inaccurate,  has 
yet  been,  and  still  is,  the  very  formdation  stone 
of  modem  chemistry.  Darwin's  Theory  of  Evolu- 
tion has  done  excellent  service  and  been  of  much 
practical  use  to  the  thinkers  of  the  world,  though  in 
some  respects  it  is  now  considered  anything  but 
an  accurate  presentation  of  facts.  It  is  very  doubt- 
ful if  man  will  ever  attain — if  he  is  ever  intended 
to  attain — to  abstract  truth  upon  even  the  simplest 
matter.  What  can  with  reasonable  confidence 
be  set  down  is  that,  century  by  century,  decade 
by  decade,  we  reach  a  little  nearer  to  that  great 
ideal.  Magna  est  Veritas  et  prccvaUbit  some 
day  !  In  the  meantime  let  us  put  forth  our  best 
endeavours  with  the  tools  we  have,  imperfect 
though    they  be ! 

Good  Tools. — If  the  foregoing  paragraphs  read 
something  like  a  sermon,  let  it  be  forgiven  !  The 
Editor  does  not  often  wander  into  metaphysics. 
The  present  is  a  season  when  it  is  well  to  overhaul 
one's  garden  tools  and  take  steps  to  have  •'  done  up" 
or  replaced  those  out  of  repair.  Lawn-mowers 
should  be  repaired  and  adjusted,  picks  and  edged 
tools  be  re-sharpened,  and  some  of  the  latest  labour- 
saving  devices  be  added  as  the  particular  require- 
ments of  the  garden  dictate  and  the  domestic 
exchequer  permit.  It  is  a  never  failing  source  of 
wonderment  that  tools  so 
absolutely  unsuitable  for  the 
purpose  for  which  they  are 
intended  should  continue 
to  be  made — unsuitable  oft- 
times  not  only  on  account 
of  bad  materials,  but  be- 
cause of  radically  bad 
design.  This  note  was  really 
prompted  by  the  fact  that 
the  Editor  has  recently  tried 
a  trowel  called  the  "'  Per- 
fect," which  is  supplied  only 
by  Messrs.  Carling,  GiU 
and  Carling,  Limited,  of 
Guildford  and  Godalming. 
It  lives  up  quite  well  to  its 
name.  In  a  world  where 
naught  is  perfect  this  excel- 
lent tool  reaches  as  near 
perfection  as  the  most 
critical  rould  wish.  The 
blade  is  so  shaped  as  not 
to  retain  the  earth;  it  i; 
adequately,  but  not  over- 
cranked.  The  steel  is  o'  the 
best  and  the  "blight" 
finish  excellent.  Economy 
on  tools  is  surely  the 
falsest  ^of  all  economies 
imaginable,  but  it  is  oen 
often  made! 


FLOWERING   WONDERFULLY 


26 


THE    GARDEN. 


[January  21,  1922. 


DO     HEATHS     REQUIRE     PEAT? 

The   writer   says   not.     Some   oj   the   best  species    and  varieties,  with  suggestions  for  their 

culture. 


A  RATHER  sharp  slope  o£  shaley  loam, 
apt  to  suffer  in  summer  from  diought. 
does  not  perhaps  suggest  ideal  conditions 
for  many  Heaths,  but  we  nevertheless 
put  in  a  goodly  number  of  varieties  some 
years  ago,  and,  rather  than  reaping  any  regrets, 
this  plantation  has  proved  to  be  among  the  most 
satisfactory  undertakings  yet  attempted. 

The  good  qualities  of  Heaths  "  need  no  bush," 
but  there  is  one  which  in  these  days  of  expensive 
labour  stands  out  above  all  others.  I  refer  to  the 
fact  that  once  your  Heaths  are  established  they 
never  need  any  attention  at  any  season.  Even 
on  a  rough,  open  woodland  slope,  such  as  ours, 
they  eventually  overcome  other  herbage,  which 
means  the  saving  of  a  deal  of  work  and  an  avoidance 
of  that  use  of  the  brushing-hook  which,  however 
necessary  it  may  often  be,  is  not  always  an  improve- 
ment in  a  semi-wild  garden. 

The  first  of  the  winter  Heaths  to  flower  here  is 
Erica  mediterranja  hybrids,  one  of  the  most  useful 
and  more  closely  appertaining  to  the  typical 
mediterranea  than  to  its  other  parent,  E.  carnea. 
This  is  practically  an  all-winter  bloomer,  but  just 
when  it  is  coming  into  its  best  the  two  others 
mentioned  will  be  getting  nicely  coloured  ;  that  is. 
it  precedes  mediterranea.  whilst  just  about  the  same 
time  the  moss-green,  plumose  foliage  of  E.  lusi- 
tanica  will  be  hung  with  its  countless  little  bells  of 
the  peculiar  ashen  whiteness  and  texture  of  burnt 


paper.  Of  E.  carnea  there  are  many  forms,  of 
which  the  white  one  is  the  least  valuable.  Among 
the  rest,  the  most  pleasing  is,  I  think,  one  of  a 
clear  rosy  carmine,  pinker  than  the  type  (often 
listed  as  "  rosea  ")  and  a  very  lovely  thing. especially 
when  grown  on  a  level  with  the  eye.  The  white 
variety  of  E.  mediterranea  is  first-rate,  a  pure  white 
and  a  generous  bloomer,  but  the  best  of  the  group 
is  undoubtedly  E.  m.  superba.  This,  though  later 
in  flowering,  is  bigger,  rosier  and  better  in  every 
way  than  the  type,  which  is  saying  a  good  deal. 

Before  the  last  of  the  above  are  out  of  bloom 
those  of  the  E.  Tetralix  and  cinerea  set  are  opening 
their  flowers.  The  most  delightful  of  the  former 
are  the  creamy  white,  glaucous-hued  mollis,  and 
the  delicately  beautiful  alba.  Another  good  one  is 
E.  Mackaii,  whose  large  round  bells  are  of  a  charm- 
ing low-toned  pink,  and  not  less  attractive  is  E. 
Watsoni,  a  ciliaris  x  tetralix  hybrid  which  inherits 
some  of  the  best  qualities  of  both  parents.  There 
is  a  double  form  of  E.  Mackaii  and  E.  T.  Lawsoniana, 
with  flowers  of  a  wild  rose  hue,  is  very  lovely.  All 
the  members  of  the  E.  Tetralix  clan  appear  to  need 
rather  more  moisture  than  most  others,  and  it  is 
evident,  if  lessons  afforded  by  the  wild  type  be 
of  any  guide,  that  peat   is  their  chosen  medium, 

E.  cinerea  is  one  of  the  best  drought  resisters 
with  us,  and  quite  the  most  effective  variety  for 
wide  planting  is  rosea.  This,  as  its  name  implies, 
has  less  blue  in  it  than  the  type,  yet  it  is  a  rich  and 


decided  colour  and  one  that  is  very  striking  in  the 
mass.  It  is  one  of  the  first  of  the  summer  bloomers 
to  open  and  lasts  a  long  while  in  flower.  The  white 
variety  of  cinerea  is  also  worth  a  place,  this,  as 
often  happens  in  albinos,  having  foliage  of  a 
deeper  green  ;  and  another  splendid,  though  much 
dwarfer  form  is  that  known  as  E.  cinerea  coccinea, 
whose  flowers  are  a  fine,  bold  crimson.  This  last 
makes  an  excellent  foreground  or  edging  plint, 
and  we  have  it  fringing  the  brink  of  an  old  retaining 
wall  that  forms  a  part  of  our  Heath  bank. 

Erica  ciliaris,  in  some  respects  the  most  beautiful 
of  all  the  native  Heathers,  is  quite  content  with 
this  sharply  drained  loam.  The  very  large  flowers 
in  both  varieties,  the  rose-purple  and  the  white,  are 
rendered  even  the  more  attractive  and  distinct  by 
reason  of  the  delicate  tint  of  emerald  which  per- 
meates the  foliage.  Since  this  species  has  rather  a 
trailing  habit  it  needs  careful  placing  so  as  to 
prevent  its  being  overgrown  by  others.  E. 
Maweana,  said  to  be  a  form  of  the  above,  with 
flowers  more  nearly  approaching  crimson,  is  one 
of  the  best  of  the  genus,  and  many  who  have  failed 
with  the  type  have  succeeded  with  this  one.  These, 
like  those  of  the  preceding  group,  are  all  summer 
bloomers  and  flower  well  into  autumn. 

Out  of  the  many  forms  of  E.  (Calluna)  vulgaris 
we  have  "  concentrated "  on  some  half-a-dozen. 
These  include  E.  vulgaris  fl.  pi.,  which  excels  over 
the   type   no  less   effectually   than   Double   Gorse 


STOLEN    MOORLAND. 


AN    EFFECTIVE    HEATH    GARDEN. 


C.  WU>A^>>»-o  ^ 


January  21,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


27 


does  over  the  common  form.  E.  v.  Alport!,  with 
very  deep  green  fohage,  is  the  finest  crimson  and 
Hammondi  the  best  of  the  tall  whites,  both  strong 
growers.  E.  alba  Serlei  is  another  white  variety, 
rather  more  dwarf,  and  tenuis,  a  dwarf  crimson- 


is  one  that  makes  an  admirable  ornamental 
hedge.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  E.  stricta  is  one 
of  the  favourites  here,  not  only  because  its 
cool,  shell-pink  flowers  are  so  welcome  during 
the     later    days    of    autumn,     but    because     the 


ERICA   CARNEA  AND    ITS   VARIETIES   TOLERATE   LIME   IN    THE   SOIL.   THEREIN   DIFFERING   FROM 

OTHER  SPECIES. 


scarlet.  With  these  and,  for  the  sake  of  their  foliage 
— golden  and  bronze  respectively — E.  v.  aurea 
and  cuprea,  one  whose  space  is  limited  may  close 
the  vulgaris  list,  unless  he  is  tempted  to  add  "  just 
one  more,"  viz.,  the  dainty  and  refined  gracilis  in 
■white.  But  it  is  a  list  so  rich  in  good 
things  that  if  I  were  doomed  to 
confine  my  attention  to  one  group  of 
Heaths  I  should  unhesitatingly  select 
these  garden  forms  of  our  common 
Scotch  Heather. 

As  with  the  foregoing,  so  with  E. 
vagans.  The  big.  sprawling,  handsome 
Cornish  Heath  is  presented  in  many 
forms,  ranging  from  a  poor,  washy, 
creamy  pink  to  the  deep  and  impos- 
ing crimson-purple  of  rubra,  or  grandi- 
Uora.  E.  vagans  is  a  Heath  for  wide 
spaces,  a  robust  grower  and  one  easily 
satisfied.  Though  one  of  the  last  to 
tloom  it  will  "  carry-on  "  tliroughout 
August  right  into  autumn  and  even 
on  our  dry,  sun-beaten  slopes  the 
drought  has  to  be  very  severe  before 
this  stalwart  shows  signs  of  surrender. 
•One  reason  why  E.  vagans  just 
■escapes  being  as  attractive  as  one 
imagines  it  ought  to  be  is  that  the 
"flowers  of  the  spike  die  off  in  rings  of 
Tust  as  they  open  towards  the  tip.  E. 
multiflora  is  of  the  same  type  as  vagans, 
t)ut  it  is  more  compact  and  more  orderly 
in  liabit.  The  flower  racemes  are  shorter 
and  blunter  and  of  a  cheerful  rosy- 
purple. 

E.  stricta,  the  hardy,  erect,  fuzzy- 
looking  Corsican  Heath,  which  will  go 
up  to  4ft.  or  more,  is  so  distinct  that 
if  it  is  not  considered  as  showy  as 
many  others  it  is  always  effective 
ly  way  of  affording  contrast,   and  it 


fresh,  lively  green  of  its  foliage,  tipped  with  the 
rusty-red  of  the  withered  flowers,  are  among 
the  most  delightful  objects  of  our  winter 
gardens. 

Rarest    and    mostlbeautiful    of    all    these,    E. 


australis  must  be  afforded  a  space  wheresoever  the 
climate  allows.  Though  not  tender,  it  is  liable  to 
be  cut  back  by  severe  frost  and  should  therefore 
be  given  a  sheltered  site  in  all  but  our  milder 
counties.  For  a  good  many  years  it  has  done 
well  here,  growing  to  about  4  ft.  The 
very  large,  long-shaped  flowers,  of  an 
exceedingly  vivid  rose,  are  borne 
in  terminal  clusters  (usually  four 
or  eight  blooms  together),  and  these 
distinguish  this  Heath  from  any  other. 
Yet  another  of  the  genus  which  stands 
by  itself  is  the  loose-habited  E.  Stuartii. 
with  white  blossoms  tipped  with 
carmine.  This,  again,  could  not  be 
mistaken,  once  its  flowers  have  been 
seen.  It  is  said  to  be  a  natural  hybrid 
discovered  in  Ireland. 

All  these  Heaths  and  others  are 
flourishing,  as  I  have  said,  in  a  free 
loam  on  a  south-westerly  bank.  They 
have  never  had  any  peat,  but  some 
of  the  more  precious  were  given  a 
little  leaf  mould  when  planting.  One 
of  the  prime  factors  which  made  for 
success  in  putting  the  plants  in  has 
undoubtedly  been  deep  planting.  We 
make  the  holes  almost  laterally,  or  at 
right  angles  to  the  he  of  the  land,  they 
are  deep  enough  to  allow  the  plants 
to  be  sunk  well  up  to  the  foliage 
(usually  deeper  than  they  were),  the 
soil  is  firmed  in  with  the  handle  of  the 
spade  and  that  is  all.  For  most  kinds 
we  find  spring  the  best  season  for 
planting,  but  the  winter-flowering 
sorts  are  put  in  as  soon  as  the 
autumn  rains  have  soaked  the 
ground.  Should  any  of  the  Heaths 
appear  Ukely  to  suffer  from  drought  during  their 
first  summer  they  are  covered  with  hght  hedge- 
brushings,  bracken  or  other  green  herbage,  but 
they  seldom  need  tb'S  and  we  rarely  lose  a  plant. 
N.  Wales.  A.  T.  Johnsox. 


>fe^:^^- 


V;'^' 


AN   EFFECTIVE   MASSING   OF   VARIETIES   OF   LING   (CALLUNA   VULGARIS). 


28 


THE     GARDEN. 


[January  21,  1922. 


HERBACEOUS    BORDERS? 

A  protest  against  a  misleading  term  and  notes  on  the  advantages  of  the  raised  border. 


HERBACEOUS  ?  Perhaps,  for  the  term 
seems  to  cover  a  multitude  of  sins, 
albeit  invariably  proving  safe  refuge  to 
a  good  old  friend  of  youthful  days, 
long  since  gone  where  good  old 
gardeners  go.  He  was  only  to  be  momentarily 
nonplussed  over  some  or  other  unrecognised  hardy 
plant,  and  wont  to  comfortably  dispose  of  it  as 
"  one  o'  thim  yarbaceous  things."  They  totted  up 
a  big  list,  which,  after  many  days,  appears  to  have 
increased  and  further  grown  out  and  away  beyond 
the  orthodox  interpretation  of  plants  with  annual 
tops  and  everlasting  bottoms.  Puzzled  judges  at 
a  flower  show,  on  one  occasion  at  least,  condemned 
the  word  as  a  trap  for  the  unwary  and  a  stumbling 
block  to  trip  up  both  themselves  and  exhibitors. 
There  was  trouble  over  it  then,  and  ever  and  anon 
there  is  trouble  over  it  now,  for,  as  then  remarked, 
there  are  popular  plants  on  the  border  line  which 
leave  openings  for  dispute.  If  the  word  were 
eliminated  from  our  show  schedules  and  perennial 
hardy  plants,  other  than  shrubs,  substituted,  such 
contretemps  could  scarcely  arise. 

The  hardy  flower  border  is,  or  should  be,  a  joy 
for  twelve  months  of  the  year,  much  in  the  way  that 
my  Lord  Bacon  (he  of  Shakespearean  times),  refer- 
ring to  the  larger  scale,  said,  "  I  doe  take  it  in  the 
Royall  Ordering  of  Gardens  there  ought  to  be 
gardens  for  all  the  moncths  of  the  yeare,  in  which, 
severally.  Things  in  Beautie  may  then  be  in  season," 
It  is  not  uncommon  nowadays  to  find  borders  to 
which  the  Elizabethan  poet-gardener's  notion  mav 
not  inaptly  apply,  but  not  less  common  to  see  hardy 
flower  borders  suggesting  how  much  they  might 
at  small  expense  be  improved  both  in  their  forma- 
tion and  in  their  planting.  As  to  formation,  at 
no  time  of  the  year  does  the  low-level,  fiat  border 
give  one  a  more  uncomfortable  feeling  than  during 
dull  December,  when  it  lies  cold,  stagnant  and  v/et. 
There    are    many    pretty    weU    approaching    th.it 


condition,  but  few  lifted  bodily  and  boldly  up  as 
one  under  notice  which  is  a  full  foot  above  the 
walk  level.     This  has  a  retaining  edging  of  rockery 


THE   GRANDEUR   AND    DISTINCTION   OF 
EREMURUS   HIMALAICUS. 


A  RAISED  "HERBACEOUS     BORDER  WITH 

ROCKERY       EDGING      CAN      BE      VERY 

EFFECTIVE. 

stones,  in  this  case  got,  for  the  carrying,  from  a  local 
quarry  at  hand. 

Quite  recently  in  the  very  depths  of  winter  there 
came  from  that  border  a  good  measure  of  that  colour 
which  Ruskin  tells  us  is  meant  for  the  perpetual 
comfort  and  delight  of  the  human  heart.  It  came 
from  bold  tufts  of  Iris  stylosa,  both  in  its  blue  and 
wh'''e  forms,  from  Christmas  Roses,  and  from  the 
br^kground  of  low  brick  wall,  from  which  Chimo- 
nanthus  fragrans  and  Lonicera  fragrantissima,  the 
latter  in  a  delightfully  unkempt,  wilful  tangle, 
disused  their  perfume  on  every  beam  of  pale  wintry 
sunshine.  It  was  but  recently,  too,  a  Ceanothus 
added  its  heavenly  blue,  of  which  the  Earl  of  Moira 
said,  "  This  bcautyfull  shrub  thrives  better  in  the 
open  ground  than  in  the  house  and  is  covered  with 
flowers  from  July  to  December,"  and  which  he 
recorded  in  his  copy  of  Hanbury's  Gardening 
published  in  1771.  The  border  in  question  was  re- 
made during  the  dull  season  some  twelvemonth 
since,  and  seen  now  all  is  well  established,  one  can 
say  in  garrulous  old  Pepys'  words,  "  the  which  did 
please  me  most  mightily."  Herein  is  a  combination 
of  "yarbaceous"  flowers  with  an  alpine  flora  as 
an  edging  among  the  stones  they  love.  A  little 
later  it  will  be  an  incomparable  framing  to  a 
satisfying  picture 

And  more,  for  the  lady  who  loves  her  garden, 
and,  in  her  gardener's  parlance,  "  loves  to  be  potter- 
ing among  the  outside  plants,"  says  the  working 
advantages  over  the  all  but  flat  and  sometimes 
actually  sunken  border,  apart  from  facilities 
afforded  for  inspection  by  visitors,  and  enhanced 
appearance  of  plants  brought  nearer  to  the  eye, 
are  so  good  that  she  contemplates  the  re-formation 
of  some  Rose  beds  on  similar  lines.  That  may  be, 
or  it  may  not  be,  for  at  the  moment  there  is  some 
opposition,  rather  felt  than  expressed,  from  that 


man  of  the  spade.  Probably  he  thinks  "  the  Missus" 
is  mad ;  anyway,  judging  by  pleasing  results 
obtained  in  the  lifting  up  of  the  hardy  flower  border 
to  the  height  of  a  good  foot  above  the  walk  level, 
there  is  method  in  the  madness,  and  the  conversion 
of  ugly  mounds  far  more  than  a  foot  high  in  the 
centre,  falling  away  to  the  grass  level,  may  too  have 
as  happy  an  ending,  but  nous  verrons. 
Dublin.  K. 


CURIOUS    PLANTS 

Their  fascination  and  some  of  their 
peculiarities. 


r 


HE  fascination  of  the.ciurious,  rather 
than  the  beautiful,  has  a  strong  hold 
on  many  people,  somewhat  in  the  same 
way  as  in  much  modern  art  there  is 
a  quality  that  both  attracts  and  repels. 
In  one's  childhood  one  did  not  see  the  beauty  of 
Antirrhinums,  but  rather  the  fantastical  likeness 
to  an  animal  whose  mouth  would  open  and  shut — 
they  all  had  that  charm,  the  colour  did  not  matter. 
Dielytra  spectabilis  was  another  nursery  favourite 
with  its  similitude  to  a  delightful  fairy  coach 
drawn  by  harnessed  doves. 

Later  years  bring  an  interest  in  legendary  lore, 
or  the  medicinal  uses  of  many  of  the  garden 
favourites  that  possess  qualities  recognised  or 
repudiated  by  the  British  Pharmaceutical  Society. 
There  are  history  and  romance  enough  in  the 
derivation  of  the  names  of  many  of  our  plants  to 
carry  the  mind  away  to  the  far  countries  from  which 
they  were  first  obtained.  Where  and  whence 
came  the  modest  little  plant  bearing  on  each 
trefoil  leaf  a  blood-stained  spot  ?  Medicago 
Echinus,  or  Calvary  Clover,  that  growing  beneath 
the  Cross  was  stained  with  the  blood  of  the  Saviour, 
and  carried  the  mark,  so  legend  says,  throughout 
the  centuries. 

Plants  that  contract  on  touch  are  many,  and 
many,  indeed,  are  the  flowers  that  close  their 
blossom  when  the  sun  goes  in — to  witnesss,  the 
common  weed,  the  little  red  Pimpernel,  Anagallis 
arvensis  ;  while  the  ordinary  white  Clover  folds 
its  leaves  at  sundown.  But  there  are  more  plants 
that  respond  to  the  varying  natural  phenomena 
and  cannot  be  classed  as  curious,  but  rather 
interesting. 

Quite  apart  is  the  remarkable  perennial,  Dic- 
taranus  Fraxinella.  Numerous  people  consider, 
when  they  have  little  or  no  knowledge  of  its 
character,  that  the  name — the  Burning  Bush — 
applies  to  its  colour  ;  but  this  is  very  wide  of  the 
mark.  The  leaves  are  of  a  fresh,  subdued  green, 
the  whole  plant,  both  leaf  and  flower,  low  toned  and 
unremarkable,  scarcely  sufiiciently  beautiful  to 
include  in  a  border  but  for  the  foil  it  makes  to  other 
plants.  Its  unusual  aromatic  scent  is  certainly 
an  attraction,  but  unexplained  appears  to  be  the 
fact  that  in  full  sunlight;  when  the  blossom  is 
expanded,  a  lighted  match  placed  within  a  few 
inches  of  the  plant  will  ignite  a  flash  of  flame  that 
flickers  over  the  blossom,  doing  apparently  no 
harm,  but  liberating  a  still  more  powerful  scent. 
Probably  there  is  some  chemical  cause  for  this 
little  known  fact ;  but  for  most  people  the  interest 
of  the  unexplained  is  sufficient  to  earn  it  a  place 
among  plants  that  are  beautiful  and  sufiiciently 
understood  to  raise  no  question. 

Adaptation  to  surroundings  appears  to  be  the 
reason  Drosera  rotundifolia  is  carnivorous.  This, 
our  native  roimd-leaved  Sundew,  is  only  to  be 
found  on  poor,  boggy  soil,  where  it  has  little  to 
sustain  life,  and,  therefore,  nature  has  adapted 
itself  and  given  it  means  of  obtaining  insect  food. 
The  leaves,  covered  with  a  honey-like  substance, 
attract  the  unwary  and  are  the  death  trap  of  many 


January  21,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


29 


diminutive  insects.  This  tiny  plant  cannot  com- 
pare with  the  Ceylon  Fly-catcher,  for  instance, 
which  is  a  quick-growing  climbing  plant  whose 
curiously  marked  blossom  is  as  much  as  Sins,  or 
loins,   across.     Into  its  pouch-like  throat  insects 


are  attracted  by  a  powerful  smell,  not  unlike  bad 
meat,  and  once  they  have  passed  into  the  centre 
of  the  flower  they  are  hopelessly  imprisoned,  a 
network  of  fine  hairs  preventing  their  ever  regaining 
freedom.  M.   B. 


A    SELECTION    OF    SPIR^AS 

Differing  enormously  in  appearance  and  habit  of  growth,  some  being  shrubby  and  others 
herbaceous,  the  Spirceas  and  nearly  related  Astilbes  are  invaluable  iti  gardens  where  the 

soil  is  naturally  damp. 


A  MONG  the  herbaceous  Spiraeas,  using 
/\        the  word  loosely  to  include  the  Astilbes, 

/  %  the  newer  pink  forms  which  have  resulted 
^~^^k  from  crossing  the  tall  purple  Astilbe 
'  *  Davidii    with   A.    japonica    and   Spiraea 

astilboides  have  lately  claimed  much  attention. 
They  are  almost  all  beautiful  and  easy  plants 
for  a  moist,  cool  border,  or  for  forcing  under  glass, 
but  it  is  to  be  feared  that  they  have  in  our  gardens 
largely  ousted  plants  such  as  S.  palmata  or  S. 
.Aruncus.  which,  as  garden  plants,  have  far  more 
merit.  In  moist,  half- shady  ground,  by  poolside 
or  in  the  wild  garden,  S.  palmata  grows  with  almost 
sub- tropical  grandeur,  while  the  crowded  heads 
of  rich  carmine-rose  form  a  spectacle  not  soon 
forgotten.  To  see  this  plant  in  a  dry,  rather 
sun-parched  border,  as  one  sometimes  does,  its 
leaves  small  and  wilting,  the  growth  insignificant 
and  the  flower-heads  discoloured,  is,  to  a  gardener, 
one  of  the  saddest  sights  imaginable. 

Spiraea  Aruncus  is  one  of  the  stateliest  and  most 
accommodating  herbaceous  plants  we  have.  It 
will  furnish  admirably  places  on  the  north  side  of 
buildings  where  few  things  will  grow.  It  will 
luxuriate,  when  once  established,  among  shrubs 
in  a  mixed  shrubbery  where  it  is  a  matter  for 
wonderment  how  it  obtains  its  moisture.  It  is 
quite  at  home  in  a  light  soil,  provided  it  is  afforded 
good  cultivation,  yet  it  will  grow  and  flourish 
in  absolute  brick-earth.  It  is  equally  tolerant 
of  sun  and  shade.  It  has  a  majesty  of  growth  which 
few  herbaceous  plants  can  rival.  Of  very  few 
plants  can  as  much  be  said,  yet  there  are  many 
gardens  to-day  in  which  this  beautiful  plant  cannot 
be  found.  One  wonders  why.  The  cut-leaved 
form,  S.  A.  Kneifii,  is  quite  useful  and  beautiful, 
but  it  lacks  the  real  grandeur  of  the  typical 
plant. 

For  open  spaces  in  the  wild  garden  or  bog  garden 
the  large  growing  S.  kamtschatica,  so  reminiscent 
of  our  native  Meadowsweet  (Spiraea  Ulmaria), 
is  exceedingly  useful.  Often  listed  as  S.  gigantea, 
it  has  a  form  called  elegans  with  pale  pink  flowers. 
Both  these  attain,  under  suitable  conditions,  a 
height  of  6ft.  or  more. 

Spira;a  (Astilbe)  japonica  and  S.  astilboides  and 
their  varieties  are  largely  grown  for  forcing  under 
glass,  but  they  are  excellent  foreground  plants 
for  massing  in  a  damp  corner  of  the  wUd 
garden 

Why  is  it,  one  wonders,  that  while  many  gardeners 
with  naturally  damp  soil  expend  much  money 
and  energy  in  their  efforts  to  drain  it,  others  with 
bone-dry  soil  dissipate,  if  possible,  more  energy 
and  wealth  in  making  bog  and  water  gardens  ? 
It  would  seem  to  show  the  essential  contrariness 
of  human  nature,  but  perhaps  it  would  be  more 
charitable  to  suppose  that  it  were  merely  a  sense 
of  discipline  which  sets  each  and  all  of  us  busy 
overcoming  difficulties.  Two  other  herbaceous 
species  call  for  mention  and  then  we  will  consider 
the  shrubby  kinds.  The  two  species  in  mind 
are  S.  Filipendula,  which  is  a  singularly  neat- 
growing  and  easy  native  species  for  a  cool  bolder, 
with   foliage   which   is   useful   for   arranging   with 


many  kinds  of  cut-flowers  ;  and  AstUbe  grandis, 
of  which  the  towering  white  spikes  and  handsome 
foliage  make  a  wide  appeal.  There  is  a  double 
variety  of  S.  Filipendula  which  is  singularly 
handsome,  but  surprisingly  little  seen. 


little  attention  with  the  pruning  scissors.  Many 
good  judges  consider  the  very  different  S.  Lindley  ana 
the  most  beautiful  of  all.  It  certainly  is,  when 
covered  with  its  fluffy  blossom,  remarkably 
effective.  Unfortunately  it  does  not  long  remain 
at  its  best  and  its  beauty  is  mainly  on  the  plant. 
When  cut,  its  feathery  clusters  compare  unfavour- 
ably with  the  pearl-white  sprays  of  prunifolia. 
Beautiful  in  a  similar  way,  but  less  handsome  than 
Lindleyana,  is  S.  discolor,  which  flourishes  in 
moderately  dry  soil  where  S.  Lindleyana  would 
hardly  be  a  success.  S.  arguta,  with  arching 
sprays  of  white  flowers  pioduced  before  the  leaves 
unfold,  is  another  excellent  kind. 

So  far  we  have  been  considering  species  suitable 
for  the  shrubbery,  wild  garden  or  herbaceous 
border,  but  there  are  several  species  which  are 
admirably  fitted  for  the  rock  garden.  Such  are 
the  prostrate  S.  decumbens,  which  smothers  itself 
in  June  with  clusters  of  white  blossoms.     A  native 


ONE   OF   THE  MOST  EFFECTIVE   OF   THE   SHRUBBY   SPIILEAS,   S.   LINDLEYANA. 


No  attempt  has  been  made  to  make  the  foregoing 
list  a  catalogue  of  species  or  varieties ;  rather 
an  attempt  has  been  made  to  call  attention  to  some 
beautiful  but  neglected  forms. 

The  name  of  the  shrubby  Spirsas  is  legion,  but 
in  probably  no  genus  of  shrubby  plants  are  there 
so  many  useless  forms  in  commerce.  This 
not-nithstanding,  some  of  the  species  and  varieties 
are  supremely  beautiful.  There  is  the  dwarf  and 
spreading  S.  Bumalda  with  that  supreme  variety, 
S.  Anthony  Waterer.  .\n  excellent  plant  the  last  for 
the  front  of  a  shrubbery,  but  to  obtain  the  best 
effects  the  old  wood  should  be  removed  each 
season  and  the  young  wood  shortened  considerably. 
Spiraea  callosa  is,  at  any  rate,  in  the  writer' s  opinion, 
of  little  value.  S.  prunifolia  fl.-pl.,  with  pearly 
white  rosettes,  is  probably  the  most  beautiful  of 
aU.  It  has  an  arching  habit  of  growth  which  too 
close  pruning  must  destroy.  S.  Van  Houttei 
(cantorriensis  x  trilobata)  is  more  ordinary  in 
appearance,  but  yet  very  beautiful.     It  needs  but 


of  the  Tyrol,  the  most  particular  may  include  it 
in  his  alpine  collection.  It  spreads  by  means  of 
underground  "  wires,"  so  is  easily  propagated. 
Other  desirable  alpines  are  S.  Hacquetii,  S 
caespitosa  and  S.  pectinata,  the  two  last  mentioned 
from  the  mountain  slopes  of  the  New  World. 
Different  entirely  in  character — ^larger  growing  but 
very  desirable  in  character  for  the  fair-sized  rock 
garden — is  S.  Thunbergi.  This  is  beautiful  in 
flower  and,  like  many  Japanese  shrubs,  extra- 
ordinarily beautiful  in  autumn  when  the  leaves 
take  on  tints  of  old  rose  and  crimson. 

Before  leaving  a  very  diversified  and  interesting 
race  of  plants,  it  may  be  well  to  point  out 
that  because  such  plants  need  abundant  moisture 
it  does  not  by  any  means  follow  that  they 
like  stagnant  moisture  such  as  is  too  often 
found  in  bog  land.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  the 
shrubby  kinds  in  particular  like  a  fairly  sweet 
soil,  but  one  which  does  not  become  over-dry 
during  the  growing  period. 


30 


THE     GARDEN. 


[January  21,  1922. 


SAINT     DOROTHEA 

The  frontispiece  of  a  rare  old  flower  book  of  161 6  suggested  a  walk  down  the  Avenue  of 

Garden  Saints.     Its  result. 


GARDENING  is  far  more  than  ever 
a  "super  goose-foot"  in  the  number 
of  avenues  which  radiate  from  it 
and  down  which  its  votaries  may 
wander  with  interest  and  pleasure. 
One  of  these  is  labelled  Garden  Saints.  It  is 
probably  one  of  the  least  explored,  if  I  may  take 


THE    GATEWAY    TO    THE    PAST  ! 

as  a  guide  the  answers  given  by  gardeners  to  my 
question,  "Who  was  St.  Dorothea?"  So  far 
the  invariable  reply  has  been,  "  I  am  afraid  I 
do  not  know."  I  must  confess  I  did  not  know 
myself  until  a  very  scarce  old  flower  book  came 
into  my  possession — "  Le  Jardin  d'Hyver,"  by 
Jean  Franeau  de  Lestocquoy,  published  at  Douay 
in  1616.  On  the  frontispiece  are  two  figures, 
both  bearing  the  martyr's  palm.  The  one  on  the 
left  is  a  woman,  St.  Doroth^e,  and  that  on  the 
right  is  a  man,  St.  Thfiophile.  Above  them  is  an 
angel  appearing  out  of  the  Glory,  who  is  handing 
to  St.  Dorothea  a  garland  of  Roses  and  to  her 
companion  a  basket  of  flowers.  Why  did  the 
author  introduce  these  two  figures  on  his  frontis- 
piece ?  Sometimes  in  these  ancient  books  there 
is  a  poem  called  "  The  Mind  of  the  Frontispiece  " 
— as,  for  example,  in  John  Rea's  "  Flora,  Ceres 
and  Pomona  "• — which  lets  us  into  the  secret ; 
but  no  such  writing  is  attached  to  "  Le  Jardin 
d'Hy\'er,"  so  the  would-be  interpreter  must 
depend  upon  his  knowledge  or  research  if  the 
enigma  is  to  be  solved.  One  remembered  that 
Columella,  in  his  tenth  book  on  Roman  Husbandry, 
treats  "  Of  the  Culture  of  Gardens  "  and  introduces 
us  in  Priapus  to  the  ancient  progenitor  of  the 
modem  scarecrow — or,  rather,  perhaps,  spring- 
gun: 

"  Him,  in  the  middle  of  thy  garden,  place. 
And  to  him,  as  its  guardian,  homage  pay. 
That  with  his  monstrous  parts  he  may  deter 
The  plund'ring  boy  ;    and  with  his  threat'ning 

scythe. 
The  robber  from  intended  rapine  keep." 


But,  of  course,  one  could  not  expect  to  find 
Christian  martyrs  there.  "  Try  Batty  Langley," 
said  a  friend.  He  wrote  when  statues  and  busts 
were  "  all  the  go,"  and  in  his  "  New  Principles  of 
Gardening"  he  gives  a  long  list  of  those  which 
are  appropriate  to  the  different  parts  of  a 
"  beautiful  Rural  Garden."  For  open  lawns 
and  large  centres :  Mars,  Jupiter,  Apollo,  Euterpe 
and  so  on.  For  woods  and  groves :  Ceres,  Flora, 
Echo,  Philomela  and  others.  For  canals,  basons 
and  fish  -  ponds  :  Neptune  and  other  gods  and 
goddesses.  I  went  through  the  whole  hst  and 
found  they  were  a  heathen  crowd.  There  was  not 
a  Christian  among  them.  Clearly  one  must  search 
elsewhere  for  Dorothea. 

Now,  whatever  truth  there  may  be  in  the  saying 
that  everything  comes  to  him  who  waits,  it  would 
appear  to  be  a  more  certain  truth  stUl  that  the 
open  and  keen  eye  gets  more  than  it  expects. 
For  a  long  time  now  I  have  been  keeping  my  eyes 
open,  picking  up  one  little  bit  of  information  here 
and  another  bit  there  as  I  kept  wandering  down 
the  Avenue  of  Garden  Saints.  I  have  now  found 
out  that  Dorothea  was  a  lady  of  noble  birth  bom 
at  CsBsarea,  who  was  condemned  by  the  Roman 
Governor,  Fabricius,  to  be  executed  because  she 
refused  to  sacrifice  to  his  gods.  On  her  way  to 
the  place  of  execution  a  lawyer,  whose  hand  she 
had  refused  because  he  was  a  heathen,  begged 
her  to  prove  the  truth  of  her  stories  of  the 
Heavenly  Paradise  by  sending  him  some  of  the 
flowers  and  fruits  from  her  Bridegroom's  garden  : 

"  Now  as  she  died  the  scoffing  lawyer  stood 
Among  his  comrades,  jesting  at  the  gift 
The  Maiden  promised.     But  when  now  they  sate 
Feasting,  around  them  gilded  images 
Of  the  false  gods,  taking  no  care  or  thought 
For  what  had  been,  the  torture  and  the  pain, 


Lo  !     suddenly  a  heavenly  presence  showed, 
F'rom  whence  he  knew  not,  fair,  with  shining  face. 
And  locks  of  gold,  and  eyes  as  blue  as  Hea\'cn. 
And   in   his   hand   a   basket   with   the   fruits 
And  flowers  of  Paradise,  who  spake  no  word 
But '  Dorothea  sends  them  and  she  goes 
Before  thee  to  the  garden  whence  they  came. 
And  doth  await  thee  there '  and  having  said 
Vanished  as  he  had  come." 

"  Then  cried  they  all  that  saw  these  things,  and 

said 
It  was  God's  doing,  and  was  marvellous. 
And  in  brief  while,  this  knight  Theophilus 
Is  waxen  full  of  faith,  and  witnesseth 
Before  the  King  of  God  and  love  and  death. 
For  which  the  king  bade  hang  him  presently. 
A  gallows  of  a  goodly  piece  of  tree 
This  Gabalus  hath  made  to  hang  him  on. 
Forth  of  this  world  lo  Theophile  is  gone 
With  a  wried  neck,  God  give  us  better  fare 
Than  his  that  hath  a  twisted  throat  to  wear ; 
For  truly  for  his  love  God  hath  him  brought 
There  where  his  heavy  body  grieves  him  nought 
Nor  all  the  people  plucking  at  his  feet ; 
But  in  his  face  his  lady's  face  is  sweet, 
And  through  his  lips  her  kissing  lips  are  gone  : 
God  send  him  peace,  and  joy  of  such  an  one." 

Readers  will  recognise  that  I  have,  as  it  were, 
jig-sawed  the  last  part  of  the  tale.  Both  the 
rhythm  and  the  outlook  proclaim  the  extracts 
are  from  two  writers,  and  in  truth  they  are,  and 
this  is  done  purposely  to  show  that  the  mythical 
and  mystical  tale  of  this  virgin  mart>T  has  appealed 
to  men  of  such  diversity  of  outlook  and  method 
as  Lewis  Morris  and  Algernon  Charles  Swinburne. 
They  have  each  of  them  made  the  Saint  the 
subject  of  a  poem  of  striking  similarity,  yet  with 


THE   MARTYRDOM   OF   SAINT   DOROTHEA,   AS   PICTURED   BY   BURNE-JONES. 


January  21,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


31 


no  less  divergent  details ;  as  did  Massinger 
( 1 585-1 638)  in  his  famous  tragedy  of  "  The  Virgin 
MartjT,"  who,  like  them,  introduced  stiU  further 
differences,  inasmuch  as  one  Antonius,  son  of 
Fabricius,  is  made  "  the  lover  of  the  young  girl 
whose  last  prayer  for  him  is  that  the  affection 
in  which  he  languishes  to  death  may  be  changed 
to  the  love  of  heaven."  Thus  Dorothea  is  sung 
in  modem  days  ;  but  her  fame  is  of  long  standing. 
In  a  Breviary  of  1321  we  get  these  lines: 

' '  Paradisi  de  veridisio 
Rosas  mittis  notario 
Qucm  mortis  cum  salario 
Coeli  jungis  sacrario    .    .    ." 

which  is  thus  translated  in  Mrs.  Arthur  Bell's 
"  Lives  and  Legends  of  the  Great  Hermits  and 
Father's  of  the  Church,  with  other  Contemporary 
Saints  "  : 

"  From  the  green  fields  of  Paradise 
Roses  to  the  lawyer  dost  thou  send 
Where  by  him  thou  shalt  be  joined 
When  he.  too,  the  reward  of  death  hath  won." 

In  pre- Reformation  times  her  figure  would 
frequently  be  seen  on  English  rood-lofts.  Those  of 
North  Ehnham.  Blofield,  Yaxley,  Westhall. 
Trimingham  and  Walpole  St.  Peter  are  samples 
of  a  widespread'  popularity  which  elsewhere 
took  a  more  secular  form ;  for  in  Flanders,  after 
the  upheaval  and  upset  of  the  time  of  the  mad 
Tuhp  mania,  when  legitimate  dealers  in  bulbs 
were  all  at  sixes  and  sevens  and  a  general  spirit 
of  distrust  was  visible  in  their  private  selling : 
"  because  this  could  not  be  done  without  Animosi- 
ties thereupon  the  Flemish  Florists  erected  a 
Fraternity  in  the  Cities  ;  and  took  St.  Dorothea 
to  be  their  Patroness  and  the  Syndicus  to  be  Judge 
of  the  Differences,  that  might  arise  by  their 
Truckering ;  and  he  to  add  more  Authority  to  it 
called  in  four  of  the  Chief  of  the  Brotherhood 
and  this  was  the  Occasion  of  the  sweet  Conversation 
of  the  Brothers  and  brought  them  into  great 
esteem.  The  Dutch  keep  in  this  Matter  another 
Rule ;  they  meet  together  on  a  certain  Day, 
when  tulips  are  in  their  full  bloom  and  choose 
after  having  seen  the  chief  Gardens  of  the  Florists, 
and  taken  a  friendly  and  frugal  dinner  together, 
one  of  the  Company  to  be  Judge  of  the  Differences 
that  might  arise  about  Flowers  in  the  Year."  This 
is  quite  an  idyUic  picture.  Alas  !  the  old  order 
has  changed,  giving  place  to  new.  On  going 
about  Haarlem,  Hillcgoom  and  elsewhere  to  see 
the  Darwin,  Cottage  and  Breeder  Tulips  in  bloom 
I  have  had  more  than  a  hint  not  to  bring  a  Dutch 
friend  with  me,  and  I  have  found  to  my  cost  that 
the  frugal  fare  has  developed  as  often  as  not  into 
a  big  champagne  lunch  ! 

St.  Dorothea  suffered  martyrdom,  after  having 
been  stretched  on  the  rack  and  her  flesh  torn  with 
pincers,  on  February  6,  311.  Ever  since  her 
festival  has  been  kept  on  that  day,  and  she  has 
been  regarded  for  a  very  long  time  as  the  Patroness 
of  Gardeners.  I  can  only  suppose  the  Puritanical 
spirit  that  prevailed  all  through  the  eighteenth 
and  nineteenth  centuries  acted  as  a  silent  but 
relentless  veto  upon  the  introduction  into  English 
gardens  of  any  statue  that  in  any  way  savoured 
of "  Popery."  As  it  was  in  the  days  when  Hentzner 
and  his  young  German  pupil  visited  Nonsuch, 
Theobalds  and  Hampton  Court  in  the  reign  of 
good  Queen  Bess,  so  it  is  now.  But  why  should 
this  be  ?  If  there  is  anything  in  the  contention 
of  a  Batty  Langley  or  a  Wheatley,  that  the  appro- 
priate introduction  of  the  statue  of  a  well  known 
subject  of  mytholog3%  history,  poetry  or  tradition 
may  animate  or  dignify  a  scene,  and  so  stir  up 
feelings  of  sympathy  in  the  heart  of  the  beholder, 
surely  for  those  who  use  their  gardens  as  a  resting 
place,  "  far  from  the  busy  hum  of  men,"  or  as  a 


refreshment  for  their  jaded  spirits,  might  find 
strength  and  encouragement  in  the  contemplation 
of  a  Dorothea.  She  is  represented  in  various 
ways.  Sometimes  with  a  basket  of  fruit  and 
flowers,  one  in  either  hand  ;  sometimes  with  a 
basket  of  fruit  and  a  book  ;  sometimes  with  a 
basket  of  fruit  and  a  palm  ;  now  crowned  with 
flowers  ;  now  with  Roses  in  her  lap  ;  and  now 
offering  flowers  to  the  Holy  Child.  Curiously 
enough,  she  is  the  Patron  Saint  of  young  lovers 


and  brewers,  a  title  which,  however,  she  divides 
with  Saints  Adrian  and  Amand.  The  origin  of 
this  latter  honour  I  have  failed  to  discover.  As 
I  still  hope  to  make  excursions  down  the  Avenue 
of  Garden  Saints,  perhaps  some  day  I  may  know. 
For  permission  to  reproduce  the  plate  from 
"  Great  Hermits  and  Martyrs  of  the  Church,"  of 
the  Martyi-dom  of  Saint  Dorothea  as  portrayed  by 
Burne- Jones,  I  am  indebted  to  Messrs.  George 
Bell  and  Sons,  the  publishers.       Joseph   Jacob. 


"PRICKING  OFF"   AND  ITS   UTILITY 

The  writer  considers  the  advantages  and  disadvantages  of  an  indispensable 

operation. 


THIS  is  an  operation  frequently  practised 
in  horticulture.  The  raison  d'&re  for 
the  practice  being  the  wider  spacing  of 
young  plants  grown  in  the  seed-bed 
which  have  become  crowded  and,  in 
consequence,  rob  each  other  of  light  and  air 
necessary  for  their  normal  development.  The 
operation  dispenses  with  the  need  for  sowing 
seeds  where  the  plants  are  to  grow,  a  great  con- 
venience for  many  obvious  reasons.  It  permits 
the  sowing  of  seed  to  be  made  in  smaller  spaces, 
and  gives  one  the  freedom  to  choose  and  dispose 
of  it  under  conditions  the  most  favourable  to  the 
future  well-being  of  the  seedlings  and  young 
plants.  Also  the  care  necessary  at  this  period 
can  be  more  readily  accorded  to  them. 

It  goes  without  saying  that  one  can  by  this 
method  obtain  a  better  "  braird  "  and  the  young 
plants  will  be  more  vigorous.  Moreover,  it  is 
therefore  possible  to  gain  time  and  to  procure  a 
crop  earlier,  as  preparation  can  be  undertaken 
before  the  temperature  of  the  air  or  soil  be  pro- 
pitious for  the  vegetable,  fruit  or  flower  one 
contemplates  growing.  Or  it  may  be,  as  in  the 
case  of  hardy  open-air  growing  plants,  that  the 
ground  is  not  ready  to  receive  them. 

Again,  in  "  pricking  off "  one  ruptures  the 
main  or  tap-root,  breaking  off  its  first  ramifications 
and  thus  favouring  the  formation  of  root  hairs, 
which  renders  less  perilous  a  further  transplan- 
tation. There  are,  then,  evidently  many  practical 
advantages  which  in  themselves  justify  the 
operation. 

Since  it  is  only  by  viewing  both  sides  of  a  ques- 
tion that  a  true  perspective  can  be  obtained, 
let  us  consider  "  pricldng  off  "  and  its  influence 
on  fhe  growth  of  plants.  We  have  hitherto 
considered  the  advantages  gained  by  doing  this 
work,  but  that  it  wUl  always  be  beneficial  to  the 
plant  to  practise  it  is  a  very  debatable  point. 

It  is  freely  admitted  that  the  breaking  off  of 
the  tap-root  and  consequent  encouragement  of 
the  emission  of  numerous  small  roots  exercises 
a  happy  influence  on  the  growth  of  the  plant. 

It  has  been  proved  by  extensive  trial  that 
from  sowings  made  in  the  open  ground  the  earliest 
and  heaviest  hari'ests  were  gathered  from  crops 
not  "  pricked  off."  The  weight  of  plants  of  the 
same  variety  from  a  like  area  in  a  given  period 
submitted  to  "  pricking  off  "  has  been  much  less 
in  quantity  and  later  in  attaining  maturity.  The 
effect  on  the  plant  is  that,  deprived  by  the  "  draw- 
ing" of  their  extreme  radicules  and  cf  their 
piUferous  layer,  they  cannot,  despite  repeated 
waterings,  maintain  themselves  in  the  state  of 
turgiscence  necessary  to  their  continued  develop- 
ment. Nay,  more,  they  exhaust  themselves,  for, 
their  assimilative  activity  having  been  so  much 
reduced,  they  are  constrained  to  live  at  the  expense 
of  their  own  substance.  This  they  must  utilise 
in  the  reconstruction  of  their  radicular  and  organic 


system.  From  this  we  may  deduce  that  "  pricking 
off "  or  transplanting  occasions  an  arrestation 
of  the  growth  of  a  vegetable.  This  check  will  be 
intensified,    according    as    the    circumstances    are 


PRICKING    OFF  ANTIRRHINUMS. 

This  has  been  left  over-  ong — the  plants  are 
"  drawn." 


PRICKING  OFF  HERBACEOUS  CALCEOLARIAS. 

more  or  less  favourable  to  an  active  transpiration. 

The  conditions  favouring  active  transpiration 
are  a  dry  and  agitated  atmosphere  combined  with 
a  high  temperature  in  an  exposed  situation.  It 
follows  that  the  plants  will  puffer  less  from  the 
operation  if  the  air  is  humid  with  a  relatively 
low  temperature  on  a  dull  day.  Transpiration 
also  will  be  greater  in  proportion  to  the  age  of 
the  plants  and  the  consequently  greater  expanse 
of  surface  foliage.  As  an  aside,  this  may  explain 
why  as  journeymen  gardeners  we  were  instructed — 
with  no  explanation  as  to  the  wherefore — to  "  lift  " 
them  carefully  with  a  good  ball  of  soil  attached, 
afterwards  affording  a  copious  watering  and 
shading  if  necessary  so  as  to  limit  as  much  as 
possible  the  check  given  in  transplanting. 

Many  gardeners,  without  having  a  very  clear 
idea  as  to  why  they  do  it,  take  advantage  of  this 
retarding  effect  caused  by  pricking  off  or  trans- 
planting.    In  late  autumn  if  spring  Cabbages  are 


32 


THE    GARDEN. 


[January  21,  1922. 


growing  too  freely  and  making  succulent  growth 
not  calculated  to  resist  the  vigours  of  winter,  he 
partly  lifts  them  with  a  fork — firming  by  treading 
afterwards — to  check  them.  It  may,  on  the 
other  hand,  be  a  young  fruit  tree  planted  loosely 
in  over-rich  soil  making  long  and  unfruitful  growth 
which  requires  to  be  "  checked  "  for  its  own  and 
its  owner's  profit.     These  and  many  other  instances 


of  a  similar  kind  will   occur    to  the   minds  of  ob- 
servant gardeners. 

From  a  survey  of  the  pros  and  cons  the  con- 
clusion to  my  mind  is  that  the  greatest  benefits 
and  advantages  to  be  derived  from  pricking  off 
are  to  be  obtained  when  the  work  is  done  in  early 
spring  or  autumn.  If  it  cannot  be  done  just  at 
the  right  time,   better  too  soon  than  too  late. 

Deanston. 


THE    CULTIVATION    OF    ARUMS 

The  Arum  is  widely  cultivated,  but  in  private  gardens  is  seldom  grown  to  best  advantage. 
Follow  clear  notes  on  its  treatment  throughout  the  year. 


EXAMINATION  of  some  standard  works 
on  horticulture  reveals  a  remarkable  lack 
of  information  concerning  the  culture  of 
the  Arum  Lily.  Having  grown  this 
superb  flower  successfully  for  upwards  of 
twenty  years,  the  writer  feels  that  his  experience 
may  be  helpful  to  other  growers  or  intending 
growers.  Arums  can  be  used  satisfactorily  for 
indoor  decoration  following  Chrysanthemums, 
which  seldom  last  into  the  New  Year  ;  moreover, 
they  are  most  acceptable  for  Christmas  decoration 
in  churches  and  public  halls.  In  addition  they 
can  be  used  for  sundry  other  purposes,  wreaths, 
bouquets  and  floral  designs. 

The  means  of  propagation  is  by  lateral  growths, 
which' are  small  rhizomes  developing  on  all  sides 
of  the  main  rhizome.  During  August  the  largest 
of  these  lateral  rhizomes  are  split  off  from  the 
parent  plant  and  potted  up  into  yin.  pots,  three 
being  allotted  to  each  pot.     The  ideal  soil  consists 


of  a  good  mixture  of  leaf  mould  and  fibrous  loam 
at  the  rate  of  one  to  three.  The  best  loam  to  use  is 
that  obtained  from  spent  Melon  beds,  and- it  should 
be  well  decomposed.  Half  fill  the  pots  with  soil ; 
place  the  rhizomes  on  this,  and  fill  to  within  an 
inch  of  the  top,  pressing  the  soil  moderately  firmly 
around  them.  The  crowns  of  the  rhizomes  should 
be  about  \\n.  below  the  surface  of  the  soil.  The 
pots  should  now  be  stood  in  partial  shade  for 
about  a  fortnight,  after  which  they  can  be  removed 
into  full  sunlight,  where  they  are  allowed  to  remain 
until  the  approach  of  frost.  During  this  period 
they  should  be  copiously  watered.  Regularly, 
once  per  week,  they  should  receive  an  application 
of  manure  water  obtained  in  the  following  manner  : 
Equal  parts  of  soot  and  cow  or  sheep  manure  are 
mixed  into  a  paste  with  a  little  water  ;  one  bucket- 
ful of  this  mixture  is  placed  in  a  tub  or  other  suitable 
receptacle  and  twenty  gallons  of  water  added. 
Apply  this  liquid  manure  at  half  strength  through- 


out the  whole  of  the  growing  season.  By  the  time 
they  are  taken  indoors  in  about  October  the  plants 
should  have  filled  the  pots  with  roots.  The  green- 
house wherein  they  are  now  placed  should  b& 
heated,  the  range  of  temperature  being  from. 
55°  F.  by  night  to  65°  F.  by  day.  air  being  admitted 
on  all  favourable  occasions.  These  temperatures 
should  be  maintained  throughout  the  growing 
season  until  mid-April,  when  the  plants  can  be 
taken  out  of  doors,  placed  in  partial  shade,  and 
protected  from  late  frosts  until  the  middle  of 
May.  after  which  they  can  be  put  into  their  summer 
quarters. 

The  summer  quarters  most  suitable  for  Arums 
consist  of  a  trench  i8ins.  wide  and  i8ins.  deep. 
The  bottom  6ins.  of  this  should  be  filled  with  well 
decayed  manure,  a  further  6ins.  of  soil  should  be 
added  and  the  two  well  mixed.  The  "  Lilies " 
should  now  be  taken  out  of  their  pots,  the  crocks 
removed  and  the  plants  stood  in  the  trench  from 
4ins.  to  6ins.  apart.  The  siurplus  soil  from  pre- 
paring the  trench  should  stand  on  either  side  as  in 
the  manner  of  a  prepared  Celery  trench.  This  soil 
is  now  to  be  filled  in  around  the  Lilies  and  con- 
solidated by  being  lightly  trodden.  The  plants 
should  next  receive  a  heavy  watering,  which  will 
complete  consolidation ;  after  this  they  will 
require  no  further  attention  until  growth  recom- 
mences. During  this  period  the  foliage  remains 
active,  manufacturing  food  which  is  stored  in  the 
rhizomes.  After  a  while  their  activity  diminishes 
and  the  leaves  turn  yellow  and  die  down  over  the 
crown  ;  when  quite  dead  they  should  be  carefully 
removed.  In  late  July  or  early  August  new  green 
leaves  will  be  thrust  up  ;  this  marks  the  commence- 
ment of  a  new  season  of  growth,  wliich  should  be 
allowed  to  go  on  in  the  bed  until  about  the  second 


WHERE  THE   WHITE   ARUM   (RICHARDIA   AFRICANA)    RUNS    RIOT   IN    THE   NILGIRIS 


Januakv  21,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


33 


week  in  September,  when  the  plants  should  be  taken 
up  and  repotted  into  their  flowering  pots.  Lifting 
should  be  carefully  performed  and  the  soil  adhering 
to  the  roots  should  be  moved  with  the  plants  to  the 
potting  shed.  Here  all  the  exhausted  soil,  which 
can  be  easily  recognised  by  the  line  of  previous 
potting,  is  removed  by  means  of  a  pointed  stick. 
It  will  come  away  readily.  The  gin.  pots  used 
should  be  clean  and  crocked  and  the  crocks  covered 
with  an  inch  or  so  of  friable  decayed  manure. 
Potting  soil  as  previously  described  is  again  used. 
It  should  be  worked  well  in  around  the  roots  and 
crown.  The  plants  are  now  placed  in  partial 
shade  and  kept  syringed  or  watered  overhead 
with  pot  and  rose,  twice  daily  to  prevent 
wilting.  The  next  operation  is  staking,  which 
is  most  satisfactorily  performed  with  canes  and 
raffia. 

After  about  a  week  they  can  be  removed  to  full 
sunlight  to  harden-up  prior  to  being  taken  into 
a  cool  greenhouse.  Here  they  remain  until  frosty 
weather,  when  they  are  removed  to  the  heated 
greenhouse,  where  the  temperatures  as  advocated 
for  the  first  season's  growth  are  again  maintained  ; 
within  a  fortnight  after  this  flower  buds  should 
appear.  The  flowering  period  should  extend  over 
about  six  months;  that  is,  until  the  end  of  April. 
This  stock  of  plants  will  last  for  about  seven  years, 
by  which  time  the  rhizomes  become  elongated 
so  as  to  render  satisfactory  potting  difficult, 
therefore  it  is  necessary  to  remove  about  ains. 
from  the  lower  end  of  each  rhizome  with  a  sharp 
knife.  It  has  been  found  advisable  to  retain  a 
number  of  the  young  lateral  rhizomes,  since  these 
throw  up  foliage  which  can  be  used  for  decorative 
purposes,  as,  for  example,  with  Roman  Hyacinths 
and  the  like. 

The  chief  insect  pests  of  the  Arum  are  aphis  and 
red  spidsr,  the  latter  only  occurring  when  the 
plants  are  grown  in  too  high  a  temperature  and 
when  the  atmosphere  is  too  dry.  Aphis  can  be 
kept  in  check  by  fumigating  with  any  of  the  usual 
proprietary  fumigants  or  by  a  soap  and  nicotine 
spray.  A  very  efficient  spray  is  made  with  soft 
water;  it  contains  soft  soap  1.6  per  cent,  and 
nicotine  .05  per  cent. 

The  most  useful  species  is  undoubtedly  Richardia 
africana,  sometimes  called  aethiopica,  the  white 
Arum.  According  to  Robinson  ("  The  English 
Flower  Garden  "),  this  variety  "  was  first  intro- 
duced into  Europe  from  South  Africa  in  1687." 
Referring  to  its  growth  in  the  British  Isles  he 
states,"  In  some  parts  of  this  country,  for  instance, 
Cornwall,  it  has  become  naturalised  in  shallow 
water,  spreading  and  flowering  with  the  same 
freedom  as  in  the  ditches  and  swamps  of  the  Cape." 
In  Gloucestershire  it  flowers  well  and  maintains  its 
vitality  when  planted  in  pond  mud,  around  the 
edges  of  fountains  and  ponds,  and  winters  quite 
satisfactorily.  This  species  is  undoubtedly  the  best 
for  greenhouse  culture.  Another  good  species  is 
Richardia  hastata,  the  Yellow  Calla.  It  is  smaller 
than  the  white  Arum,  with  which  it  affords  a 
pleasing  contrast  Hooper  ("  Gardening  Guide." 
1883)  describes  it  as  follows  :  "  Its  flowers  are  of 
similar  form  {i.e.,  to  the  white  Arum),  and  of  a 
beautiful  soft  yellow  colour,  the  throat  being 
purple.  It  is  hardy,  and  out  of  doors  comes  a 
deeper  colour  than  under  glass,  but  it  nevertheless 
makes  a  beautiful  pot  plant."  He  recommends 
that  "  the  soil  used  for  it  should  be  light,  almost 
sandy." 

Where  Arums  are  cultivated  along  the  lines 
herein  suggested,  with  suitable  modifications 
according  to  local  conditions,  success  and  satisfac- 
tion are  insured. 

The  illustration  on  page  32  shows  it  luxuriating 
in  damp  ground  in  the  Nilgiri  hills  (India); 
but  it  makes  almost  as  fine  a  picture  in  shallow 
water  by  an  English  lake-side.    Willia.m  H.  Miles. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


KOMAN   HYACINTHS   FOR    CHRISTMAS. 

TN  growing  flowers  for  Christmas  I  invariably 
pot  up  one  or  two  bowls  of  Roman  Hyacinths. 
For  an  amateur  who  has  no  greenhouse  they  are 
the  most  accommodating  of  all  early  forcing  bulbs, 
as  at  no  stage  of  their 
growth  do  they  require 
a  high  temperature  to 
bring  them  into  flower 
by  Christmas,  I  usually 
grow  them  in  fibre  in 
bowls  without  drainage, 
putting  them  into  the 
bowls  about  the  last 
week  in  August  or  early 
September.  The  accom- 
panying illustration  is  of 
a  bowl  planted  September 
14  and  photographed 
December  24,  1921. 
The  fibre  needs  to  be 
made  just  sufficiently  moist 
to  handle  freely  without 
the  moisture  squeezing 
out  when  a  handful  is 
pressed.  A  little  crushed 
charcoal  placed  in  the 
bottom  of  the  bowl 
prevents  the  fibre  going 
sour.  Place  fibre  in  the 
bowl  to  a  depth  of 
about  2ins.,  on  which 
place  the  bulbs,  then  fill 
up  the  bowl  just  covering 
the  bulbs,  but  do  not 
press  the  fibre  in  too 
tightly.  Place  them  in  a 
cold  frame,  or  place  out 
in  the  open,  and  when 
in  position  give  them 
a  good  watering  through 
a  rose.  They  then 
require  no  further  water- 
ing until  taken  indoors. 
Then  cover  the  bowls 
with  fibre  to  a  depth 
of  about  2ins.  If  the 
weather  is  mild  it  is 
better  not  to  put  any 
further  covering  on  them, 
but  in  case  of  severe 
frost    it    is    better    if     in 

frames  to  put  on  the  lights ;  or  if  outdoors, 
cover  with  mats,  sacks,  or  anything  that  may 
be  available.  When  top  growth  is  advanced 
about  tin.  they  should  be  uncovered  and  given 
a  good  soaking,  draining  off  any  surplus  water 
by  tilting  them.  The  bowls  may  either  be 
left  in  the  cold  frame  with  the  lights  on,  or  put 
into  a  light,  airy  window  where  there  is  a  regular 
temperature  of  about  50°  to  55°.  If  kept  at  a 
higher  temperature  they  will  flower  before  Christ- 
mas. If  the  outdoor  temperature  is  low  and  the 
growth  is  not  sufficiently  rapid,  move  them  into 
a  greenhouse  or  a  warmer  window.  Nine-tenths 
of  the  failure  to  flower  bulbs  successfully  in  bowls 
is  due  to  allowing  them  at  some  stage  of  their 
growth  to  become  root  dry.  That  is  fatal  to  success  , 
as  once  they  are  allowed  to  become  dry,  no  amount 
of  watering  afterwards  will  cause  them  to  recover. 
There  is  one  other  point  that  should  be  noted. 
If  the  bulbs  are  plunged  outdoors  with  a  covering 
of  2ins.  to  3ins.  of  fibre,  and  there  is  an  excessive 
rainfall,  something  should  be  put  over  them  to 
prevent  their  getting  too  much  wet,  as  if  they  get 
an   excess   of   water   before   root   growth   is   fully 


advanced,  it  is  almost  as  injurious  as  allowing  them 
to  get  dry.  The  latter  appUes  to  all  bulbs  which 
are  growm  in  fibre.  Mice  are  partial  to  Tulips 
and  Crocus,  and  a  look  out  should  always  be  kept 
for  their  depredations.     I   have  never  yet   failed 


A   FINE   BOWL   OF  ROMAN    HYACINTHS  AT  CHRISTMAS-TIME. 


over  a  number  of  years  to  have  good  Romans  at 
Christmas.— G.  W.  L. 

SOME    PYRENEAN  ""ANDROSACES. 

T  AST  year,  being  in  the  P>Tenees,  I  made 
enquiries  about  two  different  families  of 
plants  :  the  Saxifrages  (particularly  those  of  the 
Dactyloides  section)  and  .^ndrosaces.  I  purpose 
now  to  write  of  these  latter  treasures.  Androsace 
Lagged :  The  "  Index  Kewensis,"  like  many 
botanists,  considers  this  only  a  form  of  A.  carnea. 
Having  grown  it  for  forty-nine  years,  I  know  it 
well.  Everyone  who  grows  alpines  knows  that 
there  are  chalk-loving  and  chalk-hating  forms. 
A.  carnea  is  lime  hating  and  A.  Laggeri  lime 
loving.  The  one  is,  of  course,  the  form  from  the 
chalk ;  the  other  from  neutral  formations. 
A.  carnea  grows  as  little  very  dark-leaved  bushes, 
not  exceeding  2ins.  across.  A.  Laggeri  forms  very 
large  tufts,  sometimes  a  foot  broad,  very  dwarf 
and  of  clear  colour.  Its  leaves  are  thin,  narrower 
than  those  of  carnea,  never  reddish,  but  always. 
of  a  light  green  and  very  pointed.  The  leaves. 
are  never  glandular,   as  are  those  of  carnea,   but 


34 


THE    GARDEN. 


[January  21,  1922. 


ciliate  with  short  and  single  hairs,  instead  of 
which  carnea  has  one  or  more  bifurcate  hairs, 
very  long.  But  the  chief  character  is  that  the 
stalk  is  accrescent  and,  being  at  first  very  short, 
grows  as  the  flowers  expand  until  sometimes 
4ins.  long.  The  plant  is  of  easier  culture  than 
carnea  and  forms  in  the  rock  garden  large  clumps 
of  pinkish-rose  flowers,  very  shortly  stalked  to 
begin  with,  as  already  explained,  but  lengthening 
in  a  wonderful  way.  In  the  months  of  March 
and  April  it  is  the  most  brilliant  flower  in  the 
garden.  Another  very  fine  Androsace  is  ciliata. 
This  is  exclusively  Pyrenean.  It  grows  on  the 
clififs  of  the  high  peaks  above  5,500ft.  Near  to 
our  alpine  glacialis,  it  has  much  bigger  flowers 
and  forms  dense  2in.  to  4in.  cushion-like  tufts, 
which  are,  from  June  to  August,  covered  with 
<ieep  rose,  quite  sessile  flowers.  Androsace  cylin- 
drica  is  another  very  rare  kind,  which  grows  only 
on  a  very  small  area  in  walls  supporting  the  path 
at  the  Cirque  de  Gavarnie.  Near  to  pubesccns, 
it  differs  from  it  by  its  sub-frutescent  stems  and 
its  very  small,  reflexed,  whitish  green  leaves. 
A.  hirtella  is  a  form  of  it  growing  under  the  same 
conditions,  but  with  long  hairs,  either  single  or 
divided.  The  flowers  of  both  are  white  and 
■sessile,  so  form  dense  patches.  They  both 
require  a  south  wall  or  a  crevice  in  a  dry  rockery. 
Androsace  pyrenaica  is  a  rather  rare  plant  growing 
between  siliceous  or  granitic  gravels  or  rocks  at 
the  highest  altitudes  (always  above  6,700ft.).  It 
is  near  our  argentea,  but  still  denser  and  more 
"  cushiony,"  and  the  tufts  of  very  old  stems  very 
close  together  are  extremely  curious  to  see.  It 
grows  freely  in  England,  as  I  have  friends  there 
who  have  sent  me  beautiful  photographs  of  it 
taken  in  their  rockeries.  It  seems  even  to  prosper 
better  in  some  English  gardens  than  in  the  high 
Pyrenees,  It  likes,  however,  the  perpendicular 
position,  as  does  Saxifraga  longifolia  (that  is,  it 
should  be  planted  horizontally).  Androsace  vUlosa 
(forms,  in  some  limestone  cliffs  of  the  Pyrenees, 
immense  carpets  of  flowers  from  May  to  July. 
It  is  particularly  rich  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
the  Pic  du  Midi  and  is  often  mixed  with  Laggeri 
and  even  with  Vitaliana.  The  most  wonderful 
thing  I  have  seen  in  the  Western  Pyrenees  is 
Soldanella  villosa(Darracq).  It  isnear  tomontana, 
though  larger  in  leaf  and  flower  ;  but  it  has  the 
stem  and  base  of  the  leaf  quite  hairy.  I  was 
glad  to  find  the  very  curious  and  rare  Saxifraga 
Clusii,  which  grows  on  the  walls  near  the  Pic 
du  Midi,  and  in  damp  underwoods,  here  and 
there,  Lilium  pyrenaicum,  which  is,  nowadays, 
becoming  rare. — H.  Correvon,  Floraire,  Geneva. 

BEGONIA    NARCISSIFLORA. 

TN  the  issue  of  The  Garden  dated  January  7 
it  is  stated  that  "  few  readers  will  this  year 
succeed  in  obtaining  the  new  narcissiflora  strain, 
but  those  in  search  of  novelty  may,  with  confidence, 
try  .  .  ."  We  beg  to  point  out  that  we  are 
offering  seed  and  tubers  of  this  novel  type  of 
Begonia.  The  seed  was  saved  in  our  own  nurseries, 
and  the  tubers  were  grown  from  selected  seed- 
lings, all  of  which  flowered  with  us  last  season. 
We  also  beg  to  point  out  that  the  photograph  of 
this  Begonia  which  appeared  in  The  Garden 
some  little  time  ago  was  taken  in  our  nursery. — • 

DOBBIE    AND    Co.,    LIMITED. 

[Our  correspondent  who  sent  the  picture  repro- 
duced in  our  issue  of  October  22  last,  in  reply 
to  an  enquiry,  stated  that  he  understood  that  the 
■well  known  Edinburgh  house  would  not  be  able 
to  offer  this  strain  this  season,  hence  the  note 
Messrs.  Dobbie  refer  to.  He  mentioned  at  the 
same  time  another  firm  who  had  a  little  seed  to 
offer.  We  are  glad  to  hear  that  Messrs.  Dobbie 
can   supply  seeds   and   tubers,    and   welcome   the 


opportunity     of     correcting     an     unintentionally 
erroneous  statement. — Ed.] 

mis    TINGITANA. 

r\F  all  the  bulbous  species  of  Iris,  both  for 
beauty  and  utility  I  know  of  none  that  can 
compare  with  tingitana.  Here,  on  Christmas 
Day,  we  were  able  to  cut  beautiful  spikes  from  a 
foot  to  i8ins.  long,  with  grey,  glistening  foliage, 
surmounted  by  Orchid-hke  flowers  of  the  richest 
blue  with  tangerine  markings.  This  species  does 
not  seem  to  be  in  general  commerce,  as  here,  in 
Liverpool,  with  its  many  high-class  florists'  shops, 
we  failed  to  notice  a  single  flower  displayed  in 
any  of  the  windows  at  the  time  when  ours  were 
in  their  full  glory.     O*  course,  I.  reticulata,  that 


strongly  scented  flowers  were  crossed,  and  out  of 
a  progeny  of  3.500,  five  only  were  clove  scented. 
Having  noted  these  facts,  let  us  turn  for  a  moment 
to  a  reference  made  in  another  part  of  the  book  to 
Mendel's  laws — Professor  Mendel,  as  he  is 
erroneously  styled.  Mr.  Douglas  wishes  that 
Mendel  had  taken  the  Carnation  for  his  experi- 
ments, but  a  knowledge  of  the  work  done  by  the 
observant  monk  and  the  bases  on  which  his  theories 
became  laws  makes  it  clear  that  the  Carnation 
was  not  a  subject  that  would  have  helped  him  in 
his  surmises.  The  complicated  crossing  and  inter- 
breeding that  have  taken  place  tlu-ough  many 
generations  have  too  thoroughly  erased  the 
elemental  factors,  dominant  and  recessive,  which 
build  up  the  simple  hybrid — the  first   generation 


IRIS     TINGITANA,     FLOWERING     OUTDOORS     IN     MAY. 


little  gem  with  its  subtle  scent,  peeped  out  here 
and  there,  but  it  is  a  pigmy  in  comparison  with 
tingitana,  whose  noble  spikes  when  arranged  in 
tall  glasses  were  the  admiration  of  all  who  saw 
them  here.  I  should  be  pleased  to  give  the 
readers  of  The  Garden  the  cultural  details  which 
led  up  to  our  success  with  this  fine  monocotyledon, 
if  you  so  desire. — R.  McHardy,   West  Derby. 

[Particulars  of  the  successful  cultivation  of  this 
charming  flower  would  be  of  interest  to  many 
readers  — Ed.] 

A     CORRECTION. 

f~)N  page  21  of  The  Garden  a  correspondent, 
J.  W.  Brigstock,  Wisbech,  says  that,  on 
page  639,  "Somers  expresses  his  appreciation  of 
the  Dutch  bulbs  ordered  direct  from  Holland." 
Will  you  permit  me  to  say  that,  so  far,  I  have 
written  nothing  whatever  on  this  subject. — ■ 
Somers. 

BORDER    CARNATIONS. 

T  HAVE  been  reading  Mr.  Douglas's  book  on 
"  Border  Carnations  and  Cloves,"  published 
by  "  Country  Life,"  Limited,  and  its  perusal  stirs 
many  thoughts  regarding  the  cultivation  of  these 
plants.  I  was  particularly  struck  with  the 
author's  experience  of  the  two  crosses  detailed. 
In  the  former  of  these  he  crossed  two  yellow  selfs. 
Daffodil  and  Germania,  and  out  of  2,000  resulting 
plants  not  one  was  a  yellow  self !    Ir  the  latter,  two 


offspring.  Without  these  factors  Mendel's 
principles  would,  in  all  probability,  have  been  still- 
born; but  all  that  apart,  let  us  now  see  theMendelian 
interest  attaching  to  Mr.  Douglas's  experimental 
crosses.  His  results  seem  to  emphasise  two 
pronouncedly  recessive  characters  in  the  flowers 
of  the  modern  Border  Carnation,  viz.,  yellow 
pigmentation  and  clove  scent.  If  that  can  be 
taken  for  granted,  it  would  at  least  mark  some  small 
progress  towards  certainty  in  the  hybridisers' 
work,  and  it  is  a  pity  Mr.  Douglas  did  not  go  further 
in  his  experiments  with  these  seedlings.  In 
Mendel's  law  of  Segregation  and  Purity  it  is  shown 
that  if  second  generation  dominants  are  self 
fertilised  they  will  throw  75  per  cent,  dominants 
and  25  per  cent,  recessives,  but — and  here  is  the 
important  point — if  these  recessives  are  self 
fertilised  and  a  third  generation  formed  of  their 
progeny,  these  are  true  recessives  without  a  trace 
of  reversion  to  the  dominant  characters  of  their 
parents,  just  as  pure  dominants  breed  pure. 
It  would  have  been  highly  interesting  to  know  what 
results  would  have  accrued  from  the  self  fertilisa- 
tion of  these  seedlings,  and  it  is  just  possible  the 
recessive  characters  would  have  reasserted  them- 
selves after  skipping  a  generation.  Mr.  Douglas 
makes  the  somewhat  staggering  statement  that 
Carnations  can  now  be  had  in  every  known  colour  ; 
but,  even  leaving  out  the  obvious  exceptions  such 
as  the  blue  of  Gentiana  Verna  or  the  green  of  Ixia 
viridiflora,  we  are  woefully  weak  in  all  shades 
of  purple,  heliotrope  and  lavender,  let  catalogues 


January  21,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


35 


speak  as  they  will.  Again,  there  is  no  buff  Carna- 
tion of  the  lovely  shades  seen  in  some  of  the 
Gladiolus  Primulinus  hybrids,  such  as  Cassandra 
and  Topaz  ;  no  saffron,  no  true  violet ;  many  of 
the  orange  combination  colours  are  wanting,  those 
grading  into  the  vermilion  and  salmon  shades 
for  instance.  Many  shades  of  red  are  still  unknown 
to  the  Carnation,  and  who  has  ever  seen  in  the 
Carnation  world  that  wondrous  ethereal  tint  of 
Gladiolus  Byron  L.  Smith  ?  No  ;  I  have  more 
hope  for  the  future  of  the  Border  Carnation  than 
to  think  we  have  reached  finality  in  colour,  and  I 
do  not  think  growing  for  new  varieties  would  be 
half  so  interesting  if  "  every  known  colour  "  were 
already  on  the  palette. 

While  I  am  on  the  tack  of  destructive 
criticism  I  might  point  out  a  debatable  subject 
which  must  be  of  great  interest  to  Carnation 
growers.  Touching  on  diseases.  Mr.  Douglas 
makes  certain  remarks  about  rust  which  I  fear 
many  practical  growers  will  find  at  variance  with 
their  own  experience.  For  instance,  he  likens 
rust  to  "  a  rash  caused  by  overeating,"  and 
blames  overdoses  of  potash  administered  through 
the  agency  of  burnt  garden  rubbish  as  a  frequent 
cause.  Now,  in  the  case  of  two  well  known  and 
successful  growers  of  Carnations  the  result  seems 
to  be  far  from  that  indicated  by  the  author.  In 
the  former  instance  a  moderatelj'  rich  compost 
is  used,  but  what  seems  to  me  to  be  an  e.xcessive 
proportion  of  burnt  refuse  is  employed  every  year, 
although  the  proportions  of  soil  ingredients  are 
varied  each  season.  In  the  second  case,  no  animal 
manure  is  used  at  all.  the  only  stimulants  employed 
being  a  sprinkling  of  bone-meal  and  a  liberal 
dressing  of  burnt  wood-ash  from  the  garden  boniire. 
Now,  though  I  have  seen  the  plants  in  these  two 
collections  at  different  periods  of  the  year  I  have 
never  seen  a  spot  of  rust  on  the  foliage.  Our  o^vn 
experience  is  similar ;  last  year  we  potted  a 
section  of  our  plants  in  a  control  compost  of  sound, 
fibrous  loam,  very  slightly  enriched  with  added 
manures.  Five  other  sections  were  potted  in 
five  different  soils,  varying  in  degrees  of  fertility — 
some  rich  in  phosphates,  some  in  potash,  and  some 
in  niirates.  At  that  time,  pending  the  completion 
of  new  Carnation  premises,  we  were  growing  our 
plants  under  adverse  conditions  and  we  had  more 
rust  than  we  bargained  for,  but  careful  examination 
did  not  reveal  any  one  compost  more  blame- 
worthy than  another,  the  control  compost  giving 
perhaps  slightly,  but  very  slightly,  the  most 
satisfactory  results  in  this  respect,  though  not  the 
best  flowers. 

I  am  glad  Mr.  Douglas  makes  a  strong 
point  of  the  hardiness  of  the  Border  Carnations, 
and  of  the  fact  that  any  soil  can  be  made  to 
grow  them  well,  whether  light  or  heavy.  It  is 
quite  extraordinary  how  insistent  certain  people 
are  that  the  Carnation  will  not  grow  in  their 
gardens.  As  a  rule,  these  decisions  are  second-hand, 
and  frequently  denote  other  interests  on  the  part 
of  the  gardeners  of  the  establishments  in  question. 
I  would  go  further  than  Mr.  Douglas  and  say  that 
the  Picotees  are  also  admirable  for  bedding,  at 
least  in  the  South  and  Midland  districts.  Such 
varieties  as  Cheam,  Santa  Clans.  Her  Majesty, 
Mrs.  J.  J.  Keen  and  Margaret  Lennox  make  ex- 
tremely fine  plants  even  in  exposed  localities  and 
on  heavy  soil. — J.  L.  Gibson,  Crawley  Down, 
Sussex. 

[From  a  Mendelian  standpoint  the  difficulty 
with  the  Carnation  would  seem  to  be  rather  a 
multiplicity  of  probably  overlapping  factors  which 
have,  so  far,  not  been  disentangled,  rather  than 
excessive  cross-breeding.  The  garden  Pea,  for 
instance,  or  the  Sweet  Pea,  have  been  long  in 
cultivation,  but  they  both  illustrate  admirably 
Mendel's  Law  because  their  factors  are  compara- 
tively few  and  simple.— Ed] 


A    N.\TIONAL    D.\FFODIL    SOCIETY  ? 

TV/TR.  JACOB'S  contribution  of  December  31 
to  this  discussion  repeats  clearly  what  the 
other  advocates — or  may  I  call  them  agitators  ? — 
have  propounded  as  the  work  of  the  said  Society. 
Let  me  repeat  his  summary  with  what  appear 
very  obvious  comments  : 

(i)  Holding  of  two  shows  a  year,  one  in  London 
and  one  in  Birmingham.  These  we  have  already. 
{2)  Publishing  a  Year-book.  This  we  have  not 
got,  but  it  could  be  had  now  if  subscribers  enough 
were  forthcoming;  but  I  should  add  that  the 
cost  under  present  conditions  would  be  prohibitive, 
as  anyone  knows  who  is  at  all  concerned  with 
printing  and  pubUshing.  (3)  A  forced  or  pot- 
grown  show  in  March.  This  we  have  already. 
(4)  .-V  London  dry  bulb  show  in  August.  This 
we  have  already  ;  an  affair  of  small  attendance, 
as  it  must  always  be.  (5)  Deputations  to  local 
shows.  This  we  have  had  and  can  have  frosn  our 
present  personnel.  (6)  Any  necessary  Daffodil 
legislation.  This  is  fairly  vague,  but  would  seem 
to  be  covered  by  the  functions  of  the  R.H.S. 
Narcissus  Committee.  (7)  The  united  support  of 
traders  and  amateurs,  both  of  whom  must  be 
catered  for.  Here  is  some  confusion  of  thought 
between  the  maintenance  of  such  a  Society  by 
the  people  affected  and  the  Society's  allurements 
to  obtain  their  maintenance.  This  clause  is 
simply  a  proviso  that  the  Society  shall  be  a 
success  all  round. 

Mr.  Jacob  now  adds  that  there  would  have  to 
be  a  London  organisation  and  a  Birmingham  one 
to  carry  out  the  idea  of  two  annual  shows,  and 
that  it  seems  to  him  silly  to  scrap  the  organisation 
connected  with  the  latter.  Now  I  must  ask  sensible 
folk  to  consider  the  elaboration  of  fussy  super- 
officialism  that  it  is  proposed  to  heap  upon  this 
modest  flower — a  National  Society  with  its 
officers  and  Committee,  the  large  R.H.S.  Narcissus 
Committee,  a  London  organisation,  a  Birmingham 
organisation  and  the  existing  Birmingham  Com- 
mittee !  I  have  received  a  proposal,  among  the 
letters  which  this  affair  has  brought  upon  me, 
that  the  R.H.S.  Committee,  with  the  addition  of 
other  names,  and  the  Birmingham  Committee 
shall  be  amalgamated !  The  R.H.S.  Committee 
alone  is  unwieldy  enough  and  twice  too  big  for 
efficiency. 

And  all  this  machinery  for  what  provable 
advantage  over  what  we  have  ?  So  far  as  I  have 
kept  count,  every  trading  firm  and  every  amateur 
grower  with  a  flower  worth  notice  attends  the 
existing  shows.  Who  are  the  people  who  would 
hypothetically  flock  to  a  National  Show  ?  A 
correspondent  writes  that  what  we  want  is  a  big 
London  show,  and  he  instances  the  bigness  of  the 
National  Sweet  Pea  Show.  Those  who  are  pushing 
this  concern  have  curiously  overlooked  an  obvious 
factor.  There  is  this  abiding  difference  between 
the  Daffodil's  popularity  and  that  of  the  Sweet 
Pea,  the  Rose,  the  Chrysanthemum  and  other 
quickly  propagated  flowers :  the  most  attractive 
and  newest  of  these  comes  within  ever>'one's  reach 
speedily  and  for  a  small  sum.  A  new  Daffodil 
cannot  be  handled  at  all  under  ten  years  from 
the  seed  and  must  always  be  rare  and  beyond 
the  purse  of  the  average  gardener.  Therefore, 
from  the  commercial  aspect  of  a  National  Show, 
buyers  beyond  those  who  buy  already  will  be 
scarce,  except  of  the  old  and  cheap  kinds.  Take 
at  random  two  flowers  named  by  the  rhapsodist 
on  page  Q,  January  7 — Caedmon  and  Horace. 
These  were  raised  by  me,  one  a  full  score  of  years, 
the  other  many  years  ago,  but  have  hardly  yet 
entered  the  average  garden.  And  there'  arejlosses. 
real  enough,  to  be  set  off  against  the  visionary 
profits.  There  has  been  one  quiet,  dehghtful  show, 
in  the  Edgbaston  gardens.     There  was,  years  ago. 


a  proposal  to  "  popularise  "  it  by  its  removal  to 
(X  think)  the  Bu-mingham  Town  Hall.  Some 
kind  and  peaceful  deity  averted  this ;  but  this, 
or  this  kind  of  thing,  will  infallibly  be  carried 
out  by  the  new  machinists.  And  I  hear — I  had 
almost  written  1  smell — a  brass  band. — G.  H. 
Engleheart. 


GARDENING   OF    THE 
WEEK 

FOR    SOUTHERN    GARDENS. 
TheJKitchen  Garden. 

Tomatoes. — -A  sowing  of  seed  should  be  made  now 
to  supplement  the  supply  of  fruit  from  the  autumn 
sown  batch.  Genninate  the  seeds  in  a  temperature 
of  about  60°  in  well  drained  receptacles  of  sandy 
soil,  and  endcav  our  to  produce  strong  sturdy  plants 
by  growing  in  a  hght  position.  The  autunin  sown 
plants,  if  well  rooted  in  sin.  or  6in.  pots,  may  be 
placed  into  Sin.  for  fruiting.  Pot  firmly,  using 
good  fibrous  loam,  with  some  wood  ash.  old  mortar 
rubble  and  well  decayed  manure  added  in  small 
quantities. 

Onions. — Where  arrangements  can  be  made  for 
an  early  sowing  in  gentle  warmth  the  present 
time  is  suitable.  Use  a  fine  light  soil  for  the 
growth  of  the  young  plants,  and  when  they  are 
about  sins,  or  4ins.  high  prick  out  into  boxes 
several  inches  apart,  again  using  a  fine  rooting 
medium.  This  method  of  culture  is  certainly  a 
good  one  and  should  be  followed  if  possible  when 
well  growii  bulbs  are  in  request  for  any  purpose. 
It  is  most  noticeable,  too,  how  particularly  free 
Onions  so  started  are  from  the  maggot  trouble. 

Peas.— To  obtain  early  pickings  of  this  greatly 
appreciated  vegetable,  culture  under  glass  in  some 
manner  must  be  resorted  to.  Plants  may  be 
grown  in  pots,  boxes,  narrow  borders  or  frames, 
whichever  may  be  most  conveniently  arranged  for! 
A  sowing  should  also  be  made  in  boxes  and  grown 
sturdily  under  cool  conditions,  to  be  available  for 
planting  outside  on  a  warm  border  at  the  first 
favourable  opportunity,  when  the  weather  and  the 
soil  are  suitable. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  ^Garden. 

Bush  Fruits.- Where  the  wood  of  Black  Currants 
was  thinned  out  after  fruiting  was  finished,  little 
will  need  to  be  done  now.  If  not  done  at  the  time 
mentioned,  thin  out  the  old  wood,  leaving  sufficient 
of  the  strongest  young  shoots  to  preserve  well 
balanced  trees.  With  Red  and  White  Currants 
pruning  is  done  on  the  spur  system,  but  for  young 
trees  being  built  up  allow  the  main  shoots  to  remain 
at  about  a  third  of  their  length,  unless  the  condition 
of  the  wood  does  not  merit  it.  Gooseberry  bushes, 
too,  are  closely  pruned  by  the  majority  of  growers, 
while  others  allow  a  somewhat  greater  freedom  of 
growth.  In  the  one  case  it  is  only  reasonable  to 
expect  finer  berries,  and  in  the  other  a  greater 
amount,  so  the  requirements  of  each  particular 
garden  may  decide  which  method  is  to  be  followed. 
Whichever  plan  is  adopted,  the  centre  of  all  bushes 
should  be  kept  open,  for  this  is  beneficial  to  the 
trees  and  to  those  who  have  to  pick  the  fruit. 

The  Flower^Garden. 

Supporting  Trees.— Particular  attention  should 
be  given  in  their  young  stage  to  specimens  to  ensure, 
if  possible,  straight  growth,  and  also  as  a  safeguard 
against  injury  in  wind  storms.  Young  standard 
trees  in  exposed  grounds  are  best  held  in  position 
by  the  tripod  stake  arrangement,  but  should  a 
single  pole  be  deemed  sufficient  it  should  be  driven 
in  on  the  side  of  the  tree  from  which  the  n-ind  is 
strongest  and  most  prevalent.  It  is  essential  that 
the  supports  are  not  allowed  to  rub  the  trees,  or 
perhaps  irreparable  damage  may  be  done  in  a 
short  while,  therefore  see  that  all  ligatures  are 
ample  and  well  made.  In  the  case  of  large  speci- 
mens, where  it  may  be  necessary  to  loop  several 
huge  branches  together,  I  think  instead  of  chaining 
them  together  a  more  satisfactory  result  is  obtained 
by  using  bolts  for  the  purpose.  Holes  or  cracks  in 
trunks  of  prized  specimens  should  be  filled  with 
cement,  or  a  covering  of  sheet  lead  or  tin  adjusted, 
thus  checking  internal  decay. 

Fruits  Under  Glass. 

The  Orchard  House. — The  work  of  cleaning  the 
house  and  the  trees  should  be  completed  as  soon 
as  possible,  so  that  a  start  may  be  made  by  closing 
it.     The  more  natural  the  conditions  can  be  kept 


36 


THE    GARDEN. 


[January  21,  1922. 


in  this  house  the  more  satisfactory  will  be  the 
results.  Trees  occupying  permanent  positions  in 
the  borders  should,  if  necessary,  be  given  a  liberal 
top  dressing  of  which  nearly  all  should  be  good 
fibrous  loam.  It  may  be  necessary  in  the  case  of 
■old  or  exhausted  permanent  plants  to  supplement 
this  top  dressing  with  one  of  well  decayed  farm- 
yard manure,  but  in  the  majority  of  cases  it  is 
ijetter  to  let  the  sun  and  air  warm  and  sweeten 
the  border  before  applying  it.  If  any  of  the  trees, 
whether  planted  out  or  growing  in  tubs,  etc.,  are 
at  all  dry,  give  a  thorough  watering  so  that  the 
roots  will  be  in  a  suitable  condition  to  respond  to 
gentle  forcing.  Artificial  heat  must  be  sparingly 
used. 

H.  Turner. 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland.) 
Albury  Park  Gardens,.  Guildford. 


FOR    NORTHERN     GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Trench  Beans. — Owing  to  its  adaptable  qualities 
for  forcing,  this  delectable  vegetable  is  largely 
grown  during  the  early  months  of  the  year.  Pots 
Sins,  in  diameter  or  boxes  of  a  convenient  size 
suit  nicely.  When  sovring,  avoid  overcrowding,  five 
plants  to  each  pot  being  ample.  Use  a  compost  of 
light  loam  and  leaf  mould,  allowing  for  free  drainage. 
Red  Spider  must  be  guarded  against,  as  the  plants 
are  readily  susceptible  to  attacks  of  this  pest  when 
grown  under  glass,  more  especially  when  the  atmos- 
phere is  allowed  to  become  over-hot  and  dry.  Use 
tepid  water  when  spraying  or  watering  the  young 
plants.  They  enjoy  a  temperature  at  this  time 
of  from  60°  to  65°.  We  find  Canadian  Wonder  and 
Sutton's  Superlative  two  of  the  most  reliable 
varieties  for  early  work. 

Tomatoes. — -Seed  of  an  approved  free-setting 
■variety  should  now  be  sown  or  early  growth.  And 
as  only  a  limited  number  are  generally  grown  for 
this  crop,  a  small  sowing  should  suffice.  Sow  in  a 
light  compost,  placing  a  piece  of  glass  over  the 
seed  pan  tiU  germination  takes  place.  Take  care 
that  the  seedlings  are  not  subjected  to  draughts 
or  sprayed  with  water  of  too  low  a  temperature. 
Sutton's  Earliest  of  All  is  a  reliable  sort  for  sowing 
now,  the  fruits  are  of  medium  size  and  of  fine 
flavour. 

Cauliflowers. — -A  sowing  of  Early  London 
should  be  made  in  boxes  to  provide  a  succession  or 
to  supplement  batches  that  have  been  wintered  in 
frames.  Immediately  the  seedlings  appear,  place 
the  box  on  a  shelf  near  the  glass  and  guard  against 
damping. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

The  Early  Vinery. — Early  Vines  may  now  be 
started  into  growth,  but  little  fire-heat  should  be 
allowed  for  the  first  two  or  three  weeks.  Keep  a 
regular  temperature,  gradually  increasing  it  as  the 
tuds  break.  Guard  against  high  temperatures,  as 
the  consequences  are  generally  weak  wood  and 
■foliage  that  are  unable  to  ward  off  the  attacks  of 
•the  various  insect  pests  with  which  we  are  all  more 
or  less  familiar. 

Peaches. — Discretion  must  be  used  when 
ventilating  and  syringing  the  early  house,  more 
especially  now  that  artificial  heat  is  being  admitted 
more  freely.  Should  the  weather  prove  dull,  the 
damping  of  the  paths  will  suffice.  When  the  sun- 
heat  causes  the  temperature  to  rise  to  about  65° 
air  should  be  admitted,  but  the  house  must  be 
closed  down  immediately  any  fall  ot  the  mercury 
takes  place. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Antirrhinums. — -Seed  of  these  delightful  plants 
should  be  sown  now  so  that  strong,  well  grown 
plants  may  be  had  for  planting  out  early  in  May. 
Sow  thinly  in  boxes  of  light  porous  soil  and  place 
them  in  a  genial,  but  not  too  high  temperature. 
Keep  the  boxes  covered  with  glass  until  germination 
takes  place,  when  the  covering  may  be  gradually 
removed.  Extreme  care  must  be  taken  when 
watering  as  the  seedlings  damp  off  readily  should 
there  be  excess  of  moisture 

Pentstemons  may  be  sown  and  treated  in  like 
manner  to  that  advised  for  Antirrhinums.  Grown 
from  seed  in  this  way  Pentstemons  make  strong 
plants  and  give  a  bright  display  during  late  summer 
and  autumn. 

Border  Carnations  in  Frames.— WTiere  cir- 
cumstances compel  growers  to  winter  their  plants 
in  frames  they  should  be  looked  over  occasionally 
and  all  diseased  or  withered  foliage  picked  off.  Do 
not  allow  the  soil  in  the  pots  to  become  dry. 
Ventilate  the  frames  freely  at  all  times  unless  very 
severe  weather  prevails.  Give  the  surface  of  the 
soil  in  the  pots  a  light  dusting  of  soot  so  that  the 
ravages  of  slugs  may  be  checked. 


Herbaceous  Phloxes. — Should  the  transplanting 
of  these  fine  perennials  be  contemplated,  the  work 
may  be  carried  through  during  the  first  favourable 
spell  of  fine  weather.  Comprising  as  they  do  a 
wide  range  of  exquisite  colours  and  varying  in 
height  from  2ft.  to  6ft.,  they  are  of  inestimable 
value  for  the  autumn  border.  The  plants  thrive 
well  in  most  garden  soils  that  have  been  deeply 
dug  and  well  manured,  the  exception  being  hot 
gravelly  soils,  as  they  are  noticeably  partial  to  a 
cool  root  run.  Should  additional  varieties  be 
thought  of  they  might  include  Tapis  Blanc,  white  ; 
Mrs.  Oliver,  salmon  pink ;  Selma,  soft  pink ; 
G.  A.  Strohleim,  orange  scarlet ;  Cceur  de  Lion, 
rose,  and  Antonin  Mercie,  rosy  lilac 

James  McGran. 

(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.) 

Coodham,  Kilmarnock. 


CONSERVATORY    AND    GREENHOUSE. 

Hippeastrums. — Introduce  a  batch  of  good 
strong  bulbs  into  a  house  with  a  temperature 
of  55°  to  60°,  and  if  they  can  be  given  some  bottom- 
heat  it  is  an  advantage  at  this  time.  For  early 
work  use  bulbs  that  were  repotted  last  year  and 
are  thus  in  good  condition  at  the  root.  There 
being  no  root  disturbance,  they  will  start  more 
quickly,  and  such  plants  always  give  a  certain 
amount  of  foliage  along  with  the  flowers.  The 
plants  should  first  be  given  a  thorough  soaking 
of  tepid  water  to  moisten  the  dry  ball  of  soil ; 
then  remove  some  of  the  surface  soil  and  examine 
the  crown  of  the  bulbs  for  mealy  bug,  which  is  a 
great  pest  and  difficult  to  eradicate  if  it  once 
gains  a  footing  in  a  batch  of  plants.  When  the 
plants  are  in  flower  they  may  be  removed  to  a 
warm  greenhouse  or  may  be  cut  for  decorative 
purposes.  The  top  soil  which  was  removed 
should  be  replaced  by  a  light  rich  compost  to  which 
some  fine  bone-meal  should  be  added.  Plants 
that  require  repotting  should  be  shaken  out  and 
thoroughly  cleaned,  removing  all  decayed  roots 
as  well  as  all  decaying  matter  at  the  base  of  the 
bulb  Examine  for  mealy  bug  and  repot  into  a 
compost  of  good  medium  loam  to  which  a  little 
well  decayed  leaf-soil  and  enough  coarse  sand 
should  be  added  to  render  the  whole  porous. 
To  every  bushel  of  soil  a  6in.  potful  of  fine  bone- 
meal  should  be  added.  Newly  repotted  plants 
should  receive  very  little  water  at  the  root  until 
they  make  fresh  roots  and  some  top  growth. 
This  is  a  safe  rule  to  foUow  with  all  newly  repotted 
bulbous  plants.  Hippeastrums  arc  by  no  means 
such  difficult  plants  to  grow  as  many  people 
imagine.  Later  on  I  hope  to  deal  in  detail  with 
the  cultivation  from  seedling  up  to  their  flowering 
stage. 

RhodOChlton  VOlubile  is  a  very  beautiful 
greenhouse  flowering  climber  that  can  be  flowered 
the  first  season  from  seed  sown  any  time  during 
this  month.  The  thin,  flat  seeds  should  be  very 
lightly  covered,  or  else  they  are  apt  to  decay ; 
they  germinate  readily  in  a  temperature  of  55°. 
They  should  be  potted  on  until  they  are  in  8in. 
pots,  in  which  they  should  flower  with  great 
profusion  dming  the  summer  and  autumn.  They 
should  te  stood  on  the  stages  and  trained  up 
under  the  rcof  glass ;  they  are  self-supporting 
by  means  of  the  leaf  petioles,  either  on  wires  or 
string.  If  they  can  be  planted  out  in  a  greenhouse 
or  conservatory,  they  make  very  line  specimens 
in  their  second  year, 

Grevillea  robusta  is  a  popular  and  graceful 
plant  foi  conservatory  and  house  decoration, 
and  seed  should  be  sown  at  this  time.  It  is  an 
easily  grown  plant,  yet  mary  cultivators 
fail  to  raise  it  successfully  and  one  frequently 
hears  complaints  about  bad  seed,  whereas  the 
failure  is  generally  due  to  sowing  the  seeds  flat, 
when  they  are  very  apt  to  decay.  The  thin,  flat 
seeds  should  be  set  on  edge  and  pressed  gently 
into  the  soil.  By  this  means  they  generally 
germinate  well.  Apart  fiom  its  decorative  value, 
young  plants  make  a  splendid  stock  for  grafting 
some  of  the  choice  and  beautiful  flowering 
Grevilleas  on,  as  most  of  them  are  difficult  and 
slow  of  increase  by  means  of  cuttings. 

Cyclamen  sown  last  autumn  and  which  were 
pricked  off  and  have  stood  in  seed-pans  or  shallow 
boxes  all  the  winter  should  now  be  ready  for 
potting  off  into  "  thumbs,"  using  a  fine  rich 
compost  for  them,  to  which  should  be  added 
some  old  mortar  rubble  crushed  fine.  They 
should  be  stood  on  a  shelf  well  up  to  the  roof 
glass.  They  enjoy  moist  atmospheric  conditions 
at  all  times,  and  at  this  stage  of  their  cultivation 
shorJd  be  given  an  intermediate  temperature  of 
50°  to  55°. 

Solanum  capsicastrum,  with  its  profusion  of 

orange    scarlet    fruits,    is    very    popular    for    the 
autumn  and  winter  decoration  of  conservatories. 


Plants  can  be  raised  at  this  time  either  from  seeds 
or  cuttings,  and  if  carefully  attended  to  will  make 
good  plants  by  the  autumn.  The  young  plants 
should  be  brought  on  in  a  warm  greenhouse, 
and  later  on  may  be  transferred  to  cold  frames. 
During  the  summer  they  should  be  stood  on  an 
ash  bottom  in  the  open,  or  they  may  be  planted 
out  for  the  summer,  in  which  case  they  will  require 
less  attention  as  regards  watering.  Whatever 
method  of  cultivation  is  adopted,  they  should 
be  pinched  occasionally  to  induce  a  bushy  habit  ^| 
of  growth.  They  are  somewhat  subject  to  attacks  ^| 
of  red  spider,  so  should  be  kept  well  syringed, 
especially  during  spells  of  hot,   dry  weather. 

Ardisia  crenata  is  another  greenhouse  plant  the 
seed  of  which  should  be  sown  at  this  time,  or  it 
may  be  propagated  by  means  of  cuttings.  This 
plant  bears  a  profusion  of  small  dark  red  berries, 
which  remain  perfectly  fresh  on  the  plant  for  at 
least  nine  months.  Unlike  the  Solanum,  this 
plant  is  of  slow  growth,  taking  three  years  before 
it  reaches  a  suitable  size ;  thus,  to  keep  a  yearly 
succession  a  batch  of  plants  should  be  raised  every 
year.  The  seed  is  hard  and  takes  a  long  time  to 
germinate.  This  can  be  hastened,  however,  by 
soaking  the  seeds  for  twelve  hours  in  warm  water. 
During  its  giowing  period  this  plant  should  be 
given  an  intermediate  temperature.  When  it  has 
attained  flowering  and  fruiting  size  it  will  stand 
in  a  cool  greenhouse  and  make  a  good  lasting 
subject  for  house  decoration. 

J.    COUTTS. 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kew. 


FORTHCOMING    EVENTS. 

January  26  — Gardeners'  Royal  Benevolent 
Institution,  Annual  Meeting  and  Election  at 
Simpson's  Restaurant,  Strand,  London. 

January  31. — Royal  Horticultural  Society's 
Fortnightly  Meeting. 

January  31. — National  Dahlia  Society's  Annual 
General  Meeting  at  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society's  Hall  at  3  p.m. 


The  International  Bureau  for  Registration 
of  Novelties.. — The  Chamber  of  Horticulture 
has  been  requested  to  announce  that  all  prepara- 
tions for  the  above  are  now  complete,  and  that  the 
Bureau  is  ready  to  commence  registration.  The 
following  particulars  have  been  supplied  and  should 
be  noted :  i.  That  the  International  Bureau 
for  Registration  of  Horticultural  Novelties,  founded 
by  the  Federation  Horticole  Professionnelle 
Internationale,  will  commence  on  January  i,  1922, 
with  the  object  of  protecting  the  raisers  of  new 
plants,  as  to  (a)  prior  right  of  raising  ;  (b)  owner- 
ship of  name  chosen  ;  (c)  possibility  of  claiming 
both ;  and  also  (d)  adequate  advertisement  to 
make  the  novelty  known  to  the  horticultural 
world.  2.  That  official  forms  necessary  for 
declarations  will  be  addressed  to  raisers  on  receipt 
of  demand  accompanied  by  the  amount  of  the 
registration  fee,  which  is  lofr.,  plus,  if  desired, 
the  amount  necessary  to  cover  the  cost  of  supple- 
mentary declarations,  at  the  rate  of  sfr.  a  line  of 
forty  letters,  signs  or  intervals.  3.  That  official 
forms  can  only  be  obtained  from  the  Bureau 
Agent,  M.  L.  Sauvage,  6.  Rue  du  Debarcaders, 
Paris  17.  4.  That  cheques  and  money  orders 
be  made  payable  to  M.  Sauvage.  5.  That,  on 
demand,  raisers  will  receive,  without  charge,  a 
small  booklet  containing  the  Rules  of  the  Bureau 
and  aU  particulars  concerning  the  keeping  of  the 
various  registers,  confirming  the  rights  of  the 
declarers,  and  providing  for  the  establishment 
of  International  legislation  on  this  subject  in  due 
course.  The  Chamber  will  be  pleased  to  issue 
further  information  on  the  above  from  time  to  time. 


Answers  to  Correspondents 

NAMES  OF  FRUIT.— W.  E.  J.— Apr  lea;  1,  Manks 
CoJIin  ;  2,  Old  Peasgood  ;  3,  King  of  Torakins  County ; 
4,  Roundway  Magnuin  Bonum.- — ^Hoii.  Mrs.  Sandbach 
— Apple  Tower  of  Glamis. 

NAME  OF  PLANT.— Quebec— Statice  slnuata.  Cam- 
panula Raddeana  is  a  perennial  and  listed  by  most  hardy 
plantsmen.  Seed  could  probably  be  obtained  from 
Messrs.  Thompson  and  Morgan,  Ipswich, 


THE 


■-6Z  i]\}n 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


Vol.  LXXXVI,— No.  2619. 


Erterei  as  Second-Llass  Matter  nt  the  New  York.  N.^'..  PostOfticc. 


Saturday,  January  28,  1922 


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SURPLUS  Spring-flowering  BULBS 

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TULIPS,  EARLY  SINGLE,  in  named  varieties    ... 

,,         ,,         ,,       in  mixture    ... 
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,,        in  mixture 

,,  ,,  COTTAGE,  named  varieties 

,,  ,,  ,,        in  mixture 

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BiVDD        JL        ^OIMG  '■'*>     '■2     &     13,      KING     STREET, 

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ORNAMENTAL    TREES    AND     SHRUBS. 

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is     cordially     invited    to    inspect     our     immense     and     interesting     STOCK 

RAISED    BY    THE 

PURE    CULTURE    SYSTEM 

Choice    Species,    Rare    Botanical   Specimens.       Albinos   in   warm  and   coot 
sections  also  a  speciality. 

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of  Orchids. 

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[January  28,  1922. 


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SINGLE, 

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FRILLED     SINGLE, 
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CRESTED    SINGLE, 
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HANGING    BASKET 

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GLOXINIA 
seed,    mixed,    in    most    heautiful   selection 

of  colour     

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DUCKS,      GEESE     AND      TURKEYS,      b 

Will  Hooley,  F.Z.S.,  r.B.S..\.— .\  copy  of  this  helpful  bookl 
to  the  brci'ding.  fording  and  fattrniug  of  Ducks,  Geese  at 
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to  The  Manager.  "  CooNiny  Life,"  Ltd.,  20,  Tavistock  Strcc 
Covent  Garden,  W.C.2. 


No  a6x9-VoL  LXXXVI]       NOTES   OF  THE  WEEK 


[January  28,  1922. 


*    S    always   at   this  season  of  the  year,  the 
/%       Editor  is  being  bombarded  with  enquiries 
/  %     relative  to  the  seed-order  which    is  to 
^— ^k    many   amateurs   one   of   the   event?   of 
*  »  the  gardening  year.      Even  to  the  most 

blasfi  of  professional  gardeners  there  is  a  never- 
failing  pleasure  in  perusing  a  good  seed  catalogue 
andjselecting  varieties  not  only  for  the  actual 
order  in  hand  but  for  trial  some  other  time.  Many 
of  the  sorts  so  marked  never  get  ordered  in  reality, 
but  the  anticipatory  pleasure  is  there  just  the 
same!  Realising,  then,  the  importance  of  this, 
the  principal  seed-order  of  the  year,  we  have  during 
the  past  six  weeks  given  many  suggestions  as  to 
what  persons  of  varying  temperament  might  well 
include  in  the  seed  list.  The  time  for  such  hints 
is  fast  passing,  however,  as  such  seeds  as  those  of 
Parsnip  and  Broad  Bean  should  soon  be  in  the 
ground — ^supposing,  of  course,  that  reliance  is 
not  here  placed  on  autumn  sowings.  Bearing  this 
fact  in  mind,  it  seems  fitting  that  next  week's 
issue  should  be  largely  devoted  to  further  con- 
sideration of  some  of  the  many  aspects  of  the 
seed-order. 

The  Proposed  National  Daffodil  Society.— 
Time  draws  on,  and  very  shortly  the  National 
Daffodil  Society  will  either  be  a  society  in  being 
or  a  memory  of  the  might-have-been.  While  there 
have  been  expressed  in  our 
columns  naturally  divergent 
opinions  as  to  ways  and 
means — -a  healthy  sign,  since 
it  betokens  interest— only 
one  voice  has  been  lifted 
up  in  real  opposition  to  the 
creation  of  an  independent 
National  Society.  That 
voice  is,  it  is  true,  the  voice 
of  one  whose  opinion  must 
needs  carry  weight  in  the 
Daffodil-lover's  world.  Still, 
the  opinion  of  one,  however 
eminent,  cannot  weigh  down 
the  matured  judgments  of 
so  many,  especially  when 
among  the  great  majority 
may,  as  here,  be  numbered 
some  also  deservedly  es- 
teemed by  those  interested 
in  Wales'    national  flower. 

A  Vast  Difference. — It 
is  incumbent  upon  everyone, 
whatever  his  walk  in  life, 
always  to  visualise  to  the 
utmost  of  his  power  the 
position  and  standpoint  of 
those  whose  views  fail  to 
coincide  with  his  own. 
Should  he  bring  to  the 
question    at    issue    all    his 


ability  and  judgment  ^nd,  unbiassed  by  pre- 
conceived opinions,  re-weigh  things  fairly,  it  will 
sometimes  happen  that  he  finds  his  own  original 
view-point  a  mistaken  one.  It  has  been  well 
said  that  the  man  who  never  changes  his  mind 
has  no  mind  to  change  !  Even  where  investigation 
but  confirms  one's  opinion,  one's  opponent  must 
have  indeed  a  poor  case  if  he  can  illuminate  no 
dark  corners  with  his  arguments.  In  his  letter 
in  last  week's  issue  the  Rev.  G.  H.  Engleheart 
recapitulates  Mr.  Jacob's  summary  of  the  essential 
duties  of  the  new  society  with  what  he  describes 
as  "  very  obvious  comments."  Very  obvious 
they  are,  indeed,  and,  like  most  obvious  comments, 
fallacious,  for  here  there  is  a  confusion  of  thought. 
Mr.  Jacob  summarised  the  duties  which  the  society 
would  have  to  undertake.  Mr.  Engleheart  assumes 
that  the  undertaking  of  these  duties  is  the  society's 
raison  d'etre.  Such  is  not  in  fact  the  case.  Were 
there  an  efficient  Metropolitan  Society  which  did 
for  the  Narcissus  in  London  what  the  Midland 
Society  does  in  its  own  territory,  there  would  not 
now  be  an  agitation — the  promoters  will  not  quarrel 
with  Mr.  Engleheart' s  word — to  form  a  National 
Society.  It  is  because  many  lovers  of  the  Daffodil 
feel  that  the  London  exhibitions  of  their  favourite 
flower  should  no  longer  be  dependent  upon  what 
they  consider  the  lukewarm  interest  of  the  Royal 


PLANTERS  SHOULD  NOT  OVERLOOK  THAT  BEAUTIFUL  BRAMBLE, 


Horticultural  Society  that  they  are  agitating  for 
a  National  Society.  1 1  is  not  the'yearly  programme 
which  needs  radical  alteration,  but  the  way  in 
which  that  programme  is  carried  out. 

Rumination  ! — These  things  notwithstanding, 
the  supporters  of  the  new  society  will  do  well 
to  ponder  Mr.  Engleheart' s  reference  to  the  com- 
parative popularity  of  the  Daffodil  and  the  Sweet 
Pea  and  the  reasons  therefor.  They  would  do  well 
to  chew  upon  this — -that  if  the  Daffodil  shows 
are  to  be  popularised,  the  difficulty  raised  must  be 
overcome.  Popularity  can  only  come  with  popular 
attractions.  It  is  true  that  the  newest  varieties 
can  make  but  a  limited  appeal,  their  price  being 
too  heavy  for  the  light  purses  so  prevalent  to-day. 
Comparatively  few  amateurs,  however,  purchase 
the  newest  Roses,  yet  the  Rose  shows  are  always 
a  success,  and  the  novelties  are  always  difficult 
to  see  because  of  the  press  of  people  who  like  to 
see  what  progress  is  being  made.  It  may  be  said 
that  many  of  them  are  selecting  Roses  for  purchase 
a  year  or  two  hence.  It  seems  improbable ! 
Before  that  time  comes  much  more  information 
will  be  available  as  to  their  behaviour  and  ease 
of  cultivation.  It  is  the  so-called  decorative 
classes  which  have  made  the  Rose  a  popular 
exhibition  flower,  and  it  will  be  decorative  classes 
that,  given  the  opportunity,  will  do  the  same 
for  the  Daffodil.  The  trade, 
after  all,  still  sell  bulbs  of 
the  older  varieties.  Why 
not  exhibit  these  varieties 
decoratively  in  order  to 
make  a  definite  appeal  to 
the  "  man  in  the  street"  ? 
Why  could  not  there  be  a 
class  for  bulbs  arranged  in 
turf — -moss  might  be  utilised 
to  represent  the  turf  at 
the  discretion  of  the  ex- 
hibitor— -as  naturally  as 
possible,  varieties  only  being 
employed  which  are  mode- 
rate in  price  and  which 
succeed  under  turf  ?  .-^gain, 
could  not  there  be  a  class 
for  them  arranged  on  rock- 
work,  with,  of  course,  a 
suitable  interplanting  of  rock 
plants  ?  Floral  designs  and 
table  decorations  are  more 
obvious  ideas.  Such  ex- 
hibits would  do  wonders 
towards  popularising  the 
shows  and,  because  appetite 
grows  by  what  it  feeds  on, 
would  do  much  to  foster 
interest  in  the  purely  flor- 
ists' varieties  Daffodil  en- 
RUBUS  DELICIOSUS.      thusiasts  love  so  well. 


38 


THE     GARDEN. 


[January  28,  1922. 


TWO    NORFOLK    GARDENS 

The  altered  conditions  which  have  prevailed  since  the  war  have   adversely  affected   the   upkeep 
of  many  stately  and  spacious  gardens.       Below  is  given  a    brief   description    of    two   such    still 

in  good  order. 


A  FEW  notes  on  Norfolk  gardens  may  be 
of  interest,  as  nothing  iias,  to  my  know- 
ledge, been  written  of  them  lately  for 
The  Garden.  These  gardens  all  belong 
to  the  older  family  estates,  now  so 
rapidly  passing  either  to  new  oivners  or  to  the 
builder.  I  will  first  deal  with  Blickling  Fall, 
where  the  estate  is 
still  entire.  I  t 
belongs  to  the 
Marquess  of  Lothian, 
but  is  now  let  to  an 
American. 

It  is,  considering 
the  shortness  of 
labour,  wonderfully 
kept  up.  Indeed,  one 
would  hardly  believe 
it  possible  to  keep 
grass  edges  and 
walks  so  neat  and 
the  gravel  paths  so 
clean,  to  say  nothing 
of  those  other  details 
in  a  garden  which 
usually  point  first  to 
want  of  labour.    'f\ 

This  be  a  u  t  i  f  u  1 
Tudor  mansion,  a  few 
miles  from  Aylsham, 
lies  in  well  wooded 
country.  It  was  the 
home  of  Anne  Boleyn. 
Mr.  Oclee.  who  has 
been  head  gardener 
there  for  over  fifty 
years,  was  good 
enough  to  show  me 
round.  There  is  but 
a  moderate  amount 
of  glass.  The  wall 
fruit,  however,  is  in 
splendid  condition 
and  really  excellent 
crops  are  obtained. 
The  moat  round  the 
Hall  has  been  filled 
in  and  turfed.  The 
herbaceous  garden  is 
very  good  ;  indeed, 
the  flower  gardens 
generally  are  a  d- 
mitted  to  be  the 
best  in  Norfolk. 
They  were  greatly 
admired     by    Queen 

Alexandra    on    an    occasion    when    she    paid    a 
surprise  visit.  ,  _^?fi 

A  remarkable  feature  at  Blickling  is  a  Plane 
tree  (Platanus  occidentalis)  on  the  lawn,  the 
branches  of  which  give  the  effect  of  having 
layered  themselves ;  it  is  of  natural  growth, 
and  the  branches  extend  23yds.  from  tip  to  trunk. 
In  spring  the  ground  beneath  this  tree  is  covered 
with  Primroses,  both  wild  and  coloured.  The 
tree,  which  is  of  no  great  height,  is  of  unknown 
age. 

Azaleas  do  splendidly,  despite  the  bleakness 
of  the  climate.  The  soil  is.  however,  on  the 
light  side  and  naturally  warm.     A  large  bed  of 


Azaleas,  exposed  to  all  the  north  wind  that  blows, 
never  suffers  ;  in  fact,  in  no  part  of  the  grounds 
has  there  been  loss  of  them  from  exposure  to 
cold  winds  and  frost.  Lilies  do  not  flourish, 
though  at  Westwick,  not  many  miles  away,  they 
do  well.  A  few  bulbs  of  Habranthus  pratensis, 
planted  at  the  bottom  of  a  south  wall,  have  now 


Here  one  is  nearer  the  coast,  Cromer  being  only 
seven  miles  or  so  away.  The  drive  through  the 
park  was,  at  the  time  of  my  visit,  perfect  with 
glorious  autumn  tints.  A  clearance  of  shrubbery 
near  the  house  has  here  been  effected  to  open 
up  a  view  of  the  lake,  which  is  a  fine  stretch  of 
water.  The  wood  on  its  further  slopes  has,  near 
the  lake,  been  planted  for  colour  effect,  and  the 
planting  could  hardly  have  been  improved. 

The  rose  garden  at  Gunton  Park  is  one  of  the 
best  planned  I  have  seen.  One  wing  of  the  house 
was  destroyed  by  fire  ;  only  the  outer  walls  now 
remain.  Gunton  is  noted  chiefly  for  its  fruit, 
and  in  the  large,  well  appointed  fruit  room  I  saw 
many  varieties  of  Apples  and  Pears,  all  well 
grown. 

At  Gunton,  as  at  Blickling  and  a  few  other 
places,  I  was  amazed  at  the  order  shown.  These 
large  old  gardens  were  planned  in  a  day  when 
labour  was  cheap ;  but  one  can  tell  with  certainty 
the  places  where  the  head  is  not  only  a  good 
gardener,  but  a  particularly  able  organiser,  with 
the  consequent  effect  on  the  staff.  One  cannot 
but  thinli  that  employers  do  not  sufficiently 
realise  this.  I  have  seen  at  least  one  place  (not 
in  Norfolk)  with  twice  the  staff  that  Blickling 
had,  where  the  condition  of  the  wall  fruit  trees 
was  appalling,  and  there  seemed  but  little 
order  or  neatness  anywhere.  The  war  was,  it 
is  to  be  feared,  a  great  excuse  for  many  incom- 
petents. B.    G. 


BLICKLING    HALL.      THE  DRY   MOAT. 


quite  filled  the  available  space,  though  no  especlai 
care  was  talien  with  them.  This  seems,  none 
the  less,  a  difficult  plant  to  establish  in  some 
places. 

The  park,  with  its  herd  of  deer,  is  magnificent  ; 
no  brand-new  grounds  can  show  the  stately  beauty 
or  produce  tlie  atmosphere  of  peace  and  harmony 
which  cling  to  these  century-old  estates. 

The  last  Lady  Lothian,  who  was  a  widow  for 
thirty  years,  devoted  her  widowhood  to  Blickling 
and  its  people.     She  was  much  beloved. 

At  Gunton  Park  the  surrounding  land  has 
been  sold,  but  the  house  and  park  are  still  owned 
by    Lord    Suffield,    who    resides    there    entirely. 


THE    SPRING    O'   THE 
YEAR 

I  BELIEVE  that,  officially,  spring  begins  on 
Equinox  day,  March  21,  when  the  sun 
enters  Aries,  and  for  my  part  I  have  no 
wish  to  dispute  the  official  view  of  the 
seasons.  Though  I  should  have  thought, 
had  astronomy  been  allowed  to  decide  the  point, 
that  the  dead  or  winter  season  ought  to  extend 
to  an  equal  distance  (of  six  weeks)  on  the  further 
and  on  the  hither  side  of  the  winter  solstice, 
or  shortest  day,  December  21 — that  is  to  say 
that  if  the  seasons  are  held  to  depend  on  the  various 
positions  of  the  sun  in  its  orbit,  winter  ought  to 
begin  about  November  7  and  end  about  January 
31,  in  which  case  our  first  spring  day  would  be 
February  i.  However,  I  have  no  wish  to  argue 
this,  as  if  it  were  a  matter  in  dispute,  since  there 
is  little  profit  in  disputing  what  is  official.  But 
clearly  there  are  various  springs.  There  is,  as  I 
have  said,  the  official  or  purely  bureaucratic  spring, 
and  there  is  the  cosmogonic  or  solar  spring  ;  but 
there  is  also  the  psychic  spring  that  one  "  feels 
in  one's  bones,"  which,  for  myself  personally,  as 
for  other  creatures  of  instinct,  like  thrushes  and 
Crocuses,  is  really  the  only  spring  that  matters. 
Unfortunately,  the  spring  of  one's  bones  is  in- 
determinate as  to  the  dates  of  its  beginning  and 
ending.  You  feel  it,  which  of  course  is  final, 
since  no  wise  person  would  attempt  to  reason  with 
feeling.  But  you  do  not  feel  it  on  the  same  date 
every  year.  Speaking  for  myself,  and  for  no  one 
else,  of  course,  my  own  soul  and  bones  usually 
respond     to     vernal     influences     on     or     about 


January  28,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


39 


February  i,  such  response  thus  squarmg,  curiously 
enough,  with  the  cosmic  indications  of  such 
heavenly  bodies  and  constellations  as  the  sun  and 
the  signs  of  the  Zodiac. 

Now,  as  it  happened,  those  various  spon- 
taneous stirrings  and  impulses  which  concur  to 
make  this  "  spring  feeling "  converged  this 
year,  not  on  February  i,  as  might  have  been 
expected,  but  ou  the  ridiculously  early  date 
of  January  9.  Not  that  the  gth  was  by  any 
means  an  ideal  day  as  regards  weather.  There 
was  little  sunshine  ;  indeed,  1  cannot  remem- 
ber that  there  was  any.  The  sky  was  grey, 
and  the  air  was  moist  and  "  muggy."  The  wind 
was  brisk,  at  times  even  boisterous,  but  (and  here 
lies  the  crucial  fact  that  explains  so  much)  it  was  a 
west  wind.  A  west  wind,  you  will  observe,  which 
of  all  the  winds  is  the  most  bland,  as  the  east 
is  the  most  pernicious.  The  '*  breath  of  autumn's 
being  "  this  wind  is  styled  by  SheUey,  who  pictures 
it.  if  I  rightly  remember,  as  piping  a  funeral 
pibroch  to  the  dead  leaves,  "  yellow  and  black 
and  pale  and  hectic  red."  But  poets,  as  we 
know,  have  too  often  the  disingenuous  habit  of 
twisting  the  facts  of  Nature  to  the  purpose  of 
the  moment.  Not  that  I  wish  to  quarrel  with  the 
disingenuousness  of  poets — it  is  part  of  their 
stock  in  trade.  A  poet  gives  either  half  a  truth 
or  a  truth  and  a  half,  and  if  he  stated  just  the 
truth,  neither  more  nor  less,  would  be  esteemed 
but  a  poor  stick.  The  west  wind  may  be  the 
breath  of  autumn's  being.  I  do  not  say  that  it 
is  not.  I  dare  say  it  is.  But  it  is  the  very  life- 
blood  that  flows  through  the  veins  (or,  to  be  quite 
exact,  through  the  arteries)  of  spring,  of  which 
vital  fact  Shelley  says  nothing — a  clear  instance 
of  suppressio  veri.  Now  on  January  9  the  west 
wind  was  flowing  through  the  system  of  Nature 
in  a  full  and  brimming  tide,  of  which  there  were 
various  sufficiently  convincing  signs,  though  for 
my  part  I  required  nothing  more  convincing 
than  the  sight  of  neighbour  Snow's  superannuated 
hack,  Jenny,  careering  in  the  church  meadow  and 
kicking  up  her  heels  in  a  fine  frenzy.  "  Jenny 
knows."  thought  I,  "  Jenny  feels  it,"  and,  but  for 
certain  physical  disabilities,  I  would  have  kicked 
up  my  own  in  sympathy.  It  was,  in  short,  a 
resurrection  trump,  that  blast  of  the  west  wind, 
stirring  the  living  juices  in  dead  flowers  and 
birds  long  silent.  Flowers  ?  I  have  been  gather- 
ing Iris  stylosa  and  Christmas  Roses  all  the  winter, 
but,  though  they  certainly  made  the  winter  more 
bearable,  it  never  occurred  to  me  that  winter  was 
any  the  less  surely  winter  because  they  were 
there. 

It  was,  however,  another  guess  matter  when, 
on  the  morning  of  the  gth,  a  Crocus  (purple- 
striped  and  fawn  outside,  veined  mauve  within — 
Crocus  Imperati,  I  believe)  emerged  as  through  a 
trapdoor  on  the  gravel  walk.  That  was  surely 
spring  and  nothing  else.  There  was  also  a  Snow- 
drop or  two  of  the  Elwesii  breed  ;  but  Snowdrops 
are  an  excitable  and  uncertain  race  that  may 
appear  at  Cliristmas,  long  before  the  west  wind 
has  given  the  signal.  Again,  there  are  the  birds. 
Why  should  a  thrush  select  January  gth  to  perch 
on  my  old  Blenheim  Orange  and  deafen  the  neigh- 
bourhood with  his  din  until  it  was  too  dark  to 
sing? 

Had  it  been  a  robin  that  warbled  his  little 
ditty  I  would  have  associated  the  sound  %vith 
the  winter  season  as  readily  as  I  would  an  icicle. 
But  though  occasional  thrush  notes  may  be  heard 
in  suitable  winter  weather,  a  daylong,  gala 
performance  from  the  top  of  a  Blenheim  Orange 
is  a  different  matter,  and  requires  an  explanation 
of  its  own.  Other  notes  heard  on  the  gth,  though 
not  normally  due  till  February,  were  the  "  fink, 
fink "  of  the  chaffinch  and  the  warble  of  the 
hedgesparrow.  Somers. 


COMMENCING    A    ROCK    GARDEN 


THE  rock-loving  plants  that  yield  the 
greatest  measure  of  success  with  amateurs 
are  notably  sunlovers,  and  it  is  to  this 
section  that  the  beginner  can  turn  with 
every  confidence,  their  main  charac- 
teristics being  that  they  are  perfectly  reliable, 
generous  in  flowering,  unquestionably  hardy  and 
not  costly  to  procure.  In  small  gardens,  and 
with   the   plants   I    am   going   to   name,    there   is 


A    PLEASING     ROCK    GARDEN    PICTURE,    THE    IDEA    OF    WHICH 
COULD    BE    INTRODUCED    IN    QUITE    A    SMALL    GARDEN. 


never  the  same  urgency  to  employ  each  kind  in 
masses,  although  a  few  of  the  most  effective 
should  always  be  given  this  prominence ;  the 
majority,  however,  in  time  swell  out  and  form 
a  mass  in  themselves. 

No  rock  garden  should  overlook  the  merits  of 
Arabis  albida  fl.-pl.,  Aubrietias,  all  varieties,  and 
Alyssum  saxatile  and  its  variety  citrinum  and 
also  the  double  form,  their  only  drawback  being 
that  they  are  too  common  and,  if  I  may  say  so, 
too  easy  to  grow.  Nevertheless,  they  are  the  glory 
of  the  rock  garden  and  dry-wall  in  spring,  and 
their  perennial  and  prodigal  wealth  of  blossom 
will  always  command  admiration  and  win  for 
them  a  place  of  honour  in  our  gardens- 

The  perennial  Candytufts  (Iberis)  become 
perfect  snowdrifts  when  in  flower ;  Little  Gem, 
Snowflake  and  correaeifolia  are  three  of  the  best 


I  have  come  across.  Erysimum  pulchellum  is  a 
pretty,  flat  evergreen  with  flowers  of  gold,  very 
freely  produced  during  April  and  May.  Cheiran- 
thus  Allionii  should  be  placed  close  to  the  last 
named,  as  the  striking  orange  ot  its  flowers  shows 
to  distinct  advantage  against  the  gold  of 
Erysimum.  I         -» 

Phloxes, Ulike  amcena  and  reptans  for  early 
flowering,  and  the  forms  of  subulata  for  a  later 
display,  give  a  wide  range 
of  colours  from  white 
to  deep  rose,  while  there 
are  several  with  flowers 
of  a  delicate  lavender 
shade,  such  as  G.  F. 
Wilson  (Ulacina). 

Androsace  sarmentosa 
is  one  of  the  best  and 
certainly  the  easiest  to 
grow  of  this  beautiful 
group :  it  throws  out 
dehcate  runners  hke  a 
Strawberry  plant,  and  if 
these  are  pegged  down 
and  nice  gritty  soil 
placed  under  the  little 
plants  they  soon  root 
and  take  up  an  inde- 
pendent existence. 

Dianthus  is  a  genus 
to  conjure  with ;  try  a 
good  strain  of  seed  of  D. 
plumarius  and  plant  the 
seedlings  in  drj'-wall, 
rock  garden  or  sharp- 
pitched  slope  and  the 
feast  of  colour  will  be  a 
revelation.  Among  the 
species  that  I  recommend 
for  a  maiden  effort  are 
Ceesius,  deltoides  or  grani- 
ticus,  neglectus,  alpinus, 
arenarius  and  microlepis. 
Campanulas  are  im- 
portant and  should  include 
G.  F.  Wilson,  pusilla,  in 
three  colours,  and  muraUs 
for  early  summer,  and 
Profusion,  hajdodgensis 
and  varieties  of  carpatica 
to  flower  later. 

Gypsophila  r  e  p  e  n  s 
(white  or  pink)  and 
Sapcnaria  ocymoides  (rose) 
with  its  variety  splendens 
(crimson)  are  glorious 
plants  to  drape  over 
the  face  of  a  rock,  and 
the  flowers  are  massed  in 
such  a  way  as  almost  hides  the  foliage  from  view. 
Several  of  the  Hypericums,  with  their  Rose  of 
Sharon  flowers,  are  among  the  best  of  rock  plants. 
Coris  forms  neat,  erect,  heath-hke  bushes,  whereas 
repens  and  reptans  are  prostrate  in  growth  ;  the 
flowers  in  each  instance  are  yellow  and  the  centres 
are  quite  filled  up  with  the  elegant  filaments  of 
the  anthers. 

I  am  of  opinion  that  every  rock  gardener  should 
attempt  to  grow  Lithospermum  prostratum  and 
its  variety  Heavenly  Blue.  At  first  effort  you 
may  possibly  fail ;  nevertheless  try  again,  and 
ultimately  succeed,  for  the  Gromwell  (Litho- 
spermum) blue  is  in  this  instance  faultless.  Plant 
them  very  firmly  indeed,  for  they  are  reaUy  hard- 
wooded  shrubs,  although  so  dwarf,  and  if  the 
natural  soil  be  limestone  or  chalk,  remove  it  and 
replace  with  soil  free  from  lime. 


4U 


THE    GARDEN. 


[January  28,  1922. 


PLANTS    IN    THE    MORAINE. 

Running  zcater  at  the  depth  of  a  foot  or  so  is  essential  to  a    true    moraine,    but    many  Alpines 

flourish  in  a  compost  largely  consisting  of  stone  even  without  this  advantage. 


Lychnis  Viscaria  splendens  and  Qinothera 
riparia  are  useful  and  effective  plants  ;  the  flower 
stems  are  borne  erect,  and  this  is  of  some  value 
when  placed  among  flat-growing  plants.  Many 
of  the  silver  Saxifragas  are  useful  in  the  same 
direction  ;  those  I  specially  mention  for  beginners 
are  Aizoon  rosea,  A.  notata  and  A.  La  Graveana, 


Cotyledon   piTamidalis,     Hostii,     lingulata   lanto- 
scana  and  Macnabiana. 

Tunica  Saxifraga  and  Silene  alpestris  are  very 
dainty  for  a  crevice  between  stones  ;  and  Thymus 
Serpyllum  (especially  the  varieties  coccinea  and 
alba)  and  T.  lanuginosa  are  charming  for  their 
scent   and  flowers.  T.   Smith. 


GARDEN    ECONOMIES 

Plant    Dwarf    Peas 

Not  everyone  will  agree  zoith  the  writer's  sweeping  condemnation  of  the  taller  Peas.     In 
wet  summers,  especially,  they  prove  their  worth,  hut  there  is,  none  the  less,  much   truth 

in  the  arguments  brought  forward. 


IT  behoves  any  garden  owner  and  employer 
of  highly  paid  labour  to  do  the  very  utmost 
to  ensure  two  objects — to  lessen  the  cost 
of  production  and  to  increase  the  output. 
In  gardening  there  are  many  details  tiiat 
can  be  thus  treated  ;  not  the  least  important  among 
them  is  the  production  of  green  Peas. 

The  Dwarf  Pea  has  been  brought  to  such  per- 
fection that  the  yield  in  size  of  pod  and  Pea  is 
equal  to  that  of  almost  any  of  the  tall  varieties, 
with  one  possible  exception  in  the  show  bench 
Pea.  Dwarf  Peas  can  be  produced  at  little  more 
than  half  the  cost  of  the  tall  varieties.  In  fact, 
yield  for  yield,  with  dwarf  or  tall  Peas  over  the 
same  area  of  land,  the  comparison  is  in  favour  of 
the  "  dwarfs." 

Let  us  see  how  it  is  done.  Tall  garden  Peas 
need  planting  from  4ft.  to  6ft.  apart  in  the  rows, 
require  sticks  from  4ft.  to  6ft.  high,  entail  the 
expense  of  purchasing  the  sticks  and  the  labour 
of  sticking  the  rows,  both  expensive  and 
unnecessary. 

Dwarf  Peas  need  only  from  iSins.  to  24ins. 
between  the  rows,  and  after  planting  and  hoeing, 
need  no  labour  at  all  until  the  crop  is  gathered, 
no   sticks,    no   labour   in    sticking,    and    later    in 


removing  the  fence-like  hedge  of  sticks  for  storage. 
Let  any  garden  lover  try  them.  Compete  six 
rows  of  Dwarf  Peas  of  i2ins.  to  i8ins.  in  height 
against  two  rows  of  tall  Peas  of  5ft.  to  6ft.  and 
I  am  sure  the  result  will  astonish  him,  while  for 
table  use  and  for  marl<et  the  Dwarf  Pea  yields  no 
points  to  its  tall  brother. 

There  are  two  or  three  varieties,  among  a 
host  of  other  good  sorts  offered  by  seedsmen, 
that  are  particularly  useful — good  sturdy  growers, 
magnificent  croppers  and  splendid  cookers.  They 
are  Peter  Pan  (i8ins.)  and  Sutton's  Little  Marvel 
(iSins.),  both  Marrowfat  Peas,  big  of  pod,  big 
of  pea,  colour  and  flavour  unexcelled.  Then 
we  have  that  wonderful  Pea  Witham  Wonder, 
and  it  is  a  wonder  !  The  plant  itself  is  not  so 
robust  as  the  two  previously  mentioned  varieties 
or  the  pod  quite  so  large,  but  the  yield  and  quality 
more  than  make  up  for  these  deficiencies.  Tlie 
plants  are  loaded  with  medium-sized  fat  pods 
that  simply  burst  with  the  content?  packed  closely 
together,  while  the  pods  themselves  are  thin  in 
texture,  so  that  the  yield  in  shelled  Peas  is  very 
much  greater  than  from  many  tall  varieties  with 
big  fleshy,  half-empty  pods,  however  big  the 
individual  Peas  in  the  pod  may  be. 


Dwarf  Peas  can  be  grown  in  succession  equally 
as  well  as  the  taller  kinds ;  in  fact,  here  again  the 
economy  in  production  is  in  their  favour.  A  few 
rows  planted  at  intervals  of  about  a  fortnight 
from  March  to  June,  and  in  most  soils  even  in 
July,  will  give  a  continuous  supply  all  the  summer 
months,  with  no  care  or  thought  as  to  expense 
of  sticks  or  labour  of  sticking,  and  they  need 
much  less  water. 

Let  me  give  the  intending  planter  of  Dwarf 
Peas  one  or  two  tips  for  the  production  of  the 
best  results,  although  these  tips  apply  equally 
well  to  all  and  any  kind  of  Pea,  even  to  Sweet 
Peas  grown  for  bloom  or  seed. 

Make  your  trenches  not  more  than  ains.  deep, 
the  width  of  a  narrow  draw  hoe.  If  possible, 
leave  them  open  to  the  air  and  sunshine  for  twenty- 
four  to  forty-eight  hours ;  it  is  not  absolutely 
essential,  but  helps  the  future  crops.  Do  not  dig 
in  a  lot  of  manure  of  any  kind,  Peas  do  not  need 
it  on  good  garden  soil.  Instead  mix  basic  slag 
of  good  quality  (28  to  30  per  cent.)  with  twice 
its  bulk  of  ashes  from  a  rubbish  fire  and  dust 
this  mixture  down  the  open  rows,  a  good  handful 
to  the  yard  run  of  rows.  Plant  the  Peas  singly 
in  the  rows  2ins.  from  Pea  to  Pea  in  any  direction — 
lialf  a  pint  of  Peas  will  plant  20yds.  of  row.  Never 
plant  too  thickly,  rather  err  the  other  way.  Put 
your  Pea  seed  into  a  tin,  add  half  a  teaspoonful 
of  red  lead  in  powder  and  a  teaspoonful  of  common 
parafiSn  and  shake  well  —  plant  and  cover 
immediately.  M 

When  the  Peas  come  through  the  surface,  if 
birds  or  other  destructive  influence  be  at  work, 
spray  the  rows  with  lime-sulphur  fluid  from  an 
ordinary  spraying  machine  as  used  for  fruit  trees, 
using  a  strength  of  one  part  lime-sulphur  fluid 
to  eighteen  to  twenty  parts  of  water.  This 
dressing  is  not  only  protective  to  ward  off  the 
attacks  of  birds  and  insects,  but  is  beneficial  to 
the  plant  itself  as  destroying  all  germs  of  mildew. 
Hoe  the  rows,  not  up  and  down  the  row  as  is  usually 
done,  but  across  the  rows,  drawing  the  soil  towards 
the  plants  and  not  away  from  them.  Nothing 
more  is  needed  until  the  crop  is  gathered,  no 
purchase  of  expensive  sticks,  no  heavy  labour 
cliarges  in  sticking,  no  treading  down  the  soil 
between  the  rows  in  the  process  of  sticking,  no 
waste  of  time  in  clearing  and  storing  the  sticks 
after  the  crop  is  over. 

The  rows  of  Dwarf  Peas  can  be  pulled  off  quite 
easily  after  the  crop,  the  land  hoed  over,  and  it 
is  ready  for  the  crop  of  winter  Broccoli,  Kale, 
Savoy,  Cabbage  or  what  not ;  for  the  Brassica 
tribe  always  do  well  after  Peas  owing  to  the  habit 
of  the  Pea  to  store  nitrogen  in  the  soil  round  its 
roots. 

Try  Dwarf  Peas  and  you  will  never  waste  money 
on  Pea-sticks  again,  but  do  not  forget  to  plant 
the  seed  thinly.  S.  Warner  Hagen. 


On  Making  the  Greenhouse 
Profitable 

Peach  and  Nectarine  Trees  in  Pots. 

FOR  those  owners  of  gardens  whose  glass- 
house accommodation  is  limited  and 
who  wish  to  have  a  few  choice  Peaches 
and  Nectarines  the  cultivation  of  the 
trees  in  pots  is  to  be  recommended.  The 
chief  advantage  of  this  form  of  culture  is  that 
the  trees  can  be  placed  outdoors  when  the  fruits 
have  been  gathered  and  the  house  utilised  for 
growing  Chrysanthemums  and  other  plants  during 
the  winter  months. 


January  zS,  1922.] 

Where  ripe  fruits  are  desired  in  June,  the  trees 
should  be  placed  in  the  house  at  once,  but  no 
fire-heat  should  be  applied  for  the  first  fortnight. 
If  the  temperature  of  the  house  should  reach 
55°  by  solar  heat,  the  top  ventilators  must  be 
opened  a  little  at  midday,  closing  them  early 
and  at  the  same  time  damping  the  walls  and 
paths. 

When  the  trees  have  been  indoors  a  fortnight, 
a  night  temperature  of  50°  should  be  maintained, 
allowing  for  a  rise  of  5°  during  the  day.  During 
the  flowering  period  a  drier  atmosphere  witli  a 
free  circulation  of  air  is  necessary  for  obtaining 
a  good  set  of  fruits.  The  flowers  must  be  care- 
fully pollinated  with  a  rabbit's  tail  to  ensure 
fertilisation. 

As  soon  as  the  fruits  have  set,  disbudding  of 
the  young  shoots  must  be  attended  to,  taking 
care  not  to  leave  them  too  thick  in  the  centre 
of  the  trees  ;  at  a  later  stage  these  shoots  will 
require  stopping.  Shoots  starting  from  the  base 
of  the  fruit-bearing  wood  should  be  encouraged 
and  may  be  pinched  at  the  eighth  pair  of  leaves 
and  other  shoots  at  the  fourth  pair  of  leaves, 
always  taking  the  points  out  of  the  stronger 
growing  shoots  first. 

As  soon  as  the  fruits  are  as  large  as  marbles, 
they  should  be  thinned.  The  temperature  from 
now  until  the  stoning  period  is  over  should  be  55° 
at  night  and  60°  by  day,  with  a  little  top  ventilation 
whenever  the  weather  is  favourable. 

When  stoning  is  completed,  which  will  be  about 
twelve  weeks  from  housing  the  trees,  the  fruits 
should  receive  their  final  thinning.  Young  trees 
in  pots  loins,  to  isins.  in  diameter  will  carry 
twelve  to  eighteen  fruits ;  older  trees  in  pots 
i8ins.  in  diameter  will  carry  three  to  four  dozen 
good  fruits.  The  trees  will  now  benefit  from  a 
light  top-dressing  of  equal  parts  good  loam  and 
horse  droppings,  adding  an  Sin.  pot  of  bonemeal 
to  each  barrow-load  of  compost. 

Cultural  details  from  now  until  the  fruits  com- 
mence ripening  consist  of  giving  the  trees  ample 
supplies  of  water  at  the  root  and  frequent  appli- 
cations of  diluted  liquid  cow-manure  with  a  light 
sprinlding  of  Le  Fruitier  on  the  soil  once  a  week. 
The  trees  should  be  forcibly  syringed  twice  daily, 
finishing  in  the  early  afternoon  to  allow  the 
foliage  to  dry  before  night.  Should  aphis  or 
red  spider  attack  the  trees,  the  house  should  be 
lightly  fumigated. 

When  the  fruits  commence  ripening  s>Tinging 
must  cease  and  the  ventilators  (both  top  and 
bottom)  remain  open  by  night  and  day,  as  the 
admission  of  fresh  air  improves  both  the  colour 
and  the  flavoiu'  of  the  fruits. 

After  the  fruits  are  gathered  the  trees  must 
not  be  neglected,  but  kept  well  watered  and  fed 
to  ripen  up  the  wood  for  producing  tlie  following 
season's  crop.  ^:  ■• 

About  the  middle  of  September  the  trees  should 
either  be  repotted  or  top-dressed,  using  a  compost 
of  five  parts  loam,  one  part  lime  rubble  and  wood 
ashes,  with  a  sprinkling  of  bone-meal. 

After  potting,  place  the  trees  in  their  winter 
quarters,  where  they  can  either  be  plunged  to 
their  rims  in  ashes  or  covered  with  bracken  to 
prevent  the  pots  being  damaged  by  frost. 

Reliable  varieties  of  Peaches  are  Stirling  Castle. 
Dymond,  Peiegrine,  Royal  George,  Kestrel, 
Crimson  Galande.  Nectarines :  Cardinal,  Early 
Rivers,  Elruge,  Pine  Apple  and  Humboldt.  Trees 
treated  as  I  have  recommended  will  continue  to 
give  good  returns  for  a  number  of  years.  Some 
'  in   my  charge   are  nearly  twenty  years   old   and 

annually  produce  good  crops  of  fine  fruit.  Apple, 
Pear.  Plum  and  Cherry  trees  may  be  grown  in  a 
similar  manner,  although  somewhat  cooler  treat- 
ment is  better  for  them,  and  the  end  of  February 
s  early  enough  for  housing  the  trees.     C.  H.  W. 


THE     GARDEN. 


41 


The   Importance   of   Harmony  in   Planting 

The  writer  appeals  for  the  more  effective  massing  of  suitable  platits  rather  than  the 
heterogeneous  medley  too  often  seen. 


k  N  article  in  The  Garden  of  January  14 
/%       emphasises   the  importance  of  contrast 

/  %  in  the  planting  of  trees  and  slirubs.  I 
^~~"%  should  like  to  add  that  "harmony" 
*  ■*•  in  such  planting  is  even  more  important 

and  much  less  commonly  achieved.  I  feel  sure 
the  writer  of  the  article  would  agree  that  the 
"  mixed  shrubbery "  is,  in  at  least  eight  cases 
out  of  ten,  dull  and  without  character,  and  that 
this  is  due  not  to  lack  of  diversity  but  to  the 
excess  of  it.  There  are  too  many  "  contrasts," 
not  too  few,  so  that  the  total  effect  of  the  mixture 
is  merely  monotonous. 

I  have  in  mind  a  large  garden  mostly  consisting 
of  shrubbery  where  all  the  old  dodges,  such  as 
the  backing  of  Acer  Negundo  with  Purple  Beech 
or  Plum,  and  the  introduction  of  upright  conifers 
among  shrubs  of  contrasting  habit,  had  been 
employed  ad  nauseam.  The  result  was  not 
stimulating,  it  was  simply  dull.  There  was  space 
enough  to  have  planted  a  whole  grove  of  snowy 
Mespilus.  a  secret  garden  of  Persian  Lilac,  a 
vallej'full  of  Rosa  polyantha  Thunbergi  or  Berberis 
vulgaris.  Those  would  be  features  one  would 
remember  when  one  came  away  ;  of  the  mixture 
one  remembers  hardly  anything. 

The  trouble  is  due  partly,  I  think,  to  insensitive- 
ness  to  what  is  incongruous,  partly  to  the  desire 
to  get  in  as  many  different  sorts  as  possible. 
Examples  of  insensitiveness — not  to  say  blindness — ■ 
can  be  seen  in  most  of  the  gardens  beside  the 
roads  around  London.  Everywhere  Prunus 
Pissardi  can  be  found  being  made  to  do  its  dreary 
old  trick  of  supplying  contrast,  usually  to  Acer 
Negundo,    Laburnum    and    pink    May.     (It    is    a 


solitary  exotic-looking  clump  of  Bamboo.  Or, 
worst  of  all,  mixed  up  with  the  exquisite  yellow- 
green  of  young  Beech  leaves  one  finds  some 
incongruous  Spruce  or  a  blue  Cedar. 

In  the  article  I  have  referred  to,  dwarf  Junipers 
are  recommended  as  "  particularly  useful  for 
the  contrast  they  afford  to  shrubs  of  more  usual 
habit."  I  cannot  help  thinking,  however,  that 
it  would  be  a  mistaken  use  of  this  advice  if  the 
reader  were  to  associate  Junipers  with  most  of 
the  commoner  flowering  shrubs,  such  as  Phila- 
delphuses,  Deutzias.  Weigelias  and  the  like.  On 
a  half-wild  bank  or  in  a  rocky  or  moorland  place, 
or  in  suitable  woodland.  Junipers  can  look  con- 
gruous and  delightful,  especially  as  a  foil  to  the 
shadowed  greyish  rose  of  Heaths  such  as  Erica 
darleyensis.  But  as  a  contrast  to  most  shrubs 
they  would  generally  look  out  of  place. 

The  desire  to  get  in  as  many  sorts  as  possible 
into  a  limited  space  is,  of  course,  inevitable  for 
every  gardener ;  but  unless  the  desire  is  kept 
severely  in  order  it  will  ruin  the  appearance  of 
every  garden,  save  from  a  botanical  point  of  view. 
Restraint,  economy  of  means,  is  just  as  essential 
in  garden  planting  as  in  painting  or  in  cookery.  As 
a  painter  I  find  that  when  I  see  a  planting  of 
shrubs  I  generally  want  to  sort  out  the  ingredients 
and  to  simplify,  always  to  simplify.  Even  the 
illustration  to  the  article  I  have  quoted,  "  A  well 
arranged  shrubbery  border,"  seems  not  broad 
enough  in  treatment.  It  is  unwise  to  generalise 
on  such  a  subject,  but  perhaps  one  may  safely 
say  that  as  a  general  rule  the  grouping  of  similar 
shrubs  should  predominate  over  the  groupings  of 
dissimilar    ones.     If    one    spends    one's    care    on 


EFFECTIVE    HERBACEOUS    PLANTING.      BOLDLY   CONCEIVED   AND   HARMONIOUSLY   ARRANGED. 


most  difficult  plant  to  use  well,  but  can  be  invalu- 
able if  kept  rather  apart  with  suitable  company, 
such  as  Bocconia  or  Clematis  montana  rubens 
and  the  purple-leaved  Weigela  rosea,  or  with 
grey-blue  flowers  such  as  Echinops  and  Eryn- 
gium.)  Golden  Elder  and  other  so-called  golden 
shrubs  are  used  with  dreadful  frequency  for  giving 
contrast.  In  the  company  of  homely  old  friends 
such  as  Hawthorn  and  Ribes  one  comes  across  a 


bringing  together  those  shrubs  which  have  grey 
leaves  of  congruous  form  and  colour,  one  is  much 
more  likely  to  achieve  a  beautiful  result  than  if 
one  sets  out  deliberately  to  oppose  a  grey  leaf 
to  a  bright  green  one.  Santolina  and  Olearia 
stellulata,  Rosa  rubrifolia  and  Sea  Buckthorn, 
Lavender  and  Perowskia — if  one  begins  with  a 
few  simple  associations  of  similar  colours  such  as 
these,  one  has  a  foundation  on  to  which  the  more 


42 


THE     GARDEN. 


[January  28,  1922. 


exciting  colours  can  be  added  with  full  effect. 
(Red  Valerian,  for  instance,  would  warm  up  the 
Olearias,  Tiger  Lilies  and  Clematis  Flammula 
would  help  the  Buckthorns.)  If  the  whole  frame- 
work of  a  piece  of  shrubbery  consists  of  Sweet 
Bay,  Arbutus  and  Laurustinus,  the  elements 
that  may  be  added — Kerria  japonica  fl.  pi., 
or  Philadelphus  Norma,  or  whatever  they  may 
be — will  stand  a  much  better  chance  of  mak- 
ing a  memorable  effect  than  if  they  had  had  to 


compete     with     the    miscellaneous     "  contrasts " 
of    a    mixed    shrubbery. 

It  would  be  a  dull  garden  that  had  no  contrasts — 
where  nothing  so  bright  as  an  orange  Lily  was 
ever  allowed  near  a  pure  blue  Delphinium,  where 
all  the  colours  were  kept  muted  like  the  pink  of 
Dictamnus,  and  where  everything  grew  exactly 
according  to  a  plan.  But  the  search  for  contrasts 
can  easily  be  overdone,  with  a  result  that  is  not 
stimulating  but  monotonous.  A  Painter. 


A    GARDEN    OF    MEMORIES 

All  our  gardens  are,  to  a  greater  or   lesser  extent,  gardens   of  memories,   though   not 

deliberately  planted  as  such. 


m 


EMORIES  of  the  years  that  have  gone, 
of  the  friends  we  made  and  loved  and 
lost,  of  the  joyous  years  of  our  youth, 
of  the  struggles,  hopes,  fears,  even 
the  joy  of  battle  in  later  life,  but  more 
than  all,  the  memories  of  the  calm  between  the 
storms,  of  the  rest  that  comes  after  the  turmoil 
and  strife  in  the  world  that  lies  beyond  the  green 
confines  of  our  garden  !  A  garden  of  memory  : 
The  term  sounds  like  some  poetic  flight  of  fancy. 
And  yet,  even  in  this  materialistic  age,  when  the 
suppression  of  emotion  is  credited  unto  us  as  the 
evidence  of  strength,  and  sentimental  expressions 
of  regard  for  the  things  that  were  a  betrayal 
of  our  weakness,  is  there  not  something  musical 
in  the  very  words  ?  There  is  an  infinite  tenderness 
in  such  a  conception  that  appeals  to  the  chords 
within  us  that  vibrate  to  all  tlie  joys,  fears,  hopes 
and  sorrows  of  life. 

Indeed,  is  not  every  garden  that  we  have  ever 
known  a  garden  of  memory  ?  The  epic  of  life 
is  written  in  the  gardens  of  our  lives.  Who  is  there 
among  garden  lovers  that  can  forget  their  first 
garden  ?  As  children,  with  tottering  feet,  led 
by  careful  protecting  hands  along  the  smooth 
flower-decked  walks,  and  though  our  steps  were 
uncertain  and  our  language  limited  and  lisping. 
we  searched  with  eyes  alight  for  some  new  jewel 
of  colour.  We  worshipped  colour  in  those  days. 
and  it  is  a  primeval  instinct  that  we  have  never 
lost.  We  were  not  shown  the  garden  in  the  days 
of  long  ago,  for  it  was  we  who  conducted  the  little 
procession  of  our  admirers,  and  made  them  pause 
by  our  imperial  gestures,  and  baby  lispings,  as 
we  called  attention  to  the  things  that  attracted  us. 
The  newest  and  rarest  flower  in  the  garden  had  no 
attraction  for  us,  but  in  the  crimson  glow  of  a  big 
red  Paeony  we  found  something  we  could  under- 
stand sufficiently  to  wonder  at.  This  is  the  real  joy 
of  the  garden,  to  wonder  at  what  we  see  therein : 

**  Flower  in  a  craimied  wall, 
I  pluck  you  out  of  the  crannies, 
I  hold  you  here  root  and  all,  in  my  hand, 
Little  flower — but  if  I  could  understand 
What  you  are,  root  and  all,  and  all  in  all, 
I  should  know  what  God  and  man  is." 

But  first  it  was  the  colour  instinct  that  attracted 
us,  and  all  through  the  years  it  has  been  with  us — • 
the  sensuous  delight  in  colour  that  has  been  our 
greatest  incentive  to  gardening. 

A  few  years  later,  and  the  garden  became  our 
playground.  And  what  a  fairyland  it  was. 
Every  purple-shadowed  Yew,  and  every  dim  recess 
in  the  adjoining  woodland  where  "  the  garden 
meets  the  wild,"  was  a  giant's  cave  or  an  ogre's 
castle,  which,  as  the  evening  shadows  deepened,  our 
imaginations  peopled  with  impossible  monsters. 
Sometimes  we,  fearing,  yet  timidly  braved  the 
unknown  and  ventured  our  steps  within  the  dismal 
precincts.       Wlio      knows      what      awe-inspiring 


creatures  we  did  not  expect  to  find  there  ?  Per- 
chance it  was  there  that  we  learnt  the  elements 
of  that  courage  that  should  stand  us  in  good  stead 
in  the  greater,  but  not  more  real,  adventures  of 
after  life. 

The  flowers  were  fairies  to  us  in  those  days, 
fairies  to  whom  we  talked  and  who  talked  to  us 
in  a  language  we  understood  quite  well,  but  have 
since  forgotten.  The  glowing  petals  were  but 
the  royal  habiliments  of  our  queens  and  princesses, 
and  the  dewdrops  but  their  jewels.  The  stately 
Lilies  were  the  queens ;  a  multicoloured  host  of 
courtiers  in  the  form  of  Roses  attended  them,  w-hile 
all  around  a  noble  army  of  blue  guards  in  the  form 
of  Larkspurs  protected  their  royal  presence. 

Again  the  years  rolled  on,  and  we  carried  every 
image  from  the  schoolroom  into  the  garden. 
Those  stories  of  the  departed  great  had  but  an 
indefinite  meaning  to  us  within  four  walls.  Here 
we  found  something  tangible  to  which  we  could 
attach  their  names  and  stories.  A  purple  Monks- 
hood became  our  Cjesar,  a  scarlet  Lychnis  our 
Ajax  in  defiance,  and  a  Lily  taller  and  fairer 
than  its  fellows  our  Cleopatra,  and  in  the  little 
dramas  enacted  around  her  we  found  a  counterpart 
for  Antony  and  Pompey ;  yes,  and  for  every 
character  in  history,  mythology  and  romance, 
and  in  the  marshalled  hosts  of  the  flower-de-luce 
we  saw  the  banners  of  France  leading  an  army 
to  drain  its  lifeblood  on  eastern  sands,  in  perhaps 
a  fruitless,  but  nevertheless,  noble  crusade. 

And  then,  still  later,  the  garden  became  our 
rendezvous,  its  retired  sanctuaries  the  meeting 
places  of  friends  and  lovers.  In  its  shadow- 
checked  ways  we  discussed  the  things  that  were 
serious  to  us  then,  and  its  knarled  and  storm- 
twisted  boughs  became  the  recipients  of  many 
confidences.  In  that  old  garden  many  a  friendship 
was  formed,  some  that  would  last  us  through  life — a 
life  of  which  the  sunlight  striking  through  the  trees 
was  emblematic,  in  the  carpet  of  light  and  shade 
it  cast  at  our  feet. 

Again,  in  later  life,  when,  after  the  toil  and  stress 
of  the  work  of  the  day,  the  evening  shadows  on 
the  mottled  sward  are  infinitely  pleasant,  and  once 
again  we  wander  with  a  new  interest  the  paths 
trodden  so  often  before.  The  interest  now  is  as 
far  removed  from  that  of  our  first  wonder  as  we 
are  from  what  we  were  then.  And  just  in  pro- 
portion as  our  capacity  for  suffering  has  increased, 
so  our  capacity  for  enjoyment  has  grown  for  the 
pleasures  that  the  garden  now  affords.  The 
garden  is  now  to  us  a  place  of  repose  and  recreation. 
The  childhood  imagery  has  given  place  to  the 
worship  of  pure  beauty,  but  if  we  are  fortunate 
it  has  never  entirely  left  us.  The  denizens  of  the 
garden  are  no  longer  princesses  or  jewels,  but  are 
still  symbolic  of  them,  though  they  are  now  some- 
thing better  than  either.  For  as  we  progress  along 
the  way  we  find  that  our  princesses  are  not  always 
true,  and  our  jewels  are  often  sham,  but  the  flowers 


come  to  us  new  and  pure  with  each  passing  day. 
Emblems  they  still  remain,  of  every  charm  the 
world  contains,  and  the  fairest  of  all  its  products. 
Throughout  all  poetry,  romance  or  mythology 
there  exists  no  standard  of  beauty  higher  than  that 
of  flowers  and  no  symbol  that  has  been  so 
frequently  employed  througliout  the  ages.  And  so 
after  the  day  of  strife  the  garden  becomes  our  rest 
and  entertainment — "  Not  in  the  busy  world,  nor 
quite  beyond  it  " 

Again,  the  immutable  years  move  on,  and  the 
impulses,  ambitions  and  dreams  of  youth  are 
gone,  and  their  place  is  taken  by  the  memories, 
regrets  and  reminiscences  of  the  days  that  are  no 
more.  Friends  %ve  have  known,  some  dear  to  us, 
some  that,  like  ships  at  sea,  speak  and  pass  on  their 
way,  and  some  that  were  intimate  parts  of  our  lives 
and  ourselves.  Still,  to  us  the  garden  shall  remain 
a  harbom"  of  refuge — its  "  smooth  alleys  for  aged 
feet,"  its  sunny,  sheltered  resting  places  when  the 
spring  or  autumn  air  is  cool,  and  the  deepening 
shadows  in  its  leafy  shades,  or  as  the  summer 
sun  sinks  low,  shall  have  each  their  turn  in  our 
desires.  More  than  ever,  then,  it  will  become  our 
garden  of  memories.  Each  subtle  fragrance 
diffused  on  the  still  evening  air  will  have  its  power 
over  our  senses  and  transport  us  back  along  the 
river  of  time  to  the  days  of  long  ago.  Nothing 
is  so  potent  to  recall  the  episodes  of  the  past  as 
the  odours  of  a  garden,  and  though  you  walk  in  the 
busiest  mart  of  the  busiest  city  of  the  world  the 
breath  of  Lily  of  the  Valley,  Violet  or  Wild  Rose 
will  call  up  before  your  eyes  a  panorama  of  events 
in  which  you  played  your  part.  And  is  not  the  cry 
of  humanity :  "  From  battle  and  murder  and 
sudden  death  deliver  us,"  so  that  when  our  feet 
can  no  longer  falter  along  the  well-worn  paths, 
and  we  leave  for  ever  the  bowers  and  pleasaunces, 
we  may  find  our  rest  at  last  in  God's  Acre  of 
garden. 

Is  there,  then,  anything  absurd  in  the  plea  for  a 
garden  of  memories  ?  A  garden  wherein  each 
plant  or  tree  or  shrub  shall  be  a  record  of  some 
event,  either  in  our  own  lives  or  in  the  lives  of 
our  friends.  In  it  many,  many  things  we  love 
for  their  own  sakes  would  have  a  place.  There 
would,  of  course,  be  Rosemary  for  remembrance 
of  one  who  went  forth  to  fight  the  battles  of  the 
world,  and  of  whom  nothing  is  left  to  us  but — 
a  memory.  Forget-me-not  for  those  whom  duty 
called  to  the  uttermost  ends  of  the  earth  and  who 
throughout  the  long  years  have  left  with  us  nothing 
but  a  memory  of  all  they  were  to  us.  Traveller's 
Joy  would  indicate  the  visit  of  one  who  came, 
and  for  a  brief  space  filled  our  lives  with  his  presence 
and  went  on  his  way.  Purging  Thorn  would 
record  the  time  when  we  had  fallen  short  in  the 
call  of  friendship,  and  one  we  wished  to  keep 
within  our  own  circle  had  ceased  to  be,  and  we 
knew  it  was  because  we  had  not  come  up  to  the 
exalted  standard  of  hospitality  or  friendship 
demanded.  Heart's  Ease  for  the  day  when  we 
laid  to  rest  that  tiny  fragment  of  humanity  whom 
we  knew  as  Goldilocks.  Passion  Flower  would 
record  the  great  event  in  the  life  of  our  youth. 
Jasmine  would  be  there  because  it  was  while  its 
odour  filled  the  midnight  air  we  leaned  from  our 
window  and  thought  of  the  triumph  of  the  day 
that  had  gone.  Musk,  because  its  perfume  would 
remind  us  of  that  evening  when  something  happened 
that  turned  the  course  of  our  life.  Flower-of-an- 
hour  would  take  us  back  to  the  day  when  all  our 
hopes  and  ambitions  were  concentrated  on  a  single 
cast  of  fortune,  and  it  failed  us,  and  the  world  went 
dark  for  a  space.  Then  there  would  be  the  plants 
that  had  been  given  us  by  friends  because  they 
loved  them.  We  should  ask  of  all  we  knew,  his, 
or  her,  favourite  flower,  and  plant  it  in  memory. 
Many  others  there  would  be,  and  all  would  be  there 
because — well,     just     "  because."     A     garden    o 


January  28,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


43 


memories,  memories  of  friends,  of  places  we  have 
kuon-n  and  loved,  records  of  events  in  our  lives  told 
in  the  spirit  language  of  flowers. 

Nor  need  it  be  a  garden  without  delight  for  its 
o\vn  sake.  All  the  joys  of  a  garden  can  be  there, 
but  it  shall  be  redolent  with  the  fragrances  of  the 


almost  forgotten  past ;  its  walks  shall  be  peopled 
with  the  souls  of  the  absent,  and  its  every  corner 
shall  be  filled  with  our  thoughts,  actions 
and  associations ;  in  fact,  it  shall  be  to  us 
what  our  inmost  mind  is  now,  a  garden  of 
memory.  Rainbow. 


The    Cattleyas    and    Allied    Genera 

The  following  notes  should  be  very  ttseful  to  the  many  gardeners  who  have  the  smallest 
knowledge  of  Orchid  cultivation. 


u 


NDER  this  heading  will  be  found  the 
most  gorgeous  and  beautiful  members  of 
the  great  Orchid  family,  and  in  many 
collections  they  are  represented  by 
thousands  of  species  and  hybrids. 
Taking  the  genus  Cattleya  first,  and  confining 
ourselves    for   the   moment    to   pure   species    and 


Gothard  and  a  host  of  others.  A  group  that  finds 
favour  with  many  is  the  outcome  of  using  the 
small  flowered  and  more  highly  coloured  Laelias  with 
certain  Cattleyas.  The  individual  flowers  are  on 
the  small  side,  but  this  deficiency  in  size  is  atoned 
for  in  the  number  of  blooms  upon  a  spike,  while  the 
colours  are  brighter  and,  consequently,  more  attrac- 


THE    BEAUTIFUL    AND     FRAGRANT    L^LIO-CATTLEYA    GOLDEN    GLOW    WHICH   RECEIVED 
A   FIRST-CLASS   CERTIFICATE   FROM   R.H.S.    IN    1 92 1. 


varieties  thereof,  we  find  enough  material  to 
furnish  a  display  throughout  the  year.  In  the 
Labiata  section  of  Cattleya  we  have  such  noble 
species  as  C.  Mossiae,  C.  MendeUi,  C.  Trianse.  C, 
Warscewiczii,  and  the  superb  C.  aurea  and  the 
closely  allied  C.  Dowiana.  Other  species  include 
C-  Bowringiana,  C.  intermedia  and  C.  Loddigesii. 
The  hybrids  embrace  a  wonderful  series  of  fine 
plants  if  judged  from  the  decorative  standpoint. 
C.  Iris,  C.  Hardyana,  C.  Rhoda,  C.  Maggie  Raphael. 
a  delightful  winter-flowering  hybrid,  C.  Mantinii, 
C.  fulvescens,  and  C.  Empress  Frederick  are 
decided  acquisitions.  The  genus  Lalia  does  not 
contain  many  noteworthy  species,  and  perhaps 
the  best  is  L.  purpurata,  followed  closely  by  L. 
tenebrosa.  The  Lselias  and  Cattleyas  freely  inter- 
cross, and  the  progeny  is  known  as  LaeUo-cattleya. 
One  of  the  first  bi-generic  hybrids  to  flower  was 
L.-c.  Dominiana,  derived  from  C.  aurea  and  L. 
purpurata,  and  it  is  still  in  the  front  rank  to-day. 
Other  hybrids  belonging  to  this  group  are  L.-c. 
bletchleyensis,     caUistoglossa,     Canhamiana,     St. 


tive.  Typical  of  this  group  are  Golden  Oriole, 
Goldfinch  and  Goldcrest. 

A  plant  that  has  played  an  important  part  in 
Orchid  hybridisation  is  Brassavola  Digbyana,  its 
chief  characteristic  being  the  broad,  open,  heavily 
fringed  lip.  This  feature  has  been  reproduced 
more  or  less  in  all  its  hybrids,  and  now  we  have  a 
fine  group  of  Orchids  with  massive  petals,  large, 
open-fringed  Ups,  and  beautiful  combinations  of 
colours  which  are  absent  in  the  Brassavola  parent. 
Another  plant  that  has  been  employed  largely  is 
the  brilliant  scarlet  Sophronitis  grandiflora,  and 
there  are  many  hybrids  approaching  the  size  of 
ordinary  Cattleyas.  while  still  retaining  much  of 
the  brilliance  of  the  Sophronitis.  The  Sophro- 
cattleyas  are  real  gems,  they  are  not  so  easily 
grown  as  some  Orchids  but  there  is  nothing  really 
difficult  about  them,  and  the  observant,  intelligent 
cultivator  will  be  able  to  grow  them  successfully. 

Cattleyas  and  their  allies  may  be  grown  with 
other  plants  in  the  stove,  bnt  if  a  fair  number  are 
cultivated,  then  a  house  or  division  must  be  set 


apart  for  their  accommodation.  The  temperature 
should  be  from  55°  to  60°  in  winter,  and  from  60° 
to  70°  in  summer ;  the  latter  figure  can  safely  be  ex- 
ceeded with  sun  heat.  Throughout  the  dull  period 
cf  the  year  the  plants  will  need  all  the  light  possible, 
so  the  roof  glass  must  be  kept  clean  both  inside 
and  out. 

During  the  spring  and  summer  months  a  certain 
amount  of  shade  will  be  necessary,  and  blinds  ought 
always  to  be  used  in  preference  to  any  permanent 
shadmg  When  the  weather  is  bright  the  blinds 
should  be  lowered  before  the  leaves  become  warm, 
and  rolled  up  again  sufficiently  early  for  the  sun  to 
raise  the  temperature  10°  or  so.  Ventilation  is  an 
important  item,  and  a  close,  stuffy  atmosphere  must 
be  avoided  by  admitting  air  on  all  favourable 
occasions.  The  bottom  ventilators  running  parallel 
with  the  hot-water  pipes  may  be  open  the  greater 
part  of  the  year,  even  throughout  the  night.  With 
the  top  ventilators  discretion  must  be  used,  and  the 
season  taken  into  consideration  to  prevent  cold 
currents  of  air  passing  immediately  over  the  plants. 
A  moist  atmosphere  is  maintained  by  sprinkling 
water  on  the  floor  and  stages  twice  or  thrice  daUy, 
but  this  applies  to  very  dry  and  hot  weather,  and 
at  other  times  once  a  day  is  often  enough.  Any 
damping  down  should  always  be  carried  out  with 
a  rising,  and  not  a  falling,  temperature.  Excessive 
moisture  and  a  low  temperature  are  usually  the 
cause  of  the  black  spot  disease.  Various  composts 
have  been  tried  for  Cattleyas,  and  undoubtedly 
the  best  rooting  medium  is  osmuuda  fibre  three 
parts,  and  sphagnum  moss  one  part.  The 
former  is  cut  up  into  inch  lengths,  and  the  latter 
is  cleansed  of  all  foreign  matter,  and  washed  if 
needed. 

The  time  to  repot  is  often  a  puzzle  to  the 
beginner,  and  plants  are  frequently  ruined  because 
they  are  repotted  in  the  spring  irrespective  of 
whether  they  are  growing  or  at  rest.  ^Vith  a 
collection  some  plants  will  need  attention  at 
intervals  throughout  the  year,  and  the  proper 
time  to  rfpot  is  when  roots  appear  at  the  base 
of  the  new  pseudo-bulb.  In  some  cases  new  roots 
are  seen  soon  after  growth  berins,  while  with  other 
plants  the  pseudr-bulbs  will  le  nearly  completed. 
The  grower  should  always  wait  for  them,  and,  more- 
over, any  repotting  should  be  done  before  they 
elongate  to  any  extent  to  prevent  injury  when 
providing  fresh  soil. 

Having  selected  a  plant,  it  is  turned  out  of  its 
pot,  the  old  decayed  soil  removed,  and  dead  roots 
cut  off,  while  the  back  pseudo  bulbs  are  reduced  to 
three  or  four  behind  each  lead  or  growing  point. 
Ordinary  flower  pots  are  chosen,  and  filled  one- 
fourth  of  their  depth  with  drainage  material. 
Over-potting  must  be  guarded  against,  and,  as  a 
general  rule,  enough  space  should  be  left  for  three 
additional  pseudo- bulbs.  The  compost  is  made 
firm,  and  brought  up  level  with  the  rim  of  the 
receptacle,  being  neatly  trimmed  off  with  a  pair  of 
large  scissors.  Newly  potted  plants  need  careful 
watering  ;  the  soil  should  be  kept  just  moist  to 
encourage  root  action,  and  if  the  weather  is  bright, 
a  little  extra  shade  wiU  be  needed  for  a  few  weeks, 
and  a  hght  spray  overhead  will  be  beneficial.  Rain 
water  ought  to  be  used,  and  it  should  be  made 
tepid  during  the  winter  months.  Established 
specimens  that  have  not  been  disturbed  will  take 
a  copious  supply  of  water  while  growing  freely, 
but  when  the  pseudo-bulbs  are  fully  developed 
a  less  quantity  wiU  suffice  to  keep  the  plants  in 
a  plump  and  rigid  condition.  Thrips  wlU  be  present 
occasionally,  and  directly  they  are  noticed  the 
house  must  be  vaporised  wth  some  reliable  fumi- 
gant.  Scale  insects  are  removed  with  an  old 
tooth-brush  and  sponge,  but  in  a  healthy  collection 
they  rarely  make  their  appearance. 

If  it  is  desired  to  increase  the  stock  of  any 
particular  plant,  the  pseudo  bulbs  removed  at  the 


44 


THE     GARDEN. 


[January  28,  1922, 


time  of  repotting  may  be  employed  for  propagating 
purposes,  riace  them  in  small  pots  with  plenty  of 
small  crocks  and  a  little  soil  on  the  surface  ;  a 
stake  will  be  needed  to  hold  them  in  position. 
Arrange  the  pots  in  a  shady  comer  at  the  warmest 
end  of  the  house,  and  when  a  growth   is  formed 


re-pot  each  piece  in  the  same  way  as  you  would  an 
established  plant.  There  is  no  reason  why  any 
grower  with  an  average  intelligence  and  a  love  for 
plants,  should  not  succeed  with  Cattleyas.  Thfy 
are  as  easily  managed  as  ordinary  greenhouse 
plants.  T.  W.  B. 


THE   FIRST    SHOW   OF   THE    YEAR 


THE  Royal  Horticultural  Society  has 
made  a  good  start  with  the  fortnightly 
meetings  at  Vincent  Square,  for  on 
January  17  there  was  quite  a  pleasing 
variety,  much  more  than  the  cold  and 
bleak  weather  would  have  led  one  to  expect. 

From  a  floral  point  of  view  it  was  the  Carnations 
that  held  the  eye,  and  these  were  shown  by  such 
regular  exhibitors  as  Messrs.  Allwood  Brothers, 
Mr.  C.  Englemann  and  Messrs.  Stuart  Low  and 
Co.  Time  was,  and  not  so  long  ago,  when  Lord 
Lambourne,  the  present  President  of  the  R.H.S., 
often  sent  an  exhibit  of  high  quality  from  his 
gardens  at  Bishop's  Hall,  Romford,  and  it  may, 
perhaps,  be  considered  an  augury  for  the  future 
that  on  the  present  occasion  Lord  Lambourne 
was  awarded  a  silver  Flora  medal  for  a  valuable 
collection  of  Carnations.  The  principal  varieties 
of  Carnation  to  be  seen  were  the  new  American 
Laddie  and  Topsy,  with  Edward  Allwood,  Mary 
Allwood,  Saffron,  Cupid,  Wivelsfield  Claret, 
Wivelsfield  White  and  Carola  of  the  Perpetuals, 
and  Mrs.  C.  F.  Raphael  of  the  Perpetual  Malmaisons. 
Besides  Carnations,  Messrs.  Stuart  Low  and 
Co.  had  a  dozen  or  so  little  pot  plants  of  the  ever- 
welcome  Daphne  indica  rubra,  which,  even  on 
so  cold  a  day,  were  deliciously  fragrant. 

Messrs.  Stuart  Low  and  Co.  showed  very  good 
plants  of  Azalea  indica  in  variety,  a  useful  plant 
which  was  also  exhibited  by  Messrs.  L.  R.  Russell, 
Limited,  though  their  few  examples  of  such  un- 
common Bromeliads  as  Tillandsia  Lindenii  and 
Vriesia  splendens  major  attracted  more  attention 
on  account  of  their  quaint,  yet  showy  flower-spikes. 
A  delightfully  artistic  effect  was  made  by 
Messrs.  Carter  and  Co.  with  a  quantity  of  the  rich 
blue  Iris  tingitana  in  uncommon  receptacles.  Iris 
histrioides,  another  early  species,  was  to  be  seen 
near  a  few  pots  of  Christmas  Roses  in  the  stand 
by  Mr.  G.  Reuthe ;  but  for  the  earliest  real  spring 
flowers  one  had  to  turn  to  the  exhibit  by  Messrs. 
R.  Wallace  and  Co.,  who  had  Crocuses  of  the 
most  dainty  appearance  imaginable.  These  were 
of  such  true  species  as  C.  biflorus,  C.  Imperati 
and  C.  Susianus.  There  was  just  one  pot  of  the 
earliest  Daffodil  and  some  of  the  varieties  of  Erica 
carnea  which  flower  before  the  type.  Winter 
Beauty,  Thomas  Kingscote  and  Queen  of  Spain 
are  all  attractive,  but  not  so  floriferous  as  King 
George,  which  received  an  award  of  merit. 

What  must  reaUy  be  the  last  Chrj-santhemums 
of  the  season  were  shown  by  Mr.  S.  Aish,  and  these 
were  useful  blooms  of  Nagoya  (a  rich  yellow). 
Winter  Cheer  (rosy  mauve)  and  The  Favourite 
(white). 

A  rather  nice  little  rock  garden  was  built  by 
Messrs.  William  Cutbush  and  Sons  and  planted 
with  dwarf  shrubs  and  suitable  alpines.  Messrs. 
Skelton  and  Kirby  also  had  a  small  rockery, 
while  Mr.  C.  Dixon  made  a  neat  model  of  a  rock 
garden  adjoining  a  sunk  garden. 

Orchids  were  not  numerous,  but  besides  the 
usual  novelties  "  up  for  award,"  there  were  collec- 
tions by  Messrs.  Sander  and  Son  and  Messrs. 
Stuart  Low  and  Co.  The  former  had  an  excellent 
plant  of  the  graceful  white  Vanda  Watsoni, 
which  received  a  cultural  commendation,  and 
some    beautiful    Cypripediums,    Cymbidiums    and 


Odontoglossuras.  In  the  collection  by  Messrs. 
Stuart  Low  and  Co.  there  jvere  many  interesting 
Laelias  and  Brasso-cattleyas. 

Among  the  exhibits  of  paintings  and  preserves 
there  were  some  vases  of  Ornithogalum  lactcum 
which  were  given  their  Zulu  name  of  Chinlie- 
richees.  These  had  travelled  from  South  Africa 
in  cold  storage,  and  will  continue  to  open  their 
flower-buds  if  properly  attended  to.  Mr.  R.  A. 
Malby  had  some  of  his  most  beautiful  photographic 
transparencies  of  specimen  flowers,  fruits  and 
garden  scenes. 

Fruits  and  vegetables  were  better  represented 
than  is  usually  the  case  in  January.  Messrs. 
George  Bunyard  and  Co.  contributed  a  gold  medal 
collection  of  wonderfully  good  Apples.  There 
were  seventy-five  dishes,  and  each  was  unusually 
good.  The  fruits  were  firm',  well  shaped,  and 
many  possessed  even  higher  colour  than  those 
Messrs.  Bunyard  had  at  the  Autumn  Fruit  Show. 
Some  of  the  most  brilliant  varieties  were  Wealthy, 
William  Crump,  Rougemont,  Scarlet  Hollandbury, 
Mother  and  Baumann's  Red  Winter  Reinette. 

Sir  Charles  Nail-Cain  sent  from  The  Node, 
Welwyn,  a  handsome  collection  of  Apples  and 
Pears.  Among  the  Pears  we  noted  Uvedale's 
St.  Germain,  Josephine  de  Malines,  Beurre 
Alexander  Lucas  and  Bcllissime  d'Hiver.  The 
dessert  Apples  included  Cox's  Pomona,  Cox's 
Orange,  Paroquet,  Claygate  Pearmain,  Blenheim 
Orange  and  Adams'  Pearmain.  This  valuable 
collection  received  a  silver-gilt  Knightian  medal. 

The  vegetables  were  from  Messrs.  Sutton  and 
Sons,  and  were  of  the  high  quality  associated 
with  the  Reading  firm.  The  very  handsome 
Leeks,  Sutton's  Ar  Kale,  Couve  Tronchuda, 
forced  Dandelion  and  Chicory,  Potatoes  and 
Onions  were  all  excellent. 

NEW     AND    RARE    PLANTS. 

Erica  carnea  King  George. — This  variety 
differs  from  the  species  in  that  it  is  more  compact 
in  habit  and  flowers  earlier.  It  is  one  of  the 
several  varieties  collected  in  Switzerland  some  time 
back  by  Mr.  Potter,  but  has  until  now  not  received 
recognition.  It  was  said  that  the  specimen  shown 
had  been  in  flower  since  last  September  and  it 
will  continue  in  bloom  for  a  considerable  time  to 
come.  It  has  something  of  the  habit  of  E.  carnea 
alba.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs.  R.  Wallace 
and  Co. 

Hamamelis    japonica    rubra.— An   interesting 

deeper-coloured  variety,  but  not  so  showy  as 
Hamamelis  mollis,  though  a  decided  improvement 
on  the  type.  Shown  by  Messrs.  R.  Wallace  and 
Co. 

Chrysanthemum  Harlow  Bronze.— if  only 
for  its  lateness,  this  medium-sized  Japanese 
variety  will  be  valuable.  It  is  also  brightly 
coloured,  the  bronze  having  a  rosy  sheen.  Shown 
by  Messrs.  Keith  Luxford  and  Co. 

Primula  sinensis  varieties. — There  were  several 
good  sorts  before  the  Committee.  Queen  of  the 
Pinks  is  a  bright  semi-double  variety.  Giant  White 
has  stellata  habit,  and  the  pure  white  flowers 
have  plenty  of  substance.  Monarch  is  a  rich 
self  crimson  variety.  All  were  shown  by 
Messrs.  Sutton  and  Sons. 


Winter  Irises  at  Glasnevin 

THERE  has  been  an  unusually  fine  display 
of  all  varieties  of  Iris  unguicularis  this 
season,  and  many  readers  of  The  Garde.v 
have  recorded  instances  of  early  flower- 
ing. I  send  you  blooms  in  the  bud 
stage  of  four  distinct  varieties. 

Iris  unguicularis  spcciosa  is  always  the  first 
to  show  buds  here.  In  colour  it  is  a  much  paler 
blue  than  I.  u.  marginata  and  is  more  slender 
and  graceful  in  shape.  It  is  a  native  of  Algiers. 
I.  u.  Imperatrice  Elizabetta  has  narrow  foliage  ; 
the  flowers  are  of  a  lilac  tint,  the  falls  broad  with 
a  large  white  blotch  lined  with  darker  lilac  border  ; 
it  has  a  "claw-like"  expression.  It  flowers 
freely  ;  this  season  it  has  not  been  a  single  day 
without  blooms  since  the  middle  of  October. 

Very  different  in  habit  is  I.  u.  Lazica,  named 
from  Lazitan,  the  district  in  which  it  was  found 
on  the  shores  of  the  south-eastern  corner  of  the 
Black  Sea ;  its  creeping  rhizome  and  broad 
foliage  more  distinctly  ensiform,  as  opposed  to 
linear,  than  that  of  any  other  form.  The  colour 
is  a  dark  purple,  the  veining  being  more  marked 
than  that  usually  seen  on  the  Algerian  plants. 
It  is  the  latest  of  the  family  to  open  in  this  garden  ; 
its  flowers  are  usually  borne  on  short  stems  and 
are  much  admired,  and  desired  by  slugs. 

I.  u.  speciosa  alba  is  very  attractive ;  the 
clear  yellow  blotch  on  the  fall  being  like  a  golden 
eye.  The  fragrance  resembles  that  of  Primroses. 
I.  u.  marginata  has  no  flowers  open  to-day. 
It  is  deeper  in  colour  and  larger  than  I.  u.  speciosa. 
It  is  the  form  most  frequently  seen  in  Irish 
gardens. 

Early  in  January  Iris  u.  cretensis  began  to 
flower.  It  was  so  distinct  in  colour,  shape  and 
size  from  the  other  varieties  that  "  The  Genus  Iris  " 
was  taken  off  the  shelf  to  make  all  things  plain 
to  us.  It  is  a  brave,  not  to  say  foolish,  person 
who  unsheaths  his  or  her  pen  in  argument  with 
Mr.  Dykes.  However,  the  distance  between 
Vincent  Square  and  Glasnevin  is  great,  and,  more 
comforting  still,  Mr.  Dykes  will  probably  not 
see  these  notes,  so  I  boldly  venture  not  to  criticise 
botanical  descriptions,  but  to  describe  this  Iris 
as  it  grows  here,  and  as  it  is  seen  by  a  gardener's 
eye  and  not  that  of  a  botanist.  I  will  quote  from 
Mr.  Dykes'  noble  book :  "  There  seems  to  be  no 
good  reason  for  separating  the  Greek  (I.  cretensis) 
and  Asia  Minor  forms  of  this  Iris  from  the  Algerian 
plant  (I.  unguicularis)  as  a  distinct  species.  When 
Janka  first  described  his  Iris  cretensis  he  was  so 
intent  on  showing  that  it  was  not  I.  humilis,  a 
plant  from  the  Caucasus  under  which  name  Sieber 
had  wrongly  identified  his  specimens  from  Crete, 
that  he  altogether  forgot  to  mention  I.  unguicu- 
laris. In  any  case  he  would  have  probably  found 
it  difficult  to  give  any  differentia  beyond  mere 
size  by  which  to  separate  his  I.  cretensis  from 
I.  unguicularis.  It  is  undoubtedly  true  that  the 
Greek  plant  is  smaller  than  the  Algerian,  but  the 
two  agree  in  possessing  so  many  characters  that 
are  peculiar  to  them  among  Irises  that  they  cannot 
reasonably  be  separated." 

The  plant  of  Iris  u.  cretensis  in  this  garden  is 
abundantly  distinct :  of  close  tufted  habit ; 
long,  narrow  leaves ;  the  flowers  of  a  firm  texture  ; 
falls  large,  very  dark  blue,  not  pointed ;  a  well 
marked  yellow  obtuse  patch  in  the  centre,  netted 
with  white  ribs  marked  at  end  of  the  patch  by 
a  semicircle  of  darker  blue  which  separates  the 
variated  lined  portion  of  the  fall  from  the  uniform 
colour.  Of  the  apical  portion  the  standards 
are  distinctly  reddish  at  the  base  to  half  way  up. 
Upper  part  broadly  wedge-shaped,  much  broader 
than  in  the  type,  recurving,  so  that  the  whole 
flower  has  a  much  flatter,  larger  appearance  than 
1.    unguicularis.     The    red    bases    and    very   pale 


January  28,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


45 


blue  styles,  deeply  lobed,  add  to    the    difference. 

Mr.  Dykes  says  I.  u.  speciosa  in  his  experience 
does  not  come  into  flower  untU  March  and  is  of  a 
deep  reddish  shade  of  purple.  Here,  as  I  have 
already  said,  it  is  the  earliest  to  flower  and  the 
palest  blue  of  all. 

The  plants  of  I.  unguicularis  speciosa,  I.  u. 
Imperatrice  Elizabetta,  I.  u.  marginata  and 
I.  u.  alba  were  bought  from  Dammann  of  Naples 


thirty   years   ago.     The   plant   of   I.    u.    cretensis 
came  from  Bitton. — W.    Phyllis   Moore. 

[The  flowers  Lady  Moore  sent  bore  out  her 
contention  that  Iris  cretensis  is,  to  the  eye  of  a 
lajTnan.  very  different  to  any  of  the  recognised 
unguicularis  forms,  but  it  is  equally  obviously 
closely  related  botanically.  Species  or  sub- 
species, it  is  unquestionably  a  very  charming 
plant. — ^Ed.] 


CORRESPONDENCE 


AN    INTERXATIONAL    EXHIBITION. 

■p  RESH  from  the  hospitality  and  enthusiasm 
which  signalised  the  proceedings  of  the  last 
International  Show — I  mean  the  one  at  Le  Mans — 
and  also  having  been  present  at  many  others, 
I  read  the  paragraph  on 
page  13  with  much  interest. 
I  do  not  think  the  writer 
fully  realises  what  is 
necessary  to  be  done  to 
organise  an  international 
horticultural  show  here 
in  London  in  1923 — that 
is  to  say,  a  show  worthy 
of  our  great  city.  The 
last  one  took  about  two 
3"ears'  constant  and  con- 
tinuous work  of  the  Com- 
mittee, which  subsequently 
became  the  Board  of 
Directors.  Probably  much 
of  the  machinery  still 
exists ;  certainly  most  of 
the  active  workers  are  still 
with  us,  although  death 
has  removed  some,  notably 
that  splendid  chairman, 
Mr.  Gurney  Fowler,  the 
like  of  whom  it  would  be 
difficult  to  find  again. 
Another  point  of  great 
importance  is  not  to  clash 
with  big  Continental  in- 
ternational horticultural 
shows,  and  there  will  cer- 
tainly shortly  be  two  to 
deal  with,  viz.,  the  next 
Ghent  Quinquennial  and 
the  next  Paris  Interna- 
tional. Those  of  us  who 
remember  the  London 
Royal  International  Horti- 
cultural Exhibition  of  1912 
do  not  forget  the  large 
empty  area  in  the  section 
provided  for  Belgian  horti- 
culture—the chief  reason  FLOWERS  OF 
of    %vhich    was    that    the 

Belgians  had  already  made  preparations  for  the 
Ghent  Quinquennial  of  1913  and  could  not  spare 
the  material  to  fill  the  space  allotted  to  them 
as  the  Dutch  and  the  French  did  in  theirs.  If 
the  Belgians  do  not  allow  the  war  period  to  count, 
1923  is  the  year  due  for  the  next  Ghent  Quin- 
quennial, but  at  present  it  does  not  appear  to  have 
been  announced. — C.  H.   P. 

THE   CULTURE   OF  A  NEGLECTED 

RACE  OF  PL.\NTS. 

'J'HAN'  the  wonderful  Tiger  Flowers  (Tigridia) 
there  is  nothing  more  brilliant.  Their  colour 
combinations  are  as  daring  as  anything  in  nature. 
Intense  crimson,  scarlet,  yellow,  purple,  orange, 
blue  and  white  in  practically  endless  combination 


appear,  and  though  the  flowers  individually  are 
ephemeral,  by  way  of  compensation  they  are  pro^ 
duced  in  succession  over  a  long  period.  They  are 
especially  good  for  the  boxes  of  sunny  windows 
to   breakfast   rooms    or    any   room    that    is    only 


THE    HANDSOME    TIGRIDIA    PAVONIA. 

occupied  during  the  first  half  of  the  day.'^as  the 
magnificent  flowers  are  at  their  best  imtil  eleven 
o'clock.  Culturally  they  are  very  easy  to  manage, 
simply  requiring  a  light,  rich  soil  and  a  warm,'  very 
sunny  position.  In  boxes,  or  where  a  special 
compost  can  be  given  them,  a  mixture  of  t%vo 
parts  of  fibrous  loam  to  one  of  peat  and  coarse 
sand  is  suitable.  Well  mix  this,  and  plant  the 
bulbs  3ins.  apart  and  2ins.  deep.  Each  should 
be  surrounded  with  coarse  silver  sand,  but  do  not 
press  the  soil  too. hard.  Where  grown  on  a  border, 
the  best  position  is  under  a  greenhouse  or  other 
wall  facing  full  south  on  a  raised  bed.  This  not 
only  ensures  free  drainage,  but  raised  soil  always 
lies  warmer  than  that  on  the  level.  Wait  until 
the  growth  is  well  through  the  surface,  then  hoe 
the  soil  frequently  so  as  to  keep  it  loose  and  open 


as  this  both  admits  air  and  prevents  evaporation. 
Tigridias  love  abundance  of  moisture  at  their 
roots  and  must  never  be  allowed  to  lack  in  this 
respect,  or  the  buds  will  go  blind.  .-Wter  flowering 
is  completed,  allow  them  to  remain  in  the  soil 
until  the  leaves  are  quite  dead.  In  wet  autumns 
this  is  sometimes  a  diSicxilty,  as  they  are  kept 
green  long  beyond  their  normal  time.  A  spare 
frame  light  placed  over  them  is  a  great  assistance 
in  ripening  them  off,  as  it  keeps  the  soil  drier. 
When  completely  faded,  lift  the  bulbs  and  store 
away  in  perfectly  dry  sand  in  a  frost- proof  place 
until  March,  when  planting  time  returns. — 
H.   \V.   Canning-Wright. 

THE     HOSTS     OF    THE     MISTLETOE. 

"pRO.M  time  to  time  I  have  noticed  interesting 
notes  in  The  Garden  on  the  Mistletoe  and 
its  hosts,  one  of  these  appearing  in  the  issue  for 
January  14th.  I  once  carried  out  an  enquiry 
on  the  distribution  of  this  parasite  and  its  host 
plants,  and  the  results  of  the  enquiry  were  pub- 
lished in  the  Quarterly  Journal  of  Forestry, 
V'ol.  VIII,  1914,  page  20.  .As  the  result  of  this 
enquiry  information  was  obtained  of  the  occur- 
rence of  the  Mistletoe  on  various  species  of  Acer, 
.■Esculus,  Cladrastris,  Corylus,  Cotoneaster, 
Crata-gus,  Fraxinus  (including  the  Flowering  .\sh), 
Juglans  (but  only  on  nigra).  Mespilus,  Ostrya, 
Populus  (but  only  on  the  Black  Italian),  Prunus 
(but  only  on  coccomilla),  Pjtus  (but  only  on 
Aria,  baccata,  Malus  and  prunifolia).  Quercus 
(on  the  common  Oak  twice  and  frequently  on 
rubra),  Robinia,  Salix,  Sorbus,  SjTinga  and 
Tilia.  No  records  were  furnished  of  the  following 
trees  serving  as  host  plants :  Beech,  common 
Walnut,  Lombardy  Poplar,  White  Poplar,  Plum, 
Cherry,  Pear  or  Elm  ;  but  since  1914  I  have  heard 
of  its  growing  on  the  Plum,  the  Pear  and  the 
Elm.  One  of  the  few  records  of  this  parasite's 
occurrence  on  the  Elm  is  at  Charlton  Park, 
Buckinghamshire,  so  that  instances  of  such  cases 
are  of  special  interest. — W.  Somerville,  School  of 
Rural  Economy,   University  of  Oxford. 

CARNATION    THIEVES. 

AS  a  sequel  to  a  series  of  raids  on  my  firm's 
(Messrs.  Stuart  Low  and  Co.)  nurseries 
at  Bush  Hill  Park,  commenced  as  long  ago  as 
November,  1920,  two  men  were  sentenced  to  three 
months'  imprisonment  at  the  Enfield  Police  Court 
on  January  2.  Ai  the  Carnation  Show  in 
November  so  many  friends  asked  why  our  1922 
novelties,  Eileen  Low  and  Sir  Mackay  Edgar,  had 
not  been  put  up  before  the  floral  committee,  that 
I  was  tired  of  explaining  that  a  few  nights  previously 
the  thieves  broke  in  and  stole  the  whole  of  the  best 
of  our  flowers.  I  only  saved  the  flowers  for  the 
Chelsea  Show  by  sitting  up  at  nights  with  the  fore- 
man, Mr.  Ives,  and  we  only  secured  the  thieves  at 
last  by  continual  watching  with  the  assistance 
of  detectives. — Laure.nce  J.  Cook. 

A    BEAUTIFUL    IRIS. 

T  H.'WE  the  lovely  Iris  unguicularis  in  flower  at 
the  present  time,  which  I  believe  I  purchased 
some  time  ago  under  the  name  of  I.  stylosa.  The 
colour  of  the  flower  is  given  as  pale  blue  and  Ught 
blue  in  two  catalogues,  and  lavender  blue  with 
yellow  blotches  in  two  others.  I  was  waiting  until 
mine  were  in  flower  again  before  writing  anything  as 
to  their  colour,  but  all  the  blossoms  I  have  seen  are 
a  pale  mauve,  about  the  same  colour  as  the  Neapoh- 
tan  Violet.  I  certainly  think  such  a  lovely  flower 
as  this  is,  and  one  which  welcomes  us  in  the  depth 
of  winter  in  the  open,  deserves  a  better  description 
than  "  blue  with  yellow  blotches."  Both  standards 
and  falls  are  of  the  same  soft  mauve  tint,  made  the 
more  delicate  by  the  thinness  of  the  petals.      On 


46 


THE    GARDEN. 


[January  28,  1922. 


the  inside  the  standards  have  a  deep  purple,  well 
defined  streak  at  their  base,  while  the  base  of  the 
falls  is  a  rich  light  green,  shading  into  a  brilliant 
yellow  streak,  surrounded  by  pure  white,  into  which 
the  mauve  runs  in  fine,  well  marked  lines.  Over 
this  green,  yellow  and  white  zone  very  fine  hair- 
like dark  purple  lines  radiate  from  the  throat  of 
the  flower  till  they  reach  the  mauve.  The  three 
narrow,  double-tongued  styles  are  a  still  paler 
mauve  than  that  of  the  petals  and  contrast  most 
beautifully  with  the  deep  purple  bases  of  the 
standards  and  the  green,  white  and  yellow  of  the 
falls,  with  their  perfectly  regular  and  fine  radiating 
lines.  It  would  be  well  to  see  this  exquisite  thing 
listed  under  one  name  and  accurately  described  as 
regards  colour. — H.  H.  Warner. 

THE    EUCALYPTI. 

•pUCALYPTUS  CITRIODORA  is,  in  my 
judgment,  well  worth  growing  for  its 
fragrant  foliage  alone.  We  have  one  here  which 
was  raised  from  seed  many  years  ago  in  a  green- 
house, and  was  planted  out  of  doors.  It  is  now 
30ft.  to  40ft.  high  and  has  stood  unmoved  through 
many  heavy  gales.  1  have  an  idea  that  its  subtle 
fragrance  is  healthful  in  the  garden  and  that  it 
is  making  good  as  one  sleeps.  There  is  another 
species,  E.  Globulus,  which  is  also  attractive,  and 
no  greenhouse  or  garden  should  be  without  these 
plants.  They  are  easily  raised  from  seed  in  spring 
and  early  summer. — Walter  Smyth,  Holywood, 
County  Down. 

SOME  UNACCOUNTABLE  ANTIPATHIES 
AND    SYMPATHIES    BET^VEEN    PLANTS 


AND     PEOPLE. 


H^ 


magnificent  Michaelmas  Dames.  Poppies  and  I 
agree,  and  Carnations  and  Pinks  of  all  kinds 
revel  in  my  society  and  I  in  theirs.  Bulbs  and  I 
are  always  happy  together  (I  was  born  in  Daffodil- 
time,  at  the  Vernal  Equinox,  so  no  wonder). 
Situation  and  soil  do  not  account  for  these 
sympathies  and  antipathies,  for  I  have  had  eight 
gardens — -town  and  country,  suburban  and  seaside, 
large  and  small,  river  valley  and  (as  now)  some 
400ft.  above  sea-level — and  the  foregoing  experi- 
ences have  been  the  same  in  them  all,  though 
some  favourites  have  thriven  better  in  some 
gardens  than  in  others.  WiU  other  readers  who 
have  noticed  similar  likings  and  dislikings  give 
their  experiences  ? — ^Anne  Amateur. 

THE  FRUIT  OF  A  BEAUTIFUL  CLIMBER 

T  ENCLOSE  a  pod  of  Araujia  sericifera  (syn. 
Physianthus  albens)  which  may  interest  you. 
The  long,  silky  filaments  attached  to  the  seeds,  and 
from  which  the  plant  derives  its  specific  name,  are 
very  attractive.  My  plant  is  growing  on  a  wall 
facing  south,  and  has  borne  about  twenty  of  these 
large  pods  this  season.  The  small  white  flowers 
are   not   specially   attractive,   but   their   "cruel" 


[AVE  any  other  readers,  I  wonder,  observed  an 
apparent  antipathy  or  sympathy  existing 
between  certain  plants  and  people  ?  It  is  not  a 
question  of  people  liking  plants,  but  of  plants 
liking  people.  No  ;  it's  not  "  fancy,"  but  a  fact  ! 
for  it  is  notorious  that  even  skilled  professional 
gardeners  succeed  with  some  plants  and  fail  with 
others.  Have  you  not  often  heard  folks  say, 
"  I  never  can  grow  such  and  such,"  or  if  compli- 
mented on  some  flower  and  asked  what  particular 
treatment  it  has  been  given,  "  Oh  !  I  never  take 
any  trouble  with  it — it  grows  quite  easily."  Now 
there  must  be  some  underlying  reason  for  this. 
Can  anyone  hazard  an  explanation  ?  The  occasion 
for  this  query  is  our  Editor's  advice  in  The 
Garden  of  January  14  to  "  sow  Sweet  Sultan," 
a  flower  I  have  always  desired  to  grow,  but  it 
declines  my  company.  I  have  sown  it  time  and 
again,  but  it  does  not  come  up.  1  have  bought 
seedlings  in  boxes  and  planted  and  tended  them, 
all  in  vain.  They  sulk  and  pine  away  and  die, 
or  else  survive  only  in  a  miserable  stunted  con- 
dition, while  in  other  gardens  close  by  my  envious 
eyes  behold  Sweet  Sultans  galore.  My  mother 
could  never  grow  Mignonette,  much  as  she  desired 
to  do  so,  nor  Lilies  of  the  Valley.  My  Mignonette 
spreads  in  weedy  masses,  and  even  permits  me  to 
transplant  it,  and  Lilies  of  the  Valley  stray  out 
into  the  pathways.  Many  find  Parsley  difficult 
to  grow.  Wherever  I  sow  it  it  does  not  "  go 
nine  times  to  visit  His  Satanic  Majesty,"  but 
comes  up  quickly  and  freely  ;  in  fact,  it  seems 
to  follow  me  like  a  robin  round  the  garden,  for 
sometimes  I  find  a  stray  robust  rogue  in  a  flower 
border.  Heuchera  sanguinea  wiU  not  flower  for 
me  (and  it's  so  pretty),  Convolvulus  major  is  coy 
in  my  company,  while  Canary  Creeper  and  climbing 
Nasturtiums  love  me  and  try  to  come  inside  my 
open  windows.  Cornflowers  do  not  care  for  me 
(and  I  do  love  and  desire  true  blue  flowers  in  my 
garden),  but  all  sorts  of  Daisies  do,  and  I  dote  on 
them,  from  the  little  double  red  and  white  childish 
one  in  spring  up  to  Mr.  Beckett's  tallest  and  most 


parts  of  Kirkcudbrightshire  and  Wigtownshire 
before  December  has  run  much  of  its  course. 
— S.  Arnott. 

A    NATIONAL    DAFFODIL    SOCIETY? 

TV/TAY  I  suggest  to  Mr.  Eugleheart  that  he  ought 
to  get  a  few  stronger  nails  if  he  wishes  to 
keep  Mistress  Diffodil  inside  her  coffin?  Perhaps 
"Somers"  could  supply  him  with  a  few! — 
Joseph  Jacob. 

"THE  GARDEN"  AS  A  BOOK  OF 
REFERENCE. 

TT  is  not  too  late,  perhaps,  to  suggest  that  more 
subscribers  to  The  Garden  should  make  a 
New  Year  resolution  to  keep  their  copies  and 
have  them  bound  at  the  end  of  the  year.  They 
make  such  an  invaluable  book  of  reference. 
Having  been  without  home  or  garden  for  over 
two  years  I  have  studied  other  people's  gardens 
whenever  possible,  and  seen  many  plants  that  to 
me  are  quite  new,  especially  among  flowering 
shrubs  and  climbers.  In  my  box  of  favourite 
books  that  did  7iot  disappear  "  into  store "  are 
four   bound   volumes   of   The    Garden,    1916-19 


.^fe^'H. 


,,,  r  '.'4,'.     VI  "^v..  IV    . 


'c. 


FRUIT     OF     ARAUJIA     SERICIFERA    FROM     THE      PLANT      GROWING      OUTDOORS      AT 

WEST     PORLOCK. 

A,  The  great  green  pod  ;  B,  Same  fruit  split  at  the  suture  ;  c,  Seed  zvith  its  "  tail  "  of  silky  hairs. 

(One  half  natural  size.) 


habit  of  catching  moths  and  butterflies  by  the 
proboscis  is  a  remarkable  one,  and  it  is  difficult 
to  see  in  what  way  it  benefits  the  plant.  Probably 
the  Araujia  only  fruits  outdoors  in  England  after 
hot  summers,  as  it  evidently  enjoys  any  amount 
of  sunshine. — Norman  G.  Hadden,  West  Porlock, 
Somerset. 

"THE     FIRST     KNOWN    DAHLIAS  "—A 
CORRECTION. 

C)^  page  24  in  my  article  on  "  The  First  Known 
Dahlias,"  there  is  a  little  misprint  which 
may  mystify  the  reader.  In  the  second  column, 
twenty-fifth  line,  it  reads  "  shell  on  which  the 
flower  is  mounted."  The  word  "  shell "  should 
be  sheet,  meaning  the  sheet  of  paper  on  which 
the  flower  is  mounted.  Four  lines  lower  it  reads 
"  Annules  du  Museum."  This,  of  course,  should 
be  "  Annales." — C.  H.  P. 

FLOWERING    OF     SNOWDROPS. 

TyrY  first  Snowdrops  of  the  season  were  in  full 
flower  on  January  2,  an  unusually  early 
record  for  this  part  of  the  country  (Dumfries). 
It  is  not  unusual  to  see  Snowdrops  in  bloom 
near   the  Solway  and  in  some  of  the  other  mild 


inclusive,  and  in  one  or  more  of  them  I  rarely 
fail  to  find  some  reference  to  these  strangers — 
whence  they  come,  where  they  may  safely  be 
planted,  and  how  they  should  be  treated.  These 
notes  are  doubly  valuable,  being  usually  written 
by  correspondents  whose  opinion  we  have  come 
to  know  and  respect.  And,  of  course,  old  friends 
are  not  left  out — Daffodils,  Tulips,  Lilies,  Roses, 
Irises,  what  you  will,  they  are  all  there  waiting 
for  your  consideration. — W.  Duggan. 

fl^rr;  BLACK    SPOT    IN    ROSES. 

T  WAS  reading  the  other  day,  in  an  interesting 
article  on  Pernetiana  Roses,  that  many  of 
the  descendants  of  Soleil  d'Or  are  liable  to  black 
spot,  and  I  thought  my  experience  might  be  of 
interest.  I  have  a  large  number  of  Pernetiana 
Roses,  and  the  chief  experience  so  far  of  black  spot 
that  I  have  had  was  with  Juliet.  This  from  the 
very  first  leaf  it  put  out  in  its  first  year  was  covered 
with  black  spot.  A  little  appeared  on  the  next 
Rose,  George  Dixon.  1  gave  this  Juliet  away  and 
it  has  been  growing  for  two  years  in  a  Suffolk 
garden  and  has  so  far  showed  no  sign  of  the  disease. 
I  have  had  none  since  in  my  garden. — Amateur. 


January  28,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


47 


GARDENING    OF    THE    WEEK 


FOR    SOUTHERN     GARDENS. 

The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Broad  Beans. — A  sowing  should  be  made  to 
follow  the  autumn-sown  batch.  This  vegetable 
delights  in  an  open  position  and  a  fairly  strong 
soil,  and  such  should  be  chosen  for  the  main 
sowings  ;  but  for  the  present  one  it  will  be  better 
if  a  warm  border  can  be  given  up  to  them,  so 
as  to  hasten  them  along  as  quickly  as  possible. 
This  plant  is  also  amenable  to  pot  culture  where 
room  is  available,  and  for  this  purpose  Beck's 
Dwarf  Green  Gem  is  one  of  the  best.  Choose 
pots  with  a  diameter  of  Sins,  or  gias.  and  onlv 
half  fill  the  pots  at  the  time  of  sowing,  so  that 
a  good  top-dressing  may  be  given  later.  A  suit- 
able compost  for  sowing  in  would  be  two- thirds 
loamy  soil  and  the  rest  flaky  leaf-soil  and  spent 
mushroom  manure. 

Peas. — Choose  a  warm,  well  drained  piece  of 
ground  and  make  a  sowing  at  the  first  favourable 
opportunity,  selecting  for  preference  a  round- 
seeded  variety  such  as  The  Pilot  for  this  sowing. 
As  germination  may  not  be  so  reliable  as  later, 
sow  rather  more  thickly  than  would  be  advisable 
for  the  subsequent  sowings.  Sow  in  shallow  drills, 
afterwards  covering  the  seeds  with  fine  soil. 
Further  sowings  should  be  made  in  boxes  and 
brought  quietly  forward  under  cool  conditions 
as  sturdily  as  possible  to  make  sure  of  a  good 
succession. 

Leeks. — Should  plants  be  required  for  show 
purposes  or  for  early  kitchen  supplies,  a  sowing 
ought  to  be  made  now  under  similar  conditions 
to  that  advised  in  last  issue  for  Onions,  and 
grown  in  like  manner,  unless  only  a  few  dozen 
plants  are  required,  when  it  would  be  as  well  to 
pot  them  off  singly  into  4ia.  pots  when  ready, 
instead  of  pricking  them  into  boxes  as  advised  for 
Onions. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Spraying. — -This  important  operation  is  best 
carried  out  on  mild,  calm  days,  so  that  the  un- 
avoidable risk  of  the  operators  getting  a  little  of 
the  wash  upon  them  may  be  reduced  to  a  mini- 
mum ;  but  even  then  it  is  necessary  for  a  proper 
covering  to  be  worn  to  protect  hands,  face  and 
clothes.  There  are  thoroughly  reliable  washes 
advertised  frequently  in  these  columns,  and  the 
instructions  generally  accompanying  such  should 
be  carefully  followed. 

Nuts.— These  valuable  food  plants  will  thrive 
in  almost  any  garden  soil  with  the  exception  of  a 
water-logged  one,  and  may  sometimes  be  profit- 
ably planted  where  other  fruits  do  not  give  very 
satisfactory  returns,  such  as  a  very  stony  position. 
In  selecting  a  site  an  elevated  one  would  be  prefer- 
able to  a  low-lyiag  one.  Planting  may  still  be 
carried  out  when  climatic  and  soil  conditions 
allow.  The  bush  method  is  perhaps  the  most 
convenient  for  Cob  and  Filbert,  but  they  do  quite 
well  as  standards  or  half-standards.  When  grown 
in  this  latter  manner  it  is  important  to  form  good 
head  foundations  by  pruning  fairly  hard  for  a 
season  or  two.  Plant  a  variety  which  freely 
produces  male  catkins  among  the  others.  The 
variety  known  as  Pearsons  Prolific  Dwarf  has 
been  most  favourably  reported  upon  for  this 
purpose. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Annuals  as  Bedding  Plants.— The  use  of  these 
must  be  considered  conjointly  with  summer 
bedding  arrangements,  for  with  "a  great  many  of 
the  annually  raised  flowering  and  foliage  plants 
it  is  a  question  of  fitting  them  in  to  suit  require- 
ments, and  the  selection  requires  careful  con- 
sideration. Where  there  is  such  a  wealth  of 
plants  to  choose  from  it  is  simply  a  question  of 
meeting  individual  tastes.  In  making  a  selection 
of  annuals  for  bedding  purposes  those  of  proved 
merit  should  be  chosen.  The  reserve  or  other 
less  important  parts  of  the  garden  should  be  the 
trial  ground  for  varieties  less  well  known.  Among 
annuals  suitable  for  bedding  purposes  pride  of 
place  must  be  given  to  the  Antirrhinum,  which, 
though  really  perennial,  is  generally  treated  as 
an  annual.  By  making  judicious  use  of  a  few 
of  the  best  colours  in  the  intermediate  section 
some  really  excellent  results  may  be  had.  The 
annual  Delphiniums,  too,  make  a  splendid  show 
when  boldly  massed,  as  also  do  the  Lupins. 
To  mention  a  few  others,  there  are  Asters,  Alonsoas, 
Clarkias,  Eschscholtzias,  Godetias,  Nasturtiums 
(must  not  be  grown  on  rich  soil),  Nemesias  and 
Phlox.     Especially  worthy  of  note  is  the  Nemesia. 


There  are  but  few  plants  which  can  approach  the 
brilliant  effect  produced  by  a  massing  of  the  mixed 
large-flowered  varieties. 

Fruit  Under  Glass.] 

Figs. — -To  obtain  early  fruits  there  is  nothing 
better  than  a  few  good  pot  or  tub  plants,  and 
this  method  of  culture  has  a  great  deal  to  recom- 
mend it  where  space  is  limited,  for  such  plants 
may  be  given  a  start  with  Peaches  or  Vines. 
Where  such  is  practicable  the  plunging  of  the 
pots  or  tubs  in  leaves  will  encourage  a  good  start 
by  stimulating  a  healthy  root  action.  Particular 
attention  should  be  paid  to  ascertain  if  the  balls 
of  soil  of  such  plants  are  in  an  even  state  of  moisture. 
Avoid  extremes  of  heat,  dryness,  stagnation  of 
soil  and  atmospheric  moisture. 

H.  Turner. 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland.) 

Albury  Park  Gardens,  Guildford. 


Wistarias. — These  desirable  climbers  should 
now  be  pruned  and  tied  in  where  necessary. 
Provided  the  plant  has  covered  the  space  allotted 
it,  spur-pruning  should  be  practised,  as  this  method 
has  proved  most  successful  in  encouraging  the 
necessary  ripening  of  the  spurs  from  which  a 
plethora  of  flower  buds  may  be  expected.  If 
an  old  growth  shows  sighs  of  deterioration,  train  a 
young  shoot  up  beside  it  and  eventually  this  may 
replace  it.  James  McGran. 

(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.) 

Coodham,  Kilmarnock. 


FOR    NORTHERN    GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Broad  Beans. — -in  sheltered  gardens  a  sowing 
should  now  be  made  on  a  warm  border  for  early 
use.  Early  JIazagan  is  one  of  the  hardiest  and 
best  varieties  for  this  purpose,  while  Beck's 
Dwarf  Green  Gem  is  an  approved  variety  where 
dwarf-growing  plants  are  favoured. 

Mint. — Lift  a  number  of  roots  of  this  herb  and 
place  in  boxes  for  gentle  forcing. 

Seakale. — Fresh  vegetables  will  now  be  getting 
scarce,  so  occasion  should  be  taken  to  insert  batches 
of  strong  forcing  crowns  at  fortnightly  intervals 
and  so  make  sure  of  generous  supplies  of  this  useful 
vegetable. 

Cucumbers.— The  present  is  a  favourable 
time  to  sow  for  a  first  crop.  Sow  the  seed  smgly 
in  2iin.  pots,  using  a  light,  rich  compost  and 
braird  in  the  warmest  structure  available.  Roch- 
ford'  s  Market  is  a  reliable  setter  and  a  heavy  cropper 
for  early  work. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

The  Orchard  House.— Loosen  any  trees  that 
may  be  trained  to  wires  on  the  back  wall  of  the 
orchard  house  and  have  all  brickwork  lime- 
washed.  Woodwork  and  glass  should  also  be 
thoroughly  cleansed.  The  pruning  having  been 
done  some  time  ago,  the  trees  on  trcUis-work  must 
now  be  carefully  trained  over  and  the  growths 
tied  in  at  even  distances.  The  main  border  of 
the  house  where  various  trees  have  been  planted 
out  should  have  the  surface  soil  pricked  up  and 
suitably  top-dressed. 

Melons. — -Where  well  heated  pits  are  available, 
a  good  sowing  of  an  early  maturing  variety  should 
now  be  made.  Sow  singly  in  2^in.  pots  and  plunge 
in  a  bed  containing  a  fair  amount  of  bottom  heat. 
Keep  the  pots  covered  with  a  small  frame  or  hand- 
light  until  germination  takes  place.  The  early 
crop  can  be  very  successfully  grown  and  fruited 
in  pots.  The  advantage  of  this  method  consists 
in  having  the  plants  more  under  control.  The 
compost  should  be  examined  for  eelworms  and  wire- 
worms,  and  these  pests  eradicated  before  the  young 
plants  are  transferred  to  their  fruiting  quarters. 
Good  rich  loam  with  a  sprinkling  of  bone-meal 
and  old  lime  rubble  suits  Melons  well  and  should 
be  placed  in  the  house  where  they  are  to  grow  a 
few  days  before  planting,  so  that  the  chill  may  be 
taken  off  the  soil. 

The  Flower  Garden. 
F  Preparing    Ground   for  Sweet   Peas. — Where 

Sweet  Peas  of  the  highest  quality  are  desired  the 
ground  should  receive  the  necessary  treatment 
at  this  time,  provided  the  climatic  conditions  are 
favourable.  Trench  the  ground  thoroughly  and 
work  in  a  generous  supply  of  well  rotted  nianure 
into  the  bottom  spit.  Give  a  light  sprinkling  of 
fine  grade  bone-meal  and  soot  as  the  working  of  the 
soil  proceeds,  while  leaf-mould,  old  hot-bed  manure 
and  wood-ash  should  be  incorporated  with  the 
top-spit,  as  this  tends  to  encourage  the  young 
plants  at  the  start,  more  especially  if  the  natural 
soil  is  of  a  cold,  clayey  nature. 

Roses. — PUlar  and  climbing  Roses  should  now 
receive  attention  in  the  way  of  pruning  and  having 
the  strong  growths  tied  in.  The  more  tender 
varieties  should  be  left  untU  the  end  of  March,  as 
owing  to  the  variable  weather  conditions 
experienced  in  Northern  gardens  it  is  unwise  to 
prune  any  that  are  readily  injured  before  that 
period. 


CONSERA  ATORY     AND     GREENHOUSE. 

Sweet  Peas  sown  last  autumn  and  grown  in 
cold  frames  should  now  be  ready  for  potting  on 
into  their  flowering  pots.  They  require  a  good 
root-run,  so  loin.  pots  should  be  employed ;  this 
is  rather  a  large  shift,  but  it  is  better  to  put  the 
plants  into  their  flowering  pots  now,  as  they  may 
resent  disturbance  when  they  are  in  full  growth 
later  on.  Until  the  plants  get  well  away  at  the 
root  great  care  must  be  exercised  in  watering. 
The  plants  must  not  be  hurried  in  any  way,  or 
the  resulting  growth  will  be  weak  and  spindly. 
They  should  be  stood  in  a  cool,  airy  house  and  be 
given  ample  ventilation  on  every  possible  occasion, 
carefully  avoiding  draughts,  which  are  apt  to  start 
mildew.  The  plant  should  be  given  suitable 
supports  in  time,  as  they  should  never  be  allowed 
to  fall  over.  When  the  pots  are  well  fiUed  with 
roots  they  should  be  fed  twice  a  week  with  diluted 
soot  water,  farmyard  manure,  or  guano  may  be 
used  for  a  change,  using  about  half  an  ounce  to  a 
gallon  of  water.  Artificial  manures  should  be 
used  with  great  care  and  by  someone  who  has  a 
knowledge  of  them. 

Lathyrus  pubescens.— This  beautiful  plant  is  a 
native  of  Chili  and  Uruguay,  and  although  first 
introduced  in  1840  and  again  during  1892,  is  by 
no  means  so  well  known  as  it  deserves.  In  the 
West  it  is  hardy  when  planted  against  a  warm  wall. 
It  is  by  no  means  a  long-lived  plant,  but  is  easUy 
raised  from  seeds,  and  makes  a  very  beautiful 
climber  for  a  cool  greenhouse.  Its  pale  violet 
fragrant  flowers,  which  are  very  freely  produced, 
are  useful  as  cut  flowers.  I  have  grown  it  to 
perfection  planted  out  on  the  bench  of  a  Malmaison 
Carnation  house,  training  the  growths  thinly  to 
wires  under  the  roof  glass. 

Lathyrus  splendens.— A  native  of  California, 
this  is  another  beautiful  plant  that  can  be  grown 
to  perfection  under  the  same  conditions  as  those 
described  above,  although  it  is  by  no  means  so 
good-humoured  a  plant  as  L.  pubescens.  When 
doing  well  its  beautiful  crimson  flowers  are  pro- 
duced with  great  freedom.  This  plant,  like  the 
former,  may  be  raised  from  seeds. 

Greenhouse  Climbers.— The  pruning  of  such 

plants  as  require  it  at  this  time  should  now  be 
completed,  and  at  the  same  time  the  plants  should 
be  untied  and  cleaned.  Plants  such  as  Fuchsias, 
which  if  planted  out  make  ideal  plants  for  furnishing 
the  rafters,  should  be  spurred  hard  back.  In 
selecting  Fuchsias  for  this  purpose  free-growing 
varieties  are  essential.  Rose  of  Castile  Improved, 
Monarch  and  Lord  Roberts  are  good  types  to  use. 
Other  greenhouse  climbers  that  require  to  be 
pruned  hard  back  in  the  same  way  are  Solanum 
Wendlandii,  Plumbago  capensis  and  its  variety 
alba.  Tibouchina  scmidecandra  is  a  beautiful 
winter-flowering  plant,  better  known,  perhaps,  as 
Pleroma  macrantha.  It  is  seen  to  best  advantage 
if  it  can  be  trained  up  a  wall,  as  its  habit  is  rather 
stiff  for  training  under  the  roof.  Bougainvillea 
glabra  should  also  be  pruned  hard  back  as  advised 
for  Fuchsias.  This  species  is  the  best  one  for 
growing  in  pots,  and  where  grown  in  this  way 
the  plants,  which  should  have  been  kept  dry 
during  the  winter,  should  now  be  pruned  and 
started  into  growth  in  a  warm  house.  |j^ 

f-  Abutilons  are — or  were — favourite  plants  for 
planting  out  in  conservatories,  but  they  should  be 
used  with  care,  as  their  dense  habit  of  growth 
may  prove  too  much  for  the  plants  underneath 
them.  They  are  well  suited  for  training  up  a  wall, 
but  Abutilon  insigne  is  an  ideal  plant  for  clothing 
a  rafter,  the  long  slender  flowering  shoots  hanging 
down  in  a  very  graceful  manner.  This  plant 
has  been  flowering  very  freely  for  some  weeks  now. 
Abutilon  vexillarium  and  its  variegated  variety 
are  slender-growing  plants  also  and  well  suited  for 
clothing  rafters. 

Hibbertia  dentata  is  an  evergreen  twiner  well 
suited  for  a  small  house,  and  produces  its  beautiful 
yellow  flowers  very  freely  during  the  spring 
months. 

Sollya  heterophylla,  native  of  Australia,  is  a 
slender- growing     climber     which      produces     its 


48 


THE    GARDEN. 


[January  28,  1922. 


beautiful  blue  flowers  more  or  less  all  the  year 
round.  It  is  suitable  for  training  up  a  pillar 
or  up  a  wall,  where  it  can  get  plenty  of  light. 
There  are  many  more  climbing  plants  suitable  for 
this  purpose,  which  I  hope  to  refer  to  in  due 
course,  as  well  as  other  plants  which  might  with 
advantage  be  planted  out  in  the  conservatory. 

Freesias. — •Sucoessiona  batches  should  be 
removed  from  the  cold  frames  as  they  are  required 
and  be  given  a  light  position  in  a  cool  greenhouse. 
The  growth  should  be  supported  before  it  falls 
over,  for  if  once  allowed  to  fall  over  it  never  seems 
to  recover  properly.  Freesias  should  always  be 
grown  as  cool  as  possible.  It  is  true  they  can  if 
necessary  be  brought  on  in  heat,  but  it  is  always 
at  the  expense  of  the  plant  and  the  quality  of  the 
flower.  As  they  pass  out  of  flower  the  plants 
should  be  given  everv  attention  and  not  neglected, 
as  is  too  often  the  case.  They  should  be  encouraged 
to  grow  over  as  long  a  period  as  possible,  so  that 
strong  corms  are  built  up  for  next  season.  They 
can  be  raised  from  seed  and  flowered  in  nine  months' 
time.     That  method  I  will  describe  later, 

II  J.    COUTTS. 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kew. 


Early  Garden  Peas. — -The  gardener,  whoever 
he  may  be,  always  takes  a  pride  in  raising  early 
vegetables,  none  of  which  is  more  popular  than 
the  early  Green  Pea.  Unfortunately  many  an 
amateur  hesitates  attempting  to  grow  a  dish  of 
Green  Peas  by  the  end  of  May  or  beginning  of 
June  :  fiist,  because  he  does  not  think  it  possible, 
and,  secondly,  because  the  Pea  is  too  often  regarded 
as  a  somewhat  tender  plant.  The  latter  is  true 
in  regal  d  to  the  marrowfat  or  wrinkled  varieties, 
which  under  ordinary  conditions  should  not  be 
sown  in  the  open  until  March  at  the  earliest, 
except,  perhaps,  in  some  of  the  warmer  parts  of 
the  South.  But  there  is  a  good  tall-growing 
variety  of  the  round  Pea,  viz.,  the  Pilot,  which  if 
sown  during  January,  preferably  towards  the  end  of 
the  month,  wUl  yield  a  good  crop  by  May  in  any 
ordinary  season.  The  PUot  is  a  very  hardy  Pea 
and  will  stand  the  wet  and  cold  of  a  bad  spring 
when  most  other  varieties  fail.  Crops  of  this 
have  often  been  ready  by  Whit  Sunday  when  this 
festival  has  fallen  due  in  the  last  week  of  May. 
The  Pilot  Pea  should  be  sown  fairly  thickly  in 
well  prepared  trenches,  and  small  bushy  sticks 
stuck  in  when  sowing  is  completed  in  order  to 
afford  some  little  protection  when  the  plant  first 
shows  above  ground.  When  this  stage  is  reached 
a  little  earthing  up  is  useful,  and  it  is  also  necessary 
to  protect  the  crop  against  the  ravages  of  birds. 
The  Pilot  usually  reaches  3ft.  or  4ft.  in  height. 
There  is  also  a  very  useful  Dwarf  Pea  for  early 
work.  This  is  the  Little  Marvel.  It  may  be 
sown  fairly  thickly  in  rows  across  the  garden 
patch  towards  the  end  of  January  or  during 
February,  when  in  a  normal  season  it  will  provide 
a  good  supply  of  really  nice  and  good-flavoured 
Green  Peas  by  the  end  of  May  or  beginning  of 
June.  

A  Market  Grower's  Directory  and  Hand- 
book.— "The  Fruit  Grower  Directory"*  should 
be  invaluable  to  all  who  cultivate  fruit,  flowers 
or  vegetables  for  sale  or  who  sell  surplus  produce. 
The  British  classified  section  contains,  among  many 
others,  lists  of  manure  and  chemical  manufacturers, 
natinal  manure  suppliers,  horticultural  auctioneers, 
wholesale  and  retail  seedsmen,  fruit  growers, 
market  gardeners  (under  glass  and  outdoors), 
fruiterers,  fruit  preservers  and  jam  manufacturers, 
markets,  with  the  salesmen  in  different  depart- 
ments of  each.  Potato  merchants  and  nurserymen 
There  is  also  a  British  alphabetical  section,  and 
there  are  also  Colonial  and  Continental  sections, 
^uite  apart  from  the  directory  proper,  there  are 
some  sixty-five  large  pages  devoted  to  useful 
handbook    information,    much    of    which    is    un- 

•  "The  Fruit  Grower  Directory  and  Handbook,  1922," 
by  Benn  Bros.,  Limited,  8,  Bouvcric  Street,  E.L'.4. 
Price  106.  net. 


obtainable  in  any  other  work  of  reference.  No 
one  interested  in  horticulture  from  a  commercial 
slandpoint  should  be  without  this  directory. 

"  Willing's  Press  Guide." — We  have  received 
a  copy  of  this  excellent  Press  Diiectory  for  rg22. 
This  is  an  invaluable  book  for  everyone  who 
contributes  or  otherwise  has  any  connexion  with 
the  Press 

The    Directorship    of    Kew    Gardens. — The 

retirement  of  Sir  David  Prain,  the  eminent  botanist, 
from  the  directorship  of  the  Royal  Botanic  Gardens, 
Kew,  has  just  been  announced.  Sir  David  has 
held  the  position  of  director  of  Kew  Gardens 
for  sixteen  years.  A  terrific  worker.  Sir  David 
seldom  moved  far  from  his  office,  but  those  who 
were  fortunate  enough  to  meet  him  were  charmed 
with  his  delightful  personality.  Sir  David  has 
been  very  popular  with  his  staff.  It  is  to  be  hoped 
that  Sir  David  and  Lady  Prain  may  long  be  spared 
to  enjoy  the  rest  which  they  both  thoroughly 
deserve.  Dr.  Arthur  W.  Hill,  who  has  been 
assistant  director  since  1907,  has  been  appointed 
director.  Dr.  HOI  was,  before  he  went  to  Kew, 
lecturer  in  botany  at  Cambridge  University  and 
Dean  of  King's  College,  Cambridge.  He  has 
travelled  a  great  deal  and  has  recently  returned 
from  an  official  visit  to  Nigeria.  A  keen  sports- 
man. Dr.  Hill  is  very  popular,  especially  with  the 
student  gardeners. 

Chelsea  Show. — .\11  those  who  intend  to  exhibit 
rock  or  formal  gardens  at  Chelsea,  May  23-25, 
1922,  and  who  have  not  already  received  a  com- 
munication from  the  R.H.S.,  should  communicate 
with  the  secretary  at  once. — W.  R.  Dvkes, 
Secretary.  R.H  S. 

Royal    Caledonian    Horticultural    Society.— 

The  syllabus  of  the  series  of  monthly  meetings 
of  this  Society  has  been  issued,  and  the  list  of 
lectures,  etc.,  is  of  great  promise  for  a  successful 
session.  Among  the  lecturers  are  Sir  Herbert 
Maxwell,  Bart.,  who  wUl  give  "  Cultural  Notes  on 
Rhododendrons"  ;  The  Brodie  of  Brodie,  who 
will  lecture  on  "  Daffodils"  ;  and  Mr.  Osgood  H. 
Mackenzie  of  Tournaog,  Poolewe,  who  wUl  tell  of 
some  of  the  exotic  plants  with  which  he  is  so 
successful  in  his  wonderful  garden  in  Ross-shire. 


ANSWERS 
TO  CORRESPONDENTS 


FLOWER    G.\RDEN. 

HYBRID  HELLEBORES  (.M.  L.  T.).— ^Ve  have  no 
knuwledye  of  the  Hellebores  crown  by  the  gentleman 
in  question,  but  il  thev  are  tlie  liybrids  of  Helleborus 
orientalis  (Lenten  Koses),  originally  sent  ont  by  Heinemann, 
these  are  obtainable  from  .Messrs.  K.  Wallace  and  Co.. 
The  Old  Gardens,  Tunbridge  Wells,  and  probably  from 
other  firms. 

SOIL  REQUIREMENTS  OF  GENTIANS  (H.  A.  G.).— 
Most  o£  the  Gentians  mentioned,  which  are  rather  coarse 
species,  should  flourish  in  vonr  well  drained  sandy  loam, 
rich  in  humus.  Thev  reqiiiro.  to  flower.lfuU  sunlight 
and  the  addition  of  sphagiuun  moss  to  the  top  Cius.  or 
Sins. — sav,  one  part  of  sphagnum  to  four  of  soil— would 
be  an  improvement.  These  j)lants  are  weeds  on  some 
soils  ;  on  others,  apparently  similar  in  composition  and 
aspect,  thev  tail.  This  is  attributed  nowadays  to  the 
presence  or  absence  of  a  fungus  \vM\  which  their  life 
history  is  bound  up.  Of  the  list  given,  adscendens  is  a 
synonym  of  decnmbens.  while  Freyniana  and  Lagodes- 
ctiiana  are  forms  of  septemBda.  All  three  are  welcome 
denizens  of  any  garden.  Cruciata,  decumbens.  Kesselringii, 
macroiihvlla  cvanea,  phloglfolia,  punctata  and  tibetica 
all  run  rather  to  foliage  than  to  flower  and  are  only  desir- 
able to  the  collector.  Przewalskii  and  purpnrea  are 
choice,  but  not  easv  to  grow  ;  while  Saponaria  is  a  North 
American  woodland  species,  so  should  have  partial  shade. 
Buugei  and  Matrix  we  do  not  recognise,  but  Waaegcni 
is  perhaps  Walujewi,  which  Is  easy  enough  to  grow,  but 
of  no  garden  value. 

THE     GREENHOUSE. 

TREATMENT  OF  BULBS  IN  POTS  (L.  E.  51.  S.).— 
Provided  the  soil  is  moist  anil  well  drained,  poorness  will 
have  no  effect  on  the  flowering  of  the  bulbs  this  year. 
,\utrimcnt  for  this  purpose  is  stored  in  the  bulbs  the 
jirevious  season.  Probably  our  correspondent  kept  the 
soil  too  dry  in  the  early  stages  of  growth.     Even  If  plunged 


in  ashes  outside,  watering  was  necessary  this  season  owing 
tf)  the  excessively  dry  weather. 

HAEMANTHUS  ANDROMEDA  (A  Devonshire  Reader)  . 
— This  plant  is  a  hybrid  between  H.  Katherime  and  H.  mag- 
niflcus.  Tlie  ]»opular  name  is  the  Blood  Flower,  not 
lilood  Boot.  The  plants  will  grow  in  a  cool  greenhouse, 
but  a  little  higher  temperature  than  that  usually  associated 
with  a  cool  greenhouse  is  preferable.  .Asa  potting  compost 
use  equal  parts  fibrous  loam,  peat,  leaf-mould  and  coarse 
sand.  The  plants  flower  better  when  grown  in  com- 
paratively small  pots  for  the  size  of  the  bulbs. 

RAISING  MESEMBRYANTHEMUMS  (W.  R.  J.).— 
These  plants  require  an  e.Kceptionally  warm  and  sunny 
position  and  porous,  gritty  compost.  It  would  perhaps 
be  preferable  to  raise  the  seedlings  in  a  frame,  but  beyond 
this  the  plants  would  probably  thrive  on  hot,  sunny 
slopes  in  our  correspondent's  favoured  county  of  Cornwall. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

WEED  IN  LAWN  (R.  A.  B.).— The  weed  is  the  Stag- 
shorn  Plantain,  a  native  of  sandy  soil.  A  pinch  of  sulphate 
of  ammonia  put  upon  the  crown  now  or  any  time  till 
mid  March  will  probably  kill  it  outright  and  will  assist 
the  subsequent  growth  of  grass. 

USE  OF  GRANITE  TO  IMPROVE  SOIL  (W.  U.  J.).— 
We  think  the  shale  in  the  soil  should  drain  it  safliciently 
if  there  is  means  below  for  the  removal  of  sjrplus  water. 
If  not.  the  soil  should  be  drained  by  means  of  pipes  which 
will  carry  away  the  surplus  water.  Nj  amount  of  granite 
would  enable  "water  to  drain  away  if  the  subsoil  retains 
water.  The  granite  might  be  used  for  rock-plant  soil  so 
long  as  it  is  certain  that  it  contains  no  arsenic.  Some 
of  the  Cornish  rocks  are  too  weU  supplied  with  that 
poisonous  material. 

BOOKS  BY  PLANT  COLLECTORS  (C.  B.  U.,  Kirkdale). 
— There  is  no  bibliography  dealing  specially  with  books 
recording  the  travels  and  adventures  of  plant  collectors. 
Some  particulars  regarding  such  collectors  and  their 
works  are  given  in  Britten  and  Boulger's  "  Biographical 
Index  of  British  and  Irish  Botanists  "  (London  :  West 
Newman,  1893)  and  its  three  supplements,  which  were 
publislied  in  the  "  Journal  of  Botany,"  1898,  1903-4 
and  1908.  The  catalogue  of  the  Library  of  the  Royal 
Botanic  Gardens,  Kew.  would  also  afford  help  for  the 
works  on  travel.  Many  of  them  by  naturalists  are  listed 
separately.  The  Catalogue  is  sold  by  Messrs.  Gale  and 
Polden.  iloval  Botanic  Gardens,  Kew,  price  8s.  9d.  post 
free ;  Supplement,  price  £1  Is.  post  free.  The  following 
are  some  of  the  most  important  books  on  travel  by  British 
and  Irish  naturalists,  including  plant  collectors :  "  Journal 
of  Researches,  .\.  Naturalist's  Voyage,"  by  C.  Darwin, 
1839  and  other  editions.  "  Himalayan  Journals,"  by 
J.  D.  Hooker,  1854  and  other  editions.  "  Journal  During 
Captain  Cook's  First  Voyage,"  by  Sir  Joseph  Banl<s  (edited 
by  J.  H.  Hooker),  1896.  "  Notes  of  a  Naturalist  in  Suuth 
.\merica,"  by  John  Ball,  1887.  "  Three  Years'  Wander- 
ings in  the  Northern  Provinces  of  China,  etc.,"  by  R. 
Fortune.  1847  and  1857.  See  also  other  books  by  Fortune. 
"  \  Naturalist  in  Western  China,"  by  E.  H.  Wilson,  1913. 
"  The  Land  of  the  Blue  Poppy."  by  F.  K.  Ward,  1913. 
"  On  the  Eaves  of  the  World,"  by  B.  Farrer,  1917. 
"  Journal  During  his  Travels  in  North  America,  1823-27," 
by  D.  Douglas,  published  by  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society,  1914. 

NAMES  OF  PLANTS.— J.  M.,  Co.  Wicklow. — Colletia 
cruciata.  This  is  not  a  true  species,  being  really  a  form 
of  C.  spinosa. "  Vemey." — The  plant  sent  for  identi- 
fication is  Omithogalum  lacteum,  a  South  African  bulbous 
plant  known  in  its  native  habitat  as  Chinkerichees  and 
also  as  Pigeon's  Jlilk.  This  plant  may  be  grown  in 
England  in  a  conser\'atory.     Propagation  is  carried  out 

by    nu'ans    of    the    offsets. A    Devonshire   Reader.^ 

Trachelium  coeruleum. X.  B.,  ShaUord. — Cj-pripedium 

insigne,    a    native   of   Nepaul,    this   plant   flowers   every 

winter  and  will  grow  in  a  temperature  of  50°  to  60°. 

E.  S..  Sussex. — Linaria  CVmbalaria  (Ivy-leaved  Toadflax). 

.-v.    H.    S.,    Guildford. — 1,    Lonicera    Standishii ;     2, 

Juniperus  chinensis  ;  3.  Sequoia  sempervirens ;  4,  Abies 
sp.  (specimen  not  in  character) ;  5,  Cupressus  Lawsoniana  ; 
6,  Tsuga  mertensiana ;  7,  Abies  Nordmanniana ;  8, 
Pinus  Laricio ;  9.  Cupressus  Lawsoniana  var.  erecta 
viridis;  10,  Sequoia  gigantea ;  11.  Pinus  excelsa ;  12, 
P.  Cembra ;  13,  P.  sylvestris  ;  14,  Pinas  sp.  (specimen 
too  poor) ;  15.  Cupressus  Lawsoniana  var.  lutea ;  IG, 
Juniperus  chinensis  var.  aurea. 

NAMES  OF  FRUIT.— A.  H.  S.,  Guildford. — Apples  : 
1,  t'cllini.  late  fruit :  2,  Lemon  Pippin  ;  3,  Cockle  Pippin  ; 
4!  Waltham  Abbey  Seedling.  Pear  too  decayed  to  identify. 
— — New  Reader,  Windermere. — .\pple  Christmas 
Pearmain. 


CATALOGUES   RECEIVED. 


W.   Drummond   and   Sons,    Limited,   57  and  58,  Dawson 

Street,  Dublin  :    Flower  and  Vegetable  Seeds. 
James  Carter  and  Co..   Raynes  Park,  London,   S.W.20  : 

Flower  and  Vegetable  Seeds. 
Barr  and  Sons,  11,  12.  and  13.  King  Street,  Coveut  Garden, 

London  ■    Flower  and  Vegetable  Seeds. 
Samsons,  Linuted,  8  and  10,  Portland  Street,  Kilmarnock  : 

Flower  and  Vegetable  Seeds. 
Mellattie  and  Co.,   Northgate  Street,  Chester :     Flower 

and  Vegetable  Seeds. 
E.  P.  Dixon  and  Sons.  Limited,  Paragon  Square,   Hull : 

Flower  and  Vegetable  Seeds. 
.\ustin  and  .McAslan,  89  to  95,  Mitchell  Street.  Glasgow  : 

Flower  and  Vegetable  Seeds. 
Anthony  C.  Van  der  Schoot,  Hillegom,  Holland  ;     Spring 

List  of  Bulbs  and  Perennial  Plants. 
Daniels  Bros.,  Limited,  Norwich  :    General  Catalogue. 
Bowcll  and    Skarratt,    Cemetery    Road,    Cheltenham : 

Kock  Plants  and  Shrubs  for  the  Rockery. 


SPECIAL    SEED    ORDER    NUMBER. 


THE 


■  Mi< 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


Vol.  LXXXVI.— No.  2620. 

EntereJ  as  SeconO-cIass  .M;ittei-al  the  Nt.'\v  York.  N.\'..  PostOrticc 


Saturday,  February  4,  1922 


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BARR'S     FLOWER     SEED 
NOVELTIES    AND     SPECIALITIES     FOR     1922. 

ANTIRRHINUIV1,    Choice    Mixture    of    new    Intermediate   Varieties,    lar^c    flo\\rrs    and 

bcaii.ifiil  colours.  Per  packet,  Is.  &  Is.  6d. 

BEGONIA,  New  Narcissus-flowered,  a  n  mailable  new  race  of  tiibcroiis-root<  d  Bct-oniaf  ■ 
flowers  resemble  in  shape  a  Double  Tnimref  Daffodil,  petals  elegantly  wavid  and  frilli  d 
at  margin  ;  cjlotlrs  range  from  lirilit  to  iliulc  yellow,  orange,  buff,  i.wsA,  rose,  dark  red  and 
searlet.      About  60%  of  the  seedlings  come  true  to  form.  Per  packet,  2s.  Gd. 

CINERARIA  Bleu  d'Aiur,  a  lo-vdy  variety  with  large  flowers  of  a  charming  sky-blue. 

^  *'  Per  packet,  2s.  6d. 

HOLLYHOCK,  Queen  of  the  Yellows,  a  fine  introduction,  being  the  nearest  approach  to  a 
good  jjelloir  doulrle  lliillyliock  yet  raised,  flowers  large  and  handsome,  h.p.,  6ft. 

Per  packet.  2s.  6d.  &  3s.  Ed. 
STREPTOSOLEN    Jemesoni,   a   lovely   cool   grtenf.ousc   shrub  of  elegant   l.abit,   Uaring 
eorymjs  fif  si  (.wy  briliiaut  orange-yellow  flowers,  3ft.  to  4ft.  Per  packet,  Is.  6d. 

THUNBERQIA  Qibsoni,  a  lovely  new  graceful  climber  for  covering  pillars  and  treUiswork 
in  greenl.ouM'.  or  may  be  flowered  outdoors  in  summer  in  mild  climates.  It  has  glistening 
gre<  n  ivy-sbapi  d  folia;-i  rind  flowers  o(  v.otl  biiltiant  glcuing  orange.  P«  r  pack*  t,  2s.  6d. 
Descriptive  Catalonue  of  otiur  choice  Floxctr  Seids  free  on  application. 

11,     12     &     13,     KINO     STREET, 
COVENT     GARDEN,     LONDON,     W.C.2. 


BARR    &    SONS, 


SOW    NOW    to    bloom    in    July    and    August. 

BLACKMORE  &  LANGDONS 

world  renowned  BEGONIA    SEEDS   (56    Gold  Medals), 

DOUBLES. 

none    can    equal    this    for    quality,    size    and    level y    form 
of  flowers 

SINGLE. 
uf   wonderful    siie  and  form 

FRILLED    SINGLE. 
a    beautiful    selectii  n 

CRESTED    SINGLE. 
very   fascinating     ... 

HANGING    BASKET. 
a  grand  novelty,   very  graceful    ... 

GLOXINIA 
seed,   mixed,   in  most   beautiful   selection   of  colour 

Ffi-  prices  of  ftihcfs  of  iibovc  ami  other  sftccitjlities.  write  fiir  free  c 

TWERTON     HILL    NURSERIES,    BATH. 

ORCH I DS 

of  vigorous   habit  and  superior  constitution.       A  visit  to  our  Establishmeat 

is     cordially     invited    to    inspect     our     immense     and     interesting     STOCK 

RAISED     BY     THE 

PURE    CULTURE    SYSTEM 

Choice    Species,    Rare    Botanical    Specimens.        Albinos    in    warm   and    cool 
sections  also  a  speciality. 

Expert     Advice    given    and     all    Requisites    supplied    for    tke    good    culture 

of  Orchids. 


1    and 

colciirs            per  racket 
2/6   &  SI- 

...     1-.  2/6   &  5- 

...   1/-,  2/6  &  s;- 

...     1/-.   2/6   &   5/. 

...    1/6.  2,6   &   5,'- 

...    1/6,  2/6   &  51- 

aitilogi 

c  tiiiti  nientitin  this  paper. 

GHARLESWORTH  &  GO., 


HAY  WARDS 
HEATH, 


11. 


THE     GARDEN. 


(February  4,  1922. 


*'THE    GARDEN"   CATALOGUE    GUIDE 


NOTICE  TO  OUR  READERS 


/^N   receipt   of   a    Post   Card   the   under- 
mentioned   firms    will    be    pleased    to 
send  their  useful  Catalogues  free  of  charge. 


Rose  Specialists 


ELISHA  J.  HICKS,  M.C.  N.R.S.,  etc. 

HURST,  BERKS 

Tha   ChBni(ion    Deoorativa  Rosa   Growar    of   England 


WALTER    EASLEA    &    SONS> 

EASTWOCD,    LEIGH-ON-SEA,    ESSEX. 

Essex  produces  the  World's  Finest  Roses. 

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ENFIELD,  MIDDX. 


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other  Autumn  flowering  Bulbs. 

Attractively  lotted.  Write  for  Catalogues. 

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the  famous  Dunbar  district,  post  free.  Please 
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EAST  LOTHIAN  STOCKS,  in  si.x  colours,  each  1/-, 
2/(5  &  5/-  per  packet.  PENTSTEMON,  Giant 
Flowered,  choicest  mixed.  1/6,  2/6  &  5/-  per  packet. 
PANSY,  Fancy  and  Show,  choice  mixed,  each  I/-, 

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JOHN  FORBES  (Hawick),  Ltd.,  Nurseryiren, 

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CHALK  HILL  NURSERIES,  Ltd.,  London  Rd.,  READING. 


3" 


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varieties    with     full     Cultural 


6" 


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Seed  Potato  Merchants,  YORK. 


CHRYSANTHEMUMS 

New  Japanese  l/ariet  es  of  1921   introduction. 
Helena   Margerison.  large  pearl  plnU.    F.C.C. 
Mrs.  John  Balmer.  Indian  red.     F.C.C. 
Norman    Chittenden,    tnormous    white    tinged    green. 

FCC.  and  A..M. 
Nadine,  \'ery  large  golden  bronze.     F.C  C. 
Pandora,  wine  red  full  flower. 

One  plant  of  each  five  varieties     10/6 
or  two  of  each   ...  ...  ...     20/- 

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free  on    application,  also  General  Catalogue. 

KEITH    LUXFORD    &  CO., 

Sheering    Nurseries,     Harlow,    Essex. 


THE  BARNHAM  NURSERIES,  LTD., 


Will  be  pleased  to  send  Catalogues  of 

Fruit     Trees.    Roses, 
Ornamental     Trees     and 
Shrubs,     Alpine     Plants, 
Hardy    Perennials, 

on  application. 

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STEWART    &     CO., 

13,   Sonth   St.   Andrew   Street,   EDINBURGH 


^.s^Ml^t^_ 


NO.  a6ao.-VoL.  LXXXVI.]         NOTES    OF    THE    WEEK 


[February  4,  1922. 


SWEET    PEAS  IN  BLOOM. 

Like  sunset  clouds  that  cluster  in  the  west 

When  the  daylight  passes  on  and  night  descends  ; 

Like  cheeks  of  children  laid  in  Dreamland's  quest, 
Against  soft  pillows  when  the  twihght  ends. 

Like  a  veil  of  purple  mist  above  the  sea. 

Low  traihng  where  the  sky  and  ocean  meet, 
Trembhng  to  hfe  at  Daybreak's  witchery — 

Or  like  a  pink  shell  crushed  by  passing  feet. 

No  canvas  half  so  rare  as  this  could  be  ; 

No  human  hand  could  scatter  tints  so  fair, 
For  in  the  Crypts  of  dreams  and  imagery. 

No  Artists  live  like  Sea,  and  Sun,  and  Air. 

San  Francisco  BuUelin.        J'^-CK  Burroughs. 

An  International  Show? — In  last  weeks 
issue  Mr.  Harman  Payne  called  attention  to 
the  length  of  time  necessary  to  organise  an 
International  Show.  It  must  be  remembered, 
however,  that  much  of  the  organisation  and 
machinery  appertaining  to  the  last  "  Inter- 
national" is  still  in  existence.  This  being  so,  it 
seems  to  us  that  it  should  easily  be  possible  to 
carry  out  the  Show  in  1923  if  steps  be  taken  at 
once  to  proceed  with  the  idea.  It  is  true,  of  course, 
that  enquiry  needs  to  be  made  as  to  Continental 
fixtures,  but  to  us   1923 

seems  much  more  likely  

to  be  free  than  1924  or 
1925,  for  instance.  In 
any  case,  it  is  evident 
that  it  is  high  time 
thought  was  given  to 
this  question  ot  an 
International  Show. 

The  Postal  Muddle. 

— -Even  the  daily  Press 
has  been  discussing  the 
action  of  Messrs.  Bees, 
Limited,  in  posting  and 
— •  should  we  add  ? — 
printing  their  cata- 
logues in  Germany. 
There  is,  it  is  scarcely 
necessary  to  say,  great 
difference  of  opinion 
as  to  the  merits  or 
demerits  of  the  scheme 
in  question.  One 
party  calls  it  "  sordid 
commercialism,"  while 
another  considers  their 
action  truly  patriotic. 
Be  this  as  it  may — 
whatever  the  intention 
—  the  firm  has 
certainly      done       good 


service  in  once  again  calling  attention  to  the 
anomaly  that  German  firms  can  send  literature 
here  for  a  tiny  fraction  of  the  charge  levied  on  the 
British  producer  or  merchant.  Another  anomaly 
to  which  attention  should  be  drawn  is  the  singular 
arrangement  by  which  magazines  may  be  sent 
by  post  from  London  to  the  wilds  of  Alberta  or 
Saskatchewan  for  less  than  from  London  to 
Reading  !  The  Post  Office  is,  in  fact,  trying  to 
conduct  its  business  on  a  system  which  if  applied 
to  any  industrial  concern  could  only  mean  speedy 
bankruptcy.  Instead  of  a  big  turnover  at  a 
reasonable  rate,  which  would  foster  trade  and 
at  the  same  time  increase  revenue,  this  misguided 
department  has  ever  since  the  war  been  intent 
on  a  small  business  at  an  exorbitant  price.  The 
telegraphs  still  lose  money,  and  the  telephones, 
despite  the  heavy  rates  in  operation,  are  none  too 
efficient,  and  it  is  very  doubtful  if,  even  now, 
they  are  paying  their  way;  yet  the  National 
Telephone  Company  before  the  Government 
"  took  over"  was  a  prosperous  and  progressive 
concern.  Its  operations,  however,  were  un- 
fettered by  red  tape  ! 

Agitate  ! — There  is  no  need  to  make  apology 
for  once  again  bringing  this  question  forward 
into  the  light  of  day.  Dear  postage,  in  all  pro- 
bability,   hits    the   horticultural   trades    as   badly 


SWEET    PEAS    IN    BLOOM. 


as  any,  and  worse  than  many,  and,  though  the 
public  sometimes  fail  to  realise  it,  heavy  incidental 
expenses  such  as  these  must  ultimately  come 
out  of  the  pockets  of  the  purchaser.  There  is 
some  hope  that  if  a  really  strong  protest  is  voiced, 
some  relaxation  of  the  present  heavy  impost  may 
be  afforded.  The  password  for  all  who  would 
shift  the  burden  should  be  "Agitate!" 

The  Rose  and  the  Thorn.—"  Gather  ye  Roses 
while  ye  may!"  Ay,  but  Roses  have  thorns, 
so  where  are  the  gardening  gloves  ?  There  are 
on  the  market  various  devices  for  gathering 
flowers.  An  excellent  one  recently  marketed  is 
the  Plucca  pruner,  which,  in  addition  to  being 
an  excellent  pruner  with  a  detachable  blade  made 
of  sword  steel,  has  an  attachment  (easily  removed 
if  not  required)  which  enables  one  to  gather 
Roses  without  fear  of  thorns,  or  flowers,  at  arm's 
length,  without  danger  of  dropping  and  soiling 
or  bruising  them.  It  is  made  in  three  sizes,  the 
smallest  suitable  for  pruning  Rose  trees  and 
small  enough  and  light  enough  for  a  lady's  use, 
while  the  largest  is  strong  enough  for  quite  heavy 
pruning.  The  design  is  simple  and  straight- 
forward, there  is  no  possibility  of  pinching 
one's  fingers  —  a  common  fault  with  many 
otherwise  excellent  secateurs — and,  a  particu- 
larly good  point,  every  part  is  standardised  and 
there  is  offered  a  com- 
plete set  of  replacement 
parts  in  case  anything 
wears  out  or  breaks. 

Prune  and  Tie  Up. — 

It  is  now  a  seasonable 
time  to  speak  of  prun- 
ing tools,  since  with  the 
advent  of  February 
fruit  -  tree  pruning 

should  no  longer  be 
neglected.  In  the  case 
of  wall  fruit  trees, 
pruning  will  need  fol- 
lowing by  tying  in. 
Here  consideration 
might  well  be  given  to 
the  Everyman  wall- 
clip,  which  represents 
the  latest  idea  in  this 
direction.  With  this  the 
nails  do  not  break,  nor 
can  the  clips,  once  the 
nail  is  driven,  become 
detached.  It  is  im- 
material in  which  direc- 
tion the  clip  lies  when 
the  nail  is  driven,  since 
it  clips  loosely  and  may 
be  turned  in  any  de- 
sired   direction. 


50 


THE    GARDEN. 


[February  4,  1922. 


SOME  PERENNIAL  PLANTS  FROM  SEED 

Always   a  fascinating  pursuit,    the  raising    of   perennials    has   in    many    gardens 
become   a   necessity  from   reasons   of  economy. 


IT  is  unwise  to  postpone  the  sowing  of  such 
things  as  hardy  Primulas  until  this  season, 
as  their  germination  is  far  less  certain  than 
if  they  were  committed  to  the  earth  imme- 
diately they  were  ripe.  There  are,  however, 
many  perennials  which  are  readily  raised  from 
seeds  sown  now,  and  it  is  not  always,  or  indeed 
often,  convenient  to  sow  perennial  seeds  generally 
as  they  ripen.  Again,  in  the  case  of  varieties 
which  it  is  desired  to  try  and  of  which  the  seed 
must  be  bought,  it  seldom  happens  that  one 
gives  them  a  thought  until,  about  New  Year's 
Day,  seed  lists  come  to  hand. 

Some  seeds  are  bought  because  the  species  or 
variety  come  true  from   seed ;    others,   strangely 


one  is  ambitious  to  raise  new  varieties,  it  is  better 
in  their  case  to  leave  seed-raising  alone. 

Seeds  are  the  natural  and  proper  means  of 
increasing  Aquilegias.  but  if  the  beautiful  species 
are  wanted  true  it  is  useless  to  save  seeds  from 
one's  own  plants.  Rehance  must  be  placed  upon 
collected  seeds  purchased  through  some  reUablc 
seed-house.  With  the  old-fashioned  garden  Colum- 
bines or  the  newer  long-spurred  hybrids  the  case 
is,  of  course,  different.  Here  interest  attaches 
rather  to  the  immense  variety  than  to  their  repro- 
ducing true.  The  seeds  of  these  plants  are  very 
hard,  and  abundance  of  water  is  needed  until 
germination  takes  place.  This  necessarily  involves 
nicely  textured  soil  and  good  drainage  to  begin 


IF    PLANTS    OF    CAMPANULA    PORTENSCHLAGIANA    (MURALIS)    ARE     WANTED    TO    SMOTHER 
THE    ROCK    FACE    IN    THIS    WAY,    RECOURSE     SHOULD    BE    HAD    TO     SEED-RAISING. 


enough,  because  it  does  not.  All  the  Gypsophila 
species  may  be  considered  to  come  true  from  seed, 
including  the  invaluable  paniculata  and  the  choice 
alpine  cerastioides.  The  seedlings  of  paniculata, 
however,  usually  come,  some  with  green  stems, 
some  with  wiry  black  ones,  which  latter  are,  of 
course,  more  welcome.  If  plants  be  bought, 
however,  they  may  very  probably  all  turn  out 
to  be  the  green-stemmed  kind.  Even  the  double 
form  of  G.  paniculata  gives  a  fairly  good  per- 
centage true  from  seed,  while  the  remainder  are, 
of  course,  the  useful,  if  more  ordinary,  single  kind. 
Almost  all  Geums  come  true  to  colour  from 
seed,  and  the  alpine  species,  of  course,  come  true. 
There  are  some  very  weedy  strains  of  Gaum 
Mrs.  Bradshaw  on  the  market  which  have  come 
about  by  saving  seeds  from  unselected  seedlings. 
This  plant  tends  to  lose  size  and  character  from 
seed,  and  unless  re-selected  it  progressively  and 
rapidly  deteriorates.  Anchusas  do  not  come  quite 
true  from  seed.  They  are  readily  and  rapidly 
increased  by  means  of  root  cuttings,  so  that  unless 


with,  as  Aquilegias  by  no  means  appreciate  sour 
soil. 

To  those  who  contemplate  raising  Michaelmas 
Daisies  from  a  casual  packet  of  seeds,  the  best 
advice  is.  don't.  The  plants  resulting  are  almost 
invariably  dreadful  weeds.  If  the  spirit  moves 
one  carefully  to  cross-poUinate  some  of  the  varieties 
in  one's  garden,  that  is  another  story,  though 
even  then  a  large  percentage  of  absolute  "  duds" 
must  be  looked  for. 

Easy  and  valuable  plants  to  raise  from  seed  are 
the  Bocconias.  Of  the  two  species,  both  decora- 
tive, cordata  is  handsomer  in  creamy  panicles, 
but  microcarpa  is  the  statelier  and  has  a  little  the 
nobler  foUage. 

Campanulas  in  general  well  repay  the  raising 
of  any  form  worth  growing.  Some  of  the  herbaceous 
species  are,  as  most  gardeners  know,  rather  in- 
effective and  "  dead-nettley "  in  appearance, 
but  it  is  well  occasionally  to  raise  the  really  worthy 
species  from  seed.  The  number  of  distinct  forms 
and  shades  of  colour  which  will  come  from  a  single 


pod  of  a  good  persicifoUa  form  is  remarkable. 
These  seedling  forms  have  an  abounding  vigour  very 
grateful  to  the  gardener.  Persicifoha  is  one  of 
the  readiest  plants  to  increase  by  division,  so  that, 
except  fbr  new  forms  and  increased  vigour,  it 
need  not  be  raised  from  seed,  but  with  C.  lactiflora 
the  case  is  different.  This  is  a  plant  rather 
impatient  of  propagation.  From  seed  many  of 
the  plants  will  lack  the  just  colouring  which 
everyone  admires,  but  if  the  seeds  were  saved 
from  the  right  form  a  percentage  will  come  true, 
and  the  plant  is  so  beautiful  intrinsically  and  a 
few  specimens  will  ultimately  make  such  a  fine 
clump  that  the  trouble  is  well  repaid. 

Of  the  smaller  species — many  of  them  alpines — 
numbers  are  offered  as  seed  from  the  ever-useful 
carpatica  and  the  daintier  turbinata  to  those  minute 
alpine  jewels  Waldsteiniana  and  Zoysii.  All  the 
tap-rooted  species,  such  as  Portenschlagiana  and 
garganica,  should  occasionally  be  renewed  from 
seed,  as  the  seedlings  have  a  vigour  very  pleasant 
to  see,  as  they  spread  from  the  rock-bound  fissure 
in  which  their  roots  dwell,  right  across  the  massy 
boulders  on  either  hand. 

Seed  is  often  offered  of  Chrysanthemum  maximum 
usually  So  and  So's  "  giants "  or  "  Goliaths." 
The  flowers  from  such  strains  are  usually  abomin- 
ably rough  and  coarse.  The  wise  gardener  will, 
if  he  wants  to  try  his  hand  at  raising  a  new  variety 
— and  it  is  not  easy — hybridise  flowers  of  really 
first-rate  kinds  himself. 

Few  will  wish  to  raise  Galega  from  seed  in  all 
probabihty,  but  in  case  any  do,  it  is  worthy  of 
mention  that  G.  carnea  plena,  which  is  a  very 
distinct  and  pleasing  form,  appears  to  come  true 
from  seed. 

All  the  Hypericums  come  true  from  seed,  and 
of  them  the  name  is  legion ;  but  unless  extensive 
naturalising  is  contemplated,  few  will  trouble  to 
raise  any  except  those  beautiful  trailers  repens 
and  reptans,  which,  though  very  distinct,  are 
both  invaluable  for  the  rock  garden. 

The  Torch  Lilies — Kniphofias  or  Tritomas,  as 
they  are  still  often  called — come  readily  from 
seed.  Uvaria  grandiflora  is  the  variety  usually 
listed,  but  the  beautiful  Express  hybrids  are 
often  offered,  and  such  remarkable  and  valuable 
species  as  nobilis,  caulescens,  Northiae  and  Tuckii 
also  may  be  obtained.  These  and,  where  space 
is  limited,  the  charming  little  pauciflora  forms 
are  best  worth  attention. 

Very  easy  to  raise  and  very  beautiful  when 
raised  are  many  of  the  Toad-flaxes  (Linaria). 
L.  macedonica  is  probably  the  best  of  the  taUer 
forms,  while  most  of  the  trailing  kinds  are  so  readily 
propagated  as  hardly  to  be  worth  the  trouble 
of  raising  from  seed.  This,  however,  does  not 
apply  to  the  beautiful  alpina  and  its  forms.  This 
species  is  in  our  climate  Uttle  better  than  a  biennial, 
but  it  is  so  exquisite  that  few  will  grudge  the 
sUght  labour  of  raising  it.  Indeed,  on  the  moraine 
it  will  often  naturalise  itself  from  self-sown  seed. 
The  true  Flaxes  are  peculiarly  suitable  for 
cultivation  from  seed.  They  are  readily  raised 
so  and  difficult  effectively  to  propagate  other- 
wise. Linum  perenne,  L.  narbonense  and  L. 
alpinum  are  invaluable,  the  last  mentioned  a 
gem  for  the  rockery,  but  the  pale  yellow-flowered 
arboreum  has  many  admirers. 

Fairly  easy  to  germinate  and  facile  enough  in 
really  gritty  compost  is  that  quaint  Cress,  Morisia 


February  4,  1922. 


THE    GARDEN. 


51 


h>'pogaea.  This  is  a  really  invaluable  plant  in 
hungry,  well  drained  soil  or.  preferably,  on  the 
moraine. 

Readily  raised,  so  that  the  seeds  be  not  smothered, 
the  various  species  of  Mimulus  are  so  easily 
propagated  by  division  that  few  will  trouble  to 
raise  them.  Very  different  in  this  respect  are 
their  water-loving  neighbours  the  Ly  thrums. 
which  are  easy  to  raise  and  come  wonderfully 
true  to  t}T:)e.  The  rose-coloured  forms  alone  are 
usually  grown  in  gardens,  as  few  people  Uke  the 
rather  startling  magenta  of  the  wild  plant.  The 
Statices.  again,  are  easy  to  obtain  from  seed, 
and  if  some  of  the  plants  of  S.  latifolia.  for  instance, 
lack  the  rich  colouring  of  the  best  forms,  they 
are  not  altogether  wanting  in  charm. 

The  Meadow-Rues  (Thahctrums)  form  another 
family  profitably  raised  from  seed.  Aquilegi- 
folium  purpureum  and  (especially)  dipterocarpum 
are  probably  the  best ;  but  aU  are  beautiful  and. 
for  the  diversity  they  introduce,  very  useful  in 
the  mixed  border.  Such  Verbascums  as  Miss 
Willmott,  which,  however,  throws  a  percentage 
of  soft  yellow  forms,  and  Harkness's  Hybrid  should 
be  obtained  from  seed,  as  should  V.  phoeniceum, 
■with  flowers  in  many  shades  of  hlac,  rose  and 
purple  as  well  as  pure  white. 

The  herbaceous  Speedwells  (Veronica)  are, 
generally  speaking,  easy  to  propagate  vegetatively. 
also  few  of  them  come  even  approximately  true 
from  seed.  The  amateur,  then,  will  be  wise  to 
pass  them  by  when  making  out  the  seed  order. 
The  same  remarks  will  apply  to  the  hybrid 
Erigerons,  while  no  one  not  excessively  fond  of 
trouble  will  try  to  raise  any  of  the  true  Thistles 
(Eryngium)  except  that  fine  biennial  species 
E.  giganteum.  The  Globe  Thistles  (Echinops), 
on  the  other  hand,  are  readily  raised  and  very 
handsome,  and  so  are  the  alpine  Carhnas,  acaulis 
and  acanthifolia.  Of  these  the  latter  is  the  more 
worthy  species.  The  sessile  straw-coloured  flowers 
in  the  centres  of  the  great  silvery  rosettes  are  very 
remarkable.  Strangely,  acauUs  is  not.  even  on 
the  Alps,  steraless.  The  rosettes  are  handsome 
enough,  but  it  becomes  an  ugly  weed  when  it 
runs  up  to  flower. 

t  is  strongly  to  be  recommended  to  raise  most 
true  alpines  immediately  the  seeds  are  ripe.  This 
particularly  appUes  to  such  genera  as  Gentiana. 
Primula,  Anemone,  Soldanella,  Shortia,  Pinguicula, 


THE    CHARMING    FORM    OF    THE    CARPATHIAN    BELL    FLOWER    USUALLY    LISTED    AS 

CAMPANULA    TURBINATA. 


and  perhaps  Androsace.  It  appUes  less  forcibly 
to  the  last  named  genus,  also  to  Lithospermum, 
Onosma,  Mertensia  and  Helleborus,  which  take 
longer  to  germinate  if  kept,  but  do  not  so  rapidly 
lose  vitality.  Alyssums,  Aubrietias,  .Ethionemas, 
Arabises — few  will  care  to  raise  any  but  the  choicest, 
such  as  Sturrii,  procurrens  or  Ferdinand-Coburgi — 
Drabas,  Erodiums,  Geraniums,  Erysimums, 
Iberises,  alpine  Pinks  of  sorts  and  the  mossy  Saxi- 
frages. The  Kabschia  and  Eu-aizoon  (Encrusted) 
forms  of  Saxifrage  are  quite  raisable  now,  but. 
being  choice,  should  wherever  possible  be  given 
the  best  possible  chance  by  sowing  early — prefer- 
ably as  soon  as  ripe  or  obtainable  from  the  collector. 
No  reliance  can  be  placed  on  home-grown  seeds 
of  the  encrusted  Saxifrages  coming  true  to  type. 


THE    HERBACEOUS    LUPINS     (lUPINUS    POLYPHYLLUS)     HAVE     NOW     AN 
WIDE    AND    BEAUTIFUL    RANGE    OF    COLOUR. 


EXTRAORDINARI  LY 


Almost  invariably  the  seedlings  prove  to  be  natural 
hybrids  of  some  kind.  This  to  many  people, 
however,  affords  but  an  additional  fascination. 

So  far,  broadly  speaking,  we  have  been  con- 
sidering plants  which  are  recommendable  to  raise 
from  seed  because  they  come  true.  Incidental 
mention  has,  however,  been  made  of  such  plants 
as  the  long-spurred  Aquilegias,  which  are  valuable 
and  interesting  owing  to  their  kaleidoscopic 
variations  in  colour.  Another  race  of  plants 
which  makes  a  similar  appeal  is  the  herbaceous 
Lupin  (Lupinus  polyphyUus).  The  Lupins  have, 
under  the  magic  wand  of  the  hybridist,  gradually 
been  translated  until  what  used  to  be  rather 
unattractive  plants,  with  spires  of  purplish  blue 
or  dirty  white,  are  now  almost  endless  in  variety 
and  glorious  in  purity  of  colour.  Rose  pink, 
buff,  yellow,  mauve,  blue  and  white  all  enter  into 
the  coloration  of  a  good  strain,  some  in  practically 
self  colour,  the  yellow  and  buff  particularly  in 
combination.  Some  of  the  forms  charm  by  their 
seeming  delicacy,  ahke  of  form  and  colouring. 
Others  of  more  robust  colouring  make  an  equally 
sure  appeal  in  their  combined  brilliance  and 
purity. 

Gaillardias  are  readily  raised  from  seed,  and 
though  the  colour  range  is  Umited,  yet  the  varia- 
tions in  form  and  to  an  even  greater  extent  in 
arrangement  of  the  colours  are  remarkable.  These 
plants  are  apt  to  die  out  on  some  soils  owing  to 
winter  wet.  Where  such  is  the  case  it  will  be  found 
that  the  superior  constitution  of  the  seedlings  is 
invaluable. 

Seedling  Delphiniums,  even  if  raised  from  seed 
from  one  plant  only,  show  considerable  variation. 
Like  the  Gaillardias,  they  have  a  vigour  ahen  to 
the  too  often  over-propagated  named  kinds,  and 
it  is  wonderful  how  satisfactorily  the  very  diverse 
colours  group  together. 

Few  plants  are  more  easUy  raised — albeit  not 
over-quick  to  germinate — than  the  hybrid  Pent- 
stemons,  which  make  so  brave  a  show  in  late 
summer  and  autumn.  If  seed  be  bought  of  a 
really  rehable  strain,  a  large  proportion  of  the 
seedhngs  will  be  really  first-rate.  They  should 
include  varieties  of  almost  every  shade  of  colour 


52 


THE    GARDEN. 


[February  4,  1922. 


from  all  but  pure  white  to  crimson-scarlet  in  one 
range  and  to  purplish  maroon  in  the  other  with 
wide  throats  and  huge  flowers.  Such  results 
cannot  be  expected,  however,  from  cheap  seeds, 
as  really  good  varieties  seed  but  sparingly. 

Methods  of  procedure  calculated  to  assist  and 
forward  germination  were  mentioned  in  an  article 
on  perennial  seed  raising  in  The  Garden  for 
December  24  last,  so  that  there  should  be  no  need 


to  recapitulate.  It  may  be  worthy  of  note,  how- 
ever, that  the  Giant  Parsnips  (Heracleum),  at  all 
times  slow  to  germinate,  are  aU  but  impossible 
to  raise  within  a  finite  time  unless  sown  imme- 
diately the  seeds  are  ripe.  Like  those  of  the 
Lotus  of  the  Nile,  the  seeds  seem  to  retain  their 
vitality  for  a  long  time,  but  it  is  exceedingly  diffi- 
cult once  they  get  thoroughly  dry  for  moisture 
to  penetrate  to  the  germ. 


ANNUALS    FOR    THE    GREENHOUSE 

The  hardy   and  half-hardy   annuals   as   used  for  greenhouse   decoration   are 
very   effective   and  represent   one  possible   method  of  economy  in  these  days 

of  dear  fuel. 


FO  R  a  good  many  years  now  annuals, 
both  hardy  and  half  hardy,  have  steadily 
been  increasing  in  favour  for  furnishing 
the  greenhouse  and  conservatory.  Tender 
annuals  have,  of  course,  always  been 
largely  used  for  this  purpose.  Some  twenty-five 
to  thirty  years  ago  numbers  of  hardy  and  half 
hardy  annuals  were  regularly  grown  for  the  con- 
servatory or  show  house  in  the  Royal  Botanic 
Gardens,  Kew,  and  the  writer  well  remembers 
how  many  gardeners  used  to  scoff  at  the  idea  of 
growing  annuals  in  pots  ;  and  that,  in  spite  of  the 
fact  that  market  men  had  regularly  grown  some 
favourite  plant,  such  as  Mignonette,  for  many 
years  previously.  The  idea  that  such  plants 
required  no  care  in  cultivation  was  a  mistaken 
one,  as  many  gardeners  discovered  when  first 
they  took  up  their  cultivation.  It  is  true  that, 
given  the  right  conditions  and  a  knowledge  of 
the  plants,  their  successful  cultivation  presents 
few  difficulties  to  a  good  grower.  The  gardener 
must  know  his  plants,  however :  he  must,  for 
example,  know  which  can  safely  be  transplanted 
and  differentiate  them  from  the  remainder,  which 
will  not  stand  pricking  off  with  any  degree  of 
safety,  and  which  must,  therefore,  be  sown 
directly  into  their  flowering  pots.  The  cultivator 
must  also  bear  in  mind  that  any  check,  whether 
it  be  from  over-watering  or  from  dryness  at  the 
root,  or,  in  fact,  from  any  cause,  will  usually 
prove  fatal,  or  at  any  rate,  the  grower  will  have 
very  Uttle  chance  of  getting  the  plant  into  a  healthy 
condition  such  as  he  would  have  with  perennials. 
The  life  cycle  of  annuals,  in  fact,  covers  such  a 
short  period  that  there  is  httle  time  for  them  to 
recuperate,  so  that  if  a  batch  of  plants  go  wrong 
they  might  just  as  well  be  thrown  away. 

In  speaking  of  this  class  of  plant  growers  usually 
use  the  term  "annual"  in  its  broadest  sense,  fre- 
quently applying  it  to  plants  that  are  truly  biennial, 
and  in  quite  a  number  of  cases  really  perennial. 
In  a  sense  the  term  is  correct  when  apphed  to  any 
plant  that  for  a  particular  purpose  can  be  raised 
from  seed  and  flowered  within  the  same  year. 
On  the  other  hand,  a  good  many  annuals  used 
for  this  purpose  are  treated  as  biennials,  being 
sown  the  previous  year  to  that  in  which  they  are 
flowered,  with  this  difference,  however,  that  they 
are  not  sown  so  early  as  those  which  one  regards 
as  true  biennials. 

Now  as  to  the  essentials  for  successful  cultiva- 
tion :  For  most  of  them  it  is  quite  simple,  needing 
merely  cold  frames  and,  as  they  approach  the 
flowering  stage  and  require  more  head  room, 
cool  houses.  If  the  frames  and  houses  are  heated 
so  much  the  better,  not  that  much  heat  is  required 
or  even  desirable,  but  during  a  spell  of  dull,  damp 
weather  it  is  often  an  advantage  if  a  little  heat 
can  be  turned  on  for  an  hour  or  so  to  dispel  moisture 
and  change  the  atmosphere.  Generally  speaking, 
however,  the  cooler  they  can  be  kept,  with  plenty 


of  air  on  all  favourable  occasions,  the  better  will 
be  the  results.  The  chief  aim  should  be  to  keep 
the  plants  strong  and  sturdy  ;  but  this  is  not 
always  so  easy  as  it  would  at  first  sight  appear. 


THE  GODETIAS  WITH  THEIR  SILVERY  SHEEN 
ARE   EXCELLENT   FOR  CULTURE  UNDER  GLASS. 

A  long  spell  of  dull,  sunless  weather  often  results 
in  weak  and  spindly  growth.  Again,  not  all 
houses  are  well  adapted  for  growing  successfully 
this  class  of  plant ;  remember  that  plenty  of  light 
and  air  is  essential,  and  at  all  stages  of  growth  it  is 
an  advantage  if  the  plants  can  be  kept  as  near  the 
roof  glass  as  possible.  As  regards  the  time  of 
sowing,  there  is  no  doubt  that  for  some  plants 
autumn  is  the  best  time,  especially  if  fine  large 
specimens  are  desired,  but  good  results  may  be 
obtained  by  sowing  almost  all  annuals  now.  This 
applies  especially  to  such  popular  things  as 
Mignonette,  Clarkias,  Godetias,  Schizanthus, 
Larkspurs,   Nemesias  and  Viscarias. 

While  autumn  sowing  is  desirable  and  in  many 
cases  gives  the  best  results,  especially  in  the 
country  where  there  is  plenty  of  winter  light, 
on  the  other  hand,  in  the  immediate  neighbourhood 
of  London  and  other  large  towns  success  is  by  no 
means  so  certain  ;  this  is  mainly  due  to  fogs  and 
lack  of  light.  It  is  hardly  possible  to  keep  them 
from  making  growth,  and  this  is  often  so  weak 
that  it  is  not  capable  of  supporting  itself :  needless 
to  say,  such  plants  take  some  time  to  recover  when 


better  weather  conditions  do  prevail  early  in  the 
New  Year.  On  this  account  we  find  at  Kew  that 
it  is  best  to  defer  the  sowing  of  most  annuals  for 
pot-work  until  the  days  commence  to  lengthen. 
It  is  true  the  resulting  plants  are  not,  as  a  rule, 
so  large,  but  they  do  at  least  have  a  chance  to 
make  decent  growth  under  the  better  weather 
conditions. 

The  maintenance  of  proper  temperatures  is 
important,  and  the  chief  thing  to  avoid  is  too  much 
heat,  bearing  in  mind  that  many  of  these  plants 
are  hardy  and  will  stand  outdoors,  except,  perhaps, 
on  very  heavy  and  cold,  wet  soils.  Although 
in  these  cool  conditions  they  may  not  make  much 
top  growth,  they  are.  nevertheless,  very  active 
at  the  root.  The  temperature  may  fall,  therefore, 
to  freezing  point — although  this  is  not  desirable — 
without  any  harm  resulting.  They  should  be 
kept  at  a  steady  temperature  of  40°  to  45°  with 
plenty  of  air  on  all  favourable  occasions,  taking 
care  to  avoid  draughts,  which  are  more  harmful 
than  a  low  temperature. 

The  temperature  during  the  day  may  be  allowed 
to  rise  5°  to  10°  %vith  sun  heat  without  any  harm 
resulting,  always  provided  ample  ventilation  is 
given. 

Watering,  needless  to  say,  should  be  carefully 
done  during  the  duU  days.  The  seed  pans  or 
boxes  should  be  made  moderately  firm ;  many 
cultivators  err  in  this  respect,  making  their  seed  bed 
too  loose.  In  a  loose  medium,  damping  off  is 
generally  more  troublesome,  and  in  dealing  with 
this  class  of  plant  damping  ol?  has  generally  to  be 
guarded  against.  For  this  reason  the  seed  should 
always  be  sown  very  thinly,  and  the  resulting 
seedUngs  pricked  off  before  they  become  crowded. 
In  most  cases  the  young  seedlings  are  best  pricked 
off  directly  they  are  large  enough  to  handle  into 
48-sized  pots  ;  if  larger  pots  are  required  they  can 
be  potted  on  as  they  require  it.  Whether  they  are 
grown  singly  or  several  in  a  pot  depends  largely 
on  the  variety  of  plant  used.  Again,  some  may 
require  stopping  or  pinching  to  induce  a  bush 
habit ;  with  others  this  is  not  necessary  ;  in  fact, 
some  would  not  stand  it.  For  example,  Clarkias, 
Godetias  and  Schizanthus  may  be  grown  singly 
in  pots,  and  generally  with  advantage  may  be 
stopped ;  whereas  such  slender  growing  things 
as  Viscarias  and  Linarias  will  require  five  or  six 
plants  to  furnish  a  pot  properly. 

No  artificial  manures  should  be  added  to  the 
potting  soil,  but  when  they  have  well  filled  their 
flowering  pots  with  roots  and  are  growing  freely 
they  will  benefit  by  frequent  applications  of  clear 
soot-water  and  diluted  liquid  manure ;  guano, 
which  is  a  safe,  all-round  fertiUser,  may  also  be 
used  at  the  rate  of  4  ozs.  to  a  three-gallon  can  oi 
water.  In  applying  manures  it  is  always  safe  to 
use  them  weak  and  often. 

The  foregoing  remarks  on  the  cultivation  of 
hardy  and  half  hardy  annuals  in  pots  applies 
generally  to  the  more  tender  greenhouse  annuals, 
with  the  exception  that  they  for  the  most  part 
may  with  advantage  be  grown  in  a  higher  tempera- 
ture. Celosias,  for  example,  are  best  grown 
in  a  temperature  of  50°  to  60°.  All  of  them, 
of  course,  when  in  flower,  will  stand  in  the  cool 
greenhouse. 

A  short  Ust  of  the  various  sections  may  prove 
helpful  to  readers  who  have  not  yet  attempted 
the  cultivation  of  this  class  of  plant.  The  follow- 
ing may  with  advantage  be  sown  now  :  Mignonette, 
Clarkias,  of  which  there  are  now  many  fine  varieties ; 
Godetias,  especially  Schamini  fl.-pl.  and  variety 
Rosy  Morn ;  also  Godetia  Lavender.  I  cannot 
understand  why  this  beautiful  variety  is  not  more 
generally  grown.  It  is,  I  suspect,  an  improved 
form  of  G.  tenella,  or  to  be  correct,  CEnothera 
tenella,  as  all  Godetias  are  now  botanically 
included  in  CEnothera.     Antirrhinums,  although  not 


February  4,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


53 


strictly  annuals,  will  give  good  results  if  sown  now. 
Sweet  Peas,  Schizanthus,  Viscarias,  Nicotiana 
Sanderae.  Delphinium  Ajacis  vars.,  the  tall,  branch- 
ing Rocket  Larkspurs,  also  the  beautiful  Stock- 
flowered  Rosy  Scarlet. 

In  addition  to  the  above  the  following  may 
be  sown  now  :  Alonsoas,  Browallia  elata,  blue  and 
white  ;  the  dwarf  forms  of  Coreopsis  tinctoria. 
Chrysanthemum  carinatum  varieties,  also  C. 
segetum  vars.  Morning  and  Evening  Star ;  Col- 
linsia  bicolor  and  candidissima,  Gilia  dianthoides, 
HelichrT.-sums,  Kochia  trichophylla,  for  its  foliage  ; 
Mina  lobata,  which  may  be  trained  up  the  roof  ; 
Nemophila  insignis,  which  makes  pretty  baskets  ; 
Scabiosa  atropurpurea.  in  many  varieties  ;  Schizan- 
thus. of  which  there  are  many  fine  strains  ; 
also  S.  Wisetonensis  and  S.  retusus,  Statice 
Suworowi  and  S.  sinuata,  both  blue  and 
white ;  also  Nemesia  strumosa  and  N.  Blue 
and  White  Gem. 

Annuals  that  do  not  transplant  readily  but 
should  be  sown  directly  into  their  flowering  pots 
are  ^lignonette.  AcrocUniums,  rose  and  white, 
very  elegant  everlastings  ;  as  also  are  Rhodanthe 
Manglesii  and  R.  maculata,  in  rose  and  white  ; 
Hunnemannia  fumarisfoUa,  a  beautiful  Poppywort 
from  California,  is  generally  classed  as  a  biennial 
or  a  short-hved  perennial,  but  in  this  country 
it  behaves  as  a  hardy  annual ;  Meconopsis 
heterophylla,  the  Sweet  Sultans  for  which 
calcareous  soil  is  essential,  and  Salpiglossis  which 
can  certainly  be  transplanted,  but  they  axe 
one  of  the  most  difficult  of  annuals  to  do  well, 
so  that  it  is  wise  to  sow  directly  into  their  flowering 
pots. 

The  term  greenhouse  annuals,  as  generally 
used,  is  a  pretty  wide  one,  and  may  be  apphed  to 
such  plants  as  the  Chinese  Primula  or  Cineraria, 
which,  if  sown  early  enough,  will  flower  the  same 
year.  Most  so-called  greenhouse  annuals  are — 
in  the  South  at  least — half  hardy,  that  is,  they  will 
stand  outdoors  during  the  summer  if  they  are 
raised  indoors  and  then  planted  out.  Some  of 
those  which  are  used  for  greenhouse  decoration 
during  summer  and  autumn  are  Amarantus  tri- 
color splendens,  Asclepias  curassavica,  and  Begonia 
semperflorens  in  many  fine  varieties  may  be 
treated  as  annuals ;  Browallia  speciosa  major, 
Celosia  cristata  and  var.  pyramidaUs,  Impatiens 
Balsamina  (Balsams).  I.  Holstii  and  I.  Sultani 
may  also  be  treated  as  annuals,  as  may  Ipomcea 
rubro-coerulea,  a  beautiful  blue-flowered  cUmber  ; 
Lobelia  tenuior  (all  the  LobeUas  may,  in  fact,  be 
treated  as  annuals),  Petunias,  Thunbergia  alata, 
Torenia  Fournicri  and  T.  Bailloni,  also  Exacum 
affine.  The  lists  given  are  by  no  means  exhaustive, 
but  will  serve  to  show  the  wide  range  of  plants 
that  may  be  used  in  this  way  for  greenhouse 
decoration.  Where  only  a  very  small  and  low 
house  or  houses  are  available  there  are  quite  a 
number  of  low-growing  plants  that  could  be  used 
which  are  too  small  for  the  ordinary  greenhouse. 
A  few  names  will  indicate  what  I  mean  ;  there  is, 
for  example,  Sedum  coenileum,  Diascia  BarberEe, 
lonopsidium  acaule,  Leptosiphons,  Meconopsis 
heterophylla,  Hunnemannia  fumari^efoUa,  Nycter- 
inia  capensis  and  N .  selaginoides.  Grown  in  shallow 
pans  some  of  the  above  plants  could  with  advantage 
be  used  in  the  alpine  house.  If  I  may  be  allowed 
to  sum  up  the  essentials  for  success,  they  are  : 
(il  Thin  sowing;  (2)  pricking  off  the  seedlings 
before  they  become  crowded  ;  (3)  cool  conditions 
at  aU  times  for  the  hardy  kmds,  with  free 
exposure  to  light  and  air ;  (4)  careful  watering 
at  all  stages  of  their  cultivation ;  (5)  timely 
staking  or  support  to  such  as  require  it. 

If  properly  grown  on  these  Unes  there  should 
be  Httle  or  no  trouble  from  insect  pests,  but  if 
aphis  should  appear  several  hght  fumigations  will 
soon   destroy   it.  J.  Coutts. 


A    BORDER    OF    HARDY    ANNUALS 

Being   "  Somers' "  promised  further  suggestions  for   its  planning. 


TO  my  first  instalment  of  suggestions 
for  your  summer  border  of  hardy 
annuals  (The  Garden.  December  31), 
which  I  hope  you  found  it  possible  to 
read,    incomplete    as    it    was,    you    will 

have  observed  that  the  Editor,  by  way  of  instruc- 
tive  gloss,   has  supphed   a  charming  illustration, 

with    the    legend,    "  An    Annual    Border    in    the 
Kitchen   Garden."     My  own  garden  is  largely   a 

kitchen   garden  ;    but  never  in   my   life,    kitchen 

garden  or  elsewhere,  have  I  had  such  an  admirably 

graded    flower   border    as 

this,  the  truth  being  that 

my    taste    does    not    run 

in  the  direction  of    exact 

gradations  from  zero,  from 

lonopsidium,    let   us   say, 

to  Sunflowers   of  a  giant 

stature.      This,    however, 

is    a   free   country,   or   at 

least     was  —  Government 

having,  so  far,    not    seen 

its  way  to  inhibit  or  tax 

individual  taste  in  flower 

arrangement — so    that    if 

you     should      perhaps 

favour  the  "  grand  stand  " 

order    of    flower    border, 

I   would  say  by  all  means 

have   it.     The  illustration 

gives    you    something    in 

this      way      which      is 

decidedly    effective    and 

which  would  not,    I  should 

think,  be  hard  to  achieve. 

For  myself.  I  confess  that. 

owing    to    some    kink    in 

ray  mechanism,  the  exact 

seat  of  which  I  have  not 

been    able    to    trace,    any 

obtrusive     regularity      of 

arrangement   always    irks 

me,  my  notion  of  comfort 

in  a  garden  being  plenty 

of     everything,      and      a 

"  most  admired  disorder." 

And  The   Garden    artist 

himself,    whoever  he  was, 

who  created  the  flowery 
slope  of  the  illustration 
in  question,  must  have 
desired  to  avoid  the  ex- 
cessive use  of  rule  and 
plummet,  otherwise  why, 
half  way  along  his  border, 
does  he  introduce  a  flower- 
less  shrub  of  some  size,  a 
Camellia  or  a  Laurel,  as  it 
looks  to  me.  Probably  he 
placed  the  shrub  there  to  serve  the  double  purpose  of 
breaking  the  uniformity  of  surface  and  of  watering 
down  what  might  otherwise  be  an  excess  of  colour  ; 
though  possibly  the  shrub  was  there  to  start  with, 
in  which  case  it  was  a  happy  accident  Anyhow, 
I  have  a  premonition  that  your  border  is  going 
to  err  rather  by  excess  than  by  defect  of  colour, 
and  the  question  at  present  therefore  is  whether, 
having  no  Camellias,  Laurels  or  other  shrubs  to 
fall  back  upon,  you  can  find  among  hardy  annuals 
any  effectual  means  of  correcting  a  too  monotonous 
uniformity  of  surface  or  unrestful  glare  of  colour. 
You  certainly  can  find  one  or  two  things  which 
will  serve  the  purpose  quite  as  effectively  as 
evergreen  shrubs.  There  is  Kochia,  for  instance, 
which  is  hardy  enough,  provided  you  do  not  sow 


too  early.  For  a  soft  green,  you  can  hardly 
better  this  annual,  arranged  preferably  in  groups 
of  several  plants.  In  autumn,  to  be  sure,  the 
green  will  change  to  red,  but  by  that  time  many 
of  your  annuals  will  have  gone  off,  and  you  may 
be  glad  of  some  accession  of  colour.  The  Kochia 
will  grow  to  a  height  of  2ft.  or  3ft.  ;  but  if  you 
should  desire  something  really  tall  and  striking, 
with  graceful  and  characteristic  foUage,  then 
sow  a  few  seeds  of  Hemp  (Cannabis  indica). 
Should  these  prosper  and  reach  a  height  of  5ft, 


SHIRLEY    POPPIES    AND    LIMNANTHES    DOUGLASII. 
Unlike  the  many-faceted  scheme  outlined  by  "  Somers,"  this  border 
charms  by  its  very  simplicity. 


or  so,  you  will  have  your  friends  asking  "What 
handsome  tropical  plant  is  that  which  you  have 
repeated  here  and  there  in  your  border,  and  how, 
not  having  a  greenhouse  or  even  a  frame,  did  you 
ever  manage  to  raise  such  things  ?  "  But  distin- 
guished in  appearance  and  useful  as  this  plant 
is,  I  find  it  omitted  from  the  lists  of  some  important 
firms,  possibly  because  of  its  ignoble  association 
with  ropes  and  their  purposes.  Then  there  are 
various  annual  grasses  which  you  must  not  over- 
look, partly  for  their  softening  grace  in  the  border, 
but  especially  because  of  their  usefulness  as  a 
setting  for  cut  flowers,  such  as  Poppies  and  Sweet 
Peas.  If  you  grow  only  one  grass,  let  it  be 
Hordeum  jubatum — a  graceful  Barley  with  long 
awns  of  spun  glass.     You  may  also  like  to  grow 


54 


THE    GARDEN. 


[February  4,  1922. 


the  Quaking  Grasses  (Brizse) — "  Silver  Shekels," 
as  I  have  heard  them  called.  I  do  not  myself 
particularly  care  for  these  grasses,  preferring, 
by  way  of  "  Shekels,"  those  of  Bromus  brizffi- 
formis,  which  is  of  similar  habit,  but  larger  in  the 
shekels  and  altogether  handsomer  than  the 
Briz«,  though  not  perhaps  so  easy  to  grow.  Also 
there  are  the  Bent  and  Love  Grasses  (Agrostis 
and  Eragrostis)  and  the  Hare's-tail  (Lagurus)  ; 
though  as  a  foil  for  cut  flowers,  speaking  for 
myself,  I  find  Hordeum  jubatum,  supplemented 
by  grasses  from  the  wayside,  all  that  I  require 
for  the  purpose. 

I  fear  I  have  all  this  time  been  suggesting  the 
means  of  correcting  an  excess  of  colour  in  your 
border,  without  having  yet  told  you  how  to 
create  the  colour  that  is  to  be  corrected  ;  but 
that  is  a  simple  matter.  Your  border  has  a  width, 
you  say,  of  icft.  If,  therefore,  we  allow  a  space 
of  3ft.  at  the  back  for  your  Sweet  Pea  and 
Nasturtium  hedge,  with  an  additional  foot  of 
free  space  to  enable  you  to  pass  along  the  border 
and  gather  your  Sweet  Peas,  and  if,  further,  we 
assign  ift.  of  border  space  behind  the  stone  edging 
for  planting,  among  the  stones,  the  various  annuals 
of  dwarf  growth  formerly  specified,  that  will 
leave  exactly  a  breadth  of  5ft.  to  be  filled  with 
those  taller  things  which  must  give  the  border 
its  body  of  colour.  Most  of  the  gayer  annuals 
range  in  height  from  ift.  to  3ft.  NaturaDy, 
without  desiring  a  regularity  that  will  seem  too 
artificial,  you  will  still  wish  to  have  your  flowers 
placed  where  you  can  best  see  them,  which  means 
that  they  must  be  planted  more  or  less  in  ichelon. 
In  the  5ft.,  therefore,  still  left  to  be  furnished 
with  annuals,  I  will  suppose  two  zones  of  height, 
the  front  zone  to  be  filled  with  annuals  of  from 
ift.  to  2ft.  in  height,  the  zone  behind  with  plants 
ranging  from  2ft.  to  5ft.  As  a  quintette  of  annuals 
for  the  front  zone,  I  can  think  of  no  better  com- 
bination than  Mignonette,  Clarkia,  Godetia, 
Candytuft  and  Nigella.  As  much  has  been 
written  about  Mignonette,  I  should  think,  as 
about  Shakespeare  ;  so  I  will  say  nothing  about 
the  favourite  annual  except  this — that  it  is  a 
mistake  to  suppose  the  sole  charm  of  Mignonette 
to  lie  in  its  perfume,  for  if  you  procure  the  right 
strains  you  may  also  have  a  most  attractive  display 
of  brown-crimson  and  orange  heads  of  bloom. 
Clarkia  I  have  only  of  late  learned  to  appreciate 
at  its  true  value.  It  has  no  great  range  of  colour, 
but,  within  its  range,  you  will  not  easily  find 
whites  and  pinks  which  for  softness  and  dehcacy 
can  beat  the  shades  of  the  best  Clarkias  ;  while 
the  outline  of  flower  and  spray  is  the  last  word  in 
graceful  beauty.  I  think,  however,  that  the 
purveyors  of  Clarkia  seed  have  been  straining 
,too  much  after  double  forms  of  the  flower,  which 
seem  to  me  to  lose  in  grace  what  they  gain  in 
substance.  I  cannot  say  that  I  am  as  partial  to 
the  Godetia  as  to  the  Clarkia.  Nevertheless.  I 
know  few  flowers  better  entitled  than  the  Godetia 
to  the  epithet  "  showy,"  the  superlative  of  praise 
so  much  in  favour  with  gardeners.  As  I  know 
the  Godetia,  it  is  a  somewhat  squat  and  stiff, 
and  therefore  sturdy,  plant,  with  Mallow-like 
blooms  (though  it  is  not  a  Malva).  set  along  the 
stems  with  little  or  no  pedicel,  which  characteristic 
renders  the  spray  less  desirable  for  cutting.  But 
the  merits  of  the  flower  outbalance  its  faults. 
In  the  border  it  is  a  useful  annual,  holding  itself 
well  up,  and  furnishing  abundance  of  vivid  colour, 
from  crimson  through  a  gamut  of  rose,  salmon 
and  flesh  to  lustrous  white.  Not  the  least  remark- 
able feature  of  the  Godetia  bloom  is  its  surface 
texture,  which  has  the  lustre  of  a  sheeny  silk. 
You  will  do  much  to  ensure  the  gaiety  of  your 
border  if  you  make  a  plentiful  use  of  Gcdetias. 
As  for  Candytuft,  it  is  one  of  the  gayest,  hardiest 
and   most   accommodating   of   annuals,    so    much 


so  that  the  wonder  is  it  is  not  a  common  wayside 
weed.  At  any  rate,  it  is  a  desirable  garden  weed. 
Sow  it  anywhere,  and  it  will  respond  with  a  harvest 
of  bloom,  ranging  through  shades  of  white,  lilac, 
mauve  and  crimson.  I  suppose  white  and  the 
more  intense  crimsons  are  the  favourite  Candytuft 
shades,  though  for  my  part  I  prefer  the  more 
delicate  and  restful  intermediate  shades  of  lUac 
and  mauve ;  and  I  also  like  the  plants  to  be  as 
dwarf  as  possible,  the  Candytuft  at  its  tallest 
having  a  tendency  to  straggle  and  being  then  not 
particularly  desirable  as  a  cut  flower.  Of  the 
Nigella,  the  well  named  Love-in-a-Mist,  as  of 
Mignonette,  little  need  be  said.  We  all  value  it — 
leaf,  flower  and  seedpod.  I  know  no  armual  that 
winters  better  than  this.  I  have  Nigellas  in  a 
small  border  which  have  come  up  imsolicited, 
year  after  year,  for  ten  successive  years.  The 
white  Nigella,  as  I  know  it,  I  carmot  recommend. 
Have  your  Nigellas  as  blue  as  you  can  get  them, 
and  as  tall.  If  you  desire  yellows  in  this  front 
zone  you  cannot  better  Marigolds,  not  the  French 
and  African  half-hardy  Tagetes.  but  the  genuine 
old  thing  that  grew  in  the  garden  of  "  Mary. 
Mary,  quite  contrairy  " — the  Calendula,  if  I  must 
speak  by  the  card.  In  these,  if  you  get  the  right 
strains,  you  wiU  ha\-e  rich  lemons  and  oranges, 
single  or  double ;  and  very  possibly  some  of  your 
friends  who  have  hitherto  associated  the  flower 
with  the  kitchen  (I  believe  there  is  a  Calendula 
officinalis  strictly  so  called)  may  wonder  why 
they  have  never  until  now  perceived  the  great 
beauty  of  the  Marigold.  If  you  associate  with 
your  officinal  Marigolds  a  clump  of  the  South 
African  Calendula  pluvialis,  you  will  have  a 
charming,  black-eyed,  white-petaUed.  purple- 
shaded  Daisy,  a  barometer  in  its  way,  as  sensitive 
to  changes  in  the  weather  as  an  aneroid.  Baro- 
meter flowers,  be  it  noted  in  passing,  such  as  the 
Eschscholtzia  (which,  however,  is  rather  a  biennial, 
or  even  a  perennial,  than  an  annual),  C.  pluvialis, 
Anagallis  and  Convolvulus  minor,  though  so 
brilliant  in  full  sunshine,  close  their  petals  in  the 
shade  and  are  therefore  of  little  use  as  cut  flowers. 
If,  however,  you  love  a  soft,  velvety,  light- 
absorbing  texture  in  flowers  rather  than  the 
lustrous,  reflected  brilliancy  of  such  flowers  as 
the  Godetia,  you  can  have  nothing  that  will  better 
repay  expenditure  of  your  pains  and  pence  than 
a  patch  of  Convolvulus  minor  on  some  spot  near 
the  front  of  your  border,  where  the  full  sunlight 
may  reach  it.  Again,  if  you  should  wish  to  have 
well  forward  in  this  part  of  your  border  a  composite 
of  the  first  water,  grow  Sweet  Sultans,  well  named 
"  Sweet,"  for  sweet  they  are,  as  well  as  pretty, 
and,  in  addition,  exceptionally  good  keepers  as 
cut  flowers.  When  I  see  a  jar  of  well  grown 
Sultans,  white,  mauve  and  yellow,  in  a  florist's 
window,  I  seem  to  find  in  them  a  high-bred 
distinction  all  their  own,  even  in  the  near  neigh- 
bourhood of  such  distinguished  flowers  as  the 
Lily  and  the  Rose.  Besides  those  above  noted 
there  are  other  fine  annuals  of  medium  height, 
the  bare  mention  of  which  is  the  only  com- 
mendation I  have  space  to  give  them — Gypsophila 
elegans  (as  fine  as  paniculata,  if  not  finer),  Linum 
coccineum  (should  you  desire  a  good  self  crimson), 
Dianthus  Heddewigii  (very  gorgeous  when  in 
good  form),  annual  Chrysanthemums  (tricolor 
and  others),  the  dwarf  Nasturtiums  (which  alone 
might  furnish  the  front  of  your  border),  annual 
Lupins,  white,  red,  blue  and  yellow  (some  of  them 
sweet  scented),  and  the  Viscarias  (good  for 
cutting). 

The  taller  annuals  required  for  the  hinterland 
zone  of  your  border,  if  not  so  abundant  as  those 
of  a  dwarfer  stature,  are  suflSciently  numerous 
to  allow  a  wide  choice.  If  the  space  were  mine 
I  think  I  should  fill  it  entirely  with  Cornflowers 
and    Poppies.     By    "  Cornflower "     I    mean    the 


Mazarine   blue   single   Centaury   that   really   does 
grow   among   the   Com,    not   the   purple,    mauve, 
pink  and  white  forms   into  which  the  flower  has 
sported  in  the  hands  of  gardeners  ;    though  these 
sports,  too,  have  a  beauty  of  their  own,  and  are 
not  to  be  despised  by  those  who  like  to  see  one 
species  in  many  shades.     If,  however,  you  should 
wish   to  fill   this   part   of   your   border   with   one 
splendid  species  in   an  infinity  of  pretty  shades, 
try   the   Larkspur.     It   has   not   the   stature   and 
dignity  of  the  Delphinium,   nor,   I   think,   has  it 
that  flower's  absolute  purity  of  blue  ;    but  it  has 
points    of    advantage    even    over    its    perennial 
congener,  in  its  finely  cut  foliage  and  its  stocky 
candelabrum  habit.     Further,  it  has  a  wide  range 
of  colour,  blue,  purple,  pink,   mauve   and    white, 
and  even  scarlet,  if  you  trust  catalogue  descriptions, 
though   I    cannot   say   that   I   have   ever  seen   a 
scarlet  Larkspur.     A  malvaceous  plant  for  which 
you  ought   to  find   a  place,   if  not  in  this   zone, 
certainly  somewhere  in  your  border,   is  Lavatera 
splendens.  to  be  had  in  a  soft  milky  white  and  in 
two    shades     of    pink.     A    lovely     clean-looking 
Mallow  is  the  Lavatera.     Should  you  wish  for  a 
dash  of  yellow  in  this  zone  of  your  border,  you 
might     try     Coreopsis     of    sorts,     Hehchrysums. 
Rudbeckias    and   Sunflowers    of   medium    height. 
The   Sunflower   in   its   numerous   varieties   would 
furnish    a   border   in   itself,    and    associated   with 
other  flowers  and  in  sufficient  quantity  it  gives  a 
mediaeval  touch   to  the  garden  not  unacceptable 
in  these  "  petrolic  "  times.     To  look  at  a  Sunflower, 
you  might  think  it  had  been  contrived  a  million 
million    years    ago,    while    Nature    was    still    an 
apprentice    to    her    trade — it    is    so    simple    and 
primitive  in  its  lines.     But  the  Sunflower  is  not 
so  simple  as  it  looks.     As  a  work  of  art,  a  flower, 
I  suppose,  ought  to  be  judged  by  the  ingenuity 
and    effectiveness    of    its    machinery    for    repro- 
duction, and  in  this  respect  the  Sunflower  might 
give  points  even  to  the  Orchid.     By  all  means, 
therefore,  have  some  of  these  pre-Adamite  flowers 
in  your  border.     Some  of  the  taller  sorts — yellow, 
primrose  and  brown-red — planted  along  the  foot 
of  your  Sweet  Pea  and  Nasturtium  hedge  would 
give  the  finishing  touch  of  dignity  to  your  border. 
You    requested    me   to   advise   you    as   to    the 
planting  of  an  empty  border,  possession  of  which 
you  hold  for  only  one  season,  with  plants  which 
must  flower  the  first  summer,  and  which  require 
no  glass  or  heat  to  bring  them  on.     This  I  have 
done  pretty  fully,  but  I  hope  you  will  not  credit 
me  with  the  unwisdom  of  advising  you  to  grow 
all  the  annuals  I   have  specified  or  commended, 
or  even  a  third  part  of  them.     \'ou  must  make 
your  choice  according  to  your  tastes  and  aspira- 
tions.    There   are  two   kinds   of  flower-gardeners 
in  this  island  of  ours,  the  aesthetic,  and  the  curious 
or  discursive,   though,   of  course,   there  are  some 
who  are  neither,   but  partly  one  and  partly  the 
other.     If  you  have  been  stung  by  the  aesthetic 
gadfly,  as  I  rather  think  you  have,  you  will  grow 
your   flowers   in   mass,    and    your    attention    will 
be  given  to  elaborating  schemes  and  combinations 
of   colour.     Should   your   harmonies   "  pan   out " 
as    you    expect,    you    will   be    gratified,   but    not 
surprised  ;    and,  of  course,  you  will  be  correspond- 
ingly disappointed  when  your  well  laid  schemes 
"  gang  agley,"  as  those  of  mice  and  men  so  often 
do.     If    you    belong   to    the    "  massing "    school, 
you   had   better   procure   from   a   reliable   firm   a 
few    good    things    (Clarkias,    Larkspurs,    etc.)    in 
assorted  colours.     If,  on  the  other  hand,  you  are 
a  gardener  of  the  curious  and  discursive  school, 
as  mainly  I  am  myself,   you  will  prefer  to  have 
not  much  of  anything  but  a  little  of  many  things, 
and  may  conceivably  be  venturesome  enough  to 
attempt  half  the  things  in  Thompson  and  Morgan's 
list.     In  that  case  you  will  also  have  your  reward 
and    your    disappointments — failures    many,    but. 


February  4,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


00 


on  the  credit  side,  delightful  surprises,  harmonies 
also,  unpremeditated,  but  none  the  worse  for  that, 
and    opportunities    numberless    of    gratifying    an 


insatiable  curiosity  ;  and  after  all.  among  human 
pleasures,  how  many  are  there  that  wear  so  well 
as  gratified  curiositv  ?  Somers. 


Mendelism    Vindicated :     A    Visit    to 

Primula-Land 

Some    of  the    best    varieties   of  Chinese   Primulas    described,    with    the   lines  of  present 
progress  and  cultural  hints.      A  hardier  plant  than  is  often  imagined. 

AH  the  popular  giant  forms  show  a  generic 
similarity.  The  green-stemmed  Giant  White  has 
a  pretty  soft  pink  counterpart  in  Giant  Pink. 
For  those  who  prefer  dark-stemmed  plants  Giant 
Royal  White  is  provided.  This  is  equally  as 
vigorous  and  beautiful  as  the  green-stemmed 
form.  Giant  Scarlet  is  of  bright  and  pleasing 
shade  of  colour,  though  it  is  a  long  way  from 
scarlet  in  hue.  It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say 
that  there  is  no  true  scarlet  Chinese  Primula  in 


GREAT  improvements  have  of  late 
I  years  been  effected  in  the  colour 
-range  and  general  character  of  the 
I  Chinese  Primula  ( P.  sinensis) .  This 
was  made  very  apparent  on  a  recent 
visit  to  Messrs.  Sutton's  trial  grounds  near  Reading. 
Very  remarkable  indeed  was  the  trueness  to  t>-pe 
of  the  as  yet  unrogued  batches  of  the  varieties 
already  in  commerce  or  to  be  placed  on  the  market 
this   season.     Among   these   only   one   rogue   was 


THE    SNOW-WHITE    ("  EYE-LESS  "j     PRIMULA    SINENSIS    SIL\ER    ST.\R. 


noticed,  namely,  a  delicate  pink  form  in  Sutton's 
Giant  Royal  White.  This  plant  had  the  character- 
istic habit  and  dark  stems  of  the  tN-pe.  and  it  was 
the  only  one  distinctly  untrue  among  several 
hundred  plants  of  the  variety. 

Nor  were  the  varieties  in  commerce  or  about 
to  be  placed  on  the  market  the  only  ones  true 
to  type.  Many  absolutely  fixed  stocks  which 
cannot  be  in  commerce  for  some  few  years  were 
to  be  seen.  The  immense  pains  which  are  taken 
to  improve  strains  by  the  famous  Reading  house 
may  be  illustrated  by  the  variety  Crimson  King. 
The  original  Crimson  King,  though  highly  esteemed 
in  its  day,  is  a  dowdy  purplish  shade  compared 
to  the  Improved  Crimson  King  which  replaced 
it.  but  even  this  has  a  very  "  washed-out  "  appear- 
ance compared  to  the  fine  form  now  supplied  under 
that  name.  There  is,  however,  no  such  thing  as 
finaUty.  Already  a  strain,  which  records  an  im- 
provement alike  in  colour  and  substance,  is  being 
worked  up  to  replace  the  form  already  on  the 
market.  This  is  not  an  isolated  instance :  it 
typifies  the  care  which  is  taken  to  select  and 
reselect,  so  that  the  stocks  sent  out  may  be  as 
nearly  perfect  as  possible. 


commerce,  although — but  of  that  anon.  The 
peculiar  value  of  Giant  Scarlet  Ues  in  the  fact 
that  it  is  naturally  the  earUest  of  all  to  flower. 
From  seeds  sown  in  April  plants  may  easily  be 
had  to  blossom  in  November,  or  even,  with  a  Uttle 
management,  in  October. 

There  are  several  large-flowered  "  blue"  forms, 
but  so  far  no  giant  "  blue  "  flowered  strain  is  in 
existence,  or,  at  any  rate,  known  at  Reading. 
Messrs.  Sutton  have  this  season  a  plant  of  The 
Czar,  which  truly  represents  the  giant-flowered 
form,  but  they  are  pessimistic  as  to  the  chances  of 
perpetuating  it.  A  similar  break  has  occurred 
before,  but  they  have  always  failed  to  harvest 
seed.  It  may  be  mentioned  that  all  strains  of 
Primula  sinensis  may  readily  be  fixed  with  either 
pahn  or  fern  leaves,  but  the  old  palm-leaved 
t^-pe  is  a  long  way  the  more  popular. 

The  older  but  very  useful  large-flowered  fimbri- 
ated forms  years  ago  superseded  the  original 
entire-edged  form  typical  of  the  wild  species, 
only  themselves  in  a  later  day  to  be  partiallj' 
superseded  by  the  more  robust  habited  but  entire- 
edged  forms  now  called  stellata.  Of  these 
large-flowered      fimbriata       forms       the       most 


generally  useful  is  probably  Reading  Pink. 
Shades  of  pink  are  always  difficult  to  describe, 
and  with  the  Primula  the  difficulty  is  increased 
by  a  little  difference  between  flowers  in  varying 
stages  of  development  and  also  a  difference  of 
tint  noticeable  with  the  varying  season  of  the  year. 
Suffice  it,  then,  to  say  that  Reading  Pink  is  of  a 
very  pleasing  shade  of  colour.  It  has,  too,  the 
additional  merit  of  being  very  free-flowering, 
as  the  original  centre  spike  is  followed  by  numerous 
side  spikes  of  almost  equal  size  and  vigour. 

Of  the  so-called  "blue"  flowered  forms,  the 
three  now  cultivated  in  this  section  are  Reading 
Blue,  of  a  pale  lilac  tint,  but  quite  pleasing, 
especially  in  association  with  Sutton's  Coral 
Pink,  The  Czar  is  a  bluish  purple  shade,  not 
ineffective ;  indeed,  by  many  much  admired. 
Oxford  Blue  is  an  intermediate  shade. 

Etna  will  be  famiUar  to  many  readers  as  the 
glowing  crimson  dark-foUaged  variety  which 
proved  so  effective  at  the  shows  last  season.  Of 
the  white,  pink-centred  Duchess  there  is  httle 
need  to  speak,  since  a  similar  coloured  strain 
under  that  name  has  been  in  commerce  for  close 
on  twenty  years.  "  Her  grace"  dates  back  to  the 
days  before  Mendel's  discoveries  had  been  practi- 
cally applied.  It  is  interesting  to  note,  none  the 
less,  that  this  form  is  the  typical  recessive  found 
in  the  second  generation  (F2)  when  a  crimson  form 
is  crossed  with  a  dark-stemmed  white  one. 

To  those  interested  in  heredity  the  origin  of 
the  coral  pink  form  is  interesting.  This  was  a 
true  sport  found  in  a  batch  of  the  then  existing 
strain  of  Crimson  King.  It  proved  to  be  definitely 
and  permanently  fixed  to  type.  There  is,  a  little 
consideration  will  show,  a  well  marked  tendency 
for  colour  forms  lying  between  crimson  and  blue 
to  throw,  especially  under  cultivation,  sports  of 
some  clear  shade  of  pink.  Plants  which  readily 
come  to  mind  in  which  this  has  occurred  include 
Primulas  japonica  and  pulverulenta,  Centaurea 
montana — the  form  is  called  Lady  Florence 
Hastings — and  Linaria  alpina.  Almost  all  the 
wild  species  of  Orchis  of  a  purplish  hue  to  be 
found  in  our  meadows  can  also  be  found  occasionally 
of  a  beautiful  clear  pink  colour.  The  explanation 
would  seem  to  he  in  the  fact  that  in  some  way 
a  colour-bearing  factor  is  dropped.  With  this 
factor  i  t  is  evident  that  some  of  the  plant's  hardiness 
and  vigour  is  but  too  apt  to  depart  also.  Sutton's 
Coral  Pink  fimbriata  shows  to  some  extent  this 
tendency,  inasmuch  as  it  is  somewhat  less  vigorous 
than  the  other  colours.  The  beautiful  coral  pink 
stellata  form  of  which  we  presently  shaU  speak 
is,  however,  comraendably  robust,  but  then 
vigour  is  characteristic  of  all  the  Star  Primulas. 

Before  considering  these  so-called  Star  forms — 
though  they  are  now  noticeably  getting  less  starry 
— let  us  turn  aside  to  look  at  a  large  batch  of  the 
double-flowered  Queen  of  Pinks.  Double-flowered 
Primulas  there  have  been  for  a  long  time,  and  very 
useful  they  are  to  the  florist,  especially  the  white 
form,  as  the  flowers  when  cut  are  very  lasting. 
For  greenhouse  decoration,  however,  they  are 
not  so  satisfactory  owing  to  their  unfortunate 
habit  of  hiding  their  blossom  among  the  foUage. 
But  a  small  percentage,  too.  usually  comes  true 
from  seed.  Queen  of  Pinks  is  of  vigorous  habit, 
the  fohage  is  arranged  to  form  an  all  but  perfect 
rosette,  and  the  flowers,  which  are  rose-shaped, 
wonderfully  double  and  even  in  appearance, 
are  borne  weU  above  the  foliage.  The  beautiful 
colour  of  the  blossoms,  the  large  trusses  and  the 
fact  that  it  reproduces  itself  quite  true  from 
seed  all  combine  with  the  good  points  already 
enumerated  to  make  this  a  very  notable  addition. 

Of  the  older  Star  forms  of  Primula  sinensis 
there  is  no  need  to  speak  ;  their  value  for  decora- 
tive purposes  is  so  well  understood  and  so  widely 
admitted.     A    novelty    of    which    Messrs.    Sutton 


56 


THE    GARDEN. 


[February  4,  1922. 


think  highly  is  Symmetry,  which  will  shortly  be 
placed  in  commerce.  Wonderfully  vigorous  and 
free,  the  flowers  are  much  larger  and  more  sym- 
metrically formed  than  with  the  older  stellatas. 
The  colour  is  a  shade  of  carmine  rose,  and  to  those 
who  love  pure  bright  colour  this  is  its  weakest 
point. 

The  writer  found  it  easier  to  enthuse  over  the 
Improved  Giant  White  Star.  The  flowers  of  this 
variety  are  even  larger  and  more  substantial  than 
in  the  case  of  Symmetry,  and  they  are  freely  pro- 
duced and  admirably  carried.  Sutton's  Dark 
Blue  Star  is  not  really  very  deep  in  colour.  It 
is.  indeed,  just  of  a  shade  to  form  an  admirable 
foil  for  the  truly  beautiful  Coral  Pink  Star  which 
is  probably  to-day  the  most  popular  of  greenhouse 
Primulas. 

Messrs.  Sutton  have  now  turned  their  attention 
to  a  Star-flowered  strain  with  a  tiny  white  eye 
instead  of  the  yellow  one  so  characteristic  of  these 
Primulas.  Typical  of  these  is  the  rosy  crimson 
Enchantress,  which  flowers  quite  as  profusely 
as  the  older  Star  forms,  and  is  very  distinct  and 
effective.  Most  extraordinary  and  fascinating, 
however — at  least  the  writer  found  it  so — is  a 
pure  white  one  which,  having  a  white  eye,  becomes 
a  real  self-coloured  form.  The  plant  has  dark 
foliage,  and  the  freely  produced  spikes  with  two 
or  more  whorls  of  flowers  are  singularly  un-Primula 
hke.  Messrs.  Sutton  compare  the  flowers  to 
those  of  Primula  "nivahs,"  but  the  tendency  to 
"cup"  so  noticeable  in  P.  "nivalis"  is  absent.  The 
whole  get-up  of  the  spike  (disregarding,  of  course, 
the  foliage)  reminds  one  forcibly  of  the  White 
Campion  (Lychnis  vespertina).  This  variety, 
which  is  called  Silver  Star,  should,  once  the  pubhc 
gets  used  to  its  unconventionahty,  become  very 
popular  for  conservatory  and  room  decoration. 

Turning  now  to  the  breeding  at  present  being 
carried  on  to  provide  new  varieties  in  the  not 
distant  future,  one  of  the  first  thoughts  that 
strike  one  is  the  difficulty  of  selecting  from  the 
many  forms  raised  the  ones  which  the  pubUc 
will  endorse.  Some  of  the  beautiful  forms  raised 
cannot,  unfortunately,  be  fixed.  Before  any 
attempt  is  made  to  do  this,  however,  many  inter- 
esting types  must  of  necessity  be  rejected.  There 
are,  for  instance,  what  may  be  called  The  Sirdar 
forms.  Sirdar  is  a  mauve  variety  raised  many 
years  ago  with  a  "wire"  edge  of  white  which 
gives  it  an  appearance  comparable  to  the  old 
laced  forms  of  Polyanthus.  Judging  from  seed- 
lings on  view  in  the  second  generation  of  a  Sirdar 
cross,  there  would  appear  to  be  no  difficulty  in 
reproducing  this  lacing  in  almost  every  colour. 
With  the  lacing  goes  a  certain  bizarre  appearance 
of  the  whole  truss  created  by  variations  in  flower 
colour.  The  blossoms  in  this  strain  often  open  quite 
pale,  but  rapidly  strengthen  in  colour.  The 
question  here  is,  do  the  pubhc  want  such  a  strain  ? 

Mendel's  Law  has  been  of  inestimable  service 
in  systematising  the  raising  of  new  Primulas. 
Before  its  principles  were  introduced  an  immense 
araoimt  of  labour  was  wasted  because  rehance 
was  placed  only  on  the  first  cross,  which  is,  in 
fact,  normally  unfixable,  and  no  effort  was  made 
to  "  self "  the  plants  resulting  from  this  cross 
and  so  allow  to  come  forth  the  immense  diversity 
of  forms  which  is  almost  always,  under  such 
circumstances,  produced.  This  notwithstanding, 
the  Chinese  Primula,  though  it  usually  follows 
fairly  well  the  expected  course,  occasionally 
behaves  in  an  inexphcable  way.  A  certain  cross 
now  to  be  seen  under  trial  has  results  very  difficult 
of  explanation.  The  names  of  the  varieties  are 
immaterial,  but  the  facts  are  as  follows :  Fi 
showed,  surprisingly  enough,  httle  or  no  variation 
from  the  seed  parent,  although  there  appeared 
no  reasonable  doubt  that  the  cross  had  taken. 
The  plants  were  self-pollinated,  and  F2  was  raised 


in  the  usual  way.  It  was  naturally  expected 
that  either  (i)  the  original  cross  would  prove 
not  to  have  been  effected,  in  which  case  the  plants 
would  reproduce  the  original  seed  parent,  or 
(2)  the  seedhngs  would  show  a  very  considerable 
diversity  alike  in  habit  and  colour  of  stem  and 
flower.  The  fact  is  that  the  whole  batch  of  plants 
are  exactly  similar  in  habit  and  colour  of  stem,  and 
as  far  as  one  can  see — they  have  not  all  flowered 
yet — precisely  similar  in  blossom  colour.  They 
have,  in  fact,  the  exact  appearance  which  one 
would  have  expected  to  find  with  the  original 
cross  the  previous  year.  All  natural  phenomena 
are  susceptible  of  explanation.  There  is  room  for 
the  best  brains  to  study  this  conundrum. 

Messrs.  Sutton  have  endeavoured  to  cross  the 
golden  yellow  hybrid  Primula  kewensis  (floribunda 
X  verticillata)  with  a  sinensis  form.  The 
resulting  plants  are  yellow  flowered  and  mealy — 
this  is  not  uncommon  with  P.  kewensis,  though 
not  a  constant  trait,  but  they  assuredly  have 
an  unusual  appearance,  a  httle  reminiscent, 
perhaps,  of  P.  verticillata.  One  wonders  has 
the  cross,  in  fact,  taken,  or  has  the  ahen  pollen 
merely  served  as  a  kind  of  catalytic  agent  to 
release  some  latent  factor  in  the  seed  parent  ? 

Plant    breeding    is    a    source    of    never-faiUng 


interest,  but  space  will  not  permit  to  discuss  at 
greater  length  the  results  Messrs.  Sutton  are 
achieving,  further  than  to  say  that  if  two  types 
already  raised  prove  fertile  and  fixable,  the  day 
is  not  distant  when  a  true  scarlet  and  an  equally 
pure  crimson  (devoid  of  blue)  will  be  added  to 
the  many  attractive  colours  already  in  existence. 
There  is  a  fairly  general  misconception  as  to 
the  hardiness  of  the  Chinese  Primula.  The 
cooler  the  conditions  under  which  they  are  grown 
so  that  frost  be  excluded  the  better.  The  only 
possible  exception  to  this  rule  is  fimbriata  Coral 
Pink,  which  appreciates  a  few  degrees  more  warmth, 
especially  if  overhead  heating  is  provided.  It 
should  not,  however,  be  coddled.  Messrs.  Sutton's 
main  sowing  is  made  about  the  middle  of  June, 
and  the  young  plants  remain  in  cold  frames,  with 
the  lights  off,  until  October.  The  frames  are  in 
full  sun,  and  it  must  be  very  exceptional  weather 
if  any  shade  is  afforded.  The  treatment  given 
accounts,  of  course,  for  the  robust,  close  and  stocky 
growth  upon  which  all  visitors  to  the  trial  ground 
comment.  In  the  south-west  and  elsewhere 
where  hard  frost  is  not  experienced  there  is  no 
reason  whatever  why  these  beautiful  flowers 
should  not  be  grown  and  flowered  successfully 
in  an  unheated  greenhouse. 


SOW  SNAPDRAGON  SEEDS  SOON 

Anyone  can  grow  Antirrhinums.     With  a  little  trouble  anyone  can  grow  them 

well.      Alas  J  few  do. 


THERE  is  more  in  raising  seedlings  than 
dropping  seeds  in  the  soil.  True, 
Antirrhinums  are  among  the  plants  of 
simple  requirements,  and  may  be  raised 
from  seed  with  very  little  real  difficulty, 
but  the  summer's  display  of  bloom  is  largely 
dependent  upon  the  proper  observance  of  a  few 
points  in  regard  to  the  management  of  the  tiny 
seedlings,  and  as  it  is  now  time  to  sow  seeds  for 
the  production  of  plants  to  bloom  from  July  to 
October,  we  may  profitably  meditate  upon  these 
few  points. 

It  may  be  considered  superfluous  to  say  that 
the  first  essential  is  to  procure  seed  of  the  highest 
possible  quahty,  but  the  fact  that  there  is,  every 
season,  enough  sale  of  cheap,  nondescript  seed  to 
encourage  the  vendors  to  continue  their  business 
in  the  same  groove  can  only  be  interpreted  as 
evidence  that  not  everyone  reahses  that  only 
the  best  should  be  good  enough  to  bother  with, 
and  there  are  few  plants  which  show  a  more  marked 
difference  between  the  best  and  the  "  rest "  than  is 
shown  in  the  seed  stocks  of  Antirrhinums. 

The  soil  in  which  the  seeds  are  to  be  sown  may 
very  easily  affect  the  whole  career  of  the  plant. 
Many  people  make  a  practice  of  sowing  all  seeds 
in  sifted  leaf  mould  alone.  That  is  not  conducive 
to  success  with  Antirrhinums.  The  seedlings  grow 
too  rapidly  and  too  soft  at  the  outset,  and  soft, 
sappy  growth  at  any  stage  in  the  development  of 
an  Antirrhinum  plant  is  not  conducive  to  the  best 
results.  It  may  be  argued  that  any  detriment  may 
be  avoided  by  using  a  soil  of  heavier  texture  when 
the  pricking  out  stage  is  reached;  but  no,  that  will 
not  do,  for  the  roots  that  have  started  in  a  soft, 
light  leafsoil  will  take  longer  to  get  hold  of  the 
heavier  soil,  and  thus  the  seedling  suffers  a  check. 
The  best  soil  is  a  fibrous  loam,  into  which  a  fairly 
liberal  quantity  of  sharp  sand  is  incorporated. 
The  boxes  should  be  shallow,  not  more  than  2ins. 
deep,  for  if  a  greater  depth  of  soil  hes  beneath  the 
seed  the  roots  go  ramping  through  the  whole  body, 
and  as  they  travel  downward  the  tops  become 
elongated  with  lengthy  spaces  between  the  joints. 


What  is  wanted  is  a  stiff",  hard,  short-jointed 
growth. 

The  seed  should  be  sown  thinly.  It  is  far  better 
to  sow  two  boxes  than  to  overcrowd  one.  Do  not 
sow  deeper  below  the  surface  than  is  necessary  to 
hide  the  seed  from  view.  The  covering  of  fine  soil 
should  only  be  as  thick  as  the  seed  itself.  Do  not 
pat  and  press  the  soil  over  the  seed.  Watering 
with  a  fine-rosed  can  will  do  all  the  settling 
required. 

Antirrhinum  seed  requires  but  little  heat.  A 
temperature  of  50°  to  55°  is  better  than  one  over 
60°,  and  as  soon  as  the  seedlings  show  green 
through  the  soil,  place  the  boxes  on  a  shelf  near 
the  glass,  where  they  will  get  the  benefit  of  free 
circulation  of  air  and  plenty  of  light  rather  than  the 
heat  from  closely  adjacent  hot-water  pipes. 

Do  not  let  the  seedUngs  get  really  dry  or  they 
will  wither  very  quickly,  but  on  the  other  hand 
carefully  avoid  over-watering  as  sodden  soil  will 
cause  damping  off. 

As  soon  as  four  leaves  are  formed  the  seedlings 
should  be  pricked  off,  and  in  performing  this  task 
firm  the  soil  at  the  roots.  Loose  soil  is  not  good  for 
Antirrhinums  even  in  the  earliest  stages  of  growth. 

For  a  few  days  after  pricking  out  it  is  well  to 
keep  the  plants  in  a  close,  but  not  overheated, 
atmosphere  in  order  that  there  may  be  no  loss  of 
vitality  through  evaporation  of  moisture  through 
the  leaves.  As  soon  as  root  action  has  restarted, 
ventilation  should  be  given,  cautiously  for  a  day 
or  two,  and  thenceforward  freely,  except  when 
frosty  winds  prevail.  The  cooler  the  young  plants 
are  kept  the  sturdier  and  healthier  they  will  be. 

By  the  time  the  plants  get  to  a  height  of  2ins. 
the  points  of  the  shoots  should  be  pinched  out, 
unless  the  aim  is  to  grow  one  big  spike  of  bloom 
to  a  plant,  in  which  case  the  plants  should  be 
potted,  kept  near  the  glass,  removing  the  lights 
entirely  during  the  middle  part  of  favourable  days. 
When  side  shoots  appear  they  should  be  pinched 
out  to  encourage  concentration  of  strength  in  the 
central  stem.  These  single-stemmed  plants  must 
not  be  allowed  to  become  pot-bound  before  planting 


February  4,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


57 


out.  but  when  planting  is  done  the  soil  must  be 
firmly  trodden  round  the  ball  of  roots. 

The  plants  that  are  "  pinched  "  will  soon  throw 
out  side  shoots,  and  if  one  aims  at  the  highest 
possible  success,  the  young  plants  should  be  potted 
off  singly  as  soon  as  the  side  shoots  have  formed  a 
couple  of  pairs  of  leaves.  The  advantage  of  the 
potting  is  that  the    plants  will  continue  to  make 


steady  progress,  and  will  receive  no  check  when 
eventually  planted  out.  I  have  had  plants  treated 
in  this  way  that  have  commenced  to  bloom  before 
they  have  completed  five  months  from  seed  sowing, 
and  from  the  same  plants  I  have  had  thirteen 
weeks'  unbroken  succession  of  bloom,  a  result 
that  surely  well  repays  the  moderate  demands 
made  upon  one's  time.  A.  J.  Macself. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


A    NATIONAL    DAFFODIL    SOCIETY. 

Will  its  Supporters   Please   Read  this  ? 

T  AM  now  in  a  position  to  say  that  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  have  most  kindly 
placed  a  Lecture  Room  at  the  disposal  of  those  who 
wish  to  talk  over  the  formation  of  a  National 
Daffodil  Society  on  Wednesday  afternoon,  March  15. 
I  accordingly  ask  all  those  who  are  interested  in 
the  proposal  to  note  the  date  and  try  to  make  a 
point  of  attending.     I  think  two  o'clock  would  be 


one  and  all  look  at  it  simply  and  naturally,  without 
prejudice  or  other  distracting  thoughts  !  The  real 
effort  should  be  to  encourage  and  so  rope  in  year  by 
year  more  and  more  members.  It  therefore  seems 
self  evident  that  unless  those  future  supporters 
are  brought  into  direct  touch  with  the  flower  in 
question,  no  hope  of  real  and  steady  advance  can 
be  expected.  The  most  successful,  that  is,  most 
widely  successful,  shows  in  the  world  are  those  that 
have  a  broad  policy.  In  conclusion,  bring  the 
shows  to  the  people  !    and  bury  once  and  for  all 


ONE     OF    THE    MOST    BEAUTIFUL    OF    PRIMULAS    FOR    THE    ROCK   GARDEN — PRIMULA     x 
PUBESCENS    ALBA,    COMMONLY    KNOWN    IN    GARDENS    AS    P.    NIVALIS 


the  best  time  for  the  meeting  to  begin,  as  there 
are  several  schemes  in  the  air  which  will  need 
careful  consideration.  I  hope  the  time  and  date 
will  be  found  generally  convenient.  No  objection 
to  a  meeting,  as  I  suggested  some  time  back  on 
the  second  day  of  the  Forced  Bulb  Show,  has 
reached  me.  There  is  none  down  this  year  on  the 
R.H.S.  List  of  Fixtures ;  had  there  been  one, 
however,  this  would  very  Ukely  have  been  the 
date.  As  far  as  one  can  gather,  opinion  seems 
to  be  setting  in  three  main  directions :  first,  to 
leave  things  more  or  less  as  they  are  ;  second,  to 
form  a  National,  or  it  might  be,  better  still,  a 
British  Daffodil  Society,  either  incorporating  or 
not  incorporating  the  present  Midland  Society  ; 
and  third,  to  establish  a  sort  of  Octopean  Associa- 
tion of  British  Bulb  Growers  which,  in  addition 
to  watching  the  interests  of  big  and  little  growers 
of  bulbs,  would  also  hold  shows  and  put  out 
hterature. — Joseph   Jacob. 

pROM  the  present  controversy  in  your  columns 

the  formation  of  a  National  Daffodil  Society 

would  seem  to  an  interested  outsider  at  first  sight 

to  be  a  difficult  and  complex  problem.     But  let  us 


the     self-centred     poUcy     of     some     people. — An 
Outsider. 

TyjR.  ENGLEHEART  appears  to  be  in  a  minority 

of  one,  so  I  trust  that  he  will  not  become 

a  "  Die-hard,"  but  acquiesce,  with  a  good  grace, 

in  the  wishes  of  the  majority. — Brodie  of  Brodie. 

"  REQUIESCANT." 

■yt/^GULD  the  gentle  "  Somers,"  "  Rummager  of 
the  sylvan  haunts,"  have  us  consign  our 
Daffodils  for  ever  to  mead  and  moor,  to  waste  their 
sweetness  on  the  stilly  glade,  denying  them  the 
homage  they  receive  at  Vincent  Square  and  other 
places,  from  us  their  worshippers,  with  our  infernal 
din,  irrational  zeal  and  damnfed  iteration  ?  I  like 
not  "  Somer's  "  phrases,  Mr.  Editor,  and  as  for  his 
— I  was  going  to  caU  it  metre  ! — I  shudder  to  think 
of  the  expression  that  would  come  into  the  serene 
poetic  eye  of  immortal  Horace,  were  he  by  some 
mischance  to  see  the  first  part  of  column  i,  page  9, 
Vol.  Lxxxvi  of  The  Garden.  Let  us  fervently 
agree  "  Requiescant." — W.  A.  Watts. 

[Our  correspondent  seems  not  to  have  noticed 
the  letter  of  Rev.  G.  H.  Engleheart  in  our  issue  of 


December  24.  Poor  "  Somers,"  after  all,  only  set 
another's  sentiments  to  tune.  Despite  Mr.  Watts' 
caustic  criticism  we  think  it  unlikely  that  Horace 
would  single  out  "  Somer's "  verses  for  especial 
detestation. — Ed.] 

WHAT    IS    THE    ORIGIN    OF    PRIMULA 

NIVALIS    (OF    GARDENS)? 

J  CONSIDER  this  grand  old  plant  one  of  the 
loveUest  treasures  that  one  can  possibly  have 
in  the  rock  garden.  It  must  be  a  very,  very  old 
garden  plant ;  it  is  not  really  difficult  to  grow, 
and  yet  for  some  reason  it  is  extremely  scarce. 
Really,  of  course,  it  should  not  be  called  nivalis. 
The  true  nivalis  is  one  of  a  group  of  extremely 
difficult,  and  therefore  very  rare.  Primulas,  most 
of  which  come  from  the  East.  In  the  nivahs 
group  are  such  lovely  things  as  P.  Farreri,  P. 
chionantha  and  P.  sino-purpurea. 

But  the  old  P.  nivalis  of  gardens  belongs,  of 
course,  to  the  hirsuta  fraternity.  It  has  the 
woody  stock  of  P.  hirsuta,  the  same  leaves,  and 
a  full  round  head  of  white  hirsuta  flowers,  with 
all  their  delicious  Auricula  fragrance.  Roughly, 
it  is  Uke  a  glorified  albino  Primula  hirsuta.  But 
what  really  is  the  plant,  and  when  and  where  did 
it  originate  ?  Is  it  an  albino  form  of  hirsuta, 
collected  wild  ;  and.  if  so.  who  collected  it.  when 
and  where  ?  Or  is  it  a  chance  garden  seedling, 
or  a  hybrid  ?  Who  can  say  ?  I  wish  one  of  our 
•-areful  plant  historians,  Mr.  Brotherston,  say, 
)r  Mr.  Ingwersen,  would  investigate  the  matter 
and  give  us  his  conclusions.  I  have  seen  in 
certain  Scottish  gardens  a  plant  which,  except  in 
colour,  is  almost  identical  with  nivalis — the  same 
leaf  and  habit,  the  same  full  rounded  head,  but 
the  flowers  are  lilac  or  pinkish  mauve.  One 
might  almost  be  a  sport  or  a  seedling  from  the 
other. 

Whatever  the  origin  of  "  nivalis."  there  can  be 
little  doubt  that  the  whole  stock  has  originated 
by  division  from  our  original  plant.  It  is  not 
a  race  of  seedhngs.  There  is  never  the  sUghtest 
variation  among  the  plants.  The  flowers  are 
always  "  pin- eyed."  What  happens  if  you  self- 
fertilise  flowers  of  nivalis  and  sow  the  resulting 
seed  ?  The  answer  in  my  case  is  disaster.  I 
"selfed"  several  heads  of  nivahs  flowers  last 
year  with  the  greatest  care,  obtained  sound- 
looking  seed,  sowed  it,  and  then  some  bright 
soul  knocked  the  pan  over,  scattered  all.  scooped 
it  up  and  stuffed  it  back,  so  that  nothing  happened 
— not  even  to  the  bright  soul.  I  have  asked  two 
careful  plantsmen  about  "  nivahs  "  seedlings,  one  of 
whom  tells  me  that  from  "  selfed "  seed  he  got 
nothing  but  true  white  nivalis  seedhngs,  while 
the  other  got  coloured  seedhngs  of  all  shades 
and  no  whites  at  all.  So  there  you  are  !  Mean- 
while the  old  Primula  nivalis — of  gardens — which 
might  perhaps  be  better  called  P.  hirsuta  nivea, 
being  snow  white,  rather  than  snow  haunting — 
continues  one  of  the  most  charming  of  rock  garden 
plants. 

In  the  matter  of  culture  it  enjoys  a  cool  position 
and  a  cool  rich  soil,  rich  especially  in  the  sort  of 
humus  that  retains  moisture — stifiish  loam  with 
a  good  deal  of  leaf-mould  and  cow  dung.  Lastly, 
do  not  always  be  dividing  it  and  chopping  it  up. 
It  Ukes  to  spread  quietly  and  steadily.  It  likes 
to  get  its  leaf  tufts  off  the  ground,  and  it  develops 
a  leg  for  the  purpose.  It  hates  being  continually 
messed  about. — Clarence  Elliott,  Sterenagc. 

[Mr.  ElUott  has  raised  a  very  interesting  question. 
It  was  indeed  a  sad  misfortune  that  his  laboriously 
produced  seed  was  lost.  If,  as  Mr.  Elliott  thinks, 
however,  the  seed  was  fertile,  what  are  his  grounds 
for  supposing  that  all  the  plants  in  commerce 
have  been  increased  vegetatively  from  one  ?  The 
pin-eye  in   Primulas  (in  sinensis,   at  any  rate)   is 


58 


THE    GARDEN. 


[February  4,  1922. 


recessive,  so  that  one  would  expect  the  selfed 
progeny  to  he  pin-eyed,  also  many  white  forms 
breed  true.  We  shall  be  glad  to  publish  anything 
which  will  throw  hght  on  this  very  interesting 
and  beautiful  httle  plant. — Ed.] 

AN   INTERNATIONAL   DAISY  SOCIETY? 

♦yHE   arena   of   the   much   discussed   "  National 
Daffodil    Society "    is    ground    on    which,    I 
confess,   I  fear  to  tread ;    it  is  aheady  crowded. 
Still,  I  have  my  own  personal  reasons  for  putting 
in  my  oar  and  bringing  Mr.  Engleheart  to  book 
on    one   point   of   his   recent   letter.     Athenasius 
contra  mundum  is,  I   am  well  aware,   abundantly 
able   to   take   care   of   himself.     Mr.    Engleheart. 
however,    must   not   suppose   that   he   is    always 
right.     I    have    had,    before    now,    occasion    to 
question    propositions    which    he    has    advanced 
•with    some    seeming    authority ;     though    I    am 
prepared  to  admit  that  even  when  I  find  him  in 
error,    Mr.    Engleheart    puts    his    errors    in    such 
cogent  and  convincing  form  that  they  are  almost 
as  persuasive  as  syllogisms.     It  is  therefore  with 
some    hesitation    that    I    take    exception    to    his 
statement  that  the  Daffodil  does  not  sufficiently 
appeal  to  the  populace,  not  so  much  as  the  Sweet 
Pea,    he   thinks,    or   the    Rose.     I    do   not    know 
about  that.      For  my  part,   I  measure  the  popu- 
larity  of  a  flower  by  the  number  of  persons  it 
brings  more  or  less  into  the  limeUght.     Why  is 
there  no  "  Royal  Orchid  Society  "  ?     "  Because," 
Mr.  Engleheart  would  answer,  "  Only  Dives  can 
possess    Orchids.     The    purchase    of    one    Orchid 
between  them  would  leave  Tom,  Dick  and  Harry 
bankrupt."     A  poor  argument,  surely.     I  do  not 
know   about   Tom,    Dick   and    Harry ;     but   look 
at     the    number    of    patrons,     presidents,     vice- 
presidents,   chairmen  of  committees,   members  of 
committees    and   sub-committees,    treasurers   and 
vice-treasurers,     secretaries,     sub-secretaries     and 
assistants  to  sub-secretaries,   editors,   sub-editors, 
auditors  and  the  like,   whose  names  it  would  be 
possible  to  put  on  the  prospectus  of  such  a  society 
and  in  the  annual  reports,  gratifying,  in  this  simple 
way,  for  so  many,  a  harmless  ambition.     I  know 
of  one  Daffodil  Society  already  in  existence  which 
pursues  the  modest  tenor  of  its  way  from  year 
to  year,   and  which,   without  arrogating  to  itself 
the  name  of  "  National,"  brings  up  to  the  foot- 
lights many  persons  who.  without  its  help,  might 
have    been    left    to    "blush    unseen" — namely, 
one    president,      eighteen      vice-presidents,      one 
hon.  treasurer,  one  hon.  secretary,  one  chairman 
of  committees,  seventeen  members  of  committee, 
and  twelve  members  of  sub-committee. 

I  admit  that  in  challenging  this  one  point  in 
a  case  otherwise  convincingly  put  by  Mr.  Engle- 
heart, I  have  my  own  ulterior  motive  ;  the  fact 
being  that  I  have  in  my  mind's  eye,  a  society 
which,  I  suggest,  should  be  termed  "  National  " 
or,  perhaps,  bettering  the  suggestion  of  distin- 
guished Narcissists,  "  International."  It  seems 
to  me  high  time  that  we  had  an  "  International 
Daisy  Society."  When,  therefore,  this  Daffodil 
storm  subsides,  I  may  possibly  find  it  advisable 
to  call  a  meeting  of  other  distinguished  Daisyists 
with  the  view  of  establishing  an  "  International 
Daisy  Society,"  under  the  patronage  of  the 
President  of  the  United  States  and  the  Crowned 
Heads  of  Europe — with,  I  need  hardly  say,  myself 
as  Founder,  and  a  full  complement  of  officials, 
sub-officials  and  subter-sub-ofticials,  the  number 
of  the  said  officials  (whatever  powerful  arguments 
may  be  advanced  to  the  contrary)  to  be  strictly 
limited  to  120.  If  I  have  my  way — as,  of  course, 
being  founder,  I  shall  have — the  I.D.S.  will  have 
its  home  at  the  most  central  spot  available,  say, 
Edgbaston. — Somers, 

["Somers"    has   bettered   the    Rev.    J.    Jacob's 
suggestion  (in  last  week's  issue)   of  further  nails 


for  the  coffin  of  Mistress  Daffodil :   he  has  planted 
the  Daisies  but- — -is  she  buried? — Ed.] 

A    PRUNING    QUERY. 

T  H.-WE  been  interested  in  the  articles  on  Pruning 
by  your  correspondents,  Messrs.  O.  Thomas 
and  Pearson.  I  have  just  planted  a  maiden 
fan-trained  Apricot  tree,  having  one  shoot  about 
2ft.  long  on  one  side,  two  shoots  about  the  same 
length  on  the  other  side,  and  a  strong  leader,  say, 
3  iff.  long.  What  would  be  the  difference  in  the 
pruning  of  this  tree  by  the  two  gentlemen 
mentioned.  I  thought  to  head  back  the  leader  to 
half  the  length  and  reduce  the  three  side  branches 
by  about  a  third  of  the  length.  I  should  much 
like  to  hear  the  opinions  of  Messrs.  O.  Thomas 
and  Pearson  on  the  subject,  or  if  too  smaU  a  matter 
for  their  notice,  perhaps  the  Editor  would  pass 
his  criticism.  Trusting  I  have  not  encroached 
too  much  on  your  space. — F.  W.  Harris. 

THE    SEED    OF    A    FLOWER. 

Alone,  unlovely,  on  the  dark  earth  lying. 
Naught  in  its  form  to  stay  the  passing  eye, 
Rests  a  poor  relic  of  a  flower's  past  glory 
Seemingly  cast  aside  and  left  to  die. 

Yet  in  this  shell  a  germ  of  life  lies  sleeping — 
Promise  of  living  beauty  yet  to  be 
And  sum  of  all  that  passing  years  have  gathered — 
At  once  a  record  and  a  prophecy. 

A  glowing  ember,  from  the  sacred  fire 
Of  one  of  Nature's  floral  altars  taken. 
Concealed  within  this  humble  form,  has  come 
An  answering  fire  in  this  far  land  to  waken. 

For  on  the  slopes  of  some  great  Eastern  mountain, 
High  o'er  the  plains  where  burns  a  tropic  sun 
The  flower  which  bore  it  dwelt  for  generations 
And  there  its  course,  long  undisturbed,   did  run. 

Till,  Siren-like,  it  lured  at  last  to  slumber 
One  dauntless  heart,  now  living  but  in  name  ; 
For  the  wild  land  that  held  the  flower  in  beauty 
Now  holds  the  man  who  for  that  beauty  came. 

He  passed  through  toil  and  hardship  ere  he  found  it. 
Stayed  until  all  its  outward  charms  had  flown. 
Then  saved  the  seed  in  which  they  now  are  lying 
Unseen  and  still,  to  many  an  eye.  unknown. 

But  when  at  length  the  genial  warmth  of  heaven 
And  rain  and  air  of  earth  their  part  shall  play. 
This  morning  star  of  life  in  darkness  shining 
Will  pass  into  the  splendour  of  the  day. 

A.  E.  Sims. 

A     GRAND     ANNUAL     CLIMBER. 

T  N  The  Garden  of  December  31  a  writer 
recommends  four  climbing  annuals  to  be 
used  for  covering  twiggy  stakes  in  the  background 
of  a  border,  namely.  Sweet  Peas,  climbing  Nastur- 
tiums, Canary  Creeper  and  Japanese  Hop,  and 
says  he  can  think  of  no  others.  Now  last  spring 
(in  April)  I  sowed  the  first  two  in  the  same  way, 
alternated  with  Convolvulus  major,  and  the 
Convolvulus  was  far  and  away  the  most  successful 
of  the  three.  The  Sweet  Peas  in  this  particular 
position  (at  the  back  of  a  border  of  mixed  annuals) 
flowered  early  and  made  poor  growth,  owing  to 
lack  of  special  preparation  of  the  soil,  the  dry 
season  and  some  unavoidable  neglect.  The 
Nasturtiums  did  not  take  kindly  to  the  Hazel  and 
Willow  twigs  with  which  I  provided  them.  Being 
chmbers  of  heavy  growth  they  require  sohd  support. 
They  flourished  a  few  yards  away  among  old 
overgrown  Rose  bushes  and  on  a  Virginian  Creeper- 
covered  east  wall,  but  they  had  httle  confidence 


in  the  light  temporary  hedge  and  preferred  to  run 
along    the    ground.     The    Convohnalus,    however, 
made  up   for   the  deficiencies   of   the   other   two 
chmbers.     I  sowed  three  seeds  to  a  clump.     (They 
were  afterwards  joined  to  form  a  hght  hedge  with 
extra  stakes  and  twine.)     The  whole  lot  came  from 
one    2d.     packet    of    mixed    seed.     They    made 
tremendous  growth,  were  in  flower  when  I  returned 
from   Italy  in   July,   and  lasted  till  the  frost  in 
November.    The  colours  included  a  clear  rose,  blue, 
blue  with  crimson  rays,   white  with  bluish   grey 
rays,  pure  white,  and  the  most  ethereal  and  dehcate 
pale   blues   and   pinks.     They   would,    of   course, 
be  useless  for  an  evening  garden,  as  every  flower 
is  closed  for  good  by  6  p.m.;  but,  considering  that 
each  flower  lasts  only  for  a  day,  the  number  of 
blooms  appearing  at  one  time  is  perfectly  astonish- 
ing.    I  have  seen  the  plants  simply  covered  with 
flower  day  after  day.     The  only  time  when  they 
fail    is    in    windy   weather.     The    flowers    are   so 
delicate  and  easily  torn  that  even  a  light  breeze 
in  the  morning  will  destroy  the  flowers  of  the  day, 
so  that  they  woula  not  be  suitable  for  a  draughty 
position.     A  curious  fact  may  be  noted.     The  blue 
flow-ers  must  be  admired  in  good  time  in  the  morn- 
ing.    After  eleven  o'clock  or  thereabouts  (varying 
a  little   according  to  the  sunniness  of  the  day) 
the  blue  takes  a  purplish  tinge,  and  by  three  in  the 
afternoon  all  the  flowers  which  are  not  white  are 
pink.     There  is  not  a  blue  one  to  be  found.     The 
same  thing  happens  when  a  spray  has  been  gathered 
and  put   in  water  and   the  flowers  have  opened 
in  the  house.     It  was  probably  owing  to  the  hot, 
dry  summer  that  Convolvulus  major  did  so  par- 
ticularly well  in  East  Yorkshire  last  year,  but  it  is 
an  old-fashioned  flower  which  is  weU  worth  growing 
in      a     sunny     and    sheltered     position. — Ruth 
BicKERSTETH,  Hvircs. 

BUSY     NATURE. 

T     NO    longer   wonder   that   Mr.    Kettle's    Lloyd 
George    Raspberry    and    many    other     good 
things  have  been  found  as  chance  seedlings,  when 
I  have  an  object  lesson  of  how  Nature  distributes 
seeds  in  my  own  garden.     It  is  so  striking  that  it 
may    be    of    general    interest.     In    the    summer 
of  1916  one  of  my  small  greenhouses  had  either 
to  be  scrapped  or  re-erected.     I  chose  the  latter 
alternative.     When   the  work  was  finished   there 
was    a   narrow   long   space   between   two   houses 
(3ft.  by  2oft.).     No  wild  vegetation  of  any  kind 
appeared  until     191 7,  as    it    was    up     till    then 
filled  with  bulbs  in  pans  and  boxes,  and  kept  clean. 
Since    that     time    it    has    remained     absolutely 
untouched.     Last  year  (1921)  I  ate  a  ripe  Straw- 
berry (not  a  wild  wood  Strawberry  by  any  means) 
and    a   ripe    Raspberry    gathered   from   self-sown 
seedhngs  in  this  narrow  space.     There  is  also  a 
small  Gooseberry  bush  and  a  Loganberry,  which, 
however,   up   to  the  present  have  not  flowered  ; 
several  Birch  trees,  one  now  8ft.  high  ;     a  Salix 
of  some  kind,   and,   of  course,   a  fair  number  of 
ordinary    weeds.     The    Birches    do    not    surprise 
me.     There  are  four  large  trees  in  the  garden  and 
every  year  the  seedhngs  are  so  numerous  they  are 
a   perfect   nuisance ;      the   Loganberry    does   not 
surprise  me,  but  where  did  the  Strawberry,   the 
Raspberry    and    the   Gooseberry   come   from  ?     I 
have    had    no   Strawberries,    Raspberries    (except 
Hailshambcrries),   or  Gooseberries  in  the   garden 
for  at  least  twenty  years.     The  nearest  Raspberry 
canes  are  200yds.  off,  and  the  nearest  Strawberry 
plants  quite  a  quarter  of  a  mile.    There  are  some 
Gooseberry  bushes  within  50yds.,  and  I  have  about 
a  dozen  Loganberries.     I  can  only  imagine  that 
birds  were  the  distributing  agency,  as  is  so  often 
the  case  ;     but   that  seeds   of  these  three  fruits 
should  have  so  soon  been  dropped  in  such  a  small 
space  IS  very  striking.      Other  experiences  would 
be  interesting. — Joseph  Jacob. 


February  4,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


59 


GARDENING     OF     THE     WEEK 


FOR     SOUTHERN     GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Asparagus. — -Should  urw  beds  be  contemplated, 
it  would  be  best  to  have  them  prepared  before- 
hand, not  only  to  allow  a  settling  down,  but 
because  when  planting- time  comes  in  early  April 
there  is  such  a  pressure  of  important  work  to  be 
dealt  with  that  nothing  which  can  be  done  now  to 
expedite  operations  then  should  be  left  over. 
The  beds  should  be  thoroughly  well  made  by  deep 
digging  and  working  in  plenty  of  manure.  It 
is  essential  that  Asparagus  has  a  well  drained 
rooting  medium,  and  to  assist  in  arriving  at  this 
end  the  beds  must  be  raised  several  inches  above 
the  level,  and  on  heavy  land  a  foot  is  advisable. 

Cauliflowers. — Plants  which  were  pricked  out 
into  frames  during  the  autumn  will  be  in  better 
condition  for  planting  out  a  little  later  if  they  are 
now  lifted  and  placed  in  suitable  sized  pots. 
After  potting,  keep  the  frames  closed  for  a  while 
to  enable  the  plants  to  pick  up  quickly,  after- 
wards admitting  plenty  of  air  when  weather 
conditions  are  favourable. 

Cabbage  Plot. — Any  blanks  in  this  plot  should 
be  filled  up  with  plants  from  the  autumn  reserve 
seed-bed,  at  the  same  time  making  firm  any  plants 
loosened  by  the  frequent  strong  winds.  If  the 
ground  is  workable,  a  light  hoeing  will  be  beneficial. 
Should  there  be  any  doubt  about  suiBcient  stock, 
sow  some  seed  at  once  and  germinate  in  a  newly 
started  fruit  house.  Prick  out  as  soon  as  possible 
and  keep  the  plants  sturdy.  By  the  end  of 
March  or  early  April  these  will  be  good  plants, 
ready  for  putting  out,  and  will  come  along  very 
quickly  afterwards. 

Seakale. — -Any  further  roots  intended  for 
forcing  and  which  are  still  in  the  ground  should 
now  be  lifted,  thonged  and  stored  in  sand  or  soil 
in  a  cool  place. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Propagation. — This  must  now  be  rushed  along 
where  large  supplies  have  to  be  dealt  with.  Where 
Lobelias,  Coleus,  etc.,  are  stUl  used  for  edging 
or  groundwork  a  mild  hotbed  will  be  found  the 
best  way  to  quickly  get  any  quantity  rooted. 
Only  a  little  depth  of  soil  is  required  in  the  boxes, 
etc.,  and  let  this  be  light  and  sandy.  .Autumn- 
struck  batches  of  different  plants  must  be  potted 
or  boxed  now  and  kept  growing  quickly  in  a 
suitable  temperature. 

Plants  in  Frames,  such  as  Pentstemons, 
Calceolarias  and  Antirrhinums,  should  be 
occasionally  examined  and  the  soil  stirred  to 
sweeten  it.  On  mild  days  an  abundance  of  air 
should  be  given  so  that  strong  plants  will  be  built 
up  ready  for  removal  to  their  permanent  quarters. 

Seeds  of  fibrous  Begonias,  Pentstemons,  Ver- 
benas, Antirrhinums,  etc.,  of  which*  the  seedlings 
take  some  time  to  come  to  maturity,  should  be 
sown  now,  placing  the  former  when  sown  in  the 
warmest  position.  The  sowing  of  seeds  wUl 
now  call  for  continual  thought,  and  must  be  dealt 
with  to  suit  the  varying  needs  of  the  different 
places.  By  following  the  advice  printed  on  seed 
packets  from  nearly  all  firms  of  repute  even  the 
beginner  cannot  go  far  astray,  unless  it  be  in  sowing 
seeds  too  thickly  sometimes  and  covering  fine 
seeds  too  heavily. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Small  Fruits  of  the  rambling  class,  such  as  the 
Loganberry,  Wineberry  and  the  Parsley-leaved 
Bramble,  not  having  yet  received  the  necessarv 
pruning  should  be  seen  to  as  soon  as  possible. 
The  chief  need  is  the  removal  of  old  wood  and 
wealdy  shoots  and  the  tipping  of  all  weak  ends 
of  those  shoots  which  are  retained  for  this  season's 
fruiting.  If  so  desired,  the  planting  of  any  of 
these  bushes  can  be  carried  out  right  through  the 
present  month  when  weather  conditions  permit. 
See  that  all  supports  may  be  relied  upon  to  carry 
through  the  season. 

American  Blight.— Trees  badly  infested  with 
this  pest  should  first  of  all  be  gone  over  with  a 
fairly  stiff  brush  and  one  of  the  insecticides  adver- 
tised for  its  destruction.  Afterwards  a  good 
syringing  should  be  given,  taking  care  that  a 
thorough  wetting  is  given  to  all  parts  of  the  trees 
affected.  When  it  is  known  that  a  tree  is  also 
badly  affected  below  ground  with  this  pest  an 
injection  into  the  soil,  when  it  is  dry,  of  carbon 
bisulphide,  keeping  several  feet  away  from  the 
trunk,  will  probably  kill  it.  The  liquid  must 
be  kept  from  the  roots.  A  couple  of  ounces 
should  be  sufficient  unless  on  a  very  large  tree ; 
the  injections  of  the  soil  should  be  given  in  several 
places.     Quite  a  good  syringing  wash  is  a  mixture 


of  soft  soapy  water  with  a  wineglassful  of  paraffin 
added  to  every  three  gallons.  Some  also  add 
quassia  wash. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Early  Vines,  whether  growing  in  pots  or 
borders,  wiU  require  a  little  more  heat  as  the 
buds  swell  and  break.  A  night  temperature  of 
about  58°  to  60°  will  suit,  with  a  corresponding 
day  rise.  .\s  the  days  lengthen  and  activity  is 
more  pronounced  the  atmosphere  may  be  kept 
a  little  more  humid,  but  this  must  not  be  excessive 
or  soft,  flabby  leafage  will  be  the  result,  especially 
if  high  temperatures  are  maintained.  As  soon 
as  it  can  be  determined  which  buds  will  be  retained 
all  the  others  should  be  rubbed  off  to  avoid  loss 
of  energy.  Particular  care  should  be  taken  to 
see  that  Vines  in  pots  do  not  suffer  from  root 
dryness.  When  watering  is  done  let  the  whole 
ball  of  soil  be  well  moistened  through. 
H.  Turner. 

(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland. ) 

Albury  Park  Gardens,  Guildford. 


FOR     NORTHERN     GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Parsley. — Make  a  sowing  of  Parsley  seed  in  a 
box  or  seed-pan  and  place  in  a  moderately  warm 
house  or  hotbed.  In  this  way  fine  plants  may  be 
had  ready  for  planting  out  in  the  open  border 
immediately  danger  of  severe  frost  is  past.  A 
colony  may  also  be  planted  in  a  frame  for  earlier 
use.  When  sowing,  choose  a  close-growing  strain- — • 
Austin's  West  of  Scotland  Prize  is  very  fine  and 
can  be  justly  commended  either  for  competitive 
or  ordinary  pmposes. 

Cabbages.— Run  the  cultivator  between  the 
rows  of  the  autumn-planted  batch  and  make  up 
any  blanks  from  the  reserve  bed,  at  the  same  time 
making  firm  any  that  maj-  have  become  loosened 
at  the  neck  through  the  action  of  the  wind.  Sow 
seed  of  Sutton's  April  and  Harbinger  in  boxes 
for  pricking  out  into  frames  as  a  successional  crop. 

Peas.' — A  sowing  should  be  made  in  boxes 
at  this  time  for  planting  out  in  the  open  later  on. 
Narrow  boxes,  about  4ft.  long  by  4  ins.  wide  and 
jins.  in  depth,  are  admirable  for  this  purpose. 
Place  a  thin  layer  of  rough  material  in  the  bottom 
and  then  use  a  mixture  of  ordinary  potting  soil. 
Place  the  seeds  about  ains.  apart  when  sowing 
and  press  the  soil  firmly  when  finished.  Germinate 
in  an  ordinary  greenhouse  temperature,  afterwards 
transferring  to  a  cold  frame  when  the  seedlings 
are  about  lin.  high.  We  find  Pilot  and  William 
the  First  Improved  the  hardiest  and  most  reliable 
varieties  for  our  first  crop. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Vine  Eyes. — ^Where  it  is  desirable  to  raise 
young  stock,  now  is  the  time  to  insert  the  eyes. 
Choose  eyes  from  sound,  thoroughly  ripened  wood, 
the  most  satisfactory  being  those  "generallv  found 
at  the  base  of  the  laterals.  The  eye  should  be 
cut  with  about  half  an  inch  of  wood  on  either  side 
of  the  bud.  Many  growers  root  the  eyes  in  turves, 
but  small  pots  are  best  as  less  root- disturbance 
occurs  when  the  time  arrives  for  transferring  to 
larger  pots.  Use  a  light  loamy  compost  with  some 
sharp  sand  added,  and  fill  the  pots  up  to  within 
lin,  of  their  rims.  Place  the  eye  on  this  and  then 
cover  over,  leaving  nothing  but  the  bud  showing 
on  the  surface.  Plunge  the  pots  in  a  propagating 
case  in  a  house  where  a  high  temperature  is  being 
maintained. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Spraying  of  Fruit  Trees. — Work  among  the 
hardy  fruit  trees  should  be  sufficiently  advanced 
to  allow  the  work  of  spraying  to  be  carried  out 
before  any  appreciable  swelling  of  the  buds  takes 
place.  Calm  weather  is  essential  for  spraying,  as 
when  a  breeze  springs  up  the  spray  can  never  be 
properly  directed  to  all  parts  of  the  tree,  and 
hence  is  wasted. 

Planting  Fruit  Trees.— Where  circumstances 
may  have  hindered  the  planting  of  bush  fruits 
or  trees  during  November  the  work  may  be 
successfully  carried  out  during  the  present  month. 
On  the  arrival  of  the  trees  from  a  nursery  they 
should  be  planted  immediately',  provided  the 
■ft-eather  is  suitable.  Should  bad  conditions 
prevail,  however,  heel  the  plants  into  temporary 
quarters,  taking  care  that  the  roots  are  never 
exposed  to  the  air  for  any  length  of  time  or  allowed 
to  become  dry. 

The  Flower  Garden. 
Lobelia. — Seed    of    this    indispensable    edging 
plant  should  be  sown  now,  as  owing  to  the  excellence 


and  compact  habit  of  the  many  varieties  that 
selection  can  be  made  from,  the  necessity  of  raising 
Lobelia  froni  cuttings  has  in  a  large  measure 
ceased  to  exist.  The  variety  Mrs.  Clibran  is  very 
compact  and  the  colouring  is  very  attractive  and 
irregular.  Sow  in  well-drained  seed-pans,  using 
a  light  compost  with  a  sprinkling  of  silver  sand 
on  the  surface.  Do  not  cover  the  seed,  simply 
press  the  surface  with  a  smooth  board,  cover  the 
seed-pan  with  a  piece  of  glass  and  place  in  brisk 
heat,  shading  from  sunshine  until  germination 
takes  place. 

Paeony  Moutan.— Examine  the  various  plants 
of  these  and  cut  out  any  weak  shoots  ;  also  cut 
away  any  dead  points  from  last  year's  growths, 
cutting  right  back  to  the  first  strong  bud.  Many 
of  the  grafted  Tree  Pa!onies  are  inclined  to  throw 
suckers  ;  these  should  be  removed  directly  they 
are  observed.  Give  a  generous  mulch  of  weU- 
rotted  manure,  afterwards  dressing  over  with  old 
potting  soil. 

James  McGran, 

(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.) 

Coodham.  Kilmarnock. 


CONSERVATORY     AND     GREENHOUSE. 

Lachenalias  that  up  to  now  have  been  growing 
in  cold  frames  may.  as  the  inflorescences  begin 
to  show,  with  advantage  be  removed  to  a  light 
and  airy  greenhouse.  Like  so  many  South  African 
bulbous  plants,  their  growing  season  is  during 
our  winter  ;  it  is  therefore  of  prime  importance 
that  they  should  have  as  light  a  position  as 
possible  during  the  dull  weather  conditions  that 
so  generally  prevail  at  that  season.  That 
and  good  cultivation  during  then:  growing 
period,  when  the  bulbs  must  be  built  up  for 
flowering  next  year,  is  the  secret  of  success  in 
this  and,  in  fact,  in  all  bulbous  plants  that  have 
a  definite  period  of  rest.  Lachenalias  deserve  to 
be  more  generally  cultivated  than  they  are,  for 
although  not  very  showy,  they  have  a  quiet 
charm  which  should  appeal  to  many  plant  lovers, 
and  their  requirements  are  very  few,  simply  a 
frame  or  cool  house  where  they  can  be  kept  safe 
from  frost.  Early  potting  is  essential,  and  this 
should  not  take  place  later  than  the  end  of  August 
or  beginning  of  September. 

Ixias  and  Babianas  arc  also  natives  of  South 
Africa  and,  like  Lachenalias,  are  grown  in  cold 
frames  until  they  begin  to  throw  up  their  flower- 
spikes,  when  it  is  an  advantage  if  they  can  be 
removed  to  a  light  and  airy  greenhouse.  They 
are,  however,  later  in  flowcrmg  than  Lachenalias, 
and  it  is  not  usual  to  pot  them  until  the  end  of 
September  or  beginning  of  October. 

Tritonias  also  require  the  same  cultural  con- 
ditions. They  are  very  beautiful  and  usually 
last  a  long  time  in  flower.  There  are  several 
species,  but  T.  crocata  and  its  varieties  are  those 
generally  met  with  in  cultivation. 

Veltheima  viridifolia  and  v.  glauca  are  also 
natives  of  South  Africa,  and  are  at  present  begin- 
ning to  throw  up  their  flower-spikes.  They  are 
not  showy  plants,  but  they  appeal  to  many  people. 
Their  flowers  are  not  unlike  Lachenalias  in  shape, 
and  are  of  a  rosy  red  colour,  the  red  being  spotted 
on  a  greenish  or  yellowish  ground  colour.  If 
a  batch  of  seedlings  are  raised,  they  vary  con- 
siderably in  depth  of  colouring  in  tlie  perianth. 
Increase  is  effected  generally  by  means  of  offsets^, 
but  seed  should  be  more  generally  used,  as  by 
selection  it  should  be  possible  to  get  improved 
forms.  Like  the  other  plants  mentioned,  these 
plants  are  valuable  from  the  fact  that  they  can 
be  grown  in  a  frame  or  cool  greenhouse.  They 
also  require  a  resting  period,  but  they  should  be 
kept  growing  as  long  as  possible,  gradually  drying 
them  off  as  the  foliage  turns  yellow. 

Trachelium  coeruleum  is  a  very  useful  blue- 
flowered  plant  for  the  greenhouse  or  conservatory. 
Seed  if  sown  now  will  produce  useful  flowering 
plants  for  the  stage  towards  the  end  of  the  summer. 
There  is  a  white  variety  which  is  worth  growing 
for  the  sake  of  contrast.  Plants  raised  in  this 
way  last  year  and  flowered  in  6in.  pots  make 
fine  specimens  3ft.  to  4ft.  high  if  grown  on  the 
second  year.  Where  such  plants  have  been  kept 
they  should  now  be  potted  into  Sin.  or  gin  pots. 
They  grow  freely  in  ordinary  good  potting  compost, 
as  they  are  strong-rooting  subjects,  and  they 
enjoy  copious  supplies  of  water  and  liberal  feeding 
when  they  have  fiUed  their  pots  with  roots.  At 
all  periods  of  their  cultivation  they  only  require 
cool  greenhouse   treatment. 

Calceolarias  of  the  large  carpet  bag  type  are 
great  favourites  with  many  cultivators,  although 
personally  the  writer  prefers  the  smaller-flowered 
and  more  elegant  type  represented  by  Clibrani, 
AUardii  and  various  other  strains.  In  any  case 
the  large-flowered  varieties,  where  grown,  should 


60 


THE     GARDEN. 


[February  4,  1922. 


receive  attention  as  regards  repotting  as  they 
require  it,  for  good  specimens  demand  ample 
pot  room  and  rich  compost.  Some  old  mushroom- 
bed  manure  is  ideal  for  mixing  with  the  potting 
soil.  Failing  this,  some  dried  cow  manure  rubbed 
through  a  sieve  is  excellent.  The  plants  should 
only  be  potted  moderately  firm,  as  they  enjoy 
a  free  root-run.  At  all  times  they  must  have 
cool,  moist  conditions,  and  they  may  with  advan- 
tage be  given  a  much  lower  temperature  than 
that  usually  accorded  them.  In  fact,  I  have 
grown  some  fine  specimens  by  standing  them 
at  the  bottom  of  a  north  wall  during  March, 
where  they  only  had  the  protection  of  a  canvas 
screen  at  night  and  during  inclement  weather. 
Tbev  are  very  subject  to  attacks  of  aphis,  which 
should  be  prevented  by  frequent  fmnigation. 
Plants  of  C.  Clibrani  raised  from  cuttings  last 
autumn  should  also  be  repotted  as  they  require  it. 

J.     COUTTS. 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kew. 


National     Hose    Society  :   Annual     General 

Meeting.— The  great  success  of  the  National 
Rose  Society  continues  unabated.  There  was 
rather  better  attendance  than  usual  at  the  Annual 
General  Meeting  held  at  the  Caxton  Hall,  West- 
minster, at  which  Mr.  E.  J.  Holland  presided. 
That  the  members  are  satisfied  with  the  conduct 
of  affairs  was  fully  evident,  for  the  Annual  Report 
was  adopted  without  discussion  and  the  meeting 
proceeded  smoothly  and  pleasantly.  That  this 
faith  is  justified  may  be  seen  from  the  report,  which 
records  an  increase  of  1,604  in  the  membership 
during  the  past  year— a  record  for  this  flourishing 
Society  and,  we  imagine,  a  record  unequalled  by 
any  other  special  floricultm-al  society.  The 
Council  are  not  inclined  to  rest  content  even  with 
7,386  members,  and  on  its  behalf  the  President 
urged  a  further  increase.  The  great  success  of 
four  of  last  year's  shows  was  remarked  upon, 
particularly  the  autumn  show,  while  it  was  re- 
gretted that,  owing  to  unavoidable  circimistances, 
chiefly  climatic,  the  experimental  New  Rose  Show 
on  July  28  was  not  successful.  The  law  of  death 
has  removed  two  very  old  members.  Mr.  George 
Paul  was  one  of  the  very  oldest  members,  and  had 
continued  his  active  interest  in  the  Society  almost 
to  the  day  of  his  death.  Mr.  John  Hart,  another 
old  and  enthusiastic  member,  was  a  particularly 
successful  amateiur  exhibitor.  Turning  to  the 
financial  statement,  the  President  said  that  they 
regretted  having  to  depart  from  the  old  custom 
of  paying  all  debts  during  the  year  they  were 
incurred,  but  during  1921  it  had  been  found 
expedient    to    carry    over    the    printer's    bill    of 


£1,058  iSs.  5d.  to  1922.  This  was  principally 
for  "  The  Enemies  of  the  Rose  "  and  the  "  Selected 
List  of  Roses,"  two  popular  and  valuable 
publications,  the  stock  of  which  was  largely  for 
issue  to  the  present  year's  new  members,  so  that, 
strictly,  most  of  the  amount  belongs  to  1922  and 
not  the  Society's  year  now  ended.  The  Hon. 
Treasurer  felt  confident  that  by  the  end  of  the  year 
this  item  would  be  cleared  off  and  there  would  be 
a  good  credit  balance.  The  announcement  that 
the  Dean  Hole  Memorial  Medal  has  been  awarded 
to  Mr.  Samuel  McGredy  was  received  with  applause. 
It  was  regretted  that  Mr.  McGredy  had  found  it 
impossible  to  come  from  Ireland  personally  to 
receive  the  medal.  Mr.  McGredy  has  raised  a 
record  number  of  new  Roses  and  holds  over  fifty 
of  the  Society's  gold  medals.  Quite  the  most 
popular  motion  before  the  meeting  was  the  vote 
of  thanks  to  the  genial  Hon.  Secretary,  Mr. 
Courtney  Page,  to  whose  hard  work  was  attributed 
much  of  the  success  of  the  Society.  In  responding, 
Mr.  Page  expressed  the  indebtedness  to  the  trade 
and  other  members  who  had  proposed  so  many 
new  members,  instancing  Mr.  H.  R.  Botwright, 
who  had  proposed  seventy  members.  In  giving 
some  interesting  particulars  of  the  office  work, 
he  said  that  altogether  over  2,500  letters  had  been 
answered  and  of  these  1.300  dealt  with  technical 
questions.  Of  the  7,386  members,  he  said,  only 
thirty-one  had  not  paid  their  subscriptions,  and 
he  felt  confident  that  this  small  number  would  be 
diminished  before  long.  After  the  meeting  the 
members  were  entertained  to  the  customary  tea, 
which  was  followed  by  an  exhibition  of  the  Society's 
latest  lantern  slides. 


FORTHCOMING    EVENTS. 

February  6. — National  Chrysanthemum  Society's 
Annual  Meeting,  to  be  held  in  the  Floral  Committee 
Room  at  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Hall 
at  6.30  p.m. 

February  7. — Royal  Caledonian  Horticultural 
Society's  Meeting. 

February  8. — East  .  AngUan  Horticultural 
Society's  Meeting.  Sheffield  Chrysanthemum 
Society's  Meeting. 

February  9. — Royal  Gardeners'  Orphan  Fund 
.\nnual  Meeting  and  Election. 

February  14. — Royal  Horticultural  Society's 
Fortnightly  Meeting.  R.H.S.  Annual  General 
Meeting  at  3  p.m. 


s 


IMPSON 

UPERSEED 

NAPDRAGONS 


Answers    to    Correspondents 

NAMES  OF  PLANTS.  (V.  A  C,  Cromer).—!.  Thuya 
dolabrata  variegata ;  2.  Juniperus  chinensis  japonica 
anrca.  3,  Cuprestus  La-vvsoniana  erecta  viridls;  4,  Thuya 
or;entalis;  5.  T,  occidentalis :  6.  Juniperus  chinensis 
aurea;  7,  Probably  Juniperus  sp. ,  8,  Juniperus  chinensis; 
9,  Cupressus  pisifera  squanosa .  10,  Juniperus  vlrgiuiana. 


CATALOGUE    RECEIVED. 

Blaclanore  and  Langdon,  Bath — Begonias,  D elphimums, 
Gloxinias,  etc. 


PEARSON'S 

SELECTED 

ANTIRRHINUMS 


ANTIRRHINUMS  are  one  of  the  best  bedding 
subjects  which  can  be  raised  from  seed.  The 
following    is   our   extra   select   List. 

Per  pkt.  s.  d. 
Antirrhinum  majus.    Beautnul  mixed  colours 

2ft.  to  3ft.    0     3 

best  crimson  . .         . .         . .         . .         ..03 

best  wliite       . .  . .  . .  . .  ..03 

best  yellow     . .  . .  . .  . .  ..03 

—  nanum.     In  height  between  Majus  and  Tom 

Thumb.     Mixed  colours 18  In.    0    3 

Amber  Queen.     Canary  yellow  overlaid 

chamois  pink..  0    6 

Black  Prince.    Intensely  dark  crimson. .    O    6 

Cottage    Maid.     Pale    pink,    with    white 

t  hroat 0     6 

Crimson   King.    The  best  of  this  class 

of  colour         18  In.    0    6 

Flame.    Lovely    brilliant   orange   scarlet    0    6 

Gloria.    Deep  rich  rose,  a  fine  novelty.. .    1     0 

Rose  Dore.    Beautiful  salmon  rose,  the 

best  pink        . .  . .  . .  . .  ..06 

The  Bride.    The  finest  white  semi-dwarf 

variety  18  in.    0    3 

Victory.     Eich    terra-cotta,     shaded    to 

yellow,  plant  of  fine  habit^novelty  ..10 
Yellow  Qem   (New).     Klch  deep  golden 

vi'llow.  .  . .  . .  .  ■  . .  ..06 

Yellow  Queen.     One   of  the   very    best 

vellows  20  In.    0    3 

—  Tom  Thumb.    Dwarf  strain,  finest  mLxed 

9  to  12  in.    0    3 

— best  crimson        . .         . .  ..03 

best  white  0    3 

best  yellow  . .  . .  . .  ..03 


J.  R.  PEARSON  &  SONS, 

Estab.1782.  LOWDHAIVI,  NOTTS. 


ANTIRRHINUM  SEED  &  PLANTS  from  Pedigree  Strains  that  gained  us  13  Awards 
of  Merit  and  10  Highly  Commended  at  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society's  trials, 
Wisley,  1920. 

A    RECORD! 

11  Tall,  22  Medium,  5  Dwarf  varieties— unsurpassed  for  massing  and  cutting— 
from    6d.    per    packet.       Six    varieties    for    2/9;     tv^relve    varieties    for   5/-,   post    free. 

Plants    for    April    and    May    delivery    should    now    be    booked. 

List  G,  our  General  Seed  List,  free  on  application,  contains  full  particulars  of  above.      Street  Pea 
Colour  Schemes  up-to-date  by  Mr.  R.  F.  Felton,  Sweet  Pea  Plants  and  our  other  specialities. 

W.    H.    SIMPSON    &    SONS.  SEEDSMEN,    BIRMINGHAM. 


THE 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


oL  LXXXVI.— No.  2621. 

ntereJ  as  Second-class  Matter  at  the  New  York.N.Y..  Post  Office. 


Saturday,  February   11,  1922 


REGISTERED  AT  THE  GENERAL 
POST  OFFICE  AS  A  NEWSPAPER 
AND     FOR     CANADIAN     HAOAZINE 

POST. 


Price  THREEPiiNCE 

Yearly  SubscriptloD 
Inland.    17/4:    Foreign.  17/4 


MERRYWEATHER'S     ROSES 


HARBINGERS     OF     SPRING. 


FOR    THE    GARDEN! 
FOR    BEDS! 


FOR    EXHIBITION! 
FOR    EVERYWHERE! 

Also  Fruit  Trees,  Shrubs,  Ornamental  Trees. 
Please  state  your  wants. 

H.    MERRYWEATHER  &    SONS,  LTD. 
Garden  Specialists,  SOUTHWELL,  NOTTS. 

BARR'S     FLOWER     SEED 
NOVELTIES    AND     SPECIALITIES     FOR     1922. 

ANTIRRHINUM,  Choice  Mixture  of  new  Intermediate  Varieties,  L.rgo  flowers  aDd 
brautUul  colours.  Per  >actct.  Is.  &  Is.  6d. 

BEQONIA,  New  NarcissuS'-flowered,  a  romarkaole  ne\v  race  of  tuberoiis-rootod  BegODias; 
flowers  resemble  in  shape  a  Double  Trump<^t  Daffodil,  petals  flepantly  waved  and  frilkd 
at  margin  ;  cjlours  range  from  light  to  dark  yellow,  orange,  huff,  blvsh,  rose,  dark  red  and 
scarlet.      About  60%  of  the  seedlings  come  true  to  form.  Per  packet,  2s.  6d. 

CINERARIA  Bleu  d'Azur,  a  lovely  variety  with  large  flowers  of  a  charmimz  sky-blue. 

Per  packet,  2s,  6d. 
HOLLYHOCK,  Queen  of  the  Yellows,  a  fine  introduction,  being  the  nearest  approach  to  a 
good  yellow  double  Hollyhock  yet  raised,  flowers  large  and  handsome,  h.p.,  6ft. 

Per  packet,  2s.  6d.  A  38.  6d. 

STREPTOSOLEN    Jamesoni,    a   lovely    cool   greenhouse   shrub   of  elegant    habit,    bearing 

corynijs  of  showy  brilliant  oravge-ycllow  flowers,  3ft.  to  4ft.  Per  packet,  1b.  6d. 

THUNBERQIA  Qibeoni,  a  lovely  new  graceful  climber  for  covering  pillars  and  trcUiswork 

in  greenhouse,  or  may  be  flowend  outdoors  in  summer  in  mild  cUmates,     It  has  glistening 

green  iv^  -shaped  foliage  and  flowers  ol  vwit  brilliant  glouivg  orange.    Per  packet,  28.  6d. 

Descriptive  Catalogue  of  other  thoicc  Flower  Sctds  .free  on  amplication. 

n  A  CD  D        JL       ^n  N  G  llf     12     &     13,     KINO     STREET, 

^^^r^r^      «     ^v^i^^,    covENT    garden,    LONDON,    W.C.2. 
SOW    NOW    to    bloom    in    July    and    August. 

BLACKMORE  &  LANGDONS 

world   renowned    BEGONIA    SEEDS    (56    Gold   Medals). 

DOUBLES, 

none    can    equyl    this    for    qualiti'.    size    and    lovely    form    and    colours  per  packet 

of  flowers  2/6   &  Si- 

SINGLE, 
of    wonderful    si/C   and    form  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...      1/'-,  2/6   &    51- 

FRILLED    SINGLE, 
a   beautiful  selection  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...     1/-,  2/6   &   5;- 

CRESTED    SINGLE, 
very  fascinating     ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...     1/.,   2/6   &  5|- 

HANGING    BASKET, 
a  grand   novelty.   \'ery  graceful    ...  ...  ...  ...    1/6,  2/6   &    5  - 

GLOXINIA 
seed,   mixed,   in   most   beautiful   selection  of  colour       ...  ...  ...    1/6,  2/6   &  5j- 

For  prices  of  tubers  of  iibove  ami  other  sfeciitlities,  write  for  free  catalogue  and  tiicntion  tliis  pafier. 

TWERTON     HILL     NURSERIES,    BATH. 

ORCH I DS 

of  vigorous  habit  and  superior  constitution,      A  visit  to  our  Establishment 

is     cordially     invited    to    inspect     our     immense     and     interesting     STOCK 

RAISED    BY    THE 

PURE    CULTURE    SYSTEM 

Choice    Species,    Rare    Botanical   Specimens.       Albinos   in   warm   and   cool 
sections  also  a  speciality. 

Expert     Advice    given    and     all    Requisites    supplied    for    the    good    culture 

of  Orchids. 

HAY  WARDS 
HEATH. 


GHARLESWORTH  &  GO., 


THE     GARDEN. 


[February  ii,  1922. 


i< 


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A    FEW    PRICES     FOR  1922 

BEE  I  w  per  n 

Cheltenham  Green  Leaf,  best  for  flavour  8 

DelTs  Black  Leaved,  smooth,  medium-sizf^d  roots  . .       8 

Early  Model  Globe,  bist  rounil  variety  . .  8t 

BORECOLE. 

Cottager's,  on<-  of  the  hardiest        . .          . .          .  -  -  ■       8i 

Dwarf  Green  Curled  Scotch,  the  best  Dwarf  8« 

Asparagus,  delicious  flavour  . .       8" 

BROCCOLI. 

Veitch's  Self-Protecting  Autumn  1 

Snow's  Winter  White  1 , 

Spring  White,  very  hardy  ..  1 

Late  Queen,  t lie  best  late  1 

Purple  Sprouting,  most  useful  liardy  tort  8( 

White  Sprouting,  delicious  flavour  1 

BRUSSELS     SPROUTS. 

The  Wroxton,  the  very  best  9i 

Darlington,  dwarf  robust,  very  productive           . .  1 


CABBAGE. 


Ellam's  Early  Dwarf  Spring 
First  and  Best,  best  for  Autumn  sowing  . . 
Blood  Red  Pickling,  lar^e  solid  heads 
Drumhead  (Savoy),  best  for  general  crop 

CARROT. 

Early  Nantes,  for  early  crop 
James  Scarlet,  best  selected 
Scarlet  Intermediate,  best  for  e.xhibltiou 


10c 
1 
1 
8( 


8c 
..  8c 
..        8c 

CAULIFLOWER.        perpk, 

Dean's  Early  Snowball,  selected  strain  ..  6c 

All  the  Year  Round,  very  distinct,  large  heads  .  .  6c 

Early  London,  liest  for  general  use  6cl 

Veitch's  Autumn  Giant,  best  for  use  in  Autumn  per  oz.  1  / 

CELERY. 

All  Leading  Varieties  . .  3c 

LEEK. 

The  Lyon,  best  and  largest  .  . 
Musselburgh,  for  general  \\>-v 

LETTUCE. 


per  oz 
1/( 
IS 


8d 
9d 
8d 
8d 

gd 


All  the  Year  Round,  excellent  and  reliable 
Wonderful,  keeps  tender  a  lonu  time 
Tom  Thumb,  best  of  the  small-growing  varieties 
Qiant  Paris  White  (Cos),  best  for  summer 
Balloon  (Cos),  largest  of  all. . 

ONION. 

Excelsior  (true),  packets  750  seeds  6d. 
Ailsa  Craig,  packets  750  seeds  6d. 
White  Spanish  or  Reading 
Bedfordshire  Champion 
James  Keeping,  best  for  long  keeping 
Giant  Zittau,  one  of  the  best  keepers 
Giant  White  Tripoli,  best  flat  white  onion 

PARSNIP. 

Hollow  Crown,  <pi'cially  selected  . . 

SPINACH. 

Summer  or  Winter 

SHALLOTS. 

Best  Selected  Roots 

TURNIP. 

Model  White  Stone 

Extra  Early  Milan  Purple-top 
Qolden  Ball 

PEAS,  BEANS, 

froiii  1  ,'6  per  pint  AND  from  1  /-  per  pint 

SCOTCH   SEED   POTATOES. 

ALL     THE     LEADING     VARIETIES     AT     MODERATE 
PRICES.     See  Catalogue. 

ALL    OTHER    SEEDS     EQIALLY     CHEAP     AND     GOOD. 


2/- 
21- 
1/- 
1/6i 
1/« 
1/6i 
1/41 


per  ih. 
6d. 


6d. 
8d. 
6d 


SWEET     PEAS    A    SPECIALITY. 
THEIR    UNIQUE     LISTS 

Post  Free  on  application. 

ROBERT     SYDENHAM    LIMITED 


I 


NO  363:  -Vol  LXXXVI]         NOTES    OF    THE    WEEK 


[February  ii,  1922. 


SIN'CE  our  reference,  on  January  21,  to 
Mendel's  Law,  we  have  been  inundated 
with  articles  upon  the  subject,  all  calcu- 
lated to  make  clear  its  principles  to  the 
ignorant.  Mendelism  was,  of  course, 
introduced  rather  as  an  illustration  than  for  its 
own  sake.  It  is  very  doubtful  whether  the 
exposition  of  genetics  can  fairly  be  said  to  come 
within  the  province  of  a  gardening  paper.  Be 
that  as  it  may,  it  is  certain  that,  to  obtain  the 
knowledge  essential  for  plant  breeding  upon 
MendeUan  lines,  it  would  be  necessary  to  purchase 
a  text  book  upon  the  subject  and  to  study  it 
carefully  and  at  leisure.  For  the  benefit  of 
those,  however,  who  are  still  puzzled 
by  the  occasional  use  of  such  words 
as  Dominant   and  Recessive,   it  may  ' 

be  well  to  explain  that  Mendel's 
discoveries  (and  the  discoveries  of 
those  who  have  carried  out  further 
experiments  on  the  lines  he  laid  dowiii 
have  suggested  that,  just  as  all  matter 
was  by  the  Atomic  Theory  divided 
into  ultimate  particles  called  Atoms, 
so  the  proportions,  colouring  and 
other  attributes  of  animate  objects 
may  ultimately  be  reduced  10  factors 
upon  the  recombination  of  which, 
or  occasionally  upon  the  removal  of 
one  or  more,  change  of  character 
depends.  If,  now,  two  plants  or 
animals  quite  distinct  in  at  least 
one  outstanding  particular  be  crossed, 
the  factors  will  all  combine  together 
and  the  progeny  (F,,  as  breeders  call 
it)  will  norinaTly  be,  approximately, 
a  mean  between  the  two  parents. 
This  fact  is  now  well  appreciated 
by  poultry  fanciers,  who  know  that 
first  crosses  between  two  breeds 
combine  in  fixed,  if  unequal,  pro- 
portions the  characters  of  both,  but 
tiiat  if  bred  from  again,  the  progeny  are 
what  they  are  pleased  to  call  mongrels. 
Now,  to  come  to  the  facts  which 
are  chiefly  of  interest  to  the  plant 
breeder,  if  Fj  is  self-fertilised,  the 
resultant  progeny  (F,)  will  show  an 
enormous  variety  of  offspring  differing 
widely  in  every  respect  in  which 
the  original  parents  differed.  Experi- 
ment has  shown,  none  the  less,  that 
there  is  order  in  the  variation.  It  is 
generally  found  in  practice  that  the 
first  cross  (F,)  inclines  somewhat  to 
one  or  other  parent  as  regards  each 
particular  character.  That  particular 
tendency  may  be  said  therefore  to 
be  dominant.  Now  in  F2  it  will  be 
found,    under    normal    circumstances. 


that  three  plants  show  this  dominant  trait — they 
are  called  Dominants — to  every  one  showing  the 
characteristic  of  the  other  plant,  which  is  called 
Recessive.  This  minority  of  Recessive  plants 
are  of  great  interest  to  the  plant  breeder  in  that 
they  breed  true  to  the  Recessive  character.  Of 
the  Dominants  two  out  of  three  are  unfixed  and 
will  in  the  next  generation  again  produce  three 
Dominants  and  one  (fixed)  Recessive,  but  the 
remaining  Dominant  is,  like  the  Recessives,  fixed 
true  to  the  particular  character.  The  pure 
Dominants  can  only  be  selected  from  the  impure 
ones  by  sowing  seed  from  each  plant  separately, 
when  the  pure  Dominants  will  at  once  proclaim 


WHEN  RE-MODELLING  THE  ROCK  GARDEN  THE  BEAUTIFUL  ANDRO- 

SACE   LANUGINOSA   AND   ITS  VARIETY,   LEICHTLINI    (ILLUSTRATED), 

SHOULD    BE   BORNE    IN   MIND. 


themselves.  Thus  in  briefest  epitome  Mendel's 
Law  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  have  not  found 
time  to  fnllow  modern  developments  in  genetics. 

Garden  Economy. — ^There  will  be  found  in 
our  Correspondence  columns  a  reply  to  an  article 
in  our  issue  for  January  28  which  advocated  the 
cultivation  of  dwarf  Peas  to  the  exclusion  of 
those  varieties  which  need  sticks.  There  have 
been  for  long  enough  dwarf  Pea  enthusiasts  and 
those  who  are  quite  the  reverse  ;  so  much  depends 
upon  temperament,  the  supply  and  cost  of  sticks, 
soil  and  cxposiure,  and  the  climatic  conditions 
of  each  season.  Nor  is  the  question  of  labour 
all  upon  one  side.  Dwarf  Peas,  especially  if 
unstaked,  are  scarcely  suitable  for 
ground  which  is,  for  any  reason, 
at  all  foul,  since  they  are  much 
more  troublesome  to  keep  clean 
than  those  on  sticks.  Again,  the 
garden  owner  who  employs  little 
labour  outdoors  may  perhaps  per- 
suade the  lady  of  the  house  or 
some  of  the  frocked  indoor  staff  to 
gather  Runner  Beans  or  Peas  if 
neatly  staked,  where  they  would 
absolutely  refuse  to  turn  over  haulm 
on  the  ground  and  perhaps  disturb 
a  few  slugs  or  a  worm  or  two  !  It 
will  be  seen,  then,  that  economy 
in  the  garden  is  many-sided  and 
must  be  thought  out  individually, 
since  individual  circumstances  vary 
so  enormously. 

The  Point  of  View.— Our  corre- 
spondent, it  will  be  noted,  takes 
exception  to  the  mention  of  "  highly 
paid"  labour  in  the  original  article. 
No  sane  person  would,  we  think, 
consider  gardening  a  well  paid  pro- 
fession. Were  it  better  paid,  it  would, 
no  doubt,  attract  to  the  profession 
many  who,  as  things  are,  regretfully 
turn  their  backs  upon  it  and  set 
their  faces  to  openings  less  congenial. 
Still,  if  labour  is  not  highly  paid  it 
is  expensive,  which  from  the  point 
of  view  of  the  garden  owner  amounts 
to  much  the  same  thing.  With  an 
income  approximating,  on  the  average, 
to  that  he  enjoyed  pre-war,  and  with 
enormously  increased  taxation — how 
enormous  has  been  the  increase  in 
taxation  on  incomes  of  any  size  the 
manual  worker  seldom  stops  to 
Gcoisider — the  private  employer  of  -■ 
labour  has,  with  terribly  diminishecl  ' 
resources,  to  pay  his  staff  wages  which, 
though  relatively  less  than  eight 
years  ago,  are  actually  very  con- 
siderablv  more. 


62 


THE    GARDEN. 


[February  ii,  1922. 


ROCK    GARDENS  and  ROCK  GARDENS 


A   comparison   of  styles   and   a  plea  Jor   a   most  satisfactory  form   of  gardening 

which   is   available   in   little  space. 


No  phase  of  ornainental  gardening  can 
give  more  pleasure  or  cliarm  in  its 
infinite  variety  at  a  minimum  of  cost 
tlian  rock  gardening  nor  is  there  one 
wliich  more  forcibly  appeals  at  the 
moment  when  tropical  plants,  or  any  plants 
demanding  artificial  heat,  are  practically  taboo. 
There  is  none  too.  better  able  to  display  tasteful 
arrangement  by  the  artistic  eye  and  ministering 
hand.  Rock  gardening  is  for  all,  from  the  cottage  to 
the  castle.  None  gives  greater  scope  for  planting 
than  the  judiciously  arranged  rockery  in  its  varying 
aspects,  ranging  from  warm  and  dry  to  cool  and 
moist  from  sunshine  to  shadow  ;  or  provides  finer 
facilities  to  cater  for  rooting  tastes  of  the  great 
alpine  family  including  the  more  refined  and 
delicate  members  of  the  bulbous  tribe. 

Of  the  making  of  rockeries  there  is  much,  of 
varieties  many  from  the  simple  clearing  and  suit- 
able planting  of  Nature's  handiwork  such  as  seen 
long  ago  in  an  old  rectory  garden  on  the  Cotswolds, 
"  rock-ribbed  and  ancient  as  the  sun,"  to  an 
ambitious  endeavour  of  comparatively  recent  date 
aggressively  conspicuous  in  a  suburban  garden, 
resulting  in  two  huge  symmetrical  mounds  nicely 
balanced  on  either  side  of  a  porched  entrance, 
■chiefly  composed  of  soil  larded  w-ith  stone  splinters 
vertically  stuck  in  with  that  splendid  regularity 
a  French  chef  employs  with    his   larding    needles, 


ELABORATE   ARTIFICIAL   ROCKWORK   AT    ST.    STEPHEN  S    GREEN. 
DESPITE      THE      ARTIFICIAL      CONSTRUCTION,     ADMIRABLE      IN 
ARRANGEMENT. 


the  crowning  glory  of  the  latter  examples  being 
something  in  the  way  of  a  noseless  Venus  on  the 
one  excrescence  ogling  an  armless  Adonis  on  the 
other.  There  are,  of  course,  many  triumphal 
stages  between  the  two,  and  some  wholly  outside 
either,  yet  to  the  first  named,  although  but  a 
memory,  one's  heart  goes  out. 

Back  to  the  Cotswolds !  What  induced  "  t' 
Paason  "  to  start  converting  that  rough  outlying 
Bramble-beset  bank  into  a  thing  of  beauty  when 
rock  gardening  was  practically  gardening  incognito 
or  how  he  contrived  to  lure  "  Old  Jarge,"  his 
gardener,  from  the  sanctity  of  the  walled-in  old 
world  kitchen  garden  and  his  beloved  Tea  Roses 
in  "  t'  grinhus  "  is  not  known,  but  there  was  no 
question  of  its  having  resulted  in  an  unqualified 
success.  Such,  too.  might  be  oftener  repeated 
to-day  where  natural  opportunities  occur.  It 
was  at  this,  the  winter  season,  the  twain  started 
clearing  the  oolite  strata  embedded  in  a  shelving 
bank,  and  there  is  no  better  time  for  the  work 
than  this  dull  time  in  our  gardens,  but  the  planting 
which  succeeded  the  clearing  in  spring,  it  must  be 
added,  was  such  as  no  orthodox  gardener  of  to-day 
with  a  plethoric  list  of  alpine  plants  before  him 
would  be  guilty  of.  It  merely  consisted  of  a  few 
of  the  lesser  Thymes,  the  little  Harebells,  Cam- 
panula pumila,  in  white  and  blue ;  the  old 
Aubrietia  deltoidea,  with  a  few  of  the  commoner 
Sedums  and  Saxifragas. 
not  forgetting  a  host  of 
self-sown  seedlings  of 
Alyssum  saxatile,  the 
inimitable  Gold  Dust  of 
spring.  All  were  inserted 
between  the  oolite  ribs  in 
a  way  that,  as  seen  before 
leaving  those  dear, 
lonely  Cotswold  Hills  of 
Gloucestershire,  they 
made  far  stretching 
colonies  or  pretty  cushion 
yards,  or  feet,  in  extent. 
It  was  all  so  perfectly 
simple,  but  as  a  bit  of 
natural  adornment  simply 
perfect  and  soul 
satisfying. 

It  is  a  question  if,  on 
the  larger  scale  of  rock 
building,  there  is  any- 
thing finer  in  its  way  than 
Pulham's  chef  -  d'leiivre, 
carried  out  for  the  late 
Lord  A  r  d  i  1  a  u  n  when 
converting  St.  Stephen's 
Green  into  a  public  park 
for  the  citizens  of  Dublin. 
Anyway,  no  more  honest 
praise  could  be  afforded 
than  its  having  been 
taken,  or  rather  mistaken, 
by  a  transatlantic  visitor 
for  Nature's  handiwork, 
and  that  when  Nature 
was  in  lier  happiest  mood. 
Wholly  different,  less 
striking,  but  more  interest- 
ing to  the  lover  of  hardy 
plants  generally  and  alpine 
plants  in  particular,  is 
the    alpine    border    more 


recently  constructed  from  huge  boulders  by 
Mr.  J.  Kearney,  the  lately  retired  superintendent 
of  the  same  picturesque  city  park.  This  contains 
quite  an  interesting  collection  of  alpines  nearly, 
but  not  obtrusively,  labelled  that  all  who  run  may 
read,  and  the  value  of  such  an  educational  factor 


LARGE,    WATER- WORN     BOULDERS     IN    A 

ROCKERY      AT      ST.      STEPHEN'S      GREEN, 

DUBLIN. 

is  endorsed  by  the  many  seen  taking  notes  of 
species  and  varieties.  For  extent  and  variety 
in  rockwork  making  and  planting,  nevertheless, 
the  Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Glasnevin,  some  two 
miles  from  the  G. P.O. ,  Dublin,  are  in  Ireland 
facile  princeps.  of  which,  more  anon. 

Rock  gardening  has  "caught  on"  in  our  fine  old 
Irisli  gardens  around  Dublin,  apart  from  notable 
examples  further  afield.  Some  comparatively 
small  examples,  such  as  that  of  Mrs.  George 
Mitchell's.  Ardlui,  Blackrock,  afford  some  very 
happy  inspirations  for  those  interested.  In  this 
particular  instance,  altliough  the  rocks  are  naturally 
enough  disposed,  and  tastefully  planted,  one  gets 
in  tlie  forefront  of  it  all,  as  it  were,  the  keystone 
of  character  in  one  huge  partly  sunken  rock, 
wearing  evidence  of  its  glacial  migration,  leading 
one  to  infer  that  the  whole  thing  is  a  natural 
outcrop.  Where  water  can  be  introduced  it,  of 
course,  adds  its  own  inimitable  charm,  and  this 
is  pleasantly  illustrated  by  the  pretty  bog  garden 
at  St.  Stephen's  Green.     Even  on  quite  the  small 


February  ii,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


63 


scale — where  the  rocks  appear  to  dip  into  but 
a  very  small  pool — a  plant  of  the  unique  Water 
Hawthorn,  Aponogeton  distachyon.  now  proved 
perfectly  hardy,  gives  graciousness  peculiarly  its 
own.  Many  things  flourish  in  the  rock  garden 
which  merely  exist  on  suflerance  in  the  hardy 
flower  border,  while  in  not  a  few  cases  there  is  to 


be  found   some  rarity  of   the  high   alpine   world 
spoken  of  by  Mrs.  Sigourney  as 

"  Meek  dwellers  mid  yon  terror-stricken  cliffs, 
With  brows  so  pure  and  incense  breathing  lips  " 

condescending  to  make  itself  quite  happy  and  at 
home.  K. 


LILIUM  AURATUM  AT  BRODICK 

The  following  notes  on  the  successful  cultivation  of  Lilium  auratum  outdoors  should  be  of 

general  interest 


FAMOUS  as  a  summer  resort  and  for 
the  new  varieties  of  Potatoes  raised  by 
Mr  McKelvie.  the  Island  of  Arran  on 
the  Firth  of  Clyde  has  in  a  minor  degree 
gained  distinction  for  the  culture  of 
Lilium  auratum  in  the  open.  Although  favoured 
in  winter  by  the  absence  of  severe  frost,  the 
climate  in  summer  and  early  autumn  varies  but 
little    from    that    experienced    on    the    Ayrshire 


Some  of  the  spikes  were  6ft.  high  and  carried  from 
twenty-five  to  thirty-eight  perfect  blooms.  The 
bulbs  are  lifted  every  fifth  year,  when  tlie  old  soil 
is  removed  and  a  fresh  compost  of  turfy  loam, 
leaf-mould  and  a  little  old  manure  substituted. 
Beyond  a  surface  dressing  of  blood  manure  each 
year  when  growth  is  beginning  to  show  no  further 
treatment  or  protection  is  given.  The  best 
results  are  obtained  in  the  third  and  foiffth  year, 


SOME    OF    THE    WONDERFUL    SPIKES    OF    FLOWER. 


coast,  fifteen  to  twenty  miles  to  the  east,  and  few 
gardeners  would  select  Ormidale  as  an  ideal  spot 
for  growing  Liliums,  as  the  situation  is  high  and 
exposed  to  the  north-east.  When  these  conditions 
are  taken  into  consideration,  the  results  achieved 
are  aU  the  more  surprising  and  suggest  special 
treatment  and  skill. 

The  picturesque  little  village  of  Brodick  nestles 
near  the  base  of  the  mountain  range  that  stretches 
across  the  island  from  west  to  east,  and  about 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  village  the  grounds 
of  Ormidale  slope  dowTiwards  towards  the  golf 
course  and  the  main  road.  Plant  life  in  the 
locality  is  vigorous  and  healthy.  The  cottage 
gardens,  with  their  display  of  Roses,  Sweet  Peas, 
Antirrhinums,  Poppies,  etc.,  are  the  admiration 
and  envy  of  the  summer  visitors,  but  the  beauty 
of  the  garden  at  Ormidale  is  only  visible  at  close 
quarters.  There  is  a  wide  expanse  of  lav\'n  in 
front  of  the  house,  and  here  the  Liliums  are  grown 
in  a  series  of  beds  which  form  a  semicircle 
enclosed  by  a  rustic  pergola.  The  beauty  of  the 
setting  is  accentuated  by  a  background  of 
Wichuraiana  Roses  that  come  into  bloom  simul- 
taneously with  the  Liliums.  When  seen  in 
September  last  there  were  i8o  heads  in  full  bloom. 


represented  in  the  present  cycle  by  I92r  and  1922- 
As  the  lawn  both  at  back  and  front  has  a  sharp 
dip,  a  photograph  of  a  comprehensive  character 
could  not  be  taken,  and  the  reproduction  only 
shows  the  centre  beds. 

The  gardens  are  worked  by  a  young  gardener 
single-handed,  and  on  the  occasion  of  the 
Caledonian  Society's  Exhibition  at  Edinburgh 
last  September  he  staged  seventeen  heads  of 
Lilium  auratum  which  for  size  and  purity  of  the 
blooms  were  a  revelation  alike  to  horticulturists 
and  the  general  public.  The  judges  awarded 
a  silver  medal,  but  the  exhibit  was  value  for  the 
higher  honour.  The  smallest  head  carried  thirty- 
two  blooms  and  the  largest  forty-five  and  not 
one  had  suffered  from  the  long  journey  by  steamer 
and  train,  as  the  gardener  had  gone  to  the  trouble 
of  tying  the  blooms  individually. 

Encouraged  by  his  success  at  Edinburgh  he 
intends  to  put  up  a  larger  exhibit  of  Lilium 
auratum  at  the  International  Show  at  Glasgow 
in  August.  It  is  possible  however  that 
the  same  standard  of  excellence  will  not 
be  obtained,  as  it  is  only  in  favourable  seasons 
that  the  blooms  are  fully  opened  by  the  end 
of   August.  J.   Y. 


SOME     BEAUTIFUL 
SALVIAS 

In  these  days,  when  heat  must  be  economised,  the 
following  notes  on  the  Salvias  flowering  outdoors 
071  the  Riviera  should  be  of  interest.  All  those 
mentioned  may  be  flowered  in  winter  in  a  cool 
greenhouse ,  though  some  sorts  tieed  space  for  their 
accommodation.  AJany  would,  doubtless,  succeed 
outdoors  on  our  south-western  seaboard. 

IN  days  before  the  war  Sir  Thomas  Hanbury 
used  to  send  each  year  a  list  of  the  plants 
and  shrubs  in  flower  at  La  Mortola  to  the 
gardening  papers.  This  year,  if  any  such 
list  is  sent,  it  would  be  the  most  misleading 
and  in  some  ways  the  most  unsatisfactory  record  ; 
for  the  long-prolonged  drought  has  prevented  so 
many  things  from  growing  on  the  Riviera  that  I 
am  inclined  to  believe  that  many  northern  gardens 
would  make  a  far  better  show — at  least,  on  paper. 
This  month,  I  think,  must  be  called  the  month  of 
Salvias.  Only  one  that  I  know  of  is  fragrant  to 
any  ordinary  nose,  but  there  are  so  many  that 
flower  bravely  in  mid-winter  that  they  are  among 
the  most  indispensable  of  shrubs  of  medium  height. 
They  are  showy  and  hardy,  so  free,  so  diverse  in 
their  stature  and  their  colours.  The  pity  is  that 
they  go  by  so  many  names  in  different  gardens  ! 
The  scarlet  Salvia  splendens,  now  past  its  season,  is 
replaced  by  Salvia  gesnersflora,  a  still  finer  thing 
and  of  much  larger  growth.  It  attains  a  height  of 
5ft.  or  6ft.  and  is  covered  with  bold  spikes  of  large 
flowers  for  quite  three  months.  There  is  a  charming 
soft  salmon-pink  sport  of  this  shrub  that  is  quite 
indisf)ensable  in  spring.  Its  colour  is  apt  to  fade 
in  the  full  sunshine,  so  this  lovely  flower  should  be 
planted  in  the  shade  of  an  Orange  tree  or  some  other 
sheltering  growth.  Salvia  involucrata  (or  Salvia 
Bethelli)  is  also  another  fine  bold  shrub,  with  rose- 
red  flowers  and  brown  bracts,  of  much  beauty  for 
a  long  period.  It  is  slightly  less  hardy  than  Salvia 
gesneraeflora,  but  only  suffers  when  there  is  excep- 
tional cold. 

There  are  two  charming  violet-flowered  br 
violet-calyxed  Salvias  that  are  quite  indispensable 
to  the  winter  garden.  Salvia  eriocalyx  has  white 
flowers  that  spring  out  of  violet  hairy  calyces. 
The  growth  is  neat  and  terminates  in  long  sprays 
of  dainty  flowers.  Salvia  cham^drifolia  has  brown 
calyces  and  rich  violet  flowers.  This  shrub  is 
of  rather  loose  and  scrambling  habit,  though  of 
particularly  pretty  foliage,  and  it  is  seen  best 
either  tied  up  to  a  post  or  to  an  Orange  tree  and 
cut  back  after  flowering  in  March.  This  delightful 
shrub  was  one  of  the  very  few  that  withstood  that 
terrible  wind  frost  of  1920.  The  only  one  of  the 
red-flowered  section  that  stood  that  cruel  night 
was  the  old  and  dainty  Salvia  coccinea,  so  con- 
stantly in  bloom  at  all  seasons  and  yet  so  often 
neglected  and  forgotten.  Two  more  scarlet- 
flowered  Salvias  of  great  beauty  there  are.  and  I 
never  have  satisfied  myself  as  to  the  name  of  one, 
which  has  red-brown  hairy  calyces  and  small  bright 
red  flowers  in  long  upright  spikes.  The  foliage 
and  growth  are  particularly  bold  and  handsome 
and  it  deserves  a  place  in  any  good  garden.  The 
other  is  well  known  under  the  name  of  Salvia 
frutescens.  and  is  almost  a  tree  in  stature  with  bold 
heads  of  scarlet  bracted  flowers  in  the  style  of 
Salvia  splendens,  but  in  branching  clusters  like  a 
scarlet  Lilac.  In  the  months  of  November  and 
December  this  tree  Salvia  can  be  quite  glorious  in 
its  branching  luxuriance,  but  it  is  much  the  most 
tender  of  all  the  Salvias  I  have  mentioned  and 
does  not  come  to  perfection  every  year.  The 
fragrant  Salvia  rutilans,  I  have  kept  to  the  last. 
Its  pineapple-scented  leaves  are  well  known  in 
English  gardens,  but  I  have  never  seen  it  flower  so 


64 


THE     GARDEN. 


[February  ii,  1922. 


freely  there  as  it  does  here  ;  but  though  pretty,  it  is 
not  of  outstanding  merit,  and  I  should  not  know 
where  to  end  if  I  embarked  on  the  many  and  varied 
Salvias  that  can  grow  on  these  sunny  shores  and 
enjoy  these  periods  of  severe  drought.  In  fact  it 
is  the  absence  or  the  presence  of  the  autumn  rains 
that  on  the  Riviera  determines  the  number  of 
plants  in  flower  on  New  Year's  Day.    I  should  think 


there  are  fewer  plants  in  flower  this  year  than 
almost  any  other  January  I  can  record.  Tl  < 
hardy  plants  that  need  the  autumn  rains  lu 
stzirt  them  are  still  dormant,  and  the  succu- 
lents and  the  more  tender  shrubs  that  enjoy 
heat  and  drought  are  in  unusual  beauty.  1 
trust  they  may  escape  from  serious  damage 
this  winter  of  1921-22.  E.  H.  Woodall. 


Winter-Flowering  Shrubs  at   Glasnevin 


By    lady    MOORE. 


THAT  handsome  evergreen  shrub,  Raphio- 
LEPis  Delacouri.   is  supposed   to  be  a 
hybrid  between  R.  ovata  and  R.  indica. 
It  is  of  French  origin  ;    the  plant  in  this 
garden    was    purchased    from    the    well 
known  firm  of  Chenault.     It  is  an  evergreen  of 
thick-set,    rounded    form,    about    4ft.    high.     The 
ei    yes    are   leathery,    broadly    oval,    dark    green. 


and   most  welcome   when   it   opens  in   the  bleak 
month  of  December. 

Rhododendron  davricum  opened  its  cold- 
toned  lilac  flowers  on  January  3.  quickly  followed 
by  R.  mucronulatum,  whose  larger  flowers  are 
of  the  same  tint.  R.  parvifolium  has  neat  little 
heads  of  flower  of  a  more  pleasing  colour,  more 
blue  and  less  magenta. 


THE    PINK-FLOWERED    HYBRID,    RAPHIOLEPIS    DELACOURI. 


The  flowers  are  a  bright  rose  pink,  produced  in  a 
stiff,  upright  panicle  or  raceme  sins,  to  4ins.  in 
height.  This  plant  has  developed  from  a  very 
small  pot  plant  to  a  fine  shrub.  Supposed  to 
flower  in  early  summer,  in  May,  I92r.  it  flowered 
sparsely,  and  again  in  November.  It  is  to-day 
(January  r4)  covered  with  fully  opened  flowers, 
as  well  as  many  unopened  inflorescences.  It  is 
planted  in  a  sheltered  border,  nearly  due  south  ; 
loft.  behind  it  there  is  a  wall,  with  trees  to  the 
east  which  shade  it  from  the  morning  sun.  The 
flowers  were  uninjured  by  8°  of  frost.  It  does 
not  object  to  the  poor,  stiff  limestone  soil  of 
Glasnevin,  which  in  this  part  of  the  garden  is 
not  shallow. 

Salix  Daphnoides  acutifolia  is  a  Willow 
which  comes  into  flower  in  December.  The 
catkins  are  borne  on  slender,  arching  twigs,  violet 
coloured,  covered  with  a  plum-like  bloom.  The 
male  catkins  are  very  narrow  and  of  a  bright 
silver.  This  Willow  is  a  native  of  Russia  and 
Turkestan,  and  is  also  called  S.  pruinosa.  For 
decorative  work  this  WiUow  is  useful  and  lovely. 


Blue  Primroses  have  been  in  flower  since 
November.  Crocus  Imperati  in  short  grass 
makes  a  gallant  show  on  a  sunny  morning. 

Of  flowering  shrubs  Prunus  subhirtella 
AUTUMNALis,  somctimes  called  P.  Miqueliana,  is 
the  bravest  and  best.  It  opened  its  first  pretty 
pale  pink  flowers  in  the  last  week  of  October, 
and  in  spite  of  heavy  rain,  gales  and  9°  of  frost, 
continues  industriously  to  keep  its  branches  a 
shower  of  bloom.  Its  usual  flowering  period  here 
is  from  November  to  April.  This  most  delightful 
and  desirable  shrub  was  imported  from  Japan 
by  the  late  Mr.  T.  Smith,  of  Daisy  Hill  Newry.  It 
should  have  a  place  in  every  garden,  large  or  small. 

[Prunus  subhirtella  autumnalis  was  illustrated 
in  The  Garden,  October  8,  1921.  page  502. — Ed.] 

CoRNUs  OFFICINALIS,  also  a  native  of  Japan, 
has  been  open  since  the  first  of  the  year.  Its 
miniature  yellow  flowers,  thickly  set  all  over 
the  twigs,  which  branch  gracefully,  give  the 
bush  a  very  pleasing  effect.  It  is  most  useful 
for  table  decoration,  being  light  and  graceful, 
and  lasts  well  in  water. 


AUTUMN'S    MATURER 
GLORY 

The   Cultivation   of  the   Gladiolus. 

IN  America,  where  it  has  a  special  journal 
devoted  to  itself,  pubhshed  each  month, 
the  Gladiolus  ranks  as  high  as  the  Rose 
and  the  DahUa  do  with  us.  No  wonder  ! 
for  it  is  one  of  the  noblest  ornaments  of 
the  summer  and  autumn  garden,  capable — when 
rightly  used  and  grouped  in  masses — of  forming 
such  a  welter  of  dazzUng  colour  as  almost  to  blind 
the  visitor  by  its  brilliance.  Did  someone 
murmur  the  word  "  stiff "  ?  Perhaps,  but  a 
stifl'ness  with  a  great  charm  about  it  as  the  flowers 
stand  in  soldier-hke  erectness.  Moreover,  the 
stifl'ness  is  very  largely  lost  when  the  spikes  are 
merged  one  into  another  by  the  massed  effect  of 
great  clumps  in  the  garden. 

When  cut  and  placed  in  water  in  the  house, 
this  very  stiffness  becomes  a  virtue.  Well  placed 
in  tall  vases,  with  either  their  own  or  a  Uttle  foliage 
of  the  common  Flag  Iris,  there  is  nothing  else 
in  their  season  so  imperial  in  appearance. 

Culturally,  aU  varieties  and  species  appreciate 
best  a  loamy  soil  that  is  inclined  to  be  heavy. 
A  yellowish  loam  that  is  greasy  to  the  touch  is 
the  ideal.  Few  of  us  have  this,  but  fortunately 
the  corms  will  do  well  in  any  soil  that  is  in  good 
condition  and  with  which  a  little  extra  trouble 
is  taken  in  preparation.  The  need  is  sufficient 
stifl'ness  to  retain  water  (so  that  the  roots  do  not 
find  themselves  in  an  absolutely  dry  state),  but 
drained,  aerated  and  warmed  by  the  addition  of 
abundance  of  sand  and  grit.  It  is  very  often 
recommended  to  use  cow  manure  for  these  flowers, 
well  incorporating  this  with  the  soil  at  about  ift. 
below  the  surface.  While  this  treatment  cannot 
be  surpassed  for  a  light  soil,  do  not  overlook  the 
fact  that  in  soils  approaching  the  tenacity  of  clay 
stable  manure  with  its  quota  of  straw  is  from  all 
points  of  view  to  be  preferred.  Naturally,  dry 
soils  are  far  "hungrier"  than  moist  ones,  and 
when  deaUng  with  these  the  quantity  of  manure 
used  should  be  considerably  increased. 

It  is  scarcely  possible  to  work  the  soil  too  deeply 
during  the  winter  months  previous  to  planting, 
3ft.  being  none  too  much  to  trench,  while  the 
surface  should  be  thrown  up  rough  and  left  in 
ridges  so  that  the  maximum  amount  of  weathering 
can  take  place.  Whatever  the  nature  of  the 
soil,  trenching  cannot  fail  to  improve  its  con- 
dition, make  it  warmer  and  more  fertile  and  im- 
prove the  drainage.  I  may  seem  to  be  labouring 
this  point  of  soil  preparation  considerably,  but  it 
is  one  of  the  really  vital  items  in  culture,  and  far 
more  depends  upon  its  thoroughness  and  efficiency 
than  all  the  after  care  that  can  be  given  to  the 
plants.  Lay  your  foundation  well  and  truly 
in  thorough  and  generous  soil  cultivation  and  you 
may  plant  your  corms  with  the  assurance  o 
gorgeous  spikes  of  flower,  almost  leaving  the 
plants  to  grow  themselves  through  the  subsequent 
stages  of  their  life.  After  culture,  of  course,  is 
needed.  I  do  not  mean  that  last  sentence  literally, 
but  so  great  is  the  importance  of  soil  preparation 
that  it  overshadows  all  else  until  the  great  moment 
of  planting  comes. 

This  is  best  done  towards  the  end  of  March, 
though,  of  course,  we  must  be  guided  by  the 
state  of  the  soil  and  the  state  of  the  weather. 
The  Gladiolus — in  my  experience — is  far  hardier 
than  is  generally  supposed,  the  Childsii,  Lemoinei, 
nanceianus.  gandavensis  and  brenchleyensis 
sections  all  standing  unharmed  through  the  winter 
in  light  soils  if  left  in  by  mistake,  though  inevitably 
there  are  losses  if  this  is  done  as  a  regular  thing. 
Still,  it  conveys  a  hint  for  the  planter,   and  early 


February  ii,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


65 


planting — or  as  early  planting  as  is  practicable — 
cannot  be  too  strongly  commended.  Space  enough 
must  be  given  for  sun  and  air  to  play  their  part, 
I2ins.  to  i5ins.  apart  and  4ins.  to  6iiis.  deep 
being  suitable  where  grown  among  other  plants, 
or  6ins.  apart  where  grouped  in  borders.  Use  a 
trowel  for  planting ;  it  is  quite  as  expeditious 
as  a  dibber,  and  does  not  leave  a  hard  ring  round 
the  edge  of  the  corm.  Corms  vary  in  size  with 
variety,  and  for  a  general  rule  one  will  not  do 
better  than  cover  the  corm  with  soil  to  twice  its 
depth. 

As  soon  as  the  foUage  has  speared  its  way 
through,  lighten  the  surface  soil  up  with  a  Dutch 
hoe,  one  of  the  Gladiolus  grower's  greatest  friends. 
A  light  and  friable  condition  of  the  surface  acts 
in  exactly  the  same  way  as  a  mulch  and  keeps 
the  soil,  where  the  roots  are,  evenly  moist.  Water 
must  be  regularly  supplied  whenever  drought 
occurs,  though  it  is  a  mistake  to  be  constantly 
pouring  cold  water  on  the  ground.  Thoroughly 
soak  when  it  is  required,  hoe  the  surface  the  follow- 
ing day,  giving  each  corm  a  little  drop  of  hquid 
manure,  and  then  leave  until,  by  inserting  the 
finger  into  the  earth,  one  finds  that  water  is  really 
required  again. 

After  flowering  is  completed,  leave  the  corms 
in  the  soil  for  as  long  as  the  weather  enables  you 
to  do  so  ;  then  lift,  and  after  a  suitable  period 
in  a  dry  frost-proof  shed,  store  in  fibre  until  spring 
returns. 

When  hfting  in  autumn  is  the  opportunity  to 
propagate — or  rather,  one  of  them,  for  seeds 
are  equally  reliable,  though  slower.  When  you 
dig  up  the  older  corms  you  will  find  innumerable 
small  offsets  (spawn,  as  they  are  sometimes  called), 
and  these,  varying  from  the  size  of  a  small  pin's 
head  to  a  pea,  should  be  collected  and  "  sown  " 
in  boxes  of  soil  in  the  greenhouse,  where  they  are 
grown  on  until  large  enough  to  be  put  out  in  drills 
in  the  open  ground.  Do  not  attempt  to  keep 
these  cormlets  dry  through  the  winter  ;  they  are 
too  small,  and  will  simply  perish.  Sow  them 
thinly  as  though  they  were  seeds  and  keep  as 
cool  as  possible  through  the  winter.  This,  of 
course,  reproduces  the  parent  true  to  type,  but 
if  new  varieties  are  desired,  the  only  method  of 
procuring  these  is  by  inter-crossing  existing 
types  while  in  flower  and  raising  the  seedhngs 
from  them  to  flowering  size. 

Fertilisation  is  quite  a  simple  matter,  readily 
performed  by  anyone  ;  but  great  care  is  necessary 
to  protect  the  stigma  with  muslin  both  before  and 
after  the  operation.  This  excludes  insect  visitors 
of  the  winged  type,  and  is  sufficient  for  general 
purposes,  though,  of  course,  it  is  ineffective  against 
thrips  and  minute  insects,  which  may  carry  other 
foreign  pollen  grains  to  the  receptive  stigmas. 
This  is  a  negligible  factor,  however,  and  can  be 
disregarded,  though  it  helps  to  explain  occasional 
variations  that  cannot  otherwise  be  accounted 
for. 

Diseases  and  pests  are  not  a  serious  worry  to 
the  Gladiolus  grower,  though  wireworm  is  apt  to 
be  troublesome.  Old  gardens  are  usually  free 
of  this  except  where  new  soil  is  imported.  The 
autumn  trenching  assists  greatly  in  harrying 
these  destructive  creatures,  for  birds  are  con- 
stantly at  work  all  winter,  searching  out  and 
destroying  them.  Soil  fumigation  and  trapping 
in  shoes  of  potatoes  are  also  invaluable  aids  in 
reducing  their  numbers. 

Red  spider  occasionally  attacks  them  during 
hot  summers,  and  very  soon  ruins  the  appearance 
of  the  plants,  but  this  can  always  be  held  in  check 
by  occasional  syringings  with  water  and  by  hoeing 
the  soil  so  that  the  roots  do  not  become  dry. 
The  Gladiolus  fungus  (Myriococcus  fusan)  is  a 
very  destructive  pest  where  the  attack  is  severe, 
and  prompt  and  drastic  measures  should  at  once 


be  taken  to  combat  it.  Burn  all  affected  plants  at 
onCe  and  dress  the  soil  freely  with  flowers  of  sulphur, 
afterwards  trenching  3ft.  deep,  as  this  buries  the 
spores  of  the  fungus  that  may  still  be  Uving  too 
deeply  for  further  harm  to  result.  Before  planting, 
if  you  have  any  reason  to  suspect  that  corms  arc 


infected  with  this  foul  disease,  dip  them  in  a 
solution  of  one  part  of  formaldehyde  to  five  parts 
of  water.  They  should  remain  in  this  for  about 
two  minutes,  and  it  is  a  wise  precaution  to  take 
with  all  newly  purchased  corms  if  you  hold  a  large 
and  valuable  collection.   H.  W.  Canning- Wright. 


A    NOTE    ON    THE    POMEGRANATE    AS 
AN    ENGLISH    WALL    SHRUB 


THE  hot  and  sunny  summer  of  1921 
almost  made  the  Pomegranate  forget 
how  different  is  our  climate  from  that  of 
its  original  habitat  and  of  its  present 
normal  culture.  In  many  of  our  gardens 
— such  as  Mathern  Palace,  as  the  accompanying 
illustration  shows — it  not  only  bloomed  freely 
but  made  a  very  good  effort  at  fruiting.  Yet 
iVlr.  George  Nicholson,  in  his  "  Dictionary  of 
Gardening,"   tells  us   that   "  in  Britain,   even  its 


THE    POMEGRANATE    RIPENING    FRUIT 
OUTDOORS    AT    CHEPSTOW. 

flowering  is  chiefly  limited  to  the  most  exception- 
ally favoured  locaHties,"  and  I  well  remember  when, 
at  the  end  of  a  previous  hot  summer — 191 1,  I 
should  think — the  Mathern  Palace  example 
behaved  as  it  has  recently  done,  that  I  mentioned 
the  Pomegranate  as  a  desirable  garden  subject 
to  Mr.  William  Robinson,  who  assured  me  its 
bloom  was  so  uncertain  that  he  did  not  think 
it  worth  using  in  this  country.  I  retaliated  by 
mentioning  Canon  Ellacombe's  free-flowering 
double  variety  at  Bitton,  and  added  that  I  had 
not  only  enjoyed  much  bloom  from  my  own  plant, 
but  that  it  was  actually  developing  its  fruit. 
He  was  frankly  incredulous,  and  I  only  brought 
conviction  to  his  mind  by  posting  him  a  specimen — 
I  will  not  say  edible  or  of  imported  size,  but  fully 
formed  and  coloured. 

A  native  of  Cabul  and  Persia,  Punica  Graiiatum 
became  widely  distributed  and  cultivated  by  the 
ancients.  It  was  in  early  mediffival  times  so  well 
established  as  a  useful  if  not  high  flavoured  fruit 
on  both  the  north  and  south  shores  of  the  Mediter- 
ranean  up   to  its   most   westerly   limits,  that  our 


Monkish  writers  on  garden  matters — who,  as 
translators  and  adapters  of  their  Latin  pre- 
decessors, dealt  more  with  southern  than  northern 
cultivation — not  infrequently  mention  it  under 
various  spellings,  such  as  "  poumgarnet,"  while 
in  1533  Elyot,  in  his  "  Castel  of  Helth,"  tells 
us  that  "  Pomegranates  be  of  good  iuyce  and 
profitable  to  the  stomacke."  Shortly  before  that 
time  it  had  obtained  decorative  popularity  in 
England  as  one  of  the  heraldic  devices  favoured  by 
Catharine  of  Aragon,  and  so  long  as  she  was  the 
favoured  wife  of  Henry  VIII  his  nobles  and 
courtiers  found  place  for  it  among  the  royal 
emblems  which  they  embroidered  on  their  bed- 
hangings  or  carved  on  their  woodwork.  Lord 
Chamberlain  Sandys  used  it  in  both  materials. 
With  the  arms  of  Aragon  and  Castile  it  may  yet 
be  seen  much  repeated  on  the  wainscoting  of  the 
gallery  at  the  Vyne,  in  the  form  of  a  twig  with  a 
leaf  on  one  side,  a  flower  on  the  other,  and  terminat- 
ing with  a  fruit,  spUtso  as  to  show  some  of  the  seeds. 
In  the  inventory  taken  after  Lord  Sandys'  death  in 
1 54 1  we  read  of  :  "A  riche  bedd  of  greene  velvet 
and  saten,  garnished  with  roses  and  pomegarnettes," 
which  had  no  doubt  been  kept  in  the  background 
in  1535  when  King  Hal,  having  divorced  Catharine, 
brought  her  successor.  Anne  Boleyn,  to  visit  his 
Chamberlain  at  the  Vyne.  Probably  the  Pome- 
granate plant  had  not  at  that  time  been  cultivated 
in  England,  as  we  are  told  that  it  was  first  intro- 
duced here  about  1600  by  John  Gerard.  Its  form, 
substance  and  colour  commended  it  to  the  poets,  so 
that  Elizabethan  Greene  sings  of  "  cheekes  like 
faire  pomegranade  kernels,  wash't  in  rrulk,"  while 
Georgian  Thomson  praises  it  in  the  Unes  : 

"  Nor,  on  its  slender  twigs 
Now  bending,  be  the  full  pomegranate  scorned." 

Which  shows  us  that  the  characteristics  of  its 
habit  at  fruiting  time  were  known  to  him,  but 
whether  in  England  or  not  is  another  matter. 
Treated  as  a  wall  shrub  it  is  hardy,  in  many 
parts  of  England.  Purton,  near  Swindon,  is  by 
no  means  a  mild  wintered  place,  but  I  well 
remember,  in  the  summer  of  1894,  seeing  a  bloom- 
sprinkled  plant  growing  right  up  the  waU  of  a 
farmhouse  in  that  parish.  That  is  what  caused 
me  to  plant  one  in  the  following  year  at  Mathern, 
a  warm  and  sheltered  spot  in  Monmouthshire,  near 
the  Severn  Estuary.  It  did  not  take  many  years 
to  reach  the  eave  of  the  two-storeyed  building 
I  set  it  against,  and  no  winter  frost,  although  it 
has  encountered  several  that  were  quite  severe,  has 
ever  even  cut  it  back.  It  is,  of  course,  deciduous, 
although  its  dark,  glossy,  substantial  leaves  have 
an  evergreen  look  about  them.  I  think  that  it 
has  had  some  flowers  every  year,  but  in  damp, 
cool  summers  only  a  few.  Only  the  sun  heat  of  a 
summer  such  as  the  last  one  brings  forth  its  scarlet 
blooms  in  quantity  and  enables  some  of  the  blooms 
to  set  and  swell  the  fruits  as  we  see  them  growing 
on  their  boughs  in  the  photograph  taken  and  kindly 
lent  by  Mrs.  MacNab,  whose  husband.  Major 
MacNab,  bought  the  place  of  me  a  couple  of  years 
ago.  H.  AvRAV  Tipping. 


66 


THE     GARDEN. 


[February  ii,  1922. 


INSECT  EGGS  AND  SPRING  SPRAYING 


"  If  insect  ravages  could  be  brought  more  under  control   by  lessening   the 
number  of  these  destructives  whenever  they  appear  in  excess,  the  benefit  would 
^exceed  everything  of  which  at  present  we  have  any  conception." 

^OHN  Curtis,  1859. 


M 


ANY  insect  pests  of '  fruit "  trees  pass 
the  winter  in  tlie  egg  stage,  and  these 
eggs  are  always  deposited  by  the 
parent  in  such  a  position  that  the 
young  on  hatching  find  their  food 
within  easy  access.  Examination  with  a  pocket 
lens  of  a    few    long   wood    shoots    of    last   year's 


INSECT     EGGS — SHOWING     POSITIONS 

FAVOURED    FOR    DEPOSITION. 

A,  Apple  sucker.     B,  Aphis,     c,  Red  Spider. 

growth  and  a  few  short  fruiting  spurs  of  Apple 
wiU  probably  reveal  the  presence  of  some  of  these 
insect  eggs.  Those  most  likely  to  be  located  are 
the  eggs  of  Apple  aphis  red  spider  and  Apple  sucker. 
Three  species  of  aphis  are  well  known  as  attacking 
the  Apple  ;  they  are  :  Aphis  pomi,  the  perma- 
nent Apple  aphis  ;  Aphis  sorbi.  the  rosy  Apple 
aphis  ;    Aphis  avenae,  the  Apple-Oat  aphis. 

In  the  autumn  these  species  all  oviposit  on  the 
shoots  of  the  Apple,  selecting  their  sites  according 
to  the  species  the  eggs  of  the  permanent  Apple 
aphis  being  usually  found  on  maidens  in  nursery 
beds  and  on  "  water  sprouts  "  and  weaker  growths 
in  established  trees,  while  those  of  the  other  two 
species  are  found  evenly  distributed  throughout 
the  trees  on  the  fruit  spurs.  With  the  former  the 
distribution  of  eggs  is  very  frequently  local,  two 
or  three  maidens  in  a  row  being  badly  infested 
with  eggs  and  the  others  around  them  being  quite 
free  from  infestation.  The  same  state  of  affairs 
occurs  in  gardens  and  plantations  where  single 
trees  only  may  be  badly  infested.  In  the  case  of 
the  rosy  Apple  aphis  and  the  Apple-Oat  aphis, 
on  the  other  hand,  the  eggs  are  deposited  on  the 
fruit  spurs  singly  or  two  or  three  together,  and  the 
distribution  is  fairly  even  throughout  the  plantation. 

Aphis  eggs  are  small,  black  and  shining,  and 
are  elliptical  in  shape.  In  length  they  are  about 
.6mm,.  that  is  to  say.  arranged  end  to  end,  forty 
would  measure  about  lin.  The  general  shape 
and  arrangement  are  shown  in  the  accompanying 
figure  (b). 

Since  it  is  practically  impossible  to  distinguish 
between  the  eggs  of  the  different  species  mentioned, 
inferences  only  can  be  drawn,  and  these  from  the 
positions  the  eggs  occupy  on  the  shoots.  The 
permanent  aphis  eggs  are  in  dense  masses  among 
the  hairy  outgrowths  on  new  wood,  particularly 
on  water  sprouts,  and  are  often  so  numerous  as 
to  give  the  shoot  quite  a  blackened  appearance. 
The  eggs  of  the  other  two  species  are  generally 
located  at  the  bases  of  the  buds  on  spurs  or  partly 
hidden  in  the  crevices  and  scars  about  the  spurs. 
They  are  probably  never  found  in  such  numbers 
as  in  the  case  of  the  permanent  form. 

The  eggs  of  the  red  spider  are  spherical  and 
reddish  ;  they  are  found  in  little  clusters  around 
the  bases  of  buds,  in  the  downy  pubescence  on 
the  buds  or  in  the  scale  scars  on  fruit  spurs.     They 


are  very  minute,  measuring  about  .i6mra.  in 
diameter,  or  side  by  side  i6o  would  measure  about 
lin.  In  cases  of  bad  infestation  these  eggs  may 
be  so  numerous  as  to  give  the  bases  of  the  buds 
quite  a  reddish  tint.  They  are  fairly  evenly 
distributed  throughout  the  tree  and  the  plantation 
(Fig.  c). 

Apple  sucker  eggs  are  described  by  Theobald 
in  "  Insect  Pests  of  Fruit  "  as  follows  :  "  The  ova. 
when  first  laid,  are  almost  white,  then  they  become 
creamy  yellow,  and  later  assume  a  faintly  rusty 
red  hue  before  hatching.  .  .  .  They  are 
elongated  oval  in  form,  somewhat  pointed  at  the 
ends  one  of  which  is  produced  into  a  thin  process 
which  is  apparently  curled  under  the  egg  and  cannot 
easily  be  seen  unless  the  ovum  is  very  carefully 
removed."  A.  H.  Lees — "  Annals  of  Applied 
Biology,"  Vol.  II,  No.  4,  page  251 — has  shown 
that  there  is  another  process  at  the  other  end  of 
the  egg  which  "  is  hollow  and  is  inserted  through 
the  bark  into  the  cortex  of  the  twig  where  it  ends 
blindly."  It  is  suggested  that  there  may  be  some 
physiological  connexion  between  the  egg  and  the 
Apple  twig  since  the  condition  of  development  of 
the  latter  seems  to  influence  the  date  of  hatching 
of  the  former.  According  to  Lees,  "  The  eggs 
are  laid  in  greatest  number  at  the  base  of  the  fruit 
spurs,  often  sheltering  under  the  edge  of  the  scale 
scar  ;  frequently  one  side  of  the  spur  has  more 
eggs  laid  on  it  than  the  other.  .  .  .  As  a  rule 
there  are  but  few  eggs  laid  on  the  vegetative  shoots 
of  one  year's  growth.  This  occurs  only  in  cases 
where  there  is  considerable  crowding  of  eggs 
on  the  fruit  spurs." 

Sucker  eggs  may  often  be  found  side  by  side 
with  aphis  eggs  in  the  scars  on  fruit  spurs,  their 
colour  and  shape,  however,  makes  them  readily 
distinguishable.  In  length  they  are  a  little  shorter 
than  the  eggs  of  aphis  but  are  apt  to  be  somewhat 
stouter ;  they  are  about  .4mm.  long,  that  is. 
about  sixty  to  the  inch. 

These  insect  eggs  on  fruit  trees  hatch  in  most 
cases  when  the  buds  are  showing  green,  that  is, 
about  the  end  of  March  or  beginning  of  April. 
Referring  to  the  hatching  of  Apple  sucker, 
Theobald  {op.  cit.)  states:  "The  small  larva" 
coming  from  the  ova  at  once  ascend  to  the  buds, 
and  if  they  are  not  sufficiently  open  they  may  be 
seen  seated  on  the  buds  waiting  to  gain  entrance." 

Where  examination  reveals  vast  numbers  of 
eggs  present  and  it  is  desired  to  apply  a  wash 
immediately  caustic  soda  or  limewash  could  be 
used.  For  general  infestations,  however,  spraying 
with  soap  and  nicotine  or  with  lime-sulphur  at 
the  dormant  or  delayed-dormant  stages,  will 
usually  give  satisfactory  results.  It  is  now  a  well- 
established  fact  that  no  definite  date  or  dates 
can  be  advocated  for  applying  sprays,  the  intimate 
relationship  between  the  stage  of  development 
of  the  buds  and  the  activity  of  the  insect  pests 
necessitating  some  more  exact  method  of  timing. 
This  is  obtained  by  dividing  the  spring  development 
of  fruit  trees  into  definite  well-marked  stages. 
Two  only  of  these  are  important  as  regards  spraying 
and  insect  eggs  ;  they  are  the  stages  known  as 
dormant  and  delayed  dormant.  The  dormant 
stage  is  that  before  the  flower  buds  burst  in  spring, 
and  probably  the  best  results  are  obtained  by 
spraying  when  the  buds  have  started  swelling  and 
so  loosened  the  scale  leaves,  but  show  no  trace  of 
green.  Tlie  delayed  dormant  is  the  stage  when 
the  flower  buds  have  swollen  so  as  to  show  just  a 


trace  of  green  at  their  tips  ;  this  on  examination 
is  seen  to  be  the  young  leaves  in  a  tightly  folded 
and  compact  mass. 

If  lime-sulphur  is  used  against  insect  eggs  a 
spray  at  a  strength  of  one  gallon  of  concentrate 
to  ten  gallons  of  water  may  be  applied  at  the  dor- 
mant stage  or  one  in  twelve  to  one  in  fifteen  at  the 
delayed  dormant  stage.  For  soap  and  nicotine 
probably  the  best  mixture  consists  of  i  per  cent, 
of  soap  to  .025-05  per  cent,  nicotine,  using  soft 
water  as  a  basis.  The  liquid  potash  soap  as 
supplied  by  Messrs.  The  MacDougal  Yalding  Co. 
of  Yalding  Kent,  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  best 
and  most  convenient  soaps  on  the  market.  It 
gives  a  speedy  mix  which  is  important  from  the 
time-saving  standpoint,  and  is  most  satisfactory 
either  for  garden  or  plantation  use. 

Herbert  W.  Miles,  N.D.A. 


The   Hosts   of  Silver-Leaf 
Disease 

As  the  extermination  or  mitigation  of  this  increas- 
ingly prevalent    disease    depends    upon    an    un- 
derstanding   of    its    distribution,     the  follozving 
observations  are  worthy  of  careful  study. 

UNFORTUNATELY  this  disease  has 
caused  considerable  trouble  and  anxiety 
to  growers  of  fruit  during  recent  years, 
and,  although  the  annual  loss  is  difficult 
to  estimate,  growers  at  the  present 
season   are  busy  cutting  out  infected  wood. 

Of  trees  attacked  the  Plum  is  by  far  the 
most  susceptible,  the  following  varieties  being" 
given  in  order  of  susceptibility :  Victoria.  Czar, 
Monarch.  Washington,  Belle  de  Louvain,  Bryan- 
stone.  Gisborne,  Diamond,  Magnum  Bonum, 
Early  Orleans.  Pond's  Seedling,  River's  Early 
Prolific,  Pershore  Purple,  Yellow  Egg,  Blaisdon 
Red  and  Kent  Bush. 

There  appear  to  be  very  few  records  of  the 
Damson  being  attacked  in  this  country,  and  it 
would  seem  that  the  stocks  upon  which  Plums  are 


STEREUM    PURPUREUM     FRUITING     ON 
BUTT    OF    A    FELLED    POPLAR. 


THE 


February  ii,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


67 


worked  play  some  part  in  the  degree  of  suscepti- 
bility. Furtlier  observations  on  this  matter  are 
necessary  over  a  number  of  years  before  any 
definite  conclusions  can  be  arrived  at  with  accuracy. 
Certain  growers  assert  that  Victoria  upon  its 
own  roots  is  more  resistant   than   when  worl^ed. 

In  the  United  States  it  is  stated  that  Apples 
fall  victim  to  silver-leaf  disease,  and  cases  of  Apple 
infection  in  this  country  are  not  by  any  means 
rare.  aA.s  far  as  my  observations  go  the  variety 
Newton  Wonder  appears  to  be  susceptible,  while 
silver-leaf  on  the  varieties  Lord  SuiBeld.  Ecklin- 
ville.  Bramley's  and  Grenadier  has  also  occurred 
with  some  frequency. 

Other  fruits  usually  attacked  in  this  country 
are  Cherries.  Red  and  Black  Currants.  Goose- 
berries. Apricots,  Peaches  and  Nectarines,  the 
three  latter  coming  next  in  susceptibility  to  the 
Plum. 

in  the  past  it  has  been  usual  to  associate  the 
silver-leaf  disease  with  fruit  trees  and  certain  it 
is  that  from  an  economic  standpoint  the  disease 
on  this  class  of  plant  is  usually  more  serious. 
Nowadays  it  is  usual  to  consider  the  causal  fungus  of 
silver-leaf  tobeStereum  purpureum.  and  although 


there  may  be  some  who  do  not  hold  this  view 
no  satisfactory  evidence  has  yet  been  found  to 
suggest  otherwise.  This  fungus  is  often  found 
on  flowering  slirubs  and  forest  trees. 

Of  shrubs  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  the 
Portugal  Laurel  is  very  susceptible,  for  certain  it 
is  that  whatever  part  of  this  country  is  visited, 
silver-leaf  infection  of  this  plant  may  be  found. 
The  Laburnum  and.  in  certain  districts,  the 
Almond  are  also  attacked. 

Coming  to  larger  trees,  the  fruiting  bodies  of 
Stereum  purpureum  are  often  found  on  the  Oak, 
while  Alder,  Poplar,  Willow,  Birch  and  Elm  are 
attacked. 

To  a  less  extent  I  have  also  observed  Stereum 
purpureum  on  Sycamore,  Acer  campestris,  Hazel, 
Beech,  Mountain  Ash.  Hawthorn  and  Sloe. 

Growers  who  have  wood  of  the  above-mentioned 
kinds  near  to  their  fruit  trees  would  be  well 
advised  carefully  to  examine  it.  Should  the 
fruiting  bodies  be  observed,  they  should  be 
destroyed  to  prevent  further  infection  to  fruit 
trees.  Fructifications  of  both  the  bracket 
shaped  and  flat  type  are  found  on  these  various 
hosts.  Observer. 


GARDEN    ECONOMIES 

Labour  saving.      Sortie  very  present  helps   in   trouble. 


1READ  lately  in  a  daily  paper  that  a  very 
reverend  Dean  had  the  day  before  made  a 
remark  in  one  of  his  public  utterances  to  the 
effect  that  "  taking  one  consideration  with 
another,"  he  thought  "  sinners  '  were  more 
interesting  people  to  meet  than  "  saints."  How- 
ever this  may  be,  I  often  thank  my  stars  that  I  am 
a  gardener  in  my  own  garden  and  not  in  Paradise — • 
yes,  even  as  Parkinson  would  have  it,  with  such 
marvels  as  the  Vegetable  Lamb  and,  inferentially, 
the  Barnacle  Goose  tree  thrown  in.  How  horribly 
dull  and  uninteresting  it  would  be,  simply  to  have 
to  perform,  in  a  sort  of  clockwork  way,  a  certain 
number  of  routine  actions  with  the  assured  result 
that  all  would  be  well,  that  no  writing  on  any 
label  would  ever  be  obliterated,  that  no  stick  would 
ever  break,  and  that  flowers  would  need  no  gather- 
ing. Even  just  for  one  moment  suppose  you  could 
begin  life  again  with  your  experience  of  the  lower 
world  as  part  of  your  stock  in  trade,  would  your 
lament  on  leaving  Paradise  still  be  the  same  ? 
Would  you  say  Milton  was  whoUy  right  in  putting 
the  words  he  did  into  yoiu:  mouth  as  the  awful 
thought  of  leaving  came  over  you  ?  Difficulties 
often  prove  but  the  raw  material  of  pleasure  when 
things  go  wrong  ;  and  go  wrong  they  do  even  in  the 
best  ordered  gardens.  It  is  the  common  lot  of  all. 
There  is  no  monopoly  of  this  in  either  England, 
Ireland,  Scotland  and  Wales.  I  know  those  who 
garden  at  Myddelton  House,  Mount  Ussher, 
Monreith,  or  Penrh^m  Castle  would  bear  me  out,  if 
asked.  Ah  !  but  let  me  now  come  down  from  the 
clouds  and  touch  solid  earth.  Let  me  put  on  one 
side  the  greater  "annoyances"  which  necessitate 
uncommon  men  and  women  to  deal  with  them. 
Let  me  touch  earth  and  let  me  for  one  moment 
think  of  some  lesser  troubles  which  touch  lesser 
people,  such  as  labels,  sticks  and  scissors. 

There  is  still  wanted  a  perfect  label.  I  am  very 
doubtful  if  one  will  ever  be  invented,  but  I  am 
convinced  the  difficulties  are  considerably  less  than 
those  which  confronted  the  alchymists  of  olden  time 
in  their  search  for  the  Philosopher's  Stone — only 
one  wise  man  (Moses)  they  say  ever  found  it  and 
he  kept  the  secret  to  himself  after  grinding  the 
golden  calf  to  powder.  Who  ever  finds  the  ideal 
label  now  wUl  have  no  need  to  keep  it  to  himself. 


Let  him  manufacture  the  label  by  millions  and  then 
advertise  them  almost  at  what  price  he  likes 
to  an  eager  and  expectant  world,  and  his  zinc, 
lead,  iron,  glass  or  wood  wiU  be  transfused  into 
gold  or  "  Fishers."  This  applies  more  especially 
to  labels  for  outside ;  for  all  purposes  of  indoor 
utility  I  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  celluloid, 
cut  and  fashioned  according  to  the  wants  of  the 
particular  garden  in  which  it  is  to  be  used,  is 
difficult  to  beat.  It  can  easily  be  cut  into  any 
shape  or  size  that  is  wanted.  Labels  made  from 
it  last  for  ages,  and  ordinary  pencil  writing  is  as 
plain  as  it  was  at  first,  twelve  years  afterwards  ; 
they  can  be  cleaned  again  and  again  with  "  Monkey 
Brand  '  ;  they  are  pleasant  and  easy  to  write 
upon,  and  I  use  them  very  largely  indeed  for  making 
notes  about  seedlings,  both  indoors  and  out  of  doors; 
celluloid  labels  are  a  boon  and  a  blessing,  and  after 
twelve  years  experience  I  can  strongly  recommend 
them.  One  of  the  things  I  admire  in  so  many 
brethren  of  the  "blue  apron"  is  the  dexterity 
with  which  they  cut  flowers  with  their  knives.  I 
have  to  use  scissors  or  perhaps  I  should  say  flower- 
gatherers.  I  have  used  several  makes  and  I  have 
seen  others,  but  the  French  CucUle-fleurs  of  Vilmorin 
of  Paris  are  a  long  way  the  best  in  my  opinion.  I 
was  introduced  to  them  by  as  natty  a  gardener  as 
ever  lived — -the  Rev.  Edwyn  Arkwright  of  Algiers — 
who  was  the  first  to  find  the  white  form  of  Iris 
unguicularis  and  whose  "  Telemny"  strain  of 
Sweet  Peas  was  one  of  the  first,  if  not  the  first, 
of  the  early  or  winter-flowering  strains  to  be  offered 
to  the  public.  I  must  have  had  the  pair  which  I 
now  use  thirteen  or  fourteen  years  and  their 
plating  is  almost  undimmed  and  their  sharpness 
has  hardly  abated  at  all.  One  point  about  them  of 
practical  value  is  that  they  can  be  made  either  to 
hold  or  to  loose  a  flower  when  cut.  It  depends  on 
the  part  of  the  blade  which  does  the  deed. 

The  name  of  Charles  WoUey-Dod  was  once  a 
household  word  among  all  of  us  who  fancied  our- 
selves. Part  of  the  garden  at  Edge  Hall  consisted 
entirely  of  raised  borders,  somewhat  on  the  prin- 
ciple of  that  which  was  advocated  in  The  Garden 
for  January  21,  I  remember  it  well  and  also  how 
I  tried  to  copy  it  when  planning  my  own.  The 
reason,    however,    that    I    have    introduced    this 


famous  name  is  because  he  was  an  advocate  for 
iron  sticks  and  stakes.  I  still  have  a  large  number 
that  I  bought  at  his  instigation,  but  (one  would  not 
think  it  possible)  they  somehow  or  other  get 
fewer  in  number.  As  leaden  labels  have  been 
found  useful  for  melting  into  bullets,  so  I  fear 
these  iron  sticks  and  stakes  do  come  in  handy  for 
other  purposes  than  their  legitimate  one.  They 
theoretically  ought  to  last  for  ever,  but  like  so  much 
else,  these  sticks — 

"  Do  not  what  they  ought, 
What  they  ought  not,  they  do." 

(Matthew  Arnold,  slightly  altered.) 

If  I  remember  rightly  these  supports  at  Edge  were 
painted  a  dull  dark  green  and  so  were  mine  at  first, 
but  devil  a  coat  have  any  of  them  seen  for  this 
last  twenty  years,  and  really  I  don  t  think  they 
look  any  the  worse  without  it  and  they  are  quite  as 
useful. 

I  had  them  made  of  all  lengths,  beginning  at  2ft. 
and  going  up  to  6ft.  Some  were  made  for  a 
wonderful  plan  I  had  for  growing  Sweet  Peas  on 
stout  string,  threaded  through  holes  in  6ft.  stakes 
which  were  pierced  for  the  purpose.  What  can 
be  more  eloquent  of  the  change  that  the  last  quarter 
of  a  century  has  seen  on  the  development  and 
cultivation  of  this  splendid  useful  annual  ?  I 
advocate  iron  sticks  and  stakes.  I  have  hardly 
ever  caught  them  bending  and  I  have  never  caught 
them  breaking.  Mr.  Samuel's  giant  Delphiniums 
and  Messrs.  Ballard  and  Beckett' s  tallest  Michaelmas 
Daisies  have  no  terrors  for  them.  If  only  plants 
could  speak  in  human  language  what  a  chorus  of 
united  request  would  the  owner  of  every  garden 
have  rising  up  every  spring  from  his  herbaceous 
borders.  "The  iron  age  has  come,  good  master, 
the  iron  age  has  come."  "  If  expense  could  be 
ignored,  what  niight  we  not  do  ?  "  that  master 
might  reply. 

Again,  who  is  there  with  hundreds  of  pots  of 
different  "stuff"  to  tie  up  with  but  one  pair  of 
hands  to  do  it,  who  does  not  sigh  at  the  weary 
task  before  him  ?  It  is  a  tedious  job  while  it  lasts. 
1 1  is  one  of  the  newer  annoyances  that  has  arisen 
since  so  much  has  been  grown  under  glass.  The 
gardener  who  wishes  to  shorten  the  task  should  try 
some  of  Allwood  s  rings.  They  are  a  grand  labour- 
saving  device  and  as  they  have  been  in  use  at  White- 
well  Rectory  ever  since  Allwood  Brothers  brought 
them  out  I  can  say  from  personal  experience  that 
they  are  a  very  present  help  in  trouble.  A  stick 
is  put  in  the  centre  of  each  pot  ;  on  this  you  can 
hook,  by  an  ingenious  device,  one  or  two,  or  as 
many  rings  as  are  required  in  order  to  keep  pace 
with  the  plant's  growth.  They  are  as  neat  and 
inconspicuous  as  any  sticks  or  supports  can  be. 
They  last  for  years.  They  take  up  little  room 
when  stored  away.  We  tie  them  in  sizes  in  bundles 
and  hang  them  on  naUs  on  a  wall.  Spondite,  which 
I  referred  to  when  I  tried  to  describe  our  special 
Whitewell  frames,  cannot  be  omitted.  A  broken 
pane  is  a  serious  trouble  in  winter  time,  and  must 
be  attended  to  at  once.  We  find  Spondite  very 
handy  to  pop  in,  and  no  harm  has  resulted  from 
two  or  three  bits  that  have  been  doing  substitute 
for  eighteen  months,  having  stood  our  January 
and  November  snows  this  winter  and  also  come 
through  the  intense  heat  of  last  summer  "  as 
right  as  a  trivet."  Like  Spondite,  the  last  help 
that  I  am  going  to  mention,  has  not  been  under 
observation  very  long,  but  so  far  it  has  justified 
its  purchase.  I  refer  to  a  composition  fuel  called 
"  Ovoids,"  which  looks  for  all  the  world  like  duU 
black  duck  eggs.  No  problem  is  more  perplexing 
at  the  present  time  than  the  heating  of  greenhouses. 
I  imagine  there  is  no  one  who  cannot  reel  off  at 
once  the  names  of  friends  who  have  had  to  make 
changes  in  this  direction.  Economy  is  the  order 
of  the  day  at  Whitewell,  as  elsewhere.     Can  we  get 


68 


THE    GARDEN. 


[February  ii,  1922. 


a  sufficiency  of  heat  at  a  less  cost  than  in  191 9  and 
1920  ?  is  the  question  of  the  hour.  One  catches 
at  straws.  An  advertisement  of  "O voids"  at 
48s.  a  ton,  delivered  at  any  station  in  England  and 
Wales  led  me  to  give  an  order.  Although  it  is  too 
soon  to  make  anything  like  an  ex-cathedra  pro- 
nouncement, I  can  say  that  if  a  constant  low 
temperature  is  what  is  required,  they  are  fuU  of 
promise.  They  are  wonderful  lasters,  which  in 
itself  is  a  recommendation,  but  they  do  not  seem 
to  give  as  much  heat   with    the    same   draught    as 


coke,  or  coke  and  anthracite  mixed.  When  they  are 
first  put  on  the  boiler  fire  they  give  off  a  good  deal 
of  smoke,  which  has  a  peculiar  smell,  suggesting 
tar  as  one  of  the  factors  in  their  composition 
This  smoke  seems  to  be  the  fly  in  the  ointment. 
Will  it  be  too  much  for  our  chimneys  ?  So  far 
we  have  not  been  burning  it  long  enough  to  say, 
as  we  had  to  start  coke  before  it  had  time  to  do 
much  harm.  When  summer  comes  and  we  have 
burnt  it  in  the  warm  days  of  March  and  April  we 
shall  loiow  more.  Joseph  Jacob. 


THE  FORMS  OF  IRIS  UNGUICULARIS 

The  quite  exceptional  floriferousness  of  this  beautiful,  if  variable  species,  make  the 
following  notes  doubly  interesting. 


C  MOORE'S  article  on  this  species 
on  page  44  touches  on  many  points 
of  interest,  and  I  am  grateful  to  her 
for  the  opportunity  of  explaining  the 
point  of  view  which  I  adopted  in 
dealing  with  the  Iris  genus.  I  am  almost  afraid 
that  I  am  looked  upon  as  a  botanist,  though,  of 
course,  I  am  nothing  of  the  sort,  but  merely  an 
amateur  gardener,  blessed  perhaps — or  should  1  say, 
cursed  ? — with  an  enquiring  mind,  which  urges  me, 
when  once  I  have  a  plant  in  cultivation,  to  raise 
seedlings  of  it  in  order  to  see  what  happens.  This 
habit  of  raising  seedlings  has  shown  me  how  useless 
it  is  to  describe  any  Iris  species  in  the  minute  way 
in  which  a  correspondent  describes  "  the  lovely 
Iris  unguicularis  "  on  page  45,  or  to  demand  that  it 
should  be  "  accurately  described  as  regards  colour." 
Experience  of  many  seedlings  has  shown  me  that 
no  two  are  exactly  alike  either  in  colour,  shape  or 
marking.  I  remember,  too,  how  every  little  piece 
of  a  number  which  were  once  sent  to  me  from  the 
island  of  Cephalonia  produced  flowers  of  a  different 
shade  of  purple  and  how  the  markings  varied  on 
each  one. 

Once  this  infinite  capacity  for  variation  is  realised 
it  becomes  a  question  whether  one  will  follow  the 
example  of  some  botanists,  who  stroll  out  after 
lunch  for  a  country  ramble  and  return  for  an  early 
cup  of  tea  with  ten  or  twenty  new  species  of  Black- 
berry, or  whether  we  shall  content  ourselves  with 
a  rather  wide  definition  of  a  species  embracing 
within  it  all  local  forms  or  varieties,  and  excluding 
all  others  which  difler  structurally  and  not  merely 
in  colour  or  in  size  or  in  the  exact  outline  of  some 
part  of  the  flower  or  of  a  leaf.  Mendelism  has 
shown  us  that  even  an  extreme  form  may  be 
expected  to  breed  true  when  self- fertilised  , 
5'et  no  one,  I  imagine,  would  make  into  a 
distinct  species  the  form  of  Iris  Pseudacorus,  of 
which  the  flowers  have  no  brown  markings  on 
the  yellow  ground,  but  wliich  breeds  true  to  that 
character. 

Nothing  is  easier  than  to  take  one  individual 
specimen  and  measure  it  minutely  in  centimetres 
and  millimetres  and  to  call  it  the  type,  and  then 
to  describe  as  a  distinct  species  every  individual 
which  varies  in  the  least  from  it.  If  I  had  adopted 
this  method  in  dealing  with  Irises,  I  could  doubtless 
have  filled  several  columns  in  some  supplement  to 
the  "  Index  Kewensis  "  and  seen  ray  name  attached 
as  author  to  whole  strings  of  new  species.  Variations 
in  colour  and  shape  and  marking  occur  frequently 
among  plants  of  Iris  unguicularis  of  Algerian 
origin,  but  none  of  them  possess,  as  far  as  I  know, 
the  curious  bosses  or  swellings  at  the  base  of  the 
segments  of  the  flower,  which  I  have  always  con- 
sidered typical  of  I.  speciosa.  For  this  name  there 
is  no  botanical  authority  and  it  seems  as  though 
Glasnevin  has  a  different  plant  under  this  name. 
It  would  be  interesting  to  hear  from  Lady  Moore 
whether  the  early  flowering  pale  blue  form  has  these 


swellings.  I  should  fancy  it  would  not  possess 
them  and  that  this  early  form  is  really  of  the 
Algerian  race  and  not  Greek,  as  I  believe  the  later- 
flowering  form  with  the  bosses  to  be. 

When  Janka  gave  the  name  "  cretensis  "  to  his 
plants,  he  made  no  mention  of  I.  unguicularis  and 
merely  separated  it  from  I.  humilis,  which  is  to 
all  intents  and  purposes  an  I.  graminea  with  no 
stem  and  a  long  perianth  tube.  If  he  had  called 
it  the  cretensis  variety  of  I.  unguicularis,  no  one 
could  have  objected,  and  we  could  have  added  a 
list  of  local  varietal  names,  such  as  grasca,  attica, 
cephalonica,  asiatica,  lazica,  etc.,  for  all  of  which 
I  could  at  one  time  have  produced  plants.  Even 
then  we  should  have  had  to  admit  under  each  of 
these  names  numbers  of  colour  forms,  and  from 
time  to  time  intermediates  would  have  turned  up, 
which  would  not  belong,  strictly  speaking,  to  any 
one  of  these  local  races.  For  instance,  I  raised  a 
very  beautiful  series  of  dwarf  seedlings  from  a 
pod  of  seed  I  obtained  from  a  Cephalonian  plant 
crossed  with  pollen  of  the  Cretan  form.  The 
colour  and  markings  vary  in  each  individual  plant 
to  an  extent  which  would  doubtless  astonish  those 
who  are  accustomed  to  think  of  I.  unguicularis 
as  a  plant  of  which  all  individual  examples  are 
alike  in  every  minute  detail. 

No  satisfactory  answer  has  yet  been  found  to 
the  question  "  What  is  a  species  ?  "  but  the  infinite 
variety  found  in  nature  seems  to  show  that  it  is 
safer  so  to  define  a  species  as  to  allow  it  to  comprise 
many  local  forms  than  to  confine  the  description 
to  one  individual.  Some  years  ago  now  I  tramped 
for  a  month  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Adriatic  in 
search  of  Irises,  and  it  was  instructive  to  see  how 
the  pallidas  down  by  the  sea  grew  3lt.  high  and 
how  they  gradually  dwindled  in  height  the  greater 
the  elevation  became,  until  near  the  top  of  the 
Velebit  Mountains  at  4,000ft.  they  were  less  than 
ift.  in  height,  with  leaves  like  those  of  a  small 
Chamajiris.  The  proportions  remained  unchanged 
when  the  plants  grew  side  by  side  in  my  garden  in 
Surrey,  but  would  it  be  reasonable  to  make  a  fresh 
species  for  every  sins,  additional  height  ? — W.  R. 
Dykes. 


FORTHCOMING     EVENTS. 

February  13. — United  Horticultural  Benefit 
and   Provident   Society's  Meeting. 

February  14. — Royal  Horticultural  Society's 
Fortnightly  Meeting.  Annual  General  Meeting 
at  3  p.m. 

February  15. — Hertford  Horticultural  Society's 
Meeting. 

February  16. — Meeting  of  the  Linnean  Society 
of  London  at  5  p.m.  Manchester  and  North  of 
England  Orchid  Society's  Meeting. 

February  17.  —  Eastbourne  Horticultural 
Society's  Meeting. 


THE     BLUE    ASIATIC 
POPPIES 

Though   only    of  biennial    duration,    these 
plants   have   rare  charm  and  distinction. 

THE  seeds  of  these  plants  must  be 
sown  when  fresh  ;  stale  seeds  will  not 
germinate.  When  ripe  seeds  are  obtain- 
able, if  sown  immediately  under  glass 
(a  little  heat  is  beneficial),  they  germinate 
readily.  Germination,  also,  is  fairly  even,  the 
seedlings  making  their  appearance  well  together. 
The  Meconopsis  like  peat,  and  I  find  this  a  good 
material  for  sowing  seed  in,  as  well  as  for  the 
well-being  of  the  resultant  plantlets ;  allow  a 
generous  proportion  of  sand,  and  some  leaf-mould 
or  mellow  loam  as  well.  Being  water-loving  plants, 
neither  seeds  nor  seedlings  should  lack  a  suffi- 
ciency of  moisture  in  the  soil.  I  have  had  plants 
which,  having  been  overlooked  for  a  few  days, 
had  flagged  so  much  for  want  of  water  that  the 
leaves  hung  limp  and  apparently  lifeless  ;  but  a 
few  hours  after  an  application  of  water  every 
leaf  had  resumed  its  upright  position.  It  is 
surprising  to  behold  the  difference  the  lack  and 
due  provision  of  water  make  to  these  plants! 
At  no  stage  of  growth,  therefore,  should  Meconopsis 
be  kept  waterless.  The  seedlings  should  be  grown 
on  in  pots  indoors  until  they  are  sturdy  enough 
to  be  planted  in  their  permanent  shady  positions. 
Heat  is  not  required  during  growth,  which  is 
certainly  rather  slow,  but  very  sure.  Even  if 
the  seedlings  show  reluctance  to  make  rapid 
development  for  the  first  year,  they  will  make 
up  for  it  afterwards  in  the  production  of  larger 
plants  and  greater  floriferousness.  These  beautiful 
flowers  are  worth  waiting  for,  although,  unfor- 
tunately, they  are  only  of  biennial  duration. 

The  chief  value  of  the  species  of  Meconopsis, 
apart  from  their  great  beauty,  lies  in  the  fact 
that  they  give  us  a  blue  Poppy — a  glorified  Shirley 
in  appearance  and  substance,  which  has  indeed 
caught  and  held  the  reflection  of  the  blue  skies 
of  its  Himalayan  home.  Several  blue  Poppies, 
1  ought  to  have  said,  of  which  M.  Wallichii  is 
undoubtedly  the  best  and  easiest  to  grow.  This 
plant  shows  its  charm  even  in  the  seedling  stage, 
when  the  prettily  cut  green  leaves  become  covered 
with  a  multitude  of  long  golden  hairs  which  hold 
the  drops  of  water  so  charmingly  that  they  have 
the  appearance  of  sparkling  diamonds.  This 
becomes  more  and  more  noticeable  as  the  plants 
mature.  The  foliage  certainly  forms  a  hand- 
some setting  to  so  beautiful  a  flower.  Another 
fine  blue  species  is  M.  aculeata,  the  Prickly 
Meconopsis.  The  name  faithfully  describes  the 
appearance  of  the  plant ;  the  flowers  vary  con- 
siderably in  colour,  many  blossoms  being  of  a 
splendid  dark  blue.  M.  sinuata  latifolia  resembles 
the  foregoing  in  all  but  the  leaves,  which  are  less 
divided.  M.  racemosa  produces  its  blossoms  in 
a  raceme  in  which  it  differs  from  its  brethren  ; 
but  its  colour  is  a  lovely  blue.  These  species  are 
all  readily  cultivated.  There  are  others,  however, 
of  equal  merit,  but  of  different  colour.  A  beautiful 
yellow  is  M.  integrifolia,  a  gracefully  disposed 
majestic  plant  of  4ft.  M.  paniculata  bears  hand- 
some flowers  of  a  pale  sulphur  yellow.  It  is  but 
little  grown,  however,  which  is  a  pity.  Another 
smaller  species  with  red  flowers,  M.  punicea,  is 
almost  unheard  of.  The  British  representative 
in  this  section  of  the  Papaveracese  is  the  yellow 
or  orange  coloured  M.  cambrica,  single  and  double, 
of  our  Welsh  mountains.  This  is,  of  course, 
quite  perennial  and  will  willingly  naturalise 
itself  among  the  stones  in  the  rock  garden, 
cither  in  sun  or  shade.  Yes  !  even  in  the  trodden 
path.  H.   L. 


February  ii,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


69 


A  Bright  Display  at  Vincent  Square 


THERE  was  a  very  interesting  show  at 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Hall, 
Vincent  Square,  Westminster,  on  the  last 
day  of  January.  Greenhouse  flowers  pre- 
dominated, but  there  were  several 
pleasantly  arranged  little  ^ock  gardens  and  also 
sufficient  shrubs  to  show  that  the  outdoor  garden 
need  not  be  devoid  of  flowers  even  in  the  dead  of 
winter. 

The  principal  exhibit  was  a  very  large  collection 
of  greenhouse  Primulas  by  Messrs.  Sutton  and 
Sons.  Not  only  were  all  the  plants  models  of  cul- 
tural skill  but  the  arrangement  showed  how  very 
decorative  these  dwarf  plants  are.  The  bowls  of 
stellata  varieties  placed  on  stands  table-high  were 
especially  charming  and  these  contained  plants  of 
such  sorts  as  Coral  Pink  and  Improved  Giant  White, 
which  excited  a  deal  of  deserved  admiration.    Of  the 


delightfully  fragrant  Daphne  indica  rubra  as  small, 
useful  bushes  and  several  Mimosas.with  many  green- 
house Azaleas  and  Camellias.  The  two  last 
named  were  also  staged  in  quantity  by  Messrs. 
L.  R.  Russell,  Limited,  and  with  them  were  plants 
of  Begonia  manicata  and  sprays  of  Prunus  triloba. 

Clirysanthemums  are  not  yet  flowers  of  a  past 
season,  for  Mr.  S.  Aish  was  able  to  contribute 
quite  good  blooms  of  such  sorts  as  Enfield  White, 
Percy  A.  Dove  and  Heston  White.. 

The  little  rock  gardens  were  somewhat  similar  in 
design,  but  not  sufficiently  so  as  to  be  monotonous. 
Messrs.  Waterer,  Sons  and  Crisp  displayed  in 
theirs  beautiful  little  groups  of  such  dwarf  Irises 
as  unguicularis,  u.  lilacina,  reticulata  and  sind 
jarensis,  while  the  mass  of  Crocus  versicolor  Cloth 
of  Silver  was  very  fascinating. 

Very  good  blooms  of  Iris  reticulata  were  also 


A    BEAUTIFUL    CHINESE    PRIMULA,    SUTTOn'S    IMPROVED    GIANT    WHITE    STAR. 


fimbriata  varieties,  Reading  Pink,  Giant  Crimson 
and  Coral  Pink  made  welcome  masses  of  colour. 
The  rose-shaped  double  flowers  of  Queen  of  the 
Pinks  were  also  admirable  in  their  colouring  and 
profusion. 

On  a  table  space  Messrs.  Sutton  had  an  attractive 
display  of  spring  bulbs  growing  in  bowls  of  fibre. 
There  were  many  Hyacinths  and  Narcissi,  with 
smaller  numbers  of  Lachenalias,  Lily  of  the  \'alley, 
Anemones  and  Crocuses. 

Carnations  were  again  an  important  feature  and 
the  collections  by  Messrs.  AUwood  Brothers,  Messrs. 
Stuart  Low  and  Co.,  and  Mr.  C.  Englemann  con- 
tained excellent  flowers.  Such  pink  varieties  as 
Eileen  Low,  Laddie,  Delice,  Cupid  and  Boadicea 
were  all  very  beautiful,  while  vivid  colour  was 
provided  by  Lord  Lambourne,  Edward  Allwood 
and  such.  Chief  among  the  Perpetual-Malmaison 
varieties  were  Mrs.  C.  F.  Raphael  and  Jessie 
Allwood,  of  splendid  colour.  Besides  Carnations 
Messrs.    Stuart    Low     and     Co.     again    had     the 


prominent  in  the  exhibit  of  Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and 
Sons,  where  a  number  of  Cushion  Saxifrages  and 
various  conifers  were  well  placed.  Near  by  there 
was  a  model  of  a  sunk  garden  and  a  rockery  by 
Mr.  E.   Dixon. 

Iris  histrioides  of  beautiful  blue  colour  and  a 
breadth  of  Erianthus  hyemalis,  with  Christmas 
Roses  and  a  collection  of  conifer  sprays,  were 
included  in  a  contribution  by  Mr.  G.  Reuthe. 

The  best  alpincs  were  a  goodly  patch  of  Saxi- 
fraga  Burseriana  magna  in  the  small  rock  garden  by 
Messrs.  Skelton  and  Kirby.  The  blooms  were  very 
clean  and  pure  white.  They  also  had  Saxifraga 
Elizabetha?,  bearing  pale  yellow  flowers,  adjoining 
plants  of  S.  .^izoon  notata.  Hamamelis  moUis  and 
H.  arborea,  with  a  variegated  Elaeagnus  and  several 
Ericas,  were  very  attractive. 

Besides  a  rock  garden  planted  with  Sedums,  Saxi- 
frages and  other  plants,  Messrs.  Wm.  Cutbush  and 
Sons  had  Ericas,  Conifers  and  a  number  of  small, 
very  glaucous  plants  of  Eucalyptus  Gunnii. 


There  were  no  floral  awards  of  merit,  but  a  card 
of  cultural  commendation  was  awarded  to  Mr. 
A.  M.  Robinson,  Eastgate  Manor,  Chichester,  for 
unusually  large  Violets  of  the  varieties  Mrs.  D. 
Lloyd-George,  Princess  of  Wales  and  Marie  Louise. 

New  Apples. 

Laxton's  Pearmain. — This  is  a  very  handsome 
late  dessert  .^pple.  In  outward  appearance  it 
is  much  like  an  unusually  dark  coloured  Cox's 
Orange.  The  flesh  is  yellowish  and  the  flavour 
first  rate.  We  were  informed  by  the  raisers  that  it 
is  a  cross  between  Wyken  Pippin  and  Cox's  Orange 
and  that  the  trees  are  of  upright  habit,  robust 
growth  and  that  the  variety  fruits  freely.  Award 
of  merit  to  Messrs.  Laxton  Brothers. 

Ananas  Reinette  (Pineapple  Reinette). — An 
uncommonly  late  dessert  Apple  that  possesses  the 
true  Pineapple  flavour.  Shown  by  Mr.  E.  A. 
Bunyard. 

Reinette  Grise  de  Saintonge.^This  is  a  some- 
what large  dessert  variety  of  conical  shape.  The 
skin  is  dark  red  and  russety  and  it  is  of  good 
flavour.     Showii  by  Mr.  E.  A.  Bunyard. 

William  Crump.— A  few  years  ago  this  small 
conical  Apple,  which  was  raised  at  Madresfield, 
received  a  first  class  certificate,  but  unfortunately 
it  has  not  yet  proved  to  be  sufficiently  free  cropping 
to  be  valuable.  It  is  beautifully  coloured  and  of 
first  rate  flavour.     Shown  by  Mr.  E.  A.  Bunyard. 

A  seedling  Apple  of  excellent  appearance  was 
shown  by  Mrs.  Alice  G.  Harrison,  Hattondale, 
Wellingborough,  who  stated  that  it  was  raised  from 
a  pip  taken  from  a  colonial  Newtown  Pippin. 
This  was  questioned  by  the  Fruit  Committee,  who 
considered  it  to  be  almost  identical  with  Northern 
Spy,  and  as  this  variety  is  not  suited  to  our  climate, 
no  recommendation  was  made,  though  there  does 
not  seem  any  reason  why  a  seminal  variety  should 
not  be  fruitful  here.  The  fruits  submitted  to  the 
committee  were  most  beautifully  coloured  and  of 
ixcc'Uent  flavour. 


GLOBE    FLOWERS 

There  is  something  about  the  Globe  Flowers 

tvhich  delights  the  real  gardener's  heart,  yet 

they  are   not   cultivated  as    much    as  they 

should  be. 

NO  excuses  need  be  made  for  using  as 
the  heading  of  this  short  article  the 
English  name  for  the  plants  which 
are  about  to  be  described.  Trollius 
is  the  Latin  or  botanical  name,  but  did 
ever  anyone  say  to  another,  "  Come  and  have  a 
squint  at  my  Trolliuses  ? "  Is  it  not  always, 
"Come  and  see  the  Globe  Flowers?"  This  is 
quite  as  it  should  be.  Without  being  too  pedantic, 
if  the  word  may  be  used  in  this  connexion,  it  is 
always  well  if  there  are  good  old  English  names 
attached  to  plants  to  use  them  in  English  gardens. 
"  Globe"  is  at  least  as  old  as  John  Parkinson's 
time.  In  his  very  famous  and  often- quoted  book 
the  "  Paradisus  Terrestris"  he  has  a  picture  of 
om-  native  British  form  under  the  name  of  "  The 
Globe  Crowfoot."  This  was  its  usual  name  in 
Southern  England.  In  "  the  Northeme  countries," 
he  says,  "  it  is  called  Locker  goulous."  This 
is  interesting  because  the  word  "Boits"  or 
"  Bonts"  is  given  as  a  sjTionjTn  in  Nicholson  and 
other  dictionaries,  and  one  wonders  if  it  should 
not  have  been  "Locker  goulous"  or  ■' Lockin 
Gowan."  meaning  a  "  closed-in  bud  or  flower," 
for  in  Britain  and  Holland  and  in  Prior  "  Boits" 
is  undoubtedly  the  Marsh  Marigold. 

Parkinson's  graphic  description  is  so  good  that 
we  can  take  it  as  a  general  description  of  the  famih-, 
remembering  that  we  now  have  in  our  gardens  of 
pleasure  a  dwarf  form,  "  acaulis,"   and  also  more 


70 

opea    and    orange-coloured    forms    like    asiaticus 
and  its  derivatives.     "  It  hath  many  faire,  broad, 
darke    green   leaves    next    the    ground,    cut    into 
five,  sixe,   or  seven  divisions  and  jagged  besides 
at  the  edges  ;    among  which  riseth  up  a  stalke, 
whereon  are  set  such  leaves  as  are  belowe,   but 
smaller,    divided    toward    the    toppe    into    some 
branches,  on  the  which  stand  severall  large  yellow 
flowers,    alwayes   folded    inwards,    or   as    a    close 
flower  never  blowing  open,  as  other  flowers  doe, 
consisting  of  eleven  leaves  for  the  most  part,  set 
or  placed  in  three  rowes,  with  many  yellow  threads 
in    the   middle,    standing    about    a   greene   rough 
head,   which  in  time   groweth   to  be  small  knops, 
wherein  are  contained  blacke  seede  ;    the  root  is 
composed     of     many     blackish     strings."     These 
leaves   or,    as   the   uubotanical   might   call   them, 
these   petals   are   really   sepals.     The   true   petals 
are  found  inside  these  and  are  much  smaller  and 
stand  up  in  a  more  or  less  conspicuous  manner 
round  the  more  central  stamens  and  seed  vessels. 
The  seed  is  black  as  Parkinson  describes  it,  and 
it  has  this  characteristic :    if    it  is  sown  as  soon 
as    it  is  ripe  it  will  germinate  in  a  few  weeks, 
but  if  it  is  k§pt  till  the  following  spring  it  will 
remain  dormant  a  whole  year.     Hence  if  anyone 
buys   seed   in   the   ordinary   way   from   a   dealer, 
they  must  not  condemn  the  seed  and  throw  the 
seed-pan   and  its  contents   away  if  no  seedlings 
appear  in  the  course  of  a  few  weeks.     The  old 
writer's  description  of  the  root  system  is  just  as 
accurate   as   the   rest.     The   roots   are   composed 
of  many  blackish  or  dark-coloured  strings.     One 
might  make  a  very  decent  false  beard  out  of  the 
roots  of  a  Globe  Flower  plant.     This  gives  a  good 
idea  of  their  appearance.     In  a  garden  the  chief 
essential   for   a   plant   to   go   "  from   strength   to 
strength"  is  a  moist  or  somewhat  damp  position. 
They  prefer  rather  stiff  and  rich  soil  with  plenty 
of  humus,  and,  growing  naturally  in  grass,  they 
like  a  modicum  of  shade ;  at  all  events  it  is  well 
to  avoid  too  much  sun  imless  the  ground  imme- 
diately round  them  can  be  kept  cool.     Autumn  is 
the  best  time  to  break  up  old  plants  and  to  buy 
new  ones,  although  there  are  some  who  advocate 
February  or  early  March.     If  they  are  planted  at 
this  last  date,  particular  care  must  be  taken  to 
guard  the  young  foliage  from  drying  and  cutting 
winds  and  to  see  that  the  roots  have  plenty  of 
water  if  there  should  come  a  dry  time.     They  will 
do  well  in  similar  places  to  those  in  which   the 
Japanese  Irises  (Iris  Kasmpferi)  flourish,  by  brook 
sides  or  in  semi-marshy  land,  but  not,  we  believe, 
where   water  is   continually  lying.     It   will  be   a 
surprise  to  those  who  do  not  go  with  the  times  to 
know  that  there  are  now  a  great  many  seminal 
varieties  on  the  market,  and  that  one  new  species 
has  latterly  been  added  from  China.     The  species 
which  have  given  us  pretty  well  all  our  varieties 
are    three    in    number — Trollius    europa;us    (ovir 
native   Globe   Flower),   T.    asiaticus   (the   Asiatic 
Globe  Flower)  and  T.  altaicus  (the  Altaian  Globe 
Flower).     It    is    impossible    to    say    ho%v    many 
varieties  are  in  commerce,  but  Mr.  G.  W.  Miller, 
of  Wisbech,  who  more  than  anyone  else  seems  to 
have   made   a   speciality   of   them,   and  who  has 
repeatedly   staged   them   at    the   Tuesday   shows 
of  the  R.H.S.,  offers  in  his  last  catalogue  no  less 
than  thirty-seven.     The  following  half-dozen  can 
be  confidently  recommended  as  some  of  the  best. 
In    pale    yellows,    Lemon    Queen    and    Lichball  ; 
in  deep  yellows.   Earliest  of  All   and  Ophir  ;    in 
orange  shades.  Fire  Globe  and  Flame.     In  addition 
it  ought  to  be  mentioned  that  at  least  two  varieties 
in  time  past  have  received  awards  of  merit  from 
the  R.H.S.     These  are  Orange  Globe  and   napcUi- 
folius.     They  are  both  very  good,  but  Flame  and 
Lichball    have    left     them    behind.     Well-grown 
plants  of  any  of  these  should  average  from  zjft. 
to  sft.  in  height. 


THE    GARDEN. 


[February  ii,  1922. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


A   NATIONAL   DAFFODIL    SOCIETY? 

CEVERAL   Daffodil    growers    have  written  me 
asking  why  I  do  not  send  a  few  lines  in  support 
of   the   proposed    "  National   Narcissus   Society." 
I  should  have  done  so  long  ago  only  I  am  afraid 
I  do  not  share  their  views  regarding  the  success, 
and  I  hate  to  sound  a  discordant  note.      Why  the 
holding  of  two  shows — similar  to  those  we  have — 
under  the  name  of  "  National  Narcissus  Society  " 
is  to  turn  a  failure  into  a  success  is  more  than  I 
can   imagine,    unless,    of   course,    there   are   some 
thousands  of  enthusiasts  withholding  their  support 
because  the  R.H.S.  and  Midland  Daffodil  Society 
do  not  please  them.     The  R.H.S.   may  have  all 
the  faults  some  writers  accuse  them  of,   but   to 
cut  clear  of  them  and  go  off  on  our  own  would,  to 
my  mind,  be  casting  our    only  lifebelt  away.    I 
speak    from    a    very    wide    experience    of    shows 
(I  believe  I  hold  a  record,  having  attended  six  in 
one  week)  and  I  know  of  few  shows — even  country 
shows — that    are    as    badly    attended    as    most 
Daffodil  shows  are.     To  run   a   Daffodil  Society 
successfully  on  two  houses  per  year  is  more  than  I 
can  gulp  in  all  at  once.     The  Dry  Bulb'  Show,  I 
hope,    is   dead.       1    travelled    four    times    from 
Ireland     to    attend     that     show,     and      it     was 
nothing  but  a  farce  ;     the  only    time    our  bulbs 
were    noticed    was    on    the    occasion    when    the 
soldiers   pelted   each    other   with    them,    and    an 
hour  before  judging  time  we  were  busy  trying  to 
make  King  .Alfred  look  like  Emperor  so  as  to  make 
up  our  necessary  count  to  twenty.     Judging  by 
the  many  shows  that  I  have  attended  and  that  are 
still  in  existence  I  should   imagine  we  require  a 
"  gate  "  of  10,000  to  each  show  to  make  it  a  success. 
I  am.  of  course,  assuming  that  we  rent  our  own 
hall,  buy  vases,  staging,  baize,  &c.,  and  it  will  be 
a  surprise  to  me  when  I   see  5  000  at   a  purely 
Daffodil  show.     The  season  of  the  Daffodil  is  a 
short   one — the   date   that   pleases   the   Southern 
grower  is  no  use  to  the  Northern  grower,  and  if 
the  Midlander  had  the  choice  of  date  he  would 
fix   one   that   would   knock   out   the  Southerner's 
Trumpet    and    the    Northerner's    Poet,    therefore 
we  must  have  three  shows  at  the  least  if  every 
member  is  to  be  catered  for,  and  although  we  are 
probably  as  far  from  London  as  any  exhibitor, 
if  the  place  was  left  to  me  I  would  select  London 
every  time.     How  many  R.H.S.  Shows  have  been 
a    success    outside    London,    and    which    of    the 
National   Rose  Society's  Provincial  Shows  are  a 
patch  on  the  one  held  in  Regent's  Park  ?     It  is 
no  use  having  a  Drury  Lane  in  Kilkenny;  you  cannot 
get  the  audience.     Of  course,   I   may  be  writing 
with  one  eye  on  the  takings  and  the  other  on  the 
expenses,  but  we  must  have  our  daily  bread  out 
of  it  or  we  will  not  live  to  grow  Daffodils.     In 
Birmingliam   we   get   splendid   treatment — every- 
thing to  your  hand  and  the  most  civil  committee 
I  have  ever  met  with,  and  when  we  have  finished 
our  staging  and  judging  is  over  we  go  round  and 
see  each  other's  Daffodils.     I  dare  say  I  shall  be 
hauled  up  for  saying  that,  but  I  can  see  my  empty 
pocket  book  glaring  at  me  and  it  will  bear  me  out. 
If  a  National  Daffodil  Society  is  founded  I  will  do 
my  best   financially   and   otherwise   to  keep   the 
lid  off  the  coffin,  but    I  must  admit  I    have    not 
the  hope  that  many  appear  to  have. — W.  Slinger, 
(Donard  Nursery  Company).  * 

T  THINK  your  Editorial  Notes  in  the  current 
issue  of  The  Garden  are  excellent.  You 
know  I  am  in  favour  of  a  more  comprehensive 
and  a  stronger  society  being  formed  (British  Bulb 
Association)  which,  I  contend,  could  do  the  work 
of  a  National  Daffodil  Society  and  could  do  equally 
good   work   for   other  bulbs  besides;   but   if   the 


majority  are  for  a  National  Daffodil  Society  I  wiU 
certainly  support  the  movement  and  it  will  then 
be  for  the  bulb  growers  to  consider  the  formation  of 
a  "  British  Bulb  Association  "  also.— W.  A.  Watts. 

GARDEN     ECONOMIES. 

T  VENTURE  to  assert  that  very  few  gardeners  of 
experience  will  agree  with  more  than  half  of 
Mr.  S.  Warner  Hagen's  arguments  in  favour  of 
dwarf  versus  tall  Peas.  All  wiU  agree  that  the 
dwarf  varieties  have  their  value  for  early,  late  and 
catch  crops,  but  few  would  care  to  trust  to  them 
for  the  season's  supply.  True,  the  stakes  necessary 
for  the  taller  sorts  are  expensive,  but  there  is  now 
no  need  to  grow  anything  higher  than  4ft. ,  this 
greatly  economises  stakes,  and  I,  for  one  have  yet 
to  grow  a  dwarf  Pea  of  which  two  or  even  three  rows 
can  compete  with  one  row  of  a  good  strain  of 
Autocrat — to  mention  only  one,  and  that  quite  an 
old  one — which  is  in  all  truth  a  cut-and-come-again 
variety  of  the  highest  table  value.  There  are  many 
others  which  would  come  through  the  trial  well. 
In  a  showery  season,  too.  both  dwarf  and  tall  alike 
need  stakes  if  they  are  to  do  their  best,  and  then  I 
think  the  dwarfs  would  cost  nearly  as  much  in  stakes 
and  labour  and  the  return  less  than  with  those  of 
medium  height.  Vermin,  too,  will  quickly  destroy 
crops  which  lie  on  the  soil,  and  often  much  mischief 
is  done  before  it  is  noticed  and  before  the  crop  is 
ready  to  gather.  As  to  storage  of  once-used  stakes, 
are  they  worth  it  ?  I  generally  save  the  best  of 
them,  since  they  have  cost  more,  for  thickly  staking 
the  earlier  crops  both  dwarf  and  tall ;  but  there  are 
strong  reasons  why  they  should  not  be  used  for  the 
summer  crop  on  the  score  of  both  insects  and  fungi. 
For  several  years  I  have  been  in  the  habit  of  taking 
catch  crops  of  dwarf  Peas  from  the  plot  on  which 
Brussels  Sprouts  are  to  be  grown.  In  my  rotation 
these  follow  Celery  and  Leeks  and  the  rows  of 
Sprouts  are  marked  with  stakes,  and  as  soon  as  the 
Peas  can  safely  be  sown  a  drill  is  drawn  with  the 
hoe  midway  between  and  two  or  three  varieties  are 
sown  and  generally  a  good  crop  is  taken.  The 
Sprouts  can  be  set  out  when  ready  and  both  grow 
well  together.  When  the  Peas  are  finished  the 
haulm  is  cut.  not  pulled,  and  so  the  Sprouts  get  the 
benefit  of  all  the  nitrogen  stored  in  the  nodules  of  the 
Pea  roots.  Broccoli  follow  the  main  crop  and  the 
same  thing  is  done,  the  haulm  is  cut  close  to  the 
ground  as  the  rows  are  cleared  and,  after  a  light 
surface  cultivation,  the  Broccoli  plants  are  set  out. 
For  seed  protection  I  much  prefer  Horticol  to  red 
lead  and  paraffin,  but  the  best  way  is  to  trap  the 
vermin,  and  in  the  case  of  mice  this  is  easily  done  by 
setting  short  lengths  of  board  on  edge  to  form  a 
V  with  a  small  opening  at  the  apex  and  a  brsak- 
back  trap  set  so  that  a  mouse  passing  through  must 
step  on  the  trigger.  One  a  short  distance  from 
each  end  pointing  inwards  will  soon  account  for 
them  ;  no  bait  is  needed,  but  if  baited  traps  are 
set,  sprouted  Peas  should  form  the  bait.  The 
reference  to  highly  paid  labour  is  surely  not  meant 
to  apply  to  gardeners  ?  It  never  could  and  I  fear 
it  never  will.  The  amount  paid  now  may  be 
higher,  but  the  value  lower,  and  there  are  a  great 
many  who  would  be  Very  glad  if  things  would  again 
reach  the  old  level  all  round.  Much  of  the  economy 
forced  on  the  garden  at  present  is  not  always  true 
economy,  but  gardeners,  as  a  rule,  do  their  best 
under  adverse  circumstances. — H.  C.  Wood. 

POTATO  NOMENCLATURE. 

r^OULD  the  Editor  or  any  reader  help  to  settle 

this    argument :      Is    the    Midlothian    Early 

and  the  Duke  of  York  the  same  Potato  with  two 

names  ?     I  have  grown  them  side  by  side  on  the 


February  ii,  1922.] 


THE    GARDENv 


71 


same  ground  (in  1920)  and  have  found  a  vast 
difference  when  dug,  but  Sutton's  Potato  expert 
and  buyer  says  they  are  the  same  thing.  They 
are,  I  admit,  often  sold  as  the  same  thing. 
Perhaps  some  of  your  readers  belong  to  the  Potato 
Society  and  would  clear  the  matter  up. — • 
H.  Saunders. 

[If  Midlothian  Early  and  Duke  of  York  are, 
in  fact,  synonymous,  there  must  be  more  strains 
than  one  of  the  variety.  Duke  of  York  as  many 
people  know  it  is  distinctly  the  earlier.  The 
tubers  too,  are  generally  considered  more  subject 
to  "  blight  "  than  those  of  Midlothian  Early. — Ed.] 

WHERE    STOVE    PLANTS    GROW  WILD. 

T  WAS  interested  in  a  note  on  the  Loquat  in  a 
recent  issue  of  The  Garden.  In  the  Northern 
part  of  India  where  I  am  living  the  Loquat  is 
freely  used  as  a  tall  hedge  plant — similar  to  the 
Laurel  at  home — also  Poinsettias,  which,  at  the 
moment  of  writing,  are  a  blaze  of  dazzling  scarlet, 
most  of  the  plants  being  loft.  high  and  carrying 
upwards  of  forty-five  bracts.  Other  plants  in 
flower  just  now  include  Tecoma  stans,  Jasminum 
auriculatum,  Ipomoeas  Solanums.  Bougainvilljeas, 
both  glabra  and  lateritia, 
the  latter  makes  a  good 
hedge  plant  and  carries 
a  bright  brick-red 
coloured  flower ;  the 
species  glabra  smothers 
great  trees,  like  Ivy  at 
home,  and  is  •  a  wonder- 
ful sight.  India  is, 
indeed,  rich  in  beautiful 
creepers  and  shrubs 
which  are  very  little 
known  in  England  ; 
the  former  include 
Tecoma  grandiflora, 
Beaumontia  grandiflora, 
Banisteria  I  a  u  r  i  f  o  1  i  a, 
Pothos  »\rg>Tites,  Ipomoea 
Learii,  Heptage  mada- 
blota,  Antigonon 
leptopus,  Poivrea  coc- 
cinea,  which  are  considered  among  the  best. 
There  are  no  English  forest  trees  here,  but 
beautiful  specimens  are  to  be  found  in  these 
extensive  gardens  of  Ficus  indica,  a  large 
spreading  tree  ;  Tectona  grandis  (Teak).  Poinciana 
regia  and  elata,  the  latter  very  graceful  and 
decorative ;  Ficus  retusus.  DiospyTos  embryop- 
teris,  while  Croton  oblongifolius  is  quite  Soft,  high 
and  the  same  in  diameter  ;  Grevillea  robusta  is 
found  in  great  numbers  as  avenue  trees,  and  attains 
a  height  of  6oft.  and  70ft.  Palms,  of  course,  are 
numerous  and  grow  almost  anywhere  ;  also  Roses 
of  every  variety  in  commerce.  The  extensive 
lawns  are  furnished  with  neat,  compact  shrubs, 
many  of  which  produce  gorgeous  flowers  in  their 
seasons,  particularly  noticeable  are  Nerium 
montanum,  Justicias,  Jatrophapandurafolia,  Eran- 
themums,  Tabina  montana,  Ixoras,  Nandina 
domestica,  Cestrum  auranticum.Tupidanthus  calyp- 
tratus,  Pittosporum  Tobira,  &c.  To  an  Englishman 
who  has  been  accustomed  to  tending  these  in 
hot-houses  they  are  particularly  interesting  seen 
growing  in  the  open  as  lawn  trees.  The  same  may 
be  said  of  hedges  and  hedgerows,  Pandanus  grows 
wild  and  attains  a  great  height ;  Ageratum  also 
is  wild  and,  in  the  ditches,  reminds  one  of  Blue- 
bells in  the  distance  at  home.  Garden  hedges 
are  formed  with  Duranta  Plumieri.  Myrtus  of 
sorts.  Didonia,  which  the  natives  call  "railway 
hedging  "  ;  Hibiscus  in  variety,  while  Holmskiolda 
coccinea  is  probably  the  best,  not  so  much  for  the 
leaf,  but  owing  to  its  many  pricks  and  the  pro- 
fusion of  brick-red  flowers.  January  is  a  cold 
month  here ;     we  are  glad  of  a  good  coal  fire  and 


practically  thesame  winter  clothes  that  we  wear  in 
England,  not  to  mention  blankets  and  eider- 
downs at  night.  I  hope  to  send  some  photographs 
for  The  Garden  from  time  to  time  of  plants  which 
I  think  will  be  interesting  particularly  from  the 
Palace  Gardens  in  the  Himalayan  Mountains, 
where  art  and  nature  are  combined — George 
Burrows,  Garden  Controller,  Patiala  State. 

THE    DRY   BELT    (B.  C). 

T  ENCLOSE  two  photographs  in  case  they  may 
be  of  interest.  [One  would  not  reproduce. — 
Ed.]  They  are  pictures  of  flower  borders  in  the 
Okanagan  Valley,  British  Columbia,  Canada,  in 
the  district  known  as  the  dry  belt,  the  moisture 
being  provided  by  irrigation.  The  borders  were 
planted  this  year,  the  colours  lavender,  pink  and 
white,  with  a  grey  groundwork  of  Cineraria 
maritiraa  and  Pinks.  More  annuals  had  to  be 
used  to  fill  in  with  than  would  be  needed  another 
year.  They  were  all  in  bloom  when  this  photo- 
graph was  taken — Sweet  Sultan  and  Centaurea 
americanus.  Phlox  Drummondii  and  late  and 
dwarf   Godetias   and   white   Antirrhinums,    all   of 


FLOWER     BORDERS     IN     THE     OKANAGAN     VALLEY. 


which    bloomed    till    the    middle    of    November, 
the  time  of  the  first  heavy  frost. — (Mrs.)  H.   G. 


Fisher. 


ST.    DOROTHY. 


TF  the  Rev.  Joseph  Jacob  did  not  know  who  this 
Saint  was.  it  is  certainly  not  surprising  that 
the  gardeners  of  whom  he  enquired  were  equally 
uninformed.  If  it  is  permissible  to  make  a  pointed 
observation,  it  is  more  the  business  of  a  clergyman 
to  know  about  Saints  than  it  is  a  gardener's. 
And  yet,  as  it  happens,  this  particular  Saint  is 
the  patron  of  gardeners  in  Belgium,  and  probably 
if  the  enquiry  had  been  addressed  to  a  Belgian, 
our  excellent  friend  Mr.  Jacob  would  have  been 
much  more  successful  than  he  was  with  English 
gardeners.  Among  my  distinctions  of  foreign 
origin  is  that  of  membre  d'honneur  of  the  Royal 
Society  of  Flora  of  Brussels.  This  is  supposed 
to  be  the  oldest  floricultural  society  in  Belgium — 
it  is  known  to  have  been  in  existence  as  far  back 
as  1650,  how  much  before,  the  records  do  not 
state.  It  is  claimed  to  be  the  oldest  society  of 
its  kind  in  the  world,  and  was  originally  known  as 
the  Confraternity  of  St.  Dorothy.  In  1660  an 
altar  was  erected  to  the  Saint  by  subscription  of 
the  members  of  the  fraternity,  who  used  on  certain 
f^te  days  to  garnish  the  altar  with  flowers  and 
other  garden  produce,  and  in  the  following  year 
rules  were  drawn  up,  a  copy  of  which  is  still  in 
existence.  In  1664  the  confraternity  was  officially 
recognised  by  the  Archbishop  of  Mechlin,  and 
Pope  Alexander  VII  granted  special  privileges 
to  this  ancient  body  of  Belgian  gardeners.     Many 


illustrious  persons  have  been  enrolled  on  the  list 
of  membership,  both  Belgian  and  foreign.  The 
title  continued  for  many  years,  and  finally  some 
short  time  prior  to  the  year  1822  the  Confraternity 
of  St.  Dorothy  was  changed  to  its  present  title. 
La  Societe  Royale  de  Flore.  Its  headquarters  are, 
and  for  many  years  have  been,  at  the  Botanic 
Gardens,  Brussels;  the  secretary,  M.  Louis  Gentil, 
who  has  many  friends  in  this  country. 

And  now  a  few  words  about  this  Saint,  which 
may  be  helpful  to  the  enquirer.  In  "  Butler's 
Lives  of  the  Saints"  under  date  of  February  6 
we  read  that  she  was  condemned  to  the  most 
cruel  torments  because  of  her  refusal  to  marry 
and  to  worship  idols,  and  that,  being  condemned 
to  be  beheaded,  she  converted  one,  Theophilus, 
by  sending  him  certain  fruits  and  flowers  miracu- 
lously obtained  of  her  heavenly  spouse.  It  will 
now  be  seen  why  the  two  Saints  appear  on  the 
title  page  of  the  "  Jardin  d'Hyver,"  with  the  angel 
distributing  flowers  to  them.  I  say  the  two 
Saints  for  Theophilus  is  also  a  Saint  in  the  Calendar 
of  the  Church  of  Rome,  although  he  is  not  the 
subject  of  a  special  biography  in  Butler,  nor  can 
I  find  an  independent  record  of  him  in  the  material 
at  hand.  Like  several  other  Saints,  he  appears 
to  have  two  days  allotted  to  him,  viz.,  February  6 
and  October  13.  Saints  seem  to  vary  according 
to  their  countries.  In  England  St.  Swithin  is  the 
u-atery  Saint ;  in  France  it  is  St.  Medard  ;  so  if 
St.  Dorothy  is  the  patron  Saint  of  gardeners  in 
Belgium,  the  French  gardeners  have  preferred 
St.  Fiacre  for  their  patron,  and  his  day  is 
August  20.  But  I  will  conclude  by  asking 
who  was  St.  Fiacre,  and  what  did  he  do  to  merit 
canonization  ?  Perhaps  our  friend  who  has 
raised  the  question  of  the  female  Saint  will,  in  the 
course  of  his  promenade  down  the  Avenue  of 
Garden  Saints,  be  able  to  come  across  him. — 
C.  Harman  Payne. 

A     SUBSTITUTE     FOR     HOLLY     IN 

SOUTHERN     FRANCE. 

Y^^HAT  an  attractive  little  shrub  the  Butcher's 
Broom  (Ruscus  aculeatus)  is  when 
covered  with  its  large  scarlet  berries.  It  grows 
very  freely  here,  and  though  large  quantities  have 
been  gathered  during  the  last  few  weeks,  tbere 
is  still  plenty  to  be  found,  both  on  the  stony  hill- 
sides and  also  on  the  sandy  soil  under  the  Pine 
trees  on  the  seashore.  Some  book  which  I  have 
at  home  ascribes  the  familiar  name  of  this  plant 
to  its  being  formerly  used  by  butchers  for  brushing 
their  meat  blocks,  and  every  butcher's  shop  in  the 
old  town  here  seems  to  possess  a  bunch,  so  perhaps 
in  Provence  it  is  still  used  for  that  purpose.  X 
have  several  times  asked  the  name  and  have 
in  each  case  been  told  "  Houx  "  (Holly),  with,  in 
one  case,  the  qualification  "  des  Montagues,"  The 
real  Holly  does  not  seem  to  be  known  here.  The 
berries  on  the  Butcher's  Broom  here  are  much  more 
plentiful  than  I  have  ever  seen  them  in  England, 
though  the  plant  appears  perfectly  hardy  at  home 
— at  any  rate,  as  fjir  north  as  Yorkshire. — R.  B. 
Hyires. 

[It  is  comparatively  rarely  that  the  Butcher's 
Broom  fruits  in  English  gardens,  as  the  plants 
are  unisexual  and  in  most  gardens  only  one  sex 
is  grown. — ^Ed.] 

ENGLISH    CATALOGUES    FROM 

GERMANY  I 

J  ENCLOSE  the  wrapper  of  Bees'  latest 
catalogue.  You  will  note  the  stamp  and 
postmark  ;  is  it  possible  that  the  catalogues  are 
printed  and  posted  in  Germany  ?  Can  nothing 
be  done  to  open  the  eyes  of  the  Government 
(and  the  Postmaster-General  in  particular)  to  the 
ruinous    poUcy    they    are    pursuing.     No    wonder 


72 


THE    GARDEN. 


[February  ii,  1922. 


there  is  unemployment  in  England  when  we  even 
get  our  printing  done  in  Berlin  ! — T.  S.  Channer. 
[The  above  is  one  of  a  number  of  letters  we 
have  received  upon  the  above  subject.  Messrs. 
Bees'  manager  has,  in  the  trade  Press,  explained 
that  the  posting  of  the  Usts  in  Germany  was 
intended  as  an  object  lesson  to  the  Postmaster- 
General  and  as  a  protest  against  the  unfair  com- 
petition of  German  seed  lists  which  cost  only  about 
one-sixteenth  of  a  penny  to  send,  of  which  our 
Post  Office  takes  the  smaller  half !  The  explana- 
tion, it  will  be  noted,  says  nothing  as  to  where 
these  lists  were  printed,  nor  as  to  why  they  bear 
no  printer's  imprint ;  but  the  general  get-up 
of  the  catalogue,  especially  the  colour  printing, 
strongly  resembles  that  of  catalogues  "  made  in 
Germany."  An  interesting  point  is  that  none 
of  the  wrappers  we  have  received  includes 
"  England"  as  part  of  the  address. — Ed.] 

A    QUAINT    NEW    ZEALANDER. 

T  ENCLOSE  a  few  notes  on  one  of  our  curious 
shingle  plants,  which  may  be  of  interest  to 
some  readers  of  The  Garden.  I  found  a  good 
many  were  interested  in  the  RaouUa  eximia 
(Vegetable  Sheep),  and  this  is  quite  as  remarkable. 
Our  shingle  slips  extend  for  acres  and  acres  on  the 
eastern  side  of  the  Southern  Alps,  starting  well  up 
the  mountains  and  spreading  as  they  come  down 
into  large  fans.  They  look  absolutely  bare  of 
vegetation,  just  like  nothing  but  splinters  of  rock, 
coarse  in  places,  finer  in  others.  I  stood  on  one 
of  these  fans  this  week  and  noticed  a  strong  scent, 
and  knowing  it  must  be  a  flower,  immediately 
began  to  hunt,  and  was  rewarded  by  finding  plants 
of  Notothlaspi  or  the  Pen-wiper  Plant,  as  it  is 
generally  called.  The  leaves  are  arranged  in  a 
rosette  and  are  pretty  well  the  colour  of  the  stones  ; 
they  overlap  like  shingles  of  a  roof  and  the  whole 
rosette  is  curved  like  an  umbrella,  so  that  only 
the  tips  touch  the  ground.  Thus  any  rain  falls 
off  into  the  loose  shingle,  where  the  long,  thin 
tap-root  and  its  long  branches  anchor  themselves 
among  the  drifting  shingle.  This  httle  umbrella 
plant,  when  the  shingle  is  hot  and  its  underside 
cool,  condenses  vapour  for  its  own  use,  and  at  night 
when  the  shingle  cools  down  more  rapidly  than 
the  plant  the  vapour  condenses  on  the  ground, 
thus  keeping  the  foliage  dry  and  fairly  well  pro- 
tected from  frosts.  The  flowers  come  in  httle 
pyramids  of  white  or  greeny  yellow  colour  and  have 
a  very  strong  scent ;  the  only  way  they  have, 
I  suppose,  to  let  insects  know  where  they  are  for 
fertilisation  purposes — as  they  certainly  are 
difficult  to  find  owing  to  their  stonelike  colouring. 
It'^belongs  to  the  Wallflower  family.  Now  if 
anyone  is  interested  enough  to  wish  to  try  seed 
of  this  remarkable  plant  I  have  marked  many  for 
seed  and  will  gladly  send  some  on  application. — 
Mary   Poulton,    Shirley,    Christckurch,    N.Z. 

[No  doubt  some  interested  readers  will  wish  to 
avail  themselves  of  our  correspondent's  kind  offer. 
The  Editor  himself  would  gladly  give  the  Noto- 
thlaspi a  trial.— Ed.]     (t  (Ii    . 

THE  CULTURE  OF  THE  TANGIERS  IRIS. 

•yi-IE  fine  illustration  appearing  along  with  my 
note  on  Iris  tingitana  in  your  issue  of 
January  21  shows  over  what  an  extended  period 
this  fine  Iris  may  be  had  in  flower — from  December 
to  May.  Of  course,  one  should  bring  them  on  in 
successive  batches,  hke  TuUps  and  Hyacinths, 
retarding  and  encouraging,  as  the  case  might  be. 
I  now  give,  as  promised,  the  cultural  details 
which  rewarded  us  with  the  large  quantity  and 
fine  quality  of  blooms  we  have  been  able  to  gather 
at  Christmas-time  and  since.  We  purchased 
200  bulbs  in  the  fir^t  week  of  September.  Using 
loin.  pots,  we  placed  seven  bulbs  in  each  pot, 
in  a  compost  of  three  parts  of  roughly  chopped 


old  loam,  one  of  well  spent  and  partially  dried 
cow  manure,  and  a  good  dash  of  sea  sand,  covering 
the  bulbs  to  the  depth  of  sins.  The  pots  were 
then  plunged  outside  in  old  ashes  to  the  depth 
of  6ins.  Here  they  sojourned  until  the  first  week 
in  November,  when  they  were  taken  out  of  the 
ashes,  given  a  good  soaking  of  water  (they  hke 
plenty  of  water)  and  placed  in  a  cool  greenhouse, 
with  ample  ventilation  whenever  really  open 
weather  permitted.  Later  on  we  maintained,  by 
fire  heat,  a  temperature  of  about  50°,  for  they  are 
impatient  of  too  high  a  temperature,  which  may 
easily  cause  the  foliage  to  shrink  and  wither, 
and  thus  bhght  one's  hopes. — Robert  McHardy, 
West  Derby. 

A    VALUABLE    GUM    TREE. 

T  QUITE  agree  with  Mr.  W.  Smyth  that  Eucalyp- 
tus citriodora  is  well  worth  growing  where 
climate  will  permit.  There  is  no  foliage  to  surpass 
it  in  fragrance.  I  grew  it  on  the  bank  of  the  River 
Plate,  and  the  leaves,  green  or  dry,  were  always 
most  acceptable  to  visitors,  and  I  wish  that  it 
would  grow  in  the  open  here. — V.  Caldwell, 
Reigatc. 

SHELLEY,    "THE    POET    OF   NATURE." 

"  Somers,"  in  his  article    "  Spring  o'  the  Year  " 

(The    Garden,  January    28,  page    39),  playfully 

charged  Shelley  with  suppressio  veri. 

Singer,   whose  life  was  lost  in  Spezia  Bay. 

But  whose  brave  spirit  lives  for  evermore. 
Because  thy  glorious  songs  cannot  decay, 

Or  melt  like  transient  waves  upon  the  shore  ; 

In  every  strain  the  heavenly  skylark  sings. 
Floating  on  waves  of  music  to  the  skies, 

I   hear  thy  soul  ascend  on  angel-wings. 

In  soaring  strength,   to  heights  of   Paradise. 

How  great  thy  glory  when  the  snow-white  cloud 
With  its  pure  splendour  crowned  the  mountain's 
crest. 

While  thy  celestial  songster  sang  aloud, 

As  if  the  sunlight  dwelt  within   its  breast  ! 

Lover  of  Nature,  by  whom  suffering  men 

Feeling  thy  nature  near,  forgot  their  pain  ; 
Thy  voice   still  soars  o'er  moor   and   grove   and 
glen. 
But  when  shall  thy  great  spirit  come  again  ? 
David  R.  Williamson. 

THE  LITTLE    GARDENS   AT   RHEIMS. 

npHANK  you  many  times,  Mr.  Editor,  for 
printing  my  appeal  for  flower  seeds  for  the 
little  gardens  of  Rheims.  I  have  had  some  most 
kind  and  generous  repMes.  I  do  so  appreciate 
them  and  the  friendly  way  in  which  the  donors 
write  to  me.  If  everyone  would  put  their  names 
and  addresses  in  the  letters  or  packets  I  would 
acknowledge  them  separately.  I  have  received 
a  most  generous  gift  of  packets  of  flower  seeds 
from  Cardiff — such  a  lot  and  such  lovely  sorts. 
I  should  so  like  to  thank  the  donor.  Also  some 
kind  person  has  sent  me  2S.  6d.  from  Glasgow  ; 
and  I  have  also  received  a  deUghtful  collection 
from  Paignton.  Will  you  be  so  kind  as  to  let 
me  thank  these  kind  people  through  The  Garden. 
I  was  seized  with  a  bad  attack  of  influenza  as  I 
was  leavmg  England  about  a  fortnight  ago ; 
hence  my  delay  in  acknowledging  these  gifts. 
Rheims  looks  very  desolate  and  war-wracked 
after  a  visit  to  England  and  a  taste  of  its  refine- 
ments and  comforts.  I  do  hope  that  if  any 
readers  of  The  Garden  come  to  Rheims  that 
they  will  feel  that  they  have  a  friend  here  in  me, 
and  will  come  and  see  me  and  I  will  take  them 
round  the  barrack  villages. — Victoria  Blade, 
Foyer  Fdfniiiiii,  Rheiw^. 


"THE  GARDEN"  AS   A   BOOK  OF 

REFERENCE. 

■yi/'HEN  first  I  open  The  Garden,  each  Thursday 
(and  my  newsagent  never  disappoints),  I 
always  turn  to  the  Correspondence  columns, 
and  there — for  how  many  years  I  fail  to  recall — ■ 
I  always  find  some  hint  worth  making  a  note 
upon.  For  many  years  I  never  destroyed  The 
Garden  and  other  journals,  until  the  wife,  in 
desperation,  vowed  vengeance  on  the  lot  during 
the  time  of  the  cleaning  in  "  the  spring  o'  the 
year."  Now,  I  was  very  troubled  how  to  preserve 
all  this  valuable  information,  so  I  commenced  to 
go  through  this  pile,  which  reached  from  floor  to 
roof,  and  after  weeks,  in  my  spare  time,  I  bound 
what  I  consider  to  be  one  of  the  most  valuable 
books  of  reference  it  is  possible  for  any  amateur 
to  possess. 

I  am  greatly  obliged  to  Mrs.  Duggan  for 
bringing  this  matter  forward,  and  should  like  to 
give  the  method  I  adopted,  for  it  was  impossible 
to  go  to  the  expense  of  bookbinding,  which  would 
run  into  many  pounds.  Of  course,  if  funds  are 
not  a  consideration  the  usual  method  of  binding 
has  much  to  recommend  it,  but  in  my  case  it  was 
economy  or  destruction.  My  special  interest  in 
gardening  is  very  limited — so  also  is  my  time — 
therefore  I  went  through  many  thousands  of 
pages,  dissecting  those  pages  on  rock,  alpines  and 
1/ises — my  only  study.  Afterwards  I  collected  all 
The  Garden  leaves  or  cuttings  and  bound  them 
into  several  volumes,  securing  each  page  just  as 
one  would  secure  an  invoice  or  letter,  in  the 
patent  "  Stolzenberg "  file.  We  had  plenty  in 
stock  at  the  time,  before  1914.  therefore  I  do  not 
know  if  they  are  still  to  be  obtained.  Probably 
there  are  many  others  that  would  answer  equally 
as  well ;  and  when  one  can  form  a  series  of 
valuable  reference  books  at  the  small  cost  of 
gd.  or  IS.,  this  system  has  much  to  recommend 
it  to  those  gardeners  who  are  in  the  habit  of 
lighting  the  greenhouse  fires  with  their  old 
numbers. 

Glancing  through  the  volumes,  my  eye  lights 
upon  the  article  of  "  Somers "  before  he  was 
reduced  to  the  ranks  of  us  ordinary  poor,  common 
or  garden  sort  of  persons.  Strange  what  a 
difference  those  two  little  letters  et  mean  ;  and 
when  I  read  our  good  friend's  notes  I  always 
think  of  the  old  name,  for  the  only  man  I  ever 
knew  called  Somers  was  a  cobbler — an  honourable 
name,  still  I  like  the  former  better.  Or,  again, 
in  acknowledgment  to  the  past  memories.  I  again 
turn  up  the  notes  upon  that  beautiful  garden 
behind  "  The  Door  in  the  Wall."  My  series  of 
The  Garden  to  me  is  indispensable. — J.  P., 
Cheshire. 

["  Somers"  is  hardly  so  plebian  a  name  as  our 
correspondent  seems  to  think.  There  is  a  Barony 
of  the  name.  As  binding  cases  can  be  obtained 
from  this  office  for  2s.  (postage  extra),  and  the 
binding  should  cost  but  a  very  few  shillings,  the 
expense  cannot  be  considered  great ! — Ed.] 

THE    PLANE    TREES. 

T  .AM  much  obliged  to  the  writers  of  the  notes 
re  Platanus  occidentalis,  but  am  not  much 
"  forrarder."  There  are  several  Plane  trees  here, 
planted,  I  understand,  by  Repton  about  1770 — 
one  of  them  is  90ft.  high  and  is  P.  orientalis,  I 
should  say.  In  The  Garden,  dated  January  28, 
mention  is  made  of  a  tree  at  Blickling  Hall — of 
Platanus  occidentalis — and  in  Loudon's  "  Arbore- 
tum et  Fruiticetum  "  (1844)  I  see  he  places  several 
about  the  country.  It  should  be  possible  to  settle 
the  question  definitely  once  for  all,  and  I  shall  try 
to  make  sure  of  the  species  of  these  trees  here  this 
year,  if  possible. — J.  D.  Colledge,  Cobham. 


February  ii,  1922. i 


THE     GARDEN. 


A   128  Page    (( 
Book      con- 
taining   the 
Most      Reli- 
able Garden 


OUR  AMBASSADOR 


I)  Reauisites  for  the 
successful  cultiva- 
tion of  Fruit, 
Flowers,  and  Vege- 
tables  (post    free). 


CAUSTIC  ALKALI.  Spray  Trees  Xow.  Thn  onL-inal 
\\inter  wash  kills  Winter  Moth.  Mussel  Scale,  Caterpillars, 
I  tc.  Removes  Loose  Barlv,  Slime  Lichen,  etc.  One  tin, 
2/-;    20  tins.  32.'- ;    10  tins,  16,6;   5  tins.  8/6. 

CARNATION  MANURE.  Ri'sists  Disease,  Produces 
Strong  Plants  and  Blooms  of  Fine  Kieh  Colour.  1  c.vt., 
28/-  ;  i  ovft.,  15/-  ;  28  lb.,  8/-  ;  141b.,  4/6 ;  71b.,  2/6. 

POTATO  MANURE  "SUCCESS."  Calculaied  to 
resist  disease.  The  Most  Profitable  Potato  Manure. 
1  cwt.,  25/-  ;    i  cwt,.,  13/6  ;    281b.,  7/-. 

LAWN  MANURE.  Produces  Grass  of  Good  Rich 
Cokur  and  Fine  Te.xture.  Discourages  Moss,  Weeds  and 
Clover,    lc^t.,  25/-;   icn-t.,  13/6;   2SIb.,7'-;    141b., 

4/-. 


"  A1  "FUMIQATING  COMPOUND  (poison)  Liquid. 
K#ady  for  use.  Kills  all  (ini'ulKiuse  Pests.  For  use 
with  ordinary  fumiKnting  api>liances.  No.  *^. 
10  ozs.,  sutficiont  compound  tor  20,u00  cubic  feet,  13,- 
20OZS.,  .,  „  40,000  „  25- 
40  ozs.. ,_, 80,000  42/- 

'"CARVITA."  Life  of  Carnations.  Death  to  Disease. 
Recoijnised  Romedy  for  Carnation  Rust,  etc.  1  gaU., 
go/-  :    j  galL,  12/-  ;    quart,  7/-  ;    pint,  4/-. 

BONE  NITRIC  COMPOUND.  The  Kitchen  Garden 
Manure  par  excellence  for  Brassica,  etc.  Per  c\H.,  25/-  ; 
i  c-vvt..,  13/6  ;    281b.,  7/-. 

LAWN  SAND  &  DA  ISY  KILLER.  Effectively  destroys 
Daisies,  Moss.  D.indelions,  Clover,  Buttercups,  etc. 
1  cwt.,  30/-  :  1  c.rt.,  16/-  ;  281b.,  9/-  ;  71b.  sample,  3/-. 


1 1 


NATURE'S  CHOICEST  NUTRIMENT  IE  FRUiriER 

The  Premier  Plant  Food  of  this  Century  for  finishing  Fruit  as  regards  Size,  Flavour  and  Colour  to  Perfection. 

"LE  FRUITIER" — The  evenly  balanced  Plant  Food.      Does  not  leave  the  plant  to  "flaij." 

5  cwt.  lots  per  cwt.  30/-;    1  cwt.  32/- ;   ^  cwt.  17/- ;  28  lbs.  9/6  ;   14  lbs.  5/6;    7  lbs,  3/-.      BAQS  FREE. 

Carriage  Paid  on  all  Orders  of  £  1  and  upwards. 


ANTI-FLY  OUSTING  POWDER.  Specific  for  Oninn 
and  Carrct  Fly,  CabbaK-;  Caterpillar,  etc.  1  cwt.,  25/-  ; 
h  cwt.,  14/-  ;   28Ib.,  8/-  ;   14lb.,  5/-. 

LOAM.  No  waste.  Rich  Yellow  and  Fibrous.  Fat 
and  Marley  from  New  Grounds.  18/-  ton  for  4  ton 
trucks.     F.o.r.  Alidlands. 

MUSHROOM  SPAWN.  Piollfic  Brand.  Hk'hly 
fertilised.  Fresh  and  Eeliable,  Per  bushel  of  16  bricks, 
9/-;   peck.  2/6. 

TOOLS.  Spades,  Forks,  Hoes,  Pruners,  Trowels, 
Rakfs,  o^c,  etc.     Prices  by  Return. 


BONES  &  BONE  MEAL  (Medium  Grist).     1  cwt., 
20/-;   ^  cwt.,  11/6;   f'Slb..  6/6. 

FENCING.     Wood  and  Iron.    Illustrations  and  Piices 
(Gratis). 

MATS.    Frost  and  Rainproof  Materials. 


Screening,  Wattle  Hurdles,  e;c. 


Winter  Wind 
Prices  by   Return. 


SPRAYING  MACHINES.  Holder  Harridcn  Both 
hands  fiee.  No.  1,  hand  sprayer,  34/6;  No.  5a, 
knapsack,  120/-. 

SHADINGS  &  BLINDS.  Cotton,  Canvas,  Scrim 
Tiffany  and  Lath  Blinds.  Samples  and  Patterns  ty 
Return. 


WM.  WOOD  &  SON  Ltd.,  "TheRoyal  Horticulturists," 
TELEcTmI  •■S*"n'g',taplow"    Garden  Designers  &  Contractors,   TAPLOW,  BUCKS. 


lAKE  YOUR  GARDENS  GAY  AND  PROFITABLE 

HOMPSON  ^MORGAN'S 

High   Class 
SLOWER  &  VEGETABLE  SEEDS, 
SCOTCH    and    ONCE-GROWN 
3EED  POTATOES,    HARDY 
;>LANTS,    FRUIT      TREES,     etc. 

Descriptive  Catalogues,  really   Horticultural 
Dictionaries,     FREE     on     application    to — 

rHOMPSON     &     MORGAN,    IPSWICH. 


DOBBIE'S  CATALOGUE 

And  Guide  to  Gardening. 


Send  a  Post  Card  or 
Letter  to-day,  simply 
mentioning 

"The  Garden," 
and  you  shall  have  a  copy 
per  return  post. 

DOBBIE     &     CO.,    Ltd., 

Seedsmen  and  Florists  to  H.M.  The  King, 

EDINBURGH. 

JWEET    PEAS     AND     HOW     TO     EXCEL 

^TH  THEM.  By  HORACE  Wrioht,  Od.  net,  by  post  ltd. 
Published  at  the  Offices  of  "Country  Life,"  Limited,  20. 
tavlstock  Street,  Covent  Garden,  W.C.2. 


PENNELLS' 

FAMOUS  LINCOLNSHIRE 

Seed  Potatoes 

As  supplied  to  Royalty,  are  in  every  way 
equal   to    SCOTCH    SEED. 

The  following  newer  varieties  have  been 
inspected,  when  growing,  and  are  certified 

by  the  Ministry  of  Agriculture  as  free  from 
rogues  and  immune  from  Wart  disease. 

They  are  extraordinarily  vigorous   and 
will  produce  crops  of  Al  quality. 

Per  14  lbs. 

Arran  Comrad'*.  perfect  in  shape,  2nd  early  2  9 
Arran  Rose  first  early,  pale  rose,  etc.  . .  3/b 
Arran  Vict-Ty,  most  prolific,  super  quality, 

purple  skin       ..         ..         ..         ..         .-     2/9 

Crusader  'New),  the  sensation  of   1921   at 

Ormsliirk  8/- 

Dargill   Early,   first  early,   heavy  cropper, 

fine  quality        . .  . .  . .  . .  . .     3/6 

Great  Scot,  one  of  the  most  popular  and 

vi^;o  ous  . .         . .         . .  . .     2'9 

Kerr's  Pinlt,  finest  quality,  heavy  cropper  2/6 
Nilhsdale    (New)     an    improved    Majestic, 

superb     ••  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..      4/6 

Bodtrick    Dhn    (New),  late,   white,  hii^hly 

recommended     by    the     authorities     at 

Orm*ikirk  . .  . .  .  .  . .  . .     6/- 

The  Hisbop,  late,  Kidne\ ,  immense  cropper  2/9 
Tynwald   Perfeciton,   the    mmune    Up-to- 

Date,  splen   id  quality,  heavy  cropper    - .     2/6 

Bags  free.     Carriage  paid  ob  Orders  of  7,6  and  over. 


PENNELL     & 

Seed  Growers     - 


SONS, 

LINCOLN. 


Ea'.ablished    1 780. 


BATH'S 

BORDER 

CARNATIONS,  &c. 

For     Present     Planting. 

We'make  a  great  speciality  of  Carnations,  and  our 

stock   is   unequalled.     The   plants   are   very   strong, 

perfectly  hardy,  and  will  satisfy  the  most  fastidious 

buyer.     The  following   Sets  are   selected  from   our 

unsurpassed  collection  of  450  varieties,  and  contain 

the  cream  of  the  new  and  older  sorts. 

Set     A. 

Oui_'  dczen  extra  fine  varieties  fur  15/-,  Carriagf  Paid. 

Celestial. — A  brilliant  ytUo at  self     ..  ..  ,,  ..     2/- 

Elaine.— A  ^rand  white  ;  perfect  petal  and  form  .  .  . .     1/6 

Hercules. — Crimson-niaroou  ;  perftet  form  .,     1/6 

Innocence. — A  lovely  blush-pink  ..  1/6 

Romeo. — Yellow,  sutt'used  and  marked  pink  ..  ..     1/6 

Isolde. — Uaspbeiry-red,  very  distinct  ..  ..  ..     1/- 

Salmon  Clove. — Salmon-pink  ;  clove  scented  2/- 

Opalesce. — A  lu\ely  ros  ^madder     ..  ..  ..  ,.     1/3 

Lord  Tennyson. — Yellow,  distinctly  edged  rose   . .  , ,     1/- 

Duchess  of  Wellington. — Deep  lavender  . ,  .  .     1/3 

Red  Emperor.— Rosy-red,  extra  large  flower        .  .  . .     1/6 

Dignity. — C'rusbeu-strawberry  self,  lovely   ..  ..  ..     1/3 

Set     B. 

One   dozen   choice    varieties  for  11/-,   Carriage   Paid. 

Bookham  White. — Pure  white,  perfect  form 
QIamoup.— Clear  jright  yellow 
Vanity. — Brilliant  madder  red 
Caprice. — Pink,  mottlea  red  ;  fine  form 
Contrast.— Wliite  ground,  edged  velvety  crimson 
Jean  Douglas. — A  scailet  self,  dazzling  colour 
Queen  Alexandra. — Buff-yellow,  very  free 
Pink  Beauty. — Rich  clear  pink,  very  \igorous 
Miranda.— Salmon-pink  and  lavender  grey 
Cli'Tiax. — Butf-y.llow  and  coppery  ri'd 
John  Knox. — Dark  crimson  ;  perfect  form 
Lady  Greenall.^Rosy-red  shading  to  pink 

Bath's  Popular  Sft  0'  12  Fine  Named  Varieties  of   Capnationft 
and  Picotees.       Price  8/6,  carriage  paid. 

BATH'S  TGOLD     MEDAL 

DELPHINIUMS. 

These  plants  are  remarkably  handsome  in  the 
border,  and  during  the  early  summer  and  autumn 
the  bold  and  stately  masses  of  brilliant  blue  and 
purple  produce  a  striking  effect  unequalled  by  any 
other  flower. 

One  dozen  extra  flue  varieties  for  21/-,  Carriage  Paid. 

La  Tendresse. — VvAxl  blue  and  mauve      . .          . .  . .  2/6 

Lorenzo  de  Medicis. — Soft  tlue,  shaded  pink     . .  . .  2/6 

Novelty. — Ituyal-blue,  yellow  and  black  centre      .  .  . .  2/- 

Rev.  E.  Lascelles.^ — Oxford  blue  with  conspicuous  white  m«i 

■ye  ;   niiiLiniflcent  . .          . ,          . .          . .          ,  .  . .  2/- 

Willy  0*Breen. — Purest  ultra-marine  blue  ..  1/6 

Rozenlust. — J[au\e,  edged  Cambridge -tlue            . .  . .  1/6 

Resplendens. — Pale  blue,  tinted  mauve     ..  2/6 

Mrs.  Caron.— G"ntian-blue,  white  centre  . .  . .  1/6 

King   of  Delphiniums. — Gentian-blue  and  plum,  white 

eye 1/6 

The  Alake. — Intense  dark  blue  with  white  eye  2/6 

Pannonia. — Brilliant     ultra-marine     blue,     white  ( ve  ; 

dlslinct  and  beautiful.     A.M.,  R.H.S.  1920  . .  3/6 

Musis  Sacrum." — Brigh.  sky-blue,  early  . ,  2/- 

BATH'S    GOLD     MEDAL 

P/EONIES. 

The  most  gorgeous  of  all  garden  flowers. 
Requires  less  cultural  attention  than  almost  any 
other  plant.  Exceedingly  hardy,  its  vigour  and 
beauty  increases  year  by  year. 


Set    A. 

Twelve  glorious  richly  fragrant  varieties  for2S;- 
Albert  Crousse. — Pinkish  blush  :  very  large 


Carriage  Paid 
..     3/6 


2/- 
2/6 

2,6 


Duchess  de  Nemours. — Snow-v\hite  ;  very  free.. 
IVIme.  de  Qalhau. — Soft  pink,  enormous  flowers. . 
Marguerite    Qerard.- — Delicate    flesh,    sulphur    centre, 

enormous     . . 

Lady  Carrington. — Flesh;  very  large       ..  ..  ..  3/- 

Marie  Lemoine. — Pure  white  ;  late  ;  extra  fine  . .  2/6 

Mme.  Calot.—NVlite.  tipped  rose;  extra 2/- 

rvime.  de  Vatry. — Pink,  white  centre         2/- 

Mons.  Chas.  Leveque. — A  lovely  filvery  blush  . .  . .  2/6 

Festiva  Maxima. — ^Vhi:e,  tipped  blood-red  . .  2/- 

Solfaterre. — Ufau.iful  primrose-yellow       ..  ..  2/6 

La  Tendresse. — Flesh,  sliading  to  white    .,  ..  3/6 

Complete  Illustrated  Catalogues  post  free  on  application. 

R.    H.    BATH,    LTD., 
The    Floral    Farms,    WISBECH. 


THE     GARDEN. 


[February  ii,  1922. 


[The'  well  known    Dutch    Bulb    House   of 

ANTHONY  C.  VAN  PER  SCHOOL 

HILLEGOM.     HOLLAND. 

Established     1830. 

LARGEST    BULB    AND    PERENNIAL    FARMS 

IN     HOLLAND. 

Fine    coloured    ana    fully    descriptive    Catalogue    of  Bulbs    for    Spring  Planting, 
Perennials,     Roses,    etc.,    free    on    application. 


CARRIAGE    PAID. 


NO  CHARGE  FOR  PACKING. 


From   the  Rev.  Harold  Mayall,    Tilsden  House,    Cranbrook,   Kent. 

From   personal   inspection   while  on  a  visit  to  Holland  of  Mr.  Anthony  C.  van  der  School's 

Bulb  Farms  and  Nurseries,  1  can  not  only  testify  to  th-f  very  high  standard  in  which  everything  on 
this  very  extensive  farm  is  organised,  but  aNo  to  the  excellent  stocks  of  herbaceous  and  other 
plants  that  he  carries,  especially  Phlox,  Decussata,  Delphiniums.  Chrysanthemum  Maximum,  Michael- 
mas Daisies,  Anemone  Japonica.  Dahlia'-,  Iris,  Lupinus,  Rosts  togetht  r  with  Gladmlus  and  Begonias 
I  have  no  hesitation  in  recommending  his  firm  not  only  as  THE  VERY  RELlABLl:.  BLLB 
FARM,    but   as   very   reliable    in   every  respt-ct. 

HAROLD 


iibcr,    192. 


MAVALL. 


MRS.   PYM'S  FAMOUS   PLANT! 

aOOD     AND     CHEAP.  34th     SEASON. 


SPECIAL  OFFER  of  good,  strong,  sturdy  plani 
Should  be  planted  now  for  success.  Half  lots  sar 
rate  All  post  free  or  carriage  paid,  passeng 
train,  cash  with  order.  Catalogue  free. 
4d.  extra  for  orders  under  3/-. 


EUREKA 


WEED 
KILLER 


WINTER  WASH.    ...I'ia.^lt...,. 

Tm£   MOn   CFFECTIVC  WASH     FOR    FRUIT  TREES    firC, 

IN    l'6  TINS    FOR    10   TO   16   GALLS   OF  WASH. 
WORM    KILLER.     LAWN   SAND    K    GARDEN    SUNDRIES 


OnlrAyrjss;  TOMUNSOH  i  HaVWARD  L^?  LINCOLN. 


^l 


\^  &  SON*S 

BU  LBS 


AND 


PLANTS 


For   Spring,   1922. 


PERPETUAL  CARNATIONS  ILLUSTRATED. 

—A  thoroughly  practical  and  well  lllaitrated  book  on  these 
beautiful  and  popular  flowers,  written  by  LAtmKNOE  J  Cook 
Is  now  ready.  Price  2/6  net,  postage  4d.  extra.  It  is  published 
at  the  offices  of  CODNTKY  LIFE,"  LTD.,  20,  Tavistock  Street 
Covent  Garden,  W.C.2.  ' 


HOW  TO  PRUNE  ROSES  &  FRUIT  TREES. 

A  most  helpful  booklet  by  Owen  Thomas,  V.M.H  Sent  post 
free  on  receipt  of  lid.  "  CotJNTT  Life  "  Offices  20  Tavistock 
Street,  Covent  Garden.  W.C.2.  '  ■''»™«"='' 


All      of     the      Finest      Quality. 


The  Catalogue   of   above   will    be 

sent,    post    free,     on     application 

to   their  Offices  at 

Overveen,    Haarlem, 
HOLLAND. 


Wintered  in  open.  Kelway's  Sprouting  Kal  ,  Curl. 
Kale,  Cabbage,  Leeks,  Savoys,  Coleworts,  Brusse 
Sprouts,  Pickling  Cabbage,  Cauliflower,  Broccoli,  Sprou 
ing  Broccoli,  Tripoli  Onions,  Cos  and  Cabbage  Lettuc 

100,  1/9:    200.  3/-;    400.  5/-. 

"hardy  PERENNIALS,  very  strong,  transplanted, 
flower  this  year.  Best  strains  procurable.  Achillea,  doul 
'  hitc.  6,  1/6.  Agrostemma,  crimson,  6,  1/6.  Alyssum,  gr 
dust,  6,  1/6.  Alpine  Wallflowers,  20,  1/6.  Alpine  Pinks,: 
1/9.  Anchusa  ilalica  Dropniorc.  lovely  blue.  6,  1/9  ;  anLrustifo] 
true  Qcrp  oUie,  6,  1/6  :  niyosotisiflora,  dwarf  lovely  rockpry  pla 

3,  1/1'  _  Anemone,  Japonica.  ^\hite  or  pink,  2,  1/4.  An'emoi 
Pulsatilla,  most  b'auiiful  spring  flowerinc  haruy  perenni 
fuilowro  by  handsome  fiuit,  2,  1/6.  Anthemis  raontana,  6,  1 
Aquilegia,  K-lway's  hybrids,  6,  1/4.  Arabis,  double  white, 
1/6.  Aubrietia,  rich  purple,  6,  1/6.  Auriculas,  lovely  alpi 
\ori('ti's,  4,  1/4.  Antirrhinums,  bushy  piants,  lovely  ni 
eolours.  6,  1/4.  Brompton  Stocks,  year  old,  6,  1/6.  Christmi 
Roses,  large  cro-mis,  1/4  oacli.  Campanulas,  blue  or  whi' 
awarf  or  tall.  4,  1/4;  pyramidali?,  two  year  old,  3,  1 
Canterbury  Bells,  single,  blue,  pink,  mauve,  wl  ite  or  D^aT 
■/ranii  hybrid,  12.  1/9;    double,  6,  1/6.     Candytuft,  perenni; 

4,  1/4.  Carnations,  good  border,  6,  1/6;  separate  colon 
%\H1e,  yellow,  crimson,  scarie.,  6,  1/9;  Grenadier,  lovely  doul 
scarlet.  6.  1/9.  Centaurea  montana,  blue,  white  or  ros 
mauve,  6.  1/6.  Chrysanthemums,  strong  rooted  cuttinf 
Inst  rarly,  mid  or  late,  all  colours,  separate  or  mixeu,  6,  1, 
Chrysanthemum  maximum,  nev.'  large  flowering  varieti  I 
<xcflli  m  for  cutting,  6.  1/4.  Cistus  (Rock  Rose),  6,  1/ 
Coreopsis  crandiflora,  6.  1/6.  Cornflowers,  K<-lway's  bli 
12,  1/6.  Catmint,  6,  1/6.  Daisies,  nt-w  enormous  doul 
hlooms,  red  or  white,  splendid  for  bedding,  12,  1/6;  mixe 
20,  1/6.  Delphiniums,  best  nameu,  large  two  year  ola,  2,  1/ 
Delphiniums,  grand  large  flowering  hybrids,  or  light  or  aai 
blue,  year  old  plants.  3,  1/6.  Dianthus,  Kclway's  love 
douole  or  single,  I2,  1/0  ;  creeping,  bright  pink,  6,  1/4.  Erigerc 
(stenactis).  mauve  Marguerile.  4,  1/6;  new  Quakeress,  3,  1/ 
Erysimum,  golden  gem,  20,  1/6.  Forget-me-nots,  be: 
dwarf.  darK  or  linht  blue,  perennial  sorts,  12,  1/4.  Foxglove: 
12,  1/6.  Qaillardia  grandiflora,  6,  1/6.  Qalega,  Goat's  Ku 
6,  1/6.  Geum,  double  scarlet.  4,  1/4.  Qypsophila  paniculati 
0.     1/6.     Helenium,     6,     1/6.     Heuchera,    scarlet,     4,     1/- 

I  Hollyhocks,  Iov<  ly  colours,  single,  6,  1/6;  doubles,  4,  1/t 
Honesty,  crimson  and  white,  6,  1/4.  Iceland  Poppies 
Excelsior  strain,  6,  1/4.  Iris,  separate  eolours,  mauve,  wldt^ 
yellow,  ilue,  purple,  4,  1/6.  Iris,  largo  Flap,  splendid  colour, 
6,  1/6.  Kniphofia,  handsome  Torch  Lily,  3,  1/6.  Linum 
nlue  Flax,  12,  1/9.  Linaria  dalmalica,  6,  1/6.  Lobeli. 
cardinalis.  4,  3/4.  Lupins,  prlyphyllus.  pink,  wliite.  bim 
6,1/6;  mixed,  12,  1/9;  Tree,  yellow  or  white,  3,  1/6.  Lychnis 
scarlet  chalceoonica  or  Salmon  Queen,  6,  1/6.  Malva,  brigh 
pink,  4,  1/6.  Monarda,  Cambriuge,  scarlet,  3,  1/6.  Nepeta 
Mus.sini,  lovely  mauve,  4,  1/4.  Pansies,  nest  large  flowering 
and  separate  colours  for  j-ddinc,  12.  1/6.  Phlox,  oest,  larg. 
flowering,  all  colours.  3,  1/6  ;  mixed,  4.  1/6.  Pffionies,  separat* 
eoluuis,  2.  1/6.  Papaver  pilosum,  rich  orange  blooms,  6  1/) 
Poppy,  Oriental  Queen,  enormous  blooms,  6,  1/6.  Passior 
Flower,  haruy,  blue  ana  white,  2,  1/6.  Peas,  eveilaslinj 
n  d,  pink  and  »vhite,  mixed,  lame  roots,  3,  1/6.  Physalis 
Giant  Cape  Goosebeery,  6,  1/6.  Pinks,  coloured  garden 
12,  1/9;  double  white,  6,  1/6.  Potentilla,  double  crimson 
6,  1/6.  Primulas,  hardy  assorted,  for  succession  of  bloom 
to  end  of  sunmuT,  12,  3/-.  Pentstemon,  large  jushy  scarld 
Southga  e  Gem  ana  craiid  Exci  l<ijr  strain,  6,  1/0 ;  smaller  gooc 
plants,  6,  1/4.  Pyrethrum,  Kelway's,  6,  1/6.  Ribbon  Qrass, 
validated.  6,  1/6.  Rose  Campion,  bright  crimson,  6,  1/4. 
Rudbeckia  speciosa,  '?..  1/6.  Salvia  pratensis,  lovely  blue 
3,  1/6.  Saponaria,  i>ink  rocJ-ery.  6,  1/6.  Scabious,  Sweet, 
6.  1/4.  Shasta  Daisy,  6,  1/6.  Silene  eompacta,  pink,  15, 
1/6.  Stachys,  LnmbV  Wool,  6,  1/4.  Statics,  Sea  Lavender 
3,  1/6.  Sweet  Rocket,  12,  1 '6.  Sweet  Williams,  double 
and  «inL'le  mixed,  lovely  colours,  12.  1 '6  :  love  Iv  scarlet  pink 
and  Crimson  Beauty,  6,  1/4.  Thistle,  Queen  of"  Scots,  3,  1/6. 
Thalictrum,  hardy  Maidenhair,  4,  1/6,  Tritoma,  Red-hot 
Pok<  r,  -arly  and  late  flowering,  3,  1/6.  Tussilago,  hardy 
winit  r  }!eliotrope,  3,  1/6.  Verbascum,  dwarf  or  tall,  6,  1/6. 
Valerian,  crimson,  6,  1/6.  Veronica,  blue,  4,  1/4.  Viola, 
.separate  colours  for  bedding  and  good  mixed,  12,  1/6.  Sun- 
flowers, new  red,  3,  1/6. 

Strong  transplanted  plants  for  cool  house.  Agapanthus, 

large  lihie  African  Lily,  year  old  plants,  4.  1/6.  Agatheea, 
blue  MarL'uerile,  4,  1/4.     Asparagus  Fern,  erect  or  trailing, 

3,  1/6.  Begonias,  scarlet,  crimson  and  Salmon  Queen,  ever- 
green, perpetual  flowering,  4,  1 '6.  Auriculas,  grand  targe 
flowering,  >liow.  4,  1/6.  Cannas,  large  two  year  old  splendid 
hybrids,  3,  1/6;  one  year,  4,  1/4.  Celsia  Critica,  4,  1/4. 
Cinerarias,    exhibition    and    stejlata,    6,,    1  6.     Eucalyptus, 

4,  1/4.  Francoa,  Bridal  Wreath  4,  1 '6.  Heliotrope, 
very  large  heads,  dark  or  linlit,  4,  1/6.  Lobelia  cardinalis 
Queen  Victoria.  4,  1/6.  Nicotiana,  wl  ite  or  crimson  T  bacco, 
6  1/4  Plumbago,  blue,  1,  1/4.  Primula  slnt  nsis,  Kelway's 
Model  and  st*  data  iov*ly  colours,  6,  1/6.  Primula  malacoides, 
rosy-lilac  ;  Kewensis,  yellow  :  Forbesii,  pink  6,  1/6  :  obconica, 
new  giant,  lovely  colrxirs.  4,  1/4.  Rehmannia,  pink  trumpet. 
3,  1/6.  Salvia,  Zurich  Scarlet,  4.  1/4.  Coccinea,  scarl.i. 
6,  1/4.  Saxifraga,  M)tbcr  of  Thousands,  trailing,  4,  1/4. 
Streptocarpus,  lovely  Cape  Primrose,  large  blooms,  lovely 
colours,  4,  1  /4. 

Mrs.    PYM,    F.R.H.S.,: 
10,  Vine  House,  Woodston,  Peterborough- 


February  ir,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


73 


GARDENING    OF    THE    WEEK 


FOR     SOUTHERN    GARDEN'S. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Brussels  Sprouts. — JIake  the  first,  sowing  of 
this  excellent  vegetable  now  and  thus  ensure  a 
long  season  of  growth,  which  is  necessary  to  obtain 
the  best  results.  Sow  the  seed  thinly  in  boxes  of 
light  soil  and  let  germination  take  place  in  a  gentle 
heat,  such  as  a  newly  started  vinery  or  peach- house. 
When  sufficiently  advanced  the  young  plants  will  do 
splendidly  if  pricked  out  on  a  mild  hot-bed. 

Shallots  may  be  planted  as  soon  as  the  soil 
is  in  a  suitable  condition.  They  prefer  a  light  and 
well  tilled  soil.  Plant  the  biilbs  firmly  in  rows 
drawn  a  foot  apart,  with  a  distance  of  gins,  or 
loins.  from  each  other  in  the  rows. 

Chives. — This  useful  adjmict  for  soups  or  salad 
bowl  is  readUy  propagated  by  seeds  or  by  division 
of  the  roots,  which  may  be  carried  out  in  open 
weather. 

Pathways  in  the  kitchen  garden,  owing  to  the 
considerable  wear  they  get,  necessitate  an  occa- 
sionzil  levelling  up  or  re-adjusting.  The  major  part 
of  wheeling  and  carting  operations  having  been 
finished,  the  matter  should  be  taken  in  hand,  so 
that  it  will  be  finished  with  before  the  pressure 
of  sowing  and  planting  operations  is  needing 
attention.  Should  any  of  the  walks  have  an  ever- 
green edging,  such  as  Bo.x  or  Ivy.  any  trimming  or 
relaying  should  be  delayed  until  the  most  severe 
weather    has    safely    gone. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Rooted  Cuttings  of  Currants  and  Gooseberries, 
which  were  put  in  last  autumn,  will  pay  for  trans- 
planting as  soon  as  it  can  be  arranged  for.  It  is 
not  advisable  to  place  them  in  their  future  perma- 
nent quarters,  but  grow  them  on  a  reserve  plot  for 
a  season,  placing  them  about  2ft.  apart.  Good 
bushy  plants  will  develop  ready  for  future  use. 

Peaches  and  Nectarines  should  soon  receive 
what  pruning  is  necessary,  and  whether  this  is 
much  or  little  will  depend  to  a  great  extent  oa  the 
amount  of  attention  bestowed  upon  them  during 
the  growing  season  previously.  It  should  be  the 
aim  to  remove  as  much  of  the  old  fruiting  wood  as 
possible  where  it  does  not  interfere  with  the 
extension  or  balance  of  the  tree.  Select  for  laying 
in  wood  of  a  medium  vigour  having  a  good  pro- 
portion of  plump  fruit  buds.  These  may  be  easily 
distinguished  from  wood  buds  as  the  latter  are 
long  and  thin. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Bare  Ground  under  trees  and  at  times,  among 
portions  of  shrubberies  is  a  matter  which  not 
infrequently  crops  up  for  solution.  In  a  more  or 
less  satisfactory  manner  the  plants  suggested 
below  will  ofitimes  be  found  useful  An  important 
point  to  remember  before  attempting  any  planting 
is  to  dig  the  ground  well  and  work  in  at  the  same 
time  plenty  of  decayed  manure  and  leaf  soil.  This 
will  enable  the  plants  introduced  to  obtain  a  fair 
start,  otherwise  an  impossible  task  in  what  are 
generally  dry,  hard  and  impoverished  positions. 
Two  excellent  and  probably  the  most  generally 
used  plants  for  such  work  are  the  lesser  and  greater 
Periwinkles  (Vincje),  and  one  of  the  small-leaved 
Ivies.  The  latter  is  neater  and  more  close  growing, 
but  for  covering  large  and  uneven  places  Vinca 
major  is  preferable  owing  to  its  freedom  of  growth, 
and  it  also  deserves  mention  because  of  its  delightful 
blue  flowers.  Besides  Pe'iwi  ikles  and  Ivies  we 
have  Euonymus  radicans.  Ma  .onia,  Veronica 
buxifolia,  Ph  ll\Tea,  Hypericums  and  SmUacina. 
These  may  all  be  planted  now  with  every  hope  of 
success.  To  obtain  an  immediate  spring  display 
under  trees  there  is  nothing  so  useful  as  Primroses 
and  Myosotis,  as  it  is  now  too  late  for  other  bulbs 
such  as  Daffodils,  Aconites,  Cyclamen,  Bluebell,, 
Muscari,  Snowdrops,  etc.,  which  should  be  planted 
in  the  autumn. 

Fruits  Under  Glass. 

Pot  Strawberries. — Where  only  a  small  quantity 
of  plants  are  grown  in  pots  for  bringing  along  under 
^lass,  the  present  is  a  suitable  time  for  starting 
them,  as  from  now  onwards  the  plants  may  be 
relied  upon  to  give  good  results.  A  batch  is  also 
required  where  a  start  was  made  some  weeks  ago, 
to  serve  as  a  succession.  The  early  batch  are  now 
most  active  in  leaf  and  root  and  will  take  more 
water  and  syringings  on  bright  days  must  be  well 
done  or  red  spider  wUl  soon  obtain  a  footing  on  the 
undersides  of  the  leaves.  While  removing  the 
plants  from  the  frames  or  plun'.;ing  ground,  see  that 
the  drainage  is  good  and  remove  all  decayed  leaves, 
«tc.     Should  the  soil  have  been  broken  away  from 


aiound  the  plants  add  a  little  good  loam,  doing  it 
when  the  plants  are  not  very  wet  so  that  it  may  be 
well  firmed  into  position.  Plants  which  do  not 
show  promise  of  a  flower  spike  should  at  once  be 
discarded.  When  the  plants  are  in  flower  swinging 
should  be  discontinued  until  a  good  set  of  fruits 
has  been  obtained,  when  it  may  be  again  carried 
out  and  kept  up  untU  just  before  colouring  of  the 
fruits  commences.  Feeding  of  the  plants  should  be 
regularly  carried  out  as  soon  as  the  flowering  period 
is  over,  and  continued  until  the  fruits  are  colouring. 
From  five  to  eight  fruits  is  enough  for  plants  to 
carry  in  gin.  and  6in.  pots. 

H.  Turner. 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland.) 
Albury  Park  Gardens,  Guildford. 


FOR    NORTHERN    GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Spinach. — Sow  a  portion  of  the  early  border 
with  seed  of  the  round  variety  and  so  obtain  fresh 
pickings  as  early  in  the  season  as  possible.  Where 
Perpetual  Spinach  is  grown  the  plants  should  be 
encouraged  into  more  rapid  growth  by  frequent 
stirring  of  the  soil  between  the  rows. 

Shallots  should  now  be  planted  in  quantity. 
Choose  a  time  when  the  ground  is  in  good  order 
and  scatter  a  quantity  of  wood-ash  or  burnt 
refuse  over  the  surface,  working  it  lightly  in  with 
the  rake.  Plant  the  bulbs  in  rows  about  i2ins. 
apart. 

Chives. — -Clumps  of  these  may  be  broken  up 
at  this  time  and  transplanted.  The  young  growths 
are  esteemed  for  salading  purposes  and  for  the 
flavouring  of  soups. 

Brussels  Sprouts. — One  of  the  essentials  in 
the  proper  cultivation  of  this  indispensable  winter 
vegetable  is  to  give  it  a  lengthy  season  of  growth. 
Sow  the  seed  thinly  in  boxes  and  germinate  in  a 
cool  greenhouse.  Keep  the  box  close  to  the  glass 
so  that  seedlings  of  sturdy  growth  may  be  obtained 
for  pricking  out  on  a  mild  hot-bed.  When  once 
the  seedlings  are  established  the  frames  should 
receive  free  ventilation  and  thus  ensure  well- 
grown  plants  by  the  time  it  is  safe  to  transfer  to 
their  final  quarters.  In  wind-swept  gardens  dwarf- 
growing  varieties  should  be  chosen,  and  in  this 
respect  we  find  Solidity  one  of  the  best. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Strawberries. — -The  earliest  batch  of  these 
should  now  receive  occasional  doses  of  stimulants 
and  so  strengthen  the  fruit  trusses.  Where  the 
trusses  are  in  flower  hand-fertilisation  should  be 
resorted  to,  as  there  is  still  a  scarcity  of  the  necessary 
insect  life.  As  the  fruit  swells  support  the  heavier 
trusses  with  Birch  twigs. 

I  igS  which  were  started  some  time  ago  should 
now  be  allowed  an  increase  of  temperature  with  a 
corresponding  increase  of  moisture  in  the  atmo- 
spheric conditions.  Spray  the  trees  during  the  early 
afternoon,  using  tepid  water  for  this  purpose. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Box  Edgings. — The  present  month  is  the  best 
in  which  to  undertake  the  relaying  of  Box  edges. 
In  relaying  portions  that  have  been  unsatisfactory 
owing  to  poverty  or  sourness  of  the  soil,  the 
precaution  should  be  taken  of  adding  fresh  soil ; 
this  si.onld  lielp  the  young  plants  that  are  being 
inserted.  Tear  the  old  plants  into  small  portions 
with  roots  attached  and  plant  at  a  regular  height 
above  the  ground  level,  say,  about  2ins.  When 
filling  in  the  soil  tramp  firmly.  Neat  edgings 
are  often  indicative  of  the  standard  aimed  at  in 
carr>-ing  out  the  regular  work  of  the  garden. 

Border  Chrysanthemums. — Where  it  is  custom- 
ary to  box  the  old  stools  of  these  plants  for  the 
winter  they  should  now  be  taken  in  hand  and  the 
necessary  quantity  of  cuttings  inserted.  Dibble 
the  cuttings  firmly  into  boxes  of  light  sandy  soU, 
and  as  they  will  be  transplanted  into  cold  frames 
at  a  later  date  they  may  at  present  be  put  in  fairly 
closely.  The  cuttings  wiU  strike  readily  if  placed 
in  an  early  vinery  or  Peach  house.  Move  to  cooler 
quarters  immediately  they  take  root. 

Violas  and  Pansies. — From  seed  so^^■n  now 
strong  plants  may  be  had  ready  for  planting  out 
during  the  early  part  of  May,  and  will  be  found 
to  flower  profusely  diu-ing  the  summer  and  autumn. 
The  Violas  from  seed  come  surprisingly  true  to 
colour,  while  among  the  Pansies  the  most  delightful 
markings  and  variations  in  colour  occur. 


The  Shrubbery. 

Planting. — With  few  exceptions  both  deciduous 
and  evergreen  shrubs  transplant  safely  at  this 
time.  Whore  the  natural  soil  is  cold  and  clayey 
some  lighter  material  should  be  worked  around 
the  roots  of  the  young  plants.  Most  shrubs  like 
peat,  but  where  this  cannot  be  had  a  mixture  of 
fibrous  loam,  leaf-mould  and  sand  proves  an 
excellent  rooting  medium. 

Austrian  Briars. — Thin  out  weakly  growths 
from  beds  of  these  plants  and  fork  in  a  good  dressing 
of  short,  well-rotted  cow-manure.  As  with  most 
Briars,  little  priming  is  required,  the  plants  flower- 
ing much  more  freely  when  left  to  grow  in  a 
natural  way. 

James  McGran. 
(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart. 

Coodham,  Kilmarnock. 


CONSERVATORY  AND    GREENHOUSE. 

The  Epacris  is  a  very  beautiful  greenhouse  plant 
which  should  be  more  generally  cultivated.  Native 
of  Australia,  it  is  classed  among  hard- 
wooded  plants.  It  has  the  merit  of  lasting  in  flower 
for  a  considerable  time  and  the  long  flowering 
sprays  are  well  adapted  for  cutting  purposes. 
There  are  many  named  varieties,  varying  in  colour 
from  white,  through  various  shades  of  pink,  red 
and  crimson.  As  they  pass  out  of  flower  the 
plarts  should  be  cut  hard  back  and  stood  in  a 
house  where  they  can  be  kept  rather  warm  and 
moist — at  this  stage  they  will  stand  more  heat  and 
moisture  than  Ericas ;  a  day  temperature  of 
50°  to  55°  will  suit  them  very  well  while  they  are 
making  their  growth.  After  cutting  back  they 
require  very  raieful  watering  until  they  make 
some  new  growth.  At  this  stage  they  benefit 
by  being  sprayed  several  times  a  day  with  clean 
water.  When  they  have  made  some  sins,  or  3ins. 
of  growth,  they  should  be  potted  on  into  larger 
pots,  using  good  sound  peat  and  enough  coarse 
sand  to  render  the  whole  porous,  and  like  all  plants 
of  this  class,  firm  potting  is  essential.  As  the 
season  advani  es  they  should  gradually  be  accus- 
tomed to  more  airy  and  drier  conditions  ;  and  as 
they  complete  their  growth,  they  may  be  stood 
outdoors  during  the  summer  months.  Epacris 
longiflora,  also  known  as  E.  grandiflora  and  E. 
miniata,  unlike  the' upright  growing  sorts,  should 
not  be  cut  back  every  season.  It  makes  long, 
stiaggling  growths,  which  are  best  tied  into  a  frame- 
work This  species  flowers  for  several  months  at  a 
time,  and  is  a  beautiful  plant  for  the  cool  conser- 
vatory. E.  purpurascens,  s>ti  E.  onosmaeflora  is 
an  upright  growing  species ;  there  is  also  a  pretty 
double  form,  which  used  to  be  a  popular  market 
plant.  Epacrises  are  propagated  by  means  of 
cuttings,  using  twiggy  shoots  that  have  just 
finished  their  growth.  These  should  be  dibbled  into 
pots  of  fine  sandy  peat,  made  very  firm  and  the 
pots  stood  imder  bell  glasses  in  a  cool  house.  They 
are  "low  and  by  no  means  easy  to  propagate,  unless 
one  has  experience  of  this  class  of  plant,  and  it 
would  pay  a  beginner  to  buy  yoimg  plants  from  a 
nurser>Tnan. 

Bouvardias. — Where  it  is  desired  to  increase 
the  stock,  some  old  plants  should  be  partly  pruned 
back  and  introduced  to  a  warm  moist  house, 
.^s  they  will  have  been  standing  dry  for  some  time, 
they  require  to  be  thoroughly  soaked  at  the  root. 
If  they  are  kept  in  a  temperatiu-e  of  55°  to  60° 
and  are  sprayed  over  several  times  a  day  with 
tepid  water,  they  v\t11  soon  break  into  growth. 
When  the  yoimg  shoots  are  about  3ins.  in  length 
they  should  be  secured  as  cuttings,  and  these  will 
root  very  readily  at  this  time.  Many  gardeners 
complain  of  the  difficulty  of  successfully  rooting 
Bouvardias,  but  if  the  above  procedure  is  followed 
they  should  have  no  difficulty.  1  may  say  here 
that  many  plants  that  are  supposed  to  be  trouble- 
some to  propagate  in  the  ordinary  way  are  quite 
easy  if  sto  k  plants  are  put  in  a  little  warmth  and 
the  resiJting  young  growth  secured  as  cuttings. 
Bouvardias  can  also  be  readily  propagated  by 
means  of  root  cuttings,  although  all  varieties  do 
not  come  true  to  character.  Bridesmaid,  for 
example,  from  root  cuttings  always  gives  a  pro- 
portion of  Hogarth  fl.  pi. 

Buddleia  asiatica. — Although  this  plant  was 
introduced  during  1874.  it  is  by  no  means  common 
in  gardens,  which  is  very  surprising  considering 
how  deliciously  fragrant  it  is.  A  graceful  plant,  it 
produces  its  long,  drooping  racemes  of  white  flowers 
during  the  winter  months.  It  is  a  native  of 
India  and  China  and  is  a  useful  plant  to  plant  out 
in  a  cool  conservatory.  If  gro^vn  in  pots  it  makes 
nice  plants,  the  first  year,  from  cuttings,  for 
furnishing  the  benches,  and  if  cut  back  during  the 
spring  and   potted  on  into  Sin.    pots  they  make 


74 


THE     GARDEN. 


[February  ii,  1922. 


long  branching  shoots  some  7ft.  long.  They  should 
be  stood  outdoors  all  the  summer  to  ripen  the  wood. 
Treated  in  this  manner  such  plants  remain  in 
flower  for  a  long  time  in  a  cool  conservatory  during 
the  winter  months.  It  may  be  propagated  by 
means  of  cuttings  any  time  during  March. 

Buddleia  officinalis,  a  more  recent  introduction 
from  China  may  also  be  grown  for  winter  fiowermg. 
It  makes  a  stiff  bush  and  produces  very  freely  its 
lilac  coloured  flowers  with  a  deep  yellow  eye.  It 
is  strongly  honey-scented,  differing  very  much  in 
this  respect  from'  the  delicate  scented  B.  asiatica. 

Tuberous-rooted  Begonias  are  useful  and  popular 
plants  for  furnishing  the  conservatory  during  the 


summer  months.  A  batch  of  tubers  should  now  be 
placed  in  shallow  boxes,  with  some  fine  leaf  soil  and 
stood  in  a  warm  house.  As  they  start  into  growth 
they  should  be  potted  up  into  suitably  sized  pots, 
using  a  light  rich  soil  for  this  purpose.  If  seed 
was  sown  as  advised  eaily  last  montli  the  resultant 
seedlings  should  now  be  ready  for  pricl<ing  off  into 
pans  containing  light  soil.  If  kept  growing  steadily 
and  given  frequent  shifts,  a  large  proportion  of  them 
should  make  good  flowering  plants  for  the  autumn, 
when  they  make  a  good  succession  to  the  older 
plants.  J.   CouTTS. 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kew. 


include,  will,  if  the  colour  of  the  seed  is  right,  swell 
and  germinate  satisfactorily  but  their  after  per- 
formance is  markedly  inferior  to  that  of  good 
seed.  H.  H.  Hall. 


THE  GERMINATION  OF  SWEET  PEAS 

The  writer  has,  in  the  past  few  years,  carried  out  many  experiments  on  the 

above   subject,  and  his   recent  results  have    been    so    satisfactory    and    so 

miiform  that  it  is  thought  his  experience  may  be  useful  to  others. 


IT  is  admitted  that  some  of  the  procedure  is 
not  commercial  owing  to  the  detail  labour 
involved,  but  the  enthusiastic  amateur  will 
take  any  amount  of  trouble  if  only  he  can 
get  the  very  best  results.  It  is  to  him  that 
the  following  remarks  are  addressed. 

In  the  first  place,  it  is  well  known  that  lavenders, 
creams  and  whites  (with  pale  seeds)  usually  require 
less  moisture  owing  to  the  thin  skin  ;  and  in  trying 
to  avoid  having  the  soil  too  wet  with  the  con- 
sequent danger  of  rotting  it  is  usual  to  err  in 
the  other  direction  and  have  the  soil  too  dry,  so 
that  frequently  this  type  of  seed  is  the  last  to 
germinate.  It  may  be  taken  as  an  axiom  that 
the  sooner  the  seed  can  be  persuaded  to  sprout 
the  better,  as  the  shorter  the  time  the  less  the 
chance  of  any  mishap. 

The  requisite  number  of  sin.  pots  were  taken  and 
filled  with  any  good  plain  potting  soil  and 
then  immersed  in  water  until  it  began  to 
percolate  through  the  top,  when  they  were  taken 
out  and  drained.  The  soil  twelve  hours  afterwards 
was  in  a  considerably  wetter  state  than  would 
normally  be  judged  to  be  safe  for  Sweet  Pea  sowing. 
Each  pot — usually  in  a  sin.  pot  three  or  four  seeds 
would  be  sown — has  the  requisite  number  of 
shallow  pockets  made  in  the  soil  with  a  pencil, 
say  half  an  inch  deep,  and  when  dry  fine  sand  has 
been  dropped  into  each  pocket,  one  seed  is  lightly 
pressed  home  and  more  sand  put  on  until  the  top 
of  the  seed  is  just  not  visible. 

All  the  seeds  prior  to  sowing  will  have  been 
chipped,  with  the  exception  of  the  creams  and  some 
of  the  lavender  and  mauve  seeds.  Of  the  latter,  it 
will  be  found  on  examination  that  some  seeds  are 
either  not  mottled,  or  if  mottled,  have  a  slightly 
rough  appearance,  either  type  indicating  a  thicker 
skin  than  the  normal,  so  that  failure  to  chip  these 
would  result  in  such  seeds  being  late.  This  varying 
appearance  of  the  seeds  is  particularly  marked  in 
the  case  of  Lady  Eveline,  and  to  a  lesser  extent, 
Mrs.  Tom  Jones.  The  pots  are  covered  up  to 
exclude  light,  and  must  be  examined  the  next 
morning  or  at  any  rate,  within  twenty-four  hours  of 
sowing.  Each  seed  is  examined  and  the  appearance 
at  this  stage  is  the  crux  of  the  whole  procedure  ; 
if  the  moisture  is  sufficient  each  seed  will  have 
swelled  and  generally  be  much  lighter  in  colour  and 
will  come  away  quite  dry  with  no  sand  adhering. 
Every  seed  presenting  this  appearance  can  be 
put  back  with  the  practical  certainty  that  it  will 
germinate. 

Some  of  the  seeds  may  not  have  swelled,  in 
which  case  one  or  two  drops  of  water  (I  am  speaking 
literally  as  to  the  drops)  on  each  seed  will  hasten 
matters.  Others  may,  on  examination,  be  found  to 
be  rather  too  wet,  so  that  particles  of  sand  are 
adhering  when  they  are  lifted.  These  should  be 
left  on  the  top  of  the  sand  in  the  pockets  without 
any  covering  other  than  the  cover  to  exclude  liglit 


on  the  top  of  the  pot,  and  again  examined  in 
twenty-four  hours,  to  see  that  they  are  not  still  too 
wet  in  which  case  an  extra  layer  of  dry  sand  is  added 
before  the  seeds  are  replaced  on  the  top. 

Another,  and  happily,  uncommon  appearance  of  a 
seed  when  examined  the  first  time  after  sowing,  is 
when  sweating  takes  place — the  skin  is  not  really 
wet,  but  appears  to  be  sweating.  A  little  practise 
will  enable  this  to  be  distinguished  from  the 
preceding  case  where  too  much  moisture  is  present. 
Seeds  that  sweat  are  unfertile  and  will  not  germinate. 
The  writer  professes  to  be  able,  within  twenty-four 
hours  of  sowing,  to  tell  without  doubt  which  seeds 
will  germinate,  though  he  admits  that  he  has  not  the 
strength  of  mind  immediately  to  throw  out  those 
that   are   sweating. 

If  sowing  has  been  done  in  the  autumn  the 
majority  should,  in  normal  weather,  be  sprouting  in 
five  days,  when  each  seed  is  planted  properly  and 
firmly.  Last  October,  when  the  weather  was  very 
warm,  the  writer  sowed  roo  seeds  on  Sunday  after- 
noon and  over  fifty  were  sprouting  on  Wednesday 
morning.  This,  of  course,  is  quite  an  exceptionally 
short  time. 

If  sowing  is  done  in  the  early  spring,  it  is  recom- 
mended that  the  sprouting  be  done  at  a  temperature 
of  about  60°,  if  possible,  when  the  pots  are  trans- 
ferred to  a  cold  frame  if  the  weather  is  not  very 
severe  at  the  time.  The  writer  uses  a  bathroom 
cupboard  with  considerable  success  for  the  purpose 
of  assisting  early  germination. 

All  this  may  appear  to  be  a  great  deal  of  trouble, 
but  for  the  small  grower  it  does  not  take  long,  and 
the  results  are  very  interesting.  Except  when 
doubtful  seeds  of  the  writer's  own  saving — which 
have  been  sown  in  especially  marked  pots  for 
experiment  —^  were  attempted,  the  results  have 
given  less  than  2  per  cent  of  failures. 

There  are  one  or  two  points  of  interest  which  are 
not  yet  elucidated  and  any  of  your  readers  com- 
ments would  be  welcomed.  When  saving  seeds 
either  from  one's  own  crosses  or  from  other  varieties, 
it  will  be  found  that  a  full  pod  has  the  seed  farthest 
away  from  the  stem  a  different  colour — brown 
instead  of  black.  This  seed  is  worthless  and  gener- 
ally a  dark  brown  plump  seed  of  a  black  seeded 
variety  is  sterile.  It  does  not,  of  course  always 
occur  at  the  end  of  the  pod.  but  often  does  so. 

On  chipping  perfectly  round  seeds  of  some 
varieties,  notably  the  orange  or  orange-red  varieties 
and  also  Tea  Rose,  it  will  sometimes  be  found  that 
the  seed  is  green.  It  may  germinate  ;  the  chances 
are  that  it  will  not,  and  in  any  case  the  growth 
will  be  bad.  The  author  does  not  know  how  to  avoid 
these  imperfectly  ripened  seeds  which  he  has  also 
met  in  some  numbers  in  the  varieties  mentioned, 
obtained  from  the  best  raisers  ;  they  have  not,  so 
far,  appeared  in  other  varieties. 

On  the  other  hand,  some  of  the  most  miserable, 
shrivelled  seeds,  which  no  seedsman  of  repute  would 


Polyanthus-Primroses 

The    biennial    method    of    treatment. 

Few,  if  any,  plants  are  more  a  credit  to  their 
growers  for  good  treatment  than  Polyanthus- 
Primroses — in  other  words,  it  is  well  worth  while 
taking  pains  to  do  them  well.  If  anyone  starts 
with  seed  of  a  first-rate  strain,  like  the  Munstead 
strain  of  Miss  Jekyll,  or  the  Spetchey  strain  of 
Mrs,  Berkeley,  and  follows  out  the  advice  about 
to  be  given,  I  feel  sure  they  will  be  satisfied  with 
the  result.  Put  into  a  nutshell,  it  is  to  treat 
Polyanthus-Primroses  as  biennials.  To  do  this 
in  the  most  satisfactory  manner  seed  should  be 
sown  very  thinly  as  soon  as  possible  under  glass, 
either  in  a  cold  frame  or,  preferably,  in  a  cool, 
airy  greenhouse. 

As  soon  as  the  seedlings  are  fit  to  handle  they 
should  be  pricked  out  in  boxes  or  pans  and  placed 
in  a  cold  frame,  where  they  must  get  constant 
attention  in  the  way  of  watering  and  shading 
from  very  hot  sun.  When  the  plants  become  too 
crowded  they  must  be  moved  to  a  nursery  bed 
where  they  can  escape  the  midday  summer  sun 
and,  as  before,  be  well  looked  after. 

In  late  September  or  early  October  they  must 
be  moved  and  planted  where  they  are  to  bloom. 
If  a  frame  filled  with  nice  light  soil  is  available 
when  the  seedluigs  in  the  seed-pan  are  ready  to 
be  pricked  out,  they  may  be  put  straight  into  it, 
planting  them  ains.  apart.  It  will  save  one  shift'. 
If  a  great  space  can  be  allowed,  say,  4ins.  or  sins., 
there  will  be  no  necessity  to  move  them  if  they 
can  be  shaded  in  July  and  August,  until  they  are 
put  in  their  flowering  quarters. 

After  the  plants  have  done  flowering  they  may 
be  thrown  away,  for  there  will  be  another  lot 
coming  on  to  take  their  place  another  year.  There 
is  no  need  to  save  any,  unless  something  most 
exceptional  should  turn  up. 

Given  good  first-rate  seed  to  start  with,  the 
flowers  of  every  succeeding  year  will  be  up  to 
the  standard  of  the  previous  one.  What  this 
means  anyone  may  see  for  himself  if  he  has  a 
bed  of  some  grown  on  the  old  perennial  system 
and  a  bed  of  others  grown  on  the  biennial  system 
now  advocated,  side  by  side.  The  extra  trouble 
involved  in  carrying  out  this  last  treatment  is 
not  labour  spent  in  vain.  J.  J. 


A  Beautiful  Androsaee.— A  native  of  the 
Southern  Alps,  Androsaee  helvetica  makes  a 
very  charming  picture  in  the  rock  garden  in  July. 
A  lover  of  sun.  it  should  be  planted  rather  high 
up  on  a  steep  slope  so  that — in  combination  with 
sandy  soil  and  sharp  drainage — there  is  no  risk 
of  it  suffering  from  excess  of  wet,  the  greatest 
enemy  that  the  Androsaces  have.  Make  a  note 
that  it  loves  limestone  and  pound  up  a  little  of 
this  for  mixing  with  the  soU,  In  appearance  the 
plant  forms  dense  little  rosettes  of  leaves  above 
which  almost  stemless  flowers  expand  pure  white 
with  golden  yellow  throat  larger  than  the  rosettes 
from  which  they  spring.  Propagation  is  best 
eflectcd  in  spring  by  careful  division  just  when 
renewed  growth  is  commencing,  taking  care  to 
plant  firmly  and  see  that  they  are  kept  just  damp 
until  roots  are  working  freely  again.  Established 
clumps  that  it  is  not  proposed  to  divide  benefit 
by  top-dressing,  both  in  spring  and  autumn,  with 
a  little  fine  soil  dusted  well  in  among  the  rosettes. 
The  composition  of  this  top-dressing  should  be 
finely  crushed  limestone  and  loam  in  equal  parts 


THE 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


>l.  LXXXVI— No.  2622. 

icred  as  Second-class  Matter  at  the  New  York.  N.V.,  PostOffiCi 


Saturday,  February   18,  1922 


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Descriptive  Catalogue  of  Lilies,  Gladioli,  Tigridias.  etc..  free  on  application. 

RADD      A     ^OIM^  ■'■'•    '•2    *    •'3.    "^'NQ    street, 

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Covent  Garden,  W.C.2 


Merehanta  and 
Man  uf  aotu  rare 
o4  HortJoultural 
Sundries 
Fertilizers  and 
Inaeotleldee,  etc. 


J.  BENTLEY,  Ltd. 
Barrow-on-Humbep 
HULL 


Weed  Oestroysrs 
Lawn  Sand 
Inaastloldae 
Shrubs,  etc. 


Landscape  Gardening 


R.  WALLACE   &   CO.,  Ltd. 
The  Old  Gardens 
TUNBRIDGE   WELLS 


Landsoape   &   Garden 
Architects.  Queen 

Alexandra's    Cup    for 
Best  Rocb  and  Water 
Garden,  International 
Show.  1912. 


J.  CHEAL   Sc    SONS,  Ltd. 

Nurseries 

CRAWLEY 


Landscape 
Qardenars 
Trtt«8  and 
Shruba,  etc. 


NATURE    &    ART. 

Largest  and  finest   stock  of   CLIPPED 
YEW  &  BOX  TREES  in  the  country. 
Thousands  of  Specimens  to  select  from. 
Catalogues  free  on  demand. 
JOHN  KLINKERT,  F.R.H.S.,  M.C.H. 
Kew    Topiary    Nurseries, 

RICHMOND,    LONDON. 


MISS  EVELYN  F.\WSSETT 

(Specialist  in  Garden  Planninj;) 

83,  High  Street 
LEWES,  SUSSEX 


New  Gardens  dc 
signed.  Old  Garden^ 
Re-arraii^ed.  Plant- 
in}*  plans  toi-  hnrdei-'^ 
etc.  Terms  on  appli 
cation. 


MRS.   PYM'S  FAMOUS   PLANTS. 

aOOD     AND     CHEAP.  34th     SEASON. 

New  Catalogue  Free  on  Application. 

Magnificent  transplanted    Hardy  and  I'crennials  to 

flower  this  year.     Rockery  Plants,  Spring  Flowering 
Plants,  Greenhouse  Plants,  Vegetable  Plants,  Herbs,  &c. 


Mrs.     PYM,     F.R.H.S., 

10,  Vine  House,  Woodston,  Peterborough. 


IF     YOU     AA/ANT 


Really  Good  Seeds 

AT     MODERATE     PRICES 

SEND    TO 

ROBERT  SYDENHAM  LIMITED 

99,  TENBY  STREET,  BIRMINGHAM 

No  one  v/ill  serve  you  better. 


A    FEW    PRICES     FOR     1922. 


BEET. 

Cheltenham  Qreen  Leaf,  host  for  flavour 
Dell's  Black  Leaved,  smooth,  raodium-sizod  roots 
Early  Model  Globe,  bst  round  vamty  .  . 

BORECOLE. 

Cottager's,  one  of  the  hardiest 

Dwarf  Qreen  Curled  Scotch,  the  best  Dviirf    .  . 

Asparagus,  dtlicious  flavour 


FORBES*  Catalogue. 

Florists'  Flowers,  Hardy  Plants,  Vegetable 
and   Flower   Seeds,  Free  on  Application. 

JOHN      FORBES     (Hawick),      Ltd., 

The    King's     Nurserymen, 

HAWICK,  SCOTLAND. 


per  oz 
8d 
8d 
8d 


8d 
8d 
8d 


BROCCOLI. 


Veitch's  Self-Protecting  Autumn 

Snow's  Winter  White 

Spring  White,  very  hardy  .  . 

Late  Queen,  tiie  best  late 

Purple  Sprouting,  most  useiul  hardy  ? 

White  Sprouting,  delicious  flavour 

BRUSSELS     SPROUTS. 

The  Wroxton,  the  very  Ixst 
Darlington,  dwarf  robust,  very  productive 

CABBAGE. 

Ellam's  Early  Dwarf  Spring 
First  and  Best,  best  for  Autumn  sowing  .  . 
Blood  Red  Pickling,  large  solid  heads 
Drumhead  (Savoy),  best  for  general  croj' 

CARROT. 

Early  Nantes,  for  early  crop 
James  Scarlet,  best  selected 
Scarlet  Intermediate,  best  for  exJiibiliju 


1/« 
1/' 
1/< 
1/< 
8d 
1/' 


9d 
1/1 


lOdi 

1/- 
1/- 
8d 


8d 
8d 
8d 

per  pUt 
6d 
6d 
6d 


CAULIFLOWER. 

Dean's  Early  Snowball,  srlrcted  strain  . , 

All  the  Year  Round,  very  distinct,  large  heads  . 

Early  London,  best  for  general  use  ... 

Veitch's  Autumn  Qiant,  best  for  use  in  Autumn       pir  oz.  1  /( 

CELERY. 

All  Leading  Varieties 

LEEK. 

The  Lyon,  br.st  and  largest  . . 
Musselburgh,  for  general  use 

LETTUCE. 

All  the  Year  Round,  excrllrnt  and  reliable 
Wonderful,  keeps  tender  a  lon-j  time 
Tom  Thumb,  best  of  the  small-growing  vaiiciks 
Qiant  Paris  White  (Cos),  best  for  summer 
Balloon  (Cos),  largest  of  all 

ONION. 

Excelsior  (true),  packets  750  seeds  6d. 
Ailsa  Craig,  packets  75'J  seeds  6d. 
White  Spanish  or  Reading 
Bedfordshire  Champion 
James  Keeping,  best  for  louj^  keepiu;^ 
Qiant  Zittau,  uiie  of  the  best  keepers 
Qiant  White  Tripoli,  Itest  flat  wliite  onion 


per  oz 
1/( 

1/i 


8d 
9d 
8d 
8d 
9d 


2/' 
2/' 
1/' 
1/< 
1/' 
1/1 
1/' 


Hollow  Crown, 


PARSNIP. 

specially  selected  . . 

SPINACH. 


Summer  or  Winter 

SHALLOTS 

Best  Selected  Roots 

TURNIP. 

Model  White  Stone 

Extra  Early  Milan  Purple-top 

Qolden  Ball 

PEAS, 

from  1  /6  prr  pint  AND 

SCOTCH   SEED 

ALL     THE     LEADING     VARIETIES     AT     MODERATI 
PRICES.     See  Catalogue. 

..\LL    OTHER    SEEDS     EQUALLY    C'HE.\P     AND     GOOL 


per  111 
6d 


per  o> 
6d 
8(1 
6il 


BEANS, 

from  1/-  per  pint 

POTATOES. 


SWEET     PEAS^    SPECIALITY 
THEIR    UNIQUE    LISTS 

Post  Free  on  application. 

ROBERT     SYDENHAM    LIMITEI 


No    a6zz  -Vol    LXXXVI  ]  NOTES     OF    THE    WEEK 


[February  i8,  1922. 


NEXT  week's  issue  will  T  contain  an 
account  of  the  gardens  at  Harewood 
House,  the  residence  of  the  Earl  of 
Harewood,  and  presumably  a  future 
home  of  the  Princess  Mary. 

Garden  Economy.— As  the  articles  which 
have  been  appearing  on  Garden  Economy  seem 
generally  to  have  been  welcomed,  an  effort  will 
be  made  to  continue  them  and  even  to  enlarge 
their  scope.  An  article  in  this  weeli's  issue  on  the 
very  diverse  varieties  of  the  Polypody  should  be 
of  interest  to  tho?e  who  wish  to  carry  on  existing 
ranges  of  glass-houses  with  a  minimum  of  labour 
and  without  tire-heat.  There  are  many  absolutely 
hardy  Ferns  which  are  highly  decorative,  wLile 
they  retain  their  ornamental  appearance  much 
longer  under  glass.  There  is  no 
reason,  of  course,  to  confine  one's 
attention  to  Ferns.  Flowering  plants 
can  be  provided  which  will  blossom 
over  at  any  rate  a  large  portion  of 
the  year  even  in  our  colder  counties. 
Outdoors  or  in,  true  economy  largely 
consists  in  the  provision  and  use  of 
the  best  and  fittest  tools ;  that  is, 
fitted  for  their  particular  purpose 
Where  there  is  a  large  area  of  lawn 
mowing  to  be  done,  a  motor  mower 
is  an  immense  labour  saver.  Then 
too,  there  are  many  gardens  where 
"  to  save  mowing "  many  elaborate 
beds  and  paths  have  been  provided 
which,  jesthetically,  could  well  be 
dispensed  with.  It  is  worthy  of  con- 
sideration, now,  whether  it  would  not 
be  better  and  cheaper  in  every  way 
to  invest  in  a  motor  mower  and  at 
once  save  labour  and  improve  the 
appearance  of  the  garden. 

Cheap  Formality. — The  formal 
garden  has  its  advocates  and  its 
detractors.  Many  garden  owners, 
however,  with  gardens  laid  out  (as 
gardens  of  any  size  should  be)  partly 
on  severely  formal  lines  and  partly 
quite  informally,  have  latterly  dis- 
covered that  the  formal  garden  is 
cheaper  in  upkeep  than  the  informal 
one.  If  the  beds  in  such  a  garden 
are  arranged  in  turf,  the  actual 
cutting  of  the  grass  or  edging  of 
the  turf  is  much  easier  and  quicker 
than  where  the  garden  is  laid  out 
on  curvilinear  lines,  while  the  planting 
of  the  beds  with  a  line  is  proportion- 
ately simple.  The  more  beautiful  the 
r.urves  in  such  cases,  the  greater  the 
need  for  care  in  maintaining  them ; 
indeed,  unless  they  can  be  maintained 
satisfactorily     they     should     not     be 


employed,  since  upon  their  beauty  of  sweep  the 
whole  effect  is  dependent.  The  curves  are  not 
the  only  necessary  parts  of  informal  gardening, 
be  it  understood,  but  they  are  absolutely  essential. 
The  writer  yields  place  to  no  one  in  admiration 
of  good  informal  work,  but  he  would  point  out 
that  where  strictest  economy  is  a  sine  qiid  iton 
this  class  of  work  should  not  be  attempted. 

The  Rock  Garden.— No  unbiased  gardener 
would  consider  this  part  of  the  garden  cheap  to 
maintain.  To  keep  it  in  proper  condition  involves 
considerable  expenditure  of  labour.  Again,  since 
among  choice  alpines  losses  inevitably  occur, 
cither  plants  must,  from  time  to  time,  be  purchased 
for  replacement,  or  provision  must  be  made  by 
propagation    to    avoid    this.     Either    course    will 


AT    ONCE    ONE    OF    THE    MOST    DECORATIVE   AND   ONE    OF   THE 

EASIEST   OF   COOL    GREENHOUSE  PLANTS,  PRIMULA  MALAC0IDE3, 

NOW  DISPLAYS  ITS  MANY  TIERS  OF  DELICATE  LILAC  FLOWERS. 


necessarily  involve  some  considerable  expense 
since,  in  the  rock  garden,  many  plants  are  accom- 
modated in  little  space.  No  doubt  many 
economists  with  no  special  love  for  alpines  have 
dismantled  their  rockeries  and  allowed  the  easUy 
grown  rock  plants  in  their  dry  walls  to  suffice. 
F'or  those  who  have  a  real  love  for  this  form  of 
gardening,  and  their  name  is  legion,  any  sensible 
alteration  to  the  rock  garden  is  a  bitter  piU  to 
swallow.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind,  however, 
that  nothing  known  to  gardeners  looks  worse  or 
is  more  "impossible"  than  a  neglected  and 
weed-grown  rock  garden.  A  sensible  compromise 
in  such  case  would,  perhaps,  be  to  maintain  the 
moraine  and  some  of  the  neighbouring  cliffs  for 
choice  alpines,  and  to  utilise  the  more  distant 
banks  for  dwarf-growing  American 
plants,  such  as  Andromedas,  Alpine 
Rhododendrons,  Pernettyas  and  more 
particularly  hardy  Heaths.  These 
are  wonderfully  effective  and,  the 
last  named  especially,  to  a  great 
extent  smother  weeds. 

The  Kitchen  Garden. — In  this 
part  of  the  domain  efficiency,  which 
is,  of  course,  almost  synonymous . 
with  economy,  depends  largely  upon 
good  organisation — this  is  vitally 
important  in  every  department  of 
gardening — and  tools.  Labour-saving 
appliances  are  many — every  good  tool 
may  be  considered  so — but  the  im- 
portance of  a  first-rate  (not  necessarily 
expensive)  grindstone,  adequately 
mounted,  needs  emphasis.  Where  the 
garden  is  of  some  extent,  some  of 
the  motor  cultivators  now  in  existence 
should  make  a  big  appeal,  especially 
in  these  days  of  cheaper  petrol.  For 
smaller  places  (and  for  the  larger 
ones,  too,  for  finer  work)  some  of 
the  wheeled  push-cultivators,  such  as 
the  Planet  Jr.,  are  of  great  assistance. 
Where  horse-power  is  available  and 
not  at  present  utilised  to  full  advan- 
tage, the  merits  of  a  horse-cultivator 
should  be  weighed  against  those  of 
the  motor-driven  ones.  The  latter 
have,  however,  a  great  advantage, 
as,  being  much  shorter,  they  leave 
a  much  narrower  headland.  There 
are  many  grass  orchards  to  private 
houses  into  which  it  is  impossible  to 
get  a  mowing  machine  owing  to  a 
few  trees  at  each  end  being  too  near 
to  the  boundary.  Arises,  then,  the 
question,  if  economy  is  the  order 
of  the  day,  whether,  under  the  circum- 
stances, these  trees  are  worth  their 
room 


76 


THE     GARDEN. 


[February  i8,  1922. 


A    NATURAL    ROCK    GARDEN 

The   story   of   a  botanising   and  seed  collecting   expedition    to  Le  Mont-Ventoux  in   Provence y 
•with  some  account  of  the  admirable  reafforestation  there,   the  remarkable  geological  formationy 

fruits,  flowers  and  ferns,   and  a  strange  vegetable. 


YEARS  and  years  ago  my  French  botanic 
friends  told  me  that  I  ought  to  see  the 
famous     Mont-Ventoux     in      Provence. 
So  I  went  two  years  ago,  in  the  month 
of    September,     to    Avignon.     There    I 
took,  with  a  botanic  friend,  the  motor  'bus  leading 
to    Carpentras,    where    we    arrived    for   lunch — a 
sumptuous  lunch  such  as  they  know  how  to  do 
in   that   fertile  part   of  fertile   France,    and   how 
cheap  !     The    land    is    covered    with    Vines.    Fig. 
Jujube  and  Japanese  Medlar  trees  and  all  manner 
of   things   good   to   eat.     Then   we   took   another 
motor  'bus  and  reached,  soon  after  four  o'clock, 
Bedoin,  a  big  village  at  the  foot  of  the  Ventoux — 
Mons  Ventosus  of  the  Latins.    Too  late  to  make, 
that  day,  the  ascent  of  the  mountain,  because  we 
wishtd  to  make  it  on  foot  and  not  on  the  motor 
'bus,   we  stayed  there  and  did  a  little  botanising 
in    the    neighbourhood.    The    peasants    told    us, 
when    we   admired   the    lovely  fruits — Figs     and 
Grapes  :    "  Take  whatever  you  Uke  ;    everything 
is  free   to  visitors.      Take  whatever  you  wish  !  " 
They  would  not  accept  a  penny.     This  is  typical 
of    the    generosity    and    greatness    of    Provence. 
In  an  hour's  walk  we  had  better  luck  than  we 
could   have  imagined :     Rosemary,    Lavenders   of 
two  kinds  (Spica  and  delphinensis),  Cistus  salvia- 
foUus,  KentrophyUum  lanatum,  Asphodels.  Aphyl- 
lanthes  monspcliensis,  Calycotome  spinosa,  Carlina 
acanthifolia.  Salvia  officinaUs  and  Sclarea,  Psoralea 
bituminosa,    Thymus    vulgaris,    Armeria    bupleu- 
roides,    Helichrysum    staekas.    Aster    acris,     etc.  ; 
Corsican  Pines,Cypresses,  evergreen  Oaks  ;  while  the 
beautiful  Eriobotryas    and  Jujube    trees    adorned 
the   country.     Here  and  there,   in   some   gardens, 
the  evergreen  Lagerstrcemia  indica  and  the   ideal 
bleu    celeste   Ipomaja   Learii     gave     the    brilliant 
note   of   the   South,    the    dull    Pines    framing   the 
whole. 

There,    up    against    the    blue    sky,    the    Mont- 
Ventoux    shone    like    a    glacier    above    the    dark 
forests  at  its  base.     The  glittering  summit  is  a  mass 
of  gUstening  white  stones,  which  the  waters  clean 
and   pohsh   thoroughly,   year   by   year.     We  paid 
a  visit  to  the  head  forester,  who  told  us  that  the 
whole   land    was   reafforested   in    the   year    1861, 
as   the   Ventoux   was   at   that   date   quite   barren 
and    unproductive,  because    of    the    devastations 
of  past  times,  particularly  when  the  monks  waged 
war  upon  the  Albigeois  and  the  Valdcsians,  who 
were  against  Mass  and  the  Pope.     They  burned 
the   forests   to  seek   for   Protestants   and,    before 
that,   for   the  Albigeois  and  Valdcsians.     So  did 
they   over  the  whole  country,    and  hence  comes 
the  deafforestation  of  the  Basses-Alpes,  Vaucluse 
and    Hautes-Alpes.     But    by    that    splendid    re- 
afforestation  the  local   authorities   have  restored 
the   whole  of  Mont-Ventoux   on  both   the   north 
and  south  sides.     I   was  very  astonished  to  find 
there  quite  a  forest  of  Cedars  of  Lebanon  (Cedrus 
Libani,  or  maybe  some  of  them  were  C.  atlantica). 
They  seem  to  be  quite  at  home  here,   and  self- 
sown  seedUngs  come  up  freely. 

Early  the  following  morning  we  started  for  the 
summit  and  took  the  superb  road,  built  in  1882, 
which  goes  to  the  summit  and  is  6Jyds.  wide 
and  22  kilometres  long.  In  summer  it  is  in 
constant  use  by  motor  cars  and  is  perfectly  main- 
tained. We  passed,  first  of  all,  some  big  OUve 
gardens  where  the  OUve  trees  are  well  kept    and 


attended  to,  much  better  than  in  Italy.  We 
now  found  beautiful  Chestnut  woods,  valuable 
for  their  output  of  truffles.  Then,  at  the  eighth 
kilometre,  we  came  upon  and  viewed  with  wonder 
the  Cedar  forest.  The  soil  is  covered  with  young 
trees  and  the  slopes  of  the  road  are  full  of  them. 
Aster  acris,  which  is  hke  a  Galatclla,  flowers 
everywhere  with  the  splendid  "  jonc  fleuri " 
(Aphyllanthes  of  MontpelUer),  while  the  truly 
beautiful  and  stately  gold  Thistle  (Carlina  acanthi- 
folia)  adorned  the  whole  countryside.  Its  large 
inflorescence,  Sins,  to  loins.  across,  quite  sessile, 
with  its  crown  of  silver  Acanthus-Uke  leaves,  is 
the  most  brilUant  ornament  of  the  Proven(;al 
mountains.  The  people  eat  it  as  an  Artichoke, 
and  it  is  said  to  be  more  delicate  than  the  Globe 
Artichokes,  of  which  we  are  so  fond.  The  rocks 
by  the  roadside  are  greened  with  Asplenium  Halleri 
and  other  Ferns,  particularly  Polypodium. 

At  eight  o'clock  we  reached  the  limit  of  the 
area  reafforested  (6,000  hectares).  We  enter  now 
the  real  paradise  for  rock  and  alpine  plants.  All 
is  Ut  up  by  the  orange-yellow  Pyrenean  Poppy 
(Papaver  aurantiacum  or  pyrenaicum),  which 
flowers  the  whole  summer  until  late  in  the  season. 
As  we  are  late,  flowers  are  otherwise  not  to  be 
seen.  We  came  here  for  seeds,  however,  so  that 
we  are  not  too  disappointed.  But  I  ought  to  see 
the  Ventoux  in  the  month  of  June,  said  the 
botanists,  when  it  is  in  its  glory.  Now,  of  course, 
there  are  only  autumn  flowers  visible.  But,  sec ! 
Androsace  Vitaliana  flowering  again  and  its  large 
tufts  of  dwarf  carpet  cover  the  roadsides.  We 
walk  over  it  and  the  motors  pass  over  it  also. 
Some  patches  are  a  yard  wide  and  are  covered 
with  seeds  (or  were,  when  it  is  already  too  late 
for  them).  The  heads  of  the  Blue  Thistle  of 
Provence  (Eryngium  Spinalba)  are  very  curious 
with  their  silvery  bluish  stems  and  involucres, 
as  finely  diWded  as  fihgree.  Not  so  finely  cut, 
however,  as  the  alpine  one  (Eryngium  alpinum). 
but  how  picturesque  and  beautiful  !  It  grows  to 
I  ft.  or  lift,  high  and  has  a  stiff,  very  stiff,  stem 
of  a  greyish  blue  colour.  It  seems  stiff  with 
pride  and  arrogance,  being  the  one  plant — the 
only  one,  which  hfts  its  head  above  the  ground. 
The  winds  here  are  so  strong,  so  awfully  formidable, 
that  the  vegetation  is  cut  down  and,  like 
that  of  the  desert,  merely  carpets  the  soil. 
Plants  seek  the  protection  of  the  stones 
and  never  can  grow  more  than  lin.  or  2ins. 
high.  The  Thistle  alone  stands  out  in  the  entire 
landscape. 

We  enter  now  the  bare  stretch  of  mountain 
at  an  altitude  of  1.850ft.,  and  at  the  tenth  kilo- 
metre of  the  road  everything  seems  at  first  sight 
to  be  dead.  But,  see  !  The  desert  is  ahve  with 
the  extraordinary  vegetation  of  that  curious 
mountain  which  is  in  itself  quite  a  botanical 
garden.  The  whole  top  of  the  Ventoux  we  see 
now,  white  and  gUstening.  The  road  cuts  the 
slope  and  makes  a  dark  line  through  it.  We  see 
the  observatory  at  the  summit  glancing  in  the 
morning  sun.  And  here,  at  the  edge  of  the 
roadway,  we  find  treasures  and  treasures  for  our 
collections.  The  carpets  of  Douglasia  =Androsace  = 
Gregoria=Aretia  VitaUana  are  so  thick,  so  enor- 
mous, that  we  must  walk  upon  them.  The  orange 
Poppy  is  everywhere  and  its  beautiful  cups  of 
gold    are    ablaze.     Here    is    the   strong   scent    of 


Valeriana  saUunca  which  forms,  here  and  there,  large 
tufts  of  yellowish-green  foUage.  Here  are  Centran- 
thus  angustifoUus,  Campanula  AUionii  (immense 
tufts  of  it),  Viola  cenisia,  Androsace  viUosa  (the 
last  not  so  big  as  VitaUana,  but  very  widespread 
and  large  in  size,  too),  Iberis  saxatiUs  (in  dense 
tufts,  very  compact  and  full  of  seeds)  and  Dianthus 
subacauUs  (we  came  for  this  particularly)  which  is 
very  common  near  the  top  and  forms  large,  very 
dwarf  and  dense  carpets.  The  plant  is  here 
dwarfer  than  in  its  other  stations.  Everything 
here,  indeed,  is  very  compact  and  hidden  between 
protecting  stones.  At  first  sight  one  would  fancy 
the  summit  of  the  Ventoux  to  be  quite  barren 
and  destitute  of  Ufe,  but.  on  looking  closer,  one 
finds  that  "Lady  Flora"  has  taken  possession 
of  every  Uttle  corner  of  the  ground  and  conceals 
in  the  fissures  and  in  the  crevices  of  every  stone 
her  treasures.  The  splendid  Androsaces  are 
surrounded  with  Globularia  nana  or  cordifoUa, 
Teucrium  PoUum,  Alyssum  montanum  and  fiexi- 
caule,  Iberis  Candolleana  and  saxatilis.  Paronychia 
of  two  kinds,  Herniarias,  Potentilla  petiolulata, 
Ononis  cenisia.  Leuzea  conifera,  Saxifraga  Aizoon 
(of  curious  form),  S.  oppositifoUa  (with  big  flowers), 
Athamanta  cretensis,  jEthionema  saxatile,  Anthyl- 
lis  montana,  Draba  aizoides  and  tomentosa, 
Galium  hypnoides,  Ceterach  officinarum,  Scrophu- 
laria  canina,  Saxifraga  moschata,  Alsine  bauhin- 
orum,  Villarsije,  mucronata,  grandiflora,  tetra- 
quetra,  Sempervivum  montanum  (a  curious  ex- 
ception to  the  fact  that  this  plant  is  calcifuge), 
Silene  Saxifraga,  Oxytropis  cyanea,  Helianthemum 
poUfoUum  and  canum,  Silene  vallesia.  Campanula 
pusilla  and  valdensis.  and  Phyteuma  CharmeUi, 
which  adorn  the  dazzling  slopes. 

The  top  (5.8ooft.  altitude)  is  occupied  by  the 
immense  building  of  the  observatory,  which  is 
in  direct  telephonic  communication  with  the 
one  at  Paris.  There  is  also  a  very  good  little 
hotel  and  some  seats  to  rest  upon  and  admire 
the  unique  scenery.  From  here  may  be  seen  the 
whole  of  Provence,  the  sea  coast  as  far  as  Cette 
and  the  town  of  MarseiUes  shining  in  the  sunUght. 
Yonder  is  Nimes  and  fairer  MontpelUer.  The 
mountains  of  the  Esterel  and  those  of  the  Maures 
are  to  be  seen  to  the  east.  To  the  north  we  see 
the  whole  alpine  chain  from  the  Maritime  Alps 
to  the  Alps  of  the  Dauphine,  the  Barre  des  Ecrins, 
the  Pelvoux,  the  Meije.  and,  above  aU  these,  the 
king,  the  beautiful  Monte-Viso.  my  especial 
favourite,  there  in  the  far  east.  However,  I 
was  not  there  as  an  alpinist,  and  we  went  to  the 
north  side  to  find  the  rare  Aquilegia  Reuteri. 
From  here  we  could  go  down  to  Malac^ne  by  a 
beautiful  way  and  a  nice  country,  too,  but  we 
must  by  evening  be  back  in  Bedoin.  So  we 
started  at  midday  by  another  route,  going  straight 
down  through  an  immense  field  of  Lavender  and 
of  Thyme  and  Sage.  It  was  a  real  pleasure  to 
go  that  way.  The  picturesque  rocks,  bared  by 
wind  and  water — it  is  said  that  the  winds  there 
are  as  strong  as  those  in  the  Sahara — the  fields 
of  Aster  acris  and  of  Aphyllanthes,  all  the  treasures 
of  the  South  cUsseminated  over  the  decUvities  of 
the  Ventoux  gave  us  much  enjoyment.  I  can  but 
advise  the  amateur  in  search  of  beauty  to  visit 
that  barren  yet  flower-decked  summit  where 
Flora  has  one  of  her  most  remarkable  mansions. 
Floraire,  Geneva.  H.  Correvon. 


February  i8,  1922. 


THE     GARDEN. 


77 


THREE    REMARKABLE    CONIFERS 

The  three   species   described   below   all   do    best   in    our    Western    Counties,    though    the 
Taxodium   is   less  exacting  than  the  others. 


The  Himalayan  Hemlock. — The  genus  Tsuga 
includes  some  of  our  most  ornamental  coniters, 
and  of  the  seven  or  eight  species  which  have  been 
introduced  into  English  gardens  during  the  last 
•century  there  is  nothing  to  equal  in  beauty  or 
«legance  a  well  grown  specimen  of  the  Western 
Hemlock  (Tsuga  Albertiana),  such  as  one  sees  in 
Scotland,  where  it  often  becomes  a  magnificent 
tree. 

Its  much  rarer  Himalayan  cousin,  Tsuga 
Brunoniana,  introduced  in  1838.  is  none  the  less 
interesting,  but  unfortunately,  like  most  of  the 
Himalayan  conifers,  it  is  apt  to  be  injured  by  spring 
frosts  and  is  consequently  often  seen  only  in  a 
stunted  condition,  giving  no  idea  of  the  size  and 
beauty  to  which  it  attains  in  its  native  home. 
In  Sikkim,  for  example,  it  commonly  grows  to  a 
height  of  over  looft.  and  is  sometimes  28ft.  in 
girth. 

In  this  country  it  only  becomes  tree-like  in 
such  favoured  localities  as  Cornwall  and  Ireland, 
■where  the  climate  suits  it.  The  best  specimen  I 
know  of  is  the  one  on  Mr.  Fortescue's  estate  at 
Boconnoc  in  Cornwall,  where  there  is  a  tree 
measuring  over  50ft.  high  by  12ft.  in  girth  near 
the  ground.  Here  it  branches  into  several  stems 
which  spread  to  about  70ft.  in  diameter.  Young 
plants  have  been  raised  from  cones  produced  by 
this  tree. 

The  only  tree  of  any  size  near  London  appears  to 
be  the  one  at  Dropmore,   which  was  planted  in 


THE     REMARKABLE    RESIN-LADEN    CONE    OF 


1847,  but  is  not  so  fine  a  specimen  as  that  just  men- 
tioned. The  branch  illustrated  on  this  page 
was  taken  from  a  well  developed  tree  in  Sir  Archi- 
bald Lamb's  collection  at  Beaufort,  Sussex.  When 
recently  measured  by  my  friend,  the  Rev.  A.  E. 
Gregor,  it  was  about  35ft.  high  and  4lft.  in  girth  of 
stem.  I  have  notes  of  other  examples  at  MenabiUy 
and  Tregrehan  in  Cornwall,  Leith  Hill,  Surrey ; 
while  in  Ireland  there  is  a  notable  tree  40ft.  high 
and  about  5ft.  in  girth  on  Lord  Barrymore's 
estate  at  Fota,  Co.  Cork,  and  other  smaller 
ones  at  Kilmacurragh  and  Powerscourt  in  Co. 
Wicklow. 

The  illustration  (from  a  photograph  by  Miss 
Brown)  shows  well  the  long  narrow  tapering  leaves 
which  at  once  separate  this  Hemlock  from 
the  American  and  Japanese  members  of  the 
genus. 

The  Deciduous  Cypress. — Few  foUage  trees  can 
compare  in  beauty  with  the  Deciduous  Cypress, 
botanicaUy  known  as  Taxodium  distichum.  It  is 
an  elegant  tree  with  feathery  leafage  and  one  to  be 
greatly  valued  for  its  hght  green  effect  in  spring  and 
summer,  while  in  autumn  its  yellow  and  light  brown 
leaves  form  a  touch  of  good  colour,  which  contrasts 
pleasantly  with  any  foliage  retaining  the  green  of 
summer. 

Taxodium  distichum  has  the  conical  shape  of  a 

Cypress,  but  unlike  all  other  conifers,  except  the 

Larch  and  the  Maidenhair  Tree  (Ginkgo  biloba), 

it  is  deciduous.     On  account  of  these  distinctive 

characteristics     it      has 

gained    its    name    of    the 

Deciduous  Cypress. 

During  the  dull  season 
the  Taxodium  is  not 
without  charm  as  some 
might  suppose  it  to  be, 
for  its  straight  central 
stem  and  lacery  of  shapely 
leafless  branches  c  o  n  - 
stitute  a  tree  of  unique 
appearance. 

The  Deciduous  Cypress 
is  a  native  of  the  Southern 
United  States.  It  is 
naturally  a  great  lover 
of  moisture,  and  is  con- 
sequently usually  seen 
in  association  with 
streams,  ponds,  or  lakes. 
Sometimes  it  will  be 
growing  in  water  a  foot 
or  i8ins.  deep,  but  more 
often  in  the  adjacent 
marshes. 

For  riverside  gardens, 
as  well  as  for  beautify- 
ing small  islands  in 
ornamental  waters,  it  is 
invaluable,  and  it  can  be 
relied  upon  to  give 
character  to  the  scene. 
A  marsh  is  not  es- 
sential to  its  well  being 
provided  that  it  is  given 
a  moderate  supply  of 
water  in  dry  weather, 
and  good  specimens  are 
often  to  be  seen  on  lawns. 
In  order,  however,  that 
it  should  get  sufficient 
ABIES    BRACTEATA.         moisture,    it    is   desirable 


to  select  for  it  a  low-lying  situation  rather  than  one 
on  a  high  level ;  unless  the  latter,  as  is  seldom  the 
case,  happens  to  be  a  moist  one.  The  artistic 
character  of  the  foliage  is  better  appreciated  if  the 
Taxodium  is  grown  in  conjunction  with  some  plant 
with  large  leaves  such  as  the  Gunneras,  or  the 
broad-leaved  Bamboos,  which  contrast  well  with 
the  fine  feathery  leafage. 

The  Deciduous  Cypress  hkes  a  deep  loamy  soil, 
and  can  be  planted  in  early  spring,  winter,  or  as 


A    SPRAY    OF    TSUGA    BRUNONIANA. 

soon  as  the  leaves  have  fallen.  After  planting  it 
requires  no  pruning  or  attention  at  all,  unless  it 
be  occasional  watering.  It  is,  therefore,  a  tree  very 
naturally  adapted  to  the  wild  garden. 

Abies  bracteata. — Discovered  over  eighty 
years  ago  in  the  Santa  Lucia  mountains  of  Cah- 
fornia  and  introduced  by  William  Lobb  when  he  was 
collecting  for  Messrs.  Veitch  in  1853,  this  remarkable 
Silver  Fir  is  still  one  of  the  rarest  of  its  kind. 
Unfortunately,  it  has  not  proved  suitable  for  the 
British  Isles  generally  and  appears  to  thrive  only 
where  the  conditions  are  soft  and  warm.  Nearly 
all  the  best  specimens  are  to  be  found  in  the 
gardens  of  the  West  Country,  such  as  those  of 
Eastnor  Castle,  Totworth  and  Highnam  Court. 
In  these  places  there  are  trees  of  65ft.  to  80ft.  high. 
.\bies  bracteata,  the  Santa  Lucia  Fir,  is  the  most 
distinct  of  all  Silver  Firs,  being  well  marked  from 
all  the  rest  by  three  characters,  viz.,  its  elongated, 
sharply  pointed,  pale  green  winter  buds ;  its 
long,  rigid,  spine-tipped  (never  notched)  leaves ; 
and  its  remarkable  cones,  one  of  which  we  illustrate. 
These,  as  will  be  seen,  are  armed  with  long,  stiff 
spines  as  sharply  pointed  as  needles,  each  of  which 
is  a  prolongation  of  the  bract.  The  whitish  clusters 
seen  attached  to  many  of  them  in  the  picture  are 
patches  of  resin. 

Three  coniferous  trees  more  distinct  and  remark- 
able than  those  mentioned  would  not  be  easy  to 
find,  nor  three  more  beautiful. 


78 


THE     GARDEN. 


[February  i8,  1922. 


SOME     VARIETIES     OF     THE     COMMON 

POLYPODY 

Many  readers  are  anxious  to  know  what  they  can  grow   to  furnish    an   absolutely    cold 

house.     As  hardy   as    the  proverbial   nail,    the   many   varieties    of  Polypodium    viilgare 

supply,  at  any  rate,  a  partial  answer. 


A  CTING  on  the  principle  that  a  good 
/%       illustration  is  more  directly  informative 

/  %  than  descriptive  text,  no  matter  how 
A""^  good  the  latter  may  be,  we  illustrate 
»  »  herewith  some  of    the   best    and   most 

distinct  forms  of  the  common  Polypody  (Poly- 
podium vulgare)  which,  while  of  necessity  having 
to  play  second  fiddle  to  the  "Hart's  Tongue" 
from  the  numerical  standpoint,  is  second  to  no 
hardy  Fern  from  the  standpoints  of  real  hardiness, 
extreme  beauty  and  simple  cultural  needs.  The 
varieties  are  also  evergreen  and,  endowed,  amid 
suitable  environment,  with  considerable  powers  of 
endurance,  afford  us  not  a  httle  of  their  best 
garniture  till  near  the  end  of  the  year.  With  cold 
house  treatment — a  method  of  cultivation  calcu- 
lated to  display  them  to  the  fullest  advantage — 
their  season  of  leaf  beauty  is  considerably  prolonged 
and  one  never  tires  of  the  opportunity  of  seeing 
the  best  of  them  at  close  quarters  and  marking 
the  changes  as  these  occur. 

Both  in  leaf  colour  and  beauty  the  Polypodies 
occupy  a  place  of  their  own.  There  is,  for  example, 
none  of  the  lustrous  green  so  characteristic  of  the 
Hart's  Tongue  or  the  russet-brown  which  distin- 
guishes the  Polystichums  ;  but  in  place  of  these  a 
pale  or  middle-green  tone,  difficult  to  describe,  yet 
ever  beautiful  and  attractive,  with  just  those  finish- 
ing nature  touches  which,  while  intended  probably 
to  compensate  for  the  absence  of  flowers  in  these 
plants,  also  afford  variety  and  create  interest. 

Turning  to  the  varieties  figured  in  the  illustra- 
tion, we  have  in  those  marked  one  and  six  the  two 
extremes  of  the  group  as  at  present  known  ;  the 
former  the  original  or  typical  kind,  the  latter  the 
most  finely  plumose  of  the  whole  series.     Between 


these  two  extremes  there  are  many  varieties,  some 
of  irresistible  beauty  and  all  of  interest.  Of  the 
latter  the  student  is  afforded  food  for  thought  by 
the  varieties  of  grandiceps — numbers  four  and  eight 
respectively — which,  entirely  bereft  of  their 
pinnae  and  with  modified  rachis  or  midrib,  have 
nothing  in  common  with  the  normal  type.  Most 
amateurs  would,  however,  turn  instinctively  to 
the  more  decorative  of  the  set — those  which.  Uke 
the  variety  pulcherrimum,  have  assumed  a  wider 
lateral  frond  spread,  or  those  others  as,  for  example, 
cambricum.  c.  Barrowi  and  c.  Prestoni  which, 
having  developed  laterally,  have  also  assumed 
a  density  and  plumosity  which  render  them 
ornamental  in  the  highest  degree.  These  densely 
plumose  forms  have  affinity  with  cambricum 
(the  Welsh  Polypody),  itself  one  of  the  handsomest 
of  the  race.  The  variety  trichomanoides,  with  its 
very  suggestive  name,  has  the  most  finely  divided 
fronds  of  all,  and  while  not  of  the  moss-hke 
density  of  some  of  the  modern  Nephrolepis,  may 
yet  break  into  something  near  akin.  Its  present 
state  is  wcU  shown  in  the  illustration.  Its  nearest 
approach  is  the  variety  elegantissimum — not  shown 
in  the  figure — a  plant  rather  difficult  to  obtain 
true.  The  fronds  are  of  flatter  form  than  the 
last,  less  dense  in  character,  the  plant  far  more 
vigorous.  The  true  plant  is  well  figured  in 
"  Nicholson's  Dictioneiry  of  Gardening."  page  195. 
There  are  others,  such  as  omnilacerum.  semi- 
lacerum,  cambricum  plumosum  Hadwinii.  making 
up  altogether  some  thirty  or  more  sorts,  all  of 
which  possess  interest  or  beauty. 

All  are  rhizomatous,  that  is,  they  possess 
running  root  stocks  or  stems  clothed  with  ferru- 
ginous scales,  and  are  easily  cultivated  in  loam  and 


limestone  chippings  or  peaty  loam.  The  typical 
kind  is  often  seen  in  dry  hedgerows  struggling  for 
existence,  while  frequent  in  woods  at  the  base 
of  trees  and  again  in  walls,  from  which  it  will  be 
seen  that  it  is  not  fastidious.  Magnesian  Hmestone 
chippings  with  strong  loam  are  ideal  for  cambricum, 
and  that  excellent  variety,  so  treated,  flourishes 
in  a  cold  house. 

For  the  opportunity  of  figuring  the  varieties 
in  the  accompanying  illustration  we  are  indebted 
to  Messrs.  H.  B.  May  and  Sons,  Dyson's  Lane, 
Edmonton. 


THE    COMMON    POLYPODY    (POLYPODIUM    VULGARE)    AND  SOME    VARIETIES. 

I,   The    typical  plant ;     2,  cambricum  Prestoni;     3,   pulcherrimum;  4,    grandiceps    Parkeri ; 

S,    cambricum   Barrowi;      6,    trichomanoides;      7,    cambricum;     8,  grandiceps     multifidum, 

9,  cris latum  ;  10,  cornubiense. 


Herbaceous     Plants    that 
Flower    Early 

HERBACEOUS  plants  that  have  not 
begun  to  flower  by  the  beginning  of 
June  can  scarce  claim  a  place  in  these 
brief  notes,  which  are  to  deal  with 
those  plants  that  bloom  early.  On  the 
other  hand,  there  are  herbaceous  plants  that 
give  us  of  their  flowers  so  early  as  to  be  classed 
by  some  writers  as  spring  flowers.  The  con- 
venience of  this  cUstinction  may  be  allowed  and 
is  apparent.  I  think,  when  calling  to  mind  such 
things  as  the  Lungwort,  Pulmonaria  mollis,  which 
is  in  full  flower  by  the  middle  of  March  ;  Anemone 
sylvestris  and  A.  Pulsatilla  ;  Aquilegias  of  sorts  ; 
and  the  beautiful  Dicentra  spectabiUs,  which. 
uiJess  sheltered,  is  sometimes  spoilt  by  spring 
frost.  However,  leaving  these  on  one  side,  we 
have  a  fine  array  from  which  to  make  an  early 
flowering  selection. 

Though  common  enough,  the  Leopard's  Bane 
(Doronicum)  is  very  useful.  It  is  a  composite, 
bearing  yellow  single,  Chrysanthemum-hke  flowers. 
Towards  the  end  of  April  the  first  buds  of  the 
Mountain  Globe  Flower,  Trollius  europseus,  are 
almost  ready  to  open.  In  April,  too,  one  or  two 
of  the  Yarrows  should  make  a  start,  particularly 
the  form  of  the  common  Yarrow.  Achillea  Mille- 
foUum,  for  example.  The  month  of  May  ushers  in 
the  European  Paeonies.  which,  in  turn,  are  followed 
by  the  Chinese  kinds.  Where  space  is  hmited 
and  only  a  few  plants  can  be  grown  the  Paeony 
ought  certainly  be  one,  for,  as  a  writer  has  well 
put  it,  "  What  is  even  a  cottage  garden  worth 
without  its  rich  red  Pyannies  ?  "  Opening  also 
in  May  is  that  splendid  hardy  plant  the  Pyrethrum. 
which  few  plants  can  beat  for  freedom  of  flowering, 
brightness  and  usefulness.  Like  the  Paeony,  the 
Pyrethrum  is  quite  hardy.  Both  bear  single  and 
double  flowers  of  great  decorative  worth,  whether 
in  the  border  or  indoors  as  cut  flowers.  The  good 
qualities  of  these  two  plants  are  also  shared  by 
the  Lvipin.  of  which  mention  was  made  a  few  weeks 
back. 

An  old  plant  not  so  frequently  seen  as  the 
foregoing  is  Jacob's  Ladder,  Polemonium  coeru- 
leum.  It  is  well  worth  growing  where  early  flowers 
are  appreciated.  There  is  also  a  useful  white 
variety.  Of  bushy  habit,  few  plants  are  more 
useful  for  early  work  than  the  indigenous  Musk 
Mallow,  Malva  moschata.  It  grows  and  flowers 
freely  in  most  soils.  Several  of  the  forms  of 
Chrysanthemum  maximum  are  ready  in  June, 
while  Chrysanthemum  latifoUum  hybridum  may 
sometimes  show  itself  towards  the  end  of  May. 
Other  plants  worthy  of  mention  are  the  gorgeous 
blue  Alkanets  (Anchusa).  Gaillardias  and  Galega. 
Some  of  the  beautiful  varieties  of  Anchusa  itahca, 
such  as,  for  instance,  Dropmore  Variety  and  Opal, 
are  grown  in  most  gardens  :  but  the  early  and 
ever-blooming  A.  myosotidiflora,  which  only 
grows  a  foot  or  so  tall,  is  not  so  often  seen.  It  is 
a  wonderfully  easy  and  excellent  plant.  Nor 
must  the  brilliant  Oriental  Poppies  be  forgottea 


February  iS,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


79 


With  immense  variety  of  habit  and  an  equal 
diversity  of  colouring,  they  are  quite  indispensable 
in  the  early  summer  border.  Pure  white,  salmon- 
pink,  rose,  orange,  crimson  and  quaint  smoky 
tones  are  all  represented,  with  numbers  of  inter- 
mediate shades      When   well   grown   the   Iceland 


Poppies,  too  (P.  uudicaule),  are  invaluable  at  this 
season.  They  are  excellent  for  cut  flower. 
Another  plant  which  should  be  included  is  the 
perennial  Pea,  Lathyrus  Sibthorpii.  It  grows 
to  a  height  of  about  3ft.  and  bears  dull  red  flowers 
in  great  profusion.  C.  T. 


BLACK-EYED    SUSAN 

All  about  a  very  useful  and  beautiful   annual  for    the  greenhouse   or   sheltered  corner 

outdoors. 


w 


the 


'  HERE  a  restrained  grower  is 
needed  in  a  small  greenhouse  to 
twine  round  a  thin  wire  or  for 
very  sheltered  positions  in  the 
open  garden  against  a  south  wall 
annual     Black-Eyed 

Susan.    Thunbergia  alata. 

is     an     ideal     plant,    the 

seeds    of    which    can     be 

sown    any  time  from    the 

middle     of    February     to 

April.       The    flowers    are 

either  white,  buff  or  ta«-ny 

orange,    and    each    has    a 

dense   velvety   black   eye, 

forming  a  striking  contrast 

to      the     ground     colour. 

Occasionally     one      meets 

with    self-coloured   plants. 

and   very  attractive  these 

are.     especially    the    pure 

white      form.       A      light 

open   soil   should   be  used 

for     sowing     the     seeds, 

using     small      pots     and 

placing  a  couple   of  seeds 

in  each  pot  at   the  centre. 

Stand    these    in    a    warm 

position  in  the  greenhouse, 

over  the  boiler  being  good. 

so  as  to  induce  rapid  germi- 
nation.      The    seeds    are 

rather  bard,  but  must  not 

be    overwatered    or    they 

readily  decay,  though   the 

soil  must  not  become  dust 

dr\'.       Cover    with    about 

half    an     inch     of    earth. 

If  sown  too  shallowly   the 

young  plants    are    apt    tn 

push      through     with     the 

seed     case     attached      tn 

the       cotyledons.  This 

toughens  and    so    inhibits 

further      growth     of     the 

plant.      Should     both 

seeds  germinate,  one  plant 

should  be  drawn,  and  this 

is  best   done    at    a    fairly 

early    age    or    the    roots 

become     intertwined    and 

when     one     is     pulled 

they      both      come     out 

together.     When    they 

begin  to  climb   give  them 

something     to     cling    to, 

and    before    they  become 

pot-bound      transfer       to 

5in.    pots.     These   are   large    enough    for    single 

plants   that  are  to  be   trained    over    a    division 

wall    or    run    straight    up    to    the    roof    by     a 

wire.     Most    decorative   plants   can   be    obtained 

by  potting  up  three  small  plants  in  the  7in.  size 

pot  and  placing  a  stake  in  the  centre  about  4ft. 

tall.     A  wire  should  then  be  run  round  the  rim 

of  the  pot  and  four  or  five  strands  of  tarred  twine 


from  this  to  the  apex  of  the  stake.  The  growths 
need  watching  and  encouraging  to  "  take,"  but 
when  once  started  wiU  run  away  freely  and  support 
themselves.  From  the  end  of  June  onwards 
wonderful  pyramids  of  flower  are  attained,  blossom- 


THE    UNCOMMON    PURE    WHITE    FORM    OF    THUNBERGIA  ALATA. 


ing  from  oase  to  tip,  that  remain  decorative  right 
into  September.  One  pest  alone  in  my  experience 
is  likely  to  prove  troublesome — thrips — and  these 
can  be  circumvented  by  occasional  fumigations 
and  free  syringings  with  an  insecticide.  Usually 
thrips  do  not  prove  unduly  tiresome.  They  are 
most  prevalent  in  hot  weather,  so  that  a  uniform 
temperature  should,   as   far   as  possible,  be  main- 


tained and  plenty  of  atmospheric  moisture  pro- 
vided. The  plants  should  be  fed  with  weak 
liquid  manure  from  the  time  the  first  flowers 
open,  for  the  pots  will  be  crammed  with  roots, 
which  soon  become  starved  unless  treated 
generously.  A  temperature  of  50°  to  55°  is 
ample  both  for  sowing  the  seeds  and  growing 
the  plants.  H.  W.  Cannisg-Wright. 


CAPE     PRIMROSES 

These  plants  are  invaluable  for  the  cool  and 

somewhat  shady  greenhouse.     They  succeed 

even  under  staging. 

NONE  will  deny  the  extreme  beauty  and 
daintiness  of  the  Cape  Primrose,  as 
the  Streptocarpus  is  sometimes  called. 
Tht-y  are  among  the  most  useful  of 
greenhouse  plants,  since  they  commence 
to  bloom  early  in  May  and  continue  without 
cessation  until  November,  Raising  from  seed  is 
an  interesting  process,  for  an  immense  variety 
of  shades,  colours  and  markings  result.  Seed  is 
extremely  fine  and  requires  careful  handUng 
until  the  small  plants  are  some  size,  and  progress 
is  rather  slow  at  first. 

Drain  the  pots  to  about  half  their  depth  with 
small  crocks,  covering  these  with  a  layer  of  moss  ; 
then  fill  to  within  half  an  inch  of  the  rim  with 
sifted  compost,  one  part  of  loam,  one  of  peat 
(finely  crumbled),  and  one  of  silver  sand.  Make 
the  surface  perfectly  level,  and  water  through  a 
fine-rosed  can.  If  boiling  water  be  used  it  will 
destroy  any  insect  pests  there  may  be  in  the  soil. 
Time  should  be  allowed  for  the  soil  to  drain  and 
cool ;  then  open  the  packet  and  thinly  scatter 
the  seed  on  the  surface  only.  It  is  unnecessary 
to  cover  save  with  a  little  fine  silver  sand. 

Put  a  pane  of  glass  over  the  pan.  covered  with 
a  sheet  of  thin  brown  paper,  and  place  in  a 
temperature  of  60°  or  so.  They  will  not  require 
water  for  some  time,  but  the  glass  should  be 
turned  daily,  or  the  condensation  wiped  from 
it.  When  water  is  needed  it  should  be  given 
by  standing  nearly  to  the  rim  in  tepid  water  and 
allowing  it  to  percolate  upwards.  Immediately 
they  germinate  the  paper  covering  should  be 
removed,  though  sunlight  must  not  be  allowed 
to  reach  them.  Keep  them  growing  on  as  rapidly 
as  possible  and  directly  they  can  be  handled  they 
should  be  pricked  out  in  seed  pans  sins,  apart. 
Do  not  delay  this  ;  get  them  pricked  off  at  the 
earliest  possible  moment,  and,  again,  as  soon 
as  the  leaves  approach  touching  each  other,  pot 
singly  into  thumb  pots,  using  a  compost  of  two 
parts  fibrous  loam  to  one  of  peat  or  leaf-mould, 
preferably  peat,  and  a  good  dash  of  coarse  sand. 
Water  should  be  given  in  moderate  quantities 
until  they  begin  to  grow  again,  then  a  fairly  free 
supply,  taking  care,  however,  that  none  is  spiUed 
on  the  foUage.  Continue  to  shift  until  the  .sin. 
size  is  attained,  which  is  plenty  large  enough  for 
them  to  flower  in.  Once  the  pots  are  well  filled 
with  roots,  diluted  hquid  manure  may  be  given, 
twice  a  week.  .\t  each  potting  look  well  to  the 
drainage. 

Streptocarpus  are  shallow  rooting  and  depth 
of  soil  is  only  harmful,  as  it  may  sour.  Old 
plants  can  be  increased  by  division  in  early  spring. 
During  winter  only  enough  water  must  be  given 
to  prevent  drooping  of  the  leaves.  They  are  not 
at  all  particular  as  to  temperature,  doing  in 
summer  quite  as  well  as  when  only  kept  free  of 
frost  during  winter,  or  when  grov%-n  in  the  stove, 
save  that  they  commence  to  bloom  at  a  much 
earlier  time  in  the  higher  temperature.  By 
growing  on  dift'erent  batches  they  will  provide  a 


80 


THE     GARDEN. 


[February  i8,  1922. 


continuous  succession  rifjht  through  the  year. 
Cultural  treatment  of  old  plants  merely  consists 
in  giving  plenty  of  water  and  shading  from  sunlight ; 
they  prefer  rather  heavy  shade  and  a  moist, 
humid  atmosphere,  always  taking  care  that  no 
moisture  rests  on  the  leaves.  Huge  specimens 
can  be  grown  by  potting  on  without  dividing. 

The  mixed  hybrids  provide  plants  of  very  neat 
habit,     gins,    high,     and    a    great    abundance    of 


trumpet-shaped  blooms — pink,  mauve,  white, 
purple  and  blue  of  all  shades.  S.  Wendlandii  is 
curious  but  not  of  great  value  as  a  flowering 
plant.  It  makes  one  immense  leaf  and  a  tall 
spike  of  rather  small  flowers,  remaining  in 
perfection  for  a  very  long  time.  There  are 
now  quite  a  number  of  named  kinds  in 
all  colours,  of  immense  size  and  very  perfect 
in  form. 


A    CAMPANULA    GARDEN 

Large  areas  of  the  garden  (and  The  Garden)  are  devoted  to  Rose  and  Iris  gardens. 
Why  not  spare  a  little  corner  for  the  many  beautiful  Campanulas? 


DURING  the  latter  half  of  June  and 
.  through  July  one  of  the  predominant 
I  hardy  plants  is  the  Campanula,  and 
an  ideal  Uttle  piece  of  planting  can  be 
arranged  by  grouping  a  number  of  the 
choicest  species  of  these  together,  so  as  to  form  a 
small  Campanula  garden.  Nor  is  there  the  least 
risk  of  this  appearing  monotonous  either  in  stature, 
colour  range  or  form,  for  there  is  so  much  beauty 
and  diversity  that — in  the  planning — it  is  far  more 
trouble  to  chminate  than  to  select. 

Canterbury  Bells,  of  course,  should  occupy  a  good 
amount  of  space  ;  these  are  invaluable  for  massing 
especially  as  by  cutting  off  all  the  dead  blooms  as 


WONDERFULLY   EFFECTIVE,  ESPECIALLY    WHEN    MASSED 
CAMPANULA    CARPATICA. 


they  fade  every  plant  flowers  twice.  This  is  true 
of  most  of  the  upright  growers,  including  the 
essential  C.  persicifoha  and  C.  pyramidalis.  The 
latter  is  one  of  the  grandest  border  forms,  in 
addition  to  being  fine  in  pots,  though  it  is  so 
popular  in  the  conservatory  that  we  are  sometimes 
in  danger  of  forgetting  that  it  can  be  grown 
entirely  in  the  open.  Towering  up  to  5ft.,  it  is 
one  of  the  most  commanding  varieties  of  all 
and  should  be  grouped  in  outstanding  positions. 

In  the  persicifoha  varieties  there  are  so  many 
fine  forms  that  the  type  plant  is  no  longer  worth 
growing.  Persicifoha  alba  grandiflora  is  the 
largest  and  best  white  I  have  seen  to  date,  and  no 
garden  is  complete  with- 
out it.  Mourheimi  is 
splendid  for  cutting  and 
bears  its  solid  semi-double 
white  flowers  with  great 
freedom.  The  variety 
humosa  is  another,  in- 
dispensable for  its  soft 
blue  shade.  It  has  rapidly 
become  very  popular  both 
for  the  garden  and  as  a 
pot  plant. 

Latiloba  should  not  be 
omitted,  for  the  closely 
arranged  spikes  are  very 
showy  and  do  exception- 
ally well  on  shaded  borders 
where  the  3ft.  stems  are 
grand  for  weeks  together. 
It  is  in  the  dwarf  varieties 
that  the  great  charm  of 
the  Campanula  garden 
lies,  however,  for  we  can 
pack  such  an  immense 
number  of  chic  and  charm- 
ing little  flowers  into  a 
small  area.  Contrary  to 
popular  behef,  a  rock 
garden  is  not  essential 
for  huge  numbers  of 
these.  They  grow  just  as 
freely  and  easily  on  the 
level  in  great  spreading 
clumps  as  among  stones. 
Of  course,  for  a  few 
crevice  lovers — and  those 
impatient  of  wet — rocks 
are  essential,  but  all  those 
I  am  about  to  mention 
will  flourish  on  the  level. 
Carpatica,  especially  the 
varieties  Isabel  and  White 
Star,  the  former  deep  blue, 
the  latter  pure  white, 
flowers  for  three  months 
if  in  a  cool  position,  but 
it  goes  out  in  one  great 
short-lived  blaze  of  glory 
in  hot  sunshine.   A  variety 


of  this,  that  is  very  well  worth  noting  where 
a  plant  about  6ins.  high  is  required,  is  carpatica 
Little  Gem,  pure  chalk  white. 

C.  caespitosa — of  similar  habit  to  pusilla  and 
therefore  spreading  rapidly — makes  splendid 
edgings  to  beds  of  the  Cup  and  Saucer  Canter- 
bury Bells,  the  Ught  green  fohage  and  soft  blue 
flowers  harmonising  excellently  with  their  varied 
colourings. 

C.  garganica  I  find  absolutely  reliable  and  hardy, 
doing  well  on  the  level,  the  crinkled  leaves  and 
five-starred  tiny  flowers  making  it  a  most  welcome 
and  distinct  addition  to  the  prostrate  growers. 
It  must  have  full  sun,  and  this  note  is  especially 
apphcable  to  the  hairy  garganica  hirsuta  alba. 
Given  sandy  soil  and  full  sun,  nothing  excels 
C.  muralis  for  edging  purposes,  for  it  so  covers 
itself  with  deep  purple  bells  that  one  loses  sight 
of  the  fact  that  it  has  any  fohage  until  those  bells 
have  faded.  From  July  until  the  middle  of  August 
you  have  an  even  band  of  dense  evergreen  fohage  ; 
then  a  second  crop  of  buds  makes  its  appearance 
and — in  September — the  edge  is  again  smothered 
with  deep  purple. 

C.  nitida  is  another  plant,  reaching  a  height  of 
gins,  with  whorls  of  erect  stemmed  flat  blue  flowers 
over  dark  shining  green  fohage.  Good  patches 
of  this  are  useful  next  to  C.  garganica  as — just 
as  the  starry  flowers  of  this  are  passing — nitida 
commences  to  bloom  and  continues  into  September. 
Pusilla  is  ubiquitous  and  should  be  allowed  to 
run  wild  in  the  Campanula  garden,  for  it  has  a 
knack  of  placing  itself  far  more  happily  than  our 
studied  efforts  can  achieve. 

Running  between  steps,  establishing  itself 
in  small  tufts  at  the  edge  of  paths  or  spreading 
itself  in  between  the  clumps  of  taller  growers, 
where  it  forms  a  carpet  beneath  their  handsome 
spikes :  these  are  some  of  the  ways  in  which 
pusilla  inserts  itself  into  our  afiectionate  regard. 
Unless  absolutely  impossible  to  allow  it  to  remain, 
few  have  the  heart  to  root  up  the  dainty  httle 
slender-stemmed  bell-covered  plants  wherever 
they  choose  to  appear. 

Do  not  overlook  the  charm  of  our  own  native  Hare- 
bell, wilding  though  it  be,  for  it  is  one  of  the  most 
elusively  beautiful  of  all — especially  the  double 
form  and  the  exquisite  white  one.  This,  Uke 
pusilla,  appropriates  as  much  of  the  garden  for 
its  seedling  offspring  and  has  just  the  same  happy 
knack  of  fitting  itself  into  just  the  correct  sur- 
roundings. Croydonia. 


THE    BEAUTIFUL 
WAX   FLOWER 

Beautiful  by  name  and  nature,  this  plant 
is,   when   in   blossom,   deliciously  fragrant. 

THE  popular  Wax  Flower,  Hoya  carnosa 
from  Canton,  is  one  of  the  warm 
greenhouse  plants  most  frequently  met 
with,  and  it  certainly  is  very  splendid 
where  a  good  space  of  wall,  covered  with 
netting,  can  be  devoted  to  it.  Hoya  bella  is, 
however,  an  entirely  different  ^ant,  and  it  is  only 
occasionally  that  one  comes  across  it.  Unhke 
H.  carnosa,  it  is  upright  and  shrubby  in  habit, 
with  small,  oval  glossy  leaves.  It  is  short  jointed 
and  branches  freely.  The  flowers  are  pure  white 
with  a  tiny  chocolate  red  star  and  anthers  at  the 
centre.  They  are  tremendously  fragrant,  a  small 
plant  being  sufficient  to  make  heavy  with  perfume 
the  air  of  a  moderate  sized  house.  The  heads  of 
bloom  are  freely  produced  and  remain  a  consider- 
able time  in  perfection. 


February  i8,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


81 


Additional  plants  are  easily  propagated  by 
cuttings  taken  either  in  early  autumn  or  spring. 
Young  plants  rooted  in  March  frequently  flower 
during  summer.  It  appears  to  the  best  advantage 
when  suspended  from  the  roof,  either  in  pots  or 
wire  baskets  lined  with  moss.  Several  young 
plants  should  be  placed  in  each.     Free  drainage 


MY    "GENTLEMAN    GARDENER" 

The  following   appreciation  is   worth    careful  reading   as   a    contribution    to   the    labour 
difficulty  of  which  we  hear  so  much  to-day. 


A    PLANT    OF  HOYA    BELLA,    THE     GROWTHS 

TIED       UP      TO      DISPLAY       THE      FRAGRANT 

BLOSSOMS. 

is  essential,  for  they  do  not  make  much  root,  and 
a  compost  of  fibrous  loam  and  coarse  sand  with 
a  Uttle  peat  is  best.  Break  the  loam  and  peat 
into  small  lumps,  add  the  sand,  and  pack  closely 
into  the  pots  or  baskets,  avoiding  pressing  down 
hard.  The  Hoyas  Uke  a  lumpy  soil  that  does 
not  run  closely  together,  and  while  keeping 
uniformly  moist,  never  overwater,  as  they  easily 
become  sickly  if  an  excess  is  appUed.  During 
winter  very  moderate  supphes  only  are  necessary, 
allowing  the  soil  to  become  almost  dry  before 
giving  more.  A  temperature  of  between  50°  and 
60"^  should  be  maintained. 

If  one  has  only  an  ordinary  greenhouse 
temperature  one  may  still  grow  it  quite  as  success- 
fully, but  flowering  wUl  be  a  little  later,  and 
cuttings  should  be  struck  correspondingly  later. 
It  will  be  noticed  when  cuttings  are  detached 
from  the  parent  a  white  milky  juice  begins  to 
exude  from  the  stem.  They  should  be  laid  on 
the  greenhouse  shelf  for  twenty-four  hours  to 
callus  before  insertion,  as  this  reduces  the  risk 
of  their  damping  off.  W, 


FORTHCOMING     EVENTS. 

February  22. — Irish  Gardeners'  Association  and 
Benefit  Society's  Meeting, 

February  23  — Bristol  and  District  Gardeners' 
.Association's  Meeting.  Royal  Botanic  Society's 
Meeting. 

February  28. — Royal  Horticultural  Society's 
Fortnightly  Meeting.  Lecture  by  Mr.  W. 
Cuthbertson  on  "  Practical  Lessons  from  the 
laternational  Potato  Comerence,"  at  3  p.m. 


THE  fact  that  I  am  happily  circumstanced 
in  respect  of  my  one  and  only  gardener 
has  moved  me  to  write  this  appreciation 
of  a  worker  who  is  at  once  a  credit 
to  his  calUng  and  a  continual  refreshment 
to  his  employer.  .\m  I  not  justified  in  beUeving 
that  this  is  a  theme  worthy  of  attention,  even  if 
it  be  one  not  before  treated  in  the  pages  of  The 
Garden  ?  From  time  to  time  we  read  of  illustrious 
gardeners,  but  here  I  seek  to  tell  of  a  very  humble 
person,  just  one  of  the  rank  and  file,  who  doubtless 
has  his  counterpart  in  many  another  garden,  to 
the  abiding  comfort  of  his  master  or  mistress. 

During  the  war  I  rightly  lost  my  John  Allison 
for  a  time  and  was  reduced  to  availing  myself  of 
the  services  of  a  Trade  Unionist  of  the  undesirable 
type.  This  individual,  hke  many  other  Sociahstic 
workmen,  passed  his  days  in  a  state  of  continual 
discontent.  Miserable  and  disgruntled  himself, 
he  made  the  garden  a  place  of  discord  and  drove 
far  away  the  peace  which  rightly  dwells  in  the 
flower  patch  of  a  man's  home.  Under  his  clumsy 
hands  vegetables  certainly  flourished,  but  flowers, 
which  are  the  very  soul  of  the  garden,  decUned,  while 
the  choicer  varieties  wilted  right  away.  Pests 
unknown  before  assailed  the  greenhouse  plants. 
Cobwebs  invaded  the  Carnations,  Chrysanthemums 
sported  positive  whiskers  of  rust  and  Orchids 
became  fastnesses  for  scale  and  mealy  bug.  AU 
this  was  distressful  enough,  but  when  coupled 
with  steady  sourness  on  the  part  of  the  alleged 
gardener  it  became  intolerable.  "  The  garment  of 
praise  "  was  snatched  away  from  the  garden,  and 
in  place  there  settled  upon  it  ' '  the  spirit  of 
heaviness."  Finally,  my  Bolshevist  jumped  into 
a  "  funk  hole"  to  escape  conscription,  and  for  a 
time  we  went  further  down  hill  horticulturally, 
while  well  meaning  but  incompetent  females 
scratched  the  surface  of  the  ground  in  the  vain 
endeavour  to  carry  on. 

And  then  came  a  joyful  day  when  my  soldier 
returned — returned  with  all  the  old  skill  and  keen- 
ness, and  with  fresh  store  of  patience  learnt  in 
the  hard  school  of  war.  After  the  "  grouser," 
the  gentleman  ;  the  change  of  atmosphere  was 
amazing.  Of  a  truth  there  is  no  vahd  reason  why 
there  should  not  be  "very  perfect  gentle"  gardeners, 
even  as  there  have  been  knights  of  the  same  high 
degree.  "  Manners  mayketh  man,"  be  he  warrior 
in  steel  or  khaki,  or  labouring  man  armed  with  no 
more  lethal  weapon  than  a  spade.  It  is  not  the 
station  in  Mfe,  but  the  instinct ;  not  the  breeding, 
but  the  spirit,  which  in  the  true  sense  produces 
that  delightful  being,  the  gentleman  or  the  gentle- 
woman. 

With  this  prelude,  let  me  proceed  with  the 
appreciation  of  a  servant  and  friend.  To  begin 
with,  Allison  loves  his  work ;  above  all,  he  loves 
his  flowers.  When  any  new  or  specially  gracious 
bloom  appears  I  have  known  him  snatch  many 
precious  moments  of  a  strenuous  day  just  to  feast 
his  eyes  upon  the  glad  sight,  and  thereafter  to 
"  return  hke  a  giant  refreshed "  to  his  labours. 
The  first  openings  of  Gentiana  verna,  of  Saxifraga 
Irvingi,  of  Carnation  Lady  Nunburnholme,  of 
Sophronitis  grandiflora  might  be  instanced,  but 
why  expand  the  list  ?  Every  flower-lover  ex- 
periences like  thrills,  yet  I  doubt  few  paid  gardeners 
are  fortunate  enough  to  know  and  gratify  them. 
Of  the  average  garden  worker  it  may  honestly  be 
said : 

"  A  Primrose  by  the  river's  brim, 
A  yellow  Primrose  was  to  him. 
And  it  was  nothing  more." 


But  the  "yellow  Primrose"  merchant  will  never 
capture  the  real  privileges  of  the  craft  which  he 
follows,  nor  is  it  likely  that  his  master  will  find 
himself  moved  to  sing  his  praises  in  print. 

After  the  blighting  effects  of  the  Bolshevist 
ri^ime,  AUison  was  faced  with  an  almost  o\er- 
whelming  task.  It  was  not  enough  to  destroy 
much  of  the  under-glass  stock,  but  the  very  houses 
had  to  be  purified.  Not  enough  to  remove  the 
weeds  from  the  rock  garden  and  buy  new  alpines, 
but  the  rocks  themselves  must  be  unseated  to 
eradicate  evil  roots  which  had  gone  deep  to  earth 
with  intent  to  ramp  at  large  in  years  to  come. 
Of  small  avail  to  lift  the  herbaceous  stuff,  so 
weakened  was  it  by  seasons  of  unchecked  growth 
and  the  overrunning  of  neighbouring  plants. 
None  the  less,  my  stalwart  has  brought  the  garden 
back  to  its  former  order  and  beauty  ;  indeed, 
Uke  Job  of  old,  I  am  "  blessed  more  in  the  latter 
end  than  in  the  beginning."  It  has  been  a  work 
of  love  even  more  than  one  of  duty,  and  love,  we 
know,  "  never  faileth." 

.Ji  while  back  a  branch  of  the  Gardeners'  Trade 
Union — I  forget  the  exact  title — was  started  in 
this  Uttle  town,  and  to  the  meeting  which  inaugur- 
ated its  estabUshment  Allison  was  invited.  A 
flamboyant  handbill  was  sent  out,  promising  high 
wages,  overtime  pay  and  prolonged  hoUdays. 
After  the  meeting  I  asked  my  helper  whether  he 
had  attended. 

"  No,  sir,"  he  repUed,  "  I  am  satisfied  as  I  am  ; 
you  and  I  can  arrange  things  together  weU  enough 
without  any  Union." 

True  words  these,  words  which  one  would  look 
to  hear  from  the  lips  of  a  man  who  loves  his  work 
and  has  no  intention  of  submitting  to  outside 
dictation  as  to  hours  or  rules  of  employment 
upon  it.  Trade  Unions  have  rendered  exceUent 
service  to  labour  in  the  past.  Far  be  it  from  me 
to  decry  them,  but  they  surely  step  outside  their 
province  when  they  push  into  the  home  and  seek 
to  bind  those  who  serve  there  down  to  regulations 
only  appUcable  to  commercial  undertakings. 
If  a  man  is  happy  in  the  garden,  if  he  knows  that 
his  plants  often  need  him  early  in  the  morning  or 
late  at  night,  why  in  heaven's  name  should  be  be 
compeUed  to  "  knock  off  "  at  a  set  hour  and  there- 
after spend  his  time  in  less  congenial  occupation  ? 

I  wander  away  from  my  text  somewhat,  although 
the  subject  is  a  vital  one  to  readers  of  this  paper. 
Let  me  teU  now  of  the  past  strenuous  summer 
when  the  unexampled  drought  brought  in  its 
train  such  scourges  as  white  fly  and  red  spider 
in  hordes  Uke  the  sand  of  the  seashore  in  multitude. 
By  cyaniding,  AlUson  slew  all  greenhouse  invaders 
save  the  "  spider,"  which  paid  no  regard  even  to 
this  deadUest  of  poisons.  After  taking  such  an 
extreme  step  the  ordinary  gardener  might  well 
be  excused  for  folding  his  hands  and  murmuring 
'■  Kismet."  Not  so  the  man  of  whom  I  write. 
Early  and  late  he  has  toiled  among  his  Carnations, 
syringing  them  by  the  hundred  with  water  and 
sulphide  of  potassium  until  at  last  he  has  exorcised 
the  evil  host  and  cleared  his  plants  of  that  which  was 
sapping  their  very  vitals.  This  is  but  one  instance 
of  devotion  to  his  charge.  Doubtless  many  other 
gardeners  have  done  precisely  the  same  things, 
but  in  the  catalogue  of  my  friend's  excellences  I 
am  entitled  to  set  down  the  fact  that  he  overcame 
a  murrain  of  red  spider,  which,  to  my  certain 
knowledge,  is  to-day  in  firm  possession  of  some  of 
the  most  celebrated  nurseries  of  Carnation  growers. 

This  incident,  it  may  be  urged,  has  small  bearing 
upon  the  "gentleman"   side  of  him  of  whom   I 


82 


THE    GARDEN. 


[February  i8,  1922. 


tell,  but  gentlemen  were  ever  good  fighters,  whether 
with  dragons  of  old  or  with  evil  "  bugges  "  of  later 
spawning.  At  any  rate,  I  can  put  to  AUison's 
credit  the  personal  peril  of  his  experiments  with 
cyanide  and  the  cheerful  spirit  with  which  he  took 
up  the  war  with  new  weapons  when  even  poison 
gas  failed. 

Recently  I  had  an  experience  at  home  which 
finds  no  parallel  among  the  considerable  number 
of  hands  employed  in  my  city  works.  It  happened 
upon  a  pay  day  when  Allison  remarked:  "  You 
had  better  reduce  my  wages  now  food  has  dropped 
in  price."  I  had  not  even  hinted  that  the 
gardener's  pay  should  follow  the  Index  Figure 
downwards,  so  that  the  man's  offer  was  particularly 
pleasing  and  in  keeping  with  his  fine  spirit.  As  I 
recalled  the  violent  opposition  to  wage  reductions 
put  up  by  the  various  Unions  with  which  I  come 
into  contact,  notwithstanding  the  heavy  fall  in 
the  cost  of  Uving,  the  thought  obtruded  itself — 
what  a  different  thing  business  would  be  if  Labour 
occasionally  volunteered  like  suggestions  !  Bitter- 
ness between  employers  and  employed  would  be 
impossible  were  this  give-and-take  disposition 
manifested  by  operatives,  and  industry  lifted  on  to 
a  happier  plane  altogether. 

There  is  a  personal  side  about  Alhson  which 
strongly  appeals  to  one.  Self-respecting  to  a  high 
degree,  he  is  as  neat  in  his  dress  as  in  his  work. 
The  man's  hands  are  a  pleasure  to  behold.  They 
are  those  of  the  artist  rather  than  of  the  artisan  ; 
well  fitted  for  delicate  layering  and  grafting,  and 
yet  strong  for  heavy  labour  with  spade  and  axe. 
My  friend  is  a  great  reader,  especially  of  any 
Uterature  relating  to  horticulture ;  while  he  is 
almost  a  chemist  in  the  skill  and  knowledge 
with  which  he  compounds  his  various  soils  and 
manures. 

Probably  no  relation  between  master  and  servant 
is  closer  than  that  which  exists  between  the  garden 
owner  and  the  gardener,  provided  that  both  love 
the  plants  which  they  grow.  They  have  a  huge 
hobby  in  common  and  that  supphes  a  tie  which 
years  do  but  knit  the  firmer,  I  am  happy  in 
Alhson  and  I  verily  believe  that  he  is  happy  in  me. 
We  mutually  encourage  each  other  in  the  dear 
interest  of  flowers  and  we  both  enjoy  our  small 
triumphs  the  more  keenly  because  we  enjoy  them 
together.  Surely  this  is  just  as  it  should  be,  as  it 
cannot  fail  to  be  with  everyone  who  is  fortunate 
enough  to  possess  a  "  gentleman  gardener."   D.  N. 


VEGETABLE     DOINGS 


The   Cinderella   of  the   Gold 
Dust   Family 

A  ROCK  plant  which  is  not  too  common,  yet  is  not 
really  scarce,  is  Alyssum  spinosum.  It  is  quite 
hardy  and  not  at  all  difficult  to  giow  in  sandy  soil. 
It  is  not  particularly  effective  in  the  early  stage 
of  growth,  but  once  it  has  attained  ift.  or  more 
across  is  very  attractive.  It  is  pretty  even  when 
out  of  bloom,  as  it  forms  a  mass  of  silvery 
grey  foliage,  studded  in  summer  with  heads  of 
small  white  flowers.  There  is  also  a  variety  with 
pinkish  or  rosy  floweis  (spinosum  roseum),  but 
these  are  not  pronounced  enough  in  colouring 
to  please  the  average  gardener.  This  tendency 
to  colour  may,  however,  be  valuable,  as  a  variety 
with  deeper  coloured  blooms  would  be  valuable. 
It  is  not  easy  from  a  young  specimen  to  understand 
why  the  specific  name  of  spinosum  is  applied  to 
the  plant,  but  the  name  is  seen  to  have  a  good 
foundation  when  the  spines  which  are  on  the  lower 
parts  of  the  branches  are  once  observed.  Good 
plants  will  grow  to  more  than  2ft.  across.  A. 
spinosum  is  increased  by  seeds  or  cuttings.  A 
sunny  position  seems  best  to  suit  this  neat  and 
pleasing  rock  plant. 


Seed  Potatoes:  their  Care 
at  this  Season 

A    LL     cultivators     should     make     a     very 

#%       close  examination  of  their  stocks  of  seed 

/   %      tubers    forthwith,    so    that    they    may 

^"•"^L    have  them  in  the  best  possible  condition 

*  ■at     planting     time.     This     examination 

should  not  be  put  off  till  that  time  actually  comes. 

Expert  cultivators  are  never  guilty  of  such  neglect. 


WHAT   TO   DO  AND   WHAT  NOT    TO   DO   WITH 
SEED    POTATOES. 

The  winter  season  has  not  been  a  difficult  one  as 
regards  the  storing  of  seed  tubers  without  recourse 
to  heavy  coverings  to  exclude  frost.  On  the  other 
hand,  even  light  coverings,  if  left  on  unduly, 
would  result  in  wealdy  unsuitable  sprouts.  I 
knew,  personally,  the  late  Mr,  James  Clarke, 
the  raiser  of  Magnum  Bonum  and  other  noted 
varieties.  It  was  a  valuable  object  lesson  to 
inspect  his  stores  of  seed  tubers  in  boxes  in  the 
depth  of  winter,  since  he  paid  as  much  attention 
to   his    Potatoes   in   winter   as   in   summer   time. 


He  rarely  had  to  remove  any  sprouts  just  before 
the  planting  season  as  ample  exposure  to  light  and 
air  resulted  in  just  sufficient  sturdy  blue-black 
shoots  on  the  tubers  after  the  removal  of  weakly 
ones  before  Christmas. 

Cultivators  who  have  their  seed  tubers,  whether 
covered  or  not,  in  shallow  boxes,  should  lose  no 
time  in  setting  them  out  in  single,  or  at  most, 
double  layers  and  fully  expose  them  to  the  light 
and  air  where  there  is  not  any  frost.  I  know  the 
majority  treat  the  early  kidney  sorts  in  this  way, 
but  I  find  it  pays  to  treat  second  early  and  main- 
crop  varieties  in  the  same  manner. 

It  is  probable  that  fewer  tubers  will  need  cutting 
this  spring  than  in  former  years  owing  to  the  great 
number  of  undersized  ware  Potatoes.  Judging 
from  other  growers'  experience  as  well  as  my  own, 
I  find  seed  tubers  of  the  kidney  type,  about 
3  ozs,  in  weight,  to  be  the  best,  and  of  the  main- 
crop  varieties  half  an  ounce  heavier  to  be  an 
equally  suitable  weight. 

The  accompanying  sketches  will  be  helpful  to 
the  inexperienced  grower.  No.  i  shows  a  kidney 
or  early  "  set "  as  it  should  be  when  planted. 
No.  2  shows  a  maincrop  "  set "  as  it  will  be,  probably 
at  the  present  time.  It  will  be  time  well  spent 
if  these  are  overhauled  and  all  sprouts  rubbed  off 
except  two  that  are  best  placed.  If  large  tubers 
are  to  be  cut  they  should  be  dealt  with  as  shown 
at  No.  3,  being  divided  at  the  straight  dark  Une 
and  the  cut  portions  dusted  over  with  powdered 
charcoal.  If  ilb.  of  seed  of  a  new  variety  is  to  be 
made  to  go  a  long  way  treat  the  "  eyes  "  as  shown 
at  No.  4.  No.  5  shows  the  kind  of  sprout  to  retain 
and  No.  6  the  kind  to  discard.    George  Garner. 


The  Increasingly  Popular 
Swede 

It  is  very  surprising  to  find  how  many  people 
are  growing  the  humble  garden  Swede  who 
despised  it  so  thoroughly  until  a  few  years  ago. 
Up  to  1 91 7  the  Swede  was  regarded  as  a  crop 
only  fit  for  farm  culture,  but  the  fact  that  its 
food  value  rendered  it  a  good  substitute  for 
Potatoes  during  the  severe  Potato  shortage  has 
brought  it  into  favour  with  many  people.  Many 
gardeners,  however,  do  not  get  the  success  that 
they  might  on  account  of  sowing  it  too  late.  One 
expert  recommended  northern  gardeners  not  to 
sow  Swedes  until  June,  and  when  this  was  tried 
it  was  found  that  the  Swedes  grew  to  no  size  at  all. 

My  own  experience  with  Swede  growing  has  been 
that  the  earhcr  the  seed  is  got  into  the  ground 
the  better.  Sowings  in  March  give  splendid  results, 
and  April  sowings  also  give  fair  returns.  I  have 
never  found  Swedes  to  run  to  seed,  and  this 
makes  them  suitable  on  ground  where  Turnips 
will  not  stand  for  more  than  a  week  or  so  without 
becoming  uneatable. 

More  importance  should,  I  think,  be  paid  to 
thin  sowing.  Large  Sw'edes  are,  of  course,  perfectly 
permissible,  for  the  larger  they  grow  the  better 
they  are,  but  if  each  plant  has  to  jostle  with  seven 
or  eight  neighbours  the  resulting  roots  are  poor 
and  coarse.  Eighteen  inches  between  the  drills 
and  I2ins.  between  the  plants  is  the  absolute 
minimum,  but  when  sowing  it  is  possible  to  get 
some  useful  material  for  the  stewpot  if  seed  is 
sown  three  or  four  together  at  intervals  of  3ins. 
It  is  needless  to  say  that  Swedes  should  not  be 
sown  on  ground  infected  with  club-root.  If  this 
nmst  be  tried,  lime  and  salt  should  some 
time  previously  be  incorporated  in  the  infected 
soil.  Yorkshire. 


February  i8,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


83 


CORRESPONDENCE 


SPORTS  AMONG  WILD  ORCHISES. 

T  QUITE  agree  with  what  is  stated  in  your  article 
on  "  MeadeUsm  Vindicated,"  that  the  loss  of 
the  purple  colour  in  our  wild  Orchises  usually 
coincides  with  losing  vigour  in  the  plant.  Near 
here  there  are  fields  full  of  the  Green-Wing  Orchis, 
which  I  have  visited  every  year  for  the  last  forty 
years  to  hunt  for  the  few  pale  pink  and  pure  white 
forms  to  be  found  among  the  deep  purple  ones, 
and  I  have  never  once  found  these  pale  forms  as 
large  as  the  purple  ones.  In  July  last  the  late 
Mr.  George  Paul  showed  me  a  fine  hybrid  between 
our  wild  spotted  Orchis  and  the  Madeira  ones. 
They  had  the  vigour  of  the  JIadeira  and  the  hardy 
constitution  of  our  native  ones.  He  wanted  to 
cross  these  hybrids  again  with  our  spotted  ones 
and  I  got  him  some  specimens  from  Suffolk,  the 
largest  I  had  ever  seen,  but  the  work  ended  with 
him. — H.   H.  \V.\rser,  Hoddesdon,  Herts. 

FROM     AN     OREGON     READER. 

T    .\M    mailing    you    some    photographs    of    our 

garden    which    you    might    possibly    care    to 

reproduce    at    some    time.     I    have    never    made 


any  notes  on  gardening  that  would  be  of  much 
interest  to  others.  As  you  will  see  by  the  photo- 
graphs, we  have  a  natural  background  of  tall, 
very  old  Douglas  Fir  trees  with  some  native 
shrubbery  and  varieties  not  native.  We  have 
planted  our  perennial  borders  in  front  of  this 
background.  We  have  planned  and  worked  out 
the  garden  ourselves,  a  httle  at  a  time.  There  are 
grass  paths  everywhere,  and  in  the  rose  garden 
the  beds  are  bordered  with  Violas.  \\'e  have 
about  three  acres  of  woods,  some  of  tall  Douglas 
Firs  and  some  second  growth,  with  Dogwood, 
Maple  and  .^rrowwood, 
and  are  just  beginning 
to  develop  them.  We 
have  naturaUsed  the 
common  English  Prim- 
rose and  have  Daffodils, 
Scillas,  etc.,  scattered  in 
groups  through  the 
woods.  Our  climate 
here,  in  the  north-west, 
is  similar  to  the  English 
climate,  and  your 
paper    is     much     more 


which  I  suppose  is  different  from  the  EngUsh 
summer. — Jane  Montague,  Portland,  Oregon, 
U.S.A. 

SOME     NEW     ROSES  ? 

T  THOUGHT  the  enclosed  (local)  auctioneers' 
announcement  might  amuse  you.  If  you 
can  tell  me  what  the  first  Rose  in  the  standards 
is  supposed  to  be  I  shall  have  a  still  greater 
admiration  for  your  efforts  than  ever !  I  think 
"Worthy  Perkins"  is  indeed  a  "choice  and 
rare"  plant. — C.  E.  A.,  Ottery  St.  Mary. 

"  To-morrow  (Saturday),  February  4th  .  .  . 
will  Sell  by  Auction,  at  their  Offices,  a  large 
consignment     of     Rose    Trees     and     Herbacious 


A    COOL    RETREAT    AT     THE     BOTTOM     OF     THE     LAWN. 
VERY    ENGLISH    GLIMPSE    IN    PORTLAND,    OREGON. 


EARLY    SUMMER    IN    THE    NORTH-WESTERN    STATES    SEEMS 
NOT    UNLIKE    IT    IS    AT    HOME. 


helpful  to  us  than  those 
published  in  the  eastern 
states,  as  they  have 
severe  winters  and 
their  growing  season 
is  so  very  short.  We 
have  practically  no  rain 
from  July  i  till  Septem- 
ber, and  expect  to 
water  our  gardens 
for   those    two    months. 


Plants,  including : — Dwarf  Roses :  Edu  Ward 
Herriot  Salmon,  Louis  Walter  Silvery  Rose, 
CaroUna,  Red  Head,  Arnold  Jansen,  Echo, 
Rothati,  Edward  Herriot,  Ulrieth  Runner,  Magna 
Charta,  etc.  Chmbing  Roses :  Worthy  Perkins, 
etc.  Standard  Roses :  Than  Coildruschtic  (White), 
Gruss  and  Tipliot  (Red),  Cariolina  Testout,  Louis 
Walter  (Silver),  Ella  Poulsee  (Deep  Rose),  Jessie, 
Weeping  Dorothy  Perkins,  Weeping  Extable,  etc. 
Rhododendrums,  Box  Trees,  Rocker>'  Plants, 
and    numerous    other    Trees    and     Plants.     The 


84 

Auctioneers  respectfully  solicit  attention  to  the 
above  Unreserved  Sale  of  Choice  and  Rare  Plants. 
Sale  at  2  p.m." 

[The  above  looks  to  us  like  an  announcement 
from  the  "Hong  Kong  Howler"!  The  first 
mentioned  Rose  among  the  standards  is  obviously 
what  less  well  informed  people  call  Frau  Karl 
Druschki !  Like  "  Worthy  Perkins,"  choice  and 
rare  !  — Ed.] 

EFFECT     OF     DROUGHT     ON    ANNUAL 
PLANTS    AND    WEEDS. 

J  EXPECT  many  readers  of  The  Garden  will 
have  noticed  the  remarkable  behaviour  of 
seedlings  during  the  past  year.  I  sowed  my  annual 
flower  seeds  in  the  ground  at  the  proper  time  and 
transplanted  out  the  seedlings  brought  on  in 
boxes ;  they  rushed  up.  flowered  and  died  or 
dwindled  during  the  drought.  Last  autumn  all  the 
self-sown  seedlings  that  I  hoped  to  have  seen  in 
the  spring  rose  up  in  great  quantities,  thicker 
than  I  generallv  get.  Some  Sutton's  Giant  Candy- 
tuft and  annual  Chrysanthemums  formed  buds, 
but  were  cut  down  by  the  frost  after  Christmas. 
The  Night-scented  Stocks,  Matthiola  bicornis,  are 
in  thick  array,  and  Limnanthes  Douglasii  is  like 
verdant  grass  in  spite  of  frost  and  snow.  What 
is  most  astonishing  to  me,  however,  is  to  find 
several  plants  of  lonopsidium  in  flower.  I  came 
across  them  the  other  day  while  weeding  a  part  of 
the  rockery.  I  sowed  some  seeds  three  years  ago ; 
they  never  came  up.  I  had  them  one  year  and  was 
so  charmed  with  them  because  they  flowered  on 
quite  happily  through  deep  snow  and  thick  frost,  but 
they  did  not  self-sow,  so  I  bought  more  seed  and  was 
very  disappointed  at  the  result,  and  here  they  are 
now  flourishing.  My  other  surprise  is  the  great 
quantity  of  weeds  that  suddenly  appeared.  This 
garden  was  in  a  very  neglected  state  when  we 
came,  the  chief  enemies  being  Sow  Thistle,  Sonchus 
oleraceus  ;  Chickweed,  SteUaria  media;  and  Bind- 
weed, Convolvulus  arvensis — the  last  two  still  have 
"pride  of  place,"  though  in  a  much  less  degree. 
During  the  glorious  summer  no  weeds  appeared  and 
I  thought  how  simple  the  autumn  work  would  be. 
At  the  beginning  of  the  autumn  I  noticed  masses  of 
tender  seedlings  appearing  in  the  herbaceous 
border.  I  carefully  left  them  undisturbed  to  see 
what  they  would  turn  out  to  be  ;  I  had  not  to  wait 
long,  for  I  soon  recognised  they  were  thick  carpets 
of  Shepherd's  Purse,  CapseUa  Bursa-pastoris ;  the 
seed  has  been  lying  dormant  over  five  years,  as 
it  is  not  one  of  the  weeds  I  have  had  severe  struggles 
with,  only  an  occasional  one  appearing  here  and 
there  and  soon  pulled  up.  Red  Dead  Nettle, 
Lamium  purpureum,  also  has  sprung  up  in  all  parts 
of  the  garden.  I  have  put  a  glass  shade  over  some 
of  the  Matthiola  seedlings,  hoping  to  keep  them 
alive  till  spring,  but  in  this  Fen  garden,  unless  it 
is  an  exceptionally  mild  winter,  such  things  do  not 
live.  It  will  be  a  great  joy  if  they  survive  ;  not  so 
long  to  wait  for  their  flowering.  I  like  to  have  at 
intervals  down  my  border  Eschscholtzias  and 
Matthiola  together  ;  the  former  is  lovely  during  the 
day,  hiding  the  dead-like  appearance  of  the  latter, 
and  it  is  a  joy  on  a  warm  moonlight  night  to  stroll 
up  and  down,  inhaling  the  sweet  scent  that  is 
wafted  on  the  dewy  air. — A.  Chadwick  Thompson. 

THE  LITTLE  GARDENS   AT   RHEIMS. 

CINCE  writing  last  I  have  received  for 
the  "Little  Gardens  of  Rheims "  :  Miriam 
Marston,  2S.  6d.  ;  Anonymous  (Tewkesbury), 
seeds.  I  should  like  the  kind  donors  of  money 
to  know  that  I  intend  spending  it  at  a  poor  and 
courageous  florist's  in  Rheims.  He  has  built  a 
hut  to  serve  for  a  shop  and  a  dwelling-place 
instead  of  those  which  were  destroyed  by  shot 
and  shell  during  the  four  years  of  bombardment. 
He    and    his    wife    are    recultivating    their   land. 


THE     GARDEN. 

wliich  was,  of  course,  totally  neglected  during  the 
war,  and  are  struggling  to  reconstruct  their 
business.  They  are  such  brave,  hard-working 
people  and  generous,  too,  for  they  have  given 
me  gifts  for  their  poorer  fellow  citizens  !  So  the 
money  will  serve  twice  over.  I  wonder  if  there 
is  anyone  among  yoiu:  readers  who,  for  the  sake 
of  doing  a  good  work,  would  come  and  help 
me  distribute  and  divide  the  seed  packets  during 
the  next  two  or  three  months  or  part  of  that 
time.  If  so,  such  an  one  would  have  to  pay  his 
or  her  own  expenses  and  would,  of  course,  be 
unpaid,  but  the  work  is  interesting  and  is  pro- 
Entente.  One  comes  into  personal  contact  with 
these  people,  and  none  of  them  are  hostile  to  the 
British  !  On  the  contrary,  they  feel  grateful 
and  friendly  towards  them.  I  am  single-handed 
and  there  is  so  much  to  be  done  in  visiting  and 
advising  the  owners  of  the 
jardinets  and  in  working 
the  garden  of  the  Foyer 
Feminin.  I  am  so  grateful 
to  you  Mr.  Editor  for  your 
great  help.  You  would 
be  repaid  if  you  would 
come  to  Rheims  in  the 
summer  and  see  the  little 
gardens  of  the  barrack 
village  s. — V  i  c  t  o  r  i  a 
Slade,  Foyer  Fiminin, 
Rheims. 

MY  LITTLE  FORMAL 
GARDEN. 

■^HEN  my  "little  formal 
garden "  was  being 
planned  last  year  (a  very 
long  way)  "  after  Grave- 
tye,"  I  asked  for  sugges- 
tions improving  on  my 
simple  plan.  A  kind 
reader  helped  me  by 
advising  the  15ft.  square 
centre  grass  plot  should 
be  sunk,  and  hoped  to 
"  hear  further  news  of  it 
later  on."  So  I  now 
venture  to  write  of  further 
grand  alterations  and  im- 
provements. Four  arclies 
are  being  set  up  over  the 
four  paths  where  they 
enter  the  grass  plot,  and 
there  are  now  twelve 
little  Lane's  Prince  Albert 
Apple  bushes  (most  lovely 
of  all  Apple  blossoms)  and 
six  Louise  Bonne  Pears, 
the  most  beautiful,  per- 
haps, in  blossom,  fruit 
and  autum.n  foliage  of  all 
Pears.  These  in  com- 
bination with  the  May-flowering  Tulips  form 
the  fairest  picture  of  all  the  year — in  May.  The 
grass  plot  was  not  dug  low  enough  to  please  me, 
so  is  now  being  carried  down  some  2ft.  to  "  rock 
bottom"  literally.  (Let  not  Mr.  Clarence  Elliott 
read  this  !)  It  is  to  have  a  layer  of  good  soil  and 
be  sown  with  fine  Fescue-grass  by  the  advice  of 
Mr.  McDonald  of  Harpenden.  All  sorts  of  choice 
small  bulbs  will  be  planted  in  this  next  autumn. 
Now  comes  the  feature.  In  the  centre  of  the 
grass  plot  (and  consequently  of  the  whole  garden) 
a  little  pond  is  being  hollowed  out  of  the  rock 
and  lined  with  Portland  cement.  This  pond 
measures  3ft.  by  i8ins..  and  is  6ins.  deep  (to  serve 
as  a  bird  bath).  Concerning  this  pond  I  am 
undergoing  showers  of  "  chaff."  Fears  are  freely 
expressed  that  I  shall  fall  in  and  be  drowned. 
Mrs.    "  Busybee "    says   she    thinks   of   buying   a 


[February  i8,  1922. 

broody  hen  and  a  sitting  of  duck's  eggs.  Other 
suggestions  are  made  that  I  mean  to  go  paddling 
in  it  or  fishing  for  minnows,  but  methinks  Hortensia 
would  anticipate  me  in  this  last.  I  do  not  think 
I  have  introduced  Hortensia  to  ray  Garden 
friends.  She  is  a  "  common  or  garden  "  English 
tabby  kitten,  but  her  mother  was  guaranteed  to 
be  a  "  super-mouser."  Hortensia  fortunately 
proves  to  have  inherited  this  quality,  for  Chaffinch 
Cottage  is  built  on  titheland  and  the  garden  is 
overrun  with  (presumably)  "  poor  church  mice." 
— -Anne  Amateur. 

EXTRAORDINARY      SECTION      TO      AX 
APPLE   TREE    TRUNK. 

TN  cutting  down  an  old  Apple  tree  and  sawing 
it    up    for    firewood    we    found    the    enclosed 
plant-like  design  in  the  centre  of  the  trunk.     Th 


CURIOUS  PATTERNING  OF  THE  CORE  IN  AN  OLD  APPLE  TREE. 


photograph,  although  good,  hardly  does  it  justice, 
the  leaf-like  shape  and  outline  of  the  "leaves" 
in  the  centre  having,  in  fact,  a  much  more  natural 
appearance.  Possibly  some  of  your  readers  may 
be  interested  and  can  tell  me  why  the  design  has 
taken  this  peculiar  and  interesting  natural  shape. 
— -Arthur  Trower. 

THE    BUSH    APPLE    TREE. 

T  AM  sure  all  interested  in  the  pruning  and 
training  of  Apple  trees  must  feel  indebted 
to  Mr.  Pearson  and  Mr.  Thomas  for  the  very 
practical  manner  in  which  they  have  expounded 
their  different  views  in  recent  issues  of  The 
Garden.  Their  different  views  on  pruning  may 
both  be  right  as  far  as  they  go,  but  each  talks 
of  his  own  particular  style  of  tree.  Many  people 
admire  what  Mr.  Thomas  calls  the  cordon-trained 


February  i8,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


85 


bush,  but  not  all  varieties  are  suitable  for  this 
system  ;  many  never  get  so  rigid  as  lie  maintains 
they  do.  Stakes  must  be  employed  or  some  of  the 
branches  be  tied  to  stronger  ones  in  some  cases 
if  the  trees  are  carrying  a  heavy  crop.  There  is  no 
doubt,  however,  that  the  system  he  so  well 
advocates  has  been  practised  with  success  by  the 
gardeners  of  other  days,  and  I  have  long  been 
of  the  opinion  that  these  old  gardeners  knew  more 
about  the  best  methods  of  Apple  culture  than  do 
most  of  those  of  the  present  generation.  The 
point,  however,  which  I  wished  to  make  was  that 
the  natural  habit  of  the  particular  variety  is  the 
main  thing  to  be  studied.  I  do  not  think  Mr. 
Thomas  would  try  to  grow  a  cordon-trained  bush 
of,  say,  Ecklinvill'.  ;  this  variety  makes  a  beautiful 
pyramid,  and  as  such  it  should  be  grown. 
Bramley's  Seedling.  M^re  de  Menage  and  others  of  a 
straggling  habit  would  not  be  suitable  for  cordon- 
trained  bush  trees.  Some  varieties,  again,  will  not 
tolerate  severe  pruning — Gladstone,  for  example. 
It  seems  to  me  that  no  hard  and  fast  rule  can  be 
laid  down.  I  know  that  some  growers  would 
agree  with  what  Mr.  Pearson  says  :  "  I  have  long 
ago  come  to  the  conclusion  that  of  all  the  evils 
which  fruit-growers  suffer  from,  close  pruning  is  the 
most  disastrous."  I  do  not  agree  with  him  in 
every  case.  Certain  varieties  will  stand  close 
pruning,  others  will  not ;  they  cannot  all  be  treated 
alike.  Had  Mr.  Pearson  given  a  list  of  those 
kinds  which,  grown  as  p\Tamids,  gave  the  best 
results,  and  Mr.  Thomas  done  the  same  with  those 
%vhich  in  his  opinion  did  best  as  cordon-trained 
bush  trees,  I  think  their  contributions  would 
have  been  of  even  more  value   than    they   are.- — 

P.   McCOWAN. 

A    FLORA     OF    THE    PYRENEES. 

T  NOTICED  an  enquiry  a  Uttle  while  ago  in  your 
paper  for  a  good  book  on  the  flora  of  the 
Pyrenees.  It  may  be  of  interest  to  your  corre- 
spondent to  know  that  there  is  such  a  book  pub- 
lished in  France  which,  I  believe,  is  still  obtainable. 
It  is  "  Flore  du  Departement  des  Hautes- 
Pyrenees,"  par  L'Abbe  J.  Dulac,  published  by 
F.  Savy,  Libraire  Editeur,  rue  Hautefeuillc 
::4,   Paris.     1867. — Peter  R.   Barr. 

VEGETABLE      ILARROW     ROTHERSIDE 
OR.\NGE. 

T    REMEMBER  Mr.  Herbert  Chapman    showing 

me  some  fruit  of  this  variety  at  one  of  the 
R.H.S.  Tuesday  Shows  before  he  had  parted  with 
the  original  stock.  Unless  my  memory  has 
played  me  false,  it  was  an  almost  round  fruit 
about  the  size  of  a  croquet  ball  and  in  colour  a 
bufl-orange  self.  In  war-time  I  bought  Gourds 
because  of  their  well  known  keeping  properties, 
as  in  common  with  many  another  our  garden 
standpoint  was  then  pretty  well  reversed.  "  C.  P." 
in  tlie  Manchester  Guardian  put  the  idea  very 
well  in  true  Kipling  style  : 
"  You  must  dispossess  your  head  of  the  fallacy  that 

bread  is  not  man's  only  stay  ; 
Know  a  plant  that  isn't  eaten  is  unqualified  to 

sweeten  or  beautify  the  day  ; 
That  a  Lily  or  a  Pansy's  not  so  exquisite  a  fancy 

as  Leeks  and  Cabbages  ; 
That  Solomon  of  story  once  in  cdl  his  glory  was 

arrayed  like  one  of  these." 
Since  1918  Gourds  have  been  given  a  miss  and 
Rothcrside  Orange  Vegetable  Marrows  substituted. 
Our  experience  has  been  that  it  is  not  fixed  either 
in  colour,  shape  or  size,  which  is  unfortunate, 
as  the  flavour  of  the  true  variety  is  so  excellent. 
Shall  I  say,  as  Careless  among  Gooseberries,  so  is 
Rotherside  Orange  (green  and  orange  striped 
especially)  among  Vegetable  Marrows  ?  To  make 
a  long  story  short,  last  year  we  had  the  same 
diversities  along  with  a  bumper  crop. — J.    J. 


GARDENING    OF    THE    WEEK 


FOR    NORTHERN    GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Peas. — Choose  a  well  enricbed  portion  of  the 
early  border  for  a  first  sowing  of  Peas  in  the  open. 
Where  the  soil  is  cold  and  of  a  clayey  nature  a 
deeper  seed  drill  should  be  made  so  allowing  foi 
a  dressing  of  old  potting  soil  or  other  light  material, 
both  before  and  after  sowing.  Treated  thus, 
germination  is  more  regular  and  growth  more 
vigorous  in  every  way.  Soal-;  the  seed  in  paraffin 
for  a  short  period  before  sowing,  at  the  same  time 
giving  it  a  dusting  over  with  red  lead,  as  this 
proves  an  excellent  deterrent  to  the  ravages  of 
birds  or  mice  in  the  seed  drills.  The  Pilot,  Gradus 
and  Sutton's  Early  Giant  are  dependable  varieties, 
while  .\merican  Wonder  and  Little  Marvel  are 
varieties  that  can  be  commended  where  dwarf 
growing  sorts  are  desired. 

Parsnips. — Where  these  have  been  left  in  the 
ground  during  the  wintei,  the  crop  should  now 
be  lifted  and  stored  in  cool  quarters.  The  ground 
may  then  be  prepared  for  the  reception  of  other 
crops. 

Seakale. — It  is  also  now  advisable  to  lift  the 
remainder  of  the  crowns  intended  for  forcing. 
Place  these  closely  together  at  the  foot  of  a  north 
wall  or  pack  in  sand  in  the  frame  ground  until 
required.  Lay  aside  roots  suitable  for  propagating 
and  have  them  prepared  during  inclement  weather. 
Tie  the  thongs  into  suitable  sized  bundles,  placing 
them  on  end  in  boxes  and  cover  over  with  2ins,  or 
3ins.  of  soil  imtil  planting  time  arrives. 

Leeks. — Where  roots  of  these  are  desned  early 
in  the  season  sow  some  seed  in  a  box  indoors  now 
and  treat  in  a  f  imilar  manner  to  that  recommended 
for  Onions  on  page  11. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Raspberries. — Tie  in  the  necessary  fruiting 
canes  and  cut  away  all  superfluous  or  weakly 
growths.  Stir  the  surface  soil  lightly  with  a  fork 
and  give  a  generous  mulch  of  farmyard  manure. 
Newly  planted  canes  should  be  cut  back  to  within 
fiins.  of  the  ground  and  in  this  way  encourage  the 
production  of  strong  canes  for  next  season's 
fruiting. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Early  Vineries. — In  houses  started  some  time 
ago  growth  will  be  active  and  disbudding  will  now 
require  attention.  Considerable  care  must  also  be 
accorded  the  Vines  in  regard  to  atmospheric  con- 
ditions, as  with  lengthening  days  the  sun  becomes 
more  powerful.  Should  the  weather  prove  mild,  a 
night  temperature  of  60°  may  be  maintained,  but 
should  it  be  cold  it  may  well  drop  3°  or  4"  in 
preference  to  hard  firing.  Care  should  be  taken  not 
to  over-charge  the  atmosphere  with  moisture 
should  dull  or  foggy  weather  prevail. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

East  Lothian  Stocks. — Seed  of  these  should  be 
sown  now  and  the  resultant  plants  will  be  found 
to  flower  profusely  during  the  autumn  months. 
Sow  in  boxes  of  light  porous  soil  and  place  in  mild 
heat.  Immediately  the  seedlings  show  through  the 
soil  place  them  in  a  light,  airy  position,  so  that 
dwarf  and  sturdy  growth  may  be  obtained.  When 
large  enough  to  handle  prick  out  into  frames  or 
boxes  and  keep  as  near  to  the  glass  as  possible. 

Sweet  Peas. — ^To  save  disappointments  and  in 
many  cases  failures,  it  is  well  to  germinate  the 
seed  under  glass  and  plant  out  during  .\pril.  Sow 
now  in  pots  or  narrow  boxes  and  start  in  a  cool 
greenhouse  or  frame.  Do  not  at  any  time  allow 
the  seedlings  to  become  drawn  or  weakly.  Water 
sparingly  until  the  plants  are  well  advanced  and 
allow  abimdant  ventilation  during  fine  weather. 
The  novice  may  well  be  embarrassed  in  making 
a  selection  from  the  many  varieties  now  cata- 
logued. If  for  ordinary  purposes  it  is  just  as  well 
to  rely  on  the  tried  and  tested  varieties  of  former 
years,  as  it  is  impossible  in  many  gardens  to  give 
the  ever  increasing  list  of  novelties  a  trial.  If  in 
doubt,  state  the  colours  desired  and  leave  to  the 
discretion  of  any  reputable  seedsman,  who  will 
readily  help  in  this  respect. 

Jasminum  nudiflorum. — Prune  this  delightful 
plant  immediately  its  flowering  season  is  over. 
Neglect  in  this  respect  readily  causes  accumulations 
of  weak  and  unripened  growth.  In  cutting  out  the 
older  growth  the  new  shoots  are  allowed  proper 
development  for  flowering  the  following  season. 

Hybrid  Foxgloves. — Where  young  stock  of  these 
plants  has  been  raised  with  a  view  to  transplanting 
in  the  shrubbery,  the  work  should  be  carried 
through  as  soon  as  possible.    When  planting  in  the 


wild  garden  or  on  the  margin  of  ponds  the  groups 
should  be  formed  in  irregular  fashion,  guarding 
against  anything  pertaining  to  formal  arrange- 
ment. 

James  McGran. 
(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.) 
Coodham,  Kilmarnock.  X.B. 


FOR     SOUTHERN    GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Potatoes  in  Frames. — Where  it  is  convenient 
for  a  number  of  frames  to  be  given  up  to  early 
Potatoes  a  start  should  be  made  as  soon  as  possible. 
Bottom-heat,  such  as  produced  by  a  bed  of  leaves 
and  strawy  litter,  will  prove  of  inunense  advantage 
in  enabling  the  plants  to  make  a  good  start. 
Should  a  hot-water  pipe  run  through  the  frames 
it  will  not  be  so  necessary  to  provide  the  bed 
of  leaves,  etc.  Let  the  soil  have  a  liberal  amount 
of  nice  flaky  leaf-mould  in  its  composition.  For 
this  early  supply,  the  tubers  reed  only  be  about 
loins,  or  i2ins.  from  each  other  and  the  rows 
about  ijins.  or  iShis.  apart.  All  sets  should  be 
nicely  spiouted  before  being  planted. 

Sprouting  Potatoes. — For  early  work  out  of 
doors  this  should  be  done  at  once  if  not  already 
seen  to,  by  placing  the  tubers  on  end  in  shallow 
trays  or  boxes  and  standing  the  latter  on  staging 
or  shelves  in  a  light,  airy  position  safe  from  frost 

French  Beans. — From  now  onwards  this 
greatly  prized  early  vegetable  may  be  produced 
in  a  fairly  satisfactory  manner  even  though 
artificial  heating  is  at  a  minimum,  provided  a 
good  hot-bed  of  leaves  and  litter  can  be  made 
up.  When  the  bed  is  ready  place  gins,  to  i2ins. 
of  good  soil  on  it,  and  by  the  time  the  heat  begins 
to  decline  have  a  batch  of  plants  ready  to  put  out ; 
or  seed  may  be  sown  in  rows  on  the  bed  itself. 
Choose  one  of  the  recognised  early  varieties  for 
this  sowing. 

Celery. — To  provide  an  early  supply  a  pinch 
of  seed  should  be  sown  now  in  a  box  of  light  soil 
and  placed  in  a  warm  pit.  When  the  young 
plants  are  large  enough  to  handle  prick  out  into 
boxes  01,  better  still,  on  a  declining  hot- bed. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Shrubberies. — The  necessary  pruning  and  thin- 
ning out  in  these  quarters  having  been  finished, 
the  ground  should  be  dug  over.  Do  not  dig  deeply 
and  thus  injure  roots,  but  do  so  sufficiently  to 
bury  aU  the  decaying  leaves  which  have  accumu- 
lated. The  burying  of  these  leaves  is  often  of 
immense  benefit  to  the  root?  of  the  plants,  and  it 
is  quite  a  v\Tong  practice  to  collect  and  remove 
them,  imless  there  is  a  particularly  sound  reason 
for  doing  so. 

Spiraeas.^ — -For  the  margins  of  water  or  for 
almost  any  damp  part  of  the  grormds  or  woodland 
diives  these  plants  are  adnrirable,  and  planting 
can  be  carried  out  for  several  weeks  yet.  There 
is  a  wide  choice  to  make  a  selection  from,  and  the 
flowering  period  is  from  spring  until  the  autunm. 
A  few  worthy  of  note  are  S.  Anthony  Waterer, 
S.  .Aruncus,  S.  arisfolia,  S.  canescens,  S.  canton- 
ensis,  S.  Douglasi,  S.  Filipendula  and  S.  tomentosa. 
Should  any  pruning  be  necessary  the  early- 
flowering  varieties  could  be  done  when  flowering 
is  over,  and  the  later  ones  before  growth  recom- 
mences in  early  spring.  To  obtain  the  best  effect 
Spira?as  require  to  be  boldly  massed,  and  they 
rarely  look  happy  mixed  up  with  other  shrubs. 

Border  Carnations. — Where  these  were  potted 
up  and  wintered  in  cold  frames  the  transferring 
of  them  to  the  boiders  can  be  carried  out  now, 
providing  weather  and  soil  conditions  are  suitable. 
Their  lateness  of  flowering  is  a  great  drawback 
when  early  summer  displays  are  required,  so  a 
groundwork  of  an  earlier  flowering  plant,  such 
as  Violas,  should  be  arranged  for. 

Antirrhinums  sown  in  the  autumn  and  growing 
in  cold  frames  in  a  few  inches  of  soil  must  be 
finally  hardened,  ready  for  removal  to  their 
flowering  positions  as  soon  as  possible.  These 
plants  will  provide  a  fine  early  display,  to  be 
carried  on  by  their  January  and  February  sown 
colleagues. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Peaches  and  Nectarines.- — When  these  trees 
begin  to  open  their  flowers  a  drier  and  more 
buoyant  atmosphere  should  be  maintained  as 
an  aid  in  obtaming  a  more  satisfactory  setting 
of  fruit.  Keep  the  lot- water  pipes  nicely  warm, 
and  whenever  the  weather  is  mild  and  genial, 
admit   a   goodly   amount   of  air   by   the   top   and 


86 


THE     GARDEN. 


[February  i8,  1922. 


bottom  ventilators,  but  watch  the  latter  very 
carefully  when  cold  winds  are  blowing.  At  this 
early  season  of  the  vcar  bees  and  other  insects 
are  not  very  free  on  the  wing,  so  fertilisation 
should  be  assisted  by  lightly  dressing  the  blooms 
with  a  camel-hail  brush  or  rabbit's  tail.  This 
operation  should  be  carried  out  towards  midday, 
and  a  further  slight  assistance  may  be  given 
towards  the  obtaining  of  a  good  set  by  smartly 
tapping  the  trellis  and  the  tree's  main  branches. 
Recommence  the  syringing  of  the  trees  as  soon 
as  a  crop  is  assured,  and  watch  carefully  for  any 
sign  of  green  flv,  which,  if  it  doeb  put  in  an  appear- 
ance, should  be  at  orce  checked  by  a  light 
fumigation.  Should  there  be  any  suspicion  of 
dryness  at  the  roots,  whether  gi  owing  in  pots 
or  borders,  give  a  good  watering  with  luke-warm 
water. 

H.  Turner 

(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 
Albury  Park  Gardens,  Guild/ord. 


CONSERVATORY   AND    GREENHOUSE. 

Luculia  gratiSSima. — This  beautiful  greenhouse 
shrub  is  not  so  generally  cultivated  as  it  deserves 
to  be.  Probably  this  is  due  to  the  fact  that  it  is 
by  no  means  easy  to  propagate.  With  its  great 
trusses  of  deliciously  scented,  rose-coloured  flowers, 
it  is  one  of  the  choicest  plants  for  a  cool  greenhouse. 
It  is  best  planted  in  a  bed  or  border,  for  it  is  one 
of  those  plants  which  is  seldom  happy  for  any 
length  of  time  under  pot  cultivation.  Luculia 
gratissima  usually  flowers  during  late  autumn  or 
winter,  and  after  floweiing  it  should  be  kept  on  the 
dry  side  at  the  roots  until  spring,  when  it  should 
be  pruned  hard  back,  as  it  produces  its  flowers  on 
the  current  year's  growth.  A  native  of  the 
Himalayas,  this  plant  is  readily  raised  from  seeds. 
The  young  plants  usually  take  three  years  before 
they  "flower,  seedling  plants  proving  rather  variable 
in  quality.  Thus  good  forms  must  be  propagated 
by  means  of  cuttings.  This  is  best  done  by  means 
of  young  growths  some  sins,  oi  4ins.  in  length, 
which  should  be  put  singly  into  small  pots  and 
placed  in  a  propagating  case  with  some  bottom 
heat  at  command.  It  is  most  important  not  to 
allow  the  cuttings  to  flag,  it  even  helps  if  the 
leaves  are  supported  and  kept  in  an  upright  position. 
I  have  rooted  it  successfully  on  several  occasions 
by  means  of  intemodal  cuttings,  a  method  which 
I  would  advise  all  cultivators  to  try  when  they  fail 
with  the  usual  nodal  cuttings.  Intemodal  cuttings 
are  cuttings  taken  between  the  nodes,  not  at  a 
joint.  Clematis  may  be  given  as  an  example, 
while  all  the  Acanthacea;  root  very  readily  from 
such  cuttings.  One  frequently  finds  it  stated  that 
Luculia  is  easily  propagated  by  means  of  cuttings 
— -a  sure  proof  that  that  particiilar  writer  has  never 
done  so.  Luculia  Pinccana  has  white  flowers,  but 
this  species  is  at  present  rare  in  cultivation. 

The  advice  to  plant  out  Luculia  leads  me  to 
suggest  that  many  conservatories  under  present 
circumstances  might  have  at  least  a  portion  of 
their  area  planted  out  with  interesting  shrubs,  as 
most  of  them  do  much  better  and  are  less  trouble 
planted  out  than  when  grown  in  pots.  Where 
it  is  proposed  to  follow  this  method  of  cultivation, 
existing  beds  or  borders  used  for  standing  plants 
on  should  be  cleared  out  to  a  depth  of  2jft.  to  3ft., 
as  ample  drainage  is  always  essential  in  such  beds 
or  borders  indoors.  If  the  soil  is  2ft.  in  depth  it  is 
ample  for  most  plants,  and  less  may  be  used  for  some. 
The  soil  used  should  not  be  too  heavy,  but  should 
have  plenty  of  coarse  sand  or  other  gritty  material 
mixed  with  it,  and  thus  ensure  free  drainage,  for 
in  this  connexion  we  must  bear  in  mind  that 
such  borders  indoors  do  not  get  aerated  to  the 
same  extent  as  soil  in  the  open  air.  Thus  with 
frequent  watering  one  must  guard  against  the  soil 
becoming  soiur.  Sites  for  peat-loving  plants  can, 
of  course,  be  specially  prepared.  All  shrubby 
plants  should  be  planted  very  firmly  and, if  plants 
of  any  size  are  put  out,  the  soil  underneath  them 
should  be  made  very  firm,  in  fact  they  are  best 
planted  on  the  top  of  hard  draining  material ;  if 
this  is  not  done  they  are  apt  gradually  to  sink  down 
until  their  stems  become  covered  with  several 
inches  of  soU,  and  this  generally  results  in  their 
death.  There  are  no  lack  of  suitable  plants  that 
may  be  used  for  this  purpose.  With  the  intro- 
duction of  many  beautiful  single  Camellias,  this 
old-time  favourite  seems  to  be  coming  into  favour 
again.  C.  japonica  var.  grandiflora.  Lady  Clare, 
magnolieeflora,  Kimberley,  a  glowing  red  with  a 
central  boss  of  golden  stamens,  makes  a  beautiful 
table  decoration  if  the  flowers  are  floated  in  a 
shallow  bowl.  Among  greenhouse  Rhododendrons 
alone  there  is  ample  choice,  the  sweet-scented 
Edgeworthii  hybrids  being  very  popular.  Lady 
Alice  Fitzwilliam  being  one  of  the  best  of  them  ; 


also  R.  Forsterianum,  R.  Veitchianum,  R.  ciliicalyx 
and  R.  formosum,  and  many  others.  The  beautiful 
Japanese  hybrids  are  generally  supposed  to  require 
a  fairly  high  temperature,  but  I  find  they  do  per- 
fectly well  plarted  out  in  an  ordinary  conservatory, 
where  the  temperature  in  winter  is  often  down  to 
45°  during  the  night.  Chorizemas,  Pimeleas, 
Daphne  odora,  many  of  the  smaller  growing  Acacias, 
in  fact  all  the  smaller  growing  Australian  and  New 
Zealand  shrubs  may  be  expected  to  succeed  when 
planted  out.  The  few  plants  mentioned  will  serve 
to  indicate  the  wide  range  of  plants  that  may  be 
used  The  gardener  will  soon  find  plenty  of 
plants  to  experiment  with. 

Cannas  are  very  useful  plants  for  furnishing 
the  conservatory  during  the  summer  months;  if 
grown  in  large  pots  and  kept  well  fed  they  generally 
do  good  service  until  Chrysanthemums  come  along. 
If  large  specimens  are  required  I2in.  pots  should  be 
used,  putting  several  good  rhizomes  in  each  pot. 
They  should  receive  very  little  water  until  they 
have  made  some  roots  and  commenced  to  grow. 

J.     COUTTS, 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kew. 


Awards  to  Vegetables   on 
Trial   at  Wisley,   1921 

The  following  awards  have  been  made  by  the 
Council  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  after 
trials  at  Wisley. 

BROccni.i. 

Awards  of  Merit. — Early  Angers,  sent  by 
Messrs.  Nutting;  Early  Feltham,  Messrs.  Watkins 
and  Simpson,  and  Barr  ;  Spring  White,  Messrs. 
Sydenham ;  Snow  White,  Messrs.  Sutton ; 
Leamington,  Messrs.  Carter,  Barr  and  Cooper 
Taber  ;  Champion,  Messrs.  Barr.  Nutting  ;  .April, 
Messrs.  Finney  ;  Evesham  Giant.  Messrs.  Watkins 
and  Simpson ;  Eastertide,  Messrs.  Sutton ; 
Reading  Giant,  Messrs,  Sutton  ;  White  Emperor, 
Messrs.  Barr  ;  Alexandra,  Messrs.  Scarlet ;  Edin- 
burgh Market  Late,  Messrs.  Scarlett ;  Eclipse 
(Cattell's),  Messrs.  Cooper  Taber;  Swan,  Mr. 
Clucas ;  Late  Queen  re-selected,  Messrs.  Carter ; 
White  Mammoth.  Messrs.  Barr ;  Edmonton. 
Messrs.  Watkins  and  Simpson ;  June,  Messrs. 
Clucas,   Finney,  and  Nutting. 

Highly  Commended. — Late  Feltham,  sent  by 
Messrs.  Watkins  and  Simpson,  and  Barr  ;  Victory, 
Messrs.  H.  Hill ;  Model,  Messrs.  Dawkins  ;  Tender 
and  True,  Messrs.  Woodward ;  Satisfaction, 
Messrs  Sutton  ;  Lathom  Late,  Messrs.  Artingstal!  ; 
Longstander.  Messrs.  Barr  ;  May,  Messrs.  Nutting  ; 
Latest  of  All,  Messrs.  Sutton. 

Commended. — Mid  Feltham,  sent  by  Messrs. 
Watkins    and   Simpson. 

Cauliflower. 

Awards  oi  Merit. — Feltham  Forcing,  sent  by 
Messrs.  Watkins  and  Simpson  ;  Improved  Large 
Erfurt,  Messrs.  Sutton ;  Early  Dwarf  Erfurt, 
Messrs.  Nutting ;  Early  Emperor  re-selected, 
Messrs.  Carter  ;  Early  Favourite,  Messrs.  Barr  ; 
Early  Dwarf  Midsummer,  Messrs.  Barr  ;  St.  Omer. 
Messrs.  Davidson ;  Magnum  Bonum,  Messrs. 
Sutton ;  Purity,  Messrs.  Sutton ;  .All  the  Year 
Round,  Messrs.  Simpson,  and  Sutton  ;  Empress, 
Messrs.  Dicks ;  Incomparable.  Messrs.  Barr ; 
Autumn  Giant,  Messrs.  Dobbie. 

Highly  Commended. — Forerunner,  sent  by  Messrs. 
Carter  ;  Early  Dwarf  Best  of  All,  Messrs.  Barr  ; 
Snow  White,  Messrs.  Clucas  ;  Enkhuizen  Market, 
.Messrs.  Barr ;  Snowdon,  Messrs.  Dawkins,  Clucas  ; 
.Autumn  Queen,  Messrs.  Barr  ;  Summer  Favourite, 
Messrs.  Speed ;  Snowman,  Messrs.  Toogood  : 
Walcheren,  Messrs.  Cooper  Taber,  and  Dobbie  ; 
Late  Giant,  Messrs  .Dawkins  :  Metropole,  Messrs. 
Kelway. 

Commended. — EcUpse,  sent  by  Messrs.  Barr. 
Nutting,  Kelway  ;  Johnson's  Market,  Messrs. 
Barr. 


Celery. 

Awards  of  Merit. — Golden  Self  Blanching,  sent 
by  Messrs.  J.  B.  Rice;  White  Plume,  Messrs. 
Barr;    Early  Rose,  Messrs.  R.  Veitch. 

Highly  Commended.— Vans  Golden  Yellow,  sent 
by  Messrs.  Barr ;  Dwarf  White,  Mr.  Clucas ; 
Dawn,  Messrs.  Carter ;  Paris  Rose,  Messrs.  Barr  ; 
Easy  Blanching,  Messrs.  J.  B.  Rice;  Defiance, 
(Bibby's),  Messrs.  R.  Veitch,  and  Watkins  and 
Simpson  ;  Hawlmark  White,  Messrs.  A.  Dickson  ; 
Favourite  Pink,  Messrs.  Dobbie ;  Perfection, 
Messrs,  H.  Miller ;  Matchless  Pink,  Messrs.  A. 
Dickson  ;  Giant  Pink,  Messrs.  Carter  ;  Champion 
Pink.  Messrs.  F.  Dicks  ;  Standard  Bearer,  Messrs. 
Carter,  and  Watkins  and  Simpson  ;  Covent  Garden 
Red,  Messrs.  R.  Veitch,  and  Watkins  and  Simp- 
son ;   Exhibition  Pink,  Messrs.  Ryder. 

Commended. — Champion  Solid  White,  sent  by 
Mr.  A   Barr. 

Celeriac. 

Highly  Commended. — Ne  Plus  Ultra,  sent  by 
.Messrs.  R.  Wiboltt ;  Giant  Prague,  Messrs. 
Watkins  and  Simpson ;  Giant  Smooth  Prague. 
.Messrs.  Barr  ;  Large  Erfurt,  Messrs.  R.  Veitch  ; 
Celeriac,   Messrs.  Simpson. 


Tomatoe=. 

Awards  ol  Merit. — Aviator,  sent  by 
Dickson  and  Robinson ;  Kondine  Red, 
Watkins  and  Simpson,  Sydenham,  and  R. 
New  Sceptre,  Messrs,  Dawkins ;  Beatall, 
Laxton ;  Hillside  Comet,  Messrs.  R. 
Golden  Nugget,  Messrs.  Barr. 

Highly     Commended. — Victoria,     Whole 
sent    by    Messrs.    Burpee ;     .Ailsa    Craig, 
Lowe  and  Shawycr,  a  d  Rochford  ;  Orange 
Messrs.   Watkins  and  Simpson  ;    Golden 
Messrs.  Barr. 

Commended. — Water    Baby,     sent    by 
Balch. 


OBITUARY 


Messrs. 

Messrs . 
Veitch  ; 

Messrs. 
Veitch  ; 

Salad, 

Messrs. 
Sunrise, 
Sunrise. 

M.    A. 


MR.     WILLIAM     BAIN. 

The  death,  in  his  eightieth  year,  of  Mr.  William 
Bain  severs  another  link  with  the  past.  He  will 
be  mourned  by  many  with  whom,  at  one  time  or 
another,  he  came  in  contact.  Mr.  Bain  was  for 
many  years  head-gardener  to  the  late  Sir  Trevor 
and  Lady  Lawrence  at  Burford  Lodge,  Surrey. 


The  British  Carnation  Society's  Spring  Show, 
to  be  held  in  the  Royal  Horticultural  Hall, 
Westminster,  on  March  21,  judging  from  the 
comprehensive  schedule  and  attractive  prize 
list,  promises  to  be  of  especial  interest.  Lady 
Mond  is  President  of  the  Society,  and  the 
Committee,  under  the  Chairmanship  of  Mr.  J.  S. 
Brunton,  is  showing  considerable  enterprise  in 
its  efforts  to  make  the  forthcoming  show  the 
best  ever  held  under  the  Society's  auspices.  In 
addition  to  numerous  increased  money  prizes 
for  growers  and  gardeners,  valuable  challenge 
trophies  are  presented  by  Lord  Howard  de  Walden, 
Mr.  Reginald  Cory,  Mr.  George  Monro  and  others. 
There  are  special  classes  and  tempting  prizes  for 
florists,  notably  Class  51,  Decorative  Exhibit  of 
Carnations  on  table  space  15ft.  by  6ft  :  fir«t 
prize  Covent  Garden  Challenge  Trophy,  value 
£20  and  £30  cash,  second  prize  £30,  third  prize  £20. 
These  prizes  should  bring  out  London  and 
provincial  florists  as  competitors.  The  schedule, 
which  is  modelled  on  the  Society's  new  colour 
classification  of  varieties,  may  be  obtained  post 
free  from  the  Honorary  Secretary,  Mr.  F.  F. 
Bunyard,  57,   Kidderminster  Road,  Croydon. 


rHE 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


Vol.  LXXXVI.— No.  2623. 

Entered  as  Second-class  Matter  at  the  New  York.  NA'..  PostOfScc. 


Saturday,  February  25,  1922 


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MERRYWEATHER'S     ROSES 


FOR    THE    GARDEN! 
FOR    BEDS! 


FOR    EXHIBITION! 
FOR    EVERYWHERE! 

Also  Fruit  Trees,  Shrubs,  Ornamental  Trees. 
Please  state  your  wants. 

H.    MERRYWEATHER  &    SONS,  LTD. 
Garden  Specialists,  SOUTHWELL,  NOTTS. 

BEAUTIFUL  LILIES  FOR  FEBRUARY  PLANTING. 

LILIUM  AURATUM,  tlic  \Miito  Goldfn-rayfd  fr<ilti(l  Lily  of  Japan.  UarinK  large  sweetly 
-cented  fluwir-  . .  . .  . .  . .  . .       per  dozeD,  2l8. ;    each  28. 

Larger  bulbs  . .        per  dozen,  30s.  and  408.  ;    each  28.  9d.  and  38.  6cl. 

LILIUM  CROCEUM,  the  Tiue  Cottager's  Orange  Lily,  fiery  orange  flower?, 

per  dozen,  10s.  6d. ;  each  1». 
Very  large  bulbs  ..  ..  ..  ..  per  dozt  n,  168. ;    each  Is.  Gd. 

LILIUM    HANSONI,   the    Japanese    Yellow   Martagon   Lily,   bright   golden   yellow  spotted 
erimson-niaroon  . .  . .  . .  .  .  . .  per  dozen,  30s. ;    each  S&.  9d. 

LILIUM  SPECIOSUM  ALBUM,  beautiful  large-  white  flowers  of  firm  texture, 

per  dozen,  21s. ;    each  28. 
LILIUM  SPECIOSUM  RUBRUM,  suffused  and  heavily  spotted  crimson  on  white  ground 

per  dozen,  2l8. ;    each  2s. 

LILIUM  SPECIOSUM  MELPOMENE,  line  handsome  flowers,  rich  crimson,  spotted  purple. 

crimson  and  margined  white  per  dozen,  30s.  ;    each  28.  9d. 

Extra  strong  bulbs         ,.  ..  ..  ..  ..  per  dozen,  408.  ;    each  38. 6d. 

Descriptive  Catalogue  of  Lilies,  Gladioli.  Tigridias.  etc.,  free  ou  application. 

Ca  A  ^  ^   A.   G^MMC^      11,  12  &  13,  KINQ  STREET, 
^^^l^l^   OC       ^\Jl^^,     COVENT  GARDEN,  LONDON,  W.C.2. 

SOW    NOW    to    bloom    in    July    and    August. 

BLACKMORE  &  LANGDON'S 

world  renowned   BEGONIA    SEEDS   (56    Gold  Medals). 

DOUBLES, 

none    can    equal    this    for    quality,    size    and    Icvely    form    and    colcurs  per  racket 

of  flowers  216  &   5/- 

SINGLE, 
nf  wonderful   size  and  form  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...     1/-.  2/6   &  51- 

FRILLED    SINGLE, 
a   beautiful  selection  ...  -..  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...     1/-,   2/6   &   5/- 

CRESTED    SINGLE. 
very  fascinating     ...  ...  ...  ..  .  .  ...  ...     1/-,  2/6    &  5/- 

HANGING    BASKET, 
a  grand  novelty,  very  graceful    ...  ...  ...  ...    1/6.  2/6   &   5/- 

GLOXINIA 
seed,   mixed,   in   most  beautiful  selection  of  colour        ...  ...  ...     1/6,2/6   &  5,- 

For  prices  of  tiiberx  of  above  and  oilier  sptciaUiies,  urite  for  free  catalogue  and  iiicitiioit  thii  paper. 

TWERTON     HILL    NURSERIES,    BATH. 

ORCH I DS 

of  vigorous   habit  and    superior  constitution.     A  visit  to  our  Establishment 

is    cordially    invited    to    inspect    our     immense     and     interesting     STOCK 

RAISED     BY     THE 

PURE    CULTURE    SYSTEM 

Choice    Species,    Rare    Botanical    Specimens.     Albinos    in    warm    ard    ccol 
sections  also  a  speciality. 

Expert    Advice    given    and    all    Requisites    supplied     for    the    good    culture 

of    Orchids. 


H.^REWOOD     HOUSE— THE     PL.\NNED     GARDEN. 


GHARLESWORTH  &  CO., 


HAYWARDS 
HEATH. 


THE     GARDEN. 


[February  25,  1022. 


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HURST,  BERKS 

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WALTER    EASLEA    &    SONS> 
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Essex  produces  the  World's  Finest  Roses. 

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FORBES*  Catalogue. 

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Catalogue  G  post  fre; 
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CORRY   &   CO.,  Ltd. 
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LaadBoape  &  Gardi  d 
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NATURE    &    ART. 

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CARNATIONS,  &c 

For     Present     Planting. 

We  make  a  great  speciality  of  Carnations,  and  01 
stock  is  unequalled.  The  plants  are  very  stron] 
perfectly  hardy,  and  will  satisfy  the  most  fastidioi 
buyer.  The  following  Sets  are  selected  from  oi 
unsurpassed  collection  of  450  varieties,  and  contai 
the  cream  of  the  new  and  older  sorts. 

I 


MISS  EVELYN  FAWSSETT 

(Specialist  in  tiarden  Planninfi) 

83,  High  Street 
LEWES,  SUSSEX 


New  (laidciis  dc. 
signed.  Old  Gai-detu 
Re-ai-raiiyed.  Plant- 
ing plans  tor  bnrders, 
etc.  Terms  on  appli- 
cation. 


QOLD     MEDAL    CHRYSANTHEMUMSe 

Catalof^ue  free  containinft  fiill  list  of  all  the  best  and  up-to- 
date  varieties  in  all  sections,  also  list  of  Novelties  for  1922. 

QOLD   MEDAL   MICHAELMAS   DAISIES. 

1  shall  be  pleased  to  supply  for  63/-  one  each  of  the  50 
varieties  for  which  I  was  awarded  the  Gold  Medal  of  the 
R  H.S.  in  September  last,  or  will  make  special  selections 
at  10/-,  15/-  and  20/-  per  drzen. 

GOLD  MEDAL  PERENNIAL  PHLOX. 

If  yuu  want  the  best  try  H.  J.  JONES*  selection.  12  very 
tine  unnamed,  all  colours  mixed.  6/-;  12  very  fine  named 
varieties.  10/- ;  12  extra  fine  named,  15/-  ;  12  very  fine  New 
varieties,  20/-. 

Catalogue  of  the  abox'Cttnd  nuniy  other  good  t^huits  from 

H.  J.JONES,  Ryecroft  Nurseries,  LEWISHAM,$.E.13 


Carriage  Paid. 


Set     A. 

One-  dczrn  extra  fine  varieties  for  15/- 

Celestial. — A  brilliant  yelloA*  self     . . 

Elaine. — A  grand  white  ;  perfect  i>ctal  and  form 
I  Hercules. — Crimson -maroon  ;  perfect  form 
I  Innocence. — A  lovely  bhish-pink    . . 
I  Romeo. — Yellow,  sutfusod  and  marked  pink 
'  Isolde. — Raspbeiry-rcd,  very  diblinct 

Salmon  Clove. — Salmon-pink  ;  clove  scented 

Opalesce. — A  lo\ely  res  :-maddor     . . 

Lord  Tennyson. — Yellow,  distinctly  edged  rose 

Duchess  of  Wellington. — Deep  lavender  . . 

Red  Emperor. — Rosy-red,  extra  large  flowor 

Dignity. — Crushea-^trawberry  self,  lovely  . . 

Set     B. 

One   dozen   choice    varieties  for  11/-,   Carriage   Paid. 

Bookham  White. — Pure  wliite,  perfect  form 

QIamour. — dear  -jright  yello\\ 

Vanity. — Brilliant  madder  red 

Caprice.— Pink,  mottlea  red  ;  fine  form 

Contrast.^Whitu  ground,  edgea  velvety  crimson 
;  Jean  Douglas.— Ascailet  self,  dazzling  colour 
j  Queen  Alexandra. — Bufl-yeUow,  very  free 
I  Pink  Beauty. — Eieb  clear  pink,  very  \igorous 
I  Miranda. — Salmon-pink  and  lavender  grey 
I  Climax. — Buff-y.Uow  and  coppery  red 
I  John  Knox. — Dark  crimson  ;  perfect  form 

Lady  Qreenall. — Rosy-ied  shading  to  pink 

Bath's  Popular  Set  of  12  Fine  Named  Varieties  of  Carnatio 
and  Picotees.       Price  8<'6,  carriage  paid. 

BATH'S     GOLD     MEDAL 

DELPHINIUMS. 

These  plants  are  remarkably  handsome  in  ti 
border,  and  during  the  early  summer  and  autunr 
the  bold  and  stately  masses  of  brilliant  blue  ar 
purple  produce  a  striking  effect  unequalled  by  ai 
other  flower. 

One  dozen  rxtra  fine  varieties  for  21/-,  Carriage  Paid. 

La  Tendresse. — Liglit  Iduo  and  mauve 

Lorenzo  de  Medicis. — Soft  1  lue,  shaded  pink 

Novelty. —  Royal-blue,  yellow  and  black  centio 

Rev.  E.  Lascelles. — Oxford  blue  ^\ith  conspicuous  white 

.ye  :   magnificent  .  . 
Willy  O'Breen. — Punst  ultra-marine  blue 
Rozenlust. — Mau\e,  edged  Carabridge-hlue 
Resplendens. — Pale  blue,  tinted  mauve     .. 
Mrs.  Caron.^Gentian-blup,  white  centre  . . 
King   of  Delphiniums. — Genlian-blue  and  plum,  wliite 


eye 

The  Alake. — Intense  dark  blue  %\-ith  wldte  eye     . , 
Pannonia. — Brilliant     ultra-marine     blue,     wlaie 

distinct  and  beautiful.     A.M..  R.H.S.  1920      .. 
Musis  Sacrum. — Bright  ^ky-blue,  early    . . 


eye  ; 


BATH'S     GOLD     MEDAL 

PVEONIES. 

The  most  gorgeous  of  all  garden  flower 
Requires  less  cultural  attention  than  almost  ar 
other  plant.  Exceedingly  hardy,  its  vigour  ar 
beauty  increases  year  by  year. 

Set    A. 
Tw.lve 

Albert  Crousse. — Pinkish  blush  ;  very  large 
Duchess  de  Nemours. — Snow-white;  very  frei 
Mme.  de  Galhau. — Soft  jiink,  enormous  flower;- . 
Marguerite    Gerard. — Delicate    flesh,    sulphur 

"■nornnni.= 
Lady  Carrington. — Ilcsh  ;   very  large 
Marie  Lemoine.— Pure  white  ;  late  ;  extra  fine 
Mme.  Calot. — Wlite,  tipped  rose  ;  extra  . . 
Mme.  de  Vatry. — Pink,  white  centre 
Mons.  Chas.  Leveque. — A  lovely  silvery  blush  .  . 
Festiva  Maxima. — While,  tipped  blood-red 
Solfaterre.  -Beauaful  primrose-yellow 
La  Tendresse. — Flcsb,  shading  to  white    .  . 


glorious  rielily  fragrant  \arieiies  for  25/-  ,  Carriage  Pa 


Complete  Illustrated  Catalogues  post  free  on  application. 

R.     H.     BATH,    LTD., 

The     Floral     Farms,    WISBECH 


No  36.3 -VOL  Lxxxvi]     NOTES  OF  THE  WEEK 


[February  25,  1922. 


ELSEWHERE  ia  this  issue  will  be  found 
some  account  of  the  annual  general 
meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society.  The  President,  Lord  Lamboume, 
while  expressing  his  gratification  at  the 
flourishing  condition  of  the  Society,  said  that  it 
must  expect  the  ups  and  downs  incidental  to  all 
undertakings.  With  an  annual  income  from 
subscriptions  alone  of  upwards  of  £::3,ooo,  and 
with  a  balance  of  more  than  £4,000  to  the  good 
after  meeting  all  expenditure,  it  must  be  conceded 
that  the  Society  is,  financially  at  any  rate,  in  a 
sound  position.  The  R.H.S.  withstood  %vith 
unimpaired  credit  the  trials  and  difficulties 
incidental  to  a  great  European  war,  and  now 
that  the  tide  of  labour  costs  and  genera]  charges 
has  passed  the  flood,  it  should  presently  ebb 
rapidly.  It  is  not  easy,  then,  to  see  what  blows 
of  adverse  fortune  Lord  Lamboume  can  imagine 
as  impending,  unless  the  Society  lose  caste  and 
popularity  by  mismanagement  and  shortsighted- 
ness. Lest  such  misfortune  should  befall,  we 
would  earnestly  ask  Lord  Lamboume,  who  is 
justly  and  universally  esteemed  for  the  very 
arduous  work  he  has  done  for  the  Society,  seriously 
to  consider  the  following  points.  It  is,  his 
Lordship  will  have  well  in  mind,  the  on-looker 
who  sees  most  of  the  proceedings,  and  though 
some  of  the  following  remarks  are  critical,  they 
are  not  wTitten  for  the  sake 
of  criticism. 

R.H^.  Awards. —  Tbe 
Society  has  lately  made  a 
new  and,  we  think,  valuable 
departure  in  establishing  an 
award  of  garden  merit. 
Many  people  will  no  doub* 
consider  that  garden  merit 
is  precisely  what  the  award 
of  merit  and,  indeed,  the 
first-class  certificate  should 
have  honoured  from  the 
first,  but  that  is  by  the  way. 
The  new  award  is  a  worthy 
departure,  and  the  Council 
are  to  be  congratulated  upon 
establishing  it.  It  would, 
prima  facie,  appear  that 
awards  made  after  trial  at 
Wisley  are  in  reality  awards 
of  garden  merit.  Are  they 
officially  to  be  considered 
so?  The  R.H.S.  and  the 
National  Rose  Society  are 
holding  a  joint  trial  of 
Roses  at  Wisley  next  season. 
The  soil  of  Wisley  is  not 
exactly  Rose  soil,  but  its 
light  character  will  mani- 
festly   suit    some    varieties 


better  than  others.  Can  such  a  trial  be  considered 
satisfactory  ?  The  same  point  has,  of  coiu'se, 
arisen  with  many  other  trials,  notably  with  the 
recent  trial  of  Tomatoes,  for  instance.  After  all, 
trials  at  Wisley  seldom  do  more  than  indicate  the 
best  varieties  of  a  particular  race  of  plants  for 
light  soils ;  yet  on  the  results  of  these  trials — on 
these  results  alone — the  Society  bestows  or  with- 
holds its  awards. 

Plant  Breeding.— The  Council  might  well  at 
the  same  time  consider  whether  they  are  doing 
all  that  might  be  done  to  further  British  horti- 
culture. They  have  spent,  and  have  still  to  spend, 
a  very  large  sum  of  money  on  the  compilation 
and  publication  of  a  new  edition  of  Pritzel's  Index, 
which  is  certainly  of  more  botanical  than  horti- 
cultural interest.  There  are  many  gardening 
enthusiasts  who  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  the 
money  would  be  much  better  spent  in  systematic 
plant- breeding  experiments  carried  out  at  Wisley. 
Much  public-spirited  work  has  been  carried  out 
on  these  lines  by  private  enterprise,  but,  as  a 
rule,  experiments  are  not  carried  to  their  logical 
conclusion,  either  because  of  want  of  money  or 
on  account  of  shortage  of  space.  This  surely  is 
one  of  the  objects  to  which  the  Fellows'  guineas 
might   profitably  be   devoted  ? 

A  Close  Preserve?— It  is  only  right  that  the 
Council   should   know   that    there   is   considerable 


DELIGHTFUL     FOR    THE    SMALL    SHRUBBERY    ARE    ALL    FORMS    OF 

PHILADELPHUS    LEMOINEI. 


and  widespread  dissatisfaction  with  the  majority 
of  the  recent  awards  of  the  Victoria  Medal  of 
Honour.  It  is  not  disputed  that  all  recent  recipients 
of  this  distinction  have  rendered  service,  even 
valuable  service,  to  horticulture,  but  it  is  more 
than  open  to  question  whether  some  of  them  are, 
in  fact,  as  they  certainly  should  be,  those  who, 
not  already  possessing  the  distinction,  have 
done  most  for  horticulture.  Service  to  horti- 
culture can  be  rendered  in  many  ways.  It  may 
well  be  rendered  by  a  journalist !  The  Council,  it 
will  be  granted,  has,  for  this  reason,  done  well  to 
honour  Mr.  John  Eraser.  It  may  be  rendered  by 
the  painstaking  scientist,  as  worthily  represented 
on  the  list  by  Dr.  William  Bateson,  or  by  the 
intrepid  and  equally  painstaking  collector,  a 
class  which  seems,  of  late,  to  have  been  neglected 
by  the  Council.  There  are,  of  course,  gardeners 
whose  all  -  round  excellence  entitles  them  to 
distinction  Beyond  all  these,  however,  are 
the  men  who  by  skUful  but  laborious  endeavour 
have  given  to  our  gardens  whole  races  of  plants. 
The  late  James  Douglas  held  this  honour,  but 
why,  it  may  well  be  asked,  award  the  V..M.H.  to 
men  of  whom,  whatever  their  abilities,  few 
gardeners  have  even  heard ;  while  of  such  as 
C.  H.  Herbert,  who  has  given  us  a  new  con- 
ception of  the  Border  Pink,  the  brothers  Allwood, 
who  have  also  done  wonders  for  Pink  and 
Carnation,  and  the  giants, 
whose  names  are  hourehold 
words,  who  have  revolution- 
ised the  Bearded  Irises,  none 
possesses  the  coveted  dis- 
tinction ?  The  reason  is  not, 
in  fact,  far  to  seek.  There 
is  a  great  and  increasing 
tendency — -an  urdntentional 
one,  no  doubt — for.  the 
Council  to  legislate  not  for 
the  benefit  of  the  great 
majority  of  the  Fellows — ■ 
not  for  the  advantage  of 
British  horticulture  as  a 
whole- — -but  for  the  rela- 
tively small  clique  who  run 
the  machine.  Work  for 
the  R.  H.  S.  should  not 
be  a  necessary  antece- 
dent to  the  award  of  the 
V.M.H.  The  promotion  of 
horticulture,  not  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society, 
should  surely  be  the  "  acid 
test."  We  know  that  it  is 
written  :  "  They  also  serve 
who  only  stand  in  waiting." 
Does  the  Council  by  any  ' 
THE  FRAGRANT  chance  think  it  should  read  : 
"  They  only  serve  .   .   ."  ? 


88 


THE     GARDEN. 


[February  25,  1922. 


HAREWOOD    HOUSE    AND    ITS    GARDENS 


THE  terraced  gardens  at  Harevvood  House 
— a  future  home  of  tlie  Princess  Mary — 
are  among  the  very  finest  examples  we 
have  of  the  tendency,  which  showed  itself 
after  Queen  Victoria  came  to  the  throne, 
towards  a  return  to  the  formal  style.  The  work 
may  be  compared  to  that  which  was  carried  out  at 
Wilton,  where  '•Capability"  Bro«Ti,  who  laid  out 
the  original  grounds  at  Harewood,  had  destroyed 
the  old  formal  gardens  dating  from  the  first  half  of 
the  seventeenth  century.  At  Harewood  there  was 
no  earlier  formalism  as  the  house  was  erected  on  a 
new  site  during  the  first  years  of  George  Ill's  reign, 
when  Lancelot  Brown  was  reaching  the  height  of 
his  popularity,  and  it  was  not  tiU  1843  that  Sir 
Charles  Barry  reconstituted  the  south  front  of  the 
house,  heightening  the  wings  to  add  bedroom 
accommodation,  removing  the  central  portico  and 
making,  from  the  house  to  the  paved  terrace,  the 
magnificent  descent  of  steps  that,  in  one  of  the 
illustrations,  is  seen  rising  to  the  level  of  the  main 
floor  of  the  house  which,  owing  to  the  rapid  slope 
of  the  ground,  is  here  raised  up  on  a  lofty  under- 
croft. This  illustration  shows  the  extent  of  Sir 
Charles  Barry's  work,  for  it  not  only  gives  a  glimpse 
of  his  altered  house  elevation,  of  the  main 
stairway  down  from  it,  of  the  terrace  and  its  lesser 
descent  to  the  floral  parterre,  but  also  shows  the 
grand  balustraded  and  bastioned  retaining  wall 
which  is  the  final  architectural  boundary.  Below 
that  is  a  narrow  territory  of  straight-hned  grass 


slopes  and  flats  that  divides  the  nineteenth  century 
forraaUty  from  Brown's  "  landscape  "  treatment  of 
the  great  area  on  to  which  the  house  looks  down. 
That  is  well  shown  in  the  other  illustration,  taken 
from  towards  the  eastern  end  of  the  south  front 
of  the  house.  Here,  beyond  terrace  and  parterre,  the 
lake  is  seen  lying  in  its  hollow.  A  softly  undulating 
section  of  the  park,  set  with  occasional  trees, 
sweeps  down  to  its  eastern  bank.  A  well  timbered 
height  shuts  in  its  northern  side  and  above  rises 
the  loftier  and  more  distant  ridge.  Another  woody 
hill  shuts  out  the  western  end  of  the  lake  and  the 
extensive  plantations  screen  the  kitchen  gardens 
— far  removed  from  the  house,  in  true  Brownian 
manner — when  grassy  slopes  and  winding  ways. 
often  represented  by  artificial  mounds  and 
meaningless  serpentines — were  brought  right  up  to 
the  four  waUs  of  the  house.  Much  of  Brown's  lake- 
making  and  tree-planting,  however,  was  good, 
especially  after  time  had  taken  a  hand  in  remedying 
the  artificiaUty  of  the  curves  of  the  timber  clumps 
and  water  edges.  That,  in  very  high  degree,  has 
happened  at  Harewood,  where  the  newer  terraces 
amply  satisfy  the  feehng  for  architectural  and 
geometric  outUers  to  the  great  classic  house,  and 
where  nature  has  so  far  resumed  her  sway  over  the 
far  stretching  grounds  as  to  give  a  sense  of  tempered 
wildness  and  free  beauty. 

Very  difterent  was  the  scene  in  1753,  when  Edwin 
Lascelles,  succeedin,  his  father  in  the  great  Hare- 
wood and  Gawthorp,   estate,  felt  that  Gawthorpe 


Hall — the  old  home  of  Gascoignes  and  Wentworths 
that  had  only  become  Lascelles  property  in  1739 — 
was,  in  size,  style  and  position,  below  the  mark 
for  a  wealthy  man  of  George  II's  time.  The  oW 
house  stood  by  the  water,  which  had  not  yet 
assumed  a  lakehke  character.  An  engraving  oi 
1722  shows  an  ample  house  of  ancient  origin,  with 
post-Restoration  alterations  and  additions,  including 
the  walled  and  formal  gardens  of  that  period. 
Northwards  from  it  the  land  rose  to  the  point  where- 
the  ruins  of  Harewood  Castle  stiU  stand,  and 
some  three  or  four  hundred  yards  up  this  slope  was 
fixed  upon  for  the  sumptuous  mansion  which  was- 
to  encompass  all  that  John  Carr  and  Robert  Adam 
could  contrive  that  was  best  and  newest  of  its  day. 
Begun  in  1759  the  house  was  not  complete  until 
1 77 1,  when  the  family  moved  into  it  and  the  old 
hall  was  demolished,  all  trace  of  dwelling  and  walled 
gardens  being  obhterated  as  wholly  irreconcilable- 
with  the  landscape  effects  which  Brown  was 
to  carry  out  in  its  immediate  environment.  There 
the  stream  became  a  lake  covering  fifty  acres  and 
the  adjacent  slopes  became  "  belts  "  and  "  clumps  " 
of  Beech  and  other  trees.  In  more  recent  times 
there  has  been  in  this  region  a  further  development 
of  garden  amenity.  The  surface  of  the  lake  is 
dotted  with  Water  Lihes,  and  from  its  banks  rise 
such  moisture-loving  subjects  as  reeds  andAstilbes, 
Irises  and  Water  Forget-me-nots.  A  long  walk 
through  the  Beech  woods  brings  you  to  the  kitchen 
garden,  not  wholly  given  up  to  the  edible  Crucifera> 


HAREWOOD    HOUSE.        A    GENERAL    VIEW    OF    THE    TERRACES. 


February  25,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


89 


and  Papilionaceffi.  but  also  to  their  floral  cousin?, 
•such  as  double  Rockets  and  Lupins,  that  flourish 
•amid  many  other  old-fashioned  flowers  in  ample 
borders.     Nor   must   we  forget   the   glass   houses. 


against  the  sombre  green  of  the  noble  summer-clad 
trees  that  form  the  background.  In  the  parterre 
the  growth  and  colour-riot  of  the  bedding  plants 
are  checked  by  the  note  of  severity  given  by  the 


A    PORTION    OF    THE    PLANNED    GARDEN. 


where  a  vinery  has  long  been  the  home  of  a  Muscat 
of  Alexandria  that  rivals  in  size  and  age  the  Hamp- 
ton Court  Black  Hamburgh.  A  tablet  informs  us 
that  it  was  planted  in  1783  and  that  the  house 
that  contains  it  was  enlarged  for  its  accommodation 
in  1839.  The  woodlands  afford  scenes  of  great 
bieauty.  Beech  and  Birch,  Cherry  and  Robinia 
rise  high  and  leave  gaps  for  the  sheltered  and  half- 
shady  homes  of  massed  Rhododendrons.  Oaks 
also  flourish,  and  near  the  house  are  ancient  Cedars 
of  Lebanon — so  frequently  a  legacy  from  Lancelot 
Brown,  who  used  them  freely  and  well. 

Good  design,  full  purse  and  splendid  local  free- 
stone quarries  combined  to  give  ample  dignity  and 
rich  extent  alike  to  eighteenth  century  house  and 
nineteenth  century  terraces.  The  house  is  250ft. 
in  length,  the  formal  gardens  extend  looft.  beyond 
it  at  each  end  and  150ft.  before  it  to  the  south,  so 
that  this  grand  group  of  highly  wrought  archi- 
tectural incidents  occupies  an  area  of  two  and  a 
half  acres.  Size  alone  may  merely  yield  a  sense 
•of  clumsiness  and  oppression.  Not  so  here.  Sir 
Charles  Barry  contrived  to  maintain  a  unity  of 
■design  in  the  house  he  altered  and  the  gardens  he 
added.  Forms,  proportions,  details  are  indi- 
vidually right  and  are  harmoniously  blended  into 
a  disciphned  whole,  where  house  and  stairway, 
terrace  and  retaining  wall,  parterre  and  fountain, 
statuary^  and  vase,  take  their  place  in  regimental 
•subordination  and  uniformed  array.  It  is  big  and 
splendid,  but  also  it  is  harmonious  and  sympathetic, 
•Glancing  again  at  the  illustrations,  how  arresting 
is  the  long  line  of  balustrade,  with  its  ordered 
breaks  of  bastion  and  steps  broadly  framed  by  the 
continuous  and  restful  extent  of  grass  bank  below 
and  gravel  walk  above.  The  rich  play  of  hght 
and    shade    on    the    stonework    tells    delightfully 


hue  and  form  of  the  chpped  Yews,  The  insistent 
note  of  architecture,  so  loud  and  strong  in  stately 
step  and  balustraded  wall,  is  sufficiently  struck  in 
the  floral  area  by  the  great  stone-backed  benches 
at  either  end  and  the  intervening  many- angled 
pools  from  which  rise  statuary  fountains, 

Harewood  is  just  sufficiently  separated  from 
Leeds  by  distance  and  intercepting  hill  to  retain  its 
rural  aspect.  Where  mines  and  manufacture  have 
not  seared  its  surface  and  thickened  its  atmosphere. 


Yorkshire  is  a  beautiful  county.     In  dale  and  fell 
it  is  often  scenic  and  grand.     In  softer  moods  it  is 
rich  and  smiHng,     Harewood  is  on  the  edge    of 
such  contrasting  regions.     From  the  higher  points 
of  the  park  the  eye  can  roam 
on   one   side   up    Wharfdale 
and     on    to    its     enfolding 
moors,    while   on    the  other 
side      the     vale     of     York 
stretches  out  its  fertile  ex- 
panse, and  on  clear  days  the 
twenty  mile  distant  Minster 
towers  are  seen  rising  at  the 
horizon.     But  landscape  and 
horticultural  amenities  by  no 
means  exhaust  the  catalogue 
'if  Harewood's charms.     The 
interior  still  shows  much  of 
the  decoration  and  furniture 
which,  as  surviving  drawings 
prove,  RobertAdamdesigned 
for  it  in  1765   and  following 
years.    The  ceilings  of  saloon 
and    gallery    are    the    most 
striking  of  the  many  he  in- 
troduced.    The  music   room 
has  not  only  the  ceiling  he  set 
there,  but  the  carpet  which 
he    had    wrought  in    corre- 
sponding   design.      All     the 
wall  incident,  doorways  and 
chimneypiece,    stucco   panel 
and        framed       landscape, 
remain  untouched  and  com- 
bine to  make  the  room  his- 
torically the  most  perfect  as 
well  as  artistically  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  in  this  house 
of     splendid    interiors,    fur- 
nished  not    only    with    the 
admirable  pieces  that  Chip- 
pendale   produced    for     the 
first    Lord    Harewood    from 
Adam's    designs,   but  also  the  spoils  of  France — 
gilt  Louis    XVI    suites,    Beauvais  tapestries  and 
S&vres  china — which  the  second  Lord  obtained  as 
wreckage  saved  from  the  storm  and  stress  of  the 
French   Revolution,     At  Harewood  for  a  century 
and  more  they  have  lain  in  safety  and  in  peace. 
May  that  be  likewise  their  future  destiny,  as  also 
of    their    present    proprietor,    the    fifth    Earl    of 
Harewood,  and  after  him  of   his  son   and   Royal 
daughter-in-law,  H,  Avray  Tipping, 


THE     GREENHOUSE     PRIMULAS 

PRACTICAL    NOTES    ON    THEIR    CULTIVATION     IN     SCOTLAND. 

Southern  readers  should  find  the  following  notes  helpful  if  they  bear  in  mind  that  it 
is  unwise  here  to  sow  until,  at  any  rate,  the  middle  of  April. 


WITH  the  lengthening  days  the 
Primula  is  making  a  great  show 
in  the  conservatory.  One  wonders 
what  the  conservatory  could  have 
been  like  at  this  season  of  the 
year  before  the  Primula  made  its  appearance  in 
all  its  varieties  and  gay  colours. 

First  we  have  the  Star  varieties  in  all  their 
glorious  colours,  with  beautiful  stellata  flowers 
tiering  above  the  elegant  cut  foUage,  What 
glorious  effects  may  be  produced  if  the  colours 
are  well  chosen  for  grouping.  White  Star  and 
Pink  Star  used  together  make  a  very  fine  group. 
Dark  Blue  Star  and  White  Star  grouped  together 
and  associated  with  a  few  plants  of  Primula 
malacoides    also    give    a    pleasing    combination. 


One  very  effective  group  is  Dark  Blue  Star  and 
Primula  kewensis,  the  Dark  Blue  Star  showing 
up  the  pale  yellow  flowers  oi  kewensis.  Primula 
kewensis  gives  little  or  no  effect  by  itself  owing, 
I  think,  to  the  paleness  of  its  foliage,  but  if  grouped 
with  the  Dark  Blue  Star  or  even  with  Primula 
malacoides  it  provides  a  combination  that  never 
fails  to  please. 

Then  we  have  Primula  obconica  with  all  its 
shades  of  mauve,  approaching  to  blue  on  the  one 
hand  and  to  crimson  on  the  other.  This  Primula 
seems  happy  anywhere  and  gives  very  har- 
monious and  restful  effects  when  grouped 
with  other  plants.  The  mauve  flowers  never 
seem  to  clash,  as  the  colours  of  other  Primulas 
are    apt    to    do.       One    very    happy   association 


5)0 


THE    GARDEN. 


[February  25,  1922. 


is  that  of  Primula  obconica  with  Arum  Lilies. 
The  dark  green  foliage  of  the  "  Lilies"  shows  off 
to  great  advantage  the  pale  mauve  flowers  of 
the  Primula. 

One  of  the  most  important  points  in  the  culti- 
vation of  these  Primulas  for  keeping  the  con- 
servatory gay  during  the  winter  and  spring  months 
is  to  make  successional  sowings  from  the  end  of 
February  to  the  end  of  June.  The  last  sowing 
provides  plants  for  small  pots  suitable  for  the 
decoration  of  the  dinner  table.  The  best  varieties 
for  this  purpose  are  Primula  malacoides  and  the 
Star  forms  of  Primula  sinensis.  The  seed  should 
be  sown  thinly  and  evenly.  Primula  seed,  as  a 
rule,  germinates  very  irregularly.  The  soil  for  the 
seed-pans  should  be  of  a  very  light  nature,  with  a 
good  sprinkUng  of  silver  sand.  Pass  the  whole 
thorough  a  quarter-inch  sieve,  the  rough  material 
that  is  left  over  being  used  for  covering  the  drainage. 
Fill  the  seed-pan  with  the  fine  soil  and  make  it 
firm,  give  a  good  soaking  with  a  fine  rose  and 
allow  it  to  stand  until  thoroughly  drained  before 
sowing.  The  seed  sown,  cover  lightly  with  silver 
sand,  as  this  tends  to  prevent  'damping  off" 
when  the  tiny  seedlings  come  through.  Place 
the  seed-pans  in  a  house  with  a  night  temperature 
ot,  say,  5S°. 

As  soon  as  the  seedlings  begin  to  grow  and 
show  the  first  rough  !eat,  prick  them  out  into 
boxes  about  ains.  apart  and  keep  close  tor  a  day 
or  two  until  they  get  well  established  in  the  new 
soil. 

The  soil  for  the  boxes  should  be  of  the  same 
nature  as  that  used  for  the  seed-pans,  with  the 
addition  of  a  httle  powdered  charcoal.  In  about 
ten  days  or  so  remove  the  boxes  to  a  warm  frame 
and  keep  them  near  the  glass  in  order  that  the 
plants  may  be  robust  and  stocky.  Admit  air 
without  undue  draughts.  In  due  course  they  will 
require  a  shift  into  small  pots  ;  3in.  is  a  very 
suitable  size.  The  soil  used  for  this  potting 
should  be  a  Uttle  rougher,  with  the  addition  of 
burnt  ashes  and  soot. 

The  soil  should  be  well  firmed  round  the  neck 
of  the  plants  to  keep  them  from  rocking  about. 
This  apphes  to  the  Star  varieties.  Place  them 
back  in  the  frame  and  keep  close  for  a  few  days, 
with  light  sprayings  overhead  until  they  recover 
from  the  check.  After  that  air  should  be  given 
on  all  suitable  occasions  to  keep  them  growing 
stocky  and  prevent  damping. 

The  compost  for  the  final  potting  should  consist 
ot  a  nice,  rich  fibrous  loam  pulled  to  pieces  with 
the  hands,  with  the  addition  of  good,  flaky  leaf- 
soil,  burnt  ashes,  bone-meal,  powdered  charcoal, 
silver  sand,  and  a  6in.  pot  ot  soot  to  every  barrow- 
load  of  soil. 

After  the  final  potting  place  the  plants  in  a 
cool  frame  with  an  ash  bottom  Frames  facing 
north  are  to  be  preferred,  as  no  shading  is  then 
required  and  they  receive  welcome  cool-shnded 
light,  so  beneficial  to  the  development  of  that  nice 
dark  green  foliage.  During  the  afternoons  of 
bright  days  a  light  spraying  overhead  is  very 
encouraging  to  their  growth,  especially  if  clear 
soot-water  is  used,  as  it  keeps  away  all  insect 
pests  while  growth  is  finishing.  The  frame 
lights  should  be  pulled  off  altogether  at  night, 
as  the  plants  enjoy  the  heavy  dews  of  late  summer 
nights.  When  they  commence  to  send  up  their 
flowers  a  house  with  a  night  temperature  of,  say. 
50°  to  55°,  with  plenty  of  air  night  and  day,  suits 
them  well 

These  past  two  seasons  I  have  planted  out 
Primula  malacoides  in  the  rock  garden,  and  they 
have  come  through  very  successfully,  withstanding 
15°  to  18°  of  frost,  and  to-day,  after  the  heavy 
snowfall  we  have  had,  are  pushing  up  their  fairy- 
ike  lilac    flowers. 

Forfarshire.  G.  S.  London. 


LITTLE   GROWN    BULBOUS    PLANTS 

The  good  points,  failings  and  cultural  requirements  of  the  Tigridias. 


FOR  ordinary  garden  purposes  Tigridias 
may  be  taken  to  be  Tigridia  Pavonia 
and  its  seminal  varieties.  These  are 
half  hardy  bulbs  whose  ancestral  home 
is  Mexico.  Whether  all  the  varieties 
which  we  now  have  came  to  us  ready  made,  or 
whether  they  are  the  result  of  a  change  of  environ- 
ment and  have  appeared  for  the  first  time  in 
different  parts   of   Europe   I    am   unable   to   say. 


THE 


A     CHARACTERISTIC    PLANT      OF    TIGRIDIA    PAVONIA. 

VARIETY  ''IS    RUBY    QUEEN. 
Note  the  unexpected  tiger's  head  in  the  flower  as  photographed. 


Although  the  Kew  Hand  List  (1915)  is  silent 
upon  the  subject  of  Pavonia  hybrids,  and  so 
leaves  us,  entirely  in  the  dark  as  to  their  origin, 
one  at  any  rate — conchiflora — was  introduced 
direct  from  its  South  American  home  in  1824, 
and  Pavonia  itself  in  1796. 

The  illustration  gives  those  who  do  not  know 
Tigridias  a  better  idea  of  the  habit  of  the  plants 
and  the  very  uncommon  shape  of  the  flowers 
than  any  mere  verbal  description.  The  palm-like 
look  of  the  leaves,  the  spotted  central  depression 
and  the  peculiar  eared  look  of  the  flower  as  a  whole 
stands  out  as  its  most  obvious  characteristics  in 


a  black  and  white  print.  We  all  of  us,  naturally, 
compare  the  new  and  little  known  to  something 
we  know  very  well ;  hence  as  I  have  used  tea-dust 
to  make  my  tea  for  many  years,  I  invariably  think 
of  the  necessary  strainer  that  goes  on  the  tops 
of  the  cups  to  keep  the  small  bits  out  of  the  liquor 
whenever  I  see  a  Tigridia  in  bloom.  The  spotted 
centre  is  the  perforated  part  of  the  strainer,  and 
the  three  ears  are  the  parts  which  fit  on  the  top 
of  the  cup.  With  respect 
to  colour,  few  flowers  have 
more  brilliant  shades  than 
some  of  these.  Bright 
carmines  and  orange-reds, 
beautiful  yellows  and  pure 
whites  are  all  to  be  found 
in  the  different  varieties. 
Why,  then,  is  the  Tiger 
Flower  so  little  known  ? 
The  reasons  probably  are 
two:  (i)  The  individual 
flowers  only  last  a  few- 
hours,  and  (2)  as  they 
usually  open  in  the  night, 
long  before  evening  comes 
they  have  turned  into 
miserable-looking  objects 
of  i  incipient  decay.  I 
would  urge,  however,  that 
the  glory  of  a  fair-sized 
bed  on  a  sunny  July  or 
bright  August  evening,  far 
outweighs  all  that  can  be 
urged  against  them. 

They  are  just  as  easy 
to  manage  as  ,  Gladioli 
and  require  very  '  much 
the  same  treatment.  Plant 
in  May,  or  earlier  ,  in 
districts  where  there  is 
no  likehhood  of  frosts 
coming  to  injure  the  young 
foUage,  in  Ught,  rich  soil, 
3ins.  or  4ins.  deep  and 
about  6ins.  apart.  Later 
on,  when  hot  weather 
comes,  give  them  a  good 
mulching  of  old  cow 
manure,  or  anything  that 
will  keep  the  ground  moist. 
Occasional  waterings  of 
liquid  manure  when  the 
plants  are  in  bud  and 
during  the  time  of  their 
blooming  are  immense 
helps  and  promote  larger 
individual  flowers  and  a 
longer  period  of  bloom. 
My  bed  suffered  greatly  in 
the  long  period  of  drought 
last  summer  as  there  was 
no  water  to  be  had  for 
the  garden  ;  but,  thanks  I  suppose  to  a  plant  here 
and  there  getting  its  feet  into  something  it  Uked, 
we  had  a  few  fine  specimens.  One  of  these  is 
figured  in  the  illustration  and  was  nearly  2ft.  high. 
After  the  first  autumn  frost  the  bulbs  should 
be  lifted  and  the  foliage  completely  dried,  whert 
it  should  be  carefully  broken  off.  The  bulbs 
may  then  be  stored  in  dry  sand  or  Ught  earth 
in  a  frost-proof  place  where  no  moisture  can  come, 
until  the  next  planting  time,  when  the  larger 
ones  may  all  be  expected  to  bloom. 

In    preference    to    buying    "  mixed   Tigridias," 
I  would  rather  buy  the  bulbs  in  named  varieties 


February  25,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


91 


and  make  my  own  mixture.  One  can  then  control 
one's  bed  and  only  have  the  colours  or  shades 
one  Ukes.  For  example,  lovely  as  are  the  pure 
white  grounds  with  their  smart  ruby-red  markings, 
the  contrast  between  them  (grandiflora  alba)  and 
the  red  and  yellow  shades  of  carminea,  Ruby 
Queen,  Pavonia  speciosa,  conchiflora  and  others 
seems  to  me  to  be  a  httle  too  violent  to  be  alto- 
gether pleasing.  On  the  other  hand,  there  will 
be  some  who  will  think  the  introduction  of  a 
few  whites  makes  a  good  foil  to  the  brighter 
colouring  of  the  others.  Ckacun  d  son  goiit  is 
a  very  wise  proverb  to  bear  in  mind  when  writing 
of  matters  of  taste.  Another  thing  that  urges 
me  not  to  commit  myself  is  the  difficulty  of 
nomenclature.  When  catalogues  do  agree  their 
unanimity  is  wonderful.  Perhaps,  however,  I 
may   venture   to  say   that   in   my   own   "  fooMsh 


opinion"  (a  grand  and  never-to-be-forgotten 
phrase  this  of  an  old  gardener  I  once  had)  Pavonia 
speciosa  (orange-red),  Ulacea  (syn.  Ruby  Queen) 
(ruby-red)  and  conchiflora  (rich  yellow)  are  among 
the  most  effective  varieties.  Rubra,  carminea, 
rosea,  purpurea,  Wheeleri,  Le  Geant,  Le  Geant 
Rose,  alba,  alba  immaculata,  canariensis,  lutea 
immaculata,  coelestis  (?),  alba  grandiflora  and 
rubra  grandiflora  are  all  to  be  met  with  in  different 
Usts.  I  do  not  know  all  of  them,  but  of  those 
1  do,  I  can  truthfully  say  some  seem  very  much 
alike. 

As  Tigridias  are  not  expensive  bulbs,  and  may 
be  had  for  about  3s.  a  dozen  or  less,  might  I 
suggest  the  getting  together  a  Uttle  collection  and 
the  growing  them  in  trial  beds  as  a  mild  floral 
excitement  for  1923  I  feel  sure  a  good  many 
visitors  will  not  know  them.       Joseph  Jacob. 


TOPIARY   AS   AN   AID   TO   ADVERTISING 


IT  seems  strange,  at  first  sight,  that  horti- 
culture, the  earliest  art  practised  by  man, 
should,  in  these  latter  days,  be  brought  into 
the  service  of  the  latest,  viz.,  the  art  of 
advertising.  Yet  this  is  being  advocated  by 
a  firm  of  publicity  agents,  who  are  using  topiary 
work  as  a  medium  for  advertisements.  The  idea 
is  to  utilise  Yew  trees,  trained  and  trimmed  into 
the  semblance  of  birds  animals  and  objects  of 
common  fife,  as  Uving  aimouncements  of  some- 
body's foods,  beverages,  soaps,  fountain  pens  or 
other  commodities  popularised  by  our  "  national  " 
advertisers.  Thus,  for  brands  of  tinned  milk, 
butter  or  cheese,  they  are  offered  the  figure  of 
a  cow,  cut  out  of  and  in  a  growing  tree  ;  for  eggs, 
whether  fresh,  "farmer's"  or  desiccated,  they 
have  Yew  trees  shaped  Uke  a  sitting  hen,  or  a 
duck  ;  while  for  a  popular  make  of  margarine 
the  agency  suggests  a  tree  clipped  to  resemble 
a  pheasant '  Yews  can  be  easily  trained  and  cut 
to  form  a  circular,  wreath-like  grow'th.  representing 
a  lifebuoy  ;  this  would  act  well  as  an  advertise- 
ment for  a  certain  soap-making  firm,  who  use 
that  nautical  form  of  life-saver  as  its  "  strange 
device." 

Swans,  again,  are  common  in  topiary  work, 
and  trees  so  shaped  ob\iously  lend  themselves 
to  the  advertising  of  a  well  known  fountain  pen. 
The  manufacturers  of  dogs'  biscuits,  even,  are 
catered  for  by  means  of  a  group  of  Yews  bent 
and  trimmed  to  represent  a  dog-kennel,  with  a 
small  tree  in  front,  cut  like  a  dog !  For  a  feather 
manufacturer    there    are    trees    shaped    Uke    an 


WHO    SAID    PUPPY    BISCUITS 


ostrich,  while  cabinet-makers  can  have  one  so 
like  an  armchair  that  one  feels  tempted  to  sit 
in  it.  Brewers,  wine  merchants  and  distillers  are 
easily  accommodated,  since  bottle  shapes  are  a 
common  form  of  topiary  work.  Even  shops, 
stores,  theatres,  kinemas,  cafes  and  tea-rooms 
are  similarly  catered  for.  Teapots,  cups  and 
saucers,  plates  and  loaves  are  easy  to  form  in  the 
yielding  Yew,  and  trees  so  shaped  would  well 
serve  to  call  attention  to  the  establishments 
displaying  them.  Globular  forms  and  ball-Uke 
growths  are  among  the  simplest  to  grow  and 
trim;  their  uses,  as  advertisements,  are  many. 
Such  articles  as  atlases,  billiard  balls,  toy  balloons 
and  ball-bearings  are  obviously  subjects  for 
advertisement  by  means  of  Yews  so  shaped, 
while  a  certain  metal  pohsh,  using  a  globe  as  its 
cognisance,  is  simply  "asking  for"  a  globe- 
shaped  Yew  !  But,  so  many  are  the  forms  which 
can  be  outlined  by  the  plastic,  patient  Yew  that  the 
promoters  of  this  novel  pubhcity  scheme  profess 
themselves  capable  of  catering  for  practically 
almost  any  demand  by  one  or  other  of  their 
vegetable  advertisements — their,  literally,  growing 
announcements. 

The  main  idea  is  to  plant   these  shaped   Yew 
trees    alongside    railway    lines    and    main    roads, 
replacing    those    hideous     hoardings     known     as 
"  field    signs."         Further,   to   identify  the  plant 
with  the  object  of  publicity  sought  by  their  display, 
painted  aluminium  lettering  will  be  supplied,   to 
form  the  name  of  the  firm,  brand  or  proprietary 
article  advertised.     This  will  be  suspended  from 
and  on  the  trees,   while  in 
the  case  of  retailers,   kine- 
mas,  cafes,  etc.,  the  shrubs 
may   be    planted    in    tubs 
the     sides    of    which    will 
afford      space      for       bold 
advertisement.    The  origin- 
ators of  this  novel   adver- 
tisement "stunt"  estimate 
the  cost  of  upkeep  of  these 
trees,     including    a    yearly 
trimming,  at  ./.r  per  annum, 
and  they  put   the  price  of 
them      at      from      20      to 
25  guineas  each. 

As  growing  and  clipping 
a  given  design  out  of  and 
in  a  Yew  tree  takes  from 
eight  to  sixteen  years,  it 
is  obvious  that  no  adver- 
tiser, wishing  to  get  rich 
quickly,  could  afford  to 
wait  for  his  special  designs 
to  be  grown,     .■\ccordingly 


the  agency  has  purchased  a  large  stock  of  ready 
shaped  trees,  and  these  it  offers  to  artistically 
minded  advertisers,  only  one  "  line  "  to  be  used  by 
one  maker  of  a  given  commodity.  Lovers  of  Nature 
and  horticulture  will  doubtless  welcome  this  new 
system  of  vegetable  advertisement  and  plant 
publicity,  for  these  living  pictures,  these  growing 


SHE  NEEDS  BUT  A  PEN  HUNG  FROM  HER 
BILL    TO    COMPLETE     THE     ADVERTISEMENT. 

announcements,  are  certainly  preferable  to  the 
blazing  posters,  the  tin  dogs,  wooden  watches 
and  metalUc  cows  at  present  desecrating  the 
fields  adjacent  to  our  railway  lines ;  they  are, 
at  least,  natural  in  essence,  if  artificial  in 
form.  E.  W.  Richardson, 


Lachenalias    that    are 
Sweet-Scented 

FOUR  out  of  every  five  people  when 
they  come  to  see  my  Lachenalias  say, 
"Now  if  you  could  get  that  scent  (the 
scent  of  glaucina)  into  those  (the  mixed- 
up  hybrids  of  tricolor,  quadricolor  and 
aurea),  you  would  find  everyone  would  want 
them  (the  hybrids).  It  would  make  all  the  differ- 
ence." I  feel  they  are  right,  and  for  years  I  have 
been  trying  if  one  could  not  bring  off  a  marriage 
between  glaucina  and  some  of  my  best  hybrids, 
but  all  to  no  purpose.  There  is  an  incompata- 
bUity  of  something  which  prevents  them  falUng 
in  with  my  plans,  and  at  the  end  of  their  flowering 
season  we  are  as  we  were.  Next  year  there  will 
be  a  sufficient  quantity  of  pallida  to  allow  us  to 
try  that  variety,  as  by  singular  good  luck  we  have 
a  very  late  yellow^  variety  with  which  to  mate  it. 
We  live  in  hopes.  JleanwhUe  may  I  put  in  a  good 
word  for  both  Lachenalia  glaucina  and  L.  paUida. 
It  may  be  partly  from  sentiment,  as  their  delightful 
perfume  brings  to  mind  far  distant  days  when  the 
golden  Cytisus  was  to  be  found  in  spring  time 
in  every  well  appointed  conservatory,  but  they 
do  appeal  to  me.  The  taller  and  larger  bluey  green 
glaucina  and  the  shorter  and  smaller  heliotrope 
tipped  pallida  are  both  of  them  sweets  of  the 
sweet,  and  are  well  worth  growing  wherever  sweet 
flowers  are  appreciated.  They  come  into  bloom 
when  the  last  of  the  hybrids  mentioned  above 
are  getting  over,  but  except  for  the  difficulty  of 
experimenting  in  hybridisation,  since  all  Lache- 
nalias dislike  anything  approaching  to  forcing, 
this  late  blooming  is  no  detriment.  Of  the  two 
species  pallida  is  the  most  reliable,  and  makes  a 
more  even  potful  than  glaucina,  which  is  always  a 
little  erratic  in  its  growth,  J.   J. 


92 


THE    GARDEN. 


[February  25,  1922. 


THOUGHTS  ON  THE  TREATMENT  OF  INFORMAL  STEPS 


SOME  few  months  ago  (The  Garden, 
July  30,  1921,  page  378)  there  was 
published  an  article  which  dealt  at  some 
length  with  the  very  important  matter  of 
garden  stairways,  but  very  little  was 
said  about  the  unpretentious,  but  very  necessary, 
informal  stairways  which,  properly  treated,  add 
greatly  to  the  attractions  of  the  wild  or  rock 
garden  or  other  portions  of  the  grounds  which 
may  be  informally  treated. 

Very  formal  steps,  even  steps  as  formal  as  those 
illustrated  on  page  483  in  the  issue  of  The  Garden 
for  September  24  last,  detract  considerably  from 
the  charm  of  an  otherwise  natural-looking  rock 
garden.  Not  that  steps  need  necessarily  look  as 
if  they  formed  part  of  the  geological  formation 
upon  which  the  garden  may  be  supposed  to  rest, 
though  it  does,  in  such  case,  improve  the  appear- 
ance of  the  whole  if  some  of  the  steps  give  that 
impression.  The  eye  then  feels  that  the  others 
have  been  used  to  best  advantage  to  join  up 
Nature's  handiwork.  Needless  to  say,  if  such 
effects  are  to  be  attempted  the  design  and 
execution  of  the  whole  garden  must  be  of  the  best, 
or  the  illusion  will  fail  and  the  whole  thing  look 
theatrical.  We  are  wandering,  however,  and  that 
is  just  what  our  steps  should  do ;  nor  will  it 
seem  suitable  to  most  of  us  to  employ  stone 
dressed  to  any  extent  even  with  the  hammer, 
though  obviously  sharp  corners  which  might 
damage  feet  or  ankles  should  be  removed. 

On  the  steps,  as  in  other  parts  of  the  rock 
garden,  there  is  too  often  either  a  total  dearth 
of  furnishing,  which  is  displeasing,  or  the  planting 
is  too  obviously  planting,  too  diversified  in 
character  and  too  spotty  in  effect. 

Observe  the  quiet  restfulness  of  the  picture  of 
the  Woolly-leaved  Thyme  (Thymus  Serpyllum 
lanuginosus)  on  an  informal  flight  of  stairs.  This 
is,  it  must  be  allowed,  one  of  the  most  effective 
of  carpeting  plants,  but  the  sum  total  of  effect 
is  due  not  so  much  to  the  qualities  of  the  plants 
themselves — lost  as  they  partly  are  in  black  and 
white — as  to  the  breadth  of  treatment.  Quiet 
simplicity  and  dignity  can  only  be  obtained  by 
breadth  of  treatment. 

The  other  picture  shows  steps  rather  more 
substantial    in    character,    adorned    with    a   little 


colony  of  Campanula 
garganica  hirsuta.  For 
a  fairly  important  path, 
such  as  this  obviously  is, 
the  planting  seems  just 
a  thought  too  heavy. 
One  feels  that,  after  a 
shower  of  rain,  walking 
up  these  steps  would  not 
be  altogether  a  happy 
business  for  the  feet  and 
ankles  !  Had  this  been  a 
bypath  used  only  for 
attending  or  inspecting 
some  of  the  gardener's 
treasures,  this  objection, 
needless  to  say,  would  i  it 
apply. 

The  treatment  of  steps 
and  paths  through  the 
rock  garden  (leaving  aside 
turfed  paths  or  ways)  is 
the  most  unfortunate  part 
of  many  otherwise  fine 
conceptions.  To  see  admir- 
ably balanced  masses  of 
stonework,  with  the  actual 
stones  happily  placed  and 
the  plants  fittingly 
arranged,  spoiled  by  an 
unnatural  path  of  crazy 
paving,  broken  here  and 
there  by  equally  "  crazy  " 
steps,  is  a  pitiable  sight, 
but  one  far  too  common. 
It  would  be  far,  far  better 
to  gravel  the  path  than  to 
lay  it  so,  for  the  crazy 
paving  as  generally  laid 
forms  a  wretched  kind 
of  compromise  between 
the  natural  and  the  arti- 
ficial. A  pathway  formed 
of     the     same     kind     of  y 

stone  of  which  the  rockery 
itself  is  composed,  and  so  laid  in  little  shelving 
steps  as  to  give  the  impression  that  the  path  has 
been  formed  by  splitting  it  from  its  bed,  is  in  a 


CASCADE 


-^  ■ur»;=^^' , 

f 

*1 

if 

i: 

. 

.;■    .  xf^^   '  ■  r  -  ""  *>■■*.  ■ 

SIMPLE    BEAUTY.      CAMPANULA    GARGANICA    HIRSUTA    HAPPILY    PLACED. 


OF    THYMUS    SERPYLLUM    LANUGINOSUS. 

totally  different  category.  It  represents  an  ideal 
worthy  of  attainment,  and  in  many  stones — and 
these  the  most  suitable  for  lockery  construction — 
easy  to  attain. 

For  situations  where  kindly  Nature  has  provided 
no  stonework,  and  Man  has  not  thought  fit  to 
introduce  any,  rough  steps  formed  of  the  natural 
earth  (faced  with  gravel  if  the  soil  is  of  a  sticky 
texture)  and  retained  by  balks  of  wood  are 
useful.  The  rougher  the  timber  used  the  better, 
as  a  rule,  the  effect.  If  a  handrail  is  called  for, 
it  may  be  supplied.  It  will  not  be  beautiful,  but 
let  it,  at  any  rate,  be  secure  and  look  secure. 
"  Rustic  work,"  so  called,  however  employed,  is 
an  abomination  ;  a  worshipping  of  false  gods. 
It  has  been  said  that,  in  the  informal  garden,  steps 
may  well  be  allowed  to  wander.  Let  us  hasten 
then  to  say  that  by  "wandering"  something 
different  is  meant  than  a  meaningless  meander. 
One  should  feel,  instinctively,  that  the  course  of 
the  steps  is  induced  by  the  lay  of  the  land  and  by 
no  other  consideration. 

There  are  few  things  in  a  garden  which  add 
more  to  its  charm  than  happily  placed  and  simply 
laid  out  stairways.  Looking  at  the  other  side  of 
the  picture,  there  are  few  more  unfortunate 
objects  than  an  over-elaborate  or  ill-placed  flight. 
Whether  the  flight  be  formal  or  informal,  there 
seems  to  be  but  too  much  temptation  to  make 
it  unduly  complex  and  over-ornate.  In  the 
garden  breadth  of  treatment  and,  above  all, 
simplicity  are  essential. 


February  25,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


93 


NEW    AND    RARE    PLANTS 


THERE  was  quite  a  good  and  interesting 
show  at  the  mid-February  meeting  of 
the  R.H.S.  and  a  correspondingly  good 
attendance,  augmented,  no  doubt,  by  its 
being  the  occasion  of  the  annual  general 
meeting  of  the  Society. 

Primula  Princess  Mary. — The  dainty  little 
Primula  malacoides  is  generally  well  known  and 
appreciated  for  its  graceful  whorls  of  flowers. 
The  species  has,  of  late,  been  greatly  improved 
upon,  and  of  the  several  varieties  Princess  Mary 
is  distinctly  one  of  the  best.  The  flower  stems 
are  much  taller,  and  the  more  numerous  whorls 
have  larger  and  more  substantial  flowers  of  rosy 
mauve  colour,  but  this  greater  size  has  not  been 
obtained  at  the  expense  of  grace  and  elegance. 
This  variety  seems  to  have  a  better  constitution 
than  most,  for  it  is  said  that  the  plants  do  not 
damp  off,  as  do  so  many  others.  Award  of  merit 
to  Messrs.  Carter  and  Co. 

Miltonia  Lord  Lambourne.— That  this  new 
Orchid  should  receive  both  a  first-class  certificate 
and  a  silver-gilt  flora  medal  indicates  that  it   is 


an  exceptionally  fine  variety,  and  this  is  so.  It 
is  the  most  gorgeously  coloured  Miltonia  that 
has  yet  been  raised.  The  segments  are  deeply 
flushed  with  rosy  carmine  and  have  narrow 
white  margins.  Awards  to  Messrs.  Charles- 
worth  and  Co.  '-1-^  -i 

Odontioda  Cora. — The  well  formed  blooms  of 
this  Odontioda  are  of  greater  size  than  usual,  and 
they  are  well  disposed  on  the  erect  spike.  The 
colour  is  a  warm  chocolate  maroon.  Award  of 
merit  to  Messrs.  Charlesworth  and  Co. 

Clematis  F  559. — -This  is  one  of  the  new 
Clematises  collected  on  the  Da-Tung  Alps  in 
China  and,  awaiting  investigation,  was  shown 
under  the  collector's  index  number.  The  plant 
had  been  forced  into  bloom,  so  it  may  not  be  a 
true  indication  of  the  merits  of  the  novelty,  which, 
judging  from  the  specimen,  is  not  great  from  a 
gardener's  point  of  view,  though  it  may  probably 
appeal  to  the  hybridiser.  The  plant  is  of  some- 
what straggly  growth,  the  leaves  were  few  and 
undeveloped,  while  the  smallish  flowers,  which 
are  borne  on  rather  long  wiry  stalks,  were  stippled 


with  pale  blue.  The  blooms  were  set  almost  at 
right  angles  to  their  stalks  and  presented  a  semi- 
double  appearance.  Shown  by  Mr.  A.  C. 
Woodward,  Arley  Castle.  Bewdiey. 

Saxifraga  x  Mariae-Theresae. — The  plant  on 
view  was  a  little  turf  of  glistening  silvery  leaves 
with  short  stemmed,  bright  crimson  flower  buds 
which  expand  to  a  very  pale,  almost  washy,  pink. 
The  flowers  are  very  small.  Shown  by  Mr.  P. 
Rosenheim,  East  Molesey. 

Narcissus  St.  Valentine.— Several  pots  of  this 
were  shown,  but  they  did  not  impress  one  as 
being  of  exceptional  merit.  It  is  a  "  Cyclamineus 
of  Barrii  form."  The  chief  attraction  is  the  bright 
corona.  Shown  by  Messrs.  Herbert  Chapman, 
Limited. 

Although  the  Narcissus  Committee  met  for  the 
first  time  this  year,  and  the  florists'  shops  and 
many  street  hawkers  are  offering  Daffodils  in 
quantity,  these  flowers  were  singularly  few  in  the 
hall.  The  most  noteworthy  representatives  were 
the  many  blooms  of  grand  Soleil  d'Or  at  the 
back  of  a  little  group  by  Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons. 
These  Narcissi  were  of  rich  golden  colour  and 
served  perhaps  as  a  foretaste  of  what  we  may 
expect   in   the   near   future.     There   were    a   few 


^^^■^ 


«8^ 


*«#. 


'  i^^w. 


t^-'*0*7 


THE    NEW 


NAVEL   ORANGE     — CITRUS    SEEDLESS    WASHINGTON 
NAVEL. 


PRIMULA    MALACOIDES    PRINCESS    MARY. 


THE    PLANT    IS 


94 


THE    GARDEN. 


[February  25,  1922. 


Crocuses,  and  the  quaint  Grape  Hyacinths  were 
to  be  seen  in  an  occasional  exhibit. 

The  greatest  exhibit  of  spring  bulbs  was  by 
Messrs.  Segers  Brothers,  Dutch  growers  who 
do  a  strictly  wholesale  trade.  They  had  many 
Tulips,  including  the  Darwin  Le  Notre,  of  lilac 
pink  colour,  which,  when  forced,  retains  stiff 
stalks  and  does  not  flop  over.  Victoire  d'Oliviette 
is  darker  than  the  carmine  Bartigon  and  may  be 
forced  into  bloom  three  weeks  earlier.  The  double 
Tulip  Mr.  Van  der  Hoef  is  a  good  yellow,  while 
El  Toreador  may  be  termed  a  crimson  and  fawn 
Keizerskroon. 

The  early  Irises  were  again  prominent  among 
the  alpines.  I.  reticulata,  I.  histrioides  and  its 
varieties  were  all  beautifully  blue,  but  the  most 
uncommon  and  attractive  was  I.  persica,  a  quite 
dwarf,  sturdy  Xiphion  Iris,  which  is  slightly 
violet-scented.  The  deep  velvety  blue  blotches 
on  the  lip  contrasted  finely  with  the  golden  colour 
on  the  beardless  keel.  It  was  shown  by  Messrs. 
Waterer,  Sons  and  Crisp,  who,  by  the  way,  had 
quite  the  gayest  and  brightest  of  the  spring  flower 
exhibits  Adonis  amurensis  fl.-pl.  drew  attention 
to  its  quaintness  in  having  a  centre  of  vivid  green 
inside  a  ring  of  golden  petals. 

The  all  too  few  plants  of  the  charming  little 
hardy  Cyclamen  were  to  be  discovered  in  Messrs. 
Barr's  exhibit.  These  were  two  varieties — -rosea 
and  rubrum — -of  the  Caucasican  Cyclamen  ibiricum. 
The  tiny  flowers  retain  all  the  grace  of  the  perfect 
Cyclamen  form  and  were  very  brightly  coloured. 

The  greenhouse  Cyclamen  was  represented  by 
gathered  flowers  of  the  Sheepwell  strain  from 
the  gardens  of  Mr.  E.  Wormall,  Sheepwell  House, 
Potters  Bar.  These  are  said  to  be  fragrant,  but 
fragrance  in  Cyclamen  persicum  is  an  elusive 
quantity  under  the  best  of  conditions,  and  we 
could  not  detect  any,  though  perhaps  the  weather 
was  too  cold.  The  flowers,  however,  were  well 
grown. 

The  great  decorative  value  of  their  new  Primula 
Princess  Mary  was  well  shown  by  Messrs.  Carter 
and  Co.  in  a  large  exhibit  in  which  it  figured 
abundantly,  together  with  the  stellata  variety 
Fairy  Queen  Improved,  interspersed  with  pots 
of  miniature  Hyacinths  of  many  colours  and 
bowls  of  Tulips. 

Among  greenhouse  plants  we  noted  Begonia 
manicata,  which  is  now  rarely  seen  in  private 
gardens.  It  is  an  evergreen  species  of  very  easy 
c^lltivation  in  a  cool  greenhouse,  and  even  when 
not  in  flower  the  large,  stout,  pale  green  leaves 
are  handsome.  The  blush  pink  flowers  are  pro- 
duced in  long,  branching  cymes.  It  is  an  adapt- 
able plant,  equally  as  ornamental  in  a  3in.  pot 
as  in  the  largest  size. 

The  most  showy  of  the  trees  and  shrubs  were 
the  sprays  of  Parottia  persica,  thickly  studded 
with  fat  buds  just  bursting  and  disclosing  the 
brilliant  crimson  filaments.  A  few  warmer  days 
would  suffice  to  make  the  trees  strikingly  beautiful. 
In  addition  to  its  spring  effect,  this  small  tree  is 
one  of  the  best  for  autumn  colour.  Messrs.  J. 
Cheal  and  Son  showed  it,  and  near  by  had  a 
compact  bush  of  the  long-flowering  Pieris  (better 
known  in  gardens  as  Andromeda)  floribunda. 
Sarcococca  ruscifolia  is  rather  a  rarity  at  the 
R. H.S.  shows,  but  we  noted  a  little  colony  bearing 
quantities  of  yellowish  white  flowers  and  the 
shining  purple  fruits  of  last  year.  It  is  not  a 
showy  shrub,  but  one  that  is  useful  for  planting 
in  shady  places, 

NEW  FRUIT. 
Citrus  Seedless  Washington  Navel. — The  large 

bright  golden  fruits  attracted  a  deal  of  attention, 
not  unmixed  with  a  desire  for  acquisition,  for 
they  presented  a  most  attractive  appearance. 
Of  their  flavour  one  cannot  speak,  but  if  like  the 


common  Navel  Orange  it  should  be  good.  The 
fruits  were  large,  of  flatfish  egg  shape  and  possessed 
the  characteristic  navel-like  centre.  Award  of 
merit  to  Messrs.  T.   Rivers  and  Son. 

Besides  the  basket  of  fruits  which  received  the 
award,  Messrs.  Rivers  had,  among  a  valuable 
collection  of  Citruses,  heavily  fruited  bushes  of 
this  variety,  the  Horned  Orange,  Egg  Orange 
(St.  Michael's)  and  Thomson's  Improved  Navel 
Orange  of  the  broad-leaved  section.  The  Myrtle- 
leaved  Orange  was  represented  by  a  couple  of 
small  bushes,  also  heavily  laden  with  golden 
fruits.  This,  which  once  was  fairly  common 
in  the  larger  gardens  which  possessed  the  indis- 
pensable "  Orangery,"  has  now  become  rare  in 
cultivation,  but  it  is  an  ornamental  bush  for  the 
cool  greenhouse.  Its  habit  is  neat,  the  leaves  are 
only  a  couple  of  inches  or  so  long,  of  shining  green 
colour,  and  the  variety  flowers  freely  under  good 
cultivation.  Another  desirable  Orange  for  the 
cool  greenhouse  is  the  Oonshiri  or  Satsuma  Orange, 
shown  as  the  "  New  Japanese  Orange  from 
California."  The  association  is  not  clear,  but 
probably  the  place  of  distribution  is  indicated. 
That,  however,  is  as  may  be,  but  it  fruits  freely 
as  a  medium-sized  bush,  and  the  dark  green  leaves 
are  of  moderate  size.  The  fruits  are  similar  in 
appearance  to  those  of  the  well  known  Tangerine 
Orange.  It  was  quite  a  memorable  exhibit 
of  Oranges  and  Lemons,  and  one  that  it 
would  be  difficult  for  any  other  nursery  firm 
to  duplicate. 

Hardy  fruit  was  represented  by  a  collection  of 
Apples  from  the  gardens  of  Mr.  R.  Montagu 
Turner  at  Bedfords,  Havering.  Besides  such 
sorts  as  Cox's,  Rival  and  Winter  Ribston,  of 
great  dessert  value,  but  well  known  to  all 
who  attend  the  R.H.S.  meetings,  there  were 
several  varieties  which  are  not  so  popular, 
though  of  equal  merit,  and  of  these  the  old- 
time  favourite,  Cornish  Gillifiower,  was  of  ex- 
cellent appearance. 

Novelties  in  the  vegetable  line  are  scarcely 
to  be  expected,  and  the  nearest  approach  was 
a  goodly  collection  of  Sutton's  Variegated  Kale, 
which  is  quite  ornamental  when  growing  and  is 
said  to  be  good  eating,  though  one's  fancy  would 
naturallv  turn  to  their  Extra  Curled  Scotch  Kale. 


those  who  wished  to  get  a  general  impression  of 
the  exhibits  met  with  definite  settlement  by 
means  of  the  L.C.C.  regulation,  which  will  not 
permit  one. 

"  Correlative  Science  "  was  somewhat  of  a  poser. 
Many  of  the  Fellows  endeavoured,  with  more  or 
less  success,  to  accept  it  as  an  everyday  matter, 
but  were  obviously  relieved  when  the  President 
confessed  that  he  "  wasn't  sure  he  understood  what 


Royal  Horticultural  Society's 
Annual  Meeting 

WITH  such  a  President  as  Lord 
Lambournc  any  general  meeting 
is  bound  to  proceed  smoothly  and 
pleasantly,  even  if  there  had  been 
any  differences  of  opinion  held  by 
the  members  on  policy.  Lord  Lambourne  cieates 
such  an  admirable  atmosphere  of  good-fellowship 
that  it  was  small  wonder  to  find  that  everyone  left 
the  R.H.S.  annual  gathering  with  the  full  con- 
viction that  all's  well  with  the  horticultural  world. 
The  President,  however,  spoke  seriously  and  with 
intent  on  the  subject  of  illicit  commissions  which, 
he  stated,  were  within  his  own  knowledge  tendered 
by  an  unscrupulous  minority,  a  state  of  affairs 
which  "  reflects  discredit  on  all  classes  concerned." 
The  only  bone  of  contention,  if  it  were  conten- 
tion, related  to  the  presumed  lack  of  reasonable 
facilities  for  reaching  the  Wisley  Gardens.  Lord 
Lambourne  explained  that  a  London  General 
Onmibus,  which  leaves  Weybridge  Station  at 
regular  intervals,  will  carry  visitors  near  to  the 
entrance  and  also  that  the  matter  was  still  being 
considered  by  the  Council. 

The  suggestion  that  the  provision  of   a    gallery 
in  the  Hall  would  ease  congestion  by  providing  for 


JOHN    FRASER,    V.M.H. 

was  meant."      But  it  is  to  receive  the  early  anc" 
earnest  attention  of  the  Council. 

Home-grown  bulbs  are  again  to  come  to  tlj 
front,  for  the  Counc  '1  have  arranged  a  show  c 
dormant  bulbs  to  be  held  in  the  autumn  and  th- 
is to  be  followed  by  a  spring  show  of  flowers  in  19.:  3. 
This  should  be  valuable  assistance  to  the  already 
thriving  industry. 

Mention  was  also  made  of  the  alliance  with  the 
National  Rose  Society  and  the  projected  trials  of 
looses  at  Wisley,  which  will  perhaps  be  a  step 
I  nwards  towards  a  National  Rose  Garden. 

The  Treasurer,  who  seconded  the  adoption  of  the 
report,  was  most  hopeful  of  the  financial  future  o' 
the  Society.  He  remarked  upon  the  new  polic. 
of  putting  by  sums  of  money  to  act  as  an  insm'ance 
fund  for  the  gate  at  the  Chelsea  and  other  large 
shows  against  loss  through  unfavourable  weather, 
a  policy  which  met  with  general  approval.  In 
speaking  of  his  own  resignation,  Mr.  C.  G.  A.  Nix 
said  he  felt  that  with  the  increasing  financial  work 
the  treasurcrship  should  be  in  the  hands  of  a  more 
experienced  man  than  himself  and  he  was  of  the 
opinion  that  in  Mr.  C.  1.  .Musgrave  the  Society  has 
found  an  excellent  treasurer.  There  was  no 
election,  as  the  various  nominations  did  not  exceed 
the  vacancies. 

The  presentation  of  five  Victoria  Medals  of 
Honour  was  an  exceedingly  interesting  part  of  the 
meeting.  The  recipients  were  Lord  Lambourne, 
Mr.  John  Fraser,  Mr.  W.  A.  Bilney,  Mr.  Wm. 
Poupart  and  the  Rev.  .Arthur  Boscawen.  The 
Lawrence  Medal  was  awarded  to  Messrs.  Dobbie  and 
Co.  for  their  exhibit  of  Tulips  at  the  Hall  on  May 
10  and  II  of  last  year,  and  the  medal  was  handed 
to  Mr.  W.   Cuthbertson. 


February  25,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


97 


GARDENING    OF    THE    WEEK 


FOR    SOUTHERN    GARDENS. 

The  Kitchen  Garden. 
B  Cucumbers. — The  bed  of  leaves  and  manure 
having  been  prepared  and  allowed  to  settle  down, 
small  mounds  of  soil,  sufficient  in  number  to 
receive  the  plants,  shoiild  be  placed  in  position 
to  become  well  warmed  before  planting  is  done. 
Should  it  be  inconvenient  to  arrange  for  the  bed 
at  present,  the  young  plants  must  be  potted  on  and 
not  allowed  to  become  stunted,  for  having  been 
sown  early  last  month  it  is  quite  time  they  were 
growing  freely. 

General  Work. — When  the  soil  is  in  a  good 
working  condition  lightly  run  the  hoe  between 
plants  of  Winter  Spinach,  autumn-sown  Onions 
and  Carrots,  giving  the  first  two  a  dusting  of  soot 
at  the  same  time,  removing  also  any  decayed  foliage 
from  the  Spinach.  Where  a  portion  of  the  Onions 
are  for  transplanting  it  may  be  done  now  on  to  a 
well  prepared  piece  of  ground  in  rows  i5ins. 
apart.  As  different  batches  of  winter  greens  are 
used  up,  push  on  with  the  preparation  of  the 
ground,  so  that  when  wanted  later  the  minimum 
of  time  will  be  necessary  in  its  final  usage. 

Seeds  to  Sow. — When  the  soil  is  in  a  workable 
state  Parsnip  seed  shoifld  be  sown  without  delay. 
A  deeply  worked  piece  of  land  should  be  chosen, 
and  where  this  is  of  a  heavy  texture  choose  a  stump- 
rooted  variety  for  preference  to  minimise  deformity 
of  growth.  iSetween  the  rows  of  Early  Peas  on  a 
warm  border  sow  seed  of  Spinach.  Seed  of  Carrots 
may  be  sown  on  a  warm  border. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

The  Spring  Beds. — Plants  occupying  these 
beds  should  be  examined  and  all  losses  made  good 
from  the  reserve  plot.  Choose  a  day  when  the 
soil  is  fairly  dry  so  that  the  surface  of  the  beds 
may  be  stirred  a  little  and  chance  seedling  weeds 
destroyed. 

Hydrangea  paniculata. — All  weakly  wood  should 
be  removed  and  strong  growths  cut  back  to  stout 
basal  eyes  when  pruning  this  plant.  The  present 
time  is  a  suitable  one  for  planting  fresh  positions 
with  the  Hydrangea,  and  should  it  be  the  aim  of  the 
planter  to  introduce  other  plants  into  the  bed  the 
spacing  of  the  Hydrangeas  must  be  arranged 
accordingly.  A  spring  display  may  easily  be 
arranged  for  by  giving  the  bed  a  carpeting  of 
Polyanthus,  Forget-me-nots,  &c.  A  well  enriched 
soil  of  a  good  depth  is  necessary  to  get  the  best 
results  from  this  Hydrangea,  and  if  possible,  a 
good  aimual  mulching  should  be  worked  into 
the  soil  each  spring. 

General  Work.^ — -Flower  beds  not  occupied  with 
plants  for  a  spring  display  may  be  dug  thoroughly, 
working  some  humus  into  the  soil  if  thought 
necessary.  Viola  stools  should  be  lifted  and,  after 
giving  what  attention  is  necessary  to  the  site,  they 
may  be  carefully  divided  and  replanted.  In  some 
districts  this  replanting  of  th'^  old  stock  will  have 
to  be  done  on  a  larger  scale  than  usual  this  spring 
owing  to  the  scarcity  of  cuttings  available  last 
autumn.  A  sufficient  stock  of  Sweet  Pea  plants 
should  be  arranged  for.  Grow  them  as  sturdily 
as  possible.  Should  the  weather  be  unfavourable 
for  any  ground  operations,  see  that  all  stakes  and 
brushwood  are  in  order  for  use  among  the  plants 
on  the  borders  during  the  season. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 
Autumnal  Raspberries. — These  are  useful 
where  a  long  Raspberry  season  is  appreciated, 
but  at  present  they  do  not  appear  to  be  particularly 
well  known,  or,  at  any  rate,  very  popular.  To 
those  first  planting  this  section  it  must  be  mentioned 
that  the  fruit  is  borne  on  the  new  wood  each  year, 
so  when  pruning,  cut  the  canes  down  to  the  ground 
within  a  few  stout  buds.  This  can  be  done  now, 
and,  if  necessary,  a  mu'.ch  of  wtU  decayed  leaves 
and  manure  given.  It  is  not  too  late  to  plant, 
provided  the  business  is  attended  to  at  once. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Melons. — The  main  soil  ingredient  for  the 
successful  cultivation  of  this  fruit  is  good  fibrous 
loam,  to  which  may  be  added  a  small  portion  of 
spent  Mushroom  manure,  a  little  mortar  rubble 
and  wood-ash.  Whether  grown  in  pots  or  beds. 
a  firm  rooting  medium  is  necessary  to  prevent 
grossness  of  growth,  which  is  ofttimes  a  forerunner 
of  canker.  So  arrange  the  fixing  of  the  plants 
that  when  in  their  permanent  quarters  the  soil 
immediately  around  the  stems  is  slightly  raised 
above  the  remainder. 

H.   Turner. 
f Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland.) 

Albury  Park  Gardens,  Guildford. 


FOR    NORTHERN     GARDENS. 

The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Cucumbers. — Growth  should  be  encouraged  by 
keeping  the  atmosphere  warm  and  moist.  Stop 
the  leading  shoot  and  thus  encourage  the  necessary 
quantity  of  lateral  growths  for  covering  the  trellis. 
.4 void  overcrowding  of  the  foliage  and,  as  the  fruit 
sets,  thin  freely,  as  over-cropping  readily  exhausts 
the  plant  and  tends  towards  deterioration  in  the 
quoJity  of  the  fruit.  When  the  roots  show  on  the 
surface  add  a  top-dressing  of  rich  compost  and 
thus  add  to  the  vigour  and  longevity  of  the  vine. 
Should  dull  weather  prevail  at  this  time  do  not 
sjTinge  the  foliage.  Damping  of  the  w.iUs  and  paths 
will  suffice. 

Sprouting  Potatoes.— Seed  of  early  and  second 
early  varieties  should  be  examined  and  placed  in 
shallow  boxes  to  sprout.  Everything  possible  should 
be  done  to  encourage  a  slow  development  of  sturdy 
growth,  for  if  the  finest  results  are  to  be  obtained 
from  the  early  crop,  the  seed  should  receive  every 
attention  that  can  be  bestowed  on  it.  When  the 
tubers  are  allowed  to  lie  in  heaps  and  produce 
long  sprouts  that  are  easily  damaged  or  eventually 
rubbed  off,  the  seed  naturally  loses  much  of  its 
vitality.  Give  plenty  of  light  after  growth  is 
visible,  but  until  then  a  partly  darkened  structure 
is  best.  In  our  northern  district.  May  Queen, 
Midlothian  Early  and  Sharp's  Victor  are  favoinrite 
sorts  for  early  work. 

Asparagus. — Place  another  batch  of  the  roots 
of  this  popular  vegetable  in  a  forcing  pit  or  warm 
frame  so  that  regular  supplies  may  be  maintained. 
Cover  over  with  about  4ins.  of  soil  and  pack  firmly 
between  the  roots.  Asparagus  will  force  readily 
in  a  temperature  of  from  5.=,°  to  60°.  When  growth 
appear?,  spray  overhead  during  the  afternoon  with 
tepid  water. 

Saladings.— Sow  turnip-rooted  Radishes  at 
regular  intervals  on  a  gentle  hotbed  and,  should 
the  weather  be  frosty,  cover  the  sashes  with 
protecting  material  as  the  slightest  check  at  this 
period  causes  toughness  in  the  root.  A  quick 
hearting  variety  of  Lettuce  may  also  be  sown  for 
pricking  out  in  frames  later.  Weekly  sowings  of 
Mustard  and  Cress  should  also  be  made  in  boxes 
and  placed  in  a  warm  vinery,  thus  ensuring  quick 
and  tender  growth. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 
Peaches   and   Nectarines. — The   pruning   and 

training  of  Poach  trees  or  Nectarines  out  of  doors 
should  be  no  longer  delayed,  as  given  a  favourable 
spell  of  weather  the  buds  wiU  now  swell  rapidly. 
Provided  the  trees  received  proper  attention  during 
the  summer  and  autumn  months,  very  little  %vood 
will  now  require  to  be  cut  out,  with  the  exception  of 
any  odd  shoots  that  may  have  to  be  removed  to 
avoid  overcrowding.  In  carrying  out  the  training, 
first  tie  in  the  principal  branches,  distributing 
them  evenly  over  the  allotted  space,  and  then  lay 
in  the  young  shoots  in  such  a  manner  as  to  give 
the  tree  a  well  balanced  appearance.  Should  traces 
of  scale  or  red  spider  be  noticed  the  trees  should  be 
cleansed  with  a  dressing  of  Gishurst's  Compound 
before  being  tied  in.  Apply  the  dressing  with  an 
ordinary  paint  brush,  working  from  the  base  to 
the  point  of  the  shoot  and,  in  this  way,  lessen  the 
likelihood  of  damage  to  the  buds. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Herbaceous  Borders.— Any  re-arranging  of 
plants  in  the  hardy  border  should  now  be  carried 
through,  provided  the  soil  is  in  good,  workable 
condition.  In  preparing  the  border  work  in  a 
generous  supply  of  leaf  mould  and  well  rotted 
manure,  as  most  plants  in  the  herbaceous  border 
are  gross  feeders.  When  planting,  group  the  various 
plants  in  good-sized  masses. 

Single  Dahlias. — From  seed  sown  now  nice 
strong  plants  may  be  had  ready  for  planting  out 
early  in  June.  Sow  in  pans  containing  a  light, 
rich  compost  and  germinate  in  a  genial  temperature. 
When  the  seedlings  are  about  an  inch  high  pot  them 
separately  and  stand  in  a  warm  frame  for  a  period. 
Guard  against  the  ravages  of  slugs. 

Polyanthus.— Sow  in  boxes  of  good  sweet  soil 
and  exercise  patience  in  awaiting  the  germination 
of  the  seed  as  at  times  this  is  both  slow  and  irregular. 
Place  a  piece  of  dull  glass  over  the  seed  box,  as 
this  helps  to  keep  the  soil  moist.  When  the  seed- 
lings are  sufficiently  advanced,  prick  out  into 
boxes  and  gradually  harden  off  by  placing  in 
a  cold  frame,  finally  transferring  to  nursery  lines 
in  the  open  border  about  the  end  of  May. 
James  McGran, 

(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.) 

Coodkam,  Kilmarnock,  N.  B, 


CONSERVATORY   AND    GREENHOUSE. 

Cannas  in  small  pots  for  greenhouse  decoration 
are  not  so  generally  grown  as  their  merits  deserve  ; 
this,  probably,  because  their  cultivation  in  this 
way  is  not  generally  understood,  yet  by  growing 
successional  batches  they  may  be'  had  in  flower 
right  throughout  the  summer  months.  If  there 
is  plenty  of  heat  at  command  a  start  can  be  made- 
early  in  January,  but  where  it  is  not  desired  to. 
use  so  much  heat,  now  is  a  good  time  to  make  a 
start.  An  average  temperature  of  50°  will  suit 
them  very  well,  allowing  it  to  rise  to  60°  w-ith 
sun-heat  during  the  day  For  this  method  of 
cultivation  good  strong  rhizomes  should  be 
selected,  using  one  strong  lead  for  each  pot ;  they 
should  be  placed  directly  into  4in.  pots,  potting 
them  on  afterwards  into  the  6in.  size.  Use  at 
all  times  a  rich  compost,  as  they  are  gross  feeders. 
One-third  of  the  compost  should  consist  of  drv, 
well  decayed  cow  manure  or  old  mushroom-bed 
manure,  which  will  obviate  the  need  for  leaf- 
mould.  As  the  rhizomes  are  very  apt  to  decay, 
they  should  have  but  little  water  until  they  have 
made  some  root  and  have  started  into  growth. 
When  in  full  growth  thev  enjoy  liberal  supplies 
of  water  and  plenty  of  feeding.  Growth  should  be 
restricted  to  one  strong  shoot,  which — if  the  right 
varieties  are  used— should  flower  when  about 
r8ins.  in  height.  The  following  are  a  few  of  the 
sorts  that  are  suited  for  this  particular  style  of 
cultivation :  J.  B.  van  der  Schoot,  President 
Meyer,  Alphonse  Bouvier,  Elizabeth  Hoss.  Frau 
E.  Kracht,  Duke  Ernst,  R.  Wallace,  Konigin 
Charlotte,  Gaekwar  of  Baroda,  Papa  Crozy,  Meteor 
and  W.   Watson. 

Tuberoses  are  again  being  offered  by  dealers. 
When  received  they  should  be  potted  into  4in. 
pots,  afterwards  shifting  them  into  the  6in.  size. 
If  it  is  desired  to  force  them,  they  should  be 
placed  in  a  temperature  of  65°,  plunging  them  in 
a  bed  with  bottom-heat  at  command.  They 
require  careful  watering  until  they  have  made 
some  root  and  started  to  grow  freely,  when  the 
temperature  should  be  increased  to  70°  or  75° 
As  the  flowers  appear  they  should  be  removed 
to  a  cool  house.  If  it  is  not' desired  to  force  them, 
they  may  be  grown  under  much  cooler  conditions, 
in  a  temperature  of,  say,  .■jn"  to  55°  or  so,  for  in 
the  south  they  will  grow  outdoors  during  the 
summer  in  light,  w-arm  soils. 

Watsonias  are  sometimes  offered  by  dealers 
about  this  time,  and  they  are  very  desirable  for 
the  cool  greenhouse.  The  most  beautiful  one 
for  pot  work  is  the  white-flowered  Watsonia 
Meriana  (iridifolia)  Ardernei,  which  is  frequently 
sold  as  var.  O'Brienii.  Four  or  five  corms  should 
be  placed  in  a  7in.  pot.  In  common  with  most 
South  ."ifrican  bulbous  plants,  they  only  require 
a  cool  greenhouse  temperature.  Very  little 
water  should  be  given  until  plenty  of  roots  are 
produced  and  the  plants  commence  to  grow. 
Well  grown  examples  reach  a  height  of  some  3ft. 

Liliums. — As  bulbs  come  to  hand  they  should 
be  potted  up  at  once,  since  they  quickly  suffer 
if  left  exposed  to  air.  If  there  is  any  delav  in 
potting  they  should  be  kept  covered  with  moist 
leaf-soil  or  fibre.  Many  species  of  Liliums  are 
stem  rooting.  In  potting  such,  room  should  be 
left  for  a  top  dressing  of  several  inches  of  soil. 
Lilium  auratum,  L.  speciosum,  L.  Henryi  and 
L.  regale  are  good  examples  of  stem-rooting 
Lilies.  Lilium  regale  is  a  beautiful  species  for 
pot  cultivation  and  is  easily  raised  from  seed. 
With  good  cultivation  it  will  commence  to  flower 
when  about  two  years  old,  as  also  will  L.  sutchuen- 
ense  and  L.  tenuifolium  ;  in  fact,  the  use  of  home- 
grown plants  raised  from  seed  is  the  only  war 
successfully  to  grow  and  to  keep  many  beautiful 
Liliums.  When  flowering  bulbs  are  potted  they 
are  best  stood  in  cold  frames,  where  the  pot's 
should  be  covered  with  leaf-soil  or  fibre.  This 
keeps  them  moist  and  does  away  with  the  necessity 
for  frequent  watering  until  they  have  made  plenty 
of  root  and  commenced  to  grow.  If  cold  frames 
are  not  available  they  may  be  stood  outdoors  at 
the  bottom  of  a  wall,  covering  them  with  leaf-soil. 

Erythrina  Crista-galli  is  a  beautiful  plant  for 
the  cool  greenhouse,  and  a  stock  of  plants  can- 
easily  be  raised  from  seed  at  this  time.  It  is 
also  easily  raised  from  cuttings,  taken  off  with  a 
paring  of  old  wood — like  Dahlia  cuttings — when 
the  shoots  are  about  3ins.  long.  Old  plants  which 
have  been  kept  dry  all  winter  should  be  started 
in  a  little  heat  at  this  time  and  will  soon  give 
plenty  of  cuttings  from  the  old  woody  root-stocks. 
In  dealing  with  young  plants  care  should  be  taken 
not  to  dry  them  off  too  much  during  winter  until 
they  have  made  a  fairly  large  root-stock.  I  have 
seen  several  batches  of  young  plants  lost  in  this 
wav.  through  the  ignorance  of  young  cultivators. 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kew.  J.   Coutts. 


98 


THE     GARDEN. 


[February  25,  192^ 


ALL    PRICES 
REDUCED 

specification  H./5. 

The  fronts  arc  ilin.  high,  back  22in. 
hi^h.  i-iight  frame,  4ft.  f>y  6jt., 
Reduced  Price,  £4.  2 -light  frame, 
Sft.  by  6ft.,  Reduced  Price,  £6  lOs. 
3-light  frame,  12ft.  bv 
Reduced    Price,     £9     2s. 


0/A, 


B.  &  P.  Garden  Frames 
for  your  Winter  Salads 


DUY  your  Violet  Frames 

and     preserv^e     your 

plants   through    the    cold 

winter     months.         Buv 


B.  &:  P.  Garden  Frames 
— they  are  strongly  built 
and  afford  full  protection 
to      plants      and      bulbs. 


B.  &  P.  Garden  Frames  last  because  they  are  stoutly  made 
of  sound  materials.  Only  British  made  glass  used.  Write 
to-day    for   particulars    and   prices.     Catalogue   free   on  request. 

GARDEN  FRAMES  OF  GREAT 
\  ARIETY  IN  STOCK.  IMMEDIATE 
DELI\  ERY— ALL  PRICES  REDUCED. 

Inquiries  invited  tor  Greenhouses,  Conservatories,  N'inery  Ranges,  Carnation  Houses, 
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n-ith     full     CMlturn!     Instructions.    Post    frcf. 


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Dept.  No.  9. 

The    Scotch 

Seed    House, 


CHESTER 


Coll.  No.  itL  a.  6  distinct  varieties       

ilLi'b.S  ..  ..  

i)L/c.  12       ,,  .,         (including 

\92\  Novelties 

9L(d.  25  plants  in  variety     

9L/e.  110    „        ,.  

9L/f.    6    Novelties    1922  varieties 
our  selection 


ALLWOODI 


(The   New   Hardy   Plant) 

Half  Pink  and  half  Carnation 
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BORDER   CARNATIONS. 

You  MUST  plant  now  if  you  are  to  set  the  best  results  thi: 
year.  We  huve  superb  stocks  of  all  the  leading  varieties  foi 
mmediate  delivery  ex  3i  in.  pots.  The  undermentioned 
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Coll.  No.  SL/a.      6  distinct  varieties S/- 

8Lib.     1*^        ..  15/- 

SL/c.    50  plants  in  variety  ...    55/- 

SL/d.  100  plants  in  12  best 

St. indard  varieties      ...  100/-/ 
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Beautiful  Hardy  Flowers 

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SPRING  FLOWERING  SHRUBS. 

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V.  N.  Gauntlktt  &■  Co..  Ltd., 

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Descriptive  Catalogues,  really  Horticultural 

Dictionaries.     FREE     on     application     to — 

THOMPSON     <&     MORGAN,    IPSWICH. 


From    FIELD    to    SEA. 

By  C.   H.  J.  CLAYTON,    M.S.E.,  A.M.I.  Mech.E. 
Chief    Drainage    Engineer   to   the    Board   of  .Agri- 
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Crown  8vo,  Illustrated.        6/-  net.      By  post  6/6 
A  full  prospectus  of  this  important  work  post  tree  on 


application    to    the    Manager,    "Country     Life, 
Tavistock  Street.  Covent  Garden,  W.C.2 


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'^ol.  LXXXVl.— No.  2624. 

ntered  as  SecooJ-class  Matter  at  the  New  York.N.Y.,  Post  Office. 


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FOR    THE    GARDEN! 
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Also  Fruit  Trees,  Shrubs,  Ornamental  Trees. 
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Garden  Specialists,  SOUTHWELL,  NOTTS. 


BARR'S     FLOWER     SEED 
NOVELTIES    AND    SPECIALITIES   for    1922. 

Dahlia   Peter   Pan,   charming   miniature   strain,   commencing  to   flower  when  about   a  foot 
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Echium  Wildpretii,  a  beauliiul  I'lan:  frr  the  greenhouse,  silvery  silky  foliage,  purpUsh  pink 

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Lupinus,  Barr's  New  Hybrid  White  Strain,  large  pure  ,.hite  flowers  .  .  Per  pkt.  2,(6 
Ostrowskia  magnifica,  immense  silvery  lUac  beU-shaped  flTOors  ..  ..  P.-rpkt.  IZ- 
Papaver  alpinum  Shell  Pink,  a  lev,  ly  Alpine  Poppy Per  pkt.  2/6 

Papaver  Orientale,  Barr's  New  White,  large  handsome  flowers  ..Per  pkt.  3/6 

Primula    Beautiful    New    Hybrids    of    Pulverulenta,    Beesiana,    *^°''|,*';"™"^;g  ^'^""j-gj^ 

Descriptive  Catalogue  of  othur  c/iotte  Flower  Seeds  and  a  select  list  of  the 
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"THE   GARDEN"  CATALOGUE    GUIDE 


Rose  Specialists 


ELISHA  J.  HICKS,  M.C.  N.R.S..  etc. 

HURST,  BERKS 

The  Chamtion    Deoorative  Rose   Grower    of  England 


WALTER    EASLEA    &    SONSi 

EASTWOOD,    LEIGH-ON-SEA,    ESSEX- 

Essex  produces  the  World's  Finest  Roses. 

Our  plants  are  grown  in  fields  exposed  to  sea  air. 

All  the  latest  and  best  varieties. 


Fruit  Trees  and  Plants 


PERRY'S 

Hardy  Plant  Farms 

ENFIELD,  MIDDX. 


New  Alpine* 
and  Perennlaie 

Complete 
Collection 


KELWAY   &   SON 
Retail  Plant  Department 
LANGPORT,  SOMERSET 


Hardy  Plants 
Colour  Borders 
Gladioli 


HARDY    AZALEAS    AND    FLOWERING    SHRUBS 

R.  &   G.  CUTHBERT 
SOUTHGATE 
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Established  1797 


For  planting  and 
Conservatory 
decoration. 
Catalogue  of  our 
new  and  beautiful 
varletiee  poet 


LAXTON   BROS. 

Nurseries 

BEDFORD 


Strawberries 

and 

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G.  H.  RICHARDS 
234,  Borough 
LONDON,  S.E.I 


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only. 


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W.WALTERS  &CO. 
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CROYDON,  SURREY 


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50/51,  Fetter  Lane,  E.C.4. 
Branch  Depot  : 

141  Holborn  Bars 


Garden  Tools  01 
all  kinds. 
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CORRY   &   CO.,  Ltd. 

Shad  Thames,  S.E.i  and 
Bedford  Chambers 
CovENT  Garden,  W.C.2 


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of  Hortloultural 
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Fertilizer*  and 
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J.  BENTLEY,  Ltd. 
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HULL 


Weed  Deetroyers 
Lawn  Sand 
Ineeotlold** 
Shrub*,  eto. 


Landscape  Gardening 


W.  WELLS,  JuNR. 
Hardy  Plant  Nursery 
MERSTHAM,  SURREY 

PULMa.M  S)  SON 

TME  NUteERtCS-nLSENHAM 
STANSTED  •  ESSEX 


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WISBECH 

Seeds 

W.  H.  GAZE  &  SONS,  Ltd. 
High  Street 
KINGSTON-ON-THAMES 


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and  Water  Gardens, 
Model  Gardens. 
Portsmouth  Road. 
Sixrbiton, 


R.  WALLACE   &   CO., 
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TUNBRIDGE   WELLS 


Ltd. 


LandBoape  &  Oardeo 
Architects.  Qi  eeo 

AlexaDdra'a    Cup    foi 
Best  Rock  aod  Watei 
Oarden,  laternatlona' 
Show.  1912. 


J.  CHEAL  &   SONS,  Ltd. 

Nurseries 

CRAWLEY 


Landecape 
Qardenere 
Treee  and 
ShriilM.  eto. 


BLACKMORE  &  LANGDON 
TwERTON  Hill  Nursery 
BATH 


Begonlaa 
Delphinlume 
Qloxinlaa 
Cyolamen,  eto. 


DAWKINS 

408,  King's  Road 

CHELSEA,  S.W. 


Seed  Catalogue 
and  Qladioli 
List  free  on 
application 


SPENCE'S  DESCRIPTIVE  CATALOGUE  of 
SELECTED  SCOTCH  SEED  POTATOES  from 
the  famous  Dunbar  district,  post  free.  Please 
mention  "  The  Garden."— CHAS.T.SPENCE, 
Seed  Potato  Specialist,  DUNBAR. 


NATURE    &    ART. 

Largest  and  finest  stock  of   CLIPPED 
YEW  &  BOX  TREES  in  the  country. 
Thousands  of  Specimens  to  select  from. 
Catalogues  free  on  demand. 
JOHN  KLINKERT,  F.R.H.S.,  M.C.H 
Kew    Topiary    Nurseries, 

RICHMOND,    LONDON 


MISS  EVELYN  FAWSSETT 

(Specialist  in  (i:irden  Planning) 

83,  High  Street 
LEWES,  SUSSEX 


New  Gardens  tie 
signed.  Old  Gardens 
Re-arranged.  Plant- 
ing plans  )or  borders, 
etc.  Terms  on  appli- 
cation. 


aOLD     MEDAL    CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 

Catalogue  free  containing  full  list  of  all  the  best  and  up-to- 
date  varieties  in  all  sections,  also  list  of  Novelties  for  19'22. 

QOLD   MEDAL  MICHAELMAS  DAISIES. 

I  shall  be  pleased  to  supply  for  63|-  one  each  of  the  SO 
varieties  for  which  I  was  awarded  the  Gold  Medal  of  the 
K  H.S.  in  September  last,  or  will  make  special  selections 
at  10/-,  15/-  and  20/-  per  dozen. 

QOLD  MEDAL  PERENNIAL  PHLOX. 

If  you  want  the  best  try  H.  J.  JONES'  selection.  VI  very 
fine  unnamed,  all  colours  mixed.  6/-  ;  12  very  fine  named 
varieties.  10/-;  12  extr;i  fine  named,  15/-;  12  very  fine  New 
varieties,  20/-.     

Catalogue  of  the  above  and  many  other  good  plants  from 

H.  J.  JON  ES,  Ryecroft  Nurseries,  LEWISHAM,  S.E.13 


^UBS      FOR     SHRUBS. 

■  WIRE  BOUND  PATENT,  over  100 
prizes.  R.H.S.  Medal,  1910.  No  warping  or 
shrinking.  In  Oak,  Beech.  Teak.  &c.  Highly 
decorative. — Price  List  from  PnAOAr.  tS:  Co  . 
2(5  Goodge  Street,  London,  W.l, 


FORBES'  Catalogue. 

Florists'  Flowers,  Hardy  Plants,  Vegetable 
and   Flower   Seeds,  Free  on  Application. 

JOHN      FORBEIS     (Hawick),      Ltd., 

The    King's     Nurserymen, 

HAWICK,  SCOTLAND. 


GIANT 

SWEET  PEAS 


SPECIAL  OFFER  for  1922. 


Every  Seed   offered   is  hand-picked,   therefore, 
every  Seed  may  be  relied  upon. 

■I'ho    following   SWEET    PE.\S   are   a   very    choice 
scleciion  of  iho   GI.VNT   WAVED   OR  FRILLED 
TYPE     (foiir-flowered     undir     good     cullivation) 
rcpri'sent  ins  a  wonderful  range   of  colour  suitable 
for   "arden  clfict,   for   cutting   in  abundance,  also 
superb  for  cxl.iliition.     .Ml  strong  growers,  giving 
giMid  strni-^. 
Alexander  Malcolm,  giant  now  fine  cerise. 
Annie    Ireland,  giant  iiicotee. 
Brocade,  giant  rosy  lilac. 
Charity,  giant  crimson. 
Cherub,  giant  crraniy  piootco. 
Daisy  Bud,  giant  pink. 
Hawlmark  Pink,  giant  bright  rose  pink. 
Illuminator,  giant  salnmn. 
Jack  Cornwall,  V.C.,  giant  rich  violet  blue. 
King  White,  giant  wl.iti-. 
IVIavourneen,  giant  rich  pink. 
New  Buttercup,  giiint  cream. 
Pastel  Blue,  giant  pale  blue. 
Prince  o(  Wales,  giant  rose. 
R.  F.  Felton,  giant  Lavonrlcr. 
Royal   Purple,  giant  bright  purple. 
Royal  Salute,  giant  light  crise. 
Scarlet  Emperor,  giant  scarlet. 
St.  George  improved,  giant  coral. 
Tangerine,  giant  orange. 
The  President,  giant  deep  orange. 
Vermillion  Brilliant,  giant  Vermillion. 
Wedgewood,  giant  fine  Wedgcwood  blue. 
Warrior,  giant  bright  maroon. 
SPECIAL.—  One  full-sized  packet  of  each  of  the 
fori'going    !.pk-udiil    Sweet    Peas  -  a    Bne    range    o( 
colour  for   cutting   or  show -for  cash,  21/-,  post 
fnc.     One   half  paek't   of   each,    for   cash,   10/6, 
post  free. 

FKEK.— One  p.icUet  tif  "Mrs.  Tom  Jones,"  the  new 
jjiant  fouf-Hnwered  bright  blue,  will  be  ^iven  free  with 
t'Lich  order  for  the  above. 

FRHE.-"The  Culture  of  £weet  Peas,"  by  Henry 
Hukford,  price  Sd.,  given  free  with  each  order  for  the 
above  when  asked  for. 

Write  for  Catalotiue  «ivink  details  of  all  the  finest 
Sweet  Peas  in  existence,  the  Choicest  Flowers  and 
VetJct.ihlcs  foi-  lyj'J. 

HENRY  ECKFORD,  Sweet  Pea  Specialist 

(Dept.    61),     WEM,     SHROPSHIRE. 


CHRYSANTHEMUMS.    ^ 

Rooted    and    Unrooted    Cuttings    now    ready    for 

all  purposes. 

Descnptix'c  List  free  from 

S.     AISH,    CHRYSANTHEMUM     NURSERY, 

Dunstable,      Beds. 

Awarded  Silver  Medal  on  Jan.  17,  1922,  ly  R.  H.S., 
Westminster,  for  Decorative  Ciirysantliemums. 

NEW    ROSES.    ^ 

Two    fine    Novelties    raised   by    us. 

"GLOWWORM"  (Pernetiana) 

May  be   described  as  a  perpetual   flowering 
Austrian  Copper.     Very  fragrant. 

"LULU" 

Tlie  longest  bud  of  any  rose.     Lovely  Apricol 

colour.    Surpasses  "Irish  Elegance."    GraniJ 

for  table  decoration?. 

Splendid    field   grown    plants   of    both    varieties 
2/6  each.        24/-  doz.,  Carr.  Paid. 


WALTER  EASLEA  &  SONS 

Rose     Specialists, 
EASTWOOD,     LEIGH  -  ON  -  SEA 


No  Z634-VOL  Lxxxvi]     NOTES  OF  THE  WEEK 


[March  4,  1922. 


MARCH     MORNING. 

Four  corners  to  ray  garden  span, 
Four  almond  trees  in  bloom.  .  .  . 

What  should  I  ask  of  God  or  Man  ? 
My  heart  has  no  more  room  ! 

V.  H.  Friedlaexder. 

Secret  Commissions. — Last  week's  "  \otes  of 
the  Week"  were  devoted  to  the  consideration  of 
some  aspects  of  the  work  of  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural ISociety.  This  week  it  may  be  well  to 
consider  some  of  the  points  made  by  the  President 
in  his  speech  at  the  annual  general  meeting. 
Lord  Lambourne  said  that  he  did  not  suggest 
that  secret  commissions  and  other  illegal  practices 
were  more  prevalent  in  connexion  with  the  horti- 
cultural trades  than  with  others.  With  due 
respect  to  his  lordship's  opinion,  it  is  greatly  to 
Lie  feared  that  he  is  mistaken.  The  truth  is  that 
horticulture  as  a  profession  being  the  most  ill- 
paid  of  all,  professional  gardeners  are  for  the 
most  part  either  whole-souled  enthusiasts,  such 
as  the  one  described  in  our  issue  of  February  i8 
(page  81),  or  men  of  little  purpose  and  sometimes 
lesser  attainments  who  have  not  the  moral  strength 
to  refuse  a  bribe.  They  do  not,  of  course,  call  it 
a  bribe  or  even  permit  themselves  so  to  consider 
it.  Indeed,  like  the  politicians  who  repeat  a  lie 
until  they  themselves  believe  it  truth,  after 
accepting  such  "  presents" 
a  few  times  these  men  come 
to  look  upon  them  as 
lawful  emoluments  or  per- 
quisites. Nor  is  this  all. 
They  begin  to  consider  that 
they  have  a  grievance  against 
law-abiding  firms  who  refuse 
to  give  these  commissions, 
and  point  out  to  their 
employers  what  they  are 
pleased  to  consider  short- 
comings in  their  seeds, 
plants  or  sundries  which 
would  not  have  been  "  dis- 
covered" had  the  com- 
mission been  paid.  "*] 

An  Omission.— It  is  an 
extraordinary  thing  that 
so  common-sense  a  measure 
as  the  Secret  Commissions 
Act  should  have  been  placed 
upon  the  Statute  Book  at 
so  comparatively  late  a 
date.  This  deplorable  thing 
has  become  a  custom — a 
custom  to  which  it  is 
difficult  to  put  an  end. 
Many  a  man  who  would 
scorn  to  sell  old  seed — or 
even  to  mix  old  seeds  with 


new  to  ■' use  them  up" — has  said  with  Hamlet, 
"  '  I  am  myself  indifferent  honest,  but  yet  .  .  . ' 
I  do  not  see  why  I  should  stand  by  and  see  a  good 
customer  filched  away — Commissions  Act  or  no 
Commissions  .^ct."  So  we  get  a  vicious  circle  : 
gardener  corrupting  tradesman,  tradesman 
corrupting  gardener.  If  some  firm  is  detected 
and  a  case  made  out,  it  is  almost  always 
against  one  of  the  firms  mentioned  who  would 
fain  be  honest.  The  blackest  sheep  of  all  are  as  a 
rule  too  artful  so  to  be  caught  napping. 

The  Remedy.^This  notwithstanding,  and 
despite  inevitable  hardship  to  individuals — to 
those,  in  short,  who  break  that  well  l<nown  business 
"  Commandment  "  Thou  shall  not  get  found  out — 
it  is  vital  that  the  law  as  it  stands  should  be 
ruthlessly  enforced.  It  would  be  an  excellent 
thing  if  every  garden  owner  were  to  impress  upon 
his  staff,  in  plain  words,  the  iniquity  of  the  custom 
and  his  own  resolution  to  take  drastic  steps  to 
cope  with  the  evil  should  any  case  come  to  his 
knowledge.  Beyond  that,  the  remedy  lies  with 
His  Majesty's  judges,  who,  remembering  that, 
like  blackmail,  this  is  a  most  insidious  crime  and 
a  peculiarly  difficult  one  to  detect,  should  administer 
the  law  with  the  utmost  severity. 

Rubbish  Merchants. — While  Lord  Lambourne 
is  endeavouring  to  clean  out  Augean  stables,  he 
might    well    consider    whether    there   is    anv   con- 


PERHAPS  THE  MOST  BEAUTIFUL  OF    ENCRUSTED    ROCKFOILS,   SAXIFRAGA   LINGULATA 
LANTOSCANA,  SHOULD  NOT  BE  OMITTED  FROM  THE   SMALLEST  ROCK  GARDEN. 


ceivable  way  of  bringing  within  reach  of  the  law 
the  "flat-catchers"  or  "rubbish  merchants" 
who  batten  on  amateur  gardeners,  especially 
novices.  Bearing  in  mind  that  they  cannot  hope 
for  repeat  orders,  it  seems  wonderful  how  they 
contrive  to  make  their  advertising  pay  until  one 
remembers  that,  unlike  the  legitimate  trader, 
they  have  not  to  depend  upon  a  moderate  per- 
centage of  profit.  Gross  profits  and  net  profits 
are,  in  their  case,  separated  only  by  the  cost  of 
their  advertisements.  There  is  little  doubt  that 
some  of  the  worst  of  these  frauds  might  be  "  laid 
by"  for  obtaining  money  by  false  pretences 
were  it  not  for  the  very  natural  reluctance  of  their 
victims  to  expose  their  own  simplicity.  Readers 
of  The  Garden  will,  for  the  most  part,  have  little 
idea  of  the  dimensions  of  the  operations  carried 
on  by  some  of  these  sharks,  as  their  victims 
naturally  belong  to  the  less  sophisticated  class — 
to  those,  in  short,  who  can  least  afford  the  loss. 

Once  Bitten,  the  would-be  gardener  is  naturally 
shy  of  adventuring  a  second  time,  so  that,  apart 
from  the  immorality  of  the  business,  these  cheap- 
jacks  effectually  dissuade  many  thousands  of 
people  from  the  practice  of  a  recreation  which 
is  the  high  road  to  good  appetite,  good  health, 
good  temper,  good  taste  and  good  citizenship. 
Easy  Access  to  Wisley. — Another  point  raised 
at  the  annual  meeting,  and  one  to  which  the 
President  promised  the  con- 
sideration of  the  Council, 
was  the  question  of  the 
inaccessibility  of  the  Wisley 
Gardens.  It  may  be  that 
the  Council  have  figures 
giving,  at  any  rate  approxi- 
mately, the  number  of 
visitors  per  week  throughout 
the  year.  If  so,  they  may 
safely  allow  for  a  very 
considerable  increase  if 
better  facilities  are  pro- 
vided. The  question  will 
then  arise  as  to  whether 
it  would  not  be  possible 
on  certain  specified  days 
per  week  (or  per  month) 
to  run  at  a  moderate 
charge  chars-a-bancs  direct 
from  some  accessible  part 
of  the  Metropolis.  This 
seems  the  best  starting- 
point,  since  most  non- 
resident Fellows  visit 
London  at  least  once  a 
year,  while  for  the  vast 
majority  the  only  practic- 
able route  of  access,  unless 
in  their  own  conveyances, 
lies  through  London. 


100 


THE     GARDEN. 


[March  4,  192 


THE      ROADSIDE      GARDEN      HEDGE 

The  advantages  and  disadvantages  oj  different  materials.    Is   a  formal  hedge    as    necessary  as 

the  aspect  of  suburban  roads  would  make  one  believe? 


THE  first  consideratiou  in  dealing  with 
the  roadside  garden  is  the  material  to  be 
used  for  its  hedses.  Enclosure  is  neces- 
sary, and  is,  as  a  rule,  provided  Jor  in 
a  practical  manner  by  the  builder. 
Unfortunately,  the  provision  so  made  is  frequently 
chosen  on  account  of  the  economy  cf  expenditure 
nvolved  rather  than  with  a  view  to  getting 
anvthing  in  the  way  of  pleasing  effect.  Where  a 
permanent  fence  is  provided,  such  as  a  wall  or 
close  paUng  fence,  the  consideration  of  what 
material  to  use  hardly  enters  into  the  question,  as 
a  hedge  becomes  unneces- 
sary. Where,  however,  the 
division  between  the  road 
and  the  house  has  to  be 
a  live  one.  it  does.  This 
boundary  can  be  of  two 
sorts,  either  a  closely 
trimmed  hedge  or.  where 
room  and  other  circum- 
stances permit,  a  Hne  of 
evergreen  flowering 
shrubs  left  to  grow  as 
Nature  intended  them  to 
do.  The  first  is  the  one 
usually  adopted  to-day, 
not,  I  think,  because  it  is 
the  best  but,  being  com- 
monplace, it  is  the  most 
obvious  suggestion.  Ihe 
idea  appears  to  be  to 
plant  something  that 
can  be  trimmed  to  look 
as  much  like  a  green 
wall  as  possible,  hence 
the  material  employed  is 
restricted  to  a  few  shrubs 
of  which  Privet,  Box, 
Yew,  Holly,  and,  in 
favoured  districts,  Euon- 
ymus,  form  the  staple. 
These  can  all  be  trimmed 
to  form  quite  solid  walls, 
and  where  the  area  is  very 
much  restricted  this  is  an 
advantage.  It  is  also 
argued  that  where  such 
hedges  are  kept  closely 
and  well  cared  for  it 
gives  a  neat  and  tidy 
appearance  to  a  road. 
It  does,  but  at  the 
expense  of  interesting 
variety.  Its  adoption 
has  tended  to  make 
every  road  in  every 
district       look        exactly 

alike.  Euonymus  japonicus,  for  instance,  is  a 
very  fine  shrub  for  this  purpose  and.  where  it  will 
grow,  one  of  the  best.  It  has  a  solid,  comfortable 
appearance,  gives  a  rich  note  of  green  to  a  district, 
and  its  glossy  leaves  aliow  the  first  shower  to  wash 
ofl  the  accumulation  of  dust  that  is  inevitable  in 
these  days  of  motor  traffic.  But  in  seaside  districts 
where  it  is  used  almost  to  the  exclusion  of  every- 
thing else,  its  deadly  monotony  gets  very  tiring. 
As  an  alternative  there  is  English  Yew — perhaps 
the  best  of  all  hedging  materials  and  certainly  the 
most  interesting.  It  can  be  kept  as  sohd  as  a  wall 
if  desired  and  has  a  truly  English  note  •  "  Your 
lowland    hedges,     trim    lines    of    massive    green, 


suggestive  of  the  pleasaunces  of  old  Elizabethan 
houses  and  smooth  alleys  for  aged  feet."  Being 
accused  of  poisoning  cattle,  its  use  by  the  roadside 
is  deprecated,  though  why  cattle  should  be  allowed 
to  feed  on  a  hedge  I  fail  to  see.  It  will  last  as  long 
as  the  house  does,  and  is  amenable  to  the  most 
drastic  cutting.  It  is  almost  plastic  in  its  adapt- 
ability for  training  into  curious  and  grotesque 
shapes  for  those  who  like  such  things.  Personally, 
I  do  not  like  topiary  work  and  consider  it  a  false 
use  of  material,  but  many  people  do  like  it  not,  I 
think,    because   of   any   beauty   it   possesses,    but 


AMONG 
HEDGE 


FLOWERING 
OR       SCREEN 


SHRUBS  TO  FORM  AN  INFORMAL 
VIBURNUM  PLICATUM  MUST  TAKE 
HIGH    PLACE. 


because  it  suggests  an  association  with  old  garden-. 
Certainly  a  road  bordered  with  hedges  trained  into 
balls,  spires,  birds,  beasts  and  all  the  weird,  and 
often  ridiculous,  shapes  that  are  adopted  wjuld 
have  a  ghostly,  eerie  sort  of  eftect  in  the  moonlight. 
It  might  be  considered  by  some  people  to  be 
attractive  on  account  of  its  curious  absurdity, 
but  it  would  neve.-  appeal  to  anyone  with  a  love 
of  the  beautiful.  Holly  is  a  good  country  hedge, 
but  is  unsuitable  to  the  dusty  atmosphere  of  a 
tovm.  Not  only  that,  but  to  cut  Holly  into  rigid 
lines  is  to  destroy  its  principal  beauty,  which  U'  s 
in  its  natural  growth  and  berries.  Trimmed  solid, 
the  glory  of  its  winter  colour  is  lost.     Box  is  a  very 


satisfactory  hedge  and  possesses  all  the  adapt- 
abiUty  of  Yew  so  far  as  trimming  is  concerned. 
It  is  also  dehghtful  in  its  young  green,  and  strikes, 
a  colour  note  unobtainable  in  anything  else.  It 
possesses  with  Yew  the  advantage  that  it  is- 
lasting.  Privet  makes  a  good  hedge  for  many 
years,  but  cannot  be  considered  a  really  permanent 
planting.  I  think  the  use  of  coniferous  shrubs, 
for  trimmed  hedges  is  to  be  deprecated.  I  mean, 
of  course,  such  things  as  Thuya.  Cupressus  and  such 
shrubs,  the  beauty  of  which  lies  in  their  grace 
when  allowed  to  grow  as  Nature  intended  them  to 
do.  They  are  unsatisfactory  in  the  garden  for 
this  purpose  because  just  when  they  have  achieved 
the  solidity  so  desirable  to  the  hearts  of  many 
people  they  have  a  habit  of  dying  at  the  base,  and 
so  untidy  holes  are  created  just  where  density 
is  most  desirable. 

But  is  it  always  necessary  to  have  these  solid 
blocks  of  hedges  ?  Is  it  not  often  possible  to 
utiUse  the  beautiful  evergreen  flowering  shrubs 
in  such  a  way  that  they  will  form  the  necessary 
screen  without  being  carved  into  soUd  walls? 
It  means  giving  a  httle  more  room  to  the  hedge 
line,  and  this  is  often  an  insuperable  objection, 
but  wherever  space  permits  I  am  sure  the  road 
could  be  beautified  by  a  less  rigid  treatment  of  its 
boundary  lines.  Many  houses  have  in  front  of 
them  a  low  wall,  railing  or  fence.  Suppose  instead 
of  any  of  the  hedging  material  hitherto  mentioned 
a  httle  extra  space  were  given  to  the  growing  of 
Berberis  Darwinii  mingled  with  B.  stenophylla 
or  one  of  the  other  beautiful  forms.  What  a  glow 
of  orange  and  yellow  such  a  road  would  present 
in  the  flowering  season  !  Again,  in  the  autumn 
with  the  early  frost  the  changing  tints  of  the 
foliage  would  light  up  the  scene.  Even  in  winter 
they  are  beautiful,  especially  when  the  hoar  frost 
sprinkles  the  leaves  and  branches  with  myriads 
of  scintillating  gems.  Then  they  berry,  too.  some 
orange,  some  purple,  some  coral,  and  many  other 
tones.  They  can  be  pruned  to  keep  them  within 
the  necessary  compass,  without  losing  anythin  g 
of  their  natural  grace. 

Then  there  are  the  Escallonias,  constituting 
another  family  that  will  in  most  districts  give 
seclusion  without  rigidity  of  outhne.  E.  macrantha 
and  E.  Ingram!  are  among  the  best,  and  they  are 
evergreen,  sufficiently  dense,  and  their  habit 
exceedingly  graceftil.  Where  it  will  thrive,  too, 
the  hardy  Fuchsia  Riccartoni  makes  a  wonderful 
ctYect  as  a  roadside  hedge,  but  the  situation  must 
be  carefully  chosen  and  it  is  not  evergreen.  There 
are  many  other  shrubs  that  are  equally  suitable, 
but  it  involves  giving  not  less  than  4ft.  or  more 
than  6ft.  additional  space  to  the  boundary  hedge. 
Whether  the  garden  will  afford  it  is  a  matter  for 
the  owner  to  decide.  But  with  a  flowering  tree 
in  every  front  garden  and  the  hedges  treated  in 
the  way  I  have  suggested  the  roads  of  the  average 
suburb  would  lose  much  of  the  uninteresting 
monotony  they  now  have.     Georhe  Dillistone. 


FORTHCOMING     EVENTS. 

March  7.  —  Royal  Caledonian  Horticultural 
Society  s  Meeting 

.March  8. — East  .Anglian  Horticultural  Society  s 
Meeting. 

March  9, — Bristol  and  District  Gardening 
.Association's  Meeting. 

March    10.  —  Paisley  Florists'  Society's  .Meeting. 


March  4,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


101 


ON     RAISING     PALMS 
FROM    SEED 

There  is    little    difficulty    and    much 

interest   in   raising  Palms  oneself  ivhere 

a    modicum    of  fire    heat    makes    it 

possible. 

THE  raising  of  plants  by  an  unusual 
method  always  holds  a  special  interest, 
and,  it  must  be  conceded,  that  very  few 
of  us  have  made  the  experiment  of 
sowing  seeds  of  Palms.  In  the  large 
nurseries  that  make  a  speciaUty  of  this  class  of 
plants  it  is  the  usual  procedure,  and  one  may  see 
thousands  and  thousands  in  ever\-  stage  of  develop- 
ment, from  the  single  blade,  like  the  first  sprout 
from  an  ear  of  com,  to  small  decorative  specimens 
in  5in.  pots  and  upwards.  Some  years  ago  I 
determined  to  obtain  some  seeds  and  try  my  hand 
and  was  rewarded  by  obtaining  some  remarkably 
vigorous  and  decorative  specimens  that,  in  a 
couple  of  seasons,  reached  a  useful  size.  First — 
as  to  procuring  seed ;  the  commoner  kinds, 
such  as  Chamaerops  excelsa,  etc.,  can  be  procured 
by  communicating  with  one  of  our  larger  seed 
houses,  but,  for  a  start,  a  pound  of  Dates  will 
ensure  a  good  supply  that  will  grow  with  great 
certainty, 

I  sowed  my  seeds  (which  by  the  way  included  the 
Dates)  in  small  pots  filled  with  moist  sandy  peat 
in  April,  standing  them  over  the  boiler  in  a  house 
with  a  temperature  of  about  55°.  The  great  point 
is  to  keep  the  soil  evenly  moist,  for  the  seeds  are 
very  hard  and  take  a  considerable  time  to  germinate, 
but  any  excess  of  water  causes  them  to  decay. 
Two  pots  that  I  treated  carelessly  in  this  respect 
and  over-watered  became  a  foul  smelling  mass,  but 
the  remainder  came  through  in  time.  Probably 
hard  solid  seeds  like  the  Date  stones  would  be 
difficult  to  over-water,  but  those  that  are  encased 
in  a  shell,  like  a  Cocoanut,  must  not  be  kept  too 
wet. 

Give  a  good  watering  as  soon  as  sown  and 
thereafter  only  moisten  them.  At  the  same  time, 
•equal  care  must  be  taken  that  they  do  not  become 
really  dust  dry,  for  peat  in  this  condition  is  difficult 
to  moisten  through  without  plunging  the  pots  to 
the  rim  for  some  time,  and  there  is  a  risk  that  the 
roots  may  just  have  pushed  out  and  perish.  Grow 
them  on  rapidly,  which  means  in  a  moist,  shaded 
and  rather  high  temperature,  which  is  more  easily 
obtained  by  sun  heat  during  the  next  six  months, 
after  which,  if  they  have  to  be  wintered  in  an 
ordinary  greenhouse  temperature,  it  is  best  to 
harden  the  growth  previously  made  by  admitting 
more  air. 

The  temperate  varieties  winter  easily  in  a 
cool  house  if  they  are  kept  in  the  warmest  position. 
Do  not  hurry  the  potting  on  into  larger  sizes,  but 
-ivait  until  they  are  well  filled  with  roots  and  then 
give  a  moderate  shift  only.  Drain  the  pots  with 
one  large  crock  over  the  hole  and,  with  a  blunt- 
ended  stick,  ram  the  fresh  peat  down  quite  firm 
all  round  the  sides.  Too  loose  potting  leads  to 
trouble  in  two  ways  :  First,  the  new  soil  round  the 
■edge  is  apt  to  absorb  all  the  moisture  as  it  is 
poured  on,  leaving  the  centre  dry  ;  whereas,  if 
"both  are  equally  solid  the  whole  is  evenly  moistened. 
Secondly,  the  roots  push  downwards  with  great 
■force  and,  when  loosely  potted,  the  pressure  on  the 
Ijottom  of  the  pot  acts  as  a  lever  and  lifts  the  young 
plant  upwards,  necessitating  potting  afresh  into  a 
larger  pot  so  as  to  obtain  the  necessary  depth. 
Do  not  attempt  to  press  them  back  into  the  pots  or 
the  sensitive,  brittle  growing  tips  of  the  roots  will 
be  injured  and  the  effect  seen  in  browned  tips  to  the 


leaves  or  even  by  the  loss  of  the  plants.  Scale 
must  be  looked  for,  as  well  on  seedlings  as  older 
plants,   and  immediately  it  is  noticed   the  plants 


be  cleaned  b\'  removing  the  scales  with  a  sharp- 
pointed  stick  and  afterwards  sponging  with  clean 
tepid  soapy  water.      H.  W.  Canning-Wright. 


ROCK  GARDENS  and  ROCK  GARDENS 

Further   notes   and  illustrations   on   desirable   attributes   of  the   rock  garden. 

A  RTIFICIAL,  to  more  or  less  extent, 
l\        compared  with   the  happy  example   of 

/  %  clearing  and  planting  a  stretch  of  the 
/~^^L  oolite  strata  on  the  Cotswolds.  it  is  a 
*■  ■■question    if     any    "hand-made"     rock 

garden  surpasses  the  extensive  and  ever  extending 
area  devoted  to  alpines  at  the  Royal  Botanic 
Gardens.  Glasnevin,  Co.  Dubhn.  This  both  in  its 
v.iried  but  tasteful  formation,  and  in  the  beauty, 
interest  and  comprehensive  character  of  its  planting. 
It  is  taken  as  happily  illustrating  the  value  as  such 
as  an  educational  factor  for  all  interested  in  the 
subject,  and  is  as  largely  availed  of  as  it  is 
apparently  appreciated.  Situated  as  is  the 
Glasnevin  rock  garden  on  undulating  ground, 
giving  a  more  than  usual  diversity  of  character, 
a  vast  number  of  species  and  varieties  of  an  alpine 
and  sub-alpine  character  have  their  whims  and 
caprices  in  soil  or  site  admirablv  catered  for, 
albeit  the  local  climate  is  far  from  being  the  most 
favoured  in  the  favoured  Green  Isle. 

That  the  main  obiect  ol  rock  gardening  at 
Glasnevin  has  not  been  sacrificed  to  constructional 
effect,  good  as  it  is,  is  evident  in  winding  walks 
and  negotiable  footways  intersecting  the  whole 
area  in  a  way  that  faciUties  are  generously 
aflorded  for  the  minute  inspection  of  every  detail 
by  interested  visitors.  Here,  too,  of  course,  as  an 
educational  factor,  correct  and  legible  labelling 
of  everything  in  an  unobtrusive  but  permanent 
manner  is  a  sine  qiid  non,  and  the  variety  of  sites 
afforded  by  the  formation  and  natural  lie  of  the 
ground  from  sunny,  high  and  dry.  to  shady,  cool, 
and  damp  of  the  low  level  within  the  umbrageous 
influences  of  ancient  Yews  comprising  the  historic 
"  .Addison's  Walk,"  gives  great  scope  and  almost 
unlimited  character.  From  the  base,  too,  it  is 
not  a  far  cry — but  a  few  feet  of  green  turf,  in  fact — ■ 
to  the  equally  interesting  bog  garden  all  but  on  the 
river's  "  brim  "  of  the  again  active  and  picturesque 
Tolka.  One  dares  not  in  but  a  brief  outline  venture 
on   a  list   of   the  flora  of  this  particular  example 


PHCENIX    PARK, 
ARRANGED 


DUHLIX,    (jLACIAL    STONES 
(?)     BY    WATER-SIDE. 


THE     BOG     GARDEN    AT    ST.    STEPHENS    GREEN,    DUBLIN 


of  rock  gardening,  nor  is  late  winter  quite  the  time 
for  it.  Most  are  happy  in  their  season  of  quiet ; 
some,  such  as  the  New  Zealand  Celmisias  and  tiny 
gems  of  the  encrusted  Saxifraga  section,  and  others 
summed  up  in  "  miffy,"  being  modestly  protected 
by  bits  of  glass,  although  near  the  afore  mentioned 
.Addison's  Walk  a  rosv- 
crimson  Rhododendron 
carries  its  New  Year's 
gift  of  brilliant  blossoLis 
The  \'ery  name  moraine 
seems  a  sort  of  shib- 
boleth to  the  maker  of 
modern  rock  gardens, 
but.  and  ala-. !  the  mak- 
ing of  a  moraine  often 
means  muddle.  One  may 
see.  as  has  been  seen, 
such  constructed  in  or 
about  the  rockery  which, 
in  its  outward  and  visible 
sign  of  a  bed  of  rock 
detritus,  is,  on  the  face 
of  it,  what  is  aimed  at — 
no  more,  being  without 
its  birthright  born  of  the 
glacier,  an  undercurrent 
of  water,  or  at  least 
copious  and  sustained 
moisture  derived  from 
gravitation.  The  very 
word  gives  the  keynote 
of  character,  and  given 
that,    interpreted   rightly, 


102 


THE    GARDEN. 


[March  4,  1922. 


your  true  moraine  plant,  even  should  it  have  to 
seek  its  heritage  ift.  or  more  below  the  surface, 
will,  as  a  rule,  be  all  right ;  failing  that  recognition 
of  its  birthright,  as  a  ruk;  all  wrong.  But  what 
a  fine  feature  the  moraine  adds  to  the  rock  garden  ! 
Here  is  a  happy  example 
in  a  town  garden  (.Alles- 
bury  Road.  Dublin)  where 
rock  gardening.  com- 
menced a  few  years  since, 
in  a  very  modest  way, 
now  threatens  to  absorb 
the  whole  area;  for  here, 
of  all  phases  of  gardening, 
I'appctit  vient  en  mangeaiu. 
There  is  a  pool  on  the 
higher  level  perennially  fed 
by  a  tiny  artificial  supply 
which  has  its  overflow 
disappearing  shortly  after 
leaving  it,  being  con- 
ducted by  a  subterranean 
channel  which  forms  the 
bed  of  a  moraine  informally 
bordering  a  broken-flagged 
footway,  and  extending 
for  some  distance  too. 
The  moraine  by  nature, 
as  well  as  name,  is  worth 
having. 

Truly  Nature  is  liberal 
in  her  suggestions  and 
hints  tor  the  rock  garden 
maker  and  planter,  ever 
and  anon  showing  somr- 
examples,  too.  rather  t" 
be  kept  than  copied. 
For  instance.  Monte 
A  1  v  e  r  n  o,  immediately 
overlooking  K  i  1 1  i  n  e  y's 
lovely  bay  with  its  superb 
bits  of  natural  rockwork 
fringed  with  acres  of 
Cineraria  maritima,  and 
Veronica  h  y  b  r  i  d  a  in 
bloom  the  winter  through, 
is  picturesquely  perched 
on  the  granite,  advantage 
of  which  has  been  taken 
by  the  owner  to  plant  a 
few  alpines  in  the  armpits 
of  a  ponderous  shoulder  at  hand 
summits  of  that  shoulder  is  one  huge  boulder 
estimated  by  a  qualified  engineer  to  weigh 
40  tons,  and  there  it  has  been  poised  through 
the  ages,  since  comfortably  settled  there  by 
glacial  migration.  It  is  Nature  in  her  majestic 
mood.  Relative  to  this  it  has  been  questioned 
whether  the  elacial-worn  boulders  promiscuously 
placed  on  the  "  brim  "  of  the  lake  in  the  People's 
Gardens,  Phoenix  Park,  are  not  de  trap,  if  not 
actually  bad  taste.  Reconciled  as  rehcs  of  the 
great  ice  age,  they  seem  to  open  up  a  further, 
albeit  far-reaching,  phase  of  the  subject  well 
worth  consideration  by  those  who  can  grasp  the 
bigger  and  broader  principles  and  possibilities, 
with  the  prerogative  of  a  ministering  hand. 

The  very  atmosphere  of  Nature's  ways  should, 
in  permeating  our  principles,  yield  better  and 
broader  ideas  than  is  too  often  found  in  that 
perfervid  desire  to  keep  all  cribbed  and  confined 
within  depauperated  lines  and  petty  limits.  In  a 
botanical  garden  representing  a  comprehensive 
collection  such  may  be,  probably  is,  in  fact,  to 
greater  or  less  extent  absolutely  unavoidable, 
but  even  there  the  lesson  is  taught  that  Nature 
abhors  dotting;  as  she  does  a  vacuum,  and  plants 
in  colonies.  Why  the  unholy  desire  of  for  ever 
digging  up  and  dividing  anything  and  everything 
exceeding  a  given  spcce.  and  a  limited  space,  too  ? 


And,  more,  why  the  painful  endeavour  to  variegate 
the  whole  area  by  much  mixing  and  meticulous 
dotting .'  Such  puerile  work  is  not  uncommon 
in  the  care  and  keep  of  even  well  designed  and 
otherwise  carefully  planted  rock  gardens.       The 


THE  ROCK  GARDEN 


AT  THE  ROYAL 
GLASNEVIN. 


BOTANIC  GARDENS, 


On     the 


one  objection  of  a  professional  friend,  and  good 
gardener,  too,  to  the  alpine  garden  is  the  labour 
involved  in  keeping  all  trim,  tidy  and  neat,  which 
is  conscientiously  carried  out  to  a  fault.  It  is 
magnificent,  liut — it  is  not  rock  gardening. 
Dxibl-.n.  K. 


A    NEGLECTED    CULT 

The   spring  planted  bulb   and   tuber. 


M: 


I  GST  garden  lovers  write  out  in  autumn 
a  list  of  Narcissi  and  Tulips  and, 
perhaps.  Hyacinths  and  Freesias. 
which  they  require  to  make  gay  their 
■  houses  and  beds  the  following  spring. 
The  really  expert  gardener  always  makes  out 
another  bulb  order  at  this  season  of  the  year. 
Naturally  it  varies  somew^hat  from  year  to  year, 
but  it  usually  includes  several  sorts  of  Lilies,  and 
it  may  also  include  Gladioli.  Montbretias,  Oxalis, 
Giant  French  Ranunculuses,  Dierama  pulcherrimum 
and  Tigridias.  There  is  still  time  to  procure  bulbs 
of  many  species  of  Lihum,  though  they  should 
be  got  in  now  without  delay,  but  bulbs  of  Japanese 
Lilium  auratura  (which  alone  are  worth  growing) 
have  not  long  been  to  hand.  For  outdoor  work  the 
robust  form,  known  as  L.  a.  platyphyllum  is 
recommendable,  though  the  typical  plant  is  very 


beautiful  and  not  difficult  to  establish  in  light  soil 
with  plenty  of  humus,  preferable  among  Rhododen- 
drons. A  similar  place,  but  with  not  too  much 
overgrowth  (owing  to  its  lower  stature)  will  suit 
the  forms  of  L.  speciosum,  better  known  in 
gardens  as  L.  lancifolium,  of  which  the  form, 
magnificum,  and  the  similar  but  later  flowering 
Melpomene  are  the  most  richly  coloured  forms. 
Album  Kraotzeri  is  a  beautiful  snow-white  form 
with  orange  anthers.  Similar  treatment  affords  the 
best  chance  of  succeeding  with  those  beautiful 
Lilies,  sulphureum  and  regale. 

Few  plants  make  a  finer  show  in  the  border 
than  the  auturrm-flowering  Gladioli.  Where 
brilliant  colour  and  massed  display  is  wanted  the 
old  scarlet  brenchleyensis  cannot  be  beaten,  or  if 
a  variety  of  colour  be  wanted  it  may  be  found 
among  Graff's  Canadian  hybrids,  the  giant- 
flowered  Childsii  or  the  giant  English  hj'brids  of 
which  so  many  have  been  sent  out  of  late. 

Until  comparatively  recent  years,  the  garden 
lover  who  wanted  Gladioli  but  disliked  the  rather 
blatant  form  of  the  large-flowered  hybrids,  had  to 
fall  back  upon  the  quaintly  formed  and  oddly 
coloured  Lemoinei  section.  Not  so  to-day !  The 
ever-increasing  family  of  G.  primulinus  hybrids  has. 
added,  and  is  adding,  an  entirely  new  interest  to 
an  old  garden  flower.  With  an  entirely  new  range 
of  colouring,  with  coyly  shaped  but  charming 
flow-ers  and  inimitable  grace  of  deportment,  they 
are  spoken  and  written  of  enthusiastically  by 
people  to  whom  the  older  types  w'ere  anathema. 

Those  who  wish  to  grow  the  new  hybrid  Mont- 
bretias should  now  place  their  order,  as  these  kinds 
are  not  sufficiently  hardy  to  withstand  our  winters 
outdoors.  Whether  they  are  worth  the  trouble 
of  lifting  each  winter  is  for  each  one  to  decide  for 
himself.  So  experienced  a  "  bulbist "  as  the  Rev. 
J.  Jacob  thinks  they  are. 

The  forms  of  Oxalis  usually  planted  in  gardens 
are  floribunda  (lasiandra)  and  its  white  variety 
alba,  and  Bowieana  (purpurata).  especially  the 
last  named,  which  has  dazzling  rose-coloured 
flowers  and  handsome  foliage. 

A  generation  ago  the  tuberous  Ranunculus  was 
a  popular  garden  flower.  Fashions  change,  it  is 
true,  but  it  is  a  little  difficult  to  understand  why 
these  brilliant  and  once  popular  garden  flowers 
should  have  sunk  into  comparative  obscurity. 
There  is  still  time  to  plant  the  Turban  forms, 
though  they  always  shrivel  somewhat  if  kept  out 
of  the  ground,  and  late-planted  tubers  seldom  do  so 
well  as  those  put  in  earlier.  The  month  of 
March  is  the  best  time  to  plant  the  French  sorts, 
however,  and  these  are  very  beautiful.  They  may 
be  obtained  to  colour  or  mixed.  The  colours 
embrace  shades  of  vermilion-scarlet,  crimson, 
rose-pink,  orange,  buff,  yellow  and  white. 

There  is  still  time  to  plant  the  tubers  of  the  Wand- 
flower.  Dierama  (Sparaxis)  pulcherrimum.  They 
should  be  given  a  sheltered  position  in  light,  well- 
drained  soil.  The  tj'pical  purplish  rose  form  is 
best  known,  but  there  is  a  very  deep  purple,  almost 
black  form,  a  beautiful  pure  white  one  and  a  pale 
rose  called  Apple  Blossom.  The  two  last,  ordinary 
folk  will  find  the  most  attractive.  The  Tigridia 
is  another  bulbous  plant  which  is  not  seen  in  gardens 
to  anything  like  the  extent  it  should  be.  Like  the 
Dierama,  they  like  a  sunny  position  and  a  sharply 
drained  soil.  They  are  not  hardy,  so  must  be 
lifted  each  autumn.  It  is  unwise  to  plant  them, 
outdoors  till  March,  and  they  should  be  stored 
meanwhile  in  not  quite  dry  sand  to  prevent  their 
shrinking.  Most  bulbs  are  best  surrounded  with 
coarse  silver  sand,  but  this  particularly  applies  to 
the  Tigridias.  These  are  very  beautiful  and 
remarkable  plants  for  greenliouse  decoration. 
If  the  soil  is  pleasantly  moist  at  potting  time, 
they  should  need  no  water  until  the  "grass" 
shows   above   ground. 


March  4,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


103 


ANNUALS    FOR    THE    GARDEN 

Last  year's   experiences   and   their  utilisation. 


FOR  many  years.  I  confess.  I  grew  my 
annuals  as  I  think  numbers  of  lovers 
of  these  charming  flowers  do  still,  in 
any  odd  border  and  position  in  the 
garden.  There  were,  however,  just  a 
few  exceptions  in  the  case  of  several  kinds  that 
were  ranked  as  summer-bedding  plants.  I  think 
it  was  the  more  careful  cultivation  of  Sweet  Peas 
— coupled  with  the  fact  that  aimuals  had  improved 
so  very  much  in  recent  years — that  induced  me 
to  grow  all  the  best  of  my  annuals  in  quarters 
by  themselves,  so  that  their  great  beauty  in  mass 
form  could  be  enjoyed.  Even  the  different 
varieties  of  .Mignonette  have  been  grown  in  beds 
abreast  of  each  other. 

The  soil  must  be  prepared  very  carefully,  as 
a  too  rich  rooting  medium  would  cause  some 
kinds,  such  as  the  Lavateras  and  Marigolds,  to 
grow  too  tall  and  require  staking,  which,  unless 
verj-  carefully  done,  spoils  the  general  appearance 
01  the  plants.  Godetias  do  well  in  a  soil  of 
medium  richness.  Cornflowers  in  a  rather  poor 
soil,  and  Larkspurs  in  a  moist,  rich  one.  These 
few  examples  m.iy  be  taken  as  a  guide. 

Last  year  my  annual  Larkspurs,  in  poor  soil, 
ceased   to   grow   when   the   dry   spell   of   weather 


came.  From  June  till  late  in  September  the 
plants  remained  at  this  stage — 3ins.  high.  Then 
rain  came,  and  early  in  October  they  had  grown 
to  a  foot,  and  by  the  middle  of  the  month  they 
were  iSins.  high,  bearing  lovely  spikes  oi  flowers, 
and  the  flowering  continued  till   frost  came. 

A  grand  dry-soil  plant  will  be  found  in  the 
Cornflower.  Side  by  side  with  the  Larkspurs 
referred  to.  I  had  Cornflowers ;  the  plants 
reached  a  height  of  i6ins.,  then  commenced  to 
flower  and  continued  to  do  so  till  November 
ripening  seeds  freely  and  producing  thousands  of 
seedUngs  in  the  meantime.  Some  of  the  latter 
were  destro\ed  by  the  hoe,  but  sufficient  were 
left  to  form  a  nice  bed  several  feet  wide,  and 
these  plants  are  now  robust  and  6ins.  high. 

The  Sunflowers  had  a  struggle  to  Uve,  but  with 
the  aid  of  several  good  soakings  of  water  all 
flowered,  producing  small,  but  lovely  blooms. 
A  naturally  damp  soil  in  a  hot  summer  is  an 
ideal  place  for  the  Sunflower.  Constant  hoeing 
between  rows  of  aimuals  in  hot  weather  does  far 
more  to  keep  them  going  than  excessive  watering. 

I  am  not  dealing  with  Sweet  Peas  in  these  notes, 
as  they  stand  out  by  themselves  and  generally 
claim    special    attention.     The    first    error    made, 


as  a  rule,  is  that  the  seeds  are  sown  far  too  thickly. 
It  is  much  wiser  to  harden  the  heart  and  deter- 
mine to  drop,  say,  twenty  seeds  in  a  given  space 
instead  of  a  hundred.  One  may  learn  a  valuable 
lesson  when  looking  at  a  soUtary  Parsley  plant 
and  note  the  vigour,  size  and  quaUty  of  leaf. 
The  same  impression  is  made  when  one  examines 
the  soUtary  Mignonette  plant  and  compares  it 
with  the  attenuated  specimens  in  the  over- 
crowded bed. 

Having  decided  to  bo  wise  at  last  and  to  sow 
the  seeds  judiciously,  the  begiimer  or  cultivator 
of  limited  experience  must  carefully  watch  the 
resultant  seedlings  and  protect  them  from  the 
ravages  of  birds  and  slugs.  When  growing  in 
masses  a  few  strands  of  black  thread  stretched 
trom  small  sticks  gins,  above  the  soil  cross-wise, 
a  foot  apart,  will  prevent  loss  by  birds.  A  fine 
dusting  of  soot  renders  the  tiny  seedUngs  dis- 
tasteful to  slugs  and,  if  not  used  to  excess,  stimu- 
lates the  plants.  .Around  the  beds  put  down 
unslacked  lime  and  hghtly  fork  it  in ;  do  not 
leave  it  on  the  surface,  as  the  slugs  work  their 
way  underneath. 

It  is  essential  to  success  that  early  and  judicious 
thinning    out    of    the    seedhngs    be    done ;      but 


A    BORDER    OF    ANNUALS — CONSPICUOUS    ON    THE    RIGHT    HAND 
THE    GROSS    FEEDING    BUT    STATELY    ANNUAL    LARKSPURS. 


FOR    SOIL    NEITHER    TOO    RANK    NOR    TOO    POOR,    FEW    PLANTS 
ARE  MORE  EFFECTIVE  THAN  THE  SATINY  GODETIAS. 


104 


THE     GARDEN. 


[March  4,  1922. 


sometimes  enemies  do  tliis  work  too  completely, 
so  we  must  neither  be  in  too  great  a  iiurry  in  this 
matter  nor  delay  the  work  too  long. 

The  following  hardy  and  half-hardy  kinds  should 
be  included  in  the  beginner's  collection  :  Aster, 
Candytuft,     Chrysanthemum,     Clarkia,     CoUinsia, 


Cornflower,  Eschscholtzia,  Gypsophila  clegans, 
Larkspur,  I.avatera,  Malva  moschata.  Marigold, 
Mignonette,  Night-scented  Stock,  Salpiglossis, 
Ten-week  Stock,  Sunflower,  Sweet  Rocket, 
Virginian  Stock,  Sweet  Sultan,  Zinnia  and  Sweet 
Peas.  Old   1  imer. 


TORCH      LILIES 

Some  thoughts  on  one  of  the  stateliest  families  of  plants  which  adorn  our 
gardens.      A    warni):g    as    to    "incompatibility"    on    the  part   of  some 

of  them. 


BECAISE  even    the  hardiest    species    and 
hybrids  of  Kniphofia  are  on  the  border- 
line  of  hardiness,    or,  perhaps,  it  would 
I  be   more   accurate  to  say, 
because     the     climate    of 
Britain,    except    in    the    South   and 
West,  is  barely  suimy  enough  in  the 
average   summer  or    warm    enough 
in  the  average  winter,   it  is   better 
to    delay     the     planting     of     these 
stately  and  striking  flowering  plants 
until   the   approach   of  spring. 

The  most  commonly  gro\\'n  of 
these  remarkable  Liliaceous  plants 
is  still  the  long  known  K.  aloides 
(Uvaria),  of  w-hich  the  variety 
maxima,  nobilis,  or  grandis,  as  it  is 
variously  called,  is  perhaps  even  now 
the  most  striking  of  herbaceous 
forms.  All  the  forms  of  K.  aloides 
and  most  of  the  many  hybrids 
which  have  of  late  years  been  pro- 
duced by  crossing  forms  of  aloides 
with  some  of  the  more  tender  yellow 
flowered  species  are  valuable  for  the 
mixed  border,  as  their  shades  of 
citron  and  coral  are  not  difficult  to 
arrange  without  clashing. 

As  much  cannot,  alas  !  be  said  for 
the  semi-succulent,  sub-shrubby 
(caulescent)  forms,  of  which  the 
flowers  have  a  curious  brick-red  tinge 
which  agrees  with  httle  but  their 
own  glaucous  foliage.  They  are 
remarkable,  even  handsome,  none 
the  less,  and  may  be  used  satis- 
factorily in  shrubbery  openings, 
forming  indeed  a  very  satisfying 
picture  in  association  with  the  Sea 
Buckthorn  (Hippophae  rhamnoides). 
for  instance.  They  associate  well, 
also,  with  the  Pampas  Grasses 
(C.ynerium  argenteum).  with  Yuccas 
of  sorts  and  with  the  foliage  of  the 
Day  Lilies  (Heraerocallis).  Of  these 
caulescent  forms  the  best  known  is 
K.  caulescens,  and  this  is,  as 
Kniphofias  go,  quite  a  hardy  species  ; 
but  the  much  more  recently  intro- 
duced K.  Northioe  is,  if  less  hardy, 
more  handsome,  as  the  flower  spikes 
are  finer  and  have  less  of  the  brick- 
red  colouring,  while  the  foliage  is 
broader  and  even  more  hand- 
some. K.  foliosa  (Quartiniana). 
though  similar  in  colouring  and 
length  of  spike,  is  (juite  distinct.  It  is, 
indeed,  more  Yucca-like  in  habit  than  either, 
a  trait  which  is  emphasised  still  more  by 
that  remarkable  species  T.  Tysoni,  which  has 
leaves  3ft.  or  more  in  length  and  sins,  or  more 
wide  at  the  base.  Early  flowering,  as  all  these 
sub-shrubby  species  are,  its  spikes  are  freely 
produced,    but    they    have    the    daring    brick-red 


colouring  to  an  even  greater  degree  than  K. 
caulescens.  It  will  be  understood,  of  course, 
that   the  red   colouring  in  these,   as  in  all   other 


XXRY    TYPICAL     OF    THE    GLAUCOUS 
SHRUBBY    TYPE    IS    KNIPHOFIA 


FOLIAGED,     SUB- 
CAULESCENS. 

leaving    the    dying 


Kniphofias,    fades    with    age, 
flowers  a  yellowish  shade. 

Coming  now  to  the  herbaceous  forms,  properly 
so  called,  anyone  who  is  interested  in  the  \arious 
species  with  a  view  to  forming  a  collection  will 
be  well  advised  to  consult  a  gardening  dictif  nary. 
To  those,  however,  who  arc  on  the  look-out  for 
worthv    forms   the  following  are  recommendable  ; 


Of  the  red-flowered  kinds  aloides  and  its  giant 
form  have  already  received  mention,  and  the 
variety  praeccx  is  worthy  of  notice  because 
of  its  early  (May)  flowering.  It  is  not  a  particu- 
larly handsome  form,  however,  and  its  colouring 
lacks  the  richness  of  nobilis.  The  variety  glau- 
cescens  has  rather  glaucous  foliage  and  better 
flower  spikes  than  in  the  typical  form,  but  it  has 
some  of  the  awkward  colouring  to  which  reference 
has  already  been  made.  Kniphofia  BurthelUi  is 
a  very  beautiful  early-flowering  species.  It 
flowers  a  little  later  than  K.  aloides  praecox,  but 
is  a  much  finer  and  more  dignified  plant  with 
better  shaped,  better  coloured  and  more  gracious 
flower  spikes.  The  stems  which  support  the 
spikes  have  a  richly  mottled  appearance,  caused 
by  spots  and  blotches  of  purple  pigment,  which 
distinctly  adds  to  their  eflfectiveness.  Another 
imposing  and  valuable  species  is  K.  Tuckii,  which 
is  June  flowering.  The  heads  of  flower  are  quite 
good,  but  a  little  overshadowed  by  the  luxuriant 
foliage.  The  yellow-flowered  forms,  K.  K.  comosa 
and  pauciflora,  are  pretty  enough,  especially  for 
rockwork,  but  they  are  much  less  hardy  than 
those  already  mentioned,  so,  unless  in  favoured 
spots,  are  best  left  alone ;  but  they  have  been 
invaluable  to  the  hybridist. 

Seeds  of  "pauciflora  hybrids"  are  sometimes 
listed.  They  flower  readily  the  second  year  from 
seed  and  seem  almost  or  quite  as  hardy  as 
K.  aloides,  while  they  retain  much  of  the 
slender  grace  and  yeUow  coloration  of  K. 
pauciflora. 

Of  many  beautiful  hybrid  forms  the  following 
are  especially  worthy :  John  Benary.  which, 
fairly  late  flowering,  is  one  of  the  best  and  state- 
liest of  the  deep  red  sorts  ;  Obelisk,  which  is  a 
stately  form,  reaching  jft.  or  so,  and  golden- 
yellow  in  colour ;  Star  of  Baden-Baden,  straw 
yellow,  which,  in  favourable  situations,  grows 
tailor  still  ;  and  the  hardy  and  fre"  flowering,  if 
less  statuesque,  deep  yellow  l.achesis. 

For  the  rock  garden  the  best  species  is  K. 
Macowanii  (syn.  maroccana),  a  pretty  miniature 
with  orange-rod  flowers.  It  may  well  be  asso- 
ciated with  the  pauciflora '  hybrids  already 
mentioned.  K.  rufa.  another  dwarf  red  form, 
seems  too  coarse  in  stem  for  its  diniinuti\e 
stature.  It  is,  in  short,  a  dwarf  rather  than  a 
pigmy. 

The  quite  herbaceous  forms  are  in  rcased  f..irly 
rapidly  by  division  an  operation  which  should  be 
carried  out  after  flow-ering  but  whilst  Ihe  ground 
is  warm.  The  caulescent  forms  are  propag'ted 
from  cuttings  which,  under  glass,  root  readily 
enough.  It  miy  be  necessary  to  behead  the 
plants  to  make  them  break 

Snow  is  a  great  enemy  to  the  lorch  Lihes,  as, 
indeed,  in  our  lowlands,  it  is  apt  to  be  to  all 
plants  of  a  more  or  less  rosetted  habit  of  growth. 
What  would  be,  if  it  remained,  a  warm  "  blanket  " 
to  protect  from  frost,  in  our  changeable  climate 
too  often  tha«-s  to  snow  broth,  only  to  be  con- 
gealed in  the  hearts  of  the  plants  by  a  further 
change  of  mind  on  the  part  of  the  "Clerk  of  the 
Weather."  Such  damage  may  largely  be  guarded 
against  by  tying  up  the  leaves  to  thatch  the 
crown  from  damage,  and  placing  bracken  around 
the  base  of  the  plants  to  act  as  a  substitute  for 
the  tied-up  foliage  in  withstanding  wind-frost. 
Still,  with  all  our  precautions,  a  hard  winter 
following,  as  such  winters  generally  do,  upon 
a  cold,  wet  summer  will  always  play  havoc  among 
Torch  Lilies.  Such  winters  have,  fortunately, 
been  very  rare  cf  late,  and  the  Red-hot  Pokers, 
as  country  folk  often  call  them,  are  so  gay  and 
debonair,  so  obviously  aristocrats,  yet — for  the 
most  part — so  amiable  and  such  "  jolly  good 
fellows,"  that  their  disUke  for  cold  will  deter 
very  few  from  culti\ating  their  acquaintance. 


March  4,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


GITRANGES     IN     IRELAND 


By     lady     MOORE. 


INCLUDED  in  Messrs,  Thos.  Rivers  and  Son's 
exhibit  at  the  R.H.S.  meeting  on  February  14 
were  two  of  the  American  hybrid  Citranges. 
It  may  interest  your  readers  to  learn  the 
history  of  these  plants  in  Ireland.  In 
February,  1909,  Professor 
Swingle,  Physiologist  in 
Charge  of  Plant  Life 
Investigations  at  the 
Bureau  of  Plant  Industry, 
Washington,  wrote  to  the 
Director  at  Glasnevin 
asking  if  he  "  would  care 
to  try  in  your  garden 
located  in  a  part  of  Ireland 
where  the  climate  is  un- 
usually mild  in  winter  some 
■of  our  new  Citranges." 
In  due  course  the  plants 
arrived.  They  are  hybrids 
between  the  Sweet  Orange 
(Citrus  Aurantium  var. 
sinensis)  and  .-Egle  sepiaria 
<C.  trifoliata),  the  wild 
Orange  of  China  and 
Japan.  There  are  four 
distinct  varieties  of 
Citranges  —  the  Savage. 
Morton,  Colman  and  the 
Rusk,  named  after  botan 
ists  in  the  United  States 
of  America.  The  cross  has 
been  made  with  a  view  to 
impart  the  greater  hardi- 
ness of  .^gle  sepiaria  to  the  Sweet  Orange  (C. Auran- 
tium). The  hybrid  shows  transitions  between  the 
unifoUate  leaf  (if  such  it  be)  of  the  Sweet  Orange 
and  the  trifoliate  leaf  of  the  other  species.  It 
is  evergreen  like  the  Sweet  Orange — .^gle  sepiaria 
has  deciduous  leaves.  The  flowers  are  large  and 
fleshy,  pure  white  in  colour  ;  a  lot  of  the  star 
shape  of  the  flower  of  .iJgle  sepiaria  has  been 
eliminated,  thus  greatly  improving  the  appearance 
and  effect  of  the  flowers.  It  is  very  sweet  scented. 
The  accompanying  photographs  of  the  Citrange 
and  its  parents  were  taken  by  Miss  E.  V.  Jliller 
in  the  Royal  Botanic  Garden.  Glasnevin,  in  July, 
1921,  and  that  of  the  fruits  in  December,  ig.:!. 
The    latter    are    compressed,    spherical   in   shape, 


frequently  oblique,  about  2ins.  in  height.  2jins. 
in  diameter.  Some  fruits  are  quite  smooth, 
others  have  pronounced  furrows  running  from  the 
base  to  the  apex.  They  vary  in  colour  from 
light   yellow   to   deep    orange.     The   fruit   of   the 


TYPICAL    CITRANGE    FRUITS. 

variety  Colman  is  covered  with  numerous  short, 
stiff,  colourless  hairs.  The  trees  are  budded  on 
the  hardy  Trifoliate  Orange  stock.  The  Plant 
Bureau  at  Washington  kindly  sent  plants  of 
each  variety  to  the  well  known  Irish  gardens 
of  Sir  John  Ross  at  Bladensburg,  Rostrevor, 
Co.  Down  ;  of  Captain  Lewis  Riall  at  Bray,  Kilma- 
curragh,  Co.  Wicklow ;  to  Mt.  Usher;  to  Lord 
Barrymore's  garden  at  Fota,  Co.  Cork,  and  to 
Glounthaune,  Queenstown. 

Professor  Swingle  warmly  recommends  the 
fruit  as  delicious  eaten  with  sugar,  an  opinion  not 
shared  by  Messrs.  Rivers,  who  describe  it  as  of 
a  very  disagreeable  flavour  ;  it  is  also  used  in 
Washington  as  a  beverage  like  lemonade.     Those 


105 

grown  at  Glasnevin  when  tasted  were  decided 
t)  be  of  more  value  for  decorative  than  edible 
purposes.  Although  the  plants  have  to  be  grown 
against  a  wall  at  Glasnevin,  they  are  perfectly 
hardy  in  the  gardens  mentioned.  Probably  the 
most  effective  flowering  shrub  I  saw  last  year  was 
one  of  these  Citranges  covered  with  its  large  white, 
sweet-scented  flowers  in  a  border  in  Captain 
Riall's  garden.  Old  Conna  Hill,  Bray,  Co.  Wicklow, 
in  the  month  of  June. 


SHOWS, 


AT     EITHER     END,    SPRAYS     OF     THE     TWO     PARENTS    AND,    IN    BETWEEN,    A 
FLOWERING    PIECE    OF    ONE    OF    THE    CITRANGES. 


REMEDIES     FOR 
WOOLLY    APHIS 

Notes    on    the   habits    of    a    dreadful  pest 
and  methods  of  exterminating   it. 

AMONG  the  many  pests  with  which 
fruit  growers  have  to  contend  in  this 
country  probably  few  are  more  common 
and  do  more  damage  than  woolly  aphis. 
It  may  be  found  to  some  degree  in  the 
majority  of  Apple  plantations,  but  to  a  far  greater 
extent  in  those  orchards  in  which  the  trees  are 
planted  closely  and  especially  where  little  attention 
is  paid  to  the  important  tasks  of  pruning  and 
cleaning  the  bark.  One  may  often  have  noticed 
old  trees  in  cottage  gardens  appearing  quite  white 
with  woolly  aphis. 

Much  may  be  done  to  remedy  this  by  summer 
spraying  with  such  as  nicotine  and  soft  soap 
or  a  diluted  paraffin  emulsion,  but  great  care  must 
be  taken  thoroughly  to  wet  the  affected  parts, 
or  it  will  prove  to  be  work  in  vain. 

Probably  the  most  effective  method  is  that 
of  thoroughly  washing  the  trees  during  the  winter 
with  one  of  the  well  known  Woburn  washes, 
though  a  solution  of  zUh.  of  caustic  soda  to 
10  gallons  of  water  will  prove  to  be  very  effective 
in  destroying  the  pest. 

Much  may  in  this  way  be  done  towards  keeping 
the  trees  free  from  woolly  aphis,  but  it  does  not 
appear  to  be  generally  realised  that  this  pest  not 
only  attacks  the  tree  above  ground,  but  also  the 
roots.  It  is  highly  probable  also  that  a  migration 
takes,  place  from  above  to  below  as  the  winter 
draws  on,  and  a  return  migration  in  the  spring. 
This  may  be  proved  quite  easily  by  grease-banding 
the  trees,  large  numbers  of  the  aphides  being  seen 
around  the  grease  band  as  they  ascend  the  trunk 
of  the  tree  in  spring.  Thus  much  labour  may 
be  carried  on  above  ground  and  be  to  a  great 
extent  wasted  if  the  aphis  is  allowed  to  work 
havoc  among  the  roots. 

There  is  nothing  so  effective  as  carbon  bisulphide 
for  freeing  the  roots  of  affected  trees.  It  should 
be  injected  into  the  soil  to  a  depth  of  6ins.  by 
means  of  a  special  injector,  in  for  each  tree  about 
tour  places,  each  about  2ft.  from  the  trunk,  using 
I  oz.  of  the  fluid  for  each  injection  in  the  case  of 
fair-sized  trees.  Care  should  be  taken  that  the 
fluid  does  not  come  into  actual  contact  with  a 
root,  or  harm  will  be  done  :  the  vapour,  however, 
is  quite  harmless  to  the  roots.  When  using 
rarbon  bisulphide  great  care  must  be  taken  to 
keep  it  away  from  fire,  as  it  is  highly  inflammable, 
as  well  as  poisonous.  The  operation  should  be 
performed  during  the  early  part  of  the  year,  at 
a  time  when  the  soil  is  comparatively  dry,  but 
never  after  April. 

AH  varieties  of  Apple  trees  are  more  or  less 
liable  to  be  attacked  by  American  blight,  as  this 
pest  is  often  called,  but  those  varieties  which 
have  a  soft  bark  usually  suffer  most.  Such 
varieties  as  Ribston  Pippin,  Blenheim  Orange, 
Cox's  Orange  Pippin  and  Lord  Suffield  seem  to 
offer  least  resiftanre  to  it,  and  consequently  suffer 
verv  badly  fiom  its  attacks. 


106 

Woolly  aphis  will  attack  any  part  of  the  tree — 
its  roots,  trunk,  branches,  fruit  and,  in  excep- 
tional attacks,  the  leaves  also  become  affected. 
The  fact  that  it  may  persist  below  ground  is  a 


THE    Gx\RDEN. 

very  important  one,  for  any  amount  of  time  and 
energy  may  be  spent  in  cleaning  and  freeing  the 
tree  from  these  insects— all  to  small  advantage 
if  they  are  "carrying  on"  below,     A.  J.  Pope. 


[March  4,  1922, 


PEACH     AND     NECTARINE    TREES    IN 

SPRING 

To  he  successful  with  these  fruits  the  cultivator  must  watch  over  the  trees  very  carefully 

all  the  year  round.     At  the  present  time,  however,  and   throughout   the  spring    months, 

extra  care  is  needed  to  ensure  a  full  crop  of  luscious  fruits. 


WHAT  may  be  termed  the  amateurs' 
trees,  those  that  are  grown  under 
glass  but  not  forced  with  strong 
fire-heat,  are  now  swelling  their 
fruit  and  growth  buds,  and  the 
inexperienced  cultivator  will  be  anxious  to  give 
them  the  right  treatment. 

The  soil  must  not  be  allowed  to  get  dry,  and,  if 
not  already  done,  some  good,  half-rotted,  organic 
farmyard  manure  should  be  spread  sins,  deep  on 
the  surface  of  the  soil  to  cover  the  main 
roots.  All  shoots  should,  of  course,  be  tied 
neatly  to  the  wires. 

If  there  are  any  insect  pests,  such  as  scale, 
left  on  the  trees  watch  for  them  every  morning 
and  kiU  them,  as,  if  only  a  few  survive,  the 
trees  will  be  overrun  with  them  by  mid- 
summer, to  the  disfigurement  of  the  fruits  and 
leaves. 

Except  in  really  bad  weather,  the  top  venti- 
lators should  be  opened  a  few  inches  early  every 
morning  and  closed  again  one  hour  before  sunset ; 
but  during  the  time  that  the  trees  are  in  flower 
a  drier  and  more  buoyant  atmosphere  must  be 
maintained  and  a  little  air  admitted  throughout 
the  night,  too.  Twice  each  day  shake  the  branches 
to  ensure  a  good  "  set "  of  fruits,  and  also  make 
use  of  a  rabbit's  tail  or  a  camel-hair  brush. 

Very  much  depends  upon  the  treatment  of  the 
shoots  and  young  fruits.  In  the  accompanying 
sketches  a  shows  a  single  wood  bud,  b  double 
wood    buds,    c    and    d    wood    and    flower    buds 


respectively  ;  the  wood  bud  is  pointed,  as  shown 
at  e,  and  the  flower  bud  round,  as  shown  at  / ; 
g  represents  a  leading  shoot  which  ought  to  be 
retained  beyond  a  fruit  on  each  branch.  A 
young  basal  shoot  and  a  leading  one  are  shown 
at  h.  h  ;  i,  i  shoots  to  be  lemoved  ;  ;  the  only 
fruit-flower  to  be  retained  :  k,  k,  k,  k  shoots  and 
young  fiuits  to  be  removed.  The  branch  /  shows 
a  later  stage  of  growth,  namely,  the  basal  and 
leading  shoots  with  the  young  fruit  growing 
freely.  At  m  is  seen  the  pistil  (embryo  fruit), 
and  at  n  the  pollen-bearing  anthers. 

Many  branches  show  young  shoots  growing 
between  double  flower  buds.  At  an  early  stage 
of  development,  where  such  flowers  and  shoots 
are  overcrowded,  it  would  help  the  "  setting " 
process  if  all  shoots  and  flowers,  as  marked 
0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  be  removed,  leaving  a  basal 
shoot  p,  and  one  fruit  q.  on  it  with  a  leading  shoot 
higher  up  the  branch  on  its  upper  side.  The 
letters  r,  r  show  the  pistils,  surrounded  by  the 
pollen-bearing  anthers  s.  At  (  the  embryo  fruit 
is  shown  attached  to  the  pistil,  and  when  impreg- 
nation is  complete  through  keeping  a  rather  dry 
atmosphere  and  good  distribution  of  poUen,  the 
embryo  fruit  quickly  commences  to  swell.  The 
letter  «  shows  the  fruit  approaching  the  "  stoning  " 
stage  after  due  thinning-out  has  been  done.  The 
fruits  when  about  lin.  in  diameter  stop  swelling 
freely  for  about  twenty  days;  this  is  the  stage 
when  the  stones  are  hardening,  and  it  is  advisable 
to  maintain  a  fairly  even  temperature,  to  avoid 


THINNING    THE     PEACH. 

any  forcing  and  to  apply  clear  water  only  to  the 
borders.  George  Garneb. 


CLEMATIS    MACROPETALA,     WHICH    WAS    SENT    BY    THE   LATE    REGINALD    FARREfv  FROM 
KANSU,    CHINA      UNDER    THE    NUMBERS    F.  315    AND    F.  559. 


AN  ASIATIC  CLEMATIS 

The  Clematis  Farrer  559,  exhibited'^by  Mr.  A.  C.  T. 
Woodward,  of  Arley  Castle,  Salop,  at  the 
last  meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  is 
Clematis  macropetala,  Ledebour.  The  type 
specimens  were  collected  in  Siberia,  but  apparently 
we  are  indebted  to  thie  late  Mr.  Reginald  Farrer 
for  its  introduction  to  our  gardens.  He  collected 
seeds  in  Kansu,  China,  during  1914,  the  numbers 
being  F.  315  and  F.  559-  Mr-  Farrer's  original 
description  reads,  "  An  Atragene  with  lilac  sepals 
and  a  full  centre  of  many  white  petaloid  segments  ; 
is  a  charming  thing  when  scrambling  over  a  rough 
shrub."  It  is  a  deciduous  slender  chmber  with 
biternate  leaves,  flowering  outside  during  July 
and  August.  This  is,  at  any  rate,  the  time  it 
flowered  in  the  open  at  Kew  both  in  1920  and 
1921.  Its  nearest  ally  among  well  known  culti- 
vated species  is  C.  alpina.  A.  O. 


March  4,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


107 


CORRESPONDENCE 


THE    FORMS    OF    IRIS    UXGUICULARIS. 

"PLOWERS  of  what  we  have  at  Glasiievin  as  Iris 
iinguicularis  speciosa  from  Dammaun  of  \aples 
were  sent  to  Mr.  Dykes,  who,  having  examined 
them  for  swelUngs  or  bosses  round  the  top  of  the 
tube  at  the  base  of  the  segments,  writes  :  "  ^'our 
speciosa  is,  I  feel  sure,  not  what  I  know  under  that 
name,  but  an  .Algerian  form.  With  regard  to  the 
name  '  speciosa.'  my  difficulty  is  that  I  do  not 
know  that  it  has  any  real  authority  at  all.  How- 
ever, I  will  try-  and  look  up  this  point  and  see  who 
first  described  it." 

I.  u.  Imperatrice  EUzabetta  Mr.  Dykes  thinks 
is  a  Balkan  form. 

I  also  sent  blooms  to  Mr.  Bowles,  who  writes  : 
"  I  feel  pretty  certain  Dammann  must  have 
labelled  I.  u.  lilacina  as  speciosa.  It  is  certainly 
my  variety  lilacina.  It  was,  I  believe,  from 
Dammann  I  got  mine,  so  he  must  have  mixed 
labels  in  sending  it  to  Glasnevin." 

Of  Ehzabetta  he  writes:  "It  is  evidently  a 
colour  form  of  my  I.  angustifoUa,  but  has  more 
white  towards  the  tip  of  the  fall ;  it  is  a  very 
pretty  form." 

Thus  the  great  authorities  !  To  both  of  them 
I  am  very  grateful  for  their  interest  and  help, 
but  I  camiot  agree  w-ith  Mr.  Bowles  in  his  slighting 
dismissal  of  Elizabetta,  and  I  obstinately  hold 
she  is  distinct  in  shape,  colour  of  bloom  and 
leaves  from  angustifolia. 

To  aU  those  readers  of  The  G.iRDEN  who  have 
written  me  about  these  Irises,  and  to  whom 
Sir  Frederick  Moore  has  sent  bits  labelled  as  we 
have  grown  them.  I  ask  that  they  will  watch  for 
Mr.  Dykes'  naming  of  our  so-called  speciosa.  so  that 
the  error  may  not  spread. — W.  Phyllis  Moore. 

HACKNEYED    QUOTATIONS. 

^^ILL  you  suffer  a  word  on  a  matter  which 
is  not  gardening,  but  affects  all  readers  of 
the  gardening  Press  ?  I  read  (or  skim)  most  of 
the  British  weekly  and  four  American  horticultural 
papers,  and  there  are  certain  hackneyed  quotations 
from  the  poets  respecting  flowers  and  gardens 
which  I  must  have  met  with  about  once  a  fortnight 
for  the  last  thirty  years.  Even  the  noblest 
sentiment,  however  expressed,  becomes  wearisome 
under  such  repetition.  Wordsworth  on  Daffodils 
and  "  the  primrose  by  a  river's  brim  " — but  I 
need  not  multiply  examples,  they  will  suggest 
themselves  to  the  most  casual  reader.  Could 
you  not  suggest  a  self-denying  ordinance  to  your 
correspondents,  by  which  they  should  bind  them- 
selves to  omit  all  reference  to  a  stated  list  of 
quotations,  for,  say,  twenty-five  years  ?  After 
this  lapse  there  would  be  a  new  generation  of 
readers  to  which  these  "  chestnuts  "  would  probably 
come  with  an  air  of  deUghtful  freshness.  You 
might  even  go  one  better,  and  if  Editors  have  a 
"  Trades  Union,"  put  the  suggestion  on  the  next 
agenda  and  bring  the  whole  journaUstic  world 
into  line.  Do  this  and  "  your  petitioner  will  ever 
pray,"  etc. — Charles  E.  Pearsox,  F.L.S. 

[The  Editor  very  gladly  seconds  Mr.  Pearson's 
appeal.  It  is  often  impossible  to  delete  these 
hackneyed,  if  beautiful,  passages  without  sacri- 
ficing the  hue  of  thought  of  the  writer.  Will 
contributors  therefore  note  the  objection  ?  There 
are  many  beautiful  passages,  even  in  the  classics, 
which  will  not  be  found  in  a  dictionary  of 
(uotations. — Ed.] 

A   ROSE    BY    ANY    OTHER    NAME  ! 

'J'HE  so-called  Water  Violet   ,Hottonia  palustris) 

is  a  truly  beautifvd  native  plant,  totally  absent 

or  rare  in  some  parts  of  the  country,  but  common 

in  other  districts  where,   perhaps,   conditions   are 


more  suited  to  its  growth.  Its  common  name  of  the 
Water  Violet  is  pleasing  enough  as  a  name,  but,  as 
it  is  in  no  way  descriptive,  the  plant  might  more 
justly  be  known  by  one  of  its  other  names,  either 
Bog  Featherfoil  or  Water  Milfoil,  both  of  which 
give  a  correct  idea  of  the  leaves.  It  has,  strangely, 
been  called  Viola  aqualica,  and  Water  \"iolet  is 
probably  a  translation,  for  Dr.  Prior  in  his  "  Popular 
Names  of  British  Plants." 
gives  no  explanation  of  its 
origin.  Bj- any  name,  how- 
ever, it  is  ;ust  as  beautiful, 
and  nothing  could  be  more 
charming  than  a  mass  of  it 
in  flower,  as,  for  instance, 
in  a  slow-rumiing  stream. 
The  illustration  is  from  a 
photograph  taken  of  it 
growing  in  the  artificial 
stream  that  flows  by  the 
Botanic  Garden  at  Cam- 
bridge, where  for  a  long 
distance  it  has  taken 
possession  in  spite  of  the 
cleaning  out.  The  leaves 
are  all  submerged,  pectin- 
ate and  in  fine  divisions,  as 
commonly  found  in  water 
plants  ;  the  inflorescences 
rising  out  of  the  water 
remind  one  strongly  of  an 
Eastern,  tier  upon  tier 
Primula.  Indeed,  from  this 
aerial  habit  it  may  be 
surmised  that  the  plant 
has  evolved  from  a  land 
ancestor.  It  has  some 
botanical  similarities  to 
Primula,  though  still  quite 
distinct  The  cultivation 
of  Hottonia  cannot  be 
difficult,  though  there  may 
be  some  difficulty  in  suc- 
cessful transplantation.  It  must  have  mud  to  grow- 
in  and  it  appears  to  like  slow-running  water. 
The  illustration  show-s  the  shoots  of  .Mare' s- tail 
rising  above  the  water  and  Duckweed  floating 
upon    it  — R.  I.  L. 

THE  CATTLEYAS  AND  ALLIED  GENDER  A. 

ALL  who  are  interested  in  Orchids  must  have 
welcomed  the  article  on  page  43  under  this 
heading.  There  is  no  doubt  that  if  only  the  cost 
of  fuel  would  drop  to  make  it  a  reasonable  price, 
warm  house  plants  generally  would  once  more 
become  popular.  But  this  important  item  where 
glass  is  concerned  does  not  affect  the  cost  of  the 
cultivation  of  such  Mexican  Lslias  as  L.  autumnalis, 
L.  anceps  and  the  various  forms  of  both,  which  your 
contributor  does  not  allude  to,  in  the  same  degree 
as  all  those  he  names,  since  they  succeed  better 
under  conditions  which  are  several  degrees  cooler 
than  w-hat  is  considered  proper  for  Cattleyas  and, 
their  hybrids.  Moreover,  I  find  these  Mexican 
species  quite  as  easy  to  deal  w-ith  as  any  other,  and. 
if  anything,  more  useful.  My  reason  for  saying  this 
is  that  they  are  in  bloom  in  December  and  January 
when,  excepting  for  Calanthes  and  winter-flowering 
Dendrobiums.  long  stemmed  Orchid  flowers  are 
rather  scarce,  while  they  are  as  beautiful  as  any  in 
cultivation.  The  individual  flowers,  several  of 
which  appear  on  each  spike,  the  length  of  which  is 
seldom  under  2ft.,  measure  4ins.  across  ;  the  sepals 
and  petals  are  rosy — like  the  colour  which  !-as  made 
Cattleyas  famous,  while  thf  tongue-like  lip  is 
purple,  the  throat  yellow.  Little  imagination  is 
necessary  to  realise  how  welcome  such  flowers  are 


for  table  decoration.  In  fact,  those  responsible  fcr 
this  matter  find  them  easier  to  arrange  lightly  than 
Cattleyas,  owing  to  the  shortness  of  the  stems  of  the 
latter.  There  are  also  some  pure  white  forms, 
which  flower  a  little  later  than  the  coloured  ones. 
These  are  now  at  their  best  and  are  highly  thought 
of.  The  cultural  remarks  in  the  article  referred  tc 
apply  to  these  Lalias,  with  this  exception.  They 
do  best  grown  in  shallow  pans  at  the  lighter  end 
of  an  intermediate  house.  I  grow  them  in  this- 
position    in    the   same   house   as   winter-flowering 


THE      SO-CALLED      W.\TER      MOLET. 


Cypripediums.  as  I  am  perhaps  fortunate  in  having 
a  batch  of  Cymbidiums,  which  acts  as  a  kind  of  a 
division  to  prevent  the  sun  from  reaching  the 
Cypripediums.  Over  the  La.lias  the  blinds  are 
only  drawn  to  prevent  scorching  of  the  leaves.  It 
is  remarkable  the  amount  of  sun  heat  these  plants 
can  bear  providing  the  roots  are  kept  saturated 
while  active  growth  is  in  progress.  In  fact, 
flowering  in  my  experience  depends  upon  the  plants 
ripening  their  growths  in  the  full  light.  If  anyone 
cares  to  make  the  experiment  they  can  grow  the 
plants  in  shade  and  they  will  succeed  in  obtaining 
wonderful  pseudo-bulbs,  but  they  wiU.  if  not  in  the 
first  year,  eventually  lose  the  flowering  habit,  and 
it  will  require  considerable  skill  on  the  part  of  the 
grower  for  them  to  regain  it. — Orchidist. 

PRL'NING     A    YOUNG    APRICOT. 

TJE PLYING  to  your  correspondent,  may  I  first 
say  that  his  tree  is  no  longer  a  maiden, 
but,  apparently,  trained  for  a  fan-shaped  tree  ? 
A  maiden  tree  has  but  one  shoot,  and  that  an 
upright  one,  the  growth  of  the  graft  on  the  bud 
inserted  the  previous  spring  or  summer.  A 
properly  fan-trained  tree  should  not  have  a  centre- 
or  IcadiiiR  shoot,  and  I  will  show  how  this  may  b& 
obviated  in  the  case  of  your  correspondent's  tree. 
The  centre  shoot  of  the  tree  in  question  is  3ift. 
long,  and  it  is  suggested  to  cut  it  back  to  half  its 
length.  The  length  of  the  cut-back  shoot  wUl 
then  be  2iins.  This,  in  my  opinion,  is  too  long. 
By  leaving  it  this  length  a  break  of  young  shoots 
could  not  possibly  be  secured  the  following  spring 
at  the  base  of  the  cut  shoot,  with  the  result  that 


108 


THE     GARDEN. 


[March  4,  192 


the  base  of  the  shoot  for  possibly   ift.  in  length 
would  be  left  permanently  bare  of  foliage  and  of 
iflower-buds — a   serious    fault    in    a    trained    tree. 
J  should  cut  this  centre  shoot  to  within   ift.   of 
its  base,   cutting  to  a  bud  on  the  outside  of  the 
shoot  and  afterwards  encouraging  the  same  bud 
to  grow  outwards  instead  of  upright  in  order  that 
it  may  form  a  side  shoot  rather  than  a  central 
•one.     On  the  opposite  side  of  the  shoot  I  should 
■encourage   another  of  the  buds   to   grow  into   a 
second  side  shoot,  say,  6ins.  below  the  top  of  the 
-shoot,  both  the  shoots  to  be  encouraged  to  grow- 
to  their  full  length  during  summer  and  autumn. 
It  is  these  shoots  which  go  to  furnish  the  main 
Tiranches  of  the  trees.     Your  correspondent   will 
find  that  most  of  the  other  buds  remaining  on  the 
cut  shoot  will  break  into  growth  and  form  shoots. 
We  do  not  want  too  many  of  these.     I''our  will 
sufiSce,  two  below  the  lower  shoot  and  two  between 
it  and  the  higher  shoot   at  the  top.    Select   the 
four  strongest  and  rub  off  those  remaining.     The 
-four   buds   remaining   should   have   their   centres 
pinched  off  as  soon  as  they  have  attained  a  length 
■of  5ins.  to  prevent  their  growing  any  higher.     The 
same   short   shoots   at   winter  pruning  should   be 
«ut  back  to  within  two  buds  of  their  base  in  order 
that  they  may  form  groups  of  fruit-spurs  through- 
out the  length  of  the  stems  of  the  main  branches. 
.So  much  for  the  centre  shoot  of  your  correspondent's 
tree. 

Of  the  side  shoots  there  are  two  on  one  side  of 
the  tree  and  one  only  on  the  other,  each  about 
2ft.  long.  The  tree  will  become  lop-sided  if  the 
•balance  is  not  soon  adjusted.  To  bring  this  about 
i  suggest  that  each  of  the  three  branches  be  cut 
back  to  within  gins,  of  their  base,  not  shortened 
T)y  one-third  their  length,  as  suggested  by  your 
■correspondent,  and,  further,  that  two  new  shoots 
be  taken  in  spring  from  the  single  shoot,  one  from 
the  top  bud  and  one  from  a  bud  at  the  side  jins. 
lower  down,  and  further  that  one  shoot  only  bo 
taken  from  each  of  the  two  shoots  (these,  of  course, 
from  the  top  buds).  Doing  this  by  the  autumn 
will  bring  about  the  right  balance  of  shoots.  Other 
"buds  which  will  break  into  shoots  in  spring  at  the 
base  of  the  cut-back  shoots  must  be  reduced  to 
four  by  rubbing  off  those  not  wanted,  and  the 
■centres  of  those  remaining  be  pinched  off  as  soon 
as  they  are  ,sins.  high  to  prevent  their  growing 
higher  and  at  winter  pruning  be  cut  back  to 
two  buds  of  their  base  as  advised  in  the  case  of 
the  centre  shoot.  These  technicalities  of  pruning 
are  difficult  to  make  plain  to  a  beginner.  I  hope, 
however,  they  may  help  your  correspondent  over 
his  difficulty. — Owen  TnoM\s,  V.M.H. 

A    NATIONAL    DAFFODIL     SOCIETY? 

T   APOLOGISE   to  "Somers"   and  to    all    con- 
cerned.    He  was  right  and  I  was  wrong  in  my 
entire  under-estimate  of  the  crowd  the  proposed 
Society  will  at  once  "  rope  in."     He  limits  the 
-officials   of   the   National   Daisy   Society   to    130. 
There  is  every  reasonable  hope  that  this  moderate 
number  will  at  once  be  reached  or  exceeded  by  the 
National    Daffodil    Society.     One    of    the    prime 
movers  in  the  matter  told  me  that,  as  a  beginning 
•of  necessary  machinery,   its  committee  would  be 
formed  by  an  amalgamation  of  the  existing  com- 
mittees of  the   R.H.S.   and  the  Midland  Society. 
-with  additions.     These  two  bodies  already  number 
82,  and  the  130  is,  therefore,  well  in  sight.    I  would 
■suggest  that,  as  new  clubs  enrol  their  first  members 
without  entrance  fee,  so  the  new  society  should  be 
popularised  by  putting  the  first  100  members  on  the 
committee.     A  wise  man  once  said  to  me  that  the 
best  committee  is  one  of  two  members  with  one 
absent,    but   then  he   was   quite   an  old-fashioned 
person.     Of  course,  I  was  immensely  flattered  by 
having  a  Leader,  so  to  speak,  of  The  Garden  all 
to  myself  fj.inuajy  2?,).     But  I  assure  the  Editor 


that  I  am  by  no  means  alone  in  my  criticism  of  the 
scheme.  There  are  people  who  write  to  the 
papers  and  also  people  who  do  not.  And,  after 
all,  I  have  done  no  more  than  humbly  suggest 
that  it  may  possibly  be  a  waste  of  time  and  energy 
to  make  a  loud  and  probably  expensive  to-do 
in  order  to  obtain,  under  a  new  name,  what  we 
apparently  have  already.  My  own  belief  is — 
and  I  have  advanced  some  reasons — that  this  cult 
of  the  Daffodil  is  an  intimate  and  highly  specialised 
study  which  will  never  be  popular,  with  or  without 
brass  bands,  as  Messrs.  Jacob  and  Co.  reckon 
popularity.  But  Heaven  forbid  that  I  should 
sit  longer  on  their  safety-valves  ;  I  am  old  and 
detest  explosions. — G.  H.  Engleheart. 

l  HAVE  been  a  reader  of  The  Garden  for  many 
years,  but  am  getting  tired  of  the  continual 
dragging  of  coat  tails  by  writers,  who  appear  to 
consider  themselves  and  their  especial  fads  the 
only  matter  of  consequence  to  gardeners.  Lately 
someone  called  the  Daffodil  the  "  National  Flower 
of  Wales."  I  thought  that  was  the  Leek !  I 
beg  to  suggest  an  International  Onion  Society, 
■n-hich  should  encourage  the  growth  of  all  classes 
of  that  succulent  from  the  lovely  flowering  Alliums 
to  the  toothsome  pickled  Onion  and  the  fragrant 
Chives   and  Chibbles  or  Spring  Violets. — Ortum. 

THE     PERSIAN     CYCLAMEN     AS     A 

WILDING . 

T^HE  bulb  of  this  Cyclamen  was   brought   home 

in  a  small   tobacco  tin  to  Hampshire   by  an 

officer.     The  day  he  started  on  his  return  home 

for  leave  in  March,  1917,  he  dug  it  up  close  to  the 


^^ 


NOT      INFERIOR     IN     GRACE     TO     THE"]    BEST 
STRAINS    IN    COMMERCE    TO-DAY  ! 

line  then  held  by  the  British  Army  from  Jerusalem 
to  Jaffa,  across  the  Judoan  Hills,  near  Hadattia. 
It  boars  this  year  twenty-six  blossoms  at  one  time. — 


E.  M.  B 

POTATO   NOMENCLATURE. 

T  THINK  it  is  time  that  someone  who  knows  the 
"ins  and  outs"  of  Potato  nomenclature 
should  state  plainly  the  position  to-day  of  varieties 
like  Midlothian  Early  and  Duke  of  York,  and  as 
the  matter  has  been  raised  in  your  columns  by 
H.  Saunders.  I  send  you  a  few  lines  which  you 
can  put  in  your  "  W.P.B."  if  anyone  who  knows 
better  sends  along  a  contribution  on  the  subject. 
Duke   of   York   was  raised   by   William   Sim   and 


sent  out  by  Daniels  Brothers  in  rSgi.     Midlothian 
Early  was  raised  by  G.  M.  Taylor  and  sent  out  by 
Scarlett  in  1905,  and  by  Dobbie.  who  bought  the 
half  of  Scarlett's  stock,  in   1906.     It  was  claimed 
by  the  raiser,  and  also  by  Scarlett  and  Dobbie, 
that  it  was  an  improvement   on  Duke  of  York. 
Mr.,  now  Sir  Matthew  Wallace,  Bart.,  grew  it  at 
Terreglestown,    Dumfries,    among   his    195    acres 
of  early  Potatoes  in  rgoe,  and  it  was  reported  in 
The   North  British  Agrirulliirist  that   "  there  was 
no    difficulty    in    detecting    the    difference,    the 
Midlothian  Early  being  decidedly  nicer  in  shape 
of  tuber  and  heavier  in  the  yield."     The  position 
then   was   that   there   was   a   difference  ;     it   may 
only  have  been  the  difference  which  is  nearly  always 
associated  with  a  true  seedling  of  similar  character 
to    its    parent.     The    intervening   years    and    the 
handling  of  the  varieties  by  hundreds  of  growers 
and  merchants  who  saw  no  difference  between  the 
two  varieties,   and  whose   interest   it  very  often 
was  not  to  look  for  one,  resulted  in  their  getting 
inextricably  mixed,   and   the  only  possible   thing 
to  do   to-day  is   to  bracket   them  as  synonyms, 
and,  in  addition,  The  Faithlie  and  New  Success  can 
be  added  to  the  group  of  York  synonyms.   Exactly 
the  same  thing  has  taken  place  in  other  groups. 
Synonyms   of   Abundance   and   Up-to-Date   exist 
in  great  numbers.     They  may  all  have  been  true 
seedlings  at  the  beginning,  but  to-day  they  are 
sold   for  one   another   quite  freely  for   the  same 
reasons   that   I    have    stated   in   connexion    with 
Yorks    and    Midlothians.     In    your    footnote    to 
Mr.  Saunders'  letter  you  say  "  there  must  be  more 
strains  than  one  of  the  variety."     I  put  it  another 
way — there  are  more  areas  than  one  in  which  the 
variety     is     grown     for     seed.     I'crb     sap. — W. 
Cuthbertson. 

T  WONDER  if  you  would  care  to  give,  or  to 
elicit  through  the  correspondence  columns  of 
vour  informative  and  entertaining  paper,  the 
truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing  but  the  truth, 
concerning  Duke  of  York  and  Midlothian  Early 
Potatoes  ?  Are  these  two  separate  and  distinct 
varieties  or  is  the  Duke  (improved,  perhaps) 
masquerading  uirder  a  Scots  title  ?  Some  time 
ago  I  grew  Duke  of  York.  His  Highness  yielded 
a  fair  crop  of  medium-sized  tubers.  He  was  not 
sufficiently  disappointing  to  adorn  the  garden 
black  hst.  nor  good  enough  to  form  the  subject- 
matter  of  a  letter  home  to  mother.  Last  year  I 
plunged  with  Midlothian  Early.  The  results  were 
an  abundance  of  unusually  large,  delicious  Potatoes, 
minus  chats.  Of  the  two  varieties,  in  my  experi- 
ence, Midlothian  Early  of  igar  was  a  Prince  of 
Potatoes  compared  to  Duke  of  York,  say  of  rgij. 
The  real  dilemma  is  this :  One  great  firm  of 
seedsmen  flatly  and  dogmatically  states  that  Duke 
of  York  and  Midlothian  Early  are  synonymous  ; 
another  great  firm  will  accept  your  money  for 
either  or  both  sorts  ;  a  third  firm  offers  one  variety 
only  ;  and  a  fourth  the  other  variety  only.  Can 
vou  tell  me,  please — are  the  two  sorts  one  and 
the  same  stock,  or  not  ? — A.  C.  Marshall. 

THE     POMEGRANATE. 

TV/TR.  AVRAY  TIPPING'S  interesting  note 
in  The  Garden  of  February  11,  page  65, 
brings  to  memory  that  many  years  ago  I  saw 
the  Pomegranate  blooming  beautifully  on  the 
wall  of  Swyncombe  House,  in  Oxfordshire ;  the 
brilhant  scarlet  flowers  made  a  striking  display. 
The  peculiarly  bright  colour,  where  there  is  a  pro- 
fusion of  bloom,  is  quite  arresting  ;  but  though  I 
was  privileged  for  twenty  years  to  visit  occasionally 
these  beautiful  gardens,  so  finely  kept  by  my  old 
friend  John  Daniells,  I  never  remember  seeing  the 
Pomegranate  make  much  of  a  show  again  ;  possibly 
the  summer  when  it  flowered  so  well  may  have  been 
a  very  hot  one. — J.  P.,  Cheltenham. 


March  4,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


10» 


GARDENING     OF     THE     WEEK 


FOR     SOUTHERN    GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Cnions. —  Provided  tliL-  ground  is  in  good 
working  order  the  sooner  seed  is  got  in  the  better. 
Select  for  this  crop  land  which  has  been  thoroughly 
well  done,  and  endeavour  by  treading  and  raking 
to  bring  the  soil  to  a  fine  tilth  for  receiving  the 
seed.  If  a  dressing  of  wood-ash  and  soot  can  be 
arranged  for  so  much  the  better.  The  drills 
should  be  about  ijins.  apart,  and.  after  the  seed 
has  been  lightly  covered,  firm  and  finally  rake 
lightly  over. 

Tomatoes. — .A  sufficient  amount  of  seed  should 
now  be  sowti  to  provide  the  main  summer  fruiting 
batch  for  both  inside  and  outside,  .\llow  the 
seed  to  germinate  in  a  temperature  of  about  6'i° 
and  endeavour  to  grow  the  young  plants  at  all 
times  in  a  light  position.  There  are  so  many 
"  best "  varieties  on  the  market  that  the  most 
practical  solution  of  what  to  grow  is.  grow  just 
those  varieties  which  give  good  results,  whether 
old  or  new. 

Early  Marrows. — With  improved  varieties  to 
choose  from  of  recent  years  early  Marrows  are 
becoming  increasingly  popular,  and  they  are  most 
certaiidy  a  valuable  addition  to  the  l<itchen  list. 
Where  a  heated  pit  can  be  spared  or  a  hot-bed 
arranged  with  frames  upon  it,  little  difficulty 
will  be  experienced  in  obtaining  a  few  early  fruits. 
A  fairly  rich  soil  is  advisable,  but  the  growth 
should  not  be  made  in  excessive  heat  and  moisture. 
Sow  the  seeds  singly  in  6i-sized  pots  and  then 
pot  on  again  if  their  permanent  position  is  not 
ready,  so  as  to  avoid  a  check. 

Seeds. — It  is  not  necessary  yet  to  make  large 
sowings  of  the  Brassica  family,  but  care  should 
be  taken  that  a  sufficient  supply  of  early  Cauli- 
flowers, Brussels  Sprouts.  Cabbage,  Lettuce  and 
the  early  autumn  Broccoli  plants  are  all  thought 
of.  The  young  plants  of  Cauliflowers,  etc.,  already 
pricked  out  or  awaiting  treatment  should  be  care- 
fully aired  and  watered,  the  aim  being  sturdy,  well 
rooted  stock  which  when  planted  out  will  grow 
awav  freelv. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Open  Spaces,  which  are  admirably  adapted 
for  the  s<.)wing  of  annuals,  often  present  them- 
selves in  the  woodland  garden  or  in  the  lesser 
dressed  portions  of  the  grounds  and  fronts  of 
shrubberies.  -As  it  will  soon  be  a  suitable  time 
to  sow  the  seed,  the  ground  should  be  prepared 
in  readiness.  There  are  quite  a  number  of  annuals 
which  will  give  a  fine  display  in  such  positions. 
To  mention  a  few  worthy  of  note  we  have  the 
annual  Poppies,  Lupins,  Larkspiu-s,  Clarkias  and 
Sweet  Sultans.  Where  it  can  be  arranged  for 
bold  drifts  of  Poppies  or  Lupins  to  have  a  back- 
groimd  of  some  sort  the  effect  is  better. 

Tuberous  Begonias  required  for  the  summer 
bedding  must  be  started  now  in  gentle  heat. 
Where  a  slightly  heated  pit.  with  movable  lights, 
can  be  given  up  to  them  it  may  be  so  arranged  that 
no  further  trouble  as  to  another  move  will  be  neces- 
sary, as  when  the  plants  and  the  weather  merit  it  the 
lights  can  be  taken  off.  A  light  compost  is  the  best 
for  starting  the  plants  in.  and  this  can  be  placed 
from  5in5  to  Sins,  in  depth  upon  a  firm  ash  bottom, 
spacing  the  bulbs  out  according  to  size  from 
6ins.  to  I2ins.  apart.  An  occasional  light  syringing 
will  be  found  beneficial  in  encouraging  growth 
in  its  early  stages. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Outdoor  rigs. — .■\ny  winter  protection  which 
has  been  given  these  trees  may  now  be  removed 
and  the  necessary  pruning  carried  out.  Select 
strong,  well  ripened  shoots  for  laying  in.  and 
unless  it  is  necessary  to  shorten  them  to  fit  into 
their  allotted  places  do  not  cut  them  back.  Do 
not  leave  the  branches  too  closely  together,  as 
it  is  particularly  essential  that  the  sun  and  air 
have  a  free  access  to  this  fruit.  A  few  well  placed 
growths  should  annually  be  encouraged  from  the 
base  of  the  tree. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Early  Figs. — Where  these  are  obtained  from 
pot  or  t>ib-grown  plants  it  is  essential  that  the 
stopping  of  the  young  growths  is  thought  of  in 
time.  I'rom  three  to  six  leaves  is  ample  growth 
for  the  first  pinch  to  take  place.  It  may  be  neces- 
sary, in  dealing  with  planted-out  trees,  to  allow 
more  freedom  growths  required  for  extension. 
H.  Turner. 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland). 

Albury  Park  Gardens,  Gutldlord 


FOR     NORTHERN     GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Parsnips. — Sow  seed  of  these  profitable  and 
nutritious  roots  now.  Choose  a  day  when  the 
ground  is  dry  and  in  good  workable  condition. 
Parsnips  revel  in  a  soil  that  has  been  deeply  dug 
during  the  autunm  months  and  thrown  up  roughly 
to  be  benefited  by  the  mellowing  influence  of 
wind  and  weather.  Freshly  manured  ground 
tends  towards  coarseness  and  forking  of  the  roots. 
Prepare  a  fine  seed-bed  and  sow  in  shallow  drills 
I  Sins,  apart.  Immediately  the  plants  are  visible 
run  the  hoe  throu,gh  between  the  lines.  This 
not  only  keeps  down  weeds,  but  aerates  the  soil 
and  ensures  that  vigorous  growth  so  essential 
to  plant  life  during  the  seedling  stage. 

Brassicas. — Seed  of  Savoys,  Cauliflowers.  Curly 
Kale  anrl  maincrop  Cabbage  should  now  be  sown 
for  general  planting.  Sow  on  a  light  sunny  border, 
in  drills  ift  apart.  A  further  sowing  of  Brussels 
Sprouts  should  also  be  made  to  supplement  those 
that  are  being  grown  in  frames.  Protect  the 
seed-bed  from  the  depredations  of  birds  by  netting 

Peas. — Make  a  further  sowing  of  early  sorts 
in  rows  5ft.  apart.  This  allows  for  another  sowing 
of  early  round  Spinach  being  made  between  the 
rows. 

French  Beans. — .\s  the  days  lengthen,  this 
ever-populcu.-  vegetable  becomes  easier  to  force 
and  crops  more  heavily.  If  beds  are  not  avail- 
able, then  in  forcing  pits  ;  the  seed  should  be  sown  in 
Sin.  pots.  Use  a  mixture  of  light  loam  and  leaf- 
mould,  and  allow  about  five  plants  to  the  pot. 
A  sowing  may  also  with  advantage  be  made  along 
the  front  of  Tomato  boxes,  and  in  this  way  a  good 
catch  crop  may  be  obtained  without  detriment 
to  the  Tomatoes. 

Horseradish. —  Unfortunately,  in  many  gardens 
this  is  a  neglected  plant,  but  where  choice  sticks 
are  in  demand  opportunity  should  now  be  taken 
to  replant  the  bed.  Lift  every  particle  of  root 
before  replanting  and  dig  in  a  generous  quantity 
of  well  decayed  manure.  When  replanting, 
select  straight  sets  of  medium  size  and  about 
loinS-  in  length,  with  crown  on  top.  Divest  these 
of  all  side  roots  and  dibble  into  holes  about  isins. 
deep.  Place  a  quantity  of  the  old  roots  in  the 
reserve  border  for  immediate  use. 

Onion  Sets. — Plant  these  in  rows  i2ins.  apart 
and  6ins.  apart  in  the  rows.  Scatter  wood-ash 
or  burnt  refuse  on  the  surface  and  rake  in  when 
preparing  the  gioimd.  Good-sized  bulbs  may 
be  raised  from  sets  in  gardens  where  failure  results 
from  ordinary  sowing. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Vines. — In  establishments  with  only  an  early 
and  a  late  vinery  the  latter  should  now  be  closed 
down  and  allowed,  to  start  without  undue  forcing. 
Spray  the  rods  over  during  the  afternoon  and 
damp  the  paths  and  border  surface. 

The  Orchard  House. — Maintain  an  even 
temperature  in  this  structure,  keeping  a  watchful 
eye  on  pots  of  Peaches  or  Nectarines  that  mav 
be  in  flower.  .Assist  the  setting  of  these  by  hand 
fertilisation. 

The  flower  Garden. 

lobelia  fulgens. — Roots  of  this  effective 
Lobelia  which  ha\e  been  wintered  in  frost-proof 
quarters  should  now  be  divided  and  placed  in  a 
warm  pit  for  a  period  until  established,  when 
they  may  be  transferred  to  a  cold  frame  until 
required  for  planting  in  the  open. 

Salvia  patens. — Tubers  of  this  exquisite  Salvia 
should  now  be  started  into  growth.  Dibble  the 
tubers  into  boxes  containing  a  compcst  of  loam, 
leaf-mould  and  sand,  placing  the  boxes  in  the 
genial  warmth  ':if  a  \  inery  or  hot-bed. 

Geum    Mrs.    Bradshaw. — Sow    seed    of    this 

delightful  pereimial  now  and  so  obtain  well  grown 
plants  for  filling  beds  or  replenishing  groups  in 
the  herbaceous  border  during  the  autumn  months. 
Sow  in  a  well  drained  seed-pan  and  germinate 
in  a  warm  greenhouse,  pricking  out  in  a  cool 
frame  wh'  n  the  seedlings  attain  reasonable  size. 

Pruning  Buddleias. —  Prune  Buddleias  of  the 
variabilis  type  back  to  within  a  few  buds  of  the 
old  wood.  B.  Colvilei,  also  a  rampant  grower, 
flowers  better  if  not  too  severely  cut  back  ;  while 
B.  globosa  may  be  kept  trim  by  having  the  more 
straggling  growths  cut  away. 

L^MES  McGran. 

(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.) 

Coodham,  KUttuitnock. 


CONSERVATORY   AND    GREENtlOUSE. 

Ventilation. — .\s  the  sun  increases  in  strength 
more  ventilation  will  be  required  in  plant  houses, 
and  at  this  time  great  care  is  necessary,  as  bright, 
hot  spells  accompanied  with  cold  winds  are 
frequent,  and  much  harm  may  result  from  a 
careless  and  unintelligent  use  of  the  ventilators. 
.Air  should  always  be  admitted  on  the  sheltered 
side  of  houses,  and  every  possible  care  should  be 
taken  to  avoid  draughts,  for  they  are  much  more 
haimful  to  plants  than  a  low  temperature.  Every 
plant  house  should  be  fitted  with  bottom  ventilators- 
opposite  or  slightly  below  the  level  of  the  hot- 
water  pipes,  the  cold  air  passing  o\-er  the  pipes 
gets  slightly  warmed  as  it  enters  the  house.  Except 
in  very  severe  weather,  a  little  air  should  always 
be  left  on  the  bottom  ventilators.  Conserve  all 
possible  sim-hcat  by  shutting  up  houses  as  soon 
as  possible.  By  this  means  a  material  saving  in 
fuel  may  be  effected. 

Olivias  are  very  useful  for  greenhouse  decora- 
tion, and  may  be  successfully  cultivated  with 
very  little  heat.  They  may  be  had  in  flower  over 
a  fairly  long  period  if  a  considerable  number  of 
plants  are  grown,  as  flowering  may  be  hastened 
if  successional  batches  from  a  cool  house  are  intro- 
duced into  a  slightly  higher  temperature.  ,-\s  the 
plants  pass  out  of  flower  such  as  require  it  should 
be  repotted.  Before  being  repotted  the  plants, 
should  have  all  the  soil  washed  off  their  roots, 
at  the  same  time  carefully  removing  all  decayed 
roots,  etc.  When  the  plants  are  dry,  pot  into 
suitable-sized  pots.  This  requires  great  care,  as 
it  is  no  easy  matter  to  work  the  toil  in  among 
their  thong-like  roots.  .After  potting  stand  the 
plants  in  a  house  with  a  temperature  of  about 
50°  to  55°.  .At  this  stage  they  should  be  given 
very  little  water  until  they  make  fresh  roots, 
and  heavy  swinging  should  be  avoided,  as  the 
strap-shaped  leaves  carry  too  much  water  into 
the  pots,  thus  making  the  soil  too  wet  and  probably 
sour  before  th  ;  new  roots  become  active.  \Vhen  the 
plants  are  well  rooted  and  in  full  growth  they 
enjoy  abundant  supplies  of  water  at  the  root. 

Begonias  of  the  Lorraine  tj-pe  should  now  be 
giving  plenty  of  suitable  cuttings.  The  cuttings 
should,  of  course,  proceed  from  the  base  of  the 
plant.  Stem  cuttings  never  make  good  plants. 
Some  growers  contend  that  the  best  plants  are 
produced  from  leaf  cuttings.  Personally,  I  have 
never  found  any  difference  when  proper  cuttings 
were  used,  and  cuttings  have  the  advantage  of 
being  much  faster.  When  stock  is  scarce  leaves 
may,  of  course,  be  used  with  advantage.  Begonia 
socotrana,  one  of  the  parents  of  Begonia  Gloire 
de  Lorraine,  should  be  more  generally  gro^\'n. 
It  forms  peculiar  resting  buds,  and  towards  the 
end  of  this  month  or  beginning  of  .April  is  time 
enough  to  start  it  in  a  warm  house.  This  Begonia 
is  also  the  parent  of  the  beautiful  race  of  winter- 
flowering  Begonias  raised  by  Messrs.  J.  \'eitch 
and  Sons,  .As  regards  their  propagation  and 
culti\  ation,  I  hope  to  deal  with  them  at  the  proper 
season.  In  the  meantime  stock  plants  of  thtm 
require  careful  management.  Very  little  water 
should  be  given  at  the  root  ;  on  the  other  hand, 
they  should  not  be  dried  off  too  much.  Begonia 
mite,  or  so-called  "  rust,"  is  a  great  pest,  and  to 
many  other  plants  besides  Begonias.  It,  howe\'er, 
can  easily  be  totally  prevented  or  held  in  check 
by  using  Campbell's  Sulphur  Vaporiser,  A  few 
applications  in  the  course  of  the  season  is  a  sure 
preventiv^e. 

Boronias  are  old  favourite  greenhouse  plants, 
but  at  present  are  seldom  culti\'ated  except  by  a 
few  growers  for  market  work.  Eoronia  mcgas- 
tigma  with  its  delicious  fragrance  is  a  great  fa\ourite 
and  has  been  in  flower  for  some  weeks  now.  This 
plant,  in  common  with  many  other  sweet-scented 
plants,  has  a  \ery  sober  dress,  the  outside  of  the 
petals  being  purple  brown,  the  inside  yellow. 
There  are  only  two  other  species  commonly  culti- 
vated, one  is  Boronia  elatior,  with  rosy  carmine 
flowers,  and  the  other  B.  heterophylla,  with  rosy 
red  flowers.  Both  the  last-named  species  flower 
about  .April.  They  are  all  natives  of  Australia, 
and  are  propagated  as  most  hard-wooded  green- 
house plants  are,  by  short  twiggy  shoots  inserted 
in  pots  of  sandy  peat.  The  pots  should  be  covered 
with  bell  glasses  and  stood  in  a  house  with  a 
temperature  of  some  55°.  Plants  that  have 
finished  flowering  should  be  cut  back  and  stood 
in  a  house  in  a  temperature  of  55^,  where  they 
can  be  kept  close  and  moist  until  they  start  into 
growth.  They  may  then  be  potted  on  or  left 
until  they  have  just  finished  their  growth. 

J.     COUTTS. 

Royal  Botanic   Gardens,    Kew 


THE    GARDEN. 


[March  4,  1922. 


OBITUARY 


Royal  house.  To  view  these  gardens  an  extra 
charg.'  is  being  made,  of  which  the  whole  proceeds 
will  go  to  the  Middlesex  Hospital. 


SAMUEL    TISDALE. 

Another  Unk  with  the  past  is  removed  by  the 
loss  of  Samuel  Tisdale.  who  died  on  February  14 
in  his  eighty-ninth  year.  He  started  his  career 
as  Rose  propagator  with  the  firm  of  Messrs, 
Richard  Smith  and  Sons  of  Worcester.  He  after- 
wards entered  the  service  of  Messrs.  Barr  and 
Sugden  (now  Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons)  as  manager 
of  their  nursery.  Garrett  Lane,  Tooting,  where 
the  firm's  famous  collection  of  Dafi'odils  was 
grown  and  where  they  conducted  their  seed  trials, 
and  remained  with  the  firm  some  twenty-five 
-i-ears,  retiring  in  1901,  when  Messrs.  Barr  and 
Sons  were  establishing  their  nursery  at  Surbiton. 
He  then  went  to  hve  with  his  son-in-law  at 
Bryanston  Square,  assisting  him  in  his  florist 
business.  Samuel  Tisdale  was  always  a  very 
active  and  inteUigent  gardener,  and  was  closely 
associated  with  the  cultivation  of  the  famous 
collections  of  new  seedling  Daffodils  raised  by 
Edward  Leeds  and  WilUam  Backhouse,  which 
were  acquired  by  the  late  Mr.  Peter  Barr.  He 
was  a  well  known  figure  at  the  old  flower  shows 
of  the  R.H.S.  held  at  South  Kensington,  when 
Messrs.  Barr  were  exhibiting  their  new  Daffodils 
in  Day  and  Martin's  blacking  bottles. 

Strange  to  say.  he  was  buried  on  Saturday, 
the  iSth  ult.,  at  Streatham  Cemetery,  which 
occupies  the  site  of  Barr  s  old  nursery,  where  for 
so  many  years  he  was  cultivator  of  the  many 
.plants  which  were  grown  there. 


Royal  Horticultural  Society 's  Examinations.— 

Prospective  candidates  are  reminded  thn  entries 
for  the  examinations  for  the  National  Diploma  in 
Horticulture  close  on  March  4.  Ibe  dates  of  the 
examinations  which  are  for  members  of  the 
gardening  profession  only  are :  Preliminary  and 
-Final  written  examinations,  Saturday,  May  27. 
Practical  examinations  at  the  R.H.S.  Gardens, 
Wisley  -.  Preliminary,  June  27  and  28 :  Final, 
June  29  and  30.  For  syllabuses  and  entry  forms 
apply  to  the  Secretary,  Royal  Horticultural 
Society,    Vincent  Square,  Westminster. 

Charity  Concert. — On  February  16  the  twenty- 
third  annual  concert  organised  by  Geo.  Monro, 
Limited,  in  aid  of  various  charities,  was  held  at 
the  Queen's  Hall.  An  excellent  programme  was 
provided,  which  included  an  organ  recital  and 
some  excellent  music  rendered  by  the  band  of 
H.M.  Grenadier  Guards.  Last  year  the  Com- 
mittee made  the  following  grants  to  charities : 
£10  los.  to  the  Gardeners'  Royal  Benevolent 
Institution,  £3  3s.  to  the  Royal  Gardeners'  Orphan 
Fund,  £5  5S.  to  the  Wholesale  Fruit  and  Potato 
Trades'  Benevolent  Society,  £6  6s.  to  the  Royal 
Surgical  Aid  Society,  £6  6s.  to  the  Charing  Cross 
Hospital,  £3  3s.  to  St.  Dunstan's,  £3  3s.  to  the 
London  and  Home  Counties  Benevolent  Fund, 
and  £2  2s.  to  the  Covent  Garden  Lifeboat  Fund. 

Ideal  Home  Exhibition.  —  On  Wednesday 
March  i  Princess  .\lice  opened  the  Ideal  Home 
Exhibition  at  Olympia  at  3.30  p.m.,  when 
admission  was  by  invitation  only.  'i  he 
building  was  opened  to  the  public  at  5  p.m  , 
but  each  other  day,  until  March  25,  the  Exhibition 
will  be  open  from  10  a.m.  to  10  p  m.  at  a  charge 
■of  2S.  The  varied  display  embraces  a  vast 
working  demonstration  of  newest  devices  and 
inventions  for  houses  and  gardens  of  all  sizes. 
The  large  annexe  holds  a  most  beautiful 
•collection  of  gardens  designed  by  the  Queens  of 
Holland,  Spain,  Belgium,  Norway  and  Rumania, 
•Queen  Alexandra,  Princess  Mary,  Princess  Alice, 
Lady   Patricia   Rarasay  and  four  children  of  the 


ANSWERS 
TO  CORRESPONDENTS 

FLOWER     GARDEN. 

IRIS  HOOGIANA  (North  Notts).— This  Iris  does  best 
when  planted  early  in  November  and  lifted  when  the 
foliage  has  died  down — usually  in  July.  The  roots  should 
be  .sfored  in  dry  soil  throughout  the  summer  and  autumn 
until  the  plauting  season  comes  round  asjain. 

HYACINTHS  FAILING  (Tinplate,  Newcastle,  St.affs.).— 
The  cause  of  your  Hyacinths  tlowering  down  in  the  crown 
is  either  excessive  heat,  puttmg  into  heat  before  thorougiily 
rooted,  or  possibly  they  were  allowed  to  go  dry  at  tlie  root 
before  being  taken  inside.  Any  one  of  these  mistakes 
would  account  for  the  trouble. 

MIGNONETTE  PLANTS  DYING  (E.  A..  Holmes  Chapel). 
— The  diseases  to  which  Mignonette  is  heir  are  few, 
and  none  seems  to  apply  to  the  trouble  stated  by  our 
correspondent.  On  fuU  consideration  of  all  the  circum- 
stances, we  are  incHned  to  the  opinion  tliat  the  dying 
of  individual  plants  in  the  beds  is  probably  due  to  mjury, 
such  as  accidental  bruismg  by  a  hoe.  This  would  account 
for  the  appearance  of  dampmg  oS  at  the  collar  with 
large  plants.  The  cultural  detail  followed  by  our  corre- 
spo'iident  is  admirable  and  deserving  of  better  results. 
If  the  trouble  occurs  durmg  the  conung  season  we  should 
like  an  affected  plant  or  two,  with  roots  attached,  for 
examination. 

TREES    AND    SHRUBS. 

SCREEN  TO  HIDE  FOWL-RUN  (C.  B.  W.,  Byfleet).— 
As  far  as  we  can  \1sualise  our  correspondent's  garden, 
it  would  seem  that  a  Yew  hedge  would  be  altogether 
txjo  stiff  and  formal  for  the  purpose.  Scotch  Pines  or 
larch,  iilanted  uregularly  5ft.  apart  to  form  a  screen 
rather  than  a  hedge,  would  probably  make  at  once  the 
best  -nindbreak  and  at  the  same  time  obliterate  most 
effectively  the  fowl-run.  The  Beech  hedge  suggested 
should  be  better  than  one  of  Yew,  but  it  would  be  wise, 
if  possible,  to  avoid  a  hedge  at  all. 

HEDGE  OR  SCREEN  IN  PARTIAL  SHADE  (C.  B.  W., 
Bvflcct)  —The  amount  of  shade,  and  ruore  jjarticularly 
tlie  amount  of  the  drip  mentioned  by  our  correspondent, 
are  rather  important.  It  would  be  unwise  to  trust  valu- 
able hybrid  Bhododendrons  to  such  a  site,  but  R.  pontioum 
should  succeed.  Holly  or  Laurel  or,  unless  the  drip  is 
very  considerable,  Berberis  stenophylla  would  also  answer. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

WATERSIDE  PLANTING  (C,  B.  W.,  Byfleet),— If 
our  correspondent  gets  a  AVeeping  Willow  for  the  canal- 
side  site  he  mentions,  he  should  take  care  that  he  does 
not  obtain  a  specimen  grafted  in  the  head  ;  such  are 
never  satisfactory.  Gslden  Willows  grow  rapidly  and 
would  be  very  satisfactory  in  such  a  situation.  Whether 
Siberian  Irises  would  flourish  depends  upon  the  dampness 
of  the  site.  Thev  like  plenty  of  moisture,  Civen  tins, 
some  of  the  Candelabra  Primulas  would  be  ailmirable, 
P  japonica,  P.  BuUeyana  and  P.  pulverulenta  are  recom- 
roendable,  especially  the  last.  If  our  correspondent 
cares  in  send  furtlieV  details,  particularly  as  to  the  area 
of  moist  soil,  we  could  no  doubt  render  further  assistance, 

BOOK  DEALING  WITH  THE  WIRING  OF  FLOWERS 
(E  T,,  Kent), — We  are  not  aware  of  a  book  which  treats 
on  the  subject  of  wiring  natural  flowers  used  for  wreaths, 
bouquets,  &e.,  nor  does  the  subject  seem  to  be  embodied 
in  any  work  on  floral  arrangement.  It  is  not  an  intricate 
business,  and  we  suggest  that  if  instruction  is  needed  most 
florists  would  give  one  or  two  practical  lessons  by  arrange- 
ment for  a  moderate  fee, 

ARTIFICIAL  MANURES  FOR  THE  FLOWER 
GARDEN  (■■  Witliy"),— Our  correspondent  may  use  bone 
meal  (flnely  ground)  or  guano  for  the  flower  garden  at  the 
rate  of  about  2  02,  to  the  squtvre  yard,  or  where  lime  is 
present  a  mixture  of  five  parts  superiihosphatc,  three  parts 
sulphate  of  ammonia  and  two  jiarts  sulphate  of  potash 
at  the  same  rate,  WTiere  smaU  areas  are  concerned  the 
extra  cost  of  some  of  the  well  known  proprietary  manures 
is  compensated  for  by  the  trouble  of  mixing  such  things 
as  the  above.  Bone-meal  is  less  active  and  more  lasting 
in  its  action  than  the  others  mentioned. 

NAMES  OF  PLANTS.— C.  S,  C— Hedera  Helix  var, 
marmorata, G,   B,   W,— Impatiens  Sultani, 


Herbaceous  Plants  &Ros( 


PLANT  NOW  to  secure  a  succession  \ 
bloom  throughout  the  Summer  and  Autumi 
We  offer  Strong  Flowering  Plant 

(not  Seedlings  or  Rooted  Cuttings)  of  tt 
following  at  specially  reduced  prices : — 

per  doz^ 

Achillea  ptarniica  plena,  double  white,  free  flowcrinp  ..  7 

Aconitum  Fischrri,  delifihtful  porcelain  blue  Monlcihood. .  7 

Anchusas,  Ijropraore  and  Opal,  wrll  known  Boraccs  . .  7 
Asters   (Micliai^lmas   Dalsicp),  in  ^'real  variety,  tall  and 

d\\aif,  early  and  late  7/6  to  10 

Campanula  persie.  crenilea  grandiflora,  tall  blue  Cluniney- 

flowir  . .          .  .          . .          . .          . .          . .          . .          . .  7 

Chrysanthemum   maxinuim   (white   Shasta  Dai^i's),  in 

variety             .  .          . .          . .          . .          . .          . .          . .  B 

Delphiniums,  in  many  varieti  s,  all  shade?  of  colour  7/6  to  10 

Erigeron  Quaktri-sp,  "pale  French  jiri'y  Fleabane            . .  6 

Geum  Mrs.  Bradsliaw,  double  iicarlet  bloom        . .          .  .  5 

Qai  I  lard  ia     granditlora,     old-fashioned     Blanket -flowir. 

'joMt-n  and  scarlet    . .          . .          . .          . .          .  -          . .  5 

Heucheras,  in  many  varieties,  pink,  rose  and  crinisou.  .  5 
Heleniums,    in    variety,    including    Eiverton    G^'m    and 

Biauty,  ytdlow  and  copper  coloiired  SneezewDrts        ..  '3 

Helianthus  (Pmnuial  Sunflowers),  in  many  varieties  ..  ! 
Iris,  broad  l-'af  Germanica  types,  host  named  sorts,  all 

sliades  of  colour        . .  . .  . .  . .  . .  7/6  to  IS 

Monarda  Cambridge  Scarlet,  most  useful  crimson-scarlet 

B.^roamot        . .          . .          . .          . .          . .          . .          . .  ' 

Montbretia     crocosmijeflora,     strong     clumps,     orange- 

colour;:-d  bloom  .  .  . .  .  -  . .  .  ■  .  -  E 
Nepeta  .Mussiui  (Caimini),  excellent  for  edging,  continuous 

LavindtT-likc  liloom            . .          . .          . .          . .          . .  E 

Psonies,  in  ^rnat  variety,  all  coloiu's       ..  ..  9/- to  15 

Potentillas,  doultle  and  single  florists'  varietie?.  all  shades 

of  yellow — red  to  deepest  crimson           . .          . .          . .  S 

Rudbeckia  Xewmanii.  dwarf  yellow  Cone-floA'er,  blooms 

in  early  autumn       . .          . .          . .          . .          . .          . .  5 

Rudbeckia  Golden  Glow,  taller,  yellow  variety  . .          . .  5 

Solidago  (Golden  Rod),  in  several  varieties        ..          .  B 

Half-dozens  at  Dozen  Rate. 

Carriage  paid  upon  all  orders  of   10/-  and  upwards 
for  Cash  with  order. 


CATALOGUES     RECEIVED. 

Cliariesworth  and  Co.,  Haywards  Heath,  Sussex.— Orchid 
List,  beautifullv  illustrated  in  colour. 

C.  Engelmann.  '  Saffron  Walden.  Essex.— Perpetual- 
flowering  Carnations. 

MaxweU  and  Beale,  The  Dorset  Nursery.  Broadstone. 
Dorset.— Hardv  Plants.  _ 

L.  R.  Russell,  Limited,  Richmond  Nurseries,  Richmond, 
Surrev.— Flower  and  Vegetable  Seeds. 

H.  Correvon,  Floraire  Nursery,  Ch&ne-Bourg,  Geneva.— 
Seeds  of  Hardy  Perennials. 


COLLECTIONS. 

We  offer  the  follo\ving  Collections  selectefl  by  us  from  t 
above-named  plants  ; 

Collection  A. — 12  L'ood  varieties    . .  7/6 

„  B.— 24  ■   „  „  .  .  14/- 

Eacli  plant  distinctly  named  ;   carefully  packed  :   carriage  pa 

ROSES. 

We   still   hold   a   good  stock  of   British-grown    Roses 
leading  Hybrid  Tea  varieties.     We  otf<'r  the  following  sptcia 
chi-ap  Collection  : 

Collection  C, — 12  Hybrid  Teas,  all  distinct 
to  name  . .  . .  . .  . .  ..  16/- 

Carriage  paid  for  cash  vith  order 


JAMES  BACKHOUSE  &  SON,  Lt( 

(Dept.   C), 

The  Nurseries,  YORK 

FIVE  Million  Yards  of  strong  STEEL  WIF 
(25  S.W.G.),  black  enamelled,  on  neat  reels 
I  mile  each,  10/-  per  mile.  Also  One  Millii 
ISABELS  of  hard  compressed  fibre,  with  string  t 
almost  indestructible  ;  can  be  tied  or  nailed  on 
anything.  Bag  of  500  for  5/-,  or  1,000  for  8, 
The  above  are  Government  surplus  and  invalual 
to  gardeners  and  others.  Cash  with  order  ;  se 
carr.  paid  to  any  address  in  U.K. — F.  BARNE 
BRAND  &'Co.,  5,  Victoria  St.,  Westminster,  S.W 


PUBLICATION     RECEIVED. 

The  Scientiflc  Selection  of  Arsenate  of  Lead  and  its  Com- 
binations.    Published  bv  Walter  Voss  and  Co..  Limited, 
London,  E.14.       Gratis  on  application. 


LAWNS 

Of  GOOD    RICH   COLOUR    and    FINE   TEXTURE 
for  the  Spring  can  be  obtained  by  using 

Lawn  Manure,  Moss  Killer, 

Sward  Restoring  Compost, 

or    Lawn    Sand    and     Daisy 

Killer,  etc. 

If  you  will  forward  particulars  of  the  condition  of 
your  Lawn— mossy  or  weedy— subsoil,  etc.,  we  shall 
be  pleased  to  send  you  ADVICE   BY  POST  FREE. 

Wm.  WOOD  &  SON,  Ltd.,  Taplow,  Bucks. 


THE 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


IVol.  LXXXVI.— No.  2625. 

iBotered  as  Second-class  .Matter  at  the  New  York,  N.Y..  Post  Office. 


Saturday,  March   11,  1922 


REOISTBRED     AT     THE     GENERAL 
POST    OFFICE    AS   A    NEWSPAPER 
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MERRYWEATHER'S     ROSES 


FOR    THE   GARDEN 
FOR    BEDS  I 


FOR    EXHIBITION  1 
FOR    EVERYWHERE! 


Also  Fruit  Trees,  Shrubs,  Ornamental  Trees. 
Please  state  your  wants. 


H.    MERRYWEATHER  &    SONS,  LTD. 

Garden  Specialists,  SOUTHWELL,  NOTTS. 

BEAUTIFUL     LILIES     for     MARCH     PLANTING. 

LILIUM  AURATUM,  tlic  Whitp  nnlilpii-raycd  sjiottcd  Lily  of  Japan,  bearing  large  sweeUv 

scented  flowers Tf r  dozen.  21 ,'- ;  each  2/- 

Larger  bulbs  per  dozen,  30/-  and  40/-  ;  eaeli  2/9  and  3,6 

LILIUM  CROCEUM,  tlie  True  Cottager's  Orange  Lily,  flery  orange  flowers. 

per  dozen,  10,6  ;  each  1  /- 

LILIUIVl  HANSON  I,  tlie   Japanese   Yellow   .Martagon   Lily,    bright   golden   yellow   spotted 
I  TiiuM.ii-iiNinwn '..         per  dozen.  30/- ;  each  2/9 

LILIUM  SPECIOSUM  ALBUM,  liandsonie  white  flowers    ..         per  dozen.  21 /- ;  each  2/- 
..  »  n  KRAETZERI,    beautiful    large  white  iiowers  of  great 

substance,  with  dark  orange  anthers    ..  ..  ..  ..         per  dozen,  30/- :  each  2/9 

LILIUM  SPECIOSUM  RUBRUM,  siifruseO  and  heavily  spotted  crimson  on  white  giBund. 

per  dozen.  21/-  ;  "each  2/- 

LILIUM    SPECIOSUM    MELPOMENE,    line    handsome    flowers,   rich   crimson    spotted 

I  uiple-crimson  and  margined  white per  dozen.  30/- ■' each  2/9 

E.Ntra  strong  bulbs         per  dozen,  40/- ;  each  3/6 

Descripiive  Catalogue  of  Lilies,  Gladioli,  Tigridias,  etc.,  free  on  application. 

BARR    &    SONS,  coV^r*r^^iii,r>^^lTv^.b.,. 
MAKE  YOUR  GARDENS  GAY  AND  PROFITABLE 

BY    USING 

THOMPSON    &    MORGAN'S 

HIGH-CLASS  FLOWER  &  VEGETABLE  SEEDS, 

SCOTCH  &  ONCE-GROWN  SEED  POTATOES, 

HARDY  PLANTS,   FRUIT   TREES,   etc. 

Descriptive  Catalogues,  really  Horticultural  Dictionaries,  FREE 
on  application  to 


THOMPSON     &     MORGAN 


IPSWICH. 


ORCH I DS 

of  vigorous   habit  and    superior  constitution.     A  visit  to  our  Establishment 

is    cordially    invited    to    inspect    our     immense     and     interesting     STOCK 

RAISED     BY     THE 

PURE    CULTURE    SYSTEM 

Choice     Species,    Rare    Botanical    Specimens.     Albinos    in    warm    and    cool 
sections  also  a  speciality. 

E.xpert    Advice    given    and    all    Requisites    supplied     for    the    good    culttire 

of   Orchids. 

CHARLE8W0RTH  &  CO.,  "ITe^^S!*^ 


THE     GARDEN. 


[March  ii,  iq22. 


u 


THE   GARDEN     CATALOGUE    GUIDE 


Rose  Specialists 


ELISHA  J.  HICKS,  M.C.  N.R.S.,  etc. 

HURST,  BERKS 

Tha  Champion   Deoonitiva  Rose   Grower    of  England 


WALTER    EASLEA    &    SONS, 
EASTWOOD,    LEIGH-ON-SEA,    ESSEX- 

Essex  produces  the  World's  Finest  Roses. 

Our  plants  are  grown  in  fields  exposed   to  sea  air. 

All  the  latest  and  best  varieties. 


Fruit  Trees  and  Plants 


PERRY'S 

Hardy  Plant  Farms 

ENFIELD,  MIDDX. 


N«w  AlplnM 
and  ParwaiMa 

Oempl«ta 
Oellaotlon 


Garden  Sundries 


G.  H.  RICHARDS 
234,  Borough 
LONDON,  S.E.I 


Trada 
only. 


XL  ALL 

Insecticides 
Fumigants 


and 


W.  WALTERS  &  CO. 
The  Works 
Amberley  Grove 
CROYDON,  SURREY 


Lath, 

Greenhouse, 
Blinds, 

Artistic  Trellis, 
Rustic  Work. 


HY.  RICHARDSON  &  CO. 
Skelderg.\te  Bridge  Works, 
YORK. 


Lawn,  Garden, 
Fru  it  Trees,  and 
Horticultural 
Fertilisers 


KELWAY   &   SON 
Retail  Plant  Department 
LANGPORT,  SOMERSET 


Hardy  Plants 
Colour  Borders 
Gladioli 


HARDY    AXALEAS    AND    FLOWER  INQ    SHRUBS 

R.  &   G.  CUTHBERT 
SOUTHGATE 
MIDDLESEX 
Established  1797 


For  planting  and 
Conaarvatory 
dacoration. 
Catalogue  ol  our 
naw  and  baautiful 
varlatiea  poat 
fraa 


LAXTON   BROS. 

Nurseries 

BEDFORD 

W.  WELLS,  JuNR. 
Hardy  Plant  Nursery 
MERSTHAM,  SURREY 


Strawberries 

and 

Fruit  Trees 


Specialists  In 
Hardy  Plants 
and  Alpines 
Catalogues  Free 


Seeds  and  Bulbs 


RICHARD  MELHUISH,  Ltd. 
50/51,  Fetter  Lane,  E.C.4. 
Branch  Depot  : 

143  Holborn  Bars 


R.  H.  BATH,  Ltd. 
The  Floral  Farms 
WISBECH 


Home-Grown 
Bulbs  and 
Seeds 


BLACKMORE  &  LANGDON 
Twerton  Hill  Nursery 
BATH 


Bagonlaa 
Dalphlnluma 
Qloxinlaa 
Cyolaman,  ate. 


DAWKINS 

408,  King's  Road 
CHELSEA,  S.W. 


Seed  Catalogue 
and  QIadioli 
List  free  on 
application 


SPENCE'S  DESCRIPTIVE  CATALOGUE  of 
SELECTEDJSCOTCH  SEED  POTATOES  from 
the  famous  Dunbar  district,  post  free.  Please 
mention  "  The  Garden."— CHAS.  T.  SPENCE, 
Seed  Potato  Specialist,  DUNBAR. 


QOLD     MEDAL    CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 

Catalogue  free  containing  full  list  of  all  the  best  and  up-to- 
date  varieties  in  all  sections,  also  list  of  Novelties  for  1922. 

QOLD   MEDAL   MICHAELMAS   DAISIES 

I  shall  be  pleasid  to  supply  for  63/-  one  each  of  the  50 
varieties  for  which  I  was  awarded  the  Gold  Medal  of  the 
R.H.S.  in  September  last,  or  will  make  special  selections 
at  10/-.  15/-  and  20/-  per  dozen. 

GOLD  MEDAL  PERENNIAL  PHLOX. 

If  you  want  the  best  try  H.  J.  JONES'  selection.  12  very 
fine  unnamed,  all  colours  mixed,  6/-  :  12  very  fine  named 
varieties.  10/- ;  12  extra  fine  named,  15/- ;  12  very  fine  New 
varieties.  20/-. 

Catalogue  of  the  above  and  tnany  other  good  t>l, nits  from 

H.  J.  JON ES,Ryecrort  Nurseries,  LEWISHAM,S.E.13 


^UBS     FOR     SHRUBS. 

'  WIRE  BOUND  PATENT,  over  lOll 
prizes.  R.H.S.  Medal,  1910.  No  warping  or 
shrinking.  In  Oak,  Beech,  Teak.  &c.  Highly 
decorative. — Price  List  from  Phaoai,  \-  Co  , 
2R  Goodge  Street,  London.  V\M, 


Gardon  Tools  of 
all  kinds. 
Catalogue     "B" 
post  free. 


CORRY   &   CO.,  Ltd. 
Shad  Thames,  S.E.i  and 
Bedford  CHAMBF;ts 
CovENT  Garden,  W.C.2 


MUrahanta  and 
Man  utaotu  rare 
a«  MorUoultural 
■uHdriM 
Partllizara  and 
Inaaatlddaa,  ate. 


J.  BENTLEY,  Ltd. 
Barrow-on-Humber 
HULL 


Waad  Daatroyara 
Lawn  Sand 
Inaaetleldaa 
Uruba,  ata. 


Landscape  Gardening 


NEW    ROSES. 

Two    fine    Novelties    raised    by    us. 

"GLOWWORM"  (Pernetiana) 

May  be   described  as  a  perpetual   flowering 
Austrian  Copper.     Very  fragrant. 

"LULU" 

The  longest  bud  of  any  rose.     Lovely  Apri:ot 

colour.    Surpasses  "  Irish  Elegance."    Grand 

for  table  decorations. 

Splendid    field    grown    plants    of    both    varieties, 
2/6  each.        24/-  doz.,  Carr.  Paid. 


WALTER  EASLEA  &  SONS 

Rose     Specialists,  | 

EASTWOOD,     LEIGH  -  ON  -  SEA 


W.   WELLS,   Junr., 

Hardy  Plant  Nurseries, 
Merstham,     Surrey. 

Collections  of  Herbaceous  Plant; 

for     Present    Planting. 

ORDER  NOW  AND   ENSURE   DELIVERY. 


W.  H.  gaze  &  SONS,  Ltd. 
High  Street 
KLMGSTON-ON-THAMES 


Lardscape,  Rock 
and  Water  Gardens. 
Model  Gardens- 
Portsmouth  Road. 
Surbiton. 


12  Phlox,  (lolJ  JIfdal  varieties,  distinct  ..  ..  •-     9 

12 

12 

12 
12 
12 


R.  WALLACE   &   CO.,  Ltd. 
Thb  Old  Gardens 
TUNBRIDGE   WELLS 


{..aiidscape  &  Garden 
ArohJt«cta.  Queen 
Alexandra's  Cup  for 
Best  Rook  and  Water 
Qarden.  Intemattonal 
Show.  1912. 


J.  CHEAL   & 

NURSERIBS 

CRAWLEY 


SONS,  Ltd. 


Laii<too«p« 
Oftr^witr* 
Tr«««  and 
Shrubs,  vto. 


rpULMAM  ®  SON  ^"^^Si^ 

i  BY  APPOINTMEKT  TO  tns  MXJC5TY  Roat-^KS-* 

I  71  NEWMAN  ST-OXrOROSr-  rarmtiGanim, . 

LONDON  •  w  P:^:^"^  ■ 


NATURE    &    ART. 

Largest  and   finest  stock  of   CLIPPED 
YEW  &  BOX  TREES  in  the  country. 
Thousands  of  Specimens  to  select  from. 
Catalogues  free  on  demand. 
JOHN  KLINKERT,  F.R.H.S.,  M.C.H. 
Kaw    Topiary    Nuraarlaa, 

RICHMOND,    LONDON. 


MISS  EVELYN  FAWSSETT 

(Specialist  in  Garden  Planning) 

83,  High  Street 
LEWES,  SUSSEX 


New  Gardens  de- 
signt^d.  Old  Gardens 
Re-arranyed.  Plant- 
ing plans  lor-  borders, 
etc.  Terms  on  appli- 
cation. 


FORBES'  Catalogue. 

Florists'  Flowers,  Hardy  Plants,  Vegetable 
and   Flower   Seeds,  Free  on  Application. 

JOHN      FORBES     (Hawick),      Ltd. 

The    King's    Nurserymen, 

HANA/ICK,    SCOTLAN  D.    Send    for    Descriptive    Catalogue,    Post    Fre 


,,        nrw.  of  n'ccnt  introduction 
,,        latest  novelties     .  . 

Michaelmas  Daisies,  standard  varieties 

,,  ,,         of  recent  introduction 

,,  ,,         latest  novelties. . 

Papaver  Orientale,  ^rand  large  varieties 

Heleniurrts,  in  0  distinct  varieties 

Delphiniums,  Gold  Jledal  varieties     .  .    18/-,  24, 

Sunbeam  Poppies,  Une  for  vases 

Aconitums,  in  6  distinct  varieties 

Anemone  Japonica,  in  fi  ..istinct  varieties   . . 

Aquilegia  (Columbine),  in  ii  distinct  varieties 

Centaureas,  in  6  distinct  varieties 

Campanulas,  in  12  Ipeautifid  varieties 

Chrysanthemum  maximum,  in  6  vars. 

Erigerons,  in  6  varieties,  beautiful  blues 

Qalegas,  in  4  distinct  colours   . . 

Hemerocallis,  in  6  distinct  varieties  .  . 

Heucheras,  in  6  distinct  varieties 

Iris  Qermanica,  in  12  distinct  varieties 

Pyrethrum,  j:orgeous  sinj.des  and  doubles 

Rudbeckias,  in  6  distinct  varieties 

Sidalceas  (.Mallow  Pink),  distinct 

Veronicas,  in  0  varieties,  distinct 


16 
27 


9/-  and 
for  cuttinj; 


8/-  anil 


IS 

20 
4 
4 

30 
S 
4 
4 
4 
4 

12 
5 
7 
2 
4 
4 

12 
9 
4 
3 
4 


Collections  of  Alpine  and  Rock  Plants. 

:  Crazy   Paving   Plants,  di-^tinut.. 
;  Achilleas,  di-tint-t 

'>  Arabis,  (ii^tinct 

t  Arenarias,  distinct 

:  Aubrietias,  tine  vaiit;lu>,  distinct 

:  Campanulas,  distinct 

;  Cistus  (Sun  Roses),  distinct, 

;  Dianthus,  distinct 

i  Erigeron  (Alpine),  distim  r 

1  Qentians,  di:>tincT.. 

;  Qlobularias,  disttiut 

t  Qypsophlla,  di-^tinct 

;  Helianthemums  t  tU  ck  iloscs),  distinct 

;  Holichrysum,  tli-iinrt      .. 

1   Hypericum,  di--tiiict 

;  Iberis,  distinct 

'.  Lithospermum,  H<;ivt'iily  ithn- 

I  CEnotheras,  distinct 

1  Phlox,  Alpint',  distinct     .. 

)  Potentillas,  Alpine,  distinct 

)  Primulas,  distinct 

i  Ramondia  Pyrenaica,  litrgc  rosettes  .. 

j  Saxifragas,  Silver 

I  ,,  >[ossy  ;  . 

>  ,,  Cushion 

J  Sedum,  distinct     . . 

L  Sempervivum,  distinct    .  , 

3  Silene,  di--tinct 

i  Thymus,  di-tinct  .  . 

I  Veronicas,  tlistinrt 

i  Violas,  Alpinr,  distiiu-t 


All  above  Alpines   are    strong   stuff  from   Pots. 
1'  Herbaceous  Plants  for  Cut  I'iimrr  \Vork,  8/-;    li4.  15, 
27,6:    100,  50 


No    a6z5  -Vol    LXXXVI]  NOTES     OF    THE    WEEK 


[March  ii,  1922. 


THE  Ideal  Home  Exhibition,  now  pro- 
ceeding at  OhTnpia,  is  exceedingly 
interesting  to  everyone  interested  in 
economy,  whether  of  construction  or 
upkeep  as  applied  to  the  home.  To  the 
gardener  and  garden-lover,  however,  interest 
centres  in  the  annexe,  where  are  situated  the 
"  Queens'  gardens,"  of  which  we  have  heard  so 
much.  They  are  assuredly  worthy  of  eulogy  as 
representing  the  most  ambitious  effort  in  garden 
construction  at  an  exhibition  ever 
attempted  in  Britain.  Beautiful  as 
these  gardens  are,  however,  and 
useful  as  are  the  lessons  they  teach 
to  every  garden-owner,  one  feels  that 
a  better  corollary  to  the  model  houses 
shown  in  the  exhibition  would  be 
full-size  or  half-size  representations 
of  tasteful  arrangements  for  an 
ordinary  small  to  medium  sized 
suburban  or  country  house.  That 
most  practical  of  idealists,  the  great 
Ruskin,  writing  of  another  sort  of 
Queens'  gardens  to  those  on  view  at 
Oh-mpia,  says  :  "  Suppose  you  had 
each,  at  the  back  of  your  houses, 
a  garden,  large  enough  for  your 
ciildren  to  play  in.  with  just  as  much 
lawn  as  would  give  them  room  to 
run,  .  .  ."  Alas !  that  in  this 
twentieth  century  there  should,  in  so 
many  cases,  still  be  need  to  suppose 
such  a  thing.  Alack !  and  alas ' 
that,  where  the  garden  plot  is  pro- 
vided, it  is  so  often  put  to  little  use, 
either  practical  or  artistic. 

Garden  Photographs.  —  Many 
readers  of  The  Garden  have  but 
small  gardens.  The  great  majority 
of  readers,  it  is  safe  to  say,  have 
grounds  which,  compared  to  the  big 
gardens  attached  to  equally  large 
estates,  of  which  so  many  are  to-da> 
being  broken  up,  are  quite  small. 
Many  of  these  smaller  gardens,  there 
is  no  doubt,  have  real  beauty.  Pictures 
of  such  \Vould  be  very  helpful  to 
fellow-readers.  The  views  in  large 
gardens,  which,  for  want  of  better, 
are  often  used  to  illustrate  the  points 
of  articles,  though  they  give  the  idea 
recommended,  are  hardly  so  useful 
to  the  man  or  woman  with  limited 
space  at  command  as  would  be  views 
showing  such  ideas  translated,  in  a 
limited  space,  into  actual  fact  If  any 
readers  have  such  photographs  by 
them,  they  wiU  perhaps  send  prints, 
accompanied  by  any  relative  par- 
ticulars,  with   a   view  to  publication.         CLEMATIS 


Their  name  and  the  address  of  the  garden  need 
not  be  published  if  they  would  rather  they  were 
not.  The  size  of  the  picture  is  not  of  much 
importance  so  long  as  the  prints  be  quite  "  sharp." 
Glossy  paper  prints  are  best,  preferably  on  silver 
printing-out  paper,  but  this  is  not  essential.  Ac- 
cepted prints  will,  on  publication,  be  paid  for  at  the 
usual  rate  unless  a  wish  is  expressed  to  the  contrary. 
The  Mouse  and  Vole  Plague.— The  numerous 
correspondents    who    have    enquired    where    they 


MONTANA.      ALL    CLEMATISES  MAY  NOW  BE   PLANTED 


can  purchase  the  Colin  Pullinger  balance  mouse- 
trap referred  to  in  correspondence  as  effective 
against  both  voles  and  mice,  even  in  the  rock 
garden,  will  be  glad  to  hear  that  it  is  manufactured 
wholesale  by  Messrs.  Duke,  Waring,  Crisp  and 
Co.,  is^*-  Wardour  .Street,  W.i,  and  obtainable 
through  any  ironmonger.  It  is  desirable,  if  the 
ironmonger  is  not  a  stockist,  to  give  him  the 
makers'  name. 

Push  On  ! — With  the  season  of  general 
growth  approaching  apace  it  is 
time  that  all  deciduous  planting 
were  rapidly  brought  to  a  close. 
Such  things  as  Rhododendrons.  Yews 
and  HoUies  may  successfully  be 
transplanted  in  May,  so  that,  where 
work  is  in  arrears,  they  may  be  left 
imtil  la^t.  The  May  planting  fetish 
is,  however,  if  not  dead,  at  any  rate 
rapidly  dying.  It  is  to-day  generally 
allowed  that  the  earlier  the  planting 
can  be  carried  out  the  more  successful 
is  likely  to  be  the  result.  Really 
early  planting — the  best  of  all — was 
q^iite  out  of  question  this  planting 
season  owing  to  the  parched  condition 
of  the  ground.  The  results  are 
noticeable  enough  in  gardens  to-day. 
Herbaceous  plants  are,  speaking 
generally,  hard  to  kill,  but  every 
week  which  now  elapses,  before  plant- 
ing is  finished,  will  depreciate  to  some 
extent  the  sum  total  of  effect  in 
1922.  The  same  applies  with  equal 
force  to  Roses,  at  any  rate  as  regards 
the  first  crop.  A  good  second  crop 
of  blossoms  may  be  obtained  from 
trees  carefully  transplanted — not  from 
a  distance,  of  course — -even  in  June. 
The  last  week  in  May  and  the  first 
two  weeks  of  June  are  probably,  of 
all  the  year,  the  best'  times  to  trans- 
plant specimen  conifers  which  must  be 
removed  but  which  have  not  been 
recently  transplanted  Provision 
must,  naturally,  in  that  case  be  made 
for  copious  waterings  should  the 
season  prove  droughty. 

A  New  Lawn-Mower. — Visitors  to 
the  Ideal  Home  Exhibition  should 
not  fail  to  see  the  new  "  J.  P."  lawn- 
mower  on  a  stand  in  the  annexe. 
This  is  at  any  rate  an  engineer's  job 
with  its  sun-and-planet  gears  and 
Skefko  ball  bearings,  remarkable  alike 
for  the  ease  of  its  adjustment  and  the 
speed  transmitted  to  the  cutting 
cylinder.  Should  it  carry  out  in 
practice  all  the  makers  claim  for  it, 
it  should  become  popular. 


112 


THE     GARDEN. 


[March  ii,  1922. 


THE    SUBURBAN    GARDEN    IN    WINTER 

The   writer  shozvs  hozv    the   too   common   dearth   of  winter  flowers  may  be   overcome. 


WAKKIXG  through  an  average 
siilnirb  in  winter  it  is  difficult  to 
realise  that  a  very  large  number 
of  the  inhabitants  have  a  genuine 
love  of  gardens  and  flowers. 
An  occasional  yellow  Jasmine,  a  great  many 
specimens  of  Pj-racantha  (often  with  very  few 
berries),  and  now  and  then  a  Laurustinus  bush 
are  practically  all  there  is  to  attract  the  eye;  even 
these  are  seldom  seen  in  full  \-igour.  In  summer 
most  of  the  little  gardens  are  gay  enough,  but 
in  tlie  dull  months,  when  the  need  for  cheerful 
sights  is  greatest,  little  is  to  be  noticed  but  a 
superabundance  of  evergreens  producing  a  most 
dreary  effect.  The  causes  of  this  winter  dullness 
appear  to  be  fourfold  :  (i)  want  of  knowledge 
of  many  of  the  most  suitable  plants;  (2)  lack 
of  proper  preparation  of 
the  soil  and  simple  cultural 
care ;  (3)  fear  that  the 
garden  will  not  be  so  gay 
in  summer  if  plants  are 
included  which  are  not 
effective  at  that  season  ; 
(4)  the  unsupervised  job- 
bing gardener. 

A  \isit  to  Kew  Gardens 
on  a  fine  day  in  midwinter 
would  be  very  enlightening 
to  many  people.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  above- 
mentioned  J  a  s  m  in  e, 
PjTacantba  and  Laurus- 
tinus. the  easiest  grown 
winter-fionering  plants 
and  berry-bearing  shrubs 
are  probably  Hamamelis 
mollis  (a  fine  yellow- 
flowering^slirub).  Daphne 
Mezereum  (both  white 
and  pink).  Rhododendrons 
dauricum,  mucrolatum 
and  prscox  (all  much 
alike,  pink),  Garrya 
eliiptica  (evergreen). 
Chimonanthus  fragrans, 
Berberis  Bealii.  Lonicera 
Standishii,  Erica  carnea 
(in  various  shades  of  pink 
as  well  as  pure  white). 
E.  darleyensis  or  medi- 
terranea  hybrida.  Iris 
unguicularis  (in  various 
shades  of  blue  or  purple 
and  also  white).  Clematis 
calycina  (a  climber). 
Petasites  fragrans  (the 
Winter  Heliotrope), 
Skiramia  japonica.  Coto- 
neaster  rotundifolia.  C. 
microphylla.  Eranthis 

hyemalis  (the  Winter 
.Aconite).  Cyclamen  Coum. 
C.      ibericum,      Narcissus 

Bulbocodium.  Crocus  Imperati,  C.  Siel.eri.  Helle- 
borus  niger  (the  Christmas  Rose)  and  Galanthus 
nivalis  (the  common  Snowdrop). 

Most  of  these  thri\e  best  if  left  undisturbed 
for  several  years  at  least,  so  that  it  is  essential 
to  prepare  the  ground  very  thoroughly  before 
planting.  If  possible,  trench  3ft.  deep,  adding 
as  much  good  sweet  loam  and  well  decayed  manure 
>r  leaf-mould  as  possible,  also  road  grit  if  the  soil 
s  very  heavy.     Most  plants  would  also  appreciate 


a  dressing  of  lime  (omit  this  for  Rhododendrons, 
Ericas  and  Hamamelis).  If  unable  to  have  the 
ground  trenched,  at  least  dig  large  and  wide  holes 
for  the  shrubs,  and  add  to  the  soil  as  above.  With 
the  exception  of  the  bulbs  (which  should  go  in 
as  early  as  possible  in  the  summer),  plant  in  March, 
or  April.  Be  very  careful  to  plant  firmly,  stake 
if  necessary,  and  see  that  no  fatal  draught  can 
blow  upon  the  position  chosen.  No  further 
attention  will  be  needed  except  to  make  sure 
that  the  plants  do  not  suffer  from  drought  in  late 
spring  and  summer.  Give  a  thorough  watering 
now  and  then,  and  protect  the  roots  from  the 
scorching  rays  of  the  sun  by  a  mulch  ;  or  better 
still,  for  a  small  garden  plant  low-growing  things, 
such  as  Violas  or  London  Pride,  which  will  serve 
the  same  purpose.     No  pruning  will  be  required. 


Narcissus  and  the  Christmas  Rose.  The  Hama- 
melis. Daphnes  and  Ericas  like  an  open  place, 
also  the  Crocuses.  The  Garrya,  Chimonanthus 
and  Lonicera  like  the  protection  of  a  wall,  but 
this  is  not  essential.  A  considerable  amount  of 
thought  will  certainly  have  to  be  given  to  the 
subject  if  the  summer  show  of  flowers  is  not  to 
be  affected.  But  there  are  several  plants  which 
add  greatly  to  the  beauty  of  the  garden  at  that 
time  which  will  appreciate  the  companionship 
of  these  winter  flowers.  It  is  oidy  necessary  to 
mention  the  splendid  family  of  the  Lilies  to  be  at 
once  reminded  that  branches  of  shrubs  %vill  protect 
them  from  those  late  frosts  which  so  often  check 
their  growth,  and  also  shade  their  roots  from  the 
burning  rays  of  the  midsummer  sun.  Only  the 
Iris  and  Ericas  will  be  found  to  object  to  a  little 
crowding  and  consequent  shade  in  hot  weather. 
Lastly,  if  it  is  desired  to  have  a  flowery  garden 
in  winter,  it  will  be  necessary  to  see  that  the 
gardener  knows  just  where  the  bulbs  are,  and 
that  he  does  not  dig  there  precisely  at  the  time 
that  they  are  beginning  to  shoot.  He  must  also 
give  up  his  habit  of  pruning  everything  as  hard 
as  he  can  (when  he  frequently  shears  off  the 
very  shoots  which  would  produce  the  flowers 
and  berries  if  left  to  do  so).  If  he  also  under- 
stands the  art  of  summer  mulching,  all  should 
be  well.  A.  E.  W. 


THE    PATH    THROUGH    THE    HE.\TH    GARDEN. 
For  the  suburban  garden,  an   arrangement   sueh    as    this   gizes 
maximum  of  display  in  a  minimum  of  space. 


unless  to.Temove  some  awkward  straggling  shoot. 
Clematis  calycina  will  need  a  warm  wall  or 
fence  or  a  sheltered  comer.  Iris  unguicularis 
needs  a  south  aspect  at  the  foot  of  a  wall,  also 
verv  poor  sftilwith  lime  or  builders'  mortar  rubbish. 
Petasites  fragrans  spreads  very  rapidly,  and  should 
be  relegated  to  an  ont  of  the  way  comer  or  used 
to  carpet  a  shrubbery  border  under  evergreens. 
The  Rhododendrons  like  partial  shade,  as  do  the 
little    Cyclamens,    the    Snowdrops,    Aconites,    the 


The  Value  of  Heaths  for  Winter 
Effect 

THERE  is.  perhaps,  no  race  of  plants  so 
valuable  for  winter  effect  as  the  hardy 
Heaths.  Not  only  is  there  one  variety 
(Erica  darleyensis)  which  habitually  aowers 
in  the  dead  of  winter  and  several  others 
which  are  interesting  at  that  season  in  that  they 
are  smothered  with  half-swollen  buds  ready  to 
open  at  the  advent  of  spring,  but  almost  every 
species  and  variety  gives  at  that  season  an  effort 
of  furniture.  They  have  an  interest,  too,  even 
to  the  eye  of  the  veriest  amateur — an  interest 
\vhich  needs  no  previous  commuoion  with  nature 
to  make  it  manifest,  as  is  unhappily  the  case  with 
much  winter  beauty  of  the  countryside.  The 
varying  habits  of  growth  lend  variety.  There 
are  entirely  prostrate  forms,  such  as  Calluna, 
vulgaris.  Foxii  and  pygmiea.  and  from  them  by 
degrees,  as  it  were,  through  plants  of  the  habit 
of  darleyensis  and  carnea  to  quite  erect-growing 
kinds,  such  as  mediterranea.  lusitanica  or  more 
especially  stricta.  The  gradation  of  foliage 
colouring  is  not  less  wonderful.  The  range  even 
of  the  common  Ling,  Calluna  vulgaris,  runs  from 
the  clear  bright  green  of  alba  Serlei  to  the  almost 
black  hue  of  .'Uporti,  which  makes  the  clear 
greens  seem  the  brighter  by  contrast.  There  are 
in  addition  golden  and  bronze  leaved  forms  of 
Ling  which  give  a  much  to  be  desired  note  of 
warm  colour  when  days  are  short  and  dark.  If 
to  these  we  add  the  varying  forms  of  the  different 
species  of  Erica — vagans.  Tetralbt.  cinerea,  medi- 
terranea, lusitanica,  stricta.  australis  and  arborea, 
with  foliage  differing  widely  in  size,  arrangement 
and  texture  and  in  innumerable  shades  of  green — 
some  bright,  some  dull,  here  blackish,  there 
glaucous,  now  covered  with  buds  for  next  season's 
crop  of  blossoms,  now  lit  up  with  the  w.irm  brown 
of  masses  of  last  year's  seed-pods — it  is  easy  to 
understand  why,  even  to  the  uninitiated,  the 
Heath  garden  always  affords  interest  even  in  the 
dead  of  winter. 


I 


March  ii,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


113 


THE    GARDEN    GATE 

The  artistic  value  and  practical  tcorth  of  the  unpretemious  gatetcay,  tcith  hints  on 

its  setting  and  maintenance. 


WHAT  a  difference  the  entry  into 
the  garden  or  into  some  portion 
of  it  makes  in  the  appearance  of 
the  whole  '.  Its  lay-out  surely 
demands  our  most  careful  study 
and  wisest  thought.  It 
is  a  question  that  is  of 
even  more  importance 
in  the  small  or  medium 
•sized  place,  than  where 
there  are  acres  of  grounds 
in  which  a  single  item 
is  sure,  to  some  extent, 
to  be  swallowed  up  by 
the  design  as  a  whole. 
In  a  restricted  area  the 
value  and  decorative 
«ffect  of  a  fine  entry  or 
gate  is  accentuated  and 
appreciated  to  its  utmost. 
Such  gateways  vary 
«normously  in  character 
and  construction  and, 
-while  all  are  good  in  their 
place  and  when  suited 
to  their  surroundings,  care 
should  be  taken  to  see  that 
they  harmonise  with 
their  accompanying  con- 
ditions. A  fine  old  open 
ironwork  gateway,  with 
its  typical  brick  piers, 
round  stone  balls  and  large 
pots  overflowing  with 
Hydrangeas,  for  instance, 
is  eminently  suited  for 
proximity  to  the  house 
or  other  buildings,  but 
placed  in  the  middle  of  a 
garden,  it  would  lose  its 
meaning  and  appear 
foolish  unless,  indeed,  it 
were  cut  through  a 
wall  leading  to  the 
kitchen  garden.  Even  then 
it  always  appears  to  me 
a  pity  not  to  have 
used  it  nearer  the  house. 

.\n  open  gateway  always  has  a  great  charm  as 
one  approaches  it.  in  that  it  permits  but  a  partial 
view  of  that  which  lies  beyond  and  so  keeps  you 
guessing  at  a  partially  revealed  mj-stery.  enticing 
and  urging  to  further  exploration.  Wooden  gates 
of  substantial  structure,  fitted  in  under  an  archway 
of  some  gay  climber,  are  most  effective  and. 
generally  speaking,  as  cheap  to  construct  as 
possible,  though  for  absolute  permanence,  there  is 
nothing  to  equal  iron,  kept  well  painted.  The 
■wooden  gate,  however,  is  a  gate  of  great  charm, 
especially  if  in  the  natural  colour  of  the  wood  from 
which  it  is  made,  and  simply  varnished  to  preserve 
it.  Paint  in  any  form  is  simply  imthinkable  in 
connexion  with  a  gate  that  is  to  be  really  artistic. 
One  recoils  in  horror  before  the  vision  of  the 
"  garden  green  "  coating  with  which  some  folks 
are  willing  to  coat  their  trellis  or  woodwork  in 
the  garden — a  green  that  wars  violently  with  every 
kno«-n  tint  of  natm^e.  Better  far,  if  painting  is 
the  only  course,  to  employ  a  darkish  neutral  brown 
that  has  at  least  the  merit  of  looking  inconspicuous, 
though  there  is  nothing  to  beat  the  tones  of  the 
natural  wood  either  stained  or  varnished. 

A   gate   must  be   sufficiently  high   to   suit   the 
purpose  for  which  it  is  placed  in  its  position,  but 


should  never  be  carried  higher  than  necessity 
demands.  A  gate — breast  high — with  an  arch  of 
similar  wood  above  it,  either  in  the  fashion  of  a 
lych-gate  or  simple  arch  with  Clematis,  etc.. 
rambling  over  it.  is  effective,  so  that  it  consorts  with 


For  wooden  gates,  the  best  tj-pe  of  hinge  is  one 
that  spreads  across  the  face  of  the  gate  and  is  held 
by  several  screws  rather  than  a  butt  hinge  which  is 
let  into  the  post  and  one  edge  of  the  gate.  Oiling 
hinges,  springs,  latches,  etc.,  should  be  regularly 
done,  especially  in  winter,  as  the  more  easilv 
these  glide  the  less  jar  there  will  be  to  disturb 
the  setting.  W,  H,  C.4KS-isg-\Vright, 


A    PLE-ASING    G.\RDEN    G-\TEWAY. 


adjacent  architecture,  both  when  seen  from  a 
distance  and  when  one  leans  across  the  top  and 
gazes  upon  the  garden  beyond.  Never  let  it  be 
forgotten  that  a  gate — like  everything  else — should 
have  some  reason  to  justify  its  existence  and, 
therefore,  ought  to  be  kept  shut.  The  simpler 
the  latch  the  better  :  just  a  latch  that  drops  into  a 
staple  on  the  opposite  post  being  all  that  is  neces- 
sary. Nothing  is  more  annoying  than  a  latch 
that  is  difficult  to  open  or  a  gate  that  "  sticks." 
Of  all  types,  the  gate  that  swings  itself  shut 
and  closes  by  a  simple  latch  and  staple  is  the  best 
and  most  readily  re-adjusted  if  the  post  should 
sink. 

Much  can  be  done,  when  fixing  the  gate, 
to  ensure  its  shutting  behind  those  who  enter  by 
giving  a  slight  tilt  to  the  posts  so  that  the  balance 
of  the  weight  of  the  gate  tends  to  swing  it  closed. 
-A.  spring  is  always  a  great  assistance,  but  these 
in  time  become  weaker  and  fail  to  shut  the  gate 
uiJess  combined  with  the  tilt  I  have  described. 
It  is  not  desirable  to  accentuate  this  tilt  too  strongly 
or  the  gate  will  close  with  a  crashing  bang  that, 
quite  apart  from  its  nerve-shattering  effect,  is 
bound  in  course  of  time  to  disturb  the  setting  and 
to  cause  the  post  to  work  loose. 


The  Adaptation  of  Plants 
to   Environment 

Illustrated   by    the    Gentianella   and   its 
Alpine  cousins. 

THE  old  Gentianella  of  English  gardens 
was  introduced  into  England  at  the  end 
of  the  sixteenth  century.  Its  character- 
istics differ  from  those  of  the  wild  t\-pe, 
having  been  adapted  to  the  mild  dim  He. 
I  brought  some  with  me  from  England  and  culti- 
vated them  forty  years  ago,  near  other  types,  to 
study  their  adaptation.  I  made  thus  some  inter- 
esting obser\-ations  upon  them.  I  took  up  the 
study  on  the  suggestion  of  the  late  Professor 
Romanes  of  Oxford,  who  was  the  scientific  heir 
of  Darwin.  He  induced  me  to  try  the  culture  for 
obseri-ation  purposes  of  t>-pes  nearly  allied,  but 
coming  from  different  countries.  We  began  this 
in  our  botanic  alpine  garden  at  the  Linnasa  in  the 
Valaisian  .\lps  (5,800ft.  altitude).  But  there  was 
no  possibility  of  close  observation  so  far  away, 
so  I  tried  here  at  Floraire.  I  took  all  the  different 
acaulis  forms  1  angnstifolia,  alpiua.  Clusii.  dinarica, 
and  Kochiana),  together  with  the  garden  plant 
Gentianella,  Mrs,  Montgomery  of  Blessingboume 
'  Ireland),  sent  me  once  a  photograph  of  a  bed  she 
had  in  her  garden  which  approached  perfection. 
.MiUions  of  flowers  of  Gentianella  crowding  one 
another  in  an  ordinary  garden  bed.  It  was  such  a 
sightthat  nobody  here  woiild  believe  that  the  picture 
was  not  taken  in  the  high  .\lps.  Even  in  the  .Alps 
I  never  saw  anything  like  it.  So  I  hc^ed  to  grow 
it  so  at  Floraire.  but  such  results  are  impossible.  I 
hasten  to  say,  in  our  Continental  climate. 

There  are  five  different  species  of  acaulis  type. 
The  French  botanist.  Perrier  de  la  Bathie,  pub- 
lished a  note  on  the  different  alpine  kinds  in  our 
Bulletin  for  the  protection  of  plants.*  which  my 
late  friend.  Sir  Henry  Yorke.  translated  into 
English ;  he  gave  the  description  of  G.  angus- 
tifolia,  Clusii.  Kochiana  and  alpina.  Kochiana 
and  Clusii  are  the  antitypes,  the  one  of  the  granite 
(calcifuge).  the  other  chalk  loving.  The  three 
others  are,  or  seem  to  be,  indifferent  as  to  lime. 

G.  Kochiana  (Perrier)  =  G.  excisa  (Koch)  = 
G.  latifolia  (Gr.  Godr.).  is  the  plant  of  the  granitic 
mountains.  It  grows  in  the  Jura  too  and  in  other 
limestone  countries,  but  only  in  decalcified  soils 
(in  which  rain  has  washed  away  the  chalk).  It 
has  large,  broad  thin,  light  green  leaves ;  they 
are  marked  by  five  big  veins  (rarely  only  three), 
and  are  lanceolate-oblong,  never  pointed,  oval 
rounded,  paddle-shaped ;  the  calyx  segments  are 
short  and  flat  and  never  adhering  to  the  corolla, 
but  rather  recurved  and  separated  by  truncated 
sinuses.  The  flowers  are  dark  blue  and  rather  dull 
\'iolet.  with  five  large  green  spots  inside.  It  is  the 
more  difficult  for  us  to  cultivate  because  our  water 
is  too  chalky.  The  plant  is  not  at  all  stoloniferous 
and  forms  dense  patches  not  more  than  |ins,  across, 
G,  Clusii  (Perrier)  is  distinguished  by  its  leaves, 
which  are  lanceolate,  pointed  and  coriaceous,  by 
the  lanceolate  sepals  which  are  adherent  to  the 

*  Bun.  ass.  prct.  pL  Geneve.  1SS4.  Baion  Perrier  de 
la  Bathie,  translated  into  English  by  Sir  Henry  Torke, 
Greenwich.  1S93. 


114 


THE     GARDEN. 


lMarch  II,  1922. 


v,v<iOlla  and  in  nowise  contracted  at  the  base  and 
are  separated  by  sharp  sinuses.  The  flowers  are 
not  so  large  nor  so  open,  but  of  a  good,  deep, 
very  brilliant  blue,  with  the  lobes  of  the  corolla 
shortly  rounded,  on  a  short  stalk  often  bearing  two 
short,  pointed,  dark  green,  opposite  leaves.  The 
plant  is  generally  small,  building  up  dense  tufts 
of  dark  and  shining  fohage.  It  grows  on  the  rocky, 
sun-kissed  slopes  of  the  Jura  and  of  the  limestone 
Alps  between  stones  and  gi-avels.  Its  culture  is 
very  easy  and,  like  Kochiana,  it  never  runs. 
(Synonyms;  G.  G.  coriacea  (St.  Lag.),  firma  (Kern), 
vulgaris  (Beck). 

Quite  different  are  the  two  stoloniferous  kinds. 
G.  alpina  (Vill.)  is  a  creeping  little  plant  forming  on 
the  slopes  of  the  Alps  (granitic  or  limestone),  and 
of  the  Pyrenees, t  andSierras  of  Spain,  large  carpets 
of  bluish  grey-green  leaves  in  small  rosettes  ;  the 
leaves  are  small  and  incurving  and  the  flower 
is  without  any  stalk,  quite  stemless,  so  that  botan- 
ists think  it  is  the  true  acauUs  of  Linnaeus.  The 
flower  is  rather  small,  but  of  a  good  blue  and  opens 
widely.  It  grows  only  on  dry  pastures  in  full  sun. 
I  found  on  the  Pic  du  Midi  (Pyrenees)  a  form  with 
pure  white  flowers.  The  albino  Kochiana  is  fairly 
common,  but  I  never  found  a  white  Clusii  nor 
angustifoha. 

G.  angustifoUa  (Vill.)  =  sabauda  (Boiss.)  = 
occidentahs  (Jakow)  =  grandiflora  (Lam),  is  the 
king  or  the  queen  of  them  all.  Nothing  can  give  an 
idea  of  its  beauty  when  shining  above  the  paths 
or  in  the  grass  of  the  Alps  of  the  Dauphine  or  in 
the  Pyrenees. t  I  found  last  year  at  the  base  of 
the  Mont- Aiguille  one  of  the  most  beautiful  things 


I  ever  saw — and  I  have  been  all  over  the  Alps. 
It  was  on  the  slope  of  the  big  road  coming  from 
ChichiUane  to  the  station  at  CleiUes  (on  the  line 
Grenoble  to  Vennes);  from  afar  we  saw  the  brilliant 
gay  green  slope  covered  with  that  rich  carpet.  I 
said,  "  What  kind  of  Periwinkle  is  that  ?"  believing 
it  to  be  a  Vinca.  The  ground  was  covered  with  it ; 
then  we  saw  the  dried  flowers  of  Gentiana  angusti- 
foUa with  unripe  seeds.  What  a  glory  !  No  words 
can  give  the  impression  we  had  there.  The  plant 
is  of  very  stoloniferous  character,  creeping  every- 
where and  increasing  as  well  as  does  Periwinkle. 
The  leaves  are  narrow,  sometimes  linear,  very 
long  and  with  one,  rarely  three  veins.  The  flowers 
are  very  large,  of  a  good  sky  blue  and  borne  on  a 
long  stalk,  sometimes  Sins.  taU  ;  they  are  per- 
fect in  form.  The  cup  is  widely  open  and  inside 
there  are  five  green  spots.  It  forms  large  tufts 
of  grass-like  foliage,  sometimes  3ft.  broad !  A 
friend  of  mine  has  made  with  it  quite  a  lawn.  The 
culture  of  it  is  the  easiest  possible,  and  I  think  it 
was  originally  the  Gentianella  which  has  altered 
in  character  under  centuries  of  culture. 

G.  dinarica  (Beck)  =  Rochehi  (Kern),  is  to  be 
found  in  the  mountains  from  Herzegovina  to 
Bosnia.  The  plant  is  not  caespitose,  has  deep  blue 
flowers,  without  any  spots  inside,  with  broad, 
pointed,  bright  green  leaves,  long  and  narrow 
calyx  segments,  drawing  to  a  sharper  point.  The 
flower  is  very  large,  but  not  so  large  as  angustifoUa. 
Its  culture  here  is  easy. 

Floraire,  Geneva.  H.  Correvon. 

t  It  grows  only  in  some  parts  of  Dauplun6  and  here  and 
there  in  the  Pyrenees. 


DECIDUOUS    TREES    IN    WINTER 


BEING  so  fond  of  trees  as  I  am,  I 
suppose  I  ought  to  count  it  a  misfortune 
not  to  possess  any  of  my  own  except 
a  few  picturesque  old  Apple  trees, 
which,  though  desirable  and  satis- 
factory as  far  as  they  go,  supply  no  equivalent 
for  the  variety  in  form  and  character  of  our  many 
deciduous  woodland  trees.  This  privation,  how- 
ever, does  not  make  me  so  unhappy  as  one  might 
think,  because,  though  I  have  no  timber  of  my 
own  to  potter  about  and  among,  I  am  free,  when 
the  humour  takes  me,  to  use  the  grounds  and 
purUeus  of  Carabas  House,  the  country  residence 
of  my  exceUent  neighbour,  Baron  d'Yvetot,  where 
the  planting  has,  for  generations,  been  done  with 
an  eye  rather  to  picturesque  effect  than  to  profit. 
I  am  weU  aware  that  there  are  persons  to  whom 
my  sentiments  and  likings  in  respect  of  trees 
must  seem  questionable,  for,  though  to  me  a  tree 
is  a  tree  in  any  one  of  the  four  seasons,  it  is  most 
especiaUy  a  tree  in  the  dead  season  of  the  year, 
when  you  see  it  divested  of  the  superincumbent 
wrapping  of  foliage,  which,  though  interesting 
of  course,  and  beautiful,  as  tasteful  drapery 
invariably  is,  serves,  nevertheless,  as  drapery  so 
often  does,  to  hide  a  multitude  of  essential  details. 
It  is  only,  I  think,  when  you  see  a  tree  in  its 
unabashed  nudity  that  you  can  get  at  the  core 
of  its  character — for  only  then  can  you  see,  naked 
before  you,  the  scheme  on  which  Nature  has 
designed  it.  Take,  for  instance,  my  own  Wych 
Elm.  I  caU  it  mine,  holding  that  it  belongs  to 
me  as  much  as  to  anyone  else,  and  perhaps  more  ; 
for  do  I  not,  year  after  year,  travail  in  fear  that, 
next  time  I  pass  that  way,  I  shaU  find  it  cut  up 
into  logs :  an  emotional  purgatory,  I  am  very  sure, 
not  within  the  experience  of  the  person  who  has, 
de  jure,  the  power  to  do  with  this  tree  what  he 
will  ?  And  what,  I  ask,  constitutes  real,  as 
opposed  to  legal  and  merely  nominal  ownership, 
if  not  such  labour  as  mine  of  the  soul   and  the 


affections  ?  My  Wych  Elm,  as  I  have  every 
moral  right  to  regard  it,  stands  neaf  the  gate  of 
a  neighbouring  farm,  and  close  to  a  turnpike, 
along  which  I  have  occasion  to  pass,  summer  and 
winter,  at  intervals.  In  summer,  I  will  not  deny 
it,  this  tree  is  a  magnificent  dome  of  foUage ; 
and  yet  not  a  dome,  neither,  in  the  way  of  the 
rotunda  of  St.  Peter's  or  St.  Paul's,  for  it  is  not 
a  single  dome  so  much  as  an  accretion  of  domes, 
one  billowing  into  another,  but  all  of  a  joinery 
so  architecturally  perfect  that — unless  you  happen 
to  be  in  a  motor  'bus  or  other  non-stop  vehicle — 
I  defy  you  to  pass  by  the  tree  in  the  month  of  June 
without  stopping  to  wonder  at  the  lush  richness 
of  its  masses,  and  to  note,  %vith  whatever  feeling 
for  art  you  happen  to  possess,  those  swelUngs  and 
depressions  (so  many  hills  and  valleys  you  might 
call  them)  of  green  light  and  purple  shadow ; 
an  effect,  if  not  actuaUy  invented  by  Rembrandt, 
at  any  rate  used  by  that  artist  to  its  permissible 
Umit,  and,  since  his  time,  abundantly  copied  by 
Nature,  sometimes,  perhaps,  with  a  stronger 
emphasis  of  chiaroscuro  than  an  art-critic  of 
discriminating  taste  might  think  altogether  advis- 
able. But  fine  as  the  Wych  Elm  of  June 
unquestionably  is,  what  is  it  to  the  January  tree, 
when  you  see  the  bark,  the  warty  bole,  and  the 
branch-spars  in  their  naked  simpUcity,  with  no 
ornament  but  their  native  strength  and  symmetry, 
when,  also,  looking  further  aloft,  you  note  the 
tracery  of  the  drooping  and  interlacing  twigs 
projected  against  the  winter  sky  Uke  a  Moorish 
pattern  on  a  wall  of  the  Alhambra  ?  It  is  then 
you  reaUy  see  the  tree.  What  you  see  in  summer, 
as  Teufelsdrockh  would  assure  you,  is  only  the 
milUnery. 

I  wonder  whether  there  is  in  the  English 
language,  such  a  word  as  "  twiggery  "  (collective 
of  "twig"),  whether  it  occurs,  for  instance,  in 
the  Oxford  dictionary,  of  which,  unfortunately, 
I  have  not  a  copy  by  me  to  consult.     I  hope  not. 


because  I  should  be  more  than  gratified  to  go 
down  to  posterity  as  the  inventor  of  this  desirable 
and  necessary  vocable.  "  Twiggery,"  a  possible 
paragraph  in  the  next  edition  of  Dr.  Murray's 
dictionary  may  run.  "  coUective  of  '  twig,'  on  the 
anology  of  '  greenery,'  first  used  by  '  Somers ' 
early  in  the  twentieth  centur>'  —  the  characteristic 
system  of  twigs  or  terminal  branchlets,  which, 
during  the  period  of  hybernation,  serves  to  dis- 
tinguish one  genus  of  deciduous  trees  from 
another."  Those  to  whom  a  tree  is  anything  at 
all  must  have  noted  how  each  genus — Oak,  Ash, 
Elderberry — is  characterised  by  its  twig-pattern  ; 
in  short,  by  its  "  twiggery."  Anyone  who  cannot 
identify  trees  in  winter- time  by  a  glance  at  their 
twig  system,  may  possibly,  when  he  sees  a  tree, 
know  that  it  is  a  tree  and  not  a  camel,  but  as  to 
any  reaUy  intimate  knowledge  of  trees  he  has  not 
yet  reached  even  the  alphabet.  I  modestly 
disclaim  for  myself  that  knowledge  of  trees, 
valuable  in  its  way,  which  is  acquired  through 
the  dissecting  microscope.  At  the  first  tree  we 
came  to  you  would  very  likely  floor  me  if  you 
asked  whether  the  tree  in  question  were  dioecious 
or  monoecious.  I  should  probably  reply  by 
asking  what  you  meant.  And  when  you  had 
explained — "  Oh,  yes,"  I  should  say  inteUigently, 
"  I  see  what  you  mean.  HoUies  are  dioecious, 
because,  while  one  individual  takes  his  ease,  the 
other  bears  the  babies."  But,  for  my  part,  I 
do  not  anatomise  my  trees  too  curiously.  My 
knowledge  is  of  the  surface  and  empiric,  not  of 
the  recondite  order.  I  just  look  at  -a  tree-top 
and  say  :  "  Yes,  that  is  a  Larch,  or  a  Chestnut, 
or  an  Ash,"  as  the  case  may  be.  Then,  again, 
there  is  the  bark — or,  perhaps,  I  should  say 
"  barkage,"  on  the  analogy  of  "  leafage  "  (meaning 
foUage)  ?  The  bark  is  as  much  a  matter  of 
interest  and  distinction  as  the  twig,  though  I  do 
not  myself  find  the  characters  here  quite  so  easy 
to  read  as  those  of  the  twigs.  You  see,  the 
furrows  and  convolutions  are  so  endlessly  intricate. 
Only  the  other  day  (to  be  precise,  it  was 
February  10),  the  frost  making  profitable  work 
in  the  garden  impossible,  while  the  sun  shone  with 
the  brilliancy  of  August  and  the  east  wind  cut 
like  a  thousand  knives,  I  bethought  myself  of 
the  stillness  and  shelter  of  the  Carabas  woods  and 
park,  until  something  Uke  a  hunger  took  me  to 
see,  against  such  a  spotless  sky,  the  various  wood- 
land trees  in  all  the  rich  intricacy  of  their 
"  twiggery."  No  sooner  thought  than  done  ;  but 
when  I  had  %vandered  all  the  afternoon,  much  to 
my  heart  s  content  and  enjoyment,  through  those 
soft  pastures  and  arborous  glades,  I  came  away 
humiUated  to  think  that  I  had  made  several 
mistakes  in  bark-reading ;  that  I  had,  more  than 
once,  taken  one  bark  for  another  which  it  some- 
what resembled,  faiUng  to  perceive  my  mistake 
until  I  glanced  aloft  at  the  "  twiggery."  Scotland 
Yard  wiU  tell  you  that  each  human  being  bears 
an  unforgeable  signature  on  his  finger-tip,  by 
which  he  may  be  identified  though  he  hide  himself 
among  a  thousand.  EquaUy  may  each  kind  of 
tree,  among  a  multitude  of  genera,  be  known 
by  its  distinctive  bark-print,  if  only  you 
have  the  skill  to  read  what  is  as  plain  as 
if  it  were  typed  in  great  primer.  Certainly 
the  bark-script  was  not  on  this  occasion  always 
so  plain  to  myself  as  it  ought  to  have  been.  But 
that  is  nothing  to  the  point ;  it  only  shows  that 
I  have  not  yet  altogether  mastered  the  art  of 
reading  Nature's  finger-prints.  Of  course,  there 
are  barks  which  the  most  arrant  dunce  in  trees 
cannot  mistake,  such  as  the  smooth  grey  of  the 
Beech,  the  white  satin  of  the  young  Birch,  the 
smooth  oUvacious  cuticle  of  the  Aspen,  the  greenish 
grey  of  the  Ash,  and  the  nut-brown,  stippled  and 
varnished  bark  of  the  Hazel  and  the  young  .^Ider. 
But   the  bark  varies  in  texture  with   the  age  of 


March  ii,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


115 


the  tree  ;  and  it  is  when  trees  attain  a  certain 
age,  and,  as  is  the  way  with  age,  put  on  various 
asperities  and  corrugations,  each  after  its  kind, 
that  it  requires  experience  and  observation  to 
distinguish  at  a  glance  the  sign-cortical  of  one 
tree  from  that  of  another  ;  for  this  differs  not 
merely  in  trees  of  different  genera,  but  even  in 
trees  of  the  same  species  at  difierent  ages.  Take, 
for  instance,  the  case  of  the  Birch.  The  young  and 
adolescent  Birch  has  the  silvery-white  bark  which 
gleams    so    cheerfully    against    a    background    of 


Scots  Fir  or  Holly.  The  bark  of  the  aged  Birch, 
on  the  other  hand,  is  scored  with  pits  and  furrows 
of  a  depth  and  ruggedness  such  as  you  wUl  hardly 
find  exceeded  on  the  trunk  of  an  old  Oak  or  Elm. 
But,  however  scarred  and  rough  aged  trees  may 
be,  each  has  its  own  corrugation  pattern,  the 
essential  difference  of  which  no  words  are  subtle 
enough  to  describe.  Only  the  camera  or  the  hand 
of  the  observant  artist  can  register  those  fre- 
quently similar,  yet  endlessly  different,  reticu- 
lations and  convolutions.  Somers. 


The  Vinery  :    General  Hints  on  Culture 


A  S   enquiries  as   to   the  best   treatment  for 
/%       Vines  are  often  received,  I  am  writing 

/  %  these  few  hints  for  the  benefit  of  fellow 
^~^%  readers  of  The  Garden.  As  the  cost 
■*  *■  of    fuel    is    a    great    consideration,    the 

present   time   is   quite   early   enough  for   starting 
the  Vines  into  growth.     Started  now,  very  little 
fire-heat     should    be    re- 
quired,    except    in    cold, 
wet  weather. 

Assuming  the  Vines 
have  already  been  pruned, 
all  loose  bark  should  be 
removed  and  the  rods 
well  washed  with  a  reliable 
insecticide  ;  the  glass  and 
woodwork  should  be 
thoroughly  cleansed  and 
the  walls  lime- washed.  A 
clean  start  makes  all  the 
difference  later  in  the 
season. 

If  the  borders  are  in- 
side the  house,  a  good 
soaking  with  tepid  water 
will  be  necessary  when 
the  house  is  started.  As 
many  amateurs  utilise 
their  vineries  for  other 
plants,  care  must  be  taken 
not  to  get  the  border 
in  a  sodden  and  sour 
condition,  as  this  and 
extreme  dryness  at  the 
roots  are  the  chief  causes 
of  bunches  shanking. 

\  temperature  of  45°  at 
night  will  be  high  enough 
to  start  with,   allowing  for  a  rise  of   10 
during  the  day  under  solar  heat. 

The  Vines  and  all  bare  surfaces  should  be  well 
s>Tinged  two  or  three  times  daily,  according  to 
weather  conditions. 

Old  Vines  usually  break  freely,  but  young  rods 
should  have  their  ends  tied  towards  the  bottom 
of  the  house  to  ensure  an  even  break.  Dis- 
budding should  be  done  as  soon  as  it  can  be  seen 
which  are  the  strongest  growths.  If  there  is  room 
for  extending  the  rods,  a  well  placed  shoot  should 
be  tied  in  for  a  leader.  They  should  have  their 
points  removed,  so  that  when  they  have  finished 
extending  there  wiU  be  6ft.  of  growth.  This  will 
strengthen  the  future  rods.  The  laterals  on  these 
leaders  should  be  stopped  at  the  fourth  or  fifth 
leaf,  according  to  the  space  available.  The  fruit- 
bearing  laterals  should  be  stopped  at  two  leaves 
above  the  bunches,  and  the  sub-laterals  at  the 
first  leaf,  unless  there  is  a  blank  space  to  fill, 
when  these  may  be  allowed  to  make  a  few  extra 
leaves.  Stopping  of  the  shoots  should  be  done 
regularly  each  week,  then  the  Vines  wiU  not 
receive  a  check  by  removing  any  quantity  of 
foliage  at  one  time.  The  chief  point  is  not  to 
overcrowd  the  foliage,  as  one  well  developed  leaf, 


fully    exposed    to    sunlight,    is    worth    six    small, 
weak  ones. 

If  the  Vines  are  in  a  healthy  condition,  they 
will  require  their  second  watering  about  eight 
weeks  from  starting.  Give  them  a  thorough 
soaking  with  tepid  water  and  liquid  manure. 
This  will  carry  them  over  their  flowering  period. 


VINES    GROWN    THICKLY    ON    THE    SINGLE    ROD    SYSTEM    AT 

ST.   Peter's  vineries,   guernsey. 


or   15° 


When  the  Vines  are  in  flower,  a  night  temperature 
of  65°  should  be  maintained,  allowing  5°  higher 
for  all  varieties  of  Muscats,  although  I  have  seen 
even  Muscat  of  Alexandria  set  well  in  a  tempera- 
ture of  60°. 

By  keeping  the  atmosphere  of  the  house  drier 
during  the  flowering  period,  and  giving  the  rods 
a  shake  several  times  daily,  the  varieties  Black 
Hamburgh,  Foster's  Seedling,  Alicante,  Appley 
Towers  and  Madresfield  Court  all  set  freely,  but 
Cannon  Hall,  Alnwick  Seedling,  Lady  Downes 
and  Muscat  of  Alexandria  are  sometimes  shy  in 
setting.  The  best  way  to  ensure  a  good  set  of 
these  varieties  is  lightly  to  spray  them  with  warm 
soft  water  at  9  a.m.,  using  an  Abol  syringe  for 
this  purpose ;  afterwards  draw  a  rabbit's  tail 
over  the  bunches  very  lightly  at  midday,  and  all 
will  be  well. 

Surplus  bunches  should  be  removed  as  soon 
as  it  can  be  seen  which  are  the  best  shape  ;  a 
medium-sized  bunch  should  be  retained  in  prefer- 
ence to  a  long,  straggly  one.  The  number  of 
bunches  to  be  left  on  each  rod  will  depend  on  the 
strength  of  the  Vines,  taking  care  not  to  over- 
crop, or  the  berries  will  be  small  in  size  and  lacking 
in  colour  when  ripe. 


Thinning  of  the  berries  should  be  done  as  soon 
as  they  are  the  size  of  Peas,  thinning  them  out 
well  from  the  centre,  especially  late  varieties,  as 
a  berry  getting  wedged  in  the  centre  of  the  bunch 
will  often  cause  decay.  The  operator  must  be 
careful  not  to  touch  the  berries  with  head  or 
hands,  or  they  will  be  permanently  disfigured. 

When  thinning  is  completed,  give  the  border  a 
sprinkling  of  an  approved  Vine  manure  and  a 
good  mulching  of  thoroughly  rotted  cow-dung, 
and  well  water  it  in.  It  is  advisable  to  leave  a 
little  top  ventilation  on  for  a  few  nights,  to  avoid 
damage  from  the  ammonia  rising  from  the  dung. 

Treatment,  from  now  until  the  berries  commence 
to  colour,  consists  in  keeping  the  house  well 
damped  when  necessary.  A  thorough  damping 
three  times  daily  in  bright  weather  will  keep  the 
Vines  healthy.  Should  a  spell  of  cold  wet  weather 
set  in.  keep  a  little  warmth  in  the  heating  apparatus 
and  keep  less  moisture  in  the  house. 

If  the  Vines  are  growing  strongly,  a  thorough 
soaking  of  water  should  be  applied  once  each 
month  until  the  Grapes  are  ripe ;  then,  if  it  is 
necessary  for  the  bunches  to  remain  on  the  Vines 
for  a  long  time,  the  border  should  be  kept  a  little 
drier,  or  the  varieties  Foster's  Seedling  and 
Madresfield  Court  are  liable  to  split. 

As  soon  as  the  berries  commence  to  colour, 
open  the  ventilators  both  top  and  bottom,  night 
and  day.  opening  them  wide  on  warm,  bright 
days,  as  the  warm,  fresh  air  improves  the  colour. 

If  red  spider  or  thrips  attack  the  foliage,  sponge 
the  leaves  at  once  with  a  solution  of  soft  soap 
and  flowers  of  sulphur.  Mildew  can  be  kept 
down  by  applying  sulphur  to  the  affected  leaves. 

When  the  Grapes  are  all  cut,  the  border  should 
be  watered  with  liquid  manure,  and  this  should 
be  repeated,  as  necessary,  until  the  leaves  have 
ripened  and  fallen,  so  as  to  have  well  ripened 
wood  for  producing  the  crop  in  1923.     C.  H.  W. 


Young    and    Old    Vines 

Hints  on  the  treatment  of  the  new  shoots. 

Vines,  when  in  fairly  good  health,  grow  rapidly 
and,  if  the  new  shoots  are  not  duly  attended  to, 
and  in  a  proper  way,  they  soon  become  a  tangled 
mass  and  the  crop  of  Grapes,  to  which  the  anxious 
cultivator  has  looked  forward,  is  far  from  satis- 
factory. 

Grape  Vines,  to  be  a  real  success,  must  be  very 
carefully  treated  all  the  year  round,  but  much 
depends  on  the  work  done  during  the  spring 
months.  The  expert  knows  exactly  what  to  do, 
but  the  beginner  does  not ;  to  such  these  brief 
notes  and  the  accompanying  sketches  will  prove 
helpful. 

The  young  Vine,  when  planted  late  in  autumn, 
or  soon  after  Christmas,  is  usually  cut  back  to  the 
desired  height — generally  ift.  to  2ft.  from  its 
roots,  at  a  time,  too,  when  the  sap  is  dormant 
and  there  will  not  be  any  danger  of  bleeding 
(loss  of  sap)  when  the  latter  rises  natiurally  in  the 
young  rod. 

But  circumstances  may  occur  which  would 
prevent  the  due  pruning  back  of  the  young  rod, 
or  cane.  All  young  Vines  that  are  not  pruned 
at  the  present  time  must  not  be  cut  in  the  usual 
way,  but  treated  as  shown  in  the  sketch.  It  is 
a  very  simple  matter.  Directly  the  buds  burst 
into  growth,  begin  at  the  top  and  remove  every  one 
from  that  portion  of  the  cane  marked  Nos.  i,  i 
when  the  young  shoots  are  half  an  inch  long. 
Leave  this  denuded  portion  uncut  tiU  midsummer 
or  the  following  autumn,  then  cut  it  off  at  the 
two  dark  cross  lines  No.  2.  AU  young  shoots 
•  below    this    point    must    be    retained.     The    top 


116 


THE    GARDEN. 


[March  ii,  1922. 


one,  marked  a,  will  be  the  leader,  and  the  others, 
marked  a,  a  also,  must  be  trained  to  right  and 
left  respectively,  the  points  being  pinched  off 
when  they  have  grown  2ft.  long. 

These  three  shoots  will  lay  the  foundation  of 
the  new  Vine.  The  other  shoots,  marked  6,  b,  b, 
should  be  stopped  when  they  are  ift.  long  and 
be  cut  away  entirely  at  the  autumn  pruning. 
If  left  to  grow  I  ft.  long  the  first  year  they  help, 
considerably,  to  estabhsh  the  young  Vine. 

The  old  spur  often  causes  much  anxiety  to 
the  beginner,  as  so  many  young  shoots  grow 
from  it ;    also  air-roots,  in  the  case  of  old  Vines 


ECONOMY    IN    THE    GARDEN 


DISBUDDING    NEWLY    BROKEN    VINES. 

with  defective  root-action  are  subjected  to  too 
much  atmospheric  moisture.  Only  one  young 
shoot  must  be  retained — the  one  on  the  previous 
year's  wood,  and  marked  c  on  the  sketch.  All 
the  others,  marked  rf,  d.  and  the  air-roots  marked 
e,  e,  must  be  rubbed  off. 

The  spur  shown  is  one  year  old  ;  it  has  been 
pruned  back  to  two  eyes,  or  buds,  /  and  g  respect- 
ively.    The  one  marked  /  is  the  one  to  retam. 

Many  old  Vines,  especially  those  that  have 
been  neglected  for  a  number  of  years,  very  fre- 
quently bear  numbers  of  young  shoots,  shown  at 
h,  h,  h,  h.  These  shoots  must  be  removed  while 
quite  small,  unless  any  of  them  would  prove 
useful  to  form  a  new  spur  in  the  case  of  gaps 
on   the  old  rod.  George  Garner. 


A  Space-saving  Idea  for  Frames 
and  Greenhouses 

PRICKING-OFF  time  has  arrived  or  is 
coming  for  numbers  of  seedUngs  which, 
unless  promptly  attended  to,  will  spoil 
one  another  in  boxes.  Tomatoes  and 
summer  bedding  plants  of  many  kinds 
require  to  be  pricked  into  boxes  or  thumb  pots 
if  they  are  to  make  good  specimens.  The  poor 
harassed  gardener  who  is  Umited  with  his  frame  and 
greenhouse  accommodation  often  scratches  his  head 
(I  do  not  know  why  this  is  conducive  to  thought, 
but  it  often  helps)  and  wonders  "  where  he  is 
going  to  put  all  them  danged  "  (but  he  expresses 
it  more  forcibly  than  this  if  his  employer  is  out 
of  hearing)   "  boxes  and  thumbs." 

It  is  always  an  education  to  see  how  a  pro- 
fessional gardener  works,  and  I  never  lose  a  chance 
of  watching  one.  Priding  myself  on  the  production 
of  sturdy,  short-jointed  Tomato  plants,  obtained 
by  early  pricking  off  and  inserting  the  seedhng 
in  the  "  thumbs  "  right  up  to  the  seed  leaf,  I  was 
only  too  glad  to  see  a  "real  gardener"  carry 
through  this  operation  a  short  while  ago. 

Like  myself,  he  had  a  crowded  greenhouse  at 
the  time  when  his  employer  ordered  him  to  supply 
some  few  hundred  Tomato  plants.  I  should 
myself  have  looked  round  the  house  and  have 
wondered  where  I  was  going  to  "  put  the  danged 
things,"  and  should  probably  have  decided  to 
box  them  off  for  a  start,  potting  them  up  later  on. 
But  what  do  you  think  the  gardener  did  with 
them  ?  He  put  them  into  thumb  pots,  but  there 
were  two  seedUngs  in  a  pot,  and  each  seedling 
was  placed  as  close  to  the  pot's  edge  as  possible  ! 
As  this  was  the  first  time  that  I  had  seen  seed- 
lings so  pricked  off,  I  asked  the  why  and  wherefore 
of  the  operation.  The  first  reason  for  this  was 
that  space  was  limited  and  one  hundred  seedlings 
could  be  grown  on  in  fifty  pots  until  they  were 
sufficiently  large  to  be  transferred  into  larger 
ones.  When  this  became  necessary,  the  potful 
could  be  easily  divided  into  two  portions,  each 
containing  the  majority  of  roots  of  the  respective 
seedlings.  The  gardener  maintained  that  in  this 
way  less  check  resulted  than  if  they  had  been 
boxed. 

The  reason  for  placing  them  close  to  the  edge  of 
the  pot  was  to  encourage  quick  rooting.  Everyone 
knows  how  much  quicker  cuttings  will  root  at 
the  side  of  a  pot  than  when  inserted  in  the  middle. 
It  is  the  same  when  pricking  off  seedlings.  The 
warmth  of  the  frame  or  house  immediately  induces 
new  root  action,  with  the  result  that  practically 
no  check  is  felt  and  the  seedUngs  rapidly  get 
away.     Saving  of  time  is  thus  effected. 

The  gardener  said  that  he  would  prick  off  his 
seedlings  in  exactly  the  same  manner  even  if  he 
had  sufficient  space  to  allow  of  his  doing  so  in 
single  pots,  i.e.,  he  would  put  one  seedling  in  each 
pot,  but  would  plant  it  at  the  edge  of  the  pot  and 
not  centraUy,  as  nine  out  of  ten  amateurs  would 
do  it.— C.  P. 


Waste-saving  Trench  Gardening 

Trench  gardening  as  usually  conducted  is  not 
only  extravagant,  but  wasteful.  Travelling  up 
and  down  the  country  viewing  gardens  as  I  do, 
I  often  see  trenches  with  single  rows  of  plants 
in  them,  and  sides  sloping  at  an  angle  of  almost 
45°,  instead  of  being  vertical  as  they  should  be. 
What  waste  of  ground !  of  manure !  and  of 
water  ! 


Certainly  with  costs  at  what  they  are,  every 
effort  should  be  made  to  make  the  culture  of 
crops  in  trenches  as  economical  a  matter  as 
possible.  This  can  be  done  if  one  is  willing  to 
expend  a  trifle  longer  in  digging  the  trenches  and 
at  the  same  time  is  not  above  doing  a  Uttle  rough 
carpentry. 

It  is  most  important  to  make  the  trenches  amply 
wide  and  to  dig  them  early.  It  may  sound 
ridiculous  to  urge  the  digging  of  Celery  and  Leek 
trenches  in  March,  but  it  is  by  no  means  too  soon 
for  the  work  to  be  done  if  the  soil  on  each  side 
of  them  is  to  settle  properly.  Such  consoUdation 
is  absolutely  necessary  if  the  trench  ridges  are 
to  be  cropped  up  to  the  edges. 

Twelve  inches  to  i^ins.  should  be  the  minimum 
width  for  all  trenches.  It  should  then  be  possible 
to  get  three  rows  of  such  plants  of  Celery  and 
Leeks  in  each  trench,  not,  of  course,  putting 
the  three  plants  opposite  one  another,  but  placing 
them  quincunx  fashion,  so  that  each  one  stands 
opposite  to  a  space  between  two  others. 

The  sides  of  the  trench  should  be  cut  as  near 
to  the  vertical  as  possible,  and  an  effort  made  to 
hold  them  up. 

There  are  several  ways  of  supporting  trenches, 
one  of  the  best  being  to  let  in  old  boards  at  each 
side  of  the  trench,  putting  them  on  their  edge 
and  in  a  vertical  position.  Behind  them  soil 
can  be  fiUed  in.  The  boards  should  be  made  fast 
at  each  end  and  half  way  down  the  trench  by 
driving  in  some  short,  but  thick,  garden  stakes. 
Even  where  there  is  an  abundance  of  old  wood, 
the  above  seems  rather  wasteful,  so  that  an 
adaptation  of  it  may  weU  be  carried  out  in  gardens. 
A  piece  of  board  about  4ins.  wide  aU  along  should 
have  much  longer  legs  nailed  on  to  it  at  inter%'als. 
These  should  then  be  driven  into  the  trench  each 
side,  and  the  whole  board  pushed  in  until  its 
edge  is  just  level  with  the  surface  of  the  ridge. 
After  all,  it  is  the  top  part  of  the  ridge  which 
falls  in  ;  the  under-soil  is  usually  much  too  solid, 
and  thus  if  the  top  is  held  up  by  the  board  on 
legs  the  bottom  wiU  be  aU  right. 

The  increased  area  which  is  thus  made  available 
for  cropping  is  surprising,  and  the  increased 
amount  of  food  got  from  the  land  well  repays 
the  Uttle  extra  trouble  occasioned. 

Now,  as  to  economy  in  the  matter  of  manuring 
the  trenches.  I  consider  it  advisable  to  manure 
them  gradually.  Celery  and  Leeks  should  not  be 
planted  out  yet  awhile,  so  that  the  trenches  may 
be  left  open.  There  may  be  thrown  into  them, 
as  coUected,  aU  the  spare  weeds,  turf  verges, 
old  cabbage  leaves  and  general  "  trimmings-up  ' 
that  become  available.  As  each  section  of  trench 
is  fiUed  with  this  material  to  the  depth  of  about 
6ins.  or  Sins.,  soil  should  be  thrown  over  it.  It 
will  then  rot  down  and  turn  into  manure  by 
planting-out  time.  Where  this  is  done  the 
rubbish  heap  will  occupy  only  a  quarter  of  the 
usual  space,  as  aU  suitable  rubbish  wiU  go  into 
these  trenches. 

Water  is  scarce  in  some  districts,  and  in  any 
case  its  cartage  is  expensive.  Trenches,  as  usuaUy 
formed,  allow  a  big  lot  of  water,  and  of  Uquid 
manure  also,  to  soak  into  the  sides  instead  of 
going  down  to  the  roots  of  the  plants.  Naturally, 
if  boarding  is  sunk  well  down,  it  wiU  obviate  such 
waste  ;  but  it  is  not  recommendable  to  do  this, 
as  the  wood,  however  weU  painted  or  soaked  in 
preservatives,  is  apt  to  decay,  and  decayed  wood 
harbours  fungi  and  is  bad  for  the  soil. 

I  have  found  it  advisable,  instead,  to  take  out 
a  Uttle  channel  on  each  side  of  the  trench,  close 
to  the  side,  about  ains.  deep.  Into  this  is  put 
the  very   thinnest  line  of  concrete   that   one  can 


March  ii,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


117 


manage,  using  well  crushed  stone  for  making 
it,  and  not  coarse  gravel,  and  then  follow 
this  up  for  about  2ins.  or  gins,  with  a  thin 
hning  of  cement  and  sand  right  along  the  sides 
of  the  trench. 

When  aU  is  dry  the  soil  can  be  replaced ;  then 
if  the  trench  is  partially  flooded,  one  will  find 
that  the  water  does  not  soak  into  the  sides,  but 
goes  straight  down  into  the  soil  and  is  available 
for  the  roots  of  the  plants.  This  method  is  not 
expensive,  as  it  might  at  first  sight  appear,  for 
one  lining  should  last  two  or  three  years,  if  not 
longer,  and  need  in  no  way  interfere  %vith  the 
manuring  of  the  trench.  The  spent  humus  is,  of 
course,   dug  out   after  the  plants    are  lifted  and 


fresh  material  thrown  in.  Trenches  so  treated 
can  remain  open  for  several  years,  though,  of 
course,  the  upper  boarding  should  be  removed  and 
well  scrubbed,  to  remove  earthworms,  etc.,  and 
thoroughly  soaked  in  preservatives  before  being 
replaced. 

There  is  another  way  of  gardening  in  trenches 
economically  which  is  sometimes  favoured.  In 
this  case  no  flooding  of  the  trenches  is  attempted. 
Small  3in.  drain  pipes  are  inserted  vertically 
between  the  plants  at  intervals  of  a  few  feet 
of  trench,  and  water  or  liquid  manure  is  poured 
down  these  whenever  it  is  required.  This,  how- 
ever, is  not  as  satisfactory  as  the  other  way  and 
wastes  ground  in  the  trench.  Yorkshire. 


SOME    OUTSTANDING     NOVELTIES    AT 
VINCENT    SQUARE 


THE  most  recent  R.H.S.  Show  was 
particularly  noteworthy  in  two  respects 
and  both  cormected  with  Orchids. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Sir  George  Holford 
set  up  a  record  by  having  eight  awards 
(first-class  certificates  and  awards  of  merit)  for 
new  Orchids  of  the  same  genus,  and  a  new  generic 
name  was  coined  for  a  multi-generic  hybrid,  so 
Potinaria  is  recorded  for  the  first  time.  If  the 
Orchid  Committee  had  followed  the  usual  custom 
in  such  things  this  most  brilliant  Orchid  would 
probably  have  been  christened  Sophro-laelio- 
cattleya-Brasso-cattleya  Juliett£e,  but,  even  to  the 
Orchid  enthusiasts  who  delight  in  many-barrelled 
namrs  and  accept  such  as  Sophro-lselio-cattlej'a, 
this  would  be  too  cumbersome.  So  a  pretty 
compliment  was  paid  to  an  eminent  French 
Orchidist,  and  the  glorious  flower  has  a  handy 
name. 

The  collection  of  Cymbidiums  by  Sir  George 
Holford  was  stupendous  and  contained  a  great 
number  of  lovely  plants,  of  which  the  best  were 
those  selected  for  award.  The  general  exhibit 
received  a  gold  medal  and  a  silver-gilt  Lindley 
medal.     It  is  an  understood  thing  that  the  gold 


medal  is  for  the  owner  of  the  collection,  while  the 
Lindley  medal  for  cultivation  becomes  the  pro- 
perty of  the  grower.  For  the  most  part  these 
graceful,  long-lasting  Orchid  hybrids  have  sprung 
from  Cymbidium  giganteum,  which  was  intro- 
duced from  North  India  in  1S37,  and  C.  eburneum, 
from  the  West  Indies  in  1846. 

Chief  among  the  general  floral  exhibits  were 
hardy  flowering  shrubs  which  had  been  gently 
forced  into  bloom  and  so  had  retained  all  their 
natural  beauty  with  the  added  charm  of  a  certain 
delicacy  of  colouring.  These  included  excellent 
Wistarias,  Prunus  triloba,  several  varieties  of 
P>Tus  .Mains,  such  as  fioribunda,  purpurea  and 
spectabilis,  and  a  most  graceful  little  Cytisus — ■ 
White  Gem.  At  this  season  such  shrubs  may  be 
gently  hastened  into  bloom  with  the  expenditure 
of  very  little  fire-heat,  and  they  brighten  the 
home  and  conservatory  for  quite  a  considerable 
time.  The  earliest  of  the  Himalayan  Rhodo- 
dendrons, of  the  type  that  flourishes  so  well  in  the 
Cornish  Riviera  and  in  favoured  spots  elsewhere, 
were  to  be  seen,  and,  no  doubt,  these  will  soon 
be  followed  by  more  generous  quantities  from  the 
Falmouth  district. 


THE    GRACIOUS    CYMBIDIUM    MIRANDA    VAR.    BRONZE    BEAUTY. 


Spring  bulbs  were  fairly  represented  by 
Hyacinths,  Tulips,  Narcissi  and  such,  growing  in 
bowls  of  fibre.  Of  these  the  Tulips  by  Messrs. 
Sutton  and  Sons  made  a  highly  decorative  display, 
while  in  another  place  the  same  firm  had  a 
secondary  show  of  Crocuses.  These  were  also 
very  well  grown,  and  presumably  the  exhibit 
was  designed  to  show  the  value  of  a  white  and 
shades  of  purple  colour  scheme,  and  in  tliis  it 
was  most  successful.  Besides  Hyacinths  and 
Narcissi,  Messrs.  Bath  and  Co.  had  some  most 
desirable  little  bowls  of  growing  Snake's  Head 
FritUlaries.  These  charming  flowers  do  not  seem 
to  be  in  such  favour  as  their  many  merits  warrant. 

Violets  are  always  welcome,  and  the  bunches 
by  Messrs.  Maxwell  and  Beale  were  not  only  of 
unusually  large  blooms,  but  were  deliciously 
fragrant — -in  marked  contrast  to  the  enormous 
quantities  that  are  now  on  sale  in  the  streets, 
which  have  all  lost  their  perfume.  The  bunches 
of  La  France,  grown  under  glass,  were  natiu'ally 
the  better  of  the  two  sorts ;  but  Princess  of  Wales, 
gathered  from  the  open  ground,  were  of  more 
than  usual  merit. 

.A  dozen  dishes  of  an  Apple  named  Souring, 
shown  by  Captain  H.  B.  Tate,  Billesley  Manor, 
Alcester,  were  of  excellent  appearance.  These 
and  the  new  seedling  were  the  only  home-grown 
fruits  on  view,  but  there  were  samples  of  South 
African  Plums,  Peaches  and  Pears  of  beautiful 
colouring. 

The  Fruit  Committee  "  sat  on"  some  branches 
from  an  Apple  tree  supposed  to  be  suffering  from 
attacks  of  American  blight,  but  were  seen  to  be 
from  that  old  variety  Burr- Knob,  or  one  very 
like  it.  This  is  an  October  to  November  culinary 
variety  which  produces  a  "  profusion  of  burrs  on 
the  branches  which  emit  incipient  roots.  If  a 
branch  furnished  with  these  burrs  is  inserted  in 
the  ground  it  will  take  root  and  become  a  tree." 
It  is  also  known  as  "  Bide's  Walking-Stick,"  a 
name  which  "  originated  from  a  person  of  that 
name  having  cut  a  branch  for  a  walking-stick  in 
Cheshire  and  brought  it  to  his  place  near  Hertford, 
where,  having  inserted  it  in  the  ground,  it  took 
root  and  became  a  tree."  {"  Hogg's  Fruit 
Manual.") 

NEW   AND   RARE  PLANTS. 

Potinaria  Juliettae. — ^This  is  a  new  Orchid 
with  an  entirely  new  name.  It  is  the  result  of 
a  cross  between  Sophro-laslio-cattleya  Marathon 
and  Brasso-cattleya  Ena,  so  a  new  genus  became 
necessary,  and  one  was  formed  in  compliment  to 
M.  Potin,  the  President  of  the  National  Horti- 
cultural Society  of  France,  who  has  long  been 
an  authority  on  Orchids.  It  is  a  most  glorious 
flower  of  sparkling  vivid  colouring  that  seems,  as 
it  is,  full  of  life.  In  form  it  ma;'  be  likened  to  a 
flatfish  Cattleya  of  medium  to  large  size.  The 
sepals  are  brick-red,  with  definite  blood-red 
lines.  The  coroUa  is  rosy  carmine,  and  the  broad 
lip  is  intense  crimson,  shading  to  orange-crimson 
at  the  base.  First-class  certificate  to  Messrs. 
Charlesworth  and  Co. 

Cymbidium  Bronze  Beauty. — .A  large  arched 
spike,  bearing  many  flowers.  The  green  sepals 
and  petals  are  freely  stippled  with  bright  brown, 
giving  a  bronzy  appearance.  The  lip  has  a  crimson 
blotch  and  lines.  First-class  certificate  to  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Sir  George  Holford, 

Angulocaste  Sanderae.— .A  beautiful  hybrid 
Orchid,  which  in  general  appearance  favours  its 
Lycaste  parent.  A  vigorous  plant  was  shown, 
bearing  plenty  of  almost  golden  j'ellow  flowers. 
The  outer  petals  are  of  soft  yellow  colour,  while 
the  centre  is  deeper  in  tone.  First-class  certificate 
to  Messrs.  Sander  and  Sons. 

Cattleya  Tityus  Wedding  Bells.— A  handsome 
flower  of  large  size  and  perfect  form.     The  rich 


118 


THE     GARDEN. 


[March  ii,  1922. 


velvety  lip  is  of  crimson  lake  colour  and  has  golden 
and  brown  lines  in  the  throat.  The  sepals  and 
petals  are  a  pale  purple.  First-class  certificate 
to  Messrs.  Sander  and  Sons. 

Cymbidium  Thrush.— A  stout,  arched  spike 
densely  set  with  blooms.  The  sepals  and  petals 
are  of  greenish  ivory  colour,  flushed  on  the  outside 
with  brownish  purple.  The  lip  is  lightly  spotted 
with  crimson.  First-class  certificate  to  Sir  George 
Holford. 

Cymbidium  Redstart. — An  erect  spike  of 
roundish  flowers.  The  hooded  segments  are 
lightly  flushed  with  purple,  while  the  lip  is  freely 
spotted  with  carmine,  and  the  golden  crest  is  very 
pronounced.  Award  of  merit  to  Sir  George  Holford. 

Cymbidium  Redstart  var.  Brighteyes.— The 
great  charm  of  this  variety  is  the  pale  blush 
segments  and  chocolate-maroon  spots  on  the 
lip.     Award  of  merit  to  Sir  George  Holford. 

Cymbidium    Curlew    var.    Rosy    Gem.— This 

was  the  most  uncommon  of  all  the  Cymbidiums 
at  the  Show.  The  rosy  pink  to  crimson  markings 
on  the  lip  rose  clear  above  the  old  ivory  coloiured 
segments.  It  is  a  relatively  small  plant,  but  it 
bears  a  compact  aiched  spike.  Award  of  merit 
to  Sir  George  Holford. 

Cymbidium  Kittiwalie. — The  milk-white  seg- 
ments surround  a  crimson  lake  spotted  lip,  which 
contains  a  golden  crest — -quite  a  startlingly 
beautiful  combination.  Award  of  merit  to  Sir 
George  Holford. 

Cymbidium  Butterfly.- A  large  slightly  arched 
spike,  bearing  many  blooms  of  old  ivory  coloured 
segments  and  crimson-bronze  lip.  Award  of 
merit  to  Sir  George  Holford. 

Cymbidium  Miranda. — An  almost  weirdly  beau- 
tiful flower.  The  greenish- yellow  sepals  surround 
an  ivory-white  lip  spotted  and  blotched  with 
dull  carmine.  It  is  a  graceful  spike,  evenly 
furnished  with  flowers.  Award  of  merit  to  Sir 
George  Holford. 

Brasso-Lselio-Cattleya  Camada. — .A  deliciously 

scented  golden-citron-coloured  Orchid  which  has 
a  large,  admirably  fringed  lip.  One  of  the  most 
beautiful  of  the  many  beautiful  Orchids  at  the 
Show.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs.  Charlesworth 
and  Co. 

Odontioda  Venus. — A  long,  graceful  spike  of 
relatively  large,  roundish  flow'ers  of  pale  lilac 
colour,  heavily  marked  with  dull  crimson.  Award 
of  merit  to  Messrs,   Armstrong  and  Brown. 

Odontioda  Cissie. — Another  graceful  variety 
with  blush  lilac  ground  colour.  The  markings  are 
of  deep  maroon,  and  the  golden  crest  is  very 
prominent.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs.  A.  and  J. 
McBean. 

Odontioda  Latona  Lilaeina. — This  is  a  very 
robust  spike,  bearing  numerous  roundish  flowers 
with  dull  chocolate  markings.  The  lilac  lip  sets 
off  the  golden  crest.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs. 
Stuart  Low  and  Co. 

Sophro-Laelio-Cattleya  Mars. — A  very  hand- 
some flower.  The  light  purple  segments  have  a 
darker  centre,  and  the  slightly  incurved  lip  is  of 
velvety  crimson  colour.  Award  of  merit  to 
Messrs.  Armstrong  and  Brown. 

Saxifraga  Brooliside. — This  novelty  is  stated 
to  be  a  cross  between  S.  Burseriana  Gloria  and 
S.  Paulina.  It  favours  the  former,  but  is  inferior 
to  it  in  merit.  The  flowers  are  rather  smaller 
and  not  so  pure  a  white.  Shown  by  Messrs. 
R.  Tucker  and  Sons. 

Primula  Juliae  x  Wilson's  Blue. — Several 
plants  of  this  cross  were  submitted  to  the  Com- 
mittee, but  evidently  did  not  impress  them,  as 
no  award  was  given.  The  flowers  and  forms  are 
rather  variable,  but  mostly  of  P.  Juliae  type. 
One  named  Lord  Lascelles  had  a  few  flowers  of 
reddish  maroon  colour.  Profusion  bore  most 
flowers,  but  they  did  not  show  any  advance  on 


other  sorts.  Purple  King  had  the  largest  flowers, 
and  this  was  nearest  the  ordinary  garden  Primrose 
in  habit.     Shown  by  Messrs.  R.  Tucker  and  Sons. 

Anchusa  myosotidiflora.— Although  not  a  new 
plant,  this  pretty  plant,  bearing  plenty  of  forget- 
me-not  blue  flowers,  was  evidently  rare  to  many 
visitors,  who  greatly  admired  it.  There  were 
many  pots  of  well  flowered  plants  about  a  foot 
high.  It  was  introduced  from  Siberia  in  1825 
and  will  thrive  in  a  sunny  place  in  ordinary  soil. 
Shown  by  Mrs.   H.   J.  Tennant. 

Narcissus  Princess   Victoria. — An  Incompar- 

abilis   variety   with    a    very  long   stalk   and   good 


yellow  flowers  with  widely  expanded  orange-tipped 
cups.  The  perianth  segments  are  curiously 
curled  at  the  edges.     Shown  by  Mr.  W.  A.  Watts. 

NEW  FRUIT. 

Apple  Pope's  Nonsuch. — This  seedling  dessert 
Apple  was  considered  by  the  Committee  to  be 
somewhat  similar  to  Radford  Beauty,  a 
Nottinghamshire  variety.  It  is  a  roundish  fruit, 
yellow  skinned,  heavily  flushed  with  red  on  the 
sunny  side,  of  good  flavour  and  is  a  good  keeper. 
Shown  by  Mr.  W.  Pope,  Welford  Gardens, 
Newbury. 


QUEENS'     GARDENS 

Being  a  description  of  the  gardens  in    the   Annexe   at   the   Ideal  Home   Exhibition 

now  proceeding. 


THE  display  in  the  Floral  Annexe  to  the 
Ideal  Home  Exhibition,  the  proceeds 
of  admission  to  which  go  to  the  Middlesex 
Hospital,  is,  for  the  season  of  the  year, 
wonderfully  fine.  Messrs.  James  Carter 
and  Co.  are  responsible  for  a  garden  modelled 
to  half  size  from  H.M.  Queen  Alexandra's  favourite 
garden  at  Sandringham.  This  is  an  epitome  of  the 
Enghsh  spirit  of  gardening — quiet,  restful,  re- 
strained and  wonderfully  finished  off.  It  was  much 
admired  by  H.M.  Queen  Alexandra,  who  visited 
the  Exhibition  on  the  opening  day.  The  fore- 
ground is  laid  out  in  parterres  of  scroll  design 
introducing  red,  pink  and  mauve  (WilUam  Copland) 
Tuhps  carpeted  with  Erica  camea,  while,  around 
a  handsome  central  well-head,  Emperor  Daffodils 
are  massed.  Connected  pillars  frame  a  less  formal 
background  planted  with  various  conifers  and 
reheved  with  a  variety  of  Narcissi  in  informal  but 
balanced  array.  The  entrances  to  the  garden  are 
defined  by  miniature  ball-capped  pillars.  Two 
larger  ones  alight  with  masses  of  the  pink  Prunus 
triloba  fl.-pl.  complete  a  very  charming  and 
satisfying  arrangement. 

The  Princess  Ahce,  Countess  of  Athlone,  who 
opened  the  Exhibition  on  Wednesday,  ist  inst., 
is  responsible  for  the  design  of  the  garden  carried 
out  by  Messrs.  Gaze  of  Kingston-on-Thames. 
Arranged  on  two  levels — both  very  considerably 
above  the  floor  of  the  Annexe — many  hundreds 
of  tons  of  soil  were  necessary  for  its  construction. 
There  is  but  one  entrance  to  this  exhibit,  but  the 
exterior,  which  displays  a  Yew  hedge  surmounting 
a  coursed- random  garden  wall,  provides  a  welcome 
relief  to  the  eyes  after  an  inspection  of  the  general 
effect.  The  Yew  hedge,  referred  to,  is  singularly 
well  carried  out.  It  is  not  easy  to  produce  a 
credible  Y'ew  hedge  at  an  Exhibition,  but  Messrs. 
Gaze  have  done  it.  A  large  portion  of  this  hedging 
is  8ft.  high.  One  enters  the  garden  up  a  flight  of 
steps  under  lintels  spanning  two  pairs  of  simple 
but  elegant  piUars  and  an  arch  of  Yew.  At  top 
of  the  steps  is  a  Httle  paved  garden  with  an  oblong 
Lily  pond  with  semicircular  ends.  The  borders 
which  surround  it  are  filled  with  Forget-me-nots, 
blue  Hyacinths,  MuriUo  and  WiUiam  Copland 
Tuhps,  standard  pink  Indian  Azaleas,  Wistarias, 
blue  Hydrangeas  and  Prunus  triloba.  A  further 
flight  of  steps  gives  access  to  a  turf  path  ending 
in  a  seat.  On  either  hand  are  borders  filled  with 
plants  similar  to  those  already  mentioned. 

A  blue  garden  designed  by  the  Queen  of  the 
Belgians  is  carried  out  by  Luff  and  Sons  of 
Wimbledon  Park.  Enclosed  by  low  York  stone 
walls,  this  garden  has  for  its  central  feature  a  square 
Lily  tank  and  fountain.  The  surrounding  banks 
are  thickly  carpeted  with  Scilla  sibirica.  Beyond 
these,   again,  blue  Hyacinths  are  arranged  which 


do  not  altogether  assort  as  to  colour  with  the 
SciUas.  Large  quantities  of  other  blue-flowered 
plants,  notably  Cinerarias  and  Forget-me-nots, 
are  employed,  until  the  total  effect  is  a  little 
overpowering.  Separated  from  this  exhibit  |  by 
one  of  the  pubhc  ways.  Messrs.  Luff  have  a  smaller 
exhibit  which  attracts  by  its  fragrance.  Here, 
massed  on  either  side  a  fine  wrought  iron  gateway, 
are  banks  of  Magnolias,  including  the  beautiful 
M.  stellata,  Skimmias,  Azaleas  and  Mezereons, 
while  a  picturesque  thatched  garden-house  serves 
as  an  office. 

A  Dutch  firm,  Messrs.  C.  B.  van  Nes  and  Sons 
of  Boskoop,  display,  in  the  garden  designed  by 
H.M.  the  Queen  of  the  Netherlands,  masses  of 
Lilacs,  Rhododendrons  and  Azaleas  belonging  to 
the  molhs  and  Ghent  sections.  Despite  the  well 
kept  Box-edged  gravel  paths  and  the  very  beautiful 
vase  which  forms  the  central  feature,  one  feels 
this  exhibit  to  be  massed  banks  of  flowers  rather 
than  a  garden.  Probably  Messrs.  van  Nes  had  not 
sufficiently  appreciated  that  model  gardens  in 
such  a  setting  must  carry  their  own  repose.  Here 
is  no  helpful  sohd  background  of  shrubs  and  trees 
such  as  in  the  countryside  might  justify  such 
massed  colour. 

For  H.M.  the  Queen  of  Norway,  Messrs.  R.  Neal 
and  Sons  of  Sevenoaks  have  fashioned  a  sunk 
garden,  planted  with  pink  and  blue  Hyacinths, 
Emperor  Daffodils  and  Indian  Azaleas  of  that  deep 
rose  shade  which  holds  more  than  a  hint  of  magenta. 
Here,  again,  the  colour  is  a  little  overpowering. 

Mr.  Ernest  Dixon  of  Putney  has  effectively 
carried  out  the  idea  of  H.M.  the  Queen  of  Rumania. 
This  is  a  restful  Uttle  garden  and  the  purple  and 
orange  shades  which  distinguish  it  are  not  overdone. 
Alas !  close  inspection  reveals  that  most  of  the 
flowers  are  artificial.  The  principal  feature  of 
this  garden  is  a  sunken  square,  its  retaining  walls 
capped  with  purple  Aubrietia  and  its  swastika- 
shaped  central  bed  filled  with  orange  Wallflowers. 
Small  Orange  trees  in  vases  complete  the  effect. 

Messrs.  Whitelegg  and  Co.  of  Chislehurst  have, 
in  addition  to  the  garden  designed  by  H.M.  the 
Queen  of  Spain,  a  triangular  rockery  arranged 
on  staging  which  displays  many  kinds  of  Kabschia 
Saxifrages,  hardy  Cyclamens  and  Lenten  Roses. 
Their  more  important  exhibit,  said  to  be  modelled 
on  a  garden  in  Seville,  comprises  a  seat-surrounded 
fountain  of  typical  Spanish  design  with  Box-edged 
beds  filled  with  Indian  Azaleas,  Epacrids  and 
Palms.  The  effect  is  quaint  and  pleasing,  though 
the  central  seats,  as  was,  perhaps,  to  be  expected 
in  so  small  a  garden,  dwarf  to  some  extent  the  rest 
of  the  exhibit. 

Perhaps  by  contrast  with  the  riot  of  colour 
elsewhere,  Messrs.  J.  Watcrer,  Sons  and  Crisp's 
garden  seems  rather  "  flat,  stale  and  unprofitable." 


JIarch  II,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


119 


The  yellow,  which  is  its  essential  colour,  is  largely 
contributed  by  Cuprcssus  fiUfera  aurea.  Golden 
shrubs  are  not  exactly  ideal  for  formal  garden 
effects,  especially  those  of  an  essentially  informal 
habit  of  growth.  The  colouring  was,  no  doubt, 
part  of  Lady  Patricia  Ramsay's  design,  but  one 
could  not  help  feeling  how  much  more  effective 
and  how  altogether  charming  this  garden  might 
be  if  rehcved  by  more  cheerful  colour.  A  tiny 
circular  lawn  and  a  square  pool  with  the  corners 
taken  off  to  make  it  eight-sided  are  pleasing 
features. 

Messrs.  R.  Wallace  and  Co.  of  Tunbridge  Wells 
have  five  miniature  gardens  on  view.  Four  of 
these  represent  the  gardening  ideals  of  four  children 
of  our  Royal  Houses.  Two  are  neat  Uttle  formal 
gardens,  but  the  space  at  disposal  gives  small 
scope  for  indi\iduahty  or  distinction.  The  other 
two  are,  respectively,  miniature  rock  and  wild 
gardens,  both  admirably  carried  out.  The  groups 
of  Birches  with  admirably  arranged  colonies  of 
Daffodils,  etc.,  form  a  beautiful  picture  and  display 
to  advantage  the  £irt  which  conceals  art.  The 
contouring  of  the  ground  could  not  well  be  improved 
upon.  The  Uttle  rock  garden  is,  in  its  way, 
equally  good.  It  would  be  difficult  to  stage  one 
more  effective  in  the  space  at  disposal.  In  another 
quarter  Messrs.  Wallace  have  yet  another  small 
garden,  this  time  an  Azalea  garden  aglow  with  all 
the  pure  and  wonderful  colouring  obtainable  in 
the   moUis   hybrids. 

The  garden  designed  by  H.R.H.  the  Princess 
Wary  is  a  rock  garden  carried  out  in  a  grand 
manner  by  Messrs.  Pulham  and  Sons.  It  is  staged 
against  an  effective  back-cloth  which  enlarges 
the  apparent  size  of  an  exhibit  extending  to 
1,800  square  feet.  Large  as  is  the  exhibit,  it  is 
hardly  large  enough  for  the  huge  waterfall  the 
firm  have  contrived,  nor  do  the  rocks  bordering  the 
faU  look  weighty  enough  for  the  margin  of  such  a 
flood.  No  attempt  has  been  made  to  set  up  a 
May  garden  at  this  season.  The  firm  are  to  be 
congratulated  on  resisting  the  temptation  to  rely 
too  largely  on  colour  to  produce  effect. 

Messrs.  Allwoods  display  a  border  of  perpetual- 
flowering  Carnations ;  Messrs.  WUKam  Duncan, 
Tucker  and  Sons  show  a  model  greenhouse  with 
growing  plants  in  situ  ;  and  Mr.  H.  D.  Thompson 
of  Adam  Street,  Adelphi,  has  a  miniature  hard 
green  tennis  court  in  his  special  (provisionally 
protected)  material,  combined  with  an  exhibit 
which  demonstrates  the  beauty  attainable  by  the 
use  of  steps  and  paving.  An  exhibit  by  Messrs. 
Gilham  and  Co.  shows  the  value  for  garden-houses, 
walhng  and  paving  of  the  Somersetshire  stone 
from  the  Brj-scom  Quarries.  Messrs.  T.  Crowther 
and  Son  of  Fulham  have  a  fairly  representative 
collection  of  garden  statuary ;  Messrs.  James 
Carter  and  Co.  have  a  large  collection  of  garden  seeds 
and  tools,  as  have  Messrs.  A.  W.  Gamage  and  Co. 

A  new  and  noteworthy  exhibit  is  that  of  the 
J.  P.  Super-Lawnmowers,  Limited,  of  Leicester. 
The  machines,  which  are  at  present  only  in  pro- 
duction in  the  i2in.  size,  are  not  inexpensive,  but, 
mounted  en  ball  bearings  and  driven  by  dust-free, 
sun-and-planet  gears,  and  adjusted  instantaneously 
without  a  spanner,  they  have  every  appearance  of 
a  workmanlike  job  and  should  prove  a  good  pro- 
position. 

Also  new,  though  this  is  by  no  means  their 
"  first  time  out,"  the  Fibrex  per%'ious  flowerpots, 
shown  by  Messrs.  Harvey,  arc  sure  to  claim  their 
share  of  attention. 

.\part  from  the  horticultural  exhibits  in  the 
annexe,  a  few  garden  sundries  are  to  be  found 
in  the  main  exhibition.  Among  these  one  noted 
the  Slade  movable  frames  and  a  display  of  Rito, 
the  well  known  Molassine  fertihser.  "  Windohte," 
one  of  the  most  recent  substitutes  for  glass  in 
frames  and  sheds,  is  also  on  show. 


In  connexion  with  the  Ideal  Homes  Exhibition 
the  Daily  Mail  has  thrown  open,  at  Welwyn 
Garden  City,  a  number  of  newly-erected  houses 
embodying  economical  ideas  both  for  construction 


and  upkeep.  There  is,  however,  little  there  at 
present  to  interest  the  garden  lover,  and  the 
gardens  provided  are,  truth  to  tell,  far  too  small, 
especially  considering  the  distance  from  town. 


LENTEN    ROSES 

These  quaint  and  charming  flowers   are  ideal  for  the  shady  fernery  or  the  Bamboo 
dell  in  a  soil  abundantly  supplied  with  humus. 


INSTEAD  of  bemoaning  the  fact  that  we 
have  a  cool  shaded  border  facing  north,  on 
which  the  sun  never  shines,  we  should 
welcome  it  as  a  happy  home  for  the  lovely 
Lenten  Roses,  for  these,  with  the  addition 
of  a  few  of  the  choicer  hardy  Ferns  with  their 
graceful  lacy  arched  fronds  for  summer,  provide 
attraction  and  beauty  through  the  whole  year. 
When   the  rest    of   the  garden  is  bare  and  leafless 


with  purplish  crimson  and  H.g.  sub-punctatus, 
white,  faintly  spotted  at  the  base  of  each  petal. 
For  flowering  from  February  to  April  there  is  a 
host  of  varieties,  many  of  which  are  rather  similar, 
but  the  following  will  be  found  a  desirable  collection: 
H.  Benary,  white,  heavily  spotted  with  crimson 
on  the  inside ;  Dr.  Moore,  rose  pink,  with  long 
stems  ;  Duchess  of  Cleveland,  Ulac  rose  ;  Mont 
Blanc,    very    fine,    pure    white ;    punctatissimus. 


QUAINTLY    BEAUTIFUL.       THE    LENTEN    ROSE    HELLEBORUS    ORlENTALI?. 


and  the  fern  fronds  have  turned  sere  and  brown, 
the  Christmas  Rose  steps  forward  and — despite  the 
cold  and  short  days — expands  its  pure  white 
flowers.  The  type  is  one  foot  tall  with  large 
leathery  foliage,  but  even  finer  and  earlier  than 
this  is  Helleborus  niger  maximus,  which  commences 
to  flower  in  November  and  continues  well  into 
January.  This  is  more  vigorous  than  the  type 
and  reaches  half  a  foot  taller,  while  the  flowers, 
though  white  inside,  on  the  exterior  are  rosy 
purple.  We  are  concerned  to-day,  however,  with 
the  later  flowering  orientahs  varieties,  and  I  merely 
mentioned  the  above  as  a  means  of  extending  the 
season  over  which  we  may  cut  lovely  flowers,  quite 
unprotected  in  the  open  air.  The  beautiful  foliage 
is  quite  distinctive,  while  they  embrace  quite  a 
wide  range  of  colour.  For  flowering  in  January 
and  February  the  following  varieties  should  be 
chosen;  H.  abschasicus,  with  large  deep  crimson 
purple  flowers  ;   H.guttatus,  white  flowers  spotted 


rich  purple,  spotted  inside  with  deeper  coloured 
spots ;  and  subjunctatus,  white.  The  species 
viridis,  bright  green,  and  its  variety,  purpur- 
ascens,  dove  grey,  also  flower  at  this  season. 

The  culture  is  very  simple ;  the  less  the  roots 
are  interfered  with  the  better.  Planting  is  best 
done  in  early  spring  and  they  have  a  strong  pre- 
ference for  a  rich  turfy  loam,  so  that  it  pays  to 
make  up  a  small  border,  a  couple  of  feet  deep, 
with  this.  Take  care  that  they  never  want  water, 
especially  when  planted  close  under  a  north  wall, 
for,  often  enough,  quite  heavy  rain  does  not  touch 
the  soil  at  all  in  such  a  position  as  this.  Subsequent 
culture  in  following  years  consists  in  affording  a 
good  dressing,  3ins.  thick,  of  old  manure  each 
spring,  as  soon  as  the  flowers  fade. 

This  is  when  the  new  roots  are  emitted  and  the 
top  dressing  serves  the  double  purpose  of  feeding 
the  roots  and  keeping  them  cool  and  moist  through 
the  summer.  H.  W.  Canning-Wright. 


120 


THE    GARDEN. 


[March  ii,  1922. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


A     CURIOUS    PLANT. 

npHE  enclosed  photograph  may  be  of  interest 
to  your  readers.  It  represents  the  root- 
stock  of  Testudinaria  elephantipes.  One  can 
take  one's  choice  between  this  name  and  the  more 
readily  spoken  Elephant's  Foot,  Hottentot  Bread 
or  Tortoise  Plant,  as  it  is  variously  called. 
Though  far  from  a  readily  procured  plant,  I 
have  come  across  one  or  two  good  examples 
of  this  freakish  thing  in  this  country,  and  once 
had  the  good  fortune  to  see  a  small  batch  of 
plants  during  the  process  of  raising  from  seed. 
This  is  not  at  all  a  difficult  matter  once  the 
seeds  are  obtained,  and 
the  best  way  to  attempt 
it  seems  to  be  by  making 
enquiries  from  friends 
in  South  Africa. 
Germination  is  fairly 
rapid  in  a  temperature 
of  60°  to  70°.  They 
should  not  be  interfered 
with  while  quite  small. 
The  twining  stem  should 
run  to  about  6ins.  or 
gins,  first  before  potting 
them  off  singly  in  small 
pots,  using  a  compost 
of  sandy  loam  and  leaf- 
mould.  Treatment  as  to 
watering,  &.C.,  is  pretty 
much  the  same  as  for 
the  Cacti,  and  the  plants 
gradually  increase  in  size 
from  year  to  year  until 
they  produce  a  huge, 
woody  tuberous  rootstock 
marked  Uke  the  shell 
of  a  tortoise.  From  the 
apex  of  this  rises  slender 
branching  stems  that — 
in  strong  specimens  — 
attain  a  height  of  between 
30ft.  and  40ft.,  with  heart- 
shaped  leaves  and  small, 
bell-Uke  greenish  yellow 
flowers. — Croydon  lA. 

A      NOVEL     POT 
PLANT. 

•yHE  fibrous  section  of 
Begonias  is  mostly 
associated  with  bedding 
out,  I  believe ;  but  dur- 
ing the  last  two  months 
I  have  proved  their  truly 
great  worth  as  dwell- 
ing-house     plants  —  and 

this  discovery  was  made  almost  accidentally. 
Pricked  out,  but  unwanted,  seedlings  of  last  spring's 
sowing  were  left  in  box  and  pan  in  a  cold  frame 
until,  as  nearly  as  I  can  remember,  some  time 
in  October,  by  which  time  the  foliage  had  taken  on 
a  lovely  reddish  hue.  and  the  plants,  obviously 
somewhat  stunted,  were  doing  their  best  to  mal<e 
a  show  of  flowers.  Instead  of  discarding  them, 
as  was  threatened  more  than  once,  I  took  out  a 
ball  of  several  plants  together  and  placed  these 
in  4!  in.  and  6in.  pots,  in  which  the  plants  gradually 
improved  in  growth  and  flower  until  in  December 
I  tried  them  for  house  decoration.  Two  clumps  in 
particular  gave  exceptional  pleasure,  as  they  were 
in  tlie  drawing-room  in  tlie  same  vases  for  quite 
six  weeks,  the  position  being  a  large  window  wliere 
good  liglit  was  available,  and  this  at  midwinter. — 
C.   T.,    Amp/hill. 


THE    EUCALYPTI. 

jl  PROPOS  of  the  note  on  page  46  of  The 
Garden  by  Walter  Smyth,  I  thought  the 
extract  from  a  letter  ;I  received  from  Mr.  G. 
Flemwell,  the  author  of  several  books  on  alpine 
flowers,  would  be  of  interest  at  this  present 
inclement  season. 

"...  And  now  let  me  tell  you  of  a  Switzer- 
land equally  interesting  and  wonderful  and 
beautiful,  though  not  considered  typical.  I  left 
Zermatt  frost-bound  and  in  snow  ;  I  left  Brigue, 
mist  and  wind-ridden  ;  Lucerne  was  enveloped  in 
thick  fog  and  rain  ;    but  directly  the  St.  Gothard 


THE    REMARKABLE    ROOTSTOCK   OF    TESTUDINARIA   ELEPHANTIPES. 


was  passed,  sunshine  began  to  appear,  and  by 
the  time  Locarno  was  reached  I  was  in  summer 
heat  and  sunlight.  Yet  Locarno  (thoroughly 
Swiss,  though,  of  course,  Italian-speaking)  is  only 
just  on  the  southern  side  of  those  Alps  where 
the  Rhone  Glacier  nestles  !  and  we  are  surrounded 
by  those  Alps'  foot-hills  !  As  the  crow  flies  it  is 
'  no  distance  '  ;  yet  in  the  garden  of  this  Villa 
Muralto  and  at  this  present  moment  (December  14) 
there  is  an  Orange  tree  bearing  over  a  hundred 
Oranges,  and  by  its  side  is  a  great  Eucalyptus 
in  full  bloom  and  a  Lemon  tree  carrying  ripening 
fruit !  Palm  trees  are  everywhere  (mostly  Chamas- 
rops  excelsa,  which  is  a  weed  here,  seeding  itself 
all  over  the  place).  Camellias  are  just  coming 
into  flower  (we  shall  have  a  bloom  or  two  for 
Christmas)  ;  the  Mimosa  is  blooming ;  and  the 
Japanese    '  Kaki '    trees    still    bear    their    orange 


apple-like     fruit.     And     they     are     skating     at 
Lausanne  and  at  Arveyes !    .    .    ." 

I  wonder  if  it  is  possible,  with  protection,  in 
some  of  our  sheltered  valleys  in  the  warmer  parts 
of  Cheshire  to  grow  the  Eucalypti,  Camellias  and 
Mimosa  ? — J.   P. 

PRUNING    FRUIT    TREES. 

T  HA'VE  read  with  great  interest  the  articles  on 
"  Fruit  Trees,"  and  cannot  but  help  agreeing 
with  Mr.  McCowan  that  had  Mr.  Pearson  given 
a  list  of  those  kinds  which,  grown  as  pyramids, 
gave  the  best  results,  and  Mr.  Thomas  done  the 
same  with  those  which,  in  his  opinion,  did  best 
as  bush  trees,  and  the  best  distance  to  plant 
apart,  their  contributions  would,  indeed,  have  been 
of  greater  help. — W.  Mason,  Wisbech. 

"PREPARED"     DUTCH    HYACINTHS. 

TN  writing  of  these  "Prepared"  Hyacinths 
I  must  say  at  the  start  that  I  am  writing  only 
of  white  -Miniatures,  which  were  obtained  last 
year  to  take  the  place  of  Roman  Hyacinths, 
which  were  so  dreadfully  dear  that  my  iirm — - 
along  with  many  others — thought  it  best  to  let 
these  French  bulbs  severely  alone  until  the  growers 
were  a  httle  more  reasonable  in  their  prices. 

These  special  Hyacinths  are,  as  many  of  your 
readers  are  no  doubt  aware,  first,  small  bulbs 
of  two  or  three  years'  growth  :  secondly,  they  are 
lifted  while  still  green,  and  are  then  stortd  in 
heated  rooms  for  a  certain  time,  which  gives 
them  an  artificial  ripening.  This  preparation 
enables  one  to  force  them  into  bloom  with  good 
results  some  ten  days  earlier  than  is  possible 
with  unprepared  bulbs.  Last  season  my  firm 
had  a  number  of  these  prepared  Miniatures  left, 
and  to  cut  loss  as  far  as  possible  they  wore  planted 
in  a  greenhouse  to  produce  cut  blooms  for  the 
market.  They  were  planted  in  November  and 
were  kept  right  through  their  growing  time  at 
about  50°,  falling  sometimes  at  night  to  very 
near  the  freezing  point.  The  resulting  crop  has 
been  really  wonderful.  The  first  blooms  were 
cut  January  31 — quick  work  from  bulbs  planted 
as  late  as  November — and  the  whole  lot 
were  cleared  by  mid-F-ebruary.  The  spikes 
have  been  very  good  for  such  small  bulbs  ;  in 
fact,  some  have  been  nearly  as  large  as  those 
produced  by  first-sized  bulbs,  while  out  of  some 
two  thousand  bulbs  just  one  failed  to  flower ! 
The  whole  crop  has  made  very  healthy  and  regular 
growth,  and  the  flower  stalks  have  been  quite 
long  enough  for  cutting,  for  which  the  smaller 
spikes  are  quite  suitable.  The  scent  is  not  at 
all  overpowering ;  in  fact,  not  very  different 
from  that  of  the  Roman  Hyacinth.  The  name 
of  the  variety  is  L'Innocence.  It  seems  really 
surprising  that  people  are  still  wilhng  to  pay 
about  sixpence  per  bulb  for  Romans,  while  these 
prepared  white  Dutch  Miniatures  can  be  had 
for  half  that  amount !  To  my  thinking  they 
are  worth  twice  as  much  as  the  Romans,  and  they 
may,  by  early  planting,  be  had  in  bloom  by 
Christmas, 

I  have  learned  something  by  this  httle  venture 
about  the  flowering  of  Hyacinths.  It  has  always 
been  thought  necessary  to  place  Hyacinths,  after 
potting  or  boxing,  out  of  doors  under  plunging 
material  for  many  weeks  before  placing  them 
in  heat.  Now  with  this  surplus  lot  of  bulbs  we 
came  to  the  conclusion  that,  first,  the  crop 
would  not  pay  for  much  labour  ;  secondly,  that 
the  bloom  must  be  cut  early  to  demand  a  ready 
sale.  So  we  decided  to  bed  them  on  a  bench 
in  the  greenhouse  without  any  preliminary  outside 
or  cold  frame  treatment,  and  the  results  could 
not  have  been  better.  A  few  pots  of  the  very 
same   Hyacinths   were  potted  on   August   18   and 


March  ii,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


121 


were  placed  in  plunging  material  in  a  cold  frame 
until  the  roots  were  at  the  bottom  of  the  pot ; 
they  were  then  brought  into  the  same  house  as 
the  planted  out  bulbs,  and  they  flowered  about 
a  week  later  than  these,  and  were  in  no  respect 
better.  This  seems  to  prove  that  the  Hyacinth 
may  be  grown  right  along  in  a  moderate  green- 
house temperature  without  any  cool  treatment 
at  all.  The  same  cannot  be  said  of  Tulips  or 
Daflodils ;  at  least,  I  can  speak  with  certainty 
of  Tuhps,  for  some  which  were  tried  last  year 
in  exactly  the  same  way  as  this  season's  Hyacinths 
were,  to  put  it  mildly,  not  a  success.  They 
produced  flowers  of  a  sort,  but  in  spite  of  shading, 
the  stalks  were  almost  non-existent,  and  the 
flowers  were  quite  a  failure  from  the  cut  flower 
point  of  view. 

Those  amateurs  who  have  not  yet  tried  these 
"Prepared  Miniature"  or  "Dutch  Roman" 
Hyacinths  should  make  a  note  to  procure  some 
this  autumn,  and  do  not  forget  to  ask  for 
L'Innocence.  as  that  cannot  be  beaten  for  growth, 
purity  or  dehcate  scent. — J.  Duncan  Pe.^rson, 
Lowdham,  Soiis. 

THE   NIGHT-SCENTED    STOCK. 

nPHIS  is  one  of  the  supreme  joys  of  the  summer 
garden.  I  can  never  forget  being  taken  out 
ot  doors  one  evening  after  dinner,  at  Balls  Park, 
to  smell  the  Night-scented  Stock.  .\  long  and 
wide,  partly-made  and  partly-filled,  border  had 
been  sown  with  it.  It  was  by  far  the  largest 
patch  of  it  that  I  have  ever  come  across,  and  the 
scent  of  it  that  evening  was  prodigious.  It  is 
ver\'  seldom  that  it  is  possible  for  it  to  be  grown 
on  such  a  grand  scale,  for  during  the  day  the 
Night-scented  Stock  is  one  of  the  most  forlorn 
objects  possible.  It  looks  as  if  it  was  all  over 
with  it,  and  anyone  coming  across  a  patch  for 
the  first  time  might  quite  justifiably  root  it  up 
as  "  done  for."     But  when  evening  comes! 

Ho%v  one  would  Kke  to  know  what  rouses  it 
up  !  It  cannot  be  a  dance,  or  a  card  party,  or  a 
dinner,  or  some  swell  function  or  other.  These 
are  certainly  powerful  human  stimulants,  but 
they  cannot  apply  to  the  vegetable  kingdom. 
What  is  it,  then  ?  No  one  knows.  Let  us  not 
worry  about  it.  It  is  our  part  to  be  truly  thankful 
that  such  a  plant  exists  and  that  it  is  so  easily 
grown  and  the  seed  is  so  cheap — even  in  1922 — 
to  buy  that  there  is  no  reason  why  a  patch  of  it 
should  not  be  sown  not  only  in  the  large  and 
stately  garden  of  Balls  Park,  but  also  in  the  tiniest 
cottage  garden  on  the  Balls  Park  estate.  Writing 
entirely  at  random,  let  me  suppose  95  per  cent, 
of  gardeners  know  it ;  nothing  like  95  per  cent, 
grow  it.  Until  as  many  grow  it  as  know  it,  I 
trust  a  httle  space  will  be  found  in  the  columns 
of  The  Garden  at  the  beginning  of  every  year 
for  someone  to  sing  its  praises  and  to  urge  everyone 
to  spend  a  few  coppers  on  the  purchase  of  some 
seed.  Its  present  price  is  about  eighteenpence, 
or  less  in  some  hsts,  per  ounce.  It  would  be 
difiicult  to  spend  a  sixpence  that  would  diffuse 
more  pleasure  than  sixpennyworth  of  Night- 
scented  Stock  seed.  Most  catalogues  call  it. 
as  is  strictly  proper,  Matthiola  bicornis,  I  had 
once  an  amusing  query  addressed  to  me  after  I 
had  done  my  best  to  sing  its  praises.  I  suppose 
the  Latin  name  is  a  bit  frightening  and  we  jib  at 
it  as  anyone  might  do  if  recommended  to  buy 
Cheiranthus  or  Calhstephus.  This  person  was, 
however,  converted  and  decided  to  buy.  "But 
where  could  Matthiola  bicornis  be  bought  ?  "  the 
person  wrote,  "  Do  you  think  I  could  possibly 
buy  it  in  Paris  ?  "  Why  Paris,  I  wonder  ?  Let 
me  say  there  is  no  need  to  go  to  Paris,  or  even 
to  Sutton's,  Carter's,  Dobbie's,  or  that  refuge  of 
the  seekers  after  rarities,  Thompson  and  Morgan's. 
It  would  be  a  poor  seed  shop  in  a  local  town  which 


could  not  supply  it,  if  wanted.  Sow  some  of  it 
every  fortnight  between  April  r  and  July  i. 
inclusive,  if  you  can.  At  any  rate,  begin  in  April 
and  go  on  as  long  as  seed  and  spaces  last. — 
Joseph  Jacob. 

THE  RECORD  OF  GREAT  DISArPOINT- 

MENT. 

T  IKE  many  others,  the  writer  acclaimed  the 
advent  of  Primula  Forrestii  to  our  British 
gardens.  It  seemed  to  be  what  we  had  longed  for 
— a  robust,  healthy,  beautiful  yellow  species  which 
we  might  attempt  in  our  gardens  with  a  reasonable 
amount  of  confidence  in  its  well-doing,  and  with 
every  prospect  of  it  giving  us  much  satisfaction  and 
real  joy.  But  we  have  all  been  disappointed  in  its 
behaviour  in  our  gardens  in  the  conditions,  say,  in 
which  Primula  japonica  would  be  exceedingly 
happy,  or  even  in  the  drier  border.  We  had  some 
justification  for  hoping  that  it  would  be  easy  and 
delightful  to  us  when  it  flowered  and  that  it  would 
prove  a  good  hardy  perennial.  Its  abundant,  bold, 
healthy-looking  leaves  gave  every  promise  of  a 
satisfactory  plant,  and  the  accounts  we  heard  of 
the  big  masses  it  formed  in  its  own  land  afforded 
us  some  trust  that  it  would  be  happy  in  these 
islands.  But  we  forgot  or  deliberately-  overlooked 
the  accounts  which  told  us  of  the  conditions  under 
which  it  throve  in  that  native  land.  We  were  told 
that  it  came  from  the  limestone  cliffs  of  Yunnan, 
where  in  the  hot  sunny  parts  it  floiu^ished,  and.  not 
lacking  in  temerity,  we  planted  it  in  borders  or  on 
rockwork,  rashly  hoping  for  success,  disregarding  all 
the  while  our  heavy  rainfall  and  o^u^  cooler  sunshine. 
So  we  deserved  what  we  got — rank  failure  and  the 
loss  of  our  plants.  Some  wiser  mortals  planted  in 
the  face  of  a  wall  garden  and  had  a  little — a  very 
little — more  success,  and  the  writer  well  recollects 
seeing  a  plant  in  bloom  which  had  been  in  the  same 
place  in  a  dry  retaining  wall  for  about  two  years 
and  was  condescending  to  live  and  bloom.  But 
one  swallow  does  not  make  a  summer,  nor  does  one 
plant  of  P.  Forrestii,  deigning  to  survive  for  a  couple 
of  years  in  a  particular  place,  justify  us  in  concluding 
that  it  will  do  anywhere  under  the  same  conditions. 
The  truth  is  that  there  is  little  chance  of  success 
with  it  in  this  country  unless  in  a  sun-scorched  lime- 
stone cliff  or  wall,  where,  practically  sheltered  from 
the  winter  wet,  it  has  some  prospect  of  surviving. 
But  for  this  failing,  so  far  as  our  gardens  are  con- 
cerned, it  would  be  a  worthy  plant  with  its  bold 
crinkled  leaves,  its  good  scape  and  its  heads  of 
sweetly  perfumed  yellow  flowers.  Alas  that  one 
has  to  say  it ! — as  a  garden  plant  it  has  even  to  give 
way  to  a  good  yellow  Polyanthus,  or,  more  attrac- 
tive still,  to  that  lovely  and  robust  species  of 
Primula  which  has  more  recently  reached  our 
gardens — Primula  helodoxa.  We  may  still  desire  to 
conquer  the  foibles — if  we  may  call  them  that — of  P. 
Forrestii,  but  we  had  better  far  devote  our  energy 
and  our  space  to  cultivating  P.  helodoxa,  one  of  the 
brightest  gems  of  the  Primrose  race  and  a 
splendid,  yeUow-flowered,  healthy,  obliging  plant. 
— S.   .■\rnott.'! 

ST.    FIACRE. 

T  WILL  freely  confess  that  my  library  is  very 
much  wanting  in  books  that  relate  to  the 
saints,  and  that  was  why  I  raised  the  query  as 
to  who  St.  Fiacre  was  and  what  he  did  to  merit 
canonization.  Mr.  Jacob  very  kindly  answers 
part  of  the  question  and  leaves  part  of  it  un- 
answered, so  that  I  am  still  ignorant  of  what  the 
French  gardeners'  patron  saint  did  that  warranted 
the  Church  in  raising  him,  an  apparently  poor 
working  gardener,  to  so  venerable  a  place.  The 
only  book  accessible  to  me  on  the  subject  of  saints 
is  "  Butler's  Lives,"  and  evidently  so  little  was 
thought   of   St.    Fiacre   by   the   compiler   of   that 


standard  work  that  his  biography  does  not  appear 
in  it.  Where  else  shall  I  go  to  avoid  astonishing 
my  dear  old  gardening  friends  by  my  ignorance  ? 
Being  the  possessor  of  a  French  calendar  is  a 
very  superficial  means  of  knowing  anything 
about  saints,  but  on  this  subject  that  completes 
my  stock.  It  would  be  interesting  and  instructive 
to  know  why  my  enquiring  mind  should  put 
the  saint  and  the  cab  together.  There  does  not 
seem  to  be  any  logical  sequence,  and  the  operation 
would  not  enlighten  me  as  to  the  reason  why 
the  good  man  deserved  the  honour  of  canoni- 
zation. Nor  does  the  fact  that  it  has  been  my 
fate  many  a  time  to  have  to  drive  in  a  Paris  fiacre 
help  me  towards  a  solution.  Now  I  am  going 
to  get  one  in !  Mr.  Jacob  says  "  it  would  appear 
to  be  a  pure  chance  that  his  (the  saint's)  name  is 
connected  w-ith  cabs."  Nothing  of  the  kind  ; 
there  is  no  chance  about  it,  but  a  very  good  reason 
for  it.  The  hired  vehicle,  commonly  called  a 
"  fiacre "  in  French,  was  so  designated  because 
when  they  were  first  started  the  booking  office 
(bureau  de  location)  where  they  could  be  ordered 
or  bespoken  for  hire  was  situated  at  the  Hotel 
St.  Fiacre.  You  see  there  was  a  hotel  named 
after  him.  But  I  still  want  to  know  what  he  did 
to  merit  canonization.' — C.  Harman  Payne. 

"THE  GARDEN"  AS  A  BOOK   OF 

REFERENCE. 

A  PLAN  which  is  even  simpler  than  that  men 
tioned  by  "J. P."  (Cheshire)  in  the  issue  of 
the  nth  ult.  is  my  solution  of  the  difficulty  of 
keeping  all  copies  of  The  Garden  or  of  selecting 
pages  for  binding,  with  the  complication  of  indexing, 
or  losing  time  in  hunting  up  articles  wanted. 
With  due  apology  for  the  scant  courtesy  shown 
to  the  numerous  articles  of  interest  and  expert 
knowledge,  my  method  has  for  some  time  been 
to  cut  out  those  columns,  or  pages,  or  notes  which 
I  am  likely  to  wish  to  refer  to  in  future,  and  slip 
them  into  an  ordinary  alphabetical  file,  under 
the  most  appropriate  letter,  for  easy  identi- 
fication when  required.  (Some  thought  is 
necessary  to  decide  on  the  best  index  letter  of  a 
subject.)  It  is  Slu-prising  how  evenly  the  strips 
are  distributed  over  the  file  ;  but  if  one  letter 
gets  crowded  one  can  sub-divide  with  loose  sheets 
in  that  division.  Fach  of  us  would  probably  find 
a  different  compartment  to  hold  the  place  of 
honour  in  the  file.— A.  H.  B.,  Old  Hill,  Staffs. 

A    LOVELY    BASKET    PLANT    FOR    THE 

CONSERVATORY. 

nPHAT  a  deal  of  misconception  exists  to-day  as 
to  the  actual  needs  of  Achimenes  is  evident 
in  the  fact  that  most  people  still  look  upon  them 
as  plants  fitted  only  for  growing  in  a  stove  house, 
and  this  idea  has  been  perpetuated  for  years ; 
so  much  so,  that  in  few  greenhouses  are  they  to 
be  found.  But  beyond  a  little  extra  warmth 
in  which  to  start  the  tubers,  nothing  more  than 
the  temperature  of  an  ordinary  greenhouse  is 
required  to  grow  these  beautiful  flowering  plants  ; 
indeed,  from  June  onwards  no  artificial  heat 
need  be  applied.  The  present  will  be  found  a 
suitable  time  to  start  the  tubers,  and  four  or 
five  should  be  planted  in  a  pot  made  up  of  two 
parts  loam  to  three  parts  leaf-mould  and  coarse 
silver  sand.  W'hen  2ins.  or  sins,  of  growth  have 
been  made,  the  little  plants  can  then  be  removed 
to  separate  pots  or  planted  in  and  around  a 
basket — once  a  favoiu-ite  method — where  they 
are  seen  to  advantage.  .Achimenes  delight  in  a 
moist  atmosphere  of  about  55°,  and,  started  under 
such  conditions,  they  soon  make  progress.  As 
greenhouse  plants  they  are  deserving  of  wider 
culture,  and  it  is  to  be  feared  that  prejudice  has 
militated  against  them. — Claremont. 


122 


THE    GARDEN. 


[March  ii,  1922. 


GARDENING    OF    THE    WEEK 


FOR     SOUTHERN     GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Early  Potatoes. — On  a  warm,  sheltered  border 
a  start  may  now  be  made  by  planting  a  few  rows 
of  one  of  the  recognised  early  varieties.  The 
tubers  will  be  nicely  sprouted  in  readiness  if  they 
were  cut  up  in  boxes  as  advised.  For  this  early 
crop  I  Sins,  to  24ins.  will  be  enough  from  row  to 
row,  allowing  the  sets  joins,  or  r2ins.  from  each 
other.  It  will  prove  beneficial  to  the  crop  if, 
after  drawing  out  the  drills  in  readiness  for  the 
Potatoes,  a  liberal  amount  of  well  decayed,  flaky 
leaf-soil  be  strewn  along  them  before  dropping 
the  sets  into  position. 

'■  Peas. — Where  such  can  be  arranged  there  is 
no  doubt  that  early  Peas  are  better  if  sown  in 
boxes  and  then  transplanted  as  soon  as  strong 
enough,  provided  soil  and  weather  are  favourable. 
Whether  such  is  practised  or  not  the  present  time 
is  suitable  for  sowing  outside  to  serve  as  a  succes- 
sion or  to  make  a  start  if  not  yet  done.  Early 
staking  of  Peas  is  at  all  times  essential,  and  this 
is  especially  true  of  early  rows,  for  it  helps  to 
break  the  cold  winds  from  the  young  plants. 

Artichokes. — Tubers  of  the  Jerusalem  variety 
should  be  planted  as  soon  as  possible,  allowing 
a  space  of  about  2  ft.  between  the  rows.  Should 
any  portion  of  the  previous  season's  planting  be 
stiil  in  the  ground,  lift  them  and  store  in  sand 
to  be  drawn  upon  as  required.  The  Chinese 
variety  Stachys  tuberifera  may  also  be  planted 
now  iri  rows  about  i5ins.  apart.  The  small  tubers 
of  this  variety  can  be  quickly  dealt  with  by  using 
a  dibbler  for  the  planting. 

Leeks. — A  liberal  open  ground  sowing  should 
be  made  now  to  provide  what  will  probably  prove 
the  main  batch  of  plants.  .At  least  one  if  not  two 
more  small  sowings  could  be  made  later.  Plants 
from  a  late  sowing  come  in  most  useful  sometimes 
when  the  earlier-sown  lot  are  apt  to  have  seeding 
tendencies. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

The  Rock  Garden. — ^Select  a  fine  day  and  when 
the  soil  is  in  good  workable  condition  prick 
over  the  crevices  between  and  around  the  plants, 
vt  the  same  time  take  steps,  if  necessary,  to  restrict 
the  coarser- growing  plants.  Stocks  of  plants 
raised  for  adding  to  collection  or  for  filling  up 
vacancies  ma"  now  be  gradually  removed  to  their 
permanent  positions.  Ofttimcs  an  added  interest 
may  be  given  to  the  alpine  quarter  by  the  intro- 
duction of  a  few  annuals,  and  a  list  of  those  suit- 
able is  frequently  given  in  the  general  seed 
catalogues  so  often  advertised  in  these  pages. 

Chrysanthemums. — An  increase  of  these 
accommodating  border  plants  may  readily  b- 
arranged  for  now.  Dibble  the  young  shoots 
into  pans  of  sandy  soil  and  keep  them  fairly  close 
in  a  temperature  somewhere  near  so".  When 
rooted  the  subsequent  treatment  will  depend 
to  some  extent  to  what  purpose  they  are  .allotted. 
Where  they  have  eventually  to  succeed  an  earlier- 
flowering  plant  thcv  must  either  be  grown  on  in 
pots  or  planted  out  in  a  reserve  plot  until  required, 
but  where  it  is  possible  to  place  them  at  once  in 
flowering  quarters  so  much  the  better,  as  valuable 
time  and  labour  are  saved  for  other  purposes. 

Pampas  Grass.— The  old  plants  or  clumps 
require  an  annual  clean-over  and  trim-up,  and 
this  should  be  seen  to  now,  making  also  any  further 
plantings  contemplated.  A  few  well  placed 
groups  of  this  grass  are  a  great  feature  during 
the   autumn. 

Kniphofia.- — From  now  until  the  end  of  the 
month  is  a  suitable  time  to  give  these  a  trim 
over,  and  also  for  the  lifting,  dividing  and  replant- 
ing of  them.  These  handsome  plants  arrest 
attention  almost  anywhere,  but  particularly  so 
when  boldly  grouped  The  best  results  are 
obtained  when  they  are  planted  in  a  cool  yet 
well  drained  soil. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Fruit  Borders.— The  pruning  and  planting 
operations  having  been  finished,  all  the  borders 
and  plantations  should  be  forked  over.  This 
will  make  more  easy  the  passage  of  ram,  sun 
and  air,  and  at  the  same  time  give  a  finished 
appearance  to  the  above  operations.  It  may 
be  nccessarv,  particularly  on  light  soils,  to  follow 
this  work  up  a  little  later  with  a  top-dressing 
of  well  rotted  manure  broken  up  finely.  In  the 
case  of  newly  planted  trees  a  more  strawy  mulching 
is  suitable,  and  will  be  found  of  immense  help 
in  maintaining  the  soil  for  the  roots  in  an  even 


state  of   moisture   as  the  days  lengthen  and  the 
sun  gains  in  power  and  drying  effect. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Vines  in  flower  require  a  somewhat  drier  atmo- 
sphere, but  it  is  not  necessary  or  even  beneficial 
suddenly  to  cut  oft'  all  the  atmospheric  moisture. 
For  free  setters,  like  Hamboro's  and  Foster's,  a 
night  temperature  of  60°  is  enough,  allowing  a 
rise  of  10°  to  15°  during  the  daytime  with  a  nice 
circulation  of  air.  As  an  aid  to  setting  give  the 
Vine  rods  a  sharp  tap  about  10.30  a.m.  so  that 
the  caps  may  be  removed  and  pollen  liberated 
to  do  its  work. 

H.  Turner. 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland  ) 

Albury   Park  Gardens,   Guildford. 


FOR    NORTHERN    GARDENS. 

The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Broad  Beans. — Sow  these  in  quantity  for 
the  principal  crop.  Although  accommodating  in 
its  habits  and  thriving  in  most  situations,  the 
Broad  Bean  rewards  generous  cultivation  by 
producing  heavy  crops  of  fine  qu.ality.  Sow  in 
double  rows  3ft.  apart,  allowing  about  Sins, 
between  the  seeds  in  the  row.  Long-pod  varieties, 
such  as  Harlington  Windsor,  Monaich  Long- 
pod  and  Austin's  Evergreen  are  commendable 
sorts  to  sow  at  this  time. 

Onions. — Sow  now  in  the  open  in  rich,  well 
drained  ground.  If  possible,  give  a  liberal  surface 
dressing  of  wood-ash  or  burnt  refuse.  Where  the 
soil  is  light  make  firm  by  treading,  afterwards 
raking  the  surface  until  a  fine  tilth  is  obtained. 
Reliable  varieties  are  Ailsa  Craig,  Cranston's 
Excelsior,  James'  Long-keeping  and  Blood  Red. 
Sow  in  shallow  drills  i2ins.  apart 

Early  Short  Horn  Carrots. — Sow  these  in 
shallow  drills  inins.  apart  on  a  sunny  border. 
Choose  a  day  when  the  ground  is  thoroughly  dry, 
so  that  it  may  be  well  broken  up  and  thus  ensure 
plump  little  roots  of  the  highest  quality. 

Celery. — ilake  a  first  sowing  of  an  early  variety 
in  boxes  containing  a  rich  fine  soil.  Germinate 
in  a  mild  hotbed  or  warm  pit  and  keep  fairly 
moist. 

Raising  Herbs. — Where  it  is  desirable  to 
replenish  or  form  a  new  herb  border  it  is  found 
advantageous  in  many  cases  to  raise  a  number 
from  seed.  These  often  prove  more  vigorous 
than  those  raised  from  cuttings  or  small  divisions. 
Perennial  herbs  should  be  sown  now  in  boxes 
and  placed  in  mild  heat,  so  that  well  established 
plantations  may  result  before  the  end  of  summer. 
Old  favourites,  such  as  Mint,  Tarragon  and  Lemon 
Thyme  are  grown  from  di\ision  of  the  roots, 
and  may  be  successfully  propagated  in  this  way 
during  the  latter  part  of  March. 

Potatoes. — Plant  first  early  sorts  immediately 
the  ground  is  dry  and  mild  weather  pre\'ails. 
Select  a  warm,  sheltered  spot  for  this  crop.  Scatter 
leaf-mould  and  any  other  light,  warm  material 
along  the  trenches  when  planting.  This  gives  the 
roots  a  satisfactory  start  and  lays  the  foundation 
of  a  profitable  crop. 

Tomatoes. — ■\  sowing  to  provide  plants  for 
the  main  crop  should  now  be  made.  Sow  thinly 
in  pans  of  light  porous  soil  and  germinate  in  a 
temperature  of  60°  or  65°.  Transfer  the  seedlings 
into  small  pots  immediately  the  second  leaves 
are  formed.  Keep  the  young  plants  as  near  to 
the  glass  as  possible  so  that  short-jointed,  stocky 
growth  may  be  ensured.  When  watering  use 
tepid  water  and  guard  against  draughts,  as  young 
plants  of  the  Tomato  are  readily  blighted  when 
subjected  to  any  sudden  change  of  temperature. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Melons. — Raise  another  batch  of  plants  in 
reailiness  for  planting  out  on  hotbeds  next  month, 
and  also  a  suitable  number  for  successional  crops 
in  pits.  Keep  young  plants  growing  freely, 
never  at  any  time  allowing  them  to  become 
starved  or  pot-bound  during  the  early  periods  of 
growth. 

Strawberries. — .Advance  further  quantities  from 
the  frame  to  the  forcing  pit,  taking  care  to  see 
that  the  foliage  is  clear  of  vermin  and  the  drainage 
of  the  pots  is  in  thorough  working  order.  Earlier 
batches  in  bearing  should  be  stunulated  by 
occasional  waterings  of  liquid  manure  and  soot- 
water  varied  at  times  with  an  approved  fertiliser. 


The  Flower  Garden. 
Hyacinth    candicans. — Plant   bold   groups   of 

this  in  the  shrubbery  border.  It  may  also  with 
advantage  be  planted  in  large  beds  in  conjunction 
with  autumn-flowering  Gladioli  or  Montbretias. 
With  its  drooping,  bell-like  flowers  it  also  makes 
an  effective  companion  to  the  stiff  but  otherwise 
brilliant  Tritoraa. 

Gladioli.— Plant  these  in  the  open  where  they 
are  to  flower.  On  heavy  land  the  addition  of 
some  leaf-mould  and  sand  gives  the  bulbs  a  more 
generous  start.  Where  the  plants  are  wanted 
for  summer  bedding  the  bulbs  should  now  be 
potted  up  and  grown  in  a  cool  frame  until  required. 

Dahlias.' — Start  the  roots  of  these  now  in  a 
warm  pit  so  that  a  good  supply  of  cuttings  may  be 
obtained.  Should  part  of  the  bed  in  a  Melon- 
house  be  available,  it  will  suit  admirably.  Pack 
round  the  roots  with  old  potting  soil.  Spray 
overhead  occasionally  and  thus  induce  the  tubers 
to  break  freely, 

.Tames  McGran, 
(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.) 

Coodham,   Kilmarnock. 


CONSERVATORY  AND    GREENHOUSE. 

Daphne  odora  (sjti.  D,  indica),  in  common 
with  other  fragrant  plants,  is  a  great  favourite 
although  by  no  means  so  popular  as  it  deserves 
to  be.  This  is  due  no  doubt  to  the  fact  that  it 
is  by  no  means  easy  to  keep  in  good  health  for 
any  length  of  time  when  cultivated  in  pots.  If 
planted  out  in  a  well  drained  border  in  a  cool 
conservatory  it  usually  grows  freely  and  keeps 
healthy  for  a  number  of  years.  In  Devon  and 
Cornwall  it  is  a  favourite  plant,  and  one  frequently 
sees  fine,  large  specimens  outdoors  planted  against 
warm  walls.  ."Xs  grown  by  the  trade  it  is  usually 
grafted  on  roots  of  Daphne  Mezereum.  It  is 
considered  a  difficult  plant  to  propagate  by  means 
of  cuttings,  but,  personally,  I  have  never  experi- 
enced any  difficulty  in  rooting  short  side  shoots 
taken  from  healthy  plants.  Cuttings  may  be 
inserted  now  in  pots  of  sandy  peat,  standing  them 
in  a  close  case  in  a  cool  house  until  they  caUus. 
If  they  are  then  placed  in  a  case  with  slight  bottom 
heat  they  soon  produce  roots.  The  potting 
compost  should  consist  of  half  good  medium  loam 
and  fibrous  peat,  with  enough  coarse  sand  to 
keep  the  whole  porous.  Do  not  overpot,  and  water 
carefully  at  all  times,  especially  during  the  winter 
months. 

Freesias  are  usually  grown  from  corras  potted 
up  during  August  and  September,  It  is  not 
generally  known  that  they  may  be  raised  from 
seed  and  flowered  the  same  season.  If  seed  is 
sown  during  this  month  the  resulting  plants 
should,  if  well  grown,  flower  next  November, 
Here  I  refer  to  F.  refracta  alba  and  F,  Leichtlinii, 
The  flowering  of  the  coloured  varieties  is  more 
uncertain.  The  young  seedlings  do  not  readily 
recover  from  transplanting,  so  it  is,  therefore, 
best  to  sow  them  directly  into  their  flowering  pots, 
48-sized  pots  being  large  enough,  the  seedlings  after- 
wards being  thinned  out  to  the  required  number. 
Germination  may  be  hastened  by  standing  the 
pots  in  a  house  with  a  temperature  of  55°  to  60°, 
When  the  seedlings  are  well  up  they  are  best  grown 
in  a  cool,  low  house  and  kept  well  up  to  the  roof 
glass.  As  soon  as  they  have  well  filled  their 
pots  with  roots  they  should  be  fed  with  dilute 
liquid  manure  and  soot  water, 

Sparmannia  agricana  is  an  old  inhabitant  of 

gardens,  being  introduced  during  1 790,  but  to- 
day it  is  by  no  means  commonly  seen,  which  is 
rather  surprising  when  one  considers  that  it  flowers 
more  or  less  for  several  months  during  winter 
and  spring.  Apart  from  its  beautiful,  white 
flowers,  which  are  so  freely  produced,  this  plant 
is  interesting,  as  the  stamens  are  irritable,  gradually 
opening  outwards  when  touched.  It  is  easily 
propagated  by  means  of  cuttings,  and  grows 
quickly  and  soon  makes  a  large  specimen.  Trained 
as  a  standard  some  3ft,  to  4ft.  in  height,  it  is  very 
beautiful.  After  flowering  the  plants  should  be 
pruned  hard  back,  and  from  the  beginning  of 
July  until  September  should  be  stood  outdoors 
in  a  sunny  position.  This  ripens  the  wood  and 
ensures  free  flowering.  It  is  probably  because 
this  is  not  done  that  one  hears  frequent  complaints 
that  this  fine  plant  does  not  flower  freely.  There 
is  a  double-flowered  variety,  but  it  is  not  so 
beautiful  as  the  type, 

Aloysia  Citriodora  (the  lemon-scented  Verbena). 
— This  fragrant  plant  is  a  general  favourite.  It 
should  be  pruned  back  now  and,  as  it  starts  into 
growth,  repotted,  or  large  specimens  should  have 
several    inches    of    the  surface  soil  removed  and 


M-\RCH   II,   1922.] 


replaced  mth  a  top-dressing  of  fresh  compost.  This 
plant  grows  with  great  freedom  when  planted  out, 
and  is  excellent  for  a  cold  conservatory,  as  it  is 
hardy  over  a  great  part  of  the  country 'if  planted 
at  the  bottom  of  a  wall  and  given  some  slight 
protection.  Many  cultivators  find  this  plant 
difficult  to  propagate  because  they  trv  to  do  this 
during  the  autumn,  whereas  it  roots  in'a  few  weeks 
from  soft  cuttings  taken  from  plants  grown  indoors 
during  the  spring.  i    ^.^ 

i^v  Begonias. — -There  are"  numerous  species  and 
varieties  of  greenhouse  Begonias  which  between 
them  keep  the  greenhouse  gav.  more  or  less,  all 
the  year  round.  Begonia  gracilis  is  a  \-ery  beauti- 
ful species,  the  tubers  of  which  should  be  started 
now  in  slight  warmth.  This  plant  is  also  known 
as  B.   Martiana,  and  must  not  be  confused  with 


THE     GARDEN. 


a  section  of  B.  semperflorens  to  which  Continental 
growers  apply  the  name  gracilis.  Other  beautiful 
tuberous-rooted  species  that  should  be  more 
generally  cultivated  are  B.  Davisii  and  B.  Pearcei. 
both  of  which  played  an  important  part  in  the 
present-day  race  of  tuberous-rooted  Begonias, 
all  the  yeUow-fiowered  varieties  coming  frorn 
B.  Pearcei,  and  these  even  now  show  traces  of 
Its  beautiful  foliage.  B.  fulgens  and  B.  Baumanni 
are  also  beautiful  species.  B.  Evansiaua  is  a 
herbaceous  species,  almost  hardy,  and  if  started 
now  is  very  useful  for  autumn  decoration  of  the 
conservatory,  as  also  is  the  old  garden  hybrid 
B.  weltoniensis.  B.  Dregei  and  B.  Sutherlandii 
if  started  now  will  flower  throughout  the  summer 
and  autumn.  j    Coutts 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,   Kew. 


THE    TURNIP    GALL    WEEVIL 

Follows  an  account  of  a  serious  pest  which  attacks  the  Cabbage  and  its  relatives 
Preventives,  as  far  as  known  to  date,  are  indicated. 


THE  Turnip  gall  weevil  (Ceittorhynchus 
sulcicolUs)  is  a  snout-beetle  which,  as  its 
name  indicates,  causes  galls  on  the  roots 
and  bulbs  of  Turnips,  Swedes,  Rape, 
various  forms  of  Cabbage,  Mustard  and 
some  cruciferous  weeds,  such  as  Charlock.  Probably 
the  most  serious  injury  is  caused  in  the  case  of 
Turnips  and  Swedes,  the  other  cultivated  Brassicas 
suffering  only  occasionally,  except  when  grown 
under  garden  conditions.  Evidences  of  the 
presence  of  the  pest  are  exceedingly  common  all 
over  the  country,  some  galled  plants  being  found 
in  most  Swede  and  Turnip  fields.  John  Curtis 
(Farm  Insects,  1859)  states  that,  except  for  the 
symmetrv'  of  the  bulbs  being  affected,  the  plants 
are  in  no  way  injured  by  the  presence  of  the  insects. 
This  may  have  been  so  in  the  cases  which  came 
under  his  notice,  but  the  injury  is  often  very- 
severe,  p  a  r  - 
t  icularly 
where  young 
plants  are 
at  t  acked, 
for,  as  F,  V. 
Theobald 
(Repi.  Econ. 
Zoology 
S.  E.  A.  C, 
r  906-07) 
points  out, 
"It  is  not 
so  much  the 
deformed, 
galled,  neces- 
sarily stunted 
growth  of  the 
Turnip  or 
Swede  that 
is,  however, 
of  such  vita] 
imp  ortance ; 
it  is  the 
too  frequent 
attack  on 
young  plants 
when  all 
future  growth 
is  stopped 
by  these 
maggots  that 
makes  the 
Turnip  gall 
weevil  of 
such  importance  to  the  farmer."  To  the  private 
and  market  gardener,  too,  the  loss  due  to 
attack  is  important,  for  the  attack  at  the 
roots    of    Cabbage    and    Savoys     often    prevents 


Fis. 


I.- 


-Stem  of  an  infested 

Savoy. 


hearting  or  may  send  them  into  flower,  whUe  the 
de\'elopment  of  such  plants  as  BroccoU  is  often 
seriously  checked. 

Life  History  and  Habits.— If  a  galled  plant 
be  examined  galls  varying  from  the  size  of  a  pea 
to  the  size  of  a  hazel-nut  may  be  seen  ;  often 
they  run  into  each  other,  with  the  result  that 
mis-shapen  masses  are  formed  about  the  lower 
portion  of  the  bulb,  or  turnip-Uke  sweUings  may 
be  found  on  the  tap  root  or  stalk  of  the  Cabbage 
(Fig.  I). 

The  galls  are  found  to  contain  whitish-yellow 
legless  grubs  (Fig.  2).  A  gaU  may  be  single 
chambered  and  contain  one  grub,  or  several 
chambered  and  contain  usually  from  four  to  five 
grubs,  the  number  of  grubs  present  depending 
on  the  extent  of  the  infestation.  Sorauer  (Hand- 
buck  der  Pflanzen  Kranhheiten)  states  that  there 
may  be  as  many  as  ten  to  twenty-five  together  ; 
in  a  specimen  of  galled  Savoy,  recently  examined, 
twenty-nine  grubs  were  located.  The  whitish 
grubs,  measuring  at  maturity  from  5mm.  to  6mm. 
(say,  i-5in.  to  Jin.)  are  found  lying  in  a  curved 
position  in  the  little  chambers  they  occupy.  They 
are  ivriukled  into  numerous  folds  and  arc  segmented, 
being  clothed  sparsely  with  short  hairs  or  bristles 
which  facilitate  movement.  The  head  is  pro- 
portionately small  and  very  pale  brown ;  it  bears 
two  strong  pointed  jaws  with  chstinct  dark  brown 
tips. 

These  grubs  can  be  found  aU  through  the  winter 
until  about  Februan^  when  they  eat  their  way 
out  of  the  gaUs  and,  entering  the  soil,  construct 
small  earthen  cocoons  in  which  they  pupate. 
The  quiescent  pupa;  (Fig.  3)  are  at  first  whitish, 
and  through  the  outer  skin  the  oufUnes  of  the 
adult  insect  can  be  seen.  Towards  the  end  of 
the  pupal  period  the  colour  becomes  darker,  the 
eyes  being  the  first  to  be  distinguished,  followed 
by  many  of  the  hmb  joints,  which  can  be  dis- 
tinctly seen.  Finally  the  pupal  coat  sphts  and 
the  perfect  insect  proceeds  to  extract  itself  from 
Its  folds,  ultimately  appearing  above  ground  as 
a  black  and  greyish  weevil  (Fig.  4).  This  adult 
insect  is  about  3mm.  (Jin.)  long  and  is  black  with 
scattered  grey  and  whitish  scales;  the  under- 
side is  lighter  in  colour.  The  head  is  prolonged 
into  a  snout  or  rostrum,  which  bears  the  elbowed 
headfeelers  or  anterm£e.  The  thorax  is  rather 
coarsely  punctured  and  has  a  central  groove  and 
two  small  lateral  tubercles.  Its  legs  are  entirely 
black. 

Shortly  after  emergence,  mating  takes  place 
and  egg-laying  goes  on  from  May  onwards. 
Theobald  (op.  oil.)  states  that  the  adults  appear 
very  irregularly  from  spring  to  early  summer, 
and    that   they   feed   in    the    flowers    of    various 


123 

cruciferous  plants.  The  eggs  are  laid  by  the  female 
in  small  holes  bored  into  the  tissue  of  the  stem 
below  the  surface  of  the  soil,  one  egg  being  deposited 
in  each  hole.  From  these  eggs  hatch  out  the 
minute  grubs,  the  feeding  of  which  sets  up  irrita- 
tion, resulting  in  the  formation  of  a  gradually 
enlarging  gall.  In  the  centre  of  this  gall  the 
larva  lives  and  feeds  by  boring  shallow  holes  into 
the  tissue  in  various  directions.  In  summer-time 
the  length  of  larval  Hfe  may  be  about  four  weeks, 
but  this  period  lengthens  out  as  winter  chaws  on. 
So  far,  httle  has  been  done  in  coimexion  with 
the  control  of  this  pest.  As  far  as  natural  control 
is  concerned,  birds  are  undoubtedly  one  of  the 
most  important  factors  in  limiting  it,  for  Curtis 
mentions  that  "  partridges  are  very  fond  of  the 
maggots,  and  that  is  undoubtedly  one  reason 
for  the  Turnips  being  so  attractive  to  these  birds  ; 
they  are  there  under  cover  and  run  about  in 
search  of  the  galls  to  pick  out  the  hidden  maggots." 
Theobald,  also,  refers  to  rooks  as  "  picking  at  the 
gaUs  and  taking  the  maggots."     In  an  infestation 


Fig.  2. — The  larva 

magnified  five 

diameters. 


Fig.  3.— The  pupa  (x  6).    Fig.  4.— The  imago 
of  the  Turnip  gall  zveevil  (x  6). 

on  Cabbage  that  recently  came  under  the  writer's 
notice,  it  was  found  that  where  the  stumps  were 
pulled  and  left  exposed  on  the  ground  many  of 
the  gaUs  were  pecked  open  by  blackbirds  and 
thrushes. 

Where  Cabbage  is  attacked  pulling  and  burning 
the  stumps  have  been  advocated.  In  practice  the 
burning  of  Cabbage  stumps  is  a  most  difiicult 
proceeding,  and  exposure  to  birds  would  probably 
be  found  satisfactory  and  far  easier.  Where 
poultry  could  be  run  on  the  ground  after  the  crop 
has  been  cut  and  the  stumps  puUed,  it  is  Ukely 
that  in  foraging  they  would  destroy  a  considerable 
percentage  of  the  grubs.  When  planting  out 
Cabbage,  a  mixture  of  soot  and  lime,  or  of  soot, 
Ume  and  ashes,  has  been  found  to  give  some 
relief  by  acting  as  a  deterrent.  The  mixture 
should  either  be  dibbled  in  with  the  plants  or  else 
scattered  round  the  plants  and  pricked  in  Ughtly. 
Where  a  crop  of  roots  is  only  shghtly  attacked 
feeding  the  bulbs  to  sheep  or  cattle  will  probably 
check  the  pest  quite  effectively.  If  the  crop  is 
badly  attacked,  feeding  it  off  with  sheep  would 
be  helpful  in  that  some  of  the  grubs  would  be 
eaten  and  others  trampled  in.  If  this  is  followed 
by  deep  cultivation  it  will  make  matters  more 
secure,  and  by  the  time  roots  are  grown  there 
again,  in  the  course  of  the  rotation,  the  land  would 
be  comparatively  free  from  the  pest.  Theobald 
mentions  that  a  good  dressing  of  soot  over  Turnips 
and  Swedes,  soon  after  germination,  is  often  bene- 
ficial as  a  deterrent. 

Since  the  weevil  wUl  form  gaUs  on  various 
cruciferous  weeds,  it  is  important  that  cleanliness 
of  culture  be  observed,  for  weedy  headlands  and 
waste  ground  generally  form  a  source  of  infestation. 
Judicious  rotation  of  crops  is  another  important 
factor,  since,  if  crops  hable  to  attack  follow  each 
other  or  occur  in  adjoining  areas,  there  is  a  great 
probability  of  theur  being  attacked.  Thus  with 
this,  as  with  many  other  pests,  the  best  means 
cf  control  will  be  found  to  be  judicious  manuring, 
a  good  rotation,  hygienic  methods  and  the  other 
factors  which  constitute  clean  husbandry. 

Herbert  W.  Miles,  N.D.A.,  F.E.S. 


124 


THE    GARDEN. 


[March  ii,  1922. 


THE     FOOL-PROOF     ALLWOODII 


IN  these  days  of  high  wages  and  autocratic 
employes  the  single-handed  gardener,  or  the 
employer  who  has  to  rely  upon  the  services  of 
one  man  to  keep  in  order  a  garden  which  calls 
for  two.  begins  to  look  round  in  the  hope  of 
filling  up  large  spaces  of  unoccupied  territory  as 
cheaply  and  as  effectively  as  possible. 

A  plant,  therefore,  which  will  give  a  glorious 
display  over  a  long  period  is  useful  as  a  "  cut  " 
flower  and.  moreover,  which  possesses  a  delicious 
fragrance,  will  be  welcomed  by  countless  thousands 
of  gardeners  at  the  present  time.  Coupled  with 
these  virtues  the  fact  that  the  plant  is  the  hardiest 
and  easiest  of  all  plants  to  grow,  requiring  as  it 
does  no  attention  for  two  years  after  it  is  once 
planted  into  position,  should  make  its  appeal 
to  aU  lovers  of  a  beautiful  garden  at  a  small 
expense. 

Like  most  keen  gardeners,  when  I  come  across 
a  good  thing,  I  am  not  happy  until  I  have  passed 
it  on  to  others,  so  I  feel  that  this  new  race  of 
hardy  garden  plants  which  has  been  raised  and 
developed  by  Allwood  Brothers,  the  Carnation 
speciahsts,  of  Haywards-  Heath,  Sussex,  must 
no  longer  remain  unknown  to  readers  of  this 
journal.  I  must  confess  that  the  name  given 
to  this  new  and  dehghtful  flower  frightened  me. 
Dianthus  Allwoodii  is  the  terrifying  name  which 
it  will  carry  down  to  posterity.  Those  two  i's 
at  the  termination  of  the  name  of  the  brothers 
Allwood  will  give  a  wrong  impression  to  gardeners 
who  are  lovers  of  hardy  plants.  It  is  as  bad  as 
a  child's  parents  christening  the  poor  unfortunate 
"  Clarence."  I  know  all  about  that,  because 
unfortunately  I  possess  that  Christian  name. 
Such  a  name  may  be  all  right  if  the  object  of 
the  bestowers  was  to  make  the  boy  grow  up  to  fight 
his  own  battles.  Nobody  could  go  through  his 
school  life  with  a  name  like  that  without  at  least 
one  fight  per  day.  However,  that  is  beside  the 
point ;  but  for  some  reason  "  ii "  on  any  garden 
plant-name  always  conjures  in  my  mind's  eye 
something  which  has  to  be  kept  in  heat  and  cotton- 
wool. 

Shakespeare  is  credited  with  having  written, 
"  What's  in  a  name  ?  A  Rose  by  any  other 
name  would  smell  as  sweet,"  and  Allwoodii  might 
be  substituted  for  the  word  "  Rose"  to  prove  that 
the  poet  knew  what  he  was  talking  about. 

I  suppose  if  any  gardener  were  asked  to  give 
his  opinion  upon  the  hardiest,  most  easily  propa- 
gated, fool-proof,  sweetest-smeUing  hardy  plant, 
he  would  plump  sohdly  for  Mrs.  Sinkins  Pink. 
For  is  it  not  hardy,  fool-proof,  and  aU  the  rest  of 
it  ?  A  garden  without  a  clump  of  this  good  old 
variety  somewhere  about  is  incomplete.  Why, 
even  people  who  have  never  done  any  gardening 
in  their  Uves  know  it  by  sight.  Their  faces  lighten, 
and  a  smile  breaks  upon  their  Ups  as  they  sniff 
the  fragrance  in  the  air,  while  the  "  I  told  you 
so"  look  comes  into  their  eyes  when  they  exclaim 
"Mrs.  Sinkins"  or  more  generally  "Mrs.  Simpkins!" 
In  the  near  future  they  will  substitute  "  Allwoodii." 

Mr.  AUwood  himself  informs  me  that  Dianthus 
Allwoodii  is  one  of  the  hardiest  of  known  plants  ; 
in  fact,  in  his  own  words,  it  "  has  the  constitution 
of  a  Shetland  pony."  It  grows  and  increases 
n  exactly  the  same  manner  as  a  Pink  and  requires 
similar  treatment ;  but,  unhke  the  Pink,  which 
blooms  for  some  three  weeks  in  the  summer, 
Allwoodii  flower  perpetually  from  early  spring 
until  quite  late  in  the  autumn.  This  long  flowering 
period  is  probably  inherited  from  one  of  the 
parents,  for  the  Allwoodii  is  half  Pink  and  half 
Perpetual-flowering  Carnation ;  the  flowers  and 
habit  of  growth  resemble  the  latter. 

Of  course,  like  most  other  plants,  Allwoodii 
flourish  best  in  an  open  sunny  position,  but  they 


are  such  accommodating  plants  that  they  will  bloom 
anywhere  except  in  complete  shade.  They  are  ideal 
as  an  edging  when  grown  down  the  sides  of  a 
crazy  or  other  path  ;  in  rockeries,  banks  or  other 
dry  positions  they  are  equally  at  home.  In  fact,  I 
am  not  overstating  the  point  when  I  say  that  they 
will  grow  anywhere.  Nor  are  they  exacting  as  to 
soil ;  heavy,  light  or  sandy,  up  they  come  smiUng 
every  time. 

Early  spring  or  autumn  is  the  best  time  to  put 
out  the  rooted  cuttings  from  3in.  pots.  If  an 
unbroken  edging  is  desired  quickly,  the  plants 
may  be  put  out  at  a  distance  of  6ins.  to  loins.. 
but  if  time  is  no  object,  ift.  or  iSins.  is  permissible. 
At  such  distances  the  plants  may  be  left  for  two 
years  without  further  attention,  in  which  time 
they  will  probably  meet  and  require  to  be  propa- 
gated by  means  of  layers  or  cuttings. 

This  new  race  of  Carnation-Pink  must  not  be 
confused  with  the  old  garden  Pinks.  The  latter 
only  bloomed  once  in  a  season,  were  poor  in  shape, 
and  had  it  not  been  for  their  delicious  fragrance 
would  never  have  been  tolerated.  Allwoodii 
possess  all  the  virtues  which  the  old  Pinks  lacked. 
Colour,  form  and  scent  are  now  obtainable  in 
these  hardy  plants  which  were  previously  only 
met  with  in  the  greenhouse  varieties. 

It  will  be  seen  that  in  Allwoodii  we  have  an 
entirely  new  race  of  plants  ;  no  trouble  and  fool- 
proof. Plants  which  anyone  can  grow,  and  which 
can  be  increased  with  the  ease  and  rapidity  of 
the  old  garden  Pink.  Gardeners  who  have  large 
beds  of  standard  Roses  and  who  previously  grew 
Violas  as  carpeting  plants  beneath  them  might 
with  advantage  give  these  Carnation-Pinks  a 
trial.  Being  shallow-rooted,  while  Roses  are 
deep-rooted,  one  does  not  combat  the  other  in 
the  search  for  food  and,  unhke  the  Viola,  which 
is  rather  a  lover  of  moisture,  the  Allwoodii  will 
flourish  no  matter  how  dry  the  season.  In 
window-boxes  or  lawn  vases  they  will  give  a  con- 
tinuous show  of  bloom  from  May  to  October. 
Even  in  winter  their  bright  blue-green  fohage  is 
decorative. 

In  a  bed  or  as  an  edging  plant  there  is  nothing 
which  will  give  such  a  show  for  so  Mttle  expense. 
In  full  bloom  the  bed  or  border  is  a  drift  of  inde- 
scribable lovchness  and  perfume.  Large  plants 
may  be  lifted  in  the  autumn  and  potted  up,  the 
plants  being  afterwards  placed  in  a  cold  frame 
or  greenhouse  for  winter  blooming.  A  free 
circulation  of  air  at  all  times  should  be  allowed 
and  the  plants  protected  from  frost. 

Propagation  is  the  easiest  thing  in  the  world, 
as  Allwoodii  root  so  easily  from  cuttings,  pipings 
or  slips  in  the  usual  way  of  propagating  Pinks 
or  Carnations.  Cuttings  should  be  rooted  in 
July  and  August  in  almost  pure  sand,  the  plmts 
being  protected  from  strong  sun  and  kept 
moderately  moist  while  rooting.  In  about  four 
weeks  they  may  be  potted  up  into  2in.  pot;  or 
planted  direct  into  position  in  the  garden.  When 
estabhshed  the  plant  should  be  broken  off  at  the 
sixth  pair  of  leaves  above  the  soil,  otherwise  the 
growth  will  quickly  produce  a  single  spray  of 
bloom  instead  of  making  a  bushy  plant.  Being 
of  a  dwarf  habit,  they  require  no  unsightly  sticks 
or  ties,  and  should  be  allowed  to  grow  away 
naturally  after  stopping.  This  advantage  will  be 
appreciated  by  anyone  who  has  spent  a  morning 
among  the  old  border  Carnations.  C.  P. 


garden  owner  who  wishes  to  keep  bees  not  only 
as  an  interesting  and  profitable  hobby,  but  for 
the  service  they  render  in  ensuring  the  fertility 
of  their  fruit  trees.  It  is  to  be  feared  that  many 
a  would-be  beekeeper  has  been  deterred  from 
taking  up  apiculture  by  reading  an  appliance- 
maker's  catalogue.  These  productions,  like  books 
on  animal  or  plant  diseases  have  rather  an  over- 
powering effect  upon  a  novice.  This  pamphlet, 
then,  which  shows  concisely  how  few  appliances 
are  really  necessary  to  the  beginners,  how  these 
few  should  be  employed,  and  the  simplicity  of  it 
all   should  be  of  real  service. 


A  Charming  Rose  Species. — Rosa  marcro- 
phylla,  though  related  to  R.  Moyesii,  is  at 
any  rate,  in  the  typical  plant,  very  distinct 
from  it  in  appearance,  though  it  bears  similar 
bottle-shaped  fruit.  Their  curious  appearance 
is  produced  by  the  persistent  sepals  forming 
a  crown  which  swells  out  beyond  the  narrowed 
pip  of  the  fruit  proper.  A  rather  prickly  shrub, 
it  has  much  the  same  stature  as  R.  Moyesii,  but 
the  leaves  are  usually  more  than  double  the  size, 
paler  in  colour  and  downy  beneath.  The  flowers, 
too,  though  deeper  than  most  species,  are  much 
more  ordinary  in  colouring.  Many  forms  closely 
related  to  this  species  have  been  introduced  of 
late  years.  This  is  among  the  most  desirable 
of  Wild  Roses. 

A  Trailing  Coleus.— A  Coleus  that  is  orna- 
mental all  the  year  round  is  by  no  means  a  plant 
to  neglect.  Coleus  Rehneltianus  carries  out  this 
programme  to  the  fuU.  Nay,  more,  for  it  chooses 
winter  as  its  flowering  season,  and  right  away 
from  autumn  to  late  spring  smothers  itself  with 
lovely  light  blue  flowers.  The  habit  is  close  and 
creeping,  with  leaves  about  lin.  in  diameter,  red 
brown  in  colour,  strikingly  edged  with  green. 
When  the  growths  become  covered  with  the  dainty 
light  blue  flowers  the  plant  is  at  its  most  attractive 
stage,  and  in  addition  to  its  appearance,  advertises 
its  presence  by  a  delicious  honey-like  perfume. 
While  a  useful  plant  for  growing  in  small  pots  to 
edge  the  staging,  it  is  most  beautiful,  when  thickly 
planted  in  hanging  wire  baskets,  for  suspending  from 
the  roof  as  the  close,  compact  growth  soon  converts 
these  into  perfect  balls  of  beauty,  especially  In 
winter,  when  first-class  basket  plants  are  by  no 
means  too  plentiful.  Stock  can  be  obtained  by 
sowing  seed  in  brisk  bottom  heat  at  almost  any 
period  of  the  year  while — once  a  number  of  plants 
is  secured — further  propagation  is  most  readily 
carried  out  by  means  of  cuttings  struck  in  a 
propagating  case  in  sandy  soil.  Look  well  over 
your  seedlings  before  deciding  which  to  retain  for 
purposes  of  increase,  for  the  plants  vary  in  the 
depth  of  colour  as  well  as  the  edging.  The  plants 
might  well  be  given  a  trial  outdoors,  for  there  is 
but  little  doubt  that  they  would  form  an  ideal 
edging  to  beds  of  brilliant  summer  flowers. 


A  Booklet  tor  the  Beekeeping  Beginner.— 

Messrs.  Taylor's  little  eight-page  booklet'  should 
be   invaluable    to   that    very   numerous   class    of 

•How  to  begin  Bee  Keeping.     Published  by  Messrs. 
E.  H.  Taylor,  Ltd.,  Wdwyn,  Herts.     Price  3d. 


FORTHCOMING   EVENTS. 

March  13. — United  Horticultural  Benefit  and 
Provident  Society's  Annual  Meeting. 

March  14. — Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Fort- 
nightly Meeting  (two  days).  Lecture  at  3  p.m. 
by  Dr.  A.  B.  Rendle  on  "  Plants  of  Interest  in 
the  Day's  Exhibition"   (on  the  first  day). 

March  14. — Meeting  of  those  interested  in  pro- 
posed National  Daffodil  Society  at  R.H.S.  Hall 
at  4  p.m. 

March  16. — Meeting  of  the  Linnean  Society  of 
London  at  5  p.m.  Wargrave  and  District  Gardening 
Society's  Meeting.  Manchester  and  North  of 
England  Orchid  Society's  Meeting.  Conference 
on  "  The  UtiUty  Small  Garden  "  at  the  Ideal  Home 
Exhibition  at  3  p.m. 


THE 


^?Yof  t 


GARDEN 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


ol.  LXXXVI.— No.  2626. 


tered  as  Secood-class  Matter  at  the  New  York.  N.Y..  Post  Office. 


Saturday,  March   18,  1922 


REGISTERED  AT  THE  GENERAL 
POST  OFFICE  AS  A  NEWSPAPER 
AND     FOR     CANADIAN     OAOAZINE 

POST. 


Price  THREEPENCE 

Yearly  SubscriptloB 
Inland.    17/4:    Foreign.  17/4 


MERRYWEATHER'S     ROSES 


FOR    THE    GARDEN ! 
FOR    BEDS  I 


FOR    EXHIBITION  1 
FOR    EVERYWHERE! 


BARR    &    SONS, 


THE    FLOWERS    OF    MAGNOLIA    STELLATA    ARE 
WELCOME    IN    EARLY    SPRING. 


Also  Fruit  Trees,  Shrubs,  Ornamental  Trees. 
Please  state  your  wants. 

H.    MERRYWEATHER  &    SONS,  LTD. 

Garden  Specialists,  SOUTHWELL,  NOTTS. 

BEAUTIFUL     LILIES    for     MARCH     PLANTING. 

LILIUM  AURATUn/l,  the  ^Miitc  Goldcii-rayeil  sjiottcd  Lily  of  Japan,  bearing  large  sweetly 

Fceuted  flowers per  dozen,  21 /- ;  each  2/- 

Larger  bulbs         . .  . .  per  dozen.  30/-  and  40/- ;  each  2/9  and  3/6 

UILIUM  CROCEUM,  the  True  Cottager's  Orange  Lily,  fiery  orange  flowers. 

per  dozen,  10/6  ;  each  1/- 

LILIUM  HANSONI,  the   Japanese   Yellnw   Martagon  Lily,   bright  golden  yellow  spotted 
crimson-maroon     . .         . .         . .         . .         . .         . ,         . ,         per  dozen,  30/-  ;  each  2/9 

LILIUM  SPECIOSUM  ALBUM,  handsome  white  flowers    ..         per  dozen.  21 /- ;  each  2/- 
,,  ,,  ,,  KRAETZERI,    beautiful    large  white  flowers  of  great 

substance,  with  dark  orange  anthers    . .  . .  . .  . .         per  dozen,  30/-  :  each  2/9 

LILIUM  SPECIOSUM  RUBRUM,  suffused  and  heavily  spotted  crimson  on  white  ground. 

per  dozen,  21  /-  ;  each  2/- 

LILIUM    SPECIOSUM    MELPOMENE,    fine    handsome    flowers,   rich  crimson,   spotted 
purple-crimson  and  ni.-\rgincd  white     ..  ..  ..  ..         per  dozen,  30/- ;  each  2/9 

E.xtra  strong  bulbs         ..         ..         ..         ..         ..         ..         per  dozen,  40/- ;  eaeli  3/6 

Descriptive    Catalogue  of  Lilies,  QIaHioll,  Tigridias,  etc.,  free  on  application. 

11,     12     &     13,     KINO     STREET, 
COVENT     GARDEN,     LONDON,     W.O. 

FISHER,  SON  &  SIBRAY,  LIMITED. 

RHODODENDRONS 

Varieties   of  our   own  raising  which    should    be    included   in   all   collections, 
undoubtedly  in  their   respective  colours  three  of  the  finest  in  cultivation:  — 

Countess  Fitzwilliam,  bright  carmine  rose,  immense  truss. 
Duchess  of  Portland,  pure  white,  very  large  trusses,  distinct. 
N.N.  Sherwood,  bright  pink  with  gold  centre,  also 
Dwarf  Rhododendron  Compactamultiflora,buffwith  reddish  markings. 
CATALOGUES      FREE. 

ROYAL  NURSERIES,   HANDSWORTH,  SHEFFIELD 

ORGH I DS 

of  vigorous   habit  and    superior  constitution.     A  visit  to  our  Establishment 

is    cordially    invited    to    inspect    our     immense     and     interesting     STOCK 

RAISED     BY     THE 

PURE    CULTURE    SYSTEM 

Choice    Species,    Rare    Botanical    Specimens.     Albinos    in    warm    and    cool 

sections  also  a  speciality. 
Expert    Advice    given    and    all    Requisites    supplied     for    the    good    culture 

of   Orchids. 

CHARLESWORTH  &  CO.,  "tTE^TH"" 


11. 


THE     GARDEN. 


[March   i8,  1922. 


"THE    GARDEN"   CATALOGUE    GUIDE 


Rose  Specialists 


ELISHA  J.  HICKS,  M.C.  N.R.S.,  etc. 

HURST,  BERKS 

The  Cham(ion    Dsooratlve  Ross   Growar    of   England 


WALTER    EASLEA    &    SONS> 

EASTWOOD,    LEIGH-ON-SEA,    ESSEX. 

Essex  produces  the  World's  Finest  Roses. 
Our  plants  are  grown  in  fields  exposed  to  sea  air. 
All  the  latest  and  best  varieties. 

Fruit  Trees  and  Plants 


PERRY'S 

Hardy  Plant  Farms 

ENFIELD,  MIDDX. 


Naw  Alplnoa 
Mid  PoronnMo 

OamiikU 

OollMtkMI 


KELWAY   &   SON 
Rbtail  Plant  Department 
LANGPORT,  SOMERSET 


Hardy  Plants 
Colour  Borders 
Gladioli 


NARDY    AZALEAS    AND    FLOWERING    SHRUBS 

R.  &  G.  CUTHBERT 
SOUTHGATE 
MIDDLESEX 
Established  1797 


For  piwiUng  and 
C«noorv«i<iry 
d««*  ration. 
Cataloflua  of  our 
now  and  boautllul 
varlalloa  poat 
fra* 


LAXTON   BROS. 

Nurseries 

BEDFORD 


Strawberries 

and 

Fruit  Trees 


W.  WELLS,  JuNR. 
Hardy  Plant  Nursery 
MERSTHAM,  SURREY 


Specialists  In 
Hardy  Plants 
and  Alpines 
Catalogues  Free 


Seeds  and  Bulbs 


R.  H.  BATH,  Ltd. 
The  Floral  Farms 
WISBECH 


Home-Grown 
Bulbs  and 
Seeds 


BLACKMORE  &  LANGDON 
TwERTON  Hill  Nursery 
BATH 


Bogonlao 
Dalphlniuma 
Qloxinlmo 
Oyolamon,  ete. 


DAWKINS 

408,  King's  Road 
CHELSEA,  S.W. 


Seed  Catalogue 
and  Special 
Bulb  Offer. 


PULMAM  ®  SON 

TME  NURSERtCS -ELSENMAM 
STANSTED  •  ESSEX 


Rock- 
Alpine  1) 
Handk)  Plants 


SPENCE'S  DESCRIPTIVE  CATALOGUE  of 
SELECTED  SCOTCH  SEED  POTATOES  from 
the  famous  Dunbar  district,  post  free.  Please 
mention  "  The  Garden."— CHAS.  T.  SPENCE, 
Seed  Potato  Specialist,  DUNBAR. 


QOLD     MEDAL    CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 

CataloRue  free  containing  full  list  of  all  the  best  and  up-to- 
date  varieties  in  all  sections,  also  list  of  Novelties  for  1922. 

QOLD   MEDAL   MICHAELMAS   DAISIES 

I  shall  be  pleased  to  supply  for  63/-  one  each  of  the  50 
varieties  for  which  I  was  awarded  the  Gold  Medal  of  the 
K.H.S.  in  September  last,  or  will  make  special  selections 
at  10/-.  15/-  and  20j'-  per  dnzen. 

QOLD   MEDAL   PERENNIAL  PHLOX. 

If  you  want  the  best  try  H.  J.  JONES' selection.  12  very 
Hne  unnamed,  all  colours  mi.xed.  6/- ;  12  very  fine  named 
varieties.  10/- :  12  extra  fine  named,  15/- ;  12  very  tine  New 
varieties,  20/-.      

CiitaloKiieo/  the  above  and  iiiatix  other  fiood  plants  from 

H.  J.JONES,  Ryecroft  Nurseries,  LEWISHAIVI,S.E.13 


^UBS     FOR     SHRUBS. 

'  WIRE  BOUND  PATENT,  over  lOl) 
prizes.  R.H.S.  Medal,  1910.  No  warping  or 
shrinking.  In  Oak.  Beech,  Teak.  &c.  Highly 
decorative. — Price  List  from  Pradal  ,*!  Co  , 
2(i  Goodge  Street,  London,  W.l. 


Garden  Sundries 


G.  H,  RICHARDS 
234,  Borough 
LONDON,  S.E.I 


Trade 
only. 


XL  ALL 

Insecticides  anit 
Fumlgants 


C.  E.  WEST 
Hicham  Hill,  £.17 
Est. 1888 


Wests  Patent  Gardtn  Sundries, 
Weedcr. 
"  .       '■  ^  elu"  La^eIs. 

Raftiatape ''  Westmaline." 
Insecticides.  Weed  Killers,  etc 
Cata'oilue  and  frte  samples. 


W.  WALTERS  &  CO. 
The  Works 
Amberley  Grove 
CROYDON,  SURREY 


Lath, 

Greenhouse, 
Blinds, 

Artistic  Trellis, 
Rustic  Work. 


NEW    ROSES. 

Two    fine    Novelties   raised   by    us. 
"GLOWWORM"  (Pernetiana 

May  be  described  as  a  perpetual   flowerinj 
Austrian  Copper,     Very  fragrant. 

"LULU" 

The  longest  bud  of  any  rose.     Lovely  Aprico 

colour.    Surpasses     Irish  Elegance."    Gram 

for  table  decorations. 

Splendid    field   grown    plants   of    both    varietiei 
2/6  each.       24-/-  doz.,  Carr.  Paid. 


RICH,A.RD  MELHUISH,  Ltd. 
50/51,  Fetter  Lane,  E.C.4. 
Branch  Depot  : 

143  Holborn  Bars 


Gardon  Tools  ol 
all  kinds. 
Catalogue    "B" 
post  free. 


CORRY  &   CO.,  Ltd. 
Shad  Thames,  S.E.i  and 
Bedford  Chambeks 
CovBNT  Garden,  W.C.2 


Marchanta  and 
Manulaaturara 
••  HarWaultural 
■•Mdrlaa 
Partlllwra  and 
laaaatialdaa.  Mo. 


J.  BENTLEY,  Ltd. 
Barrow-on-Humbeb 
HULL 


Waad  0««tr«y*r> 
Lawn  Sand 
loaaatieldaa 
Bhruba,  ato. 


Landscape  Gardening 


W.  H.  GAZE  &  SONS,  Ltd. 
High  Street 
KINGST0N-0N-TH.\MES 


Lardscape,  Rock 
and  Water  Gardens 
Model  Gardens. 
Portsmouth  Road. 
Surbiton. 


R.  WALLACE   &   CO., 
Thb  Old  Gardens 
TUNBRIDGE   WELLS 


Ltd. 


Landscape  &  Gardi  o 
Arobltects.  Queeo 

Alexandra'a   Cup   foi 
Best  Rook  and  Watei 
Garden,  Internationa 
Show.  1912. 


J.  CHEAL  &   SONS, 

Nurseries 

CRAWLEY 


Ltd. 


Land 
Oardanara 
Traaa  and 
Mruka,  ato. 


NATURE    &    ART. 

Largest  and   finest  stock  of   CLIPPED 

YEW  &  BOX  TREES  in  the  country. 

Thousands  of  Specimens  to  select  from 

Catalogues  free  on  demand. 

JOHN  KLINKERT,  F.R.H.S.,  M.CH. 

Kaw    Topiary    Nuraarlaa, 

RICHMOND,    LONDON. 


MISS  EVELYN  FAWSSETT 

(Specialist  in  Garden  Planning) 

83,  High  Street 
LEWES,  SUSSEX 


New  Gardens  de- 
signed. Old  Gardens 
Re-airanged.  Plant- 
ing plans  lor  border.^;, 
etc.  Terms  on  appli- 
cation. 


FORBES*  Catalogue. 

Florists'  Flowers,  Hardy  Plants,  Vegetable 
and   Ftower   Seeds,  Free  on  Application. 

JOHN      FORBES     (Hawick),      Ltd., 

The    King's     Nurserymen, 

HANA/ICK,  SCOTLAND. 


WALTER  EASLEA  &  SONS 

Rose     Specialists, 
EASTWOOD,     LEIGH  -  ON  -  SEA 

W.  WELLS,   Junr. 

Hardy  Plant  Nurseries, 
Merstham,     Surrey. 

Collections  of  Herbaceous  Plant 

for     Present    Planting. 
ORDER  NOW  AND  ENSURE  DELIVERY 


12  Phlox,  Gold  Jli'dal  vaiiclics.  distinct  .  . 

12        ,,       new,  of  rt'ccnt  introduction 

Vl        ,,       latest  novcUies 

12  Michaelmas  Daisies,  standard  ^'arielie 

12  ,,  ,,         of  recent  introduction 

12  ,,  ,,         latest  novelties. , 

(>  Papaver  Orientale,  lirand  lar^ie  varieties 
it  Heleniums,  in  0  distinct  varieties 

12  Delphiniums,  Gold  Medal  varieties  18 

12  Sunbeam  Poppies,  tine  for  vases 
i\  Aconitums,  in  6  distinct  varieties 
t>  Anemone  Japonica,  in  i>  distinct  varieties 
li  Aquilegia  (Cnlumbinc).  in  6  distinct  varieties 
ti  Centaursas,  in  6  distinct  varieties 
Campanulas,  in  12  heantiful  varieties  9/- 


9 

16 

27 

8 

15 

20 

4 

4 

30 

S 

4 

4 

4 

4 

and  12. 


24/ 


!i  Chrysanthemum  maximum,  in  6  vars.  for  cutting    5 
12  Erigerons,  in  6  varieties,  lieautiful  Mues 

4  Qalegas,  in  4  distinct  rnlours   . , 

ti  Hemerocallis,  in  0  distinct  varieties  .  . 

fi  Heucheras,  in  ti  tiistiiict  varieties 
12  Iris  Qermanica,  in  12  distinct  varieties 
12  Pyrethrum,  ixorgeous  singles  and  doubles 

ti  Rudbeckias,  in  6  distinct  varieties 

4  Sidalceas  (.Mallow  Pink),  distinct 

ti  Veronicas,  in  13  vari<>tirs,  t  istinct 


7 
2. 

4 

..  4 
)/-  and  12, 
..  9 
..  4 
..  3 
.  .     4 


Collections  of  Alpine  and  Rock  Plants. 


Crazy  Paving   Plants,  (li-^iiini 

Achilleas,  distinct 

Arabis,  ilislinct 

Arenarias,  distinct 

Aubrietias,  tine  varietirs,  distinct 

Campatiulas,  distinct 

Cistus  (Sun  liosos),  distinct 

Dianthus,  distinct 

Erigeron  (Alpine),  distiiut 

Qentians,  distinct. .  .  .  . .  6  - 

Qlobularias,  distinct 

Qypsophila,  distinct 

Helianthemums  (fleck  llosrs),  distinct 

Helichrysum,  distinct 

Hypericum,  distinct 

Iberis,  distinct 

Lithospermum,  Heavenly  Blue 

CEnotheras,  distinct 

Phlox,  Alpini',  distinct 

Potentillas,  Alpine,  distinct 

Primulas,  distinct 

Ramondia  Pyrenaica,  large  rosettes  .  . 

Saxifragas,  Silver 

„  Mossy 

„  Cushion 

Sedum,  <listinct     . . 
Sempervivum,  distinct   .  . 
Silene,  di--tinct 
Thymus,  distinct  . . 
Veronicas,  distinct 
Violas,  Alpine,  distinct    .  . 

AH  above   Alpines   are    strong   stuff  from   Pots. 
Herbaceous  Plants  tui  Cut   I'luw.r  Wiuk,  8/-;    '2i,  15/- 
r.O,  27,6  ;    llXl.  50  - 


9 

.      4 

.     4 

.     4 

8 

.      8 
.      5 

.      4/ 
4 

Md8 

.      2 
2 

.      8 

2 

.      4 

2 

.   10 

.     4 

.     4 

.     4 

.      4 

.   10 

9 

8 

.      4 


1:^  I 

Send    for   Descriptive    Catalogue,    Post   Free 


NO  a6a6-VoL  LXXXVI]         NOTES    OF    THE    WEEK 


[March  i8,  1922. 


IT  is  credibly  reported  that  the  leading  Rose- 
growers,  or  at  any  rate  some  of  them,  realising 
the  damage  that  has  been  done  by  unripe 
Dutch  Roses,  procured  to  replace  a  shortage, 
failing  to  survive  the  first  winter,  are  going, 
henceforward,  to  guarantee  their  plants  to  be 
grown  in  Great  Britain.  Whether  the  non-survival 
of  the  "Dutchmen"  be  due  to  too  early  lifting 
and  consequent  "sweating"  in  transit,  as  some 
Dutch  authorities  incline  to  believe,  or  whether 
their  failure  be  due  to  some  other  cause  is  of 
comparatively  little  moment.  The  move  to 
supply  British-grown  trees  is  on  every  ground 
to  be  approved,  and  it  is  greatly  to  be  hoped 
that  the  suggested  guarantee  will  come  to 
be     generally      adopted      by      reputable       firms. 

Sow  Thinly. — The  nurseryman  might 
be  thought  to  have  every  temptation 
to  mge  customers  to  sow  thickly. 
■\Miatever  the  temptation  all  reputable 
firms  with  one  accord  recommend 
thin  sowing  and  lavish  thinning-out, 
yet  every  year  there  is  far  more 
Pea  and  Bean  seed,  for  example, 
wasted  by  over-thick  sowing  than 
need  legitimately  be  employed  at  all. 
In  a  few  weeks'  time  rows  of  young 
Peas  almost  as  thick  on  the  giound 
as  Mustard  intended  for  salading 
wiU  be  noticeable  in  all  directions, 
nor  wUl  they  in  the  majority  of  cases 
be  thinned  out.  It  is  hopeless  in 
such  circumstances  to  look  for  a  good 
crop.  What  Peas  are  produced  are 
seldom  of  first-rate  eating  quality, 
and  the  rows  are  productive  for  a 
very  short  time.  No  maincrop  Peas 
should  average  less  than  4  ins.  apart 
from  plant  to  plant  in  each  line  of  a 
wide  double  row,  and  in  the  case  of 
exceptionally  strong  and  bushy 
varieties,  such  as  Gladstone  or  Auto- 
crat, 6ins.  between  the  plants  is  not 
excessive.  If  the  ground  is  in  good 
condition  there  is  no  occasion  to  sow 
much  more  thickly  than  the  plants 
wUl  ultimately  be  wanted  to  stand,  but 
the  case  is,  naturally,  different  in 
early  sowings,  where  a  certain  loss 
must  be  anticipated  and  allowed  for. 
Seeds  sown  henceforward  will  not 
come  under  this  category,  however. 
and  there  is  no  occasion  whatever  for 
thick  sowing.  The  same  thing  applies 
to  Sweet  Peas,  but  since  their  flowering 
season  should  be  prolonged,  thin 
sowing  is,  if  possible,  even  more 
desirable.  Six  inches  between  plants 
is  amply  close  enough  for  cut-flower 
and  garden  decoration.    The  exhibitor, 


of  course,  grows  them  more  thinly  still.  Eight  inches 
between  Broad  Beans  in  double  rows.  Sins,  between 
the  lines  and  ajft.  between  the  double  rows  are 
good  distances,  but  some  good  gardeners  prefer 
to  space  the  double  rows  further  apart  and  take  a 
catch  crop  of,  perhaps.  Lettuces  from  between 
them.  Probably  flower  seeds,  notably  hardy 
annuals,  are  more  persistently  sown  too  thickly 
even  than  vegetable  seeds.  They  should  be 
sown  so  thinly  that  the  surplus  ones  may  be 
withdrawn  without  damaging  those  which  are  to 
be  left.  Ultimately  most  annuals  should  be 
spaced  about  one-half  their  full  height  apart, 
but  this  is  only  a  general  rule.  Such  spreading 
sorts  as  Mignonette  do  better  \vith  more  space 
than    this    would    allow,    while    the    Rhodantes — 


s.  '^■-  ■ 

^"■2'*m    A 

Jl^^lr^<^^'^   -^^ 

i^,s^i^»'^y  >>v     >"NV 

AN 


EXCELLENT    AND    GOOD    FOLIAGED    RHODODENDRON — 
LADY    CLEMENTINA    MITFORD. 


to  take  but  one  example — which  do  not  branch, 
must  be  left  much  closer  to  be  effective. 

Economical  Cropping. — Thin  sowing  in  the 
vegetable  garden  has  the  additional  advantage 
of  enabling  the  most  to  be  made  of  the  space  at 
disposal.  In  the  Pea  trenches,  for  instance. 
Radishes  may  be  sown  as  a  catch  crop.  There 
will  be  ample  room  and  time  for  them  to  grow  to 
table  size.  Between  Celery  or  Leek  trenches, 
which  should  always  be  drawn  early,  seeds  of  any 
of  the  Cabbage  tribes  may  be  sown  in  drills  for 
transplanting,  as  may  Lettuces,  also  Wallflowers, 
which  to  make  good  plants  for  the  spring  should 
now  soon  be  sown.  Later  on  Forget-me-nots 
and  Silene  pendula  may  be  sowm  in  similar  spots 
or  Lettuces  or  spring  bedding  be  pricked  out. 

Making   the  Most  of  a  Little.— 

Small  enough  in  all  conscience  is  the 
garden  plot  attached  to  the  average 
suburban  house  or  even  to  its  "  garden - 
city"  cousin.  Almost  everyone  would 
like  a  little  flower  garden  in  which 
to  walk  and  sit  and  on  which  to  look 
from  the  house  windows.  He  feels, 
also,  that  he  must  raise  a  few  home- 
grown vegetables  and.  if  possible,  a 
little  fruit.  The  Editor  cannot  per- 
form miracles,  but  he  would  suggest 
that  space  might  be  saved  by  including 
the  Runner  Beans  as  an  ornamental 
feature  of  the  little  pleasure  ground 
and  by  grouping  the  culinary  herbs 
in  the  herbaceous  border.  Their 
fresh  greens  and  greys  are  quite 
welcome  there.  Ofttimes  an  ugly 
tool-shed  may  be  beautified  in  winter 
by  the  Yellow  Jasmine  (Jasminum 
nudicaule),  or  b  .>■  the^fet  more  beautiful 
and  iragrant  Winter  Sweet  (Chimo- 
iianthus  fragrans).  These  have  no 
particular  beauty  in  summer,  and  a 
screen  of  Runner  Beans — either  Scarlet 
Runners  or  the  pretty  bicolor  Painted 
Lady — may  be  employed  ;  not  too  close 
to  the  shed,  of  course.  Not  nearly 
enough  use  is,  in  the  average  small  gar- 
den, made  of  available  wall  space.  Very 
often  valuable  space  looking  south  is 
given  up  to  one  or  two  more  or  less 
trained  Pears  which,  sadly  neglected 
fruit  but  seldom.  What  welconi# 
winter  blossom  could  have  been  grown 
here  with  the  afore-mentioned  climbers 
on  the  w-all  and  Iris  unguicularis  and 
other  winter-flowering  plants  at  the 
foot !  or,  again,  what  crops  of  Toma- 
toes, early  Kidney  Beans,  or  Pears 
on  cordon  trees  ■  Even  good  crops 
of  Peaches  are  possible  there  if  some- 
one  is  prepared   to  take   trouble. 


126 


THE    GARDEN. 


[March  i8,  1922. 


Tke  GARDEN  HYBRID  RHODODENDRON 

The   writer  discusses   their  hardiness   and  value   in    the  garden   and   the  best  varieties 
for  different   seasons   and  gives  hints   on   their  culture. 


*  T    a    time    when   there  is    something    of 

/%       a     "boom"     in     new      Rhododendron 

/  %     species  and  their  hybrids,  it  may   sound 

^-i ^^  somewhat  heretical  to  put  forward  the 
i  m.  claims  of  the  brilliantly  coloured  hardy 

hybrids  with  which  we  have  been  familiar  from 
infancy.  Heresy  or  no  heresy,  the  writer  firmly 
believes  that  were  it  not  for  the  glamour  always 
attaching  to  the  new  and  rare,  many  of  the  new 
species  which  now  receive  such  attention  and 
"coddling"  would  receive  short  shift  in  our 
gardens.  That  is  not  to  say  that  their  intro- 
duction has  been  in  vain.  It  is  quite  possible, 
even  probable,  that  in  course  of  time  some  of  their 
better  characteristics  may  be  incorporated  in 
hybrids  as  hardy  as  the  hardiest  now  in  commerce, 
but — such  processes  take  time. 

It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  the  newest  kinds 
of  the  so-called  hardy  hybrids,  that  is,  those 
with  the  characteristic  growth  and  magnificent 
truss  of  Pink  Pearl,  Alice  or  Mrs.  E.  C  Stirling, 
are  as  hardy  as  the  older  sorts  containing  perhaps 
Catawbiense  bloom ;  but  that  they  wiU  withstand 
very  considerable  cold  we  know,  and  we  may 
even  hope  that,  as  they  become  acclimatised, 
they  will  stand  more  yet.  Fortunately  from  one 
point  of  view,  but  unfortunately  from  another,  it 
is  many  years  since  we  had  anything  approaching 
a  really  severe  winter.  When  such  a  winter  has 
come  and  gone,  we  may,  perhaps,  have  to  revise 
our  ideas  of  hardiness  in  many  directions. 

It  is  often  urged  against  the  Rhododendron 
that  its  flowering  season  is  a  very  short  one — 
so  is  that  of  the  Gladiolus,  for  example.  Yet 
T)eople   are   found   willing   to   lift,    store,    replant 

nd  tend  Gladioli,  while  the  Rhododendron  once 
planted  in  suitable  soil  and  situation,  demands 
nothing   but   the   removal   of   the   seedpods   after 


flowering  and  a  certain  amount  of  watering  in 
times  of  extreme  drought. 

The  Rhododendron  bed  or  border  is  furnished 
with  deep  green  foliage,  far  superior  to  that  of 
the  Laurel,  at  all  seasons  of  the  year.  Its  shelter  is 
admirable  for  many  species  of  Lily,  and  if  the 
magenta-purple  shades  be  kept  out  it  may  well  be 
interplanted  towards  the  front  with  the  lighter 
and  more  softlv  coloured  forms  of  Azalea  mollis. 
Good  seedlings  cannot  be  bettered  for  this  purpose, 
selecting  if  possible  those  in  shades  of  clear  pink 
and  pink  tinged  salmon,  also  the  various  soft 
yellow  shades.  The  wonderful  translucent  colour- 
ings of  the  Azaleas  does  not,  as  one  might  expect, 
kill  the  more  full-bodied  tones  of  the  Rhodo- 
dendrons ;  it  seems  rather  to  enhance  them.  The 
Azaleas  serve  another  purpose  also.  They  give 
interest  to  the  bed  when,  in  late  autumn,  their 
foliage  takes  on  tints  of  flame  more  brilliant  than 
many  flowers. 

These  hybrid  Rhododendrons  differ  almost  as 
much  in  habit  as  Dahlias  or  Chrysanthemums,  a 
fact  which  should  be  borne  in  mind  first  when 
ordering  and,  afterwards,  at  planting  time.  It  is 
difficult  to  suggest  varieties,  for  there  are  so  many 
really  excellent  kinds  in  existence,  and  so  much 
depends  upon  the  purpose  in  view  and  also  whether 
they  are  required  for  massing  or  for  specimen 
planting.  Because  it  is  fairly  new  and  still  not 
cheap.  Pink  Pearl  is  often  planted  as  a  specimen, 
but  it  is  really  inferior  to  many  of  the  older  kinds, 
of  which  Lady  Eleanor  Cathcart  may  be  mentioned 
as  a  good  example. 

Many  people  like  the  massed  colour  only  obtain- 
able by  using  sorts  which  flower  simultaneously 
but,  considering  the  brilliance  of  the  Rhodo- 
dendron, it  is  doubtful  if  this  is  really  necessary 
or  even  desirable. 


SHOWS    THE    VALUE    OF    THE    SPECIMEN    RHODODENDRON. 


Very  early  flowering  kinds  are  the  scarlej 
flowered  Nobleanum  (earliest  of  all),  Handsworth 
Early  Red  and  Handsworth  Early  White,  the 
dwarf  but  brilliant  Jacksonii  and  Cunningham's- 
White  and  Cunningham's  Blush. 

The  next  group,  which,  following  the  practice 
with  Potatoes,  we  will  call  second  earlies,  includes 
what  the  wTiter  considers  the  finest  of  all  hybrid 
Rhododendrons — the  rosy-crimson  Cynthia.  Were 
he  restricted  to  one  variety  this  would  be  the 
one. 

In  the  same  group,  but  a  few  days  later,  on  the 
average,  to  flower,  are  those  newer  hybrids  the 
flesh  pink  vigorous  Alice,  the  better  known  Pink 
Pearl  and  the  beautiful  rosy-mauve  Mrs.  E.  C. 
Stirling.  Other  kinds  with  the  same  flowering 
season  are  the  bushy,  red  Broughtonii,  which  is 
excellent  for  specimens  ;  that  fine  dark  crimson 
Grand  Arab,  and  the  upright-growing,  white 
George  Hardy. 

For  "  maincrop."  to  use  once  again  the  Potato 
metaphor,  there  is  a  wide  selection,  but  the 
following  are  a  few  of  the  very  best :  The  mahogany 
red  Doncaster,  most  remarkably  coloured  of 
Rhododendrons,  differs  from  Bagshot  Ruby  by- 
being  much  smaller  and  more  compact  in  habit 
and  a  little  more  remarkable  in  colour.  Bagshot 
Ruby  is,  however,  a  fine  grower  and  first-rate  sort. 
To  a  lover  of  the  clear  bright  shades,  the  peach- 
pink  Lady  Clementina  Mitford,  the  salmon-pink 
Lady  Eleanor  Cathcart,  already  referred  to,  the 
salmon-rose  Mrs.  Holford.  and  that  fine  grower, 
the  pale  lilac  Princess  Hortense,  make  special 
appeal ;  but  for  those  who  like  the  deep  plum 
shades  there  are  Baron  Schroeder  and  the  yet 
darker  Joseph  Whitworth,  while  the  clear  lilac- 
purple  of  the  double-flowered  fastuosum  fl.-pl.  is 
quite  pleasing.  Of  whites  there  are  plenty,  of 
which  the  purest  and  one  of  the  best  is  Mme. 
Carvalho  ;  but  the  spotted  kinds.  Baroness  Henry 
Schroeder  and  Sappho,  and  the  yellow  blotched 
Mrs.  Tom  Agnew  all  have  their  uses.  The  last 
is  especially  valuable  for  backgrounds,  as  it  is 
a  strong,  erect  grower. 

Other  good  sorts  include  the  tall,  blotched  pink 
John  Henry  .'^gnew,  the  excellent,  blush-white 
Gomer  Waterer,  the  deep  red  Michael  Waterer 
and  the  tall,  rosy-red  Frederick  Waterer. 

Red  and  white  varieties  conclude  the  season 
as  far  as  these  hardy  hybrids  are  concerned,  but, 
of  course,  in  favourable  localities  the  Chinese 
species  and  hybrids  will  considerably  prolong  the 
season.  Of  a  dozen  or  more  late  kinds  the  follow- 
ing are  perhaps  the  best :  Alexander  Adie  and 
Warrior,  both  deep  red ;  Sunshine,  a  strong 
growing  crimson  kind ;  Mrs.  John  Kelk,  bright 
red,  excellent  ;  the  blush-white  Lady  Hillingdon 
and  Mum  and  Pictum,  both  white  kinds. 

Is  it  necessary,  one  wonders,  once  more  to 
emphasise  that  a  good,  lime-free  loam  really  suits 
Rhododendrons  better,  at  any  rate  from  a  garden 
standpoint  where  compact  habit  and  masses  of 
flower  are  desiderata,  than  the  more  usual  peaty 
compost  ?  Considerable  experience  has  shown 
tlie  WTiter  that  it  is  all  but  useless,  whatever  pre- 
cautions aie  taken,  to  attemp't  to  grow  Rhodo- 
dendrons on  what  are  naturally  limy  soils.  Cow- 
dung  and  rotten  leaves  will  most  readily  provide 
the  necessary  humus.  For  the  first  few  years  an 
annual  mulching  is  desirable. 


March  iS,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


127 


THE     RIGHTS    AND    WRONGS    OF    WALL 

GARDENING 


WHO  that  has  that  good  gift  of  a 
crumbling  old  brick  wall  in  the 
garden,  or  elsewhere  within  the 
home  amenities,  could  fail  to  take 
advantage  such  offers  for  adorning 
with  suitable  plants  ?  Suitable  plants  !  Some  of 
this  work  which  has  been  done  sadiv  transgresses 


pile  of  Rochester  Castle,  Kent,  it  was  personally 
sought  and  found  growing  and  blowing  at  a 
dizzy  height,  attached  to  the  crumbling  mortar 
joints  of  the  massive  stone  blocks,  and  a  sUp  was 
secured  which  eventually  became  an  interesting 
memento  of  the  visit  paid  now  many  years  ago. 
Hence  it  mav  he  taken  that  the  humbler  members 


MUCH    FLOR.\L    BEAUTY    MAY    BE    OBTAINED    ON    A    RETAINING    WALL. 


the  simple  ethics  of  waU  gardening  as  one  feels 
it  should  be.  For  instance,  one  example  under 
notice  for  several  years  has  been  nothing  but  an 
additional  source  of  labour  and  worry  to  the 
gardener  in  charge,  and  doubtless  if  he  could  have 
the  last  word  on  the  subject  it  would  be  to  make 
a  clean  sweep  of  the  lot  from  the  crumbling  wall 
top  and  clinch  the  matter  by  sealing  all  up  with  a 
good  coping  of  Portland  cement. 

Several  scarlet  Geraniums  made  their  appear- 
ance on  that  particular  wall  top,  apparently  in 
pockets  made  for  the  purpose,  with  similar  weeds 
(matter  out  of  place),  entailing  a  daily  climb  with 
the  water-pot  to  eke  out  their  short  and  not 
particularly  merry  lives  may  be  called  wall  garden- 
ing, but  one  feels  it  to  be  a  mistake.  Even  those 
long-legged  Carnations,  obviously  from  under 
glass,  which  might  have  struggled  on  without 
visible  means  of  subsistence,  as  last  seen,  were 
staked  up  and  most  painfully  prim.  That  seemed 
the  last  straw.  All,  or  anything  of  the  kind, 
suggestive  of  pretty  constant  labour  and  attention, 
or  anything  not  able,  once  introduced,  to  go  on 
for  ever  and  fight  it  out  unaided,  comes  not  within 
the  category  of  wall  gardening  from  the  true 
gardening  point  of  view. 

The  very  position  is  the  birthright  of  some  of 
the  most  interesting  members  of  plant  life,  such 
as  the  heat-loving  Houseleeks  and  the  alpine 
Pinks — Pinks,  perhaps  advisedly.  It  may  be 
questioned  whether  some,  such  as  that  gem  of 
the  alpine  flora  Dianthus  alpinus  would  prove 
perennially  at  home  ;  but  as  far  as  the  reputed 
parent  of  the  Carnation  family,  D.  Caryophyllus, 
is  concerned,  taking  the  advice  of  the  late  Mr. 
W.  F.  Burbidge  that  it  was  possible  to  find  it 
established  high  up  on  Bishop  Gundulf's  historic 


of  the  tribe  love  the  elevated  site.  Comes,  too, 
the  happy  memory  of  a  great  cushion  of  Dianthus 
superbus  hanging  ift.  over  either  side  of  a  garden 
stone  %vall. 

Wallflowers  and  Snapdragons  are,  of  course, 
mere  vagrants,  but  often  well  worth  initiating  for 
Nature  to  play  the  game,  as  she  is  doing  ( and  kindly 
tolerated)  on  the  dividing  waU  between  a  couple 
of  town  gardens,  which  is,  for  many  months, 
a  glowing  mass  with  rosy  pink  and  deep  crimson 
Valerians.  The  professional  eye  may  not  view 
such  with  unqualified  admiration,  but  it  is  another 
story  with  the  less  aggressive  and  more  refined 
Uttle  Erinus  alpinus,  where  not  only  an  old  wall 
top  is  covered  with  it,  but  every  crevice  and 
cranny  over  the  whole  face  is  ablaze  each  summer 
with  its  warm  beauty.  That  is  a  rare  example 
in  an  old-world  spot  of  the  ducal  demesne  of 
Carton,  -Maynooth,  away  in  quiet  Kildare.  One 
of  the  sights  of  early  summer,  too,  is  the  massive 
keep  of  one  of  the  ancient  feudal  castles  of  the 
noble  family  of  FitzGerald  crowned  with  vagrant 
yellow  Wallflowers  near  the  above  demesne, 
where  by  some  happy  chance  they  found  footing 
after  Cromwell's  attempt  to  demoUsh  it  which 
prepared  the  way  for  their  foothold  some  Soft, 
up.  Of  Snapdragons  in  vivid  hues  comes  a  pleasant 
memory  of  Dr.  Sherrard's  historic  house,  Eltham, 
Kent,  and  a  rather  imposing  arched  entrance  to 
the  garden  simply  ablaze  with  their  beauty. 

On  one  occasion  personal  effort  was  made  to 
form  a  collection  of  Houseleeks  on  a  solid  topped 
stone  wall  by  removing  here  and  there  one  of  the 
smaller  stones,  putting  in  a  plaster  of  cow  manure 
in  which  a  rosette  of  each  of  the  more  interesting 
species  obtainable  was  inserted,  much  on  the 
principle   that   cottagers   of   Kent   were  prone  to 


introduce,  or  occasionally  replant,  cushions  of 
the  medicinal  Scmpervivum  Tectorum  on  the 
pantiles  of  a  roof.  Our  specimens  were  the 
interesting  arachnoideum  and  its  fine  variety 
atlanticum,  atropurpurcum,  a  fine  form  of  which 
the  late  Mr.  W.  F.  Burbidge,  who  was  gratified 
with  the  planting,  called  violaceum  in  its  lovely 
colour,  and  others.  Eventually  they  all  made 
nice  cushions  and  became  a  ver>'  interesting  phase 
of  wall  gardening.  After  a  few  years,  on  leaving 
the  locaUty,  the  little  Houseleek  garden  remained 
intact  for  the  gratification  of  new  tenants.  A 
neighbouring  garden  at  hand  may  not  be  forgotten 
with  its  wall,  on  which  .Ethionema  grandiflorum 
flourishes  in  quantity,  a  plant  or  two  originally 
introduced  having  seeded  freely  and  yielded  a 
prolific  progeny  wherever  the  seeds  could  get  a 
foothold. 

Dublin.  K. 


'TIS    THE    WHITE 
ANEMONE 

An  appreciation  of  a  gracious  wilding  which , 

ill  some  of  its  more  uncommon  forms.,  inhabits 

many  gardens,  but  which  is  itself  a  "pearl 

beyond  price." 

TO  the  Ranunculads,  or  Crowfoots,  we 
owe  many  of  our  most  beautiful  or 
brilliant  flowers,  and  it  would  be  difficult 
to  conceive  our  fields,  our  woods  or  our 
gardens  without  the  many  exquisite 
or  showy  plants  this  great  Natural  order  provides. 
None,  however,  excel  in  beauty  the  Anemones, 
although  many  are  more  imposing  in  mien,  such 
as  the  Larkspur,  or  more  effective,  such  as  the 
Clematis,  whose  sheets  of  blossom  so  much  adorn 
the  gardens  of  our  land.  Of  the  host  of  Anemones 
commonly  met  with  in  gardens,  but  few 
are  native  plants,  but  these  are  in  themselves 
so  charming  and  so  interesting  that  they  would 
do  more  than  afford  sufficient  material  for  an 
article  of  a  length  suitable  for  these  columns. 

As  we  think  of  our  British  Anemones  our 
thoughts  naturally  turn  to  the  Wood  Anemone, 
A.  nemorosa,  in  all  probability  the  only  one  truly 
indigenous  to  Scotland — a  flower  which  is  one  of 
the  most  charming  ornaments  of  our  woodlands 
in  the  early  months.  Those  of  us  who  know  aught 
of  our  countryside  can,  at  command,  recall  with 
"  the  inward  eye  "  the  carpet  of  greenery  which 
is  so  exquisite  a  feature  of  our  woods  in  early 
spring — the  tender,  delicately  "  carved  "  foliage, 
and  the  chaste  and  fragile  flowers  of  the  Wood 
Anemone,  whose  dainty  and  fragile  loveliness  is  so 
well  epitomised  by  SheUey  when  he  writes  of 

"  One  frail  and  fair  Anemone." 
It  has  dra\vn  to  itself  the  thoughts  of  other  poets, 
and  as  we  look,  with  delight,  upon  those  spreading 
sheets  of  our  native  Windflower,  nodding  on  their 
slender  stems  as  the  lightest  zephjT  sweeps  athwart 
the  woods,  we  recall  such  words  as  those  of  Lord 
Lytton,  who  wrote  of  this  pioneer  of  spring  in 
words  which  will  appeal  to  all  lovers  of  our  native 
flowers  : 

"  'Tis  the  white  Anemone,  fashioned  so 
Like  to  the  stars  of  the  winter  snow. 
First  thinks,  '  If  I  come,  too  soon,  no  doubt 
I   shall  seem  but   the  snow  that  has  staid   too 

long. 
So   'tis   I    that   will  be   the   Spring's  unguessed 

scout  ;  ' 
And  wide  she  wanders  the  woods  among." 
Clare    has    sadder    thoughts    of    these    fragile 
Windflowers,  for  he  speaks  of  them  as 
"  Anemones — weeping  flowers. 
Dyed  in  winter's  snow  and  rain." 


128 


THE     GARDEN. 


[March  i8,  1922. 


While  Lewis  Morris  gives  us  a  liarmony  of  sadness 
and  of  gladness  as  he  sings ; 

"  Soon  we  shall  pass 
Together  to  our  home,  while  round  our  feet 
The    Crocus   flames   like    gold,    the    Windflowers 

white 
Wave  their  soft  petals  on  the  breeze,  and  all 
The  choir  of  heaven  lift  up  their  silent  song 
To  the  unclouded  heavens." 

Mrs.  Hemans,  who  is  now  so  little  read,  carries 
to  us  a  thought  of  the  shadier  woods  with  their 
great  tree  trunks  rising  from  among  the  flowers 
like  the  columns  of  some  sacred  fane  : 

"  The  silence  and  the  sound. 

In  the  lone  places,  breathe  alike  of  Thee  ; 
The  temple  twilight  of  the  gloom  profound, 
The  dew-cup  of  the  frail  Anemone." 

From  all  these  verses  we  miss,  however,  the 
note  of  jubilation  with  which  the  poets  sing  of 
the  Poppy  Anemones  of  other  lands,  which  seemed 
to  have  borrowed  from  their  brighter  skies  a  greater 
share  of  brilliancy  than  belongs  to  our  own  denizens 
of  the  woods. 

With  all  the  beauties  of  the  Wood  Anemone 
heightened  by  and  wrought  into  harmony  with 
the  environment  in  which  it  has  been  placed  by 
Nature,  it  appears  almost  like  sacrilege  to  trans- 
plant it  thence  to  the  narrow  bounds  of  our  gardens 
with  their  artificiality  and  restraints  of  culti- 
vation. Yet  the  intense  desire  to  possess  the 
rus  in  urbe,  inherent  in  all  lovers  of  flowers 
"  cabin'd.   cribb'd,   confin'd "   in  town  or  suburb 


known  even  in  the  time  of  Parkinson,  is  perhaps 
the  most  admired  of  all  white  varieties  of  the 
flower.  In  foliage  and  growth  it  is  the  counter- 
part of  the  tj'pical  plant,  but  the  flowers  are 
perfectly  double,  the  central  rosette  of  segments 
or  petals  being  surrounded  by  a  circle  of  guard 
ones  which  give  the  flower  additional  beauty, 
rendering  it  more  formal,  it  may  be,  yet 
increasing  its  interest  to  all.  It  is  of  piu-est 
white,  and  is  equally  easy  to  cultivate  as  the 
single   form. 

Even  the  Wood  Anemone  has  its  eccentricities, 
and  among  these  is  its  production  of  a  variety 
akin  in  its  formation  to  the  old-fashioned  "  Jack-in- 
the-Green,"  familiar  to  growers  of  Polyanthus  and 
Primrose.  This  is  the  variety  called  A.  neraorosa 
bracteata,  and  its  distinguishing  features  are 
the  leafy  bracts  which  surround  the  flower 
like  a  ruff  of  green,  ofttimes  tinged  with 
some  of  the  white  of  the  segments  of  the 
flower  itself.  It  is  a  quaint  little  variety, 
although  it  has  a  tendency  to  revert  to  the 
common  form. 

Of  coloured  varieties,  which  are  now  rather 
numerous,  we  cannot  do  more  than  name  a  few. 
especially  as  some  of  the  newer  forms  are  not  as 
yet  procurable  in  the  ordinary  way  from  dealers 
in  such  flowers.  The  single  form,  with  flowers 
faintly  tinged  with  rose,  and  its  double  variety 
are  fairly  well  kno\vn.  and  the  latter  is  sought 
after  by  a  few  specialists,  although  it  is  not  a 
whit  more  desirable  than  the  double  variety  of 
snowy  white.  The  vaiiety  Blue  Bonnet  is  almost 
as  blue  as  A.  appennina,  while  the  large-flowered 
A.  n.  AUenii,  with  lavendpr  blue  flowers,  is  late 


THE    PALE    PINK-TINGED    ANEMONE    NEMOROSA    BOSNIACA,    ONE    OF    THE    BEST    FORMS 

OF    THE    WOOD     ANEMONE. 


and  unable  often  to  roam  the  woodland,  has  led 
many  to  endeavour  to  establish  this  simple  flower 
in  their  gardens,  there  to  enjoy  the  pleasure 
denied  to  them  under  happier  surroundings ; 
while  even  those  who  can,  with  little  effort,  visit 
the  Wood  Anemone  in  its  own  haunts  can  find, 
in  the  several  varieties,  plants  worthy  of  inclusion 
in  their  pleasaunces,  howsoever  great  or  small 
these  may  be. 

Of  the  several  forms  of  A.  nemorosa,  apart 
from  the  common  one  so  well  known  as  to 
require  no  description,  that  with  double  flowers, 


flowering  and  charming.  A.  n.  Robinsoniana, 
with  its  fragile  cups  of  opalescent  blue, 
many  readers  will  know,  and  knowing,  will 
allow  that  it  is  perfectly  exquisite— exquisitely 
perfect. 

When  wandering  through  woodland  in  spring- 
time it  is  well  to  keep  watch  for  any  unusual 
form  of  this  beautiful  but,  especially  in  some 
districts,  variable  plant.  The  species  and  all  its 
varieties  are  easily  cultivated  in  any  light, 
loamy  soil  containing  a  good  percentage  of 
leaf-mould.  S.  Arnott. 


HOMELY     FLOWERS 

With  the  many  glorious  new  races  of  plants 

some  of  the  old  favourites   tend   to   become 

neglected,  which  is  a  pity. 

FOR  giving  lasting  satisfaction  few  flowers 
equal  those  that  we  generally  call  old- 
fashioned.  The  majority  of  them,  too, 
are  fairly  long  lived,  and  so  afford  this 
pleasure  over  a  lengthened  period. 
Furthermore,  they  are,  nearly  all,  easy  to  grow. 
Forceful  recommendations,  are  they  not  ?  For 
ten  years  I  was  responsible  for  the  production  of 
about  thirty  thousand  bedding-out  plants — for 
the  summer  season  only — annually  ;  these  plants, 
including  the  cutting  and  seedling  stages  respec- 
tively, were  handled  three  times  before  they  were 
estabUshed  in  their  flowering  quarters,  I  mention 
numbers  specially  because  there  were  two  large 
beds  in  this  big  garden  that  were  entirely  filled 
with  plants  bearing  fragrant  leaves,  flowers,  or 
both,  and  I  am  correct  in  stating  that  the  beds 
referred  to  were  more  appreciated  than  all  the 
others. 

Of  course,  I  do  not  wish  to  convey  the  impression 
that  I  think  other  kinds  of  flowers  inferior  in  every 
way  and  not  worth  cultivating ;  far  from  it, 
as  1  hold  the  view  that  there  is  room  for  all,  and, 
as  tastes  differ,  how  fortunate  we  are  in  possessing 
such  a  wealth  of  variety — enough  to  satisfy 
everyone. 

Isolated  beds  and  others  in  odd  positions  are, 
I  think,  the  most  suitable  for  filling  with  "  homely 
flowers."  One  comes  upon  them  unexpectedly, 
and  one's  visitors  are  sure  to  be  pleasantly  surprised. 
A  bed  may  be  filled  with  a  selection  from  the 
following  kinds,  and  I  have  found  old  specimens, 
turned  out  of  pots  from  the  greenhouse,  very 
satisfactory  for  the  purpose :  The  lemon-scented 
Verbena,  scented-leaved  Pelargoniums,  Heliotrope, 
Carnations.  Pinks,  Jasminum.  Honeysuckle,  Nico- 
tiana  affinis  Liliums,  Sweet  Peas,  all  planted  fai 
enough  apart  to  show  clearly  their  individuality 
and  to  allow  free  growth  to  a  groundwork  ol 
Mignonette.  Near  the  edge  of  the  bed  there  may 
be  clumps  of  the  Night-scented  Stock  (Matthiola 
hicornis)  and  Ten-week  Stock.  If  available  the 
bed  should  contain  several  specimens  of  Lavender. 
Of  course,  to  contain  all  these  plants  the  bed  must 
be  quite  20ft.  long  by  7ft.  in  width.  By  employing 
fewer  plants  a  smaller  bed  could  be  just  as  satis- 
factorily furnished. 

An  informal  bed  would  contain  such  plants  as 
Hollyhocks,  Delphiniums,  Phlox,  Chrysanthemums, 
Ox-eye  Daisies,  perennial  Asters,  Cornflowers, 
DahUas,  Poppies,  Marigolds,  Petunias,  Zinnias, 
clumps  of  Sweet  Peas,  Sweet  WilUams,  Aquilegiae, 
with  a  fronting  up  of  clumps  of  Pansies,  Violas, 
Nasturtiums,  Ten-week  Stocks,  annual  Asters, 
and  the  pretty  Virginia  Stock. 

The  shaded  border — it  may  be  one  near  the 
plantation  or  overshadowed  by  some  fine  specimen 
trees — may  be  made  most  interesting  if  Saxifrages 
in  variety,  Honesty,  Michaelmas  Daisies,  Fox- 
gloves and  similar  plants,  strong-growing  by 
nature,  are  planted  in  prepared  positions.     G.  G. 


FORTHCOMING     EVENTS. 

March  21. — British  Carnation  Society's  Show 
at  the  R.H.S.  Hall,  Vincent  Square,  Westminster. 

March  22. — Wimbledon  and  District  Gardeners 
Society's  Meeting. 

March  23.— Royal  Botanic  Society's  Meeting. 

March  24. — Paisley  Florists'   Society's  Meetin 


March  i8,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


129 


MAGNOLIAS   FOR   THE    SMALL   GARDEN 

There  are  few  more  beautiful  small  trees   or   shrubs    than    the   Magnolias, 
nor,  if  a  few  simple  requirements   are   attended   to,   many   easier   to  grow. 


THE  novice  with  a  small  or  not  over  large 
garden  who  consults  a  horticultural 
dictionary  is  not  very  likely  to  plant 
Magnolias.  Heights  of  6oft.,  Soft.,  90ft., 
even  150ft.,  are  there  mentioned  as  the 
limits  of  growth  of  different  species  and  varieties. 
This  notwithstanding,  where  shelter  exists  or  can 


conspicua,  which,  though  it  ultimately  attains 
double  the  height  of  M.  stellata,  really  requires  less 
space  when  mature,  inasmuch  as  it  takes  on,  with 
age,  the  habit  common  to  deciduous  trees.  This 
is  an  excellent  species  to  train  against  a  south  or 
west  wall,  but  it  is  valuable  also  as  a  bush  as 
it  has  a  pvramidal  habit  of  growth    and    flowers 


^p 

\ftl                •  y.  "■'/.' 'i'jJMU 

^^ 

i.v*,A.^* 

• 

^^\ 

\ 

■  ..■   "'V-*-^' 

^^1 

THE    YULAN,    MAGNOLIA    CONSP  CUA,    LOADED    WITH    GLISTENING    CUPS. 


be  provided  against  rough  winds,  and,  especially 
in  the  case  of  certain  kinds,  against  morning  sun 
striking  frosted  blossoms,  some  of  the  Magnolias 
are  among  the  most  useful  and  most  beautiful 
of  flowering  shrubs.  The  word  "  shrub  "  is  used 
advisedly,  since  even  the  large-growing  Yulan 
flowers  when  quite  small  and  grows  quite 
slowly. 

Perhaps  the  most  beautiful  of  all  Magnolias — 
certainly  the  most  useful  for  the  small  garden — 
is  M.  stellata,  still  often  called  M.  HaUeana  in 
gardens.  It  may  in  time  in  favourable  situations 
attain  a  height  of  12ft.  to  15ft.  or  so,  forming  then 
a  bush  2oft.  perhaps  through,  but  it  commences  to 
flower  when  still  small  enough  to  grow  in  a  sin. 
pot  and  grows  slowly,  if  steadily,  so  that  it  takes 
many  years  to  attain  the  size  of  a  fair-sized  Lilac. 
Gales,  or  ever  fresh  breezes,  often  damage  the 
blossoms,  so  that  it  should  be  afforded  as  sheltered 
a  site  as  possible.  It  is,  however,  very  prodiga' 
with  its  blossom,  and  the  tree  quickly  recovers 
its  appearance.  It  is  in  flower  during  the  present 
month  and  in  April.  This  irregular  opening  of 
the  blossoms,  wliich  considerably  spreads  the 
flowering  period  without  detracting  from  the 
appearance  of  the  tree,  is  characteristic  of  Magnolias 
in  general.  The  variety  rosea  differs  from  the 
type  in  having  blossoms  which  are  a  delicate 
pink  when  they  first  expand. 

Next  in  order  of  importance  to  the  man  with 
limited     space    at     disposal    is    the    Yulan,     M. 


while  still  quite  young.     The  flowers,  which  have 
petals  about  3ins.  long,  are  pure  white. 

Magnolia  obovata  has  flowers  of  about  the  same 
size,  but  it  is  looser  in  habit  of  growth  and  thinner 
of  wood,  and  the  flowers  are  purple  and  white 
outside,  white  within.  This  is  the  plant  which  is 
often  listed  as  Magnolia  purpurea.  The  variety 
purpurea  is  wholly  purple  without — a  moderately 
hardy  and  valuable  species,  but  chiefly  notable  as 
being  the  parent  with  the  Yulan,  already  described 
of  two  excellent  hybrids  known  as  M.  Soul?ngeana 
and  M.  Lennei  respectively,  the  latter  with 
broad,  handsome  foliage  and  huge  substantial 
blossoms  in  which  the  petals  are  often  as  broad  as 
long.  The  flowers  are  handsomely  shaded  without 
with  purplish  rose  and  glistening  white  within. 
Rather  late  to  flower,  it  is  seldom  injured  by  frost. 

Magnolia  Soulangeana  is,  perhaps,  better  known 
than  the  last  named  and  differs  considerably  from 
it.  though  it  is  said  to  have  the  same  parentage. 
Very  similar  in  habit  of  growth,  it  flowers  later  than 
the  Yulan  and  differs  from  it  in  many  particulars 
chiefly  interesting  to  the  botanist,  but  the  rose- 
stained  flowers  and  itslater  season  of  floweringrender 
it  quite  distinct.  The  variety  nigra  has  a  habit 
of  growth  similar  to  that  of  the  typical  plant,  if 
rather  less  vigorous  with  the  more  pronounced 
colouringof  M.  obovaiapiurpurea.  M.  Alexandrina 
often  seen  listed,  is  but  a  form  of  .M.  Soulangeana. 

Magnolias  are  fairly  accommodating  as  to  soil, 
but  appreciate  a  sound  loam  in  good  heart.     The 


only  real  exception  to  this  is  M.  stellata,  which 
likes  a  more  open  root  run.  It  is,  in  fact,  fonder 
of  peat  than  are  Rhododendrons,  and  thrives  in  a 
compost  half  peat,  half  liglit  loam.  All  .Magnolias 
are  impatient  of  drought.  They  are  also  imprtient 
of  removal  when  dormant.  They  should  therefore 
be  removed  either  when  growth  is  starting  in  spring 
—as  late  as  May  will  answer — or  very  early  in 
autumn  before  growth  has  ceased. 

The  evergreen  Magnolia  grandiflora  with  its 
immense  creamy-white  flowers  produced  in  late 
summer  is  a  beautiful  wall  tree,  and  in  our  Southern 
Counties  succeeds  in  the  open,  although,  so 
treated,  it  grows  but  slowly. 


SOME    NOT    COMMON 
INDIGENOUS     PLANTS 

Now  that  the  time  approaches  when 
flower  lovers  will  again  be  haunting 
the  hedgerows  the  following  notes  on 
native  plants  of  interest  seen  last 
summer  should  be  apposite. 

SOME  tine  white  flowering  spikes  of  the 
common  Bugle,  Ajuga  reptans  were  seen 
in  early  May  in  this  district  (Cleveland, 
North  Yorks),  also  sparingly  white  flowers 
of  the  Bluebell,  Scilla  nutans,  and  quite  a 
quantity  of  the  white  variety  of  the  Milkwort. 
Polygala  vulgaris  ;  some  of  the  larger  flowering 
specimens  of  this  Polygala,  especially  the  rosy  red 
variety  which  I  have,  are  quite  worthy  of  a  place 
on  the  moraine  or  in  the  rock  garden. 

Early  in  June  I  had  an  interesting  week-end 
in  a  locality  in  the  North  of  England  noted  for  its 
alpine  flora  ;  at  an  altitude  of  about  i, 800ft.  on 
"  sugar  limestone"  formation,  Dryas  octopetala  was 
very  local  and  very  dwarf,  with  small  leaves  (the 
lariety  known  as  D.  octopetala  minor,  which  also  is 
found  in  the  Irish  station  ;  I  have  a  plant  from  the 
latter  locality  which  sheds  its  leaves  in  the  winter 
with  me,  and  the  larger-leaved  t\-pe  from  the  .-Mps 
does  not  appear  to  do  so)  ;  the  leaves  are  hard  to 
the  ground  and  there  were  very  few  flowers,  these 
probably  being  grazed  off  by  the  mountain  sheep 
which  were  in  evidence  on  the  ground.  In  the  same 
locality  was  a  dwaif  .\ntennaria  dioica  with  short- 
stemmed  red  flower-heads,  certainly  a  desirable 
and  pretty  plant  for  the  moraine  if  it  would  only 
keep  dwarf  at  a  lower  elevation.  I  have  seen  no 
note  of  this  variety  referred  to  in  the  floras  of  the 
district  that  I  have  had  access  to.  Hippocrepis 
comosa,  on  the  same  ground,  owing  to  its  extreme 
dwarfness,  was  almost  unrecognisable ;  these 
plants  hereabouts  were  just  what  you  would  expect 
them  to  be  in  an  e.xposed  position  at  an  altitude 
of  about  8,000ft.  or  so  in  the  Alps.  Helianthemum 
canum,  with  its  small-leaved  wiry  foliage  and 
dainty  yellow  flowers,  the  petals  in  the  bright 
sunshine  being  very  much  reflexed,  was  sparingly 
associated  with  the  above  plants  and  more  freely 
in  another  position  on  the  same  "  Fells  "  some  little 
distance  away,  but  extremely  local ;  stunted  plants 
of  Draba  incana  were  fairly  frequent ;  also 
Arenaris  vema — this  was  more  frequent  and  very 
fine  along  some  of  the  stony  tracks.  In  a  dam.p 
position  at  a  little  lower  level  the  rare  Juncus 
triglumis  was  seen  ;  unfortunately,  owing  to  some 
of  these  plants  having  been  transplanted  in  this 
locality  by  an  ardent  botanist  many  years  ago,  it 
is  not  possible  to  say  with  certainty  that  it  was 
original ;  it  was  transplanted  from  a  locality 
in  which  it  still  flourishes  at  no  great  distance 
away,  but  in  an  adjoining  county.  Local  inter- 
ference  with   rare   native   plants   in   this   way   is 


130 


THE    GARDEN. 


[March  i8,  1922. 


hardly  wise  and  the  result  can  only  be  to  throw 
doubt  on  all  future  records  in  the  locality  for  the 
species  so  tampered  with. 

At  a  higher  altitude,  2,000ft.  or  more,  the  pretty 
foliage  and  white  flowers  of  the  Cloud  Berry, 
locally  known  as  "  Ktaout  Berry  "  or  "  Out  Berry  " 
(Rubus  Chamffimorus),  was  fairly  frequent,  usually 
in  somewhat  boggy  heaths  associated  with  Sphag- 
num Moss.  This  plant  is  occasionally  included 
in  plant  catalogues,  and  would  be  quite  a  desirable 
plant  to  have  in  the  garden  if  it  was  possible  to 
succeed  with  it  at  the  lower  levels.  I  have  tried  it, 
as  also  have  others,  but  none  so  far  as  I  know 
with  any  success  ;  it  is  pretty  both  in  flower  and 
leaf — the  latter  especially  when  it  assumes  its  rich 
autumn  tints,  as  I  once  saw  it  in  quantity  by  the 
side  of  Stake  Pass  leading  from  Wensleydale  to 
Wharfedale. 

A  beautiful  plant  of  the  Moschatel  {."Vdoxa 
Moschatellina),  nicely  fitted  in  under  the  shade 
of  a  large  rock  at  an  altitude  of  about  2,200ft., 
seemed  to  be  very  high  for  this  plant  and  more 
than  double  the  height  it  is  given  as  reaching  in  the 
North  Yorks  flora.  About  the  same  level  the  only 
flowering  plants  of  Gentiana  verna  (two)  were  seen  ; 
it  had  flowered  quite  freely  on  the  lower  ground 
earlier  ;  in  fact,  owing  to  the  dry,  hot  spring  it 
was  out  and  over  much  earlier  than  ordinary.  I  am 
afraid  it  suffered  more  than  usual  from  visitors 
this  year  and,  unfortunately,  for  the  most  part 
those  who  remove  the  plant  are  the  least  likely 
to  establish  it  ;  it  is  not  easy  to  the  expert,  and  he 
usually,  if  he  takes  a  rare  or  local  plant  either  at 
home  or  abroad,  is  very  sparing  and  careful  to  do 
as  little  damage  as  possible.  It  would  be  a 
disaster  if  a  rare  and  beautiful  native  such  as 
G.  verna  is,  should  become  exterminated  to  all 
students  of  nature,  not  only  present  but  future. 
A  white-flowered  variety  was  seen  by  a  friend  in 
this  locality  some  years  ago.  It  may  not  be  out 
of  place,  taking  into  account  the  enquiries  and  notes 
on  varieties  of  Gentiana  verna  that  appeared  in 
The  Garden  last  summer,  to  put  on  record  that 
Correvon,  in  his  "  Plantes  des  Montagues  et  dcs 
Rochers,"  includes  the  following  named  varieties  : 
G.  verna  chionodoxa,  blanc  pur ;  G.  v.  atro- 
coerulea,  bleu  fond ;  G.  v.  azurea,  asur  pale ; 
G.  V.  grandiflora,  G.  v.  rosea  and  G.  v.  violacea ; 
and  a  footnote  states  that  all  these  forms  were 
in  cultivation  at  his  garden  at  Floraire  at  the 
time. 

Saxifraga  hypnoides  was  fairly  common  at 
about  2,oooft.,  more  especially  on  the  southern 
slopes,  and  the  pretty  annual  S.  stellaris  was  fre- 
quent in  damp  places  at  a  lower  level ;  this  was 
seen  in  damp  ditches  by  the  public  highway. 
At  the  pasture  levels  some  lovely  forms  of  Viola 
lutea  were  frequent  and  very  noticeable  on  the 
wiry  green  carpeting.  Bartsia  alpina  was  occasion- 
ally seen  in  the  damper  parts  of  the  high  pastures. 
Some  of  the  highest  pastures,  about  1,400ft.  up, 
with  south  aspect  were  lovely  with  large  masses  of 
the  Globe  Flower  (Trollius  europajus)  and  the 
Bird's  Eye  Primose  (Primula  farinosa),  which 
were  almost  over  at  a  lower  level.  Some  of  the 
Polygalas  in  tliese  parts  are  very  striking,  and  the 
interesting  viviparous  Knot  Grass  is  fairly  frequent 
over  a  wide  area.  One  of  the  features  of  the 
higher  meadows  in  June  is  the  masses  of  Geranium 
sylvaticum,  and  by  a  roadside  a  plant  of  the  white- 
flowered  form  was  observed.  Naturally,  the 
Orchids  are  a  special  feature  of  the  high  pastures, 
but  owing  to  the  long  continued  dry  weather  they 
were  not  nearly  so  fine  as  usual.  If  not  the 
most  beautiful  British  flowering  shrub,  the 
Shrubby  Cinquefoil  (Potentilla  fruticosa),  certainly 
ranks  very  high  ;  it  is  fairly  frequent,  and  in 
places  quite  in  masses,  although  not  last  year 
early  in  flower  ;  the  British  shrub  is  one  of  the 
most  desirable  for  the  larger  rock  gardens  and  no 


inferior  to  the  many  other  beautiful  shrubby 
PotentiUas  that  have  been  introduced  into  our 
gardens  from  China  and  tlie  Himalayas  during 
recent  years. 

The  distribution  of  this  Potentilla  is  interesting  ; 
in  Great  Britain  it  is  only  indigenous  in  an  area 
composed  of  parts  of  North-West  Yorkshire, 
Durham  and  Westmorland  on  limestone,  and  in  the 
West  of  Ireland,  Galway,  Clare  and  Mayo  (which  also 
are  the  only  British  localities  for  Gentiana  verna)  ; 
common  in  Canada  and  United  States  ;  sparingly 
on  the  Continent  of  Europe,  one  Scandinavian 
Station,  one  locality  in  South-East  Russia  and  in 
the  Pyrenees  and  Maritime  Alps,  the  plant  in  the 
two  latter  localities  is  of  prostrate  habit  and  known 
as  Potentilla  prostrata.  ("  Distribution  of 
Potentilla  fruticosa,"  by  Dr.  J.  W.  H.  Harrison. 
The  Vasculum.     Vol.  II,  pages  49-51.). 

Towards  the  end  of  June  in  visiting  Mount  Grace 
Priory  the  white  variety  of  the  "  Ragged  Robin," 
Lychnis  Flos-cuculi,  was  seen  in  flower  in  damp, 
peaty  ground  near  the  old  Priory  Fish  Ponds, 
and  at  the  same  time  the  dainty  Trientalis  europ^a 
was  in  flower  in  the  upper  part  of  the  wooded 
slopes.  This  species  was  also  in  fruit  at  Birnam 
in  Perthshire  in  September. 

Interesting  plants  noticed  on  the  coast  sandhills 
at  Redcar  in"  June  included  Erigeron  acris,  Lepidium 
Draba  (a  sweet  smelling  white-flowered  alien,  which 


I  have  also  seen  abundant  on  waste  ground  in 
the  district).  Astragalus  hypoglottis  (a  pretty 
native  which  grows  in  dry  alpine  pastures)  ; 
along  the  sandhills  between  Redcar  and  Marske 
in  July  provided  the  pretty  Maidenhair-leaved 
Thalictrum  minus  fairly  plentifully  ;  it  is  quite 
a  nice  plant  for  the  garden,  but,  unfortunately, 
too  apt  to  abuse  the  trust  placed  in  it  by  running 
about  too  freely  in  good  sandy  soil.  Quite  a 
pleasant  surprise  at  this  time  were  the  masses  of 
the  ,  beautiful  Campanula  rotundifolia  that 
dominated  many  parts  of  the  banks,  especially 
where  they  had  been  distributed  by  trenches  and 
sods  taken  off  during  the  time  of  the  military 
occupation  in  recent  years.  The  flowers  varied 
considerably  both  in  size  and  colour,  ranging  from 
the  typical  blue  through  various  shades  of  pale 
blue  to  white,  some  of  the  forms  being  not  unlike 
the  silvery  blue  form  of  Campanula  pusilla  known 
as  Miss  Wilmott ;  there  was  quite  an  appreciable 
quantity  of  these  pale  blue  varieties  but  the  pure 
white  bells  were  only  sparingly  distributed.  This 
British  Campanula,  with  its  numerous  varieties,  is 
worthy  of  more  use  in  our  rock  gardens  ;  it  is 
always  beautiful  and  carries  the  flowering  period 
on  well  into  August,  and  although  it  may  seed  freely, 
it  does  not  seem  like  being  anything  near  as  trouble- 
some as  Campanula  pusilla  often  is  to  control. 
Middlesbrough.  T.  Ashton  Lofthouse. 


LARGE-FLOWERED  SINGLE  CHRYSANTHEMUMS 


THERE  is  an  impression  abroad  that 
the  single  Chrysanthemum  of  exhibition 
type  is  being  overdone  ;  that,  in  fact, 
its  size  militates  against  its  general 
adoption  as  a  flower  for  the  amateur's 
garden  in  autumn.  The  decorative  effect,  however, 
of  these  large  disbudded  singles  can  hardly  be 
questioned,  for  they  embrace  a  wonderful  range 
of  colour,  from  purest  white  through  the  entire 
range  of  those  glowing  autumnal  art  shades  for 
which  this  beautiful  exotic  is  justly  renowned, 
and  culminating  in  rich  and  brilliant  shades  of 
crimson.  Combined  with  these  attractive  colours 
the  flowers  have  also  lasting  qualities  that  force 
them  upon  our  attention  ;  further,  they  are  carried 
on  light,  flexible  stems  of  more  than  ordinary 
length,  making  them  ideal  for  any  floral  work 
of  a  decorative  character. 

While  a  considerable  amount  of  technical 
skill  is  called  for  in  producing  blooms  of  exhibition 
standard,  flowers  of  high  quality  can,  nevertheless, 
be  produced  with  quite  ordinary  care  and  attention. 
Nicely  rooted  plants  may  at  this  season  be  procured 
from  firms  specialising  in  Chrysanthemums. 
These  should  on  arrival  be  potted  up  into  3in. 
pots,  using  a  light  compost  of  two  parts  good 
loam,  one  part  each  of  leaf-soil  and  stable  droppings 
(the  latter  being  first  dried  and  rubbed  through 
a  half-inch  sieve)  with  half  a  part  sharp  sand.  Mix 
thoroughly  and  pot  the  plants  moderately  firm. 
After  potting  stand  in  an  unhealed  frame,  keeping 
close  for  a  few  days  and  shading  the  plants  during 
bright  sunshine.  After  a  week  some  air  must 
be  given  and  be  gradually  increased  till  they  will 
bear  full  ventilation.  Towards  the  middle  of 
April  the  plants  will  require  repotting  into  sin. 
pots,  being  immediately  returned  to  the  frame, 
which  should  now  be  given  a  position  in  full  sun. 
Lightly  syringe  the  plants  overhead  early  in  the 
afternoon  and  for  the  first  fortnight  shut  up  the 
lights  about  five  o'clock.  By  May  i  plants  of 
this  type  may  be  fully  exposed  to  the  weather  on 
all  occasions,  except  during  periods  of  excessive 
wet  or  when  there  are  indications  of  frost.  From 
the  middle  to  the  end  of  the  month  the  work  of 
placing  in  their  flowering  pots  must  be  taken 


hand,  and  for  this  operation  employ  a  rougher 
compost  than  that  previously  named,  increasing, 
the  loam  by  one  part,  the  others  in  proportion 
already  given.  The  plants  should  be  potted  firmly, 
but  not  too  hard,  and  care  be  taken  that  roots 
are  not  carelessly  damaged  in  ramming. 

Great  care  is  always  necessary  in  watering. 
The  plants  should  never  become  too  dry,  and  a 
sodden  condition  must  also  be  strictly  guarded 
against,  the  best  and  safest  test  being  to  sound 
the  pots,  when  a  clear,  hollow  ring  will  indicate 
the  need  of  water. 

Stopping  and  disbudding  cf  the  growths  is  a 
necessary  though  somewhat  obscure  detail  to 
the  unmitiated.  Stopping  is  directed  to  removing 
the  growing  point  of  the  shoot  sometime  in  April, 
although  some  growers  prefer  to  let  the  plants 
make  a  natural  break  ;  in  any  case  this  results 
in  the  "lead"  branching,  hence  disbudding  consists 
in  reducing  the  number  of  shoots  to  be  retained. 
At  this  stage  three  to  four  shoots  are  sufficient, 
and  those  at  the  immediate  top  should  be  retained. 
A  further  break  will  occur  towards  the  end  of 
June  or  early  in  July,  and  again  two  to  three 
shoots  are  retained  to  each  of  the  original  growths. 
These  are  grown  direct  to  the  next  bud,  which  is 
now  selected,  and  all  side  buds  and  lateral  growths 
are  suppressed. 

Details  of  summer  treatment  include  staking 
and  tying  of  the  growths  as  necessary  ;  then, 
after  the  plants  are  settled  in  their  flowering 
pots,  syringe  with  clean  water  on  bright  after- 
noons. From  mid- July  onward  until  the  flowers 
expand,  some  approved  fertiliser  should  be  given 
as  a  stimulant  and  is  best  applied  in  liquid  form. 
Housing  the  plants  is  best  governed  by  the 
weather,  and  may  generally  be  taken  in  hand 
towards  the  end  of  September  or  early  in  October. 
A  good  practice  before  housing  is  to  lay  each 
plant  on  its  side  and  thoroughly  to  spray  the 
underside  of  the  leaves  with  a  weak  solution  of 
liver  of  sulphur,  this  being  an  excellent  preven- 
tive of  mildew.  As  the  plants  come  into  flower 
maintain  a  free  circulation  of  air,  as  thereby  the 
lasting  qualities  of  the  blooms  are  developed  to  the 
maximum. 


March  i8,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


131 


An  excellent  selection  of  varieties  of  pleasing 
colours  include  Jessica,  Sandown  Radiance, 
Kitchener,  Mavis,  Reg.  Godfrey,  Lady  Astor, 
M.P.  and  Supreme,  all  in  shades  of  crimson  or 
chestnut  ;  Bertha  Fairs,  Bronze  Molly  and  Edith 
Dimond.  in  apricot  and  bronze  shades  ;    Coronet, 


Gladys  Cooper,  Lizzie  Robertson,  Sussex  Yellow 
and  Glorious,  in  yellow  orange ;  Allie,  Molly 
Godfrey,  Margaret  (Godfrey),  Mrs.  W.  J.  Godfrey 
and  Mrs.  H.  J.  Jones,  in  shades  of  pink  ;  and 
Stuart  Smith,  Tom  Wren,  Mrs.  F.  W,  Smith, 
Mensa  and  Flossie,  whites.  T.  S. 


ANNUALS  IN  GARDEN  DECORATION 

The  treatment  and  conditions  suitable  for  the  different  kinds. 


TO  the  older  enthusiast  in  gardening  it 
has  long  been  common  knowledge  that 
in  annuals  we  have  long  harboured 
angels  unawares,  for  what  we  do  in 
the  greenhouse,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
with  a  few  pots  of  Clarkia,  Godctia,  Schizanthus. 
Viscaria  and  Sweet  Peas  can  be  as  readily  repro- 
duced in  the  open  garden  on  a  larger  scale,  the 
main  difficulty  being  to  convince  ourselves  that 
the  thing  is  worth  doing.     Let  us,  however,  con- 


selves    to    advantage    over    bushy   sticks    or    any 
light,  wire  trellis-work. 

A  section  of  annuals  that  luxuriate.^  in  hot 
positions,  w'herc  the  soil  is  rather  poor  in  quality 
and  not  likely  to  become  over-saturated  with 
rain,  includes  Dimorphotheca,  Eschscholtzia  (bien- 
nial, but  always  most  satisfactory  when  grown 
as  an  annual),  Linaria  alpina  (perennial),  Calceo- 
laria mexicana,  Portulacas  and  Xemophila  insignis. 
Then   there   are   two   annuals   that   ask   for   quite 


FEW  PERENNIAL   PLANTINGS   ARE  MORE   EFFECTIVE  THAN   THIS   BORDER   OF   HARDY  ANNUALS. 


cede  that  the  methodical  and  conscientious  care 
that  we  expend  yearly  in  raising  China  Asters, 
Antirrhinums  and  Stocks  can  be  extended  to 
cover  the  whole  family  of  annuals,  then  the  result 
wll  be  an  enormous  gain  to  the  garden  both 
aesthetically  and  practically,  and  for  ourselves 
an  addition  to  our  plant  knowledge  that  will 
agreeably  surprise  us  in  the  breadth  of  outlook  that 
it  entails. 

In  the  decorative  scheme  of  the  garden  the 
greatest  success  follows  when  distinctive  positions 
are  chosen  and  always  with  due  regard  to  the 
plants"  requirements.  Gourds  are  important 
fast-growing  annuals  for  clothing  trellis-work  and 
lightly  constructed  pergolas,  and  require  rich, 
light  soil  in  a  suimy  position.  Sweet  Peas  are 
ubiquitous,  but  are  best  displayed  in  clumps, 
using  bushy  sticks  or  wire  supports  for  them  to 
cling  to.  Ipomjea  imperialis,  also  a  climber,  will 
succeed  in  ordinary  garden  soil,  while  Trop.-eolums 
majus  and  canariense,  though  grateful  for  some 
slight  preparation,  mil,  however,  often  give 
wonderful  results  in  very  indifferent  soil ;  like 
Sweet    Peas,    the   two   last-named   display   them- 


different  conditions  :  the  diminutive  lonopsidium 
acaule  prefers  slight  moisture  in  the  soil  and  enjoys 
some  shade  during  the  hottest  part  of  the  day ; 
while  the  other,  I.imnanthcs  Douglasii,  is  an  annual 
that  revels  in  cool,  moist  conditions  at  the  root, 
with   the  vegetative  part  luxuriating  in  sunshine. 

Annuals  of  gigantic  stature  are  found  in 
Cannabis  gigantea  and  the  various  forms  of 
Helianthus  annuus,  the  first  named  having  its 
attraction  in  the  foliage.  When  employed  together 
an  excellent  screen  will  quickly  result,  while  the 
effect  in  late  summer  of  the  big  Sunflowers  standing 
boldly  out  from  a  mass  of  greenery  presents  quite 
a  pleasing  feature  in  the  garden. 

The  annuals,  however,  which  give  the  greatest 
service  in  the  garden  are  those  I  define  as  border 
annuals ;  they  arc  strictly  hardy  annuals  and 
should  be  sown  where  they  will  flower,  March 
being  one  of  the  best  months  to  begin.  I  have 
made  two  groups  ;  the  first,  embracing  the  tallest 
sorts,  includes  Calliopsis,  Centaurea,  Clarkia, 
Delphinium  (Larkspur),  Godetia,  Helianthus, 
Lavatera  and  Papaver.  The  second  group,  being 
dwarfer,    wiU   require    placing   in    front    of    those 


previously  named,  and  embraces  Asperula,  Bartonia, 
Calendula,  Calliopsis,  Godetia  (dwarf  sorts),  Gj-pso- 
phila  elegans,  Iberis  umbellata,  Linaria  reticulata, 
Malcomia  (Virginian  Stock),  Nigella,  Phacelia, 
Reseda  and  Viscaria. 

Whether  annuals  are  sown  in  straight  rows  or 
clumps  of  irregular  shape  is  inm?.aterial,  as  with 
a  little  foresight,  even  when  sown  in  straight  rows 
in  the  first  instance,  it  is  tolerable  easy  to  give 
the  groups  a  broken  or  intergrouping  effect, 
although,  of  course,  the  clump  method  is  much 
more  practical  when  this  end  is  in  view  The 
great  point  loading  to  success  lies  in  thinning 
out  the  plants  early  and  systematically  ;  that  is,  in 
two  or  three  operations ;  ultimately  the  plants 
shoUid  stand  as  far  apart  as  half  their  average 
height.  Then,  as  soon  as  the  final  thinning  is 
complete,  insert  a  few  dwarf,  bushy  boughs  among 
the  plants,  so  that  when  in  flower  no  evidence 
of  this  support  may  be  seen. 

With  legard  to  the  soil  for  annuals,  this  should 
be  deeply  dug  and  moderately  enriched  mth  farm- 
yard manure  to  which  a  dressing  of  slaked  lime 
should  be  given  in  advance  of  sowing.  Ground 
freshly'  turned  just  previous  to  sowing,  is  best 
dressed  with  steamed  bone  flour  instead  of  lime, 
this  being  lightly  pricked  into  the  surface  with  a 
fork,  using  it  at  the  rate  of  ijlb.  per  rod  of  ground. 

A  beautiful  section  of  annuals  include  those  of 
a  half-hardy  nature — Anagallis,  Brachycome, 
Kochia,  Nemesia,  Nicotiana,  Phlox  Drummondii, 
Salpiglossis,  Scabiosa  (Sweet,  reaUy  a  biennial), 
Statice,  Tagetes,  Zinnia,  China  Asters  and  Stocks 
of  the  Ten  Week  t>-pe.  Annuals  of  this  section 
are  best  sown  indoors  towards  the  end  of  March, 
and,  when  large  enough,  transplanted  singly  to 
prepared  soil  in  unheated  frames,  where  they  are 
gradually  hardened  off  for  planting  in  their 
flowering  positions  during  the  month  of  May. 
Half-hardy  aunu.als  succeed  in  soil  similar  to  that 
recommended  for  hardy  annuals.  It  should  be 
light  and  rich ;  the  richness,  however,  is  best 
tempered  by  an  application  of  steamed  bone 
flour  a  few  days  in  advance  of  planting ;  the 
latter  balances  the  growth  and  corrects  the 
tendency  to  exuberant  vegetation  at  the  expense 
of  flowers.  T.  Smith. 


A  SHRUB  FOR  WET  GROUND 

Those  searching  for  an  altogether  unusual 
little  shrub  for  a  really  moist  part  of  the  rock 
garden  would  do  well  to  make  a  note  of 
Rhododendron  kamtschaticum.  Not  only  is 
it  a  very  beautiful  little  plant,  but  it  adds  a 
vast  fund  of  interest  to  visitors  by  always 
pretending  that  it  is  not  a  Rhododendron  at  all. 
To  begin  with,  it  sheds  all  its  leaves  in  autumn  and 
stands  quite  bare  all  through  winter  da>'s.  Then 
it  grows  in  low,  dense  tufts,  and  instead  of  pro- 
ducing its  flowers  in  heads,  these  are  almost  always 
solitary,  althou.gh  one  may  sometimes  find  a  pair 
together.  These  flowers  are  rosy-crimson  in  colour, 
the  three  upper  petals  being  spotted  and  the  whole 
surrounded  by  a  green  calyx.  .Another  distinctive 
feature  of  the  plant  is  its  method  of  spreading  by 
means  of  underground  suckers  which  serve  as  a 
means  of  propagation.  In  spite  of  this,  it  is  a 
rare  little  plant,  and,  once  one  has  it,  it  is,  if 
given  suitable  culture,  long  lived.  It  needs 
continuous  surface  moisture,  hence  the  suggestion 
to  plant  in  semi-bog,  for  it  soon  perishes  where 
there  is  any  risk  of  even  moderate  dr\-ness.  Choose 
a  place  sheltered  from  the  morning  sun  and  thus 
avoid  the  flowers  being  spoiled  by  its  shining  upon 
them  when  they  are  frozen.  Plant  in  sandy  peat 
with  which  a  generous  amount  of  chopped 
Sphagnum  Moss  has  been  mixed.  Never  forget 
the  water  supply  and  all  will  be  well ;  but  the 
penalty  of  drought  is  quickly  paid  in  dead  plants. 


132 


THE     GARDEN. 


[March  i8,  1922. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


THE     V.M.H.     AWARDS. 

VOUR  article  on  the  awarding  of  the  V.M.H, 
certainly  voices  the  feeling  of  many. 
When  one  considers  what  the  family  of  Waterer 
have  done  for  gardens  by  raising  Rhododendrons 
and  Azaleas  without  being  given  this  recognition 
there  is  bound  to  be  comment.  But  it  is  only 
fair  to  point  out  that  the  Council  are  not  unduly 
generous  to  themselves.  Mr.  Dykes'  book  on  the 
Iris  and  his  work  with  that  genus  are  alike  remark- 
able. Mr.  Wallace  has  undoubtedly  raised  the 
standard  of  show  exhibits  and  also  of  a  certain 
type  of  garden  Their  omission  from  the  hst  is 
probably  entirely  due  to  their  close  association 
with  the  Council.  Generally  speaking,  those 
people  whose  work  definitely  influences  horti- 
culture, the  collectors,  the  scientists,  the  hybridisers 
and  the  distributors  of  plants  or  of  know- 
ledge are  the  ones  the  public  consider  "  deserve 
special  honour  at  the  hands  of  the  Society." — 
Scrutator. 

[In  the  article  referred  to  (page  87)  names  were 
mentioned  only  as  e,\amples.  Our  correspondent 
suggests  others  who  have  done  exceptional  service 
to  horticulture.  All  these  instances,  however, 
serve  but  to  throw  into  higher  relief  the  futihty 
of  some  recent  awards. — Ed.] 

THE  ROADSIDE  GARDEN  HEDGE. 

T  DO  not  know  where  Mr.  DiUistone  may  hve, 
but  if  he  were  to  try  and  plant  flowering 
shrubs  on  the  roadside  in  this  district  he  would  be 
foredoomed  to  disappointment.  Not  a  flower,  not 
a  bud,  would  be  allowed  to  survive  the  hand  of  the 
destroyer.  If  he  tried  evergreen  plants  such  as 
Escallonias  or  even  Euonymus,  every  branch 
that  could  be  reached  and  broken  off  would  find 
its  way  to  London  or  the  nearest  town  at  Christmas 
or  Eastertide.  It  is  sad,  but  true,  the  ivild  flowers 
of  our  hedge  banks  are  fast  disappearing ;  no 
wonder,  when  we  often  see  Primroses.  Violets,  etc., 
pulled  out  by  the  roots  and  allowed  to  wither  by  the 
roadside.  The  beautiful  picture  of  Viburnum 
plicatum  fills  me  with  envy.  Here  it  behaves  very 
badly — "  exists,"  but  that  is  all.  In  four  years  the 
growth  is  about  4ins.  V.  tomentosum  takes  much 
more  kindly  to  our  soil ;  V.  macrocephaliim,  said 
to  be  less  hardy,  is  a  mass  of  bloom  annually  on  a 
south  wall ;  and  V.  tomentosum  var.  Mariesii 
looks  as  if  it  would  beat  them  all  in  a  few  years  — 
Heatley   Noele,   Hciiley-oii-Jhame-.. 

SOME    FINE    KINDS  OF  SNOWDROPS. 

T^HAT  broad-leafed  Snowdrop,  Galanthus 
Ikarise,  flowered  early  in  February  this 
season.  Its  leaves  are  a  very  glossy  dark  green, 
they  bend  outwards  more  than  any  other  form, 
more  like  those  of  a  Scilla  than  a  Snowdrop.  The 
flowers  are  large,  well  balanced,  very  pure  white 
with  a  large  spot  of  green  on  the  inner  segments. 
It  is  grown  here  in  a  south-east  border  under  a 
greenhouse  wall ;  it  seems  to  Uke  a  warm  situation. 
It  is  only  found  on  the  Island  of  Nikara  off  the  coast 
of  Asia  Minor.  The  Straffan  Snowdrop  is  one  of 
the  most  charming  of  the  family.  It  has  a  long 
period  of  flowering,  which  is  characteristic  of  the 
caucasicus  or  phcatus  kind.  Each  bulb,  when 
strong,  produces  a  second  flower  between  the  pair 
of  leaves,  so  that  when  the  first  flowers  wither  a 
second  array  takes  their  place.  In  1S56  Lord 
Clarina  brought  bulbs  of  G.  plicatus  from  the 
valley  of  Tchernaya  in  the  Crimea,  to  Mrs.  Barton 
of  Straffan,  County  Kildare,  among  them  came  this 
distinct  and  beautiful  variety.  Mr.  Streeter,  the 
gardener  at  Straffan,  tells  me  he  gives  a  top- 
dressing   of  leaf-mould   every   second  year  to   all 


Snowdrops  growing  in  grass — the  result  at  Straffan 
justifies  his  methods.  The  Snowdrops  are  Mke  a 
white  quilt  on  the  ground,  and  when  their  season  is 
over  they  are  replaced  by  Daffodils,  which,  in  the 
damp  cUmate  and  rich  soil  of  County  Kildare, 
grow  from  seed  and  some  beautiful  natural 
hybrids  have  occurred.  Another  Snowdrop  from 
Russia,  which  came  to  Glasnevin  from  the  Rev. 
Charles  Digby  of  Lincoln,  is  a  form  of  G.  plicatus. 
Mr.  Bowles  says  it  is  the  best  form.  It  was 
brought  from  the  Crimea  after  the  war,  and  has 
flourished  in  Mr.  Digby's  parish  ever  since. — 
W.  Phylis  Moore,  Glasnevin. 

THE  POMEGRANATE  OUTDOORS. 

■pOR     many    years    the     Pomegranate    flowered 
profusely   on   a   south   wall    of    my    grand- 
mother's house.  Castle  Hackett,  County  Galway. — 
F.  L. 

ADVICE     WANTED. 

T  WONDER  if  you  can  help  me  with  my  Cinerarias. 
The  strain  is  Sutton's  Reading  Gem,  a  hybrid 
between  the  usual  variety  and  a  Tenerifie  plant. 
My  plants  are  healthy  and  look  well,  but  they 
make  so  little  progress.  I  wonder  when  their 
blooming  season  is.  The  hybrid  is  a  pleasing  new 
strain  iu  some  ways.  It  is  much  more  compact, 
with  small,  serrated  grey  leaves.  My  greenhouse 
is  seldom  below  55°,  and  other  Cinerarias  find  it 
too  much.  Perhaps  some  of  your  correspondents 
have  had  experience  with  it.  I  shall  be  very  glad 
to  hear  what  they  have  to  say.  Neither  Messrs. 
Sutton  nor  the  R.H.S.  afford  me  any  help. — 
E.  E.  H.   E. 

THE    WILLING    GARDENER. 

TF  other  readers  of  your  delightful  paper  enjoyed 
the  article  signed  "  D.  N.,"  which  appeared 
a  week  or  so  back,  as  much  as  I  did,  you  will 
probably  have  been  inundated  by  letters  bearing 
on  the  subject.  For  tea  years  I  had  the  good 
fortune  to  enjoy  a  similar  experience  to  that 
of  your  correspondent,  and  the  fact  that  '*  John," 
as  I  will  call  him,  was  of  the  jobbing  variety  only 
(my  garden  and  means  both  being  small)  makes 
the  keen  interest  in  and  love  for  his  work  all  the 
more  delightful.  During  all  the  time  he  worked 
for  and  with  me,  for  we  have  spent  many  a  long 
day  at  work  together,  he  showed  unfailing  courtesy 
and  consideration,  entering  into  all  my  plans 
regarding  colour  schemes  and  grouping  of  plants 
with  zest  and  interest.  It  is  now  some  three  years 
since  a  wise  neighbour  and  friend  engaged  him 
as  his  regular  gardener,  but  after  his  work  is  done 
he  will  often  come  and  help  me  with  his  advice 
and  suggestions,  for  although  his  successor  is  hard- 
working, he  is  not  an  expert.  Only  last  summer, 
after  spending  some  long  time  helping  me  in  this 
way,  he  refused  to  accept  the  payment  I  offered 
him  as  due  to  him  with  the  remark,  "  No,  ma'am, 
this  time  is  my  own,  and  it's  a  pleasure  to  come 
and  help  you,"  and  I  felt  that  to  press  the  point 
would  almost  have  partaken  of  the  nature  of  an 
insult.  I  could  give  many  more  instances  of  his 
thoughtfulness  and  kindness,  but  will  not  weary 
you  ;  it  is  a  pleasure  to  \vTite  this  of  one  who  has 
increased  my  love  for  and  knowledge  of  things 
pertaining  to  the  garden  until  it  has  become  an 
abiding  joy. — E.  M.  C. 

SCORZONERA    AND    SALSAFY. 

A  QUESTION  is  asked  on  page  95  in  an  article 
upon  Greenhouse  Fuel  as  to  the  relationship 
between  Scorzonera  and  Salsafy.  They  are,  indeed, 
closely  related,  and  so  closely  similar  in  leaves, 
roots   and    their    milky    juice   that    they    cannot 


readily  be  separated  botanically  until  they  conn 
into  bloom.  The  roots  of  Scorzonera  are,  however, 
much  darker  in  colour  and  often  described  as  black, 
though  the  interior  is  white.  The  two  plants  are 
separated  by  many  characters,  which,  to  ordinary 
people,  would  seem  insignificant,  but  are  very 
important  to  botanists  who  have  to  note  the 
smallest  differences  in  order  to  divide  up  a  family 
consisting  of  some  10,000  species  or  more.  If  the 
plants  are  allowed  to  flower  in  their  second  year 
it  will  be  seen  that  Scorzonera  has  yellow  flowers 
and  many  bracts  overlapping  one  another  in  several 
series  and  enclosing  the  head.  On  the  other 
hand,  Salsafy  has  purple  flowers  and  only  one  set 
of  bracts  or  scales  surrounding  the  flower-head, 
while  the  roots  are  white.  The  late  Mr.  .Alexander 
Dean  once  sent  me  a  plant  in  bloom,  asking  for  its 
name,  whereas  he  might  have  guessed  it  was 
Salsafy  if  he  had  seen  it  the  first  year.  Botanically, 
it  is  Tragopogon  porrifolius,  but  I  fear  I  could  not 
separate  it  from  its  cousin,  the  Goat's  Beard 
(Tragopogon  pratensis)  unless  both  were  in  bloom, 
so  closely  similar  are  they  the  first  year  from 
seed, — J.  F. 

ALPINES    AT    MONT    VENTOUX. 

T  OVERS  of  rock  and  alpine  plants  and  alJ 
interested  in  their  geographical  distribution 
are  indebted  to  M.  Correvon  for  his  interesting 
account  (The  Garden,  page  76)  of  a  botanising 
and  seed-collecting  expedition  to  Mont  Ventoux 
in  Provence.  Evidently  the  vegetation  of  this 
outlying  bastion  of  the  western  Alps  is  profoundly 
interesting,  particularly  in  regard  to  the  low  level 
to  which  certain  plants  descend,  though  often 
regarded  as  usually,  if  not  exclusively,  alpine — 
e.g.,  Douglasia  Vitaliana,  Androsace  vUlosa, 
Saxifraga  oppositifolia,  Viola  cenisia,  Papaver 
pyrenaica,  etc.  In  that  and  other  respects  the 
flora  reminds  me  greatly  of  that  of  the  picturesque 
limestone  chain  ol  Sainte-Baume,  some  sixty-five 
miles  to  the  south-east  and  approached  from 
Marseilles  or  Toulon,  though  the  latter  range  is 
about  2,000ft,  lower  than  Mont  Ventoux.  The 
article  points  to  a  remarkable  fact  in  the  distribu- 
tion of  many  alpine  plants  for  which  I  have  never 
heard  an  explanation.  Why  is  it  that  we  find  in 
such  southern  mountains,  and  again  in  the 
PjTrenees,  and  to  a  less  extent  in  the  Maritime 
Alps  close  to  the  Mediterranean,  alpine  and  sub 
alpine  species  at  lower  elevations  than  in  the  cooler 
latitudes  of  the  Swiss  and  Central  Alps  ?  I  have 
collected  abundant  specimens  and  facts  in  proof 
of  this.  Is  it  possibly  the  fact  that  the  ground 
in  the  high  Alps  is  relatively  much  warmer  than 
the  air,  as  pointed  out  by  Kerner  and  others, 
and  the  intensity  and  quality  of  the  alpine  light 
which  causes  plants  to  prefer  the  higher  altitudes 
in  the  Swiss  Alps  to  corresponding  lower  altitudes 
in  which  they  are  found  in  some  of  the  more 
southern  mountains  ?  Or  must  we  look  to  the 
vexed  question  of  the  origin  of  the  alpine  flora 
and  its  connexion  with  the  glacial  period  at  the 
close  of  tertiary  times  for  an  explanation  ?  To 
find  certain  alpine  species  a  few  hundred  feet: 
above  the  sea  in  Scandinavia,  or  at  sea-level  in 
Spitzbergen  is  not  surprising ;  but  why  are  some 
of  these  plants  and  certain  coniferous  trees  not 
seen  at  such  comparatively  low  altitudes  in  the 
Swiss  Alps  with  their  longer  winter  and  colder 
cUmate  than  that  of  the  Pyrenees,  Mont  Ventoux 
and  the  Maritime  or  Ligurian  Alps  .'  We  are  told 
at  Mont  Ventoux  such  plants  as  Papaver  pyrenai- 
cum  and  Douglasia  (Androsace)  Vitaliana  are 
abundant  at  the  upper  limit  of  the  area  reafforested 
■ — "  a  real  Paradise  for  rock  and  alpine  plants" — 
apparently  this  is  below  r, 850ft.,  where  "  the 
bare  stretch  of  mountain  "  begins,  with  its  "  carpets 
of  Douglasia  ...  so  thick,  so  enormous,  that 
we  must  walk  on  them."     One's  first  impression 


March  i8,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


133 


is  that  M.  Correvon  forgot  to  convert  metres  into 
feet !  But  probably  the  figures  are  correct,  and 
if  so,  they  are  a  remarkable  instance  of  a  state 
of  things  that  has  so  often  puzzled  me  elsewhere. 
The  summit  is  given  as  s.Sooft.,  whereas  Baedeker 
gives  6,270ft.  in  the  text  or  its  equivalent  of 
1,912  metres  in  one  of  his  maps;  but  this  dis- 
crepancy is  not  serious,  and  it  does  not  affect  the 
chief  point  of  this  note.  The  strange  thing  is 
that  various  alpine  plants  do  not  get  to  the  top 
of  these  much  lower  mountains  in  the  South  ; 
whereas  some  of  them,  or  closely  allied  species, 
frequently  ascend  to  12,000ft.  or  13,000ft.  in  the 
Swiss  Alps.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  alpine  plants  will 
grow  at  any  altitude  in  the  .Alps,  provided  they 
can  get  a  little  soil  in  a  situation  free  from  snow 
for  a  few  weeks  in  the  short  alpine  summer.  It 
should  be  added  that  notwithstanding  the  great 
height  reached  by  a  few  plants  in  such  Swiss 
mountains  as  the  Matterhorn  and  Finsteraarhoni, 
the  downward  limit  of  the  alpine  and  sub- alpine 
zones  is  considerably  lower  in  the  Bernese  Oberland 
than  in  the  Southern  Alps  of  the  Swiss  Valais. 
In  conclusion,  we  must  not  forget  that  a  number 
of  plants  often  seen  at  quite  high  altitudes  and 
usually  regarded  by  English  botanists  and  visitors 
to  the  .\lps  as  tj-pically  alpine,  are  not  exclusively 
so,  but  are  found  at  elevations  of  2,000ft.  or  less, 
for  example,  in  many  parts  of  hilly  France.  To 
mention  only  a  few,  we  have  Draba  aizoides, 
Saxifraga  steUaris,  S.  .\izoon,  Geutiana  vema, 
G  ciliata,  Swertia  perennis  (grows  near  Paris), 
Dryas  octopetala,  Anthericum  Liliago  (frequent 
in  sunny  hiUs  throughout  the  greater  part  of  France) 
and  the  grass,  Stipa  pennata,  whose  long,  feathery 
arms  sometimes  decorate  the  hats  of  Swiss  and 
-Austrian  guides,  and  which,  though  occasionally 
growing  in  the  alpine  zone,  is  frequent  in  arid 
places  in  the  plains  and  even  reaches  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Paris.  In  this  connexion  we  can  ignore 
many  of  the  numerous  so-called  ".Alpines"  of 
nurserymen's  catalogues  and  rock-garden  parlance, 
which,  under  no  pretext  whatever,  can  be  called 
alpine,  however  suited  many  of  them  are  to  the 
rock  garden      H.  Stuart  Thompso.v. 

ANXUAL  FLOWERS  FOR  OLD  FOLKS. 

T  H.AVE  a  newly  made  flower  garden  and — I  am 
an  old  woman — if  I  plant  perennials  the 
probability  is  great  that  I  shall  not  live  long  enough 
to  enjoy  them  in  full  perfection,  nor  make  altera- 
tions or  replace  them  where  they  fail.  Last  spring 
I  did  not  plant  perennials  for  the  soil  was  not 
settled  enough  to  receive  them  (luckily  !  for  they 
would  probably  have  perished  in  the  subsequent 
prolonged  drought  in  the  shallow  soil  here),  but. 
just  to  fill  the  borders  for  the  time  being  I  planted 
bulbs  and  sowed  annuals.  The  result  was  such  a 
surprising  wealth  of  colour  and  continuous  quantity 
to  gather  and  to  give  away  (one  of  the  greatest 
joys  of  a  garden),  that  I  have  decided  to  continue 
chiefly  with  A's  and  B's — to  wit,  annuals  and  bulbs. 
Why  not  ?  The  bad  old  "  bedding  plant  "  days 
had  some  advantages.  The  beds  were  entirely  dug 
up  twice  a  year,  and  so  all  weeds  were  kept  under 
and  the  soil  could  be  cleansed  and  renewed.  So 
shall  my  annual  flower  beds  be  treated  !  I  can 
easily  escape  the  tedious  monotony  of  "  bedded  " 
borders  by  varying  the  annuals  so  as  to  have  a 
continual  succession  all  the  year  round,  especially 
by  providing  some  more  or  less  permanent  edgings, 
or,  preferably,  clumps  of  foliage,  such  as  the  silver 
grey  of  old-fashioned  white  Pinks  for  my  fragrance 
border  (this  was  a  distinct  success  last  year),  and, 
perhaps,  golden  Pyrethrum,  and  certainly  curled 
Chervil  for  others.  Chervil  is  so  accommodating 
(a  "  most  reasonable  plant,"  as  Mr.  AUwood  would 
say),  it  will  grow  almost  everj'where  and  keeps 
such  a  bright,  cheery  bit  of  fresh  green  tlirough  the 


winter  that,  though  its  "  proper  place  "  is  in  the 
kitchen  garden,  I  use  it  in  my  flower  beds,  and  if 
they  be  further  planted  in  late  autumn,  %vith  some 
of  Barr's  variegated  Kales,  they  will  "  carry  on  " 
from  the  Old  Year  into  the  next  New  One,  tiU 
Aconites  appear.  The  small  cost  of  annuals,  com- 
pared with  "  bedding  plants,"  to  say  nothing  of 
good  clumps  of  perennials  and  the  difficulty  of 
obtaining  these  latter,  is  also  a  consideration,  for 
if  any  annuals  fail,  it  is  not  a  serious  loss,  but  can 
be  "  made  good."  generally,  in  a  few  weeks.  There 
are  plenty  of  tall  things  among  annuals,  and,  of 
course,  pillars  of  climbers  can  be  arranged  for. 
Sweet  Peas  were  usually  thus  grown  fifty  years 
ago,  so  that  annual  borders  need  not  be  dumpy  and 
dwarf.  Some  say  "  annuals  are  so  short  lived." 
but,  apart  from  "  bedders,"  if  you  come  to  consider 
the  majority  of  perennials,  you  will  find  most  of 
them,  only  flower  for  about  tluree  weeks  in  the 
year.  Annuals  have  actually  a  longer  flowering 
time  upon  the  whole  if  so^vn  thinly,  allowed  space 
to  do  their  best,   not   "  jammed   together,"   as   I 


meaning  the  Oxeye  Daisy,  and  some  other  plants ; 
while  Lucken  Cowans  were  Globe  Flowers.  Gowan, 
then,  is  the  Lowland  Scotch  name  for  the  Irish 
and  Gaelic  "  Gugan,"  a  Daisy,  a  bud  or  a  flower. 
The  Gaels  have  so  many  words  for  the  same  thing 
that  they  have  forgotten  many  of  them.  The 
European  Globe  Flower  is  not  included  in  "  Gaelic 
Names  of  Plants,"  by  John  Cameron,  under  any 
name,  although  the  plant  is  plentiful  in  wet 
meadows  and  on  the  river  banks  in  the  Highlands.— 

HORTULANUS, 

AN   EASY    AND    FRAGRANT    PLANT. 

T  DO  not  think  that  sufiScient  use  is  made  to-day 
of  the  quaintly  fringed  and  gloriously  fragrant 
Dianthus  superbus.  Less  neat  and  tidy  than  the 
Cheddar  Pink  (D.  casius)  it  may  be,  but,  apart 
from  its  charming  and  characteristic  fragrance, 
it  has  a  certain  distinction  quite  wanting  in  many 
of  the  commoner  rock  Pinks.  By  the  way,  can 
any  reader  tell  me  the  real  difference  between  the 


TUMBLING    MASSES    OF    FRAGRANCE — DIANTHUS    SUPERBUS. 


grieved  to  see  some  in  Hampton  Court  gardens 
the  last  time  I  went  there.  .And.  only  think  of  it  ! 
What  a  delightful  variety  of  fresh  etfects  I  shall 
be  able  to  devise  and  enjoy  every  year  !  Yes  ! 
I  feel  sure  that  for  children  and  for  old  folks, 
annuals  are  the  thing  !  Where  are  those  new  seed 
catalogues  ?  Let  me  begin  at  once  to  make  out 
my  list  of  orders  ! — Anne  Amateur. 

GLOBE    FLOWERS. 

'T'HE  discussion  of  the  names  given  to  the  Globe 
Flower  on  pages  69  and  96  are  interesting 
from  the  fact  that  they  show  how  changes  come 
about  when  we  try  to  read  meanings  into  names 
that  had  their  origin  in  a  language  foreign  to  our 
own.  Linnaus"  name  of  Trollius  is  said  to  be 
derived  from  the  old  German  word  trol,  meaning  a 
globe.  The  translation  of  this  gives  us  Globe 
Flower,  which  we  can  understand.  Locker 
goulus,  Lockin  Gowan  and  Locker  Gowlans  are 
spellings  of  words  that  have  been  handed  down 
to  us  bj-  many  generations  of  people  trying  to  read 
meanings  into  the  names.  The  first  part  of  the 
name  is  evidently  English.  The  word  "  Gowan  "  is 
the  Lowland  Scotch  word  for  the  common  wild 
Daisy.     The  same  people  speak  of  Horse  Gowans, 


old  Maiden  Pink  (D.  deltoides)  and  D.  graniticus 
.Are    the   plants   of    the   latter   usually   sold    mis- 
named,   or   has   the   difference   between    the    two 
species   (?)   become   obliterated   as  with   Duke   of 
York  and  .Midlothian  Early  Potatoes  ? — H.   H. 

ST.    FIACRE. 

[Many  correspondents  have  wTitten  to  explain, 
on  various  authorities,  that  the  original  fiacres 
were  sent  out  from  a  hotel,  hostelry  or  lodging- 
house  which  displayed  a  sign  depicting,  or  a 
statue  representing,  St.   Fiacre. — Ed.] 

"THE   GARDEN"  AS  A  BOOK  OF 
REFERENCE. 

"  nPHE  G.ARDEN  "  for  last  year  cost  me 
3s.  6d.  to  get  bound,  and  it  cost  me  a 
little  over  half  that  until  about  the  second  year  of 
the  war.  No  one  book  can  equal  a  few — only 
a  few — volumes  of  The  Garden  for  the  helpful 
information  contained  in  the  varied  experiences 
of  different  contributors,  when  I  want  to  learn 
about  any  particular  species  and  its  treatment, 
to  avoid,  if  possible,  beginning  with  a  failure  — 
V,  Caldwell. 


134 


THE     GARDEN. 


[March  i8,  1922. 


GARDENING     OF    THE     WEEK 


FOR    SOUTHERN   GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Seed-Sowing. — This  operation  must  be  guided 
to  a  great  extent  by  the  weather  and  the  nature 
of  the  soil  to  be  dealt  with.  On  one  point  no 
doubt  whatever  need  be  felt,  which  is,  never  be 
in  too  great  a  hurry  to  sow.  When  the  soil  is 
■cold  or  sticky  it  is  much  better  to  wait  another 
weeli,  or,  if  that  be  not  considered  practical  or 
■expedient,  it  may  be  possible  to  try  to  arrange 
a  sowing  of  some  of  the  more  pressing  items  in 
^l^eleton  frames.  Among  seeds  to  be  sown  about 
this  time  and  which  may  be  accommodated  in 
temporary  quarters  and  then  pricked  out  or 
transplanted  we  have  Brussels  Sprouts  for  main 
"batch,  more  Lettuce,  Cauliflowers  and  Cabbages, 
and,  should  the  ground  be  quite  unfavourable,  more 
Peas  and  Broad  Beans  to  serve  as  a  succession. 
As  soon  as  the  soil  is  dry  and  -workable,  sow  seed 
on  a  warm  border  of  a  few  more  Early  Horn 
Carrots,  Spinach  and  a  few  more  Turnips,  not 
forgetting  Parsley,  which  sbould  be  sown  in  a 
convenient  spot  for  quick  and  easy  gathering. 

Frame  Work. — -Give  early  attention  to  young 
Carrots  and  Turnips,  and  thin  as  necessary.  It 
is  quite  unnecessary  where  there  is  a  brisk  demand 
from  the  kitchen  to  do  much  Carrot  thinning, 
as  that  can  be  done  quiclvly  enough  when  the 
roots  are  of  useable  size,  leaving  the  weakly  ones 
to  develop  as  a  follow-on  crop.  Turnips,  however, 
must  be  thinned  to  several  inches  apart,  and 
this  should  be  done  early.  It  will  be  helpful 
with  these  crops,  as  with  other  early  ones,  to  stir 
the  soil  a  little  and  air  freely  ■n'hen  climatic 
conditions  are  favourable. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Sweet  Peas. — .\n  outside  sowing  of  this  indis- 
pensable annual  should  be  made  now  in  thoroughly 
prepared  positions.  These  plants  will  give  a 
good  supply  of  cut  flowers  or  provide  a  display 
to  augment  the  earlier  plants  which  have  been 
raised  under  glass  and  which  must  be  planted  out 
before  becoming  drawn.  Where  a  show  of  Sweet 
Pea  blooms  is  required  in  several  positions  over 
an  extended  period  it  is  a  good  plan  to  allow  of 
sufficient  room  for  some  seeds  to  be  inserted 
thinly  among  the  earlier  plants  when  placing  them 
in  their  permanent  positions.  These  two  opera- 
tions may  be  done  at  the  same  time. 

Cannas  are  extremely  useful  in  the  flower 
garden,  and  may  also  be  termed  adaptable,  inas- 
much as  they  may  be  used  to  good  purpose  in 
the  more  formal  portions  as  well  as  the  less  formal. 
A  well  placed  bold  bed  of  plants  of  good  colour 
among  ivhich  are  some  well  developed  spikes  of 
Lilium  tigrinum,  Fortunei  giganteum  variety, 
is  an  excellent  autumn  attraction,  particularly 
so  if  near  water,  as  the  added  beauty  of  reflection 
may  be  enjoyed.  The  plants  having  been  at  rest 
should  now  be  potted  up  in  suitable-sized  pots 
and  grown  on  in  a  gentle  moist  warmth  until 
nicely  established. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Bud  Protection.— Small  birds  are  often  trouble- 
some among  the  buds  of  Gooseberries  and  Red 
Currants  just  as  they  are  plumping  up,  and  as 
netting  is  a  somewhat  elaborate  check  to  bother 
with,  some  more  easy  and  simple  method  may  be 
found  sufficient,  such  as  spraying  or  dusting'  the 
buslies  with  soot  or  lime  when  thev  are  a  little  damp, 
or  by  syringing  the  buslies  with  some  approved 
insecticide,  recommended  for  the  purpose,  which 
will  render  the  buds  distasteful. 

Apricots. — The  blossoms  of  the  Apricot  are 
usually  the  first  to  greet  us  among  the  outside 
fruits,  and  their  early  opening  renders  them 
extremely  liable  to  damage  by  frosts.  See  that 
a  protective  is  in  readiness  for  immediate  use, 
such  as  thin  blinds,  or,  where  this  carmot  be 
arranged  for,  stretch  a  double  thickness  of  netting 
over  the  trees.  An  isolated  tree  can  be  dealt 
w'ith  by  having  a  few  light,  evergreen  boughs 
placed  among  the  apricot  branches. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Late  Vineries. — As  soon  as  the  buds  com- 
mence to  swell  the  bushes  should  be  kept  closer 
and  similar  treatment  afforded  as  for  earlier 
Vines.  On  cold  nights  it  will  not  be  neces- 
sary to  introduce  much  fire-heat  for  a  start,  but 
a  warming  of  the  pipes  creates  a  genial  and  favour- 
able atmosphere.  Any  top-dressing  of  the  borders 
contemplated  should  be  done  at  once. 
H.  Turner. 
'Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland  ) 

Albury  Park  Gardens,   GiiilU/orU. 


FOR    NORTHERN    GARDENS. 

The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Early  Turnips. — Immediately  the  ground  is 
suitable,  small  sowings  of  early  varieties  should 
be  made.  Select  a  portion  of  the  garden  where 
the  soil  is  light  and  warm.  Stiff,  clayey  soil  is 
not  suitable  for  the  production  of  Turnips  of  fine 
quality.  Sow  in  drills  oins.  apart  and  about 
lin.  in  depth.  Cover  the  seed  lightly,  running 
the  rake  over  the  bed  to  give  a  neat  appearance. 
Early  Snowball  and  Early  White  Milan  are  excel- 
lent sorts  for  a  first  crop.  After  the  young  plants 
appear  an  occasional  dusting  with  soot  will  prove 
a  deterrent  to  the  ravages  of  slugs  or  birds.  Keep 
a  number  of  feathery  Spruce  branches  at  hand  for 
convenience  in  covering  the  bed  should  late  frosts 
prevail.  This  precaution  often  saves  the  early 
crop  and  precludes  the  likelihood  of  stringy  bulb's 
so  readily  caused  by  the  growth  being  checked. 

Vegetable    Marrows. — Seed    should    be    so\ra 

now  so  that  a  number  of  plants  may  be  available 
for  planting  on  partly  spent  hot-beds  and  thus 
ensure  an  earlier  supply  of  Marrows,  For  frame 
work  the  small  fruiting  varieties  are  preferable, 
maturing  more  quickly  and  proving  of  more 
adaptable  size  for  kitchen  purposes. 

Peas. — ^Sow  seed  at  regular  intervals  for  succes- 
sion, using  second  early  varieties  at  this  time. 
Gradus  and  Early  Morn  are  Peas  of  high  quality 
and  heavy  croppers. 

Asparagus-Beds. — Clear  off  the  rougher  portion 
of  the  winter  litter  and  give  the  beds  a  dressing 
of  salt.  Top-dress  with  fresh  soil,  and  make  trim 
by  digging  and  reforming  the  alleys. 

Autumn-Planted     Cabbages.— Give    these    a 

pinch  of  sulphate  of  ammonia,  afterwards  running 
the  cultivator  through  between  the  rows.  This 
wiU  be  found  considerably  to  accelerate  growth. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Vines. — Continue  to  disbud  as  required,  reducing 
to  one  on  each  spur  as  soon  as  the  bunches  are 
visible.  Growth  will  then  be  more  noticeable, 
and  an  increase  of  warmth  may  be  given  so  that 
full  and  proper  development  of  the  bunches  may 
be  ensured.  Exercise  care  in  tying  down  the 
laterals,  and  stop  same  at  the  second  leaf  beyond 
the  bunch.  Where  the  Vines  are  in  flower  keep 
the  atmosphere  fairly  dry.  Give  the  rods  a  sharp 
tap  about  midday  so  that  pollination  may  be 
assisted. 

Peaches. — in  the  earlier  houses  disbudding 
and  thinning  of  the  fruits  will  be  the  principal 
work.  Do  not  thin  too  severely,  as  there  is  alwaj-s 
a  likelihood  of  a  number  of  fruits  being  cast  after 
the  stoning  period.  In  disbudding  the  young 
growths  leave  one  as  near  to  the  base  of  each 
bearing  branch  as  possible,  tying  each  shoot 
carefully  as  growth  develops.'  Syringe  freely 
morning  and  afternoon,  taking  the  chill  off  the 
water  before  using.  Test  the  border  occasionally 
to  see  that  root  requirements  regarding  moisture 
are  not  neglected.  Until  the  stoning  period  is  past 
the  day  and  night  temperatures  should  be  6=.° 
and  60°  respectively. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Sweet  Peas. — Make  a  sowing  in  the  open 
now  on  ground  which  has  been  given  generous 
attention  during  the  autumn.  Sow  thinly  and 
thus  encourage  sturdy  growth.  Dust  with  soot 
immediately  the  seedlings  show  through  the  ground 
and  so  guard  against  the  ravages  of  slugs. 

Carnations. — Where  plants  of  these  have  been 
wintered  in  frames  they  must  now  be  transferred 
to  their  flowering  quarters.  Carnations  greatlv 
enjoy  the  addition  of  wood- ash  or  burnt  refuse 
to  the  soil,  so  where  this  is  available  have  it  lightly 
forked  in  when  preparing  the  bed.  Seedling 
plants  growing  in  nursery  borders  should  also  be 
moved  to  the  flower  garden  at  this  time.  Layers 
may  be  planted  about  i;irs.  apart,  but  more 
space  must  be  allotted  those  raised  from  seed, 
as  they  are  generally  larger  plants  and  of  more 
vigorous  growth. 

Clematis. — Among  hardy  climbers  no  plants 
equal  the  Clematis  in  variety  or  beauty.  From 
now  till  the  end  of  March  is  a  favourable  time  to 
plant.  Being  gross  feeders,  they  revel  in  ground 
that  has  been  enriched  with  well  rotted  manure. 
Should  the  natural  soil  be  devoid  of  lime,  some 
old  rubble  should  be  added.  C.  Jackmani  is 
eminently  suitable  for  arches  or  pergolas,  and 
should  be  pruned  hard  back  this  month.  C. 
lanuginosa   is   a   most   charming   plant,   flowering 


from  July  till  October.  This  variety  flowers 
from  the  previous  season's  wood,  so  only  requires 
thinning  and  tying  in  of  the  young  growths. 

James  McGram. 
(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.) 
Coodham,  Kilmarnock. 


CONSERVATORY    AND    GREENHOUSE. 

Chrysanthemums. — Cuttings  of  varieties  suit 
able  for  growing  in  small  pots  should  now  be 
rooted.  They  are  invaluable  for  furnishing  the 
stages  of  the  conservatory  as  well  as  for  decora- 
tion in  the  dwelling-house.  At  this  time  the 
cuttings  can  be  readily  rooted  in  a  cold  frame. 
They  should  be  potted  on  until  they  are  in  their 
flowering  pots,  6in.  pots  being  a  suitable  size. 
They  should  be  stopped  or  pinched  several  times 
to  induce  a  bushy  habit,  and  well  grown  specimens 
should  carry  about  nine  to  one  dozen  shoots. 
When  well  established  in  their  flowering  pots 
they  require  strict  attention  as  regards  watering 
and  feeding  if  they  are  to  retain  their  foliage 
right  down  to  the  pots.  For  this  method  of 
cultivation  it  is  important  to  grow  the  right 
varieties,  as  all  sorts  are  not  suitable  for  this 
work.  All  the  Caprice  du  Printemps  type  are 
excellent  for  this  piurpose,  Kathleen  Thompson 
being  one  of  the  best  of  the  set.  Other  good 
varieties  are  Baldoek's  Crimson,  Blanche  du 
Poitou,  Framfield  Pink,  Heston  Pink,  Heston 
WTiite,  Lady  Stanley,  Mdlle.  L,  Charvet,  Market 
Red,  SoleU  d'Octobre  and  Yellow  Cheer.  Some 
good  singles  are  Mrs.  Buckingham,  Ladysmith 
(still  one  of  the  best  for  this  work),  Joan  Edwards 
Kitty  Bourne,  Caterham  Bronze,  Mary  Morris, 
Queen  Alexandra,  Sussex  Yellow  and  Daret  th 
Jewel.  The  latter  variety  should  be  grown 
three  in  a  pot,  as  its  habit  is  rather  slender.  Earlier 
rooted  varieties  should  be  potted  on  as  they 
require  it. 

Streptsolon  Jameson!  is  worth  planting  out  ir 

a  sunny  position  in  a  cool  conservatory.  On« 
hears  frequent  complaints  that  this  plant  does 
not  flower  freely,  but  this  is  usually  due  to  tht 
fact  that  it  is  not  freely  exposed  to  plenty  ol 
sunshine.  It  is  easily  propagated  by  means  ol 
cuttings,  and  makes  fine  large  specimens  if  grown 
on  in  large  pots. 

Begonia  manicata.^ — This  beautiful  winter 
flowermg  Begonia  is  a  very  old  garden  plant 
being  introduced  from  Mexico  in  1842.  B> 
present-day  cultivators  its  merits  do  not  seem  tc 
be  fully  recognised,  and  when  seen  its  cultivation 
seems  to  be  misunderstood,  at  least  when 
flower ;  then  one  generally  sees  it  in  a  stove 
temperature,  in  which  the  flowers  come  pale 
colour  and  only  lasts  in  flower  for  about  three 
weeks.  On  the  other  hand,  if  the  plants  arc 
placed  in  a  conservatory — when  the  flowers 
commence  to  open — with  a  temperature  of  45 
to  50°,  they  come  a  beautiful  colour  and  last  in 
flower  for  three  months.  It  is  easily  propagated 
by  means  of  cuttings  during  April  or  May,  and 
should  be  grown  in  7in.  pots  the  first  season, 
when  it  is  useful  for  furnishing  the  stages.  I) 
grown  on  in  loin.  or  I2in.  pots  the  second  season, 
it  makes  large  specimens  some  6ft.  high  with  great 
sprays  of  rosy  pink  flowers.  There  is  a  variety 
with  maculated  foliage  and  another  with  wonderful 
crisped  leaves. 

Begonia  coccinea  is  another  fine  greenhousf 
Begonia  which  makes  a  fine  large  specimen,  anc 
is  very  beautiful  if  it  can  be  planted  out  and  trainee 
imder  the  roof  glass.  Begonia  President  Carnot 
is  seen  to  best  advantage  when  grown  in  the  same 
way,  although  B.  Luzerna^ — somewhat  resembling 
B.  President  Carnot — is  a  much  better  plant  foi 
the  greenhouse,  and  is  very  fine  when  planted  out 
and  trained  up  a  pillar.  The  old  and  beautiful 
B,  fuchsioides  is  also  seen  to  best  advantage  when 
planted  out  and  trained  against  a  back  wall, 

Hibbertia  dentata. — This  beautiful  evergreen 
greenhouse  climber  has  been  in  flower  for  some 
weeks  now.  Its  dark  yellow  flowers,  which  ar< 
some  2ins,  in  diameter,  are  very  striking.  The 
plant  is  easily  propagated  by  means  of  cuttings 
or  seeds,  and  it  usually  ripens  plenty  of  good  seed, 
Hidalgoa  Wercklei,  generally  known  as  tht 
climbing  Dahlia,  is  another  beautiful  greenhouse 
climber,  but  does  not  flower  freely  unless  it  is 
allowed  full  freedom  of  growth  and  full  exposure 
to  plenty  of  light  and  sun. 

General  Work. — Prick  off  seedlings  of  all  sorts 
before  they  become  crowded.  Rooted  cuttings 
should  also  be  potted  off  before  they  become  drawl 
and  weak,  shading  them  from  bright  sunshine 
until  they  get  away  at  the  root.  J.  Coutts. 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kew. 


THE 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


I.  LXXXVI.— No.  2627. 

red  as  Second-class  Matter  at  the  New  York.  N.Y..  Post  Office. 


Saturday,  March  25,  1922 


REGISTERED     AT     THE     GENERAL 

POST    OFFICE    AS    A    NEWSPAPER 

AND     FOR     CANADIAN     MAOAZINE 

POST. 


Price  THREEP1£NCK 

Yearly  Subscription 
Inland.    17/4;    Foreign,  17/4 


MERRYWEATHER'S     ROSES 


PRUNE    IN    SPRING    TO    CUT    IN    SUMMER. 


FOR    THE    GARDEN  I 
FOR    BEDS! 


FOR    EXHIBITION! 
FOR    EVERYWHERE! 


Also   Fruit  Trees,  Shirubs,  Ornamental  Trees. 
Please  state  your  wants. 

H.    MERRYWEATHER  &    SONS,  LTD. 

Garden  Specialists,  SOUTHWELL.  NOTTS. 

BEAUTIFUL     LILIES     for     MARCH     PLANTING. 

LILIUM  AURATUM,  tlip  Wliito  Goliloii-iaved  spotted  Lily  of  Japan,  bearin"  large  sweeUy 

scented  flowers per  dozen,  21  /.  •  each  2/- 

Larser  Inilbs         per  dozen,  30/-  and  40/. ;  each  2/9  and  3/6 

LILIUM  CROCEUM,  the  True  Cottager's  Orange  Lily,  flery  orange  flowers. 

per  dozen,  10/6  ;  each  1/- 

LILIUM  HANSONI,  the  Japaticse  Yellow  Martagon  Lily,  bright  golden  yellow  spotted 
iTlnisoii-niaroon per  dozen,  30/-  ;  each  2/9 

LILIUM  SPECIOSUM  ALBUM,  handsome  white  flowers  ..  per  dozen,  21/- ;  each  2/- 
II  »  ,,  KRAETZERI,  beautiful  large  white  flowers  of  great 
substance,  with  dark  orange  anthers per  dozen,  30/- :  each  2/9 

LILIUM  SPECIOSUM  RUBRUM,  sufiufcd  and  lieavily  spotted  crimson  on  white  ground, 

per  dozen,  21  /-  ;  each  21- 

LILIuM    SPECIOSUM    MELPOMENE,    fine    handsome    flowers,   rich  crimson,   spotted 

lujple-criniEon  and  margined  white per  dozen,  30/- ;  each  2/9 

Extra  strong  bulbs         per  dozen,  40/-  ;  each  3/e 

Descriptive    Catalogue  o/  Lilies,  QIariioli,  TigridiaE,  etc.,  fiee  on  at-t>licaiion. 

11,  12  A  13,  KINQ  STREET, 
COVENT  GARDEN,  LONDON,  W.ca. 

VVTITH   the   decline   in  costs  of  production,  cheaper  coal  particularly,  and 
'  »      Anticipating  a  Reduction  in  Postal  Rates,  at  the  time  of  despatch, 
we  are  reducing  the  prices  of  our 

Early  Flowering  Chrysanthemums. 

At  planting   time  (about  May   1st)  we  will  send  one  dozen  Early   Flowering 
Chrysanthemums  for  the  garden  for  5/-,  24  in   12  varieties  for  9/-,  50  in  25 
varieties  for  16/-,  100  in  50  varieties  for  30/-,  or  100  in  25  varieties  for  25/-. 
THE     BEST    PLANTS.  THE     BEST    VARIETIES. 

Post    Free     for     Cash     with     Order. 
Plants    of   Japanese,    Incurved,     Decoratives    and     Singles    for    greenhouse 
flowering   in   the  Winter,   should  be  obtained   now.     Our  selections,  6/-  per 
dozen.     When  ordering,  please  state  section  required. 

Descriptive     Catalogue     on     Application. 

W.    WELLS    &    CO..    MERSTHAM,    SURREY. 


BARR    &    SONS, 


ORCHIDS 

of  vigorous   habit   and    superior  constitution.     A  visit  to  our  Establishment 

is    cordially    invited    to    inspect    our     immense     and     interesting     STOCK 

RAISED     BY     THE 

PURE    CULTURE    SYSTEM 

Choice    Species,    Rare    Botanical    Specimens.     Albinos    in    warm    and   cool 

sections  also  a  speciality. 
E.xpert    Advice    given    and    all    Requisites    supplied;   for    the    good    culture 

of   Orchids. 

CHARLE8W0RTH  &  CO.,  "ITe^^S!*^ 


THE     GARDEN. 


[March  25,  1922. 


« 


THE    GARDEN"   CATALOGUE    GUIDE 


Rose  Specialists 


ELISHA  J.  HICKS,  M.C.  N.R.S.,  etc. 

HURST,  BERKS 

The  Champion   Oeoorativa  Ron   Growop    of  England 

WALTER    EASLEA    &    SONSi 
EASTWOOD,    LEIGH-ON-SEA,    ESSEX. 

Essex  produces  the  World's  Finest  Roses. 

Our  plants  are  grown  in  fields  exposed  to  sea  air. 

All  the  latest  and  best  varieties. 


Fruit  Trees  and  Plants 


PERRY'S 

Hardy  Plant  Farms 

ENFIELD.  MIDDX. 


New  Alpines 
and   Perennials 


Complete 
Collection 


KELWAY  &  SON 
Retail  Plant  Departmen  r 
LANGPORT,  SOMERSET. 


Hardy  Plants 
Colour  Borders 
Gladioli 


HARDY     AZALEAS    AND     FLOWERING     SHRUBS 


R.  &  G.  CUTHBERT 

SOUTHGATE 

MIDDLESEX 

Established  1797 


For  planting  and 
Conservatory 
decoration. 
Catalogue  of  our 
new  and  beautiful 
varieties  post 
free 


LAXTON  BROS. 

Nurseries 
BEDFORD 


Strawberries 

and 

Fruit  Trees 


W.  WELLS,  JuNR. 
Hardy  Plant  Nursery 
MERSTHAM,  SURREY 


Specialists  in 
Hardy   Plants 
and   Alpines 
Catalogues  free 


Seeds  and  Bulbs 


R.  H.  BATH,  Ltd. 
The  Floral  Farms 
WISBECH 


Home-Grown 
Bulbs  and 
Seeds 


BLACKMORE  &  LANGDON 
Tvverton  Hill  Nursery 
BATH 


Begonias 
Delphiniums 
Gloxinias 
Cyclamen,  etc. 


DAWKINS 

408,  King's  Road 

CHELSEA,  S.W. 


Seed  Catalogue 
and  Special 
Bulb  Offer. 


SPENCE'S  DESCRIPTIVE  CATALOGUE  of 
SELECTED  SCOTCH  SEED  POTATOES  from 
the  famous  Dunbar  district,  post  free.  Please 
mention  "  The  Garden."— CHAS.T.SPENCE, 
Seed  Potato  Specialist.  DUNBAR. 

QOLD     MEDAL    CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 

Catalogue  free  containing  full  list  of  all  the  best  and  up-to- 
date  varieties  in  all  sections,  also  list  of  Novelties  for  1922. 

GOLD   MEDAL   MICHAELMAS  DAISIES. 

1  shall  be  pleased  to  supply  for  63/-  one  each  of  the  SO 
varieties  for  which  I  was  awarded  the  Gold  Medal  of  the 
R.H.S.  in  September  last,  or  will  make  special  selections 
at  10/-,  15/-  and  20/-  per  dozen. 

QOLD  MEDAL  PERENNIAL  PHLOX. 

If  you  want  the  best  try  H.  J.  JONES'  selection.  12  very 
fine  unnamed,  alt  colours  mi.xed,  6/-  ;  12  very  fine  named 
varieties,  10/-;  12  extr.i  fine  named,  15/- ;  12  very  fine  New 
varieties,  20/-. 

"  Catalonuc  of  the  above  and  iiuiny  other  uuod  /iLi  ii  Is /roni 

H.  J.  JONES,  Ryecroft  Nurseries,  LEWISHAM.S.E.IS 


TUBS     FOR     SHRUBS. 

WIRE  BOUND  patent,  over  100 
prizes.  R.H.S.  Medal,  1910.  No  warpinvi  or 
shrinking.  In  Oak,  Beech,  Teak.  &c.  HJKhly 
decorative.— Price  List  from  Phadai.  ^  Co., 
2fi.  Goodge  Street,  London,  VV.l. 


Garden  Sundries 


G.  H.  RICHARDS 
234,  Borough 
LONDON,  S.E.I 


Trad* 
only. 


XL  ALL 

Insecticides  and 
Fumigants 


C.  E.  WEST 
Hicham  Hill,  E.iy 
Est.  1888 


West's  Patent  Garden  Siintlries, 
,,       Weeder. 

"  Celu"  Lahels. 
RafH;itape  *"  Westmaline.  " 
liisectieides.  Wied  Killers,  etc 
Catalogue  and  frte  samples. 


W.  WALTERS  &  CO. 
The  Works 
Amberley  Grove 
CROYDON,  SURREY 


Lath, 

Greenhouse, 
Blinds, 

Artistic  Trellis, 
Rustic  Work, 


RICHARD  MELHUISH,   Ltd. 
50 '5 1,  Fetter  Lane,  E.C.4. 
Branch  Depot  : 

143  Holborn  Bars 


Gardon  Tools  of 
all  kinds. 
Catalogue     "B" 
post  free. 


CORRY  &  CO.,  Ltd. 
Shad  Thames,  S.E.i  and 
Bedford  Chambers 
Covent  Garden,  W.C.2 


Merchants  and 
Manufacturers 
of  Horticultural 
Sundries 
Fertilizers  and 
Insecticides,  etc. 


J.  BENTLEY,  Ltd. 
Barrow-on-Humber 
HULL 


Weed  Destroyers 
Lawn  Sand 
Insecticides 
Shrubs,  etc. 


Landscape  Gardening 


W.  H.  GAZE  &  SONS,  Ltd. 
High  Street 
KINGSTON-ON-THAMES 


Landscape,  Rock 
and  Water  Qarden 
Model  Gardens 
Portsmouth    Road 
Surbiton 


R.  WALLACE  &  CO., 
The  Old  Gardens 
TUNBRIDGE  WELLS 


Ltd. 


LaodBoape  &  Garder 
Arcblteots.  Queen 
Alexandra's  Cup  foi 
Beat  Rock  and  Watet 
Garden,  lateroatlonal 
Show.  1912. 


J.  CHEAL   &    SONS,  Ltd. 

Nurseries 

CRAWLEY 


Landscape 
Gardeners 
Trees  and 
Shrubs,  etc. 


NATURE    &    ART. 

Largest  and   finest  stock  of   CLIPPED 
YEW  &  BOX  TREES  in  the  country. 
Thousands  of  Specimens  to  select  from. 
Catalogues  free  on  demand. 
JOHN  KLINKERT,  F.R.H.S.,  M.C.H. 
K«w    Topiary    Nuraarl**, 

RICHMOND,    LONDON. 


MISS  EVELYN  FAWSSETT 

(Specialist  in  Garden  Planning) 

83,  High  Street 
LEWES,  SUSSEX 


New  Gardens  de- 
signed. Old  Gardens 
Re-arranged.  Plant- 
ing plans  lor  borders, 
etc.  Terms  on  appli- 
cation. 


FORBES'  Catalogue. 

Florists'  Flowers,  Hardy  Plants,  Vegetable 
and   Flower   Seeds,  Free  on  Application. 

JOHN      FORBES     (Hawick),      Ltd., 

The    King's    Nurserymen, 

HAWICK,  SCOTLAND. 


NEW    ROSES. 

Two    fine    Novelties    raised    by    us. 


"GLOWWORM"  (Pernetiana) 

May  be  described  as  a  perpetual   flowering 
Austrian  Copper.     Very  fragrant. 

"LULU" 

The  longest  bud  of  any  rose.     Lovely  Apricot 

colour.    Surpasses     Irish  Elegance."    Grand 

for  table  decorations. 

Splendid    field   grown    plants    of    both    varieties, 
2/6  each.        24/-  doz..   Carr.  Paid. 


WALTER  EASLEA  &  SONS, 

Rose     Specialists, 
EASTWOOD,     LEIGH  -  ON  -  SEA, 

W.   WELLS,   Junr., 

Hardy  Plant  Nurseries, 
Merstham,     Surrey. 

Collections  of  Herbaceous  Plants 

for     Present     Planting. 

ORDER   NOW  AND   ENSURE   DELIVERY. 


Phlox,  (iolil  Stfdal  varintii'.'*.  distinct  . . 

,,       new.  of  n-ci'nt  introduclion 

,,        latest  novelties 
Michaelmas  Daisies,  standard  ^'arieties 

,,  ,,         of  recent  introduction 

,,  ,,         latest  novelties. . 

Papaver  Orientale,  -.irand  lar^e  varieties 
Heleniums,  in  0  distinct  varieties 
Delphiniums,  Gold  .Medal  varieties     .  .    18/- 
Sunbeam  Poppies,  tine  for  vases 
Aconitums,  in  6  distinct  varieties 
Anemone  Japonica,  in  6  distinct  varieties   . . 
Aquilegia  (CnUnnl'iiie),  in  tj  distinct  varieties 
Centaureas,  in  0  di-^tinct  varieties 
Campanulas,  in  l\i  l)eaiitifnl  varieties 
Chrysanthemum  maximum,  in  (5  vars. 
Erigerons,  in  6  varielirs,  t.eautiful  Mnes 
Qalegas,  in  -1  distinct  colours   .. 
Hemerocallis,  in  6  distinct  varieties  . . 
Heucheras,  in  6  aistinct  varieties 
Iris  Qermanica,  in  12  distinct  varieties 
Pyrethrum,  tzor^iious  sitiL'lis  and  double- 
Rudbeckias,  in  6  distinct  varieties 
Sidalceas  (.Mallow  Pink),  distinct 
Veronicas,  in  6  varieties,  cistinct 


9,- 
16,- 

27/- 

8/- 

15- 

20  - 

4  6 

4  - 
30,- 

,5/- 
|4/- 
4,'- 
'4,'- 
4/- 
12/- 

5  6 
7  6 
2/6 
4/- 
4/- 

8/-  anil  12- 
9'- 
4/- 
3/- 
4/- 


9/-  and 
for  cuttin<^ 


Collections  of  Alpine  and  Rock  Plants. 


Crazy  Paving  Plants,  disiinef.. 

Achilleas,  distinct 

Arabis,  distinct 

Arenarias,  distinct 

Aubrietias,  fine  varit^ties,  distinct 

Campanulas,  distinct 

Cistus  (Sun  Roses),  distinct 

Dianthus,  distinct 

Erigeron   (.\lpinc),  distitir  t 

Qentians,  liistinct.. 

Qlobularias,  distinct 

Qypsophila,  distinct 

Helianthemums  (Reck  Itoses),  distinct 

Helichrysum,  distinct 

Hypericum,  distinct 

iberis,  distinct 

Lithospermum,  Heavenly  Blue 

CEnoiheras,  distinct 

Phlox,  .Vlpine,  distinct     .  . 

Potentillas,  Alpine,  distinct 

Primulas,  distinct 

Ramondia  Pyrenaica,  larj^c  rosettes  . . 

Saxifragas,  Silver 

,,  Mossy 

,,  Cushion 

Sedum,  distinct     .. 
Sempervivum,  distinct    .  . 
Silene,  distinct 
Thymus,  distinct  . . 
Veronicas,  distinct 
Violas,  .Mpine,  distinct 


..  9/- 

..  4/- 

■  ■  4/- 

..  4/- 

..  8/- 

. .  8/- 

..  5/- 

..  4/- 

.  .  4,- 
6/-  and  8/- 

.  .  2  - 

..  26 

..  8  - 

. .  2,6 

..  4  - 

..  21- 

.  .  10  - 

.  .  4/- 

.  .  4  - 

..  4- 

.  .  4- 

..  10- 

..  9/- 

..  8,'- 

.  .  4  - 

.  .  8  - 

..  8- 

.  .  4,'- 

. .  8;- 

..  8/- 

. .  4/- 


Ail  above   Alpines  are    strong  stuff  from   Pots. 

11  Herbaceous  Plants  r.ji  1  iit   Flower  Work,  8/-;    24,  15/-; 

Ml.  27,6  ;    too.  50  - 

Send    for    Descriptive    Catalogue,    Post   Free. 


.5^^^ 


No. 


Z637-VOL  Lxxxvi]     NOTES  OF  THE  WEEK 


[March  25,  1922. 


WITH  Eastertide  but  three  short 
weeks  in  front  work  in  the  garden 
takes  on  even  greater  urgency. 
The  planting  season  made  a  very 
late  start,  and  although  the  winter 
has,  on  the  whole,  been  propitious,  there  are 
many  planting  programmes  yet  incomplete.  For- 
tunately the  lengthening  day  and  the  advent  of 
"Summer  Time"  on  March  26  allows  overtime 
to  be  worked,  but  the  pressiure  of  routine  tasks 
greatly  curtails  the  time  which  can  be  devoted  to 
new  planting  and  alterations. 

The  Inter-nodal  Cutting  .^It  is  rather  strange 
that  so  many  otherwise  excellent  amateur  gar- 
deners take  it  for  granted  that  all  cuttings  should  be 
taken  immediately  below  a  joint  (or  node).  Carna- 
tion and  Pink  pipings  form  an  exception  with  which 
many  amateurs  are  familiar  though  these  are  not, 
properly  speaking,  inter-nodal  cuttings  or  in- 
deed cuttings  at  all.  Quite  as  good,  if  not  better, 
results  may  be  obtained  from  cuttings  taken  at 
the  joint  in  the  usual  way 
and,  of  course,  split  to  pro- 
vide a  surface  foj"  the  roots 
to  break  from.  Inter-nodal 
cuttings  are  essential  if  good 
plants  are  to  be  obtained  of 
Fuchsia,  Coleus  or  Tuberous 
Begonia.  They  are  also 
largely  utilised  to  propagate 
the  various  species  of  Bam 
boo.  They  are  easier  to 
make  than  the  nodal  ones 
so  that  the  preference  of 
some  plants  for  this  form  of 
propagation  should  be  rather 
a  matter  for  congratualtiou 
than  otherwise. 

The  Bedding  Zonal.— 
The  Zonal  Pelargonium  or 
Geraniimi,  as  it  is  still  often 
called,  is  not  used  for  bed- 
diug-out  to  anything  like 
the  extert  it  was  even  in 
1914  ;  certainly  but  a  very 
small  fraction  of  the  number 
of  plants  are  now  employed 
for  this  purpose  which  were 

utilised,  say,  two  or  three  decades  ago.  The 
"  Zonal"  has,  none  the  less,  its  uses  and  it  often 
happens,  at  this  season,  that  the  gardener  would  like 
a  rather  larger  stock  than  he  in  fact  possesses. 
There  is  still  time  to  remove  and  strike  the  tops 
of  strong  and  established  young  plants  or,  of  course, 
to  take  more  cuttings  from  stock  plants.  If  the 
cuttings  now  to  be  rooted  are  to  produce  plants 
serviceable  at  bedding-out  time,  it  is,  however, 
essential  that  their  natural  resources  be  conserved 
to  the  utmost,  so  that  they  may  root  quickly  and 
grow   away  with  all   possible  rapidity.      A   sharp 


knife  should  be  used  carefully  to  remove  the  scales 
which  protect  each  joint,  but  no  leaves  whatever 
should  be  trimmed  from  the  cutting  before  inser- 
tion. The  petiole  of  the  bottom  leaf  and  possibly 
of  the  second  one  will  be  buried  in  the  rooting 
compost  and  the  bottom  leaf  may,  very  probably, 
wither  before  rooting  is  complete,  but  it  will,  in 
the  meantime,  have  assisted  very  materially  in  the 
establishment  of  the  young  plant.  The  actual 
striking  must  take  place  in  a  clean  sharp 
medium,  but,  once  rooted,  the  young  plants 
should  be  transferred  without  delay  to  3in. 
pots  filled  with  moderately  rich  but  not  too 
light  compost. 

Drought  and  Fertility. — Should  the  present 
season  be  at  all  normal,  gardeners  may  hope  to 
derive  benefit  from  the  unfavourable  conditions 
which  prevailed  last  summer.  It  is  generally 
accepted  that  drought  has  a  fertilising  action  upon 
the  land,  a  fact  which  is  utilised  by  the  farmer  in 
his  system  of  working  fallows.      Quite  apart  from 


MOST    WELCOME    AT    THIS 


SEASON — THE 
BLANDA. 


AZURE    PLATTERS    OF    ANEMONE 


this,  man\  gardeners  will  have  noticed  that  dung 
applied  to  the  soil  rather  late  in  the  winter  of 
1921-22  has  hardly  disintegrated  at  all,  so  that  they 
may  expect  to  derive  some  benefit  from  it  during  the 
coming  summer.  It  is  probable  that  other  not 
over-rapid  fertilisers,  such  as  basic  slag,  bones  and 
"  super-phosphate,"  were  appropriated  to  a  far 
smaller  extent  than  usual.  The  winter  has  been 
favourable  and  vegetation  now  is  backward — 
always  a  healthy  sign — so  that  the  gardener  has 
every  right  to  look  forward  with  renewed  hope  to 
the  coming  season. 


A  Charming  Anemone. — Some  time  before  our 
native  wind-flower  makes  a  carpet  for  Nature  s 
mass-planting  of  Bluebells,  colonies  of  the  bright 
blue  .'Anemone  blanda  will  have  made  beautiful  the 
gardens  where  it  is  employed.  The  knobbly  root- 
stocks  of  this  beautiful  blue  species  do  not  produce 
the  masses  of  flower  and  foliage  which  characterise 
the  Appenine  species  some  weeks  later,  but  if 
planted  thickly  they  form  a  rich  blue  carpet  very 
beautiful  to  behold.  A  soil  containing  a  large 
percentage  of  leaf  mould  suits  them  best  and  also  a 
little  shade  is  appreciated.  If  care  is  taken  in 
weeding  among  them  hosts  of  self-sown  seedlings 
will  augment  the  colony,  but  it  if  perhaps  better  to 
collect  as  much  as  possible  of  the  seed,  to  sow  it 
in  pans  and  to  place  it  in  a  cold  frame  where  it 
will  then  germinate  comparatively  quickly.  Should 
the  seed  be  kept  if  only  for  a  week  or  two  it  will 
probably  take  a  full  twelve  months  to  germinate 
it.  Some  of  the  seeds  will,  in  any  event,  self-sow 
themselves,  as,  in  common  with  most  other  genera 
of  the  Ranunculaceae,  the 
Anemones  quickly  shed 
their  seeds  when  these  are 
ripe.  The  same  precautions 
as  to  seed  saving  and  sowing 
apply  also  to  the  Appenine 
\\indflower  (A.  apennina) 
and  to  the  Hepaticas  (A. 
Hepatica  and  A.  angulosa), 
of  which  the  latter  is  larger 
and  finer  than  the  well 
known  old  favourite,  but 
tends  to  be  a  little  later  to 
flower.  There  are  several 
very  beautiful  forms  of 
Anemone  blanda  but  though 
easy  to  grow  and  very 
beautiful  they  are"  com- 
paratively seldom  seen  in 
gardens.  They  range  from 
pm-c  white  to  velvety  purple 
and  include  rose  shades. 
Perhaps  the  most  remark- 
able is  the  variety  scythinica 
of  which  the  blossoms  are 
white  within,  blue  without, 
thus  producing  an  effect 
comparable  to  that  of  A.  nemorosa  Robinson- 
iana  but  with  a  stronger  contrast  of  colour. 

The  Rock  Garden  will,  in  a  very  few  weeks,  be  at 
the  summit  of  its  glory.  It  behoves  the  plant-lover 
now  to  go  over  his  treasures  and  to  see  that  choice 
plants  are  not  in  danger  of  being  smothered  by 
more  rampant  species  nor  choked  by  insidious 
weeds  which  have  established  themselves  in  crevices 
from  which  they  can  only  be  dislodged  by  pulling 
down  part  of  the  rock-work.  Any  "■  tidying  up," 
however,  should  be  done  circumspectly  or  the 
natural  appearance  of  the  garden  will  be  destroyed 


136 


THE    GARDEN. 


[March  25,  1922. 


SPRING    TREATMENT    OF    LAWNS 

How  many  lawns  of  all  sizes  lack  that  finish  which   makes  a  well  kept  Etiglish  lawn  the 

admiration  of  the  world. 


THE  season  has  come  round  when  the 
lawns  claim  a  good  deal  of  the  gardener's 
attention.  There  is  nothing  so  essential 
to  a  restful  and  satisfying  flower  garden 
as  a  well  kept  sward.  Whether  this 
takes  the  form  of  one  or  more  fairly  extensive 
formal  lawns,  suitable,  it  may  be,  for  lawn  games  ; 
whether  the  sward  be  quite  informal  in  shape, 
contour  and  arrangement — a  restful  stretch  of 
verdure  leading  the  eye  to  the  surrounding 
planting ;  or  finally,  even  though,  as  must  be  the 
case  in  many  small  gardens,  the  turf  is  only  used 
to  form  paths  between  beds  and  borders,  it  is  of 
the  utmost  importance  that  it  be  well  kept. 

Even  on  a  lawn  which  makes  no  pretence  to 
being  level,  which  in  fact  swells  gradually  to 
embrace  the  plantings  which  surround  it,  local 
hollows,  such  as  are  occasioned  by  uneven  settling 
of  the  sub-soil,  are  very  objectionable  both  to 
see  and  to  walk  over.  There  is  still  time  to  lift 
these  patches,  to  make  up  and  to  relay  ;    but  the 


work  must  not  longer  be  delayed.  Most  troubles 
with  lawns,  apart  from  the  grass  dying  away  in 
shady  positions — of  which  more  anon — probably 
originate  from  bad  making  in  the  first  instarce. 
An  exception  to  this  statement  is  debility  in  old 
lawns  brought  about  by  neglect.  A  symptom 
of  the  conditions  subsisting  is,  of  course,  the 
presence  of  moss.  Scarifying  the  surface  to 
aerate  the  clogged-up  soil  and  a  dressing  of  good 
lawn  sand  will  often  work  wonders,  but  it  is 
advisable  to  take  steps  to  supply  more  permanent 
nourishment  by  dressings,  during  the  following 
winter,  of  bone  meal  and  horse  dung,  it  has 
become  fashionable  to  recommend  basic  slag 
for  renovating  lawns.  This  is  very  effective  if 
a  strong  plant  of  Clover  is  wanted,  but  it  is  to  be 
feared  that  many  people  apply  this  particular 
fertiliser  without  reahsing  this  or  wanting  Clover 
in  the  least.  Clover  is,  of  course,  intolerable  in 
a  tennis  lawn,  since  it  stains  the  balls  so  badly  ; 
but,  in  addition  to  this,  it  gives  a  patchy  appearance 


MUCH    07    THE    CHARM    OF    THE    GARDEN    ALWAYS    CENTRES    IN    BEAUTIFUL 

GREENSWARD. 


to  the  sward.  It  is  sometimes  recommendi  d 
because  it  remains  green  in  drought,  but  as  it  is 
not  possible  to  get  it  to  lorm  an  even  carpet, 
the  green  oases  merely  serve  to  accentuate  the 
yellowness  or  brownness  of  the  cloverlcss  patches.' 
It  occasionally  happens  that  a  very  old  lawn 
will  quite  Jail  to  respond  to  any  less  drastic  treat- 
ment than  relaying.  In  such  case  it  is  necessary  to 
remove  and  to  replace  by  new  the  soil  to  a  spade 
depth.  It  is  probable  that  such  worn-out  lawns 
have,  at  some  time,  been  maltreated.  The  roller 
has  with  many  gardeners  become  a  fetish.  They 
appear  to  think  that  the  roller'  is  an  efficaceous 
tool  lor  removing  local  inequalities.  To  have  any 
such  effect  it  must  necessarily  be  applied  when  the 
lawn  is  really  wet,  and  any  levelling  it  effects, 
which  is  small,  is  effected  by  undue  compression 
of  the  soil.  Lawns  so  treated  do  not,  as  a  rule, 
grow  a  good  type  of  grass,  and  they  are  not  seldom 
infested  with  moss.  Obviously,  no  surface  appli- 
cation of  fertihsers  can  correct  a  want  of  porosity 
in  the  soil.  After  the  winter,  especially  in  districts 
where  much  frost  has  been  experienced,  a  certain 
amount  of  consolidation  is,  of  course,  necessary, 
and  this  is  best  applied  with  the  roller,  but  care 
should  be  taken  to  see  that  the  lawn  's  not  over- wet. 
Unless  reserve  turf  is  grown  to  repair  bare 
places,  which  is  very  seldom  the  case  in  private 
gardens,  it  is  now  too  late  to  patch  with  turves  ; 
but  if  good  seeds  be  procured  from  a  reputable 
firm  to  whom  the  peculiarities  of  the  soil  have 
been  explained,  this  will  be  no  hardship.  Where 
re-sowing  is  to  be  carried  out,  the  surface  soil 
should  be  broken  up  several  inches  deep,  but 
vmless  it  has  been  much  trodden  when  bare  and 
so  soured,  it  will  be  better  not  to  replace  it,  as 
new  soil  so  brought  in  ofttimes  is  full  of  pernicious 
weed  seeds.  Always  sow  lawn  seeds  thickly — 
2  ozs.  to  the  square  yard  is  a  fair  quantity  to 
allow.  Protection  from  birds  must  be  afforded, 
dther  by  the  use  of  black  cotton  stretched  back 
and  forth  across  the  re-sown  patch  a  few  inches 
from  the  ground,  or,  if,  owing  to  the  size  of  the 
re-sown  area,  this  is  impracticable,  by  some  form 
of  bird  scarer,  such  as  feathers  or  red  twill  on 
strings. 

Thin  places  may  generally  be  renovated  without 
re-sowing  if  a  suitable  chemical  manure  be  applied. 
The  composition  of  this  should  vary  considerably 
with  the  class  of  soil.  Several  firms  now  make  a 
speciality  of  lawns,  their  grasses  and  several 
requirements,  and  the  special  fertilisers  they  supply 
for  difterent  soils  may  be  relied  upon. 

Lawns  mossy  through  poverty  have  already 
been  described  and  the  simple  treatment  necessary 
to  eradicate  the  moss,  but  where  the  tro\ible  comes, 
as  it  often  does,  from  insufficient  drainage,  the 
case  is  different.  It  is  now  too  late,  however,  to 
undertake  drainage  operations,  and  a  dressing  of 
lawn  sand,  though  only  a  temporary  measure, 
will  more  than  repay  its  cost  in  the  improved 
sward  and  easier  cutting  during  the  present  season. 
From  now  onwards  much  time  will  necessarily 
have  to  be  devoted  to  mowing.  The  more  closely 
mown  the  sward  is  kept,  the  smaller  the  chance 
that  coarse,  undesirable  grasses  have  of  persisting. 
The  finer  lawn  grasses  tiller  and  seem  to  luxuriate 
under  the  lawn-mower,  but  this  is  far  from  being 
the  case  with  the  coarser  grasses  more  appropriate 
to  meadow  land.  Even  here,  however,  a  word 
of  caution  is  necessary.  The  lawn-mower  should 
not   be  used   when   the  grass  is  wet.     Were   this 


March  25,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


13V 


point  borne  more  steadfastly  in  mind,  many  of 
the  worn-out  patches  seen  on  lawns  would  be 
things  of  the  past. 

It  is  quite  impossible  properly  to  maintain  a 
lawn  without  an  efficient  lawn-mower.  Where 
the  sward  is  of  any  extent  it  may  probably  prove 
profitable  to  employ  two  types.  The  roller  type 
has  the  advantage  of  rolling  as  it  cuts  and  does 
not  damage  the  surface  of  the  lawn  when  it  is 
on  the  soft  side — as  already  explained,  lawns 
should  never  be  cut  when  really  wet.  Moreover, 
the  roller  machine  cuts  easily  to  the  extreme 
edge  of  the  lawn,  whether  against  beds  or  paths, 
which,  without  a  special  and  not  over-satisfactory 
attachment,  the  lightei  tj^pe  of  machine  without 
a  front  roller  cannot  do.  It  may  well  be  asked 
what  possible  service,  where  the  heavier  type  is 
available,  these  lighter  machines  can  render.     As 


a  fact,  where  there  is  any  extent  of  lawn  to  traverse, 
they  are  very  useful,  especially  when  the  lawn 
is  quite  sound  and  dry  in  summer-time.  They 
are  much  lighter  not  only  in  dead  weight,  but  in 
draught,  and  whereas,  in  a  good  type,  the  driving 
wheels  are  large,  an  exceptionally  good  speed  is 
imparted  to  the  cutters,  so  that,  under  the  con- 
d  tions  described,  it  should  be  as  easy  to  push 
a  i7in.  high  wheel  American  pattern  machine  as 
a  i2in.  one  with  the  front  roller,  and  this  without 
any  loss  of  efficiency.  IW 

The  besom  which,  at  this  season,  should 
always  be  applied  to  spread  worm-casts 
before  roUing  or  mowing  commences  will  also 
serve,  if  thoroughly  applied,  to  remove  the 
small  stones  which  play  havoc  with 
perhaps  newly-ground  cutting  cylinders  of 
machines. 


the 
the 


WATER- LOVING    HARDY    PRIMULAS 

The  comparative  values  of  the  better  species   and   varieties   are   discussed,    and  a   cheap 
method  of  procuring  a  stock  indicated. 


PRIMULA  JAPONICA  was  for  years  in 
a  class  by  itself  as  a  hardy,  bog-loving 
Primula.  Hardy  as  the  proverbial 
Cabbage  and  obtainable  ultimately  in 
a  viriety  of  colours — deep  crimson, 
bright  rose,  pale  rose  and  a  not  too  pure  a  white — 
it  was  indeed  a  valuable  plant  for  wet  ground, 
especially  by  the  waterside.  One  still  remembers 
how  fine  we  thought  it  until  the  advent  of  the 
stately  Primula  pulverulenta.  Similar  in  its  typical 
colour — a  deep  wine-crimson — the  newcomer  made 
the' thick-set  P.  japonica  look  unbelievably  plebian, 
for  it  had  an  "  air  "  not  easy  to  describe.  Taller 
than  the  longer  known  plant,  more  slender  of 
stem  and  its  stems  heavily  clothed  with  white 
fari  la,  with  a  graceful  arch  to  the  foliage  instead 
of  the  healthy,  but  not  engaging,  leaves  of  the 
Japanese  plant,  and  a  beauty  of  form  and  spacing 
about  individual  blossom,  whorl  aad  spike  not 
possessed  by  the  other,  little  wonder  it  made  an 
impression. 

Many  new  plants  have  since  been  introduced, 
but  in  its  special  sphere  Primula  pulverulenta 
still  reigns  alone.  In  one  way  only  is  it  inferior 
to  japonica — very  seldom  does  it  reproduce  itself 
from  self-sown  seeds.  It  succeeds  in  a  fair  amount 
of  shade ;  even  "  drip,"  so  deadly  to  many  plants, 
appears  not  greatly  to  trouble  it.  Flooding  in 
winter  with  several  inches  of  watei,  it  seems  not 
to  resent  at  all. 

Probably  the  upsetting  conditions  involved  in 
a  total  change  of  environment  may  have  stimu- 
lated it  to  sport.  Certain  it  is  that  it  had  been 
but  a  little  while  in  commerce  when  a  blush  pink 
form  revealed  itself  and  was  christened  Mrs. 
R.  V.  Berkeley.  This  plant  is  sometimes  described 
as  cream  or  even  white  flowered,  but  it  assuredly 
neither  is  nor  was  (the  writer  saw  the  plants  to 
which  the  R.H.S.  award  was  given)  either  one 
or  the  other.  A  little  later  a  sport  of  a  much 
deeper  shade  of  pink  with  a  hint  of  cerise  in  the 
colouring  made  an  appearance.  This  had  (and  has) 
an  orange  eye  instead  of  the  yellow  one  character- 
istic of  Mrs.  R.  V.  Berkeley.  This  form,  which 
is  more  robust  than  the  paler  one,  received,  some 
years  ago,  a  first-class  certificate  from  the  National 
Auricula  and  Primula  Society  under  the  name 
Lapworth  Rose.  It  does  not  seem  yet  to  be  as 
well  known  as  it  should  be,  or,  rather,  it  is  often 
confused  with  the  older  and  paler  form. 

It  is  a  pity  that  more  selection  is  not  usually 
attempted  with  hardy  Primulas.  To  take  P. 
pulverulenta  as  a  case  in  point,  by  re-selection  it 
is    possible    immensely    to    improve    one's    strain. 


both  as  regards  colour  and  form  of  blossom.  There 
is  no  white  form  of  this  plant  so  far  in  commerce, 
but  the  wr-ter  predicts  that  when,  sooner  or  later, 
one  turns  up   it  will  be  a  pearly  white  as  unlike 


of  lilac  and  somewhat  pulverulent  stems,  is  not  so 
fond  of  water  as  those  already  mentioned,  nor  is 
it  in  itself  a  particularly  valuable  plant,  albeit 
the  parent  of  some  pretty  hybrids,  mainly  with 
P.   BuUeyana. 

The  Sikkim  Cowslip,  P.  sikkimensis,  is  another 
water-loving  species  of,  unfortunately,  little  more 
than  biennial  duration.  A  patch  of  it  is,  however, 
worth  a  little  trouble,  for  the  sulphiu:  yellow  bells 
are  very  beautiful. 

Yet  another  crimson-purple  species  calls  for 
attention.  This  is  P.  Poissoni,  another  of  the 
whorled  (Candelabra)  section,  which  has  glossy, 
slightly  toothed  leaves  quite  distinct  from  the 
rather  Primrose-like  foliage  of  all  the  others  so 
far  described.  The  flowers,  too,  approach  more 
nearly  to  magenta  than  do  those  of  P.  pulveru- 
lenta. Growing  only  to  a  height  of  isins.  or  so, 
it  is  a  valuable  plant  for  a  damp  corner. 

Most  gardeners  know  the  beautiful  Primula 
rosea,  but  it  needs  shade  and  a  cool  root-run 
rather  than  superabundant  moisture,  though  it 
will  tolerate  a  fairly  damp  soil.  Rose  is  a  variable 
colour  in  gardens.  Very  seldom  is  it  applied  to 
so  bright  a  shade  as  gladdens  the  eyes  that  rest 
on  Primula  rosea.  (Contrast  this  colour  with  a 
rose-coloured  PjTethrum !)  This  plant  also  has 
smooth  leaves,  a  peculiarity  it  shares  with  the 
quiet  but  beautiful  P.  involucrata,  also  a  water- 
lover,    which,    on   6in.    or   8in.    long  stems,   bears 


MASSED    PLANTING    OF    PRIMULA    PULVERULENTA    MRS.    BERKELEY,    WITH    THE    TYPICAL 

CRIMSON    PURPLE    FORM    BEHIND. 


the    white    P.    japonica   as   the    translucent    pink 
forms  are  to  the  rose  form  of  the  "  Japanee." 

Of  the  other  water-loving  Primulas  the  best  is, 
perhaps,  the  clear  yellow  P.  helodoxa.  Though 
it  lacks  subtlety  of  colouring,  it  is  remarkably 
effective  when  massed.  It,  too,  has  slenderncss 
and  dignity,  though  it  wa.its  the  imperial  carriage 
of  P.  pulverulenta.  Why,  one  wonders,  may  not 
this  latter  plant  have  an  English  name  ?  More 
subtlety  of  colouring  attaches  to  the  gold  tinged 
apricot  tiers  of  P.  BuUeyana,  but  as  a  plant  it  is 
not  too  attractive.  Save  that  it  flowers  a  little 
later,  it  might  he  just  a  colour  form  of  P.  japonica. 
The  still  later  flowering  P.  Beesiana.  with  flowers 
of   some   crimson    hue   with   a   varying  admixture 


umbels    of    flowers    of    bluish    white    or    palest 
lavender. 

Of  the  orange-vermilion  Primula  Cockburniana 
little  need  be  said,  since  it  does  not  like  super- 
saturated soil  and  is  only  a  biennial.  It  is  men- 
tioned here  because  it  crosses  readily  with  P. 
pulverulenta,  and  the  resultant  hybrids  in  varying 
shades  of  terra-cotta-red  breed  approximately 
true.  The  first  crosses  were  called  respectively 
Lissadell  Hybrid  and  Unique,  according  to  the 
pollen  parent.  Lissadell  is  a  little  freer 
flowering  ;  Unique  a  little  larger  in  the  individual 
pip  and  a  thought  the  better  colour.  Various 
slight  differences  of  shade  have  now  been  selected 
and  sent  out  under  fancy  names,  but  anyone  who 


138 


THE     GARDEN. 


[March  25,  1922. 


hds  the  two  species  can  easily  make  the  cross 
and  raise  numbers  of  plants  himself. 

It  is  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  to  cross  P. 
Cockburniana  with  P.  BuUeyana,  for  instance  ; 
but  if  the  attempt  is  made  (Cockburniana  being 
the  seed  parent)  and  seeds  are  obtained  the  majority 
will  be  typical  Cockburniana,  but  a  few  will  almost 
certainly  resemble  Cockburniana  as  to  colour, 
though  perhaps  a  trifle  richer  in  tint,  but  will 
be  more  vigorous  in  appearance  and  growth,  will 
throw  far  fewer,  but  much  stouter,  spikes  and 
considerably  finer  flowers  and  be  more  truly 
perennial  in  character.  No  one,  it  is  to  be  feared, 
has  so  far  succeeded  in  perpetuating  this  fine 
form. 

There  will  not  be  wanti.ig  critics  to  ask  the 
reason  for  an  article  on   these   Primulas   at   this 


season.  Read,  then,  and  perpend  !  If  plants  be 
procured  now  aad  placed  in  a  cold  frame  or  cool 
greenhouse  and  repotted  if  necessary,  it  should 
be  possible,  with  the  aid  of  a  camel-hair  brush, 
to  obtain  from  a  very  few  plants  quantities  of 
excellent  seed  which,  if  sown  immediately  it  is 
ripe,  will  germinate  like  Muitard  and  produce 
numbers  of  plants  to  give  a  fine  display  for  next 
season.  Seed  may,  of  course,  be  obtained  from 
plants  in  the  open,  but  it  is  easier  to  make  sure 
of  satisfactory  pollination  under  covei. 

None  of  these  water-loving  Primulas  really 
needs  the  presence  of  water  or  even  of  bogland. 
All  will  flourish  in  cool,  well  cultivated  soil  on  the 
shady  side  of  a  shrubbery,  though  they  may,  even 
there,  require  watering  in  an  exceptional  summer 
such  as  we  experienced  last  year. 


PRUNING    BEDDING    ROSES 

No  pruning  will  correct  undiscriminating  Rose  planting.     Each  variety  has  its  characteristic 

habit  which  may  not  be  overcome. 


UNDOUBTEDLY  the  best  instructions 
for  pruning  Rose  trees  are  those 
contained  in  the  "  Select  List  of  Roses," 
issued  each  year  by  the  National  Rose 
Society.  It  would  not,  in  any  case,  be 
possible  in  the  course  of  an  article  in  a  gardening 
journal  to  give  pruning  instructions  for  each 
variety  of  any  importance  as  is  done  in  the  book 
Mentioned.  Not  that  the  instructions  there 
^ven  are  perfect  or  complete,  but  they  represent 
the  best  so  far  attained  in  this  direction  in  an 
imperfect  world. 

■'  Not  all  readers  of  The  Garden  are,  in  any  case, 
members  of  the  N.R.S.  Those  who  are  will 
kindly,  from  the  height  of  their  superiority,  forgive 
the  elementary  directions  which  follow,  even 
though,  as  may  happen,  they  find  no  new  sugges- 
tions. 

The  time  has  now  come  when  Hybrid  Perpotuals 
and,  in  the  Southern  Counties,  Hybrid  Teas,  may 
be  pruned.  A  great  deal  of  the  bad  pruning  which 
one  meets  is  due  to  ill-thought-out  planting. 
Selection  only  by  colour  and  quality  and  quite 
regardless  of  habit  will  place  a  bed  of  Hugh  Dickson, 
for  instance,  between  Mme.  Ravary  and  Ophelia. 
To  prune  Hugh  Dickson  as  it  should  be  pruned 
^ves  a  most  uneven  immediate  effect  and  this 
unevenness  is  accentuated  throughout  the  season, 
tlugh  Dickson  is  a  robust  and  excellent  Rose,  biit 
it  is  not  suitable  for  bedding  and  the  same  remark 
applies  to  many  other  strong  growers.  Frau  Karl 
Druschki  comes  to  mind  as  a  flagrant  instance  of  a 
Rose  quite  unsuitable  for  bedding  in  association 
with  other  varieties,  and  it  is  very  doubtful  whether 
oven  that  old  favourite  Caroline  Testout  is  not  too 
tall  for  the  purpose,  as  well  as  the  salmon  pink 
Joseph  Hill.  Neither  of  these  varieties  lend  them- 
selves to  pegging  down — a  course  which  may  be 
adopted  with  the  Hybrid  Perpetuals. 

Now  as  regards  the  actual  pruning  of  bedding 
Roses  which,  if  well  selected,  will  almost  certainly, 
with  the  possible  exception  of  Lady  Hillingdon, 
belong  to  the  Hybrid  Tea  and  Pernetiana  sections. 
All  dead  and  unripe  wood  should  first  be  removed. 
This  latter  will  very  probably  be  the  thickest  wood 
in  the  tree,  being  strong  wood  thrown  up  from  the 
base  late  in  the  season.  It  corresponds  roughly 
with  what  in  fruit  trees  are  called  "  water-sprouts." 
Any  unduly  thin  wood  had  better  bt  removed  at 
the  same  time.  The  careful  pruner  will  now  take 
a  survey  of  the  tree  before  he  commences  to  prune, 
since  in  bedding  Roses  the  shapeliness  of  the  tree 
is  an  important  consideration.  Having  selected 
six  or  eight  shoots  (if  there  are  so  many),  which 
are  quite  sound  and  healthy  and  which  leave  the 


overcome. 

centre  of  the  tree  a  little  open,  they  should  be  cut 
back  to  from  four  to  eight  eyes  of  the  base  from 
which  they  started,  always  bearing  in  mind  that 
the  weaker  the  tree,  the  harder  it  should  be  pruned. 

Some  varieties  are  shorter  lived  than  others. 
Moreover,  really  good  Rose  soils  make  for  longevity. 
The  bulk  of  Rose  growers,  howe\  er,  have  anything 
but  ideal  Rose  soils,  so  that  they  must  expect  to 
have  a  good  deal  of  replacing  to  do.  When  the 
growths  of  a  tree  become  more  and  more  spindly 
the  only  remedy  is  replacement.  Many  gardeners 
always  keep  a  few  plants  of  each  variety  in  the  Rose 
garden  by  them  in  pots  to  fill  inevitable  gaps  at 
pruning  time  or  later. 

The  Pernetiana  varieties  are  invaluable  owing  to 
their  colouring,  but  it  is  wise  not  to  employ  them 
for  bedding  more  than  is  necessary  as  they  rather 
resent  hard  pruning  and  under  bedding  conditions 
are  not  long-lived.  Perhaps  the  newer  sorts  will 
not  suffer  in  this  way  as  much  as  did  those  first 
introduced,  but  even  the  universally  and  deservedly 
popular  Mrs.  Wemyss  Quin  is  not  fiee  from  this 
defect.  It  is  far  stronger  and  happier  when  allowed 
to  develop  into  a  large  bush.  The  following 
recognised  bedding  varieties  call  for  hard  pruning — 
to  say  four  or  six  eyes  from  the  base  of  the  shoots — 
Augustus  Hartmann,  Chateau  de  Clos  Voiigcot, 
Geo.  C.  Waud,  Mrs.'  A.  E.  Coxhead,  Mrs.  C.  Russell 
and  Richmond. 

Where  there  are  two  rows  of  beds  on  each  side 
of  the  garden  or  an  extra  row  at  the  end  or  ends, 
it  may  be  possible  to  utilise  talk'r  growing  sorts  on 
which  a  foot  of  growth  may  be  allowed  on  new 
bottom  wood  and  four  or  five  eyes  may  be  left  on 
any  laterals  upon  two  year  wood  retained.  Varieties 
suitable  for  this  purpose  and  treatment  are  Caroline 
Testout,  Commandant  Frlix  Faure  (H.P.).  Donald 
McDonald,  Frau  Karl  Druschki  (H.P.),  G.  Nabon- 
nand  (T.),  Hugh  Dickson  (H.P.),  Joseph  Hill,  La 
Tosca  and  W.  C.  Clark. 

The  pruning  of  the  dwarf  Polyanthas,  so  popular 
now  for  bedding,  is  for  this  purpose  very  similar 
to  the  H.T.  and  T.  sections,  except  that,  as  they 
are  thin  growers,  more  shoots  may  be  retained  and 
these  cut  over  quite  close — within  two  or  three  eyes 
of  the  base.  This  will  give  the  dwarf  effect  gener- 
ally worked  for.  If  there  is  no  desire  to  keep  them 
down,  little  pruning  need  be  done  other  than  the 
removal  of  the  spent  (and  eyeless)  last  season's 
bloom  trusses.  This  pruning  may  now  be  proceeded 
with. 

Since  some  folk  like  pegged-down  Roses,  it  may 
be  well,  though  the  writer  admits  that  he  has  no 
admiration  for  them,  to  explain  the  process,  which 
certainly  goes  far  to  obtain  new  wood  from  the 


bottom,  which,  incidentally,  where  pegged  and  natu- 
rally grown  Roses  are  associated  together,  always 
forms  a  young  forest,  far  taller  than  the  vegetation 
in  the  other  beds.  For  pegging-down  then,  all  old 
wood  should  be  cut  away  and  the  one  year  shoots 
left  almost  full  length,  right  up  to  where  the  wood 
thins  seriously  or  to  where  the  buds  have  broken 
excessively,  should  this  be  lower  than  the  thin 
wood.  Tarred  string  is  used  for  securing  the  growths 
to  the  notched  pegs,  which  should  be  long  enough 
when  driven  in  to  hold  securely.  About  a  foot  is 
the  usual  length,  but  much  depends  upon  the 
character  of  the  soil.  In  some  soil  gin.  pegs  hold 
securely,  in  others  it  is  almost  impossible  to  per- 
suade a  peg  to  hold.  Tie  the  string  to  the  peg" 
first  and  arch  the  shoot  over  to  meet.  If  any 
attempt  is  made  to  lay  the  shoot  along  the  ground 
it  will  snap  off  at  the  base.  Some  varieties,  however, 
are  much  less  brittle  than  others.  Undoubtedly 
pegged  Rose  trees  produce  the  gi-eatest  possible 
crop  per  plant,  but  the  effect  is,  in  the  writer's 
judgment,  miich  inferior  to  that  obtained  from 
beds  of  suitable  varieties  pruned  in  the  usual  way. 


MIGNONETTE 

"  Here  blossom  red  Roses,  dewy  wet. 
And  beds  of  fragrant  Mignonette." 

"  Thistles  and  Roses." — El.^line  Good.\le. 

THERE  is  the  germ  of  a  very 
attractive  idea  that  I  have  several 
times  seen  carried  into  practical  effect 
by  sowing  the  ground  between  bush 
Roses  with  this  old-fashioned  fragrant 
annual.  It  is  not  a  new  idea  by  any  means,  but 
never,  I  think,  have  I  seen  a  happier  demonstratioiii 
of  the  copartnership  than  in  an  old  garden  where  a 
winchng  path  meandered  aimlessly  along,  with  a 
narrow  turf  verge  and  a  broad  border  on  either 
side.  These  borders  were  filled  with  hundreds 
of  choice  Rose  bushes  :  the  time  was  July  and  the 
air  a-quiver  with  blended  perfume,  in  which  the 
fragrance  of  the  Rose  and  that  of  the  Mignonette 
fought  for  ascendancy.  One  could  not  quarrel 
with  the  path  for  its  lack  of  directness  ;  indeed, 
the  feeling  was  rather  one  of  gratitude  that  one  was 
permitted  to  linger  a  Httle  longer  in  a  neighbour- 
hood so  enchanting.  One  sometimes  hears  the 
plaint  that  .Mignonette  will  not  grow  in  this  or  that 
garden.  The  failure  is  due,  in  most  cases,  to  the 
lack  of  knowledge  of  the  would-be  grower.  Give 
the  soil  a  good  dressing  of  lime  and  the  plant  will 
gi-ow  and  flourish  as  readily  as  Chickwecd,  .\ncther 
way  in  which  this  grand  old  hardy  annual  is  oftea 
\ery  badly  treated  is  as  regards  brcath'ng  space. 
Where  only  one  seed  falls  and  the  plant  can  grow 
unhampered  by  the  competition  of  its  neighbours, 
it  soon  reveals  *he  characteristic  branching  habit 
and  spreads  into  a  great  plant,  jft.  or  more  across, 
and  covered  with  dozens  and  dozens  of  the  fragrant 
spikes.  Dressed  by  nature  in  dull  and  unobtrusive- 
colours,  the  plant  is  at  no  loss  to  advertise  its. 
presence,  for,  stroUing  in  the  garden  aiter  dark,  one- 
is  made  aware  of  its  pro.ximity  by  the  all-pervading: 
perfume  that  seems  stronger  then  than  even  at 
noonday.  Dehghtfid  for  cutting,  it  is,  too,  a 
favourite  flower  for  draping  the  front  of  the  window- 
bo.x,  and  a  room  so  furnished  is  always  supplied 
with  the  distinctive  and  subtle  perfume  so  charged 
with  old  association.  Dry  banks,  old  walls, 
gravel  paths,  between  the  interstices  of  a  paved 
yard,  anywhere,  in  fact,  where  the  roots  can  find 
a  hold  upon  a  little  soil  and  moisture,  there  is  a 
potential  home  for  the  Mignonette ;  indeed,  it 
often  does  better  in  such  unlooked-for  spots  tharh 
in  the  rich,  well-manured  border.     When    sending 


March  25,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


139 


in  an  order  for  seeds  one  should  not  simply  specify 
■■  Mignonette,"  for  there  is  quite  a  large  number  of 
varieties,  varying  in  colour  and  quality  of 
fragrance.  Covent  Garden  Favourite  is  a  good 
one  for  fragrance,  while  there  are  also  red.  gold, 
orange   and   white   sorts — this    colour   description 


applying  to  the  tips  at  the  centre  of  the  flower. 
Let ,  the  seeds  be  sown  as  though  they  cost  3d. 
each  and  there  will  be  Mignonette  in  plenty  of  a 
size  and  quality  never  previously  enjoyed  where 
the  plants  have  hitherto  been  given  6ins.  of  space 
in  which    to  develop.     H.  W.   Canning  -  Wright. 


GARDEN     ECONOMIES 

Hardy  flowers  for  summer  bedding. 


THERE  is  undoubtedly  a  widespread 
desire  to  reduce  working  costs  in  the 
garden.  Old  customs  and  conventions 
are,  on  every  side,  being  crushed  out  of 
existence  by  excessive  maintenance 
charges.  That  there  are 
many  ways  of  economising 
applicable  to  gardens  of  all 
sizes  without  detracting 
from  the  general  tone  is 
not  in  doubt.  Many  of 
these  have  been  exploited 
during  the  last  few  years, 
but  more  will  follow.  In 
regard  to  paid  labour,  it 
is  rather  difficult  to  draw 
the  line  at  economy  in 
working,  as  there  is  no 
room  in  a  garden  for  a 
man  without  interest ;  and 
with  many  tasks,  speed- 
ing up  is  at  the  expense 
of  efficiencj'.  Any  saving 
where  plant  growing  is 
concerned  must  be  by  way 
of  dispensing  with  the 
superfluous.  Economy 

with  regard  to  bedding  out 
has  been  engaging  the 
WTiter'  s  attention  for 
some  time.  Where  there 
is  a  large  number  of  beds 
and  borders  to  be  furnished 
twice  yearly,  the  work 
amounts  to  one  of  the 
most  expensive  in  flower 
garden  management.  It 
is  not,  however,  autumn 
planting  that  is  costly,  as 
the  plants  generally  made 
use  of  are  all  raised  in 
the  open  during  the  sum- 
mer. It  is  the  replacing 
of  them  in  June  where  the 
need  for  economy  is  most 
felt,  and  where  saving  is 
possible.  Those  familiar 
with  the  raising  of  half- 
hardy  plants  for  summer 
bedding  out  need  no 
reminding  that  August 
finds  them  propagating 
numerous  things  which  must  remain  on  their 
hands  for  nine  months,  to  the  exclusion  very 
often  of  more  serviceable  plants  under  glass. 
The  cost  of  all  this  is  greatly  in  excess  of 
the  results  half-hardy  plants  can  give,  and 
in  many  cases  is  only  allowed  to  continue 
in  the  absence  of  any  practicable  alternative 
method  of  filling  the  beds.  Roses  have  done 
much  to  lighten  the  working  costs  of  the  flower 
garden,  but  unfortunately  their  use  entails  a  denial, 
on  the  ground  they  occupy  of  spring  flowers, 
which  is  not  desirable  everywhere,  .\nnuals 
provide  another  way  of  escape  from  wintering 
bedding  plants,  and  the  general  elifect  is  on  a  par 
with    a    scheme    in    which    sub- tropical    plants — • 


Geraniuins,  I.obeUa,  etc — form  the.  basis.  It  is 
rather  surprising  that  Dahlias  are  not  made  more 
use  of  in  the  larger  beds.  The  Mignon  type 
grows  about  ijins.  high  and  leaves  little  to  be 
desired.     Even  the  taller  forms  have  their  uses. 


SUCCESSIONAL     SUMMER      EFFECT      IN      A       NARROW        BORDER. 
Gladioli  amongst  the  golden  yelloio  glaucous  foliaged  hardy 
Tropeeolum  polyphyllum. 


Hardy  plants  have,  however,  proved  to  be  the 
most  labour  saving  of  any,  and  the  results  have 
been  satisfactory,  as,  when  properly  managed,  the 
spring  bedding  display  is  not  interfered  with. 
Discretion  in  the  selection  of  those  kinds  which 
best  withstand  transplanting  is  the  secret  of  the 
whole  system.  The  method  is  as  follows :  The 
month  of  May  finds  spring-blooming  plants  past 
their  best  before  it  has  run  its  course.  In  the 
first  week  the  hardy  plants  intended  to  follow  are 
prepared  for  lifting  by  going  round  the  roots  at 
a  convenient  distance  from  the  centre  with  a  spade, 
and  the  ball  is  just  loosened.  This  enables  trans- 
planting to  be  done  with  the  least  possible  check. 
Once  the  beds  are  cleared,  the  soil  is  improved  by 


being  liberally  manured  and  deeply  dug.  The 
selected  plants  are  then  put  in  position,  after  being 
carefully  lifted  from  their  quarters  with  as  much 
soil  as  possible  adhering  to  the  roots.  In  very 
dry  weather  it  is  advisable  to  fill  the  holes  first 
with  water.  In  any  case  a  moist  soil  and  firm 
planting  is  essential.  When  the  time  arrives  for 
planting  the  spring  bedding,  the  perennials  are 
duj  up  and  planted  in  a  reserve  plot  for  the  winter. 
Some  varieties  may  be  a  little  impatient  of  removal 
the  first  year,  but  frequent  transplanting  encourages 
more  fibrous  roots,  and  afterwards  they  show  little, 
if  any,  signs  of  distress.  Of  course,  in  many 
instances  it  is  possible  to  plant  bulbs,  Wallflowers, 
etc.,  without  removing  the  hardy  plants,  but 
this  is  a  matter  for  individual  taste.  The  system 
is  eminently  practical.  It  makes  for  no  congestion 
under  glass,  and  no  trouble  or  expense  all  winter. 
.As  for  the  general  effect,  all  depends  on  the  plants 
made  use  of  and  the  surroundings.  In  a  series 
of  strictly  formal  beds  one  might  well  utilise  spring- 
sown  Antirrhinums  and  annuals,  reserving  the 
larger  ones  for  hardy  perennials.  As  to  these, 
it  is  some  encouragement  to  know  that  one  need 
not  pass  over  many  because  of  their  early  flowering, 
since  most  of  the  otherwise  suitable  kinds  do  not 
attain  full  beauty  until  midsummer  or  after. 
Pyrethrums  and  Doronicums  are  the  principal 
free-floweiing  exceptions.  Nor  is  their  use  alto- 
gether impossible,  as  both  form  an  excellent 
groundwork  for  Gladioli  or  Cape  Hyacinths.  A 
bed  of  this  description  is  not  surpassed  by  any 
conbination  of  half-hardy  plants.  Others  which 
will  suggest  themselves  to  those  familiar  with 
their  habits  include  the  Geums,  especially  the  newer 
sorts,  which  are  an  improvement  on  the  now 
famous  Mrs.  Bradshaw  ;  Gaillardias  and  Coreopsis, 
associated  with  the  scarlet-flowered  Lychnis 
chalcedonica  ;  Artemisia  lactifolia,  amid  a  setting 
of  Pentstemons  forms  a  novel  but  attractive 
picture.  For  Herbaceous  Phloxes  no  praise  is 
too  high,  and  though  Delphiniums  are  dwarfed 
by  constant  transplanting,  the  cfl'ect  of  good 
varieties  is  always  pleasing.  Erigerons,  Nepeta 
Mussini,  Violas,  the  dwarfer  forms  of  Helenium. 
together  with  Michaelmas  Daisies  and  Hardy 
Chrysanthemums  by  no  means  exhaust  the  list 
of  bardy  plants  which  may  be  employed  with 
remarkable  saving  of  labour.  J.  T. 


THE  IMPORTANCE  OF 
THE    SEED-BED 

"  Too  much  haste,  no  speed,"  applies,  with 
great  force,  to  seed-bed  preparation. 

THIS  is  a  vital  operation,  upon  which 
everything  connected  with  the  well- 
being  of  a  plant  depends.  It  matters 
not  whether  the  seeds  be  of  good 
germinating  power  or  the  stock  of 
the  very  best  strain  ;  whether  the  plants  receive 
the  best  of  attention  or  are  given  the  choicest 
site  in  the  garden — if  the  seed-bed  is  not  of  the 
best  construction,  everything  fails,  because  the 
plant  is  crippled  and  ruined  from  the  very  start, 
and  a  crippled  plant  is  not  the  one  that  is  going 
to  afford  the  results  desired  of  it.  Many  gardeners 
blame  the  seed,  others  the  weather,  the  soil  itself, 
insect  pests,  disease  and  other  things,  but  it  is 
veiy  often  the  badly  made  seed-bed  that  miUtates 
against  success. 

In  making  up  a  seed-bed  four  things  should  be 
considered — site,  soil,  drainage  and  weeds — each  of 
which  has  a  remarkable  bearing  upon  the  success 
or  non-success  of  the  seed-sowing  operation. 

First  the  site.  It  musl  be  an  open  one  to  start 
with  ;     an   overshadowed  site  is  usually   sunless. 


14U 


THE     GARDEN. 


[March  25,  1922. 


cold,  damp  and  insect- infested.  The  neigh- 
bourhood cf  trees  and  shrubs  should  be  avoided  ; 
but  more  injurious,  perhaps,  is  the  presence  of 
lower-growing  spreading  plants,  such  as  perennial 
flowers.  One  of  the  best  of  sites  is  a  row  across 
the  allotment  cr  vegetable  garden.  This  apphes 
to  flower  seeds  as  well  as  those  ot  vegetatles. 

Beyond  question  the  soil  should  be  deeply  dug 
and  deeply  mamired,  which  makes  for  fertihty  and 
also  for  efiicient  drainage.  Drainage  should  be 
attended  to  while  treating  the  soil.  Deep  digging 
will  often  accomplish  this,  but  it  is  best  to  put  a 
few  inches  of  brick  rubbish  or  stones  into  the 
bottom,  if  possible.  However  that  may  be,  the 
soil  should  be  of  the  right  sort.  If  it  is  stiff,  clayey, 
or  full  of  stones,  it  must  be  lightened  by  the  addition 
of  other  materials,  such  as  sand,  road-grit,  leaves, 
etc.,  and  the  stones  removed.  If  it  is  of  a  sour 
nature  it  must  be  sweetened  by  the  application 
of  Mme.  If  of  light  texture,  some  loamy,  leafy 
soil  should  be  incorporated  with  well  rotted  manure; 
this  so  far  as  the  bulk  of  the  soil  is  concerned. 
It  is  necessary  also  to  have  a  fairly  fine   surface 


on  which  to  sow  the  seeds  ;  and  it  will  not  be 
wasteful  if  a  barrowload  of  a  good  made-up  com- 
post— loam,  leaf-soil  and  sand — is  spread  over  the 
existing  surface  to  the  depth  of  lin.  or  2ins., 
for  this  will  give  the  young  seedlings  that  congenial 
rooting  medium  which  the  fine,  delicate  rootlets 
need  so  much. 

A  good  start  often  guarantees  a  good  finish, 
and  a  plant  which  thus  finds  itself  born  into  a  world 
that  caters  perfectly  for  its  needs  from  the  very 
starting  point  of  existence  will  be  enabled  to  gather 
the  necessary  strength  to  carry  it  through  the 
succeeding  stages  of  its  life.  A  suitably  prepared 
soil  does  this  as  notliing  else  can  do. 

Lastly,  there  are  weeds  to  deal  with  ;  and  weeds 
so  often  mean  ruin  to  seedling  plants.  From  the 
first,  then,  weeds  should  be  vigorously  fought 
against  and  rooted  up,  even  if  it  means  sacrificing 
some  of  the  seedUngs  as  well.  (Plants  never  lose 
anything  by  being  thinned,  at  all  events  !).  After 
each  successive  weeding  a  very  gentle  syring- 
ing will  settle  the  good  plants  into  the  soil 
again.  H.  A.  Day. 


EARLY- FLOWERING  CHRYSANTHEMUMS 
FOR    BEDS    AND    BORDERS 


FEW  plants  that  flower  outdoors  in  late 
summer  and  throughout  the  autumn 
compare,  for  beauty  and  usefulness, 
with  the  Early-flowering  Chrysanthemum. 
This  type  of  the  Chrysanthemum  is  not 
cultivated  for  the  production  of  large  blooms  of 
high  quality  for  exhibition,  but  is  exclusively 
grown  to  make  a  bright  and  pleasing  display 
outdoors  or  to  provide  cut  flowers  for  all  forms 
of  the  floral  decorator's  art.  Although  the  newer 
forms  of  the  early-flowering  outdoor  Chrysan- 
themum are  represented  in  many  charming 
sha'les,  they  will  not  compare  in  regard  to  colour 
with  the  gorgeous  hues  of  the  more  briUiant 
Dahlia ;  but  then  these  Chrysanthemums  are 
of  hardier  race  than  the  Dahlia,  and  the 
Chrysanthemum  blossom  has  a  beauty  peculiarly 
its  own.  The  Dahlia  fowers  with  the  greatest 
persistency  and  one  may  cut  and  come  again, 
day  after  day,  without  materially  interfering  with 
the  general  effect  ot  the  display -outdoors,  but  the 
blooms  do  not  long  maintain  their  freshness. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  Early-flowering  Chrysan- 
themum gives  but  one  crop  of  blossoms,  and  these 
in  beautiful  sprays  that  last  for  several  weeks, 
and  in  a  cut  state  for  a  considerable  time.  Often, 
too,  these  plants  continue  to  make  a  display  for 
a  considerable  period,  if  care  in  the  selection  of 
sorts  be  observed,  so  that  by  beginning  with  the 
earliest,  continuing  with  the  second  early  and 
completing  the  display  by  the  inclusion  in  the 
selection  of  a  number  of  varieties  that  come  into 
flower  in  mid-October,  it  is  possible,  unless  the 
weather  be  very  unpropitious,  to  have  Chrysan- 
themums in  flower  outdoors  from  late  August 
until  November.  I  have  frequently  seen  Dahlias 
blackened  by  frosts  while  the  Chrysanthemums 
have  made  the  beds  and  borders  bright  with  their 
profuse  display,  as  they  stand  several  more  degrees 
of  frost  than  does  the  more  brilliant  Dahlia. 

Progress  in  the  development  of  the  Early- 
flowering  Chrysanthemum  has  been  very  slow  in 
recent  years,  and  this,  to  the  wxiter,  is  a  matter 
of  sincere  regret.  Twenty-five  to  thirty  years 
ago,  through  the  industry  oi  a  well  known  French 
raiser,  M.  Simon  Delaux,  an  impetus  was  given 
to  the  cultivation  of  these  plants,  and  for  a  few 
years  subsequently  thereto,  with  an  occasional 
introduction  from  the  European  Continent  and 
the  efforts  of  one  or  two  English  raisers,  a  really 


satisfactory  collection  was  got  together.  Little 
appears  to  have  been  done  in  more  recent  years, 
however,  to  add  to  the  list  new  and  improved 
varieties :  we  seem  now  to  be  marking  time. 
Strange  to  relate  some  of  the  more  noteworthy 
sorts'-  for  border  culture  in  general  cultivation 
to-day  are  those  distributed  by  M.  Simon  Delaux 
about  thirty  years  ago.  Mme.  Marie  Masse,  a 
well  known  lilac-mauve  sort,  for  which  variety 
the  writer  was  awarded  the  first-class  certificate 
by  the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society's  Floral 
Committee  on  October  8,  1895,  was  the  fore- 
runner of  many  excellent  additions  to  the  early 
kinds.  The  flowers  of  this  variety  were  exhibited 
on  September  25.  but  as  no  award  could  be  made 
unless  a  plant  was  submitted  to  the  Committee, 
this  was  forthcoming  at  the  next  meeting — 
October  8 — when  the  award  was  confirmed. 
These  facts  are  interesting  in  view  of  what 
happened  subsequently ;  for  Mme.  Marie  Masse 
produced  sports,  either  directly  or  indirectly, 
of  which  the  following  record  is  worth  noting : 
Ralph  Curtis,  creamy  white  ;  Rabbie  Burns,  rosy 
cerise ;  Horace  Martin,  bright  yellow ;  Crimson 
Marie  Masse,  chestnut  crimson,  passing  to  bronze  ; 
Ethel,  primrose ;  Geo.  Bowness,  crushed  straw- 
berry (raiser's  description)  ;  and  Wells'  Masse, 
white,  sUghtly  shaded  blush.  There  are,  there- 
fore, at  least  eight  sorts  that  have  all  sprung  from 
the  same  stock,  and  I  believe  plants  of  all  the 
eight  sorts  can  be  obtained  from  the  leading 
specialists  to-day.  I  give  prominence  to  the  fore- 
going family,  as  I  have  always  regarded  and  still 
adhere  to  the  view  that  plants  of  Mme.  Marie 
Masse  and  its  sports  represent  what  is  ideal  in 
Early-floweringChrysanthemums  for  border  culture. 
The  plants  are  profuse  bloomers,  possess  a  splendid 
branching  habit  of  growth  and  enjoy  a  constitution 
that  is  truly  perennial.  You  cannot  kill  the 
plants  by  the  roughest  treatment.  Pieces  may  bo 
broken  out  from  the  old  crowns  in  the  spring 
from  which  excellent  plants  may  be  made,  or  they 
may  be  divided  up  into  numerous  pieces,  each 
with  a  few  shoots.  In  the  flowering  season 
handsome  sprays  of  blossoms  are  evolved,  and 
each  flower  in  the  sprays  has  a  useful  length  of 
foetstalk.  This  set  of  plants  does  not  take  kindly 
to  disbudding,  and  for  this  reason  they  should 
be  grown  quite  naturally.  The  plants  attain  a 
height  of  from  2lft.   to  3ft.,   and  they  begin  to 


flower  from  early  September  and  continue  in 
flower,  more  or  less,  for  fully  two  months.  What 
more  could  one  expect  of  a  Chrysanthemum  ? 

Other  sorts  which  may  be  placed  in  the  Japanese 
section,  and  which  should  receive  consideration, 
are  the  following :  Goacher's  Crimson,  large 
rich  crimson,  in  flower  during  September  and 
October,  2jft.  ;  Almirante,  chestnut  crimson, 
beautifully  branching,  September  and  October, 
2ift.,  should  be  in  all  collections  ;  Howard  H. 
Crane,  bright  chestnut,  October  (late),  3ft.  ; 
Leslie,  buttercup  -  yellow,  late  August  and 
September,  2ft. ;  Cranford  Yellow,  rich  bright 
yellow,  October,  3ft.,  partially  disbud  this  variety  ; 
and  Martin  Reed,  a  beautiful  golden  yellow  sport 
from  Perle  Chatillonaise,  late  September  and  early 
October,  4ft. 

Chaste  white  sorts  should  be  represented  by 
Roi  des  Blancs,  a  rather  spare  plant  that  produces 
the  daintiest  sprays  of  pure  white  blossoms  in  late 
August  and  September,  3ft. ;  Sanctity,  also 
known  as  Candida  and  Excelsior,  a  large  flower 
of  the  purest  white,  should  be  partially  disbudded, 
September  and  October,  2ft. ;  and  F'ramfield 
Early  White,  purest  white  (partially  disbud), 
September  and  early  October,   3ft. 

Bronzes  and  terra-cotta  shades  are  seen  in  excel- 
lent torm  in  such  sorts  as  Nina  Blick,  orange  scarlet, 
passing  to  golden  bronze,  must  be  partially  dis- 
budded, sturdy  grower,  September  and  early 
October,  2ift. ;  Polly,  bronzy  yellow,  r.-.ther 
spare  grower,  September,  2jft. ;  J.  Bannister, 
lemon,  shaded  copper,  late  September  and  October, 
4ft.  ;  and  Dolores,  bronzy  tcrra-cotta,  early 
October,   3ft. 

Pink,  rose  and  kindred  tones  of  colour  are  seen 
to  advantage  in  Normandie,  delicate  pink,  early 
September,  spt.  ;  Cranford  Pink,  soft  pink,  must 
be  paitially  disbudded,  otherwise  it  is  uninter- 
esting, October,  3ft. ;  Improved  Mass6,  bright 
rose,  early  September,  2jft. ;  Mrs.  Marshall  Field, 
shell  pink,  end  of  September  and  October,  2jft.  ; 
and   Pride  of  Hayes,  deep  rose,  October,  3ft. 

Varieties  of  nondescript  colour  worthy  of  a 
place  in  the  garden  include  the  following :  Dick 
Barnes,  rich  burgundy  crimson,  September,  2lt. 
Perle  Chatillonaise,  cream,  tinted  blush  pink, 
late  September  and  October,  4ft. ;  El  Draco, 
orange  amber,  October,  2jft.  ;  Chatillon,  salmon 
and  gold,  very  free,  early  September,  2jft. ; 
Mme.  Casimir  Perrier.  creamy  white,  tinted  pink, 
very  free,  September,  2jft.  ;  and  Roi  des  Precoces, 
a  distinct  tone  of  velvety  crimson,  late  October, 

2Mt. 

A  few  good  sorts  for  growing  in  disbudded 
form — i.e.,  one  bud  to  each  shoot — should  include 
Cranfoidia,  old  gold,  broad  florets,  October; 
Sanctity,  purest  white  ;  Pink  Dehght,  bright 
pink,  early  October,  3ft.  ;  Southover  Yellow 
(sport  from  Framfield  Early  White)  ;  Ena  Thorpe, 
shell  pink,  incurving  petals,  September,  2lft.  ; 
and  Mrs.  R.  Hamilton,  deep  golden  yellow,  October, 
3ft. 

A  few  single-floweied  sorts  may  appeal  to  some 
readers.  They  are  Merstham  Glory,  crimson ; 
Mrs.  C.  H.  Curtis,  velvety  crimson  ;  Brazier's 
Beauty,  blush ;  Florence  Gillham,  white ; 
Shrapnel,  orange  terra-cotta  ;  and  John  Woolman, 
pink  with  white  zone  round  disc. 

The  foregoing  varieties  should  meet  the  require- 
ments of  those  who  desire  to  make  a  bright  and 
beautiful  display  throughout  the  autumn.  Over- 
rich  soil  for  these  plants  is  apt  to  produce  an  undue 
amount  of  growth  at  the  expense  of  the  flowers. 
l-"or  this  reason  Chrysanthemums  should  be 
planted  in  soil  of  only  moderate  richness.  If 
not  already  dug  over,  the  sooner  this  is  done  the 
better,  as  this  will  leave  ample  time  for  the  weather 
to  sweeten  and  pulverise  the  quarters  it  is  desired 
to  plant.     In  large  borders  three  plants  of  a  sort 


March  25,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


141 


should  make  a  beautiful  splash  of  colour,  and 
where  pleasing  contrasts  are  wanted  it  should 
be  an  easy  matter  to  achieve  these  results  with 
only  elementary  knowledge  of  the  capabilities 
of  these  plants.  Plant  the  Mme.  Marie  Masse 
family  3ft.  apart,  and  most  others  about  2jft, 
asunder,  and  then  the  intervening  spaces  should 
be  filled  up  before  the  season  is  over. 

Order  plants  from  the  Chrysanthemum  specialists 
at  once,  and  as  these  are  usually  very  small,  they 
will  need  careful  handling  for  a  time.  The  most 
satisfactory  method,  in  my  experience  in  dealing 


with  these  httle  plants,  is  to  plant  them  out 
about  4ins.  asunder  in  rows  in  a  cold  frame,  in 
any  light  gritty  compost,  planting  rather  firmly. 
Water  in  lightly,  using  a  fine-rosed  can ;  keep 
the  frame  close  for  a  few  days,  and  as  the  plants 
become  estabhshcd,  admit  air,  increasing  this  as 
time  progresses  and  the  plants  make  headway. 
Ultimately  remove  the  frame-lights  altogether. 
Plant  outdoors  in  the  early  days  of  May,  when 
danger  of  cutting  winds  and  frosts  is  reduced  to 
a  minimum.  The  plants  may  then  be  lifted  with 
a  mass  of  roots.  D.  B.  Crane. 


FORGED    BULBS  AND    HARDY    FLOWERS 
AT    VINCENT    SQUARE 


THOSE  who,  on  entering  the  R.H.S. 
Half  on  the  occasion  of  the  mid-March 
fortnightly  meeting  turned  to  the  right, 
might  well  have  felt  that  it  was 
"  Hyacinth  Day,"  for  this  spring  bulb 
decidedly  predominated.  Messrs.  Sutton  and  Sons 
had  a  large  collection  of  some  of  the  finest  ■  pikes 


buy  goodly  bunches  of  flowers  in  the  streets  for  a  few 
coppers. 

Next  to  the  Hyacmths  and  other  spring  bulb" 
it  was  the  manj-  little  colonies  of  Saxifrages  that 
attracted  attention.  In  the  exhibit  by  Mr.  C. 
Elliott  there  were  a  few  tiny  plants  of  S.  Mira, 
each  bearing   just  one  pink  bud  or  open   flower. 


VERY    SUBSTANTIAL    AND    BEAUTIFUL. 

we  have  seen  and  their  arrangement  was  distinctly 
tasteful.  Of  the  numerous  varieties  the  best 
grown  was  the  yellow  City  of  Haarlem,  though  the 
Dresden  china  blue  of  Schotel  was  very  fascinating. 
Chestnut  Flower  is  an  uncommon  colour  in 
Hyacinths,   and  is   well   described  by   the   name. 

In  the  large  exhibit  by  Messis.  R.  and  G. 
Cuthbert  there  were  fine  spikes  of  Menelik,  the 
darkest  nf  all  dark  blues. 

That  excellent  Hyacinths,  Narcissi  and  Tulips 
can  be  grown  in  bowls  of  fibre  was  fully  evident  by 
the  collection  of  Messrs.  R.  H.  Bath,  Limited,  and 
here  many  visitors  were  charmed  by  the  bowls  of 
Fritillaria  Meleagris,  which  certainly  were  decidedly 
<rlegant  and  fascinating.  These  quaint  bulbs  aie 
<juite  good  room  flowers  either  when  growing  in 
bowls  or  as  cut-flowers.  In  the  meadows  alono; 
the  upper  reaches  of  the  Thames  they  grow  in 
great  profusion,  and  most  years  the  people  of 
Reading   and  other  riverside   places   are   able   to 


THE    NEW    NARCISSUS    WHITE    OWL. 

This  is  one  of  the  late  Mr.  Farrer's  plants  and  in 
colour  is  a  great  advance  on  S.  Irvingii,  which  was 
freely  shown  in  great  beauty.  One  little  group  of 
alpine  plant  enthusiasts  discussed  the  quaintly 
attractive  Saxifraga  Greisbachii  Wisley  variety, 
which  far  surpasses  the  type.  At  first  it  was  voted 
most  beautiful,  but  finally,  after  much  good- 
natured  banter,  it  was  agreed  that  quaintly 
attractive  was  more  appropriate  for  the  tuft  of 
silvery  foliage  and  the  hairy  crimson  bracts  on 
the  flower  stems.  S.  lilacina  really  is  a  delicately 
beautiful  flower. 

The  most  noteworthy  representatives  of  the 
Iris  family,  which  at  earlier  meetings  have  been 
numerous,  were  the  several  excellent  pots  of  Iris 
furaosa,  one  of  the  best  of  the  April  flowering 
section.  It  bears  quite  large  violet  flowers  of 
delicious  fragrance. 

Chief  among  the  flowering  trees  and  shrubs 
must    be    placed    the    remarkable    group    of    pot 


Camellias  by  Mr.  William  Paul.  These  were  all 
clean,  healthy  specimens  and  exceedingly  well 
flowered.  It  is  the  single-flowered  varieties  that 
are  most  successful  in  the  open,  and  among  those 
present  were  Lady  McKinnon,  Mrs.  J.  Buchanan, 
Adelina  Patti,  Vesta,  The  Swan  and  Jupiter. 
Azaleas  of  the  various  types  were  plentiful,  and  the 
most  attractive  were  A.  Hidomanyo,  a  charming 
soft  salmon  pink  little  bush  of  A.  Kaempferi  and 
J.  C.  van  Tol,  a  raollis-sinensis  h\  brid  which 
is  nearer  the  mollis  section  in  size  and  habit. 
It  becomes  a  glowing  bush  of  brick-red  colour  with 
a  sheen  of  orange  salmon. 

The  Narcissus  season  ma>'  be  said  to  have  fairly 
commenced,  as  there  were  several  very  good 
collections  on  view.  Many  of  the  newest  sorts 
were  as  yet  unnamed,  but  they  were  very  pro- 
mising, particularly  tho'-e  belonging  to  the  large 
trumpet  section.  Goldbeater  is  a  rich  yellow  self 
of  large  size  and  fine  shape.  Darius  is  a  bicolor 
with  a  canary  yellow  tube  rising  from  a  primrose 
perianth.  Vestal  Virgin,  another  of  the  large 
trumpets,  is  paper  white  and  a  sulphur  yellow 
tube.  Perhaps  the  largest  of  all  trumpets  was  Mrs. 
H.  J.  Veitch,  though  the  quantities  of  King  Alfred 
in  Messrs.  Carter's  graceful  exhibit  were  splendid. 

NEW     AND    RARE     PLANTS. 

Pieris  taiwanensis. — The  name  suggests  that 
this  is  one  of  Wilson's  Chinese  discoveries.  It  is  a 
wonderfully  good  shrub  and,  if  it  proves  to  be 
hardy,  will  be  a  decided  acquisition.  It  is  nearest 
to  Pieris  (Andromeda)  japonica,  but  bears  a  more 
erect  spike  of  whiter,  rounder  and  rather  larger 
flowers.  The  leaves  are  much  broader  than  those 
of  P.  japonica.  Tie  plant  on  view  suggests  that 
this  species  flowers  when  quite  young.  Award  of 
merit  to  the  Marquess  of  Headfort. 

Freesia  Wistaria. — Although  the  coloured 
F'rcesias  are  now  becoming  somewhat  common  and 
include  many  distinct  shades,  there  is  none  quite 
like  this  one.  The  three  inner  petals  have  the 
same  blue-mauve  colour  as  Wistaria  sinensis 
flowers,  while  the  outer  petals  are  simply  flushed 
with  it.  The  spike  and  blooms  are  both  good,  but, 
unfortunately,  there  seems  to  be  no  fragrance. 
.■\ward  of  merit  to  Mr.  G.  H.  Dalrymple. 

Narcissus  White  Dame  is  a  large  trumpet 
Daffodil  of  perfect  form  but  rather  thin  in  texture 
The  frilled  trumpet  is  widely  open  and  has  a  reflexed 
rim.  The  colour  is  that  known  as  paper  white. 
Award  of  merit  as  an  exhibition  variety  to  Mr. 
r,,  L.  Wilson. 

Narcissus  White  Owl. — This  might  almost 
lie  termed  a  Polyanthus-Leedsii-Tazetta  Daftodil, 
for  it  bears  twin  Leedsii  blooms  on  a  Tazetta 
growth.  It  was  raised  from  Minnie  Hume  and 
SciUy  White.  In  general  appearance  the  flowers 
are  like  small  biflora  trumpet  blooms  ;  they  have 
plenty  of  substance.  The  round  sepals  are  white 
and  the  trumpet  is  pleasingly  shaded  primrose. 
An  excellent  variety  for  pot  cultivation.  Shown 
by  Mr.  W.  F.  M.  Copeland. 

Violet  Tina  Whitaker. — This  is  a  large  flowered 
single  variety  which  has  somewhat  the  appearance 
of  a  poor  Viola.  The  long  petals  are  thin  and 
pointed  and  the  colour  is  purplish.  Shown  by 
Mr.  H.  A.  Perkins, 

Odontioda  Opal. — -A  very  fine  spike  of  roundish 
flowers  which  have  dull  crimson  markings  edged 
with  lilac  and  white.  The  white  lip  bears  a  rich 
yellow  crest.  First-class  certificate  to  Messrs. 
Armstrong  and  Brown. 

Sophro  -  Lselio  -  Cattleya  Falcon  Westonbirt 
variety. — The  flower  is  so  dazzlingly  beautiful  that 
one  can  forgive  its  cumbersome  name,  for  which, 
after  all,  it  is  in  no  way  responsible.  The  blooms 
are  as  nearly  perfect  in  form  as  possible.  The 
ground  colour  is  a  vivid,  spaikling  cardinal  red, 
and  this  has  a  sheen  of  fiery  orange.       There  is  a 


142 


THE    GARDEN. 


[March  25,  1922. 


velvety  crimson  lip  and  an  orange  throat.      I'irst- 
class  certificate  to  Sir  George  Holford. 
Cymbidiuin  Alexander!  Westonbirt  variety. — 

This  is  the  most  perfectly  formed  Cymbidium 
imaginable  and  a  very  beautiful  flovvci  withal. 
The  robust,  erect  spike  bore  half  a  dozen  roundish 
fleshy  blooms  having  pearly  white  segments  and  a 


crimson  splashing.  .Award  of  merit  to  Sir 
George    Holford. 

Sophro-Cattleya    Prince   Shimadzu. — A    very 

beautiful  flower  in  which  the  segments  are  heavily 
mottled  with  rose  in  an  uncommon  fashion.  The 
broad,  golden  lip  is  deeply  margined  with  rose  pink. 
Award  ot  merit  to  Messrs.  Flory  and  Black. 


A    MAGNIFICENT    LILY-OF-THE-VALLEY    SHRUB — PIERIS    TAIWANENSIS. 


lip  evenly  spotted  with  rosy  crimson  in  the  centre 
of  which  are  the  two  yellow  ridges.  First-class 
certificate  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Sir  G?orge 
Holford. 

Cymbidium    Alexander!    variety    Rosalind. — 

Although  not  of  such  perfect  form  as  the  above,  it 
is  a  very  charming  flower.  The  ivoiy  white 
segments  are  delicately  flushed  with  pink  and  there 
is     a    rose    pink    edging    to    the    lip   shading    to 


Apple  Peter  Lock. — This  seems  to  be  a  good  late 
general  utility  fruit,  for  it  is  recommended  both  as  a 
dessert  and  a  culinary  variety.  It  is  a  large, 
round,  flattish  fruit  somewhat  like  a  very  golden 
Wellington.  The  sunny  side  is  lightly  striped  with 
crimson.  It  is  said  to  be  quite  common  in  the 
orchards  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Buckfastleigh, 
Devon.  Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  J.  A.  Dcvcnish, 
Goulds,  Stavcrton,  Devon. 


SPRAYING    IN    SPRINGTIME 


Fruit  trees  zvhich  were  not  sprayed  in  winter  should  be  sprayed  in   spring, 
sprayed  then  may  need  spraying  again. 


Those 


THE  relative  value  of  winter  spraying  and 
spring  spraying  has  been  the  subject  of 
much  discussion.  Indeed,  it  is  almost 
as  debatable  a  point  with  the  advocates 
of  spraying  as  has  been  the  practical 
value  of  spraying  itself  between  its  disciples  and 
those  who  will  have  none  of  it. 

Whatever  may  be  the  value  of  winter  spraying 
— and  for  some  purposes  it  is  the  best  thing  we 
know — it  is  too  late  now  to  benefit  our  trees  by 
dwelling  upon  the  matter,  but  if  winter  spraying 
was  neglected,  it  is  imperative  that  careful  atten- 
tion should  be  given  to  spring  spraying,  and  even 
where  the  winter  spraying  was  carefully  and 
thoroughly  done,  there  may  very  likely  be  need  to 
spray  again  in  spring.  If  trees  are  known  to  he 
troubled  by  only  one  pest  or  disease,  and  its 
identity  is  established,  it  may  be  comparatively 
easy  to  decide  whether  the  one  season  or  both  will 
be  involved  in  the  measures  to  be  adopted  to  grapple 
with  the  trouble.  The  unfortunate  point  is  that  a 
predisposing  cause  of  attack  is  impaired  health  of 
the  tree,   and  as  soon  as  such  condition  affords 


opportunity,  not  one  but  several  pests  and  perhaps, 
fungoid  diseases  as  well,  fall  upon  the  tree  to  work 
their  havoc.  Another  thing  is  that  the  injury 
worked  by  one  enemy  renders  the  tree  vulnerable  to 
attack  by  another,  and  therefore  even  if  we  may 
have  destroyed  a  host  by  winter  spraying,  it  may 
be  just  as  necessary  to  ward  off  quite  a  different 
host  by  spraying  again  in  spring. 

The  fluids  that  may  be  used  during  the  winter 
when  the  trees  are  leafless  and  dormant  are  mot 
caustic  and  penetrating  than  can  be  used  with 
safety  when  the  buds  are  bursting  into  new  growth. 
On  the  other  hand  many  comparatively  mild 
and  simple  washes  will  prove  thoroughly  effective 
if  used  just  at  the  right  time. 

The  right  time  is  governed  by  natural  causes, 
which  regulate  the  awakening  of  activity  after 
the  winter's  rest.  If  we  have  warm  sunshine  and 
absence  of  frost  during  the  latter  half  of  March 
our  trees  break  early,  and  the  ova  of  insects  will 
hatch.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  we  have  a  continu- 
ance of  sunless  days  and  cold  nights  the  renewal  of 
activity   will   be   delayed.     Instead,    therefore,    of 


fixing  up  a  spraying  calendar,  it  is  wiser  to  work 
from  a  chart  that  takes  the  stage  of  development 
into  first  consideration. 

For  instance,  we  may  suppose  our  trees  were 
affected  last  year  by  attacks  of  the  grubs  of  one 
or  other  of  the  winter  moths,  the  codlin  moth,  or 
the  psylla  (Apple  sucker).  The  date  of  hatching 
of  the  larva?  of  these  pests  will  closely  coincide  with 
the  bursting  of  the  buds.  We  want  to  give  them 
a  poisonous  breakfast,  and  that  must  be  given 
before  they  can  bury  themselves  in  the  core  of  the 
embryo  fruit.  We  cannot,  however,  spray  when 
the  trees  are  in  full  bloom,  for  that  would  endanger 
the  pollen.  The  best  plan  therefore  is  to  spray 
just  before  the  first  buds  break,  and  then,  to  make 
perfectly  certain,  spray  again  when  the  petals  have 
fallen.  It  would  obviously  be  foolish  to  work  such 
a  task  by  date.  The  situation  of  an  orchard  or 
garden,  combined  with  the  vagaries  of  our  climate 
must  render  any  fixing  of  dates  abortive.  Further- 
more, even  in  one  garden  or  plantation  some 
varieties  will  come  into  bloom  earlier  than  others, 
and  every  tree  should  be  watched  and  treated 
individually.  This  means  trouble  and  irksome 
labour,  but  it  spells  the  difference  between  success 
and  failure,  and  it  is  worth  while  taking  the  trouble 
to  rid  trees  of  the  pests  that  can  destroy  the  crops. 

Talking  to  an  enthusiastic  cultivator  recently. 
who  is  famous  throughout  his  district  for  securing 
consistently  good  crops  even  when  neighbouring 
growers  have  failed,  he  assured  me  that  for  over  a 
dozen  years  he  has  made  a  practice  of  using  a 
knapsack  for  half  an  hour  to  an  hour  a  day  spiaying 
his  trees  just  as  they  individually  reached  the 
stage  of  showing  the  first  signs  of  bursting.  He 
would  as  readily  think  of  giving  up  spraying 
altogether  as  attempt  to  make  one  complete  job 
of  all  his  trees  at  one  operation.  There  lies  a  funda- 
mental point,  and  it  is  worth  taking  a  deal  of 
trouble  to  ascertain  just  when  to  spray. 

For  the  pests  aforementioned  arsenate  of  leacl 
wash  makes  a  reliable  and  effective  spray.  It  is  a 
poisonous  compound,  and  although  it  may  be 
prepared  by  dissolving  arsenate  of  soda  with 
acetate  of  lead  in  water  and  adding  treacle  to 
make  it  adhesive,  it  is  safer  to  buy  a  properly 
prepared  paste  and  dilute  according  to  directions 
given  on  the  canistei. 

Lime-sulphur  is  another  useful  spray  for  spring 
use,  its  purpose  being  to  arrest  the  development 
of  many  fungoid  diseases.  It  is  also  a  capital 
spray  to  use  as  a  deterrent  to  birds  that  are  wont 
to  pick  at  the  sweUing  buds.  It  is  possible  to 
combine  these  two  mixtures,  making  one  spray 
serve  the  dual  purpose  of  insecticide  and  fungicide, 
but  they  must  be  blended  with  care  else  the  one 
will  destroy  the  power  of  the  other.  It  is  a 
chemist's  job  rather  than  an  amateur's. 

Before  long  we  shall  require  to  be  on  the  track  of 
the  first  batches  of  aphides  that  wiU  be  hatching 
from  eggs  that  have  lain  dormant  during  the  winter . 
A  very  effective  spray,  so  long  as  it  is  thoroughly 
well  emulsified  and  kept  agitated  throughout  the 
process  of  spraying,  may  be  made  by  bringing  half 
a  pound  of  good  soft  soap  to  boiling  point  in  a 
gallon  of  water,  then  adding  two  gallons  of  best 
paraffin  oil,  stirring  with  vigour  until  the  whole 
is  converted  into  a  creamy  emulsion.  The  solution 
will  make  loo  gallons  of  spray.  The  essential 
point  is  to  keep  the  oil  thoroughly  mixed  by  repeated 
violent  stirring,  for  if  the  paraffin  is  allowed  to 
rise  to  the  surface  the  spray  will  lose  its  effective- 
ness, and  the  oil  will  damage  young  foliage.  A 
spraying  machine  with  a  paddle  or  agitator  inside 
the  tank  will  keep  the  fluid  thoroughly  emulsified. 

The  value  of  nicotine  for  destroying  aphides  and 
most  gnawing  and  sucking  insects  is  so  great  that 
even  at  the  high  prices  at  present  prevailing 
we  can  ill  afford  to  do  without  a  good  nicotine 
wash.  .A.  J.  Macself. 


March  25,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


143 


CORRESPONDENCE 


TRANSPLANTING   TIMES. 

'\X^ITH  reference  to  your  note  (page  iii  of  The 
Garden  for  March  ii)  that  the  May  planting 
fetish  is  dyine:  out,  I  have  always  understood,  as 
an  amateui  gardener,  that  for  Yews  the  end  of 
April  or  the  beginning  of  May  was  the  time  for 
transplanting  par  exct^Uence.  Should  this  not  be 
so,  it  is  very  desirable  that  the  fact  should  be 
given  the  widest  possible  publicity,  and  I  do  think 
that  a  discussion  contributed  to  by  those  entitled 
to  speak  with  authority  not  only  on  this  point,  but 
upon  the  best  times  for  transplanting  in  general, 
would  be  of  the  greatest  interest  to  gardeners. — L 
[Our  correspondent's  suggestion  is  an  excellent 
one.  We  shall  gladly  find  space  for  a  discussion 
of  the  question  — En  I 

TREE    LUPINS    EN    THE    BORDER. 

'T'HE  Lupin  appears  of  late  to  have  become 
exceedingly  popular,  which,  considering 
comparati%'el\'  recent  improvements  in  colouring, 
is  not  to  be  wondered  at.  It  seems  now  to  be  quite 
fashionable  to  plant  strains  which  have  been  pro- 
duced by  crossing  the  shrubby  so-called  Tree 
Lupin  with  the  herbaceous  forms.  The  quiet, 
restful  colourings  of  most  of  these  crossbreds 
are  very  beautiful  when  a  cut  spray  is  examined, 
but  few  people  use  Lupins  for  cut-flower  owing 
to  their  shedding  pro- 
pensities. Looked  at  as 
garden  flowers  these  forms 
seem  to  me  far  inferior  to 
either  of  their  parents. 
The    extensive    range     of 

colour   now  obtainable   in 

the  herbaceous  forms  con- 
tains many  shades  at  once 

brilliant   and   pleasing  — 

this    even    to     the     most 

captious — but  it  is  of  the 

value  of  the  too  neglected 

Tree    Lupins   that   I     feel 

impelled  to  write.      Their 

only  real  failing  is  short- 
ness    of     life,     which     is 

especially   manifest  in  the 

North    and    East,     where 

only  young  robust  plants 

can  be  depended   upon  to 

withstand   the   rigours    of 

winter.  They  are,  however, 

readily     and    rapidly 

replaced    from    seed     and 

need  replacing  no    oftener 

than  a  well  kept  herbaceous 

border    must    be  re-made, 

so  that,  personally,  I  have 

not  found  this  an  appre- 
ciable    drawback.       They 

are,     when     in     blossom, 

among  the  most  satisfying 

features    of     the    garden. 

while  merely  as  a  foil    tf^ 

other  plants  and  a  harmon- 
ising  influence  they  earn 

their  place  in   the   herba- 
ceous border.     Forms   are 
now   obtainable    which    are   almost    golden   yellow 
in  colour,  but  give  me  the  old-fashioned  creamv- 

white  variety   and   more  particularly    the   typical 

soft  yellow  i — Midlander. 

THE  WYCH  ELM  AND  OTHER  MATTERS. 

J  SHARE  with  "  Somers  "  (March  ii,  page  114) 

the    feeling    that    trees    are    truly    seen    when 

leafless.     A    tree    seen    thus    in    winter,    with    the 

sun  rising  or  setting  behind  it,  always  affords  me 


a  peculiar  pleasure,  surpassing  all  summer  joys 
in  it.  When  he  writes  0'  a  Wych  Elm  in 
particular  he  touches  me  closely,  for  we  had  one 
in  our  old  Surbiton  garden.  It  served  as  our 
outdoor  summer  sitting-room,  and  wc  children 
used  its  lowest  branch  as  our  "  horizontal  bar." 
"  Somers'  "  description  of  its  "  domes  "  is  perfect. 
Like  him,  too,  I  count  all  I  see  as  mine,  and  am 
now  part  owner  of  a  beautiful  park,  whose  nominal 
owner  wots  not  of  my  existence.  He  pays  all  the 
expenses  and  has  all  the  worry  o'  it — a  truly 
admirable  partnership  from  my  point  of  view. 

The  neglected  Begonias,  with  their  ruddy 
foliage,  as  pot  plants,  I  also  found  out  a  few  years 
ago.  They  ari^as  "  C.  T.,"  Ampthill,  writes 
(page  120)— delightful.  The  Night-soented  Stock 
is  neve-  absent  f»om  my  "  fragrant  border,"  and 
at  the  present  time  (March  10)  is  coming  up  in 
self-sown  masses  under  my  west  room  window. 
I  "  cany  off  "  its  daytime  shabbiness  by  planting 
some  purple  "  Daytime "  Stocks  close  against 
its  clumps.  I  hazard  the  surmise  that  it  opens 
at  night  to  be  fertilised  by  some  special  moth 
possibly  ? 

I  am  so  pleased  to  see  "  Clarence  P."  again  in 
The  Garden  ;  his  humorous  and  practical 
paragraphs  have  too  long  been  absent.  I  agree 
with    his    objection    to    the    "  ii "    termination — 


THE  VALUABLE  TREE  LUPIN — LUPINUS  ARBOREUS 


Jonesii.  Smithii,  Brownii,  Greenii,  Blackii,  and 
the  rest.  I  wish  Mr.  All  wood  would  make  a^new 
departure  with  his  new  plants  and  call  them 
Allwood's  Dianthus.  By  the  way,  Clarence, 
you  are  not  the  only  sufferer  from  parental  cruelty, 
in  choice  of  your  Christian  name  !  Mr.  Allwood's 
is  Montague,  and  mine  are  as  many  as  a  Roval 
princess's.  Tumtiddy  Marianne  Tumtiddy  Tiddy- 
tum  Tumtiddy.  What  a  life  the  girls  at  the  Ivv 
House  Hackney  High  School  led  me !    especially 


as  one  of  my  names  was  that  of  the  heroine  of  3 
popular  poem — and  girls  were  not  allowed  to 
fight  then !  Perhaps  they  are  now.  So  many 
things  have  changed  since  I  was  young! — .Anne 
Amateur. 

THE  HARDINESS  OF  EUCALYPTUS 

GLOBULUS. 

JN  The  Garden  of  .March  11.  page  120,  your 
correspondent,  "  J.  P.,"  writing  under  the 
heading  "  Eucalypti,"  wonders  "  whether  "  Euca. 
lypti,  CameUias  and  Mimosa  could  possibly,  with 
protection,  be  induced  to  grow  in  the  warmer 
parts  of  Cheshire."  Without  venturing  an  opinion 
on  the  exact  point  raised,  it  may  be  of  interest 
to  "J.  P."  and  many  others  it  I  remind  them 
that  Osgood  Mackenzie,  Esq.,  has  in  his  grounds 
at  Inverewe,  North-west  Ross-shire,  several 
specimens  of  Eucalyptus  Globulus,  which  weie 
several  years  ago  of  pit-prop  size.  Further,  Sir 
Herbert  Maxwell,  in  his  delightful  book,  "  Scottish 
Gardens,"  page  82,  tells  of  a  30ft.  specimen  of  E. 
Globulus,  at  Castle  Kennedy.  Wigtownshire,  which 
was  blown  down  by  a  gale  in  1894,  but  which  was 
again  showing  its  hardiness  there  by  means  o: 
a  fresh  stem  thrown  up  from  the  root.  Sir  Herbert 
also  tells  of  a  20ft.  specimen  of  Acacia  dealbata, 
which  was  killed  -  by  the  severe  frost  which 
occurred  on  .April  24,  1908,  a  date  which  ran  e 
between  his  seeing  it  at  Castle  Kennedy  and  the 
pubUcation  of  his  book.  The  death  of  this  Mimosa 
was  attributed  to  the  fact  that  it  had  made, 
immediately  previous  to  its  decease,  unusually 
vigorous  growth,  owing  to  the  warm  weather  at 
that  early  period  of  the  year.  As  Sir  Herbert 
in  his  introduction  to  his  book  points  out,  the 
relative  hardiness  ot  plants  in  Britain  is  not  so 
much  a  question  of  North  and  South  as  of  East 
and  West. — Caledonia. 

EFFECTS    OF    DROUGHT. 

QARDENERS  as  a  rule  do  not  realise  that  the 
flowering  period  of  nearly  all  annuals  can  be 
extended  by  cutting  back  the  plants  as  soon  as 
the  first  rush  of  bloom  is  over.     During  the  late 
dry  summer  most  people  will  have  noticed  how 
quickly  annuals  came  into  blossom  and  how  soon 
that  blossom  faded.     In  this  garden  some  large 
patches  of  blue  Nemesia,  double  Godetia,  Nigella, 
crimson    Flax    and    others    were    cut    over    with 
shears   as  soon   as   the  first   flowering  was  over. 
After   one   or   two   waterings   the   plants   started 
into    growth    again,    and    the   second   blossoming 
was   as   effective   as   the   first   and   more   lasting. 
Among  perennial  plants  which  enjoyed  the  heat 
and  drought  were  the  following  :    .All  Gj-psophilas 
Lavatera    Olbia,    all    Eryngiums    and    Echinops 
Ritro.     Heleniums  and  Rudbeckias  looked  miser- 
able and  suffered  far  more  than  did   Phloxes  in 
this   cool,    heavy   soil.     The   only   plant   actually 
killed  by  drought  (except  wall  plants)  was  London 
Pride.     In   full  sun   this  all  perished.     I   have  a 
good  deal  of  old  flint  and  brick  wall  in  which 
various  plants  are  naturalised.     These  are  chiefly 
Pinks    of    several    species    and    varieties,    Erinus 
alpinus,     Sedums    and    Sempervivums.     All    the 
Pinks  were  killed,   including  large  old  plants  of 
ciesius    and    pluraarius.     D.    deltoides    was    the 
first  to  go      Out  of   many   hundreds   of   plants   of 
Erinus     not   half  a  dozen  are  left.      However,    I 
fully    e.xpect    that    both    these   and    the    Dianthi 
will    reappear  from  self-sown  seed.   Sedums  and 
Houseleeks  were  unharmed    and,  strange  to  say, 
the  damp-loving  .Arenaria  balearica  has  survived 
here  and  there  where  shaded  from  the  sun.     Ivy- 
leaved   Toadflax   and   yellow  Corydalis  still  hold 
their  own.     None  of  the  walls  are   "retaining" 
walls,  and  they  are  all  built  with  mortar.     When 
one  considers  that  for  months  no  moisture  can 


144 

have  penetrated  the  crevices  and  that  the  walls 
were  baked  through  and  through  by  the  sun, 
it  seems  wonderful  that  any  plants  should  have 
survived. — B.  C.  T..  Hants. 

A    QUESTION    OF     CULTURE. 

"  A  E.  W."  says  (March  ii,  page  112)  that  Iris 
unguicularis  needs  "  very  poor  soil."  It 
is  true  that  this  Iris  may  flower  well  at  the  foot 
of  a  south  wall  in  the  poorest  soil,  but  the  finest 
flowering  clumps  of  it  that  I  have  ever  seen  were 
planted  in  a  rich  Vine  border  facing  south,  where 
the  plants  had  also  the  benefit  of  being  close  to 
a  wall  warmed  inside  by  hot-water  pipes.  Heat, 
not  quality  o'  soil,  is  the  essential  requisite  for 
making  them  flower  well. — H.  Rollo  Meyer. 

A     LITTLE-SEEN     ROCK     PLANT. 

COME  years  ago  I  obtained  a  plant  of  Calceolaria 
polyrhiza  which,  with  some  misgivings, 
notwithstanding  its  supposed  (or  catalogued) 
hardiness,  I  planted  out  in  a  sheltered  comer 
of  my  httle  rock  garden.  There  it  has  flourished 
greatly  and  increased  rapidly  by  running  under- 
ground, so  that  I  have  cstabhshed  pieces  in  other 


THE    GARDEN. 


[March  25,  1922 


GARDENING     OF    THE     WEEK 


THE    TOO    LITTLE-SEEN    C.'VLCEOL.\RL\ 
POLYRHIZA. 

and  colder  places,  even  between  paving  stones 
in  another  part  of  the  garden  altogether.  I  still 
occasionally  find  it  listed  in  hardy  plant  catalogues, 
but  I  never  seem  to  see  it  in  gardens  I  visit  unless 
it  be  a  plant  which  originally  was  obtained  from  me. 
I  think  its  want  of  popularity  may  probably  be 
due  to  the  fact  that  being  a  Calceolaria  its  hardiness 
is  mentally  called  in  question  and  also  to  its 
catalogue  descriptions,  which  seem  to  lay  emphasis 
on  its  quaintness  and  quite  overlook  its  real 
charm  and  beauty.  Few  plants  can  possibly  be 
easier  "  doers"  or  more  worth  growing  by  those 
to  whom  beauty  is  not  dependent  on  mere  size. — 
E.  N.  Q.  

I'ORTH COMING    EVENTS. 

March  28. — Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Fort- 
nightly Meeting  (two  days).  Masters'  Memorial 
Lecture,  by  Dr.  Harold  Wager,  on  "  The  Behaviour 
of  Plants  in  Response  to  Light,"  at  3  p.m.  on  the 
first  day. 

March  29. — Irish  Gardeners'  Association  and 
Benefit  Society's  Meeting.  Glasgow  and  West  of 
Scotland  Horticultural  Society's  Meeting  at 
7  p.m.    Lecture  on  "  Rock  and  Water  Gardening," 

April  I. — Paisley  Florists'  Society's  Show. 


FOR     SOUTHERN     GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Cauliflowers. — It  is  an  immense  gain  where 
arrangements  can  be  made  for  an  early  batch  to 
be  grown  under  glass.  This  may  be  either  in 
Sin,  or  oin  pots  or,  better  still,  in  deep  pits  facing 
south,  having  a  flow  and  return  water  pipe  svstem 
for  use  on  cold  evenings.  The  pits  should  be  of 
sufficient  depth  to  allow  for  a  bed  of  leaves  and 
litter.  This  bed  should  be  prepared  in  time  so 
that  the  heat  is  on  the  decline  when  the  plants 
are  placed  in  their  final  positions.  After  carefully 
hardening  other  batches  they  may  now  be  planted 
out  in  well  enriched  soil  and,  if  possible,  in  a 
warm,  sheltered  spot  to  come  along  quicklv. 
A  slight  protection  such  as  afforded  by  a  few 
evergreen  boughs  should  be  given  if  cold  winds 
are  prevalent. 

Beetroot. — On  a  warm  well  worked  border 
a  small  first  sowing  may  be  made,  choosing  a 
Globe-rooted  variety  for  preference.  For  this 
earlv  crop  allow  a  distance  of  a  foot  between  the 
drills. 

Dwarf  French  Beans. — Make  use  of  as  many 
frames  as  possible  to  maintain  an  unbroken 
supply  of  this  vegetable,  and  as  it  is  still  too  early, 
"  except  in  the  more  favoured  spots,"  to  sow  out- 
side, sow  some  seed  thinly  in  shallow  boxes  and 
place  in  cold  frames.  These  will  be  ready  to 
transplant  to  a  warm  border  a  little  later. 

Cucumbers. — Make  a  sowing  at  once,  if  not 
already  done,  to  furnish  plants  suitable  for  use 
in  frames  or  a  succession  batch  inside.  Plants 
growing  and  fruiting  freely  require  constant 
attention  in  stopping  and  regulating  the  growths, 
while  with  lengthening  days  and  stronger  sunlight 
plentv  of  moisture  will  be  needed  both  atmo- 
spherically and  for  the  roots  Frequent  top- 
dressings  are  of  the  utmost  benefit  to  enable  plants 
to  carry  a  heavy  crop  of  fruits,  and  a  suitable 
compost  would  be  fibrous  loam,  spent  mushroom 
manure  and  some  flaky  leaf-soil. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Flantins  and  Frunins;. — The  present  is  a 
suitable  and  proper  time  for  each  of  these  opera- 
tions in  connexion  with  some  of  the  occupants 
in  and  around  the  flower  garden  With  the 
exception  of  Hollies  and  Bamboos  it  would  be  well 
to  get  the  planting  of  evergreens  completed  soon, 
espeei.Tllv  on  light  soils,  but  with  the  two  plants 
named  there  is  no  hurry  for  another  three  weeks  ; 
ind"ed.  Bamboos  often  "  go  away  '  more  quickly 
if  the  planting  is  deferred  imtil  the  early  d^ys  of 
Mav  .'Vn  important  point  in  connexion  with  the 
planting  or  transplanting  of  shrubs  and  trees 
is  to  have  everything  in  readiness  so  that  the  work 
mav  be  carried  out  quicklv  and  no  unnecessary 
suffering  be  imposed  upon  the  roots  of  the  plants 
dealt  with  bv  long  exposure  to  unfavourable 
climatic  conditions  In  dealing  with  the  pruning 
of  shrubs,  especially  flowering  ones,  I  think  the 
same  remark  applies  as  with  Roses — an  intelligent 
enthusiast  will  quickly  see  what  his  or  her  plants 
require  as  far  as  the  knife  is  concerned  Where 
Ivy  is  used  as  a  covering  1  think  the  end  of  March 
affords  rcplly  the  best  time  for  hard  pruning,  as 
the  genial  and  growing  days  oft  experienced 
during  .-^pril  will  soon  induce  new  growth  to 
hide  the  bare  appearance  following  severe  pruning. 

Plants  in  Tubs,  among  which  include  Hydran- 
geas, Lippia  citriodora,  (Lemon-scented  Verbena), 
Fuchsias  and  .'\gapanthus.  should  now  be  encour- 
aged to  grow  freely,  giving  such  attention  as 
necessarv  to  top-dressing  or  retubbing  Where 
these  plants  are  required  at  their  best  late 
in  the  season,  much  may  be  done  towards 
arriving  at  this  end  by  retarding  them  as  long 
as  possible  at  this  season 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 
Pot  Strawberries.' — increased  sun- heat  and 
longer  growing  days  will  render  it  necessary  to 
give  these  plants  more  attention,  particularly 
those  which  were  inlroduced  into  the  houses 
some  weeks  ago.  These  are  now  full  of  activity 
in  leafage  and  at  the  roots.  Pr^Tiess  at  the  root 
must  be  guarded  against,  and  it  is  also  necessary 
on  all  bright  days  to  give  the  foUage  of  the  plants 
a  couple  of  good  syringings,  unless  of  course  during 
the  flowering  period.  More  manure  water  may 
be  safely  used  now  on  plants  swelling  up  their 
fruits,  but  discontinue  this  when  coloration  sets 
in,  likewise  the  spraying  of  the  plants,  and 
endeavour  if  possible  so  to  arrange  that  a  goodly 
amount  of  air  may  circulate  among  the  plants 
so  that  as  good  a  flavour  and  finish  may  be  given 
the    fruits    as   possible.     See    that   some   support 


is  given  the  fruit  either  with  sticks  or  by  stretching 
a  couple  of  strands  of  twine  under  them  and 
looping  it  at  intervals  to  permanent  wires  in  the 
house  or  to  some  secure  temporary  arrangement. 

H.    TUR.\ER. 

(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland.) 
Albury  Park  Gardens,  Guildford. 


FOR  NORTHERN  GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Parsley. — A  good  breadth  of  this  popular 
herb  should  now  be  sown.  This  first  sowing 
thiives  best  if  allotted  a  part  of  the  early  border 
where  the  soil  has  been  deeply  dug  and  well 
manured.  Sow  in  shallow  drills  iiins.  apart. 
Run  the  hoe  through  between  lines  of  old  plants 
and  so  encourage  enough  growth  to  last  until 
early  sowings  are  ready  for  picking. 

Seakale. — Plant  the  necessary  number  of  sets 
now  for  providing  strong  crowns  for  forcing 
purposes  next  season.  The  sets  that  were  prepared 
some  time  ago  and  laid  in  sand  will  now  be  showing 
several  shoots  at  the  top.  Rub  these  off  with 
the  exception  of  two  of  the  strongest.  Draw 
shallow  drills  iSins.  apart  and  plant  the  sets 
I  sins,  apart  in  the  drills,  covering  the  crowns 
with  Tin.  of  soil.  After  growth  is  advanced  rub 
off  the  weaker  of  the  two  shoots. 

Spinach.' — Make  frequent  sowings  so  that  fresh 
pickings  may  be  m.aintained.  Sow  also  Spinach 
Beet,  as  this  proves  a  valuable  substitute  should 
the  summer  variety  fail  through  drought  or  other 
causes. 

Globe  Artichokes. — The  rough  litter  which 
has  been  used  as  protecting  material  during  the 
winter  may  now  be  removed  and  the  ground  forked 
between  the  plants,  at  the  same  time  giving  a 
liberal  dressing  of  well  decayed  farmyard  manure. 
Should  new  plantations  be  necessary,  the  work 
may  be  carried  out  at  this  time.  W  here  the 
soil  is  stiff  and  clayey  work  in  a  quantity  of  leaf- 
soil,  lime  rubble  and  cinders.  This  will  be  found 
helpful  in  freeing  the  soil  and  encouraging  root 
action. 

Leeks. — Seed  should  now  be  sown  in  the  open 
border.  This  sowing  will,  in  most  gardens,  provide 
the  principal  planting  of  this  indispensable  winter 
vegetable.  Selected  Musselburgh  still  holds  first 
place  in  Northern  gardens  for  quality  and  hardiness. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

"Vines. — Muscats  in  flower  should  receive  careful 
attention  at  this  time,  allowing  a  night  temperature 
of  from  6=>°  to  yo°,  with  a  corresponding  rise  of 
in°  to  15°  on  sunny  days.  Allow  the  bunches 
as  much  light  as  possible.  Muscats  do  not  as 
a  rule  set  well  under  dense  foliage.  Fertilise 
with  a  rabbit's  tail  or  very  fine-haired  brush. 
Keep  the  atmosphere  dry  and  buoyant  until  the 
bunches  are  well  set. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Half-Hardy  Annuals. — The  majority  of  half- 
hardy  annuals,  such  as  Stocks,  Asters,  Zinnias, 
Nemesia  and  Alonsoas,  should  be  sown  now  in. 
the  genial  temperatare  of  a  greenhouse.  After 
germination  takes  place  keep  the  boxes  as  near 
to  the  glass  as  possible  so  that  sturdy  little  seedlings 
may  result,  which,  after  due  hardening,  may  be 
pricked  out  into  cool  frames.  Guard  against  too 
much  moisture.  Stocks  in  particular  damp  off 
readily  in  the  seedling  stage. 

Hydrangea arborescensgrandiflora. — Plant  beds 
of  this  delightful  .American  species  now.  This 
variety  has  proved  one  of  the  hardiest  and  most 
floriferous  of  the  Hydrangeas.  It  is  particularly 
pleasing  during  the  late  summer  and  early  autumn, 
especially  when  planted  in  conjunction  with 
Fuchsia   Riccartoni. 

Spring-Flowering  Plants. — ^Beds  containing 
Tulips.  Hyacinths,  Myosotis  or  other  spring- 
flowering  plants  should  have  the  surface  stirred 
with  a  small  hand  cultivator.  Permanent  beds 
of  May-flowering  or  Darwin  Tulips  should  also 
have  the  surface  cleaned  and  fresh  soil  added. 

Border  Chrysanthemums. — Where  these  were 
rooted  in  boxes  some  time  ago  they  should  now 
be  ready  for  transplanting  into  frames.  Plant  in 
a  rich  compost  of  old  potting  soil  with  a  quantity  of 
manure  from  a  spent  Mushroom-bed  added  This 
assists  in  forming  strong  plants,  which  will  be  in 
fine  condition  for  planting  out  early  in  May, 
James  McGran. 

(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.) 

Coodham,  Kilmarnock. 


THE 


i3RARYof  M 


)  i 


i^ttm  f-rt  f 


»«ittS 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


^ol.  LXXXVI.— Mo.  2628. 

Entered  as  Second-class  Matter  at  the  New  York,  N.Y,.  PoatOflBce. 


Saturday,  April  1,  1922 


REOISTBREO    AT    THE     GENERAL 

POST    OFFICE    AS   A    NEWSPAPER 

AND     FOR     CANADIAN     BAOAZINB 

POST. 


Price  THREEPcNCB 

Yearly  Subscriptloo 
Inland.    17/4:    Foreign,  17/4 


THE     GOLDEN-STAMENED     APENNINE     WIND- 
FLOWER,    ANEMONE     APENNINA. 


MERRYWEATHER'S     ROSES 


FOR    THE   GARDEN  1 
FOR    BEDS! 


FOR    EXHIBITION! 
FOR    EVERYWHERE! 


Also  Fruit  Trees,  Shrubs,  Ornamental  Trees. 
Please  state  your  wants. 

H.    MERRYWEATHER  &    SONS,  LTD. 
Garden  Specialists.  SOUTHWELL,  NOTTS. 

POTATO    IRISH    KING 

A       NEW       EARUY       M  A  I  N  C  R  O  P      POTATO. 

VERY      HEAVY     CROPPER.  FINE     COOKINQ     QUALITIES. 

A  first-class  White  Kidney,  of  Up-to-Date  type,  coming  in  as  an  early 
maincrop,  and  producing  a  heavy  crop  of  handsome  medium-sized  tubers  of 
splendid  table  qualities,  flesh  white,  dry  and  floury,  strongly  recommended . 
We  were  given  an  Award  of  Merit  by  the  R.H.S.  for  this  variety,  1921. 
Among  the  several  trials  madi  in  private  gardens,  in  one  instance  2  lb. 
produced   1   cwt.  of  potatoes. 

Specially  selected  tubers,  hand-picked  for  seed,  Class  I.,   Irish  grown, 
per  14  lbs.,  5/6;     per  56  lbs.,   20/-. 

For  other  fine  Maincro,h  and  Second  Early  Potatoes,  see  Barr's  Seed  Ouide, 
fre:  on  application. 

RADD        A.       ^OIM<K  I'll     12     &     13,     KINQ     STREET, 

^t^T\.T\.       Ot      ^\Jl^^,     COVENT    QARDEN,     LONDON,    WAI. 

^X  riTH   the   decline  in  costs  of  production,  cheaper  coal  particularly,  and 
» '^      Anticipating  a  Reduction  in  Postal  Rates,  at  the  time  of  despatch, 
we  are  reducing  the  prices  of  our 

Early  Flowering  Chrysanthemums. 

At  planting  time  (about  May  1st)  we  will  send  one  dozen  Early  Flowering 
Chrysanthemums  for  the  garden  for  5/-,  24  in  12  varieties  for  9/-,  50  in  25. 
varieties  for  16/-,  100  in  50  varieties  for  30/-,  or  100  in  25  varieties  for  25/-. 

THE     BEST    PLANTS.  THE     BEST    VARIETIES. 

Post    Free    for    Cash    with    Order. 

Plants  of  Japanese,  Incurved,  Decoratives  and  Singles  for  greenhouse 
flowering  in  the  Winter,  should  be  obtained  now.  Our  selections,  6/-  per 
dozen.     When  ordering,  please  state  section  required. 

Descriptive    Catalogue    on    Application. 


W.     WELLS     &     CO..     MERSTHAM,     SURREY. 

ORCH I DS 

of  vigorous  habit  and    superior  constitution.     A  visit  to  our  Establishment 

is    cordially    invited    to    inspect    our     immense     and     interesting     STOCK 

RAISED     BY     THE 

PURE    CULTURE    SYSTEM 

Choice    Species,    Rare    Botanical    Specimens.     Albinos    in    warm   and   cool 

sections  also  a  speciality. 
Expert    Advice    given    and    all    Requisites    supplied     for    the    good    culture 

of   Orchids. 

CHARLESWORTH  &  CO.,  "ITe*™"*^ 


THE     GARDEN. 


rAPRIL    I,    1022. 


"THE    GARDEN"   CATALOGUE    GUIDE 


Rose  Specialists 


ELISHA  J.  HICKS,  M.C.  N.R.S.,  etc. 

HURST,  BERKS 

Thi  Chamiion   Decorative  Ron   Grower    of    England 


WALTER    EASLEA    &    SONS, 

EASTWOOD,    LEIGH-ON-SEA,    ESSEX. 

Essex  produces  the  World's  Finest  Roses. 
Our  plants  are  grown  in  fields  exposed  to  sea  air. 
All  the  latest  and  best  varieties. 

Fruit  Trees  and  Plants 


PERRY'S 

Hardy  Plant  Farms 

ENFIELD,  MIDDX. 


New  Alpines 
and  Perennial 

Complete 
Collection 


KELWAY  &  SON 
Retail  Plant  Department 
LANGPORT,  SOMERSET. 


Hardy  Plants 
Colour  Borders 
Gladioli 


HARDY     AZALEAS     AND     FLOWERING     SHRUBS 


R.  &  G.  CUTHBERT 

SOUTHGATE 

MIDDLESEX 

Established  1797 


For  planting  and 
Conservatory 
decoration. 
Catalogue  of  our 
new  and  beautiful 
varieties  post 
free 


LAXTON  BROS. 

Nurseries 

BEDFORD 


Strawberries 

and 

Fruit  Trees 


W.  WELLS,  JuNR. 
Hardy  Plant  Nursery 
MERSTHAM,  SURREY 


Specialists   in 
Hardy  Plants 
and  Alpines 
Catalogues  free 


PULHAM  S)  SOTS 

THE  NUUSERLES-ELSENMAM 
STANSTED  ■  ESSEX 


Alpine  ■» 
Hanij  Plants 


Seeds  and  Bulbs 


R.  H.  BATH,  Ltd. 
The  Floral  Farms 
WISBECH 


Home-Grown 
Bulbs  and 
Seeds 


BLACKMORE  &  LANGDON 
TwERTON  Hill  Nursery 
BATH 


Begonias 
Delphiniums 
Qloxinias 
Cyclamen,  etc. 


DAWKINS 

408,  King's  Road 

CHELSEA,  S.W. 


Seed  Catalogue 
and  Special 
Bulb  Offer. 


Garden  Sundries 


G.  H.  RICHARDS 
234,  Borough 
LONDON,  S.E.I 


Trad* 
only. 


XL  ALL 

Insecticides  anc' 
Fumigants 


C.  E.  WEST 
Higham  Hill,  E.17 
Est.  1888 


West's  PatentGardenSundries. 
,  ,,       Weeder. 

"  Celu"  Labels. 
RafliL.tape  "  Westmaline.  ' 
Insecticides.  Wved  Killers,  etc. 
Catalogue  and  frte  samples. 


RICHARD  MELHUISH,  Ltd. 
50  51,  Fetter  Lane,  E.C.4. 
Branch  Depot  : 

143  HoLBORN  Bars 


SPENCE'S  DESCRIPTIVE  CATALOGUE  of 
8BILECTED  SCOTCH  SEED  POTATOES  from 
the  famous  Dunbar  district,  post  free.  Please 
mention  "  The  Garden."— CH AS.  T.SPENCE, 
Seed  Potato  Specialist,  DUNBAR. 


GOLD     MEDAL    CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 

Catalogue  free  containing  full  list  of  all  the  best  and  up-to- 
date  varieties  in  all  sections,  also  list  of  Novelties  for  1922 

QOLD   MEDAL   MICHAELMAS  DAISIES. 

1  shall  be  pleastd  to  supply  for  63/-  one  each  of  the  50 
varieties  for  which  1  was  awarded  the  Gold  Medal   of   the 

R  H.S.  in  St-ptember  last,  or  will  make  special  selections 
at  10/-.  15/-  and  20|-  per  dozen. 

QOLD  MEDAL  PERENNIAL  PHLOX. 

If  you  want  the  best  try  H.  J.  JONES'  selection.  12  very 
fine  unnamed,  all  colours  mi.\ed,  ft/-  ;  12  very  fine  named 
varieties,  10/-:  12  extr.i  fine  named,  15/- ;  12  very  fine  New 
varieties,  20/-. 

Catalogue  of  the  above  arid  many  other  good  {slants  front 

H.J.  JONES,  Ryecroft  Nurseries,  LEWISHAM,S.E.13 


Garden  Tools  ol 
all  kinds. 
Catalogue    "B" 
post  free. 


W.   WELLS,   Junn.,| 

Hardy  Plant  Nurseries,  I 

Merstham,     Surrey.  I 

Colkctions  of  Herbaceous  Plants 

for    Present    Planting. 
ORDER  NOW  AND  ENSURE  DELIVER) 


CORRY  &  CO.,  Ltd. 
Shad  Thames,  S.E.i  and 
Bedford  Chambers 
CovENT  Garden,  W.C.2 


Merchants  and 
Manufacturers 
of  Horticultural 
Sundries 
Fertilizers  and 
Insecticides,  etx. 


J.  BENTLEY,  Ltd. 
B  arrow-on-  Humber 
HULL 


Weed  Destroyers 
Lawn  Sand 
Insecticides 
Shrubs,  etc. 


Landscape  Gardening 


\V.  H.  GAZE  &  SONS,  Ltd. 
High  Street 
KINGSTON-ON-THAMES 


Landscape,  Rock 
and  Water  Garden 
Model  Gardens 
Portsmouth    Road 
Surbiton 


R.  WALLACE  &  CO.,  Ltd. 
The  Old  Gardens 
TUNBRIDGE  WELLS 


Landscape  &  Oardet 
Architects.  Queer 
Alexandra's  Cup  fo 
Best  Rook  and  Wate 
OardeQ,  Internationa 
Show.  1912. 


J.  CHEAL  &   SONS 

Nurseries 

CRAWLEY 


NATURE    &    ART. 

Largest  and  finest  stock  of   CLIPPED 

YEW  &  BOX  TREES  in  the  country. 

Thousands  of  Specimens  to  select  from 

Catalogues  free  on  demand. 

JOHN  KLINKERT,  F.R.H.S.,  M.C.H. 

Kew    Topiary    Nurs«rl«a, 

RICHMOND,    LONDON. 


MISS  EVELYN  FAWSSETT 

(Specialist  in  Garden  Planning) 

83,  High  Street 
LEWES,  SUSSEX 


New  Gardens  de- 
signed. Old  Gardens 
Re-arranged.  Plant- 
ing plans  >or-  borders, 
etc.  Terms  on  appli- 
cation. 


FORBES*  Catalogue. 

Florists'  Flowers,  Hardy  Plants,  Vegetable 
and   Flower   Seeds,  Free  on  Application. 

JOHN      FORBES     (Hawick),      Ltd., 
The    King's     Nurserymen^ 

HA\A/ICK,  SCOTLAND. 


-TUBS     FOR     SHRUBS. 

'  WIRE  BOUND  PATENT,  over  100 
prizes.  R.H.S.  Medal,  1910.  No  warping  or 
shrinking.  In  Oak,  Beech,  Teak.  &c.  Highly 
decorative.— Price  List  from  Pradal  &  Co., 
26,  Goodge  Street,  London,  W.l. 


\ 


'-.  24/-, 


Phlox,  Gold  Medal  varie1iC8,  distinct  .. 
„       new,  of  recent  introdudion 
,,       latest  novellics     . . 
Michaelmas  Daisies,  standard  varieties 

,,  ,,         of  recent  introduction 

,,  ,,         latest  novellies. . 

Papaver  Orientale,  grand  larce  varieties 
Heleniums,  in  C  distinct  varieties 
Delphiniums,  Gold  Medal  varieties     .  .    18 
Sunbeam  Poppies,  fine  for  vases 
Aconitums,  in  6  distinct  varieties 
Anemone  Japonica,  in  6  distinct  varieties 
Aquilegia  (Columbine),  in  6  distinct  varieties 
Centaureas,  in  6  distinct  varieties 
Campanulas,  in  12  beautiful  varieties  9/-  and 

Chrysanthemum  maximum,  in  6  vars.  for  cutting 
Ertgerons,  in  6  varieties,  beautiful  blues 
Qalegas,  in  4  distinct  colours   . . 
Hemerocallis,  in  6  distinct  varieties  . . 
Heucheras,  in  6  aistinct  varieties 
Iris  Qermanica,  in  12  distinct  varieties         8/-  and 
Pyrethrum,  porpeous  sinjrles  and  doubles 
Rudbeckias,  in  6  distinct  varieties 
Sidalceas  (Mallow  Pink),  distinct 
Veronicas,  in  6  varieties,  distinct 


9/- 

16/- 

27/. 

8/- 

1S/- 

20/- 

4,8 

4/- 

30/- 

S/- 

4/- 

4/- 

4/- 

4/- 

12/- 

S/6 

7  8 

2/6 

4/- 

4/- 

12/- 

9/- 

4/- 

3/- 

4/- 


Collections  of  Alpine  and  Rock  Plants. 


12  Crazy  Paving  Plants,  distinct. . 

6  Achilleas,  distinct 

6  Arabis,  distinct 

6  Arenarias,  distinct 
12  Aubrietias,  fine  varieties,  distinct 
12  Campanulas,  distinct 

6  Cistus  (Sun  Roses),  distinct 

6  Dianthus,  distinct 

li  Erigeron  (Alpine),  distinct 

6  Gentians,  distinct. .  . .  6/- 

3  Qlobularias,  distinct 

4  Qypsophila,  distinct 
12  Helianthemums  (Rock  Roses),  distinct 

3  Helichrysum,  distinct 

6  Hypericum,  distinct 

3  iberis,  distinct 
12  Lithospermum,  Heavenly  Blue 

6  CEnotheras,  distinct 

6  Phlox,  .\lpine,  distinct 

6  Potentillas,  .Alpine,  distil. ct 

6  Primulas,  distinct 
12  Ramondia  Pyrenaica,  large  rosettes  .. 

12  Saxifragas,  Silver  

12  ,,  Mossy  

6  „  (Cushion        

12  Sedum,  distinct 

12  Sempervivum,  distinct  .. 

6  Silene,  distinct 
12  Thymus,  distinct  . . 
12  Veronicas,  distinct 

6  Violas,  Alpine,  distinct    . . 

Alt  aboce   Alpines  are    strong  stuff  from   Pots. 

12  Herbaceous  Plants  for  Cut  Flower  Work,  8/-;    24,  15/-: 

bO,  27/6  ;    100,  50  - 

Send    for    Descriptive    Catalogue,    Post    Free. 


9/- 

.  4/- 

.  4/- 

.  4/- 

.  8/- 

.  8/- 

.  5/- 

.  4;- 

.  4/- 
nd8/- 

.  21- 

■  2/6 

.  8'- 

.  2/6 

.  4/- 

.  21- 
10/- 

.  4/- 

.  4/- 

.  4/- 

.  4/- 

.  10/- 

.  9/- 

.  8/- 

.  4/- 

.  8/- 

.  8/- 

.  4/- 

.  8/- 

.  8/- 

.  4/- 


ASPARAGUS. 

Strong,  one  year  old  roots,  6/6  per  50,  12/6  per  100. 

Three  year  old  roots  (very  scarce),    10/6    per   50, 

20/-  per  100. 

DOBBIE  &  CO.,  LTD.,  Nurserymen,  Edinburgh. 


SITUATION     VACANT. 
CAN  ANY  LADY   RECOMMEND  a  first-rate 

sinRlc-handed  GARDENER,  where  help  is  ci\cn  ?— Reply.'by 
lett«  only,  to  THE  DUCHESS  of  Wellington,  Ap^ley  House, 
Piccadilly,  London. 


NO.  ^638.-voL.  Lxxxvi.]     NOTES  OF  THE  WEEK 


[April  i,  1922. 


REFERENCE  was  made  on  the  "  Notes 
of  the  Week"  page  a  fortnight  ago 
to  the  exploded  May-planting  fetish 
for  Hollies,  Ye%vs  and  evergreens 
^  generally,  which  are  much  more  easily 
removed  and  established  in  early  autumn.  It 
must,  however,  be  admitted  that  there  are  plants 
which  remove  most  satisfactorily  in  spring,  when 
growth  has  started.  Two  of  the  most  notable 
examples  are  the  garden  P\Tethrums — varieties 
of  Pyrethrum  roseum,  or  Chrysanthemum  cocci- 
neum,  as  it  is  now  kno%vn — and  the  several  genera 
of  giant  grasses  which  gardeners  group  together 
as  Bamboos. 

The  Pyrethrums. — The  time  has  come  to 
order  PjTethrums,  while  it  is  still  early  for  the 
Bamboos,  so  that  it  is  the  Pwethrum  that  merits 
this  week  our  attention.  This  is  not  a  deep- 
rooting  plant  and  is,  for  that  reason,  readily 
injured  by  drought  on  badly  cultivated  soils. 
Thorough  and  deep  cultivation  should,  therefore, 
be  the  rule,  and  a  good  dressing  of  farmyard  dung 
or  of  Wakeley's  Hop  manure  should  be  incor- 
porated. The  Pyrethrum  resembles  the  herba- 
ceous Phloxes  in  this — that  it  does  not  succeed 
if  replanted  as  large  clumps.  Many  gardeners 
like  plants  from  pots,  but  there  is  really  no 
objectioh  to  sound  first  year  plants  if  they  are  so 
packed  and  cared  for  as  to  prevent  their  roots 
becoming  dry  in  transit. 
The  Pyrethrum,  though  it 
abhors  drought,  dislikes  a 
waterlogged  soil,  but  if  the 
drainage  be  adequate  and 
the  soil  well  cultivated,  it 
will  flourish  in  almost  any 
type  of  loam,  although  it 
undoubtedly  prefers  one 
somewhat  light  in  texture. 
The  great  value  of  the 
Pyrethrum  consists  in  its 
flowering  season,  which  is 
just  between  spring  and 
summer,  when  few  flowers 
are  to  be  seen  in  the 
borders. 

A  Fine  Cut  Flower. — it 
is  additionally  welcome  be- 
cause it  is  really  excellent 
for  cut  flower.  A  generation 
ago  the  energies  of  the 
florists  who  specialised  in 
this  flower  were  directed 
solely  to  the  production  of 
double  varieties,  but  now- 
adays the  beautiful  single 
forms  are  most  in  favour. 
The  double  sorts  have, 
however,  the  merit  of  last- 
ing   longer,    either    on    the 


plant  or  when  cut.  Some  of  the  best  varieties  are, 
dealing  first  with  the  double  sorts :  Carl  Vogt 
and  Aphrodite,  both  pure  white  ;  Lady  Kildare, 
Pericles  and  Wega,  buff  shades  ;  Alfred  Kelway 
and  Captain  Narcs,  crimson  ;  and  Ne  Plus  LTItra, 
blush  pink.  Among  the  singles  Snow  White  and 
Queen  of  Whites  are  excellent  and  pure  in  colour  ; 
the  best  pink  is  probably  Rev.  W.  Cuff,  but  it 
seems  now  difficult  to  procure,  so  one  must  be 
content  with  the  very  dissimilar  Hamlet  to  repre- 
sent this  colour.  Deeper  in  colouring,  we  have 
Enchantress  and  ApoUyon,  and  deeper  still — a 
shade  of  carmine — Mrs.  Bateman  Brown  (largely 
grown  for  market)  and  Bruce.  Of  crimsons  the 
brightest  is  still  James  Kelway,  but  King  of  Spain 
is  a  larger  flower.  Propagation  is  easy,  consisting 
merely  in  dividing  up  into  single  crowns,  preferably 
under  a  light,  immediately  second  growth  com- 
mences after  flowering. 

A  Useful  Vegetable.— It  is  strange  that  the 
recently  evolved  intermediate  type  of  Beet  has 
not  achieved  wider  popularity.  Even  on  deep 
soils,  where  it  really  succeeds,  the  long  type  is 
a  troublesome  vegetable  to  lift,  bearing  in  mind 
that  a  very  small  scratch  will  render  useless  the 
best  of  roots.  The  new  type — "  oval,"  it  is  some- 
times not  inaptly  called — grows  largely  above 
ground,  like  its  cousin,  the  Mangold,  which  makes 
harvesting  a  pleasure  instead  of  a  labour.     It  is 


THE    EASY, 


a  mistake,  especially  on  light  soils,  to  delay  the 
sowing  of  long  or  intermediate  Beet  too  long. 
Neither  is  really  prone  to  "  bolt,"  and,  all  things 
considered,  the  first  half  of  April  is  the  most  satis- 
factory time  to  sow.  The  Beet  is  a  gross  feeder 
and  appreciates  rich  soil,  nor  will  fresh  manure 
be  detrimental  to  the  newer  type,  so  that  it  be 
buried  a  good  spit  deep.  The  quality  of  the 
"oval"  type  leaves  nothing  to  be  desired,  and 
this  strain  si  ould  follow  the  stump-rooted  Carrot 
into  ever-increasing  popularity. 

Asparagus  Planting. — The  season  has  returned 
when  new  Asparagus  beds  may  be  planted  and 
old  ones — providing  the  blanks  have  been  marked 
— may  be  repaired.  On  heavy  soils,  slow  to  drain, 
the  extensively  drained,  raised  bed  so  universally 
met  with  is  imperative ;  but  there  are  many 
gardens,  where  the  natural  drainage  is  sharp, 
where  much  better  results  would  be  obtained  by 
well  trenching  and  enriching  the  ground  and  plant- 
ing on  the  flat.  This  method  has  the  great 
advantage  of  allowing  more  space  to  be  allotted 
to  the  crowns.  Eighteen  inches  between  these 
and  4ft.  between  the  rows  is  a  suitable  distance, 
and  for  the  first  season  or  two  the  space  between 
the  lines  may  be  profitably  utilised  for  catch-crops 
of  various  sorts  or  for  pricking  out  Brussels 
Sprouts,  Cauliflowers  or  such  like,  or  the  various 
hardy  biennial  flowering  plants  when  ready. 
A  Beautiful  Rockfoil.— 

Of     all     tufted     (Kabschia) 
Saxifrages       S.       apiculata, 
which  forms  the  subject  of 
the     illustration      on     this 
page,  is  probably  the  most 
useful.    Very  early  to  flower 
— one  of  the  earliest  of  all — 
and   extremely   free   flower- 
ing,     its      sulphur-coloured 
blossoms     seem,     somehow, 
more   cheering   and   spring- 
like   than    the    cold    white 
platters — beautiful     though 
they  are — of  S.   Burseriana. 
S.  apiculata  is,  moreover,  a 
far  more  rapid  grower  and 
a     much     more     accommo- 
dating plant  than  the  Burser 
Saxifrage.     It  will  thrive  in 
any    well    drained    soil    and 
is,    indeed,    almost   as   easy 
as  an  .-^ubrietia.    There  is  a 
pure    white   variety,    which 
perhaps    differs    slightly   in 
habit    of    growth,     but    is 
equally  floriferous.    It  lacks, 
however, -the  substance  and 
satiny    texture    of    all    the 
several    forms    of    S.    Bur- 
GRACEFUL    AND    BEAUTIFUL    SAXIFRAGA    APICULATA.  seriana. 


146 


THE     GARDEN. 


[April  i,  1922. 


DAHLIAS   TO   DECORATE   THE   GARDEN 

A  well  known  amateur  grower  describes  what  he  has  found  to  be  some  oj  the  best 

sorts  for  the  purpose. 


THE  present  period  may  be  regarded 
as  most  opportune  for  considering  the 
value  of  the  Decorative  Dahlias,  as  the 
time  will  soon  arrive  when  it  will  be 
necessary  to  order  young  plants  from 
the  trade  specialists.  All  too  frequently  DahUas 
are  acquired  much  too  late  in  the  spring,  and, 
in  consequence,  results  are  less  satisfactory  in 
the  flowering  period  than  they  might  be  were 
the  plants  obtained  earher. 

In  deaUng  with  the  Decorative  Dahhas,  I 
propose  to  regard  the  terra  "  decorative  *'  in  its 
broadest  and  most  comprehensive  sense.  There 
are  many  types  of  the  Dahlia,  and  each  type 
has  its  characteristics  defined  by  the  National 
Dahlia  Society,  and  more  recently  by  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society,  at  a  conference  of  growers, 
held  at  the  Wisley  Gardens  of  the  latter  Society 
last  autumn. 

For  the  purpose  of  these  notes  I  propose  to 
include  within  the  category  of  "  decorative," 
Dahhas  of  different  types,  each  of  which  has  a 
■value  in  the  garden.  My  object  is  to  give  pro 
Tninence  to  plants  that  are  especially  valuable 
for  garden  embellishment,  irrespective  of  how 
they  may  be  regarded  by  those  who  grow  this 
plant  solely  for  exhibition. 

Decorative  Dahlias  for  the  garden  in  my  opinion 
should     include     most     ot     the     Pfeony-flowered 
varieties,     as    well    as     those    of    the    so-called 
"  Decorative "  type.     1  purpose  including  in  the 
same    category    some    of    the    more    interesting 
varieties    of    the     Pompons,     Singles,     Collarette 
and    the   refined    and   beautiful   Star    Dahlias,    a 
large  number  of  which  may  be  regarded  as  ideal 
for  display  in  beds  and  borders  outdoors  and  for 
cut  flowers.     A  somewhat  limited  number  of  the 
Cactus  Dahlias  may  with  advantage  be  regarded 
as  decorative,  although  the  majority  of  the  highly 
attractive  flowers  of  this  type  set  up  at  the  leading 
exhibitions  in  triangular  form  on  wires  are  almost 
worthless  in   the  garden.     The  rule  adopted  two 
years  ago,  and  since  continued  by  the  joint  Floral 
Committee    of    the    Royal    Horticultural    Society 
and   the   National   Dahlia   Society,    to   the   effect 
that  "  all  Dahlias  submitted  to  the  Floral  Com- 
mittee  for   certificate  shall   be   exhibited    without 
artificial   support,"    is   indeed   a   wise   enactment 
Since  this  rule  has  been  enforced  weak-stemmed 
flowers  have  failed  to  gain  the  coveted  award  of 
merit,  this  honour  being  conferred  only  on  flowers 
with  stiff,   erect  flower  stems,   which   carry  their 
flowers  well  above  the  foliage  of  the  plants  and 
which  render  them  highly  decorative  as  a  conse- 
quence.    It    is    a    matter    for   much    regret    that 
raisers   of   the   Cactus   Dahlias   have   for   so   long 
worked  on  wrong  lines,  utilising  plants  for  breeding 
purposes  having  stems  incapable  of  maintaining 
their    flowers    in    erect    position,    with    the    result 
of  bringing  into  being  a  progeny  perpetuating  the 
same    undesirable    characteristics.     Raisers    must 
mend   their   ways  by   working  on  other  hues,   so 
that  flowers  having  weak  stems  may  be  eliminated. 
For  bold,  imposing  displays  in  the  garden  the 
Paeony-flowered    and    Decorative    Dahhas    are    to 
be  preferred  to  other  types  of  the  flower  ;    and 
of  these  two  types  I  have  a  distinct  preference 
for   the  former.     This  partiality   for   the   Paeony- 
flowered  kinds  is  probably  due  to  their  less  formal 
flowers ;     as   a   matter   of   fact,    they   are   mostly 
very    large,    semi-double,    with    broad    florets    of 
good  substance  and  are  represented  in  a  wonderful 


array  of  glorious  colours.  As  plants  for  the 
garden,  individually  or  grouped  in  the  border, 
or  in  beds  by  themselves,  these  Pa?ony-flowered 
kinds  are  magnificent  for  several  months,  beginning 
at  the  end  of  July  and  continuing  until  severe 
frosts  cut  them  down.  Last  year  the  plants 
continued  to  flower  well  into  November.  Their 
height  varies  between  3ift.  and  about  jft.  A 
few  of  the  better  Paony-flowered  Dahlias  are 
Albina,  pure  white.  3ift. ;  Luva,  bright  yellow, 
4ift. ;  Martial,  brilliant  scarlet,  4ft. ;  Hon.  Mrs. 
PhiUips  Roberts,  rich  bronze,  suffused  rose,  sJft.  ; 
Mrs.  Nockolds,  rich  coppery  bronze,  sJft.  ; 
Oriana,  pure  rose,  4ft. ;  Liberty,  scarlet  crimson, 
4ft. ;  Apollo,  rosy  crimson,  5ft. ;  and  Libra, 
bright  rosy  red,  4ft.  The  miniature  Pajony- 
flowered  type  is  exquisite.  Generally,  this  com- 
paratively new  section  is  much  admired.  The 
plants  are  not  so  large  and  vigorous  in  growth 
as  are  those  of  the  big  flowers,  and  they  yield 
an  abundant  display  of  most  dainty  blossoms, 
invaluable  as  cut  flower  and  beautiful  in  the 
garden.  There  are  not  many  varieties  in  general 
cultivation,  and  the  most  noteworthy  are  the 
following :  Norah  BeU,  scarlet  flame,  yellow  base, 
3ft.  ;  Our  Annie,  shrimp  pink,  tinted  yellow, 
very  pretty,  2jft.  ;  Chrissie  soft  rosy  pink,  3ift.  ; 
Oriole,  brilliant  orange  scarlet  (this  variety  is 
sometimes  described  as  a  "  Star  "  Dahlia),  3ft.  ; 
Edith  Jones,  salmon  pink,  shaded  gold.  4ft.  ; 
and  Olivia,  deep  rose  pink,  2jft. 

Decorative  Dahhas  (so  classified)  are  now  becom- 
ing quite  numerous,  and  it  is  not  easy  to  restrict 
the  selection  to,  say,  nine  sorts.  These  have  double 
flowers,  of  good  form,  and  not  seldom  they  are 
exceptionally  large.  The  plants  make  a  very 
striking  display,  either  individually  or  when 
grouped  in  masses.  The  following  sorts  are  worthy 
of  notice  :  Mrs.  A.  Cobb,  soft  flesh  pink,  on  wiry 
stems,    4ft. ;     DeUce,   rose   pink.    3jft. ;    Queenie, 


golden  amber,  tipped  salmon  red.  4ft.  ;  President 
Wilson,  brilliant  scarlet,  very  large,  3jft.  : 
Sulphurea,  sulphur  yellow,  4ft. ;  Warneford. 
pure  white,  should  be  partially  disbudded,  jft.  ; 
Porthos,  violet  mauve,  very  distinct  and  free,  4ft.  ; 
Mrs.  W.  J.  Unwin.  delicate  pink,  tinted  white, 
very  free,  4ft. ;  and  Papa  Charmet,  deep  crimson, 
huge  flowers,  3ift. 

No  collection  of  Decorative  Dahlias  could  be 
considered  complete  without  the  inclusion  of  a 
few  of  the  refined  Star  type.  They  are  flowers  of 
comparatively  recent  introduction,  and  Messrs. 
J.  Cheal  and  Sons  have  been  singularly  successful 
in  raising  and  introducing  many  of  the  better 
sorts.  The  flowers  are  borne  in  profusion  on 
wiry  stems,  and  the  plants  in  most  instances 
possess  a  beautiful  bushy  habit  of  growth,  when 
grown  in  proper  fashion.  I  have  a  distinct 
preference  for  the  following  varieties :  White 
Star,  semi-double  flowers  of  the  purest  white, 
with  orange  yellow  centre — like  a  Water  Lily — 
4ft.;  Yellow  Star,  yellow,  of  beautiful  form,  4ft. 
Surrey  Star,  described  as  tangerine,  suffused  with 
copper  and  rose,  4ft. ;  Western  Star,  rich  salmon 
pink,  4ft. ;  Southern  Star,  a  combination  of 
crimson,  apricot  and  purple  tints.  3ift. ;  and 
Crawley  Star,  the  original  of  the  t>'pe,  a  beautiful 
clear  rose  piuk,  4ft. 

A  few  Collarette  varieties  should  be  in  all 
collections  where  space  can  be  found  to  accom- 
modate them.  This  type  of  the  Dahlia  produces 
its  blossoms  quite  freely,  and  the  plant  is  most 
effective  in  the  border.  Last  season  I  noted  the 
following  varieties  for  their  effective  display : 
Bonfire,  orange  scarlet,  yellow  collar ;  Ustane. 
salmon  scarlet,  yellow  collar ;  Diadem,  rosy  pink, 
white  collar ;  Eden,  pure  white  self ;  Admiral, 
blackish  maroon,  pure  white  collar  ;  and  Colleen, 
white,  suffused  rose,  pure  white  collar.  These 
Collarette  DahUas  vary  from  3ift.  to  4ft.  in  height. 


THE    DECORATIVE    GARDEN    DAHLIA    IS    AN    INVALUABLE    STOP-GAP    IN    THE    BORDER. 


April  i,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


147 


Although  the  little  Pompon  Dahlia  is  a  dis- 
tinctly formal  flower,  I  have  a  great  liking  for  it, 
as  the  blossoms  stand  wet  weather  ver^^  satis- 
factorily and  they  are  borne  quite  freely  on  erect 
stems.  They  are  good  garden  plants  and  generally 
possess  a  splendid  habit  of  growth.  For  garden 
purposes  the  following  six  sorts  are  useful : 
Bacchus,  scarlet,  2jft. ;  Nerissa,  soft  rose,  3ft.; 
Ruby,  ruby  crimson,  sJft. ;  Tommy  Keith,  red, 
tipped  white,  3Jft.  ;  Electra,  deep  orange,  sjft.  ; 
and  Ideal,  pale  yellow,  3ft. 

No  type  of  the  Dahlia  is  more  profuse  in 
its  blossoming  than  the  Single-flowered,  and 
of  these  there  are  many  superb  sorts.  I 
grow,  among  others,  the  following  kinds ; 
Lady  Bountiful,  deep  rosy  pink,  3jft. ;  Owen 
Thomas,  crimson  scarlet,  tipped  yellow,  4ft.  ; 
Norma,  rich  crimson    scarlet,    4ft. ;     Lilian,    rosy 


lilac;  Althea,  buff,  34ft.;  and  Cardinal,  cardinal 
red.   3Jft. 

Small  Decorative  Dahhas  are  represented  by 
a  restricted  list,  and  the  following  are  especially 
good  :  Crimson  Flag,  dazzling  fiery  crimson,  3ft.  ; 
Reginald  Cory,  crimson  and  white,  very  striking ; 
and  The  Maid,  pure  white,  4ft. 

The  flowering  quarters  should  be  deeply  dug 
in  good  time,  so  that  planting  may  be  done  during 
the  first  week  in  June,  after  first  carefully 
hardening  off  the  plants.  A  space  from  3ft.  to 
4ft. — preferably  the  latter — should  be  allowed 
between  the  Paeony-flowered  and  Decorative 
kinds,  and  3ft.  or  rather  less  for  the  other  types 
mentioned  in  these  notes.  Procure  the  plants 
in  good  time,  pot  them  up  into  4iin.  pots,  and 
stand  them  in  cold  frames  until  thoroughly 
hardened  off.  D.  B.  Crane. 


SOME     UNUSUAL     BUT     BEAUTIFUL 


ANNUALS 


A 


N     unusual     annual,     something      out     of 
the  common,   something  fresh,   whether 
hardy    or    half-hardy,     has     a    special 
appeal     to     all 
flower       lovers. 

Not    only    does     it     feel 

good,     when    visited     by 

friends,      to     be      asked, 

"  That    is    pretty ;    what 

is    it  ?  "    but  it   adds  to 

one's     own     pleasure     in 

the     garden      year     to 

watch     the    growth     and 

development  of  something 

that     is      unknown     and 

new — at  least  to  us.     By 

directing  one's  search  for 

this    among    the    annuals 

there  is  but  a  brief  period 

of  waiting   before    seeing 

the    result,    either    to 

appreciate    a     novel 

treasure    or     to    cast     it 

aside  as  not  of    sufficient 

interest    to    be    repeated. 

This,  however,   is  unlikely 

to    happen    to    many    of 

the   varieties  noted   here. 

Some  years  ago,   I  vigor- 
ously took  up   the  study 

of  annual  flowers,    and    1 

think    it    is    safe    to    say 

that    there   are   but  very 

few  that  I  have  not  sown, 

grown  and  flowered.   Cata- 
logues     and      lists     were 

exhaustively  searched, 

and,  among  the  results,  I 

discovered  a  large  number 

of    choice    and   charmuig 

things     which,     somehow 

or   other,    are   passed   by 

in  ordinary  selection, 

simply  because   they    are 

unknown.      A  name  con- 
veys very  little  after  all. 

and  few  lists  are  disposed 

to   be   effusive   except  in 

the    case    of    "  popular "     flowers.     If   a  striking 

edging  plant  is  wanted  Venidium    calendulaceum 

should    be   tried.     This   is   one    of    the    grandest 

brilliant    orange    flowers    that    one    can    possibly 

find,  yet  I  have  only  met  it  twice  outside  my  own 

garden.     The  little  plants  are  very  dwarf,  though 


spreading  widely,  and,  in  a  sunny  warm  place, 
cover  themselves  for  months  with  daisy-like  vivid 
flowers     that     are     remarkably     showy.     Flora's 


ONE    OF    THE    HARDIEST    OF    HARDY    ANNUALS — SILENE 
ARMERIA. 


Paint  Brush  (otherwise  Cacalia  coccinea)  is  very 
aptly  named,  for  that  is  exactly  what  it  is  like — 
a  small  paint  brush  dipped  in  vermilion.  The 
plants  are  half  a  foot  high,  quite  hardy  and  not 
very  vigorous,  so  that  the  seedlings  should  not  be 
too  rigorously  thinned.   A  packet  of  Dimorphotheca 


pluvialis  may  be  sown  in  the  cool  greenhouse 
now.  for  planting  out  later.  It  grows  about 
I  ft.  high  and  bears  a  succession  of  single  white 
marguerite-like  flowers  with  golden  centres.  The 
reverse  side  of  the  petals  is  a  brilliant  maroon. 

In  a  damp,  shaded  place,  scatter  a  few  seeds  ot 
the  Violet  Cress,  lonopsidium  acaule.  It  is  a 
charming  little  thing  that  thrives  where  few 
other  annuals  would  grow,  spreading  into  dense 
tufts  of  foliage,  smothered  with  tiny  pale  lilac 
flowers.  It  is  very  useful  among  rough  steps  m 
the  hardy  fern  garden  and,  once  sown,  usually 
repeats  itself  freely  year  by  year.  The  demand 
for  showier  flowers  has  almost  ousted  the  old- 
fashioaed  Night-scented  Stock  nowadays,  insomuch 
that  it  is  entitled  to  take  its  place  among  an 
anthology  of  unusual  annuals.  Yet  what  a 
treasure  it  is  as  evening  draws  on  and  it  com- 
mences its  work  of  attracting  the  needful  night- 
flying  moths  and  insects.  Quite  a  small  clump 
leaves  you  in  no  doubt  as  to  its  whereabouts, 
even  at  a  distance  of  many  yards.  No  one  could 
accuse  the  ever-useful  Nasturtium  of  being 
unusual,  its  bright  flowers  and  free  seeding  see 
to  that,  yet  the  varieties  with  variegated  leaves 
(the  variegation  is  distinctly  an  added  charm) 
are  scarcely  ever  seen.  A  packet  of  rosy  scarlet, 
sown  during  April  on  the  hardest,  poorest,  hottest, 
driest  soil  one  can  find,  will  produce  a  wonder 
bed  from  June  to  October  of  close,  compact, 
dwarf  little  plants,  perfect  balls  of  variegated 
leafage  that  do  not  break  out  into  straggling  trails, 
with  an  amazing  wealth  of  gorgeous  scarlet  blooms 
that  never  seem  to  cease.  Another  night-scented 
plant  is  Schizopetalom  Walkeri,  which  might  be 
called  the  Lace  Flower,  for  it  is  lace  which  the 
remarkable  little  flowers  resemble — wee  squares  of 
white  lace  fantastically  cut  into  exquisite  tracery 
and  scenting  the  whole  air  in  its  neighbourhood 
with  a  powerful  fragrance  of  almonds.  It  is 
half-hardy,  but  must  be  sown  where  it  is  to 
bloom,  as  it  is  literally  impossible  to  transplant 
the  seedlings,  so  that  sowing  should  be  deferred 
until  mid-May  for  the  open  ground,  or  pots  must 
be  employed.  Fortunately,  late  sowing  does  not 
matter,  as  the  plants  grow  and  mature  very 
quickly.  An  annual  Stonecrop  which  is  sure  of 
a  welcome  in  the  rock  garden  is  Sedum  cceruleum, 
a  cloud-like  little  plant  with  reddish  stems, 
smothered  with  masses  of  lilac  blue  flowers.  The 
best  way  to  ensure  success  with  this  is  by  sowing 
sparingly  in  shallow  seed-pans,  and  transferring 
the  resultant  plants  bodily  to  the  open  in  late  May. 
Nicandra  physaloides,  a  Peruvian  annual  that  is 
safest  when  treated  as  half-hardy,  is  but  seldom 
seen'  in  gardens.  It  is  a  tall  and  vigorous  grower, 
reaching  5ft.,  with  purplish  black  stems  and  soft 
azure  blue  flowers  that  are  followed  by  bladder- 
like calyces,  enclosing  large  green  berries. 

I  renewed  acquaintance  last  year  with  Amaran- 
tus  tricolor  splendens,  one  of  the  most  vivid  of 
all  annual  foliage  plants  for  the  greenhouse,  that 
puts  many  of  the  Coleus  into  the  shade  for  sheer 
colour  intensity.  The  leaves  are  long  and  narrow, 
produced  alternately  round  a  central  stem,  and 
show  all  colours  from  green  through  yellow  to 
vivid  blood  crimson  :  a  plant  to  mark  when  well 
grown.  Blue  Beard,  one  of  the  Sage  family 
(Salvia  Horminum),  makes  a  notable  addition 
to  the  hardy  border,  for  each  plant,  with  its  rough 
sage-like  leaves,  branches  freely,  and  behind  each 
flower  is  a  sheath-like  leaf  boldly  tipped  with 
royal  purple,  giving  the  plant  a  unique  appear- 
ance, solely  due  to  this  peculiar  leaf  pigmentation. 

Let  us  turn  again  to  the  rock  garden  for  a 
moment  and  see  where  we  can  scatter  a  small 
packet  of  Eschscholtzia  casspitosa.  I  first  saw 
this  at  Kew,  and  the  following  season  tried  it 
in  my  own  garden.  It  is  quite  unlike  any  other 
variety    of    these    gorgeous    Californian    annuals. 


148 


THE     GARDEN. 


[April  i,  1922. 


Barely  6ins.  high,  with  narrow  glaucous  grass-like 
foliage,  it  covers  itself  with  the  smallest  buttercup- 
yellow  Eschscholtzias  which  it  is  possible  to 
imagine.  It  is  a  gay  little  flower  and  worthy  of 
the  choicest  places.  Few  who  knew  the  name  of 
a  wee  plant  that  resembled  the  tiniest  mossy 
Saxifrage  of  which  they  could  think  would  be  slow 
to  sow  it,  especially  if  they  happened  upon  it 
when  at  the  zenith  of  its  beauty  absolutely 
smothered  with  equally  wee  orange  flowers.  Its 
name  is  Leptosiphon  aureus.  If  a  wider  range 
of  colours  is  desired,  these  can  be  had  in  various 
shades  of  pink,  yellow  and  white.  In  the  summer 
alpine  garden  it  is  one  of  the  most  exquisite  little 
annuals  I  know,  lifting  mjTiads  of  its  dainty  little 
blooms  to  be  kissed  by  the  sun. 

On  first  seeing  Lobel's  Catchfly  (Silene  Armeria) 
one  is  immediately  aware  of  an  unusually  vivid 
rose  pink  flower,  but  closer  examination  is  necessary 
to  appreciate  the  unusual  character  of   the   plant. 


It  has  glaucous  green  foliage  and  is  absolutely 
hardy.  It  may  be  sown  in  the  open  ground  at 
any  time  during  spring.  The  stems  below  each 
joint  are  viscid.  From  these  sticky  bands  the 
plant  gets  its  name  of  Catchfly.  Upon  flowering 
specimens  one  can  usually  find  quite  a  large 
number  of  small  flies,  captured  and  held  in  exactly 
the  same  way  as  the  fly-paper  catches  them  in 
a  house. 

I  do  not  pretend  to  have  been  exhaustive ; 
there  are  numbers  of  really  charming  and  unusual 
annuals  that  well  reward  the  seeker,  but  the 
article  may  serve  perhaps  to  introduce  to  you 
something  that  you  had  not  hitherto  seen,  and, 
better  still,  may  start  you  experimenting  on  your 
own  account.  If  this  is  so  let  me  assure  you. 
that  you  will  not  have  sought  in  vain.  There 
is  plenty  of  loveliness  and  beauty  disguised 
behind  a  Latin  name  within  the  pages  of  a  good 
seed  list.  H.  W,  Canning-Wfight. 


A    HEAT-LOVING    ANNUAL 


A 


LTHOUGH  strictly  perennial,  that  Cali- 
fornian  Poppy,  the  Eschscholtzia,  is 
generally  grown  as  a  hardy  annual,  a 
mode  of  cultivation  which  gives  very 
gratifyingresults. 


the  blossoms  early  in  the  morning  before  the 
buds  expand.  They  will  then  last  for  several  days 
in  water.  The  varieties  differ  little  in  height, 
which  averages  about  a  foot.      Some  of  the  best 


For  bedding  purposes  the 
genus  Eschscholtzia  affords 
some  striking  varieties 
which  are  conspicuous 
from  afar.  During  the  past 
few  years  many  beautiful 
varieties  have  been  intro- 
duced and  these,  or  some 
of  them,  should  find  a 
place  in  every  garden, 
large  or  small. 

The  illustration  depicts 
a  border  of  mi.xed 
Eschscholtzias  growing  on 
a  dry  bank,  tully  exposed 
to  the  sun.  The  photo- 
graph was  taken  last 
summer  when  the  drought 
was  at  its  worst.  In  this 
particular  instance  the 
plants  were  growing  ia 
poor  sandy  soil.  It  will 
be  seen  then  that  thii 
brilliant  Poppy  is  not 
fastidious  as  regards  soil 
and  position  and  above 
all  it  is  a  drought-loving 
plant.  By  sowing  seed 
within  the  next  week  or 
so  where  the  plants  are  to 
flower  a  bright  display  of 
blossom  will  be  forthcom- 
ing during  the  summer 
months.  When  the  seed- 
lings appear  they  should 
be  well  th'nned  out. 
Apart  from  their  value  as 
bedding  plants  and  for 
banks  they  are  equally 
useful  as  border  plants. 
They  should,  on  account 
of  their  habit,  be  planted 
at  the  front  of  the  border. 
Eschscholtzias  provide 
excellent  cut  flowers  for 
house  decoration,  but  this, 
unfortunately,  is  not  so 
generally  known  as  it 
should  be.     It  is  best  to  cut 


varieties  are  The  Geisha,  orange-crimson  and 
golden-yellow  ;  Queen  of  the  Buffs  ;  Ruby  King, 
which  is  dwarfer  than  the  majority  of  varieties  ; 
Rosy  Queen  ;  The  Rajah,  purplish  carmine  ;  The 
Mikado,  orange-crimson ;  Carmine  King ;  Man- 
darin, orange-crimson  and  deep  orange  ;  Vesuvius, 
deep  crimson ;  Frilled  Pink  and  Rose  Cardinal, 
creamy  Rose.  Mixed  seed  may  also  be  obtained. 
Apart  from  the  \'arieties  named  above,  some  of 
the  species  are  exceedingly  attractive.  Among 
these  are  caUfornica,  pale  yellow  ;  crocea,  orange  ; 
and  its  many  varieties.  H.  G. 


A    SUCCESSFUL    BORDER    OF    THE    DROUGHT-RESISTING 
ESCHSCHOLTZIAS. 


THE    PERPETUAL 
CARNATION 

Hints   on  propagation ;    its  value  outdoors 
and  in. 

IN  these  days  when  economy  has  to  be  practised 
in  every  possil>le  way,  and  the  high  price 
of  fuel  has  resulted  in  many  old  favourite 
plants  requiring  a  considerable  heat  being 
dispensed  with,  the  question  arises  as  to  what 
is  the  best  and  most  economical  plant  to  grow  in 
order  to  provide  flowers  all  through  winter. 

For  this  purpose  nothing  can  surpass  the  Per- 
petual-flowering Carnation,  which  will  produce 
choice  flowers  in  a  temperature  that  can  easily 
be  maintained  by  anyone  having  the  smallest 
amount  of  heat  in  the  greenhouse.  The  plants 
themselves  are  perfectly  hardy,  but  to  get  the 
best  returns  a  minimum  temperature  of  45" 
should  be  maintained  while  admitting  a  little 
air  through  top  ventilators  on  every  possible 
occasion.  A  temperature  of  47°  is  ample  at  any 
time  as  a  night  temperature  with  a  rise  of  a  few 
degrees  in  the  daytime. 

If  no  old  plants  are  available  from  which  to 
obtain  cuttings,  now  is  the  best  time  to  order 
yo^mg  plants  from  a  rehahle  firm  of  Carnation 
growers.  Trouble  taken  to  procure  the  best  is 
amply  repaid  later  on.  Cuttings  are  best  rooted 
in  January,  but  quite  good  plants  can  be  obtained 
from  cuttings  rooted  now. 

The  quickest  and  easiest  way  to  root  them  is 
to  insert  them  in  pans  of  sand  and  place  them  in 
a  frame  where  shght  bottom-heat  can  be  obtained. 
Keep  the  top  temperature  several  degrees  lower 
to  prevent  cuttings  becoming  drawn  and  weakened 
while  rooting.  Most  varieties  will  be  rooted  in 
about  three  weeks.  The  pans  should  then  be 
hfted  out  of  the  frame  and  allowed  to  harden  in 
more  airy  surroundings  for  a  week  before  potting. 
On  no  account  let  cuttings  become  dry  in  the 
sand  or  failure  to  root  will  result. 

The  cuttings  should  be  potted  into  2in.  pots  in 
a  compost  of  loam,  leaf-soil  and  sand.  When 
roots  are  nicely  through  to  the  sides,  repot  them 
into  4in.  pots,  adding  a  httle  Ume  rubble  and 
wood-ashes  and  reducing  the  quantity  of  sand. 
Keep  the  plants  sturdy  and  short-jointed  by 
admitting  as  much  light  and  air  as  possible. 

When  the  plants  are  estabhshed  in  this  sized 
pot  most  of  them  will  be  ready  tor  stopping, 
which  should  be  done  when  they  have  made  about 
ten  pairs  of  leaves.  Stop  back  to  six  joints,  when 
a  good  break  from  every  joint  should  result. 

When  the  shoots  have  made  six  pairs  of  leaves 
they  should  be  stopped  again,  but  not  after  the 
middle  of  June  for  slow-growing  varieties  and 
July  for  quick-growing  sorts.  It  is  wise  to  stop 
ordy  one  shoot  on  a  plant  at  one  time,  as  the 
"spread-over"  prevents  plants  receiving  a  check 
and  also  provides  a  succession  of  blooms  later  on. 

The  final  potting  should  be  into  6in.  or  7in. 
according  to  size  of  plants,    using  a   mixture  of 


April  i,  1922.] 

good  loam,  a  little  well  rotted  manure,  lime  rubble, 
wood-ashes  and  a  sprinkling  of  sand. 

The  plants  may  be  stood  outside  during  the 
summer,  but  protection  from  heavy  rains  should 
if  possible  be  afforded.  Do  not  leave  outside 
after  the  second  week  in  August.     Varieties  that 


THE     GARDEN. 

are  subject  to  rust  are  best  grown  under  cover  all 
the  year. 

When  the  plants  are  housed  give  them  a  top- 
dressing  with  some  special  Carnation  manure  and 
an  occasional  sprinkUng  at  intervals,  taking  care  not 
to  overfeed  them  through  the  dull  days  of  winter. 


149 

In  April,  if  plants  are  not  required  to  flower 
in  the  houses,  they  may  be  planted  outside,  where 
they  will  continue  to  flower  all  summer.  If 
planted  in  beds  or  borders  they  flower  well  until 
late  autumn.  If  an  edging  is  required,  the 
Allwoodii  are  very  suitable.  S.  A.  Pascoe. 


NATURAL  GARDENING  IN  A  RESTRICTED  SPACE 

Some    Hints   on    Planning    and    Planting. 


IT  has  often  been  stated  in  these  columns 
that  for  the  small  garden  a  more  or  less 
formal  treatment  is  most  satisfactory  and 
effective,  but  there  is  no  gainsaying  the 
fact  that  the  whole  ambition  of  many  small 
gardeners  is  concentrated  on  providing  informal 
effects,  largely  by  the  use  of  small  rock  gardens. 
Certainly,  if  the  air  be  reasonably  pure,  rock 
gardening  has  two  great  advantages  for  the  small 
garden.  The  first  is  that  the  excavations  and 
mounds  necessary  to  this  form  of  gardening  really 
enlarge  the  space  at  disposal,  since  plants  are  set 
to  grow  in  the  vertical  cliffs  as  well  as  in  the  more 
or  less  horizontal  beds  and  "  pockets."  Again, 
some  choice  alpine  plants  are  exceedingly  minute, 
while  the  larger  rock  plants  are,  compared  to  many 
forms  of  vegetation  commonly  grown  in  gardens, 
quite  small.  A  larger  variety  with  a  considerable 
season  of  blossom  can  therefore  be  provided  even 
in  a  tiny  garden. 

It  is  a  fact  that  the  bulk  of  true  alpines 
flower  in  spring,  but  there  are  many  plants  suitable 
for  the  rockery  which  flower  at  other  seasons. 
Among  these  the  Hardy  Heaths  take  high  place, 
but  there  is  no  need  to  describe  them  in  detail  here 
as  articles  on  the  family  have  recently  appeared 
in  The  Garden.  Winter-flowering  Irises,  such  as 
I.  reticulata  and  I.  Danfordi^,  and,  at  any  rate, 
in  the  west,  I.  unguicularis  and  varieties,  will 
join  up  with  such  early-flowering  Kabschia 
Saxifrages  as  S.  apiculata,  S.  Boydii  alba  and 
S.  Burseriana,  and  the  Glory  of  the  Snow  (Chiono- 
doxa)  in  several  species.  With  our  thoughts 
on  bulbous  plants  it  may  be  well  to  mention  how 
lovely  here  are  such  things  as  some  of  the  tiny 
Narcissi.  Some  of  the  best  are  N.  minimus, 
N'.    Bulbocodium,    with    its   variety   monophyllus 


THE    TINY     WILD 


GARDEN      AT      THE 
MESSRS.    R. 


IDEAL      HOME     E.KHIBITION, 
WALLACE    AND    CO. 


CONSTRUCTED     BY 


and  N.  triandrus.  These  flower,  it  is  true,  wnen 
alpines  generally  are  waking  from  their  winter 
sleep,  and  the  same  applies  to  the  lovely  Anemone 
blanda  and  to  a  greater  extent  to  the  even 
bluer  A.  appenina,  to  the  Snakesheads  (FritiUaria 
Meleagris)  and  to  some  of  its  not  more  lovely  but 
rarer  cousins,  to  the  Dog's  Tooth  Violets 
(Erythronium),  including  the  magnificent  Pink 
Beautv  and  the  fragile  and  chaste  White  Beauty. 


THE    LITTLE    ROCK    GARDEN 


AT    OLYMPIA,    ALSO    CONSTRUCTED    BY 
MESSRS.  WALLACE. 


The  Alpine  Pinks  aie  valuable  inasmuch  as  they 
extend  a  little  the  season  of  flower,  when  Aubrietia, 
Arabis,  Alyssum,  Alpine  Phlox  and  Gentian 
are  past  their  best.  The  same  may  be  said  of  the 
almost   ever- flowering  Lithospermum  prostiatum. 

Later  in  the  season  flowers  are  scarcer,  but  besides 
the  Hardy  Heaths,  already  referred  to,  including 
of  course,  the  Irish  Heaths  (Dabcecia)  and  several 
other  American  plants  of  minor  interest,  there  is 
the  deep  rose  Silene  Schafta  and,  in  shady  corners 
the  Pinguiculas  will  add  interest.  As  autumn 
comes  along  the  hardy  Cyclamens  form  an 
attractive  feature,  so  that,  the  year  round,  there 
need  be  no  want  of  interest. 

On  the  arrangement  of  the  stones  largely 
depends  the  sum  total  of  effect,  and  here  attention 
has  to  be  focussed  simultaneously  on  two  objects. 
These  are  the  welfare  of  the  plants  and  the  pleasing 
and  probable  disposition  of  the  stone  masses. 

The  veiy  pretty,  if  very  tiny,  rock  garden, 
illustrated  herewith,  was  built  by  Messrs.  R. 
Wallace  and  Co.  at  the  Ideal  Home  Exhibition 
at  Olympia.  Every  gardener  could  find  room  for 
such  a  rock  garden,  and  yet  it  must  be  admitted 
that  it  is  quite  effective  without  being  fussy. 

Back  to  back  with  this  little  rock  garden  the  same 
firm  had  on  view  a  miniature  wild  garden  which  is. 
one  would  think,  the  "smallest  ever"  yet  so 
beautiful  is  the  contouring  and  so  well 'balanced 
the  planting  that  it  forms  a  perfect  little  picture. 
Such  a  feature,  preferably  on  a  rather  larger  scale, 
might  well  be  associated  with  a  rock  garden 
similar  to  the  one  shown,  but  care  must  be  taken 
not  to  overplant  this  type  of  garden.  Plant 
such  a  garden  solid  whether  with  Munstead 
Polyanthuses,  with  Daffodils,  Fritillarias,  or  plants 
of  larger  growth,  and  the  picture  is  completely 
destroyed. 


150 


THE     GARDEN. 


[April  i,  1922. 


THE    MODERN    GLADIOLUS 

The  queen  of  summer-flowering  bulbs  can  be  planted  from  now  till  the  end  of  April 
or,  for  late  bloom,  up  till  the  third  week  in  May. 


SOMETIMES  devolving  through  devious 
ways,  anon  travelling  the  blissful  avenues 
towards  the  delectable  mountains,  I  have 
at  length  journeyed  my  Hadj  and  am 
arrived  at  the  Mecca  of  my  desires ; 
which,  being  interpreted,  means  that  through 
years  cf  seeking  and  collecting,  and  the  gaining 
of  knowledge  (often  by  faults  and  useless  expen- 
diture), I  have  at  length  gathered  around  me 
a  veritable  museum  of  the  world's  best  Gladioli — 
a  museum  now  indeed,  for  the  dormant  corms 
are  hardly,  to  casual  glance,  more  alive  than  the 
treasures  .of  the  numismatist  or  the  philatelist. 
But  planting-time  is  at  hand,  and  these  dried  lumps 
of  root-stock  will  in  due  season  break  their 
chrysalides  and  emerge  as  a  fairyland  of  butterfly 
beauty. 

Always  a  lover  of  Gladioli  from  the  time  when, 
as  a  small  boy — though,  I  will  warrant,  keener 
on  hunting  Indians  among  the  wonderful  sand 
dunes  of  Prestwick  on  the  Ayrshire  coast — I 
looked  forward  to  frequent  visits  with  my  father 
to  the  nurseries  of  Messrs.  Mair  and  Sons,  some 
half  a  mile  or  so  from  our  house.  In  those  days 
Mair's  Gladioli  were,  as  they  are  to-day,  a  very 
celebrated  lot,  but  memory  has  left  no  record  of 
what  the  flowers  were  actually  like  beyond  a 
Turneresque    vagueness    of    colour,    such    as    one 


A    TYPICAL    GLADIOLUS    PRIMULINUS    HYBRID. 


gets  in  thinking  of  those  masterpieces  "  Ulysses 
deriding  Polyphemus"  or  "Rain,  Steam  and 
Speed."  Doubtless  gandavensis,  Nanceianus  and 
Lemoinei  were  all  represented,  and  even  in  this 
year  of  grace  these  names  are  all  that  many  people 
think  of  when  ordering  Gladioli,  though  Kelway's 
and  Groff's  hybrids  are  now  well  known  to 
interested  growers,  and  they  have  certainly 
greatly  improved  the  standard  of  the  large- 
flowered  types  in  recent  years. 

We  can  now,  however,  abolish  all  these  derivative 
proper  names,  and,  for  the  sake  of  simplicity, 
classify  the  summer-flowering  Gladioli  under 
two  headings  only — large-flowered  and  primulinus 
hybrids.  The  latter  have  become  a  powerful 
factor  and  may  be  said  to  be  responsible  for  the 
reawakening  of  a  wide  interest  in  this  queen  of 
summer-flowering  bulbs.  The  story  of  G.  primu- 
linus and  its  subsequent  history  of  hybridisation 
is  too  well  known  now  to  be  repeated  here,  but 
no  one  desiring  the  best  effects  from  planting 
these  bulbs  can  afford  to  ignore  this  graceful 
and  lovely  race.  Messrs.  Kelway  of  Langport 
list  some  choice  varieties  of  their  own  raising 
under  the  name  "  Langprims,"  some  of  the  most 
beautiful  being  Ella  Kelway,  palest  yellow  with 
rose  shading  ;  Ghost,  canary  yellow  self ;  Golden 
Girl,  a  fine  pure  yellow  ;  Lieutenant  Kelway,  a 
highly  coloured  flower  of  nice 
shape,  reddish  salmon,  shaded 
crimson  ;  and  Phillis  Kelway. 
another  pure  yellow.  The  best 
primulinus  hybrid  yet  raised 
in  this  country,  however,  is 
Major  Churcher's  Woodcote, 
one  of  the  grandest  of  the 
whole  race.  The  colour  is  a 
soft  pastel  tone  of  coral 
scarlet  with  cream  blotch  on 
lower  segments,  while  the 
shape  of  the  blooms  and  dis- 
position on  the  graceful  spike 
are  very  near  perfection. 

Many  of  the  Dutch  origina- 
tions are  excellent  ;  Orange 
Brilliant.  Sunrise  and  Maiden  s 
Blush,  while  low  in  price,  are 
extremely  lovely,  other  out- 
standing sorts  being  Insurpass- 
able,  Kitty  Grullemans, 
Scarletta  and  Niobe.  America 
undoubtedly  claims  pride  of 
place  with  regard  to  the  pro- 
duction of  new  Gladioli 
generally,  and  they  are 
certainly  not  behind  with 
primulinus  hybrids.  To  men- 
tion only  a  few  we  might  quote 
Alice  Tiplady,  orange  saffron  ; 
Altair,  salmon  saffron  ;  Avatrix, 
a  glorious  combination  of 
amber  and  delicate  rose; 
Canopus,  a  fine  yellow  self ; 
Enon,  orange  and  yellow 
■leautifully  blended  ;  Linton, 
an  exquisite  thing  with  ruffled 
petals,  the  upper  ones  salmon 
rose  and  the  lower  deep  gold 
veined  with  rose ;  Nydia,  the 
perkiest,  daintiest  little  flower 
imaginable,  decked  up  in 
primmest  apple  blossom  pink 
and  rose;  Otranto  the  most 
lovely  yeUow  I  have  yet  seen, 


the  bright  red  throat  markings  enhancing  the 
aspect  of  the  whole  flower  ;  Salmon  Beauty,  most 
truly  named ;  Sweetheart,  deliciously  blended 
cream  and  gold ;  and  Topaz,  a  graceful  and 
elegant  aristocrat  in  buff  and  salmon. 

Among  the  large-flowered  type  there  is  such 
an  array  of  talent  that  it  would  take  a  whole 
page   to   do   justice   to   even  a   limited  selection. 


4 


A    CHARACTERISTIC    SPIKE    OF    THE    NEW 
LARGE-FLOWERED    RUFFLED    SECTION.  , 

Three  Kelway  sorts  come  tc  mind  at  once — 
Field  Mouse,  Kelway's  Painted  Lady  and  John 
Churchill  Craigie.  Field  Mouse  is  quite  fascin- 
ating in  colour,  a  sort  of  smoky  old  rose  overlying 
red,  with  a  crimson-scarlet  blotch  ;  the  Painted 
Lady  is  pure  white  with  very  prominent  crimson, 
blotch,  and  the  last  is  a  lovely  soft  salmon  with 
a  large  yellow  blotch.  Mair's  King  George  is  a 
good  handsome  flower  of  great  suustance  and  a 
large  spike,  deep  crimson  with  a  snow  -  white 
blotch. 

Of  the  American  varieties  I  shall  be  better 
able  to  speak  in  the  autumn,  as  we  are  planting 
up  a  very  fine  selection  of  them  presently.  I 
cannot  help,  however,  mentioning  again  Kunderd's. 
Byron  L.  Smith,  in  some  ways  the  lovehest  flower 
I  have  ever  set  eyes  on.  Mr.  Kunderd,  by  the 
way,  tells  me  he  has  a  primuhnus  hybrid  oi 
similar  shade  coming  out  in  a  year  or  two.  The 
day  when  I  can  receive  that  I  await  with, 
impatience  and  excitement  "  beautifully  blended,'* 
Byron  Smith  is  lavender  pink — so  is  America. 
I  never  could  stand,  much  less  enthuse  over,  the- 
latter — such  is  the  poverty  of  our  colour  des- 
criptions !  One  is  an  ethereal  goddess  and  the- 
other  a  very  common  flower,  both  described  by 
the  same  words — well,  well !  Mr.  Kunderd  has- 
many  stars  in  his  cast  which  I  hope  to  gossip  on. 
more  at  length  after  the  flowering  season  is  over. 
By  a  charming  act  of  friendship  on  the  part  of 
Mrs.  Francis  King,  the  American  authoress,  I 
am  planting  up  some  new  introductions  of  Mr. 
J.  A.  Kemp,  a  New  Jersey  grower  of  some  repute. 
His    Pink   Wonder,    White   Wonder,    Albania    and 


April  i,  1922. 


THE     GARDEN. 


151 


Early  Snowflake  have  proved  widely  popular 
already  at  the  various  American  shows,  and  I 
hope  to  have  the  opportunity  of  exhibiting  these 
and  many  others  at  Vincent  Square  this  year. 

The  culture  of  Gladioli  is  extremely  simple. 
With  good  corms  and  a  modicum  of  common 
sense,  success  is  practically  a  foregone  conclusion. 
Any  well  worked,  deeply  dug  and  fairly  rich  soil 
will  grow  them  well,  whether  the  medium  be  light 
or  heavy.  It  is  well  worth  while  taking  the 
little  extra  trouble,  when  placing  the  corms  in 
the  ground,  to  surround  each  one  with  an  envelope 
of  silver  sand  and  crushed  charcoal ;  if  the  latter 
is  not  handy,  then  with  coarse  sand  alone.  In 
heavy  land  the  tops  of  the  corms  should  be  siins. 
to  4ins.  below  the  surface,  in  light  soils  about  an 
inch  deeper.  On  no  account  should  fresh  manure 
be  dug  in  just  before  planting,  but  a  mulch  of 
stable  or  farmyard  litter  in  early  June  wiU  conserve 
moisture,  help  to  build  up  a  good  flower  spike 
and  assist  the  formation  of  the  new  corms  which, 
during  the  growing  season,  supplant  the  old  ones. 


and  climate  enter  so  largely  into  the  question 
but  it  wiU  be  some  sort  of  a  guide  to  mention 
that  the  majority  of  varieties  bloom  from  seventy- 
five  to  ninety  days  after  planting  ;  a  few  early 
sorts,  like  Prince  of  Wales  and  Halley,  will  reach 
maturity  in  seventy  days  in  a  warm  season,  while 
Princeps,  Panama,  America  and  some  others 
ofttimcs  require  over  a  hundred  days. 

Considerable  interest  is  being  shown  in  our  new 


method  of  flowering  Gladioli  from  seed  in  six 
months,  and  there  is  undoubtedly  an  immense 
amount  of  pleasure  derived  from  growing  one's 
own  hybrids.  Cross  fertihsation  is  quite  a  simple 
matter,  and  if  a  few  really  good  varieties  arc 
purchased  so  that  a  crop  of  reUable  seed  can  be 
saved  there  is  no  need  whatever  to  wait  four  or 
five  years  for  results,  as  one  has  always  been 
taught  to  believe.  J.  L.  Gibson. 


THE    SPRING    CARNATION    SHOW 


THE  BRITISH  CARNATION  SOCIETY 
held  their  twenty-seventh  Show  of 
British  grown  and  mostly  British  raised 
Carnations  on  March  21st.  That  the 
hall  was  almost  filled  with  Carnations, 
aU  of  considerable  merit,  speaks  volumes  for  the 
perfection  of  cultural  methods  and  the  value  of 
the  flower.      From  the  spectacular  point  of  view. 


always  is  a  but,  and  in  this  case  it  is  a  terrible  but, 
the  atrocious  chorus  girl's  hat  made  up  of  countless 
numbers  of  pink  and  cerise  Carnation  petals,  the 
Carnation  ship  and  such  were  perfectly  appalling 
and  certainly  detracted  from  the  artistry  of  the 
trophies  that  Mr.  Felton  arranges  so  splendidly. 
To  mention  only  one,  the  small  basket  of  the  golden 
and  green  foliaged  Croton  tnrnfordensis    and    the 


RICH    IN    TONE    AND    SHAPELY — THE    NEW    PERPETUAL 
CARNATION    NIGGER. 


PROBABLY   THE   PUREST  WHITE  CARNATION   IN   EXISTENCE- 
WI'VELSFIELD    WHITE. 


Each  plant  should  be  staked  to  prevent  damage 
by  rough  winds,  and  the  surface  soil  must  be  kept 
open  by  frequent  stirring  if  no  mulch  has  been 
applied. 

Weak  liquid  manure  may  be  given  frequently 
for  a  month  or  so  before  the  first  flower  begins 
to  colour,  and  as  an  alternative  weak  soot  water 
or  nitrate  of  soda  (two  teaspoonfuls  to  a  gallon 
of  water).  The  last  named  is  useful  for  heigh ten- 
ng  the  colour  of  the  rich  reds  and  scarlets. 

We  are  sometimes  asked  when  to  plant  corms 
so  that  they  will  bloom  in  time  for  a  certain  date. 
This  is  not  easy  to  answer  because  environment 


it  was  the  new  Florists'  Class  competition  that  was 
the  great  feature  of  the  show.  The  prizes  were 
on  a  generous  scale.  A  handsome  "  Covent  Garden 
Challenge  Trophy  "  and  £30  for  the  first,  £30  for 
second  and  £20  for  third.  These  were,  of  course, 
well  worth  winning,  so  that  the  five  exhibits  were 
a  goodly  array.  Except  that  funeral  designs  and 
mirrors  were  debarred,  the  exhibitors  had  perfect 
freedom  of  action  on  their  allotted  spaces.  Messrs. 
R.  F.  Felton  and  Sons,  the  Hanover  Square  florists, 
were  the  most  successful.  The  arrangement  of 
the  various  baskets,  vases  and  such  was  perfectly 
charming  and  left  nothing  to  be  desired  but,  there 


deep  yellow  Saffron  Carnation  was  most  delightful. 
In  the  second  prize  arrangement  by  Mr.  N.  B. 
Shearn  of  Tottenham  Court  Road,  there  was  a 
handsome  wall  bracket  of  crimson  Carnations  and  a 
decorative  screen  of  cerise  and  blush.  From  a  purely 
decorative  point  of  view,  however,  the  most  pleasing 
of  all  these  various  designs  was  a  large  basket  in 
the  third  prize  exhibit  by  Mr.  R.  Silvester  of  Sloane 
Square.  This  was  of  mixed  Carnations,  chiefly 
of  such  fancies  as  Jazz,  Sheila  Greer  and  the 
reddish-brown  leaves  of  Croton  Queen  Victoria, 
with  just  the  right  number  of  crimson  Thor  rising 
above  them. 


152 


THE     GARDEN. 


[April  i,  1922. 


The  I.ady  Members'  Artistic  Classes  were  dis- 
appointing. The  first  prize  table  was  of  Wivels- 
field  Apricot  Carnations,  with  Croton  leaves  and 
sprays  of  Pittosporum,  but  the  arrangement  was 
very  stiff  and  formal.  The  few  vases  and  baskets 
were  much  of  the  same  character.  In  the  open 
classes  Mrs.  Hammond  was  awarded  all  five  first 
prizes  for  very  tasteful  arrangements. 

Sir  Charles  Hall-Cain,  The  Node,  Welwyn,  had 
three  exhibits  and  won  three  first  prizes.  These 
were  all  particularly  well  grown  plants  in  flower 
and  included  Lady  Alington,  Lady  Ingestre  and 
Chastity.  His  group  which  wen  the  Lord  Howard 
de  Waldcn  Challenge  Cup  was  well  arranged. 

Most  of  the  other  first  prizes  were  won  by  Sir 
Randolf  Baker,  whose  gardener  grows  Carnations 
every  bit  as  well  as  he  does  Sweet  Peas  and  is 
also  able  to  arrange  them  attractively. 

In  the  open  classes  it  was  a  case  of  Mr.  C.  Engel- 
mann  first  in  almost  every  case.  The  principal 
exception  being  the  class  for  not  fewer  than  too 
blooms  of  any  one  variety  which  was  won  by  Messrs. 
A.  F.  Button,  Limited,  of  Iver,  with  beautifully 
coloured  blooms  of  Lady  Northclifle. 

The  best  British  novelty  distributed  since  1919, 
was  the  crimson  Thor,  shown  by  Mr.  Engelmann 
who,  in  Topsy,  another  splendid  crimson,  had  the 
best  American  novelty,  and  tliis  was  also  very 
effective  in  a  large  vase. 

In  the  colour  classes  the  best  varieties  were 
Peerless,  rose  pink  ;  Aviator,  red  ;  Carola,  crimson  ; 
Laddie,  salmon  pink  (this  vase  was  also  adjudged 
the  best  in  these  classes  and  won  a  silver-gilt 
medal  for  Mr.  Engelmann)  ;  Saffron,  yellow  ;  and 
Crystal,  white. 

Several  of  the  principal  trade  growers  arranged 
magnificent  collections  around  the  hall.  Mr.  C. 
Engelmann  and  Mes;rs.  Allwood  Brothers  both  won 
large  gold  medals  ;  Messrs.  Stuart  Low  and  Co., 
were  awarded  a  sihfr-gilt  and  Messrs.  Keith 
Luxford  and  Co.,  a  silver  medal. 

The  sundriesmen  had  quite  a  field  day.  Much 
attention  was  focussed  on  the  "  Willmott  "  plant 
stake,  which  should,  we  think,  be  very  useful  for 
plants  imder  glass,  particularly  Carnations,  as  it 
combines  stake  and  tie  in  one  and  is  instantane- 
ously adjusted  or  removed.  I*s  merit  for  plants 
outdoors  has  to  be  demonstrated,  though  Messrs. 
H  J.  G.  Wood,  who  exhibited  it,  described 
It  as  a  great  success  in  the  flower  border.  Mr. 
John  Pinches  of  Acme  label  tame  had,  in  addition 
to  the  cast  labels  in  which  he  specialises,  his  new 
clips  for  fastening  exhibition  tubes  just  where 
required  on  the  special  steel  uprights. 

NEW     CARNATIONS. 

Atlantic. — This  is  a  Perpetual  Malmaison 
variety,  raised  in  America  and  "  disseminated  "  in 
this  country  by  Messrs.  Allwood  Brothers.  It 
possesses  in  a  marked  degree  that  precious  gift  of 
fragrance  which  one  instinctively  associates  with 
the  Malmaison  Carnation  and  the  white  petals 
have  just  the  faintest  suggestion  of  the  old  Mal- 
maison tint,  though  they  are  nearly  white.  A  few 
blooms  showed  a  hard,  unpleasing  eye,  but  the 
best  of  them  are  gracefully  dcuble,  much  like  a 
small  grandiflora  Pa>ony  blcom.  The  plants  which 
accompanied  the  vase  of  blooms  were  sturdy  and 
flcriferous.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs.  Allwood 
Brothers. 

Nigger. — The  name  is  somewhat  misleading,  as 
one  would  expect  to  see  an  exceptionally  dark 
flower,  while,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  several  varieties 
— Carola  and  Topsv,  to  mention  only  two — are 
darker.  But  it  is  a  splendid  flower  and  a  welcome 
addition  to  the  crimson  sorts.  The  flower  stems  are 
unusually  long  and  it  seems  to  be  very  free  bloom- 
ing.    Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  C.  Engelmann. 

Toreador. — .\s  shown,  this  is  a  blush  pink 
Fancy  Carnation,  freely  striped  with  deep  scarlet, 


though  we  should  expect  these  colours  to  bccone 
rather  darker  in  the  summer.  It  is  a  true  Perpetual 
of  good  form.,  free  flowering  and  vigorous.  Award 
of  merit  to  Messrs.  Allwood  Brothers. 

WivELSFiELD  White. — This  good  white  Per- 
petual Camaticn  had  ateady  received  the  R.H.S. 
award  of  merit.  It  is  the  whitest  of  the  white 
Carnations  and  has  all  the  appearance  of  a  bloom 
that  will  continue  fresh  for  a  considerable  time  in  a 
cut  state.  The  raisers  claim  an  "  Old  Clove  fra- 
gran.-e "  for  it,  but  we  could  not  detect  any, 
though  perhaps  the  cold  weather  was  responsible. 
Award  of  merit  to  Messrs.  Allwood  Brothers. 

Allwood's  Vivid. — This  Perpetual  \  ariety  was 
decidedly  the  brightest  Carnation  in  the  Show. 
The  intense  glowing  colour  seemed  to  vibrate  and 
almost  dazzle  one.  It  is  chiefly  scarlet-cerise  with 
a  sheen  of  rcse  on  some  of  the  incurving  petals. 
We  suspect  that  its  form  was  against  it  with  the 
judges,  for  it  did  not  receive  any  award,  but  the 
quaintly  crimped  appearance  of  the  petals  appealed 
to  many  visitors  who  were  first  a*tracted  by  the 
brilliancy  of  the  colouring.  It  is  a  free  flowering 
variety  and  more  than  likely  to  become  popular 
Shown  by  Messrs.  Allwood  Brothers. 


space  between  them.  From  all  plants  seed-pods,  /;, 
must  be  pinched  off  ;  they  form  freely  on  some 
old  plants  and  help  to  exhaust  their  strength. 

If  any  plants  of  the  double-flowered  varieties 
are  wanted  next  autumn  and  winter  for  flowering 
in  pots  in  the  greenhouse  or  conservatory  it  is 
wise  to  place  the  young  well  rooted  layers  direct 
into  their  flowering  pots  in  spring,  and  to  plunge 
the  pots  in  the  border  soil  instead  of  planting  them 
out  and  then  lifting  and  potting  them  in  autumn. 
I  ha\  e  found  the  plan  answer  well.     A  little  more 


SWEET    VIOLETS 

How  to  keep  the  stock  strong  and  healthy. 

JUDGING  from  the  great  numbers  of 
bunches  of  splendid  flowers  seen  in  the 
markets  and  in  private  gardens  this  spring 
the  Violet  is  again  becoming  very  popular. 
It  is  truly  an  amateur's  plant.  Even  in 
the  smallest  garden  there  is  room  for  a  few  plants 
both  in  frame  and  open  border.  The  season  has 
now  come  to  propagate  the  plants  by'  means  of 
layers  or  runners,  as  they  are  sometimes  called. 
Early  layering  of  runners  must  be  carried  out 
on  old  plants  growing  in  frames.  These  old  plants 
must  bo  kept  quite  clean — free  from  faded  leaves 
and  from  moss  on  the  surface  of  the  soil.  It  is 
bad  for  the  plants  and  the  new  runners  if  the 
cultivator  treads  much  on  the  border ;  such 
treading  can  be  done  without  and  should  be 
avoided. 

On  some  of  the  plants — the  single-flowered 
more  particularly — the  runners  are  very  similar 
in  character  to  those  of  the  Strawberry,  and  there 
need  be  very  little  difficulty  in  pegging  them  down 
in  the  soil.  Some  of  the  double-flowered  varieties 
form  small  plantlcts  or  tufts  close  to  the  parent 
plant,  so  in  their  case  it  will  be  necessary  closely  to 
examine  them  and  to  surround  the  small  tufts 
with  a  suitable  compost  in  much  the  same  way  as 
one  does  when  engaged  in  layering  the  old  double- 
flowered  Primulas. 

Nice  fresh  compost  should  be  used.  The  layers 
would  root  in  the  border  soil,  but  this  having  been 
in  the  frame  since  last  September,  will  probably 
be  getting  sour.  It  is  helpful,  therefore,  to  mix 
some  well  rotted  loam,  leaf-soil  and  sand  together 
in  equal  quantities  and  place  a  good  handful  round 
each  runner,  mixing  the  compost  with  the  surface 
soil  of  the  border. 

In  the  accompanying  sketch  a  shows  the  old 
plant ;  b,  the  runner  of  a  single-flowered  specimen  ; 
c,  the  new  compost ;  and  d,  the  peg  making  the 
runner  secure  in  its  position.  Without  the  peg 
the  runner,  when,-  perhaps,  it  is  partly  rooted,  may 
get  displaced  and  root-formation  be  considerably 
delayed.  Maintain  the  soil  in  an  even  state  cf 
moisture  and  in  a  very  short  time  roots  will  form 
as  shown  at  e,  in  the  sketch. 

The  ground  must  be  deeply  dug  and  enriched 
with  rotted  manure  ;  then  plant  as  shown  in  the 
following  sketch,  disposing  the  young  plants  as 
shown  at  /  and  g  respectively  so  as  to  have  equal 


METHOD    OF    PROPAGATING    THE     VARIETIES 
OF  SWEET   VIOLETS. 

labour  is  necessary  in  regard  to  potting  and  water- 
ing early  in  the  season,  but  then  there  is  no  potting 
needed  in  the  autumn.  The  letter  ;  shows  the 
thriving  plant  in  the  plunged  pot,  ;. 

The  best  position  is  one  in  the  centre  of  the 
garden  or  on  a  border  west,  north  west  or  north- 
east of  a  wall.  Always  avoid  a  border  open  to 
cold  draughts,  as  plants  exposed  to  such  rarely 
escape  being  infested  with  red  spider. 

Princess  of  Wales  and  La  France,  single,  and 
Marie  Louise  and  Comte  de  Brazza,  double,  are 
probably  the  most  satisfactory  varieties,  though 
there  are  other  excellent  sorts.   George  Garner. 


April  i,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


153 


BORDER    PHLOXES 

Some  hints   on   culture   and  a   selection   of  varieties. 


IT  is  doubtful  whether  any  other  hardy 
perennial  for  garden  decoration  excels  the 
Phlox.  Coming  into  flower  in  July  the  plant 
"  carries  on "  well  into  the  autumn,  thus 
proving  a  decided  adjunct  to  the  flower 
garden  when  other  flowers,  especially  bright 
flowers,  are  beginning  to  get  scarce.  That  old 
species,  P.  decussata,  has  played  a  prominent  part 
in  gi^^ug  us  the  beautiful  florists'  varieties  which 
we  prize  so  much  to-day.  The  herbaceous  Phlox 
has  achieved  a  large  measure  of  popularity  during 
the  past  few  years,  but  it  is  still  not  so  widely 
grown  as  its  merits  deserve.  This,  no  doubt,  is 
due  to  the  fact  that  many  people  are  neither 
conversant  with  the  better  modern  varieties  nor 
realise  the  length  of  their  flowering  period.  The 
Phlox  is  not  a  fastidious 
plant,  but  it  is  rather  a  gross 
leeder  and  to  obtain  the  best 
results  it  should  be  given  a 
well  cultivated  position.  A 
good  rich  loam  that  has  been 
deeply  dug  and  well  manured 
— old  stable  manure,  thoroughly 
decomposed  is  best — will  suit 
the  Phlox  admirably. 

When  planting,  some  sort  of 
colour  scheme  should  be  borne 
in  mind  and  the  heights  of 
the  different  varieties  must 
not  be  forgotten.  There  are 
quite  dwarf  Phloxes,  which 
must  be  reserved  for  the 
front  of  the  border.  On  the 
other  hand  the  planting  should 
not  be  too  formal.  Those 
readers  who  have  visited  Kew 
Gardens  during  the  summer 
and  early  autumn  will  well 
remember  the  borders  of 
Phlox,  admirably  planted  in 
large  drifts  of  one  variety, 
e.g.,  a  large  group  of  Mrs. 
Jenkins  (white)  might  be 
followed  by  a  group  i,  of  W. 
Watson  (pink).  A  most  com- 
mon mistake  is  to  let  the 
plants  grow  into  very  large 
clumps  as  from  such  the 
flower  spikes  are  never  first- 
rate.  Large  clumps  are  best 
divided  up  in  the  autumn, 
replanting  the  outer  portions 
and  discarding  the  wocii-out 
central  portion.  Another  error  is  to  loop  up  too 
many  shoots  to  one  stake,  as  this  gives  each  group 
a  besom-Uke  appearance.  It  is  better  to  retain  six 
to  eight  strong  growths — discarding  the  remainder 
— and  to  spread  these  out  and  attach  to  separate 
stakes. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  have  long  stakes  towering 
above  the  plants;  all  that  is  requiied  are  short 
stakes  which  will  prevent  the  shoots  from  being 
blown  down  by  wind  or  rain.  Phloxes  require 
copious  suppUes  of  water,  and  a  mulch  of  well  de- 
cayed stable  manure  will  greatly  assist  in  producing 
and  preserving  the  pleasantly  fragrant  blossoms. 
The  value  of  this  mulching  was  well  exemplified 
during  last  year's  drought,  when  Mr.  Jones  re- 
peatedly staged  wonderful  spikes  of  blossom  at 
the   Royal   Horticultural  Society's  meetings. 

Apart  from  its  value  tor  garden  decoration,  the 
Phlox  is  excellent  for  cut  flower,  as  the  fragrant 
blossoms  arc  generally  appreciated  in  the  house, 
though  the  tendency  of  the  flowers  to  shed  bans 
them  from  the  dinner  table.    The  fragrance  of  the 


Phlox  is,  perhaps,  "brought  home"  to  us  more 
when  walking  i  n  the  garden  after  dusk  on  a  summer's 
evening. 

The  best  time  to  plant  Phlox  is  undoubtedly 
the  autumn,  but  excellent  results  may  be  obtained 
by  planting  now.  The  sooner  this  planting  is  done, 
the  better  will  be  this  year's  results. 

The  following  varieties  will  be  found  excellent 
for  large  and  small  gardens  :  Mrs.  E.  H.  Jenkins, 
Tapis  Blanc,  Freifraulein  von  Lassberg,  all  white  ; 
Sehiia,  clear  pink  ;  Le  Mahdi,  violet  blue ;  Le 
Siecle,  salmon  pink  ;  Eugene  Danzan\-illiers,  soft 
lilac  blue ;  Etna,  a  dazzling  crimson  scarlet  ; 
George  A.  Strohlein,  somewhat  similar  colourmg  ; 
Paul  Martin,  china  rose ;  Dr.  Konigshofer,  bril- 
liant orange  scarlet,  deeper  eye  ;  Baron  von  Dedem, 


planted  out  where  they  are  to  flower  or  placed 
in  large  pots  to  bloom  in  the  conservatory. 
Phloxes  are  ideal  for  this  latter  purpose,  as  tbey 
brighten  the  conservatory  at  a  time  when  "  showy  " 
flowers  are  scarce.  H.   Q. 


THE  BEAUTIFUL  SALMON-BLUSH  PHLOX  HANNY  PFLEIDERER. 


scarlet  and  blood  red  ;  Dr.  Charcot,  blue  ;  Eliza- 
beth Campbell,  salmon  ;  Frau  \.  Buchner,  pure 
white  ;  H.  J.  Jones,  rosy  scarlet ;  William  Watson, 
soft  pink,  mauve  eye  ;  C.  Edwards  (an  improved 
Aubrey  Alder),  salmon ;  Jesse  Waters,  salmon 
orange,  carmine  eye  ;  Hanny  Pfleiderer,  salmon- 
blush  ;  Thor,  salmon-red,  carmine  centre  ;  Rosen- 
berg, fiery  carmine-violet  with  blood-red  eye ; 
Imperator,  rich  crimson ;  Florrie  Freeman, 
salmon-cerise ;  W.  J.  Robinson,  deep  carmine- 
red  ;  and  Antonin  Mercie,  soft  lavender. 
The  above  list  contains  some  of  the  best  varieties 
from  the  garden  decorative  standpoint. 

When  thinning  out  as  already  advised,  plenty 
of  cuttings  will  be  available.  They  should  be 
taken  in  the  same  way  as  Chrysanthemum  cuttings 
and  inserted  in  pots,  pans  or  boxes  of  sandy  soil 
and  placed  in  a  cool  greenhouse  or  frame.  These 
cuttings  will  provide  plants  for  next  year.  Trade 
growers  of  Phlox  raise  their  plants  from  cuttings, 
which  is  the  most  satisfactory  method  of  propaga- 
tion.    When  well  established  they  may  cither  be 


TWO  CROCUS  SPECIES 

Obtain  the  Award  of  Garden  Merit. 

A    T    their     meeting     on     February     23     the 
/%       Council     of     the     Royal     Horticultural 
/   %     Society     gave     the     award     of     garden 
^^^%    merit  to  Crocus  Tommasinianus  and   to 
*  *  C.  speciosus.     Both  are  good  doers  and 

will,  with  ordinary  care,  increase  rapidly  in  any 
well  drained  British  garden.  Their  only  enemies 
are  field-mice  and  pheasants.  Both  species  produce 
seed  so  freely  and  multiply  by  the  formation  of 
so  many  small  corms  that,  so  long  as  their  foliage 
is  allowed  to  remain  until  it  becomes  brown 
(about  the  end  of  April),  permanence  and  increase 
are  assured.  The  only  attention  they  require  is 
an  occasional  replanting  when  they  become  too 
thick.  The  one  brightens  the  garden  in  the 
early  spring ;  the  other  tones  the  browns,  reds 
and  yellows  of  the  dying  year. 

Crocus  Torrunasinianus  flowers,  as  a  rule,  just 
before  most  forms  of  C.  vernus  and  about  the  time 
of  the  old  Dutch  yellow  Crocus.  It  has  a  slender 
grace  that  most  of  the  Dutch  forms  of  C.  vernus 
lack,  and  is,  when  open,  of  a  clear  and  delicate 
colour,  described  by  Maw  as  sapphire-lavender 
and  by  Bowles  as  amethystine-violet.  No  Dutch 
Crocus,  except  the  one  I  hold  the  most  beautiful 
of  all,  Margot,  is  so  tender  and  pleasing  in  shade. 
When  closed  the  flowers  of  most  forms  are  of  various 
shades  of  grey.  It  is  a  variable  plant,  especially, 
perhaps,  in  the  colour  of  the  buds  ;  but  there  is 
a  deep  purple  variety,  a  pure  white,  and  a  particu- 
larly pleasing  one,  called  "  pictus,"  with  flowers 
marked  at  the  tips  with  a  darker  blotch,  below 
an  apical  white  spot. 

Crocus  Tommasinianus  does  well  in  many  places 
at  Wisley,  in  the  open  and  in  the  light  shade  of 
shrubs  and  trees,  but  does  not  prove  quite  so 
happy  as  many  in  the  grass.  Its  best  place  is 
on  the  higher  parts  of  the  rock  garden  where  it 
may  seed  down  and  gladden  the  early  days  of 
dull  February  with  drifts  of  lavender  violet, 
which  will  not  interfere  in  the  least  with  the 
flowers  that  are  to  follow  after.  It  should  be 
planted  in  August  or  September,  and  seed  should 
be  sown  as  soon  as  ripe  in  the  open  to  germinate 
with  the  growth  of  the  corms  in  the  spring. 

Crocus  speciosus  flowers  in  September  and 
October  and  is  the  most  reliable  and  showy  of 
all  the  autumn-flowering  species,  unless  it  be 
C.  nudiflorus,  great  drifts  of  which  fonn  one  of 
the  beautiful  autumn  features  of  Wisley  and 
which,  though  so  abundant  in  its  easily  accessible 
native  home,  is  scarcely  known  in  the  nurserymen's 
catalogues.  C.  speciosus  should  be  planted  in 
July.  It  will  grow  in  short  grass,  where,  as  at 
Wisley,  it  may  be  left  alone  for  years,  and  every 
year  will  give  stretches  of  blue  among  the  green 
of  the  grass  and  the  brown  of  the  falling  leaves 
without  any  further  care.  It  will  grow  under 
light  shade  and  in  the  open,  and  is  proper  for  the 
herbaceous  border  and  the  lighter  shrubbery, 
the  grassy  bank  and  the  rock  garden,  the  edge  of 
the  wide  woodland  walk  and  the  field  garden 
A  strong  and  vigorous  flower,  it  is  calculated  to 
withstand  all  reasonable  buffetings  of  autumn. 
In  its  typical  form  it  is  beautifully  pencilled  with 
blue  on  a  pale  lilac  ground,  but  varies  much  in 
colour  and  size  ;  and  a  number  of  names  ha\  e 
been  given  to  more  or  less  distinct  forms,  the 
most  remarkable  of  which  are  the  var.  Aitchisonii. 
the  giant  of  the  species  and  flowering  later  than 


154 


THE     GARDEN, 


[April  i,  1922. 


the  type,  collected  by  Mr.  H,  J.  Elwes  in  the  East 
(for  while  C.  Tommasinianus  is  more  Western  in 
its  distribution,  C.  speciosus  stretches  away  into 
Armenia  and  perhaps  into  Persia)  ;  Van  Tubergen's 
var.  Artabir,  intermediate  in  colour  and  season 
between    var.    Aitchisonii    and    the    type ;      var. 


globosus,  a  bluer,  later-flowering  variety  ;  and 
some  white  and  grey  forms  which  Mr.  Bowles  has 
raised,  which  are  still  rare,  but  beautiful  in  their 
blue  pencilling  on  a  white  ground,  and  therefore  pre- 
ferable to  the  better  known  pure  white  form,  which 
is  rather  starry  in  shape.        F.  J.  Chittenden. 


PLAN    THE    GARDEN    FIRST 

The  writer  urges  that  architects  should  take  the  garden  into  consideration  and  design    it 

simultaneously  with  the  house. 


WITH  the  great  majority  of  archi- 
tects it  is  the  rule  to  design  the 
house  first  and  the  garden  after- 
wards. Almost  invariably  is  this 
so  in  the  case  of  suburban  property 
and  small  villas,  while  for  terrace  houses  "  gardens  " 
are  rarely  ever  thought  of.  Even  where  gardens 
are  plotted  the  architect  rarely  troubles  to  plan 
them,  and  either  leaves  the  plot  bare  or  allows 
the  builder  to  do  his  best  (or  worst)  with  the  area 
allotted  to  the  back  garden,  rnie,  the  front  garden 
area  is  usually  dealt  with  so  far  as  specifying  the 
sort  of  wall  or  fence  to  be  erected  thereon  and  the 
positions  of  the  main  and  side  entrance  paths,  but 
rarely  is  the  garden  behind  planned  to  its  best 
advantage  by  the  house  designer.  That  this  is 
wrong  from  every  point  of  view — aesthetic,  practical 
and  financial,  I  propose  to  prove. 

I  postulate  that  a  well  arranged  garden  adds 
appreciably  to  the  value  of  any  dwelling  house, 
therefore  it  must  "  pay  "  the  house-owner  or  land- 
lord to  have  the  most  made  of  any  ground  attached 
to  a  house.  Further,  I  urge  that  not  only  does  a 
well  planned  garden  show  off  the  house  from  the 
exterior  point  of  view,  but  it  increases  the  interior 
values — that  is  when  the  garden  is  planned  before 
the  dwelling,  and  the  dweUing  sited  to  command 
the  best  view  of  the  garden.  I  go  further  and  say 
that  the  siting  of  the  house  should  be  subordinate 
to  the  amenities  or  possibihties  of  the  garden, 
and,  if  necessary,  it  should  be  set  at  an  angle,  or 
sideways,  or  even  turned  round,  with  its  back  to 
the  road  !  This  may  not  look  "  pretty  "  on  the 
"  elevation  to  the  road,"  but  if  the  roadside  faces 
north  and  there  is  a  prospect  of  a  pretty  garden 
behind,  it  is  the  better  way.  Naturally,  the 
placing  of  the  kitchen  and  offices  on  the  road  side 
of  the  house  calls  for  more  attention  and  skill  on  the 
part  of  the  architect,  but  that  is  what  he  is 
paid  for.  My  first  proposition,  then,  is  that  the 
house  should  be  sited  in  relation  to  the  actual  or 
potential  garden,  and  not  the  garden  loosely 
arranged  round  the  house. 

In  planning  the  garden  consideration  should  be 
given  to  all  its  natural  features,  such  as  the  slope 
of  the  ground,  if  any,  as  existing  trees,  or,  possibly, 
a  stream  ;  also  to  any  irregularity  in  its  shape. 
If  the  house  to  be  erected  thereon  occupies  a  comer 
site,  a  triangular  or  an  odd-shaped  piece  of  ground, 
there  is  both  more  call  and  larger  opportunity 
for  effective  treatment.  Needless  to  say,  all  trees 
should  be  left  standing,  as  far  as  possible.  Where 
the  ground  slopes  the  house  should  be  placed  on 
the  highest  part,  and  the  dwelling  should  be  so 
plaimed  that  the  best  view  of  the  garden  be  obtain- 
able from  the  best  rooms  of  the  house.  Where 
practicable,  the  kitchen  also  should  command  a 
bit  of  a  view,  and  the  windows  not  have  their  out- 
look on  a  blank  wall  ;  this  will  be  better  for  the 
health  and  spirits  of  the  cook  and  also  for  the 
cooking.  In  planning  the  garden  it  is  important 
that  each  part  of  it  bear  a  definite  relation  to  the 
house  and  that  the  lines  of  these  parts  be  so  arranged 
that  the  whole  is  symmetrical  and  pleasing. 

In  addition  to  the  aesthetic  advantages  of  a 
properly  arranged  garden  there  are  several  practical 


ones  in  plannmg  it  before  building  the  house. 
In  the  first  place  any  excavations  such  as  those  for 
the  garden  walls,  for  I.ily  ponds,  for  "  sunk " 
gardens  or  for  forming  a  terrace  can  be  carried  out 
while  those  for  the  house  foundations  are  being 
made,  and,  further,  the  soil  excavated  from  them  can 
be  carried  direct  to  the  parts  to  be  filled  in  or  raised, 
thus  saving  the  cost  of  dumping  and  afterwards 
carrying  the  earth  for  levelling  up.  Next,  if  the 
garden  walls  are  to  be  of  brick,  they  can  be  erected 
at  the  same  time  as  the  house  is  being  buUt,  and 
by  the  same  bricklayers  and  labourers — time, 
cartage  and  overhead  costs  all  being  thereby 
reduced.  Another  incidental  advantage  is  that 
brickbats,  broken  bricks  or  pieces  of  stone  could 
be  utilised  in  the  garden  construction  straightawav, 
thus  saving  on  the  cost  of  brickwork  and  the  double 
handling  of  such  waste  material  from  the  house 
in  building.  Further,  if  and  where  concrete  is  used 
in  the  garden  construction,  for  which  it  has  manv 
advantages,  the  mixing-boards  and  materials  wiU 
be  handy,  and  time  and  money  be  again  saved  to 
the  builder  or  contractor.  The  use  of  concrete 
in  forming  the  garden  has  the  further  advantage 
of  utilising  odds  and  ends  of  brick,  stone,  slate, 
tile  or  other  hard  substances  thrown  out  by  the 
house-builders  and  otherwise  costing  money  to 
remove.  Here,  again,  the  necessary  cement  is 
probably  on  the  ground,  the  water-taps  in  position, 
and  the  mixing-boards  handy.  However,  as  every 
contractor  knows  the  saving  in  costs  and  charges 
by  doing  two  jobs  at  one  time,  and  by  the  same 
hands.  I  need  not  labour  the  point. 

In  planning  the  garden  the  careful  architect 
will  have  taken  advantage  of  any  natural  features, 
and  particularly  the  lie  or  slope  of  the  ground. 
If  he  designs  a  lawn  on  sloping  ground  he  will 
probably  ha\e  more  excavated  soil  than  he  needs 
for  its  levelling ;  this  can  be  utilised  for  forming 
a  terrace  or  a  bank  at  the  bottom  to  divide  the 
flower  from  the  vegetable  garden.  For  it  goes 
without  saying  that  a  vegetable  plot,  however 
(necessarily)  small,  should  always  be  included  in 
the  garden  scheme.  Incidentally  such  division 
of  the  garden  area  does  not  diminish,  but  adds, 
apparently,  to  its  size,  while  it  greatly  enhances 
its  amenities.  If  the  site  be  level  it  can  easily 
be  embellished  either  by  raising  a  low  terrace 
walk  or  sinking  a  shallow  Lily  pond,  or  making 
a  miniature  "  sunk "  or  Rose  garden.  This 
need  not  be  excavated  to  a  greater  depth  than 
rPins.  or  even  i4ins.  Moreover,  it  has  the  further 
advantage  that  the  excavated  earth  can  be  used 
to  form  a  terrace,  thus  affording  three  different 
levels  at  one  operation ;  this  alone  gives  dis- 
tinction to  a  garden  plot  even  ol  the  tiniest.  These 
differing  levels  call  for  steps,  another  simple, 
cheap,  but  effective,  feature  of  garden  decoration. 
Naturally,  that  economic  plastic  material,  concrete, 
would  be  used  for  forming  the  sides  and  bottom  of 
the  pod  for  Lilies  or  other  aquatic  plants — nothing 
adds  distinction  and  beauty  to  a  garden  so  much 
as  the  presence  of  water. 

Another  quite  economical  but  very  decorative 
feature  to  a  garden,  whatever  its  size,  is  a  pergola. 
This    also   can   be    easily    and   cheaply    formed — 


when  the  men  are  on  the  job.  From  twelve  to 
eighteen  simple  ferro-concrete  piers  with  old  timbers 
laid  across  them,  or  branches  lopped  from  any 
trees  that  may  have  to  be  felled  for  the  house- 
building, are  all  that  is  necessary.  The  pergola 
should  cover  the  main  path,  or  it  might  run  close 
to  and  parallel  with  the  house,  or  form  a  pleasing 
break  between  the  pleasure  and  the  vegetable 
gardens.  Yet  another  small  but  effective  feature 
in  garden  construction  is  the  seat.  This  can 
easily  be  formed  in  the  wall  of  the  terrace,  or  that 
at  the  end  of  the  garden  or  in  the  bank  separating 
the  two  divisions.  For  small  property  I  do  not 
recommend  "garden  ornaments";  one  good 
piece,  however,  may  well  be  placed  in  the  centre 
of  a  sunk  garden  ;  sundials  are  out  of  the  question, 
of  course,  but  a  single  flower  vase  or  cement 
plant  tub  (they  can  be  bought  as  low  as  17s.  M. 
each)  on  a  concrete  pedestal,  would  serve  to  break 
the  monotony  and  enliven  the  dulness  of  an 
ordinary  back  garden  plot. 

Whatever  the  means  employed,  however,  for 
constructing  or  adding  decorative  features  to  a 
small  garden,  I  do  plead  that  gardens  be  formed, 
even  to  the  smallest  class  of  dwellings  and  also 
that  the  garden  be  planned  before  the  house  and 
created  during  its  building.  Obviously,  time  and 
labour  are  saved  ;  costs  of  materials  and  overhead 
charges  are  reduced,  and  the  letting  or  selling  value 
of  the  house  so  provided  with  a  well  planned 
garden  is  more  than  proportionately  raised. 
I  trust-I  shaU  not  be  accused  of  setting  "  the  cart 
before  the  horse,"  for  on  the  contrary,  I  maintain 
that  it  is  good,  sound  policy  to  prepare  the  plans 
for  the  whole  before  planning  the  part,  even  the 
major  part  of  house  property.  Naturally,  the  same 
principles  apply  to  houses  standing  in  their  own 
grounds  or  to  villas  in  the  country,  but  my  con- 
tention is  that  they  are  quite  as  requisite  and 
desirable  for  small  houses  and  that  in  the  case  of  the 
latter,  their  application  "  pays "  everyone  con- 
cerned— the  landlord,  the  house-owner,  the 
occupant  and  the  builder.     E.  W.  Richardson. 


EUCRYPHIA  PINNATIFOLIA 

Although  discovered  as  long  ago  as  1845  and 
introduced  in  1859,  this  beautiful  Chilian  shrub 
(sometimes  a  small  tree)  is  far  from  common 
in  gardens.  Near  London  it  is  perfectly  hardy  ; 
it  has  been  known  to  survive  32°  of  frost.  Yet  it 
is  evident  that  its  cultivation  is  not  thoroughly 
understood,  or  we  should  see  more  of  it.  Experience 
shows  that  it  needs,  more  than  anything  else, 
cool,  moist  conditions  at  the  root.  At  Kew, 
grown  as  an  ordinary  isolated  lawn  shrub,  it 
has  never  lived  long,  owing,  probably,  to  its  in- 
ability to  withstand  the  fierce  spells  of  heat 
which,  if  often  short,  are  not  infrequent  in  the 
Thames  Valley.  The  best  success  with  it  has  been 
obtained  by  planting  it  in  association  with  Erica 
mediterranea.  The  Heath  keeps  the  ground 
permanently  shaded  and  cool,  and  it  is  not  greedy 
at  the  roots.  At  planting-time  a  few  barrow- 
loads  of  peat  and  leaf-soil  should  be  put  about 
the  roots.  The  shrub  is  evergreen,  its  leaves 
being  made  up  ol  three  or  five  lustrous 
dark  green  leaflets.  The  flowers  are  2}ins 
across,  a  conspicuous  feature  being  the  large 
bunch  of  stamens  with  yellow  anthers.  Opening 
as  they  do  when  the  flowering  season  of  trees  and 
shrubs  in  general  is  waning,  they  make  the  shrub 
particularly  attractive  This  shrub  is  not  common 
in  gardens,  no  doubt  due  to  the  fact  that  it  is  not 
easy  to  propagate  or  transplant.  However,  seeds 
are  produced  now  in  this  country,  so  this  should 
facilitate  propagation.  It  has  in  the  past  only 
been  increased  by  layering. 


April  i,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


155 


CORRESPONDENCE 


TR.\NSPLANTING  TIMES. 

■DEFERRING  to  the  enquiry  on  the  above 
subject  in  The  Garden  of  March  25, 
page  143,  it  is  an  undoubted  fact  that  the  end  of 
.\pril  or  beginning  of  May  are  favourable  times 
for  planting  either  Yews  or  Hollies,  or,  indeed, 
many  other  evergreens.  Many  good  judges  prefer 
to  wait  even  a  month  later,  and  on  heavy,  difficult 
soils  I  know  of  a  very  successful  planter  of  Yew  and 
Holly  hedges  who  preferred  the  middle  of  June. 
But  I  may  say  in  my  experience  that,  provided 
the  plants  are  well  rooted,  either  Yews  or  Hollies 
and  most  other  evergreens  can  be  planted  with 
perfect  safety  from  September  to  June,  always 
provided  the  soil  is  fit  to  work.  I  have  been  most 
successful  in  autunm  planting,  and  there  again 
one  must  have  moisture  either  natural  or  applied, 
and  %vith  the  ground  warm  and  the  plant  in  an 
active  condition,  it  will  make  young  roots  in  a  very 
short  time.  During  the  war,  when  every  day 
counted,  I  moved  some  three  acres  of  various 
evergreens,  commencing  on  the  day  after  August 
Bank  HoUday,  and  not  a  single  loss  was  incurred. 
.\mong  the  plants  so  handled  were  Thuyas,  Cypres- 
ses, Yews,  Hollies,  Spruce  and  other  Firs.  Some 
plants  are  diflncult  to  transplant  when  in  a  dormant 
condition ;  for  example,  Berberis  Darwinii.  I 
have  seen  the  roots  of  this  plant  rot  away  in  cold, 
wet  soils.  The  best  time  to  move  it  is  either 
April  or  October.  I  believe  it  to  be  true  that  if 
you  have  to  move  any  evergreen  which  is  badly 
rooted,  or  not  specially  prepared  for  moving,  that 
it  is  best  to  plant  when  signs  of  growth  and  general 
\-itaUty  are  evident,  and  that  is  either  early 
autumn  or  spring.  Properly  grown  nurserj'  plants 
may  be  handled,  as  I  have  already  said,  from 
September  to  June.  Naturally,  care  must  be 
taken  to  see  that  the  plants  do  not  lack  moisture 
until  re-estabUshed. — F.  Gomer  W.^terer. 

PRUNING    FRUIT   TREES. 

A  M.-\N  in  business  has  very  little  leisure  in 
these  days  for  writing  to  the  papers  and  none 
at  all  for  controversy.  My  only  reason  for  writing 
to  The  Garden  was  to  enter  my  protest  against 
the  close  pruning  of  .Apple  trees,  which  although 
estabhshed.  have  no  bloom  buds  formed  on  the 
spurs,  and  having  done  so,  to  let  the  matter  drop  : 
however,  as  Mr.  W.  Mason  (page  120)  asks  for 
further  information.  I  will  do  my  best  to  give  it. 
In  the  first  place  there  seems  to  be  considerable 
confusion  in  the  terms  bush  and  pyramid  trees. 
With  most  people  the  terms  are  interchangeable, 
while  others  call  a  practically  unpruned  tree, 
growing  as  it  likes,  a  bush,  and  a  formed  and  pruned 
tree  a  pyramid,  to  distinguish  it  from  a  standard. 
I  cannot  now  refer  to  the  number  of  The  Garden 
in  which  my  letter  appeared,  but  if  I  used  the  word 
pyramid  it  was  because  there  was  an  illustration 
of  well  pruned  trees  to  which  I  referred  and  which 
were  called  pyramids,  and  if  my  having  done  this 
has  caused  any  confusion  in  the  mind  of  your 
readers  I  offer  them  my  apologies,  for  it  was  not 
my  intention  to  recommend  the  p\Tramid  form. 

When  I  learned  to  prune  fruit  trees  at  the  School 
of  Horticulture,  Ghent,  in  1870,  there  were  in 
Mr.  Van  Houtte's  gardens  some  lovely  pyramid 
Pear  trees  trained  with  four  or  six  wings,  each 
wing  perfectly  fiat  and  radiating  from  the  centre 
stem  hke  the  spokes  of  a  wheel  so  that  one  could 
get  in  to  prune  with  ease  and  all  the  wood  was 
exposed  to  sunUght  and  air.  This  I  should  call 
the  finest  form  of  pyramid.  Then  we  have  such 
trees  as  were  illvstrated  in  the  recent  i;sue  of  The 
Garde.v,  and  lastly,  we  have  the  aU-too-common 
sort  of  sugar-loaf  tree,  pretty  well  solid  with 
branches   (owing  to   close  pruning)   and   a  fitting 


site  for  a  blackbird's  nest.  I  need  scarcely  say 
that  the  first  and  last  forms  are  not  in  any  way 
suited  to  commercial  fruit-growing ;  the  first 
being  much  too  expensive  to  form  and  keep  up, 
and  the  last  unprofitable.  The  fruit-grower  has  to 
shape  and  prune  his  trees  somewhat  in  accordance 
with  their  natural  habits,  aiming  at  the  form 
illustrated,  upright  growers  having  their  branches 
thinned  out  so  as  to  admit  Ught  and  air  to  the 
centre  of  the  tree,  and  those  of  a  more  spreading 
habit  receiving  similar  treatment,  but  with  the 
result  that  they  are  not  the  same  shape,  and  the 
two  types  should  be  planted  alternately  so  as  to 
economise  space.  Each  branch  of  the  tree  is 
treated  as  a  single  cordon. 
The  distance  to  plant 
apart  varies  with  the 
soil  and  also  the 
variety  planted.  I  have 
seen  Bramley's  0  n 
paradise  stock  in  Norfolk 
planted  24ft,  apart 
and  grown  so  closely 
to  each  other  as  to 
make  it  very  difficult 
to  walk  between  and 
quite  out  of  the  question 
to  get  any  kind  of  cul- 
tivator among  them,  but 
on  ordinary  good  soil  1 8ft , 
will  suffice,  especially  if 
the  alternate  planting  of 
an  upright  and  spreading 
tree  is  adopted ;  on 
light  land  12ft.  to  15ft. 
is  enough.  The  best 
upright  -  growing  ..\pples 
are  Annie  Elizabeth, 
Bamack   Beauty,  EUison's 

Orange,  Hector  Macdonald,  Herring's  Seedling, 
Melrose  White  and  Worcester  Pearmain. — .A..  H. 
Pearson. 

V.M.H.     AWARDS. 

T  HAVE  been  connected  with  horticulture  for 
the  major  part  of  half  a  century  and  have 
personally  known  most  of  the  eminent  men  con- 
nected with  it.  and  am  not  surprised  to  find  that 
dissatisfaction  exists  concerning  the  bestowal  of 
this  distinction.  At  the  most,  the  V.M.H.  is  merely 
a  society's  medal,  awarded  by  a  little  circle,  whose 
acquaintance  with  horticulture  must  necessarily  be 
limited  and  in  a  great  measure  limited  to  that  part 
of  it  which  immediately  concerns  the  R.H.S. 
What  the  determining  factors  are  that  govern 
the  Council's  decisions  in  awarding  the  medal  to 
certain  persons  no  one  outside  that  body  can  tell. 
But,  Mr.  Editor,  without  mentioning  names,  for 
there  is  no  need  in  discussing  a  principle  to  cause 
pain  to  any  one  of  the  sixty-three  elect  there  is  one 
person  holding  the  V.M.H.  whom  I  have  never 
seen,  never  heard  meationed  by  anybody  in  the 
horticultural  world  and  have  never  known  wnat 
he  did  or  seen  his  name  in  print  except  in  the  list 
of  V.M.H.  holders.  What  has  this  ge.itleman,  who 
is  absolutely  unknown  to  thousands  of  gardeners 
and  horticulturists,  done  that  he  should  have 
been  deemed  worthy  of  this  special  distinction  ? 
There  is  a  great  deal  of  horticulture  outside  the 
R.H.S.,  perhaps  infinitely  more  than  the  Council 
in  its  corporate  capacity  has  any  idea  of,  but  those 
who  run  the  machine,  as  you  pointedly  put  it,  seem 
to  be  especially  favoured.  "  Scrutator  "  (page  132), 
says,  "  it  is  only  fair  to  point  out  that  the  Council 
are  not  unduly  generous  to  themselves."  That  is, 
beyond  any  question,  purely  a  matter  of  opinion, 
considering  that  practically  one-fourth  of  the  total 
number  of  V.M.H. 's,   or  to  be  precise,   fifteeo   of 


them,  have  been  bestowed  upon  members  of  the 
Council  and  officers,  as  appears  by  the  title  page 
to  this  year's  List  of  Fellows.  Mr.  John  Fraser  is 
not  "  a  Show  Bird  "  occupying  some  prominent 
honorary  position,  but  a  diligent,  painstaking 
journalistic  worker  of  many  years  experience.  He 
has  rendered  valuable  service  to  horticulture  in  a 
way  that  has  seldom  been  recognised  by  the 
R.H.S.  and  therefore  his  present  appointment  has 
been  received  by  his  many  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances with  the  utmost  satisfaction. — Senex. 

A  DISTINCT  ALMOND  .\ND  THE 

"BLACK  APRICOT." 

T  SEND  you  a  photograph  of  a  very    fine    and 

distinct  Almond  from  one  of  two  large   trees 
in  Mr.  H.  E.  Richardson's  garden,  Shankill  County, 


A   BEAUTIFUL   CRIMPED-PETALLED    PALE-FLOWERED   VARIETY 
OF  THE   ALMOND. 


Dublin.  The  flowers  are  very  open,  much  larger 
and  of  better  substance  than  the  ordinary  Almond, 
pale  pink  inside  the  edges,  wavy,  and  of  a  lovely 
shell-pink  shade.  They  measure  ijins.  across. 
The  branch  from  which  the  spurs  photographed 
were  taken  has  been  cut  exactly  a  fortnight,  and  is 
stiU  fresh,  unlike  most  .Almonds  the  blossoms  of 
which  drop  quickly  when  cut.  These  fine  trees  are 
probably  about  thirty-five  or  forty  years  old. 
Unfortunately  for  envious  beholders,  they  cover 
every  spur  with  flower  buds  and  make  very  few 
free  shoots  suitable  for  propagation. 

When  I   opened  my   March    4th   copy    of  The 
Garden  and  read  the  verse,  "  March  Morning"  : 

"  Four  comers  to  my  garden  span, 
Four  almond  trees  in  bloom. 
What  should  I  ask  of  God  or  Man  ? 
My  heart  has  no  more  room  !  " 

I  saw  plainly  that  Miss  Friedlaender  has  never  seen 
Prunus  dasycarpa  or  she  would  expand  her  heart 
to  take  it  in.  Of  all  the  white-flowered  Prunus 
I  say  confidently  there  is  none  to  approach  or  excel 
this  beautiful  tree.  It  is  commonly  called  in 
nurseries,  I  am  told,  the  Black  .Apricot,  but 
unfortunately,  it  does  not  seem  common  in  gardens 
or  nurseries.  The  tree  here  came  from  M.  Simon 
Louis  of  Metz.  It  is  a  middle-sized  tree,  and 
bends  gracefully,  showing  smooth,  slender  branches. 
The  leaves,  which  have  not  yet  appeared  this  season, 
are  oval  and  rough.  The  sepals  in  bud  state  are 
reddish,  the  flowers,  borne  on  short  stalks,  when 
fully  open  are  lin.  across.  The  great  merit  and 
beauty  of  Prunus  dasycarpa  are  its  lasting  quahties 
and  the  substance  and  purity  of  its  petals.  A  few 
branches  cut  when  in  bud  placed  in  water  give 
great  pleasure,  watching  it  opening  from  the  bright 
reddish  sepals  of  the  solid  white  buds  to  the  fuUy 


156 


THE    GARDEN. 


[April  i,  1922. 


expanded  flower.  Its  quality  and  texture  in 
comparison  with  Prunus  communis  is  as  that  of  the 
best  Irish  popHn  to  the  thinnest  of  pongee  silk. 
The  tree  in  this  garden  has  not  borne  fruit  which  is 
described  as  being  dark  purple  with  a  tawny 
austere  flesh.  Its  native  country  is  unknown. — 
W.  Phylis  Moore,  Glasnevin. 

[Some  sprays  in  tlie  bud  state  which  Lady 
Moore  sent  for  the  Editor's  table,  unfolded  rapidly 
when  placed  in  water  and  were  almost  all  ex- 
panded the  following  morning.  The  blossom 
certainly  deserves  her  encomiums, — Ed.] 

THE  MAIDEN  PINK. 

nPHE  species  of  Dianthus  are  so  numerous  and  the 
botanical  differences  so  fine  in  some  cases 
that  their  distinctions  often  are  not  readily 
discernible.  On  page  133.  under  the  heading  of 
"  An  Easy  and  Fragrant  Plant,"  a  question  is 
asked  as  to  the  difference  between  the  Maiden  Pink 
(Dianthus  deltoides)  and  D.  graniticus.  The  first 
named  has  stems  with  short  branches  near  the  top, 
each  ending  in  a  single  flower,  rarely  two,  and  they 
(the  flowers)  always  have  a  short  stalk  above  the 
uppermost  pair  of  leaves.  The  five  petals  are 
rather  widely  separated,  never  touching  one  another 
by  their  edges,  and  have  a  transverse  purple  line 
at  the  base,  with  some  purple  spots  on  a  white 
ground  above  this.  D.  graniticus  has  never  more 
than  one  or  two  flowers  on  a  stem,  and  both  are 
surrounded  by  the  uppermost  pair  of  leaves, 
without  a  stalk.  The  flower^  are  smaller,  the 
petals  touch  one  another  by  their  edges  and  there 
are  no  spots.  These  are  the  broad  distinctions, 
but  there  are  others,  for  the  two  are  widely 
separated  botanically  and  belong  to  different 
sections.  When  both  are  growing  freely  it  will 
be  seen  that  D.  deltoides  has  branching  stems, 
which  D.  graniticus  never  has.  They  could  only 
be  connected  by  hybridisation. — J.  F. 

THE_HARDY  CITRUS. 

T  WAS  much  interested  in  the  article  on  Citranges 
in  Ireland  which  appeared  in  your  issue  of 
March  4,  Although  the  Citrange  has  a  disagree- 
able flavour  when  eaten  raw,  I  would  suggest 
that  if  treated  like  its  relatives,  the  Citron  and 
the  Kumquat,  and  placed  in  brine  for  a  week 
or  two,  then  boiled  and  treated  with  syrup,  it 
would  form  a  delicious  preserve,  C.  trifohata 
has,  I  believe,  proved  of  greater  service  as  a  stock 
to  graft  on  than  for  hybridisation.  I  wish  to 
draw  attention  to  the  fact  that  C.  trifoliata  has 
proved  perfectly  hardy  in  the  Eastern  Counties. 
A  tree  about  12ft.  in  height,  which  grows  in  the 
open  at  the  Botanic  Garden,  Cambridge,  with- 
stood 30°  of  frost  last  year,  and  in  the  following 
spring  it  was  covered  with  white  fragrant  blossom, 
and  the  abundant  fruit  which  followed  ripened 
well.  I  believe  that  if  its  hardy  constitution 
and  decorative  appearance  were  more  generally 
known  it  would  be  far  more  often  seen  in  our 
English  gardens.  At  any  rate,  there  is  no  need 
for  it  to  be  confined  to  Ireland  or  our  Western 
seaboard  when  it  may  be  seen  growing  in  chilly 
Cambridgeshire  to  perfection. — H.  H.  Warner. 
Eaii  Herts. 

[Citrus  trifoliata  is  probably  hardier  than  the 
Laurel,  but  its  lack  of  popularity  seems  not  difficult 
of  explanation.  It  is  due  to  the  unfortunate 
fact  that,  in  ordinary  situations,  it  seldom  flowers, 
and  yet  more  seldom  fruits. — Ed.] 

ALPINES  AND  ELEVATION. 

AN  interesting  question  is  raised  by  H.  Stuart 
Thompson  on  page  132  when  speaking  of 
alpines  which  he  has  found  at  varying  elevations 
on  different  ranges  of  mountains.  The  question 
is  that  some  plants  ascend  to  greater  elevations 
on   the  high   Swiss   Alps  than  they   do  on  lower 


ranges  of  more  southern  mountains,  and  that 
they  descend  to  lower  elevations  on  the  latter. 
The  suggestion  that  the  ground  of  the  high  Alps 
is  wanner  than  the  air  is  no  doubt  one  reason. 
Another  may  be  that  the  ground  of  the  high  Alps 
is  covered  for  a  greater  part  of  the  year  with  snow 
than  is  the  case  on  more  southern  ranges  of 
mountains.  1  would  suggest  a  third  reason, 
namely,  that  many  alpines  in  Britain  do  not 
ascend  to  the  top  of  the  mountains,  but  choose 
a  place  lower  down  where  they  can  get  a  more 
continuous  supply  of  moisture  and.  at  the  same 
time,  get  shelter  from  the  hurricanes  of  wind 
which  frequently  prevail.  This  is  particularly 
noticeable  in  the  case  of  such  alpine  Willows  as 
SaUx  lanata,  S.  Myrsinites  and  S.  Lapponum. 
These  may  often  be  near  the  edges  of  perpendicular 
rocks  or  otherwise,  but  always  where  they  get  a 
considerable  drainage  from  higher  ground.  The 
driest  situation  where  I  have  found  Saxifraga 
oppositifolia  was  on  the  peak  of  the  Brecknock 
Beacons  at  an  altitude  of  2,910ft.  On  dripping 
or  moist  rocks  of  the  old  red  sandstone  on  the 
shores  of  the  Mr  ray  Firth  I  have  seen  it  at  soft, 
above  the  sea  and  lower.  In  the  shelter  of  rocks 
by  the  crater-like  top  of  Ben  Lawers  it  grows  and 
flowers  freely  early  in  June.  This  mountain 
is  3,984ft.  high.  Sedum  roseum  is  abundant 
below  the  tops  of  many  of  the  Breadalbane 
Mountains,  but  is  plentiful  near  sea  level  on  the 
Moray  Firth.  Silene  maritima  and  Armeria 
maritima  behave  in  the  same  way. — Hortulanus. 

GARDENING     PROVERBS. 

T    AM    sending    you    a    gardener's    alphabet    of 

proverbs,     from     a     page     of     grandfather's 
gardening  notes. — L.   E.   T. 
Autumn-sown  annuals  flower  soonest  and  strongest. 

What  you  sow  in  spring,  sow  often  and  thin. 
Bulbs  bought  early  are  best  chosen.     If  you  wish 

your  Tulips  to  wake  up  gay.  they  must  be  all 

be  in  bed  by  Lord  flavor's  Day. 
"  Cut  my  leaves  this  year,  and  you  won't  cut  my 

flowers  next  year,"  said  the  Daffodil  to  Tabitha 

Tidy.     Cut  a   Rose  for  your  neighbour,  and  it 

will  tell  two  buds  to  blossom  for  you. 
Don't  let  me  forget  to  pray  for  travellers  when 

I  thank  Heaven  I'm  content  to  stay  in  my  own 

garden.     It  is  furnished  from  the  ends  of  the 

earth. 
Enough   comes   out   of   anybody's   old   garden   in 

autumn  to  stock  a  new  one  for  somebody  else. 

But  you  want  sympathy  on  one  side,  and  sense 

on   the   other,    and   they   are   rarer   than   most 

perennials. 
Flowers  are  like  gentlemen — "  Best  everj'where." 
Give  Mother  Earth  plenty  of  food  and  she'll  give 

you  plenty  of  flowers. 
He  who  can  Tcccp  what  he  gets,  and  multiply  what 

he  has  got,  should  always  buy  the  best  kinds  ; 

and  he  who  can  do  neither  should  buy  none. 
If  nothing  else  accounts  for  it,  ten  to  one  there's 

a  worm  in  the  pot. 
Jobbing  gardeners  aie  sometimes  neat,  and  if  they 

leave  their  rubbish  behind  them,  the  Hepaticas 

may  turn  up  again 
Known   sorts  before   new  sorts,   if   your   list   has 

limits. 
Leave  a  bit  behind  you — for  conscience's  sake — 

if  it's  only  Polypodium  vulgaris. 
Mischief  shows  in  the  leaves,  but  lies  at  the  root. 
North  borders  are  warmest  in  winter. 
Old  women's  window-plants  have  guardian  angels. 
Pussy-cats  have  nine  lives   and  some  pot-plants 

have  more  ;    but  both  do  die  of  neglect. 
Quaint,  gay,  sweet,  and  good  for  nosegays,  is  good 

enough  for  my  garden. 
Rubbish  is  rubbish  when  it  lies  about — compost 

when  it's  all  of  a  heap — and  food  for  flowers 

when  it's  dug  in. 


Sow  thick,  and  you'll  have  to  thin  ;  but  sow  Peas 
as  thick  as  you  please. 

Tree-leaves  in  the  garden,  and  tea-leaves  in  the 
parlour,  are  good  for  mulching. 

"  Useful  if  ugly,"  as  the  toad  said  to  the  Lily 
when  he  ate  the  grubs. 

Very  little  will  keep  Jack  Frost  out— before  he 
gets  in. 

Water  your  Rose  with  the  slop-pail  wher  it's  in 
bud,  and  you'll  be  asked  the  name  of  it  when 
it's  in  flower. 

Xeranthemum.  Rhodanthe,  Helichrysum,  white, 
yellow,  purple  and  red.  Grow  us,  cut  us,  and 
hang  us  with  drooping  head.  Good  Christians 
all,  find  a  nook  for  us,  for  we  bloom  for  the 
Chmch  and  the  Dead. 

You  may  find  more  heart' s-ease  in  your  garden 
than  grows  in  the  Pansy-bed. 

Zinnia    elegans    flore-pleno    is    a    showy    annual, 
and  there's  a  coloured  picture  in  the  catalogue, 
but — like  many  other  portraits — it's  a  favour- 
able likeness. 
[The  above  shows  that  there  were  good  gardeners 

long   ago,   though   one   takes   grave   exception   to 

"  Sow  Peas  as  thick  as  you  please."- — Ed.] 

CLUB    ROOT    IN    CABBAGES. 

TS  it  possible  still  to  procure  *'  Seride,"  the 
preparation  which  some  seven  years  ago  was 
recommended  in  The  Garden  as  a  preventive 
against  "  Club  "  ?  I  found  this  entirely  satis- 
factory and  used  to  procure  it  from  a  Watford 
cliemist,  but  am  now  unable  to  get  into  com- 
munication with  him.  If  any  reader  can  assist 
me  I  shall  be  most  grateful. — C. 

A    LITTLE- GROVra    PLANT. 

T  S.AW  a  clump  of  a  charming  plant  in  flower 
last  September  in  Mr.  Samuel's  garden  at 
Wrexham,  where  I  had  been  taken  by  a  friend 
to  see  his  one  year  old  Delphiniums  in  bloom. 
He  told  me  its  name  was  Bidens  dahlioides,  so 
when  I  got  home  I  tried  to  look  it  up  in  my 
gardening  books  ;  but  one  after  the  other  they 
were  drawn  blank  until  I  came  to  Bailey's  big 
American  Dictionary,  and  there  it  was  just 
mentioned  as  a  sort  of  fortnote  at  the  end  of 
the  article  "  Bidens,"  which  means  that  not  very 
much  is  known  about  it.  In  despair  I  took  "  My 
Garden  in  Summer"  down.  Of  course,  I  should 
have  done  so  before.  What  books  those  three 
volumes,  "  My  Garden  in  Spring,"  "  My  Garden 
in  Summer"  and  "  My  Garden  in  Autumn,"  are  I 
They  are  vade-mecums  for  nearly  everything  that 
is  good  for  garden  decoration  in  the  hardy  plant 
line.  Mr.  Bowles,  their  author,  is  a  very  fine 
flower  painter,  and  he  1  as  an  eye  for  floral  arrange- 
ments indoors.  To  this,  possibly,  we  owe  the 
mention  of  Bidens  dahlioides.  He  says  it  is  very 
pretty,  particularly  the  white  variety.  Mr. 
Samuel,  at  all  events,  prizes  it  highly  as  a  cut 
flower,  especially  when  mixed  with  Gypsophila. 
Incidentally,  I  have  found  in  my  search  for 
dahlioides  that  the  genus  Bidens  is  one  of  the 
happy  dumping  grounds  of  the  botanical  classifi- 
cationalist ;  or  perhaps  it  should  be  called  an 
eclectic  conglomeration  of  species  of  pronounced 
cuckoo-like  propensities.  That  there  is  some 
ground  for  these  animadversions  may  be  gleaned 
from  the  pages  of  a  modern  gardening  dictionary, 
wherein  we  find  that  one  species  once  a  Bidens 
is  now  a  Dahlia,  and  that  two  which  were  once  upon 
a  time,  the  one  a  Cosmos  and  the  other  a  Coreopsis, 
are  now  Bidenses.  One  can  see  in  a  dim  way 
the  method  of  these  changes.  The  lar.ge,  pinnate 
bushy  foliage  suggests  a  Dahlia  ;  the  thin,  wiry 
stems  a  Coreopsis  and  the  blush  flowers  a  Cosmos. 
Bidens  dahlioides  is  an  excellent  plant  to  grow 
for  cutting  in  September. — Joseph  Jacob, 


PRIL  I,    1922.] 


THE    GARDEN 


BORDER 
CARNATIONS 

You  .MUST  plant  now  if  you 
are  to  get  the  best  results  this 
year.  We  have  superb  stocks 
of  all  the  leading  varieties  for 
immediate  delivery  tx  3i  in. 
pots.  The  undermentioned 
collections  are   available   at — 

CARRIAGE    AND 

PACKING    PAID    PRICES 

for  Cash  with  Order. 


.  8L/a.      6  distinct  varieties S(-  1 

SLi'b.     \i        ..  15/- 

SLlc.     50  plants  in  variety  ...    55/-  ,'- 

SL/d.  100  plants  in  12  best 

standard  varieties      ...  100/-  / 

ALLWOODI  I. 


carriage 
and 

packing 
paid. 


Z^C^r^^-cC^^^^ 


iThe  New  Hardy  Plant.) 

^ink  and  half  Carnation,  grows  anywhere,  and  flowers 
tually  from   Spring  to  Winter.     The  undermentioned 
tions  are  available  at 
triage  and  Packing  Paid  Prices  for  Cash  with  Order. 

'4o.  9L/a.  6  distinct  varieties       5/6 

9L/b.  9  ..  ..  7/6 

9Li'c.  12       ..  ..         (including  I     carriage 

1921  Novelties) 12/6  1        and 

9L/d.  25  plants  in  variety     21/- f    packing 

9L/e.  100      ..  75/-  paid. 

9L/f.    6    Novelties,  1922  varieties, 

our  selection 21/-/ 

CULTURAL  BOOKLET— 6d.  post  iree. 
Catalogue  willingly  sent  post  free  on  request. 

When  you  think  of  Carnations  you  think  of 

The  leading 

Cartuttion  Raisers  & 

specialists  in  the 

World. 

pt.    4.    HAYWARDS     HEATH,    SUSSEX. 


KING'S  Acre 


Hardy  Herbaceous  &  Border 

PLANTS  and  VIOLAS  for  Spring 
Planting.  A  reliable  and  exten- 
sive  stock    of 

Plants 

Uluitraled    Catalogue    and    any     in/ormaiion 
required  jree  on  request   to 

King's   Acre    Nurseries 
HEREFORD.  ^*^ 


young,   vigorous 


i^i^ 


THE  IDEAL  GARDEN 

is  one  which  is  picturesque,  yet  restful. 
A  Garden  of  Stone  and  Geraniums  may 
be  striking,  but  it  is  neither  natural  nor 
economical.  A  Garden  of  HARDY 
PERENNIALS  may  be  made  one  of 
the  most  beautiful  and  satisfying  sights 
in  the  world.  It  is  also  economical  to 
plant  and  to  maintain. 

We  have  a  large  stock  of  strong. flowering 

plants,  and  shall  be  pleased  to  send  our 

descriptive  Catalogue,  free  on  application. 

PUNTING  MAY  BE  DONE  NOW   AND  THROUGH 

APRIL  AND  MAY. 

"QOOD     VALUE"     COLLECTIONS. 

Graceful  in  habit.     Beautiful  in  Colouring. 

25    in    25    fine  varieties,    named,    for    14 

50    in    2,'!      ,. 

100    in    SO      .. 

Carriane  Paid. 
12  fine  named  Bush  Roses.  Carr.  Paid 
12  ..  Climhinrt     ., 

THE     BARNHAM     NURSERIES,     LIMITED, 

BARNHAM,     SUSSEX. 


25/ 

4S/- 


21/- 
21/. 


Cheaper  Manuring  for  the  Garden. 

Dung  is  becoming  scarce  and  dear, 
therefore  help  the  soil  with 

NITRATE  of  SODA 

and  save  labour  and  money. 

After  only  one  week  you  can  see  the  effect  on  LAWNS,  FLOWERS  AND 

VEGETABLES    which    have    been    fertilised    with    Nitrate    of    Soda,   an 

inexpensive  chemical,  for  sale  everywhere. 

Write  for  pamphlet,  entitled:  "  Successful  Gardens  for  Every  Amateur," 

supplied  gratis  and  post  free,  by 

THE  CHILEAN  NITRATE  COMMITTEE,  Friars  House,  New  Broad  St.,  London,  E.G.  2. 


LAWNS 

Of  GOOD   RICH  COLOUR    and    FINE  TEXTURE 

for  the  Spring  can  be  obtained  by  using 

Lawn  Manure,  Moss  Killer, 

Sward   Restoring  Compost, 

or    Lawn    Sand    and     Daisy 

Killer,  etc. 

If  you  will  forward  particulars  of  the  condition  of 
your  Lawn — mossy  or  weedy — subsoil,  etc.,  we  shall 
be  pleased  to  senj  you   ADVICE    BY   POST  FREE. 

Wm.  WOOD  &  SON,  Ltd.,  Taplow,  Bucks. 


CAU  L  I  FLONA/E  R 

"MAY    QUEEN." 

The  fastest  growing,  quickest  heading  variety  in  exIsteriTe. 
Planted  in  March,  large  white  heads  may  he  cut  during  May 
and  Jun<;.  Autumn-sown  plants.  3/6  per  100:  500  for  16/-; 
per  1. 000.  30/-.    Carriage  paid,  « ith  Cultural  Hints. 

Seed,    to    sow  for  succession.   1/fl   and  2/6  per  pacUet. 

DANIELS    &     SON, 

Dept.     G.     WYMONDHAM.     NORFOLK. 


CARNATIONS 

Why  pay  high  railway  rates? 

TRY     MY 

Parcel  Post  Collections. 


PLANTS  OUT  OF  H  INCH  POTS. 

20  in  20  varieties 15/- 

50  in  50  varieties   ...         ...     35/- 

100  in   100  varieties 70/- 

AIl   Free    by    Post. 


Descriptive  Catalogue  free  on  application. 

C.  ENGELMANN, 

Carnation   Grower, 
SAFFRON      NA/ALDEN. 


Choice   Autumn-Flowering 

GLADIOLI 


Extra   Fine  Bulbs.        Post 

Free. 

Per  doz. 

Per  100 

America,  bright  lilac-rose,  extra    .. 

2/6 

17/6 

Baron   Hulot,  rich  indigo  blue 

2/6 

17/6 

Brenchleyensis,  vermilion  scarlet.. 

2/6 

176 

Empress  of  India,  purplish  crimson 

2/6 

176 

Glory  of  Holland,  pure  white 

26 

17/6 

Golden  West,  orange  scarlet 

2/6 

17/6 

Halley,  delicate  salmon  pink 

2/3 

15/- 

Hollandia  (Salmon    Brenchleyensis) 

2/6 

17/6 

Loveliness,  creamy  white     ... 

2/6 

17/6 

Panama,  lovely  pink  ...         

3/- 

20/- 

Schwaben,  soft  vellow          

2/6 

17  6 

Hybrids  Childsii        

1/6 

10/6 

,,         Gandavensis          

1/6 

10/6 

,,         Lemoine's   ... 

16 

10/6 

,,         Primulinus... 

19 

ater 

12/6 

Wm.  POWER  &  Co.,  W 

ford, 

Seedmepchants    and    Nupserymen. 

NETS. 


NEW    GARDEN    NETS.— For  Fruit   Protection.      Square 

and  Oinmond  Mesh.     All  kinds  and  sizes. 
TENNIS  BOUNDaKY   NETS.— .All  widths  and  lengths. 
TENNIS   NETa.— Various  qualities. 
REPAIRED  NETS.— All  sizes. 

Nets    for    all    purposes. 
Samples  and  Prices  on  application  to  Manufacturers  : — 

SCARBOROUGH  SHIPPING  SUPPLY  STORES,  Ltd., 

12,     Sandside,   SCARBOROUQH. 


3" 


SCOTCH     SEEDS 

DEVELOP 

HARDY  PLANTS. 


BOOKLET      FREE      WITH 
FULL  CULTURAL   XOTES. 


6" 


McHAniE&Go. 


Dept.  No  9. 

The     Scotch 
Seed    Hols  I. 


CHESTER 


Beautiful  Hardy  Flowers 

ARTINDALE'S  New  Illustrated  Catalogue 

NOW  READY.         POST  FREE. 

Wm.  ARTINDALE  &  SON,  Nether  Green,  Sheffield. 


HERBERT'S  NEW  PrNKS 

THE      FINEST     EVER      RAISED 
Have    received    Four   Awards   of   Merit  and   Medals. 

I  was  also  personally  congratulated  by  Their  Majesties  the 

King  and  Queen  at  the  R  H.S    Show.  Chelsea.  May  24th,  19il. 

Price    List    free    on    application. 

C.    H.    HEIRBERT,   Nurseryman 

ACOCKS     GREEN,     BIRMINGHAM. 


VI. 


THE     GARDEN. 


SEED  POTATOES 

Scotch  and  Yorkshire  Grown. 

ALL  THE    LEADING  VARIETIES. 
No  Better  Stocks  Obtainable. 


Send    for    Catalogue. 


ISAAC  POAD  &  SONS,  Ltd., 
Seed  Potato  Merchants,  YORK. 


[April  i,  1922 


34th    SEASON. 


5  MILLION  YARDS  OF  STRONG  STEEL  WIRE 

{2$.   S.W.G.)  black  enamelled  on  neat  reels  of   1   milt  each. 
10/-  per  mile.     Also 

1  MILLION  LABELS  of  bard  compressed  fibre,  with 
string  tie.  almost  indestructible,  can  be  tied  or  nailed  on  to 
anything.  Bag  of  500  for  5/-,  or  1,000  for  81-.  The  above 
are  Govt,  surplus  and  invaluable  to  gardeners  and  others. 
Sent  carriage  paid  on  receipt  of  Cash  with  Order. 
Headveils  for  Bee-Keepers,    1  /9  each. 

F.  Barnes  Brand  &Co.,  ^s^'treet':'^  Westminster,  S.W.I. 

Somerset  County  Agricultural  Association 

HORTICULTURAL    SECTION. 


MRS.  PYM'S  FAMOUS  PLANT! 

GOOD     AND     CHEAP. 


SPECIAL  OFFER  of  good,  strong,  sturdy  plants.      Should  be  planted  now  for  success:      Half 
same  rate.     All  post  free  or  carriage  paid,  passenger  train.     Cash  with  order.     Catalogue  free. 

4d.  extra  for  orders  under  3s. 


SHOW  AT  BRIDGWATER 

On    MAY    17th    &  18th,     1922. 

Trade  Growers  and  others  are  invited  to  stage 
attractive  displays  of  their  specialities.  Medals, 
Certificates  and  Monetary  Awards.  For  particulars 
and  copy  of  Schedule  apply  to  the  Honorary 
Secretary  Horticultural  Section  : 

C.    W.    BALSOM,   5,   Cranleigh  Gardens,    Bridgwater. 


A.  F.  DAVEY,  Secretary   S.C.A.A., 

13,  Hammet  Street,  Taunton. 


CELEBRATED   KING'S   NORTON    LOAM 

for  Roses,  Carnations,  Chrysanthemums,  Tomatoes,  etc. 
Full  fibre,  top  spit,  for  immediate  use  or  stacking.  ROLLED 
TURF,  Lump  and  Ground  LIME,  Derbyshire  DOLOMITE 
Matlock  Spa  TUFA,  ROCKERY  STONE,  Yorkshire  CRAZY 
FLAGS,  Rock  Gardens  laid  out.  Crazy  Paving  laid. 
Experienced  men. 

E.    R.   CELL,   Ltd.,   Merchants  &  Contractors, 

KING'S      NORTON. 


HORTA 

Fertilisers  &  Insecticides. 


HAREN  (Belgium). 

High  Pressure  Liquid  Sprayers, 

le  FORTUNE  HORTA' 

J    gallon    hand     sprayer,    4    gallons 

sprayer  to  carry  on  back,  17  gallons 

sprayer  on  wheeling  carrier. 

May  be  used  with   extension  lance. 

Practical  —  Strong  —  Cheap. 


Price  List  sent  free  of  charge. 


Strong  vegetable  plants,  wintered  in  open  :  Cabbage, 
Leeks,  Tripoli  Onions,  Coleworts,  Pickling  Cabbage,  Cos 
and  Cabbage  Lettuce,  P-Tpcaiai  Spinach,  lon.  1 19.  Rhubarb, 
l-"-st  nam' (1,  nd,  6.  1,'6.  Sage,  Thyme,  Mint,  Marioram, 
6.  1/6.  Parsley,  best  curkd,  12,  1/4.  Cauliflower,  --trunL', 
transplantid,  wintered  in  frames,  20,  1/6  ;  50,  3/-.  Asparagus, 
cnl'ssitl  and  plan  ,  strong  2  year  old  roots,  50,  4/- ;    100,  7/0. 

HARDY  PERENNIALS,  very  stroDii,  transplanted,  to 
flow'T  tliis  yt'ar.  Best  strains  procuraMe.  Achillea,  Perry's 
double  -white,  3,  1/6.  Aconitum.  handsome  nt-\v  larirc  Jlnwerii'i^, 
named,  3,  1/6.  Aster  ai]'iiiiis,  rare  lovely  rocktry  plants, 
2.  1/4.  Agrostemma,  erini-i.n,  6,  1/6.  Alstroemer'ia,  Peru- 
vinn  FUimi  Flower,  2, 1/4.  Alyssum,  i;old  dust,  6, 1/6.  Alpine 
Wallflowers,  20,  1/6.  Alpine  Pinks,  12,  1/9.  Anchusa 
iiaiiia,  nri.pmore,  lovely  blue.  6,  1/9;  Anchusa  aniustifolia, 
ttue  deep  bhu',  6,  1/6.  Anemone  japonica,  pink  or  white, 
2.1/4.  Anemone  Pulsatilla,  a  most  beautiful  spriniz  tlowrinti 
l.ardy  pen  unial  followed  by  handsome  fruit,  2,  1/4.  Anthemis 
montaiia,6, 1/9.  Aquilegia,  Kelway's  liybrids.  6,  3/4.  Arabis, 
double  white,  6, 1/6.  Aubrietia,  richpun^le,  6,  1/6.  Auriculas, 
lovely  alpine  varieties,  4,  1/6.  Antirrhinums,  btisliy  plants, 
lovely  new  colours,  6,  1/4.  Brompton  Stocks,  lai'ge,  yar 
old.  6,  1/6.  Christmas  Roses,  large  crowns,  l/4i'acb.  Cam- 
panulas, blue  or  white  dwarf  or  tall.  3.  1/4.  Campanula 
pyramidalis,  2  year  old,  3,  1/6.  Canterbury  Bells,  sinele, 
blue,  pink,  mauve,  wlute,  or  bean's  izrand  hybrids,  12,  1/9  ; 
double,  6,  1/6.  Candytuft,  perennial.  3.  1/6.  Carnations, 
irood  boraer,  6,  1/6;  separate  colours,  white,  y,  llo,v,  crimson, 
scarlet,  6,  1/fl;  Grenadin,  lovely  double  scarli't,  6,  1/9.  Cen- 
taurea  montana,  blue,  white  or  rosy  mauve,  6,  1/6.  Chrysan- 
themums, strong  rooted  cuttings,  best  early,  mid  and  lat,^,  all 
cfilours,  separate  or  mixed,  6,  1/6.  Cerastium,  12,  1/9. 
Cistus  (Rock  Rose),  6,  1/9.  Coreopsis  granditlora,  6,  1/4. 
Cornflowers,  Kelway's  blue,  12,  1  /6.  Daisies,  new  enormous 
double  blooms,  red  or  white,  splenuid  for  L<-ddinp,  12,  1/4; 
nuxed,  20.  1/6.  Delphiniums,  best  named,  large  2  year  old, 
2,  1/9.  Delphiniums,  grand  large  flowering  livbrids,  light 
or  dark  Hue,  year  old  plants,  3,  1/6.  Dianthus,  Kelway's 
lovely  double  or  single,  12,  1/6.  Dianthus,  creeping,  bright 
pink,  6,  1/4.  Dielytra,  Bleeding  Heart,  large  roots,  1,  1/4. 
Erigeron  (stenactis),  mauve  Margtierite,  4,  1/6.  Erigeron, 
new  Quakeress,  3,  1/6.  Erysimum,  Golden  Gem,  20,  1/6. 
Forget-me-nots,  hot  dwarf  blue,  peiennial  varieties,  12,  1/4. 
Funkia  subcordata  uninditlora  alba  (Corfu  Lily),  most  lovely, 
pure  white,  exijui-itely  fragrant  flowering,  prized  for  cuttinc. 
very  hantlsome,  large  glaucous  irreen  leaves,  3,  1/6.  Qaillardia 
grandillora,  6.  1/4.  Qalega  (Goat's  Rue),  6,  1/6.  Qladiolus, 
best  large  flowering,  12,  1/9.  Qeum  Mrs.  BradsbaM-,  lame 
double  scarlet.  2,  1/6.  Qeum,  scarlet,  4,  1/4.  Qaltonia, 
hardy  white  LUy,  long  stout  stems  covered  v\ith  waxy  Kll^, 
2,  1/4.  Qypsophila  panieulata,  6,  1/6.  Qypsophila,"  dwarf, 
12,  1/9.  Heuchera,  seariet,  4,  1/4.  Hollyhocks,  lovelv 
colours,  single,  6,  1/6;  double,  4,  1/6.  Honesty,  erimsoii 
and  white,  6.  1/4.  Iceland  Poppies,  Exeel.-ior  strain,  6,  1/4. 
Iris  g'Tmaniea,  separate  colours,  mauve,  whit,-,  blue,  purple, 
yellow,  3,  1/6.  Iris,  large  flag,  splendid  colours.  6,  1/6. 
Kniphofia,  handsome  Torch  Lily,  3,  1/6.  Linum  (Blue  Flax), 
12,  1/9.  Lily  of  the  Valley,  giant  variety,  soon  flower,  6,  1/6. 
Hardy  Lilies,  large,  «uange  red  ana  tawny,  3,  1/6.  Linaria 
dalmalica,  6.  1/6.  Lobelia  eardinalis,  4,  1/6.  Lupinus  poly- 
pliyllus,  pink,  white,  blue,  6,  1/6;  mixed,  12,  1/9.  Lupin, 
tree,  ycdlow  or  white,  3,  1/6.  Lychnis,  scarlet  chalcedonica 
or  Salmon  Queen,  6,  1/6.  Malva,  bright  pink,  6,  1/6. 
Monarda  (Bergamot),  Cambridge  seailet,  2,  1/4.  Mont- 
bretias,  new  varieties,  12,  1/6.  Panares,  best  large  flowering, 
and  separate  colours  for  bedding,  12.  1/6.  Papaver  pilosum, 
rieii  orange  blooms.  6,  1/6.  Phlox,  best,  large  flowerinL', 
mixed.  4,  1/6.  Phlox,  best  large  flowering,  all  colours,  3,  1/6 
P<BOnies,  separate  colours,  2,  1/6.  Pseonies,  nuxed,  3,  1/6. 
Poppy,  Oriental  Queen,  enormous  blooms,  6,  1/6.  Physalis 
(Giant  Cape  Gooseberry),  6,  1/6.  Pinks,  coloured  garden, 
12,  1/9.  Pinks,  double  white,  6,  1/6.  PoUntilla,  double 
crimson,  6,  1/6.  Primulas,  hardy  assorted,  for  succession  of 
bloom,  6,  1/6.  Pentstemon,  large  bushy  scarlet,  Southgate 
Gem  and  grand  ExceUijr  strain,  6,  1/9;  smaller  good  plants, 
6,  1/4.  Pyrethrum,  Kelway's,  6.  1/6.  Pyrethrum  James 
Kelway,  large  scarlet,  2,  1/4,  Pyrethrum,  double  red,  wliite, 
pink,     3,     1/6.     Rose    Campion,    bright    crimson,    6,     1/4. 


Rudbeckia  speciosa,  3,  1/6.  Saponaria,  pink  rockery,  6, 
Scabious,  Sweet,  12,  1/9.  Scabious  caucasica,  large  ma 
1  yc  ar  plants,  3,  1/6.  Silene  eompacta,  pink.  15,  1/6  Sta< 
(Lamb's  Wocl),  6,  1/4.  Star  of  Bethlehem,  6,  1/6.  St£ 
ISea  Lavender),  3,  1/6.  Sweet  Rocket,  12,  1/6.  S\ 
William,  double  and  sinttle  uiLxed,  lovely  colours  12 
Sweet  William,  lovely  scarlet,  pink,  and  Crimson  Bea 
6.  1/4.  Thistle  Queen  rt  Scots,  3,  1/6.  Thalictrum  <h: 
Maidenhair),  4,  1/6.  Tritoma  (Red-hot  Poker),  8, 
Tussilago  (liardy  winter  Heliotrope),  3,  1/6.  Verbasc 
tall,  6,  1/6.  Valerian,  crimson,  6,  1/6.  Veronica,  1 
4,  1/4.  Viola,  s.-parate  colours,  for  bedding,  and  good  mi 
12,  1/6.  Viola  cornuta,  mau\e,  purple,  blue  and  white  Qi 
masses  of  bloom  for  rockeiy,  etc.,  12,  1/9.  Violas,  strong  ro 
cuttings,  Maggie  Mott,  best  mauve;  King  Cup,  best  y»l 
■^^^ute  Swan,  best  white,  6,  1/6.  Sunflowers,  new  red,  3, 
Aster,  .Michaelmas  Daisy,  good  named  sorts,  3,  1/6.  Achil 
new  very  bright  Crimson  Queen,  3,  1/6.  Antirrhinu 
strong  autumn  sown  (not  transplanted),  12,  1/6.  Cental 
dealbata,  lovely  large  fringed  pink  flowers,  pretty  sil 
foliage,  3, 1/6.  Chinese  Pinks,  very  shoiw,  6, 1  /6.  Campai 
macrantha,  tall,  large  mauve  blooms,  3,  1/6.  Chelone  barl 
coral  red  lobster  flower,  3,  1/6.  Crucianella.  lovelv  for  rod 
dense  heads  of  pink  bloom,  6,  1/6.  Dianthus,  'rock  dv 
lovely  colours  for  rocb-ry,  6,  1/6.  Hypericum  (St.  Jo 
Wort  or  Host  of  Sharon),  large  yellow  llooms,  evergreen  gl 
foliage,  4,  1/6.  Incarvillea  iVlavayi  grandiflora,  beau 
large  Gloxinia-like  blooms,  handsome  toliaae,  3,  1/6.  ir 
glandulosa,   large   golden  yellow  flowers,   bold  and   handsc 

3,  1/6.     Lavender    bushes,    fragrant    old    English,    3, 
Japanese    Pinks,    very   pretty   colours,   6,    1/4.     Pyrethr 
Queen  .Mary,  large  double  rose  pink,  2,  1/4.    Oriental  Popp 
very  large    salmon    blooms,    large    plants,    3,    1/6.    Shii 
Poppies,   beautiful  art  shades,   6,   1/4.     Pansy   CX)quette 
Poissey,    beautiful   pale    mauve,    for   bedding,    12,    1/10. 
following   Primulas  are  quite  hardy,  thrive  best  in  damp  sii 
tions,  and  do  well  in  pots:    Primula  japonica,  4,    1/6. 
cortusoides,    bright     rosy    purple,    4,    1/6.      P.    Bulleya 
beautiful  sliades,  3,  1/6.     P.  pulverulenta,  rich  colours.  4, 
P.  denticulata  cashmiriana,  larje  heads,  light  puiple,  3, 
Rudbeckia  Golden  Ball,  double,  3,  1/6.     Perennial  Sunflowi 
Miss    Millish,   etc.,    6,    1/6.    Saxifraga,    mossy,  wliite,    pi 
crimson,  4,  1/4.     Rock  Roses,  tr.ails  of  lovely  coloured  flow 
rockery    gem.    6,    1/9.       Cheiranthus,     Siberian    WallfloT 
masses  of  bloom  all  summer,  20,  1/6. 

Strong  transplanted  plants  for  cool  houses  :  Agap: 
thus,  large  blue  African  I.Uy.  year  old  plants,  3,  1/4.  Agath 
(blue  Margtlerite),  4,  1/4.     Asparagus  Fern,  erect  or  trail 

4,  1/4.  Begonias,  scarlet,  eiimson  or  Salmon  Queen,  e' 
green,  perpetual  flowering,  6,  1/6.  Auriculas,  grand  la 
flowering,  show,  4,  1/6.  Cannas,  Crozv's  spl.  ndid  hybr 
large  2  year  old,  3,  1/6;  1  year,  4,  1/4.  Cinerarias,  exhibit 
and  stella.a,  6,  1/4.  Eucalyptus,  4,  1/4.  Francoa  (Bli 
Wreath),  6,  1/6.  Qloxinias,  grand,  large  flowering,  nac 
rctts,  2,  1/4.  Heliotrope,  very  large  heads,  fragrant  blo< 
4,  1/4.  Lobelia  eardinalis  Queen  Victoria,  4,  1/4.  Nicotiai 
white  ,ir  crimson  Tobacco.  4,  1/4.  Primula  malacoides  (ro 
lilac),  6,  1/6.  Primula  obconiea,  new,  giant,  lovely  colot 
4,  1/4.  Rehmannia,  pink  trumpet,  3,  1/6.  Salvia,  Seal 
Zurich,  4,  1/4.  Salvia,  scarlet  coccinea,  6,  1/4.  Saxifre 
Jlother  of  Thousands,  trailing,  4,  1/4.  Streptocarpus,  lov 
Cape  Primrose,  large  blooms,  lovely  colours,  4.  1/4.  Ara 
(Fig  Palm),  2,  1/4.  Cslaia  critica,  "pretty  spikes  of  yellow  s 
mauve  flowers,  4,  1/4.  Cyclamen,  choire  new  sorts,  3,  1 
Fuchsias,  choice  varieties,  3,  1/6.  Marguerites,  large  yell 
and  Covent  Garden  White,  4,  1/4.  Smilax,  trailing',  3,  ] 
Cordyline  Draetena  indivisa  Veitchii,  handsome  liardy  pal 
s.rong  3  year  old,  about  9ins.,  2,  1/6.  Tomatoes,  stro 
transplanted,  best  sorts,  6,  1/6. 

Hardy  Climbers.  Ampelopsis  VMtchii,  sel'-clinglng  \ 
ginia  creep t,  large  lOots,  .seviral  trails,  2/6  each.  Clema 
vitalba  ('1  raveller's  Joy),  rapid  grovwr,  lanie  rorts,  2/-  ea 
Calystegia,  double  pink,  Morning  Glory,  rapid  climber,  3  roc 
1/6.  Tropaeolum  speciosutn,  scarlet,  2,  1/6;  Apios  tuben 
rooted  Wistaria  (not  sinensis),  2,  1/4.  Passion  Flow 
hardy,  blue  and  white,  2,  1/6.  Peas,  eve^la^linL',  wliite,  r 
pink,  mixed,  large  roots,  3,  1/6.  Eccromocarpus,  trus: 
orange  flo-vers,  2,  1/4. 


MRS.    PYM,  F.R.H.S., 

10,    VINE    HOUSE,    WOODSTON,    PETERBOROUGH 


April  i, 


1922.J 


THE     GARDEN. 


157 


GARDENING     OF    THE     WEEK 


FOR     SOUTHERN    GARDENS. 

The  Kitchen  Garden. 
Asparagus. — Where  it  was  decided  to  plant 
new  beds,  the  preparation  of  them  will  have  been 
completed  as  advised  in  the  *'  Gardening  of  the 
Week"  of  February  4th.  Select  now  the  first 
favourable  opportunity  when  the  soil  is  in  good 
working  condition  to  get  the  planting  done.  If 
the  beds  are  made  from  3ft  to  4ft  wide,  it  wiU 
aUow  of  three  rows  of  plants  a  foot  apart;  this 
size  is  a  very  convenient  one  for  gathering  from. 
Among  several  good  varieties  to  choose  from. 
Giant  French  and  Conover's  Colossal  may  be  relied 
upon.  Roots  two  years  old  will  probably  be  the 
bert  for  planting  foi  general  purposes,  and  it  is 
most  essential  that  Asparagus  roots  be  exposed  as 
little  as  possible  to  the  air  while  planting  is  in 
progress. 

Potatoes. — -The  planting  of  the  earlier  varieties 
should  be  now  completed  as  soon  as  it  can  be 
arranged,  allowing  a  distance  of  from  :;oins.  to  3oins. 
between  the  rows  accoiding  to  the  vigout  of  the 
variety.  Wherever  the  soil  is  at  all  heavy  or  cold, 
line  the  channels  or  holes  with  decayed  leaf  soil 
before  placing  the  sets  theiern.  If  moie  convenient 
to  arrange  the  planting  of  tfe  mid-season  and  late 
varieties  now  there  is  no  reason  why  this  should  not 
be  done,  but  allow  more  room  between  the  rows. 

Peas  and  Broad  BeanS.^The  quantities  re- 
quired to  be  sown  at  intervals  of  every  few  weeks 
will  depend  upon  the  demands  of  the  establish- 
ment. It  is  essential  for  a  sowing  of  Peas  to 
be  made  every  three  weeks  to  keep  up  a  continuous 
supply.  Both  Peas  and  Beans  delight  in  a  good 
depth  of  well  worked  soil,  but  give  the  site  which 
has  the  strongest  soil  to  the  Beans.  Peas  should 
alwa>'s  be  staked  when  a  few  inches  high. 

Marrow  Beds. — -Where  such  material  as  leaves 
and  stable  litter  can  be  spared,  a  good  heap  should 
now  be  got  together  in  readiness  for  these  plants 
It  is  a  good  plan  to  sow  some  seeds  in  pots  indoors 
and  grow  them  along,  planting  out  when  large 
enough  and  weU  hardened  off,  and  also  to  sow 
direct  into  positions  on  the  bed,  placing  two  or 
three  seeds  under  a  hand  light.  Where  space  is 
limited  and  it  is  inconvenient  to  arrange  for  the 
trailing  varieties,  the  bush  varieties  give  excellent 
results. 

Seeds  of  Brassicas  to  be  got  in  now  include  a 
further  sowing  of  Cauliflower,  Cabbage,  Broccoli, 
more  Brussels,  also  an  early  sowing  of  Kale  and 
Savoys.  Sow  thinly  and  take  steps  to  protect 
seedlings  from  birds  as  soon  as  they  are  through 
the  soil.  Plants  fiom  eailier  sowings  of  several  of 
the  above  should  be  pricked  off  and  plant?d  out 
as  they  become  large  enough  to  be  handled. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Spring-flowering  Plants  are  benefited  by  a 
shallow  stirring  of  the  soil  and  this  also  checks 
the  seedling  weeds.  Attend  at  the  same  time,  if 
necessary,  to  the  edges  of  the  beds.  Where 
Hyacinths  are  used  for  bedding  purposes  such 
staking  as  is  necessary  must  be  seen  to.  Tall 
growing  Tulips,  too,  in  exposed  beds  may  need 
support ;  small  green  stakes  are  the  most  incon- 
spicuous to  use  for  this  purpose. 

Sweet  Peas. — Should  a  further  sowing  be 
necessary  it  should  be  done  at  once,  and  it  will 
repay  always  to  give  the  plants  a  rich  and  well 
worked  soil. 

Dahlias. — ^Any  increase  of  stock  required  may 
be  readily  obtained  either  by  cuttings  or  division 
of  the  roots.  For  the  former  method  the  old  plants 
should  be  introduced  into  medium  heat  and 
■sprayed  occasionally  when  plenty  of  young  growths 
will  soon  be  available.  Division  of  the  roots  may 
be  carried  out  either  before  the  plants  recommence 
their  growth  or  wlien  they  have  just  started. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Strawberries. — -if  a  light  forking  or  hoeing  has 
not  yet  been  given  it  should  be  done,  at  the  same 
time  removing  any  decayed  leaves.  Where,  on 
heavy  land,  owing  to  the  constant  rain,  any  intended 
spring  bed  has  not  been  planted,  it  is  not  too  late  to 
carry  the  work  out  now.  If  the  alpine  section  are 
grown,  a  bed  planted  now  will  with  careful  atten- 
tion, give  quite  good  results  towards  the  latter  end 
of  the  summer.  Should  a  further  increase  of 
these  be  required  it  is  easily  obtained  from  seed, 
a  method  which  is  preferred  by  some  growers. 
Sow  in  boxes  of  ligt  t  soil  and  as  soon  as  the  seed- 
lings are  large  enough,  prick  them  out  a  few  inches 
apart  on  a  shady  border  until  ready  to  plant  in 
theit    permanent   quarters.      For   this  section   put 


the  plants  a  foot  apart  in  double  rows,   allowing 
I  Sins,   between  the  rows. 

Fruits  Under  Glass. 
Disbudding    Peaches   and    Nectarines.^This 

work  should  be  commenced  as  soon  as  the  fruits 
are  nicely  set  and  the  young  shoots  have  begun 
to  show  increased  activity.  The  operation  was 
described  and  illustrated  in  The  Garden  for 
March  4.  The  disbudding  should  be  done  on  different 
occasions,  thus  minimising  the  danger  of  any 
sudden  check  by  the  removal  of  too  many  growths 
at  once.  F'irst  of  all  remove  those  growths  which 
are  badly  placed  and  those  that  are  entirely  on 
the  underside  of  the  branches.  The  two  essential 
growths  to  take  care  of  are  the  ones  chosen  eventu- 
ally to  form  the  basal  growth  and  the  leader.  The 
former,  furnishing  us  with  our  next  year's  fruiting 
wood,  is  sometimes  even  more  important  to  us  than 
a  leader,  for  the  general  use  of  a  leader  is  to  carry 
the  sap  up  to  nourish  any  fruits  there  may  be  on 
the  branch,  and  it  sometimes  happens  that  it 
may  be  more  beneficial  to  the  tree  if  it  is  cut  back 
quite  early  in  the  season  to  the  growth  which  has 
been  retained  for  next  year's  fruiting. 
H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 
Albury  Park  Gardens,   Guildford. 


FOR     NORTHERN     GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Potatoes. — -Proceed  with  the  planting  of  second- 
early  Potatoes.  The  gi'ound  should  be  well 
worked  and  geneiously  manured  beforehand. 
E.xercise  care  when  planting,  so  that  the  sprouts 
are  not  damaged  in  any  way.  Early  sorts  growing 
in  frames  should  be  allowed  abundance  of  venti- 
lation during  fine  weather.  Apply  water  regularly, 
so  that  the  tubers  may  be  induced  to  swell  freely. 

French  Beans. — ^Fortnightly  sowings  of  these 
should  be  made  indoors,  so  that  regular  supplies 
may  be  maintained.  Growth  is  now  quicker  and 
stronger,  so  better  results  may  be  expected  from  this 
time  onwards.  A  mixture  of  three  parts  loam  to 
one  part  of  leaf-mould  suits  them  well.  Syringe 
the  foliage  twice  daily  when  the  weather  is  fine. 
Close  the  pit  early  in  the  afternoon,  so  that  as 
much  sun-heat  as  possible  may  be  retained. 

SaladingS. —  Prick  out  early  sowings  of  Lettuce 
into  frames  and  keep  growing  freely.  Sow  Radish 
seed  at  frequent  intervals,  encouraging  a  quick 
and  regular  growth,  so  that  crisp,  succulent  roots 
may  be  produced.  Mustard  and  Cress  is  still 
better  sown  in  boxes  under  glass. 

Peas. — Plants  that  have  been  brought  forward 
under  glass  should  now  be  transferred  to  their 
final  quarters.  Care  must  be  taken  that  the 
roots  are  not  unduly  damaged  during  the  process. 
Stake  the  young  plants  with  small  feathery 
Spruce  twigs,  as  these  not  only  ac'  as  a  support, 
but  protect  the  tender  growths  from  the  cold 
winds  so  prevalent  in  the  North  during  early  April. 

Planting  Asparagus  Beds. — Where  the  planting 
of  new  beds  is  contemplated,  the  work  should 
be  carried  out  as  speedily  as  possible.  Pro- 
vided the  soil  has  been  well  prepared  during  the 
winter  months,  the  site  should  only  now  require 
to  be  well  forked  over  and  a  sprinkling  of  agri- 
cultural salt  and  soot  added.  Opinions  differ 
regarding  the  width  of  the  beds,  but  that  which 
conveniently  holds  two  rows  of  plants  is  generally 
admitted  to  be  the  most  suitable.  Where  the 
intention  is  to  form  new  beds  by  sowing  seed, 
this  work  may  also  be  catried  out  now.  Sow  in 
rows  i8ins.  apait,  and  thin  out  the  seedlings  to 
I5ins.   apart  in  the  rows. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Peaches. — Tiees  carrymg  heavy  crops  will 
benefit  by  an  occasional  watering  with  weak 
liquid  manure,  or  a  discreet  dressing  of  an  approved 
chemical  manure,  well  watered  into  the  border. 
Thin  out  the  fruits  of  early  crops  when  they  are 
about  the  size  of  nuts.  Pots  of  late  varieties  now 
flowering  in  the  orchard  house  should  still  be 
assisted  by  hand  fertilisation. 

Late  Vines. — Late  vines  will  now  be  con- 
siderably advanced,  so  that  all  superfluous  shoots 
should  be  rubbed  off  without  delay.  Guard 
against  sudden  bursts  of  sunshine,  as  the  tender 
growths  of  some  varieties  scorch  readily  if  venti- 
lation is  not  carefully  attended  to. 

Strawberries    in    Pots.— Early    batches    with 

rapidly  swelling  fruit  should  now  be  assisted  with 
copious  waterings  of  liquid  manure.  Syringe  the 
foliage    freely   during   fine    weather,    so    that   red 


spider  may  be  kept  in  check.  As  soon  as  the 
fruit  shows  a  tendency  towards  ripening,  remove 
the  plants  to  cooler  quarters,  as  this  treatment 
mate.ially  assists  in  giving  the  fruit  a  more 
piquant  flavour. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 
Mulching    Newly-planted    Fruit    Trees.— To 

prevent  newly-planted  fruit  trees  suffering  from 
drought,  more  especially  on  very  light  or  gravelly 
soils,  they  should  be  given  a  generous  mulch  of 
well  decayed  farmyard  manure.  This  helps  to 
keep  the  root-run  cool  and  checks  evaporation. 

Strawberries. — in  making  new  plantations  of 
these  it  is  essential  that  the  ground  be  in  good 
heart,  and  provided  that  the  bed  has  been  well 
prepared  during  the  autumn,  it  will  now  break 
down  freely,  and  the  young  plants  should  have 
little  difficulty  in  establishing  themselves.  Runners 
that  were  planted  in  the  reserve  border  with  a 
view  to  spring  planting  are  now  starting  into 
growth,  so  should  be  lifted  carefully  and  planted 
on  the  new  site,  in  rows  2ft.  apart  and  i5ins 
apart  in  the  row.  Established  beds  should  have 
the  Dutch  hoe  run  through  between  the  rows, 
so  that  the  hard  crust  may  be  broken,  thus  allowing 
air  and  warmth  to  be  more  readily  admitted ; 
weeds  are  also  checked,  and  root  action  quickened.' 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Biennials,  such  as  Sweet  Williams,  Canterbury 
Bells  and  Agrostemmas,  should  now  be  trans- 
ferred to  their  flowering  quarters.  Other  hardy 
plants,  such  as  Hollyhocks  and  Geums,  which 
have  been  gi-owing  in  the  nursery  garden  with  a 
view  to  the  embellishment  of  the  hardy  border, 
should  also  be  transplanted  at  this  time. 

The  Rose  Garden.— Hybrid  Perpetual  Roses 
should  now  be  pruned,  but  it  is  wise  to  leave  the 
more  tender  varieties  of  Teas  and  Hybrid  Teas 
till  later.  Give  the  beds  a  dressing  of  well  rotted 
farmyard  manure,  or  a  dusting  of  fertilisei.  Point 
it  lightly  in  between  the  plants. 
James  McGran 

(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.), 

Coodham,   Kilmarnock. 


CONSERVATORY    AND    GREENHOUSE. 

Veronica  Hulkeana  is,  in  some  ways,  the  most 
beautiful  of  all  the  shrubby  Veronicas  and  is  an 
excellent  plant  for  the  cool  greenhouse.  In  the 
West  it  does  well  outdoors  planted  at  the  foot  of  a 
warm  wall,  but  even  then  large  plants  are  apt  to 
die  suddenly  without  any  apparent  reason.  Lnder 
pot  cultivation  one  seldom  sees  it  in  good  con- 
dition. Although  its  successful  cultivation  does 
not  present  any  serious  difficulty,  most  cultivators, 
I  believe,  fail  because  they  keep  it  too  close  and 
warm.  It  is  easUy  propagated  at  this  time  in  a 
case  in  a  cool  house,  and  plants  may  be  grown 
on  into  5in.  or  6in.  pots  the  first  season,  standing 
them  outdoors  in  cold  frames  during  the  summer, 
leaving  the  lights  off  on  every  possible  occasion.' 
If  potted  on  the  second  season  such  plants  should 
make  fine  specimens  some  3ft.  or  4ft.  high.  Cool 
treatment  and  plenty  of  air  during  all  stages  of  its 
cultivation  are  essential. 

Veronica  speciosa  and  its  many  fine  varieties 
are  very  useful  for  furnishing  the  conservatory  or 
greenhouse  during  the  autumn.  They  are  easily 
propagated  by  means  of  cuttings,  and  only  require 
cold  frames  for  their  successful  cultivation. 

Veronica  diosmaefolia  is  a  very  dainty,  compact 
species,  about  ift.  in  height,  and  produces  its 
pale  lilac-coloured  flowers  in  great  profusion 
during  March  and  April ;  it  is  easily  propagated 
by  means  of  cuttings,  and,  like  the  others,  enjoys 
perfectly  cool  treatment  at  all  stages  of  its  culti- 
vation, 

Impatiens  Balsamina. — The  common  Balsam 
is  a  popular  and  useful  annual  for  conservatory 
decoration  during  the  summer  and  autumn  months, 
and  by  making  successional  sowings  it  is  easy  to 
maintain  a  constant  display.  Towards  this  end 
a  sowing  may  be  made  at  this  time  in  a  temperature 
of  55°;  sow  thinly,  and  when  germinated  keep 
the  plants  well  up  to  the  roof  glass,  as  they  draw 
out  very  quicl-Jy.  To  prevent  this  they  shoiUd, 
as  soon  as  possible,  be  pricked  off  singlv  into  small 
pots,  placing  them  well  into  the  soil,  and  at  each 
successive  potting  they  shoifld  be  let  well  down 
in  the  pot,  as  they  throw  out  roots  from  the  stem 
and  it  helps  to  keep  them  dwarf.  They  require 
at  all  times  a  light,  rich  compost — some  old 
Mushroom  bed  manure  or  well  decayed  stable 
manure  should  be  added  to  the  potting  compost. 
Later  on  in  the  season  they  are  best  grown  in  a  cool 
house — or  even  in  cold  frames. 


158 


THE     GARDEN. 


[April  i,  1922. 


There  are  several  other  species  of  Impatiens 
that  are  most  useful  for  furnishing  the  greenhouse 
and  conservatory  during  the  sununer,  or,  in 
fact,  a  warm  greenhouse  all  ■  the  year  round. 
Impatiens  Sultani  is  an  old  favourite,  and  is  easily 
raised  either  from  seeds  or  cuttings,  and  the  same 
applies  to  the  newer  I,  Holstii,  a  batch  of  seedlings 
giving  quite  a  range  of  coloru's.  The  best  seedlings 
can  then  be  selected  and  propagated  by  means  of 
cuttings.  The  beautiful  Impatiens  Oliveri  is  the 
giant  of  the  race,  and  if  grown  on  in  tubs,  makes 
fine  specimens  some  4ft.  in  height  and  as  much 
in  diameter.  If  planted  out  in  a  bed  in  the 
conservatory  it  will  grow  6ft.  to  7ft,  high  and 
remain  in  flower  more  or  less  all  the  year  round, 
its  large  rosy-mauve  coloured  flowers  bearing  a 
striking  resemblance  to  a  Miltonia.  It  is  easily 
propagated  by  means  of  cuttings,  and  plants  in 
7in.  pots  are  useful  for  furnishing  the  stages  in  the 
conservatory.  f,, 

Campanula  isophylla  and  varieties  alba  and 
May]  malic  hue  basket  plants,  for  which  purpose 
they  have  long  been  favourites.  About  this  time 
plenty  of  good  cuttings  should  be  available,  which 
will  root  readily  in  a  case  in  a  cool  house,  and  should 
make  good  plants  for  autumn  flowering.  The 
variety  Mayi  is  stronger  growing  and  soon  makes 
fine  plants  if  three  arc  grown  in  a  48  sized  pot. 
1 1  differs  from  the  type  in  having  greyish  tomentose 
foliage. 

Capsicum  annuum  and  its  numerous  varieties 
are  very  useful  for  furnishing  the  conservatory 
during  autumn  and  early  winter,  their  bright 
colouring  and  varied  shapes  always  attracting 
attention,  while  their  fruits  are  also  useful  in  the 
kitchen.  Seed  should  be  sown  in  an  intermediate 
temperature  at  this  time,  and  when  the  seedlings 
are  large  enough  to  handle  they  should  be  pricked 
off  singly  into  3in.  pots,  potting  them  on  as  they 
require  it,  7in.  pots  being  large  enough  for  the  final 
shift.  They  require  a  rich  compost  and  should 
be  kept  well  and  regularly  syringed  as  they  are 
very  subject  to  attacks  of  red  spider  and  also 
Begonia  mite.  The  latter  may  be  prevented  by  the 
use  of  Campbell's  Sulphur  Vaporiser.  During  the 
summer  the  plants  may  be  grown  in  cold  frames. 

Solanum  Melongena.  commonly  known  as  the 
Egg  Plant,  is  giown  for  decorative  purposes,  and 
seed  should  now  be  sown.  This  plant  succeeds 
under  the  same  treatment  as  recommended  for 
Capsicums.  Solanum  p>Tacanthum  and  S.  integri- 
folium  are  both  worth  growing  for  their  bright- 
coloured  fruits,  which  are  useful  for  the  autumn 
furnishing  of  the  conservatory ;  they  are  easily 
raised  from  seed  at  this  time,  and  can  be  grown  in  a 
cool  house  or  even  outdoors  during  the  summer. 

J.    COUTTS. 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kew. 


OBITUARY 


f^n  HARRY     A.     BARNARD. 

The  many  old  friends,  spread  all  over  the  world, 
of  Mr.  Harry  A.  Barnard  will  regret  to  hear  that 
he  passed  away  on  .March  14.  He  has  entered 
his  well  earned  rest  after  serving  over  sixty  years 
with  his  firm,  Messrs.  Stuart  Low  of  Bush  Hill 
Park,  and  formerly  of  Clapton.  A  real  plantsman, 
he  had  forgotten  more  than  many  horticulturists 
know  to-day,  but  it  was  by  his  kindly  help  to 
and  sympathy  for  others  that  he  will  best  be 
remembered.  Commencing  his  career  with  the 
Hugh  Low  who  started  the  firm  of  that  name, 
he  has  seen  many  of  his  old  comrades  predecease 
him,  but  three  of  them  at  the  graveside  at  Abney 
Park  Cemetery,  Messrs.  W.  Isbell,  E.  Groves 
and  Fred  Jenkins,  have  served  the  firm  in  the 
aggregate  for  some  130  years.  This  is  the  second 
old  comrade  to  pass  away  since  Christmas.  The 
late  Mr.  "  Ted "  Heath  had  been  with  the  same 
firm  for  nearly  half  a  century.  L.  J.  C. 


Winter  Flowering  Carnations  at  Wisley  : 
Interim  Report.— The  following  awards  wen- 
made  to  Carnations  at  Wisley  by  a  Joint  Com- 
mittee of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  and 
the  British  Carnation  Society.  The  judging 
was  solely  on  the  productiveness  of  the  plants 
during  the  winter  and  upon  their  habit,  and 
•  the   colour   and   form   of   the  flower.     Award    of 


Merit. — Wivelsfield  White  and  Maine  Simshine. 
both  sent  by  Messrs.  AUwobd  and  Messrs.  Engel- 
mann  ;  White  Pearl,  sent  by  Messrs.  Stuai't 
Low ;  The  Herald,  General  Joffre,  Aviator  and 
Jazz,  all  from  Messrs.  Engelmann  ;  Toreador,  sent 
by  Messrs.  .AUwood.  Highly  Commended. — 
Whiteall,  sent  by  Messrs.  Stokes ;  Mrs.  Walter 
Hemus,  Enchantress  Supreme,  Triimiph  and 
Wivelsfield  Beauty,  all  from  Messrs.  Engelmann  and 
Messrs.  AUwood  ;  Cupid,  Lady  Northeliffe,  Mary 
.■\llwood,  Pocahontas,  i\Irs.  Hamilton  Fellowes  and 
Iowa,  all  from  Messrs.  Engelmann;  Lady  Inverforth, 
sent  by  Messrs.  Stuart  low  ;  West  Hall  Scarlet, 
sent  by  Mr.  G.  Carpenter  ;  Countess  of  Wilton, 
sent  by  Messrs.  Engelmann  and  Messrs.  Stuart  Low. 
Commended. — White  Wonder  and  Benora,  sent  by 
Messrs.  Allwood  and  Messrs.  Engelmann  ;  Boadicea 
Nebraska,  Fancy  Carola  and  Marion  Willson,  all 
from  Messrs.  Engelmann. 

The  Rose  Annual,  1922.— This  excellent 
publication,  wlich  is  issued  free  to  members  of 
the  National  Rose  Society  (minimum  yearly 
subscription,  los.  6d.),  teems,  as  usual,  with 
interesting  articles.  A  portrait  and  pen  picture 
is  given  of  that  famous  Rose  raiser,  Mr.  Samuel 
McGredy,  with  interesting  details  as  to  how  the 
hybridising  and  raising  of  new  varieties  is  carried 
on.  Other  articles  include  "  Roses  in  Pots,"  by 
the  President  of  the  Society,  Mr.  Edward  J. 
Holland ;  "  Notes  on  the  History  of  the  Moss 
Rose,"  by  Major  C.  C.  Hurst;  "  Bedding  Roses," 
by  Mr.  H.  R.  Darlington,  with  reasoned  opinions 
as  to  the  best  dozen  for  the  purpose  by  eight 
experts  in  various  parts  of  Britain;  "Chemical 
Manuring,"  by  Major  A.  D.  G.  Shelley;  "  Recol- 
lections," by  the  Rev.  Jos.  H.  Pemberton  ;  "  Notes 
on  the  Spring  Show,"  by  Mr.  H.  Oppenheimer  ; 
"  Exhibition  Roses  for  Garden  Decoration,"  by 
Mrs.  H.  R.  Darlington ;  "  Impressions  of  the 
Summer  Show,"  by  Mr.  H.  H.  Thomas  ;  •'  The 
Provincial  Show,"  by  Mr.  A.  C.  Bartlett ;  "  The 
Imperfections  of  Modern  Roses,"  by  Mr.  John 
Parkin  ;  "  Climbing  Hybrid  Tea,  Tea  and  Noisette 
Roses,"  by  Mr.  Walter  Easlea  ;  "  Budding  Roses," 
by  the  Editor  (Mr.  Courtney  Page)  ;  "  Climbing 
and  Rambling  Roses  in  Gloucestershire,"  by  Mr. 
B.  W.  Price  ;  "  Notes  on  Mildew  and  Black  Spot," 
by  Dr.  Sauer  ;  "  The  Newer  Foreign  Roses,"  by 
Mr.  George  M.  Taylor ;  "  New  Roses  at  Bagatelle 
Trials,"  by  Mme.  Charles  Siret ;  and  "  New  Roses 
of  1921"  and  "The  Rose  .Analysis,  1921,"  both 
by  the  Editor.  Besides  all  these,  our  valued 
contributor,  the  Rev.  Joseph  Jacob,  at  present 
convalescing,  we  trust,  from  a  serious  illness 
contributes  in  his  inimitable  way  his  im.pressions 
of  the  Autimin  Show.  In  addition  to  all  this  very 
interesting  matter  and  the  portrait  of  Mr.  McGredv 
already  referred  to,  there  are  numerous  half-tone 
illustrations,  including  a  portrait  of  Mr.  John 
Green  (a  new  Vice-President)  and  blossoms  of 
that  wonderful  new  yellow  Rose  Florence  M. 
Izzaid,  besides  pictures  in  colour  of  Mabel  Morse 
and  W.  E.  Wallace,  both  Roses  honoured  by  the 
Society  in  11321.  When  one  considers  the  many 
advantages  offered  to  members  by  the  N.  R.F. 
and  the  quality  of  its  publications  it  is  small 
wonder  that   the  membership  roll  is  a  long  one. 

Tomato  Cultivation  Under  Glass  and  Out- 
doors.'— The  author  of  tliis  booldi  t  h.as  done 
good  service  to  all  cultivators  of  Tomatoes  by 
writing  a  really  charming  essay  on  a  very  popular 
subject.  Last  year  was  an  exceptionally  good 
one  for  the  growth  and  ripening  of  the  Tomato, 
but  it  will  also  be  long  remembered  as  a  year 
in  which  the  destruction  of  the  plants,  almost 
throughout  the  country,  was  threatened  by  the 
white    or    "  ghost    fly."     Many    cultivators    may 

•  "  Tomato  Cultivation  Under  fJlass  and  Outdoors," 
by  R.  V.  Gitrard  Woolky.  (Couiilrv  Li/c,  Limited, 
20,    Tavistock    Street,    \V.C'.2 ;     9d.  nit.) 


have  decided  on  that  account  not  to  grow  any 
plants  this  year  but  if  they  read  this  small  book 
they  will  at  once  decide  to  grow  more  plants  than 
in  past  years.  No  one  should  be  without  the 
book,  not  even  large  cultivators  for  market,  as 
the  instructions  on  the  destruction  of  the  "  ghost 
fly  "  are  so  valuable.  When  one  begins  to  read  the 
book  one  feels  one  must  go  on  to  the  end. 
.Amateurs  especially  wiU  find  the  instructions  so 
helpful  to  them.  They  cannot  fail,  as  the 
instructions  from  the  seed-sowing  to  the  seed- 
saving  chapters,  are  concise,  clear  and  to  the 
point.  There  are  several  drawings  showing  how 
the  planting  and  stringing  of  the  plants  should 
be  done,  and  although  the  one  showing  the  section 
of  the  house  might  be  clearer- — -page  11 — it  shows 
the  cultivator  what  he  must  do  and  how  to  do- 
it economically.  The  raising  of  the  seedlings, 
potting,  training,  feeding,  feitilising  of  blossoms,, 
fumigating,  gathering  and  packing  for  market,, 
private  use  and  exhibition,  insect  pests  and  diseases, 
and  the  general  management  of  the  plants  in 
various  kinds  of  houses,  small  and  large,  are 
matters  admirably  dealt  with.  It  is  a  pleasure 
to  recommend  a  book  containing  so  much 
valuable  information  in  such  small  compass  — G. 
Garner. 

A  Lovely  Stonecrop. — A  good  number  of 
the  Sedums,  or  Stonccrops,  are  of  considerable 
beauty,  but,  somehow  they  do  not  appear 
to  be  so  largely  cultivated  as  they  deserve. 
They  are  generally  specially  suitable  for  dr\-, 
sunny  positions,  and  mostly  thrive  in  stony 
or  gi-avelly  soil  unsuited  to  the  majority  of  alpine 
plants.  Of  the  large  number  in  cultivation  a 
few  stand  pre-eminent  in  their  beauty,  and  should 
not  be  omitted  from  the  choicest  collection. 
Sedum  bre\'ifohum  is  one  of  these,  and  no  matter 
what  form  of  this  Stonecrop  is  secured,  there  is 
little  risk  of  its  being  unappreciated  when  properly 
cared  for  in  the  rock  garden  or  the  moraine.  It 
has  been  well  called  "  one  of  the  brightest  jewels 
of  the  race."  It  is  among  the  tiniest  of  Stone- 
crops  and  provides  a  dense  carpet,  hardly  rising 
above  the  soil,  of  charming  httle  leaves  varying 
in  colour,  according  to  the  form,  from  green  to 
purple,  with  many  intermediate  tints.  The 
flowers  also  differ  in  colour,  ranging  from  pink  to- 
white,  often  flushed  with  dcUcate  pink  or  blush,, 
and  are  of  a  good  size  for  such  a  dwarf  plant. 
One  of  the  best  forms  in  cultivation  is  that  called 
S.  brevifolium  var.  Pottsii.  This  was  brouglit  from 
abroad  by  the  late  Mr.  Potts  of  Edinburgh,  a  keen 
flower-lover  whose  memory  is  also  kept  ahve  in 
Montbretia  Pottsii.  This  variety  is  verj'  beautiful, 
but  it  is  impossible  to  describe  in  words  the  colour- 
ing of  the  foliage,  which  seems  to  consist  of  shades 
of  green,  purple  and  dull  white  with  various  other 
colours  and  with  a  pretty  appearance  caused  by 
the  farina-hke  shachng  of  the  foUage.  Any  form, 
however,  is  worth  securing.  Unfortunately,  S.  * 
brcvifoUum  is  liable  to  decay  in  wet  winters  in 
certain  districts  with  mild  climate  and  a  heavy 
rainfall.  In  such  districts  it  is  always  prudent 
to  protect  the  plants  from  the  weather  for  a  few 
of  the  winter  months,  say,  from  November  until 
March,  either  by  a  sheet  of  glass  or  some  other 
shelter,  raised  a  little  above  the  plants  so  as  not 
to  interfere  too  much  with  the  hght  if  the  protec- 
tion (such  as  a  slate  or  board)  be  such  as  would 
prevent  it  from  reaching  the  plants. 

A  very  freely  drained  place  should  always  be 
selected,  with  a  gritty,  open  soil  and  a  sunny 
situation.  The  variety  Pottsii  may  generally 
be  seen  in  the  Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Edinburgh, 
where  it  seems  to  stand  the  winter  better  than  on 
the  more  humid  west  coast.  There  is  no  difficulty 
in  propagating  S.  brevifoUum  by  division  or  by 
cuttings.  It  is  found,  among  othci  places,  on  the 
mountains  of  Spain  and  Corsica. 


THE 


APR  i  r,  1922 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


'oi.  LXXXVI.— No.  2629. 

Dtered  as  Secood-class  Matter  at  the  New  York.  N.  Y..  Post  Office. 


Saturday,  April  8,  1922 


REGISTERED     AT     THE     GENERAL 

POST    OPFICB     AS    A    NEWSPAPER 

AND     FOR     CANADIAN     RIAGAZINE 

pncT, 


Price  TUREEPcNCB 

Yearly  Subscription 
imard.    17/4      Pori-Ign    17/4 


MERRYWEATHER'S     ROSES 


FOR    THE    GARDEN  1 
FOR    BEDS! 


FOR    EXHIBITION! 
FOR    EVERYWHERE! 


Also  Fruit  Trees,  Shrubs,  Ornamental  Trees. 
Please  state  your  wants. 

H.    MERRYWEATHER  &    SONS,  LTD. 
Garden  Specialists,  SOUTHWELL,  NOTTS. 

DAHLIAS,  STRONG  POT-GROWN  TUBERS 

prr  doz.  12/- 
per  doz  9/- 
per  doz.  12/- 
pcr  doz.  9/- 
per  doz.  10/6 
per  doz.  7/6 
per  doz  12'- 
pcr  doz.     9/ 


Cactus    Dahlias,    clinict-  naiiird  :-orls 

,,  ,,  mixt'd  (without  namrs) 

Qiant-flowered    Double    Decorative,    clioico  nami-d  t>orts     .. 

,,  ,,  ,,  „  mixed  {without  names) 

New    Collarette    Dahlias,    choice  named  sorts  .. 

,,  ,,  ,,  mixed  (without  names) 

Improved    Single    Dahlias,    choice  named  sorts 

,,  ,,  „  mixed  (without  names)  .. 


DAFFODILS    IN    AN    INFORMAL    SETTING. 


EXCELSIOR  PEARL  TUBEROSES. 

The  finest  strain,   having   pure  white  double  flowers  of  delicate   fragrance. 

Pot  up  now  or  plan     out   in  May : — 

Strong  Bulbs       . .         . .     per  doz.     7/6        Extra  Lai  ^e  Bulbs      . .         . .     per  doz.  10/6 

List  of  Surplus  Lilies.  Montbretias,  &c.,  at  reditced  prices  sent  on  application. 

^A^^  O         C/*MViC  ■'■'.     ■'2     &     13,     KING     STREET, 

^r*r^l^        <X       ^Vi/I^^,       COVENT     GARDEN,     LONDON,     W.C.2 

WITH   the   decline  in  costs  of  production,  cheaper  coal  particularly,  and 
Anticipating  a  Reduction  in  Postal  Rates,  at  the  time  of  despatch, 
we  are  reducing  the  prices  of  our 

Early  Flowering  Chrysanthemums. 

At  planting  time  (about  May   1st)  we  will  send  one  dozen   Early  Flowering 
Chrysanthemums  for  the  garden  for  5/-,  24  in   12  varieties  for  9/-,  50  in  25 
varieties  for  16/-,  100  in  50  varieties  for  30/-,  or  100  in  25  varieties  for  25/-. 
THE     BEST    PLANTS.  THE     BEST    VARIETIES.. 

Post    Free    for    Cash    with    Order. 
Plants   of   Japanese,    Incurved,     Decoratives    and     Singles    for    greenhouse 
flowering   in   the  Winter,   should   be  obtained   now.     Our  selections,  6/-  per 
dozen.     When  ordering,  please  state  section  required. 

Descriptive     Catalogue     on     Application. 


W.    WELLS    &    CO..     MERSTHAM.     SURREY. 

ORCH I DS 

of  vigorous  habit  and    superior  constitution.     A  visit  to  our  Establishment 

is    cordially    invited    to    inspect    our     immense     and     interesting     STOCK 

RAISED     BY     THE 

PURE    CULTURE    SYSTEM 

Choice    Species,    Rare    Botanical    Specimens.     Albinos    in    warm    and    cool 

sections  also  a  speciality. 
Expert    Advice    given    and    all    Requisites    supplied    for    the    good    culture 

of   Orchids. 

CHARLE8W0RTH  &  CO.,  "ITe^^S!'" 


THE     GARDEN. 


[April  8,  ic)22. 


ii 


THE    GARDEN"   CATALOGUE    GUIDE 


NOTICE  TO  OUR  READERS 


/^N   receipt   of   a    Post    Card    the    under- 
mentioned   firms    will    be    pleased    to 
send  their  useful  Catalogues  free  of  charge. 

Rose  Specialists 

ELISHA  J.  HICKS,  M.C.  N.R.S.,  etc. 

HURST,  BERKS 

Tha   Champion    Deoorative  Rose   Grower    of    England 


WALTER    EASLEA    &    SONS, 
EASTWOOD,    LEIGH-ON-SEA,    ESSEX. 

Essex  produces  the  World's  Finest  Roses. 

Our  plants  are  grown  in  fields  exposed  to  sea  air. 

All  the  latest  and  best  varieties. 


Fruit  Trees  and  Plants 


PERRY'S 

Hakdy  Plant  Farms 

ENFIELD,  MIDDX. 


New  Alpines 
and   Perennials 


Complete 
Collection 


KELWAY  &  SON 
Retail  Plant  Department 
LANGPORT,  SOMERSET. 


Hardy  Plants 
Colour  Borders 
Gladioli 


HARDY    AZALEAS    AND     FLOWERING     SHRUBS 


R.  &  G.  CUTHBERT 
SOUTHGATE 
MIDDLESEX 
Established  1797 


For  planting  and 
Conservatory 
decoration. 
Catalogue  of  our 
new  and  beautiful 
varieties  post 
free 


LAXTON  BROS. 

Strawberries 

Nurseries 

and 

BEDFORD 

Fruit  Trees 

W.  WELLS,  JuNR. 
Hardy  Plant  Nursery 
MERSTHAM,  SURREY 


Specialists  in 
Hardy   Plants 
and  Alpines 
Catalogues  free 


Seeds  and  Bulbs 


R.  H.  BATH,  Ltd. 
The  Floral  Farms 
WISBECH 


Home-Grown 
Bulbs  and 
Seeds 


BLACKMORE  &  LANGDON 
TwERTON  Hill  Nursery 
BATH 


Begonias 
Delphiniums 
Qloxinias 
Cyclamen,  etc. 


DAWKINS 

408,  King's  Road 

CHELSEA,  S.W. 


Seed  Catalogue 
and  Special 
Bulb  Offer. 


QOLD     MEDAL    CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 

CataloRue  free  containing  full  list  of  all  the  best  and  up-to- 
date  varieties  in  all  sections,  also  list  of  Novelties  for  1922 

QOLD   MEDAL   MICHAELMAS   DAISIES. 

I  shall  be  pleased  to  supply  for  63/-  one  each  of  the  SO 
varieties  for  which  I  was  awarded  the  Gold  Medal  of  the 
R  H.S.  in  SL-ptember  last,  or  will  make  special  selections 
at  10/-,  15/-  and  20/-  per  dozen, 

QOLD   MEDAL   PERENNIAL  PHLOX. 

If  you  want  the  best  try  H.  J.  JONES'  selection.  12  very 
fine  unnamed,  all  colours  mi.xed.  6/- ;  12  very  fine  named 
varieties.  10/- ;  12  extra  fine  named,  15/- ;  12  very  fine  New 
varieties,  20/-. ^^ 

Catalontte  of  the  above  and  many  other  good  pla  nis  from 

H.  J.JONES,  Ryecroft  Nurseries,  LEWISHAM.S.E.U 


^UBS     FOR     SHRUBS. 

"  WIRE  BOUND  PATENT,  over  100 
prizes.  R.H.S.  Medal,  1910.  No  warping  or 
shrinking.  In  Oak,  Beech.  Teak.  &c.  Highly 
decorative. — Price  List  from  Pradal  &  Co., 
26,  Ooodge  Street,  London,  W.l. 


Garden  Sundries 


G.  H.  RICHARDS 
234,  Borough 
LONDON,  S.E.I 


Trad* 
only. 


XL  ALL 

Insecticides  and 
Fumigants 


C.  E.  WEST 
Hicham  Hill,  E.17 
Est.  1888 


West's  Patent  Garden  Sundries, 
Weeder, 
"  Celu"  Labels. 

Raffi  .tape"  Westmaline."' 

Insecticides,  W  ed  Killers,  etc. 

CataloKiie  and  frte  samples. 


HY.  RICHARDSON  &  CO. 

Skeldergate  Bridge  Works, 
YORK. 


Lawn,  Qarden, 
FruitTrees    and 
Horticultural 
Fertilisers 


W.   WELLS,   Junr., 

Hardy  Plant  Nurseries, 
Merstham,     Surrey. 

Colkctions  of  Herbaceous  Plant! 

for     Present    Planting. 

ORDER  NOW  AND  ENSURE  DELIVERY. 


RICHARD  MELHUISH,  Ltd. 
50,'si,  Fetter  Lane,  E.C.4. 
Branch  Depot  : 

143  HoLBORN  Bars 


Gardon  Tools  of 
all  kinds. 
Catalogue     "B" 
post  free. 


CORRY  &  CO.,  Ltd. 
^Shad  Thames,  S.E.i  and 
Bedford  Chambers 
CovENT  Garden,  W.C.2 


Merchants  and 
Manufacturers 
of  Horticultural 
Sundries 
Fertilizers  and 
Insecticides,  etc. 


J.  BENTLEY,  Ltd. 
Barrow-on-Humber 
HULL 


Weed  Destroyers 
Lawn  Sand 
Insecticides 
Shrubs,  etc. 


Landscape  Gardening 


Ltd. 


W.  H.  GAZE  &  SONS 
High  Street 
KINGSTON-ON-THAMES 


Landscape,  Rock 
and  Water  Qarden 
Model  Qardens 
Portsmouth    Road 
Surbiton 


R.  WALLACE  &  CO., 
The  Old  Gardens 
TUNBRIDGE  WELLS 


Ltd. 


Laodaoape  &  Garden 
Architects.  Queeo 
Alexandra's  Cup  for 
Best  Rook  and  Water 
Garden.  laternatlonal 

Show,  mz. 


J.  CHEAL   &    SONS,  Ltd. 

Nurseries 

CRAWLEY 


Landscape 
Qardeners 
Trees  and 
Shrubs,  etc. 


fPULMAM  ®  SON 

i   BY  APPOlNTMeKT  TO  HIS  MXJTSTY 


Cr^limci*. 
I  71  NEWMAN  SToxrORDsr-    rSmidiG^iSn, 
LONDON -w  ^^'.?5S^,. 

I  NtJRSCRIES-ELSCNnAMEMEX         njures  Sundl 


NATURE    &    ART. 

Largest  and  finest  stock  of   CLIPPED 
YEW  &  BOX  TREES  in  the  country. 
Thousands  of  Specimens  to  select  from. 
Catalogues  free  on  demand. 
JOHN  KLINKERT,  F.R.H.S.,  M.C.H. 
Kew    Topiary    Nursarlea, 

RICHMOND,    LONDON. 


MISS  EVELYN  FAWSSETT 

(Speci  ilist  in  Garden  Planning) 

83,  High  Street 
LEWES,  SUSSEX 


New  Gardens  de- 
signed. Old  Gardens 
Re-arraniied.  Plant- 
ing plans  tor  borders, 
etc.  Terms  on  appli- 
cation. 


FORBES'  Catalogue. 

Florists'  Flowers,  Hardy  Plants,  Vegetable 
and   Flower   Seeds,  Free  on  Application. 

JOHN     FORBES     (Hawick),     Ltd., 

The    King's     Nurserymen, 

HANA/ICK,  SCOTLAND. 


SWEET    PEAS     AND     HOW    TO     EXCEL 

WITH  THEM.  By  Horace  Wright,  9d.  net,  by  post  lid. 
Published  at  the  Offices  of  "  COUNTRY  LIFE,"  Limited,  20, 
Tavistock  Street.  Covent  Garden.  W.C.2. 


■■  24/- 


Phlox,  Gold  Medal  varieties,  distinct  .. 

,,       new,  of  recrnt  introduction 

,,       latost  novelties 
Michaelmas  Daisies,  standard  varieties 

,,  ,,         of  recent  introduction 

,,  ,,         latest  novelties. . 

Papaver  Orientale,  crand  lar^e  varieties 
Heleniums,  in  0  distinct  varieties 
Delphiniums,  Gold  Medal  varieties     . .    18^ 
Sunbeam  Poppies,  fine  for  vases 
Aconitums,  in  0  distinct  varieties 
Anemone  Japonica,  in  6  (li.stinct  varieties 
Aquilegia  (Columbine),  in  6  distinct  varieties 
Centaureas,  in  6  distinct  varieties 
Campanulas,  in  12  beautiful  varieties  9/-  and 

Chrysanthemum  maximum,  in  6  vars.  for  cutting 
Erigerons,  in  6  varieties,  beautiful  blues 
Qalegas,  in  4  distinct  colours   . . 
Hemerocallis,  in  6  distinct  varieties  . . 
Heucheras,  in  6  distinct  varieties 
Iris  Qermanica,  in  1«  distinct  varieties 
Pyrethrum,  gor<ieous  sinfrlcs  and  doubles 
Rudbeckias,  in  6  distinct  varieties 
Sidalceas  (Mallow  Pinlc),  distinct 
Veronicas,  in  6  varieties,  distinct 


8/-  and 


9/- 

16/- 

27/ 

8/- 

15/ 

20' 

4/1 

4/- 

30/ 

5/ 

4/ 

4/ 

4; 

4/ 

12/ 

S/l 

7/1 

2/1 

4/ 

4/ 

12/ 

9/ 

4/ 

3/ 

4/ 


Collections  of  Alpine  and  Rock  Plants. 


Crazy  Paving  Plants,  distinct. 

Achilleas,  distinct 

Arabis,  distinct 

Arenarias,  distinct 

Aubrietias,  fine  varieties,  distinct 

Campanulas,  distinct 

Cistus  (Sun  Roses),  distinct 

Dianthus,  distinct 

Erigeron  (Alpine),  distinct 

Qentians,  distincT. . 

Qlobularias,  distinct 

Qypsophila,  distinct 

Helianthemums  (Rock  Roses),  distinct 

Helichrysum,  distinct 

Hypericum,  distinct 

Iberis,  distinct 

Lithospermum,  Heavenly  Blue 

CEnotheras,  distinct 

Phlox,  Alpine,  distinct     .  . 

Potentillas,  Alpine,  distinct 

Primulas,  distinct 

Ramondia  Pyrenaica,  large  rosettes  .'. 

Saxifragas,  Silver 

,,  Mossy  

,,  Cushion 

Sedum,  distinct     .. 
Sempervivum,  distinct   . . 
Silene,  distinct 
Thymus,  distinct  . . 
Veronicas,  distinct 
Violas,  Alpine,  distinct    . . 


9/ 
4/ 
4/ 
4/ 
8/ 
8/ 
5/' 
4/. 
4/- 

6/-  and  8/- 
.      2/- 

•  2/< 
.      8/- 

•  2/< 
.      4/- 

■  2/- 
.  10/. 

•  4/- 
.  4/- 
.  4/. 
.     4/- 

10/- 
.  9/- 
.  8/- 
.     4/. 

■  8/- 
.     8/- 

■  4/. 

■  8/- 
.  8/. 
.      4/. 


Alt  above   Alpines  are    strong  stuff  from  Pots. 

12  Herbaceous  Plants  for  Cut  p'lower  Work,  8/-;   24,  15/- 
iO,  2716  ;    100,  50  - 

Send    for    Descriptive    Catalogue,    Post    Free 

ASPARAGUS. 

Sti-ong,  one  year  old  roots,  6/6  per  50,  12/6  per  100 

Three  year  old  roots  (very  scarce),    10/6    per   50 

20/-  per   100. 

DOBBIE  &  CO.,  LTD.,  Nurserymen,  Edinburgti, 


PERPETUAL  CARNATIONS  ILLUSTRATED 

— A  thorouEhly  practical  and  well  illustrated  bonk  on  thes 
beautilul  and  popular  flowers,  written  by  Litrence  J.  CooB 
is  now  ready.  Price  2/6  net,  postage  4d.  extra.  It  is  publishe( 
at  the  Offices  of  "  Codntry  Life,"  Limited,  20,  Tavistocl 
Street,  Covcnt  Garden,  W.C.2. 


No  3639  vo.  Lxxxvi]     NOTES  OF  THE  WEEK 


[April  8,  1922. 


A  VISIT  to  the  R.H.S.  meetings  at  this 
season  of  the  year,  displays  a  wonderful 
variety  of  floweis — a  variety  which  is 
not,  in  fact,  just  at  present  reflected  in 
our  gardens.  The  predominant  note  in 
gardens  for  a  week  or  so  to  come  mU  be  provided 
by  the  beautiful  family  of  Narcissi  with  their 
considerable  range  of  colouring  and  immense 
diversity  of  size  and  form  from  the  saucer-cupped — 
if  the  bull  may  be  forgiven — Poeticus  forms  to  the 
great  trumpet  Daffodils.  Tulips — especiallv  the 
early-flowering  sorts — have  a  staid  piimness  which 
makes  them  most  successful  when  used  in  formal 
beds  and  borders.  The  freedom  and  grace  of 
flower  of  the  Narcissi,  on  the  other  hand,  allied 
with  an  equally  giacious  and  free  arrangement  of 
leaf  and  flower  in  a  naturally  grown  clump,  are  seen 
to  best  advantage  when  they  are  massed  as 
naturally  as  possible.  Happy  is  he 
who  has  open  woodland,  orchard  or 
rough  pasture  to  plant  with  these 
beautiful  flowers,  but  almost  every 
garden  would  provide  a  place  where 
they  would  look  delightfully  natural. 
We  hope  next  week  to  show  happy 
groupings  of  this  favourite  flower  in 
various  situations,  but  it  is  by  visiting 
at  flowering  time  grounds  where  they 
are  happily  placed  that  one  gains 
much  essential  knowledge  as  to  th;ir 
arrangement  for  effect. 

Another  Advance. — The  beautiful 
new  white  trumpet  Daffodil  White 
Dame  gained  an  award  of  merit  "  as 
a  show  flower  "  at  the  Royal  Horticul- 
tural Society's  Forced  Bulb  Show  on 
JIarch  14.  It  was  raised  by  Mr.  Guy 
L.  Wilson  of  Broughshane,  Co.  A.ntrim, 
who  showed  five  lovely  blooms.  It  is 
chiefly  remarkable  for  the  fine  pose  of 
its  perianth,  which  stands  flat  and  at 
right  angles  to  the  trumpet,  its  excep- 
tional whiteness  and  considerable  size. 
It  is  said  to  have  a  vigorous  constitu- 
tion and  to  make  broad  foliage  and 
large  bulbs.  Though  it  obviously  would 
not  withstand  rough  weather  outdoors, 
this  is  undoubtedly  a  great  advance  in 
white  Daffodils. 

The  Water   Garden- Water  does 

not.  in  springtime,  respond  so  quickly 
to  the  increasing  power  of  the  suns 
rays  as  does  the  kindly  earth,  indeed 
it  is  a  well  known  fact  that  water- 
logged soils  remain  cold  where  well 
drained,  reasonably  dry  ones  rapidly 
warm  and  so  encourage  the  growth  of 
plants.  This  property  of  water  is,  in 
reality,  useful  to  the  gardener  inas- 
much as  it  enables  him  to  undertake 


planting  of  aquatics  when  growth  has  made  much 
dry-land  planting  inadvisable.  True  aquatics  may 
be  planted  at  any  season  before  growth  is  completed, 
but  it  is  as  well  to  get  them  in  reasonably  early. 
This  being  so,  the  time  has  come  to  carry  out  the 
formation  of  new  water  gardens  or  to  make  any 
necessary  alterations  to  existing  work.  The  article 
in  this  issue  touches  only  on  details  of  construction. 
The  question  of  design  will  shortly  come  under 
consideration. 

The  Working  of  the  land. — It  is  but  too  usual, 
at  this  season  of  the  year,  to  get  inclement  weather. 
Of  the  necessity  for  protecting  early  crops  it  is 
probably  unnecessary  to  speak,  but  it  may  be 
well  once  more  to  emphasise  the  danger  of  working 
on  the  land  when  the  surface  is  wet,  more  especially 
after  a  fall  of  snow,  hail,  graupel  or  sleet.  These 
wholly  or  partially  congealed  forms  of  rain,  though 


THE    HANDSOME    PAPER-WHITE    NARCISSUS    WHITE    DAME. 


harmful  to  early  crops,  are  really  beneficial  to  the 
majority  of  sown  seeds,  inasmuch  as  the  extremely 
penetrating  quality  of  the  moisture  they  provide 
greatly  assists  the  germination  of  hardy  seeds. 
Asked  "  how  the  land  was,"  when  the  soil  was  wet 
after  such  a  stoim,  a  very  old-fashioned  gardener 
said,  "  quite  all  right  ;/  you  keep  off  it,"  and  that 
exactly  sums  up  the  situation. 

Ply  the  Hoe. — -The  showers  for  which  April  is 
famous,  whether  very  cold  or  warm  and  genial,  will 
tend  to  consolidate  the  surface  of  the  soil,  though 
the  amount  of  "  setting  "  as  gardeners  generally 
call  it.  depends  very  largely  upon  the  character  of 
the  soil  itself.  Some  soils  and  those  of  very  varying 
appearance  and  texture  are  notorious  for  their 
tendency  so  to  "  set, '  while  others  give  no  special 
trouble  in  this  respect.  Aeration  of  the  soil  is  a 
St  .rk  necessity  in  gaidening  and  such  a  tendency 
for  the  surface  to  consolidate  must  be 
constantly  combated  with  Dutch  hoe 
01  pronged  cultivator,  whichever  suits 
better  the  particular  crop  or  has  been 
found  to  give,  on  the  particular  soil,  the 
most  lasting  results.  Such  cultivation 
is  doubly  useful.  It  not  only  encour- 
ages the  plants  ;  it  discourages  the 
weeds. 

The    Invaluable    Annual. — It    is 

remarkable  how  much  the  annual 
especially  the  hardy  annual,  is  still 
depreciated,  almost  tolerated,  by  many 
enthusiastic  gardeners.  This  is  partly 
due,  no  doubt,  to  the  fact  that  what- 
ever can  be  raised  from  seed  in  a  few 
months  must  necessarily  be  common. 
There  are  many  whose  chief  pleasure 
lies  in  growing  plants  they  seldom  see  in 
other  gardens.  The  commonest  reason 
for  the  neglect  of  annuals  is  that  they 
have  been  tried  and  found  wanting. 
The  reason  for  this  undoubtedly  is  that 
the  a\-erage  gardener  does  not  suffi- 
ciently study  the  requirements  of  the 
different  genera.  Just  because  their 
season  of  growth  is  short  it  is  imperative, 
if  success  is  to  be  obtained,  that  they 
be  given  soil  and  aspect  which  suit 
their  particular  requirements  and  that 
they  receive  care  in  the  matter  of 
thinning  and  such  like  proportionate  to 
their  rapidity  of  growth.  It  is  useless 
to  expect  Mignonette  to  thrive  on  sour 
soil  or  Eschscholtzias  in  serai-shade. 
In  one  respect,  however,  jdmost  all 
kinds  are  alike — they  appreciate  a 
deeply  and  thoroughly  cultivated  soil. 
.\nuual5  are,  taking  them  as  a  whole, 
lighter  ir  growth  than  perennials  and 
this  characteristic  renders  them  admir- 
able for  cut  flower. 


160 


THE     GARDEN. 


[April  8,  1922. 


PRIMULAS    FOR    ROCKERY    AND    BORDER 


are 


There    are  jew  jamilies   of  garden    plants    more    indispensable   than    the   Primulas.       We 
describing  this  zveek  some  of  the  most  noteworthy  for  the  rock  garden  and  for  beds  and  borders. 


WHAT  is  the  rock  garden  going  to 
show  us  during  the  next  few  weeks  ? 
To-day,  while  the  woods  are  yellow, 
there  is  a  wonderful  patch  of  blue 
in  a  shaded  dell,  a  patch  that  owes 
its  colour  to  the  blue  Piinirose.  This  is  said  to  be 
less  vigorous  than  the  wild  type  and  to  seed  less 
freely.  The  latter  is  true  ;  as  to  the  former,  it  all 
depends  upon  cultivation.  It  can  be  as  free  and 
wonderful  as  any,  little  tufts  of  dozens  upon  dozens 
of  varying  blues  that  are  worth  a  long  journey  to 
see.  It  is  easy  to  raise  from  seed  and  easily  divisible 
after  flowering.  Put  down  in  half  shade  a  patch 
of  really  stiff  loam  that  inclines  to  clay,  and  there, 
if  suitably  enriched,  you  can  be  sure  of  the  almost 
extinct  double  forms,  in  white,  yellow  and  red,  doing 
well.  They  are  pretty  little  flowers,  carried  on  by 
division  as  they  form  no  seeds,  that  it  is  a  pity  to 
lose. 

Every  week — until  July  is  passed — sees  some 
new  beauty  expanded,  reaching  the  climax  in 
April  and  May  and  1  think  the  best  way  will  be 
to  glance,  according  to  their  months,  at  just  a  few 
of  them. 

During  April,  one  of  the  most  forceful  colours  of 
all  is  provided  by  the  wonderful  moisture-loving 
P.  rosea.  This  dies  out  again  and  again,  unless 
planted  where  it  is  aiwa^^  abundantly  supplied 
with  moisture  but,  when  happy,  makes  a  very 
close  and  compact  little  rosette  of  leathery  leaves, 
surmounted  by  trusses  of  carmine-pink  Polyanthus- 
like flowers,  sometimes  as  many  a?  half  a  dozen 
being  produced  by  a  single  plant. 

Those  charming  mauve  flowers,  produced  singly 
or  in  pairs,  are  P.  Allionii,  and  please  note  how 
happily  it  thrives  in  that  rock-crevice,  where  it 
will  continue  to  flower  almost  until  midsummer. 
Not  far  away,  sheltered  somewhat  by  an  over- 
hanging crag  and  surrounded  by  chippings  so  that 
the  soil  cannot  become  splashed  upon  its  wonderful 
gold  farina,  is  P.  bullata,  a  Chinese  species,  with 
lance-shaped  leaves  and  golden  yellow  flowers. 
It  loves  shelter  and  lime,  hence  the  limestone 
chippings  that  surround  it.  P.  elatior,  the  Bardfield 
Oxlip  of  the  fields,  both  in  its  moie  familiar  yellow 
and  several  coloiu"s,  thrives  an^'where  and  is  a  good 
perennial.  P.  Forbesii,  often  grown  in  pots,  is 
never  quite  dependable  in  the  open  groimd  ;  sharp 
winters  invariably  kill  it,  but  it  is  worth  keeping 
in  pots  in  a  cold  frame  and  planting  out  in  spring 
to  flower — a  treatment  often  afforded  to  many  a 
less  valuable  plant.  Given  a  rich  sandy  loam  and 
plenty  of  leaf  mould,  the  fine  downy  foliage  will 
develop  to  perfection  and  the  flower  stems  will 
attain  a  height  of  6ins.  to  gins.  The  floweis  are 
magnificent,  Jin.  to  Jin.  across,  a  lovely  rosy  pink 
with  deep  orange  centre.  P.  hirsuta,  a  very 
desirable  alpine  Primula  with  woody  stems  and 
rosettes  of  handsome  leaves  covered  with  downy 
glandular  hairs,  should  not  be  omitted.  The 
flowers  arise  in  umbels,  varying  from  carmine  to 
purple.  This  plant  flourishes  best  in  very 
well  drained  sandy  loam  and  peat  that  runs 
deeply  between  crevices  and  fissures  in  the  rocks. 
A  variety  or  hybrid  of  this  is  P.  x  pubescens  alba 
(P.  nivalis  of  gardens),  one  of  the  most  charming  of 
April-flowering  species.  P.  involucrata  also  needs 
the  margin  of  the  bog  to  succeed,  as  do  so  many  of 
the  Himalayan  species,  and  then  rises  to  a  height 
of  Gins.  The  plant  itself  is  in  the  form  of  a  rosette 
of  bright  shining  leaves,  with  numerous  stems  of 
fragrant  bluifh  white  flowers  in  umbels.     P.  scotica 


is  one  of  our  own  native  species  that  is  considered 

— by  some — to  be  onl>  a  variety  of  P.  farinosa,  the 

Bird's  Eye  Primrose.     The  plants  are  very  irregular 

in  their  flowering,  sometimes  deferring  this  until  as 

late     as    June.     They    succeed    best     treated     as 

biennials.     With  the  month 

of    May,   however,    comes 

the  zenith  horn:  of  Primula 

time,    when    fresh    species 

crowd  upon  the  stage  one 

after      another,      until  — 

wherever    one     looks  — 

Piimulas  seem  to  hold  all 

*he     important     positions. 

though     Saxifragas     run 

them  very  close. 

Prominent  at  this 
season  is  P.  cortusoides, 
of  gardens,  with  lovely 
clusters  of  deep  rosy  pink 
flowers.  It  is  readily 
raised  from  seed  and  loves 
a  sheltered  home  where  a 
large  stone  or  shrub  pro- 
tects from  cutting  winds, 
though  it  must  not  be 
unduly  shaded.  A  relative 
of  the  Bird  s  Eye  Primrose, 
though  larger  and  finer  in 
every  way,  is  P.  longiflora, 
with  lovely  de;p  lilac 
flowers,  the  tube  of  which 
often  runs  to  an  inch  in 
length.  It  is  a  species 
that  needs  a  little  care, 
planting  on  a  slightly 
elevated  position  in  moist 
fibrous  soil,  covered  during 
summer  with  a  layer  of 
small  stone  chippings  to 
check  evaporation.  P. 
saxatilis  is  another  gem, 
one  of  those  vividly 
coloured  light  -  growing 
little  plants  that  count. 
The  leaves  are  small  and 
the  flower  stems — which 
are  very  numerous  — rise 
to  a  height  of  about 
6ins.,  with  clusters  of 
vivid  rose  pink  blooms 
at  the  top. 

One  hardly  knows 
whether  to  place  the 
Auricula  under  April  or 
May  for  the  flowering 
season,  for  different  plants 
always  flower  at  ditTerent 
seasons,  so  that  they 
overlap  from  the  latter 
half  of  April  into  May 
What  richness  and 
depth  of  satisfaction  there 
is  in  the  glorious  velvets- 
flowers  !  Vivid  golden 
yellow,  soft  primrose,  helio- 
trope, crimson, fawn. brown. 
purple,  all  with  conspicu- 
ous eye  and  with  the  colour 
paling  off  slightly  towards 
the  edge  of  the  petals. 
Roimd  the  edges  of  large 


beds,  in  great  clumps  on  the  mixed  borders  and 
here  and  there  in  the  rock  garden,  the  display  they 
make  is  superb.  Surely,  the  acme  of  Primula 
refinement  has,  in  them,  been  attained.  Slightly 
less  refined,   perhaps,   but   a  f^rand  old  flower  all 


PRIMULA    MARGINATA    IS    BEAUTIFUL    IN    FLOWER    AND 
INTERESTING    IN    FOLIAGE. 


ONE    OF    THE    FINEST    OF    THE    AURICULA-LEAVED    PRIMULAS- 
PRIMULA    HIRSUTA    CILIATA, 


April  8,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


161 


the  same,  the  Polyanthus  wins  easily  when  it  comes 
to  mere  garden  display.  The  lighter  colours  are 
especially  showy.  One  loves  to  have  these  in  great 
masses,  not  by  dozens,  but  hundreds — or  thousands. 
Packed  closely  with  Tulips  between  they  give  a 
display  on  two  levels  that  no  summer  scene  can 
excel  for  colour  intensity.  Tulips  of  ijins.  and 
upwards  in  stature  should  be  chosen  for  thus  inter- 
planting,  so  that  they  are  well  rleai  of  the  heads 
of  the  Polyanthuses.  Does  the  Polyanthus  provide 
any  material  for  the  rock  garden  ?  Certainly  it 
does.  Are  there  not  the  superb  gold  laced  forms 
where,  allied  to  a  rich  petal  so  deeply  coloured  as 
to  appear  almost  black,  you  have  a  sharply  marked 
clear  gold  margin,  picking  out  the  flower  in  very 
strikmg  manner  ?  Then,  too,  the  blue,  a  rarely  seen 
flower  although  perfectly  easy  to  raise  in  quantit\ 
from  seed.  The  plants  are  perfectly  hardy  and 
nearly  as  vigorous  as  the  commoner  t>'pe.  Seed 
should  be  saved  only  from  plants  bearing  the 
cleanest  and  bluest  flowers.  It  is  surprising  how 
it  is  possible  to  improve  the  strain. 

P.  marginata  is  invariably  charming  as  it 
nestles  down  in  its  littb  pocket  and  can  always 
be  distinguished  by  the  silvery  meal  margin  that 
decorates  each  leaf  as  though  touched  by  some 
unusual  hoar  frost.  The  flowers  are  a  soft  violet 
rose  and  sweetly  fragrant.  The  best  way  is  to 
replant  annually,  sinking  right  down  to  the  lowest 
leaves,  for  the  plant  is  a  regular  stilt-walker  and 
raises  itself  high  above  the  soil  in  a  very  short 
space  of  time.  Where  replanting  is  neglected,  the 
plant  is  but  short  lived,  for  the  roots,  that  push 
from  the  stems,  perish,  and  no  amount  of  top  dressing 
suffices  to  keep  the  plants  "  earthed  up."  P.  Parryi 
must  be  placed  where  the  roots  aie  always  really 
wet  ;  it  is  almost  impossible  to  provide  too  much 
moisture,  provided  this  does  not  stagnate.  The 
flowers  are  nearly  an  inch  across,  borne  on  stems 
ift.  high,  in  heads  of  about  a  dozen  and  of  deep 
tjTian  purple.  P.  Sieboldi  luxmiates  in  a  light, 
moist,  open  soil,  where  the  roots  can  creep  just 
below  the  surface,  for  they  have  the  unusual  property 
of  forming  eyes  here  and  there  as  they  extend,  thus 
giving  lise  to  new  plants.  This  enables  the  many 
beautiful  named  types  to  be  reproduced  perfectly 
true.     These  include  some  of  the  grandest  of  all 


VARYING    A    LITTLE    IN    ITS    SLATY    HUE,    THERE    IS    MUCH    QUIET    CHARM    IN 

PRIMULA    INVOLUCRATA. 


rock  garden  Primulas,  with  a  wide  colour  range 
and  great  freedom  of  flowering,  some  of  the  most 
beautiful  having  fringed  edges  to  the  petals.  This 
beautiful  species  is  not,  however,  hardy  everywhere. 
P.  villosa  claims  to  be  one  of  the  oldest  species 
grown  in  gardens  and  is  readily  recognised  by  the 
leaves,  which  are  slightly  sticky  on  both  sides 
It  is  an  easy  form  to  grow,  simple  to  divide  and 
readily  raised  from  seed.  P.  Arctotis  is  a  very 
interesting  plant  to  possess  as  it  is  a  hybrid  between 
viscosa  and  P.  Amicula,  with  spoon-shaped  leaves 
and  white  or  lilac  flowers.     P.  calycina  has  leaves 


PERHAPS^THE    BRIGHTEST    ROSE-COLOURED     FLOWER    THAT    GROWS — PRIMULA    ROSEA. 


that  are  glossy  above  and  glaucous  on  the  imderside 
with  small  trusses  of  purple  flowers. 

Growing  in  large  loose-leaved  rosettes  P.  carniolica 
is  a  very  desuable  species,  especially  its  variety 
multiceps,  which  bears  larger  and  deeper  blue 
flowers  than  the  type.  These  are  in  heads,  from 
three  to  ten  in  number,  on  stalks  between  3ins.  and 
4ins.  high,  with  light  centre;.  For  rich  moist  borders 
or  open  parts  of  the  rock  garden,  P.  luteola  is  a  very 
showy  form  by  reason  of  the  depth  of  its  round 
heads  of  pale  yellow  flowers,  a  striking  contrast 
to  the  deeper  centre.  Lest  you  pass  it  by,  stoop 
down  and  look  closely  at  the  Fairy  Primrose  (P. 
minima).  Minute  indeed  are  its  proportions  for  it 
is  only  between  lin.  and  2ins.  high,  with  foliage 
scarce  half  an  inch  in  length.  The  flowers  are 
generally  solitary,  occasionally  to  be  foimd  in  pairs 
and  generally  rose  pink  in  colour,  more  rarely  quite 
while.  The  plants  flourish  in  chinks  between  rocks, 
where  they  can  fuck  their  roots  deeply  into  moist 
light  loamy  earth.  The  plant  is  of  special  value 
to  those  interested  in  hybridisation,  for  minima  has 
a  great  disposition  to  fertilise  with  other  varieties, 
growing  near  it.  Therefore  the  deliberate  transfer 
of  the  poUen  gives  a  good  chance  of  something 
r.cw. 

P.  uniflora  is  a  worthy  species  with  which  to 
conclude  our  May-flowering  forms  and  a  most 
unusual  and  interesting  plant.  The  flowers  are 
pale  lilac  in  colour,  usually  one,  but  sometimes  a 
couple  on  the  scape  and  exceed  in  size  that  of  the 
whole  rosette  of  small  leaves.  It  must  be  gro\\Ti  in 
patches  so  as  to  seciu-e  the  best  effect,  the  plants 
appreciating  a  moist  sandy  soil  and  a  sheltered 
position. 

I  have  not  attempted  to  mention  all  the  species 
— even  all  the  good  species,  let  alone  hybrids  and 
varieties,  which  make  the  rockery  beautiful  at 
the  season  under  notice.  I  have  not  spoken,  for 
instance,  of  those  allies  of  P.  Sieboldi,  P.  Veitchii 
and  the  even  more  beautiful  lichiangensis  with  its 
curious  rich  brown  calyces,  nor  of  the  many  beauti- 
ful hybrid  miniature  Auriculas,  such  as  should 
properly  be  classed  as  P.  x  pubescens  var.  Mis  J.  H 
Wilson,  or  what  not,  but  which,  too  often,  are  set 
down  as  forms  of  viscosa  or  hirsuta.    H.  W.  C.-W. 


162 


THE     GARDEN. 


[April  8,  1922. 


BORDER     CARNATIONS     FOR     THE 

BORDER 

Their  treatment  at  this  season  to  produce  the  best  results. 


THOSE  who  are  fortunate  in  their  gardens 
are  able  to  indulge  in  autumn  planting 
in  full  confidence  that  when  March  arrives 
and  their  Carnations  commence  the 
season's  activities  the  stock  will  be  fairly 

complete,  and,  what  is  a  great  asset,  well  established. 
The  less  fortunate  must  winter  their   Carnations 

in  frames  and  plant  them  out  at  about  the  present 

time. 

It  does  not  seem  so  long  ago  when  the  rival 

virtues  of  autumn  and  spring  planting  were  the 

subject     of      much     con- 

toversy,       each      school 

"upholding    their  various 

opinions,"     though     with- 
out undue  heat.    As  ever, 

Nature  has  the  last  word, 

but  it  is  generally  agreed 

that,      where      soil       and 

climate     permit,     autumn 

planting  is  to  be  preferred 

with  the  hardy  sorts,   and 

the     reasons     are     fairly 

obvious.   The  recent  heavy 

rains  which  have  been  so 

welcome     in     replenishing 

our  depleted  store  of  water 

have    caked     the     surface 

soil  in  many   gardens   and 

where  the    Carnations    are 

already     established      the 

first   work  connected  with 

them  is  to  ply  the  hoe  to 

loo.sen  and  aerate  the  =oil. 

Ahg'it  appIic.Ttion  of  some 

chemical  stimulant  at  in- 
tervals from  now  onwards, 

till    the    flowering    season 

arrives,     will    be      very 

beneficial.      The     chief 

Carnation   specialists  offer 

mixtures  which  they  claim 

to    have    found    valuable 

and  the  excellence  of  their 

flowers  fully    justifies   the 

assertion.  For  those  who 
prefer   to   mix   their   own 

fertilisers  the  following 
formulae  are  suggested. 
Sulphate  of  ammonia  3 
ozs.  and  super  phosphate 
4  ozs.  per  square  yard. 
This  is  a  good  stimulant 
if  the  Carnation  bed  was 
well  made  previous  to 
planting  out  the  runners. 
Where  doubts  exist  it 
would  be  weU  to  add  i  oz. 
of  nitrate  of  potash  to  the 
above.      But  whatever 

mixture  is  used  care  must  be  taken  not  to  spread 
any  on  the  leaves  as  they  are  liable  to  be  scorched. 
When  making  preparations  for  planting  out  the 
young  plants  that  have  been  wintered  in  frames, 
the  two  chief  cssenti:ils  for  success  with  Carnations 
should  be  kept  well  in  mind.  Carnations  abhore 
shade,  insisting  on  direct  light.  Good  cultivation 
must  be  practised.  These  points  observed  it  will 
be  found  that,  given  healthy  stock  to  commence 
with.  Carnation  growing  is  a  comparatively  easy 
matter.  Although  the  Carnation  will  grow  and 
flower  well  in  the  average  flower  garden  soil,  when 
properly  prepared,  the  ideal  soil  is  a  medium  loam 


(one  that  is  neither  light  or  sandy  nor  inclined  to-be 
clayey),  that  contains  enough  grit  to  render  it 
porous.  In  cold  gardens  where  rain  water  is 
liable  to  lie  on  the  surface  it  is  wise  to  make  raised 
beds  over  ample  drainage,  but  otherwise  they  are 
best  on  the  level.  Lime  in  some  form  is  a  necessity 
for  good  Carnations  and  when  old  mortar  rubble 
can  be  procured  this  is  one  of  the  best  methods  of 
providing  it.  Should  the  soil  be  poor  in  plant  food 
it  will  be  necessary  to  add  manure,  and  any  of  the 
customary  forms  will  be  suitable,  always  provided 


provides  an  efficient  and  cheap  phosphatic  manure 
for  spring  as  well  as  autumn  use.  For  Carnations 
it  can  well  be  used  at  the  rate  of  quite  40ZS.  to  the 
square  yard  and  should  be  well  mixed  with  the 
soil,  keeping  it  away  from  the  surface  and  down  in 
the  root  run. 

Where  a  good  show  of  bloom  is  desired  and  fresh 
plants  are  set  out  annually,  a  distance  of  lains.  to 
ijins.  may  be  allowed  from  plant  to  plant,  but  if 
the  plants  are  to  remain  for  two  seasons  they  wiU 
require  an  additional  3ins.  each.  A  common  error 
when  planting  is  that  of  setting  the  plants  too 
deeply  in  the  soil.  This  should  be  avoided  and  the 
crown  of  the  plant  kept  up  as  much  as  possible, 
always  provided  that  the  roots  are  sufficiently 
covered  with  soil.  An  objection  to  shallow  planting 
is  that  there  is  a  danger  of  wind  disturbance,  but 
this  may  easily  be  guarded  against  by  either  tying 
each  plant  to  a  short  stake  or  by  placing  three 
closely  around  the  plant. 

The  selection  of  varieties  is  always  a  matter  open 
to  much  criticism  and  div^ergence  of  opinion,  but  I 
will  hazard  the  following  as  being  a  satisfactory 
dozen.  Bookham  White,  Border  Yellow,  Dora 
Blick  (orange-apricot  with  a  sheen  of  gold), 
Elizabeth  Shiffner  (a  handsome  orange-bufi), 
Fujiyama  (an  intense  scarlet).  Grey  Douglas  (a 
fascinating  deep  heliotrope  with  a  sheen  of  French 
grey),  Gordon  Douglas  (bright  crimson).  Duchess 
of  Wellington  (lavender).  Innocence  (pale  salmon 
pink,  almost  a  blush  pink),  Mrs.  A.  Brotherston 
(heavily  splashed  with  crimson-purple  on  white 
ground,  clove  scented).  Rosy  Morn  (fine  rose  pink), 
and  last,  but  not  least,  Bookham  Clove,  a  splendid 
crimson  flower  with  a  delicious  perfume  which 
"  rivals  the  old  Clove."  This  latter  may  be  a 
matter  of  opinion,  but  it  certainly  is  the  best  clove- 
scented  Carnation  we  possess  to-day,  though  it 
cannot  equal  the  old  original  Clove  Carnation, 
which  has  so  long  been  lost  to  our  gardens,  of 
which  it  was  said  that  the  perfume  was  so  strong 
and  powerful  that  one  plant  would  scent  a  whole 
garden.  A.  Cecil  Bartlett. 


A    BORDER    OF    CARNATIONS    APPROACHING    BLOSSOM,    SHOWING 
METHOD    OF    SUPPORTING    WITH    SHORT    TWIGGY    STICKS. 


that  it  is  not  too  fresh  and  raw.  Spent  Mushroom 
beds  or  matured  farmyard  manure  that  can  be 
broken  up,  are  the  ideal  forms  of  organic  manure. 
Failing  these  use  must  be  made  of  such  as  bone 
meal,  basic  slag  and  superphosphate  of  lime.  Bone 
meal  is  not  the  most  economical  source  of  phos- 
phates, but  it  is  safe  and  sure  and  for  a  special 
purpose  the  little  extra  expense  is  often  not  a  great 
matter.  Formerly  basic  slag  was  used  almost 
solely  as  a  winter  dressing,  because  in  the  form 
then  only  available  it  was  very  slow  acting,  but 
with  improved  machinery  and  methods  it  can  now 
be    obtained    ground    much    more    finely,    and    so 


A     BEAUTIFUL 
CLEMATIS 

.'\monc  the  more  vigorous  climbing  section,  C. 
Jouiniana  is  one  of,  if  not  the  best  hybrid  of  the 
Clematises  raised  in  gardens.  Its  parents  are  C. 
Davidiana,  one  of  the  heracle^folia  or  sub-shrubby 
section,  and  our  native  species,  C.  Vitalba,  the 
Traveller's  Joy  of  our  hedgerows.  Free  and 
strong  in  growth,  it  is  an  ideal  climber  for  arches 
and  pergolas.  One  of  the  best  uses  to  which  I 
have  seen  it  put  is  clothing  a  very  large  stool  of 
a  Beech  tree.  When  the  tree  was  grubbed  up, 
instead  of  disposing  of  the  base,  it  was  turned  over, 
half-a-dozen  plants  of  this  Clematis  were  planted 
round  it,  and  to-day  every  part  of  the  stool  is  hidden 
with  leaves  and  flowers.  The  leaves  are  dark  green 
in  colour,  with  almost  a  leathery  texture.  The 
flowers  are  white,  tinged  with  blue,  especially  on 
the  outside,  about  an  inch  across,  and  are  freely 
produced  in  axillary  panicles.  In  one  catalogue  the 
colour  is  described  as  mauvy  white.  One  of  the 
most  important  features  of  this  hybiid  is  that  it  is 
autumn-flowering.  Commencing  early  in  September, 
plenty  of  blooms  are  usually  to  be  found  on  the 
plants  till  frosts  intervene.  Unfortunately,  some 
confusion  exists  with  regard  to  the  name.  In 
many  gardens  this  plant  is  grown  as  C.  grata, 
but  the  true  plant  bearing  this  name  is  a  Himalayan 
species.  The  latter,  however,  is  very  rare, 
and  readers  who  obtain  a  plant  under  either  of 
the  names  mentioned  will  be  fairly  sure  to  get 
C.  Jouiniana.  A.  O. 


April  8,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


163 


ECONOMICAL    WATER-GARDENING 

Much  water  and,  conseqimitly,  money  is  wasted  through  bad  planning   and  faulty  construction. 

Follow  some  hints  on  sound  construction  and  wise  design. 


THERE  are,  throughout  England,  many 
Lily  ponds  and  water  gardens  of  which 
the  only  source  of  supply  is  surface 
drainage  from  land  near  by,  and,  it  may 
be,  from  the  roofs  of  buildings.  Such  an 
arrangement  is  never  over-satisfactory,  since  in 
■wet  weather  much  water  is  emptied  into  the 
tanks  or  ponds  in  little  time,  while  in  periods  of 
•drought  the  level  of  the  water  falls  very  consider- 
ably or  it  may  even  fail  altogether.  It  is  astonishing 
what  resistance  Nymphjcas  offer  to  such  conditions 
o."  drought,  but  the  waterside  planting  inevitably 
dies  out  and  the  drying  ponds,  if  anywhere  near 


Water  power  is  really,  in  our  climate,  much 
more  amenable  than  wind  power,  and  in  many 
country  places  a  good  and  continuous  supply  is 
provided  at  a  purely  nominal  running  cost  by  the 
use  of  hydraulic  rams.  For  domestic  supply  the 
power  is  usually  provided  by  a  convenient  brook 
and  the  water  delivered  by  a  well,  but  where  the 
garden  only  has  to  be  provided  for,  the  brook 
water  itself  is  usually  preferable  to  the  cold 
spring  water,  so  desirable  for  drinking  and  cooking 
purposes. 

So  much  for  the  original  supply,  but  it  is  rather 
of  the  economical  use  of  water  in   the   garden — 


outlet  very  much  lower  down  will  then  supply 
water  to  the  standpipes  with  hose  connexions 
which  are  so  great  a  stand-by  in  the  garden. 
When,  some  hot  summer's  evening,  an  orgy  of 
watering  is  in  progress,  the  trickle  to  the  water 
garden  will  probably  go  dry  for  a  few  hours,  but 
that  will  matter  little  if  at  all. 

Now  for  the  arrangement  of  the  waterways  after 
the  precious  fluid  has  left  the  securely  jointed 
iron  pipes  which  re-deUver  it  to  the  light  of  day. 
In  order  that  it  may  not  be  lost  as  it  trickles 
through  the  rock  garden  the  channels  should  be 
cemented  below  the  level.     The  stones  over  which 


^W^kS^9< 


or^C  Jit  ft' 


o/^C  TIC  A/     jAeutnj 


} 
\ 


9..d 


The  illustration  depicts  the  overflow  from  a  Lily  tank  in  the  more  formal  part  of  the  garden  supplying  the  trickle   of  water   which 
so  enhances  the  appearance  of  the  rockery,  next  watering  the  moraine  and  finally  tnaintaining  the  informal  pond  in  the  rock  garden. 


the  residence,  become  an  insufferable  nuisance,  at 
once  an  offence  to  the  sense  of  smell  and  a  source 
of  danger  to  health. 

It  is  apparent,  therefore,  that  unless  a  reUable 
natural  supply  is  to  hand  some  arrangement  should 
be  in  existence  to  maintain  the  water  supply. 
In  many  suburban  gardens  this  is,  no  doubt, 
most  readily  effected  by  "  liying  on  "  the  water 
supplied  by  a  company  cr  public  body,  but  it 
must  always  be  borne  in  mind  that  such  supplies 
are  but  too  liable  arbitrarily  to  be  cut  off  in  time 
•of  unusual  drought — just  when,  in  fact,  they  are 
most  needed. 

What  then  remains  ?  There  are  ver\'  few 
'localities  in  which  a  well  may  not  be  sunk  to  reach 
■ft-ater  at  a  depth  of  looft.  or  less.  In  some  districts 
a  very  few  feet  suffices  to  provide  an  excellent 
-supply.  Such  a  well,  if  the  water  be  not  too  hard, 
will,  with  the  assistance  cf  an  oil-driven  pump, 
provide  an  ample  supply.  A  few  j'ears  ago  there 
■was  a  big  demand  for  wind-driven  water  pumps 
"which,  although  admittedly  ugly,  were  supposed 
■to  pump  water  with  little  further  cost  than  the 
original  outlay.  Experience  has,  however,  proved 
that  while  some  of  these  windmills  are  better 
■designed  and  more  effective  than  others,  the  best 
of  them,  owing  to  the  cost  of  repairs,  renewals  and 
upkeep,  are  little,  if  any,  cheaper  in  working  than 
the  power  pump.  They  are  not,  in  consequence, 
being  installed  to-day  to  anything  like  the  extent 
that  they  were  a  decade  or  so  ago. 


since  it  is  often  expensive  to  procure — that  the 
writer  wishes  to  treat. 

The  same  water  may  usually  be  made  use  of 
to  provide  the  very  desirable  trickle  in  the  rock 
garden,  to  water  the  "moraine "  and  to  supply  the 
water  garden.  For  this  reason  it  is  very'  desirable 
to  decide  upon  the  lay-out  of  these  three  features 
at  the  same  time,  even  though,  for  one  reason  or 
another,  it  is  not  intended  to  construct  them  all 
simultaneously. 

It  is  wonderful  what  effects  and  benefits  may  be 
obtained  with  proper  precautions  from  the  supply 
produced  by  a  half-inch  pipe  !  The  water,  by  the 
engine  or  ram  as  the  case  may  be.  should  be  deh\'ered 
to  a  large  tank  which,  if  circumstances  permit, 
may  be  built  in  adjacent  high  ground,  but  as  they 
very  seldom  do  permit,  usually  occupies  the  top 
floor  of  a  water-tower.  .Such  towers  are  certainly 
most  "  eyeable  "  when  built  of  orthodox  materials, 
such  as  brick  or  stone,  and  properly  roofed.  Their 
lower  storej-s  then  become  available  for  some 
purpose  for  which  space  must  be  provided.  There 
are  many  cases,  however,  in  which  the  house  is 
already  in  existence,  and  a  water  supply  is  urgently 
required  but  no  additional  outbuildings.  The 
large  cylindrical  steel  tanks  on  steel  gantries  then 
come  in  for  consideration  as  being  at  once  practical 
and  relatively  cheap. 

However  the  tank  be  accommodated,  the  outlet 
for  the  rock  garden  fall,  moraine  and  water  garden 
should    be    near    high-water    level    and    another 


it  runs  should  be  bedded  in  an  inch  or  two  thickness 
of  good  concrete  and  the  joints  between  the  stones 
made  good  with  strong  cement  o£  the  strength  of 
"  one  and  one  "  (one  part  clean  sharp  sand,  pre- 
ferably washed,  and  one  part  fresh,  dry  Portland 
cementl.  Bits  of  stone  bedded  in  these  joints 
before  the  cement  has  set  will  maintain  the 
appearance  of  the  work.  Whatever  pains  be  taken 
there  will  be  a  loss  of  water  in  its  progress,  however 
short,  through  the  rock  garden.  This  loss  will 
arise  partly  by  the  splash,  which  will  enable  Fems 
and  damp-loving  plants  to  flourish,  and,  especially 
in  summer,  very  largely  by  evaporation.  Where 
the  supply  is  limited,  therefore,  one  should  not  take 
the  water  by  too  devious  a  route. 

We  will  suppose  that,  in  natural  sequence, 
the  water  next  supplies  the  "  moraine." 
"  Moraines,"  when  first  attempted  in  Britain, 
usually  had  a  sloping  concreted  bottom  down  which 
the  water  trickled  on  its  way  to  the  outlet.  There 
was,  of  course,  a  loss  by  the  capillary  action  for 
which  the  water  was  provided,  but  there  was  no 
measurable  loss  by  soaking  away.  Experience 
has  proved  the  concreted  moraine  unsatisfactory, 
so,  to  avoid  total  loss,  the  bed  of  the  moraine 
should  be  made  quite  steep  and  no  attempt  should 
be  made  at  the  underground  pool,  which  was  the 
first  idea  of  moraine  makers.  If  the  supply  is 
taken  direct  to  the  moraine  the  pipe  may  be 
taken  across  the  head  of  the  latter,  and  so 
perforated  as  to  water  every  part,  but  where,  as 


164 


THE     GARDEN. 


[April  8,  1922. 


suggested,  the  moraine  is  supplied  from  the  rock 
garden  trickle,  the  moraine  should  not  be  over- 
wide  or  parts  may  quite  fail  to  receive  their  share 
of  water. 

We  have  now  left  to  consider  the  water  garden 
proper.  Where  this  consists  of  a  little  more  than 
a  Lily  tank  the  matter  is  a  comparatively  simple 
one  from  a  constructional  point  of  view — its 
design  is  another  matter.  Such  a  tank  should  have 
a  base  of  best  concrete  at  least  6ins.  thick,  this 
being  itself  faced  with  a  highly  smoothed  surface 
of  "  two  and  one,"  or  if  the  sand  is  not  quite  first- 
rate,  of  "  one  and  one "  cement.  "  Rendered, 
floated  and  set  "  is  the  trade  designation  for  the 
finish  which  should  be  given.  The  sides  may  be  of 
concrete  similarly  faced  with  cement,  but  they 
will  look  better  if  formed  of  stone,  or  even  brick, 
filled  in  solid  behind  to  a  depth  of  6ins.  or  so  with 
grouted  concrete.  This  operation  needs  great 
care  or  the  tank  may  prove  leaky,  and  its  repair 
will  considerably  inflate  the  total  cost. 

An  informal  pond  with  surrounding  bogland 
presents  other  problems.  This  may  be  concreted 
in  the  way  already  described,  but  the  concrete 
must  pass  right  under  the  bogland  which  surrounds 
the  water  and  must  either  be  "  dished  "  so  that 


it  rises  above  water  level  at  the  edges  or  a  proper 
watertight  wall,  as  already  described,  must  run 
behind  it — below  the  ground,  of  course.  If  an 
extensive  waterside  bog  garden  is  contemplated 
a  good  water  supply  must  be  arranged  for 
as  the  evaporation  from  the  bogland  is 
much  more  rapid  than  from  the  surface  of 
the  water  itself. 

The  waterside  bog  is  ideal  for  the  huge  Cande- 
labra Primulas — pulverulenta,  japonica,  Bulleyana, 
helodcxa,  sikkimensis,  etc. — for  Spiraeas,  Saxifraga 
peltata  and  other  large-growing  water-loving 
plants,  but  where  little  colonies  of  the  water- 
loving  Gentians,  Pinguiculas,  Sarracenias,  Tril- 
liums,  Cypripedium  spectabile,  Saxifraga  granulata 
and  even  Primula  rosea  are  desired,  it  will  be  well 
to  provide  a  miniature  bog  supplied  with  running, 
rather  than  stagnant  water  between  the  moraine 
and  pool  level.  This  is  easily  contrived,  and  since 
water-loving  plants  are  almost  invariably  fascinat- 
ing, very  desirable. 

Of  the  planting  of  these  various  desirable 
features — the  moraine,  the  rockery  trickle,  the 
running  bog.  the  pool  and  the  waterside — all 
of  interest  during  the  coming  month  or  so,  we 
shall  hope  to  write  during  the  next  few  weeks. 


THE    USE   OF    NETTING    IN    THE    FRUIT 

GARDEN 

The  cultivator  of  hardy  fruits,  with  many  years'  experience,  knows  well  how  essential 

it  is  to  success  that  sufficient  netting  be  available  and  that   it  he   kept   dry   and  in 

the  best  condition  possible.      The  time  has  come   again   when   every   effort  must   he 

made  to  preserve  the  fruit  blossom  from  damage  by  frost. 


THE  judicious  placing  of  nets  over  fruit 
trees  on  walls  not  only  preserves  the 
blossom  from  being  spoiled  by  frost, 
but  hastens  the  setting  of  the  young 
fruits  and  their  early  growth.  Even 
two  folds  of  fish-netting  will  make  a  difference 
of  4°  of  heat  near  the  wall  surface  Then  there 
is  the  question  of  the  measurement  of  netting 
when  the  cultivator  is  buying  it.  The  square- 
mesh  net  spreads  out  more  satisfactorily  than 
the  diamond-shaped.  One  hundred  yards  of  the 
latter  will  not,  when  spread  out  to  cover  a  wall 
surface,  cover  more  than  about  60  square  yards. 
One  hundred  yards  of  the  square-mesh  netting 
will  effectively  cover  about  80  square  yards. 
Cultivators  should  bear  this  in  mind  when  ordering 
nets  from  the  merchant  or  manufacturer,  as  the 
latter  generally  measure  the  net  laterally  and 
longitudinally  respectively.  One  thickness  of 
small — lin.  mesh — netting  will  be  sufiicicnt,  but 
the  herring-net  size  will  require  to  be  placed  on 
folded  double. 

As  frost  strikes  downwards,  it  will  only  be 
necessary  to  cover  two-thirds  of  the  wall  space 
from  the  top  downwards.  Under  the  coping 
make  a  strong  wire  secure  to  the  wall ;  from 
this  wire  stretch  other  wires  to  stakes  driven 
into  the  ground  3ft.  from  the  wall  and  5ft.  apart. 
These  wires  wiU  support  the  nets  and  prevent 
them  blowing  against  the  trees  when  strong  winds 
prevail.  The  nets  should  be  fastened  to  the 
wire  under  the  coping  of  the  wall,  and,  when  let 
down,  made  secure  to  the  stakes  by  means  of 
strong  cord.  Nets  should  never  be  allowed  to 
lie  on  the  ground  when  not  actually  in  use,  as 
they  soon  rot. 

To  protect  the  blossom  of  choice  bush  and 
espalier  Apples  and  Pears  it  is  much  the  best 
plan  to  put  up  a  light  wooden  frame  or  strong 
wires  to  a  few  wooden  or  iron  posts.     The  tops 


of  each  post  should  be  covered  with  a  tuft  of 
hay  or  dried  grass,  made  secure  by  tying  with 
string,  to  form  knobs,  which  will  prevent  the 
nets  being  torn.  The  supports  for  the  nets 
should  be  quite  i8ins  above  the  highest  branches 
of  each  tree.  In  the  case  of  espalier  trees,  cross- 
laths  should  be  fastened  to  upright  stakes  driven 
in  near  the  centre  of  the  tree  and  5ft.  apart.  The 
stakes  should  be  about  ift.  above  the  tree,  and 
it  wires  are  fixed  to  the  ends  of  the  T-shaped 
cross-laths,  the  nets  will  have  a  good  frame  to 
bear  them  up  quite  free  of  the  branches  and 
blossom.  It  is  an  easy  matter  to  make  the  ends 
of  the  nets  fast  to  short  stakes  driven  into 
the  ground  at  a  suitable  distance  from  the  tree 
itself. 

Although  the  leaves  of  Strawberry  plants 
protect  much  blossom,  the  greater  part  of  it  is 
exposed  to  frosts  if  they  occur,  and  some  artificial 
protection  is  necessary.  I  have  found  the 
following  simple  method  very  useful  and  effective. 
Stakes  were  driven  into  the  ground  in  rows  8ft. 
apart  from  stake  to  stake,  the  rows  being  6ft. 
asunder.  The  stakes  were  2ft.  above  ground, 
and  wires  were  fastened  to  the  tops  of  them  and 
secured  to  other  stakes  driven  into  the  ground 
at  the  ends  of  each  row.  In  this  way  the  wires 
could  be  stretched  tightly.  All  joinings  of  the 
wires  and  the  tops  of  the  posts  bemg  covered  with 
hay  tied  securely,  there  was  little  risk  of  tearing 
the  nets  when  they  were  put  on  or  taken  off. 

I  left  the  posts  and  wires  in  position  in  readiness 
for  the  nets  again  when  the  fruits  were  ripening. 
Without  in  any  way  disturbing  the  nets,  one  could 
crawl  underneath  them  and  gather  the  ripe 
Strawberries  at  will. 

It  is  advisable  to  be  a  few  days  early 
in  fixing  the  nets  rather  than  a  few  too 
late ;  before  the  flowers  open  have  the  nets 
in  position.  George  Garner. 


TO    ASSIST    THE 
FRUIT    CROP 

Many  an  amateur's  tree  which  never  fruits 
could  be  made  productive   by  a   small   ex- 
penditure of  trouble  at  flowering  time. 

THERE  are,  it  is  well  known,  many 
varieties  of  Apples,  Plums  and  Cherries 
which  are  what  fruit  growers  call  "  self- 
sterile  "  ;  that  is  to  say,  that  their 
blossoms  must  be  fertilised  by  pollen 
from  another  variety  if  fruit   is  to  be  produced. 

The  usual  and  proper  method  of  overcoming 
this  disability  is  to  interplant  such  self-sterile 
varieties  with  another  sort  flowering  at  about 
the  same  season,  so  that  insects  "  working  "  the 
trees  will  have  every  opportunity  to  cross-poUlnate 
them.  In  the  case  of  orchard  standards  this  is 
the  only  practicable  way  of  ensuring  fertihsation, 
and  if  a  plantation  has  been  made  of,  say,  Cox's- 
Orange  Pippin,  either  some  of  the  trees  must  be 
replaced  or  the  existing  trees  must  be  "  cut  over  " 
and  reworked  with  another  variety. 

The  case  of  the  amateur  with  a  few  trees — 
either  bushes,  pyramids,  espahers,  cordons  or 
fan-trained — is,  however,  widely  different,  and  it 
is  the  amateur  who  nowadays  most  often  plants- 
self-sterile  varieties  quite  away  from  any  other 
variety  flowering  at  the  same  season. 

Much  may  be  done  by  transferring  pollen  by 
means  of  a  camel-hair  brush  or  a  rabbit's  taiJ 
to  counteract  the  error  in  planting.  Indeed, 
leaving  the  question  of  self-sterility  quite  aside, 
artificial  pollination  is,  especially  in  "  chancy " 
weather,  very  desirable  in  such  circumstances 
and  may  make  all  the  difference  between  a  good 
crop  and  an  almost  total  failure. 

Speaking  generally,  the  blossoms  which  open, 
first  are  the  finest  and  most  perfect  and  will,  it 
pollinated,  produce  the  finest  fruits,  and  a  special 
effort  should  be  made  to  "  set  "  these. 

This  question  of  self-sterility  has  not  yet  beera 
entirely  cleared  up,  but  most  of  the  wcU  known, 
cooking  Plums  are,  as  might  be  expected,  self- 
fertile.  Such  are  Victoria,  Magnum  Bonum. 
Pershore,  Purple  Egg,  Czar,  Monarch,  Belle  de 
Louvain,  Giant  Prune  and  Gisborne. 

The  choice  Gage  Plums  are  self-sterile,  as  are 
some  not  usually  classed  as  Gages,  but  which, 
are  closely  related,  such  as  Coe's  Golden  Drop, 
Coe's  Violet,  Crimson  Drop  and,  of  course,  Jefferson. 
The  pollen  of  these  four  is  said  to  be  useless  for 
fertilisation  inter  ie,  which  is  thought  to  be  due 
10  the  fact  that  the  other  three  are  all  sports- 
from  Golden  Drop.  Pond's  SeedUng  is  also- 
self-sterile. 

Frcgmore  Damson  proves  self-sterile  and 
Farleigh  Damson  partially  so,  and  it  is  well  to- 
ensure  cross  pcUination  of  Rivers'  Early  Prohfic 
and  Cox's  Emperor. 

Nearly  all  the  best  Cherries  are  quite  self-sterile, 
except  the  Morello  and  the  varieties  Late  Duke- 
(not  May  Duke)  and  Flemish  Red. 

Of  Apples  the  only  important  varieties  whicb 
are  really  self-sterile  are  Cox's  Orange  Pippin, 
Lane's  Prince  Albert,  Northern  Greening,  Gas- 
coigne's  Scarlet  and  Beauty  of  Bath  ;  but  it  is 
well  to  ensure  cross-pollination  of  Lady  Sudr-ky, 
Worcester  Pearmain  and  Bramley's  Seedling. 
The  last  named,  being  an  exceptionally  robust 
grower,  is  seldom  found  in  small  gardens. 

It  was  formerly  thought  that  the  notorious- 
difficulty  often  found  in  setting  Pear  blossom  was. 
due  to  climatic  conditions,  but  while  the  Pear 
blossom  certainly  is  easily  damaged  by  bad  weather, 
there  is  no  doubt  that  cross-pollination  would  ia 
many  instances  effect  a  striking  improvement  in 
this  regard. 


April  8,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


165 


AN  INTERESTING  SHOW  AT  THE  ROYAL 
HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY'S  HALL 


AVERY  interesting  Show  at  Vincent 
Square  on  March  28  included  something 
of  everything  reasonable  in  the  floral 
line  and  everything  was  of  very  good 
quality.  Although  the  Annual  Daffodil 
Show  is  to  be  held  a  fortnight  hence  there  were 
many  good  blooms  on  view.  They  were  mostly  of 
the  large-flowered  trumpet  varieties  and  included 
quantities  of  richly  coloured  King  Alfred,  by 
Messrs.  Carter  and  Co.,  and  such  as  .Alasnam, 
General  Joffre,  Princess  Juliana  and  Mustapha  in 
Messrs,  Barr's  fine  exhibit.  But  here  and  in  another 
instance  the  most  interesting  were  uimamed 
seedlings. 

Greenhouse  Cyclamen  were  wonderfully  good. 
Perfect  plants  mth  a  great  many  flowers  were 
shown  by  the  St.  George's  Nmrsery  Company, 
whose  very  best  were  Mrs.  L.  M.  Graves,  a  brilliant 
crimson,  and  St.  George,  which  has  bright  flowers 
and  beautifully  mottled  leaves.  Several  baskets  of 
the  frilled  Cyclamen  were  interesting  and  showy,  but 
these,  as  well  as  many  of  the  other  present  strains, 
have  lost  the  graceful  characteristic  shape  of  the 
true  Cyclamen  which  was  present  in  Sweet  Scented, 
shown  by  Messrs.  Sutton  and  Sons  with  their 
excellent  Cinerarias  and  Freesias.  This  Cyclamen 
is  almost  identical  in  appearance  with  the  original 
C.  persicvun,  and  is  deliciously  fragrant. 

From  the  flower-lover's  point  of  view  the  best 
Freesias  were  the  splendid  pots  of  F.  Excelsior, 
sent  by  F.  C.  Stoop,  Esq.,  West  Hall,  Byfleet. 
These  were  exceedingly  fragrant  and  may  be  termed 
a  glorified  F.  refracta  alba  with  a  touch  of  primrose- 
yellow. 

Among  the  various  shrubs  a  largo  bush  of 
Rhododendron  Ernest  Gill,  from  the  Falmouth 
district,  was  pre-eminent.  It  is  a  glorious  thing  — 
large,  perfect  trusses  of  rich,  glowing  pink.  These 
Himalayan  hybrids,  unfortunately,  are  not  generally 
hardy,  but  they  luxuriate  in  many  favoured  gardens 
along  the  western  shores  of  Great  Britain  as 
well  as  in  many  parts  of  the  South.  Mr.  GUI  also 
had  richly  coloured  blooms  of  Rhododendron 
barbatum,  while  Jlessrs.  Cheal  and  Sons  included 
the  hardier  R.  Jacksoni  in  their  collection  of  shrubt 
and  alpines.  Some  trusses  of  half-hardy  Rhodo- 
dendrons were  shown  by  Mr.  G.  Reuthe,  and  among 
his  uncommon  shrubs  were  two  small  specimens 
of  Vaccinium  Nummularia  and  Polygala 
rhodoptera.  His  sprays  of  Pieris  japonica,  cut 
from  thin  woodland  planting,  had  exceptionally 
white  flowers. 

Most  glorious  colour  was  provided  by  the  Azalea 
mollis,  shown  by  Messrs.  R.  and  G.  Cuthbert. 
The  masses  of  bloom  seem  to  vibrate  with  rich 
pink  shades. 

Chief  among  the  many  alpines  were  the  Saxifraf,?s 
and  these  included  Saxifraga  Russell  Prichard,  a 
very  good  white  of  Burseriana  type  ;  S.  Sunder- 
manni,  S.  retusa,  a  dainty  little  rosy  purple  ;  and 
S.  Stuartii,  with  coloured,  erect  flower-stalks. 

Forced  Roses  were  especially  beautiful  on  Mr. 
Hicks'  stand  and  included .  the  new  Madame 
Butterfly  with  Columbia  and  Premier,  two  fragrant 
deep  pink  sorts.  In  Mr.  Prince's  exhibit  there  were 
masses  of  the  old  yellow  Banksian  and  Fortune's 
Yellow. 

A  wonderful  collection  of  Dendrobiums  was 
included  by  Messrs.  Sander  in  their  gold  medal 
exhibit  of  Orchids.  Seldom  have  these  decorative 
sorts  been  shown  in  such  excellence.  Among  their 
rare  Orchids  was  a  plant  of  .Arachnanthe  Cathcartii 
St.  Albans  variety,  which  bears  hooded,  orange- 
lined  flowers  that  have  a  curious  swinging  lip  that 
sways  on  the  slightest  provocation. 


Although  not  extensive,  the  fruit  and  vegetable 
exhibits  were  interesting  and  valuable.  Sir 
Montagu  Turner  sent  a  collection  of  twenty-eight 
dishes  of  late-keeping  Apples.  Some  of  them  were 
showing  slight  signs  of  shrivelling,  but  mostly 
they  were  firm  and  apparently  crisp,  while  all  were 
of  ideal  size  and  shape.  The  best  sorts  at  this 
season  seemed  to  be  Ribston  Pippin,  American 
Mother,  Christmas  Pearmain  and  Winter  Ribston. 
This  excellent  exhibit  received  a  Hogg  Memorial 
medal.  The  first,  by  the  way,  under  the  new  rule 
that  the  Hogg  medals  are  to  be  awarded  solely 
to  fruit   exhibits  and  not   to   vegetables  as  well, 


THE    CRIMSON    SEMI-SINGLE    CLIMBING   ROSE — H.   C.    CHANDLER, 


as  has  been  the  case  in  the  past  In  future 
vegetable  collections  worthy  of  high  honour  will 
receive  Knightian  medals. 

Seven  barkets  of  Doyenne  du  Cornice  Pears, 
grown  on  the  Rhodes  Fruit  Farm,  South  Africa, 
were  on  view.  These  were  of  very  even  shape 
though  not  yet  ripe.  The  South  African  Kelfey 
Plums  were  probably  the  finest  that  have  been 
seen  in  this  country. 

The  first  Cucumbers  of  the  season  at  Vincent 
Square  were  on  show  in  an  exhibit  by  Messrs. 
Sutton  and  Sons,  and  this  also  included  beautifully 
white  Broccoli  Snow  White,  one  of  the  very  best 
late  sorts. 


NEW     AND     RARE     PLANTS. 

Asparagus    Lewisii. — In   appearance   this   new 
decorative    preenhouse    variety    suggests    a    cross 


between  A.  Sprengeri  and  A.  plumosus.  The 
growths  are  long  and  graceful  and  the  pale  green 
branches  are  flatfish.  It  might  almost  be  said 
that  this  is  an  Asparagus  trying  to  look  like  a 
climbing  Podocarpus.  It  wiU  no  doubt  be  a  useful 
plant  for  furnishing  sprays  of  greenery  for  decora- 
tive uses.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs,  J.  Lewis 
and  Son. 

Eupatorium  Rafflllii. — This  is  a  handsome 
greenhouse  plant  of  uncommon  appearance. 
The  heart-shaped  leaves  are  fully  sins,  across, 
deep  green,  lustrous,  and  their  sunken  ribs  give 
an  attractive,  crinkled  effect.  It  belongs  to  the 
Natural  Order  Compositje ;  the  flower-heads 
are  very  numerous,  spreading,  and  of  reddish 
lilac  colour,  which  is  also  prominent  on  the  hairy 
stem  and  leaf  stalks.  A  large  group  of  splendidly 
grown  plants  of  this  species  and  E.  macro- 
phyllum  was  shown.  The 
latter  differs  in  having 
softer,  paler  leaves  with- 
out the  reddish-lilac 
colour  on  the  stalks  and 
in  rather  paler  floweis. 
These  Eupatoriums  thrive 
best  in  rich  foil  and 
require  abundant  supplies 
of  water  during  the 
growing  season.  Award 
of  merit  to  Mr.  A,  Barclay 
Walker,  Firfield,  Wey- 
bridge. 

Saxifraga  H  y  b  r i  da 
Gem.— There  does  not 
seem  to  be  much  to  dis- 
tinguish this  variety  from 
S,  Irvingii  other  than 
that  the  flowers  are  a 
trifle  paler.  However,  it 
it  a  very  pretty  little 
alpine  plant  and  those  on 
view  were  very  free- 
flowering.  Award  of  merit 
to  Mr.  Maurice  Pilchard. 

Rose  H.  C.  Chandler. 
— ■  This  semi-single  rich 
crimson  tlimber  is  very 
pleasing  in  form  and  if 
a  good  doer  and  free 
should  be  valuable  for  cut 
flower.  It  has  excellent 
foliage.  Shown  by  Mr. 
George  Prince. 

Scilla  sibirica  pallida. 
— As  the  name  suggests, 
this  is  a  pale  variety  of 
an  old  and  valued  spring 
flower.  But  it  is  rather 
too  pale  to  be  a  welcome 
addition — the  colour  is  a 
washed  -  out  Cambridge 
blue.  Had  it  been  several  shades  darker  it  would 
be  much  more  attractive.  Shown  by  Mr.  C.  G. 
van  Tubergen. 

Narcissus  St.  Bernard. — A  large  trumpet 
Daffodil.  The  perianth  is  of  good  yellow  colour 
and  the  trumpet  is  of  deeper  tone  with  just  a 
suggestion  of  orange.  I  ts  great  attraction,  however 
is  in  the  evenly  fringed  margin  of  the  trumpet. 
Shown  by  Messrs.  F.  H.  Chapman,  Limited. 

Freesia  Apotheose. — .A  coloured  Freesia  of 
large  size  and  good  habit.  The  roundish  blooms 
are  fairly  heavily  flushed  towards  the  edges  with 
rosy  purple.  When  seen  in  fair  quantity,  as  was  the 
case  in  Messrs,  Sutton's  exhibit,  it  is  very  attrac- 
tive     Shown  by  Mr,  C.  G.  van  Tubergen. 

Sophro-Laelio-Cattleya  King  George.— This 
multi-hybrid  shows  a  great  improvement  in  colour 
on  its  predecessors  and  is  almost  as  bright  and 
showy  as  some  Leclio-Cattleyas.     The  sepals  and 


166 


THE    GARDEN. 


[April  8,  1922. 


petals  are  of  rosy-mauve  colour  with  a  golden 
shading.  The  rosy-purple  lip  has  distinct  lines 
running  to  the  base.  Fiist-class  certificate  to 
Messrs.  Flory  and  Black. 

Odontojlossum  Garnet. — ^A  small  plant  bearing 
a  spike  of  large,  perfectly  shaped  flowers  was  shown. 


bright   rosy-mauve.     Award   of   merit    to   Messrs 
Sander  and  Son. 

Apple  John  Standish. — ^During  the  autumn  at 
several  R.H.S.  meetings,  and  at  the  Crystal  Palace 
Empire  Fruit  Show  this  handsome  Apple  was 
shown    in    great    quantity    and    thickly    clustered 


SOMEWHAT   IN   THE  WAY   OF   SAXIFRAGA    IRVINGII.THE   DELICATE   PINK   SAXIFRAGA  x  GEM. 


The  blooms  are  margined  and  tipped  with  clear 
white,  but  otherwise  the  petals  are  of  rich  reddish 
violet  colour.  The  broad  lip  bears  a  large  golden 
crest  and  is  blotched  in  front  with  the  petal  colour. 
First-class  certificate  to  Messrs.  A.  and  J.  McBean. 

Dendrobium  Perfection  var.  Gloria. — A  par- 
ticularly showy  Dendrobium  of  D.  nobile  type. 
The  sepals  and  petals  are  heavily  flushed  with 


on  branches  to  illustrate  its  heavy  fruiting  qualities. 
To  this  and  its  bright  and  attractive  appearance 
must  be  added  long  keeping,  for  the  bright  red 
fruits  were  quite  firm  and  of  fresh  appearance. 
Although  the  flavour  is  said  by  the  experts  to  fall 
just  short  of  first-rate,  it  is  very  pleasant  eating, 
so  that  it  appears  to  be  a  desirable  variety.  Award 
of  merit  to  Messrs.  Isaac  House  and  Son. 


RAISING  EARLY  VEGETABLES  IN  FRAMES 

Many  amateur  gardeners  use  their  frames  for  little  else  than  preserving  plants   through 
the  winter.      Their  utmost  value  is  shown,  however,  at  this  season  of  the  year. 


UNDOUBTEDLY  the  possessor  of  a 
garden  frame  has  a  considerable 
advantage  over  his  neighbour  who 
docs  not  own  one.  .■^  nice  frame  is 
an  ornament  to  any  garden,  but  as 
regards  utility  alone,  a  quite  primitive  frame  is, 
practically,  just  as  helpful. 

The  wooden  frame,  that  may  be  moved  at 
will  from  one  position  to  another,  is  the  most 
useful  to  the  amateur  cultivator,  but  one  must 
not  despise  the  fixed  or  permanent  frame,  whether 
it  be  made  of  turves,  wood  or  bricks.  Only  in 
exceptional  cases  should  the  fixed  frame  be  in 
any  position  other  than  one  facing  due  south. 
For  the  bringing  on  of  early  crops  in  spring  the 
south  aspect  is  absolutely  essential. 

Seedlings  and  very  young  plants  are  dealt  with 
a  frames  at  this  season  of  the  year,  and  all  such 
must  be  within  a  few  inches  of  the  glass,  so  as  to 
keep  them  sturdy  and  strong.  In  two  or  three 
barrowloads  of  compost  thousands  of  seedlings 
may  be  grown  quite  satisfactorily,  while  in  a  cold, 
clayey  open  bord(T  a  large  percentage  of  the  best 


of  seeds  may  fail  to  germinate  if  sown  very  early. 
There  is  also  this  advantage  that  while  the 
young  plants  are  "  coming  on "  in  the  frame, 
the  cultivator  is  at  liberty  to  deal  with  the  soil 
in  the  garden,  and  thus  bring  it  to  a  high  state 
of  cultivation  and  make  it  fit  to  receive  the  young 
plants  in  due  course. 

The  Compost. — Fibrous  loam  cut  about  six 
months  ago — early  last  autumn — should  form 
the  bod\  of  the  compost  ;  to  this  must  be  added 
sweet  leaf-soil  and  sufficient  sand  to  render  the 
whole  porous.  One  peck  of  well  rotted  manure 
must  be  mixed  with  two  bushels  of  the  compost 
for  the  benefit  of  the  young  plants  when  they 
are  first  transplanted.  No  manure  is  needed  in 
the  soil  for  the  seeds  to  be  sown  in.  All  the 
compost,  when  used,  should  be  in  a  medium  state 
of  moisture.  All  seedlings  and  young  plants 
may  be  grown  in  boxes,  pots,  pans  or  a  bed  in 
the  frame.  The  average  depth  of  the  bed  in  the 
frame  should  be  6ins.  In  boxes  the  soil  should 
never  be  less  than  4ins.  deep  in  addition  to  the 
drainage    material.     Boxes    must    have    holes    in 


them  ;  half-decayed  leaves  form  a  suitable  drainage 
material.  The  compost  when  placed  in  the  boxes 
should  be  made  moderately  firm,  with  a  level 
surface  and  be  watered  about  one  hour  before 
the  seeds  are  sown.  Do  not  immediately  water 
the  soil  put  on  to  cover  the  seeds.  Sow  the  latter 
thinly,  as  any  overcrowding  would  weaken  the 
resultant  seedlings. 

Cauliflowers  and  Cabbages. — Sow  the  seeds 
in  boxes  and  cover  them  a  quarter  of  an  inch 
deep.  Be  very  careful  in  regard  to  watering 
as  the  seedlings  soon  damp  off.  Transplant  the 
latter  when  the  first  rough  leaf  has  formed. 

Celery, — Frequently  too  many  seeds  are 
sown  then  the  young  seedlings  get  spoiled.  Use 
a  pot  or  pan  for  the  Celery  and  a  small  addition 
of  leaf-soil  to  the  general  compost.  There  must 
be  more  drainage  material  used  too.  Only  put 
on  a  very  thin  layer  of  fine  soil  when  covering  the 
seeds  ;  then  place  a  square  of  glass  on  the  seed 
\essel  and  a  sheet  of  brown  paper.  If  water  is 
needed  apply  it  by  immersing  the  pot  or  pan  to 
the  rim.  The  first  transplanting  should  take 
place  when  the  seedlings  are  quite  small.  This 
sowing  should  constitute  the  maincrop  one. 

Lettuces. — A  splendid  batch  of  young  plants 
may  be  quickly  raised  in  a  frame.  Here,  again, 
sow  thinly  and  transplant  at  an  early  stage  of 
growth.  Several  small  sowings  at  ten  day  intervals 
are  better  than  one  large  sowing. 

Onions  and  Leeks. — Young  plants  raised  in 
heat  should  be  transplanted  in  boxes  or  beds  in 
the  frame  and  gradually  hardened  prior  to  the 
final  planning  in  their  permanent  quarters. 

Tomatoes, — It  is  not  safe  to  plant  Tomatoes 
in  the  open  air  before  the  first  week  in  June,  But 
in  the  meantime  the  cultivator  can  bring  on  a 
nice  lot  of  plants  in  his  frame  ;  they  will  be  sturdy 
and  not  too  tall.  They  may  be  grown  in  pots 
or  boxes  ;  I  prefer  pots.  Use  a  small  quantity 
of  wood  ashes  and  old  mortar  rubble  in  the  compost 
and  pot  firmly. 

Vegetable  Marrows  and  Cucumbers, — The 
seeds  of  both  must  be  sown  in  small  pots.  The 
compost  should  be  light — half  leaf-soil  and  half 
light  loam.  Use  it  in  a  medium  state  of  moisture, 
and  do  not  water  from  the  top  but  immerse  the 
pots  to  their  rims  in  a  vessel  of  water  when  more 
moisture  is  required.  The  same  care  must  be 
taken  when  it  is  found  necessary  to  repot  these 
plants  and  as  they  are  soon  killed  by  frost 
cover  the  frame  at  night. 

Radishes  and  Mustard  and  Cress  may  be 
quickly  raised  in  a  bed  in  a  frame.  Potatoes 
planted,  with  seeds  of  Radishes  and  Lettuce 
scattered  thinly  on  the  surface  soil  and  raked  in, 
will  constitute  three  crops  at  one  time  in  another 
frame.  Old   Timer, 


A  NOVICE'S   ROCK   PLANT 

W'.^llace's  Saxifrage,  a  hybrid  plant  raised 
in  Edinburgh  a  good  many  years  ago,  has 
eftablished  itself  as  a  favourite  flower  with 
many  cultivators  of  rock  and  border  plants.  It 
is  one  of  the  best  of  the  whites  among  the 
"  mossy  "  varieties,  although  it  shares,  in  common 
with  a  considerable  number  of  others,  larger 
foliage  than  we  feel  justified  in  characterising 
by  that  term.  However,  it  has  beautiful  leaves 
and,  even  when  out  of  flower,  a  clump  makes  a 
handsome  mound  of  green  either  in  the  rock 
garden  or  in  the  front  of  the  border.  The  flowers, 
which  are  large  for  the  section  to  which  it  belongs, 
are  pure  white,  and  a  good  plant  with  its  wealth 
of  bloom  is  a  delightful  sight,  Saxifraga  Wallacei 
is  quite  hardy  and  grows  in  most  common  soils, 
though  light,  gritty  ones  suit  it  best.  It  should 
not  have  too  parched  a  position.  A  big  plant 
looks  remarkably  well  hanging  from  a  crevice  in 
the  rockery  or  over  a  ledge. 


April  8,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


167 


CORRESPONDENCE 


A    SELECTION    OF    SHRUBS. 

TN  commoQ  with  the  majority  of  people  I  find  it 
necessary  to  stud)-  economy  in  my  garden. 
In  the  old  days  it  was  mainly  laid  out  lor  flower 
effects,  but  I  am  thinking  of  reducing  the  flower 
garden  section  and  substituting  shrubs.  I  should 
be  much  obliged  if  you  could  give  me  the  names  of 
say,  four  or  five  dozen  of  the  leading  species  and 
their  best  varieties  and  some  idea  of  their  effect. 
The  soil  is  chalk  with  a  good  deep  soil  above. 
I  am  quite  aware  that  it  is  too  late  to  put  these  in 
for  the  present  season,  but  I  should  like  to  make 
plans  as  to  what  to  do  in  the  early  autumn.  A 
work  on  shrubs  gi\'es  so  enormous  a  number  that  it 
somewhat  perplexes  a  modest  man  who  is  not  an 
expert  on  the  subject  and  whose  room  is  limited — 


it  is  just  a  selection  of  the  best  shrubs  I  am  asking 
for.— H.  E, 

[The  above  topic  seems  *o  us  to  be  of  such 
interest  to  many  readers  on  similar  soils,  that  we 
invite  those  who  have  had  experience  of  similar 
conditions  to  give  their  views, — Ed.] 

SAXIFRAGA     OPPOSITIFOLIA     AND 

CHIONODOXA. 

T  AM  sending  herewith  two  photographs.  The 
first  is  of  wild  plants  collected  on  the  Welsh 
mountains  a  few  years  back  and  now  established 
on  a  moraine  in  my  rock  garden.  As  will  be 
seen,  the  Saxifragas  are  very  much  at  home  and 
flowering  with  an  enthusiasm  only  equalled  by  that 
which  the  species  displays  in  its  native  habitat. 


A    LITTLE    COLONY    OF    THE    GLORY    OF    THE    SNOW — CHIONODOXA    LUCILITE. 


A   CORRESPONDENT  S   MORAINE,  SHOWING   ROBUST   TUFTS   OF  SAXIFRAGA   OPPOSITIFOLIA. 


For  a  time  I  endeavoured  to  grow  these  carmine 
blossoms  in  gritty  loam,  where  they  appeared  in 
a  somewhat  desultory  fashion,  but  since  removal 
to  the  moraine  the  plants  have  spread  so  greatly 
as  to  endanger  Gentiana  vema  and  other  choice 
tenants  of  the  same  bed  of  granite  chippings. 
Oppositifolia  is  a  Saxifrage  of  engaging  hibit. 
On  some  mornings  its  hue  is  changed  to  delicate 
pink  beneath  a  film  of  hoarfrost  or  snow,  but  the 
blooms  shine  out  again  with  undimmed  brilliance 
as  soon  as  the  sun  has  melted  the  nightly  crust.. 
Moreover,  it  is  not  a  small  matter  to  have  carmine 
flowers  in  really  telling  patches  during  the  early 
days  of  March,  and  those  borne  upon  British 
wildings.  The  Chionodoxa  is  another  tiny  flower 
which  furnishes  gallant  colour  out  of  doors  when 
the  year  is  but  young.  It  possesses  the  desirable 
knack  of  multiplying  itself  almost  indefinitely,  but 
accomplishes  that  feat  without  becoming  a  nuisance 
to  its  neighbours.  When  the  blooms  have  faded, 
the  "  grass  "  quickly  dies  down,  and  although  the 
seedUngs  thrust  up  for  a  time  like  Lilliputian 
Onions,  they  too  disappear  and  no  more  is  seen  of 
the  "  Glory  of  the  Snow "  until  another  March 
brings  forth  a  fresh  splash  of  bluest  blue.  The 
second  photograph  gives  some  idea  of  the  freedom 
with  which  one  of  many  small  colonies  of 
Chionodoxa  is  brightening  a  comer  of  my  rock 
garden  in  its  "  off  season." — R.  H.,  Slratiord-on- 
Aioii. 

A     LITTLE     SEEN     ROCK     PLANT. 

T  SHOULD  like  to  warn  the  unsuspecting  against 
Calceolaria  polyrhiza,  about  which  I  see  a 
note  and  pretty  illustration  in  March  25  issue  of 
The  Garden  (p.  144).  It  is  a  fearful  weed  and 
runs  about  all  over  the  place,  producing  in 
most  soils  an  undue  proportion  of  leaf  to  flower. 
It  is  perfectly  hardy,  but  should  only  be  planted 
Hhere  nothing  better  will  grow. — M.  F. 


QALCEOLARIA  POLYRHIZA  may  be  Uttle 
seen,  but  if  it  gets  into  ground  it  Ukes  it  runs 
a  long  way  in  a  httle  time  and  it  is  quite  possible 
you  may  wish  that  you  had  not  seen  it.  I  quite 
agree  that  the  plant  is  both  interesting  and  pretty, 
and  it  is  quite  hardy  even  in  North-east  Yorks. 
While  not  advising  its  exclusion  from  our  gardens, 
I  should  impress  on  any  contemplating  procuring 
it  that  they  do  not  place  it  in  moraine,  good 
sandy  soil  or  peaty  boggy  ground  if  they  have 
any  plants  they  highly  value  anywhere  near. 
Personally,  I  have  spent  many  hours  in  removing 
it  from  positions  where  it  had  become  a  nuisance, 
and  the  only  way  to  get  it  out  is  to  take  plants, 
soil  and  stones  out  from  a  considerable  area. — 
T.  A.  L. 

THE     CHINKERICHEES. 

TN  the  account  of  the  fortnightly  meeting  ot 
tlie  R.H.S.,  appearing  in  The  Garden  for 
January  28,  there  is,  I  think,  a  slight  inaccuracy 
as  regards  Ornithogalum  lacteum.  It  is  stated 
that  "  there  were  some  vases  of  Ornithogalum 
lacteum  which  were  given  their  Zulu  name  of 
Chinkerichees."  Chinkerichee  is  not  a  Zulu 
name  for  them,  but  a  Dutch  one  and  was,  I  believe, 
originally  linterintjes.  .Also  the  variety  of  Ornitho- 
galum tliat  is  known  out  here  as  Chinkerichee  is 
O.  thyrsoides,  not  lacteum,  as  you  state.  Other 
names  for  the  same  plant  are  Star  of  Bethlehem 
and  viooltje.  Both  the  leaves  and  flowers  of 
O.  th>Tsoides  .are  poisonous  to  stock.  There  is 
a  good  description  of  the  plant  in  Dr.  Marloth's 
recently  published  "  Flora  of  South  Africa," 
Vol.  iv,  page  106. — J.  Eric  Steward,  Einpa)igcni, 
ZuUttand. 


168 


THE     GARDEN. 


[April  8,  1922. 


NARCISSUS    CERVANTES. 

A  NOTICE  of  this  Daffodil  appeared  in  The 
Garden  about  Daffodil-time  last  year.  I 
can  only  recall  two  remarks  the  writer  made 
about  it ;  the  one  was  that  it  resembled  Princeps 
somewhat,  the  other  was  that  it  was  unusually 
floriferous.  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  a  batch 
of  fifty  bulbs  of  it  in  bloom  on  January  13,  which 
speaks  of  its  early  flowering  qualities,  as  it  was 
grown  in  a  very  moderate  temperature.  It 
certainly  resembles  Princeps,  but  it  is  hardly 
so  large,  either  as  regards  height,  breadth  of 
foliage  or  size  of  flower.  It  is  a  clearer  yellow 
than  Princeps,  the  trumpet  is  more  finely  frilled, 
and  altogether  it  is  more  refined  than  the  old 
favourite.  With  regard  to  its  free-flowering 
qualities,  each  bulb  produced  three  or  four 
blooms,  but  only  one  or  two  produced  the  promised 
five.  The  price  from  an  Edinburgh  firm  was 
22s.  per  hundred.  When  it  comes  down  to  half 
that  price  this  will  prove  an  acquisition  for  early 
forcing  in  quantity  or  for  naturalising. — 
Caledonia. 

[There  is  no  doubt  that  these  smaller  Daffodils 
are  most  useful  for  naturalising  where  space  is 
strictly  limited. — Ed.] 

DROUGHT  AND  FERTILITY,  AISTD  OTHER 

MATTERS. 

'T'HE  month  of  March  on  the  Riviera  has  been 
genial  and  fine  as  a  whole,  though,  of 
course,  we  have  felt  something  of  the  cold  fit  we 
hear  of  elsewhere.  The  beauty  of  the  spring 
flowers  this  year  after  the  severe  drought  is  more 
amazing  than  ever  and  proves  once  more  how  the 
aeration  of  the  soil  caused  by  long  heat  and  drought 
acts  as  a  fertiliser  and  stimulant  when  rain  has 
fallen  at  last !  The  bloom  on  Waterer  s  Cherry,  on 
the  Pyrus  (Mains)  Scheideckeri,  on  Xanthoceras 
sorliifolia,  the  Double  Peaches,  the  Teneriffe  Broom, 
the  great  white  Buddleia  asiatica  is  more  beautiful 
and  more  abundant  than  ever.  The  flowering 
Aloes,  Salm-Dyckiana,  pseudo-ferox  and  others 
are  twice  as  gorgeors  as  usual,  and  the  wild 
Anemones  (Hortensis)  and  Soleil  or  Annulata 
carpet  the  bottom  of  the  valley  with  a  blaze  of 
colour  that  seemed  impossible  two  months  ago. 
Judging  by  the  growth  of  the  Roses  also,  the  long 
drought  and  rest  must  hav=  acted  as  a  stimulant, 
and  the  bloom  next  month  must  be  extra  fine. 
Lithosperraum  rosmarinifolium  is  more  abundantly 
blue  than  I  ever  saw  it,  and  .\nchusa  myosotidiflora 
surprises  and  enchants  those  who  seek  for  the 
blue  sky  repeated  on  the  ground.  What  a  delight- 
ful plant  it  is  for  the  semi-wild  garden  !  Pethaps 
a  big  bush  of  Citrus  trifoliata,  bristling  with  thorns 
and  great  white  flowers,  next  to  a  tall  post  which  is 
diaped  with  Jasminum  primulinum  with  sprays 
of  flowers  that  hang  in  yard-long  festoons,  is  one 
of  the  most  admired  of  spring  delights.  There  is 
a  pretty  new  hybrid  Cineraria  between  C  aurita 
and  the  common  annual  greenhouse  Cineraria 
that  demands  notice.  It  is  dwarf  and  elegant  in 
growth  and  foliage,  and  the  colours  of  the  flowers 
varied  so  that  if  it  partakes  of  the  semi-wooded 
and  perennial  qualities  of  C.  aurita  it  will  be  a  real 
gain  to  gardeners  in  England  as  well  as  on  this 
coa'-t.  The  pale  yellow  form  of  Iris  olbiensis  is 
particularly  good  just  now  ;  it  is  earlier  than  the 
germanica  forms  that  wait  till  the  Banksian  Roses 
and  the  Tree  Paeonies  are  fully  out ;  it  is  par- 
ticularly pretty  in  combination  with  the  peach-pink 
Tulipa  saxatilis  that  is  so  free-flowering  and  so 
happy  on  this  eoast.  There  was  a  flower  show  at 
Nice  the  other  day,  but  the  flowers  in  the  windows 
of  the  best  florists  were  much  finer  than  those 
shown !  I  do  not  know  where  the  blame  lies, 
but  such  a  fiasco  as  this  show  proved  to  be  should 
not  be  repeated.     To  those  who  know  the  glories 


of  a  London  or  a  Paris  show  this  travesty  of  all 
that  is  interesting  and  beautiful  should  not  occur 
"  on  this  coast." — E.  H.  Woodall. 

GALANTHUS     IKARMl. 

"TPHE  following  interesting  observations  on  this 
Snowdrop  are  taken  from  a  letter  sent  by 
Mr.  Hem-y  Elwes  to  Sir  Frederick  Mooie:  "I 
read  your  wife's  note  on  Snowdrops  in  The 
Garden  of  March  18,  and  it  set  me  to  look  up 
Galanthus  Ikaria;  (of  Baker),  about  which  I  have 


long  had  doubts.  I  now  find  it  is  probably 
identical  with  G.  graecus  (orph,  in  litt),  discovered 
by  him  in  Chirs  on  a  mountain  of  about  the  same 
height  (1,000  metres)  as  Nikaria,  which  is  only 
thirty  miles  north  of  it,  and  this  probably  accounts 
for  its  hardiness  in  comparison  with  other  Greek 
Snowdrops,  which  all  die  out  with  me.  Bonner 
says  thit  G.  graecus  (which  he  first  described)  is 
intermediate  between  Elwesii  and  nivalis ;  and 
as  the  characters  on  which  Baker  relies  are  very 
variable,  I  had  always  doubted  the  specific  positioD 
of  G.  Ikariae." — W,   Phylis  MooRii,  Glasnevin. 


THE   TREATMENT    OF    SEEDLING  TOMATOES 

Insufficient   attention   is    often  paid  to   the    Tomato.       If    the   best   results   are    to    be 
obtained,    considerable   care    must   be    taken   with    their    cultivation,    especially    in    the 

seedling   stages. 


SUPPOSING  the  seeds  to  have  been  sown 
fairly  early,  the  plants  should  now  be 
ready  for  potting  up  into  3in.  pots. 
The  very  early  batches  will,  of  course, 
before  now  be  good  plants  in  "  sixties." 
We  will  assume,  then,  that  the  seeds  have  been 
sown  thinly  and  that  the  resultant  plantlets  have 
been  allowed  abundance  of  light  and  a  sufl5ciency 
of  heat,  and  that  they  have,  at  any  rate,  reached 
the  "  brairding "  stage — that  is,  they  are  now 
forming  their  first  true  leaves.  Their  subsequent 
culture  up  to  the  time  that  the  first  trusses  show 
is  as  foUows : 

Brairding  is  with  aU  seedlings  a  time  of  trial, 
and  special  care  must  be  taken  of  the  plants  until 
it  is  safely  through.  They  must  never,  of  course, 
be  allowed  to  become  dust  dry,  nor,  on  the  other 
hand,  must  they  ever  be  watered  until  water  is 
really  required.  The  water  given  must  always  be 
as  warm  as,  or  preferably  a  few  degrees  warmer 
than,  the  temperature  of  the  house  in  which  they 
are  growing,  and  it  should,  if  any  way  this  is 
possible,  be  soft.  Surprisingly  soon  after  brairding 
has  taken  place  both  leaves  and  roots  will  have 
need  of  more  room  if  the  plants  are  to  grow  as 
sturdily  and  healthily  as  they  should.  They 
should  not  be  allowed  in  the  least  to  draw  one 
another,  but  should  be  potted  up  singly  into  3in. 
pots.  The  compost  will  be  similar  in  character 
to  that  recommended  for  the  seed  bed,  but,  if 
broken  finely,  it  need  not  be  riddled,  as  the  roots 
have  not  again  to  be  separated,  and  the  rougher 
fibrous  portions  can  be  used  for  the  bottoms  of 
the  pots.  The  compost  mixed,  it  should  be  taken 
into  the  house  where  the  plants  are  growing  a  few 
days  before  it  will  be  required,  as  should  the  neces- 
sary number  of  pots,  and  left  there.  If  in  a  heap, 
the  compost  should  be  turned  a  few  times,  so  that 
at  potting  time  it  may  approximate  to  the  tempera- 
ture of  the  house.  This  is  very  important.  It 
should  be  unnecessary  to  state  that  at  all  stages 
of  growth,  but  particularly  as  long  as  the  plants 
will  have  to  be  transplanted,  the  pots  should  be 
scrupulously  clean,  more  especially  inside,  and 
quite  dry  at  potting  time.  Pots  all  ready  and 
coke-dust  for  drainage,  and  the  nicely  warmed 
compost  placed  to  hand  ;  make  sure  before  com- 
mencing operations  that  the  soil  in  the  seedhng 
boxes  is  not  too  dry  for  the  rootlets  to  come  apart 
easily.  To  prevent  such  a  contretemps  it  is  better 
to  water  them  a  few  hours  beforehand,  even  though 
they  seem  fairly  moist  already.  Now  lifting  the 
box  (or  pan)  of  seedhngs  at  an  angleof  45°  to  the 
horizontal,  tap  it  fairly  sharply  (not  too  sharply 
or  disaster  may  ensue !)  on  the  staging,  when, 
if  the  blow  was  sharp  enough,  a  crack  wide  enough 
for  the  fingers  wiU  be  opened  at  the  end  of  the 
box.     With  the  aid  of  the  fingers,  or  of  the  fingers 


and  a  label  inserted  at  the  side  of  the  box,  a  chunk 
of  the  little  plants  will  come  away.  This  little 
clump  of  plants  should  be  taken  in  both  hands 
and  gently  drawn,  not  forced,  apart,  the  two 
clumps  so  formed  being  redivided  until  the  plants 
are  singled.  On  top  of  the  small  coke  in  the 
bottom  of  the  pots  place  an  inch  or  so  of  rough 
compost,  then  a  sprinkling  of  the  fine  soil.  Next 
put  in  the  Uttle  plant,  working  the  fine  compost 
to  it,  but  not  ramming  too  hard  nor  tightening 
too  much  at  the  collar,  as  if  the  plant  be  bruised 
there  it  will  die.  A  good  deal  of  the  tightening 
up  is  done  by  tapping  the  pot  rather  gently  on 
the  barrow,  staging  or  portable  potting  bench. 
The  absolute  novice  will  find  that  to  do  it  properly 
repotting  (including  the  singhng)  is  rather  a  tire- 
some job,  but  experientia  docet,  and  it  is  surprising 
how  many  plants  a  skilled  man  will  pot  up  in. 
an  hour,  taking  aU  the  precaution  mentioned. 
Though  the  days  aie  longer  now  and  light  is  now 
quite  good,  it  is  stiU  very  necessary  to  keep 
the  plants  as  near  the  roof  glass  as  possible.  Glass- 
houses vary  greatly  in  construction,  but  with  a 
httle  contrivance  this  can  always  be  managed. 
In  many  cases  a  false  stage  can  be  erected  with 
boards  and  flower-pots  nearer  to  the  glass,  or  the 
pots  may  be  packed  in  seed-trays  and  stood  on  a 
shelf. 

Watering  must  at  first  be  done  carefully.  It 
will  not  do  to  water  the  whole  batch  at  once, 
willy-nilly,  but  as  the  pots  get  fairly  full  of  root 
a  good  deal  will  be  needed,  and  on  bright  days 
they  had  better  all  have  a  good  soaking  in  the 
morning  and  careful  inspection  later  in  the  day. 
.■^s  soon  as  the  pots  are  full  of  joot  and  before  the 
plants  show  the  smallest  symptoms  of  getting 
stunted  they  should  be  retransplanted.  If  culti- 
vation has  been  properly  managed  to  date,  the 
young  plants  should  be  from  yins.  to  loins.  high, 
according  to  vaiiety,  almost  as  like  as  peas  in  a  pod. 
nearly  or  quite  as  wide  as  high,  and  they  should 
itill  retain  their  seed  leaves.  That  is  not  to  say  that 
plants  need  be  rejected  or  thrown  away  because 
they  have  lost  these,  only  that  something  has  not 
been  just  right  in  the  cultivation  if  they  have.  At 
this  time  the  first  truss  of  bloom  should  be  fairly 
visible  near  the  growing  point  of  the  plant.  The 
seedUng  plants  have  at  this  time  reached  the 
parting  of  the  ways,  their  disposal  now  depending 
on  the  method  of  cultivation  finally  to  be  adopted. 
If  they  are  to  be  planted  in  the  floor  of  a  greenhouse, 
which  is,  where  circumstances  permit,  the  most 
economical  and  productive  method,  it  will  be  found 
easiest  to  plant  them  direct  in  their  permanent 
quarters — easiest  and,  where  the  space  is  free 
and  the  house  can  be  adequately  heated,  best. 
At  this  stage  of  their  development  we  will  for  the 
present  leave  them. 


April  S,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


169 


THE  GREAT  WHITE  TREE 
POPPIES 

THE  present  is  an  excellent  season  to 
plant  out  those  beautiful  Califomian 
Poppies,  Romneya  Coulteri  and  R. 
trichocalyx,  which  are,  especially  until 
established,  not  over  hardy.  There  will 
no  doubt  be  a  large  demand  for  plants  this  season 
owing  to  the  extraordinarily  fine  display  given  by 
both  species  last  year.  The  protection  of  a  south 
or  south-west  wall  is  generally  advised  for  these 
shrubs,  if  shrubs  they  are,  but  if  the  soil  is  well 
drained  they  succeed  quite  well  in  all  but  the 
bleakest  localities,  in  the  open  border  so  that  the 
crowns  be  covered  in  winter  with  a  few  inches  of 
fine  ashes.  The  difference  in  appearance  between 
R.  Coulteri  and  R.  trichocalyx  is  very  slight, 
consisting  almost  entirely  in  the  presence  of  bristly 
hairs  on  the  calyx  of  R.  trichocalyx.  The  latter 
species  is,  according  to  Bean's  "  Trees  and  Shrubs 
Hardy  in  the  British  Isles,"  hardier  than  the  better 


propagates  Gypsophila  paniculata  or  Anchusa 
itahca,  taking  care  to  place  the  end  of  the  root 
which  was  nearest  to  the  crown  of  the  plant  to 
the  top.  July  or  August  is  probably  the  best  time 
to  carry  out  this  work,  but  it  may  be  done  even  in 
winter. 


Plants  of  Romneya  from  the  open  ground  are 
useless  for  transplanting  though,  as  shown,  valuable 
for  propagation.  A  strong  plant  in  a  6in.  pot  is 
well  worth  the  extra  money  always  charged  for  older 
and  larger  specimens,  as  it  has  every  opportunity 
of  getting  well  established  the  first  season.     R.  G, 


PILLAR    AND    ROOF    PLANTS 

Some  greenhouses  and  conservatories  are  unduly  darkened  by  climbing  plants,  while 
others  are  left,  year  after  year,  quite  bare.  There  is  a  happy  medium  :  if  this 
were  more  often  sought  out  there  would  be  less   need  for    the    artificial  shading   of 

structures  in  summer  time. 


A 


THE    EVER-GRACEFUL    ROMNEYA    COULTERI 


known  species,  but  the  writer  cannot  confirm  this 
from  his  own  experience,  though  it  would  seem  to 
be  rather  freer  to  flower  in  unfavourable  seasons. 

Once  established,  both  species  cover  a  great  deal 
of  ground,  spreading  quite  rapidly  underground, and 
it  is  possible  to  strike  the  young  outlying  shoots  in  a 
little  heat  when  they  are  a  few  inches  high,  giving 
them  similar  treatment  to  that  usually  afforded 
to  the  herbaceous  Phloxes.  They  are,  however, 
much  more  difficult  to  root.  The  most  effective 
method  of  propagation  is  to  lift  an  old  plant  and 
cut  up  the  thick  fleshy  roots  into  2in.  lengths  and 
plunge  them  to  the  tops  in  sharp  sand,  just  as  one 


JUDICIOUS     selection      of      climbers 
should  be  made  to  suit  greenhouses  of 
various  sizes.    The  large-leaved,  strong- 
growing     Habrothamnus     elegans,     for 
example,  is  quite  unsuitable  for  a  small 
house,    as    it    would    unduly    shade    the    plants 
underneath.      Some    of    the    Jasminums,     again, 
would  not  afford  sufficient 
shade     in      a     large 
structure,      and     so     on. 
There    are   a   few  species, 
notably    Bougainvillea 
glabra     and      Plumbago 
capensis,  that  are  suitable 
for    practically    all    kinds 
of  houses,  as  they  may  be 
pruned   and  restricted   to 
really  small  spaces. 

Where  there  is  a  posi- 
tion suitable  for  a  border, 
even  a  narrow  one,  the 
plants  may  be  planted  out 
permanently ;  but  there 
is  J  not  this  convenience 
in  many  structures,  so 
that  use  must  be  made 
of  large  flower-pots  and 
boxes.  At  this  season 
of  the  year  the  climbers 
may  be  purchased  in 
pots  and  transferred 
forthwith  to  the  border 
or   the  bo.\. 

In  every  case  good 
drainage  is  essential,  and 
this  is  ensured  by  using 
broken  bricks,  covered 
with  whole  turves,  in 
the  borders  and  nice 
clean  crocks  in  the  pots 
and  boxes  prior  to 
putting  in  the  compost. 

The  plants  here  enu- 
merated are  dealt  with  in 
detail  in  The  Garden  at 
different  seasons,  so  that 
it  is  unnecessary  for  me 
to  give  seasonal  hints  in 
this  brief  article.  The 
main  thing  now  is  to 
procure  the  plants  and 
plant  them.  When  judiciously  employed,  climb- 
ing and  pillar  plants  have  the  effect  of  adding 
size  to  the  structure  and  giving  it  a  sub- 
tropical appearance.  Among  the  better  kinds, 
one  must  first  name  Bougainvillea  glabra.  It 
should  be  trained  similarly  to  the  Grape 
vine ;  the  side  shoots  are  cut  back  severely 
in  the  winter ;  the  new  shoots  grow  rapidly, 
and,  if  some  of  them  are  allowed  to  depend  grace- 
fully from  the  roof,  the  general  effect  is  very 
beautiful  when  the  flowers  are  opening  freely. 
Plumbago  capensis  and  the  white  variety  should 
be  treated  in  a  similar  way. 


Clematis  indivisa  lobata  has  dark  green,  lovely 
foliage  and  white  flowers.  The  shoots  grow 
rapidly,  are  suitable  for  training  to  wires  over 
the  path,  and,  when  the  flowers  have  faded,  the 
leaves  form  a  welcome  shade.  The  plant  is 
easily  grown  in  good  loam  and  rotted  manure. 

Cob^ea  scandens  and  C.  scandens  variegata  are 
among  the  quickest  growing  climbers  we  have 
for  the  greenhouse.  A  mixture  of  loam,  leaf-soil 
and  sand  suits  these  plants,  which  should  be 
planted  in  large  pots  for  small  structures.  They 
look  graceful  trained  up  a  pillar  and  then  under 
the  roof-glass,  not  too  stiffly,  especially  in  a  large 
house  ;  the  loose  ends  of  shoots  should  depend 
gracefully  from  the  roof  wires. 

HeUotropes,  Fuchsias  and  Ivy-leaved  Pelar- 
goniums are  suitable  for  covering  pillars,  and 
their  beauty  is  enhanced  if  the  leading  branches 
are  allowed  to  cover,  in  addition,  a  few  square 
feet  of  the  roof. 

As  already  stated,  Bignonias  and  Habrothamnus 
are  only  suitable  for  large  greenhouses  and  con- 
servatories. The  plants  should  be  grown  in  good 
loam,  but  not  in  a  rich  one,  to  which  organic 
manure  has  been  added.  During  the  summer 
time  the  Bignonia  should  be  freely  syringed,  except 
when  it  is  in  bloom.  The  syringing  is  necessary, 
so  on  this  account  the  plant  shoiild  be  grown 
where  the  syringing  will  not  damage  flowering 
plants  underneath.  The  Habrothamnus  must  not 
be  syringed.  The  plant  may  be  controlled  in 
growth  by  pinching  the  young  shoots  and  by 
judicious  pruning  in  spring. 

On  a  fairly  high  roof  Tacsonia  Van-Volxemii 
looks  charming,  as  then  the  full  beauty  of  the 
depending  flowers  on  their  long,  slender  stems 
can  be  seen.  Use  a  similar  compost  to  that 
suitable  for  Clematises — not  too  light  nor  too 
heavy. 

The  Sollyas  are  lovely  plants  for  furnishing 
pillars ;  the  flowers  of  S.  heterophylla  and 
S.  hnearis  are  blue  and  very  attractive.  When 
not  in  bloom  syringe  the  plants  in  the  summer, 
and  maintain  the  compost  of  loam,  peat  and 
sand  in  a  moist  condition  ;  in  the  winter  keep 
the  border  rather  dry.  Kennedyas  should  be 
similarly  treated ;  K.  monophylla,  purple,  and 
K.  Marryattae,  scarlet,  are  charming  varieties. 

In  greenhouses  with  northern,  north-western 
or  north-eastern  aspects  roof  plants  must  not  be 
employed  too  liberally,  especially  if  flowering 
plants  are  to  be  grown  beneath  ;  but  Ferns  and 
Palms  always  thrive  well  in  such  structures. 


FORTHCOMING   EVENTS. 
April    10. — United    Horticultural    Benefit 


and 


Provident  Society's  Meeting. 

April  II.— Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Daffodil 
Show  (two  days).  Informal  discussion  on  "  Plants 
in  Flower"  at  5  p.m.   on  the  first  day. 

April  12. — East  Anglian  Horticultural  Society's 
Meeting.  Sheffield  Chrysanthemum  Society's 
Meeting. 


170 


THE    GARDEN. 


[April  8,  1922. 


GARDENING     OF    THE     WEEK 


FOR    SOUTHERN    GARDENS. 

The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Cardoons. — Seeds  should  be  sown  now,  either 
in  trenches  of  j?ood  soil,  prepared  in  the  manner 
as  for  Celery,  or  in  pots  in  a  frame,  and  the  seed- 
lings transplanted  later.  Place  several  seeds  in 
a  pot,  eventually  thinning  the  seedlings  and 
leaving  one  in  each  pot.  If  sown  directly  in  the 
trenches  place  several  seeds  at  a  distance  of  I2ins. 
or  i4ins.  apart  and  thin  out,  leaving  the  strongest 
plant.  The  Cardoon  is  a  plant  that  appreciates 
an  open  position  and  good,  rich  soil  and  should 
be  well  supplied  with  water. 

Salsafy. — -This  Parsnip-liko  root  can  be  sown 
"where  it  is  to  mature  in  drills  a  foot  or  i.sins, 
apart,  and  the  seedlings  should  be  thinned  out, 
leaving  them  6ins.   to  gins,    apart. 

Scorzonera. — Seeds  of  this  vegetable  may  be 
sown  now.  The  cultural  treatment  as  given 
above  for  Salsafy  will  suit  this  plant. 

Seed-sowing. — If  not  already  sown  the  main- 
crop  of  Carrots  should  now  be  got  in.  Carrots 
•delight  in  a  light,  sandy  loam,  in  which  medium 
the  long,  tapering  roots  easily  penetrate.  On 
heavy  land  stump-rooted  varieties  should  be 
used  for  preference.  Draw  the  drills  a  foot  to 
iSins.  apart.  Sow,  as  required,  small  beds  of 
Radishes,  Mustard  and  Cress  on  a  warm  border, 
and  place  handlights  over  them,  if  possible. 

General  Work. — -Continue  to  plant  out  Cauli- 
flowers, etc.,  which  have  been  raised  under  glass 
and  pricked  out  and  grown  on  in  boxes  in  frames. 
Lettuce  should  also  be  planted  in  frames  and 
on  a  warm  border  outside  in  quantity,  so  as  to 
keep  up  a  supply.  Seeds  of  this  useful  salad 
ma3'  be  sown  thinly  in  drills  on  the  top  of  Celery 
trenches  or  between  the  rows  of  young  Strawberry 
plants  which  have  not  made  much  growth.  If 
inconvenient  to  do  this  they  may  be  sown  some- 
what thickly  in  drills  and  transplanted  in  good 
time. 

Early  Celery. — See  that  the  young  plants  that 
have  been  pricked  out  in  boxes  or  on  a  mild 
hot-bed  in  a  frame  are  carefully  watered  and 
ventilated  to  encourage  the  development  of  strong, 
sturdy  plants.  The  seeds  to  form  the  main  batch 
should  be  sown  at  once,  and  a  most  suitable  place 
tor  this  sowing  would  be  in  a  frame  having  a  few 
inches  of  light,  rich  soil  in  it  on  a  declining  hot-bed. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Hardy  Ferns.— The  removal  of  all  dead  fronds 
and  any  accumulation  of  weeds  or  rubbish  among 
these  should  now  be  seen  to,  taking  care  while 
carrying  out  the  work  that  the  young  unfolding 
leaves  do  not  get  damaged.  After  lightly  forking 
over  the  ground  among  the  plants,  apply  a  top- 
<iressing  of  decayed  leaf-soil. 

Border  Violets. — Where  a  border  can  be  spared 
for  these,  either  in  the  flower  garden  or  kitchen 
garden,  the  flowers  come  in  most  useful  as  a  follow- 
on  to  those  grown  in  frames.  Should  an  increase 
of  stock  be  necessary,  this  can  quickly  be  accom- 
plished now  by  taking  off  the  young  growths 
as  cuttings  and  inserting  them  in  light,  sandy  soil 
in  cold  frames.  Keep  the  frames  somewhat 
close  and  shady  until  roots  are  formed,  then 
gradually  harden  and  dispense  with  the  lights 
until  the  planting-out  can  be  done. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Protecting    Fruit    Blossom.— By    the    aid    of 

tiffany  blmds  or  a  double  thickness  of  netting 
much  may  be  done  to  try  to  save  the  blossom 
on  early  fruit  trees  growing  against  walls  and 
buildings,  but  upon  trees  in  the  open  it  becomes 
a  difficult  matter  to  cope  with.  Where  it  is 
essential  to  protect  the  flowers  upon  bush  or 
pyramid  trees  in  the  open,  a  few  stout  stakes 
of  suitable  height  should  be  driven  in  and  thin 
tiffany  or  netting  tied  to  them.  Even  if  only 
placed  on  the  north  and  east  sides  of  the  tree,  it 
is  surprising  what  protection  this  affords. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Melons. — Give  regular  attention  to  the  stopping 
and  tying  of  these  plants  in  the  early  house.  The 
side  shoots  should  be  pinched  at  the  first  or  second 
leaf  beyond  a  fruit  where  formed.  Shoots  not 
showing  for  fruit  should  be  pinched  at  the  first 
leaf,  which  generally  encourages  the  laterals 
to  carry  fiuit.  The  number  of  fruits  for  each 
plant  to  carry  may  be  governed  to  some  extent 
by  the  requirements,  but,  generally,  for  early 
work  two  or  three  will  be  found  sufficiert.  Where 
possible,  endeavour  to  fertilise  a  sufficient  number 
of  blossoms  the  same  morning,  for  by  doing  this 


the  young  fruits  will  grow  away  evenly  together. 
It  will  be  found  beneficial  to  keep  a  somewhat 
drier  atmosphere  during  the  flowering  period,  but 
immediately  that  is  over  an  abundance  of  moisture, 
atmospherically  as  well  as  at  the  roots,  should  be 
maintained.  Should  any  top-dressing  of  the  border 
be  necessary,  it  should  be  warmed  before  applying 
and  should  consist  of  good  fibrous  loam  and  old 
Mushroom  bed ;  this  should  be  placed  evenly 
and  firmly  over  the  bed.  During  the  growing 
stages  the  utmost  use  should  always  be  made  of 
sun-heat  by  the  early  closing  of  the  house. 
H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 
Albiiry  Park  Gardens    Guild/ord. 


FOR    NORTHERN    GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Salsafy. — Sow  seed  of  this  serviceable  winter 
vegetable  now.  Salsafy  revels  in  light,  loamy 
soil  which  has  not  been  recently  manured. 
Freshly  manured  land  tends  towards  forked  and 
scraggy  roots.  The  site  of  the  previous  season's 
Celery  trenches  will  suit  admirably.  Sow  in 
shallow  drills  iSins.  apart,  and  thin  out  the  plants 
to  pins,   apart  in  the  row. 

Peas. — A  good  sowing  of  marrowfat  varieties 
should  now  be  made.  Suitable  sorts  are  Duke 
of  Albany,  Peerless  Marrowfat  and  Telephone. 
Stake  earlier  sowings  immediately  they  show 
through  the  ground,  as  this  affords  the  plants 
a  certain  amount  of  shelter  should  cold  weather 
set  in. 

Cabbages. — Plant  out  batches  raised  from 
early  sowings  to  succeed  the  autumn-planted  lot. 
Small  growing  sorts,  such  as  Ellam's  Early  and 
Flower  of  Spring,  may  be  planted  fairly  close, 
I  sins,   either  way  being  ample  space. 

Transplanting  Autumn-sown  Onions. — In  dis- 
tricts where  autumn-sown  Onions  can  be  success- 
fully grown  they  should  now  be  transplanted, 
allowing  I2ins.  between  the  rows  and  Sins,  between 
the  plants.  This  crop  proves  valuable  for  early 
use  and,  when  judiciously  harvested,  may  be 
kept  in  usable  condition  for  a  good  part  oif  the 
winter. 

Tomatoes. — Early  sowings  will  now  be  ready 
for  transferring  to  their  fruiting  quarters.  If 
planting  in  borders,  allow  ample  space  for  the 
development  of  the  plants.  Overcrowding  among 
Tomatoes,  as  with  most  plants,  is  one  of  the  chief 
causes  of  failure.  Plant  deeply  and  firmly  in  a 
compost  of  mellow  loam  with  a  liberal  sprinkling 
of  wood- ash  added.  Refrain  from  using  manure 
until  the  first  and  second  trusses  are  well  set, 
and  always  aim  to  have  firm  and  sturdy  growth. 

Cucumbers. — Maintain  a  warm,  humid  atmo- 
sphere in  pits  where  the  plants  are  in  beaiing,  and 
assist  with  liquid  manure  from  the  byre.  Thin 
out  all  superfluous  growths,  and  stop  the  leading 
vines  when  the  allotted  space  has  been  covered. 
Sow  again  for  successional  batches  and  to  provide 
plants  for  planting  out  in  frames  about  the  middle 
of  May.  Sow  the  seed  smgiy  in  3in.  pots,  and 
germinate  in  a  warm  pit. 

General  Work. —  Clear  off  all  spent  winter 
vegetables,  and  lift  the  remainder  of  the  Leek 
crop,  heeling  them  in  on  a  shady  bordei.  After- 
wards manure  and  dig  the  ground  in  preparation 
for  other  crops.  Prick  out  into  frames  seedlings 
from  early  sowings  of  Cabbage  and  Cauliflowers. 
These  will  provide  well  grown  plants  for  mid- 
season  crops.  Brussels  Sprouts  should  also  be 
treated  in  like  manner.  Onions  growing  in  boxes 
for  planting  out  towards  the  end  of  the  month 
should  be  gradually  hardened  off  by  allowing 
ample  ventilation  on  the  frames  during  fine 
weather.  Keep  protecting  material  at  hand,  as 
shaip  and  sudden  frosts  are  common  in  the  Noith 
during  ."^pril. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Vines. — In  the  earliest  houses  thinning  will 
now  require  attention,  and  this  important  work 
should  be  pushed  forward  as  speedily  as  possible. 
When  thinning,  bear  in  mind  that  the  large  berried 
sorts  will  naturally  require  more  room  tt  an 
medium-sized  sorts.  Allow  for  enough  berries 
being  left  so  that  when  they  swell  to  their  full 
size  the  bunch  shall  be  firm  enough  to  hold  itself 
in  shape  without  being  overcrowded.  Give  the 
Vine  border  a  good  watering  with  liquid  manure 
a  few  days  after  thinning  is  completed. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 
Grafting    Fruit   Trees. — Where    this   work   is 
to  be  done  no  time  should  be  lost  in  making  the 


necessary  preparations,  as  it  is  only  now,  when 
the  sap  commences  to  rise,  that  a  satisfactory 
and  speedy  union  between  stock  and  scion  may  be 
made.  Trees  that  were  headed  back  during  the 
winter  pruning  should  be  cut  back  a  few  inches 
further  now  that  the  sap  is  rising,  so  that  the 
grafts  may  be  fi.xed  in  sound  bark.  The  grafts 
should  be  from  6ins.  to  Sins,  long,  leaving  three  or 
four  buds  on  the  upper  portion.  In  private 
gardens  wedge  grafting  is  favoured  for  the  larger 
trees  and  whip  grafting  for  young  stock.  See 
that  the  bark  of  the  scion  and  stock  fits  closely, 
and  secure  with  broad  raffia,  thoroughly  smearing 
over  with  grafting  wax. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Nepeta  Mussini. — Apart  from  the  delightful 
soft  grey  of  its  foliage  and  charming  lavender 
flower  spikes,  its  lengthy  season  of  flowering  adds 
greatly  to  the  popularity  of  this  adaptable  perennial. 
Where  it  is  desirable  to  increase  the  stock,  the 
plants  should  now  be  lifted  and  divided  into  small 
portions,  placing  them  right  away  into  their  new 
flowering  quarters.  They  will  grow  and  flower 
freely  in  shady  parts  of  the  garden  where  other 
plants  fail. 

Pricking  Out  Seedlings. — This  work  will  now 

occupy  a  good  deal  of  time,  but  it  must  be  carried 
through  before  the  plants  become  drawn  and 
weakly.  A  wise  precaution  is  to  have  the 
necessary  boxes  or  frames  filled  with  a  suitable 
compost,  all  ready  for  the  various  seedlings 
immediately  they  are  of  a  suitable  size  to  prick 
out. 

Violas. — Plant  out  these  at  the  first  opportunity, 
as  they  do  best  when  well  established  before  the 
hot  weather  sets  in.  Violas  enjoy  a  cool  root-run 
and  flower  profusely  if  the  ground  has  been 
enriched  with  well  decayed  manure. 
James  McGran 
(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart), 

Coodham,   Kilmarnock. 


CONSERVATORY   AND    GREENHOUSE. 

Rhododendrons. — There  are  many  fine  green- 
house Rhododendrons  which  at  one  time  were 
very  popular,  but  too  seldom  seen  at  the  present 
day.  This  is  rather  surprising,  as  all  the  Edge- 
worthii  hybrids  are  very  fragrant.  Grown  in 
pots  they  are  rather  straggling  in  habit,  unless 
carefully  trained  and  pruned.  They  are,  however, 
excellent  for  planting  out  in  a  cool  conservatory, 
where  they  should  be  placed  in  shallow  borders. 
Plant  in  a  mixture  of  sandy  loam  and  peat,  and 
the  plants  will  soon  make  fine  large  specimens. 
Most  of  these  plants  are  easily  propagated  by 
means  of  cuttings,  using  young  wood  that  is  just 
firm  enough  to  prevent  damping.  The  cuttings 
may  be  rooted  under  quite  cool  conditions,  but 
if  it  is  possible  to  place  them  in  a  case  with  slight 
bottom-heat  they  root  much  more  quickly.  This 
mode  of  propagation  applies  to  all  the  greenhouse 
Rhododendrons  or  Azaleas.  Some  of  the  best 
species  and  varieties  are  R.  Edgcworthii,  formosum 
(of  which  there  are  several  varieties,  the  variety 
Gibsonii  being  commonly  grown),  Lady  Alice 
Fitzwilliam,  fragrantissimum,  sesteranium,  Forster- 
ianum.  Countess  of  Haddington  and  Veitchii. 
All  these  have  been  popular  for  many  years. 
The  many  beautiful  Javanese  Rhododendrons,  in 
a  large  variety  of  colours,  are  easily  propagated 
by  means  of  cuttings,  and  where  a  collection  is 
grown,  flowers  may  be  had  more  or  less  all  the 
year  round.  If  they  have  a  fault  it  is  their  rather 
straggling  habit,  but  this  can  to  a  great  extent 
be  corrected  by  judicious  tying  and  pruning. 
They  are  generally  supposed  to  require  a  fairly 
high  temperature,  but  I  find  they  do  quite  well 
plaiitcd  out  in  an  ordinary  conservatory. 

Lilium  sulphureum. — This  beautiful  and  stately 
Lily  only  succeeds  outdoors  in  the  south-west. 
Planted  out  in  a  bed  of  good  soil,  along  wi'.h 
shiubs,  in  a  cool  conservatory  I  have  known  it 
live  for  many  years,  and,  when  growing  strongly, 
the  stems  may  attain  a  height  of  anything  from 
6ft.  to  roft.  Many  fine  Liliums  that  are  uncertain 
outdoors  should  be  tried  indoors,  planted  out  in 
a  cool  house,  prefei  ably  among  beds  of  shrubs, 
as  the  latter  give  the  needful  shade  at  the  root  ; 
also  the  roots  of  the  shrubs  help  to  keep  the  soil 
in  good  mechanical  condition.  Lilium  nepalense, 
which  is  not  generally  a  success  outdoors,  should 
be  giown  under  the  above  conditions.  Liliums 
grown  in  pots  and  plunged  in  ashes  or  leaf-soil 
should,  a'-  they  show  signs  of  growtl ,  be  removed 
from  the  plunging  material  and  stood  in  cold 
frames  or  in  a  cool  house  ;  or  they  may  be  left 
outdoors,  plunged  in  ashes  at  the  foot  of  a  sheltered 
wall.  All  stem-rooting  Lilies  should  be  top- 
dressed  as  they  require  it. 


April  S,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


fouv  Opportunity! 

Kcrnment  Disposal  "Material"  invaluable  for 

.IGHT     CONSTRUCTION 


ir  supply  of  these  Fruit  and 
getable  Storage  Trays  is  now 
lited.  Perhaps  you  have  no 
mediate  storage  prohlem,  but 
yhow  you  should  order  with 
eye  to  the  future.  Once  our 
Kent  stock  is  exhausted,  you 
11  be  quite  uniible  to  obtain 
ything  like  the  value.  LIGHT 
3NSTRUCTION  WORK. 
rhese  trays,  strong  and  well 
ide.  are  ideal  for  Potato  Sprout- 
S,  Greenhouse  Racks.  Garden 
ches.  Summer  Houses,  and 
doubtedly  there  are  other  uses 
u  can  find  for  them.  At  such  a 
ce  they  form  one  of  the  finest 
'estments  ever  offered  to  readers 
this  journal. 

G.  W  A  R  E  H  A  M, 
90/91,  Queen  Street, 
[^heapside, E.C.4. 


Size,  27-  X  42- 


ieautiful  Hardy  Flowers 

RTINDALE'S  New  Illustrated  Catalogue 

NOW  READY.  POST  FREE. 

m.  ARTINDALE  &  SON,  Nether  Green,  Sheffield. 


SALE     BY    AUCTION 

Of  a  large  Importation  of 

rOPIARY       WORK 

(Clipped  Box  and  Yew) 

)mprising  over   150    Specimens  in   Unique   and  Old   World 
Garden  Designs;    also 

GARDEN     FURNITURE, 
GARDEN     ORNAMENTS, 

JAPANESE     BAMBOOS     AND     FLORAL     BASKETS, 
MOWINQ     MACHINES,     ROLLERS, 

jbs.   Arches   and    Rose    Pillars.    Pergola   Posts   and   other 
Garden  Sundries,  by 

>ROTHEROE    &     MORRIS 

At     67  68,     CHEAPSIDE,    LONDON,     E.C.2, 
n  FRIDAY,  APIiiL  21st,  1922,  at  1   o'clock. 

On  view  two  days  prior  and  day  of  Sale. 


EUREKAkiiller 


Y     LABOUR  SAVERS.  "EUREKA"    Lawn  Samo.  Soilfumc. 
NlCOTlUE  iMSECnCIOES.FUMCBS.SPRAYSAIID  QTMEB  CHEMICALS 
AND  SUMDBItS.    iCE  UST     PHASE  ASK  yOUfi  •.(Xtn  FOR  THE  EUREKA 
ARTICLXS-TMEY  ARE  ALWAYS  SATISFACTORY     If  AKV  DirFICTJlTY  ^ 
OBTAINING    WE  SCMO   D*ECT.     CARPIACC  P*IO 


"BARROWS"    PRUNER 

Special     Features 

A    perfectly    easy     and     smooth 
"  draw  cut"  action. 

Detachable    Blades. 

The     only     pruner     that     does     not 
pinch  or  squeeze  the  shoot. 

Black,     6/6. 

spare   Blades,   Is.  Od.   each. 
Postage  7d. 

Sole  Matm/actiirers  : 

BURMAN  &  SONS,  Ltd., 

Leebank  Works,  BIRMINGHAM. 


GARDEN 
FRAMES 

in  Every  Variety. 

Send     for     List      with 
Reduced    Prices. 


llllllll 


Heating 
Apparatus 

We  specialise  in  Heating 
Apparatus  for  Green- 
houses, Garages,  etc.  A 
lart;>e  variety  of  BoiU'rs, 
Pipe;  .ind  Fittings  :tlways 
on  hand.  Completi;  Heat- 
ing Sets  for  the  No.  49  A 
Greenhouse  supplied  from 
Stock. 


H.  49A. 


A  compact  Greenhouse 
for  A  mateur  Gardeners 

This  inexpensive  Greenhouse  has  been 
specially  designed  for  private  gardens  and 
allotments.  It  is  convenient  both  in  size 
and  price  and,  being  made  in  complete 
glazed  sections,  it  remains  a  tenant's  fixture 
and  can  be  easily  dismantled  and  removed 
when  necessary.  REDUCED  PRICE  £29  5  0 
Brief  Specification    of  H.  49a  (above). 

Dimensions :  10  ft.  by  Sft.,  glazed  with  21  oz.  glass,  painted 
two  coats,  supplied  in  si.v  sections  complete  with  bolts  and 
f  crews  for  ,fi.xing.  Only  British-made  glass  is  used. 
Delivered  from  stock  ready  glazed  and  sent  carriage  paid 
to  most  Railway  stations  in  England  and  Wales,  i-t  ck 
lengths,  10  ft..  or  made  to   lift.,  20ft  .  or  25  ft.  length  to  order_ 

CAN  BE  erected  in  90  minutes. 


© 


iDoulton  &rau 


[1^ 


TE.LEGRAMSI  LONDON    OFFICE: 

BOULTON,  NORWICH    \  Chlcf  OfflcC  6?  WoflcS  \  "5-7,  QUEEN  VICTORIA  ST. 

:  •  Telegrams  1  t.^^.M 

TELEPHONE.  :   N    O    R    \A/    I     d    H    :  BOUTIQUE,    CENTRH    lONOON 

NORWICH        851      :  ._..^!^...  .^.. .*.'.. .^..^••.•■■:  Telephone.   CENTRAL   4642 


NETS. 


NEW    GARDEN    NETS.— For   Fruit   Protection.      Square 

and  Diamond  Mesh.    All  kinds  and  siEes. 
TENNIS  BOUNDARY  NETS.— All  widths  and  lengths. 
TENNIS   NETS.— Various  qualities. 
REPAIRED  NETS.— All  sizes. 

Nets    for    all    purposes. 
Samples  and  Prices  on  application  to  Manufacturers  :— 

SCARBOROUGH  SHIPPING  SUPPLY  STORES,  Ltd., 

12,     Sandside,   SCARBOROUQH. 


3" 


SCOTCH     SEEDS 

DEVELOP 
HARDY  PLANTS. 


BOOKLET      FREE      WITH 
FULL  CULTURAL    NOTES. 


6" 


McHAniE&Go. 


Dept.  No.  9. 
The  Scotch 
Seed  House. 


CHESTER 


5  MILLION  YARDS  OF  STRONG  STEEL  WIRE 

(•J5,  S.W.G.)  black  enamelled  on  neat  reels  of  1  mile  each, 
1 0/-  per  mile.     Also 

1  MILLION  LABELS  of  hard  compressed  fibre,  with 
string  tie.  almost  indestructible,  can  be  tied  or  nailed  on  to 
anything.  Bag  of  500  for  5/-,  or  I.OOO  for  81-.  The  above 
are  Govt,  surplus  and  invaluable  to  sardeners  and  others. 
Sent  carriage  paid  on  receipt  of  Cash  with  Order. 

Headveils   for  Bee-Keepers,   1  /9  each. 

F.  Barnes  Brand  &  Co.,  ^-^treet"^  Westminster,  S. W.I. 

HERBERT'S  NEW  PiNKS 

THE      FINEST     EVER      RAISED 

Have    received    Four   Awards   of   Merit  and   Medals. 

I  was  also  personally  congratulated  by  Their  Majesties  the 

King  and  Queen  at  the  R.H.S.  Show,  Chelsea,  May  2-lth.  1921. 

Price    List    free    on    application. 

C.   H.   HERBERT,   Nurseryman 

ACOCKS     GREEN,     BIRMINGHAM. 


VI. 


THE    GARDEN. 


34th    SEASON. 


MRS.  PYM'S  FAMOUS  PLANTS 

GOOD    AND    CHEAP. 


SPECIAL  OFFER  of  good,  strong,  sturdy  plants.      Should  be  planted  now  for  success:       Half  lots 
same  rate.     All  post  free  or  carriage  paid,  passenger  train.     Cash  with  order.     Catalogue  free. 

4d.  extra   for  orders  under  3s. 


Strong  vegetable  plants,  wintered  in  open  :  Leeks, 
Tripoli    Onions,    Pickling    Cabbage,     Cos    and    Cabbage 

Lettuce,  Perptcuai  Spinach.  100,  1/9.  Rhubarb,  best  named, 
red,  6,  1/6.  Sage,  Thyme,  Mint,  lyiarjoram,  6,  1/6. 
Parsley,  best  curled,  12,  1/4.  Asparagus,  colossal  and  giant, 
strong  2  year  old  roots,  50,  4/- ;;_  100,  ?/0. 

HARDY  PERENNIALS,  very  f^tron^,  transplanted,  to 
flower  this  year.  Btst  strains  procurable.  Achillea,  Perry's 
double  white,  3,  1/6.  Aconitum,  liandsome  new  lartre  flowering, 
named,  3,  1/6.  Aster  alpinus,  rare  lovely  rockery  plants, 
2,  1/4.  Agrostemnna,  crimson,  6,  1/6.  Alstroemeria,  Peru- 
vian Flame,  FlowiT,2, 1/4.  Alyssum,izolddust,  6, 1/6.  Alpine 
Wallflowers,  20,  1/6.  Alpine  Pinks,  12,  1/9.  Anchusa 
italica,  Dropraore,  lovely  blue,  6,  1/9;  Anchusa  angustifolia, 
true  deep  blue,  6,  1/6.  Anemone  japonica,  pink  or  white, 
2,1/4.  Anemone  Pulsatilla,  a  most  beautiful  sprin;:  floworinc 
hardy  perpnnial  followed  by  handsome  fniit,  2,  1/4.  Anthemis 
raontana,  6, 1/9.  Aquilegia,  Kelway's  hybrids,  6, 1/4.  Arabis, 
double  white,  6, 1/6.  Aubrietia,  rich  purplo,  6, 1/6.  Auriculas, 
lovely  alpine  variptios,  4,  1/6.  Antirrhinums,  bushy  planis, 
lovelv  new  colours,  6,  1/4.  Brompton  Stocks,  large,  year 
old,  6,  1/6.  Christmas  Roses,  large  crowns,  1  /4  each.  Cam- 
panulas, blue  or  white  dwarf  or  tall,  3,  1/4.  Campanula 
pyramidalis,  2  year  old,  3,  1/6.  Canterbury  Bells,  sin^ile, 
blue,  pink,  mauve,  white,  or  Dean's  grand  hybrids,  12,  1/9; 
double,  6,  1/6.  Candytuft,  perennial,  3,  1/6.  Carnations, 
good  boraer,  6,  1/6;  separate  colours,  white,  yellovv,  crimson, 
scarlet,  6,  1/9;  Grcnadin,  lovely  double  scarlet,  6,  1/9.  Cen- 
taurea  montana,  blue,  white  or  rosy  mauve,  6,  1/6.  Chrysan- 
themums, strong  rooted  cuttings,  best  early,  mid  and  late,  all 
colours,  separate  or  mixed,  6,  1/6.  Cerastium,  12,  1/9. 
Cistus  (Rock  Rose),  6,  1/9.  Coreopsis  prandiflora,  6,  1/4- 
Cornflowers,  Kelway's  blue,  12,  1/6.  Daisies,  new  enormous 
double  blooms,  red  or  white,  splenuid  for  tedding,  12,  1/4; 
mixed,  20,  1/6.  Delphiniums,  best  named,  large  2  year  old, 
2,  1/9.  Delphiniums,  grand  large  flowering  hybrids,  light 
or  dark  blue,  year  old  plants,  3,  1/6.  Dianthus,  Kelway's 
lovely  double  or  single,  12,  1/6.  Dianthus,  creeping,  bright 
pink.  6,  1/4.  Dielytra,  Bleeding  Heart,  large  roots,  1.  1/4, 
Erigeron  (stenactis),  mauve  Marguerite,  4,  1/6.  Erysimum, 
Golden  Gem,  20,  1/6.  Forget-me-nots,  best  dwarf  blue, 
peienrual  varieties,  12,  1/4.  Funkia  subcordata  grandiflora 
alba  (Corfu  Lily),  most  lovely,  pure  white,  exquisitely  fragrant 
flowering,  prized  for  cutting,  very  handsome,  large  glaucous 
green  leaves,  3,  1/6.  Qaillardia  grandiflora,  6,  1/4.  Qalega 
(Goat's  Rue),  6,  1/6.  QIadiolus,  best  large  flowering,  12,  1/9. 
Qeum  airs.  Bradshaw,  large  double  scarlet,  2,  1/6.  Qaltonia, 
hardy  white  Lily,  long  stout  stems  covered  with  waxy  bells, 
2,  1/4.  Qypsophila  paniculata,  6,  1/6.  Qypsophila,  dwarf, 
12,  1/9.  Heuchera,  scarlet,  4,  1/4.  Hollyhocks,  lovely 
colours,  single,  6,  1/6;  double,  4,  1/6.  Honesty,  crimson 
and  white,  6.  1/4.  Iceland  Poppies,  Excelsior  strain,  6,  1/4. 
Iris  gi'rmanlca,  separate  colours,  mauve,  white,  blue,  purple, 
yellow,  3,  1/6.  Iris,  large  flag,  splrndid  colours.  6,  1/6. 
Kniphofia,  handsome  Torch  Lily,  3,  1/6.  Linum  (Blue  FLix), 
12,  1/9.  Lily  of  the  Valley,  giant  variety,  scon  flower,  6,  1/6. 
Hardy  Lilies,  Large,  orange  red  ana  tawny,  3,  1/6.  Linaria 
dalmatica,  6.  1/6.  Lobelia  cardinalis,  4,  1/6.  Lupinus  poly- 
phyllus,  pink,  white,  blue,  6,  1/6;  mixed,  12,  1/9.  Lupin, 
tree,  yellow  or  white,  3,  1/6.  Lychnis,  scarlet  chalcedonica 
or  Salmon  Queen,  6,  1/6.  Malva,  bright  pink,  6.  1/6. 
Monarda  (Bergamot),  Cambridge  scarlet,  2,  1/4.  Mont- 
bretias,  new  varieties,  12,  1/6.  CEnothera  Macrocarpa, 
beautiful  dwarf  Evening  Primrose,  masses  of  large  yellow 
bloom,  3,  1  6.  Pansies,  best  large  flowering  and  separate 
colours  for  bedding,  12,  1/6.  Papaver  pilosum,  rich 
orange  blooms,  6,  1/6.  Phlox,  best,  large  flowering,  mixed, 
4,  1/6.  Phlox,  best  large  flowering,  all  colours,  3,  1/6. 
pWonies,  separate  colours,  2,  1/6.  Psonies,  mLxed,  3,  1/6. 
Poppy,  Oriental  Queen,  enormous  blooms,  6,  1/6,  Physalis 
(Giant  Cape  Gooseberry),  6,  1/6.  Pinks,  coloured  garden, 
12,  1/9.  Pinks,  double  white,  6,  1/6.  Potentilla,  double 
crimson,  6,  1/6.  Primulas,  hardy  assorted,  for  succession 
of  bloom,  6,  1/6.  Pentstemon,  scarlet,  Southgate  Gem 
and  grand  Excelsior  strain,  6,  1/9;  smaller  good  plants, 
ft,  1/4.  Pyrethrunn,  Ki^lway's,  4,  1/6.  Pyrethrum  James 
Kelway,  largp  -carlet,  2,  1/4.  Pyrethrum,  double  red,  white, 
pink,     3,     1/6.    Rose     Campion,     bright     crimson,     6,     1/4. 


Rudbeckia  speciosa,  3,  1/6.  Saponaria,  pink  rockery,  6,  1/6. 
Scabious,  Sweet,  12,  1/9.  Scabious  caucasica,  large  aanv^ 
1  year  plants,  3,  1/6.  Silene  compacta,  pink,  15,  1/6.  Stachys 
(Lamb's  Wocl),  6,  1/4.  Star  of  Bethlehem,  6,  1/6.  Statice 
(Sea  Lavender),  3,  1/6.  Sweet  Rocket,  12,  1/6.  Sweet 
William,  double  and  single  mixed,  lovely  colours,  12,  1/6. 
Sweet  William,  lovely  scarlet,  pink,  and  Crimson  Beautv, 
6.  1/4.  Thistle  Queen  --f  Scots,  3,  1/6.  Thalictrum  (hardv 
Maidenhair),  4,  1/6.  Tritoma  (Red-hot  Poker),  3,  1/6. 
Tussilago  (hardy  winter  Heliotrope),  3,  1/6.  Verbascum, 
tall,  6,  1/6.  Valerian,  crimson,  6,  1/6.  Veronica,  blue, 
4.  1/4.  Viola,  separate  colours,  for  bedding,  and  good  mLxed. 
12,  1/6.  Viola  cornuta,  mau^e,  purple,  blue  and  white.  Queen, 
masses  of  bloom  for  rockery,  etc.,  12, 1/9.  Sunflowers,  new  red, 
3,  1/6.  Aster,  Michaelmas  Daisy,  good  named  sorts,  3,  1/6. 
Achillea,  very  bright  Crimson  Queen,  3,  1/6.  Antirrhinums, 
strong  autumn  sown  (not  transplanted),  12,  1/6.  Centaurea 
dealbata,  lovely  large  fringed  pink  flowers,  pretty  silven,- 
foliage,  3, 1/6.  Chinese  Pinks,  very  sho^\y,  6, 1/6.  Campanula 
macrantha,  tall,  large  mauve  blooms,  3,  1/6.  Chelone  barbata, 
coral  red  lobster  flower,  3,  1/6.  Cruclanella,  lovely  for  rockerj-, 
dense  heads  of  piiik  bloom,  6,  1/6.  Dianthus,  rock,  dwarf, 
lovely  c6lours  for  rockery,  6,  1/6.  Hypericum  (St.  John's 
Wort  or  Rose  of  Sharon),  large  yellow  blooms,  evergreen  glossy 
foliage,  4,  1/6.  Incarvillea  Delavayi  grandiflora,  beautiful 
large  Gloxlnia-Uke  blooms,  handsome  foliage,  3,  1/6.  Inula 
glandulosa,  large   golden  yellow   flowers,   bold  and   handsome, 

3,  1/6.  Lavender  bushes,  fragrant  old  English,  3.  1/6. 
Japanese  PinkSi  very  pretty  colours,  6,  1/4.  Pyrethrum 
Queen  Mary,  large  double  rose  pink,  2,  1/4.  Oriental  Poppies, 
very  large  salmon  blooms,  large  plants,  2,  1/6.  Shirley 
Poppies,  beautiful  art  shades,  6,  1/4.  Pansy  Coquette  de 
Poissey,  beautiful  pale  mauve,  for  bedding,  12,  1/10.  The 
following  Primulas  are  quite  hardy,  thrive  liest  in  damp  situa- 
tions, and  do  well  in  pots:  Primula  Japonica,  4,  1/6.  P. 
cortusoides,  bright  rosy  purple,  4,  1/6.  P.  Bulleyana, 
lieautiful  shades,  3,  1/6.  P.  pulverulenta,  rich  colours,  4,  1/6. 
P.  denticulata  cashmiriana,  large  heads,  light  purple,  3,  1/6. 
Rudbeckia  Golden  Ball,  double,  3,  1/6.  Perennial  Sunflowers, 
Miss  Mellish,  etc.,  6,  1/6.  Saxifraga,  mossy,  white,  pink, 
crimson,  4,  1/4.  Rock  Roses,  trails  of  lovely  coloured  flowers, 
rockery  gem,  6,  1  /9.  Chei ranthus,  Siberian  Wa llflo wer. 
masses  of  bloom  all  summer.  20,  1/6. 

Strong  transplanted  plants  for  cool  houses  :    Agapan 
thus,  large  blue  African  Lily,  year  old  plants,  3,  1/4.     Agathsea 
(blue  Marguerite),  4,  1/4.     Asparagus  Fern,  erect  or  trailing 

4,  1/4,  Begonias,  scarlet,  crimson  or  Salmon  Queen,  ever- 
green, perpetual  flowering,  6,  1/6.  Auriculas,  grand  large 
flowering,  show,  4,  1/6.  Cannas,  Crozy's  splendid  hybrids, 
large  2  year  old,  3,  1/6  ;  1  year,  4,  1/4.  Cinerarias,  exhibition 
and  stella^a,  6,  1/4.  Eucalyptus,  4,  1/4.  Francoa  (Bridal 
M'reath),  6, 1/6.  Heliotrope,  very  large  heais,  fragrant  bloom, 
4,  1/4.  Lobelia  cardinalis  Queen  Victoria,  4,  1/4.  Nicotiana, 
white  or  crimson  Tobacco,  4,  1/4.  Primula  malacoides  (rosy- 
lilac),  6,  1/6.  Primula  obconica,  new,  giant,  lovely  cnlouis, 
4,  1/4.  Rehmannia,  pink  trumpet,  3,  1/6.  Salvia,  Scailet 
Zurich,  4,  1/4.  Salvia,  scarlet  coccinea,  6,  1/4.  Saxifraga 
.Mothei  of  Thousands,  trailing,  4,  1/4.  Streptocarpus,  lovely 
Cape  Primrose,  large  blooms,  lovely  colours,  4,  3/4.  Aralia 
(Fig  Palm),  2,  1/4.  Celsia  critica,  pretty  spikes  oJ  yeUow  and 
mauve  flowers,  4,  1/4.  Cyclamen,  choice  new  sorts,  3,  1,9. 
Fuchsias,  choice  varieties,  3,  1/6.  Marguerites,  large  yellow 
and  Covent  Garden  White,  4,  1/4.  Smilax,  trailing,  3,  1/4. 
Cordyline  Dracffina  indivisa  Veitchii,  handsome  hardy  palm, 
sirong  3  year  old,  about  9ins.,  2,  1/6.  Schizanthus,  butterfly 
flower,  lovely  new  large  flowering  hybrids,  6,  1,4.  Tomatoes, 
strcog,  transpLinted,  best  sorts,  6,  1/6. 

Hardy  Climbers.  Ampelopsis  Veitchii,  self-clinging  Vir- 
ginia creeper,  large  loots,  sevi^ial  trails,  2/6  each.  Clematis 
titalba  (Traveller's  Joy),  rapid  grower,  large  rocts,  2/-  each. 
Calystegia,  double  pink,  Morning  Glory,  rapid  climber,  3  roots, 
1/6.  TropsBolum  speciosuin,  scarlet,  2,  1/6;  Apios  tuberous 
rooted  Wistaria  (not  sinensis),  2,  1/4.  Passion  Flower, 
hardy,  blue  and  white,  2,  1/6.  Peas,  everlasting,  white,  red, 
pink,  mixed,  large  roots,  3,  1/6.  Eccromocarpus,  trusses 
orange  flowers,  2,  1/4. 

Sweet  Pea  plants,  new,  large  flowering,  waved,  etc.,  lovely 
colours,  20,  1/6. 


MRS.   PYM,  F.R.H.S., 

10,   VINE    HOUSE,    WOODSTON,    PETERBOROUGH. 


BE    READY 

FOR  THE   SPRAYING   SEASON, 


The 'VILLA' SPRAYER 


Patent  No.  161730. 


;.THE  VILLA- 


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as  the   top. 


THE    TRADE    SUPPLIED. 
To  be    had    ONLY    of    the    Patentee. 

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Note  —When  the  fruit  is  setting  a/ier  the 
blossom  has  fallen,  give  apple  and  fruit  trees  one 
or  two  light  sprayings  with  a  teaspoonful  of 
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enough  for  about  24  trees. 


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staiing  requirements. 

April  8,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


171 


Primulas. — Where  an  early  batch  of  P.  sinensis 
is  desired,  a  pinch  of  seed  may  be  sown  at  this 
time.  The  old  double  white  Primula,  which  is 
so  useful  for  making  up  wreaths,  etc.,  must  be 
propagated  by  means  of  cuttings,  which  may  be 
rooted  in  a  warm  case  at  this  time  ;  but  the  usual 
method  is  carefully  to  trim  off  a  lot  of  the  bottom 
leaves,  and  then  moimd  up  the  stems  with  a 
mixtuie  of  leaf-soil,  sand  and  sphagnum  moss. 
Fiesh  roots  soon  p"sh  cut  into  ihis,  when  the 
rooted  shoots  may  bo  cut  off  and  put  into  suitable 
sized  pots,  standing  them  in  a  close  case  for  a 
few  days  until  they  get  a  bold  at  the  root. 

Cinerarias. — -.-ythough  too  early  for  the  main 
sowing,  a  pinch  of  seed  of  both  the  star  and 
florists'  t\-pe  may  be  sown  at  this  time  where 
early  batches  are  required.  These  plants  enjoy 
cool  and  moist  conditions  during  all  stages  of  their 
cultivation. 

Humea  elegans. — Where  this  beautiful  and 
graceful  plant  is  grown  it  ^hould  now  be  ready 
tor  transfeiring  into  its  flowering  pots,  which  for 
well  gro\\Ti  specimens  should  be  gins,  or  roins.  in 
size  ;  and  it  is  usually  at  this  stage  that  trouble 
commences,  for  this  plant  is  by  no  means  easy 
to  grow  well.  In  my  expeiierce  it  usually  gives 
little  trouble  in  i.s  yoimger  stages  if  it  is  grown 
quite  cool  and  carefully  watered,  whereas  in  their 
final  stages  they  require  very  careful  handling, 
especially  as  regards  watering.  They  aie  very 
impatient  of  fumigation,  and  a  sharp  look-out 
should  be  kept  for  gieer  fly,  which  is  best  removed 
with  a  soft  brush  as  soon  as  it  appears.  1  do  not 
know  whether  it  is  generally  known  that  some 
few  individuals  suffer  from  a  rash  or  eczema  when 
handling  this  plant. 

Pelargoniums  of  the  Zonal  type  rooted  last 
autumn  and  intended  for  summer  flowering  in 
the  conservatory  should  now  be  ready  for  their 
flowering  pots,  which  may  be  the  6in.  or  7in.  size. 
The  plants  should  be  potted  fairly  firm,  and  after- 
wards stood  in  a  position  where  they  can  get 
plenty  of  light  and  air.  Plants  intended  for 
autumn  and  win.er  flowering  may  still  be  propa- 
gated, while  earlier  rooted  batches  should  be 
potted  on  as  they  require  it.  When  in  their 
flowering  pots  they  should  be  stood  outdoors 
in  a  sunny  position  duiing  the  summer  months. 
In  the  immediate  neighbourhood  of  London  it 
is  useless  to  grow  these  plants  for  winter  flowering, 
as  one  night's  fog  will  ruin  the  lot. 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kew.  J.    Coutts. 


THE   LITTLE  GARDEN 

Its  Value  and  its  Possibilities. 

To  a  thirsty  man  a  few  cups  of  water  are 
better  than  an  ocean  which  he  can 
swim  in  but  cannot  drink.  The  wide- 
spread love  of  flowers — would  that  it 
were  universal  and  more  intense ! — 
is  better  satisfied  by  the  ptirity  and  freshness  of  a 
few  choice  blooms  than  by  an  ocean  of  extensive 
planting.  The  former  meet  a  necessity ;  the 
latter  provides  for  enjo\Tnent.  Yet  the  ocean 
has  its  value.  M'ithout  it  the  winds  which  travel 
to  the  four  corners  of  the  earth  w'ould  ever\^v'here 
pass  over  a  desert.  The  winds  of  the  gardening 
world  blow  over  the  ocean  of  extensive  culture  and 
gather  up  its  essence,  bearing  it  to  distant  regions 
to  feed  the  springs  which  biing  refreshment  and 
beauty  to  many  an  othenvise  barren  spot. 

These  springs  are  the  little  gardens.  Though 
measured  in  rods  they  are  in  no  way  to  be  despised 
in  comparison  with  those  which  are  measured  in 
acres.  Nature  is  infinite,  and  size  is  nothing  in  her 
presence.  The  more  one  is  in  s>Tnpathy  with  the 
spirit  of  Nature,  which  is  the  spirit  of  true  garden- 
ing, the  more  evident  becomes  the  potential  value 
of  the  little  garden. 

It  is  a  matter  of  common  observation  that  the 
greatest  specialists  among  us  are  the  greatest 
enthusiasts.  The  treasures  which  gardening  holds 
are  scattered  widely,  but  also  buried  deeply  so  that 
the  pearl  diver  who  confines  his  attention  to  one 
■spot  may  easily  reap  as  rich  a  reward  as  the 
explorer  who  sails  round  the  world  in  search  of 
variety. 


A  garden  makes  its  strongest  appeal  when  spring 
flowers  are  first  coming  into  evidence.  This  is 
partly  because  flowers  are  scarce  at  this  time  so 
that  the  few  which  do  appear  stir  a  deeper  interest 
than  their  actual  numbers  would  seem  to  merit. 
The  attention  they  draw  is  concentrated  and, 
therefore,  intense,  and  is  assisted  by  the  more 
cheerless  winter  background  against  which  they 
appear. 

Not  alone  by  winter,  however,  is  a  dull  back- 
ground provided.  One  has  only  to  notice  the 
condition  of  thousands  of  the  enclosures  attached 
to  the  everyday  dwellings  oumed  or  tenanted  by 
"  the  men  in  the  street"  to  realise  what  neglected 
possibilities  lie  stjrewn  on  every  hand.  How 
different  might  our  towns  and  cities  be  if  only  the 
romance  dormant  in  a  patch  of  soil  were  appreciated 
by  every  lucky  owner  of  a  "  back  yard." 

We  pride  ourselves  on  being  the  greatest 
gardening  nation  in  the  world,  but  thete  is  ttill 
loom  for  us  to  prove  that  we  can  be  great  in  little 
things.  It  is  a  reflection  on  the  popularity  of  the 
pastime  that  the  term  "  back  yard"  should  have 
a  derogatory  meaning. 

There  lies  a  little  patch  of  earth,  neglected, 
downtrodden  and  hard  as  the  heart  of  the  owner, 
who  sees  in  it  no  possible  source  of  intellectual 
refreshment.  Wonderful  in  its  history  and 
composition,  richly  stored  with  material  which 
might  be  buUt  into  a  living  structure  worthy  of  the 
admiration  of  a  man,  teeming  with  living  workers 
and  holding  deeper  secrets  than  the  wisest  among 
us  have  yet  fathomed,  it  remains  broum  and  bare 
beneath  the  oft-passing  footsteps.  Yet  leave  it 
entirely  to  Nature  for  a  time  and  see  what  happens. 
Its  life-supporting  powers  find  expression  and 
weeds  appear.  Where  weeds  can  flourish  fairer 
plants  can  grow. 

No  serious  readers  of  this  paper  are  likely  to  miss 
all  the  possibilities  of  the  little  garden,  but  it 
is  doubtless  in  the  power  of  many  to  influence 
others  who  do.  If  ignorance  is  the  cause  there  is 
plenty  of  information  which  can  be  distributed 
freely  with  benefit  to  both  giver  and  receiver. 
If  interest  is  lacking  it  can  be  stimulated  by  the 
healthy  infectious  enthusiasm  of  those  who  know 
the  value  of  a  garden,  however  small.  \'arious 
forces  are  working  to  forward  the  movement,  but 
personal  influence  is  the  most  effective.  Indi- 
vidually it  may  not  appear  much,  but  one  of 
Nature's  greatest  lessons  is  the  importance  of 
little  things — be  they  vitamines  or  eelworms  ! 

The  year  1922  is  going  to  be  a  great  year  for 
horticulture.  It  will  be  a  great  year  for  the 
country,  too,  if  it  witnesses  a  wider  appreciation 
of  the  possibilities  of  "  The  Little  Garden." 

A.  E.  Sims. 


arranged  sparingly  in  glasses  so  that  each  flower 
stalk  is  seen,  or  more  thickly  massed  in  bowls,  with  a 
plentiful  supply  of  its  own  foliage,  this  hardy  annual 
is,  no  doubt,  a  super-flower  for  cut  work.  To 
lovers  of  blue  flowers  the  Cornflower  is  to  be 
recommended  as  affording  good  cutting  material, 
while  anyone  seeking  a  mauve  tint  should  grow 
a  batch  of  the  tall  Ageratum  mexicanum.  Bright 
shades  of  scarlet,  carmine,  pink  and  rose  are 
well  represented  by  such  favourites  as  Clarkia, 
Godetia,  Larkspur  and  Shirley  Poppy.  True  the 
last  named  is  rather  ephemeral  in  chaiacter,  but  if 
gathered  in  the  bud  stage  makes  a  dainty  change. 
Extremely  useful  for  filling  large  glasses  are 
gatherings  of  Cosmea  and  Lavatera  or  Mallow, 
both  of  which  genera  throw  their  flowers  well 
out  as  long  sprays  or  individual  stems.  The  Sweet 
Sultan  keeps  fresh  a  long  time  in  water,  so  is  to  be 
prized  for  vase  work,  also  'Viscaria  and  Zinnias  last 
well  and  are  fresh  and  bright. 

One  of  the  oldest  favourites  among  annuals 
for  cutting  is  Mignonette,  a  bowl  of  which  is  at  all 
times  greatly  appreciated  because  of  its  perfume. 
.\nother  old-time  plant  that  offers  a  good  choice 
for  small  glass  work  is  the  Carnation.  The  annual 
type  is  here  alluded  to,  which  blooms  in  six  months 
to  eight  months  from  sowing.  These  flowers,  single 
and  double,  arrange  nicely  in  glasses  for  the  dining 
table.  Salpiglossis  is  also  valuable  for  cut  flower, 
the  rich  shades  of  its  ftmnel-shaped  blooms  being 
attractive.  Two  other  plants  very  serviceable 
for  cutting  are  Antirrhinums  and  Scabious.  Neither 
of  these  are  strictly  annuals  in  the  eyes  of  the 
authorities  but,  flowering  as  they  do  from  mid- 
summer onwards,  the  same  season  as  sown,  both 
families  are,  ninety-nine  times  out  of  a  hundred 
grown  as  annuals.  The  Antirrhinums  should  be 
sparsely  arranged  in  large  bowls,  their  superb 
colours  being  then  most  telling,  while  the  single 
heads  of  Scabious  arc  best  used  in  glasses.  Lastly 
we  have  the  annual  Chrj-santhemums  and  for  late 
work.  Asters,  particularly  single  varieties  of  the 
latter,  than  which  I  question  if  there  is  anything 
finer  among  annuals  for  decorative  beauty  either  in 
the  garden  or  for  cut  work.  Many  of  the  Asters 
resemble  Japanese  Chrysanthemums  in  form  of 
flower  and  habit  of  growth,  while  their  range  of 
colour  is  not  much  less  than  such  ;  likewise  they 
last  a  long  time  in  water. 

It  may  not  be  altogether  out  of  place  to  add 
that,  where  the  demand  for  cut  flowers  is  heavy, 
it  will  be  found  a  good  plan  to  allocate  a  bed  or 
border,  proportionate  with  the  needs,  for  the 
purpose  of  growing  such  and  so  avoid  having  to 
deplete  those  parts  of  the  garden  it  has  been  the 
desire  and  aim  to  keep  gay. 

Amplhill  Park   Gardens.  C.  T. 


ANNUALS  for  CUTTING 


M 


ANY  and  diverse  are  the  uses  to 
which  armuals  can  be  put,  but  not 
all  are  eqiially  suitable  for  decoration 
as  cut  flowers,  a  requirement,  less  or 
great,  in  most  gardens  at  some  period 
or  other.  Some  flowers  are  too  stumpv  of  growth, 
others  will  not  stand  in  water  sufficiently  well  to 
make  their  cutting  worth  wl.ile,  a  peculiar  shade 
of  colour  may  rule  out  another  as  inappropirate, 
while  others,  again,  may  have  to  possess  fragrance 
if  used  in  a  certain  room  or  on  a  favourite  table,  or 
he  barred.  This  latter  stipulation  is  rare,  fortu- 
nately, for  the  possession  of  the  inherent  virtue  of 
sweetness  is  rather  limited  among  annuals,  and 
but  few  could  pass  the  fragrnce  test  were  it 
common. 

Were  a  vote  taken  on  the  subject  of  these  notes, 
the  Sweet  Pea  would,  perhaps,  be  an  easy  first, 
so    world-wide    are    its    devotees :     and    whether 


Rhododendron    Cunningham's     Sulphur.— A 

fortune  awaits  the  raiser  of  a  large-leaved 
evergreen  Rhododendron  with  rich  yellow  blossoms, 
the  colour,  for  instance,  of  Azalea  Anthony  Koster. 
Rhododendron  hybridists  have  made  crosses  and 
raised  seedlings  beyond  ntimber  in  the  endeavour 
to  obtain  a  good  yellow  flower.  Cunningham  s 
Sulphur  is  generally  acknowledged  to  be  one  of 
the  best  hybrids  in  this  direction.  It  was  raised 
in  the  Comely  Bank  Nurseries  of  Messrs.  Cunning- 
ham and  Eraser,  Edinburgh,  about  r894,  the  parents 
being  R.  caucasicum  and  R.  arboremn  albtmi. 
At  least,  from  the  point  of  view  of  colour,  a  number 
of  plants  of  this  variety  in  several  places  at  Kew 
are  one  of  the  most  notable  Rhododendrons  in 
flower  during  their  season.  Sulpbirr  yellow, 
perhaps,  best  describes  the  colour,  a  particularly 
dainty  or  delicate  shade,  much  admired  by  visitors. 
From  quite  a  small  st^te  yovmg  plants,  grafted  on 
R.  ponticimi,  flower  with  more  than  usual  freedom. 
While  healthy  and  robust  in  growth,  this  hybr 


172 


THE     GARDEN. 


[April  8,  192: 


does  not  possess  the  vigour  of  such  varieties  as 
Pink  Pearl  or  Lord  Palmerston,  hence  it  is  very 
useful  as  a  bedding  variety, 

Britain's  Earliest  Roads.^ — A  small  but  pro- 
usely  illustrated  book*  by  Mr.  Alfred  Watkins 
puts  an  entirely  new  complexion  on  the  evolution 
of  trackways  or,  as  we  should  now  say,  roadways 
in  Britain.  If  what  he  postulates  proves  true,  and 
it  certainly  bears  the  imprint  of  truth,  the  Romans 
must  have  been  adaptors  rather  than  makers  of 
roadways.  This  is  a  book  that  no  one  with  any 
archaeological  or  historical  inclinations  can  afford 
to  miss,  while  it  should  make  a  wide  appeal  to  all 
lovers  of  the  open  countryside. 

Two  Useful  "Annuals."—  "The  Sweet  Pea 
Annual  "J  and  "The  Carnation  Year-Book"  i^ 
have  just  come  to  hand.  Both  are  full  of  interest. 
In  tlie  former  perhaps  the  most  useful  part  is  the 
classification  of  Sweet  Peas.  Two  exceptionally 
interesting  articles  are  "The  History  of  the 
National  Sweet  Pea  Society"  and  "The  Early 
History  of  the  Sweet  Pea."  "The  Carnation 
Year- Book"  (the  official  organ  of  the  British 
Carnation  Society)  contains  the  classification  of 
Carnations  and  Pinks  which  should  prove  a  great 
help  to  Carnation  growers.  Those  interested  in 
Perpetual  Carnations  and  Sweet  Peas  should  be  in 
possession  of  both  these  little  books. 

*  "  Early  British  Trackways,"  by  Alfred  Watkins, 
(Hereford ;  The  Watkins  ftU-tor  Company.  London  , 
Simpkin,  Marshall,  Hamilton,  Kent  and  Co.,  Limitt-d: 
4s.  6d.  net.) 

t  "  The  Sweet  Pea  Annual,"  1922.  Price  5s.  Secretary 
H.  D.  Tigwell,  Greenford,  Middlesex. 

§  "  The  Carnation  Year  Book,"  1922,  Price  2s.  Hon. 
Secretary,  P.  F.  Bunyard,  57,  Kidderminster  Road, 
Croydon,  S.E. 

EDDY'S     NETS 


NEW   GARDEN    NETS. 

For    Fruit    Protection.      Square  and  Diamond 
Mesh.     All  kinds  and  sizes. 

TENNIS    BOUNDARY    NETS. 

All  widths  and  lengths. 

TENNIS    NETS. 

Various  qualities. 

REPAIRED    NETS. 

All  sizes.     Square  and  Diamond  Mesh. 


NETS    FOR    ALL    PURPOSES. 


Samples  and  List  of  Prices  front  the  Manufacturers : 

JOSEPH     BENTLEY,    Ltd., 

BARROW-ON-HUMBER,     HULL. 

(Sole  Proprietors  of  B.  EDDY  &  SONS.) 


R  E  D  U  C  T  ION 


N        PRICES 


Our  well-known   make  of 

PORTABLE  PLANT  &  CUCUMBER  FRAMES 

iSiipnlic-il  trum    Stu^lO 


These  Frames  are  made  of  the  best  materials,  and  can  be  put 
together  and  taken  apart  in  a  few  minutes  by  any  handy  man. 

Catalnduc   of  Prucs   .scut    Free   an    Aifplitati'ui.    also 
forGreetiliouscs.VtDcrics,  clc,  and  Hcatitin  Apparatus. 

R.     HALLIDAY     &    CO.,     Ltd. 

I  Telephone  :  5S  Middl  ton). 

Royal  Horticultural  Works,  MIDDLETON,  MANCHESTER. 


ANSWERS 
TO  CORRESPONDENTS 

TREES     AND     SHRUBS 

REPLANTING    FOREST   OR    WOODLAND    (S.    M.    L.. 

Hants).-^\Ve  have  seen  a  mature  wood  of  Spruce,  anti 
another  of  Pine  {Pinus  sylvcstris).  eut  down  and  replanted 
with  the  respective  kind  of  trees.  The  stumps  were 
uprooted  in  tlie  first  case  at  great  expense,  but  not  in  the 
case  of  Pine  or  Scot<?h  Fir.  The  young  trees  grew  satis- 
factorily, simply  by  clearing  them  of  rank  vegetation 
once  in  the  course  of  t]ie  summer  till  the  trees  got  above 
it.  No  doubt  what  our  correspondent  calls  Fir  is  the 
Scotch  Fir.  and  there  is  no  reason  why  he  should  not 
plant  the  same  kind  of  tree  again.  Many  Pine  woods 
were  recently  cut  down  in  Surrey,  and  the  stumps  were 
not  removed.  In  many  cases  the  ground  will  soon  get 
covered  with  seedlings,  self  sown  from  the  old  trees. 
The  Scotch  Fir  withstands  wind,  even  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  the  sea.  It  might  be  worth  wliile  planting  Beecli 
among  the  Firs  as  nurse  trees,  to  be  cut  out  when  crowding 
commences.  We  are  aware  that  other  kinds  of  trees  might 
follow  Fir  in  Austria  and  Germany,  but  we  would  not 
recommend  Ash  near  the  sea.  Beech.  Sycamore  and  Elm 
would  be  better,  if  only  as  nurse  trees. 

LARCH  AS  A  SCREEN  (G.  A.  S..  Bucks).— A  screen  o 
Larch  trees  will  not  be  a  very  dense  one.  nor  is  it  a  tree  tha*' 
many  would  think  of  planting  If  the  situation  were  exposed* 
Our  correspondent's  locality  is  not  particularly  exposed' 
and  being  distant  from  the  sea  would  not  suffer  from  sea 
breezes.  We  would  give  preference  to  tlie  common  Larch 
Larix  europjea),  though  a  tree  of  the  Japanese  Larch 
(L.  leptolepis)  could  be  planted  at  intervals  in  the  row  by 
way  of  experiment  on  account  of  its  distinctness.  The 
common  Larch  is  one  of  the  very  best  timber  trees  where 
it  succeeds,  but  is  liable  to  Larch  disease,  especially  in 
wet  situations.  It  is  a  good  tree  for  planting  under  forest 
conditions  on  hillsides.  The  Japanese  Larch  has  longer 
leaves,  longer  and  stouter  branches.  It  has  not  been  long 
enough  in  this  country  to  have  its  capabilities  tested  as  a 
timber  tree,  but  has  every  appearance  of  being  a  lower  tree 
in  this  country  than  the  common  one.  The  common  Larch 
grows  quite  well  and  freely  in  a  gravelly  soil;  and  the 
other  will  for  a  time  at  least.  Plant  them  no  deeper  than 
they  were  in  the  nursery,  and  this  can  be  seen  by  the  soil- 
mark  at  the  base  of  the  stem.  The  common  Larch  will 
grow  2Uft.  to  25ft.  from  seed  in  ten  years  in  the  counties 
around  London.  In  fifty  years  it  will  grow  80ft.  high 
where  it  thrives ;  in  a  single  row  of  trees  it  would  not 
progress  so  fast.  The  Japanese  Larch  grows  more  slowly 
than  this.  The  roots  do  not  travel  so  far  as  those  of  Ash, 
Elm   and   Beech   by   a   long   way ;     tliey   will,   however 


extract  the  moisture  for  some  feet.  The  shade  produce 
is  very  small.  As  Larches  come  into  leaf  and  bloom  befoi 
the  Beech,  we  would  prefer  to  plant  tliem  in  February  c 
March,  because  it  is  very  exhaustive  to  them  if  the  voun 
leaves  get  killed  owing  to  drought  before  the  roots  get  hoi 
of  the  soil. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

WHERE  TO  OBTAIN  WATTLED  HURDLES  <T.  S.  T 

Somerset). — The  hurdles  may  be  obtained  from  Mi 
Dowland,  Highcliffe,  f'hristchurch,  Hants.  Mr.  Dowlanc 
is  an  expert  in  making  these  hurdles. 

THE  SOYA  BEAN  (P.  R.).— The  Soya  Bean  (Glycine 
Soja)  and  the  Locust  (Ceratonia  Siliqua)  both  belong  U 
Leguminoste,  the  former  being  an  annual  extensivel' 
cultivated  for  the  seeds  in  Manchuria,  China  and  Japan 
while  the  latter,  a  tree  of  20ft.  to  25ft.,  native  of  thf 
Mediterranean  region,  is  valued  for  the  pods,  which  contah 
a  saccharine  substance  and  are  valued  more  particularl; 
as  a  food  for  stock.  The  seeds  contain  a  gum  said  to  b< 
used  by  calico  printers  as  a  thickening  agent. 

THE  DESTRUCTION  OF  WHITE  FLY.— T.  F.,  Bedalc 
— A  little  booklet,  entitled  "Tomato  Cultivation  Undei 
Glass  and  Out-of-Doors  "  (published  at  this  office,  prict 
lid..  i)ost  free),  deals  fully  with  this  important  subject 
Hydrocyanic  acid,  which  is  the  only  effective  agent  foi 
the  destruction  of  this  pest,  is  a  very  dangerous  poison 
and  should  never  be  used  until  the  necessary  details  art 
thoroughly  mastered. 

IRISH  POTATO  GROWERS  (E.  A  L.  Henley-on 
Thames). ^Firms  who  grow  Potatoes  in  Ireland  are  Messrs 
Alex.  Dickson  and  Sons,  Newtownards,  County  Down 
Ireland  (or  61,  Dawson  Street,  Dublin):  Messrs.  Hogj, 
and  Robertson.  Limited,  Nurserymen  and  Seedsmen 
Dubhn;  and  Manager,  Lissadel  Sligo.  Ireland.  Ther< 
were  other  growers  of  Potatoes  in  Ireland,  but  whethei 
the  firms  now  exist  or  not  we  cannot  say.  Two  wel 
known  growers  and  specialists  are  Mr.  William  E.  Sands 
Hillsborough,  County  Down,  Ireland ;  and  Mr.  J.  F 
Williamson,  Seed  Potato  Specialist,  Mallow    Cork. 

NAMES  OF  PLANTS,— B.  E.  S.,  Lockerbie.— Cornus 
Mas  (tlie  Cornelian  Cherry). 

NAMES  OF  FRUIT.— C.  S.,  Salisbury.— Apples :  1 
Probably  High  Canons:  2,  Beauty  of  Stoke;  3,  Hormead 
Pearmain  4  Winter  Quarrenden ;  5,  too  decayed  foi 
identiflcat  on. 


CATALOGUES   RECEIVED. 


ohn  Waterer,  Sons  and  Crisp,  Limited.  Bagshot,  Surrey. 
Rhododendrons  and  Hardy  Ornamental  Trees  and 
Shrubs.  Flower  and  Vegetable  Seeds.  Abridged 
List  of  Roses. 


WEBBS'  VEGETABLE  SEEDS 

The  Best  Strains  for  Small  Gardens  and  Allotments. 

At  POPULAR  PRICES.  3d. "^^"^ '"^*''^^* 


upwards. 


i'cr  pikt. 

IM'^A,  Dwarf  Marrow-fat  (early)..          ..          ..  9d. 

,,       riiiiir->-r  (farlv)        .  .      ' lUd. 

,,      I.ittli!  Marvi-l  (early)         1/- 

lU\al  .Marrowfat  (second  early)             . .  lOd. 

,,      Champion  Marrowfat  (inaiiterop)           . .  9d. 

RUNNER  BEAN,  Seleeted  Scarlet      ..          ..  1/. 

DWARF          ,.         Canadian  Wonder              ..  9d. 

IIOKUCOLE,  Extra  Curled  Scotch      ..          ..  3d- 

H.  SPROUTS,  The  Wroxton 3d. 

BEET,  Cheltenham  Green  Top             . .  3d. 

Crimson  Globe     . .          .  .          .  .  3d. 

BROCCOLI,  Winter  White        . .          . .          . .  3d. 

„                   Perfection   .  .          .  .          . .          . .  3d. 

Early  Purple  Sprouting  . .          . .  3d. 

CABBAGE,  Improved  Nnnpariel          . .          . .  3d. 

>    ,,                  Early  Otfenham      ..          ..          ..  3d. 

SAVOY   CABBAGE,  Drumhead           ..          ..  3d. 


Per  pckt 

CABBAGE,  Standard 3d 

Defiance  Intermediate       . .          . .  3d 

CELERY,  Perfection  Pink         . .          . .          . .  3d 

COS  LETTUCE.  Paris  White 3d 

CABBAGE  LETTUCE,  Commodore  Nutt      . .  4d 

All  the  Year  Round  .  3d 

ONION,  D.invers  Yellow            3d 

,,             I'niwn   Spanish,.           ..           ..           ..  3d 

Whit.'  Spanish 3d 

PARSNIP,  Selected  Hollow  Crown      . .          . .  3d 

RADISH,  Mixed  Turnip             3d 

,,              Mixed  Olive-shaped  . .          . ,          . .  3d 

Mixed  Long    . .          . .          . .          . .  3d 

TURNIP,  Prizetaker  Green  Top           . .          . .  3d 

Early  Six-weeks         . .         . .         . .  3d 

VEGETABLE  MARROW,  Large  Cream        . .  3d 

,,                               „            Large  Green         , .  3d 

,,                               ,.            Green  Striped      . .  3d 


WHEN     ORDERINQ      KINDLY     REFER     TO     THIS     ADVERTISEMENT. 

WEBBS'  COLLECTION  OF  VEGETABLE  SEEDS 


5/9     Collection      contains     '21     tine    varieties. 
Ill-  .,  ..  36        .. 

1113  Exhibition  Collection  contains  30  special  varieties  for  Exhibition  purposes. 


8/3    Collection    contains    30    fine    varieties. 
13,6  „  .,  44       „ 


Prices  quoted  for  Collections  include  Postage. 


GARDEN    CATALOGUE    FREE. 


WEBBS'  "MAGIC"  COMPOUND  MANURE 

A  Perfect  Food  for  all  Vegetables,  Flowers.  Plants,  and  Fruits. 
Bags  of  7-lbs.,  3/3;   14  lbs.,  6/-;  28-lbs.,    U/-;  56-lbs..  20/-;   11'2-lbs.,  36/- 


WEBB  &  SONS,  LTD.,  l^iotU^iu^  STOURBRIDGE 


THE 


,  .,-1922 


GARDEN 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


>l.  LXXXVI.— No.  2630. 


ered  as  Secoad  class  M  atter  at  the  N  ew  York.  N.Y..  Post  OfHce. 


Saturday,  April   15,  1922 


REOISTBRED  AT  THE  OENBRAL 
POST  OFFICE  AS  A  NEWSPAPER 
AND     FOR     CANADIAN      HAOAZINE 

POST 


Price  THREEPcNGE 

Yearly  SubscriptlOD 
Inland.    17/4      Foreign     17/4 


A     FINE     SPRAY     OF    NARCISSUS     GLANDORE. 


DAHLIAS,  STRONG  POT-GROWN  TUBERS 


Cactus    Dahlias,    choice  named  ?orts 

,,  ,,  mixed  (without  Ilame:^) 

Qiant-flowered    Double    Decorative,    choice  named  sorts 

)i  ,*  I,  I,  niLxcd  (mthout  names) 

New    Collarette    Dahlias,    choice  named  sorts.. 

,,  I,  ,,  mixed  (without  names) 

Improved    Single    Dahlias,    choice  named  sorts 

„  ,,  ,,  mixed  (without  names)   .. 


per  doz.  12/- 
per  doz  9/- 
per  doz.  12/- 
per  doz.  9/- 
per  doz.  10^ 
per  doz.  7/6 
per  doz  12/- 
per  doz.     9/- 


EXCELSIOR  PEARL  TUBEROSES. 


The  finest  strain,   having   pure  white  double  flowers  of  delicate  fragrance. 

Pot  up  now  or  plant  out  in  May :  — 

Strong  Bulbs       . .         . .     per_doz.     7/6        Extra  Larje  Bulbs      . .         . .     per  doz.  10/6 

Li^f  of  Surplus* Li'iU'S,  Moiitbretias,  &c.,  at  reduced  prices  sent  on  application. 

11,     12     &     13,     KING     STREET, 
COVENT     QAROEN,     LONDON,     W.C.2. 


BARR    &    SONS, 


'\^7'1TH   the   decline  in  costs  of  production,  cheaper  coal  particularly,  and 
*  »      Anticipating  a  Reduction  in  Postal  Rates,  at  the  time  of  despatch, 
we  are  reducing  the  prices  of  our 

Early  Flowering  Chrysanthemums. 

At  planting  time  (about  May   1st)  we  will  send  one  dozen  Early  Flowering 
Chrysanthemums  for  the  garden  for  5/-,  24  in   12  varieties  for  9/-,  50  in  25 
varieties  for  16/-,  100  in  50  varieties  for  30/-,  or  100  in  25  varieties  for  25/-. 
THE     BEST    PLANTS.  THE     BEST    VARIETIES. 

Post    Free     for     Cash     with     Order. 
Plants   of   Japanese,    Incurved,     Decoratives    and    Singles    for    greenhouse 
flowering  in   the  Winter,   should  be  obtained   now.     Our  selections,  6/-  per 
dozen.     When  ordering,  please  state  section  required. 

Descriptive     Catalogue     on     Application. 

W.    WELLS    &    CO.,    MERSTHAM,    SURREY. 


PELARGONIUMS 

Large  Flowering  or  "  Decorative." 

THE    FINEST    COLLECTION   in  the  KINGDOM. 

All     our     own      Raising. 

Novelties  of  great  Merit. 

CATALOGUE         FREE. 


GODFREY    &    SON,    Horikulturists,     EXMOUTH. 

ORCH I DS 

of  vigorous   habit  and    superior  constitution.     A  visit  to  our  Establishment 

is    cordially    invited    to    inspect    our     immense     and     interesting     STOCK 

RAISED     BY     THE 

PURE    CULTURE    SYSTEM 

Choice    Species,    Rare    Botanical    Specimens.     Albinos    in    warm    and    cool 

sections  also  a  speciality. 
E.\pert   Advice    given    and    all    Requisites    supplied     for    the    good    culture 

of   Orchids. 

GHARLE8W0RTH  &  CO.,  ""^^J^^"^ 


THE     GARDEN. 


[April  13,  1922. 


'THE    GARDEN"   CATALOGUE    GUIDE 


NOTICE  TO  OUR  READERS 

r^N   receipt   of   a    Post   Card   the    under- 

mentioned    firms    will    be    pleased    to 

send  their  useful  Catalogues  free  of  charge. 


Rose  Specialists 


ELISHA  J.  HICKS,  M.C.  N.R.S.,  etc. 

HURST,  BERKS 

The  Champion    Deoorativa  Rose   Grower    of    England 


Fruit  Trees  and  Plants 


Garden  Sundries 


C.  E.  WEST 
HiGHAM  Hill,  E.17 
Est.  1888 


West's  PatentGardenSundries. 
,.  11        Weeder, 

"  Celu"  Labels. 
Raftiatape  ""  Westmaline." 
Insecticides.  W^ed  Killers,  etc. 
Catalogue  and  frte  samples. 


RICHARD  MELHUISH,  Ltd. 
so  5 1,  Fetter  Lane,  E.C.4. 
Branch  Depot  : 

143  HoLBORN  Bars 


Gardon  Tools  of 
all  kinds. 
Catalogue    "  B  " 
post  free. 


W.   WELLS,   Junn. 

Hardy  Plant  Nurseries, 
Merstham,     Surrey. 

Collections  of  Herbaceous  Plant 

for     Present    Planting. 

ORDER  NOW   AND  ENSURE  DELIVERY. 


PERRY'S 

Hardy  Plant  Farms 

ENFIELD,  MIDDX. 


New  Alpines 
and  Perennials 


Complete 
Collection 


KELWAY  &  SON 
Retail  Plant  Department 
LANGPORT,  SOMERSET. 


Hardy  Plants 
Colour  Borders 
Gladioli 


HARDY    AZALEAS    AND    FLOWERING    SHRUBS 


R.  &  G.  CUTHBERT 
SOUTHGATE 
MIDDLESEX 
Established  1797 


For  planting  and 
Conservatory 
decoration. 
Catalogue  of  our 
new  and  beautiful 
varieties  post 
free 


LAXTON  BROS. 

Nurseries 

BEDFORD 


Strawberries 

and 

Fruit  Trees 


CORRY  &  CO.,  Ltd. 
Shad  Thames,  S.E.i  and 
Bedford  Chambers 
Covent  Garden,  W.C.2 


Merchants  and 
Manufacturers 
of  Horticultural 
Sundries 
Fertilizers  and 
Insecticides,  etc. 


J.  BENTLEY,  Ltd. 
Bahrow-qn-Humber 
HULL 


Weed  Destroyers 
Lawn  Sand 
Insecticides 
Shrubs,  etc. 


Landscape  Gardening 


W.  H.  GAZE  &  SONS,  Ltd. 
High  Street 
KINGSTON-ON-THAMES 


Landscape,  Rock 
and  Water  Garden 
Model  Qardens 
Portsmouth    Road 
Surbiton 


W.  WELLS,  Junk. 
Hardy  Plant  Nursery 
MERSTHAM,  SURREY 


Specialists  in 
Hardy  Plants 
and  Alpines 
Catalogues  free 


PULMftJVI  ©  SOTS 

THE  NURSERips-ELSENllAM 
SIANSTED  •  ESSEX. 


Alpine  t) 
riarckj  Plonls 


Seeds  and  Bulbs 


R.  H.  BATH,  Ltd. 
The  Floral  Farms 
WISBECH 


Home-Grown 
Bulbs  and 
Seeds 


BLACKMORE  &  LANGDON 
Twerton  Hill  Nursery 
BATH 


Begonias 
Delphiniums 
Qloxinias 
Cyclamen,  etc. 


DAWKINS 

408,  King's  Road 

CHELSEA,  S.W. 


Seed  Catalogue 
and  Special 
Bulb  Ofrer. 


GOLD     MEDAL    CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 

Catalogue  free  containing  full  list  of  all  the  best  and  up-to- 
date  varieties  in  all  sections,  also  list  of  Novelties  for  1922 

GOLD   MEDAL  MICHAELMAS   DAISIES. 

I  shall  be  pleased  to  supply  for  63/-  one  each  of  the  50 
varieties  for  which  I  was  awarded  the  Gold  Medal  of  the 
R.H.S.  in  Su;ptember  last,  or  will  make  special  selections 
at  10/-,  15/-  and  20/-  per  dozen. 

GOLD  MEDAL  PERENNIAL  PHLOX. 

If  you  want  tie  best  try  H.  J.  JONES' selection.  12  very 
fine  unnamed,  all  colours  mixed,  6/-  ;  12  very  fine  named 
varieties.  10/-;  !2  extru  fine  named,  15/-;  l:i  very  fine  New 
varieties.  20/-. 

Catalogue  of  the  abox^e  and  many  other  good  plants  from 

H.  J.JON  ES.Ryecroft  Nurseries,  LEWISHAM,S.E.13 


R.  WALLACE  &  CO., 
The  Old  Gardens 
TUNBRIDGE  WELLS 


Ltd. 


LandaoBpe  .&  Qardea 
Architects.  Queen 
Alexandra's  Cup  for 
Best  Rook  and  Water 
Garden.  International 
Show.  1912. 


J.  CHEAL  & 

Nurseries 
CRAWLEY 


SONS,  Ltd. 


Landscape 
Gardeners 
Trees  and 
Shrubs,  etc. 


PULMAM  ® 

B1  APPOn^TMEKT  to  Ml 

71  NEW>4AN  ST-i 
LONDON • w 

IVURgERIES  •  ELSOfI 


SON 

3  MXJC3TY 

rcmrxll  Gardens.     1 
Figures -Stjndkib^.  1 

MISS  EVELYN  FAWSSETT 

(Specialist  In  Garden  Planning) 

83,  High  Street 
LEWES,  SUSSEX 


New  Gardens  de- 
signed. Old  Gardens 
Re-arranged.  Plant- 
ing plans  lo'-  borders, 
etc.  Terms  on  appli- 
cation. 


PERPETUAL  FLOWERING  CARNATIONS. 

Send  early  for  our  special  Spring  offer  of  collections 
selected  from  60  of  the  best  varieties  in  cultivation. 
Well-grown,  healthy  plants  at  about  pre-war  prices. 

YOUNG      &      CO., 

SPECIALISTS    GOLD     MEDALLISTS. 

3,  HATHERLEY,  CHELTENHAM.    £sfd.  i 890 


FORBES*  Catalogue. 

Florists'  Flowers,  Hardy  Plants,  Vegetable 
and   Flower   Seeds,  Free  on  Application. 

JOHN     FORBES     (Hawick),     Ltd., 

The    King's     Nurserymen, 

HAWICK,  SCOTLAND. 


^UBS     FOR     SHRUBS. 

'  wire  bound  patent,  over  100 
prizes.  R.H.S.  Medal,  1910.  No  warping  or 
shrinking.  In  Oak,  Beech.  Teak.  &c.  Highly 
decorative. — Price  List  from  Pradal  &  Co., 
26,  Goodge  Street.  London.  W.I. 


SWEET    PEAS     AND     HOW     TO     EXCEL 

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ANTIRRHINUMS      AND      PENTSTEMONS, 

by  A.  J.  Macself.  a  practical  booklet  on  the  best  methods 
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-,  24/- 


Phlox,  Gold  Medal  varieties,  distinct  . . 
,,       new,  of  recent  introduction 
,,       latest  novelties 
Michaelmas  Daisies,  standard  varieties 

,,  ,,         of  recent  introduction 

,,  ,,         latest  novelties. . 

Papaver  Orientale,  ^rand  lar^e  varieties 
Heleniums,  in  G  distinct  varieties 
Delphiniums,  Gold  Medal  varieties     . .    18 
Sunbeam  Poppies,  fine  for  vases 
Aconiiums,  in  6  distinct  varieties 
Anemone  Japonica,  in  6  distinct  varieties 
Aquilegia  (Columbine),  in  6  distinct  varieties 
Centaureas,  in  6  distinct  varieties 
Campanulas,  in  12  beautiful  varieties  9/-  and 

Chrysanthemum  maximum,  in  6  vars.  (or  cutting 
Erigerons,  in  6  varieties,  beautiful  blues 
Qaiegas,  in  4  distinct  colours   . . 
Hemerocallis,  in  6  distinct  varieties  . . 
Heucheras,  in  6  distinct  varieties 
Iris  Qermanica,  in  12  distinct  varieties 
Pyrethrum,  gorgeous  singles  and  doubles 
Rudbeckias,  in  6  distinct  varieties 
Sidalceas  (Mallow  Pink),  distinct 
Veronicas,  in  6  varieties,  distinct 


8/-  and 


9; 
16; 

27/ 

8/ 

IS, 

20 

4/ 

4; 

30/ 

6/ 
4/ 
4; 
4/ 
4/ 

12/ 
6/ 
7/ 
2/ 
4/ 
4/ 

12/ 
9/ 
4/ 
3/ 
4/ 


Collections  of  Alpine  and  RocIc  Plants. 


Craxy  Paving  Plants,  distinct.. 

Achilleas,  distinct 

Arabia,  distinct     . . 

Arenarias,  distinct 

Aubrietias,  l^ne  varieties,  distinct 

Campanulas,  distinct 

Cistus  (Sun  Roses),  distinct 

Dianthus,  distinct 

Erigeron  (Alpine),  distinct 

Gentians,  distinct.. 

Qlobularias,  distinct 

Qypsophila,  distinct 

Hellanthemums  (Rock  Roses),  distinct 

Helichrysum,  distinct 

Hypericum,  distinct 

iberis,  distinct 

Lithospermum,  Heavenly  Blue 

CEnotheras,  distinct 

Phlox,  Alpine,  distinct 

Potentillas,  Alpine,  distinct 
Primulas,  distinct 

Ramondia  Pyrenaica,  large  rosettes  . . 
Saxitragas,  Silver  

,,  Mossy  

„  Cushion 

Sedum,  distinct    .. 
Sempervivum,  distinct  . . 
Silene,  distinct 
Thymus,  distinct  . . 
Veronicas,  distinct 
Violas,  Alpine,  distinct    .  . 


.-  9/' 

..  4/. 

■•  4/. 

.-  4/. 

.-  8/. 

..  8/ 

.-  5/- 

..  4/- 

..  4/. 
6/-  and  8/- 

..  21- 

..  2/e 

..  8'. 

..  2/e 

..  4/. 

..  2/- 

..  10/- 

..  4/- 

..  4/- 

..  4/- 

..  4/- 

.,  10/- 

..  9/- 

..  8/- 

..  4/- 

..  8/- 

..  8/- 

..  4/- 

..  8/- 

••  8/- 

..  4/- 


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PERPETUAL  CARNATIONS  ILLUSTRATED. 

— A  thoroughlv  practical  and  well  illustrated  bonk  on  these 
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No.  2630.— Vol.  LXXXVI.] 


[April  15,  1922. 


THE  DAFFODIL  m  INFORMAL  PLANTING 

At  this  season  the  mould-be  planter  can  study  at  first  hand  the  arrangement  of  the  Daffodil  and  enter  in  his  note-book, 
under  September,  his  impressions  of  the  best  varieties  and  their  most  effective  arrangement. 


fT  would  not  be  quite  accurate  to  say  that  of 
all  plants  the  Daffodil  gives,  when  naturalised, 
the  best  effect,  but  those  most  competent 
to  judge  would  probably  consider  some  of  the 
artificially  reared  Narcissi  among  the  most 
suitable  of  plants  of  garden  origin  for  naturaUsing, 
or  producing  natural  effect. 


The  old  Lent  Lily  (Narcissus  Pseudo-narcissus)  of 
our  damp  meadows  has  real  beauty,  but  despite  the 
glamour  which  always  attaches  to  a  wilding,  it 
is  too  short  of  stalk,  too  stolid  and  compact,  to 
give  the  graceful  effect  produced  by  adeauate 
masses  of  Emperor,  Sir  VVatkin,  Barrii  cons>icuus, 
or  the  May-flowering  Pheasant's  Eye. 


The  planting  of  woodland  with  Daffodils  was 
undertaken  by  a  few  artistic  minds  a  generation 
ago,  but  it  is  only  of  late  that  it  has  really  become 
fashionable.  Still,  fashionable  or  unfashionable,  it 
is  an  eminently  desirable  practice  and  one  which 
will  bear  indefinite  extension.  English  woodland,  or 
some  of  it,  has  wonderful  natural  displays  of  mass 


■     DAFFODILS     IN     THE     BIRCH     GROVE     AT     WARLEY     PLACE. 


174 


THE     GARDEN. 


[ApRII     13,    IQ22. 


planting,  as  witness  the  Wood  Anemones  and  the  Bluebells, 
or,  perhaps,  more  beautiful  than  all,  the  Primroses  which, 
like  the  Daffodils  in  general  colouring,  transfigure  the 
woodlands  of  the  Weald  and  of  many  other  parts  of  England 
Yet  none  of  these  can  outrival  the  beauty  of  bold  plantings 
of  Daffodils,  especially  when  the  latter  are  planted  carefully 
and  so  arranged  as  to  form  a  perfectly  proBortioned 
picture. 

A  woodland  crowded  with  Priioiroses  never  becomes 
a  mere  stretch  of  colour — the  undergrowth,  however  scanty, 
sees  to  that — and  though  it  is  possible  to  strike  a 
veritable  sea  of  Bluebells,  yet  some  divergence  of  growth 
and  the  light  and  shade  among  the  boles  suffice  to  redeem 
the  picture  from  monotony. 

With  the  Daffodil  the  case  is  different.  Just  because 
it  has  in  itself  more  development  of  form — more  individu- 
ality it  may  be — than  the  Bluebell,  its  effect  is  more 
dependent  upon  good  arrangement.  Little  clumps,  even 
of  one  variety,  dotted  over  woodland,  orchard  or  pasture, 
give  a  very  unsatisfactory  "  spotty  "  effect ;  small  groups  , 
of  assorted  varieties  are  an  offence.  When  we  come  to 
the  opposite  extreme  quite  solid  planting  of  large  areas 
with  one  variety  is  very  httle  more  satisfactory.  The 
natural  grace  of  the  flowers  is  no  longer  apparent  and 
we  get  an  effect  similar  to  that  to  be  seen  at  a  nursery 
where  bulbs  are  largely  grown  for  cut  flower. 

The  plantings  which  the  pictures  illustrating  these 
notes  depict  show  that  restraint  which  is  the  surest  sign 
of  excellent  taste.  The  picture  of  the  Heath  garden  at 
Gravetye  is  mtroduced  to  show  what  is  stiU  an  unusual, 
but  withal  a  very  natural  and  suitable  combination. 
It  may  be  permissible  to  point  out  that  other  bulbs 
besides  Daffodils  thrive  well  and  are  happily  placed  in 
association  with  Heaths,  notably  the  Dog's  Tooth  Violets 
(Erythroniums)  and  the  Snakesheads  (Fritillaria  Meleagris 
and  related  species). 

Not  every  garden-lover  has  woodland  or  orchard  in  which 
to  display  his  Daffodils,  but  after  all,  a  Uttle  space  well 
treated  will  afford  almost,  if  not  quite,  as  much  pleasure 
as  a  large  one  if  only  it  be  perfect  of  its  kind.  The 
upper  picture  on  this  page  sufficiently  well  illustrates 
the  point.  Not  only  is  the  grouping  admirable  both 
in  spacing  and  in  actual  size  for  the  space  at  disposal, 
but  the  varieties,  with  their  exceptional  intrinsic 
beauty  and  refined  but  exquisite  colouring,  are  ideal 
for  the  purpose,  One  feels  that  some  would  have 
been  too  large,  too  stiff  and  formal  for  these  quiet 
positions,  while  other  kinds  would  be  quite  out  of 
[the    question. 

The  natural  arrangement  of  Dafiodils  or  other  bulbous 
plants  is  not  difficult  if  due  care  and  forethought  be 
brought  to  bear.  It  is  first  of  all  necessary  to  stake  out  the 
proposed  groupings  and  to  visualise  the  effect  when  the 
plants  are  in  flower.  Once  the  whole  thing  is  staked  out  it 
should  not  be  difficult  so  to  modify  the  arrangement  as 
to  get  the  effect  desired,  but  it  is  very  necessary  when 
planting  not  too  slavishly  to  follow  the  curves  laid  out.  It 
]is  wise  to  "  sow "  the  b^lbs  in  handfuls  much  as  one 
would  broadcast  seeds,  keeping,  of  course,  roughly  to  the 
lines  marked  out.  The  bulbs  are  then  planted  where 
they  fall  either  with  a  special  bulb  planter  or  ,by 
stripping  off  the  top  spit  and  replacing  it  with  a  spade. 
In  the  latter  case  it  will  be  more  convenient  to  "  sow  " 
the  bulbs  after  the  soil  is  removed.  They  should,  in  any 
,(;a  e,  be  buried  to  about  twice  the  depth  of  the  bulb. 
,  This  question  of  the  arrangement  of  bulbs  will  be  more 
fully  dealt  with  at  the  usual  planting  season,  but  it  may 
be  weU  to  point  out  that  where  overcrowded  bulbs  need 
thinning,  there  is  often  no  occasion  to  wait  until  autumn 
to  replant,  which  involves  considerable .  storage  and 
trouble.  If  the  land  to  be  planted  is  not  already  under 
grass  the  ripe  bulbs  may  be  recommitted  to  Mother  Earth 
at  the  earliest  opportunity,  not  only  without  ill  effects, 
but  with  great  advantage,  though  if  the  presence  of 
eelworm  is  suspected  the  hot-water  treatment,  .  which 
has  proved  so  successful  and  of  which  we  hope  to  pubUsh 
further  particulars  very  shortly,  should  first  be  put  into 
operation.  On  no  account,  however,  should'  the  bulbs  be 
lifted  imtU  the  foliage  has  entirely  ripened  off,  nor  if  they 
are    growing    in    turf    should    this    be    mown    until    this 


■M^m_ 


^^^.^ 


♦  *■■*■ 


A    CHARMING    DAFFODIL    WALK. 


'  A    HOST    OF    GOLDEN    DAFFODILS. 


\ 


April  15,  1922.] 


THE     G'ARDEN. 


175 


ripeaing  is  complete.  The  necessity  for  allowing  the 
foliage  to  ripen  naturally  is  an  unsurmountable' 
obstacle  to  th^growth  of  Narcissi  in  closely  mown 
greensward.  One  not  seldom  sees  them  introduced 
into  what  should  be  a  closely  shaven  sward,  but 
the  effect  when  the  grass  has  sprung  up  between 
them  is  very  objectionable,  while  the  fine  grasses 
inevitably  die  out  and  the  verdure  becomes  coarse. 

Daffodil  planting  in  the 
wild  garden  is  a  compara- 
tively inexpensive  hobby  if 
the  older,  but  quite  effective. 
kinds  are  purchased.  There 
is,  once  the  planting  is 
done,  practically  no  expense 
of  upkeep  unless  it  be  that, 
after  a  term  of  years,  it  will 
be  necessary  to  lift  and 
replant  the  bulbs.  When  this 
becomes  desirable,  however, 
the  bulbs  will  largely  have 
increased  and  a  surplus  will 
be  on  hand  for  further  plant- 
ings. 

All  Daffodils  prefer  a 
rather  moist  soil,  but  some 
sorts  are  much  less  exacting 
in  this  respect  than  others. 
The  Lent  Lily  grows  wild 
in  rough,  more  or  less 
swampy,  ground  and  similar 
•conditions  suit  the  magni- 
ficent llay-flowering  Phea- 
sant's Eye  (N.  Poeticus) 
and,  to  a  lesser  extent,  its 
useful  early-flowering  varie- 
ties, omatus,  Burbidgei  and 
poetarum.  Probably  the 
new  Poeticus  varieties,  now 
so  numerous,  will  succeed 
well  in  turf,  but  those 
mentioned  are  all  beautiful  ; 
they  are  procurable  by  the 
tlfSusand  and  they  are 
reasonable  in  price. 

Of  Trumpet  Daffodils  the 
following  all  succeed  in  turf. 
They  are  plentiful,  cheap 
and  provide  much  diversity 
of  form    and    colour.      The 

Tenby  Daffodil,  N.  princeps, 

lacks  the  size  and  substance 

of  others  to  be  mentioned, 

but  it  is  early  and  free   and 

very  effective  when  massed  ; 

colour     sulphur     y  e  1 1  o  %v. 

Golden     Spur     is     a     ricii 

golden  yellow,  also  early  to 

flower    and,     though     not 

large,    ot     excellent     form. 

Emperor   is  at  present  the 

largest    shapely  rich    yellow 

Daffodil  available  for  natu-  :■ 

ralising,     though      i  t     will 

probably     eventually     give 

place    to    the     giant     King 

Alfred  even  for  this  pur- 
pose. Empress  is  at  pre- 
sent the  best  bicolor  (white 

perianth,    golden     trumpet) 

variety   for   mass   planting  '■ 

The  beautiful  creamy-white 

Mme.    de    Graaf     is    being 

planted  to  an  ever  in- 
creasing extent.     The  species  Moschatus  albus  has 

a   grace  of  form   exceeding  even  Mme.  de  Graaf, 

but  it  is  not,  unfortunately,  too  easy  to  establish. 

A  moist  soil  and  a   thin  pasture  in  shade  without 

drip    would    seem    to    suit    it     best,    but    it    is 
pparently  a  capricious  plant. 


Of  other  Narcissi  only  two  are  of  real  importance. 
These  are  Barrii  conspicuus  and  Sir  Watkin. 
Both  represent  crosses  between  the  Trumpet 
Daffodil  and  the  short-cupped  Narcissi ;  Barrii 
conspicuus  has  the  short  trumpet  broadly  edged 
with  orange  of  the  Narcissus  combined  with  the 
substantial  perianth  of  the  Daffodil.  It  is 
accommodating,  but  shows  to  greater  advantage 


and  carrying  its  flowers  well  aloft,  it  should  not  be 
planted  too  closely. 

Beyond  these  two  there  are  a  host  of  rapidly 
increasing  Narcissi,  such  as  the  old  Stella,  which 
l«ok  well  enough  in  quantity  but  lack  at  once  the 
finish  and  colouring  of  Barrii  or  Sir  Watkin. 
»ome  of  them  are  very  cheap  and  are  often,  for 
that    reason,    employed    in    extensive    plantings. 


DAFFODILS     IN    THE    HEATH    GARDEN    AT    GRAVETYE. 


in  a  cool,  rather  moist  corner.  Su:  Watkin.  which 
IS,  if  possible,  easier  to  do  than  the  other,  has  the 
same  substantial  perianth  of  sulphur  yellow  com- 
bined  with  a  rather  more  deeply  coloured  cup  about 
midway  in  size  between  the  short-cupped  forms  and 
those    with    long    trumpets.     A    vigorous    grower 


Quite  apart  from  these  again  are  the  beautiful 
Leedsii  forms  which  succeed  wonderfully  in  turf 
but  which,  like  Mrae.  de  Graaf,  are  most  effective 
when  close  at  hand.  Of  these  Mrs.  Langtry  and 
Duchess  of  Westminster  are  sufficiently  alike  to  be 
used  alternatively  or  even  mixed  together  ! 


176 


THE     GARDEN. 


[April  15,  1922. 


SPRING    BEDDING 

It  is  not   too   soon   to   decide  upon  next  yearns  display.     Put  it  in  hand  now. 


A    HAPPY    COMBINATION    IN    THE    SPRING    GARDEN — FORGET-ME-NOTS    AND    TULIPS. 


IT  must  be  admitted  that  in  the  average 
garden  Wallflowers  are  not  grown  well.  A. 
good  single  WallBower,  before  it  runs  to 
flower,  should  be  almost  as  level  topped  as 
a  table  and  should  be  close  upon  a  foot 
across.  It  is  easy  to  make  a  satisfactory  ever- 
green bed  for  the  winter  with  such  specimens, 
and  when  their  spikes  expand  in  spring,  their 
massed  colouring  can  hardly  be  surpassed. 

The  Wallflower  does  not  require — indeed  it 
resents — an  over-rich  soil,  but  it  should  be  started 
early  and  have  attention  when  required  throughout 
its  period  of  growth.  The  actual  sowing  may  be 
carried  out  at  this  season.  It  should  certainly 
be  undertaken  before  the  end  of  the  month.  Very 
shallow  drills  drawn  a  foot  apart  in  nice  crumbly 
soil  in  the  open  garden  will  answer,  but  they  must 
be  protected  by  cotton  from  ravages  of  birds. 
If  lights  are  available,  a  rough  "  box  "  a  few  inches 
high  and  the  size  of  the  lights  which  are  to  be 
employed  will  enable  the  soil  to  be  kept  evenly 
moist   until   the  seedlings  appear. 

The  seed  should,  in  any  case,  be  sown  thinly, 
and  the  resultant  seedhngs  when  about  2ins. 
high  should  be  thoroughly  soaked,  then  lifted 
and  pricked  out  quincunx  fashion  in  nursery 
quarters  about  a  foot  apart  each  way. 
The  plantlets,  as  hfted,  should  first  be  taken  to 


the  potting  shed,  and  there  they  should  be  "  topped 
and  tailed "  ;  that  is,  the  tap-roots  should  be 
shortened  to  ensure  a  maximum  of  fibrous  roots, 
and  the  extreme  growing  points  should  be  pinched 
out  in  order  to  produce  an  equally  bushy,  well 
branched  head.  The  planting  should  be  especially 
firm.  The  soil  between  the  rows  should  be 
stirred  as  necessary  to  assist  aeration  and  to  keep 
down  weeds.  Once  the  plants  are  established, 
if  the  bed  is  kept  stirred  there  is  little  likelihood, 
on  most  soils,  even  in  exceptional  seasons,  of  the 
plants   suffering   from  drought. 

The  Wallflower  is  an  accommodating  plant, 
but  it  is  very  desirable  to  get  it  into  its  permanent 
quarters  while  the  ground  is  still  warm  in  autumn. 
The  beautiful  double  varieties  should  be  given 
the  same  treatment  as  the  single  ones.  For  them 
a  long  season  of  growth  is  especially  important, 
and  if  success  is  to  be  achieved,  the  soil  in  which 
they  are  to  be  grown  should  not  be  over-poor. 
It  is  perhaps  well  to  make  clear  that  good  single 
Wallflowers  cannot  be  grown  in  orer-poor  soil. 
Double  Wallflowers  are  far  less  hardy  than  single 
ones  and  should  not  be  used  for  important  beds 
except  in  the  South. 

Polyanthuses,  it  has  often  been  pointed  out 
in  these  columns,  are  most  successful  for  spring 
display,    whether   in   beds   or   wild   garden,   when 


treated  as  biennials.  The  seed,  if  not  already 
sown,  should  be  got  in  without  delay,  either  in 
boxes  or,  preferably,  in  a  bed  of  nice  loamy  soil 
in  a  frame  with  a  north  aspect.  Progress  is  at 
first  much  slower  than  with  the  Wallflowers — 
indeed,  germination  is  apt  to  be  uncertain  with 
old  seed — but  once  they  have  brairded  and  "  got 
away  "  progress  is  rapid,  and  it  is  most  important 
to  prick  them  out — /ins.  or  Sins,  apart  each  way — 
before  they  become  overcrowded.  The  nursery 
bed  selected  should  be  at  least  partially  shaded 
from  the  heat  of  the  sun  and  should  be  within  easy 
access  of  water,  as  the  Polyanthus  abhors  drougiit. 

The  middle  of  May  will  be  soon  enough  to  sow 
seed  of  Forget-me-nots.  An  excellent  method  of 
raising  these  is  to  lay-in  the  old  plants,  as  removed 
from  the  beds,  thickly  together  in  rows  about 
2ft.  apart,  reducing  the  intervening  ground  i<> 
a  fine  tilth  and  keeping  it  really  wet  by  watering 
with  a  fine  hose.  The  seedlings,  which  will  come 
in  multitudes  between  the  rows,  should,  as  soon 
as  large  enough  to  handle,  be  pricked  out  in  fairly- 
good  soil  5ins.  apart. 

Of  that  excellent  bedder  Silene  pendula,  with 
rose,  white  or  carmine-red  flowers,  it  is  only 
necessary  to  point  out  that  sown  now  it  will 
flower  this  autumn.  August  is  soon  enough  to 
sow  for  spring  display. 


April  15,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


177 


THE     HIMALAYAN      POPPYWORTS 


To  speak  of  those  glorious  plants,  the 
various  Asiatic  species  of  Meconopsis, 
as  biennial  is  scarcely  correct,  for  while 
in  the  majority  of  cases  they  die  after 
flowering  and  setting  seeds,  they  often 
grow  for  three  years  before  they  reach  the  flowering 
stage.  It  is  a  matter  of  the  greatest  uncertainty — 
some  seedlings  grow  away  and  flower  as  a  matter 
of  comrse  in  their  second  summer,  while  others 
continue  to  grow  and  throw  up  leaves  for  two  or 
three  years  before  doing  so.  In  the  latter  case, 
they  continue  to  accumulate  strength  and  vigour 
all  the  while,  and  when  they  do  at  last  blossom 
forth,  the  spikes  and  flowers  are  all  the  larger 
and  finer. 

Being  biennial  we  must  raise  our  seedlings 
annually  either  as  soon  as  the  seed  is  ripe  or  sowing 
in  early  spring  in  ^  cold  frame.  Whenever  they 
are  sown,  I  strongly  recommend  the  sowing  in 
seed  pans  in  a  cold  frame,  for  they  are  too  precious 
to  expose  to  the  uncertainties  of  wind  and  storm. 
This  remark  does  not  apply  to  M.  cambrica  and  its 
varieties,  for  this  is  so  astonishingly  fertile  that 
seedlings  spring  up  literally  in  thousands  all  over 
the  place  ;  indeed,  I  should  hesitate  to  introduce 
it  ani.'where  except  in  the  wild  garden  or  the 
rougher  places,  for  once  it  obtains  a  foothold  in  a 
rock  garden  where  there  are  choice  plants  it  becomes 
a  veritable  weed.  No  such  fear  need  be  entertained 
with  the  double  variety  of  this,  a  really  choice 
thing  that  reproduces  itself  all  too  sparingly. 


j\I.  aculeata  is  a  truly  superb  flower,  introduced 
a  few  years  ago  from  the  Himalayas.     It  forms  a 
rosette  of   bright   green   leaves  clothed   with   fine 
silvery   hairs,    from   the   centre   of   which    pushes 
up  a  loose  terminal  panicle  of  the  palest  blue  or 
mauve   flowers   with    a   cluster   of   golden    yellow 
stamens  at  the  centre.     These  flowers  are  wonderful 
in  the  early  morning  while  the  dew  is  still  on  the 
grass  and  they  have  just  freed  themselves  from 
the  sheaths  that  encased  them.     The  petals  still 
retain  much  of  the  wonderful  crinkle  that  results 
from   the   close   packing   into   the   buds   and   yet 
reveal  the  wonderful  mass  of  anthers  at  the  cent-e. 
These   are  as   yet   damp   and  clogged  together  in 
masses,  but  as  the  atmosphere  dries  they  separate 
and  the  pollen  becomes  dehiscent,  as  the  botanist 
says,  showering  down  on  to  the  lower  petals  at  the 
lightest  touch.     It  is  a  long-lived  flower  too,   as 
the  buds  continue  to  open  in  succession  one  after 
another    for    some    weeks.     M.    integrifolia    is    a 
gorgeous  Chinese  species,  2ft.  to  3ft.  high  and  freely 
reproduced  from  seed.     The  foliage  is  a  beautiful 
woolly  green,  while  the  flowers,  which  are  drooping, 
are  pale  primrose  yellow  with  stamens  of  the  same 
colour.     There    are    two    distinct    forms    of    this 
imder    the    same    name,     that    introduced    first 
bearing    several    flowers    on    a    separate  pedicle 
branching     from    the    main    stem.        The    later 
species  produces  a   number   of   stems   from   each 
root,     each     of     which     bears     a    single    flower. 
M.    nepalensis    is    a    very  rare  plant,  difficult  to 


obtain  and  to  keep.  It  has  branching  stems  and 
brick  red  flowers,  but  I  must  confess  that  1  have 
never  seen  this.  M.  paniculata  is  often  confused 
with  the  above  and  a  very  fine  plant  it  is,  the 
foliage  being  thickly  covered  with  silky  hairs  and 
the  branched  stems  covered  by  drooping  golden 
flowers. 

M.  punicea  is  a  very  remarkable  species,  the 
drooping  flowers  of  which  should  be  turned 
upwards  to  appreciate  theu-  full  beauty. 

M.  racemosa  is  very  similar  to  aculeata,  but 
much  bluer  and  quite  as  attractive,  when  first 
expanded  the  crimping  of  the  silky  petals  being 
very  noticeable. 

M.  simplicifolia  is  very  dwarf ;  in  fact,  quite 
the  dwarf  est,  not  exceeding  ift.  in  height  and  more 
often  about  6ins.  The  flowers,  which  are  blue, 
are  solitary,  opening  in  July. 

M.  Wallichii,  the  Satin  Poppywort,  is  notable 
for  its  beautiful  foliage,  which  is  much  divided  and 
smothered  with  silky  hairs.  The  strong,  tall, 
branching  stems  bear  numbers  of  wonderful 
satiny  blue  flowers,  the  whole  plant  rising  to 
4ft.  or  5ft.  in  height.  After  a  shower  or  heavy 
dew  the  prettily  out  foliage  and  golden  hairs  form 
a  wonderful  sight,  as  these  hold  tiny  beads  of 
moistinre-like  glistening  pearls.  A  soil  composed 
of  fine  peat,  leaf-mould  and  sand  is  the  ideal 
medium  in  which  to  plant,  for  they  have  a  marked 
preference  for  a  soil  that  is  light  and  yet  retains 
moisture. 


If- 

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THAT    GOLDEN    FOLIAGED    TREASURE,    MECONOPSIS    WALLICHII.  PALE  BLUE  PLATTERS  AND  DEhPLY  LOBED  FOLIAGE  OF  M.  ACULEATA. 


178 


THE     GARDEN. 


[April  15,  1922. 


Partial  shade  is  also  desirable  for  all  varieties, 
so  that  evaporation  is  not  too  rapid.  Where 
growing  in  full  sunlight  they  must  be  copiously 
supplied  with  moisture,  and  even  then  do  not, 
as  a  rule,  attain  the  full  stature  that  they  will  in 
partial  shade. 

The  plants  are  quite  dormant  all  through  the 
winter,  though  the  very  woolly  leaves  persist 
and  must  be  protected  from  excessive  wet  by  placing 
a  sheet  of  glass  over  them,   raised  a  few  inches 


will  provide  plenty  of  excellent  cuttings  quite 
early  in  autumn,  and  these,  rooting  quickly  in  the 
warm  soil,  will  next  April  be  admirable  plants 
just  fit  for  planting  out. 

The  large-flowered  Pentstemon  seems  of  late 
years  to  have  suffered  something  of  an  eclipse, 
its  merits  having  been  largely  obscured  by  the 
many  excellent  strains  of  Snapdragons  on  the 
one  hand  and  by  the  small-flowered  Pentstemons 
of  the  Gem  class  on  the  other. 


THE    VERY    DISTINCT    SULPHUR- YELLOW    MECONOPSIS    INTEGRIFOLIA. 


so  that  air  can  circulate,  but  the  glass  must  be 
removed  immediately  new  growth  starts  in  spring. 
Precautions  must  be  taken  against  'slugs,  which 
are  partial  to  Asiatic  species  at  all  stages  of  their 
growth.  H.  W.  Canning-Wright. 


THE      USEFUL 
PENTSTEMON 

THE  season  has  once  more  arrived  when 
Pentstemons  may  be  planted  out  in 
their  permanent  situations,  but  before 
lifting  the  rooted  cuttings  in  earnest, 
it  is  wise  first  to  try  one  or  two  to  assure 
oneself  that  they  are  thoroughly  well  rooted.  If 
the  cuttings  were,  for  any  reason,  put  in  rather 
late,  or  if  the  frame  in  which  they  have  rooted  is 
not  a  particularly  sunny  one,  they  may  be  bark- 
ward,  for  cuttings  of  this  plant  take  a  considerable 
time  to  form  roots.  If  they  are,  even  now,  not 
well  rooted  it  is  better  to  leave  them  another 
week  or  so,  as  they  should  make  rapid  progress 
at  this  season.  Spring  winds  are  notoriously 
drying,  and  one  cannot  expect  inadequately  rooted 
plantlets  to  withstand  them.  It  is  none  the  less 
most  advantageous  to  get  the  plants  established 
early,  so  many  growers,  about  February  remove 
the  cuttings  from  the  cold  frames  in  which  they 
have  wintered  and  struck  and,  potting  them  up 
singly  in  3in.  pots,  bring  them  forward  first  in 
a  little  heat  and,  after  they  are  established,  in 
a  cool  greenhouse. 

This  method,  however,  makes  work  and  also 
necessitates  the  occupation  of  a  deal  of  valuable 
space  which  may  easily  be  avoided  if  plants  are 
reserved  every  year  at  this  season  for  stock  and 
not  allowed  to  bloom.     Such  plants,  if  well  grown. 


Snapdragons  may,  we  know,  be  readily  raised 
from  seed,  and  the  small-flowered  Pentstemons 
throw  cuttings  much  more  freely  than  do  the  large- 
flowered  ones.  On  the  other  hand,  the  small- 
flowered  sorts,  though  in\'aluable,  are  mass  plants, 
like  the  Catmints,  owing  their  value  to  the 
associated  colouring  of  the  group  rather  than  to 
any  particular  form  or  grace  inherent  in  their 
flower  or  habit  of  growth,  while  the  best  of  the 
large-flowered  kinds  may  hold  up  their  individual 
spikes  unashamed  even  in  comparison  with  the 
Gladiolus  or  the  Phlox. 

Named  varieties  of  much  excellence  may  be 
obtained   from  the  specialists,   and  seed  may  be 


saved  from  these.  Pentstemon  seed  is  as  well 
sown  as  soon  as  ripe,  but  it  keeps  moderately  well 
and  may  be  sown  under  glass  early  in  the  year 
or  in  a  cold  frame  at  this  season.  Seed  may  be 
procured  in  the  first  instance,  but  it  is  advisable, 
in  that  case,  to  procure  it  from  a  firm  that 
specialises  in  these  plants. 

Tastes  naturally  differ,  but  the  writer  must 
acknowledge  a  partiality  to  the  still  rather 
uncommon  pale  mauve  shades,  some  of  them  so 
pale  that  the  expanded  flowers  are  pure  white. 
The  pale  pink  and  soft  rose  shades  are,  however, 
very  beautiful ;  the  deep  maroon  sorts,  some 
with  immense  bells,  give  dignity  and  weight 
to  the  border.  The  so-called  scarlet  and 
crimson  varieties,  which  are  undoubtedly 
the  ones  most  commonly  used,  need  careful 
arrangement. 

The  red  and  rose  shades  of  the  Pentstemon 
have  that  admixture  of  blue  which  characterises 
the  flowers  of  such  plants  as  the  Mallow  and  its 
relatives,  the  Lavateras  and  the  Sidalceas,  the 
Japanese  Anemones  and  the  Cosmos.  This  type 
of  colouring  is  apt  to  clash  badly  with  Ihe  clearer, 
cleaner  shades  with  yellow  in  their  composition 
which  are  yielded  by  many  varieties  of  such  plants 
as  the  Snapdragon,  the  Phlox,  the  Gladiolus  and 
the  Lily. 

Pentstemon  Newbury  Gem  and,  to  a  somewhat 
smaller  extent,  the  others  of  the  Gem  class  will 
stand  an  average  winter  outdoors  in  the  South- 
West  and  more  favoured  parts  of  the  Midlands 
of  England  ;  but,  like  the  Wallflower,  it  is  most 
useful  and  effective  when  renewed  each  year  in 
the  ordinary  way.  Rightly  or  wrongly,  but  the 
writer  thinks  wrongly,  it  has  of  late  years  been 
largely  superseded  by  the  larger-flowered,  looser- 
habited  Southgate  Gem,  which  is  hardly  so  satis- 
factory in  colouring. 

The  great  justification  for  the  Pentstemon's 
existence  lies  in  its  value  for  replacing  in  the 
herbaceous  border,  plants  such  as  the  Oriental 
Poppy,  the  Leopard's  Bane  or  the  Aquilegia, 
which  flower  early  and  which  would,  if  not  inter- 
planted,  produce  unsightly  gaps.  This  certainly 
is  where  the  more  robust  Gem  class  prove  their 
worth,  since  they  may  be  kept  in  pots  even  into 
June  and  will  then  quickly  over-get  the  check  of 
removal. 

Of  large-flowered  varieties  there  are  a  multitude, 
but  the  following  are  especially  recommendable : 
Emile  Rodigas,  scarlet-crimson  ;  Rosamund,  soft 
rose  ;  Spitzbergen,  palest  mauve,  opening  white  ; 
and  President  Camot,  maroon. 


E; 


^'MAGGOTY     APPLES" 

Their  cause  and  prevention. 


I  VERVONE  who  grows  or  uses  fruit  is 
familiar  with  so-called  "  maggoty  Apples." 
These  occur  now  and  again  in  even  the 
best  regulated  plantations,  while  in  old 
and  neglected  orchards  and  gardens  it 
is  sometimes  difficult  to  find  a  sound  one.  In 
spite  of  this,  but  few  people  know  much  about 
the  cause  of  the  infestation,  or  the  origin  of  tlie 
"  maggots  "  they  find  in  their  fruit.  Moreover, 
there  seems  much  confusion  among  gardeners 
between  the  two  insects  responsible  for  this 
damage,  viz.,  the  Apple  sawfly  and  the  codhng 
moth. 

The  Apple  sawfly  is  the  least  known  of  the  two, 
and  the  damage  done  by  its  larvae  is  often  attributed 
to  the  codling  moth,  but  is  really  of  quite  a  different 
nature. 

The  sawfly  is  a  small  insect,  about  a  quarter  of 
an  inch  long  and  five-eighths  of  an  inch  across  the 


expanded  wings.  The  general  colour  of  the  upper 
surface  of  the  body  is  black,  and  orange  under- 
neath. The  females 
may  be  found  rest- 
ing on  the  Apple 
blossom  in  bright 
sunlight,  during 
which  they  deposit 
their  eggs,  usually 
during  the  morn- 
ing, placing  them 
on  the  ovary  below 
the  calyx. 

The  eggs,  which 
are  laid  singly, 
hatch  soon 
after     the     falling 

of      the       blossom,  THE    APPLE    SAWFLY. 

and    the     n  e  w  1  y    Hoplocampa  testuditiea    (  ■  2) 


April  15,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


179 


APPLE     FRUITLETS     ATTACKED     BY    THE 
APPLE    SAWFLY. 
{Slightly  reduced). 

hatched    larva    commences    to    attack    the    tiny 
fruitlet  on  which  it  finds  itself. 

For  a  day  or  two  the  young  larvje  feed  on  the 
outside  of  the  fruitlets,  which  they  occasionally 
fail  to  enter  through  working  along  the  side,  and 
then  their  work  is  usually  manifest  in  the  form 
of  an  elongated  brown  scar  on  the  full  sized  Apple. 
They  generally  enter  the  fruitlet  in  a  day  or 
two,  however,  passing  through  the  side  or  base, 
but  not  through  the  calyx,  as  is  the  case  with  the 
larvcE  of  the  codling  moth.  They  make  their 
way  to  the  core,  which  they  entirely  devour, 
together  with  the  greater  part  of  the  centre  of 
the  fruit.  They  feed  voraciously  and  rapidly 
increase  in  size,  so  that  the  resources  of  the  first 
fruitlet  are  soon  exhausted.  Consequently  they 
leave  it  and  enter  another,  and  each  larva  probably 
destroys  several  fruitlets  in  this  way. 

The  attacked  Apples  may  be  detected  when  very 
small,  by  having  a  little  round  hole  at  the  side, 
from  which  a  wet  brown  mass  is  exuding.  Later 
on,  the  hole  becomes  larger  and  is  much  more 
noticeable,  but  it  is  important  to  look  out  for  the 
attack  in  its  early  stages. 

If  one  of  these  fruitlets  be  cut  open,  the  centre 
will  be  foimd  more  or  less  hollowed  out,  and  the 
cavity  filled  with  a  wet,  sticky  mass  of  brown 
excrement,  which  also  exudes  from  the  entrance 
hole.  The  larva,  if  still  present,  will  be  a  fat 
cream-coloured  caterpillar,  with  twenty  legs,  and 
is  thus  easily  distinguished  from  the  larva  of  the 
codling  moth,  as  show'n  later  on. 

The  writer  has  never  found  a  sawfly  larva  in  an 
Apple  larger  than  about  lin.  in  diameter,  and  it  is 
probable  that  most  of  them  are  full  grown  by  that 
time,  as  under  normal  conditions  there  is  usually 
only  one  brood  during  the  year. 

The  damaged  fruitlets  may  occasionally  remain 
on  the  tree,  where,  if  undisturbed,  they  will  hang 
in  a  mummified  form  all  winter  ;  but  normally 
they  fall  from  the  tree  in  the  later  stages  of  the 
attack,  the  larger  fruitlets  still  containing  the 
larvae,  which  soon  leave  them  and  pupate  in  the 
soil.  Before  pupation  they  shrink  considerably 
and  spin  a  parchment-like  oval  cocoon  of  a  dark 
brown  colour  and  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  in 
length.  Within  these  cocoons  they  undergo  their 
transformations  and  emerge  as  sawflies  the  following 
spring. 

This  insect  is  not  common  everywhere,  but  is 
usually  abundant  where  it  occurs  at  all.     It  is  a 


pest  which  seems  to  be  on  the  increase,  at  any 
rate  in  the  district  from  which  I  write  (North 
Hertfordshire),  and  it  is  therefore  important  that 
measures  be  taken  this  spring  to  check  it. 

Being  an  internal  feeder,  but  little  can  be  done 
when  once  the  fruit  is  attacked.  If  discovered 
in  the  early  stages,  some  good  may  be  done  by 
hand-picking  the  attacked  fruitlets  and  either 
burning,  or  burying  them  deeply,  or  giving  them 
to  pigs.  This  would  require  too  much  labour 
to  be  profitable  in  large  orchards,  but  is  certainly 
worth  doing  in  gardens  where  only  a  comparatively 
few  trees  are  present,  and  the  fruit  will  benefit 
by  the  thinning.  If  much  of  the  fruit  should 
fall,  it  must  be  gathered  up  as  soon  as  possible 
and  effectively  disposed  of,  and  if  a  soil  fumigant 
were  forked  into  the  soil  around  the  affected  trees 
it  would  no  doubt  destroy  many  of  the  larvie 
before  they  had  a  chance  to  pupate. 

These  measures  cannot,  of  course,  be  regarded 
as  remedies,  and  are  merely  the  necessary  pre- 
cautions to  prevent  the  spreading  of  the  attack 
and  its  recurrence  next  season. 

The  best  preventive  measure  is  to  spray  with 
lead  arsenate  as  soon  as  the  blossom  has  fallen, 
so  that  the  fruitlets  get  covered  with  the  poison 
before  the  sawfly  larvae  hatch.  Then,  when  the 
larva  emerges  from  its  eggshell,  the  first  bite  it 
takes  is  likely  to  be  its  last. 

If,  in  spite  of  this  spraying,  some  larvae  are  found 
to  be  present,  the  trees  should  be  sprayed  again 


a  great  cavity  in  the  centre  of  the  fruit,  the  former 
only  makes  a  few  tunnels  in  and  around  the  core. 
The  codling  moth  is  about  half  an  inch  across 
the  wings,  which  are  greyish  in  colour,  with  a 
large  brown  blotch  at  the  hind  margin  of  the 
front  wings,  which  have  a  beautiful  satiny  sheen 


APPLY    FRUITLETS    OPENED    TO     SHOW 
SAWFLY    LARV/E    INSIDE. 

(Slightly  reduced). 

a  week  or  two  later,  when  many  would  be  poisoned 
as  they  change  their  quarters  and  start  on  a  fresh 
fruitlet.  It  is  important  to  use  a  lead  arsenate 
that  has  good  adhesive  properties. 

The  "  maggots "  found  in  large  Apples  are 
invariably  the  larvae  of  the  codling  moth,  an 
insect  which  has  been  known  for  at  least  four 
centuries. 

As  these  two  insects  are  frequently  confused, 
it  is  well  to  note  the  points  of  difference  between 
their  larvae  and  methods  of  feeding. 

The  Apple  sawfly  larva  is  white  or  cream 
coloured,  stout,  and  has  twenty  legs.  The  codling 
moth  larva  is  usually  of  a  pinkish  tint,  compara- 
tively thin,  smaller  than  the  sawfly  larva,  and 
has  only  sixteen  legs.  While  the  sawfly  larva 
usually  enters  the  fruitlet  through  the  side,  the 
codling  larva  always  enters  through  the  "eye," 
or  calyx,  and  so  leaves  no  apparent  hole  after 
the  calyx  has  closed  up.  Later  on,  when  the  Apple 
is  fairly  large,  it  makes  another  hole  to  the  side  ; 
but  this  is  an  exit  and  not  an  entrance  hole. 

The  codling  larva  does  not  destroy  the  fruit  to 
anything  like  the  same  extent  as  the  sawfly.  It 
feeds  more  slowly,  and  whereas  the  latter  makes 


YOUNG   APPLE   DAMAGED    BY   LARVA   OF 

CODLING    MOTH. 

(Natural  she). 

when  seen  in  a  certain  light.  The  moth  appears 
just  about  the  time  the  blossom  is  falling  and  lays 
its  eggs  on  the  fruitlets.  The  eggs  are  a  pearly 
white  and  glisten  like  a  drop  of  dew.  As  soon 
as  the  larva  is  hatched,  it  makes  its  way  to  the 
calyx,  on  which  it  feeds  to  some  extent  before 
actually  entering  the  fruitlet. 

When  full  grown  the  larvae  leave  the  fruit  and 
fall  to  the  ground  ;  then  make  their  way  either 
to  a  tree  trunk  or  a  post  or  fence  near  by.  They 
crawl  some  way  up  the  first  object  they  come  in 
contact  with,  and  spin  a  cocoon  in  a  crevice,  in 
which  they  hibernate,  pupating  in  the  early  spring. 

The  placing  of  "  hay  bands "  round  the  tree 
trunks  is  a  very  old  custom.  The  larva;  spin  up 
in  these,  which  are  then  removed  and  burnt  during 
the  winter,  and  quantities  of  larva;  may  be 
destroyed  in  this  way.  Loose  bands  of  old  sacking 
are  equally  effective  and  easier  to  apply.  A 
favourite  place  for  the  codling  larvae  to  spin  up 
is  in  the  bands  of  felt  or  sacking  used  when  young 
trees  are  tied  to  stakes. 

As  in  the  case  of  the  Apple  sawfly,  the  only 
chance  of  poisoning  the  larva  is  when  it  is  feeding 
externally,  and  it  is  therefore  necessary  to  spray 
within  a  week  of  the  falling  of  the  blossom,  so 
that  the  arsenate  may  lodge  in  the  calyx,  while 
the  latter  is  still  expanded.  If  the  trees  are 
thoroughly  well  sprayed  at  this  period,  there  is 
little  chance  of  having  "  maggoty  Apples." 

Ray  P.^lmeh,  F.E.S. 


THE    CODLING    MOTH. 
Carpocapsa  pomonella.    (x   3). 


180 


THE     GARDEN. 


[April  15,  1922. 


THE    PROPAGATION 
OF   MINT 


Mi 


■  INT  is  one  of  the  most  popular  herbs 
cultivated  in  gardens,  although  it  is 
sometimes  neglected  by  the  amateur 
gardener.  Many  people  are  content 
to  buy  a  quantity  of  Mint,  dry  it  and 
place  it  in  bags  for  future  use.  This  is  justifiable 
when   the   gardener   has   no   facilities   for   forcing 


i  ---..-j  ^^ 


ROOTED    MINT    CUTTINGS. 

Mint,  but  there  are  folk  who,  even  when  this 
herb  is  in  season,  use  the  dried  stuff,  either  because 
they  are  imable  to  procure  the  succulent  green 
tops  or  because  they  consider  it  too  troublesome 
to  be  worth  growing. 

The  cultivation  is  in  reality  quite  simple  and, 
given  a  fair  start,  it  will  not  require  much  attention. 
There  are  several  species,  but  the  one  generally 
cultivated  is  the  Spear  Mint  (Mentha  viridis), 
which  is  used  in  its  green  state — forced  or  other- 
wise— for  culinary  purposes.  The  dried  leaves 
are  a  poor  substitute  when  the  new  Potatoes 
arrive. 

Increase  of  stock  may  readily  be  effected  at 
the  present  season.  The  work  may  be  carried  out 
in  two  ways,  either  by  division  of  the  clumps 
or  by  taking  cuttings.  Undoubtedly  the  latter 
method  is  preferable.  By  inserting  cuttings  at 
tlie  present  time,  clean  healthy  stock  will  be 
secured.  Division  of  the  clumps  is  effective,  but 
the  growths  will  not  be  so  vigorous  or  of  the 
same  quality  as  stock  raised  from  cuttings.  These 
should  be  taken  off  an  inch  or  so  below  ground 
level  with  a  root  or  two  attached — much  as  one 
takes  Viola  cuttings,  in  fact.  They  will  root 
freely  if  dibbled  into  moist  sandy  soil,  especially 
if  a  handhght  can  be  spared  to  place  over  them 
for  a  few  days,  giving  shade  when  necessary. 

The  accompanying  illustration  shows  two  rooted 
cuttings.  The  cuttings  should  be  inserted  in  the 
ground  up  to  C,  but  a  little  deeper  will  not  hurt 
in  light  soils.  The  longer  cutting  should  be 
shortened  to  A  before  insertion,  to  prevent  undue 
strain  upon  the  root  action.     B  shows  the  rootlets. 

.Mint  thrives  best  in  rich  moist  soil,  but  it  really 
is  not  fastidious.  It  is,  however,  advisable  to 
manure  light,  hungry  soils. 

Failure  with  Mint  is  as  a  rule  attributed  to  the 
poorness  of  the  soil,  but  the  most  frequent  reason 
is   that    the   gardener   in    the   autumn    or   winter 


when  digging  the  garden  covers  the  Mint  over 
with  a  few  inches  of  soil,  and  in  consequence  the 
shoots  are  unable  to  make  their  way  through. 
Where  a  bed  of  Mint  has  been  in  existence  for 
some  years  a  depression  in  the  ground  is  generally 
to  be  found,  and  the  gardener  in  the  interest  of 
neatness  levels  up  his  soil. 


A  bed  of  Mint  will  thrive,  when  established,  for 
several  years  without  attention,  but  to  obtain 
the  best  quality  it  is  advisable  to  propagate  every 
year.  Cutt'ngs,  or  "  sets,"  as  they  are  called, 
should  be  put  in  a  foot  apart  each  way.  They 
should  then  be  a  solid  mass  of  roots  by  late 
autumn.  H.  G, 


Stopping  and  Potting  Large-Flowered  Chrysanthemums 

Tilts   work,    to    the    expert^ cultivator ,    is   easy  enough,    but    the    beginner  finds   it   very 
perplexing.      The  brief  notes  and  sketches  should  make  all  these  matters  quite  plain  to  him 


THE  result  of  a  year's  work  may  depend 
upon  the  treatment  that  the  plants 
receive  during  the  trying  time  when  they 
are  producing  buds  to  cause  the  first, 
or  natural,  break  or  when  they  are 
stopped — -the  points  of  the  plants  pinched  off  to 
cause  the  break  just  at  the  time  most  suitable 
for  certain  varieties.  I  do  not  intend  to  deal  with 
particular  varieties,  as  too  much  space  would  be  re- 
quired, but  with  the  general  treatment  of  the  plants 
as  regards  stopping,   final  potting  and  staking. 

The  first  break  is  caused,  really,  by  the  forma- 
tion of  a  crown  bud  around  which  shoots  grow  ; 
this  bud  stops  the  free  growth  of  the  single  stem 
and  causes  a  number  of  side  shoots  to  grow,  which, 
in  due  course,  overcome  the  bud,  the  latter  shrivel- 
ling up.  If  three  blooms  are  required  on  a  plant, 
the  three  shoots  immediately  below  the  bud  are 
trained  to  stakes  and  the  others,  still  lower  down, 
are  rubbed  out.  This  break-bud  formation  does 
not  occur  naturally  at  the  right  time  for  certain 
varieties,  in  which  case  the  cultivator  must  cause 
a  break  by  stopping  the  shoot — pinching  off  the 
point.  Natural  breaks  occur  during  the  latter  part 
of  .^pril,  during  May  and  the  first  half  of  June 
mainly.  The  latest  flowering  varieties  are  the 
ones  chiefly  to  be  stopped  ;  a  few  of  the  medium 
sorts  need  this  attention  too  in  order  that  all  may 
be  in  bloom  at  the  same  time,  say  the  first  week  in 
November.  The  earliest  flowering  varieties  rarely 
need  to  be  stopped. 

If  a  plant  needs  stopping  remove  the  point  of 
the  stem  as  shown  at  n;  the  three  side  shoots, 
b,  c  and  d,  must,  in  due  course,  be  taken  on  and 
trained  to  stakes  ;  all  other  shoots,  as  shown  below, 
are  removed.  When  the  bud  forms  and  causes  the 
natural  break,  e,  f  and  g  respectively,  are  the  new 
shoots  to  be  trained  to  stakes  ;  h  shows  the  bud 
which  may  be  removed  or  left  to  wither  ;  i,  i,  i 
show  when  the  lower  side  growths  must  be  rubbed 
out.  The  next  sketch  shows  the  progress  of  these 
new  shoots.  The  bud  was  formed  at  ;',  and  the 
three  shoots  k,  k,  k  are  making  good  headway  ; 
I,  I,  show  shoots  removed. 

The  Final  Potting  and  Staking. — Old  turves, 
cut  long  enough  for  the  grass  roots  to  die  in  them, 
should  form  the  bulk  of  the  compost.  Sweei  leaf 
soil,  three-parts  decayed,  sand  or  old  mortar  rubble, 
a  few  wood  ashes,  bonemeal  and  horse  manure 
fermented,  without  undue  heating  and  burning,  are 
the  other  ingredients.  Firm  potting  in  clean,  dry 
pots,  well  crocked,  and  judicious  feeding  and  top- 
dressing  as  required,  coupled  with  careful  attention 
to  watering  and  tying  of  the  stems,  should  result 
in  a  good  harvest  of  high-class  blooms.  The 
letter  m  shows  the  rougher  portion  of  the  compost 
placed  on  the  crocks  ;  n,  »,  show  how  the  permanent 
summer  stakes  are  driven  into  the  new  compost 
and  not  into  the  ball  of  soil  and  roots.  When  the 
work  of  potting  is  finished  ample  space  must  be 
left  at  the  top,  o,  to  allow  of  top-dressing  being 
carried  out  as  the  large  pots  fill  with  roots. 

.4s  Regards  the  Stakes. — If  bamboos  are 
used  as  shown  at  ft,  very  little  dressing  will  be 
needed  ;  but  if  ordinary  hedge  or  wood  stakes  are 
employed,  as  shown  at  ./,  then  it  will  be  advisable 


to  trim  oft'  all  knots  smoothly,  else  the  tying 
material  will  be  held  by  the  knots  r,  and  result  in 
'he  stem  of  the  plant,  >,  being  snapped  off.  The 
raffia  or  tying  material  does  not  slip  up  the  knotted 
stakes  as  the  stems  of  the  plants  carry  it  up.     In 


HOW    TO    STOP,     POT    AND    STAKE 

CHRYSANTHEMUMS . 

the  case  of  the  smooth  bamboo  stake  there  is  not 
this  danger.  All  stakes  must  be  well  sharpened 
to  needle  points  as  shown  at  (,  and  not  left  with 
a  blunt  point  as  shown  at  the  letter  ii.      G.  G. 


April  15,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


A  SELECTION  OF  SHRUBS. 

TX  reply  to  a  letter  from  your  correspondent, 
"  H.  E.,"  with  reference  to  shrubs  and  trees 
suitable  for  a  chalk  soil  (The  Garden,  April  8, 
page  167),  the  following  list  may  be  of  some  use 
to  him.  I  have  classified  it  separately  in  order 
that  ha.  may  realise  the  difference  of  growth. 
In  a  short  note,  such  as  this,  it  is  hardly  possible 
to  give  a  detailed  description  of  the  individual 
habits  of  each  plant.  Trees  :  Acacias  in  variety. 
Beech  in  variety,  Gleditschia  triacanthos.  Chestnuts, 
Norway  Maple,  Japanese  Maples,  Sycamore, 
Moimtain  Ash,  Pyrus  Sorbus,  Flowering  Thorns. 
Large-growing  coniferas :  .Austrian  Pine,  Scotch 
Fir,  Spruce  Fir,  Thuiopsis  boreahs,  Cupressus 
Lawsoniana  and  varieties,  Silver  Fir.  Smaller- 
growing  conifers :  The  whole  of  the  Juniper 
family,  the  more  dwarf  varieties  of  Cupressus. 
Other  evergreens  :  Holhes  in  variety.  Yews  in 
variety,  Portugal  Laurel,  Veronicas  of  sorts. 
Olearias,  Laurels,  Cistus,  Laurustinus,  Japanese 
Privet  and  other  varieties  of  Privet,  Daphnes  of 
sorts,  Pyracanthas  of  sorts,  the  Evergreen  Berberis. 
Of  deciduous  shrubs  a  large  selection  can  be  used, 
and  the  following  would,  perhaps,  be  a  sufficient 
mixture  to  include  with  the  above :  Berberis 
of  sorts,  Deutzias,  Elders,  Viburnum  of  sorts 
(Guelder  Rose),  Lilacs,  Philadelphus  of  sorts, 
Pyrus  japonica,  Ribes  of  sorts,  Snowberry, 
Weigelas  of  sorts  and  Spirseas  of  sorts. — F.  Gomer 
Watere  r. 

PLANTING    AXD    TR.VNSPLANTING 
TIMES. 

'T'HE  discussion  on  planting  and  transplanting 
(pages  145  and  155)  has  interested  me.  I 
have  heard  some  gardeners  say  that  they  could 
transplant  during  almost  any  month  of  the  year. 
A  nurseryman  told  me  some  years  ago  that  he  has 
transplanted  conifers  in  July  for  lack  of  a  more 
convenient  time  to  do  it.  Doubtless  this  could 
be  done  just  when  the  trees  have  made  and  hardened 
their  season's  growth.  This  also  applies  to  Privets 
and  Euonymus,  which  make  several  distinct 
growths  during  the  year.  If  these  are  moved  at 
other  times  than  w-hen  leaves  and  shoots  are  young 
and  tender  they  will  succeed.  Conifers  in  nurseries 
are,  in  normal  times,  easy  to  move,  because  they 
are  transplanted  every  few  years  with  this  object 
in  view.  I  have  assisted  to  transplant  Irish  Yews, 
Abies  and  Beech  7ft.  to  loft.  high  in  May,  and  they 
succeeded,  although  they  had  been  growing  in  the 
same  site  for  many  years.  The  reason  why  autumn 
is  such  a  favourable  time  for  transplanting  is 
because  trees  have  made  a  considerable  amount 
of  reserve  food,  and  a  large  portion  of  this  is  carried 
downwards  to  extend  the  root  system,  as  soon  as 
the  autumn  rains  have  moistened  the  ground.  The 
extension  of  the  roots  continues  for  some  time  after 
the  leaves  of  deciduous  trees  have  fallen.  I  have 
noted  this  also  in  Roses,  Loganberries  and  Straw- 
berries. Scabiosa  caucasica  and  its  varieties 
must  not  be  transplanted  in  autumn,  but  in  spring, 
and  the  leading  growers  are  now  aware  of  this  fact. 

HORTLLANUS. 

NOTES    FROM     GLOUCESTERSHIRE. 

A  FEW  notes  from  this  part  of  the  country 
from  one  who  is  quite  new  to  it  may  be  of 
interest.  It  is  in  the  heart  of  the  hunting  country. 
Badminton  district.  I  am  much  struck  with  the 
large  gardens  attached  to  the  cottages,  but 
in  no  district  have  I  seen  them  so  neglected. 
It  is  the  A  B  C  of  the  work  that  is  ignored,  so  that 
digging  seems  left  till  March  ;  it  is  a  great  contrast 
to  the  orderliness  and  love  of  their  gardens  of  the 
villagers  of   the   East   Coast.     The   Madonna   Lily 


flourishes  amazingly,  the  fohage  so  strong  and 
healthy.  In  one  garden  against  the  house.in  a  border 
7ft.  long  and  under  2ft.  wide,  they  looked  almost 
too  crowded  to  flower,  yet  they  yielded  nearly  ion 
spikes  of  bloom.  Could  any  reader  inform  me  if 
other  LiUes  are  likely  to  do  well  ?  We  have  cold 
winds  from  the  west ;  the  top-spit  is  a  fertile 
loam,  but  clay  lains.  to  i8ins.  below.  Pyrus 
japonica  is  a  wonderful  sight  here,  full  of  blossom. 
— B.  P.  G. 

.\     PLANT     FOR    A    DAMP    OR    SHADY 
POSITION. 

'T'H.^T  very  attractive  plant,  Heloniopsis 
japonica  (syn.  Sugerokia),  which  comes 
from  damp  or  shady  woodlands  in  Japan,  might 
with  advantage  be  used  more  freely  in  our  gardens 
where  suitable  positions  offer.  The  plant,  as  the 
name  suggests,  is  botanically  related  to  Helonias 
bullata,  a  lihaceous  plant  which,  under  the  name 
of  "  Stud-flower,"  is  rather  better  known,  although 


181 

again  on  subsequent  visits  to  the  R.H.S.  Hall,  when 
he  has  been  most  kind  in  answering  and  explaining 
things  asked  by  an  ignorant  amateur.  I  have  never 
met  anyone  who  knew  so  much  about  horticulture 
all  roimd  as  Mr.  Fraser  does.  I  am  so  absolutely 
an  "  amateur  "  that  I  do  not  know  what  V.M.H. 
stands  for — but — if  it  is  "  Veteran  Master  of 
Horticulture  "  it  is  fittingly  bestowed  on  Mr. 
John   Fraser. — Anne  Amateur. 

WHAT    IS    A     "H.\RD\'"     ANNUAL? 

A  GENUINE   GRIEVANCE. 

T  H.WE  a  complaint  to  make  (not  a  "  grumble  "^ 
to  grumble,  according  to  a  dictionary  definition, 
is  "to  complain  without  cause").  I  made  out 
my  list  of  hardy  annuals,  so  called !  in  several 
leading  seedsmen's  catalogues  (having  only  one  very 
small  hot-bed  reserved  for  a  few  half  hardy  and 
tender  annuals).  When  the  seed  packets  arrived, 
imagine  my  dismay  in  reading  directions  on  several : 
"  Raise  in  gentle  heat  "  ;  "  Sow  in  a  hot-bed  in 
February,"  and  so  forth.  Now,  I  ask,  is  this  fair  of 
the  seedsmen  ?     I   do  not  consider  it  cricket  on 


USEFUL    FOR    DAMP    OR     SHELTERED     GARDENS — HELONIOPSIS    JAPONICA. 


still  far  from  common.  The  plant  is  perfectly 
hardy  and  can  readily  be  increased  by  careful 
division  of  the  short,  horizontal  rhizomes.  The 
lanceolate,  evergreen  leaves  are  arranged  in  loose 
rosettes  from  which  rise  in  April  or  May  sturdy 
stems,  carrying  loose  clusters,  of  up  to  about  ten 
in  number,  of  somewhat  bell-shaped  flowers 
which  may  be  pink  or  soft  rose  in  colour.  The 
effect  of  a  good  group  of  these  is  highly  attractive, 
and  a  position  protected  from  the  sun  until  well 
after  midday  should  be  selected  for  this  handsome 
plant.  .\n  open  position  on  the  outskirts  of  the 
bog  garden,  where  it  succeeds  very  well,  or  a 
sheltered  dell  in  the  rock  garden  with  a  westerly 
aspect,  would  suit  it  where  no  woodland  garden 
is  available.  The  plant  is  not  at  all  difficult  under 
conditions  as  uidicated,  and  only  needs  to  be  better 
known  to  become  popular  with  hardy  plant  lovers. 
— W.  E.  Th.  I. 

V.  M.  H.  AWARDS. 

T  W.\S  very  pleased  to  read  "  Senex's  "  tribute  to 

Mr.  John  Fraser  (page  153).      I  was  introduced 

to  him  a  few  years  ago  at  an  R.H.S.  Show,  but  had 

no  idea  who  or  what  he  was.     I   have  met  him 


their  part.  If  these  so-called  "  Hardy  "  annuals 
require  to  be  raised  in  heat,  wherein  do  they 
differ  from  half-hardy  ones,  such  as  Stocte  and 
."Asters  ?  Here  I  am  "  landed  "  with  a  lot  of  seeds 
which  are  of  no  earthly  use  to  me  !  I  think  it  would 
be  only  fair  if  I  were  to  send  back  the  packets 
to  the  vendors  and  request  the  return  of  my  scanty 
spare  cash — the  seeds  having  been  wrongly 
described  as  hardy  in  the  seed  lists.  I  am  feeUng  ex- 
tremely ill-used  on  this  matter.  Now,  Messrs.  Seeds- 
men and  Sons,  what  have  you  to  say  to  allay  my 
rightful  wrath  ?  Since  writing  the  foregoing  The 
Garden,  April  i,  has  arrived,  and  among  the 
unusual  annuals  I  am  delighted  to  find  four  I 
have  just  ordered  "  on  spec,"  to  wit,  Cacalia 
coccinea,  "  Flora's  Paint  Brush " — ^what  a  nice 
old-fashioned  sounding  EngUsh  name ;  the  ruby 
dwarf  variegated  Nasturtium  (and  I  have 
ordered  the  white  one  also) ;  Schizopetalon 
Walkeri  (for  my  fragrant  border),  and  Nicandra 
physaloides — Fearsome  names  ! — ,'which  I  hope 
will  help  to  form  a  summer  screen  in  company 
with  Hemp,  and  two  or  three  other  tall  things 
behind  a  garden  bench).  Have  these  two  latter 
any  Enghsh  names  ?     Please  someone  do  tell  me 


182 


THE    GARDEN. 


[April  15,  1922. 


if  they  have  In  the  description  of  Salvia  Hormi- 
nura.  Blue  Beard,  methinks  I  recognise  my  old 
country  cottage  garden  "  Purple  Clary,"  and  if  I 
rightly  remember  there  were  also  red  and  white 
Clary  ;  am  I  right  ?  Most  of  the  other  unusual 
annuals  I  have  grown  or  known,  but  having  no 
rock   garden   I   do   not   want    them   here. — A.   A. 

EUCRYPHIA     PINNATIFOLIA     IN 

SCOTLAND. 

T  READ  your  note  (page  154)  on  this  shrub  with 
great  interest.  Such  a  wonderfully  hardy  shrub 
should  be  grown  more  often.  Here,  in  Forfarshire, 
by  no  means  a  mild  climate,  we  have  a  very  fine 
specimen.  It  is  planted  in  ordinary  soil  in  an  open 
bed  with  no  protection,  though  the  house  cuts  off 
the  north.  1  think  people  must  often  fail  with  it 
from  want  of  patience.  Here  it  was  six  years  before 
it  flowered  and  we  several  times  thought  of  digging 
it  up.  It  flowered  for  the  first  time  in  1910  and 
then  our  waiting  was  rewarded.  The  shrub  grows 
so  strong,  it  is  almost  a  tree  and  we  have  to  keep 
it  within  bounds.  This  is  mostly  done  by  cutting 
the  flowers,  which  last  very  well  in  water.  The 
shrub  has  a  further  merit,  as  it  flowers  in  August 
when  most  things  are  over.  It  has  always  ripened 
its  seed  here  and  we  have  raised  it  very  success- 
fully. We  would  exchange  the  seeds  of  Eucryphia 
pinnatifolia  for  seeds  of  any  other  uncommon 
hardy  shrubs. — May  Noel,  Pitkerro  House, 
Kingennie,  Dundee. 

A  LOVELY  STONECROP. 
T  WAS  pleased  to  see  a  note  on  Sedum  brevi- 
folium  Pottsti  in  The  Garden  of  April  i 
(page  158),  for  it  is  a  special  favourite  here  and  one 
well  worthy  of  wider  attention.  Like  many  other 
Sedums  the  colour  appears  to  vary  considerably 
according  to  season,  climatic  conditions  and 
probably  soil.  In  this  garden  quite  one  of  the  most 
attractive  features  of  the  plant  is  the  clear,  almost 
electric  blue  which  invests  the  mealy  covering  of 
the  leaves  during  winter.  In  Mr.  E.  C.  Buxton's 
garden  at  Bettws-y-Coed  there  is  a  natural  pjTamid 
of  slatey  rock  covered  with  this  lovely  variety, 
forming  one  of  the  most  attractive  objects  in  a 
garden  full  of  good  and  interesting  things.  In  this 
instance  the  Sedum  is  rooted  in  the  lichenous 
chinks  of  the  hot  southern  face  of  the  rock,  but 
that  it  will  do  in  a  cooler  medium  is  proven  by  the 
way  it  flourishes  with  us  on  some  moss-covered 
stones.  It  is  also  grown  on  the  flat  in  very  well 
drained,  gritty  soil  in  association  with  the  Raoulias 
and  other  lowly  plants.  Here,  as  elsewhere,  it 
propagates  itself  freely  by  rooting  the  tiny  sub- 
globular  leaves  which  fall  off  the  stems. — A.  T.  J., 
N.  Wales. 

SHOULD     WE     KILL     WASPS  ? 

TS/'HAT  have  gardeners  to  say  when  a  learned 
professor,  backed  up  by  a  popular  daily  paper, 
tells  the  great  B.P.  not  to  kill  wasps — not  even 
queens  ?  (This  in  addition  to  some  w-onderful  hints 
as  regards  spraying  and  advice  to  the  Ministry 
of  Agriculture  that  the  latter  should  issue  instruc- 
tions regarding  certain  insect  pests  which  have 
been  issued  years  ago  !)  To  my  mind  wasps  are 
among  the  most  undesirable  of  insects,  dangerous  as 
well  as  unpleasant,  and  a  source  of  great  loss  to 
fruit  growers,  especially  when  their  numbers  are 
excessive.  Moreover,  tliey  are  creatures  whose 
habits  are  hardly  less  filthy  than  those  of  house- 
flies.  That  they  do  destroy  a  few  of  the  latter  (as 
the  professor  has  discovered),  has  been  common 
knowledge  for  at  least  200  years,  but  that  alone  is 
not  sufiicient  to  exonerate  them  for  their  evil 
doings.  Even  the  common  fly  has  some  quite 
desirable  and  useful  attributes,  but  we  do  not 
pare   its  life  on  that  account. — N.   Wales. 


GARDENING    OF    THE    WEEK 


FOR     SOUTHERN     GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Seakale. — The  thongs  selected  as  advised  in 
a  previous  calendar  should  be  planted  on  a  well 
cultivated  and  open  plot  of  ground.  The  rows 
should  be  about  2oins.  apart  and  the  thongs 
about  i5ius.,  keeping  the  crowns  slightly  below 
the  surface.  If  slugs  are  troublesome  place  a 
ring  of  ashes  around  each  head. 

Turnips. — -See  that  a  good  breadth  of  these 
are  sown,  so  as  to  follow  the  small  early  supplies 
from  frames  and  warm  borders.  The  drills  should 
be  ijins.  apart,  and  the  young  seedlings  thinned 
out  in  good  time,  allowing  from  6ins.  to  gins, 
from  plant  to  plant,  according  to  strength  of 
variety.  This  is  essentially  a  vegetable  where  a 
quick  growth  makes  the  roots  more  acceptable, 
so  encouragement  should  be  given  by  hoeing 
frequently  and  watering  during  dry  spells. 

Runner  Beans. — It  is  perhaps  hardly  wise  or 
practical  to  risk  a  large  sowing  of  this  vegetable 
before  early  May,  but  it  is  certainly  worth  trying 
a  few.  At  the  same  time  sow  a  batch  in 
60-size  pots  and  allow  germination  to  take  place 
in  a  frame.  Pot  on  into  48-size  pots  when  ready, 
and  grow  the  plants  sturdily  until  all  danger  of 
frost  is  gone,  then  plant  out  in  well  enriched  soil, 
I  Sins,  apart  in  the  row.  A  strict  watch  must  be 
kept  for  slugs  during  the  plants'  early  stages  of 
growth. 

Dwarf  French  Beans. — These,  in  company  with 
the  Runner  Beans,  are  easily  injured  by  frost,  and 
large  sowings  should  be  delayed  for  another 
fortnight.  A  small  sowing,  however,  should  be 
made  in  a  warm  spot  in  light  soil,  and  care  taken 
that  a  batch  of  sturdy  plants  will  be  available 
from  boxes  at  the  end  of  the  month  or  early  May 
ready  for  planting  out. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Evergreen  Hedges. — The  majority  of  these 
require  at  least  one  trimming  annually,  and  the 
present  offers  a  suitable  time  for  such  as  Holly, 
Box,  Thuya  and  the  Laurels.  The  Yew  is  always 
best  dealt  with  during  the  latter  part  of  July  and 
early  August.  Should  it  be  desirable  to  give  a 
close  and  even  trimming,  the  work  must  be  carried 
out  with  a  pair  of  shears,  but  a  much  more  natural 
appearance  is  attained  when  the  secateurs  are 
used.  The  Thuya  hedge  especially  should  be  thus 
dealt  w'ith,  and  I  think  it  is  but  seldom  anyone 
would  use  other  than  the  knife  or  secateurs  in 
dealing  with   Laurels. 

Lawn  Verges. — The  care  of  these  should  always 
be  considered,  for  when  well  kept  they  undoubt- 
edly add  a  great  deal  to  the  appearance  of  the 
giounds.  It  may  be  found  necessary  occasionally 
to  use  the  edging-iron,  and  such  work  should  be 
done  now  at  the  commencement  of  the  mowing 
season.  The  shears,  used  regularly  and  before 
the  grass  is  allowed  to  grow  too  long,  will  easily 
maintain  a  firm  verge  outline  for  the  remainder 
of  the  season.  Verges  lacking  in  vigour,  and  those 
that  are  mossy  and  impoverished,  should  be 
dressed  at  once  with  a  good  lawn  manure,  repeating 
again  in  a  fortnight's  time. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 
Vines  on  walls  and  buildings  in  warm  positions 
arc  very  active,  and  it  will  be  necessar>-  if  the 
prospective  crop  is  to  have  a  good  start  that 
disbudding  be  undertaken  in  good  time.  While 
overcrowding  must  be  guarded  against,  it  is,  I 
think,  always  advisable  in  dealing  with  Vines 
in  such  positions  to  ensure  a  fair  covering  of 
wood.  The  laterals  selected  for  fruit  bearing 
should  be  stopped  at  a  couple  of  leaves  beyond 
the  bunch,  and  all  subsequent  sub-growths  kept 
pinched  also. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 
Muscat  Vines  in  Flower.— During  the  next 
few  weeks  many  Vines  will  be  in  flower,  and  the 
success  of  the  crop  depends  to  a  great  extent 
on  the  treatment  given  at  this  season.  In  some 
gardens  it  is  almost  as  easy  to  obtain  a  good  .^et 
of  Muscats  as  Hambros,  but  it  is  equally  true 
in  other  gardens  it  is  sometimes  most  difficult 
to  obtain  a  satisfactory  one.  A  great  point  to 
bear  in  mind  is  consistency  of  treatment  ;  thus, 
should  it  be  the  aim  of  the  grower  to  flower  the 
Vines  in  a  night  temperature  of  70°  to  72°,  this 
should  be  gradually  reached  and  not  immediately 
raised  to  this  figure  in  a  big  leap.  Again,  if  the 
treatment  is  to  keep  an  entirely  dry  atmosphere 
during  flowering  time,  less  moisture  should  be 
given  for  a  short  while  before  that  stage  is  reached. 
One  of  the  main  factors  in  securing   a  good  set. 


whether  of  Muscats  or  others,  is  to  make  sure 
of  a  good  root  action  and  see  that  the  borders  are 
just  nicely  moistened  through  before  flowering 
commences.  As  a  few  aids  in  trying  to  make 
sure  of  a  free  setting  of  berries,  carry  out  all 
necessary  stopping  of  shoots  a  couple  of  days 
before,  so  that  none  will  be  necessary  during  the 
time  of  flowering.  Do  not  tie  do\vn  the  shoots 
until  afterwards.  Arrange  matters  so  that  plenty 
of  light  and  air  reaches  all  bunches,  and  between 
10.30  and  12.30  go  lightly  over  all  bunches  with  a 
rabbit's  tail  with  pollen  from  a  free  setter,  if  such 
be  available.  It  is  perhaps  hardly  necessary  to 
add  that  fluctuations  of  temperature  and  cold 
draughts  must  be  avoided. 

H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 
Albury  Park  Gardens,  Guildford. 


FOR     NORTHERN     GARDENS. 

The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Broad  Beans. — Sow  goodly  quantities  of  the 
long-pod  varieties  now.  As  this  popular  vegetable 
is  always  in  demand,  more  especially  is  it  desirable 
to  provide  pods  of  tender  young  Beans  throughout 
the  season,  and  this  can  best  be  done  by  successional 
sowings.  Sow  in  double  rows  2  Jft,  apart,  and  keep 
the  soil  well  cultivated  between  the  rows.  In 
wind-swept  gardens  stakes  should  be  inserted  at 
intervals  in  the  rows,  and  binder  twine  run  down 
either  side  as  a  support. 

Turnips. — Make  further  sowings  of  Early 
Milan  varieties,  so  that  a  fresh  and  constant 
supply  of  roots  may  be  maintained.  Early 
Turnips  are  often  attacked  by  the  fly,  so  should 
be  dusted  with  soot  or  wood-ash  as  a  preventive. 

Brassicas.' — ^Sow  in  the  open  border  autumn 
and  winter  varieties  of  the  Brassica  family, 
including  Borecole,  Autumn  Giant  Cauliflower, 
Savo)^  and  Veitch's  Self-protecting  Broccoli. 

Celery.— Sow  seed  of  Celery  for  late  planting, 
and  prick  out  earlier  sowings  into  boxes  or  frames. 
Use  a  rich  compost,  and  place  a  layer  of  well 
rotted  dung  in  the  bottom  of  the  boxes,  or  under 
the  layer  of  fine  soil  in  the  frames.  Given  this 
treatment  the  plants  lift  with  fine  roots  when 
being  transferred  to  the  trench. 

Tomatoes. — Pot  on  the  various  batches  before 
they  become  pot-bound,  and  place  on  a  shelf 
near  the  glass.  Avoid  too  high  a  temperature, 
and  admit  air  freely  during  sunny  weather.  Cold 
draughts  must  be  guarded  against,  as  there  is 
nothing  more  detrimental  to  the  welfare  of  young 
Tomato  plants  than  a  current  of  chilly  air. 

Carrots. — The  principal  sowing  of  Carrots  ma\ 
now  be  made.  Choose  a  day  Avhen  'the  ground 
is  in  good  working  order,  and  sow  in  shallow 
drills  i2ins.  aparc.  I.,  nany  private  gardens  the 
intermediate  varieties  are  most  favoured,  and 
in  this  class  we  find  Austin's  Exhibition  one  of 
the  best  ;  it  is  practically  coreless  and  of  superb 
quality.  Long  Red  Surrey  is  a  reliable  long- 
rooted  sort  and  specially  suitable  for  late  keeping. 

Potatoes. — Continue  with  the  planting  of 
second  early  and  maincrop  varieties.  Abundance, 
British  Queen,  Great  Scot  and  Arran  Comrade  are 
first-rate  second  early  sorts.  Arran  Victory 
(purple  skin),  Crofter,  King  Edward  and  Kerr's 
Pink  can  be  depended  upon  for  maincrop. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Raspberries. — If  unable  to  top-dress  with 
organic  manure,  a  dusting  with  some  kind  of 
artificial  stimulant  will  greatly  benefit.  Htie  it 
lightly  in,  and  the  spring  showers  will  take  it 
to  the  fibrous  surface  roots. 

Peaches  on  'Walls. — Where  these  are  in  flower 
they  ought  to  be  protected  at  night  from  late 
frosts  by  hanging  a  double  ply  of  fruit  netting  in 
front  of  them.  A  few  bent  Willow  shoots 
placed  through  the  branches  will  keep  the  net 
from  becoming  entangled  in  the  foliage  or  from 
damaging  the  blossom. 

The  Flower  Garden. 
Kniphotias. — Beds  of  these  in  the  shrubbery 
or  flower  garden  should  now  have  the  surface 
soil  stirred  up  and  given  a  mulching  of  rich  farm- 
yard manure.  The  more  tender  sorts,  which  have 
been  wintered  in  cold  frames,  should  now  be 
placed  in  their  flowering  quarters. 

Buddleia  variabilis  magnifica. — Plant  out 
fresh  rooted  stock  of  tliis  desirable  plant  which 
has  been  grown  on  in  pots.  This  variety  is 
particularly  adapted  for  covering  walls  or  for 
grouping  in  the  shrubbery.     It  has  also  a  pleasing 


April  15,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


183 


effect^when    planted   in    the   herbaceous    border, 
cutting  it  baclv  annually  in  spring. 

Chimonanthus  fragrans  should  now  be  spurred 
back,  so  that  fresh  and  well  ripened  shoots  may 
be  produced  for  next  season's  flowering.  Although 
not  alwaj-s  fortunate  in  escaping  severe  frosts. 
its  peculiar  yet  fragrant  flowers  are  a  source  of 
delight  during  February  and  early  March. 

Herbaceous  Borders  should  now  be  forked  over 
and  cleared  of  any  protecting  material  used  during 
the  winter.  On  light,  gravelly  soils  a  heavy 
surface  dressing  of  well  rotted  leaf-mould  or 
cow  dung  should  be  given,  and  this  will  prove  of 
inestimable  value  to  many  of  the  less  robust 
plants  should  the  summer  be  hot  and  dry. 

Violets. — Plants  flowering  in  frames  during  the 
winter  should  now  be  lifted,  and  strong  single 
crown  runners  taken  off  and  planted  in  a  partly 
shaded  border.  Incorporate  plenty  of  weU  decayed 
dung  and  leaf-mould  with  the  soil.  Plant  the 
runners  in  lines  isins.  apart  and  lains.  apart  in 
the  rows.  Keep  a  sharp  look-out  for  signs  of 
red  spider  on  the  young  plants,  and  spray  in  the 
evening  with  soot  water  on  its  appearance. 

Lawns. — -Growth  is  now  noticeable  on  lawns, 
so  have  them  well  swept  and  rolled  in  readiness 
for  the  use  of  the  mower.  Edges  may  with 
advantage  be  pared  now  with  the  edgmg-iron, 
as  this  facilitates  the  work  of  clipping  during  the 
rest  of  the  season.  Returf  any  bare  patches, 
or  should  there  be  difficulty  in  obtaining  fresh 
turf,  sow  lawn  grass  seed  and  give  a  dressing  of 
sifted  soil  to  assist  germination. 
James  McGran 
(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.). 

Coodham,  Kilmarnock. 


GREENHOUSE  AND    CONSERV.ATORY. 

Celos'as  in  successional  batches  are  very  useful 
for  furmshing  the  greenhouse  throughout  the 
summer  and  late  autumn  months.  It  is  true 
that  Celosia  cristata,  the  Cockscomb,  is  not  by 
any  means  a  graceful  p^ant ;  still,  it  always 
attracts  attention  on  accoimt  of  its  extraordinary 
form.  On  the  other  hand,  the  variety  p>Tamidalis 
is  certainly  moie  graceful,  and  well  grown  plants 
last  a  long  time  in  good  condition.  In  growing 
Celosias  it  is  very  important  to  get  a  good  strain, 
for.  in  the  case  of  this  plant,  no  amount  of  good 
cultivation  will  improve  a  poor  strain.  Here  I 
may  say  the  same  applies  to  Balsams :  hence 
the  Importance  of  getting  seed  from  a  firm  of 
repute.  If  not  already  done,  the  fust  batch  of 
Celosia  seed  may  now  be  sown  in  a  temperature 
of  50°  to  60'.  When  large  enough  to  handle 
the  young  seedlings  should  be  pricked  off  into 
pots  or  pans,  until  they  are  large  enough  to  be 
potted  off  singly  into  small  6o-size  pots,  using  a 
light  rich  soil  during  all  the  stages  of  their  culti- 
vaticn.  It  is  very  important  to  keep  them 
growing  steadily  on  without  any  check.  Their 
final  potting  should  be  into  jin.  or  6ir.  sizes,  while 
some  of  the  tall  growing  varieties  of  pjTamidalis 
if  well  grown  will  require  Sin.  pots,  in  which  they 
should  make  fine  specimens  some  5ft.  in  height. 
They  are  subject  to  attacks  of  led  spider  and 
Begonia  mite.  The  former  can  be  prevented  by 
a  free  use  of  the  syringe,  and  the  latter  by  the 
use  of  Campbell's  sulphur  vaporiser. 

Winter-Qowering  Begonias,  of  the  types 
resulting  from  crossing  B.  socotrana  and  the 
tuberous-rooted  varieties,  generally  prove  very 
troublesome  to  bring  safely  through  their  resting 
period.  In  this  respect  they  differ  from  both 
parents,  owing  to  the  fact  that  they  must  never 
be  really  dried  off  altogether,  but  every  effort 
should  be  made  to  retain  a  portion  of  ttnir  old 
foliage  until  they  show  signs  of  starting  mto 
fresh  gro\vtb.  They  should  do  this  during  the 
month  of  April,  and  at  this  time  they  may 
safely  be  turned  out  of  their  pots  and  the  balls 
of  soil  slightly  reduced  so  that  they  can  be  repotted 
into  the  same  size  or  even  smaller  pots,  using  for 
this  purpose  a  'ight  rich  compost.  When  repotted 
they  require  ver>  careful  watering  until  they 
have  made  fresh  roots ;  rather  should  they  be 
encouraged  to  grow  by  frequent  damping  between 
the  pots  and  light  spiaying  overhead.  In  r. 
moist  genial  temperature  of  some  55'  t'  ey  should 
grow  away  and  in  due  course  give  good  strong 
cuttings.  Cuttings  that  were  struck  late  laft 
year  may  be  grown  on  for  flower  ing,  such  examples 
usually  making  fine  large  plants.  A  few  of  the 
best  varieties  are  Optima  (this  in  some  ways  the 
best  of  them),  Exquisite,  Emita,  Fascination, 
Elatior  and  Mrs.  Heal.  There  are  reverrl  double 
and  semi-double  varieties,  but  in  the  immediate 
neighbourhood  of  London  it  is  useless  to  grow 
them,  as  one  night  s  fog  is  sufficient  to  strip  them 
of  every  flower. 


Vallota  purpurea. —  For  some  obscme  reason 
one  seldom  sees  this  beautiful  plant  in  good 
condition  in  gardens,  whereas  fine  specimens  in 
perfect  health  are  frequently  seen  in  cottage 
windows.  This  plant  very  much  resents  frequent 
disturbance ;  thus,  when  well  established  and 
in  good  heailth.  it  should  be  left  severely  alone, 
except  for  detaching  some  of  the  numerous  offsets 
it  produces  so  freely.  If  it  is  desired  to  increase 
the  stock  the  large=t  of  them  may  be  potted  up. 
putting  three  or  four  bulbs,  according  to  size, 
into  a  jin.  pot.  The  plant  is  leallv  evergreen 
and  should  never  be  dried  oft"  entirely,  although 
during  the  winter  months  it  should  be  kept  on 
the  dr>  side.  At  this  season,  however,  they  will 
require  more  water  at  the  root.  They  should 
not  at  any  time  be  given  a  high  tempcratuie; 
a  cool  greenhouse,  or  a  frame  from  which  frost 
IS  excluded,  suits  them  very  well. 

Nerines  should  be  given  a  light  position  well 
up  to  the  glass  in  a  cool  house  or  in  frames.  They 
should,   by  watering  and  feeding,   be  encouraged 


to  retain  their  foliage  in  a  fresh  condition  as  long 
as  possible,  for  it  is  only  by  this  means  that  good 
results  can  be  expected  from  them.  .As  their 
foliage  shows  signs  of  dying  off,  water  should 
be  gradually  withheld,  finally  leaving  them 
exposed  to  the  sun,  without  any  water  at  the 
root  until  .August  and  September,  when  they 
should  flower  and  commence  growing. 

Lobelia  tenuior. — This  beautiful  Lobelia  should 
be  grown  in  successional  batches  for  the  green- 
house. Being  of  a  slender  habit  it  is  best  grown 
four  in  a  pot,  ai  d  it  makes  a  better  plant  if  it  is 
pinched  once  or  twice  in  its  young  state.  If 
grown  on  into  6in.  pots  really  fine  specimens 
can  be  produced,  but  it  is  by  no  means  the  easiest 
of  annuals  to  do  really  well  and  requiies  careful 
watei  ing  at  all  times.  However,  it  is  really  worth 
some  extra  attention,  as  good  blue  flowers  generally 
find  plenty  of  admirers.  It  is  best  grown  at  all 
times  in  a  cool  greenhouse,  or  low  pit,  where  it 
can  be  kept  well  up  to  the  glass. 

Royal  Boliinic  Gardens,  Kcw.  J.   Couxxs. 


PEAT  PLANTS  THAT  WILL  DO  IN  LOAM 

Given  a  lime-free  soil  and  situations  suitable  to  the  particular  species,  there  really 
are  very  few  hardy  plants  which  require  peat  for  their  successful  cultivation . 


SETTING  aside  the  Heaths,  .\zaleas  and 
Rhododendrons,  there  are  many  plants 
usually  listed  as  peat-lovers  which  will  do 
admirably  in  ordinary,  but  cool,  hme-free 
woodland  loam,  with  the  help,  in  a  few 
instances,  of  a  little  leaf-mould. 

Take,  in  the  first  place,  the  so-called  .Andromedas. 
Some  half  a  dozen  of  the  more  lowly  species, 
among  which  may  be  specially  mentioned  Zenobia 
speciosa,  Leucothoe  Catesbaei  and  acuminata, 
have  taken  kindly  to  the  above  conditions  here 
and  annually  reward  us  by  wreathing  their  elegantly 
curved  stems  with  their  large  waxen  bells.  The  true 
Andromeda  polifolia,  the  bluish  fohage  of  which 
harmonises  so  pleasantly  with  its  purple  flowers, 
is  also  quite  at  home  in  the  half  shade  of  the  thin 
woodland.  WTien  it  is  possible  to  do  so,  all  these 
are  so  planted  that  they  are  in  a  line  with  the 
eye,  otherwise  the  flowers,  which  are  generally 
suspended  underneath  the  branches,  are  not 
seen  to  best  advantage.  The  most  severe  drought 
does  not  appear  to  affect  these  shrubs,  once  they 
are  fairly  estabUshed ;  and  no  pruning  is  ever 
done  beyond  cutting  out  old  flowering  wood, 
which  has  a  habit,  possibly  a  natural  one,  of 
dying  back. 

With  Cassiope  tetragona,  however,  I  admit 
we  have  had  some  trouble.  New  plants  have 
flourished  for  a  season  or  two,  studding  their 
curious  Club-moss  stems  with  LUy  of  the  Valley 
flowers,  and  then  languished.  What  this  fascin- 
ating little  thing  asks  is  doubtless  a  uniformity 
as  well  as  a  sufficiency  of  moisture,  not  only  at 
the  roots  (which  must  have  perfect  drainage), 
but  in  the  air,  along  with  partial  shade.  But 
even  in  a  garden  of  moderate  dimensions  one  is 
generally  able,  by  trying  different  sites,  to  hit 
upon  the  pecuhar  requirements  of  a  plant  without 
those  requirements  being  always  apparent.  Thus 
our  latest  colony  of  Cassiope,  in  a  hitherto  untried 
situation,  is  showing  sufficient  promise  to  encourage 
efforts  with  its  lovely  relation  fastigiata  and  others. 
Of  the  Pieris  group,  the  well  known  japonica 
and  floribunda  flourish  Uke  the  proverbial  "  green 
bay  tree,"  the  former  rather  too  well  for  its 
blossoming  reputation.  But,  good  as  these  are, 
the  gem  of  the  genus  is  undoubtedly  P.  formosa, 
which  went  away  from  the  first,  making  a  sturdy 
bush  of  some  5ft.  in  height.  Though  not  tender, 
this  splendid  species  has  given  disappointment, 
or  perhaps  I  should  say  has,  with  some,  earned  a 
reputation  for  disappointing,  owing  to  the  belief 
that  its  flower  buds,  if  not  the  blossoms,  are  apt 
to  be  injured  by  frost  in  the  early  months.     Our 


experience  is,  however,  that  this  is  a  very  variable 
plant  in  regard  to  its  date  of  blooming,  the  laurge 
sprays  of  big  white  globes  appearing  at  any  time 
from  January  to  May,  but  usually  not  until  they 
are  fairly  safe.  Moreover,  these  flowers  are, 
vmUke  those  of  the  other  species  mentioned,  nearly 
always  so  produced  that  they  derive  considerable 
shelter  from  the  overlapping  Rhododendron-hke 
leaves.  The  wonderful  colour  and  gloss  of  the 
new  growths,  a  highly  burnished  coppery-crimson, 
are  in  themselves  sufficient  to  give  P.  formosa 
high  rank  among  the  best  of  shrubs. 

The  true  Ledums  we  have  not  had  long  enough 
to  justify  one  making  any  definite  declaration 
as  to  their  adaptability  to  (comparatively)  "  dry  " 
treatment,  but  L.  latifohum  certainly  promises 
great  things  growing  in  loam  at  the  foot  of  the 
Heather  slope.  Of  Leiophyllum  buxifolium,  how- 
ever, which  comes  near  to  these,  we  have  nothing 
but  admiration.  It  is  an  easy-tempered,  healthy 
little  shrublet,  doing  well  almost  anywhere.  Its 
close-set  fohage  of  small  Myrtle-green  leaves  is 
speckled  with  bright  red  buds  throughout  early 
spring,  these  breaking  into  white  flowers  in  April 
or  later.  Not  unlike  this  to  the  casual  glance  is 
Gaultheria  trichophylla,  rather  more  "  traily  "  and 
more  fastidious  as  to  its  growing  medium,  but  one 
nevertheless  which  will  thrive  in  a  cool  bed  of 
leaf-soil  and  gritty  loam.  It  appreciated  a  top- 
dressing  of  the  same  material  in  spring,  and  for 
this  responds  the  more  generously  with  its  big 
turquoise  berries,  beloved  of  birds  or  mice — ■ 
probably  both.  Of  the  other  Gaultherias  grown 
here,  nummularioides  is  admirable  at  all  seasons, 
shding  down  a  mossy  slope,  rooting  as  it  goes, 
with  Limicea  boreaUs  for  company  and  Comus 
canadensis  hard  by.  G.  Shallon  is  perfectly 
content  in  the  plain  loam  and  does  not  grow  too 
big  ;  and  not  less  satisfied  are  procumbens  and 
pyrolaefolia,  though  the  former  is  often  slow  to 
take  hold.  All  these  Gaultherias  appear  to  like 
growing  in  association  with  something  else,  even 
if  this  is  the  natural  thin  herbage  and  creeping 
Ivy  of  the  woodland  bank,  and  they  languish,  as 
if  from  sheer  lonehness,  when  isolated  in  the 
orthodox  bed.  This  apphes  no  less  truthfully  to 
Galax  aphyUa.  A  few  odd  roots  of  this  "  stuck 
in  "  among  a  drift  of  fallen  leaves  and  native 
Ferns  and  forgotten  have  made  a  large  colony, 
whereas  those  planted  in  the  rock  garden  and 
elsewhere  with  the  utmost  care  as  to  soil  and 
aspect  have  remained  about  the  same  size  for 
years.  Grown  well  in  suitable  surroimdings 
G.   aphylla  is  a  precious  possession,  beautiful  at 


184 


THE     GARDEN. 


[April  15,  1922, 


all    seasons,    and    fit    associate    for    the    stronger 
Shortias  and  other  good  things  after  their  kind. 

Like  some  dwarf  Euonynius,  a  plant  of  Pachy- 
stigma  Canbyi  occupies  a  partially-shaded  spot 
near  Epiga?a  repens.  This  was  very  slow  to  start, 
as  many  of  these  things  are,  but  if  they  are  right 
who  say  it  needs  full  exposure  one  error  at  any 
rate  is  in  the  situation.  Philesia  buxifoUa  may 
also  be  counted  among  the  extremely  cautious, 
and  whether  it  will  like  its  bed  of  leaf-mould  and 
sand  remains  to  be  proven.  It  is  certainly  doing 
as  well  as  many  another  specimen  seen  in  the 
choicest  of  peat.  Near  this  rather  exclusive 
Chilean  is  a  ramping  mat  of  Polygala  Chamaebuxus, 
both  yellow  and  purple,  which  is  in  flower  nearly 
the  whole  year  round  and  which  would  be  much 
more  colourful  did  the  mice  not  devour  its  bloom 
buds  so  persistently.  Pretty  and  cheerful  as  this 
indispensable  little  woodlander  always  is,  it  can 
be  secured  in  many  forms,  some  being  much 
superior  to  others  in  flower  and  foliage.  P. 
Vayredffi  is  a  dwarfer,  but  even  more  brilliant 
species  requiring  rather  more  sun  and  consideration 
in  choice  of  situation. 

The  Kalmias  do  satisfactorily  in  a  cool,  shaley 
loam  with  the  aid  of  a  little  leaf-mould.  K. 
latifoUa,  best  and  biggest  of  the  group,  planted  in 
that  medium  some  years  ago  has  seldom  failed  to 
flower,  though  it  has  hardly  ever  had  any  attention 
since.  Not  less  beautiful  is  Rhodora  canadensis 
which  is  covered  with  its  gay  little  rosy-purple 
flowers  before  the  end  of  March,  and  these  seem 
to  be  able  to  withstand  the  most  inclement  of 
spring  weather  imdisturbed.  Our  common  Bog 
Myrtle  (Myrica  Gale)  is  quite  happy  in  loam 
which  does  not  dry-out  too  severely,  and  it  is 
well  worth  a  place  for  the  sake  of  its  fragrance. 
Though  not  a  woodland  plant,  it  will  do  in  thin 
shade.  Of  Vacciniums  I  can  say  little,  these 
wood  and  moorland  shrubs  not  having  been  fried 
to  any  extent ;  but  V.  corymbosum,  excellent 
in  spring  and  autumn,  and  probably  one  of  the 
best,  is  satisfied  with  our  treatment,  and  the 
common  V.  M^Ttillus  (Bilberr>')  flourishes  natur- 
ally in  pure  loam — and  very  dry  rocky  loam,  too — 
in  the  woods  near  by.  V.  Vitis-idffia,  our  native 
Cowberry,  a  better  garden  plant  than  the  Bilberry, 
will  also  prosper  under  similar  conditions. 

Whether  Itea  virginica,  a  shrub  of  quite  another 
order — a  Saxifrage — will  eventually  reward  us 
time  will  show,  it  being  still  in  early  youth,  but 
it  seems  probable  to  judge  by  the  progress  it  is 
making.  After  all,  much  of  the  delight  of  gardening 
is  having  things  on  the  "  waiting  list,"  and  one 
that  is  just  emerging  from  that  state  by  producing 
a  cluster  of  pendent  buds  above  its  fir-needly 
foliage  is  Bryanthus  erectus.  B.  pilosa  (ferru- 
ginea)  is  also  in  this  happy  condition,  and  these 
twain,  together  with  B.  empetriformis,  which 
makes  fine  mats  and  blooms  abundantly  (usually 
twice  a  year),  are  growing  in  a  poor,  crumbly 
mixture  of  shaley  soil  (mostly  chippings)  with  a 
very  little  leaf-mould  forked  through  at  planting 
time. 

North  Wales.  A.  T.  Johnson. 


Practical  Gardening. — Though  it  gives  no 
idea  of  the  magnitude  of  the  book,  "  Practical 
Gardening"*  is  a  fortunate  title  for  this  six- 
volume  gardening  encyclopaedia.  Many  of  the 
most  eminent  of  present-day  gardeners  have 
contributed  to  the  book,  which  appears  to  deal 
with  every  conceivable  subject  of  interest  to  the 
garden-loving  public.  The  work  is  copiously  and, 
generally  speaking,  helpfully  illustrated,  but  it  is, 


*  "■  Practical  Gardoning  for  Pleasure  and  Profit,"  edited 
by  Walter  P.  Wright.  The  Educational  Book  Co., 
17,  New  Bridge  Street,  E.C.4. 


of  course,  the  letterpress  which  is  most  important, 
and  this  is,  on  the  whole,  very  satisfactory. 
Barring  an  opening  chapter  dealing  with  garden 
tools  which  seems  rather  purposeless,  the  essentially 
practical  chapters  are  excellent,  although  the 
writer  docs  not  care  for  the  sections  dealing  with 
garden  plaiming  and  rock  garden  construction. 
This  is  a  small  blemish  on  a  work  of  this  character, 
for  it  is  safe  to  say  that  few  who  would  buy  such 
a  book  would  expect  garden  planning  to  be 
treated  of.  All  the  species  of  plants  commonly 
met  with  in  gardens  are  referred  to,  but  the  book 
makes  no  pretence  to  be  a  gardening  dictionary. 


ANSWERS 
TO  CORRESPONDENTS 


Late  Autumnal  Flowers. — The  specific  name 

"  syriacus "  suggests  tliat  that  shrubby  Mallow 
Hibiscus  syriacus  is  a  native  of  Syria.  It  is,  how- 
ever, a  wild  plant  of  China  and  India,  being  only 
met  with  in  Syria  as  a  cultivated  shrub.  A  free- 
flowering  bush,  in  gardens  where  a  selection  of 
named  varieties  are  grown  these  Hibisfus  are 
one  of  the  most  valued  autumn  shrubs.  The> 
thrive  in  British  gardens  in  all  but  the  coldest 
positions,  and  in  these  localities  they  are  worth 
giving  favourable  and  sheltered  positions  against 
a  south  or  west  wall.  Forming  shapely  and  much 
branched  bushes  up  to  8ft.  or  loft., sometimes  more. 
Pruning  is  not  desirable  unless  the  positions  where 
the  shrubs  are  growing  makes  it  necessary  to 
limit  their  size.  When  this  happens,  prune  in 
March  or  early  April.  The  Hibiscuses  thrive  in 
most  garden  soils  which  are  well  drained.  They 
benefit  by  the  trenching  and  manuring  of  the 
ground  previous  to  planting,  and  a  mulching  of 
decayed  manure  and  leaf-mould  may  be  given 
about  midsummer  with  advantage.  Cultivated 
in  our  gardens  for  more  than  three  hundred  years, 
a  considerable  number  of  varieties  are  grown 
with  both  single  and  double  blossoms.  Six  of 
the  best  are  Coeleste,  purplish  blue,  single ; 
Hamabo,  blush  white,  crimson  base,  single ; 
pulcherrima  white,  crimson  base,  double  ;  puniceus, 
red,  double ;  Souvenir  de  Charles  Lebreton, 
lilac  purple,  double ;  and  totus  albus,  pure 
white,   single. 

Dividing   Border    Chrysanthemum   Stools.— 

Ofttimcs  it  is  not  practicable  or  convenient 
to  lift  and  store  border  Chrysanthemums  through 
the  winter  months  when  the  flowering  period  is 
over,  but  when  remaking  the  borders  it  is 
found  necessary  to  divide  the  plants  up. 
The  stool  should  be  carefully  lifted  by 
means  of  a  fork,  and  pulled  apart  with  the 
hands,  if  this  be  possible.  Failing  this,  two  hand 
forks  may  be  inserted  together,  back  to  back, 
and  the  stool  levered  apart,  or  in  the  case  of  a  very 
stubborn  stool  a  large  priming  knife  may  be  called 
into  use,  though  it  is  preferable  not  to  cut  the 
roots  more  than  is  absolutely  necessary.  It  is 
best  to  discard  the  centre,  or  older  portion 
of  the  stool,  retaining  the  younger  and  more 
vigorous  outer  portions,  which  can  then  be  replanted 
in  such  a  way  as  suitable.  The  best  effect  is 
obtained  by  planting  three  or  five  of  these  portions 
about  9  inches  apart  each  way,  thus  forming  a 
nice-sized  clump  in  the  border  convenient  for 
staking  when  growth  is  made. 


FORTHCOMING    EVENTS. 

April  ig. — Hertford  Horticultural  Society's 
Meeting, 

April  20 — Manchester  and  North  of  England 
Orchid  Society's  Meeting.  Midland  Daffodil 
Society's  Annual  Exhibition   (two  days). 

April  21. — Paisley  Florists'  Society's  Meeting. 
Eastbourne    Horticultural   Society's   Meeting. 


FLOAA'ER    GARDEN. 

VIOLETS  ATTACKED  (H.  .M.  W.,  Radnorsliirc).— 
The  Violets  are  attacked  by  the  leaf  spot  funfc'u.'i  {Pliyl- 
lostrita  %'iolie).  liemo\'e  as  far  as  possible  all  diseased 
leaves  and  spray  tlie  plants  with  liver  of  sulphur,  loz. 
to  3  gallons  of  water,  or  dust  them  over  with  flowers  of 
sulphur. 

ANTIRRHINUMS  ATTACKED  (D.  W.,  Suffolk).— 
The  .\]iliirl]iiiiiijLs  are  attarkcl  by  a  fungus,  which  seems 
to  be  s|.ic;i.liH^'  luthir  i\i|iicll\  during  the  past  few  years. 
It  woald  be  well  to  destroy  the  first  plant  showing  the 
brown  spots  on  the  leaves  and  stems  so  as  to  stop  its  spread 
another  year.  Little  can  be  done  to  much  purpose  now 
e.xcept  to  get  rid  of  as  much  of  the  infected  material  as 
possible  and  to  spray  the  rest  of  the  plants  with  a  solution 
of  sulphide  of  potash,  loz.  to  3  gallons  of  water.  We 
suspect  that  the  Sweet  Williams  are  not  attacked  by  the 
same  trouble  but  by  another  fimgiis  belonging  to  the  rusts 
and  for  ttiis  the  removal  of  diseased  parts  and  the  spraying 
of  the  remainder  with  a  rose-red  solution  of  potassium 
permanganate  is  best. 


ROSE     GARDEN. 

HOSE  SPECIES  FOR  A  LAWN  BED  (Woodyates, 
Wilts.). — Under  suitable  circumstances  the  bush  Roses 
as  mentioned  by  our  correspondent  might  be  arranged 
to  show  the  general  effect  from  the  m  indows  or  front  door 
of  the  dwelUug  house,  but  the  situation  of  the  latter  is 
pot  shown  on  the  plan  sent.  The  bed  is  also  somewliat 
irregular  in  shape,  and  because  there  is  grass  all  round 
it,  the  best  jilan  would  be  to  plant  the  tallest  Koses  in 
groups  along  the  centre,  ."^o  that  the  -view  from  aU  sides 
will  be  the  same.  TJie  situation  is  open  so  that  the  Roses 
will  develop  and  bloom  on  all  sides  equally.  They  may 
be  planted  in  groups  of  tliree,  five  or  other  number  as  our 
correspondent  thinks  fit.  It  the  soil  is  good  it  would  be 
well  to  give  a  space  of  4ft.  between  ev^erv  two  of  Rosa 
sericea  pteracanOia  (6ft.  to  12ft.  high).  P..  Pratti  (6ft.  to 
8ft.),  R.  Moyesii  (6ft.  to  10ft.).  and  R.  rubrifolia  (5ft.  to 
7ft.).  There  is  a  white  Polyantha  Rose  named  H^l6ne 
(6ft.  to  10ft.)  which  should  also  be  central  or  in  the  middle 
of  the  bed.  R.  nitida  and  R.  n.  flore  pleno  grows  only 
2ft.  to  3ft.  and  should  be  near  the  outside.  Other  Roses 
we  would  suggest  are  R.  Hugonis  (oft.  to  8ft.),  R.  alpina 
(6ft.  to  Sft.).  It.  alba  (6ft.  to  Sft.).  R.  spinosissima  altaica 
(3ft.  to  6ft.),  R.  cinnamonea  (6ft.  to  9ft.),  R.  lutea  (Sft.  to 
5ft.).  Sweet  Briar  (R.  nibiginosa,  4ft  to  8ft.),  and  R. 
rugosa  or  any  of  its  varieties  (4!t.  to  Oft.).  .Ml  of  the  above 
should  be  planted  4ft.  apart,  except  R.  nitida,  R.  Hugonis 
and  R.  alba,  wliich  grow  erect.  The  others  we  suggest 
are  more  spreading  as  they  get  large  and  it  would  hardly 
be  possible  to  get  into  the  indi\idual  groups  withoiit 
thinning  or  shortening  of  the  shoots,  wl  ich  wo.ild  spofl 
their  natural  beauty.  Of  course,  if  planted  thickly  tliey 
keep  one  another  more  erect.  Bearing  in  mind  last  year's 
drought,  we  should  prefer  to  plant  in  the  autumn. 


THE     GREENHOUSE. 

BEGONIA    OPTIMA    UNSATISFACTORY    (R.    W".    D., 

Basingstoke). — We  find  no  disease  In  the  Begonias.  It 
is  possible  that  the  soil  is  sour  and  that  the  roots  have 
suffered  from  this  cause,  wlien  in  spite  of  watering  nothing 
could  be  done  to  save  them.  Avoid  over-potting  and  use 
fresh  soil  in  future. 


TREES    AND     SHRUBS. 

SUITABLE  TREES  TO  PLANT  ON  A  GRAVE  IN  FRANCE 

(E.  E.  B.,  Surrey). — If  our  correspondent  can  get  a  tree 
of  the  Japanese  Maple  (Acer  palmatum  dissectum  atro- 
parpureuni)  hi  a  pot,  it  could  be  planted  in  the  Arras 
district  early  in  jMay.  If  taken  from  the  ground  then  it 
wojld  be  starting  into  growth,  and  the  lifting  would 
cripple  it.  If  obtained  now  and  potted  up  our  corres- 
pondent could  take  it  to  .\rras  in  the  pot  and  replant  it 
witliout  disturbing  the  soil.  Well  water  it  the  day  before 
turning  it  out  of  the  pot,  or  the  day  on  which"  leaving 
this  country.  White  flowered  shrubs  that  would  be  sui^ 
able  are  Philadclphus  rosace  (3tt.).  P.  vole  lactee  (3ft.), 
Olearia  llaastii  (evergreen,  Sft.  to  4ft.),  Viburnum  plicatnm 
(3ft.),  and  Hydrangea  paniculata  grandiflora  (Sft.  to  4ft.). 
Whichever  of  these  are  decided  upon,  it  would  be  safest 
to  pot  it  up  now. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

THE  IRIS  LEAF  MINER  (A.  E.  C,  Pa).— This  is  the 
gmh  of  a  small  two-winged  fly,  Agromyza  atca  (A.  irieos). 
It  attacks  various  Irises,  but  especiaUy  perhaps  I,  ochro- 
leuca.  Another  species,  A.  latcrella  is  reported  a  serious 
pest  of  I.  Ka^mpferi  in  New  Jersey.  The  female  fly 
deposits  her  eggs  jn  the  leaf  and  the  grub  burrows  in, 
feeding  on  tlie  soft  tissue  of  the  leaf,  and  later  becoming 
a  pupa  in  the  burrow.  Where  only  a  few  leaves  are  attacked 
they  should  be  cut  off  and  burned,  or  the  foliage  sliould  be 
cat  down  and  burnt  in  a.itumn.  Spraying  with  nicotine 
soap  emulsion  woniil  probably  kill  the  Iar^■8e  in  the  burrows 
so  long  as  the  spraying  was  not  put  off  too  long.  In 
England  a  small  green  parasite  kills  many  of  these  grubs. 

NAMES  OF  PLANTS.—L.  J.  G..  Ireland.— Probably 
Narcissus  minimus.  The  specimen  sent  was  absolutely 
shriveUed  up  so  could  not  identify  correctly  with  certainty. 


CATALOGUE     RECEIVED. 

Grace  Sturtevant,  The  Glen  Uoad  Iris  fiardens,  Wellesley 
Farms,  Massachusetts, — Irises, 


THE  ^'f '^^  "^  ^  ^Vof  ) 

GARDEN 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


>l.  LXXXVI.— No.  2631. 

tercd  as  Second-claas  M  itter  at  the  N  ew  York.  N. Y..  Post  Office. 


Saturday,  April  22,  1922 


REOISTBRBO  AT  THB  GENERAL 
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No.  2631.— Vol.  LXXXVL] 


[April  22,  1922. 


COLOUR    IN    THE    ROCK    GARDEN 


K 


OCK  plants,  especially  those  properly 
classed  as  alpine  species — not  confining 
the  word  "  alpine,"  by  the  way,  to  the 
European  range  we  call  the  Alps — are 
readily  established  at  almost  any 
season,  since  they  are  supplied  in  pots.  This 
notwithstanding,    the    present    is    a    particularly 


good  season  to  purchase,  as  many  sorts  are  readily 
propagated  shortly  after  blossoming. 

We  wUl  endeavour  to  point  out  the  species 
and  varieties  most  worthy  of  cultivation  and 
their  individual  requirements  as  to  "  exposure," 
soil,  and  such  like.  Almost  every  gardener, 
reading  "  showy  and  accommodating  plants."  will 


have  mentally  envisaged  the  varieties  of  Aubrietia 
deltoidea,  Arabis  albida,  Alyssum  saxatile  and 
Iberis  sempervirens,  and  assuredly,  these  four 
species  form,  as  it  were,  the  very  foundation  of 
a  showy  rock  garden. 

To  select  the  best  varieties  of  Aubrietia  deltoidea 
is  not  easy,  but  the  following  rover  the  full  range 


A  FINE  example]' OF  HAPPY  PLANTING  IN  THE  ROCK  GARDEN. 


186 


THE     GARDEN. 


[April  22,  1922. 


of  colour  and  are  all  first  class  :  Dr. 
Mules,  with  deep  violet-purple 
flowers,  is,  though  quite  an  old  one. 
still  the  best  of  its  colour.  Among 
the  "  crimsons,"  Fire  King  and 
Leichtlinii  are  recommendable  ;  there 
is  no  better  soft  rose  than  Moer- 
heimi,  while  Bridesmaid,  blush-white, 
is  very  neat  and  extends  the  colour 
range.  There  are  numerous  lavender 
sorts,  but  none,  so  far,  so  effective  as 
the  very  old  gra?ca.  For  those  who 
like  "  new  friends  "  we  would  recom- 
mend Lilac  Queen,  Lloyd-Edwards 
{a  very  large-flowered  violet-purple), 
and  Violet  Queen  r 

As  regards  Arabis  albida,  both  single 
and  double  forms  are  often  useful  for 
places  where  little  else  will  grow,  and 
the  single  one,  though  it  spreads 
rapidly,  is  more  compact  and  less 
straggly  than   the  double  one. 

The  soft  pink  Arabis  aubrietioides 
is,  though  quite  easy,  an  infinitely 
choicer  and  more  beautiful  plant  than 
either. 

There  is  a  variety  of  Iberis  sem- 
pervirens  called  Little  Gem,  which  is 
in  habit  of  growth  quite  compact 
and  globular,  and  is  both  neat  and 
beautiful.  Still,  for  "  bold  "  effects 
the  typical  plant,  or  the  closer-growing 
Snowflake,  is  very  useful. 

Alyssum  saxatile,  as  one  of  the 
brightest  and  most  cheering  spring 
flowers — its  yellow  has  that  dash  of 
orange  in  it  which  gives  "  warmth  " 
— may  be  more  freely  used.  There  is 
a  desirable  closer-growing  form — com- 
pactum — a  very  lasting  double  form, 
and  an  entirely  pleasing  lemon-yellow 
variety  called  citrinum.  The  saffron- 
yellow  A.  gemonense  is  a  useful  plant 
often  confused  with  the  last-named. 
Lithospermum  prostratum,  with  its 
flowers  of  purest  gentian-blue  is  an 
excellent  plant,  also  the  pretty  azure 
blue  variety  Heavenly  Blue, 

Some  of  the  brightest  masses  of 
colour  in  the  rock  garden' are  pro- 
duced by  the  varieties  and  hybrids  of 
Phlox  setacea,  and  remembering  that 
it  is  "  colour  "  we  are  seeking,  let  us 
first  select  Vivid,  best  described  as 
"  hot  salmon  "  colour — a  wonderful 
sight  when  in  flower  ;  G.  F.  Wilson 
(syn.  lilacina),  slate  blue  ;  compacta, 
rose  with  very  little  blue  in  it,  and 
The  Bride,  a  beautiful  pearly  white. 
Other  good  varieties  are  Brightness, 
Kathleen  and  Daisy  Hill,  all  rose- 
coloured  sorts ;  Fairy,  a  compact- 
growing,  neat  plant,  with  greyish  lilac 
flowers,  and  Newry  Seedling — in  the 
way  of  G.  F.  Wilson  but  paler  and  of 
a  looser  habit  of  growth.       ^ 

All  the  foregoing  suffer  from  biting 
winds  in  winter  and  are  best  planted 
with  shelter  from  the  north  and  east 
and  with  a  warm  exposure,  so  that 
they  may  ripen  their  wood.  They 
should  be  propagated  by  division  or 
from  cuttings.  Either  operation  should 
be  performed  as  soon  as  they  start  to 
make  fresh  growth  after  flowering. 

Phlox  amcena,  a  pretty,  early- 
flowering,  rose-coloured  species  with 
numerous  androsace-like  heads  of 
bloom,  makes  a  brave  show  ;  so,  too, 
does  the  taller-growing   P.  canadensis. 


A    CHARMING    COLONY    OF    ONE    OF    THE   HOOP    PETTICOAT    DAFFODILS    (N.   BULBOCODIUM    CITRINUS). 


THE  lady's  slipper  (cypripedium  spectabile). 


April  22,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


187 


■with  pretty,  slaty  -  blue  flowers.  The  variety 
Laphami  is,  perhaps,  the  most  recommendable  ; 
its  flowers  are  sounder  and  a  shade  deeper  in 
colour  than  those  of  the  tj-pe.  There  is  also  a 
pure  white  form. 

Phlox  ovata,  something  like  a  dwarf  rose- 
coloured  Border  Phlox  (P.  decussata),  with  neat 
and  leathery  ovate  foliage,  is  also  useful,  and 
«asy.  for  not  too  choice  a  corner. 

The  double  form  of  Lychnis  Viscaria  gives  a 
mass  of  dazzling  rosy-carmine,  while  its  neat, 
sturdy  habit  makes  it  very  suitable  for  the  rock 
garden  ;  but,  like  the  Crimson  Rambler  Rose, 
it  is  somewhat  of  an  Ishmael  in  the  garden,  owing 
to  its  propensity  for  making  even  really  bright 
flowers  look  dowdy. 

The  Welsh  Poppy  (Mcconopsis  cambrica) 
is  a  very  "  easy "  plant  and,  especially  the 
double  form,  very  showy  and  beautiful.  Their 
distant  cousin,  the  smaller  Bleeding  Heart 
(Dicentra  exim'a),  with  its  pretty  laciniate 
foliage  and  purplish  rose  flowers,  should  also  be 
included. 

Of  the  Pink  family  (Dianthusl.  the  foUowiag 
are  of  easy  culture  and  beautiful :  D.  atrorubens. 
■with  dark  grassy  foliage  and  deep  red  glomerate 
heads  after  the  way  of  the  Sweet  William  ;  the 
Cheddar  Pink  (D.  cjesiui),  rose-coloured,  very 
fragrant ;  D.  fragrans.  deeply  fringed  creamy 
flowers  with  a  powerful  and  pleasing  odoar  ; 
L>.  superbus.  which  might  almost  be  desciibed 
as  a  rose-coloured  form  of  the  last. 

Of  a  totally  different  habit  of  growth  to  those 
previously  mentioned,  and  rather  later  flowering, 
the  Maiden  Pink  (D.  deltoides)  and  the  closely 
related  D.  graniticus  are  two  useful  small- 
flowered  deep  rosy-red  kinds,  very  fioriferous, 
and  with  neat  glossy  dark  green  foliage. 

Two  double  garden  hybrid  forms.  Salmon 
^ueen  and  Napoleon  III,  are  also  beautiful  and 
of  striking  coloration.  The  latter  is  a  very  brilliant 
crimson,  but,  if  not  carefully  handled,  has  a 
tendency  to  flower  itself  to  death. 

The  prostrate  Gj^psophila  (G.  repens),  with 
its  pretty  glaucous  trailing  foliage,  star-bespangled, 
must  on  no  account  be  overlooked.  The  form 
monstrosa  has  larger  flowers  and  less  trailing 
habit,  and  rosea  has  pale  rose  flowers  with  the 
habit  of  the  type.  Another  pretty  species  is 
G.   Sundermanni,  with  bright  lilac-rose  flowers. 

Owing  to  their  very  trailing  habit  of  growth 
it  will  probably  be  better  to  separate  the  Sun 
Roses  (Helianthemum)  from  their  cousins,  the 
Cistus,  and  deal  with  them  in  this  section.  They 
are,  without  exception,  beautiful  and  gay-coloured 
plants,  with  pleasing  foliage,  quite  imexacting  as 
to  soil,  but  liking  plenty  of  direct  sunlight.  .-Ml 
the  kinds  are  worthy  of  cultivation,  but  we  have 
a  partiality  for  Mrs.  Croft,  Salmon  Queen,  Brilliant 
and  Rose  Queen,  and  in  general  the  single  forms 
are  preferable  to  the  double  ones. 

Two  species  of  Speedwell  (Veronica)  come 
into  this  class — V.  repens,  with  masses  of  slaty- 
coloured  flowers,  and  V.  rupestris  (syn,  prostrata 
and  Teucrium  dubia),  with  masses  of  bright  blue 
flo^«-ers  in  zin,  spikes — a  very  old  and  very 
beautiful  plant.  There  is  a  white  form  of  this 
species,  also  a  yellow  foliaged  one  (Trehane). 

A  very  beautiful  plant  for  a  sunny  corner  is 
Helichrysum  bellidioides,  a  quickly  spreading 
species,  with  grey  foliage  and  white  immortelle- 
like  flowers  most  profusely  borne. 

Many  ot  the  alpine  species  of  SUene  make  a 
brave  show,  and  two  of  them  are  extraordinarily 
accommodating,  these  being  S.  alpestris,  with 
glistening  snow-white  flowers,  and  S.  Schafta, 
producing  purplish  rose  flowers  at  mid-summer. 
There  is  a  tiny  Golden  Rod — Solidago  prostrata — 
•which  makes  a  welcome  splash  of  colour  very  late 
in    the   season.     Some   of   the   prostrate   Thymes 


are  among  the  loveliest  of  creeping  rock  pla.its, 
such  are  T.  lanuginosus,  forming  patches  of  silky 
grey  foliage,  and  which  is  rather  disfigured  than 
otherwise  by  the  pink  blossoms ;  T.  Serpyllum 
coccineus,  with  bright  crimson,  and  T.  S.  albus, 
with  white  flowers.  These  two  should  some- 
times be  planted  together,  as  the  combination  is 
very  pleasing. 

Many  of  the  Campanulas  are  among  the  most 
amenable  and  beautiful  of  rock  plants.  Very 
good  and  easy  are  all  the  forms  of  and  crosses 
between  C.  carpatica  and  C.  turbinata,  as  are 
C.  barbata.  C.  sarmatica,  C.  pusilla  and  varieties, 
and  C.  Portenschlagiana  (syn.  C.  muralis). 

In  a  shady  corner,  eve.i  under  trees,  the 
Astrantias  will  succeed.  These  are  among  the 
most  beautiful  and  refined  of  umbelliferous 
plants. 

.■\n  effecti\-e  plant  for  sun-parched  slopes  is 
the  Rock  Purslane  (Calandrinia  umbellata).  Its 
crowded   blossoms   are   a   fiery   magCiita-crimson. 


The  perennial  Flaxes  are  useful  for  the  rock 
garden,  especially  the  dwarf  Linum  alpinum,  but 
even  the  species  of  L.  perenne.  or  L.  narboneuse, 
will  look  in  no  way  out  of  place. 

For  the  shadier  positions  some  of  the  Monkey 
Flowers  (Mimulus)  are  very  suitable  ;  such  are 
M.  Burnetti  and  M.  cupreus  Brilliant  with  bronze, 
M.  cupreus  Coronation  with  carmine,  and  M. 
cupreus  Scarlet  Queen,  a  variety  with  almost 
scarlet  flowers. 

Aster  alpinus  is  quite  a  showy  plant,  and  there 
are  several  excellent  varieties  of  various  shades 
of  colour.  Among  the  Yarrows  (Achillea)  are 
to  be  found  several  carpeting  plants  with  grey 
foliage  and  pleasing  flowers.  Among  the  best  may 
be  mentioned  A.  argentea  and  A.  Huteri,  with 
grey,  and  A.  Kellereri  and  A.  rupestris,  with  green 
foliage ;  all  of  these  have  white  flowers,  while 
A.  tomentosa  is  a  free-flowering  yellow  species. 

Of  the  Bugles  (Ajuga),  the  only  ones  really 
worth  growing  are  the  beautiful  blue  A.  Brock bankii. 


BOLD    PLANTING   AND    ITS   EFFECTU'E   RESULTS. 


This  is  not  a  long-lived  plant,  but  is,  fortunately, 
easily  raised  from  seed. 

A  very  showy,  if  rather  coarse  habited  class  of 
hardy  trailing  foliage  plants,  is  the  Mouse-eared 
Chickweed  (Cerastium).  Quite  the  best  with 
silvery  foliage  is  C.  tomentosum,  smothered,  in 
spring,  with  fair  sized  white  flowers  reminiscent 
of  the  Greater  Stitchwort. 

Useful  plants  for  crevices  in  the  rock  cliff  or 
for  dry  walling  are  the  alpine  Erinus  in  three 
colours,  the  typical  plant  with  reddish-purple, 
albus  with  white,  and  carmineus  with  rosy- 
carmine  flowers.  For  the  same  purpose,  too, 
we  have  the  pretty  golden  Hedge  Mustard, 
Erysimum  pulcbellum  (syn.  rupestre). 

Just  T  few  of  the  smaller  Torch  Lilies  (Kniphofia) 
are  suitable  for  the  rock  garden,  and  give  a  much 
to  be  desired  variety  oi  form,  such,  for  instance, 
as  K.  pauciflora,  with  yellow,  K.  Macowanii,  with 
pinkish-coral  blossoms,  and  K.  corallina,  with 
almost  scarlet  spikes  ;  while,  for  the  larger  back- 
ground, K.  rufa.  and  even  -tronger-growing  kinds 
may  be  made  use  of.  It  is  scarcely  necessary  to 
mention  that  all  Kniphofias  need  protection  from 
hard  frost,  particularly  frost  following  wet. 


and  perhaps  the  prettily  variegated  A.  reptans 
variegata.  Two  of  the  Sandworts  (.Arenaria) 
should  be  found  in  every  rock  garden  —  the 
glorious  white  trailer,  A.  montana,  and  .^. 
balearica,  which  covers  the  stones  with  minute 
trails  of  bright  green  foliage  studded  with  tiny 
starry  blossoms.  The  habit  of  the  last-named 
plant  recalls  to  mind  that  beautiful  minute  clinging 
Willow  Herb  (Epilobium  Hectori),  with  bronze 
foliage,  inconspicuous  flowers  and  cottony  seedpods. 
Some  of  the  .Ethionemas,  especially  A.  pulcheUum 
and  A.  grandiflorum,  are  mass  effect  plants,  and 
planted  with  a  south  aspect,  or,  better  still,  built 
into  the  joints  of  the  cliff  face,  so  that  their  crowns 
lie  sideways,  in  nice  gritty  soil,  will  flourish.  .A 
newer  very  beautiful  form  is  A.  armenum  Warley 
Rose.  A.  coridifoUum,  sometimes  confused  with 
Iberis  jucunda,  is  worth  growing  with  its  neat 
habit  and  grey-pink  flowers. 

The  plants  dealt  with  above  have,  except 
for  a  general  liking  for  a  well  drained  sweet  soil, 
and,  sometimes,  a  paitiality  for  some  particular 
exposure,  required  no  special  cultural  attention. 
They  do  not,  of  course,  exhaust  the  list  ol 
desirable  plants  for  the  rock  garden. 


188 


THE     GARDEN. 


[April  22,  1922. 


DISTINCTIVE    TREES    AND    SHRUBS 

Now  that  economy  in  the  garden  is  the  order  of  the   day,  the  planting   of  trees  and  shrubs  is  on    the   increase. 
The  following  article  furnishes  suggestions  of  beautiful  ornamental   trees  and  shrubs  which  should  find  a  place  in 

the  average  garden. 


A  TREE  may  be  distinctive  on  account  of 
its  flowers  or  leaves,  or  botli.  It  will 
also  appeal  to  the  imagination  if  un- 
,  common  or  scarce  ;  and  those  who  love 
^  trees  for  their  own  sakes  will  give  these 
their  due  consideration  and  attention  if  they 
succeed  in  their  gardens  or  grounds  under  the 
conditions  available.  Trees  of  unusual  dimensions 
are  the  pride  of  their  o%v-ners,  even  if  common, 
but  much  more  so  if  they  are  rare.  Those  I  intend 
to  discuss  are  not  notable  for  great  size,  but 
possess  some  outstanding  characteristic  that 
makes  them  desirable  in  gardens  of  moderate 
dimensions. 

The  Maidenhair  Tree  (Ginkgo  biloba)  makes  a 
spiry,  greet  tree  that  may  ultimately  reach  a  great 


succeeded  by  three-angled  seedpods  that  remain 
on  the  tree  for  some  time  after  the  leaves  have 
fallen,  and  being  liins.  to  2ins.  long  are  highly 
conspicuous.  Trees  12ft.  to  30ft.  high  flowered 
very  freely  in  1911  and  1921.  They  flower  more 
regularly  in  France,  where  the  summer  is  warmer 
than  ours.  The  Sweet  Gum  (Liquidambar  styra- 
ciflua)  resembles  a  Sycamore  to  some  extent, 
but  is  of  narrow,  upright  habit  and  becomes 
highly  conspicuous  in  autumn  when  the  leaves 
assume  their  crimson  and  orange  hues.  The 
crimson  and  golden  tints  of  the  dying  leaves  of 
Parrotia  persica  are  the  special  feature  of  this 
tree  ;  but  the  red  anthers  of  the  flowers  make  the 
leafless  tree  conspicuous  on  sunny  days  during 
February  or   March,   so   that   it  ranks  as  a  late 


on  the  outer  face,  white  on  the  iimer,  and  often 
4ins.  long  and  as  broad.  As  they  are  fleshy  in 
character  they  form  a  massive  and  shapely  bloom. 
This  hybrid  is  said  to  have  arisen  by  chance,  so 
that  the  second  parent  may  have  been  M.  obovata 
purpurea.  The  most  popular  of  these  hybrids 
is  M.  Soulangeana,  which  may  be  seen  in  many 
gardens,  where  it  is  the  most  conspicuous  object 
during  late  March  and  April. 

The  Laburnums  are  delightful  trees  when  they 
come  into  bloom.  A  natural  variety,  named 
Laburnum  vulgare  Alschingeri.  has  racemes  of 
flowers  gins,  to  I2ins.  lojg  and  flowers  very 
profusely,  making  a  handsome  tree.  When 
growing  vigorously,  L.  Vossii  has  racemes  twice 
as  long.     It  is  a  hybrid  between  the  common  and 


THE    FREE  FLOWERING    JAPANESE    CRAB    (PYRUS    MALUS    FLORIBUNDA). 


height,  without  casting  much  shade  on  other 
objects,  and  withstands  smoke  well.  The  two- 
lobed  leaves,  both  in  form  and  venation,  bear  a 
strong  resemblance  to  the  lobes  of  the  fronds  of  a 
Maidenhair  Fern.  Indeed,  a  Japanese  botanist 
some  time  ago  discovered  that  it  is  intermediate 
between  the  Ferns  of  geological  times  and  conifers. 
Several  species  of  Ginkgo  at  one  time  existed  from 
the  Island  of  Mull  to  China.  Now  the  above  is 
only  known  as  a  planted  tree  in  the  vicinity  of 
Chinese  temples,  and  the  trees  cultivated  in  the 
old  and  new  worlds  are  descendants  from  them. 
The  soft  uniform  yellow  of  the  dying  leaves  in 
autumn  is  very  handsome. 

Koeireuteria  paniculata  is  related  to  the  Horse 
Chestnut  and  Sycamore,  but  has  much  divided 
leaves  and  large  panicles  of  small  yellow  flowers, 


winter  flowering  tree.  Last  year's  sunshine  made 
it  bloom  profusely  everywhere  this  year.  In 
summer  it  bears  some  resemblance  to  a  Beech. 
The  Kentucky  Coffee  (Gymnocladus  canadensis) 
appeals  to  us  entirely  by  its  leaves,  which  are 
bipinnate,  or  twice  divided,  and  may  reach  a  size 
of  3ft.  long  and  2ft.  wide.  The  habit  of  the  tree 
is  stiff  and  ungainly  when  the  leaves  are  down, 
but  the  few  trees  in  cultivation  are  highly  cherished 
by  tree-lovers.  The  Mop-headed  Acacia  (Robinia 
Pseudacacia  inermis)  seldom,  if  ever,  flowers,  but 
is  prized  by  the  owners  of  suburban  front  gardens, 
where  the  short,  twiggy  growths  take  up  but  little 
room,  and  do  not  darken  the  windows. 

The  finest  of  all  the  series  of  hybrids  between 
Magnolia  conspicua  and  M.  obovata  is  M.  Lennei, 
the  petals  of  which  are  of  a  beautiful  rose-purple 


Scotch  Laburnums.  Neither  of  the  two  have  so 
gracefully  arching  branches  as  the  Common 
Laburnum,  but  the  latter  is  often  spoilt  by  pruning 
and  lopping  in  confined  situations,  so  that  its 
natural  beauty  in  those  cases  cannot  be  seen. 
Labm'nums  produce  a  wealth  of  spurs  that  bloom 
year  after  year  if  left  unpruned. 

The  Cotoneasters  vary  much  in  habit,  so  that  it  is 
well  to  select  positions  for  each,  where  it  can 
assume  its  natural  habit  of  growth.  C.  hori- 
zontalis  is  often  planted  against  a  wall,  but 
nowhere  does  it  look  more  natural  than  in  an  open 
situation,  such  as  a  circular  bed  on  the  grass. 
The  branches  grow  out  horizontally  in  all  directions 
a  little  way  above  the  soil,  and  sometimes  a  strong 
branch  will  rise  higher  and  then  spread  out  again, 
forming  a  higher  table  of  densely  leafy  branches. 


April  22,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


189 


THE    SNOWY    MESPILUS    BACKED    BY    EVERGREENS. 


The  berries  hang  on  for  many  weeks  after  the  leaves 
have  mostly  dropped. 

A  relation  of  the  Horse  Chestnut,  namely, 
Xanthoceras  sorbifolia  has  leaves  somewhat 
resembling  a  Mountain  Ash,  and  a  profusion  of 
white  flowers.  Unfortunately,  these  sometimes 
get  injured  by  late  frost.  It  flowers  with  more 
certainty  when  trained  upon  a  sunny  wall,  and  is  an 
excellent  plant  for  forcing  in  pots.  The  fruits  are 
like  the  Horse  Chestnut  without  the  prickles. 

The  handsome  Prunus  triloba  does  not  appear 
to  be  known  in  the  single  state,  for  the  pale  rose 
flowers  are  double,  and  though  the  young  fruits 
appear  to  set,  they  soon  fall  away.  The  small  tree 
is  really  an  Apricot.  It  may  be  grown  in  a  variety 
of  ways,  and  is  effective  as  a  group  in  a  large  bed, 
where  it  may  be  kept  dwarf  by  pruning  it  hard 
after  it  has  done  flowering.  It  will  cover  a  wall 
loft.  high,  and  if  the  side  shoots  are  hard  cut  back 
after  flowering  a  succession  of  flowers  in  the 
greatest  profusion  may  be  had  every  year.  It  is 
also  an  excellent  plant  for  forcing 

Of  exceptional  beauty  are  the  Birches,  with 
their  graceful  branches  and  peculiar  trunks.  These 
trees  deserve  to  be  planted  to  a  greater  extent 
than  they  are  to-day.  The  silvery  trunks 
of  some  species  are  a  notable  feature  of  the  garden 
during  the  winter  months. 

Our  native  Birch  (Betula  verrucosa)  is  excep- 
tionally beautiful  Some  species  have  darker  and 
more  rugged  trunks  than  others,  but,  nevertheless, 
they  have  a  charm  which  is  quite  their  own. 

The  Birches  are  deciduous  and  bear  unisexual 
flowers,  which  arc  produced  on  catkins.  Male  and 
female  catkins  are  borne  on  the  same  tree.  They 
are  formed  in  autumn  but  do  not  expand  until  the 
spring ;  therefore  the  Birches  are  never  without 
some  attraction.  Many  of  the  species  are  aromatic, 
which  greatly  enhances  their  value. 


Pyrus  Malus  flori- 
bunda  (Japanese 
Crab)  is  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  of  all 
the  flowering  Crabs 
cultivated  in  gardens. 
The  pale  pink  flowers 
are  borne  in  great 
profusion  from  the 
end  of  April  until 
about  the  middle  of 
May.  The  trees  aver- 
age in  height  from 
loft.  to  15ft.,  and  as 
much  or  more  in 
diameter.  The  variety 
atrosanguinea  i  s 

much  richer  in  colour 
and  the  two  trees 
grouped  together 
form  a  glorious 
floral  picture.  As  a 
specimen  plant  for 
lawns,  Pyrus  flori- 
bunda  is  to  be  highly 
recommended  both 
for  large  and  small 
gardens. 

The  Snowy  Mes- 
pllus  (Amelanchier 
canadensis)  is,  when 
it  is  in  bloom,  so 
smothered  with  the 
profusion  of  its  pure 
white  flowers  as  to 
resemble  a  huge 
snowdrift  in  the 
distant  e  ff  e  c  t. 

Flowering,  as  it  does, 
during  early  spring, 
it  is  advisable  when 

planting  to  choose  a  position  where  its  flowers  will 

show  to  the  best  advantage,  against  a  background 

such     as     the     evergreen    Oak    or    Holly    would 

provide.       If  planted   in  association  with   early- 
flowering       shrubs, 

such  as  Almonds  and 

double   Cherries,   the  ,       :; 

effect     produced     is 

extremely     pleasing. 

The  Snowy  Mespilus 

is  closely  related   to 

the   common   Medlar 

(Mespilus  germanica), 

but    the    flowers    of 

the      former      are 

smaller.    The  Snowy 

Mespilus  is  one  of  the 

daintiest    and    most 

profusely   -    flowered 

trees   of    spring. 
It    is    not    at    all 

fastidious  as  regards 

soil  and,  in  common 

with  Thorns  and  the 

Bird  Cherry,  may  be 

found    flourishing   in 

our  sandy  woods.   As 

it     succeeds     in     all 

parts  of   the  British 

Isles    there    can    be 

no    doubt    as    to    its 

hardiness. 

Cratsego  -  Mespilus 

Asni^resii  is  a  small 

tree   with   pendulous 

branches     which     is 

deciduous.  The  name 

Crataego-M  e  s  p  i  1  u  s 
according     to     Bean 


"  has  been  devised  to  distinguish  three  deciduous 
trees,  one  a  supposed  natural  hybrid  between  the 
Hawthorn  (Crat£Egus  monogyna)  and  the  Medlar 
(Mespilus  germanica),  the  other  two  hybrids  obtained 
by  grafting  the  Medlar  on  the  Hawthorn." 

CratiEgo-Mespilus  Asnieresii  in  habit  resembles  a 
large-flowered  Crataegus  of  serai-pendulous  growth. 
A  few  spines  are  noticeable,  and  there  are  two 
kinds  of  leaves,  some  entire  and  the  remainder 
deeply  lobed,  especially  those  on  the  vigorous 
young  shoots  showing  the  Hawthorn  parentage. 
The  leaves  on  both  surfaces  are  very  downyi  The 
flowers  are  produced  in  clusters  like  those  of  the 
Hawthorn,  but  are  larger,  averaging  fin.  across, 
six  to  twelve,  sometimes  more,  in  a  cor\'mb,  white, 
tinted  rose  with  age.  The  fruit  is  brown  in  colour, 
oblong  in  shape  and  about  the  size  of  the  Hawthorn. 
The  flowering  season  is  the  latter  half  of  May. 
This  is  a  most  desirable  tree  for  gardens. 

There  are  many  beautiful  trees  which 
thrive  under  smoky  conditions.  It  is  best  to 
plant  deciduous  trees  as  these  shed  a  great  quantity 
of  the  dirt  with  their  leaves  in  autumn. 

Fortunately  there  are  some  evergreens  that  stand 
these  conditions  fairly  well.  Ilex  Aquifolium  (the 
common  Holly),  and  its  glossy-leaved  forms,  is 
one  of  the  best  evergreens  for  a  smoky  district. 
The  Aucuba  gives  quite  good  results  in  several 
places.  Berberis  stenophylla  stands  well  under 
these  conditions.  Berberis  Aquifolium  and  Box 
are  also  excellant  plants.  The  common  Ivy  seems 
to  flourish  under  the  most  unsatisfactory  conditions, 
while  its  numerous  tree  forms  also  give  good 
account  of  themselves. 

Among  deciduous  trees  the  Plane  undoubtedly 
has  become  famous  for  resisting  the  enervating 
effects  of  London  smoke.  The  red-flowered  Horse 
Chestnut  grows  very  well  under  unsatisfactory 
atmospheric  conditions  ;  the  same  applies  to  the 
Ash.  Among  the  Pyruses  may  be  mentioned 
P.P.  floribunda,  spectabilis  and  Ringo. 

This  by  no  means  exhausts  the  list  of  desirable 
trees  for  gardens  either  large  or  small,  but  it  should 
suffice  to  show  the  reader  what  a  vast  collection 
there  is  to  choose  from. 


A    BEAUTIFUL    HYBRID  :      CRAT.qiGO-MESFILUS    ASNIERESII. 


190 


THE     GARDEN 


[April  22,  1922. 


SUMMER  BEDDING  PLANTS  AND  PLANTS 
FOR   VASES   AND    BOXES 


DURING  the  past  eight  years  or  so  the 
i  stocks  of  bedding-out  plants,  generally 
I  used  in  the  flower  garden  from  June 
r  till  October,  have  been  in  many  cases 
almost  entirely  depleted.  Numbers  of 
them  are  again  finding  favour  with  cultivators, 
but  where  stocks  are  quite  insufficient  plants 
should  be  bought  or  supplemented  by  charming 
annuals. 

Old  plants  of  Zonal  Pelargoniums.  Fuchsias  and 
Heliotropes  should  not  be  thrown  away  as  by  their 
judicious  use  a  verj'  charming  display  may  be 
obtained  at  a  small  cost,  as  regards  labour,  in  the 
flower  garden.  For  a  period  of  ten  years  I  used  the 
same  old  specimens  —  nearly  one  thousand  of 
them — in  a  large  garden  with 
great  effect.  During  the  winter 
months  these  veterans  were 
stored  in  gin.  and  loin.  pots 
in  Peach  houses  and  vineries 
from  which  frost  only  was 
excluded.  In  the  spring  new- 
shoots  grew  freely  but  not 
strongly,  and  in  consequence, 
flowered  profusely  in  the 
summer.  The  specimens  varied 
in  height  from  ift.  to  4ft. 
and  were  employed  to  form 
pyramids  of  not  too  formal 
shape.  They  entirely  filled 
some  small  beds  and  looked 
very  well  with  shrubberies  as  a 
background.  The  tallest  plants 
were  made  secure  to  strong; 
central  stakes,  the  latter 
being  hidden  from  view  b\ 
the  foliage,  and  the  remainder, 
according  to  height,  were 
then  planted  to  form  the 
p>Tamid. 

Of    course,   each    kind    was 
kept  separate  and  not  mixed 
in    the  beds.     The   edgings  to 
such    beds    may    be     of    any 
dwarf-growing  plant  favoured 
by    the    cultivator.     The 
majority  of  the  beds  referred 
to  were  edged  with  Echeverias 
planted    face    outwards    in   a 
ridge    of    wet    soil   and  cow- 
manure,   mixed.        When    the 
mixture     dried    it  retained  its 
shape  throughout  the  summer. 
Plants      for     Vases     and 
Bo-XES. — The  various  plants  re- 
quired   for     these     receptacles 
should   be   selected    now   and 
placed      by     themselves,    not 
unduly  crowded,  so  that  they 
will  be   extra  sturdy  to  with- 
stand strong  winds  and  show  to 
the  best  advantage      The  vases 
of  pottery   must  not  be  painted,    but    tubs  and 
boxes    should    be    painted    dark     green     or    oak 
colour.     Whether   placed    directly   in   front   of   a 
dwelling  house  or  in  odd  positions,  such  as  recesses 
between  clumps  of  shrubs,  beside  the  paths  or  on 
the  open  lawn  they  have  a  charming  effect  when 
properly  filled.     For  the  garden  vase,  one  of  the 
most  satisfactory  forms  is  the   top  section  of  the 
ordinary  Italian  oil  jar.      The  jar  ought  to  be  cut 
a  trifle  below  the  bulge,  as  shown  in  accompanying 
illustration. 

There  arc  two  kinds  of  plants  very  suitable  for 
planting  in  vases,  namely,  Fuchsias  and  Ivy-leaved 


Pelargoniums.  The  former  grow  erect  but  grace- 
full5^  the  latter,  depending  from  the  "edges,  are  also 
very  effective.  The  colours  of  the  flowers  should 
harmonise. 

Plants  Raised  from  Seeds  Sown  in  Spring. — 
Lobelias,  PjTethrums  (Golden  Feather),  Petunias, 
Pansies,  Marigolds,  Tagetes,  Nasturtiums,  etc., 
must  be  transplanted  in  boxes,  in  beds,  in  cold 
frames  or  in  temporarj'  shelters  prior  to  full 
exposure  and  final  planting. 

Potting  Zonal  Pelargoniums  Singly. — As 
the  plants  are  not  placed  in  the  flower  garden 
before  the  first  week  in  June  there  is  ample  time 
for  them  to  get  well  rooted  in  small  pots  before 
that  date,  and  specimens  so  treated  are  more  easily 


fairly  large  pots  the  latter  may  be  buried  in  the  soil 
without  turning  out  the  plants,  just  covering  the 
rims  with  soil ;  from  small  pots  the  Liliums 
may  be  planted  out  carefully. 

Calceolarias. — Frequently  many  of  these 
plants  die  soon  after  they  are  planted  in  the  flower 
garden.  I  have  found  the  cause  to  be,  mainly, 
too  late  planting  in  the  hot  weather  and  burying 
the  stems  too  deeply.  Where  it  is  convenient  the 
Calceolarias  should  be  planted  in  their  summer 
quarters  early  in  May.  George  Garner. 


A.\    IT.VLI.VN    OIL   JAR   RIGHTLY   PLACED. 

transplanted  and  thrive  better  than  those  planted 
direct  from  the  cutting  pots  or  boxes.  Of 
cousse,  cuttings  of  these  plants  rooted  in  spring 
may  be  taken  direct  from  the  cutting  pots  to  the 
flower  garden. 

Tuberous  Begonias  and  Liliums. — Where 
the  first  named  are  grown  in  large  numbers  they 
are  mostly  retained  in  boxes,  but  by  far  the  best 
plan  is  to  place  them  in  pots  and  to  re-pot  in  due 
course  if  they  are  in  small  pots  and  becoming  pot- 
bound.  Too  much  shading  should  be  avoided  at 
e\*ery  stage  or  else  the  leaves  will  be  scorched  when 
fully  exposed  to  the  sun.      If  the   Liliums  are  in 


DO     NOT    "DRAW"    THE 
CHRYSANTHEMUM 

Undue    "  coddling "     is     inimical. 

I  daresay  many  cultivators  have  noticed,  late 
in  the  summer-time,  plants  with  rather  thin  stems 
near  the  base  and  much 
thicker  higher  up.  This  is 
caused,  mainly,  through  pam- 
pering the  young  plants — - 
being  too  kind  to  them  in 
their  early  stages  of  growth, 
thus  unduly  drawing  up  the 
stems  under  glass  late  in 
spring. 

All  late-flowering  plants, 
propagated  before,  or  soon 
after,  Christmas,  have  to 
remain  under  glass  longer 
than  the  others,  so  extra  care 
should  be  taken  with  them. 
The  majority  of  such  plants 
are  stopped  late  in  March  or 
during  April,  and,  if  their 
stems  are  weakly  at  this 
stage,  the  shoots  following 
the  stopping  wiU  be  weakly, 
too,  and  time  is  much  too 
valuable  to  be  lost  in  this 
way. 

To  avoid  having  weakly 
plants  place  them  in  cold 
frames  as  soon  as  possible 
after  they  are  estabhshed  in 
the  small  pots.  Rather  than 
retain  the  plants  in  the 
warm  greenhouse  in  a  mild 
spring,  or  late  winter-time, 
I  transfer  them  to  the  cold 
frame  in  the  month  of 
February.  Place  the  pots  on 
a  bed  of  ashes  in  preference 
to  boards.  For  a  number  of 
years  I  sifted  the  ashes  and 
used  the  fine  ones  on  the 
top,  but  earth-worms  entered 
the  pots.  Now,  I  still  sift  the 
ashes,  but  place  the  coarser 
ones  on  the  top.  This  prevents 
the  worms  rising  high  enough 
to  gain  access  to  the  pots. 

Allow  ample  room  for 
the  plants  to  grow 
overcrowding  would  cause  weakly  growth  even 
in  a  cold  frame.  Close  the  glass  hghts  for  two 
days  or  so  after  placing  the  plants  in  the  frame, 
afterwards  ventilate  treely  except  in  bad  weather. 
Put  on  some  covering  material  at  night  if  there  is 
a  frosty  air. 

The  following  %-arieties  should  receive  special 
attention  in  this  way  :  A.  F.  Tofield,  Edith  Cavell, 
General  Petain,  Louisa  Pockett,  Mrs.  Algernon 
Davis,  Mrs.  G.  Drabble,  Mrs.  M.  Sargeant,  Mrs. 
R.  C.  Pulling,  Miss  A.  E.  Roope,  Peace,  Princess 
Mary,  Queen  Mary,  Shirley  Golden,  Victory  and 
W.  Rigby.  G. 


April  22,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


191 


THE    LO:b^DON     DAFFODIL    SHOW 


ACCORDING  to  the  R.H.S. 
arrangements  it  should  have 
been  Daffodil  Day  at  Vincent 
k  Square  on  April  ii,  but 
'  while  societies  may  propose, 
the  weather  certainly  disposes  in  such 
matters.  The     cold     winds      and 

general  backwardness  of  the  season 
made  it  one  of  the  smallest  Daffodil 
Shows  that  the  Society  has  held.  It 
was  only  the  earliest  and  most 
favoured  gardens  that  had  any  show 
blooms,  but  while  the  Daffodils  were 
relatively  few  in  number  and  mostly 
from  Cornwall,  and  Waterford,  Ireland, 
they  were  all  of  outstanding  merit. 
The  present-day  show  flower  possesses 
a  greatly  increased  substance  which 
makes  it  a  "  better  traveller  "  that 
lasts  much  longer  when  cut  than  is 
the  case  with  its  forbears,  and  also 
the  piuity  of  its  colours  is  also  greatly 
improved.  Such  flowers  were  to  be 
seen  in  sufficient  numbers  for  admira- 
tion, even  though  the  competitive 
exhibits  were  few. 

The  chief  prize-taker  was  Mr.  J.  L. 
Richardson  of  Waterford.  He  had  no 
competitor  in  Classes  i  and  2,  which 
are  for  thirty-six  and  eighteen  repre- 
sentative varieties,  and  he  was 
awarded  the  first  prizes  for  really 
good  collections.  He  showed  a  num- 
ber of  unnamed  seedlings,  and  also 
Sirdar,  Red  Lady  and  Victory  among 
the  named  sorts. 

In  the  new  seedling  classes  the 
Donard  Nursery  Company,  Newcastle, 
Co.  Down,  won  the  Engleheart  Chal- 
lenge Cup  with  twelve  varieties  not 
in  commerce,  and  the  silver-gilt  Flora  medal  with 
twelve  seedlings  introduced  since  1914.  One 
cannot  enthuse  over  the  cup  collection,  as,  although 
good  blooms,  they  were  imnamed,  but  the  othe 


THE   WELL    KNOWN    DAFFODIL    KING  ALFRED. 
One  of  the  best  Jor  massing. 


THE   NEW   NARCISSLS   "  SILVER   CHIMES."        (AWARD   OF   MERIT). 


exhibit  was  strong  in  the  Trumpet  section,  of 
which  Comely,  Gog  and  Magog  and  that  most 
useful  of  all  large  sorts.  King  Alfred,  were  very 
good. 

Non-competitive  exhibits  were  set  up  by  severa 
trade  growers.  In  spite  of  the  difficulties  of  the 
season,  Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons  had  a  wonderful 
display  for  which  they  were  awarded  a  gold  medal. 
The  exhibit  included  perfect  blooms  of  all  possible 
sections.  Such  large  Trumpet  varieties  as  Fantin 
Latour,  Mustapha  and  Latona  were  equal  to  any 
in  the  Show.  These  are,  of  coittse,  rather  high- 
priced  novelties,  but  there  were  plenty  of  all  types 
at  every-day  prices.  Ornament,  a  glorious  Barrii 
variety,  is  one  of  these,  and  so  are  Jaune  4  Merveille 
and  Rembrandt,  two  useful  Poetaz  sorts. 

Double  Daffodils  were  in  every  collection, 
and  Barr's  had  splendid  blooms  of  Prinurose 
Ph(]enix,  which  is,  perhaps,  the  best  of  them  all. 
Irene  Copeland,  a  large,  shapely  flower  of  paper 
white  and  primrose  colour,  and  Copeland's  Seedling 
were  in  the  Donard  Nurser>'  group.  The  most 
distinct  of  the  new  doubles  was  Mrs.  E.  Martin, 
shown  by  Mr.  J.  C.  Martin.  This  is  said  to  be  a 
cross  between  Gerrard's  old  Lent  Lily  and  a 
Poeticus  variety.  It  is  somewhat  like  a  thinly 
arranged  Gardenia  Daffodil  enclosing  short  salmon 
petals.  Gullrock  on  the  same  stand  is  a  pale 
lemon  and  primrose  double. 

Phantasy  (a  pale  cream  Trumpet),  Empire 
(a  giant  Leedsii)  and  Brilliancy  (an  Incomparabilis 
with  a  vivid  corona)  were  very  prominent  in  an 
exhibit  by  Messrs.  Cartwright  and  Goodwin. 
Torch  and  Carnival  are  two  others  of  brilUant 
coronas  which  were  to  be  seen  in  several  exhibits. 
Messrs.  F.  H.  Chapman,  Limited,  had  some  choice 


seedlings,  but  these,  like  Mr.  Engle- 
heart's  giant  Maximus  varieties,  were 
shown  under  seedling  numbers.  The 
decorative  value  of  various  Daffodils 
was  illustrated  by  the  Anglesey  Bulb 
Growers'  Association,  who  massed 
various  sorts  in  brown  wicker-covered 
jars  and  vases. 

Of  the  general  exhibits  the  greatest 
interest  seemed  to  be  centred  in 
Sutton's  coloured  Freesias.  Not  only 
were  these  in  many  new  shades  of 
colour,  but  were  exceptionally  fragrant 
for  the  type.  Generally  these  new 
Freesias  fail  in  this  respect,  but  if 
grown  in  the  cool  greenhouse  many  are 
quite  pleasantly  perfumed.  Mouette 
is  perhaps,  the  best  of  all  in  this 
respect.  For  uncommon  colouring 
the  rose  pink  edged  and  yellow  flushed 
La  Charmante  was  most  fascinating. 
Apogee  is  of  perfect  form,  and  the 
deep  Golden  Canary  is  also  delightful. 
Pleasing  fragrance  was  also  present 
in  the  large  batch  of  Iris  pumila 
formosa  shown  by  Messrs.  G.  G. 
Whitelegg  and  Co.  These  plants, 
although  quite  hardy,  might  also  be 
grown  in  pots  in  the  cool  greenhouse 
for  early  spring  display. 

Late-keeping  Apples,  so  good  as  to 
win  a  silver  Hogg  medal,  were  shown 
by  Messrs.  G.  Bunyard  and  Co.  The 
best  of  the  many  sorts  were  Mother, 
Easter  Orange,  Allen's  Everlasting, 
Mannington  Pearmain,  Cabalva  and 
Heusgen's    Golden    Reinette. 

The  Narcissus  Committee  also 
concerns  itself  with  Tulips,  and, 
although  there  were  no  awards 
given  to  novelties,  there  were  several  collections 
of  exceptional  interest.  For  some  little  time  past 
Messrs.  R.  H.  Bath,  Limited,  have  shown  how- 
well  Darwin  Tulips  can  be  grow-n  in  pots  and  little 


NARCISSUS   ORNAMENT. 
Soft  primrose  and  fiery  scarlet. 


192 


THE     GARDEN. 


[April  22,  1922. 


jardiniere  of  fibre,  and  on  the  present  occasion 
they  really  surpassed  themselves.  The  flowers 
were  all  of  "  first  size,"  perfect  in  colour  and 
borne  on  exceptionally  long,  stout  stems.  Forced 
Darwins,  especially  earlier  in  the  season,  have  a 
tantalising  habit  of  coming  rather  weak  in  the 
stem,  so  that  the  flowers  nod  unduly  and  so  lose 
most  of  their  charm ;  but  there  was  not  the 
slightest  suspicion  of  this  with  Messrs.  Bath's 
collection,  nor  with  tiie  decorative  group  by  Messrs 
Carter  and  Co. 

Of  the  great  variety  of  Darwin  Tulips  it  was 
perhaps  the  vivid,  glowing  colour  of  Petrus 
Hondius  that  most  held  the  eye  and  compelled 
admiration,  although  the  soft  pink  colour  of 
Clara  Butt,  which  is  lightly  tinged  with  salmon, 
also  had  many  admirers.  King  Harold,  rich 
dark  blood  red  ;  Baronne  de  la  Tonnaye,  bright 
rose  with  silvery  edging ;  Bartignon,  carmine 
crimson ;  Euterpe,  brilliant  clear  lilac ;  and 
White   Queen  are   also  admirable  sorts. 

The  dwarfer,  sturdier  Dutch  Tulips  were  shown 
by  Messrs.  R.  and  G.  Cuthbert.  who  had  splendid 
blooms 

At  one  time  the  National  Rose  Society  had 
intended  holding  their  Spring  Rose  Show  on  the 
present  occasion,  but  for  various,  and  no  doubt 
good,  reasons  decided  to  postpone  it  for  ten  days 
or  so  and  go  to  the  London  Scottish  Drill  Hall. 
Judging  from  the  several  exhibits  of  forced  Roses 
at  the  R.H.S.  Hall,  it  is  a  splendid  season  for 
forced  blooms,  and  besides  the  quantities  of  the 
new  Souvenir  de  Claudius  Pernet,  Mr.  Walter 
Easlea  had  lovely  blooms  of  Columbia  and  Premier, 
among  many  others.  Mr.  George  Prince  again 
showed  graceful  sprays  of  the  Yellow  Banksian  ; 
but  these  were  quite  overshadowed  by  the 
brilliance  of  Padre,  which  is  one  of  the  new  Roses 
of  last  year.  Among  the  many  sorts  so  finely  set 
up   by  Mr.   Elisha   J.    Hicks    there    were   several 


NARCISSUS    JAUNE    A    MERVEILLE 


fine     vases     of     the     fragrant 
soft  pink  Mrs.  Elisha  Hicks. 

Sometimes  one  is  almost 
inclined  to  think  there  should 
be  a  short  close  season  for  the 
greenhouse  Carnations,  but  it 
would  be  a  difficult  matter  to 
say  when  that  interim  should 
be.  All  through  the  winter 
these  Carnations  are  indis- 
pensable, and  now  that  other 
flowers  are  becoming  more 
plentiful,  such  magnificent  Car- 
nations as  those  shown  by 
Messrs.  Allwood  Brothers,  Mr. 
C.  Englemann,  Messrs.  K. 
Luxford  and  Co,  and  Messrs. 
Stuart  Low  and  Co.  forbid  any 
suggestion  that  the  present 
should  be  a  close  season.  When 
it  was  first  shown  some  had 
their  doubts  as  to  the  lasting 
qualities  of  the  glorious  scarlet 
Edward  Allwood,  but  it  has 
proved  almost  equal  io  this 
respect  to  the  beautiful  pink 
Lady  Northcliffe,  which  is 
well  known  as  one  which  out- 
lasts all  others  when  cut. 

NEW  AND  RARE  PLANTS. 
Narcissus  Golden  Pedestal. 

■ — .A.  goldt.-u     yL-Uow  companion 

to  White  Pedestal.     It  may  be- 

termed  a   glorified  Sir  Watkin, 

possessing  perfect  form,  plenty 

of     substance    and     a     deeper 

coloured     corona.       A      really 

beautiful   flower   which    should 

have  a  great  future.     Award  of 

merit  to  Mr.  J.  L.  Richardson. 
Narcissus  Magog. — An  im- 
mense Trumpet  even  larger 
than  King  Alfred,  which  it 
closeJy  resembles.  The  only 
other  difference  appeared  to 
be  not  so  rich  a  golden  colour 
and  a  rather  more  open  tube. 
But  it  is  a  very  showy  flower. 
Award  of  merit  to  the  Donard 
Nursery  Company. 

Narcissus  Silver  Chimes. — 
This  is  an  exceptional!)' beauti- 
ful Tazetta-Triandrus  Daffo- 
dil. It  produces  a  beautifully 
clean  stem  bearing  five  or  si.x 
dainty  blooms.  The  perianth 
is  white  and  the  long  cup  is 
primrose  coloured.  It  should 
be  a  valuable  sort  for  garden 
display  as  well  as  for  exhibi- 
tion. Award  of  merit  to  Mr. 
J.    C.  Martin. 

Narcissus   White    Nile.— A 

rnediura-sized  Trumpet  Daffodil 
of  refined  appearance.  The 
perianth  is  white  and  the  long 
tnunpct,  which  is  prettily 
frilled,  is  lemon  yellow  hi 
colour.  Award  of  merit  to 
Messrs.  F.  H.  Chapman, 
Limited. 

Freesia  Mouette. —  One  of 

the  many  beautiful  coloured 
F'reesias  in  the  Reading  exhibit 
and  quite  the  most  fragrant  of 
them  all.  It  is  a  good  spike  of 
large,  widely  expanded  blooms 
delicately  flushed  on  cream 
ground  with  lilac  and  brightened 


NARCIfSUS    GOLDEN    PEDESTAL    (AWARD    OF    MERIT). 


by  a  little  orange  colour  on  the  lower  petal.  Shown 
by  Messrs.  Sutton  and  Sons. 

Rose  Souvenir  Claudius  Pernet.— A  large 
vase  of  this  handsome  Pernettiana  variety  was 
shown.  Even  when  forced  it  has  long,  stout 
steins  and  dark  green  foliage.  The  blooms  are 
of  good  shape  until  just  after  full  bloom,  when 
they  spread  rather  much.  The  centres  are  of 
deep  yellow  colour  and  the  outer  petals  are  bleached 
somewhat  in  the  Sunburst  manner.  It  seems  a 
splendid  Rose  for  forcing.  Award  of  merit  to 
Mr.   W.   Easlea. 

Bougainvillea  Mrs.  Butt. — This  most  brilliantly 
beautiful  Bougainvillea  has  long  been  grown  in 
Jamaica  and  other  West  Indian  Islands,  but  is 
quite  new  to  English  gardeners.  A  small  plant 
was  shown,  but  it  apparently  had  been  subjected 
to  a  rather  too  high  a  temperature,  as  the  flowers 
wilted  quickly.  But  it  can  be  grown  as  readily 
in  a  warm  greenhouse  as  the  well  kno%vn  B.  glabra, 
when  the  flowers  lart  quite  well.  The  colour  is 
rather  variable,  but  may  be  described  as  being 
reddish  crimson.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs. 
Stuart  Low  and  Co. 

Cymbidium    Castor    var.    Glaytoniensis. — -A 

handsome,  robust,  arched  spike  bearing  a  large 
number  of  well  formed  blooms.  The  sepals  and 
petals  are  of  old  ivory  colour  flushed  and  lined 
with  rose,  and  there  are  rosy  carmine  lines  on  the 
lip.      Awaid  of  merit  to  the  Rev.  J.  Crombleholme. 

Odontoglossum  eximium  Mabel.— .\  well 
marked  flower  of  good  substance.  It  is  of  velvety 
chocolate  maroon  colour  with  definite  white 
margins,     .\wartl  of  merit  to  Pantia  Ralli,  Esq. 

Oncidioda  Stuart  Low. — This  strikingly  beauti- 
ful Orchid  has  long  trails  of  almost  butterfly-like 
flowers  of  reddish  maroon  colour  occasionally 
flushed  with  orange.  The  ciurious  projectmg  lip 
is  tipped  with  golden  yellow.  Award  of  merit  to 
Messrs.  Stuart  Low  and  Co. 


April  22,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


193 


CORRESPONDENCE 


ROTATION     OF     CROPS. 

TT  is   the  general  opinion  that  crops  always  do 

better  with  a  change  of  soil  and  the  land  will 

be  cleaner  and  healthier  for  it.     A  good  gardener 

\vill  work  and   cultivate  his  land  in  a   thorough 

manner,  using  large  quantities  of  organic  manure, 

and  invariably  plant  it  with  any  seasonable  crop 

that  he  has  handy.     In  doing   this  he  may  not 

adhere  to  the  rotation  system,  though  the  results 

prove     satisfactory.     Many     reasons     are     given 

why  crops  should  be  grown  in  rotation.     At  one 

time  botanists   thought   that   the  roots  of  plants 

gave  off  some  kind  of  excrement  which  poisoned 

the  soil  and  made  it  unfit  for  the  same  kind  of 

crop    again.     Another   plausible    explanation   was 

that  by  continually  growing  the  same  crop  on  the 

land  it  became  impoverished  and  unable  to  produce 

a  good  or  paying  crop.     Practice  has  proved  that 

all    the   ingredients    which    form    the    plant    food 

can   be    replaced    without    any    appreciable    loss. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  plant  food  is  taken 

up   by   the   roots  in   the   form  of  nitrates ;     also 

plants  require  nitrate,  potash  and  phosphates  to 

bring  them  to  perfection.     One  of  the  best  reasons 

for  rotation  is  the  prevention  of  indigenous  diseases. 

It   is    quite   common    to    hear   the   remark   "  My 

Cabbages  always  club  on  that  patch  of  garden," 

although   the  remedy  is  easy.     Supposing  a  crop 

of  Cabbages  is  attacked  by  the  club  (Plasmodio- 

phora   brassicae),    the   spores   will   remain   in    the 

ground  in  a  resting  or  dormant  state.     Cabbages 

are    planted    on    the    ground,     .-^fter    the    resting 

stage    the    spore    bursts    and    releases    the    sUmv 

fungus,  which  is  distributed  by  the  first  downfall 

of  rain.     In  this  way  it  comes  into  contact  with 

the  young  rootlets  of  the  Cabbage  plants,  which 

absorb    the    fungus,    and    the    plants    are    again 

attacked  with  club  to  the  disgust  of  the  grower. 

A  crop  of   Peas,   Beans  or  Potatoes  would  have 

prevented   this.     The   same   thing   applies   to   the 

Potato  crops  and  the  Potato  disease. — R.  D. 

A    LITTLE    KNOMTSI   ROCK    PLANT. 

^  PRETTY  mass  of  Draba  Athoa  was  a  con- 
spicuous though  modest  feature  in  the  rock 
garden  of  the  Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Edinburgh, 
in  the  first  week  of  .\pril.  It  is  not  much  culti- 
vated in  gardens,  and  is  comparatively  Uttle  known. 
A  sheet  of  it  in  the  rock  garden  was  quite  bright 
with  its  numerous  clusters  of  flowers  just  a  httle 
above  the  cushions  of  spiny  fohage,  the  whole 
creating  a  bright  impression  with  the  golden 
yeUow  of  the  flowers  standing  out  well  against  the 
dark  rocks  of  the  garden.  It  belongs  to  the  section 
called  Aizopsis,  which  comprises  a  number  of 
Drabas,  almost  entirely  with  yellow  flowers, 
and  forming  cushions  rather  than  carpets,  and 
with  the  leaves  edged  with  spiny  teeth  or  bristles. 
It  comes  from  Greece,  where  it  is  limited  to  the 
tops  of  several  mountains.  It  has  broader  foliage 
than  some  of  the  plants  of  the  same  section,  and 
has  good-sized  flowers  with  conspicuous  anthers. 
It  does  not  seem  difficult  to  cultivate  and  looked 
thoroughly  happy  at  Edinburgh. — S.  Arnott. 

ALPINE    PLANTS    IN    PIG    TROUGHS. 

^  VISIT  to  the  garden  of  Mrs.  Saunders,  sen., 
of  Wennington,  near  Lancaster,  revealed  to 
me  many  of  these  plants  growing  with  wonderful 
vigour  in  small  sandstone  pig  troughs,  especially 
several  of  the  Primulas,  as  helvetica  alba, 
pubescens  and  others.  Daphne  rupestris,  a 
grafted  plant,  but  only  a  httle  smaller  than  the 
one  so  often  shown  by  the  late  Mr.  Farrer,  was  in 
good  condition.  Saxifraga  Irvingii,  some  six 
or  eight  clumps  (in  one  trough),  each  at  least 
sins,  across,  in  full  bloom,  was  very  fine ;   but  the 


plants  that  I  admired  the  most  were  two  large 
clumps  of  the  rare  Saxifraga  Boydii,  true,  both  in 
full  bloom — "  A  sight  for  the  Gods."  I  have  not 
seen  during  my  forty  years  of  growing  alpines 
such  fine  healthy  plants  and  so  freely  flowering. 
Mrs.  Saunders  also  had  S.  oppositifoha  ven.-  fine, 
as  also  the  white  form.  This  latter  struck  me  as 
being  a  clearer  white  and  with  larger  flowers 
than  usual.  These  were  grown  on  the  borders 
and  were  collected  by  Mrs.  Saunders. — T.  O.  W. 

A    RARE    PRIMULA. 

T    AM  sending  a  photograph  of  Primula  Fortunei. 

which,   I   understand,   is    a    very  rare   plant. 

It  is   a  Chmese  species  and  somewhat  resembles 

P.  farinosa.     The  rosy-lilac  flowers  are  borne  on 


A   CHOICE  CHINESE   PRIMULA. 

farina-covered  stems,  thus  giving  this  plant  an 
extremely  graceful  appearance.  Unfortunately, 
P.  Fortunei  is  not  quite  hardy,  and  during  cold 
weather  is  best  given  some  protection.  If  grown 
in  a  pot  or  pan  it  makes  an  excellent  plant  for  the 
alpine  house.  I  cannot  find  this  desirable  plant 
listed  in  any  catalogue  that  is  in  my  possession,  and 
I  should  very  much  Uke  to  know  if  anyone  has  a 
stock  of  it.  It  would  be  a  great  pity  if  this 
beautiful  Primula  became  extinct. — C.  H. 

A    SELECTION    OF   SHRUBS. 

^NSWERING  "  H.  E."  in  your  issue  of  .\pril  8 
(page  167).  I  have  endeavoured  to  get 
together  a  short  hst  of  shrubs,  most  of  which  I 
have  both  seen  and  tried  on  a  chalk  soil.  It  is 
not  an  easy  matter  to  give  a  selection  of  the  best 
shrubs  for  a  chalk  soil  without  knowing  the 
locahty   and   exposure   of   the   garden   for   which 


"  H.  E."  seeks  advice.  Many  of  the  rarer  and 
more  interesting  shrubs  require  the  shelter  of 
semi-woodland,  or  at  any  rate  some  "  line  of 
defence  "  from  cold  northerly  and  easterly  winds, 
otherwise  the  soil  indicated,  "  namely,  chalk 
under  a  good  deep  soil,"  would  grow  almost 
anything  that  does  not  belong  to  the  Rhododen- 
dron, Azalea  and  other  hme-hating  families. 
"  H.  E."  asks  for  four  or  five  dozen  of  the  leading 
species.  I  am  wondering  if  he  only  intends  to 
plant  one  variety  of  each  species,  and,  if  so,  would 
beg  of  him  to  reconsider  this,  in  that  far  better 
effects  are  obtained  by  grouping  several  plants 
of  one  variety  together.  Such  groups  may  vary 
in  size  from  three  or  five  to  a  dozen  or  more 
plants,  and  each  group  should  be  isolated  from 
its  neighbour  by  an  under  planting  of  some 
dwarfer  shrub. 

The   best   evergreens    that   are   not   considered 
flowering   shrubs    would   be    Phillyra;a,    of   which 
the  species   P.  Vilmoriniana,    P.  angustifolia  and 
P.  latifolia  are  perhaps  the  best.     HoUy.  of  which 
nothing    is    better    than    the    conmion    hedgerow 
form.     Juniperus:    J.  communis  and  the  Spanish 
Savin,    J.    tamariscifolia,    also    J.    tripartita    and 
others.     Eteagnus :    Vars.     glabra,      macrophylla 
and   pungens.     Laurus   nobilis    (Sweet    Bay)    and 
Box,  with  Castanopsis  chrysophylla.     A  generous 
grouping  of  all  or  any  of  these   would  give  the 
necessary    background    and   shelter    and   help    to 
modify    the    otherwise    bare    effect    that    many 
deciduous    shrubs    give    in    the    winter    months. 
One    might    add    the    Golden    Yew,    Retinospora 
squarrosa     and    Cryptomeria    elegans    for    winter 
colour,     and     the     double-flowering     Gorse.     For 
flowering  shrubs  I  will  begin  the  year  with  Chimo- 
nanthus  fragrans,  the  Japanese  Allspice  ;    Berberis 
Bealei,  the   winter-flowering  variety  of  which  is, 
I   beheve,   now   catalogued   as   Berberis   japonica 
hyemalis ;     Berberis    intenuedia,    similar    to    the 
foregoing  but  having   rather  larger  darker   green 
leaves  and  flowering  a  little  later ;    .\zara  micro- 
phylla,  with  small  dark  evergreen  leaves  of  vanilla 
scented     but     otherwise     inconspicuous     flowers. 
I  also  like  Ruscus  aculeatus,  the  Butcher's  Broom, 
for  a  shady  place  under  trees.     It  can  be  found 
growing  wild  both   on  clay  and  chalk.     Daphne 
Laureola,   or  Spurge   Laurel,   being   dwarf,    is   an 
in^'aluable  shrub  for  underplanting  either  in  sun 
or  shade,  and  is  especially  iine  in  winter  with  a 
further    underplanting    of    Snowdrops.        It    can 
often  be  found  growing  wild,  but  as  it  does  not 
transplant  very  well  small  plants  only  should  bs 
used.     It   would  probably  grow   quite  well  from 
seed  after  a  year  or  possibly  two   year's  germi- 
nation.    Daphne    Dauphini    can    also   be    recom- 
mended.    Daphne     Mezereum.     both     the     white 
and  pink  varieties,  thrive  well  on  chalk,  and  will 
often  seed  themselves,  to  which  the  same  remarks- 
apply    as    the    foregoing.     Established   specimens 
should  on  no  account  be  pruned  or  cut  to  any 
great     extent.     I     can     thoroughly     recommend 
large  groups  of  this  Daphne,  which  gives  flowers 
in  February  and  March,  and  berries  later  in   the 
year.     The    pink    Daphne    Mezereum    associates 
well    with    an    underplanting    of    purple    Crocus. 
I  here  mention  a  new  shrub  that  was.   I  think, 
introduced  by  Messrs.  Smith  of  Newry,  known  as 
Prunus   subhirtella  var.   autumnalis.     The   words 
"  price  on  apphcation  "  in  Mr.  Smith's  catalogue 
need   no    further   explanation.     It   is   a   valuable 
shrub,    however,    blooming    from    November    to 
May.     Paul's     new     purple-leaved      Peach      and 
Berberis     \'nlgaris     fol.     purpureis     macrophylla 
come   to   mind   as   giving  good   purple   colour   in 
their     leafage.        Comus     Mas,      the     Cornelian 
Cherry,    and    Forsythia    suspensa,    together    with 
F.   intermedia   spectabilis   and   viridissima,    bring 
the  genera  of  shrubs    already  mentioned  up   to 
twenty.     Here  I  name  Choisya  temata  or  Mexican 


194 

Orange  Flower,  and  Osmanthus  Delavayi.     Among 
April-flowering   shrubs   there    are   so   many    it   is 
■difficult  to  make  an  eclc;tic  selection,  but  I  think 
there  are  few  that  can  beat  the  varieties  of  Pyrus 
japonica,     of    which     cathayensis    and    Sargenti 
are   comparatively   new   and   little  known,    while 
the    old   cottage   japonica  is  very  hard  to  beat, 
because  few  rare  and  expensive  so-called  novelties 
are  superior  in  sheer  beauty  of  flower  to  this  homely 
■wayside  shrub.     Personally,  I  have  great  affection 
for    the    April-flowering   double    Kerria    japonica, 
another   old-fashioned   garden   shrub   rarely   seen 
now   except   in   old   and   neglected   gardens,    and 
the   same   may   be   said   of   Leycesteria   formosa. 
The  former  is  especially  fine  when  trained  to  grow 
over  a  short  pergola  arch  or  clambering  over  a 
summer-house.     Its  green  stems  give  quite  good 
winter  colour  ;    while  Halesia  tetraptera  is  a  good 
April  and  May  flowering  shrub.    Messrs.  V.  Lemoine 
of  Nancy  have  a  very  fine  new  pink  Lilac  which 
is    named    Syringa    Sweginzowii    superba    (A.M., 
R.H.S.).     For  May  nothing  can  beat  the   Phila- 
delphus   or   popularly   known   Syringa,    of   which 
the  best  varieties  are  purpurea  maculatus.  Virginal 
Fantaisie,  Voie  Lactee  and  Mont  Blanc.     Among 
species    of     Philadelphus,   Yokohamus     (Satsumi) 
is   perhaps   the  best.     For  June   Halesia   hispida 
and  Styrax  obassia.     Magnolias  conspicua  (Yulan) 
and    its    variety    speciosa,    M.    Soulangeana,    M. 
stellata    and    M.    parviflora,    Buddleias,    Lonicera 
syringantha,    Exochorda  Giraldii,  Diosp^nros  Kaki 
(Persimmon), Deutziamagnifica,  Cercis Siliquastrum 
or    Judas    Tree,    Fuchsias    (glabosa,    Riccartonii, 
gracilis  and  macrostemma).   Hibiscus  in  varieties 
(Bleu    Cele.ite    and   alba),    Cistus   crispus   Sunset, 
Cistus   purpureus   and    Helianthemums,    many   of 
the     Cornus     tribe,     particuarly     C.     Kousa      or 
Benthamia    japonica.    Viburnum    Opulus    sterile. 
Viburnum  plicatum  (very  fme  in  June  and  again 
for  autumn  colour),  Crataegus  Crus-galli  (splendens), 
Hydrangeas,    Cotoneasters    in    variety.    Ericas    in 
vciriety,    Chionanthus    (the  Fringe  Tree),  ^sculus 
parivflora  (late  July),  Ceanothus   azureus,  Cerato- 
stigma   Willmottiana   (Miss  VViUmott's  Plumbago) 
for    July,    August    and    September ;     Caryopteris 
Mastacanthus      (July      and      August),      Pahurus 
aculeatus,   Ruscus  racemosus,   Berberis  in  variety 
and    the    lovely    autumn    colouring    of    Parrotia 
persica,     Vinca     difformis,     Veronica     parviflora 
hyemalis,      Hamamelis     mollis,      Rosemary     and 
Lavender   must   end   a   somewhat   disjointed   list 
of      shrubs     that     have     come     to      mind     as 
being    among  some   of  the  best.       I  would    like 
to  mention  the  old  fashioned   Lycium   europseum 
(syn.   European     Box    Thorn)    as    growing    well 
on   chalk. — Edward  Shoosmith. 

A    PRETT\'    ANNUAL    FOLIAGE    PLANT. 

A  SOMEWHAT  unusual  annual  not  generally 
grown  is  Kochia  trichophylla,  commonly 
known  as  the  Summer  Cypress  owing  to  its  re- 
semblance to  a  tiny  Cupressus.  This  beautiful 
ornamental  annual  should  be  sown  in  prominent 
positions  either  in  beds  or  borders.  The  plants 
attain  a  height  of  2ft.  to  2jft.,  and  are  a  pleasing 
light  green  in  colour.  But  the  great  charm 
of  this  plant  is  revealed  when,  in  autumn,  it 
matures.  It  then  turns  a  brilliant  crimson.  When 
the  colouring  takes  place  the  plant  is  really  dying, 
but  fortunately  dies  slowly !  The  Kochia  is 
exceedingly  useful  as  a  dot  plant  and  is  also 
adaptable  to  pot  culture.  The  plants  are  egg- 
shaped  or  columnar.  It  is  a  relative  of  Kochia 
scoparia,  which  is  a  terrible  weed  in  some  gardens. 
If  grown  in  pots  it  makes  an  excellent  plant  for 
the  dweUing-house,  especially  if  placed  in  a  pro- 
minent position  in  the  hall  or  on  balconies.  Seed 
may  l>e  sown  now  where  the  plants  are  to  flower, 
but  drastic  thinning  must  be  resorted  to  when  the 
seedlings  appear. — L.  H. 


THE     GARDEN. 


[April  22,  1922. 


GARDENING    OF    THE    WEEK 


FOR     SOUTHERN     GARDENS. 

The  Kitchen  Garden. 
Peas. — \Vliere  a  regular  supply  of  these  must 
be  maintained  to  well  into  the  autumn  a  sowing 
should  be  made  every  fortnight  or  three  weeks, 
according  to  the  tupplv  lequired.  In  some 
di'tiicts  it  will  not  be  of  much  use  to  sow  latei 
than  the  latter  part  of  June,  but  in  favourable 
localities  and  where  the  soil  is  warm  and  well 
drained  it  is  possible  to  sow  right  up  to  the  end 
of  July  or  even  during  the  early  days  of 
August.  For  these  later  sowings  the  spot  should 
be  carefully  selected  and  a  quickly  maturing 
variety  should  be  sown  for  preference.  In  making 
sowings  for  the  next  few  weeks  which  will  furnish 
the  main  supplv  it  will  be  advisable  on  li,ght  soils 
to  sow  in  a  shallow  trench,  thus  affording  the  roots 
some  shelter  from  hot  sun  and  also  providing  a 
receptacle  for  possible  rains  and  mulchings.  It 
is  important  that  the  eaily  sown  Peas  are  staked 
as  soon  as  it  becomes  necessary. 

Beetroot. — From  the  present  date  until  mid- 
Mav,  according  to  soil  and  climatic  conditions, 
affords  the  best  time  for  making  the  main  sowmg. 
Although  appreciatmg  a  fairly  rich  and  well 
worked  soil,  the  practice  of  manurmg  especially 
for  this  crop  is  not  to  be  recommended  Sow  if 
possible  on  a  piece  of  land  which  was  thoroughly 
manured  for  a  previous  crop.  Where  borders 
4ft.  or  5ft.  wide  skirt  the  pathways  in  kitchen 
gardens,  and  the  use  of  such  for  herbaceous  plants 
has  ceased,  the  Beetroot  is  a  very  suitable 
substitute  in  such  places,  because,  unlike  many 
other  vegetables,  it  never  looks  unsightly.  The 
general  practice  is  to  sow  in  drills  which 
should  be  dra-wn  ift.  to  i5iDS.  apart,  but  the  seed 
may  be  sown  in  holes,  at  a  distance  of  6ins.  or 
qins.,  placing  three  or  four  seeds  in  a  hole,  after- 
wards thinning  out  to  one  good  plant.  A  Globe 
variety  is  to  be  recommended  on  all  stiff  soils. 

General  Work.^Continue  to  clean  and  trench 
the  ground  as  opportunity  offers  when  winter 
and  sprmg  green  stuff  is  cleared  away.  Potato 
planting  should  be  finished  now  as  soon  as  it  can 
be  managed,  allowing  plenty  of  space  between 
the  rows  of  late  varieties,  for  tall  strong-giowing 
kind;  3ft.  to  -ift.  is  to  be  recommended. 
Supplement  previous  sowings  of  Broad  Beans 
choosing  for  the  sowing  cool  as  well  as  rich  ground. 
When  the  soil  is  drv  and  in  good  working  condition 
keep  the  hoe  weU  plied  between  growmg  crops, 
thus  keeping  weeds  m  check  and  aerating  the 
soil  simultaneously.  The  value  of  the  hoe  m 
these  directions  cannot  be  over-estimated. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Pentstemons. — The  planting  of  these  should 
be  completed  without  delay  so  that  the  plants 
may  get  well  established  before  the  hot  weather 
sets  in.  The  best  effect  is  obtained  when  -whole 
beds  or  borders  are  given  up  to  them  and  the 
massing  of  the  plants  "is  carried  out  in  a  properly 
thought  out  colour  arrangement.  They  will 
repay  a  sood  soil  prepared  for  them,  and  at  a  later 
date,  wh'en  the  spikes  are  developing,  a  mulch  of 
well  rotted  manuie  and  leaf-soil  should  be  given 
in  equal  amounts. 

Stocks. — The  haidiness  of  the  East  Lothian 
Stock  makes  this  valuable  strain  almost  indispens- 
able where  this  family  of  plants  is  appreciated. 
Late  autumn  sown  or  those  raised  early  this  year 
should  now  be  placed  in  their  flowering  positions, 
being  careful  not  to  damage  the  roots,  as  Stocks 
frequently  resent  removal.  This  Stock  makes 
an  excellent  groundwork  for  such  plants  as  tall 
Gladioli,  some  of  the  Liliums  and  standard 
Heliotropes,  accordmg  to  colour. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Mulching. — On  light  soils  this  is  a  most  important 
operation,  and  may  almost  be  termed  a  necessity 
to  newly  planted  trees  against  walls  and  buildings 
if  the  required  amount  of  moisture  is  to  be  pre- 
served for  the  loots  during  the  hot  weather. 
Trees  in  the  open  do  not,  of  course,  suffer  nearly 
to  the  same  extent,  but  where  the  material  may 
be  had  a  mulching  is  undoubtedly  helpfiU  on 
light,  porous  soils.  Failing  a  sufficiency  of  decayed 
manure,  a  most  suitable  one  may  be  made  by 
adding  some  decaying  leaves  and  lawn  mowings 
to  as  much  of  the  former  as  is  available.  Trees 
carrying  stone  fruits  probably  show  ill- effects 
from  lack  of  moisture  the  most,  so  should  receive 
attention  first. 

H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 
Albury^Park  Gardens,  Guildford. 


FOR  NORTHERN  GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 
Early  Cauliflowers.— Plants  raised  undet  glass 
should  now  be  sufficiently  hardened  o.ff  for  planting 
in  the  open.  Plant  on  a  warm  part  of  the  early 
border  which  has  been  deeply  du.g  and  thoroughly 
eniiched  during  the  autumn  or  winter  months. 
Fork  over  and  plant  in  rows  i8ins.  apart.  For 
dwarf-giowing  sorts,  such  as  Dean's  Snowball, 
I  ft.  apart  in  the  row  is  enough.  Dust  round  the 
plants  with  soot  or  lime  to  protect  from  slugs. 

Early  Sowings  of  Beet.— A  sowing  of  Egyptian 
Turnip- rooted  or  Sutton's  Globe  Beet  may  now 
be  risked.  Choose  a  part  of  the  garden  that 
has  not  been  subjected  to  recent  manuring.  Beet 
may  readily  follow  Brassicas  or  Peas  as  a  rotation, 
and  give  excellent  results.  Sow  thinly  in  drills 
ijins.  apart  and  thin  out  the  young  plants  to 
gins,   apart  in  the  row. 

Vegetable  Marrows. — Sow  seed  for  the  main 
crop  in  small  pots  and  germinate  in  a  warm  green- 
house. As  soon  as  the  young  plants  develop 
theii  rough  leaves  they  should  be  potted  on  into 
6in.  pots  and  grown  on  in  a  genial  temperature, 
gradually  hardening  off  for  planting  out  at  the 
end  of  May.  Even  at  that  date  they  must  be 
sheltered  at  nights,  as  young  Marrow  plants  are 
readily  susceptible  to  the  least  touch  of  late 
frost  or  the  influence  of  biting  winds.  Rotherside 
Orange  has  proved  a  fine  variety,  the  fruit  being 
of  convenient  size  and  of  excellent  flavour. 

Lettuce. — Plants  that  have  been  raised  under 
glass  may  now  be  safely  transferred  to  quarters 
in  the  open.  Make  fortnightly  sowings  of  Cos 
and  Cabbage  vaiieties. 

Tomatoes. — The  earliest  batch  in  pots  wiU 
now  be  requiring  some  assistance  in  the  way  of 
feeding,  as  the  genial  influence  of  sun-heat  assists 
rapid  development  of  the  fruit.  Where  several 
trusses  are  well  set  occasional  waterings  with 
liquid  manure  may  be  given.  Attend  to  the  tying 
of  successional  lots  and  remove  all  lateral  growths 
as  they  appear. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 
The  Orchard  House. — Where  a  good  set  of 
Peaches  and  Plums  has  been  obtained  on  pot 
plants  the  syringe  should  now  be  used  freely  so 
that  red  spider  and  aphis  may  be  kept  in  check. 
Discretion  must  be  used  when  disbudding,  retain- 
ing ample  growths  for  next  season's  fruiting. 
When  the  fruits  begin  to  swell  a  little  stimulant 
may  be  afforded.  VentUate  freely  during  fine 
weather. 

The  Shrubbery. 
Transplanting  Evergreens. — This  period  is 
favoured  by  many  for  the  planting  of  evergreen 
shrubs,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  if  the  work 
is  carried  through  ui  suitable  weather  the  plants 
make  a  q-jick  recovery  at  this  time.  In  moving 
specimens  have  the  site  prepared  and  do  not 
expose  the  ball  unnecessarily  to  the  weather,  as 
drying  winds  shrivel  the  fibrous  roots.  Should 
dry  weather  prevail  give  the  plants  a  thorough 
soaking  of  water  to  settle  the  soil  about  the  roots. 
HoUies  may  be  moved  with  safety  from  now  till 
the  first  week  in  May. 

Forsythia  Fortunel. — ^This  variety  with  us 
is  the  earliest  flowermg  of  all  the  Forsythias, 
having  now  been  in  bloom  for  several  weeks. 
It  should  be  pruned  immediately  it  is  past  flower- 
ing so  that  plenty  of  yomig  wood  may  be  pro- 
duced for  next  season's  display.  Where  it  is 
trained  to  a  wall  or  fence  do  not  tie  in  too  closely. 
Make  firm  the  main  branches,  but  leave  the  light, 
pendulous  shoots  free.  This  attention  adds 
considerably  to  the  plants'  attractiveness  when 
flowering. 

Cutting  Ivy^on  Walls. — Ivy  on  walls  requuring 
trimming  should  be  attended  to  now.  Cut  dosely 
and  take  out  any  thick,  coarse  growths  where 
possible.  Always  aim  to  have  a  thin  sheet  of 
fresh  growth,  as  nothing  looks  worse  on  a  wall 
than  lumpy  and  irregular  Ivy.  Where  this 
condition  prevails  it  is  better  to  cut  right  back 
to  the  ground  and  let  the  plants  come  away 
afresh. 

The  Flower  Garden. 
Preparing  Flower-Beds. — AU  beds  which  are 
bare    of    spring-floweiing    plants    should    now    be 
dug    and   put    in    order   for    summer   bedding.     If 
manure  is  added  see  that  it  is  well  decayed.     Fresh 
manure    too   readily  causes  over-luxuriant  foliage 
with  corresponding  scarcity  of  flower. 
James  McGras- 
(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.), 
Coodham,  Kilmarnock. 


THE 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


ol.  LXXXVI.— No.  2632. 

itered  as  Second-class  Matter  at  the  Ne%v  York.  N.Y..  Po3t  Office. 


Saturday,  April  29,  1922 


RBOISTERED     AT     THE     GENERAL 

POST    OPPIOB    AS    A    NEWSPAPER 

AND     POR     CANADIAN     BAOAZINB 

POST. 


Price  THREEPENCK 


Yearly  Subscriptloa 
Inland.    1114 :    Foreign. 


7/4 


A   FINE    FORM    OF    THE    PURPLE    LOOSESTRIFE, 

Lythrum    Salicaria    rosea,  by   the    waterside    well   illustrates 
the  value  of  ma^s  planting. 


SURPLUS    JAPANESE     LILIES 

At  reduced  pricrs;  in  excellent  condition. 
LILIUIVt  AURATUM,  tlie  Wliite  Oolden-rayed  spotted  T.ily  of  Japan,  bearing  large  sweetly 

sc.'iitid  tlowiTs    . .    ptron;^  bulbs,  per  dozrn12'-     Larger  bulbs,  per  dozen,  15'-  and  21  <- 
LILIUM   AURATUM   PLATYPHYLLUM,  very  large  handsome  flowers  of  creat  substance, 

broad  v.I.itr  petals  ispotted  criuT^on  ..  ..  ,.  ..     f'trong  bulb?,  per  dozen,  21 /- 

LILIUM    SPECIOSUM    ALBUM    KRAETZERI,    beautiful  large   white    flowers   of   great 

^ub'^tance.  ^\'ith  dark  orange  anthers 

strouiz  bnlbs,  per  dozen,  12/-  ;  larger  bulbs,  per  dozen,  15'-  and  21  /- 
LILIUM     SPECIOSUM     RUBRUM,    suffused    and    heavily    spotted    crimson  on    white 

izround        . .  . .  . .         .--trong  bulbs,  per  dozen,  10'6  ;  larger  bulbs,  per  dozen,  15'- 

LILIUM    SPECIOSUM    MELPOMENE,    flue    handsome    flowers,    rich   crimson,    spotted 

purple-crimson  and  n'argined  white 

St  long  liulbs  per  dozen,  12/-  ;  larger  bulbs,  per  dozen,  15'-  and  21  /- 

LiLIUM  SPECIOSUM  MAQNIFICUM,  similar  to  Melpomene,  but  with  longer  and  broailer 

petals        . .  .  .  . .  strong  bulbs,  per  dozen,  15'-  ;  larger  bulbs,  per  dozen,  21  /- 

C«ifltoff«e  o/ Gladioli,  Ranunculus^  Tuberoses,  etc.,  for  May  planting,  free  on  application. 

11,     12    &     13,     KINO    STREET, 
COVENT     GARDEN,     LONDON,     W.C.2. 


BARR    &    SONS, 


C HEALS'  DAHLIAS 

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c-^^-^tSS^ 


No.  2632— Vol.  LXXXVI.] 


[April  29,  1922. 


PLANTS     FOR    THE    WATERSIDE 


THE  treatment  of  the  margins  of  water 
in  tlie  garden  requires  very  considerable 
forethought  if  summertime  is  to  prove 
a  complete  success.  How  refreshing  and 
restful  it  is  on  hot,  parching  days  when 
all  Nature  is  thirsty  to  happen  upon  a  well 
planned  and  furnished  piece  of  water  where  one 


may  stroll  right  down  to  its  edge  and  in  the 
welcome,  cooler  shadow  of  some  fine  tree  recline 
and  listen  to  the  drowsy  lapping  of  the  current 
of  the  stream  against  the  bank,  or,  better  still, 
if  it  can  be  arranged,  the  musical  tinkle  of  the 
descending  drops  of  a  miniature  waterfall.  In 
the   greater  number  of  cases,   however,   it  is   the 


quite  small  or  moderate  sized  pond,  artificially 
created,  that  has  to  be  dealt  with,  and  the  arrange- 
ment of  our  plants  will  naturally  follow  the 
character  of  the  pond  or  stream.  If  this  is  formal, 
more  or  less  formality  should  obtain  in  the  disposi- 
tion of  the  groupings  ;  if  irregular  m  shape,  Nature 
herself  provides  sufficient  hints  for  our  guidance. 


EFFECTIVE    PLANTING    AROUND    A    SMALL    POOL. 


196 

Overcrowding  of  the  banks,  especially  witli 
tall-growing  plants,  should  in  any  case  be  avoided. 
Such  banks  are  not  herbaceous  borders  and  ought 
not  to  look  like  them.  Definite  separation  and 
breaking  into  groups  is  far  more  essential  round 
water  than  anywhere  else  in  the  garden.  The 
value  of  the  surroundings  should  be  employed 
to  the  utmost,  for  by  skilful  arrangement  of 
bog-loving  species  the  apparent  size  of  the  whole 
ran  be  greatly  magnified.  Whatever  plants  are 
employed,  use  them  in  groups  big  enough  to  be 
effective  and  in  variety  sufficient  to  maintain 
the  interest.  It  is  unwise  to  overcrowd,  however, 
for  the  sake  of  including  a  larger  number  of 
varieties.  Much  of  the  success  of  a  good  garden 
lies  in  knowing  what  to  eliminate.  However 
small  the  area  of  the  water,  do  not  completelv 
surround  it  with  tall  plants  so  that  it  comes  on 
one  as  a  complete  surprise.  From  one  part  of 
the  garden,  at  least,  it  should  open  out  so  as  to 
provide  a  vista.  The  best  bank  arrangement  of 
all,  where  it  can  be  managed,  is  where  the  ground 
rises  gradually  away  from  the  water  on  three  sides 
and  on  the  fourth  is  almost  level  with  the  surface, 
as  it  can  thus  by  judicious  planting  be  made  h  ■ 
appear  as  though  the  water  had  collected  in  a 
natural  hollow,  and  yet  on  the  fourth  side  ran  be 
approached  near  enough  to  appreciate  ali  its 
beauties  in  detail. 

The  smaller  the  pond  the  greater  the  number  of 
dwarf  growers  that  should  be  selected  to  surround 
it,  with  only  a  few  outstanding  plants  to  add 
character  and  dignity  to  the  whole,  always  being 
sure  to  place  those  that  love  the  damper  soil 
or  to  have  their  "  feet  in  water  "  nearest  to  the 
edge,  with  others  needing  less  moisture  further 
away,  until  the  ordinary  run  of  herbaceous  plants 
or  shrubs  is  reached.  Large  foliaged  plants  are 
grand  where  space  permits  of  their  full  develop 
ment,  especially  where  they  can  overhang  thi- 
water,  and  of  these  Acanthus  candelabrum  with 
its  unique  glossy  foliage,  aft.  or  3ft.  long,  is  splendid, 
rapidly  forming  very  handsome  specimens.  A 
gigantic  plant  with  immense  imposing  foMage, 
showing  to  great  effect  on  islands  or  where  space 
is  quite  unrestricted,  is  to  hand  in  Gunnera 
manicata.  It  throws  up  correspondingly  large 
heads  of  flower  in  June  and  July,  often  8ft.  across 
and  greenish  in  colour.  It  comes  to  us  from 
Brazil,  so  is  safer  if  a  heap  of  leaves  or  ashe-^ 
are  piled  over  the  crown  in  winter  as  a  protection 
against  the  severest  frost.  Arundo  conspicua  is 
a  grand  member  of  the  Grass  family  with  dense 
tufts  of  narrow,  arching  foliage  flowering  in 
August  ;  while  for  a  position  further  away  from 
the  margin  where  the  ground  is  not  too  moist 
Arundo  Donax,  the  giant  Reed,  is  superb. 
Heracleum  giganteum  is  somewhat  coarse  and 
useful  only  where  abundance  of  space  can  be 
given  it,  as  it  easily  attains  a  stature  of  Sft.  to 
loft.  with  large  leaves  and  enormous  flower-heads 
like  a  giant  Cow  Parsley.  Specially  effective  is 
an  American  plant,  Jussieua  longifolia,  which 
reaches  4itt.  to  5ft.  with  yellow  flowers  like  those 
of  the  Evening  Primrose,  very  freely  produced. 
The  wiUow-like  fohage,  however,  is  its  chief 
attraction,  especially  in  autumn,  when  it  becomes 
deep  crimson.  Splendid  golden  sunlight  effects 
on  dull  days  are  obtained  with  Phragmites 
communis  aurea,  a  fine  golden  variety  of  the 
common  Water  Reed,  easily  attaining  a  height 
of  5ft.  The  BuUrush  is  always  popular,  and  even 
where  it  does  not  flower,  the  distinctive  foliage  is 
sufficiently  good  to  ensure  its  admission.  Perfectly 
hardy  in  the  South,  but  better  for  sHght  protection 
further  North,  is  Phofmium  tenax,  one  of  the 
noblest  of  waterside  growers.  It  should  have  the 
fullest  sunshine,  where  the  enormous  sword-like, 
oppositely  arranged  leaves  develop  to  their  fullest 
capacity.     Senecios,   particularly   S.   Wilsoni   with 


GARDEN 


INFORMAL    PLANTING    ROUND    A    FORMAL    TANK. 


THE    STEPPING    STONES. 


April  29,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


197 


•its  spikes  of  tine  yellow  flowers  and  shiny 
green  leaves  look  especially  striking  and 
handsome  close  to  the  water.  Bamboo? 
-and  the  strong  growing  Grasses,  such 
as  Erianthus  Ravenn,^  with  bronzy-purple 
foliage  and  plumes  resembling  the  Pampas 
■Grass — yet  another  fine  waterside  plant 
— afford  a  further  selection  of  bold,  tall 
growers  should  additional  plants  be  re- 
quired, though  these  should  not  be  em- 
ployed to  the  exclusion  of  the  many 
beautiful  shrubs  and  small  trees  available. 
Rhododendrons  and  hardy  .Azaleas  merit 
special  mention  for  the  mass  of  vivid 
•colour  they  give  in  May  and  June  and 
the  reflection  of  these  masses  thrown  back 
by  the  calm  water  surface. 

.\mong  dwarf  plants  suitable  for  small 
•streams  and  ponds  the  number  of  species 
is  much  greater.  Caltha  leptosepala  is 
an  uncommon  variety  of  the  Marsh 
Marigold  flowering  in  May  and  June, 
the  flowers  being  pure  white.  The  Marsh 
Marigold  itself.  Caltha  palustris  has  several 
■desirable  forms,  including  the  do,uble 
variety,  monstrosa  plena  Hardy  Cypri- 
pediums  as  represented  by  C.  pubescens 
with  its  golden  yellow  flowers  and  C. 
spectabile  with  its  pure  white  petals  and 
sepals  and  large  brilliant  pink  pouch 
are  two  very  choice  things  worthy  of  a 
special  position  and  succeeding  best  where 
a  bed  of  spongy  peat  can  be  arranged 
for  them,  to  be  always  damp,  but  not 
sodden.  Several  Ferns,  such  as  Onoclea 
sensibilis  with  its  light  green,  slightly 
glaucous  fronds  and  creeping  rhizomes ; 
■Osmunda  interrupta,  which  flourishes  in 
full  sun,  with  lovely  velvety  green  fronds 
-and  fine,  vigorous  spikes  of  inflorescence  ; 
•Osmunda  regalis,  the  Royal  Fern,  with 
pale  green  fronds  growing  to  a  gigantic 
•size  in  peaty  bogland.  All  varieties  of 
the  Heirt's  Tongue,  Scolopendrium,  are 
valuable  and,  where  the  soil  retains 
Tnoisture  enough  at  all  times,  do  as 
-well  in  full  sun  as  in  shade.  The 
"\vonderful  hardy  Pitcher  Plants,  or 
iSarracenias,  add  unusual  interest  owing 
to  their  unique  formation,  but  should 
be  so  placed  as  to  permit  of  close 
■scrutiny.  Helonias  bullata  is  specially 
■showy  with  its  rosettes  of  glistening 
green  foliage  which  takes  on  the  most 
vivid  red  and  crimson  shades  in  autumn 
and  numerous  bright  pink  flowers  on 
.foot  high  stalks  in  summer.  The  Japanese 
Irises  (Iris  Kaempferi)  and  the  variety 
■of  our  common  native  yellow  Water  Flag 
•with  variegated  foUage  are  both  splendid,  while 
the  Siberian  Iris  with  its  long,  arching  grass-Uke 
leaves  and  wonderfully  netted  flowers  is  no  whit 
less  desirable.  The  Japanese  sorts  and  also  those 
fine  Flags,  I.  aurea  and  I.  ochroleuca  resent  too 
boggy  conditions,  though  they  need  an  abundant 
■water  supply.  Lobelia  syphihtica  with  its  leafy 
green  stems  and  blue  flowers  accompanied  by  L. 
fulgens  with  its  bronzy-red  leafage  and  cardinal-red 
blossoms  is  very  effective. 

.■\mong  plants  of  moderate  dimensions  Mimulus 
luteus  literally  revels  in  bog  and  is  a  glorious 
golden-yellow  Monkey  Flower  that,  when  once 
established,  crops  up  in  the  most  unlikely  places  ; 
indeed,  it  needs  keeping  severely  within  bounds. 
M.  cardinalis  is  at  once  unusual  and  striking 
with  its  bright  cardinal-red  flowers  which  are 
produced  in  succession  for  a  very  long  time. 
Numerous  members  of  the  universal  Primula 
family  are  happy  near  water,  P.  rosea,  one  of  the 
most  brilliant  of  all,  flourishing  in  peaty  soil  so 


SUITABLE    PLANTING    FOR    THE    SURROUND    OF    A    FORMAL    POOL. 


moist  that  if  trodden  on  by  the  foot  water  oozes 
to  the  surface.  Its  vivid  rose-pink  flowers  are 
produced  in  late  spring  in  wonderful  profusion. 
P.  japonica,  the  Japanese  Primrose,  shows  a  wide 
range  of  beautiful  colours  and  where  it  gets 
moisture  enough  reaches  2ft.  high,  flowering  in 
whorls,  tier  over  tier.  Primula  pulverulenta, 
somewhat  sifnilar,  but  with  mealy  stems,  is  even 
better.  Extraordinarily  beautiful  is  P.  sikUmeusis, 
a  very  strong  grower  with  fragrant  umbels  of 
drooping  yellow  flowers.  Care  should  be  taken  to 
label  this  plainly  and  conspicuously,  as  the  foliage 
entirely  disappears  in  winter.  Saxifraga  peltata, 
with  its  umbrella-like  bronze  leaves  in  addition 
to  its  own  graces,  forms  one  of  the  finest  back- 
grounds to  the  above  Primulas  that  can  be  foimd. 
A  very  charming  plant  is  Spigelia  marilandica 
with  its  tufts  of  foliage  and  erect  gro\ving  stems  of 
tubular  dark  red  flowers  golden  on  the  inside  of 
the  tubes.  Spirseas  one  and  all,  so  far  as  the 
herbaceous  species  are  concerned,  are  par  excellence 


plants  for  the  waterside  and  afford  a  sufficient 
height  range  to  enable  us  to  choose  varieties 
suitable  to  any  sized  sheet  of  water.  The 
TroUiuses  are  hke  gigantic  Buttercups  with  the 
same  intense  orange  and  yellow  colourings.  .A 
good  massing  of  such  varieties  as  T  hybridus. 
Orange  Globe,  Prince  of  Orange  and  Yellow  Globe, 
in  moist  loamy  soil  with  a  Uttle  peat,  are  a  reve- 
lation to  those  who  only  judge  by  experience  in 
drier,  poorer  soils. 

One  point  which  should  especially  be  borne  in 
mind  when  planting  near  natural  water  is  that 
those  plants  which  are  real  moisture  lovers  should 
be  kept  close  to  the  edge  and  in  such  positions 
that  when  dry  times  come  in  summer  the  fall 
in  level  of  the  water  does  not  leave  them 
stranded  high  and  dry,  to  fall  victims  to  a 
roasting  sun.  Spring  is  undoubtedly  the  best 
season  at  which  to  undertake  waterside 
planting  as  inevitable  root-damage  is  now  most 
quickly  repaired.         H.  \V.  C.\nning-Wright. 


198 


THE     GARDEN. 


[April  29,  1922. 


FRAGRANT    GREENHOUSE    PLANTS 

In  these  days  of  fuel  economy  it  is  a  puzzle  to  some  gardeners  who  possess  a  greenhouse  to  know  how  to  utilise 

it   to    the   best  advantage   under   absolutely   cool  conditions.      The  following   article  gives  some  helpful  suggestions 

and  should  prove  of  great  value  to  those  who  have  glass  at  command. 


FRAGRANCE  is  always  a  great  asset  in 
any  plant,  therefore  many  plants, 
although  not  possessing  large  or  showy 
flowers,  are  universal  favourites  on 
account  of  their  delicious  and  in  many 
cases  refreshing  perfume.  There  are  quite  a 
number  of  fragrant  plants  that  can  be  easily 
cultivated  in  any  ordinary  cool  conservatory 
or  greenhouse.  They  also  vary  widely  in  their 
character,  ranging  from  shrubby  and  soft-wooded 
plants  to  bulbs  and  annuals.  Taking  the  shrubby 
or  more  permanent  plants  first,  we 
find  quite  a  number  with  fragrant 
foliage  or  flowers.  In  Lippia 
citriodora  (the  Lemon-scented  Ver- 
bena) we  have  an  old-time  favourite, 
the  fragrant  foliage  of  which  has 
a  peculiarly  refreshing  quality. 
True  it  is  hardy  at  the  foot  of  a 
warm  wall  in  many  parts  of  the 
country,  still  it  is  always  worth 
growing  for  the  cool  greenhouse. 
It  is  easily  propagated  by  means  of 
cuttings,  and  this  may  be  done  by 
introducing  a  stock  plant  to  a  house 
and  securing  the  young  growths  as 
cuttings.  Eucalyptus  citriodora  is 
another  plant  that  should  be  more 
generally  grown  for  its  fragrant 
foliage.  It  is  easily  raised  from 
seed  and  soon  makes  nice  plants  in 
small  pots. 

Quite  a  number  of  the  Cape 
Pelargoniums  have  very  fragrant 
foliage,  the  best  being  P.  fragrans 
and  P.  capitatum  (this  species  is 
largely  cultivated  in  the  Mediter- 
ranean region  for  the  oil  which  is 
distilled  from  its  leaves,  and  which  is 
used  as  a  perfume  and  also  for 
adulterating  otto  of  roses).  Others 
are  P.  crispum  and  its  varieties, 
P.  Radula,  p.  denticulatum  and  P. 
odoratissimum,  while  many  of  the 
hybrids,  such  as  Pretty  Polly, 
Shottesham  Pet,  Prince  of  Orange. 
Lady  Mary  and  others,  have  sweet- 
scented  fohage.  AJl  the  above  sue 
ceed  under  the  usual  cultural 
methods  adopted  for  ordinar>- 
greenhouse  Pelargoniums. 

Coming  to  flowering  plants. 
Daphne  odora  is  a  general  favourite, 
but  is  not  happy  for  long  under 
pot  cultivation,  and  is  best  when 
planted  out  in  a  border  of  light 
loam  with  the  addition  of  a  little  peat. 
This  plant  is  generally  regarded  as  being 
difficult  to  propagate  by  means  of  cuttings,  but 
this  is  really  not  so,  and  plants  on  their  own 
roots  are  most  satisfactory'.  If  grafted  on  stocks 
of  D.  Mezereum  it  usually  sheds  its  leaves,  while 
stocks  of  the  evergreen  D.  Laureola  and  D.  pontica 
usually  prove  too  strong  for  it.  The  hardy  D. 
Cncorum  is  worth  growing  in  pans  in  a  cool 
house. 

Luculia  gratissima  is  a  beautiful  winter-flowering 
shrub  which  should  be  planted  out  in  a  border  of 
light  soil,  as  it  is  never  happy  under  pot  culti- 
vation. After  flowering  it  should  be  pruned  hard 
back,  as  it  produces  its  flowers  at  the  tips  of  the 
current  year's  growth.  This  has  always  been 
recognised  as  a  difficult  plant  to  propagate,   and 


even  skilled  propagators  have  failed  to  increase 
it  with  any  degree  of  success.  One  important 
factor  in  its  successful  propagation  is  that  the 
cuttings  must  never  be  allowed  to  flag,  and  inter- 
nodal  cuttings  generally  prove  more  successful 
than  nodal  cuttings. 

Buddleia  asiatica  has  a  most  delicate  perfume, 
and  it  is  surprising  that  such  an  old  garden  plant 
is  not  more  generally  cultivated,  as  it  is  particu- 
larly graceful  with  its  long,  slender  sprays  of 
white    flowers.     It    is    propagated    by    means    of 


THE    FRAGRANT    GREENHOUSE    SHRUB,    LUCULIA    GRATISSIMA 


cuttings,  which  make  nice  plants  for  the  green- 
house stage  in  their  first  year,  and  if  potted  on 
the  second  year  into  Sin.  or  loin.  pots  make 
fine  large  specimens  which  should  be  stood  out- 
doors during  the  summer  months,  as  the  flowers 
are  produced  during  the  winter.  Buddleia 
ofiicinalis,  a  later  introduction  from  China,  is  a 
stiff-growing  shrub  without  the  grace  of  the 
former  plant.  It  produces  its  lilac-coloured 
flowers  during  the  winter,  which  are  strongly 
honey  scented,  very  different  in  quality  from  the 
delicate  perfume  of  B.  asiatica.  Nevertheless, 
many  seem  to  enjoy  its  more  heady  fragrance. 

Michelia  fuscata,  more  generally  known  as 
Magnoha  fuscata,  has  small  duU  purple  flowers 
which  are  strongly  fragrant,  one  or  two  flowers 
being  sufficient  to  perfume  a  large  house. 


Boronia  megastigma  is  a  slender,  gracefuJ 
plant.  Its  small  purple-black  and  duU  yellow- 
flowers  are  by  no  means  showy,  but  it  amply 
compensates  for  this  by  its  delicious  perfume. 
For  the  ordinary  cultivator  it  is  by  no  means  an 
easy  plant  to  propagate  and  grow  successfully, 
but  it  is  a  favourite  market  plant,  being  grown 
in  quantity  by  the  few  firms  who  still  grow  hard- 
wooded  plants  for  market. 

Cytisus  fragrans,  another  market  plant,  is  an 
old  favourite  which  always  attracts  on  account 
of  its  delicate  scent.  It  grows- 
treely  in  small  pots  and  also  makes 
fine  specimens  if  planted  out  in  a 
cool  conservatory. 

There  are  several  greenhouse 
Rhododendrons  which  should  always- 
find  a  place  in  the  cool  conservatory, 
especially  if  they  can  be  planted- 
out,  the  two  best  being  Lady  Alice- 
Fitzwilliam  and  R.  Forsterianum, 
the  latter  bearing  fine  large  white- 
flowers  with  a  delicious  spicy 
fragrance  reminiscent  of  nutmegs. 
They  are  easily  propagated  by 
means  of  cuttings  made  from  half- 
ripened  young  shoots. 

Osmanthus  Delavayi,  althoughi 
hardy  in  the  South,  makes  a  very 
neat  pot  plant,  its  white  flowers, 
which  are  the  largest  of  all  the- 
Osmanthus,  being  produced  in  great 
profusion.  It  is  easily  propagated 
by  means  of  cuttings. 

Oranges  need  only  a  passing 
mention,  as  they  are  so  well  known. 
However,  they  are  what  are  gener- 
ally known  as  dirty  plants,  and 
require  considerable  attention  to- 
keep  them  clean,  as  they  are  subject 
to  attack  from  several  scale  insects. 
These  pests  can  be  kept  in  check 
by  spraying  the  plants  frequently 
with  a  parafiin  emulsion. 

Primula  verticillata  and  P.  mala- 
coides  both  have  delicate  primrose 
scent  and  are  easily  raised  from  seed. 
Among  cUmbing  plants  Lathyrus 
pubescens,  Jasminum  grandifloruni 
and  J.  azoricum  should  not  be 
forgotten. 

Turning  to  hardy  plants  used 
for  forcing,  we  find  quite  a  number 
commonly  used,  such  as  Lilacs  and 
Wistaria  chinensis  and  the  newer 
Viburnum  Carlesii,  the  flowers  of 
which  often  get  damaged  outdoors  by  spring- 
frosts.  Indoors  the  flowers  come  pure  white,  and 
with  the  shelter  of  a  cool  house  may  be  had  in 
flower  at  least  six  weeks  before  the  outdoor 
plants.  Lily  of  the  Valley  is  so  popular  and  well 
known  that  one  need  only  mention  it. 

Among  bulbous  plants  there  are  quite  a  number 
that  may  either  be  forced  or  brought  on  slowh" 
in  a  cool  house.  Lilium  longiflorum  is,  of  course, 
well  known.  The  newer  L.  regale,  one  of  the- 
finest  of  hardy  Lilies,  has  also  proved  excellent 
for  pot  cultivation  and  is  easily  raised  from  seed, 
the  young  plants  commencing  to  flower  two  years, 
from  seed  sowing.  L.  candidum  can  also  be  used 
for  pot  culture,  but  must  be  potted  during  August 
and  grown  at  all  times  under  perfectly  cool  con- 
ditions.    Liliums,    in    common    with    all   bulbous 


April  29,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


199 


plants,  should  be  well  rooted  before  there  is  any  attempt  to  bring  them 
on  indoors.  Hyacinths  may  be  had  in  flower  over  a  long  period.  Roman 
Hyacinths  can  easily  be  had  in  flower  for  Christmas  ;  so  can  Paper  White 
Narcissus,  followed  later  by  the  Polyanthus  and  Poetaz  Narcissi,  also 
Jonquils  and  Poeticus  omatus,  the  latter  always  popular  about  Easter. 
Two  Tulips  that  are  distinctly  sweet-scented  are  the  double  rose-coloured 


THE    ESPECIALLY    FRAGRANT    LILAC    FREF5IA    MOUETTE. 
Of  fragrant  plants  none  is  more  welcome  than  the  Freesia. 


Mignonette     and     Stocks     should     be    used.        These  are,  of    course,    raised 

from  seed  and  both  require  careful  cultivation.  .'Uthough  usually  treated  as 
an  annual,  plants  of  Mignonette  by  careful  cultivation  may  be  kept  for  several 
years. 

The  foregoing  does  not,  of  course,  by  any  means  exhaust  the  hst  of  sweet- 
scented  plants  that  may  be  grown  for  the  conservatory.  Perhaps  readers 
may  be  induced  to  write  about  other  sweet-scented  plants  that  space  forbids 
me   to  -mention.  J.  Coutts. 


THE    EXQUISITELY    FRAGRANT    LILIUM    REGALE. 

Murillo  and  the  single  Prince  of  Austria.  Freesias  can  be  flowered  in 
the  autunm  from  seed  sown  during  March,  but  are  more  generally  grown 
from  corms,  which  should  be  potted  up  not  later  than  the  end  of  August 
or  the  beginning  of  September,  growing  them  quite  cool  at  all  times. 
Carnations  and  Roses  should  not  be  overlooked. 


SOME    FLOWERS    THAT    IGNORE 
THE  LATE  SPRING 

THERE  are  some  compensations  even  in  a  late  and  unkindly  spring,  and 
one  of  them  is  that  while  so  many  early  flowers  are  retarded  one  is 
able  to  appreciate  to  a  fuller  extent  than  is  usually  possible — for  a 
busy  man,  at  any  rate — the  few  which  are  bold  enough  to  bloom 
before  the  "  rush  "  comes.  One  of  these  is  Synthyris  reniformis,  a 
hardy  Rocky  Mountain  plant  which  deUghts  in  a  cool,  semi-shady  corner 
wnere  it  wiU  make  a  glossy  green  bunch  of  prettily  toothed  leaves,  above  which 
use  to  gins,  or  so  a  cluster  of  flower  spikes,  each  crowded  with  httle  blossoms 
in  a  very  pleasing  shade  of  cool  lavender  blue.  Once  happily  established  S. 
reniformis  seems  to  carry  on  indefinitely  without  attention  and  often  rewards 
us  with  a  second  blooming  in  autumn. 

Morisia  hypogsa,  one  of  the  most  charming  rock  garden  plants  of  any 
season,  is  another  that  seldom  fails  us,  be  the  season  what  it  may.  It  believes 
in  following  the  almanack,  and  no  sooner  have  we  passed  the  Vernal  Equinox  than 
the  curious  dark  green  mound  of  leaves  begins  to  get  studded  with  yellow  buds 
which,  within  a  week  ol  tolerable  weather,  break  into  the  large,  bright  yellow, 
cruciform  flowers  of  which  a  succession  is  maintained  until  we  are  nearly  into 
summer.  A  very  well  drained  and  sunny  position  is  what  this  cheerful  little 
Sardinian  seems  to  enjoy,  and  there,  in  this  garden  at  any  rate,  it  will  bring  up  a 
small  family  of  seedUngs  on  its  own   account  if   the  summer  is  to  its  liking. 

The  common  Muscari  botr>'oides  (Grape  Hyacinth)  is  also  faithful  to  its 
appointed  time,  and  one  can  hardly  overlook  it,  for  where  it  enjoys  its  home  it 
will  thrive  redundantly  enough  to  qualify  for  a  nuisance  list.  But  the  beauty 
of  its  blue  globes,  with  their  tiny  white  teeth,  and  especially  the  deUghtful 
sky-blue  shade  of  the  variety  palUdum,  cover  many  sins,  if  it  has  any,  and 
"  robustiousness  "  is,  after  all,  sometimes  a  rather  desirable  feature. 

In  the  rock  garden,  and  well  out  of  the  way  of  the  ramping  and  splendid 
Aubrietias,  so  over-whelming  to  all  else  in  the  abundance  of  their  gorgeous 
purples,  crimsons,  pinks,  violets  and  mauves,  Arabis  Sundermanni,  with  foliage  of 
a  pale  gieen  and  clear  rose-coloured  flowers,  is  making  worthy  efforts,  always 
coming  into  bloom  just  before  the  excellent  A.  aubrietioides.  Viola  gracilis 
is  also  bearing  some  of  its  inimitable  flowers,  and  close  by  is  a  newcomer,  the 
deliciously  fragrant,  clear  blue  St.  Helena  Violet,  a  charming  little  thing,  none 
the  less  fascinating,  perhaps,  because  no  one  seems  to  know  its  history. 

I.ithospermura  rosmarinifolium,  which  has  been  flowering  since  Christmas,  still 
bears  a  few  blooms,  despite  many  weeks  of  frost,  sleet,  rain,  snow  and  frost  again 
in  most  trying  alternation.  A  word  of  encouragement  must  also  be  offered  on 
behalf  of  the  ever-trustworthy  Pulmonarias.  These  are  not  flowers  one  can  ever 
love,  but  the  plain-leaved  P.  azurea  is  a  really  pleasing  blue  in  some  hghts,  and 
P.  angustifolia  a  good  woodland  plant.  These  and  others  of  their  tribe^the 
larse  and  rosy  Mrs.  Moon,  to  mention  one  more — are  seldom  cast  down  by 
the  most  inclement  weather,  and  for  that  we  are  thankful. 

How  different  is  the  fate  of  the  luckless  Anemone  Pulsatilla.  For  at  least  a 
month  its  flowers  have  lain  huddled  and  half-awake  in  woolly  wrappings  which 
ought  to  gleam  like  iridescent  silk,  but  which,  instead,  have  borne  a  nearer  re- 
semblence  to  the  tatters  of  a  superannuated  mop.  It  is  not  often  in  our  climate 
that  the  Pasque  Flower  appears  otherwise  than  as  a  silent  protest  to  an  ill 
world — and  bell  glasses  we  abhor. 

Anemone  blanda,  gentle  as  it  is  patient  and  beautiful,  has  spread  its  blue 
rays  to  the  rare  sunshme  and  the  hardly  less  lovely  A.  appenina  has  also 
marked  such  grateful  interludes.  A.  nemorosa  Robinsoniana,  larger  and  exceed- 
ingly lovely  in  the  soitest  of  blue  lavender,  comes  a  little  later,  to  be  in  time,  it 
would  seem,  to  "  knock  out  "  its  rival  sisters  of  the  nemorosa  family.  This, 
however  it  will  never  quite  succeed  in  doing,  for  surp.issingly  beautiful  as  the 
colour  of  A.  n.  Robinsoniana  undoubtedly  is,  our  Wood  Anemones  in  all 
their  divers  forms  are  beyond  comparison.  So  also  is  the  chaste  httle  A. 
trifolia,  which  I  first  saw  carpeting  the  ground  beneath  some  Douglas  Firs 
in  Mr.  E.  C.  Buxton's  garden.  This  is  always  a  certain  early  bloomer  here, 
the  first  of  the  ivory-white  flowers  appearing  towards  the  end  of  March.  A  rapid 
spreader,  A.  trifolia  is  most  suitable  for  growing  about  the  margins  of  shrub- 
beries or  in  the  woodland.  .Any  soil  seems  to  suit  it,  and  with  us  it  proves  a 
first-rate  shade  plant,  growing  under  dwarf  Rhododendrons  and  other  evergreens. 

The  Drabas  are  not  an  excitmg  race,  in  so  far  as  our  acquaintance  of  them  goes. 
Albeit,  to  some  of  them  is  due  their  meed  of  praise  for  the  plucky  way  in  which 
they  will  come  into  bloom  despite  the  most  adverse  conditions.     The  most  faithful 


200 


THE     GARDEN. 


[April  29,  1922. 


in  flowering,  as  well  as  the  most  enduring,  are  the 
familiar  D.  aizoides,  brunieefolia,  Aizoon,  all  yellow, 
and  the  white  Sundermanni.  Cheerful  wee  flowers 
are  these  to  look  right  into  when  there  is  hardly 
another  thing  in  bloom  on  the  rock-garden  slope. 
Deserving  of  the  warmest  tribute  for  the  manner 
in  which  they  defy  the  most  dismal  of  springs  are 


the  several  kinds  of  Orobus  most  commonly  seen 
in  gardens,  and  which  hasten  into  their  first  flowers 
even  before  they  have  half  accomplished  the  growth 
of  stem  and  leaf.  A  form  of  O.  varius  with  bright 
pink  wings  and  a  creamy-yellow  keel  is  irresistibly 
charming,  and  O.  vernus  in  somewhat  of  the  same 
colour,  is  another  of  the  best.     O.  cyaneus,  which 


gives  us  sprays  of  pure  turquoise  blue  above  its 
half  unfolded  leaves  is  also  very  precious.  Few 
flowers  ask  for  so  little  as  these  Vetches  and  others 
of  their  clan,  few  so  content  to  be  left  quite  alone 
where  they  may  come  up  season  alter  season 
increasing  in  bulk  and  loveliness  every  year. 
North  Wales.  A.  T.  Johnson. 


PLANTS    FOR    THE    MORAINE 

Almost  all  the  alpine  treasures  enumerated  below  will  shortly  be  in  flower.     They  may  then  be  selected  and,  as  such  plants  are 

always  supplied  in  pots,  may  be  procured  and  introduced  straightway . 


THE  beginner  in  moraine  gardening 
generally  enquires  what  plants  will 
flourish  in  the  moraine.  He  asks  his 
local  nurjeryman,  it  may  be,  it  a  certain 
species  which  he  fancies  w'ill  "  do "  in 
the  moraine.  The  reply  is  almost  certain  to  be 
"  yes  !  "  and  his  little  moraine  garden  becomes 
choked  up  with  plants  which  certainly  flourish 
exceedingly,  but  which  would  thrive  in  other 
positions  far  easier  to  construct  and  to  maintain. 

With  a  few  exceptions,  which  merely  serve  to 
prove  the  rule,  all  rock  plants  will  grow  on  the 
moraine,  provided  that  the  stone  of  which  it  is 
constructed  suits  their  individual  tastes.  There  is 
little  doubt  that  most,  if  not  all,  herbaceous  plants 
would  flourish  under  similar  conditions,  but  the 
moraine  being,  in  the  average  garden,  necessarily 
very  limited  in  extent,  should  be  reserved  for  such 
treasures  as  cannot  be  satisfactorily  accommodated 
elsewhere. 

Here  may  be  planted  the  choicer  Kabschia 
Saxifrages.  All  the  forms  of  S.  Burseriana  will,  by 
most  alpine  lovers,  be  considered  worthy.  Others 
which  are  unlikely  really  to  succeed  elsewhere 
include  S.  x  Paulinae,  S.  Petraschi,  S.  Boydii, 
S.  Boydii  alba,  S.  x  Faldonside.  S.  Rocheliana  and 
S.  X  Irvingii.  The  minute  Saxifraga  retusa  should 
have  accommodation  here,  and  if  the  forms  of 
the  larger  S.  oppositifolia  do  not  succeed  on  the 
cliff,  space  mast  be  found  for  them  also.  Those 
who  admire  the  red-flowered  S.  Griesbachii  and  S 
Stribrnyi  mu=t  grow  them  in  the  moraine,  though, 
even  there,  they  aie  by  no  means  easy.  All  the 
above,  if  the  rock  is  not  limestone,  should  have  old 
mortar  rubble  in  the  compost. 

Of  Androsaces,  such  comparatively  easy  plants 
as  A.  sarmentosa,  A.  villosa,  A.  x  Chumbyi,  A. 
primuloides  and  A.  foliosa  will  flourish  where  the 
air  is  pure  in  a  foot  of  moraine  compost  without 
the  underlying  triclde  of  water.  It  is  useless 
to  attempt  the  woolly  Androsaces  in  contaminated 
Ja — at  any  rate,  outdoors.  Choicer  species  such 
as  A.  helvetica,  A.  cylindrica,  A.  Chama^jasme  and 
A.  sempers'ivoides  must  have  the  true  moraine, 
though  the  first  two,  especially,  are  more  easily 
grown  in  the  alpine  house  than  on  the  rockery. 
Androsace  lactea  likes  the  moraine  as  does  Doug- 
lasia  (Androsace)  Vitaliana.  This  last  will,  in  a 
corapo  t  almost  ali  limestone  rock,  flower  and 
spread  freely  though  it  hardly  attains  the  luxuriance 
which  M.  Correvon  so  graphically  described  at  its 
station  on  Mont  Ventoux  in  Provence.  (See  p.  76.) 
The  moraine  is,  in  our  climate,  the  most  suitable 
place  for  Androsace  carnei  and  its  beautiful  forms 
eximia  and  Laggeri,  but  the  stone  here  must  not  be 
limestone  and  the  compost,  besiaes,  should  consist 
maialy  of  peat  and  leaf  soil.  This  peaty  section  of 
the  moraine  will  accommodate  the  yellow  alpine 
Daisy,  Arnica  montana,  although  this  plant  has 
little  to  recommend  it  except  its  alleged  difficulty. 
It  might  be  described  as  a  miniature  Buphthalraum. 
Here  too  is  the  most  likely  place  for  the  Pine- 
barren  Beauty,  Pyxidanthera  barbulata,  though 
the  exact  requirements  of  this  plant  are,  in  the 
wTiter's  experience,  not  exactly  understood.  Other 
candidates  for  the  same  compost,  in  as  exposed  and 


hot  a  situation  as  possible,  are  Silene  acaulis,  with 
its  truly  sessile  variety  exscapa  and  the  nearly  related 


Vt^S^^^SSg 


S.  bryoides.    So  treated,  they  may  be  persuaded  to 
bloom  with  comparative  freedom,  but  it  is  difficult 


■rHE     BEAUTIFUL     INDIGENOUS 


SAXIFRAGA     OPPOSITIFOLIA, 
BEST    ON    THE    MORAINE. 


WHICH    USUALLY    SUCCEEDS 


AN      INVALUABLE     MORAINE     PL.iiNT,     CAMPANULA     ALLIONII. 


April  29,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


201 


to  get  the  flowers  even  to  approach  the  colour  they 
display  on  the  Alps.  The  freedom  of  flowering  of 
these  Cushion  Pinks,  even  on  the  Alps,  varies 
•enormously.  It  is  well  worth  while  to  raise  a  batch 
from  collected  seeds  and  to  select  and  re-select 
them.  Here,  too.  one  may  try  Dianthus  glacialis. 
iFrequent  top-dressings  of  fine  chippings  of  peat 
should  be  given  to  this  rather  difficult  species. 
Other  Pinks  for  the  moraine  are  D.  alpinus. 
D.  callizonus  and  D.  x  calalpinus,  but  these  have 
the  usual  Dianthus  fondness  for  the  limestone.  The 
■brilliant  D.  neglectus.  never  a  long  lived  plant, 
will,  despite  statements  often  made  to  the  contrary 
■succeed  in  the  moraine  and  even  reproduce  itself 
there  from  self-sown  seeds,  but  it  succeeds  as  well 
or  better,  on  the  cliff-face  in  full  sun. 

That  mocker  of  our  hopes,  the  Alpine  King, 
Eritrichium  nanum,  is  said  to  have  been  success- 
fully cultivated  on  the  moraine,  but  it  is  difficult 
enough  in  sphagnum  in  the  alpine  house  ! 

Of  Gentians,  G.  Gentianella  will  flourish  in  the 
moraine —  and  many  are  the  amateur  gardeners  who, 
having  failed  satisfactorily  to  flower  it  elsewhere, 
have  introduced  it — but  as,  in  most  gardens,  it  will 
grow  and  flower  in  the  path  gravel,  one  would 
hardly  class  it  as  a  moraine  plant.  The  allied  forms, 
Kochiana  and  Clusii  have  no  special  singularity  of 
appearance  or  beauty,  but,  if  wanted,  the  moraine  is 
certainly  the  best  place  for  them,  the  former  on 
non-calcareous  stone  and  peat,  the  latter  on  lime- 
stone or  with  a  plentiful  admixture  of  mortar 
rubble.  Gentiana  angustifolia  is  a  more  noteworthy 
plant,  also  suitable  for  the  limestone  moraine. 
Gentiana  verna  is  emphatically  a  moraine  plant  and 
personal  experience  suggests  that  it  flowers  more 
freely  on  chalk  than  elsewhere.     The  same  treat- 


ment is  the  best  that  can  be  recommended  for  G. 
bavarica,  but  it  is  not  a  plant  one  would  recommend 
to  any  but  the  enthusiast,  being  the  only  Gentian 
from  the  European  Alps  that  is  really  difficult  to 
grow  in  England.  No  other  Gentians  are  suitable 
for  the  moraine. 

It  there  is  a  well  watered  portion  of  the  moraine 
in  partial  shade,  the  charming  Soldanellas  should 
grow  tnere.  All  three  species — alpina,  pusilla  and 
minima — are  worthy  of    culture 

Three  tiny  Campanulas  are  worthy  of  (and 
suited  for)  the  moraine.  There  are  AUio  lii,  Raineri 
and  Zoysii.  The  first  named  dislikes  lime,  but 
the  two  latter  are  plants  of  the  limestone.  The 
chief  enemies  of  these  minute  treasures  are  slugs. 
If  these  can  be  kept  at  bay,  their  culture  is  in  no 
way  difficult. 

A  "  miffy  "  treasure  which  oeeds  constant  top- 
dressing  is  Draba  (Petrocallis)  pjTenaica.  Though 
said  to  come  from  the  limestone  it  does  not,  in 
the  garden,  show  any  pronounced  partiality  in  this 
respect.  Similar  treatment  appears  to  suit  the  far 
easier  and  very  beautiful  Potentilla  nitida  and 
its  rarer  wiiite  form  and  the  Mountain  Buttercups 
Ranunculus  glacialis  and  R.  gramineus. 

The  alpinist  will  have  noticed  that  many  or  the 
plants  mentioned  are  not,  in  nature,  moraine 
species.  The  fact  is  that  the  artificial  moraine  is  a 
very  convenient  method  of  approximating  in  our 
English  gardens  to  the  conditions  as  to  soil  content 
and  moisture  which  prevail  at  high  altitudes. 
Whether  a  plant  will  succeed  in  cultivation  and  if 
so.  under  what  conditions  it  will  succeed  can  only 
be  determiaed  by  experiment.  Preconceived 
notions  suggested  by  the  conditions  under  which 
it  grows  wild  often  prove  illusory. 


THE    GOOSEBERRY    SAWFLY 

During  the  war  the  majority  of  gardens  zvere  tnuch  neglected.     Many  injurious 

insects  are  thus  more  prevalent  than  usual,  and  among  them  the  Gooseberry  Sawfly, 

which  annually  does  immense  damage. 


THE  attacks  of  this  insect  and  the  damage 
it  is  capable  of  doing  are  well  known 
all  over  the  country.  The  Gooseberry 
is  its  principal  food  plant,  though 
Currants  are  also  sometimes  attacked, 
particularly  the  red  varieties.  The  larvs  are 
familiar  enough  to  gardeners,  but  the  sawfly  itself 


JIG.  I. — THE    ADULT    INSECT    (x   2). 
Male  above,  female  below. 


is  by  no  means  so  well  known.  The  female  is 
about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  long  and  five-eighths 
of  an  inch  across  the  expanded  wings  ;  the  head 
and  front  part  of  the  thorax  are  black,  and  the 
abdomen  and  hind  part  of  the  thorax  orange 
yeUow.  The  male  is  usually  much  smaller  than 
the  female,  and  not  nearly  so  common.  (See 
Fig.  I.) 

The  first  brood  of  sawflies  appears  towards  the 
end  of  April  and  during  May.  The  females  then 
lay  their  eggs  on  the  undersides  of  the  Gooseberry 
leaves,  placing  them  in  rows  along  the  main  ribs. 
As  many  as  fifty  have  been  found  on  one  leaf. 

These  eggs  hatch  in  about  a  week,  and  the 
newly  hatched  larvje  feed  on  the  lower  epidermis 
of  the  leaf  and  so  escape  observation  at  first. 
In  two  or  three  days,  however,  they  eat  small 
holes  right  through,  but  still  remain  on  the  lower 
surface  of  the  leaf,  each  larva  holding  on  to  the 
edge  of  a  hole.  They  feed  rapidly  and  soon 
nothing  but  the  main  ribs  of  the  leaf  are  left. 
The  larvse  feed  together  in  companies  when  young, 
but  disperse  more  and  more  as  they  get  older. 
The  presence  of  a  colony  soon  becomes  noticeable 
by  the  shoots  being  completely  stripped  of  their 
leaves. 

WTien  young  the  colouring  is  pale  green,  with 
the  head  and  tail  ends  of  the  body  yellow.  They 
soon  become  spotted  all  over  with  black  and  have 
a  black  head  ;  the  green  colouring  becomes  much 
paler,  and  in  many  cases  is  only  a  greenish  white, 
the  green  being  largely  due  to  the  contents  of  the 
body.  After  the  final  moult  they  again  assume 
a  green  and  yellow  colouring  and  lose  their  spots 


(Fig.  2).  These  sawfly  larvse  can  easily  be  dis- 
tinguished from  the  caterpillars  of  a  moth  by  the 
number  of  legs.  There  are  fourteen  claspers 
and  six  true  legs,  making  twenty  in  all ;  the  larvae 
of  moths  never  have  more  than  sixteen  legs, 
and  in  the  case  of  "  loopers,"  such  as  the  magpie 
moth  larva,  which  is  also  found  on  Gooseberries, 
only  ten. 

There  are  at  least  three  broods  of  these  insects 
during   the   year,   and   each   brood   may   continue 


■"V 


/ 


m^ 


^ 


FIG.  2. — THE  LARV-^E   AT   THEIR    FELL  WORK. 

to  emerge  over  a  period  of  several  weeks.  Thus 
larvae  of  all  ages  and  even  eggs  may  be  found  on 
the  same  bush,  and  some  of  the  earliest  larva- 
may  have  pupated  before  the  latest  eggs  from 
the  same  generation  of  sawflies  have  hatched. 
This,  of  course,  increases  the  difficulty  of  dealing 
with  this  pest. 

When  full  grown  the  larvae  fall  to  the  ground 
and  spin  parchment-like  cocoons  just  below  the 
surface  of  the  soil.  The  colouring  of  the  cocoons 
is  very  variable,  ranging  from  dark  brown  to 
yellow,  but  they  are  covered  with  small  particles 
of  earth,  which  have  to  be  rubbed  off  before  the 
real  colouring  can  be  seen  (Fig.  3). 

The  first  brood  of  larvae  begin  to  pupate  from 
the  middle  to  the  end  of  May,  and  the  sawflies 
from  these  (the  second  brood)  emerge  in  early 
June.  The  second  brood  of  larvae  are  often 
mature  by  the  middle  or  end  of  June,  and  from 
these  a  third  brood  of  sawflies  is  produced  in  July. 
The  larvaj  from  these  pupate  in  August,  and 
usually  remain  in  the  pupa  state  throughout  the 
winter,  producing  the  first  brood  of  sawflies  the 
following  April ;  but  in  exceptional  circum- 
stances a  fourth  brood  may  be  produced  in  late 
summer.     Under  favourable  conditions  the  lar\'3 


FIG.  3 — COCOONS  OF  THE  GOOSEBERRY 

SAWFLY.   (natural  SIZE.) 

With  and  without  adhering  earth. 


202 


THE     GARDEN. 


[April  29,  iq2Z. 


develop  rapidly,  while  cold  and  wet  weather 
retard  their  growth,  and  so  may  reduce  the  number 
of  broods  in  a  season.  The  attack  of  this  pest 
is  very  persistent  if  allowed  to  remain  unchecked. 

The  larvEe  pupate  in  the  soil  directly  under 
the  bushes,  and  the  sawtlies  emerge  and  usually 
lay  their  eggs  on  the  leaves  of  the  nearest  bushes 
without  flying  any  distance.  Eggs  are  frequently 
produced  parthenogenically,  the  male  being 
comparatively  rare. 

Once  this  insect  becomes  established  in  a  garden 
it  will  remain  there,  often  only  in  one  part  of  the 
garden,  and  if  the  larvae  are  not  destroyed  they 
will  recur  year  after  year  in  ever-increasing 
numbers  unless  checked  by  an  unfavourable  season. 

Spraying  with  lead  arsenate  in  May  is  the  first 
measure  to  take  against  this  pest.  At  this  stage 
the  young  larvae  will  be  feeding  on  the  underside 
of  the  leaves,  and  it  is  therefore  important  to  see 
that  these  are  well  reached  by  the  spray.  Arsenate 
is   unsafe    to   use    after    the    fruit   is   well    formed. 


however,  and  therefore  hellebore  powder  must 
be  used  later.  This  may  be  mixed  with  flour 
and  dusted  on  the  leaves  when  damp,  or  the  mixture 
may  be  added  to  water  and  applied  as  a  spray, 
which  is  probably  the  better  method.  Hellebore 
is  safe  to  use  even  when  the  fruit  is  fairly  large, 
as  it  loses  its  poisonous  nature  in  a  few  days, 
whereas  lead  arsenate  should  not  be  used  within 
six  weeks  of  picking  the  fruit.  When  the  fruit 
is  nearly  ready  for  picking  even  spraying  with 
hellebore  is  inadvisable,  and  it  is  possible  to  kill 
the  larvte  when  young  with  \veak  paraffin  emulsion 
if  thoroughly  applied  several  times. 

Where  only  a  few  bushes  have  been  attacked 
it  is  a  good  plan  to  remove  the  soil  underneath 
them  to  a  depth  of  3ins.  or  4ins.  during  the  winter 
and  replace  with  fresh.  The  soil  removed  should 
then  be  burnt  to  destroy  the  pupae  it  contains. 
If  inconvenient  to  burn  it,  it  should  be  deeply 
buried  to  prevent  the  emergence  of  the  flies. 

Ray  Palmer,  F.E.S. 


THE    RETENTION    OF    MOISTURE    IN 
LIGHT    SOILS 

The  long  spells  of  dry  weather  in  the  summer  of  1921  gave  a  good  opportunity 

for  observing  the  effect  of  different  methods  of  culture  in  checking  the  drying  out 

of  the  soil.     Because  such  summers  are  the  exception  in  the  British  Isles,  it  does 

not  follow  that  it  is  unnecessary  to  prepare  for  their  possible  recurrence  ;   the  good 

gardener  must  arm  himself  beforehand  against  all  possible  extremes. 


THE  light  soils  in  the  south  and  east  of 
England  suffer  in  most  years  from  minor 
spells  of  dry  weather,  because  their 
general  yearly  rainfall  is  low  and  they 
are  not  well  retentive  of  moisture. 
Before  considering  our  cultural  treatment,  we 
must  have  a  clear  picture  of  what  is  happening  in 
the  soil.  In  autumn  and  winter  the  wet  sinks  in, 
gradually  soaking  in  turn  soil  and  subsoil,  replen- 
ishing underground  water  supplies,  till  finally  the 
surplus  drains  off  into  streams  and  deep  springs  ; 
the  moisture  rarely  evaporates  from  the  surface 
owing  to  the  low  temperature  and  moist  atmos- 
phere, and  the  main  current  of  the  water  is 
downwards. 

In  spring,  winds  and  bright  sunshine,  in  spite  of 
showery  intervals,  dry  the  surface ;  seeds  are 
sown,  crops  grow  and  drink  thirstily  ;  days  grow 
warmer  and  longer,  and  evaporation  increases. 
There  comes  a  time,  unless  the  season  is  a  wet  one, 
when  the  winter  conditions  are  reversed,  more 
moisture  is  lost  from  the  soil  than  the  rainfall  can 
restore,  and  instead  of  water  percolating  down- 
wards, it  is  drawn  up  from  the  subsoil  to  the  surface, 
where  it  is  lost  by  evaporation.  During  fine  spells, 
in  summer,  plants  are  more  and  more  dependent 
on  subsoil  water,  which  has  to  rise  from  lower  and 
lower  levels,  as  it  is  drawn  on  and  not  replenished, 
so  that  we  notice  how  our  surface  soil  dries  out 
inch  by  inch  to  a  greater  depth.  Hence,  during  a 
drought,  in  late  summer  and  early  autumn,  the 
difficulty  is  not  that  there  is  no  moisture  anywhere, 
but  that  it  is  at  such  a  depth  that  it  rises  more 
slowly  than  the  plants  will  use  it.  A  storm  under 
these  circumstances  cannot  saturate  the  soil  to 
any  extent,  but  it  reaches  the  surface  roots  of 
plants,  checks  the  loss  of  moisture,  and  gives  the 
subsoil  water  time  to  reach  the  surface.  A  cloudy 
day  alone,  and  evening  syringing,  economise  the 
water  supply  by  diminishing  the  transpiration  of 
the  foliage. 

The  object  of  our  culture  must  obviously  be,  in 
winter  to  allow  full  opportunity  for  rain  to  pene- 
trate the  soil,  in  spring  to  get  the  surface  soil 
sufficiently  dry  for  a  good  tilth,  and  in  all  dry 
spells  to  retam  an  imbroken    connexion  between 


subsoil  water  and  the  top  spit,  and  some  protection 
from  evaporation  at  the  surface. 

The  key  to  the  situation  is  in  the  capillary  (or 
hair-like)  channels  which  enable  the  water  to 
rise  against  the  force  of  gravity  in  the  same  way 
in  which  moisture  is  sucked  up  by  a  piece  of 
flannel,  the  lower  end  of  which  is  dipped  in  water. 
Any  loosening  of  the  soil  breaks  up  these  channels 
(like  dislocating  a  set  of  drain  pipes,  except  that 
the  channels  go  up  and  down  and  not  horizontally). 
Digging  has,  of  course,  this  effect,  and  in  winter  the 
large  spaces  it  leaves  between  the  clods  of  earth, 
make  it  easier  for  water  to  sink  into  the  ground, 
which  also  holds  more  water  in  a  loose  state  (and 
will  as  easily  let  it  go  again),  and  this  is  a  help  to 
the  action  of  frost  in  breaking  up  the  soil  particles. 

By  the  time  winter  is  over  and  evaporation 
begins  again  from  the  surface,  the  ground  below  is 
packed,  and  the  capillary  channels  have  reformed. 
This  is  the  stage  when  the  treatment  of  heavy  and 
light  soils  should  differ,  especially  when  the  latter 
are  in  an  area  of  low  rainfall.  The  heavy  soil 
requires  thorough  spring  cultivation  to  break  up 
clods  and  render  it  friable  ;  not  so  the  light  soil. 
If  this  is  worked  up  a  good  spit  deep  in  the  spring, 
as  the  gardener  who  prides  himself  on  good  culti- 
vation will  long  to  do,  the  March  suns  and  winds 
rob  the  loosened  soil  of  more  moisture  than  it  can 
afford  to  lose,  nor  is  this  all  the  mischief.  There  is 
another  trouble,  unseen  and  unsuspected.  The 
light  soil  does  not  readily  pack  again  like  a  heavy 
one,  and  it  will  be  many  months  before  the  lower 
capillary  channels  reform,  unless  unusual  wet 
supervenes.  The  surface,  then,  having  lost  its 
connection  with  the  subsoil  water,  depends  entirely 
on  the  summer  rains,  which  are  probably  msufftcient 
to  keep  it  moist,  and  it  "  dries  out  "  badly.  This 
state  of  things  is  betrayed  by  the  sponginess  of  the 
soil.  Farmers  overcome  this  by  heavy  rolling  and 
gardeners  tread  the  ground  or  pass  a  roller  over  it. 
In  the  garden  my  experience  is  that  the  finning 
does  not  affect  the  lower  part  of  a  disturbed  loins. 
of  isins.,  and  a  whole  summer  may  pass  before  it 
consolidates. 

During  the  season  of  iy2i  I  saw  an  illustration 
of  this  statement,     A  piece  of  land  was  trenched  in 


mid-winter  and  part  was  raked  hurriedly  over  i» 
spring  and  planted  with  herbaceous  plants  with 
no  further  preparation.  (The  ground  had  formerly 
been  a  grass  field  and  was  the  site  of  a  greenhouse,, 
and  this  was  the  first  time  it  had  been  worked  up). 
These  plants  flourished  exceedingly,  even  the 
moisture-loving  Lobelia  cardinalis,  with  very  few 
waterings.  .'\  further  portion,  lorked  deeply  in 
late  spring,  was  dry  and  loose  all  the  summer,  and 
French  Beans  growing  there  in  spite  of  the  adminis- 
trations of  the  hose,  were  barely  kept  alive. 

Our  first  consideration,  then,  is  to  dig  early  in 
order  to  let  the  ground  consolidate,  and  also  to 
get  as  much  moisture  absorbed  as  possible.  (The 
difficulty  of  ground  occupied  by  winter  crops  will 
be  dealt  with  presently.) 

Secondly,  in  preparation  of  ground  for  seed- 
beds or  planting,  the  soil  must  not  be  disturbed 
again  to  a  depth  of  more  than  3ins.  or  4ins.  (A 
Planet  hoe  will  work  it  up  to  a  ven'  suitable 
depth.)  If  it  can  be  avoided,  no  digging  should  be 
done  in  spring  or  summer.  The  surface  should 
preferably  be  moderately  moist  before  preparing  for 
any  crop,  and  on  no  account  should  dry  top-soil 
be  buried. 

Thirdly,  in  spring  a  moderately  fine,  even  surface 
should  be  aimed  at  (unlike  rough  winter  cultiva- 
tion). If  lumps  are  not  broken  up  when  forking, 
they  should  be  crumbled  down  with  a  rake  before- 
they  get  thoroughly  dry  and  hard.  Where  there  is- 
a  good  deal  of  fine  silt,  the  soil  is  likely  to  form  a 
hard  crust,  and  it  should  not  be  raked  very  firmly^ 
nor  should  all  the  stones  be  removed.  For  seed 
sowing  the  largest  must  come  off,  but  not  in  pre- 
paring for  planting,  except  in  very  stony  ground- 
Remember  how  soil  is  always  moist  under  a  stone. 

Fourthly,  unoccupied  ground  must  be  stirred 
whether  it  is  to  be  cropped  immediately  or  not. 
It  forms  a  crust  and  cracks  under  the  influence  o£ 
March  winds  and  sun. 

Fifthly,  plenty  of  humus  must  be  supplied  to 
light  soils.  The  success  in  giving  a  good  start  to 
seedlings  will  depend  largely  on  well  decayed  and 
finely  divided  organic  material  in  the  driUs,  or 
better  still,  evenly  fixed  with  the  surface  soil.  The 
residue  from  previous  manuring  is  not  sufficient 
of  itself  in  a  dry  time.  The  best  stuff  to  apply  is 
dry  one  or  two  year  old  manure,  leaf  soil  (thoroughly 
decayed)  or  some  of  the  organic  manures  advertised 
as  substitutes  for  farmyard  manure.  Soot  should 
be  stirred  in  with  the  organic  dressing,  and  salt 
also  for  Beet,  Carrots,  Onions. 

It  is  always  recommended  not  to  apply  farm- 
yard manure  early  to  light  soils.  I  do  not  see  how 
it  is  to  be  avoided.  The  loss  of  ammonia  I  consider 
is  compensated  for  by  the  property  of  the  humus  of 
holding  moisture  ;  strawy  manure  should  be  in  a 
half  decayed  condition  Digging  must  be  done 
early,  and  most  crops  require  manure  below  their 
roots  to  encourage  deep  rooting.  Potatoes  may 
have  manure  worked  in  when  preparing  the  ground 
in  spring,  and  the  ground  will  have  to  be  worked 
deeper  for  them  than  for  other  crops,  (They  are 
an  exception.)  The  plot  for  roots  should  be  double 
dug  and  have  manure  well  mixed  into  the  second 
spit ;  as  the  rising  of  sub-soi!  moisture  is  checked 
by  a  wad  of  manure  that  is  not  mixed  with  the 
soil. 

Summer. — The  secret  of  summer  cultivation  is^ 
of  course,  for  all  soils,  the  gospel  of  the  hoe,  the 
dry  mulch  of  3ins.  loose  fine  soil  being  the  best 
method  of  retaining  moisture.  A  heavy  shower 
consolidates  this,  the  capillary  channels  reform  and 
a  hot  sun  may  soon  suck  away  and  evaporate  more 
moisture  than  the  storm  brought  down.  Light, 
showers,  like  light  waterings,  followed  by  hot  sun^ 
do  more  harm  than  good,  unless  the  surface  is 
stirred  again  without  delay  as  soon  as  it  is  friable. 
Every  hour,  the  precious  moisture  is  turning  to- 
vapour  in  contact  with  the  hot  dry  air.     Ground 


April  29,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


203 


that  has  a  moist  surlace  in  sunshine  is  losing  imder- 
ground  water.  The  matter,  therefore,  is  urgent, 
moreover,  if  left  too  long  unstirred,  there  is  the 
added  evil  of  caking  and  cracking,  and  young 
seedlings,  especially,  will  be  harmed  if  the  surface 
flakes  when  hoed,  instead  of  cracking.  It  is  a  very 
bad  thing,  also,  to  go  to  the  other  extreme,  and 
hoe  when  the  ground  is  so  wet  that  it  cuts  in 
slices  ;  there  is  no  fine  mulch,  and  a  hard  pan  forms 
under  the  hoe.  On  trodden  ground,  as  between 
rows  of  Peas,  a  Ught  pricking  over  with  a  fork  is 
better  than  hoeing. 

Opinions  are  divided  as  to  the  use  of  maniu'e  or 
lawn  mowings  as  mulches.  In  certain  situations 
they  are  very  valuable  on  light  warm  soils,  as 
wherever  hoeing  cannot  be  done,  and  where  roots 
are  %-ery  near  the  surface,  say  for  Strawberries, 
newly  planted  trees,  Raspberries ;  they  are  some- 
times applied  with  success,  in  a  fine  state,  to 
Carrots.  1  believe  great  benefit  would  result  from 
frequent  light  sprinklings  of  lawn  mowings  along 
rows  of  Carrots  and  Beet  while  young  ;  such  as 
would  hoe  in  easily  w'hen  dried.  A  drawback  to 
the  mulch  is  that  in  long  dry  spells,  the  mulch  and 
the  soil  beneath  it  will  get  quite  dry,  and  a  shower 
of  rain  which  might  have  benefited  the  roots  of  the 
plants,  does  not  even  wet  through  the  mulch.  A 
grass  mulch  requires  adding  to  during  the  season,  but 
in  moderation.  End  of  April  or  May  is  early  enough 
to  apply  them,  and  the  soil  should  previously  be 
pricked  up,  cleaned  and  exposed  to  sim  and  air. 

Moisture  is  saved  in  an  indirect  way  by  evening 
s>iTnging  and  overhead  sprinklings  with  a  fine 
rose,  and  this  is  often  more  refreshing  to  plants 
than  a  watering.  Insufficient  waterings  without 
hoeing,  dry  out  the  soil  and  burn  the  roots  of  plants, 
and  it  is  better  to  hoe  without  watering  than  to 
water  without  hoeing.  Seediings  for  a  time  may 
need  waterings  every  day,  and  in  hot  weather  the 
only  way  to  get  over  the  difficulty  of  scorching  is 
to  shade  during  the  day. 

Ground  Occupied  by  Winter  Crqps. — 
Winter  crops  should  be  thoroughly  gone  over  in 
autumn,  cleaned  and  pricked  up.  As  far  as  possible, 
the  soil  should  be  kept  open  between  these  crops 
to  allow  plenty  of  ram  water  to  percolate  and  there 
should  be  no  weedy  ground  in  vegetable  or  flower 
garden,  as  weeds  absorb  the  wet  which  ought  to 
sink  into  the  soil.  Digging  should  follow  as  soon 
as  possible  on  the  finishing  of  the  crop.  On  no 
account  should  the  Cabbage  tribe  be  left  to  flower. 
Once  the  flowers  open  the  vegetable  is  of  no  further 
use,  and  they  are  great  wasters  of  food  and  water 
when  in  bloom.  To  help  in  clearing  the  ground  the 
latest  Celen.',  Leeks,  and  heading  Broccoli  can  be 
hfted  and  heeled  in  a  shady  place,  as  against  the 
north  side  of  a  shed  or  wall. 

Trenches  for  Peas  are  best  prepared  in  winter 
before  digging  the  rest  of  the  plot,  on  ground  pre- 
viously occupied  by  Potatoes  or  roots.  Cultivate 
two  or  three  spits  deep,  with  plenty  of  farmyard 
manure  mixed  into  bottom  layers,  and  some 
basic  slag.  The  sites  of  the  rows  should  be  marked, 
and  the  whole  of  the  plot  afterw'ards  single  dug  right 
through.  If  the  trenches  are  not  prepared  till  the 
time  ot  cropping,  they  must  have  the  lower  levels 
well  trodden  as  work  proceeds. 

The  following  table  gives  suggestions  for  cropping 
which  avoids  any  deep  cultivation  after  Christmas, 
except  for  Leeks  and  Potatoes  : 


To  sum  up,  the  special  features  of  treatment  to 
conserve  moisture  in  light  soils  are  ; 
(i)  Early  digging  (before  Christmas). 

(2)  Shallow  cultivation  from  spring  onwards. 

(3)  No  rough  surfaces  once  winter  is  over. 


Autumn  and  Winter  Crop. 


Followed  by 


Cleared  /■  Late  Cauliflower      Root  crops-v 

before   -[  Early  Broccoli  Do.      \     Double  dug. 


Xmas    I  Early  Celery 

Late  Broccoli 
Celery 

Leeks 

Winter  Spinach 

Spring  Cabbage 

Savoy 


{4)   No  hard  crusts  to  be  left  unbroken. 

(5)  Finely  divided  humus  near  the  surface.  For 
Carrots  and  Beet  add  soot  and  salt.  For  Turnips, 
bone  meal  is  good  at  the  bottom  of  the  drills. 

G.  Price-Davies. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


Onions 

Celery 

Peas — no    other    prep,    but 

levelling  every  other  row. 
Potatoes. 
Seedling  Brassicas — surface 

cultivation,  soot  and  humus 

stirred  in. 
June  and  July  Carrots  and 

Beet. 
Potatoes. 


WHAT    IS    A    "HARDY"    ANNUAL? 

CUCCINCTLY  a  "  hardy  annual "  is  a  plant 
of  which  seeds  sown  out  of  doors  germinate, 
the  plants  blossom,  ripen  their  seeds  and  die 
within  a  period  of  one  year — not  infrequently  the 
life  cycle  is  covered  by  three  months.  On  page  iSi 
"  A.  A." — one  may  be  forgiven  for  assuming  that 
the  \vriter  belongs  to  the  gentler  sex — indicts  seed 
merchants  on  a  baseless  charge,  since  her  "  com- 
plaint "  is  not  a  "  complaint,"  but  a  grumble — 
a  complaint  without  a  cause.  The  fact  that  the 
seedsman  has  printed  on  his  packets  of  Clarkia, 
Godetia  or  any  other  "  hardy  "  annual  the  words 
"  raise  in  gentle  heat  "  or  "  sow  in  a  hot-bed  in 
February  "  places  the  purchaser  under  no  obligation 
to  do  so.  The  seeds  are  those  of  "  hardy  "  annuals 
which  may  be  sown  in  the  open  garden  from  the 
end  of  March  onwards  to  the  end  of  June  with 
excellent  prospects  of  success.  If,  however,  the 
grower   with   the   essential   con\'eniences   cares   to 


who,  similarly  to  "  A.  A.,"  have  accepted  the 
"  suggestions  "  as  "  instructions,"  and  not  having 
the  necessary  conveniences  for  indoor  sowing 
have  excluded  many  beautiful  plants  from  their 
gardens  in  fear  of  failure.  If  it  is  deemed  imperative 
that  cultural  directions  shall  be  printed  in  seed 
catalogues  and  on  seed  packets — which,  in  view 
of  the  admirably  Uned  pages  of  The  Garden 
and  other  pubUcations,  is  widely  open  to  doubt — 
it  should  be  made  quite  clear  that  there  are 
alternative  methods  of  culture,  each  leading  to 
success,  from  which  growers  may  make  choice 
according  to  their  individual  circumstances  and 
surroundings. — W.  H.  Lodge. 

DOUBLE    BEGONIAS. 

T  SEND  you  a  photograph  of  my  Begonias  last 

season  which  may  interest  some  of  your  readers. 

Being   purely   an   amateur's   work   and   grown   in 

a   small   space,   we   were   very   pleased   with    the 


A    correspondent's    house    of    double    BEGONIAS. 


sow  the  seeds?  under  glass  much  earlier  in  the 
season  he  or  she  is  perfectly  at  liberty  to  do  so. 
If  the  seedsman  described  a  plant  as  a  "  hardy  " 
annual  and  proceeded  to  say  that  the  "  seeds 
must  be  raised  in  gentle  heat  "  or  that  the  "  seeds 
must  be  sown  in  a  hot-bed  in  February  "  "  A.  A." 
would  have  a  genuine,  as  against  an  imaginary, 
grievance,  for  the  instructions  would  directly 
imply  that  the  plant  was  a  "  tender "  annual, 
Celosia  pyramidalis  and  Torenia  Foumieri  to  wit, 
but  I  have  never  known  a  seed  merchant  to  give 
such  explicit  instructions  on  the  seed  packet  of 
a  "  hardy  "  annual.  While  supporting  the  seed 
merchants  against  an  unjustifiable  indictment,  one 
ventures  to  think  that  the  constant  recommend- 
ations to  sow  the  seeds  of  "  hardy  "  annuals  under 
glass  are  unwise.  That  superior  plants,  which 
will  flower  earlier  in  the  garden,  can  be  raised 
from  seeds  sown  in  greenhouses  and  frames  is 
undoubted,   but   I  have  known  several  amateurs 


result.  We  placed  the  original  tubers,  early  in 
the  year,  in  shallow  boxes  containing  equal  parts 
of  leaf-mould  and  maiden  loam,  with  a  fair  propor- 
tion of  sand.  -As  soon  as  they  commenced  to  shoot 
we  potted  them  up,  giving  them  subsequently 
two  further  shifts,  paying  careful  attention  at 
each  removal  to  drainage.  The  final  compost 
comprised  good  loam  and  leaf-mould  with  coarse 
sand.  The  plants  were  kept  moist  and  shaded 
from  the  sun,  and  syringed  well  over  night.  The 
following  year  we  propagated  them  by  cutting  the 
tubers  with  a  sharp  knife,  dusting  well  with  sulphur 
and  laying  cut  side  down  in  the  shallow  boxes. 
If  a  tuber  is  found  in  spring  to  be  partly  rotten, 
the  better  part  can  be  saved  in  the  same  way. 
They  are  Blackmore  and  Langdon's  wonderful 
strain,  a  particularly  fine  one  being  King  Alphonso, 
but  the  whole  range  is  wonderful.  It  is  surprising 
that  they  are  not  even  more  largely  grown.— 
K.  DowLiNG  Walker. 


204 


THE     GARDEN 


[April  29,  1922. 


BORDER  CARNATIONS  FOR  THE 
BORDER. 

lyrR.  A.  CECIL  BARTLETT'S  article  on  the 
above  subject  which  appeared  recently 
(page  162)  is  certainly  good  in  most  respects, 
■but  I  for  one  fail  to  agree  with  him  on  one 
important  point,  because  from  my  experience 
•of  the  last  quarter  of  a  century  I  consider  the 
application  of  chemical  stimulants  at  this  or  any 
•season  both  unwise  and  unwanted.  If  the  bed 
"was  properly  made  before  planting  took  place — 
and  there  is  no  better  place  than  that  which  was 
properly  worked  and  manured  for  a  previous 
Potato  crop — I  consider  there  i=  no  necessity  for 
•stimulants,  certainly  neither  sulphate  of  ammonia 
nor  superphosphate. 

The  Border  Carnation  is  not  a  rank  or  strong 
feeder,  and  such  tactics  as  professional  growers 
of  the  Perpetual-flowering  sorts  usually  adopt 
to  get  their  plants  to  bloom  twice  in  the  same 
'>'ear  are  not  only  detrimental  but  unwise  when 
applied  to  the  old  Border  varieties.  As  regards 
the  matter  of  speciahsts'  mixtures,  Mr.  Bartlett 
may  be  right  if  he  is  referring  to  "  Perpetuals," 
but  I  fancy  he  would  have  a  hard  job  to  find  any 
Border  Carnation  specialist  offering  such  mixtures. 
No  such  ways,  in  my  opinion,  are  necessary  or 
advisable,  at  all  events  for  "  Borders  "  grown  in 
■open  beds,  and  I  question  very  much  if  it  be  right 
to  adopt  such  ways  for  plants  grown  in  pots. 
The  effects  of  such  feeding  are  soon  shown  in 
■coarser  flowers  and  "  grass,"  consequently  coarse 
and  often  diseased  stock  follow  ;  I  refer  to  fungoid 
•diseases  in  particular. 

There  is  to-day  a  strong  tendency  to  believe  that 
all  plants  grown  in  garden  or  field  are  the  better 
for  what  is  usually  called  artificial  manure.  Apart 
from  the  present  expense  of  such  manures — some 
■of  which  I  call  soil  wasters— I  consider  it  timely 
that  many  of  us  should  think  of  returning  as 
(ar  as  practicable  to  more  natural  ways  of  cuiti 
'vation  ;  I  mean  the  use  of  real  manure  and  less 
"  artificials."  Some  will  perhaps  say  where  are 
we  to  get  the  real  stuff ;  I  grant  it  is  now  more 
•difficult  to  find,  but  if  gardeners  and  farmers  will 
adopt  ways  and  means  of  finding  as  well  as  pro- 
'ducing  it,  I  fancy  there  is  still  a  chance  of  getting 
a  fair  if  not  an  ample  supply. 

My  main  contention  is,  put  the  stuff  into  the 
flower-pot  or  soil  before  you  attempt  to  take  it 
out,  and  above  all  allow  Nature  to  do  that.  I 
am  a  disbeliever  in  forcing  tactics  and  consider 
that  there  are  few  plants  or  crops  that  require 
extra  stimulants  during  growth  if  the  proper 
foundation  has  been  laid.  I  go  farther  and  say 
that  there  are  many  instances  where  extra  feeding 
(either  natural  or  artificial)  is,  to  plants,  practically 
poison  ;  among  such  I  class  the  Border  Carnation, 
in  fact  the  Dianthus  family  generally. 

I  do  not  mean  to  infer  that  I  am  against  common 
•mild  ingredients  and  fertilisers,  such  as  lime, 
«oot  and  burnt  rubbish  (potash  salts),  which  are 
more  or  less  necessities.  Bone  meal,  too,  is  a  food 
which  I  do  not  call  artificial ;  it  is  one  which 
may  be  used  with  most  plants,  provided  it  is 
applied  with  discretion. — R.  Morton,  Woodsidc 
Park,   .V, 

DWARF  NASTL'RTIUMS  AS  POT  PLANTS. 
"pVER  since  early  in  March  we  have  been  enjoy- 
ing the  brilUance  of  Nasturtium  Cloth  of 
•Gold  flowering  in  size  54  pots  in  a  slightly  heated 
plant-house.  The  practice  is,  I  beheve,  rather 
unusual,  but  one  worth  copying  where  bright 
flowers  are  appreciated  during  the  duller  days 
and  at  small  cost.  It  came  about  in  this  wise. 
Some  seed  was  sown  in  an  outside  narrow  border 
that,  owing  to  the  abnormal  season,  proved  too  dry 
to  effect  germination  until  quite  late  in  tlie  autumn. 


Knowing  then  it  was  too  late  for  the  plants  to 
make  sufficient  growth  to  flower  before  frost 
would  spoil  them,  the  small  seedlings  were  taken 
up  and  potted  as  already  mentioned.  Of  course 
seed  could  be  sown  direct  in  pots  in  early  autumn, 
growing  the  plants  on  in  a  cold  frame  until  com- 
pelled by  the  cold  weather  to  take  them  in  a 
warmer  place  ;  but  I  am  not  sure  if  sowing  in  the 
open  and  then  potting  the  seedlings  would  not 
make  sturdier  plants  because  their  removal 
would  check  long,  tapering  roots  and  tend  to 
produce  a  more  fibrous  mass  of  roots.  At  any 
rate  I  make  this  suggestion  so  that  anyone  disposed 
to  try  a  few  pots  of  dwarf  Nasturtiums  for  winter 
flowering  may  adopt  whichever  method  appeals. 
Of  one  thing  I  am  certain,  floral  gayness  in  the 
greenhouse  in  winter  cannot  be  achieved  by  a 
more  economical  and  simpler  plant  to  manage 
than  the  Nasturtium  here  cited,  while  it  also 
aft'ords  a  good  range  of  colouring. — C.  T.,  Ampthill. 
[A  correspondent  at  Lingfield  sent  the  Editor 
for  his  table  a  few  weeks  ago  really  beautitul 
sprays  of  TropcEolum  Lobbianum,  which  proved 
very  lasting.  There  is  no  doubt  that  the  so-called 
Nasturtiums  are  not  grown  for  indoor  decoration 
to  the  extent  they  should  be. — Eo.l 

DAME  DAFFODIL. 

What !    Here  again,  Dame  Daffodil, 
Ail  in  your  gown  of  silken  twill. 
And  stomacher,  and  gauffered  frill  ? 
You  take  my  breath,  Dame  Daffodil ! 

And  that  grand  air,   Dame  Daffodil ! 
You  flick  your  fan  with  such  a  skill, 
I  fear  me  you  are  out  to  kill 
A  host  of  lovers,  Daffodil ! 

To  see  you  dancing.  Daffodil, 

There,  by  the  stream  that  turns  the  mill — 

Jig,  minuet,  gavotte,  quadrille — 

Is  heart's  delight.  Dame  Daffodil  ! 

Who  makes  the  music.  Daffodil — • 
The  jet-black  bird  with  the  orange  bill  ? 
Not  his  the  run,  the  shake,  the  trill, 
But  the  Lark's,  I  think.  Dame  Daffodil ! 

Who  is  the  Wooer,   Daffodil, 
Comes  hither  dancing  from  the  hill  ? 
Hang  not  your  head — I  think  no  ill 
Of  you  and  the  West  Wind,  Daffodil ! 

Come,  tell  me,  tell  me,  Daffodil, 
What  says  the  West  Wind,  so  to  thrill 
Your  pulses,  and  so  full  to  fill 
Your  Cup  with  gladness,  Daffodil  ? 

Ah,  well,  dance  on.  Dame  Daffodil, 
You  and  your  West  Wind  !    Dance  until 
Vou  dance  your  dance,  if  dance  you  will. 
Above  my  head,  dear  Daffodil ! 

SOMERS. 

ALPINES    AND    ELEVATION. 

T  WAS  grateful  to  "  Hortulanus  "  for  suggesting 
that  another  reason  why  many  alpine  plants 
descend  to  lower  elevations  on  more  southern 
ranges  than  they  usually  do  on  the  high  Swiss 
Alps,  is  because,  as  in  Britain,  "  many  do  not 
ascend  to  the  top  of  the  mountains,  but  choose  a 
place  lower  down  where  they  can  get  a  more 
continuous  supply  of  moisture  and,  at  the  same 
time,  get  shelter  from  the  hurricanes  of  wind  which 
frequently  prevail."  It  happens  that  to-day, 
.'^pril  17,  comes  a  letter  from  my  friend,  George 
Flemwell,  who  is  now  Uving  at  Locarno  and  enjoy- 
ing the  "  sub-tropical  vegetation "  and  other 
amenities  of  the  beautiful  Lago  Maggiore.  He 
says  :  "  My  wife  and  I  were  in  Italy  recently. 
We  went  to  Varese.  Although  that  district  is 
further  south  than  Locarno,  its  vegetation  was  far 


more  backward  and  far  less  '  sub-tropical.'  [Of 
course,  the  sub-tropical  vegetation  at  Locarno  has 
been  introduced.]  We  came  across  crowds  of 
Snowflakes  growing  in  the  open ;  whereas  in 
Switzerland  I  have  never  seen  this  bulb  except  in 
damp  and  shady  gorges.  Also  the  woods  near 
Varese  were  wonderfully  attractive  with  masses 
of  Erythronium,  scattered  among  the  Hepatica, 
Primrose,  Daphne  and  Scilla.  Very  gay  indeed 
upon  the  peculiarly  brick-coloured  debris  of  rock. 
I  beheve  a  very  interesting  subject  for  our  paper 
would  be  some  official  explanation  of  certain  alpine 
vegetation  descending  to  a  lower  level  on  this 
southern  side  of  the  Alps  than  it  does  on  the 
northern  side.  Why  should  that  be  ?  Why  should 
greater  heat  not  drive  it  higher  ?  For  the  same 
reason,  I  presume,  that  Gentiana  verna,  in  Ireland, 
is  found  down  by  the  sea.  But  what  is  that 
reason  ?  Could  you  at  your  leisure  help  me  to 
some  reasonable  and  interesting  remarks  and 
information  upon  that  subject  ?  "  Had  Mr. 
Flemwell  seen  the  recent  notes  in  The  G.^rden  on 
this  subject  he  would  have  told  me.  It  is  a  mere 
coincidence.  He  wants  the  information  for  the 
Journal  des  Eirangers  of  Locarno.  It  is  a  remark- 
able pubhcation  of  its  Idnd,  beautifully  illustrated 
by  Mr.  Flemwell  and  with  charimng  photographs  ; 
while  the  Easter  number  contains  a  most  readable 
article  by  our  friend,  Henry  Correvon,  "  la  Lovely 
Canton  Tessin."  Any  further  comments  upon  this 
question  would  be  appreciated. — H.  Stuart 
Thompson,  Bristol. 

NOTABLE    NEW    DAFFODILS. 

HP  HERE  were  very  few  outstanding  flowers 
at  the  Daffodil  meeting  at  Vincent  Square 
on  April  11,  but  of  course  the  weather  previous 
to  the  Show  had  been  of  such  a  cast-iron  nature 
that  good  flowers  were  hardly  to  be  expected. 
The  following  are  all  that  I  spotted  personally, 
but  I  wiU  not  warrant  that  no  good  thing  was 
missed  :  White  Nile  (Chapman),  a  distinct  and 
attractive  giant  Leedsii,  segments  pure  white, 
slightly  pointed  and  of  fine  waxy  texture,  cup 
long,  rather  cylindrical,  pale  lemon,  passing  to 
white.  Golden  Pedestal  (J.  L.  Richardson, 
Waterford)  is  a  giant  Incomparabiiis  of  very 
perfect  shape  and  uniform  bright  clear  yellow ; 
perhaps  the  best  flower  in  the  hall.  Magog 
(Donard  Nursery  Company),  a  very  large 
golden  yellow  Daffodil  of  the  King  Alfred  type, 
but  larger ;  a  really  fine  decorative  variety. 
Sih'er  Chimes,  a  Tazetta  variety  of  triandrus 
origin,  perianth  white,  cup  pale  lemon,  many 
flowers  per  stem,  very  sweetly  scented  ;  this 
was  exhibited  by  Mr.  J.  C.  Martin  of  Truro. 
Nevis  (Chapman),  a  very  beautiful  white  trumpet, 
much  in  the  way  of  White  Emperor. — J.  Dunc.\n 
Pearson,  Lowdham,  Notts. 

LATE    SEED    SOWING. 

A  GRE.\T  many  gardeners  will  be  forced  this 
season  to  sow  their  seeds  late,  and  some 
amateurs  may  be  lamenting  this,  so,  for  their 
consolation,  I  write  to  give  my  own  experience  in 
this  matter.  Years  ago,  when  I  was  an  even  more 
foolish  amateur  than  I  am  still,  I  used  to  try  to  get 
most  of  my  seeds  sown  before  the  end  of  March 
with  the  result  that  I  generally  had  to  sow  a  great 
many  of  them  again  in  April.  Now,  though  this 
may  serv'e  the  seedsmen,  it  does  not  suit  my 
deplenished  pocket,  and  besides,  it  entails  a  waste 
of  labour — an  ever  present  consideration  in  these 
days  of  "  unemployment  "  and  scarcity  of  workers  ! 
Moreover,  time  and  again  I  have  observed  that 
the  later  sown  seeds,  which  come  up  when  frosts 
are  past,  soon  overtake  and  surpass  in  vigour 
earlier  sown  plants  which  have  received  checks 
that  more  or  less  spoiled  their  appearance  and 
stunted  their  foliage  and  growth  for  the  season. 


April  29,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


205 


So  now  my  practice  is  to  trust  for  early  flowers 
to  self-sown  ones  of  the  previous  summer  and  make 
my  "  regular  "  sowing  somewhat  like  my  father's 
"  regular  train "  to  torni  when  we  lived  at 
Surbiton.  One  morning  when  I  arrived  down  to 
breakfast  (at  which  meal  I  have  ever  been  a  certain 
"  donkey-race  winner  ")  I  found  there  was  some 
friction  about  breakfast  having  been  late  for 
several  mornings.  (Of  course,  I  had  not  observed 
nor  complained  of  this  for  the  above  mentioned 
reason).  Father  said  he  could  not  catch  his 
"  regular  train  ''  if  breakfast  was  late.  Said 
mother,  with  the  air  of  one  seeking  information, 
'■  I  should  like  to  know-,  Joseph,  what  time  your 
'  regular '  train  goes  ?  "  Replied  father,  with 
that  roguish  look,  which  he  well  knew  always 
disarmed  mother's  displeasure,  "  My  regular  train 
is  the  9.50,  but  I  generally  go  by  the  10.20." 
My  "  regular  "  seed  sowing  is  early  in  April,  but 
gets  finished  some  time  in  May. — Anne  Am.^teur. 

A    CORRECTION. 

'T'HERE  are  two  errors  in  my  note  on  page  168 
of  The  G.\rden,  ."^pril  8th,  Firstly,  an 
obvious  misprint,  the  name  of  the  island  is  given 
as  "  Chirs "  instead  of  Chios.  Lower  down 
"  Bonner  says "  should  read  "  Boissier  says." 
Mv  object  in  drawing  attention  to  these  is  to 
make  it  clear  that  the  mistakes  do  not  occur  in 
Mr.  Elwes'  letter,  from  which  I  quoted. — W.  P. 
Moore. 

CHEAP     TICKETS    FOR    CHELSEA'? 

■\\^ITH  reference  to  the  forthcoming  R.H.S. 
Show  at  Chelsea,  would  not  it  be  possible 
to  approach  the  various  railway  companies  with 
a  view  to  the  issue  of  special  cheap  tickets.  Even 
if  at  the  rate  of  the  usual  week-end  tickets, 
they  would,  if  available  for  the  three  days  of  the 
Show,  be  very  welcome.  In  many  gardens  wages 
are  at  a  very  low  level,  but  I  feel  sure  many  would 
take  advantage  of  cheaper  fares  if  available. 
Gardeners,  and  others  interested  in  horticulture, 
li\Tng  outside  the  Home  Counties  are  the  ones 
chiefly  concerned. — (Miss)  B.  Gilbert. 

DAFFODILS  IN  INFORMAL  PLANTING. 

T  H.WE  read  with  much  interest  the  article 
on  Daffodils  in  The  Garden  for  April  15. 
My  own  experience  may  be  of  interest.  The 
field  above  and  the  field  below  this  house  were 
yellow  with  Daffodils  every  spring  in  years  long 
gone  by.  As  the  population  increased  they 
gradually  disappeared.  The  flowers  were  plucked 
in  bud,  and  one  by  one  the  plants  were  dug  up. 
As  they  were  no  longer  of  any  value  to  the  neigh- 
bourhood, 1  took  up  most  of  those  which  remained 
and  planted  them,  many  years  ago,  in  my  garden 
in  a  piece  of  rough  grass  with  an  area  of  about 
250  square  yards.  They  have  increased  year 
after  year  and  have  been  a  great  delight.  Last 
year  they  flowered  very  badly,  but  this  year  they 
are  marvellous.  We  can  safely  estimate  that 
there  are  at  least  25,000  flowers.  It  is  interesting 
to  observe  among  them  a  number  of  self-sown 
crosses — crosses  apparently  with  Emperor,  Golden 
Spur,  the  Tenby  Daffodil,  and  one  or  more  of 
the  bicolors.  I  am  half  sorry,  however,  for  these 
crosses,  because  I  do  not  agree  with  your  corre- 
spondent in  preferring  the  beautiful  large  kinds 
to  our  native  Daffodil  for  wild  gardening.  The 
fields  are  very  dry.  The  Tenby  Daffodil  is  not 
princeps,  is  it  ?  I  thought  it  was  ver\^  different. 
— F.  A.  Sturge,  Coed  Efa,  near  Wrexham. 

[The  Tenby  Daffodil  is,  of  course.  Narcissus 
obvaliaris,  not  princeps,  as  inadve'-t^ntly  stated 
in  the  article  in  question. — Ed.] 


GARDENING    OF    THE    WEEK 


FOR    SOUTHERN    G.\RDENS. 
The   Kitchen  Garden. 

Leeks. — Plants  raised  under  glass  in  January, 
having  been  carefully  hardened  off,  may  now  be 
placed  in  their  permanent  quarters.  Planting  may 
be  done  on  the  level  or  in  holes  made  with  a  stout 
dibber,  or  in  trenches  prepared  as  for  Celery.  In 
either  case  the  soil  should  be  well  enriched  and  be  of 
a  good  depth,  as  Leeks  appreciate  and  repay  good 
treatment.  When  surface  grown,  allow  about  iSius. 
or  2oins.  between  the  rows  so  that  sufficient  soil 
will  be  available  for  pulUng  up  to  them  to  assist 
blanching. 

Kohl  Rabi. — This  turnip-like  vegetable  may  be 
sown  any  time  after  March,  but  a  good  time  to 
make  a  general  purpose  sowing  is  about  the  end  of 
.\pril  or  early  May.  From  this  sowing  roots  are 
available  for  late  summer  and  early  autumn 
usage,  and  when  roots  are  in  late  demand  two 
more  sowings  should  be  made  at  intervals  of  about 
six  weeks.  The  drills  should  be  i8ins.  apart  and 
when  the  plants  are  finally  thinned  they  should 
be  about  gins,  from  each  other.  To  avoid  waste, 
only  partial  thinning  should  be  done  at  first,  which 
will  allow  some  of  the  young  roots,  really  swollen 
stems,  to  develop  sufficiently  to  use  as  the  final 
thinning  takes  place. 

Seed  Sowing. — Late  Brassicas  not  yet  sown  or 
not  in  sufficient  quantities,  should  receive  attention 
now.  It  is  always  advisable  to  have  an  abundance  of 
such  plants  to  choose  from.  Such  a  sowing  now 
would  include  Sprouting  Broccoli,  Savoys,  a 
selection  of  Kales  and  Portugal  Cabbage.  To 
those  who  have  not  previously  tried  the  Russian 
Kale,  it  is  well  w-orth  such  a  trial,  for  the  young 
sprouts  which  spring  up  in  abundance  in  the 
centre  of  each  plant  after  its  heart-hke  middle  has 
been  cut  are  quite  as  delicious  as  some  of  the  Kales. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Herbaceous  Borders. — A  beneficial  operation, 
where  time  can  be  found  for  it,  is  the  thinning 
of  weakly  superfluous  growths,  thus  allowing  of  a 
better  development  of  the  remaining  stems.  This 
practice  is  obviously  hardly  necessary  with  newly 
planted  or  freshly  divided  clumps,  but  applies  more 
particularly  where  no  such  work  has  been  carried 
out  for  some  years.  Particularly  ought  this  over- 
crowding of  growths  to  be  mitigated  in  such  plants 
as  Phloxes,  Perennial  Asters,  Chinese  Peonies  and 
Heleniunis. 

Dahlias. — The  stools  of  these  plants  still  in 
resting  quarters  may  be  planted  now,  for  by  the 
time  such  growth  is  in  evidence  danger  from 
damage  by  frosts  should  be  past.  Where  the 
stock  has  been  increased  by  division,  cuttings  or 
seed,  such  should  be  nicely  hardened  off  previous 
to  planting  out. 

The  Tree  Paeony  is  the  first  of  this  family  to 
open  its  flowers  and  sometimes  in  early  May,  when 
the  buds  are  unfolding,  a  sharp  frost  on  one  or 
two  nights  may  considerably  mar  if  not  entirely 
spoil  the  beauty  of  the  blooms.  Where  sufficient 
shelter  is  not  provided  by  the  surroundings  a 
few  tall  stakes  should  be  arranged  for  to  carry  a 
piece  of  canvas  and  thus  avert  or  at  any  rate 
greatly  reduce  the  danger.  The  large  gorgeous 
blooms  of  this  plant  are  well  worth  trying  to  save. 

Polyanthus  require  a  long  period  to  develop 
into  strong  flowering  plants,  so  where  an  increase 
of  stock  is  contemplated  seed  may  be  sown  now. 
Sow  in  boxes  of  hght  sandy  soil  and  place  in  a 
cold  frame  or  sow  directly  into  a  prepared  bed  in  the 
frame.  Shade  from  sunshine  and  keep  at  all  times 
uniformly  moist,  and  when  the  seedlings  are  large 
enough  to  handle,  prick  out  in  good  soil  on  a  cool 
border  where  they  can  remain  until  required  for 
their  flowering  positions. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Disbudding. — This  work  should  be  carefully 
carried  out  and  may  be  begun  as  soon  as  the  young 
shoots  are  an  inch  or  so  in  length.  With  trees 
which  mainly  carry  their  fruit  on  the  young  wood 
of  the  previous  year,  such  as  Peaches  and  Nectar- 
ines, first  care  should  be  given  to  the  selection  of 
those  shoots  which  will  be  retained  for  this  purpose. 
A  well  placed  basal  bud,  preferably  on  the  top  side, 
is  the  main  one  to  select  and  a  couple  or  so  others 
may  be  left  at  intervals,  and  a  leader.  Much  will 
depend  upon  the  tree  and  aim  of  the  cultivator. 
Strong  waier  shoots  should  not  be  encouraged,  but 
where  such  accompanies  a  fruit  should  be  pinched 
at  the  second  leaf,  otherwise  rubbed  off,  with  the 
possible  exception  of  one  below  the  chosen  growth 
at  the  base,  which,  treated  spur  fashion,  will  often 
yield  a  good  fruit.  It  cannot  however  be  advised  to 
carry  the  spur  method  to  much  extent  on  such  as 


Peaches  and  Nectarines  trained  on  walls,  etc. 
The  Morello  Cherry  also  may  be  treated  in  hke 
manner  to  the  above,  although  it  must  be  admitted 
in  this  case  that  excellent  crops  may  be  obtained 
from  a  spur  trained  tree  and  this  method  is  adopted 
by  some  growers. 

H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 
Albiiry  Park  Gardens,  Guildford. 


FOR    NORTHERN    GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Peas. — To  ensure  regular  supplies  of  Peas  from 
June  until  October,  sowings  should  be  made 
every  ten  days  or  so.  The  Giant  Marrowfats  give 
the  most  satisfaction,  but  care  should  be  taken 
not  to  sow  too  thickly  in  the  rows.  On  ground 
which  is  light  or  gravelly,  shallow  trenches  should 
be  resorted  to,  with  well  rotted  dung  and  plenty 
of  decaj'ed  material  from  the  compost  heap  incor- 
porated at  the  bottom;  this  is  rich  in  humus  and 
Peas  revel  in  it.  Where  the  trench  system  is 
adopted,  surface  dressings  are  more  usefuUy 
applied  during  the  season. 

Planting   Onions   for   Large    Bulbs. — Onions 

raised  under  glass  will  now  have  been  duly  hardened 
with  a  view  to  transplanting  in  the  open  at  this 
time.  One  of  the  essential  points  in  growing  large 
bulbs  of  this  highly  prized  vegetable  is  to  have  the 
ground  in  the  highest  possible  state  of  cultivation. 
Ground  that  has  been  double  dug  and  richly  manured 
during  the  autumn,  and  which  has  been  subjected 
to  the  mellowing  influence  of  the  weather,  will  suit 
the  crop  well.  Fork  lightly  over  and  give  a  good 
surface  dressing  of  wood  ashes  and  soot.  Mark 
the  ground  off  in  rows  ijins.  apart  and  allow  gins, 
between  the  plants  in  the  rows.  Retain  as  much  soil 
as  possible  on  the  roots  when  planting  and  do  not 
plant  too  deeply. 

Potatoes. — Early  varieties  which  are  through 
the  ground  should  be  protected  when  danger  of 
late  frosts  is  Hkely.  If  the  haulm  is  only  showing, 
the  soil  should  be  drawn  Ughtly  over  them.  If 
further  advanced,  some  feathery  Spruce  branches 
laid  down  the  rows  will  afford  the  necessary  shelter. 
Complete  the  planting  of  late  varieties  at  the  first 
opportunity. 

French  Beans. — Where  there  is  a  cold  frame 
to  spare,  a  sowing  of  this  desirable  vegetable  may 
now  be  made  ancl  thus  relieve  congestion  in  the 
houses.  Sow  seed  of  a  free-bearing  sort,  with  a 
sturdy  habit  of  growth.  Sow  the  seeds  in  rows 
I  Sins,  apart.  The  dwarf  Butter  Bean  may  also  be 
sown  in  like  manner  and  will  be  found  an  excellent 
sort  both  for  quality  and  quantity. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Black  Currants. — Inspect  the  bushes  to  see  if 
"  Big  Bud  "  is  present.  If  the  disease  is  at  all 
prevalent  in  the  vicinity  it  may  be  noticeable  at 
any  time  now,  hence  the  need  for  vigilance.  When 
this  disease  is  detected,  cut  off  the  infected  parts 
and  burn  them.  By  doing  this  the  plantation,  if 
not  exactly  cleared  of  the  disease,  may  be  kept 
free  for  a  considerable  period. 

Fruit  Under   Glass. 

Early    Vines    in    Pots. — Where    the    fruit    is 

swelling  the  vines  should  be  regularly  supphed 
with  stimulants,  so  that  no  check  may  take  place. 
If  the  pots  allow  for  such,  give  a  good  mulching  of 
cow  manure,  as  this  encourages  additional  roots 
and  has  a  beneficial  influence  on  the  ultimate  finish 
of  the  bunches. 

Maincrop  Muscats. — The  night  temperature  of 
the  Muscat  house  should  now  range  from  65°  to  70° 
and  during  the  day  from  75°  to  So^.  Admit  air 
when  the  latter  temperature  is  reached.  Muscats 
revel  in  strong  heat,  especially  when  approaching 
the  flowering  stage.  When  in  flower  attend  to  the 
fertihsing,  also  keep  the  atmosphere  to  the  dry 
side  until  the  fruit  is  set. 

Orchard  Houses. — Keep  a  watchful  eye  on  the 
trees  to  see  that  aphis  does  not  get  a  hold.  Keep 
the  syringe  going  freely  on  trees  that  are  set.  With 
additional  sun  heat  added  care  must  be  taken  wheu 
watering  to  see  that  none  of  the  trees  suffers  from 
dryness  at  the  root.  -A.  check  just  now,  when  the 
fruit  is  newly  formed,  may  prove  fatal,  so  far  as 
this  season's  results  are  concerned. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Pentstemons  raised  from  cuttings  and  having 
been  well  hardened  off  may  now  safely  be  trans- 
ferred to  their  flowering  quarters.  To  obtain  the 
finest  results  from  these  choice  plants  the  ground 
should  be  fairly  rich  and  moderately  heavy     The 


206 


THE    GARDEN. 


[April  29,  1922. 


Pentstemon  proves  an  adaptable  plant  for  grouping 
in  the  mixed  border,  the  small  flowered  Newbury 
Gem  being  specially  suitable  for  this  purpose. 

Antirrhinums    which    have    been    raised    from 
cuttings  should  also  be  planted  out  now. 

Sowing  Hardy  Annuals. — If  it  is  the  intention 

of  the  cultivator  to  sow  hardy  annuals,  no  time 
should  be  lost  in  having  the  beds  or  borders  put 
in  readiness  for  sowing.     When  judicious  selections 
are  made   and   the   plants  wisely  grouped,   hardy 
annuals  cannot  fail  to  give  satisfaction,  especially 
if  the  soil  is  to  their  liking.     Light  loamy  soil  suits 
them  best.    To  sow  on  cold  clayey  soil  often  results 
in  disappointment.     This  difficulty,  however,  may 
be  overcome  by  giving  the  site  a  surface  dressing 
of  old  potting  soil.     Assisted  in  this  way  germina- 
tion is  more  regular  and  slugs  are  less  troublesome. 
James  McGran. 
(Gardener  to  Sir  Hem-y  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.), 
Coodham.  Kilmarnock. 


GREENHOUSE    AND    CONSERVATORY. 

Leonotis  Leonurus  (Lion's  Tail). — This  hand- 
some plant  is  very  useful  for  autumn  flowering  in 
the  greenhouse,  and  should  be  propagated  by  means 
of  cuttings  at  this  time,  as  it  roots  readily  in  a  close 
case  in  a  cool  greenhouse.  The  young  plants 
should  be  potted  on  as  they  require  it  and  do 
well  in  ordinary  potting  compost.  Good  specimens 
require  Sin.  pots  in  which  to  flower,  and  should  be 
stood  outdoors  during  the  summer  months,  giving 
Chrysanthemum  treatment.  They  are  subject 
to  attacks  of  red  spider,  therefore  a  free  use  of  the 
syringe  is  necessary. 

Agapanthus  umbellatus  is  an  excellent  plant 
for  the  cool  conservatory  or  for  standing  outdoors 
in  tubs  for  autumn  flowering.  They  have  a  large 
and  strong  root  system,  so  require  hberal  treatment, 
as  they  often  fail  to  flower  in  a  satisfactory  manner 
through  lack  of  frequent  division.  Now  is  a  good 
time  to  divide  plants  that  are  overcrowded.  Large 
tubs  are  best  to  plant  them  in  as  they  are  very  apt 
to  spHt  their  pots.  There  are  several  varieties 
of  this  plant,  and  in  addition  to  the  white  variety, 
there  is  a  large  variety,  known  as  maximus,  with 
pale  blue  flowers.  Agapanthus  Mooreanus  is  a 
beautiful  plant,  much  smaller  than  A.  umbellatus, 
while  A.  Mooreanus  var.  minor  is  excellent  for  the 

■  conservatory  stage  if  grown  in  small  pots  or  pans. 

Astilbe  simplicifolia  is  generally  regarded  as  a 
ihardv.plant,  but  its  behaviour  outdoors  is  frequently 
not  satisfactory,  though  it  makes  a  very  charming 
plant  for  the  cool  greenhouse.  The  plants,  as  they 
-start  into  growth,  may  be  divided  and  repotted, 
5in.  pots  being  a  suitable  size.  I  find  they  do  best 
if  stood  in  a  cold  frame  with  a  north  exposure, 
giving  them  liberal  supplies  of  water  at  the  root 
when  they  are  well  estabhshed. 

Saxifraga  Fortune!  is  another  hardy  plant  which 
is  excellent  for  autumn  flowering  in  the  cool  green- 
house. It  succeeds  under  the  same  conditions 
as  indicated  for  the  Astilbe.  Outdoors  it  flowers  so 
Tate  that  its  blooms,  unless  protected  in  some  way 
usually  get  damaged  by  frost. 

Saxifraga  sarmentosa,  if  well  grown  in  48- 
sized  pots,  proves  very  charming  for  the  cool 
greenhouse  ;  it  is  also  very  useful  as  a  basket 
plant.  The  variety  tricolor  is  very  beautiful,  but 
requires  a  warmer  house,  an  intermediate  tempera- 
ture of  some  50°  to  55°  suiting  it  best  in  its  younger 
stages. 

Nertera  depressa,  the  so-called  Fruiting  Duck- 
weed, when  covered  with  its  coral-red  fruit,  is 
very  beautiful  in  small  pots  or  pans,  and  as  it  is 
nearly  hardy  it  only  requires  the  shelter  of  a  cold 
frame. 

Pilea  muscosa  (the  Artillery  Plant)  is  very 
useful  for  edging  groups  in  the  greenhouse.  If 
four  shoots  some  4ins.  in  length  are  dibbled  into 
4in.  pots  useful  plants  are  soon  obtained,  as  they 
root  readily  in  a  warm  house,  it  not  being  necessary 
to  put  them  in  a  propagating  case. 

Propagating    Hard  wooded    Plants.— Now    is 

a  good  time  to  insert  cuttings  of  such  plants  as 
Heaths.     The  soil  should  consist  of  fine  peat  and 

■  sand,  which  should  be  rammed  very  firm.  The 
pots  or  pans  should  be  dry  and  clean,  and  have 
ample  drainage,  i.e.,  half  filled  with  drainage 
material.  Erica  cuttings  should  be  made  from 
small  twiggy  shoots  about  lin.  in  length  ;  young 
growth  firm  enough  to  prevent  damping  off  is  best, 
and  great  care  must  be  exercised  in  trimming  off 
the  leaves.  The  gardener  with  some  experience 
can  pull  off  the  leaves,  and  this  is  really  better 
than  trimming  them  with  a  knife  ;  but  Epacris 
must  be  trimmed  off,  taking  great  care  to  not  tear 
the  bark.  The  above  remarks  apply  to  most  of 
the  so-called  hard-wooded  greenhouse  plants ; 
small  twiggy  growth  generally  rooting  more  readily 


than  large  and  stouter  pieces.  When  dibbled  into 
the  cutting  pots  the  cuttings  should  be  well 
watered  and  the  can  should  have  a  fine  rose  on  it. 
Allow  the  pots  to  drain  for  a  short  time  before  they 
are  covered  with  the  bell  glasses.  The  cuttings 
are  best  placed  in  a  case  in  a  cool  house  and  the 
glasses  should  be  removed  and  wiped  dry  every 
morning.  With  some  practice  most  of  the  hard- 
wooded  plants  can  be  successfully  propagated  in 
this  way.  Correa  cardinalis  and  the  choicer 
varieties  of  Correa  speciosa  are  grafted  on  stocks 
of  Correa  alba.  The  same  stock  is  also  used  for  the 
various  species  of  Eriostemons,  also  for  Crowea 
saligna  and  C.  angustifoha.  Some  of  the  choicer 
Grevilleas  that  are  difficult  to  root  successfully 
can  be  grafted  on  seedling  stocks  of  Grevillea 
robusta.  J.  Coutts, 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kew. 


ANSWERS 
TO  CORRESPONDENTS 


Holland's   Gayest  Season. — The   well  known 

Dutch  bulb  house  of  Anthony  C.  van  der  Schoot, 
Hitlegom,  Holland,  infonus  us  that  the  best  time 
to  see  Hyacinths,  Tuhps.  Narcissi,  etc.,  in  full 
flower  will  be  from  about  April  25  till  the  first 
week  of  May.  Boat-trains  from  London  (Liverpool 
Street  Station)  for  Harwich  run  every  night  at 
8.30  {except  on  Sunday),  and  the  steamer  arrives 
at  Hook  of  Holland  about  six  o'clock  in  the 
morning.  The  bulb  farms  are  a  fine  sight  at  this 
season. 

A  Useful  Sprayer. — The  Editor  has  had  under 
trial  a  spraying  syringe  especially  designed  for 
the  amateur  with  a  small  garden  to  whom  an 
expensive  instrument  is  disproportionately  costly. 
This  new  tool,  which  is  called  the  "  Villa  "  sprayer, 
is,  despite  the  low  price,  thoroughly  effective  and 
well  made.  The  nozzle  is  not  detachable,  which, 
of  course,  necessitates  a  little  extra  trouble  in 
case  of  a  stoppage,  but  with  care  this  should  not 
happen  and  experiment  proved  a  clearance  not 
to  be  reaUy  difficult.  To  sum  up,  this  small 
bui  strongly  made  appUance  can  be  thoroughly 
recommended  as  exceedingly  useful  and  wonderful 
value  for  money. 

Edinburgh    Botanic    Gardens. — In    our    last 

issue  we  referred  to  the  retirement  of  Sir  Isaac 
Bayley  Balfour  from  the  post  of  Regius  Keeper 
of  the  Botanic  Garden  at  Edinburgh.  We  now 
learn  that  His  Majesty  the  King  has  approved 
the  appointment  of  Mr.  William  Wright  Smith, 
M.A.,  F.R.S.E.,  F.L.S.,  as  Regius  Keeper,  and 
also  as  Regius  Professor  of  Botany  and  Professor 
of  Botany  in  the  University  of  Edinburgh.  Mr. 
Smith  also  becomes  King's  Botanist  in  Scotland. 
Mr.  Smith  has  held  many  important  scientific 
positions,  and  he  joined  the  staff  of  the  Royal 
Botanic  Gardens,  Edinburgh,  as  deputy  to  Sir 
Isaac  some  years  ago.  Mr.  Smith  will  be  heartily 
congratulated  on  his  appointment.  In  his  capable 
hands  the  good  work  done  by  Sir  Isaac  should  be 
not  merely  maintained,  but  amplified. 

Messrs.  Alex.  Dickson  and  Sons'  Dilemma.— 
The  entire  seed  business  in  Southern  Ireland  of 
Messrs.  Alex.  Dickson  and  Sons,  Limited,  has 
been  confiscated  by  the  Boycott  Department 
of  the  Irish  Republican  Army.  On  the  afternoon 
of  Tuesday,  April  11,  armed  raiders  took  possession 
of  the  metropolitan  establishment  of  the  firm, 
situated  at  61-63,  Dawson  Street,  DubHn,  carried 
away  all  the  books  of  the  Company,  and  ordered 
the  business  to  be  closed  down.  Orders  in  coiurse 
of  execution  were  not  even  allowed  to  be  com- 
pleted, and  all  the  Company's  book  debts  and 
stock-in-trade  are  at  the  disposal  of  the  RepubUcan 
Army.  The  business  is  completely  paralysed 
and  in  a  state  of  absolute  chaos  at  the  moment. 
Under  these  trying  circumstances  Messrs.  Dickson 
ask  for  the  kind  indulgence  of  their  customers 
in  England,  Scotland  and  Wales,  and  request 
that  all  communications  pertaining  to  the  Dublin 
house  should  be  directed  to  the  Northern  head- 
quarters at  Hawlmark,  Belfast.  A  claim  has  been 
lodged  with  the  authonties  for  damages,  amounting 
to  £50,000. 


QUESTIONS  AND  ANSWERS.  — . I//  com  municaf  ions 
should  br  rh-iirhi  inn/  ronr/si'/i/  >rritteit  on  one  side  of  the  paper 
only,  (tiul  uililrrsscil  to  the  KlUTOR  of  THE  GARDEN,  20, 
Tavistock  Street,  Covent  Garden,  London,  W.C.2.  When 
more  than  one  query  is  sent,  each  should  be  on  a  separate 
piece  of  paper.  Plants  for  naming  should  be  clearly  mimbered 
and  seearely  packed  in  damp  grass  or  moss,  not  cotton-wool, 
and  floivering  shoots,  where  possible,  should  be  sent.  It  is 
useless  to  send  small  scraps  that  are  not  characteristic  of 
the  plant. 


FLO^VKR     GARDEN. 

AMARYLLIS  ATTACKED  (G.  H.,  Huntingdon).— 
The  red  tinye  to  the  leaves  of  the  Amaryllis  is  in  all 
probability  due  to  the  presence  of  bulb  mite  on  the  bulbs. 
This  can  probably  best  be  dealt  with  by  immersing  the 
bulbs  in  water  at  a  temperature  of  110°  Fahr.  (not 
more  nor  less)  for  an  hour. 

VARIOUS  PLANTS  FAILING  (R.  E.,  Birmingham.)— 
Tlie  trouble  with  all  tliese  plants  has  in  all  probability 
the  same  origin.  Sometliing  has  been  wrong  with  the 
water  supply  during  some  critical  part,  of  their  growth. 
It  may  betliattliey  are  over-watered  ;  it  may  be  that  they 
are  allowed  to  become  too  dry  ;  and  it  is  quite  likely 
the  effect  is  produced  by  something  acting  months  before 
the  symptoms  are  seen.  None  of  the  plants  mentioned 
by  our  correspondent  must  be  allowed  to  become  actually 
dry  at  any  season.  It  may,  of  course,  be  that  the  roots 
are  unhealthy  and  cannot  do  tlieir  work. 

NATURALISING  DAFFODILS  ('*  Leamington  ").— The 
site's  of  bonfires  in  tlie  woodlands  would  be  excellent  for 
planting  groups  of  Daffodils  as  tliese  would  be  fairly  clear 
of  gross  weeds  and  the  ashes  w  ill  have  greatly  improved 
the  soil  by  reason  of  the  valuable  potash  tliat  has  been 
formed.  Of  the  trumpet  Daffodils  that  are  reasonably 
cheap  we  suggest  Emperor,  Golden  Spur  and  Maximus  of 
tlie  yellow  sorts;  Mrs.  Thompson,  William  Golding  and 
Madame  de  Graaf  of  the  white  trumpets ;  Empress, 
Horsfieldii,  Princeps  and  Glory  of  Noordwijk  of  the 
bicolor  trumpets. 


TREES     AND     SHRUBS. 

PROPAGATING  CYDONIA  (PYRUS)  JAPONICA  (D.  C). 

— It  is  now  too  late  to  insert  cuttings  with  any  hope  of 
success.  The  best  time  is  in  the  autumn,  when  shoots  may 
also  be  layered.  The  salmon  pink  varieties  flower  during 
Marcli  and  April  according  to  the  season  and  locality, 
contemporary  with  tlie  old  scarlet  species.  These  hand- 
some flowering  shrubs  do  not  require  tlie  protection  of  a 
wall  and  may  well  be  used  for  forming  a  garden  hedge, 
a  metliod  we  liave  often  recommended  in  our  colunuis. 

RHODODENDRON  QUESTIONS  ("  Lemmington  ").— 
The  best  treatment  uf  tlie  young  Rhododendrons  that  are 
too  "  legijy  "  would  be  to  replant  them  rather  low.  They 
would  then  root  out  from  the  stems.  The  best  manure  to 
promote  luxuriance  of  foliage  would  be  a  mixture  of  leaf 
mould  and  stable  manure.  This  could  be  used  freely  as 
a  top-dressing  and  also  mixed  with  the  soil  when  planting 
— one  third  of  this  would  not  be  too  much.  Well  charred 
wood,  which  is  practically  charcoal,  from  forest  fires 
could  with  safety  and  to  advantage  be  used.  Rotten 
wood,  if  used  at  all,  should  be  with  caution. 


THE     GREENHOUSE. 

NERTERA     DEPREESSA     NOT     FRUITING    (F.    W., 

Chislehurst). — To  induce  the  flowers  to  set  and  form 
fruits  the  plants  should  be  placed  in  a  cool,  airy  temperature 
as  soon  as  the  flowers  begin  to  expand.  Previously  to 
this  they  may  well  be  kept  in  the  shady  comer  of  the  warm 
vinery.  This  little  plant  objects  to  bright  sunshine  at 
any  time. 

COLOURED  FREESIAS  (C.  H.  R.,  Stirlingshire).— 
Seeds  of  coloured  Freesias  may  be  obtained  from  Messrs. 
Sutton  and  Sons,  Reading,  and  it  will  be  found  that  quite 
a  satisfactory  proportion  come  good.  The  shades  usaally 
range  from  yellow  to  bronze,  bronzy-pink,  deep  rose  and 
mauve.  These  coloured  Freesias  are  as  vigorous  as  the 
older  types  and  if  grown  moderately  cool  are  most  pleasantly 
fragrant.  Seeds  may  be  sown  now.  We  are  glad  to  learn 
that  such  success  was  obtained  through  the  cultural 
instructions  in  our  "  Gardening  of  the  Week." 

CLIVIAS  (J.  H.  H.,  Jersey). — We  quite  agree  that 
much  more  satisfaction  is  obtained  by  growing  the  best 
available  strains  of  all  plants  and  particularly  those  which 
require  glasshouse  treatment.  Really  good  varieties  of 
Clivia  may  be  obtained  from  Messrs.  Clibrans,  Limited, 
The  Nurseries,  Altrincham,  or  Messrs.  L.  R.  Russell, 
Limited,  The  Nurseries,  Richmond.  Clivia  Countess 
Batliurst  which  received  the  R.H.S.  cultural  commendation 
last  year  was  shown  by  the  Earl  of  Bathurst  from  his  gardens 
at  Cirencester  Park. 


MISCELLANEOUS, 

GRUBS  FOR  IDENTIFICATION  (E.  D.,  Suffolk).— 
The  grubs  sent  are  tliose  of  a  species  of  Bibio,  one  of  the 
larger  two-winged  flies  known  often  as  St.  Mark's  flies 
because  they  appear  about  St.  Mark's  Day.  The  flies 
themselves  do  no  damage,  but  the  grubs  sometimes  attack 
the  roots  of  plants  when  their  usual  food — decaying 
vegetable  matter — is  not  available.  The  usual  cultivation 
of  the  garden — digging,  hoeing,  etc. — will  turn  them  out 
for  birds  to  eat. 


\ 


THE 


JLIFiT?ARYof 

1922 


GARDEN' 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


ol.  LXXXVI.— No.  2633. 

itered  as  Second-class  Matter  at  the  New  York,  N.Y..  Post  Office. 


Saturday,  May  6,  1922 


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PEAR    TREES     IN     BLOSSOM 


M er ry wea  ther *s    H  ardy    Plants. 

NOW   is  the  time   to  fill  all   vacancies   in  the   Hardy    Plant 
Border, 

We  offer  a  fine  selection  in  our  new  list,  just  published. 
All  plants  of  highest  quality. 
Please  send  for  a  copy. 


HENRY  MERRY  WEATHER  &  SONS,  Ltd., 

THE    NURSERIES,    SOUTHWELL.    NOTTS. 

SEED     POTATOES     FOR     MAY     PLANTING. 
BEST      SECOND      EARLY      AND      MAINCROPS. 

Hand-picked    Specially    Selected    Tubers. 

^  14  Ihs.  56  lbs 

3/9  13/6 

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3/9  13/8 

4/-  14/6 

5/-  18/6 

4/-  14/6 

4/6  16/6 

4/-  14/6 

3,9  13/6 


Arran   Comrade,  second  early,  white  round,  Scotch  seed 
British   Queen,  second  early,  white  kidney,  Scotch  seed 
Arran   Chief,  Main-crop,  white  round,  Scotch  seed 
Golden   Wonder,  late  white  kidney,  Scotch  seed 
Irish    King  (New),  Main-crop,  white  kidney,  Irish  seed 
Kerr's   Pink,  Main-crop,  coloured  round,  Scotch  seed 
The   Bishop,  Main  crop,  white  kidney,  Scotch  seed     .. 
The   Lochar,  Main-crop,  white  round,  Scotch  seed 
Up-to-Date,  Main  crop,  white  round,  Scotch  seed 

fttU    descriptions    see    Barr's    Seed    Guide, 


For 

BARR    & 


descriptions    see 

SONS, 


Free. 

11,     12    &    13,     KINO    STREET, 
COVENT     GARDEN,     LONDON,    W.C.2. 


CHEALS;_DAHLIAS 

UNIQUE      COLLECTION. 

Many     Striking     Novelties. 

NEW     CATALOGUE     FREE. 


J.     CHEAL     &     SONS,    Ltd., 

THE     NURSERIEiS,     CRAWLEY. 

ORCH I DS 

of  vigorous   habit  and    superior  constitution.     A  visit  to  our  Establishment 

is    cordially    invited    to    inspect    our     immense     and     interesting     STOCK 

RAISED     BY     THE 

PURE    CULTURE    SYSTEM 

Choice    Species,    Rare    Botanical    Specimens.     Albinos    in    warm    and   cool 
sections  also  a  speciality. 

Expert   Advice    given    and    all    Requisites    supplied     for    the    good    culture 

of   Orchids. 

CHARLE8W0RTH  &  CO..  "IT^^^S!*^ 


THE     GARDEN. 


(May  6.  1022. 1 


4( 


THE    GARDEN"   CATALOGUE    GUIDE 


NOTICE  TO   OUR   READERS 


/^N    receipt    of   a    Post    Card    the    under- 
mentioned   firms    will    be    pleased    to 
send  their  useful  Catalogues  free  of  charge. 


Rose  Specialists 


ELISHA  J.  HICKS,  M.C.  N.R.S.,  etc. 

HURST,  BERKS 

Tht  Chamcion    Desoratlve  Rou   Grower    of    England 


Fruit  Trees  and  Plants 


PERRY'S 

Hardy  Plant  Farms 

ENFIELD,  MIDDX. 


New  Alpines 
and  Perennials 


Complete 
Collection 


KELWAY  &  SON 
Retail  Plant  Department 
LANGPORT,  SOMERSET. 


Hardy  Plants 
Colour  Borders 
Gladioli 


HARDY    AZALEAS    AND    FLOWERINQ    SHRUBS 


R.  &  G.  CUTHBERT 

SOUTHGATE 

MIDDLESEX 

Established  1797 


For  planting  and 
Conservatory 
decoration. 
Catalogue  of  our 
new  and  beautiful 
varieties  post 
free 


LAXTON  BROS. 

Nurseries 

BEDFORD 


Strawberries 

and 

Fruit  Trees 


W.  WELLS,  JuNR. 
Hardy  Plant  Nursery 
MERSTHAM,  SURREY 


Specialists  in 
Hardy  Plants 
and  Alpines 
Catalogues  free 


Seeds  and  Bulbs 


R.  H.  BATH,  Ltd. 
The  Floral  Farms 
WISBECH 


Home-Grown 
Bulbs  and 
Seeds 


BLACKMORE  &  LANGDON 
Twerton  Hill  Nursery 
BATH 


Begonias 
Delphiniums 
Qloxinias 
Cyclamen,  etc. 


DAWKINS 

408,  King's  Road 
CHELSEA,  S.W. 


Seed  Catalogue 
and  Special 
Bulb  Offer. 


TUBS     FOR     SHRUBS. 

'  WIRE  BOUND  PATENT,  over  lOU 
prizes.  R.H.S.  Medal,  1910.  No  warpjnfi  or 
shrinking.  In  Oak,  Beech.  Teak.  &c.  Highly 
decorative. — Price  List  from  Pradal  &  Co., 
26,  Goodge  Street,  London.  W.I. 


CELEBRATED 
KING'S  NORTON  LOAM 

for  Roses,   Carnations,  Chrysanthemums,  Tomatoes, 

etc.     Full  fibre,  top  spit,  for  immediate  use  or  stacking. 

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E.  R.  GELL,  Ltd.,  Merchants  &  Contractors, 
KING'S      NORTON. 


NEW  SCARLET  BEDDING  DAHLIA 

''  Coltness   Qem  " 

Height  18  inches;  no  staltes  require);  makes  a  striUing  bed 
and  flowers  all  season  till  cut  down  by  frost.  I  he  ideal 
plant  for  public  parUs  and  open  spaces,  also  for  larne  and 
sm.tll  gardens.  Price  14/-  per  d  >zen  ;  postage  and  packing 
free.     Stock  limitud.     May  dulivcry. 

D.  G.  PURDIE,  6,  Waterloo  St.,  GLASGOW. 


Garden  Sundries 


C.  E.  WEST 
HiGHAM  Hill,  E.17 
Est.  1888 


West's  Parent  Oarden  Sundries, 
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Raffiatape  "  U'estmaline,  ' 
Insectic  lies,  \V   ed   Killeis,  etc 
Cata'o^ue  and  frte  samples. 


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50/51,  Fetter  Lane,  E.C.4. 
Branch  Depot  : 

143  Holborn  Bars 


Gardon  Tools  of 
all  kinds. 
Catalogue     "  B 
post  free. 


CORRY  &  CO.,  Ltd. 
Shad  Thames,  S.E.i  and 
Bedford  Chambers 
CovENT  Garden,  W.C.2 


Merchants  and 
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of  Horticultural 
Sundries 
Fertilizers  and 
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HY.  RICHARDSON  &  CO. 

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Fertilisers 


J.  BENTLEY,  Ltd. 
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HULL 


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Shrubs,  etc. 


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W.  H.  GAZE  &  SONS,  Ltd. 
High  Street 
KINGSTON-ON-THAMES 


Landscape,  Rock 
and  Water  Garden 
Model  Qardens 
Portsmouth    Road 
Surbiton 


R.  WALLACE  &  CO.,  Ltd. 
The  Old  Gardens 
TUNBRIDGE  WELLS 


Landscape  &  Oardeo 
Aroblteots.  Queen 
Alexandra's  Cup  for 
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J.  CHEAL  &   SONS,  Ltd. 

Nurseries 

CRAWLEY 


Landscape 
Qardeners 
Trees  and 
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Messrs.  T.  R.  HAYES  &  SONS 

Keswick  and  Ambleside 
ENGLISH  LAKES 


Landscape  &  Garden 

Architects 

Rock   and   Water 

Garden  Specialists 


PULHS\M  ©  SOIV 

BY  APPOINTTlBKr  TO  HIS  MAJESTY 

71  NEWMAN  ST- CIXrORX>  ST- 
LONDON • w 

NURSERIES  -  ELSENHAM-essDl 


Cr^nvna*. 
rormol  Garderu . 

Figures  Smvbabt" 


MISS  EVELYN  FAWSSETT 

(Specialist  in  Garden  Planning) 

83,  High  Street 
LEWES,  SUSSEX 


New  Gardens 
signed.  Old  Gardens 
Re.arranged.  Plant- 
ing plans  tor  borders, 
etc.  Terms  on  appli- 
cation. 


Perpetual  Flowering  Carnations. 

W'e  have  for  prompt  delivery  a  special  lot  of  well  grown 
stuff —stopped  and  breaking  — ready  for  5  or  6  inch  pots  or 
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selection,  in  12  fine  varieties  (named  and  described),  ex  pots, 
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YOUNG     &     CO.      Specialists, 
3,      Hatherley,      CHELTENHAM.        Esld.    1890. 


A    RECORD    AWARD 


SIMPSON'S 

SUPER-SEED 

SNAPDRAGONS 

gained 

13  Awards  of 

Merit  and 

10   Highly 

Commended 

at  R.H.S.  1920  Wisley 
TriaU. 


NOTHING     PROVIDES    F  I  N  K  R 
M.^SSESOF  EXQUISITE  COLOUR. 


SPRING    SOWN. 


Ready  for  delivery  the  second  week  in  May  onwar 's 
14  per  doz  (if  less  than  12  of  one  variety  at  2'-  per  doz. 
not  less  than  six  of  any  one  varietv  suppli?d) ;  25  or  mon 
of  any  one  variety  at  9/6  per  100;  carriage  extra,  ui 
to  24  plants,  1/-;  more  than  24  plants,  1/6;  more  thar 
200  plants.   3/-. 

TALL    VARIETIES, 

Esme,  delicate  rink.  The     King,    orange-scarlet 

Our    Prince,   orange  terra-  white  tube. 

cotta,  white  tube.  Warrior,  deep  crimson. 

Yellow  King,  yellow. 

MEDIUM    VARIETIES, 

Afterglow,  orange  scarlet.  Lady  Roberts,  primrose. 


Amber  Queen,  orange  and 
yello^v.  white  tube. 

AurO''e    fiery  terracotta. 

Bonfire,  apricot  &  old  gold. 

Cardinal,  cerise-scarlet. 

Carmine  Queen,  ruby. 

Crimson  King,  crimson. 

Electra,  Hery  orange,  white 
tube. 

Fasc  nation,  light  pink. 

Golden  Gem,  yellow. 


Morning  Glow  Imp.  old  gold 
Prima    Donna,    self    peac^ 

pink,  white  tube. 
Roseum     Superbum,     rost 

pink. 
Sybil  Eckford,  aprtcot-pinl 

and  cream,  white  tube 
The     Fawn,     peach      pink 

white  tube. 
Victory,  salmon  terra-cotta 
White  Queen,  white. 


Sweet    Pea    Plants    for    immediate    delivery.       Full    par 
tJculars  of  these  in  our  Seed   List  G.,  free  on  request 

W.     H.    SIMPSON     &     SONS, 

Super-Seed    Spec  alists,    BIRMINGHAM. 


VERT'S 
HOLLYHOCKS 

Chater's    Original     and     Unrivalled 
Gold    Medal    Strain. 

Herbaceous     Borders     are     not     complete 
witliout    this  stately   subject. 


We  offer,  for  present  planting,  s'ronjj 
healthy  plants  to  provide  a  grand 
panorama  of  gorgeous  colour  ranging 
from  white  to  almost  black  during 
the    coming     Summer    and    Autumn. 


List  post  free  on  application, 

JAMES  VERT  &  SONS, 

SAFFRON     WALDEN,     ESSEX. 


MWIMftA^AMMi^MIM>MWW«MMMMIWMM 


Save  your  Plum  and  Peach  Trees 

from  Gum   Disease  and   Silver 
Leaf.    Use 


jj 


"ANARGUM 

A  safe   remedy  ;    direct    from   the 
Manufacturers  ; 

CHAS.  FORTH   &  SON, 

New    Basfopd,    NOTTINGHAM. 


*^*^"*'^>^M«>WW«MMMiWMWI 


^c^^t€- 


j^ 


No.  2633.— Vol.  LXXXVL] 


[May  6,  1922. 


SOME  LESS  COMMON  SPRING-FLOWERING  BULBS 

0/  spying-floicering   bulbous  plants   suitable  for   informal  planting   only    the    Narcissi   are    used   to    an 
extent  at  all  proportionate  to  their  merits,  while  even  for  formal  beds  and  borders   many  excellent   kinds 

are  much  neglected. 


also  particularly  charming  plants  which  no 
garden  should  be  without.  .A.S  native  woodland 
plants  they  are  invaluable  for  half-shady  comers 
in  a  wild  garden  or,  in  a  compost  containing  a 
good  proportion  of  leaf-soil,  a  cool  exposure  in 
the  rock  garden.  The  American  varieties  are 
usually  supposed  to  be  more  difficult  to  establish 
than  the  European  ones,  but  this  has  not  been 
the  writer's  experience.  Where  large  quantities 
are  needed  for  massing  the  true  old  Dog's  Tooth 
Violet  will  probably  be  employed,  since  it  is 
plentiful  and  cheap,  but  where  a  modest  beginning 
is  to  be  made  some  of  the  finer  forms  should  be 
purchased.  Two  indispensable  ones  are  grandi- 
florum  Pink  Beauty  and  californicum  White 
Beauty.  Both  have  beautiful  foUage,  and  the 
flowers  on  established  plants  often  reach  sjins. 
across  on  stems  Sins,  to  loins.  tall.  No  stove 
plant  produces  more  truly  beautiful  blossoms  or 
more  elegant  foliage  than  these.  Other  fine 
.American  kinds  are  Hendersoni — inferior,  however. 


ONE  of  the  quaintest  of   native    plants 
,  is  surely  the  Snake's-head,  Fritillaria 
I  Meleagris,  with  its  curious  contorted 
habit   of   growth,    albeit   against   the 
time  the  flowers  open  the  stems  are 
as  straight  as  the  proverbial  ramrod.     The  Fritil- 
larias  not  only  belong  to  the  Lily  family,  they  are 
so  close  to  them  botanically  that  with  some  species 
the  classificatipn    is  so   difficult    that    they    have 
at    various    times    been    pldced   in    both    genera ! 
The  mottled  brownish  purple    straight-sided  bells 
of  the  Snake's-head  are  probably  known  to   most 
gardeners,   but   there   are   numberless   gardens   in 
which    they   cannot   be    found,    which   is   a   pity. 
They  are  of  the  easiest  culture,  growing  in  border 
or  rockery  either  in  full  sun — not  on  a  sun-parched 
bank — or  in  partial  shade,  but  they  are  perhaps 
seen  to  greatest  advantage  under  light    shade    of 
trees     or    bushes.     They     reproduce     themselves 
very    freely    from    self-sown    seeds.     The    bulbs 
as   collected   vary   considerably   in   flower   colour, 
and    quite    a    colour    range 
has      now     been     selected. 
Two     excellent     and     sub- 
stantial -  flowered    varieties 
are     called     Orion     and 
Cassandra,     but     ordinary 
seedlings   answer  admirably 
for    most    purposes.     There 
is     an    albino    form    which 
has  been  so   largely   propa- 
gated in  Holland  that  it  is 
now    as    cheap    as,    if    not 
cheaper    than,    the    typical 
form.        Other     interesting 
Fritillarias    with    claims    on 
garden   room  are — in   addi- 
tion    to     the     quaint     old- 
fashioned    Crown    Imperial, 
F.    Imperialis  — the    yellow- 
flowered  aurea,  the  purplish 
pyrenaica,     the     vinous 
purple    camschatcensis,  the 
deep    yellow    pudica,     and 
the    pink  -  flowered     rather 
tall    macrophylla,   but  none 
can,    in    the    writer's    judg- 
ment,    compare    with     the 
common     Snake's-head    for 
grace  and  charm. 

Flowering  at  the  same 
season — late  .'\pril  and  early 
.Mav  —  the  Dog's  Tooth 
Violets    (Erythronium)     are  AN    UNCOMMON    RELATIVE    OF    THE    SNAKE's-HEAD, 


to  Pink  Beauty — Nuttallianum  with  clear  yellow 
flowers,  and  Johnsoni,  a  beautiful  rose  species. 
The  common  Erythronium  of  Canadian  woodland — 
E.  americanum — is,  not  only  under  cultivation 
but  even  in  its  native  habitat,  a  shy  bloomer, 
so  should  be  eschewed.  Once  happily  estabhshed 
even  the  named  varieties,  such  as  the  two 
"  Beauties,"  reproduce  themselves  true  from  self- 
sown  seeds. 

Scilla    sibirica    with    its    brilliant    blue    flowers 

all  gardeners  will  know,  but  it  is  not  used  as  freely 

as  it  might  be  either  for  bedding  or  naturalising. 

It     flourishes     under     turf     as      well      as      the 

pasture-loving  Daffodils.     There  has  long  been  a 

pure  white  form,  and  there  is  now  a  pale  one — 

pallida — but  many  will  consider  the  colour  of  this 

a    little    too    enfeebled    to    be    effective.     If    the 

common   Bluebell  of  our  woods — Scilla  nutans^ 

were  an  exotic,  it  would  no  doubt  be  bought  by 

the  thousand  for  mass  planting,  but  as  most  folk 

like    to    make    a    distinction    between    woodland 

and    garden    planting   it    is 

only    necessary    to    remind 

readers    of    the     beauty   of 

the    pure   white    form    and 

the     worthlessness    of     the 

dirty    lilac    one     which     is 

misnamed     **  pink."       The 

Spanish     Squills,      S.     his- 

panica,      so       similar       in 

appearance     and     yet     so 

different,    are    more  largely 

grown    than    our    beautiful 

native,    but    they    are    far 

coarser  and  less  graceful. 

Uncommon  bulbs  do  not 
necessarily  belong  to  a 
genus  ill-represented  i  n 
gardens.  The  May  and 
June  flowering  Bearded 
Irises  are  at  present  among 
tlie  most  popular  of  garden 
flowers,  but  some  of  the 
smaller  but  not  less  beauti- 
ful species  are  still  too  rare 
in  gardens.  Such  are  the 
early  and  delightful  Iris 
reticulata  in  its  livery  of 
royal  purple  and  gold,  and 
its  still  earlier  form  Krelagei 
which  flowers  in  February, 
the  golden  yellow  Dan- 
_  fordia?,  and  the  pale  hlac 
FRITILLARIA    PUDICA.  persica.     These  will  succeed 


208 


THE     GARDEN. 


[May  6,  1922. 


THREE    TYPICAL    ERYTHRONIUMS. 
Lejt  to  right  Hendersoni,  Nuttallianum  and  White  Beauty. 


THE    CHARMING    ANGEL'S     TEARS— NARCISSUS    TRIANDRUS. 


in  sharply  drained  soil  even  under  thin  turf,  but  they 
probably  show  to  best  advantage  in  the  rock  garden.  Lest 
the  omission  be  remarked,  it  will  be  well  to  refer  to  the 
beautiful  I.  unguicularis  (stylosa)  and  its  forms,  with 
the  nearly  related  I.  cretensis.  These  are,  however, 
fairly  widely  grown  where  climate  permits ;  unfortu- 
nately, these  beautiful  plants  are  by  no  means  over- 
hardy  even  in  the  Midland  Counties. 

As  it  is  with  Irises  so  is  it  with  Narcissi.  There  are  many 
gardens  with  thousands  of  long-trumpeted  Daffodils,  with 
Narcissi — incomparabilis,  Barrii,  Leedsii  and  poeticus — 
well  represented,  in  which  the  beautiful  Angel's  Tears  (K. 
triandrus)  cannot  be  found.  It  may  be  urged  that  it  is 
not  the  easiest  of  plants  to  grow,  but  this  reproach  can 
hardly  be  levelled  at  the  now  fairly  numerous  triandrus 
hybrids.  Even  the  typical  plant,  however,  is  not  difficult 
planted  in  a  westward  sloping,  rather  peaty,  stony  bed  or 
moraine.  The  chief  requirements  of  the  beautiful  N. 
cyclamineus,  and  the  equally  lovely  N.  Bulbocodium  and 
its  varieties  citrinus  and  monophyllum,  are  shelter  from 
winds,  which  destroy  them,  and  a  situation  where  their  ■ 
delicate  beauty  may  be  appreciated  near  at  hand.  Two 
exquisite  Spanish  species  deserve  wider  culture,  the 
primrose  Johnstoni  Queen  of  Spain  and  the  white  trumpet 
moschatus  of  Haworth. 

No  one  would  suggest  that  the  Crocus  is  uncommon 
in  gardens,  but  it  is  doubtful  if  even  the  ordinary  Dutch 
varieties  are  generally  used  most  advantageously,  for, 
like  the  Daffodil,  the  Crocus  is  seen  at  its  best  when 
used  boldly  and  in  as  natural  a  manner  as  possible.  The 
Crocus  species  have,  almost  without  exception,  more 
grace  and  beauty  than  the  Dutch  sorts,  but  they  are 
comparatively  seldom  met  with,  though  their  culture 
presents  no  difficulty.  Of  spring-flowering  species  the  best 
are  biflorus  Weldeni  albus,  white,  with  a  conspicuous  red 
stigma  ;  Imperati,  violet  ;  Sieberi,  soft  lavender  ;  Tom- 
masinianus,  pale  lavender  ;  susianus,  golden  yellow  ;  and 
versicolor,  white,  feathered  purple. 

It  is  doubtful  if  the  Grape  Hyacinth,  Muscari 
botryoides,  can  truthfully  be  called  "  less  common,'  but  it 
may  safely  be  asserted  that  it  is  not,  in  general,  grouped 
with  sufficient  boldness  to  make  it  really  effective.  Masses 
of  these  flowers  in  shrubbery  openings  and  such  like  are 
extraordinarily  effective.  The  beautiful  Heavenly  Blue  is, 
of  course,  noteworthy,  but  its  long  grassy  foliage  at  flower- 
ing-time at  once  differentiates  it  from  the  typical  plant. 

The  Glory  of  the  Snow  (Chionodoxa  LuciUs)  has  been 
much  more  grown  and  appreciated  of  late  years,  but  one 
seldom  sees  the  equally  beautiful  pure  white  form,  the 
deeper  bloomed  C.  sardensis,  or  the  solitary  but  large- 
flowered  C.  gigantea  with  its  azure  saucers  uplifted  to 
the  sun.  All  these  are  excellent  for  the  rock  garden  where 
their  display  in  early  springtime  is  especially  welcome. 
They  may  be  interplanted  among  plants  which  develop 
their  foliage  later  in  the  season — among  Aquilegia  alpina, 
for  instance,  or  Aubrietias. 

The  Tulip  species  have  many  of  them  a  grace  of  blossom 
unusual  in  the  florists'  kinds.  Speaking  generally,  their 
principal  requirement  is  thorough  ripening  of  the  bulbs 
in  summer,  best  assured  in  our  climate  by  giving  them 
a  south  aspect  on  a  rockery  or  sloping  ground.  The 
best  known  is  probably  T.  Kaufmanniana,  with  large 
cone-shaped  flowers  of  ivory  and  red  with  a  beautiful 
deep  orange  centre.  The  April-flow'ering  Greigi  bears 
orange  scarlet  flowers  of  huge  size.  It  is  noteworthy, 
too,  for  its  handsomely  marbled  foliage.  Tulipa  saxatilis 
bears  three  or  more  flowers  on  a  stem.  Its  starry 
blossoms  are  pink  with  a  yellow  base,  and  well  display 
the  chocolate-coloured  anthers.  T.  sylvestris  with  yellow 
flowers  is  the  wild  Tulip  so  useful  for  the  wild  garden. 
\'ery  different  from  the  large-habited  T.  Kaufmanniana 
and  Greigi  are  such  species  as  ingens,  quite  dwarf,  but 
with  flowers  of  a  brillant  red  colour  ;  the  Lady  Tulip, 
CTusiana,  with  small  flowers,  white,  flecked  and  striped 
with  rose  and  a  conspicuous  violet  basal  disc  ;  linifolia, 
scarlet,  with  an  almost  black  base  ;  and  persica,  which 
usually  carries  its  flowers  in  threes,  golden  yellow  within, 
bronze  without.  The  charming  crimson-flowered  (rose 
externally)  primulina  is  less  easy  to  grow  than  most,  but 
very  charming  and  distinctly   fragrant. 


May  o,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


£09 


THE  EVER-IMPROVING  RHODODENDRON 


THE  popularity  of  Rhododendrons  is 
greatly  on  the  increase  and  the  many 
expert  workers  at  present  devotin:^ 
their  attentions  to  the  species  and  hybrids 
of  the  genus  will  eventually,  without 
doubt,  practically  revolutionise  the  quality  of 
these  wonderful  plants  for  our  gardens.  Un- 
fortunately the  climatic  conditions  of  the  great 
homes  of  the  genus  differ  very  greatly  from  that 
of  our  country  and  excepting  in  Cornwall  and 
other  favoured  places,  many  of  the  species  and 
hybrids  are  too  tender  for  successful  outdoor 
cultivation.  On  the  other  hand,  if  as  much 
attention  were  paid  to  these  shrubs  as  is  given  in 
many  gardens  to  bedding  out  plants  and  such  like, 
the  cultivator  would   be  astonished   at   the  results 


Heavy  mulchings  of  good  leaf  mould,  or  if  not 
available,  then  5ins.  to  a  foot  deep  of  freshly  fallen 
hard-wood  leaves  placed  over  the  roots  will  conserve 
moisture  and  pro\'ide  food.  .'Mso  pieces  of  rotten 
wood  placed  on  the  surface  eventually  form  tit-bits. 
During  the  growing  period,  if  a  drought  is  experi- 
enced, copious  waterings  should  be  given  once  or 
twice  per  week,  but  these  waterings  must  be 
thorough.  Sprinkling  a  small  quantity  of  water 
on  the  surface  merely  tends  to  bring  the  roots  to 
the  surface.  Strong  gales  from  any  point  of  the 
compass  must  also  be  guarded  against.  Rhodo- 
dendrons dislike  wind.  The  effects  of  cold  icv 
blasts  need  not  be  enlarged  upon,  while  even  warmer 
winds  have  the  great  disadvantages  of  destroying 
the  foliage  and  drying  up  the  plants.    The  positions 


THE    EXCELLENT    AND    H.\RDY    RHODODENDRON    MANGLESH. 


obtained.  In  too  many  gardens  it  is  forgotten 
that  almost  all  Rhododendrons,  other  than  the 
high  alpine  moorland  species,  are  found  in  close 
proximity  to,  or  even  under,  large  forest  trees. 
In  consequence  too  often  Rhododendrons  are 
placed  in  pits  in  lawns  exposed  to  full  sunhght. 
Again,  very  httle  attention  is  paid  to  the  facts 
that  a  Rhododendron  requires  food  and  water, 
that  its  roots  are  minutely  fine  and  hair-like, 
that  they  are  surface  rooting  plants  and  that, 
in  consequence,  drought  and  sun  are  apt  to 
play  havoc  if  precautions  are  not  taken.  In  the 
wild  Rhododendron  forests  nature  overcomes  these 
difficulties  by  providing  shady  foliage  and  genera- 
tions of  decaying  leaf  mould.  Endeavour  must 
fheiefore  be  made  to  reproduce  these  (onditions 
as  far  as  may  be  possible  and  this  may  be  done 
to  a  large  extent  by  selecting  a  situation  in  close 
proximity  to  large  trees,  preferably  Oaks,  where 
no  morning  sun  will  penetrate  and  where  the  sun 
will  not  fall  for  more  than  two  or  three  hours  a  day. 
In  this  way  scorching  will  be  prevented,  the  plants 
will  be  less  likely  to  over-flower,  spring  frosts  will  be 
less    felt,    and    a    very    different    result    obtained. 


chosen  therefore  should  be  shady  and  sheltered  as 
much  as  possible. 

As  regards  soil,  it  must  be  lime  free,  but  otherwise 
good  light  loam  is  most  suitable  ;  peat  and  sand 
are  very  good  provided  liberal  quantities  of  leaf 
mould  are  used.  In  all  cases,  however,  the  drainage 
must  be  sharp.  Rhododendrons  will  not  stand  any 
stagnation  at  their  roots.  Deep  trenching  is 
necessary  and  any  unkind  thing,  such  as  pan,  must 
be  broken  up  and  removed.  As  a  rule  better  results 
can  be  obtained  from  beds,  but  if  pits  are  adopted, 
care  must  be  taken  to  see  that  they  are  of  ample 
size  and  ail  tree  roots  must  be  removed  either  from 
the  beds  or  pits.  Rhododendrons  transplant 
easily  and  well  owing  to  their  close  root  formation, 
but  careful  ramming  is  required  in  planting, 
especially  in  light  soils.  Particular  care  should  be 
taken  to  see  that  the  plants  do  not  grow  into  one 
another,  for  their  beauty  of  form  is  quickly  lost, 
and  owing  to  the  ease  of  transplanting,  there  is  no 
excuse  for  this  being  allowed  to  happen.  Further, 
when  in  flower,  fresh  colour  arrangements  should 
always  be  considered  and  noted  for  carrying  out  at 
a  later  date.    Transplanting  generally  may  be  done 


successfully  from  the  beginning  of  Septemlier  till 
the  present  time,  although  in  December  and 
January  the  roots  are  particularly  dormant  and 
these  periods  might  in  consequence  be  omitted  if 
convenient. 

Over-flowering  should  be  guarded  against  by 
flower-bud  removal  in  February  and  it  seems  hardly 
necessary  to  say  that  the  withered  trusses  shoald  be 
immediately  removed  when  over. 

By  attention  to  these  details  and  recognising 
that  Rhododendrons  inquire  some  culture,  although 
little  compared  to  many  other  flowers,  it  will  be 
found  surprising  how  in  the  Home  Counties  many 
of  the  climatic  disadvantages  may  be  overcome 
successfully. 

There  is  no  lack  of  choice  in  selecting  plants  as 
their  name  is  legion,  but  the  following  may  be 
termed  quite  hardy  and  would  form  a  good  beginning 
to  a  more  extensive  selection :  Alice,  Ascot 
Brilliant,  Bagshot  Ruby,  B.  de  Bruin,  Bordar- 
tianum,  Coombe  Royal,  Corona,  Cynthia,  Doctor 
Stocker,  Duchess  of  Portland,  Duchess  of  York, 
fastuosum  flore  pleno,  G.  A.  Sims,  George  Hardy, 
Gomer  Waterer,  Ivoryianum,  Jacksonii  (pink), 
J.  G.  Millais,  Lady  Eleanor  Cathcart,  Manglesii, 
Mrs.  George  Paul,  Mrs.  J.  G.  Millais.  Mrs.  Lionel 
de  Rothschild  and  Royal  Purple.  J.  B.  S. 


A  GOOD  PLANT  FOR 
MASSING 

SOME  time  ago  a  writer  in  The  G.iruen 
drew  attention  to  the  possibilities  of 
Salvia  virgata  nemorosa  as  an  attractive 
garden  plant,  and,  finding  that  Mr. 
Robinson  in  his  "  English  Flower  Garden  " 
spoke  of  it  as  a  good  plant  for  massing,  I  ordered 
one  dozen  from  Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons.  This 
plant  proved  so  striking  that  I  ordered  a  further 
dozen  and  also  divided  up  the  first  lot  of  plants 
so  that  now,  in  the  third  year,  we  have  50yds. 
or  so  of  it  in  the  garden.  Robinson  speaks  of  it 
as  "  low-growing,*'  but  in  my  experience  it  averages 
from  2it.  to  ajft.  in  height. 

That  it  is  a  drought-resister  is  evident  from  the 
way  that  it  flourished  here  last  summer.  We 
had  rain  during  the  latter  part  of  March  and 
ao  more,  not  even  a  thunder  shower  until  August. 
Our  soil  is  hot  and  poor,  with  gravel  below,  and 
apart  from  a  little  manure  at  planting  time  the 
plants  had  no  more  attention  save  an  occasional 
good  watering.  They  commence  blooming  in  this 
part  of  the  country  (Cambs.)  in  June  and  continue 
until  late  September.  By  cutting  back  the  spikes 
after  flowering  fresh  laterals  develop  and  so  prolong 
the  blooming  season. 

For  good  effect  it  must  be  planted  in  mass. 
It  is  beautiful  throughout  the  whole  period  of  its 
bloom,  but  is  seen  at  its  best  with  the  glow  of  the 
western  sun  shining  through  it  and  lighting  up  its 
crimson  purple  bracts  and  blue  flowers.  It  is 
then   a    truly   gorgeous   sight. 

Another  extremely  beautiful  and  easily  grown 
plant  is  Nepeta  Mussini,  but  it  must  be  in  mass. 
I  have  seen  odd  plants  of  it  in  herbaceous  borders 
and  it  looks  almost  insignificant.  In  this  garden 
it  also  is  a  drought  resister.  The  soft  mauve 
flowers  and  grey  fohage  are  very  beautiful.  That 
it  is  easily  grown  and  inexpensive  may  be  gathered 
from  the  tact  that  starting  with  six  plants  six  years 
ago,  we  have  now  over  looyds.  of  it,  and  we  have 
also  given  quantities  away  to  our  friends.  It  is 
undoubtedly  a  lime  lover.  It  is  at  its  best  iu 
May  and  June  and  makes  a  charming  edging  to 
beds  of  Pyrethrums,  Lupins,  Irises  and  Lavender. 
It  cut  back  after  its  first  orgy  of  blossom  it  doe. 
it  all  over  again  about  .September.  E.  G 


210 


THE     GARDEN. 


[May  6,  1922. 


THE     TALLER     CAMPA14ULAS 

Few  flowers  have   a  more  definite  place  in  the  border  than  the  Bell-flowers. 
Those  mentioned  below  are  suitable  for   the  middle  ''reaches.'' 


IN  considenng  the  best  of  the  Bell-flowers  it 
is  convenient  to  take  separately  the  tall  kinds 
that  are  good  in  flower  borders  and  the  shorter 
grownig  ones  for  rock  gardening  and  edgings. 
Of  the  taller,  the  first  that  comes  to  mind  is 
the  stately  C.  macrantha,  a  garden  form  of  the 
native  C.  latifolia  ;  the  type  has  purple  flowers,  but 
the  white  variety  is  rather  the  better  garden 
plant.  A  fine  form  is  known  as  C.  eriocarpa. 
Its  height  is  from  4ft.  to  5ft. ;  the  shapely  spire 
of  bloom,  with  its  sharply  cut  and  pointed  segments, 
and  the  regular  foUage,  make  it  one  of  the  best 
plants  of  early  summer.  Not  only  is  it  first  rate 
in  the  flower  border,  but  as,  in  common  with 
the  greater  number  of  the  family,  it  has  no  objection 
to  shade,  it  is  one  of  the  finest  plants  for  such  a 
place  as  where  garden  joins  woodland,  or  in  shrub- 
bery edges.  It  wiU  stand  for  several  years,  growing 
stronger  year  by  year.  It  produces  an  abundance 
of  seed,  sows  itself  freely  and  is  best  grown  from 
seedling  plants.  Another  Campanula  of  bold 
growth  and  with  equally  large  flowers  is  C.  macro- 
carpa,  with  great  bells  of  a  reddish  purple  colour, 
also  fine  both  in  border  and  wild 

C.  persicifolia  has  long  been  a  garden  favourite, 
and  is  one  of  the  best  of  the  June  flowers,  with 
its  graceful  habit  and  many  blooms  of  white  or 
purple.  There  are  double  forms,  but  it  is  doubtful 
whether  the  doubhng,  when,  as  is  usually  the  rase, 
it  takes  the  form  01  a  flattened  rosette,  is  to  the 
advantage  of  beauty  ;  the  best  form  of  duplication 
is  where  the  bell  is  neither  flattened  nor  crowded, 
but  has  a  distinct  cup  and  saucer  arrangement. 
In  this,  which  is  known  as  coronata,  the  flower 
loses  nothing  of  its  glace  and  distinctly  gains  in 
point  of  interest.  It  is  not  as  common  a  plant 
as  one  would  wish.  To  keep  C  persicifolia  in 
good  order  it  is  best  to  divide  and  replant  yearly, 
as  soon  as  the  bloom  is  over.  There  is  no  need 
to  cut  the  old  flower  stems  ;   a  sharp  vertical  puil 


brings  them  away,  and  with 
them  anything  that  is  of  no 
further  use  to  the  plant.  There 
will  remain  several  prosperous 
rooted  offsets  that  should  be 
put  out  separately  and  will 
make  good  flowerine  plants  for 
the  next  year 

A  good  border  plant  is  C. 
lactiflora  syn.  celtidi  folia.  A 
quarter  of  a  century  ago  it 
had  almost  been  forgotten,  but 
later  years  have  restored  it  to 
favour.  It  is  five  or  more 
feet  high,  with  a  spreading 
pyramid  of  bloom  at  the  top, 
in  colour  a  washed-out  purple 
inclining  to  white  Its  best 
use  is  where  a  pale,  cloudy 
effect  of  bloom  is  wanted  as 
a  setting  to  something  of  strong 
colour,  such  as  Clematis  Jack- 
manni.  There  is  a  pure 
white  variety  and  another  of 
rather  smaller  habit  in  w-hich 
the  flowers  are  a  deeper  purple. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  about 
its  merit  as  a  garden  plant, 
but  it  requires  very  careful 
and  clever  staking  or  to  be 
so  placed  that  it  is  among 
other  plants  that  will  support 
it  just  under  the  head  ot  bloom 
for  the  whole  head  is  apt  to 
be  broken  down  by  weight  of 
rain  or  of  blustering  wind. 
No  doubt  the  increase  of  size 
and  weight  of  the  flower  head 
in  cultivation  has  put  too  much 
strain  on  the  upper  part  of  the 


{ 


THE    TOO    SELDOM    SEEN    CAMPANULA    .^LLIARI.^FGLIA, 
ADMIRABLE    FOR    THE    EDGE    OF    WOODLAND. 


INVALUABLE     WHERE    CLOUDY     MASSES     OF     PALiST     MAUVE    ARE    WANTED, 
CAMPANULA    LACTIFLORA 


stem  which  has  not  strengthened  itself  in  ptoport'on. 
The  plant  lasts  for  several  years  ;  seedlings  self-sow  n 
often  appear,  perhaps  too  tar  forward  in  the  border. 
When  this  happens,  the  flowering  growth  can  be 
cut  back  when  fairly  forward,  an  experiment 
which  has  proved  successful  with  many  other  plants 
and  the  season  of  blooming  is  not  retarded. 

-•Another  persistent  plant  among  the  Bell-flowers 
is  C.  ahiarisefolia,  with  a  central  spike  about  2lt. 
high  and  a  quantity  of  blooming  laterals ;  the 
numerous  white  bells  have  a  drooping  habit.  1( 
is  perhaps  a  better  plant  for  the  wood  edge  than 
for  the  border.  When  established  it  is  no  further 
trouble,  for  the  old  plants  endure  lor  some  years 
and  are  sure  to  self  sow  with  a  sufficient  thouah 
moderate  number  of  successors.  C.  pyramida'is, 
so  grandly  grown  as  a  biennial  in  pots  by  all  good 
gardeners,  is  apt  to  be  overlooked  as  an  outdoor 
plant.  Its  best  place  is  a  joint  in  a  cool  wall  where 
it  becomes  a  perennial  and  will  probably  seed  itself. 
It  is  best  to  sow  the  seed  in  a  limy  compost  in  a 
joint  low  down  and  await  the  result. 

Canterbury  Bells  have  long  been  with  us  as 
indispensable  biennials,  and  nothing  can  be  finer 
in  the  late  summer,  especially  in  soils  that  are  rich 
with  either  loam  or  chalk  ;  for  though  good  Bell- 
flowers  may  be  grown  in  almost  any  garden,  it  is 
in  these  rich  soils  that  the  whole  family  chiefly 
delights.  But,  remembering  that  C.  Medium  is  a 
native  of  rocky  places  in  Southern  Europe,  it 
alsomight  well  be  tried  in  walls.  G.  Jekyll. 


May  6,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


211 


SPETCHLEY  STRAIN  OF  PRIMROSES 

The  fine   exhibit   of  this   strain   at    the    recent  fortnightly  meeting  of  the 
R.H.S.  attracted  much  attention. 


enabled  Mrs.  Berkeley  to  make  Spetchley  the 
home  of  the  blue-blooded  aristocracy  of  the 
Primrose  empire. 


THE  popularity  of  the  many  exotic 
Primulas — japonica,  pulverulenta,  rosea 
BuUeyana,  helodoxa  and  what  not — must 
not  blind  us  to  the  possibilities  of  our 
own  Primrose  in  the  hands  of  capable 
hybridists.  This  was  brought  home  to  many 
who  saw  the  Spetchley  strain  as  shown  by  Mrs. 
Berkeley  at  the  Vincent  Square  Hall  on  April  25. 


As  a  wild  flower  the  Primrose  is  the  nation's 
pride  and  joy.  In  competent  hands  it  can,  with- 
out loss  of  delicacy  and  charm,  take  on  new 
qualities  and  an  almost  boundless  colour  range 
in  the  garden.  And  how  easy  to  grow,  how 
joyous  as  a  harbinger  of  spring  and  yet  a  com- 
panion almost  till  summer-time  !  It  has  such  a 
homely,  native  look,  sympathetic  to  our  inherited 


Mrs.  Berkeley  had  selected  and  brought  up  quite  instincts  and  racial  qualities.  A  sturdy,  balanced, 
a  representative  regiment  of  plants  all  at  their  self  -  confident  yet  modest,  home  -  loving  yet 
most  effective  stage  and 
displaying  perfect  domes 
of  colour,  as  shown  iji 
the  accompanying  illus- 
tration from  a  photo- 
graph  taken  last  season 
at  Spetchley.  The  strain, 
indeed,  possesses  in 
unusual  degree  the 
qualities  of  early  bloom- 
ing and  late  continuing 
combined  with  a  florifer- 
ousness  reaching  at  certain 
moments  and  in  certain 
individuals  real  excess, 
the  plant  forming  a 
congested  area  whose 
large  and  sturdy  denizens 
jostle  and  squeeze  each 
other  in  their  battle  for 
"  a  place  in  the  sun." 

It  is  a  score  of  years 
since  Mrs.  Berkeley 
turned  her  attention  to 
the  garden  Primrose  and 
Polyanthus.  Already  Miss 
Jekyll  had  done  much 
at  Munstead,  and  nothing 
can  excel  her  selection 
of  whites  and  yellows. 
Mrs.  Berkeley,  while  by 
no  means  neglecting  those 
colours,  sought  to  develop 
in  endless  variety  all  the 
really  acceptable  and  satis- 
lying  tones  of  which  the 
race  is  capable.  Orange 
and  brick  red,  crimson 
and  maroon,  pink  and 
mauve,  purple  and  blue, 
as  selfs  and  as  mixtures, 
have  had  her  attention, 
■so  that  all  men,  be  they 
after  a  full  polychromatic 
«ffect  or  sternly  insistent 
on     some     special     hue, 

•will  find  what  they  want  and  of  the  best 
if  they  saunter  in  spring  amid  the  borders, 
reserve  beds  and  woodlands  of  Spetchley. 
But  selection  and  hybridisation  was  not  con- 
centrated on  colour  alone.  Very  many  and 
<quite  as  important  other  qualities  are  needed 
in  a  prize  race,  whether  it  be  of  man  or  beast,  bird 
■or  bloom.  There  are  substance  and  form,  vigour 
and  deportment  to  be  considered  and  reached 
before  the  result  can  be  declared  satisfactory. 
In  no  detail  has  Mrs.  Berkeley  neglected  the 
«ugenics  of  the  Primrose.  The  plants  are  massive 
but  not  coarse.  The  flowers  are  large,  yet  refined 
and  shapely.  The  stems  are  long  but  stout, 
carrying  aloft  and  erect  their  brilliant  burden  of 
flowers,  some  of  which  very  nearly  reach  a  diameter 
of  3ins.,  while  2|ins.  is  usual  enough. 


SHOWS    THE    FINE    HABIT    AND     IMMENSE    VARIETY    OF 
COLOURING    OF    THE    SPETCHLEY    PRIMROSES. 


colonising  creature,  readily  adapting  itself  to  new 
conditions  and  climes,  generously  responding  to 
wholesome  educative  processes  that  give  it  fresh 
development  and  increased  scope.  We  should 
all  rejoice  in  the  workaday  Primrose  of  copse  and 
hedgerow,  but  we  should  also  watch  and  minister 
to  its  garden  ambitions  of  rising  in  life,  of  fulfilling 
the  higher  and  more  varied  floral  functions,  of 
occupying  the  seats  of  the  mighty  in  the  halls  of 
horticulture.  It  "  responds  readily  to  treatment," 
as  a  doctor  says  of  a  well  constitutioned  patient, 
and  we  can  all  get  a  lot  of  fun  by  starting  with 
seed  of  a  good  strain  and  then  using  our  own 
knowledge  and  effort  in  further  selection  and 
propagation.  We  can  each  of  us  do  much, 
although  not  everyone  has  the  assiduous  patience, 
the  deft   hand,    the    tasteful  judgment   that   have 


TRADITION 

Its    Value   and   its    Shortcomings. 

WE  are  all  people  of  tradition,  and 
the  gardener  particularly  so,  which 
is  no  more  than  to  say  that  we 
profit  from  the  experience  of  those 
gone  before  us.  This  is  true 
wisdom,  for,  though  bought  wit  may  be  best,  it  is 
expensive,  and  the  process  of  acquiring  it  is  slow 
compared  to  that  of  getting  it  ready-made  from 
some  one  else.  Tradition,  however,  followed 
bhndly  and  without  understanding,  leads  to  Rule 
of  Thumb  methods,  which  never  give  the  best 
results  because  they  break  down  before  any  unusual 
circumstances.  In  fact.  Rule  of  Thumb  is  an 
imperfect  substitute  for  the  instinct  of  an  insect, 
being  not  so  reliable  in  the  first  instance,  and  not 
so  faithfully  followed  in  the  second. 

Let  us  see  how  far  tradition  is  to  be  followed, 
and  when  it  is  wise  to  depart  from  it.  Let  us 
suppose,  in  the  first  place,  that  you  inherit  a  good 
tradition,  one  of  the  best ;  that,  as  a  gardener, 
you  ha\'e  worked  under  one  of  those  wonderful 
masters  of  the  craft  who  succeels,  by  a  combina- 
tion of  reasoning  and  instinct  amounting  to  genius, 
in  bringing  every  conceivable  type  of  plant  to  the 
utmost  pitch  of  perfection. 

Having  left  this  master  and  being  in  charge 
on  your  own  account,  it  would  seem  an  impertinence 
on  your  part  to  make  any  alteration  in  your 
practice  until  at  least  you  had  acquired  the 
standard  and  experience  of  your  previous  instructor. 
Even  if  you  read  of  other  methods  or  see  them 
followed,  you  naturally  say  that  what  was  good 
enough  for  a  gardener  \vith  drawers  full  of  medals, 
is  good  enough  for  a  beginner  like  yourself.  The 
fallacy  of  this  argument  is  that  your  late  chief 
himself  would  have  to  change  many  details  of 
culture  to  suit  altered  conditions  of  soil  or  climate, 
or  requirements  of  a  different  employer.  You 
have  also  to  remember  that  a  genius  often  has ' 
some  eccentric  ideas  which  unaccountably  prove ; 
worthless  in  the  hands  of  the  ordinary  mortal ; 
that,  no  man  being  perfect,  your  tradition  may 
include  some  cultural  errors  ;  that  progress  makes 
past  discoveries  obsolete,  and  that  we  may  leam 
useful  innovations  from  the  experiment  or  observa- 
tion of  the  present. 

It  follows  that  tradition,  however  good,  will 
hamper  us  considerably  and  even  lead  us  astray, 
unless  we  understand  the  principles  on  which  it  is 
based,  so  that  we  may  modify  it  to  suit  altered 
conditions  and  be  able  to  recognise  in  what  cases  it 
is  open  to  improvement. 

There  is  another  source  of  tradition  besides  the 
individual  one,  and  that  is  the  mass  of  local 
tradition.  This  governs  dates  of  sowing  and  plant- 
ing, distances  between  plants  and  rows  of  vege- 
table crops,  treatment  of  the  soil  and  so  on.  Its 
value  lies  in  being  the  result  of  generations  of 
experience  of  the  pecularities  of  that  particular 
environment  and  soil.  Its  disadvantage  is  that 
it  is  inelastic  and  so  tenaciously  conservative  that 
it  lags  far  behind  new  improvements  and  dis. 
coveries.  This  local  tradition  requires  carefu' 
sifting,  to  cast  away  the  dross  and  keep  only  whal 
rests  on  a  solid  foundation  of  fact.  Even  the 
past  masters  of  our  craft  are  bound  by  prejudices 
and  have  taken-for-granted  maxims  or  procedure, 
without  having  themselves  tested  their  correct- 
ness. Much  misleading  information  is  handed  down 
from  one  generation  to  another  and  accepted  as 
being  "  what  our  fathers  have  told  us."     G.P.D 


212 


THE     GARDEN. 


[May  6,  1922. 


THE    SPRING    ROSE    SHOW 


M 


ANY  of  those  who  attended  the 
Spring  Rose  Show  at  the  London 
Scottish  Drill  Hall  on  April  21  must 
have  gone  away  feeling  how  very 
easy  it  is  to  have  plenty  of  beautiful 
Roses  in  the  springtime,  for  in  the  haU  there  were 
Roses  of  all  types  in  great  abundance  and  of  high 
quality.  Nor  were  all  these  lovely  blossoms  from 
the  great  trade  establishments,  w-here  they  are  able 
to  select  their  show  blooms  from  a  fair  quantity. 
It  is  pleasant  and  encouraging  to  be  able  to  record 
that  the  very  best  collections  of  Roses  were  grown 
by  amateurs.  There  was  not  a  deal  to  choose 
between  the  exhibits  of  the  President  of  the 
Society,  Mr.  E.  J.  Holland,  and  Mr.  G.  Hammond, 
who  in  Section  VI  received  the  first  and  second 
prizes  in  the  order  named,  for  both  had  superb 
blooms,  though  the  first  prize  dozen  were  of  the 
more  even  quality.  Mr.  Holland  showed  such  as 
WUliam  Shean,  Louise  Crette  and  Mrs.  Foley 
Hobbs,  while  Mr.  Hammond  had  these  sorts  and 
such  a  good  bloom  of  G.  Amedee  Hammond  as  to 
win  the  silver  medal  offered  for  the  best  amateur's 
bloom  in  the  Show.  The  nurseryman's  silver 
medal  bloom  was  a  wonderful  Marechal  Niel  by 
Mr.  A.  T.  Goodwin.  This  was  by  nature  of  a 
coincidence,  as  G.  Amedee  Hammond  might  well 
be  termed  a  pale  and  rather  more  pointed  Marechal 
Niel.  Mr.  Goodwin  has  long  been  famed  for  his 
Marechal  Niel  Roses,  and  on  the'  present^occasion 
he  surpassed  himself. 


Mr.  H.  L.  Wettern  was  another  amateur  who 
showed  excellent  exhibition  Roses.  His  half- 
dozen  of  such  sorts  as  Mme.  Melaine  Soupert, 
WiUiam  Shean  and  Mrs.  E.  Mawley  were  splendid. 

The  best  cut  blooms  in  the  nurserymen's  classes 
were  by  Mr.  E.  J.  Hicks,  whose  twenty-four 
included  handsome  flowers  of  Mrs.  Foley  Hobbs, 
Gladys  Holland,  Mrs.  E.  Hicks  and  George  Dickson. 

The  baskets  of  Roses  did  not  make  such  a  great 
display  as  on  some  former  occasions,  but  nothing 
could  be  finer  than  Mr.  Hammond's  G.  .Amedee 
Hammond  or  Mr.  Goodwin's  Marechal  Niel. 
As  a  display  the  group  of  miscellaneous  Roses  on 
a  staging  was  very  satisfying  and  surpassed  the 
pot  Roses.  The  first  prize  group  was  by  Messrs. 
B.  R.  Cant  and  Sons,  who  displayed  generous 
quantities  of  the  new  Sovereign,  Ophelia,  Phoebe, 
Covent  Garden  and  the  chaste  single  white  Una. 
In  Mr.  G.  Prince's  second  prize  collection  there 
were,  in  Mrs.  C.  Lamplough  and  Muriel  Wilson, 
two  beautiful  Roses. 

The  groups  of  pot  Roses  included  some  good 
sorts,  but  that  which  held  the  eye  most  was 
Paul's  Scarlet  Climber,  particularly  in  one  of 
Mr.  Hicks'  first  prize  groups.  Ellen  Poulsen  was 
also  very  bright  both  here  and  in  a  graceful  group 
of  Polyanthas  by  Messrs.  William  Cutbush  and 
Sons. 

The  class  for  new  Roses  of  the  previous  year 
is  always  interesting.  The  best  at  the  Drill  Hall 
were    Earl    Haig,    Premier,    Glory    of    Steinfurth 


and  Crusader.  The  last  named  seems  a  really 
good  dark,  velvety  crimson  Rose,  and  was  to  be 
seen  on  several  stands. 

Decorated  dinner  tables  were  a  great  feature 
of  the  Show,  and  had  thcjudging  to  be  done  over 
again  later  in  the  day  we  suspect  that  the  glorious 
tables  of  Hoosier  Beauty  and  Richmond,  which 
by  then  had  opened,  displaying  a  wealth  of  colour, 
would  have  been  prize  winners.  But  the  table 
of  Sunburst,  so  tastefully  arranged  by  Mrs.  Oakley 
Fisher,  fully  deserved  the  first  prize  it  received 
in  the  amateurs'  class  ;  while  Mrs.  A.  R.  Eide 
had  a  very  beautiful  table  of  Columbia  with  sprays 
of  Asparagus  plumosus  and  Japanese  Maples  in 
the  open  class. 


NEW    ROSES. 

Dorcas.  —  This  free  -  flowering,  graceful 
Wichuraiana  seedling  had  many  admirers,  but 
did  not  find  favour  with  the  judges.  It  did  not 
appear  to  the  best  advantage  when  arranged  as. 
cut  sprays — the  more  graceful  Polyanthas  never 
do — but  the  pot  plant  was  quite  attractive.  It 
is  said  to  be  a  cross  between  Minnehaha  and 
Orleans.  It  bears  large  sprays  of  semi-double 
flowers  of  soft  pink  colour  with  distinct  Ught 
centres.     Shown  by  Messrs.   English  and  Son. 

Elsie  Beckwith. — A  glowing  H.T.  Rose  that 
might  well  be  described  as  a  vivid,  deep  rose-pink 
Richmond.     In  common  with  that  useful  variety 


cLSIE    BECKWITH   MIGHT   BE   CALLED    K   CARMINE-ROSE  RICHMOND. 


THE    GOLDEN-BUFF    PERNETIANA    VARIETY    SOVEREIGN. 


May  6,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


213 


it  carries  shapely  blooms  on  long  clean  stems 
and  has  good  foliage.  It  is  recommended  for 
decorative  and  cut  flower  purposes.  Certificate  of 
merit  to  Messrs.  G.  Beckwith  and  Son. 

Mrs.    Hornby    Lewis. — The   dwarfest   of   these 
new  Roses,  but  of  vigorous  and  spreading  habit, 


THE    MASSIVE   AND    FRAGRANT    BLOSSOM    OF 
MRS.    HORNBY   LEWIS. 

carrying  its  blooms  well,  above  luxuriant,  dark 
green  foliage.  The  petals  seem  to  be  stained  with 
an  uncommon  chrome  yellow  colour,  while  '  the 
heart  of  the  blooms  has  the  beautiful  shading  of 
the  fragrant  Souvenir  de  la  Malmaison,  and  it 
also  has  a  delicate  perfume.  Certificate  of  merit 
to  Mr.  Elisha  J.  Hicks. 

Mrs.  T.  English. — A  vigorous,  free-growing 
H.T.  Rose  of  apricot  fawn  colour  deUcately  shaded 
with  salmon  pink.  The  foliage  is  good  and  the 
variety  forces  well,  but  it  was  scarcely  up  to 
medal  standard.  Shown  by  Messrs.  T.  EngUsh 
and  Son. 

Sovereign. — This  free-flowering  Pernetiana 
seems  to  have  more  colour  when  forced  than  it 
had  last  summer.  The  deep  golden  colour  was 
very  heavily  flushed  with  dull  cardinal,  particu- 
larly on  the  buds.  The  blooms  are  pleasantly 
fragrant,  and  the  stout  foliage  is  of  a  lustrous 
green.  Certificate  of  merit  to  Messrs.  B.  R. 
Cant  and  Sons. 


THE    MIDLAND 
DAFFODIL     SHOW 

THE  Daffodil  world  expects  to  see  a  fine 
display  of  the  choicest  varieties  at  this 
great  Show  at  the  Botanic  Gardens, 
Birmingham,  and  now  that  things  are 
settling  down  somewhat  there  was  great 
promise  of  a  splendid  display.  Unfortunately, 
owing  to  the  lateness  of  the  season,  there  were 
no  flowers  from  the  North  and  only  a  very  few 
from  the  Midlands,  but  what  was  lacking  in 
quantity  was  more  than  made  up  by  quality.  .At 
this  Show  there  is  generally  keen  competition  in 


the    classes    for    new    varieties    and    also    for    the 
valuable  challenge  cups. 

The  Bourne  Memorial  Cup  Class  for  twelve 
varieties  raised  by  the  exhibitor,  brought  four 
entrants,  the  first  prize  being  awarded  to  Dr.  N. 
Y.  Lower  of  Presteign,  who  put  up  twelve  exquisite 
varieties  of  the  highest  quality,  including  Mrs. 
Lower,  a  most  refined  white  trumpet ;  Mr.  F. 
Herbert  Chapman  of  Rye  being  second  with  a 
choice  collection. 

The  Cartwright  Challenge  Cup  Class  for  twelve 
varieties  which  need  not  have  been  raised  by  the 
exhibitor,  was  won  by  Mr.  F.  Herbert  Chapman 
with  a  splendid  selection,  closely  followed  by  the 
Donard  Nursery  Company  of  Newcastle,  Co.  Down. 
The  Walter  Ware  Challenge  Vase  for  three 
varieties  bunched  for  market  was  won  by  the 
Donard  Nursery  Company  with  Mr.  W.  A.  Watts  of 
St.  Asaph,  second. 

The  beautiful  White  Daffodil  Trophy  for  six 
\-arieties  of  white  trumpets  brought  seven  entries  ; 
first  prize  was  won  by  the  Donard  Nursery  Com- 
pany ;    second,  Mr.   F.  Herbert  Chapman. 

The  competitive  group  of  thirty-six  varieties  was 
won  by  J.  L.  Richardson  of  Waterford  with  a 
charming,  well  balanced  lot. 

The  classes  for  single  blooms  were  moderately  well 
filled.  The  first  prize  for  a  single  bloom  of  yellow 
trumpets  was  awarded  to  a  most  perfect  bloom  of 
Cleopatra,  exhibited  by  Captain  Hawker.  White 
Knight  held  its  own  in  the  white  trumpet  class, 
the  first  prize  blossom  being  shown  by  J.  L. 
Richardson  ;  a  fine  flower  of  Lady  Primrose, 
shown  by  Donard  Nursery  Company,  obtained 
first  prize  in  the  bi-color  trumpets.  Mr.  Watt's 
new  variety,  Brightling , 
secured  first  place  in 
the  yellow  perianthed 
"  Incomps."  The  finest 
single  bloom  Barri,  with 
white  perianth,  was  Mr. 
Mallender's  new  variety 
Jessie,  named  after  his 
daughter  which  beat  fine 
varieties,  such  as 
Firetail.  The  Donard 
Nursery  Company's 
Tenedos  won  the  Leedsii 
(4.*)  Class,  while  Ivorine, 
shown  by  J.  L.  Richard- 
son won  in  Class  40, 
Leedsii.  The  favourite 
Jonquil  Buttercup  was 
first  in  its  class.  It 
was  shown  by  J.  L. 
Richardson,  who  also 
won  first  in  the  Tazetta 
hybrids  with  Glorious. 
The  best  poeticus  was 
Captain  Hawker's  Snow 
King. 

Quite  a  goodly  number 
of  varieties  were  sub- 
mitted to  the  Floral 
Committee  for  award 
and  awards  of  merit 
were  bestowed  upon  the 
following  : — 

Orange    Glo  w.— A 

handsome  I  n  c  o  m  p  a  r  a- 
bilis  variety  of  large  size, 
perianth  canary  yellow, 
the  large  open  corona 
bright  orange  with  a 
pretty  crimped  margin. 
Shown  by  Messrs.  R.  H. 
Bath,  Limited. 

Brightling.  —  Another 
very  beautiful  Incom- 
parabilis    of    good    form. 


The  perianth  scgnu/uts  are  pale  yellow  and  the 
short  yellow  corona  is  margined  with  deep 
orange.  Should  ultimately  prove  a  valuable 
market  flower.  Shown  by  the  -Anglesey  Bulb 
Growers'  Association. 

Sunrise. — A  charming  and  substantial  variety 
belonging  to  the  Barrii  section.  The  creamy 
perianth  has  yellow  rays  and  flakes.  The  cup  is  a 
rich  orange.     Also  from  the  Anglesey  Growers. 

Cleopatra. — -An  excellent  self  yellow  trumpet 
with  broad  and  overlapping  perianth  segments, 
Shown  by  Captain  Hawker,  Ivybridge. 

Magnolia. — A  giant  Leedsii  with  stout  blossoms 
for  the  section  ;  the  perianth  segments  are  creamy 
white  and  slightly  twisted  and  the  rather  more 
deeply  tinted  cup  is  well  expanded  and  has  a  well 
frilled  edge.  Shown  by  Messrs.  George  Monro, 
Limited. 

Coronation. — A  well  finished  Poeticus  variety 
with  a  well  rounded  flower  of  medium  size.  The 
pure  white  perianth  has  smooth  well  overlapping 
segments.  The  bright  yellow  cup  is  narrowly 
margined  with  crimson  scarlet.  Shown  by  Messrs. 
Barr  and  Sons. 

Glorious. — -A  white  perianthed  Tazetta  hybrid 
with  a  deep  red  solid  eye  ;  an  acquisition.  Shown 
by  Mr,  J.  L.  Richardson,  Waterford. 

Mrs.  Percy  Neale.— A  particularly  fine  giant 
Leedsii.  The  beautiful  white  perianth  is  of  show 
flatness,  and  the  cup  pale  citron.  Wonderfully 
stout  for  the  section  both  in  flower  and  stem. 
Shown  by  Mr.  W.  F.  M.  Copeland. 

Everest. — An  addition  to  the  white  trumpet 
section.      From  the   Donard  Nursery  Co. 


LIKELY    TO 


PROVE    AN    EXCELLENT    GARDEN    VARIETY, 
NARCISSUS    BRIGHTLING. 


214 


THE     GARDEN, 


[May  6,  1922 


The  Birmingham  Botanical  Silver  Medals  were 
won  by  Mr.  J.  L.  Richardson  and  Mr.  H.  R.  Dar- 
lington of  Potters  Bar,  and  bronze  ditto  by  the 
Donard  Nursery  Company  and  Mr.  W.  F.  M. 
Copeland. 

The  honorary  exhibits  are  always  good  at 
Birmingham,  and  this  season  was  no  exception. 
Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons  of  London  and  the  Donard 
Nursery  Company  of  Ireland  well  merited  the 
Society's  gold  medals  which  were  awarded  them. 
Silver-gilt   medals   were   given    to   Messrs.    R.    H. 


Bath,  Limited,  of  Wisbech,  and  the  Anglesey  Bulb 
Growers  Association,  as  well  as  silver  ones  to 
Messrs.  CartWTight  and  Goodwin,  Limited,  of 
Kidderminster,  J.  L.  Richardson  of  Waterford,  and 
W.   F.   M.  Copeland  of  Southampton. 

The  Show  was  well  attended  as  is  evidenced  by  the 
takings  at  the  gate,  which  were  more  than  for 
several  years  past.  Everyone  regretted  the 
absence  of  the  Rev.  J.  Jacob,  who  is  recuper- 
ating after  an  illness  and  who  is  now  rapidly 
recovering. 


Rhododendrons    and    Auriculas    at    the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Hall 


THE  advertised  feature  of  the  R.H.S. 
meeting  on  April  35  was  Rhododendrons, 
and  this  was  presumably  in  the  interests 
of  the  select  band  of  growers  of  relatively 
tender  early-flowering  sorts.  As  a  Rho- 
dodendron Show  it  did  not  come  up  to  expectations, 
and   it   was   evident   that   most  of   the   exhibitors 


further  illustrate  what  a  favoured  climate  West 
Cornwall  enjoys  there  was,  by  the  Rhododendrons, 
a  gathering  of  large  fruits  of  Madras  Citron  from 
the  open  air,  in  the  garden  of  Mr.  Howard  Fox, 
Grove  Hill,  Falmouth. 

Mr.  E.  G.  P.  Magor,    who    has    long   specialised 


Rhododendrons 


his    beautiful     valley    at 


THE    HYBRID    ROSE-PINK    RHODODENDRON    AURORA.      (AWARD   OF    MERIT.) 


have  much  to  learn  before  they  can  make  it  the 
success  the  great  beauty  of  the  flowers  deserves. 
There  were  many  lovely  blooms  in  the  hall,  but 
often  there  was  no  indication  as  to  their  nature 
or  objects.  Mr.  T.  H.  Lowinsky,  Tittenhurst, 
Sunninghill,  brought  a  great  number  of  large 
plants  in  pots.  These  were  mostly  beautiful 
hybrids  of  R.  Aucklandii  parentage,  but  all  were 
imnamed.  In  an  exhibit  by  Messrs.  R.  Gill  and 
Son,  who  every  season  bring  branches  of  excellent 
blooms  from  the  Falmouth  district,  one  could 
admire  the  trusses  of  flower  with  understanding 
and  pleasure,  for  they  were  attractively  arranged 
and  named.  Such  varieties  as  R.  Shilsoni,  Ernest 
Gill  and  Gill's  Triumph  must  have  made  everyone 
long  to  possess  them.  There  were  many  others, 
including  brilliant  arboreum  seedlings  and  a 
generous  mass  of  Azalea  amoena,  which  may  be 
grown    in    very    many    gardens.     Almost    as    to 


Lamellan,  St.  Tudy,  Cornwall,  brought  the  most 
valuable  and  interesting  Rhododendrons  from 
the  hybridists  point  of  view  under  the  appreciation 
of  the  special  committee  which  judged  the  collec- 
tions. In  R.  calophytum  he  had  decidedly  the 
most  beautiful  Rhododendron  in  the  Show.  It  is  a 
compact  truss  of  erect  bell-shaped,  cr\-stal  white 
blooms,  which  have  a  vivid  rosy  carmine  blotch 
in  the  centre.  The  pink  form  of  the  same  species 
was  also  lovely,  while  the  blood  red  arboreums 
were  most  brilliant.  A  little  collection  of  the 
small  blue- flowered  sorts  included  the  beautiful 
hv-brid  R.  prostigiatum. 

l-"rom  the  wonderful  garden  he  is  making  at 
Exbury,  Hampshire,  Mr.  Leopold  de  Rothschild 
exhibited  a  small  collection,  and  this  included 
such  gorgeous  sorts  as  R.  nepalense,  R.  Iverianum, 
R.  R.  Horsham  and  Queen  Wilhelmina,  with  a  most 
charming    rose    pink   cross   from    R.   kewense   and 


R.  Thomsoni.  Lady  Aberconway,  Sir  John 
Ramsden  and  Mr.  G.  W.  Loder  contributed 
small  collections. 

The  hardier  hybrids,  which  may  be  termed 
everyone's  Rhododendrons,  were  splendidly  shown 
by  Messrs.  Wallace  and  Co.,  in  a  large  group  of 
spring-flowering  shrubs.  The  yellow  R.  campylo- 
carpum,  R.  Princess  Juliana,  a  pale  blush  pink  with 
pretty  crimped  edges,  and  R.  Hugo  de  Vries,  were 
very  fascinating.  The  last  named  has  Pink  Pearl 
for  one  parent,  which  it  greatly  "  favours." 
Among  other  shrubs  in  the  hall,  Corokea  virgata 
in  flower  in  Messrs.  Piper's  collection,  and  the 
corner  group  of  Mr.  R.  C.  Notcutt,  where  he  had 
beautiful  double-flowered  Cherries  and  standard 
Brooms,  were  charming. 

Of  the  many  alpines,  the  outstanding  exhibit 
was  by  Viscountess  Northcliffe,  who  filled  a  long 
table  with  good  plants  in  pots  and  pans.  These 
were  such  Saxifrages,  Sedums,  Gentians  and 
."^rmerias  as  are  suitable  for  flowering  in  an  un- 
healed greenhouse. 

Narcissi  of  all  kinds  were  freely  shown.  The 
greatest  collection  was  by  Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons, 
who  won  a  gold  medal.  They  had  such  gorgeous 
bright-cupped  sorts  as  Ruby,  King's  Pirate  and 
Best  Man.  The  pale  apricot  shading  of  the  corona 
ui  Lavender,  a  Barrii,  fascinated  many  visitors 
while  the  pink  trumpeted  Mrs.  Backhouse 
naturally  drew  attention. 

That  decorative  variety  Flame  occupied  a 
prominent  place  in  a  collection  by  Messrs.  R.  H. 
Bath,  Limited.  Almost  next  door  they  placed 
lovely  flowers  of  orange  Sir  Watkin  and  Lady 
Superior,  a  Barrii  bloom  with  a  fiery  orange  corona. 
Messrs.  Sutton  and  Sons  showed  how  very  decor- 
ative the  ordinary  sorts  can  be  made  when  they 
are  massed  in  fair  quantity  and  arranged  with 
taste.  The  low  bowls  of  such  sorts  as  Rosalie, 
Tom  Thumb,  and  St.  Vincent  were  delightful. 

The  Anglesey  Bulb  Growers'  Association  had  a 
nice  little  decorative  exhibit,  while  Messrs.  F. 
H.  Chapman,  Limited,  and  Mr.  W.  F.  M.  Cope- 
land showed  good  seedlings. 

Carnations  and  Roses  of  merit  were  to  be  seen  in 
fair  quantity.  Mr.  E.  J.  Hicks  and  Messrs.  B. 
R.  Cant  and  Son,  showed  similar  varieties  to  those 
they  won  prizes  with  a  few  days  pre\iously,  and 
Messrs.  Wm.  Cutbush  and  Son  had  a  charming 
group  of  Polyantha  Roses.  The  chief  Carnations 
were  by  Messrs.  Allwood  Bros.,  Mr.  C.  Engelmann 
and  Messrs.  Stuart  Low  and  Co. 

The  Southern  Section  of  the  National  Primula 
and  .Auricula  Society  had  their  usual  annual  small 
show  and  many  visitors  were  interested  in  the 
quaintly  beautiful  show  .\uriculas  and  more  so 
in  the  useful  alpines.  The  chief  exhibitors  were, 
Mr.  Jas.  Douglas  and  Mr.  J.  Bennet-Poe,  while  Mr. 
Miller  showed  many  single  and  double-flowered 
Primroses. 

The  fine  strain  of  Spetchley  Primroses,  of  which 
a  group  was  exhibited  in  a  corner  of  the  hall,  is 
the  subject  of  an  article  on  page  211.  Especially 
when  viewed  from  a  little  distance  they  made  a 
fine  display. 


NEW     AND     RARE     PLANTS. 

Aubrietia  Maurice  Prichard. — A  moderately 
attractive  variety  which  bears  plenty  of  unusually 
large  pale  mauve  flowers.  Award  of  merit  to 
Mr.    Maurice   Prichard. 

Azalea  Fraternite. — This  and  the  three  follow- 
ing were  shown  as  Kersbergen  Azaleas,  but,  with 
one  exception,  they  are  just  large-flowered,  very 
free  Mollis  Azaleas,  though  very  showy  varieties. 
The  colour  of  A.  Fraterniti  is  pale  rose  suffused 
with  salmon  and  there  is  orange-yellow  splashing 
on  the  upper  petals.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs. 
R.  Wallace  and  Co. 


May  6,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


215 


Azalea  Frederick  Engels. — This  was  the 
brightest  coloured  of  the  many  plants  on  view  and 
seemed  to  be  a  typical,  good  Azalea  Mollis  of  vivid 
salmon-rose  colour.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs 
Wallace . 

Azalea  Chicago. — The  colour  of  this  large- 
flowered  variety  may  be  described  as  being  a 
coppery-orange.  There  are  spots  of  a  darker  shade 
on  the  upper  petals.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs. 
Wallace. 

Azalea  Thomas  Moore. — A  large  salmon-pink 
variety  shaded  with  orange-fawn.  The  colouring 
changes  to  clear  yellow  in  the  centre.  Award  of 
merit  to  Messrs.  Wallace. 

Narcissus  Brightling. — This  very  beautiful 
Incomparabilis  Daffodil  repeated  the  success  it 
achieved  at  Birmingham.  Award  of  merit  to  the 
Anglesey  Bulb  Growers'  .Association. 

Narcissus  Chinita. — .A  charming  Poetaz  variety 
bearing  twin  flowers.  The  perianth  is  pale  yellow 
and  the  small  corona  is  a  deeper  yellow,  margined 
with  orange-scarlet.  Award  of  merit  to  Mr. 
Leopold  de  Rothschild. 

Narcissus  Magnolia. — The  chief  charm  of  this 
large  trumpet  Daffodil  is  its  Magnolia-like  white- 
ness. The  form  is  perhaps  hardly  first-class,  the 
perianth  segments  being  slightly  twisted,  The  tube 
is  widely  expanded.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs. 
George  Monro. 

Narcissus  Orange  Glow. — The  glorious  Incom- 
parabihs  variety  of  large  size  which  received  an 
award  the  previous  week  at  Birmingham  again 
found  favour.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs.  R.  H. 
Bath,   Limited. 

Narcissus  Mountaineer. — .A  large  bright  yellow 

trumpet  Daffcdil  of  good  form  and  with  plenty  of 
substance.     Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  W.  B.  Cranfield. 

Narcissus    Rob    Berkeley.  —  A    very  shapely 

large  trumpet  \'ariety  of  slightly  drooping  habit. 
The  long,  regular  trumpet  is  pale  creamy  white 
and  the  perianth  is  a  trifle  paler,  becoming  nearly 
milk  white.  Award  of  merit  to  Mrs.  Berkeley  of 
Spetchley. 

Narcissus  Xenophon.  —  A  large  flowered 
Tazetta  variety.  The  twin  flowers  are  in  form 
much  like  loosely  made  Barrii  blooms.  The 
colour    is    orange    with    a    deeper    shade   to   the 


corona.  .Award  of  merit  to  the 
Anglesey  Bulb  Growers'  Association. 

Primrose  Clarkson. — A  very  un- 
common rosy-lake  single  Primrose, 
which  has  an  orange  eye.  National 
Auricula  Society's  first  class  certifi- 
cate to  Mr.  G.  W.  Miller. 

Primrose  George. — A  pretty  clear 
lilac  single  Primrose  which  has  an 
orange  eye.  N.A.S.  first  class  certifi- 
cate to  Mr.  G.  W.  Miller. 

Primrose  Lingwood  Beauty. — .A 
free-flowering  rosy-purple  \'ariety  of 
good  form.  N.A.S.  first  class  certifi- 
cate to  Mr.  G.  W.  Miller. 

Rhododendron  Aurora. — Quite  the 
brightest  of  all  the  Rhododendrons  in 
the  hall.  1 1  has  a  large  truss  of  widely 
expanded  vivid  rose-pink  flowers. 
The  green  leaves  are  relatively  small, 
so  that  a  bush  in  bloom  would  be 
a  rich  mass  of  flower.  Award  of 
merit  to  Mr.  Leopold  de    Rothschild. 

Rhododendron  Mrs.  T.  Weylen- 
berg. — .A  bright  rose  -  pink  shaded 
hybrid  which  bears  plenty  of  medium 
sized  trusses  of  bloom.  Shown  by 
Messrs.  Wni.  Cutbush  and  Sons. 

Rhododendron  Souvenir  de  D.  A. 
Koster. — .A  brilhant  free  flowering 
hybrid  somewhat  of  Doncaster  ap- 
pearance, but  the  flowers  are  of  a 
bright,  deep  rose  pink  colour. 
.Award  of  merit  to  Messrs.  \V. 
Cutbush  and  Sons. 

Streptocarpus      Sutton's      Giant 

Blue. — A  gigantic  but  refined  flower, 

nearly  as  large  as  a  Gloxinia.      The 

pale     blue     flowers     have    a    pretty 

white   throat.     In  spite   of   the   great  size  of  the 

blooms  it  is  a  very  free-flowering  variety.     Award 

of  merit  to  Messrs.  Sutton  and  Sons. 

Angraecum  Leonis. — A  particularly  well  grown 
specimen  of  this  Madagascar  Orchid  was  shown 
bearing  three  spikes  of  white  flowers,  the  flower 
buds  are  of  a  curious  green  tinge.  Award  of  merit 
to  Sir  Herbert  Leon. 


THE 


REMARKABLE    PINK    TRUMPETED    DAFFODIL 
MRS.    R.    O.   BACKHOUSE. 

Catasetum  TruUa  Dovercourt  Variety. — This 

might  almost  be  termed  a  Black  Orchid,  for  the 
stems  and  flowers  are  of  a  deep  blackish-maroon 
colour.  When  lifted  the  greenish-yellow  lip  is 
seen  and  reheves  the  sombreness.  Award  of 
merit  to  Dr.  T.  Bedford. 

Brasso-Laelio-Cattleya  Truffantiana  Low's 
variety,-  .A  fine  large-flowered  hybrid,  sepals  and 
petals  yellow,  tinged  bright  green  ;  the  lip  is  a 
vivid  carmine-rose.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs. 
Stuart  Low  and  Company. 


THE    CHASTE    TRUSS    OF    RHODODENDRON    CALOPHYTUM. 


A  USEFUL  RHODODENDRON 

.Among  the  newer  Chinese  Rhododendrons  R. 
impeditum  is  proving  one  of  the  most  useful 
species  for  the  rock  and  alpine  garden.  A  dwarf 
evergreen  shrub  of  spreading  habit,  it  produces 
a  profusion  of  purple  flowers  about  i  inch  across, 
commencing  when  the  plants  are  only  a  few  inches 
high  and  within  two  years  from  the  sowing  of  the 
seeds.  When  first  introduced  by  Mr.  George 
Forrest  in  1911  this  plant  was  grown  for  several 
years  as  R.  fastigiatum,  and  may  still  retain 
this  name  in  some  gardens.  In  many  respects 
R.  impeditum  is  a  better  garden  plant  than  the 
earlier  introduced  R.  intriratum,  as  it  not  only 
seems  to  grow  better,  but  flowers  about  a  month 
later  when  there  is  less  liability  cf  damage  by  late 
spring  frosts.  Botanically,  among  other  differences, 
R.  impeditum  is  readily  distinguished  from  R. 
intricatum  by  the  long  protruding  anthers.  Very 
readily  increased  by  seeds  and  cuttings,  there 
seems  every  possibility  of  this  dainty  alpine 
Rhododendron  being  as  readily  grown  in  our 
gardens  as  the  Heaths  and  Ling.  When  increase 
by  cuttings  is  proposed  the  plants  should  be  grown 
under  glass,  the  young  growths  on  these  rooting 
much  more  readily  than  shoots  taken  from  plants 
in  the  open.  The  flowers  vary  from  mauve  to 
violet   purple.  A.  O 


216 


THE     GARDEN. 


[May  6,  1922. 


ARTIFICIAL   FERTILISERS 

Their  Use  in  Spring  and  Summer. 

THERE  are  stiU  many  gardeners  who  are 
almost  afraid  to  use  artificial  fertilisers, 
and  who,  in  consequence  are  finding 
themselves  in  difficulties  owing  to  the 
high  cost  and  genuine  scarcity  of  dung, 
on  account  of  the  rapid  supersession  of  horses 
by  machinery.  It  is  for  such  gardeners  that  the 
present  article  is  written,  not  for  the  man  who 
has  used  artificial  fertilisers  for  the  last  twenty 
years,  for  he,  of  course,  will  "  linow  all  about  it." 
From  this  time  forward  until  about  the  middle 
of  September  artificial  fertilisers  should  be  in 
full  use.  It  is  often  the  early  and  the  late  appli- 
cations that  count  most.  Crops  can  be  rushed 
through  a  danger  period  or  pushed  on  to  be  ready 
for  a  certain  date.  One  cannot  do  this  with 
liquid  animal  manure  whatever  anyone  may  say 
to  the  contrary,  and  one  certainly  cannot  get 
the  beauty  of  colour  in  either  flowers  or  vegetables 
without  "  artificials  "  that  one  can  with  them. 

Like  almost  everything  else,  artificial  fertilisers 
have  been  classified  and,  if  I  may  say  so,  over- 
classified.  Nearly  every  garden  writer  has  some 
pet  classification  of  his  own.  He  either  classifies 
them  as  regards  the  crops  that  they  benefit  most, 
or  as  regards  their  solubility  in  water,  or,  again, 
as  to  the  metals  of  which  they  are  compounds. 
The  present  writer  would  like  to  abolish  all  this 
over-classification,  which  makes  the  subject 
confusing  and  so  often  leads  to  disaster  in  the  case 
of  the  inexperienced.  Let  them  be  divided  into 
four  great  groups  and  stick  to  that. 

The  most  important  group  is  that  of  which  the 
principal  ingredient  is  nitrogen.  Nitrogenous 
artificial  fertilisers  comprise  nitrate  of  soda, 
sulphate  of  ammonia,  nitrate  of  ammonia,  nitrate 
of  Ume  and  a  few  others.  All  are  very  soluble 
in  water  and  remarkably  quick  in  action.  They 
produce  leafage  and  nothing  else,  therefore  they 
should  not  be  used  for  flowers  or  vegetables  where 
undue  quantities  of  foliage  are  undesirable.  If, 
however,  crops  are  wanted  to  make  leaf  growth, 
they  should  be  given  nitrogen  in  one  of  the  forms 
named  above,  using  it  at  a  rate  not  greater  than 
loz.  to  the  gaUon  of  water  or  half  an  ounce  to  the 
square  yard. 

The  second  group  is  that  of  potash  manures. 
Potassium  itself  is  a  metal  which  few  gardeners 
have  seen  and  none  need  want  to  see.  Its  salts, 
however,  are  exceedingly  useful ;  in  fact,  such 
crops  as  Potatoes  and,  indeed,  many  roots  can 
hardly  be  grown  to  perfection  without  them. 
Being  a  metal,  potassium  combines  readily  with 
acids,  and  one  of  its  compounds,  saltpetre,  is 
often  used  as  a  nitrogenous  manure.  In  reality, 
however,  it  can  be  used  for  supplying  both  potash 
and  nitrogen  to  the  soil,  and  it  will  be  noticed 
that  it  does  not  make  plants  "  run  to  leaf  "  to  the 
same  extent  as  a  purely  nitrogenous  fertiliser. 
Phosphate  of  potash  is  another  of  its  combined 
salts,  but  this  will  be  treated  in  the  next  section. 
Beyond  these  there  are  two  salts  of  potash 
for  our  use,  namely,  sulphate  of  potash  and  wood 
ashes,  which  contain  a  percentage  of  carbonate 
of  potash.  I  need  hardly  give  particulars  of  the 
value  or  use  of  wood  ashes  since  even  the  veriest 
amateur  understands  it.  Sulphate  of  potash 
is  a  valuable  fertiHser  for  appUcation  throughout 
spring  and  summer.  It  may  either  be  used  dry 
at  the  rate  of  loz.  to  the  square  yard  or  in  solution 
at  the  rate  of  loz.  per  gallon  of  water. 

The  third  group  of  artificial  fertilisers  consists 
of  those  supplying  phosphates  to  the  land.  I 
have  already  mentioned  phosphate  of  potash 
in   this  connexion,  but  it  is  not  recommendable 


for  general  use  owing  to  the  difficulty  of  storing 
it.  It  has  a  disagreeable  habit  of  deliquescing, 
and  must  therefore  be  kept  in  a  damp-proof  tin 
if  it  is  to  be  stored  at  all.  About  a  quarter  of  a 
pound  of  phosphate  of  potash  is  ample  for  a 
lo-gallon  cask  of  water. 

Among  other  phosphatic  fertilisers  super- 
phosphate of  lime  is  probably  the  best  known, 
and  an  effort  should  be  made  to  obtain  a  sample 
with  the  highest  possible  percentage  of  solubility. 
There  is  always  a  considerable  amount  of 
superphosphate  which  will  not  dissolve,  and  it 
is  therefore  a  good  plan  to  make  up  a  stock  solution 
and  allow  the  sediment  to  settle.  If  a  pound 
of  superphosphate  of  lime  is  dissolved  in  a  tub 
of  water  holding  about  8  gallons  and  then  one 
part  of  this  stock  solution  used  with  every  two 
parts  of  water,  a  liquid  fertiliser  quite  strong 
enough  for  ordinary  purposes  will  be  the  result. 
It  does  not  pay  to  give  superphosphate  too  strong 
on  account  of  its  being  a  very  acid  manure.  While 
potash  fertilisers  increase  quality,  phosphates 
induce  earUness. 

The  last  group  consists  of  general  artificial 
fertilisers.  One  of  these,  which  deserves  carefully 
experimenting  with,  is  sulphate  of  iron,  as  it 
intensifies  the  colour  of  both  flowers  and  foliage. 
In  large  doses  it  is  very  poisonous,  but  I  have 
successfully  used  it  up  to  about  half  an  ounce 
to  the  gallon  of  water.  E.  T.   Ellis. 


OLD  CONNA  HILL  GARDEN 

ENGLISH  visitors  who  cross  tlie  Irish 
Channel  from  Holyhead  to  Kingstown, 
now  called  Dun-loaghaire,  are  familiar 
with  the  two  Sugar  Loaf  Mountains 
behind  Bray  Head.  Old  Gonna  Hill  lies 
on  the  south-east  slope  of  the  County  Dublin 
facing  these  peaks,  and  a  more  beautiful  situation 
for  a  garden  would  be  hard  to  find.  Climate  and  soil 
are  alike  favourable  ;  it  is  two  miles  from  the  sea, 
sheltered  from  cold  winds,  and  has  a  rich  loamy  soil. 
Added  to  all  this,  two  generations  of  good  plants- 
me  1  for  owners  have  made  this  the  most  desirable 
of  all  gardens  in  County  Dublin.  The  following 
plants  were  noted  during  a  visit  to  Captain  Riall 
on  March  5  :  In  the  slirubbery  Castanopsis 
chrysophylla,  a  fire  tree  25ft.  high,  the  beautiful 
golden  underside  of  the  leaves  very  attractive  as 
the  brandies  swayed  in  the  wind.  Jasminum 
primulinum  has  grown  into  a  thick  bush,  covered 
with  bright  red  buds  which  open  into  yellow 
flowers  the  size  of  a  shilling,  with  a  frill  in  the  centre 
which  makes  the  flower  look  like  Narcissus  odorata 
fl.  pi.  This  tender  shrub  grows  in  the  open  without 
protection  of  ?ny  kind.  A  very  brilliant  pink 
Rhododendron,  a  dwarf  hybrid,  with  apparently 
R.  Nobleanum  blood,  in  a  group  of  four,  makes  a 
gay  patch.  Rhododendron  argenteum  Falconeri, 
Keysii,  Thomsonii.  fine  healthy  specinaens,  lead  to 
the  garden  door,  which,  when  opened,  shows  an 
avenue  of  Cordylines  in  front  of  Yew  hedges, 
framing  a  beautiful  view  of  sea.  sky.  Bray  Head,  the 
two  Sugar  Loaf  Peaks  and  stately  Douce  Mountain. 
Turning  one's  eyes  to  the  garden  there  is  a  big 
stretch  of  wall  covered  with  plants  of  Mimulus 
glutinosus,  not  yet  open.  Next  to  it  Cantua 
dependens  or  buxifolia  which,  although  the  date  be 
March  5,  has  put  forth  two  of  its  brilliant  rose  and 
yellow  flowers,  long  tubular  in  shape,  opening  into 
expanded  mouths.  Dendromecon  rigidum,  airo,  is  in 
flower.  This  plant  is  against  a  I. sft.  stone  wall ;  its 
beautiful  grey  foliage  stands  well  above  the  wall. 
Captain  Riall  says  there  is  not  a  month  of  the 
year  that  it  is  without  some  of  its  lovely  sliining 
yellow  butter-cup  like  flowers.  Habrotliamnus  or 
Cestrum  fasciculatum  spreads  its  branches  for  yards 


on  the  wall,  its  hard  looking  dull  green  leaves  a 
great  contrast  to  the  dark  shining  foliage  and 
brilliant  tan  bark  of  the  trunks  of  two  big  trees  of 
Myrtus  Luma,  covered  with  white  flower  buds  now, 
which  later  in  the  year  are  followed  by  dark  wine-  ■ 
coloured  fruits.  Myrtus  Ugni  fruits  very  freely  ■ 
liere.  It  is  made  into  jelly  at  Old  Conna  Hill,  and 
very  good  jelly  it  is.  Callistemon  coccineus,  the 
.Australian  bottle-brush,  is  not  an  uncommon  » 
plant  out  of  doors  in  Ireland,  but  it  seldom  attains  | 
to  8ft.  in  height.  I  have  seen  this  plant  in  summer 
when  it  is  covered  with  its  bright  red  flowers, 
which  are  very  like  the  queer  little  bottle-brushes 
used  in  children's  nurseries. 

Daphne  Dauphini  is  not  often  seen,  though  its 
relations  Mezereum,  purple  and  white,  are  in  nearly 
every  garden.  Captain  Riall's  shrub  of  D.  Dauphini 
is  a  gnarled  old  warrior,  with  a  twisted  stem  ;  it 
spreads  6ft.  wide  and  is  covered  with  reddish- 
mauve  flowers  and  dark  glossy  green  leaves.  It  is 
endowed  with  the  strong  sweet  Daphne  scent, 
almost  as  good  as  D.  indica.  Daphne  Blagayana, 
a  beautiful  dwarf  alpine  shrub,  flourishes.  It  is  a 
straggling  grower,  the  leaves  forming  a  rosette-like 
tuft  at  the  tips  of  the  branches  encircling  thick 
clusters  of  fragrant  white  flowers.  It  blooms  freely 
and  for  many  w-eeks.  The  sole  secret  of  success 
with  this  plant  is  to  keep  the  branches  well  layered 
with  stones,  and  to  plant  it  in  a  faurly  shadv  place. 
It  likes  a  well  drained  spot. 

Rhododendron  lutescens  is  a  pale  yellow-flowered 
Chinaman,  with  the  thin  twigs,  narrow  leaves  and 
upright  growth  so  distinct  from  the  bushy  habit  of 
the  Himalayan  hybrid  type.  R.  moupinense  is 
another  delightful  Chinese  species.  It  is  very 
dwarf  in  habit,  its  large  delicate  white  flowers 
stand  out  in  relief  from  its  evergreen  leathery  oval 
leaves.  In  most  gardens  it  is  well  to  give  it  a  little 
protection  at  night.  The  flowers  open  so  early  in 
February  they  are  destroyed  by  even  a  slight 
frost.  It  gets  no  covering  at  Old  Conna.  In  a 
group  of  this  lovely  species  grown  from  seed  which 
came  from  a  Wilson  collection,  there  is  one  remark- 
able plant  with  very  deep  rose-coloured  buds, 
tlie  open  flowers  white  inside  with  bright  rose- 
coloured  backs  to  the  petals.  A  few  buds  were 
carefully  packed  and  sent  to  Mr.  Williams  of  Caer- 
hays  who  stated  that  he  has  had  several  similar 
seedling  forms,  some  of  which  were  of  great  beauty, 
and  that  some  of  them  came  true  from  seed,  which 
is  a  point  of  much  interest. 

Fabiana  imbricata  (Peru)  lives  quite  unpro- 
tected and  is  already  covered  with  flower  buds 
Diosma  ericoides  (Rutaceae),  a  native  of  South 
Africa,  was  in  full  flower  in  an  open  border,  its 
tiny  white  flowers  have  a  sweet  perfume.  Acacias 
do  very  well  in  this  favoured  climate  and  soil. 
Many  years  ago  Captain  Riall  brought  home  a  small 
pot  plant  of  Acacia  dealbata  from  the  South  of 
France.  It  flourished  for  years  in  a  garden  border 
until  it  was  so  badly  smashed  by  a  big  wind  it 
had  to  be  cut  down  to  the  ground.  It  was  30ft. 
high  with  spreading  branches.  Every  March  it 
was  smothered  in  clouds  of  feathery  yellow  flowers 
and  many  enthusiastic  gardeners  were  bidden 
yearly  to  see  this  lovely  tree.  Sprays  were  cut  off 
with  no  niggardly  hand  and  guests  were  given 
sweet-smelling  bunches  to  carry  away.  From  the 
stump  of  this  gallant  tree  a  strong  shoot  sprang  up, 
and  now  a  fine  young  trunk  is  developing  which  is 
flowering  well.  Acacia  Riceana  (Tasmania)  has  very 
dark  foliage.  Acacia  arniata  (.Australia)  has  thick, 
liard  foliage  like  a  miniature  Butcher's  Broom. 
Bracyglottis  repanda  was  growing  well,  away  from 
a  wall.  This  beautiful  shrub  should  be  tried  in 
many  more  gardens,  but  it  needs  a  wall  and  winter 
shelter  in  any  but  favoured  climates.  Its  grey 
leaves,  with  thick  woolly  underside  and  beautiful 
feathery  panicles  of  cream-coloured  flowers  hanging 
like  those  of  Spirjea  discolor,  but  more  cloudy  in 


May  6,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN 


217 


effect,  are  most  delightful,  and  well  repay  a  little 
attention  during  the  hard  weather.  Abutilons. 
white  and  mauve,  grow  freely  and  have  a  long 
lease  of  life.  Embothrium  coccineum,  the  well 
named  Flame  Tree,  does  well.     I  have  mentioned 


only  a  few  plants  seen  during  a  short  visit.  Old 
Conna  Hill,  thirteen  miles  from  the  city  of  Dublin, 
has  many  treasures  in  bulbs,  herbaceous  plants, 
shrubs  and  conifers,  all  well  grown  and  well 
cared  for.  W.  Phylis  Moore. 


SAXIFRAGES    OF    THE    MARITIME    ALPS 


IN  your  issue  of  January  14  last  I  gave  a 
little  account  of  the  Pyrenean  Saxifrages. 
Now  let  me  try  to  give  here  an  idea  of  the 
beauty  of  those  of  the  Maritime  Alps. 
This  chain  of  mountains  is  a  wonderful 
centre  for  the  Euaizoonia  group  of  Saxifrages. 
The  Kabschia  gioup  is  here  represented  only 
by  some  types  common  to  other  mountain  chains. 
and  the  "  Mossy "  (Dactyloides)  section  which 
is  so  richly  represented  throughout  the  whole 
chain  of  the  Pyrenees  has  here  only  a  local  type, 
S.  pedemontana,  which  is  also  found  elsewhere 
and  particularly  in  Corsica.  The  types  which 
belong  exclusively  to  the  Maritime  Alps  are  SS. 
fiorulenta,  cochlearis,  lingulata  and  lantoscana, 
with  their  respective  varieties.  S.  fiorulenta  is 
the  most  striking  of  them,  and  has  been  rightly 
called  "  the  pearl  of  the  AIpes-Maritimes."  It 
is  well  known  to  alpinists  and  botanists,  as  well 
as  to  gardeners.  It  is  a  veritable  jewel  of  the 
high  altitudes  on  granitic  rocks  at  from  6,oooft. 
to  10,000ft.  above  sea-level,  in  an  area  not  extending 
to  many  kilometres,  from  the  Val  Roya  to  the 
Tinee  Valley.  It  appears  as  a  real  beauty  in  the 
crevices  of  the  high  granitic  walls,  and  is  not  at 
all  easy  to  find.  It  is  useless  to  attempt  to  take 
it  from  these  narrow  clefts.  The  only  means 
to  get  it  is  to  search  for  the  tiny  young  plants 
growing  in  the  stone  banks  at  the  foot  of  the 
wails.  They  cannot  long  live  there — they  are 
destined  soon  to  die,  because  the  plant  can  grow 
only  between  rocks.  The  seeds  falling  from  the 
cliffs  come  up  regularly,  but  the  plants  die  after 
a  few  years,  so  that  it  is  not  at  all  reprehensible 


WHERE  SAXIFRAGA   LINGULATA   GROWS   WILD 
GORGES   DU   CHANS. 


to  take  them  out  and  to  bring  them  away.  We 
grow  them  at  Floraire  only  in  a  perpendicular 
position,  even  in  pots,  for  then  we  make  holes 
in  the  sides  wherein  to  introduce  the  roots. 

As  regards  aspect,  S.  fiorulenta  is  very  par- 
ticular, as  the  dark  green,  shining  and  aromatic 
leaves  are  disposed  in  dense  rosettes  which  some- 
times become  very  old.  I  brought  with  me  once 
an  old  plant  found  dead  on  the  loose  stone  heap 
at  the  foot  of  a  perpendicular  cliff  where  the 
avalanches  brought  it  after  it  had  flowered,  and 
we  reckoned  out  that  the  age  of  it  was  more  than 
eighty  years.  The  plant  makes  only  five  or  six 
leaves  per  year,  and  my  rosette,  which  was 
40  centimetres  long,  had  more  than  500  of  them. 
The  plant  is  a  very  slow-growing  one,  and  as  it 
is  monocarpous  (dying  after  once  flowering),  as 
is  also  S.  longifoUa,  the  rosette  disappears 
after  having  flow'ered.  The  flower-spike  is  pyr- 
amidal hke  that  of  S.  longifolia,  but  the  flowers  are 
of  a  very  conspicuous  rose-purple.  The  colour 
is  something  like  that  of  S.  Ulaeina,  perhaps 
rather  nearer  to  the  colour  of  Megasea  crassifoUa, 
but  not  at  all  the  hue  of  S.  oppositifolia,  which 
is  pure  carmine.  The  first  time  I  found  it 
(August,  190S)  I  was  surprised  by  the  beauty 
of  the  pyramidal  spike  of  flowers  shining  upon 
the  dark  granitic  rocks  of  the  Valley  Boreon. 
The  botanist  E.  Boissier,  who  grew  it  at  his 
marvellous  garden  of  Valleyres,  had  it  once  in 
flower — I  believe  in  1874.  A  friend  of  mine  at 
Davos  flowered  it  also,  but  we  have  never  succeeded 
in  flowering  it  here.  I  know  of  cases  in  England 
where  the  plant  has  succeeded  and  flowered  well, 
but  they  are  rare.  It  must  be  noted 
that  it  is  necessary  to  put  it  on  a 
north  wall  and  in  granite  rather 
than  in  limestone.  We  have  it  here 
in  a  wall  facing  north,  and  have 
hopes  of  flowering  it  shortly. 

S.  lingulata  is  also  an  element  of  the 
flora  of  these  Alps.  It  only  grows  on 
the  highest  summits,  particularly  on 
the  north  side  of  the  chain.  I  found 
it  in  special  luxuriance  at  the  base 
of  the  Col  de  Tende  above  Limone 
and  Pesio,  where  some  spikes  were 
not  less  than  28ins.  long  and  the 
leaves  reached  jins.  or  so.  It  forms 
large  clumps  of  elegant  silver  green 
rosettes,  the  leaves  being  broader 
towards  the  tip  than  at  the  base. 
The  petals  are  large  and  of  the  finest 
white  and  contrast  elegantly  with  the 
dark  red  glandular  stalk.  From  the 
end  of  May  until  July  they  form 
a  feature  of  the  landscape.  Would 
that  I  had  the  pen  of  poor  Farrer 
to  describe  its  splendour  !  No  words 
can  describe  it  ;  even  the  peasants  of 
the  country  come  to  pay  their  tribute 
of  admiration.  Its  culture  is  a  very 
easy  one.  It  only  wants  the  cliff 
and   a   partially   shaded    aspect. 

S.  cochlearis  is  another  very 
distinct  species  not  found  elsewhere 
than  on  the  barren  rocks  of  the 
south  side  on  the  Maritime  Alps. 
While  S.  lingulata  remains  on  the 
highest  altitudes  (from  3,000ft.  to 
7,oooft.),    S.    cochlearis    comes  rather 


low  in  the  same  regions.  I  found  it  near  the 
sea  above  Mentone,  and  Buniat  and  Boissier 
found  it  in  Liguria  and  on  the  Genevese  Apennines. 
It  forms  very  dense  tufts  of  short-leaved  rosettes, 
the  short  leaves  being  thick  and  spoon-shaped 
at  their  tip,  but  narrow  at  the  base,  very  glaucous 
and  silvery  powdered,  particularly  at  the  margins. 
The  flowers  are  pure  white  on  deep  purple  or 
reddish  brown  stalks.  I  once  found  near  to 
Fontan  a  very  small  form  resembling  S.  valdensis, 
the  same  as  I  saw  in  an  Englisli  nursery  offered 
for  the  Valdesian  species.     I  described  it    in  the 


IN    THE 


THE   RARE  SAXIFRAGA  FLORULENTA   IN    ITS 
NATIVE   CLIFF. 

Gardeners'  Chronicle  (December,  1910)  as  S. 
Probynii.  S.  cochlearis  grows  in  every  garden 
on  sunny  rockeries  and  even  in  pots. 

S.  lantoscana  is  sometimes  considered  as  a 
form  of  Ungulata  or  even  as  an  intermediary 
between  it  and  cochlearis.  It  must,  however, 
be  considered  a  true  species.  (Bumat,  "  Flore 
des  Alps  Maritimes,"  Vol.  Ill,  pages  260-263.) 
.As  cultivated  here  with  the  others  its  characters 
and  requirements  are  different.  The  tufts  are 
the  largest  of  all  (sometimes  they  are  2jft.  in 
diameter)  and  the  flower-stalks  are  not  coloured 
at  all  as  are  those  of  both  other  species.  The 
flowers  are  not  quite  white,  and  are,  indeed, 
of  rather  a  dirty  colour.  The  leaves  are  inter- 
mediate between  the  other  two  species,  as  they 
have  the  spoon  shape  of  cochlearis  and  the  thin 
base  of  lingulata.  It  forms  dense  coDspitose 
clumps  of  a  darker  greyish  colour  than  the  two 
others,  and  is  found  in  a  large  area  extending 
from  the  low  Valley  Roja  to  the  Alps  of  the 
Provence.  It  goes  westwards  as  far  as  Sisteron 
in  Provence,  and  forms  very  large  tufts  near 
Le  Moutiers  de  Ste.  Marie  and  in  the  famous 
Gorges  du  Verdon,  where  I  saw  the  biggest  clumps 
of  it  I  have  ever  seen.  It  is  found  always  on 
calcareous  rocks  and  In  dry  situations,  whether 
situated  in  shade  or  sun,  but  it  grows  better  on 
the  north  side.  Engler  takes  it  to  be  a  variety 
of  lingulata  ("  Saxifragales,"  page  481).  There 
are  many  intermediate  forms  between  lantoscana 
and  lingulata,  so  it  is  not  easy  to  delimit  either 
species.  I  found  in  the  high  Gorges  du  Grans 
more  than  five  different  forms  between  the  two 
types.  H.  CoRREVON. 

Floraire,    Chine  Bottrg^   Geneva. 


218 


THE     GARDEN. 


[May  6,  1922. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


SUCCESS    IN    TRANSPLANTING. 

TN  the  discussion  re  transplanting  Hollies,  etc., 
it  seems  to  me  that  the  chief  factor  in  success- 
ful transplanting  is  missed.  That  is,  the  source 
from  which  the  plants  are  obtained.  Plants 
obtained  from  reliable  firms  may  be  planted  any 
time  from  autumn  to  spring  with  every  confidence — 
09  out  of  ever^"  loo  will  grow.  Those  secured  from 
unreliable  firms,  or  plants  that  have  been  growing 
in  the  same  position  for  years,  may  be  transplanted 
it  is  true,  but  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten  will  die 
whether  transplanted  in  the  autumn  or  spring. 
Therefore,  if  one  wishes  to  transplant  specimen 
Hollies,  Yews,  or  any  other  plant,  the  specimen 
should  be  prepared  one  year  for  moving  the  next, 
the  procedure  being  as  follows :  A  trench 
should  be  cut  round  the  whole  plant,  severing 
all  roots  that  rome  in  contact  with  the  operator, 
and  should  be  of  such  a  size  as  to  form  a  "  ball " 
that  can  be  handled  with  the  strength  available. 
Fill  in  the  trench  with  light  soil  in  order  to  induce 
new  roots  to  form,  thereby  consolidating  the 
whole  "  ball."  Prepared  thus,  the  plant  could 
be  moved  the  following  season  with  a  certainty 
of  success.  I  am  aware  that  plants  such  as 
indicated  can  be  moved  without  this  prepara- 
tion, but  it  requires  the  services  of  skilled 
and  very  able  gardeners,  with  proper  appliances 
for  the  job,  which  same  v'cry  few  gardeners  possess. 
Without  proper  preparation,  such  as  described, 
the  work  should  be  done  in  early  autumn,  the 
earlier  the  better  (in  the  case  of  deciduous  trees 
before  the  leaves  have  fallen),  even  if  the  trees 
have  to  be  syringed  and  watered  two  or  three 
times  a  day.  Do  not  forget  to  cut  away  all  crossed 
or  useless  wood,  remembering  that  every  branch 
removed  is  a  factor  towards  successful  transplant 
ing. — S.   G.   Smallridge. 

A    SELECTION    OF    SHRUBS. 

T  WAS  very  interested  to  read  "  H.  E.'s  "  letter 
page  157,  asking  for  information  about  shrub 
planting.  In  my  opinion  this  branch  of  gardening 
has  been  very  much  neglected,  especially  in  small 
gardens.  A  judiciously  planted  bed  or  border 
of  shrubs  is  always  attractive,  as  so  many  varieties 
are  beautiful  in  leaf,  flower  and  bare  stem.  Wha* 
can  be  nicer  in  dull  winter  days  than  to  see  the 
stems  of  the  scarlet  Dogwood  or  yellow  barked 
Willows,  and  in  late  autumn  the  gorgeously 
coloured  foliage  of  Berberis  Thunbergi.  Rhus 
Cotinus  or  Li.quidambar  ?  By  careful  selection 
it  is  possible  to  have  some  shrub  or  other  in  flower 
throughout  the  greater  part  of  the  year,  starting 
off  with  the  Laurustinus  in  depth  of  Vintcr, 
followed  by  the  golden  Forsythia  suspensa  and  the 
sweetly  scented  but  little-grown  Chimonanthus 
fragrans.  Many  of  the  Berberises,  too,  are  early 
flowering.  K  place  should  be  found  in  every 
garden  for  the  Moonlight  Broom  and  many  of  the 
Spiraeas,  such  as  Douglasii  (pink),  arguta  (white), 
ariaifolia  (cream)  and  opulifolia  lutea.  The  last- 
mentioned  \ariety  is  worth  growing  on  account 
of  its  bright  golden  foliage,  especially  if  associated 
with  the  purple-leaved  form  of  Berberis  vulgaris. 
Perowskia  atriplicifolia,  with  mauve-colourcd 
flowers  and  silvery  foUage,  is  well  worth  a  place. 
Late-flowering  shrubs  include  the  many  \arieties 
ot  Hibiscus  (Altha'a  frutex)  Desmodium  penduli- 
floruni  with  its  panicles  of  reddish  purple  flowers, 
also  the  bhie-flowered  Caryopteris  Maslacanthus, 
sometimes  referred  to  as  the  Blue  Spiraa.  .^fter 
planting  very  little  requires  doing  beyong  thinning 
out  old  and  exhausted  wood  and  keeping  the 
shrubs  from  getting  "  leggy."  May  I  suggest  you 
invite  readers  to  vote  for  what  they  think  the  best 


thirty-six  hardy  shrubs  for  small  gardens.  If 
it  could  be  arranged  it  would  be  very  interesting. 
— H.  C.  P.,  Stansted. 

[We  ha\e  a  feeling  that  readers  with  small 
gardens  are,  generally  speaking,  more  anxious  to 
learn  from  those  with  wide  experience  the  best 
shrubs  for  their  purpose  rather  than  to  voice 
an  opinion  of  their  own  as  to  the  best  selection, 
necessarily  founded  on  limited  data. — Ed.] 

A     BEAUTIFUL     WEEPING     TREE. 

ipEW  weeping  flowering  trees  can  equal  the 
weeping  Cherry,  Prunus  pendula  (Prunus 
Cerasus  pendula  rosea  of  gardens),  the  Rose-bud 
Cherry  of  Japan.  The  soft  rose  flowers  are  single 
and  of  no  great  size  nor  special  substance,  but  they 
are  produced  with  extraordinary  freedom.  I  have 
in  mind  a  tree  worked  on  a  leg  of  not  more  than 
5ft ,  which  was  at  the  time  of  purchase  considered 


them,  as  they  are  quite  small  and  I  could  not 
detect  any  fragrance.  Probably  readers  in 
Cornwall  or  Devon  could  give  a  better  account 
of  it  as  a  flowering  shrub,  as  a  bush  the  size  of  ours 
would  carry  an  enormous  number  of  flowers. 
Ours  is  a  cold  soil  in  East  Surrey.  It  is  well  worth 
a  good  place  in  the  shrubbery  for  the  great  beauty 
ot  its  dark,  glossy  toliage  and  long  slender  branches  ; 
wherever  these  come  in  contact  with  the  soil  they 
take  root  and  lorm  a  neat  and  very  dense  bush. 
It  should  be  a  first-rate  hedge  plant  for  garden 
purpose". — H.  C.  Wood 

A    RARE    PRIMULA. 

T  NOTICE  in  your  issue  of  ."^pril  22  you  have  an 
illustration  of  Primula  Fortunei.  Some  con- 
siderable time  ago  you  had  an  illustration  of  this 
beautiful  Primula  [April  12,  1913,  page  182. — 
Ed.]  in  which  both  the  coarsely  dentate  leaves 
and  flowers  are  shown  in  more  detail.  It  is  stated 
in  the  letterpress  that  this  is  a  Chinese  species. 
So  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain  the  place 


SPRINGTIME    BEAUTY. 


PRUNUS    PENDULA    IN    BLOSSOM. 


a  most  disappointing  specimen.  Vet  by  careful 
training  and  judicious  thinning  from  below  it  now 
forms  an  admirable  tree,  tall  enough  to  walk  under 
in  comfort.  The  enclosed  photograph  shows  a  tree 
with  a  good  leg  trained  as  a  bower — which  the  one 
previously  referred  to  is  not — at  New  Place, 
Lingfield,  Surrey.  The  photograph  well  illustrates 
the  extreme  freedom  of  flower. — H.  H. 

A     VALUABLE    EVERGREEN. 

A  SMALL  plant  of  that  dainty  evergreen  shrub, 
Lonicera  nitida,  was  received  from  Wisley 
about  eight  years  ago,  and  this  is  now  a  dense 
bush  of  about  7tt.  in  height  and  loft,  across. 
Until  February  of  this  year  I  had  watched  in  vain 
for  any  signs  of  flowering.  I  then  found  it  thickly 
set  with  tiny  buds,  and  as  I  considered  it  very 
unlikely  the  blossoms  would  open  so  early  in  the 
year  and  in  such  bad  weather  as  we  have  had,  I 
took  a  few  branches  and  placed  them  in  water 
in  a  greenhouse  and  here  they  seemed  quite  at 
home  and  some  flowers  opened  ;  also  the  branches 
struck  root,  the  smaller  the  branch  the  more 
quickly  it  rooted.  The  few  flowers  which  opened 
were   very  disappointing  after   waiting  years   for 


of  origin  of  this  plant  is  uncertain  ;  no  one  seems 
to  know  where  it  has  come  from.  The  specific 
name  Fortunei  suggests  that  it  may  have  been 
introduced  into  Europe  by  Robert  Fortune,  a 
native  of  the  county  from  which  I  write,  who 
visited  China  four  times  between  1843  and  1863, 
and  was  aftenvards  Director  of  the  Botanic 
Gardens  at  Chelsea.  It  undoubtedly  has  been 
in  cultivation  for  fifty  years  at  least,  and  was 
figured  by  Moore  in  the  Floral  Magazine  for 
1896-97  from  a  plant  flowered  in  the  nursery  of 
Messrs.  Y.  Henderson  and  Son.  It  is  stated  by 
Mr.  Irving  that  until  a  few  years  ago  the  only 
specimens  known  in  cultivation  belonged  to  the 
late  Colonel  Beddowes,  Putney,  who  had  grown 
it  for  many  years,  but  it  is  not  known  where  he 
obtained  his  stock.  In  1905  Colonel  Beddowes 
presented  a  plant  to  the  Royal  Gardens,  Kew, 
and  from  this  a  stock  has  been  raised  by  division. 
It  is  a  very  easy  plant  to  flower  and  keep  if  pro- 
tected under  glass  during  the  winter  months  and 
put  in  a  cool,  shady  place  in  summer,  but  it  is 
rarely  seen,  probably  owing  to  its  being  a  very 
shy  seeder.  It  can,  however,  be  readily  propa- 
gated by  division.     The  flowers,   which  are  of  a 


May  6,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


219 


lilac  colour  with  a  yellow  eye,  appear  early  in 
February.  It  has  been  stated  that  this  Primula 
is  a  hybrid  between  P.  denticulata  and  P.  farinosa, 
but  I  CcUinot  agree  with  this  and  believe  it  to  be 
a  true  species.  I  have  seen  good  specimens  of  it 
both  in  the  cold  house  at  Kew  and  in  the  Royal 
Botanic  Gardens,  Edinburgh.  Some  years  ago 
I  had  several  plants  and  had  no  difficulty  jn 
flowering  them. — John  M.\c\vatt,  Morclandy,  Duns. 
[The  late  Reginald  Farrer  in  his  book  "  The 
English  Rock  Garden "  describes  P.  Fortunei 
as  a  "  Chinese  species  "  which  "  has  often  been  in 
cultivation,"  but  it  is,  of  course,  possible  that 
despite  his  wide  knowledge  of  Eastern  flora  he 
was  misled  by  the  specific  name  and  had  no 
definite  facts  on  which  to  base  its  origin. — Ed.] 

GOOSEBERRY    BUSHES     AS    HEDGES. 

T  N  some  parts  of  the  country  where  I  was  staying 
recently  I  noticed  that  Gooseberry  bushes 
were  used  as  division  hedges.  There  is  no  reason 
why  they  should  not  be  used  for  this  purpose, 
and  if  judiciously  pruned  they  should  produce 
excellent  crops  as  well.  This  is  worth  a  trial,  as 
hedges  are,  as  a  rule,  very  costly  and  most  unre- 
munerative.  The  large  varieties  should  be  used. 
Pears  and  some  species  of  Plum  are  grown  for 
fences,  but  other  fruits  might  well  be  tried.  The 
Loganberries  and  some  of  the  Brambles  would 
make  admirable  fences  if  supported  here  and  there 
with  stout  stakes.  ,\s  to  ornamental  hedges,  I 
noticed  recently  a  Golden  Privet  hedge  dividing 
a  Rose  garden.  It  looked  beautiful  in  the  winter 
landscape. — W.ilter  Smyth,  Holywood,  County 
Dunn. 

NARCISSUS    GLANDORE. 

T  WONDER  if  Mr.  Jacob  or  some  other  Narcissu^ 
expert  would  tell  us  when  and  by  whom  the 
name  of  Glandore  was  given  to  the  Polyanthus 
Narcissus,  which  is  so  well  depicted  on  the  cover 
of  The  Garden  (.A.pril  15).  I  believe  it  is  indigenous 
here,  for  it  was  the  first  Narcissus  I  ever  saw 
and  gathered,  over  fifty  years  ago,  from  sparse 
clumps  growing  at  the  edges  of  pastures.  These 
had  only  two  or  three  blossoms,  but  brought 
into  the  garden  and  cared  for,  the  size  of  plant 
has  increased  enormously  and  the  blossoms  on 
one  stem  are  as  many  as  in  yoiu'  illustration. 
The  dark  green  foliage  is  also  greatly  strengthened, 
and  the  masses  my  bulbs  have  increased  to  have 
been  a  wonderful  sight  this  year.  A  stone  font 
in  our  church  at  Easter  arranged  with  them 
exactly  as  they  grow  was  a  beautiful  picture. 
My  long  friendship  with  this  Narcissus  induces 
me  to  ask  for  the  origin  of  the  name  Glandore. 
You  may  not  know  that  Glandore  is  a  coast  village 
in  County  Cork. — Jane  C.  Cummins. 

NOTES    ON    TO.MATO     SEEDLINGS. 

T  H.AD  much  pleasure  in  reading  the  "  Treatment 
of  Seedling  Tomatoes,"  April  8  issue  of  The 
Garden,  by  the  way  in  which  it  emphasises  the 
great  importance  of  little  things  that  are  so  very 
often  overlooked.  It  is  such  little  items  as  were 
mentioned  that  make  so  much  difference  between 
a  real  gardener  and  a  careless,  indifferent  one. 
There  is,  however,  another  item,  to  wit,  the 
temperature,  which  is  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant. .\  great  number  of  Tomato  seedlings 
are  lost,  I  fear,  owing  to  the  fact  that  they  are 
hardly  kept  warm  enough,  or  by  an  uneven  tem- 
perature. I  have  seen  batch  after  batch  of  Tomatoes 
almost  blue  owing  to  lack  of  heat,  a  check  from 
which  it  takes  them  some  considerable  time  to 
recover.  From  my  own  personal  experience  I 
find  the  most  suitable  temperature  for  seedling 
Tomatoes  to  be  65''  Fahr.  by  night  and  68°  by  day, 
allowing  the  thermometer  to  rise  a  few  degrees 
by  sun-heat.     -May  I  add  that  I  prefer  ajin.  pots 


in  preference  to  3in.,  as  the  former  are  less  liable 
to  remain  sodden  with  water  after  "  watering  in  " 
than  are  the  latter,  a  very  important  point, 
especially  during  dull  weather  such  as  we  usually 
experience  during  the  early  months  of  the  year. 
.\gain.  since  a  Tomato  plant  4ins.  to  sins,  high 
is  plenty  large  enough  to  plant  out  in  a  border, 
there  is  little  need  for  a  pot  larger  than  a  2  Jin. 
I  may  state  that  I  scarcely  ever  lose  more  than 
I  per  cent,  of  my  seedlings  after  they  are  potted 
off  from  the  seed-pan. — .A..  J.  P.,  Warlcy  Park. 

[Our  correspondent's  views  are  interesting  but 
rather  discouraging  to  many  amateurs.  .\  night 
temperature  of  55°,  or  even  in  exceptionally  cold 
weather  50°,  will  grow  excellent  stocky  plants. 
On  the  other  hand,  plants  grown  "  soft  "  in  a 
temperature  of  65'  will,  of  course,  suffer  severely 
if  suddenly  exposed  to  an  appreciably  lower 
temperature. — Ed.] 

PARTNERS. 

To  a  rock,  long  beaten  by  sun  and  storm 

On  the  wind-swept  upland  gromid. 
There  clings  a  beauteous  living  form 

Where  a  Lichen  its  home  has  found. 
A  wondrous  alliance  here  appears 

For,  on  the  barren  stone, 
Two  plants  unite  and  live  for  years 

Where  neither  could  live  alone. 

In  the  month  of  May,  when  the  garden  glows 

With  varied  charm  and  power. 
The  glorious  Rhododendron  blows. 

Queen  among  shrubs  that  flower. 
Yet  here  again  two  powers  must  meet 

To  make  her  beauty  known 
For,  were  no  fungus  at  her  feet, 

No  blooms  her  head  would  crown. 

The  seed  of  a  flower  of  the  Orchid  kind 

In  a  tropical  forest  shed 
Is  doomed  to  slumber  until  it  find 

The  needed  hyphal  thread. 
But  when  they  meet  the  plant  is  born 

.And,  when  'tis  fully  grown, 
The  highest  beauty  of  floral  form 

It  gains — but  not  alone. 

Tho'  orchard  blossom  be  fair  to  see 

L'nharmed  by  frost  or  rain 
Without  the  work  of  the  humble  bee 

The  promise  of  fruit  is  vain. 
For  the  reddening  apple  by  autumn  blest 

Is  born  in  the  time  of  spring 
From  a  golden  grain  which  finds  its  rest 

By  the  aid  of  an  insect's  wing. 

Of  growths  upheld  by  partners  twain 

A  nobler  still  we  see  : 
Science  and  Practice  both  maintain 

The  horticultural  tree. 
By  worthy  Practice  well  supplied 

High  will  it  raise  its  head 
With  all  its  branches  spreading  wide 

On  roots  by  Science  fed. 

A.  E.  Sims. 

WHAT     OF     THE     DAVIDI.A  ? 

IT  is  now  over  twenty  years  since  E.  H.  Wilson, 
the  well-l<nown  botanist  and  traveller,  to 
whom  present  day  gardeners  owe  so  much,  sent  to 
this  country  seeds  of  Davidia  involucrata  collected 
in  the  uplands  of  Western  China.  In  his  fascinating 
book,  "  A  Naturalist  in  Western  China,"  Mr. 
Wilson  describes  the  Davidia  as  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  flowering  trees  in  the  whole  of  the  northern 
hemisphere.  Probably  many  of  your  readers 
have  more  or  less  established  specimens  in  their 
gardens,  and  it  would  be  interesting  to  know  how 
this  tree  had  adapted  itself  to  this  cUmate.     Has 


it  justified  its  introduction  from  a  garden  point  of 
view  ?  Or  is  it  still  too  youthful  to  show  its  true 
characteristics.  I  believe  it  first  flowered  at  Kew 
in   1913. — L.   Bigg-Wither,   Wells. 

[The  Davidia,  according  to  Bean's  "  Trees  and 
Shrubs  Hardy  in  the  British  Isles,"  was  first 
discovered  in  1869  by  the  Abbe  David  and  intro- 
duced to  Europe  by  Pere  Farges  in  1897,  though 
Wilson,  it  is  true,  sent  home  a  large  parcel  of 
seeds  during  his  tour  for  Messrs.  Veitch  (1899- 
1902).  There  are  various  types,  and  the  question 
appears  not  to  have  been  definitely  cleared  up  as  to 
whether  these  should  all  be  considered  to  belong 
to  one  species. — Ed.] 

SHRUBS    FOR    CHALK     SOIL. 

T  SEND  a  further  list  of  shrubs  suitable  for 
"  H.  E.'s  "  shrub  garden,  which  I  omitted 
in  my  former  one.  I  give  them  alphabetically. 
Those  marked  with  an  asterisk  (*)  require  sheltered 
positions :  *Abelia  chinensis,  slight  shade ; 
*.Abutilon  megapotamicum,  tender,  needs  winter 
protection  under  a  south  or  west  wall ;  Arbutus 
Menziesii ;  A.  Andrachne  ;  Artemisia  .Abrotanum 
(Southernwood),  for  dw-arf  groupings  in  full  sun  ; 
Berberis  stenophylla  and  its  forms,  B.  s.  coralline, 

B.  s.  Brilhant  and  B.  s.  coccinea  ;  B.  semper- 
florens ;  B.  Wallichiana  latifolia  (Knightii). 
Brooms  :  Cytisus  Andreanus  (Daisy  Hill  variety), 
Dalliinorei,  Newry  Gold  and  its  variety,  Newry 
Gold  "  late  flowering."  Cassinia  fulvida  (Diplopap- 
pus)  is  most  valuable  for  dwarf  groupings  ;  'Car- 
pentaria californica,  in  a  warm,  sheltered  position  ; 
♦Camellias,  in  a  sheltered  place  or  thin  woodland, 
vars.  C.  Sasanqua,  .Azuma-Mishild,  Onigoromo 
Mine-no-yuki  and  Mikuniko  ;  Cotoneaster  Fran- 
chetii  (one  of  the  best)  and  its  varieties,  C.  F. 
fructo-ma.xima  ;  C.  horizontalis  and  C.  h.  fructo- 
sanguinea  ;  C.  humifusa  syn.  Damneri,  C.  buxifolia 
and    C.    rotundifoha ;     but   of    the     Cotoneasters 

C.  Simonsii  is  the  cheapest  and  is  obtainable  in 
large  quantities  ;  Daphne  pontica,  and  probably 
also  D.  Blagayana  if  its  particular  cultural  require- 
ments are  known — it  likes  best  to  grow  through  a 
httle  mound  of  stones,  added  to  each  year  as  the 
plant  increases.  It  is,  indeed,  the  best  of  all  the 
Daphne  tribe.  Of  *EscalIonias,  I  think  Philippiana, 
(white  sweet-scented  flowers),  langleyensis  (rosy 
carmine)  and  Donard  Seedling  (pink)  are,  perhaps, 
the  best.  Eucalyptus  coccifera  is  interesting  as 
being  fairly  hardy  in  a  sheltered  position  ;  Eugenia 
Ugni,  with  its  edible  fruits,  and  a  companion  plant 
to  it,  Myrtus  Jenny  Reitenbach,  both  fairly 
hardy  in  the  South  of  England  under  a  wall  ; 
Euonymus  radicans  kewensis,  a  miniature  prostrate 
variety,  and  E.  r.  variegata  (I  think  there  is  a 
variety  known  as  E.  r.  var.  pictis  aureis)  ; 
*Garrya  elliptica  should  on  no  account  be  omitted  ; 
Cytisus  prajcox  and  C.  monspessulanus  ;  Hyperi- 
cum chinense  and  H.  hircinum  majus.  The  Holly  : 
Ilex  crenata  is  an  interesting  variety  much  used 
in  Japan  in  the  way  we  use  Box  edgings.  Jas- 
minum  nudiflorum  should  not  be  forgotten,  it 
will  ramble  os'er  anything  or  make  isolated  spread- 
ing bushes  if  left  to  grow  as  it  will ;  *Laurus- 
tinus — there  is  a  purple-leaved  variety,  somewhat 
tender,  once  obtainable  from  Lissadell ;  Lauro- 
petalum  chinense  ;  Olearias,  never  very  beautiful, 
are  nevertheless  useful  for  exposed  positions  ; 
*Phormium  tena.x  and  Yuccas  of  all  varieties  make 
fine  groups,  especially  if  planted  with  Kniphofias 
and  Pampas  Grass  and  in  sheltered  places  also 
with  Bamboos  ;  *Pittosporum  Tobira  is  not  always 
hardy,  but  it  is  worth  trying  in  all  but  very  cold 
localities  ;  *Photinia  japonica  (syn.  Eriobotrya 
japonica),  *Photinia  serrulata  (syn.  Crataegus 
glabra),  Chinese  Hawthorn,  Pyracantha  Gibbsii 
and  P.  Lalandei ;  Ribes  laurifolius,  almost  a  white 
variety  of  the  common  flowering  Currant ;  Rose- 
mary should  on  no  account  be  omitted,  a  good 


220 


THE     GARDEN. 


[May  6,    1922. 


variety  is  that  known  as  Miss  Jessup  ;  Santolina, 
a  dwarf  grey-leaved  plant  useful  for  dry  banks — 
the  variety  major  becomes  quite  a  bush  and  has 
yellow  flowers  towards  the  autumn  ;  Stranvajsia 
undulata  is  an  interesting  low-spreading  evergreen 
shrub  which  would  do  well  on  a  chalk  soil  ;  there 
are  many  Veronicas — perhaps  the  variety  Traversii 
is  as  good  as  any,  and  the  winter-flowering  form  of 


parvifiora  ;  Viburnums  plicatum,  macrocephalum, 
*Carlesii  and  *fragrans  ;  Weigela  Conquete  and 
Bouquet  Rose  ;  Xanthoceras  sorbifolia.  There 
are  several  Ericas  that  do  not  thrive  on  a  limestone 
soil,  but  Erica  carnea,  E.  Calluna  vulgaris  and  its 
garden  forms  (the  best  is  E.  v.  Alportii)  and  possibly 
E.    codonodes    might    be    tried. — Edward    Shoo- 

SMITH. 


GARDENING    OF    THE    WEEK 


FOR    SOUTHERN    GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Tomatoes. — Plants  for  growing  outdoors  should 
be  potted  into  5in.  or  6in.  pots  and  kept  growing 
in  a  light  position  in  a  house  or  pit  having  a 
temperature  ranging  from  50°  to  60°.  Similar 
treatment  should  be  afforded  plants  which  will 
be  fruited  in  cold  houses  after  early  vegetables, 
etc.,  are  cleared,  as  it  is  an  immense  gain  to  start 
with  vigorous  plants.  When  transferring  the 
plants  from  their  pots  to  the  borders  it  is  essential 
that  the  latter  are  thoroughly  firmed,  as  when 
Tomatoes  follow  Peas  or  Beans  in  a  loose  compost 
the  setting  of  the  lower  trusses  of  fruits  is  often 
disappointing,  and  the  plants  also  are  inclined 
to  make  much  leafage.  Plants  in  bearing  in  the 
early  house  should  be  regularly  supplied  with 
stimulants  and  given  top-dressings  of  old  manure 
and  loam  where  it  is  possible.  Remove  regularly 
all  lateral  growths,  and  unless  there  is  any  par- 
ticular reason  for  not  doing  so,  gather  all  fruits 
soon  after  coloration  has  set  in  and  remove  to  a 
medium  warm  fruit-room.  In  this  way  a  perfect 
finish  can  be  relied  upon  and  the  plants'  energies 
kept  concentrated  upon  developing  fruits. 

Potatoes. — Arrange  if  possible  for  some  pro- 
tective material  to  be  at  hand  as  the  growths  of 
the  early  plants  show  above  ground.  A  little  soil 
pulled  lip  round  them  with  the  hand  will  often  save 
a  great  many.  Some  dry  straw  or  bracken  aliords 
excellent  protection  and  need  be  only  lightly  strewn 
on. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Asters  of  the  annual  class  are  some  cf  the 
most  useful  plants  we  have.  All  sections  are 
really  very  good,  but  for  decorative  purposes  the 
sinensis  and  ray-floret  types  are  the  best.  In 
addition  to  anv  possible  early  sowing  under  glass, 
this  annual  amply  repays  another  sowing  outside 
during  May.  Plants  raised  thus  and  given  good 
treatment  will  flower  splendidly  until  unfavour- 
able weather  spoils  them  in  the  autumn.  Another 
point  favourable  to  a  late  sowing  is  that  some  of 
tlie  plants  are  most  useful  for  Ufting  and  potting 
for  a  cool  greenhouse,  a  point  worthy  of  considera- 
tion in  small  gardens. 

Increasing  Perennials. — These  plants  are  un- 
questionably becoming  more  popular  than  ever, 
and  with  reduced  staffs  and  expenditure  it  is  not 
a  difficult  matter  to  see  why.  Plants  requiring 
much  time  and  labour  spent  upon  them  under 
glass  before  they  become  fitted  for  their  outside 
positions  must,  as  a  natural  order  of  management, 
give  place  to  those  less  expensive  to  grow.  The 
first  half  of  May  is  a  good  time  for  many  perennials 
to  be  increased  by  seed.  In  a  prepared  bed  of 
light  soU  sow  thinly  in  drills  about  a  foot  apart, 
and  when  sufficiently  advanced  prick  out  in  ground 
where  they  may  remain  until  required.  Choose 
a  showery  spell  for  this  latter  operation  if  possible. 
The  following  are  all  readily  raised  from  seed : 
Aquilegia,  Alstrameria,  Anchusa,  various  Cam- 
panulas, Chelone  barbata,  Delphiniums,  Erigeron, 
Geum,  Gaillardias,  Heleiiiums,  Hollyhocks  and 
Lupins. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Strawberries. — Plants  that  have  fruited  under 
glass  are  useful  for  making  an  outdoor  bed  for 
another  season.  When  it  is  decided  to  make  use 
of  them  in  this  way  it  is  essential  that  the  plants 
be  kept  clean  and  regularly  watered  after  the 
fruits  are  gathered.  It  is  also  helpful  and  enables 
the  plants  more  quickly  to  recuperate  after  crop- 
ping if  they  are  placed  in  a  partly  shaded  position 
until  the  planting  can  be  done.  By  the  aid  of  a 
pointed  stick  a  portion  of  the  old  balls  of  soil  should 
be  reduced  and  the  roots  disentangled  before 
placing  them  m  the  ground.  Plant  firmly  and 
water  the  plants  afterwards,  repeating  the  latter 
operation  several  times  if  the  weather  be  dry 
and  place  a  little  mulching  material  round  each 
plant.  The  bed  of  plants  fruiting  this  season 
should  have   the  hoe  occasionally   pUed   between 


the  rows  to  check  small  weeds  and  to  allow  sun 
and  air  to  sweeten  the  soil.  A  dusting  of  old  soot 
and  of  an  approved  artificial  maniure  will  be  repaid 
later  on. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Border  Watering. — The  importance  of  this 
operation  at  all  seasons  in  bearing  upon  the  results 
obtained  from  practically  all  fruits  cannot  be  too 
seriously  realised.  With  lengthening  days  and 
increased  sun-heat  all  plants  carrying  crops  require 
great  care  to  see  that,  through  root  dryness,  they 
are  not  prevented  from  bringing  their  fruits  to 
the  highest  state  of  perfection.  Where  crops  of 
Grapes,  Peaches,  etc.,  are  produced  in  pots  or 
tubs  for  early  work  it  is  essential  that  frequent 
and  copious  waterings  of  diluted  manure  be  given 
to  prevent  exhaustion,  and  a  liberal  top-dressing 
and  mulch  also  be  added.  Healthy  plants  in  well 
drained  borders  during  the  next  few  months 
will  require  a  thorough  soaking  every  two  or 
three  weeks  in  addition  to  plenty  of  good  surface 
waterings  during  bright  days  when  there  is  plenty 
of  air  circulating. 

H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 

Albury  Park  Gardens,   Guihllnnl. 

FOR     NORTHERN     (lARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Beet. — The  principal  sowing  of  this  desirable 
vegetable  should  now  be  made.  To  secure  a 
profitable  crop  Beet  should  be  grown  on  a  rich 
loamy  soil  which  has  been  deeply  trenched  and 
subjected  to  liberal  manuring  the  previous  season. 
Freshly  manured  land  encourages  coarse  specimens, 
which  are  seldom  fit  for  kitchen  use.  Choose 
rehable  sorts,  and  in  gardens  where  difficulty 
is  experienced  with  the  long-rooted  varieties  a 
sowing  of  the  round  type  should  be  tried,  Sutton's 
Globe  being  particularly  favoured  and  of  easy 
culture.  Sow  in  drills  from  isins.  to  i8ins.  apart, 
thinning  out  to  gins,  apart  in  the  row.  One  ounce 
of  seed  should  be  sufficient  to  sow  a  row  of  about 
45ft. 

Leeks  raised  under  glass  for  the  purpose  of 
growing  in  trenches  will  now  be  ready  for  trans- 
ferring to  their  quarters  in  the  open.  Leeks  are 
gross  feeders  and  enjoy  plenty  of  farmyard  manure 
worked  into  the  bottom  of  the  trench.  Should 
the  weather  be  dry  water  regularly. 

Cabbages. — Plant  out  successional  batches  as 
ready  and  keep  the  hoe  going  among  early  crops. 

Celery  Trenches. — Have  these  prepared  at 
the  earhest  opportunity,  placing  a  Uberal  quantity 
of  manure  at  the  bottom  of  the  trench  and  incor- 
porating it  with  the  soil.  Where  the  natural 
soil  is  lumpy  or  clayey  it  is  of  considerable  advan- 
tage to  add  a  quantity  of  old  potting  soil,  as  this 
gives  the  young  plants  an  encouraging  start  and 
facihtates  the  work  of  planting. 

Mushrooms. — Make  up  a  good-sized  bed  now 
so  that  generous  supplies  may  be  obtained  during 
the  month  of  June.  See  that  the  bed  is  in  proper 
condition  for  spawning  and  do  not  rely  on  old 
spawn.  Obtain  the  best  spawn  that  can  be 
procured. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Strawberries. — Before  applying  a  mulch  to 
Strawberry  beds  run  the  Dutch  hoe  between  the 
rows.  This  aerates  the  soil  and  also  checks  the 
growth  of  weeds. 

Peaches  and  Nectarines  in  bloom  should  be 
hand  fertilised,  as  insect  hfe  at  this  season  is  not 
much  in  evidence,  especially  wlien  frosty  nights 
are  experienced.  After  the  fruits  are  set  a  soaking 
at  the  roots  with  soft  water  will  be  beneficial, 
as  wall  trees  seldom  get  their  due  portion  of  the 
rains  owing  to  their  sheltered  position. 
Fruits  Under  Glass. 

Melons. — The  fruits  on  early  batches  will  now 
be  swelling  freely,  so  should  be  assisted  with  weak 


liquid  manure.  Always  use  tepid  water  when 
watering  or  syringing  the  plants.  The  foliage 
should  be  syringed  twice  daily,  damping  all  dry 
surfaces  and  pathways  freely.  Support  the  fruits 
before  they  become  too  heavy.  Square  pieces 
of  netting  with  a  length  of  string  at  each  corner 
are  most  suitable  for  this  purpose. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Bedding  Plants  in  frames  should  receive  careful 
attention  at  this  time.  Avoid  overcrowding  and 
see  that  watering  is  not  neglected.  Move  the 
hardier  plants  into  the  open  and  thus  relieve  the 
frames  for  others  less  hardy.  Keep  covering 
material  at  hand  in  case  of  late  frosts. 

Biennials. — To  have  well  estabhshed  plants 
of  Sweet  WilUams,  Canterbury  Bells,  .^grostemmas, 
etc.,  before  winter  sets  in,  seed  should  be  sown 
now.  Although  these  may  be  sown  in  the  open 
border,  the  most  economical  way  is  to  sow  in 
boxes  and  germinate  in  a  cool  frame,  pricking  out 
into  nursery  lines  immediately  the  seedlings  are 
of  a  suitable  size. 

Herbaceous  Paeonies  are  gross  feeders,  so 
where  they  are  grouped  in  the  border  or  occupy 
beds  in  the  flower  garden  they  should  be  given  a 
nourishing  mulch  of  well  decayed  cow  manure. 
This  is  richer  than  the  ordinary  stable  manure 
and  suits  these  plants  best. 

Eccremocarpus  scaber. — Plants  of  this  deUght- 

ful  old-fashioned  perennial  climber  that  have  been 
raised  from  seed  should  now  be  planted  out. 
If  associated  with  Canary  Creeper  or  Clematis 
it  is  singularly  effective,  with  its  profusion  of 
orange  red  flowers  and  finely  cut  fohage.  It  is 
hardy  in  most  districts  and  is  partial  to  a  light 
soil. 

Aquatics. — Now  is  the  time  to  plant  Water 
Lilies  and  numerous  other  water  plants.  In 
planting  Nymphaeas  shallow  baskets  should  be 
used.  FiU  with  turfy  loam  and  leaf-mould,  and 
after  inserting  the  plants  cover  the  surface  with 
moss  and  run  several  strands  of  tar -string  over  the 
top.  This  keeps  plants  and  soil  in  position  when 
the  basket  is  being  lowered  into  the  water. 
James  McGran 
(Gardener  to  Su:  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.), 

Coodhatn,  Kilmarnock. 


CONSERVATORY    AND    GREENHOUSE. 

Cestrums  are  very  useful  plants  for  clothing 
pillars  or  for  training  on  back  walls  of  conserva- 
tories or  greenhouses.  Cestrum  elegans  and  C. 
NeweUii  are — or  used  to  be — common  plants 
in  gardens,  but  the  beautiful  yellow-flowered 
C.  aurantiacum  is  perhaps  not  so  generally  known. 
C.  Smithii,  with  pale  pink  flowers,  is  of  a  different 
type,  and  is  better  adapted  for  pot  cultivation, 
as  it  naturally  makes  a  dwarf  bushy  plant.  The 
stronger-growing  species  are  really  seen  at  their 
best  when  they  can  be  planted  out,  although 
they  may  be  very  well  grown  in  large  pots, 
especially  if  they  are  kept  well  fed  when  they  have 
well  filled  their  pots  with  roots.  They  are  all 
easily  propagated  by  means  of  cuttings.  Unfortu- 
nately, they  are  very  subject  to  attacks  of  green 
fly,  but  this  may  be  kept  in  check  if  the  plants  are 
sprayed  frequently  with  some  approved  insecticide. 

Clerodendron  fallax. — This  plant  is  generally 
regarded  as  a  stove  plant,  and  is  usually  grown  for 
winter  flowering.  In  the  neighbourhood  of 
London  fogs  usually  spoil  it  during  the  winter 
months,  so  the  plants  should  be  grown  for  the 
conservatory  for  flowering  during  August  and 
September.  Plants  raised  from  seeds  sown  earlier 
in  the  year  should  be  potted  on  as  they  require 
it.  As  it  is  a  quick-growing  plant  there  is  still 
time  to  raise  it  either  from  seeds  or  cuttings, 
growing  it  on  in  a  warm  house  in  a  temperature 
of  50'^  to  60^. 

Clerodendron  fragrans  fl.-pl.  with  its  white 
double  flowers  is  worth  growing  for  its  deUghtful 
fragrance.  It  is  easily  propagated  either  by 
means  of  ordinary  or  root  cuttings.  Its  culti- 
vation presents  no  difficulty,  as  it  is  almost  hardy 
in  dry  borders  at  the  foot  of  a  warm  wall. 

Clerodendron  Thomsonae,  generally  regarded 
as  requiring  stove  treatment,  is  really  quite  happy 
in  an  ordinary  conservatory.  Fine  specimen 
plants  can  be  grown  in  large  pots  or  tubs,  giving 
them  intermediate  house  treatment  while  making 
their  growth.  When  weU  in  flower  they  should 
be  removed  to  the  conservatory,  where  they  will 
remain  in  full  beauty  for  a  long  time. 

Clerodendron    ugandense   has   beautiful    blue 

flowers,  and  is  an  excellent  plant  for  the  cool 
conservatory  or  greenhouse.  It  should  be  planted 
out  and  grown  in  bush  form,  or  it  may  be  used  for 
clothuig  a  rafter  or  pillar. 


THE 


I.II3T?ARVof  ttti 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


ol.  LXXXVI.— No.  2634. 

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Merry  weather's    Hardy    Plants. 

NOW   is  the  time  to  fill  all   vacancies  in  the   Hardy    Plant 
Border. 

We  offer  a  fine  selection  in  our  new  list,  just  published. 
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Please  send  for  a  copy. 


HENRY  MERRYWEATHER  &  SONS,  Ltd., 

THE    NURSERIES,    SOUTHWELL.    NOTTS. 

SEED      POTATOES     FOR     MAY     PLANTING. 
BEST      SECOND      EARLY      AND      MAINCROPS. 

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Golden   Wonder,  late  white  kidney,  Scotch  seed 
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For    fall    descriptions    see    Barr's    Seed    Guide,    Free 

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THE     GARDEN. 


[May  13,  1922 


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•;  The  -Villa  '  Sprayer  may  be  regarded  as  excellent  value 
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No.  2634.— Vol.  LXXXVI.] 


[May  13,  1922. 


THE    SO-CALLED    AMERICAN    PLANTS 

In  perhaps  two-thirds  of  the  total  number  of  British  gardens  ''American  "  plants 

may  be  cultivated  without  special  difficulty. 


PRACTICALLY  every  garden  on  suitable 
soil  has  its  Rhododendrons  and  Azaleas. 
It  may  probably  have  a  portion — oft- 
times  not  an  adequate  portion,  however — 
devoted  to  hardy  Heaths,  but  the  remain- 
ing members  of  the  great  family  of  lime-haters — 
American  plants  as  they  are  generally  called — 
are,  as  a  rule,  sadly  neglected. 

Wherever  the  natural  soil  is  not  pronouncedly 
calcareous,  American  plants  can  be  persuaded  to 
thrive.  Where  Rhododendrons  are  happy  prac- 
tically all  the  rest  will  be  at  home.  If  Rhododen- 
drons have  not  been  tried  a  glance  at  the  vegetation 
of  the  coimtryside  should  give  a  good  idea  of  the 
soil  preparation  which  will  be  necessary.  If  any 
of  our  native  Heaths  are  in  possession  the  soil 
obviously  is  suitable  already  and  the  presence  of 
the  Whortleberry'  or 
Bilberry,  as  it  is 
called  in  some 
localities  (Vaccinium 
M^Ttillus)  is  an  equally 
favourable  sign,  though 
hardly  a  better  one 
than  a  growth  of 
Bracken.  Wherever 
Birches  and  Scots  Firs 
contribute  a  consider- 
able portion  of  the 
charm  of  the  landscape 
nothing  but  a  certain 
addition  of  humus  by 
means  of  leaf-soil  and 
spent  manure  wiU  be 
necessary  to  achieve 
success.  If  fine  Elms 
are  a  feature  of  the 
countryside  a  supply 
of  lime  is  indicated 
and  soil  analysis  may 
be  called  for,  but  it 
often  happens  that  the 
lime-bearing  strata  — 
perhaps  a  stiff  loam — 
is  at  some  Uttle  depth 
and  will  cause  no 
trouble.  Probably  two- 
thirds  of  the  gardens 
of  England  might  be 
made  entirely  suitable 
for  American  plants 
without  any  great 
trouble  or  expenditure. 


Having  mentioued  Rhododendrons,  and  included 
Azaleas  and  Heaths,  one  has  in  the  view  of  many- 
gardens  practically  covered  the  field  of  .American 
plants,  but  there  are,  in  fact,  numbers  of  interesting 
and  really  beautiful  American  plants  quite  outside 
these  genera. 

The  Kalmias,  more  often  seen  than  some  others, 
are  valuable  all  the  year  round  for  their  beautiful 
fohage,  and  although  their  flowers  are  less  showy 
than  those  of  the  Rhododendron,  they  are  very 
handsome  and  are  produced  when  the  "  Rhodos  " 
are  over.  The  Mountain  Laurel  (Kalraia  latifolia) 
has  leaves  very  much  like  those  of  a  Laurel, 
although  there  is  something  in  the  gloss  of  leaf 
which  is  different  to  anything  seen  in  the  Laurel 
family.  The  flower  clusters  are  freely  produced 
and   varieties    are    to   be   obtained   in   which    the 


THE    "  MOUNTAIN     L.AUREL,"     KALMIA    LATIFOLIA. 


flower-colour  varies  from  pale  blush  to  clear  rose. 
Of  the  other  species  the  dwarf-growing  Kalmia 
angustifoUa  is  most  valuable.  Quite  unlike  the 
Mountain  Laurel  in  appearance,  its  deep  red 
blossoms  are  also  produced  in  clusters.  Kalmia 
glauca  has  rather  handsome  glaucous  foliage,  but 
its  flowers  in  shades  of  ^s'ashed-out  purple  are 
produced  during  Rhododendron  time.  The  small- 
growing  Kalmia  hirsuta  is  chiefly  remarkable  in 
that  its  rose  flowers  are  solitary. 

Many  excellent  shrubs  with  bell-shaped,  more  or 
less    Lily-of-the-Valley-like    flowers,    are    grouped 
by  gardeners  under  the  genus  Andromeda,  though 
botanists    classify    most    of    them    as    Cassandra, 
Cassiope,      Leucothoe,      Lyonia,     Oxydendron     or 
Zenobia.     Perhaps  most  valuable  of  all  are  those 
classed   as   Pieris,   of   which   the   most   commonly 
seen      is     the     early- 
flowering  and  compact- 
growing  P.  floribunda, 
distinguished     by     its 
hardihood  and  beauty 
of    form.       Larger    of 
growth  and  whiter    of 
flower   is   P.   japonica, 
but    it    needs    a   more 
sheltered  situation  than 
P.       floribunda.       A  n 
improvement     on    the 
last  named,   so  far  a* 
the  flowers  go,   is   the 
recently  introduced  P. 
'taiwanensis,   of  which, 
however,  the  hardihood 
has  to  be   proved.     Of 
the  stature  of  a  small 
tree      is      Oxydendron 
arboreum,  a  deciduous 
species     with     large 
terminal  panicles  remi- 
niscent    of      Pieris 
japonica.        Cassandra 
calyculata  is  an  accom- 
modating species  w'hich 
will    flourish     on    dry 
banks  where  little  else 
except,    perhaps,     the 
Rose     of    Sharon 
(Hypericumcalycinum) 
would   grow.     Its 
greeniih-white  blossom 
is   pretty  enough,  but 
beuig   carried   beneath 


222 


THE     GARDEN. 


I  May 


•3.    '922 


ST.    DABEOC  S    HEATH,   DABCECIA   POLIFOLIA,  A    LONG-FLOWERING   SPECIES. 


PIERIS    FLORIBUNDA,    BEAUTIFUL    IN    EARLY    SPRING. 


the  arching  shoots  like  the  bells  of  Solomon's 
Seal  (Polygonatuni)  is  not  conspicuous.  There 
is  a  form  larger  alike  in  growth  and  flower  called 
major. 

Tiniest  of  all  the  so-called  .\ndromedas  is 
Cassiope  tetragona,  with  the  congested  rather 
"  Japanesy  "  habit  characteristic  of  Arctic  plants. 
Despite  the  characteristic  pure  white  bells  it 
reminds  one  of  some  of  the  tiny  shrubby  Speed- 
wells, especially  of  Veronica  loganioides.  A  westerly 
aspect  suits  it  best,  as  despite  its  .A,rctic-  origin  it 
resents  too  much  frost  and  thaw. 

A  noteworthy  deciduous  shrub  is  Leucothoe 
racemosa,  which  attains  a  height  of  4ft.  or  so  and 
is  smothered  in  July  with  quantities  of  fragrant 
white  flowers  in  spikes.  Flowering  a  Uttle  earlier, 
evergreen  and  of  a  looser  habit  of  growth,  L. 
axillaris  fs  also  quite  a  desirable  species.  Lyonia 
ferruginea  is  a  shrub  attaining  a  height  of  6ft. 
or  so,  but  of  little  interest,  save  to  the  collector, 
and  not  over  hardy  in  most  parts  of  Britain. 

Zenobia  speciosa  grows  to  a  height  of  3ft.  or 
■  4ft.  It  has  characteristic,  strongly  veined  ever- 
green foliage,  and  the  white  bells  so  characteristic 
of  the  family.  Still  left  under  .Andromeda  is 
A.  polifolia,  a  native  plant  with  a  procumbent  habit 
of  growth,  narrow,  shining  leaves  and  flowers  of  a 
closed  bell-shape  produced  practically  all  summer. 
Pink-flowered  forms  are  not  uncommon.  Closely 
related  American  forms  vary  very  considerably 
both  in  flower  and  foliage.  Such  are,  for  example, 
A. A.  canadensis,  angustifoUa,  rosmarinifolia  and 
rubra. 

The  Pepper  Tree  (so  called),  Clethra  alnifolia, 
is  a  very  pleasing  and  fragrant  shrub,  with  a  strong 
penchant  for  moist  soil,  which  flowers  in  late  summer 
and  early  autumn.  It  attains  a  height  of  5ft. 
or  so.  This  very  desirable  shrub  is  deciduous. 
Somewhat  similar  in  general  appearance  and  also 
deciduous,  are  C.C.  acuminata,  paniculata,  scabra 
and  tomentosa.  The  first  named  is  a  plant  of 
bolder  habit  of  growth.  The  evergreen  C.  arborea, 
also    summer-flowering,    succeeds    only    near    our 


seaboards  or  milder  localities  inland.  Even  so, 
except  in  specially  favoured  spots,  it  needs  the 
shelter  of  a  wall,  which  is  unfortunate,  as  it  is, 
indeed,  a  beautiful  shrub. 

Gaultheria  Shallon  is  really  valuable  because  it 
succeeds  in  shade,  even  woodland  shade,  as  well 
as  in  the  open.     It  produces  racemes  of  pink  and 


THE    JUNE-FLOWERING   LEUCOTHOE    DAVISIj^ 
HOLDS  ITS  FLOWER  WELL  ABOVE  THE  FOLIAGE. 


white  flowers  and  edible  purple  berries.  G. 
procumbens  is  a  miniature  with  not  very  conspicu- 
ous white  flowers  which  are  followed  by  red  berries 
that  remain  on  the  plant  until  spring. 

The  Menziesias,  properly  so-called,  are  rather 
dingy  shrubs  and  scarcely  merit  cultivation, 
but  the  St.  Dabeoc's  Heaths  (Dabcecia),  often 
listed  as  Menziesias,  are  wonderfully  beautiful, 
especially  some  of  the  new  cross-bred  forms. 
Daboecia  poUfolia  itself  varies  from  ruddy  purple 
to  pure  white,  and  there  is  a  curious  form  (listed 
as  bicolor)  which  bears  purple  and  white  flowers 
on  the  same  bush,  often  on  the  same  spike.  D.  p. 
globosa  alba  is  different  in  habit  to  the  typical 
plant,  being  looser  in  growth  and  more  spreading, 
while  the  bells,  instead  of  being  elongated  and 
pointed  towards  the  bottom  are  globular  in  outline. 
Crosses  between  this  form  and  the  typical  one  give 
plants  of  similar  habit  to  globosa  with  flowers 
in  pretty  shades  of  lilac  and  rose. 

Of  the  Vacciniums,  the  Whortleberry  (V. 
Myrtillus),  is  readily  naturalised  in  lime-free  soil 
with  a  certain  amount  of  leaf-soil  incorporated, 
but  it  has  no  special  beauty.  An  American 
relative,  but  dwarfer  in  all  its  parts — V.  caespito- 
sum — is  useful  for  rockwork.  There  is  in  cultiva- 
tion a  white  fruited  form  of  the  common  Whortle- 
berry. Somewhat  like  our  native  fruit,  but  quite 
distinct,  are  the  two  .American  species,  V.  pennsyl- 
vanicum  and  V.  canadense,  which  do  not,  however, 
fruit  very  freely  in  Britain.  The  Cowberry  (V. 
Vitis-idrea)  is  a  dwarf-growing  plant  (6ins.)  with 
exceptionally  beautiful  foHage,  rather  inconspicuous 
flowers  and  deep  red  berries.  The  so-called  Bog 
Bilberry  (V.  uliginosum)  largely  replaces  in  our 
Southern  Counties  the  true  Whortleberry.  It  is 
hardy  and  worthy  of  cultivation. 

Those  giant  relatives  of  the  Heaths,  the 
Arbutuses,  are  often  included  among  '  Ameri- 
can "  plants,  though  they  have  no  pronounced 
antipathy  to  lime.  Arbutus  Unedo  is  the  hand- 
some Strawberry  Tree,  but  the  gem  of  the  genus 
is  the  gracious  Madroiio,  .\rbutus  Menziesii. 


May  13,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


223 


PLANTING  WATER  LILIES 

Alternative  methods  described,  with 
their  advantages  and  disadvantages . 

THE  season  has  come  round  when  those 
having  ornamental  waters  may  plant 
the  beautiful  hardy  Nymphajas  which 
everyone  admires.  Before  describing 
the  various  methods  of  planting  it  may 
t)e  advisable  to  reiterate  what  has  been  said  and 
■written  so  often,  namely,  that  Water  Lilies,  even 
the  hardiest,  will  not  succeed  in  cold  rurming 
■water  nor  where  there  is  considerable  shade. 
■Comparatively  warm  water  in  summer  is  necessary 
for  their  very  existence,  and  full  or  almost  full 
sunshine  must  be  available  if  they  are  to  flower 
freely.  This  appreciated,  it  should  further  be 
noted  that  the  new  orange-shaded  hybrids  with 
more  than  a  touch  of  less 
hardy  sap  in  their  tissues, 
and  the  New  World  odorata 
section  —  so  dehciously 
fragrant — should  be  accom- 
modated with  the  wannest, 
sunniest  and  most  sheltered 
-comers  available,  leaving 
the  bleaker  open  waters 
for  our  native  white  Water 
Lily,  Nympheea  alba,  and 
■for  the  probably  equally 
hardy  marliacea  hybrids. 
N.  marliacea  carnea  is 
'indeed  wonderfully  vigorous 
and  free,  and  N.  m.  chroma- 
tella,  with  beautiful 

mottled  foliage,  if  some- 
what smaller  in  leaf  and 
flower,  seems  equally  hardy 
and  accommodating. 

For  shallow  waters  re- 
stricted in  area  the  Lay- 
•dekeri  hybrids  are  most 
useful,  but  they  lack  the 
vigour  and  hardihood  of 
the  "  marliaceas."  For 
■specially  shallow  waters — 
ift.  or  even  less — and  for 
tiny  pools  the  miniature 
■white  N.  pygmaea  and  its 
■soft  yellow  form  N.  p. 
helvola  are  invaluable. 
Both  are  amazingly  free- 
■flowering. 

.'Vmong  so  many  treasures 
■it  might,  however,  seem 
invidious  to  make  a  selec- 
tion, so  we  will  pass  straight 
•on  to  methods  of  planting. 
The  most  usual  method  is 
probably  to  sink  the  rhi- 
zomes in  fiat,  round  baskets 
■such  as  nurserymen  use 
for  packing  trees,  etc.  A 
good  compost  of  sound 
turfy  loam  with  a  propor- 
tion of  decayed  cow  manure 
or  other  source  of  humus 
is  used  to  plant  the  roots 
in — the     roots  tocks     being 

buried.  The  whole  is  next  mossed  over,  and 
tarred  string,  drawn  through  the  baskets  below 
the  rim  and  "  criss-crossed,"  prevents  the  roots 
"irom  floating  out  before  they  can  get  established. 
Another  method  often  employed  is  to  cut  a 
hole  in  the  centre  of  a  really  large  turf — as  near  a 
■yard  square  as  the  sod  will  hold  together — to  pass 
the  rhizome  through  and  peg  the  opening  together, 
.also  pegging  a  smaller  turf  to  the  large  one  from 
kelow  with  sufficient  compost  to  give  the  leathery 


roots  presently  to  be  formed  a  start  in  life.  This 
method,  since  it  needs  no  baskets — which  do  not 
always  look  pretty  when  seen  through  clear 
water — is  less  expensive,  but  it  must  be  confessed 


that  the  large  turves  are  not  easy  to  manipulate. 
.A  couple  of  planks  if  the  pool  is  a  small  one.  may 
be  used  to  slide  down  the  baskets  or  turves  ;  other- 
wise, the  only  alternative  to  draining  is  to  use  a  punt . 


PRESENT-DAY    DAHLIAS,   THEIR    ORIGIN 
AND    DEVELOPMENT.-I 


THE    SINGLE-FLOWERED     TYPES 


FASHIONS  in  Dahlias  do  not  change  as 
rapidly  as  Parisian  fashions,  but  they 
do  change  and  fairly  rapidly,  too,  in 
these  days.  For  nearly  a  century  after 
their  introduction  in  1789  there  was  but 
little  variation  beyond  the  gradual  development 
of  the  double  or  show  flower.     The  acme  of  Dahlia 


DAHLIA    WHITE    STAR. 

bUss  was  the  production  of  a  bloom  with  a  mass 
of  even  florets  of  perfectly  globular  form,  and  old- 
time  growers  could  be  seen  at  the  exhibitions 
bending  over  their  blooms  with  ivory  tweezers 
correcting  the  expansion  of  the  florets  in  order  to 
set  up  perfect  flowers. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  centenary  a  few  innova- 
tions were  creeping  in.  There  was  a  return  to 
the  early  form  of  single  and  semi-double  flowers. 
Although  these  were  nothing  up  to  the  standard 


of  the  present  day,  they  gave  great  impetus  to 
Dahlia  cultivation,  as  many  were  tired  of  the 
formal  show  type  and  gladly  welcomed  the  hghter 
and  more  elegant  single  and  semi-double  forms. 

The  greatest  excitement  was  caused  by  the 
introduction  of  the  Cactus  form,  which  came 
direct  from  Mexico,  the  home  of  the  Dahlia,  and 
was  called  Juarezii,  after  the 
President  of  the  Republic. 
The  flower  was  composed 
of  long,  narrow,  recurved 
florets  with  a  close  centre, 
similar  in  form  to  a  Cactus, 
hence  its  name.  The  colour 
was  brilUant  crimson  scarlet, 
and  formed  a  striking  con- 
trast to  anything  yet  in- 
troduced. Jauarezii  thus 
became  the  progenitor  of 
the  new  class  of  Cactus 
blooms,  and  also  exerted 
considerable  influence  in  the 
production  of  other  types. 

Thus  the  centenary  of  the 
introduction  of  the  Dahlia 
closed  with  promising  breaks 
for  the  future,  and  since  that 
time  we  have  seen  rapid 
developments  in  various 
directions.  These  are  des- 
cribed under  their  different 
heads  in  the  following  article. 
The  Single  Varieties. 
In  the  single  flowers  we 
had  at  the  time  of  the  cen- 
tenary some  good  varieties, 
such  as  Paragon,  Stella 
Bianca,  Scarlet  Gem,  For- 
mosa, etc.,  and  from  these 
progenitors  many  beautifu* 
varieties  were  raised  which 
soon  became  most  popular. 
The  smooth  recurved  florets, 
even  in  outline  and  of  most 
lovely  shades  of  aesthetic 
colours,  with  their  long  wiry 
stems,  make  them  great 
favourites  for  cutting,  while 
in  the  garden  they  give  a 
wonderfully  brilliant  dis- 
play. One  point  is  of  great 
importance  in  the  cultiva- 
tion of  this  section ;  that 
is,  to  take  off  the  seed-pods 
regularly  as  soon  as  the 
petals  drop,  and  another 
point  is  most  important  in 
cutting  for  indoor  decora- 
tion, which  is,  to  cut  the  flowers  quite  young,  before 
they  have  fully  expanded. 

A  few  worth  mention  as  among  the  best 
at  the  present  time  are  Brilliant,  Columbine,  F 
Galsworthy,  Lady  Bountiful,  .Marion,  Miss  Roberts, 
Mrs.  Joynson  Hicks,  Owen  Thomas,  Rosemary 
Bridge,  Snowdrop,  Wm.  Parrot  and  Winona. 
The  Collarettes 
The  Collarette,  a  form  of  Continental  origin, 
was    quite   an   innovation.      It    is    perhaps    moro 


224 


THE     GARDEN. 


[May  13,  1922. 


ir^jK^ssJ^fS?^*'* 


TYPICAL    OF    THE    STAR    VARIETIES, 
REIGATE  STAR. 

startling  than  beautiful.  The  usual  form  is  a 
single  row  of  outer  florets  with  an  inner  row  of 
smaller  tooth-like  florets  at  the  base,  contrasting 
in  colour  with  the  outer  florets.  This  quickly 
took  the  public  eye,  and  though  somewhat  wanting 
in  refinement,  has  been  greatly  sought  after. 
It  certainly  is  a  showy  flower,  both  for  garden  or 
house  decoration.  The  following  are  some  of 
the  most  useful  varieties :  Admiral,  Bonfire, 
Colleen,  Diadem,  Eden,  Evangehne,  Evelyn, 
Jean,  JuUet,  Mrs.  Courage,  Scarlet  Queen  and 
Ustane 

The  Star  Sorts. 

The  latest  distinct  break  has  been  the  introduction 
of  the  Star  Dahlias.  These  are  so  distinct  from 
any  others  that  on  their  first  appearance  at  the 
exhibitions  they  were  scarcely  recognised  as 
Dahlias.  The  white  variety,  with  its  snow  white 
florets  of  a  cup  shape  with  an  orange  yellow 
centre,  resembles  more  closely  a  Water  Lily  than 
a  Dahha.  The  flowers  are 
rather  small,  with  from  two 
to  four  rows  of  petals  slightly 
incurved  and  pointed,  form- 
ing a  cup-shaped  flower 
with  a  golden  disc.  The 
neat  flowers  are  gracefully 
poised  on  long,  stiff,  wiry 
stems.  They  lend  themselves 
wonderfully  to  light  arrange- 
ment when  cut,  in  vases, 
bowls,  epergnes  or  baskets. 
The  plants  are  of  medium 
height,  of  close  habit  and 
wonderfully  free  in  flower- 
ing, so  that  they  are 
practically  unsurpassed  for 
either  garden  display  or 
indoor  decoration,  and  they 
are  now  produced  in  a 
number  of  beautiful  colours. 
Some  of  the  best  varieties 
are  Autumn  Star,  Avoca, 
Coral  Star,  Crawley  Star, 
Crimson  Star,  Cuckfield 
Star,  Horley  Star,  Morning 
Star,  Oriole,  Primrose  Star, 
Reigate  Star  and  White  Star 
Novelty. 

The     latest     new      form 
to  make  ^its   appearance   is 


THE    NEW    SEMI-DOUBLE    COLLARETTE 
VARIETY    NOVELTY. 

the  semi-double  Collarette  named  Novelty.  This 
has  exactly  the  form  and  habit  of  the  Collarette, 
but  instead  of  a  single  row  of  outer  florets  it  has 
three  or  four  rows,   each   with   the  distinct   con- 


A    CHARACTERISTIC  EXHIBITION     SINGLE, 
FRANK    GALSWORTHY. 

trasting  floret  at  the  base.     This,  as  exhibited  las 
autumn,  was  considered  to  have  promise  of  some- 
thing useful.  Joseph  Cheal. 
{To  be  continued.) 


LUPIN      BORDERS 

The  writer  describes  how  a  succession  of  bloom  may  be  maintained  in  borders 

all  summer. 


JT  is  sometimes  said  that  the  period  of  bloom 
of  Lupins  is  so  short  that  they  are  hardly 
worth  a  prominent  place  in  the  garden. 
This  is  not  so,  as  many  of  the  new  hybrids 
remain  in  bloom  for  quite  a  long  period  if 
the  spent  spikes  are  cut  off.  I  propose,  however, 
to  show  how  borders  can  be  arranged  so  as  to  give 


^^.TW!^|!g?|i^^^5B«M! 


i?i'*n*tfe  ■,***-.■ 


REGIMENTS    OF   LUPINS. 


a   wealth   of  blossom   from   the   Lupins,   and   yet 
remain  attractive  when  they  are  over. 

The  Lupins  illustrated  are  in  two  long  borders, 
each  side  a  flagged  path.  The  borders  are  looft. 
long  and  loft.  wide.  The  soil  is  Ught  and  limy. 
We  never  had  any  success  with  Lupins  until  we 
tried  them  in  a  border  where  plenty  of  lime  had 
been  applied.  Since  then 
we  have  always  given  them 
what  they  evidently  desire, 
although  this  is  contrary  to 
the  opinion  of  some  garden- 
ing writers. 

Most  of  our  Lupins  are 
self  sown  and  we  get  a 
wonderful  variety  of  colour 
and  very  strong  plants. 
There  are  all  shades  of 
purple,  pink,  "  mother-o'- 
pearl  "  and  white.  We  havp 
one  seedling,  a  hybrid 
between  the  tree  and  her- 
baceous in  growth,  with 
very  fine  spikes  of  pale  grey 
and  lilac  colouring.  It 
reminds  one  of  an  old- 
fashioned  lilac  print  dress. 

Behind  the  Lupins  are 
two  rows  of  Delphiniums, 
mostly  raised  from  seed, 
with,  here  and  there,  a 
clump  of  such  fine  varieties 
as  Willie  O'Breen,  Cory, 
Capri,  Belladonna,  etc. 
Behind  the  Delphiniums 
are  posts  and  ropes  with 
climbing  Roses.  In  front 
of  the  Lupins  are  Canterbury 


May  13,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


225 


Bells,  chiefly  pinks  and  whites,  and  the  beds  are  edged  with  that  invaluable 
Catmint,  Xepeta  Mussinii.  As  soon  as  the  best  of  the  Lupin  bloom  is 
over  they  are  cut  back  and  the  plants  are  well  mulched.  A  few  of  the  best 
spikes  are  left  for  seed. 

In  the  course  of  a  week  or  ten  days  the  Canterbury  Bells,  Delphiniums 
and  Roses  are  in  full  blast  and  the  Lupins  are  not  missed  ;  indeed, 
the  effect  at  this  stage  is  eminently  satisfactory.  The  photograph 
was  taken  last  summer,  and,  because  of  the  awful  drought,  the  plants  were 
not  up  to  their  usual  standard.  Just  as  the  Lupins  are  going  over  I  dib  in 
Snapdragons  wholesale  all  over  the  bed.  Wherever  there  is  an  inch  of  space 
in  goes  a  Snapdragon.  For  this  purpose  I  mostly  use  the  tall  varieties  and 
keep  to  shades  of  deep  crimson,  apricot,  yellow,  orange  and  white.  These 
are  brought  on  from  seed  sown  early  in  the  year.  By  the  middle  of  July 
they  are  in  bloom  and  blend  well  with  the  Roses  behind,  which  consist 
of  Emily  Gray,  Sander's  White,  etc.  The  Snapdragons  remain  in  flower  until 
frosts  come. 

The  Delphiniums  are  cut  right  down  as  soon  as  they  are  over,  well 
mulched  and  watered,  and  they  give  us  a  fair  show  in  September  and  October. 
The  Lupins  also  wake  up  and  give  a  second  bloom,  but  this  is  not  to  be 
compared    with   their   first  '*  shout." 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  foregoing  that  it  is  a  very  simple  matter  to  keep  two 
long  stretches  of  borders  full  of  bloom  from  June  until  late  autumn.  These 
borders  are  greatly  admired  by  all  who  see  them  E.  G. 


MAY -FLOWERING     TULIPS     IN 
THE    GARDEN 

A  Word  of  Praise — Lifting  and  Storing — Dutch  "Breeders" — The 
Difficulty  of  Selection — Who  can  Pick  out  the  Best? — Some  Personal 

Favourites. 

THERE  is  very  Uttle  doubt  that,  at  the  present  time.  May- flowering 
Tulips  are  among  the  most  popular  occupants  of  our  gardens. 
The  reasons  are  not  far  to  seek.  We  Uke  their  bright  colours. 
They  flower  at  a  time  when,  in  a  sense,  they  are  the  monarchs  of  all 
they  survey.  There  is  nothing  just  then  to  compete  with  them. 
Lastly,  they  are  so  useful  for  cutting,  more  particularly  the  Darwins. 
The  same  is  true,  to  a  lesser  extent,  as  regards  the  Cottage  section,  although 
here  we  get  some  varieties,  Uke  retroflexa  (a  pointed  flower  of  soft  yellow 
colouring),  Picotee  (also  pointed,  white,  edged  rose)  and  La  Merveille  (a 
beautiful  shade  of  orange  red),  which  are  at  the  top  of  the  tree  for  this  purpose. 
It  does  not  come  strictly  within  the  scope  of  this  article,  but  I  cannot 
pass  over  without  a  word  of  reference  the  adaptability  which  nearly  all  the 
Dar^vins  and  a  certain  number  of  the  Cottage,  such  as  Inglescombe  Pink 
{buff  pink),  have  comparatively  recently  been  found  to  possess  for  growing 
under  glass.  I  mention  it  in  order  that  I  may  warn  people  who  hear  of  this 
for  the  first  time  against  thinking  that  the  same  treatment  which  suits  the 
old-fashioned  "  earlies,"  such  as  Prince  of  Austria,  Cottage  Maid  and  Prince 
de  Ligny,  also  suits  these.  Undoubtedly  their  cultivation  under  glass  is  not 
quite  such  a  simple  matter  if  they  are  to  be  had  in  flower  in  January  or 
February  ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  if  April  is  early  enough,  there  is  little 
difficulty,   given  the  possession  of  a  cold  frame  and  cool  greenhouse. 

I  pass  on  now  to  the  immediate  purpose  for  which  I  have  taken  up  my  pen, 
namely,  May-flowering  TuUps  in  the  garden.  It  is  more  than  Ukely  that  in 
a  good  many  places  they  have  been  used  for  bedding  either  by  themselves  or  in 
combination  with  other  plants,  and  that  the  ground  is  wanted  for  other 
things  before  their  foliage  has  begun  to  die  down.  I  want  to  point  out  that 
they  need  not  be  dug  up  and  thrown  away.  It  cannot  be  too  widely  known 
that  if  each  individual  is  carefully  hfted  with  its  leaves  and  roots  as  Uttle 
damaged  as  possible,  and  then  "  heeled  in  "  on  some  unused  bed  which  is 
not  too  much  exposed  to  the  heat  of  the  sun,  the  bulbs  may  be  saved  for 
another  year.  I  know  of  one  large  garden  where  "  heeling  in  "  is  dispensed 
with,  as  the  plants  are  just  laid  thinly  on  the  ground  at  the  foot  of  a  north 
wall  until  the  foUage  has  died  down.  All  the  same,  I  would  recommend  heeling 
in  if  the  time  and  labour  involved  in  the  operation  are  not  considered  too  much- 
The  question  will  soon  arise  as  to  what  is  to  be  done  with  the  bulbs  when 
the  foUage  has  died  down.  Hands  off  them  until  then  is  the  golden  rule 
which  should  never  be  broken.  If  the  soil  is  fairly  Ught,  there  is  no  reason 
why  a  clump  or  a  bed  need  be  disturbed.  The  bulbs  will  have  increased  to 
a  greater  or  lesser  extent,  according  to  the  variety  and  the  suitabiUty  of  the 
soil,  and  when  flowers  come  a  second  and  perchance  a  third  time  all  that 
will  happen  is  that  there  wiU  be  a  mixture  of  big  and  little  blooms  which 
for  many  is  as  pleasing  as  the  stiffer  appearance  of  a  newly  planted  mass 
of  first-sized  bulbs.  In  stiff  soil  I  advocate  annual  Ufting.  Slugs  are  very 
fond  of  TuUp  bulbs,  and  the  hollow  ways  formed  from  the  top  of  the 
groimd  to  the  bulb  by  the  decayed  stems  are  very  convenient  high-ways  for 
the  hungry'  or,  possibly,  the  gourmandising  slug,  and  from  personal  observation 
I   think  fuU  use  is  made  of  them.     Again,  if  a  garden  is  plagued  with   mice, 


THE  ROSE-BUD  SHAPED   TULIP   ELLEN   WILLMOTT. 


THE   ROSE,   EDGED    YELLOW,  JOHN  RUSKIN. 


226 


THE     GARDEN. 


[May  13,  1922 


it  should  be  remembered  that  mice,  too,  lo\e  a 
good  meal  of  Tulips  ;  while  as  for  rats,  where 
they  are  there  can  at  no  time  be  any  Tulips. 
When,  many  years  back,  I  visited  the  Scilly  Isles, 
I    was    told    it   was   impossible     to    grow    Tulips 


For  this  drying  stage  any  airy,  but  not  draughty 
room  or  shed  where  the  sun's  rays  can  be  excluded 
may  be  used.  When  the  bulbs  are  perfectly  dry, 
they  may  be  cleaned,  the  offsets  removed,  and  the 
whole  of  them  stored  in  open  trays  or  on  shelves 


MAY-FLOWERING    TULIPS    ARE    SPLENDID    FOR    BEDDING, 


**A 


'if.'H. 


m^ii    /:-■*    •• 


■  WASHED    IN    DEW. 


one  side  for  planting  in  October  or  early  November  ; 
then  all  that  are  as  large  as  a  hazel  nut.  These 
second-sized  bulbs  should  be  put  in  nursery  beds 
not  later  than  the  end  of  September  ;  if  in  the 
first  or  second  week  of  that  month,  so  much  the 
better.  The  others  may  as  well  be  thrown  away 
unless  they  are  a  very  expensive  variety.  How 
many  varieties  there  are  nowadays  ! 

The  latest  division  is  that  of  Dutch  and  English 
Breeders.  These  have  for  the  most  part  dark- 
coloured  flowers,  and  the  Dutch  are  in  a  very 
decided  majority.  Louis  -XIV,  Bronze  Queen  and 
Dom  Pedro  are  well  known  examples.  For 
practical  purposes  they  may  be  considered  to 
belong  to  the  "  Cottages."  In  fact,  many  cata- 
logues still  make  no  distinction  between  them. 
In  no  end  of  things  it  is  difficult  to  be  definite, 
in  none  more  so  than  in  making  a  selection  of  the 
best.  This  was  very  strikingly  brought  home  to 
me  as  I  stood  with  Miss  Willmott  before  the 
splendid  exhibit  of  Mrs.  Berkeley  of  Spetchley's 
Polyanthuses.  I  began  to  point  out  which  ones 
I  thought  the  best.  She  let  me  go  on  for  a  time, 
and  then  said,  "  Do  you  know  nearly  every 
variety  has  been  picked  out  by  someone  or 
another  as  the  best?  Ought  we  to  use  that 
word  as  freely  as  we  do  ?  "  I  fully  appreciate 
the  force  of  the  remark,  and  yet  I  think 
readers  expect  wretched  distracted  writers  to 
make   selections. 

The  names  that  follow  are  my  selection  of  some 
of  the  May-flowering  Tulips  that  I  like  the  best 
for  themselves  alone,  without  considering  any 
garden  colour  scheme  or  arrangement  or  any 
matching  of  rooms.  I  take  the  Cottage  first  as 
being  the  older  section.  Long  before  the  late 
Mr.  Krelage  introduced  the  Darwins  we  had, 
thanks  to  the  foresight  and  labour  of  Mr.  William 
Baylor  Hartland  of  Cork  and  Mr.  Peter  Barr  of 
London,  a  goodly  number,  which  has  not  grown 
less  with  time.  Such  varieties  as  Gesneriana 
spathulata.  La  Merveille,  Orange  King  and  Marks- 
man for  red  shades  ;  Avis  Kennicott,  Inglescombe 
Yellow  and  Ellen  Willmott  as  yellows  ;  Goudvink, 
Boadicea  and  Golden  Bronze  as  bronzy  yellows  ; 
Inglescombe  Pink,  Picotee  and  Mrs.  Kerrell  as 
pink  and  rose  and  white  shades  ;  Dom  Pedro  and 
Velvet  King  for  dark  shades  ;  and  John  Ruskin, 
Faerie  Queen  and  Beauty  of  Bath  as  indescribable 
blends  of  beautiful  soft  colouring,  with  Golden 
Crown  with  its  yellow  petals  deeply  edged  with 
red,  are  all,  in  my  way  of  thinking,  extremely 
beautiful  and  for  the  most  part  of  a  reasonable 
price. 

As  some  of  my  favourite  Darwins  I  would  name 
Farncombe  Sanders,  Professor  Francis  Darw'iu, 
Pride  of  Haarlem  and  Louise  de  la  Vallifere  for 
reddish  shades  ;  Ronald  Gunn,  Valentine,  Melicette 
and  Euterpe  for  pale  purple  or  mauve  ;  The 
Bishop,  Moralis,  Faust  and  Jubilee  for  dark 
varieties  ;  with  Clara  Butt,  Baronne  de  la  Tonnaye, 
Flamingo,  Suzon,  Prince  of  the  Netherlands  and 
Sophrosyne   as   roses   or   pinks. 

The  foregoing  selections  show  the  wide  range 
of  choice  with  which  May-flowering  Tulips  provide 
us.  A  further  question  naturally  arises  as 
to  their  disposal  in  our  gardens  so  as  to  make 
the  best  of  them.  If  the  Editor  will  allow  me, 
I  propose  to  follow  up  this  cultural  article 
with  one  giving  a  few  general  hints  about  their 
arrangement.  Joseph    Jacob. 


there  on  account  of  the  vast  multitudes  of  these 
animals  which  had  their  homes  in  the  rocky  cliffs 
of  the  coast. 

Let  us  now  suppose  the  bulbs  have  been  lifted, 
what  must  be  done  then  ?  They  should  be  laid 
out  thinly  with  their  roots  still  attached  if  these 
have  not  already  fallen  away,  but  the  withered 
foliage  and  stems  should  be  pulled  or  broken  off. 


if  the  quantity  is  large  or  in  paper  or  cotton  bags 
if  the  lots  are  small.  It  is  very  important  that 
the  storing  place  be  perfectly  dry  and  also  mice- 
proof.  I  am  continually  hearing  of  failures  in 
keeping  the  bulbs  until  planting-time  from  one 
of  these  precautions  having  been  neglected.  Before 
then  they  should  be  sorted  into  three  sizes.  First 
of  all  the  largest  should  be  picked  out  and  put  on 


FORTHCOMING     EVENTS. 

May  17. ^Hertford  Horticultural  Society's 
Meeting, 

May  19. — Paisley  Florists'  Society's  Meeting. 
Eastbourne  Horticultural  Society's  Meeting. 

May  23. — Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Chelsea 
Show  (3  days). 


May  13,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


227 


SOME  OF  THE  LESSER  CAMPANULAS 


By    GERTRUDE    JEKYLL,     V.M.H. 


OF  the  lower-growing  Campanulas 
the  one  that  is  of  the  greatest 
general  utility  is  C.  carpatica,  for 
it  is  large  enough  to  be  a  useful 
plant  in  the  front  of  the  flower 
border  and  is  not  too  large  for  the  bolder 
parts  of  the  rock  garden.  Moreover,  it  is  most 
accommodating,  for  it  will  do  well  in  almost 
any  soil,  aspect  or  situation.  The  form  tur- 
binata  has  flowers  of  a  deeper  cup  shape,  while 
other  garden  varieties  are  more  starry  ;  but  all 
are  welcome,  and  when  once  established  give 
no  further  trouble  ;  the  same  plant  or  group  will 
go  on  for  years,  and  if  a  renewed  or  extended  plant- 
ing is  desired  it  is  easily  raised  from  seed.       The 


colouring  is  everything  between  pure  white  and  a 
fairly  deep  purple.  It  is  variable  as  to  seedlings, 
for  the  produce  of  a  purple  plant  may  give  some 
whites,  and  that  of  a  white  one  is  likely  to  throw 
back  to  purple. 

There  are  many  species  of  Campanula  native 
to  the  middle  European  .■Mps,  but  among  them 
a  few  stand  out  as  the  most  desirable  in  a  garden. 
C.  muralis,  equally  known  as  C.  Portenschlagiana, 
is  a  brilliant  little  June  flower  ;  the  neat  tufts 
of  foliage  almost  covered  by  the  abundant  bloon\ 
of  a  rich  purple  colour.  Still  more  dehghtful  is  the 
dainty  little  C.  garganica,  flowering  later  in  the 
summer.  There  is  a  perfect  finish  about  the 
whole    plant,    with    its    charming    bloom    of    light 


A    CHARMING    MINI.\TURE — CAMPANULA    PUSILLA. 


purple  shading  to  white,  and  its  exquisitely  neat 
foliage,  like  tiny  leaves  of  Ivy,  sharply  cut  at  every 
point.  Both  of  these  little  Bellfiowers  are  seen 
at  their  best  in  the  joints  of  dry  walling,  or  in  any 
steep  places  in  the  rock  garden  that  come  near  the 
same  conditions.  Another  of  the  favourites  for 
wall  or  rock  joint  is  C.  pusilla,  blooming  in  late 
summer.  It  is  in  white  and  purple  colourings ; 
a  charming  pale  purple  kind  was  raised  by  Miss 
Willmott  and  is  now  well  known.  It  is  pretty  to 
see  any  variety  of  this  httle  plant  running  at  the 
foot  or  sides  of  rock  garden  steps. 

It  is  well  to  remember  that  all  these  little  Bell- 
flowers  are  happiest  in  limy  soil,  a  preference  that 
is  common  to  nearly  all  their  kind.  Those  who 
have  been  fortunate  enough  to  have  had  botanical 
rambles  in  Southern  Italy  will  remember  the 
beauty  of  C.  fragilis  (syn.  Barrelieri)  hanging  out 
of  narrow  rifts  in  sheer  limestone  cliffs.  It  may 
not  be  generally  known  that  this  tender  plant  and 
the  nearly  related  C.  isophylla,  which  in  England 
are  usually  grown  as  indoor  pot  ornaments,  may 
be  acclimatised  in  a  sunny  wall,  where  the  crown 
of  the  plant,  set  well  back  between  the  stones,  is 
protected  from  winter  wet,  and  where  no  frost 
reaches  the  root.  If  they  are  provided  with  a 
good  compost  of  lime  and  loam,  or  with  the  natural 
rich  top-soil  of  chalky  places,  they  thrive  amazingly 
and  make  larger  plants  than  are  usually  seen  in 
their  native  haunts. 

There  are  some  species  of  Campanula  that  are 
not  commonly  grown  in  gardens,  but  that  are  well 
worthj'  of  attention.  C.  sarmatica  is  a  charming 
plant  of  late  summer,  from  ift.  to  i5ins.  high  with  a 
profusion  of  light  purple  bells  and  a  generally 
downy  appearance.  It  is  good  for  a  place  in  rough 
rockwork  with  a  cool  exposure.  C.  punctata  and 
C.  nobilis  are  <plants  of  rather  the  same  character, 
both  from  the  Far  East — China  and  Japan.  C. 
punctata  has  drooping,  whitish  flowers  tinged  with 
purple  and  spotted,  and  elongated  heart-shaped 
leaves  pointed  and  boldly  toothed.  These  Bell- 
flowers  would  be  lost  in  the  mixed  flower  border, 
where  plants  of  a  showier  nature  are  wanted ; 
their  place  is  somewhere  between  garden  and  wild 
where  a  group  of  either,  seen  by  itself,  can  be 
thoroughly  enjoyed.  I  have  had  them  on  a 
raised  bank  among  wild  grasses  and  Ferns, 
where  they  flourished  and  appeared  to  be  just 
rightly  placed. 


THE    NOT    OVER-COMMON    CAMPANULA    PUNCTATA. 


A  FRAGRANT  WALL 
SHRUB 

MoNCREDiEx,  in  his  excellent  book  on  Trees, 
states  that  the  lemon-scented  Verbena  (Lippia 
citriodora)  will  live  out  of  doors,  though  sometimes 
rut  to  the  ground  by  frost.  The  scent  of  the 
leaves  is  exquisite.  No  garden  should  be  without 
a  plant,  although  it  was  at  one  time  the  fashion 
to  discard  it  because  it  has  been  common.  It  is 
said  to  attain  a  height  of  20ft.  in  China. 

The  only  species  of  this  genus  known  in  Britain, 
it  was  formerly  called  variously  Verbena  triphylla 
and  Aloysia  citriodora.  It  is  a  half  hardy  shrub, 
with  panicles  of  small  pinkish  white  flowers,  and 
very  fragrant  leaves,  which  fall  off  in  the  winter. 
It  requires  a  rich,  but  light  soil,  well  drained,  and 
when  grown  in  pots  it  should  never  have  water 
kept  in  the  saucer.  In  winter,  after  it  has  shed 
its  leaves,  it  should  be  kept  nearly  dry,  until  the 
buds  begin  to  swell,  when  it  should  be  watered 
frequently  and  abundantly,  but  the  water  should 
never  be  suffered  to  remain  in  a  stagnant  state 
about  the  roots.  It  is  easily  propagated  by  cuttings 
and  only  requires  to  be  protected  from  severe 
frosts. 


228 


THE     GARDEN. 


THE    SHADING     AND    VENTILATING    OF 
GREENHOUSES    AND    FRAMES 

In  sprmg  and  early  summer  millions  of  seedlings  are  raised,  plants  are  repotted  and  trans- 
planted and  young  shoots  grow  freely.     In  the  open  air  this  occurs  iiaturally  and  in  due 
course  ;    under  glass  the  shoots  are  forced,  are  more  tender  and  more  liable  to  be  checked 
and  damaged  if  careful  attention  is  not  bestowed  upon  them. 


THE  art  of  applying  shade  or  admitting 
air  to  greenhouse  and  frame  occupants 
lies  in  the  judicious  use  of  shading 
materials,  and  the  opening  of  ventilators 
according  to  the  prevailing  state  of  the 
weather,  not  only  each  day,  but  every  hour  of  the 
day.  Where,  for  instance,  Vine  shoots  are  young, 
cold  winds  prevail  and  bursts  of  sunshine  are  fitful, 
one  must  be  constantly  watching  the  weather 
and  altering  the  ventilation  of  the  vinery. 

Too  much  shade  spoils  the  sturdiness  of  young 
plants  and  destroys,  or  almost  destroys,  the  fruiting 
powers  of  such  trees  as  Peaches,  Apricots  and 
Vines  under  glass.  Excessive  and  injudicious 
ventilation  breeds  mildew  spores  and  aphides  on 
plants  of  every  kind.  We  have  only  to  examine 
closely  the  undergrowth  in  our  woods  to  realise 
all  this.  It  is  not  only  damage  that  is  done  in  the 
current  year,  but  it  may  extend  to  the  following 
years,  too. 

The  cultivator  possesses  nice  healthy  batches  of 
seedlings,  it  may  be  of  plants  intended  in  due 
course  for  filling  the  beds  in  the  flower  garden  or 
for  potting  on  and  furnishing  the  greenhouse.  The 
temperature  under  glass,  in  which  they  are  now 
growing,  may  be  30°  or  40°  above  the  normal 
outside  ;  if  timely  shade  be  not  appUed,  50  per 
cent,  may  be  ruined  by  scorching  in  an  hour's 
time.  Temporary  shading  will  be  more  beneficial 
than  permanent  at  this  stage,  and  such  shade  may 
be  applied  by  fixing  sheets  of  tissue  paper,  news- 
paper, or  brown  paper,  according  to  requirements, 
just  above  the  boxes,  pots  or  pans.  I  usually  fix 
the  sheets  about  ift.  above  the  young  plants  ; 
there  is  then  a  free  circulation  of  air  around  them. 
When  the  weather  is  dull  all  paper  shading  material 
is  removed.  This  method  applies,  mainly,  to 
plants  on  shelves  or  stages  in  the  greenhouse  ; 
those  in  frames  are  dealt  with  by  placing  thin 
scrim  or  tiffany  or  several  folds  of  herring  netting 
on  the  glass  lights,  making  sure  that  they  are 
secured  against  winds. 

Where  a  more  permanent  shade  is  required, 
such  may  be  purchased  from  firms  advertising 
the  various  kinds  in  The  Garden,  and  applied 
according  to  the  instructions  given  with  each 
packet.  Home-made  shading  material  is  also  very 
helpful  and  I  loiow  that  many  amateurs  use  lime- 
wash.  It  should  never  be  used  as,  when  syringed 
on  the  glass  indiscriminately,  the  paint  on  the 
sash-bars  is  much  damaged  by  the  burning  lime  ; 
even  if  carefully  applied  to  the  glass  only,  with  the 
aid  of  a  brush,  the  rains,  in  due  course,  wash  some 
of  the  lime  to  the  sides  and  splash  it  on  the  wood- 
work. A  mixture  of  whitening  and  milk,  preferably 
butter  milk,  is  much  more  desirable,  and  this  should 
be  applied  with  the  aid  of  a  brush.  At  this  season 
of  the  year  only  the  centre  portion  of  the  glass 
between  the  sash-bars  need  be  coloured,  as  a  very 
effective  shade  results  and  a  really  Uberal  amount 
of  unobstructed  light  reaches  the  plants. 

Then  there  are  roller  blinds,  of  lath,  scrim 
or  canvas,  which,  when  properly  fixed,  are  very 
beneficial  to  the  plants.  I  think  it  is  a  great 
pity  that  such  rollers  should  be  let  down  and  pulled 
up  daily — probably  several  times  each  day — on  the 
painted  woodwork  of  the  house,  as  so  much  paint  is 
rubbed  off.  The  better  plan  is  to  have  the  rollers 
running  on  slightly-raised  light  iron  rods,  with  a 
curved   end   at   the  bottom   to   retain   the   roller. 


For  Ferns  and  Palms  a  permanent  green  shade 
is  best  for  the  summer  months.  Fruit  trees  under 
glass,  with  the  exception  of  Muscat  Grapes  while 
the  stones  are  hardening  in  the  berries,  should  not 
be  shaded  and  then  only  when  the  sun  is  bright  ; 
a  herring  net  wiU  be  sufficient. 

Ventilation. — This  is  a  very  important  part 
of  the  work  to  be  done  daily  by  amateur  or  pro- 
fessional. Where  owners  must  be  away  all  day 
and  there  is  no  one  to  attend  to  the  ventilation 
of  greenhouse  or  frame  in  the  daytime,  it  is  better 
to  err  on  the  safe  side  and  open  the  ventilators 
judiciously  in  the  morning,  even  if  the  weather 
is  dull,  rather  than  to  run  the  risk  of  having  healthy 
plants  scorched.  Now,  we  will  deal  mth  the  proper 
method  of  applying  air  to  glass  structures,  when 
this  can  be  done  at  the  will  of  the  cultivator. 
Let  us,  for  the  moment,  take  a  vinery  as  typical 
of  fruit  houses.  By  seven  o'clock  "  summer  time  " 
the  top  ventilators  should  be  opened  lin.,  thus 
a  gentle  circulation  of  air  is  assured  and  excessive 
moisture  on  leaves  and  bunches  is  dispersed  and 
scorching  does  not  occur.  On  a  normal  day,  as  the 
sun  gains  power,  open  the  ventilators  another  inch 
by  nine  o'clock,  and  again  to  sins,  wide  by  eleven 
o'clock.  This  applies  to  the  early  stages  of  the 
growth  of  the  vines ;  later,  as  midsummer 
approaches,  more  ventilation  will  be  needed,  and 
when  the  colouring  of  all  fruits  begins,  front 
ventilation  must  also  be  given  and  the  top  ventilator 
left  open  tin.  all  night.  Where  it  is  convenient 
all  ventilators  should  be  opened  opposite  to  the 
direction  from  which  the  wind  blows  ;  till  mid- 
summer day  this  is  a  very  important  point. 

The  necessary  airshould  always  be  so  admitted 
as  not  to  allow  cold  draughts  to  blow  directly  on  to 
young  leaves  and  fruit. 

Cold  greenhouses  may  be  more  liberally  venti- 
lated during  the  summer,  both  in  the  daytime  and 
through  the  night. 

The  ventilation  of  a  plant  structure  should  never 
be  put  off  until  the  internal  temperature  is  very 
high.  Nor  if  it  has  been  done  should  the  venti- 
lators then  be  opened  over-wide.  Where  this  is 
done,  plants  are  chilled,  their  growth  is  checked 
and  mildew  and  aphides  result.  Open  the  lights 
a  little  first,  and  early,  and  begin  to  close  them 
again  gradually  also,  about  one  hour  before  sunset 
as  a  general  rule.  George    Garner. 


FLOWERING   SHRUBS    FOR 
CHALK    SOIL 

[In    Answer    to    a    Correspondent] 

AS  your  correspondent  "  H.  E.,"  page  167, 
gives  no  idea  of  his  locaUty  or  the 
area  at  his  disposal,  shrubs  other  than 
I  inexpensive  and  hardy  I  do  not  propose 
to  name.  Rather  vague,  too,  I  think, 
is  the  soil  description.  If  I  interpret  correctly. 
Rhododendrons  and  plants  similarly  fastidious 
where  chalk  is  concerned  would  be  a  doubtful 
success.  Yet  soil  overlying  chalk  after  years 
of  cultivation  contains  but  a  very  small  per- 
centage of  the  latter,  and  may  then  be 
tolerated  by  several  species  to  which  anything 
related  to  lime  is  as  poison  ;  always  providing  the 


[May  13,  1922, 

beds  to  be  occupied  are  raised  above  the  ordinary 
level  to  prevent  water  draining  through  them 
from  the  immediate  surroundings.  The  following 
selection  of  shrubs  were  nearly  all  planted  on 
virgin  soil  overlying  chalk  on  the  borders  of  Derby- 
shire. The  site  lies  low,  and  is  protected  on  all 
sides  from  wind,  therefore  many  somewhat  tender 
sorts  flourish,  although  the  district  is  recognised 
as  excessively  cold.  It  may  perhaps  be  of  some 
help  to  your  correspondent  if  I  group  them  in 
order  of  flowering.  Efforts  to  have  something 
attractive  before  the  advent  of  April  led  to  the 
successful  planting  of  Lonicera  fragrantissima 
in  a  sheltered  corner.  It  is  a  bush  Honeysuckle 
with  clusters  of  small  white  deliciously  scented 
flowers,  and  averages  about  6ft.  in  height.  Prunus 
Davidiana  gives  the  first  Almond  blossom.  There 
are  two  varieties,  red  and  white,  but  the  latter 
is  the  freest,  and  should  be  so  planted  as  to  have 
the  backing  of  an  evergreen  shrub,  both  for 
shelter  and  clear  effect.  Garrya  elliptica  occupies 
the  centre  of  a  most  sheltered  bed,  and  is  very 
striking  in  winter  when  covered  with  drooping 
catkins.  Its  appearance,  however,  does  not 
indicate  that  it  will  reach  in  this  district  a  height 
and  breadth  of  over  12ft.,  dimensions  it  frequently 
attains  in  the  favoured  parts  of  Scotland.  Of 
the  Witch  Hazel  family,  Hamamelis  arborea  is 
sure  to  please  when  its  leafless  branches  are  freely 
clothed  with  what  may  be  likened  unto  strips  of 
golden  yellow.  I  have  known  these  flowers  to 
come  uninjured  through  10°  of  frost.  There  are 
several  Viburnums,  but  for  the  period  under 
review  V.  Tinus  lucidum,  with  flower  trusses  of 
snowy  whiteness  and  growing  about  6ft.,  is  note- 
worthy. The  Mezereon,  Daphne  Mezereum,  is 
too  common  to  need  but  passing  mention,  yet 
what  shrubbery  foreground  is  complete  without  it 
and  its  perfume  ? 

With  April,  in  an  average  spring,  it  is  not 
difficult  even  for  the  uninitiated  to  become 
interested  in  shrubs.  MagnoHa  stellata,  4ft., 
makes  a  dense  bush,  and  the  profusion  of  waxy 
white  flowers  which  open  before  the  leaves  are 
fully  developed  turns  the  whole,  from  a  distant 
view,  into  a  bank  of  snow.  M.  conspicua,  15ft. 
to  2oft.,  blooms  later,  but  the  planter  must  have 
patience  with  it,  for  it  is  a  slow  grower,  but  lovely 
when  at  its  best.  In  that  delightful  Broom, 
Cytisus  prscox  we  have  one  of  our  freest-flowering 
plants,  although  the  month  is  generally  well 
advanced  before  the  rich  primrose-coloured  flowers 
are  at  their  best.  Of  graceful  habit,  it  does  not 
grow  above  5ft.,  and,  unUke  some  members  of 
the  family,  does  not  get  leggy.  Several  of  the 
older  Barberries  are  satisfactorj'.  B.  stenophylla, 
B.  Darwinii  and  B.Thunbergii  are  all  early  bloomers. 
The  two  first  named  have  yellow,  the  latter  has 
buff-coloured  flowers  and  is  also  rich  in  autumn 
tints.  Here  B.  Thunbergii  occupies  a  position  in 
the  front  of  Forsythia  suspensa,  another  yellow- 
flowered  shrub  of  some  merit.  Further  behind 
is  a  bold  group  of  Prunus  Pissardii,  planted  more 
for  its  reddish  purple  autumn  foUage  than  spring 
blossom.  The  latter  purpose  is  left ,  to  Prunus 
triloba  fl.-pL,  grown  in  standard,.forJii  and  notable, 
for  its  double  rich  pink  flowers.  Pyrus  Malus 
Scheideckeri  is  also  freely  used  as  a  standard, 
as  is  also  the  Weeping  .^pple,  Pyrus  Malus  pendula 
Elise  Rathke.  Both  are  fascinating  when  in  full 
blossom.  Cydonia  japonica  (Japanese  Quince) 
we  used  to  grow  on  a  wall,  but  this  is  an  abuse 
of  an  ideal  comparatively  dwarf  shrub.  Amelan- 
chier  canadensis  is  a  member  of  a  genus  closely 
allied  to  the  Medlar.  The  popular  title  of  Snowy 
Mespilus  is  an  accurate  description  of  it  when  in 
bloom,  for  the  effect  is  nearly  snow-like.  The 
foliage,  too,  is  pretty  in  autumn. 

This  brings  us  to  the  month  of  May  and  the 
flowering  Cherries.     To  produce  the  desired  effect 


May  13,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


229 


I 


these  require  massing,  and  both  bush  and  standard 
trained  specimens  should  be  used.  One  of  the 
best  is  Frunus  Pseudo-Cerasus  James  H.  \'eitch, 
with  large  rosy  pink  blossoms  and  reddish  bronze 
foUage  in  autumn.  C.  sinensis  .Mount  Fugi,' 
single  white,  is  also  pretty.  Cytisus  scoparius 
.\ndreanus,  \rith  yellow  and  violet  bronze  flowers, 
is  perhaps  the  handsomest  of  all  Brooms,  and  it 
is  more  profuse  in  flowering  even  in  a  young  state. 
In  Viburnum  Carlesii,4ft.,  we  find  a  spring-flowering 
shrub  of  much  charm.  The  large  flowers  are 
scented,  and  the  colour  white,  flushed  pink.  Very 
often  the  shrub  is  at  its  best  before  the  more  robust 
and  better  known  Guelder  Rose,  V.  Cpulus  sterile. 
The  S\Tingas  (Lilacs)  are,  of  course  freely  used, 
as  bushes  as  well  as  standards  In  some  of  the 
newer  varieties  there  is  a  great  improvement 
noticeable  both  in  habit,  colour  and  size  of  bloom 
truss.  Especially  pleasing  are  the  varieties 
-\lphonse  Lavallee,  double,  blue,  shaded 
\iolet ;  lime,  .^bel  Chatenay,  double  white  ; 
Gloire  de  Moulins,  rose,  changing  to 
lavender  blue  ;  and  Souvenir  de  L.  Spath, 
the  nearest  approach  to  a  red 

In  June  the  best  of  the  Deutzias  are 
showy.  One  of  the  advantages  of  their 
use  is  due  to  the  neatness  of  habit,  which 
they  retain  for  many  years  without  inter- 
fering with  the  flowering.  In  addition  to 
the  white  D.  gracilis  (largely  used  for 
forcing),  D.  Lemoinei  (also  a  white),  D. 
Boule  Rose  and  D.  carminea  should  be 
noted.  For  the  hybrid  Mock  Oranges 
(Philadelphus)  no  praise  is  too  high.  P. 
coronarius  is  the  common  species,  suitable 
only  for  the  background  of  large  areas. 
The  following  hybrids,  however,  are  dwarf 
growers  and  suitable  for  beds.  The  blossoms 
are  remarkably  fine,  and  the  scent  of  the 
t>-pe  remains.  Most  of  them  are  descend- 
ants of  crossing  the  species  named,  and 
P.  microphyllus,  a  neat  bush  3ft.  high  with 
lovely  sprays  of  Quince-scented  blossoms, 
and  are  grouped  under  the  title  of  the  first 
raised,  namely,  P.  hybridus  Lemoinei.  So 
free  flowering  is  the  variety  Avalanche 
that  the  branches  are  often  bent  down  with 
the  weight  of  bloom.  Candelabra  is  nearly 
as  free,  but  dwarfer  in  habit  ;  Boule'^Rose, 
Gerbe  de  Neige  and  Mont  Blanc  are  also 
splendid.  Spira?a  arguta  is  seldom  good  here 
until  June,  but  it  is  one  of  the  most  beauti- 
ful shrubs  in  cultivation  when  the  branches 
are  clothed  with  compact  clusters  of  pure 
white  flowers. 

For  July  and  .August  the  number  of 
attractive  shrubs  grows  less.  Olearia 
Haastii,  with  dusky  white  clusters  and 
evergreen,  requires  a  fair  amount  of 
space.  Spiraea  Anthony  Waterer  we  employ 
as  an  edging,  and  very  pretty  indeed 
it  is  when  the  crimson  heads  of  bloom 
are  fully  open.  S.  ariaefolia,  with 
plume-like  tufts  of  creamy  white  flowers, 
occupies  a  moist  comer  to  great  advantage. 
Hypericum  Hookerianum,  5ft.,  with  drooping 
waxy  golden  flowers  2ins.  across,  is  too  good  to 
leave  out.  H.  patulum,  2ft.  is  another  for  the 
edges.  Others  for  the  same  period  include  Ligustrum 
japonicum  (6ft.),  white  ;  Cytisus  nigricans  (3ft.), 
yeUow ;  and  Tamarix  hispida aestivalis,  with  feathery 
sprays  of  carmine  pink.  These  notes  have  extended 
much  beyond  my  intention  when  I  began,  and  no 
mention  has  been  made  of  new  kinds  or  doubtful 
doers.  But  to  lay  the  foundation  of  a  labour- 
saving  plan  and  a  pleasing  one,  especially  if  some 
of  the  more  robust  perennial  plants  are  included, 
as  was  done  here,  the  foregoing  are,  I  should  say, 
to  be  relied  upon  in  almost  any  district.  This  is  a 
good  neighbourhood  to  test  hardihood. — J.  T. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


THE    ROTATION   OF   CROPS. 

'T'HERE  is,  no  doubt,  a  great  deal  of  truth  in 
the  advisability  of  carrying  out  a  system 
of  rotation  of  crops  in  the  garden,  as  advocated 
by  "  R.  D."  on  page  193.  For  instance,  the 
sowing  or  planting  of  a  deep-rooting  crop  after  a 
shallow-rooting  one  enables  the  plants  to  feed 
at  different  levels  in  the  soil,  and  to  draw  nourish- 
ment from  the  upper  and  lower  spits  in  different 
years.  Rotation  also  helps  to  check  the  rapid 
multipUcation  of  plant  enemies,  whether  insects 
or  fungi.  -All  good  farmers  certainly  practise 
rotation  on  the  farm.  It  is  not  always  so  rigidly 
carried  out  in  gardens,  especially  where  on  private 
estates    the    gardener    has    a    good    command    of 


VASES    OF    ANNUAL    STAT  ICE. 

the  manure  heap.  In  some  gardens,  however, 
certain  borders  or  pieces  of  ground  are  set  apart 
for  particular  crops,  whether  flowers  or  vegetables. 
I  know  of  more  than  one  garden  where  a  certain 
border  was  set  apart  for  the  Dahlias  every  year, 
and  nothing  appeared  lacking  in  their  growth. 
A  nurseryman  acquaintance  of  mine  always  grew 
his  Dahlias  on  the  same  piece  of  ground,  and 
he  was  both  a  raiser  and  successful  exhibitor. 
I  have  gro\vn  Onions  for  three  years  in  succession 
on  the  same  border  where  they  had  been  grown 
for  twenty  years  previously,  and  the  crops  were 
heavy.  Possibly  others  will  recall  that  hundreds 
of  small  gardens  are  cropped  chiefly  or  solely 
with  Potatoes  year  after  year. — J.  F. 

[Despite    the    ravages   of   the    Onion    fly,    it   is 
certainly  true   that  on   some   soils   the   only  way 


to  grow  this  crop  quite  satisfactorily  is  to  make 
a  special  bed  and  grow  the  bulbs  there  each  year. 
In  the  same  way  many  farmers  "  out  for  "  big 
roots  grow  their  Mangolds  on  the  same  acreage 
year  by  year,  but  such  crops  may  be  considered 
the  exceptions  which  "  prove  the  rule." — Ed.] 

THE   ANNUAL   STATICES. 

T"  HE  enclosed  photograph  of  annual  Statices 
may  be  of  interest,  particularly  to  those  of 
your  readers  who  like  Everlastings.  The  plants 
from  which  the  blossom  was  gathered  were  grown 
in  the  open  border,  though  raised  under  glass  in 
a  box.  The  border  was  fully  exposed  to  the 
scorching  suns  of  last  year,  but  at  planting-time 
stones  were  introduced,  which  these  plants 
undoubtedly  hke,  probably  because  of  the 
moisture  they  retain.  I  have  found  that 
rather  poor  soil  suits  these  annuals  better 
than  over-rich  compost.  The  species  are 
Statice  sinuata  [^in  blue  and  white  and  S. 
BonduelU,  yellow. — E.  M.  L. 

IRIS    RETICLXATA    IN    POTS. 

TT  is  quite  Ukely  that  many  who  know  this 
charming  Iris  out  of  doors  have  never 
tried  to  grow  it  in  pots.  It  cannot  be  too 
widely  known  that  if  it  can  be  given  cool 
treatment  from  the  time  the  bulbs  are 
potted  until  the  flowering  stage  is  reached 
no  pot  plants  are  more  satisfactory. 
Potted  in  September  in  dwarf  flower-pots 
orTlow  pans  and  kept  as  cool  as  possible 
they  will  bloom  about  the  end  of  January. 
A  greenhouse  is  .'not  necessary.  I  have 
seen  beauties  which  had  been  grown  from 
start  to  finish  in  a  cottage  parlour  window 
where  there  was  only  very  occasionally  a 
fire.  Reticulata  is  such  an  early  bloomer 
out  of  doors  that  frequently  the  flowers 
are  injured  by  inclement  weather,  especially 
in  the  colder  parts  of  Britain.  This  is 
avoided  by  pot  culture,  as  we  then  get  the 
rich  purple  blooms  with  their  orange 
splashed  falls  in  all  their  beauty  and, 
what  must  always  be  an  additional  attrac- 
tion, we  are  able  all  the  better  to  enjoy 
their  violet-Uke  scent.  Seven  bulbs  in  a 
5iin.  pan  give  a  good  display.  Pans  or 
low  flower-pots  give  a  better  appearance 
than  ordinary  pots. — Salopian. 

THE     PROPAGATION    OF    MINT". 

T  WOULD  like,  if  I  may,  to  supplement 
the  excellent  article  by  "  H.  G.,"  page 
180,  on  the  propagation  of  Mint.  I  grow 
quite  a  number  of  species  and  hybrids. 
One  of  the  latter  between  the  -Apple- 
scented  Mint  and  Spearmint  has  become 
a  favourite  in  the  kitchen  on  account  of  its  broad, 
crisp  and  juicy  leaves.  It  is  later  in  coming  into 
growth  in  spring  than  Spearmint,  but  makes 
amends  for  this  by  continuing  in  a  fresh  and 
vigorous  condition  till  quite  late  in  the  autumn, 
especially  if  the  flower-spikes  are  removed.  The 
stems  then  produce  vigorous  branches.  Of  course. 
Spearmint  is  the  orthodox  one  for  the  kitchen. 
This  I  have  propagated  by  division  and  by  cuttings 
from  various  sources  in  my  endeavour  to  find 
if  there  were  any  varieties  among  it,  for  the  Mint 
usually  or  frequently  on  sale  in  the  greengrocers' 
shops  has  very  narrow  leaves,  and  often  withered 
ones  on  the  lower  part  of  the  stems.  This  I  proved 
to  be  due  to  poor  cultivation  or  no  cultivation  at 
all  in  old  and  neglected  beds.  I  have  even  obtained 
forced  Mint  from  the  shops  and  dibbled  the  cuttings 


230 

into  the  open  ground  without  any  protection 
whatever,  and  although  put  in  at  a  foot  apart 
each  way,  the  bed  was  quite  full  before  autumn. 
Besides  getting  vigorous  plants  from  cuttings, 
it  is  also  a  means  of  getting  rid  of  the  Mint  rust 
(Puccinia  Mentha;),  which  is  liable  to  become 
serious  in  neglected  Mint-beds. — Hortulanus. 

HISTORY    OF    THE    MOSS    ROSE. 

]yjANY  readers  of  The  Garden  are  lovers  of 
the  Rose,  and  many  doubtless  read  "  The 
Rose  Annual."  In  that  for  1922  Major  Hurst 
contributes  some  "  Notes  on  the  History  of  the 
Moss  Rose."  In  these,  on  page  40,  he  says  that 
"  the  earliest  date  recorded  for  the  Moss  Rose 
is  in  a  rare  little  book  entitled  '  L'Ecole  du 
Jardinier  fieuriste.'  "  I  have  this  work  because 
the  frontispiece  is  so  extremely  interesting  to  me 
as  a  lover  of  the  Tulip.  On  it  is  depicted  an 
Auricula  stage  and,  as  far  as  I  know,  the  earliest 
picture  of  a  covered  Tulip-bed.  The  edition  in 
my  possession  is  dated  1746,  which  is  the  identical 
one  from  which  Major  Hurst  quotes,  but  I  cannot 
find  any  reference  in  it  to  the  Moss  Rose.  Either 
his  eyes  are  better  than  mine  or  he  is  the  possessor 
of  a  Grangerised  copy  which  contains  matter 
which  mine  does  not.  Hence  I  ask,  was  there,  as 
Major  Hurst  states,  a  Moss  Rose  in  1696  ? — J.  J. 

SOME  BEAUTIFUL  FLOWERING  PLANTS. 

J  H.-^D  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  fine  form  of 
Clematis  Armandi  in  flower  at  La  Mortola 
in  March  which  was  mentioned  in  The  Garden 
last  year.  There  was  an  illustration  also  given 
at  the  same  time,  but  not  of  the  La  Mortola 
plant,  and  it  was  stated  that  there  was  no  botanical 
difference  between  it  and  the  plant  figured.  For 
garden  purposes  the  difference  is  extreme.  The 
plant  figured  resembled  the  form  I  flowered  and 
threw  away  as  worthless,  and  much  inferior  to 
the  New  Zealand  Clematis  indivisa,  whereas  the 
La  Mortola  plant  is  a  much  bigger  and  stronger- 
growing  thing  with  long,  narrow  trifoliate  leaves 
of  great  thickness  of  texture  on  red-brown  shoots 
of  extraordinary  vigour  and  length,  while  the 
big  bouquets  of  creamy  white,  strongly  scented 
flowers  were  double  the  size  of  (he  variety  given 
in  the  illustration,  so  I  hope  another  year  The 
Garden  may  give  a  figure  of  this  fine  chmber, 
though  I  think  its  vigour  is  such  that  it  is  more 
fit  for  outdoor  culture  than  under  glass.  I  have 
been  much  pleased  with  the  early  flowering  Lilac 
Lamartine. 

It  is  so  elegant,  so  early  and  so  vigorous  and  free 
flowering  that  it  has  quite  won  my  favour.  It 
has  the  great  merit'  of  lasting  well  when  cut  and 
in  water.  It  is  also  very  fragrant  and  true  lilac 
in  colour.  Looking  over  bulb  catalogues  last 
autumn  I  came  across  the  name  Tulipa  persica 
and  sent  for  bulbs  as  I  did  not  feel  to  know  it. 
Perhaps  other  folk  may  be  as  ignorant  as  I,  so  I 
will  say  for  their  benefit  what  a  pretty  little  starry 
flower  it  is.  Growing  in  bouquets  of  three  or 
four  flowers  like  TuUpa  saxatilis,  it  has  flowered 
in  the  grass  in  time  to  contrast  with  the  latest 
blooms  of  the  wild  Anemones  of  the  starry  or 
hortensis  type,  and  it  seems  so  thoroughly  at 
home  with  them  I  quite  expect  it  will  establish 
itself  as  T.  saxatilis  does  in  this  climate,  and 
would  be  equally  delightful  in  rock  gardens.  The 
fine  red  Gladiolus  sent  out  by  Van  Tubergen  as 
a  very  early- flowering  and  upright  variety  has 
also  been  much  admired  this  spring,  as  the  bulbs 
I  got  two  years  ago  are  earlier  the  second  year 
than  the  first.  There  are  so  many  beautiful 
bulbs  and  flowers  in  beauty  here  at  this  season 
that  one  can  hardly  say  it  is  indispensable,  but 
it  is  nevertheless  a  fine  addition  to  spring  flowers, 
and  is  good  for  table  decoration  just  before   the 


THE     GARDEN. 

Roses  arrive  in  quantity.  How  wonderful  these 
are  this  spring  on  this  coast  after  their  long  enforced 
rest  from  heat  and  drought  !  I  regret  to  say, 
however,  that  the  striking  climbing  Rose  Mermaid 
refuses  to  bloom  with  its  close  allies  Anemone  and 
Chinensis,  which  is  most  disappointing,  as  its 
clear  lemon  yellow  blooms  would  have  contrasted 
so  well  with  the  rose  and  the  pure  white  of  the 
two  older  varieties  now  in  the  height  of  their 
beauty.  The  flower-buds  of  Mermaid  are  only 
just  beginning  to  show  !  I  must  not  forget  to 
mention  the  great  beauty  of  the  hybrid  Daisy 
Miss  de  VVitte,  which  is  a  cross  between  Agathaea 
coelestis  and  Felicia  petiolata.  Partaking  happily 
of  the  climbing  power  of  Felicia  petiolata  and 
the  pretty  grey  blue  of  the  Agathea,  it  can  be  used 
not  only  to  make  cushions  of  flower  on  rockwork, 
but  can  be  trained  up  a  post  or  a  tree  trunk,  and 
the  astonishment  of  new-comers  to  this  coast 
when  they  see  a  climbing  Daisy  in  full  flower  at 
a  height  of  7ft.  or  8ft.  is  quite  an  amusement  to 
those  who  have  grown  it.  [Here  would  seem  to 
be  a  welcome  addition  to  greenhouse  climbers. — 
Ed.]  That  most  beautiful  evergreen  shrub 
Sophora  secundiflora  is  also  now  at  the  height  of 
its  beauty,  and  well  deserves  its  name  of  the 
evergreen  Wistaria.  It  is  a  great  pity  that  so 
lovely  a  shrub  is  so  slow  in  growth  when  young 
and  demands  a  hot,  dry  summer,  but  where  it 
succeeds  it  must  be  classed  among  the  most 
beautiful  of  evergreen  shrubs  This  coast  has  not 
really  suffered  from  the  comparative  cold  of  the 
month  of  April,  but  the  drought  is  serious,  as  there 
seems  httle  chance  of  abundant  rain  this  spring, 
and  the  outlook  is  not  pleasant  to  those  who 
garden. — E.  H.  Woodall,  Nice. 

AUBRIETIAS    FROM    SEED. 

JN  the  leading  article  "  Colour  in  the  Rock 
Garden  "  (April  22,  page  185)  mention  is 
made  that  "  to  select  the  best  varieties  of  Aubrietia 
deltoidea  is  not  easy."  For  some  few  years  I 
have  sown  a  packet  of  the  best  quality 
of  hybrid  Aubrietia  procurable.  So  far  the 
results  have  been  so  perfectly  satisfactory  that  a 
further  sowing  will  be  made  about  the  middle  of 
May.  I  simply  scatter  the  seed  upon  prepared 
ground  free  from  manure  just  as  one  does  any 
annual.  In  about  three  weeks,  if  the  seed  is 
fresh,  the  seedlings  will  make  their  appearance, 
and  in  a  very  short  time  will  be  ready  for  trans- 
planting. This  should  be  done  the  moment  the 
tiny  plants  are  large  enough  to  handle,  and  if 
possible  they  are  best  transferred  to  their  perma- 
nent quarters.  Under  no  circumstances  should 
the  seedlings  become  crowded,  the  object  being 
to  promote  rapid  and  vigorous  growth.  The 
plants  should  attain  full  flowering  size  in  twelve 
months'  time,  and  in  a  couple  of  years  form 
cascades  of  bloom.  The  mixed  colours  I  find  are 
very  varied  and  beautiful,  ranging  from  the 
palest  blue  to  deep  purple,  rose,  carmine  to  crimson. 
From  a  single  packet  of  seed  many  different 
habits  of  growth  may  be  expected.  Some  plants 
will  be  suitable  for  covering  large  spaces,  others 
of  a  close-growing  habit  that  takes  the  form  of 
the  rockwork.  I  have  one  plant  of  the  latter 
habit  that  is  the  first  to  flower  and  the  last  to 
succumb.  Another  important  point  in  the  raising 
of  Aubrietias  from  seed  is  the  great  vigour  of 
the  plants,  for  each  have  a  fresh  start  in  life, 
and  I  think  that  rock  plants  are  more  vigorous 
from  seed  than  when  raised  from  cuttings,  etc. 
We  have  many  other  plants  raised  from  seed 
just  by  scattering  :  Hybrid  Columbines,  Forget- 
me-not,  Aster  (alpine)  Centranthus,  Cheiranthus, 
Dianthus,  Geum,  Helianthemum,  hybrid  Heuchera 
and  others.  To  the  amateur  gardener  tied  for 
time  and  not  in  want  of  large  quantities  of  plants 
I   say,   try   the   raising  of   these  charming  plants 


[May  13,  1922. 

from  seed.  It  is  inexpensive  and  effectual.  From 
fresh  seed  the  period  of  germination  is  for  many 
kinds  only  twenty-eight  days  or  so.  Caution  ! 
do  not  try  any  of  the  Gentians  by  this  method  ! — 
J.  Parkinson,  Warrington. 

TWO     SPECIES    OF   LACHENALIA. 

jy/TANY  years  ago,  when  I  first  "  took  up " 
LachenaUas,  Sir  Frederick  Moore  made  the 
remark  that  the  different  varieties  seem  to  have 
their  years.  He  doubtless  intended  to  include 
species  in  his  generalisation,  but  whether  he  had 
them  in  mind  or  not,  experience  tells  me  that  not 
only  have  Siam,  Thibet  and  Mandalay — three 
splendid  yellow  hybrids  of  my  own  raising — their 
good  years,  but  that  with  species  it  is  the  same. 
Anyhow  my  pallidas  and  glaucinas  have  sur- 
passed themselves  this  spring,  and  if  the  heights 
given  in  Nicholson's  "  Dictionary "  are  correct, 
have  become  veritable  giants.  How  very  few 
seem  to  grow  LachenaUas  at  all !  Fewer  still 
seem  to  grow  any  species,  and  yet  in  the  two  I 
have  mentioned  we  have  two  of  the  sweetest 
flowers  that  minister  to  our  sense  of  smell.  They 
remind  me  so  forcibly  of  the  past — of  a  small 
conservatory  at  ray  old  home  wherein  pots  of  the 
yellow  Cytisus  had   a  prominent  place. 

These  have  given  me  a  sort  of  standard  of 
sweetness,  and  somehow  or  other  I  frequently 
find  myself  judging  in  a  rough  way  the  scent  of 
other  flowers  by  them.  Lachenalia  pallida,  to 
me,  smells  very  much  like  the  old  market  Cytisus, 
and  glaucina  is  not  far  off.  Glaucina  this  year  is 
I4ins.  high  and  pallida  about  gins.  Their  flowers 
are  arranged  in  spikes  in  the  same  way  as  in  the 
better-known  hybrids  {e.g.,  Nelsonii),  but  are 
either  sessile  or  nearly  so.  They  make  no  preten- 
sions to  great  beauty,  and  just  as  the  milkmaid's 
face  was  her  fortune  ("  My  face  is  my  fortune, 
sir,  she  said "),  so  with  them  "  Their  scent  is 
fortune,"  for  the  dull,  yellowy-looking  flowers 
of  glaucina  and  the  small  pale  purple  flowers  of 
palhda  are  but  poor  Cinderellas  compared  with 
the  more  conspicuous  ones  of  their  hybrid  rivals. 
I  fear  neither  the  one  nor  the  other  is  easy  to 
procure.  There  has  been  no  demand  for  them, 
so  but  few  dealers  grow  them.  Those  who  can 
appreciate  quiet  beauty  and  who  dehght  in  sweet 
smells  will,  however,  like  to  grow  them.  They 
can  be  grown  to  perfection  in  a  cool,  airv  house. — 
J-  J. 


EDITOR'S    TABLE 


SO.ME     BEAUTIFUL     NARCISSI. 

The  Editor  has  received  from  Messrs.  J.  R. 
Pearson  and  Sons  of  Lowdham  a  box  of  very 
beautiful  Daffodfls  cut  from  the  open  ground, 
including  a  blossom  of  the  huge  golden  trumpet 
Le  Printemps,  which  Messrs.  Pearson  state  had 
been  expanded  three  weeks.  Even  after  the 
journey  this  flower  was  still  in  fairly  good  con- 
dition, so  that  its  lasting  properties  are  beyond 
question.  All  the  sorts  sent  were  of  exceptional 
beauty,  but  two  which  especially  appealed  to  the 
Editor  were  Lowdham  Beauty,  a  magnificent 
and  substantial  white  Leedsii  which,  except  for 
the  rather  foreshortened  but  widely  expanded 
cup  might  be  taken  for  a  white  trumpet  variety, 
and  Norah  Pearson,  a  beautiful  bicolor  Daffodil 
with  a  substantial  but  incurving  perianth.  Other 
beautiful  sorts  were  the  Giant  Leedsii  Empire  ; 
Marshlight,  a  brilliantly  coloured  Barrii  with 
starry  perianth  and  scarlet  cup ;  the  excellent 
Incomparabilis  Pedestal,  with  flat,  creamy  perianth 
and  long,  widely  expanded  golden  cup      Scarletta, 


May 


1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


231 


a  medium-sized  Barrii  of  starry  appearance,  its 
perianth  cream  and  the  compact  cup  a  brilliant 
deep  orange ;  Sanctity  and  Vega,  both  white 
trumpets  of  moderate  size  ;    Waterwitch,   a  very 


coy  self  -  coloured  paper  -  white  Leedsii  ;  and 
Florence  Pearson,  a  svibstantial  trumpet  Daffodil 
with  soft  citron  yellow  trumpet  and  paper-white 
perianth. 


GARDENING    OF    THE    WEEK 


FOR    SOUTHERN    GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Runner  Beans. — Whether  a  small  early  sowing 
was  risked  or  not  as  advised  in  calendar  for  mid- 
April,  a  sowing  should  be  made  now  without 
delay.  It  is  a  good  practice  to  make  a  shallow 
trench  for  growing  this  crop,  varying  its  width 
to  accommodate  either  a  single  or  double  row  of 
plants,  whiche\'er  is  preferred.  A  rich  soil  must  be 
provided  for  this  vegetable,  and  the  plants,  when 
finally  established,  be  allowed  at  least  iff.  of  space 
from  each  other.  Plants  growing  in  boxes  or  pots 
must  be  carefully  hardened  off  before  they  are 
set  out. 

French  Beans. — Make  sure  of  a  good  succession 
by  making  another  sowing,  still  choosing  for 
preference  a  warm,  protected  position.  .-Vs  with 
the  Runner  Bean,  they  may  also  be  grown  in 
shallow  trenches,  in  which  position  much  cold 
wind  is  warded  off  and  protection  is  more  easily 
afforded  if  necessary. 

Broad  Beans. — Should  the  demand  necessitate 
a  further  sowing,  it  is  essential  that  the  site  chosen 
be  a  cool  one,  and  the  soil  fairly  strong  as  well  as 
rich. 

Early  Celery. — -As  soon  as  the  earliest  raised 
plants  are  large  enough  they  may  be  placed  in  their 
permanent  positions.  Whether  best  grown  in 
single,  double,  or  even  treble  rows  is  purely  a  matter 
of  opinion  and  convenience.  The  main  point  is 
to  make  sure  that  the  ground  has  been  well 
prepared  and  that  the  plants  are  well  watered 
in  and  further  copious  waterings  provided  during 
dry  weather. 

Later  Celery. — Plants  should  be  pricked  out 
as  required  and  kept  at  all  times  uniformly  moist. 
.A  further  pinch  of  seed  to  provide  late  plants  for 
use  next  .April  should  be  sown  now  in  a  few  inches 
of  light  soil  in  a  cold  frame. 

Maize. — W'here  the  cobs  of  this  vegetable  are 
appreciated  for  autumn  use  sow  the  seeds  now 
either  singly  in  small  pots  under  glass  to  plant 
out  later  or  directly  in  their  fruiting  quarters. 
The  lines  require  to  be  about  3ft.  apart  and  the 
plants  I4ins.  to  iSins.  from  each  other  in  the  rows. 
A  rich  soil  miist  be  pro\'ided  to  enable  the  cobs 
to  develop  to  their  fullest  capacity.  A  row  of  this 
vegetable  behind  an  edging  of  Parsley  gives  a 
border  a  much  neater  finish  than  many  vegetables. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Water  Lilies. — .As  a  general  rule,  varying  accord- 
ing to  the  season,  the  present  time  is  as  good  as 
any  for  the  planting,  or  it  may  be  replanting  after 
division  of  the  roots  of  these  pond  and  lake  beauties. 
There  is  an  article  on  this  subject  in  this  issue, 
page  223. 

Grass  Seed  recently  sown  and  now  germinated 
should  receive  several  good  rollings,  which  will 
prove  of  immense  advantage  to  the  young  plants. 
A  free  use  of  the  roller  is  also  good  for  those  parts 
of  the  grounds  allotted  tc  tennis,  croquet,  etc. 

Seeds  of  Sweet  Williams,  Wallflowers,  Canter- 
bury Bells  and  other  biennials  generally  associated 
with  spring  and  early  summer  display  should  be 
sown  now.  It  will  prove  of  benefit  probably  to 
sow  somewhat  thinly,  so  that  in  the  event  of  a 
rather  long  stay  in  their  seed  quarters  owing  to 
pressure  of  other  work,  the  young  plants  will  not 
become  too  weakly. 

Fruits  Under  Glass. 

Old  Vines. — The  key  to  success  in  the  manage- 
ment of  these  is  to  be  as  consistently  natural  in  the 
method  of  culture  as  possible.  It  is  a  mistake 
to  have  any  hard  and  fast  rules  laid  down  in  respect 
to  temperatures  and  stopping  similar  to  those 
often  adopted  with  Vines  in  full  vigour.  Fire  heat 
should  only  be  used  in  moderation,  and  the  plants 
should  be  allowed  to  swell  up  their  buds  practically 
unaided  by  artificial  heat.  If  the  two  greatest 
enemies  to  successful  Vine  culture  had  to  be  named, 
they  would  unquestionably  be  root  dryness  and 
overcropping,  and  it  pays  to  be  doubly  careful  to 
try  to  avoid  these  errors  of  management  in  dealing 
with  old  Vines.  While  disbudding  and  regulating 
of  the  shoots  are  equally  as  necessary  as  with 
younger  Vines,  it  will  be  found  of  benefit  if  a  some- 
what greater  freedom  of  leafage  be  allowed,  thus 


tending  to  keep  root  action  in  a  healthy  way,  without 
^vhich  no  one  can  grow  good  Grapes.  This  ample 
covering  with  leafage  is  particularly  applicable 
to  Vines  carrying  black  Grapes,  and  while  it  is  not 
advisable  to  allow  shoots  carrying  bunches  to  grow 
too  freely,  much  may  be  accomplished  towards 
providing  a  good  cover  by  encouraging  the  barren 
shoots  to  furnish  such. 

H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 
A!bi(ry  Park  Gardens,  Guildford. 


FOR    NORTHERN    GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Salads. — To  ensure  fresh  supplies  of  Mustard 
and  Cress  weekly  sowings  should  now  be  made. 
A  partly  shaded  portion  of  the  garden  suits  this 
delectable  salad  best  as  too  much  exposure  to  the 
sun  causes  toughness  in  the  leaf.  See  that  regular 
sowings  of  Radishes  are  also  made,  both  of  the 
Turnip-rooted  and  long-rooted  types.  Lettuce 
should  also  be  sown  in  quantity,  and  early  lots 
thinned  out  to  Sins,  apart.  Quantities  may  also 
be  transplanted  to  frames  that  are  now  cleared 
of  bedding  plants.  Sutton's  Favourite  and  Webb's 
Wonderful  are  splendid  sorts  for  general  use. 
London  White  and  Kingsholm  are  two  of  the  most 
useful  Cos  varieties. 

Cauliflowers. — Plant  out  for  succession  those 
that  have  been  raised  in  frames  for  this  purpose, 
allowing  2ft.  between  the  rows  for  the  stronger- 
growing  sorts. 

Kohl  Rabi. — Although  this  Turnip-rooted  Cab- 
bage is  not  much  grown  in  Northern  gardens,  yet  in 
certain  districts  it  finds  favour,  more  especially 
where  difficulty  is  found  in  growing  Turnips,  as 
the  roots  of  Kohl  Rabi  prove  a  useful  substitute. 
Sow  now  and  transplant  in  July  in  a  similar  manner 
to  Cabbage. 

Dwarf  Beans. — Risk  a  few  Unes  of  Canadian 
Wonder  or  Sutton's  E\ergreen  on  a  warm  and  sunny 
border  for  a  first  crop  in  the  open.  The  principal 
sowing  should  not  be  made  until  the  end  of  the 
month  or  the  first  week  in  June.  Sow  in  rows 
I  Sins,  apart  and  thin  freely  to  Sins,  in  the  row. 
Overcrowding  should  be  guarded  against  as  this 
hinders  the  full  development  of  the  plant,  with 
resultant  loss  of  crop. 

Peas. — .Attend  to  the  staking  of  early  Peas  and 
make  further  sowings  of  Maincrop  Marrowfats. 

Cucumbers  will  now  be  making  rapid  growth 
and  should  receive  frequent  attention.  Stop  the 
main  growths  and  thin  out  unnecessary  laterals, 
thus  allowing  more  sun  and  air  about  the  plants. 
Top-dress  where  required  and  feed  liberally,  both 
with  liquid  and  artificial  manure,  plants  that  are 
bearing  heavy  crops.     , 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Strawberries.— The  latest  batch  of  Strawberries 
for  forcing  may  now  be  transferred  from  the  cold 
frame  to  the  lorcing  house.  Syringe  the  plants 
freely  morning  and  afternoon  so  that  red  spider 
may  be  kept  in  check.  Do  not  allow  the  plants 
to  become  dry  at  the  roots  and  assist  with  suitable 
stimulants  batches  that  are  swelling  their  fruits. 

Peaches. — In  the  second  Peach  house  the  fruits 
will  now  be  stoning,  so  it  is  essential  that  too  high 
a  temperature  should  not  be  kept  up,  either  by  day 
or  night,  as  the  fruits  are  particularly  sensitive 
at  this  time.  Tie  in  the  necessary  growths  for 
keeping  the  trees  furnished.  Continue  to  disbud 
in  the  late  house,  and  thin  judiciously  before  the 
fruits  become  too  large. 

The  Flower  Garden. 
Herbaceous    Borders. — Many    plants    in    the 

hardy  border  will  now  require  staking  and  tying,rso 
should  be  attended  to  before  the  growths  fall  over. 
Tie  the  plants  in  as  natural  a  mamier  as  possible. 

Border  Carnations. — Scarify  the  soil  between 
the  plants  and  dust  the  surface  with  soot  or  lime, 
should  slugs  prove  troublesome. 

Border  Chrysanthemums. — These  should  now 
be  hardened  off  preparatory  to  planting  out. 
Lift  the  sashes  off  entirely  when  the  weather  is 
fine  and  keep  a  watchful  eye  on  young  plants 
that  may  be  affected  by  the  leaf-mining  maggot. 


Spray  with  .Abol   Insecticide  or  Quassia,   so   that 
this  pest  may  be  kept  in  check. 

Roses. — Look  over  the  Rose  beds  and  free  the 
plants  from  any  Briar  suckers  that  may  be  showing. 
Keep  the  hoe  going  so  that  the  surface  soil  may  be 
kept  open  and  clear  of  weeds. 

East  Lothian  Stocks  enjoy  a  lengthy  season 
of  growth  so,  provided  they  were  sown  early,  the 
plants  should  now  be  of  good  size  and  sufficiently 
hardened  off  to  allow  of  their  being  planted  out. 
This  plant  thrives  best  in  a  rich,  retentive  soil. 

Gladioli. — Named  varieties  which  have  been 
started  in  pots  should  now  be  planted  out.  If 
planting  in  the  mixed  border  and  the  natural 
soil  is  clayey  or  impoverished,  a  good  spadeful 
should  be  taken  out  and  some  specially  prepared 
material  given  to  each  clump. 

Hollyhocks. — Where  these  attractive  plants 
are  treated  as  biennials  they  should  now  be  trans- 
ferred from  the  nursery  border  to  their  flowering 
quarters.  To  obtain  the  finest  results  Hollyhocks 
should  be  given  generous  treatment.  Deep 
digging  and  liberal  manuring  is  essential,  so  that 
vigorous,  disease-resisting  plants  may  be  ensured. 
James  McGran 
(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.), 

Coodham.  Kilmarnock 


CONSERVATORY    ^VNT)    GREENTIOUSE. 

Eustoma  Russellianum. — This  beautiful  plant 
is  easily  raised  from  seed,  which  may  be  sown  at 
this  time,  but  its  subsequent  cultivation  is  by  no 
means  easy  ;  in  fact,  there  are  few  plants  that 
so  severely  test  the  skill  of  the  expert  cultivator, 
but  when  successfully  grown  and  flowered  it  is  well 
worth  all  the  trouble  one  can  take  with  it.  In 
common  with  many  plants  belonging  to  the 
Natural  Order  Gentianeae  there  seems  some  par- 
ticular difficulty  in  the  cultivation  of  this  plant ; 
this  probably  due  to  lack  of  other  plant  association! 
The  fine  seeds  should  be  sown  on  the  surface  and 
just  covered  with  a  dusting  of  sand.  The  compost 
should  have  a  little  peat  added  to  it.  Stand  the 
seed  pots  in  a  cool  house  and  cover  with  a  piece  of 
glass  until  they  germinate.  When  fit  to  handle 
prick  off  into  pans  of  light  soil,  and,  as  large  enough, 
pot  in  thumbs,  watering  carefully  at  all  times. 
The  chief  aim  the  first  season  should  be  to  secure 
a  nice  healthy  rosette  of  leaves  before  winter. 
Next  season  pot  on  as  they  require  it  until  thev  are 
in  their  flowering  pots,  which  may  be  5ins.  in  size  ; 
over-potting  should  be  avoided  at  all  times.  Cool- 
house  treatment  suits  them  during  aU  stages  of 
their  cultivation  ;  in  fact,  during  their  second 
year  they  may  be  grown  in  cold  frames. 

Chironia  linoides,  at  one  time  a  popular  plant 
in  gardens,  is  now  seldom  seen.  It  is  an  excellent 
and  beautiful  plant  for  the  cool  greenhouse, 
especially  so  as  it  flowers  during  August  and 
September,  always  a  difficult  time  in  the  con- 
servatory and  greenhouse.  The  plant  is  seen  at 
its  best  during  its  second  year,  and  plants  propa- 
gated last  year  should  now  be  ready  for  their 
flowering  pots,  which  should  be  jins.  or  6ins.  in 
size.  This  plant  does  best  in  a  hght,  rich  compost 
with  the  addition  of  a  httle  good  fibrous  peat, 
and  by  frequent  pinching  it  makes  neat,  bushv 
specimens.  Cuttings  root  readily  in  a  close  case 
in  a  cool  house  and  may  be  inserted  now  for  next 
year's  stock.  Other  good  species  are  C.  floribunda 
and  C.  baccifera,  the  latter  species  being  very 
ornamental  when  in  fruit,  the  small  red  berry-hke 
fruits  remaining  on  the  plants  for  a  long  time. 
The  flowers  of  all  the  species  mentioned  are  of  a 
pleasing  shade  of  reddish  pink. 

Crassula  falcata  is  another  useful  plant  for 
flowering  during  -August  and  September,  and  looks 
pretty  when  gro\iped  with  well-grown  plants  of  the 
variegated  .Abutilon  Savitzii.  The  successful 
cultivation  of  the  Crassula  presents  few  difficulties, 
but  it  is  essential  that  it  have  full  exposure  to  sun 
and  hght  at  all  times.  Other  species  of  Crassula 
that  have  for  many  years  been  favourite  garden 
plants  are  C.  coccinea,  with  sweet-scented,  scarlet 
blooms  ;  this  flowers  freely  in  small  pots,  but  can 
be  grown  on  into  large  specimens,  and  at  one  time 
was  commonly  grown  as  such.  C.  jasnunea  is  a 
small,  neat-growing  white-fiowermg  species,  at 
one  time  a  favourite  market  plant  in  the  London 
area  ;  hybrids  between  this  species  and  C.  coccinea 
are  still  grown  in  quantity  for  the  London  market. 
All  the  above  flower  during  the  summer  months, 
while  C.  lactea,  a  white-flowered  species,  flowers 
during  the  winter.  They  all  enjoy  free  drainage, 
and  old  mortar  rubble  and  broken  bricks  may  with 
advantage  be  added  to  the  potting  compost. 
They  all  root  readily,  if  kept  on  the  drv  side,  and 
fully  exposed  to  light  on  a  shelf  in  the  greenhouse, 
or  even  in  a  cold  frame. 


232 


THE     GARDEN. 


[May  13,  1922. 


Moschosma  riparium.— This  plant,  with  its 
elegant  feathery  spravs  of  small  white  flowers,  is 
very  beautiful  for  winter  flowering,  especially 
when  grown  in  the  country.  In  the  neighbourhood 
of  London  it  unfortunately  too  often  gets  spoiled 
by  fogs.  Cuttings  should  be  inserted  towards 
the  end  of  the  month,  or  even  the  beginning  of 
June,  as  it  is  a  quick-growing  plant  and  roots 
readily  in  a  close  case  with  slight  bottom  heat, 
It  grows  freely  in  ordinary  good  potting  compost, 
and  only  requires  an  ordinary  greenhouse  during 
the  growing  season. 

Coleus  thrysoideus  is  a  beautiful  winter-flower- 
ing species,  with  lovelv  blue  flowers,  and  has  the 
added  merit  of  remaining  in  flower  for  a  long  time. 
It  can  be  raised  from  seed,  which  it  produces 
freely  if  a  few  old  plants  are  kept  for  this  purpose, 
or  it  may  be  propagated  by  cuttings  about  the 
same  time  as  advised  for  the  Moschosma.  It  is 
not  however,  by  any  means  such  an  easy  plant 
to  cultivate  successfully,  for  although  a  strong- 
growing  plant,  it  requires  care  in  watering  at  all 
times.  If  propagated  towards  the  end  of  summer, 
and  the  small  plants  are  grown  on  next  year,  fine 
large  specimens  may  be  obtained  during  the 
autumn.  The  ends  of  strong  shoots  may  be  rooted 
singly  in  lin.  pots  if  placed  in  a  close  case  ; 
flowered  iri  the  same  sized  pots  they  are  very 
charming  for  indoor  decoration. 

J.    COUTTS, 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kcw. 


OBITUARY 

S.     T.     WRIGHT,     V.M.H. 

We  deeply  regret  to  record  the  death  of  Mr. 
S.  T.  Wright,  the  popular  superintendent  of  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Gardens  at  Wisley. 
Mr.  Wright  succeeded  Mr.  A.  F.  Barron  as  super- 
intendent of  the  R.H.S.  Gardens  at  Chiswick  in 
1895,  coming  from  Glewston  Court  Gardens, 
Ross-on-Wye,  where  he  had  grown  hardy  fruit 
and  exhibited  with  great  success  at  most  of  the 
large  horticultural  shows  throughout  the  country. 
In  1904  the  Society  moved  its  gardens  from 
Chiswick  to  Wisley,  and  Mr.  Wright  had  charge 
of  the  moving  arrangements.  Here  he  remained 
as  superintendent  until  his  death,  acting  also  as 
secretary  of  the  Fruit  Committee,  and  superin- 
tending the  arrangements  of  the  Temple,  Chelsea 
and  Holland  House  shows. 

Endowed  with  a  cheery  smile  and  genial  tempera- 
ment, he  wiU  be  greatly  missed,  not  only  by  his 
coUeagues  at  Wisley  and  Vincent  Square,  but  by 
the  exhibitors  and  Fellows  of  the  Society  with 
whom  he  came  in  contact.  Mr.  Wright,  who  was 
sixty-three  years  of  age,  leaves  a  widow  and 
several  children.  For  some  weeks  he  had  been 
ill,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  staying 
at'  Matlock,  whither  he  had  gone  in  the  hopes  of 
recuperating.  In  1920  Mr.  Wright  had  bestowed 
upon  him  the  Victoria  Medal  of  Honour  in  Horti- 
culture (V.M.H. ),  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Hortus  Lodge  of  Freemasons.  The  interment 
took  place  on  Tuesday,  the  3rd  inst.,  at  Ashbourne, 
Derbyshire.  There  was  a  memorial  service  at 
Wisley  on  the  same  day. 


Forthcoming  Trial  of  Salpiglossis.— The  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  will  carry  out  a  trial  of 
Salpiglossis  for  flowering  in  spring,  1923,  under 
glass,  at  their  gardens  at  Wisley.  Those  desiring 
to  send  varieties  for  trial  should  post  them  to  the 
Director  (from  whom  the  necessary  entry  forms 
can  be  obtained),  R.H.S.  Gardens,  Wisley,  Ripley, 
Surrey,  so  as  to  reach  him  by  May  31,  1922. 
K  A  New  Flower  Show  for  Lancashire.— It  is 
gratifying  to  note  that  the  Darwen  and  District 
Agricultural  Association,  which  was  founded  in 
1890,  has  decided  to  add  a  Horticultural  Section 
to  their  Annual  Show  this  year.  The  show  is 
to  be  held  on  Saturday,  June  3,  and  entries  close 
on  Wednesday,  May  24-  Copies  of  the  schedule 
may  be  obtained  from  the  Secretary,  Mr.  R. 
Leach,   26,   Railway  Road,   Darwen,   Lanes. 


The  Rhododendron  Show.^It  was  erroneously 
reported  in  our  last  issue  that  an  exhibit  was 
staged  at  the  above  Show  by  Mr.  Leopold  de 
Rothschild.  This  should  have  read  Mr.  Lionel  de 
Rothschild.  Mr.  Lionel  de  Rothschild  also  received 
an  award  of  merit  for  the  beautiful  new  Rhodo- 
dendron Aurora. 


pieces  the  olump  may  be  divided.  It  shoald.  however, 
be  possible  to  divide  such  a  large  plant  into  four  pieces. 
It  may  be  easier,  as  our  correspondent  intends  to  dividi- 
it.  to  lift  the  plant  in  sections.  Use  a  digging  fork  to  separati.' 
the  portions,  not  a  spade  as  this  would  cut  t)ie  roots. 
There  is  no  reason  whv  any  portion  should  die,  as  many  01 
the  roots  will  pu  11  out  from  under  the  wall  with  the  growths. 
NVatcr  liberallv  after  transplanting  and  particularly  if  the 
weather  is  at  all  dry  this  summer. 


ANSWERS 
TO  CORRESPONDENTS 


FLOWER     GARDEN. 

ANEMONE  FULGENS.  (Fclstcd).— Our  correspondent 
need  not  be  surprised  to  find  a  mixture  of  Anemones 
among  what  he  has  procured  undi  r  tlie  name  of  A.  fulgens. 
Tlic  latter  is  a  form  of  a  very  varialili-  species  placed  under 
the  oldest  name  of  A.  liort.  ii>is  described  by  Linnseus. 
At  least  five  of  the  forms  have  l„rn  dcscrib-d  by  different 
authors  as  species.  A.  ful-i m  lias  fairly  broad,  brilliant 
scarlet  or  vermilion  sepals,  \\illi  black  stamens  in  the 
centre.  .\  somewhat  similar  form  is  A.  Rccrtna.  with 
beautiful  red  sepals,  rounded  at  the  ends,  but  with  a 
yellow  zone  round  the  Hack  cintre.  A.  pavonina  has  very 
numerous,  sharply  pointed  sepals,  with  a  small  black 
centre  and  is  sometimis  named  A.  fulgcns  fiore  pleno. 
It  has  the  colour  of  A.  fulLnns.  but  the  sepals  are  too 
narrow  and  pointed  for  the  true  A.  fulgens.  The  form 
with  broad,  rounded  sepals  like  a  Poppy  would  be  the 
Poppy  \nemono  (A.  coronaria)  or  a  hybric  of  it,  for  it 
has  been  proved  that  the  two  hybridise  freely.  AU  these 
forms  grow  promiscuously  topcther  in  woods  and  meado\vs 
amon"  the  grass  and  are  liable  to  be  mixed  when  dug  up. 
They  "should  by  rights  be  cullivatcd  and  separated  before 
being  sold.  The  red  Aueiniues  of  the  Ri\iera  would 
be  the  same  as  the  above,  for  they  extend  all  round  the 
shores  of  the  Mediterranean,  from  France  to  Italy,  Greece 
and  Asia  Minor. 


THE     GREENHOUSE. 

TOMATOES  ATTACKED  (W.  A.  P.,  Fife).— The 
Tomatoes  are  attacked  by  the  fungus  Phytophthora 
cr'.'iitogea.  This  lives  in  the  soil  and  flourishes  especially 
when  the  soil  is  over-wet  and  th.c  weather  dull  and  close. 
Sterilisation  of  the  soil  is  the  best  preventive.  The 
t«ps  of  the  diseased  plants  may  be  rooted  as  cuttings 
and  grown  on  if  there  is  any  shortage  of  plants. 

CYCLAMEN  AND  CELANDINE  (Kent  Bee).— Tie- 
corms  of  Cyclamen  may  be  grown  and  flowered  succcs- 
fuUy  for  several  years.  This  depends  largely  on  tie' 
careful  treatment  of  the  plants  after  flowering,  ^\l■ 
have  seen  corms  ten,  twelve  and  even  flfteen  years  old 
carrv  fiftv  to  one  hundred  flowers.  With  age  both  flowers 
and  'leaves  are  not  so  large.  It  is  usually  a  question  of 
quantity  at  the  expense  of  quality.  The  eradication 
of  the  Celandine  from  beds  and  borders  permanently 
planted  with  bulbs  is  well  nigh  impossible.  The  onh 
thing  that  can  be  done,  short  of  lilting  the  bulbs  an.l 
fallowing  the  ground,  is  persistently  to  dig  it  out  with  a 
small  handfork  and  to  use  a  narrow  hoe  frequently  between 
the  growths  jf  the  bulbs  so  that  the  Celandine  has  no 
chance  to  produce  leaves. 


TREES     AND     SHRUBS. 

WISTARIA  ATTACKED.  (T.  N..  Bucks.).— The  Wistaria 
has  undoubteuly  been  attacked  by  birds,  possibly  bull- 
finches. This  and  other  plants  can  be  protected  by 
spraying  with  either  paraffin  emnkion  or  quassia  and  soft 
soap  on  a  drv  day  in  mid-winter. 

PRUNING  OF  HOLLY  HEDGE  (L.  G.  H.).— The  month 
of  May  when  new  growths  are  pushing  freely,  is  the  best 
time  to  cut  back  and  prune  a  Holly  hedge.  All  the  cuts 
or  wounds  larger  than  the  little  flnger  should  be  dressed  with 
Stockliolm  or  coal  tar,  using  a  small  paint  brush  for  the 
purpose  If  the  cuts  made  with  the  saw  arc  rough,  make  the 
surface  smooth  with  a  pruning  knife  before  applying  the 
tar  After  the  hard  pruning  of  a  hedge  it  is  generally 
considered  desirable  to  apply  a  mulch  of  old  decayed 
manure. 

MOVING  A  LARGE  NEW  ZEALAND  FLAX  (L.  G.  H.) 
—The  moving  and  division  of  the  large  plant  of  Phormium 
tenax  may  be  done  now.  Not  being  acquainted  with  the 
exact  form  of  growth  it  is  not  easy  to  say  into  how  many 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

CURRANT  BUSHES  ATTACKED  (W.  B.,  Hants).— 
Aphis  has  caused  the  blistering  of  the  leaves  and  spra>Tng 
with  paraffin  emulsion  will  be  wise,  taking  care  that  the 
spray  reaches  the  aphidesin  the  blister. 

DUCKS  AND  WATER  LILIES  (K.  H.  L.,  Durham).— 
We  have  not  kept  the  domestic  duck  with  Water  LiUes. 
but  have  had  wild  duck,  which  bred  on  a  lake  w  ith  a  good 
collection  of  Kvmphajas,  and  no  harm  has  accrued,  so 
we  should  have  no  fears  of  ordinary  ducks.  The  great 
enemy  of  Water  Lilies  is  the  water  rat,  which  will  often 
eat  tlie  root-stocks  in  early  spring. 

FLAGEOLETS.  (W.  S  G.,  Braintree).— The  Haricot 
Bean  is  a  variety  of  Phaseolus  vulgaris.  The  flageolet  of 
the  French  is  likewise  a  form  of  the  same  species.  Tlie 
following  arc  the  names  of  several  of  the  flageolets  recom- 
mended by  Vilmorin-Andrieux  ot  Cie.,  4,  Quai  de  la 
Migisscric,"  Paris : .  Flageolet  blanc,  with  long  pods, 
described  as  of  viaorous  gro-ivth  and  production;  f. 
Chevrier;  t.  Koi  des  verts;  f.  rouge;  t.  tr6s  hatif 
d'Etampes,  very  productive ;  f.  blanc  i.  longuo  cossr, 
described  as  the  most  vigorous  and  productive  of  the 
flaccolets.  PraeticaUy  any  French  Bean  gathered  at  tie' 
correct  time,  that  is  when  the  seeds  are  formed,  hut  before 
they  start  to  ripen,  arc  satisfactory  as  flageolets. 

NAMES  OF  PLANTS.— M.  A.,  Taunton.— 1  and 
Erica  arborea  ;  2,  E.  lusitanica  ;  3,  E  mediterranea  alba  ; 
4  E  mediterranea  ;  5  and  6,  Both  forms  of  E.  Veitchn  ; 
8  Primula  marginata ;  9,  Ornithogalum  nutans — — 
•■  Eex."— 1,  Viburnum  sp.  ;  2,  Lonicera  sp.  We  should 
like   better  specimens   and   more   information  as  to  the 

origin  of  these  two  plants. G.  L.   Alnwick.— Piptanthus 

nepalensis. 


Temporary 

Rooms, 
Marquees, 
and  Tents 

of  all 
descriptions 

for  hire, 

suitable  for 

Garden 

Parties, 

F&tes, 

Agricultural 

and 

Horticultural 

Shows, 

Balls, 

Officers' 

Camps, 

Messes,  &c. 


Camp 

Equipment 

Contractors 

to  the 

Principal 

Boys'   and 

Girls' 

Organisa-I^ 

tions.' 


I\  1  i:l;iiiii   111- 


TicMPORARV  Room,  40ft.  x  20ft.,  erected  for  Dinner  and  Dance. 


JOHN    SMITH     &    Co.    (London,  E.)    Ltd. 
44,   UPPER   EAST   SMITHFIELD,   LONDON,   E.l. 

TERMS  ON  APPLICATION.         Telegraphic  AJdre»  :  "OeJ/o/fon,  AU.  London."     Telephone  :  Aocnue  7650  (4  line,). 


THE 


1.' '  ^'e-.'VjK  Y  Of  tn< 


jLcLilti^al 
leer* 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


i>K  LXXXVI.— No.  2635. 

tered  as  Second-class  Matter  at  the  New  York,  N.Y.,  Post  Office. 


Saturday,  May  20,  1922 


REGISTERED     AT    THE     GENERAL 

POST    OFFICE    AS    A    NEWSPAPER 

AND     FOR     CANADIAN     MAGAZINE 

POST. 


Price  THREEPENCE 

Yearly  Subscription  ; 
Inland.    17/4;    Foreign,    17/4 


IRISES      IN      THE      BORDER. 

Irises  are  an  indispensable  addition  to  the  herbaceous 
border.  Here  they  should  be  planted  in  bold  groups  of 
a  dozen  or  so  of  one  or,  at  most,  two  sorts  in  a  group. 
Even  when  the  flowers  are  over  the  swords  of  green,  often  of 
grey-green,  serve  as  a  beautiful  foil  to  other  plants  in  bloom. 


BELGRAVIA 
Hotel-Restaurant 

(NEAR     VICTORIA    STATION.) 


Nearest  Large  Hotel  and  Restaurant  to  the  Chelsea  Flower  Show. 

Everyone  visiting  the  Show  should  take  either  Luncheon,  After- 
noon   Tea,    or    Dinner    in     the    beautiful     Parisian    Restaurant. 

LUNCHEONS 3s.  6d. 

AFTERNOON    TEAS. 

DINNERS 5s.,      7s.  6d. 

Grill  Room. 


UNDER  SAME  MANAGEMENT  AS  RENDEZVOUS  RESTAURANT.     SOHO 

Merryweather's    Hardy    Plants^ 

NOW   is   the  time    to  fill  all   vacancies  in  the   Hardy    Plant 
Border. 

We  offer  a  fine  selection  in  our  new  list,  just  published. 
All  plants  of  highest  quality. 
Please  send  for  a  copy. 


HENRY  MERRYWEATHER  &  SONS,  Ltd., 

THE    NURSERIES,    SOUTHWELL,    NOTTS. 

Barr's  Seeds  for  May  Sowing. 

Of  Finest   Strains  and  Tested  Growth 

FOR  THE  FLOWER  GARDEN  &  GREENHOUSE. 

Antirrhinums,  Aquilegias,  Campanulas,  Canterbury  Bells,  Calceolarias 
Cinerarias,  Delphiniums,  Forget  me- nots.  Hollyhocks,  Lupins,  Pansies 
Primulas,    Polyanthus,  Primroses,  Sweet  Williams,  Stocks,  Wallflowers,  etc. 

FOR   THE  VEGETABLE   GARDEN. 

Beans,    Beet,    Carrots,    Peas,    Spinach,    Lettuce,    Radish,    etc. 

Special    List   on    application, 

BADD         a,        SOIM^  '*'*•     ''^     <^     '■3.     KINO     STREET, 

^t^r\.T\.         OC       ^\Jl'^^9,      COVENT     GARDEN,     LONDON,     w!c.2. 

ORCH I DS 

of  vigorous   habit   and    superior  constitution.     A  visit  to  our  Establishment 

is    cordially    invited    to    Inspect    our     immense     and     interesting     STOCK 

RAISED     BY    THE 

PURE    CULTURE    SYSTEM 

Choice    Species,    Rare    Botanical    Specimens.     Albinos    in    warm    and    cool 
sections  also  a  speciality. 

Expert    Advice    given    and    all    Requisites    supplied     for    the    good    culture 

of   Orchids. 

haywards 

HEATH. 


GHARLESWORTH  &  CO., 


THE     GARDEN. 


[May  20,  1922. 


"THE    GARDEN"   CATALOGUE    GUIDE 


NOTICE  TO  OUR  READERS 


/^N   receipt   of   a    Post   Card   the   under- 
mentioned  firms   will    be    pleased    to 
send  their  useful  Catalogues  free  of  charge. 


Rose  Specialists 


ELISHA  J.  HICKS,  M.C.  N.R.S.,  etc. 

HURST,  BERKS 

The  Champion   Deoorativa  Rota   Crowar    of    England 


Fruit  Trees  and  Plants 


PERRY'S 

Hardy  Plant  Farms 

ENFIELD,  MIDDX. 


New  Alpines 
and  Perennials 

Complete 
Collection 


KELWAY  &  SON 
Retail  Plant  Department 
LANGPORT,  SOMERSET. 


Hardy  Plants 
Colour  Borders 
Gladioli 


HARDY     AZALEAS     AND     FLOWER  INQ     SHRUBS 

R.  &  G.  CUTHBERT  ^°''  P'a"t;"0  «"•' 

Conservatory 
SOUTHGATE  decoration. 


MIDDLESEX 
Established  1797 


Catalogue  of  our 
new  and  beautiful 
varieties  post 
free 


LAXTON  BROS. 

Nurseries 

BEDFORD 


Strawberries 

and 

Fruit  Trees 


W.  WELLS,  JuNR. 
Hardy  Plant  Nursery 
MERSTHAM,  SURREY 


Specialists   in 
Hardy  Plants 
and  Alpines 
Catalogues  free 


Seeds  and  Bulbs 


R.  H.  BATH,  Ltd. 
The  Floral  Farms 
WISBECH 


Home-Grown 
Bulbs  and 
Seeds 


RLACKMORE  &  LANGDON 
Twerton  Hill  Nursery 
BATH 


Begonias 
Delphiniums 
Qloxinias 
Cyclamen,  etc. 


DAWKINS 

408,  King's  Road 

CHELSEA,  S.W. 


Seed  Catalogue 
and  Special 
Bulb  Offer. 


TUBS     FOR     SHRUBS. 

■  WIRE  BOUND  patent,  over  100 
prizes.  R.H.S.  Medal,  1910.  No  warping  or 
shriniting.  In  Oalt,  Beech.  Teak.  &c.  Highly 
decorative. — Price  List  from  Pradal  &  Co., 
26.  Goodge  Street,  London,  W.I. 


STORING    VEGETABLES    AND     FRUITS  ; 


vith  chaptira  on  "  Drvina  In  the  Ovi<n  jnd  by  the  Kitclicn 
Klre  ■'  Ijy  11  uniucKT  Cowley.  9d.nct,  by  post,  lid.— Published 
at  the  Offices  of  ■•  COUNTKY  Life,"  Limited,  20,  Ta\i-tocl( 
Street,  Cov.'nt  Oarden,  W.C.2. 


Garden  Sundries 


C.  E.  WEST 
HiGHAM  Hill,  E.17 
Est.  1888 


West's  Patent  Garden  Sundries, 
„  „       Weeder, 

„  ,,       "  Celu"  Labels, 

Raffiatape  "  Westmaline.  " 

Insecticides.  Weed  Killers,  etc. 

Catalogue  and  free  samples. 


RICHARD  MELHUISH,  Ltd. 
50/51,  Fetter  Lane,  E.C.4. 
Branch  Depot  : 

143  HoLBORN  Bars 


Garden  Tools  ot 
all  kinds. 
Catalogue    "  B  " 
post  free. 


CORRY  &  CO.,  Ltd. 
Shad  Thames,  S.E.i  and 
Bedford  Chambers 
CovENT  Garden,  W.C.2 


Merchants  and 
Manufacturers 
of  Horticultural 
Sundries 
Fertilizers  and 
Inseotioldee,  etc. 


J.  BENTLEY,  Ltd. 
Barrow-on-Humber 
HULL 


Weed  Destroyers 
Law/n  Sand 
Inseotlcldes 
Shrubs,  eto. 


HY.  RICHARDSON  &  CO. 
Skeldergate  Bridge  Works, 
YORK. 


Lawn,  Qarden, 
Fruit  Trees   and 
Horticultural 
Fertilisers 


Landscape  Gardening 


W.  H.  GAZE  &  SONS,  Ltd. 
High  Street 
KINGSTON-ON-THAMES 


Landscape,  Rock 
and  Water  Qarden 
Model  Qardens 
Portsmouth    Road 
Surblton 


R.  WALLACE  &  CO.,  Ltd. 
The  Old  Gardens 
TUNBRIDGE  WELLS 


LandBoape  &  Garden 
ArohlteoU.  Queeo 
Alexandra's  Cup  for 
Bedt  Kook  and  Water 
Gvden,  Interoatkioal 


J.  CHEAL   &   SONS,  Ltd. 

Nurseries 

CRAWLEY 


Landscape 
Gardeners 
Trees  and 
Shrubs,  eto. 


Messrs.  T.  R.  HAYES  &  SONS 
Keswick  and  Ambleside 
ENGLISH  LAKES 


Landscape  &  Garden 
Architects 
Rock  and  Water 
Garden  Specialists 


MISS  EVELYN  FAWSSETT 

(Specialist  in  Garden  Planning) 

83,  High  Street 
LEWES,  SUSSEX 


New  Gardens  de 
signed.  Old  Gardens 
Re-arranged.  Plant- 
ing plans  tor  borders, 
etc.  Terms  on  appli- 
cation. 


Perpetual  Flowering  Carnations. 

We  have  for  prompt  delivery  a  special  lot  of  well  grown 
stuff— stopped  and  brealting — ready  for  5  or  6  incii  pots  or 
bedding  out ;  soon  make  good  bushy  plants.  12  plants,  our 
selection,  in  \2  fine  varieties  (named  and  described),  ex  pots, 
package  and  carriage  paid,  at  the  low  price  of  15/-  per  dozen. 
Ca«l]  with  order.    A  chance  to  start  a  good  collection  cheaply. 

YOUNG     &     CO.,     Specialists, 
3,      Hatherley.      CHELTENHAM.        Estd.    1890. 


Grand  Yorkshire  Flower  Show  and  Gala. 

14th,   ISth,  16th  JUNE,  1922. 


SPECIAL      EXHIBIT      OF      THE      ROYAL     GARDENS 
FROM       OLYMPIA. 

«^     f\f\f\     OFFERED    IN    PRIZES   for  Croups    of 

at   I  f\f\f^J     stove  and  Greenhouse    Plants.    Orchids. 

Carnations,  Begoni.is,  Sweet  Peas.  Roses.  Cut  Flowers,  etc. 

Gold  and  Silver  Medals  for  Trade  Exhibits. 

entries  close  7th  JUNE,  1922. 

For    Schedules    apply    to    Arthur    Anderson,    Secretary, 

44,  Coney  Street.  York.       Telegrams:'   Festival,  York." 


VERT'S 
HOLLYHOCKS 

Chater'8    Original    and     Unrivalled 
Gold    iVledal    Strain. 

Herbaceous     Borders     are     not    complete 
without   this  stately   subject. 

We  offer,  for  present  planting,  strong 
healthy  plants  to  provide  a  grand 
panorama  of  gorgeous  colour  ranging 
from  white  to  almost  black  during 
the     coming     Summer    and    Autumn. 

1   doz.  Double,  named  varieties,  for  27/- 
1   doz.        „  distinct  colours,       „      IS/. 

1   doz.         ,.         mixed  „  „     13/6 

Packing  and  Carriage  Free  /or  Cash. 


List  post  free  on  application, 

JAMES  VERT  &  SONS, 

SAFFRON     WALDEN,     ESSEX. 


CHARLES     TURNER'S 

CATALOGUE  OF 

DAHLIAS 

for  1922  is  now  ready,  and  can  be   had 
on  application. 


The    Royal  Nurseries, 

SLOUGH.. 


PERPETUAL    FLOWERING 

CARNATIONS 

For  the  Greenhouse  and  for  the  Border. 

Most    complete    descriptive    list   of  varieties  fn 
on  application. 

C.  ENGELMANN, 

Carnation   Grower, 
SAFFRON      NA^ALDEN 


The  "VILLA"  SPRAYER 


Patent  No.  161730. 


=_t_HE  VILLA. 


(Brass  Cylinder  17in.  long  X  iin.  diam.) 
The  cheapest  and  most  effective  sprayer  on  the  mavket> 

"The    'Villa"    Sprayer  is,   despite   the  low  price,  thoroughly 

effective  and  well  made Can  be  thoroughly  rtcom mended 

as  exceedingly  useful  and  wonderful  value  foi-  money."— THE 
Garden. 

"  It  should  be  a  very  useful  piece  of  apparatus  being  capable 
of  throwing  an  exceedingly  flue  spray  for  a  considerable 
instance.  .  .  .  It  is  a  sprayer  we  can  recommend." — GARDENING 
ILLU^T1*ATED. 

"  The  ■  Villa '  Sprayer  may  be  regarded  as  excellent  value.  .  .  . 
It  is  we  I  made  and  may  b^  recommended  particularly  fur  spray- 
ing roses  and  iruit  trees.'*— GAHDEN  WORK  FOR  AMATEURS. 

"It  is  certainly  the  cheapest  sprayer  that  has  so  far  come  under 
our  notice,  and  with  its  erticiency  we  have  no  fault  to  find 
whitevcr.    —THE   SMALLHOLDER. 


THE  TRADE  SUPPLIED.    For  Wholesale  terms  apply: 
G.   W.   JONES.   166.   Holdenhurst  Road,  Bournemouth. 


For  Mall  Orders  to  the  Patentee: 

C.  CHILDS,  30,  Gerald  Rd.,  Bournemouth 

Post  Free        -        S/- 


No.  2635.— Vol.  LXXXVI.] 


[May  20,  1922. 


THE     USES     OF      MATERIAL 

I.— RHODODENDRONS    AND    AZALEAS 

There  is  a  compelling  reason  in  the  uses  of  the  plant,  for  every  novelty  of  colour  or  form  :    and  our  art  saves~material  by 

more  skilful  arrangement.^' — Emerson. 


Introductory. 

THE  cultivation  of  plants,  trees  and 
shrubs,  keeping  them  in  health  and 
vigorous  growth,  the  production  of  fine, 
well  developed  specimens,  constitutes  the 
practice  of  gardening.  The  use  of  them 
in  associating  them  with  each  other  in  such  a 
way  that  each  assists  the 
other  in  forming  a  pleas- 
ing picture,  is  garden 
art.  The  production  of 
the  purest  pigments,  or 
the  finest  canvas  is 
manufacture;  the  appli- 
cation of  one  to  the 
other  is  art.  The  pro- 
duction of  the  finest 
specimen  of  plant  life  is 
merely  its  manufacture. 
It  is  just  a  process 
depending  upon  certain 
s  c  i  e  n  tific  knowledge, 
which,  if  properly 
appUed  will  inevitably 
produce  the  required 
results.  We  have  none 
too  much  of  this 
application  of  science  to 
cultivation  in  gardening. 
There  is  still  too  much 
"  rule  of  thumb "  in 
both  the  nursery  and 
private  establishment. 
Nevertheless,  science  in 
the  garden  is  much 
more  prevalent  than  art. 
The  reason  for  this  is 
that  scientific  knowledge 
can  be  acquired,  and 
being  applied,  leads  to 
the  discovery  of  new 
truths. 

Art  is  much  more  a 
matter  of  individuality. 
There  may  be  laws  and 
rules  of  composition 
both  of  coloiu'  and  form, 
but  their  apphcation 
varies  with  every  cir- 
cumstance. The  path 
of  science  is  a  direct 
one,  clearly  defined  and 
its     laws     are     positive 


and  absolute.  No  such  beaten  track  exists 
in  the  domain  of  artistic  endeavour,  in  the 
garden  or  anywhere  else  for  that  matter.  "  If 
designing  could  be  taught,  all  the  world  would 
learn  ;  as  all  the  world  reads — or  calculates,"  said 
Ruskin  in  discussing  "  Modern  Manufacture  and 
Design,"  and  it  can  be  applied  to  gardening  with 


A   FINE  PLANT   OF   RHODODENDRON  FALCONERI. 


equal  force.  Thus  applied  it  merely  points  the 
moral  that  the  best  cultivator  is  often  the  worst 
hand  at  producing  beautiful  effects  with  his 
material. 

And  yet  the  whole  aim  and  end  of  gardening 
should  be  to  create  such  pictures  that  give  a  sense 
of  satisfaction  and  pleasure,  even  to  those  who  are 
not  blessed  with  the  sense 
of  knowing  tvhy  they 
are  beautiful,  but  simply 
feel  that  they  are.  The 
object  of  these  notes  is 
to  indicate  broadly  how 
and  where  certain 
garden  materials  may  be 
used  to  the  best  advan- 
tage, in  a  sense,  pic- 
torially.  The  details 
must  be  left  to  the 
individual  and  this  is 
where  the  instinctive 
capacity  for  creative  art 
comes  into  play. 

It  might  be  assumed 
from  the  foregoing  that 
there  is  nothing  akin 
between  growing  plants 
M\&  using  them  success- 
fully. The  inference 
wrong.  The  truth  is 
that  though  the  paths 
to  success  are  different, 
they  are  parallel,  or 
indeed,  often  converge, 
and  travel  together. 
Both  are  absolutely 
dependent  for  their  suc- 
cesses on  the  adherence 
to  nature.  Of  W'hat 
avail  is  it  to  make  your 
garden  picture  o  f 
materials  that  will  not 
survive  the  conditions 
in  which  they  are 
placed  ?  What  is  the 
use  of  achieving  noble 
growth  in  a  position  in 
which  it  can  never  be 
appreciated  owing  to  the 
unsuitability  of  the  sur- 
roundings ?  The  only 
real  success  in  cultivation 
is     reached     by     the 


234 


THE     GARDEN. 


[May  20,  1922. 


discovery  of,  and  adherence  to  Nature's  laws.  That, 
in  garden  art  is  only  reached  by  the  selection, 
possibly  idealisation,  but  certainly  reproduction  of 
Nature's  own  effects. 

Nature's   Teaching. 

In  applying  these  principles  to  Rhododendrons 
and  Azaleas,  the  first  consideration  must  always  be 
the  soil  in  which  Nature  grows  them.  There  is 
an  erroneous  impression  abroad  that  this  is  uni- 
versally peaty.  And  yet  one  finds  R.  ponticum, 
the  stock  on  which  hundreds  of  thousands  of  the 
hybrid  varieties  are  grafted,  growing  under  all  sorts 
of  conditions  and  more  often  than  not  far  removed 
from  peat. 

Nevertheless  it  must  be  conceded  that  the 
whole  order  Ericacea;  does  appear  to  succeed  in 
peaty  soils  in  preference  to  others,  but  the  ver>' 
reason  for  this  indicates  w'hy  and  how  it  can  be 
grown  with  equal  success  in  others.  This  order 
has  almost  invariably  very  fine  fibrous  roots. 
Peat,  being  of  a  soft  open  nature,  permits  the 
freest  possible  root  action,  but  there  is  nothing  in 
its  chemical  constitution  that  makes  it  preferable 
except,  perhaps,  that  it  is  lime-free.  But  this 
indication  of  the  preference  of  Rhododendrons, 
Azaleas,  etc.,  for  peat  clearly  suggests  that  in 
choosing  the  spot  for  them  in  the  garden  it  should 
be  one  in  which  the  soil  is  open,  free  and  into 
which  the  innumerable  fibrous  roots  will  easily 
penetrate.  Failing  the  existence  of  this  the 
conditions  must  be  made  to  suit. 

The  obvious  places  in  which  to  find  the  required 
conditions  are  in  or  near  woodland,  where  the  leafy 
deposits  of  many  years  have  created  them.  Or 
by  stream  and  lake  where  rising  floods  and  the 
subsequent  recession  of  the  water  to  its  chaimel 


lea\'es  alluvial  deposits  of  a  gritty  and  open  nature. 
And  these  are  the  very  conditions  under  which 
very  many  of  the  species  are  found.  An  old  writer, 
in  describing  the  conditions  most  suited  to  Rhodo- 
dendrons of  certain  classes,  says  :  "  Cool,  loamy 
or  sandy  somewhat  moist  soils."  The  very  root 
conditions  that  make  them  desire  an  open  soil  also 
make  it  imperative  that  there  should  be  abundant 
moisture  within  reach.  One  other  condition 
desirable  for  success  with  many  varieties  is  pro- 
tection from  intense  light  and  heat  of  the  sun. 
Lightly  shaded  positions  suit  them  best.  Dense 
shade  is  fatal. 

The  garden  Rhododendrons  of  to-day  are  nearly 
as  involved  so  far  as  parentage  is  concerned  as  most 
other  garden  plants.  This  inevitably  happens 
whene\er  there  is  a  tendency  to  multiply  varieties 
by  hybridising.  But  there  is  one  point  that  most 
of  the  original  species  have  in  common,  and  that 
is  that  they  are  found  growing  in  near  association 
with  a  liberal  supply  of  moisture.  This  applies 
to  such  species  as  catawbiense,  ponticum,  cauca- 
sicum,  and  others,  on  which  the  foundations  of  the 
present  marvellous  collection  of  garden  varieties 
were  well  and  truly  laid  about  a  hundred  years 
ago.  At  that  time,  Russell,  Loddiges,  Smith, 
Makoy  and  Waterer  were  the  familiar  names  in  the 
Rhododendron  world. 

So  much  for  the  indications  of  where  and  how 
they  will  grow,  which,  incomplete  as  it  is,  will 
serve  for  the  present  purpose,  as  it  is  merely  a 
recounting  of  certain  conditions  that  must  be 
respected. 

Rhododendrons. 

Here  is  the  first  picture.  Wooded,  shadow- 
chequered    lawns    sweep  down  from  the  house  to 


the  riverside.  The  slope  being  to  the  north-west 
the  shadows  have  for  the  major  portion  of  the  day 
been  cast  towards  the  water  side.  Now  it  is  evening 
and  as.  the  sun  is  low  every  ripple  scintillates  a 
sparkling  gem.  Just  at  the  fringe  of  the  lawn  rises  a 
glowing  mass  of  Rhododendrons.  Twenty-five 
feet  high  it  lifts  its  utmost  branches,  and  fifty  or 
more  it  spreads  itself  right  to  the  edge  of  the  water, 
and  beyond.  Sheer  to  the  water  level,  it  drops  a 
crimson  curtain,  its  lower  branches  dipping  in 
the  lightly  stirring  wind  to  touch  the  surface,  and 
cause  outward  circling  ripples,  dyed  with  the 
reflected  colour  of  overhanging  flower  to  a  crimson 
wash. 

Away  to  the  right  a  smaller  group,  this  time  01 
pink  with  which  mingles  a  few  flowers  of  white, 
repeat  the  note,  but  in  a  different  colour.  Between 
the  two  the  swards  run  clear  to  the  water's  edge, 
where,  although  it  is  yet  early  days,  the  young 
growths  of  reeds  and  rushes  just  fringe  the  line 
where  land  and  water  meet.  Mingled  together 
the  pink  and  crimson  would  strike  an  inharmonious 
colour  note,  divided  thus,  each  tells  its  own  story 
in  its  own  language  of  colour.  Away  beyond  again 
are  scattered  masses,  some  small,  some  larger, 
but  all  alike  creeping  outwards  to  the  setting  sun 
and  the  water.  As  though  jealous  lest  their 
magnificence  should  be  wasted,  they  insist  on 
casting  a  reflected  glow  around  them. 

Rhododendrons  are  never  so  beautiful  as  w'hen 
they  overhang  broad  sheets  of  water,  be  it  river, 
lake  or  pond,  but  they  are  strong.  So  strong, 
indeed,  that  in  certain  lights  they  are  incUned  to 
give  a  sense  of  massiveness  that  is  liable  to  detract 
from  their  beauty  if  unrelieved.  Any  considerable 
stretch  of  planting  should  therefore  be  broken  by 


SPECIiVlEN   (UNGROUPED)   RHODODENDRONS    BY   THE  WATERSIDE. 


May  20,  1922.] 

erect  growing  trees,  such  as  Alnus,  Taxodium 
distichum  or  even  the  erect  growing  Willows. 
The  whole  art  of  using  material  consists  in  grouping 
contours  as  well  as  colour,  and  the  rounded  outlines 
of  Rhododendron  clumps  cry  out  for  the  associa- 
tion of  vertical  lines.  A  wall  of  Rhododendrons  may 
be  striking,  but  it  is  not  beautiful.  Broken, 
scattered  masses,  interspersed  with  some  such 
trees  as  above,  or  for  a  change  a  golden  shower, 
in  the  form  of  Salix  vitellina  aurea  pendula,  will 
lose  nothing  in  the  way  of  colour  effect,  but  gain 
infinitely  in  satisfying  that  sense  of  composition 
without  which  no  picture  is  good. 

The  second  picture  is  of  a  long  woodland  vista. 
■Giant  trees  enclose  the  vision  and  direct  the  eye 
to  the  distant  landscape.  Towering  Cedars  rise 
black  against  the  sky  and  many  gnarled  and 
twisted  branches  of  Oaks  cut  silhouettes  against 
the  light  behind,  while  their  leafy  tops  form 
shadow  mysteries  around.  The  vista  was  cut 
through  dense  woodland,  and  here  and  there  a  single 
tree  has  been  left  standing,  as  though  a  forest 
tide  had  receded  and  left  a  giant  seaweed  stranded. 

All  along  the  fringe  of  woodland  are  gorgeous 
masses  of  carmine,  crimson,  pink,  scarlet,  purple, 
in  ever-varying  shades  of  colour,  for  it  is  Rhodo- 
dendron time,  and  this  is  the  place  in  which  they 
love  to  grow.  Years  of  falling  leaves  had  left  a 
deposit  of  humus  on  the  ground,  which  when  the 
clearing  was  made,  became  thoroughly  incorporated 
■with  the  loamy  soil  beneath.  To  assist  root  action  a 
•quantity  of  sandy  gravel  was  mixed  in  the  areas 
to  be  planted. 

The  groups  have  been  so  arranged  that  every 
advantage  has  been  taken  of  the  positions  of  trees, 
light  and  shade  studied  in  the  places  allotted  to 
the  various  colours,  even  the  colour  of  the  tree 
trunks  behind  has  been  considered  in  association 
■with  the  placing  of  colour  in  front.  Sometimes 
there  is  a  little  break  in  the  continuity  of  the 
planting  scheme,  and  the  warm  glow  of  Azaleas 
takes  up  the  theme,  but  these  are  rarely  used 
closely  in  association  with  Rhododendrons,  because 
the  strong  orange,  flame  and  yellow  shades  of 
Azaleas  mar  the  deeper  tones  of  Rhododendrons. 

Such  a  place  is  just  where  Rhododendrons  love 
to  grow,  and  give  of  their  best,  because  they  are 
happy. 

AZ.\LE.*S. 

There  is  yet  a  third  picture  ;  again  of  woodland, 
but  this  time  of  paths  winding  among  the  trees, 
through  gently  undulating  ways.  Sometimes  these 
paths  pass  through  dense  overhanging  leafage, 
where  even  in  these  early  days  of  the  summer 
their  shade  is  pleasantly  cool.  As  a  bend  in  the  path 
is  reached  the  eye  is  caught  by  a  distant  gleam  of 
brighter  light,  and  a  second  later  a  perfect  riot  of 
colour  breaks  on  the  view.  Orange,  crimson,  scarlet, 
j-ellow,  intense  flame  and  indeed,  every  shade  from 
pure  white  to  the  deepest  crimson  and  purest  gold. 
This  is  in  a  clearing  in  the  woodland  itself,  and  is 
filled  with  bold  plantings  of  Azaleas  moUis,  Ghent, 
rustica,  occidentalis,  and  all  the  glorious  hybrids 
that  enrich  the  garden  to-day. 

The  very  shadows  through  which  we  pass  to 
reach  these  open  spaces,  filled  ■with  intense  colour, 
serve  but  to  emphasize  and  intensify  the  gorgeous- 
■ness  of  the  effect.  As  the  eye  travels  along  among 
the  brown  tree  trunks,  blue  and  purple  shadows 
and  all  the  cool  tones  such  conditions  suggest,  the 
•distant  colour,  strikes  a  note  that  is  something  more 
than  floral,  and  one  thinks  of  the  garden  of  the 
Hesperides,  or  some  jewelled  cave  of  the  Arabian 
Nights.  If  the  woodland  were  large  enough  there 
■would  be  many  such  paths  and  many  such  termina- 
tions to  them.  How  much  more  beautiful  the 
plants  themselves  are  when  grown  in  such  conditions 
can  be  imagined.  How  poor  the  formal  shaped  bed 
in  a  trim  lawn,  filled  with  even  the  best  of  the  same 
■shrubs  appears  in  contrast  !  G.  Dillistone. 


THE     GARDEN. 


235 


THE  ARRANGEMENT  OF  MAY-FLOWERING  TULIPS 

Changes  in  Taste— Modern  Arrangements— Tulips  by  Themselves— Tulips 
in  Combination  with  other  Flowers. 


NOT  only  does  the  present  generation 
evince  a  new  taste  in  the  type  of  Tulip 
that  it  grows  in  its  gardens,  for 
corresponding  to  this  its  ideas  about 
their  arrangement  in  gardens  are  as 
different  as  they  well  can  be.  Once  upon  a  time 
the    Tulip-bed    was    the    primary    concern   of    all 


In  these  notes  we  are  concerned  with  the  May- 
flowering  varieties  only.  The  magnificence  and 
lordly  bearing  of  the  Cottages  and  Darwins  have 
quite  taken  the  shine  out  of  the  older  "  earlies," 
which  once  upon  a  time  were  so  popular  for  bedding 
but  which  have  gradually  dropped  out  of  favour. 
The  new-comers  may  conveniently  be  considered 


AT    ALDENHAM    HOUSE. 


who  fancied  this  flower.  The  position  of  the 
varieties  in  it  was  a  matter  of  the  greatest  concern. 
The  earliest  plan  of  how  the  bulbs  were  to  be 
planted  is  to  be  found  in  Samuel  Gilbert's  "  Florists' 
Vade-mecum  "  (1682),  where  on  page  77  he  gives 
a  detailed  plan  with  names  of  how  they  should  be 
set.  Practically  the  same  plan,  as  far  as  I  can 
make  out,  was  adopted  by  growers  until  some- 
where about  the  middle  of  last  century,  when 
Groom  of  Walworth  and  other  famous  growers 
had  their  beds  all  carefully  arranged  so  that  the 
tallest  plants  were  always  in  the  centre  row, 
and  the  roses,  bybloemens  and  bizarres  all  care- 
fully placed  in  order  that  they  could  be  seen  to 
the  best  advantage  individually  and  as  a  whole. 
In  Gilbert's  time  there  were,  probably,  generally 
five  rows  in  a  bed.  In  Groom's  day  there  were 
seven,  and  all  the  chief  amateurs  and  traders 
erected  Tulip  houses  for  the  protection  of  the 
blooms.  There  is  a  good  picture  of  one  in  the 
Gardener  and  Practical  Florist  for  1843  on  page  205, 
with  details  of  its  construction  and  dimensions. 
This  is  not  the  way  we  treat  Tulips  nowadays. 
Only  a  few  of  the  old  brigade,  like  Mr.  Bentley, 
Mr.  C.  W.  Needham  and  Sir  A.  D.  Hall,  have 
coverings  for  their  flowers,  but  they  are  poor 
things  compared  with  the  sumptuous  "  houses  " 
of  the  fanciers  who  lived  in  the  early  half  of  last 
century.  Enough  of  these  ruminations  of  the 
past.  As  the  Cheshure  proverb  says,  "  I  must 
love  you  and  leave  you."  Practical  politics 
are  what  is  required.  Allowed  that  the  object  of 
acquiring  Tulips  is  garden  decoration,  what  can 
be  said  to  further  this  end  ? 


in  two  ways  ;  that  is,  when  Tulips  are  used  by 
themselves,  and  when  they  are  used  in  combination 
with  other  plants. 

(a)  Tulips  by  Themselves.  Under  this  head 
first  of  all  we  have  clumps  in  borders.  An  impor- 
tant point  with  these  tall  plants  is  the  question 
of  background.  Why  do  Tulips  in  Mr.  A's  garden 
look  so  much  better  than  in  Mr.  B's  ?  It  very 
likely  is  because  they  have  something  dark  behind 
them  which  sets  them  off.  No  one  grows  hedges 
or  builds  walls  and  clothes  them  with  verdure 
simply  for  the  sake  of  Tuhps,  but  all  the  same 
such  things  may  be  a  mighty  help.  In  what 
Bacon  would  have  called  prince-like  gardens, 
whose  dimensions  are  reckoned  in  acres,  as,  for 
example,  that  of  Duffryn,  near  Cardiff,  we  may 
have  different  compartments  all  hedged  round. 
One  of  these  would  make  an  ideal  Tulip  garden 
because  the  green  surrounds  are  such  a  good  foil 
to  the  coloured  flowers.  It  is  the  same  principle, 
whether  it  is  a  whole  garden  or  a  single  clump. 
The  setting  should  be  considered.  I  once  visited 
an  old  castle  near  Hythe.  It  had  an  immense 
courtyard  surrounded  on  all  sides  with  soft  grey 
stone  walls  with  narrow  borders  at  their  base. 
I  thought  how  lovely  great  masses  of  Pride  of 
Haarlem  would  look  against  them.  So  it  need 
not  always  be  a  green  background.  The  mellow 
red  of  the  high  waUs  of  the  large  Rose  garden  at 
Balls  Park  would  be  the  very  thing  for  OUphant, 
or  Duchess  von  Hohenberg,  or  Erguste.  Any 
grey-toned  hlac  or  mauve  might  be  used  and, 
the  result  would  be  pleasing.  Again,  as  to  the 
size  of  the  clumps,  we  must,  of  course,  cut  our 


236 


THE     GARDEN. 


[May  20,  1922. 


coat  according  to  our  cloth,  that  is  to  say,  according 
to  the  size  of  the  border  and  the  depth  of  our 
pockets,  but  give  me  as  large  clumps  as  possible. 
I  would  rather  have  a  few  good-sized  ones  than 
a  multitude  of  smaller  ones.  Six  is  my  minimum 
number.  For  the  maximum  it  is  the  algebraical 
sign  "  n  "■ — ten,  twelve  or  even  more.  A  still 
further  consideration  about  clumps  is  the  har- 
monious blending  of  one  with  the  other.     Philip 


{b)  Tulips  with  other  Plants. — This  way  of 
planting  Tulips  is  very  popular,  although  it  is 
not  economical,  involving  as  it  does  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  carpeting  plants  or  their  removal 
to  a  nursery  bed  till  they  are  wanted  again.  Some 
plants,  it  is  true,  which  can  be  raised  from  seed 
every  year  may  be  thrown  away  without  their 
loss  being  felt,  as  a  fresh  batch  of  seedlings  will 
be   coming   on.     Wallflowers   and   Forget-me-nots 


MAY-FLOWERING    TULIPS    ARRANGED    WITH    THE    VIVID    ORANGE    CHEIRANTHUS 

ALLIONII. 


Henry,  the  father  of  Matthew  Henry  the  com- 
mentator, used  to  live  within  a  stone's  throw  of 
my  house.  He  built  a  garden  wall  which  still 
stands.  He  kept  a  diary.  At  the  end  of  one  day 
he  wrote  "  Thank  God,  no  bad  language  heard 
to-day."  Tuhps  are  like  workmen.  When  ill- 
assorted  they  have  been  known  to  swear,  but 
whether  it  is  at  one  another  or  whether  it  is  really 
at  their  planter  I  hardly  know.  At  any  rate,  let 
us  try  to  avoid  recriminations  by  considering 
before  we  plant  or,  better  still,  before  we  order 
the  bulbs  what  will  go  together.  An  almost 
indispensable  help  is  the  R.H.S.  "  Report  of  the 
Tulip  Nomenclature  Committee,  1914-15."  Every 
variety  is  pigeon-holed,  and  so  if  it  is  consulted 
it  is  comparatively  easy  to  avoid  pitfalls.  Tulips 
look  very  well  in  large  beds  on  lawns.  In  such 
positions  suitable  mixtures  are  very  effective. 
They  may  vary  from  a  simple  combination  of 
two  varieties,  such  as  the  tall  dark  MoraUs  (Darwin) 
with  the  dwarfer  soft  pink  Sir  Harry  (Cottage) 
or,  say,  the  rosy  Edniee  (Darwin)  and  the  pale 
pink  Suzon  (Darwin),  to  a  compound  mixture 
made  up  of  different  shades  of  mauve  and  pink 
with  just  a  few  brighter  colours  to  set  them  off. 
These  are  examples  of  how  beds  of  Tulips  may 
be  treated  if  anything  but  one  variety  is  wanted. 
It  will  be  noted  that  in  the  combinations  of  two 
the  varieties  are  of  different  heights.  This  varia- 
tion tends  to  take  away  the  stiff  look  that  a 
strict  imiformity  almost  invariably  gives.  In 
order  to  get  at  the  heights  and  the  times  of 
flowering  of  the  various  Tuhps  the  R.H.S.  TuUp 
book  which  I  have  already  referred  to  will  be  an 
invaluable  help,  as  it  gives  for  each  the  informa- 
tion required. 


are  cases  in  point.  If  the  first  named  are  sown 
in  June  and  the  last  named  in  early  August,  the 
resulting  plants  should  be  about  right  for  planting 
in  October  along  with  the  Tulips  in  their  flowering 
quarters,  .attention  to  the  time  of  sowing  and 
to  the  time  of  taking  cuttings  of  such  things 
as  Aubrietias,  which  should  be  taken  about  mid- 
July,  is  important,  and  must  be  studied  if  the 
best  results  are  to  be  had.  What  are  the  plants 
most  suitable  for  combining  with  Tulips  ?  Wall- 
flowers in  variety,  Aubrietias  in  variety.  Indigo 
Queen  Myosotis,  White  Arabis,  Polyanthuses  in 
variety  (but  only  with  the  earliest  of  the  May- 
flowerers),  Cerastium  tomentosum,  early-flowering 
Violas  and  probably  some  of  the  graciUs  hybrids, 
Cheiranthus  Allionii  (if  sown  in  good  time), 
Centaurea  Clementei  (grey  foliage)  in  warm  well 
drained  gardens  in  the  South,  MoHnia  coerulea 
variegata  and  Arrhenatherum  bulbosum  varie- 
gatum  (two  pretty  variegated  Grasses),  and 
SciUa  hispanica  (blue,  white  and  pink).  The 
above  list  includes  most  of  the  more  ordinary 
ones  which  may  be  used  in  bedding  arrangements. 
Need  I  again  say  that  it  is  very  important  to  have 
pleasing  combinations  of  colour — some  will  like 
harmonies  and  some  contrasts.  It  is  a  matter 
almost  entirely  of  individual  taste.  The  following 
suggestions  wiU,  I  hope,  serve  to  put  readers  on 
the  right  track:  (i)  Tulip  Euterpe  (heliotrope) 
with  pink  Scilla  campanulata  (Spanish  Squills) 
underneath.  (2)  Tulip  Palissa  (deep  ruby  red) 
with  the  orange  Cheiranthus  Allionii.  I  had 
this  strildng  combination  in  my  garden  last  year. 

(3)  Tulip  Moralis  (violet  purple)  with  a  grey- 
leaved   carpet   plant   hke   Cerastium   tomentosum. 

(4)  Tulip  Erguste  (grey  mauve)  with  a  pale  Aubrietia 


like  Lavender.  (5)  Tulip  Gesneriana  major  (rich 
glowing  crimson)  with  a  groundwork  of  Arabis 
(white).  (6)  Tulip  Avis  Kennicott  (rich  yellow) 
mixed  with  such  a  Wallflower  as  Blood  Red 
(deep  red).  (7)  TuUp  Golden  Bronze  (golden 
brown)  with  a  good  strain  of  orange  Polyan- 
thuses. In  this  combination  there  is  some  risk 
in  case  the  Polyanthuses  are  past  their  best  when 
the  Tulip  flowers,  but  it  is  so  striking  and  out  of 
the  ordinary  that  it  is  worth  trying.  (8)  Tulip 
William  Pitt  (deep  red)  with  one  of  the  variegated 
leaved  Grasses  mentioned  above.  (9)  Tulip  AUard 
Pierson  (crimson  maroon)  rising  from  a  bed  of 
Indigo  Queen  Forget-me-not  (deep  blue).  (10) 
Tulip  Oliphant  (silvery  grey)  with  blue  Scilla 
hispanica.  (11)  A  late  Tuhp  Hke  Inglescombe 
Yellow  planted  alternately  with  a  Daffodil  like 
Sir  Watkin  (yellow).  Such  a  bed  gives  two  distinct 
shows  and,  if  the  flower-stalks  of  the  Daffodil 
employed  are  removed  after  the  flowers  are  over, 
there  will  be  no  eyesores  when  the  Tulip  is  in 
bloom.  (12)  Beds  of  Roses  may  be  thinly  planted 
with  cheap  late  Tulips,  which  can  be  cut  off  at 
the  ground-level  when  their  foliage  begins  to 
interfere  with  the  new  Rose  shoots.  If  the  bulbs 
can  be  taken  up,  so  much  the  better. 

The  combinations  that  may  be  made  are  end- 
less ;  but  if  they  are  to  be  a  success  a  little  thought 
is  necessary  lest  we  get,  instead  of  pleasure  when 
we  see  our  arrangement  bloom,  the  colour  equiva- 
lent of  a  round  peg  in  a  square  hole. 

Joseph  Jacob. 


PRESENT-DAY 
DAHLIAS 

II.— THE     DOUBLE-FLOWERED 
VARIETIES. 

The  Cactus  Type. 

A    FTER    the    introduction    of    Jaurezii,   the 
/%       Cactus    Dahlias    soon    developed    into 

/    %     some     unique     forms     of    light,     loose, 
/~^^  artistic   flowers  with   the   most  delicate 
'  *  colouring.     The    tendency    with    regard 

to  this  class  was  for  some  years  to  produce  flowers 
of  a  large  size,  so  large,  indeed,  that  the  weak 
stems  could  not  support  the  heavy  blooms,  which, 
were  allowed  to  hang  their  heads  among  the  foliage 
and,  although  grand  when  supported  artificially 
on  the  exhibition  table,  were  of  little  use  for 
garden  decoration.  On  the  other  hand,  some 
raisers  have  been  keepuig  steadily  in  view  the 
greater  value  of  this  class  with  flowers  of  a  more 
moderate  size,  produced  in  greater  profusion  on 
stiff  stems  with  flowers  thus  carried  well  above  the 
foUage.  These  varieties  include  Biubank,  Edith 
Carter,  Empire,  Mary  Purrier,  Mrs.  C.  Foster, 
Mrs.  F.  Paton,  Mrs.  Landale,  Richard  Box,  Rose 
Queen  and  White  Ensign. 

The  Miniature  Cactus. 

This  is  a  class  exactly  corresponding  to  the 
larger  Cactus,  only  that  the  plants  are  dwarf 
and  the  flowers  small  and  borne  on  stiff  stems, 
thus  rendering  them  valuable  for  garden  decora- 
tion and  for  cutting.  They  include  Firefly, 
Gracie,  Little  Fred,  Modesty,  Molly,  Niobe,  Nord, 
The  Bride  and  W.  Marshall. 

Large  Decorative  Dahlias. 

Many  intermediate  forms  kno\vn  as  Decorative 
have  been  steadily  developed.  Although  double 
in  form,  they  are  much  looser  and  lighter  than 
the  old  Show  Dahlia.  The  florets  are  flatter  and 
not  so  evenly  quilled  with  still  a  considerable 
number  of  florets  closed  round  the  centre.  They 
are   thus  not  so  heavy  and   formal  as   the  Show 


May  20,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


237 


sorts,  and  the  flowers  are  carried  well  up  on  stiff 
stems.  A  few  of  the  first  varieties  raised  were 
Constance,  Cochineal  and  Picta  Formosissima. 
These  have  all  now  been  discarded  for  the  better 
varieties  as  foUows  :  Apricot,  DeUce,  Papa  Charmet, 
Pearl,  Porthos,  Qvieeu  Mary  and  Yellow  King. 

Camellia-Flowered  Dahlias. 
A  great  trial  of  Dahlias  was  carried  on  at  Wisley 
last  summer  jointly  between  the  National  Dahlia 
Society  and  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  for 
the  purpose  of  testing  and  comparing  the  many 
new  varieties  and  of  ascertaining  their  usefulness 
for  garden  decoration.  A  Conference  was  held 
in  connexion  with  it,  when  some  alterations  were 
made  in  the  classification  of  the  types.  One  of 
the  changes  made  was  in  the  Decorative  class. 
There  was  so  much  variation  in  size  in  this  class 
that  it  was  decided  to  divide  it  into  Large  Decora- 
tive and  Small  or  Camellia-flowered  Decorative. 
Many  of  the  latter  are  so  close  growing  and 
floriferous    that   they   are   exceedingly   useful   for 


massing  in  large  beds.  Some  of  the  best  varieties 
are  as  foUows :  Crimson  Flag,  Barlow's  Bedder, 
Cheal's  White  and  Reginald  Cory. 

Double  Show  and  F.\ncy  Dahlias. 
Readers    would    probably   like    to   have    a    few 
of  the  best  varieties  named,  which  are  as  follows  : 
Doreen,   Gracchus,   John   Wallver,   Miss   Ormerod, 
R.  T.  Rawlings,  W.  Garrett  and  Mrs.  Rawlings. 

Pompon  Dahlias. 

These  are  very  small  double  DahUas  with  very 
neat,  globular  flowers  about  liins.  to  2ins.  in 
diameter.  They  are  pretty  either  for  garden 
decoration  or  for  cutting.  Some  of  the  best 
varieties  are  as  foUows :  Adelaide,  Bacchus, 
Electra,  Glow,  Regulus,  Nerissa,  Ideal  and  Queen 
of  Whites. 

Large  Pjeony-flowered  Dahlias. 

This  is  a  large  class  which  has  somewhat  large 
and  loose  florets,  which  are  usually  somewhat 
twisted.     Most    of     these     varieties    are     strong. 


tall  growers,  carrying  their  flowers  well  above 
the  foliage,  are  particularly  showy  in  the  distance, 
and  are  most  effective  when  grouped  in  masses 
in  front  of  a  dark  background.  They  are  alscv 
useful  for  cutting  for  the  decoration  of  large  halls, 
etc.  Some  of  the  best  varieties  are  Aphrodite, 
Claudia,  Gipsy  Queen,  Loma,  Louise  and  Mark. 

The  Miniature  P.€ony-flowered  Dahlias. 

The  description  of  this  class  is  exactly  the  same 
in  form  of  flower  as  the  Large  Pa;ony,  only  the 
flowers  and  plants  are  both  smaller  in  size.  Some 
of  the  best  varieties  are  Chatenay,  Baron  Hayashi, 
Lady  Beatty  and  Mrs.  S.  Goldman. 

Clematis-flowered  Dahlias. 
These  represent  yet  another  interesting  break- 
The  centre  of  the  flowers  consists  of  small 
quilled  florets  surrounded  by  wide  flat  petals, 
the  total  effect  curiously  resembling  a  Clematis. 
The  best  variety  at  present  introduced  is  .■\da 
Finch.  Joseph  Cheal. 


A  TYPICAL  DECORATIVE,    LADY 
DENMAN. 


GLOW,     A   CHARACTERISTIC 
POMPON    DAHLIA. 


THE   MINIATURE   PiEONY  VARIETY 
LADY    BEATTY. 


DR.    TONGUE    (p^ONYj. 


A   TYPICAL    CACTUS  DAHLIA. 


CHEAL's  WHITE   (CAMELLIA-FLOWERED) 


238 


THE     GARDEN. 


[May  20,  1922. 


THIS    YEAR'S    CHELSEA    SHOW 


THE  week  that  is  coming  overshadows, 
from  some  points  of  view,  every  other 
week  in  the  gardening  calendar.  It  is 
the  week  of  Chelsea  Show.  Nor  is  that 
all.  Chelsea  Show  is,  of  set  purpose, 
arranged  for  a  season  when  flowers  are  naturaUy 
most  prodigally  displayed,  when  rock  garden  and 
wild  garden  compete  with  shrubbery  and  more 
formal  beds  to  make  a  display  unrivalled  in  the 
cycle  of  the  year. 

True  it  is  that  the  herbaceous  border  has  not 
yet  attained  its  greatest  splendour,  but  even  here 
glorious  Irises  and  the  May-flowering  Tulips 
will  be  giving  of  their  best,  while  the  Apple  orchards 
with  their  varying  shades  of  pink  and  blush 
transform  the  countryside.  Some  of  their  purely 
ornamental  cousins  will,  no  doubt,  be  seen  at 
Chelsea. 

One  does  meet  individuals  who  frankly  admit 
a  preference  for  the  relatively  small  fortnightly 
meetings  at  Vincent  Square,  which,  given  time, 
one  can  examine  in  detail,  to  the  scenic  splendours 
of  the  Royal  Hospital  Gardens  which  the  three 
days  of  the  Show — could  one  spare  them  ! — are 
all  too  little  to  appreciate  in  detail. 

Their  attitude  is  understandable,  but  when 
all  is  said  the  exhibitor  at  the  R.H.S.  Hall  is  severely 
handicapped,    if    he    wishes    to    achieve    natural 


Some  suggestions  and  a  forecast. 

Whatever  special  business,  then,  takes  Mr. 
Smith  or  Mr.  Brown  to  Chelsea,  they  are  both 
sure  to  be  found  in  company  with  one  of  the 
innumerable  Mr.  Robinsons  comparing  notes  on 
the  rock  gardens.  Visitors  from  a  distance  who 
are  "  doing  "  Chelsea  for  the  first  time  this  year 
will  be  well  advised  to  see  the  exhibits  in  the 
tents  before  these  become  insufferably  hot ; 
after  all,  the  outdoor  exhibits  will  wait  till  they 
come  !  This  may  seem  unnecessary,  not  to  say 
trite,  advice,  but  every  year  one  hears  perspiring 
visitors  wishing  they  had  "  seen  the  tents  first." 

Exhibits  at  Chelsea  may  be  roughly  divided 
into  two  classes,  those  set  up  to  show  suitable 
arrangement  of  garden  space  and  those  intended 
only  to  display  plants  for  sale.  Exhibits  in  the 
first  class  are  mainly  but  not  entirely  outdoors, 
and  of  the  latter  group  90  per  cent,  or  more  will 
be  found  in  the  tents.  Since  the  model  gardens 
are  the  main  attraction,  it  has  been  thought  well 
to  supplement,  as  it  were,  in  this  issue  the  lessons 
they  inculcate  by  articles  on  the  arrangement 
of  two  typical  races  of  spring  -  flowering  plants, 
namely.  Rhododendrons  (including  Azaleas),  and 
May-flowering  Tulips. 

At  the  time  of  going  to  press  it  is  still  uncertain 
just  how  this  season's  exhibition  will  compare 
with    those   of   previous    years.     The    lateness   of 


THE    NEW    SALMON  PINK    PERPETUAL    CARNATION    EILEEN    LOW. 


effects,  by  want  of  time  on  the  one  hand  and 
want  of  space  on  the  other.  The  overwhelming 
attraction  at  Chelsea  is  undoubtedly  afforded 
by  the  open-air  exhibits  of  rock  and  formal  gardens. 
Imperfect  though  these  admittedly  are — it  is  impos- 
sible, for  instance,  in  the  time  at  disposal  to  conjure 
adequate  backgrounds — they  convey  to  the  eye  of 
the  layman  ideas  of  form  and  of  construction  which 
he  could  hardly  appreciate  in  any  other  way. 


the  spring  has  undoubtedly  caused  great  anxiety 
to  many  exhibitors,  but  the  recent  change  in  the 
weather  will,  no  doubt,  do  much  to  assist  growers. 
As  far  as  one  can  see  and  hear  the  annuals  and 
Roses  will  be,  if  possible,  better  than  usual,  but 
it  is  probably  too  much  to  hope  that  the  Irises, 
for  example,  wiU  be  as  good  as  they  were  last  year. 
Fruit,  too,  never  overplentiful  at  this  Show,  will 
probably  be  shorter  even  than  usual. 


There  are  mentioned  below  a  few  of  the  many 
features  which  will  repay  looking  for,  but  the  wise 
folk  at  Chelsea  are  they  who,  knowing  the  particular 
families  or  classes  of  plants  which  they  wish  to 
see  and  compare,  study  the  official  guide  to  the 
Show  and  inspect,-first  of  all,  the  different  exhibits 
in  which  they  are  specially  interested.  After- 
wards they  may  enjoy  the  gorgeous  banks  of  Orchids 
— supposing  these  not  to  be  the  flowers  of  special 
interest — and  inspect  the  exhibition  in  general. 

If  a  reliable  census  could  be  taken,  it  would  be 
interesting  to  know  how  many  visitors  see  the 
whole  Show.  To  interpret  "  see "  in  a  very 
strict  sense  might  rule  out  everyone  ;  but,  to  put 
the  conundrum  in  another  form,  one  wonders 
what  percentage  of  those  passing  the  turnstiles 
file  past  all  the  exhibits  or  even  all  the  exhibits 
in  the  tents.  It  is  astonishing  how  easy  it  is  to 
think  one  "  has  done  it  all "  when,  as  a  fact, 
one  has  missed  "  chunks."  Let  us  then  reiterate 
that  to  be  sure  of  not  missing  what  one  especially 
wanted  to  see  one  should  carefully  consult  the 
official  guide  before  beginning  one's  peregrinations. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  advise  visitors  to 
inspect  the  rock  and  formal  gardens,  but  we 
understand  that  Messrs.  Wallace  of  Tunbridge 
Wells  are  this  year  attempting  something  new. 
Instead  of  the  rocky  moorland  scene  so  typical 
of  rock  gardens  at  Chelsea,  they  will  depict  a 
stream  running  through  woodland  and  in  its 
passage  cutting  its  way  through  rocky  strata. 
.Adjoining  this  the  firm  will  show  a  simple  formal 
garden,  and  the  whole  arrangement  should  be 
particularly  interesting  and  helpful  to  many 
garden  makers  in  hilly  wooded  Surrey,  for  instance. 

Something  novel  in  formal  gardens,  at  any 
rate  as  shown  here,  is  promised  by  Mr.  Klinkert 
of  Richmond.  In  this  garden  there  is  to  be  no 
masonry  of  any  description.  Its  place  will  be 
taken  by  the  topiary,  for  which  Mr.  Klinkert's 
nurseries  are  famous. 

For  those  who  like  blue  gardens,  and  there  are 
many  who  do,  Messrs.  Gaze's  formal  garden  in 
tones  of  blue  and  grey  will  make  appeal.  The 
same  firm  will  also  have  a  rock  and  water  garden 
on  an  ambitious  scale,  as  well  as  a  model  hard 
tennis  court. 

Messrs.  Cheal  are  again  laying  out  a  formal 
garden  which  will  doubtless  maintain  their 
reputation.  We  understand  that  it  illustrates  the 
effective  use  of  dry  walUng,  while  included  in  the 
scheme  are  Lily  pools,  shrubberies  and  herbaceous 
borders,  with  a  pergola  and  summerhouse,  and  an 
a\'enue  of  topiary.     An  ambitious  programme  ! 

Of  the  exhibits  within  the  tents  no  section  is 
of  greater  general  interest  than  that  comprising 
the  hardy  fruit  exhibits.  Messrs.  Rivers  of  Saw- 
bridgeworth  are  hopeful  of  staging  an  exhibit  of 
Early  Rivers  Plums,  Duke  of  York  Peaches  and 
Cardinal  Nectarines  in  pots,  but  the  late  season 
is  rendering  it  difficult  to  get  the  needful  finish 
in  time.  Messrs.  Bunyard,  on  the  other  hand, 
always  famous  for  their  excellent  fruit  storing, 
are  relying  on  an  exhibit  of  late-ripening  culinary 
and  dessert  Apples  which  should  be  of  great 
interest  to  the  private  grower.  Messrs.  Laxtons , 
again,  are  staging  Strawberries,  including  The 
Duke  (which  Messrs.  Laxtons  consider  the  finest 
Strawberry  ever  raised).  Sir  Douglas  Haig,  Marshal 
Foch  and  Lord  Beatty. 

Turning  now  to  the  floral  exhibits,  there  should 
be  an  excellent  display  of  the  Queen  of  Flowers. 
Messrs.  Frank  Cant  and  Co.  will  stage  some  of 
their  best  novelties,  including  Mrs.  Alfred  West, 
a  new  Hybrid  Tea  Rose  which  they  are  distributing 


May  20,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


239 


in  June.  This  is  exceptionally  beautiful  in  the 
bud  state  when  the  shrimp  pink  blossoms  are 
edged  and  suffused  with  coppery  apricot  and 
orange.  Several  other  novelties  not  yet  in  com- 
merce will  also  repay  inspection,  as  well  as  the 
two  \\'ichuraiana  varieties — Snowflake  and  Yvonne 
— which  in   ig:;!    and    1920   obtained  gold  medals 


Many  visitors  go  to  Chelsea  solely  to  see  the 
Irises.  Despite  the  backward  season,  there  will 
probably  be  numbers  there  as  usual.  Messrs. 
Wallace,  at  any  rate,  have  made  certain  of  theirs 
by  cultivating  them  in  pots.  Those  to  be  shown 
include  some  of  the  most  recent  Xewlands  seedlings, 
including    Ann    Page,    Miranda    and    Regan,    as 


WICHURAIANA    ROSE    YVONNE    WITH    PINK    SWEET-SCENTED    BLOSSOM. 


irom  the  National  Rose  Society.  Of  the  older 
varieties  special  mention  should  be  made  of  the 
beautiful  single  Mrs.  C.  E.  Salmon.  Of  a  soft 
salmon  pink,  %vith  orange  suffusion  and  yellow  base, 
it  is  especially  charming  for  table  decoration. 

Mr.  Elisha  Hicks  hopes  to  make  a  fine  display 
with  specimen  climbers,  dwarf  Polyanthas,  includ- 
ing the  new  varieties  Lady  Reading,  Red  Ellen 
Poulsen,  Coral  Cluster  and  White  Orleans,  and 
standard  varieties  in  other  sections,  such  as 
Premier,  Columbia,  Mme.  Butterfly,  CUmbing 
Lady  Hilhngdon,  etc. 

In  addition  to  the  Strawberries  already  men- 
tioned, Messrs.  La.xtons  are  again  exhibiting 
that  charming  single  Polyantha  Laxton's  Pink 
Dehght,  which  they  exhibited  so  charmingly  at 
last  year's  Holland  House  Show. 

Messrs.  Paul  and  Son  (Cheshunt),  Limited, 
■will  have  an  exhibit  chiefly  remarkable  for  fine 
weeping  standards,  pillar  Roses  and  chmbers. 
Noteworthy  among  these  will  be  the  novelty 
Perpetual  Lemon  Pillar,  but  many  of  the  newer 
varieties  of  bush  Roses  will  be  included. 

Messrs.  Benjamin  R.  Cant  and  Sons  will  have 
their  usual  display  of  standard  varieties  and 
novelties,  .^mong  the  latter  may  be  mentioned 
the  cream-white  Phoebe  (gold  medal)  ;  the  golden 
yellow  Sovereign,  with  beautiful  coppery  tints  in 
the  bud  state  ;  the  large  and  handsome  Rev.  F. 
Page  Roberts,  also  a  gold  medal  Rose,  with 
flowers  of  the  shade  of  that  old  favourite,  Marechal 
Niel  and  Mrs.  Oakley  Fisher,  with  most  of  the 
characteristics  of  the  "  Irish  "  singles,  but  flowers 
of   the   golden   orange   hue   of    Lady   Hillingdon. 

Messrs.  Wm.  Paul  and  Son,  the  Waltham  Cross 
firm,  will  stage  a  group  of  Roses — "  weepers," 
pillars,  standards  and  dwarfs — many  sorts  being 
of  their  own  raising,  including  Paul  s  Scarlet 
Climber  and  Ophelia,  and  their  novelty  for 
1922 — Gloria. 


well  as  a  collection  of  the  Bliss  varieties,  among 
which  Dominion,  Dimity,  Dusky  Maid,  Glitter, 
Tom  Tit  and  Azure  are  especially  noteworthy. 
Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons  will  also  be  among  those 
exhibiting  these  wonderful  flowers. 

With  regard  to  Pinks  and  Carnations,  we  are 
on  surer  ground.  Messrs.  AUwood  are  making 
every  endeavour  to  eclipse  all  previous  displays 
they  have  staged  in  these  gardens — not  an  easy 
feat  by  any  means.  Flanking  their  great  group 
of  Perpetual  Carnations  but  separated  from  it 
by  walks  will  be  .AUwoodii  displayed  on  rockwork, 
including  the  new  varieties  Marion,  Maud,  Eleanor 
and  Hugh.  They  are  also  showing  a  circular  bed 
filled  with  specimen  plants  of  AUwoodii,  some  of 
them  half  a  yard  across. 

Messrs.  Stuart  Low  and  Co.  will,  as  usual,  show 
their  perpetual-flowering  Carnations,  including  the 
disease-resisting  White  Pearl  and  a  new  seedling 
from  their  well  known  variety  Eileen,  which,  a 
shade  darker  in  colour  than  the  American  variety 
Laddie,  and  called  Eileen  Low,  is  expected  ulti- 
mately to  prove  a  prohtable  market  sort  as  it  is 
exceedingly  prolific.  Other  novelties  will  be  the 
glowing  cerise  Reginald  Cory  (not  yet  submitted 
for  award),  Mrs.  R.  Gerrish  (apricot).  Sheila  Greer 
(said  to  be  an  improved  Fire  Glow),  Lord 
Lambourne  (a  very  intensely  coloured  red)  and 
Mrs.  Myles  Kennedy  (said  to  be  the  sweetest 
smelling  of  all  Carnations). 

Mr.  James  Douglas  will  exhibit  his  Border 
Carnations  and  Cloves,  of  which  it  may  be  said 
that  year  by  year  the  Borders  grow  stouter  of 
footstalk  and  more  robust  of  habit,  while  season 
by  season  the  colour  range  of  the  Cloves  grows 
wider. 

Mention  has  already  been  made  of  those  free- 
flowering  hybrid  Pinks  the  AUwoodii.  Readers 
of  The  Garden  seem  often  to  confuse  these  with 
Mr.     Herbert's     Carnation-like     Pinks — Dianthus 


Herbertii — as  they  are  often  caUed.  Mr.  Herbert, 
like  Mr.  Douglas,  never  stages  spectacular  displays 
at  these  shows,  but  his  flowers  have  a  form,  colour- 
ing and  finish  which  make  them  fit  for  any  floral 
company.  They  might  be  used  to  decorate  the 
dinner-table  of  the  most  fastidious,  which  is  more 
than  can  be  said  of  most  perfectly  hardy  flowers. 
\'isitors  should  not  miss  this  exhibit. 

The  Hardy  Plant  exhibits  wiU  no  doubt  be 
extensive,  but  the  uncertainty  of  weather  conditions 
makes  a  forecast  impossible.  Messrs.  Blackmore 
and  Langdon,  however,  expect  to  stage  their  super- 
exceUent  Delphiniums,  including  such  varieties  as 
W.  T.  Ware,  Mrs.  Townley  Parker,  Mrs.  A.  J. 
Watson  and  Mrs.  Shirley.  Numerous  firms, 
including  Messrs.  Carter  Page  and  Co.  and  Messrs. 
Cheals'  wiU  be  exhibiting  Alpines  on  staging. 
There  wiU  be  many  hardy  Primulas  ;  but  those 
interested  in  these  flowers  should  not  on  any 
account  miss  the  exhibit  of  uncommon  ones  by 
Dr.  MacWatt. 

May-flowering  Tulips  wiU  be  largely  shown  by 
Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons,  who,  determined  not  to 
**  miss  "  the  Show,  have  late  as  weU  as  early- 
planted  bulbs  upon  which  to  draw.  This  firm  will 
also  be  exhibiting  herbaceous  plants. 

Rhododendrons  and  .'\zaleas  should  be  quite  well 
represented.  Messrs.  Wallace  are  exhibiting  the 
new  "  Kersbergen "  MoUis  Azaleas,  of  which 
several  have  recently  received  awards,  also  some  of 
the  best  of  the  hardy  Ghent  varieties.  Their 
Rhododendrons  will  include  Pink  Pearl,  the  new 
Hugo  de  Vries,  and  the  always  remarkable 
Doncaster,  with  other  first  rate  sorts. 

Dahlias  will,  even  thus  early,  be  something  of  a 
feature.  They  will  be  exhibited  by,  among  others, 
Messrs.  Cheal  and  Messrs.  Carter  Page. 

Of  greenhouse  plants,  particularly  cool  green- 
house plants,  there  will,  as  usual,  be  a  fine  display, 
which  wiU,  incidentally,  demonstrate  the  ever- 
increasing  ascendancy  of  hardy  and  half  hardy 
annuals  for  conservatory  decoration  at  this  season. 
Messrs.  Sutton  and  Sons  wiU  have  a  large  informal 
group  in  a  large  tent  adjoining  the  Erabankmen  t 
entrance.  Their  annuals  will  include  Clarkias, 
Schizanthus,  Nemesias,  Phlo.x  Drumniondii, 
Mignonette,  Godetia,  NemophUa,  Lavatera, 
Dimorphotheca,  Love-in-a-Mist  (NigeUa),  Salpi- 
glossis,  etc.,  while  they  will  have  masses  of  other 
plants  raised  from  seed,  including  pink  and  blue 
Cineraria  stellata,  Gloxinias,  Begonias,  Calceolarias 
and  Streptocarpuses.  Messrs.  Suttons'  last  year 
won  the  Sherwood  Cup  for  the  most  meritorious 
exhibit  and  their  display  is  sure  to  be  in  the  first 
flight  this  year. 

Messrs.  Carters  always  stage  greenhouse  flowers 
well  at  Chelsea.  Their  exhibit  this  year  will 
include  Calceolarias,  Cinerarias,  Gloxinias,  Strepto- 
carpuses, Clarkias,  Petunias,  Schizanthus  and 
Spanish  Irises,  the  whole  edged  with  a  broad  strip 
of  turf  grown  from  their  weU  known  grass  seeds. 

Messrs.  Blackmore  and  Langdon  wnU  stage  their 
magnificent  double  Begonias,  also  hanging  Begonias 
and  Gloxinias.  Their  double  Begonias  wiU  include 
such  grand  sorts  as  Mrs.  J.  Brunton,  Queen  of  the 
Belgians,  Nurse  Cavell,  Sir  J.  Wilson,  Peace, 
Grand  Monarch,  Mrs.  W.  Cuthbertson,  Mrs.  T. 
Crawford,   Mrs.  J.   Davidson  and   Lord   Methuen. 

.Although  old-fashioned  in  one  respect  it  is 
only  recently  that'  garden  lovers  have  fuUy  reaUsed 
how  useful  for  both  garden  and  conservatory 
AustraUan  plants  can  be.  iMany  of  them,  such  as 
the  .Acacias  (Mimosas  or  Wattles  as  the  Australians 
call  them),  are  hardy  outside  in  sheltered  positions, 
while  the  whole  family  are  exceUent  for  the  cold, 
unhealed  conservatory,  where  they  last  a  long 
while  in  flower.  Messrs.  Stuart  Low  are  exhibiting 
a  group  which  will  consist  of  .\cacias,  Metrosideros 
(CalUstemons),Eriostemons,Aotus,  Leptospermums, 
Boronias,  etc. 


240 


THE     GARDEN. 


[May  20,  1922. 


Daffodils   and   Saxifrages   at   the    Royal 
Horticultural  Society's  Hall 


THE  entry  on  the  Fellows'  passes  of  the 
R.H.S.  for  May  9  and  10  led  many  to 
expect  to  see  Saxifrages  in  the  ascendancy, 
but  it  was  to  a  great  extent,  a  Daffodil 
Show — such  are  the  tricks  our  climate 
plays  those  who  attempt  to  forecast  the  seasons 
and  their  floral  offerings.  But  it  was  a  very 
beautiful  Show,  and  while  Daffodils  were  in  the 
ascendancy,  there  was  a  sufficient  variety  of  other 
flowers  to  interest  all  tastes. 

Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons  made  history  by  winning 
the  coveted  gold  medal  at  three  successive  meetings 
with  the  same  flower.  Although  their  large  exhibit 
of  Daffodils  was  not  quite  of  the  super-excellent 
quality  of  a  fortnight  back,  it  was  a  truly  wonderful 
exhibit.  Quantity  and  quality  were  combined 
with  great  variety  and  interest.  As  in  most  other 
instances  the  collection  was  noteworthy  for  the 
excellence  of  the  many  varieties  possessing  vivid 
coronas.  Of  these  Nysa,  Cosur  de  Lion,  Angela, 
Red  Gauntlet,  Suzette  and  Prince  Fushimi  may  be 
named.  The  Poeticus  sorts  were  also  admirable, 
and  so  were  such  large  trumpets  as  Olympia, 
G.  P.  Haydon  and  Alope. 

Not  far  from  the  above  Messrs.  J.  R.  Pearson 
and  Sons  had  a  magnificent  collection  which, 
with  memories  of  the  splendid  display  they  made 
at  the  Spring  Bulb  Show,  made  many  Daffodil 
lovers  wish  the  journey  from  Lowdham  were 
shorter,  so  that  we  might  see  such  beautiful  blooms 
more  often.  This  exhibit  was  said  to  be  solely 
from  home-grown  bulbs,  and  it  demonstrated  clearly 
that  with  Daffodils  the  results  are  fully  equal  to  any 
from  the  Continent.  Of  the  many  sorts  on  view 
we  selected  Nannie  Nunn,  Gipsy  Queen,  Croesus, 
Lucifer  and  Marshlight  as  being  particularly 
brilliant,  while  such  Poeticus  varieties  as  Thelma, 
Acme,  Firetail  and  Virgil  were  all  that  could  be 
desired. 

The  decorative  value  of  Daffodils  of  all  types  in 
skilful  hands  was  splendidly  illustrated  in  Messrs. 
Suttons'  exhibit.  Besides  massing  such  sorts  as 
Tritoma,  Red  Lady,  Memento,  Whitewell  and 
Horizon,  they  had  fascinating  stands  of  mixed 
sorts  which  showed  that  it  is  not  necessary  to 
grow  large  quantities  of  separate  varieties  to  be  able 
to  have  attractive  decorations.  The  Donard 
Nursery  Company,  on  the  other  side  of  the  entrance, 
aimed  at  a  collection  of  the  best  sorts,  and  in  this 
they  succeeded  admirably. 

It  was  such  as  Cossack,  Firetail,  Flinstone, 
Crimson  Braid  and  Curfew  that,  by  reason  of  the 
brilliancy  of  their  coronas,  demanded  admiration 
in  Mr.  W.  B.  Cranfield's  collection,  though  there 
were  many  others  worthy  of  attention.  In  an 
extensive  contribution  by  Messrs.  Ryder  and  Son, 
we  noted  many  of  the  Tazetta  section,  including 
some  promising  seedlings. 

The  newest  in  a  smaller  collection  by  Messrs. 
F.  H.  Chapman  seemed  to  be  Orgy,  which  is  a 
suggestive  name  in  view  of  the  orange  shading  on 
the  broad  corona.  Messrs.  Bath  had  a  fine  exhibit 
which  included  Firetail,  .Matchless  and  Unique 
in  excellent  form.  On  the  Anglesey  Growers' 
exhibit  notewortliy  varieties  included  Vixen, 
Lanten,  Jingle,  Jovial  and  Jester. 

.Mthough  Saxifrages  were  not  in  sufficient 
numbers  to  maliC  a  great  show,  the  R.H.S.  brought 
from  Wisley  a  comprehenisve  collection  of  the 
different  types.  Besides  such  showy  sorts  as 
Wenlock,  Best  of  All  and  Pink  Beauty,  which  are 
exceedingly  decorative,  there  were  specimens  of 
such  large-leaved  sorts  as  S.  peltata,  which  is  an 
admirable  plant  for  the  bog  garden,  and  S 
tellimoides,    with    S.    lingulata    and    its   relatives. 


Bellardii  and  lantoscana.  Among  general  collections 
of  alpines  one  could  pick  out  other  good  Saxifrages. 
Messrs.  Waterer  Sons  and  Crisp  included  Wallace!, 
sanguinea  superba,  Diane  and  afftnis. 

Gazania  montana,  which  has  narrower  leaves  than 
G.    splendens,    and   bears   sulphur   yellow   flowers, 
was  interesting    in   Mr.   M.    Prichard's    collection, 
where     the    quaint     Podo- 
phyllum Emodi  majus  was 
also  to  be  seen. 

The  Blue  Gentians  were 
finely  shown  by  Mr. 
Clarence  Elliott,  who  also 
had  a  few  plants  of  the 
rareSisyrinchium  fili  folium 
and  the  tiny  yellow  Viola 
biflora  ;  w  h  i  le  Messrs. 
Ladhams,  Limited,  speci- 
alised in  their  brilliant 
bedding  Daisy,  Ball  of 
Fire. 

Next  to  an  admirable 
collection  of  Lilacs  by 
Mr.  J.  C.  AUgrove,  it  was 
the  branches  of  Flowering 
Crabs  in  such  exhibits  as 
those  by  Mr.  R.  C.  Notcutt 
and  Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and 
Sons  that  attracted  atten- 
tion among  the  general 
shrubs,  though  there  were 
also  many  desirable  double- 
flowered  Cherries  to  be 
seen,  and  Messrs.  Wallace 
and  Co.  again  showed  a 
number  of  their  gloriously 
beautiful  Kersbergen 
Azaleas  with  the  handsome 
Rhododendron  Hugo  de 
Vries. 

The  less  hardy  Rhodo- 
dendrons were  the  subject 
of  an  interesting  exhibit 
by  Dame  Alice  Godman, 
South  Lodge,  Horsham. 
The  most  beautiful  was 
an  mmamed  seedling  of 
vivid  pink  colouring, 
though  the  most  perfect 
truss  was  the  large  white 
Aucklandii  hybrid.  The 
yellow  R.  campylocarpum 
and  Luscombe  splendens 
were  also  admirable.  In 
Messrs.  Gill's  collection 
there  was  a  grand  plant 
of  the  large-flowered  R. 
Nuttallii. 

Roses  and  Carnations 
continue  to  be  shown  in 
great  beauty,  and  Mr. 
James  Douglas  had  a  selec- 
tion of  his  famous 
Auriculas,  The  variety  he 
selected  as  one  of  the  very 
best  was  Anthony,  a  fine 
yellow  self,  though  we 
liked  the  wonderful  colour 
of  Brilliancy,  in  which 
the  bright  cerise  was  set 
off   by  the    mealy    leaves. 

The  only  exhibit  of  fruit 
was  a  collection  of  late 
Apples  by  Sir  Montague 
Turner,     Bedfords, 


Havering,  Romford.  The  dessert  sorts  included 
Duke  of  Devonshire  and  Scarlet  Nonpariel,  while 
Annie  Elizabeth,  Lane's  Prince  .\lbert  and  Newton 
Wonder  of  the  culinary  varieties  were  also  plump 
and  of  good  quality. 

From  the  Chalk  Hill  Nurseries  came  an  exhibit 
of  excellent  Pansies.  These  were  grouped  on  the 
ground  and   attracted  considerable  attention. 


NEW     AND     RARE     PLANTS, 
Aubrietia  Glory  of  the  Garden. - 

and   floriferous   varietv  which  mav 


-A  very  showy 
be  said  to  be 


MYRIAD    GOLDEN    BELLS   OF   SOPHORA   TETRAPTERA. 


AN   ADDITION   TO   FLOWERING  APPLES — PYRUS   ELEYI. 


May  20,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


241 


ail  impro\"eci  Dr.  Mules,  and  would  no  doubt  be 
even  more  effective  in  the  garden  than  it  was 
indoors.     Shown  by  Mrs.  Lloyd  Edwards. 

Azalea  Korang  Yuki. — This  is  apparently  the 
native  name  of  the  Azalea  Ksempferi  variety — one 
of  the  many  forms  of  this  variable  species,  which 
ha\'e  become  knoma  as  Kurume  Azaleas.  It  is  a 
beautiful  httle  bush  bearing  many  smaUish  salmon- 
vermilion  flowers.  .Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  R.  C. 
Notcutt. 

Marguerite  Golden  Mrs.  F.  W.  Sander.— This 
is  a  pale  golden  sport  from  the  well  known  double 
white  Marguerite  and  is  recommended  for  window 
boxes  and  for  summer  bedding.  It  is  a  ver>'  florif- 
erous  plant.     Sho%vn  by  Messrs.  Sander  and  Son. 

Erinacea  pungens. — Most  alpine  gardeners  find 
some  difficulty  in  inducing  the  '*  Hedgehog  Broom  " 
to  fiower  at  all  freely,  but  Mr.  Prichard  was  able  to 
show  a  rounded  bush  quite  2oins.  across  and  densely 
furnished  with  lilac,  pea-shaped  flowers.  It  was 
introduced  from  Spain  in  1759,  but  is  still  a  rare 
shrub  in  gardens.  Award  of  merit  and  cultural 
commendation  to  Mr.  M.  Prichard. 

Narcissus  Firetail. — This  well  known  and 
"  best  of  all  Barrii  "  \'arieties  already  had  received 
an  award  of  merit  and  now  gains  the  highest  award. 
It  was  splendidly  shown.  The  flowers  were  all 
very  large,  of  beautiful  form  and  the  dark  orange 
coronas  were  almost  blood  red  at  the  rims.  First- 
class  certificate  to  Messrs.  F.  H.  Chapman,  Limited, 
and  the  .'Anglesey  Bulb  Growers'  Association. 

Narcissus  Pelican. — A  ver\-  handsome  Barrii 
bloom  of  large  size  and  possessing  plenty  of  sub- 
stance. The  perianth  is  primrose  coloured  and  the 
cup-shaped  corona  is  rich  orange  yellow.  Award  of 
merit  to  the  .Anglesey  Bulb  Growers'  .Association. 

Narcissus  Sea-Shell. — A  chaste  and  beautiful 
Leedsii  bloom.  The  perianth  is  white  and  the 
large,  widely  open  corona  is  sulphur  yellow  deepen- 
ing to  deep  primrose  at  the  margins.  .Award  of 
merit  to  Mr.  \V.  B.  Cranfield. 

Narcissus  Silver  Salver. — The  most  distinct 
Leedsii  blooms  in  the  Show.  Except  foe  the  sug- 
gestion of  pale  green  in  the  very  centre  of  the 
flowers  they  are  pure  white,  and  so  it  might  well  be 
termed  a  white  Poeticus  Narcissus.  .Award  of 
merit  to  Messrs.  F.  H.  Chapman,  Limited. 

Narcissus  White  Coral. — -A  Leedsii  bloom  in 

which  the  corona  is  nearh'  equal  to  the  perianth. 
It  is  of  milk  white  colour  and  is  a  ver\-  charming 
flower.     .Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  W.  B.  Cranfield. 

Primula  fasciculata. — .A  pretty  little  Primula 
somewhat  like  a  paler  Primula  rosea  in  the  early 
spring  that  has  slightly  separated  petals.  The 
plants,  which  were  only  a  few  inches  high,  make 
little  tufts  of  shining  green  spatulate  leaves  on 
rather  long,  fleshy  stalks.  The  bright  rosy  mauve 
flowers  are  rather  variable  in  colour  and  have 
a  small  yellow  eye.     Aw'ard  of  merit  to  the  R.H.S. 

Prostanthera    rotundifolia. — This    is    one    of 

the  Australian  Mint  Bushes  or  Mint  Trees,  so  called 
because  they  have  resinous  glands  which  are 
usually  strongly  scented.  It  is  a  tender,  elegant 
Httle  erect  shrub  which  bears  small  green  leaves 
on  rather  long  stems.  The  purplish-mauve  flowers 
are  uncommon  and  quite  pretty.  Shown  by  Messrs. 
R.  Veitch  and  Sons. 

Pyrus  Eleyi. — .A  seedling  Crab  which  might 
be  termed  a  glorified  Pyrus  Malus  purpurea.  The 
flowers  are  larger  and  brighter  in  colour  than  that 
well  known  spring-flowering  httle  tree,  and  it  also 
possesses  the  attractive  purplish  tinge  to  the  young 
foUage.  Raised  by  Charles  Eley,  Esq.  ;  exhibited 
by  Mr.  R.  C.  -N'otcutt  ;    award  of  merit. 

Rhododendron  sino-grande. —  .As  the  name 
implies,  this  is  a  Chinese  form  of  R.  grande,  though 
in  some  particulars  it  might  be  termed  a  glorified 
R.  Falconcri,  which  is,  by  the  way,  a  very  variable 
species.  Even  out  of  flower  it  is  a  handsome 
shrub,  as  the  lustrous  green  foUage  is  very  large  and 


silvery  underneath.  The  big  truss  bore  many 
white,  veined,  bell-shaped  flowers  on  long  woolly 
stalks.  Unfortunately  it  is  not  a  hardy  plant, 
except  in  very  favoured  places.  .Award  of  merit 
to  Dame  Alice  Godman. 
Rhododendron       William       Watson.  —  This 

exquisite  hybrid  between  R.  .Ascot  Brilliant  and 
R.  Uplandii  was  not  put  forward  for  the  award 
which,  if  presented,  it  must  have  received.  The 
colouring  is  very  remarkable,  the  major  portion 
of  the  flower  being  blush,  but  the  points  of  the 
petals  are  of  deep  reddish  pink  shade,  thus  affording 
a  striking  contrast.  It  has  excellent  foliage  and  is 
said  to  have  proved  hardy  in  several  not  especially 
favoured  localities.  Shown  by  Messrs.  R.  Gill  and 
Sons. 


Rose  White  Ophelia. — There  can  be  no  question 
but  that  this  is  a  sport  from  the  valuable  Ophelia 
Rose,  for  it  is  identical  in  every  way  except  that 
it  is  very  much  paler  in  colour.  Though  we  should 
scarcely  term  it  a  White  Ophelia,  it  is  a  chaste 
and  beautiful  bloom.  Award  of  merit  to  Mr. 
E.  J.  Hicks. 

Sophora  tetraptera. — A  glorious  branch  of  this 
half  hardy  shrub,  densely  furnished  with  its  pea- 
shaped  deep  golden  flowers,  was  shown.  It  is 
is  a  native  of  New  Zealand,  and  except  in  the  very 
warmest  parts  of  this  countrj'  must  be  given  the 
protection  of  a  south  or  west  wall.  Occasionally 
the  handsome  flowers  are  succeeded  by  curious 
necklace-like  seed  pods.  Cultural  commendation 
to  Messrs.  R.  Veitch  and  Sons. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


THE    T.ALLER     C.AMPANCL.AS. 

TV/TISS  JEKYLL'S  interesting  article  upon  the 
taller  Campanulas  is  a  most  useful  one  for 
lovers  of  hardy  plants.  Spetchley  Park,  famous 
for  the  wonderful  race  of  hybrid  Primroses,  is  also 
the  home  of  improved  developments 
of  many  of  our  hardy  plants.  Mrs. 
Berkeley  is  a  born  hybridist,  and 
her  unerring  selection  of  the  best 
forms  has  always  filled  me  with 
admiration.  Campanula  lactiflora  type 
is  rather  washed  out  in  colour  and 
is  said  to  have  been  named  from 
its  resemblance  to  the  bluish  hue 
of  London  milk.  Mrs.  Berkeley  has 
for  some  score  or  so  of  years 
selected  and  grown  on  her  seedling 
Campanula  lactiflora  until  she  has 
a  fine  race  of  stiff-stemmed  plants 
which  stand  of  themselves,  unless 
an  imusually  heavy  rainstorm  sweeps 
over  the  garden  when  they  are  in  full 
flower.  She  grows  pure  white  forms 
some  8ft.  in  height  but,  the  pride  of 
the  species  is  the  grand  erect  deep- 
coloured  variety  which  is  often  loft. 
high,  with  large  open-mouthed  bells 
of  rich  purple,  and  seen  in  a  mass  as 
grown  at  Spetchley  it  is  a  glorious 
sight  not  easily  forgotten.  Campanula 
lactiflora  used  to  grow  exceptionally 
well  at  Edge  Hall,  and  in  one  corner 
of  the  garden  the  tallest  of  the  plants 
were  well  up  to  12ft.  or  13ft, 

At  Warley  I  have  some  plants  with 
Soldanella-hke  flowers,  but  this  is 
not      an     uncommon     occurrence.  — 

E.     WiLLMOTT. 

LONICERA    NITIDA. 

TTNDER    the  heading  "  A  Valuable 
Evergreen,"     Mr.    H.     C.     Wood 


show   when  sheeted  with  chalk-white  blossom  in 
August. — Herbert  Ma.xwell,  Moitreith. 

THE    SINGLE    ARABIS. 

'T'HE  old  white  .Arabis,  A.  albida,  is  too  rampant 
a  grower  to  be  useful  near  plants  with  any 


asks  for  the  experience  of  amateiu'S 
with  this  shrub  (page  218).  Our 
experience  here  is  that,  in  view  of  the  vast  number 
of  better  things  it  is  not  worth  the  ample  space 
which  it  claims.  The  foliage,  certainly,  is  neat,  but 
the  flowers  are  so  inconspicuous  as  to  be  negligible  ; 
the  berries,  however,  are  a  very  pretty,  translucent 
amethyst  piu-ple,  but  they  are  so  small  as  to  require 
to  be  produced  more  abundantly  than  has  ever 
happened  here  to  be  of  much  account.  On  page 
219,  Mr.  E.  Shoosmith  writes  disparagingly  of 
Olearias  as  "  never  very  beautiful."  This  is  a 
singular  verdict  upon  a  genus  containing  such 
charming  evergreen  shrubs  as  O.O.  macrodonta, 
nummularifoUa,  nitida,  iUcifoMa  and  semidentata. 
It  is  true  that  these  prosper  only  in  mild  districts, 
but  O.  Haastii  is  much  hardier  and  makes  a  fine 


A    DRY   WALL   CLOTHED   WITH    ARABIS. 


pretentions  to  being  choice,  but  it  has  its  uses, 
none  the  less.  It  seems  nowadays  largely  to  have 
been  ousted  by  the  even  more  rampant  double 
variety,  which  is  certainly  more  lasting,  but  is 
otherwise  less  desirable.  For  smothering  chnker- 
built  banks  or  unsightly  retaining  walls  it  is  truly 
excellent,  but  it  should  not,  of  course,  be  largely 
used  where  the  wall  material  has  any  intrinsic 
beauty.  The  picture,  I  think,  well  illustrates  its 
"  hiding  up  "   potentialities. 

There  is  now  a  fashion  to  run  down  the  whole 
.Arabis  family,  but  .A.  aubrietioides  is  a  lovely  and 
not  at  all  rampant  plant  and  some  of  the  still 
smaller  forms,  such  as  .A.  Sturii,  are  favourites 
of  some  who  know  .Alpines  really  w-eU. — E.  N.  Q. 


242 


THE     GARDEN. 


[May  20,  1922. 


MONOTONY     IN     GARDENS. 

nPHIS  is  a  subject  that  has  been  written 
about  to  any  extent,  and  I  am  afraid  that 
the  people  who  need  teaching  how  to  get  some 
variety  into  their  gardens  are  those  who  never 
see  a  gardening  paper.  I  find  that  though  my 
pupils  all  seem  to  have  gardens  at  home,  they  are 
all  unacquainted  with  the  majority  of  my  plants. 
I  think  that  outspoken  criticism  of  dull  gardens, 
if  done  tactfully,  is  the  only  way  to  rouse  general 
amateur  gardeners  to  a  sense  of  the  appalling 
dullness  of  their  own  gardens.  This  powder,  if 
followed  by  the  jam  of  promised  seedlings  and 
cuttings,  is  swallowed  quite  calmly.  It  is  also 
a  good  plan  to  exchange  small  plants  with  friends 
Uving  at  a  distance,  as  every  neighbourhood  seems 
to  favour  some  particular  group  of  plants.  Even 
cottage  gardens  vary  in  different  parts  of  England. 
This  is,  I  know,  partly  a  matter  of  soil  and  climate, 
but  not  entirely.  The  Cheiranthus  family  is  very 
long-suffering,  and  yet  how  often  does  one  see 
any  member  except  the  double  or  single  C.  Cheiri  ? 
I  wonder  if  any  readers  of  The  Garden  can  tell 
me  where  to  get  the  green  winter-flowering 
Hellebore.  I  had  so  much  of  it  in  Hampshire 
that  I  was  careless  of  it  and  only  brought  away 
one  small  piece,  which  was  destroyed  while  I  was 
away  in  the  summer.  Now  I  am  miserable  not 
to  be  able  to  find  it  again  anywhere.  It  is  one  of 
those  January-flowering  treasures  that  are  apt  to 
be  forgotten  at  planting-time,  as  one  does  not 
miss  it  until  winter  comes.  Very  few  gardens 
seem  to  have  it,  but  I  saw  quantities  of  it  in 
Shakespeare's  garden  at  New  Place.  Another 
wild  plant  which  I  always  found  very  useful  to 
fill  up  in  poor  positions  under  trees  is  the  variegated 
Bitony  and  that  I  have  also  lost. — Ethel  Case, 
Swanage. 

AN   INVALUABLE   TREE. 

npo  lovers  of  flowering  shrubs  I  would  say,  plant 
Prunus  Magelliana  (that  was  the  name  it 
was  given  when  I  bought  it  some  years  ago). 
It  has  already  blossomed  twice  this  year,  and  my 
gardener  tells  me  it  will  bloom  again  at  mid- 
summer. Branches  of  it  keep  fresh  in  vases  for 
so  long,  and  I  tell  him  to  layer  it  and  propagate  it 
in  every  possible  way,  for  it  is  so  gay  in  black 
winter  months. — F.  L.,  County  Dublin. 

[Our  correspondent's  tree  is  doubtless  Prunus 
microlepis,  generally  known  in  gardens  as  Prunus 
Miqueliana,  though  from  P.  Miqueliana  (Maxi- 
mowi^  ),  it  is  quite  distinct.  It  is  sometimes 
considered  a  form  of  P.  subhirtella,  to  which  it  is, 
in  any  case,  closely  related.  Lady  Moore  referred 
to  this  beautiful  tree  in  our  issue  of  February  11, 
1922,  page  64,  and  it  was  illustrated  in  The 
Garden  last  autumn  as  P.  subhirtella  auturanalis 
(October  8,  192 1,  page  502). — Ed.] 

NARCISSUS    DEFORMITY. 

T  WONDER  if  any  of  your  readers  have  had  the 
same  experience  with  Bernardino  Narcissus 
this  year  as  I  have.  I  have  about  fifty  of  this 
variety,  and  nearly  every  bloom  which  has  opened 
has  been  deformed  and  a  great  many  buds  have 
been  "  blind."  I  believe  one  of  the  parents  of 
Bernadino  is  Lulworth,  which  is  very  apt  to  be 
deformed  and  have  eight  petals. — H.  G.  Hawker, 
Ivy  Bridge,  S.  Devon. 

THE     DAFFODIL     SEASON     OF     1922. 

CURELY  this  has  been  the  strangest  Daffodil 
season  on  record.  In  February  I  said  to  my 
head  man  ;  "  It  is  going  to  be  an  early  season  ; 
the  growth  is  so  forward  that  nothing  can  now 
keep  it  back."  I  ought  to  have  known  better, 
and  to  have  called  to  mind  past  Aprils,  such  as 
the  one  when  Mr.  Engleheart's  Daffodils  were 
all  buried  under  about  a  foot  of  snow  ;    that  is, 


all  but  one  King  Alfred,  which  was  very  tall 
and  was  tied  to  a  stick  !  Also,  another  season 
when  a  heavy  snowstorm  was  falling  as  we  left 
the  Birmingham  Show  about  April  25.  To  return 
to  the  present  season.  We  kept  thinking  that 
the  weather  would  certainly  change,  but  if  the 
wind  did  get  out  of  the  east  for  a  few  hours  it 
was  soon  back  again.  We  hoped  to  exhibit  in 
London  on  April  10 ;  there  were  then  about 
four  or  five  varieties  of  early  trumpets  in  bloom 
and  that  was  all.  "  Well,  we  will  get  to  Birmingham 
on  April  20  and  London  April  25."  The  best  laid 
schemes  of  mice  and  men,  etc.  Some  fifteen 
nights  of  frost  in  succession  acted  like  cold  storage, 
and  we  had  to  attend  both  these  meetings  without 
any  flowers.  At  long  last  as  I  write  (May  6) 
we  have  cut  a  very  good  lot  of  blooms  for  Vincent 
Square,  May  9,  in  spite  of  more  frosts  and  two  or 
three  gales.  I  said  to  one  of  my  friends  some 
years  ago  that  a  Daffodil  grower's  year  was 
"  eleven  months  of  waiting  and  one  month's 
pain." 

Does  not  this  season  verify  the  above  ?  The 
wonder  is  that  after  all  this  frost,  hail,  wind  and 
other  bad  forms  of  weather  many  of  the  Daffodils 
have  come  to  perfection  and  even  above  their 
average  in  size  and  form,  while  some  of  the  earliest 
trumpets  are  still  flowers  of  a  sort  after  enduring 


nearly  twenty  frosts  and  having  been  out  for  quite 
a  month.  A  curious  thing  is  the  effect  which 
this  retarding  season  has  had  upon  the  relative 
blooming  periods ;  early,  late  and  midseason 
have  all  been  out  together.  To  show  this  I  give 
a  list  of  the  varieties  cut  for  market  by  my  firm 
on  May  4,  and  all  these  were  fresh  flowers  in  really 
good  condition  :  Mrs.  Langtry,  .Urgent,  Emperor^ 
P.  R.  Barr,  Empress,  Horsfieldii,  Lucifer,  Frank 
Miles,  Minnie  Hume,  Florence  Pearson,  Fairy 
Queen,  Giant  Leedsii  in  variety,  Evangeline, 
Lulworth,  Autocrat,  Mme.  de  Graaff,  Amazon, 
John  Bain  and  Poeticus  precox  grandiflorus.  It 
is  not  often  that  Horsfieldii,  Mme.  de  Graaff  and 
Lulworth  can  be  cut  in  good  condition  on  the  same 
day.  A  very  early  and  a  very  late  season  seem 
to  have  much  the  same  effect  upon  the  relative 
times  of  flowering  ;  the  one  rushes  all  out  together, 
the  other  keeps  all  back  to  one  date. 

Well,  I  suppose  we  poor  Daffodil  enthusiasts — 
maniacs  some  of  our  kind  friends  and  relations 
call  us — will  go  on  growing  and  worshipping  at 
the  shrine  of  our  queen  of  spring  flowers  as  long 
as  we  are  able  to  get  about  at  all,  in  spite  of  bad 
weather  and  all  the  other  troubles  which  beset 
us,  always  looking  and  hoping  for  that  perfect 
April  which  never,  never  comes. — J.  Duncan 
Pearson,  Lowdham,  Notts. 


GARDENING    OF    THE    WEEK 


FOR    SOUTHERN    GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Salads. — To  maintain  a  constant  supply  of 
Lettuce,  Radishes,  etc.,  during  the  early  part  of 
the  season  it  is  absolutely  necessary  to  have  the 
aid  of  some  cold  frames,  but  from  the  present  time 
all  hardy  salads  may  be  raised  outside.  The 
place  devoted  to  them  at  the  commencement  of 
the  season  should  be  a  warm  border  and  the  soil 
made  as  light  as'  possible.  If  light  skeleton 
frames  can  be  arranged  for  so  that  a  covering 
may  be  given  at  night,  so  much  the  better,  or 
shelter  may  be  obtained  by  spacing  the  early 
rows  of  Peas  and  Broad  Beans  so  that  a  row  of 
salads  may  be  grown  between  them.  On  light 
soils  during  the  hottest  weather  it  will  be  found 
best  to  sow  Lettuce  seeds  thinly  where  they  can 
grow  to  maturity,  and  avoid  possible  losses  from 
pricking  out  when  the  weather  is  dry  and  unfavour- 
able for  such  seedlings  to  become  re-established. 

Thinning  out  of  Carrots,  Parsnips,  Onions, 
etc.,  should  be  proceeded  with  as  each  successive 
sowing  becomes  sufficiently  strong,  choosing 
showery  weather  for  such  work  if  possible.  No 
hard  and  fast  rule  can  be  given  respecting  such 
work,  as  it  is  entirely  a  matter  of  thinning  to  suit 
each   grower's  requirements. 

Marrows  may  now  be  planted  on  beds  prepared 
as  advised  a  few  weeks  earlier.  Where  a  couple 
of  frames  can  be  spared  several  weeks  will  be  gained 
by  placing  them  over  the  plants  on  the  bed  for  a 
nionth  or  so.  Marrows  will  also  do  quite  well 
on  the  level  ground.  One  of  the  best  crops  I 
have  ever  seen  was  grown  in  this  manner  by  a 
small  farmer  in  Monmouthshire  who  marketed 
considerably  over  two  thousand  fruits  during  the 
season.  It  is  always  advisable  to  keep  a  few 
Marrow  plants  in  reserve  until  June  is  in,  for  one 
cold  night  may  spoil  all  early  plants. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Liliiuns  that  have  been  given  a  start  in  pots 
previous  to  planting  out  in  the  herbaceous  border 
or  other  positions  may  now  be  placed  in  their 
flowering  quarters.  Where  the  soil  is  of  an  unsuit- 
able character  it  should  be  replaced  with  a  compost 
of  fibrous  loam,  peat  and  leaf-soil,  taking  care 
that  the  drainage  of  the  position  is  in  good  order. 

Staking, — The  staking  of  many  border  plants 
will  demand  attention  at  frequent  intervals 
and  such  work  should  be  carried  out  with  the 
least  possible  display  of  supports  so  long  as  there 
is  sufficient  to  hold  or  train  the  plants  as  desired. 
Anything  approaching  making  besoms  or  faggots 
of  the  various  plants  should  be  carefully  avoided, 
and  if  a  few  stray  shoots  arc  left  untied  no  very 
serious  crime  is  committed.  A  far  greater  one 
is  to  make  each  plant  or  shoot  to  have  the  appear- 
ance of  "  standing  at  attention." 


Planting. — Three  good  plants  which  may  be 
got  into  their  flowering  quarters  as  soon  as  con- 
venient after  this  date  are  Cannas,  Calceolarias 
and  Salvia  patens.  The  first  named  is  an  excellent 
plant,  and  may  be  used  in  a  bed  or  as  relief  plants 
among  dwarfer  plants.  In  a  streamside  or  wood- 
land bed  they  are  fine  with  Tiger  Lilies. 
Amplexicaulis  is,  I  think,  the  best  of  the  Calceo- 
larias, and  as  a  bush  or  standard  can  be  effectively 
used  with  other  plants.  It  associates  well  with 
Heliotropes,  Streptosolen  Jamesonii  and  Salvia 
patens,  and  should  it  be  planted  where  an  edging 
is  required,  one  with  a  silver-grey  tone  is  pleasing. 
Salvia  patens  is  one  of  the  most  effective  blue 
bedding  or  border  plants  we  have,  being  equally 
at  home  in  the  mixed  border  as  in  a  formal  bedding 
arrangement.  Its  lovely  rich  tone  will  be  seen 
to  greater  advantage  if  the  plants  in  its  immediate 
vicinity  have  a  somewhat  quiet  colouring. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Inarching  Vines. — This  operation  may  be 
performed  when  the  plants  are  resting  or  when 
in  active  growth,  and  the  latter  is  certainly  the 
safest,  and  is  a  very  good  way  of  introducing  new 
blood  into  a  permanent  vinery.  It  is  the  union 
of  two  growing  shoots  of  about  equal  thickness, 
and  is  carried  out  by  cutting  away  a  portion  of 
the  stock  and  scion  at  the  proposed  place  of  union 
for  a  length  of  about  3ins.  until  they  fit  into  each 
other  perfectly,  in  which  position  they  should  be 
securely  bound  and  kept  so  until  the  union  is 
thoroughly  secure.  The  scion  should  then  be 
gradually  severed  from  its  own  root  and  the  stock 
Vine  not  allowed  to  make  much  growth  but  forced 
rather  to  concentrate  all  energy  upon  the  scion. 
H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 

Albury  Park  Gardens,  Guildford. 


FOR     NORTHERN    GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Brussels  Sprouts.— Plant  out  the  main  batch 
of  these  which  have  been  raised  in  frames.  Allow 
3ft.  between  the  rows  and  25ft.  between  the 
plants  in  the  row,  as  when  given  generous  treat- 
ment a  wide  spread  of  foliage  results.  Brussels 
Sprouts  enjoy  a  lengthy  season  of  growth.  The 
soil  between  the  rows  should  be  cultivated  freely 
before  finally  earthing  up. 

Asparagus  will  now  be  pushing  up  strong 
heads  as  the  warmth  increases.  Keep  the  beds 
clear  of  weeds  and  encourage  weak  plantations 
by  sprinkhng  a  quick-acting  fertiliser  through  the 
bed.  Soot  is  also  a  commendable  stimulant. 
Beds  that  were  planted  during  this  spring  should 
be  given  a  light  mulch  of  half-rotted  horse  manure 
so  as  to  prevent  evaporation  during  hot  weather. 
Thin  seed-beds,  as  it  is  essential  that  no  over- 
crowding take  place.  Stir  the  soil  between  the 
lines  with  a  hand  cultivator  and  water  freely. 


GHELSEA     SHOW    REPORT. 


THE 


i^ARYof  tln« 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


^ol.  UCXXVI.— No.  2636. 

ntered  ns  Second-class  Matter  at  the  Npw  Yofk.  N.Y..  PostOfHce. 


Saturday,  May  27,  1922 


REGISTERED     AT    THE     GENERAL 

POST    OFFICE    AS    A    NEWSPAPER 

AND     FOR     CANADIAN     WAGAZINE 

POST. 


Price  THREEPENCE 

Yearly  Subscription  ; 
Inland,    17/4;    Foreign.    17/4 


MXt^Kyftii 


CU/s 


THE  KING'S 
SEEDSMEN, 

READING. 


Ti.H.S. 
CHELSEA    SHOW. 

"OisHors  should  not 
fail  to  inspect  our 
Floral  T)isplay  in  the 
Large  Tent  adjoining 
the  Embankment 
Entrance. 


Merry  weather's    Hardy    Plants. 

NOW   is  the  time    to  fill  ail   vacancies  in  the   Hardy    Plant 
Border. 

We  offer  a  fine  selection  in  our  new  list,  just  published. 
All  plants  of  highest  quality. 
Please  send  for  a  copy. 


AZALEA    TIME. 


HENRY  MERRYWEATHER  &  SONS,  Ltd., 

THE    NURSERIES.    SOUTHWELL,    NOTTS. 

Barr's  Seeds  for  May  Sowing 

Of  Finest   Strains  and  Tested  Growth 

FOR  THE  FLOWER  GARDEN  &  GREENHOUSE. 

Antirrhinums,  Aquilegias,  Campanulas,  Canterbury  Bells,  Calceolarias, 
Cinerarias,  Delphiniums,  Forget  menots,  Hollyhocks,  Lupins,  Pansies, 
Primulas,    Polyanthus,  Primroses,  Sweet  Williams,  Stocks,  Wallflowers,  etc. 


FOR  THE  VEGETABLE  GARDEN. 

Eeans,    Beet,    Carrots,    Peas,    Spinach,    Lettuce,    Radish,    etc. 

Special    List    on    application. 

^  iV  ^  ^        O        CrM^C  11,     1£    &    13,     KINO    STREET, 

B>^m^         Ot        ^\Jt^^,      COVENT     GARDEN,     LONDON,     W.C.Z 

W.   WELLS,  Junr. 

NOW     OFFERS 

Especially   prepared    Herbaceous    Plants    from 

pots   for   filling  gaps  in   borders  ;   also  Rock  and 

Alpine    Plants    in   great  variety. 


PLEASE     STATE     YOUR     WANTS    TO 

WWFII^      Ini-     HARDY  PLANT  NURSERY, 
.   YYCLiLiJ,  jnr,   MERSTHAM,     SURREY. 


11. 


THE     GARDEN. 


[May  27,  iq2J 


« 


THE    GARDEN"   CATALOGUE    GUIDE 


NOTICE  TO  OUR  READERS 

r\N   receipt   of   a    Post   Card   the    under- 
mentioned  firms    will    be    pleased    to 
send  their  useful  Catalogues  free  of  charge. 


Rose  Specialists 


ELISHA  J.  HICKS,  M.C.  N.R.S..  etc. 

HURST,  BERKS 

Thi  Champion    Deoopative  Ross   Growop    of    England 


Fruit  Trees  and  Plants 


PERRY'S 

Hardy  Plant  Farms 

ENFIELD,  MIDDX. 


New  Alpines 
and  Perennials 


Complete 
Collection 


KELWAY  &  SON 
Retail  Plant  Department 
LANGPORT,  SOMERSET. 


Hardy  Plants 
Colour  Borders 
Gladioli 


HARDY    AZALEAS     AND 

R.  &  G.  CUTHBERT 
SOUTHGATE 
MIDDLESEX 
Established  1797 


FLOWERINQ    SHRUBS 

For  planting  and 
Conservatory 
decoration. 
Catalogue  of  our 
new  and  beautiful 
varieties  post 
free 


LAXTON  BROS. 

Nurseries 

BEDFORD 


Strawberries 

and 

Fruit  Trees 


W.  WELLS,  JuNR. 
Hardy  Plant  Nursery 
MERSTHAM,  SURREY 


Specialists  in 
Hardy  Plants 
and  Alpines 
Catalogues  free 


PULI-IS\M  ©  SON 

rnc  NUKSERtcs  -ELSENMAM 
STANSTED  •  ESSEX 


I>ock- 
Alpine  ■» 
rionckj  Plants' 


Seeds  and  Bulbs 


R.  H.  BATH,  Ltd. 
The  Floral  Farms 
WISBECH 


Home-Grown 
Bulbs  and 
Seeds 


BLACKMORE  &  LANGDON 
TwBRTON  Hill  Nursery 
BATH 


Begonias 
Delphiniums 
Qloxinias 
Cyclamen,  etc. 


DAWKINS 

408,  King's  Road 
CHELSEA,  S.W. 


Seed  Catalogue 
and  Special 
Bulb  Offer. 


TUBS     FOR     SHRUBS. 

'  XSIRE  BOUND  PATENT,  over  100 
prizes.  R.H.S.  Medal,  1910.  No  warping  or 
shrinking.  In  Oak,  Beech,  Teak.  &c.  Highly 
decorative. — Price  List  from  Pradal  &  Co., 
26.  Goodge  Street,  London,  VV.I. 


Garden  Sundries 


C.  E.  WEST 
Hicham  Hill,  E.17 
Est.  1888 


West's  PatentGardenSundries, 
„  ,,       Weeder, 

.,  ,,       "  Celu "  Labels, 

Raffiatape  "  Westmaline," 

Insecticides,  Wted  Killers,  etc. 

Catalogue  and  frte  samples. 


RICHARD  MELHUISH,  Ltd. 
50/51,  Fetter  Lane,  E.C,4. 
Branch  Depot  : 

143  Holborn  Bars 


Garden  Tools  of 
all  kinds. 
Catalogue    "B" 
post  free. 


CORRY  &  CO.,  Ltd. 
Sh.ad  Thames,  S.E.i  and 
Bedford  Chambers 
Covent  Garden,  W.C.2 


Merchants  and 
Manufacturers 
of  Horticultural 
Sundries 
Fertilizers  and 
Insecticides,  etc. 


J.  BENTLEY,  Ltd. 
Barrow-on-Humber 
HULL 


Weed  Destroyers 
Lawn  Sand 
Insecticides 
Shrubs,  etc. 


Landscape  Gardening 


Ltd. 


W.  H.  GAZE  &  SONS 
High  Street 
KINGSTON-ON-THAMES 


Landscape,  Rock 
and  Water  Garden 
Model  Gardens 
Portsmouth    Road 
Surbiton 


R.  WALLACE  &  CO.,  Ltd. 
The  Old  Gardens 

tunbridge  wells 


LAfldsoape  &  Oardeo 
ArohJteots.  Queeo 
Alesaadra's  Cup  for 
Beat  Roofa  aod  Water 
Oardeo,  lnternatk>aal 
«5how,  1912. 


J.  CHEAL  &    SONS,  Ltd. 

Nurseries 
CRAWLEY 


Landscape 
Gardeners 
Trees  and 
Shrubs,  etc. 


Messrs.  T.  R.  HAYES  &  SONS 
Keswick  and  Ambleside 
ENGLISH  LAKES 


Landscape  &  Garden 

Architects 

Rock   and   Water 

Garden  !ppcialists 


MISS  EVELYN  FAWSSETT 

(Specialist  in  Garden  Planning) 

83,  High  Street 
LEWES,  SUSSEX 


New  Gardens 
sltfoed.  Old  Gardens 
Re-arranged.  Plant' 
Ing  plans  tor  borders, 
etc.  Terms  on  appli- 
cation. 


ORCHIDS 

of  vigorous  habit  and  superior  constitution. 
A  visit  to  our  Establishment  is  cordially 
invited  to  inspect  our  immense  and 
interesting    STOCK    RAISED     BY     THE 

Pure  Culture  System 

Choice  Species,  Rare  Botanical  Specimens. 

Albinos  in  warm  and  cool  sections  also  a 

speciality. 


Expert  Advice  given  and  all  Requisites 
supplied  for  the  good  cultuic  of  Orchids. 


STRONG    POSTAL   BOXEI 


CHARLESWORTH  &   CO., 

HAYWARDS     HEATH. 


(COLLAPSIBLE) 


FOR 


PLANTS  and  FLOWER 

MADE    IN    ANY    SIZES    REQUIRED. 

The  following  are  regularly  stocked  : — 

15    X    6    X    4     in)      33/-  per  gross  delivered. 
12    X    4Jx    3J  (^     24/-    ,, 
9    X    3Jx    3     @      18/-    ,, 
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Sample  sent  for  P.O.  9d.      One  gross  may  be  assorted  sizi 

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V.  N.  Gauntlett  &  Co.,  Ltd., 

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and     DAHLIAS,    Post     Free. 

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No.  2636— Vol.  LXXXVL] 


[May  27,  1922. 


SOME   EARLY -BROOMS   and  otker  THINGS 


FULL  as  your  spring  garden  may  be  with 
fragrant  flowers,  I  do  not  think  there  is 
anything  of  its  time  whose  perfume  is 
so  all-pervading  as  Cytisus  prrecox. 
Sun  and  heat  it  wants,  of  course  (what 
Broom  does  not  ?),  and  these  we  have  had  this 
year,  in  May's  first  week,  just  in  time  for  this 
lovely  shrub  to  give  us  of  its  sweetness  with 
unusual  prodigality.  C.  pr.iEcox  has  inherited  the 
rich  fragrance  of  one  of  its  parents,  C.  purgans  of 
the  Auvergne,  and  the  grace  of  the  other,  C.  albus. 
The  latter  need  not  be  extolled  here,  but  I  think 
some  of  us  might  extend  a  little  more  appre- 
ciation towards  the  former  and  for  these  reasons. 
It  is  a  close-habited,  neat  httle  bush  3ft.  to  4ft. 
tall,  hardy,  easily  grown  and  one  of  the  earliest 
of  its  race  to  flower.  It  enjoys  a  really  hot  place. 
Give  it  that  and  it  will  be  a  flaming  mound  of 
rich  golden-yellow  in  .•\pril,  or  earlier :  it  will 
remain  in  flower  a  long  time  and  be  indescribably 
frngrant  aU  the  while. 

C.  Ardoini  is  a  rock  garden  gem  that  will  insist 
on  being  given  its 
due  recognition 
by  the  brilliance 
of  its  yellow 
beauty  and  freedom 
of  blossom.  It  was 
this  shrublet  and  the 
white  Broom  |  which 
gave  us  the  charming 
hybrid,  C  .  k  e  w  - 
e  n  s  i  s,  an  elegant, 
prostrate  Broom  which 
bears  its  clusters  of 
ivory  blossom  about 
the  same  time  as 
the  above.  There  is 
something  peculiarly 
refined  about  C . 
kewensis.  Another 

good  dwarf  Broom 
which  has  this  year, 
at  any  rate,  made 
good  its  c  I  a  i  m  t  o 
be  counted  among 
the  earliest  is  C. 
decumbens.  It  is  very 
prostrate  with  .i  dis- 
tinctive silky  foliage 
and  copious  spikes 
of  large  yellow 
flowers. 

Cytisus  monspes- 
sulanus  (candicans)  is 
a  member  of  this  clan 
which  ought  to  be 
more     widely     grown. 


for  while  it  is  quite  hardy,  it  has  all  the  good 
points  of  C.  fragrans,  to  which  it  bears  a  very 
close  resemblance.  This  graceful,  leafy  shrub 
grows  to  a  height  of  about  6ft.,  but  it  begins  to 
flower  when  scarcely  out  of  the:  seedling  stage 
and  increases  in  beauty  year  by  year.  The  first 
blooms  usually  appear  in  April,  the  shrubs  attaining 
their  full  prohficacj-  at  the  end  of  May,  but  a 
succession  of  flowers  is  maintained  pretty  well 
right  on  to  autumn.  C.  monspessulanus  is  not 
long  lived,  but  it  comes  so  easily  from  seed  sown 
in  the  open  and  grows  so  fast  that  it  is  an  easy 
matter  to  maintain  a  stock  and  to  grow  it  in  large 
groups.  Like  most  others,  this  species  enjoys  a 
light,  warm,  stony  soil  and  an  open  situation, 
but  it  does  not  object  to  thin  shade. 

Writing  of  the  days  before  the  Azaleas  (save 
the  Japanese  kinds  in  the  rock  garden)  have  begun 
to  overwhelm  all  else  about  them  with  their  colour 
and  scent,  those  spring-flowering  Berberises  which 
are  most  notable  for  their  blossom  rather  than 
their  fruit  are  always  conspicuous.     The  respective 


THE    UNCOMMON    DEEP    GOLDEN    BROOM,    CYTISUS    PURGANS 


splendours  of  those  two  rivals,  B.  Darwinii  and 
stenophylla,  defy  comparison,  though  one  is  not 
forgetful  of  the  fact  that  there  are  good,  better 
and  best  forms  among  both.  So  to  the  lesser 
lights,  to  empetrifolia,  an  attractive  little  shrublet 
which  (with  Darw-inii)  gave  us  stenophylla,  and 
on  to  the  many  hybrids  of  the  last  named,  many 
of  which  are  well  worth  attention.  Then  there 
is  B.  buxifolia  (dulcis)  with  its  dwarf  variety, 
nana,  both  well  known,  but  none  the  less  estimable 
on  account  of  their  compact  growth,  deep  green, 
glossy  foliage,  and  the  large  and  early  flowers. 
B.  s.  Irwinii  might  be  described  as  a  diminutive 
Darwinii,  and  with  that  recommendation  one 
need  not  say  any  more.  It  is  an  ideal,  early- 
blooming,  rock  garden  shrub.  Yet  another  of 
this  inexhaustible  family  to  which  is  due  at  leist 
a  passing  notice  is  B.  pruinosa,  whose  arching 
wands  are  so  prettily  hung  with  their  fine  yellow 
globes  (and  as  often  as  not  the  glaucous  last 
year's  fruit)  throughout  the  middle  period  of 
spring.  Camellia  Donckelaarii,  which  has  been 
flowering  since  early 
April,  is  still  (four 
weeks  later)  a  con- 
spicuous object  in 
the  woodland,  the 
large  crimson  -  scarlet 
rosettes  having  an 
admirable  background 
in  the  rich  green  9f 
the  foliage.  Near 
this  shrub  a  stripling 
Magnolia  conspicua, 
var.  superba,  is  bear- 
ing one  of  its  wonder- 
ful blooms  at  the  tip 
of  almost  every  twig 
and,  in  striking 
contrast  to  the  rather 
stiff  and  naked  Yulan, 
the  long,  arching 
wands  of  Exochorda 
grandiflora  sweep 
towards  the  path  in 
a  cascade  of  purest 
white  and  soft  grass- 
green  foliage.  Though 
as  leafless  as  in 
the  dead  of  winter, 
a  Judas  Tree  (Cercis 
Siliquastrum)  is  here 
beginning  to  blush 
redder  day  by  day 
with  the  rose-purple 
blossoming  spurs 
which  are  opening  on 
twig    and    branch. 


244 


THE     GARDEN. 


[May  27,  1922. 


Pyrus  (JIalus)  floribunda  rises  Iil;e  a  little  cloud 
of  pink  beyond  a  group  of  double  Gorse  which 
adorns  a  distant  bank,  while  in  the  middle 
distance,  lighting  up  the  shade  of  woodland 
trees,  is  a  grouping  of  Euphorbias,  most  striking 
of  which  is  E.  polychroma  with  heads  of  brilliant 
yellow. 

|»l  The  winter-spring  Heaths  having  come  nearly 
to  an  end  with  Erica  mediterranea,  var.  superba, 
thus  keeping  the  "  good  wine  "  to  the  last,  there 
might  be  a  break  in  the  succession  of  these  delightful 
plants  until  the  summer  bloomers  begin.  But 
E.  australis  fills  the  gap  at  this  stage  and  none 
could  do  it  better.  For  few,  indeed,  are  the  taller 
species  or  varieties  of  this  fascinating  race  which 
can  ri\'al  E.  australis  in  colour,  foliage  and 
distinction.     Bryanthus   empetriformis    is   also   at 


its  best  at  this  intermediary  period.  As  for  the 
Azaleas,  one  does  not  enter  their  territory  without 
hesitation,  but  a  passing  notice  must  be  made 
of  one  or  two  of  the  very  first  to  flower.  Among 
these  I  have  an  affection  for  the  old  A.  amoena, 
even  if  its  crimson  is  a  little  keen.  It  is  so  lavish 
with  its  blossoms,  so  undisturbed  by  unkindly 
weather,  and  after  all  the  hybridist  owes  it 
much. 

The  familiar  pontica  is  widely  grown  in  wood- 
land for  the  sake  of  its  perfume  and  early  blooming. 
A.  ledifolia  var.  narcissiflora  is  another  that  comes 
among  the  forerunners  of  its  kind,  and  surpassingly 
lovely  it  is  with  its  double  lilac,  very  fragrant 
flowers.  The  evergreen  A.  ledifolia,  sometimes 
blooming  in  early  April,  and  like  a  pure  white 
indica,    is    as    trustworthy    as    it    is    good.     Very 


i 

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W^p-\.          W!^ 

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^^W 

THE    ADMIRABLE    WEEPING    BROOM,    CYTISUS    KEWENSIS. 


fresh  and  delicate  is  A.  Vaseyi  in  a  waxen  pink 
and  white,  and  this  year  Rhododendron  punctatuni 
(minus)  in  a  cool  blush,  and  very  delightful  on 
its  shady  bank  amid  creeping  Ivy  and  unfolduig 
Ferns,  has  been  just  in  time  to  take  up  the  tale 
where  R.  racemosum  left  off. 

North  ]Valt:s.  A.  T.  Johnson. 


THE    WHITE    PORTUGAL    BROOM,    CYTISUS    ALBUS. 


NOTES      FROM 
GLASNEVIN 

By  Lady  Moore. 

TH,4T  remarkable  hardy  bog  plant, 
LVSICHITUM  C.\MTSCHATCENSE,  giVCS  tO 
the  bog  garden  in  the  month  of  .\piil 
a  glow  of  very  welcome  colour.  Its 
bold  rich  yellow  Arum-like  flowers, 
which  are  often  iSins.  in  height,  remain  fresh  for 
two  or  three  weeks.  The  sheath  or  spathe  then 
falls  back,  showing  the  long  spadix  covered  with 
tiny  cream-coloured  flowers,  the  spiral  arrange- 
ment being  clearly  seen.  Later  the  leaves  push 
through.  Of  a  beautiful  bright  green  marked 
with  a  darker  shade,  therj'  are  very  large,  about 
5ft.  long  and  ift.  across.  The  large  succulent 
roots  go  deep  into  the  bog.  It  seeds  freely  here 
.ill  roimd  the  parent  plant.  In  North-west 
(- iwsd-a  it  is  called  the  Skunk  Cabbage.  It  fills 
the  marshes  and  stretches'  for  miles  along  the 
lake  shores. 

The  early-flowering  Ourisha  macrophvlla  is 
a  native  of  New  Zealand,  where  it  grows  in  damp 
mountainous  localities.  Its  evergreen  leaves  are 
pointed  oval  in  shape,  sins,  long,-  deeply  veined, 
produced  from  creeping  stems.  The  pink  buds 
appear  about  the  end  of  March  ;  the  flowers  are 
white  with  yellow  hairy  centres  and  dark  brown 
veinings.  They  are  three-quarters  oi  an  inch 
across,  borne  in  whorls  on  strong  dark  stems 
which  grow  to  a  foot  or  more  in  height,  A  fine 
plant  here  grows  on  a  rocky  bank  facing  north 
and  has  spread  into  a  thick  tuft.  The  soil  is 
half  peat  and  half  loam.  It  is  well  drained,  but 
remains  moist  during  the  summer.  This  plant 
dislikes  sun.  It  comes  very  freely  from  seed. 
Ourisia  coccinea  is  often  seen  in  gardens.  Its 
bright  scarlet  tubular  flowers  make  a  great  show, 
but  for  distinction  and  charm  it  cannot  compare 
with  O.  macrophylla. 

Lathr.-ea  Clandestina  is  remarkable  and 
interesting  in  that  it  is  a  parasite,  growing  on  the 
roots  of  trees,  its  favourite  hosts  being  the  Willow 
and  Poplar.  A  plant  established  on  the  roots 
of  a  deciduous  Cypress  has  been  recorded.  It  has 
thick,  fleshy,  scaly  white  rhizomes  ;  its  stems  are 
nearly  buried  in  the  earth.  The  flower-buds  are 
produced  in  thick  spongy  masses,  which  open 
into  greyish  violet-coloured  flowers  with  a  dark 
purple  lip.  They  are  sins,  long,  erect  and  very 
numerous.  The  plant  in  this  garden  was  estab- 
lished on  the  roots  of  a  Willow  on  a  grass  bank 
beside  the  river.  It  is  now  (April  24)  in  full 
flower,  and  the  effect  is  like  that  of  a  mass  of 
purple  Crocus.  It  evidently  seeds  freely,  as  it 
has  extended  loft.  on  each  side  of  the  WiUow 
beyond  the  original  plant.  It  Ukes  a  danip  soil. 
At  Mt.  Usher,  Co.  \\'icklow,  Mr.  Walpole's  well 
known  garden,  I  have  seen  it  a  solid  square  yard 
of  purple  flowers,  on  the  roots  of  a  Willow  beside 
a  httle  stream,  unshaded  by  grass — where  one 
could  see  these  curious  supercilious-looking  flowers 
to  great  advantage.  It  is  common  in  hedge  bjmks 
in  the  Pyrenees  and  iu  the  South  of  France  ;  it 
is  also  found  in  Belgium,  Spain  and  Italy.  It  is 
much  more  attracti\'e  than  our  anaemic  English 
T  othwort,  L.  Squamaria. 


May  27,   1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


245 


THE      HOLLYH  OGK 


Its   iises    in   every   style    of  garden,    methods    of  propagation,   and 


wavs 


avoiding  and  overcoming  disease. 


of 


THOUGH  the  double  Hollyhock  of 
to-day  is  a  different  flower  to  the  double 
varieties  in  vogue,  say,  in  Parkinson's 
time,  inasmuch  as  its  beauty  is  greatly 
enhanced  by  a  very  noticeable  ring  of 
guard  petals,  yet  everyone  agrees  in  considering 
it  an  old-fashioned  flower.  It  would  be  interesting 
to  know  just  what  it  is  that  makes  a  flower  seem 
old-fashioned.  Is  it  perhaps  a  certain  primness 
of  growth  and  finish  of  flower  such  as  were  dear 
to  the  heart  of  the  old  florist  ?  The  symmetrical 
bush  and  regular  flower  of  the  double  P;eony, 
for  instance,  is  eminently  old-fashioned.  \\'ith 
the  more  truly  beautiful  single  P.Tonies,  which 
possess  more  of  grace  and  less  of  form,  much  of 
the  old-fashioned  feeling  is  lost.  So  is  it  with  the 
Hollyhock.  The  stiff  spires  of  the  double  sorts, 
with  their  individually  perfect  blossoms  so  regu- 
larly arranged  on  the  spike,  have  a  quaint 
artificiality  which  stamps  them  as  old-fashioned  ; 
but  the  equally,  if  not  more  beautiful,  single- 
flowered,  fig-leaved  and  .'Allegheny  strains  arc 
especially  when  well  grown  and  bushy,  not  old- 
fashioned  at  all — are,  in  fact,  as  modern  in  feeling  as 
their  cousins,  the  Lavateras,  Sidalceas  and  Mallows. 
.A.ncient  or  modern,  there  is  no  garden  larger 
than  a  backyard  which  might  not  well  be  adorned 
with  double  Hollyhocks,  and  the  old  or  new  style 
of  the  garden  may  equally  be  upheld  by  them 
according  to  their  arrangement.  If  the  setting  is 
old-fashioned  in  character,  the  Hollyhocks  should 
be  planted  in  serried  ranks  even  as  they  were 
planted  centuries  ago.  Plant  them,  however,  in 
bold  and  somewhat  irregular  groups  at  the  back 
of  the  herbaceous  border  mth  one  or,  at  most, 
two  colom-s  in  a  group,  and  they  are,  at  once, 
as  modern  in  conception  as  is  the  system  of  boldly 
grouping  plants  in  balanced,  but  informal  array. 

There  is  a  wide  variety  of  plants  suitable  for 
the  herbaceous  border,  but  those  who  design 
such  borders  are  well  aware  of  many  wants  among 
herbaceous  plants  still  very  imperfectly  filled, 
if  filled  at  all.  There  is,  for  instance,  small 
alternative  to  the  use  of  Hollyhocks  in  the  back 
row  of  the  border.  We  have,  it  is  true,  golden 
perennial  Sunflowers  of  sorts.  Mulleins  in  creamy 
white  and  soft  yellow  and  some  of  the  tallest 
Delphiniums  in  shades  of  blue  and  piu-ple.  Tree 
Lupins  again  in  white  and  soft  yellow  and  then, 
without  Hollyhocks,  we  are  finished. 

Very  fortunate  is  it,  then,  that  the  Hollyhock 
has  a  wide  range  of  colouring  and  that  its  shades 
are  such  that  they  harmonise  not  only  with  other 
shades  of  this  flower,  but  with  other  hardy  flowers, 
so  that  in  a  border  with  a  wide  colour  range  they 
may  be  employed  throughout  and  so  assist  in 
emphasising  the  essential  unity  of  the  whole. 
The  maroon  shades  may  be  used  in  combination 
with  the  salmon-pinks  to  make  a  striking  group, 
or  if  employed  in  a  section  of  the  border  where 
yellow-pmk  tones  prevail,  they  provide  a  delightful 
foil  to  these.  Crimson  and  soft  yellow  Hollyhocks 
and  azure  blue  flowers  of  some  sort — what  a 
combination  !  or  the  crimsons  may  be  Hollyhocks 
and  some  soft  yellow  foreground  planting  be 
introduced.  Again,  crimson  and  rose  Hollyhocks 
may  be  used  together  satisfactorily  in  those 
sections  of  the  border  where  mallow-pink  is  a 
feature ;  or,  on  occasion,  the  pure  white  may 
replace  the  crimson  in  the  combination.  If  the 
single-flowered  forms  are  used  even  more 
subtle  combinations  may  be  employed,  since  the 
flowers  themselves  usually  contain  a  combination 
of  shades. 


Hollyhocks  may  be  propagated  from  cuttings 
of  the  shoots  produced  at  the  base  of  the  plant, 
and  years  ago.  before  the  ad\'ent  of  the  dread 
fungus,     always     were     so     propagated.     Named 


A    CREAM-PINK    SINGLE    HOLLYHOCK. 

varieties  may  still  be  purchased  from  Messrs. 
V^rt,  the  firm  who  to-day  carry  on  the  Saffron 
Walden  business  started  by  the  famous  Chafer  ; 
but  most  people  are  content  to  raise  theirs  from 
seed,  or  to  buy  plants  so  raised.  If  seeds  in 
separate  colours  are  procured  from  a  reputable 
firm,  they  will  be  found  to  come  true  to  colour 
and  wonderfully  close  to  type.  They  have, 
moreover,  a  vigour  which  vegetatively  propagated 
stock  cannot  rival.  This  is  no  small  merit, 
since  height  is  one  of  the  Hollyhock's  principal 
attributes,  and  resistance  to  disease  is  vital. 

The  present  is  an  e.xcellent  season  at  which 
to  sow  the  seeds  in  drills  in  a  cold  frame  or  even 
outdoors.     The     ground     should     be     moderatelv 


rich  without  being  gross — the  Hollyhock  is  not  a 
rank  feeder  like  the  Pentstemon.  Th^  seeds  are 
large  and  not  cheap  to  buy,  so  should  be  sown 
thinly.  The  plantlets  should  not  be  coddled,  but 
should,  when  large  enough,  be  carefully  pricked 
out  in  nursery  rows  at  least  a  foot  apart.  Given 
good  culture,  they  should  be  large  enough  to  be 
moved  into  their  permanent  stations  this  autumn. 
Reference  has  been  made  to  the  Hollyhock 
fungus,  or  "  rust,"  as  it  is  sometimes  called.  This 
unquestionably  is  often  transmitted  with  the 
seed,  so  that  seed  from  infested  plants  should 
never  be  sown.  Spraying  with  Bordeaux  or 
Burgundy  mi.\ture  is  valuable,  especially  as  a 
pre\-entive ;  but  the  special  powder  offered  by 
Messrs.  Vert  is  easier  to  apply  and  certainly  not 
less  effective.  Plants  are  like  animals  in  this, 
that  each  race  seems  to  obtain,  with  time,  a 
certain  immunity  from,  or  resistance  to,  a  particular 
disease.  Certainly  the  Hollyhock  disease  is  to-day 
an  innocuous  complaint  compared  to  what  it  was 
years  ago,  when  it  practically  drove  the  Hollyhock 
out  of  cultivation.  It  might  before  now  have 
been  stamped  out  had  not  it  affected  our  wild 
Mallows.  Diseases  which  attack  wildings  are, 
of  course,  difficult  of  control.  The  Hollyhock  is 
not,  unless  propagated,  a  long-lived  plant — at 
least,  old  roots  lose  much  of  the  stately  port 
which  is  so  much  admired — so  that  batches  of 
seedlings  for  replacement  purposes  should  be 
raised  at  any  rate  every  second  year  ;  but  it  is 
probably  better  to  raise  half  the  quantity  each 
year  so  that  casual  gaps  may  be  filled  without 
trouble. 


PRIMROSES 

THE  inspiriting  account  of  Mrs.  Berkeley's 
splendid  strain  of  coloured  Primroses 
arouses  a  combination  of  the  sentiments 
of  encouragement  and  regret  in  the  mind 
of  a  fellow  worker  among  these  inestim- 
able spring  flowers ;  encouragement,  for  the 
assurance,  already  well  proved,  of  the  sure  reward 
of  many  years'  careful  selection,  and  regret  that 
one  cannot  do  a  great  deal  more.  For,  unless  one 
can  be  wisely  content,  as  is  the  owner  of  the 
Spetchley  Primroses,  to  grow  all  the  colours 
together,  one  cannot  repress  the  desire  to  take 
each  good  colouring  separately  and  work  along 
with  it  till  one  has  got  to  the  best  in  that  particular 
colour,  or  to  something  so  near  the  best  that  all 
the  varying  blooms  shall  be  good  in  themselves  and 
go  well  together.  The  sentiment  of  regret  includes 
the  fact  that  I  have  not  four  or  five  quite  separate 
gardens,  of  which  one  would  be  on  a  good  loam 
and  one  on  chalk  and  one  in  naturally  cool  wood- 
land ;  whereas  my  sole  garden  is  on  a  dry,  hungry 
sand,  with  a  hundred  feet  of  sand  and  rock  under 
it  and  above  any  natural  water  ;  so  that  Primrose 
growing  is  a  constant  fight  against  natural  condi- 
tions and  a  constant  expense  for  yearly  manuring. 
There  are  some  charming  forms  that  I  cannot  grow 
at  all,  the  old  double  ones,  white,  pale  yellow,  pale 
lilac  and  crimson  ;  they  simply  die  out,  for  they  are 
only  contented  in  a  good  loam  such  as  is  also  the 
delight  of  .A.uriculas.  These  too  are  denied  me 
to  my  unending  regret,  for  both  to  sight  and  scent, 
and  indeed  in  all  their  ways,  they  are  to  me  some  of 
the  most  joy  and  thankfulness-giving  flowers.  I 
can  never  sufficiently  praise  and  enjoy  the  adorable 
way  in  which  the  colour  and  texture  of  the  flower 
surfaces  work  together  to  form  their  miracle 
of  beauty  and  delight. 

The  large  garden  CowsUps  are  fine  things  of 
delicious  scent,  but  they  are  dangerous  to  have 
in  a  garden  with  other  Primroses.  The  Cowslip 
influence  is  so  strong  and  carries  so  readily  that 
if  they  are  anywhere  near  it  is  difficult  to  keep  the 
Primroses  true.  Gertrude  Jekvll. 


246 


THE     GARDEN. 


[May  27,  1922. 


SOME    ALPINE    PINKS 

THE  veriest  tyro  with  a  small  rockery 
will  usually  cultivate  a  number  of  more 
or  less  suitable  varieties  of  Dianthus 
upon  it.  Many  of  the  sorts  frequently 
seen  upon  such  rockeries  are  mongrel 
forms  owning  probably  a  certain  amount  of  Cheddar 
Pink  "  blood."  The  Cheddar  Pink  (D.  CKsius) 
is  assuredly  an  easy  and  worthy  plant  for  the 
rock  garden,  though  perhaps  the  form  D.  c. 
arvemensis,  much  more  compact  in  habit  and 
shorter  of  stalk,  will  appeal  more  strongly  to  the 
real  alpine  enthusiast. 

The  limestone-loving  Dianthus  alpinus  is  not 
easily  persuaded  to  give  of  its  best  in  Britain  ; 
still,  even  as  it  grows  here,  it  is  a  singularly  beautiful 
plant  with  rich  green,  broad,  blunted-ended  foliage 
and  flowers  of  such  regularity  and  roundness  as 
would  suit  the  lover  of  florist's  flowers.  There  are 
numerous  varieties,  but  it  is  doubtful  whether  any 
excel  in  beauty  the  typical  plant. 

Dianthus  callizonus  is,  many  would  say,  even 
more  beautiful  than  D.  alpinus.  It  is  hghter  in 
colouring  with  a  darker  zone 
sprinkled  w'ith  white  spots.  Both 
D.D.  alpinus  and  callizonus  and 
the  hybrid  between  them  (D.  x 
cal-alpinus)  hke  abundant  sun- 
shine in  well  drained  soil.  The 
ravages  of  slugs  and  snails 
must  be  guarded  against.  The 
hybrid  is  roughly  intermediate 
between  the  two  species,  which 
cross  very  readily. 

Dianthus  neglectus  is  also  a 
sun-lover,  but  does  not  appreci- 
ate calcareous  soil  and  succeeds 
best  of  all  in  the  rockery  cliff. 
This  is  a  variable  treasure,  but 
at  its  best  the  cherry-red  blos- 
soms with  a  buff  reverse  are 
among  the  most  vivid  things 
in  the  June  rock  garden.  D.D. 
alpinus  and  callizonus  do  best 
in  the  moraine,  but  the  same 
cannot  be  said  of  D.   neglectus,  »     - 

though    it    may    be    established  V'"" 

there. 

Dianthus  sylvestris,  so  called, 
as  Farrer  pithily  puts  it, 
"  because  it  is  never  found  in 
woods,"  should  more  properly 
be  known  as  D.  inodorus.  It 
is  a  more  variable  plant  than 
even  D.  neglectus  with  clear 
Dink  blossoms,  sometimes  round 
ind  smooth  edged,  anon  starry 
ind  toothed.  Dianthus  frigidus 
of  gardens  is,  according  to 
Farrer,  but  a  form  of  this 
species,  but  it  is  for  garden  pur- 
poses sufficiently  distinct,  with 
huge  blossoms  on  quite  short 
stalks. 

Dianthus  superbus,  with  hlac, 
deeply  fringed  flowers  on  rather 
weak  foot-tall  stems  is  a  sub- 
alpine  species  which  likes  a 
western  exposure.  Its  scent  is 
truly  delightful. 

The  Maiden  Pink,  D.  deltoides, 
needs  little  description.  It  will  seed  itself  and 
flourish  almost  anywhere — even  in  the  gravel 
of  the  garden  path.  The  best  forms  of  this 
rather  variable  plant  are,  however,  both  beauti- 
ful and  striking,  and  it  flowers  when  many 
alpines  are  over.  This  is  interesting  as  a 
native  species.  BotanicaJly  D.  graniticus  is 
quite     distinct    from    this,    but    from    a    garden 


standpoint  they  are  much  alike.  The  cluster- 
headed  Pinks,  though  many  of  them  true 
alpines,  are  hardly  beautiful.  They  resemble 
too  much  a  singularly  ill-grown  Sweet  William. 
D.  Carthusianorum  may  be  taken  as  the  type  ; 
it  has  several  varieties.  Then  there  are  D. 
cruentus,  even  taller  and  weedier,  but  with  paler 
crimson  flowers  ;  D.  atrorubens,  dwarfer  in  habit 
and  with  larger  and  more  showy  flower-heads, 
and  a  host  more,  all  inferior  to  a  good  strain  of 
the  Maiden  Pink,  for  instance. 

Three  tiny  forms  for  the  moraine  shall  conclude 
this  brief  note.  These  are  D.D.  microlepis 
(pumilus),  Freynii  and  glacialis.     The  two  former 


can  hardly  be  separated,  as  they  are  much  alike 
and  both  variable.  In  both  the  flowers  are  carried 
quite  close  to  the  spreading,  tufted,  rather  glaucous 
foliage.  D.  glacialis  differs  in  having  rather  larger 
tufts  of  greener  foliage  with  relatively  smaller 
blossoms. 

Much  of  the  want  of  vigour  often  attributed  to 
the  choicer  alpine  Pinks  has  come  about  by  over 
division.  They  should,  whenever  possible,  be 
raised  from  seed,  but  in  saving  one's  own  seed 
steps  must  usually  be  taken  to  prevent  cross- 
pollination  if  the  different  species  are  required 
true.  Collected  seed  of  many  sorts  is  cheap  and, 
of  course,  reliable. 


WALLFLOWERS  IN  THE  SPRING  GARDEN 

By   Gertrude    Jekvll,    V.JM.H. 


THOSE  who  live  on  chalky  soils  should  remem- 
ber  that  they  would  do  well  to  give  special 
attention  to  the  Wallflower  and  all  its  tribe. 
Plants  of  the  order  Crucifer^  will  thrive  in  any  good 


SOME    TYPICAL    WALLFLOWERS. 

oam,  but  do  specially  well  on  chalk  and  are  never 
happy  or  really  vigorous  in  places  where  the  soil 
is  light  or  sandy.  It  is  easy  to  remember  this  by 
thinking  ofj^the  natural  habitat  of  the  wild  Wall- 
flower ;  the  joints  and  crevices  in  the  masonry 
of  old  walls  and  ancient  ruined  buildings,  where  it 
is  most  usually  found,  the  roots  feeding  on  the  relics 
of  the  old  mortar. 


Those  who  are  on  a  suitable  soil  and  who 
are  able  to  give  a  separate  place  to  a  garden 
of  spring  flowers,  will  have  the  opportunity 
of  growing  Wajlflowers  to  the  very  best  advan- 
tage. They  are  splendid  in 
long  drifts  as  a  groundwork  to 
Tulips  of  accompanying  or  con- 
trasting colours — Tulips  of  scarlet 
and  deep  orange  with  the  blood- 
red  colourings,  pink  TuUps  with 
ivory  white,  leading  to  white 
Tulips  rising  from  sheets  of 
Forget  -  me  -  not  and  Aubrietia. 
Then  tall  yellow  Wallflowers, 
largely  intergrouped  with  the  tall 
Doronicum,  with  yellow  Tulips  in 
front  and  a  bold  backing  of  the 
plaited-leaved  Veratrum  and  the 
larger  fern-like  leaves  of  Sweet 
Cicely  ;  and  these  running  into 
clumps  of  Solomon's  Seal,  with 
corresponding  dwarf  yellow  Wall- 
flowers to  the  front.  There  are 
now  splendid  colourings  of  rich, 
deep  orange  that  tone  grandly 
into  the  mahogany  browns,  and 
form  the  finest  possible  setting 
for  Tulips  of  near  colours. 

Many    as    are    the    good   new 
forms  of  the  sweet  and  welcome 
Wallflower,    there    is    one    class 
of    colouring    that    has    as     yet 
escaped   the    bettering   of  which 
it  is  undoubtedly  capable  at  the 
hands    of     the      selecting     seed 
grower.     The    old    purple    Wall- 
flower    is     already     a     valuable 
plant,   but  the  redder  forms  that 
have     evidently     been      derived 
from   it   seem    to    have    exclus- 
ively   absorbed   the    energies    of 
the  grower,  to  the  entire  neglect 
of    the    really    good    cool  purple 
that      is     so     badly     wanted — • 
a      purple       inclining       towards 
blue    rather    than    towards    red. 
We     want     such     a    purple     to 
go     with     TuUps     Erguste     and 
Rev.      Ewbank      and      the     old 
tall     double.    Bleu    Celeste.       It 
would    also    be    a    lovely    thing 
in  combination  with  white  TuUps 
and    double   Narcissus    poeticus,    with    a    ground 
covering     of     Aubrietia    and     white     Primroses. 
.'\ny   influential    seed  house   that   would    promote 
the   growing   of  such    a    good    purple    Wallflower 
would   be   doing   a   signal  service   to   horticulture 
and    could    hardly    fail   of   finding  the  just  reward 
that   awaits   the   production  of  something  that  is 
reallv  wanted. 


I 


May  27,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


247 


THE     GREAT     SPRING     SHOW 

AT    CHELSEA 

As  Seen  by  The  Garden's  Special  Staff  of  Disinterested  Correspondents. 


GARDENING  in  its  different 
aspects  is  a  profession,  a  science, 
an  art  and  a  hobby.  Results, 
good  or  bad,  even,-  gardener 
obtains,  and  results  rather  than 
events  absorb  the  average  gardener's 
interest.  Events  in  the  world  of  horti- 
culture may  be  summed  up  in  two  words — 
flower  shows — and  the  average  amateur 
gardener  or,  as  we  should  prefer  to  call 
him,  the  enthusiastic  garden  hobbyist 
takes  little  interest  in  ordinary  flower 
[Shows.  If  he  subscribes  to  and  takes 
an  interest  in  the  local  horticultural 
society,  he  usually  does  so  rather 
as  a  dutv'  to  liis  neighbours 
than  for  anv  particular  pleasure 
the  show  affords  him. 

The  fortnightly  meetings  of 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society 
with  their  ever-flowing  stream 
of  new  introductions  probably 
interest  him — directly  if  he  li\-e 
within  easy  reach  of  London, 
indirectly  through  the  columns 
of  The  Garden  if  his  work  lie 
further  away.  The  summer 
shows  usually  held  hitherto  at 
Holland  House  he  has  regarded 
as  glorified — much  glorified — 
"  fortnightlies."  "Chelsea," 
howe\'er,  as  the  spring  show  is 
universally,  one  had  almost 
^\Titten  aftectionately,  called,  is 
ibe  event  of  the  gardening 
year.  It  is  in  many  ways 
entirely  different  to  the  fort- 
nightly meetings.  There  are, 
of  course,  plants  put  up  for 
award  at  Chelsea,  but  they 
form  but  a  very  small  part  of 
the  attraction  of  the  show. 

B}-  far  the  greater  number  of 
visitors  to  the  Hospital  Gardens 
are  there,  primarily  at  all  events, 
to  gather  ideas  as  to  garden 
arrangement.  It  may  be  urged 
that  if  this  be  so  it  is  rather 
remarkable  that  the  garden 
designs  displayed  in  their  special 
tent  are  not  more  largely  visited. 
For  this,  however,  there  are  at  least  two 
reasons.  In  the  first  place,  not  everyone 
in  search  of  ideas  as  to  garden  arrange- 
ment wants  his  garden  re-designed.  He 
may  be  in  search  of  colour  effect  for  a 
particular  border  or  he  may  think,  for 
instance,  of  introducing  or  adding  a  rock 
garden.  In  neither  case  will  he  feel  the 
■want  of  a  comprehensive  garden  plan. 
Secondly,  not  everyone  has  the  ability 
to  visualise  a  garden  even  from  the  best 
drawn  plan.  Thus  it  comes  about  that 
while  the  garden  designs  are  comparatively 
neglected,  the  various  model  gardens,  built 
of  the  proper  materials  and  aglow  with 
pleasing  colour,  are  so  thronged  that  it  is 
hardly  possible  to  get  that  comprehensive 
view  which  alone  can  do  them  justice. 


The  area  devoted  to  such  model  gardens, 
for  though  to  a  large  scale — some  even 
"  life  size  " — models  they  are,  is  this 
year  larger  than  ever,  so  that  one  wonders 
where  a'l  the  business  can  spring  from 
that  can  justify  such  great  exrenditure. 
They  undoubtedly  get  more  numerous  and 
more  ornate  season  by  season. 

The  %-arious  features  of  the  show  will 
be  found  reported  upon  very  fuUy  and 
candidly  in  the  following  reports, 
but  there  is  one  other  matter  to 
which  special  attention  may  well  be 
drawn.       Se\'eral        extraordinarily        fine 


SUTTON  S    GIANT    STREPTOCARPUS. 

exhibits  draw  attention  to  the  value  of 
well  grown  hardy  and  half-hardy  annuals 
for  conservator\-  and  house  decoration  in 
springtime.  Annuals  are  still  insufficiently 
appreciated  not  only  for  this  purpose — 
though  for  that  alone  they  are  invaluable — - 
but  also  for  the  open  border  in  summer 
and  autumn. 

At  the  Show  their  merits  for  decorative 
purposes  may  readily  be  compared  with 
those  of  more  orthodox  greenhouse  plants, 
and  most  people  will  find  them  little,  if 
any,  inferior.  When  it  comes  to  "  practical 
politics,"  however,  the  difference  in  cost 
of  production  is  really  startling.  The 
hardy  annuals  may  well  be  accommodated 
in  cold  frames  in  winter,  while  e\'en  the 
gorgeous  Calceolarias  need  no   more  heat 


than  will  comfortably  keep  them  frost 
free.  They  will  in  winter  be  better  in  a 
pit  or  frame  with  heat  available  than  in  a 
greenhouse. 


MODEL    GARDENS. 

Tlie  spectacular  outdoor  exhibits  at  Chelsea 
have  hitherto  resolved  themselves  into  two 
classes — gardens  formally  treated  and  rock 
gardens.  No  such  arbitrary  division  is  possible 
this  year.  The  rock  gardens  are  there  as  usual, 
and  a  very  good  and  representative  lot  they  are, 
but  the  remaining  exhibits  represent  almost 
every  style  of  gardening  and  sometimes 
two  or  three  styles  merged  into  one 
exhibit. 

A  consistent  exhibitor  at  Chelsea 
is  Mr.  Jones  of  the  Horsecombe 
Quarries,  but  beyond  question  he 
has  on  this  occasion  surpassed  himself. 
The  walling  is  everywhere  carried 
out,  as  usual,  in  the  narrow-coursed 
Horsecombe  stone.  The  garden  is 
secluded  from  the  Elm  Tree  Avenue 
by  a  wall  surmounted  with  thatch 
"  Zunimerzettshire  "-wise,  and  a 
thatched  gateway  gives  access  to 
the  garden.  Within  the  gateway  a 
trickle  of  water  is  bridged,  of  which 
more  anon,  and  then  two  steps  up 
lead  to  a  quaint  but  restful  little 
formal  garden  of  which  the  walls 
rise  about  isins.  above  grass  level. 
Within  them  a  narrow  (iSin.)  border 
filled  very  naturally  with  masses  of 
spring  flowers  gives  a  touch  of  har- 
monious colour.  On  the  left  hand  a 
2ft.  wide  border  on  the  higher  ground 
level  with  the  wall  top  increases  the 
effect.  The  old-fashioned  lawn  behind 
is  adorned  with  an  .Apple  tree  of  some 
size  and  age.  Other  Apple  trees  and 
Silver  Birches  serve  to  frame  the 
garden.  Fitting  admirably  into  the 
ge  .eral  scheme,  a  Tudor  style  garden 
house  and  pump  house  combined 
(complete  with  pump)  emphasises 
the  note  struck  elsewhere.  .A.  trickle 
of  water  starts  from  a  spring  in  the 
near  left-hand  comer  as  one  enters 
the  garden  and,  running  round  two  sides  of  the 
garden,  ends  in  a  little  pool.  The  main  vista 
from  the  entrance  gate  crosses,  beyond  the  garden- 
house,  a  small  sunk  Iris  garden  to  end  in  a  really 
beautiful  wrought-iron  screen  of  Italian  work- 
manship. .A  cross  vista  through  the  Iris  garden 
terminates  at  one  end  in  a  well-head,  and  at  the 
other  in  a  very  beautiful  and  imposing  sundial. 
Bevond  these  a  stone  seat  represents  all  the  garden 
furniture  included  in  the  scheme,  which  is  as  it 
should  be. 

Messrs.  Bunyard  of  Maidstone  have  a  really 
charming  Iris  garden,  which,  with  Messrs. 
.Macdonald's  garden  of  Grasses,  should  be  the  Mecca 
of  those  whose  eyes  have  become  tired  of  kaleidos- 
copic colour.  The  garden  is  arranged  on  two 
levels,  of  which  the  outer  and  higher  is  planted 
with    Bearded   Irises   and    other   plants,    and   the 


248 


THE     GARDEN. 


[May  27,  1922. 


lower,  taking  the  form  of  a  circular  sunk  garden, 
entirely  with  Irises  ;  Bearded  Irises  filling  all  the 
beds  except  a  small  one  around  the  central  sundial, 
which  is  planted  with  Spanish  Irises.  Simple  in 
design  and  feeling,  but  admirably  proportioned, 
this  garden  gains  much  by  the  natural  spacing 
of  the  plants,  a  point  too  often  neglected  at  flower 
shows. 

With  a  rectangular  space  to  dispose  of,  such  as 
many  readers  of  The  Garden  have  to  make  shift 
with,  Messrs.  Wallace  have  contrived  an  exhibit 
of  purely  informal  planting  of  which  it  is  possible 
to  speak  in  terms  of  the  highest  praise.  From 
view  points  only  a  few  paces  apart  it  is  possible 
in  this  exhibit  to  get  two  pictures,  each  perfect 
in  its  way  but  quite  dissimilar,  the  one  giving  a 
glimpse  through  a  Rhododendron  dell  with  two 
wonderful  specimen  Rhododendrons  as  part  of 
the  picture,  and  the  other  with  woodland  shade 
and  water,  waterside  Primulas  and  Mollis  Azaleas 
in  glorious  and  brilliant  hues  all  contributing  to 
a  beautiful  picture. 

Messrs.  Carters  have  a  purely  formal  garden 
of  which  the  outer  borders  are  filled  with  Tulips, 
Anchusas  and  Rhododendrons.  Some  of  the 
pink-toned  Tulips,  by  the  way,  hardly  seem  to 
the  writer  to  tone  one  with  another.  A  little 
sunk  garden  in  the  centre  serves  mainly  to  display 
an  amusing  novelty — a  floral  clock  which  certainly 
goes  and  is  said  to  keep  Greenwich  time  !  It  is 
not  necessary  to  criticise  such  an  exhibit  from  a 
practical  point  of  view  or  one  might  draw  atten- 
tion to  the  turf  running  to  the  foot  of  the  retaining 
walls  as  difficult  and  expensive  to  maintain. 
Substitute,  however,  a  floral  sundial  for  the  clock 
and  the  idea  would  be  practicable  enough. 

On  the  other  side  and  at  the  bottom  of  the  Elm 
Tree  Avenue  Mr.  Klinkert  of  Richmond  has  a  formal 
garden  entirely  of  topiary.  The  garden  is  inter- 
sected by  avenues  edged  with  the  soft  grey  and 
mauve  of  Nepeta  Mussinii,  and  the  views  down 
these  are  pleasing  enough,  but  it  is  as  a  topiary 
exhibit  that  it  should  really  be  considered,  and 
from  this  point  of  view  it  is  possible  to  speak  of 
it  with  unstinted  praise. 

The  value  of  Polyantha  Roses  for  tedding 
cannot  be  over-emphasised,  and  it  is  a  real  pleasure 
to  see  these  bedded  out  in  Messrs.  Cheal's  sunk 
garden.     Among  the  Roses  is  a  narrow  Lily  tank, 


so  narrow  at  its  ends  as  to  be  practically  a  rill. 
One  minor  point  of  criticism  here.  Like  Messrs. 
Carter,  the  Crawley  firm  run  their  turf  to  the 
foot  of  the  retaining  wall,  which  is  hardly  practical. 


only  for  one.  The  consequence  is  that  despite 
very  carefully  and  well  arranged  stone  the  informal 
rock,  shrub  and  water  garden,  because  of  the 
formal    side    hedges,    looks    somewhat    suburban 


A    RHODODENDRON    GLADE    IN    MESSRS.    WALLACE'S    EXHIBIT. 


It  is  not  possible  to  get  enthusiastic  about  Messrs. 
Cheal's  garden  house.  On  the  opposite  side, 
however,  a  pergola  is  very  appropriately  placed, 
which  seems  to  us,  as  set,  a  thought  too  high  for 
its  width,  but  not  everyone  would  agree  as  to  this. 
Behind  the  pergola,  again,  an  avenue  of  splendid 
topiary  showed  the  quaintly  clipped  specimens 
to  much  advantage.  This  is  beyond  doubt  the 
ideal  method  of  exhibiting  them. 

Messrs.  Gaze  of  Kingston  have  an  exhibit  which 
has  excellent  features,  but  they  seem  to  have 
tried  to  put  two  gardens  into  a  space  large  enough 


A    WEST    COUNTRY    GARDEN    AS    CONCEIVED    BY    MR.    JONES. 


and  '  pretty-pretty."  The  little  sunk  blue  garden, 
however,  strikes  a  more  restful  note.  The  paved 
paths  and  pergolas  leading  up  to  these  features 
are  well  arranged  and  particularly  pleasing. 
Messrs.  Gaze  include  a  dry  tennis  court  and  a 
garden  house  in  their  exhibit. 

Messrs.  R.  Neal  and  Sons  of  Wandsworth 
Common  have  also  attempted  an  ambitious 
programme  in  a  Umited  space.  A  miniature 
canal  spanned  by  a  substantial  stone  foot  bridge 
leads  to  a  summer-house  absurdly  inadequate 
to  the  approach.  In  front  Messrs.  Neal  display 
a  suitably  arranged  rockery  bank. 

The  En-tout-Cas  Company  display  a  mode) 
of  their  famous  hard  court  in  an  agreeable  setting. 
The  court  and  a  pleasing  surround  fill  the  centre 
of  the  exhibits  beyond  which  a  quaint  little  forma) 
garden  leads  to  a  rather  nice  thatched  wooden 
summer-house.  Nemesias  and  Azaleas  provide 
most  of  the  colour,  and  white  Stocks  and  Mignonette 
form  an  effective  bank  at  the  entrance. 

Messrs.  Macdonald  of  Harpenden  have  a  formal 
garden  consisting  entirely  of  their  magnificent 
turf  and  various  ornamental  Grasses.  This  is  a 
cool  and  really  beautiful  exhibit  which  no  visitor 
should  miss. 

Messrs.  John  Waterer,  Sons  and  Crisp  have  an 
exhibit  of  which  the  principal  feature  is  an  oval 
sunk  garden  bedded  with  rose  Tulips  and  Nepeta 
Mussinii.  The  surround  to  this  consists  almost 
entirely  of  dwarf  plants  of  Pink  Pearl  Rhododen- 
dron. Well  arranged  borders  of  hardy  shrubs 
and  some  excellent  topiary  complete  the  exhibit, 
which  would  have  been  improved  if  rectangular 
paving  had  been  employed  instead  of  "  crazy." 

Messrs.  Kent  and  Brydon  have  a  quite  successfu) 
rock  and  water  garden,  marred  only  by  the 
obviously  rectangular  outline  of  the  space  utilised. 
The  entrance  is  contrived  through  pleasing  banks 
of  Rhododendrons  and  Azaleas. 

Mr.  Herbert  Brook  has  an  exhibit  showing 
the  practical  application  of  stone  to  garden 
making. 


May  27,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


249 


ROCK  GARDENS 

Where  so  much  and  such  diverse  excellence 
is  to  be  seen  it  is  difficult  to  wield  a  critical  pen. 
There  is  this  year  no  rock  garden  which  anyone 
need  be  ashamed  to  own.  Most  of  them  would, 
indeed,  grace  any  garden. 

Of  Mr.  John  Wood's  exhibit  it  may  be  said 
at  once  that  it  is,  at  any  rate,  the  equal  of  anything 
he  has  built  at  Chelsea  hitherto,  and  that  is  high 
praise.  His  scheme  represents,  as  usual,  a  stretch 
of  moorland,  idealised,  it  is  true,  but  still  moorland. 
His  levels  and  water  are,  as  always,  beautifully 
managed,  and  the  planting,  though  by  no  means 
skimpy,  is  admirably  restrained.  His  use  of  a 
huge  number  of  splendid  clumps  of  Gentianella 
should  be  an  object  lesson  to  many  amateur  con- 
structors. 

Captain  Symons-Jeune  also  has  a  "  moorland  " 
exhibit,  quite  well  done  and  more  effectively 
planted  than  has  been  his  custom  at  these  shows 
hitherto. 

In  a  more  "  domesticated  "  vein,  and  incidentally 
a  more  practical  one,  since  "moorland"  is  not 
cheap  to  maintain,  Messrs.  G.  G.  Whitelegg  and  Co. 
have  a  refreshing  bit  of  work  displaying  fine  and 
well  arranged  masses  of  Phlox  canadensis,  P. 
setacea  G.  F.  Wilson  and  P.  s.  Vivid,  with 
Aubrietias,  Saxifrages,  Sun  Roses,  /Ethionemas, 
Gentianellas  and  other  suitable  plants.  The  water- 
fall and  deep  crannied  pool  are  exceedingly  well 
done. 

In  a  rather  different  but  still  practical  gardening 
style,  Messrs.  Pulham's  rock  garden  is  sufficiently 
effective,  though  it  lacks  those  beautiful  ravine 
glimpses  which  give  so  much  joy.  Among  a  lot 
of   excellent   plants   one   noted   Salix   alpina   (the 


Alpine  Willow)  ;  also  a  nice  patch  of  Trilliums, 
albeit  the  ledge  on  which  they  were  placed 
looked  over-dry  for  the  plants  in  question. 

Messrs.  Tucker  of  Oxford  go  in  rather  for  the 
practical  than  the  spectacular.  The  hardy 
Maidenhairs  (Adiantum  pedatum)  by  the  inevitable 
waterfall  are  very  beautiful.  Of  the  admirable 
alpines,  including  many  moraine  plants,  we  shall 
have  more  to  say  in  our  next  issue.  One  small 
criticism !  Why  plant  Silene  alpestris  in  the 
moraine  ? 

Messrs.  Hobsons  of  Nottingham  have  a  rockery 
in  a  material  widely  different  from  the  others, 
large  blocks  of  weathered  sandstone  being  employed. 
In  the  space  allotted  them  little  effect  of  depth  is 
possible.  Visitors  can,  by  the  aid  of  this  exhibit, 
easily  compare  the  advantages  and  disadvantages 
of  sandstone  and  the  moorland  limestone  outcrop 
now  so  generally  used. 

Mr.  Clarence  Elhott  has  a  little  rock  garden 
mainly  consisting  of  a  low  bank  which  would  be 
excellent  for  alpine  culture.  Of  his  plants  we  shall 
have  something  to  say  in  next  week's  issue. 


IRISES 

The  bearded  Irises  have  lately  taken  two  Con- 
tinents by  storm,  and  now,  both  in  Europe  and 
North  America,  they  form  one  of  the  most  important 
groups  of  all  hardy  garden  plants.  It  might  almost 
be  said  that  the  Iris  has  grown  in  popularity 
hand  in  hand  with  the  popularity  of  gardening 
itself,  but  w^hile  appreciating  the  magnificent 
inheritance  of  remarkable  flowers  brought  into 
being  by  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Bliss,  Mr.  Dykes,  Sir 
Arthur  Hort,  M.  Denis  and  Mr.  Yeld,  we  must 
not  overlook  the  value  of  the  pioneer  work  done  by 


the  late  Sir  Michael  Foster  and  the  late  M.  Henri  de 
Vilmorin.  These  two  enthusiastic  hybridisers 
were  at  work  as  far  back  as  the  'seventies  of  last 
century,  the  former  collecting  a  great  variety  of 
plants  from  Central  Asia  and  Asia  Minor,  from 
which  many  of  his  seedlings  were  derived.  M. 
Vilmorin's  early  attempts,  on  the  other  hand, 
were  mainly  crosses  of  I.  I.  asiatica,  trojana  and 
cypriana.  This,  however,  is  not  the  place  to  trace 
the  history  of  these  delightful  flowers  now  spread 
for  our  captivation,  rather  let  us  note  a  few  of  the 
outstanding  varieties.  All  lovers  of  the  bearded 
Iris  will  gravitate  to  Messrs.  Wallace  and  Co.'s 
collection.  The  famous  Tunbridge  Wells  firm  have 
brought  up  one  of  the  most  brilliant  collections 
of  Irises  ever  seen  at  Chelsea,  practically  every 
flower  is  a  gem,  and  they  show  at  a  glance  the 
enormous  advance  made  in  recent  years  by  the 
best  known  raisers  of  the  day.  One  is  pleased  to 
note  the  much  discussed  American  variety.  Lent  A. 
Williamson,  said  to  be  the  finest  hybrid  yet  raised 
in  the  United  States.  A  noble  flower  of  fine  pro- 
portions it  is  ;  but  it  is  in  hard  company,  surrounded 
by  the  gems  of  British  and  French  production, 
and  we  shall  hardly  offend  our  American  friends  if 
we  state  that  it  is  not  the  best  Iris  of  the  lot. 
Close  by  are  Prospero,  a  Yeld  hybrid  of  outstanding 
merit ;  Lady  Foster,  one  of  the  finest  of  those 
raised  by  the  late  Sir  Michael ;  the  stately  Lord 
of  June,  a  glorious  study  in  lavender  and  violet ; 
and  Crusader,  a  near  approach  to  real  blue.  Every 
one  will  notice  the  giant-flowered  Magnifica,  a 
Vilmorin  introduction  of  great  merit,  but  one  of  the 
beauties  of  the  collection  is  much  more  modest 
in  size  and  must  be  sought  out,  Suzan  Bliss  by 
name,  and  the  nearest  approach  to  pink  we  have 
yet   seen   in   this   genus.     It   is   really   a   delicate 


A    GLIMPSE   IN    MESSRS.    WHITELEGG'S   ROCK   GARDEN 


ONE   OF   SEVERAL    PICTURES   IN   MR.   JOHN   WOOD  S   EXHIBIT. 


250 


THE     GARDEN. 


[May  27,  1922. 


lavender  pink,  but  dainty  and  sweet  to  a  degree. 
Phyllis  Bliss,  its  parent,  is  alongside,  but  the  colour 
scheme  is  not  so  delicate  nor  the  flower  quite 
so  refined.  Here,  too,  can  be  seen  Dominion, 
Morwell,  Mrs.  Cowley,  Sweet  Lavender,  Dimity, 
Blue  Lagoon  and  Cretonne,  a  cluster  of  variously 
coloured  Bliss  seedlings  of  much  merit.  From  the 
same  source  one  can  hardly  omit  the  lovely  little 
Sudan,  of  dwarf  growth  and  bright  colouring,  or 
Dusky  Maid  in  its  quiet  gown  of  coppery  pink. 
Indeed,  to  launch  out  on  a  description  of  the  Irises 
raised  by  Mr.  Bliss  alone  would  be  something  like  a 
disquisition  on  the  genus,  and  yet  would  leave  out 
such  giants  of  the  race  given  to  us  by  the  Vilmorins, 
the  Yelds,  the  Horts  and  the  Dykeses.  The 
gist  of  the  whole  matter  is  that  no  visitor  must 
leave  Chelsea  without  an  exhaustive  examination 
of  Wallace's  Irises. 

But  other  Iris  exhibits  must  also  be  explored. 
There  is  the  unique  stand  of  Regelia  and  Regelio- 
Cyclus  Irises  shown  by  Messrs.  W'hitelegg  and  Co., 
of  Chislehurst,  of  which  we  have  never  seen  finer 
samples.  Nor  have  we  ever  seen  such  a  lavish 
display  of  that  excellent  garden  plant  of  recent 
introduction — Iris  Hoogiana.  This  is  probably  the 
most  beautiful  and  certainly  the  easiest  of  cultiva- 
tion of  the  Regelia  section  and  quite  moderate 
in  price.  Korola,  and  Korolkowi  Leichtliniana  are 
members  of  the  same  section,  the  former  r.iised 
by  Mr.  Dykes,  and  a  very  striking  flow-er.  Some  of 
Messrs.  Whitelegg's  new  Regelio-Cyclus  hybrids  are 
specially  worthy  of  note,  but  it  is  rather  difficult 
to  get  words  to  catch  a  true  description  of  the 
wonderful  colours  depicted  in  these  flowers.  Isolda 
has  a  ground  colour  of  old  gold  heavily  veined  and 
stippled  with  brown.  Camilla,  a  handsome 
novelty,  has  standards  of  mauvy-purple  and  falls 
of  cream  very  densely  flushed  and  lined  dark 
velvety  purple.  Thalia,  again,  is  cream,  beautifully 
reticulated  brown,  and  Osiris,  also  new,  with  white 
standards  suffused  with  a  purple  flush  and  netted 
purple  black,  falls  white,  veined  deepest  purple, 
is  conspicuous.  Freya,  Vera  and  Hebe  are  all 
new  introductions,  while  among  the  older  ones 
one  would  specially  note  for  their  beauty  Charon, 
Psyche  and  Una. 

Mr.  Amos  Perrj-  has,  as  usual,  a  most  varied 
table  of  Irises  chosen  from  the  tall  bearded,  the 
intermediate,  and  the  Regelio-Cyclus  sections. 
Here,  too,  is  a  fine  mass  of  Iris  Susiana,  ever. attrac- 
tive by  reason  of  its  strange  and  sombre  garb. 
Among  the  Regelio-Cyclus  specimens,  particularly 
pretty  are  Pollux,  Orestes,  Jocaste  and  Mars. 
The  species  Iris  Vaga  is  not  often  exhibited  and  will 
strike  visitors  as  being  something  quite  out  of  the 
common.  Its  dainty  dress  is  a  "  Liberty  "  fabric 
in  bronze,  purple  and  lavender. 


ful  yellow  Malmaison  ;  Wivelsfield  Apricot,  a  free- 
flowering  apricot — quite  a  new  one  in  Perpetual 
Carnations ;  Wivelsfield  White,  a  chaste  white 
sort ;  Triumph,  a  good  deep,  rich  crimson  ; 
Benora,  white  fancy,  streaked  red  ;  Marion  Wilson, 


these    two    latter    are    the    two    largest   Perpetual 
Carnations  in  cultivation. 

Good  quality  always  characterises  the  blooms  set 
up  by  Messrs.  K.  Luxford  and  Co.,  Harlow,  Essex. 
These  exhibitors,  Uke   several  others,  suffered  for 


PERPETUAL-FLOWERING 
CARNATIONS 

The  whole  of  the  north  end  of  Xo.  i  Tent  is  occu- 
pied with  one  of  the  most  remarkable  displays  of 
these  popular  flowers,  arranged  by  Messrs.  Allwood 
Brothers,  Hayward's  Heath.  In  this  instance  this 
firm  have  surpassed  themselves  in  the  way  in 
which  they  have  disposed  the  well  grown  blooms 
of  high  quality.  Doulton  ware,  in  great  variety 
and  highly  artistic,  is  largely  used,  with  the  result 
that  the  exhibit  is  quite  unique.  This  wonderful 
display  is  sure  to  be  one  of  the  chief  attractions 
of  this  great  Show,  and  deservedly  so.  The 
groundwork  and  background  of  black  velvet 
accentuate  the  beauty  of  individual  vases  of 
blossoms,  and  handsome  Palms  and  cut  foliage 
add  materially  to  the  general  effect.  Our 
attention  is  particularly  attracted  to  Maine  Sun- 
shine, regarded  as  the  best  yellow  Carnation  ; 
Edward  ."Mlwood,  scarlet ;  Jessie  Allwood,  a  beauti- 


MESSRS.    BUNYARD  S    IRIS     GARDEN. 


yellow  streaked  red  ;  Mary  .A.llwood,  a  notable 
cherry  salmon-coloured  flower  of  fine  quality ; 
Eastern  Maid,  a  heliotrope  flaked  sort  of  con- 
siderable charm,  and  the  new  salmon-cerise  frag- 
rant \\  ivelsfield  Pink. 

An  exhibit  of  Carnations  which  is  sure  to  attract 
every  visitor's  attention  is  that  arranged  by  Mr.  C. 
Engelmann,  Saffron  Walden,  Essex.  This  display 
is  arranged  in  No.  i  tent  and  is  of  circular  form, 
towering  up  to  a  considerable  height,  only  a  few 
feet  below  the  canvas  roof  of  the  tent.  There  are 
no  fewer  than  six  hundred  dozen  blooms  in  this 
fine  exhibit,  which  comprises  novelties  and  standard 
sorts,  all  in  the  pink  of  condition.  The  blooms 
are  remarkably  fresh  and  very  bright  and  clean. 
We  could  not  fail  to  notice  the  following  sorts  : 
Tarzan,  a  grand  scarlet ;  Cream  Saffron,  a  lovely 
cream  sport  from  Saffron — a  new  colour  ;  Circe, 
mau\'e  flaked  ;  Crystal  White,  one  of  the  purest 
white  sorts.  There  is  a  very  fine  vase  of  Laddie, 
a  beautiful  flesh  pink  sort.  Nigger,  a  new  rich 
crimson,  is  very  fine.  One  of  the  coming  scarlet 
sorts  is  Scarlet  lona — a  sport  from  the  latter. 
A  new  variety  to  be  distributed  next  year  is 
Surprise,  a  grand,  soft  salmon  pink  sort  of  great 
promise.  Thor,  a  brilliant  scarlet  flower  that 
attracts  one  to  it  is  also  noteworthy. 

At  the  eastern  end  of  No.  2  tent  an  attractive 
display  of  Carnations,  set  up  in  artistic  fashion 
by  Messrs.  Stuart  Low  and  Co.,  Enfield,  calls  for 
notice.  Here  are  to  be  seen  a  large  number  of 
vases,  stands,  bowls  and  other  receptacles, 
arranged  on  a  table  space  in  artistic  fashion, 
with  abundant  foliage  and  dainty  ferns,  etc.,  to 
add  to  the  general  effect.  Baskets  suspended  on 
iron  standards  above  the  group  add  in  no  mean 
degree  to  the  display.  We  have  a  special  preference 
for  the  following  sorts  :  White  Pearl,  the  disease- 
resisting  white,  of  chaste  character,  very  sweetly 
scented  ;  Eileen  Low,  one  of  the  best  salmon 
pink  sorts  ;  Reginald  Cory,  gorgeou  scerise  ;  such 
choice  perpetual  Malmaisons  as  Hon.  Charlotte. 
Knollys,  colour  cherry  red  ;    and  Miracle,  cerise — 


want  of  space,  and,  consequently,. could  not  make  the 
display  they  desired.  They  have  done  well,  however, 
and  are  exhibiting  about  four  dozen  bronzed  vases 
of  artistic  form,  filled  with  blooms  of  excellent 
form  and  colour  and  of  good  quality.  For  effect 
they  have  added  foliage  plants.  The  better  varieties 
are  :  White  Benora,  a  beautiful  White  sport  from 
the  well  known  variety  Benora  ;  Mrs.  C.  W.  Ward, 
a  rich  pink  sort  and  the  best  of  its  type  ;  Aviator, 
a  full  rich  scarlet ;  Enchantress  Supreme,  still 
one  of  the  best  flesh  pink  sorts  ;  and  Coquette, 
a  deep  mauve  with  cerise  splash. 

Messrs.  Bees,  Limited,  Liverpool,  have  a  small 
table  group  of  Carnations,  perpetual  and  Malmaison, 
all  interesting.  Of  the  latter  the  Hon.  Charlotte 
Knollys  is  to  be  seen  in  grand  condition.  Of  the 
perpetual  sorts,  Mary  .'\llwood.  White  Enchantress, 
\Vivelsfield  Claret  (a  rich  claret)  and  Benora  are 
worth  noting. 

Messrs.  William  Cutbush  and  Son,  Barnet, 
Herts,  as  usual,  stage  a  dainty  exhibit — part 
of  a  large  and  comprehensive  display — of  Carna- 
tions. The  flowers  are  displayed  in  white  baskets, 
stands,  etc.,  in  pleasing  fashion,  and  represent 
standard  sorts  of  the  perpetual  and  Malmaison 
types  of  the  flower.  The  groundwork  of  fine  foliage 
plants  adds  materially  to  the  general  effect.  Of 
the  better  sorts  are  Renown,  pink  ;  White  Wonder, 
white  ;  Carola,  rich  deep  crimson  ;  Scarlet  Carola, 
scarlet  sport  from  the  former  ;  Sunstar,  yellow ; 
Circe,  deep  mauve  ;  and  Baroness  de  Bruant, 
deep  pink.  Each  of  these  sorts  call  for  special 
notice. 


BORDER  CARNATIONS 
AND  PINKS 

Border  Carnations  are  represented  by  exhibits 
from  Mr.  James  Douglas  and  Mr.  Horace  Lakeman. 
Mr.  Douglas'  flowers  are,  as  usual,  excellent. 
He  has  several  remarkable  new  sorts  on  show. 
Of  these  the  outstanding  is   Kelso,  a  magnificent 


May  27,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


251 


flower  of  apricot  buff  body  colour  streaked  with 
purple  grey.  Others  are  Lomond  Hills,  pale 
canary  yellow,  streaked  lavender  grey ;  Dr. 
Connors,  citron  yellow  flushed  pink  and  striped 
scarlet ;  Viceroy,  citron  yellow,  so  heavily  striped 
and  margin  deep  wine-red  that  this  becomes 
the  main  colour  of  the  flower  ;  The  Cadi,  a  study 
in  brown  shades,  being  actually  rose-madder, 
striped  orange  and  purple  ;  and  Highland  Mary, 
citron  yellow,  striped  bright  rose.  Not  new,  but 
seldom  seen  on  the  show  bench  is  Marajah,  palest 
blush  striped  and  wire-edged  with  crimson  purple. 
The  beautiful  and  fragrant  Cloves  are  not  neglected. 
One  notes  excellent  vases  of  Crystal  Clove,  Salmon 
Clove  and  Claret  Clove.  Mr.  Lakeman  has  excellent 
flowers  of  such  standard  varieties  as  Fair  Ellen, 
My  Clove,  Lieutenant  Shackleton  and  The  King. 

Border  Pinks  are  mainly,  if  not  entirely,  repre- 
sented by  the  Herbertii  strain  of  Mr.  C.  H.  Herbert 
and  the  AUwoodii  of  the  brothers  -■Mlwood.  Mr. 
Herbert  has  most  of  the  fine  varieties  pre\"iously 
exhibited  at  Chelsea  and  some  really  excellent 
new  sorts.  Very  noteworthy  are  Fire  King,  a 
full  double  flower .  of  vermilion  scarlet  colouring  ; 
Red  Indian,  of  almost  Indian  red  colour  ;  Prince 
of  \\'ales,  pale  salmon  pink,  a  full  flower ;  Mrs. 
C.  H.  Herbert,  in  the  way  of  the  beautiful  Model,  but 
larger,  a  shade  more  salmony  in  hue  and  scarcely 
so  perfect  in  form  ;  and  Juno,  a  very  large  crimson 
sort.  Of  the  older  varieties  Mrs.  G.  Walker, 
\'ictory.  Ruby,  May  Queen  and  the  immaculate 
Model  may  be  noted.  A  5in.  pot  of  the  purple 
The  Imp  was  shown  with  thirty-nine  flower  stems, 
showing  conclusively  the  free-flowering  character 
of  the  strain. 

The  .\llwoodii  are  very  tastefully  displayed  in 
stone-edged  beds  on  either  flank  of  Messrs.  Allwood's 


big  Carnation  exhibit,  also  in  a  large  circular  bed 
displaying  specimen  plants.  For  bedding  one 
would  select  Joan,  rose  with  a  deeper  eye  ;  and 
Vera,  salmon-blush,  as  two  of  the  best. 


ROSES 

The  exhibitors  of  Roses  are  almost  as  deserving 
of  the  visitors'  sympathy  as  are  those  who  arranged 
the  gorgeous  collections  of  Tulips,  for  they  have 
suffered  nearly  as  greatly  from  the  intense  heat 
of  the  tents.  The  rosebud  of  the  morning  became 
a  fuU  blown  rose  long  before  midday,  and  in  some 
cases  did  not  wait  for  the  morrow-  before  dying. 
But,  nevertheless,  there  are  many  beautiful  blooms 
to  be  seen,  particularly  on  the  pot  plants  shown  by 
Messrs.  Paul  of  Cheshunt,  Messrs.  William  Cutbush, 
and  Messrs.  Paul  and  Son. 

It  is  the  free-flowering  climbing  Roses  that  are 
the  most  effective,  and  of  these  the  veritable  rose 
garden  that  Messrs.  Cutbush  have  made  solely  with 
Polyantha  Roses  is  quite  delightful.  Excellent 
examples  are  also  to  be  seen  in  the  group  of  Mr. 
William  Paul,  who  includes  his  gorgeous  Paul's 
Scarlet  Climber  next  to  masses  of  the  vigorous 
Tausendschiin.  .American  Pillar  and  Delight  are  also 
admirable  here.  In  the  group  by  Messrs.  Paul  and 
Son  such  Ramblers  as  Paradise,  Ethel,  Lady 
Godiva  and  The  Premier  are  equally  charming. 
The  last  named  received  an  award  at  Regent's 
Park  not  long  ago,  and  it  is  now  fully  evident 
that  the  award  was  justified,  for  it  is  a  charming 
blush  pink  cluster  Rose.  Another  recently  arrived 
variety.  Coral  Cluster,  is  represented  in  quantity. 

Pink  Delight,  as  shown  by  Messrs.  Laxton 
Brothers,     with     the     Strawberries     which     tempt 


one  almost  past  endurance,  is  a  truly  delightful 
Uttle  single  Polyantha   Rose. 

Many  good  Roses  are  included  by  .Mr.  Charles 
Turner  with  his  fragrant  Lilacs  ;  while  Messrs. 
Frank  Cant  and  Co.  content  themselves  almost 
solely  with  quite  a  collection  of  new  varieties, 
all  shown  in  quantity,  as  though  to  illustrate  how 
freely  they  bloom.  Captain  F.  S.  Harvey  Cant 
is  a  fine  pink  Hybrid  Tea  variety.  Mrs.  F.  S.  Harvey 
Cant  is  a  very  large  blush  with  a  centre  reminiscent 
of  the  old  Souvenir  de  la  Malmaison.  Mrs.  Alfred 
West,  another  large  Hybrid  Tea,  is  of  a  deep  but 
showy  pink  shade  of  colour  ;  while  Mrs.  E.  Claxton 
is  another  promising  pink  Hybrid  Tea  Rose. 
Babs  is  evidently  a  garden  Rose — the  blooms  are 
fully  open  early  in  the  morning  and  show  a 
decided  "  eye  "  ;  the  colour  seems  to  be  a  pale 
orange  fawn. 

Cut  blooms  are  also  shown  by  Mr.  George 
Prince,  who  has  charming  vases  of  the  dainty 
Madame  Butterfly,  Richmond,  Sunburst  and 
Melody.  The  two  last  named,  as  shown,  are  very 
much  alike,  but  no  one  need  confuse  Madame 
Butterfly  with  Ophelia,  a  variety  which  some  have 
said  it  is  too  much  like. 

Ophelia  is  shown  in  great  beauty  by  Mr. 
Elisha  J.  Hicks,  who  also  has  large  stands  of 
Sunburst,  another  graceful  variety  which  is  popular 
with  exhibitors  in  the  decorative  classes  at  Rose 
shows.  Molly  S.  Crawford  and  an  almost  bewilder- 
ing \'ariety  of  Climbers  assist  in  making  a 
splendid  display. 

Mrs.  Henry  Morse  is  shown  in  great  beauty  as 
dwarf  plants  and  cut  blooms  by  several  growers, 
and  in  Mr.  Paul's  group  there  are  quite  good 
standards,  so  we  may  safely  conclude  that  this 
comparatively    new   pink    sort    is    a    good    general 


THE    NEW    PERPETUAL     CARNATION    WIVELSFIELD     PINK. 


A    NOVEL-COLOURED    BORDER    CARNATION,    KELSO. 


252 


THE     GARDEN. 


[May  27,  1922, 


utility  Rose.  Los  Angeles,  which  stood  the  heat 
so  well  in  many  gardens  last  year,  is  also  to  be  seen 
in  excellent  form ;  while  the  new  Hybrid  Tea 
Premier  is  also  good.  Of  the  other  sorts,  Florence, 
a  new  pink  Hybrid  Tea,  and  the  old  Prince  de 
Bulgaria  are  represented  by  perfect  blooms. 

A  number  of  the  more  recent  certificated 
varieties  are  to  be  seen  in  an  excellent  collection 
of  Roses  by  Messrs.  B.  R.  Cant  and  Sons.  These 
include  such  valuable  sorts  as  Padre,  Constance 
Cassoon,  Covent  Garden,  Mrs.  Oakley  Fisher  and 
the  rich  golden  yellow  Sovereign.  These  have  all 
been  sho%vn  in  great  beauty  on  a  number  of 
occasions  during  the  spring,  thus  abundantly 
showing  that  most  of  the  present  day  Roses  which 
receive  awards  are  general  utility  Roses,  and  as 
valuable  for  forcing  for  early  spring  decoration  as 
for  the  outdoor  garden. 


STOVE    AND    GREENHOUSE 
PLANTS 

Seldom,  if  ever  before,  have  Messrs.  Sutton 
and  Sons  made  a  display  so  large  and  compre- 
hensive as  that  to  be  seen  in  the  present  instance. 
There  are  no  fewer  than  twelve  large  groups 
comprising  this  exhibit,  which  is  to  be  seen  at 
the  south-west  comer  of  the  first  tent  approached 
from  the  Embankment  entrance.  Here  are  to 
be  seen  hybrid  Schizanthus  in  wonderful  variety 
and  beautiful  forms,  Clarkia  Double  Salmon, 
Primula  obconica  Salmon  Queen  and  P.  o.  Scarlet 
Emperor,  a  reddish-coloured  variety  of  great 
promise.     Herbaceous   Calceolarias,   as   usual,   are 


is  arranged  on  the  floor  and  is  neatly  finished  with 
Ferns. 

A  table  group  of  the  choicer  foliage  plants  and 
Cacti  from  Mr.  H.  N.  Ellison,  West  Bromwich, 
is  worthy  of  inspection.  The  Cacti  as  shown 
give  one  a  capital  idea  of  how  the  nucleus  of  a 
collection  of  these  quaint  plants  could  be  easily 
formed.  Noteworthy  foliage  plants  are  Davallia 
epiphylla,  D.  tenuifolia  Veitchii,  D.  robusta. 
Cibotium  Schiedei,  Platycerium  Veitchii,  Gymno- 
gramme  Pearcei  robusta,  Phcenix  Roebileni  and 
Nephrolepis  Mayii  are  just  a  few  of  the  beautiful 
plants  in  this  collection. 

A  kind  of  triangular  group  of  show  Pelargoniums 
is  set  up  by  Mr.  Aubrey  F.  Wootten,  K.C., 
Downs  Road,  Epsom  (gardener,  Walter  Lamson). 
The  plants  are  in  the  pink  of  condition  and  are 
freely  flowered.  We  have  seldom  seen  plants 
in  more  satisfactory  condition.  They  reflect 
great  credit  on  the  grower.  Some  of  the  flowers 
are  exceptionally  large  and  striking,  and  the 
group  edged  with  Maidenhair  Ferns  leaves  nothing 
to  be  desired. 

A  quite  unique  display  of  Hydrangeas  in  the 
form  of  a  circular  group  is  that  made  by  Mr. 
H.  J.  Jones,  Ryecroft  Nursery,  Lewisham.  Some 
of  the  blue  and  mauve-blue  colours  of  the  flowers 
are  most  noteworthy,  while  the  white  sorts  and 
those  of  pink  and  kindred  tones  of  colour  are 
quite  charming.  Noteworthy  pink  sorts  are 
Etincelant  (lovely),  Professor  de  Bois  and  Le 
Mame  (magnificent).  The  blue-flowered  are  par- 
ticularly striking,  such  sorts  as  Viscomte  de 
Villebrugh  and  Mons.  Ghys  (mauve-blue)  helping 
in  charming  fashion  to  make  a  very  noteworthy 


A   CORNER   OF   MESSRS.    SUTTON  S    GIANT   EXHIBIT. 


well  shown  by  this  firm,  as  are  Cineraria  stellata, 
in  which  the  magenta  colours  are  practically 
eliminated.  Lobelia  tenuiorflora  is  finely  shown. 
A  wonderfully  fine  group  for  a  private  grower 
is  that  which  is  set  up  by  Baron  Bruno  Schroder, 
of  Englefield  Green,  Surrey.  In  this  beautiful 
group  are  to  be  seen  grand  examples  of  Schizanthus. 
Individual  plants  exemplifying  the  highest  cultural 
skill  are  finely  displayed,  both  form  and  colour 
being  excellent.  The  plants  have  retained  their 
foliage  in  most  unusual  fashion.  Herbaceous 
Calceolarias,  Streptocarpuses  and  Hydrangeas  com- 
bine to  make  an  interestng  exhibit.     The  group 


exhibit.     Graceful  Palms  relieve  the  picture,  and 
beautiful  Ferns  give  a  charming  finish. 

One  of  the  largest  and  most  attractive  displays 
in  the  whole  of  this  great  Show  is  that  made  by 
Messrs.  Jas.  Carter  and  Co.,  Raynes  Park,  S.W. 
They  have  in  this  instance  excelled  themselves. 
This  exhibit  is  disposed  in  No.  i  tent  and  consists 
of  four  circular  groups  of  cactus  and  stellata  forms 
of  the  Cineraria,  edged  with  Brompton  Stocks  and 
Ferns.  These  four  groups  enclose  a  huge  group 
of  freely  flowered  plants,  such  as  Schizanthuses, 
Spurred  Aquilegias,  grand  examples  of  the  Strepto- 
carpus  in  fine^fomi,  colour  and  condition,  a  magni- 


ficent series  of  mounds  of  Cineraria  grandiflora, 
superb  Gloxinias,  striking  herbaceous  Calceolarias, 
fine  Coleuses,  Sweet  Peas  arranged  in  quaint 
Japanese  baskets,  Spanish  Irises  in  variety,  and 
a  charming  strain  of  Brompton  Stocks,  all  well 
grown  and  Petunia  Queen  of  Roses.  This  magnifi- 
cent central  group  was  beautifully  finished  with 
an  edging  of  grass — a  wonderful  achievement — 
Pterises  and  a  band  of  Ageratum. 

Cinerarias,  including  stellata  and  cactus-flowering 
types,  as  well  as  their  more  gorgeous  rival  the 
grandiflora  type,  are  represented  in  a  group  ia 
No.  I  tent  by  Messrs.  Webb  and  Sons,  Stourbridge. 
These  plants  are  quite  good,  as  are  also  this  firms 
new  giant  hybrid  Schizanthus.  Rhodanthe 
maculatum  is  also  shown.  A  pretty  series  of  their 
superb  herbaceous  Calceolarias  also  call  for  notice. 
The  group  as  a  whole  is  quite  pleasing. 

Cinerarias  in  charming  variety  are  shown  by 
Messrs.  Storrie  and  Storrie,  Glencarse,  Perthshire, 
in  a  large  oval  group  at  the  south  entrance  to 
No.  r  tent.  Here  are  to  be  found  all  types  of  the 
flower  in  pleasing  variety  and  in  interesting  form. 
A  notable  featmre  is  this  firm's  new  Excelsior  sun- 
proof scarlet  strain  of  the  grandiflora  type.  Grandi- 
flora Winter  Queen  is  a  beautiful  blue-edged  sort. 
The  stellata  forms  are  wonderfully  well  shown,  the 
colours  being  very  distinct  and  pleasing. 

.\n  interesting  feature  of  Messrs.  Dobbie  and  Co.'s 
exhibit  is  a  collection  of  dwarf,  densely  flowered 
Schizanthus  and  a  fine  Stock  named  Snowdrift, 
a  cross  between  a  Brompton  and  Ten  Week  Stock, 
very  fine. 

Much  credit  is  due  to  Messrs.  John  Peed  and  Son, 
West  Norwood,  S.E.,  for  the  handsome  large 
group  of  miscellaneous  stove  and  greenhouse  plants 
shown  by  them  in  No.  i  tent.  This  exhibit  com- 
prises such  plants  as  Caladiums,  Hippeastrums, 
Streptocarpuses,  Verbenas,  Hydrangeas,  etc.  The 
Caladiums  are  much  smaller  than  usual,  but  they 
represent  a  quite  large  variety  of  the  better  sorts, 
fairly  well  coloured.  The  Hippeastrums  are 
attractive,  so  too  are  the  other  plants.  Palms 
as  a  background  and  Ferns  and  Moss  as  an  edging 
in  front  make  this  display  worthy  of  inspection. 

A  fine  table  group  of  the  new  Drac^na  Deremensis 
Bausei  is  shown  by  Messrs.  L.  R.  Russell,  Limited, 
It  is  a  striking  plant  and  wUl  grow  satisfactorily 
in  a  moderate  temperature.  The  foliage  is  bright 
green  striped  white  down  the  centre  of  each  leaf. 

A  splendid  lot  of  Hippeastrums  is  shown  by 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Sir  George  Holford,  Westonbirt, 
Tetbury,  Glos.,  arranged  on  a  table  at  the  north- 
western end  of  No.  2  tent.  Here  are  t  o  be  seen  plants 
in  superb  condition,  both  form  and  colour  being  all 
that  could  be  weU  desired.  We  were  much  struck 
with  the  fine  quality  of  Chameleon,  rich  crimson. 
Harvest  Moon,  white  ground,  tinted  rosy  crimson  ; 
Rose  Enchantress,  a  lovely  rose ;  Macbeth,  a 
monster  crimson  ;  Hymen,  glowing  crimson  scarlet ; 
Red  Star,  crimson,  tinted  rose ;  Houri,  white, 
slightly  tinted  rose,  are  just  a  few  of  the  gems  of 
this  really  exceedingly  fine  collection. 

Messrs.  L.  R.  Russell,  Limited,  also  exhibit  a 
grand  bank  of  handsome  Caladiums  and  other 
gorgeous  stove  and  greenhouse  plants,  arranged 
in  noble  fashion  and  impressively.  Three  good 
Caladiums  are  Rising  Sun,  crimson,  with  duU  green 
edging  and  spotted  with  deep  crimson  splashes  ; 
Mrs.  L.  R.  Russell,  one  of  the  finest  rich  crimson 
and  green,  and  William  Rappard,  another  pale 
rosy  crimson  and  green  sort.  Flora  RusseU,  a 
deep  crimson,  is  still  one  of  the  finest  Caladiums. 
A  plant  worthy  of  special  mention  is  Medinilla 
magnifica,  seldom  seen  in  flower  in  this  country. 

Hydrangeas  in  variety  are  shown  in  the  large 
group  of  Messrs.  W.  Cutbush  and  Co. 

Zonal  Pelargoniums  are  shown  in  a  few  dozen 
excellent  bunches  by  the  Chalk  Hill  Nurseries, 
Reading,    and    these   represent    the    better   sorts. 


May  2-],  1022.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


253 


Dwarf  Japanese  trees  in  great  variety  and 
in  many  interesting  forms  are  to  be  seen  in 
the  table  group  in  No.  2  tent  of  the  Yokohama 
Nursery  Company,  Limited,  St.  .•\lbans,  Herts. 
Ancient  trees,  said  to  be  150  years  old,  are  in 
;xcellent  form  and  condition  and  are  a  source 
jf  endless  pleasure. 

Zonal  Pelargoniums  in  single,  semi-double  and 
louble  forms  are  well  shown  by  Mr.  R.  J.  Case, 
raunton.  Striking  single  sorts  are  Mrs.  R.  J.  Case, 
somerset  Lad  (salmon)  and  F.  W.  Penny  (scarlet). 

A  capital  lot  of  Zonal  Pelargoniums  are  shown 
by  Messrs.  Jarman  and  Co.,  Chard.  This  e.xhibit 
forms  a  bright  feature  in  a  table  group  and  attracts 
much  attention. 


TULIPS 

Never  before  ha\'e  Tulips  been  shown  at  the 
Spring  Show  in  such  luxuriance  and  beauty,  and 
ane  fears  that  it  may  be  many  years  before  such 
a  glorious  feast  of  colour  is  again  placed  before 
the  public.  The  season  which  has  been  responsible 
tor  the  absence  of  various  other  flowers  which  are 
usually  to  be  seen  at  Chelsea  has  suited  the  Tulips 
admirably. 

The  Old  English  Tulips,  which  it  seemed  only  a 
few  years  ago  were  definitely  relegated  to  the  past 
and  were  likely  to  be  almost  forgotten,  now  appear 
to  be  fast  coming  into  favour  again,  and  small 
wonder  when  one  reaUses  their  charm  of  marking 
and  colouring. 

In  Messrs.  Barr's  most  gorgeous  and  quite 
immense  collection  of  Tulips  of  all  possible  sorts, 
the  several  vases  of  such  bizarres  as  James  Wild,  Sir 
Joseph  Paxton  and  George  Hayward  are  quite 
delightful,  but  there  are  also  many  bybloemens  and 
roses  of  equal  beauty.  In  this  memorable  collec- 
tion, which,  by  the  way,  was  immensely  improved 
from  the  spectacular  point  of  view  and  also  in 
educational  value  by  the  charming  finish  of  the 
bordering  of  Irises,  Trollius,  Iberis,  Saxifrages  and 
many  other  border  flowers,  the  vases  of  such  May- 
dowering  sorts  among  the  very  many,  as  Ingles- 
combe  Pink  and  Margaret  and  the  rich  yellows  of 
Bouton  d'Or  and  Mrs.  Moon  adjoining  the  intense 
scarlet  of  Europe,  are  wonderfully  fascinating. 
The  black  Tulip  always  intrigues  one,  though  none 
is  really  black,  and  among  Messrs.  Barr's  collection 
are  to  be  seen  splendid  examples  of  La  Tulipe  Noir, 
the  darkest,  blackest  maroon  of  all,  Faust  and 
Kepla, 

Dark  coloured,  nearly  black  Tulips  are  also  very 
prominent  in  the  large  collection  by  Messrs.  R.  H. 
Bath,  Limited,  who  have  of  this  shade.  Von  Jehring, 
Gryphus  and  Zanzibar.  Of  their  rose  flakes  and 
feathers.  Brightness,  The  Minister  and  Milton  are 
very  fascinating.  For  elegance  few  equal  Gesneriana 
major  and  Cherry  Ripe. 

Parrot  Tulips  do  not  flower  freely  in  everyone's 
garden,  but  Messrs.  Dobbie  and  Co.  seem  to  have 
no  difficulty  and  they  are  showing  a  great  variety 
of  this  quaintly  fascinating  type  which  have 
great  decorative  possibilities.  Cafe  Brun,  Fantasy, 
Markgraaf,  Sensation,  Perfecta  and  Chamoisie 
Brilliant  are  the  names  of  some  of  the  most  showy 
of  these  Parrot  Tulips.  In  the  same  collection  the 
rich  yellows  of  Mrs.  Moon  and  Inglescombe  Yellow 
are  most  satisfying. 

Those  who  seek  suggestions  for  colour  schemes 
should  make  a  point  of  visiting  the  stand  of  the 
Anglesey  Bulb  Growers'  Association,  where  in  the 
centre  they  will  find  a  most  happy  association  of 
Bouton  d'Or  (of  immense  size  and  great  quality). 
Prince  Albert,  Lord  Cochran  and  Boadicea.  The 
combination  of  deep  yellow,  bronze  and  bronzy- 
scarlet  is  perfectly  delightful.  Along  the  front  of 
this  collection  there  are  several  vases  of  "  Baby 
Darsvins  "  which  are  really  blooms  from  small  off- 
set bulbs.     The  result   is  charming  little  blooms 


which  would  be  perfectly  delightful  for  dinner 
table  decoration  and  anywhere  where  small  blooms 
are  required.  Baby  Millet,  Baby  Greuze  and  Baby 
Suson  are  the  sorts  shown.  But  a  word  of  warning 
is  perhaps  needed — it  is  not  in  every  garden  that 
these  "  miniature  "  TuUps  can  be  flowered,  delight- 
ful as  they  are  when  it  is  accomplished. 

Tulips  of  garden  value  are  also  shown  by  Messrs. 
Rich  and  Co.,  and  Mr.  .Alfred  Dawkins.  The  latter 
has  gorgeous  vases  of  Mr.  Farncombe  Sanders, 
Ellen  Willmott  and  the  like,  and  they  are  associated 
with  excellent  Dutch  Irises. 


BEGONIAS 

Messrs.  Blackniore  and  Langdon,  Bath,  are  to 
the  front  again  with  their  wonderful  tuberous- 
rooted    Begonias.     Superb    examples    of    cultural 


BEGONIA   QUEEN   OF  THE   BELGIANS. 

skill  characterise  each  individual  plant.  Form 
and  colour  are  exemplified  in  the  numerous  novel- 
ties and  standard  sorts  The  plants  are  charm- 
ingly disposed  among  Ferns  as  a  groundwork,  and 
with  basket  Begonias  set  up  on  standards  all  com- 
bine to  make  a  glorious  display.  A  few  of  the  more 
noteworthy  sorts  are  to  be  seen  in  Peace  (a  lovely 
cream),  Mrs.  J.  S.  Brunton  (wonderful  form  and 
charming  salmon-pink  colour),  J.  W.  Pyman 
(brilliant  scarlet).  Queen  of  the  Belgians  (deep 
salmon -pink,  lovely  wavy  form,  extra  large  flower). 
Sir  J  Wilson  (bright  scarlet,  shaded  orange). 
The  best  yellow  is  Mrs.  J.  Davidson,  beautiful 
Camellia  form  and,  undoubtedly  the  best  white  is 
Nurse  Cavell,  a  chaste  sort  of  great  purity.  A  deep 
glowing  crimson  sort  is  Grand  Monarch,  and  a 
striking  rose-coloured  variety  is  to  be  seen  in  the 
lovely  Lucy  V.  Toner,  unsurpassed  for  form  and 
beauty.  In  honour  of  the  golfer,  James  Braid, 
this  firm  has  named  a  beautiful  crimson  scarlet 
sort  of  good  form  and  they  well  maintain  then: 
reputation  with  this  handsome  Begonia.  The 
better  basket  sorts  are  Stella,  a  very  clear  deep 
rose  sort ;  Edith,  a  blush-tinted  white  sort ;  and 
the  light  and  graceful  Carminea,  all  most  useful 
for  this  work. 


SWEET     PEAS 

About  one  half  of  the  space  allotted  to  Messrs. 
Dobbie  and  Co.,  Edinburgh,  is  occupied  with  a 
highly  attractive  display  of  Sweet  Peas  set  up  in 
pleasing  fashion  in  tall  stands,  vases,  bowls,  and 
associated  with  bright  green  fronds  of  Asparagus 
Sprengeri.  The  background  of  black  velvet 
adds  very  materially  to  the  general  effect.  Con- 
spicuous sorts  are  Royal  Scot,  a  leading  scarlet ; 
Renown,  charming  rosy-cerise  ;  George  Shawyer, 
a  salmon  sort  of  splendid  quality ;  a  novelty 
named  Fairy  Queen,  cream  pink  and  very  delicate 
colour  ;  Kenneth,  a  dainty  rosy-cerise,  and  Orchid, 
a  lavender  of  wavy  form,  of  high  quality.  Gladys 
is  also  a  lavender  sort  but  of  paler  colour.  The 
list  may  well  include  Dobbie's  Orange,  a  standard 
deep  orange  self.  The  finest  white  in  cultivation 
is  generally  regarded  as  Constance  Hinton,  and 
this  chaste  sort  is  to  be  seen  in  fine  form  anx 
condition.  There  are  no  fewer  than  about  thirty-sid 
leading  varieties  all  worthy  of  careful  inspection. 
This  fine  exhibit  is  staged  in  No.  i  tent  on  the 
west  side. 

E.xceedingly  fine  is  the  exhibit  set  up  by  Messrs. 
Alex  Dickson  and  Sons,  Limited,  "  Hawlmark," 
Belfast,  comprising  no  fewer  than  forty  of  the  leading 
novelties  and  standard  sorts.  There  are  at  least 
ten  thousand  sprays  of  blossom  beautifully 
disposed  in  this  wonderful  display,  and  the  Sweet 
Pea  has  never  before  been  more  attractively 
exhibited.  The  staging  is  draped  with  black 
velvet,  and  the  background  hung  with  festoons  and 
chains  of  Smilax.  A  few  of  the  more  conspicuous 
varieties  to  call  for  special  mention  are  Faerie 
Queen,  apple  blossom  colour  on  cream  ground  ; 
Powerscourt,  a  magnificent  flower  of  a  beautiful 
lavender  colour — two  leading  novelties  that  should 
be  seen  by  all  lovers  of  the  Sweet  Pea.  Others 
are  Royal  Scot,  orange  scarlet,  as  exhibited ; 
Hawlmark  Cream,  a  beautiful  cream  ;  Tangerine,  a 
striking  orange  sort ;  Hawlmark  Pink,  a  lovely 
salmon-pink  ;  Mrs.  Tom  Jones,  regarded  as  the 
best  of  the  blues ;  and  Constance  Hinton. 
undoubtedly  the  best  white. 

It  is  a  great  pity  more  space  is  not  allotted  to  the 
Sweet  Peas  set  up  by  those  excellent  growers, 
Messrs.  Andrew  Ireland  and  Hitchcock.  .Mr. 
Ireland  has  long  been  in  the  forefront  of  all  that 
concerns  the  progress  of  the  Sweet  Pea,  and  in  this 
case  his  bright,  fresh  and  attractive  Sweet  Peas 
have  all  been  grown  in  a  cool  greenhouse.  Tan- 
gerine Improved  is  certainly  a  fine  orange  sort,  so. 
too,  is  Mascott's  Heho,  a  pale  heliotrope  sort  of 
great  beauty  ;  Bunty,  orange  salmon  of  striking 
character ;  Royal  Purple,  a  noteworthy  purple  ; 
Hawlmark  Pink,  salmon  pink  ;  Shamrock,  rosy 
mau\'e,  a  variety  which  gained  an  award  of  merit 
at  Wisley  last  year ;  and  Mascott's  Scarlet,  a 
new  and  noteworthy  scarlet  sort. 

The  table  group  arranged  by  Mr.  J.  Stevenson, 
Wimborne,  is  another  instance  in  which  larger  space 
is  denied,  yet  the  display  is  highly  attractive, 
being  charmingly  arranged.  The  arrangement  of 
the  flowers  leaves  nothing  to  be  desired,  the  stands 
being  finished  off  with  Asparagus  plumosus  and 
A.  Sprengeri.  We  must  mention  a  few  sorts 
of  special  merit  such  as  Poppy,  orange  scarlet  ; 
Wild  Rose,  aptly  named  for  its  colour  ;  Cynthia, 
very  pale  heliotrope — almost  blue  ;  Fair  Lady, 
apple  blossom  colour  on  cream  ground  ;  and  Diana  , 
a  splendid   lavender  variety. 

Mr.  Robert  Bolton  is  treated  more  generously 
in  regard  to  space,  and  in  his  exhibit  are  included 
charmingly  arranged  vases  of  blooms  of  remarkable 
colour,  good  form,  and  splendidly  fresh.  Graceful 
fronds  of  Asparagus  Sprengeri  add  to  the 
general  effect.  Comrade,  apple  blossom  colour 
on  cream  ground ;  Wonderful,  the  only  true 
scarlet ;    Elsie      Dene,      a      charming      lavender" 


254 

and  a  charming  orange  self  to  be  named, 
we  believe,  Wizard,  represent  four  novelties  of 
sterling  merit.  Standard  sorts  such  as  Picture, 
apricot  ;  Gloriosa,  orange  scarlet ;  R.  F.  Felton, 
lavender ;  and  Felton's  Cream,  are  all  to  be  seen 
in  fine  form. 


ANNUALS 

To  what  a  large  extent  the  annual  plant  modifies 
the  design  of  the  present  day  garden  is  reflected 
in  the  magnificent  displays  put  up  every  year  at 
this  wonderful  Chelsea  Show.  For  the  limited-time 
gardener,  the  lazy  gardener,  and  the  impatient 
gardener,  the  hardy  and  half-hardy  annual  can 
never  come  amiss.  For  the  first  named  a  sprinkle 
of  seed  on  the  ground,  a  rake  over,  perhaps  an 
occasional  watering,  and  perchance  a  thinning  out, 
that  is  the  time  expenditure  for  a  crop  of  flowers. 
The  lazy  gardener  deUghts  in  the  annual  because 
it  saves  him  from  the  more  complex  phases  of 
herbaceous  and  perennial  cultivation,  while  to  him 
of  scanty  patience  it  is  a  veritable  inspiration, 
cutting  out  entirely  the  long  wait  of  many  months, 
or  probably  a  year  or  two,  for  the  floral  beauty 
which  is  the  goal  of  all  gardeners'  desires. 

But  to  get  the  best  even  out  of  annuals  demands 
a  qualification  of  this  philosophy.  Spring  sowing 
and  a  few  weeks  growth  will  not  produce  specimens 
of  Clarkias,  of  Schizanthus,  of  Nemesias,  or  of 
Mignonette,  such  as  we  see  staged  here  by  such 
experts  as  Messrs.  Sutton,  Messrs.  Webb,  Messrs. 
Carter,  and  Mr.  .'\lfred  Dawkins.  These  proud 
pyramids  of  bloom  represent  single  plants  raised 
from  seed  last  autumn  and  cultivated  with  care 
and  forethought  throughout  the  winter  months, 
particular  attention  being  given  to  potting  on  just 
as  the  root  system  demands.  It  is  this  building 
up  and  encouraging  of  strong  growth  underneath 
the  soil  before  the  foliage  makes  such  headway  that 
ensures  a  specimen  plant  capable  of  responding 
to  good  culture  with  a  lavish  wealth  of  flower. 

Messrs.  Sutton  and  Sons  of  Reading  have  sur- 
passed themselves  this  year  and  that  is  surely 
high  praise.  For  170ft.  in  the  west  tent  their 
display  extends  in  bay  and  promontory,  a  con- 
tinuous pageant  of  changing  colour.  Here  a  tall 
background  of  Lavatera  "  Loveliness  "  (pure  deep 
pink),  forms  a  fine  setting  for  white  and  pale 
pink  Cineraria  stellata,  bordered  by  white  Primula 
obconica  and  pink  Nemesia  ;  there,  towermg  plants 
of  Salpiglossis,  a  superb  strain  this  is,  give  elevation 
to  a  charming  bed  cf  large-flowered  Schizanthus, 
fronted  by  the  annual  Phlox  Fireball,  whose  vivid 
crimson  contrasts  nicely  with  its  own  foliage  of 
vivid  green.  Further  on  a  huge  bank  of  Cineraria 
stellata,  blue  and  white  shades,  is  used  as  a  foil 
to  a  foreground  of  Dimorphotheca  aurantiaca, 
mingled  with  semi-tall  and  dwarf  blue  Lobelia. 
This  gives  an  excellent  hint  for  summer  bedding. 
In  other  parts  of  this  great  stand  Schizanthus  in 
endless  variety  of  colour  are  effectively  grouped, 
while  Clarkia  '*  Salmon-Scarlet  "  is  conspicuous  as 
towering  pillars  of  warm  tones  against  the  cooler 
shades  of  Schizanthus  and  Nemesia  Suttoni.  The 
variety  of  the  last  mentioned,  called  .\urora,  should 
be  noted  as  an  edging  plant  for  taller  things. 

Messrs.  Carter  of  Raynes  Park,  will  attract  the 
attention  of  the  multitude  with  a  large  and  beauti- 
fully planned  exhibit  occupying  some  2,000  square 
feet  in  a  central  position  of  the  great  eastern  tent. 
The  pivot  of  this  ambitious  scene  is  a  tall  pyramid 
of  well  grown  Clarkias  surrounded  by  equally  well 
cultivated  Schizanthus  in  pots,  mixed  with  the 
new  Dutch  strain  of  Spanish  Irises,  the  lavender 
tones  only  being  employed.  Surrounding  this  are 
bold   masses  of  large-flowered   Cineraria   Brilliant 


THE     GARDEN. 

Prize.  In  the  same  scheme  and  forming  a  circular 
island  bed  is  a  group  of  annual  Delphiniums  in 
which  some  pretty  lavender  shades  mingle  with  the 
typical  blues.  The  whole  exhibit  is  buttressed  at 
the  foiu-  corners  with  solid  mounds  of  Cineraria 
stellata  and  cactus-flowered  alternately.  Between 
these  it  is  worth  noting  the  bedding  effect  of  white 
and  crimson  Brompton  Stocks  and  a  fine  pink 
variety   called   Empress   Elizabeth. 

Messrs.  Webb  and  Sons  of  Stourbridge  make  the 
most  of  a  rather  restricted  space  by  putting  up  fine 
breadths  of  Cineraria  in  various  shades  and  well 
bloomed  plants  of  Schizanthus.  One  might  almost 
call  this  a  Schizanthus  year,  for  they  form 
the  piece  de  resistance  of  quite  a  number  of  the 
stands  devoted  whoUy  or  partially  to  annual 
flowers.  Those  shown  by  Baron  Schroder  reflect 
much  credit  on  Mr.  Henderson,  under  wliose  able 
guidance  they  are  grown,  a  particularly  notable 
variety  being  a  pure  white  of  excellent  bedding 
habit,  requiring  no  pinching  or  training,  as  it 
grows  dwarf  and  branching  quite  naturally.     This 


[May  27,   1922. 

after  a  great  many  years  of  experience  find  tha' 
the  best  plan  is  simply  to  wrap  each  fruit  in  pape- 
and  place  it  in  a  box.  Cold  storage  is  unnecessary 
a  cellar  or  shed  answering  the  purpose  quite  well 

As  regards  varieties,  Allen's  Everlasting  is  said 
to  be  one  of  the  best  for  this  time  of  year.  The 
fruits  are  very  firm  and  wonderfully  coloured. 
Other  well  known  sorts  include  Lord  Derby, 
Bramley's  Seedling,  Bess  Pool,  Encore,  Winter 
Queening,  Adam's  Pearmain,  Wagner  (very  fine), 
.•\nnie  Elizabeth  and  Orleans  Reinette.  There 
are,  besides  those  mentioned  above,  many  beautiful 
fruits  which  are  not  quite  so  well  known. 

Messrs.  Bunyard  are  to  be  congratulated  on 
their  exhibit,  which  appeals  to  all  who  see  it. 

Messrs.  Rivers  have  a  fine  exhibit  of  Peaches 
and  Nectarines.  Although  the  fruits  are  not  so 
highly  coloured  as  they  usually  are  at  Chelsea, 
they  are  excellent,  taking  into  consideration  tlie 
very  late  season.  Among  Peaches  Duke  of  York 
is  very  conspicuous,  and  another  good  variety  is 
Duchess    of    Cornwall.       The    best    Nectarine    un- 


MESSRS.    LAXTON  S   STRAWBERRY,   SIR   DOUGL.'\S   HAIG. 


one  is  called  Bridal  Veil,  and  comes  true  from  seed, 
a   valuable  acquisition. 

Another  excellent  collection  of  these  plants  is 
staged  by  Messrs.  Godfrey  and  Son  of  Exmouth, 
who  have  used  quite  small  pots,  none  of  them 
exceeding  jins.  in  diameter,  yet  the  flowers  are  as 
large  and  as  beautifully  coloured  as  any  in  the  Show. 


FRUITS    AND    VEGETABLES. 

It  has  been  said  by  a  few  "  highbrows  "  that 
there  is  only  a  sheet  of  brown  paper  between  Cal- 
cutta and  a  certain  other  place — there  appears 
to  be  no  limit  to  Cook's  Tours  these  days.  However, 
Chelsea  might  also  be  placed  in  the  same  category. 
Imagine  a  poor  reporter  working  all  day  under 
canvas  in  a  temperature  about  100°  Fahr.  ! 

In  one  of  these  tents  Messrs.  Bunyard  and  Co. 
have  a  wonderful  collection  of  .\pples.  The 
colouring  and  the  general  condition  of  the  fruits 
emphasise  the  long  keeping  qualities  of  the 
different  varieties,  given  proper  conditions.  After 
the  terrific  drought  of  last  year  it  is  really  mar- 
vellous that  these  fruits  have  kept  so  well.  There 
is  no  secret  regarding  their  storage.  Messrs.  Bunyard, 


doubtedly  is  Cardinal,  whUe  their  new  variety, 
John  Rivers,  if  looks  are  anything  to  go  by,  appears 
to  be  a  good  thing  and  should  prove  a  great 
acquisition  to  this  most  desirable  class  of  fruit. 

The  only  exhibit  of  vegetables  comes  from  the 
Hon.  Vicary  .  Gibbs  (gardener,  Edwin  Beckett). 
The  exhibit  is  typical  of  Aldenham  and  leaves 
nothing  to  be  desired.  Here  are  to  be  seen  vege- 
tables of  the  very  highest  quality,  including 
Celery  Aldenham  Pink  and  Aldenham  White, 
Pea  Early  Giant,  Asparagus  Perfect,  Cucumbers 
Every  Day  and  King  George,  Potatoes,  Mushrooms, 
Tomatoes  Golden  Perfection  (very  finely  coloured) 
and  Perfection,  Cauliflowers,  Turnips  and  Mustard 
and  Cress. 

From  Laxton  Brothers  come  some  delicious 
Strawberries  which  ever  tempt  the  poor  reporter 
to  "  pick  and  steal  "  the  delightful,  fragrant  fruits. 
Their  new  Strawberry  The  Duke  is  the  principal 
variety,  and  is  likely  to  oust  Royal  So\'ereign. 
The  fruits  are  of  good  size,  highly  coloured  and 
fragrant.  Other  notable  varieties  include  Marshal 
Foch,  a  good  maincrop  variety  ;  Lord  Beatty, 
a  large  variety  of  excellent  flavour ;  and  that 
excellent  forcing  sort  Sir  Douglas  Haig. 


In  next  week's  issue  me  shall  publish  detailed  comments  on   Trees  and  Shrubs,  Herbaceous  and  Rock  Plants,  Orchids,  and  Garden  Sundries, 

zvith  descriptions  of  noteworthy  New  and  Rare  Plants. 


May  2-],  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


255 


FIGHT  THE    BATTLES   OF  YOUR  PLANTS 

Plants   and   vegetables  are   constantly   menaced   by   vicious   enemies.     The 
gardener  must  icage   war   upon    them,    the  plants   themselves   are   helpless. 


HAS  every  garden  owner  got  this  idea 
fixed  in  his  mind  ?  He  loves  his 
plants,  and  grows  his  crops  for  the 
joy  of  growing  them  ;  can  he  therefore 
tolerate  the  thought  for  one  moment 
that  the  well-being,  maybe  the  very  life  of  his 
plants,  may  be  jeopardised  if  he  neglects  or  even 
delays  the  use  of  weapons  of  destruction  of  insect 
pests  ?  The  season  of  quickened  activity  in 
the  vegetable  world  is  also  the  season  of  rapid 
multiphcation  of  insects,  both  creeping  and 
winged,  and  the  tender  young  shoots  and  fresh 
young  leaves  of  spring  growth  suffer  accordingly. 
The  power  of  an  insecticide  is  very  largely  governed 
by  the  time  at  which  it  is  used.  WiU  my  readers 
kindly  read  that  sentence  through  again  ?  It 
is  the  gist  of  the  strategy  that  must  govern  our 
warfare  against  plant  enemies,  and  in  the  great 
majority  of  cases  the  best  time  to  use  insecticides 
is  when  they  are  expected  to  appear  on  the  scene 
rather  than  after  their  actual  arrival. 

For  instance,  the  leaf-rolling  aphis  if  it  has 
troubled  us  in  the  past  may  be  expected  very 
shortly  after  young  foliage  is  formed.  If  we 
wait  until  curled-up  leaves  indicate  the  presence 
of  the  pest,  we  have  little  chance  of  expelling  him 
from  his  snug  little  home,  because  not  only  are 
the  lea\es  rolled  in  such  a  manner  as  to  render  it 
extremely  difficult  for  sprays  to  enter  the  interior 
channel,  but  that  channel  is  screened  by  a  fine 
film  of  water-resisting  web  or  adhesive  substance 
that  isolates  the  aphides  in  a  well  secured  strong 
room.  Here,  then,  is  one  instance  where  the  time 
of  application  of  even  th^  most  efficient  sprays 
makes  a  world  of  difference  in  results,  and  if  I 
dealt  at  length  now  with  spraying  for  leaf-roUing 
aphis  I  should  expect  those  who  started  spray- 
ing forthwith  to  say,  "  There's  not  much  in 
spraying." 

It  is  quite  a  different  story  when  we  come  to 
such  pests  as  the  caterpillars  of  the  vapourer 
moth,  the  blister  moth,  the  Currant  sawfly,  and 
a  good  many  varieties  of  weevils  that  attack 
either  fruits  or  vegetables. 

Just  at  this  season  of  the  year  it  is  possible  to 
oust  these  chewing  and  gnawing  vagabonds 
either  by  actually  slaying  them  with  what  is 
known  as  a  "  direct  contact  "  insecticide  or  by 
rendering  the  foliage  of  their  host  plant  poisonous 
or  so  distasteful  that  the  insects  are  glad  to 
quit. 

Direct  contact  insecticides  are  very  effective 
provided  in  the  first  place  they  are  accurately 
prepared  and  held  in  perfect  suspension — they 
are  not,  generally  speaking,  truly  soluble — and 
in  the  second  place  that  the  insects  are  get-at-able. 
Most  of  the  random  selection  I  named  above  are 
easily  hit  by  a  spray  ejected  by  a  good  syringe  or 
spraying  machine,  and  we  may  consequently  go 
at  them  with  a  good  summer  spray  fluid.  Here 
I  am,  as  it  were,  between  the  devil  and  the  deep 
sea.  I  want  my  readers  to  obtain  information, 
and  I  know-  the  question  arising  in  their  mind  will 
be,  "  What  do  I  recommend  as  a  good  summer 
spray  fluid  ?  "  If  I  quote  Messrs.  So  and  So's 
speciality,  I  get  some  rude  question  asked  me  as 
'"  what  my  recommendation  costs  a  firm,  and 
lie  competing  manufacturers  WTite  wrathfuUy 
■-J  the  Editor  protesting  that  their  speciality  is 
equally  efficacious.  I  might  give  recipes  and 
advocate  making  insecticides  at  home  were  it 
not  for  the  fact  that  I  do  not  approve  and  never 
have     approved    of     gardeners     pottering     about 


with  chemicals  that  want  skilful  handling  and 
special  equipment.  An  ill-balanced  or  carelessly 
mixed  insecticide  may  easily  be  capable  of  working 
mischief  instead  of  benefit,  and  then  what  happens  ? 
The  blame  is  not  connected  with  the  blunder  of 
the  amateur  dispenser,  but  is  attributed  to  the 
bad  teaching  of  the  waiter. 

Yes  ;  all  things  considered,  I  feel  I  am  on  the 
right  track  when  I  adhere  to  the  view  that  the 
general  gardener  or  amateur  will  be  best  advised 
to  buy  his  insecticides  ready  made,  and  he  will 
find  good  direct  contact  sprays  in  Katakilla, 
Kilzall,  .■\bol  and  other  brands  of  similar  character. 
It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  anything  that 
has  acid,  caustic  or  penetrating  properties  must 
be  used  with  extreme  caution  if  plants  or  trees 
are  in  active  growth  and  young  leaf.  Poisons 
that  will  destroy  insects  may  be  quite  safe  as 
far  as  most  foliage  is  concerned,  and  my  faith  in 
nicotine  remains  unshaken.  I  find  that  both 
under  glass  and  in  the  open  I  can  rid  plants  of 
caterpillars,  weevils,  aphides,  and  check  the  ravages 
of  woodlice,  earwigs  and  slugs  by  mixing  up  a 
soft  soap  solution  and  dropping  a  few  spots  of 
nicotine  as  used  for  vaporising  into  each  gallon. 
-Arsenate  of  lead  wash  is  much  used  for  fruit  tree 
spraying,  for  a  whole  host  of  caterpillars,  hoppers 
and  small  chafers.  It  is  a  spray  that  wants  using 
with  some  care,  and  I  would  only  recommend 
its  use  where  a  good  pow'erful  sprayer  with  a  well 
made  fine  nozzle  is  available. 

Ever  so  much  trouble  would  be  spared  and  ever 
so  many  plants  would  be  kept  in  better  condition 
if  more  attention  was  given  to  spraying  befolre 
any  trouble  appears,  using  just  a  cheap,  harmless 
mixture  of  quassia  and  soft  soap.  This  has  no 
dangerous  elements  and  can  be  used  on  all  except 
salad  vegetables,  its  purpose  being  to  make  the 
fohage  distasteful  to  insects.  Moths  and  butter- 
flies will  not  lay  their  eggs  where  there  is  a  taint 
of  quassia.  Emulsified  petroleum  is  also  very 
serviceable  for  the  same  purpose,  but  to  use 
ordinary  lamp  paraflin  may  cause  trouble  if  not 
kept  in  perpetual  suspension.  Herbaceous  plants, 
Roses,  Calceolarias,  Euonymus,  Beans,  Celeo'. 
Chrysanthemums,  DahUas  and  even  Potatdes 
may  well  be  sprayed  with  these  mild  insecticides, 
for  be  it  noted  if  Potatoes  are  allowed  to  suffer 
from  attacks  of  aphis  they  are  very  prone  to 
collapse  when  later  on  they  are  sprayed  with 
Bordeaux  mixture  to  ward  off  bhght  (Phytoph- 
thora  infestans;. 

-•Vt  this  season  of  the  year  plants  under  glass 
must  be  very  carefully  watched.  .A.s  the  sun 
gains  power  the  temperature  inside  a  small  green- 
house rises  rapidly  during  the  forenoon,  and  if  a 
plant  should  happen  to  droop  for  lack  of  water 
it  is  almost  bound  to  fall  victim  to  some  insect 
pest,  for  the  tropical  atmosphere  encoiu-ages  them 
to  breed  at  a  terrific  rate.  White  fly  is  an  awful 
scourge.  It  matters  not  whether  one  grows 
Tomatoes,  Fuchsias,  Salvias,  Primulas  or  any  one  of 
a  score  other  subjects,  white  fly,  if  once  it  appears, 
multiplies  until  it  comes  in  cloudhke  masses, 
and  the  foliage  of  everything  becomes  horribly 
unsightly.  Cyaniding  is  certainly  an  effective 
method  of  dealing  with  the  pest,  but  cyanide  wants 
very  careful  handling 

I  have  tried  many  things,  but  nothing  has 
served  me  quite  so  well  as  Gassonite  sprinkled 
over  a  damped  floor  at  the  time  the  ventilators 
are  closed  down  in  the  evening.  It  is  cheap, 
easy,  safe,  and  if  repeated  at  intervals  of  a  fortnight 


or  so   it   will   dispose  of  each   successive   host   of 
flies  as  they  are  hatched. 

Red  spider  would  not  give  half  the  trouble  it 
does  among  Vines,  Cucumbers,  Carnations  and 
other  greenhouse  plants  if  attention  was  more 
carefully  given  to  the  maintenance  of  atmospheric 
moisture.  Again,  there  is  the  case  of  Violets 
that  have  been  producing  a  harvest  of  bloom  in 
frames  ;  now  that  the  flowers  are  over  the  plants 
should  not  be  left  just  to  take  their  chance,  but, 
if  the  weather  is  at  all  hot,  should  be  syringed 
daily.  Red  spider  cannot  make  much  headway 
when  constantly  brought  into  contact  with 
water.  A.  J.  Macself. 


THE    THINNING  OF 
SEEDLINGS 

Thin  gradually    and    before    the  plantlets 
become  drawn. 

AGENER.\TIO\  ago  there  was  an  old 
saying,  "  sow  thickly  and  thin  early." 
Such  advice  might  be  good  when  seeds 
were  not  as  reUable  as  they  are  to-day. 
In  these  days  very  thick  sowing  would 
be  a  mistake.  Taking  plants  from  seed  generally 
the  seedlings  require  very  severe  thinning  even 
after  moderately  thin  sowing.  With  the  exception 
of  some  of  the  rarer  species  and  varieties,  the  great 
majority  are  sown  too  thickly,  expecially  in  boxes, 
pots  and  frames  where  space  is  strictly  limited.  I 
dare  say  hundreds  of  readers  of  The  Garden  have 
already  taken  the  required  number  of  seedlings 
from  the  boxes  of  many  kinds  of  plants  and  still 
have  more  left  in  the  boxes  than  they  took  out. 
Of  course,  it  is  very  nice  to  have  a  surplus  of 
seedUngs,  but  undue  crowding  makes  all  weakly  to 
begin  with  and  then  valuable  time  is  lost  in 
strengthening  those  retained. 

Hardy  annuals  from  seeds  sow-n  in  the  open 
border  should  be  carefully  examined  from  time 
to  time  and  the  necessary  thinning-out  done 
gradually,  so  that  after  the  final  thinning  the  plants 
retained  will  have  ample  room  in  which  to  grow 
sturdily,  keep  an  upright  form  and  bear  flowers 
of  great  substance.  Weakly  plants  are  never 
satisfactory. 

Turning  now  to  vegetables,  Onions  and  Carrots 
more  especially  are  often  allowed  to  remain  in 
very  crowded  state  until  the  plants  are  quite 
large  before  any  thinning  is  attempted,  which  is  a 
great  mistake.  Others  are  gradually  thinned  so 
that  the  drawn  seedlings  may  be  used  in  the 
kitchen.  This  is  a  sound  practice,  provided  the 
final  thinning  is  not  left  until  too  late  a  date  as, 
when  this  happens  and  a  dry  spell  of  weather 
follows,  the  matured  crop  is  not  quite  satisfactory, 
even  if  wireworms  and  other  pests  do  not  attack 
the  young  plants.  All  seedlings  not  required  should 
be  drawn  out  while  the  soil  is  in  a  moist  condition 
and  immediately  afterwards  the  rows  of  plants 
should,  in  the  absence  of  rain,  be  watered  through 
a  rosed  watering-can.  .K  good  hoeing  of  the  soil 
between  the  rows  should  then  be  given  as  soon 
as  it  becomes  dry  enough,  and  a  hght  application 
of  soot,  broadcast,  will  be  beneficial. 

If  Onions  are  required  for  household  purposes 
solely,  thin  to  2ins.  apart.  Carrots  to  4ins.,  Turnips 
to  6ins.,  Runner  Beans  to  Sins.,  Parsley  to  6ins., 
Beet  to  gins.  It  is  very  rare,  indeed,  that  one 
sees  Parsley  thinned-out  at  all,  but  it  pays 
to  thin  this  crop  well.  Three  plants  in  i6ins.  or 
so  will  yield  finer  and  more  bulky  leaves  than 
sixteen  in  the  same  space.  Many  gardeners  think 
a  little  "drawing"  does  no  harm.  Never  was 
there  a  greater  mistake  !  G.  G. 


25S 


THE     GARDEN, 


[May  27,  1922 


CORRESPONDENCE 


THE    SCENT    OF    "HEAVENLY    BLUE." 

nPHERE  are  doubtless  several  "  Heavenly  Blues  " 
in  the  nomenclature  of  garden  plants.  There 
is,  for  example,  Heavenly  Blue  Lithospermum, 
but,  such  has  been  the  popularity  of  the  intro- 
duction, the  best  known  is  almost  certainly  the 
Heavenly  Blue  Grape  Hyacinth.  It  is  grown  in 
countless  thousands.  Generally  speaking,  it  is 
foimd  in  longer  or  shorter  lines  as  edgings  for 
beds  or  borders,  or  in  the  last  named  in  clumps  of 
greater  or  lesser  extent.  Ocassionally  we  come 
across  a  large  mass  occupying  a  single  bed.  It  is 
then  that  its  wonderful  scent  can  best  be  sampled. 
Those  who  stood  beside  such  an  one  in  that  sudden 
warm  interlude  of  May  8  and  9  will  know  what  it 
is  like.  Some  people  say  it  reminds  them  of 
cloves.  Some  that  it  recalls  the  incense-like 
scent  of  Matthiola  bicornis,  the  Night-scented 
Stock.  Others  simply  describe  it  under  the  vague 
generalisation  of  spicy.  There  may  be  others 
still  who  are  unaware  that  it  has  any  smell  at  all. 
Let  all  such  gather  a  handful  and  put  them  in  a 
vase  and  leave  them  in  a  warm  room.  They 
will  realise  what  it  is  then,  and  if  they  are  of  the 
same  opinion  as  the  writer,  the  first  gathering 
will  not  be  the  last.  Incidentally,  it  may  be 
mentioned  that  their  scent  is  an  easy  way  of 
distinguishing  Heavenly  Blue  from  Muscari 
botryoides,  the  ordinary  Grape  Hyacinth,  whicli 
when  it  has  become  established  in  a  position  that 
it  hkes  is  not  always  readily  distinguished  from 
it. — Maelor. 

THE    YELLOW    CROWN     IMPERIAL. 

T^HE  opprobrious  epithet  of  Stink  Lily,  by 
which  the  Crown  Imperial  is  known,  does 
not  lessen  its  claim  to  being  classed  among  the 
best  of  early-flowering  hardy  plants.  In  support 
of  this  claim  I  may  mention  that  there  is,  within 
view  of  where  this  note  is  made,  a  bold,  irregular- 
shaped  clump  of  the  yellow  variety,  Fritillaria 
Imperialis  lutea,  carrying  about  seven  and  a 
half  dozen  flower-spikes,  the  telling  effect  of 
■which  will  be  realised  by  those  knowing  this  Lily  ; 
while,  in  addition  to  the  drooping  bell-shaped 
flowers,  the  smooth  shining  foliage  is  also  attrac- 
tive when  closer  inspection  of  the  group  is  made. 
This  plant  will  grow  and  flower  in  sun  or  shade, 
a  sunny  site  giving  one  or  two  weeks  earlier 
flowering.  A  border  of  shrubs  will  afford  positions 
giving  partial  or  total  shade,  as  the  case  may  be. 
The  question  has  often  been  raised  as  to  whether 
frequent  replanting  of  the  bulbs  does  or  does  not 
conduce  to  freer  flowering.  I  incline  to  the 
"  let  alone "  practice,  in  support  of  which  may 
be  cited  the  plants  growing  here,  of  which  the 
clump  referred  to  above  has  not  been  disturbed 
for,  probably,  ten  years.  On  the  other  hand,  a 
smaller  colony  was  dug  up  about  two  years  or  so 
ago  and  replanted  separately.  Most  of  these 
are  now  flowering,  which  shows  the  Crown  Imperial 
to  be  a  plant  quick  to  re-establish  itself  where 
conditions  are  fa\'ourable.  The  soil  in  which 
these  Lilies  grow  is  on  the  light  side  ;  indeed, 
it  is  inclined  to  be  sandy,  but  at  a  spade's  depth 
or  so  it  is  of  somewhat  heavier  texture. — C.  T., 
Ampthill. 

THE    YELLOW    BANKSIAN    ROSE. 

T  AST  year  one  of  your  correspondents  drew 
attention  in  your  columns  to  the  early 
flowering  of  the  Yellow  Banksian  Rose.  Your 
readers  may  like  to  know  that  here  (West 
Horsham)  on  the  south  wall  of  my  house  the 
Yellow  Banksian  came  into  bloom  on  Friday, 
May  12 — remarkably  early  in  what  is  a  back- 
ward season  for  nearly  everything  in  the  garden. 
—J.  C.  F.  M. 


SPANISH    GORSE. 

nPHE  so-called  Spanish  Gorse,  Genista  hispanica, 
is,  in  my  opinion,  a  strangely  neglected 
dwarf  shrub.  If  planted  in  clean,  not  over-rich 
soil  and  in  a  position  wliere  it  gets  all  possible 
sunlight  and  heat  it  proves  hardier  than  many 
shrubs  much  more  often  seen  in  gardens,  and  if 
in  an  exceptionally  hard  winter — we  have  had 
none  of  late  years — it  gets  cut,  it  is  very  seldom 
that  it  fails  to  shoot  again  from  the  base.  For 
certain  effects  in  garden  planting  its  low  mounding 
habit  of  growth  is  invaluable.  It  may  be  used 
at  the  margins  of  shrubberies,  in  the  rock  garden — 
where  isolated  specimens  are  often  most  effective — 
or  in  the  wild  garden.  Wherever  used  it  provides 
furniture  throughout  the  year,  and  yet  it  is  not, 
strictly  speaking,  evergreen,  but  the  quantities  of 
deep  green  stems  and  prickles  are  as  effective  as 
Jeives.  The  blossoms,  which  at  the  time  of 
.vTiting  (May  16)  are  almost  at  their  best,  are  of  a 


short-lived  and  lose  their  stamina  very  quickly, 
and  must  be  kept  going  by  being  continually 
raised  from  seed.  Not  many,  I  fancy,  ever  think 
of  doing  this.  Hence  Fosteriana  and  ingens  an- 
here  to-day  and  gone  to-morrow  ;  dasystemon  i; 
quite  different.  It  does  not  resent  captivity  and 
is  a  splendid  doer.  It  has  not  the  gorgeous 
magnificence  of  those  Tulips  which  I  have  just 
named,  nor  their  height.  Not  that  they  can  be 
considered  tall  compared  with  the  towering 
Darwins.  Half  a  dozen  inches  is  the  measure  of 
its  stature,  and  its  pretty  white  and  yellow  flowers, 
which  are  usually  borne  from  two  to  four  on  a 
stem,  are  the  personification  of  quiet  beauty  in 
their  rather  uncommon  colouring  of  yellow  and 
white.  The  great  pure  yellow  centres  with  the 
ends  of  the  petals  pure  white  always  have  reminded 
me  of  that  bright  little  annual  Linmanthes 
Douglasii,  whose  colour  arrangement  I  read  the 
other  day  was  described  by  no  less  an  authority 
than  Mr.  Eraser,  our  new  V.M.H.,  as  altogether 
out  of  the  ordinary.  I  suppose  it  is,  but  I  never 
reaUsed  before  that  it  was  for  the  simple  reason 


THE    SPANISH    GORSE,    GENISTA    HISPANICA. 


deep  golden  colour  and  are  borne  in  clusters  of 
a  dozen  or  so  in  a  manner  reminiscent  of  the  true 
Gorse.  It  may  be  well  to  make  clear  the  distinction 
between  this  plant — the  Spanish  Gorse — and  the 
Spanish  Broom,  or  Rush  Broom,  as  it  is  also  called 
(Spartium  junceum),  another  valuable  golden- 
flowered  shrub,  but  summer  flowering  and  as 
different  in  habit  of  growth  as  one  shrub  can  be 
from  another. — G.  Harvev. 

A    BEAUTIFUL    TULIP    SPECIES. 

'T'HE  charming  little  Tulipa  dasystemon  is  one 
of  the  comparatively  recent  introductions 
from  lurkestan.  From  a  quotation  in  Bailey's 
Encyck>pa*dia  it  rather  -istonished  one  of  the 
first  people  who  cultivated  it  by  flowering  a  second 
time  as  well  as  it  did  the  first  year  after  its  importa- 
tion from  mid-Asia.  What  would  have  been  that 
person's  surprise  to  find  it  flowering  equally  well 
year  after  year,  and  not  oidy  flowering,  but  setting 
seed  and  sowing  itself  "  all  over  the  place."  It  is 
not  every  Tulip  species  that  does  this.  So  many 
are  very  disappointing  when  they  are  caged  up 
in  a  Western  garden.     Perhaps  they  are  by  nature 


that,  in  times  gone  by,  my  garden  was  overrun 
with  it,  and  familiarity  breeds  contempt.  There 
is  a  third  flower  which  may  be  put  in  this  small 
and  select  class.  It  is  a  .Sparaxis  called  ■•\ngelique. 
In  the  warm  sunlight  it  might  for  all  the  world 
be  dasystemon  on  stilts.  Tulipa  dasystemon  is 
not  only  a  gardener's  flower,  it  is  also  of  special 
interest  to  the  botanist,  as  the  arrangement  of 
its  central  organ  is  unlike  what  we  find  in  most 
Tulips,  inasmuch  as  there  is  a  distinct  style  to  the 
pistil  and  so  the  stigma  does  not  sit  directly  on 
the  ovary.  Hence  it  finds  itself  relegated  to  a 
small  sub-division  of  the  genus  Tulipa  called 
Orithyia  whose  members,  until  the  advent  of 
dasystemon,  were  all  looked  upon  as  garden 
Cinderejlas  of  the  Tulip  family.  I  rather  think  a 
very  rare  British  plant,  Lloydia  serotina,  must 
be  nearly  related  to  it. — Joseph  Jacob. 

THE    MOSS    ROSE. 

T  .\M   not  surprised  that  Major  Hurst's  scrappy 

and  very  questionable  notes  on  the  Moss  Rose, 

which   appear  in   "  The   Rose  Annual "   for   1922 

should   have   attracted   the   attention  of   "  J.   J." 


May  27,  1922.] 

The  question  raised  by  the  latter  can  easily  be 
answered.  Was  there,  as  Major  Hurst  states, 
a  Moss  Rose  in  1696  ?  Upon  the  evidence  sub- 
mitted for  the  reader's  consideration  the  answer 
is  absolutely  and  without  the  slightest  qualifica- 
tion a  negative  one.  Major  Hurst  bases  his 
supposition,  for  it  is  nothing  more,  on  the  following 
ground,  and  I  will  quote  his  own  words  :  "  But 
this  is  not  the  earliest  date  recorded  for  the  Moss 
Rose,  for  in  a  rare  hltle  book  entitled  "  L'ecole  du 
Jardinier  Heuriste  "  Freard  du  Castel  of  Bayeux 
(1746)  states  that  the  hundred-leaved  Moss  Rose 
was  in  cultivation  in  the  North  West  of  France 
at  Cotentin,  Bessin,  and  a  part  of  the  littoral  of 
La  Manche  in  1746;  and  that  it  was  brought 
there  by  him  from  Carcassonne  in  the  South  of 
France,  where  it  had  been  known  for  half  a  century 
(1696)."  Major  Hurst  has  evidently  made  this 
statement  on  some  other  authority  than  "  L'ecole 
du  Jardinier  Fleuriste,"  and  there  is  no  wonder 
that  "  J.J."  cannot  find  any  reference  to  the 
Moss  Rose  in  his  copy.  I  cannot  understand 
how  it  is  that  "  J.  J."  says  "  the  edition  in  my 
possession  is  dated  1746,  which  is  the  identical 
one  from  which  Major  Hurst  quotes."  The  first 
edition  of  "  L'ecole  du  Jardinier  Fleuriste  "  bears 
■on  its  title  page  the  date  in  Roman  numerals 
thus:  M.DCC.LXIV.  I  cannot  make  1746  of 
that,  but  1764.  The  book  was  published  anony- 
mously, Freard  du  Castel  being  only  the  reputed 
author.  The  writer  nowhere  mentions  the  Moss 
Rose  in  that  book,  nor  does  he  mention  any  of 
the  places  referred  to  by  Major  Hurst,  either  in 
the  North-West  or  in  the  South  of  France.  The 
reference  to  the  flower  having  been  grown  for 
half  a  century  in  or  near  Carcassonne  is  not  con- 
tained in  this  work  as  quoted  by  Major  Hurst. 
There  is  only  one  purely  French  floricultural 
book  known  to  me  as  having  been  published  in 
1746,  and  that  is  the  Pere  d'Ardene's  treatise  on 
the  Ranunculus.  Major  Hurst's  notes  must 
have  got  mixed  for  such  a  substantial  blunder  to 
have  taken  place.  The  facts  may  be  true,  but  so 
far  as  the  authority  quoted  is  concerned,  the  whole 
story  is  apocryphal. — C.  H.\rman  P.wne. 

COLOUR    AND    PLANT    LIFE. 

T  NOTE  that  Mr.  George  Garner  in  his  article 
on  "  The  Shading  of  Greenhouses,"  in  The 
Oarden  of  May  13th,  writes  that  for  Ferns  and 
Palms  a  permanent  green  shade  is  best  for  the 
summer  months.  I  take  it  that  by  permanent 
he  means  a  shade  which  cannot  be  rolled  up  and 
down  like  a  blind  but  remains  fixed  all  through 
the  warmer  months,  whether  the  day  be  clear  or 
cloudy.  Mr.  Garner  expressly  limits  the  use  of 
such  a  shade  to  Ferns  and  Palms,  and  they  would 
certainly  be  less  liable  to  injury  by  the  use  of  it 
than  other  classes  of  plants.  In  these  days  when 
labour-saving  is  a  great  consideration  anything 
which  economises  time  gains  importance,  but  it 
must  be  remembered  that  the  permanent  green 
glass  shading  was  removed  from  the  great  Palm 
House  at  Kew  and  also  from  the  Fern  houses. 
These  last  named  were  glazed  with  a  much  deeper 
tinted  glass  which  was  found  to  be  positively 
injurious  and  removed  (see  the  Gardener's  Chronicle, 
November  26,  1892).  A  short  digest  appeared  in 
The  Garden  early  in  1919  from  the  Rev.  G. 
Henslow's  paper  on  "  Some  Effects  of  Growing 
Plants  Under  Glass  of  Various  Colours,"  which  was 
read  at  a  meeting  of  the  Scientific  Committee  of  the 
R.H.S.  and  published  by  them,  and  the  editorial 
comment  was  that  "  the  important  point  for 
practical  gardeners  to  observe  is  to  avoid  the  use 
of  green  colouring  matter  when  summer-clouding 
their  plant  houses."  Experiments  showed  that  not 
only  did  the  green  screan  cut  off  a  certain  amount 
of  heat,  but  the  more  important  rays,  which  are 
required  for  assimilative  purposes.     Plants  grown 


THE     GARDEN 

under  green  glass  were  actually  found  to  lose 
weight  of  dry  substance  though  there  was  an 
increase  of  water.  A  plant  appears  to  be  green 
because  it  absorbs  the  other  rays  which  make  a 
white  Solar  hght,  but  rejects  these  green  rays. 
To  an  animal  oxygen  is  life  and  green  restful  ; 
to  the  plant  oxygen  is  largely  rejected  and  the 
colour  green  poisonous.  It  is  a  very  remarkable 
thing  that  in  some  Ughts  chlorophyll  appears  to  be 
blood  red,  and  it  fluoresces  with  a  red  light.  We 
speak  of  our  green  lawns,  but  if  we  look  at  them 
through  purple  glass,  which  cuts  off  the  green  rays 
from  the  eye,  they  appear  red.  This  chlorophyll 
or  leaf-green  is  by  no  means  a  simple  green  colour 
screen,  and  "  no  advantage  seems  to  have  resulted  " 
from  the  use  of  a  green  pigment  to  quote  Dr. 
Lindley  (see  page  300  in  his  "  Theory  of  Horti- 
culture").—H.  H.  W. 

IRIS— FLEUR    DE     LUCE. 

Flower  of  liglit  !   who  gave  thee  first  that  name 
Saw  clear  thy  flower  soul  through  purple  prism  bars. 
Lifting  thy  threefold  standard  to  the  stars. 
Poised,  perfect,  still, — Uke  an  arrested  flame, 
A  carven  prayer  all  luminous,  thou  art 
Part  human  flower  and  winged  .\rchangel  part. 

Flower  of  hght  !     Fair  prism  that  disparts 

But  to  remake  the  Sun's  too  sovereign  hght. 

Tempering  his  blinding,  incandescent  white 

In  Iris  colours  to  our  human  sight, 

Filling  with  uncommunicable  joys  our  hearts  :^ 

As  the  arched  splendours  of  God's  rainbow,  blent, 

Make  the  white  glory  of  His  Firmament. 

Flower  of  light !     Emblem  of  Hope,  that  calls 
With  lifted  arms  to  Heaven,  but  still  lets  down 
The  curved  beauties  of  thy  triple  gown 
To  Earth  :   as  we  too,  reaching  to  a  crown 
Hold  fast  to  human  love,  so  thy  soft  velvet  falls, 
Emblem  of  Faith  and  Hope  and  Charity 
That,  rooted  still  in  Earth,  still  clasp  Eternity. 

Flower  of  light !     All  colour  and  all  form. 
The  very  Curve  of  Beauty,  in  thee  dwells. 
Not  even  the  multitudinous  Sea  and  all  its  shells, 
Whether  in  halcyon  calm  it  laughs,  or  swells 
Magnificent  in  mountain-billowed  storm. 
Shows  curves  hke  thine,  so  carven  yet  so  free  ; 
Nor  Phidias  knew,  nor  could  Apelles  see 
More  perfect  form  or  colour  than  in  thee. 

Flower  of  light !     Who  knows  if  fables  old 
First  gave  Olympus'  messenger  thy  name 
Or  gave  thee  hers  ; — but  this  I  know — there  came 
Down  the  arch'd  bow  in  multicoloured  flame, 
To  star  our  Earth  with  purple  and  with  gold, 
Thy  beauty  ; — for  a  breath  of  Heaven  yet  clings 
.About  thy  robes,  and  thy  translucent  stilhiess  brings 
Faint  Seraph  songs,  half  heard,  and  winnowings  of 
wings. 

W.  H.  W.  Bliss. 

ROSE     LA     FRANCE     LENDER    GLASS. 

T  THINK  it  might  interest  your  readers  to  hear 
of  a  wonderful  La  France  Rose  tree  I  have  in 
one  of  my  smaller  greenhouses.  This  tree  begins 
blooming  in  March  and  goes  on  for  many  weeks. 
This  season  my  gardener  has  cut  over  three 
hundred  blossoms  off  it,  and  this  number  is  about 
the  yearly  average  since  the  tree  began  blooming 
about  eleven  years  ago.  The  gardener  tells  me 
he  cut  the  first  Rose  this  year  on  February  24, 
and  he  cut  the  last  on  May  12.  We  give 
the  tree  no  artificial  heat,  but  it  is  well  pruned 
back  every  season  after  flowering  ceases,  and 
given  bone  meal  in  the  autumn  and  liquid  farm- 
yard manure  occasionally.  I  can  highly  recom- 
mend this  good  old  variety  of  Rose  to  anyone 
who  wants  lovely  fragrant  blooms  in  early  spring. 
— Florence  E.  Henderson. 


257 


GARDENING    OF    THE 
WEEK 

FOR    SOUTHERN    GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Brussels  Sprouts. — The  plants  from  an  eady 
sowing  under  glass  pricked  out  and  grown  on  as 
advised  in  a  previous  issue  will  now  be  strong 
enough  to  place  in  their  permanent  positions. 
A  fairlv  rich  well  worked  piece  of  ground  should 
be  allotted  this  vegetable  to  get  a  heavy  yield  of 
buttons.  Plant  firmly  in  rows  a  yard  apart  for 
the  tall-growing  varieties  and  6ins.  less  for  dwarf 
ones,  and  allow  corresponding  distances  from 
plant  to  plant  in  the  rows.  Choose,  if  possible, 
a  dull  or  showery  day  to  get  the  work  done. 

Chicory. — Where  this  vegetable  is  required 
seed  may  be  sown  now  in  an  open  situation  having 
a  good  depth  of  soil  but  not  necessarily  recently 
manured.  Draw  the  drills  from  I5ins.  to  i8ins. 
apart,  and  thin  the  seedhngs  from  6ins.  to  gins, 
apart. 

Haricot  Beans  are  a  most  valuable  winter 
food  and  well  worth  some  good  ground.  The 
sowing  and  subsequent  culture  is  similar  to  that 
afforded  to  dwarf  French  Beans  with  the  excep- 
tion that  the  Haricots  are  not  gathered  in  the 
green  state  but  allowed  to  develop  fully  and  ripen 
to  maturitv  as  a  seed  crop.  Among  several  to 
choose  from  I  know  nothing  better  than  the  Dutch 
Brown. 

Cucumbers. — Excellent  crops  of  Cucumbers 
can  be  grown  in  frames  for  the  next  few  months. 
Frames  that  are  cleared  of  early  Potatoes,  etc., 
are  suitable  for  this  purpose.  Naturally,  better 
results  will  be  obtained  if  a  little  fresh  hot-bed 
material  is  introduced  to  give  the  plants  a  start, 
but  quite  good  crops  can  be  secured  by  merely 
digging  over  the  frames,  at  the  same  time  working 
a  Uttle  artificial  manure  in  and  planting  out  at 
once. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Spring-flowering  Plants.— The  majority  of 
these  are  several  weeks  later  passing  out  of  flower 
this  season,  and  will  therefore  delay  the  replenish- 
ing of  the  beds  with  the  summer  occupants.  Where 
the  bulbs  of  Hyacinths,  TuUps,  etc.,  have  not 
completed  their  growth  at  the  time  of  lifting 
they  must  be  laid  thinly  out  in  trenches  of  ashes 
or  soil  until  thev  have  done  so,  and  then  hfted 
again  and  spread  out  thinly  in  a  cool,  dry,  airy 
shed.  Roots  of  Polyanthus  may  be  divided  and 
planted  out  on  a  cool  border  in  rows  a  foot  apart. 
Aubrietias  and  Arabis  can  be  easily  increased  by 
cuttings,  which  will  root  readily  in  sandy  soil 
in  a  cold  frame.  The  former  are  also  easily  raised 
from  seed  sown  now,  and  this  is  a  very  easy  way 
of  getting  a  quantity  together  where  it  is  not 
essential  each  plant'  must  be  true  to  colour. 
Forget-me-nots  when  lifted  can  be  planted  some- 
what thicklv  together  on  a  spare  piece  of  ground 
which  has  several  inches  of  hght  sandy  soil  on  the 
surface,  and  there  will  be  an  abundance  of  material 
for  pricking  out  later  on.  If  possible,  it  should 
be  arranged  for  the  beds  to  be  dug  over  and  left 
a  few  days  after  removing  spring  plants  before  they 
are  again  filled  up  with  fresh  stock. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Raspberries. — Remove  all  superfluous  and 
weakly  growths,  retaining  sufficient  only  for 
fruiting  next  season.  The  removal  of  unnecessary 
shoots  must  be  done  carefuUy  or  injury  will  be 
done  to  the  feeding  fibres  of  this  season's  fruitmg 
canes.  The  spaces  between  the  rows  should 
receive  a  light  surface  hoeing  to  keep  small  weeds 
in  check.  Should  no  mulch  have  been  given,  it 
should  be  done  now,  especially  on  Ught  land. 
If  no  manure  is  available,  throw  some  lawn 
mowings  and  leaves  together  for  a  few  days  and 
let  this  be  used  as  a  mulch. 

The  Strawberry  Bed  should  be  properly  weeded 
before  bedding  it  down  with  some  bright  straw 
in  readiness  to  keep  the  fruits  clean.  M  the  same 
time   all  netting  arrangements  should  be  carried 

out. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Early    Peaches    and    Nectarines.— Owing    to 

scarcity  of  sunshine  it  is  as  a  rule  more  difficult 
to  obtain  a  good  finish  in  appearance  and  flavour 
with  the  above  than  with  the  mid-season  and 
late  fruits,  Much,  however,  may  be  done  in 
reaching  these  ends  by  careful  and  practical 
management.  An  important  aid  in  obtaining 
flavour,  particularly  so  when  there  is  a  lack  of 
sunshine,  is  to  see  that  the  hot-water  pipes  are 
never  allowed  to  become  cold  day  or  night.     By 


258 


THE     GARDEN. 


[May  27,  192 


this  means  a  circulation  of  air  may  always  be  kept 
on  the  house,  and  a  fairly  warm,  buoyant  atmo- 
sphere is  of  the  upmost  importance  in  giving 
flavour.  Wann  moving  air  aids  also  greatly  in 
giving  a  good  colour  to  the  fruits,  especially  when 
they  are  exposed  nicely  to  the  light  and  lateral 
growths  not  aUowed  to  check  it.  The  condition 
of  the  roots  is  also  of  immense  importance,  and 
although  it  is  fatal  for  the  roots  to  suffer  from 
dryness  until  the  fruits  are  fully  matured,  it  is 
directly  harmful  to  give  a  lot  of  water  to  any 
tree  approaching  ripeness.  Arrange  rather  for 
all  copious  waterings  to  have  been  given  before  this 
stage  is  reached.         H.  Turner 

(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 
Albury  Park  Gardens,  Guildford. 


FOR  NORTHERN  GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 
Turnips. — ilake  further  sowings  of  the  Milan 
type  so  that  nice  fresh  roots  may  be  ensured. 
Thin  early  sowings  as  required  and  keep  the  Dutch 
hoe  going  between  the  lines,  and  in  this  way 
encourage  a  quick  yet  vigorous  growth. 

Kidney  Beans. — The  main  crop  of  these  may 
now  be  sown  without  danger  of  late  frosts  affecting 
the  plants.  Choose  a  light  and  friable  piece  of 
ground  which  has  been  well  manured  during  the 
winter  period  and  sow  in  lines  rSins.  apart.  Thin 
freely  to  about  Sins,  when  the  rough  leaves  appear. 
Runner  Beans. — These  are  less  hardy  than  the 
dwarf  sorts,  but  may  also  be  sown  now.  The 
rows  should  be  at  least  5ft.  apart,  as  when  grown 
too  closely  the  crop  is  considerably  diminished. 
It  ahvavs  pavs  to  give  ready  support  by  stakes 
or  strings  immediately  the  plants  are  a  few  inches 
high.  In  many  gardens  chmbing  Beans  are 
grown  on  tripods  made  up  of  three  \-ery  tall  canes, 
and  when  arranged  thus  at  regular  intervals  by 
the  sides  of  paths  the  result  is  both  effective  and 
remunerative. 

Peas. — Numerous  sowings  should  be  made  now 
to  provide  late  crops.  The  Gladstone  and  Autocrat 
are  two  excellent  sorts  for  late  work,  both  being 
of  robust  constitution  and  producing  large  pods 
with  Peas  of  excellent  flavour.  Attend  to  the 
staking  of  earlier  sowings  as  required,  and  mulch 
with  half-rotted  manure  crops  that  may  be  growing 
on  light  or  gravelly  soils. 

Potatoes. — Fork  the  soil  between  the  rows  and 
give  a  light  dressing  of  Potato  manure  imme- 
diately before  earthing  up.  Nothing  responds 
more  readily  to  generous  cultivation  than  the 
Potato.  When  growth  is  vigorous  the  plants  are 
less  liable  to  disease,  with  resultant  increase  of  crop. 
SaladingS. — Keep  up  a  succession  of  Lettuce, 
Radish  and  Mustard  and  Cress.  .Also  trans- 
plant previous  sowings  of  Lettuce  into  suitable 
quarters.  To  produce  the  desired  crispness  in 
Lettuce  the  crop  should  be  grown  quickly  and 
receive  copious  waterings  during  dry  weather. 

Spinach. — Make  further  sowings  of  this  vegetable 
on  a  cool  part  of  the  garden,  preferably  on  an  east 
or  north  border.  When  sown  in  this  position  the 
crop  does  not  run  so  readily  to  seed  during  hot 
weather.  A  sowing  of  New  Zealand  Spinach 
should  also  be  made  now,  but  a  warm  and  dry 
position  should  be  accorded  this  variety. 

Seal<ale. — Examine  new  plantations  with  a 
view  to  disbudding,  leaving  one  strong  crown  to 
develop. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 
Wall  Trees,  such  as  Peaches.  Nectarines  and 
Plums,  will  greatly  benefit  by  a  good  syringing 
each  day  during  fine  weather.  See  that  newly 
planted  trees  do  not  suffer  from  lack  of  water 
at  the  roots.  .A  goodly  mulch  of  partly  rotted 
manure  will  prove  beneficial  and  prevent  over- 
qviick  evaporation. 

Raspberries. — Suckers  are  now  pushing  up 
Ircilv  .irciuiul  the  parent  plants,  so  should  be 
reduced  to  the  quantity  required  for  next  season's 
fruiting. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Mealy  Bug  on  Vines. — Unfortunately  in 
many  estabhshments  where  the  vineries  have  to 
be  utilised  at  certain  periods  for  plants  mealy 
liug  readily  finds  its  way  into  the  structure,  and 
when  this  pest  has  obtained  access  it  is  a  diffi- 
cult business  to  eradicate  it,  no  matter  how 
thoroughly  the  work  of  cleaning  during  the  winter 
has  been  done.  A  sharp  look-out  should  be  kept 
for  the  bugs,  and  if  touched  with  a  small  brush 
dipped  in  methylated  spirits  it  will  check  their 
career  sufficiently  to  save  the  bunches  from 
becoming  infested. 

The  Flower  Garden. 
Bedding    Out. — Most   of    the   summer   bedding 
plants  may  now  be  transferred  to  their  flowering 


quarters,  with  the  exception  of  Begonias,  HeUo- 
tropes,  Ageratums  and  Dahhas,  which  might 
more  safely  be  left  till  the  last. 

Polyanthuses. — Plants  raised  from  seed  sown 
under  glass  should  now  be  pricked  out  into  nursery 
beds  on  a  partly  shaded  border.  Old  plants  may 
also  be  lifted  and  divided  at  this  time,  planting 
them  in  a  fairlj'  rich  piece  of  ground.  In  this 
way  fine  plants  may  be  obtained  for  autumn 
bedding. 

Sweet  Peas  will  now  be  growing  freely,  so 
should  receive  attention  in  the  way  of  staking 
before  the  growths  fall  over.  Where  the  plants 
are  grown  singly  w-ith  a  view  to  the  production 
of  large  flower-spikes  the  growths  should  be 
disbudded  and  tied  in  regularly. 
James  McGr.\n. 
(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.), 

Coodham,  Kilmarnock. 


CONSERVATORY    AND    GREENHOUSE. 

Agathaea  ccelestis,  the  so-called  Blue  Mar- 
guerite, is  a  very  pretty  plant  for  conservatory 
decoration,  producing  as  it  does  its  small  blue 
flowers  in  great  profusion  over  a  long  period. 
It  is  easily  propagated  by  means  of  cuttings  at 
any  time,  and  thus  may  be  had  in  flow^er  more  or 
less  all  the  year  round.  There  is  a  variety  with 
larger  semi-double  flowers,  but  it  is  not  such  an 
elegant  plant  as  the  type.  There  is  also  a  variety 
with  a  lax  traihng  habit  w-hich  is  very  pretty 
for  baskets. 

Oxalis  floribunda,  which  has  been  in  flower 
for  some  time,  is  very  pretty  for  the  greenhouse 
stage,  both  the  type  and  the  variety  alba  pro- 
ducing their  flowers  in  wonderful  profusion.  They 
are  also  very  fine  when  grown  as  basket  plants. 

Oxalis  purpurata  (syn.  O.  Bowieana),  which 
flowers  later  than  O.  floribunda,  is  also  very  fine. 
As  their  foliage  dies  down  water  should  gradually 
be  withheld,  and  they  should  be  given  a  rest  and 
kept  dry  in  a  cold  frame.  During  September 
they  should  be  turned  out  of  their  pots  and 
repotted  ;  they  may  be  grown  in  a  cold  frame 
from  which  frost  is  excluded. 

Chaenostoma  hispidum  is  a  very  pretty  plant 
for  the  cold  greenhouse  stage.  It  is  a  neat  little 
bushy  plant,  and  produces  its  small  white  flowers 
in  great  profusion  over  a  long  period.  It  is  easily 
rooted  from  cuttings  at  any  time.  This  plant  is 
a  native  of  South  Africa,  and  only  requires  cool 
greenhouse  treatment  during  all  stages  of  its 
growth. 

Alonsoa  Warscewiczii  is  a  popular  half-hardy 
annual  which  if  grown  in  pots  is  very  useful  for 
conservatory  decoration  at  this  time.  The  less 
known  -Alonsoa  incisifoUa  is  also  a  useful  and 
beautiful  plant,  and  this  particular  species  is 
propagated  by  means  of  cuttings.  By  propagating 
successional  batches  it  may  be  had  in  flower 
all  the  year  round. 

Begonia  manicata  in  its  way  is  the  finest  of  all 
the  winter-flowering  Begonias.  In  addition  to 
its  elegant  sprays  of  flower  it  lasts  in  good  con- 
dition for  well  over  three  months,  that  is,  if  it  is 
kept  in  a  cool  house  when  in  flower.  Most  culti- 
vators keep  it  in  a  stove  temperature,  under  which 
conditions  the  flowers  come  a  poor  colour  and  only 
last  for  a  few  weeks.  From  now  until  the  end  of 
the  month  is  a  good  time  to  propagate  this  Begonia 
by  means  of  cuttings,  which  root  readily  in  a  close 
case.  When  potted  off  and  growing  they  require 
a  genial  growing  temperature  of  some  55°  to  60° 
until  the  flowers  show  signs  of  colour,  when  they 
should  be  removed  to  a  cool  house.  The  first 
season  their  flowering  pots  should  be  6in.  or  7in. 
in  size.  After  flowering  they  should  towards  the 
end  of  May  be  potted  on  until  they  are  in  loin. 
and  I2in.  pots,  in  which  they  should  make  fine 
specimen  plants  6ft.  to  7ft.  high  when  in  flower. 
Such  specimens  are  invaluable  for  grouping  in  a 
large  conservatory. 

Begonias  of  the  winter-flowering  section,  of 
which  B.  socotrana  and  the  tuberous-rooted 
varieties  were  the  progenitors,  should  now  be 
giving  plenty  of  good  cuttings,  which  should  be 
secured  when  some  sins,  to  4ins.  in  length.  These 
root  readily  in  a  close  case  with  bottom  heat  at 
command  and  a  top  temperature  of  55°  to  60°. 
When  rooted  they  should  be  potted  on  as  they 
require  it.  During  their  growing  season  their 
cultivation  is  not  difficult,  as  they  grow  freely 
in  an  intermediate  temperature  of  some  55° 
Careful  watering  is,  of  course,  essential  at  all  times. 
A  few  of  the  best  varieties  are  Optima,  Mr.  Heal, 
Elatior,  Exquisite,  Emita  and  Fascination.  The 
double-flowered  varieties  do  not  succeed  near 
London,  as  they  drop  their  buds  during  foggy 
weather.  J.  Coutts, 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kcw. 


ANSWERS 
TO  CORRESPONDENTS 

THE    GREEMIOUSE. 

PLANTS  FOR  A  COOL  GREENHOUSE  (N.  E.,  Devoa). 

— ^Ve  fear  oiir  correspondent  is  inclined  to  expect  over 
much  from  the  f^reeuhouse  which  it  is  intended  to  heat 
by  artificial  means  during  cold  weather  to  about  40°  Falu-. 
This  being  the  case,  the  idea  of  growing  such  plants  as 
Gardenias  and  Allamanda.s.  for  instance,  must  be 
abandoned.  Of  tlie  other  climbers  mentioned  the  Helio- 
trope. Niphetos  Hose,  Plumbago  capensis  and  Solanura 
jasminoides  are  quite  suitable,  tliough  for  the  Solanum 
we  should  be  inclined  to  substitute  .Mandevillea  suaveolens, 
as  the  Solanum  could  be  grown  out  of  doors  if  it  were  given 
the  protection  of  a  wall,  or  it  would  flourish  if  planted  in  a 
moderately  warm  corner  where  it  could  ramble  over  some 
unvalued  shrab.  For  the  three  pillars  in  the  greenhouse 
we  suggest  Heliotrope,  Plumbago  capensis  and  Cassia 
corymbosa.  As  it  is  intended  to  grow  as  many  plants 
in  the  house  as  possible,  climbers  should  be  trained  to  the 
roof  sparingly  or  they  will  cast  too  much  shade  for  the 
well-being  of  tiie  other  plants.  A  word  of  warning  against 
attempting  to  grow  too  many  plants  seems  to  be  needed. 
Overcrowding  is  very  liarmful  to  all  living  things  and  we 
are  of  the  decided  opinion  that  it  is  far  better  to  allow  a 
limited  number  of  plants  fair  space  than  to  "  squeeze 
in  all  that  I  can  and  hope  for  the  best."  With  regard 
to  Camellias,  we  have  found  it  best  in  the  West  to  plant 
them  m  a  north-west  aspect  where  they  flower  later  and 
often  escape  the  frosts  tliat  would  otherwise  spoil  the 
blooms.  Tlie  cause  of  failure  with  Liliums  out  of  doors 
is  probably  unsuitable  SOU.  If  Azaleas  and  Rhododendrons 
are  grown  many  Lilies  miglit  be  planted  among  them  with 
prospects  of  success. 

TREES  AND  SHRUBS  . 
BROOMS  (Felsted). — Cytsus  kewensis  is  one  of  the 
finest  of  the  prostrate  Brooms  as  it  makes  trailing  shoots 
a  yard  long,  covered  with  arge  creamy-yeLow  flowers. 
A  stronger  plant,  with  bright  yellow  flowers,  is  C.  scoparius 
prostratus  grandiflorus,  of  quite  prostrate  habit.  Small 
plants  more  suitable  for  the  rockery  are  C.  Beani,  and  C. 
decumbens.  with  yellow  flowers.  C.  Ardoini  is  a  beautiful 
little  Broom,  with  yellow  flowers,  and  erect,  but  only  Bins, 
high.  Genista  pilosa  and  G.  prostrata  are  both  small, 
procumbent  yellow  Bro  ms  suitable  tor  the  rockery. 
(J.  hispanica  or  Spanish  Gorse  is  not  procumbent,  but 
forms  an  erect,  spiny  bush  12ins.  to  ISins  high,  covered 
with  yellow  flowers.  The  large  bed  at  Kew  contains 
many  plants  A  fine  effect  ran  always  be  produced  with 
the  above  mentioned  small  Brooms,  by  planting  a  suffi- 
cient number  of  specimens  to  cover  the  area  available. 


FRUIT    UNDER    GLASS. 

FIG  WHITE  ISCHIA  (Felsted). — This  Fig  produces 
small  fruits,  of  pale  colour  when  ripe,  and  in  great  abund- 
ance. It  is,  therefore,  well  adapted  for  pot  culture. 
The  small  fruits  now  appearing  on  last  year's  shoots  shoiUd 
not  be  picked  off,  because  they  may  be  the  oidy  ones  that 
mil  ripen  in  a  conservatory  that  is  not  heated  in  spring 
and  early  summer.  This  is  what  is  termed  the  first 
crop.  The  second  will  appear  on  this  year's  growths, 
but  may  not  ripen  without  artificial  heat. 


JHSCELLANEOUS 

ACETYLENE  GAS  REFUSE  (H,  M.  L.,  Kensington). — 
The  refuse  from  acetylene  generators  should  be  left 
exposed  to  the  air  for'  three  to  six  weeks  before  it  is 
spread  on  cultivated  ground.  After  that  it  may  be  used 
for  any  purpose  for  wiiich  lime  is  used  in  the  garden 
and  may  be  put  on  the  grou\id  at  the  rate  of  lib.  to  l_!!b. 
to  the  square  yard. 

THE  DESTRUCTION  OF  SPARROWS  (P.  D.,Glasgow.)— 
The  use  of  poison  in  the  garden  for  any  such  purpose  is 
greatly  to  be  deprecated  :  also  it  is  not  possilde  to  idace 
anywhich.  if  eaten  would  not  he  equally  harmful  to  poultry. 
To' reduce  the  number  of  siiarmws.  which  have  become  so 
destructive,  better  plans  than  puisuning  are  eitlier  to  shoot 
them  or  eatch  them  after  dark  in  nets.  With  the  former 
plan  a  little  soft  food  may  be  placed  on  the  ground  near 
where  the  sparrows  congregate,  and  when  a  number  are 
feeding  they  eould  easily  be  shot  if  the  sun-man  is  hidden 
within  ranse.  We  need  .scarcely  emphasise  the  necessity  for 
extra  caution  in  the  use  of  firearms  directed  to  objects  on 
the  ground.  Successful  netting  is  only  carried  out  when 
the  sparrows  roost  in  such  cover  as  that  provided  by  Ivy 
on  walls,  from  winch  the  birds  can  fly  out  only  in  one 
direction.  If  four  men  or  lads  are  available — two  to  hold 
the  net,  which  is  attached  to  a  couple  of  Ions  poles,  and 
one  on  each  side  to  beat  the  Ivy — the  success  of  the  foray 
will  be  all  the  greater.  All  the  sparrows"  nests  should  be 
imlled  out  frequently  during  the  spring  and  summer 
in  order  to  prevent  increase. 

NAMES  OF  PLANTS.— L.  M.  B.  B..  Melrose.— Secdl  ng» 

of  Primula  hirsuta. W.  S.  M..  Tunbridge  Wells. — .\cer 

pLafano  des,  "  .N'orway  Maple." H.  P.  E.,  Teignmoulh  - 

— Bdlbergia  nutans. 


FORTHCOMING    EVENTS. 

May     31. — Irish     Gardeners'     Association 


and 


Benefit  Society's  Meeting. 

June  I. — Linnean  Society's  Meeting.  Bath  and 
West  and  Southern  Counties  Society's  Annual; 
Exhibition  at  Plymouth  (five  days). 


THE 


UN  1M22 
rlcLiBiiral 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


ol.  LXXXVI.— No.  2637. 

itered  as  Second-class  Matter  at  the  New  York,  N.Y.,  Post  Office. 


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ORCH I DS 

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Phlox,   12  varieties,  distinct 

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MERSTHAM, 
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THE     GARDEN. 


[June  3,  1922. 


i€ 


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WOLVERHAMPTON   FLORAL  FETE 

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The  "VILLA"  SPRAYEF 


Patent  No.  161730. 


(Brass  Cylinder  I7in.  long  X  gin.  diam.) 
The  cheapest  and  most  effective  sprayer  on  the  market. 

"The    'Vill:i'    Sprayer   is,    despite    the   low   price,    thorouiihlj 

effect. ve  and  well  maJe Can  he  thorounhly  rec.iimended 

.Ts  exceedingly   useful   and    wonderful    value   for   money."— THE 
GARDhN. 

'  It  should  be  a  very  usef  il  piec:  of  apparatus  being  capable 
of  throwing  an  exceedingly  fioe  spra.  for  a  considerable 
distance.  ...  It  is  a  sprayer  we  can  recommend."— GARDENING 
ILLUSTKATED. 

"  The  ■  Villa  *  Spraj  er  may  be  regarded  as  excellent  value. 
It  is  well  made  and  may  be  recommended  particularly  for  spray- 
ing roses  and  truit  trees."— GARDEN  WORK  FOR  AMATEURS. 

"  It  is  certainly  the  cheapest  sprayerthat  has  so  far  come  under 
our  notice,  and  with  its  efficiency  we  have  no  fault  to  find 
whatever.    —THE   SMALLHOLDER. 


THE  TRADE  SUPPLIED.     For  Wholesale  terms  apply: 
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Post  Free        -        5/- 


rfS^S^J^ 


No.  2637.— Vol.  LXXXVI 


[June  3,  1922. 


SOME    BEAUTIFUL     BARBERRIES 


FEW  shrubs  contribute  more  to  the 
brilliance  of  the  garden  at  this  season 
than  the  Barberries.  The  particular 
kinds  which  are  represented  by  the 
drifts  of  orange  and  gold  are  old  favourites, 
being  Berberis  Darwinii,  introduced  from  Chile 
in'the  first  half  of  the  nineteenth  century,  and 
B.  X  stenophylla,  an  accidental  hybrid  between 
Darwin's  Barberry  and  B.  empetrifoUa  a  pretty 
but  not  conspicuous  species.  B.  stenophylla  is 
to-day  one  of  the  commonest  shrubs  ;  it  is  also 
one  of  the  most  worthy. 

'  Many  seedlings  from  B.  stenophylla  have  been 
dignified  with  names.  They  mostly  show  a  tendency 
to  revert  to  the  more  richly  coloured  but  stiffer 
B.  Darwinii.  Some  are  none  the  less  not  without 
value  for  special  purposes.  Such  are  the  very 
compact  habited  B.  s.  Ir«inii,  useful  in  the  rock 
garden  ;  the  richly  coloured  B.  s.  coralUna,  the 
buds  of  which  are  orange  vermiUon  ;  and  B.  s. 
Brilliant,  which  is  semi-deciduous  and  has  brilliantly 
coloured  fohage  in 
late  autumn.  '\,/    • 

The    only    other  [ ; 

species — apart  from 
the  Mahonias,  o  f 
which  more  anon 
• — which  could  by  any 
stretch  of  the  imagi- 
nation be  called 
showy-  is  B.  dulcis, 
better  known  in 
gardens  as  buxifolia. 
Its  -'  lantern  -  like 
golden  yellow 
fragrant  blossoms 
are  so  spaced  as  to 
display  their  indi- 
vidual beauty,  but 
the  shrub  does  not 
aSord  the  blaze  of 
colour  produced  by 
B.  Darwinii  and  its 
relatives.  The  very 
compact  form  of  B. 
dulcis  (B.  d.  nana)  is 
suitable  for  the  rock 
garden.  It  is  showier 
when  in  flower  than 
the  typical  plant. 

There  are  several 
evergreen  Barberries 
with  much  larger 
leaves  than  those 
we     have     been 


considering,  some  of  them  reaching  sins,  or  more 
in  length.  The  fohage  of  these  is  invariably 
glossy  and  rather  striking,  but  the  flowers,  produced 
more  sparingly  than  u-ith  the  Darwinii  forms, 
are  primrose  or  pale  sulphur  yellow  in  colour. 
The  nomenclature  of  these  species  is  in  nurseries 
\ery  confused,  but  the  plant  usually  offered  as 
B.  Wallichiana  or  sometimes  as  B.  Jamesoni  is 
B.  Hookeri  (Lemaire).  This  rather  spreading 
evergreen  shrub  attains  a  height  of  5ft.  or  so, 
and  the  flowers,  rather  larger  individually  than 
in  B.  Darwiiiii,  for  instance,  are  pale  yellow. 
The  variety  latifoha  is  not  only  broader  leaved, 
but  is  a  larger-growing  shrub  altogether,  attaining 
a  height  of  loft.  or  more.  It  may  be  told  from 
the  typical  plant  by  the  fact  that  the  foliage  is 
green  beneath,  whereas  in  the  typical  plant  the 
leaves  are  a  pale  glaucous  hue.  B.  H.  latifolia  is 
usually  called  B.  Knightii  in  gardens  and  nurseries. 
Somewhat  like  the  above  species  in  appear- 
ance   but    with    narrower   foliage,    golden    yellow 


GOLDEN   SHOWERS  OF  BERBERIS  STENOPHYLLA. 


flowers,  and  reddish  petioles  and  sepals  is  B. 
sanguinea.  This  is  a  more  elegant  shrub  than 
those  just  mentioned ;  the  branches  are  less 
crowded  and  the  whole  shrub  more  pleasing. 
B.  acuminata  with  brownish  flowers  and  large 
foliage  forms  a  distinguished- looking  shrub. 

Remarkable  among  the  deciduous  species  is 
B.  aristata,  which  appears  to  be  quite  hardy. 
It  is  a  rapid  and  big  grower,  with  rather  large 
leaves  often  whitish  beneath.  The  flowers  are 
fairly  freely  produced  and  good  bright  yellow  in 
colour.  Like  most  of  the  deciduous  kinds,  it  is 
even  more  remarkable  when  in  fruit.  The  berries 
are  red,  but  are  covered  with  a  bluish  white 
bloom.  There  are  several  slightly  differing  forms 
or  varieties  in  cultivation.  It  is  in  any  form  a 
worthy  shrub.  Somewhat  similar  in  appearance, 
though  distinct  botanically,  is  the  probably 
smaller-growing  B.  pruinosa. 

Equally  large-growing  but  more  erect  habited 
is  the  common  Barberry,  B.  vulgaris,  an  indigenous 
species  with  moder- 
ately showy  yellow 
flowers  in  pendent 
racemes  and,  in 
autumn  quantities 
of  deep  coral  berries. 
There  are  several 
varieties,  but  the 
only  one  worthy  of 
notice  is  the  purple- 
leaved  form.  This 
is  smaller  habited 
than  the  type,  but 
is  none  the  less  ver\* 
robust.  It  flowers 
and  fruits  freely,  and 
may  be  considered 
one  of  the  indis- 
pensable Barberries. 
Very  similar  in 
foliage  and  habit, 
but  on  a  smaller 
3  ale,  is  the  buff- 
lowered  B.  Thun- 
liergii,  chiefly  re- 
markable for  its 
bright  red  fruits  and, 
above  all,  for  its 
wonderful  autumnal 
colour.  This,  again, 
has  several  varieties, 
but  one  alone  is 
noteworthy,  namely, 
B.   T.   minor,   which 


260 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  3,  1922. 


THE  MAHONIA,  BERBERIS   AQUIFOLIUM. 


GORGEOUSLY     COLOURED,     BERBERIS     DARWINII. 


grows  2ft.  or  so  tall  and  has  smaller  leaves  and 
flowers. 

Berberis  yunnanensis  is  a  much  newer  intro- 
duction with  soft  yellow  ilowers.  Growing  per- 
haps 6ft.  tall,  it  has  exceptionally  large  fruits 
and  flowers.  Its  foliage  colours  wonderfully  in 
autumn.  Another  and  smaller  species  with  red 
berries  and  excellent  autumn  colour  is  B. 
dictyophylla. 

The  foregoing  may  be  taken  as  typical  of  a 
\'ery  distinct  class  of  Barberry.  Those  next 
to  be  mentioned,  though  also  deciduous,  are 
quite  distinct  in  general  appearance,  inasmuch 
as  the  shoots  are,  generally  speaking,  more  slender 
in  proportion  to  their  length  and  more  thickly 
armed  with  prickles,  while  the  very  numerous 
fruits  are  borne  in  compact  masses.  Most  of 
these  are  rather  on  the  small  side,  but  B.  polyantha 
reaches  a  height  of  8ft.  or  more.  Its  flowers  are 
yellow  and  produced  in  long,  drooping  panicles 
when  most  Barberries  are  over,  but  it  is  chiefly 
noteworthy  for  the  quantities  of  red  berries  which 
hang  until  late  in  winter. 

B.  Wilsons  has  salmon  red,  semi-translucent 
berries,  and  though  obviously  belonging  to  the 
same  section  as  B.  polyantha,  differs  from  that 
species  very  widely.  It  is  spreading  in  habit, 
whereas  B.  polyantha  is,  on  the  whole,  erect  grow- 
ing and  it  is  at  all  points  a  smaller  and  more  delicate 
plant.  The  crowded  flowers  are  lemon  yellow 
in  colour,  but  are  interesting  rather  than  con- 
spicuous. The  berries  are,  of  course,  the  chief 
attraction,  but  winter  or  summer  this  is  always 
a  charming  Uttle  shrub.  It  is  small  enough  to 
be  valuable  for  the  large  rock  garden.  In  brief 
notes  such  as  these  B.  subcaulialata  may  allowably 
be  described  as  an  erect-growing  B.  Wilsonse, 
Very  close  to  B.  subcaulialata  is  B.  Stapfiana. 
Somewhat  similar,  again,  but  larger  habited  and 
with  bloom-covered  darker  fruits  is  B.  brevi- 
paniculata  and  the  closely  allied  B.  Prattii.  Last 
of  all,  we  come  to  the  large-leaved  Barberries, 
which  gardeners  agree  to  call  Mahonias.  These 
Mahonia  forms  are  as  distinct  from  the  ordinary 
run  of  Barberries  as  are  the  Azaleas  from  the 
remainder  of  the  genus  Rhododendron. 

The  common  Mahonia  (B.  Aquifolium)  is  almost 
too  weU  known  to  need  description,  but  its  large 
pinnate  leaves,  soft  green  in  spring,  black-green 
in  late  summer,  and  often  gorgeously  tinged  with 
red  and  orange  in  autumn,  are  peculiarly  handsome, 
nor  are  the  erect  racemes  of  golden  yellow  flowers 
to  be  overlooked.  The  violet-coloured  berries 
are  very  abundantly  produced.  There  are  several 
selected  forms  or  varieties.  This  accommodating 
shrub  will  succeed  on  dry  banks  where  little  else 
will.  It  is  valuable  as  a  setting  for  shrubs  which 
flower  in  winter  before  their  leaves  expand — 
Forsythia,  to  wit,  or  Hamamelis.  It  is,  inciden- 
tally, a  valuable  covert  plant.  Closely  allied  is  the 
American  B.  repens,  a  dwarfer  plant  with  dull, 
bluish  green  foliage  and  less  beautiful.  The 
tallest  of  the  Mahonias  is  B.  pinnata  with  more 
erectly  held  foliage  of  a  duller  green  and  flowering 
from  the  axils  down  the  stem  as  well  as  at  the 
tips.  The  common .  Mahonia  sometimes  does 
this,  but  less  frequently. 

B.  japonica  is  a  very  large-leaved  species  with 
dark  but  not  glossy  foliage  and  lemon  yellow, 
fragrant  flowers  in  racemes  6ins.  or  more  long. 
Very  similar,  at  any  rate  to  the  layman,  is  B. 
nepalensis.  A  form  of  B.  japonica  called  Bealei 
(Berberis  Bealei,  Carriire)As  more  handsome  than 
either  species  and  hardier.  Though  most  beautiful, 
even  this  should  be  treated  with  respect  and  given 
a  sheltered  corner.  Other  interesting  Mahonias 
include  B.  trifoliolata,  B.  Fortunei  and  B. 
Fremontii,  but  as  these  will  stand  out-doors 
only  in  very  sheltered  situations,  little  need  be 
said  about  them. 


June  3,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


THE    USES    OF    MATERIAL 

II.— SPRING     FLOWERING     BULBS     IN     THE    WILD    GARDEN 


THE  notes  on  the  uses  of  Rhododendrons 
and  Azaleas  published  under  this  heading 
a  fortnight  ago  were  obviously  incom- 
plete, and  will  at  a  later  date  need 
elaboration.  In  dealing  with  a  genus 
like  the  Rhododendron  it  v\-ould  be  folly  to  assume 
that  all  that  is  necessary  has  been  said  when  a 
general  indication  has  been  given  as  to  the  best 
and  most  attractive  methods  of  growing  what, 
after  all,  is  only  the  more  decorative  section  of 
the  genus  as  cultivated  to-day.  Outside  the 
garden  hybrids  is  a  large  and  ever-increasing 
collection  of  species,  some  old  and  well  known 
in  gardens,  some  new  and  of  which  much  has  yet 
to  be  learnt,  even  by  those  who  know  them  best. 
These  include  many  alpine  species  quite  unsuitable 
for  the  conditions  previously  described  and  many 
Himalayan  and  Chinese  species,  some  of  which 
are,  while  others  are  not,  suitable  for  the  same 
conditions.  Occasion  will,  however,  arise  for 
suggesting  the  most  picturesque  methods  of 
cultivating  these  at  a  later  date.  To-day  my 
inclination  turns  to  some 

Spring-flowering  Bulbs  and  Wild  G.\rdens. 

Circumstances  compel  it.  I  have  recently  seen 
some  of  the  fairest  pictures  of  which  the  English 
flower  garden  is  capable.  Here  is  one.  It  is 
one  of  those  days  on  which  the  far-off  sky  is 
intensely  blue.  Miles  below  the  blue,  but  miles 
above  the  earth,  roll  billowy  masses  of  grey  and 
■white  cloud.  You  know  the  sort  of  day  !  One 
moment  the  world  is  grey  and  duU,  the  stirring 
breeze  chill  and  unkind.  The  next  a  flood  of 
sunHght  sweeps  over  the  scene,  and  everything 
seems  touched  to  new  and  joyous  hfe.  It  was 
in  one  of  the  grey  moments  that  I  arrived  at  the 
old  Yew  tree.  Solid,  dark  and  brown,  its  trunk 
rose  12ft.  to  15ft.,  and  then  stretched  its  branches 
outwards  and  downwards  until  they  swept  the 
ground.  Under  the  arching  Umbs  the  shadows 
lay  cold  and  dull,  but  beyond,  in  the  light,  there 
rippled  a  greyish  blue  haze  that  seemed  to  go  on 
and  on  until  lost  in  misty  indefiniteness.  Then 
came  the  sunshine,  and  the  grey  became  blue, 
revealing  myriads  of  quivering  blossoms  of  Anemone 


apennina.     Nothing  rigid  or  formal  in  this  picture, 

just   the  sort  of   thing  Nature  will  do  when   left 

to   herself.     Away  from   the  eye   they   stretched, 

first  a  mass  of   a   million 

or  so  all  nodding   to    the 

wind,   then    a    break    and 

something    dark     inter 

vened,  felt  but   not    seen, 

and  yet  another  sweeping, 

rippling  mass  of  Anemone, 

another       contrast,      and 

yet  a    third  sheet  of  sky 

blue  colour  and  so  on.     As 

a     picture     exquisite      in 

itself,    but    the    glory     of 

the     garden    is    that    its 

joys  do  not  end  with  the 

picture     so     seen.        The 

mind   is  carried    out    and 

away    to    some    transient 

expression      of      Nature's 

beauty  that  such  a  scene 

urges    to  remembrance. 

Scudding    cloud,     a   dark 

foam-flecked    sea,   and  as 

the  moon  breaks  through 

in     half     a     dozen    silver 

sheets     it      touches      the 

restless      suriace      to 

seething   scintillation,    and  varied    and    wondrous 

colour.     Such  was  the  thought  that  passed  through 

my  mind  as  I  stood  in  the  sombre  shadow  of  the 

Yew  tree  and  looked  towards  the  light. 

But  the  Anemones  are  only  part  of  the  garden. 
A  few  steps  along  a  gently  bending  path  and 
another  scene  breaks  on  the  view.  Again  blue 
is  the  predominating  colour,  but  this  time  not  aU 
blue.  Moreover,  it  is  a  different  blue,  that  of  the 
Grape  Hyacinth,  Muscari  conicum  "  Heavenly 
Blue."  Broad  sheets  of  azure,  cobalt  and  the 
greyest  of  grey  blues  mingled  with  cream  and 
yellow  Munstead  Primroses  clothe  the  ground, 
wave  after  wave,  until  the  farthest  wash  is  lost 
in  the  cream  and  pale  yellow  of  scattered  Narcissi. 
The  brown  remains  of  all  that  is  left  of  last 
autumn's    leaves,    tussocks    of    short    grass,    late 


261 

mown,  but  now  responding  to  the  call  of  spring 
with  a  shimmer  of  soft  green,  the  dark  boles 
of  trees  rising  sheer  from  the  blue  mass,  and  the 
lacy  pattern  of  hght  and  shade  cast  by  their 
branches  all  combine  to  create  a  scene  of  sensuous 
delight. 

There    are    other    colour    effects,    too.     Golden 
billows  of   Daffodils   that,   like   a  spent   wave  on 


MUSCARI   HEAVENLY  BLUE  AMONG  CREAM  AND    YELLOW   PRIMROSES. 


APENNINE  ANEMONES   IN   THE   SPRING   GARDEN   AT   HALLINGBURY 

PLACE. 

the  seashore,  have  scattered  spindrifts  of  colour 
beyond  the  main  mass  and  so  redeem  the  scene 
from  that  abruptness  that  is  too  often  the  failure 
of  these  woodland  plantings.  This  is  a  very 
important  consideration  whenever  one  is  con- 
templating what  is  understood  by  wild  gardening. 
The  crispness  or  weight  of  the  picture  should 
always  be  concentrated  in  the  main  masses,  the 
intervening  spaces  mingled  and  indefinite.  "  It 
is  necessary  in  music,  when  you  strike  a  discord, 
to  let  down  the  ear  by  an  intermediate  note  or 
two  to  the  accord  again,  and  many  a  good  experi- 
ment, born  of  good  sense,  and  destined  to  succeed, 
fails  only  because  it  is  offensively  sudden." 

I  cannot  tell  of  all  the  wonderful  things  this 
particular  wild  garden  contains,  even  of  the  spring- 
flowering  bulbs.  Other  Anemones  there  were. 
A  few  lingering  flowers  of  light  and  dark  blue, 
pink  and  white,  betrayed  the  presence  of  what 
had  been  glowing  sheets  of  the  Greek  Anemone 
blanda,  and  where  the  shade  was  deepest  and 
the  ground  dampest  there  crept  the  many  forms 
uf  the  Wood  .\nemone  A.  nemorosa.  .\  very  short 
time  previously  the  grass  under  certain  trees 
had  been  aglow  with  Crocuses,  not  only  the  various 
garden  varieties,  but  also  of  the  spring-flowering 
species. 

The  Glory  of  the  Snow  (Chionodoxa) ,  both 
Lucilias  and  sardensis,  played  an  important 
part  in  the  garden  a  Uttle  earlier.  NaturaUsed 
in  masses  among  low-growing  Ferns  and  in  short 
grass  there  is  no  more  dramatically  thrilling 
colour  than  their  exquisite  blue,  that  comes  well 
before  the  winter  has  passed.  Another  and 
different  effect,  though  in  no  sense  less  beautilul, 
is  that  produced  by  fallen  leaves  left  from  last 
autumn,  ruddy  brown  in  the  winter  sunUght, 
through  which  a  myriad  Winter  .\conites  have 
pushed  their  golden  way,  while  scattered  in  drifts 
through  them  are  Snowdrops.  I  saw  this  picture 
in  another  garden,  too.  In  this  case  it  was  the 
broad  grass  stretches  on  each  side  of  a  drive 
enclosed  by  an  avenue  of  old  Limes.  The  owner 
had  wisely  forbidden  his  gardeners  to  remove  the 
autumn  leaves,  not  only  from  the  desire  for  their 
colour  note   in  spring,   but   because   it   had  been 


262 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  3,  1922. 


proved  that  the  bulbs  succeeded  much  better 
when  the  leaves  were  left  than  when  swept  up  in 
the  general  autumn  tidying. 

Yet  another  charm  is  offered  by  plantings  of 
the  Dog's  Tooth  Violets  (Erythronium).  Out  in 
the  sunlight  or  where  the  shadows  fall  most  of 
the  day  Erythronium  Dens-canis  will  cover  the 
ground  with  sheets  of  white,  pink  and  brown, 
while  where  the  shade  is  deeper,  the  undergrowth 
a  httle  thicker  and  the  ground  perhaps  a  little 
damper  most  of  the  American  species  will  succeed. 

If  those  indicated  are  not  enough,  there  are 
still  the  Scillas,  or  Wood  Hyacinths,  with  a  fine 
range  of  colour  from  the  rich  blue  of  the  earlier 
Squills,  sibirica  and  bifolia  to  the  white,  rose 
pink  and  softer  blues  of  nutans  and  campanulata. 
The  North  American  Wood  Lilies  (TrUlium). 
which  desire  the  moister  spots.  The  Snowflakes 
(Leucojum),  and  even  then  the  hst  is  not  exhausted, 
but  must  suffice. 

Such  gardens  are  not  for  all,  but  something  of 


their  beauty  can  be  produced  in  a  comparatively 
small  area.  A  few  trees,  a  httle  care  in  the  prepa- 
ration and  planting,  and  in  particular  to  the 
distribution  of  the  various  bulbs  used,  will  produce 
remarkable  results  at  a  time  of  the  year  when 
the  rest  of  the  garden  is  still  uninteresting. 

The  spring  wild  garden  is  the  nearest  one  ever 
gets  to  Nature's  soul  in  the  garden.  The  winter 
is  past,  and  as  the  sombre  shadows  in  the  woodland 
grow  deeper  day  by  day  as  the  trees  put  forth 
their  leaves  the  earth  beneath  seems  to  ripple 
with  a  multi-coloured  smile.  Nature's  night  is 
over  and  this  is  Nature's  dawn.  Mankind  reads 
day  by  day  the  eternal  lessons  of  the  universe, 
hearkens  to  the  "  music  of  the  spheres "  and 
sees  signs  and  wonders  innumerable,  but  through- 
out the  year  he  can  find  nothing  so  joyously  full 
of  the  message  of  hope,  in  a  world  newly  redeemed 
from  its  winter  saddened  past,  than  in  the  brilliant 
charm  of  hoUow,  dell  and  hillock  in  the  spring 
wild  garden.  Geo.  Dillistone. 


MANY  -  HUED     COLUMBINES 

Their  propagation  from  seed,  with  some  of  the  better  species  or  strains. 


A   T    this    season    of    the    year    many  hardy ' 

/%      perennials  may  readily  be  raised    from 

/    %     seeds  sown  in  the  open  garden.      Among 

^^"^%  such    few    are    more    worthy    than     the 

^  •Columbines,   as    old-fashioned    folk     still 

call  the  various  species  and  strains  of  Aquilegia. 

If  one  has  plants  of  the  kind  of   which  it  is  desired 


blossoms.  The  flowers  of  this  strain  are  almost 
invariably  of  bright  but  delicate  hue,  two  shades, 
usually  of  diflerent  colours,  being  found  in  each. 
The  petals  and  spurs  are  one  shade  or  gradation, 
though  the  spurs  often  take  the  sepal  colour  at 
the  tips,  and  the  sepals  another.  There  is  an  almost 
infinite  varietv  of  colourina. 


ALTOGETHER  CHARMING- 


-THE   BLUE  AND   CREAMY  WHITE   BLOSSOMS    OF   AQUILEGIA 
STUARTII. 


to  increase  the  stock,  it  will,  however,  be  well  to 
wait  for  the  ripening  of  the  seeds.  New  seeds 
of  Aquilegia  germinate  much  more  readily,  evenly 
and  quickly  than  those  of  the  previous  season. 

The  old-world  Columbines  of  cottage  gardens 
are  forms  of  A.  vulgaris,  an  indigenous  plant,  and 
some  of  them  have  considerable  merit  as  garden 
plants,  especially  the  clear  blue  form  and  the  single 
and  double  white  ones.  There  is  a  strain  of  these 
with  flatly  expanding  flowers  which  is  called 
"  Clematis-flowered,"  though  to  the  writer  the 
blossoms  call  to  mind  a  large-flowered  Rhodanthe. 

The  long-spurred  hybrids  which  are  now  so 
popular  are  derivatives  of  various  American  species 
all  characterised  by  the  long  nectar-secreting 
spurs  which  assist  in  giving  a  fairy  lightness  to  the 


Of  the  species  from  which  these  hybrids  have 
originated,  the  most  delicately  beautiful  is  the 
Rocky  Mountain  Coliunbine,  Aquilegia  coerulea. 
Petals  and  spurs  of  this  species  are  a  wonderful 
semi-translucent  pale  blue  and  the  corolla  white. 
Others  readily  procurable  are  A.A.  chr\-santha, 
a  ver>'  long  spurred  kind  with  golden  yellow  flowers  ; 
Skinneri,  orange-red  and  greenish-yellow  ;  cana- 
densis, red  and  yellow  ;  and  truncata  (califoniica), 
a  long,  narrow  flower,  vermihon  without,  clear 
yellow  within. 

There  are  many  really  beautiful  old  world  species, 
including  A.  alpina,  surely  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
of  alpine  treasures.  This  deep  blue  and  azure 
treasure  is,  unfortimately,  a  bieimial  and  can  never 
be  seen  at  its  best  if  procured  as  a  stunted  pot  plant. 


Seed  should  be  sown  where  it  is  to  flower  on  a  site 
in  the  rock  garden,  not  too  parched  by  summer  sun. 
It  will  then  reach  ijft.  in  height  and  produce 
quantities  of  blooms  on  each  plant.  It  self-sows 
itself  readily  enough,  but  alas !  the  seedlings 
almost  invariably  prove  to  be  worthless  mongrels. 
Collected  seed  alone  may  be  relied  upon,  but  this 
may  be  obtained  cheaply  enough.     Verb  sap. 

Aquilegia  glandulosa  is  a  beautiful  dwarf  species 
seldom  seen  true  in  gardens.  The  flowers  are  pale 
blue  with  a  white  corolla.  Another  treasure  with 
almost  disproportionately  large  flowers  for  the  size 
of  the  plants  is  illustrated.  This  is  A.  Stuartii, 
also  dressed  in  bright  blue  and  white.  Except,  it 
may  be,  for  a  few  forms  of  A.  vulgaris,  it  seems 
well-nigh  impossible  for  a  Columbine  to  be  ugly 
or  displeasing.  The  slender  wiry  stem  and  cool, 
prettily  disposed  foUage  go  far  to  make  the  veriest 
mongrel  which  ever  comes  up  in  garden  a  joy  to 
the  eye.  It  is  none  the  less  annoying  to  find  a  patch 
of  what  was  fondly  expected  to  be  A.  Stuartii 
for  instance,  a  heterogenous  collection  with  varying 
shades  and  shapes  of  flower  and  diverse  habits  of 
growth.  If  one  would  save  one's  own  seed,  a 
plant  or  two  in  pots  in  a  carefully  screened  and 
isolated  cold  frame  provide  the  only  way  of  securing 
the  true  species,  but  artificial  pollination  must, 
of  course,  be  tmdertaken. 

Freshly  gathered  seed  may,  if  well  soaked, 
germinate  any  time  from  ten  days  to  a  month  after 
sowing.  It  is  wise  to  water  thoroughly  im- 
mediately the  seed  is  sown  and  cover  the  drill  with 
a  board  which  should  be  removed  for  inspection 
pvery  day  or  so  after  the  first  ten  days.  Year-old 
ieed,  even  if  kept  thoroughly  wet,  sometimes  takes 
some  time  to  germinate. 


THE   ROCK   CRESSES 

SURELY  the  most  popular  plant  for  the 
rock  garden  is  the  well  named  Rock  Cress 
(Aubrietia).  Its  ease  of  culture  in  any 
not  over-rich  soU,  its  spreading  habit, 
its  freedom  of  flowering  and  its  consider- 
able colour-range  are  strong  points  in  its  favour. 
So  accommodating  is  it  that  it  will  succeed  and 
prove  most  efiective  in  the  front  of  the  herbaceous 
border  or  shrubbery  :  or  it  may  be,  and  often  is, 
used  in  spring  bedding. 

For  spring  bedding  there  is  no  variety  so  good 
as  the  old  soft  mauve  variety  gra^ca,  while  Dr. 
Mules  is  an  excellent  purple  sort  for  the  purposer 
Gneca  is  especially  valuable  for  ribbon  bedding, 
as,  by  judicious  pruning,  it  can  be  kept  accurately 
to  shape.  For  the  rockery  there  are  many  excellent 
aamed  varieties,  of  which  the  following  represent 
Duly  a  personal  selection :  .Among  violet  and 
purple  sorts,  Lloyd  Edwards  and  Dr.  Mules, 
taking  habit  into  consideration,  may  have  prefer- 
ence. Of  mauve  and  Mlac  tints,  J.  S.  Baker 
(early-flowering).  Lavender  and  grsca  deserve 
mention.  Approaching  white  there  are  tauricola 
alba  (paWst  lavender)  and  Bridesmaid  (soft  blush 
pink).  Of  soft  rose  shades.  Lilac  Queen  and 
Moerheimi  are  good.  Fire  King  and  Dandy  are 
representative  of  deep  ruddy  shades.  Two  varie- 
gated leaved  forms  are  both  extremely  effective, 
though  they  are  rather  sparse  in  flower.  These 
are  called  argentea  variegata  and  aurea  variegata 
respectively,  of  which  the  latter  is  the  stronger 
grower. 

For  those  who  have  a  fondness  for  raising  plants 
from  seed,  the  .Aubrietia  offers  great  opportunities, 
since  in  a  whole  batch  of  seedlings  it  is  usually 
impossible  to  find  one  quite  unworthy.  The  seeds 
may  be  raised  in  a  pan  at  practically  any  season 
of  the  year,  and  if  pricked  out  as  soon  as  large 
enough  and  given  ordinary  attention  will  flower 
in  from  nine  to  fifteen  months. 


June  3,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


263 


It  is  quite  practicable  to  sow  the  seeds  on  old 
walls,  so  that  they  may  establish  themselves 
there ;  but  if  mixed  seed  be  used  it  will  probably 
be  necessary  to  discard  some,  because  their 
colouring  clashes  with  the  surrounding  varieties. 
The  Aubrietias  run    naturally  in  shades  of  more 


or  less  diluted  purple,   and   the  reddish   tones  are 
apt  badly  to  clash  with  the  bluish  ones. 

Propagation  of  named  kinds  is  most  readily 
effected  a  few  weeks  after  flowering.  The  new 
growths  from  the  centre  may  then  be  detached 
with  a  modicum  of  root  attached  and  be  planted 


out  under  a  handlight.  Many  gardeners  cut 
over  the  plants  immediately  flowering  is  done 
to  facilitate  the  production  of  new  growths, 
but  should  the  weather  prove  hot  and  dry 
this  custom  not  infrequently  leads  to  loss  of  the 
plants. 


FURTHER  GLEANINGS    FROM   CHELSEA 

Being   the   remaining   instalment   of  our   Special  Correspondents'  Comments   upon   the   Exhibits, 
with   Descriptions   of  the   Novelties  and  Rareties   on   view. 


TREES    AND    SHRUBS 

As  ever  it  was  the  brilliantly  handsome  Rhodo- 
dendrons and  Azaleas  that  compelled  the  most 
attention  and  admiration  at  Chelsea.  The  large, 
roundish  bed  filled  almost  to  overflowing  with  the 
beautiful  pink  trusses  of  Alice  in  one  of  the  many 
exhibits  by  Messrs.  Waterer,  Sons  and  Crisp  was  a 
sight  to  remember  for  many  a  day.  This  variety 
is  of  a  darker  shade  than  the  popular  Pink  Pearl, 
which  was  also  present  in  generous  quantity,  and 
the  trusses  were  nearly  as  large.  Another  good  pink 
Rhododendron  in  the  same  exhibit  was  Bernard 
Crisp,  which  is  a  pale  blush  with  deeper-coloured 
margins.  For  wealth  of  bloom  it  was  the  immense 
bushes   of  George   Hardy  that   one  admired,  and 


many  Mollis,  the  flame-coloured  \-arieties  Anthony 
Koster,  a  rich  yellow,  and  J.  C.  van  Tol  were 
wonderfully  beautiful.  The  little  Kurume  Azaleas 
are  dainty  and  charming,  and  were  to  be  seen  in 
the  Yokohama  Nursery  collection  of  stunted  trees, 
in  Mr.  R.  C.  Notcutt's  exhibit  of  valuable  trees 
and  shrubs,  as  well  as  in  Messrs.  Cuthbert's 
collection. 

Next  to  the  Rhododendrons  and  Azaleas 
came  the  magnificent  Clematises  by  Messrs.  G. 
Jackman  and  Son.  The  Woking  nurserymen 
have  long  been  famed  for  the  excellence  of  their 
Clematises,  but  on  the  present  occasion  they 
excelled  themselves.  Besides  such  standard  sorts 
as  Fairy  Queen,  Nelly  Moser,  Lord  Neville,  Lady 
Caroline  Nevill,  Duchess  of  Edinburgh,  Lasurstem 


and  by  Messrs.  R.  Gill  and  Son  from  the  West 
Country.  These  included  beautiful  forms  and 
hybrids  of  R.  Aucklaudii ;  and  Lady  Aberconway 
had  the  small-flowered  R.  Roylei,  R.  Sargentiana 
and  the  fragrant  Lady  Alice  FitzwUUam. 

Of  general  trees  and  shrubs,  though  there  was 
not  perhaps  the  usual  variety,  ample  were  there 
to  occupy  the  attention  of  all  lovers  of  them. 
The  necessity  for  trees  and  shrubs,  even  in  the 
smallest  garden,  is  becoming  more  fully  realised 
than  has  been  the  case  in  the  past.  Flowers  are 
necessarily  of  comparatively  brief  duration,  but 
prolonged  colour  combined  with  grace  and  charm 
of  foHage  is  provided  by  many  of  the  Japanese 
Maples,  which  were  a  great  feature  of  the  Show. 
Messrs.    W.    Fromow    and    Co.    had     their     usual 


MESSRS.     WATERER  S     EXHIBIT    OF    RHODODENDRONS. 


wondered  how  it  became  possible  to  transport  these 
huge  specimens  in  such  excellent  order.  Corona 
was  a  charming  though  smaller  truss.  The  buds 
are  cardinal  red,  and  as  they  open  the  colour  fades 
through  pink  to  blush.  Starfish  has  a  large  truss 
of  deep  blush  pink  flowers  from  which  the  filaments 
protrude  to  an  unusual  length. 

But  Pink  Pearl  was  the  Rhododendron  of  the 
Show,  and  besides  the  large  quantity  in  Messrs 
Waterer's  collection  it  was  also  well  shown  in  the 
tents  by  Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and  Sons,  Messrs. 
Fletcher  Brothers,  Mr.  G.  Reuthe,  and  in  several 
of  the  excellent  gardens  out  of  doors,  as  well  as  in 
Messrs.  Wallace's  wonderful  Iris  garden. 

Ghent,  Mollis  and  Rustica  .'\zaleas  provided 
most  briUiant  masses  of  colour  in  many  exhibits, 
though  the  largest  was  by  Messrs.  R.  and  G. 
Cuthbert.  The  double  pink  .Aida  and  the  blush 
Rosetta  of  the  Ghent  sorts  were  splendid.     Of  the 


and  Gloire  de  St.  Julien,  they  had  several  splendid 
new  sorts.  Lady  Betty  Balfour,  a  very  free- 
flowering,  vigorous,  rich  velvety  purple,  which 
may  be  termed  an  immensely  improved  Jackmani  ; 
Crimson  King,  which  surpasses  Ville  de  Lyon ; 
King  of  the  Belgians,  a  silvery  mauve  of  patens 
type  ;  and  Miss  Bateman,  another  patens  type 
of  pinkish  lavender  colour,  are  all  splendid  acquisi- 
tions. Of  the  double-flowered  sorts  Mr.  Jackman 
kindly  selected  for  us  the  best  in  his  opinion. 
Belle  of  Woking,  pale  lavender ;  Duchess  of 
Edinburgh,  white ;  and  Lady  Lovelace,  pale 
purple.  Good  Clematises  were  also  to  be  seen 
in  a  collection  by  Messrs.  John  Peed  and  Son, 
which  included  Marcel  Moser,  Lady  Caroline  Nevill, 
Mrs.  George  Jackman  and  Duke  of  Norfolk,  among 
many  others. 

The  more  tender  Rhododendrons  were  shown  by 
Lady  Aberconway  from  her  North  Wales  garden 


large  collection  in  which  was  to  be  seen  the  rich 
golden  colour  of  Acer  japonicum  aureum  con- 
trasting with  the  intense  blood  crimson  of  A. 
palmatum  sanguineum.  The  season  has  suited 
all  these  Maples,  and  they  were  of  even  better 
colour  than  usual.  Their  value  in  association 
with  other  shrubs  was  well  illustrated  by  Messrs. 
Cheal  and  Sons,  Mr.  J.  C.  AUgrove,  Messrs.  Wallace 
and  Co.  and  Mr.  R.  C.  Notcutt,  but  the  most 
charming  colour  was  on  a  little  specimen  of  Acer 
Chisio  in  the  valuable  collection  of  rare  trees  and 
shrubs  by  the  Donard  Nursery  Company.  Their 
central  mass  of  the  new  Donard  Seedling  Broom 
was  also  perfectly  charming.  Such  uncommon 
shrubs  as  Lomatia  pinnatifolia,  many  Leptosper- 
mums  and  the  variegated  Myrtle  were  also  included. 
Lilacs  have  had  a  trying  time,  but  still  Mr. 
Charles  Turner,  Mr.  Notcutt  and  Mr.  J.  C.  AUgrove 
were  able  to  exhibit  fascinating  sprays  of  fragrant 


264 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  3,  1922. 


bloom.  With  the  last-named  collection  there  was 
a  gorgeous  spray  of  Comus  tlorida  rubra  which 
retains  its  bright  colour  for  a  long  lime  in  a  cut 
state. 

A  large  circle  of  Hydrangeas  of  many  sorts 
shown  by  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones  illustrated  how  hand- 
some this  shrub  is  where  it  can  be  grown  out  of 
doors.  Of  his  many  sorts  the  rich  pink  of  Etincelant 
and  Professor  Du  Bois  was  admirable. 

Probably  the  most  striking  of  the  trees  and 
shrubs  were  the  large  branches  of  Davidia  involu- 
crata  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  J.  C.  AUgrove.  This 
Davidia  is  the  tree  which  is  such  a  noteworthy 
feature  of  the  hillsides  in  Eastern  China.  It 
was  discovered  by  the  late  Abbe  David,  in  whose 
honour  it  is  named.  The  tall  trees  in  full  bloom, 
bearing  the  large  twin  bracts  of  almost  pure  white- 
ness, give  the  trees  the  appearance  of  having  been 
caught  by  a  late  spring  snowfall.  The  true 
flowers,  set  in  the  centre  of  the  inflorescence, 
are  comparatively  inconspicuous,  but  these  large 
white  bracts  persist  for  a  considerable  time. 
Even  before  it  reaches  flowering  size  the  large 
deep  green  entire  leaves  make  it  a  handsome  and 
desirable  deciduous  tree,  which  is  quite  hardy 
in  the  Southern  Counties. 

Out  of  doors  topiary  specimens  were  a  great 
feature.  Mr.  J.  Khnkert  had  made  quite  a  garden 
with  many  of  his  well  grown  specimens.  The 
broad  grass  walks  bordered  by  hundreds  of  Nepeta 
Mussini  gave  a  cool  and  restful  effect.  Almost 
every  possible  form  was  to  be  seen,  and  aU  were 
perfectly  trained.  A  little  further  away  Cutbush's 
"  cut-bushes  "  were  exhibited,  and  they  were  also 
worthy  of  admiration  for  the  long,  patient  skill 
that  had  been  expended  on  them.  Some  very 
large  specimens  were  arranged  by  Messrs.  Cheat 
and  Sons  next  to  their  beautiful  Rose  garden. 
In  the  tent  the  Yokohama  Nursery  Company  were 
showing  the  dwarf  Japanese  trees  which  fascinated 
many  visitors. 


HARDY    PLANTS 

One  could  have  spent  a  whole  day  wandering 
from  one  group  of  hardy  plants  to  another,  taking 
notes  from  each  of  anything  that  specially  appealed, 
in  what  group  was  there  not  some  flower  one 
would  fain  see  oftener  and  have  for  one's  own  as 
part  of  the  make-up  of  his  garden  ? 

Mr.  Amos  Perry,  as  usual,  showed  many  things 
that  attract.  Perhaps  the  gem  of  his  exhibit  was 
a  tiny  filaceous  plant  from  the  East,  garnered  by 
the  late  Mr.  Farrer  in  high  altitudes  and  called 
Nomocharis  pardanthina  (var.  Farreri).  The  single 
flower  was  very  choicej  almost  orchid-hke  and  was 
the  only  specimen  in  the  Show.  Dianthus  Fosteri, 
a  single  carmine  flower  with  a  peculiar  lead-blue 
centre,  is  also  a  scarce  plant.  It  was  raised  by  that 
eminent  Iris  grower,  the  late  Sir  Michael  Foster. 
Perry's  Oriental  Poppies  are  desers'edly  famous  and 
one  admired  the  variety  named  after  Mr.  E.  A. 
Bowles,  a  dainty  and  delicate  shade  of  pale  pink. 
Dwarf  cushions  of  golden  yellow  were  formed  by 
Potentilla  aurea,  while  that  charming  but  difficult 
moraine  plant,  Lewisia  Howelli  made  a  cool 
carpet  of  apricot  buff. 

In  Messrs.  Barr's  stand  one  noted  the  pecuharly 
shaded  Iris  Zwanenburg,  and  the  Regelio-Cyclus 
Charon.  Trollius  in  variety  gave  fine  gold  and 
orange  effects  among  the  host  of  well  grown 
herbaceous  plants. 

From  Liverpool  came  Messrs.  Bees,  Limited, 
with  long-spurred  Aquilegias,  Pyrethrums, Gentians, 
Polyanthus  Beesiana,  and  Meconopsis  cambrica 
fl.  pi. 

Messrs.  G.  and  A.  Clark  secured  a  good 
floor  space  which  they  put  to  profitable  use. 
In  the  centre  Astilbe  Venus  in  tall  pink  plumes 
dominated  groups  of    Delphiniums,    Pyrethrums, 


Eremuri  and  Irises,  and  there  was  an  uncommonly 
select  strain  of  Anemone  coronaria  staged  along 
the  margins. 

Messrs.  Wallace  and  Co.,  Limited,  had  a  low 
walled  border  surrounding  their  elevated  display 
of  Irises,  and  here  they  had  reserved  space  for 
various  forms  of  the   Regelio-Cvclus  Irises,  some 


We  have  seldom  seen  such  robust  and  highly 
coloured  spikes  of  Lupinus  hybridus  as  those 
shown  by  Mr.  Downes  of  Chichester.  Such  variety 
of  shading  and  the  richness  of  the  tones  brings  this 
plant  up  to  a  high  standard  of  usefulness  for  the 
herbaceous  border. 

Reading  is  an  important  centre  for  horticulture, 


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A   GLIMPSE   OF   ONE   OF  THE  TWIN   GARDENS  OF  ALLWOODII. 


rather  uncommon  bulbous  plants,  such  as  Ixiolirion 
Pallasii  and  Brodia-a  coccinea,  and  a  few  of  the 
choicer  Lilies,  notably  Marhan  (a  little  gem), 
Mrs.  R.  O.  Backhouse,  Excelsum  and  Regale. 
One  seldom  sees  plants  of  Myosotidium  nobile,  the 
giant  Forget-me-not  from  the  Chatham  Islands 
since  the  late  Mr.  Douglas  of  Bookham  brought 
his  giant  plants  up  to  the  R.H.S.  hall  twelve  and 
fifteen  years  ago,  but  Messrs.  Wallace  had  a 
few  here,  so  also  had  Mr.  Reuthe  of  Keston. 

One  always  looks  to  Messrs.  Blackmore  and 
Langdon  for  Delphiniums  de  luxe,  but  this  year 
the  season  has  been  backward  and  only  a  few  spikes 
towered  above  the  magnificent  carpet  of  Oriental 
colours  formed  by  the  firm's  collection  of  Begonias  ; 
among  them  were  Mrs.  A.  J.  Watson,  Capri, 
Lamartin,  W.  T.  Ware,  and  the  new  Mrs..Town!ey 
Parker,  of  lovely  sky  blue  in  large  single  flowers 
well  placed  on  the  spike. 

From  the  well  known  nurseries  of  Messrs. 
Jackman  of  Woking,  came  a  few  showy  Cistuses 
well  worth  seeing.  Silver  Rose,  is  self  descriptive, 
with  very  large  flowers,  while  the  older  forms, 
purpurea  and  formosus  were  also  represented.  A 
new  seedling  Lupin  of  rich  pink  shade  blended 
well  with  Delphiniums  and  tall  bearded  Irises. 
Among  the  dwarfer  plants.  Aster  alpinus  Baker's 
variety,  Cheiranthus  Pamela  Pershouse  (pale 
orange),  and  Phlox  subulata  Violet  Queen,  stood 
out   prominently. 

Messrs.  Waterer,  Son  and  Crisp  also  staged  hybrid 
Lupins,  Eureka,  Sunshine,  and  Moerheimi  being 
very  fine  ;  the  old  Iris  germanica  grouped  in  a  mass 
made  a  fine  splash  of  dark  blue.  Iris  Alcazar  and 
Ingleborg  among  the  newer  hybrids  showed  the 
contrast  between  old  and  new.  Aster  alpinus 
Wargrave  variety  is  very  pretty  lavender  with 
a  yellow  centre.  This  firm's  long  spurred 
Aquilegias  were  noteworthy. 

Among  a  fine  lot  of  hardy  Primulas  and  annual 
Delphiniums,  Messrs.  Piper  had  a  pretty  little 
Dianthus  named  Ruy  Bias,  rather  uncommon. 


and  a  new  race  of  very  striking  hybrid  Mimulus 
displayed  by  the  Chalk  Hill  Nurseries  will  further 
fix  the  name  of  Reading  in  the  public  mind.  The 
plants  formed  a  glorious  splash  of  colour. 


VIOLAS    AND    PANSIES 

Exhibition  Violas  largely — so  useless  for  garden 
embellishment — were  shown  by  H.  Clarke,Taunton. 
The  flowers  were  set  up  in  such  a  manner  that  it  was 
difficult  to  appreciate  them.  Notable  sorts  were 
Major  Townsend  (yellow,  edged  blue),  Lily  Stark 
(fancy),  Mrs.  James  Scalley  (white,  edged  blue).  The 
better  bedding  sorts  were  Moseley  Perfection  (rich 
yellow),  W.  H.  Woodgate  (pale  blue),  White 
Empress  (cream).  Swan  (white),  and  Maggie  Mott 
(mauve  blue). 

Pansies  and  Violas  were  shown  by  Mr.  John 
Forbes  of  Hawick.  Quite  a  number  of  old  favourites 
were  to  be  seen  here,  but  put  up  in  a  fashion 
too  crowded  for  one  to  appreciate  their  true  beauty. 

In  Messrs.  Jarman  and  Co.'s  stand  were  a  few 
Violas  such  as  V.  gracilis  Golden  Spur  (sweet 
scented),  V.  gracilis  Velvet  Queen,  and  V.  cornuta 
purpurea  in  excellent  form. 

Fancy  Pansies  were  shown  in  fresh  condition  and 
in  good  form  by  the  Chalk  Hill  Nurseries,  Ltd, 
Reading.  Here  were  to  be  seen  these  popular 
flowers  in  typical  form  and  in  a  great  array  of 
colour,  and  the  visitors  much  admired  them. 


ALPINE    AND    ROCK    PLANTS 

Among  many  exhibits  wholly  or  partially 
devoted  to  alpines  and  plants  for  the  rock  garden, 
one  stood  out  for  its  exceptional  interest  to  alpine 
lovers.  This  was  Dr.  MacWatt's  collection  of 
hardy  Primulas.  One  is  tempted  to  enlarge 
upon  the  characteristics  of  each  species  in  a  way 
hardly  admissible  in  a  show  report.  Of  the 
better-known  species  on  view,  such  as  Bulleyana 
and  helodoxa,  there  is  little  need  to  speak,  though 


June  3,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


265 


a  group  of  P.  sikkiniensis  was  worthy  of  notice  for 
the  truly  remarkable  health  and  vigour  of  the 
plants  exhibited.  Evidently  related  to  this 
■species,  the  seldom-seen  P.  chionantha  with  creamy 
white  blossoms  and  foUage  smoother  than  in 
P.  sikkimensis  claimed  attention,  but  though 
excellently  grown,  it  lacks  in  our  climate  the 
vigour  of  the  Sikkim  plant. 

The  Primula  \'eitchii  were  remarkable  for  the 
richness  of  their  colour,  being  evidently  the  result 
of  much  careful  selection.  Others  of  the  cortu- 
■soides  section  displayed  were  the  very  distinct 
P.  geranifolia.  and  that  beautiful  and  interesting 
species  P.  seclusa  with  wonderful  foliage  and 
striking  dark-centred  starry  flowers.  The  beautiful 
and  substantial-flowered  P.  lichiangensis  with 
its  deep  brown  calyces,  however,  we  looked  for 
ill  vain. 

P.  involucrata  was  there  looking,  as  usual, 
rather  washed-out  by  day,  though  it  shon-s  bright 
enough  at  dusk  ;  also  P.  Wardii,  very  similar  to 
P.  involucrata  in  habit,  but  deeper  in  colour. 
The  variable  and  also  similar  P.  sibirica  was  not 
included,  though  we  noticed  it  elsewhere  in  the 
Show', 

Those  two  striking  if  very  dissimilar  species — 
neither  good  garden  plants — P.  P.  Littoniana  and 
Forrestii  were  there,  and  quite  a  collection  of 
species  more  or  less  in  the  way  of  P.  muscarioides, 
including  such  seldom-seen  species  as  P.  P.  nutans, 
Watsoni,  conica  and  Menziesiana,  also  P.  capitata 
(true). 

Of  the  farinosa  section  a  fine  plant  of  P.  longi- 
flora  was  noticeable,  but  P.  farinosa  itself  was  on 
view,  as  were  P.  P.  saxatilis  and  fasciculata, 
both  uncommon,  though  the  latter  has  recently 
received  an  award  of  merit. 

Other  beautiful  species  noted  were  P.  P.  secundi- 
flora,  Wilsoni,  Smithiana,  Rusbyi,  Readii,  Werring- 
tonensis,  heucherifolia  and  the  charming  vincaeflora. 
Of  the  various  cross-breds  space  will  allow  refer- 
ence only  to  the  hybrids  between  P.  marginata 
and  border  .Auriculas.  These  were  exceedingly 
charming  and  are  doubtless  easy  garden  plants. 

Those  who  go  to  an  exhibit  staged  by  Mr.  G. 
Reuthe  to  look  for  rare  and  beautiful  plants  are 
never  disappointed.  His  display  at  Chelsea, 
though  greatly  curtailed  by  the  "  Powers  that  be," 
was  a  veritable  mine  of  interest.  A  small  collection 
of  hardy  British  Orchises  first  claimed  attention. 
It  is  strange  these  are  not  more  sought  after,  since 
many  of  them  are  at  once  distinguished  and  beau- 
tiful. Here  were,  among  others,  mascula,  pallens, 
fusca,  undulatifolia  and  latifolia — a  form  from 
Kilmarnock  this.  In  another  part  of  the  exhibit 
was  to  be  found  the  beautiful  Colombian  Orchis, 
O.  spectabilis.  A  good  and  substantial  variety 
of  Primula  Sieboldi  was  noted,  but  it  occasioned 
a  pang  of  regret  that  most  of  the  range  of  these 
Japanese  Primroses  seem  to  have  dropped  out  of 
cultivation.  Dianthus  musale  appeared  to  be 
identical  with  D.  microlepis  var.  rumelica  noted 
elsewhere.  Whichever  name  (if  either)  be  correct, 
this  is  a  pleasing  and  compact  little  Pink  obviously 
related  to  D.  D.  microlepis  and  Freynii,  but  easier 
to  grow  than  either.  Other  treasures  noted  were 
Ramondia  pyrenaica  alba,  Haberlea  virginalis — 
at  the  risk  of  being  thought  heretical  the  writer 
will  hazard  that  this  is  the  only  Haberlea  worth 
cultivating — .Androsace  glaciaUs  (a  very  pale 
form),  Geum  triflorum,  Linum  capitatum,  Daphne 
\'alloti  (true)  which  flowers  several  times  a  year, 
the  purplish  Cheiranthus  hnifolia,  Myosotis  Ruth 
Fischer,  the  seldom-seen  Anemone  globosa  with 
smallish  rosy  carmine  flowers,  Polygala  Chamae- 
buxus  Vagredae  (the  Spanish  form,  which  is  a 
brilliant  carmine  externally),  and  several  sorts 
of  Wood  Lily,  including  the  purplish  Trillium 
sessile  cahfornicum  erectum  (thank  you !)  and 
T.  rubrum  grandiflorum. 


On  Mr.  Hemsley's  exhibit  Wahlenbergia  serpylli 
folia  was  noteworthy,  also  Antirrhinum  Asarina 
and  Heeria  elegans.  A  plant  labelled  Dianthus 
Freynii  nana  was  quite  beautiful,  but  approxi- 
mated very  closely  to  D.  microlepis  var.  rumelica 
as  exhibited  elsewhere.  Dianthus  neglectus  was 
good  in  colour  but  starry  in  form. 

The  rockery  bank  (on  staging)  of  Mr.  E.  Scaple- 
horn  of  Lindfield  was  chiefly  remarkable  for  a 
nice  collection  of  dwarf  conifers,  among  which 
the  trailing  Thuya  Sargenti  pendula  called  for 
special  notice.  .A  nice  piece  of  that  delightful 
carpeter  Raoulia  australis  served  as  a  foil  to 
the  flowering  plants,  while  a  little  colony  of 
Saxifraga  lantoscana  was  the  too  usual  dirty 
white,  not  the  glorious  pearly  form  which  repre- 
sents the  perfection  of  beauty  in  encrusted  Saxi- 
frages. The  vivid  colour  of  Tritonia  aurantiaca 
attracted  much  attention. 

Messrs.  W.  H.  Rogers  and  Son  of  Southampton 
had  an  exhibit  of  considerable  interest,  featuring 
House  Leeks  (Sempervivums)  rather  largely. 
Other  worthy  things  noted  were  a  wee  Cypress, 
Cupressus  obtusa  tetragona  minima,  .-Asplenium 
Trichomanes  in  very  healthy  condition,  Heli- 
chrysum  bellidioides,  O.xalis  enneaphylla,  Linaria 
pallida  rosea  and  Sisyrinchium  pachyrhiza,  healthy 
and  interesting,  but  not  yet  in  flower. 

Mr.  Maurice  Prichard  had  the  "  Mother  o' 
Thousands  "-like  Saxifraga  Brunoniana,  the  bright 
Silene  Hookeri,  Erodium  chama;dryoides  rosea  (a 
dinky  httle  Cranesbill),  that   azure  Forget-me-not, 


including  C.C.  parviflorum  and  montanum, 
Haberlea  Ferdinandi  Coburgi,  Linaria  Cynibalaria 
alba  compacta,  which  really  seems  compact  in 
habit  and  free  to  flower,  and  two  hybrid  Pinks 
called  Mona  and  Adoree,  which  may  both  be 
described  as  long  -  stemmed,  large  -  flowered 
and  exquisitely  shaped  forms  of  Dianthus 
neglectus. 

On  Messrs.  Waterer,  Sons  and  Crisp's  stand  a 
nice  colony  of  Dodocatheons  were  attractive. 
Other  good  things  included  Viola  pedata,  Cheir- 
anthus alpinus  citrinus  and  Cytisus  Ardoini. 

Messrs.  Cheal's  exhibit  had  for  its  most  notice- 
able feature  the  beautiful  Asteriscus  maritimus, 
but  this,  of  course,  is  hardy  only  in  favoured 
locahties,  and  even  then  needs  a  sunny  comer, 
OxaUs  adenophylla,  Pentstemon  Scouleri,  Andro- 
sace  villosa  and  the  monocarpous  Sedum  pilosum 
were  also  noted,  also  the  graceful  hardy  Maiden- 
hair, Adiantum  pedatum.  The  form  of  this 
exhibited  was  very  beautiful,  but  scarcely  typical 
of  the  species. 

Messrs.  Bakers  of  Wolverhampton  had  a  lot 
of  furnishing  plants,  including  such  beautiful 
things  as  Pentstemon  Scouleri,  ."^ndrosace  x 
Chumbyi  and  Gentiana  verna ;  the  Chalk  Hill 
Nurseries  of  Reading  had  large-flowered  Mimu- 
luses,  which  would  be  ideal  for  the  bog ;  while 
Messrs.  Bees  had  an  interesting  exhibit  which 
included  Androsace  Watkinsii,  Trillium  grandi- 
florum, Saxifraga  lingulata  and  the  Warley 
iEthionema. 


THE    BRIGHT    ROSY-CERISE    DIANTHUS    ALPINUS. 


Myosotis  rupicola.  Anemone  sylvestris  and 
Primula  X  Ailin  Aroon.  This  was  to  be  seen 
throughout  the  Show,  but  the  plants  of  Mr.  Prichard 
looked  unforced  and  characteristic  of  the  variety. 
Other  noteworthy  plants  from  the  Christchurch 
nurseries  included  Anemone  sylvestris  and  A. 
baicalense  (very  pretty  and  uncommon),  Gazania 
montana.  Ranunculus  bilobus,  Oxalis  adenophylla, 
Lewisia  Howelhi,  Delphinium  nudicaule  luteum 
(strange  in  its  yellow  livery).  Primula  capitata, 
Potentilla  verna  nana,  hardy  Slipper  Orchids 
of   sorts,     mainly    Cypripediura    pubescens,     but 


Mr.  F.  G.  Wood  of  Ashtead,  Surrey,  had  an 
interesting  little  exhibit  with  such  things  as 
Onosma  tauricum,  Aquilegia  glandulosa,  Sedum 
dasyphyllum  and   Dianthus  deltoides  Brilliant. 

Those  in  search  of  the  uncommon  were  well 
catered  for  by  Mr.  Reginald  M.  Prichard  of  West 
Moors,  Dorset,  w'hose  commoner  things  (!)  included 
Gazania  splendens  and  G.  montana,  Dianthus 
alpinus,  Cotyledon  simplicifoUa  and  Helichrysura 
frigidum.  A  brace  of  singular  and  rare  Andro- 
saces  were  the  brick  red  "  Chinaman,"  A.  coccinea, 
its   flower  umbel  on  a  6in.  stem,   the  rosette   of 


266 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  3,   1922. 


leaves  dark  green  and  hairless,  and  the  extra- 
ordinarily foliaged  A.  geranifolia  with  especially 
long,  wiry  stems  and  flower-heads  something  like 
those  of  A.  sarmentosa.  A.  foliosa  also  was  noted. 
The  pale  purple  Campanula  Aucheri.  obviously 
an  easy  doer,  but  with  rather  a  Wahlenbergia 
appearance,  was  also  noteworthy.  Phlox  Douglasii 
Lilac  Queen  is  obviously  a  cross  between  P. 
Douglasii  and  a  P.  setacea  form.  It  will  become 
popular.  Phlox  subulata  Alics  is  a  lilac  seedling 
from    Nelsoni,    whose    fine    habit    it    retains. 

Messrs.  Tucker  of  Oxford  had  an  exhibit  indoors, 
where  Lewisia  Howellii,  Cyclamen  repandum, 
Androsace  Watkinsii  and  A.  Chumbyi,  Wahlen- 
bergia pumilio  and  Atragene  alpina  were  noted. 
Both  here  and  on  their  rock  garden  outside 
Dianthus  microlepis  rumelicus  was  in  evidence. 
Outside,  Dianthus  alpinus  and  the  white  variety, 
Myosotis  rupicola,  Sedum  pilosum,  Matthiola 
pedemontana  (a  grey-blue  alpine  Stock),  Primulas 
farinosa  and  frondosa,  Arnica  montana,  Orobus 
varius.  Iris  lacustris,  Pinguicula  grandiflora 
(cool  as  cool  in  its  damp,  shaded  corner),  AUium 
pedemontanum  and  Orchis  fusca  were  some  of 
the  treasures  on  view. 

Messrs.  Skelton  and  Kirby's  exhibit  was  note- 
worthy for  good  patches  of  Aizoon  Saxifrages. 
Olearia  stellulata,  a  valuable  shrub  for  the  fair- 
sized  rockery,  was  also  represented. 

Mr.  Ladhams  had  brought  up  from  Shirley, 
near  Southampton,  a  collection  of  hardy  plants 
mostly  suitable  for  the  herbaceous  border,  but 
Primula  helodoxa,  a  wide  colour  range  of  P. 
japonica,  some  nice  Dodocatheons,  the  brilUant 
yellow  Oxalis  Valdiviana  and  the  white  Dog- 
Violet  were  interesting. 

Messrs.  Bowell  and  Skarratt's  collection  included 
Androsace  primuloides  (surely  more  chaste  than 
A.  Chumbyi,  but  less  often  seen),  Corydalis 
Wilsoni,  Tulipa  persica,  Cypripedium  acaule, 
Antirrhinum  Asarina,  Oxalis  adenophylla,  Poten- 
tilla  alchemilloides  with  handsome  foliage  and 
silvery  white  flowers,  Thahctrum  anemonoides 
and  Asperula  suberosa.  The  quaint  spotting  oi 
Veronica  pectinata  rosea  and  another  Speedwell 
of  somewhat  similar  complexion  called  V.  circulosa 
with  tiny  white  spotted  flowers  attracted  attention. 

Mr.  Wells,  Jun.,  had  a  scratch  alpine  exhibit 
acting  a  stop-gap  for  a  collection  of  herbaceous 
plants  not  ready  in  time.  Such  excellent  plants 
were  included  as  alpine  Poppies  in  various  colours, 
Anemone  sylvestris,  Trillium  grandiflorum,  some 
Ramondias  smothered  in  buds,  but  not  yet  fully 
in  flower,  including  the  rare  pink  variety  and  an 
excellent  colour  form  of  Primula  sibirica. 

On  Mr.  Clarence  Elhott's  rock  garden  outside 
was  what  he  designated  an  alpine  meadow.  The 
idea  is  that  by  planting  appropriate  alpines  of 
various  habits  thickly  together  they  form  a 
natural  turf  which  quite  obviates  the  need  for 
grasses  of  any  kind,  which  are  quite  unsatisfactory 
in  our  climate.  Mr.  Elliott  claims  to  have  tried 
and  proved  the  method  of  planting.  The  meadow 
as  exhibited  included  Linaria  pallida,  Bellis 
sylvestris,  Arenaria  verna,  Gentiana  verna, 
Kabschia  Saxifrages,  Primula  farinosa,  P.  scotica 
and  the  glaucous-foliaged  alpine  forms  of  Senecio 
Doronicum.  Mongrel  Pinks  and  Violas  for  the 
rockery  are  the  writer's  pet  aversion,  but  those 
who  like  them  should  make  a  point  of  seeing 
Viola  Arkwright's  Red. 

GARDEN    DESIGN 

In  the  tent  devoted  to  them  and  more  happily 
placed  this  year  near  the  formal  gardens,  the 
garden  architects  displayed  their  designs  and 
photographs  of  completed  work.  Messrs.  Milner, 
Son  and  White  made  something  of  a  new 
departure   in   the   form   of   a  scale   model   of   one 


of  their  gardens.  This  would  certainly  be  easier 
for  many  people  to  understand  and  appreciate 
than  the  usual  garden  plan,  but,  though  even 
the  camera  can  be  deceptive,  photographs  of 
completed  gardens  provide  the  "  acid  test  "  most 
people  favour.  Mr.  Percy  Cane  evidently  appre- 
ciates this,  for  his  display  this  time  consisted 
even  more  largely  than  usual  of  excellent  photo- 
graphs of  completed  gardens  in  various  styles 
and  in  excellent  taste. 

Messrs.  Wallace,  however,  still  favour  colour- 
washed perspectives,  and  colour  in  the  garden 
is  of  the  highest  importance.  The  cost  of  colour 
photography  which  would  combine  both  advan- 
tages is,  one  supposes,  prohibitive. 


ORCHIDS 

Sir  Jeremiah  Colman,  Bart.,  exhibited  a  truly 
remarkable  group  of  rare  species  and  choice 
hybrids  from  his  celebrated  collection  at  Gatton 
Park,  Surrey.  The  finest  of  the  Brasso-Cattleyas 
was  seen  in  a  beautiful  pure  white  flower  named 
Gatton  Lily  ;  and  another  hybrid,  equally  large 
and  rich  in  colour,  was  Lffilio-Cattleya  J.  F.  Birk- 
beck.     The  back  row  was  made  bright  with  several 


Messrs.  Charlesworth  and  Co.  staged  one  of  the 
largest  of  the  trade-growers'  groups.  It  was  made 
light  and  effective  by  the  massing  in  the  centre 
and  at  each  end  of  snow  white  Odontoglossums. 
The  finest  plant  was  unquestionably  Odontoglossura 
Purple  Emperor,  with  three  immense,  heavily 
blotched  purple  flowers.  A  hybrid  that  attracted 
much  attention  was  a  grand  plant  of  Brasso- 
Cattleya  heatonensis,  with  eight  large  canary  yellow 
blooms,  the  lip  being  deeply  fringed  at  the  margin. 
Peristeria  elata,  known  as  the  Dove  Orchid,  was 
well  shown.  A  very  curious  flower  of  greenish  colour 
was  seen  in  Lycaste  gigantea,  and  a  light  tinted 
species  was  represented  by  the  rare  Vanda 
suavis  palUda.  In  the  angle  of  the  group  many 
interesting  Cymbidiums  were  staged,  and  it  is 
remarkable  that  some  of  these  flowers  had  been 
open  for  over  six  weeks.  A  hybrid  that  has 
remained  noteworthy  since  the  old  Temple  Show 
days  was  seen  in  Lselio-Cattleya  Fascinator,  with 
rose-coloured  petals  and  a  purple  lip.  Miltonia 
vexillaria  and  a  wide  selection  of  its  handsomely 
blotched  hybrids  were  fine  examples  of  present-day 
seedling  Orchids. 

Messrs.   Sanders  staged  an  extensive  group,  the 
chief  attraction  being  the  rare  Ansellia  congoensis. 


THE   GLORIOUS   ODONTOGLOSSUM   PURPLE  EMPEROR. 


plants  of  the  golden  yellow  Dendrobium  Illustre  and 
superb  examples  of  D.  Dalhousieanum  luteum. 
One  of  the  features  of  this  group  was  the  rare  Den- 
drobium acuminatum,  the  best  plant  carrying  four 
spikes  with  an  aggregate  of  fifty-five  rose-coloured 
blooms.  Areas  of  golden  yellow  were  produced  by 
masses  of  the  graceful  Odontoglossum  Wilckeanum 
Colmanii,  and  several  finely  cultivated  Odontiodas 
added  attractive  spots  of  bright  scarlet.  A  striking 
Orchid  and  one  of  the  real  rarities  of  the  Show  was 
Megaclinium  purpureorachis,  the  minute  blooms 
resembling  a  row  of  toads  sitting  on  a  flattened 
snake. 


with  three  spikes  and  an  aggregate  of  170  blooms. 
Near  one  end  was  the  tall  Cyrtopodium  punctatum, 
with  a  fine  spike  of  numerous  flowers.  A  novelty 
was  seen  in  Cymbidium  Nelly,  with  greenish-yellow 
blooms,  and  the  interesting  .\ngulocaste  Vesta  was 
staged  near  by.  A  beautiful  effect  was  produced 
by  many  fine  examples  of  Cattleya  citrina,  the 
pendulous,  globular  blooms  of  rich  yellow  hanging 
over  a  bed  of  green  moss.  A  noteworthy  plant  was 
the  albino  variety  of  Aerides  virens  ;  and  a  fine 
example  of  cultivation  existed  in  Odontoglossum 
crispum,  carrying  a  spike  of  seventeen  crimson- 
blotched  flowers. 


June  3,  1922.] 

Messrs.  J.  and  A.  McBean  had  a  group  containing 
exceptionally  well  grown  Odontoglossums,  the  best 
being  O.  Arabic,  with  a  spike  of  four  chocolate- 
coloured  flowers.  O.  Lilian,  with  seventeen  blooms, 
and  a  fine  variety  of  O.  Rosina  came  in  for  well 
merited  praise.  Along  the  front  row  were  to  be 
seen  fine  varieties  of  Miltonia  vexillaria,  those 
with  blotched  lips  being  well  above  the  average. 
A  richly  coloured  flower  was  staged  in  Cattleya 
Empress  Frederick,  and  several  snow  white  hybrids 
of  this  genus  were  worthy  of  inspection. 

Messrs.  Stuart  Low  and  Co.  showed  the  Jarvis- 
brook  variety  of  Brasso-Laslio-Cattleya  Jupiter, 
an  immense  flower.  -Another  variety  of  this 
hybrid,  named  His  Majesty,  was  a  gorgeous 
companion.  This  firm  had  also  in  their  group, 
Brasso-Cattleya  Triune,  with  two  large  purple 
blooms.  Fine  Cattleyas  were  seen  in  several 
varieties,  and  a  golden-yellow  Orchid  was  repre- 
sented by  Laelio-Cattleya  luminosa  aurea.  A  fine 
piece  of  orange  colour  was  produced  by  massing 
La;Uo-Cattleya  G.  S.  Ball,  which  is  still  a 
favourite  hybrid.  The  Odontiodas  included  a 
striking  combination  of  scarlet  blotching  on  a  rose- 
tinted  ground,  and  named  O.  Eileen.  Many  inter- 
esting Oncidiums,  some  bright  yellow  Dendro- 
biums  and  selected  varieties  of  the  best  known 
hybrids  were  admirably  staged. 

Messrs.  Cypher  and  Sons  showed  some  remark- 
able plants  of  Epidendrum  gattonense,  the  spikes 
of  which  had  continued  to  produce  orange-red 
flowers  for  over  twelve  months,  and  looked  like 
keeping  fresh  for  even  longer.  No  spring  show  is 
complete  without  the  ever-moving  flowers  of 
Bulbophyllum  barbigerum,  and  four  unusually  fine 
examples  of  this  species  were  well  staged.  The 
pretty  Oncidium  Papilio,  with  its  butterfly-like 
blooms  poised  on  tall  bending  spikes  some  3ft. 
in  length,  was  very  pretty,  as  also  was  a  grand 
plant  of  the  scarce  Selenipedium  macrochilum 
with  its  long  ribbon-hke  petals. 

Messrs.  Flory  and  Black  included  in  their  neatly 
arranged  exhibit  a  large  Brasso-L<EUo-Cattleya 
Rumania,  white,  with  a  purple  streak  on  the  centre 
of  the  lip.  A  novelty  was  seen  in  Rolfeara  Atreus, 
and  the  albino  flowers  were  well  represented  by 
Cattleya  Irene  and  C.  Brenda.  Mention  must  also 
be  made  of  Lrelio-Cattleya  S.  O.  Stephenson,  an 
improvement  on  the  well  known  L.-C.  Dominiana. 
A  new  hybrid  of  much  promise  was  Laelio-Cattleya 
S.  W.  Flory,  with  rich  rosy-purple  flowers. 

Messrs.  Mansell  and  Hatcher  exhibited  a  choice 
assortment  of  the  popular  hybrids,  mainly  con- 
sisting of  blotched  Miltonais  and  pretty  varieties 
of  Lslio-Cattleya  Fascinator,  as  well  as  L.-C. 
Hyeana.  A  plant  of  more  than  ordinary  interest 
was  Cypripedium  Curtisii  Sanders,  with  emerald- 
green  flowers.  Near  the  centre  was  to  be  seen  LaeUa 
purpurata  Queen  Alexandra,  white,  with  Ught  rose 
veining  on  the  lip.  A  pleasing  effect  was  made 
by  scarlet  Odontiodas  placed  near  some  pure  white 
Odontoglossums. 

Messrs.  Armstrong  and  Brown  had  an  effectively 
arranged  group,  in  which  the  central  plant  was  the 
Orchidhurst  variety  of  Brasso-Cattleya  Dietrichiana, 
exceptionally  well  coloured.  ."Vmong  the  Odontiodas 
was  one  named  Henryi,  having  a  spike  of  twenty- 
three  flowers  of  an  imusual  orange-yellow  tint. 
The  elegant  Cymbidium  Lowgrinum,  as  well  as 
Cypripedium  Maudias,  with  its  greenish  blooms, 
were  seen  to  advantage.  Several  new  Odonto- 
glossum  hybrids  were  worthy  of  close  attention. 
Mr.  Harry  Dixon  staged  some  excellent  Cattleyas 
and  Brasso-Cattleyas,  among  the  latter  being  fine 
fonns  of  Queen  Alexandra  and  Empress  of  Russia. 
The  central  area  of  this  group  was  well  filled  with 
scarlet  Odontiodas  and  white  Odontoglossum 
crispum,  while  on  either  side  were  some  fine  varieties 
of  the  popular  Cattleya  Mendelii,  as  well  as  hybrids 
of  this  species  and  of  C.  Mossi». 


THE     GARDEN. 


267 


NEW    AND    RARE    PLANTS 


Aponogeton   distachyon    roseum    Aldenham- 

ense. — A  very  vigorous  variety  of  the  Water 
Hawthorn.  The  floral  bracts  are  faintly  flushed 
with  salmon-pink,  which  is  deeper  coloured  at 
the  base.  It  is  not  quite  so  fragrant  as  the  type, 
though  it  is  a  handsomer  water  plant.  Shown  by 
the  Hon.  Vicary  Gibbs. 
Carnation  Cream  Saffron. — Apparently  this  is 

a  pale  cream-coloured  sport  from  the  well  known 
variety  of  greenhouse  Carnation,   for  it  is   much 


H.  Professor  du  Bois. — This  variety  produces 
very  big,  shapely  trusses  of  large,  shining  mid- 
pink-coloured  flowers.  It  was  decidedly  the  best 
variety  in  the  large  collection  at  the  Show.  Award 
of  merit  to  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones. 

Iris    Regelio-cyclus    Crestes. — A    fascinating 

Iris  which  is  much  easier  to  admire  than  to 
describe.  It  has  all  the  grace  and  charm  of  this 
group,  which  is  the  result  of  intercrossing  Iris 
Regelia    with     Iris    Oncocyclus.     Th;    delicately 


THE   CHARMINGLY   COLOURED   PARROT   TULIP   FANTASY. 


like  it  in  form  and  size.  Occasionally  the  creamy- 
white  flowers  are  touched  with  yellow.  Award 
of  merit  to  Mr.  C.  Engelmann. 

C.  Orangeman. — An  excellent  Border  variety 
of  good  shape  and  orange  colouring.  Award  of 
merit  to  Mr.  J.  Douglas. 

C.  Steerforth. — A  large,  well  formed  Border 
Carnation.  It  is  heavily  flaked  and  margined 
with  bright  crimson  on  white  ground.  Award 
of  merit  to  Mr.  J.  Douglas. 

C.  Viceroy. — A  very  handsome  Border  Carna- 
tion. It  is  a  yellow  ground  variety,  lightly  flaked 
with  crimson,  shading  to  purple  at  the  margins. 
Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  J.   Douglas. 

Cytisus  Donard  Seedling. — In  many  ways  this 
may  be  termed  a  more  \'igorous  and  graceful 
C.  Dallemorei  and  of  rose  and  fawn  colouring. 
It  is  the  result  of  a  cross  between  that  variety 
and  C.  ochroleuca  and  is  a  handsome  shrub, 
growing  quite  12ft.  high.  Perhaps  the  most 
promising  novelty  in  the  Show.  Shown  by  the 
Donard   Nursery  Company. 

Hydrangea  Parsival. — A  charming  and  highly 
decorative  variety.  It  bears  shapely,  compact 
trusses  of  rich  pink-coloured  flowers  not  quite 
so  large  as  in  some  sorts,  but  it  makes  a  good 
head  above  medium-sized  leaves.  The  individual 
flowers  are  round,  flatfish  and  have  evenly  serrated 
edges.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs.  W.  H.  Cutbush 
and  Son. 


veined  standards  are  bronzy-mauve  coloured, 
and  the  falls  are  shaded  purple  lake.  The  delicate 
beard  is  sap-green,  and  there  are  twin  emerald 
lines  on  the  style  arms.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs. 
Barr  and  Sons. 

Monocharis  pardanthina  Farreri. — A  charming 
and  uncommon  little  Lily,  discovered  by  the  late 
Mr.  Farrer  on  the  grassy  slopes  of  the  Hypimaw 
Pass  of  the  Yunnans.  The  colour  is  variable,  but 
generally  is  silvery  shell  pink,  flushed  with  rose 
on  the  outside.  The  edges  of  the  flowers  are 
evenly  serrated.  The  plants  on  view  bore  only 
a  single  bloom,  but  Mr.  Farrer  describes  it  as 
having  two,  three  or  more.  Shown  by  Mr.  Amos 
Perry. 

Pelargonium  Sir  Percy  Blakeney. — .^n  "  Ivy- 
leaved  Geranium "  of  unusually  compact  and 
sturdy  habit.  The  bright,  deep  scarlet  flowers  are 
produced  more  freely  than  is  usually  the  case 
with  this  type.  Award  of  merit  to  the  Rev, 
D.  T.   Wright. 

Pink  (Herbertii)  Bridesmaid. — A  charming 
little  garden  Pink  of  pale  blush  colour  with  a 
much  deeper  zone.  Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  C.  H. 
Herbert. 

P.  (Herbertii)  Lord  Lambourne. — A  handsome, 
velvety  carmine  border  Pink  nearly  as  large  aS  a 
Carnation.  It  has  crimson-maroon  centre  and  is 
sweetly  scented.  Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  C.  H. 
Herbert. 


268 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  3,  1922. 


P.  ( Herbertii )  Bed  Indian. — An  uncommon  border 
Pink  of  medium  size  and  deep  rosy  lavender  colour- 
ing.     Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  C.  H.  Herbert. 

Primula  obconica  Salmon  Queen. — An  exceed- 
ingly pretty  and  floriferous  variety.  It  makes  a 
sturdy,  compact  plant,  bearing  large  numbers  of 
round,  salmon-pink  flowers  of  great  substance. 
In  general  appearance  they  are  much  like  those 
■of  good  form  of  Primula  stellata.  Award  of 
merit  to  Messrs.  Sutton  and  Sons. 

Rhododendron  Coalition. — A  neat  and  compact 
truss  of  more  than  medium  size.  The  colour 
varies  from  blush-pink  to  vivid  rose-pink  and  is 
very  attractive.  The  deep  green  foUage  makes 
it  a  handsome  bush  at  all  times.  Award  of  merit 
to  Mr.  Lionel  de  Rothschild. 

R.  Falconer!. — There  was  shown  a  wonder- 
fully handsome  truss,  set  above  its  large,  striking, 
rugose  leaves,  densely  clothed  with  rust-coloured 
felt  underneath.  Unfortunately,  this  Himalayan 
species  is  too  tender  to  produce  its  large,  creamy 
white  floral  bells  out  of  doors  except  in  the  most 
favoured  places.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs.  R. 
•Gill  and  Son. 

R.  Geoffrey  Millais. — A  chaste  and  beautiful 
flower.  The  large  truss  is  made  up  of  widely 
expanded  blooms  of  the  faintest  blush  tinge, 
which,  at  times,  are  quite  white.  The  long  style  is 
pale  salmon  coloured.  Award  of  merit  to  Mr. 
Lionel  de  Rothschild. 

R.  Norman  Gill. — This  was  the  most  beautiful 
of  the  many  Himalayan  hybrids  at  the  Show. 
The  truss  is  very  large  and  quite  compact.  The 
almost  immense  blooms  expand  widely  and  are 
apple  blossom  blush  shades  of  colour  with  a  small 
crimson  blotch  in  the  centre.  Apparently  a  cross 
between  Beauty  of  Tremough  and  R.  Aucklandii. 
Award  of  merit  to  Messrs.  R.  Gill  and  Son 


R.  orbiculare. — A  fair-sized  truss  of  dainty, 
widely  expanded,  bell-shaped  flowers  of  ruby- 
magenta  colour.  There  are  distinct  veinings  of 
a  rather  darker  shade  of  this  colouring  on  the 
flowers.  The  neat  foliage  is  pale  pea  green  colour 
underneath.  This  is  apparently  one  of  the  many 
species  from  China,  and  would  make  a  very  attrac- 
tive bush  of  medium  size.  Award  of  merit  to 
the  Hon.  H.  D.  MacLaren. 

R.  St.  Keverne. — A  very  handsome  truss 
which  appears  to  owe  something  to  R.  Thomsonii. 
The  large  blooms  are  of  deep  crimson  colour, 
and  are  lightly  spotted  on  the  upper  segments. 
Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  P.  D.  Williams. 

R.  Robert  Fortune.— A  very  large  truss  of 
charming  pale  blush  colour.  The  large  flowers 
open  widely,  disclosing  a  striking  rayed  crimson- 
lake  blotch  around  the  style.  It  is  one  of  the 
Himalayan  hybrids  that  luxuriate  so  well  in 
Cornwall.     Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  P.  D.  Williams. 

Rose  Capt.  F.  S.  Harvey  Cant.— A  large, 
full,  H.T.  Rose  of  globular  shape,  deep  pink 
colour  and  pleasant  fragrance.  It  is  of  vigorous 
habit,  and  several  good  standards  were  on  view. 
Shown  by  Messrs.  Frank  Cant  and  Co. 

R.  Henry  Nevard. — A.  velvety  crimson  H.P. 
Rose,  fully  double  and  of  flatfish  shape.  It 
possesses  in  a  marked  degree  the  real  old  Rose 
fragrance.  The  growths  are  stout  and  vigorous. 
Shown  by  Messrs.  Frank  Cant  and  Co. 

R.  Mrs.   F.  S.   Harvey   Cant.— A  very  large 

H.T.  Rose  that  in  appearance  when  fully  open 
suggests  a  larger  Souvenir  de  la  Malmaison,  but 
it  has  the  Tea  Rose  scent.  Shown  by  Messrs. 
F.  Cant  and  Co. 

Stellera  Chamaejasme.— A  very  rare  Uttle 
Thyme-Uke    sub-shrub    which    is    rarely    seen    in 


cultivation.  It  is  a  neat  little  plant,  about  ift. 
high,  bearing  small,  lanceolate  leaves  surmounted 
by  rounded  heads  an  inch  or  so  across  of  creamy, 
star-like  flowers.  It  is  the  Ground  Jessamine 
of  Siberia,  and  was  introduced  in  1817.  Award 
of  merit  to  Major  Stern. 

Tulip  Carrara. — ^This  was  the  first  really  white 
Darwin  Tulip  to  be  raised,  and  it  received  an 
award  of  merit  last  year.  It  is  a  vigorous  variety, 
producing  large  flowers.  The  petals  are  broad 
and  the  filaments  are  green.  First-class  certificate 
to  Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons. 

T.  Dido. — A  very  showy  Darwin  Tulip  of  soft 
orange  colour.  The  outsides  of  the  petals  are 
heavily  coloured  with  carmine  red.  Award  of 
merit  to  Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons  and  to  Messrs. 
Dobbie  and  Co. 

T.  Phemio. — -'^n  excellently  shaped  white 
variety  with  pale  green  stigma  and  anthers. 
Award   of   merit   to  Messrs.  Barr. 

T.  Fantasy. — This  is  an  exceedingly  beautiful 
Parrot  Tulip  of  glistening  pink  colour  shaded 
with  orange  and  pink  on  the  wide  ragged  petals. 
The  flowers  are  stained  with  brownish  green  on 
the  outsides.  It  was  raised  by  Messrs.  de  Graaff 
Bros.  .\ward  of  merit  to  Messrs.  Barr  and 
Sons. 

Telopea  speciosissima. — Several  most  hand- 
some heads  of  this  rare  AustraUan  shrub  were 
shown,  and  their  uncommon  shape  and  bright 
ruby  cardinal  colour,  shading  to  crimson,  attracted 
a  deal  of  admiration.  It  is  the  Waratah  or 
Warrataw,  and  is  the  national  flower  of  Australia, 
but  is  so  rare  that  only  a  few  in  that  country  have 
seen  it.  First-class  certificate  and  cultural  com- 
mendation to  the  Rev.  A.  T.  Boscawen. 


BORDER    CARNATION    STEERFORTH,    BRIGHT    CRIMSON- 
PURPLE   AND   WHITE. 


THREE    NEW    BORDER    PINKS     (HERBERTII),    BRIDESMAID,    RED 
INDIAN    AND     LORD    LAMBOURNE. 


June  3,  1922.] 

Horticultural     Appliances 
AND    Sundries 

After  the  stifling  heat  and  the  heavy  scent-laden 
air  of  the  tents  at  Chelsea  it  was  a  relief  to  get 
outside  and  walk  down  the  Lime  Avenue  where  the 
horticultural  appliances  and  sundries  were  to  be 
found.  There  one  could  walk  in  comfort  and 
inspect  the  varied  assortment  of  garden  accessories 
and  labour-saving  devices  so  necessary  in  these  days 
to  the  garden  owner.  Here  were  to  be  seen  mowing 
machines  of  every  description,  spraying  machines, 
garden  furniture,  garden  ornaments,  insecticides  and 
a  host  of  other  things. 

Messrs.  Boulton  and  Paul  had  a  revolving  garden 
shelter  which  appealed  to  many  visitors.  These 
shelters  are  exceedingly  useful  to  those  whose 
gardens  are  somewhat  exposed.  Here,  too,  was  a 
very  attractive  conservatory,  very  strongly  built 
and  lofty.  It  would  be  an  ideal  structure  to 
adjoin  the  dwelling  house.  Excellent  garden  frames 
were  also  on  show^  and  what  especially  appealed 
to  the  writer,  the  Chain  Helice  water  elevator  for 
deep  wells.  Easy  to  work  and  not  expensive,  this 
elevator  should  appeal  to  those  country  readers 
whose  houses  are  not  a  network  of  pipes  and  with 
whom  inspectors  of  the  Water  Board  have  not  yet 
become  so  prevalent  as  white  fly. 

Near  by,  Messrs.  Duncan,  Tucker  and  Sons, 
the  well  known  horticultural  builders,  had  some 
attractive-looking  greenhouses,  conservatories  and 
garden  furniture.  Here,  too,  propagating  cases, 
so  essential  for  the  raising  of  plants,  were  on  view. 
The  up-to-date  ventilation  system  adopted  by  this 
firm  is  very  good  and  easy  to  work. 

Greenhouses  were  also  shown  by  James  Gray, 
Limited.  This  firm  had  also  a  new  flower  pot  which, 
made  of  galvanised  iron,  is  said  to  be  exceedingly 
useful  for  the  cultivation  of  Tomatoes  under  glass. 
There  are  no  bottoms  to  these  pots,  and  as  they 
stand  on  the  ground  level  the  plants  can  root 
straight  into  the  soil  beneath.  This  method  of 
culture  is  said  to  yield  splendid  crops.  Garden 
frames  and  Gray's  special  Tomato  fertihser  were 
also  included  in  the  exhibit. 

The  largely  used  Acme  weatherproof  non- 
rustable  garden  labels  were  to  be  seen  on  Mr.  J. 
Pinches'  stand.  A  novelty  shown  here,  although 
simple  in  design,  will  no  doubt  be  welcomed  by 
many  gardeners.  It  is,  in  effect  a  swivelled  pot- 
hook, the  idea  of  which  is  for  suspending  plants 
either  in  a  greenhouse  or  porch.  The  pothook 
is  constructed  of  wire  and  works  on  a  swivel,  thus 
enabling  the  gardener  readily  to  turn  the  pot  round 
and  so  equalise  growth.  Mr.  Pinches  also  catered 
for  the  exhibitor  by  showing  a  new  shelf-clip,  into 
which   may  be  fixed   vases. 

The  Improved  Pemberton  Display  Stand  which 
is  collapsible  and  worked  on  the  clamp  principle, 
should  prove  of  great  value  to  the  exhibitor.  The 
vases  may  be  placed  in  any  position,  which  is  a 
great  advantage.  There  were  also  table  stands 
in  various  designs  for  cut  flowers. 

Messrs.  Walter  Voss  and  Co.  showed  their  well 
known  insecticide,  fungicides  and  fertilisers. 
Here,  too,  was  to  be  seen  cyanide  of  potassium, 
the  deadly  poison  so  useful  for  the  annihilation  of 
white  fly.  We  understand  that  this  firm  have 
recently  taken  over  "  Blighty,"  the  well  known 
wash  for  Potato  disease. 

H.  Scott  and  Sons  showed  a  large  collection  of 
insecticides  and  weed  killers.  The  "  Alvesco,"  a 
fumigant  for  Tomatoes  against  the  ravages  of 
white  fly,  was  exhibited  by  Murphy  and  Son  of 
Mortlake.  There  was  also  displayed  nicotine 
petroleum  emulsion,  said  to  be  extremely  effective 
against  red  spider  on  Cucumbers,  whilst  ammonium 
copper  carbonate  for  Tomato  rust  and  Gooseberry 
mildew  was  also  included  in  this  extensive  exhibit 
of  insecticides  and  fumigants. 


THE     GARDEN. 

Jeyes'  Sanitary  Compounds,  Limited,  brought 
their  well  known  horticultural  washes  and  sprays 
which  are  familiar  to  the  majority  of  gardeners. 
"  Rito,"  the  famous  fertiliser,  was  shown  by 
the  Molassine  Company.  This  is  a  good  all-round 
fertiliser. 

From  Edward  Cook  and  Co.  came  a  compre- 
hensive collection  of  insecticides,  fungicides, 
fertiUsers  and  spraying  machines. 

Messrs.  Prentice  Brothers  exhibited  their  well 
known  "  Tomorite,"  the  Tomato  fertiliser. 
Ichthemic  guano  and  innumerable  other  fer- 
tilisers were  also  included. 

"  Prize  Crop  "  fertiliser  was  the  chief  exhibit 
on  the  stand  of  Maskell-Harris  and  Co.  We  also 
noted  their  Alkaline  fertiliser. 

Fertilisers,  insecticides,  spraying  machines  and 
syringes  were  shown  in  an  extensive  exhibit  by 
the  well  known  Stonehouse  Works  Company. 

"  Metro  "  sulphate  of  ammonia,  creosote,  etc., 
were  exhibited  by  the  South  Metropolitan  Gas 
Company. 

"  White  Fly  Death,"  sulphur  wash  for  Rose  and 
fruit  trees,  "  Niquas "  (Improved),  an  excellent 
non-poisonous  insecticide,  and  lawn  sands  were 
exhibited  by  Corry  and  Co.,  Limited. 

"  Sox,"  the  famous  non-poisonous  insecticide 
and  fungicide,  and  Dyoweed,  a  non-arsenical 
weed-killer  were  the  chief  exhibits  staged  by 
Messrs.  Hawker  and  Botwood,  Limited,  who  had 
a  host  of  their  other  well  known  and  approved 
insecticides  and  weed-killers. 

Lime  preparations  were  to  be  seen  on  the  stand 
of  the   Buxton   Lime   Firms  Company,   Limited. 

The  popular  Abol  spraying  machines  and  hand 
syringes  of  every  description  were  shown  by 
Abol,  Limited.  Spraying  machines  were  also  shown 
by  the  Four  Oaks  Spraying  Machine  Company, 
Limited ;  Messrs.  Edward  Cook  and  Co.  ; 
and  the  United  Brassfounders  and  Engineers, 
Limited. 

Messrs.  Cooper,  Pegler  and  Co.  showed  the 
popular  Vermorel's  spraying  machines  and  a  host 
of  sprayers  for  every  purpose. 

The  Automatic  Utilities  Company  showed 
their  Dayton  rotary  and  oscillating  sprinklers, 
which  can  be  made  to  sprinkle  water  from  a  3ft. 
to  a  40ft.  radius.  It  can  be  made  to  sprinkle 
in  a  circle  or  half-circle.  It  is  quite  a  small  affair, 
very  reasonable  in  price,  so  it  should  find  a  home 
in  every  garden.  Tennis  players  particularly 
should  make  a  point  of  procuring  this  excellent 
little  sprinkler.  Other  types  of  sprinklers  were 
also  shown  by  this  firm,  and  were  in  working  order, 
which  made  one  in  the  tropical  heat  feel  inclined 
to  take  a  "  shower." 

Exhibits  of  garden  furniture  were  numerous. 
Cane  furniture  was  shown  by  the  Dryad  Cane 
Company.  Other  firms  with  exhibits  of  garden 
furniture  of  all  designs  included  Harrods,  Messenger 
and  Co.,  Atlas  Wholesale  Supply  Company,  H. 
and  J.  Ca;sar,  Abbott  Brothers  (folding  furni- 
ture). Village  Centres  Council  (disabled  men), 
Homebilt  Company,  W.  Unwin,  Piggott  Brothers 
(who  had  also  tents  and  tent  equipment),  Castle's 
Shipbuilding  Company,  A.  W.  Gamage,  Limited, 
Hughes,  Bolckow  and  Co.,  and  Wm.  Wood  and 
Son,  who,  besides,  had  an  extensive  exhibit  of 
everything  for  the  garden.  Their  grey  hard 
tennis  court  was  also  on  view. 

Garden  ornaments  of  every  description  were 
on  view,  and  it  is  impossible  here  to  describe 
the  many  beautiful  sundials,  pieces  of  statuary, 
well-heads,  fountains  and  other  desirable 
things.  Those  who  showed  the  above 
included  Sander  and  Co.,  London;  Hughes, 
Bolckow  and  Co.,  Kelly  and  Co.,  A.  H.  Moorton, 
Limited,  and  Ravenscourt  Pottery. 

A  substitute  for  glass  was  shown  by  C.  M. 
Davies  and  Co.     It  is  called  "  Windolite,"  and  is 


269 

said    to    be    an    excellent    thing    for    greenhouses 
and  frames. 

A  novelty  was  exhibited  by  H.  J.  G.  Wood 
(H.  J.  Greenwood)  in  the  shape  of  a  plant  stake. 
It  is  called  the  Willmott  Rival  Plant  Stake. 
Made  of  galvanised  wire.  and  simple  in 
design,  it  should  prove  of  exceptional  value  to 
those  who  grow  Carnations  and  bulbs,  including 
Freesias. 

Arthur  H.  Moorton,  Limited,  had  a  large  display 
of  birds'  nesting-boxes.  This  firm  has  recently 
taken  over  these  boxes  from  the  Royal  Society 
for  the  Protection  of  Birds. 

Ladders  of  all  descriptions  were  to  be  found 
down  the  avenue.  Messrs.  Drew,  Clark  and 
Co.  had  a  large  selection  of  their  "  Diamond  " 
ladders,   including  patent   extension  ladders. 

The  Acme  Patent  Ladder  Company  also  had  a 
large  collection  of  their  well  known  ladders. 

House  and  Garden  Sundries  Company  exhibited 
their  patent  seed  sower,  which  is  a  great  boon, 
especially  to  the  amateur  gardener.  They  also 
had  their  wall  clips,  which  are  extremely  useful 
for  Roses  and  fruit  trees.  A  new  invention  just 
brought  out  by  this  firm  is  for  netting  supports 
for  the  protection  of  Strawberries.  Made  of 
stout  galvanised  wire,  these  supports  are  also 
useful  for  dwarf  Peas  and  such  like  crops.  The 
supports  in  use  were  illustrated  in  our  last  issue, 
on  page  xvi. 

Garden  Supplies,  Limited,  had  a  vast  collection 
of  garden  accessories,  including  motor  mowing 
machine,  syringes,  garden  tools,  lawn  sands, 
weed-killers,  artificial  manures  and  many  other 
things.  A  new  garden  roller  attracted  the  writer's 
attention.  Made  of  concrete,  it  is  heavy  and 
reasonable  in  price. 

W.  Carson  and  Sons  had  a  collection  of  paints 
suitable  for  greenhouses  and  horticultural  buildings 
generally. 

Some  fine  fibrous  yellow  turf  loam  was  shown 
by  Mr.  A.  B.  Johnston. 

The  well  known  Carnation  raisers,  Messrs. 
Allwood  Brothers,  had  a  stand  containing  Car- 
nation supports,  rings,  labels,  fertilisers,  and  a 
lot  of  other  indispensable  things  to  the  Carnation 
grower. 

Perhaps  the  greatest  novelty  in  the  sundries 
section  was  a  gardener's  tool  bench  shown  by 
R.  Melhuish,  Limited.  Fitted  up  with  drawers 
containing  labels  and  all  the  tools  required  for 
the  garden,  this  should,  indeed,  find  a  place  in 
every  moderate-sized  garden.  Very  compact, 
it  does  not  take  up  much  room.  Other  notable 
things  on  this  stand  were  seed  cabinets,  which 
are  essential,  especially  in  large  gardens  ;  hand 
sprayers,  mowing  machines,  insecticides,  and 
every  kind  of  garden  tool  imaginable. 

Mowing  machines  of  all  descriptions  were 
to  be  seen  all  over  this  part  of  the  grounds.  The 
Atco  motor  machine  (22in.)  appears  to  be  an 
ideal  machine  for  large  gardens,  tennis  clubs, 
bowling  greens  and  golf  courses.  The  cost  of 
running  is  estimated  at  2d.  per  1,000  square  yards 
of  grass.  This  firm  offer  to  give  free  of  charge 
demonstrations  with  the  machine  in  any  part 
of  the  country. 

Messrs.  Ransomes,  Sims  and  Jefferies  had 
several  of  their  well  known  machines  on  show, 
including  the   motor   and   "  push  "   varieties. 

The  Waltham  Engineering  Company,  Limited, 
had  some  strong-looking  motor  machines  (24in.). 

The  "  J.  P."  super-lawn  mower  struck  one 
as  a  very  sound  engineering  proposition.  The 
machine  is  easy  to  push,  as  ball  bearings  are 
fitted  to  both  back  axle  drive  and  rotary  cylinder 
cutter  spindle.  Spanners  are  not  required,  as 
simple  hand  wheel  adjustments  are  attached. 
This  machine  is  comparatively  frictionless  and  par- 
ticularly quiet  in  running.     The  machine,  when  a 


270 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  3,  1922. 


catch  is  released  and  handles  dropped,  stands  on 
end  in  a  space  of  gins,  by  I7ins.  Another  point 
in  this  machine's  favour  is  that  the  mechanism 
is  dust-proof  and  dirt-proof,  and  runs  in  oil. 

Motor  machines  were  shown  by  the  Nene 
Engineering  Company,  Limited. 

The  Multiflora  Company,  Limited  had  a 
collection  of  garden  vases  outside  one  of  the 
large  tents.  These  were  of  various  designs  and 
sizes. 

A.  Smellie  and  Co.,  Limited,  exhibited  garden 
netting,  hoses,  water-cans  and  garden  tools. 

Water-cans  only  were  shown  by  Mr.  J.  Haws. 
These  were  of  all  sizes  and  patterns. 

Beehives  and  all  apparatus  relating  to  bees  and 
fruit  storing  appUances  were  shown  by  the  well 
known  firm  of  E.  H.  Taylor,  Limited,  Welwyn. 

The  famous  Horse  Shoe  boiler  was  shown  by 
Chas.  P.  Kinnell  and  Co.,  Limited,  who  also 
exhibited  radiators. 

The  Wilkinson  Sword  Company  showed  their 
pruners,  which  are  now  becoming  well  known. 

The  popular  Plucca  pruner  was  shown  by  the 
Elliott  Pruner  Company. 

The  famous  "  Pattisson  "  horse  boots  were  to 
be  seen  on  H.  Pattisson  and  Co.'s  stand.  Other 
important  things  to  be  seen  here  were  "  Graduator  " 
distributor  (an  effective  top-dresser  for  lawns), 
and  a  great  assortment  of  garden  tools  and  syringes. 

Messrs.  J.  Weeks  had  a  collection  of  heating 
apparatus  both  for  small  and  large  houses. 

Wm.  Cooper  and  Nephews,  Limited,  had  a 
vast  collection  of  weed-killers,  spraying  machines 
and  spraying  fluids. 

The  popular  Cloche  clip  was  exhibited  by  the 
Cloche  Clip  Company.  This  is  an  indispensable 
thing  in  the  rock  garden  during  the  winter  months 
when  one  wishes  to  protect  some  choice  plant. 
Glass  can  easily  be  fixed  over  the  plant  by  means 
of  this  clip.  The  Chase  Continuous  Cloche  showed 
their  very  well  known  cloche. 

A  new  garden  plough  was  shown  by  Motes, 
Limited.  It  is  called  the  "  Titan  "  Horti  Plow. 
This  plough  does  away  with  digging.  It  is  easy 
to  use  and  should  prove  extremely  useful  to  the 
gardener. 

Fruit  tree  protectors  were  shown  by  Major  C. 
Walker.  Invaluable  against  the  depredations  of 
birds,  wasps,  frost  and  wind. 

Messrs.  Skelton  and  Kirby  showed  their  patent 
tennis  posts. 

Conservatories  and  plant  houses  were  exhibited 
by  Messenger  and  Co.,  Limited,  who  also  showed 
heating  apparatus. 


OFFICIAL    LIST   OF   AWARDS 

SheTV'ood  Cup  for  the  most  meritorious  exhibit  in  the 
Show  :  Messrs.  R.  Wallace  and  Co.,  for  their  exhibit 
In  the  tent. 

Cain  Cup  for  the  best  exhibit  by  an  amateur:  The 
Hon.  Vicary  Gibba. 

.Silver-gilt  Lindley  Medal  for  cultivation :  E.  Beckett, 
V.M.H.,  H.  Cunningham. 

Model  Oardens. — Gold  medal :  G.  Bunyard  and  Co., 
Limited.  Small  silver  cup  :  Herbert  Jones,  R.  Wallace 
and  Co.  Silver-gilt  Flora  medal :  C^eal  and  Sons,  W.  H. 
Gaze  and  Sons,  Limited.  John  Waterer,  Sons  and  Crisp, 
Limited.  Silver-gilt  Banksian  medal :  E.  Dixon,  "  En- 
Tout-Cas,"  Gilliam  (Croydon)  and  Co.,  R.  Neal  and  Son, 
James  Carter  and  Co. 

Rock  Gardens. — Daily  Graphic  Cup  :  Pulham  and  Sons. 
Gold  medal  and  congratulations :  R.  Tucker  and  Sons. 
Large  silver  cup  :  G.  G.  Whitelegg  and  Co.  Large  silver 
cup  :  B.  H.  B.  Symons-Jeune.  Silver-gilt  Flora  medal : 
Hodsons,  Limited,  Kent  and  Brydon,  Silver-gilt  Banksian 
medal  :    Clarence  Elliott,  Limited. 

Floivering  Trees  and  Hhrvhs.- — Gold  medal :  R,  and  G. 
Cuthbert,  R.  Wallace  and  Co.,  John  Waterer,  Sons  and 
Crisp.  Small  silver  cup  ;  R.  Gill  and  Sons.  Silver-gilt 
Flora  medal :  Donard  Nursery  Company,  William  Cutbush 
and  Son,  the  Hon.  H.  D.  McLaren,  B.  C.  Notcutt, 
G.  Keuthe,  Yokohama  Nursery  Company,  J.  Cheal  and 
Sons,  Limited.  Silver-gllt  Banksian  medal :  J.  C. 
AUgrove,  Fletcher  Brothers,  HUlier  and  Sons,  Limited, 
T.  Lewis,  Stuart  Low  and  Co.  Silver  Flora  medal  : 
John  Waterer,  Sons  and  Crisp,  Limited. 

Roses. — Large  silver  cup :  William  Paul  and  Son, 
Lindted.  Small  silver  cup :  Elisha  J,  Hicks.  Silver-gilt 
Flora   medal :    Benjamin  R.  Cant  and  Sons.     Silver-gilt 


Banksian  medal:  William  Cutbush  and  Son,  G.  Paul 
and  Sons.  Silver  Flora  medal :  F.  Cant  and  Co.,  George 
Prince.  Silver  Banksian  medal  :  The  Rev.  J.  H. 
Pemberton,  Charles  Tiu-ner. 

Carnations. — Gold  medal :  Allwood  Brothers.  AUwood 
Bowl :  The  Right  Hon.  Lord  Lambourne,  C.V.O.  Large 
silver  cup  :  C.  Engelmann.  Silver-gilt  Flora  medal  : 
William  C'utbush  and  Son,  Stuart  Low  and  Co.,  James 
Douglas,  H.  Lakeman,  C.  H.  Herbert.  Silver-gilt  Bank- 
sian medal :    K.  Luxford  and  Co. 

Tulips. — Gold  medal  :  Dobbie  and  Co.,  Limited. 
Large  silver  cup :  Barr  and  Sons.  Small  silver  cup  : 
Anglesey  Bulb  Growers  Association.  Silver-gilt  Banksian 
medal ;  R.  H.  Bath.  Limited.  Silver  Flora  medal  : 
Ryder  and  Son,  Limited. 

Hiinhi  riiutU. — Large  silver  cup  :  G.  Jackman  and  Sons. 
Small  silver  cup  :  Storrie  and  StorrJe.  Silver-gUt  Flora 
medal:  Amos  Perry,  H.  J.  Jones,  John  Waterer  Sons 
and  Crisp,  J.  C.  AUgrove.  Silver-gllt  Banksian  medal : 
J.  Piper  and  Sons,  G.  and  A.  Clark,  Limited.  Silver  Flora 
medal  :  B.  Ladhams,  Limited,  W.  H.  Rogers  and  Sons, 
W.  Wells,  junr.,  Skelton  and  Kirby,  E.  Scaplehorn,  Rich 
and  Co.  Silver  Banksian  medal:"  G.  G.  Whitelegg  and 
Co.,  John  Peed  and  Sons,  G.  R.  Downer,  G.  W.  Miller. 

Rock  Plants,  etc. — Gold  medal  :  M.  Prichard  and  Sons. 
Silver-gilt  Lindley  medal :  John  MacWatt.  Large  silver 
cup :  Bees,  Limited.  Silver-gilt  Flora  medal :  Bakers, 
Limited,  Bowell  and  Skarratt,  C'larence  Elliott,  Limited, 
Maxwell  and  Beale,  G.  Reuthe,  R.  Tucker  and  Sons. 
Silver-gilt  Banksian  medal :  Carter  Page  and  Co.,  J.  Cheal 
and  Sons,  Limited,  R.  M.  Prichard,  John  Waterer,  Sons 


and  Crisp.  Silver  Flora  modal:  H.  Hemsley,  the  Misses 
Hopkins. 

Stove,  Greenhouse  and  Consermtory  Plants. — Gold  medal : 
Sir  George  Holford,  K. C.V.O.  (gardener,  H.  G.  Alexander), 
L.  R.  Russcli,  James  Carter  and  Co.,  Sutton  and  Sons, 
Blackmore  and  Langdon.  Small  silver  cup :  Dobbie 
and  Co.  Silver-gilt  J'lora  medal :  Baron  B.  Schroder 
(gardener,  E.  J.  Henderson),  L.  R.  Russell,  John  Peed 
and  Sons.  Silver  Flora  medal :  Mr.  A.  F.  Wootten,  K.C., 
R.  Ellison.  Silver  Banksian  medal :  Webb  and  Son, 
Storrie  and  Storrie,  Chalk  Hill  Nurseries.  Bronze  Flora 
medal :    Jarman  and  Co.,  Godfrey  and  Son. 

Sweet  Peas. — Gold  medal :  Dobbie  and  Co.  Large 
silver  cup  :  Alex.  Dickson  and  Sons,  Limited.  Silver- 
gilt  Banksian  medal :  R.  Bolton  and  Son,  A.  Ireland  and 
Hitchcock.     Silver  Flora  medal ;    J.  Stevenson. 

Vegetables. — Gold  medal  and  congratulations  :  The  Hon. 
Vicary  Gibbs  (gardener,  E-  Beckett). 

Fruits. — Gold  medal :  G.  Bunyard  and  Co.  Silver-gilt 
Hogg  medal :  Rivers  and  Son,  Limited.  Bronze  Hogg 
medal :    Laxton  Brothers. 

Clipped  Trees. — Silver  Floral  medal :  J.  Klinkert, 
William  Cutbush  and  Son,  Fromow  and  Sons. 

Hardy  Grasses. — Gold  medal :    James  MacDonald. 

Orchids. — Gold  medal ;  Sir  Jeremiah  Colmau,  Bart. 
(gardener,  J.  Collier),  Charlesworth  and  Co.  Small 
silver  cup  :  Stuart  Low  and  Co.  SUver-gilt  Flora  medal : 
James  Cypher  and  Son,  James  and  A.  McBean,  Sanders. 
Silver-gilt  Banksian  medal :  Mansell  and  Hatcher,  Limited. 
Silver  Banksian  medal :  H.  Dixon,  Flory  and  Black. 
Vote  of  thanks  :   Armstrong  and  Brown,  Ch.  Vulysteke. 


ROYAL    NATIONAL    TULIP    SHOW 


This  annual  Show,  which  opened  on  the  second 
day  of  "  Chelsea,"  is  now  the  veriest  shadow  of  what 
it  must  have  been  in  the  thirties  and  forties  of 
the  nineteenth  century.  Those  who  are  conversant 
with  the  Midland  Florist  and  The  Gossip  of  the 
Garden — two  famous  florists'  periodicals  of  a 
byegone  age — know  what  excitement  the  annual 
show  once  caused  in  floral  circles.  Now  the 
interest — as  evidenced  in  the  proceedings  of  the 
present  Show — is  very  limited.  The  exhibitors 
could  easily  be  counted  on  the  fingers  of  two  hands, 
and  at  no  time  was  there  a  great  crush  of  visitors. 
I  suppose  people  do  not  appreciate  the  glorious 
refined  beauty  which  was  to  be  seen  in  a  grand 
flamed  Sir  Joseph  Paxton,  or  in  an  almost  equally 
good  Trip  to  Stockport.  Nor  can  they  see  anything 
of  the  purity  of  colour  in  such  a  breeder  as  Mr. 
Bentley's  Gleam.  They  prefer  a  Darwin  Uke 
Farncombe  Sanders  or  Isis — undoubtedly  fine 
garden  plants  which  the  more  delicate  and  refined 
florists'  TuUps  are  not.  I  do  not  think  they  ever 
were.  They  never  were  means  to  an  end — the 
end  being  garden  embellishment.  They  were  the 
end  themselves.  When  Mr.  Groom  of  Clapham  Rise 
in  the  year  (let  us  say)  1847,  made  his  great  Tulip 
bed  of  50yds.  in  length  and  just  over  4ft.  wide,  and 
put  framing  over  the  whole,  covered  with  white 
linen  on  top  and  with  rough  canvas  round  the  sides, 
he  did  not  intend  it  to  be  an  ornament  to  his 
garden.  He  erected  it  because  the  beauty  of  his 
Tulips  demanded  it.  Perhaps  it  was  more  spacious 
than  it  need  have  been  if  it  was  only  the  flowers 
that  were  to  be  thought  of.  The  blooming  of  Mr. 
Groom's  Tulips  was  quite  as  great  a  society  event 
as  "  Chelsea  "  itself.  "  All  London  "  went  to  see 
them  and  to  be  seen.  I  am  not  going  to  argue  the 
point  whether  we  ought  to  have  gardens  for  our 
flowers  or  flowers  for  our  gardens.  Popular 
opinion  for  the  time  being  has  decided  we  have 
flowers  for  our  gardens  ;  and  so,  although  we  do 
not  "  bed  out  "  in  the  old  fashioned  way,  we  have 
colour  schemes  in  our  borders,  and  "  drifts  "  in 
our  rock  work,  and  we  humbly  worship  the  great 
god  Size,  and  we  forget  the  rights  {I  can  call  them 
nothing  else),  of  the  individual  flower  in  itself. 
Thus  it  comes  about  that  the  beautiful  old  rectified 
Tulips  are  passed  by  on  the  other  side  by  so  many 
of  our  modern  gardeners.  Perhaps  the  time  will 
come  when  they  will  become  fashionable  again. 
All  good  things  are  not  always  appreciated  as 
they  should  be.  Every  time  I  visit  London  I  am 
filled  with  amazement  at  the  way  my  fellow 
human  beings  treat  the  "  moving  stairs."  They 
hurry  up  and  down  them  as  if  they  were  treading 


on  very  hot  iron.  Sometimes  I  think  I  see  signs 
of  the  dawn  of  a  greater  common  sense  ;  and  then 
it  is  as  bad  as  ever  and  the  crowd  go  up  and  down 
with  more  and  more  determination.  It  is  so  with 
the  appreciation  of  the  florists'  Tuhp.  One  year 
there  seems  to  be  that  little  cloud  of  greater  interest 
on  the  horizon — only  a  man's  hand  in  size,  but  full 
of  possibilities  ;  but  the  year  after  it  has  gone. 
One  of  these  lean  years  is  1922.  But  for  Mr. 
J.  W.  Bentley  from  Lancashire  and  Mr.  Peters 
from  Cambridge  it  would  have  been  a  sorry  sight. 
The  first  named  simply  swept  the  board.  "  Every 
shy  a  coconut."  Every  exhibit  of  J.  W.  B.  a 
first  prize.  He  won  the  twelve  Dissimilar  Rectified 
Tulips,  and  the  "  size."  He  won  the  three  flamed 
and  the  three  feathered  Tulips.  He  came  out  top 
in  both  the  six  and  the  three  Breeder  Tulips. 
Lastly  the  Samuel  Barlow  prize  for  the  best  "  pair 
of  Rectified  TuUps,  one  feathered  and  one  flamed  " 
went  to  him  and  he  had  the  premier  Breeder  in 
Gleam  and  the  premier  flamed  in  Sir  Joseph  Paxton. 
The  premier  feathered  was  not  marked  when  I 
came  away.  The  runner-up  in  most  cases  was 
Mr.  Peters,  our  Secretary,  but  Sir  A.  D.  Hall  and 
Mr.  A.  E.  Chater  cut  in  sometimes.  Messrs.  Barr 
and  Sons  had  a  nice  display  of  May-flowering 
varieties  on  one  side  of  the  entrance  and  on  the 
other  a  large  flat  board  covered  with  specimen 
blooms  of  some  of  the  best  known  "  show  "  flowers. 
It  was  very  useful  for  identification.  A  glance, 
for  example,  showed  how  Dr.  Hardy  differs  from 
Sir  Joseph  Paxton  ;  and  the  breeder  Aglair  from 
the  breeder  form  of  Trip  to  Stockport.  For  these 
two  exhibits  they  were  awarded  a  gold  medal. 

There  are  many  who  take  an  interest  in  old  local 
dialects  and  old  words  and  phrases.  They  feel 
the  old  times  are  indeed  passing  when  these  are 
fast  becoming  obsolete.  Take  plant  names  as  an 
example.  What  names  we  find  in  Holland  and 
Biitten  and  in  Prior  !  Are  a  tithe  of  them  in  use 
at  the  present  ?  There  is  a  Tuhp  language,  not 
very  old,  of  course,  compared  with  the  hoary  age 
of  the  majority  of  names  in  these  two  dictionaries, 
but  yet  most  expressive  and  in  a  way  topical  in  the 
British  "  show "  era.  The  best  example  is  a 
"  crinoline  " — This  is  the  chip  or  cardboard  circle 
which  is  put  into  the  blooms  to  enable  them  to 
carry  well  to  a  show.  I  must  try  to  rescue  these 
names.  Here  are  three  more  expressive  terms 
whose  significance  is  only  known  to  the  elect — 
(i)  Bald.  ^2)  It  puts  its  breeches  on.  (3)  Beard. 
There  are  many  others.  What  other  flower  is 
there  that  can  boast  such  a  broad-based  colloquial 
vocabulary  as  the  Tulip  ?  Joseph  Jacob. 


June  3,  1922. 


THE     GARDEN. 


271 


CORRESPONDENCE 


SOWING    WALLFLOV^-ERS. 

TN  his  thoughtfully  compiled  calendar  Mr.  H. 
Turner  (page  231)  advises  the  immediate 
sowing  of  Wallflowers,  those  plants  which  add  a 
beautiful  and  fragrant  feature  to  all  spring  gardens. 
I  know,  of  course,  that  the  end  of  May  is  almost 
invariably  recommended  as  the  best  time  for  this 
operation  nowadays,  but  have  never  heard  a  sound 
reason  in  support  of  it.  I  have  found  that  from 
the  Trent  southwards  the  end  of  June  is  plenty 
early  enough,  and  that  there  is  no  cause  for  anxiety 
if  the  sowing  is  forced  backwards  until  the  third 
week  of  July.  Last  season,  perforce  of  circum- 
stances, I  was  unable  to  sow  until  the  last  week  of 
July,  and  the  results  are  most  gratifj-ingly  satis- 
factory'. A  friendly  neighbouring  gardener,  who 
is  a  confirmed  third  week  of  May  sower,  told  me  on 
the  occasion  of  a  visit  on  May  12  that  mine  was  the 
finest  show  he  had  seen  this  year,  though,  per- 
chance, the  villain  flattered  (we  gardeners  are  prone, 
perhaps,  to  a  little  mutual,  gentle  back  scratching)  ! 
My  procedure  is  simple.  If  the  ground  is  dry  it  is 
thoroughly  moistened  in  the  evening  ready  for 
seeding  the  next  day  ;  distribution  is  thin  to  the 
irreducible  minimum  in  drills  6ins.  asunder  and 
about  Jin.  deep  ;  and  my  favourite  time  the  first 
week  of  July.  Little  thinning  is  demanded,  but  it 
has  attention  promptly  and  the  surface  is  kept  open 
by  frequent  pricking  over  with  a  hand  fork  on  a 
hoe  shaft.  When  the  youngsters  are  lin.  high 
they  go  to  nursery  beds  firmly  with  a  distance  of 
loins.  between  the  rows  and  6ins.  in  them.  Trans- 
ference to  flowering  positions  is  done  firmly  in 
October,  usually  the  second  half.  The  points  are 
not  pinched  out.  My  soil  is  a  strong  loam  lying 
from  isins.  to  i8ins.  deep  over  Oxford  c'ay,  and 
it  will  grow  anything — if  it  is  humoured. — H.  L.    ^^ 

TULIP   COMBINATIONS. 

TV/I.-^Y  I  add  three  more  combinations  to  my  list 
in  The  G.\rden  for  May  20th  ?  (i)  Tulipe 
Noire  with  Bouton  d'Or.  (2)  Clara  Butt  (pink) 
•n'ith  Imperial  Blue  Forget-me-not.  (3)  A  pale 
yellow  Tulip  like  MoonUght  with  blue  Scilla 
■campanulata. 

The  first  two  suggestions  have  been  sent  me  by 
a  friend.  The  last  combination  turned  up  unex- 
pectedly in  my  own  garden.  The  "  sympathy  " 
(to  use  a  very  old  gardening  word  in  both  its  ancient 
and  modern  sense)  which  exists  between  Scillas 
campanulata  and  nutans,  and  all  May-flowering 
Tulips  is  impressed  upon  me  more  and  more  every 
year.  There  seems  to  be  a  Scilla,  although  their 
■colour  range  is  not  a  very  wide  one,  to  go  with 
every  Tulip.  I  only  wish  I  had  room  to  experiment 
on  a  fairly  large  scale. — Joseph  J.\cob. 

JE.\RLY     TULIP    CARDINAL  RAJIPOLLA. 

f~\NE  of  the  sights  in  my  garden  in  the  second 
week  of  May  was  a  mass  of  the  Uttle  known 
•  early  TuUp  Cardinal  RampoUa.  It  was  such  a 
favourite  with  all  my  visitors  !  It  is  a  singularly 
bright  and  happy-looking  flower  with  its  combina- 
tion of  rich  yellow  and  pale  reddish  orange  colouring. 
The  Cardinal  knows  his  Milton.  He  speaks — 
Listen ! 

"  Hence  loath'd  melancholy 
Of  Cerberus  and  blackest  midnight  born." 
If  any  flower  can  cure  the  doleful  dumps,  surely 
this  can.  Try  it  next  year  and  see  if  this  is  not 
true.  It  is  not  very  far  removed  from  General  de 
Wet  in  colour.  It  has  the  same  tone,  but  the  im- 
pression it  gives  to  a  bystander  is  very  different. 
Vou  cannot  feel  you  are  in  the  presence  of  one  of 
■  the  astutest  diplomats  of  modern  times.    Its  name 


does  not  seem  to  fit  it.    It  ought  to  be  "  Bindle  !  " 
— Maelor. 

THE    GREEN-FLOWERED     HELLEBORE. 

TF  by  "the  green,  winter-flowering  Hellebore," 
Miss  Case  (page  242)  means  the  tall  Helleborus 
foetidus,  I  can,  if  she  will  give  me  her  address, 
supply  her  with  plenty  of  seed  in  a  few  weeks' 
time.  Had  I  known  her  wishes  before  the  borders 
were  weeded,  I  could  have  sent  seedlings,  hundreds 
of  which  have  to  be  rooted  out  every  year.  Last 
winter  it  began  to  flower  on  December  23. — 
Herbert  Maxwell,  Monreith. 

A    HIMALAYAN   RHODODENDRON. 

■XX^E  have  been  unable  to  name  the  Rhododen- 
dron of  the  picture,  and  wonder  if  you 
can  help  us.  In  an  early  season  like  1921  it  is  in 
fuU  bloom  by  the  middle  of  March.  I  enclose 
a  specimen  for  you  to  see. — (Mrs.)  R.  E.  Debenham. 
[Our  correspondent's  plant  is  one  of  the  many 
forms    or    varieties    of    the    beautiful    Himalayan 


A   FINE   SPECIMEN   OF   RHODODENDRON   ARBOREUM 
CINNAMOMEUM. 


Rhododendron  arboreum — the  one  known  as 
var.  cinnamomeum,  in  reference  to  the  colour  of  the 
underside  of  the  leaf.  It  is  a  distinct  and  desirable 
evergreen  flowering  shrub  for  Southern  and  Western 
gardens.  In  Cornish  gardens  specimens  20ft.  or 
more  in  height  are  not  uncommon.  That  this 
favoured  county  has  rivals  is  apparent  from  the 
illustration  of  this  beautiful  Rhododendron  sent 
by  our  correspondent  from  her  garden  near  Chard, 
Somerset.  This  is,  in  fact,  one  of  the  hardiest 
forms  of  R.  arboreum.  It  has  white,  freely  spotted 
flowers  and  rather  smaller  leaves  than  most  of  the 
forms  of  R.  arboreum.  It  was  first  gro\vn  in  this 
country  from  seeds  sent  home  by  WalUch  in  1822, 
the  first  recorded  specimen  to  flower  being  in 
Messrs.  Rollesson's  greenhouses  at  Tooting  in 
1836.  The  plant  is  figured  as  R.  cinnamomeum  in 
the  Botanical  Magazine,  tab.  3,290.  In  a  sheltered 
part  of  the  Rhododendron  DeU  at  Kew  a  bush 
5ft.  to  6ft.  high  flowers  annually  in  March  or  April. 
In  the  milder  parts  of  the  country  the  flowering 
is  earlier,  though  this  year  Mrs.  Debenham's 
bush  was  at  least  a  month  later  in  flowering. — Ed.] 


THE   DAFFODIL    SEASON   OF    1922. 

'T'HIS  season  is  certainly  the  "  strangest  "  on 
my  records  for  nineteen  years.  The  records 
of  first  bloom  of  various  sorts  show  an  average 
start,  with  the  Golden  Spur,  but  the  continuous 
cold  winds  dragged  out  the  succession  of  linds 
with  the  result  that,  as  Mr.  Pearson  says,  early  and 
later  sorts  opened  all  together  when  a  warmer  spell 
did  at  last  come.  Recurvus,  the  last  but  one  on 
ray  list,  opened  on  May  16,  two  days  later  than  in 
1908,  my  previous  record  for  lateness.  But  190S 
commenced  (with  Golden  Spur)  on  April  4,  twenty 
days  later  than  this  year.  We  are  nearly  one 
month  later,  for  most  varieties,  than  last  year, 
which  commenced  on  March  10,  as  against  Marcli  15 
this  year.  Most  of  the  earUer  kinds  were  pinched 
and  "  unkind,"  but  with  warmer  nights  the  later 
bloom  has  been,  as  Mr.  Pearson  notes  strong  and 
healthy.— Alfred  H.  Bassaso,  Old  Hill,  Staffs. 

CUT    FLOWERS    BY    POST   OR   RAIL. 

T  .AM    moved   to   write   upon   the   above   subject 
owing  to  the  painful  experiences  I  have  had 
through    the    carelessness    of    people    who    send 
samples  of  flowers,  sometimes  to  get  them  named, 
at  other  times  to    try    to    effect    a 
sale.     At  the  present  moment  there 
are  in  my  office   (i)    Several  blooms 
of   trumpet     Daffodils    sent    by     a 
Dutch    grower    as   samples  in  hopes 
of    selling  stocks.     They  all  arrived 
perfectly  dead,    and  one  could   only 
say   "  this   was    a    yellow    trumpet 
Daffodil,    that  was  a  pale  trumpet 
Daffodil,"     etc.,     but     as     to     any 
chance    of    seeing    their   merits    or 
demerits,    they  might   as  well  have 
never    been    sent.     (2)    A    sort    of 
herbarium    specimen    of    a    trumpet 
Daffodil,  quite  dry  and  brown,  said 
to  be  a  pale  bicolor,  but   it   might 
have  been  any  colour.     (3)  Several 
poor  specimens    of    far-gone    Daffo- 
dils    with    hardly    any    stalks,    one 
quite  dead  and  beyond  recognition. 
Now     it  seems    a    pity    that    folk 
should  take    the    trouble    to    send 
blooms    and    pay    postage    and  not 
take  a  little  more  trouble  to  ensure 
their   arriving   in    decent    condition. 
Let   me   give   a    few    hints    which, 
if     faithfully     carried     out,    should 
ensure  the  flowers  arriving  in  really 
good  order.    Firstly,  select  if  possible 
young  blooms,  preferably  those  only 
half  open.    Secondly,  gather  early  in 
the  day  and  put  the  flowers  in  water  for  some  hours 
before    packing.     Thirdly,    pack    in    a   box    which 
will  not  crush.     Ordinary  cardboard  bo.xes  usually 
arrive  squashed  more  or  less  out  of  shape.  Fourthly, 
pack  fairly  tightly  in  some  damp  material,   and 
cover  up  so  as  to  exclude  air  as  much  as  possible. 
My  own  practice  is  to  hue  a  wooden  or  very  strong 
cardboard    box    with    damp    wadding — damped 
with   a   fine   spi-ayer — pack   in   the   flowers   fairly 
tightly,    and    then    cover   with    another   sheet   of 
damp   wadding,   tucking  it   carefully   around   the 
sides  of  the  box  ;    then  put  on  lid  and  fasten  up. 
Many  people  have  a  horror  of  wadding,  and  they 
may  well  have  if  it  be  used   dry,    but   if   sprayed 
I  will  back  it  against  any  other  packing  material. 
The  next  best   thing  to  wadding  is   clean  grass, 
and  an   additional  safeguard   is   to  tie  some  wet 
moss  round  the  end  of  the  flower-stalks.     If  one 
is  sending  Daffodils  to  one's  friends,  they  should 
be   made   up   in   flat   bunches,   with   the   faces   of 
blooms   all  one  way.     Two  bunches  can  then  be 
laid  with  stalks  to  middle  £md  flowers  to  either 
end   of    box,    bedded    on    dsimp    wadding.     Then 


272 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  3,  1922. 


with  a  packing-needle  thread  a  bit  of  tape  or 
string  through  the  bottom  of  the  box — between 
the  sides  and  bottom  is  the  easiest  plan — over 
flower-stalks  and  out  at  the  other  side  of  box, 
tying  off  securely  on  outside  of  the  bottom  of 
box.  If  string  be  used  for  tying  down,  put  a  pad 
of  wadding  between  your  string  and  flower-stalks, 
or  the  stalks  will  be  injured.  A  bit  of  damp 
wadding  as  a  coverlet  and  the  box  is  ready  for 
fastening  down.  If  these  instructions  are  faith- 
fully carried  out  and  the  flowers  fail  to  arrive  at 
their  destination  in  good  condition  it  will  be 
owing  to  some  unforeseen  mishap,  not  from  the 
<ault  of  the  method  employed,  for  I  have  packed 


joy  your  friend  will  have  in  watching  the  blooms 
expand  and  improve  for  a  day  or  two  instead  of 
seeing  signs  of  decay  which  might  be  looked  for 
had  the  blooms  been  old  when  cut. — J.  Duncan 
Pearson,  Lowdham,  Notts. 

HOME-GROWN   TULIPS. 

T  THINK  your  readers  may  be  interested  in 
the  enclosed  picture  of  May-flowering  Tulips 
cultivated  in  a  small  Tooting  garden.  Mr.  W. 
O'Sullivan,  the  garden  owner,  grows  his  own 
bulbs — 3,000  of  them — and,  necessarily,  grows 
them  each  season  on  the  same  ground.    There  are 


TULIP  FARMING  IN  A  SUBURBAN  GARDEN. 


and  had  packed  perhaps  hundreds  of  lots  of  choice 
flowers  for  post  and  rail,  and  do  not  remember 
one  case  of  an  arrival  of  dead  or  bruised  blooms. 
All  this  may  seem  a  lot  of  trouble,  but,  after  all, 
it  always  means  time  and  trouble  to  cut  and  send 
off  flowers,  and  surely  it  is  better  to  give  a  httle 
more  time  and  get  good  results  than  to  do  the 
work  hurriedly  and  hear  of  dead  or  moribund 
flowers  arriving  at  the  other  end  of  their  journey. 
A  last  word  :  In  cutting  Daffodils  to  post  to  your 
friends,  always  select  the  half-open  buds.  You 
will  get  far  more  into  the  box,  and  think  of  the 


180  varieties  in  his  collection.  Mr.  O'Sullivan  is 
strongly  of  the  opinion  that  British-grown  bulbs 
are  better  than  Dutch.  His  soil  is  of  the  light 
sandy  texture  suitable,  with  good  cultivation, 
for  these  flowers.  I  am  sorry  I  cannot  send  you  a 
better  photograph,  but  the  hot  weather,  as  you 
will  doubtless  be  aware,  has  "  knocked  off " 
such  flowers  very  rapidly.  The  picture  will  at 
any  rate  suggest  what  an  array  there  has  been. 
.Mthough  grown  in  such  large  masses,  the  bulbs 
are  very  skilfully  arranged  to  prevent  clashing 
of  colour. — H.  C. 


GARDENING    OF    THE    WEEK 


FOR     SOUTHERN     GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

New  Zealand  Spinach. — Where  the  soil  is  very 
light  and  porous  this  is  an  e.\cellent  variety  to 
rely  upon  to  produce  a  regular  supply  of  leaves 
during  the  hot  weather.  Probably  the  best  way  is 
to  sow  in  boxes  under  glass  and  plant  out  when 
large  enough.  This  Spinach  requires  plenty  of 
room  for  development  and  when  planting  allow 
from  2}ft.  to  3ft.  between  the  rows  and  about 
2ft.  from  plant  to  plant. 

Outdoor  Tomatoes.— The  plants  may  be  placed 
into  their  fruiting  quarters  as  soon  as  convenient, 
so  as  to  get  as  long  a  season  of  growth  as  possible. 
Any  vacant  spots  between  fruit  trees  on  warm 
wails  or  buildings,  etc.,  are  excellent  positions  for 
this  crop  and  generallv  give  much  better  results 
than  planting  out  in  the  open.  If  the  latter  is  the 
only  available  position,  choose  the  warmest,  and 
plant  in  rows  running  north  and  south  on  firm 
ground,  not  too  rich.  Allow  a  space  of  iSins. 
from  plant  to  plant  and  3ft.  between  the  rows. 

Garden  Swedes. — Where  a  large  and  regular 
supply  of  winter  and  early  spring  vegetables  is 
required,  these  are  an  excellent  help  and  they  will 
stand  more  severe  weather  than  Turnips.  Seed 
may  be  sown  any  time  from  now  until  July  m 
rows  2oins.  apart. 


The  Flower  Garden. 

Annuals  sown  out  of  doors  directly  into  their 
flowering  quarters  will  repay  early  and  free  thinning, 
allowing  each  plant  room  for  proper  development. 
Half  hardy  annuals  raised  under  glass  should  now 
be  placed  in  their  final  quarters  as  soon  as  possible. 
Where  any  support  is  required  for  some  varieties 
later,  twiggy  sticks  will  be  found  in  the  majority 
of  cases  to  answer  very  well. 

Specimen  Plants  in  tubs  or  large  pots  grown  for 
placing  in  positions  about  the  grounds  should  be 
encouraged  as  much  as  possible  to  make  good 
growth  by  an  occasional  soaking  of  a  suitable 
stimulant.  Great  care  is  necessary  in  allotting  sites 
for  such  plants,  for  unless  placed  suitably  in  accord- 
ance with  surroundings,  etc.,  it  is  far  wiser  to 
keep  them  near  an  entrance  to  some  conservatory 
or  such-hke  structure. 

Vases    or    Window    Boxes    are    occasionally 

required  for  furnishing  a  balcony  or  terrace  steps. 
Before  filling  such  receptacles  with  fresh  soil  make 
sure  that  suitable  drainage  is  suppUed,  placing  over 
the  same  a  layer  of  fibrous  loam  and  some  well 
rotted  manure  into  which  the  roots  may  penetrate 
and  obtain  nourishment  during  the  hot  weather. 
The  aspect  should  largely  influence  the  kinds  of 
plants  to  be  used,  but  for  a  sunny  position  the 
ivy-leaved    Pelargoniums   are    still   some    of    the 


best,  while  positions  less  sunny  would  accommodate 
Hehotropes  and  Fuchsias. 

Fruits  Under  Glass. 

Colouring  Grapes. — To  obtain  well  finished 
Grapes  it  is  necessary  to  bear  in  mind  a  few 
practical  points.  It  may  be  at  once  accepted  as 
impossible  to  expect  a  really  first  class  finish  miless 
the  roots  are  in  a  healthy  condition.  Apart  from 
this,  however,  there  are  a  few  points  for  the  beginner 
to  give  attention  to.  When  coloration  has  just  set 
in  it  is  quite  wrong  at  once  to  alter  the  daily 
routine  of  culture,  for  this  will  do  precisely  the 
opposite  to  helping  to  arrive  at  a  good  finish. 
Allow  the  practised  routine  to  continue  just  as 
before  and  only  gradually  reduce  atmospheric 
moisture,  and  arrive  at  a  much  freer  circulatioa 
of  air  by  the  time  colouring  is  well  advanced. 
Keep  the  hot  water  pipes  lukewarm  day  and  night, 
with  a  little  air  on  the  house  always.  Under  no 
circumstances  must  the  roots  of  Vines  suffer  from 
dryness,  and  although  such  frequent  applications 
of  water  are  not  required  or  advisable,  when  the 
ripening  stage  is  well  advanced  as  when  in  full 
growth,  it  will  not  harm  in  the  least  thoroughly  to 
water  Vines  laden  with  ripe  fruit  so  long  as  there 
is  always  a  circulation  of  air  and  the  hot  water 
pipes  are  slightly  warmed. 

H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland). 

Albury  Park  Gardens,  Guild/ord. 


FOR    NORTHERN     GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Earthing  Up  Growing  Crops. — This  is  one  of 
the  most  important  points  in  the  cultivation  of 
kitchen  garden  crops.  It  is  of  special  value  to 
crops  growing  on  stiff  clayey  soils  where  young 
plants  have  Uttle  encouragement  to  induce  a 
downward  tendency  of  the  roots.  Before  earthing 
up  takes  place  the  soil  should  be  thoroughly 
loosened  and  broken  up  between  the  rows  \vith  a 
digging  fork. 

The  Brassica  family  responds  quickly  to  this 
treatment,  as  the  earthing  process  not  only 
stimulates  growth  and  encourages  root  action, 
but  also  serves  to  steady  the  young  plants  and 
prevents  that  swaying  which  readily  damages 
the  roots.  Both  Broad  Beans  and  Kidney  Beans 
enjoy  this  attention  and  will  repay  the  trouble 
by  a  sturdy  growth  and  more  abundant  yield. 

Tomatoes. — Give  a  generous  top  dressing  to 
plants  that  are  carrying  heavy  crops,  using  good 
fibrous  loam  with  a  sprinkUng  of  artificial  manure 
added.  Watering  should  also  receive  careful 
attention  so  that  no  dryness  may  occur  at  the  roots, 
equal  care  being  taken  that  the  pots  or  borders 
do  not  get  into  a  sodden  state,  as  the  Tomato 
quickly  resents  this.  Keep  all  side  growths  rubbed 
off  and  tie  in  the  leading  shoot  carefully. 

Vegetable  Marrows. — Plants  for  the  principal 
crop  will  now  be  ready  for  transferring  to  the  open. 
Plant  on  shghtly  raised  hillocks  composed  of  well 
rotted  manure  and  good  soil.  Should  the  evenings 
prove  chilly,  some  shelter  may  be  afforded  by 
placing  short  Spruce  branches  round  the  plants. 
See  that  the  roots  are  moist  before  planting. 

Cauliflowers. — Further  plantings  should  now  be 
made  of  Walcheren,  Echpse,  and  Autumn  Giant. 
In  gardens  where  the  soil  is  cold  and  heavy,  root 
action  may  be  quickened  by  adding  a  trowelful  of 
old  potting  soil  to  each  plant. 

Cucumbers. — Frame  Cucumbers  may  now  be 
planted  and  with  abundance  of  solar  heat  will  soon 
make  rapid  growth.  Pinch  the  leading  shoot  when 
about  I  Sins,  in  length  and  thus  encourage  the 
quantitv  of  lateral  growths  necessary  for  fiUing 
the  allotted  space.  Syringe  the  plants  during  the 
afternoon  and  close  the  frame  early  enough  to 
conserve  a  certain  amount  of  sun  heat. 

The  Flower  Garden. 
Thinning  of  Annuals. — This  essential  in  the 
successful  cultivation  of  annuals  sown  in  the  open 
must  not  be  delayed,  as  early  thinning  allows  for 
the  proper  development  of  the  young  plants. 
Choose  a  showery  day  for  the  work.  Further 
sowings  of  annuals  may  yet  be  made  over  the  site 
of  Daffodils  or  TuHps  that  are  permanencies  in  the 
border. 

Border  Chrysanthemums  should  be  planted 
out  without  further  loss  of  time,  and  where  the 
young  plants  have  been  well  grown  by  being 
transplanted  in  frames,  they  will  lift  with  strong 
roots  and  quickly  establish  themselves  in  their 
flowering  quarters.  Chrysanthemums  are  charming 
when  grouped  in  the  mixed  border  and  provide 
a  wealth  of  bloom  for  cutting  purposes. 

James  McGran. 

(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.). 

Coodham,  Kilmarnock. 


THE 


GARDEM 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


>1.  LXXXVI.— No.  2638. 

cred  -"3  Second-class  Matter  at  the  New  York.  N.Y.,  Post  Office. 


Saturday,  June  10,  1922 


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POST    OFFICE    AS    A    NEWSPAPER 

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JUNE     IN    THE     RHODODENDRON     GARDEN. 


Merryweather^s    Hardy    Plants. 

NOW  is  the  time   to  fill  all   vacancies  in  the   Hardy    Plant 
Border. 

We  offer  a  fine  selection  in  our  new  list,  just  published. 
All  plants  of  highest  quality. 
Please  send  for  a  copy. 


HENRY  MERRYWEATHER  &  SONS,  Ltd., 

THE    NURSERIES,    SOUTHWELL.    NOTTS. 

Barr's  Seeds  for  June  Sowing 

Of  Finest   Strains  and  Tested  Growth 

FOR  THE  FLOWER  GARDEN  &  GREENHOUSE. 

Antirrhinums,  Aquilegias,  Campanulas,  Canterbury  Bells,  Calceolarias, 
Cinerarias,  Delphiniums,  Forget-me-nots,  Hollyhocks,  Lupins,  Pansies, 
Primulas,    Polyanthus,  Primroses,  Sweet  Williams,  Stocks,  Wallflowers,  etc. 

FOR  THE  VEGETABLE  GARDEN. 

Beans,    Beet,    Carrots,    Peas,    Spinach,    Lettuce,    Radish,    etc. 

FOR    POULTRY    AND    PIG    FOOD 

sow    BUCKWHEAT— Seed,  per  oz.  packet,  3d.  ;    per  lb ,  2/-. 

special    List   on    application, 

EIADE9        X.       ^m\l^  '•■'■     ■•*    *    ■'3'    •*"*'**    STREET, 

DMI^I^        Ct       ^yjt^^f      COVENT     GARDEN,     LONDON,     W.C.« 

ORCH I DS 

of  vigorous  habit  and    superior  constitution.     A  visit  to  our  Establishment 

is    cordially    invited    to    inspect    our     immense     and     interesting     STOCK 

RAISED     BY    THE 

PURE    CULTURE    SYSTEM 

Choice    Species,    Rare    Botanical    Specimens.     Albinos   in    warm   ard   cool 
sections  also  a  speciality. 

Expert   Advice   given   and   all    Requisites    supplied    for    the    good    culture 

of    Orchids. 

haywards 

HEATH. 


CHARLESWORTH  &  CO., 


BENTLEY'S  Weed  Destroyers 

Largest  Sale  !     Nearly  50  per  cent,  more  powerful  than  any  other  ! 
The     most    effective,     the    most    lasting,     the     most    economical  ! 

CONCENTRATED    (Liquid,    1    to   80):    6   galls.,    47/-;     12    galls.,    90/-; 

24  galls.,  175/-.     POWDER  (1  to  25)  :    4  tins,  11/6;    8  tins,   22/8  ;    12  tins, 

33/-;     20  tins,  52/6  ;    40  tins,  102/6. 

BENTLEY'S  DAISY  KILLER  (Lawn  Sand) 

Permanently    destroys    moss   and    every     form    of    weed    on    lawns    of    all 

descriptions.     4  cwts.  and  over,  25/6  per  cwt.  ;   1  cwt..  27/6  ;    56  lbs.,  14/9  • 

28  lbs.,  8/-;    14  lbs.,  4/9  ;   tins,  1/6  each. 

Carriage    Paid    on    20l-    Orders    and    upwards. 

Sole   Manufacturer*:    JOSEPH    BENTLEY,    Ltd.,    Chemical    Works, 

BARROW-ON-HUMBER,      HULL. 


11. 


THE    GARDEN. 


[June  io,  1922. 


"THE    GARDEN"   CATALOGUE    GUIDE 


NOTICE  TO  OUR  READERS 


r\N  receipt   of   a    Post   Card   the    under- 

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Fruit  Trees  and  Plants 


PERRY'S 

Hardy  Plant  Farms 

ENFIELD,  MIDDX. 


New  Alpines 
and  Perennials 

Complete 
Collection 


KELWAY  &  SON 
Rktail  Plant  Department 
LANGPORT,  SOMERSET. 


Hardy  Plants 
Colour  Borders 
Gladioli 


HARDY    AZALEAS    AND    FLOWERINQ    SHRUBS 


R.  &  G.  CUTHBERT 
SOUTHGATE 
MIDDLESEX 
Ettablished  1797 


For  planting  and 
Conaervatory 
decoration. 
Catalogue  of  our 
new  and  beautiful 
varieties  post 
free 


LAXTON  BROS. 

Nurseries 

BEDFORD 


Strawberries 

and 

Fruit  Trees 


W.  WELLS,  JuNR. 
Hardy  Plant  Nursery 
MERSTHAM,  SURREY 


Specialists  in 
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and  Alpines 
Catalogues  free 


Seeds  and  Bulbs 


R.  H.  BATH,  Ltd. 
Thb  Floral  Farms 
WISBECH 


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,,          ^,  Delphlniunns 

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408,  King's   Road 
CHELSEA,  S.W. 


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Garden  Sundries 


C.  E.  WEST 
Hicham  Hill,  E.17 
Est.  1888 


West's  Patent  Garden  Sundries, 
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'■  Celu"  Labels, 
Raffiatape  "  Weatmaline," 
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Catalogue  and  frte  samples. 


RICHARD  MELHUISH, 
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Branch  Depot  : 

143  HoLBORN  Bars 


Ltd. 
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all  kinds. 
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post  free. 


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Merchants  and 
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NETS 

GARDEN    and   TENNIS. 


Bird  Proof,  Best  Quality,  Steamed  Tarred 
Fruit  Netting,  will  cover  sizes  quoted. 

Repaired  Fish  Netting,  very  strong  and 
durable.     Both  qualities  in  all  meshes. 

TENNIS  &  BOUNDARY  NEniNG,&c. 

Only    tl  e     best    quality    offered.       Will     last 
for  years. 

Samples  and  Prices   by  return. 


Wm.  WOOD  &  SON,  Ltd.,  Taplow,  Bucks. 


Landscape  Gardening 


W.  H.  GAZE  &  SONS,  Ltd. 
High  Street 
KINGSTON-ON-THAMES 


Landscape,  Rock 
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R.  WALLACE  &  CO., 
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Ltd. 


Landscape  &   Oarder 
Aroblteots.  Queer 

Alexandra's   Cup   for 
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J.  CHEAL  & 

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CRAWLEY 


SONS,  Ltd. 


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DY  APPOINTMEXT   Tt>  ftl9  MXJE5TY 

71  NEW>4AN  5Tcpa-oRr>sr< 
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NUP^ERIE  S  ■  ELSENTIAM  •  esycx 


rorrrK^  Garderu . 


ALLEN'S     NETS. 

GARDEN     AND     TENNIS     BOUNDARY     NETTING. 

Garden  Nets,  new,  ^in.,  fjd.;  tlo.,  lin.,  41d.  sq.  yd.,  roped 
all  round  ;  scjiiare  nets,  cover  in  full  when  stretched."  Selected 
good  repaired  nets,  Jin.  diamond  mesh,  25yd8.  by  13yds.,  42/6  ; 
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No.  2638— Vol,  LXXXVL] 


[June  10,  1922. 


THE    PROPAGATION    OF    ALPINES 

Few  amateur  gardeners    sufficiently    appreciate   the    opportunities  for  propagation    afforded  by 

warm  soil  and  pushing  vegetation. 


JUNE  is  an  exceptionally  busy  month  in 
the  hardy  plant  nursery,  owing  to  the 
immense  amount  of  propagation  which 
may  then  be  undertaken.  The  garden 
lover  who  propagates  only  for  his  own 
requirements  may  well  follow  the  good  example 
though  he  should  not  slavishly  follow  nursery 
methods.  The  nurserymen,  for  example,  propa- 
gates his  alpines  into  pots,  since  it  is  convenient 
for  him  and  for  his  clientele  to  supply  the  young 
plants  in  pots.  Certain  choice  small-growing 
species  the  amateur  will  also  propagate  into  pots 
or  pans,  but  the  generality  of  furnishing  plants  for 
the  rocliery  will  be  better  propagated  in  a  border, 
temporary  shelter  being  afforded  them  while  they 
are  becoming  established.  Such  plants  will  be 
much  larger  and  more  robust  when  wanted  for 
transference  to  the  rock  garden  than  if  they  have 
been  confined  to  a 
meagre  quantity  of  soil 
in  a  flower-pot. 

Given  suitable 
mould  in  which  to 
root  them,  the  follow- 
ing are  some  of  the 
plants  which  will  be 
better  without  potting  : 
all  the  Aubrietias,  all 
varieties  of  Phlox  sub- 
ulata.  Phlox  amcena 
and  P.  ovata,  And- 
rosace  carnea  and  re- 
lated forms,  Gentiana 
Gentianella,  G.  Kochi- 
ana,  G.  Clusii,  the 
dwarf  Achilleas,  An- 
tennarias,  Hemiarias, 
Arabises,  Asters,  such 
Campanulas  as  car- 
patica  (including 
turbinata)  and  pusilla, 
Cerastiums,  such  dwarf 
Pinks  as  Dianthus 
caesius,  D.  superbus, 
D.  sylvestris,  D 
deltoides  and  the 
cluster  headed  specie^ 
— D.  Carthusianorum 
and  the  rest  —  the 
Drabas  (except  D. 
pyrenaica),  Erin  us 
alpinus,  the  Erigerons, 
Ericas,   Erysimums, 


Geraniums,  Erodiums,  Geuuis,  Globularias,  the 
various  species  and  forms  of  Edelweiss,  the  dwarf 
Gypsophilas,  Hutchinsias,  such  Linarias  as  readily 
propagate  by  division,  Linums,  Polygalas,  practi- 
cally all  the  Potentillas  except  nitida,  most  of  the 
auricula-leaved  forms  of  Primula  and  P.  integrifoha, 
Saponarias,  Sedums,  Sempervivums,  the  mossy 
(Dactyloides)  Saxifrages  and  most  of  the  encrusted 
forms  (but  unless  with  special  preparations,  not 
the  Kabschia  varieties)  the  more  robust  Silenes, 
such  as  alpestris,  Schafta  and  acauhs,  Thalictrums, 
Vacciniums,  Veronicas  (herbaceous  and  shrubby;, 
and  the  more  robust  Violas  such  as  V.  cornuta  and 
V.  graciUs. 

It  is  not  possible  in  the  course  of  an  article 
to  describe  minutely  the  propagation  of  each 
species,  but  the  following  hints  as  to  the  modus 
operandi  for  each  of  several  distinct  plants  should ' 


READILY    PROPAGATED    UNDER    LIGHTS,    MOSSY    SAXIFRAGES,    ALPINE    PHLOXES,    ALYSSUMS, 

AND    IBERISES. 


be  helpful.  As  our  first  example  let  us  take  one 
of  the  various  garden  varieties  of  Phlox  subulata. 
The  variety  is  immaterial,  as,  although  they  differ 
materially  in  habit  and  outward  appearance,  their 
fundamental  structure  is  similar.  Let  us  carefully 
lift  a  two  year  old  plant  with  a  garden  fork  and 
carefully  detach  the  soil  from  its  roots.  Should 
the  soil  in  which  it  has  been  growing  be  light  in 
texture  and  gritty,  it  may  readily  be  broken  up  and 
removed  with  the  fingers  without  materially 
damaging  the  rootlets,  but  if  the  plant  has  been 
growing  in  a  rather  sticky — though  not  necessarily 
heavy — loam,  it  may  be  necessary  to  soak  the 
plant  for  a  few  minutes  in  a  pail  of  water  to  separate 
roots  from  soil. 

The  roots  free  from  soil,  it  is  easy  to  see  how 
the  root-stock  may  be  so  divided  up  as  to  provide 
each  portion  of  top  with,  at  any  rate,  some  roots. 
Large  pieces,  equal 
perhaps  to  one  quarter 
of  the  original  plant, 
\vill  look  awkward 
when  divided  as  the 
plant  will,  perhaps,  be 
a  couple  of  feet  long,  a 
little  growth  at  one  end 
and  the  roots  at  the 
other.  Yet  even  such 
pieces  will  form  useful 
plants  if  the  spare 
stem  and  root  is  care- 
fully wound  round 
before  planting  so  that 
all  is  buried  except 
2ins.  or  3ins.  of  top. 

Care  must  be  taken 
in  the  bending  or  the 
brittle  stem  will 
fracture.  Better  still, 
where  they  are  to  be 
found,  are  the  small 
pieces  of  year-old  wood 
with  a  few  rootlets  at 
the  base.  These  are 
quite  straightforward 
to  propagate.  They 
merely  need  planting 
firmly  in  the  compost. 
Large  pieces  and  small 
pieces  may  all  go 
under  the  same  Ught, 
or  if  a  light  is  not 
available,  be  subjected 


274 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  io,  1922. 


GENTIANA    GENTIANELLA    LOVES    A    STONY    SOIL. 


AM 


EASILY    I'ROI'AGATED    ROCK    PINK,    DIANTHUS    C^ESIUS. 


to  the  same  treatment,  but  if  a  large  stock 
is  required  it  will  be  necessary  to  take  cuttings 
and  as  these  have  to  form  an  entirely  new 
root  system  the  cuttings  should  be  placet! 
under  a  light  by  themselves.  The  cuttings 
should  be  made  of  one  year  old  wood  with  a 
*'  heel "  of  the  previous  year's  wood  attached. 
These  alpine  Phloxes  are  readily  rooted  in  any  Ught 
gritty  soil,  not  over  rich  in  humus,  but  new  soU 
from  a  light  pasture  is  the  best  possible  rooting 
medium.  So  quickly  and  readily  do  they  establish 
themselves  that  for  divided  pieces  a  light  is  not 
really  necessary.  Scrim  canvas  shading  or  even 
sheets  of  newspaper  held  in  position  on  the  plants, 
on  hot  sunny  days  by  large  stones  will  afford  them 
the  needed  assistance. 

The  method  of  propagation  outlined  for  alpine 
Phlo.\es  will  exactly  apply  to  the  .\ubrietias,  but 
as  these  latter  do  not  love  simshine  and  heat  a» 
do  the  Phloxes,  more  protection  will  be  necessary 
to  prevent  excessive  transpiration  and,  should  it 
be  a  hot  summer,  they  will  need  more  aftercare. 
The  Erysimums  need  very  similar  treatment,  but 
small  rooted  pieces  are  as  a  rule  not  easy  to  find 
and  cuttings  often  have  to  be  pressed  into  service. 
Such  things  as  Hutrhinsia  are  exceedingly  easy  to 
divide. 

The  Gentianella  is  quite  easy  to  divide  and  it  is 
astonishing  to  find  how  much  larger  a  lifted  clump 
is  than  it  appears.  Next  year's  growths  are  then 
exposed  as  stout  "  wires  "  and  careful  lifting  is 
necessary  to  prevent  these  being  broken  off.  The 
Gentianella  loves  stony  ground  and  it  is  wise  to 
introduce  coarse  gravel  into  the  propagating  bed 
and  to  press  a  few  pieces  of  stone  around  the 
collars  of  the  plants.  Gentiana  Kochiana  also 
Ukes  stones.  It  will  grow  in  any  lime-free  soil,  but 
the  introduction  of  a  little  peat  is  helpful.  G. 
Clusii  must  have  Ume  and  this  is  best  afforded  by 
using  old  mortar  rubble  in  the  compost. 

The  "  Mossy "  Saxifrages  should  be  divided 
carefully  and  placed  in  gritty  soil  in  a  border 
which  gets  shade  from  the  mid-day  sun.  They 
may  succeed  in  the  open  garden  nine  years  out  of 
ten,  but  in  a  really  droughty  summer  it  is  almost 
impossible  to  keep  them  alive  in  such  a  position. 
Pieces  of  stone  placed  round  the  little  clumps  as 
they  are  planted  will  help  to  retain  the  moisture 
and  will  also  protect  the  crowns  from  splashing 
by  heavy  rain,  and  splashing  often  causes  rot  to 
set  in. 

The  encrusted  Saxifrages  may  readily  be  propa- 
gated outdoors  if  a  stone-edged  "  barrow "  be 
formed  and  they  be  planted  therein  sideways. 
If  well  rooted  pieces  are  used  no  hght  will  be 
necessary.  Even  the  stronger-growing  of  the  beauti- 
ful tufted  (Kabschia)  Saxifrages  may  be  readily 
increased  on  such  a  barrow.  Species  which  come 
to  mind  as  suitable  are  S.S.  apiculata,  sancta, 
Pseudo-sancta  and    Rocheliana. 

The  Heaths  are,  in  niu-series,  usually  increased 
from  cuttings,  but  this  method  is  painfully  slow 
and  the  amateur  may,  with  a  little  forethought, 
increase  them  quite  rapidly  by  division.  It  is, 
quite  apart  from  propagation,  very  desirable  to 
plant  Heaths  very  deeply,  thus  making  the  tops 
compact  and  neat.  Their  subsequent  behaviour 
will  largely  depend  upon  the  compost  in  which  they 
are  growing.  ,  Should  this  be  peaty,  they  will 
grow  rather  loosely  and  will  comparatively  soon 
need  dividing  and  replanting,  but  in  light  gritty  and, 
of  course,  lime-free  soil,  with  no  appreciable  peat 
content,  they  will  grow  close  and  dwarf.  In 
any  event  such  deeply  planted  plants  are  easy  to 
propagate  as  they  will  be  found  to  root  right  up 
to  the  surface  of  the  ground  and  so  may  readily 
be  increased  by  division.  It  is  not  wise  to  cut  off 
the  lower  roots  when  planting.  The  plants  do 
much  better  if  these  are  curled  round  in  the 
manner  recommended  for  the  Phloxes. 


I 


June  io,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


275 


There  is  no  need  whatever  to  rig  up  a  range  of 
Cucumber  frames  for  alpine  propagation.  A  few 
6ft.  by  4ft.  Ughts,  or  even  smaller  ones  if  needs  be, 
and  a  ' '  box  "  or  two  made  of  lin.  board,  7ins.  wide, 
set  on  edge  and  nailed  together  to  form  a  rough 
frame    lor   the   lights   are   all   that   are  necessary. 


Archangel  mats  or  scrim  shading  applied  as 
required  are  better  then  any  form  of  permanent 
shade.  In  a  future  issue  it  is  proposed  to  describe 
the  propagation  of  some  choicer  alpines  both 
outdoors  and  in  pots  and  pans,  an  especially 
interesting  pursuit. 


ST.    BRIGID    ANEMONES 

Fresh  visitors  to  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Meetings  at  this  season  always  remark 
upon  the  beauty  of  these  by  no  means  difficult  garden  flowers. 


THE  above  name  has  been  given  to  a 
semi-double  strain  of  the  Poppy  Anemone 
(A.  coronaria),  which  was  introduced 
from  the  Levant  in  1596,  but  also 
grows  in  South  Europe  along  the  Medi- 
terranean littoral.  The  species  has  always  been 
more  or  less  popular  in  this  country,  and  Parkinson 
enumerated  thirty  varieties  in  his  day,  while 
Mason  in    1820   catalogued   seventy-five   varieties. 


colouring  of  the  flowers  are  so  characteristic  in  their 
way  that  they  should  become  as  indispensable 
in  the  garden  as  the  Tulips,  with  which  they  do 
not  compete.  This  may  be  the  case  when  the 
younger  generation  of  admirers  has  acquired  the 
art  of  cultivating  the  plant  v\'ith  success. 
Their  Propagation. 
As  in  the  case  of  the  tuberous  Begonia,  the 
tubers  may  be  divided  and  every  piece  will  grow. 


ST.    BRIGID    ANEMONES. 


Single,  semi-double  and  double  varieties  were 
produced  by  British  and  Dutch  cultivators  early 
in  last  century. 

St.  Brigid  -Anemones  are  an  Irish  strain  that 
has  for  many  years  past  been  developed  to  great 
perfection,  both  as  regards  size  and  colour.  In 
the  height  of  their  season  the  blooms  will  measure 
3ins.  to  4ins.  across.  The  colour  ranges  from 
white  to  rose,  mauve,  purple,  crimson,  scarlet 
and  deep  blue,  with  intermediate  shades.  Some 
are  distinctly  zoned  with  white,  rose  or  red,  others 
are  parti-coloured.  These  have  all  been  obtained 
by  seed  sowing  and  the  selection  of  the  brightest 
colours  or  those  combinations  of  colours  that  most 
appeal  to  the  sense  of  taste.  The  development 
of  this  strain  has  given  a  great  impetus  to  the 
cultivation  of  this  old  garden  flower,  and  its  great 
beauty  in  the  garden  as  well  as  its  suitability  for 
cutting  and  arranging  in  vases  of  water  indoors 
marks  it  down  as  a  plant  of  general  utihty.  The 
dwarf    habit   of     the    plant;    form    and    brilliant 


provided  it  has  a  knob  or  growing  point  with 
one  or  more  buds  upon  it.  As  a  rule,  large  tubers 
should  only  be  cut  in  half  for  bedding  purposes, 
and  smaller  pieces  cut  off  only  for  the  increase 
of  some  special  variety.  Small  pieces  require 
to  be  grown  for  a  year  or  two  to  get  them  to 
useful  flowering  size. 

For  general  garden  decoration  a  better  way 
for  getting  a  quantity  is  to  rear  them  from  seeds. 
The  best  time  to  sow  seeds  is  as  soon  as  they  are 
ripe,  say,  some  time  in  July.  The  seeds  are 
enveloped  in  a  woolly  covering  that  makes  them 
adhere  in  masses,  so  that  regular  and  thin  sowing 
is  a  matter  of  some  difiiculty.  This  can  be  sur- 
mounted by  putting  the  seeds  in  a  bowl,  mixing 
them  with  sharp  sand  and  rubbing  the  two  with 
the  fingers  till  they  get  mingled  in  equal  propor- 
tions. Thin  sowing  will  prevent  the  necessity 
for  disturbing  the  seedlings  till  after  they  have 
flowered.  The  seedlings  will  germinate  in  a 
month  or  less,  and  keep  growing  tiU  November. 


The  soil  for  rearing  these  Anemones  should 
have  a  heavy  dressing  of  leaf-soil  or  half-decayed 
leaves  and  road  grit  or  coarse  sand.  Dig  this 
deeply  or  even  twice  thoroughly  to  incorporate 
the  different  materials,  level  the  bed  and  rake 
it  smooth.  Draw  furrows  less  than  half  an  inch 
deep,  so  that  the  seeds  will  only  be  lightly  covered, 
and  the  lines  loins.  to  i2ins.  apart  if  the  bed  has 
to  be  kept  clean  by  hoeing.  Six  inches  apart 
will  be  sufficient  if  hand  weeding  is  practised. 
Give  water  at  frequent  intervals  during  droughty 
periods.  A  top-dressing  of  rich  soil  will  greatly 
benefit  the  seedlings  as  they  begin  to  grow.  Many 
of  them  will  bloom  during  the  following  .'\pril 
if  given  a  fair  amount  of  attention  to  keep  them 
growing  during  the  warmer  part  of  late  summer. 
Soil    and    Planting. 

The  soil  for  these  Anemones  should  be  friable, 
and  contain  some  gritty  matter  in  it.  The  soil 
from  whence  the  flowers  have  been  brought  to 
this  country  from  Ireland  is  Ught  and  sandy, 
perhaps  too  sandy  for  open  situations  in  droughty 
seasons  like  the  last,  but  Ireland  has  usually  a 
greater  rainfall  than  we  get  in  Britain,  except 
towards  the  western  seaboard.  They  are  now 
being  tried  by  the  Irish  growers  on  the  heavier 
soil  of  West  Middlesex.  The  soil  should  be  dug 
ijins.  to  i8ins.  deep  to  get  the  best  results,  and 
it  should  be  well  drained,  if  not  naturally  so. 
Half-decayed  leaves  or  leaf-soil  should  be  used 
instead  of  animal  manures,  and  this  should  be 
well  incorporated  with  the  soil  while  digging, 
not  put  in  layers.  Old  turf  is  also  excellent 
material  to  ini.\  with  the  soil. 

Skilled  cultivators  with  a  suitable  soil  can 
plant  the  tubers  in  almost  every  month  of  the  year 
to  get  a  succession,  but  experience  has  proved 
that  the  middle  of  October  and  the  end  of  January 
are  the  two  best  times  for  planting  in  England. 
The  middle  of  February  would  be  more  suitable 
for  the  north  of  Scotland.  In  favourable  winters 
the  finest  flowers  are  obtained  from  the  autumn 
planting.  Some  protection  is  needed  for  this 
planting  if  the  flowers  appear  before  sharp  frosts 
have  ceased.  The  tubers  are  best  planted  in 
beds  at  6ins.  to  7ins.  apart  and  sins.  deep.  They 
can  be  planted  with  the  trowel.  Some  culti- 
vators put  some  silver  sand  below  and  above  the 
tubers,  especially  in  the  North.  The  surface 
should  be  raked  level  and  smooth  before  com- 
mencing to  plant.  The  hole  should  be  sufficiently 
wide  for  the  tuber  to  be  laid  flat,  and  not  much 
pressure  should  be  used  on  the  soU  w-hen  covering 
them,  otherwise  some  of  the  crowns  or  growing 
points  are  liable  to  be  crushed,  as  they  are  rather 
brittle.  Be  careful  to  keep  the  right  side  upwards, 
and  this  can  usually  be  recognised  by  the  knobs 
on  the  top.  A  few  fibres,  the  remains  of  the 
roots,  may  usually  be  detected  on  the  underside. 
Afier-Trfatment. 

It  is  a  good  plan  to  cover  the  beds  with  ains. 
of  half-decayed  leaves  for  protection ;  but  it 
may  be  necessary  to  liberate  some  of  the  fohage 
and  flowers  if  they  have  a  difficulty  in  piercing 
undecayed  flakes  of  leaves  in  spring.  This  mulching 
will  prove  highly  beneficial  to  the  plants  during 
spells  of  drought  in  April  or  May.  Some  culti- 
vators mix  well  decayed  stable  manure  with  the 
leaf-soil  in  spring,  and  this  top-dressing  serves 
to  nourish  the  plants  as  well  as  to  preser\e  soil 
moisture.  Autumn  -  planted  tubers  will  bloom 
in  May  and  spring- planted  ones  in  June.  It  is 
good  practice  to  lift,  dry  and  store  the  tubers 
immediately  after  the  foUage  has  completely 
died  away  and  before  any  second  growth  has 
commenced.  Where  the  soil  is  of  a  light  character 
it  may  be  possible  to  cultivate  St.  Brigid  Anemones 
by  leaving  them  in  the  soil  for  some  years  till 
tlie  ground  requires  renovating  or  the  tubers 
require  to  be  replaced,  Hortulanvs. 


276 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  lo,  1922. 


GORGEOUS    HIPPEASTRUMS 


1AM  watching  just  now  with  especial  interest 
the  rapid  growth  and  development  of  the 
buds  of  the  Hippeastrums  (Amaryllises,  many 
gardeners  still  call  them).  This  is  a  batch  of 
seedlings  now  pushing  up  buds  for  the 
first  time,  fuU  of  promise  and  pregnant  with 
possibilities.  The  air  seems  charged  with  expect- 
ancy as,  day  by  day,  the  stems  elongate  and  the 
great  buds  grow  fatter  and  fatter.  What  will 
they  be  ?  Who  can  say  ?  In  this  case  the 
seeds  have  not — so  far  as  is  known — been 
"  crossed "  with  others ;  they  were  merely 
"  mixed,"  handed  on  by  a  friend,  but  the 
future  holds  possibilities,  and  I  feel  that  I  must 
"  have  a  finger  in  the  pie  "  and  a  "  say  "  in  some 
of  the  inter-marriages 
that  shall  take  place  in 
that  greenhouse. 

These  plants  are  among 
the  most  handsome  and 
gorgeously  coloured  that 
can  be  grown  in  a 
greenhouse  which  is  only 
moderately  heated,  and 
the  ease  with  which 
they  can  be  grown  is 
each  year  maldng  them 
more  and  more  popular. 

The  name  "  Hippeas- 
trum "  is  derived  from 
hippeas  (a  knight)  and 
astron  (a  star),  and  the 
present  race  of  plants  is 
the  result  of  numerous 
crosses  carried  out 
among  the  natural 
species.  To  ensure 
success  in  their  culture, 
good  and  suitable  soil 
is  the  starting  point 
upon  which  all  else  is 
founded.  The  large  bulbs 
appreciate  a  heavy  rather 
than  a  light  loam,  to 
which  a  moderate  amount 
of  sand,  bone  meal  and 
well  decayed  cow  manure 
has  been  added.  This 
should  be  prepared  some 
time  in  advance  of  use 
and  should  be  turned 
several  times  at  intervals, 
50  that  it  is  thoroughly 
mi.xed.  Such  soil  will 
suit  them  to  perfection, 
being  strong  and  lasting, 
and  there  can  be  no 
doubt    that    the   less    the 

roots  are  disturbed,  beyond  actual  necessity,  the 
better.  While  some  prefer  to  give  the  plants  a 
season  of  rest,  this  is  by  no  means  necessary  : 
the  natural  habit  is  evergreen,  and  I  much 
prefer  to  keep  them  growing  throughout  the 
year. 

Potting  or  repotting  should  be  done  in  spring, 
just  when  new  growth  begins  to  appear,  for  that 
one  may  take  it  is  synonymous  with  renewed 
root  activity,  and  so  is  the  most  favourable 
time  The  bulbs  s  hould  have  all  the  old  soil 
carefully  remov  ed  from  the  roots.  This  alYords, 
too,  a  good  opportunity  to  remove  all  easily 
detached  offsets  for  purposes  of  propagation.  The 
size  of  the  pot  employed  differs  with  varieties, 
some  making  much  larger  bulbs  than  others, 
a  sin.  or  6in.  pot  being  sufficient  for  a  sin.  bulb, 
the  Sin.  to  loin.  for  a  larger  one  with  offsets  that 
are  not  to  be  removed. 


It  is  a  great  mistake  to  overpot,  a  good  average 
being  about  twice  the  diameter  of  the  bulb  or 
clump  of  bulbs.  Drain  all  pots  very  efficiently  : 
stagnant  water  round  the  roots  soon  causes  sickly 
foliage  and,  if  allowed  to  remain,  rots  the  bulbs. 
Make  the  soil  quite  firm,  and  plant  the  bulbs 
so  that  one  half  is  below  the  soil  and  the  remainder 
exposed.  After  potting,  it  is  a  good  plan  to  sink 
the  pots  to  the  rim  in  a  bed  of  leaf-mould  or 
coconut  fibre  with  a  steady  bottom  heat, 
although  this  is  not  essential :  they  will  start, 
although  more  slowly,  if  stood  on  the  staging 
where  the  temperature  is  between  55°  and  75'. 
The  plants  love  plenty  of  Ught,  need  but  little 
shading  and  appreciate  free  syringing  with   tepid 


SOiME    HYBRID     HIPPEASTRUMS. 

water.  As  foliage  growth  increases,  larger  supplies 
of  water  should  be  provided  at  the  roots.  Newlv- 
potted  bulbs  do  not  require  feeding  the  first 
season,  but  in  subsequent  years  liquid  maiiure 
may  be  generously  supplied  as  soon  as  the  flower 
buds  appear,  continuing  this,  varied  by  plain 
water,  until  leaf  growth  is  completed.  It  is 
really  astonishing  how  long  the  plants  can  be 
kept  growing  in  the  same  pots  and  soil  by 
thus  feeding  regularly  all  through  the  growing 
season. 

A  fine  group  of  plants  that  is  well  managed  in 
the  matter  of  soil,  feeding,  temperature,  etc., 
presents  a  splendid  sight  indeed  when  the  great 
buds  expand  into  enormous  flowers.  Sins,  to  ift. 
across,  varying  in  colour  from  the  deepest  blood 
crimson  and  scarlet  to  pure  white,  each  broad- 
petalled  flower  usually  showing  a  lighter  band 
down  the  centre  tinted  with  green. 


These  flowers  are  of  equal  interest  with  those 
of  the  tuberous  Begonia,  the  Hollyhock  and  many 
another  garden  aristocrat,  in  that  they  have 
been  produced  almost  solely  by  the  patience  and 
skill  of  man  in  hybridising  numerous  wild  species. 
The  history  of  the  Hippeastrum,  indeed,  starts 
with  a  very  humble  beginning,  for  it  was  a 
Lancashire  watchmaker,  of  the  name  of  Johnson, 
who  in  1799  raised  the  first  hybrid,  a  cross 
between  H.  vittatum  and  H.  regina?,  and  this 
he  named  after  himself,  H.  Johnsonii.  M.  de 
Graff,  of  Leiden,  took  the  plants  in  hand  in  1830 
and  began  crossing  on  a  large  scale,  using  such 
varieties  as  H.H.  Johnsonii,  crocatum,  fulgidum 
and  vittatum.  In  1S61  fresh  blood  was  brought 
into  the  strain  by  using  H.  pardinum  and,  a 
few  years  later,  H.  Leopoldi.  From  then  onwards 
development  went  forward  apace,  the  larger 
flower?,  greater  vigour  and  freedom  of  flowering 
that  characterise  the  plants  owing  much  to  the 
two  last  named  Peruvian  species. 

The  plants  are  not  only  very  easy  to  raise  from 
seed,  but  cross  with  equal  facility,  thus  giving 
special  opportunity  to  those  who  wish  to  experi- 
ment. Seeds  should  in  all  cases  be  sown  imme- 
diately after  they  are  ripe,  covering  very  lightly 
with  finely  sifted  earth.  Constant  watering  is 
not  desirable,  and  to  obviate  this  the  pans  con- 
taining the  seeds  should  be  covered  by  a  pane 
of  glass  until  the  young  plants  spear  their  way 
through  the  soil.  The  temperature  should  not 
fall  below  60°,  and  in  about  a  week  the  young 
plants  will  be  through  the  soil.  Keep  the 
atmosphere  humid,  as  this  encourages  quick 
growth,  and  as  soon  as  large  enough  transfer  to 
single  pots,  repeating  this  potting  aS-jpften  is 
necessary  to  ensure  steady  and  continuous 
progress.  ■  ' 

If  you  are  intending  to  cross  varieties  the 
anthers  should  be  removed  from  the  tips  of  the 
stamens — when  in  the  floury  state — and  dusted 
on  to  the  three  pointed  stigma  of  anotjier  flower 
that  is  in  a  suitable  condition.  The  receptivity 
of  the  stigma  and  the  ripening  of  the  pollen  aile 
not  synonymous  in  the  Hippeastrum,  the  pollen 
being  mature  about  three  days  before  the  stigiria 
is  ready  for  fertilisation.  Another  point  that  is 
worth  considering  when  making  crosses  is  the 
breadth  of  the  petal  from  which  the  pollen  is 
procured.  The  back  petal  is  always  the  widest, 
the  two  side  ones  sUghtly  narrower,  while  the  lower 
one  is  the  narrowest.  It  has  been  suggested — 
and  probably  with  good  reason — that  pollen 
taken  from  the  anther  which  springs  from  the 
widest  petal  carries  the  factor  for  increased  width  ; 
the  trial,  at  any  rate,  is  worth  while.  Every 
possible  care  should  be  taken  in  selecting  both 
the  seed  parent  and  the  pollen,  and  it  is  a  wise 
precaution  to  repeat  the  cross  two  or  three  days 
after  the  initial  attempt. 

The  Hippeastrum  's  not  much  infested  by 
insect  pests,  although,  under  careless  culture, 
aphides,  red  spider,  mealy  bug  and  scale  will 
all  attack  them ;  these  visitations  are  largely 
the  reward  of  neglect,  light  fumigation  from  time 
to  time  being  sufficient  to  ensure  freedom.  The 
Eucharis  mite  is  another  question,  however, 
and  this  little  wretch  will  sometimes  attack  the 
bulbs.  Should  this  occur,  and  if  the  damage  has 
not  gone  too  far  when  discovered,  the  damaged 
roots  and  scales  may  be  stripped  from  the  bulbs, 
which  should  then  be  thoroughly  washed  in  a  solu- 
tion of  liver  of  sulphur.  They  should  be  replanted 
in  fresh  soil  and  stood  in  a  place  by  themselves 
so  that  they  may  be  kept  under  close  observation 
for  a  time. 

Although  I  have  spoken  of  my  seedling  plants 
as  on  the  point  of  flowering,  it  should  not  be  over- 
looked that  the  flowering  season  is  quite  an  elastic 
one  and  can  be  controlled  so  as   to  give  a  very 


JUXE  10,   iq22.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


277 


prolonged  season  by  placing  some  plants  in  a 
genial  temperature,  so  encouraging  early  flowering 
and  growth,  while  others  are  kept  cooler  and 
brought  in,  in  a  succession,  to  the  higher 
temperature  so  as  to  provide  a  long  succession 
of  flowers.  H.  W.  Canning-Wright. 


deep  flaming  orange,  Sutton's  Fire  King  and 
Orange  Bedder.  These  are  interplanted  with 
tall  Tulips,  deep  yellow,  orange,  brown  and 
scarlet,   in   a   further  range   of  dark   brown   Wall- 


flower. The  whole  of  this  is  backed  by  some 
compact  bushes  of  deep  yellow  and  orange  Azalea 
moUis,  with  a  further  backing  of  Berberis  Darwinii 
and  small  Japanese  Maples  of  a  rich  red-brown. 


COLOUR  EFFECTS   IN  THE 
FLOWER  GARDEN 

By  Gertrude  Jekyll,    V.M.H. 

IT  has  been  suggested  that  occasional  notes 
throughout  the  summer  under  this  heading 
may  be  of  use  and  encouragement  to  some 
who  may  wish  to  use  colour  pictorially. 
Those  who  have  once  attempted  this,  and 
who  have  met  with  some  measure  of  success, 
will  always  be  trying  for  something  more  in  the 
way  of  beautiful  combinations  and  sequences. 
The  word  "  colour  "  as  applied  to  gardening,  to 
many  means  only  bright  or  even  garish  colour, 
something  that  attracts  or  attacks  the  eye  by  its 
own  intensity.  To  the  garden  artist  it  means 
the  employment  of  intentionally  related  or,  in 
some  cases,  contrasted  colouring,  with  the  result 
that,  while  at  certain  points  or  in  certain  regions 
the  most  intense  colour  may  be  displayed,  it  has 
a  quahty  of  splendid  richness  that  is  the  very 
opposite  to  garish  vulgarity.  These  notes  will 
make  mention,  as  they  occur,  of  some  combinations 
that  have  proved  successful,  in  the  hope  that 
they  ma5'  suggest  to  others  the  study  and  practice 
of  one  of  the  most  dehghtful  and  repaying  of 
horticultural  e.xperiences. 

.\  small  section  of  the  garden  that  is  devoted 
to  spring  flowers  has  them  arranged  thus  :  On 
entering,  there  is  a  grouping  of  white  and  pale 
yellow  with  a  gently  contrasting  ground  of  pale 
blue.  The  flowers  are  the  Poetaz  hybrid  Narcissus 
Elvira  with  palest  yellow  bunch  Primroses,  and 
Tulips  White  Swan  and  Moonlight  (faint  yellow), 
followed  by  Tulipa  retrofle.xa.  The  groundwork 
of  Primroses  runs  into  one  of  the  pale  blue  Myosotis 
dissitiflora  towards  the  front,  and  the  two  grounds 
mingle,  not  mixed  up,  but  joining  like  the  inter- 
weaving of  two  streams  of  ravelled  thread.  A 
patch  of  .\lyssum  is  the  strongest  yellow  here. 
The  Forget-me-not  trickles  into  a  front  drift  of 
pale  .\ubrietia  to  meet  patches  of  double  .\rabis. 
The  .\ubrietia  darkens  in  colour  and  joins  a  further 
front  planting  of  a  rich  purple  Viola  gracilis, 
backed  by  some  little  bushes  of  the  pmple  leaved 
Sage,  one  of  the  most  useful  of  the  background 
plants  of  the  spring  garden. 

.\  word  about  .Aubrietia.  I  am  of  opinion 
that  the  truest  colour  of  this  useful  spring  plant 
is  of  a  medium  hght  tint.  The  fine  dark  Dr.  Mules 
is  a  splendid  thing,  but,  like  many  good  things, 
it  is  best  used  with  some  restraint.  .\  bold  drift 
of  Aubrietias  of,  say,  fifteen  plants  of  what  1 
hold  to  be  the  type  colour,  with  four  or  five  plants 
of  Dr.  Mules  worked  in  towards  the  back,  has 
a  much  more  telling  effect  than  if  the  whole  was 
of  the  deeper  colour.  The  fine  kind  called 
Lavender  is  a  good  example  of  sweet  and  tender 
colouring  with  a  rather  large  flower  ;  but  a  packet 
of  seed  of  true  .\ubrietia  grceca,  a  little  deeper 
than  Lavender,  but  still  within,  will  give  what 
I  hold  to  be  a  good  type  colour  of  the  plant.  I 
am  shy  of  the  reddish  varieties  ;  at  best  they  are 
a  poor  or  heavy  kind  of  red,  but  some  pale  pinks, 
such  as  Barr's  Bridesmaid  and  Moerheimi,  are 
pretty  and  useful. 

The  continuation  of  the  spring  flower  border 
has  Tulips,  purple  and  white,  with  a  backing  of 
pnrple  Wallflower  and  the  dark  Honesty.  The 
purple  Wallflowers  intermingle  with  the  same 
in  rich  brown,  which  again  pass  into  those  of  a 


THE    TREATMENT   OF   CHRYSANTHEMUMS 

Plants  in  pots  and  also  those  in  borders  will  require  constant  attention  if  they  are 

in  due  course  to  yield  a  rich  harvest  of  blossom.       The  final  potting   or  planting 

out  does  not  mean  that  all  the  important  work  is  done. 


I  WELL  remember  the  time  when  such 
\arieties  as  Mme.  C.  .'Vudiguier  and  BeUe 
Paule  were  grown  and  thought .  much  of. 
1  grew  them  myself  for  the  production  of 
exhibition  blooms  about  thirty  years  ago ; 
the  first  named 
attained  to  a  height 
of  15ft.,  and  the 
latter  to  13ft.  Being 
grown  on  the  south 
side  of  a  garden  wall, 
I  used  to  stand  on 
it  when  tying  in  the 
shoots  and  "  taking  " 
the  buds  in  ,\ugust. 
There  were  many 
varieties  grown  at 
that  time  that 
attained  to  a  height 
of  7ft.  to  loft.  ; 
such  tall  growers 
would  not  find  much 
favour  in  these  days 
o  f  comparatively 
dwarf  sorts.  In  the 
days  above  referred 
to  one  long  stake 
was  placed  in  the 
soil  in  the  pot  and 
two  side  stakes  made 
secure  to  two 
strands  of  wire,  and 
the  plants  were  often 
much  broken  in  the 
autumn-  time  by 
strong  winds.  .Ama- 
teur cultivators  at 
the  present  time  may 

make  their  tallest-growing  varities  quite  secure 
by  using  one  wire  made  fast  to  posts  so 
as  to  be  about  3ft.  6ins.  above  the  rims  of 
the  pots.  Three  stakes  may  be  used,  from 
4ft.  to  6ft.  in  length,  and  driven  into  the  soil 
in  each  pot  in  the  case  of  plants  grown  for 
bearing  exhibition  blooms,  so  that  the  specimens 
are  held  upright  and  firmly  when  the  time  comes 
for  placing  the  plants  under  glass.  Before  the 
month  of  June  is  past  all  the  necessary  stakes 
should  be  fixed  in  the  pots  not  only  with  a  view 
to  affording  support  in  good  time,  but  also  to 
avoid  destruction  of  the  roots  when,  later  on, 
the  new  soil  becomes  thoroughly  permeated  with 
them. 

Watering  is  a  very  important  part  of  the  general 
management  of  these  plants.  If  the  new  soil  is 
kept  in  a  constant  state  of  excessive  moisture — 
always  sodden — new  roots  will  not  enter  it,  the 
fohage  will  turn  yellow  and  many  lower  leaves 
will  faU  off.  Neglect  to  apply  water  when  it  is 
needed  will  also  have  a  bad  effect,  causing  loss 
of  leaves,  stunting  of  growth  and  premature 
bud-formation.  If  the  pot  gives  out  a  clear 
ring  when  tapped  with  knuckles  or  stick  the  soil 
is  dry,  and  sufficient  water  must  be  applied  to 
permeate  the  whole  of  the  soil  through  to  the 
drainage.     Just  before  real  dryness  again  occurs. 


water  as  suggested  above.  In  rainy  weather 
it  may  be  that  the  surface  soil  will  be 
moist,  while  the  great  bulk  of  it  is  actually 
dry.  Pay  close  attention  to  the  plants' 
appearance  and.  also    the    "  ring "    of    the    pots, 


AN    EXCELLENT    DECORATIVE    CHRYSANTHEMUM,    ITLLOW    CAP. 


and  water  even  while  it  is  raining  if  the  ball 
prove  dry. 

Do  not  apply  liquid  maniire  before  the  roots 
are  numerous  in  the  new  compost.  \\Tien  the 
pots  are  fairly  fuU  of  roots  begin  with  weak  doses 
of  clear  soot  water,  and  vary  the  feeding  as  much 
as  possible.  The  object  should  be  to  keep  the 
plants  moving  forward,  gaining  strength  week  by 
week,  so  that  they  will  be  really  robust  when 
the  buds  are  being  secured  during  August  and  the 
early  part  of  September. 

Specimen  plants  bearing  from  nine  to  twenty 
moderately-sized  blooms  are  really  very  attractive 
in  a  greenhouse  or  conservatory.  Ha\ing  made 
a  selection  of  the  main  shoots,  the  necessary  stakes 
should  be  placed  at  once.  The  stakes  should 
point  outwards  at  an  angle  of  about  60' — the 
form  that  the  plant  will  eventually  assume.  It 
is  a  rather  difficult  matter  to  stake  or  support 
such  large  specimens  against  strong  winds,  and 
I  find  it  a  good  plan  to  sink  the  pots  in  the  ground 
to  about  half  their  depth,  putting  a  handful  of 
cinders  or  broken  clinkers  under  each  pot  to 
afford  sound  drainage.  It  %vill  be  advisable  to 
stop  the  plants  a  second  time  to  secure  the  number 
of  stems  and  blooms,  but  the  last  stopping 
should  not  be  at  a  later  date  than  the  last 
week   in   June. 


278 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  io,  1922. 


Border  plants  are  becoming  more  popular  every 
year,  and  they  now  form  an  important  feature 
in  most  gardens.  Many  of  the  varieties  used  for 
this  purpose  are  dwarf  growing  and  so  do  not 
require   much   stalling      Those   which   do   should 


be  so  stalved  that  their  habit  of  growth  is  not 
altered  and  the  stakes  not  noticeable  at  the  time 
when  the  plants  are  in  full  flower.  Soot  water 
and  liquid  manure  should  be  applied  in  due  course 
to  help  the  plants  to  bear  fine  flowers.  G.  G. 


A    COOL-GREENHOUSE    BULB 


The  genus  Babiana  gets  its  name  from  a  Dutch 
word  meaning  baboon,  because  these  animals 
are  very  fond  of  the  bulbous  roots.  It  would 
not  have  mattered  very  much  from  the  garden 
point  of  view  if  they  had  made  a  meal  of  all  the 
strictas  provided  rubro-cyanea  was  left.  It  is 
out  and  out  the  most  taking  of  them.  Nothing 
can  well  be  more  striking,  and  I  may  add  more 


picture — not  a  particularly  good  one — was  pub- 
hshed  in  the  Botanical  Magazine.  It  is  still 
scarce  and  seldom  seen.  This  need  not  be,  for 
there  is  no  difficulty  in  connexion  with  its  culti- 
vation. 

With  us  it  lives  with  the  Freesias,  the  only 
difference  in  the  yearly  cycle  between  them  being 
that  the  Babiana  is  not  potted  until  September, 


A   PAN   OF   THE   BEAUTIFUL   BABIANA   STRICTA   RUBRO-CYANEA. 


beautiful,  than  a  well  grown  pan  such  as  that 
illustrated.  Each  bloom  consists  of  a  central 
circle  of  a  pretty  shade  of  bright  crimson  with  a 
surround  of  a  lovely  soft  shade  of  blue.  Like 
Ixias,  they  only  expand  in  sunlight,  but  no  one 
should  be  put  off  growing  them  on  account  of 
this.  It  only  makes  us  value  those  precious 
hours   all    the    more.     As    long   ago   as    1798    its 


whereas  the  Freesias  are  started  in  August. 
Probably  this  need  not  be,  and  it  would  be  quite 
right  to  start  both  at  the  earlier  date.  The  little 
stock  of  rubro-cyanea  grows  larger  each  year, 
and  I  have  a  small  pot  of  home-raised  seedlings 
coming  on  which  is  undesigned  evidence  in 
favour  of  the  treatment  they  receive  being 
correct.  Joseph  J.\cob. 


THE  CARE  OF  BULBS  AFTER  FLOWERING 


M 


'  ANY  good  bulbs  every  year  are  spoiled 
after  flowering  through  carelessness  or 
want  of  knowledge.  If  bulbs  are  to  be 
left  in  borders  for  another  year  the 
foliage  should  on  no  account  be 
removed  until  it  has  withered.  Where  summer 
liedding  has  to  follow  on,  the  bulbs  must,  of  course, 
be  lifted,  which,  however  carefully  undertaken,  is 
detrimental  to  them ;  yet  if  the  work  be 
carefully  performed,  and  especial  care  be  taken 
to  break  the  roots  as  little  as  possible,  no  great 
harm  should  ensue  to  such  things  as  Crocuses, 
Scillas,  Tulips  or  Narcissi  if  they  be  replanted 
quickly  in  the  reserve  ground,  well  watered  in 
and    afforded   protection    from    hot   sunshine.     A 


wall  or  fence  is,  of  course,  a  read\-made  and  very 
efficient  protector. 

The  necessity  for  a  proper  ripening-off  of  the 
fohage  is  the  fatal  drawback  to  the  planting  of 
bulbs  in  mown  sward.  All  goes  well  until  flowering 
is  over,  and  then  either  the  bulbs  must  be  sacri- 
ficed or  the  appearance  and,  perhaps  more 
important,  the  permanent  well-being  of  the  green. 
Crocuses,  for  example,  ripen  off  considerably 
earlier  than  Daffodils,  but,  even  in  their  case,  it  is 
easy  to  see,  the  season  through,  by  the  patches 
of  coarse  verdure  where  the  bulbs  displayed 
their  springtime  beauty. 

Bulbs,  then,  should  be  naturalised  either  in 
rough  herbage,  which  may  be  cut,  say,  twice  in 


the  season  with  the  scythe  or  even,  where  con- 
siderable areas  are  involved,  with  the  mowing 
machine,  or,  perhaps  better  still,  along  the  skirts 
of  woodland,  where  there  will  be  little  growth  of 
grass  to  cause  trouble. 

Once  placed  in  the  reserve  garden,  the  bulbs 
must  not  be  forgotten.  Immediately  the  foliage 
is  quite  dead  they  should  be  lifted  for  storage, 
cleaned,  sorted  and  dried  in  a  moderately  cool 
place  and  put  away,  carefully  labelled,  until 
planting-time  comes  round.  Narcissi,  in  particular, 
have  the  shortest  of  resting  periods  and  if  left 
even  a  week  or  two  when  thoroughly  ripe  will 
almost  certainly  be  found  to  have  made  new  roots. 
Most  growers  consider  it  a  mistake  to  plant  Tulips 
too  early,  but  this  in  no  way  applies  to  Narcissi, 
and  if  it  is  proposed  to  naturahse  them  and  the 
ground  is  ready,  there  is  no  reason  why  they 
should  be  dried  at  all.  They  may  quite  well  be 
consigned  again  to  Mother  Earth  straightway. 

If  in  "  permanent "  positions — that  is,  sites 
where  they  may  each  year  ripen  off  without  being 
an  eyesore — Narcissi  may  remain  undisturbed 
for  a  number  of  years,  until,  in  fact,  they  show 
obvious  signs  of  becoming  overcrowded.  The 
same  applies  to  the  Snakesheads  and  other 
Fritillarias  naturaUsed  in  woodland  or  shrubbery, 
the  various  Scillas  (including  Bluebells),  Snow- 
drops and  the  Glory  of  the  Snow.  The  Crocus, 
however,  needs  replanting  every  two  or  three 
years,  owing  to  its  habit  of  lifting  itself  out  of  the 
ground.  The  Crocus,  like  the  Tulip  or  Gladiolus, 
and  unhke  the  Narcissus,  forms  a  new  bulb  each 
season,  the  old  one  withering  away.  The  new 
bulb  is  built,  as  it  were,  on  top  of  the  old  one  ; 
hence  the  tendency  of  the  Crocus  to  come  above 
ground. 

Soft-skinned  bulbs,  such  as  Lilies,  Fritillarias 
and  Erythroniums,  should  not  be  kept  out  of  the 
ground  longer  than  is  absolutely  necessary.  The 
longer  they  can  be  left  undisturbed,  so  that  they 
do  not  become  overcrowded,  the  better.  It  is 
very  difficult  so  to  time  the  hfting  of  the  Crown 
Imperial,  Fritillaria  imperialis  or  the  Madonna 
Lily,  Lilium  candidum,  so  that  the  bulbs  are  free 
from  roots.  Both  should  be  hfted,  if  lifted  they 
must  be,  just  before  the  old  foliage  seems  entirely 
dead,  and  the  sooner  the  bulbs  are  replanted 
the  more  quickly  wiU  they  overget  the  disturbance. 

The  florists'  Hyacinths,  forms  of  Hyacinthus 
orientalis,  are  generally  supposed  not  to  succeed 
permanently  in  Britain,  but  if  lifted  carefully 
from  the  beds  and  replanted  in  Ught  but  moderately 
rich  soil,  many  bulbs  will  flower  and  increase  year 
by  year  until  they  have  formed  considerable 
clumps.  The  flower  spikes  they  will  produce  will 
not,  it  is  true,  be  first  size,  but  they  will  be  very 
effective  none  the  less,  both  as  growing  and  for 
cut  flower. 

The  storage  of  bulbs,  like  that  of  .'Apples,  seems 
to  present  great  difficulty  to  some  people.  It  is 
a  mistake  to  overdo  drying  in  the  sun  ;  indeed,  it 
is  better  to  manage  even  the  first  rough-dr\'ing 
in  an  au:y  shed  if  possible.  Direct  sunshine  is  no 
good  to  Tulips  and  Daffodils ;  it  is  extremely 
detrimental  to  softer  bulbs. 

Once  the  bulbs  are  dry  and  stripped,  an  equable 
but  rather  cool  temperature  in  an  atmosphere 
just  too  dry  to  encourage  growth  is  best.  Too 
dry  an  air  will  cause  the  bulbs  to  shrivel.  It  is, 
in  any  case,  not  difficult  to  keep  the  bulbs  dry 
enough  in  summer-time,  and  the  wise  gardener  puts 
his  bulbs  (with  the  possible  exception  of  Tulips) 
"  to  bed  "  early. 

It  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  point  out 
that  hot  summer  days  afford  a  fine  opportunity 
to  fallow  and  clean  ground  intended  for  bulbs 
this  autumn.  Such  weeds  as  Couch  Crass 
and  Ground  Elder,  in  particular,  should  have 
war  waged  upon  them. 


June  io,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


279 


THE    INVALUABLE    PyEONY 


EVERY  gardener  e\-er  I  met  liked  Pseonies, 
but  tastes  differ,  and  this  is  the  season 
for  the  pencil  and  notebook  to  note  down 
coveted  sorts  in  one's  neighbour's  garden. 
Some  there  be  whose  fancy  runs  to  the 
old  double-flowered  forms  of  Preonia  officinalis — 
rubra  plena,  rosea  plena  and  alba  plena,  a  grand, 
if  changeable,  trio  !  for  all  three  change  the  colour 
of  their  expanded  flowers. 

To  others  none  but  the  single  forms  make  appeal, 
and  certainly  these  are  among  the  most  chaste  and 
beautiful  of  flowers.  There  are  at  least  three 
single  forms  comparable  to  the  old  double  favourites 
above    described.     These    are    P.    officinalis    vars. 


blanda,  lobata  and  rosea.  Then  there  are  beautiful 
species  such  as  the  red-flowered  tenuifolia  or 
PtEonia  lutea,  as  well  as  a  wide  range  of  colour  in 
single-flowered  forms  of  the  Chinese  Paiony, 
Pa3onia  sinensis.  It  may  suffice  to  mention 
Nymphe,  a  lovely  creamy  white  sort ;  Victoria, 
brilliant  crimson,  golden  anthers  ;  and  albiflora 
grandiflora,  with  lovely  white  and  gold  saucers. 

Of  the  double  Chinese  forms  it  is  difficult  to 
make  a  selection,  but  those  who  like  a  large,  bold 
flower  will  be  attracted  by  such  as  Festiva  maxima, 
with  large  pure  white  blossoms,  each  relieved 
by  a  few  rose  petals,  the  fragrant  pure  white 
Duchesse  de  Nemours  ;     La  Fraicheur,  with  a  mat 


A    TYPICAL    SINGLE    P^ONY — P^ONIA     ALBIFLORA    THE    BRIDE. 


of  sulphur  petals  surrounded  by  a  ring  of  blush-pink 
guard  petals ;  the  somewhat  similarly  coloured 
Thorbeckii ;  the  rich  amaranth  Gloire  de  Douai, 
or  the  purple  and  very  sweet  scented  Frangois 
Ortegat. 

The  PjBonies  take  a  little  time  thoroughly  to 
re-establish  themselves  after  removal,  so  should 
be  planted  where  they  are  intended  to  remain  and 
spaced  a  fair  distance  apart.  They  have  brittle, 
fleshy  roots,  so  that,  though  they  will  survive 
if  moved  at  any  time  when  dormant,  they  are 
best  transplanted  fairly  early  in  autumn  before 
the  foliage  is  quite  decayed.  The  roots  are  then 
sufficiently  active  to  heal  up  and  prevent  root-rot 
setting  in.  P<Eonies,  U'-.e  the  Searded  Irises,  have 
a  foliage  so  beautiful  in  itself  as  to  render  the  flower 
but  a  part  of  their  attraction.  The  springing, 
bronzy  stems  and  foliage  are  an  admirable  foil  for 
Daffodils  and  other  bulbs.  The  leaves  expand, 
disclosing  the  characteristic  and  interesting-looking 
buds  which  in  turn  give  place  to  the  weighty  balls 
of  the  double  sorts  or  the  jewelled  chaUces  of  the 
single  ones.  The  flowers  sometimes  pass,  if  left, 
to  interesting  seed-vessels,  but  the  cultivator 
usually  removes  these  to  maintain  the  strength  of 
the  plant.  The  foliage  is  beautiful  all  summer  and 
may  be  used  discreetly  to  veil  the  uninteresting 
lower  parts  of  certain  otherwise  valuable  plants, 
such  as  the  Anchusas,  Hollyhocks,  Dahlias  and 
even  Delphiniums.  With  early  autumn  the  leaves 
take  on  delightful  tints  of  russet  and  crimson,  so 
that  the  PiEony  may  justly  claim  to  be  interesting 
and  beautiful  from  the  time  when  first  its  leaf 
stalks  commence  uncurling  to  the  day  when,  its 
year's  cycle  completed,  it  slumbers  to  await 
another  spring. 

The  herbaceous  Preonies,  for  the  Tree  Peeonies 
need  special  care  and  different  treatment,  are  hardy 
enough  and  may  safely  be  planted  in  any  part 
of  the  country,  but  if  protection  from  the  east  can 
be  provided  so  much  the  better,  for  a  rimey  spring 
frost  caught  by  the  early  morning  sun's  rays  will 
sometimes  scorch  and  disfigure  the  unfolding 
foliage.  H.  H. 


ONE    OF    THE     FINK     OLD    DOUBLE    P/EONIES — P.     OFFICINALIS    ROSEA    PLENA. 


WHY    NOT    INSTAL 
GLASS  ? 

The  amateur's  present  opportunity 

FEW  gardeners  nowadays  need  instructing 
as  to  the  value  of  glass,  whether  it  be 
in  the  shape  of  greenhouses  or  in  the 
humbler  forms  of  pits  and  frames,  in 
the  well  cultivated  and  efficiently  kept 
garden.  There  is  a  universal  consensus  of  opinion 
upon  its  general  value,  indeed  one  might  almost 
say  upon  its  indispensability.  But  it  is  doubtful 
whether  the  many  and  varied  uses  to  which  the 
possession  of  glass  facilities  may  be  put  is  under- 
stood by  most  gardeners  or  whether  all  of  us  reaUse 
thit  glass  is  a  practical  proposition  within  the 
reach  of  practically  the  humblest  purse  and  the 
smallest  garden. 

In  the  not  far  distant  past,  few  amateur 
gardeners  could  afford  either  to  build  houses  or 
repair  them,  or  even  to  instal  panes,  owing  to  the 
high  cost  of  all  the  requisites.  Fuel,  timber, 
heating-apparatus,  and  glass  itself  rose  in  price 
like  all  other  commodities,  and  there  was  not 
(at  any  rate  immediately  after  the  war),  an  un- 
limited supply  to  meet  the  demand.  Recently 
all  this  has  changed.  The  costs  have  fallen  by 
percentages  which  are  staggering.  Thus  British 
glass — the  best  for  horticultural  purposes — is 
40  per  cent,  cheaper;  fuel,  both  slack  and  coke, 
only  about  half  its  former  price,  and  wood  is 
easily  45  per  cent,  lower.     Even  heating  apparatus 


280 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June   io,   1922. 


is  about  a  third  of  what  it  was  formerly  so  that  it 
is  impossible  to  name  any  horticultural  building 
requisite  (including  labour),  which  is  not  at  a 
temptingly  low  rate  just  now.  Moreover,  it  is 
unlikely  that  these  requisites  will  become  lower ; 
according  to  expert  opinion  they  have  reached 
their  minimum,  and  it  is  quite  possible  that  prices 
may  recover  somewhat  in  the  near  future.  There- 
fore, the  amateur  gardener  will  act  wisely  in  taking 
immediate  advantage  of  the  present  situation  so 
favourable  to  himself,  especially  as  it  may  not 
last.  The  great  glasshouse  growers,  the  big  pro- 
fessional nurserynren  and  the  like  have  hardly 
yet  recommenced  making  good  the  wartime 
dilapidations  or  entering  upon  fresh  building 
plans  ;  when  they  do,  the  increased  demand  may 
possibly  be  reflected  in  an  enhanced  price  of  all 
materials.  Therefore,  the  private  individual  should 
buy  and  build  now — while  prices  remain  favourable 
and  while  full  quantities  are  available,  thus 
obviating  delay. 

In  a  May  like  the  one  we  have  just  experienced, 
with  frosts  occurring  in  the  mornings  and  a  20^ 
fall  in  temperature  in  a  day  or  two,  the  value  of 
the  protection  afforded  by  glass  is  obvious.  Even 
the  humblest  frame  or  pit  with  glass  sashes  (or 
"  lights  "  as  they  are  generally  called),  must  have 
been  of  untold  usefulness  to  its  possessor  during 
this  abnormal  spring  in  preserving  seeds,  bulbs, 
and  young  plants  from  Jack  Frost.  Then  again, 
they  have  their  summer  as  well  as  winter  uses,  for 
they  afford  a  convenient  means  of  sheltering  delicate 
plants  from  scorching  suns  or  heavy  rains  or  hail, 
.^part  from  their  purely  protective  purpose  the 
exceedingly  great  utility  of  pits  is  worth  special 
notice  even  by  those  gardeners  who  can  afford 
more  elaborate  forms  of  glass  structure.  For 
example,  pits  should  be  employed  for  bringing  a 
good  stock  of  plants  forward  so  that  when  the  large 
houses  are  built  they  may  present  a  gay  appearance 
immediately  and  not  remain  for  some  time 
imperfectly  furnished.  The  presence  of  pits,  too, 
enables  this  procedure  to  be  subsequently  main- 
tained from  the  supply  which  pits  in  good  working 
order  can  aiTord. 

With  heat  at  command,  too,  pits  are  useful  for 
propagation  purposes  and  for  forcing  vegetables, 
flowers  and  fruit,  as  well  as  for  nursing  plants 
intended  for  the  larger  structures,  in  the  way 
explained  above.  They  are  so  easy  to  construct 
that  an  intelligent  schoolboy  can  make  them, 
being  essentially  no  more  than  a  wall-enclosed 
space  with  the  glass  "  lights  "  on  top.  The  cost 
need  be  only  a  few  shillings,  for  it  is  by  no  means 
essential  that  the  walls  should  be  of  brick  or  stone, 
and  boxes  of  earth  or  army  sand  bags  or  turf  sods 
can  be  utilised.  Their  size  is  a  matter  for  the 
idiosyncrasy  of  the  individual,  but  useful  propor- 
tions are  a  2ft.  back  wall  sloping  to  half  that 
size  in  front,  with  about  4Mt.  from  front  to  back. 

The  ordinary  wooden  frame  with  a  glass 
top  is  so  famiUar  as  to  call  for  no  detailed  descrip- 
tion, and  excellent  specimens  admirably  adapted  for 
various  purposes  may  be  got  from  the  numerous 
firms  engaged  in  horticultural  building  work.  One 
advantage  of  the  frame  to  the  small  gardener  is 
that  it  need  not  be  a  fixture  and  can  be  moved  if 
necessary.  The  wall-frame — a  more  elaborate 
type  than  what  may  be  termed  the  box-frame — 
is  useful  for  protecting  wall  fruits,  such  as  Peaches 
and  Nectarines  against  late  spring  frosts  and  assist- 
ing in  ripening  them.  It  consists  of  covering 
walls  with  glass  so  that  they  form,  in  fact,  a  narrow 
house,  and  it  partakes  more  or  less  of  the  character 
of  a  lean-to  greenhouse.  A  lean-to  greenhouse  need 
be  little  more  costly,  however,  than  the  wall  frame, 
and  it  is  generally  worth  while  for  the  gardener 
to  go  to  a  little  more  expense,  because  the  area 
enclosed  is  greater  and  he  can  have  a  command  of 
heat.     The  lean-to  form  of  house  is  very  generally 


adopted  in  cases  where  a  small  house  is  required 
and,  of  course,  it  enables  one  to  take  advantage  of  a 
wall  already  built.  Plants  grow  there  very  well, 
but  not  quite  so  symmetrically  as  in  span-roofed 
or  other  structures  that  admit  Mght  on  all  sides  of 
the  plants. 

During  recent  years  the  importance  of  light  for 
vegetation  has  become  better  known  than  formerly, 
and  great  improvements  in  the  construction  of 
greenhouses  and  conservatories  have  followed. 
The  old-fashioned  dark  roof,  not  made  of  glass, 
is  an  abomination  of  the  past.  Nowadays  the 
indispensability  of  glass  in  the  roof,  back  and 
ends,  as  well  as  the  front  is  generally  recognised, 
for  to  admit  Ught  should  be  the  aim  as  much  as 
possible,  and  if  this  be  kept  in  view  and  with  the 
means  of  admitting  air,  any  form  of  glass-house 
may  be  adopted  according  to  circumstances.  And, 
as  already  pointed  out,  the  present  is,  so  far  as 
the  amateur  gardener  is  concerned,  an  exceptionally 
favourable  time  for  the  installation  of  glass  in 
any  form. 


^ 


THE    GROWEAS 

These  readily  propagated  and  easily  grozvn 

hard-wooded    plants    are    not     sufficiently 

appreciated. 

THE  Croweas  form  a  small  genus  of  pretty 
flowering  shrubs,  natives  of  Australia, 
At  one  time  it  was  considered  that  there 
were  several  distinct  species,  but  they 
have  now  been  reduced  to  two,  namely, 
the  graceful-habited  Crowea  angustifolia,  and  the 
larger  and  more  sturdy-growing  C.  saligna,  often 
met  with  under  the  specific  name  of  latifolia.  This 
last,  which  will  often  flower  during  the  winter 
months,  forms  a  freely  branched  specimen  clothed 
with  evergreen,  willow-like  leaves.  The  flowers, 
which  are  of  a  clear  deep  pink  colour,  are  very 
freely  borne.  The  leaves  of  C.  angustifolia  arc 
exceedingly  narrow,  while  the  starry  flowers, 
which  are  produced  from  the  axils  of  the  leaves, 
are  of  a  delightful  shade  of  pink.  The  blossoms 
of  C,  saligna  are  much  less  star-like  in  shape  than 
those  of  C.  angustifolia.  This  last  was  given  an 
award  of  merit  by  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society 
on  March  2S,  1905. 

The  charm  of  novelty  cannot  be  claimed  for 
either,  as  C.  saligna  was  introduced  from  New 
South  Wales  in  i79-"i  ;  and  while  I  cannot  find  the 
date  of  the  introduction  of  the  other,  it  was 
certainly  grown  by  our  forefathers. 

The  Croweas.  which  belong  to  the  Order 
Rutace^,  need  the  same  treatment  as  the  general 
run  of  hard-wooded  plants ;  that  is  to  say,  they 
must  be  potted  firmly  in  a  compost  mainly  con- 
sisting of  peat,  with  the  addition  of  a  little  loam 
and  silver  sand.  Like  Heaths  and  similar  plants 
the  pots  prepared  for  their  reception  niust  be 
clean  and  effectually  drained,  while  it  is  very 
essential  that  the  old  ball  of  earth  be  not  buried 
deeper  than  it  was  before.  A  light,  buoyant 
atmosphere  just  meets  their  requirements,  and  a 
minimum  night  winter  temperature  of  45°,  rising 
during  the  day,  will  suit  them  well.  The  tempera- 
ture named  applies  only  to  cold  weather,  as  at 
all  times  an  excess  of  fire-heat  should  be  avoided. 
Watering,  too,  must  be  carefully  done.  Cuttings 
of  the  half-ripened  shoots  will  strike  in  a  compost 
made  up  of  peat  and  sand  pressed  very  firmly 
and  covered  with  a  bell-glass.  By  some  culti- 
vators they  are  grafted  on  to  one  of  the  Erio- 
stemons.  as  in  this  way  they  are  considered  to 
make  stronger  growth.  The  young  plants  need 
to  have  the  tops  pinched  out  once  or  twice  during 
their  earlier  stages  in  order  to  induce  a  bushy 
habit.  H,   P. 


THE    VALUE     OF 
MULCHING 

The   best   mulches   and  the  proper  metho 
of  applying    them. 

VERY  few  amateurs  realise  the  great  value 
of  mulches  to  both  flowers  and  vegetables. 
They  say  that  mulches  look  so  untidy 
and  are  greatly  out  of  place  in  a  small 
garden  and  they  do  not  realise  that  the 
great  fact  which  accrues  from  using  mulches  is 
that  they  lessen  the  need  for  watering.  Now  every 
amateur  who  is  not  lucky  enough  to  possess  a 
hose  pipe  well  knows  that  the  watering  of  even  a 
smaU  garden  thoroughly  is  by  no  means  a  light 
task,  and  considering  that  mulches  really  lessen 
that  often  Herculean  task  it  requires  a  good  excuse 
not  to  use  them. 

The  best  of  all  mulches  is,  of  course,  well  rotted 
stable  dung,  but  there  are  other  materials,  such  as  4 
lawn  mowings,  rotted  vegetable  manure,  cowdung, 
road  scrapings,  which  are  favourites  with  some 
people.  My  opinion  is  that  road  scrapings  from 
tarred  roads  should  on  no  account  be  used  for  mulch- 
ing unless  they  are  collected  in  wet  weather. 
This  is  not  because  of  the  supposed  harmfulness 
of  the  tar  (which  is  much  exaggerated),  but  because 
the  dry  scrapings  cake  so  readily  on  the  surface 
soil  and  the  water  runs  off  the  top  and  does  not 
soak  in. 

Nearly  everything  is  benefited  by  a  good  mulch, 
but  such  plants  as  Anchusas,  Pyrethrums  and 
Delphiniimis  are  among  the  plants  which  are 
specially  grateful,  and,  of  course,  Roses,  Sweet 
Peas,  cUmbing  plants  and  many  others  might  be 
named.  In  the  vegetable  garden  we  have  Peas. 
French,  Dwarf  and  Runner  Beans  which  are  most 
grateful  for  mulches  of  lawn  clippings,  and  many 
other  crops  are  greatly  benefited  by  the  application 
of  mulches  in  very  dry  weather. 

THE    APPLICATION    OF    MULCHES. 

It  is  not  the  least  good  to  my  mind  to  apply 
dry  mulch  to  dry  soil,  nor  yet  wet  mulch  to  dry 
soil,  for  then  if  the  rain  should  come  it  has  to  pass 
through  the  mulch  before  it  can  reach  the  soil  and 
soak  in  and  benefit  the  roots  as  it  is  wanted  to. 
If  mulches  are  to  be  appUed  at  all  they  should  be 
applied  well  wet  themselves  to  wet  soils  and  to  soils 
that  have  been  well  cultivated  vvith  the  hoe  prior 
to  the  rain.  A  good  time  to  apply  is  immediately 
after  one  of  those  heavy  thunderstorms  we  so  often 
get  in  July.  It  is  then  that  the  greatest  advantage 
accrues  from  the  use  of  mulches  as  the  rapid 
evaporation  is  greatly  checked  by  the  manure,  for 
manure  holds  moisture  for  far  longer  than  soil. 

If,  however,  the  Clerk  of  the  Weather  is  not  good 
enough  to  send  a  thunderstorm  as  soon  as  you -have 
read  this  article  do  not  wait  for  him  to  do  so,  as 
he  may  be  very  busy  carrying  out  some  important 
Scotch  contracts  for  lightning  and  rain.  Get  out 
your  cans  and  buckets  and  make  a  gallant  effort  to 
soak  your  plants  with  water  and  then  apply  the 
wet  mulch  on  the  top  of  the  wet  soil.  Then  if  the 
Clerk  of  the  Weather  returns  suddenly  from  Scot- 
land and  brings  a  thunderstorm  with  him  a  few 
nights  later  the  rain  will  at  any  rate  soak  in  and 
benefit  the  roots,  whereas  if  both  the  soil  and  mulch 
were  baked  and  dry  the  rain  would — most  of  it — 
have  run  off.  Some  reader  who  has  leisure  and 
a  keenness  for  experiment  should  take  a  definite 
number  of  plants,  such  as  Chrysanthemums  ;  he 
should  apply  a  mulch  to  half  the  number  and  no 
mulch  to  the  other  half.  If  he  compares  these 
plants  in  a  hot  season  he  will  not  be  slow  to  see 
the  advantages  of  mulching,  but,  of  course, 
in  a  wet  summer  no  real  comparison  could 
be  made.  E.  T.  Ellis. 


June  io,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


HAILSTORM     RELIEF    FL-ND. 

TV/TY  attention  has  been  called  to  the  serious 
damage  caused  by  the  hailstorm  which 
occurred  in  this  borough  of  Tunbridge  Wells  on 
May  25  (the  most  terrific  storm  which  has  happened 
in  the  district  for  the  past  thirty  years),  and  I 
have  been  asked  by  several  residents  to  open  a 
fund  to  assist  in  replacing  the  thousands  of  panes 
of  glass  of  greenhouses  broken  by  the  hailstones, 
and  in  any  case  of  serious  hardship  occasioned  by 
loss  caused  by  the  storm. 

I  have  obtained  information  that  many  thousands 
of  panes  of  glass  of  greenhouses  of  our  local 
nurserymen  have  been  destroyed,  and  the  loss 
to  some  of  our  fellow  tradesmen,  but  for  the  help 
to  be  given  by  means  of  this  fund,  is  an  irreparable 
one. 

This  appeal  for  funds  is  urgent  and  is  well 
worthy  of  sympathetic  consideration  and  very 
generous   support.     If   any   subscriber   desires    his 


of  the  shrub  as  I  have  seen  it  With  the  exception 
of  O.  macrodonta,  generally  described  as  not  even 
hardy  in  the  South  of  England,  I  must  confess  I 
do  not  know  and  have  never  before  heard  of  the 
other  species  mentioned  by  Sir  Herbert  Maxwell. 
Upon  reference  to  a  fairly  complete  list  of  shrubs 
compiled  from  various  sources  nearly  twenty  years 
ago,  I  find  O.  Forsteri,  O.Gunniana  (Syn.  stellulata) 
and  O.  Traversii  mentioned  as  being  hardy  in  the 
South  of  Ireland,  but  no  reference  is  made  to 
either  0.0.  nummularifoUa,  nitida,  ihcifolia  or  semi- 
dentata — but  O.  dentata  is  given  as  a  synonym 
of  O.  macrodonta.  These  species  are  probably 
beyond  the  reach  of  the  average  amateur,  even 
supposing  his  locaUty  may  be  suited  to  their 
requirements.  I  wrote  only  of  shrubs  that  I  knew 
were  on  the  market  and  easily  obtainable. — 
Edward  Shoosmith. 

[The    Olearias    are    as    a    family    much    hardier 
than  is  often  supposed.     They  might,  and  probably 


A    FOREST    POOL    IN    UGANDA. 


subscription  allotted  to  any  particular  case  and 
will  so  state  when  sending  subscription,  I  will  see 
that  the  desire  is  carried  out.  Subscriptions  can  be 
paid  to  any  local  banks,  or  to  me  at  the  Town 
Hall. — S.  P.\RSO.VAGE  (Mayor),  Mayor's  Parlour, 
Tunbridge  Wdls, 

THE     OLE.\RIAS. 

TX  describing  these  on  page  219  as  "  never  very 
beautiful,"  I  was  thinking  of  Olearia  Haastii, 
the  only  one  that  is  in  general  and,  I  think,  some- 
what common  use.  I  ought,  however,  to  have 
given  its  specific  name.  I  can  only  say  that  by 
reason  of  its  stiff  habit  of  growth  and  its  leaf  colour 
of  a  nondescript  green,  that  is  neither  blue  nor  grey, 
I  do  not,  personally,  care  for  those  specimens 
that  I  have  seen  and  grown.  As  with  many  other 
shrubs,  there  may,  however,  be  a  difference  in 
stock  or  type.  Olearia  Haastii  always  looks  to 
me  as  if  it  has  been  covered  with  roadside  dust, 
and  the  flowers  have  always  appeared  to  me  a 
discoloured  dirty  white.  Therefore,  I  do  not  think 
my  verdict  was  at  all  "  singular."     I  merely  wrote 


would,  suffer  in  an  exceptional  winter,  but  such  as 
0.0.  stellulata,  macrodonta  and  nummularifoUa 
have  come  through  recent  winters  unharmed  in 
the  Midlands  of  England.  All  three  appear  to  be 
as  hardy  as,  if  not  hardier  than,  the  Gum  Cistus 
(Cistus  ladaniferus)  ;  certainly  much  hardier  than 
Cistus  salvifolius,   for  instance. — Ed.] 

TULIP    SELECTIONS. 

TT  is  impossible  to  please  everybody,  which 
hackneyed  saying  is  never  more  true  than  when 
it  has  reference  to  a  selection  of  Tulips.  So  it 
has  not  surprised  me  in  the  least  to  get  three 
letters  calling  my  attention  to  some  I  have  left 
out.  (The  Garden,  May  13,  page  226.)  One 
said,  "  Why  did  you  put  down  Picotee  and  not 
Elegans  alba  ?  "  and  forthwith  proceeded  to 
explain  how  much  more  beautiful  and  refined 
the  last  named  is.  I  grant  all  that  was  said  in  its 
praise  as  a  flower.  The  thin  wire  edge  of  bright 
rose  which  never  flushes  is  exquisite,  but  for  the 
rough-and-tumble  of  an  ordinary  garden  I  still 
go   for   Picotee.     French   Crown,   or,   as  it   is   also 


281 

called,  Columbus  or  Gala  Beauty,  is  another 
omission.  A  lady  bought  three  bulbs  in  the  distant 
past  and  now  has  a  garden  full  of  them,  and  to 
show  how  it  flourished  sent  a  sample  of  the  blooms. 
It  is  truly  a  fine  Tulip.  Its  flames  of  crimson  and 
deep  yellow  always  attract  attention.  It  appeals 
to  me  because  of  its  age  ;  if  it  is  not  a  hundred 
years  old  it  might  be.  P.  J.  Buchoz,  in  1781, 
published  a  collection  of  coloured  Tulip  plates  of 
elephant-folio  size,  portraying  some  of  the  varieties 
then  grown  about  Paris.  French  Crown  might 
have  been  one  of  them.  I  once  had  it,  but  it 
never  with  me  had  the  robustness  and  power  of 
increase  that  I  like  to  see  in  good  garden  varieties  ; 
but,  then,  I  do  not  Uve  in  that  Tulip  Paradise, 
the  Emerald  Isle. 

I  thought  I  might  be  putting  my  foot  into  it 
when  I  omitted  Mrs.  Moon,  and  sure  enough  I 
have.  It  is  a  fine  Tulip,  and  if  at  a  certain  stage 
of  its  growth  I  could  give  it  gin  or  anything  else 
that  might  arrest  any  further  development  of  its 
flowers  I  would  have  certainly  included  it.  It  is 
not  content  with  just  "  quartering,"  but  it  goes 
on  and  on  until  the  blooms  literally  spread-eagle 
"  all  over  the  place."  Its  rich  colour  and  graceful 
tall  habit  do  not  quite  make  up  for  this  short- 
coming.— Joseph  Jacob. 

A    SUGGESTION    FOR    EXHIBITORS! 

'■PHE  accompanying  illustration  of  a  forest  pool 
in  Uganda  bears  a  striking  resemblance  to 
the  Water  Lily  House  at  Kew  in  summer.  The 
three  chief  plants  are  Cyperus  Papyrus,  a  Panicum 
grass  and  Nympha:a  stellata  in  three  colours, 
red,  white  and  blue.  The  effect  in  early  morning, 
before  the  sun  has  become  too  strong,  is  perfectly 
charming.  All  three  plants  are  quite  easy  to 
grow  in  a  house  in  this  country,  and  if  they  be 
allowed  to  rest  in  winter,  very  httle  fire  heat  need 
be  used.  Such  a  scene  lends  itself  to  exhibition, 
and  could  have  been  shown  at  the  Chelsea  Show 
at  much  less  laboiir  and  expense  than  some  of  the 
rock  gardens  there,  and  how  it  would  have 
been  appreciated  by  visitors  ! — E.  Brown. 

UTILISING    LATE    APPLES. 

AS  all  good  cooks  and  connoisseurs  of  flavour 
in  Apples  are  aware  it  is  practically  im- 
possible to  obtain  any  Apples  in  May  that  are  not 
tasteless  and  sweet,  the  following  hint  may  be 
found  useful  at  the  present  time.  If  the  juice  or 
syrup  of  a  canned  Pineapple  be  added  to  the  taste- 
less Apples  when  they  are  stewed  it  will  much 
improve  them.  The  Pineapple  itself  can  be  used 
in  making  fruit  salad,  to  which  it  is  almost  always 
an  agreeable  addition. — Anne  Amateur. 

MONOTONY     IN    GARDENS. 

IVTISS  CASE  does  well  to  call  attention  to  this 
matter  (The  Garden,  May  20,  page  242). 
During  the  past  few  weeks  I  have  had  the  oppor- 
tunity of  observing  hundreds  of  "  front  gardens  " 
in  the  suburbs  of  Edinburgh,  and  in  two  smaller 
neighbouring  towns,  and  I  have  noticed  more 
forcibly  than  ever  the  sameness  and  lack  of  imagina- 
tion displayed  in  them  with,  of  course,  som.e  few- 
notable  exceptions. 

Tlie  exceptions  generally  occurred  in  gardens 
where  a  selection  of  herbaceous  plants  was  employed. 
Where  borders  or  beds  are  filled  twice  a  year  the 
choice  of  variety  is  obviously  somewhat  restricted, 
but  so  far  as  my  observation  goes,  much  more  might 
be  done  even  with  this  class  of  plants.  Daffodils 
were  much  in  evidence,  but  Princeps,  Emperor  and 
Empress  or  Horsfieldii  were  almost  the  only 
varieties  employed.  Why  not  PaUidus  precox 
and  Golden  Spur  to  start  with,  also  Sir  Watkin, 
Gloria  Mundi,  Glory  of  Leiden,  Mme.  de  Graaf, 
Poeticus,  Poeticus  ornatus,  P.  Poetarum  and  Barrii 


282 


conspicuus,  all  of  them  beautiful  and  cheap  varieties ! 
Wallflowers  I  saw  in  abundance,  but  with  very 
little  variety.  There  was  little  true  Vulcan,  but 
for  the  most  part  various  shades  of  red,  inferior 
in  colour,  in  substance  of  flower  and  in  habit  to 
that  fine  variety.  Of  that  precocious  variety 
Harbinger  I  saw  not  one,  nor  yet  of  that  lovely 
sort,  Sutton's  Orange  Bedder. 

Allow  me  to  record  how  I  furnished  a  tiny 
cottage  flower  border  last  autumn.  I  employed 
Snowdrops,  single  and  double,  ScUla  sibirica.  Iris 
reticulata,  Auricula,  Sis\Tinchium  grandiflorura, 
Orobus  vemus.  Dog's  Tooth  Violet,  Primrose 
and  Polyanthus  in  variety,  Doronicum,  Daffodil, 
Wallflower  in  variety,  Lily  of  the  Valley,  Pyreth- 
rum,  Campanula  persicifolia,  Ox-Eye  Daisy, 
Michaeknas  Daisy,  Chrysanthemum,  Epimedium, 
Montbretia,  Christmas  Rose  (altifolius). 

Several  of  these,  though  not  mentioned  were  in 
variety.  Of  course  none  could  be  planted  in 
quantity  in  such  a  limited  space,  some  of  the  larger 
indeed  were  represented  only  by  a  single  specimen. 
Here,  however,  is  a  border  furnished  at  little  cost, 
yielding  bloom  throughout  the  year.  Perhaps 
these  hints  will  prove  of  service  to  some  reader 
of  little  experience. — Caledonia. 

IN    MEMORIAM 

S.  T.  WRIGHT. 

The  red  sun  flames  in  the  mist-veiled  west, 

The  light  of  the  day  is  dechning 
And  a  light  from  the  gardening  world  has  passed 

Which  had  brightened  it  long  with  its  shining. 

A  chill  is  pervading  the  evening  air 

Which  the  warmth  of  the  day  has  forsaken 

And  a  sense  of  loss  is  lingering  there 
Since  he  from  our  midst  has  been  taken. 

Mournful  the  murmuring  streamlet  sounds 

While  sadly   the  zephyrs  sigh. 
For  the  well  known  form  on  its  daily  rounds 

No  more  shall  pass  it  by. 

The  oaks  which  knew  him  for  many  a  year 

Their  summer  array  are  delaying 
While  the  pale,  sweet  flowers  he  held  so  dear 

A  sad  adieu  are  saying. 

Not  unfelt  has  his  passing  been 

Since  not  in  vain  was  his  living. 
For  the  treasures  of  knowledge  he  long  did  glean 

He  lavished  in  cheerful  giving. 

At  the  end  of  its  course  though  a  tribute  stream 

Seem  lost  in  the  swelUng  river 
The  stones  it  smooths  where  its  ripples  gleam 

Will  witness  its  work  for  ever. 

And  the  spirit  of  him  whose  help  and  cheer 

Oft  smoothed  the  troubled  brow 
Will  live  in  the  lives  of  many  here 

Whose  course  is  beginning  now. 

So  the  light  and  the  warmth  that  have  passed  away 

Give  no  true  cause  for  sorrow, 
For  the  place  they  have  sweetly  filled  to-day 

Will  be  fragrant  with  flowers  to-morrow. 

A.  E.  Sims. 

FLOWERS    OF    TIBET. 

TN  "  Mount  Everest,  the  Reconnaissance,  1921," 
by  Lieut. -Col.  C.  K.  Howard-Bury,  D.S.O., 
and  other  Members  of  the  Expedition,  lately 
pubUshed,  and  full  throughout  of  interesting 
information  and  speculation,  not  the  least  inter- 
esting parts  are  those  which  incidentally  mention 
the  plants  which  the  members  of  the  expedition 


THE     GARDEN. 

chanced  upon.  It  is,  of  course,  not  to  be  expected 
that  in  such  a  work  minute  descriptions  should 
be  given  of  the  various  finds.  After  all,  botany 
was  not  the  first  concern  of  this  notable  expedition  ; 
and  so  it  happens  that  the  notices  of  various 
plants,  if  interesting  and  suggestive,  are  also,  it 
must  be  confessed,  sometimes  tantalising  in  their 
brevity  and  vagueness,  and  that,  ofttimes, 
just  where  they  are  most  interesting.  "  We 
found  the  vaUey  gay  with  pink  and  white  Spiraeas, 
and  Cotoneasters,  red  and  white  Roses,  yellow 
Berberis,  a  fragrant-flowered  Bog-myrtle,  Anemones 
and  white  Clematis."  Such  charming  glimpses  as 
this  of  the  Tibet  valley  or  mountain  flora  are 
frequent  in  the  volume,  and  just  full  enough  to 
make  one  wish  they  were  fuller.  "  A  fragrant- 
flowered  Bog  Myrtle  "  ?  As  far  as  I  remember 
our  native  Bog  Myrtle  (Myrica  Gale),  it  is  the 
foUage  that  is  fragrant  rather  than  the  catkin. 
Again,  a  Primula  "  with  three  to  six  bells  on  each 
stem,  the  size  of  a  small  thimble,  of  a  deep  blue 
colour,  and  lined  inside  with  frosted  silver."  This 
flower,  one  of  the  new  finds,  I  take  it,  has  been 
named  Primula  WoUastonii,  no  doubt  in  honour 
of  the  doctor  and  naturalist  of  the  expedition, 
Mr.  A.  F.  Wollaston.  Again,  "  Between  11,000 
and  13,000ft.  you  ascend  through  mixed  woods 
of  Pine,  Larch,  Birch  and  Juniper,  with  an  under- 
growth of  Rhododendrons  and  Mountain  Ash. 
The  Larches  have  a  much  less  formal  habit  of 
growth  than  those  of  this  country,  and  in  the 
autumn  they  turn  to  a  brilliant  golden  colour. 
The  berries  of  the  Mountain  Ash,  when  ripe,  are 
white  and  very  conspicuous."  Our  own  Larches 
turn  to  a  fairly  deep  yellow  in  autumn,  and,  for 
brilhancy,  our  native  Mountain  Ash  in  full  berry 
would  be  hard  to  beat.  But  there  is  certainly 
room  in  our  British  landscapes  for  a  Mountain 
Ash  with  conspicuous  ivhite  berries,  though  just 
at  first  it  would  strike  a  new  and  strange  note, 
to  which  we  should  have  to  get  used.  Meconopsis 
horridula  is  pretty  certain  to  be  known  in  Kew, 
and  possibly  in  other  gardens  as  well — "  a  dwarf 
blue  Poppy  which  grows  in  a  small  compact 
clump,  6ins.  to  8ins.  high,  with  as  many  as  sixteen 
flowers  and  buds  on  one  plant ;  the  flowers  are 
nearly  sins,  across  and  of  a  heavenly  blue."  If 
Kew  knows  the  plant,  the  sooner  Kew  makes  us 
all  acquainted  with  this  Poppywort  the  happier 
we  shall  be.  Where  I  find  the  Everest  volume 
most  tantalising  in  its  botany  is  in  its  notices  of 
the  Valley  Roses,  which  notices  are  sufiiciently 
numerous  but  invariably  omit  the  specific  names. 
Nor  are  there  any  Rose  species  entered  in  the 
list  of  plants  in  Appendix  V  at  the  head  of  the 
volume.  We  read  on  one  page,  for  instance, 
how  "  We  walked  up  the  valley  of  Rongshar, 
which  in  July  should  be  called  the  Valley  of 
Roses  ;  on  all  sides  were  bushes,  trees  almost, 
of  the  deep  red  single  Rose  in  bloom,  and  the 
air  was  filled  with  the  scent  of  them."  What  is 
this  deep  red  Rose  that  grows  almost  to  a  tree 
and  fills  a  valley  with  its  perfume  ? — Somers. 

"  THE    FAULT   OF    THE    DUTCH !  " 

VJOUBTLESS  many  of  your  readers  enjoy  the 
quaint  "  English  "  of  the  circulars  received 
direct  from  Dutch  nurserymen  and  are  inclined 
to  give  a  good-humoured  order  in  consequence. 
May  I  offer  a  warning  ?  I  sent  a  small  order  and 
cheque  to  one  such  firm  on  March  20  which  was 
duly  acknowledged.  The  goods,  however,  were 
not  forwarded,  in  spite  of  three  unnoticed  letters 
of  enquiry  and  protest,  in  the  course  of  a  month. 
I  then  cancelled  the  order  and  sent  in  a  claim 
tor  the  return  of  the  cash.  To  this  no  reply  has 
been  vouchsafed,  and  even  an  appeal  to  the  Dutch 
police  authorities  has  so  far  proved  ineffectual. 
Moral :    Deal  at  home. — Simple  Simon. 


[June  io,  1922. 


FREAK    TULIPS. 

\X/'OULD    you    mind    telling    me    through    The 

Garden   what   you   think   of   the   enclosed  ? 

During  my   gardening  career  of  over  forty  years 

I   have  never  seen  Darwin  Tulips  throw  up  five 


FIVE    TULIPS    ON     ONE     STALK. 

flowers  on  one  stem  before.  As  you  will  see, 
one  has  four  flowers  and  the  other  five.  These 
were  growing  side  by  side.  I  have  several  others 
in  the  same  border  like  them.  The  bulbs  were 
planted  late  in  the  autumn  of  1921  in  the  front 
of  a  herbaceous  border.  The  soil  is  not  over- 
good,  and  the  bulbs  have  not  been  disturbed 
since  they  were  planted.  Can  you  give  the  name 
of  the  variety  ? — G.  S. 

[The  above  letter  is  typical  of  a  number  we 
have  received.  Four  or  five  flowers  to  a  stem 
seem  fairly  common  with  May-flowering  Tulips 
this  year.  This  is  largely  due,  no  doubt,  to  the 
extraordinary  weather  experienced  during  the 
early  part  of  last  summer.  Secondary  "  baby  " 
flowers  are  also  ver>'  common  this  year.  The 
name  of  the  variety  was  in  this  instance 
Professor  Rawenhoff. — Ed.] 

TWO     INTERESTING    PLANTS. 

TN  The  Garden  for  February  18,  just  arrived, 
there  is  a  most  interesting  article  on  Luculia 
gratissima.  We  have  a  large  plant  of  this  in  our 
garden  where  it  is  flourishing  splendidly ;  the 
warmth  and  the  sandy  soil  suit  it  well,  and  we 
find  it  does  well  when  once  established,  though 
the  greatest  care  is  necessary  for  the  first  two  or 
three  years.  Our  plant  promises  to  be  one  mass  of 
blossom  this  year,  every  branch  and  twig  having 
great  clusters  of  buds  already  showing  colour. 
The  delicate  pink  colour  and  the  delicious  perfume 
of  the  flowers  would  make  this  a  favourite  every- 
where. We  have  also  been  very  keen  in  searching 
the  different  issues  as  they  arrive  for  any  notes  on 
Iris  tingitana.  Our  bulbs  of  this  grow  and  increase 
amazingly,  but  alas !  they  very,  very  seldom 
gladden  our  eyes  by  a  sight  of  their  flowers.  This 
year  we  mean  to  do  as  one  of  your  correspondents 
has  done,  namely,  lift  and  replant  some  of  the  bulbs 
when  7ins.  or  8ins.  of  growth  has  been  made. 
Perhaps  this  kind  of  root-pruning  may  be  just  what 
is  needed  to  check  the  too  prolific  growth  and  to 
induce  the  bulbs  to  throw  up  flowering  stems 
instead. — Elizabeth  Law,  WcUiiiglon,  N  Z. 


June  io,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


283 


PLANTS  FOR  A  SMALL  MORAINE  GARDEN 

Being  a  record  of  an  amateur's  experience  with  such  plants  in  a  North  country  garden. 

hitherto    deemed     almost    impossible     to 


IX  191 7  some  notes  on  above  based  on  my 
short  experience  appeared  in  The  Garden. 
It  may  be  of  interest  to  those  keen  on  the 
smaller  "  alpines "  to  give  my  f\irther 
experiences.  While  most  of  the  plants 
then  mentioned  are  still  in  existence,  some  few 
have  not  proved  satisfactory,  and  others  have 
had  to  be  removed  owing  to  their  being  too  appre- 
ciative of  the  conditions  provided  for  them  and 
the  tendency  to  take  np  too  much  of  the  limited 
space.  In  the  subsequent  years  many  new  plant? 
have  been  added. 

,\11  interested  in  this  type  of  gardening  must 
acknowledge  how  deeply  we  are  indebted  to  the 
late  Reginald  Farrer  for  his  enthusiastic  and 
illuminating  writing  on  rock  and  alpine  plants 
and  for  the  zest  with  which,  after  exploring  most 
of  the  best  localities  in  the  alpine  regions  of 
Europe,  he  entered  into  canning  out  researches 
in  the  unexplored  parts  of  China  and  Tibet 
with  the  purpose  of  adding  treasures  to  the  gardens 
of  those  at  home  only  able  to  travel  along  with 
him  in  the  dehghtful  books  that  made  him,  to 
many,  almost  an  intimate  friend  who  will  be 
greatly  missed.  His  death  at  so  early  an  age 
in  the  wilds  of  Upper  Burmah  took  away  one 
whose  influence  wUl  be  remembered  gratefully 
by  the  large  and  ever-increasing  number  who 
find  pleasure  in  this  more  recent  development  in 
gardening  that  has  made  it  possible  to  bring  into 
our  midst  Nature's  loveliest  creations  from  all 
parts  of  the  world.  Experiments  made  in  their 
cultivation  by  Farrer,  Clarence  Elliott  and  many 
other  enthusiasts,  stimulated  to  a  large  extent 
by  their  experiences,  which  they  always  generously 
brought  to  the  notice  of  those  interested,  in 
The  Garden  and  other  similar  jom-nals,  and  it 
has  been  possible  to  make  at  home  mr..'.'  lovely 


plants 
grow. 

One  comparatively  recent  development  is  wh  at 
is  known  as  the  "  moraine  "  garden,  which  had  a 
prominent    place    in    some    of    Reginald    Farrer's 


an  extensive  undulating  moraine  broken  with 
rocks,  more  or  less  after  Nature,  and  sometimes, 
as  in  one  garden  I  visited  during  the  war  period, 
very  extensive,  but  the  plants  (that  existed) 
few  and  far  between.  In  my  own,  the  moraine 
is  a  built-up  one  with  stone  sides  planted  and 
with  a  flagged  path  .tU  round,  the  object  being 
to  make  it  easily  accessible  from  all  sides,  to  provide 
room  for  as  many  plants  as  possible,  to  provide 
a    good    depth    of    cool    rooting    material    and    to 


ANDROS.ACE    PRIMULOIDES    ON    THE    MORAINE. 


books  and  which  was,  no  doubt,  in  the  first  place 
suggested  by  the  positions  occupied  by  many 
of  the  smaller  plants  in  the  moraines  which  are 
frequent  in  the  various  raoxmtain  habitats. 
Moraines  vary  considerably,  depending  on  indi- 
vmual  requirements.  Some  have  moraine  pockets 
in  the  general  rock  garden  lay-out  ;    others  make 


THE    BEAUTIFUL    ANDROSACE    GLACIALIS    "AT    HOME. 


bring  the  flowers  into  a  good  position  to  be  seen 
and  examined,  and  also  to  minimise  as  far  as 
possible  the  depredations  of  slugs,  earwigs  and 
other  vermin  that  are  as  keen  after  rarities  as 
the  most  enthusiastic  gardener  and  even  find 
their  way  on  to  the  moraine,  however  isolated 
and  stony  it  may  be.  Briefly,  it  is  about  7yds.  in 
length  and  a\erages  ijyds.  to  2yds.  in  width. 
It  is  divided  into  three  parts  at  three  different 
levels,  varying  from  3ft  6ins.  at  the  high  end  to 
2ft.  at  the  lowest,  6ins.  of  the  depth  being  below 
the  footpath  level.  It  has  an  open  aspect  to  the 
south  and  south-east  and  is  sheltered  from  the 
west  and  north.  I  find  that  the  south-east  aspect 
has  one  disadvantage,  and  that  is  that  the  earlier 
flowers  especially  suffer  from  the  eariy  morning 
white  frosts  in  the  spring  and  early  summer,  and 
frequently  considerable  damage  is  done  owing 
to  the  sun  getting  on  to  them  before  the  frost 
rime  has  disappeared. 

When  first  planting  I  set  out  to  obtain  as  many 
as  possible  of  the  fifty  best  moraine  plants  suggested 
by  Mr.  Farrer  in  The  Garden  of  May  24,  1913, 
and  forty-three  of  these  I  have  tried  up  to  the 
present  time.  Many  additional  plants  have  been 
obtained,  and  notes  on  these  will  be  added  in 
brackets. 

.\ndrosaces.— .\.  primuloides  and  A.  villosa, 
both  plants  in  the  original  position  and  still 
flourishing.  .•V.  primuloides,  flowering  later  than 
the  other  similar  Himalayan  Androsaces,  usually 
escapes  the  frosts  ;  it  is  a  truly  delightful  species 
in  a  sloping  position  on  the  moraine  side,  the 
rosettes  usually  coming  through  the  winter  quite 
well  without  protection.  A.  llosa  usually  has 
glass  protection  for  a  portion  of  the  winter,  but 
if  planted  in  a  more  vertical  position  would 
probalily  come  through  without.  A.  alpina 
(glacialis)  :  a  small  piece  of  this  gem  was  tried  in 
the  autumn  of  1920,  but  failed  to  establish  itself ; 
it  is  possible  it  might  have  succeeded  if  it  had 
been  protected  from  the  first,  as  it  was  exceedingly 
wet  when  and  after  it  was  planted. 


284 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  io,  1922. 


[Of  the  other  Androsaces,  A.  lanuginosa  had  to 
be  removed,  as,  although  very  pretty,  it  liked  the 
conditions  too  well  and  grew  too  freely  for  the 
limited  space.  A.  Chumbyi,  which  was  on  a 
flatfish  part,  died  out  probably  for  want  of  pro- 
tection from  winter  dampness,  although  it  does 
quite  well  outside  in  a  sloping  position.  A. 
sarmentosa,  in  a  sloping  position,  unprotected, 
sometimes  looking  the  worse  for  its  exposure,  but 
gradually  recovers  and  usually  flowers  well,  the 
flowers,  unfortunately,  almost  invariably  being 
bleached  and  sometimes  killed  by  early  May 
frosts.  It  is  rather  too  free  for  the  moraine  and 
does  quite  well  on  a  wall  or  in  a  sharply  sloping 
portion  of  the  rock  garden.  A.  Watkinsii  con- 
tinues to  prosper  ;  it  is  of  the  sarmentosa  type 
with  somewhat  darker  rosettes  and  deeper  red 
flowers  and  quite  a  desirable  plant,  possibly, 
however,  more  suitable  for  the  rock  garden 
than  the  moraine.  Androsace  Cham^jasme  was  lost, 
possibly  owing  to  a  specially  trying  winter  and 
being  flnished  off  by  slugs.  A.  sempervivoides 
is'  another  Himalayan  with  smaller  rosettes  of 
sarmentosa  type  and  pretty  rosy  pink  flowers 
and  is  the  earliest  to  come  into  bloom.  Being 
in  a  somewhat  flat  position,  it  is  found  that  some 
protection  from  wet  is  needed  in  the  winter. 
A  camea  flowered  nicely  towards  the  end  of  April, 
and  as  the  flowers  suffer  from  frosts,  a  stone  was 
inserted  in  front  to  protect  it  from  the  early 
morning  sun,  which  appeared  to  have  had  a  satis- 
factory effect. 

A.  arachnoidea,  one  of  the  villosa  group  with 
smaller  silky  grey  rosettes,  flourishes  in  a  vertical 
crevice.  It  flowered  well  last  May  and  gives 
promise  of  doing  so  again,  with  its  gracefully 
poised  white  flowers  with  greenish  yeUow  eyes 
which  later  become  pink.  It  was  deUghtfuUy 
pretty  in  flower  and  a  pleasant  reminder  of  the 
exquisite  gems  seen  in  the  Higher  .Alps. 

A.  tibetica,  recently  added  from  Farrer  collected 
stock  from  Tibet,  is  supposed  to  be  of  the  sarmen- 
tosa group,  but  my  plant  has  much  looser  and  less 
compact  rosettes  than  any  of  the  Asiatics  pre- 
Niously  mentioned.  It  has  been  partially  protected 
during  the  past  winter,  but  looks  as  if  it  raiglit 
winter  fully  exposed  in  a  well  drained  position. 
The  flowers  started  to  open  on  -April  24,  pink 
in  the  bud,  opening  out  white  or  whitish  with 
greenish  yellow  eye,  and  it  is  the  first  of  my 
Androsaces  to  come  into  bloom  this  very  late 
season,  A.  semper\'ivoi&es  'liaving  hitherto  been 
the  first. 

A.  helvetica,  a  small  piece  of  what  seems  to  be 
this  species,  obtained  from  a  crack  on  the  under- 
side of  a  large  boulder  in  the  Alps  in  1920,  with 
small  grey-hued  rosettes,  has  estabUshed  itself 
and  was  on  May'  10  fairly  well  covered  with  its 
small  white  stemless  flowers.  It  seemed  to  be 
"  miffing "  off  owing  to  damp  in  the  winter  of 
1920-21,  when  the  idea  occurred  to  me  of  placing 
a  small  piece  of  broken  glass  (beer)  bottle  over 
it  as  a  protection  from  wet.  This  fitted  o\-er  it 
nicely  without  touching  the  plant  and  it  answered 
its  purpose,  the  plant  duly  becoming  nice  estab- 
lished and,  though  small,  looks  quite  healthy  at 
present.  It  has  had  similar  protection  this  last 
winter.  It  is  quite  probable  that  A.  glacialis 
might  have  been  wintered  if  similar  protection 
had  been  adopted. 

A.  coccinea,  an  Asiatic  species  with  brick  red 
flowers  was  exceptionaUy  fine  at  Kew  in  June, 
1917.  It  is  a  plant  that  I  should  very  much  like, 
but  up  to  the  present  it  has  not  been  included 
in  any  catalogue  that  I  have  received.] 

T.    ASHTON    LOFTHOUSE. 

[A.  coccinea  though  a  striking  plant  is,  un- 
fortunately, monocarpic,  so  is  not  likely  to 
become  popular. — Ed.] 

{To  be  continued,) 


GARDENING    OF    THE    WEEK 


FOR    SOUTHERN   GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Endive. — Where  a  quantity  of  salading  has  to 
be  produced  for  the  winter  months  Endive  is 
almost  indispensable.  During  the  next  few  weeks 
the  main  sowings  must  be  made.  The  seed  may 
either  be  sown  in  drills  about  gins,  apart  and  the 
seedlings  transplanted  as  soon  as  large  enough,  or 
it  may  be  sown  in  drills  ift.  or  isins.  apart  where 
intended  to  grow,  and  thinned  out  to  about  the 
same  distance  from  each  other  according  to  variety. 
Endive  appreciates  a  light  but  fairly  rich  soil,  and 
it  is  particularly  advisable  to  select  a  weU-drained 
plot  for  the  winter  batch. 

Potatoes. — The  hoe  should  be  used  in  good  time 
between  the  rows  of  successive  batches  of  Potatoes 
as  they  become  visible,  and  the  earthing  up  of  late 
varieties  be  kept  well  in  hand.  Where  it  can  be 
arranged,  a  dusting  between  the  rows  with  a 
suitable  fertihser  previous  to  breaking  up  and 
earthing  up  the  soil  will  be  repaid  later  on.  Care 
should  be  taken  that  the  soil  is  not  drawn  up  so 
tightly  round  the  stems  of  the  plants  as  to 
pre\ent  the  rains  having  an  easy  passage  to  the 
roots. 

Turnips. — A  sowing  should  be  made  to  provide 
an  early  autumn  supply  of  roots.  Choose  a  fairly 
cool  piece  of  rich  ground  which  must  be  brought 
to  a  fine  tilth  for  receising  the  seed.  Draw  the 
drills  ijins,  apart  and  thin  the  plants  to  bins,  or 
gins,  according  to  variety  and  produce  desired. 
It  is  an  advantage  to  sow  several  varieties,  as 
some  are  more  prone  to  run  prematurely  to  seed  than 
others. 

Late  Peas. — These  should,  if  possible,  be  grown 
some  distance  away  from  mid-season  varieties, 
where  mildew  may  have  obtained  a  footing.  Sow 
in  shallow  drills  on  land  which  has  been  well 
enriched  and  thoroughly  cultivated.  The  earlier 
sown  pkants  should  have  the  hoe  frequently  plied 
between  the  rows,  and  on  hot,  dry  soils  it  may 
be  ad\isable  to  apply  a  mulching  of  manure  or 
short  lawn  grass.  The  staking  should  always  be 
carried  out  in  good  time  and  where  the  Peas  are 
not  growing  in  shallow  trenches  a  sUght  earthing 
up  is  beneficial. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Roses. — A  careful  watch  must  be  kept  for 
attacks  of  green  fly,  caterpillars  and  maggots. 
A  few  good  syringings  with  an  insecticide  or 
dustings  with  tobacco  powder  wiU  generally  get 
rid  of  the  fly,  but  hand-picking  must  be  resorted 
to  for  the  ciestruction  of  the  other  pests.  The 
surface  of  the  beds  should  be  stirred  occasionally 
with  the  hoe,  and  during  dry  spells  a  few  copious 
waterings  should  be  given  newly  planted  bushes, 
even  if  it  cannot  be  arranged  for  the  w-hole  of  the 
plants.  Disbudding  naturally  requires  attention 
where  specimen  blooms  are  sought,  and  it  is  also 
to  be  recommended  where  the  buds  are  so  thick 
as  to  prevent  a  healthy  unfolding  of  the  blooms. 

Alpine  Plants  which  have  passed  out  of  flower 
should  l.c  cut  over,  and  the  growth  of  strong 
varieties  kept  from  encroaching  upon  their  weaker 
fellows.  Plenty  of  cuttings  wiU  soon  be  available 
from  many  alpines,  including  the  .Aubrietias, 
.^rabis.  Perennial  Candytufts,  Phlox,  etc.,  and  all 
will  strike  readily  in  a  light  sandy  compost  in  a  cold 
frame,  which  should  be  kept  moderately  close  and 
lightly  shaded  until  the  cuttings  are  rooted. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Gooseberry  Bushes  carrying  a  very  heavy  crop 
of  fruits  should  be  reheved  at  as  early  a  date  as 
possible  after  the  berries  are  large  enough  for 
cooking  purposes  and  for  bottling.  By  gathering 
only  the  larger  fruits  it  will  enable  the  smaUer 
ones  to  develop  and  serve  as  a  more  profitable 
succession  than  would  otherwise  be  the  case. 
Trees  on  poor  land,  particularly  those  which  have 
to  carry  their  fruits  as  late  into  the  season  as 
possible,  will  be  greatly  benefited  by  a  few  water- 
ings of  liquid  manure  followed  by  a  nmlch,  if 
possible. 

Outdoor  Figs. — Any  strong  water-wood  should 
be  removed  as  early  as  possible  and  thus  check 
the  tendency  to  excessive  bleeding  which  the  Fig 
is  subjected  to  when  strong  shoots  are  removed 
Plenty  of  space  should  be  allowed  the  young 
growths  and  every  encouragement  given  to  a 
number  of  growths  springing  from  the  base  of  the 
tree. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Melons  ripening  should  have  plenty  of  warm, 
dry  air  circulating  in  the  house  and  the  roots  of 
the  plants  also  must  be  more  carefully  attended  to, 
for  too  much  moisture  at  the  roots  at  this  period 


greatly  mars  the  flavour  of  the  fruits.  Melons 
are  the  better,  I  think,  for  being  kept  several  days 
in  an  even  temperature  before  using  them,  so  it  is 
advisable  to  cut  them  before  they  are  too  ripe  and 
suspend  them  in  a  fruit-room  until  required. 
H.  Turner 

(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland). 

Albury  Park  Gardens,   Guildford. 


FOR   NORTHERN   G.\RDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Planting  Out  Celery. — llaincrop  Celery  should 
now  be  planted  out  at  the  first  favourable  oppor- 
tunity. Where  the  young  plants  have  been 
growing  on  a  hot-bed  or  in  boxes  of  rich  material 
they  will  Uft  with  good  balls  of  soil  attached,  so 
shoifld  sufler  httle  by  transplanting,  more  especially 
if  the  manure  at  the  bottom  of  the  trench  has  been 
mixed  with  old  potting  soil  or  such  material  as 
may  encourage  quick  root  action.  Should  a  dry 
speU  intervene  after  planting,  copious  waterings 
should  be  given. 

Onions. — Transplanted  Onions  will  now  be 
growing  freely,  so  should  be  further  encouraged  by 
the  frequent  use  of  the  Dutch  hoe  between  the 
lines.  Where  the  plants  are  being  grown  with 
a  view  to  obtaining  large  bulbs,  occasional  waterings 
of  well  diluted  liquid  manure  from  the  byre  should 
be  given.  In  beds  where  growth  is  slow  a  judicious 
sprinkling  of  sulphate  of  ammonia  may  also  be 
given,  hoeing  it  lightly  in.  This  stimulates  growth 
and  assists  in  carrying  the  plants  past  the  stage 
when  they  are  most  susceptible  to  attacks  from 
the  Onion  fly. 

Cauliflowers. — Early  varieties  should  be  assisted 
with  a  suitable  stimulant,  so  that  no  check  to 
growth  may  occur.  Make  further  plantations  of 
Early  London  for  use  in  .August  and  Autumn 
Giant  for  late  cutting. 

Coleworts. — Sow-  seed  now  for  early  winter 
supplies.  The  ground  for  this  crop  should  not 
be  over-rich,  as  the  plants  should  be  grown  as 
hardy  and  short-jointed  as  possible. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Currants. — Bushes  of  Red  and  White  Currants 
may  be  considerably  benefited  if  the  shoots  are 
tipped  back  at '  this  '  time.  More  light  and  air 
is  thus  allowed  to  reach  the  fruits,  while  the  bushes 
are  also  improved  in  appearance. 

Wall  Trees. — The  various  fruit  trees  on  walls 
should  be  carefuUy  inspected  at  this  season, 
and  the  young  shoots  sprayed  and  cleared  of 
insect  pests,  which  if  allowed  to  carry  on  their 
depredations  will  cripple  the  growths  and  retard 
the  sweUing  of  the  fruits.  Where  the  trees  are 
carrying  heavy  crops,  partial  thinning  may  now 
be  carried  out,  but  discretion  must  be  used  in 
regard  to  this  important  work.  Young,  vigorous 
trees  may  be  allowed  to  carry  more  fruit  than 
others,  but  on  no  account  should  over-cropping 
be  allowed,  as  this  invariably  tends  towards 
unfruitfulness  in  later  years. 

Strawberries. — Beds  of  Strawberries  which 
were  not  manured  or  mulched  earlier  in  the  year 
will  now  benefit  if  given  waterings  of  liquid 
manure  from  the  byre. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Bedding  Out  should  now  be  completed  at  the 
earliest  possible  period.  The  less  hardy  plants, 
such  as  Heliotropes,  DahHas,  Begonias,  etc.,  may 
now  with  safety  be  transferred  to  their  flowering 
quarters. 

Genista  praecox.— This  deUghtful  and  free- 
llowering  Broom  should  receive  any  necessary 
pruning' immediately  it  is  past  flowering.  UnUke 
many  other  Brooms,  this  species  wiU  tolerate 
severe  pruning. 

Hardy   Flower   Borders.— Staking   and   tying 

wiU  necessitate  much  attention  at  this  season. 
Weeds  will  also  be  more  noticeable,  and  the  use 
of  the  hoe  through  the  borders  now  will  have 
considerable  influence  in  lessening  the  work  of 
cleaning  up  later  in  the  season. 

Biennials. — Seedlings  of  Sweet  WilUam,  Canter- 
bury Bells,  Hollyhocks,  etc.,  should  now  be 
pricked  out  in  a  nursery  border  or  into  frames 
which  have  been  cleared  of  bedding  plants.  \\'ater 
well,  and  shade  the  seedhngs  from  strong  sunshme 
for  a  few  days. 

James  McGran 

(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.). 

Coodham,  Kilmarnock. 


THE 


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ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


I.  LXXXVI.— No.  2639. 

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[June  17,  1922. 


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5/( 


No.  2639.— Vol.  LXXXVL] 


[June  17,  1922. 


ROSES     FOR    THE    SHRUBBERY 

But  jew   of  us    think   of   Roses    as   shrubs,  yet   shrubs    they    are. 


IT  has  been  often  stated  and  must  be  freely 
granted  that  the  generality  of  garden  Roses 
should  be  grown  in  a  garden  specially 
devoted  to  them,  quite  in  the  open  and  un- 
encumbered by  herbaceous  plants  or  by  other 
shrubs — for  the  Rose  is  a  shrub — or  trees.  Violas 
as  carpeting  plants  are  generally  allowed  to  be 
innocuous,  and  Mignonette  is  frequently  tolerated 
among  them,  owing  to  its  perfume. 

It  does  not  seem,  however,  to  be  sufficiently 
appreciated  that  these  restrictions  only  apply 
mth  any  force  to  such  varieties  as  are  used  for 
bedding  purposes.  Many  beautiful  Rose  species, 
owing  to  their  habit  of  growth,  show  to  much 
greater  advantage  in  the  shrubbery  than  else- 
where, and  beyond  question  the  shade  afforded 
to  the  bases  of  the  plants  by  surrounding  shrubs 
is  beneficial.  Xor  need  we  confine  ourselves  to 
species  in  this  connexion.  Many  of  the  stronger- 
growing  bush  Roses  and  the  climbing  Polyanthas, 
of  which  Crimson 
Rambler  may  be  taken 
as  typical,  succeed 
better  in  the  shrub- 
bery than  elsewhere. 
Against  the  shelter 
afforded  has  to  be 
set  a  supposed 
greater  tendency  to 
attack  by  insect 
pests  —  aphides  and 
caterpillars  —  in  such 
situations.  Admitting 
that  what  may 
broadly  be  classified  as 
bedding  varieties  of 
R'o  se  are  more 
susceptible  to  attack 
when  mixed  with 
other  plants,  experi- 
ence shows  that  with 
the  freer  types 
referred  to  the  reverse 
is  the  case.  All 
gardeners  with  the 
"  bump  "  for  obser\'a- 
tion  have  noticed  that 
healthy  plants  are  less 
subject  to  insect 
attack  than  unhealthy 
ones,  and  this,  no 
doubt,  accounts  for 
the  observed  facts  in 
this    case.      This 


notwithstanding,  it  would  probably  be  wise  to 
keep  Roses  of  whatever  type  away  from  related 
genera,  such  as  the  Hawthorns,  for  instance. 

Much  has  been  written  about  the  various  wild 
(species)  Roses,  of  which  many  are  as  beautiful 
as  our  own  Dog  Rose,  Rosa  canina,  which,  if  a 
good  form  be  selected  for  comparison,  is  saying 
a  good  deal ;  but  there  is  apparently  much  still 
to  be  said,  for  these  glorious  wildings  are  still  not 
grown  to  anything  like  the  extent  they  should  be. 

It  is  a  mistake  to  run  after  alien  and,  perhaps, 
not  easy  species  while  beauty  is  waiting  almost 
on  our  doorsteps.  We  shall  do  well,  then,  to 
include  in  our  shrubbery  the  native  Sweet  Briar, 
R.  rubiginosa,  of  which  the  fragrant  leaves  and 
Dog  Rose-like  blossoms  are  famiUar  to  all ;  or 
if  this  be  thought  too  commonplace,  we  must 
at  any  rate  find  place  for  some  of  the  beautiful 
hybrids,  most  of  them  raised  by  the  late  Lord 
Penzance.     Most  remarkable  of  these,  and  perhaps 


ADMIRABLE    FOR    THE    FRONTS    OF 


SHRUBBERIES,    THE    SO-CALLED    AUSTRI.\N    BRIAR, 
ROSA    LUTEA. 


most  beautiful,  are  those  raised  by  crossing  the 
Sweet  Briar  with  the  .Austrian  Briars  (R.  lutea). 
Such  are  Lord  Penzance  and  Lady  Penzance,  for 
instance,  but  they  lack  the  abounding  vigour  of 
such  a  sterUng  hybrid  as  Meg  Merrilees,  for 
example,  which  is  the  one  which  must  not  be 
left  out.  For  the  front  of  the  shrubbery  the 
.Austrian  Briars  themselves  are  excellent,  since, 
though  not  specially  free  to  flower,  they  form 
interesting  and  eyeable  clumps. 

Closely  allied  to  the  Dog  Rose,  but  remarkably 
distinct  from  it,  is  the  Central  Eiu-opean  R.  rubri- 
folia  (R.  ferruginea)  %vith  red  spiny  stems  and 
foliage  of  a  singular  but  striking  glaucous-red 
shade.  It  is  worthy  of  cultivation  for  the  foUage 
alone,  but  the  flowers,  if  small  and  starry,  are 
a  bright  rosy-carmine  in  colour,  and  the  clusters 
of  red  heps  at  once  beautiful  and  striking. 

The  Scotch  or  Burnet  Rose  (R.  spinossima)  is 
an  easy-doing  spec"es  which  spreads  rapidly  from 
underground  suckers. 
It  attains  a  height  of 
4ft.  or'  so  and  has  a 
habit  of  producing  an 
abundance  of  upright, 
fine-spined  growths, 
somewhat  r  e  m  i  n  - 
iscent  of  the  Rasp- 
berry. The  white, 
rarely  pale  pink, 
flowers  with  their 
golden  stamens  are 
lovely,  but  rather 
fleeting.  Worth  a 
place  in  the  wild 
garden,  it  will  be 
better  rather  to 
reserve  space  in  the 
shrubbery  for  some  of 
the  good  sub-species, 
such  as  R.  spinossima 
altaica  with  much 
larger  flowers  than 
the  type,  often  reach- 
ing 3ins.  across.  This 
is  a  much  larger 
plant  in  every  way 
than  our  native  type 
and  needs  room. 
Another  very  gocd 
form  is  var.  luXea  with 
bright  yellow  flowers. 
Except  that  it  is  taller 
and    more    upright   in 


•2m 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  17,  1922 


A    HANDSOME    ROSE — ROSA    RUGOSA    REPENS    ALBA. 


THE    MUSK    ROSE,    R.    MOSCHATA,    EXCELLENT    FOR    THE    LARGE    SHRUBBERY 


growth,  this,  to  the  uninitiated,  looks  much  like] the 
Austrian  Yellow,  and  since  it  is,  on  many  soils, 
more  accommodating,  is  to  that  extent  to^^bo 
preferred  to  it. 

The  Rose  species  most  commonly  found  in 
shrubberies  is  undoubtedly  R.  rugosa,  and  undoubt- 
edly in  districts  where  birds  are  not  troublesome 
the  handsome  crimson  fruits  above  the  yellowin:: 
fohage  are  very  effective.  There  are,  of  course, 
numerous  varieties,  but  readers  will  remember 
that  the  double-flowered  forms  do  not  bear  the 
glossy  fruits  which  are  the  principal  ornamental 
feature  of  the  plant.  That  wonderfully  fragrant, 
handsome  and  early-flowering  Rose,  Conrad  F. 
Meyer,  owns  much  rugosa  blood.  It  is  one  of 
the  most  suitable  Roses  for  our  purpose. 
The  white  or  nearly  white  sport,  Xova 
Zembla,  is  hardly  so  free  flow-ering,  but  it 
also  is  useful. 

One  of  the  quaintest  of  Rose  species  and  one 
admirably  suited  for  shrubberies  is  R.  pomifera 
with  more  or  less  apple-shaped  fruits  of  shining 
crimson  colouring  and  of,  for  a  Rose,  remarkable 
size.  The  flowers,  like  those  of  R.  rugosa,  are 
rather  dull  in  colouring. 

Rosa  multiflora  (Polyantha)  is  too  large  for 
many  shrubberies,  but,  where  space  can  be  found 
for  it,  is  a  particularly  beautiful  species  with 
white  flowers  borne  in  clusters.  This  is  the 
parent,  or  perhaps  it  would  be  more  truthful  to 
say  a  parent,  of  all  the  climbing  and  dwarf  PoI>'- 
antha  Roses  of  our  gardens.  The  climbing 
Polyanthas  succeed  admirably  in  the  shrubbery, 
even  in  a  tangled  one,  and  strangely  enough 
appear  to  suffer  much  less  from  drought  there 
than  when  trained  on  a  pergola  or  to  poles  in 
the  rose  garden. 

Some  of  the  best  Polyantha  Ramblers  for  the 
shrubbery  are  Crimson  Rambler  (or  Philadelphia 
Rambler,  if  that  is  preferred).  Blush  Rambler, 
Carmine  Pillar — this  is  especially  excellent  so 
treated — and  Aglaia.  That  beautiful  white  Rose, 
The  Garland,  also  is  excellent,  and  though  classed 
as  a  hybrid  Musk,  probably  has  multiflora 
blood. 

The  Musk  Rose  itself,  R.  moschata,  is 
admirable  where  space  can  be  afforded  it,  but 
it  is  a  large  grower  and  needs  space  to  show 
itself  to  advantage. 

Rosa  macrophylla,  with  rosy-red  flowers,  and 
R.  Moyesii,  mth  deep  brownish  red  blossoms 
shot  with  fiery  crimson  possess  many  points  of 
similarity.  Both  have  brilliant  fruits,  curiously 
constructed  at  the  junction  of  the  fruit  proper 
with  the  persistent  sepals,  which  give  them  a 
bottle-like  appearance.  Both  are  elegant  growers 
with  arching  wand-like  canes  and  handsome 
fohage,  but  R.  Moyesii  is  more  slender  in  habit 
and  smaller  in  leaf  than  the  other  and  longer- 
known  species. 

In  Rosa  Hugonis  we  have  another  species, 
suitable  on  account  of  its  size  and  spreading 
habit  only  for  the  large  shrubbery.  Generally 
considered  the  best  of  the  yellow-flowered  species, 
it  has  beautiful  foliage,  but  the  fruits  unfortunately 
are  black  and  uninteresting,  which  is  charac- 
teristic of  all  the  species  allied  to  R.  spinosissima, 
which  R.  Hugonis  obviously  is.  The  creamy- 
white  R.  hispida,  also  of  this  family,  has  bright 
yellow  buds.  It  is  at  once  uncommon  in  gardens 
and  ornamental. 

It  is  necessary  always  to  keep  in  mind  the 
distinction  between  Roses  such  as  the  Austrian 
or  Scotch  Briars,  which  are  bushes  in  themselves 
and  need  spacing  accordmgly,  and  Ro^a  multiflora 
and  its  hybrids,  for  instance,  which  like  to  grow 
lietween  and  throw  their  trails  over  other  shrubs. 
There  is  room  for  both  classes  in  the  shrubbery, 
where  late  -  flowering  sorts  are  especially 
valuable. 


June  17,  1922.] 

SOME     BEAUTIFUL 
GENTIANS 

THE  Royal  Horticultural  Society  might 
do  worse  than  undertake  the  classifi- 
cation and  nomenclature  of  the  genus 
Gentiana.  There  is  certainly  much 
confusion  in  nurserymen's  lists  for 
which,  as  a  rule,  the  nurserymen  are  not  to  blame, 
though   a   certain   "  boosting "    of  supposed   new 


THE     GARDEN. 

the  so-called  pink  Gentian,  ErythrEea  diffusa.  G. 
bavarica  is  probably  more  difficult  to  grow  than 
G.  verna,  though  not  everyone  has  found  it  so. 
Outdoors  treatment  similar  to  that  recommended 
for  G.  verna  affords  the  best  chance  of  success, 
but  an  abundance  of  moisture  is  essential. 

G.  pyrenaica,  when  it  is  obtained  true,  is  an 
excellent  moraine  plant  with  well  rounded  flowers 
of  a  rich  deep  blue  colour,  but  without  the  startling 
brilliance  of  G.  Gentianella  or  G.  verna.  G. 
pumila,  another  excellent  and  not  difficult  species. 


GENTIANA    VERNA    AS    A    MORAINE    PLANT. 


species  is  noticeable  in  some  quarters  which  are, 
in  fact,  not  new  at  all — though  new  under  the 
name  given — and  of  small  beauty  or  interest. 

From  a  garden  standpoint  the  most  valuable 
species  unquestionably  belong  to  the  acaulis 
group  so  admirably  described  recently  (The 
G.4RDEN,  March  ii,  page  113)  by  M.  Correvon. 
It  would  be  stupid  to  traverse  that  ground  again, 
but  the  interest  aroused  by  the  article  was  such 
that  some  notes  on  other  desirable  and  growable 
Gentians  may  not  be  out  of  place. 

No  plant,  probably,  has  occasioned  greater 
controversy  as  to  its  culture  than  the  altogether 
delightful  Gentiana  verna.  It  unquestionably 
likes  a  damp  climate,  and  that,  outdoors  at  any 
rate,  many  of  us  cannot  afford  it.  It  certainly 
does  not  appreciate  bare  earth  around  its  rosettes, 
nor,  considering  its  method  of  growth  in  Nature, 
would  one  expect  it  so  to  do.  It  is  advisable 
therefore  to  associate  it  with  some  light-growing 
carpeter,  such  as  the  native  .\renaria  verna, 
for  instance.  For  the  rest,  moisture  at  the  root 
and  to  a  lesser  extent  in  the  surrounding  air  can 
be  given  by  planting  it  in  the  moraine.  A  westerly 
exposure  is,  in  the  writer's  experience,  best.  There 
are  many  forms  of  this  plant  (leaving  quite  aside 
colour  forms),  and  it  is  worth  while  to  select  one 
with  stout,  well  rounded  flowers,  but  freedom  to 
bloom  is  an  essential  point  and  one  often  over- 
looked. 

Gentiana  bavarica  is  perhaps  even  more  beautiful 
than  G.  verna,  with  a  depth  in  the  colouring 
and  finish  of  the  flower  which  renders  it  quite 
distinct,  apart  from  the  more  slender  habit  of 
growth,  the  paler,  much  less  displayed  foliage, 
and  the  absence  of  basal  rosettes.  The  leaves  of 
G.  bavarica,  indeed,  get  larger  as  they  near  the 
top  of  stem,  being  reminiscent  in  this  respect  of 


might  be  described  as  a  minute  and  dark  G.  verna, 
but  the  leaves  are  narrower,  more  rigid  and  grass- 
like.    G.     brachyphylla     is     rather    smaller     and 


287 

distinctly  brighter  in  colour  than  G.  verna.  Unlike 
that  species,  it  grows  into  compact  tufts  or  mats 
of  foliage.  Though  its  range  in  the  .A.lps  is  higher 
than  that  of  verna,  many  find  it  easier  to  make 
happy  in  the  moraine. 

Turning  now  to  the  taller  and  more  leafy  species, 
the  huge  G.  lutea,  from  the  root  of  which  is  obtained 
the  bitter  principle  so  excellent  as  a  tonic,  is  in 
its  native  fields  a  remarkably  handsome  plant, 
so  handsome  that  it  might  well  be  tried  in  cool, 
rich  soil  in  the  wild  garden.  It  is  fairly  easy  to 
raise  and  rear  from  seeds.  The  related  G.  tibetica 
calls  for  mention  only  as  an  ugly  weed  to  be  avoided. 
The  Heath  Gentian,  G.  Pneumonanthe,  is  an 
indigenous  plant  and  interesting  on  that  account, 
and,  although  not  showy,  is  worth  trying  to  estab- 
lish in  cool  soil  with  an  abundance  of  humus. 
The  Continental  form  called  G.  P.  arvensis  is  much 
larger  and  somewhat  more  showy. 

The  Willow  Gentian,  G.  asclepiadea,  is,  if  a 
good  form  be  obtained  and  given  good  culture — ■ 
it  likes  a  rich  deep  soil  and  a  cool  exposure — a 
wonderfully  fine  species  for  wild  garden  or  border. 
Its  flowers  in  the  better  forms  have  that  gloriously 
rich  hue  known  to  gardeners  everywhere  as  gentian 
blue.  G.  septemfida,  somewhat  in  the  same  way 
but  a  much  smaller  plant,  has  conspicuous,  well 
opened  flowers  of  a  beautiful  soft  blue.  This 
species  also  likes  a  cool  root-run  in  rich,  rather 
peaty  soil.  G.  Lagodechiana  is  merely  a  dwarf 
form  of  this  species,  but  a  very  desirable  one. 
The  beautiful  G.  Freyniana  again  is  closely  related 
and  requires  similar  treatment. 

There  are  several  other  beautiful  Gentians 
with  which  the  writer  has  had  no  successful 
experience,  but  he  will  end  these  brief  notes  by 
mentioning  a  few  weedy  species  which  should  be 
shunned.  Such  are  G.G.  brevidens,  Cruciata 
(this  is  better  than  some),  dahurica,  decumbens, 
Fetisowi,  Kesselringi,  macrophylla,  Olivieri, 
punctata  and  Walujewi,  with  the  already  men- 
tioned tibetica.  If  experimenters  with  this  genus 
note  only  the  list  of  rubbish — generally  speaking, 
easily  grown  rubbish — these  notes  will  not  have 
been  uTitten  in  vain.  H.   H. 


BASKET      BEGONIAS 

Their    Value,    Culture   and  Present   Propagation 


THOSE  who  appreciate  the  most  beautiful 
and  artistic  effect  from  their  greenhouses 
and  conservatories  are  always  on  the 
alert  for  charming  plants  that  can  b? 
suspended  from  the  roof  in  baskets. 
And  in  this  connexion  I  know  of  few  plants  which 
are  capable  of  giving  greater  satisfaction  than 
the  pendent  Begonias,  for  they  possess  every 
virtue  and  no  vices,  are  graceful  and  varied  in 
form  and  colouring,  easy  to  grow  and  to  manage, 
enjoy  remarkable  immunity  froni  pests,  and  flower 
brilliantly  and  continuously  month  after  month. 
In  winter  they  can  be  safely  stored  away  in  a 
frost-proof  place  while  other  varieties — in  the 
form  of  B.  Gloire  de  Lorraine  and  its  relatives — 
take  up  the  story  and  '*  carry  on  "  all  through 
winter  and  spring,  until  their  tuberous  brethren 
are  again  ready  to  occupy  the  place  of  honour. 

Enter  through  the  doorway  of  a  house  in  which 
basket  Begonias  are  well  represented  and — however 
brilUantly  the  staging  may  be  furnished — you 
will  find  your  eyes  irresistibly  drawn  upwards 
to  the  flaming  colour  masses  that  hang  overhead. 
Yellow,  carmine,  sahnon,  pink,  deep  red,  orange 
and  scarlet,  all  are  there,  and  all  flowering  with 
the  profusion  to  which  we  are  accustomed  on  the 
staging,  save  that  these  flowers  are  in  an  infinite 


variety  of  form  and  are  borne  on  long  pendulous 
stems  full  of  grace  and  lightness. 

Culturally,  the  tubers  are  started  in  precisely  the 
same  way  as  the  ordinary  tuberous  varieties  and  left 
to  grow  on  until  about  sins,  of  top  growth  has  been 
made,  when  they  are  ready  for  placing  in  the  baskets. 

Where  named  kinds  are  used,  one  tuber  in 
an  Sin.  basket  is  sufficient,  though  a  better  effect 
is  obtained  where  a  loin.  basket  is  used  with  three 
tubers  set  in  a  triangle.  Great  interest  attaches 
to  unnamed  seedlings,  however,  and  where  a 
number  of  these  are  on  hand,  half  a  dozen  can  go 
into  an  Sin.  basket  for  the  first  summer,  although 
in  subsequent  years  these  make  much  more 
vigorous  tubers  than  the  named  kinds  and  conse- 
quently require  more  space. 

.\  mixed  packet  of  the  hybrids  of  B.  Lloydii 
will  provide  a  wide  \'ariety  of  colours,  and  in  the 
second  and  succeeding  years  a  single  tuber  of  these 
is  sufficient  to  furnish  a  full  basket. 

Baskets  which  are  to  contain  tubers  must  first 
be  well  lined  with  fresh  green  moss,  carrying 
this  right  to  the  top,  and  then  filled  with  soil. 
The  moss  should  not  be  spared  or  the  soil  will 
wash  through  it  when  watering  has  to  be  done. 
Make  the  soil  firm  and  let  this  consist  chiefly  of 
turfy    loam.     Deep    planting    is    a    mistake,    the 


288 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  17,  1922. 


tubers  should  only  be  just  hidden  from  sight. 
Water  thoroughly  when  planting  is  finished  and 
hang  the  baskets  in  a  house  where  the  temperature 
ranges  between  60°  and  70",  keeping  the  atmo- 
sphere well  moist  by  daily  syringing.  While  the 
roots  must  never  become  dry,  a  sodden  condition 
of  the  soil  quickly  brings  the  plants  into  an  un- 
healthy condition.  Too  much  or  too  little  moisture 
will  at  a  later  stage  bring  down  the  buds  in  showers. 

Basket  Begonias  are  often  far  too  heavily 
shaded.  Scalding  sun  they  will  not  stand,  but 
a  light  screen  only  is  necessary  to  protect  the 
foliage  from  harm,  and  there  can  be  no  question 
that  they  flower  much  more  freely  where  a  good 
supply  of  hght  reaches  both  buds  and  stems. 
A  common  mistake  is  permitting  the  plants  to 
flower  before  they  have  well  furnished  the  baskets 
with  growth.  Remove  all  buds  as  they  appear 
until  plenty  of  vigorous  growth  has  been  made  ; 
the  flowering  will  then  take  care  of  itself.  ••Kmong 
named  varieties  I  can  confidently  recommend  the 
following  as  first  class  in  every  way.  Alice 
Manning  is  a  lovely  clear  yellow,  splendidly  free, 
fully  double,  and  forming  a  perfect  shower  bouquet 
of  loveliness.  Carminea  cannot  be  accused  of 
heaviness.  It  is  Ught  and  graceful  and  a  fine 
carmine  red  in  coloiu".  Corallina  is  a  distinct 
salmon  pink,  the  blooms  being  especially  pretty 
by  reason  of  their  long  pointed  petals.  Fleur  de 
Chrysanthfeme  is  one  of  the  best  named  species 
for  making  a  display  of  colour.  The  habit  of 
growth  is  all  that  could  be  desired,  while  the  pro- 
fusion with  which  the  salmon  pink  flowers  are 
borne  is  little  short  of  marvellous.  Gladys  is 
another  "  all  flower  "  variety,  very  double,  with 
long,  narrow  petals  of  rich  dark  red.  The  fol'age 
of  this,  too,  is  long  and  narrow,  just  the  best  possible 
complement  to  the  pendulous  masses  of  flowers. 
In  bright  crimson  Lena  is  a  distinguished  variety 
with  attractive,  loosely  formed  flowers,  the 
abundance  of  which  leaves  nothing  to  be  desired. 
Marie  Bouchet,  owing  to  its  great  vigour  and  the 
length  to  which  the  long  branches  extend,  is 
suitable  only  for  really  large  baskets  and  where 
space  permits  of  their  being  hung.  In  the  large 
conservatory  it  is  superb  with  a  profusion  of 
handsome  deep  red  flowers.  As  a  contrast  to 
this  for  the  small  house  Mrs.  Bilkey  (orange  salmon) 
is  worthy  of  high  praise  ;  indeed,  next  to  Lloydii  it 
is  the  most  desirable  of  all,  as,  while  giving  glorious 
balls  of  colour,  it  is  not  too  rampant.  The  name 
Rose  Cactus  is  aptly  descriptive  of  this  showy 
form.  The  plant  simply  smothers  itself  with  a 
wealth  of  bright  rose  cactus-like  blooms  with 
very  elegant  pointed  petals.  For  bright  scarlet 
red  Sinus  will  take  some  beating  ;  indeed,  it  is, 
so  far  as  I  have  seen,  the  premier  variety  in  this 
colour.  Stella  (another  red)  is  first  class  as  a 
basket  plant,  and  is  distinctive  in  the  pretty  form 
of  its  flowers,  the  narrow  petals  of  which  are 
curiously  curled  and  twisted. 

When  propagation  of  any  of  the  above  is  con- 
templated it  should  not  be  left  too  late  in  the 
season.  This  is  an  excellent  time  for  detaching 
the  cuttings,  which  when  taken  off  at  this  time 
orm  nice  Uttle  tubers  before  the  advent  of  autumn 
inhibits  further  expansion.  Cuttings  are  not 
difficult  to  root,  provided  the  watering  is  in  skilled 
hands.  Sever  these  just  below  a  joint  and  remove 
the  lower  leaves  with  a  sharp  knife,  then  insert 
in  pots  filled  with  hght  soil  so  that  the  base  of 
each  cutting  rests  upon  a  small  heap  of  sand. 
Water  so  that  the  soil  is  never  more  than  just 
damp,  bvit  keep  the  atmosphere  well  moist  so 
that  the  foliage  does  not  droop.  A  close  propagat- 
ing frame  in  the  greenhouse  is  an  ideal  place  for 
the  cuttings,  gradually  accustoming  them  to  more 
and  more  air  until  fully  rooted,  when  they  should 
at  once  be  given  single  pots  and  be  grown  on  as 
rapidly  as  possible.      H.  W.  Canning-Wkight. 


THE    PICTORIAL    ROSE    GARDEN 


THE  rose  gardens  on  the  Riviera  have 
been  unusually  beautiful  this  season, 
partly  because  the  month  of  April  was 
so  cool  that  the  blooms  opened  more 
slowly  and  lasted  longer,  and  partly 
because  the  bushes  had  rested  so  long  and  so 
completely,  owing  to  the  absence  of  the  usual 
autumn  rains.  In  consequence  of  this,  no  Roses 
were  pruned  last  winter,  and  this  absence  of 
pruning,  coupled  with  the  long  rest  and  thorough 
aeration  of  the  soil,  produced  the  most  splendid 
harvest  of  bloom — richer  in  colour  and  larger  in 
size — than  any  season  I  can  remember.  It  will 
be  interesting  to  see  if  there  is  anything  of  the 
same  sort  visible  in  EngUsh  gardens  this  summer. 
We  certainly  are  apt  to  over-prune  our  Roses 
in  England  :  we  love  our  trim  rose  gardens  with 
their  neat  bedded-out  masses  of  flowers  hardly 
taller  than  the  geranium  beds  they  have  replaced, 
and  no  doubt  quite  as  briUiant  in  colour  in  many 
cases  ;  but  is  it  not  a  fact  that  one  often  hears 
a  friend  say  :  "  My  rose  beds  are  quite  worn  out 
and  must  be  renewed  "  ?  The  truth  is  many  of 
these  gardens  are  too  neat,  the  Roses  too  closely 
pruned  in  spring,  and,  what  is  worse,  the  Roses 
in  summer  are  cut  with  such  long  stems  that  the 
growth  of  the  plants  is  seriously  weakened. 
You  cannot  always  be  cutting  your  Roses  back 
if  you  wish  to  make  or  keep  them  vigorous,  and 
the  bedding  Roses  should  be  lightly  shorn  of 
leaf  or  flower  during  the  summer. 

On  the  Riviera  the  Rose  bush  is  all  the  better 
and  more  vigorous  as  the  years  go  on,  and  a 
twenty  year  old  bush  will  produce  hundreds  of 
flowers  each  year — often  twice  yearly  on  bushes 
that  are  allowed  to  grow  at  their  own  sweet  will 
and  are  not  cut  down  to  ground  level  each  winter. 
There  was  a  charming  picture  the  other  day  in 
The  Garden  of  Rhododendron  bushes  in  rough 
grass,  each  covered  with  abundant  heads  of  flower. 
I  showed  it  to  a  friend,  who  said  at  once  :  "  Why, 
without  my  glasses  I  should  take  this  as  a  picture 
of  the  Rose  bushes  in  your  valley  !  "  and  it  is  no 
exaggeration  to  say  that  Rose  bushes  on  the 
Riviera  should  be  as  big  and  as  full  of  flower  as 
any  Rhododendron  bush  in  England. 

It  is  not  every  Rose,  however,  that  is  suitable 
for  the  pictorial  rose  garden,  and  that  is  where 
comes  the  "  rub."  We  see  so  many  beautiful 
Roses  at  a  show  that  we  are  possessed  with  the 
idea  that  they  are  the  Roses  needed  for  the  garden 
of  our  dreams.  It  is  true  they  may  be  so,  but  you 
have  to  prove  them.  Especially  is  this  the  case 
on  the  Riviera.  Roses  budded  on  the  Briar  stock 
are  sure  to  suffer  in  a  really  dry,  hot  season  ; 
while  the  Indica  major  and  De  la  Grifferaie  stocks 
do  not  suit  many  Roses,  notably  the  brilliant 
Pernetiana  Roses,  which  prefer  a  moister  climate 
at  all  times.  Travellers  all  delight  in  the  cascades 
of  Roses  seen  tumbUng  over  the  garden  walls  or 
climbing  high  in  the  Olive  trees  ,  not  one  of  them 
probably  is  less  than  twenty  or  thirty  years  old, 
and  if  ever  grafted  (which  I  doubt)  has  long  ago 
made  root  for  itself  and  left  the  stock  to  pine 
away.  So,  then,  the  Roses  you  wish  to  depend 
upon  for  your  pictorial  garden  should  preferably  be 
on  their  own  roots,  and  patience  will  be  needed  for 
a  year  or  more.  On  the  Riviera  we  have  a  number 
of  Tea  Roses  raised  years  ago,  chiefly  by  the 
Nabonnand  family,  that  are  quite  indispensable 
on  account  of  their  vigour  and  freedom  of  bloom, 
especially  in  winter,  when  Roses  are  doubly 
precious  and  doubly  delightful  because  they  last 
so  long  in  the  cool  atmosphere.  In  the  more 
northern  gardens,  and  especially  in  England,  the 
Hybrid  Tea  Roses  are  the  mainstay  of  any  rose 
garden,   but   many   of   them   have   not   the   same 


vigour  of  growth  as  the  Tea  or  Bourbon  Rose, 
and  I  leave  it  to  those  who  cultivate  them  best 
to  say  which  are  the  most  pictorial  in  growth 
and  habit,  for  it  is  the  free-growing  Rose  that 
I  wish  to  champion,  and  it  is  the  permanent  and 
pictorial  rose  garden  at  which  I  aim.  There,  if 
need  be,  pruning  may  be  left  alone  now  and  again, 
when  the  seasons  are  kind,  so  that  Roses  may 
have  the  chance  of  showing  themselves  in  full 
beauty.  To  show  off  such  Roses  an  Olive  tree 
or  two  and  quite  a  sprinkling  of  Orange  or  Lemon 
trees  are  needed  to  give  background  and  shelter 
from  sun  and  wind.  That  entails  irrigation  ini 
summer,  as  the  Orange  and  Lemon  trees  must  be 
kept  green  and  growing.  So,  then,  the  pictorial 
rose  garden  must  be  where  water  is  at  hand, 
whether  on  the  terraced  hillside  or  on  more  level 
ground.  I  need  say  nothing  about  the  necessity 
of  planting  the  familiar  Banksian  Roses  of  all 
types,  or  of  the  Japanese  Rosa  sinica  and  its 
lovely  hybrid  Anemone,  or  of  that  lovely  but 
uncertain  Rose,  Fortune's  Yellow,  for  they  must 
be  in  every  garden. 

I  am  now  mentioning  the  strongest  growers 
and  the  best  winter  bloomers.  Noella  Nabonnand 
(deep  red),  Comtesse  de  Turenne  (pink,  Bourbon), 
Dr.  Rouges  (red),  Duchesse  de  Nemours  (bright 
pink,  Bourbon),  Lamarque  (lemon  white.  Noisette), 
Mme.  .Alfred  Carriere  (flesh  white)  Beaute  de 
I'Europe  (buff  yellow),  M.  Choutet  (orange  and 
yellow)  and  M.  Calvat  (pink,  Bourbon)  are  all 
of  the  greatest  vigour  and  beauty  and  should  be 
used  for  arches,  chmbing  up  trees  or  posts,  or  a 
wall,  if  there  be  one. 

Not  many  Roses  succeed  on  a  south  wall,  but 
Lamarque  and  Noella  Nabonnand  seem  to  "stand  " 
anywhere.  Then  comes  a  sUghtly  less  rampant 
group,  most  usefu.  for  cut  bloom  in  mid-winter,  of 
which  Peace  and  Warrior  are  almost  invaluable. 
Peace  is  either  a  seedUng  or  sport  of  the  good  old 
G.  Nabonnand  (still  one  of  the  best)  and  its  blooms 
open  in  cold  weather  as  well  as  did  the  old  Safrano, 
now  discarded,  and  its  lemon  cream  tones  are 
always  welcome.  These  Roses  (and  many  others) 
need  either  a  pole  or  an  espalier  to  show  off  their 
best  points.  There  is  a  new  American  Rose  named 
Hadley,  deep  red  in  colour  and  very  fragrant, 
that  promises  to  come  under  this  category. 

Then  come  the  ever-welcome  bush  Roses,  which 
should  in  time  attain  Sft.  or  loft.  in  height  and 
as  much  through.  These  are  the  mainstay  of  the 
more  formal  part  of  the  garden  and  should  be 
planted  in  groups  of  three  so  as  to  make  more 
effect.  After  many  years  experience  I  unhesi- 
tatingly give  the  first  place  to  the  rose  pink 
General  Schabliakine  and  the  creamy  Antoine 
Mari  as  the  most  dependable  of  all  winter  Roses. 
Comtesse  de  Leusse,  flesh  pink  and  very  hardy, 
and  Archiduc  Joseph,  more  stiff  and  sturdy,  if 
possible,  and  varying  in  colour  from  pale  to  deep 
rose  pink,  come  next  as  indispensables.  There  are 
many  others  nearly  as  good,  and  local  conditions 
bring  them  into  the  first  rank  sometimes,  as  I 
have  seen,  but  the  list  would  be  so  long  I  dare 
not  go  on  with  more  names  ;  but  I  must  remark, 
c-n  passant,  how  few  good  yellow  roses  are  to  be 
found  in  winter,  and  I  regret  not  to  be  able  to 
recommend  the  good  old  Mar(?chal  Niel  or  the 
still  lovely  Chromatelle  mthout  a  word  of  apology 
for  their  uncertain  behaviour.  Will  some  good 
man  give  us  a  Reve  d'Or  that  shall  be  worthy 
its  name  ?  How  welcome  it  would  be !  It  is 
amusing  sometimes  to  bud  a  new  Rose  on  a 
strong  shoot  of  any  of  these  free-growing 
Roses — sometimes  it  is  a  great  success.  A 
hedge  of  Roses  can  be  agreeably  varied  by 
such  a  proceeding,  E.  H.  Woodall. 


June  17,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


289 


THE    ESSENTIALS    OF    GOOD     GARDEN     DESIGN 

/. — Simplicity  and  Directness. 


A  GARDEN  designer  must,"  if  his  work  is 
to  be  worth  while,  have  good  taste , 
but  the  possession  of  that  elusive  quaUty 
will  not  of  itself  make  a  garden  designer; 
or,  indeed,  a  designer  of  any  kind,  for 
between  the  appreciation  of  what  is  good  and  fine 
and  the  power  to  design  or  construct  such  there  is 
a  great  gulf  fixed.  The  professional  garden 
designer,  or  garden  architect  as  he  is  now  generally 
called,  has,  or  should  have,  over  the  amateur 
who  designs  his  own  garden,  the  great  advantages 
of  much  experience  and  a  prolonged  study  of 
various  styles  and  traditions.  This  notwith- 
standing there  will  always  be  numbers  of  people 
who  will  wish  to  design  their  own  gardens,  and 
it  is  largely  for  their  benefit  that  these  notes  are 
penned,  though  many  who  would  never  venture 
to  carry  through  their  own  designs  may  probably 
find  them  of  interest. 

The  amateur  designer  has  usually  one  advantage 
over  the  professional  in  that  he  can,  if  he  has 
patience,  bring  an  amount  of  thought  to  bear 
upon  the  matter  in  hand  which  a  garden  architect 
could  hardly  be  expected  to  give.  Such  thought 
is  especially  valuable  in  that  it  may  suggest  ways 
of  using  to  the  best  advantage  existing  features — 
clumps  of  trees  and  what  not — ways  which  would 
at  first  sight  elude  one.  Even  this  advantage,  how- 
e\er,  should  not  be  unduly  magnified,  for  it  must  be 
i^ranted  that  a  trained  observer  will  see  and  absorb 
in  a  few  hours  what  it  might  take  an  amateur 
weeks  or  months  thoroughly  to  appreciate.  If  the 
amateur  designer  is  a  keen  gardener  of  long 
standing,  he  may  perhaps  have  a  better  knowledge 
of  trees  and  plants  and  their  possibilities  than, 
at  any  rate,  the  average  garden  architect,  and 
this  knowledge  he  should  turn  to  full  account. 

The  veriest  novice  can  usually  distinguish  a 
garden   designed   bv  the    garden   owner   from   one 


laid  out  by  a  garden  architect — even  by  an  archi- 
tect of  middling  ability — though  he  would  perhaps 
be  puzzled  to  state  wherein  exactly  lay  the  differ- 
ence. The  failing  of  the  architect's  garden 
is  apt  to  be  monotony,  that  of  the  amateur's 
complexity,  hence  the  need  of  these  notes  upon 
simplicity  and  directness. 

Want  of  simplicity  is  manifested  in  a  multitude 
of  ways,  as,  for  instance,  in  the  indiscriminate 
dotting  of  little  beds  in  a  lawn  where  a  stretch 
of  unbroken  greensward  or  a  stretch  broken  only 
by  a  bed  or  group  of  beds  would  have  been  at  once 
simpler  and  more  restful.  Again,  how  often 
does  one  see  a  path  that  obviously  winds  hither 
and  thither  merely  for  the  sake  of  winding,  and 
how  fatuous  such  a  path  always  looks  !  A.  straight 
path  or  a  path  in  one  strong  yet  beautiful  curve 
would  in  such  case  be  infinitely  better  because 
of  its  straightforwardness  and  simplicity.  Generally 
undue  complexity  leads  to  the  compressing  into 
a  given  space  of  more  detail  than  the  space  will 
properly  display.  Paths  and  vistas  accordingly 
are  apt  to  be  too  narrow  to  be  effective,  and  in 
other  ways  want  of  simplicity  is  apt  to  strike 
the  eye  as  meanness  of  proportioning. 

A  good  and  restful  garden  need  have  scarcely 
any  ornaments,  but  those  included  should  certainly 
be  good  of  their  kind,  bearing  in  mind  that  goodness 
and  expensiveness  are  not  interchangeable  terms. 
A.  Venetian  well-head  and  a  simple  modem  potter's 
urn  may  be  equally  good  each  in  their  separate 
ways  and  as  fitting  for  your  garden,  especially  if 
it  be  a  small  one,  the  urn  may  conceivably  be  the 
better  as  being  more  suitable,  both  in  scale  and 
material,  to  its  surroundings.  Observe,  however, 
the  essential  difference,  apart  from  design,  between 
the  good  and  the  bad.  h  terra-cotta  urn  that 
frankly  is  that,  may  be  very  pleasing  ;  but  a  terra- 
cotta vase  that  makes  believe   to  be  stone  is  an 


Fig  I. — Two  Rose-kordered  paths.     On  the   left 

a  meaningless  wriggle.     On  the  right  an  example 

of  simple,  sound  design. 

imposture.  It  may  fill  the  eye  from  a  distance, 
but  when,  drawing  nearer  to  inspect  what  one 
admires,  one  discovers  it  to  be  a  fake,  nothing 
but  dissatisfaction  is  left. 

This  question  of  ornaments  is  responsible  for 
much  of  the  feeling  of  complexity  with  which  so 
many  gardens  impress  one.  .\n  ornament  may 
be  intrinsically  beautiful  and  yet  be  quite  unfitted 
to  your  garden  or  to  mine.  What  we  need  is 
something  right,  not  only  in  feeling  but  in  scale 
for  the  place  into  which  it  is  to  go.  Well-heads 
and    sundials    in    the    medium-sized    garden    are. 


:e. 


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_.'^'^-- Jfe&l-^- 


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ikl 


^J 


Fig.  2. — Treatment  for  the  garden-front  of  a  house  rather  awkzuardly 
circumstanced  as  to  its  boundary.  Note  the  absurd  curves  of  the 
surrounding  shrubbery,  the  (usual)  round  Rhododendron  bed,  and 
the  ugly  and  distracting  little  beds  in  the  foreground.  Yet  this 
illustrates  a  by  no  means  exceptional  treatment. 


Fig.  3. — A  simple  treatment  for  the  same  site,  in  which  the  offending 
zvaves  are  abolished  and  the  beauty  of  the  grass  setting  is  allowed 
play.  The  bed  at  left  hand  top  corner  would  be  filled  with  dwarf-grow  ing 
shrubs  in  keeping  ivith  the  shrubbery  behind  and  the  balancing  trees  on 
the  right  might  be  under-planted  with  Heaths,  Genista  hispanica,  etc. 


290 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  17,  1922 


experience  shows,  apt  to  be  over-large — though 
there  is  a  wide  range  of  small  sundials  always  on 
offer — while  garden  seats  and  bird  baths,  on  the 
contrary,  as  often  seen  are  ridiculously  small. 
It  is  difficult  in  a  small  garden  not  to  get  the 
summer-house  too  large  to  make  a  good  ending 
to  a  vista,  but  it  is  amazing  sometimes  to  hear, 
as  one  often  does  hear,  "  We  hope  some  day  to 
put  a  summer-house  there  to  close  that  vista," 
and  then  to  see  the  seat  which,  pending  the  pro- 
vision of  the  summer-house,  they  have  set  to  close 
the  vista  in  its  place.  If  a  vista  cannot  be  closed 
worthily  and  weightily  by  garden  furniture,  much 
better  let  it  terminate  in  a  half-circle  of  soUd 
English  Vew. 

A  notable  example  of  want  of  directness  in 
treatment  is  to  be  seen  on  the  garden  front  of  the 
new  laboratories  at  the  R.H.S.  gardens  at  Wisley, 
where  the  terrace,  falling  from  end  to  end,  is  quite 
unnecessarily  broken  and  the  steps  suffered  to 
meander  in  a  way  which  is  not  only  distracting 
but  which  actually  breaks,  by  the  interposition 
of  a  wall  parapet,  the  line  of  vista ;  all  quite 
unnecessarily. 

Much  restlessness  and  complexity  is  introduced 
into  gardens  because  of  a  desire  to  have  something 
different  from  other  folk.  The  personality  of 
the  garden-lover  will  surely  stamp  its  mark  upon 
the  garden,  and  that  quite  unconsciously.  The 
seeking  of  the  merely  bizarre  to  provide  a  differ- 
ence is  as  unnecessary  as  it  is  disturbing.  Where 
natural  rather  than  formal  gardening  is  desired 
or  is  appropriate  it  might  appear  that  the  resolute 
quest  of  simpUcity  is  no  longer  essential,  yet 
actually  in  no  form  of  garden  la5'-out  does  one 
need  more  steadily  to  keep  one's  eyes  upon  the 
light.  Breadth  and  simplicity  are,  in  fact,  the 
very  keystones  of  successful  natural  gardening, 
though  it  is  true  enough  that  such  work  is  not 
simple  to  carry  out  effectively.  The  amateur 
has,  however,  this  consolation — that  working 
with  living  material  he  may  largely  alter  season 
by  season  the  living  picture  he  is  painting  until 
he  moulds  it  "  nearer  to  his  heart's  desire." 

Estates  laid  out  by  "  CapabiUty "  Brown — 
or  such  parts  of  them  as  still  bear  evidences 
of  his  handiwork — have  sometimes  a  dignity  and 
beauty  worthy  of  emulation.  It  is  rather  doubtful, 
however,  whether  this  is  not  rather  evidence  of 
Nature's  triumph  over  mediocre  design  rather 
than  any  special  goodness  in  the  design  itself. 
Be  this  as  it  may,  it  is  certain  that  Brown's  ideas 
of  garden  arrangement  are  quite  unsuitable, 
not  only  for  small  gardens,  but  for  any  gardens 
of  a  size  likely  to  be  constructed  to-day.  Present- 
day  taste  certainly  rather  favours  the  formal  in 
garden  making,  but  the  formality  should  not  be 
over  emphasised  by  undue  restraint  on  the  liberty 
of  growth  of  the  plants  used. 

If  there  is  anything  worse  in  modern  gardens 
than  the  succession  of  aimless  serpentine  paths 
sometimes  seen  it  is  the  serpentine  curves  which 
but  too  often,  form  the  outline  of  lawns.  Usually 
a  very  little  thought  will  show  how  these  may 
be  altered,  nor  need  it  as  a  rule  be  a  difficult 
matter. 

The  popularity  of  stone  paving  is  understand- 
able, since  it  forms  an  excellent  dry  path  and  is, 
especially  if  it  takes  the  form  of  self-faced  hard 
York  stone,  exceedingly  pleasing  in  itself  and 
even  more  pleasing  as  a  splendid  foil  to  many 
plants  with  flowers  or  fohage  in  shades  of  purple, 
crimson,  soft  yellow  or  grey.  There  has,  however, 
sprung  up  of  late  years  a  tendency  to  use  what  is 
called  "  crazy "  paving — often  with  hideous 
gaping  joints — even  for  formal  paths  and  terraces. 
This  tendency  can  only  be  described  as  retrograde. 
It  reminds  one  of  the  strange  fancy  which  existed 
a  generation  ago  for  "  rustic  work,"  rooteries  and 
other  monstrosities. 


IRISES    AND    SUMMER    FLOWERS    AT 
VINCENT    SQUARE 


IT  was  very  largely  a  show  of  Irises  at  Vincent 
Square  on  June  7  and  S,  even  though  the 
hot,  dry  weather  had  sojhastened  the  bloomuig 
of  so  many  varieties  that  the  selection  of 
types  to  illustrate  the  proposed  classification 
of  Irises  was  not  so  valu- 
able as  was  hoped.  But 
the  great  trade  growers 
were  able  to  set  up 
magnificent  collections  of 
many  types  and  their 
great  excellence  may  be 
judged  by  the  fact  that 
three  gold  medals  were 
awarded  to  '  [collections. 
These  were  by  Messrs. 
Barr  and  Sons,"*  who 
arranged  their  [great 
array  in  a  most  attrac- 
tive manner  ;  to  Mr.  Amos 
Perry,  who  had  his 
gorgeous  Irises  rising 
from  a  cool  green  bank 
of  his  admirable  hardy 
Ferns ;  and  to  Messrs. 
Wallace  and  Company,  for 
such  an  extensive  and 
valuable  collection  that 
the  "  congratulations  of 
the  Council,"  the  latest 
and  most  valued  award 
of  the  Society,  were  added 
to  the  gold  medal. 

Although  it  did  not 
contain  so  many  flowers 
as  in  their  entrancing 
Iris  garden  at  Chelsea,  the 
collection  of  Messrs.  G. 
Bunyard  and  Co.  was  very 
attractive  and  particularly 
rich  in  varieties  of  the 
showy  Iris  squalens  sec- 
tion. At  the  other  end  of 
the  hall  Messrs.  G.  G. 
\\'hitelegg  and  Co., 
Limited,  had  a  \aluable 
collection  of  Irises,  in 
which  the  yellow  and 
carmine-bronze  Iris  King, 
the  lavender  shaded 
Tamar,    the    yellow    Mrs. 

Neubronner,  and  many  others  were  very  prominent. 
Of  the  many  sorts  in  Wallace's  collection,  Isoline, 
lavender  blush  with  rosy  lavender  falls  ;  Souvenir 
de  Mme.  Gaudichau,  the  deepest  and  most  velvety 
dark  blue  Iris  in  the  show  ;  M.  Boyer,  a  good  spike 
of  metallic  purple  standards  and  rosy  purple  falls  ; 
Ambigua,  of  delightful  reddish  claret  and  maroon 
shading,  were  especially  charming. 

In  Messrs.  Barr's  artistic  group  there  were 
stately  spikes  of  such  pallida  varieties  as  Crepuscule, 
Albert  Victor  and  dahnatica  Princess  Beatri'.e. 
Chief  among  the  Iris  Squalens  sorts  were  Mary 
Garden,  Eldorado,  Le  Reve  and  Quaker  I.ady. 
Besides  these  and  many  more  of  similar  types,  they 
had  some  excellent  varieties  of  giant  Xiphium 
Irises  and  Ixias  Humbert  and  Scarlet  and  Gold. 
A  smaller  collection  by  Messrs.  Lowe  and  Gibson, 
who  can  grow  Irises  equally  as  well  as  they  do 
border  Carnations  and  .■\uriculas,  included  beautiful 
sp'kes  of  Dora  Longden,  Eldorado,  Prosper  Laugier 
and,  best  of  all,  Camelot,  a  chaste  Bliss  seedling  with 
milk  white  petals  hghtly  feathered  pale  lavender. 

Such  Irises  as  Fro,  of  golden  and  bronzy-carmine 
colouring  ;   Isoline,  pale  shades  of  purple  ;  Princess, 


a  dainty  lilac  blush,  and  Ed.  Michel,  royal 
purple,  with  bright  lines  at  the  base  of  the  petals, 
were  pleasantly  associated,  by  Messrs.  Waterer. 
Sons  and  Crisp,  with  goodly  masses  of  the  Golden 
Sunshine   Beauty   Lupin,    Delphinium   Lamartine, 


ONE    OF    THE    NEATEST    OF    SUN-ROSES- 
ROSMARINIFOLIUM. 


-HELIANTHEMUM 


Anrhusa  italica  Dropmore  \-a:'iety  and  some  tall 
spikes  of  Eremurus. 

The  bulbous  Irises  were  represented  bj-  two 
interesting  collections  in  addition  to  the  .Xiphium 
varieties  in  Barr's  collection.  Ryders  had  a 
number  of  very  good  Dutch  Irises.  Those  of 
blue  shades  included  Imperator  and  E.  B.  Garnier, 
while,  of  the  whites,  D.  Haring,  White  Excelsior, 
and  A.  L.  Koster  were  chaste  and  beautiful. 
Messrs.  Chapman,  Limited,  set  up  some  of  their 
Rotherside  Irises  which  are  said  to  be  crosses  be- 
tween Iris  tingitana  and  Spanish  v.irietles.  They 
are  early  flowering,  of  good  size  and  in  a  pleasant 
variety. 

There  was  an  Iris  Conference  during  the  afternoon 
and  in  order  to  assist  in  the  work  of  colour  classifi- 
cation the  Society  had  brought  from  Wisley  flowers 
of  many  classes  and  types,  but  the  season  prevented 
this  being  as  full  as  was  wished.  The  three  or  four 
competitive  classes  found  ample  space  in  a  part 
of  the  Orchid  annexe.  The  best  exhibit  from  every 
point  of  view  was  the  collection  of  twelve  v.irieties 
by  Messrs.  Wallace  and  Co.,  which  won  the  prize 
offered  by  the  American  Iris  Society.    These  were 


r 


June  17,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


291 


all  varieties  in  commerce  and  included  handsome 
spikes  of  Ma  Mie,  Medrano,  Proserpine,  Isoline 
and  Ed.  Michel.  Mr.  Baker  was  a  good  second  in 
this  class. 

The  prize  for  the  best  three  spikes  of  one  seedling 
was  awarded  for  Chasseur,  by  Messrs.  Vilmorin- 
Andrieux.  It  is  a  free  flowering  sort,  mostly  3'ellow 
in  colour  ;  the  falls  are  paler  than  the  standards 
and  have  rosy-carmine  markings  at  the  base.  It 
cannot  be  said  to  be  a  beautiful  flower.  Mr.  A.J. 
Bliss  won  the  other  two  first  prizes.  Only  two 
of  his  three  seedlings  were  on  view  and  these  were 
Swari,  a  purple  shaded  Iris,  and  Citronella,  which 
vas  the  most  beautiful  Iris  in  the  hall.  It  is 
much  of  I.  squalens  type  and  the  golden  falls  are 
hea%'ily  lined  with  carmine  which  is  enhanced  in 
beauty  by  the  golden  beard.  As  a  single  spike  he 
showed  Bruno,  a  rich  purple  shaded  flower  of 
magnificent  size  and  shape.  Many  judges  thought 
this  should  have  taken  first  prize  over  Chasseur 
in  the  class  for  three  spikes  of  a  seedUng  Iris. 

Besides  all  these  gorgeous  and  beautiful  Irises, 
there  were  sufficient  general  flowers  to  interest  all 
tastes.  Richly  coloured  sprays  of  such  Roses  as 
Persian  Yellow,  .Star  of  Persia  and  Harrisonii,  were 
shown  by  Mr.  George  Prince  and  the  Rev.  J.  H. 
Pemberton,  while  Rosa  grandiflora,  R.  Moyesii 
and  Pax  were  also  noteworthy  for  their  grace  and 
beauty.  The  usual  collections  of  bright  and  fresh 
Carnations  were  shown  by  Mr.  C.  Engelmann  and 
by  Messrs.  Allwood  Bros.,  who  included  a  good 
selection  of  their  graceful  .Allwoodii.  Messrs. 
John  Peed  and  Son,  staged  an  e-Kcellent  collection 
of  Streptocarpuses,  greenhouse  plants  that  are  of 
icry   easy   cultivation    if   given    light   shade    and 


atmospheric  moisture.  These  plants  were  all  large- 
flowered  hybrids  and  unusually  free  flowering  for 
that  type.  They  also  had  four  double  Pctuni.as  in 
rose,  blue  and  white. 

Bastin's  strain  of  double-flowered  tuberous 
Begonias  were  also  extra  good  and  the  new  \ariety 
Lady  Bell  was  particularly  cliarming. 

.Although  hardy  flowers,  the  Sweet  Peas  shown  by 
Messrs.  R.  Bolton  and  Son,  and  the  Antirrhinums  by 
Messrs.  Dobbie  and  Co.,  had  all  been  grown  under 
glass,  and  they  both  were  especially  fine.  There 
were  several  new  Sweet  Peas  of  Bolton's  raising. 
Comrade  may  be  termed  a  blush  rose  Picture,  for 
it  is  very  like  that  beautiful  sort  in  form  and 
habit.  Elsie  Dean  is  a  silvery  lavender  self  and 
is  certain  to  be  in  request,  as  it  is  a  great  advance 
on  all  previous  lavender  coloured  Sweet  Peas. 
Wonderful,  a  glowing  scarlet,  and  Orange  Flame,  of 
fiery  orange  colour,  are  both  said  to  be  sun  proof. 
Artistrj-  is  a  greatly  improved  Princess  Mary. 
Among  the  Antirrhinums  we  noted  a  vase  of  the 
old  striped  .^Antirrhinum  which  is  rarely  grown  in 
the  south,  but  is  in  high  favour  above  the  Tweed. 
At  the  shows  in  Edinburgh,  Glasgow  and  Dundee 
there  are  often  as  many  as  twenty  exhibits  in  the 
class  for  six  vases  of  distinct  colours,  and  the 
fanciers  are  very  critical  over  them.  The  self 
colours  of  such  as  Coccinea,  Yellow  King,  Cottage 
Maid  (one  of  the  best  pinks),  Amber  Queen,  Mauve 
Queen  and  Maize  Queen  appeal  much  more  to  the 
southern  taste. 

Lupins  were  very  prominent  among  the  border 
flowers.  Mr.  Clarence  Elliott  had  a  splendid 
strain  of  scented  Lupinus  polyphyllus,  and  JMr. 
R.    G.    Downer  showed   some   \ery  strong  spikes, 


though  they  were  not  scented.  A  charming 
strain  of  long-spurred  Aquilegias  was  shown  by 
Mr.  V.  C.  Vicars  of  Newsell's  Park,  Royston,  who 
grows  over  9,000  plants  and  staged  some  sixty 
very  charming  varieties.  Among  several  brilliantly 
coloured  Heucheras,  Mr.  G.  W.  Miller  staged 
H.  tia'-elloides,  a  graceful,  feathery,  soft  pink 
\-ariety  ;  while  Messrs.  B.  Ladhams,  Limited,  had 
many  charming  and  fragrant  garden  Pinks  in 
their  collection  of  border  flowers,  and  Messrs. 
Maxwell  and  Beale  showed  the  imcommon 
Lavandula  Stctchas  and  several  of  the  Mesem- 
bryanthemums,  which  flourish  in  warm,  sunny 
places.  .Ajuga  Brockbanld,  shown  by  Mr.  M. 
Prichard,  bore  many  sturdy  spikes  of  intense 
I'lue  flowers.  Another  extra  good  dwarf  blue 
herbaceous  plant  was  the  Veronica  Shirley  Blue  in 
Messrs.  Ladhani's  collection.  Especially  pleasing 
was  Hehanthemum  rosmarinifohum,  starred  with 
silvery  flowers,  on  Mr.  Clarence  Elliott's  exhibit. 

The  most  showy  of  all  the  trees  and  shrubs  were 
the  sprays  of  the  rosy  purple  pea-shaped  flowers  of 
Robinia  hispida  macrophylla,  with  the  somewhat 
similar  R.  Kelseyi,  shown  by  Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and 
Sons.  Mr.  Charles  Turner  had  several  very 
interesting  shrubs,  such  as  the  sweetly  scented 
Syringa  Swegnizowii  and  S.  Emodi.  Deutzia 
hybrida  Lemoinei  may  be  termed  a  greatly  im- 
proved D.  gracihs  and  it  is  an  excellent  pot  plant 
for  gentle  forcing.  Mr.  Turner  also  had  flowers  of 
Magnolia  Delavayi,  which  are  deHciousIy  fragrant. 
M.  VVatsoni  and  M.  parviflora,  two  other  desirable 
creamy-white  flowered  Magnohas  were  to  be 
seen  in  Mr.  G.  Reuthe's  collection  of  shrubs  and 
alpines   and   he   also   included   brilliant  spikes   of 


A    MOST    STRIKINGLY    COLOURED    BEARDED    IRIS, 
CITRONELLA. 


DIANTHUS  X  MASCOTT,    A     HYBRID    BETWEEN    SWEET    WILLIAM 
AND    CARNATION. 


292 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  17,  1922. 


Habranthus  pratense.  The  fragrant  early  Dutch 
Honeysuckle  was  shown  by  Messrs.  Hillier  and  Son, 
with  several  good  Cistuses,  Abutilon  vitifohum 
and  other  species. 

In  a  comer  space  Messrs.  Blackmore  and  Langdon 
had  a  collection  of  splendid  Delphiniums  in  great 
variety,  while  at  the  other  end  ot  the  hall  Messrs. 
Kelway  also  had  some  Delphiniums,  but  their 
beautiful  Paeonies  were  the  greater  attraction. 
An  admirable  collection  of  double  and  single- 
fJowered  Pyrethrums  was  shown  by  Mr.  W.  F. 
Gullick. 


NEW    .\ND     RARE    PLANTS. 

Begonia  Lady  BeU. — A  very  uncommon  and 
beautiful  tuberous  Begonia.  The  broad  stout 
petals  are  prettily  frilled  and  it  is  a  fully  double 
flower  of  fine  shape.  The  colour  is  deep  creamy 
white  and  the  margins  are  of  soft  orange.  The 
marking  is  much  like  that  of  a  heavy  edged  Picotee. 
.Award  of  merit  to  Messrs.  Blackmore  and  Langdon. 

Buddleia  alternifolia. — This  appears  to  be  a 
very  graceful  and  free  flowering  species.  The 
alternate,  lanceolate  leaves  are  about  2ins.  to 
sins,  long,  pale  green  above  and  silvery  below. 
The  very  long  flowers  are  somewhat  of  variabilis 
type,  but  the  raceme  is  not  branching  at  the  base. 
The  flowers  are  of  silvery  lavender  colour  and 
slightly  fragrant.     Shown  by  Sir  H.  J.  Veitch. 

Catalpa  Fargesii. — A  handsome  tree,  20ft. 
to  30ft.  high,  which  was  first  discovered  by  Pere 
Farges  in  Szechuan,  China.  Wilson  found  it  in 
W.  Hupeh,  Western  China,  in  1907.  The  broadly 
ovate,  soft  green  leaves  are  much  smaller  than  those 
of  C.  bignonioides,  but  the  flowers  are  about  the 
same  size.  They  are  spotted  with  pink  and  brown- 
ish red  and  have  bronzy  orange  markings  on 
se\eral  segments.  Shown  by  the  Hon.  Vicary 
Gihbs. 

DianthUS  x  Mascott. — A  sturdy  and  uncommon 
hybrid,  much  Hke  a  large  flowered  Sweet  Wilham, 
though  the  flatfish  heads  are  rather  looser  in 
habit.  The  deep  pink  flowers  are  dehcately 
scented  and  have  a  small  pale  eye.  It  was  raised 
by  crossing  Sweet  William  Scarlet  Beauty  with 
a  single  Carnatiou.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs. 
Ireland  and  Hitchcock. 

Euonymus  WilsoniL — This  bushy  species, 
which  was  discovered  by  Wilson  on  Mount  Omi, 
W.  China,  has  coriaceous,  serrated,  dark  green 
leaves  and  bears  quantities  of  greenish  flowers. 
Shown  by  the  Hon.  Vicary  Gibbs. 

Gloxinia  Bacchus.— A  very  distinct,  erect 
flowering  variety  which  bore  plenty  of  large, 
perfectly  formed,  very  deep  crimson  coloured 
flowers.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs.  Blackmore 
and  Langdon. 

Iris  Citronella. — The  most  beautiful  of  all 
the  Irises  in  the  Show.  It  is  of  squalens  type,  the 
standards  are  golden  and  the  golden  falls  are 
heavily  lined  with  carmine,  which  contrasts  well 
with  the  golden  beard.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs. 
Wallace  and  Co. 

Iris  ocliracea  coerulea. — A  very  delightful 
Iris.  The  standards  are  copper  coloured  and  the 
falls  have  brown  reticulations  with  a  yellow  base. 
The  blade  is  bluish,  shading  to  copper.  Award  of 
merit.  This  variety  was  raised  by  Mr.  Denis  of 
Balaruc-les-Baiiis  and  shown  by  Mr.  W.  R.  Dykes. 

Lathyrus    pubescens.  —  .'\ithough    introduced 

from  Chih  in  1840,  this  beautiful  blue  perennial 
Pea  is  not  at  all  common  in  gardens.  It  is  generally 
considered  to  be  a  greenhouse  climber  and  it 
received  an  award  of  merit  in  1903.  Some  very 
floriferous  sprays  were  shown  by  Sir  William 
Lawrence. 
Lupinus  polyphyllus^ix  Hills  Strain.— This 

new  strain  of  Lupins  is  all  that  can  be  desired  in 
habit,  form  and  colouring  and  in  addition  possesses 
that    Drecious    gift    of    fragrance    and    for    this    it 


received    the    award.     A    very   large   exhibit   was 
made.     Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  Clarence  ElUott. 

Mimulus  luteus  flore  pleno. — This  variety  is 
so  floriferous  that  the  plants  become  a  mass  of 
glowing  golden  yellow  colour.  The  flowers  are 
of  the  hose-in-hose  type.  .Award  of  merit  to  Messrs. 
B.   Ladhams,   Limited. 

Odontonia  Merope  var.  vivicans.— .\  large 
flower  of  Miltonia-like  appearance  and  deep 
purplish  mauve  colouring.  The  circular  lip  is 
deep  rosy  mauve  with  a  red  mask  and  yellow 
crest  First  class  certificate  to  Messrs.  Charles- 
worth  and  Co. 

Papaver  orientale  Thora  Perry. — One  of  the 
useful    pigmy    Oriental    Poppies    bearing    silvery 


flowers    enclosing    a    central    mass    of    very    dark 
crimson  stamens.     Award  of  merit   to   Mr    Araos 
Peny. 
Potentilla    fruticosa  var.  Farreri.— .A  pretty 

little  shrubby  plant  which  bore  large  quantities 
of  clear  golden  flowers.  Award  of  merit  to  Mr. 
.Amos  Perry. 

Pelargonium  Pink  Profusion. — A  compact  and 
floriferous  "  Ivy-leaved  Geranium,"  which  bears 
good  trusses  of  very  bright  rose  pink  flowers. 
Shown  by  Messrs.  F.  Woolman  and  Sons. 

Pyrethrum  Eileen  May  Robinson.— A  beauti- 
ful single  variety  of  pale  pink  colouring,  tinted 
light  mauve.  Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  H.  Robinson, 
Hinckley,  Leicestershire. 


THE  SUMMER  PRUNING  OF  FRUIT  TREES 

It    is    the    hounden    duty   of  a  fruit  grower    to    give   full  encouragement 

to  his  trees.      Summer  pruning  or  pinching  is  a  direct  aid   to  fruitfulness 

and  it  ought,  therefore,  to  be  regularly  practised. 


CULTURAL  tasks  in  the  fruit  garden 
come  forward  with  the  seasons,  and 
their  successful  accomplishment 
depends  about  equally  upon  the 
promptitude  with  which  the  work  of 
the  moment  is  put  in  hand  and  the  soundness 
of  the  hues  on  which  it  is  carried  out.  There  is, 
perhaps,  no  detail  of  fruit  management  in  which 
skilful  growers  differ  so  widely,  as  well  in  system  as 
in  the  manner  of  procedure,  as  in  summer  pruning 
— or,  as  my  best  mentor  in  all  fruit  training,  Mr. 
Morle,  of  Veitch's  Southfields  Nurseries  of  long 
ago,  insisted  on  calling  it,  summer  "  pinching," 
although  he  used  his  knife  with  much  more  freedom 
than  he  did  his  fingers.  .And  yet  these  masters 
of  fruit  culture  do  not  drift  from  the  primary 
objectives — the  building  up  of  perfect  buds  for 
the  future  and  the  assisting  of  the  finish  of  the 
burden  of  the  day — though,  admittedly,  they 
travel  towards  them  by  devious  routes.  But 
what,  when  all  is  said  and  done,  does  the  particular 
road  matter  provided  that  the  ultimate  end  is 
won  ? 

The  one  outstanding,  really  substantial  objection 
to  summer  pruning  is  the  comparatively  great 
amount  of  time  that  it  demands.  It  is  essentially 
a  matter  of  judgment,  backed  by  skill  in  manipu- 
lation, and  it  therefore  devolves  on  the  head- 
gardener  personally  or  on  the  most  trusted  member 
or  members  of  his  staff.  In  this  relation  one 
might  cross  swords  with  gardeners  under  whom 
one  has  worked  for  their  refusal  to  help  the  juniors, 
not  simply  by  demonstrating  the  work  to  them,  but 
by  carefully  explaining  the  whys  and  wherefores 
of  the  several  details.  If  the  chief  does  not  feel 
disposed  to  teach  all  his  staff  he  should,  for  the 
maintenance  of  the  credit  and  status  of  his 
avocation,  teach  one  or  two  thoroughly  and 
encourage  them  to  pass  the  knowledge  on  to 
others.     This,  however,  is  a  digression. 

The  point  is  that  summer  pruning  consumes  a 
considerable  amount  of  time  which  can  be  ill- 
spared  from  other  and,  perhaps,  reputedly  more 
important  operations.  This,  presumably,  is  why 
it  is  almost  wholly  neglected  where  the  staff  is 
barely  adequate  to  the  demands  made  on  it, 
and  is  a  sound  reason  for  total  neglect  where  the 
strength  is  obviously  unequal,  as,  unfortunately, 
is  frequent,  to  cope  with  even  the  imperative  work. 
If  it  were  permissible  to  do  in  a  private  garden 
what  is  often  done  in  a  commercial  plantation, 
namely,  simply  break  over  the  summer  shoots 
about  the  middle  of  August,  good  would  be  done 
undoubtedly  ;  but  the  ragged,  untidy  appearance 
of  the  half-separated  dying  growths  would  be 
like  so  manv  heralds  of  the  coming  of  the  end  of 


the  world — at  least,  as  far  as  the  gardener's  tenure 
of  his  position  was  concerned. 

It  is  impossible  to  state  an  inflexible  rule  as  to 
when  summer  pruning  must  commence,  since 
there  will  be  variations  with  every  year  and 
garden  and  in  lesser  degree  with  every  tree,  but 
the  season  wall  always  be  covered  by  the  period 
raid-June  to  mid-July,  and  the  operation  will 
finish  during  the  first  half  of  September,  all 
subsequent  cutting  being  relegated  to  winter 
pruning.  There  are  cultivators  who  are  prone 
to  hasten  the  work  forward,  but  in  no  circum- 
stances should  it  commence  until  the  leaves  are 
perfect  in  size,  no  matter  how  freely  the  shoots 
may  grow  or  how  numerous  they  may  be.  That 
over-anxiety  to  start  before  the  leaves  are  full- 
sized  leads  to  an  increase  of  labour,  because  lower 
buds  then  commence  quickly  and  lead  to  crowds 
of  young  shoots  which  can  never  have  substantial 
value ;  on  the  contrary,  they  are  a  nuisance. 
For  equally  sound  reasons  the  start  must  not  be 
postponed  too  long,  because  this  spells  long, 
vigorous  growths  which  appropriate  to  themselves 
the  sap  at  the  same  time  as  they  shade  fruits 
and  spurs,  and  whose  sudden,  wholesale  reduction 
will  inevitably  prejudice  the  health  of  the  tree  of 
the  moment  and  the  future  prospects  very  seriously. 

Speaking  in  the  broadest  sense,  and  taking  no 
cognisance  of  the  minor  peculiarities  of  individual 
varieties,  the  summer  pruner  will  have  three 
types  of  growth  always  before  him,  apart  from 
the  leading  shoots,  which  will  be  accorded  a  few 
words  of  special  consideration.  There  will  be, 
then,  the  stubby  shoot  carrying  a  bold,  plump 
bud  in  a  ruff  of  fine  leaves  ;  this  is  a  spur,  and  the 
question  of  pruning  or  pinching  does  not  arise 
in  connexion  with  it.  Then  he  will  find  the  short 
shoot  with  six  or  eight  leaves,  conspicuous  buds 
in  the  axils  and  a  bold,  plump  bud  as  a  terminal  ; 
again  pruning  or  pinching  does  not  arise  in 
association  with  it.  Finally  there  is  the  clean, 
healthy  young  shoot  bearing  about  one  dozen 
leaves,  all  of  which  are  perfect  in  development, 
and  this  must  be  reduced  to  three  leaves,  exclusive 
of  the  two  small  ones  at  the  extreme  base. 
Following  upon  this  there  is  every  probability 
that  two  of  the  three  reserved  buds  will  break 
into  growth,  and  when  these  have  made  about 
si.x  perfect  leaves  they  should  in  their  turn  be 
reduced  to  one  leaf.  From  these  will  spring 
sub-laterals,  each  of  which  should  be  pinched  to 
one  leaf,  as,  in  point  of  fact,  must  be  all  growths 
made  subsequently. 

Turning  now  to  the  leading  shoots — extensions, 
as  they  may  be  termed  correctly.  There  is  a 
marked  inclination  on  the  part  of  inexperienced 


June  17,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


293 


growers  to  cut  these  hard  back  both  at  summer 
and  liv'inter  pruning,  under  the  supposition  that 
this  will  checl<  any  tendency  towards  exuberance 
and  lead,  therefore,  to  superior  crops.  No  such 
result  will,  or  can,  accrue.  Excessive  luxuriance 
must  be  suppressed  by  root  pruning  when  the 
leaves  are  coming  down  in  autumn,  or  by  ringing, 
both  in  intimate  association  with  scrupulously 
careful  winter  pruning. 

Leading  or  extension  shoots  on  bush  and  pyramid 
trees  must  be  permitted  to  proceed  to  a  length  of 
at  least  i2ins.,  when  they  should  be  stopped. 
Immediate  swelling  of  the  lower  buds  will  follow. 


and  shoots  which  spring  from  the  uppermost 
buds  ought  to  have  their  points  removed  when 
three  perfect  leaves  have  developed,  but  not 
sooner ;  any  subsequent  growths  should  be 
pinched  to  one  leaf,  as  made.  The  same  principle 
of  procedure  in  regard  to  extensions  should  be 
appUed  to  side  shoots  on  trees  trained  on  restricted 
lines,  except  in  the  case  of  those  trained  in  hori- 
zontal form.  Herein  it  is  highly  important  that 
each  leading  growth  shall  be  trained  in  to  its  full 
length  until  such  time  as  the  available  space  is 
furnished,  after  which  the  suggestions  set  forth 
above  will  apply  with  equal  force  here.    W.  H.  L. 


CAMPANULAS    ON    THE   GALIBIER    IN    JULY 


THE  Galibier  Pass  is  a  good  place  to  visit 
in  June,  %vhen  the  meadows  are  fuU  of 
Poets  Narcissus  and  sumptuous  Anemone 
alpina.  In  fact  that  is,  for  several 
reasons,  the  pleasantest  time  to  visit 
it.  Yet  to  me  it  will  always  remain  the  place 
of  all  others  at  which  to  see  Campanula  pusilla 
and  C.  linifolia,  and  to  find  these  at  their  best 
you  must  go  in  July.  Neither  species  is  rare. 
In  fact,  both  are  extremely  common  ;  but  both 
are    of    absolutely    first-class    importance    in    the 


almost  impossible  to  define  the  difference.  For 
many  years  now  I  have  grown,  as  type  hnifolia, 
a  very  beautiful  specimen  which  I  picked  out  at 
Mt.  Cenis.  It  is  a  sturdy  grower,  6ins.  high, 
with  very  large  bells  of  a  gloriously  rich  glossy 
purple.  At  the  same  time  I  collected  a  charming 
pallida  variety,  with  shining  silvery  lavender  blue 
flowers.     .-Mso  there  is  a  white  form. 

At  Lautaret  in  July,  1921,  we  pottered  around 
doing  a  lot  of  rather  dull  conscientious  collecting 
until    almost    the    end    of    our    time.     Often    we 


mt^ 


A    CHARACTERISTIC    AND    CHARMING    FORM    OF     CAMPANULA     PUSILLA,    THE    VARIETY 

MISS    WILLMOTT. 


garden,  so  easy  to  grow,  so  exquisitely  lovely, 
so  profuse  in  flowering.  Both,  too,  are  veiriable 
plants.  C.  pusilla  has  given  us  besides  several 
pallida  forms  and  the  delicious  little  alba,  two 
such  great  plants  as  Miss  Willmott  and  Miranda, 
which  reminds  me,  by  the  bye,  that  pusilla  should 
not  be  called  pusilla,  but  bellardi,  though  it  seems 
very  doubtful  if  we  shall  ever  abandon  pusilla. 
It  is  now  some  years  ago  that  C.  pusilla  Miss 
Willmott  set  Holland  House  on  fire.  Miranda 
is  a  later  find,  of  Farrer's,  and  one  of  the  best 
things  he  ever  brought  from  the  Alps,  though 
hitherto  it  has  not  caused  the  conflagration  one 
might  have  expected.  C.  pusilla  is  widely  dis- 
tributed in  the  Alps  as  a  common  roadside  plant. 
It  haunts  broken  shaley  ground,  never  occurring 
in  meadow  turf.  Occasionally  it  will  turn  saxatile, 
finding  its  way  into  a  running  crevice  in  some  big 
rock,  from  which  it  hangs  its  bells  so  closely 
packed  as  to  suggest  a  vein  of  some  coloured  ore 
in  the  rock.  C.  linifolia,  too,  is  happiest  in  broken 
ground,  though,  unlike  pusilla,  it  wUl  sometimes 
venture  into  the  grass.  Linifolia  is  very  near 
our  own  native  Harebell  (C.  rotundifoUa).  One 
can  never  mistake  one  for  the  other,  though  it  is 


looked  across  the  valley  which  runs  down  to 
Briancon,  from  which  branches  back  and  up  the 
great  Galibier  Pass.  One  can  see  the  road  mapped 
out  on  the  mountain  sides,  snaking  and  looping 
away  and  away  up  in  gigantic  coils,  and  we  felt 
we  must  in  the  end  face  that  long,  high,  tedious 
road-crawl,  though  we  kept  putting  it  off  to  the 
last.  In  the  end  we  chose  a  Sunday  to  escape 
the  dust  and  crowds  which  Sunday  chars-a-bancs 
always  bring  to  Lautaret.  The  lower  reaches  of 
the  tramp  were,  from  the  flower  point  of  view, 
dullish.  The  meadows,  through  which  we  made 
short  cuts,  were  now  hayfields,  either  cut  or  ripe 
for  cutting.  In  June  the  year  before  they  had 
been  lawns  of  Gentian  and  Soldanella  and  all  the 
other  small  early  brethren.  But  now  it  was 
good  to  find  and  to  smell  the  purple  Martagon 
Lily.  By  midday  we  were  half  way  up  the  pass, 
and  there  on  a  rocky  roadside  promontory  we  sat 
and  discussed  our  nosebags  and  watched  through 
glasses  the  arrival  of  minute  chars-a-bancs  at  the 
hotel  away  down  below.  We  watched,  too,  the 
awful  descent  by  a  char-4-bancs  of  our  own 
Galibier  road.  It  lurched  and  lumbered  and 
swung  adown  and  around  most  frightful  hairpin 


comers.  There  seemed  no  reason  why  it  should 
not  lurch  over  the  edge,  yet  it  never  did.  .A.nd 
it  seems  they  seldom  do,  these  Alpine  chars-4- 
bancs.  I  enquired  of  a  native  about  it.  One 
did  roll  over,  I  was  told,  the  year  before,  making 
seven  pirouettes  down  a  scree,  shedding  a  passenger 
at  each  pirouette,  yet  none  were  killed  !  Then 
we  visited  a  big  scree  up  behind  our  feeding  perch 
to  get  Anemone  baldensis.  It  is  an  attractive 
plant  in  a  quiet  sort  of  way  as  it  rambles  through 
the  stone  slides  with  its  parsley-Uke  leaves  and 
pallid  star  flowers.  But  it  seems  never  to  have 
taken  a  very  firm  hold  on  English  gardeners  or 
their  gardens.  On  this  same  scree  was  Campanula 
.\llionii  looking  as  though  a  child  had  pulled  all 
the  blossoms  of  a  Canterbury  Bell  and  flung  them 
on  the  ground.  This,  too,  likes  to  ramble  in 
scree.  An  astonishing  plant  with  its  splendid 
colonies  of  giant  bells  sitting  practically  stemless 
on  the  ground.  It  is  the  earhest  Campanula  to 
flower  at  home,  and  is  quite  easy  to  manage  in 
moraine  or  even  in  ordinary  light  loam.  A 
splendid  plant,  too,  for  a  pan  in  the  alpine  house, 
and  one  which  never  fails  to  astonish. 

Then  we  set  ourselves  to  toil  up  the  last  half 
of  the  pass,  and  here  the  Campanulas  began, 
pusilla  and  Unifoha,  and  the  higher  we  got  the 
more  wonderful  they  became.  It  was  slow  work, 
for  the  two  species  varied  so  widely  and  enchant- 
ingly  that  one  had  to  examine  every  colony  and 
every  drift  on  the  look-out  for  distinct  forms. 
They  grew  everywhere,  on  the  banks  and  all 
over  the  screes,  fiUing  whole  guUies,  abo\'e  the 
road,  below  the  road,  and  even  in  the  roadside 
gutters.  Some  of  the  most  astonishing  linifohas 
were  dwarf-stemmed  forms  with  enonnous  bells 
of  deepest  glossy  purple,  and  there  were  fat  bells, 
narrow  bells  and  trumpet  beUs  of  that  curious 
form  which  Narcissus  triandrus  imparts  to  the 
trumpets  of  its  offspring.  The  most  enchanting 
of  the  pusiUas  w-as  a  wee  dwarf,  very  low  growing 
and  compact,  with  minute  round  bells  drawn  in 
at  the  mouth  hke  a  Japanese  lantern.  And  yet 
I  don't  know  ;  there  was  a  luminous  pale  blue 
beauty  in  great  colony  on  an  almost  inaccessible 
slope  above  a  waterfall.  .A.s  it  grew  there  it 
promised  to  make  Miss  Willmott  (the  Campanula) 
look  positively  dowdy  and  Miranda  a  washed-out 
fat  bag  of  a  thing.  The  sad  thing  is  that  two 
minutes  after  you  have  collected  these  pusillas 
they  lose  all  their  briUiance  and  charm.  They 
look  dull  and  draggled,  and  as  you  look  at  them 
you  wonder  why  on  earth  you  collected  them. 
However,  each  as  it  was  collected  was  wrapped 
separately  and  labelled  "  Big  bell,"  "  Baby  bell  " 
and  so  forth,  and  all  are  now  supremely  con- 
tented and  happy  and  satisfied  in  numbered  pots. 
Just  near  the  top  of  the  pass  is  a  house  which 
looks  as  though  it  ought  to  provide  coffee.  It  is 
a  great  Jure.  It  helps  one  up  the  last  wild  flourishes 
of  road,  and  there  on  a  clothes  line  are  road- 
menders'  socks  and  a  notice  that  refreshments 
are  not  provided.  Almost  we  hated  the  last 
highest  splendour  of  the  linifohas,  which  here 
predominated  and  were  more  abundant  and  brilliant 
and  bewilderingly  varied  in  form  than  ever.  At 
the  top  of  the  pass  the  road  plunges  through  a 
long,  dark,  dripping  tunnel,  and  from  its  gloom 
one  bursts  at  the  far  end  upon  a  mar^'ellous  view 
of  sunshine  and  mountain  far,  far  across  to  Mt. 
Blanc.  Upon  screes  to  the  right  of  the  descending 
road  we  found  Ranunculus  glacialis  and  Geum 
reptans  abundant.  After  browsing  here  we  sat 
in  the  sun  and  watched  a  motor  cyclist  tuff- 
tuffing  away  down  the  looped  ribbon  of  a  road 
miles  down  the  pass  till  even  through  the  glasses 
he  was  a  speck  which  finally  disappeared,  apparently 
over  a  precipice,  and  probably  round  a  corner. 
And  so  home  to  our  Lautaret  Hotel. 

Stevenage.  Clarence  Elliott. 


294 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  17,  1922. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


COLUMBINES. 

T   AM  a  strong  believer  in  sowing  seed  of  alpine 

and  other  wild  plants  as  early  as  possible  in  the 
autumn.  In  the  case  of  hard  coated  seed  I  adopt 
occasionally  the  plan  of  sowing  in  stratified  pots, 
i.e.,  between  layers  of  sand.  That  it  can  be  ovo- 
done  I  have  proved  several  times  to  my  disad- 
vantage in  the  case  of  Columbines.  Fresh  seed  of 
Aquilegia  alpina,  obtained  from  Lautaret  and 
sown  on  November  20,  1920,  did  not  germinate 
until  end  of  May,  1922.  Perfectly  sound  seed  of 
A.  flabellata  failed  to  germinate  when  sown  in 
sand.  Thus  I  have  come  reluctantly  to  the  con- 
clusion that  it  may  be  a  distinct  disadvantage  to 
sow  Columbine  seed  before  spring. 

I  was  under  the  impression  that  A.  alpina  is  a 
perennial  plant  and  it  has  certainly  proved  so  in 
my  garden.  As  a  rule  flowers  of  this  species  in 
gardens  do  not  compare  favourably  with  those  of 
the  mountains.  One  exception  is  a  specimen  in 
my  alpine  meadow,  which  was  a  picture  of  perfect 
loveliness  and  lasted  a  week  longer  than  others 
planted  in  earth  containing  plenty  of  chips.  To 
obviate  disturbance  of  the  root,  transplant  into 
small  "  Long  Toms  "  when  in  the  cotyledon  stage. 

This  mixture  in  a  hot  Surrey  garden  is  not  to  the 
liking  of  A.  jucunda  (glandulosa),  which  lingers  on 
for  years  without  ever  flowering.  The  same  applies 
to  A.  ecalcarata,  only  it  vanishes  more  quickh- 
A.  flabellata,  waxing  too  fat  on  a  diet  which  seemed 
none  too  rich,  disappeared  in  winter  1920-21,  and 
I  believe  this  species  does  not  love  too  much  sun. 
A.  X  Stuartii  must  now  be  considered  a  chimera  and 
is'no  longer  in  cultivation 

The  writer  of  the  article  on  Columbines 
(page  262)  did  not  draw  attention  to  A.  pyrenaica 
and  its  local  varieties,  all,  as  a  rule,  good  and 
desirable  garden  plants. 

Before  closing  I  must  mention  another  little 
known  and  beautiful  specimen,  A.  olympica,  blue 
and  white,  a  strapping  plant  nearly  2ft.  high  and 
a  fine  doer.  From  my  notebook  I  remark  that  my 
plants  were  raised  in  1912.  It  comes  nearly  always 
true  from  seed  and  I  shall  be  pleased  to  exchange 
a  few  packets  of  seed,  when  ripe,  with  your  readers 
against  seed  of  .\.  ecalcarata  and  A.  viridiflora.  I 
have  been  unable  to  obtain  the  latter  true  from 
dealers  in  seed.  By  the  way,  do  you  or  your 
readers  know  of  a  Monograph  on  Columbines  ? — 
P.  R.  Chetwynd,  East  Molesey. 

[The  Editor  knows  of  no  such  monograph.  Will 
any  reader  who  does  give  us  the  benefit  of  his 
knowledge. — Ed.] 

THE    GREEN     COLUMBINE. 

T  WOULD  that  some  reader  could  tell  me  where 
I  might  procure  seed  of  the  unusual  Aquilegia 
viridiflora.  It  is  well  worth  a  place  among  the 
choicest  plants  in  border  or  rock  garden,  although 
it  always  seems  to  be  trying  to  escape  notice  by 
reason  of  the  curious  sage  green  colour  of  its 
flowers.  I  have  seen  it,  and  very  beautiful  it  is, 
both  in  form  and  colour  :  a  strong-growing  plant, 
native  (I  believe)  of  Siberia,  but  who  has  it  or 
where  seed  can  be  procured,  alas  !  I  do  not  know. — 
H.  W.  Can'Ning-Wricht. 

A     GRAFT-HYBRID. 

T  AM  enclosing  two  sprays  of  bloom  cut  from 
my  freak  Laburnum.  Every  spring,  in 
addition  to  the  ordinary  yellow  blossom,  there  are 
sprays  of  different  colours  and  apparently  of 
different  habit.  Perhaps  one  of  your  readers 
could  explain  this. — Duncan  Barr. 

[The  sprays  sent  (and  illustrated  herewith)  were 
of    Laburnum    Adami,    a    graft-hybrid    produced 


accidentally  as  long  ago  as  1825,  between  the 
common  Laburnum  (L.  vulgare)  and  the  Purple 
Broom  (Cytisus  purpureus),  which  is  commonly 
grafted  upon  the  Laburnum.  This  tree  always  shows 
a  tendency  to  produce  specimens  of  the  growth 


TWO  SPRAYS  OF  CYTISUS  AD.\MI, 
Shewing  ordinary  yellow  Laburnum  blossotn 
on  left ;  purplish  blossoms  and  characteristic 
groioth  of  Cytisus  purpureus  at  the  top  right 
hand  and  intermeiiate  flotcers  and  foliage  in 
the  centre. 

and    flower   of   both    parents   in    addition    to    the 
intermediate  cream-pink  form. — Ed.] 

THE    ROTATION     OF    CROPS. 

nPHE  letters  (pages  193  and  229)  on  this  well- 
worn  subject  adhere  more  or  less  rigidly 
to  orthodox  lines  which  imply  that  rotations  in  the 
vegetable  garden  are  desirable  and  even  hint  at 
their  necessity.  The  most  popular  arguments  in 
favour  of  rotational  plantii\g  are  that  crops  are 
superior  in  appearance,  fla\-our  and  bulk  ;  that 
they  enjoy  a  comparatively  greater  immunity  from 
insect  and  fungus  enemies,  and  that  they  spell 
economy  in  manuring.  On  page  229  "  J.  F." 
urges,  further,  as  a  substantial  merit  that  "  the 
sowing  or  planting  of  a  deep-rooting  crop  after 
a  shallow-rooting  one  enables  the  plants  to  feed 
at  different  levels  in  the  soil,  and  to  draw  nourish- 
ment from  the  upper  and  lower  spits  in  different 
years."  I  must  join  clear  issue  with  this  corre- 
spondent. The  first  part  of  his  argument  puts  a 
premium  on  shallow  cultivation,  which  is  wrong 
for  all  soils,  light,  medium  or  heavy  ;  and  the 
second  part  ignores  the  natural  law  of  moisture 
rising  in  the  soil,  this  moisture  carrying  the  elements 
of  plant  nutrition  in  suspension.  Neither  "J.  F."  nor 
any  other  cultivator  can  afford  to  rely  on  shallow 
soil  culture  any  more  than  either  can  doubt  that  if 
moisture  did  not  rise  in  the  earth,  crops  would  not 
flourish.  I  long  ago  convinced  myself  that  rotation 
is  in  no  sense  necessary  in  the  vegetable  garden, 
and  I  have  been  successful  in  converting  others 
to  my  view.  The  secret  of  success — the  finest 
attainable  in  appearance,  quality  of  flavour,  human 
food  value  and  bulk — in  vegetable  culture  no  more 
lies  in  the  worshipped  rotations  than  it  does  in  the 
manure  heap.  Success  lies  in  deep,  mechanical 
culture  carried  out  in  the  most  thorough  manner 
at   the  correct  season,  in  the  provision  of  a   firm 


bed  for  seeds  and  seedlings,  in  avoidance  of  the 
water  pot  until  the  very  hour  of  compulsion,  and  in 
incessant  surface  working,  though  not  always  with 
the  over-glorified  Dutch  hoe.  It  is,  of  course, 
imperative  that  there  shall  be  periodical  additions 
to  the  soil  of  a  material  which  will  maintain  the 
humic  content,  and  man's  vision  is  drawn  by  the 
force  of  inherited  habit  to  the  heap  of  stable  or 
farmyard  manure,  or,  but  in  much  lesser  degree, 
to  the  incorporation  of  green  crops.  For  myself, 
I  would  rather  have,  and  should  have  if  I  could 
afford  it,  half  a  ton  of  Wakeley's  hop  manure  or 
Rito  than  2c  tons  of  most  of  the  impoverished 
stuff  which  is  dignified  by  the  description  of  "  farm- 
yard manure."  If  I  lost  a  little  in  food  it  could 
easily  be  given  to  the  growing  crop  in  the  form  of 
one  of  the  several  excellent  compounds  advertised 
weekly  in  The  Garden,  and  if  I  thought  that  a 
stimulant  was  required  there  is  nitrate  of  potash,  or, 
and  even  better  on  occasion,  a  mixture  of  equal 
parts  of  that  and  phosphate  of  potash,  and  sulphate 
of  ammonia  waiting  and  unfailing.  As  for  insect 
and  fungus  enemies,  my  experience  is  that  they 
come,  rotation  or  no  rotation,  and  the  sensible 
man  keeps  himself  in  readiness  to  attack  them  with 
promptitude  and  vigour. — W.  H.  Lodge. 

BEGONIA    MITE   OR   RUST. 

'"PHIS  pest  has  for  many  years  caused  widespread 
damage  among  indoor  plants,  its  attacks  not 
being,  as  the  name  might  imply,  confined  to 
Begonias  alone.  Other  plants  that  are  commonly 
attacked  are  Bouvardias, Gloxinias,  Streptocarpuses, 
Achimenes,  Cyclamens,  Celosias,  Solanums  and 
Luculia  gratissima,  while  all  Gesneraceous  plants 
are  subject  to  attack.  The  name  "  rust  "  is  under- 
standably applied  to  the  rusty  appearance  of  the 
injured  parts.  The  damage  is  usually  confined 
to  the  growing  points  of  the  shoots,  although  in 
bad  cases  the  injury  may  extend  to  the  under- 
side of  the  older  leaves  and  even  to  the  stem  of 
the  plant.  Even  now  many  cultivators  do  not 
associate  an  insect  with  the  injury,  which  is 
perhaps  not  surprising,  since  for  long  enough  it 
eluded  the  entomologist.  When  specimens  of 
injured  plants  were  received  by  post  there  were 
never  any  mites  present  on  them,  as  they  seem 
always  to  leave  the  specimen,  so  that  the  packing 
material  must  be  examined  if  they  are  to  be  found. 
At  present  this  mite  is  generally  known  as 
Tarsonemus  floricola.  Can.  and  Fan.,  but  it  seems 
that  its  identity  and  life  history  have  never  been 
properly  worked  out.  For  many  years  the  ento- 
mologist— or  plant  doctor — failed  to  find  an 
effective  remedy  for  this  pest.  Spraying  with 
nicotine  compounds,  weak  solutions  of  carbolic 
acid,  soft  soap  and  flowers  of  sulphur,  proved 
more  or  less  effective,  but  often  caused  serious 
damage  unless  great  care  was  taken.  Such  was 
the  state  of  affairs  until  a  few  years  ago,  when  a 
private  gardener  discovered  that  the  use  of  Camp- 
bell's Sulphur  Vaporiser  proved  a  cure  for  it, 
and  what  is  of  prime  importance  is  the  fact  that 
it  is  an  absolute  preventive,  some  three  or  four 
applications  in  the  course  of  the  season  being 
suSicieut  to  keep  plants  free  from  this  pest.  The 
apparatus  is  quite  safe  if  the  instructions  issued 
with  it  are  carefully  followed,  and  it  is  well  known 
to  Grape  growers,  who  use  it  for  mildew  and  red 
spider.  In  the  latter  connexion  it  is  interesting 
to  note  that  the  Begonia  mite  is  said  to  be  nearly 
related  to  the  red  spiders. — J.  C. 

A  TOO-SELDOM  SEEN  RHODODENDRON. 

■DHODODEXDRON  IVERVANU.M  or  Ivery's 
Scarlet — the  most  brilliant  variety  mentioned 
in  a  recent  issue  of  The  Garden — was  raised  many 
years  ago  by  a  man  named  I  very,  who  carried  on 
the  business   of  a  nurseryman  in   Dorking.     The 


June  17,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


295 


land  he  cultivated  has  long  since  been  built  o\er, 
but  I  believe  some  of  his  descendants  still  live  in 
that  town.  Some  of  the  largest  plants  of  this 
variety  are  growing  in  gardens  around  about 
Dorking,  and  a  bush  in  these  gardens  about  12ft. 
in  height  and  the  same  in  diameter,  was  this  year 
at  its  best  the  middle  of  May.  It  carried  thousands 
of  trusses  of  flowers  and  was  a  gorgeous  sight. 
Although  raised  so  many  years  ago  it  is  still 
comparatively  rare.  Probably  because  it  does  not 
flow'er  freely  in  a  young  state,  but  after  the  plants 
reach  the  age  of  eight  to  ten  years  they  will  flower 
freely  enough.  Plants  in  full  sunshine  flower  more 
freely  than  those  growing  in  shade,  and  the  colour 
does  not  bum,  so  one  need  not  fear  to  plant  this 
variety  in  full  sunshine,  but  it  must  have  shelter 
from  wind.  The  habit  of  the  plant  is  good  ;  it 
does  not  get  legg>',  and  the  long,  narrow,  acutely 
pointed  dark  green  leaves  are  a  splendid  foil  to  the 
brilliant  scarlet  flowers.  The  stamens  are  white, 
which  serve  to  intensify  the  colour.  The  trusses 
are  compact  and  of  good  size,  jmd  altogether  this 
hybrid  is  undoubtedly  the  very  best  of  its  colour, 
flowering  from  late  April  through  the  whole  month 
of  May.  There  are  two  unusual  features  about 
this  Rhododendron — namely,  that  it  is  freely 
\-isited  by  honey  bees  ;  that  it  is  only  on  a  very 
few  flowers  that  seeds  are  produced. — S.  W. 
Philpott,  Ai'.stie  Grange  Gardens,  Holmuood. 

NATURES    WALL    GARDEN. 

HP  HE  picture  showing  nature's  planting  of  a  dry 
wall,  taken  in  the  Island  of  Sark,  is,  I  think 
most  readers  of  The  Garden  wiU  agree,  quite  as 
effective  as,  though  perhaps  less  brilliant  in 
colouring  than,  man's  efforts  in  this  direction. 
Sedum,  Pennywort  (Cotyledon  Umbilicus)  and 
L'chen  each  do  their  part  to  give  tone  and  beauty 
to   the   w-all,    without    in    any   way   obscuring   the 


if  we  could  not  grow  some  of  these.  She  thinks 
there  is  nothing  like  them.  In  most  years, 
however,  we  only  get  an  odd  dozen  or  two  in 
many  hundreds  ;  hence  her  wish  for  more.  This 
year  they  are  much  more  plentiful ;  in  fact,  in 
our  bed  of  about  five  hundred  early  Tulip  La 
Tendre,  practically  every  bulb  put  up  a  second 
"  baby  "  flower.  I  suppose  this  must  be  one 
result  of  last  year's  baking  summer.  The  question 
then  arises,  can  the  same  productiveness  be 
brought  about  by  artificial  means  ?  I  do  not 
remember  to  have  noticed  anything  of  the  kind 
having  taken  place  on  the  occasions  when  I  have 
put  the  bulbs  in  heat  for  the  purpose  of  retarding 
their  blooming  in  the  following  spring  ;  nor  can 
I  say  now  if  a  similar  thing  occurred  after  that 
black  year  in  Daffodil  history,  1911,  when  we 
had  quite  as  warm  a  summer  as  the  last  one. 
Can  any  of  our  English  or  Dutch  growers  throw 
any  light  upon  the  subject  ? — Joseph  Jacob. 

KEW    GARDENS    ON    WHIT    MOND.\Y. 

"/~\XE  is  nearer  God's  heart  in  a  garden  than 
anywhere  else  on  earth."  Personally,  I 
did  not  think  so  when  I  visited  Kew  Gardens  on 
Whit  Monday.  On  the  Saturday  before,  the 
Gardens  were  delightful,  but  on  the  Monday  it 
was  as  though  Kew  had  been  transferred  from 
Paradise  to  Bedlam.  There  were,  so  I  am  officially 
informed,  54,665  people  in  the  Gardens  on  that 
Monday  and  I  should  think  that  every  person 
(except  myself),  took  in  31b.  of  oranges  and  three 
or  four  bananas,  to  say  nothing  of  paper  parcels, 
and  largely  spent  their  time  scattering  peel,  skin 
and  paper  about. 

Never  before  have  I  seen  the  Gardens  in  such  a 
disgraceful  condition,  in  fact,  I  believe  it  rivalled 
Hampstead  Heath.  The  Gardens  are  intended 
primarily  for  those  r.■■?^1i^■  in^'-T'^-^tr-d  i'ti  1-ir.rtirnUiire 


GARDENING   OF    THE 
WEEK 


A  DRY  WALL  OF  NATURE  S  CLOTHING. 


texture  and  natural  beauty  of  the  stone,  a  point 
too  often  overlooked  by  planters. — G.  Harvey. 

BABY    TULIPS— A    POSER  ? 

r  DO  not  know  how  many  visitors  noticed  the 
vases  of  "  baby  "  Tulips  in  the  front  row  of 
the  exhibit  of  the  Anglesey  Bulb  Growers  at 
Chelsea.  The  one  that  attracted  me  most  of  all 
was  Millet,  but  there  must  have  been  at  least 
half  a  dozen  more.  Mr.  Watts,  who  was  in  charge, 
told  me  that  when  he  had  had  a  big  "  Tulip  At 
Home  "  the  previous  week,  his  wife  had  decorated 
all  the  tea-table  with  these  "  babies "  and  that 
their  visitors  had  gone  mad  about  them.  I  know 
it  would  be  so.  My  own  housekeeper,  who 
arranges  flowers  beautifully,  is  always  asking  me 


research.  Surely  it  is  up  to  the  public  not  to 
disfigure  the  gardens  in  this  way,  because  such 
conduct  may  close  the  Gardens  to  them  at  holiday 
times.  Next  Bank  Holiday  I,  for  one,  shall  cer- 
tainlv  Slav  at  home. — Hortus. 


FORTHCOMING     EVENTS. 

June  21  — Southiunpton  Horticultiural  Society's 
Rose  Show.  Hertford  Horticultural  Society's 
Meeting. 

June  22. — Royal  Botanic  Society's  Meeting. 

Jime  24. — Windsor  Rose  Society's  Show. 

June  29. — National  Rose  Society's  Summer 
Show,  to  be  held  at  the  Royal  Botanic  Gardens, 
Regent's  Park,  London. 


FOR     SOUTHERN    GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Planting  Brassicas. — Take  advantage  of  all 
dull  or  showery  days  to  get  as  many  of  the  various 
Brassicas  planted  as  will  be  required  to  meet  the 
demands.  Remember  to  allow  of  a  good  margin, 
if  possible,  to  meet  depletions  by  unfavourable 
conditions  or  from  any  other  cause.  See  that 
Broccoli  and  other  plants  which  have  the  winter  to 
stand  make  their  growth  on  firm  ground.  One 
good  watering  at  time  of  planting  and  the 
latter  firmly  done,  is  generally  sufficient  to  give 
a  start  to  the  majority  of  the  Brassica  family,  but 
Cauliflowers  should  be  frequently  watered  copiously 
during  hot  spells. 

Cucumbers  in  vigorous  growth  and  fruiting  in 
houses  or  pits  must  receive  regular  attention  in 
stopping  and  regulating  the  growths  and  the 
removal  of  exhausted  foliage.  Keep  the  roots  in  a 
healthy  active  condition  by  occasional  top  dressings 
of  spent  mushroom  dung  and  good  loam,  and 
render  the  plants  further  assistance  when  cropping 
well  by  giving  them  thorough  soaldngs  v.eekly  of 
diluted  farmyard  manure  water,  and  by  an  occa- 
sional dusting  over  the  whole  bed  with  a  good 
fertiliser,  watering  the  same  well  in  when  applied. 

Leeks. — .'\s  soon  as  convenient  after  this  date 
the  main  batch  of  Leeks  should  be  got  out,  choosing 
a  well  manured  piece  of  ground,  for  the  plants 
delight  in  liberal  treatment.  A  suitable  method 
to  follov;  when  de.^ling  with  a  quantity  of  plants 
is  to  draw  out  deep  drills  iSins.  apart  and  then 
with  a  good  dibber  or  bar  make  deep  holes  about  a 
foot  apart  into  which  the  young  plants  should  be 
carefully  dropped  and  each  hole  filled  up  with 
water  to  give  the  plants  a  start.  Little,  if  any, 
soil  is  necessary  in  the  holes  at  planting  time. 
Where  an  early  planting  of  Leeks  was  made  to 
provide  large  specimens,  the  plants  should  be  well 
supphed  with  water  when  necessary  and  occasion- 
ally thoroughly  soaked  with  weak  manure  water. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Climbers  are  all  in  vigorous  growth  and  must 
receive  periodical  attention  as  regards  tying  and 
regulating  of  the  growths  before  they  become 
hopelessly  entangled  among  other  plants  near  at 
hand.  A  certain  looseness  of  tying  and  training 
should  be  followed  as  much  as  possible  where  such 
does  not  interfere  with  the  display  of  other  plants. 
In  dealing  with  Clematis  though,  particularly,  a 
few  strong  shoots  over  other  plants  or  their  supports 
may  often  be  made  an  interesting  feature.  .Among 
Roses  on  walls,  pergolas,  etc.,  Clematises  always 
add  to  the  good  effect,  so  long  as  a  little  discretion 
is  used  as  regards  colour  combination  and  they 
may  often  be  associated  to  advantage  with  plants 
which  give  a  very  early  display  and  are  somewhat 
dull  afterwards,  also  among  plants  which  are  grown 
for  an  end  of  season  display  or  for  foliage  effect, 
such  as  Vitis. 

Violas  are  not  so  largely  grown  in  Southern  as 
in  Northern  gardens,  and  it  is,  I  think,  because 
of  the  amount  of  attention  required,  particularly 
during  hot  seasons,  such  as  last,  when  it  was  almost 
impossible  to  keep  any  life  in  the  plants.  All 
spent  blooms  should  be  regularly  removed  and  the 
plants  mulched  with  leaf  soil  and  spent  manure 
if  thev  are  expected  to  last  in  good  condition  very 
long  on  dry  soils.  To  provide  an  early  display  of 
blooms  old  plants  are  the  best  and  enough  should 
be  lifted  and  divided  and  afterwards  placed  in 
lines  in  cool  ground  in  the  reserve  plot  and  then 
placed  in  permanent  positions  in  the  autumn. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Thinning  Fruit. — No  hard  or  fast  rules  need  be 
adopted  in  deahng  with  this  work  as  so  much 
depends  upon  the  health  and  vigour  of  the  trees 
and  upon  other  conditions,  such  as  the  aim  of 
the  grower  respecting  size  of  fruits  desired,  and 
upon  the  amount  of  attention  it  may  be  possible 
to  give  to  the  trees  in  constant  waterings,  cleansings 
etc.,  thus  rendering  it  possible  in  some  cases  to 
carry  a  crop  much  heavier  than  in  others.  One 
essential  point  to  bear  in  mind  is  that  when  the 
health  of  a  tree  is  not  satisfactory,  and  where, 
owing  to  staff  depletions  the  necessary  amount  of 
time  is  not  available  which  shoiild  be  spent  upon 
the  care  of  the  trees,  then  overcropping  must  be 
carefully  guarded  against.  Newiy  planted  trees 
and  very  weakly  ones  should  be  cleared  of  their 
fruits  in  order  to  concentrate  all  energv-  upon  the 
work  of  building  up  the  trees  for  future  crops. 


296 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  17,  1922. 


Fruits  Under  Glass. 

Figs. — The  unfavourable  climatic  conditions 
experienced  during  eariy  spring  necessitated  the 
use  of  considerable  heat  in  the  hot  water  pipes 
where  early  fruits  were  required.  Where  this  was 
the  case  a  keener  look-out  than  ever  must  be  kept 
for  attacks  of  red  spider  or  thrips,  for  each  of  these 
pests  quickly  become  a  nuisance  when  a  sudden 
hot  dry  spell  follows  a  cold  spring,  like  it  did  this 
year  during  the  month  of  May.  The  best  antidote 
to  such  troubles  is  to  give  the  tree  thorough 
drenchings  twice  a  day  with  the  syringe.  Even 
when  Figs  are  ripening  the  syringing  will  not 
harm  very  much  as  the  forwardest  fruits  may  easily 
be  removed  first,  and  it  is  better  to  sacrifice  an 
occasional  fruit  than  have  dirty  trees,  especially 
when  there  is  a  second  crop  to  be  thought  of. 
H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland). 

Albiiyy  Park  Gardens,  Guildford. 


FOR    NORTHERN    G.VRDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Cucumbers. — Red  spider  is  a  troublesome  pest 
at  this  time,  and  unless  checked  by  vigorous 
syringing  of  the  plants  and  regular  damping  of 
the  beds,  the  crop  will  to  a  great  extent  suffer. 
Dryness  at  the  roots,  and  a  hot,  dry  atmosphere, 
are  the  primary  causes  of  red  spider,  so  guard 
against  this  by  affording  hberal  suppUes  of  moisture 
and  give  occasional  applications  of  liquid  manure. 
Regulate  the  growth,  removing  all  superfluous 
shoots  and  cut  off  the  fruits  immediately  they 
attain  a  suitable  size,  standing  the  fruits  stalk 
end  in  water  if  not  immediately  required.  Frame 
cucumbers  must  also  have  their  growths  regulated, 
pegging  down  the  leaders  and  top-dressing  as 
required. 

Savoys. — This  popular  Cabbage  should  now  be 
planted  in  quantity  for  winter  use.  Plant  the 
strong  growing  sorts  in  rows  2ft.  apart  and  zoins. 
between  the  plants  in  the  row.  The  dwarf  varieties, 
such  as  Little  Pixie,  may  be  grown  much  closer, 
I  Sins,  between  the  lines  being  ample,  allowing 
i5ins.  between  the  plants  in  the  row.  These 
dwarf  kinds  are  highly  esteemed  for  household 
use,  being  of  convenient  size  and  of  excellent 
flavour. 

Late  Cabbage,  such  as  Winningstadt,  should 
also  be  planted  now,  and  accorded  a  well  enriched 
piece  of  ground,  so  that  the  best  results  may  be 
obtained.  For  northern  gardens,  Winningstadt 
is  probably  the  best  keeping  of  all  the  late  Cabbages. 

Asparagus  Kale.— For  use  during  the  spring 
months  this  popular  Brassica  should  be  planted 
by  the  middle  of  June,  as  it  is  essential  that  the 
plants  are  of  good  size  before  the  winter  sets  in. 

Peas, — A  final  sowing  may  yet  be  made,  but  it 
is  advisable  at  this  time  to  revert  to  an  early  variety. 
We  find  Gradus  the  most  suitable  of  the  earUes 
for  this  purpose  and  a  goodly  sowing  at  this  date 
ensures  excellent  pickings  on  until  the  frost  comes. 

French  Beans. — Further  quantities  of  these 
should  be  sown  now  for  succession,  as  it  is  always 
desirable  to  be  able  to  procure  fresh  pods  of  this 
delectable  vegetable  as  far  into  autumn  as  possible. 
For  general  cropping  Sutton's  Evergreen  can  be 
commended.  This  sort  keeps  in  usable  condition 
for  a  lengthy  period. 

Leeks. — The  principal  planting  of  Leeks  should 
now  be  made,  choosing  ground  which  has  been 
heavily  manured,  as  this  vegetable  is  a  gross  feeder. 
Draw  deep  drills  and  dibble  the  plants  into  fairly 
deep  holes,  dropping  a  very  little  soil  over  the 
roots.  Liberal  waterings  should  be  given  during 
dry  weather  and  copious  supplies  of  liquid  farm- 
yard manure  should  be  given  as  soon  as  the  plants 
are  established  and  growing  freely. 

Fruits  Under  Glass. 

Vines. — it  may  be  necessary  at  this  time  to 
subject  the  second  vinery  to  another  thinning, 
for  where  the  vines  are  in  a  vigorous  condition  the 
berries  swell  rapidly  and  generally  show  that  no 
matter  how  judiciously  the  first  thinning  has  been 
carried  out,  there  are  yet  many  berries  that  may 
be  dispensed  with.  Added  care  must  be  taken  so 
that  none  of  the  bunches  may  be  damaged  in  the 
process.  AU  sub-lateral  growths  must  be  kept 
in  check  up  to  the  time  the  berries  are  stoning, 
when  this  work  may  be  relaxed  for  a  period. 
Examine  the  borders  at  intervals,  and  water 
thoroughly  when  required,  so  that  the  soil  may  be 
moist  throughout. 

Peaches  in  Pots  should  be  assisted  with  generous 
waterings  of  well  diluted  liquid  manure.     Syringe 


the  trees  in  the  evening  so  that  clean  healthy  foliage 
may  result. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Young  Fruit  Trees  which  were  planted  during 
the  spring  months  will  suffer  readily  should  a 
lengthy  spell  of  dry  weather  prevail,  so  water 
should  be  applied  freely.  Also  mulch  with  well 
rotted  manure.  Should  manure  be  scarce,  the 
mowings  from  the  lawn  may  be  used  and  will 
prove  an  excellent  check  to  evaporation. 

The  Flawer  Garden. 

Rose  Beds. — Hoe  vigorously  all  beds  and 
borders  in  the  rose  garden,  keeping  a  sharp  look- 
out for  maggot,  otherwise  many  of  the  flower  buds 
may  be  destroyed.  Attacks  of  aphis  may  be 
averted   by    timely   spraying  with  quassia. 

Aquilegias. — Seed  of  these  elegant  plants 
should  be  sown  at  this  time  in  boxes  in  a  cool 
frame,  transplanting  immediately  the  seedlings 
are  of  a  suitable  size.  The  varieties  now  procurable 
from  a  packet  of  seed  are  wonderful.  The  flowers 
are  eminently  suitable  for  decorative  purposes. 
James  McGran 

(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.). 

Coodham.  Kilmarnock. 


GREENHOUSE    AND    CONSERVATORY 

Rehmannia  angulata  is  an  excellent  plant  tt>r 
the  cool  conservatory,  remaining  in  flower  as  it 
does  for  a  good  many  weeks.  It  is  really  a  peren- 
nial and  may  be  propagated  each  year  from  oft"- 
shoots,  but  the  best  results  are  obtained  if  it  is 
raised  from  seed  every  year.  Seed  should  be  sown 
now,  standing  the  seed  pan  in  a  cool  house  or 
frame.  When  large  enough  to  handle  the  seedlings 
should  be  pricked  off  into  pans  or  boxes,  after- 
wards potting  them  up  as  they  require  it.  By 
the  autumn  they  should  be  in  5in.  or  6in.  pots,  in 
which  they  may  remain  all  the  winter,  growing 
them  throughout  in  cold  frames.  Early  in  the 
New  Year  they  should  be  transferred  into  their 
flowering  pots,  which  are  Sins,  or  gins,  in  size  if 
good  specimens  are  desired.  During  all  stages  of 
their  cultivation  these  plants  do  quite  well  in 
any  good  potting  compost.  Seedlings  vary  some- 
what in  colour,  thus  seed  should  always  be  saved 
from  selected  plants. 

Relimannia    liewensis    is    a    hybrid    between 

R.  Henryii  and  R.  chinensis,  and  is  also  worth 
growing  for  the  cool  greenhouse,  and  succeeds  under 
the  same  cultural  conditions  as  R.  angulata. 

Gilia  COronopifolia  is  a  beautiful  biennial  that 
is  deserving  of  more  general  cultivation  for  the 
cool  conservatory.  It  is  easily  raised  from  seed, 
which  should  be  sown  at  this  time  in  a  cool  green- 
house. When  large  enough  to  prick  off  the 
seedhngs  should  be  placed  in  pans  containing  light 
rich  soil.  They  should  afterwards  be  potted  into 
thumbs,  and  again  into  sixty  sized  pots,  in  which 
size  they  should  be  wintered.  This  plant  requires 
some  care — especially  in  the  immediate  neighbour- 
hood of  London — to  bring  it  safely  through  the 
winter  months  ;  for  like  many  other  Californian 
plants  it  is  very  impatient  of  stagnant  moisture 
during  the  winter.  I  find  it  winters  best  on  a 
shelf  in  a  cool,  airy  greenhouse,  during  which 
time  only  enough  water  must  be  given  to 
prevent  the  plant  from  shrivelling,  taking  care 
not  to  wet  the  foliage.  Early  in  the  New  Year 
more  water  must  be  given,  and  as  the  plants 
commence  to  grow  they  may  be  potted  into  their 
flowering  pots,  which  should  be  6ins.  in  size.  A 
free  compost,  good  drainage  and  careful  watering 
at  all  times  is  essential  for  the  successful  cultivation 
of  this  plant  and  well  grown  specimens  should 
attain  a  height  of  3ft.  or  4ft. 

Euphorbia    pulcherrima    {The    Poinsettia).— 

Many  cultivators  make  the  mistake  of  propagating 
this  plant  too  early.  The  middle  of  June  is  quite 
early  enough  for  the  first  batches.  This  plant  is 
easily  propagated  by  pieces  of  the  old  stem  cut  into 
lengths  of  some  2ins.  Some  gardeners  contend 
that  such  good  results  are  not  obtained  by  this 
method  ;  personally  I  have  not  found  any  differ- 
ence. In  any  case  the  usual  procedure  is  to  use 
young  shoots  about  ^ins.  in  length  as  cuttings, 
leaving  a  shaving  of  the  old  wood  at  the  base  of 
the  cuttings.  As  they  bleed  freely  the  base  of  the 
cuttings  should  be  dipped  in  finely  powdered 
charcoal,  and  should  then  be  inserted  singly  in 
small  pots  and  plunged  in  a  warm  propagating 
case,  taking  care  that  they  are  not  allowed  to 
flag.  When  rooted  they  should  be  potted  up,  and 
after  thev  are  established  thev  should  be  removed 


to  an  intermediate  house  for  a  few  days,  and  then 
to  a  cold  house  or  frame,  where  they  should  have 
plenty  of  air  and  full  exposure  to  the  sun,  removing 
them  to  a  warm  house  during  September. 

Chrysanthemums. — If  these  are  not  already  in 
their  flowering  pots,  no  time  should  be  lost  in 
getting  the  potting  completed.  The  potting  com- 
post should  consist  of  good  medium  loam  chopped 
up  roughly,  with  the  addition  of  a  little  leaf  soil, 
or  old  mushroom-bed  manure,  and  enough  coarse 
sand  or  old  lime  rubble  to  render  the  whole  porous. 
A  forty-eight  sized  potful  of  fine  bone  meal 
should  be  added  to  every  bushel  of  soil,  about  the 
same  quantity  of  soot  may  also  be  added,  but  no 
artificial  fertilisers  should  be  used  at  this  time. 
The  plants  should  be  firmly  potted,  and  if  large 
specimens  of  the  decorative  varieties  are  required, 
three  plants  should  be  put  into  loin.  or  lain.  pots. 
Single  plants  should  be  placed  into  8in.  or  gin. 
pots.  Instead  of  standing  the  plants  out  in  their 
summer  quarters  at  once,  as  is  too  generally  done, 
it  is  better  to  stand  them  closely  together  for  a 
few  weeks,  as  moister  and  therefore  better  growing 
conditions  can  thus  be  maintained.  It  is  also 
much  easier  to  syringe  the  plants  several  times  a 
day. 

J.    COUTTS, 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kew. 


THE  PROPAGATION   OF  THE 
SCOTCH  ROCKET 

(HESPERIS     MATRONALIS     ALBA     PLENA.) 

THIS,  one  of  the  very  choicest  of  hardy 
plants,  is  too  often  lost  in  gardens 
simply  for  want  of  a  little  knowledge 
of  its  habits  and  requirements.  For  a 
couple  of  years  or  so  the  plants  thrive 
and  flower  splendidly,  but  "  all  of  a  sudden  "  they 
mysteriously  die  off  and  the  cultivator  is  left 
lamenting.  It  is,  of  course,  only  fair  to  say  that 
it  is  not  on  every  kind  of  soU  this  floral  gem  will 
thrive,  for  unfortunately  it  is  somewhat  fastidious 
in  this  respect,  and  no  matter  how  skilful  the 
cultivator  may  be,  the  plants  simply  refuse  even  to 
remain  alive  in  some  districts.  It  may  be 
grown  grandly  on  a  heavy  clay  loam,  but  it 
probably  prefers  a  fairly  rich  deep  loam  of 
a  light  character.  Division  of  the  root-stock 
is  often  advised,  but  long  experience  has  demon- 
strated that  by  far  the  best  results  are 
obtained  from  cuttings  in  early  autumn.  Many 
readers  who  have  tried  this  plant  will  pertinently 
enquire  where  cuttings  are  to  be  had,  as 
usually  the  plants  flower  so  profusely  that 
not  a  single  side  shoot  is  produced  without 
a  flower-spike.  It  is  here  that  a  little  foresight 
is  demanded.  Two  or  three  good  plants  should 
be  planted  in  the  reserve  garden,  and  as  soon  as 
flower- stems  appear  these  should  be  cut  back, 
which  will  conserve  the  strength  of  such  plants 
and  in  due  course  induce  the  latent  buds  near  the 
base  to  break  forth  into  vigorous  growth  after  the 
flowering  season  is  over.  These  side  shoots, 
if  taken  off  with  a  "heel"  and  inserted  firmly 
round  the  edges  of  5in.  pots  filled  with  very  sandy 
compost,  will  soon  form  roots.  The  cuttings  will 
root  if  placed  in  a  cold  frame,  but  as  damp  is  the 
great  enemy  during  winter,  it  is  preferable  to  stand 
the  pots  in  a  greenhouse  from  which  frost  is  just 
excluded.  The  Rocket  will  not  stand  being 
coddled,  so  give  abimdance  of  air  after  roots  are 
formed.  In  early  March  pot  off  singly  into  4in. 
pots,  using  good  but  not  over-rich  soU.  Keep 
in  the  greenhouse  for  ten  days  after  potting, 
then  remove  to  a  cold  frame,  gradually  harden  off 
and  plant  out  where  they  are  to  bloom  by  the 
first  week  in  April.  Treated  thus  few  plants 
can  surpass  the  true  Scotch  Rocket  as  a  border 
plant.  C.  Blair. 

Preston  House  Gardens,  Linlithgow. 


FECIAL    IRIS    ARTICLES. 


THE 


juS^J22 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


iK  LXXXVI.— No.  2640. 

ered  as  Second-class  Matter  at  the  New  York.  N.  Y..  Post  Office. 


Saturday,  June  24,  1922 


REGISTERED  AT  THE  GENERAL 

POST  OFFICE  AS  A  NEWSPAPER 

AND  FOR  CANADIAN  HACAZINE 

POST. 


Price  THREEPENCE 

Yearly  Subscription  : 
Inland.    17/4;    Foreign.   17/4 


BEARDED     IRISES     AND     LUPINS. 


ORCH I DS 

of  vigorous   habit  and   superior  constitution.     A  visit  to  our  Establishment 

is    cordially    invited    to    inspect    our     immense     and     interesting     STOCK 

RAISED     BY     THE 

PURE    CULTURE    SYSTEM 

Choice    Species,    Rare    Botanical    Specimens.     Albinos    in    warm    and    cool 
sections  also  a  speciality. 

E.xpert    Advice    given    and    all    Requisites    supplied     for    the    good     culture 

of   Orchids. 

HAYWARDS 
HEATH. 


GHARLESWORTH  &  CO.. 


WHITE    FLY    DEATH. 

XO     rURTHEE     LOSS     FROM     THIS     PEST     IF     YOU     USE 

CORRY'S  WHITE  FLY  DEATH  FUMIGANT 

It   is  uniquf   and    differs   from   all   others.       XOX-POISONOUS.       Xo   danger   to   operator. 
No    apparatus.       Simply    pour    from    the    container    on    to    the    floor    of    the    greenhouse, 

FULL    DIRECTIONS    WITH    EACH    PACKAGE. 

Cheaper   and   safer  than   any   other  Fumigant  on   the  market  and  absolutely  effective  against  White  Fly. 
Jfr.  J.  B.  JacKLIN,  Jei-sey,  writes  : —  "  May  3Ist,  1922. 

"  Your  new   White  Fly  eradicator  is  simpiy  splendid,  and   you  can  recommend  it  from 
me,  as  it  is  a  perfect  killer  of  White  Fly." 

SOLD    BY   ALL    NURSERYMEN.    SEEDSMEN   AND    FLORISTS. 

Cull.  ft.  1,000  2,000  4,000  8,000  10,000  32.000  64,000 

Price        lOd.  13  21-  3/6  6/3  :i  1  6  22/- 

And  in  all  sizes   up  to  40-gallon  barrels. 

CORRY   &   CO.,   Ltd.,    Shad    Thames,    LONDON,    S.E.I. 

SPECIAL     TERMS     TO     THE     TRADE. 

EDDY'S     nets" 

NEW     GARDEN      NETS.      For    Fruit     Protection. 

Square  and  Diamond  Mesh.       All  kinds  and  sizes. 
TENNIS  BOUNDARY  NETS.  All  widths  &  lengths 
TENNIS      NETS.      Various  qualities. 
REPAIRED  NETS.  All  sizes.  Square  &  Diamond  Mesh 

NETS     FOR     ALL     PURPOSES. 


Samples  and  List  of  Prices  from  the  Manufacturers  : 

JOSEPH  BENTLEY,  Ltd.,  BARROW-ON-HUMBER,  HULL. 

(Sole    Proprietors    of    B.    EDDY    f-    SONS.) 

Barr's  Seeds  for  June  Sowing 

Of  Finest   Slrains  and  Tested  Growth 
FOR  THE  FLOWER  GARDEN  &  GREENHOUSE. 

Antirrhinums,  Aquilegias,  Campanulas,  Canterbury  Bells,  Calceolarias. 
Cinerarias,  Delphiniums,  Forget-me-nots,  Hollyhocks,  Lupins,  Pansies, 
Primulas,   Polyanthus,  Primroses,  Sweet  Williams,  Stocks,  Wallflowers.'etc. 

FOR  THE  VEGETABLE  GARDEN. 

Beans,    Beet,    Carrots,    Peas,    Spinach,    Lettuce,    Radish,    etc. 

FOR    POULTRY    AND    PIG    FOOD 

sow   BUCKWHEAT— Seed,  per  oz.  packet,  3d.  ;    per  lb.,  2/-. 

special    List   en    application. 

^A^^         A.        ^fMM^  ^■''     '•2     *     ■•3.     t^'NO     STREET, 

DMKK        ft       ^\Jt^^,      COVENT     GARDEN,     LONDON,     w'cr. 


11. 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  24   1922. 


i€ 


THE    GARDEN"   CATALOGUE    GUIDE 


NOTICE  TO  OUR  READERS 


/^N  receipt  of  a  Post  Card  the  under- 
^'^  mentioned  firms  will  be  pleased  to 
send  their  useful  Catalogues  free  of  charge. 


Fruit  Trees  and  Plants 


PERRY'S 

Habdy  Plant  Farms 

ENFIELD,  MIDDX. 


New  Alpines 
and  Perennials 

Complete 
Collection 


KELWAY  &  SON 
RvFAiL  Plant  Department 
LANGPORT,  SOMERSET. 


Hardy  Plants 
Colour  Borders 
Gladioli 


HARDY    AZALEAS    AND    FLOWER  INQ    SHRUBS 


R.  &  G.  CUTHBERT 

SOUTHGATE 

MIDDLESEX 

EaTABLISHBO    1 797 


For  planting  and 
Conservatory 
decoration. 
Catalogue  of  our 
new  and  beautiful 
varieties  post 
free 


LAXTON  BROS. 

NUKSERIES 

BEDFORD 


Strawberries 

and 

Fruit  Trees 


W.  WELLS,  JuNH. 
Hakdy  Plant  Nursery 
MERSTHAM,  SURREY 


Specialists  in 
Hardy  Plants 
and  Alpines 
Catalogues  free 


Seeds  and  Bulbs 


R.  H.  BATH,  Ltd. 
Thi  Floral  Farms 
WISBECH 


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Seeds 


BLACKMORE  &  LANGDOM 
TwKRTON  Hill  Nursery 
BATH 


Begonias 
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Cyclamen,  etc. 


DAWKINS 

408,  King's  Road 

CHELSEA,  S.W. 


Forcing  List 
(Retarded    Liliums), 
Roman  Hyacinths, 
etc. 


PULMAM  ®  SON 

TOE  NUBSERJES -EL^ENtlAM 
I  SIANSTED- ESSEX 


Alpine  1) 
Hardy  Flonts 


HERBERT'S  NEW  PINKS 

THE     FINEST     EVER     RAISED 
Have   received   Seven   Awards  ot   Merit  and  Medals. 

I'was  also  personally  congratulated  by  Their  Majesties  the 

King  and  Queen  at  the  R.H.S.  Show,  Chelsea.  May  24th,  1921. 

Price    List    free    on    af>plicaiton. 

C.   H.    HERBERT,    Nurseryman, 

ACOOK8     QREEN,     BIRMINQHAM. 


Garden  Sundries 


C.  E.  WEST 
Hicham  Hill,  E.17 
Est.  1888 


West's  Patent  Garden  SuniJiiL:^, 
,,  ,,       Weeder, 

■'  Celu"  LabeU. 
Rafiiatape  "  Westmaline,  " 
Insecticides.  Weed  Killers,  etc 
Catalogue  and  fr-  e  samples. 


RICHARD  MELHUISH,  Ltd. 
50/51,  Fetter  Lane,  E.C.4. 
Branch  Depot  : 

143  HoLBORN  Bars 


Garden  Tools  cf 
all  kinds. 
Catalogue    "B' 
post  free. 


CORRY  &  CO.,  Ltd. 
Shad  Thames,  S.E.i  and 
Bedford  Chambers 
CovENT  Garden,  W.C.2 


Merchants  and 
Manufacturers 
of  Horticultural 
Sundries 
Fertilizers  and 
Inasctlcldes,  etc. 


J.  BENTLEY,  Ltd. 
Barrow-on-Humber 
HULL 


Weed  Destroyers 
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Shrubs,  etc. 


Landscape  Gardening 


W.  H.  GAZE  &  SONS,  Ltd. 
High  Street 
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Landacape,  Rock 
and  Water  Qarden 
Model  Qardens 
Portsmouth    Road 
SurbKon 


R.  WALLACE  &  CO.,  Ltd. 
The  Old  Gardens 
TUNBRIDGE  WELLS 


L>anclsaHpe  &  Garden 
Aroh.tecta.  Queen 

Atesandra's    Cup    for 
Beat  Rook  and  Water 
Oardea.  Iatematk>nal 
Shuv..  IViz. 


J.  CHEAL  &   SONS,  Ltd. 

Nurseries 

CRAWLEY 


Landscape 
Qardenera 
Trees  and 
Shrubs,  etc. 


I  PULMAM  ®  SON 

BY  APPOINT^lE^fT  TO  ni3  MAJC5TY 

71  NEWMAN  STCDcrORDST- 
LONDON • W 

NURSERIES  •  ELSCNTtAMessiBt 


fonndiGcrrien*  ■ 


MISS  EVELYN  FAWSSETT 

(Specialst  in  Garden  Planning) 

83,  High  Street 
LEWES,  SUSSEX 


New  Gardens  de- 
signed. Old  Gardens 
Re-arranged.  Plant- 
ing plans  for  borders. 
etc.  Terms  on  appli- 
cation. 


SPECIAL  ITE. 

SUMMKR    FLOWERING 
TREES      AND      SHRUBS 
(Carriage  Paid.) 

V.  N.  Gauntlett  &  Co..  Ltd., 

Japanese  Nurseries,  CHiDDrNcpoLD,  Surrey. 


ARTINDALES 

List     of     BEDDING     VIOLAS,     EARLY 

FLOWERING        CHRYSANTHEMUMS, 

and     DAHLIAS,     Post     Free. 

\A/m.    ARTINDALE    &    SON, 

Nether     Green,     SHEFFIELD. 


ALLEN'S     NETS. 


BOUNDARY     NETTINQ. 

do.,  lin.,  4id.  sq.  yd.,  roped 


GARDEN     AND     TENNIS 

(iarden  Nets,  new,  Sin.,  bd: 
all  round  ;  square  nets,  cover  in  full  when  stretched.  Selected 
Kood  repaired  nets,  ^in.  diamond  mesh,  25yds.  by  13yds.,  42/6  ; 
SOyds.  by  ISyds.,  85/-  ;  75yd3.  by  13yds.,  125/-,  as  supplied 
Royal  gardens  ;  made  square,  4  sq.  yds.  Extra  special  heavy 
new  hand-braided  tennis  boundary  netting,  No.  1  quality,  TJd. 
sq.  yd.,  tarred  roped  all  round,  new  ;  No.  2  quality,  6d.  sq.  yd., 
any  length  or  width  to  order.  See  list  prices,  other  nets.  My 
holding  huge  stocits,  orders  despatched  promptly,  passenger 
train,  carriage  paid.    Contractor  to  His  Majesty's  Government. 

W.  OLIVER  ALLEN,    Net  Maker,  PORTHLEVEN,   CORNWALL. 
Established  nearly  a  century.         Telegrams,   "  Oliver  Allen." 


//  y<>"  want  your  t:arden  to 
look  nice,  you  shnuld  use 
McDouualVs  Perfect  Safety 
Weed  Killer  on  your  paths. 
Ko  arsenic  and  no  danger 
to  human  beings,  animals, 
poultry,  etc.  Most  effective. 
safe,  and  so  simple  to  use." 

McDougall's  PERFECT  SAFETY 
WEED  KILLER  is  sold  by  all  Seeds- 
men, Nurserymen,  Ironmongers,  etc.,  in 
Pint  Tins,  1/6  ;  Quarts,  2/6  ;  J-Gallons,  4/  ; 
I  Gallon  Drums,  6/6  ;  5  Galls.,  25/- ;  40  Gall. 
Casks,  £7  10  0.      Ask  for  Illustrated  List. 

McDOUGALL      &      ROBERTSON,     Ltd., 
66/68,    Port    St.,    Manchester. 

Agents  in  Scotland  shiuild  .inply  to  : 
Cft  RRUTHERS  SON  &  CO.,  Tradeston,  Glasgow. 


The    PARAMOUNT 
SWEET  PEA  MANURE 

IS 

M  ACKER  ETH'S. 

(The    Original.) 

USED  BY  PROFESSIONALS  AND   AMATEURS  throughout 

the      world,      and     by      their     unsolicited     testimony 

ACKNOWLEDGED    THE    BEST. 

In  tins  :— 1/9  and  3/-  post  free. 
In  bags:-7-!bs.  3/6,  14-lbs.  5/9,  28-lbs.  9  6, 
56-lbs.  15/6,  112-lbs.  27/6,  carriage  paid, 
other  Special  Manures  -  TOMAIO  FLORAL, 
ROSE,  SOLUBLE  CHRYSANTHEMUM,  INSOLUBLE 
CHRYSANTHEMUM,  FRUIT  TREE,  LAWN,  VINE, 
CARNATION,  LAWN  SAND  or  DAISY  KILLER,  etc. 


Packing    and    Prices    as    Sweet    Pea    Manure, 
Lists    free    on    application. 

G.  H.  MACKERETH  Ltd.,  Ulverston,  Lanes. 


The  "VILLA"  SPRAYER 


PatentN"? 
161730. 


Brass  Cylinder 

17  IN.  LONG 
X   %  DIAM. 


"The  Villa"  Sprayc-r  is  now  fitted  wit'i  a  new  and  greatly 
improvifd  nozzl  ■. 

It  is  con  lected  to  th;  pump  with  the  sime  sized  screw  as 
the  old  patiet-n,  so  that  the  old  one  may  be  unscrewed  and 
replaced  hy  that  shown  in  the  cut  above. 

In-^teid  of  the  inlet  \.ilve  heing  operated  by  a  rubber  band  a 
BRASS     BALL     VALVK   has  be.n  substituted. 

There  is  nothing  whatever  to  jio  wrony  or  to  corrode.  The 
I  quid  may  be  suclttd  up  from  the  very  bottom  of  the  can. 

uy  loosening  and  tightening  the  brass  screw  the  spraying  tube 
may  be  set  to  throw  the  spray  at  any  desired  a  tl'e,  anJ  it  is 
more  solidly  constructed. 

Former  customers  riiay  be  suppliei  with  th's  new  nozzle,  post 
free.  VH. 

AsU  >our  sejdsman  or  ironmonger  for  the  "  \'illa  "  Sprayer. 


THE  TRADE  SUPPLIED.     Fop  Wholesale  terms  apply: 
G.    W.    JONES.    156,   Holdenhupst   Road,   Bournemouth. 


For  Mall  Orders  to  the  Patentee: 

Post  ^'    ClrllLDS, 

RIVERSIDE,      ENSBURY, 

Free  Bournemouth. 


5/6 


HOCKEY,     GOLF,     TENNIS,     CROQUET.—! 

invaluable  booklets  on  these  pastimes,  by  authoritativf, 
writers,  are  published  at  the  Offices  of  "Country  Life,' 
Limited,  20,  Tavistock  Street,  Covcnt  Garden,  W.C.2,  9d.  each 
by  post  lid. 


No.  2640— Vol.  LXXX\ 


[June  24,  1922. 


THE    TALL    BEARDED    IRISES 


THERE  is  probably  no  genus  of  hardy 
plants  which  can  equal  the  Irises  for 
interest,  beauty  and  that  diversity  of 
colouring  which  inspired  their  name. 
It  is  a  most  remarkable  family  and  so 
widely  distributed,  ahke  in  Xature  and  in  culti- 
vation, that  it  might  well  "  claim  the  whole  world 
as  its  country." 

The  old  type  Germanicas,  in  which  there 
are  shades  of  white,  blue,  purple  and  violet,  and 
which  flower  during  May,  must  now  be  looked 
upon  as  out-dated  garden  plants.  In  the  so-called 
Tall  Bearded  Irises  there  is  far  greater  interest. 
They  have  a  larger  range  of  colour,  are  endless 
in  variety,  comprising  innumerable  shades  and 
tones  of  colour  in  their  sectional  families  of 
araoena,  neglecta,  aphylla,  squalens,  variegata 
and  pallida.  They  make  an  appeal  comparable 
with  that  of  the  Lily  and  the  Orchid.  Both  in 
stature,  foliage  and  habit  many  of  the  newer 
forms  of  Iris  stand  proudly  beside  the  former, 
while  for  colouring,  form,  perfume  and  general 
beauty  they  may  easily  equal  the  latter. 

It  is  generally  ac- 
cepted that  the  Tall 
Bearded  Irises  are  the 
most  showy  and  in- 
teresting section  of  the 

great  Iris  family.    The 

tall,  stately  flower 
stems    frequently    rise 

to    3ft.    and    4ft.    with 

greyish      glaucous 

foUage,    which    adds 

much  to  the  effect  of 

the    branching    flower 

scapes.  Their  deli- 
cately textured  blos- 
soms may  be  compared 

to  the  silken  and  velvet 

robes     of     queen     or 

courtier. 

Space   would   not 

permit    me    to    dwell 

upon  all  I  saw  in  the 

various   collections    at 

the  recent   Iris   Show, 

containing  as  they  did 

some     of     the     finest 

possible  types.     I  will, 

however,      mention 

briefly   just   a   few   of 

those   which   appealed 

to   me   as   among   the 

finest,   all  certainly  of 

first-rate  merit. 


Souvenir  de  Mme.  Gaudichau,  a  tall  and  distinct 
deep  royal  purple,  well  built  flower. 

Bruno,  a  great  beauty,  where  bronze  and 
reddish  purple  predominate. 

-Ambassadeur.  —  Standards,  smoked  reddish 
violet  ;  falls,  dark  velvety  red.  Large,  well 
balanced  flowers. 

Perry's  White. — Standards  and  falls  pure  white. 
The  largest  and  most  stately  I  ha\e  yet  seen  ; 
certainly  the  "  Queen  of  Irises." 

Lord  of  June,  a  perfect  giant  in  Iris.  Standards, 
lavender  blue  ;  falls,  violet  blue  ;  the  surrounding 
atmosphere  completely  permeated  by  its  powerful 
and  delightful  perfume. 

Robert  Wallace,  a  real  masterpiece  in  colour, 
being  a  rich  ruby  purple  ;    well  built  flowers. 

Marian  Cran. — Standards,  light  rosy  purple ; 
falls,  deep  rose  purple  ;    white  crest. 

Lady  Sackville,  a  most  beautiful  and  well  built 
flower  ;  standards,  broad  and  of  a  silvery  shade  of 
sky  blue  ;   falls,  rich  crimson  purple  ;   yellow  beard. 

Ma  Mie,  pure  white,  standards  and  falls  beauti- 
fullv  frilled  blue. 


TALL    BEARDED    IRISES    IN    A    PERGOLA. 


Xeptune. — Standards,  pale  blue  ;  falls,  purple 
Delightfully  fragrant. 

Isoline. — Standards,  silvery  rose,  flushed  bronze  ; 

falls,  purplish  old  rose,  golden  throat,  yellow  beard. 

.Alcazar. — Standards,  lavender  blue  ;    falls,  deep 

purple,  with  a  bronze  veined  throat,  orange  beard. 

Black  Prince. — Standards,  purplish  blue  ;    falls, 

rich  velvety  purple,  almost  black  ;   most  distinct. 

Iris  King. — Standards,  old  gold  ;  falls,  rich 
bright  velvety  crimson  maroon,  margined  gold 

Caprice. — Standards,  reddish  purple  ;  falls, 
deeper,  bright  yellow  beard. 

Magnifica. — Standards,  light  violet  blue  ;  falls, 
long,  deep  reddish  violet,  reticulated  brown  at 
base  ;    bold  yellow  beard  ;    sweetly  scented. 

Ed.  Michel. — Of  very  imposing  appearance 
tall,  stately  spikes,  bearing  distinct  wine-red  flowers. 
Eldorado. — Standards,  a  curious  combination  of 
yellowish  bronze  shaded  with  heliotrope  ;  falls, 
violet  purple  shaded  bronze  yellow,  with  clear 
gold  beard. 

Donna  Nook. — Standards,  lavender  blue  ;    falls, 
bright  purple  shaded  lavender  ;    large,  well  built 
flowers ;     tall,    stately 
habit  ;       highly      per- 
fumed. 

Jacquesiana. —  Stan- 
dards, crimson  copper  ; 
falls,  rich  maroon. 

Lady  Foster. — Stout 
branching  spikes; 
standards,  pale  blue  ; 
falls,  bluish  violet, 
veined  gold  at  base. 

La  Niege.  —  Stan- 
dards and  falls  pure 
white  ;  a  good  variety 
for  front  row  of  border. 
Monsignor.  —  Stan- 
dards, pale  violet  ; 
falls,  rich  velvety  pur- 
ple, mth  paler  edges. 

Flammenschwert,  a 
real  acquisition,  large 
well  formed  flowers  ; 
standards,  rich  yellow; 
falls,  velvety  crimson 
maroon- 
Prosper  Laugier,  lar- 
ger than  Jacquesiana 
and  brighter  in  colour. 
Queen  Mary  White, 
pure  snow  white,  white 
beard. 

Grevin. — Standards, 
violet,     flushed     and 


300 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  24,  1922. 


shaded  yellow ;  falls,  dark  \ioIet  ;  large,  well 
built  flowers. 

Nibelungen. — Standards,  fawn,  shot  bronze  ; 
falls,  \'iolet  purple,  suffused  bronze. 

Princess  Victoria  Louise. — Standards,  primrose 
yellow  ;  falls,  reddish  purple,  distinctly  margined 
primrose  ;    very  effective. 

Caterina. — Tall,  stately  spikes,  bearing  massi\e 
lavender  blue  flowers  ;  falls,  prettily  veined  at 
throat  ;    sweetly  scented. 

Cherubin. — Wonderfully  free  ;  standards,  white, 
Bushed  pink  ;    falls,  pale  lilac. 

Oriflamme. — Exceedingly  large,  well  built  flowers. 
sweetly  scented ;  standards,  bright  blue ;  falls, 
dark  purple. 

Miss  Dorothy  Rowe. — Distinct  branching  habit, 
medium-sized  flowers  ;  standards,  la\'ender  blue  ; 
falls,  deep  reddish  purple. 

Rhein  Nixe. — Standards,  white ;  falls,  rich 
violet  purple,  with  conspicuous  narrow  white  edge. 

Mrs.  Neubronner. — Standards  and  falls,  deep 
golden  yellow  ;    flowers  rather  small. 

Miss  Eardley. — Standards,  old  gold  ;  falls, 
crimson  maroon,  margined  yellow. 

Lohengrin. — A  most  beautiful  Cattleya-rose 
shade  ;    large,  handsome  flowers. 

Minos. — Standards,  light  blue  ;  falls,  deep 
purple  blue  ;   free  branching  habit  ;   sweet  scented. 

Mile.  Schwartz. — A  tall,  stately  variety  of 
French  origin,  bearing  large,  well  built  pale  mau\e 
flowers,  much  branched. 

Pfauenauge. — Quite  distinct  ;  standards,  olive 
gold ;  falls,  curiously  shaded,  gold  at  the  edge 
and  deepening  to  plum  towards  centre. 

Dawn. — Standards,  pretty  sulphur  yellow  ; 
falls,  bronze,   bronze  at   throat. 


Few  plants  respond  more  kindly  to  well  worked 
ordinary  soil  than  the  Bearded  Irises.  To  attain 
full-sized  flowers  and  vigorous  foUage,  deeply 
worked  soil  should  be  the  rule,  and  if  lime  is 
absent,  the  addition  of  a  little  is  desirable. 

It  is  well  to  transplant  every  three  or  four 
years,  and  the  best  season  for  transplanting  is, 
should  the  w-eather  prove  favourable,  as  soon  as 
possible  after  flowering.  If.  however,  this  cannot 
be  done  they  may  be  planted  quite  successful! >• 
during  the  autumn  and  spring,  with  the  diflerence 
that  the  plants  do  not  attain  their  full  height, 
the  quality  of  flowers  will  not  be  so  fine,  and  that 
sometimes  they  will  miss  flowering  for  a  season. 

The  Bearded  Irises  are  unquestionably  the 
flower  of  the  garden,  as,  providing  they  are  given 
a  sunny  position,  they  will  thrive  equally  well 
in  the  herbaceous  border,  on  banks  or  slopes. 
I  have  seen  them  growing  quite  close  to  the 
water's  edge  on  banks  at  such  a  distance  that 
their  toes,  or  roots,  do  not  touch  the  water  ;  also 
on  the  outskirts  of  shrubberies.     Willi.\m  Logan. 


WHEN     TO     TRANSPLANT 

There  is  a  widespread  controversy  as  to  the  best 
time  to  move  the  giant  Bearded  Irises.  Such 
arguments  mostly  arise  with  plants  which  are 
exceedingly  difiicult  or  exceptionally  easy  to 
transplant.  In  this  case  it  is  the  easiness  with 
which,  given  ordinary  care,  these  Irises  may  be 
moved  and  re-established  which  has  provoked  the 
controversy. 

It  is  certain  that  these  plants  have  been  trans- 
planted successfully  at  every  season  of  the  year, 


not  excepting  the  dead  of  winter,  but  with  choice 
and  perhaps  expensive  varieties  in  question  it 
is  certainly  not  advisable  to  remove  them  after 
root  action  has  ceased  for  the  season.  Removal 
immediately  after  flowering  is  often  advocated, 
and  where  the  ground  is  ready  for  them,  this 
season  can  hardly  be  bettered.  All  through  July 
the  nurserymen  will  be  propagating  for  themselves 
and  sending  stocks  to  all  parts  of  the  country 
to  Iris  enthusiasts  who  have  proved  this  time 
the  best  at  which  to  estabUsh  them.  In  many 
gardens,  how'ever,  it  would  only  be  possible  to 
plant  or  divide  Irises  at  this  season  by  disturbing 
the  effect  of  beds  and  borders  which,  with  so 
easily  moved  a  plant  in  question,  is  certainly  not 
worth  while. 

Early  in  September,  while  the  ground  still 
retains  some  of  the  warmth  bestowed  on  it  by 
summer  sunshine,  is  an  excellent  time  to  plant, 
but  not,  let  it  be  whispered,  too  good  a  time  to 
order  new  varieties,  since  those  most  wanted 
may  by  then  be  sold  out  unless  the  order  was 
placed  betimes.  Much  depends  upon  the  season, 
but  as  long  as  the  ground  is  moderately  warm 
planting  may  well  continue.  It  is,  however,  a 
mistake  to  plant  in  January,  for  instance,  in  the 
hope  of  getting  better  flowers  than  with  later 
planting.  The  only  result  is  likely  to  be  the 
setting  up  of  rot  among  the  unavoidably  damaged 
thong-Mke  roots. 

Irises  planted  in  March  usually  flower  well — 
the  buds  are  already  formed  in  the  heart  of  the 
plant — but  are  usually  wanting  in  size  and  stature 
the  first  season.  .4s  to  their  behaviour  the  follow- 
ing year,  the  experts  disagree,  but  with  ordinary 
care  they  should  again  flower  well. 


THE    MAGNIFICENT    NEW    IRIS    BRUNO,    A    STUDY    IN    BROWNS 
.\ND    PURPLES.        NOTE    THE    FINE    FORM. 


IRIS    KING    WITH     I.    VARIEGATA    AS    COLLECTED     IN     THE 
BALKANS,  SHEWING  IMPROVEMENT  IN  SIZE  AND   SUBSTANCE. 


June  24,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


301 


THE      USES      OF      MATERIAL 

III.— THE    ARRANGEMENT    OF     BEARDED     IRISES. 


THE  newest  of  all  the  glories  of  the 
garden !  Not  that  the  Iris  is  new  to 
the  garden,  for  it  has  a  history  of 
hundreds  of  years,  but  in  an  incredibly 
short  period  it  has  swept  into  a 
popularity  unique  in  the  whole  story  of  flori- 
culture. Twenty-five  years  ago  the  Iris  was  a 
\'alued  garden  plant,  no  more,  no  less.  To-day  it 
has  entered  the  ranks  of  the  elect  few,  such  as 
the  Rose,  Lily  and  Carnation.  The  evidence  of 
this  is  not  far  to  seek  :  The  Iris  Conference  in 
Paris  ;  a  special  Iris  Meeting  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  at  Vincent 
Square  ;  special  visits  by  the  keenest  and  best 
informed  men  in  America  to  both.  Twenty-five 
years  ago  this  was  beyond  our  wildest  dreams. 
Now  the  thoughts  of  the  leading  lights  in  the 
horticultural  world  have  been  for  several  weeks 
concentrated  on  the  Iris. 

There  is  no  need  to  ask  why  this  is  so.  "  Beauty 
i>  the  quahty  that  makes  to  endure,"  and  of  all 
the  flowers  that  to-day  give  to  the  garden-lover 
joy  none  is  more  fair  in  form,  exquisite  in  colour 
variation,  or  subtle  in  appeal  to  the  sense  of 
beauty  than  are  the  wonderful  Irises  of  June. 

Many  years  ago  I  remember  an  old,  old  man 
who  used  to  tell  me  all  sorts  of  wonderful  things 
about  flowers  that  will  never  be  found  in  books. 
He  was  not  a  learned  man,  but  he  had  a  faith  all 
his  own,  or  perhaps  he  invented  one  for  my 
benefit.  It  was  certainly  a  very  beautiful  faith. 
He  said  that  the  souls  of  mortals  came  to  earth 
through  the  medium  of  flowers.  The  colours 
of  the  flower  were  indicative  of  the  character 
of  the  individual  whose  body  the  soul  would 
jltimately  inhabit.  There  were  no  truly  black 
flowers,  because  there  were  no  characters  entirely 
and  altogether  bad.  There  were  few  really  pure 
whites,  because  they  only  inhabited  the  infants 
who  died  before  they  were  conscious  of  good  or 
evil.  Some,  Uke  Tigridias,  were  just  those  splendid 
stars  that  burst  brilliantly  on  our  social  system 
for  a  short  time  and  then  disappeared.  Red 
flowers  were  soldiers ;  blue,  philosophers  and 
scientists ;  rose  and  pink,  poets  and  artists  ; 
•v'ellow,  misers  and  self-seekers  generally  ;  and  so 
on.  I  am  afraid  I  must  have  absorbed  more  of 
his  teaching  than  was  beneficial,  for  I  must  confess 
that  I  never  walk  among  the  Irises  without 
unconsciously  applying  it.  For  this  reason  I 
am  perhaps  inclined  to  extravagance  of  language 
with  regard  to  them.  Moreover,  there  is  evidently 
■something  in  the  flower  that  appeals  to  the 
romantic  side  of  all  who  have  dealings  with  them. 
The  nomenclature  of  the  many  varieties  is  evidence 
of  this.  Look  through  a  Ust  of  varieties  and  you 
will  find  that  about  90  per  cent,  of  the  names  are 
suggestive,  commemorative  or  descriptive.  One 
raiser  goes  to  the  pages  of  Shakespeare,  and  fits 
his  flower  with  both  name  and  character  at  the 
same  time.  Another  sees  his  garden  peopled 
with  the  romance  and  chivalry  of  Camelot  and 
(finds  in  Tennyson's  "  Idylls  of  the  King  "  knights 
■\aUant  and  ladies  fair  who  are  to  him  so  real 
that  his  choicest  productions  are  found  worthy 
tfi  bear  their  names.  .Another  finds  his  names 
in  the  departed  glories  of  an  Eastern  Empire, 
while  yet  another  sees  in  the  pure  depths  of  colour 
•  I  "  Blue  Lagoon,"  or  in  dainty  poise  and  spreading 
l.Uls  a  "  Blue  Bird."  Indeed,  the  Irises  are  more 
liappy  in  their  names  than  perhaps  any  other 
flower  of  similar  popularity,  which  is  due  to  the 
fact  that  no  other  flower  offers  quite  the  same 
romantic    sublimity    of    beauty.     Perhaps    some 


etymological  purist  will  object  to  the  use  of  the 
word  "  romantic  "  here  ;  then  I  shall  retort  that 
one  great  writer  has  said  :  "  The  real  and  proper 
use  ol  the  word  romantic  is  simplv  to  characterise 


"lacy"   and   beautiful,   the   TALL 
FREE-FLOWERING    IRIS   DIMITY. 

an  improbable  or  unaccustomed  degree  of  beauty, 
sublimity  or  virtue." 

It  is  perhaps  this  very  fascinating  power  over 
tlie  senses  that  has  detracted  my  thoughts  thus 
far  from  the  object  with  which  I  set  out,  namely, 
to  write  rather  of  the  uses  of  Irises  in  the  garden 
than  of  what  they  are.  First,  then,  they  are  the 
finest  of  border  plants,  and  this  for  several  reasons. 
Long  before  their  flowers  appear  their  sword-like 
leaves  furnish  the  herbaceous  border  with  green 
and  grey  relief.  The  young  growth  acts  as  agree- 
able furnishing  among  the  later  spring  flowers. 
When  the  time  comes  for  them  to  open  their 
flowers  there  is  a  colour  range  that  will  ofter 
harmony  or  contrast  to  every  other  flower  in 
season.  If  it  is  cool  greyish  lavender  colour 
you  want  there  are  the  Pallida  forms,  some  very 
tall,  such  as  Pallida  dalmatica,  others  smaller 
in  stature,  but  equally  dehghtful  as  to  colour  ; 
or  if  you  require  something  very  stately  and 
imposing,  free  flowering  beyond  regret  and  of  the 
most  exquisite  shade  of  soft  rose-lavender,  there 
is    Sweet    Lavender,     .'\nother    giant    of    equally 


soft  colouring  is  Ann  Page,  perhaps  the^finest 
of  its  type,  with  everything  that  grace  of  form 
and  delicacy  of  colour  can  add  to  magnificence 
of  stature  to  recommend  it.  Others  that  come 
within  the  same  colour  group,  of  varying  heights 
and  with  many  subtle  distinctions  of  colour 
variation  and  form,  are  Drake,  Mile.  Schwartz 
(too  pale  to  be  called  blue,  too  blue  to  be  called 
grey,  but  a  gem  in  every  way),  Morwell,  Ballerine, 
Goldcrest,  Viola  and  others.  Grouped  with  pink 
Lupins,  surrounded  by  pink  Heucheras,  or  growing 
in  association  with  masses  of  the  paler  pink  shades 
of  Pyrethrums,  they  one  and  all  delight  the  senses 
with  that  harmony  of  colour  arrangement  fhat 
gives  to  colour  in  the  flower  garden  all  its  realised 
attraction.  But  a  change  will  be  desired,  and  it 
can  be  found  in  the  warmer  colouring  of  Iris  King 
with  its  old  gold  standards  and  deep  reddish  maroon 
falls,  or  Marsh  Marigold,  a  pale  yellow  and  warm 
brown  combination.  Dusky  Maid,  Nibelungen, 
Maori  King,  Knysna  and  many  others .  of  which 
yellow  forms  an  important  item  in  the  colour 
scheme.  Most  of  these  are  sufficient  in  them- 
selves so  far  as  the  colour  in  the  border  is  concerned, 
but  they  associate  weU  with  the  deep  purple 
Lupins,  near  the  bronze-green  foliage  of  certain 
Paeonies,  or  with  any  foliage  similar  to  that  of 
Prunus  Pissardi. 

It  is  impossible  to  take  all  the  various  colour 
groups  and  deal  with'  them  separately,  and  it 
must  suffice  if  I  point  out  that  the  colour  range 
is  as  rich  and  perfect  as  it  can  be.  Pure  white, 
white  with  delicately  pencilled  markings  or  varyinj 
suffusions,  purples  of  deepest  dye,  violets  rich 
and  full,  yellows  that  are  all  yellow,  and  yellows 
staining  and  suffusing  every  other  colour,  and  a 
whole  host  of  indefinite  graduated  colours  that 
can  neither  be  accurately  named  nor  described, 
each  of  which  wiU  find  its  place  in  the  well  designed 
herbaceous  border. 

.Another  use  for  the  June  Irises  is  to  mass  them 
in  bold  groups  in  the  open  spaces  in  front  of  the 
shrubbery  borders.  Flowering  and  foUage  shrubs 
play  a  much  more  important  part  in  the  garden 
proper  than  they  once  did.  There  is  an  infinite 
variety  at  our  command  to-day,  and  the  shrubbery 
border  is  not  the  dull  affair  it  was  once.  Even 
so,  as  the  later  spring-flowering  shrubs  are  passing 
their  best  the  Irises  are  invaluable  in  prolonging 
the  colour  effects  until  summer  has  asserted  itself 
and  such  borders  take  on  new  attractions. 

Nevertheless,  it  must  not  be  assumed  that  I 
am  advocating  using  Irises  merely  as  temporar>- 
furnishing  for  existing  shrubberies.  Rather  would 
I  suggest  that  they  are  worthy  of  creating  sucli 
associations  for  their  own  value ;  in  fact,  the 
garden  can  provide  no  more  beautiful  combination 
than  groups  of  Irises  backed  by  the  sombre  tints 
of  the  dark-leaved  Japanese  Maples.  If  the 
position  is  too  exposed  for  these  beautiful  foliaged 
shrubs  there  are  the  Prunuses  Pissardi,  Blieriana 
and  Moserii,  Corylus  Avellana  purpurea  (the 
purple-leaved  Nut)  and  many  others  that  will 
produce  equally  enchanting  effects. 

One  of  the  most  brilliant  effects  that  can  be 
produced  is  by  associating  Azaleas,  preferably 
the  later-flowering  varieties,  with  some  of  the 
colder  toned  Irises.  Mixed  they  cannot,  or  at 
least  must  not  be.  The  soil  requirements  are 
quite  different.  Azaleas  will  not  have  lime  ; 
Irises,  at  least  the  June-flowering  bearded  section, 
require  it.  But  there  is  one  accommodating 
factor  in  the  case,  that  whereas  you  can  hardly 
extract  lime  from  the  soil   that  contains  it,  you 


302 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  24,  1922. 


can  apply  it  locally  to  such  plants  as  require  it. 
A  broad  open  glade  through  woodland,  a  fringe 
of  late-flowering  Azaleas,  interspersed  here  and 
there  with  dark  foliaged  shrubs,  such  as  are 
mentioned  above,  and  then,  in  broken  groups, 
masses  of  Irises  of  the  earlier  June-flowering 
varieties,  and  you  will  produce  a  riot  of  colour 
that  no  other  combination  can  provide.  Moreover, 
this  colour  madness  may  be  full  of  method.  There 
need  not  be  an  inharmonious  note  in  the  whole, 
because  though  you  may  splash  a  sunset  glow 
broadcast  upon  your  garden  area,  crimson,  gold 
and  orange,  you  will  find  among  the  Irises  a 
sufficiency  of  cool  colouring  to  subdue  where 
necessary,  enhance  where  desirable,  and  unite 
the  whole  in  one  grand  natural  colour  harmony. 
There  is  yet  another  method  of  using  these 
wonderful  flowers,  although  it  is  not  for  everyone. 


realises  how  far  progress  has  wafted  the  Iris. 
Another  exceptional  variety,  both  as  regards 
stature,  size  of  flower,  colour  and  form,  is  Asia. 
Pale  lavender,  red-purple,  brown,  gold  and  bright 
yellow  mingle  in  this  remarkable  flower. 
.■Mcazar,  another  violet  and  purple  giant,  is  a  very 
noticeable  variety.  A  wonderful  impression  of 
blue  is  conveyed  by  a  group  of  another  giant. 
Crusader.  Of  a  distinctly  different  colour  is 
Edouard  Michel,  nearly  approaching  red.  This 
variety  has  an  exquisite  wave  in  the  fall  that 
gives  it  a  very  distinctive  and  attractive  appear- 
ance. A  group  of  varying  lilac  and  rose  shades 
claims  attention.  It  consists  of  a  perfect  gradation 
of  colour  and  includes  Queen  of  May,  M.  Aymard, 
Miriam  Troost,  Lancelot,  Lohengrin,  Phyllis 
Bliss,  Roseway  and  the  ever-flowering  Mrs.  .■Man 
Gray.     But    perhaps    the    most   wonderful   colour 


JUNE    IRISES,    CATMINT    AND    MAPLES. 


It  is  in  the  devotion  of  some  portion  of  the  grounds 
exclusively,  or  almost  so,  to  the  cultivation  of 
Irises.  In  such  a  case  the  earlier-flowered  species 
and  varieties  would  have  to  be  introduced,  and 
also  the  later-flowering,  grassy-leaved  varieties. 
Time  and  space  forbid  dealing  with  these  now, 
and  in  any  case  it  is  the  June  picture  with  which 
we  are  concerned. 

The  picture  that  rises  before  my  eyes  is 
that  of  a  long  valley-like  depression  on  the 
outer  extremities  of  the  garden.  It  is 
perhaps,  50ft.  or  6oft.  wide,  and  bending  to  its 
slight  undulations  a  little  rill  gurgles  its  way 
along  at  the  lowest  level.  Fringing  this  tiny 
stream  are  tufts  of  foliage,  showing  where  some 
of  the  later-flowering,  grassy-leaved  and  moisture- 
loving  Irises  have  yet  to  flower,  and  also  some, 
like  the  Sibiricas,  past  their  best.  Away  up  the 
sides  of  the  valley,  well  removed  from  the  stream 
and  stretching  to  the  highest  crest  and  beyond, 
are  breadths  of  wind-stirred  colour,  for  it  is  June 
and  the  Iris  has  come  to  its  own.  Here  is  the 
giant  Lord  of  June,  a  peer  indeed  among  its 
fellow's,  and  as  it  moves  in  the  wind  it  becomes 
a  blue  and  violet  haze.  Next,  the  eye  is  caught 
by  an  exquisitely  shaped  flower  of  delicate 
colouring — white,  veined  lavender — called  Dimity. 
Then  there  is  a  wonder,  all  red  and  purple  and 
bronze  and  orange,  with  which  mingles  a  modicum 
of  brown — Cretonne.  Away  in  the  distance  is 
Camelot,  very  tall  and  stately,  with  creamy  white 
flowers,  edged  with  a  delicate  veining  and  thread- 
like margin  of  pale  violet.  Ma  Mie,  another 
variety  on  similar,  though  somewhat  smaller, 
lines,  is  also  attractive  ;  and  it  is  by  comparing 
these  two  with  the  older  Mme.  Chereau  that  one 


note  in  this  wonderful  garden  is  where  all  the 
gold,  bronze,  copper,  brown  and  every  warm 
metallic  hue  mingle  —  Nibelungen,  Romany, 
Mithras,  Eldorado,  Ambassadeur,  Opera,  Prosper 
Laugier,  Jacquesiana,  many  of  which  in  the  sun- 
light appear  to  have  the  texture,  as  well  as  the 
colour,  of  the  metals  they  resemble. 

Elsewhere  are  stretches  of  white,  or  white 
with  light  markings  and  suffusions,  deep  red- 
purples,  faint  creams,  pure  yeUows  and  every 
variation  of  violet  and  purple,  but  to  name  them 
all  would  be  wearisome  and  futile. 

These,  then,  are  some  of  the  uses  to  which 
Irises  can  be  put.  There  are  others,  but  space 
forbids  dealing  with  them.  Now  for  a  warning 
as  to  the  position  in  which  they  should  never  be 
grown.  Formal  beds,  on  terraces,  or  in  positions 
where  prolonged  colour  effects  are  desirable,  are 
not  the  places  for  them,  A  garden  of  geometrical 
design,  with  walks  between  flower  beds  near  the 
house,  should  never  be  devoted  exclusively  to 
Irises.  If  they  are  planted  in  such  beds  (and  it 
may,  of  course,  be  the  only  place  in  which  they 
can  be  grown)  then  they  should  form  only  about 
one-fifth  of  the  plants  used,  the  remaining  four- 
fifths  being  plants  that  will  make  such  gardens 
interesting  during  the  period  when  Irises  are  not 
in  flower.  There  are  a  hundred  things  that  can 
be  planted  with  Irises  to  flower  at  different  periods. 
Where  the  garden  is  of  sufficient  extent  to  allow 
of  devoting  a  portion  to  the  purpose  of  their 
cultivation  without  destroying  the  interest  in 
the  garden  as  a  whole,  it  is  well  worth  doing  ; 
but  there  is  no  compensation  for  the  sacrifice  of 
the  whole  garden  year  even  in  the  joys  of  the 
wonderful  June  Irises.         George  Dillistone. 


AMONG    THE    JUNE 
IRISES 

THE  Bearded  Iris,  a  sufficiently  common 
but  not  over-valued  flower  in  gardens, 
for  many  generations,  is  fast  coming 
into  its  own.  The  first  seriously  and 
systematically  to  attempt  the  improve- 
ment of  these  Irises  was  M.  Philip  de  Vilmorin, 
and  until  recent  years  almost  everything  new 
of  any  note  was  marketed  by  Messrs.  Vilmorin- 
.\ndrieux  et  Cie,  whose  productions  are  still  to 
the  fore.  No  one  country  can,  however,  now 
claim  a  decided  superiority  for  the  sorts  of  its. 
raising.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  some  of  the  English- 
raised  varieties  are  as  good  as  any  in  commerce  ; 
and  many  fine  varieties  have  been  raised  in  the 
United  States,  notably  by  Miss  Sturtevant.  It 
is  a  little  difficult  to  compare  the  merits  of  American 
and  British  varieties,  since  some  of  the  best 
."American  sorts  hardly  do  themselves  justice 
here  and  some  of  the  statehest  of  "  Britishers  " 
fail  in  the  trying  climate  of  Eastern   U.S.A. 

The  raising  of  new  Bearded  Irises  is  a  work 
calling  for  rare  judgment  and  much  patience. 
It  is,  however,  hardly  recommendable  as  a  money- 
making  proposition.  Use  what  judgment  one 
may,  one  is  hardly  likely  to  find  more  than  one 
per  thousand  seedlings  which  is  worthy  of  further 
cultivation  as  representing  either  a  distinct  break 
or  a  noteworthy  improvement  in  size,  habit  or 
colouring  on  some  existing  variety.  Even  then, 
it  may  well  turn  out  eventually  that  some  other 
raiser  has  effected  the  same  improvement,  and 
that  his  flower  is  nearer  to  perfection  than  one's 
own. 

Raisers  have,  naturally,  each  their  own  idea 
-.s  to  the  most  important  point  in  a  new  Iris, 
which  point  must,  of  course,  be  accompanied  by 
considerable  merits  in  other  directions.  The  Iris 
is  before  everything  a  stately  flower,  and  to  the 
writer  two  points  of  outstanding  importance  are 
stature  and  clear,  bright  (garden)  colouring.  A 
visit,  the  week  before  the  Iris  Show,  to  Messrs. 
Perry's  "  plant  farm  "  at  Enfield  showed  that  the 
brothers  Perry  have  much  the  same  ideals.  Stature 
their  seedlings  certainly  have,  and  some  of  them 
are  sure  to  be  heard  more  of  in  the  near  future. 
Most  of  these  possess  a  great  deal  of  pallida  blood. 
The  closely  held  flower  and  narrow,  upright 
spike  characteristic  of  the  pUcata  section  and 
to  a  lesser  extent  of  the  pallidas  have  been  largely 
bred  out  in  present-day  strains  by  the  intro- 
duction of  neglecta  and  trojana  blood.  Considering 
these  Irises  from  the  standpoint  of  flowers  for 
garden  adornment,  this  represents  a  dubious 
ad\'ance.  The  narrow  spike  is  certainly  dignified 
when  seen  massed  above  a  strong  clump  of  foliage, 
and  there  should  be  room  for  it,  as  well  as  for  the 
candelabra-like  inflorescence  to  which  the  word 
"  spike  "  is  hardly  applicable. 

Such  varieties  as  Dominion,  Ma  Mie  and  the 
novelty,  Bruno,  attract  by  the  perfection  of  their 
flowers  in  colouring  and  shape.  As  garden  flowers 
they  must  give  place  to  many  sorts  with  individu- 
ally less  handsome  blossoms. 

So  much  intercrossing  has  been  effected  that 
it  is  difficult — it  would  perhaps  be  more  truthful 
to  say  "  impossible  " — to  allot  most  new  varieties 
to  arty  particular  section,  yet  the  old  divisions 
have  their  value  as  enabling  one  to  appreciate 
the  habit  of  a  plant  referred  to  the  particular 
section. 

If  these  Irises  are  to  continue  to  increase  in 
popularity  at  the  rate  they  have  done  of  late 
years,  an  abundance  of  varieties  must  be  raised — 
stately  in  habit — and  clean  and  yet  strong  in 
colouring,   such   as   will,   in   fact,   make  delightful! 


June  24,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


303 


garden  pictures.  Beauty  of  finish,  excellence  of 
form  and  subtlety  of  colouring  on  close  inspection 
are  all  very  desirable  additional  qualities,  but 
these  are  of  secondary,  not    primary   importance. 

The  pallida  group  needs  little  improvement  as 
regards  size  of  blossom  or  stature.  A  collected 
form,  Iris  pallida  dalraatica,  has  a  dignity  of 
bearing  and  a  grandeur  still  unattained  by  any 
variety  attributed  to  the  squalens  or  variegata 
sections  or  even  to  the  neglectas.  Progress  here 
must  be  directed  to  improving  the  colour-range. 
Already  the  original  silver\'  lavender  has  become 
in  one  direction  a  clear  lilac-rose  (Susan  Bliss), 
in  another  bright  wine  purple  (Edouard  Michel), 
and  in  yet  another  the  falls  are  deep  \iolet  purple 
(Alcazar)  ;  while  within  these  limits  there  are  such 
magnificent  varieties  as  Lord  of  June  and  the 
silvery-blue  Drake,  surely  one  of  the  most  effective 
Bearded  Irises  yet  in  commerce.  The  aim,  how- 
ever, is  to  produce  a  race  of  Irises  with  the  stature 
of  the  palUdas  and  plicatas  and  the  colourings 
peculiar  to  the  squalens  and  variegata  sections 
improved  and  made  clearer.  For  this  reason 
great  importance  attaches  to  such  sorts  as  Iris 
King,  illustrated  on  another  page  and  compared 
with  Iris  variegata  as  collected  in  the  Balkans, 
and  that  exquisite  novelty,  Citronella,  in  which 
this  amalgamation  of  qualities  has  to  a  great 
extent  been  effected.  The  richly  if  sombrely  tinted 
Sunset,  also  illustrated,  also  marks  a  notable 
advance.  It  received  a  weU  deserved  award  of 
merit  at  the  recent  Iris  Show  under  the  clumsy 
name  I.  ochracea  ccerulea.  Very  free  flowering 
and  an  excellent  grower,  its  good  form  the  picture 
will  attest.  It  is,  we  understand,  to  be  distributed 
this  autumn  by  Messrs.  G.  G.  Whitelegg  and  Co. 

There  is  still  an  immense  amount  of  work  to 
be  done  before  all  the  existing  colours  in  Bearded 


THE    RE-CHRISTENED    IRIS    SUNSET. 


Irises  are  adequately  displayed  in  handsome 
flowers  on  tall  stems,  but  there  is  every  reason  to 
hope  that  the  colour  range  may  be  very  consider- 
ably extended.  True  blue  is  a  colour  unknown 
in  Irises,  but  the  lovely  I.  sibirica  Perry's  Blue 
is  many  shades  nearer  to  it  than  any  Bearded 
Iris  yet  seen.  There  does  not  seem  any  reason 
either  why  the  lilac-rose  shades  should  not  approach 
more  nearly  still  to  pink  on  the  one  hand  or  to 
red  on  the  other.  It  will  be  seen  therefore  that 
immense  as  is  the  progress  which  has  been  achieved, 
there  still  is  a  wide  field  of  endeavour  left  open. 
On  Friday,  June  9,  there  were  to  be  seen  at 
Messrs.  \\'allace's  Tunbridge  Wells  nursery  some 
of  the  most  important  personalities  in  the  Iris 
world,  including  M.  Mottet  (representing  Messrs. 
Vilmorin-.Andrieux',  Mr.  Bliss,  Mr.  Yeld,  Sir 
.\rthur  Hort,  Mr.  Dykes,  Mr.  Wister  (President 
of  the  American  Iris  Society),  Messrs.  E.  H.  and 
G.  N.  Bunyard  and,  of  course,  Mr.  R.  W.  Wallace 
himself,  all  intent  on  comparing  and  appraising 
the  newest  varieties — some  of  them  as  yet  unnamed 
— both  with  one  another  and  with  older  sorts 
now  recognised  as  standard. 

M.  Mottet  admitted  in  a  speech  he  made  at 
the  luncheon  that  he  had  not  realised  what  strides 
had  been  made  with  these  flowers  in  this  country. 
If  asked  to  give  the  five  best  varieties  to  date 
he  should,  he  said,  name  Duke  of  Bedford,  Swazii, 
Cardinal,  Bruno  and  Dominion.  Dominion  he 
considered  the  largest,  but  he  thought  the  best 
of  the  five  Swazii,  because,  in  addition  to  wonderful 
flowers,  it  has  height. 

Mr.  Wister  did  not  agree  with  JI.  Mottet  as 
to  the  five  best.  It  was,  he  said,  very  difficult 
to  give  a  best  five  or  even  a  best  dozen,  but  he 
thought  M.  Mottet  had  been  too  generous  to 
England.  Ambassadeur  should  certainly  be  in 
the  first  five.  The  best 
three  in  Mr.  Wister's 
opinion  are  Ambassadeur, 
Prospero  and  Swazii.  He 
leaves  Dominion  out  be- 
cause, so  far,  it  has 
'  not  flourished  with  him. 
The  best  five  varie  ies 
under  English  cultiva- 
tion would  probably  not 
be  the  best  in  America, 
owing  to  the  different 
climatic  conditions. 

Mr.  Bonnewitz,  another 
Iris  enthusiast  from  "  over 
the  water,"  had  been  more 
successful  with  Dominion, 
so  that  it  should  be  a  suc- 
cess in  the  central  and 
particularly  the  north- 
western States  of  the 
Union.  Mr.  Bonnewitz 
hails  from  Ohio. 
I  All  the  experts  are 
unquestionably  making 
size  something  of  a 
fetish,lbut  this  is  assuredly 
a  quality  which  may  be 
overdone.  Lord  of  June, 
for  instance,  errs,  if  at 
all,  upon  the  side  of  over- 
largeness.  It  is  doubtful 
if  there  is  a  more  pleasing 
variety  in  commerce  than 
the  silvery-blue  pallida 
form,  Corida,  which  is 
only  moderate  in  size, 
but  is  distinguished  by 
admirable  spacing  of  the 
s'  e  r  y  pleasing  flowers. 
This  variety  was  very 
notable     among      Messrs. 


THE    GLORIOUSLY    FORMED    IRIS    DUKE 
OF    BEDFORD. 

Wallace's  large  collection.  Speaking  generally, 
masses  of  colour  were  for  the  most  part  made 
by  flowers  individually  quite  moderate  in  size. 

The  Bearded  Iris  achieved  fame  too  late  to  be  a 
florist's  flower,  so  that  raisers  have  no  arbitrary 
standards  of  form  to  contend  with.  Beauty  of 
shape  and  proportioning,  for  which  substance  is 
necessary  in  the  standards,  there  should  be ; 
beyond  that  there  is  hardly  any  limit  to  the  number 
of  pleasing  arrangements  that  may  be  evolved  and 
welcomed.  The  strongly  held  falls  of  Bruno  or 
Dominion  certainly  make  a  big  appeal  and,  more- 
over, give  an  effect  of  size,  but  some  of  the  varieties 
with  drooping  falls  are  very  beautiful  and  modest- 
looking.  A  word  of  warning  seems  necessary 
here,  however.  Some  of  the  very  newest  seedlings 
of  this  type  have  the  falls  very  square  sided  and 
large,  and  it  must  be  confessed  that,  however 
showy  such  varieties  may  be  massed  in  the  garden, 
their  form  is  upon  closer  inspection  the  reverse  of 
beautiful. 

The  use  of  lime  to  combat,  and  as  a  preventive 
of,  rhizome-rot  is  now  universal,  but  the  known 
easiness  of  culture  of  these  rhizomatous  Irises 
often  make  planters  neglectful  of  those  details 
which  make  all  the  difference  between  complete 
success  and  comparati\'e  failure.  A  deeply  worked 
but  thoroughly  consolidated  soil  should  always  be 
provided,  well  drained  at  all  seasons.  Burnt 
earth  is  always  beneficial. 


304 


THE     GARDEN. 


rjUNE  24,    1922 


THE     ROTHERSIDE     IRISES 


Charming  as  are  the  Bearded  Irises  for  garden 
decoration,  they  must  give  place  as  cut  flowers  to 
the  bulbous  Spanish,   Dutch  and  English  strains 


flowering  and  exceptionally  fine  strain  of  the 
Spanish  Iris  (I.  Xiphium),  introduced  by  Mr. 
C.  G.  Van  Tubergen,  junior,  of  Haarlem,  to  whose 


THE    "  ROTHERSIDE        STRAIN    OF    BULBOUS    IRISES. 


and  the  related  Algerian  species  tingitana.  The 
Rotherside  Bulbous  Irises  illustrated  herewith  were 
recently  exhibited  at  Vincent  Square  by  Messrs. 
Herbert  Chapman,  Limited,  and  were  much 
admired. 

The  strain  has  been  evolved  with  the  idea  of 
filling  the  gap  which  exists  among  bulbous  flowers 
between  the  late-flowering  Narcissi  and  the  ever- 
welcome  Spanish  Irises,  a  gap  already  partially 
filled  by  the  so-called  Dutch  Irises,  really  an  early 


work  in  several  directions  bulb  lovers  owe  a  debt 
of  gratitude. 

To  return  to  our  muttons  however,  by  re- 
crossing  these  Dutch  Irises  with  the  older  forms 
of  Spanish  Irises,  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  early, 
but  not  very  free  Iris  tingitana  on  the  other,  there 
has  been  evolved  this  strain  of  Rotherside  .Xiphium 
Irises  which  mark  another  step  forward  and  which 
should  be  invaluable  not  only  for  cut  flower,  but 
for  culture  in  pots. 


THE  ROCK  ROSES  IN  NORTH  WALES 

//  ""/,  generally  speaking,  entirely  hardy,  the    Cistuses  are   too   charming 
to  be  omitted  from  any  but  the  bleakest  gardens. 


THE  Cistuses  comprise  one  of  the  most 
important  groups  of  flowering  plants 
with  which  our  gardens  are  adorned, 
and  though  none  of  them  is  suitable 
for  bleak  climates,  most  can  be  grown 
to  perfection  where  the  winters  are  not  too  severe 
and  the  soil  well  drained.  ."Ml  are  sun-worshippers, 
most  persistent  bloomers  and  so  easily  raised 
from  cuttings  (which  come  to  a  flowering  size 
in  a  very  short  time)  that  in  districts  where  the 
winters  are  sometimes  keen  enough  to  injure 
them,  a  stock  can  alwa\s  be  held  in  reserve. 
They  probably  all  like  lime,  though  this  is  not 
essential. 

The  most  familiar  and  one  of  the  hardiest  is 
C.  cyprius,  and  a  well  grown  bush  of  this  old 
kind,  bearing  legions  of  its  large  paper-white, 
poppy-like  flowers  with  a  deep  maroon  blotcli 
at  the  base  of  each  petal,  is  a  cheerful  and  lovely 
object  in  the  later  days  of  spring.  Though  often 
called  the  Gum  Cistus,  this  name  rightly  belongs 


to  C.  ladaniferus,  which  bears  a  close  resemblance 
to  the  above,  but  may  be  easily  distinguished  from 
it  by  the  flowers.  In  ladaniferus  these  are  borne 
singly  at  the  leaf  axils,  whereas  those  of  cyprius 
are  produced  in  clusters.  In  colour,  size  (often 
4ins.  across)  and  form  these  flowers  are  much 
alike,  but  those  of  ladaniferus  often  have  rather 
more  red  in  the  blotch  and  in  many  forms  the 
leafage  of  the  latter  is  much  narrower  than  in 
cyprius.  There  is  a  fine  variety  of  C.  ladaniferus 
known  as  immaculatus,  whose  flowers  have  no 
blotch,  these  being  pure  white  and  usually  larger 
than  in  the  type.  All  of  these  will  make  large 
bushes  up  to  6ft.  high,  but  in  some  places  they 
may  attain  twice  that  stature  with  a  stem  4ins. 
to  6ins.  in  diameter.  The  leaves  are  covered  at 
most  seasons  with  a  gummy  secretion  which  is 
pleasantly  aromatic. 

Though  some  discerning  nurserymen  list  them 
both,  I  can  see  no  difference  between  C.  lusitanicus 
and  C.   Loreti.     This  is  a  delightful  little  shrub, 


smaller,  semi-prostrate  and  more  compact  than 
the  foregoing,  and  whose  white  flowers,  which 
often  remain  on  the  bush  until  late  afternoon, 
may  be  recognised  by  their  bright  crimson  blotch. 
The  leaves  are  sUghtly  viscous,  and  this  variety 
is  in  our  experience  rather  more  susceptible  to 
frost  than  any  previously  mentioned.  Albeit, 
C.  lusitanicus  is  such  a  charming  kind  that  it  is 
well  worth  a  trial  anywhere.  It  is  said  to  be  a 
ladaniferus  x   monspehensis  hybrid. 

We  now  come  to  the  much  bigger,  coarser  and 
more  robust  C.  laurifolius,  which  is  hardiest  of  all. 
This  species  makes  a  wide,  spreading  shrub  up 
to  8ft.  or  more  in  height ;  the  leaves  are  a  greyish 
green,  and  the  pure  white  flowers,  with  a  suggestion 
of  yellow  at  the  base,  are  lavishly  produced  in 
bold  clusters.  A  fine  plant  for  an  open  spot  in 
the  woodland  or  shrubbery  and  one  that  is  more 
easily  raised  from  seed  than  cuttings.  Another 
good  woodland  Cistus — for  it  is  one  of  the  very 
few  which  will  do  with  but  little  sun — is  C.  obtusi- 
folius.  This  makes  a  shapely  little  shrub  of 
dark  green,  glossy  leaves,  which  in  early  summer 
are  almost  hidden  by  the  yeUow-centred,  white 
flowers,  these  being  about  ains.  across.  C.  obtusi- 
folius  is  one  of  the  easiest,  and  in  habit  and 
appearance  comes  near  to  C.  corbariensis,  which 
has  slightly  smaller  flowers  of  the  same  type, 
borne  in  terminal  clusters  and  preceded  by  reddish 
tinted  buds. 

C.  salvifolius  is  another  white-flowered  species 
that  runs  close  to  the  last  mentioned.  Plants 
sent  out  under  this  name  are  apt  to  vary  con- 
siderably in  form,  some  having  the  true  Sage- 
green  leaf,  others  more  nearly  approaching  the 
fohage  of  obtusifolius.  This  variability,  a  charac- 
teristic common  to  the  species  in  its  native  habitat 
on  the  Mediterranean,  has  led  to  a  multiphcation 
of  varieties  which  is  confusing.  I  have  found 
salvifolius  as  hardy  and  easy  as  obtusifoUus  or 
corbariensis,  which  is  to  say  that  it  can  stand 
15°  to  20°  of  frost  in  dry  soil,  and  it  is  a  plant 
that  will  grow  to  about  3ft.  and  "  carry  on  "  for 
years,  taking  care  of  itself. 

In  C.  monspehensis  we  ha%'e  another  species 
that  varies  considerably.  In  general  it  may  be 
described  as  a  rather  dense  little  bush  of  some 
3ft.  with  bright  green,  rather  narrow  leaves  and 
white  flowers  about  lin.  across  with  a  yellow  blotch. 
It  has  a  twin  sister  in  C.  florentinus,  with  narrower 
leaves  and  which  is  slightly  smaller  in  all  its  parts. 
Both  of  these  are  admirable  for  the  rock  garden 
or  the  top  of  a  dry  wall,  and  they  are  always  most 
redundant  bloomers.  They  have  proved  quite 
hardy  here  under  most  trying  circumstances. 
To  this  indispensable  couple  I  may  add  C.  rosmarini- 
folius  (often  classed  with  Helianthenmm),  for  it  is 
decidedly  one  of  the  best  of  the  dwarfer  whites. 
As  the  name  suggests,  the  foliage  is  narrow,  much 
like  that  of  Rosemary,  and  it  makes  a  neat, 
compact  bush  about  2ft.  high,  spreading,  it  may 
be,  to  double  that  distance  in  diameter.  C.  ros- 
marinifolius  is  always  the  first  to  flower  with 
us,  and  from  .^pril  onwards  for  many  weeks  it 
maintains  a  most  amazing  succession  of  pure 
white  flowers  about  the  size  of  a  shilling.  This 
is  also  as  hardy  a«  any  Helianthemura. 

Among  the  red-flowered  Cistuses  one  of  the 
best,  giving  hardiness,  habit  and  colour  first 
consideration,  is  C.  Gauntletti.  This  is  of  garden 
origin  and  much  after  the  style  of  C.  crispus, 
but  we  have  found  it  more  robust,  and  while  the 
foliage  is  hardly  as  grey  and  velvety  as  the  latter'*^, 
the  2in.  flowers  are  quite  as  fine  a  colour,  being  a 
dazzling  rosy-crimson.  C.  Gauntletti  perhaps 
more  closely  approaches  crispus  Sunset,  but 
again  it  has  even  brighter  flowers  and  a  tougher 
constitution.  Of  their  type  the  three  just  mentioned 
are,  I  believe,  the  best  for  the  average  climate  ; 
but   the  more  tender  C.   vaginatus,  said  to  come 


June  24,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


305 


from  Madeira,  has  even  larger  flowers  of  a  brilliant 
rose-carmine,  centred  with  a  bold  tuft  of  golden- 
yellow  stamens.  The  leaves  of  C.  vaginatus  are 
distinct,  being  peculiarly  long-stemmed,  large, 
willow-Uke  and  hairy. 

C.  \'iUosus  (incanus)  is  another  Mediterranean 
with  flowers  of  a  lively  pink,  and  C.  creticus 
appears  to  be  a  form  of  the  same  thing  with 
blossoms  of  a  deeper  tint.  Hardly  distinguishable 
in  some  forms  is  another  of  this  set.  C.  undulatus, 
having  wavy-margined  leaves.  All  are  fairly 
hardy  in  all  but  cold  climates.  Like  most  of 
these  red-flowered  Cistuses,  however,  villosus 
and  its  forms  do  not  seem  to  be  long-lived,  and  a 
stock  of  cuttings  should  always  be  kept  in  hand. 
This  also  applies  to  C.  albidus,  another  grey-leaved 
kind  from  Southern  Europe,  whose  bright  rose- 
coloured  flowers  have  an  admirable  background 
in  the  white  tomentum  which  covers  the  leaves. 
All  these  have  an  upright  habit  and  attain  a  height 
of  2ft.  to  4ft.  Needless  to  say,  they  must  all 
have  sun  and  a  hot,  dry  soil. 

C.  purpureus  stands  in  a  somewhat  isolated 
position  among  its  kind,  for  while  its  foliage  is 
greener  than  that  of  most  of  the  red-flowered 
kinds,  its  enonnous  crimson-purple  blooms  have 
a  deep  blood-red  blotch  at  the  base  of  each  petal. 
Though  not  so  hardy  as  some,  C.  purpureus  is 
such  a  distinct,  beautiful  and  prolific  species 
that  no  one  who  attempts  Cistuses  at  all  can 
afford  to  omit  it  from  his  collection.  It  is  well, 
however,  always  to  see  the  plants  in  flower  before 
purchasing,  for  even  in  purpureus  there  are  great 
differences  in  the  colour  and  size  of  the  blooms. 

Strictly  speaking,  I  believe,  there  are  no  yellow 
Cistuses,  but  I  must  make  custom  my  excuse  for 
including  in  my  list  a  few  of  those  yellows  popu- 
larly classed  with  the  genus,  but  sometimes  listed 
as  Hehanthemums.  An  easy  first  among  these 
is  the  very  lovely  C.  formosus,  excellent  for  a  wall 
or  other  dry  place,  with  a  loose,  trailing  habit, 
small  grey  leaves  and  wonderful  golden  yellow 
flowers  which  open  flat  as  if  the  better  to  show 
the  fine  dark  chocolate  ring  at  their  base.  Then 
we  have  C.  f.  unicolor,  which  closely  resembles 
the  type,  save  that  the  blossoms  are  pure  yellow 
throughout.  Next  to  these  in  order  of  merit 
I    would  place   C.  halimifolius  and  C.  algarvensis. 


whose  Sowers  might  be  described  as  miniatures 
of  C.  formosus ;  but  these  two  are  of  denser 
growth  than  the  last  named,  and  the  blooms 
are  borne  at  the  ends  of  long  stems  rising  clear 
of  the  foliage.  C.  halimifoUus  is  the  larger  and 
more  robust  of  the  two  and  has  stood  some  severe 
winters   here   without   injury.     These   are   no   less 


prolific  in  their  blossoming  than  others  of 
their  tribe  and  quite  easy  in  any  free  soil 
and  sunny  aspect.  With  a  mere  mention 
of  the  dainty  little  C.  alyssoides,  with  its 
tiny  yellow  saucers  and  orange  spots,  I  must 
conclude,  lest  I  become  wholly  engulfed  by  the 
HeUanthemum  clan.  A.  T.  Johnson. 


W: 


BEDDING     OUT 

By   Gertrude    Jekyll,    V.M.H. 


'  E  hold  to  the  old  term  for  putting 
out  the  summer  flowers,  although 
cur  gardens  are  no  longer  dependent 
on  the  tender  plants  alone.  We 
use  them  now  in  quite  different  and 
more  sensible  ways,  whether  as  companions  and 
auxiliaries  to  the  hardy  perennials  or  in  spaces 
by  themselves.  In  what  we  may  now  call  the 
bad  old  days  the  object  was  to  make  a  bright 
show  for  a  scant  three  months  in  the  more  important 
parts  of  the  pleasure  garden,  leaving  them  bare 
for  the  rest  of  the  year,  or,  at  best,  planted  in 
autumn  more  or  less  unsatisfactorily  with  spring 
blooming  flowers.  I  have  no  desire  to  depreciate 
a  bedded-out  garden  of  the  older  kind  when  it 
exactly  fits  a  need,  and  especially  when  it  is  done 
with  the  spirit  of  enlightenment  of  our  present 
taste  and  knowledge.  Many  a  great  house  has 
an  important  parterre  in  close  connexion  with 
the  design  of  the  building,  and  the  flowers  with 
which  it  is  to  be  filled  are  only  wanted  for  display 
after  the  London  season.  But,  in  this  case,  by 
means  of  the  better  ways  that  we  have  cone  to 
know  of  late  years  of  arranging  masses  of  colour, 
and  also  by  the  much  wider  range  of  material 
provided  by  our  growers,  the  careful  designer 
has  more  freedom  of  hand  and  has  been  enabled 
to  redeem  the  parterre  from  what  it  too  often 
was — a  mere  garish  display — to  a  delightful 
presentment  of  colour  beauty. 

Even  without  having  a  parterre  of  formal 
design  there  is  plenty  of  opportunit;'  for  a  good 
use  of  the  tender  plants  if  it  is  decided  to  have 
them  in  a  place  to  themselves.     In  my  own  case 


A    BEAUTIFUL    ROCK    ROSE,    THE    PERHAPS    MISCALLED    CISTUS    PURPUREUS. 


there  is  a  three-cornered  piece  of  gro\md  where 
we  try  for  good  effects.  It  has  a  kind  of  axial 
backbone  about  4ft.  wide,  raised  by  means  of  a 
couple  of  courses  of  local  stone  and  filled  with 
permanent  plants  of  solid  aspect^Yucca, 
Phormium,  Crinum  and  the  great  Euphorbia 
Wulfenii.  The  rest  of  the  space  is  chiefly  for 
Dahlias,  Cannas,  Gladioli,  Pentstemons,  Antir- 
rhinums and  Geraniums.  A  high  wall  on  one 
side  is  made  to  play  its  part  in  one  of  the  chief 
effects,  for  here  there  is  a  long  stretch  of  brilliant 
red,  and  it  is  tempered  and  harmonised  and 
enhanced  by  an  intermixture  of  ruddy  foliage 
richly  dark.  On  the  wall  a  Prunus  Pissardi  is 
stretched  out  to  cover  some  square  yards,  toning 
dehghtfully  with  a  tall  old  Dahlia  of  deepest 
claret  colour ;  then  come  strong  red  DahUas 
grouped  with  more  bushes  of  Prunus  Pissardi  and 
Ricinus  Gibsoni ;  then  dark-foliaged  Cannas  and 
tall  Snapdragons  with  bloom  of  deepest  red  velvet 
and  dark  leaves ;  then  lower  scarlet  Dahhas 
leading  to  a  front  mass  of  scarlet  Geranium  Paul 
Crampel.  A  streak  of  Irisine  runs  behind  these, 
and  among  the  Geraniums  is  a  French  variety 
of  Love-lies-bleeding  ;  not  the  usual  large  magenta 
one,  but  the  same  plant  with  a  much  lower  habit 
and  of  a  dusky  red  colour  both  of  leaf  and  bloom 
that  makes  a  dimly  glowing  ground  for  the  more 
brilliant  flowers. 

How  I  wish  that  such  a  thing  existed  as  a  Dahlia 
with  reddish  fohage  something  like  that  of  the 
dark  Snapdragon  or  the  red-leaved  scarlet  Lobelia, 
for  the  green  of  the  Dahlia  leaves  is  in  itself  un- 
interesting and  is  obtrusive  in  my  colour  arrange- 
ment. 

.\fter  the  harmony  of  strong  reds  the  colour 
passes  through  paler  tints  to  a  region  of  white 
and  yellow.  Here  at  the  back  are  Dahlias,  the 
tall  single  Victoria  with  the  fresh-looking  green 
of  striped  Maize  ;  then  some  tall  white  and  pale 
v'ellow  Snapdragons  leading  to  white  pompon 
Dahlias  and  the  pretty  kind.  Lady  Primrose,  a 
plant  of  weak  habit  that  easily  allows  it  to  be 
trained  almost  flat  on  the  ground  ;  also  Cannas, 
pale  of  leaf  and  pure  yellow  of  bloom,  and  double 
white  Marguerite  ;  and  near  the  path  a  mixture 
that  is  always  satisfactory.  It  is  a  groundwork 
of  the  variegated  form  of  Mentha  rotundifolia 
intergrouped  with  Calceolaria  amplexicauhs,  the 
Calceolaria  rather  thicker  towards  the  back. 
Quite  to  the  front  are  little  patches  and  single 
plants  of  the  formerly  much  misused  Golden 
Feather  Pyrethrum.  Some  of  this  is  allowed  to 
flower,  for  its  white  bloom,  yellow  centred,  helps 
the  picture  ;  in  other  plants  the  flower  is  nipped 
out  the  better  to  show  the  yellow  foliage.  The 
Mint  is  tipped  three  or  four  times  in  the  season 
so  that  it  grows  bushy  and  does  not  flower. 

In  the  perennial  flower  borders  the  tender 
plants  combine  with  the  permanent  ones  and 
greatly  help  to  link  up  and  carry  on  the  blooming 
season.  At  one  end  of  a  long  border,  in  a  region 
of  blue,  white  and  pale  yellow,  there  is  a  general 
filhng  of  white  and  yellow  Snapdragons  and  the 
primrose-coloured  African  Marigold,  while  the 
front  spaces  are  completed  with  the  pretty  Cape 


306 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  24,  1922. 


Daisy,  Agathea  coelestis  and  the  dwarf  Lobelia 
Cobalt  Blue.  Then,  where  in  the  middle  of  the 
border's  length  the  colouring  is  of  orange  and 
red,  the  main  filling  is  of  the  splendid  orange 
African  Marigold  with  the  fiery  Snapdragon 
Orange  King,  Scarlet  Salvia,  and  the  rich  brown 


and  orange  dwarf  French  Marigold.  At  the 
farther  end,  where  the  colour  is  purple,  white  and 
pink,  with  grey  foliage,  there  is  tall  and  dwarf 
Ageratnm,  tall  white  Snapdragons,  and  pink 
Ivy  Geraniums  here  and  there  at  the  border's 
edge. 


JUNE    ROSES    AND    DRY    WEATHER 


B 


Y   the  term  "June   Roses"   I    refer    to 
the  real  Roses  of  June,   the  earliest  of 
their  race  to  flower,  most  of  them  being 
of  the  single  or 
wild  type.     And 


I-ady  Penzance  (which  owes  its  warm  colouring 
to  the  Eastern  beauty),  Persian  Yellow,  the  Scotch 
Rose  and  others,  and  the  colour  blend  is  a  most 


I  am  constrained  to  write 

of    them    now    with    the 

object  of  drawing  atten- 
tion   to  the  extraordinary 

manner    in    which     they 

have   resisted    the  May — 

June     drought      of      this 

year,   following    the    still 

more   severe    trials    of 

last    summer.     In   so 

doing  I  hope,  incidentally, 

to     express     my    humble 

gratitude   for  these 

adorable  things  and  for  the 

brave   and    cheerful  faces 

they      have      maintained 

during     a    most    trying 

ordeal.      Also,    one    may 

express  the  wish,  suppos- 
ing there  are  any  readers 

who    think    they    cannot 

grow   Roses  because  they 

have  not    got    the    right 

kind  of  soil  and  sufficient 

moisture,   that    they   will, 

on    scanning   these    lines, 

realise    the    fact    that    it 

does  not  matter  how  dry 
or  poor  their  soil  may  be 
Roses  will  prosper  in  it 
if  they  select  the  right 
kinds. 

Among  the  first  blooms 
to  open  here  are  those 
of  the  deUghtful  R. 
Hugonis,  which  is  content 
with  the  poorest  o  f 
stony  soil,  and  whose 
gracefully  hung  branches 
have  been  wreathed  with 
fragrant    sulphur     yellow  A    FINE    FORM    OF 

flowers  for  several  weeks. 

That  fine  old  single,  one  of  the  best  of  its 
kind  ever  introduced,  Paul's  Carmine  Pillar, 
has  been  enveloping  an  old  stump  with  a 
gorgeous  array  of  its  brilhant  colour  throughout 
the  early  part  of  the  month,  and  though 
its  roots  are  in  a  sharp  slope  of  thin  soil  so 
dry  that  large  bushes  of  double  Gorse  close  by 
have  perished  of  drought,  it  could  hardly  have 
done  better.  In  an  equally  torrid  position  the 
splendid  Austrian  Copper,  in  fiery  orange-chrome 
with  a  pure  gold  reverse,  has  once  again  proved 
itself  to  be  both  the  sun-worshipper  and  drought- 
resister  that  its  red-hot  complexion  suggests. 
Comparisons  may  be  particularly  odious  when 
speaking  of  such  Roses  as  these,  for  they  are  incom- 
parable ;  but  there  is  a  splendour  so  glowing  and 
wholehearted  about  a  good  form  of  Austrian 
Copper  which  is  transcendantly  beautiful. 

Austrian  Copper  has,  however,  anything  but 
an  aggressive  coloiu-.  We  have  it  in  conjunction 
with  some  of  the  Irish  singles  and  such  Briars  as 


THE     SCOTCH    ROSE,     ROSA    SPINOSISSIMA 

harmonious  one.  All  these  just  mentioned  are  also 
happy  enough  on  our  loose,  shaly  banks,  and  are 
ardent  sun-lovers,  though  the  Persian  has  a  way 
of  turning  a  little  weary  from  over-production  in 
prolonged  dry  weather.  Near  to  these  are  also 
some  of  the  rugosas,  none  of  which  seems  other 
than  delighted  with  the  heat  and  the  drought. 
Few  Roses  are  so  richly  fragrant  as  these,  and 
their  handsome  foliage  is  refreshing  to  behold 
when  less  hearty  plants  are  wilting  under  an 
unsparing  sun. 

R.  alpina  is  a  choice  species  for  a  fairly  open 
spot  in  the  woodland  or  wild  garden,  and  its  spine- 
less stems  will  bear  their  soft  emerald  foliage  and 
bright  crimson  flowers  throughout  the  most 
trying  weather  without  complaint.  Not  less 
indifferent  to  dryness  is  R.  spinosissima,  the  sweet 
little  Burnet  Rose,  one  which  in  its  best  forms 
is  a  great  improvement  upon  its  wild  representa- 
tives. For  associating  with  Heaths  and  other 
lowly  things  which  enjoy  full  exposure  a  group  of 


Burnet  Roses,  their  arching  branches  of  tiny 
bronzy-green  leaves  wreathed  from  basejto  tip 
w^ith  large  creamy  white  blossoms,  can  be  very 
delightful. 

Where  one  can  afford  to  do  so,  our  native  Sweet 
Briar  (R.  rubiginosa)  should  always  be  given  a 
place,  but  some  forms  are  better  in  colour  than 
others.  Another  indigenous  species  well  worthy 
of  garden  quarters  is  R.  villosa,  for  the  brilliance 
of  its  rose-crimson  flowers ;  and,  under  some 
circumstances,  one  might  venture  to  include  the 
large  and  elegant  R.  arvensis  which  gave  us  the 
.\yrshires.  There  are  some  really  fine  forms  of 
the  common  Dog  Rose,  but  this  is  unsuitable  for 
most  places,  and  do  we  not  already  possess  its 
admirable  daughter,  Una,  perhaps  the  most 
enchanting  of  all  trailing  singles  in  white  ?  These 
natives  are  all  drought-proof  and  easy  anywhere 
if  grown  on  their  own  roots,  and  the  dwarfer 
kinds  can  be  put  to  serviceable  use  in  provid- 
ing thin  shelter  for  other  things  on  sun-beaten 
banks. 

Somewhat  after  the  same  model  as  Una  is 
Jersey  Beauty,  a  large  single,  opening  early  in 
a  cool  yellow  and  going  off  white.  This  is  a 
Rose  with  a  constitution  equal  to  that  of  Carmine 
Pillar,  an  evergreen  foliage  of  rare  beauty  and 
a  temper  that  will  put  up  with  anything. 
R.  berberifolia  Hardyi,  with  Cistus-like  flowers, 
rich  yellow  with  a  crimson  blotch,  is  another 
that  loves  a  hot,  dry  place  ;  but,  unlike  all  others 
mentioned  here,  it  is  apt  to  get  fidgety  in  winter 
and  perish.  It  has  just  disappeared  with  us  in 
this  way  ;  but  a  very  lovely  form  of  the  same 
thing,  which  is  stouter,  bushier  and  hardly  less 
pretty,  which  bears  the  name  of  Hebe's  Lip,  is 
quite  content  and  happy  in  soil  of  a  starvation 
character.  This  has  a  single  flower,  creamy-white 
with  a  well  defined  Picotee  margin  of  blood-red 
to  each  petal. 

The  unique  and  very  splendid  Rosa  Moyesii  is 
also  an  early  bloomer  and  one  that,  so  far,  has 
not  made  any  serious  objection  to  a  thin,  hot  soil ; 
but  how  long  it  will  be  able  to  carry  on  and  give  of 
its  best  in  such  conditions  has  yet  to  be  proved. 
Towards  the  later  part  of  last  month,  yet  before 
the  great  majority  of  Roses  are  in  flower.  Naiad 
opens  its  large  goblets  of  ivory-blush  in  an  open 
space  in  the  woodland  where,  despite  a  rather 
spare  habit,  it  makes  a  pleasing  feature.  At  the 
foot  of  an  adjacent  Heather  bank  we  have  a  little 
collection  of  other  and  very  fragrant  kinds,  most 
of  which  possess  more  than  a  suggestion  of  damask 
"  blood."  Hebe's  Lip  is  among  these  and  so  is 
the  most  sumptuous  Rosa  Mundi,  Village  Maid 
and  the  once  familiar  York  and  Lancaster  with 
its  quaint  stripes  of  white  and  pink  and  delicious 
fragrance.  A  few  semi-double  and  unnamed 
strangers  from  Eastern  Europe  also  claim  the 
hospitality  of  this  little  group,  and  here,  too,  is 
the  quite  dwarf  and  bushy  William  III,  a  miniature 
Scotch  Rose  with  crimson  blooms,  and  the  ruby- 
stemmed  R.  nitida,  the  autumn  foliage  of  which 
is  always  such  a  joy. 

None  of  these  Roses,  let  it  be  said  in  conclusion, 
ever  get  any  of  that  attention  usually  bestowed 
upon  the  more  ornate  inhabitants  of  the  orthodox 
rosery.  They  were  put  into  our  shaly  soil  with 
a  httle  leaf-mould  or  vegetable  compost  to  help 
them  over  their  first  summer,  after  which  they 
must  practically  fend  for  themselves  as  the  wild 
Roses  of  hedgerows  do.  That  they  have  succeeded 
beyond  one's  expectations  I  have  already  said, 
and  so  long  as  we  have  them  "  the  summer  month 
that  brings  the  Rose  "  will  always  be  something 
more  than  a  tradition.  It  never  would  have 
become  a  tradition  had  the  peculiar  charm  of  wild 
Roses  and  those  of  generations  gone  not  been  so 
largely  overlooked.  The  heps  of  many  of  these 
single  Roses  are  delightful.  N.  W. 


June  24,  1922. j 


THE     GARDEN. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


COLOUR 


EFFECT    IN    THE 
GARDEN. 


FLOWER 


COME  clumps  of  Pa-onia  officinalis,  the  old  early 
P.ieony.that  had  long  shown  signs  of  deterioration, 
were  necessarily  neglected  during  the  years  of  the 
war.  They  were  in  a  very  poor  state  when  they 
were  taken  up  two  years  ago,  but  a  special  border 
was  prepared  for  thein — they  are  great  feeders — 
and  they  were  carefully  planted.  .\  good  manurial 
mulch  and  occasional  watering  kept  them  safe 
during  last  year's  drought  and  helped  to  give  them 
nourishment.  This  spring  it  was  a  pleasure  to  see 
their  glad  response  to  good  treatment.  Early  in 
.\pril  the  thick  red  snouts  pushed  up  with  an 
assurance  of  strong  bloom,  a  promise  well  fulfilled 
by  the  end  of  May.  They  are  in  the  three  usual 
colourings  of  strong  crimson  red,  deep  rose  and 
palest  pink,  turning  to  a  dull  white.  These  three 
different  forms  give  quite  enough  variety  of  colour- 
ing to  the  Uttle  special  border,  and  the  quality 
of  colour  is  so  fresh  and  gay  that  there  is  no  need 
for  any  other  bright  flowers  to  be  near.  Their 
companions  are,  therefore,  all  white,  and  nothing 
could  suit  them  better.  Just  behind  them  are  some 
little  bushes  of  Deutzia  gracilis  and  Olearia  stellu- 
lata,  and  beyond  that  white  Broom.  Here  and 
there  among  them  are  plants  of  the  large  white 
Columbine,  closely  followed  by  white  Foxglove. 
The  whole  gives  a  pleasant  picture  of  simple,  joyous 
flower  effect,  with  a  feeling  of  being  unlaboured 
and  almost  spontaneous. — G.  J. 

.ALOXSO.A     MUTISII. 

T   WOULD  be  greatly  obliged  if  anyone  who  has 

grown  this  delightful  half-hardy  annual  would 

tell  me  what  colour  it  is.     Is  it  a  pale  flesh-pink  or 

a  soft  rose-pink  ?     I  fancy  in  an  ordinary  way  it  is 

a  pale  flesh-pink,  because,  when  I  commenced  to 

crrcjw  Mutisii  two  years  ago  all  the  plants  save  one 

were  more  or  less  of  this  shade,  and  it  was  only 

this  one  that  had  soft  rose  flowers.    I  am  tr>-ing  to 

establish    a   strain    of   this   deeper   colour.      Last 

summer,   to   my  surprise,   a    small    proportion    of 

plants  had  red  llowers,  which  seemed  exactly  like 

those  of  the  well  known  Warscewiczii.     \\"henever 

I  write  this  hard  name,  Alonsoa  Warscewiczii,   I 

must  say  I  do  sympathise  with  the  old  lady  in  his 

village  who  told  Mr.  Tom  Aldersey  that  of  all  the 

plants    he    had    given    her,    she    Uked    "  Alfonso 

Whisky-and-Soda  "  the  best.     Perhaps  it  will  be 

useful  and  seasonable  to  say  that  this  plant  with 

this  break-jaw  name  does  excellently  in  pots  and 

might  be  used  as  a  change  from  Schizanthuses  and 

Clarkias  for  greenhouse  decoration.     Perhaps  some 

will  say,  Schizanthus  I  know,  and  Clarkia  I  know, 

but  what  are  you  Uke  ?     The  .Alonsoa  will  answer  : 

"  I  am  a  very  graceful  plant  with  small  toothed 

deep  green  leaves  and  bright  red  flowers,  a  wee  bit 

like  a  Schizanthus.     I  bear  pinching  when  young, 

and  if  this  attention  is  vouchsafed  to  me  I  become 

nice  and  bushy.     I  cannot  produce  the  same  solid 

masses  of  colour  that  my  rivals  do,  but  all  the  same 

my  more  subdued  show  is  very  graceful  and  in  the 

opinion  of  many  very  charming,  and  a  welcome 

change     from     Clarkias     and     Schizanthuses." — 

Maelor. 

ROSE    MARECHAL    NIEL. 

T-JOW  rarely  one  sees  even  poor  blooms  of 
this  grand  Rose,  and  still  more  rarely 
really  good  ones.  From  my  early  days,  when 
I  first  enjoyed  the  delicious  fragrance  of  the 
blooms  of  the  Marechal  Niel  and  the  full-centred 
specimens  in  Cheshire  and  Lancashire,  I  have 
been   very  fond  of    the    variety  and    striven    to 


grow  plants,  sometimes  with  success  and  some- 
times without.  But  I  would  never  think  of 
giving  up  efforts.  The  flowers  are  worth  trying 
for,  and  I  am  surprised  that  more  Rose-lovers  do 
not  grow  this  variety. 

When  first  I  came  to  Hampshire  I  found  a 
specimen  growing  on  a  wall  facing  west  and 
otherwise  sheltered,  too,  but  the  buds  only  partly 
developed  and  were  almost  green  in  colour,  not 
much  trace  of  that  rich  golden  yellow  one  so  much 
appreciates.  About  the  same  time  I  was  on  a 
visit  to  Cheshire  and  was  told  that  there  was  a 
splendid  plant  growing  on  a  cottage  wall  in  the 
district.  I  did  not  rest  till  I  had  inspected  the 
plant.  It  was,  indeed,  a  very  fine,  healthy 
specimen  bearing  leaves  of  large  size  and  very 
green  in  colour  with  blooms  to  correspond  ;  the 
soil  was  a  heavy  loam.  Outside,  of  course,  this 
Rose  is  always  very  uncertain  in  its  growth  and 
flowering  qualities.  Under  glass  one  can  to  a 
great  extent  control  the  growth  but  not  the  canker. 
Judging  from   my  own   experience,   I   have  found 


307 

was   not   my   own   method   but    that   of   another 
cultivator. 

With  reference  to  canker,  there  is  one  instance, 
to  me  exceptional,  that  of  a  plant  quite  filling  a 
span-roofed  greenhouse  about  20ft.  long  and 
12ft.  wide.  It  belongs  to  a  fanner  in  the  North 
Midlands.  The  canker  had  formed  a  lump  on 
the  stem,  where  budded,  about  the  size  of  a  very 
large  Coconut  2ft.  or  so  from  the  ground.  The 
stock  measured  about  ijins.,  through,  the  Rose 
stem  above  the  canker  about  sjins.  The  plant 
was  very  healthy,  and  the  owner  said  it  had  never 
failed  to  bear  blooms  profusely  for  the  past  twenty 
years.  The  soil  is  a  medium  heavy  loara. — - 
George  Garner. 

THE   REGELIO-CYCLLS    IRISES. 

AS  there  is  so  much  controversy  about  these 
remarkable  and  beautiful  flowers,  the  enclosed 
picture  showing  a  breadth  of  them  in  the  Zwanen- 
burg  Nursery  of  Mr.  C.  G.  Van  Tubergen,  jun., 
near  Haarlem,  Holland,  may  be  of  interest.  Mr. 
Van  Tubergen  shares  with  the  late  Sir  Michael 
Foster  the  honour  of  originating  this  race  of 
hybrids,  which,  if  hardly  such  easy  garden  plants 


REGELIO-CYCLUS   IRISES   GROWING   IN   THE   OPEN   GROUND   AT   VAN   TUBERGEN's  NURSERY. 


canker  appear  generally  about  seven  years  after 
the  Roses  are  planted,  whether  in  pots  or  borders. 
My  best  results  have  followed  planting  in  an 
outside  border  and  training  the  branches  on  a 
back  wall  of  a  greenhouse,  the  exposed  portion 
of  the  stem  being  wrapped  in  haybands  diiring 
the  winter  months. 

-Another  plan,  followed  with  success  for  a  number 
of  years,  was  to  propagate  young  shoots  in  spring 
in  bottom-heat  and  to  grow  on  the  resultant 
plants  in  pots — never  larger  than  gin.  ones — and 
to  force  them  in  due  season,  discarding  the  plants 
before  canker  showed  and  replacing  them  with 
young  stock,  the  latter  being  raised  in  small 
numbers  every  spring. 

I  beheve  the  finest  blooms  of  Jlarechal  Niel 
were  borne  on  plants  trained  up  the  back  wall 
of  a  lean-to  vinery  and  treated  as  cordons  about 
ifl.  apart,  every  other  plant  being  cut  down 
almost  to  the  ground  in  alternate  years,  the 
annual    growth    being    from    7ft.    to    loft.     This 


as  the  Bearded  germanicas  and  pallidas  or  the 
forms  of  Iris  sibirica,  are,  compared  with  the  pure 
Oncocyclus  forms,  quite  readily  cultivated.  .A 
warm  soil,  well  enriched — but  not  with  fresh 
manure — and  protection  from  winter  wet  are  the 
main  desiderata. — H.  H. 

SOME     AFTER-EFFECTS     OF     THE 
DROUGHT. 

TT  is  very  interesting  to  note  the  after-effects 
of  the  long  drought  of  1921  on  many  plants, 
trees  and  shrubs.  Some  of  them  I  have  never 
seen  with  such  a  wealth  of  bloom  as  this  year. 
The  Daffodils  were  a  glorious  sight,  partly  due, 
of  course,  to  the  lateness  of  the  season  causing 
both  early  and  late  varieties  to  bloom  together  ;  but 
apart  from  this  many  rather  crowded  clumps  of 
bulbs  which  have  for  a  few  years  flowered  very 
poorly  gave  a  quite  good  show,  and  masses  of 
bulbs  under  trees  and  in  grass,  which  were  more 


308 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  24,  1922. 


thoroughly  dried  than  those  in  borders  could  not 
possibly  have  been  better.  Tulips,  too,  were 
grand,  and  many  oSsets  planted  in  the  spare  border 
are  flowering.  A  good-sized  patch  of  Gentiana 
acaulis  (Gentianella)  in  the  garden  here  which 
has  not  been  disturbed  for  several  years  was 
crowded  with  blossoms.  So  easy  is  the  culti- 
vation of  this  when  compared  with  nearly  all 
other  Gentians  worth  growing  that  one  almost 
apologises  for  making  any  note  on  it.  It  with- 
stands disturbance  almost  with  impunity,  and  in 
proof  of  this  I  may  say  that  some  here  which 
had  become  very  crowded  were  thinned  out  last 
spring  to  extend  the  group,  and  in  spite  of  the  long 
drought  the  casualties  among  the  clumps  moved 
were  very  few,  though,  as  was  to  be  expected,  those 
which  survived  the  ordeal  gave  but  few  flowers 
this  year.  The  soil  in  which  they  grow  is  cool, 
without  stagnant  water  in  winter.  I  have  found 
they  benefit  by  a  top-dressing  of  well  decayed 
leaf-mould  and  cow  manure  in  spring  and  coarse 
river  sand  in  autumn.  This,  and  weeding,  is 
about  all  the  attention  required  or  given, 

In  the  shrubbery  the  Crabs  and  Brooms  have 
bloomed  as  never  before.  From  a  distance  the 
Brooms  appeared  to  be  a  solid  mass  of  colour 
and  broke  down  under  the  weight  of  blossom. 
Loniceras,  too,  are  much  better  than  usual ;  double 
Cherries  a  sight  to  remember. 

It  would  be  interesting  to  know  how  these 
things  have  done  on  lighter  and  shallower  soils, 
where  the  effects  of  the  long  drought  would  be 
more  severely  felt ;  also  on  stiff  clays,  which 
crack  badly  and  so  damage  the  roots. 

To  wander  from  the  shrubbery  to  the  kitchen 
garden  and  orchard,  one  feels  compelled  to  ask 
why,  while  the  Crabs  seem  to  have  eclipsed  all 
former  efforts,  the  Apples  were  so  sparing  with 
blossom  ?  They  were  very  patchy  and  disappoint- 
ing ;  a  very  few  had  a  good  show  ;  some  were 
very  poor,  and  many  had  none  worth  mentioning. 
Quinces  flowered  splendidly,  and  so  did  Pears 
Plums  and  Cherries  ;  but  it  is  to  be  feared  the 
crops  of  some  of  these  will  be  very  light,  especially 
the  self-sterile  varieties,  as  the  honey  bees  and 
other  insects  were  unable  to  be  abroad  owing 
to^  the  bad  state  of  the  weather  while  the  trees 
were  in  bloom. — H.  C.  Wood,  Lingfield. 

THE   HIPPEASTRUMS. 

T  HAVE  read  mth  interest  the  article  on  Hippe- 
astrums  in  The  Garde.m  for  June  3.  I  ha\e 
found  raising  seedlings  a  delightful  experience. 
Some  years  ago  I  purchased  a  collection  of  ten 
bulbs  from  a  large  firm,  who  were  selhng  off,  and 
stated  the  collection  was  a  prize  winner,  .^mong 
them  was  one  of  great  beauty — very  dark  crimson 
— good  habit,  with  a  wonderful  sheen.  I  happened 
to  have  another  very  fine  bulb  of  a  different  habit. 
I  crossed  these  and  waited  with  great  hopes  until 
they  flowered  zh  >-ears  after  sowing  seed.  I 
hoped  I  might  get  out  of  fifty  plants  two  or  three 
good  ones,  but  I  was  amazed  to  find  that  with 
hardly  an  exception,  I  had  improved  on  the 
parents.  Practically  all  the  bulbs  flowered  the 
same  spring.  I  have  since  raised  another  batch 
with  similar  results  and  had  a  superb  display  this 
spring.  I  have  found  the  culture  very  simple, 
except  that  I  have  been  troubled  with  a  disease 
that  colours  the  leaves  and  roots  with  a  reddish 
tinge,  and  in  some  cases  caused  the  flower  stems 
to  burst.  The  method  of  culture  in  your  article 
this  week  is  practically  the  same  as  that  I  have 
followed,  but  there  are  one  or  two  hints  that  I 
am  glad  to  know  of. 

I  find  few  people  are  aware  of  the  glory  of  a 
group  of  these  lovely  flowers,  nor  of  the  pleasure 
of  raising  them  from  seed.  I  imagine  the  difficulty 
would  be  to  obtain  really  first  class  seed,  and  had 


I  not  my  own  I  should  not  know  where  to  get  it. — 

G.    HUNNYBUN. 

[Seeds  of  Hippeastrum  may  be  obtained  from 
leading  seedsmen   at   home   and   abroad. — Ed.] 

THE    ADORNMENT    OF    CREEPER-ROOT 

FILLED  BORDERS. 

A/TANV  houses,  and  especially  old  ones,  have 
their  walls  well  furnished  with  climbers,  and 
the  difficulty  of  finding  suitable  plants  to  furnish 
the  borders  is  often  great.  Generally  one  sees 
the  attempt  made  with  the  ordinary  bedding 
plants,  and  very  rarely  is  it  wholly  satisfactory. 
Much  labour  is  needed  in  improving  and  watering 
the  soil  to  enable  the  plants  to  grow,  and  this 
naturally  encourages  the  climbers  to  form  a  still 
greater  mass  of  fibrous  roots  near  the  surface 
and  so  increases  the  difficulty  in  the  future.  We 
have  one  such  border  here  on  the  west  side 
of  the  house  in  which  are  growing  old-established 
plants  of  Pyrus  japonica,  Rhus  Toxicodendron, 
Magnolia  grandiflora.  Wistarias,  Vitis  purpurea 
and  a  Rose.     .About  eight  years  ago  a  part  of  the 


help  feeling  that  there  should  have  been  no 
necessity  for  a  pubUc  appeal  to  relieve  them  of 
distress  in  times  which  are  more  or  less  distressful 
for  everybody.  The  Hailstorm  Insurance  Corpora- 
tion has  been  established  at  least  twenty-five  years, 
and  the  knowledge  that  the  premiums  it  asks  are 
extremely  low,  and  that  its  payments  for  damage 
done  are  instant  and  generous,  should  have  reached 
the  growers  of  Tunbridge  Wells,  as  it  has  the  growers 
of  other  districts,  years  ago.  They  could  then  have 
safeguarded  themselves  against  loss  and  an  appeal  to 
public  generosity.  Or  it  may  be  that  they  are  in 
parallel  case  with  a  friend  of  mine  who  allowed 
his  hailstorm  insurance  to  lapse  last  year,  after 
paying  for  a  long  period,  because  he  had  suffered 
no  loss.  He  now  bemoans  his  false  economy,  but 
admits  his  fault.— W.  H.  L. 

BRITISH-GROWN  GREENHOUSE  BULBS. 

(~\NE  cannot  put  one  of  those  ample  title  pages  of 
a  past  age  as  the  heading  of  a  paragraph  in  a 
modern  gardening  paper.  All  the  same  I  should 
Hke  to  ha%'e  done  so  in  order  to  explain  in  a  short, 
general  sort  of  way  which  are  the  particular  bulbs 


MASSES   OF   NEPETA  MUSSINI    IN   A  CREEPER-ROOT   FILLED   BORDER. 


border  was  planted  with  Nepeta  Mussini,  and  the 
result  was  so  encouraging  that  the  whole  was 
filled  with  it  and  gives  a  very  charming  effect 
witli  the  minimum  of  attention.  The  colour  of 
both  flower  and  foliage  harmonise  well  with  the 
old  stone  of  which  the  house  is  built.  I  enclose 
a  photograph  which  shows  about  two-thirds  of 
the  border,  and  many  of  the  plants  are  eight  years 
old.  It  is  one  of  the  easiest  plants  to  propagate. 
The  young  growths  may  be  pulled  out  in  early 
spring  when  3ins.  or  so  in  length  and  inserted 
in  pots  or  pans  of  sandy  soil  and  placed  in  a 
greenhouse  or  frame.  They  root  quickly  and  may 
be  planted  out  rather  closely  to  give  a  good  effect 
the  first  season  and  thinned  out  for  the  second 
year.  The  spare  plants  may  be  used  elsewhere. 
Old  plants  may  be  divided,  but  the  cuttings,  I 
think,  give  better  results.  When  in  bloom  it  is 
a  great  favourite  with  the  honey  bees,  which  work 
on  it  throughout  the  day,  filling  the  air  with  their 
cheerful  hum. — H.  W. 

HAILSTORM     RELIEF     FITSID. 

■^/■RILE    sympathising  ver\-  deeply  indeed  with 

the    Tunbridge   Wells   growers   in   the   losses 

sustained  in    the  recent  severe  storm,  one  cannot 


that  are  in  my  mind  ;  and  further,  to  point  out 
the  satisfactory  way  in  which  they  may  be  grown 
under  glass  in  Britain.  As  I  anticipate  the  cool 
greenhouse  will  come  more  and  more  to  the  front 
as  an  adjunct  of  twentieth-century  gardens,  it  is 
well  to  remind  ourselves  that  there  are  a  good  many 
bulbs  which  flower  in  the  earlier  half  of  the  year 
that  can  be  successfully  grown  in  such  structures 
from  year  to  year,  so  that  after  the  initial  outlay 
we  can  carry  on  without  spending  any  more  money 
— a  not  unimportant  consideration  in  these  days  of 
more  or  less  enforced  economy.  The  families  that 
are  in  my  mind  are  Freesias,  Lachenalias,  Ixias, 
Sparaxises,  Brodiaeas  and  Babianas.  ."^U  the 
ordinary  gieenhouse  varieties  of  these  can  be 
grown  successfully  at  home,  as  I  have  proved  in  my 
own  garden.  The  usual  and,  I  must  own,  the  great- 
est difficulty  is  the  aftercare  of  the  plants  when  the 
flowers  are  over.  They  need  feeding  and  watering 
until  the  foliage  begins  to  die  down.  They  then 
require  a  thorough  baking  in  the  sun  and  to  be 
kept  perfectly  dry  until  planting  time  comes 
round  again.  All  this  means  pots  of  leafage  with 
no  blooms. 

Now,  blooniless  pots  are  not  wanted  either  before 
or  after  their  period  of  blooming,  if  the  greenhouse 


June  24,  1922. 


THE     GARDEN. 


309 


is  to  be  a  blaze  of  colour.  Here  is  the  difficulty, 
and  where  there  is  but  one  house  it  is  a  very  real 
one  Either  the  idea  of  a  big  display  must  be 
scrapped,  or  very  skilful  use  must  be  made  of  cold 
frames.  If  a  small  house  can  be  given  up  to  the 
growing  on  and  the  ripening  off  of  the  bulbs,  all 
difficulty  disappears.  Or  if  the  one  house  need 
not  be  kept  always  gay,  but  can  be  used  in  a  more 
utilitarian  way,  the  difficulty  is  very  much  mini- 
mised, and  with  a  good  cold  frame  is  practically 


nil.  I  have  written  this  rather  bald  statement  of 
facts  to  rub  in  the  principle  that  forewarned  is 
forearmed.  Provision  must  be  made  for  every 
period  of  the  growth  of  the  bulbs.  What  happens 
to  them  up  to  and  after  their  flowering  is  very 
important,  but  it  is  no  use  attempting  to  have 
home-grown  bulbs  if  we  are  not  able  to  provide 
adequately  for  their  requirements.  All  the  genera 
mentioned  above  provide  many  v'arieties  most 
suitable  for  a  cool  greenhouse. — Joseph  Jacob. 


GARDENING    OF    THE    WEEK 


FOR   SOUTiiERX    GARDENS. 

Tbe  Kitchen  Garden. 

Asparagus. — Just  when  to  cease  cutting  the 
*'  grass  "  lor  daily  usage  must  be  deternuned  to 
some  extent  bv  the  earliness  or  lateness  of  the 
seaspn,  and  also  in  many  cases  the  requirements 
of  the  establishment  must  be  taken  into  account ; 
but  although  no  notice  need  be  taken  of  advice 
which  stipulates  that  the  cutting  must  cease  by 
a  certain  date,  it  is  ^^Tong  to  continue  the  cutting 
later  than  the  latter  part  of  this  month,  or  sufficient 
time  \vill  not  be  given  the  plants  to  grow  and 
properly  develop  a  good  supply  of  haulm  by 
the  end  of  summer.  See  that  the  beds  are 
thoroughly  clear  of  weeds,  and  if  such  can  be 
spared  a  dressing  of  well  rotted  maniu'e  or  a 
suitable  fertihser  will  greatly  assist  in  the  building 
up  of  the  plants  for  another  season.  The  stronger 
growths  should  be  staked,  or  a  few  pea-sticks  of 
suitable  length  will  answer. 

Celery. — The  plants  to  form  the  main  supply 
of  roots  may  now  be  placed  in  the  trenches  as  they 
become  ready.  The  bed  or  frames  where  the 
young  plants  are  growing  shoiUd  be  well  watered 
pre\nous  to  hfting  so  that  as  good  a  ball  of  soil 
as  possible  may  be  lifted  with  the  plants.  The 
distance  allowed  between  each  plant  should  be 
from  gins,  to  i2ins.,  and  as  planting  proceeds  a 
good  v.-atering  should  again  be  given  the  plants. 
Celery  dehghts  in  a  good  spraying  over  each  evening 
after  hot  days,  and  an  occasional  dusting  of  soot 
is  beneficial  and  helps  to  ward  off  fly.  Celery 
plants  which  were  planted  in  the  trenches  some 
time  ago  should  also  have  liberal  suppUes  of 
water  if  it  can  possibly  be  managed. 

Parsley. — A  sufficient  supply  of  this  should  be 
sown  now  to  >ield  late  autumn  supplies  and  also 
to  provide  plants  for  prictung  out  in  favoured 
positions  for  winter  use.  As  Parsley  is  sometimes 
a  trifle  fickle  in  growth,  it  is  a  good  plan  to  sow 
in  two  positions  and  endeavour  alwavs  to  have 
an  ample  supply  of  this  indispensable  kitchen 
commodity  on  hand. 

The  Flower  Garden. 
Early   Flowering  Shrubs  will  need  attention 

as  they  pass  out  of  flower,  for  with  many  of  them 
what  pruning  and  thinning  out  of  shoots  is  neces- 
sary may  be  done  then.  In  dealing  with  such 
plants  as  the  flowering  Brooms,  for  instance, 
it  is  not  always  necessary  or  even  ad\-isable  to 
adhere  to  any  fixed  method  of  pruning,  but  make 
due  allowance  for  position  and  surroundings. 
It  is  by  no  means  rare  to  come  across  in  some 
small  gardens  in  Surrey  many  fine  plants  which 
have  never  had  a  pruning  since  they  were  planted 
and  are  yet  annual  objects  of  much  grace  and 
beauty. 

Delphiniums  which  are  expected  to  yield  a 
second  crop  of  spikes  must  have  the  early  ones 
removed  as  soon  as  ever  they  are  on  the"  wane, 
so  that  the  whole  of  the  plants'  energies  may  be 
concentrated  in  the  new  growths  pushing  from 
the  ba.se.  This  is  not  a  practice  to  be  recom- 
mended as  an  annual  one,  and  when  it  is  done 
see  that  the  plants  are  well  supplied  with  water 
during  dry  spells  and  a  hberal  mulch  given  also, 
or  exhaustion  will  soon  set  in. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 
Scalding  Grapes.— The  two  varieties  which 
are  generally  the  most  troublesome  through  scalding 
or  scorching  of  the  berries  are  Muscat  of  Alexandria 
and  Lady  Downe's  Seedhng,  and  the  time  when 
the  evil  usually  begins  is  when  the  berries  are 
about  half  grown.  The  best  way  to  guard  against 
the  scalding  is  carefully  to  avoid  a  too  sudden 
nsmg  of  the  temperature,  particularly  when  the 
atmosphere  is  heavily  charged  with  moisture. 
In  other  words,  air  the  houses  freely  in  advance 
of  a  rising  thermometer,  not  waiting  until  the 
maximum  has  been  reached  before  airing  liberally. 


The  hot-water  pipes  should  be  kept  always  luke- 
warm should  this  trouble  of  scalding  connnence, 
for  by  this  means  a  more  buoyant  atmosphere  is 
maintained.  H.  Turner 

(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland). 
Albiiry  Park  Gardfiix,  Guildford. 


FOR   NORTHERN    GARDENS. 

The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Mushrooms. — Nice  specimens  of  these  are 
appreciated  at  any  season,  therefore  in  estabhsh- 
ments  where  manure  is  available  it  should  be 
collected  and  by  repeated  turnings  put  in  con- 
dition for  forming  beds  which  will  ensm-e  supphes 
of  Mushrooms  during  September  and  October. 
The  bed  should  be  trodden  firmly,  and  when  the 
temperature  is  about  8o"  spawning  should  be 
attended  to.  Cover  over  with  a  layer  of  fine 
soil,  and  as  an  efficient  check  to  evaporation  a 
covering  of  straw  should  be  given. 

Broccoli. — .•\ttend  to  the  planting  of  spring 
and  early  summer  varieties.  Owing  to  the 
severity  of  the  cUmatic  conditions  in  the  North 
it  is  futile  to  plant  winter  sorts,  more  especially 
where  cold,  unkindly  soils  prevail. 

Late  Potatoes  should  be  well  worked  between 
the  rows  and  a  dusting  of  approved  Potato  manure 
or  soot  given  before  the  final  earth  up.  In  northern 
areas  Potatoes  are  promising  well,  and  if  given 
generous  cultivation  should  provide  a  bounteous 
>ield. 

Seakale. — Plantations  of  Seakaie  should  be 
encouraged  with  a  light  surface  dressing  of  sulphate 
of  ammonia,  stirring  it  lightly  in  with  a  cultivator 
or  hoe. 

Broad  Beans. — Pinch  the  tops  of  plants  that 
are  well  set  with  pods,  as  this  materially  r.ssists 
in  their  development. 

Tomatoes. — Continue  to  assist  Tomatoes  that 
are  swelling  their  fr.-.its  by  giving  regular  w.Tterings 
of  hquid  manure.  Where  the  plants  are  at  close 
quarters  the  points  of  the  leaves  may  be  pinched 
off  so  that  more  hght  and  air  may  lie  allowed  to 
reach  the  trusses.  Opinions  differ  regarding 
defoliating  Tomato  plants,  but  if  the  work  is  not 
carried  to  excess  the  fruits  colour  more  quickly 
and  richly.  But  if  too  severely  dealt  with  root 
action  is  checked  and  the  crop  suffers  accordingly. 

Parsley, — Sow  seed  now  for  winter  supplies. 
Choose  a  sheltered  border  for  this  sowing  so  that 
pickings  from  the  open  may  be  as  prolonged  as 
possible.  When  thinning  the  rows  a  quantitv 
of  the  seedhngs  should  be  transplanted  into  a 
cold  frame  for  use  during  wintry  weather. 

Saladings. — Nice  crisp  s.aladings  are  always 
appreciated,  so  fortnightly  sowings  of  Radishes 
and  Mustard  and  Cress  should  be  made.  Regular 
sowings  of  both  Cos  and  Cabbage  Lettuce  should 
also  receive  attention. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

General  Work. — Use  the  hoe  freely  among 
Gooseberry  and  Currant  bushes  so  that  the  ground 
may  be  clean  and  porous  before  the  necessity  for 
netting  the  crop  arrives.  Keep  a  watchful  eye 
on  young  bushes  for  attacks  of  red  spider  or 
caterpillar  and  syringe  with  Quassia  extract  on 
their  appearance.  Thin  fruits  of  choice  Apples 
and  Plums  on  walls  and  disbud  where  necessary. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 
Melons  in  Frames.— With  plenty  of  sun-heat 
plants  in  frames  will  be  maldng  rapid  growth 
and  producing  abundant  fruiting  laterals.  Stop 
these  simultaneously  at  the  second  or  third  leaf 
beyond  where  the  fruit  is  set.  To  assist  setting 
ventilation  should  have  attention  early  on  fine 
days  so  that  all  moisture  may  be  dispelled  and 
the  flowers  and  foliage  be  in  a  dry  condition 
before  setting  takes  place.  The  pollen  of  the 
male  blooms  will  then  be  more  potent  and  the 
organs  of  the  female  flower  will  likewise  be  in  a 


more  receptive  condition  than  when  overmoist 
conditions  prevail.  When  a  sufficient  number 
of  fruits  are  set  and  swelling  becomes  visible  a 
thorough  watering  with  tepid  water  should  'be 
given,  closing  the  frame  as  earlv  as  nossible  after 
syringing  the  foliage.  .As  the  fruits  increase  in 
size  a  suitable  stimulant  may  be  given  the  plants 
always  being  careful  to  see'  that  the  water  used 
is  tepid. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Shrubs. — Flowering  shrubs,  such  as  Deutzias, 
Berberises  and  Lilacs,  may  be  judiciously  pruned 
immediately  they  pass  out  of  flower.  This  induces 
a  vigorous  growth  whicli  if  well  ripened  will 
materially  add  to  next  season's  display  of  flower. 

Wallflowers. — Sow  seed  now  so  as  to  secure 
nice  bushy  specimens  for  transferring  to  the 
beds  in  the  flower  garden  by  the  end  of  October. 
Grow  in  fairly  firm,  not  overrich  soil,  as  o\-er-' 
feeding  tends  towards  that  softness  of  growth 
which  is  so  easily  damaged  by  the  vagaries 
of  our  winter  weather 

James  JIcGrav 
(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.). 

Coodham,  Kilmarnock. 


GREENHOUSE  AND  CONSERVATORY. 
Humea  elegans. — A  small  sowing  should  be 
made  this  month,  standing  the  seed-pots  in  a 
cool  greenhouse,  where  they  should  be  shaded 
until  the  seeds  germinate.  When  large  enough 
to  handle  prick  off  singly  into  thumb  pots,  after- 
wards potting  them  on  as  they  require  it.  Many 
cultivators  fail  with  this  plant,  this  probably  due 
in  most  cases  to  careless  watering,  as  care  is 
required  in  this  respect  at  all  stages  of  the  plant's 
hfe.  The  sowing  for  the  main  batch  of  plants 
should  be  made  at  the  beginning  of  August.  It 
is  not  generally  known  that  this  plant  causes  a 
kind  of  rash  or  eczema  when  handled  by  some 
individuals.  In  this  respect  it  resembles  Primula 
obconica. 

Mahnaison  Carnations.— Strong,  healthy  plants 
should  be  selected  for  layering  as  thev  pass  out 
of  flower.  Layering  is  best  done  in  cold  frames 
using  a  hght  compost  with  plenty  of  good  leaf-soil 
added.  The  plants  should  be  well  watered  before 
they  are  turned  out  of  their  pots.  They  should 
be  firmly  planted,  and  if  the  shoots  are  at  all 
long  it  may  be  necessary  to  lay  the  plants  down 
on  their  sides,  and  thus  render  the  operation  of 
layering  easier.  If  stock  is  plentiful  only  the 
strongest  shoots  should  be  retained  for  layering. 
.Afterwards  the  frames  should  be  kept  close 
for  a  week  or  so  and  shaded  during  bright  sun- 
shine. Air  may  then  be  graduallv  admitted. 
When  roots  have  formed  the  Ughts  may  be 
removed.  .As  they  pass  out  of  flower  healthy 
young  plants  should  be  selected  for  potting  on 
as  specimens.  The  potting  soil  should  consist 
of  good  mellow  loam,  and  where  it  can  be  procured 
old  mortar  rubble  may  be  used  instead  of  sand 
to  render  the  whole  porous,  for  it  must  be  remem- 
bered that  all  Carnations  enjoy  hme.  Crushed 
oyster-shells  may  also  be  used  with  advantage. 
With  the  exception  of  a  6in.  potful  of  fine 
bone-meal  to  every  bushel  of  soil,  no  manure 
should  be  added  to  the  potting  compost.  The 
plants  should  be  firmly  potted,  and  careful  watering 
is  necessary  until  they  are  well  established  in  the 
new  compost. 

Arctotis  aureola. — This  beautiful  South  African 
plant  is  by  no  means  so  popular  as  it  deserves  to 
be.  This  is  no  doubt  due  to  the  fact  that  most 
cultivators  find  it  very  difficult  to  propagate  by 
means  of  cuttings,  and  it  is  not  generallv  knowii 
that  it  is  easily  propagated  by  means  of' layering 
at  this  or  any  time  during  the  summer  in  a  cold 
frame,  or  it  may  be  successfully  done  outdoors. 
As  advised  for  Carnations,  the  plants  are  best 
turned  out  of  their  pots  and  the  shoots  layered 
in  the  usual  way.  Arctotis  aspera  and  A.  revulata, 
although  not  such  showy  plants  as  A.  aureola, 
are  still  well  worth  growing  for  the  cool  conserva- 
tory. They  are  both  easily  propagated  by  means 
of  cuttings,  which  may  be  inserted  anv  time 
during  the  summer  months  in  a  close  case  in  a 
cool  house. 

Primula  Forrestii.— Generally  speaking,  this 
Chinese  Primula  has  not  proved  successful  out- 
doors in  this  country.  It  is,  however,  worth  grow- 
ing for  the  cool  greenhouse.  In  addition  to  its 
deep  yellow  flowers,  its  rugose  leaves  are  quite 
handsome.  It  is  easily  raised  from  seed  sown  in 
a  cool  house.  If  seed  is  sown  at  this  time  good 
plants  should  be  secured  for  next  year.  This 
Primula  is  a  perennial,  and  is  longer  lived  than 
most  members  of  the  genus.  With  age  it  forms 
several  crowns,  which  affords  means  of  increasing 
the  plant  by  dividing  and  rooting  the  crowns  in 
a  close  case.     .As  this  Primula  grows  on  limestone 


310 


THE     GARDEN. 


[June  24,  1922. 


cliffs,  lime  in  some  form  is  necessary  iri  the  potting 
compost.  For  this  purpose  old  mortar  rubble 
is  as  good  as  any,  as  it  serves  to  keep  the  compost 
sweet  and  porous. 

Agapetes  bUXifolia. — This  plant,  which  pro- 
duces pretty,  red  tubular  flowers  in  profusion, 
is  not  so  generally  cultivated  as  it  should  be. 
It  is  easily  propagated  at  this  time  by  means  of 
cuttings,  which  root  readily  in  a  close  case   in    a 


cool  house.  It  makes  a  neat  bush  when  grown 
in  pots,  but  is  seen  at  its  best  when  planted  out 
in  a  shallow  bed  of  sandy  peat  in  a  cool  conserva- 
tory. Although  enjoying  ample  moisture  at  the 
root,  drainage  must  be  free  and  rapid,  for  in  its 
native  state  this  plant  is  partly  epiphytic,  hence 
stagnant   moisture  at  the  root  soon  proves  fatal. 

J.    COUTTS. 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Knv. 


UNCOMMON  PLANTS  AT  THE  BATH  AND  WEST  SHOW 


THE  plants  exhibited  in  the  horticultural 
section  of  the  Bath  and  West  Southern 
Counties  Agricultural  Society  at 
Plymouth  were  one  of  the  chief 
attractions  to  the  huge  crowds,  number- 
ing about  sixty  thousand  people,  who  visited 
the  Show. 

Gardening  in  Devon  and  this  part  of  England 
is  mostly  outdoors,  but  some  of  the  finest  gardens 
in  the  country  are  to  be  found  here.  Glorious 
Mimosa  trees,  which  are  only  hardy  in  sheltered 
spots  in  many  parts  of  Great  Britain,  flourish. 
Mimosa — in  the  shape  of  Acacia  pulchella — came 
from  the  Plympton  Nurseries  of  Messrs.  Chalice 
and  Sons,  as  also  some  Callistcmons  (Metro- 
sideros),  which  are  recognised  as  the  popular 
"Bottle  Brush  Trees"  which  here  thrive  in  the  open. 

Some  similar  plants  came  from  the  Exeter 
nurseries  of  Messrs.  R.  Veitch  and  Sons,  including 
the  beautiful  Davidia  involucrata,  the  large  white 
bracts  of  which  were  some  6ins.  long.  Witsenia 
( Aristea  i  corymbosa,  a  rare  South  .African  iridaceous 
plant,  was  exhibited  by  them,  the  delightful 
blue  flowers  of  which  are  seldom  seen  in  this 
country.  Embothrium  coccineum  and  the  white 
Callistemon  alba  were  other  interesting  plants. 

Herbaceous  plants  were  shown  by  Messrs. 
Wallace  all  the  way  from  Tunbridge  Wells  and  by 
Messrs.  Blackmore  and  Langdon,  Bath,  whose 
wonderful  Delphiniums  were  a  sight  seldom  seen 
at  this  date.  They  also  had  some  gorgeous 
Begonias.  Godfrey  and  Son,  of  Exmouth,  had  giant 
Poppies  and  Lupins,  as  well  as  fine  Pelargoniums  ; 
while  Mr.  GuUick,  of  Salisbury,  staged  Pyrethrums 
so  artistically  that  this  plant,  which  blossoms  just 
when  flowers  are  none  too  plentiful,  must  have 
many  new  admirers  ;  some  daintily  tinted  Lupins 
showed  them  off  well.  Messrs.  Rich  and  Co., 
Bath,  also  had  Pyrethrums. 

Roses  (perhaps  the  harbingers  of  the  first 
outdoor-grown  flowers  exhibited  this  year)  were 
sent  from  Messrs.  Jarman  of  Chard  and  the  Devon 
Rosery,  Torquay  ;  also  a  beautiful  group  from 
Messrs.  Cutbush  and  Son. 

Sweet  Peas,  well  displayed,  were  exhibited  by 
Mr.  J.  Stevenson,  Wimborne,  the  sunproof  Poppy 
Orange  variety  and  the  sweetly  perfumed  Wild 
Rose  and  Cynthia  being  prominent. 

Other  interesting  plants  of  the  Show  were  the 
Sunbeam  Poppies  from  Messrs.  Baker,  Wolver- 
hampton ;  while  dainty  and  miniature  rock 
plants  in  the  shape  of  miniature  Dianthus  and 
Anchusa  came  from  Messrs.  Maxwell  and  Beale 
and  Bowell  and  Skarratt. 

From  Dartmoor  some  extra  well  flowered 
Rhododendrons  were  exhibited  by  Messrs.  Bray 
and  Sou  of  Okehampton.  One  is  inclined  to 
associate  this  plant  with  sheltered  nooks,  but 
this  exhibit  proves  their  hardihood.  Messrs. 
Waterer,  Son  and  Crisp  also  had  a  fine  group. 

The  Show  was  open  for  nearly  a  week,  but 
despite  this  and  the  heat  one  noted  that  the 
Carnations  from  Messrs.  Allwood  Brothers  and 
Stuart  Low  and  Co.,  Bush  Hill  Park,  not  only 
had  stood  the  long  journey  to  the  West,  but 
maintained  their  freshness ;  even  the  Dianthus 
AUwoodii  held  up  nearly  as  well  as  the  giant 
and  fragrant  White  Pearl. 


St.  Brigid  Anemones,  which  thrive  so  well 
in  Devonshire  gardens,  were  staged  by  Messrs. 
Reamsbottom  ;  and  vegetables,  well  grown  and 
tastefully  arranged,  came  from  Messrs.  James 
Carter  and  Co.  and  Toogood  of  Southampton. 

Orchids  are  not  largely  grown  in  the  West 
Country,    but    a    small    exhibit    of    easily    groWjj 


WITSENIA    CORYMBOSA. 

varieties  was  sent  by  Messrs.  Stuart  Low  and  Co. 
from  their  Jarvis  Brook,  Sussex,  nursery. 

Cornwall,  whose  gardens  in  places  assume  a 
sub-tropical  aspect,  although  so  near,  sent  but 
one  exhibit  in  the  shape  of  Cinerarias  from  Mr. 
Hodge,  St.  Austell ;  yet  the  duch>-  might 
have  shown  Oranges  picked  from  the  open,  and 
Australian  plants  and  shrubs  in  great  variety. 
To  see  a  Cornish  garden  with  its  giant  Blue  Gum 
trees  (Eucalyptus  globulus),  Embothriums,  .Acacias 
and  specimens  of  Draca;na  indivisa,  to  say  nothing 
of  Bamboos  20ft.  high,  is  a  revelation.  Cornish 
gardeners  are  not  exhibitors,  or  there  would  be 
many  more  to  envy  their  delightful  climate  than 
there  are. 

This  exhibition  has  been  managed  for  many 
years  by  the  Rev.  A.  T.  Boscawen,  whose  delightful 
garden  near  Marazion  contains  many  unique 
plants. 


TWO    CHARMING    SCENES 
IN    WIGTOWNSHIRE 

Ol'ITE  recently  I  have  visited  the  beauti- 
.  ful  gardens  and  grounds  of  Logan 
I  House  and  Castle  Kennedy.  Logan  is 
one  of  the  most  attractive  places  in 
the  South  of  Scotland,  and  its  gardens, 
which  now  comprise  an  epitome  of 
the  finest  flora  of  the  world,  are  constantly  and 
assiduously  superintended  by  its  proprietor,  Mr. 
Kenneth  A.  McDouall,  who  has  a  competent  and 
practical  gardener  in  Mr.  McBryde.  At  the 
period  of  my  visit  the  Rhododendrons  (in  which 
Mr.  McDouall  and  his  genial  brother,  Mr.  Douglas, 
take  a  very  special  interest),  the  .Azaleas  and 
Primulas,  and  the  brilliant  miniature  beauties 
that  adorn  in  thousands  the  exquisite  rock  garden, 
including  some  Irises  of  distinctive  character  and 
early-flowering  attributes,  were  especially  im- 
pressive. Among  the  very  finest  of  the  Rhodo- 
dendrons were  such  superbly  effective  \'arieties 
as  Pink  Pearl,  Alice  and  R.  Dalhousianum,  of 
which  the  last  mentioned  has,  in  its  individual 
flowers,  the  peculiar  grace  of  an  Oriental  Lily, 
such  as  Lilium  Browni,  or  Longiflorum  Wilsoni, 
while  its  fragrance  is  that  of  Magnolia  Watsoui, 
but  somewhat  less  pronounced  and  more  refined. 
Many  of  the  climbers  that  adorn  the  garden 
walls,  and  especially  in  the  vicinity  of  the  ruins 
of  the  ancient  Castle  of  Logan,  were  supremely 
ornamental ;  while  a  myriad  Primulas  of  charming 
colour  adorned  the  famous  "  Ladies'  Walk," 
which  leads  from  the  gracious  western  environ- 
ment of  the  gardens  to  the  sea.  There  are  several 
fine  Magnolias  in  Logan  gardens,  including 
Soulangeana,  conspicua,  stellata  and  Watsoni. 
Of  these  by  far  the  loveliest  is  Soulangeana,  of 
which  I  recently  saw  an  especially  arresting  and 
commanding  representative  in  Westmorland,  near 
Patterdale,  on  the  sylvan  banks  of  UUswater — 
"  the  English  Lucerne." 

A  few  days  subsequently  to  this  memorable 
visit  I  cycled  to  Castle  Kennedy,  which,  with  the 
return  journey  through  a  tropical  heat,  culminating 
in  a  thunderstorm  which  I  partly  experienced, 
signified  a  run  exceeding  forty  miles.  But  if 
atmospheric  conditions  were  e.xacting,  I  was 
amply  repaid.  I  had  the  great  privilege  of  being 
conducted  through  the  gardens  and  nobly  wooded 
terraces  of  this  "  earthly  paradise "  (which  has 
three  exquisite  lakes  for  its  perfect  adornment) 
by  Mr.  R.  Findlay,  the  head-gardener  to  its 
proprietor,  the  Earl  of  Stair.  There  I  saw,  in 
the  first  place,  beneath  the  magnificent  ruin  of 
the  ancient  castle,  the  grandest  collection  of  the 
Lily  of  the  Himalayas  (Lilium  giganteum)  I  have 
ever  beheld.  Thereafter  we  repaired  through  a 
glorious  avenue  of  Conifers  to  the  pre-eminently 
beautiful  oval  lake,  which  has  been  called  "  The 
Basin  "  for  several  centuries,  and  of  which  there 
is  a  charming  delineation,  crayon  drawn,  in  Sir 
Herbert  Maxwell's  picturesquely  written  book  on 
"  Scottish  Gardens."  While  the  Marliac  Nym- 
pha>as  and  snow-white  Arum  Lilies  adorn  its  calm 
surface,  it  is  at  this  special  and  inspiring  season 
of  the  year,  en\ironed  by  .Azaleas  of  gorgeous 
hues  and  Rhododendrons  the  varied  colours  and 
prodigality  of  floral  affluence  of  which  (espe- 
cially manifested  in  such  varieties  as  R.  Broughtoni 
and  R.  Loder's  White)  are  marvellous  to  behold. 
Such  pictures  of  imperial  beauty  as  these  are 
treasures  ever  afterwards  in  the  memories  of 
Nature-loving  men.  When  these  are  reflected, 
with  the  far-extending  shadow  of  the  ancient 
castle,  in  the  mirror  of  the  miniature  lake  on  a 
calm,  benignant  evening,  the  vista  is  one  the 
radiant  loveUness  of  which  cannot  adequately  be 
described.  D.wid   R.  Willumson.   • 


THE 


LIBRARY  of  tHe 


GARDEN 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


'^ol.  LXXXVI.— No.  2641. 

ntere  J  as  Second-class  Matter  at  the  New  York.  N.Y.,  Post  Office. 


Saturday,  July  1,  1922 


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FOR    THE    FLOWER    GARDEN. 

Antirrhinums,  Aquilegias,  Aubrietias,  Campanulas,  Delphiniums,  Forget- 
me-nots,  Gaillardias,  Geums,  Hollyhocks,  Lupins,  Pansies,  Polyanthus, 
Papavers,  Primrose,  Sweet  Williams,  Stocks,  Violas,  etc. 

FOR    THE    VEGETABLE    GARDEN. 

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COOL    AND     RESTFUL ! 


Royal     Horticultural     Society. 

GREAT   AUTUMN    SHOW 

AT    THE 

Holland  Park  Skating  Rink,  Holland  Park  Avenue,  W., 

OCTOBER    3rd,  4th,   5th    and  6th,    1922. 

(Not  October  4th  to  7th.  as  at  first  announced). 

This  Show  will  combine  the  Annual  Fruit  and  Vegetable  Shows,  with  ajDisplay  of 
Flowers  and  Foliage  Plants  in  season  at  the  time,  but  there  is.  unfortunately,  no  room 
for  Sundries  or  Paintings.  As  the  space  available  is  limited,  no  very  large  area  can  be 
allotted  to  any  exhibitor  and  all  applications  for  space  for  non-competitive  exhibits  must 
be  received  in  writing  by  the  Secretary  at  Vincent  Square.  Westminster.  S.W.I,  not 
later  than  August  31st. 

Cups  and  .Medals  will  be  awarded  to  meritorious  groups,  and  the  Schedule  and 
Regulations  will  be  available  shortly  upon  application. 

ORCH I DS 

of  vigorous   habit  and    superior  constitution.     A  visit  to  our  Establishment 

is    cordially    invited    to    inspect    our     immense     and     interesting     STOCK 

RAISED     BY    THE 

PURE    CULTURE    SYSTEM 

Choice    Species,    Rare    Botanical    Specimens.     Albinos   in    warm   and   cool 
sections  also  a  speciality. 

Expert    Advice    given    and    all    Requisites    supplied    for    the    good     culture 

of   Orchids. 

HAYWARDS 
HEATH. 


CHARLESWORTH  &  CO., 


WHITE    FLY    DEATH. 

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No    apparatus.      Simply    pour    from    the    container    on    to    the    floor    of    the    greenhoupei 

FULL    DIRECTIONS    WITH    EACH    PACKAGE. 

Clieaper   and   safer  than   any   other   Fumisant  on   the   market  and  absolutely  effective  against  White  sFly 

Mr.  J.  B.  JACKLIN,  Jersey,  writes; —  "May  31st,  1922. 

•■  Your  new   White   Fly  eradieator   is  simply  splendid,  and   you  can  recommend  it  from 
me.  as  it  is  a  perfect  killer  of  White  Fly." 

SOLD    BY   ALL    NURSERYMEN.    SEEDSMEN   AND    FLORISTS. 

Cub.  ft.    1.000      2.000      4,000      8,000      16,000      a2.ull(J      64.000 

Price        lOd.  1/3  2/-  3/6  e/3  11/6  22/- 

And  in  all  sizes   up  to  40-g»llon  barrels. 

CORRY   &   CO.,   Ltd.,    Shad    Thames,    LONDON,    S.E.I. 

SPECIAL    TERMS    TO    THE    TRADE. 


u. 


THE    GARDEN. 


[July   i,  1922. 


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.r^^H€^ 


No.  2641.— \'0L.  LXXXVL] 


[July  i,  1922. 


PERENNIAL    PLANTS   FROM   5EED 

The  sooner  such  seeds  can  be  sown  after  ripening  the  better  the  results. 


FROM  the  point  of  view  of  the  amateur 
gai'dener  perennial  plants  are  raised 
from  seed  for  three  reasons.  In  the 
first  place,  raising  from  seed  is  a  cheap 
way  of  obtaining  a  stock  ;  secondly,  it 
is  a  procedm'e  full  of  interest ;  and  thirdly,  plants 
from  seed  have,  speaking 
generally,  a  vigour  alien  to  those 
propagated  vegetatively. 

The  reason  that  perennial 
seed  raising  is  so  comparatively 
little  attempted  is  not  so  easy 
to  find,  but  is  unquestionably 
based  upon  an  obscure  legend 
that  such  raising  is  difficult. 
\\"\Vn  some  noteworthy  excep- 
tions perennial  plants  are  as 
readily  raised  as  the  biennials 
(and  perennials  treated  as  bien- 
nials), such  as  Wallflowers, 
Forget  -  me  -  nots.  Antirrhinums 
and  Polyanthuses. 

Seeds  of  hardy  perennials  are 
now  offered  by  several  reliable 
firms,  while  in  most  gardens 
seeds  of  many  species  and 
^■arieties  could  with  a  little 
trouble  be  harvested.  Of  course, 
a  certain  amount  of  considera- 
tion is  necessary  before  seed- 
purchase  or  harvesting  is  under- 
taken. There  is  little  use  in 
raising  a  batch  of  Centaurea 
montana,  for  instance — even 
should  the  plant  be  esteemed — 
when  a  large  and  robust  stock 
may  readily  be  obtained  by 
division.  Unless  the  inclination 
is  set  upon  systematically 
devoting  a  considerable  area 
of  ground  to  the  raising  of  new 
varieties,  it  is  unwise  to  attempt 
the  herbaceous  Phlo.xes  from 
seed  or  the  Michaelmas  Daisies, 
both  of  which  habitually  produce 
a  large  proportion  of  utterly 
worthless  seedlings.  The  same 
may  be  said  of  Veronica 
spicata,  of  which  in  a  large 
batch  hardly  two  will  be  alike 
either  in  habit  or  in  foliage.1 

For  seed  raising  to  be  worth 
while  it  is  not  necessary  that 
the  seedlings  come  true;  to 
type.       In     comparatively  Vfkvi 


cases  can  this  be  relied  upon  with  the  improved 
sorts  and  strains  usually  met  with  in  gardens. 
None  of  those  next  to  be  mentioned  reproduce 
themselves  true,  yet  all  are  worth  raising,  since 
the  whole  of  the  produce  will  be  healthy  and 
vigorous — an    important    point    this    upon    new. 


THE    BEAUTIFUL    MADONNA    LILY,    LILIUM    CANDIDUM,    MAY    BE 
RAISED    FROM    SEED. 


impertectly   worked  or  difficult   soils — decorative, 
and  in  all  ways  desirable  for  the  garden. 

Such  are  Delphiniums,  seedlings  of  which  are 
especially  vigorous  and  of  good  stature  ;  Lupins, 
.vhich  rapidly  lose  vigour  when  divided  ;  Gaillar- 
dias,  which  from  seed  will  often  stand  outdoors 
where  named  kinds  are  lost  each 
uinter ;  Bearded  Irises,  very 
interesting  to  flower,  but  plants 
may  be  rapidly  increased  by 
division  ;  Aquilegias,  of  which, 
howev^er,  none,  except  Helena?, 
can  be  relied  upon  to  come  true  ; 
Campanulas,  especially  persici- 
folia,  lactiflora,  pyramidalis  and 
carpatica ;  Pinks,  of  which 
seedlings  are  very  free-flowering 
but  seldom  possess  the  quality 
of  the  parents  ;  Galegas,  easily 
raised  and  generally  come 
moderately  tr  u  e  to  type ; 
Geraniums,  of  which  the  most 
^•aluable  species  for  the  her- 
baceous border,  A\"allichianum, 
\aries  much  in  colour  from  seed, 
but  all  the  shades  are  beautiful  ; 
Heucheras ;  Torch  Lilies,  but 
species  such  as  caulescens  or 
Northiie  come  true  to  type ; 
Everlasting  Peas,  Lathyrus 
latifolius  —  seed  saved  from 
White  Pearl  will  usually  "  throw 
back  "  to  give  a  proportion  of 
pink  and  rosy  purple  forms 
almost  all  somewhat  deficient 
in  size ;  Lythrum  Salicaria, 
Purple  Loosestrife,  of  which  the 
rose  forms  throw  a  large  pro- 
portion of  rose-coloured  seed- 
lings ;  Oriental  Poppies,  which 
should  be  flowered  on  a  reser\'e 
ground  before  planting  in  the 
border ;  Pentstemons,  \-ery  in- 
teresting if  saved  from  a  good 
strain;  Pyrethrums ;  and 
V'erbascuras  —  Miss  Willmott 
always  throws  a  proportion  of 
soft  yellow-flowered  plants. 

The  above  have  been  col- 
lected together  not  only  because, 
while  var\ing  from  seed,  they 
are  worth  raising,  but  because 
they  are  all  readily  raised. 
All  may  be  sown  in  drills 
in     the '  open     border       if      a 


312 


THE    GARDEN. 


[July  i,  1922. 


A   VALUABLE   GERANIUM   FOR  THE   WILD  GARDEN.      G.   ATLANTICUM. 


THE    VALUABLE  .  YELLdW-BRACTED    RHEUM    ALEXANDRi^. 


moderately  rich  piece  of  ground  can  be  placed  at  their  disposal 
which  is  in  the  open,  quite  free  from  pernicious  perennial  weeds  and 
moderately  so  from  annual  ones.  Sowing  in  drills  is  preferable  to 
broadcasting,  because  if  the  ends  of  the  rows  are  marked  a  line  or 
straightedge  may  be  employed  to  shew  the  row,  and  the  hoe  plied 
between  when  the  seedlings  are  still  tiny.  AU  these  are  open 
border  plants,  and  sowing  in  a  shady  corner  as  often  recommended 
would  be  detrimental  to  the  health  of  the  seedUngs,  but  shade  must 
certainly  be  provided  until  the  seeds  germinate.  Narrow  boards  or 
tiles  placed  over  the  rows  and  lifted  every  day  or  so  for  inspection 
are  most  satisfactory  as  giving  shade  and  also  conserving 
moisture.  If  the  ground  has  been  w-ell  dug  in  winter  or  spring,  there 
is  no  need  to  disturb  it  to  any  depth — to  do  so  would  leave  it 
hollow — but  the  drills  when  drawn — depth  according  to  the  size  of 
seed,  but,  generally  speaking,  quite  shallow — should  be  thoroughly 
soaked   with   a   fino-rosed   can   before   sowing  takes  place. 

There  are  many  gardens,  especially  new  gardens,  in  which  well 
cultivated,  moderately  rich  but  weed-free  sites  are  not  to  be  found. 
In  such  case  it  will  be  much  more  satisfactory  to  sow  the  seeds  in 
pans  or  boxes  in  a  nice  "  silky  "  but  not  overlight  compost  and 
stand  them  upon  an  ash  bottom  in  a  frame  looking  north.  The 
whole  frame  may  then  be  kept  close  and  shaded  until  the  first  lots 
appear,  when  light  and  a  moderate  amount  of  air  must  be  given, 
unless  they  are  removed  as  they  come  up  to  another  frame.  If  seeds 
and  seedlings  must  perforce  stay  together,  the  ungerminated  boxes 
may  readily  be  covered  with  boards  or  even  with  folded  newspapers. 

Herbaceous  plants  of  the  same  easy  culture  which  come  true  (or 
true  enough)  from  seed  include  Gypsophila  paniculata,  Geums 
Heldreichii,  miniatum  aurantiacum  and  Mrs.  Bradshaw ;  Aquilegia 
Helena;,  also  all  true  species  from  collected  seed  ;  Artemisia  lactiflora  ; 
Bocconia,  both  species ;  Cheiranthus  Allionii,  best  treated  as  a 
biennial ;  Coreopsis  grandiflora,  also  short-lived  ;  Ecbinops,  but  good 
seed  is  not  produced  every  season  ;  Kniphofia,  true  species;  Jasione 
perennis  ;  Linaria  macedonica  speciosa  ;  Linum,  all  species  ;  Tree 
Lupins  if  saved  from  either  yellow  or  white  forms  quite  away  from 
others  ;  Physalis  Francheti  and  P.  Alkekengi ;  Potentilla  nepalensis  ; 
Rheums  of  sorts  ;   and  Thalictrum,  all  species. 

The  above  list  excludes  rock  garden  plants  as  such.  It  is  hoped 
to  deal  with  them  in  a  succeeding  article.  The  enthusiastic  gardener 
will  wish  to  know  of  other  perennials  likely  to  repay  the  labour  of 
raising  from  seed,  even  though  germination  be  slow  or  the  culture 
requires  especial  care.  In  the  latter  category  must  be  placed 
bulbous  plants  of  all  kinds.  Speaking  generally,  new  seed  germinates 
fairly  quickly,  but  the  seedUngs  of  some  species  take  many  years 
to  flower,  notably  those  of  the  Narcissus.  The  amateur  would 
in  any  case  be  well  advised  to  leave  the  improvement  of  this 
flower  to  those  with  long  experience  of  the  business  and  the  latest 
seedlings  to  use  for  cross-pollination. 

The  raising  of  Tulips  from  seed  is  chiefly  interesting  if  species  are 
raised  in  this  way.  A  stock  may  thus  be  obtained  of  species  which 
are  not  often  seen  in  gardens.  The  seeds  should  be  sown  in  light, 
clean,  but  moderately  rich  soil  either  in  deep  pots  or  in  borders 
in  a  specially  prepared  frame.  On  no  ar  count  must  any  attempt  be 
made  to  prick  out  the  seedlings  when  in  growth  This  is  the  stumbling 
block  which  has  brought  about  the  downfall  of  many  an  amateur's 
hopes.  If  sown  in  pots  the  seedlings  should  be  left  undisturbed  for 
two  seasons.  Grown  under  a  frame  and  sown  thinly,  four  years  may 
be  allowed  to  elapse  before  the  bulbs  are  transplanted.  When  the 
pots  are  shaken  out,  the  little  Tulip  bulbs  will  be  found  near  the 
bottom,  while  in  frames  many  will  be  found  a  foot  below  the 
surface.  They  must  be  replanted  in  rich  soil,  but  without  fresh 
manure,  and  it  is  advisable  to  bed  each  bulb  on  a  little  clean  silver 
sand.  Tulips  usually  flower  in  from  five  to  six  years  from  seed.  The 
raising  of  Croois  species  should  follow  the  same  routine. 

The  Gladiolus  grows  more  rapidly  from  seed,  which  is  better  sown 
under  hghts  than  in  pots.  Given  good  soil  and  thin  sowing — they 
should  not  be  transplanted — many  of  the  prim.uUnus  hybrids,  if  sown 
immediately  the  seed  is  ripe,  will  flower  the  following  season.  .All 
Gladioli  should  flower  the  second  season  from  seed.  All  things  con- 
sidered, there  are  few  more  interesting  border  plants  to  raise  from 
seed  than  the  Gfadiolus 

By  many  'gardeners,  unfortunately,  the  Lily  family  is  looked  on 
with  suspicioq,'  as  a  tace  apart.  To  endeavour  to  raise  Lilies  from  seed 
would  be  to  some  mere  folly,  and  yet  the  best  Lily  bulbs  procurable 
have  been  raised  from.'seed  ;  moreover,  they  are  quicker  to  flower 
than  TuHps  and  infinitely  quicker  than  Narcissi.  LiUum  Thunber- 
gianum  and  L.  phillipinense  formosanum,  for  example,  may  readily 
be  flowered  the  second  year,  and  L.  candidum,  L.  regale,  L.  parda- 
linum,  L.  Martagon  and  other  good  garden  Lihes  should  all  flower  in 
the  third  and  fourth  season.     Trade  growers  usually  sow  the  seed  thinly 


July  i,  1922. 


THE     GARDEN. 


313 


on  deep  beds  of  rich  but  clean  soil  in  a  layer  of  sharp 
si'ver  sand  and  leave  them  there  until  thej-  flower. 
The  reason  for  this  is  that  the  young  bulbs  scarceh' 
become  entirely  dormant,  or,  if  they  do,  do  not 
ripen  off  together,  so  that  removal  causes  serious 
damage,  probably  loss  and  certainly  delay. 

Closely  related  to  the  Lilies  are  the  Fritillarias, 
also  quite  easily  raised  from  seed.  No  one  prob- 
ably will  wish  to  raise  the  Cro%vn  Imperial  from 
seed — indeed,  as  a  rule  it  does  not  seed  very 
freely — but  the  Snake's-head,  Fritillaria  Meleagris, 
and  related  species  are  prolific  seed  bearers, 
germmate  well,  and  may  even  be  transplanted 
successfully  when  in  growth  (similarly  to  Onions); 
but  this  is  wasted  labour  and  not  advised.  Other 
uncommon  bulbs  may,  of  course,  be  raised  and 
present  no  special  difticulty  if  shade-loving  species 
are  given  shade  and  those  which  need  summer 
baking  have  it  provided  for  them.     In  the  former 


PRUNING    AND    THINNING    FLOWERING 
TREES    AND    SHRUBS 


THE    REMARKABLE    PRIMULA    LITTONIANA. 

class  must  be  placed  the  delightful  Dog's  Tooth 
Violets  (Erythroniura),  which  in  a  shady  frame, 
come  readily  from  seed  and  usually  flower  the 
second  year. 

The  hardy  Primulas  represent  a  race  of  which 
the  easiest  method  of  increase  is  certainly  by 
seed,  but  they  should  be  sown  immediately  the 
seed  is  ripe.  Germination  is  then,  in  the  majority 
of  cases,  very  good  and  even  and  almost  immediate. 
The  young  plants  should  be  protected  from  too 
muth  sunlight,  and  v.iien  dry  weather  prevails 
a  sharp  look-out  must  be  kept  for  aphis  and  red 
spider.  Prevention  is  better  than  cure,  and  a 
good  preventive  when  the  plants  are  tiny  is  to 
flood  the  pan  to  the  brim  with  soapy  water 
occasionally.  For  this  to  be  effective  the  pans 
must  not  be  filled  very  full  previous  to  sowing. 
As  the  plantlets  become  bigger  the  undersides 
of  the  leaves  may  be  reached  with  an  angle- 
jointed  sprayer.  If  hardy  Primulas  sown  as 
soon  after  ripening  as  seed  could  be  procured  do 
not  germinate  before  winter,  either  e.\pose  the 
pans  to  a  snowfall  or  cover  them  deeply  with 
collected  snow. 


THE  pruning  of  trees  and  shrubs  is  an 
art  that  requires  judicious  care  and  a 
considerable  knowledge  of  the  plants 
in  question  on  the  part  of  the  pruner. 
.^11  pruning  should  be  done  with  a  view 
to  flowering  the  following  year,  so  that  there 
may  be  no  lack  of  blossom  annually.  Some 
people  allow  their  flowering  trees  to  grow  as 
they  like  for  a  number  of  years  until  they  get 
too  large  for  their  positions  and  then  severely 
lop  them  after  flowering,  possibly  with  the  idea 
that  they  should  not  require  further  pruning  for 
some  years  to  come.  This  is  false  economy,  for 
besides  maldng  the  trees  look  hideous  for  two 
years  or  more,  only  a  few  stray  trusses  of  bloom 
can  be  obtained  during  that  period  ;  the  young 
growths  are  far  too  crowded,  and  aphides  play 
havoc  with  the  wealth  of  young  and  tender  leaves 
This  too  often  applies  to  Hawthorns,  Laburnums, 
Pyrus  floribunda  and  Cherries.  Another  barbarous 
method  of  pruning  is  the  indiscriminate  use  of 
the  garden  shears  upon  flowering  shrubs,  clipping 
them  into  dumpy  bushes  in  spring  even  before 
they  come  into  bloom  or  should  do.  Such  shrubs 
as  Flowering  Currants,  Lilacs,  Syringas  and 
Deutzias  can  only  give  a  truss  of  bloom  here  and 
there,  where  the  shears  have  missed  cutting  the 
base  of  the  flowering  shoots  clean  away.  Happily, 
most  people  who  love  shrubs  know  that  this 
is  wrong,  but  it  is  sometimes  perpetrated  in 
gardens  under  public  authorities. 

Thinning  dv  W.w  of   Pruning. 

Summer  pruning,  where  it  is  required,  could  well 
be  placed  under  the  heading  of  thinning,  and  it 
applies  to  those  shrubs  which  flower  in  spring 
upon  the  old  wood,  or  in  summer  on  short  lateral 
shoots  from  the  old  wood.  Those  that  flower 
early  on  last  year's  growth  would  include  SpirK>a 
Thunbergii,  S.  "Veitchii,  S.  arguta  (often  named 
S.  a.  nuiltiflora),  S.  Van  Houttei,  S.  hypericifolia 
and  S.  prunifolia  flore  pleno.  These  sometimes 
get  rather  crowded,  and  this  may  be  rectified  by 
cutting  out  a  sufficient  number  of  the  oldest 
stems  to  make  room  for  those  bearing  vigorous 
young  shoots,  retaining  all  strong  growths  of 
this  year  unshortened,  even  if  that  necessitates 
the  removal  of  a  considerable  number  of  the 
older  and  weaker  ones.  The  thinning  should  not 
be  overdone,  but  calculation  made  as  to  how  the 
bush  is  hkely  to  ftU  up.  Of  the  above,  S.  arguta 
and  S.  Van  Houttei  are  the  most  hkely  to  require 
thinning. 

It  is  surprising  how  little  pruning  certain  trees 
require  if  planted  in  places  where  they  can  be 
allowed  to  assume  something  like  their  natural 
size,  whether  they  are  grown  upon  low  or  tall 
stems.  This  little  pruning  or  trimming  they 
require  should  be  given  annually  and  not  at  long 
intervals.  Hawthorns,  Laburnums,  Caragana, 
Pyrus  floribunda,  P.  f.  atrosanguinea,  P.  f. 
purpurea,  P.  spectabilis  and  the  Judas  Tree 
(Cercis  Siliquastrum)  naturally  form  round-headed 
trees,  and  if  the  shoots  are  allowed  to  grow  full 
length  they  gradually  produce  spurs  all  along 
their  length  and  flower  profusely  every  year. 
Hard  pruning  will  never  encourage  increased 
bloom,  but  hinders  it  by  the  production  of  strong 
young  wood.  Low  branches  may  be  removed 
until  the  head  gets  high  enough  to  avoid  incon- 
venience in  the  garden.  Straggling  branches  may 
be  shortened  to  maintain  the  round  shape  of 
the  head.  They  seldom  grow  so  dense  as  to  require 
thinning,  unless  they  have  previously  been  lopped. 
Twiggy  growths  with  plenty  of  spurs  gi\'e  the 
most    blossom.     If    an    occasional     thick    branch 


has  to  be  removed,  the  wound  should  be  well 
tarred  to  keep  out  the  spores  of  fungi.  Especialh- 
is  this  the  case  with  the  Judas  Tree,  which  is  very 
liable  to  the  coral-spot  fungus.  When  this  appears 
the  diseased  branches  should  be  cut  back  to 
healthy  wood  and  the  wounds  well  tarred. 
Laburnum  Vossii  is  a  weak  grower,  compared 
with  the  others,  and  grows  rather  erect.  It  is 
therefore  useless  to  prune  it  with  the  idea  of 
making  a  round-headed  tree.  A  better  plan  is 
to  plant  it  where  a  broad-headed  tree  would  be 
inadmissible. 

.■\s  regards  Almonds,  Cherries,  Prunus  cerasifera 
Pissardi,  Bird  Cheri'ies,  Prunus  subhirtella,  P. 
Mahaleb  and  all  stone-fruited  trees  generally, 
the  less  pruning  the  better,  and  this  may  be  done 
annually  in  winter  or  summer  by  cutting  back 
straggling  shoots  and  removing  other  undesirable 
ones.)  To  shorten  all  the  young  shoots  with  the 
idea  ,of  keeping  the  tree  small  would  be  cutting 
away  most  of  the  flowering  wood.  The  v'igour 
of  young  trees  may  be  restrained  by  root  pruning 
them  occasionally  in  October.  Hard  pruning 
and  lopping  are  productive  of  gumming  and  other 
diseases.  Even  in  confined  spaces  they  should  be 
planted  where  they  could  grow  12ft.  to  15ft. 
high  at  least,  without  inconvenience. 

Catalpas  are  peculiar  in  the  manner  of  their 
growth.  The  leaves  are  either  opposite  or  in 
threes,  and  no  terminal  bud  is  produced.  To 
develop  a  shapely  specimen  from  a  small  tree,  a 
strong  shoot  should  be  trained  upright  to  form 
a  leader,  till  a  trunk  has  grown  Sft.  to  loft.  high, 
when  the  tree  can  be  allowed  to  grow  as  it  likes. 
Two  or  three  buds  at  the  end  of  each  branch  will 
give  rise  to  as  many  shoots,  forming  a  round- 
headed  tree  naturally.  The  side  branches 
below  the  intended  head  can  be  remo\'ed,  a 
few  at  a  time  every  year  or  two,  as  the  tree 
progresses. 
Species  th.^t  Require  Co.n'Sider.\ble  Thinning. 

Certain  strong  growing  shrubs  that  flower 
during  June  and  July  require  a  considerable  amount 
of  thinning,  on  account  of  the  great  number  of 
thin  and  mostly  useless  shoots  which  they  produce, 
and  which  tend  to  overcrowd  the  bushes,  thus 
reducing  the  number  of  flowers  and  their  size. 
The  stronger  growing  species  of  Syringa  (Phila- 
delphus),  including  P.  coronarius,  P.  Gordonianus, 
P.  grandiflorus,  P.  latifolius  and  P.  Satsumi,  are 
particularly  liable  to  crowding^  Deutzia  scabra 
(P.  crenata)  and  its  varieties.  Lilacs,  Snowball  Tree, 
Guelder  Rose,  Kerria  japonica  flore  pleno,  VVeigelas 
and  the  Japanese  Quince  (Cydonia  japonica) 
may  also  be  put  into  this  category.  The  thin 
and  useless  twiggy  branches  should  be  cut  back 
to  the  base,  and  if  objection  is  taken  to  the  height 
of  the  tall  Syringas  and  Lilacs,  the  longer  stems 
may  be  cut  well  back,  always  bearing  in  mind 
that  plenty  of  this  year's  growing  shoots  should 
be  retained  unshortened,  otherwise  there  will  be 
no  flowers  ne.^t  year.  They  require  all  their 
time  now  to  grow  and  set  the  flower  buds  by 
autumn.  The  Lilacs  could  have  been  thinned  to 
advantage  immediately  they  finished  flowering. 
The  VVeigelas  do  not  grow  so  tall  and  need  only 
have  the  flowered  shoots  cut  back.  Thin  out 
old  stems  of  Kerria.  Cydonia  japonica  is  best 
thinned  in  summer.  Trees  on  walls  may  be 
spur-pruned  in  winter,  or  the  side  shoots  shortened 
to  3ins.  when  they  cease  growing,  and  further 
shortened  to  lin.  in  winter.  The  common 
Hydrangea  hortensis  and  its  varieties  should  have 
the  flowering  shoots  cut  well  back  to  a  good  bud 
after  the  flowers  fade,  and  this  will  answer  the 
purpose  of  thinning.     The  flowerless  shoots  must 


314 

not  be  cut  in  any  way.  Cyti&us  piirpureus  and 
Philadelphus  Lemoinei  renew  themselves  from 
the  base  every  year,  so  it  is  only  necessary  to  cut 
out  the  shoots  that  have  flowered,  presers'ing  the 
young  ones. 

Evergreen"  Shrubs  axd  Trees. 

No  systematic  pruning  is  required  by  evergreen 
trees  and  shrubs,  unless  they  are  trained  upon 
fences  or  walls.  Dead  shoots  or  branches  should 
at  any  time  be  cut  away.  Straggling  branches 
may  here  and  there  be  produced, 
and  one  plant  may  grow  into  or 
overlap  another,  owing  to  close 
planting.  Such  offending  shoots  or 
branches  should  be  cut  back  to 
make  the  bushes  stand  clear.  This 
applies  to  Berberis  Darwinii,  B. 
stenophylla,  Cotoneaster  microphylla, 
C.  thymifoUa,  Choisya  t  e  r  n  a  t  a  , 
l.aurustinus,  Fiery  Thorn,  Rhodo- 
dendrons, all  species  of  Escallonia, 
except  E.  Philippiana,  Ceanothus 
Veitchianus,  Camellias,  Magnolia 
grandiflora,  M.  g.  exoniensis, 
Garryas,  Olearias,  Kalmias,  Pieris, 
.Andromedas,  Arbutus,  Pernettyas, 
Rosemary,  Lavender  and  shrubby 
Veronicas.  After  all  space  available 
on  walls  or  fences  has  been  covered 
by  Cratffigus  Pyracantha  and  C. 
P.  Lalandei,  the  summer  shoots  that 
extend  away  from  the  wall  can 
be  shortened  back  in  August  or 
earlier,  if  growth  is  completed.  The 
twiggy  growths  and  spurs  may 
be  allowed  to  extend  several  inches 
away  from  the  wall,  because  this 
favours  flowering  and  fruiting.  When 
Rhododendrons  are  begiiming  to 
get  too  tall  for  their  position,  it 
is  a  good  plan  to  layer  the  lower 
branches  to  get  young  plant. 
The  old  plants  will  break  again 
if  cut  down  in  early  March. 
Hardy  Heaths,  hke  Erica  vagans, 
Calluna  vulgaris  and  their  varieties, 
may  have  their  flowering  shoots  cut  back, 
nearly  to  the  extent  of  the  current  year's 
wood  in  autumn  ;  E.  carnea  late  in  April. 
No  Daphnes  require  pruning,  beyond  regulating 
straggling  branches. 

N'o  Pruni.vg  at  Present. 

Quite  a  number  of  shrubs  flower  on  the  current 
year's  growth,  and  can  be  pruned  more  or  less 
hard,  late  in  winter,  or  early  in  spring.  These 
are  now  flowering  or  will  bloom  later,  and  should 
not  be  interfered  with  at  present.  They  include 
all  deciduous  species  of  Ceanothus,  all  hardy 
Buddleias,  except  B.  globosa,  Hydrangea  pani- 
culata.  Spiraea  japonica  (including  all  forms  of  it 
grown  in  gardens  or  catalogued  under  such  names 
as  S.  callosa,  S.  Fortunei,  S.  Bumalda  and  S. 
Anthony  Waterer),  S.  Douglasii,  S.  salicifolia, 
S.  tomentosa,  S.  Menziesii,  S.  Lindleyana  and 
S.  .■\itchisonii. 

It  is  well  to  remember  that  such  tall,  sun- 
loving  things  as  Lilacs,  Syringas  and  Snowball 
Tree,  on  the  north  side  of  walls  or  fences,  will 
not  bloom  well,  if  at  all,  if  cut  below  the  level 
of  the  same.  They  should  be  allowed  to  have 
full  exposure  to  sun  and  air. 

The  proper  pruning  of  flowering  trees  and 
shrubs  is  very  important,  and  should  certainly 
not  be  neglected.  l'"ar  more  shrubs,  however, 
fail  to  flower  through  barbarous  cutting  than 
from  want  of  pruning.  Better  by  far  leave  shrubs 
uiipruned  than  let  the  average  jobbing  gardener 
prune  them.  Hortulanus. 


THE     GARDEN. 


[J'CLY   I,   1922. 


THE    PERENNIAL    LARKSPUR 


FEW  flowers  have  been  more  greatly 
improved  of  recent  years  than  the 
Delphinium.  Further  great  improve- 
ments may  safely  be  predicted,  but  the 
plant  as  we  know  it  to-day  is  among 
the  most  useful  in  the  garden.  An  alteration  or 
development  of  a  flower  is  not  always  an  improve- 
ment.    The  round  petalled  form  which  the  florists 


when  we  approach  the  fuller  colourings.  Many 
people  find  the  white-centred  cobalt  blue  sorts 
"  spotty "  in  appearance,  especially  in  mass 
planting.  They  pin  their  faith  to  shades  of  deep 
purple,  violet  and  indigo  with  bee-like  centres. 
In  the  writer's  opinion  this  spottiness  represents 
tradition  rather  than  observation.  Certainly 
the^e  white-centred   forms   are   very  beautiful   for 


THE    OLD    BJT    BEAUTIFUL    DELPHINIUM    BELLADONNA. 


insist  on  in  the  perfect  Tulip  has  lost  much  of  the 
charm  of  the  flower  with  more  pointed  petals. 
This,  in  the  half-expanded  state  we  all  appreciate 
in  the  Rose,  has  a  far  more  graceful  outline.  In 
the  case  of  the  Delphinium,  however,  development 
is,  at  any  rate  for  the  present,  taking  place  along 
the  right  hues.  The  Larkspur  is  essentially  a 
stately  flower.  Let  us  therefore  seek  to  breed 
into  our  seedlings  all  the  graceful  stateliness 
and  stately  graciousness  of  which  the  flower  is 
capable.  Since  grace  is  an  objective,  forms  with 
stub-ended  overcrowded  spikes  should  be  eliminated 
as  quickly  as  possible  and  replaced  by  others 
seemingly  modelled  on  a  good  example  of  an 
English  church  spire.  The  tapering  cones  should 
have  flowers  of  sufticient  substance  to  withstand 
ordinary  English  weather,  and  they  should  not 
be  overcrowded.  The  ungraceful  Dutch  Hyacinth 
effect  is  emphatically  not  wanted  in  the  Del- 
phinium. Many  single  Delphiniums  are  wonder- 
fully beautiful,  but  their  glory  is  apt  to  be  transient 
compared  with  the  semi-double  forms,  so  that  it 
is  this  latter  class  for  which  it  is  best  worth  striving. 
.So  far  agreement  will  in  all  probability  be  general, 
but  when  one  comes  to  discuss  the  question  of 
colouring,  tastes  will  be  found  to  differ  widely. 
It  will,  however,  probably  be  fairly  generally 
agreed  that  there  is  room  for  more  really  good 
azure  blue  varieties.  The  raisers  are  probably 
all  alive  to  this,  but  varieties  in  this  colour  are 
not  easy  to  produce  with  the  stately  spire  so  much 
admired.  The  clear  pale  blues  are  also  much 
appreciated  ;    differences  of  opinion  come  mainly 


cut  flower.  Many  critical  spirits  disHke  the 
combinations  of  colour  found  in  each  blossom 
of  many  Delphiniums.  The  admixture  of  true 
blue,  purple,  mauve  and  rose  in  some  varieties 
is  certainly  extraordinary,  but  the  to:if  ensemble 
is  almost  invariably  pleasing.  There  should  be 
room  in  gardens  of  any  size  for  almost  every  shade 
found  in  Delphiniums  except  white,  which  the 
writer,  at  any  rate,  could  well  do  without.  These 
"  white  "  varieties  are  for  the  most  part  the  colour 
of  unblued  distemper,  but  Moerheimii  is  quite 
decently  white  until  there  comes  a  shower  of 
rain,  when  the  underlying  blue  comes  out  as  a 
dingy  hlac   tinge. 

Like  the  mixed  colours  in  the  individual  flowers, 
a  mixed  bed  of  seedlings  will  get  on  fairly  well 
together,  but  segregate  the  blues  from  the  purples, 
propagate  them  and  arrange  them  in  colonies, 
which  is,  after  all,  the  most  delightful  way  of 
growing  Delphiniums,  and  if  a  colony  of  azure  ones 
strikes  the  line  of  vision  near  a  rosy  purple  clump, 
they  will  cry  aloud  to  be  separated 

The  Delphinium,  if  it  is  to  attain  perfection, 
must  have  a  rich  deep  soil,  which  must  be  welJ 
cultivated  in  summer.  Clumps  should  be  divided 
every  third  year.  Of  its  value  for  massing  in 
the  herbaceous  border  there  is  no  need  to  speak, 
but  it  is  perhaps  not  sufficiently  appreciated  how 
effective  strong  "  colonies  "  are  in  a  shrubbery 
border  nor  what  an  acquisition  they  are  in  that 
favourite  part  of  the  demesne — the  wild  garden. 
If  the  plants  are  well  fed  they  will  grow  away 
quickly   when   the   first   spikes   are   removed   and 


July  i,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


315 


flower  again  freely  in  autumn.  Some  of  the 
newer  varieties,  indeed,  form  a  multitude  of  long, 
elegant  side  spikes  which  greatly  prolong  the 
flowering  season.  The  principal  enemies  o(  this 
invaluable  plant  are  slugs,  which  by  persistently 
gnawing  off  the  incipient  shoots  in  early  spring 
weaken  and  even  destroy  it ;  rabbits,  which  are 
"  impossibl''  "  visitors  to  the  garden  ;  sparrows, 
tits  and  finches,  which  sometimes  peck  the  tender 
growths  to  pieces  ;  and,  above  all,  mildew.  Del- 
phiniums, unlike  Roses,  do  not  seem  to  vary 
greatly  in  their  susceptibiUty  to  this  hideous 
disease,  except  that  old  and  over-propagated 
varieties  are  more  subject  than  newer  and  more 
robust  ones.  Good  cultivation,  which  will  main- 
tain  the  constitution   of   the   plants  and  prevent 


the  inequalities  of  moisture  at  the  roots  which 
predispose  to  disease,  and  an  avoidance  of  draughty 
corners  when  planting  are  the  best  preventives. 
Flowers  of  sulphur  dusted  on  or  liver  of  sulphur 
sprayed  on — care  being  taken  with  either  specific 
to  cover  the  undersides  of  the  leaves — are  the 
most  effective  remedies.  To  be  effective  they 
must  be  used  immediately  the  fungus  shows  itself. 
Lists  of  varieties  in  a  flower  which  progresses 
so  fast  seem  a  little  futile,  but  of  those  now  in 
commerce  the  best  tall  varieties  are  perhaps 
Millicent  Blackmore,  Statuaire  Rude,  King  of 
Delphiniums,  The  .^lake,  Mrs.  Creight-m,  Queen 
Wilhelinina,  Rev.  Lascelles  and  Lizzie  van  Veen. 
Of  the  more  leathery  varieties  of  middle 
height.  Belladonna,  Belladonna  semi-p'ena,  Fanny 


Stormonth,  C.ipri,  .Mrs.  Thompson  and  l.amartine 
are  excellent  ;  while  for  the  front  of  the  border 
the  beautiful  deep  azure  species  tatsicnense  is  first 
rate.  The  red-flowered  species  nudicaule  and 
cardinale  and  the  sulphur  Zalil  are  another  story. 
Effective  tall  herbaceous  plants  are  not  over- 
numerous,  so  that  it  is  new  spiry  varieties  which 
are  most  wanted.  Mr.  Watkin  E.  Samuel  of 
Wrexham  is  specialising  in  these,  and  in  some 
of  his  new  varieties,  five  of  which  have  recently 
received  the  award  of  merit  of  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society,  the  flowering  spike  is  quite  3ft. 
long,  carried  on  stems  of  almost  incredible  height 
and  stoutness.  Such  plants  as  these  will  make 
their  presence  felt  in  the  back  of  the  herbaceous 
border. 


LUPINS    AT    GATOR    COURT,    DEVON 


THE  rather  meaningless  junble  of 
geometrical  or  merely  shapeless  beds 
in  which  years  ago  one  often  saw  hardy 
perennial  plants  displayed  has  given 
way,  under  the  influence  of  iniproxing 
taste  in  matters  horticultural  and  the  wave  of 
fashion  which  almost  always  follows  improve- 
ments of  this  kind,  to  the  simple  herbaceous 
border  or,  more  usually,  the  straight  walk  bounded 
liy  herbaceous  borders  on  either  hand.  Such 
borders  admit  of  much  variety  in  arrangement, 
since  the  whole  border  may  be  carried  out  in 
shades  of  blue  or  pink,  for  instance,  or  certain 
colours  may  be  made  dominant  in  particular 
sections  of  the  border  and  the  whole  scheme  made 
subordinate  to  them.' 

This  is  not  the  time  or  place  to  discuss  the 
arrangement  of  such  borders.  They  arc  mentioned 
only  to  point  out  that  the  long  formal  border  is 
not  the  only  way  in  which  hardy  perennials  may 
fittingly  be  displayed.  The  massing  of  Rhodo- 
dendrons and  other  flowering  shrubs  so  as  to 
define  turfy  vistas,  often  contoured,  is  a  recog- 
nised part  of  present-day  garden  design,  and 
such  treatment  is  becoming  appreciated  by  a 
wider  circle  year  by  year.  This  style  of  planting 
is,  however,  still  unusual  as  apphed  entirely  to 
herbaceous  plants.  How  effective  it  may  be 
the  accompanying  pictures  and  a  little  imagination 
as  to  colouring  will  shew. 

Such  planting,  skilfully  carried  out,  displays 
to  the  full  the  natural  grace  and  individuality 
of  the  plant,  while  making  an  added  appeal 
because  it  shews  it  under  conditions  approximating 
to  those  in  which  one  would  imagine  it  growing 
wild.  It  is  not  every  house,  of  course,  of  which 
the  architecture  would  admit  so  informal  a  treat- 
ment close  to  it,  but  where  parterres  or  formal 
beds  and  borders  are  c  illed  for  in  the  immediate 
surround,  space  can  usually  be  found  for  more 
natural  planting  a  little  further  afield.  If  the 
ground  at  disposal  falls  from  either  side  to,  it 
may  be,  a  trickle  of  water,  or,  failing  this,  if  it 
has  a  slope  and  a  setting  of  trees — there  is  nothing 
much  more  beautiful  than  an  old  Apple  tree — 
so  much  the  better. 

Considerations  of  space  will  insist  that  some  of 
us  grow  our  Lupins  and  Delphiniums,  our  Irises, 
Pseonies  and  Poppies  in  formal  borders.  The 
more  need,  then,  that  those  who  may,  should 
g.'-ow  these  plants  under  more  natural  conditions 
where  their  individuality  may  be  better  appre- 
ciated. 

There  are  many  gardeners  who  take  a  legitimate 
pride  in  growing  successfully  rare  and  difficult 
plants,  but  it  must,  be  confessed  that,  where 
decorative  effect  is  the  object  sought,  those  plants 
should  be  looked  for  which  flourish  with  the  least 


A     BEAUTIFUL     GROUPING. 


316 


THE     GARDEN. 


[July  i,  1922. 


DRIFTS   OF  LUPIN   AND   SINGLE   ROCKET. 


A    ll.Nh    slKhU  H. 


CLOSER   INSl-ECTION   SHEWS  THE   INDIVIDUALITY   OF   THE   FLOWER. 


possible  attention  and  which  seasons  drier  or 
wetter  than  the  normal  do  not  seriously  affect. 
To  this  easiness  of  culture  add  the  capacity  to 
provide  broad  effects,  and  it  will  be  easy  to  see 
why  at  Cator  Court,  which,  on  the  fringe  of  the 
moorland,  stands  1,400ft.  above  sea  level,  Lupins 
have  been  selected  for  early  summer  effect.  With 
these  is  associated,  as  will  be  seen  in  some  of  the 
pictures,  the  single  white  KocUet,  which  has  a 
pleasing  Stock-Uke  fragrance.  Irises  of  all  kinds, 
but  mainly  Bearded  sorts,  are  also  grown,  as 
well  as  Pa?onies.  Later,  Oriental  Poppies  make  a 
gallant  show,  followed  by  Hollyhocks,  Delphi- 
niums and  Sweet  Williams,  which  in  their  turn 
give  wav  to  herbaceous  Phloxes  and  Michaelmas 
Daisies. 

Practically  all  the  Lupins  seen  in  the  pictures 
originated  from  two  packets  of  seed,  one  of  Lupinus 
polyphyllus  and  the  other  of  L.  polyphyllus  x 
L.  arboreus  hybrids.  Their  increase  is  of  the 
simplest,  either  from  seed,  which  may  be  sown 
outdoors  either  in  spring  or  summer  (as  soon  as 
ripe),  or  by  division  in  autumn. 

The  immense  range  of  colouring  now  to  be 
found  in  herbaceous  Lupins  seems  not  fully  to 
be  realised.  Too  many  people  still  think  of  this 
flower  in  terms  of  the  rather  dingy  white  and 
dowdv  purple  generally  seen  five  and  twenty  years 
ago,  with  the  possible  addition  of  one  of  the 
first-introduced  pink  forms,  of  which  the  flowers, 
as  tliey  passed  their  best,  deepened  in  colour  and 
took  on  an  ugly  purplish  tinge  more  to  the  taste 
of  carrion  flies  than  human  beings. 

To-dav  the  colour  range  is  truly  marvellous, 
and  if  the  purpling  of  the  passed  flowers  of  the 
pink  sorts  has  not  entirely  been  abolished,  it  has 
at  any  rate  been  mitigated.  From  deep  violet- 
purple  through  a  multitude  of  tones  of  mauve  and 
lavender  and  from  an  almost  pure  deep  blue 
through  brilliant  almost  "  electric "  shades  we 
reach  a  good  clean  white.  These  ranges  of  colour 
may  be  traced  in  flowers  which  for  practical 
purposes  may  be  called  self-coloured,  but  in 
addition  there  are  innumerable  forms  in  which 
the  standard  is  of  some  shade  of  blue  or  purple 
and  the  wings  of  a  shade  of  yellow  or  clear  white. 
Downer's  Delight  is  a  strikingly  coloured  form 
with  more  than  a  hint  of  brick-red  in  the  com- 
bination. It  is  the  only  Lupin  which  has  a 
tendency  to  be  "  quarrelsome,"  not  only  \rith 
other  plants,  but  with  its  own  kindred.  Leaving 
this  variety  aside,  however,  there  are  several 
shades  of  an  almost  true  pink  and  numbers  of 
vellow-pinks  giving  warm  buff'  and  apricot  tones. 
Few  flowers  have  such  a  colour  range  as  this. 

Much  of  the  diversity  of  colouring  has  unques- 
tionably been  obtained  by  crossing  the  herbaceous 
(polyphyllus)  forms  with  the  fragrant  Tree  Lupins 
(Lupinus  arboreus),  and  it  is  pleasant  to  record 
that  many  present-day  varieties  which  in  habit 
of  growth  shew  no  trace  of  arboreus  parentage 
have  retained,  at  least  to  some  extent,  its  dehghtful 
fragrance. 

At  Cator  Court  seeds  of  the  Lupins  and  Rockets 
are  sown  in  drills  in  a  nursery  garden  in  .\pril, 
pricked  out  in  rows  a  foot  apart  and  transferred 
to  their  permanent  situations  in  autumn.  The 
Delphiniums  are  raised  in  boxes  under  glass  and 
subsequently  transferred  to  the  nursery.  The 
Bearded  Irises  are  divided  and  replanted  after 
flowering,  and  the  Phloxes  are  divided  in  late 
autunm.  Phloxes  may,  of  course,  be  readily 
increased  from  cuttings  in  spring. 

The  soil  is  admirable  for  propagating  and  also 
excellent  for  growing  plants  suitable  for  division, 
being  a  light  peaty  loam.  It  never  cakes,  and 
retains  winter  moisture  excellently.  Hoeing, 
therefore,  presents  no  difficulties,  which  is  fortunate, 
as  weeds  spring  up  in  battahons  in  such  congenial 
soil. 


July  i,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


317 


A    BEAUTIFUL    CHERRY 


Bv  Gertrude  Jekvll,  ^^!\^.H. 


THE  genus  Prunus  pro\ides  us  with  a 
large  number  of  flowering  trees  and 
shrubs,  for  the  same  generic  name 
includes  not  only  Plum  and  Cherry, 
but  also  Peach,  Apricot,  Almond  and 
Laurel,  besides  our  native  Blackthorn,  Gean 
and    Bird    Cherry.       Several    species     belong    to 


25ft,  In  the  case  of  the  specimen  shown  in 
the  illustration,  which  is  growing  in  Miss 
Mellersh's  garden  at  Holloway  HiU  House,  close 
to  Godalming,  it  has  been  trained  horizontally 
with  a  circumference  of  73ft.  Among  the 
numbers  of  beautiful  Cherries  and  Plums  in 
cultivation,   this  is   one  of  the  earliest   to  bloom. 


A   FLAT -TRAINED   SPECIMEN    OF  THE  ROSEBUD  CHERRY. 


Asia  Minor  and  a  number  come  from  China 
and  Japan,  the  last  being  the  home  of  Prunus 
pendula,  where  it  becomes  a  good-sized  tree, 
though  in  England  it  stops  at  a  height  of  2cft.  to 


It  is  a  precious  thing  in  .March  and  early  April, 
brightening  the  garden  before  deciduous  trees 
are  in  leaf.  It  has  the  pretty  popular  name 
of  Rosebud  Cherry. 


HERBACEOUS    CALCEOLARIAS 


IX  common  with  the  Cineraria,  these  share 
an  unenviable  reputation  as  "  dirty  "  plants, 
and  it  is  no  use  attempting  to  disguise  the 
f.ict  that  they  are  especially  liable  to  attack 
by  aphides  or  green  fly.  He  who  would 
grow  them  successfully  must  be  prepared  to  fight 
these  unceasingly  from  start  to  finish  and  then 
they  are  one  of  the  easiest  and  most  gorgeous 
of  all  greenhouse  flowers,  to  say  nothing  of  their 
economy  in  heat.  Indeed,  it  is  just  here  that  we 
come  to  the  root  cause  of  a  great  deal  of  the  trouble  ; 
no  single  degree  of  heat  should  ever  be  used  that 
can  be  avoided,  and  where  kept  under  the  coolest 
possible  conditions  all  the  while,  it  will  be  found 
that  green  fly  is  far  less  troublesome  and  the  result 
in  every  way  superior.  The  finest  and  healthiest 
lot  of  plants  I  ever  saw  were  grown  in  an  old  ash 
pit,  converted  into  a  small  greenhouse  by  placing 
some  old  frame  lights  over  the  top  so  as  to  form  a 
span  roof.  The  floor  was  the  natural  earth  and  an 
entrance  had  been  made  at  one  end  %vith  a  rough 
door  made  from  an  old  orange  box.  There  was  no 
method  of  heating  the  place  and — beyond  standing 
the  plants  on  the  floor  and  covering  them  with 
newspaper  and  throwing  old  table  cloths  or  rugs 
over  the  roof  during  the  severe  cold — the  plants 
were  quite  unprotected  against  the  sharpest  frosts. 
Further  than  this,  the  house  had  a  north  aspect 
and  was  shaded  from  all  sun  by  an  old  garden  wall. 
Here,  in  May  and  June,  one  could  always  see  a 
gorgeous  display  of  tigered  sells  and  spotted 
flowers  on  giant  plants,  the  pale  green  wrinkled 
foliage  of  which  was  a  pleasure  to   behold — plants 


that  would  have  done  credit  to  Chelsea  itself  or 
any  other  great  flower  show. 

Seed  should  be  sown  now.  Development  is  very 
slow  in  the  early  stages  and  the  foundation  of  a 
large  plant — sjft.  to  3ft.  across — is  laid  in  early 
sowing  and  steady  continuous  development  until 
flowering  time  arrives.  Seeds  are  extremely 
minute ;  they  are  the  most  difficult  of  any  to 
distribute  thinly  and  evenly,  and  a  finely  sifted 
compost  is  essential.  Two  parts  of  loam  to  one  of 
fine  sand,  perfectly  mixed  together,  is  suitable, 
sifting  this  through  a  fine  meshed  sieve  and  placing 
the  rougher  part  that  will  not  pass  through  at  the 
bottom  of  the  pan  or  box  in  which  the  seed  is  to 
be  sown.  Fill  in  the  remainder  of  the  space  to 
within  a  quarter  of  an  inch  of  the  rim  with  the 
finer  soil,  making  this  quite  level,  and  finish  by 
watering  through  a  fine-rosed  can.  After  leaving 
for  an  hour  for  the  superfluous  moisture  to  drain 
away,  everything  is  ready  for  sowing.  The  packet 
sliould  be  opened  with  care,  inside  a  greenhouse  or 
shed,  so  as  to  be  secure  from  sudden  puffs  of  wind. 
The  seed  is  usually  contained  in  a  small  inner 
envelope  and  should  be  mixed  with  an  equal  bulk 
of  the  finest  silver  sand,  such  as  is  used  by  house- 
wives for  scouring  purposes,  as  this  facilitates 
thin  and  even  sowing.  Simply  scatter  it  on  the 
surface  and  do  not  attempt  to  cover  in  any  way 
with  soil.  A  pane  of  glass  should  be  laid  on  top 
and  the  pan  stood  in  a  cold  frame  where  the  sun 
cannot  reach  it,  for  a  very  brief  exposure  to  this  is 
sufficient  to  end  their  existence.  Water  will  not 
be  required  for  some  time,  but  immediately  the 


surface  shows  signs  of  drying,  the  pan  should  be 
immersed  to  half  its  depth  in  tepid  water  imtil 
this  has  percolated  right  through  to  the  surface,  then 
take  out  and  drain  and  replace  in  the  cold  frame 
again. 

When  signs  of  germination  are  observed,  and 
it  takes  keen  sight  to  note  this  in  its  earliest  stages, 
the  pane  of  glass  which  covers  them  should  be 
tilted  at  one  corner  with  a  small  piece  of  wood  so 
as  to  allov/  some  air  to  reach  them  ;  gradually 
w^ithdraw  this  as  the  young  plants  gain  size  and 
strength.  Keep  them  moist  and  cool  until  they 
are  large  enough  to  handle  easily  before  trans- 
planting. This  is  a  delicate  matter,  as  the  plants 
are  extremely  brittle  and  the  greatest  care  is 
necessary  in  handUng  them  or  they  will  die  oft' 
wholesale.  I  usually  prick  them  into  boxes 
first — about  sins,  apart — and  grow  them  on  in 
these  for  a  few  weeks  until  the  leaves'  are 
nearly  touching,  and  then  they  are  transferred 
to  single  pots. 

A  compost  of  two  parts  fibrous  loam,  well  pulled 
to  pieces,  to  one  of  old  rotted  manure,  with  suffi- 
cient sharp  silver  sand  to  make  the  whole  porous,  is 
ideal,  and  while  pressing  this  down  firmly,  take  care 
not  to  make  it  too  solid  or  the  thin  fibrous  roots 
cannot  work  easily  among  it.  Replace  them  in 
the  frame  where  they  should  be  kept  as  far  into 
the  autumn  as  possible,  consistent  with  security 
from  really  sharp  frost.  The  base  of  the  frame  on 
which  the  plants  are  stood  should  consist  of  a 
bed  of  ashes  6ins.  thick  ;  this  not  only  prevents 
the  ingress  of  worms,  but  assists  in  maintaining 
the  cool  and  humid  conditions  so  favourable  to 
healthy  growth.  Overhead  sprinldings,  through  a 
fine-rosed  can,  should  be  given  each  afternoon  when 
closing  the  frames  for  the  night.  Considerable 
trouble  will  be  avoided  if  an  insecticide  is  mixed 
with  this  occasionally,  though  insect  pests  are  not 
usually  troublesome  until  the  plants  are  in  the 
greenhouse.  Every  scrap  of  decaying  foUage  must 
be  removed,  and  especially  as  the  autumn  comes  on. 
or  they  are  apt  to  set  up  decay  at  the  collar  and 
lead  to  loss  of  the  plant. 

Good  specimens  in  autumn  should  be  in  the  form 
of  rosettes  of  healthy  dark  green  foliage,  without 
the  least  signs  of  drawing  or  a  speck  of  green  fly. 
The  removal  to  a  greenhouse  must  be  effected  unless 
the  frame  in  which  they  are  growing  is  furnished 
with  hot  water  pipes,  into  which  the  circulation 
from  the  boiler  can  be  turned  as  required,  but  they 
should  only  be  taken  indoors  when  sharp  weather 
threatens.  These  are  ideal  conditions  and  most 
growers  have  to  house  them  among  a  miscellaneous 
collection  of  other  plants.  In  any  case,  give  them 
a  good  light  position  on  a  staging  covered  with 
shingle  or  ashes  and  well  away  from  the  hot-water 
pipes.  As  a  maximum,  45°  of  heat  should  not  be 
exceeded,  while  the  plants  must  have  plenty  of 
water.  Early  in  the  year,  when  signs  of  rene%ved 
growth  become  apparent,  the  plants  should  be 
given  a  shift  into  the  flowering  size.  Five-inch 
pots  are  large  enough  for  most  plants,  the  most 
\'igorous  specimens  going  into  the  5-inch  size.  Use 
similar  compost  to  that  recommended  previously 
and  drain  the  pots  freely,  watering  carefully  until 
these  are  well  filled  again  with  roots.  As  the  flower 
stems  commence  to  push  up,  thin  green  pointed 
stakes  should  be  inserted,  sloping  these  outwards 
so  that  the  heads  will  have  space  to  develop  fully 
without  crowding.  Tying  must  be  carefully  done  ; 
the  flower  stems  are  quite  as  brittle  as  the  foliage 
and  it  is  very  easy  to  snap  them. 

From  this  time  onwards  watering  should  be  given 
regularly  with  weak  liquid  manure  of  varied 
character,  this  being  a  great  assistance  to  the  pro- 
duction of  large  flowers,  but  it  must  be  really  weak, 
especially  in  the  case  of  all  chemicals.  Constant 
vigilance  must  be  exercised  all  the  time  they  are 
in  the  greenhouse  for  the  appearance  of  green  fly, 


318 


THE     GARDEN. 


[July  i,  1922. 


and  directly  the  first  one  is  noticed,  fumigate 
lightly,  following  this  up  a  few  days  later  if 
any  live  insects  can  be  found.  Shade  must  be 
afforded  the  opening  flowers  on  all  days  when 
the     sun     is    bright.        No     plants     so     quickly 


show  foliage  disfigured  by  exposure  to  sunlight 
as  these,  more  especially  if  at  all  dry,  and 
every  care  must  be  exercised  to  keep  them 
uniformly  moist  and  well  shaded  whenever  the 
sun  is  bright.  Crovdonia. 


A    NEW    PEST    OF    STRAWBERRIES 

By    Herbert    W.     AIiles,    N.D.A.,    Dip.  Agr.  Hons.  (Harper-.Adams). 


FROM  time  to  time  "  white  grubs  "  are 
reported  as  doing  serious  damage  to 
Strawberries,  and  they  are  generally 
understood  to  be  the  larvEE  of  the 
cockchafer     (Melolontha     vulgaris,       L.) 

and    those    of    the     garden-chafer     (Rhizotrogus 

solstitialis,     Fabr.).      So   far,    however,    no    case 

has   come    to   the   writer's   notice  of  any  species 

of   Geotrupes   being  recorded   as   culprits   in   this 

connexion.     During    the    winter    and    spring    of 

1921-22    numerous    instances    of    serious    injury 

to  Strawberry  plants  by  white  grubs  were  observed 

at    the    University    of    Bristol    Agricultural    and 

Horticultural     Research    Station,     Long    Ashton. 

Some  of  these  white   grubs 

were    collected     and     kept 

under    observation    in    the 

laboratory,  with  the  result 

that,      when      the      adults 

emerged,  they  proved  to  be 

the    Common     *'  Dor "    or 

dung      beetle,      Geotrupes 

spiniger.  Marsh. 

The     larvae     are     thick, 

fleshy     grubs,     whitish    in 

colour  and    much    swollen 

and  distended  towards  the 

tail    end.     Owing    to     the 

contents  of  the  alimentary 

canal    being    partially 

visible    through    the   outer 

layers,     a     faintly     bluish 

coloration    is    imparted    to 

the    hind    portion    of    the 

grub.       There     are     three 

pairs    of    light    brown    or 

straw  coloured  jointed  legs, 
and  of  these  the  posterior 

pair    are     much    reduced, 
being  only  about  one-third 

of  the  length  of  the  intermediate  and  anterior  pairs. 
The  head,  which  can  be  partly  withdrawn  into 
the  first  thoracic  segment,  is  brown  and  provided 
with  very  strong  dark  brown  biting  jaws.  Mature 
specimens  measure  from  ijins.  to  i|ins.  in  length. 
When  unearthed  the  grubs  are  seen  to  be  in  a 
sharply  curved  position  somewhat  in  the  form 
of  a  narrow  U,  the  lower  surface  of  the  thorax 
resting  on  the  under  surface  of  the  last  few 
abdomenal  segments,  which  are  broad  and  flat. 

The  pupa  is  a  stout  whitish  and  fleshy  body. 
It  is  covered  with  a  thin  membraneous  coat, 
through  which  the  outlines  of  the  limbs  can  be 
seen.  It  is  located  inside  a  strongly  constructed 
earthen  cocoon.  The  pupal  stage  is  about  ten 
weeks  in  duration. 

The  adult  (see  figure)  is  a  typical  dung  beetle. 
It  is  bluish  black  in  colour  with  the  upper  surface 
quite  free  from  scales  or  pubescence,  and  the 
lower  surface  studded  with  stoutish  bristles  which, 
in  the  last  four  abdomenal  segments,  are  more 
thickly  massed  at  the  sides  than  in  the  centre. 
The  under  surface  is  a  rich  metalHc  violet  blue 
colour.  The  thorax  is  comparatively  smooth  on 
the  disc,  but  is  finely  punctured  towards  the  sides. 
Xear  the  lateral  edges  of  the  thorax  there  are 
two  distinct  depressions.  The  elytra  are  shallowly 
striated  and  very  rounded  at  the  apex.     The  legs 


are   much   toothed  ;     they   have   numerous   spines 
and  bristles  and  are  typically  fossorial. 

Where  the  grubs  were  feeding  at  the  roots  of 
Strawberries  the  main  roots  had  been  severed 
either  partially  or  completely,  and  the  stocks  had 
been  damaged  by  the  gnawing  of  the  insect.  In 
severe  cases  the  plants  had  been  utterly  destroyed. 

Life  History. 

In  the  usually  accepted  accounts  of  the  life 
history  it  is  stated  that  the  female  tunnels  below 
dung  and  taking  down  certain  portions  of  it 
masses  them  together,  and  in  the  ball  thus  con- 
structed lays  an  egg,  from  which  the  larva  emerges 


ADULT    DUNG    BEETLES    AND    PUPATION    "  NESTS.' 


in  about  eight  days.  The  grub  then  feeds  on  the 
prepared  food,  which  is  supposed  to  be  enough 
to  satisfy  its  larval  requirements. 

The  presence  of  larva  in  Strawberry  beds  may 
possibly  be  accounted  for,  where  farmyard  manure 
has  been  forked  in  during  the  winter,  by  supposing 
that  this  attracts  the  female  for  egg-laying.  If 
only  a  small  amount  of  the  manure  is  left 
undecayed  it  might  prove  insufficient  for  the 
larvos,  which,  after  exhausting  their  stock  of 
food,  proceed  to  move  about  in  the  soil  and  feed 
on  the  roots  of  any  plants  with  which  they  may 
come  into  contact  or  on  any  available  vegetable 
matter.  An  alternative  explanation  is  that  the 
food  supply  prepared  by  the  female  is  normally 
insufficient,  and  that  the  larva  lives,  for  a  shorter 
or  longer  period,  on  other  organic  matter  in  the 
soil.  This,  however,  is  a  point  which  can  only 
be  elucidated  by  the  careful  observation  of  con- 
trolled life-cycles. 

In  cases  where  the  larviE  are  feeding  at  the  roots 
of  plants  their  development  may  be  much  slower 
than  when  feeding  in  dung  and,  like  the  chafer 
grubs,  they  may  spend  about  two  years  in  the 
larval  stage.  When  fully  fed  the  larva  is  very 
restless  and  moves  round  and  round  in  the  soil 
until  a  fairly  even  cavity  is  formed.  It  then 
proceeds    to    pass    soil    through    its    body.     This 


soil  is  voided  as  a  soft  mortar-like  mass  and  is 
pressed  against  the  side  of  the  cavity  by  the  upper 
surface  of  the  caudal  portion  of  the  larva  until  it 
sets  hard,  when  the  grub  detaches  itself  and 
proceeds  to  Hne  the  adjoining  areas.  Finally 
the  whole  cavity  is  lined,  forming  an  even  cell 
in  which,  after  a  short  time,  pupation  takes  place. 
In  the  accompanying  figure  such  cells  are  seen  ; 
the  left-hand  one  measured  ijins.  in  depth,  while 
the  right-hand  one  was  lin.  deep  and  Jin.  across 
the  exit  hole.  In  captivity  the  pupal  stage  lasted 
about  ten  weeks,  the  adults  emerging  towards 
the  end  of  April. 

Very  little  is  known  regarding  the  length  of 
life  of  the  insect,  however ;  a  French  writer, 
Labitte,  in  a  paper  on  "  The  Longevity  of  Certain 
Insects  in  Captivity "  (.Abst.  R.A.E.,  Series  A, 
Vol.  V,  page  20),  gives  the  total  life  of  an  allied 
species,  Geotrupes  stercorarius,  as  occupying 
1,137  days,  i.e.,  three  years  and  six  weeks. 

Natural  Enemies  and  Control  Measures. 

In  common  with  other  white  grubs,  the  larvse 
of  G.  spiniger  is  probably  subject  to  the  attacks 
of  rooks,  jackdaws  and  seagulls,  while  Collinge 
records  the  nightjar  as  destroying  the  adult  beetles. 

.Apart  from  destroying  the  adults  whenever 
they  are  seen  crawhng  near  Strawberry  beds, 
control  will  probably  take  the  form  of  good 
cultivation  in  spring  and  lifting  and  replacing 
sickly  or  injured  plants.  Where  the  nature  of 
the  injury  indicates  the  possible  presence  of  root- 
eating  grubs,  the  surrounding  soil  should  be 
examined  and  any  larvse  destroyed.  This  is  an 
expensive  and  laborious  method  when  employed 
over  large  areas,  but  is  quite  practicable  in  small 
beds  and,  in  the  present  stage  of  our  knowledge 
of  soil  insecticides,  is  the  only  treatment  which 
can  safely  be  recommended. 


ERICA  CINEREA  AT  MIDSUMMER 

The  first  of  our  native  Heaths  to  bloom  (though 
E.  Tctralix  may  run  it  very  closely  on  some 
moors),  the  common  "  Bel!  Heather "  holds  a 
place  of  no  little  importance  in  cultivation,  for 
it  comes  into  flower  in  early  summer  ,  that  is, 
before  the  other  principal  groups — ciliaris,  vagans 
and  Calluna  vulgaris — are  showing  any  colour. 

Though  never  a  tall  grower,  cultivated  varieties 
of  E.  cinerea  may  now  be  roughly  divided  into 
two  sets,  the  one  being  normal  in  height  and  the 
other  quite  dwarf  and  very  compact.  Among 
the  former  the  first  to  flower  (early  June)  and  the 
best  for  extensive  planting  is  E.  c.  rosea,  a  lovely 
form  with  soft  rose  coloured  flowers  in  which  the 
bluish  tint  often  seen  in  the  wild  plant  is  entirely 
absent.  .Another  first-rate  variety  is  E.  c.  spicata, 
which  has  longer  sprays  (6ins.)  of  red-purple  blos- 
soms, not  quite  so  taldng  in  colour  as  the  preceding. 

The  white  varieties  of  E.  cinerea  are  not  a 
success  with  us,  having  the  same  fault  as  E.  carnea 
alba,  viz.,  shyness  of  blooming,  but  the  dwarf 
while  is,  if  anything,  better  than  the  taller  one. 
.Among  the  coloured  forms  of  the  lesser  E.  cinerea 
are  several  excellent  varieties,  foremost  among 
which  is  E.  c.  coccinea.  This  is  quite  a  low, 
close-habited  little  plant,  but  it  is  one  of  the 
earliest  to  come  into  flower,  and  its  freely-produced 
blossoms  are  an  intense  crimson-scarlet  that  at 
once  distinguishes  it  from  any  other  hardy  Heath. 
E.  c.  atrosanguinea,  the  deeply  bronzed  foliage  of 
which  breaks  into  a  fine  ruby  crimson  about  Mid- 
summer Day,  is,  perhaps,  the  next  best  of  this 
class,  and  atropurpurea,  with  rather  a  more  purple 
hue,  is  another  well  worth  a  place. 

All  of  these  are  quite  at  home  on  our  dry,  loamy, 
sun-beaten  banks,  and  once  established  they  will 
"  carry-on  "  for  many  years,  increasing  in  beauty 
as  they  grow  older.  N.  Wales. 


July  i,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


319 


CORRESPONDENCE 


SILVER-LEAF    DISEASE 

T  READ  in  your  excellent  paper  last  autunni 
the  detailed  account  of  how  someone  had 
absolutely  cured  a  Peach  tree  under  glass  badl\' 
diseased  with  silver-leaf  by  the  application  of 
doses  of  soot  and  water  at  certain  periods  durinf; 
autumn,  winter  and  spring.  This  good  news 
seemed  to  me  to  be  on  the  lines  of  the  Gospel — 
Mr.  Jacob  please  note — really  too  good  to  be  true, 
because  a  friend  who  has  \\Titten  much  on  kindred 
topics  has  assured  me  most  positively  that  silver- 
leaf  is  absolittely  incurable,  adding,  however,  a 
proviso  that  if  a  tree  does  get  cured  it  is  not  true 
silver-leaf.     Sort  of  mental  reservation  ? 

Well,  to  proceed.  HaWng  live  Plum  trees  in 
my  garden  affected  with  silver-leaf,  two  very 
badly,  I  thought  it  was  at  least  worth  while  to 
give  the  thing  a  trial  ;  so  I  studied  again  the 
article  in  The  G.\rden  and  found  you  had  to 
mix  soot  in  a  bucket  with  water  till  it  was  a 
paste — a  nasty  job.  No,  thank  you !  So  I 
put  a  shovelful  of  soot  round  each  of  the  affected 
trees,  forked  it  over  and  watered  it  twice.  This 
my  gardener  and  I  did  from  last  autuiim  to  the 
present  time  about  five  times. 

Great  was  my  interest  this  spring  to  see  the 
leaves  of  the  Plum  trees  ;  but  I  have  waited  till 
the  leaves  are  now  well  out  and  expanded,  and 
write  to  say  that  we  cannot  find  a  trace  of  silver- 
leaf  on  any  of  the  five  trees.  They  are  all  in 
excellent  condition,  no  extra  growth,  and  two  are 
bearing  a  heavy  crop  of  Plums.  Of  course,  it 
remains  to  be  seen  whether  the  silver-leaf  will 
retxmi. 

I  have  been  thinking  the  matter  over,  however, 
and  have  come  to  this  conclusion,  that  there  must 


be  in  soot,  besides  sulphate  of  ammonia,  some 
fungicide  which  the  trees  take  up  with  the  stimu- 
lant.    I  wonder  if  anv  reader  can  vou  give  us  the 


years  had  no  resident  skilled  gardener.  Three 
years  ago  the  owner  of  a  pair  of  skilled  hands 
and  a  good  brain,  who  had  already  done  much 
to  help  and  advise,  began  to  give  all  his  time 
to  the  garden,  and  was  joined  at  the  same  time 
by    another    (trained)    gardener,    so   that    latterly 


A  SMALL   GARDEN.      THE    TENNIS-COURT    SURROUND. 


IRISES    IN    THE    SHRUB     GARDEN. 


chemical  analysis  of  soot  ?  I  am  also  very 
strongly  inchned  to  think  that  a  similar  treatment 
to  .\pple  trees  suffering  from  canker  would  cure 
them.  Well,  of  course,  everyone  will  be  agreed 
who  did  not  see  my  trees  that 
they  never  had  silver-leaf  at 
all — at  least,  not  the  real 
thing — and  I  really  expect 
that  hardly  any  other 
reader  of  your  paper  with 
trees  suffering  from  silver- 
leaf  tried  the  remedy,  be- 
cause it  seemed  too  good 
to  be  true. — W.  F.  M.  Cope- 
land. 

MAKING    A     S.MALL 
GARDEN. 

COME  time  ago  a  sugges- 
tion was  made  in  The 
Garden  that  photographs 
and  descriptions  of  small 
new  gardens  might  be  in- 
teresting to  its  readers, 
as  a  contrast  to  the 
beautiful  old  large  gardens 
so  often  illustrated. 

Twelve  years  ago  this 
Somerset  garden  was  a 
bare  windswept  field  of 
less  than  an  acre,  sur- 
rounded by  a  low  ragged 
hedge  and  containing 
nothing  but  four  Walnut 
trees  planted  in  a  straight 
row.  Here  and  there  some 
Elms  in  adjoining  fields 
could  be  seen  above  the 
hedge.  It  is  an  amateur's 
garden.  The  owners,  who 
were  quite  inexperienced, 
planned  it  themselves  and 
laid  it  out  by  degrees, 
and     for     the     first      nine 


the  little  place  has  had  every  care  and  attention. 

The  first  two  or  three  years  passed  in  a  long 
struggle  against  drought  and  winds,  which  took 
a  heavy  toll  of  young  newly-planted  shrubs  and 
trees.  It  was  ditficult  to  encourage  even  Laurels 
to  grow  sufficiently  to  pro\'ide  a  little  shelter  ; 
then  came  the  war  and  the  enforced  neglect  of 
the  flower  garden,  the  little  available  labour 
being  concentrated  upon  the  fruit  and  vegetables. 
But  now  shrubs,  such  as  Choisya,  Photinia, 
Viburnum  Carlesii,  Ceanothus  and  Azara  micro- 
phylla,  flourish  ;  a  specimen  of  the  latter  against 
the  terrace  wall  measures  20ft.  in  height. 

A  terrace  walk  leads  to  a  rose  pergola,  which 
is  continued  by  a  lime  walk,  bounded  on  one 
side,  in  the  shadow  of  the  trees,  by  a  spring  garden, 
gay  at  that  season  with  bulbous  flowers  and 
Berberises,  and,  when  the  Limes  are  in  leaf, 
brightened  by  Columbines  and,  later,  St.  John's 
Wort.  On  the  other  side,  between  pillars  of 
Irish  Yew,  the  tennis  lawn,  sundial  garden  and 
shrub  garden  come  successively  into  view.  In 
front  of  the  house  a  tiny  formal  garden  surrounds 
an  old  pump. 

The  garden  makers  had  one  great  asset,  plenty 
of  old  stone  for  paths  and  borders  ;  and  one 
great  drawback,  so  much  of  the  soil  was  poor 
and  full  of  stones.  They  hope  these  pictures  may- 
encourage  others  to  create  small  gardens  of  their 
own,  seeing  the  results  which  may  be  obtained 
in  twelve  years  under  most  unfavourable  con- 
ditions (in  the  war  the  flower  garden  and  lawns 
became  a  jungle).  These  garden  lovers  are  self 
taught  from  books  and  papers.  The  Garden 
being  a  faithful  friend  during  the  whole  twelve 
years. — K.  D.  \V. 

THE   DUR.\TION    OF    HOLLYHOCKS 

A  RE  single  Hollyhocks  long-Uved  plants  ? 
There  is  a  beautiful  single  salmon-pink 
Hollyhock  ten  years  old  in  this  Highland  garden. 
It  is  one  of  Dobbie's  seedlings,  probably  of 
Alleghany    descent,    as    the     flowers    have    frilled 


320 

edges.  The  plant,  wliich,  of  course,  has  grown 
into  a  clump,  has  never  been  disturbed  and  has 
always  flowered  freely,  throwing  up  four  to  six 
spikes  every  year  and  promises  to  do  so  again 
this  summer. — E.  B. 

[Single  Hollyhocks  are  more  robust  and  often 
longer-lived  than  the  double  ones,  but  odd  clumps 
of  double  Hollyhocks  some  years  old  are  not 
uncommon.  Few  would  care,  however,  to  rely 
upon  their  longevity. — Ed.] 

A     FINE    DAVIDIA. 

J  HAPPENED  to  visit  the  garden  of  Mr.  J.  A. 
Christie,  Framingham  Manor,  Norwich,  on 
June  I,  when  his  specimen  tree  of  Davidia  laeta 
was  at  its  beauty.  At  a  first  glimpse  from  a 
few  yards  away  the  bracts  look  very  much  like 
numerous  three-corner  paper  bags  tied  to  the 
branches.  The  tree  is  20ft.  high  and  the  circum- 
ference of  its  spread  is  60ft.  I  think  it  must  be 
as  good  a  specimen  as  can  be  found  anywhere  in 
Eastern  England. — H.  Perrv. 

IRISES     AND     \VATER. 

nPHE  Iris  family  at  last  appear  to  be  getting  the 
attention  they  so  richly  deserve.  Per- 
sonally, I  think  %vrong  handling  of  this  genus 
has  had  a  lot  to  do  with  keeping  it  in  the  back- 
ground. When  one  mentions  Iris  Ksmpferi  to 
people,  one  often  gets  the  reply,  "  -Ah,  yes  !  1  would 
love  to  grow  them,  but  they  rcust  have  water 
and  I  have  no  suitable  position."  I  think  the 
long  drought  last  year  should  have  knocked  on 
the  head  the  opinion  that  Irises  must  have  water. 
While  many  plants  that  are  certainly  not  looked 
upon  as  bog  plants  were  absolute  failures,  Iris 
Isffimpfcri,  with  us,  were  never  more  beautiful. 
A  patch  of  5,000  plants  in  light  grave!  soil  with 
roots  practically  touching  gravel  were  a  perfect 
picture  just  at  the  time  when  the  drought  was 
at  its  worst.  One  naturally  looked  for  short 
stems  and  washy  coloured  flowers  that  would 
go  over  in  a  few  hours  .  but  they  were  just  the 
reverse.  Stems  of  some  varieties  were  well  over 
3ft.,  and  the  blues  and  purpies  were  simply  gorgeous. 
Another  batch  of  3,000  planted  in  the  dampest 
position  we  could  find  were  \ery  erratic.  Certainlv 
there  were  many  good  flowers,  but  in  comparison 
to  the  large  plot  they  were  failures.  .Again  this 
year  we  have  the  same  result.  The  ones  on  light 
dry  ground  are  smothered  with  buds,  and  commg 
away  strong  and  even.  At  the  present  moment  a 
pond  near  by  is  full  of  Iris  ochroleuca,  and  although 
they  are  certainly  beautiful  a  few  stray  plants 
through  the  place  are  equally  good.  How  many 
people  are  denying  themselves  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  flowers  because  they  are  under  the 
impression  they  must  have  water  ? — W.  Slincer, 
Newcastle,  Co.  Down. 

A    GLORIOUS   GENTIAN. 

'piIE  interesting  catalogue  of  Gentians  given 
in  The  Garden  for  June  17  (page  2S7) 
makes  no  mention  of  Gentiana  Farreri.  Perhaps 
all  your  readers  have  not  seen  the  description  of 
It  by  the  late  Reginald  Farrer,  whose  name  it 
bears.  It  was  he  who  discovered  the  plant  in 
the  mountains  of  Northern  China.  The  following 
quotation  is  taken  from  his  book,  "  The  Rainbow 
Bridge,"  written  in  the  year  1920  :  "  Gentiana 
Farreri  .  .  .  bids  fair  to  be  as  solid  a  permanency 
as  G.  Gentianella  itself.  It  is  perfectly  hardy 
and  (whatsis  very  remarkable  in  any  Gentian,  but 
miraculously  so  in  a  Gentian  so  miraculously 
beautiful)  it  is  perfectly  vigorous  and  easy  to 
deal  with  in  any  reasonable  conditions  of  culture 
in  a  cool  place,  not  parched  or  waterlogged.    .    .   . 


THE     GARDEN. 

In  addition  to  growing  so  freely  and  flowering 
so  lavishly  in  so  late  and  dull  a  moment  of  the 
year  (August  and  September;,  this  preposterously 
good-tempered  exception  to  the  rule  of  its  race 
keeps  its  glory  open,  rain  or  shine,  can  be  struck 
from  cuttings  as  copiously  as  a  Viola  and  layered 
along  its  shoots  as  complacently  as  any  Carnation. 
.  .  .  And  its  beauty !  .  .1  stood  rapt  in 
contemplation  before  the  actual  plant  .  .  .  well 
worth  the  whole  two  years'  expedition  merely  to 
have  seen  it.  .  .  .  Every  day  in  early  September 
brings  a  fresh  crashing  explosion  of  colour.     Each 


A    FINE    PLANT    OF    FABIANA    IMBRICATA 


of  the  weakly  stems  concludes  in  one  enormous 
upturned  trumpet  more  gorgeous  than  anything 
attained  by  G.  Gentianella,  but  in  the  same 
general  style  and  form.  But  the  outline  is  different 
with  a  more  subtle  swell  to  the  chalice,  and  that 
freaked  outside  in  heavy  lines  of  black  purple 
that  divide  long  Vandykes  of  dim  periwinkle 
blue  with  panels  of  nankeen  buff  between  :  inside, 
the  tube  and  throat  are  white,  but  the  mouth  and 
the  wide  bold  flanges  are  of  so  luminous  and  intense 
a  light  azure  that  one  blossom  of  it  will  blaze  out 
at  you  among  the  grass  on  the  other  side  of  the 
valley.  ...  It  is  like  a  clear  sky  soon  after 
sunrise,  shrill  and  translucent  as  if  it  had  a  light 
inside.  ...  It  hterally  burns  in  the  alpine 
turf  like  an  electric  jewel,  an  incandescent 
turquoise." — M.   F. 

(The  writer  of  the  article  in  question  was  careful 
to  point  out  that  the  varieties  mentioned  were 
not  exhaustive.  He  wrote  only  of  the  species 
he  had  successfully  tried.  Gentiana  Farreri  is 
certainly  a  good  plant,  though  whether  in  culti- 
vation it  deserves  the  e-xtravagant  encomiums  of 
the  late  Reginald  Farrer  is  another  matter. 
Gentiana    Kurroo    is    another    beautiful    Gentian 


[July  i,  1922. 

where  it  succeeds,   and  some  cultivators    grow   it 
splendidly. — Ed.] 

A     RARE     SHRUB. 

T  .AM  sending  you  a  photograph  of  Fabiana 
imbricata  growing  in  a  stable  yard  in  this 
county.  The  bush  is  about  ten  years  old  and  is 
planted  against  a  wall  facing  south.  It  receives 
no  protection  in  winter. — So.mersetshire. 

[Though  of  Heath-like  appearance,  Fabiana 
imbricata  is  not  a  member  of  the  Order  Ericacea?, 
belonging,  in  fact,  to  the  Solanum  family.  .A 
native  of  Chile,  this 
beautiful  shrub  succeeds 
outdoors  only  in  the 
milder  parts  of  Britain. 
Attempts  to  acclimatise 
it  at  Kew  have  not 
been  successful,  though 
it  has  occasionally 
survived  a  winter  out- 
doors. From  gardens 
w-ith  a  suitable  climate 
it  ought  on  no  account 
to  be  omitted. — Ed.1 


THE    ROTATION    OF 

CROPS. 

^X  page  229  I  made 
a  remark  that  the 
"  sowing  or  planting  of 
a  deep  rooting  crop 
after  a  shallow  rooting 
one  enables  the  plants 
to  feed  at  different 
levels  in  the  soil." 
This  has  been  construed 
by  VV.  H.  Lodge 
(page  294)  to  mean 
that  I  am  an  advocate 
of  shallow  cultivation, 
whereas  I  have  practised 
deep  cultivation  for 
more  than  forty  years. 
I  have  had  all  sorts  of 
soil  to  deal  with  in  my 
time,  from  heavy  soils  of 
unknown  depth  to  deep, 
light  soils  overlying  sand, 
and  a  sandy  soil  averag- 
ing 6ins.  deep,  overlying 
coarse,  water-wor.i  flint 
gravel  of  unknown  depth, 
and  managed  to  take  good  crops  off  all  of  them. 
In  early  days  I  had  ample  practice  in  trenching 
the  soil  3ft.  deep  and  manuring  it  at  different 
levels.  We  made  a  point  of  trenching  about  a 
third  of  the  available  space  for  vegetables  every 
year  in  October,  so  that  in  the  course  of  three 
years  we  had  trenched  the  whole  of  the  vegetable 
garden  ready  to  begin  again  the  fourth  year. 
This  was  done  without  respect  to  the  length  of 
the  roots,  whether  Radishes  or  Parsnips.  It 
does  not  strike  me  that  Radishes  or  Potatoes 
could  collect  so  much  food  from  deep  levels  as 
Parsnips.  I  know  all  about  the  capillarity  of  the 
soil  or  sufficient  to  enable  me  to  take  advantage 
of  it.  Roots  that  actually  come  in  contact  with 
the  soil  are  able  to  dissolve  and  appropriate  plant 
foods  that  the  water  of  capillarity  could  not  carry 
up.  The  more  soluble  plant  foods  are  liable  to 
be  carried  deeper  and  deeper  in  the  soil,  finally 
passing  away  in  the  drainage.  We  never  used 
the  watering-pot  outdoors,  except  for  newly 
planted  bedding  plants,  seeds,  cuttings  or  newly 
transplanted  evergreens  in  late  spring.  There 
was  neither  club-root  nor  finger-and-toe  in  the 
gardens  so  cultivated. — J.  F. 


July   i,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


321 


GARDENING     OF     THE     WEEK 


FOR     SOUTHERN     GARDENS. 

The  Kitchen  Garden. 

I*  Hoeing. — The  hoe  should  be  used  constantly 
among  all  growing  crops,  such  as  Onions,  Carrots 
and  Beetroot,  during  dry  spells.  This  will  not 
only  destroy  small  weeds,  but  will  check  evapor- 
ation. Moreover,  the  frequent  movings  of  the 
soil  creates  a  mulch,  which  in  itself  is  equal  to  a 
good  watering  and  often  far  more  beneficial, 
unless  the  latter  can  be  regularly  kept  up. 

Vegetable  Marrows. — During  intense  heat  there 
is  nothing  more  congenial  and  helpful  to  these 
plants  than  a  thorough  drenching  with  water 
of  the  roots  and  aU  the  foUage  late  in  the  evening. 
By  pinching  a  few  of  the  leaders  occasionally 
a  quicker  fruiting  condition  is  brought  about. 
Remove  all  fruits  immediately  they  are  of  suffi- 
cient size  for  use. 

Seeds. — Additional  sowings  of  Endive,  Lettuce, 
Radishes,  etc.,  must  be  made  in  Accordance  with 
requirements.  Should  the  ground  be  dry  all 
drills  should  be  well  watered  before  sowing. 

Dwarf  Beans. — Make  a  further  sowing  of  these 
on  a  well  worked  piece  of  ground,  watering  the 
drills  first  if  necessar>-.  It  is  sometimes  con- 
venient to  make  use  of  the  borders  from  where 
early  Potatoes  ha\'e  been  lifted  for  this  sowing. 

The  Flower  Garden. 
Rhododendrons  and  Azaleas  that  have  finished 

flowering  should  have  all  dead  blooms  and  seed- 
pods  removed.  The  latter  particularly  so,  as 
they  make  a  big  drain  on  the  energy  of  the  plants 
if  allowed  to  remain,  while  the  former  look  imtidy 
if  the  plants  are  in  a  prominent  position.  Recently 
planted  specimens  must  be  well  watered  during 
dry  spells,  or  growth  will  be  unsatisfactory,  for 
it  must  be  remembered  that  these  plants  have  no 
long  roots  to  penetrate  into  the  ground  for 
moisture,  but  balls  of  fibres  only.  Where  the 
plants  are  grown  in  beds  and  a  good  mulching 
can  be  given  this  will  be  of  great  help  in  con- 
serving the  necessary  moisture  round  the  plants. 
Short  lawn  mowings  and  partly  decayed  leaves 
will  make  a  suitable  mulch  should  no  manure 
be  available. 

Roses  having  exhausted  themselves  of  the 
first  crop  of  blossom  should  have  aU  dead  flowers 
removed,  .^.t  the  same  time  a  few  of  the  weak 
growths  should  be  removed.  When  this  work 
s  completed  give  all  the  plants  a  good  watering 
with  weak  hquid  manure  so  as  to  assist  in  the 
building  up  of  good  wood  to  produce  the  next 
lot  of  flowers. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Thinning  Fruits. — It  is  obviously  impossible 
to  lay  any  hard  set  rules  down  about  what  crop 
of  fruit  shall  be  left  on  trees,  whether  it  be  Plums, 
Apricots  or  any  other  fruits.  The  health  of  the 
trees  must  be  to  a  great  extent  a  deciding  factor. 
If  trees  are  in  good  health  it  is  fairly  safe  to  make 
them  carry  a  good  crop,  as  ofttimes  such  a  practice 
will  correct  a  httle  of  the  grossness  of  growth. 
Trees  in  poor  or  only  moderate  health  should 
be  allowed  to  carry  but  few  fruits,  and  the  same 
should  apply  to  young  trees  which  are  being 
trained  to  fill  up  allotted  positions  if  there  is  any 
danger  that  much  cropping  would  give  them  an 
unnecessary  check. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Strawberries  for  Forcing. — .^s  soon  as  the 
runners  are  obtainable  a  start  should  be  made, 
by  whichever  method  is  followed,  in  securing  the 
required  stock.  I  know  of  no  way  which  gives 
better  results  than  by  layering  into  small  pots, 
which  should  be  half  plunged  between  the  rows 
in  batches  of  such  size  as  are  suitable  to  meet  the 
demand  of  available  runners.  These  runners, 
which  supply  plants  for  early  forcing,  are  much 
better  when  obtained  from  plants  set  out  last 
season  for  this  purpose  ;  but  where  such  a  practice 
cannot  be  followed  some  of  the  more  healthy  and 
vigorous  rows  should  be  quickly  cleared  of  fruits 
and  the  plants  be  given  a  few  good  soakings  of 
diluted  manure  water,  which  will  soon  revive  the 
energies  of  the  plants  and  make  the  young 
plantlets  full  of  activity. 

H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 

Albury  Park  Gardens,  On!!d,'ord. 


made,  utilising  ground  that  has  been  cleared  of 
early  Potatoes.  The  Stump  Root  type  matures 
quickly  and  will  be  ready  for  use  by  October. 

Purple  Sprouting  Broccoli. — Where  this  variety 
is  favoured  no  time  should  be  lost  in  getting  a 
quantity  planted  out.  This  sort  proves  useful 
in  furnishing  an  early  crop.  Allow  2  ft.  each 
way  between  the  plants,  choosing  a  fairly  rich 
and  sheltered  part  of  the  garden. 

Globe  Artichokes. — Give  these  plants  a  generous 
mulch  of  half-rotted  cow  manure,  so  that  a  pro- 
longed crop  may  be  ensured.  On  light,  gravelly 
soils  frequent  waterings  should  be  given,  both  of 
pure  water  and  of  liquid  manure. 

Swedes. — Seed  may  be  sown  until  the  second 
week  in  July,  which  will  produce  nice  sized  roots 
for  winter  use.  Sow  a  good  field  variety,  as 
these  seem  to  be  more  satisfactory  than  the 
so-called  garden  varieties,  which  generally  produce 
more  "  neck  "  than  root. 

Cabbages. — Mid-season  Cabbages  that  are  for 
any  reason  slow  of  growth  may  receive  a  stimulus 
by  giving  a  judicious  application  of  sulphate  of 
ammonia.  Work  the  ground  freely  bttween  the 
plants,  and  "hoe  up  immediately  the  plants  attain 
a  reasonable  size. 

Celery. — Take  advantage  of  showery  weather 
to  plant  out  further  lots  of  Celery.  Early  batches 
which  are  well  estabUshed  should  be  given  weekly 
apphcations  of  liquid  manure  from  the  byre, 
varied  at  times  with  soot  water. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Vines. — Mid-season  Vines  on  which  the  fruit 
is  swelling  should  be  assisted  with  copious  waterings 
of  manure  in  liquid  form,  so  that  the  development 
of  large  berries  may  be  encouraged.  Afford  plenty 
of  atmospheric  moisture,  allowing  a  free  circu- 
lation of  air,  so  that  scorching  of  the  fohage  and 
scalding  of  the  berries  may  be  avoided.  A  chink 
of  air  may  also  now  be  left  on  over-night.  Where 
the  drainage  is  good  and  the  soil  of  hght  texture, 
outside  borders  require  to  be  well  watered  occasion- 
alh'.  Mulching  is  also  of  great  benefit  to  the 
\'ines,  and  considerable  assistance  may  be  derived 
from  a  surface  sprinkling  of  Thomson's  Vine 
Manure,  given  before  w^atering. 

Peaches  in  Pots. —  Immediately  early  sorts 
are  cleared  of  their  fruit  the  trees  should  be  stood 
in  the  open,  where  the  wood  may  be  allowed  to 
ripen  in  a  natural  manner.  Plunge  the  pots  in 
leaf-soil  or  ashes  to  keep  the  roots  cool,  seeing 
at  the  same  time  that  the  trees  in  no  way  suffer 
from  lack  of  moisture  at  the  roots. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Climbers  of  various  sorts  are  growing  freely 
and  soon  get  into  a  tangle  if  not  attended  to, 
thereby  losing  in  many  instances  their  charming 
effect.  When  tying,  use  discretion,  as  most 
plants  of  rambling  habit  do  not  look  happy  if 
tied  in  tightly  or  in  too  formal  a  manner.  \Vhere 
growth  is  crowded,  thin  freely  and  allow  for  the 
proper  development  of  that  which  is  left. 

Sweet  Peas. — Care  should  be  taken  that  the 
plants  do  not  at  this  time  receive  a  check,  as  when 
this  happens  they  invariably  disappoint  throughout 
the  season.  Regular  waterings  should  be  given 
during  dry  weather,  and  where  facilities  allow, 
mulch  freely  on  either  side  of  the  row. 

Herbaceous  Borders. — Plants  which  have  not 
been  lifted  and  transplanted  for  a  number  of 
years  readily  show  signs  of  exhaustion  at  this 
time,  the  plants  being  quickly  susceptible  to  hot 
sunshine  or  lengthy  spells  of  drought.  To  create 
a  cooler  influence  a  liberal  mulch  of  short  litter 
should  be  given,  working  it  well  round  the  stools 
and  over  the  neighbouring  surface  of  the  border. 
James  McGran 

(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.), 

Cooiham,  Kilmarnock. 


The  plants  should  be  firmly  potted,  as  they  dishke 
a  loose  rooting  medium.  For  early  winter  flower- 
ing, the  plants,  if  properly  managed,  should  not 
require  any  further  stopping.  Later  rooted 
batches  should  be  potted  on  as  they  require  it 
and  may  be  stood  outdoors  for  the  summer  ;  but 
I  do  not  advise  this,  for  if  they  can  be  kept  in 
a  cool  house  cultural  conditions  are  under  better 
control,  especially  during  spells  of  very  wet  weather. 
Watering  must  be  carefully  done  at  all  times, 
and  attacks  of  aphis  and  red  spider  guarded 
against.  For  anyone  with  limited  greenhouse 
accommodation  Carnations  of  this  class  are  about 
as  useful  as  anything,  as  one  should  be  able  to 
have  flowers  aU  the  year  round. 

Border  Carnations  that  have  been  grown  in 
pots  and  have  finished  flowering  should  now-  be 
layered.  For  this  purpose  it  is  best  to  turn  them 
out  of  their  pots  and  plant  them  in  a  cold  frame, 
or  even  in  the  open  ground,  layering  the  strongest 
shoots  in  the  usual  way. 

Stocks. — Where  grown  for  winter  flowering, 
seed  should  be  sown  thinly  without  delay.  If 
the  seedlings  are  overcrowded  they  are  \^ery  liable 
to  damp  off.  The  seed  pans  mav  be  stood  in 
a  cold  house  or  frame,  shading  them  until  the 
seed  germinates.  The  Beauty  of  Nice  type,  All 
the  Year  Round,  the  intermediate  so-called  Covent 
Garden  type  and  Lothian  Stocks  are  all  useful 
for  winter  and  spring  flowering.  In  the  countrv 
with  plenty  of  light  it  is  easy  to  have  them  in 
flower  during  the  winter.  In  the  immediate 
neighbourhood  of  London,  for  lack  of  winter 
light,  it  is  hardly  possible  to  flower  them  success- 
fully during  the  winter.  Under  such  circum- 
stances it  is  best  to  grow  them  for  spring  flowering. 
In  such  cases  September  is  early  enough  to  sow 
the  seed.  When  large  enough'  to  handle,  the 
seedUngs  may  be  pricked  off  into  boxes  or  put 
directly  into  thumb  pots.  The  potting  compost 
should  be  the  same  as  recommended  for  Carnations, 
remembering  that  lime  is  essential.  The  plants 
should  be  potted  firmly,  and  6in.  pots  are  large 
enough  for  them  to  flower  in.  During  the  summer 
they  may  be  stood  in  cold  frames,  exposing  them 
fully  to  hght  and  air.  During  continued  spells 
of  wet  weather  the  frame  hghts  should  be  put  on, 
as  the  plants  are  impatient  of  too  much  wet  at 
the  root.  When  the  seedUngs  are  some  3ins.  or 
4ins.  high,  the  singles  can  generally  be  distin- 
guished from  the  doubles  by  their  narrower  leaves 
and  more  slender  habit. 

Wallflowers.— Double  Wallflowers,  both  dwarf 
and  tall  varieties,  are  very  useful  for  spring 
flowering  in  the  cool  greenhouse.  Seed  should 
be  sown  outdoors  at  this  time,  treating  them  like 
the  ordinary  single  varieties,  and  by  autumn 
they  should  have  made  good  plants,  when  they 
should  be  lifted  and  potted.  The  plants  are 
best  wintered  in  cold  frames,  giving  them  plenty 
of  air  on  all  favourable  occasions. 

Canterbury  Bells  in  numerous  varieties  are 
also  splendid  plants  for  the  cool  conservatory. 
As  the  seed  is  very  fine,  it  is  just  as  well  to  sow 
it  in  a  box  in  a  cold  frame,  pricking  the  seedlings 
off  outdoors  when  large  enough  to  handle.  Pot 
them  up  during  the  autumn  and  winter  in  cold 
frames. 

Hydrangeas. — From  now  onwards  until  the 
end  of  August  good  strong  shoots  should  be  secured 
for  cuttings.  These  should  be  placed  singly  in 
small  pots  and  plunged  in  a  close  case  with  slight 
bottom  heat,  where  they  will  quickly  root.  When 
rooted  they  should  be  potted  into  sin.  pots  and 
may  be  stood  in  a  cold  frame,  which  should  be 
kept  close  for  a  few  days  until  they  get  established. 
.'\fterwards  they  should  have  full  exposure  to 
light  and  air,  even  during  autumn  and  winter, 
when  the  weather  conditions  are  favourable. 

Royal  Boianic  Gardens,  Kew,  J.  Coutts. 


FOR     NORTHERN     GARDENS. 

The  Kitchen  Garden. 
Late  Sowings  of  Carrots.— Profitable  sowings 
of   the   Early   Short   Horn   varieties   may   yet   be 


GREENHOUSE     AND     CONSERVATORY. 

Carnations. — The  earhest  rooted  batches  of 
perpetual-flow'ering  varieties  should  now  be  ready 
for  their  flowering  pots,  which  should  be  6ins.  or 
7ins.  in  size,  according  to  the  vigour  of  the  respective 
varieties.  The  potting  compost  should  consist 
of  good  mellow  loam,  with  the  addition  of  enough 
coarse  sand  and  old  mortar  rubble  to  render  the 
whole  porous.  Unless  the  loam  is  very  heavy, 
little  or  no  leaf-soil  should  be  added,  as  it  renders 
the  growths  rather  soft,  which  is  not  desirable. 
A  yin.  potful  of  fine  bone  meal  and  a  jin.  potful 
of  soot  should  be  added  to  every  bushel  of  soil. 


FORTHCOMING     EVENTS. 

July  I. — Windsor  Horticultural  Society's  Rose 
Show. 

July  4. — Royal  Agricultural  Society  of  England 
Show  at  Cambridge  (five  days).  Royal  Caledonian 
Horticultural  Society's  Meeting. 

July  5. — National  \'iola  and  Pansy  Society's 
Meeting.  Cambridgeshire  Horticultural  Society's 
Annual  Show  (two  days).     Colchester  Rose  Show. 

July  8. — Ringwood  Horticultural  Society's 
Meeting. 


322 


THE     GARDEN. 


[JLIY   I,   19-2 


PLANTS  FOR  A  SMALL  MORAINE  GARDEN 


[Continued  from  page  298 


CYANANTHl"S  LOBATUS.— A  further 
trial  of  this  on  the  moraine  was 
not  successful.  It  always  seemed 
to  be  checked  when  in  flower, 
apparently  by  early  morning  frost 
in  August,  which  sometimes  is  a  cold  month 
in  j  this  part  of  the  North-East  of  England. 
From  my  experience  I  should  not  consider 
it"J  a  suitable  plant  for  an  open,  exposed 
nioraine,  but  for  a  more  sheltered  position  and 
in  richer  soil.  It  was  flowering  beautifully  in 
the  Edinburgh  Botanic  Gardens  last  September, 
planted  almost  at  the  path  level  in  a  situation 
well  sheltered  frcm  the  morning  sun,  but  receiving 
the    mid-dav    and    afternoon    sun  ;     it    was    also 


C.  tyrolensis,  only  another  name,  apparently,  for 
a  most  aggressive  form  of  C.  pusilla. 

D.  arvernensis.  This  is  like  a  dwarf  D.  casius, 
forming  a  compact  grey  cushion  from  which  spring 
pretty  rosy  pink  flowers.  Appears  to  be  very 
happy. 

D.  Freynii.  This  grey-leaved  dwarf  compact 
plant  still  flourishes  in  its  original  position,  the 
fairly  large  sized  almost  stemless  flowers  in  my 
plant  being  white  with  a  pink  zone  in  place  of 
the  more  usual  rosy  pink  that  is  preferable. 

D.  neglectus.  This,  the  loveliest  of  the  family, 
flourished  and  flowered  very  freely  for  a  time  in 
a  fully  exposed  position,  but  as  it  got  older  and 
the    rootstock   more   woody   the   effects   of   damp 


THE    BRILLIANT    DIANTHUS    NEGLECTUS    ON    THE    MORAINE. 


partially  shaded  by  other  plants  with  which  it 
was  associated. 

Delphinium  nudicaule. — Very  effective  with  its 
uncommon  red  flowers  in  June.  Quite  bappy  for 
four  or  five  years,  but  requires  renewal  from 
time  to  time,  and  this  is  fairly  easy  as,  if  allowed 
to  seed,  seedlings  usually  come  up  in  the  vicinity. 

DiANTHi. — Dianthus  alpinus.  Further  experience 
has  somewhat  modified  my  early  ideas  as  to 
this  lovely  Pink.  Very  few  of  the  original 
plants  referred  to  in  1917  exist  now,  and  what  do 
are  not  in  very  good  condition.  Successive  wet 
and  frosty  winters  have  a  deteriorating  effect, 
causing  the  roots  to  loosen  their  hold  of  the  soil, 
with  the  result  that  they  decay  and  die,  helped 
as  plants  are,  especially  if  unhealthy,  by  various 
pests.  It  will,  I  am  afraid,  require  occasional 
renewal,  and  it  appears  to  succeed  and  ine  longer 
if  it  does  not  receive  the  sun  until  the  morning 
is  well  advanced.  It  has  done  very  well  in  a 
position  (not  on  the  moraine)  that  receives  the 
afternoon  sun,  but  this  plant  is  badly  feeling  the 
effects    of    a    Campanula    that    was    recei\ed    as 


and  frosty  intervals  in  the  winter  eventually 
terminated  its  existence.  It  is,  however,  easily 
propagated  by  slippings  or  raised  from  seeds, 
and  is  worth  a  little  trouble  to  maintain.  The 
plants,  however,  seem  to  me  happier  and  healthier 
in  a  less  exposed  position  and  possibly  to  have  a 
longer  life.  It  usually  flowers  twice  if  the  earlier 
flowers  are  cut  off  before  running  to  seed. 

\  Dianthus  received  from  a  friend's  garden 
as  D.  alpestris  seems  to  be  a  form  of  D.  neglectus 
with  exactly  similar  deep  rosy  pink  flowers  with 
buff  undersides  to  the  petals,  but  on  wiry,  pendulous 
stems  about  5ins.  long  w-hich  are  very  effective 
planted  on  the  outer  edge  of  the  moraine.  The 
foliage  is  a  similar  green,  but  longer  and  less 
compact.  A  considerable  amount  of  old  crushed 
plaster  or  mortar  is  used  by  me  for  top-dressing 
most  of  the  Dianthus  family,  which  are  also 
usually  planted  in  a  compost  containing  a  good 
percentage  of  the  same. 

D.  glacialis.  In  a  North  Yorkshire  garden  at 
the  end  of  May,  1920,  a  magnificent  lot  of  plants 
were    seen    in    full    flower,    planted    at    the    upper 


part  of  a  sunk  rock  garden  in  a  position  fully 
exposed  to  the  sun  and  apparently  in  soil  con- 
taining a  considerable  proportion  of  leaf-mould. 
Slippings  which  were  kindly  given  to  me  I  tailed 
to  establish,  owing  to  the  conditions  at  the  time 
being  very  difficult  for  propagation.  When  seen 
at  its  best  it  is  a  lovely  plant  with  good-sized 
bright  rosy  flowers  on  short  upright  stems  springing 
from  a  mat  of  bright  green  foliage. 

D.  sylvestris.  This  did  very  well,  but  as  the 
flowering  stems  thrown  up  were  about  i2ins. 
long  and  overhung  other  plants,  it  was  removed 
from  the  moraine  into  another  part  of  the  garden, 
which,  unfortunately,  it  did  not  approve  of. 
However,  it  will  have  to  be  replaced  from  seed- 
lings that  I  now  have  raised  from  seeds  obtained 
in  the  Alps  two  summers  ago,  but  a  position  on 
the  outer  edge  where  it  "can  overhang  will  be  more 
suitable  for  it. 

Other  Dianthi  that  find  a  place  are  D.  petraeus 
alba,  which  has  remained  quite  healthy 
and    compact ;     while    somewhat   in- 
creased  in   size,   it  does    not  unduly 
encroach.     D.    integer,  with  a  some- 
what  similar   green    foliage,    is    more 
compact  and  throws  up  white  fringed 
flowers  on  shorter  stems.     The   plant 
under    the    name   D.    Lereschei    that 
I    have    does    not    seem    to    fit    the 
description.  The  foliage,  which  is  short, 
grassv    greenish    grey,    seems    about 
right,    but     the     flowers,    which     are 
white,      smallish      in     diameter,   xare 
thro\vn   up   on   sin.    stiff   stems.       It 
increases    very   slowly   and,   flowering 
somewhat    later    than    most    of    the 
other    Dianthi,    is    both    useful   and 
quite    worthy  of    a  place.     D.    micro- 
lepis,    a  dwarf,  compact  species  some- 
uiiat  similar  to  D.  Freynii  in  its  best 
form,    with    bright    rosy   red    ahnost 
stemless  half-inch  flowers,  cannot  very 
well    be    dispensed    with.     The    great 
difficulty    is    in    the    winter    to    pre- 
\ent    it    from    being    loosened    out. 
The  roots  seeming  to   take  very  slight 
hold   of   the  soil,  are  only  too   easily 
loosened  out  by  frost  and  thaw  and 
succeeding      rain.       This     to      some 
extent     is     prevented     by    laying    a 
stone    partially    over     the     edge    of 
the   plant,    and    it    is    possible    that 
glass   protection    would   help   to  keep 
it   in   its  place.     D.  caesius   Bickhami, 
has     the    usual    tufts      of      glaucous 
leaves  more  compact,  with  deep  rose 
red    flowers   on   short  upright   stems. 
The  plant  referred  to  as  this  in  1917  and  received 
by  me  as  such  was  quite  different,  although  the 
foliage  and  flowers  were  similar,  but  much  stronger 
growing,    and    flowers   on    longer   pendent    stems. 
D.  subacaulis,  a  small  greenish  tufted    plant,    has 
rosy  pink  flowers  of  smallish  diameter  on  about 
4in.  stems.     D.  Wimmeri,  which  is  said  to  be  a 
form   of  speciosus,   has   deep   crimson   flowers   on 
long  stems,  flowering  later  than  most  of  the  other 
Pinks ;     only   suitable    for   overhanging   the   edge 
of  nioraine. 

Eritrichium  nanum. — This  brilliant  blue  gem 
of  the  High  Alps  as  yet  has  not  been  tried.  It 
appears  from  Mr.  Farcer's  own  showing  to  be 
very  difficult  and,  even  on  moraine,  short-lived. 
Iberis  petra;a. — Very  dwarf  evergreen  Candy- 
tuft with  somewhat  stiff  branched  foUage  and 
the  usual  white  flowers  on  short,  erect  stems ; 
quite  desirable.  My  plant,  received  from  a 
friend  in  19 17,  has  been  very  slow  in  growth 
and  very  unlike  the  other  members  of  that 
family.  T.   .^.shton   Lofthouse. 

{To  be  conliniicd.) 


THE 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


JUL  2  11922 


WOODLAND 


.1.  LXXXVI.— No.  2642. 


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I 


Powerful  Force  Pump, 
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A  MOST  useful  appliance  for 
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Estate.     Strong,  light  and  simple. 

The  illuslralion  shows  No.  90  Force 
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Qarden,  Farm  &  Stabi 
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m 


ii^. 


oulton  erau 

LONDON     OFRCI 1 

S;;l^ho.«.ch  ; Chief  Office  &  Works!  ^;:^""""'Si?' 
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NORWICH       8»1     ;, , „:    T.l.,*o«..  CaiUl  4Ma 


STANDEN'S 
MANURE 

Established  40   Years. 

This  old  -  established,  highly 
concentrated  Manure  is  ac- 
knowledged by  the  leading 
practical  gardeners  in  the  United 
Kingdom    and    the    Colonies    to 

EXCEED   ALL   OTHERS   IN  GENERAL  fEff' 
TILISING  PROPERTIES  AND  STAYING  POWER 

and  has  enjoyed  an  acknowledged 
superiority  for  the  last  50  years. 

THE  SMALLEST  QUANTITY  APPLIED  WILl 
GIVE  RESULTS. 

In    Vins,   each.   9d.,    116.   3j.  and  6j-  I 

In  Sags.  28  lbs.,  1316,  56  lbs.,  241;  112  lbs.,  451 

CORRY  &  Co.,  Ltd., 

LONDON,    S.E.  1. 


:.^2^^t€k^ 


No.  2642— Vol.  LXXXVI.] 


[July  8,  1922. 


DE<X)RATIVE  ROSES   FOR    HOUSE    AND  GARDEN 


SPEAKING  generally,  the  Roses  we  find 
most  suitable  for  the  decoration  of  our 
gardens  are  also  the  best  Roses  to  use 
for  arranging  in  our  houses.  Therefore 
as  this  season  is  the  time  when  most 
of  our  Rose  gardens  are  at  the  height  of  their 
freshness  and  beauty  it  may  be  that  a  short  tour 
of  the  garden  will  show  us  which  Roses  are  likely 
to  be  good  for  both  purposes. 

We  grow  our  Roses  either  in  beds  of  one  variety 
or; in  groups  of  twelve  to  twenty-four  plants  in 
long  borders,  and  thus  we  are  able  quickly  to  see 
those  which  are  the  most  decorative  from  a  garden 
point  of  view.  The  red  Roses  first  catch  my  eye. 
General  McArthur  with  its  ample  foliage, 
delightfully  upright  habit  and  fragrant  crimson 
flowers,  freely,  but  not  too  freely  produced,  is 
the  type  of  plant 
which  is  almost  ideal 
both  for  house  and 
garden  decoration.  The 
flowers  should  be  cut 
before  they  are  half- 
opened  (this  applies  to 
all  single  and  to  most 
decorative  Roses),  for 
the  colour  is  then  far 
brighter  than  if  they 
are  allowed  to  expand 
on  -the  plant-. 

Richmond,  another 
fragrant  red  Rose, 
makes  an  excellent 
bed,  but  it  needs  con- 
s  t  a  n  t  disbudding, 
othenvise  the  flowers 
come  of  a  poor  form 
and  colour,  whereas, 
if  disbudded,  both  in 
form  and  colour  it  is 
superior  to  General 
McArthur  ;  but  the 
growth  is  not  so 
strong  nor  the  foliage 
so  ample.  Jlrs.  Edward 
Powell  is  a  brilUant  red 
Rose  with  verj'  strong 
growth  and  fine  dark 
bronzy  foliage.  The 
form  of  the  flowers  is 
rather  poor,   but   they 

are  produced  abundantly.  Red  Letter  Day 
and  K.  of  K.  are  two  of  the  most  highly 
coloured  of  our  red  Roses,  and  both  are  ex- 
cellent for  the  garden,  also  for  the  house  if  they 
are  cut  when  very  young.  The  flowers  are  almost 
single.  With  us  Red  Letter  Day  is  the  stronger 
and  more  upright  grower,  but  K.  of  K.  is  the 
more  brilliant  of  the  two. 


In  a  garden  we  \'isited  two  or  three  days  ago  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Canterbury  some  very  tall 
standards  of  Hugh  Dickson,  full  of  bright  crimson 
flowers,  were  extraordinarily  decorative.  This 
\'ariety  is,  perhaps,  a  little  heavy  as  a  cut  flower, 
but  if  cleverly  arranged  it  can  be  made  to  look 
very  handsome  in  a  big  bowl.  Hoosier  Beauty 
has  every  virtue  a  crimson  Rose  can  boast — 
depth  and  richness  of  colour,  good  form  and 
delicious  perfume — but  it  has  one  bad  fault  which 
prevents  it  being  a  good  Rose  for  garden  decora- 
tion, namely,  that  it  hangs  its  head.  If  used  as 
a  cut  flower  it  generally  requires  wiring,  but  in 
spite  of  this  drawback  it  is  so  beautiful  we  can 
hardly  dispense  with  it. 

The  most  fashionable  tints  among  the  Roses 
of  the  present  day  are  no  doubt   those  of  deep 


INVALUABLE    FOR    MASSING    AND    EXCELLENT    FOR    CUT    FLOWER 

ROSE    LADY    PIRRIE. 


salmon  orange,  terra-cotta,  bronze,  copper  and 
brilliant  yellow ;  and  in  the  Hybrid  Teas  and 
Pernetianas  an  almost  bewildering  number  of 
these  are  to  be  found.  Mme.  Edouard  Herriot 
is  still  the  most  effective  of  the  terra-cotta  shades 
in  the  garden.  It  is  so  erect  in  habit,  so  brilliant 
in  colour  and  so  extraordinarily  free  in  flowering 
that  no  one  can  pass  a  bed  of  this  variety  without 


comment.  Personally,  I  prefer  it  in  the  garden, 
where  its  somewhat  hard  colouring  is  softened  by  the 
various  lights  that  play  on  and  through  it,  to  its 
appearance  as  a  cut  flower,  especially  as,  when  cut, 
it  almost  immediately  hangs  its  head  ;  also  its 
superabundant  thorns,  which  in  the  bed  rather 
add  to  its  beauty,  are  a  distinct  disadvantage 
when  one  wants  to  put  the  cut  flowers  quickly 
into  a  vase  or  bowl.  Other  Roses  of  this  colour 
but  with  softer  tints  and  less  thorny  stems  are 
Lady  Pirrie,  Henrietta  (very  sweetly  scented), 
the  new  Padre  and  the  old  China  Comtesse  du 
Cayla.  This  last,  if  ver}'  slightly  pruned,  will 
grow  into  a  big  bush  and  give  quantities  of  its 
pretty  buds  till  November.  Lamia,  Severing  aiid 
Emma  Wright  are  all  varieties  with  flowers  of 
somewhat  similar  shades  of  orange,  bronze  and 
apricot  ;  while  the 
almost  single  Old  Gold 
has  added  tints  of 
sahnon  and  pink, 
rhey  are,  however, 
as  I  have  seen  them, 
not  quite  so  strong 
in  growth  as  the  othei 
varieties  I  ha\e  men- 
1        tioned. 

^  .\mong  the  brilliant 

yellow  Pernet  varietie 
we  ha\e  found  Golden 
Emblem  and  Mrs. 
Wemyss  Quinn  de- 
cidedly the  strongest 
growers.  They  throw 
up  long  stems,  which 
makes  them  useful 
sorts  to  grow  as 
cut  flowers,  though 
I  always  think  these 
golden  yellow  Roses 
lose  somewhat .  of 
their  attraction  rtiien 
brought  into  dihe 
house.  Christine-  is 
also  a  fine  golden 
colour,  but  is  perivaps 
not  so  s  t  r  o  n  A  in 
growth  as  could-;  be 
wished.  The-  'new 
variety  Rev.  F.  Page 
Roberts  promises  well. 
C.  E.  Shea,  Mrs.  Glen  Kidston  and  Dorothy 
Page  Roberts  all  make  delightful  groups  of  bright 
salmon  rose  tinted  blossoms,  and  are  worth  growing 
for  indoor  or  outdoor  decoration.  Mrs.  Glen 
Kidston  has  a  decided  perfume. 

In  hot  weather  such  as  we  had  last  summer 
some  of  the  cooler  shades  are  very  welcome.  The 
flesh  pinks  are  abundant.     Renee  Wilmot  Urban, 


-THE    BRILLIANT 


324 


THE     GARDEN. 


[July  8,  1922. 


not  otten  seen,  but  very  strong,  and  during  the 
summer,  at  any  rate,  making  exceedingly  pretty, 
and  well  formed  flowers,  is  worth  a  place  in  the 
garden ;  so  are  La  Tosca  and  Pharisaer,  the 
latter  often  being  good  enough  for  exhibition. 
La  Tosca,  if  allowed  to  grow  into  a  good-sized 
bush,  puts  up  long,  smooth  stems  with  loose, 
artistic  flowers  which  are  specially  delightful 
for  tall  vases.  Mme.  Leon  Pain,  a  deeper  salmon 
flesh,  is  quite  the  best  garden  Rose  of  this  colour, 
but  for  some  reason  the  flowers  are  apt  to  be  a 
little  disappointing  and  heavy  when  cut. 


have  expanded  they  open  well  indoors  and  last 
for  a  considerable  time  in  water. 

The  Rugosas,  which  make  fine  bushes  for 
garden  decoration,  are  not  good  as  cut  flowers. 
They  seem  to  shrink  and  fade  quickly  when  cut. 
The  chief  use  to  which  I  put  their  exceedingly 
fragrant  blossoms  is  to  make  them  into  pot- 
pourri.    For  this  purpose  they  are  unequalled. 

In  so  short  an  article  I  can  hardly  write  of  the 
Climbing  and  Dwarf  Polyanthas,  or  the  Wichurai- 
anas,  which  through  June  and  July  add  colour 
and  gaiety  to  our  gardens,  many  of  which  are  most 


Paul's  Lemon  Pillar,  with  large,  perfectly 
formed  lemon  white  flowers ;  and  Paul's 
Scarlet  Climber,  the  most  brilliant  red  climbing 
Rose  we  have. 

In  the  long  evenings  which  **  summer  time " 
gives  us  we  have  ample  opportunity  for  obser\-ing 
which  Roses  are  the  most  effective  for  the  garden, 
namely,  those  with  clear,  bright  colours,  good 
fohage  and  upright  habit,  the  flowers  being  borne 
on  stems  which  are  sufficiently  strong  to  hold 
them  upright ;  and  these,  especially  if  they  can 
be  cut  with  long  stems,  are  the  Roses  which  we 


THE  RICH   SALMON-PINK  CHARLES   E.   SHEA. 


AN     EXCELLENT    REDDISH-ORANGE    ROSE — LAMIA. 


Opheha  stands  alone  as  a  beautifully  formed 
and  fragrant  Rose  of  pale  flesh  flushed  in  the 
centre  with  orange  or  pink.  It  is  a  refined  Prince 
de  Bulgarie,  and  is  one  of  the  most  charming  of 
flowers  for  the  house. 

Mrs.  Herbert  Stevens  and  Molly  Sharman 
Crawford  (Teas),  with  Mme.  Jules  Bouche  (H.T.), 
are  perhaps  the  best  white  garden  Roses  we  have, 
though  White  Killarney,  when  grown  under  glass, 
is  quite  as  useful  as  a  cut  flower.  In  the  garden 
it  is  too  much  addicted  to  mildew  to  be  a  good 
bedder. 

The  cooler  shades  of  pink  are  not  fashionable 
at  the  present  time,  but  they  too  have  their  charms. 
Mrs.  E.  G.  Hill,  pale  pink  with  deeper  reverse, 
puts  up  loose  panicles  of  flowers  which  look  well 
in  the  garden  or  the  drawing-room,  but  they 
must  not  be  put  near  any  of  the  Mme.  Edouard 
Herriot  shades  of  colour  or  both  tints  will  lose 
much  of  their  beauty. 

Among  the  Roses  which  will  form  big  bushes 
we  have  found  Moonlight,  a  Hybrid  Musk  intro- 
duced by  Mr.  Pemberton,  quite  one  of  the  most 
decorative.  It  puts  up  huge  sprays  of  bronzy 
foliage  with  large  heads  of  small  creamy  white 
flowers.     If  these  are  picked  before  the  blossom 


useful  for  house  decoration.  Two  pillar  Roses, 
which  as  I  write  (June  24)  are  in  the  fulness  of 
their  beauty,  call  for  special  mention.     These  are 


shall  like  to  bring  into  our  rooms,  and  for  this  pur- 
pose we  shall  also  prefer  those  which  to  their  other 
charms  add  that  of  fragrance.        White  Lady. 


HARDY    HYBRID    RHODODENDRONS 

IN     1922 

Now  that  the  Rhododendron  season  is  on  the  wane  and  the  hardy  hybrids  are 
near  their  finish,  some   reflections  on  the  past  flowering  season  may   be   made. 


SO  far  as  the  earlier  varieties  were  con- 
cerned, the  conditions  of  weather  pre- 
vailing at  the  time  of  flowering  was  almost 
ideal  and,  consequently,  some  magnificent 
blooms  of  such  varieties  as  Pink  Pearl, 
George  Hardy,  Loder's  White,  Alice  and  others 
of  about  this  same  period  were  seen  to  the  finest 
advantage.  Later,  the  extreme  heat  developed 
blooms  at  such  a  pace  that  their  greatest  effect 
was  not  such  as  would  have  been  the  case  had  more 
favourable  conditions  of  weather  prevailed.  The 
later    blooms,    and    more    particularly    those    in 


flower  in  the  third  week  in  June,  owing  to  the 
considerable  change  in  the  weather,  came  out 
magnificently,  and  where  freely  planted  made 
as  grand  a  show  as  has  ever  been  seen. 

L'ndoubtedly  the  warm  weather  of  last  year, 
notwithstanding  the  extreme  conditions  of  drought, 
had  one  effect,  namely,  the  thorough  ripening  of 
wood,  which  has  affected  in  a  flowering  sense 
not  only  Rhododendrons,  but  almost  every  flower- 
ing tree  and  shrub  to  such  an  extent  that  there 
is  a  flower  on  almost  every  available  shoot,  this 
being   due   entirely   to   the   thorough   ripening   of 


July  8,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


325 


the  wood.  I  suppose  no  such  flowering  season 
bas  been  seen  for  many  years.  Such  familiar 
plants  as  the  Hawthorn,  Cherries,  Chestnuts, 
Acacias  and  Laburnums  have  been  covered  with 
a  mass  of  bloom,  and  a  similar  condition  has 
prevailed  with  the  more  shrubby  flowering  things, 
■such  as  Rhododendrons,  .Azaleas,  etc.  The  past 
winter,  with  its  catchy  periods,  proved  detrimental 
to  the  more  tender  varieties  of  Rhododendrons, 
more  particularly  those  grown  in  localities  to 
ivhich  they  are  not  essentially  adapted,  and  must 
have  proved  in  many  cases  a  considerable  dis- 
appointment, and  this  one  point  leads  me  to 
■enlarge  upon  the  advantages  of  the  strictly  hardy 
hybrids,  without  which  such  counties  as  Surrey 
and  Berkshire,  and  almost  any  county  outside  of 
the  favoured  few  on  the  western  seaboard  and 
to  some  extent  the  limited  number  of  favourably 
■situated  gardens  on  the  southern  slope  of  the 
hills  of  Surrey  and  Sussex,  would  have  a 
comparatively  poor  show  of  massed  bloom,  as  such 
can  only  be  obtained  there  from  the  hardy  hybrids. 

Referring  to  the  favourably  situated  gardens 
of  Surrey  and  Sussex,  here  in  woodland  planting 
•t  is  possible  to  obtain  successes  with  a  large  number 
of  semi-hardy  hybrids  and  species  that  it  is  not 
possible  to  deal  with  even  twenty  or  thirty  miles 
away  except  the  conditions  be  most  favourable, 
and  in  one  or  two  instances  known  to  me  there 
are  examples  of  these  more  tender  varieties 
succeeding,  but  their  average  annual  show  does 
not  compare  in  any  sense  with  that  provided 
■ivhen  the  hardy  hybrids  commence  to  flower 
about  the  middle  of  May  and  onwards. 

Recently,  I  have  been  in  Devonshire  and  Cornwall, 
and  in  the  case  of  the  former  was  much  impressed 
by  one  or  two  instances  of  the  glorious  effects  of 
hardy  hybrids  planted  perhaps  forty  or  fifty  years 
ago,  and  in  one  particular  instance  I  have  seen 
magnificent  specimens  of  well  known  v'arieties, 
such  as  Broughtonii,  Cynthia  and  others,  carrying 
from  5,000  to  10,000  heads  of  flowers  each. 
Seeing  these  plants  in  perfection,  as  I  did,  was  a 
revelation  even  to  me,  who  may  be  said  to  breathe 
Rhododendrons  from  one  year's  end  to  another. 
I  took  the  rough  dimensions  of  a  plant  of  Cynthia 
in  particular  and  estimated  it  to  be  iSft.  to  20ft. 
in  height  and  50ft.  in  circumference.  The  plant 
was  in  good  health  and  carried  a  truss  on  almost 
ever}-  available  shoot,  the  trusses  being  well 
developed  as  if  it  were  only  a  young  plant.  I 
need  hardly  say  that  such  a  sight  was  worth  going 
200  miles  to  see. 

I  have  often  been  told  and  have  seen  in  print 
that  the  flower  of  Rhododendron  Pink  Pearl 
deteriorates  in  size  as  the  plant  grows  older, 
and  I  confess,  seeing  how  badly  a  large  number 
of  plants  are  cared  for  in  private  gardens,  that 
this  particular  point  has  given  me  a  great  deal  of 
disappointment  from  time  to  time  ;  but  during 
my  visit  to  Devonshire  I  happened  to  see  a  plant 
of  Pink  Pearl  some  loft.  in  height  from  which  the 
owner  had  disbudded  some  50  per  cent,  of  the 
bloom  buds,  leaving  some  250  to  300  trusses  to 
develop,  and  I  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  no 
finer  blooms  could  have  been  seen.  Many  of  the 
individual  flowers  were  sjins.  across,  .\ttention 
must  be  given  to  anything  in  the  garden  to  obtain 
its  very  best  results,  and  I  see  no  reason  why 
equal  attention  should  not  be  given  to  Rhododen- 
drons as  to  many  other  plants  in  the  garden 
which  by  average  gardeners  are  well  cared  for. 

One  does  not  have  to  go  very  far  to  see  the 
disadvantages  of  bad  cultivation.  I  know  I  am 
treading  on  dangerous  ground,  but  during  the 
second  week  of  June  I  went  to  Kew,  partly  in 
response  to  a  note  which  I  saw  in  the  daily  papers 
that  the  following  Sunday  was  to  be  regarded  as 
Rhododendron  Sunday.  Here,  I  thought,  was  my 
opportunity    to    see    Kew    at    its    best.      I    was 


grievously  disappointed.  The  Rhododendrons  in 
the  dell  were  looking  fairly  satisfactory,  but 
consist  of  many  very  old-fashioned  types,  which 
have  been  superseded  in  the  last  thirty  or  forty 
years  by  the  in- 
troduction of  better 
things,  but  what 
impressed  me  most 
was  the  condition 
of  some  of  the 
beds  in  the  open. 
I  examined  these 
carefully  and  found 
no  signs  of  assist- 
ance in  the  way  of 
a  mulching  to  retain 
the  moisture,  and  in 
many  cases  the 
roots  of  plants 
were  actually  visible. 
In  consequence, 
they  were  nearly 
dried  up  and  the 
blooms  refused  to 
expand  for  lack  of 
moisture  and  sus- 
tenance. I  submit 
that  such  a  con- 
dition      in      our 


the  upper  portions  containing  a  fair  amount  of 
fibrous  loam.  There  are  some  magnificent  Rhodo- 
dendrons to  be  seen  in  this  district,  and  the 
blooms  produced  are  of  the  finest  quality.     Ideal 


national 
should 
tolerated 
moment. 


garden 

not     be 

for    one 

In     my 


view     there     is     no 

more    pitiable    sight 

than     to   see    plants 

in  a  half-starved   or 

badly  cultivated  con- 

dition,    and    my 

feeling    in    seeing 

such    plants    is   just 

the  same  as  I    have 

towards     a    cripple. 

There     does     not 

seem     to     be      any  THE 

particular     necessity 

for    me    to    enlarge 

on    this  point,  but  if  plants  are  worth  having  at 

all   they   are   worth    looking  after  properly. 

The  Rhododendron  is  a  plant  which  cannot  be 
planted  everywhere  and,  in  fact,  on  certain  soils 
containing  lime  in  any  form  it  is  ridiculous  to  make 
preparations  to  receive  these  plants.  The  cost 
of  estabhshing  anything  like  a  satisfactory  compost 
for  them  to  thrive  in  for  any  length  of  time  is 
prohibitive,  and  even  where,  after  treatment, 
plants  succeed  for  a  time,  sooner  or  later  the 
surrounding  lime  permeates  to  the  prepared 
soil,  with  consequent  failure  of  the  plants.  There 
are  other  soils,  such  as  a  very  unkind  clay  or 
soils  entirely  lacking  in  fibre,  where  Rhododen- 
drons do  not  thrive.  That  Rhododendrons  can 
only  be  grown  on  a  peaty  soil  is  quite  wrong. 
Probably  the  most  favourable  soil  is  a  light  fibrous 
loam,  and  I  have  knowledge  of  many  Rhododen- 
drons growing  exceedingly  well  in  soil  which  does 
not  contain  peat  in  any  form.  Undoubtedly  the 
ideal  conditions  for  Rhododendrons  are  to  be  found 
on  certain  districts  of  the  "  Bagshot  Sands,"  more 
particularly  in  the  valleys,  where  Nature  has 
washed  for  centuries  the  better  soil  into  the 
lower  sections  forming  a  deep  surface  of  suitable 
compost  largely  of  a  vegetable  character,  while 
underneath  the  drainage  is  perfect.  The 
"  Bagshot  Sands,"  when  properly  cultivated, 
are  capable  of  supporting  Rhododendrons  to  the 
very  best  advantage. 

One  of  the  finest  Rhododendron  soils  to  be 
found  is  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Heaton  Mersey, 
near  Stockport.     This  consists  of  an  alluvial  sand. 


MANGLES     HYBRIDS     HAVE     DONE     WELL     THIS 
ISABEL    MANGLES,  A    PARTICULARLY    FINE    ONE. 


EFAiCN. 


conditions  can  also  be  found  in  many  woods  in  all 
parts  of  England  ;  in  fact,  the  woodland  planting 
of  Rhododendrons  is  still  in  its  infancy.  The 
knowledgeable  amateur  has  already  found  that 
much  better  results  can  be  obtained  not  only  in 
the  quality  of  the  bloom,  but  in  the  growth  of 
the  plant,  and  more  particularly  in  the  maintenance 
of  the  true  colour,  which  in  many  Rhododendrons, 
when  fully  exposed  to  the  sun's  rays,  is  soon 
bleached  and  taken  out  of  character. 

In  the  North  of  England  and  in  Scotland  Rhodo- 
dendrons and  many  other  flowers  are  able  to  stand 
the  full  exposure  of  the  sun,  which  is  not  so  powerful 
as  in  the  South,  the  atmospheric  conditions  being 
quite  different.  In  the  course  of  my  business  I 
have  often  been  taken  round  gardens  and  shown 
successes  or  failures,  and  the  many  failures  that 
I  see  are  due  entirely  to  lack  of  judgment  in  the 
placing  of  beds.  Sometimes  a  draughty  spot 
may  be  selected,  or  one  on  a  southern  slope  where 
drainage  and  e\'aporation  pre\ent  any  moisture 
remaining  to  serve  the  plants.  Again,  many 
Rhododendron  beds  are  formed  in  a  shape  resem- 
bling a  hog's  back,  and  the  poor  plants  that  happen 
to  be  on  the  top  of  such  an  elevation  probably 
never  become  thoroughly  moistened  after  onct 
being  placed  in  position. 

In  other  articles  I  have  referred  to  the  manner 
in  which  the  average  gardener  rakes  and  sweeps 
up  all  the  nourishment  provided  by  Nature  without 
attempting  to  replace  it.  A  pricking  over  of  the 
beds  from  time  to  time  and  a  mulching  of  peat 
or  leaf-mould,     with,    perhaps,  the    addition    ok 


326 


THE     GARDEN. 


[July  8,  1922. 


some  cow  manure,  would  make  a  marvellous 
difference  to  the  well-doing  of  plants  distributed 
in  beds  where  ordinary  nourishment  does  not 
reach  them.  In  woodland  planting,  more  par- 
ticularly in  wild  form.  Nature  looks  after  these 
things  to  some  extent,  and  although  the  original 
preparation  of  the  ground  should  be  thorough, 
in  this  case  the  after-care  is  never  onerous.  Dry 
seasons,  such  as  we  have  experienced  last  year 
and  to  some  extent  already  this  season,  show- 
very  clearly  the  contrast  between  proper  culti- 
vation and  the  lack  of  any  care  and  attention. 

Perhaps  it  may  be  of  interest  to  mention  Rhodo- 
dendrons that  I  have  this  year  seen  flowering  in 
fine  form,  and  first  I  should  like  to  name 
Smithii  album  or  Bodartianura.  This  beautiful 
white,  although  flowering  early,  came  through 
some  very  bad  weather,  and  a  large  plant  in  the 
'  Bagshot  Nurseries  flowered  almost  to  perfection. 
Ascot  Brilliant  was  also  very  satisfactory  this 
year,  and  this  was  followed  almost  immediately 
by  J.  G.  Millais,  a  very  fine  Rhododendron  owing 
its  parentage  on  one  side  to  Ascot  Brilhant.  It 
is  saip;by  many  to  be  one  of  the  finest  hybrids 
ever  sent  out  by  the  Bagshot  Nurseries,  and 
undoubtedly  as  a  fairly  hardy  early  Rhododendron 
'  ~  is  very  hard  to  beat. 

Coming  to  the  later  section  of  Rhododendrons 
but  still  among  the  early  forms  of  the  hardier 
hybrids,  Pink  Pearl  flowered  grandly,  and  .■\Uce 
probably  has  never  flowered  better.  This  grand 
variety  may  be  said  to  rival  Pink  Pearl,  not  only 
as  to  beauty,  but  as  regards  general  character 
and  as  an  aU-round  garden  plant.  The  old  variety 
Cynthia  has  flowered  magnificently  this  year, 
so  have  George  Hardy  and  others  of  the  Mangles 
hybrids,  with  the  exception  of  the  narrow  leaf 
form  which  is  usually  known  as  Manglesii.  This 
had  suffered  considerably  in  the  bud  at  Bagshot 
and  did  not  flower  particularly  well. 

Bagshot  Ruby  and  Corona  proved  again  their 
great  merit,  and  Bernard  Crisp  was  magnificent 
where  it  was  not  exposed  to  the  full  rays  of  the 
sun. 

Perhaps  one  of  the  best  Rhododendrons  of  the 
later  section  is  Donald  Waterer.  This  beautiful 
deep  pink  with  its  yellow  marking  has  been  for 
a  matter  of  a  fortnight  a  prominent  feature  in 
the  nurseries.  Other  varieties  which  have  flowered 
particularly  well  this  year  may  be  mentioned  as 
follows,  namely,  Francis  B.  Hayes,  Gomer  Waterer 
(of  its  type  the  finest  Rhododendron  yet  produced), 
Duchess  of  Teck,  Michael  Waterer,  Frederick 
Waterer,  Lady  Cathcart,  John  Henry  Agnew, 
Mrs.  William  Agnew.  Minnie  and  so  on.  It  would 
be  impossible  to  enumerate  all  the  varieties  that 
have  been  seen  to  flower  well  this  season  in  favour- 
able conditions,  but  it  would  not  be  right  to 
pass  over  the  particular  merits  of  Mrs.  E.  C. 
Stirhng,  which  produced  some  magnificent  blooms 
this  year,  and  the  very  old  Mme.  Carvalho,  which 
even  at  the  end  of  the  third  week  of  June  was 
still  very  beautiful. 

One  thing  which  has  much  impressed  itself 
upon  me  this  year,  although  I  have  always  known 
it,  is  the  great  beauty  of  some  of  the  oldest  hybrids. 
I  refer  to  varieties  raised  some  forty  or  fifty  years 
ago.  It  is  true  when  in  the  small  state  these 
sorts  may  be  passed  over,  for  it  is  only  when 
they  are  sizeable  plants  that  they  begin  to  show 
their  great  merits.  Such  varieties  as  John  Waterer, 
Michael  Waterer,  B.  W.  Currie,  Lady  C.  Mitford 
and  H.  W.  Sargent  when  seen  as  big  plants  are 
wonderfully  beautiful.  F.  Gomer  Waterer. 

[.Mr.  Waterer  sent  a  photograph  of  the  fine 
flowered  specimen  Pink  Pearl  to  which  he  makes 
reference,  which  bears  out  his  statement  as  to 
the  vigour  of  the  plant  and  size  of  the  blossoms. 
Unfortunately  the  photograph  is  unsuitable  for 
reproductioiL — Ed.] 


THE  DEVELOPMENT  OF  THE  CARNATION 
AND  ITS  HYBRIDS 


A    r>V.\N'CE    in    horticulture    is    so    fiOW,  so 

/\      gradual,  that  to  the  average  gardener  it 

/    %     is  scarcely  noticeable,  yet  certain  flowers 

^^^%  at  certain  periods  have,  as  it  were,  their 

^  *  revelation,  and  the  old  order  of  things 

becomes  changed.     -Such  an  upheaval  ha    taken 

place    with    the    Orchid    and    the    Rose.      Floral 


A    TYPICAL    PERPETUAL    MALMAISON 
CARNATION. 

committees  often  oppose  this  hybridisation  and 
introduction  of  new  types,  but  floral  committees, 
like  go\einments,  cannot  oppose  for  long  the  will 
of  the  pei^plc,  so  new  and  popular  races  of  plants, 
such  as  the  Hybrid  Tea  Rose,  become  generally 
recognised  and  in  course  of  time  almost  entirely 
supplant  the  older  kinds  ;  this  in  a  measure  may 
be  sad,  but  it  is  after  all  merely  evolution. 

The  changes  which  are  taking  place  in  the 
Carnation  world  to-day  could  not  have  taken  place 
twenty  years  ago,  because  the  Perpetual  type  of 
Carnation  at  that  time  was  not  sufficiently  fixed 
or  developed  to  have  the  influence  it  has  to  day  ; 
even  now  the  work  is  done  with  highly  developed 
seedlings,  not  the  named  varieties  m  commerce. 
Malmaisons. 

Ihe  old  type  of  blush,  Souv.  de  la  Malmaison, 
made  popular  years  ago  by  the  Empress  Josephine, 
ha=  become  little  more  than  a  memory,  and  the 
glorious  deep  pink  Princess  of  Wales,  which  Queen 
Alexandra  made  the  flower  of  fashion,  has  also 
lost  fa\our,  simply  because  the  newly  introduced 
American  Perpetual  Carnations  supplanted  them. 
To-day,  however,  we  have  the  Perpetual  Maimaison, 
which,  defying  time  and  season,  is  always  in  bloom. 
In  colouring  the  varieties  of  this  new  type  are 
more  beautiful  than  their  predecessors  and,  in  a 
few  years,  we  shal.  see  the  new  Perpetual  Malmaison 
reigning  in  its  rightful  place  as  the  aristocrat  of  the 
Carnation  world.  Its  cultivation  is  much  easier 
and  simpler  than  that  of  the  old  type.  It  is  best 
grown  under  glass  the  entire  year,  with  just  a  little 
heat  in  winter,  like  the  ordinary  Perpetual-flowering 
Carnation,  in  fact,  the  two  live  neighbourly  together, 
requiring  the  same  cultivation. 

Perpetual-Flowering  Carnations. 

The  present-day  varieties  are  improvements 
mainly    because    they    grow    much    more    easily 


than    the   earlier   .American    varieties ;    also    they 
are  more  productive. 

The  greatest  trouble  with  this  delightful  race 
of  Carnations  is  that  peopie  will  persist  in  coddling 
them  with  too  much  artificial  heat  and  insufficient 
ventilation  ;  also  they  will  add  leaf-mould  to  the 
potting  soil,  which  the  plants  abhor.  All  the 
Dianthus  family,  in  fact,  grow  better  without  it. 

Border  Carnations. 

The  old  type  of  Border  Carnation  retains  its 
popularity  and,  undoubtedly,  the  more  modern 
varieties  are  considerable  improvements  on  those 
of,  say,  fifteen  years  ago.  The  National  Carnation 
and  Picotee  Society  are  encouraging  more  and 
more  self-coloured  garden  kinds  rather  than 
purely  exhibition  varieties,  hence  the  more  recent 
kinds  are  easier  to  cultivate  and  will  flourish  in 
any  sunny  garden. 

The  New  Hardy  Perpetual  "  Borders." 

This  new  race  of  Carnation,  like  .^llwoodii, 
is  being  despised  by  one  Carnation  society  and 
rejected  by  the  other.  Even  the  R.H.S.  refuses 
to  recognise  it ;  however,  the  general  public, 
who  alone  really  matter,  have  taken  most  favour- 
ably to  them,  and  when  stocks  permit  and  prices 
are  reduced  they  will  be  found  in  almost  every 
garden  because  of  their  hardiness,  freedom  of 
liowering  from  June  to  October  outdoors,  fragrance 
and  ease  of  cultivation.  The  Perpetual  Border 
is  a  cross-bred  race  and,  hke  most  cross-breds, 
has  almost  an  excess  of  vigour.  The  formation 
of  the  flowers  is  not  cjuite  so  perfect  as  with  the 
old-fashioned  Border  kinds,  but  all  have  smooth- 
edged  petals  with  a  delightfully  wide  range  of 
colours. 

Tliey  grow  freely  in  any  sunny  garden.  Like 
all  Carnations,  they  abhor  leaf-mould,  but  love 
a  little  old  mortar  rubble  or  lime  added  to  the 
soil. 

They  may  be  planted  in  the  garden  at  any  season. 
Cuttings  root  readily  in  sand  from  pl.nnts  growing 
outdoors  during  the  summer  months,  or  layers 
may  be  taken.  The  young  plants  are,  like  all 
Perpetual  Carnations,  stopped  at  the  sixth  pair 
of  leaves,  and  in  the  garden  they  grow  almost 
into  bushes. 

The   Border   Pink  and  its  Hybrids. 

The  hon-icly,  unassuming  Httle  Pink  was  once 
one  of  the  most  popular  of  garden  flowers.  Innu- 
merable raisers  of  new  varieties  competed  with 
each  other  at  the  various  Pink  shows,  and  they  had 
elaborate  rules  as  to  the  \arious  formations  and 
m.irkings  of  the  flower,  until  it  was  lifted  right  out 
of  its  sphere  of  usefulness  as  a  common  hardy 
garden  flower  and  gradually  lost  popularity  ;  these 
elaborate  laced  exhibition  varieties  fell  out  ot 
favour  with  the  pubhc,  the  httle  Pink  sank  right 
back  to  a  very  lowly  estate,  and  the  old  variety, 
Mrs.  Sinkins,  which  was  an  outcast,  alone  retained 
the  popularity  of  its  kind.  Happily  to-day  we  have 
many  new  forms  oi  Pink  being  raised  and  exhibited, 
some  hybrids,  others  not.  Mr.  Herbert  and  Mr. 
Douglas  have  many  magnificent  seedlings. 

Alhvoodii,  which  are  half  Pink  and  half  Perpetual 
Carnation,  but  which  resemble  Pinks  in  habit, 
should  restore  the  popularity  of  the  flower,  even 
without  the  motherly  care  ot  the  floral  committees, 
which  often  lack  imagination.  The  public  will 
not  tolerate  any  variety  of  Pink  which  is  not 
sweetly  scented  or  lacks  a  robust  constitution, 
also  they  must  be  perfectly  hardy.  For  myself 
I  think  the  Pink  should  be  "  perpetual  "  flowering 
from  spring  to  winter  out  of  doors. 


July  8,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


327 


As  regard?  cultivation,  a  variety  of  Allwoodii 
or  Hnk  which  calls  for  special  cultivation  and 
care  is  not  desirable.  In  my  opinion  all  that 
they  have  a  right  to  expect  is  a  sunny  position, 
and  any  soil  can  be  made  to  their  liking  by  the 
addition  of  a  little  air-slacked  lime  or  old  mortar 
rubble.  Cuttings  root  readily  from  June  to 
September,  and  these  when  rooted  can  be  planted 
in  the  garden  at  any  season. 


For  myself,  1  believe  we  have  on'y  just  begun 
to  develop  the  Divine  Flower,  that  all  sorts  of 
beautiful  new  plants  with  flowers  of  varying  forms 
and  colours  will  presently  be  seen.  The  use  of 
the  delightful  old-fashioned  Sweet  WilHam  and 
Alpine  Dianthuses  for  interbreeding  may  well 
open  up  almost  a  new  floral  kingdom  ;  such  is 
evolution. 

Havwards  Heath.  Montagu  C.  Ali.wood. 


TULIPS    IN    WALES 


EVERYTHING  must  have  a  beginning. 
There  was  a  time  when  there  were  no 
Tulips  in  Holland.  The  many  milhons 
that  can  be  found  there  to-day  were 
once  represented  by  a  few  rows  in  a 
kitchen  garden  I  Wales  has  produced  a  very  famous 
Prime  Minister.  Why  should  she  not  produce 
equally  famous  Tulips  ?  As  far  as  I  know  there 
is  no  reason  whatever.  She  has  made  a  start. 
There  are  small  Tulip  centres  at  St.  Asaph  and  at 
Llanfair  P.  G.,  where  the  bulbs  thrive  amazingly. 
..\nyone  who  happened  to  visit  the  last  Chelsea 
Show  might  have  seen  for  themselves  the  truth 
of  my  last  statement  in  the  exhibit  put  up  by  the 
Anglesey  Bulb  Growers'  Association,  .^s  exhibits 
go  at  this  big  Show,  it  was  not  a  large  one,  so  what 
gained  for  it  the  high  honour  of  a  silver  cup  was 
not  size,  but  quality.  I  was  immensely  taken  with 
what  I  saw,  and  had  I  not  been  assured  by  Mr. 
Watts,  who  was  in  charge,  that  all  had  been  cut 
from  the  open  just  as  they  were,  I  should  have  come 
away  thinking  that  the  big  blooms  were  the  result 
of  glass  or  protection  of  some  kind,  together  with 
high  feeding.  Already  those  responsible  for  the 
management  are  casting  about  for  more  suitable 
land.  I  rather  think  that  some  which  I  happen  to 
know  from  passing  it  in  the  train,  has  been  pro- 
visionally thought  of,  if  the  very  necessary  item  of 
acquisition  can  be  fixed  up.  I  have  twice  seen 
"  Holland  in  Ireland,"  as  the  bulb  fields  of  Messrs. 
Hogg  and  Robertson  at  Rush  have  been  playfully 
named.  If  I  am  not  greatly  mistaken  before  very 
long  we  shall  be  able  to  see  a  "  Holland  in  Wales." 
There  is  no  earthly  reason  %vhy  it  should  not  be  so. 
Suitable  land  is  there  all  right.  In  my  opinion  it 
all  depends  on  the  human  factor.  Knowledge, 
thoroughness,  gumption  and  labour  are  all  equally 


as  necessary  as  good  ground.  Given  these  the 
culture  of  certain  bulbs  as  a  business  proposition  is 
well   within   the   bounds   of   possibility.     What   a 


of  Holland  have  adapted  themselves  to  circum- 
stances. To  a  large  extent,  however,  the  best  land 
for  Hyacinth  growing  had  almost  all  gone,  and  the 
expense  of  getting  less  suitable  land  into  a  proper 
condition  was  becoming  exceedingly  heavy,  so  the 
change  (if  it  was  a  little  galling  to  find  the  special 
flower  of  Holland  was  becoming  less  and  less 
appreciated  by  the  flower-loving  world),  had  the 
substantial  compensation  of  a  bigger  volume  of 
trade  than  ever.  For  years  we  Britishers  have  been 
rubbing  our  eyes.  That  is  how  we  may  look  upon 
what  we  have  done  in  the  past.  It  is  about  time 
we  really  woke  up  to  the  possibilities  of  our  own 
land.  If  the  purchase  of  many  acres  of  land  in 
Lincolnshire  by  some  keen  and  enterprising  Dutch- 
man is  not  sufficient  a  prod  to  make  us  open  our 


WELSH     TULIPS. 


change  has  come  over  the  bulb  trade  within  the 
last  half  century  !  Well  within  living  memory  it 
was  all  Hyacinths,  early  Tulips  and  bunch-flowered 
Daffodils  (polyanthus  Narcissi)  in  the  ancient 
home  of  the  bulb-growing  industry.  Now  it  is 
Daffodils  of  all  kinds,  May-flowering  TuHps  and 
Hyacinths.     It  is  very  wonderful  how  the  growers 


ANOTHER      VIEW. 


eyes,  what  would  be  ?  In  the  past  we  have  not 
been  sharp  enough  to  see  the  chance  the  change 
of  taste  opened  to  us  in  Britain — at  least,  few  of 
us  have  been.  There  have  been  exceptions.  If 
we  had  all  been  Walter  T.  Wares  the  history  of 
bulb  growing  in  Britain  would  haye  been  different. 
There  would  have  been  far  more  British  grown  bulbs 
to-day  for  the  British  to  buy,  and  their  general 
quality  would  have  been  better.  There  is  no  use 
crying  peace  when  there  is  no  peace  any  more  than 
in  living  in  a  fools'  paradise  with  regard  to  our  home 
productions.  Insular  pride  cannot  turn  one  goose 
into  a  swan.  I  have  bought  British  grown  Tulips 
from  various  sources.  I  regret  to  say  I  have  found 
the  samples  of  very  varying  quality — good,  bad 
and  indifferent.  This,  must  not  be.  If  we  want 
our  own  people  to  buy  our  home-grown  bulbs — 
if  we  want  this  industry  to  grow  larger  and  become 
more  important — we  must  offer  for  sale  none  but 
those  which  come  up  to  the  high  standard  of  the 
Dutch.  I  beheve  this  is  what  the  Anglesey  Bulb 
Growers  have  set  before  themselves  in  taking  up 
the  cultivation  of  the  Tulip.  To  see  for  myself  the 
type  of  bulb  they  could  supply  I  bought  five  hundred 
bulbs  of  the  well  known  Darwin  Clara  Butt  last 
autumn.  Now  that  I  have  both  handled  the  dry 
bulbs  and  seen  the  quality  of  the  blooms  these 
same  bulbs  have  produced  in  my  own  garden, 
I  can  confidently  say  that  my  friends  in 
Anglesey  have  made  a  most  promising  >  start 
and  that  there  is  no  reason  why  their  venture 
should  not  be  crowned  with  success.  Seeing  is 
believing,  except  when  you  are,  say,  one  of  the 
audience  at  "  Maskelyne's."  Photographs  in  The 
G.'iRDEN  are  above  suspicion.  Tulips  in  Wales  even 
now  are  no  myth.  Joseph  J.\cob. 


328 


THE     GARDEN. 


[July  8,  1922. 


THE    GREAT    SUMMER    ROSE    SHOW 


THE  success  of  a  flower  show  usually 
depends  largely  on  the  weather,  and 
although  the  early  morning  of  June  29 
was  not  too  promising,  there  was  a 
very  large  attendance  at  the  Summer 
Show  of  the  National  Rose  Society  held  in  the 
Royal  Botanic  Society's  Gardens,  Regent's  Park. 
Generally,  the  day  was  fine,  but  there  were  several 
very  heavy  showers  which  compelled  the  visitors 
who  had  temporarily  left  the  tents  hurriedly  to 
seek  shelter.  But  between  these  showers  the 
weather  was  pleasantly  fine,  and  the  bursts  of 
sunshine  were  tempered  by  a  cool  breeze  which 
added  to  the  comfort  of  those  in  the  tents  and 
kept  the  blooms  fresh  throughout  the  day.  The 
general  quality  of  the  blooms  was  quite  the  highest 
for  the  past  seven  or  eight  years  at  least,  and 
the  entries  were  also  the  largest  of  recent  years, 
and  as  probably  25  per  cent,  of  these  were  from 
new  exhibitors,  this  augurs  well  for  the  continued 
prosperity  of  the  Society. 

Silver  medals  were  awarded  to  the  following 
as  being  the  best  blooms  of  their  respective  types 
in  the  Show.  Nurserymen's  Classes :  Louise 
Crette,  H.  P.,  shown  by  Messrs.  G.  and  H.  Burch  ; 
Mrs.  George  Marriott,  H.  T.,  by  Messrs.  Alex. 
Dickson  and  Sons  ;  Mrs.  Campbell  Hall,  T.,  by 
Mr.  George  Prince.  Amateur's  Classes  :  Candeur 
Lyonnaise,  H.  P.,  by  Mr.  S.  W.  Burgess  ;  Mildred 
Grant,  H.  T.,  by  Mr.  \.  R.  Reeves  ;  and  W.  R. 
Smith,  T.,  by  the  Rev.  F.  R.  Bumside. 

The  increased  exhibits  and  high  quality  were 
very  noticeable  in  many  of  the  amateurs'  classes. 
The     Champion     Trophy     was     again     won     by 


Mr.  H.  L.  Wettem,  Oxted,  who  had  thirty-six  ex- 
cellent Roses.  The  best  were  Avoca,  Her  Majesty, 
Freda,  Hugh  Dickson,  Mrs.  J.  Welch,  George 
Dickson,  and  Mrs.  F.  Dennison.  Dr.  R.  E.  Turn- 
bull,  Colchester,  was  a  good  second,  but  while 
many  of  his  blooms  were  very  large  and  shapely, 
they  were  not  so  even  as  the  champion  collection 
and  they  shewed  more  signs  of  the  stress  of  weather. 
Dr.  TurnbuU  had  exceedingly  good  specimens  of 
H.  V.  Machin,  Hugh  Dickson,  Mrs.  Edward  Mawley 
and  Lyon  Rose. 

In  the  class  for  twenty-four  distinct  blooms  the 
competition  was  also  quite  good  and  here  Mr. 
John  Hart,  Potters  Bar,  won  the  Edward  Mawley 
Challenge  Cup  with  a  very  even  collection  which, 
however,  were  a  trifle  weather-stained.  His  out- 
standing sorts  were  J.  L.  Mock,  Mrs.  J.  Welch, 
Mildred  Grant,  Gorgeous  and  Mrs.  Ehsha  Hicks. 
In  Dr.  TurnbuU's  second  prize  set  the  best  were 
Mrs.  George  Marriott,  a  variety  that  was  shown 
consistently  well  throughout  the  amateurs'  classes, 
Rev.  F.  Page-Roberts  and  Lemon  Pillar. 

Of  the  many  good  exhibits  of  twelve  distinct 
blooms  the  best  was  by  Mr.  J.  E.  Rayer,  Worcester, 
who  had  especially  fine  blooms  of  Candeur  Lyon- 
naise, Mrs.  George  Marriott,  Mrs.  Theodore 
Roosevelt  and  Mme.  Jules  Gravereaux.  Dr.  T.  E. 
Pallett,  Earls  Colne,  ran  the  winner  very  close, 
shewing  very  good  examples  of  George  Dickson, 
Mrs.  Henry  Morse  and  Lemon  Pillar.  Dr.  Pallett 
was  first  in  the  next  class,  which  required  three 
blooms  each  of  eight  varieties.  His  best  sets  were 
of  Mrs.  J.  Welch,  Mildred  Grant  and  Mrs.  George 
Marriott.    Mr.  G.  Speight,  Market  Harborough,  the 


second  prize  winner,  had  a  particularly  good  set 
of  George  Dickson. 

In  the  section  for  growers  of  fewer  than  1,000 
plants  the  Challenge  Cup  was  won  by  Mr.  F.  H. 
Fieldgate,  Colchester,  who,  in  this  very  popular 
class,  had  beautiful  blooms  of  Lady  Barham, 
Mrs.  John  Laing  and  Candeur  Lyonnaise.  Mr. 
Fieldgate  also  won  the  first  prize  in  the  class  for 
three  blooms  each  of  six  varieties  with  another 
excellent  exhibit,  of  which  Mrs.  J.  Welch  and 
George  Dickson  were  superb.  Mr.  R.  de  V.  Pryor, 
Hitchin,  had  the  best  of  many  exhibits  of  nine 
blooms  in  the  class  for  growers  of  fewer  than  500 
plants,  where  he  staged  George  Dickson  and  Mrs. 
Charles  Russell  of  superb  quality.  In  the  class  for 
six  blooms,  Mr.  F.  G.  Hayes,  Dunster,  was  pre- 
eminent and  he  had  a  grand  bloom  of  Madame  Jules 
Gravereaux.  Mr.  J.  E.  Rayer  had  the  best  six 
blooms  of  any  one  variety  in  the  same  section,  and 
like  most  of  his  rivals  showed  Snow  Queen. 

The  extra  classes  for  amateurs  who  grow  their 
Roses  unaided  were  very  popular  and  included  some 
praiseworthy  blooms,  the  twenty-four  distinct 
varieties  that  won  the  Nicholson  Challenge  Cup 
for  Mr.  G.  Speight  included  splendid  examples  of 
Dean  Hole,  Lady  Barham,  E.  Burnett  and  George 
Dickson. 

The  Metropolitan  Classes  are  arranged  for 
competition  among  members  who  grow  their 
Roses  within  eight  or  ten  miles  from  Charing 
Cross  and  it  would  seem  that  practically  all  varieties 
can  be  successfully  grown  in  the  "  near  suburbs." 
The  Williamson  Challenge  Cup  in  this  section  was 
won  by  Mr.  G.  Speight.     The  outstanding  blooms 


AN   EXCELLENT   NEW  BUTTONHOLE  ROSE,  THE  ORANGE 
YELLOW    LUCILE  BARKER. 


SOMETHING   LIKE  A   PALER  LADY   HILLINGDON — MARY 
MERRYWEATHER. 


July  8,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


329 


were  of  Dean  Hole,  J.  B.  Clark,  Florence  Forrestier, 
George  Dickson,  Lyon  Rose,  Mabel  Drew,  Mrs. 
Foley  Hobbs,  Candeur  Lyonnaise,  A.  Hartmann 
and  Mrs.  Charles  Russell. 

Tea  and  Noisette  Roses  were  a  great  feature  of 
the  amateurs'  classes  and  here  the  first  prize 
collections  were  better  than  those  in  the  nursery- 
men's section.  The  Trophy  was  won  by  the 
Rev.  E.  R.  Burnside  with  most  beautiful  blooms 
of  such  sorts  as  W.  R.  Smith,  Mrs.  Foley  Hobbs, 
Mme.  Constance  Soupert  and  Medea.  In  the  class 
for  nine  blooms,  Mr.  W.  E.  Moore  was  first  with 
excellent  blooms.  Mrs.  Foley  Hobbs,  Auguste 
Comte,  Ale.x.  Hill  Gray  and  Mrs.  Myles  Kennedy 
were  the  very  best. 

The  arrangement  of  Roses  on  a  space  5ft.  by 
3ft.  was  a  popular  class.  The  first  prize  was  won 
by  Mr.  Geo.  Marriott,  who  used  such  sorts  as 
K.  of  K.,  Lady  Pirrie,  the  Queen  -Alexandra  Rose 
and  Golden  Emblem  to  good  effect.  Dr.  M. 
Lacroze,  who  was  second,  had  a  heavier  but  very 
effective  arrangement.  Mr.  Marriott  was  also  first 
with  twelve  varieties  of  decorative  Roses,  though 
the  second  prize  exhibit  was  better  arranged,  the 
vases  of  Moonlight,  Jacques  Vincent,  Lady  Hilling- 
don  and  Mrs.  Werayss  Quin  were  very  attractive. 
In  the  class  for  a  group  on  a  space  3ft.  by  3ft., 
Mrs.  Oakley  Fisher  made  a  good  show  with  such 
sorts  as  Tausendschon,  Emily  Grey  and  Crimson 
Rambler. 


NEW     ROSES. 

The  special  tent  was  well  filled  with  new  Roses, 
and  there  was  the  usual  "  waiting  list  "  of  enthu- 
siasts at  the  entrance.  Although  only  two  gold 
medals  were  awarded,  the  general  merit  of  the 
new  seedlings  was  quite  equal  to  that  of  the 
exhibits  of  former  years,  and  it  is  quite  possible 
that  some  of  the  varieties  that  on  this  occasion 
received  the  secondary  award  of  a  certificate 
of  merit  will  be  further  honoured  in  the  future. 

Alice  Amos. — This  is  one  of  the  best  Dwarf 
Polyanthas  (Rosa  multiflora  type)  of  recent  intro- 
duction. It  might  almost  be  termed  a  miniature 
American  Pillar,  as  the  colouring  is  much  like 
that  splendid  Rambler  Rose,  though  it  is  a  trifle 
brighter.  The  flowers  are  from  ijins.  to  2ins. 
across,  and  are  freely  and  continuously  produced. 
It  is  recommended  for  pot  culture  and  for  bedding. 
Certificate  of  merit  to  Messrs.  D.  Prior  and  Son. 

Atalanta. — This  graceful,  free-flowering  rambUng 
cUmber  was  entered  for  the  Cory  Cup  competition, 
and  while  we  suspect  that  its  delicate  fragrance  is 
not  sufficiently  pronounced  to  win  that  trophy, 
it  has  distinct  garden  merits.  It  is  a  clean-growing, 
\'igorous  variety  which  bears  large  trusses  of 
quaintly  beautiful  semi-double  flowers  about 
2jins.  across  of  creamy  apricot  flowers  which 
become  blush  coloured  at  maturity.  Raised  and 
shown  by  Dr.  A.  H.  Williams. 

Bessie  Chaplin.— An  excellent  H.T.  Rose 
which  we  anticipate  will  have  a  great  future  in 
our  gardens.  It  is  a  large,  shapely,  full  bloom, 
much  of  La  France  type,  but  not  quite  so  silvery 
a  pink  shade  of  colour,  though  one  or  two  mature 
blooms  approached  it.  This  delightful  soft  pink 
Rose  is  recommended  for  exhibition  and  decorative 
purposes,  and  we  are  inclined  to  add  that  it  should 
be  a  splendid  sort  for  standards.  Certificate  of 
merit  to  Messrs.  Chaplin  Brothers. 

Captain  Kilbee  Stuart. — When,  two  years  ago, 
this  crimson  H.T.  Rose  received  a  certificate  of 
merit  discerning  rosarians  confidently  predicted 
a  gold  medal  in  the  near  future.  It  will  probably 
first  of  all  be  an  exhibition  Rose,  but  will  also  be 
of  great  value  in  the  garden  and  as  cut  blooms. 
It  may  be  termed  an  improved  Edward  Mawley, 
and  the  stout,  broad  petals  are  of  glowing  velvety 
crimson  within  and  shaded  scarlet  on  the  outside. 


It  is  also  delightfully  fragrant.  The  large  leaves 
are  of  a  medium  shade  of  green,  a  trifle  inclined 
to  paleness.  Gold  medal  to  Messrs.  Alex.  Dickson 
and  Sons. 

Innocence. — An  elegantly  beautiful  single  H.T. 
Rose  of  refreshing  Tea  Rose  fragrance.  It  appears 
to  be  very  free  flowering,  and  the  foliage  is  a  rich 
dark  green  colour.  The 
flowers  are  4iins.  across, 
stout-petalled,  and  their 
milky  whiteness  has 
just  the  faintest  sugges- 
tion of  pale  blush.  The 
buds  are  very  pretty, 
of  good  shape  and 
tinged  with  apricot.  In 
the  centre  there  is  a 
fascinating  little  cluster 
of  golden  stamens  set  on 
short  carmine  stalks. 
Certificate  of  merit  to 
Mr.    W.    R.   Chaplin. 

J.  G.  GlassfoTd.  — 
This  vigorous  H.T.  Rose 
has  been  shewn  on 
several  previous  occa 
sions,  when  it  must  have 
narrowly  missed  award. 
It  is  a  long-pointed 
bloom,  fully  double 
and  of  deep  crimson 
lake  colour  that  does 
not  appear  to  fade  with 
age.  Certificate  of  merit 
to  Messrs.  Hugh  Dickson, 
Limited. 

Lady  Roundway.  -—  If 
a  vote  of  the  visitors 
had  been  taken  this  most 
glorious  Rose  would 
have  had  a  gold  medal, 
but  the  judges  contented 
themselves  with  the  lesser 
award.  It  is  a  free- 
flowering      Pernetiana 

variety  of  medium  size,  somewhat  flatfish 
shape  and  delicious  fragrance.  The  buds  are 
heavily  flushed  with  cardinal  red,  and  when 
fully  open  the  colour  becomes  a  very  rich 
orange  Ughtly  shaded  with  deep  rose.  Certifi- 
cate of  merit  to  Messrs.  B.  R.  Cant  and  Sons. 

Lady  Verey. — In  form  and  habit  this  H.T. 
Rose  closely  resembles  Liberty,  but  the  colour  is 
a  beautiful  rich  shell  pink.  The  outer  petals 
are  a  trifle  rolled,  and  it  is  a  beautiful  Rose  until 
quite  fully  expanded,  when  it  becomes  a  trifle 
hollow  and  so  not  up  to  gold  medal  standard,  but 
it  should  be  a  very  useful  variety  for  decora- 
tive purposes.  Certificate  of  merit  to  Mr.  Elisha 
J.  Hicks. 

Lucile  Barker. — A  dwarf  H.T.  Rose  of  not 
more  than  medium  size,  fine  shape  and  a  beautiful 
orange  fawn  in  colour,  shading  to  pale  orange. 
It  has  good,  clean  foliage  and  is  of  free  growth. 
Shown  by  Mr.  Elisha  J.  Hicks. 

Mary    Merryweatlier. — Briefly    this    may    be 

described  as  a  paler  Lady  Hillingdon,  for  in  every- 
thing except  shade  of  colour  it  is  very  like  that 
popular  Rose,  and  so  will  be  of  great  value  on 
light  and  medium  soils.  The  outsides  of  the 
petals  are  often  delightfully  sun-stained,  and  this 
harmonises  well  with  the  soft  golden  colour  of 
the  blooms.  Shown  by  Messrs.  H.  Merryweather 
and  Sons. 

Mrs.  Harvey  Cant. — .\  large  white  H.T.  Rose, 
very  full  in  the  centre,  but  when  open  the  outer 
petals  become  somewhat  loose,  otherwise  it  would 
be  a  grand  exhibition  variety,  but  it  should  be 
of  great  value  in  the  garden.  Shown  by  Messrs. 
F.  Cant  and  Co. 


Mrs.  Henry  Bowles. — There  can  be  no  doubt 
as  to  the  great  claims  of  this  splendid  H.T.  Rose 
to  the  gold  medal,  for  it  is  practically  everything 
that  a  gold  medal  Rose  should  be.  It  received 
the  certificate  of  merit  last  year  and  was  excellently 
shown  several  times  later  in  the  year.  The  beauti- 
fully pointed  blooms  are  of  great  substance  and 


THE    NEW    POLYANTHA    ROSE    ALICE    AMOS    MIGHT    BE     CALLED 
A    DWARF    AMERICAN    PILLAR. 


of  warm  rosy  pink  colour  lightly  shaded  with 
carmine.  The  outer  petals  are  shghtly  rolled, 
and  the  blooms  have  a  pleasant  Tea  fragrance. 
It  should  be  a  really  good  all-purposes  Rose. 
Gold  medal  to  Mr.  W.  R.  Chaplin. 

Mrs.  Miguel  Lacroze. — We  are  almost  inclined 
to  term  this  a  "horrible  example"  Rose  and  to 
agree  with  the  critic  who  said  that  from  a  little 
distance  it  appeared  to  be  a  Star  Cineraria  "  gone 
mad."  It  was  shown  as  a  Wichuraiana  variety, 
but  is  more  probably  a  Polyantha.  It  forms 
compact  trusses  of  medium-sized  flowers  which 
for  a  very  brief  time  have  magenta  crimson  borders 
to  the  dull  white  centre,  and  this  colour  soon 
becomes  a  horrible  dull  mauve-purple  shade. 
Raised  by  Mr.  William  Mowlam  and  shown  by 
Dr.  M.  Lacroze. 

Pink  Delight. — A  really  delightful  free-flowering 
single  Dwarf  Polyantha  Rose  of  the  best  wild  rose 
pink  colour  and  delicious  Tea  fragrance.  It  is  ot 
perpetual  habit  and  recommended  for  pot  culture 
and  bedding  purposes.  Shown  by  Messrs.  Laxton 
Brothers. 

Ruth. — An  all-purposes  H.T.  Rose  of  medium 
size,  fully  double  and  flatfish  shape.  The  bright 
golden  yellow  petals  are  heavily  flushed  with 
rosy  orange  and  the  petals  have  rolled  margins. 
The  foliage  is  neat  and  good.  Certificate  of  merit 
to  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Pemberton. 


[Owirig  to  pressure  on  space,  report  on  the 
Nurserymen's  and  "  basket "  classes,  and  dinner 
table  decorations  has  been  held  over  until  next 
week. — Ed.] 


330 


THE     GARDEN. 


VEGETABLES  ALL  THE  YEAR  ROUND 

Can  /,  as  an  amateur  in  (gardening,  grow  vegetables  to  provide  my  family  with 

a  constant   supply   throughout  the  year?     Yes,   easily!  provided  that  you 

have  land,  tools,  seeds,  brains,  brawn  and  determination. 


SINCE  the  art  of  gardening  was  first 
practised  there  have  been  learners,  and 
thev  will  come  in  their  battalions  as 
long  as  the  world  continues  just  as  surely 
as  the  seasons  will  follow  each  other  in 
their  pre-ordained  order.  During  the  period  that 
has  passed,  the  question  and  answer  above  have 
been  persistently  repeated,  and  they  will  be 
asked  and  answered  until  the  end  of  all  things 
mundane.  These  words  are  written  as  a  hint 
to  growers  of  ripe  experience  that  they  need  not 
read  this  article,  as  they  regard  it  as  a  bounden, 
wise  duty  to  read  all  others  which  appear  in 
The  Garden,  because  it  is  not  published  to 
assist  or  benefit  them,  but  to  suggest  to  the  novice 
the  lines  on  which  he  ought  to  proceed  to  achieve 
his  praiseworthy  aspirations. 

The  Si.x  Necessities. 
In  the  curt  answer  given  above  to  the  leading 
question   which   demanded   it    there   are   set   forth 
six   points,   and  it  is  essential   that   the   aspirant 
to  honours  shall  look  upon  them  as  real  necessities 
If   a   further   question   were   asked   to   determine 
the   order   of   importance    there   would   be   some 
slight   change  and  we  should  find   them  running 
as   follows :     Land,    brains,   determination,    tools, 
seeds    and    brawn,    and    while    the    first,    fourth, 
fifth   and   sixth   can   be   purchased   or  hired,   the 
second    and    third    must    be    provided    by    the 
individual.     At  the  same  time  let  it  be  said  that 
the     probabilities    of    supreme     satisfaction     are 
more    pronounced    when    all    the    necessities    are 
furnished   by   the  individual,   particularly   so   the 
brawn    or    muscle    required    to    carry    out     the 
mechanical  processes  and  which  is,  unfortunately, 
the  one  that  is  most  commonly  bought  or  hired, 
often   perforce   of   circumstances   over  which   the 
individual  has  no  control.      Without  disparaging 
skilled   hire  in  the  smallest  degree,  one  has  not 
the   least  hesitation   in   affirming   that   the   hired 
l.ibour    at    the    command    of    amateur    gardeners 
is   so    far   from   being   skilled    that   he   who   can 
provide   the   brawn   to   do   all   the   work   himself 
will  find  his  chances  of  reaching  his  goal  immeasur- 
ably improved  ,    indeed,  it  may  be  said  that  the 
desired  result  is  assured. 

Land  is  placed  in  the  forefront  for  the  simple 
reason  that  without  it  brains  and  determination 
would  be  valueless  ;  brains  stand  in  the  second 
position  because  they  must  be  schooled  to  control 
all  the  other  necessities,  including  the  management 
of  the  land  ;  and  determination  ranks  third 
because  obstacles  and  adversities  are  certain  to 
be  met  and  the  firmest  determination  will  be 
needed  to  overcome  the  former  and  to  accept 
the  latter  in  proper,  philosophical  spirit. 

In  addition  to  the  necessities,  there  are 
accessories  which  are  desirable  without  a  shadow 
of  a  doubt,  but  their  absence  is  not  so  great  a 
desideratum  as  to  compel  one  to  accept  the  supposed 
fact  that  success  is  impossible  of  achievement. 
For  instance,  a  greenhouse  and  one  or  two  frames 
will  render  the  task  an  easier  and  surer  one,  but 
if  they  are  not  present  they  can  be  done  without — 
they  are  not,  then,  necessities.  And  the  same 
might  be  said  of  other  things,  but  it  would  serve 
no  useful  purpose  to  enumerate  them  and  would, 
therefore,  lead  to  waste  of  space. 
The  Time  to  Start, 
The  actual  time  of  commencing  on  our  interesting, 
health-giving  and  food-producing  work  is  not  of 
substantial  moment.  There  is  something  to  be 
done  in  every  month,  aye,  every  week,  of  the  year. 


but  December  and  January  will  usually  be  found 
the  least  favourable,  though  much  may  be  done 
then   by    those   who   grasp   instantly    the   oppor- 
tunities that  the  variations  of  the  weather  afford, 
with  October  and  March   as  the  most   favourable 
since    then    much    positively    must    be    done,    no 
matter  whether  one  is  working  in  an  established 
garden  or  is  setting  out  upon  the  great  task  of 
making  a  new  one.     However,  we  find  ourselves 
in  July  with  its  seasonal  duties,  and  this  month 
shall  be,  therefore,  our  base,  and  our   object    the 
production    of    vegetables    for    autumn,    winter, 
spring  and  early  summer.     In  many  gardens  the 
only  seed  of  substantial  importance  sown  in  July 
is  Cabbage  to  yield  cuttings  in  spring  and  summer 
of  next   year,   but   there   are   many   other   kinds 
which    demand    recognition    during    this    month 
and  .\ugu5t,  as  will  be  shown  in  a  later  paragraph. 
Area  of  Land  Reqi'ired. 
The    size    of    the    garden    is    generally    rigidly 
governed,  but  were  it  not  so  it  would  be  impossible 
to   define    a    rule   stating   the   area   necessary    to 
supply    a    family    with    vegetables    all    the    year 
round.     It   is   obvious    that    the   number   in   the 
family  must  be  a  governing  factor,  and,  further, 
the  capability  of  the  cultivator  must  have  close 
consideration,   since    all   of   us   who   are   familiar 
with    amateur    gardeners    know    that    there    is    a 
man  here  and  there  who  will  produce  double  the 
quantity  of   excellent  produce  that  his  neighbour 
will  do,  notwithstanding  that  they  may  be  working 
under    identical    conditions    of    soil    and    other 
natural     conditions.     Then,     again,     some     soils 
have    infinitely    greater    latent    capacities    than 
have  others,  and  the  man  who  finds  the  way  to 
draw  these  out  to  the   utmost   limit   is   clearly  in 
a    superior    position    to    the    man    who    fails    so 
to  do. 

Speaking  in  the  broadest  sense  one  would  regard 
10  rods  devoted  exclusively  to  vegetables  as  the 
minimum  area,  but  this  will  not  be  enough  for  a 
large,  growing  family,  because  it  will  be  impossible 
to    find    space    for    a    sufficient    bulk    of    keeping 
Potatoes.     Early  or  new  Potatoes  will  be  a  simple 
matter,  and  space  will  be  available  for  all  other 
kinds ;     but    the   weight    of    Potatoes   demanded 
by  a  family  of,  let  us  say,  six  persons,  including 
four  well  on   the  up  grade,  is  surprisingly  large 
and   cannot    be   managed    in    the    area   specified. 
The  amateur  who  has  15  rods  to  20  rods  of  culti- 
vable,  naturally  suitable  land  ought   to  be  able, 
and   indeed   will   be   able,    to   produce   an   ample 
sufficiency  for  ten  or  twelve  people  ;    if  he  has  to 
cater  for  a  bigger  number  the  chances  are  that 
he  will  deem  it  wise  to  place  at  least  a  proportion 
of  the  mechanical  labour  in  the  hands  of  someone 
else,  and  immediately  he  is  compelled  to  take  this 
course  he  will  find  that  his  return  to  the  square 
rod  will  fall  by  from  20  to  30  per  cent. 
July  and  August  Operations. 
Since   it    is   obvious    that    there    must    be    a 
"  carry  over  "   from  one  year  to  another  in   the 
crops  of  a  garden,  no  matter  in  what   month   a 
start  is  made,  we  shall  appropriate  to  ourselves 
the  early  Potatoes,  Peas,  Onions,  Carrots,  Cauli- 
flowers  and   other   kinds   which    are   coming   on, 
and  plant  next  spring  to  provide  at  least  equal 
compensation     to     the     succeeding     season.     By 
taking  this  step  we  shall  have  the  advantage  of 
the   seedlings   of   Winter   Green   vegetables   sown 
at  some  date  between  March  and  the  middle  of 
May,  and  all  of  which  can  be  successfully  planted 
out  during  the  present  month   and  August. 


[July  8,  1922. 

The  Borecoles,  Savoys  and  very  late  Brussels 
Sprouts  (if  there  are  any)  will  be  allocated  to  a 
piece  of  ground  that  has  been  cultivated  to  its 
utmost  depth  and  which  is  known  to  contain  a 
plentiful  supply  of  readily  available  food  ;  showery 
weather  will  be  chosen,  if  possible,  and  failing  it 
the  immediate  sites  to  be  occupied  will  be  heavily  I 
soaked  with  water  on  one  evening  and  the  plants 
will  be  moved  to  them  on  the  following  day, 
packing  the  soil  firmly  to  the  roots,  which  should 
go  in  undamaged.  It  is  not  much  trouble  and  | 
always  good  policy  to  draw  the  roots  through  a 
thick  sludge  of  soot,  lime,  soil  and  water,  for  it 
may  arrest  subsequent  enemy  visitations  and 
invariably  aids  establishment. 

Sprouting    Broccoli    and    also    those    flowering 
varieties  to  come  in  by  the  middle  of  December 
must  be  treated  in  the  same  manner,  but  varieties 
of  the  latter  for  use  from  midwinter  onwards  to 
late    spring    should    be   planted    on    the    autumn 
Onion  bed  or  on  the  site  of  a  grubbed  Strawberry 
plantation,   neither  being  prepared  in   any  other 
manner    than    by    hoeing    completely    to   remove 
every  weed.     A  handfork  or  a  trowel  is  far  better 
than  a  dibber  for  planting  as  a  general  rule,  but 
the  later  sorts  of  flowering  Broccoli  should  always 
be   bored   for,   and   preferably   with   an   iron-shod 
tool,  and  the  soil  must  be  packed  to  them  just 
as  hard  as  the  surrounding  level,  the  direct  object 
being   to   encourage   so   sturdy,    stocky,   hardy    a 
growth  that  it  will  not  succumb  during  very  bad 
weather,    as   much    too   frequently   happens   with 
plants  set  out  in  the  ordinary  way  in  well  worked 
ground.     Between    the    middle    of    July    to    the 
end  of  August  seeds  of  many  kinds  can  be  sown 
with  excellent  prospects  of  success,  but  perhaps 
we   ought    to   regard   Cabbage   for   spring   as   the 
most    important,    since   it    is    unquestionably    one 
of    the   most   highly   favoured   of   all   vegetables. 
There  are  many  varieties  from  which  choice  can 
be  made,  but  the  seeds  must  be  bought  from  an 
absolutely  reliable  source,  or  it  is  well  within  the 
bounds   of   possibility    that   more    than    half    the 
plants  will  run  to  seed  instead  of  forming  hearts. 
If  it  can  be  managed,  some  flaky  material,  such 
as  leaf-mould  rubbed  through  an  eighth  of  an  inch 
riddle,   should   be   incorporated   in   the   top   Sins, 
of  the  seed  beds,  as  the  roots  of  the  seedlings  will 
cling    to   it    very    tenaciously    and   easy,    certain 
transplantation  is  then  practically  assured.     Dis- 
tribute   the    seeds    very    thinly    in    drills    about 
half   an   inch   deep   and   6ins.   asunder  and  cover 
in   with    fine   mould.     Given    thin   seeding,    little 
thinning    out    will    be    demanded,    but    what    is 
necessary     must     be     commenced     directly     the 
youngsters  are  big  enough  to  handle  ;    a  second 
sowing    of    seed    should    always    be    made    three 
weeks  after  the  first  to  ensure  that  there  shall  be 
plants  so   thrifty   and   sturdy   that   they  may   be 
relied  upon  to  pass  through  the  winter  in  perfect 
safety. 

In  the  case  ot  a  garden  which  v/as  planned  out 
early  in  the  year  it  is  doubtful  whether  there  will 
be  much  space  available,  but  in  no  circumstances 
ought  a  row  or  two  of  a  dwarf,  naturally  fast- 
podding  Pea  to  be  omitted,  while  one  or  more 
rows  of  a  Dwarf  French  Bean  will  give  welcome 
pickings  in  due  course.  There  will  have  been 
legislation  for  a  bed  of  an  early  Carrot,  which 
will  give  many  sweet  dishes  later  on  and  there  is  no 
danger  of  losses  owing  to  the  fly.  The  Carrot  ought 
to  go  in  before  the  end  of  this  month,  but  rather 
than  miss  them  sow  in  August,  and  add  such 
salad  vegetables  as  Radishes,  Lettuces  and 
Mustard  and  Cress ;  autumn  Onions,  Turnips, 
Beetroots,  if  they  are  especially  desired  ;  Spinach 
in  two  sowings,  one  at  the  middle  and  the  other 
at  the  end  of  the  month  ;  and  Perpetual  Spinach 
or  Spinach  Beetroot,  which  will  give  a  green  dish  in 
spring  when  everything  else  fails.    W.  H.  Lodge. 


July  8,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


331 


MANY    INTERESTING    NOVELTIES    AT 
VINCENT    SQUARE 


THE  new  plants  were  the  centre  of 
attraction  at  the  R.H.S.  Hall  on  June  27 
when,  as  well  as  many  awards  of 
merit,  two  first-class  certificates  were 
awarded.  In  addition  to  the  beautiful 
vase  of  Rhododendron  discolor  from  Kew,  many 
trusses  of  this  Chinese  species  were  shown  by 
Dame  Alice  Godman,  and  these  illustrated  an 
interesting  variation  in  the  seedlings.  In  the 
Horsham  collection  the  colours  ranged  from  an 
almost  paper  white  to  nearly  the  pink  of  Pink 
Pearl,  and  all  were  very  beautiful.  Besides  this 
colour  variation  the  fragrance  seems  elusive ; 
some  trusses  possessed  the  gift,  which  was  absent 
in  others.  A  similar  thing  occurs  at  Kew,  where 
two  specimens  grow  side  by  side.  The  flowers  of 
one  are  deliciously  fragrant,  while  the  other  bears 
scentless  blossoms.  The  species  seems  to  be 
quite  hardy,  but  shade  from  direct  sunshine  is 
essential.  Dame  .Ahce  Godman  also  shewed 
sprays  of  the  elegant  white-flowered  Styrax 
Wilsoni. 

Other  interesting  shrubs  included  a  good  batch 
of  Kalmia  latifolia  by  Mr.  T.  Lewis,  who  told  us 
that  these  were  some  of  the  bushes  that  Queen 
Mary  admired  so  greatly  at  .'^scot  and  commanded 
a  dinner-table  decoration  to  be  made  of  cut  sprays 
from  some  of  them. 

Mr.  Charles  Turner  had  some  beautiful  varieties 
of  Philadelphus,  and  also  sprays  of  Tilia  aspleni- 
folia,    Ligustrum    Ibota    in    full    bloom,    Ochna 


multiflora    and    Neillia    (Spiraea)    Torreyi 
a   quantity   of  their  interesting  fruits. 


bearing 


Border  flowers  were 
ance  and  of  much  better 
quality  than  might  have 
been  expected  consider- 
ing the  long  drought. 
Delphiniums  predom- 
inated and  were  repre- 
sented by  wonderfully 
fine  spikes  of  all  shades 
of  blue  and  many  of 
mauve.  In  Kelway's 
collection  the  very  best 
was  James  William 
Kelway,  which  has  very 
large,  white-eyed,  dark 
purple  flowers.  Smoke 
of  War  was  also  very 
striking,  while  of  their 
pale  blues  the  best  were 
Gaby  Deslys,  Sir  Alfred 
Keogh  and  Geraldine 
Kelway.  Of  the  many 
Delphiniums  shown  by 
Messrs.  Blackmore  and 
Langdon,  Dusky 
Monarch  and  Robert 
Cox  of  the  dark  sorts 
and  Queen  Mary,  Mrs. 
Townley     Parker     and 


shown    in  great    abund- 


wcrc  a  couple  of  very  desirable  Giant  Thrifts. 
Verbena  chamaedryoides  in  a  collection  by 
Messrs.  Waterer,  Son  and  Crisp  was  dazzling 
in  its  scarlet  colour,  but  it  is,  unfortunately, 
not  quite  hardy,  though  well  worth  the  trouble 
of  wintering  in  a  frame. 

A   pretty   water   garden  was  made   by   Messrs. 
Hillier  and  Sons,  and  it  was  surrounded  by  many 


THE    BRILLIANT    BLUE    DELPHINIUM    MRS.    F.    T.    NEIGHBOUR. 


THE    HUGE    AND    BRILLL^NT    ANEMONE    GLAUCOPHYLLA. 


Queen  of  Bath  of  the 
paler  blues  were  very 
charming.  Messrs.  R.  H. 
Bath,  Limited,  and  Mr. 
W.  Wells,  Jun.,  also  had 
many  beautiful  Delphi- 
niums. 

The  first  herbaceous 
Phloxes  of  the  season 
were  displayed  by  Mr. 
H.  J.  Jones,  who  had 
excellent  plants  in  sin. 
pots.  The  most  note- 
worthy sorts  were  Home- 
land, H.  J.  Jones, 
Florrie  Freeman,  Selma 
and  John  Meakings. 

Of  other  border  flowers 
the  garden  Pinks  shown 
by  Messrs.  B.  Ladhams, 
Mr.  Clarence  Elliott  and 
Mr.  M.  Prichard  were 
very  beautiful.  Qino- 
thera  speciosa  grandi- 
flora  was  also  excellent, 
and  in  Armeria  cepha- 
lotes  gigantea  rubra  and 
A.      Bees     Ruby     there 


suitable  plants.  In  the  pool  there  was  a  selection 
of  such  good  Nymphaeas  as  Gladstoniana,  Escar- 
boucle,  Marliacea  chromatella,  and  alropurpurea. 
A  tall  bush  of  Hydrangea  Sargentiana  was  hand- 
some in  its  large  woolly  leaves,  and  was  well  set 
up  with  flower-buds.  Messrs.  William  Cutbush 
and  Son  had  a  well  designed  Uttle  rock  garden 
which  would  be  suitable  for  a  garden  of  quite 
modest  dimensions. 

English  Irises  were  largely  shown  by  Messrs. 
Barr  and  Sons,  who  had  a  large  number  of  excellent 
named  sorts.  Messrs.  Cheal  and  Sons  also  had 
English  Irises  and,  like  Messrs.  Carter  Page  and 
Co.,  also  showed  some  early  Dahlia  blooms.  With 
Delphiniums  and  many  other  border  flowers 
Messrs.  G.  Bunyard  and  Co.  staged  brilliant  spikes 
of  Iris  Monnieri  and  I.  ochro-aurea. 

.•\s  though  in  anticipation  of  the  Regent's  Park 
Rose  Show  later  in  the  week,  Mr.  William  Paul, 
Messrs.  Frank  Cant  and  Co.  and  the  Rev.  J.  H. 
Pemberton  had  good  collections  of  Roses. 

Collections  of  greenhouse  Carnations  were 
staged  by  Messrs.  AUwood  Brothers  and  Mr.  C. 
Engelmann,  while  Mr.  James  Douglas  had  some 
of  his  splendid  Border  varieties,  of  which  the 
rich  yellow  Sunshine  foimd  many  admirers. 

A  very  large  collection  of  Sweet  Peas  was 
delightfully  arranged  by  Messrs.  Sutton  and  Sons, 


332 


THE     GARDEN. 


[July  8,  1922. 


who  shewed  generous  quantities  of  such  valuable 
sorts  as  Picture,  Gladys,  Orange  Perfection, 
Doris,  Hawlmark  Pink,  Adelaide,  Mrs.  Tom 
Jones  and  Doris  Usher.  Messrs.  R.  Bolton  and 
Son  again  shewed  fine  blooms  of  Comrade  Tange- 
rine, Elsie  Dene  and  Tangerine  Improved. 

Stove  plants  were  more  numerous  than  usual, 
and  Messrs.  T..  R.  Russell,  Limited,  had  a  splendid 
collection,  including  Pitcher  plants,  Crotons, 
Medinilla  magnifica,  Dracsenas,  Clerodendron 
Balfouriana  and  Tabemffimontana  coronaria. 
A  large  number  of  Caladiuras  and  good  plants  of 
Streptccarpus  were  shewn  by  Messrs.  J.  Peed  and 
Son.  An  excellent  strain  of  Streptccarpus  was 
displayed  by  Messrs.  R.  and  G.  Cuthbert.  A 
magnificent  amateur  collection  of  Crotons  was 
arranged  by  Mr.  J.  W.  Barks,  gardener  td*Mr. 
A.  P.  Brandt,  Bletchingley,  Surrey.  These  were 
all  splendidly  grown  and  beautifully  coloured. 
Messrs.  Bastin  and  Son  again  shewed  some  of 
their  admirable  double-flowered  tuberous  Begonias, 
and  with  many  other  sorts  included  the  beautiful 
salmon-tinted  variety  Lady  Bell,  for  which  they 
received  an  award  of  merit  at  the  previous  meeting, 
though  it  was  erroneously  attributed  to  another 
exhibitor.  Mrs.  W.  Churchill,  Mrs.  W.  Wilson  and 
Lady  Diana  Cooper  are  also  splendid  sorts. 

The  only  fruit  exhibit  was  a  large  collection  of 
heavily  fruited  pot  Cherries  by  Messrs.  T.  Rivers 
and  Son.  The  varieties  included  the  new  Peggy 
Rivers,  Elton,  Early  Rivers,  Governor  Wood  and 
Frogmore  Bigarreau.  From  the  Wisley  trials 
the  R.H.S.  sent  up  plants  of  the  Broad  Beans  to 
which  the  sub-committee  had  given  awards  of 
merit  on  the  previous  day.  The  plants  were  all 
heavily  fruited,  the  varieties  being  Bunyard's 
Exhibition,  Broad  Windsor  Selected,  Champion 
Longpod,  Green  Leviathan,  Selected  Hang-down, 
Shirley  Longpod,  Multiple,  Improved  Giant  White 
Wonder  and  White-eyed  Early  Large.  Messrs. 
Sutton  had  pot  plants  of  new  dwarf  types  of 
Broad  Bean  obtained  by  crossing  Sutton's  Longpod 
with    Beck's  Green  Gem. 


NEW     AND    RARE     PLANTS. 

Anemone  glaucophylla. — This  was  decidedly 
the  "  flower  of  the  show,"  and  if  a  popular  name 
is  needed,  might  well  be  termed  the  Clematis- 
flowered  Anemone.  Unfortunately,  it  is  a  tender 
species,  otherwise  everyone  with  a  garden  would 
wish  to  grow  it.  As  the  plant  on  view  was  grown 
under  glass,  it  is  just  probable  that  the  branching 
flower-stem  was  slightly  drawn,  but  it  was  almost 
3ft.  high  and  bore  a  large,  nearly  round,  five- 
petalled  bloom  of  gUstening  satiny  mauve  colour 
and  fully  5ins.  across.  The  stout,  glaucous, 
pinnatifid  leaves  have  rather  long,  hairy  stalks, 
and  form  a  rosette  about  2ft.  in  diameter.  It  is 
one  of  Mr.  Forrest's  introductions.  First-class 
certificate  to  Colonel  Stephenson  Clark. 

Rhododendron  discolor. — This  fragrant  and 
handsome  Chinese  species  has  already  received 
an  award  of  merit,  and  now  has  the  highest  award. 
The  large,  compact  trusses  w-ere  composed  of  big, 
nearly  white  flowers,  which  have  pretty,  slightly 
crimped  margins.  At  Kew  there  are  two  large 
bushes  in  full  bloom,  and  they  are  exceedingly 
decorative.  First-class  certificate  to  the  Royal 
Botanic  Gardens,  Kew. 

Pink  Prichardii  Donnicetti. — .\  brilUant,  free- 
flowering  little  garden  Pink.  The  outer  parts 
of  the  petals  are  stippled  with  rich  crimson,  and 
there  is  a  broad  maroon  zone,  .\ward  of  merit 
to  Messrs.  M.  Prichard  and  Son. 

.Ssculus  indica. — The  beautiful  Indian  Horse 
Chestnut  is  comparatively  rare  in  gardens.  It 
is  a  native  of  the  North-West  Himalayas,  and 
quite  a  hardy  tree.  In  its  native  habitat  it  attains 
a   height   of    looft.     At    Kew   a   small   tree   near 


the  glasshouses  (T  range)  is  particularly  beautiful 
just  now.  The  erect  panicles  are  betvs'een  I2ins. 
and  I  Sins,  long,  and  more  cyhndrical  than  those 
of  the  common  species.  The  flowers  are  milk 
white  in  colour,  and  the  shorter  pair  of  petals 
have  a  rosy  carmine  blotch  at  the  base.  The 
large  shining  deep  green  leaves  are  very  handsome. 
Award  of  merit  to  the  Royal  Botanic  Gardens, 
Kew. 

Begonia  Aurora. — An  ideal  double-flowered 
tuberous-rooted  Begonia  which  will  probably  be 
equally  as  good  for  summer  bedding  as  for  pot 
culture.  The  perfectly  shaped  flowers  are  of 
rich  yellow  colour  very  lightly  edged  with  rosy 
apricot,  which  shading  also  appears  on  some  of 
the  older  petals.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs. 
Blackmore  and  Langdon. 

Begonia  Eunice. — A  very  charming  and 
floriferous  basket  Begonia.  The  pendulous  flowers 
are  of  a  soft  pink  shade.  .Award  of  merit  to 
Messrs.  Blackmore  and  Langdon. 

Begonia  Stella. — This  is  another  beautiful 
and  floriferous  basket  Begonia  and  of  vivid  rosy 
cerise  colour.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs.  Black- 
more  and  Langdon. 

Begonia  Venus. — Yet  another  lovely  and  free- 
flowering  basket  Begonia.     This  is  of  milk  white 


staging  accurate  inspection  was  impossible,  but 
from  what  we  saw  the  specimen  seemed  more 
like  Cornus  Nuttallii  than  C.  capitata,  which  is 
the  newest  name  for  the  sub-evergreen  tree  known 
as  Benthamia  fragifera  in  Cornish  gardens,  where 
it  is  so  much  at  home  as  often  to  reproduce  itself 
from  seed  around  the  parent.  In  Cornwall  it  is 
mostly  prized  later  in  the  year  when  loaded  with 
its  crimson  seeds,  and  is  often  known  as  the 
Strawberry  Tree.  The  "  flowers "  are  really 
bracts,  the  true  flowers  being  minute  and  crowded 
in  a  more  or  less  circular  mass.  Award  of  merit 
to  Mr.  E.  J.  Lucas. 

Delphinium  Decorator. — This  highly  decora- 
tive variety  might  well  have  received  an 
award  even  though  the  centre  spike  was  over. 
It  has  a  freely  branching  habit.  The  in- 
dividual flowers  are  smallish,  semi-double, 
star-shaped  and  of  intense  blue  colour.  Shown 
by    Mr.    F.    W.    Smith. 

Delphinium  Mrs.  F.  T.  Neighbour. — A  very 
beautiful  spike  of  large,  handsome  blooms.  They 
are  of  sky  blue  colour  lightly  flushed  with  dull 
mauve  towards  the  centre,  which  has  a  white  eye. 
Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  F.  W.  Smith. 

Gaillardia  Knight  Errant. — A  round,  well 
formed    bloom    of    rich    vellow     colour    with    a 


THE    SILVIRY    WHITE    MOCK-ORANGE,    PHIL.MJELPHUS    COUPE    D'ARGENT. 


colour  lightly  flushed  with  apricot  at  the  base 
of  the  petals.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs.  Black- 
more  and  Langdon. 

Buddleia  alternifolia  (See  page  292). — When 

shown  by  Sir  Harry  Veitch  at  the  previous  meeting 
we  greatly  admired  the  long,  graceful  sprays  of 
silvery  lavender  flowers,  and  were  surprised  that 
it  failed  to  receive  recognition,  and  since  then 
we  have  seen  large  bushes  in  flower  which  increased 
our  opinion  of  its  merits.  Award  of  merit  to 
Mr.  Lionel  de  Rothschild  and  the  Hon.  Vicary 
Gibbs. 

Campanula  rotundifolia  Jenkinsii.  —  This 
elegant  and  free-flowering  variety  was  one  of  the 
many  plants  of  merit  raised  by  the  late  Mr.  E.  H. 
Jenkins,  who  for  many  years  contributed  such 
admirable  articles  on  hardy  flowers  to  The  Garden. 
Campanula  Jenkinsii  is  a  deUghtful  plant  for  the 
front  of  the  flower  border  or  for  the  lower  parts 
of  the  rock  garden,  where  its  erect,  slender  spikes 
of  numerous  white,  bell-shaped  flowers  would  be 
effective.     .Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones. 

Carnation  E.  G.  Quick. — A  border  Carnation 
of  good  shape  and  uncommon  colouring  which 
may  perhaps  be  described  as  a  dark  slaty  heliotrope. 
Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  James  Douglas. 

Cornus  capitata. — The  sprays  had  flagged  so 
badly  that  in  the  congestion  near  the  new  plant 


small,  distinct  scarlet  zone.  Award  of  merit  to 
Mr.  G.  R.  Downer. 

Gaillardia  Yeoman. — This  is  apparently  from 
the  same  strain  as  the  above,  as  the  colouring  is 
almost  identical,  but  the  flower  is  larger  and  has 
more  pointed  petals.  Award  of  merit  to  Mr. 
G.  R.  Downer. 

Philadelphus    Coupe    d 'Argent. — The   silvery 

white,  chalice-shaped  flowers  are  over  2ins.  across 
and  have  a  fascinating  touch  of  pale  rosy  hlac 
at  the  base  which  suggests  roseo-maculatus 
parentage.  The  blooms  are  freely  borne  on 
graceful  sprays,  making  it  a  charming  and 
desirable  variety.  Award  of  merit  to  Sir 
WiUiam    Lawrence. 

Rose  Jacqueline. — A  very  beautiful  Briar  Rose. 
It  is  a  full-petalled  single  Rose  of  bright  rose  pink 
colour  with  golden  yellow  at  the  base  of  the  petals 
and  a  nice  cluster  of  golden  stamens.  It  appears 
to  be  a  very  free-flowering  variety.  Award  of 
merit  to  Messrs.  William  Paul. 

Cherry  Peggy  Rivers. — This  seedhng  dessert 
Cherry  is  much  like  Go\ernor  Wood,  but,  unlike 
that  sort,  the  fruits  do  not  split,  and  this  was 
the  chief  reason  for  the  award.  The  seed  parent 
was  stated  to  be  Bigarreau  Gros  Cceur,  and  it 
has  a  sweet  flavour.  .Award  of  merit  to  Messrs. 
T.  Rivers  and  Son. 


July  8,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


333 


CORRESPONDENCE 


THE     YELLOW     WOOD. 

'T'HAT  handsome  tree,  Cladrastis  tinctoria,  has 
blossomed  very  freely  at  Kew  diiring  the 
present  summer,  though  usually  few  flowers  are 
produced.  A  native  of  the  south-eastern  United 
States,  the  Yellow  Wood  forms  a  large-headed 
tree  up  to  6oft.  high,  with  handsome  pinnate 
leaves  gins,  to  i^ins.  long,  composed  of,  usually, 
seven  or  nine  large  oval  leaflets.  .A  peculiarity  of 
the  leaves  is  that  the  base  of  the  leaf-stalk  is 
swollen  and  covers  the  axillary  bud  in  the  same 
way  as  the  Plane.  The  white,  pear-shaped  flowers 
are  borne  in  pendent  panicles  gins,  to  ift.  long, 
from  the  points  of  the  shoots,  which  remind  one  of 
Laburnum  inflorescences  of  white  flowers.  Although 
the  tree  does  not  flower  regularly,  it  is  worth 
growing  for  the  sake  of  its  ornamental  leaves, 
which  turn  to  an  attractive  golden  hue  before 
falling,  '(he  wood  of  this  interesting  tree  is  bright 
vellow,  which  accounts  for  the  common  name. — 
\V.  V. 

THE  PERPETUAL-BORDER  CARNATION. 

T  W.\S  much  impressed  at  York  Gala  with  the 
Perpetual-flowering  Border  Carnations  in 
Messrs.  .AUwood's  exhibit.  These  were  shown  in 
larger  quantity  and  greater  variety  than  before. 
This  type,  if  it  upholds  its  present  promise,  is 
destined  to  make  a  name,  and  if  it  prove  as  hardy 
as  the  old  Border  Carnation  and  more  free-flowering, 
will  make  the  latter  look  to  its  laurels.  As  regards 
hardiness,  Mr.  Edward  AUwood  assures  me  that 
the  plants  have  stood  the  test  of  the  last  three 
winters  unprotected  on  cold,  clayey  soil  in  Sussex, 
and  I  have  found  them  quite  as  hardy  as  the 
ordinary  Borders  during  the  past  winter.  Still. 
I  should  hke  to  grow  them  through  another  winter 
before  arriving  at  a  definite  decision  as  to  their 
absolute  hardiness.  In  beauty  of  form,  sound- 
ness of  calyx,  colouring  and  fragrance,  however 
they  are  superb,  and  of  the  varieties  already  in 
commerce  the  self  shades  of  purple,  cerise,  rose, 
crimson  and  maroon  are  very  fine,  and  the  daintily 
marked  kinds,  such  as  Highland  Lassie,  Sussex 
Maid  and  Sussex  Perfection  are  as  pretty  as  any 
of  the  Picotees.  New  colours  are  being  evolved. 
I  am  growing  for  trial  many  beautiful  scarlets. 
There  is  a  variety  almost  identical  in  colour 
with  the  famous  Edward  .AUwood,  several  shades 
of  red,  a  rich  vermilion,  and  quite  recently  there 
appeared  in  a  batch  of  seedlings  the  first  pure 
yellow,  exactly  similar  in  colour  to  Border  Yellow, 
but  larger  and  of  finer  form. — Norman  Lambert. 

AEROPLANES     AND     INSECTS. 

T  WAS  "  vastly  intrigued,"  as  writers  in  the 
newspapers  so  picturesquely  put  it,  by  the 
story  of  an  aeroplane  attack  on  myriads  of  cater- 
pillars in  a  fruit  plantation  in  Kent.  The  whole 
idea  of  pitting  the  august  aeroplane  against  the 
insignificant  insect  opens  out  immense  and  far- 
reaching  possibilities.  One  ventures  to  think 
that  after  the  remarkable  success  of  the  present 
experiment — there  was  scarcely  a  live  caterpillar 
left  after  about  half  an  hour's  dressing — the  old- 
fashioned  methods  in  which  petrol,  paraffin, 
horse  and  man  driven  appliances  with  liquid 
dressings  are  employed  will  be  hopelessly  out  of 
date  in  a  short  time.  Manufacturers  of  such- 
like machinery  will  be  directing  their  abundant 
energies  towards  the  production  of  aeroplanes 
fitted  with  apparatus  for  distributing  powders, 
and  mayhap  liquids,  that  will  destroy  all  the 
"  bugs  "  to  which  the  fruit  and  vegetable  crops 
of  the  country  are  heir ;  horticultural  chemists 
will     spare     no     intensive     efforts      to      provide 


compounds  which,  containing  no  arsenic  or  other 
poison,  cannot  possibly  involve  risk  of  injury  to 
any  other  form  of  life  than  insect  enemy  ;  while 
entomologists  will  direct  their  scientific  attention 
to  the  education  of  these  insects  to  the  end  that 
coming  generations  shall  do  most,  if  not  all,  of 
their  feeding  on  the  upper  surfaces  of  the  leaves 
and  twigs  instead  of,  as  now,  seeking  positions 
where  they  are  effectually  screened  from  above 
and  by  no  means  easy  to  reach  from  below,  even 
by  skilled  men  working  actually  beneath  the 
branches.  One  must  confess  to  a  strained  feeling 
at  the  thought  of  clouds  of  arsenical  or  other 
poisonous  dusts  floating  about  in  the  atmosphere. 


THE    FINE    RHODODENDRON    CYNTHIA     IN    A    TUB 


which,  if  they  will  not  kill  off  odd  superfluous 
members  of  the  animal  kingdom,  will  undoubtedly 
"  make  'em  sneeze  a  bit."  By  the  way,  the  firm 
which  fitted  the  distributing  apparatus  to  the 
aeroplane  used  ought  to  get  a  good  advertisement 
out  of  it,  or  perhaps  the  half  ton  of  stuff  was 
pitched  out  by  the  bucketful ! — W.  H.  Lodge. 

THE    KENTL'CKY    COFFEE    TREE. 

nPHOUGH  a  distinctly  ornamental  tree,  the 
Kentucky  Coffee  (Gymnocladus  canadensis) 
is  by  no  means  common  in  our  gardens.  In  view 
of  this  it  is  particularly  interesting  to  find  a  tree 
flowering  in  a  comparatively  small  garden  at 
Kayhough,  Kew  Gardens  Road,  Kew.  Purchased 
when  the  tree  was  twenty-two  years  old  from  a 
Kingston  nursery  in  1878,  and  planted  in  its 
present  position  by  the  late  Mr.  Charles  Wright, 
it  is  now  approaching  ^oft.  in  height.  The  tallest 
tree  in  the  British  Isles  is  said  to  be  the  specimen 
at  Claremont  60ft.  in  height.  As  a  rule  the  trees 
of  the  Kentucky  Coffee  are  dicecious,  the  tree 
flowering    at    Kayhough    being   staminate.     .More 


interesting  than  attractive  from  a  floral  stand- 
point, Mr.  W.  J.  Bean  describes  Gymnocladus 
canadensis  in  his  book  as  :  "  In  its  foliage  perhaps 
the  most  beautiful  of  all  hardy  trees."  Mr. 
Wright's  daughter.  Miss  Wright,  the  present 
owner,  is  justly  proud  of  beautiful  specimens  of 
Taxodium  distichum  (which  produced  cones 
freely  last  year),  Ginkgo  biloba  and  Ailanthus 
glandulosa  planted  at  the  same  time. — A.  O. 


RHODODENDRON    CYNTHIA. 

T  AM  enclosing  you  a  photograph  of  a  Rhododen- 
dron Cynthia  which  I  had  when  it  was  very 
small  thirty-five  years  ago  and  have  grown  in  a 
tub  ever  since.  It  had  335  trusses  all  in  perfect 
condition.  The  photograph  was  taken  for  me  by 
the  Photocrom  Company, 
Limited,  and  I  thought  the 
picture  might  interest  your 
readers. — M.  M.  Samuel. 
[The  picture  well  illus- 
trates the  value  of  Rhodo- 
dendrons for  the  towii 
garden  and  the  beauty  of 
that  grand  old  variety 
Cynthia,  which  has  vivid 
deep  rose  flowers.  In  an 
article  on  another  page, 
Mr.  Gomer  Waterer  calls 
attention  to  the  merits 
of  many  of  the  old 
hybrids  which  are  not 
now  being  planted  to 
the  extent  they  should 
be.— Ed.] 

"AFFECTED" 
GARDENS. 

JS^  RECENT  visitor  who 
knows  naught  of 
"Anne  A . ,  "  but  is 
herself  a  very  keen 
"amateur"  gardener, 
remarked  to  a  mutual 
friend  (who  was  taking 
her  round  my  garden 
and  gathering  a  "  country 
garden "  posy  for  her 
en  route)  "I  do  like 
this  garden  ;  it  is  so 
quaint  and  simple  and 
unaffected."  I — lying  low 
—overheard,  and  it 
set  me  wondering. 
Are  some  of  our  modem 
carefully  planned  gardens  "  affected  "  ?  Will 
the  next  generation  jeer  at  and  despise  them  as 
we  mostly  scorn  Victorian  "bedding"  borders 
(though  there  are  some  places — public  parks  and 
the  like — where  I  think  "  bedding  "  seems  right)  ? 
It's  really  rather  an  appaUing  idea,  isn't  it  ?  I 
myself  am  much  in  love  with  little  "  formal " 
gardens  Diformally  planted,  especially  for  town 
and  small  villa  gardens,  where  the  little  "  lawn  "■ 
is  nearly  always  more  or  less  a  miserable,  thread- 
bare failure.  Pondering  the  matter  and  thinking 
of  the  most  delightful  gardens  I  have  known, 
I  must  own  they  were  no<  "planned"  all  at  a 
time,  but  grew  bit  by  bit  as  fresh  ideas  and 
"  wants  "  occurred  to  their  owners.  Can  it  be 
possible  that  our  present-day  up-to-date 
"  planned  "  gardens  (awful  thought  !)  are  akin 
to  those  rooms  full  of  "  period  "  furniture,  which 
never  please  me,  showing,  as  they  generally  do,, 
such  a  lack  of  originality,  courage  and  individuality 
in  their  proprietors  and  recalling  all  too  vividly 
the  "  showrooms  "  of  large  furniture  shops  ? — 
Anne  .■\mateur. 


334 


THE     GARDEN. 


[July  8,  1922. 


IRIS    NOMENCLATURE. 

AT  the  Iris  Conference  held  at  the  R.H.S 
meeting  on  June  7  one  of  the  points  raised 
was  the  desirability  of  the  regulation  of  Iris  names. 
This  was  emphatically  advocated  by  almost  every 
speaker.  Mr.  Dykes,  Mr.  Wister,  M.  Mottet  and 
others  agreed  that  the  duplication  of  names  was 
to  be  strongly  deprecated,  and  various  suggestions 
were  made  for  the  purpose  of  ensuring  that  in  the 
future  no  new  Iris  should  be  sent  out  under  a  name 
that  has  already  been  used.  The  American  Iris 
Society  have  compiled  a  list  of  names  under  which 
Irises  have  been  distributed  from  time  to  time, 
and  it  was  proposed  that  the  English  and  French 
raisers  should  so  far  as  possible  consult  this  list 
and  make  it  a  basis  of  a  permanent  record,  so 
that  duplication  should  not  occur  in  the  future. 
On  opening  The  Garden  for  June  24  the  necessity 
for  some  such  arrangement  becomes  very  apparent. 

In  1914  we  received  at  Colchester  some  plants 
from  M.  Denis  of  Balaruc-les-Bains  under  the  name 
Iris  Ochracca-canilea.  This  variety  was  shown 
bv  Mr.  W.  R.  Dykes  on  June  7  and  received  the 
award  of  merit.  According  to  The  Garden, 
someone  has  now  decided  to  rechristen  this  variety 
"  Sunset."  In  the  first  place,  has  anyone  other 
than  the  raiser  any  authority  for  altering  the  name 
given  by  him  to  one  of  his  productions  ?  Secondly, 
if  it  was  considered  necessary  to  alter  the  name, 
surely  some  suggestion  would  be  made  by  the 
Floral  Committee  of  the  R.H.S.  when  considering 
the  flower  for  award,  and  the  natural  course  would 
be  for  them  to  certificate  the  plant  on  its  merits 
with  the  suggestion  that  the  raiser  be  consulted 
regarding  the  alteration  of  the  name.  As  far  as 
one  can  gather,  no  suggestion  of  this  sort  was 
made.  Thirdly,  on  referring  to  the  Check  List 
published  by  the  American  Iris  Society,  I  find 
there  is  already  an  Iris  registered  by  the  Society 
under  the  name  of  Sunset.  If  therefore  this  Iris, 
after  having  been  in  e.xistence  in  English  gardens 
for  eight  years  as  Ochracea-ccerulea  and  having 
been  certificated  by  the  R.H.S.  under  that  name, 
is  now  to  have  this  name  changed  in  such  a  casual 
manner,  nothing  but  confusion  can  be  the  result, 
especially  if  the  substituted  name  is  that  of  another 
Iris  already  in  cultivation.  It  is  certain  that 
some  firms  will  adhere  to  the  only  name  to  which 
it  is  at  present  entitled,  and  we  shall  therefore 
have  this  variety  being  distributed  to  the  public 
under  two  distinct  names,  one  of  which  is  already 
borne  by  another  variety. 

There  is  also  a  slightly  misleading  statement 
in  the  same  issue  of  The  Garden,  namely,  that 
it  is  "  to  be  distributed  this  autumn."  As 
it  was  in  cultivation  in  England  in  1914  and 
registered  by  the  American  Iris  Society  as  having 
been  distributed  in  1919,  this  statement  is  a  little 
misleading. 

Certainly  Ochracea-ccerulea  is  cumbersome  and 
somewhat  misleading.  The  first  thought  it 
conveys  to  one  hearing  the  name  for  the  first  time 
without  seeing  the  plant  is  that  it  may  have  some- 
thing to  do  with  two  species  or  varieties  that 
have  nothing  to  do  with  the  section  to  which  it 
belongs.  For  instance,  Baker  gives  the  variety 
Ochracea  of  Regel  as  a  form  of  I.  iberica.  I  notice 
even  the  American  Iris  Society  seems  to  have 
lost  sight  of  this  fact,  as  it  has  registered  the  name 
of  this  tall  bearded  variety  in  its  "  standardised 
plant  names  "  as  Ochracea.  It  may  be  that  in 
the  effort  of  the  Society  to  eliminate  double- 
barrelled  names  it  has  unconsciously  erred  in  the 
duphcation   of    varieties    under   the   same    name. 

Certainly  something  definite  and  authoritative 
would  seem  to  be  necessary,  and  if  the  name  is 
to  be  altered  it  should  be  done  in  such  a  way 
that  the  new  name  can  be  imiversally  accepted 
as  correct.  In  the  meantime  we  have  only  one 
authoritative   name   for   it,   and   that   is   the   one 


under   which    it    was   certificated   by    the    R.H.S. 
and  introduced  by  the  raiser. — Geo.  Dillistone. 

IRISES     FOR     TOWN     GARDENS. 
T  ."^M  sending  you  a  photograph  of  the  Iris  walk 

in  this  garden  in  case  you  care  to  reproduce 
it.  The  Irises  were  planted  two  years  ago  ;  this 
is  their  second  year  of  blooming.  They  are  very 
fine — all  up-to-date  varieties — and  were  supplied 
by  Messrs.  Whitelegg  and  Co.  and  Messrs.  Waterers. 
I     think    you    may    care   to   shew  what   can   be 


and  I  did  see  one  very  miserable  Aucuba,  but 
110/  one  of  the  most  useful  and  indispensable 
seaside  shrubs  is  to  be  seen,  only  bare  earth  and 
asphalted  paths  and  wide  roads !  Are  the 
Kentish  gardeners  and  authorities  aware  how 
deadly  dull  and  unattractive  they  have  made 
their  seaside  walks  ?  Have  they  never  visited 
other  places  where  the  cliff  sides  are  a  mass  of 
attractive  shrubs  and  bright  flowers  that  need 
little  attention  from  year  to  }'ear  ?  Is  Folkestone 
so  much  more  exposed  to  bitter  sea  winds  than 


AN    IRIS    WALK    IN    A    TOWN     GARDEN. 


done   with   Irises    in    a    town    garden. — Charles 
H.   RiGG,   St.  Albans. 

A    REPROACH    TO    THE    LAND. 

OETURNING  from  France  the  other  day  I 
spent  a  few  days  at  Folkestone  for  the  first 
time,  expecting  to  see  something  of  the  tlowery 
beauty  of  Kent,  "  the  Garden  of  England "  ! 
So  I  duly  explored  the  walks  under  the  Lees  and 
the  partly  planted  paths  near  the  sea  as  far  as 
.Sandgate.  Here  and  there  where  the  natural 
wild  growths  of  the  undercliff  still  remained  there 
are  oases  of  grass  and  wild  flowers,  such  as  Convol- 
vulus arvensis.  where  some  charm  still  lingers. 
But  what  shall  I  say  of  the  rest  ?  Shall  I  be 
believed,  I  wonder,  if  I  say  the  rest  is  simply  a 
wilderness  of  asphalted  paths,  Euonymus  and 
Privet  bushes,  with  here  and  there  a  garish  patch 
of  wild  Mustard  or  a  flourishing  colony  of  Nettles  ? 
It  is  not  possible  to  exaggerate  the  poverty,  the 
misery  and  the  neglect  of  the  so-called  gardens 
on  this  strip  of  South-east  Coast,  where  surely 
something  attractive  might  be  made.  At  some 
period  a  certain  quantity  of  Pines  and  Sycamores 
have  been  planted  which  present  the  most  sorry 
sight.  Never  did  I  see  so  many  half-dead  trees 
and  shrubs,  never  did  I  see  such  a  deadly 
uniformity  of  stunted  Pines  and  Sycamores.  The 
latter  were  in  a  few  cases  green  and  flourishing 
in  leaf  this  fine  season,  but  even  many  of  these 
have  half-dead  tops  and  dead  branches  that  are 
most  disfiguring  and  depressing!  Underneath, 
in  their  shelter,  I  looked  for  at  least  a  few  flowering 
shrubs  to  diversify  the  bare  earth,  but  Privet 
and  Euonymus  alone  rewarded  my  search.  I 
will  admit  there  are  some  Elder  bushes  occasionally 


other  places  that  it  cannot  produce  a  single  flower 
or  pretty  shrub  that  shall  catch  the  eye  of  the 
seeker  after  sunshine  and  beauty  ?  To  judge  by 
its  so-called  gardens,  Folkestone  must  surely 
be  the  coldest  and  most  wind-swept  place  in  the 
British  Isles  !  There  is  not  an  Escallonia  bush, 
not  even  a  Veronica,  so  very  ubiquitous  in  most 
seaside  places.  Not  even  the  hardy  and  decora- 
tive Olearia  Haastii  is  to  be  seen  anywhere,  nor 
did  I  see  a  Laurustinus,  or  even  a  Laurel  or  Bay 
Tree.  In  private  gardens  by  some  villas  an 
Ilex  or  two  shewed  what  might  be  done,  but  as 
a  rule  Elder  bushes,  wild  Mustard  and  Nettles 
held  undisputed  sway  the  whole  length  of  these 
dreary  asphalted  roads. 

.Accustomed  as  I  am  to  the  marvellous  (and  I 
say  it  with  intention)  gardens  that  are  to  be  found 
on  our  coasts  elsewhere,  to  say  nothing  of  those 
in  other  lands,  I  think  the  Men  of  Kent  should 
rise  up  in  arms  and  demand  that  one  of  the  principal 
passenger  ports  of  England  should  shew  a  more 
attractive  face  to  its  many  visitors.  Let  them 
go  to  see  what  is  done  elsewhere,  and  if  they  do 
not  return  fired  with  the  desire  to  mend  their 
ways,  they  will  deserve  the  reproaches  of  all  men 
who  love  their  fair  country.  As  an  instance  of 
what  has  been  done  on  an  exposed  coast,  let  them 
go  to  Scarborough,  where  there  are  literally  miles 
of  gardens  planted  on  the  cliffs,  rich  in  Roses, 
in  trees,  in  flowering  shrubs,  and  many  a  flowery 
path  down  to  the  sea.  Surely  Folkestone  can  do 
as  much,  and  rival,  if  not  surpass,  the  northern 
gardens  that  are  so  very  carefully  ignored  in  the 
advertisements  so  liberally  distributed  iiL  all  parts 
of  the  kingdom.  Let  it  be  no  longer  deserving  the 
name  of  the  Land  of  Neglect  ! — E.  H.   VVoodall. 


July  8,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


335 


GARDENING    OF    THE    WEEK 


FOR    SOl'THERX    GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Early  Potatoes. — Where  these  are  ready  for 
lifting  and  are  occupying  ground  in  demand  for 
crops  of  Turnips,  etc.,  they  should  be  hfted  and 
removed  to  a  cool  store.  If  it  is  decided  to  keep 
any  for  seed  purposes,  they  should  be  spread  out 
singlv  so  that  they  may  thoroughly  mature  before 
being  removed  into  storage. 

Shallots. — As  the  fohage  turns  yellow  and 
shews  signs  of  decay  the  roots  should  be  lifted, 
and  after  a  thorough  drying  and  ripening  in  the 
sun,  the  bulbs  stored  in  a  cool,  dry,  airy  room. 

Runner  Beans. — If  the  weather  proves  hot 
and  drv  during  the  early  cropping  days  of  these 
Beans,  the  plants  will  derive  immense  benefit 
by  several  copious  syringings  and  waterings, 
preferably  during  the  evening.  Follow  this  up 
with  a  mulching  of  well  rotted  manure  if  possible, 
or  if  this  cannot  be  arranged  keep  the  ground 
lightly  hoed  to  prevent  caking  of  the  surface 
soil  and  to  prevent  a  too  rapid  e%'aporation. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Biennials  sown  some  few  weeks  ago  should 
be  pricked  out  as  soon  as  convenient,  especially 
if  the  sowing  was  done  thickly.  It  is  not  advis- 
able to  put  the  young  plants  out  into  a  too  rich 
compost,  as  growth  made  under  such  conditions 
is  not  of  the  best  for  withstanding  hard  weather 
later  on.  A  site  having  a  httle  shade  during  the 
middle  of  the  day  is  the  best  for  Canterbury  Bells, 
Forget-me-nots  and  Aquilegias,  and  all  rows 
should  be  spaced  so  that  the  hoe  can  be  frequently 
pUed  between  them. 

Crocuses. — Where  these  are  appreciated  corms 
of  the  autumn-flowering  and  winter-flowering 
kinds  should  be  planted  as  soon  as  possible.  By 
a  careful  selection  of  varieties  flowers  may  be 
had  almost  continuously  from  August  until  JIarch, 
but  unless  the  positions  chosen  for  some  of  the 
winter-flowering  ones  are  somewhat  warm  and 
sheltered,  unfavourable  climatic  conditions  will 
soon  mar  them.  One  of  the  best  and  most  rehable 
autumn-flowering  kinds  is  C.  speciosus.  As  a 
general  rule  Crocuses  like  shallow  planting,  but 
it  will  be  found  better  to  plant  this  variety 
rather  more  deeply. 

Bulbs  in  Grass. — If  not  already  scythed  over, 
the  foUage  of  these,  which  looks  somewhat  untidy, 
should  receive  such  attention.  This  operation 
will  also  give  sun  and  air  an  easier  access  to  the 
bulbs. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Late  Grapes. — Careful  thinning  is  more  impor- 
tant in  late  vineries  than  in  any  of  the  earlier 
houses,  chiefly  because  of  the  necessity  that  all 
berries  should  be  allowed  proper  room  for  develop- 
ment and  to  ripen  thoroughly,  without  which  it 
is  almost  impossible  to  keep  tliera  in  a  satisfactory 
manner.  Attend  to  the  stopping  and  regulating 
of  the  growths  as  necessary,  and  endeavour  if 
possible  for  all  late  black  Grapes  to  have  a  regular 
covering  of  foliage  over  the  house,  but  avoid 
too  dense  a  covering  for  late  white  ones.  Should 
the  \'ines  shew  any  signs  of  exhaustion  by  feeble 
growths  or  unsatisfactory  swelling  of  the  berries, 
make  doubly  sure  that  overcropping  is  not  being 
carried  out.  This  and  root  dryness  are  the  Vine's 
most  deadly  enemies,  and  although  such  errors 
of  culture  are  rarely  met  with  among  growers 
of  experience,  they  are  probably  the  beginner's 
most  common  mistakes. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Late  Strawberries  will  need  some  assistance 
following  the  severe  tax  which  has  been  placed 
upon  the  plants  by  the  early  drought  and  great 
heat  and  by  the  most  unfavourable  period  of 
growth  after  cropping  last  season.  Where  it 
can  be  arranged  to  give  the  plants  a  couple  of 
thorough  soakings  w-ith  weak  farmyard  manure, 
it  will  be  well  repaid,  and  it  will  be  also  advisable 
to  reduce  the  number  of  fruits  upon  heavily  set 
trusses.  The  layering  of  late  varieties  should  be 
proceeded  with  as  suitable  runners  become 
available. 

General  Work. — Attend  as  necessary  to  the 
protection  of  Gooseberries,  Currants,  Raspberries 
etc.,  and  if  not  already  done,  see  that  all 
superfluous  shoots  are  removed  from  the  Rasp- 
berry plot.  It  may  be  well  also  about  this  time 
to  examine  any  trees  which  may  have  been  grafted 


this  spring  and  ascertain  whether  the  tying  material 
is  doing  any  damage. 

H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland). 
Albury  Park  Gardens,  Guildford. 


evening  to  absorb  the  moisture.  A  thick  mulching 
of  moss  litter  is  also  of  considerable  benefit  in 
creating  a  cool  root-run,  while  lawn  mowings  as 
a  surface  mulch  should  not  be  despised  at  this 
time.  James  McGran 

(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.). 
Coodham,  Kilmarnock. 


FOR    NORTHERN     GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Asparagus  Beds. — It  is  most  important  that 
the  beds  be  kept  free  from  weeds  and  the  tall 
growths  supported,  otherwise  the  Asparagus 
tops  mav  be  much  shaken  by  strong  winds,  and 
when  the  growths  get  broken  the  roots  suffer. 
On  Hght  soils  a  moderate  sprinkhng  of  salt  should 
be  given,  also  occasional  applications  of  hquid 
manure. 

Brussels  Sprouts. — It  is  most  essential  that 
the  soil  between  the  rows  of  Brussels  Sprouts 
should  be  well  cultivated  so  that  a  quick  yet 
sturdy  growth  be  encouraged.  In  gardens  where 
the  soil  is  poRr  an  application  of  a  rehable  artificial 
manure  should  be  dusted  over  the  roots  during 
showerv  weather.  On  gravelly  soils  mulchings 
of  short  rotted  manure  should  also  be  given, 
otherwise  it  is  almost  impossible  to  produce  the 
fine  firm  Sprouts  so  desirable  to  the  grower  of 
this  popular  winter  vegetable. 

Cucumbers. — Make  a  sowing  now  so  as  to 
obtain  plants  for  late  planting  so  that  the  pro- 
duction of  fruits  may  be  ensured  as  far  on  in  the 
season  as  possible.  Like  early  crops,  the  latest 
supplies  always  seem  to  be  much  appreciated. 
Sow  a  prolific  and  free-setting  variety,  such  as 
Cardiff  Castle  or  Austin's  Improved  Telegraph, 
which  is  specially  recommended  for  late  cropping. 

Spinach. — Sow  a  few  lines  of  the  ordinary 
round  variety  on  ground  that  has  been  cleared 
of  early  Potatoes.  As  the  season  advances  fresh 
pickings  are  esteemed  and  late  sowings  do  not  so 
readily  run  to  seed. 

Vegetable    Marrows. — Thin    the    growths    of 

Marrows  where  the  plants  are  hkely  to  become 
overcrowded  and  water  regularly  during  dry 
weather.  Cut  the  Marrows  when  large  enough 
so  as  to  allow  the  later  fruits  more  chance  to 
develop. 

Milan  Turnips. — Continue  to  sow  at  regular 
intervals  a  few  lines  of  Purple  Top  or  Early  White, 
as  in  most  estabhshments  this  type  is  much 
favoured. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Raspberries. — Look  over  the  Raspberry  plan- 
tation and  remove  all  weak  or  superfluous  shoots, 
retaining  only  sufficient  of  the  strongest  for  next 
season's  fruiting. 

Strawberries. — Where  quantities  are  required 
for  forcing  purposes  the  necessary  number  of  layers 
should  be  secured  without  delay.  Layer  the 
runners  into  3  Jin.  pots,  plunging  the  pots  to  the 
ground  level.  Immediately  root  action  com- 
mences pinch  out  the  growing  point  beyond  the 
pot  containing  the  layer.  Should  dry  weather 
intervene,  watering  must  be  attended  to,  as  the 
soil  in  the  small  pots  will  dry  up  quickly. 

Summer  Pruning. — This  important  treatment 
in  regard  to  fruit  trees  should  now  receive  atten- 
tion, for  by  the  timely  removal  of  surplus  shoots 
the  fruit  gets  a  much  better  chance  to  swell  and 
ripen.  Summer  pruning  is  also  of  considerable 
assistance  in  maturing  the  spurs  for  future  crops. 
The  formation  of  young  trees  can  also  be  much 
improved  by  the  judicious  removal  of  all  superfluous 
growths  and  the  stopping  of  the  remaining  shoots. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

The  Rock  Garden. — It  is  necessary  to  go  over 
the  rock  garden  occasionally  to  prevent  the 
encroachment  of  the  strong-growing  plants  on 
the  weaker  sorts.  The  want  of  this  attention 
often  results  in  the  loss  of  many  of  the  smaller 
and  more  choice  plants.  Many  rock  plants  can 
be  propagated  freely  from  cuttings  at  this  time, 
while  others  should  have  small  rooted  portions 
potted  up  and  placed  in  a  cold  frame  in  readiness 
to  fill  the  blanks  that  may  be  caused  by  severe 
cUmatic  conditions  or  by  the  ravages  of  slugs. 

The  Shrubbery. 

Newly  Planted  Shrubs. — Much  anxiety  is 
often  caused  during  lengthy  spells  of  dry  weather 
owing  to  the  wilting  of  small  trees  and  shrubs 
planted  during  the  spring.  Where  at  all  possible, 
heavy  waterings  should  be  given  late  in  the  after- 
noon, so  that  the  roots  may  have  the  cool  of  the 


CONSERVATORY    AND    GREENHOl'SE. 

Mimulus  glutinosus  is  an  old  greenhouse 
plant  which  is  seldom  seen  at  the  present  day. 
The  type  plant  has  rather  small  flowers,  and 
generally  has  been  superseded  by  the  improved 
varieties  Sunbeam  and  coccineus,  both  of  which 
are  sometimes  used  for  summer  bedding.  They 
are  all  easily  propagated  at  any  time  by  means 
of  cuttings  of  the  young  shoots,  which  should 
be  placed  in  a  close  case  in  a  cool  house.  If  propa- 
gated at  this  time  they  will  make  nice  flowering 
plants  for  next  summer.  They  are  easily  grown 
at  all  times  in  an  ordinary  greenhouse. 

Calceolarias. — Seed  of  the  herbaceous  type 
should  now  be  sown  in  a  cool  greenhouse.  The 
seed-pans  should  be  watered  some  time  before 
sowing,  as  the  very  fine  seed  should  only  be 
covered  with  the  finest  sprinkhng  of  sand.  If 
the  seed-pan  is  covered  with  a  pane  of  glass  and 
shaded,  no  further  watering  should  be  needed 
until  the  seed  germinates.  If  watering  is  neces- 
sary, the  seed-pans  should  be  dipped  in  a  vessel 
of  water.  Calceolarias  of  this  type  require  cool 
and  moist  conditions  at  all  stages  of  their  culti- 
vation. Calceolarias  of  the  semi-shrubby  section, 
such  as  C.  Chbrani,  Allardii  and  integrifoUa, 
must  be  propagated  by  means  of  cuttings.  As 
the  cuttings  are  often  weak  from  old  plants,  I 
find  it  a  good  plan  to  take  them  from  the  young 
ones.  Cuttings  raised  in  this  way  usually  grow 
more  freely  and  make  better  flowering  plants. 
C.  Burbidgei  is  a  fine  greenhouse  plant,  and  may 
be  flowered  in  7in.  pots  for  the  conservatory 
stage,  while  if  grown  on  in  loin.  pots  they  make 
fine  large  specimens  some  4ft.  or  5ft.  high.  C. 
corymbosa,  listed  by  Messrs.  Sutton  as  Fairy 
Queen,  is  a  fine  greenhouse  plant,  and  should  be 
grown  from  seed,  giving  it  the  same  treatment 
as  the  large-flowered  herbaceous  section. 

Azaleas  of  the  indica  section  should  now  be 
stood  outdoors  on  a  bed  of  ashes.  Large  plants 
should  be  plunged  sufficiently  deeply  to 
prevent  them  from  blowing  over.  The  plants 
require  strict  attention  as  regards  watering,  and 
they  benefit  by  frequent  application  of  weak 
soot  %vater  and  liquid  manure.  Weak  applications 
of  good  guano  are  also  safe.  The  Azaleas  should  be 
vigorously  syringed  morning  and  evening,  as  they 
are  liable  to  attacks  of  thrip. 

Ericas,  Acacias,  Callistemons  and  other  hard- 
wooded  plants  should  be  stood  outdoors  to  ripen 
the  flowering  wood. 

Sparmannia    africana    should    also    be   stood 

outdoors,  as  this  is  the  only  way  to  get  this  plant 
to  flower  freely.  If  kept  indoors  the  flowering 
wood  does  not   get  sufficiently   ripened. 

Salvias. — There  are  quite  a  number  of  Salvias 
that  are  excellent  for  winter  flowering,  especially 
in  the  country.  In  the  immediate  neighbourhood 
of  London  they  are  very  uncertain,  as  one  night's 
fog  is  sufficient  to  ruin  them.  They  should  now 
all  be  placed  in  their  flowering  pots  and  stood 
outdoors  on  a  hard  ash  bottom,  or  they  may  be 
planted  out  in  the  reserve  garden,  from  whence 
they  can  be  hfted  and  potted  up  during  the  autumn. 
By  this  method  they  require  less  attention  as 
regards  watering,  and  they  are  less  subject  to 
attacks  of  red  spider,  to  which  S.  splendens  and 
its  varieties  are  very  prone.  The  best  \'arieties 
for  winter  flowering  are  S.  splendens  and  its 
variety  pyramidahs  for  large  specimens,  and  the 
variety  Glory  of  Zurich  for  smaller  plants  for 
furnishing  the  benches  in  the  conservatory.  Other 
good  species  are  S.  rutilans,  S.  involucrata  Bethelli. 
S.  azurea  grandiflora,  S.  rubescens  and  S.  Heerii. 
They  are  all  strong-rooting  plants,  and  require 
abundance  of  water  and  hberal  feeding  when 
their  pots  are  well  filled  with  roots. 

Mesembryanthemums  fakiforme,  violaceum, 
Brownii,  aurantiacum,  roseum,  coccineum  and 
blandum  are  all  very  free-flowering  species,  and 
are  worthy  of  more  general  cultivation  for  the 
cool  greenhouse.  They  are  easily  propagated  at 
any  time  by  means  of  cuttings.  It  is  not  necessary 
to  put  them  in  a  case,  as  they  root  readily  stood 
on  a  bench  in  the  greenhouse.  If  cuttings  are 
inserted  at  this  time,  they  will  make  good  flowering 
plants  for  next  year.  Tliey  grow  freely  in  ordinary 
potting  compost  with  the  addition  of  plenty  of 
old  mortar  rubble.  J.   CouTTS. 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kew. 


336 


THE     GARDEN. 


[July  8,  1922. 


ANSWERS 
TO  CORRESPONDENTS 


FRUIT    GARDEN. 

GOOSEBERRY     BUSHES     NOT     FRUITING     (G.     T., 

B.aconsflilfD.^Judtrius  from  thf  (Icscnrtion  givc-n  by 
our  corrcspondcuf.  tin-  bushes  an-  growiuR  in  a  poor  soil 
and  no  doubt,  tllPV  would  be  bcnr-iBted  it  replanted  m  \f 
autumn  in  anotlier  quarter  after  tliorougldy  prepanni; 
the  soil  for  them.  It  appears,  further,  that  birds  ate  tli' 
buds  from  many  shoots.  The  fact  that  there  are  buds 
growing  near  the  ends  of  the  shoots  seems  to  point  to  thU 
being  the  case,  as  the  birds  cannot  retain  their  hold  on  the 
ends  of  the  shoots.  After  lifting  and  replanting  the 
bushes  put  on  a  nice  surf.ace  mulch  and  renew  it  next 
spring.  The  varieties  (Warrington,  Crown  Bob,  Glorious 
and  .Monarch)  are  good  ones, 

FRUIT  TREES  ATTACKED  (J.  N.,  Forfar).— In  the 
absence  of  specimens  of  the  caterpillars  it  is  difficult 
to  diagnose  the  case.  Our  correspondent  mentions  that 
the  Leopard  Moth  is  the  cause  of  the  trouble.  If  tins  is 
vo  the  grubs  burrow  into  the  wood  of  the  branches  and, 
finally,  wilting  and  death  follow.  The  treatment  for 
this  trouble  is  to  seek  out.  the  entrance  nolo  and  thrusting 
in  a  piece  ol  wire,  thus  destroy  the  grub.  According  to 
our  correspondent  he  has  tried  hand  picking,  from  which 
one  would  gather  that  the  pest  is  a  leaf  and  blossom  fieder, 
in  which  case  spraying  withlead  arsenate,  41bs.  per  lOOgals. 
of  water  is  undoubtedly  the  best  remedy.  Furthermore 
it  is  stated  that  the  trees  "  produce  ample  foliage  and 
flower  well  but  fail  to  fruit."  This  may  be  due  to  faulty 
cultural  conditions  or  to  lack  of  cross  pollination.  It  is 
most  important  to  get  the  cultural  treatment  right.  If 
our  correspondent  would  send  us  specimens  of  the  cater- 
pillars for  identification,  we  might  be  of  further  assistance. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

SULPHATE  OF  AMMONIA  (Felsted).— This  chemical 
manure  often  becomes  brown  in  colour  when  stored, 
but  the  loss  in  manurial  value  is  very  slight  unless  it  is 
allowed  to  become  quite  damp. 

NAMES  OF  PLANTS.— V.  A.  C,  Norfolk.— 1,  Antheri- 
cum  Liliago  ;  2.  Tropaiolum  polyphyllum  ;  3,  Cotoneaster 
sp  (closely  allied  to  C.  divaricata) ;  4,  Scilla  peruviana  ; 
5  Lonicera  Ledebourii ;  6,  Escallonia  macrantha  ;  7,  E. 
langleyensis ;  8,  E.  rubra  ;  9,  E.  Philippiana  Balfouriana  : 

10   E    Donard  Seedling. J.  S.  C,  Anglesey.— Meconop- 

sis    cambriea,    "  Welsh    Poppy." L.    G.    Payne.— 1, 

Campanula  rapunculoides ;  2,  Sedum  rupestre  ;  3, 
Probably  Viola  Purple  Robe  ;  4,  Dianthus  Caryopliyllus 
var  (garden  seedling) ;  5,  Sedum  hispanicum  ;  6,  Specimen 
too  poor  for  identification  ;  7,  Geranium  pusiUum  ;  8, 
G    macrorrhizum.     The  specimens  sent  were  very  poor. 


,M.   E.   U.,   Row. — Hydrangea   petiolaris.     The  large 

white  sterile  flowers  surrounding  the  inconspicuous  fertile 
ones  are  characteristic  of  the  plant.     Cuttings  should  be 

takrii  in  autumn. "Mauve  Poppy." — Austrian  Ciipjier. 

This  is  not  a  British  species,  but  has  been  cultivated  here 

for  upwards  of  300  years. M.  J.  T.,  Surrey. — The  three 

Roses  sent  for  identification  fell  to  pieces  on  arrival. 

J.  M.,  Bristol. — Muscari  comosum  plumosum. "  Pad- 
gate." — 1,  Deutzia  scabra  i1.  pi.  ;  2,  Rose  Boule  de  Neige. 
"  Rosi'rnary." — Juglans  regia.  coniinoii  Walnut. 


STANDARD 
ROSES 

ON    ENGLISH    BRIAR. 

The  hardiest  and  best  plants  procurable,  on 

straight  stout  stems,  with  good  heads  and 

splendidly  rooted. 

All  the  best  and  popular  varieties. 

Standards,  5/6  each    -    60/-  per  doz. 

485/-  per  100 

Half  Standards,  5/-  each,  54/-  per  doz. 

Owing  to  the  drought  of  last  year  Standard  Roses 
are  scarce  and  will  be  difficult  to  procure  in  the 
Autumn.  We  are  pleased  to  say ,  however,  we  have 
a  magnificent  stock,  not  only  of  Standards,  but  of 
Dwarfs  and  Climbers  in  the  finest  possible  con- 
dition, and  we  advise  intending  purchasers  to 
place  their  orders  with  us  now,  when  the 'pick 
of  the  plants  will  be  reserved  for  them. 

JOHN  JEFFERIES  &  SON,  Ltd., 

The  Cotswold  Rose  Nurseries 
CIRENCESTER. 


The  moment  insects  show  them- 
selves in  the    garden, 

Give 'em ^ SOX!* 

"SOX"  IS  the  finest  msecticide 
in  the  World.  Can  be  obtained 
from  Seedsmen,  Ironmongers, 
Chemists,  and  Stores  in  all  sizes 
from  I/-  upwards,  or  in  case 
of    difficulty     send     to    the    Sole 

Manufacturers — 
HAWKER  &   BOTWOOD.  Ltd.. 

GRAYS.    ESSEX. 


When  weeds  appear  on  garden 
paths,   say 

*  DYOWEED ' 

and  use  it  al  once.  "  Dyoweed  " 
is  non-arsenical  and  harmless. 
Sold  in  all  sizes  from  1/6  upwards. 
"SOX"  and  "DYOWEED" 
can  be  obtained  from  Seedsmen, 
Ironmongers,  Chemists  and  Store  , 
or  in  case  of  difficulty  send  to  the 

Sole  Manufacturers  : 

HAWKER   &  BOTWOOD,  Ltd.. 

GRAYS,    ESSEX. 


YORK  STONE 
CRAZY    PAVING 

7d.  per  foot  super,   100  ft.  lots  or  more. 
GREY     LIMESTONE    and     RED     SANDSTONE 
ROCKERY,   50/-   per  ton.     Special  prices  for 
truckloads. 
Excellent  GARDEN   MOULD,  in  bags  or  by  lorry 
load.     Price  on  request. 
Delivered  Free  in  London   within  reasonable  distance. 
ROCKERIES    FORMED    AND    PLANTED. 

Wm.     BIGNELL     &      SON, 

NORTH     ROAD,     HIGHQATE,     N.6. 

'Phone  :     Hornsey  2868. 


PEMBERTON'S  ROSES. 

Descriptive    Catalogue,    Guide   to    Selection 
and  Pruning,  now  ready. 

J.     H.     PEMBERTON, 
HAVERING  -  ATTE  -  BOWER,      ESSEX. 


XL 


ALL     NICOTINE 
LIQUID  INSECTICIDE 

Acknowledged    by   Qardeners    and    Qrowers    tor 

the     past     25     years,     as    the     best     insecticide 

ever    introduced. 

Do  not  waste  time  and  money  on  Non-poisonous 
preparation.;  they  have  no  permanent  effect! 
Poison  is  needed  to  stamp  out  insects!  Orders 
can  be  passed  through  Nurserymen,  .seedsmen 
Florists,  or  Ironmongers,  whether  a  licence  to  sell 
is  held  or  not.  The  Manufacturer  despatches 
diiect.  and  the  agent  can  invoice  and  collect 
the  money. 

G.    H.    RICHARDS,  234,  Borough.  London,  S.E.I. 


BENTLEY'S 

Weed  Destroyers 

Largest  Sale  I      Nearly    50    per    cent,    more 

powerful  than  any  other  I     The  most  effective, 

the  most  lasting,  the  most  economical  I 

CONCENTRATED  (Liquid,   1   to  80). 
6  galls.,  47/- ;     12  galls.,  90,'- ;    24  galls.  175/-. 

POWDER    (1  to  25). 

4  tins,  11/6  ;     8  tins,  22/8  ;     12  tins,  33/- ; 

20  tins,  52/6  ;  40  tins,  102/6. 

Bentley's    Quassia    Extract 

(Compound    Lijjuid). 
The  Original  !     Non-poisonous  !    An  infallible 
and  safe  destroyer  of  Aphis  in  all  its  forms. 
One  gallon  makes  80  to  100  gallons  of  wash. 

5  gallons,  10/-  per  gall.  ;     1  gallon,  10/8  ; 
J  gallon,  8/- ;     1  quart,   3/8  ;      1  pint,  2/- 

Carriage  paid  on  201-  orders  and  upvoards. 


Sole  Manufacturers : 

JOSEPH  BENTLEY,  Ltd. 

Chemical    Works, 

BARROW  -  ON  -  NUMBER,     HULL. 


XL  PUMP  OUTFIT 

is  very  convenient,  as  the  Pump  can  be  used 
for  filling  the  tank  as  well  as  for  watering 
work  afterwards. 

Complete   with    Air    Vessel,    5ft.    Suction    and    3ft. 
Delivery   Hose.  Brass   Unions.   Strainer   and  Spray 
Pipe  with  Rose  Jet  and  Tap:  — 
15  gall.,  with  iin.  XL  Pump £8    10    0 


LOOK!  TANNED  GARDEN   NETS 

Small  mesh,  waterproof,  for  Fruit  and  Strawberry  protection. 

.SO  yards  long,  1  yard  wide  ...         5/- 

10/- 

15/- 

2o;- 

2s;- 

30'- 

Carriage    Paid. 
ALFRED    ROBINSON,    Garden    Net   Worki,    RYE. 


50 

..       2 

.511 

.,       3 

,50 

..       4 

50 

,.       5 

.50 

.,       6 

List    Post    Free. 

CHAS.  P.  KINNELL  &  CO.,  Ltd., 

65    &   653,    Southwark   St.,   London.    S.E.I. 


LADIES  FIELD 

FASHIONS 

Sjcclusive  oti/les 
MorvtKly  One  ShilliAg •• 


THE 


LIBRARY  of  th 


etts 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


i^ol.  LXXXVI.— No.  2643. 

oterad  as  Second-class  Matter  at  the  New  York.  N.Y.,  Post  Office. 


Saturday,  July  15,  1922 


REGISTERED  AT  THE  GENERAL 
POST  OFFICE  AS  A  NEWSPAPER 
AND     FOR     CANADIAN     HACAZINE 

POST. 


Price  THREEPENCE 

Yearly  Subscription: 
Inland.    17/4;    Foreign,   17/4 


CLEMATIS     NELLIE     MOSER. 

(Palest  lilac-rose,  with  carmine  bars.) 


BARR'S  SEEDS  for  JULY  Sowing 

Of  Finest  Strains  and  Tested  Growth. 


FOR    THE     FLOWER    GARDEN. 

Antirrhinums,  Aquilegias,  Aubrietias,  Campanulas,  Delphiniums,  Forget- 
me-nots,  Gaillardias,  Geums,  Hollyhocks,  Lupins,  Pansies,  Polyanthus, 
Papavers,  Primrose,  Sweet  Williams,  Stocks,  Violas,  etc. 

FOR    THE    VEGETABLE    GARDEN. 

Beet,  Cabbage,  Carrots,  Cauliflowers,  Cress,  Endive,  Kohl  Rabi,  Mustard, 
Onions,    Parsley,   Peas,    Radishes,    Spinach   Beet,   Turnips,   etc. 


SPECIAL     LIST     ON 


APPLICATION. 
11.     12     &     13, 


BARR     A     SON^  ''''•  ''^  ^  ''3>   kino  street, 

■^'^■^■^   **   ^V/l^^,   COVENT  GARDEN,  LONDON,  w!c.2. 

WHITE    FLY    death! 

NO     FURTHER     LOSS     FROM     THIS     PEST     IF     YOU     USE 

CORRY'S  WHITE  FLY  DEATH  FUMIGANT 

It   is  unique   and   differs  from  all  others.      NON-POISONOUS.      No  danger  to  operator 
No    apparatus.      Simply    pour    from    the    container   on    to    the    floor    of    the    greenhoufe; 

FULL    DIRECTIONS    WITH    EACH    PACKAGE. 

Cheaper   and   safer  than   any   other   Fumigant  on   the   market  and  absolutely  effective  against  While  Fly. 
Mr.  J.  B.  Jacklin,  Jersey,  writes : —  "  May  3l8t,  1922. 

"  Your  new  White   Fly  eradicator  is  simply  splendid,  and   you  can  recommend  it  from 
me.  as  It  is  a  perfect  killer  of  Wliite  Fly." 

SOLD    BY   ALL    NURSERYMEN.    SEEDSMEN   AND  FLORISTS 

Cub.  ft.    1,000      2,000      4,000      8,000      16,000  32  000     64  000 

Price        lOd.             1/3               2/-               3/6               6/3  11/6            22/- 

And  in  all  sizes   up  to  40-gallon  barrels. 

CORRY   &   CO.,    Ltd.,    Shad    Thames,    LONDON,    S.E.I. 

SPECIAL    TERMS    TO    THE    TRADE. 

YORK  STONE  CRAZY  PAVING 

7d.  per  foot  super.,  100  ft.  lots   or  more. 

GREY     LIMESTONE     and     RED     SANDSTONE     ROCKERY, 

50/-  per  ton.      Special  prices  for  tnickloads. 
Excellent   GARDEN   MOULD,  in  bags  or  by   lorry  load.      Price 

on  request. 

Delivered    Free    in    London    within    reasonable    distance. 

ROCKERIES     FORMED     AND      PLANTED. 

NA/m.     BIGNELL     &     SON, 

NORTH       ROAD,      HIGHGATE,      N.  6. 

'Phone  -         -         .  Hornsey  2868. 


H 


JONES 


Guarantees  plants  offered  below  to  be  the  best  named  kinds  and  more  than 

value  for  money.     They  are  all  good  strong  plants,  turned  out  of  pots,  rolled 

separately  in  paper  and  securely  packed  and  delivered  free  for  cash  with  order. 

ASTERS,  MICHAELMAS  DAISIES,  12  grand  new  varieties  10/-  ;    12  older  varieties,  7/6. 

DAHLIAS,  Tip-top  Cactus,  very  smart  Decoratives,  lovely  Peonies,  beautiful  Stars,  charming 
Collarettes,  elegant  Sincles,  useful  Pompons,  all  at  7/6  per  dozen.  Four  ver\'  fine  new 
liinds  included  in  each  12. 

FUCHSIAS,  Double  and  Single,  lovely  varieties,  5/-  per  dozen. 

CANNAS,  six  grand  distinct  kinds,  7/6. 

MONTBRETIAS,  the  new  Giant  kinds,  12  for  10/-. 

PHLOX ,  12  grand  new  varieties,  12/-  ;  12  verj-  fine  older  kinds,  7/6  ;  12  mixed  (unnamed),  B/-. 

PINKS  ALLWOODIi,  Bi.x  grand  new  kinds,  9/-  ;   6  lovely  older  kinds,  S/-. 

ZONAL  GERANIUMS,  12  grand  new  Single  varieties,  15/-  ;  12  verv  good  varieties  10/-  ■ 
12  very  good  older  varieties,  7/6.  NEW  FRENCH  SEMI-DOUBLES,  very  best  12 
varieties,  10/-  ;  12  very  fine  gigantic  semi-double  kinds,  7,6.  DOUBLES,  12  verv  fine 
kinds,  7/6.  ' 

H.  J.   JONES,    Ryecroft  Nurseries,    LEWISHAM,   S.E.13 


u. 


THE    GARDEN. 


[July  15,  1922. 


"THE    GARDEN"   CATALOGUE    GUIDE 


NOTICE  TO  OUR  READERS 


r\N  receipt  of  a  Post  Card  the  under- 
^^  mentioned  firms  will  be  pleased  to 
send  their  useful  Catalogues  free  of  charge. 


Fruit  Trees  and  Plants 


PERRY'S 

Hahdy  Plant  Farms 

ENFIELD,  MIDDX. 


New  Alpinaa 
and  Porennials 


Complete 
Collection^ 


KELWAY  &  SON 
RiTAiL  Plant  Department 
LANGPORT,  SOMERSET. 


Hardy  Plants 
Colour  Borders 
Gladioli 


Garden  Sundries 


C.  E.  WEST 
Hicham  Hill,  E.17 
Est.  1888 


West's  PatentGardeniiundries. 
,,  ,,       Weeder, 

"  Celu"  Labels, 
RafHatape  "  Westmaline," 
Insecticides,  Wt-ed  Killers,  etc. 
Catalogue  and  free  samples. 


RICHARD  MELHUISH,  Ltd. 
50/51,  Fetter  Lane,  E.C.4. 
Branch  Depot  : 

143  HoLBORN  Bars 


HARDY    AZALEAS    AND    FLOWERINQ    SHRUBS 


R.  &  G.  CUTHBERT 

BOUTHGATE 

MIDDLESEX 

ElTABLISHEO    1797 


For  planting  and 
Conservatory 
decoration. 
Catalogue  of  our 
new  and  beautiful 
varieties  post 
tree 


LAXTON  BROS. 

NUMERIBS 

BEDFORD 


Strawberries 

and 

Fruit  Trees 


W.  WELLS,  JuNH. 
Habdy  Plant  Nursery 
MERSTHAM,  SURREY 


Spacialista  in 
Hardy  Plants 
and  AlpineB 
Cataloguea  fr»« 


PULMAJM  ®  SON 

1  TMENUHSERJBS-ELSQSHAM 
STANSTED  •  ESSEX 


Rock- 
Alpine  1) 
flarckj  Planlft 


Seeds  and  Bulbs 


R.  H.  BATH,  Ltd. 
Tbe  Floral  Farms 
WISBECH 


Home-Grown 
Bulbs  and 
Seeds 


BLACKMORE  &  LANGDON  Begonia. 

_  .,  ..  Delphiniums 

TwERTON  Hill  Nursery  oioxinias 

BATH  Cyclamen,  etc. 


DAWKINS 

408,  King's  Road 

CHELSEA,  S.W. 


Forcing  List 
(Retarded    Liliums), 
Roman  Hyacinths, 
etc. 


The  "VILLA"  SPRAYER 


PatentN? 
161730. 


Brass  Cylinder 

17  IN.  LONG 
X  ^8  DIAM. 


"The  Villa"  Spray-.r  ia  now  fitted  with  a  new  and  greatly 
improved  nozzle. 

It  is  connected  to  the  pump  with  the  sime  sized  screw  as 
the  old  pattern,  so  that  the  old  one  may  be  ui  screwed  and 
replaced  by  that  shown  in  the  cut  above. 

Instead  of  the  inlet  v.ilve  being  operated  by  a  rubber  band  a 
BRASS     BALL     VALVK    h:is  been  substituted. 

There  is  nothmjj  whatever  to  go  wriin«  or  to  corrode.  The 
liquid  may  be  sucUid  up  trom  the  very  bottom  of  the  can. 

By  loosening  and  tiyhtening  the  brass  screw  the  spraying  tube 
may  be  set  to  throw  the  spray  at  any  desired  ar.gle,  and  it  s 
more  solidly  cunsiructed. 

Former  customers  may  be  supplied  with  this  new  nozzle,  post 
free.  l/«. 

Ask  your  se;d>man  or  ironmonger  for  Ihe  "  Villa  '"  Sprayer. 


THE  TRADE  SUPPLIED.     For  Wholesale  terms  apply: 
G.  W.  JONES.  ISe,  Holdenhurst  Road,  Bournemouth. 


Post 
Free 


For  Mall  Orders  to  the  Patentee: 

C.    CHILDS, 

RIVERSIDE,      ENSBURY, 
BOURNEIVIOUTH. 


5/6 


Garden  Tools  of 
all  kinds. 
Catalogue    "B  ' 
post  free. 


CORRY  &  CO.,  Ltd. 
Shad  Thames,  S.E.i  and 
Bedford  Chambers 
CovENT  Garden,  W.C.2 


Marehanta  and 
Manufacturers 
of  Horticultural 
Sundries 
Fertilizers  and 
Inaaotloldes,  etc. 


J.  BENTLEY,  Ltd. 
Barrow-on-Humber 
HULL 


Wsad  Destroyers 
Lawn  Sand 
Inssotloidss 
Shrubs,  etc. 


Landscape  Gardening 


W.  H.  GAZE  &  SONS,  Ltd. 
High  Street 
KINGSTON-ON-THAMES 


Landasape,  Rock 
and  Water  Garden 
Model  Oardens 
Pertamouth    Road 

oui'tiiiaii 


R.  WALLACE  &  CO., 
The  Old  Gardens 
TUNBRIDGE  WELLS 


Ltd. 


Laadaoape  &  Oardei 
ArolWteata.  Queer 

Aleuuidra's   Cup   fo 
Beat  Roek  and  Water 
Oarden,  latematiocal 
Show.  1912. 


J.  CHEAL  &   SONS,  Ltd. 

Nurseries 

CRAWLEY 


Landacape 
Qardenera 
Tress  and 


MISS  EVELYN  FAWSSETT 

(Specialist  in  Garden  Planning) 

83,  High  Strbet 
LEWES,  SUSSEX 


New  Gardens  de- 
BlSned.  Old  Gardens 
Re<arranged.  Plant- 
ing plans  for  borders, 
etc.  Terms  on  appl)> 
cation. 


SPECIALITE. 

SUMMER    FLOWERING 
TREES      AND      SHRUBS 
(Carriage  Paid.) 

V.  N.  Gauntlett  &  Co.,  Ltd.. 

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-.V.  ToMLINSON  k  Kavwakd  LT?  LIWCOtH 


No.  2643.— Vol.  LXXXVI.] 


[July  15,  1922. 


ALPINES    FROM     SEED 


THE  raising  of  alpines  from  seed  presents 
no  special  difficulty  to  the  enthusiastic 
gardener  who  is  prepared  to  cater 
separately  for  the  individual  require- 
ments of  the  various  species.  The  word 
alpine  it  should  first  be  stated  is  intended  in  this 
connexion  to  cover  the  choicer  sorts  of  rock  plants 
whether  they  come  from  great  elevations  or 
comparatively  low  ones,  and  whether  their  native 
habitat  be  in  Europe  or  elsewhere.  Dealing  first 
of  all  with  home-saved  seed,  the  amateur  will 
wish  to  know  how  to  dispose  of  his  harvest — 
whether  to  sow  it  forthwith  or  to  save  it  until  "  the 
tuni  of  days." 

Seeds  of  Primula  or  Androsace  should  certainly 
be  sown  at  the  earliest  possible 
moment,  and  although  seeds  of 
most  species  of  Saxifrage  will 
germinate  if  sown  at  the  end  of  the 
year,  a  better  percentage  of  plants 
and  more  vigorous  ones  are  obtained 
if  seed  is  sown  at  once.  It  is  wise, 
then,  to  sow  as  many  of  the 
choicer  species  as  possible  soon 
after  ripening,  but  as  circumstances 
sometimes  make  it  impossible  to 
sow  the  whole,     it  may  be   well   to 

mention  the  genera  which  should, 
in   any   case,    be    sown    forthwith. 

Such   are  the    Primulas,    especially 
the  Candelabra   section    and    other 

soft-leaved  varieties.     Seeds  of  the 

Auriciila  hke  species,  such  as  P.P. 

hirsuta,    villosa.  Auricula,    integri- 

folia,    etc.,  keep  better,    but    even 

these  are  better  sown  immediately. 

The  Gentians  have  seeds  notoriously 

difficult   to  genninate  if   kept,  but 

the  seedlings  usually   appear  early 

the     following    spring  if  sowing  is 

carried  out  immediately   the  seeds 

are  har\'ested.     Prompt    sowing   is 

very    desirable  with   the  stone-Uke 

seeds    of    Lithospermum,    Onosma 

and  Myosotis,  but  it  is  not  essential. 
For    choice     alpines     seed    pans 

should,  wherever  possible,  be  used. 

It  is  much  easier  to  keep  the  soil 

evenly  moist  in  them  than  in  boxes 

Whether  round  or  square  pans   are 

employed  will  depend   to    a    large 

extent  upon  the  quantity  of  seeds 

of  each  variety  or  species  available 

or,    if   seed  is  plentiful,  the  number 

of  plants  it  is  desired  to  raise.      The 

square  pans,   naturally,   waste  less 

space    than    the    round    ones,    and 


are,  especially  when  packed  together,  more  easily 
kept  evenly  moist,  so  that,  where  large  pans 
are  necessary,  the  square  ones  should  have 
preference.  "  Old  hands "  often  sow  three 
or  four  species,  which  they  know  by  experi- 
ence will  germinate  and  grow  on  together  and 
which  require  similar  compost,  in  the  same  pan, 
but  the  beginner  wiU  be  wise  to  keep  each  species 
in  a  separate  pan.  Even  the  expert  occasionally 
gets  "  left  "  through  attempting  several  species 
together,  tor  seeds  are  apt  to  behave  differently 
under  varying  climatic  conditions. 

The  compost  is,  for  many  species,  of  the  first 
importance,  but  the  following  readily  procured 
ingredients    will    cover    all   requirements :     Clean, 


RAMONDIA    PYRENAICA    CO.MES    FREELY    FROM    SEED 


sweet  fibrous  loam  from  the  top  spit  of  an  old 
pasture,  brick  dust,  broken  iron  furnace  slags 
or  broken  potsherds,  coke  dust  such  as  will  pass 
a  |in.  sieve,  old  mortar  rubble  (pass  the  fine 
through  a  iin.  sieve,  but  save  the  rough  lumps), 
thoroughly  decayed  leaf-mould,  fine  peat,  fine 
silver  sand  and  Uve  sphagnum  moss. 

It  is  not  possible  in  the  course  of  an  article 
such  as  this  to  suggest  a  compost  for  each  species, 
but  a  careful  study  of  the  habits  of  the  plant  it 
is  proposed  to  raise  will,  if  the  following  hints 
are  carefully  studied,  suggest  the  most  favourable 
ingredients.  The  alpine  Gentians  (as  distinguished 
from  the  bog  species),  such  as  G.G.  vema,  brachy- 
phylla,  bavarica,  Kochii,  Clusiana,  angustifolia 
and  Gentianella,  like  a  gritty  soil. 
Having  filled  the  pan  half-full  of 
coarsely  broken  potsherds  or  rough 
coke  dust  to  ensure  drainage,  let 
us  make  up  therefore  a  compost 
consisting  of  two  parts  fibrous 
loam,  one  part  leaf-soil  and  four 
parts  broken  brick,  potsherd  or 
furnace  slag  with  a  Uttle  coke  dust, 
all  passed  through  a  Jin.  sieve. 
For  the  lime-loving  Clusiana  two 
parts  of  mortar  rubble  should  be 
substituted  for  two  parts  of  the 
"  ballast."  With  reference  to  this 
last  it  will  be  sufficient  to  pass 
potsherd  or  furnace  slag  through 
a  Jin.  riddle,  but  broken  brick  is 
apt  to  contain  too  much  fine 
powder  and  should  be  reriddled  on 
an  ^in.  sieve  to  remove  this.  The 
Jin.  sieve  will  be  suitable  for  ridd- 
ling the  covering  compost,  which 
should  be  taken  from  the  heap  of 
compost  already  made  up.  Bury 
the  seeds  to  above  twice  their 
depth. 

The  compost  described  for 
Gentians  may  be  considered  a 
standard  one  for  many  stone-loving 
"  alpines.  With  the  mortar  rubble 
it  is  ideal  for  vEthionemas,  the 
choicest  Campanulas,  many  of  the 
Androsaces,  the  Encrusted  (Eu- 
aizoonia)  and  most  of  the  Tufted 
(Kabschia)  Saxifrages  as  well  as 
those  of  the  oppositifoUa  (Por- 
phyrion)  type,  many  of  the  fleshy- 
leaved  Primulas,  Potentilla  nitida, 
the  chalk-loving  members  of  the 
Dianthus  family,  the  choicer 
.Arenarias,  Pap  aver  alpinum, 
.Anemone     alpina,    A.    narcissiflora. 


338 


THE    GARDEN. 


[July  15,  1922. 


SEEDS    OF    THE    BRIGHT    ROSE-COLOURED    DIANTHUS    ALPINUS 
GERMINATE    QUICKLY. 


THE    UNCOMMON    MAGENTA  FLOWERED    PRIMULA    MEGASE^FOLIA. 
All  Primula  seeds  should  be  soicn  as  soon  as  ripe. 


Gnaphalium  and  Leontopodium,  Geum  reptans  and  G.  montanum 
Without  mortar  rubble  it  will  suit  some  Saxifrages  which  do  not 
like  lime — S.  mutata,  for  example,  Dianthus  glacialis,  most  Silenes 
(but  S.  quadrifida  likes  lime),  Lychnis  alpina.  Anemone  sulphurea, 
A.  Pulsatilla.  A.  montana,  A.  Halleri,  A.  vernalis,  A.  baldensis. 
Douglasia  (.Androsace)  Vitaliana  (a  little  more  leaf-mould  is  beneficial) 
the  Linarias,  especially  L.  alpina  and  its  colour  forms,  and  L 
petrnea,  Erinus,  Sedum  and  Sempervivum. 

.\  silky  compost  consisting  largely  of  peat,  leaf-mould  and  loam, 
but  with  an  admixture  of  fine  ballast  and  coke  dust,  will  suit  the 
peat-loving  Androsaces  A.  carnea  and  A.  Lagged  and  Myosotis 
rupicola  and  M.  alpestris,  the  Cyclamens,  Soldanellas,  Cortusas, 
Pyrolas  (not  always  easy  to  raise),  Dryas,  Coronilla,  Oxytropis, 
Hepaticas  and  Anemone  angulosa,  the  Ranunculuses,  TroUiuses  and 
choicer  .AquUegias. 

Some  genera  there  are  which,  delighting  in  a  cool  root-run,  are 
best  raised  in  a  stony  compost  containing  a  proportion  (say  one- 
fifth)  of  chopped  sphagnum  moss.  Probably  many  of  the  genera 
mentioned  in  the  last  paragraph  would  appreciate  this  treatment, 
which  is  absolutely  necessary  for  Eritrichiimi,  and  might  probably 
lie  desirable  for  Myosotis  rupicola.  The  Eritrichium  comes  readily 
from  seed  in  such  a  compost,  and  may  be  flowered  in  pans  under 
glass  if  great  care  be  taken,  but  the  writer  has  always  failed  to 
establish  it  outdoors.  Soldanellas  appreciate  the  more  even  state 
of  moisture  induced  by  the  sphagnum,  and  may  usually  be 
flowered  the  second  year  from  seed.  The  beautiful  and  quaint 
Pinguiculas  appreciate  the  sphagnum  at  all  stages  of  their  culture. 
The  amateur  who  is  determined  thoroughly  to  understand  alpines 
will  try  an  equal  number  of  seeds  in  alternative  composts  and 
note  results.  The  elevation  and  climatic  conditions  of  his  station 
will  make  a  considerable  difference  and  he  will  sometimes  get 
surprising  results. 

A  compost  consisting  largely  of  peat  and  silver  sand  with  just  a 
little  loam  to  give  it  body  will  suit  the  Heaths — Erica,  Calluna, 
Dabcecia  and  Menziesia — and  other  American  plants,  including 
Rhododendrons.  These  plants,  once  grown,  will  succeed  in  any 
turfy,  lime-free  loam,  but  the  seed-pans  must  have  abundance  of 
peat  or  leaf-mould,  or  no  seeds  will  germinate. 

.\  similar  compost,  but  with  the  addition  of  a  considerable  amount 
of  ballast  will  suit  the  Ramondias  and  Haberleas  which,  though 
rather  slow  are,  given  ordinary  care,  sure  enough  from  seed.  Shade 
is  necessary  for  them,  of  course,  and  water  must  never  be  permitted 
to  lodge  in  the  crowns. 

Once  the  seeds  are  sown,  covered  and  watered  in,  they  should 
be  placed  in  a  frame  with  a  north  aspect,  separating  them  into  two 
classes — those  wiiich  need  an  exceptional  amount  of  water  prior  to 
germination  and  those  which  do  not. 

The  finer  seeds  should  hav?  the  pans  soaked  by  dipping  in  water 
almost  to  the  rim,  thus  allowing  the  moisture  to  percolate  upwards, 
but  most  sorts  may  be  thoroughly  soaked  by  watering  them  over- 
head with  a  tine  (raining)  rose  on  a  gallon-size  watering  can.  A 
Haws'  can  with  the  flat  rose  on  (holes  upward)  is  ideal  for  the 
purpose.  It  is  a  little  surprising  that  these  excellent  cans  are  not 
i\en  more  used  than  they  are.  In  many  gardens  one  still  sees 
tlie  old  "  boss "  rosed  can  in  use — a  singularly  primitive  and 
unprofitable    implement. 

Immediately  germination  takes  place  further  segregation  will  be 
necessary.  The  Primulas,  Pinguiculas  and  such  like  will  like  the 
cool  aspect  of  a  frame  facing  north,  but  the  Encrusted  Saxifrages 
and  many  true  alpines  will  need  one  quite  in  the  open  and  facing 
west  if  it  be  summer-time  or  facing  south  in  winter. 

Pricking  off,  as  a  general  rule,  should  take  place  as  soon  as  the 
seedlings  are  large  enough,  but  it  is  not  wise  to  prick  off  the  plants 
towards  the  end  of  the  year,  when  growth  has  become  slow  or  ceased 
altogether.  Better  in  such  case  leave  them  in  the  seed  pans  until 
spring.  The  compost  for  pricking  off  should  be  similar  to  that  used 
successfully  to  carry  the  seedUngs  so  far,  but  may,  naturally,  be 
little  coarser.  Resetted  plants  such  as  Encrusted  Saxifrages  and 
"  miffy "  ones,  such  as  Eritrichium  or,  perhaps,  Cyananthus,  may 
well  have  bits  of  stone  or  brick  or  even,  if  Ume  loving,  hard  mortar 
rubble  packed  round  their  collars,  if  one  has  patience  to  do  this. 

It  will  be  noted  that  nothing  has  been  said  as  to  the  raising  of 
the  more  commonplace  rock  plants,  such  as  Aubrietia,  Alyssum  and 
the  commoner  Arabises.  The  reason  for  this  is  sufficiently  obvious. 
Seeds  of  these  plants  are  as  easy  to  germinate  and  the  seedUngs  as 
easy  to  raise  as  those  of  bedding  Lobeha,  for  instance,  and  considerably 
easier  than  most  amateurs  find  Stocks  or  Asters.  The  only  danger 
with  such  things  is  that  they  may  be  raised  and  kept  in  too  high  a 
temperature  when,  in  addition  to  becoming  a  ready  prey  to  insect 
pests,  they  are  apt  to  damp  off. 


July  15,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


33) 


THE     BORDER     PINK 

lis  Development,  Prospects  and  Cultivation. 


THE  Border  Pink,  n  flower  which  a  genera- 
tion ago  seemed  entirely  to  have  become 
a  back  number  as  far  as  garden  decora- 
tion was  concerned,  to-day  shares  with 
the  Rose  and  Iris  the  honour  of  being 
in  the  van  of  progress.  The  dechne  of  the  Pink 
ill  popularity  came  about  through  its  culture  as 
a  florist's  flower.  Perfection  of  form  and  regularity 
of  marking  are  e.xcellent  things  in  themselves, 
but  when  they  are  pursued  at  the  e.xpense  of 
habit,  vigour  and  freedom  of  flowering,  when, 
in  short,  a  humble  but  valuable  border  flower 
becomes  fit  only  for  the  greenhouse  and  the  show 
bench,  its  appeal  to  the  ordinary  flower-lover 
has  gone. 

Strangely  enough,  the  "  come-back "  of  this 
fragrant  and  beautiful  flower  is  largely  due  to 
one  of  the  old  school  of  florists.  Mr.  Herbert, 
whose  happy  accident  in  raising  and  recognising 
the  merit  of  Progress 
and  continued  careful 
selection  since,  have  prob- 
ablydone  more  to  re-estab- 
hsh  the  Pink  in  favour 
than  the  work  of  all  other 
raisers  together,  is  a  real 
florist.  It  is  more  than 
probable  that  he  is  the 
most  skilful  dresser  of  a 
Carnation  alive  to-day. 
This  "  florist "  outlook 
is  shewn  by  his  affection 
for  his  variety  Model, 
which  produces  more 
perfectly  shaped  flowers 
from  an  exhibition  stand- 
point than  any  other 
Pink  or  Carnation  in  ex- 
istence. The  Herbertii, 
as  Pinks  of  Mr.  Herbert's 
strain  are  often  called, 
though  they  vary  a  great 
deal,  all  throw  shapely 
flowers,  and  in  addition 
they  have  the  other 
essential  quahties  of  con- 
stitution, hardihood,  habit 
and  freedom  of  flowering. 
These  Pinks  shew  evi- 
dence of  Border  Carnation 
blood.  Mr.  Herbert  is 
confident  that  none  has 
been    introduced    at     his 

nursery  either  by  accident  or  of  set  purpose.  The 
Carnation  characters  which  they  possess  must 
th?refore  represent  a  throw-back  to  some  Carna- 
tion blood  introduced  experimentally,  or  possibly 
inadvertently,  into  one  of  the  florist  Pinks  which 
were  the  parents  of  Progress  or  one  of  their 
ancestors.  Few  who  have  seen  or  grown  them  will 
deny  that  they  have  "  Border  "  blood  in  them. 
The  .Mlwoodii.  of  which  so  many  have  of  late 
years  been  sent  out  by  Messrs.  .^Uwood,  admittedly 
have  Carnation  blood,  but  in  their  case  it  is  the 
Perpetual  Carnation  which  has  been  utilised, 
so  that  the  plants  flower  over  a  much  longer 
period  than  do  the  Herbertii.  The  -Mlwoodii 
have  many  friends  and  many  detractors.  Their 
friends  are  those  who  take  them  as  very  useful 
hardy  plants  which  can  be  utilised  for  garden 
adornment  in  many  ways — for  edgings,  for  under- 
planting  and  what  not.  Their  detractors  point 
to  the  imperfect  finish  of  the  individual  blossoms 
and  to  what  they  are  pleased  to  describe  as  the 
weediness    of   their   growth.     Their  very   ease    of 


propagation  is  held  up  against  them  .is  if  it  were 
a  fault  ! 

The  fact  is  that  Herbertii  and  .-^Ihvoodii  arc 
both  valuable  garden  flowers,  but  despite  their 
apparent  similarity  of  breeding  they  are  almost 
as  wide  apart  in  their  characteristics  as  the  Poles. 
The  Herbertii  are  free  to  flower — considering  the 
size  and  quality  of  their  blossoms  very  free  to 
flower — and  their  flowering  extends  over  a  con- 
siderable season,  being  a  great  improvement  in 
this  respect  on  the  old  garden  Pinks,  now  typified 
by  Mrs.  Sinkins.  .'Mlwoodii  are  marvellously 
floriferous,  and  after  the  first  heavy  crop  continue 
to  flower  to  a  smaller  but  still  very  considerable 
extent  the  summer  through. 

Herbertii  are  ready  enough  to  propagate  either 
from  layers  or  cuttings,  but  they  will  not  root 
from  cuttings  in  the  haphazard  manner  sufficient 
for  -Mlwoodii,  nor  may  the  plants  be  pulled  apart 


TYPICAL     FLOWERS     OF     DIANTHUS     HERBERTII. 


and  replanted.  When  it  comes  to  winter  hardiness, 
however,  it  is  another  story.  The  Herbertii  are 
of  unimpeachable  hardiness — equally  oblivious 
of  wet  or  frost.  Allwoodii,  like  the  Gaillardia, 
^or  instance,  are  apt  to  succumb  in  wet  winters, 
particularly  in  heavy  soil.  This  applies  more 
especially  to  older  plants.  Risk  of  winter  loss 
may  be  minimised  if  not  entirely  overcome  by 
regular  propagation. 

.^gain,  a  comparison  of  the  flowers  of  the  two 
strains  discloses  a  vast  difference.  The  original 
.\lIwoodii  made  little  pretension  to  perfection  of 
form  in  the  individual  flower.  The  newer  intro- 
ductions are  admittedly  much  better  in  this  respect, 
but  still  leave  something  to  be  desired.  Their 
flowers  are,  on  the  average,  much  smaller  and 
lighter  than  those  of  the  Herbertii.  Again,-  as  to 
colour  range,  there  is  a  vast  difference,  for  whereas 
the  Herbertii  are  now  obtainable  in  most  of  the 
shades  known  in  the  Carnation,  Allwoodii,  though 
their  colour  range  is  considerable,  follow  at  present 
the   rather   duller   colourings   which   have   always 


been  associated  with  the  Pink.  It  wil\  be  seen, 
then,  that  these  two  strains  each  represent  a  great 
advance  on  anything  known  before,  but  progress 
has  proceeded  in  entirely  different  directions. 
Perhaps  by  selection  and  interbreeding  a  strain 
may  ultimately  be  evolved  possessing  most  of  the 
strong   points  of   both. 

The  future  of  the  Border  Pink  is  not  entirely 
dependent  on  these  two  hybrid  races.  Mr.  James 
Douglas  has  a  whole  race  of  Border  Pinks  which 
are  obviously  all  Pink.  These,  Uke  the  Douglas 
strain  of  Border  Carnation,  are  mostly  of  splendid 
habit.  The  flowers,  which  have  a  wide  range  of 
colour  in  what  are  generally  accepted  as  Pink 
shades,  are  of  medium  to  large  size,  bright  and 
shapely.  These  are  not,  of  course,  perpetual 
flowering,  but  they  give  a  brave  show  in  their 
season,  and  their  foliage  is  beautiful  the  year 
round. 

."Another  assiduous  worker  among  hardy  Pinks 
is  Mr.  Maurice  Prichard  of  Christchurch,  whose 
brilliant  scarlet  and  crimson  hybrids  have 
at  various  times  attracted  considerable  attention. 
These,  however,  beautiful  though  they  are,  have 
neither  the  foliage  nor  the  habit  we  usually  associate 
with  the  Border  Pink.  Just  recently  Mr.  Prichard 
has  exhibited  hybrid  Pinks,  probably  with  Dianthus 
alpinus  blood,  which  may  be  described  as  very 
much  enlarged  and  perfected  editions  of  Dianthus 
neglectus.  The  single  flowers  are  wonderfully 
round  and  about  as  large  as  Dianthus  Herbertii 
Model. 

.Attention  has  of  late  once  again  been  given  to 
hybrids  between  Carnation  and  Sweet  William 
Hitherto  these  have  not  proved  good  garden  plants, 
and  the  writer  is  rather  doubtful  whether  much 
permanent  good  will  come  from  this  rather  fasci- 
nating cross.  In  any  case  they  hardly  come 
within  the  scope  of  this  article,  since  they  bear 
their  flowers  in  flat-headed  trusses  somewhat 
similar  to  those  of  the  Sweet  William. 

To  sum  up,  the  best  results  so  far  achieved  with 
the  Border  Pink  have  come  from  the  introduction 
of  Carnation  blood,  either  Perpetual  or  Border, 
but  there  is  every  reason  to  hope  for  still  further 
advance  through  the  introduction  of  alpine  blood. 

It  is  very  interesting  to  observe  how  the  charac- 
teristic zone  of  the  Pinks  persists  in  the  Herbertii. 
In  the  deep  black  crimson  and  crimson  purple 
forms  it  is  difficult  to  trace  the  zone,  but  the  fully 
double  salmon  pink  ones,  which  at  first  sight 
seem  selfs,  shew  on  closer  inspection  a  zone  of 
darker  colour,  which,  incidentally,  as  providing 
a  darker  centre  to  the  flower,  gives  it  richness  of 
tone.  This  zone  is  very  persistent  in  the  Pink. 
Such  "  self-coloured  "  sorts  as  Mrs.  Sinldns  and 
Her  Majesty  have  it,  though  it  is  represented 
only  by  a  green  suffusion  of  the  petals. 

Mr.  Herbert's  three  novelties  for  which  he 
received  awards  of  merit  at  Chelsea  Show  were 
very  attractive.  The  delicate  colouring  of  Brides- 
maid attracted  much  attention,  but  a  flower  of 
deeper  colouring,  as  yet  unnamed  but  of  excellent 
shape  and  just  the  shade  of  an  Enchantress 
Carnation,  will  be  even  more  popular  when  known. 
Red  Indian  is  a  full  but  very  shapely  flower  of 
lather  uncommon  colouring.  Of  the  older  sorts  of 
Herbertii  in  commerce  I  should  select  the  almost 
black-crimson  Victory,  a  medium-sized  double 
flower  ;  Queen  Mary,  rosy  pink  and  deep  crimson  ; 
Mrs.  George  Walker,  old  rose  colour,  a  fine  flower 
and  "  good  doer "  ;  May  Queen,  clear  bright 
pink,  very  charming ;  Model,  for  its  perfection 
of  shape  rather  than  for  anything  unusual  in  the 
colouring  ;  Imperial,  with  crimson-scarlet  blossoms ; 
and  Negress,  a  deep  plum  colour.  All  are  good, 
however,  and  when  some  of  the  wonderful  shades 
now  in  existence,  but  not  in  commerce,  are  put 
upon  the  market  the  colour  range  will  be  truly 
remarkable.  H.  H. 


340 


THE     GARDEN. 


[July  15,  1922. 


BROOMS  AND  GENISTAS  OF  FULL  SUMMER 


To  the  nurseryman  (I  think  it  was  Mr. 
T.  Smith  of  Newry)  who  gave  us  the 
late-flowering  forms  of  the  Common 
Broom  (Cytisus  scoparius)  we  gardeners 
owe  much,  for  by  growing  these  we  can 
prolong  the  splendour  of  the  spring-flowering 
native  right  through  to  August.  The  late- 
flowering  Broom  does  not  differ  from  the 
type,  save  in  its  season  of  blooming,  but  it  has  a 
stronger  habit,  many  specimens  will  be  curiously 
leafy  as  compared  with  the  ordinary  kind,  and  a 
certain  rigidity  in  the  long  flowering  branches, 
which,  when  they  break  horizontally  from  the 
8ft.  to  12ft.  stem,  to  dip  at  the  ends  when  weighted 
with  their  load  of  flowers,  give  the  shrub  a  dis- 
tinctive character.  These  late  Brooms  are  readily 
raised  from  seed,  and  a  few  Andreanus  forms 
will  often  occur  among  them. 

Next  in  importance,  giving  beauty  of  habit 
and  ease  of  culture  first  consideration,  one  must 
place  Genista  virgata,  which,  though  a  native  oi 
Maderia,  seems  perfectly  hardy.  This  is  a  first-rate 
species  for  a  barren,  porous  soil,  and  young  plants 
(easily  produced  from  seed  sown  outdoors  in  raid- 
summer)  grow  away  rapidly  and  quickly  come 
into  the  flowering  stage.  G.  virgata  may  be 
grown  either  in  the  mass  or  as  a  single  specimen. 
I  prefer  it  in  the  latter  way,  for  it  will  make  a 
most  imposing  and  compact  mound  loft.  to  12ft. 
high  and  as  much  through,  the  bush  being  clothed 
to  the  ground  with  its  multitude  of  fine  twiggy 
growths,  which  are  well  furnished  with  tiny  leaves 
the  silky  hairs  of  which  gi\e  the  whole  shrub  a  soft 
and  silvery  grey  appearance.  The  terminal  branch- 
lets  break  into  blossom  usually  about  the  beginning 
of  July  (this  year  they  were  a  fortnight  earher), 
and  when  they  are  all  bearing  their  slender 
racemes  of  little  yellow  flowers  a  well  grown 
specimen  of  G.  virgata  is  a  most  glorious  sight. 

Before  the  Madeiran  Broom  is  quite  over  G. 
setnensis,  a  native  of  Sicily,  comes  into  blossom. 
This  is  not  such  a  hearty-looking  shrub  as  the 
foregoing,  for  it  often  assumes  a  rather  gaunt 
habit,  the  single  stem  breaking  at  the  head  into 
a  number  of  thin  and  drooping,  entirely  leafless 
branches.  But  at  about  this  season,  or  it  may 
be  in  August,  these  apparently  lifeless  twigs  give 
forth  a  tender  new  growth,  and  upon  these  fresh 
and  sappy  branchlets,  which  carry  a  few  delicate 
leaves,  are  the  flowers  borne.  These  blossoms 
are,  individually,  about  the  size  of  those  of  the  May 
Broom  (Cytisus  prjecox),  a  rich  golden  yellow  and 
very  fragrant.  They  set  seed  in  a  favourable 
summer,  and  the  species  is  best  propagated  by  that 
means.  Genista  a^tnensis  will  also  grow  to  loft. 
or  more  in  height,  and  it,  again,  is  a  rare  shrub 
for  a  hot,  dry  soil.  It  seems  to  be  as  hardy  as 
most  of  the  Brooms  in  general  culture.  G.  mono- 
sperma,  of  somewhat  similar  habit  of  growth, 
but  bearing  clusters  of  white  flowers  upon  its 
pendulous  twigs,  is  also  a  Sicilian  and  a  very 
lovely  and  interesting  species,  but  so  far  we  have 
failed  to  induce  it  to  withstand  our  winters. 

Cytisus  nigricans  is  one  of  the  most  important 
of  the  July-.-^ugust  Brooms,  and  a  fine  thing  for 
grouping  on  dry  banks  in  association  with  Heaths 
and  othar  sun-lovers.  The  habit  is  somewhat 
slender  and  the  bushes  reach  a  height  of  about 
6ft.,  throwing  out  in  the  late  summer  terminal 
shoots  which  bear  long  and  elegant  racemes  of 
yellow  flowers.  There  are  several  forms  of  C. 
nigricans,  such  as  Carlieri  and  longispicatus, 
both  with  even  longer  flower  sprays  than  the  type, 
the  former  being  distinguished  for  its  more  extended 
season  of  flowering. 

C.  avfetriacus  is  a  useful  species,  inasmuch  as 
It   yields   its   principal   display   of   yellow   flowers 


in  late  summer.  It  makes  a  bush  some  3ft.  high, 
and  there  are  several  forms,  a  curious  departure 
from  the  type  being  axillaris,  which  bears  its 
blooms  at  the  leaf  axils  instead  of  at  the  ends  of 
the  shoots.  C.  decumbens,  a  trailing  species, 
will  often  flower  as  freely  in  July  or  August  as  it 
does  in  spring,  and  another  good  rock  garden 
kind  is  C.  Heuffeli.  Then  there  is  C.  racemosus 
(Genista  fragrans)  well  known  in  greenhouses,  a 
most  sweetly  scented  and  admirable  shrub  for  a 
warm  place.  Indeed,  this  is  much  hardier  than 
is  generally  supposed,  and  might  be  grown  success- 
fully even  without  a  wall  in  most  of  our  milder 
counties.  Here  it  has  wintered  well  in  the  open 
without  protection,  and  if  it  is  the  first  to  come  into 
flower  it  is  among  the  last  to  yield  to  autumn. 

The  finest  of  our  native  Genistas  is  G.  tinctoria, 
of  which  there  are  two  well  known  forms,  a  double- 
flowered  one  and  G.  t.  var.  elatior,  which  hails 
from   Eastern   Europe.     This  last  is  a  handsome 


make  little  mounds  or  mats  of  gold  from  now 
onwards 

Though  it  belongs  to  a  different  genus,  Spartium 
junceum  is  altogether  too  fine  to  be  omitted  when 
speaking  of  Brooms,  yet  it  is  now  so  well  known 
that  one  need  not  enter  upon  a  description  of  its 
rush-like  stems  and  large,  clear  yellow,  long- 
stemmed  flower  clusters  which  look  like  golden 
Sweet  Peas  and  smell  like  a  Bean  field.  S.  junceum 
is  one  of  the  most  admirable  shrubs  ever  intro- 
duced to  EngMsh  gardens,  for  it  is  not  only  beautiful 
and  fragrant  when  in  bloom,  but  it  will  flower 
from  before  midsummer  to  nearly  Christmas, 
will  thrive  almost  anywhere,  is  perfectly  hardy, 
and  quickly  and  easily  raised  from  seed  sown  in 
the  open  ground.  The  Spanish  Broom,  as  it  is 
called,  is  practically  everyone's  shrub,  excellent 
for  town  gardens,  while  the  blossoms  are  first- 
rate  cut  for  table,  and  the  more  the  bushes  are 
snipped  the  better  do  they  seem  to  thrive.    A.T.J. 

[C.  racemosus  withstands  average  winters 
in  many  parts  of  the  Midlands  if  not  exposed  to 
morning  sun,  but  not  e\'ervone  will  subscribe  to 


ElRLV-FLOWERI.NG   SPECIES. 

Name.  Colour. 

Cytisus  albus White 

C.  .\rdoini        Golden 

C.  Beani  (Ardoini  x  purfzans)      Bright  yellow     . . 

C.  Dallimorei  (scoparius  Andreanus  x  albus)    . .      . ,  Bright  lilac-rose 


C.  decumbens  . 


C.  keweiisLs  (Ardoini  x  albus)     Sulphur-yellow 

C.  monsppssulanus Bright  yellow 

r.  iwa^cox  (purgaus  x  albus)       Sulphur 

C  purgaus        Golden  yellow 

(■ 
C. 
C. 


HeiijM. 
..      ..      lOtt.      .  . 
.  .     Prostrate 
. .      . .     Itt. 
. .      . .     8ft. 
Yellow Prostrate 


1ft.  (prostrate)  May. 


Flowerinf/  Secimn. 
May. 

April — May. 
May. 
May. 
May  and  .Tune. 


6ft. 
8ft. 
3ft. 

purpureus Purplish      lift. 

p.  var.  aibus       White IHt. 

p.  var  roseus       Piukish       lift. 

C.  ratisbonensis  (several  varieties)       Bright  yellow     4ft.- 

C.  scoparius  (Common  Broom)      Golden  yellow Gft. 

C.  s.  var.  Andreanus       Crimson-bronze  and  yellow      ..,    6ft. 

C.  s.  var.  tlore  pleno       Double  yellow 6ft. 

C.  8.  var.  pendnlus  Golden         Prostrate 

C.  s.  var.  suljihureus  (Moonlight  Broom) Sulphur  yellow 4ft. 

C.   ses^ililobus         Bright  yellow     6ft. 

C.  versicolor Yellowish  rose 2ft. 


-6ft. 


(.ienista  giabrescens 


Yellow. 


2ft. 


LATE-rLOWERING    SPECIES. 


Colour.  Heifiht. 

Y'ellow 1ft. 

Yellow 1ft.— 2ft. 

Creamy  white     .^     Ht. 

Yellow 4t't. 

Yellow .m. 


Na.iir. 

Cytisus  Heutfeli       

C.  hirsvitus        

C.  leucanthus  

C.  nigricans      

C.  supinus  (including  C.  austriaeiis) 

Genista  setnensis Golden  yellow 1.5Et. 

G.anglica         Yellow 2ft. 

G.  cinerea         Yellow 8ft. 

G.  dalmatica  Yellow ' Prostrate 

G.  germanie  I Yellow 2ft. 

G.  hispanica Yellow 2ft. 

G.  radiata         IVep  yellow        3ft. 

G.  sagittalis     Yellow ..      ..  1ft. 

Ct.  tinctoria      Yellow '  . ;      . .      . .  2ft. 

G.  t.  var.  flore  pleno       Yellow ..      ..  2ft. 

G.  t.  var.  elatior      Yellow ',      ..      ..  4ft. 

G.  t.  var.  mantica  Yellow 2ft. 


G.  virgata 
Spartium  junceum  , 


Bright  yellow      12tt. 

Bright  yellow      10ft. 


May. 

May. 

.\pril — May. 

May. 

May. 

May. 

May. 

May. 

May. 

May. 

May. 

May. 

.Tune. 

May. 

May. 


Floirerinij  Season. 

July   and   Aug. 

July    and    Aug. 

July   and   Aug. 

July   and    Aug. 

July   and  Aug. 

July. 

June  and  July. 
.     June  and  July. 

June  and  July. 

June  and  .Tuly. 

June  and  July 

hate  June. 

Late  June. 
.     June — Sept. 

June — Sept. 

June — Sept. 

Early  June 
onwards. 

June — July. 

June — Sept. 


shrub  and  the  largest  of  the  trio,  growing  up  to 
4ft.  or  more.  When  covered  with  its  yellow  blooms 
it  is  a  very  welcome  object  at  the  "  back-end  " 
when  flowers  are  getting  few.  The  native  type 
is  barely  half  as  tall,  deep  green  in  its  glossy  leafage 
and  a  profuse  bloomer.  Not  less  strikingly  green 
in  the  driest  of  dry  places  is  the  double  form, 
and  though  this  is  much  dwarfer,  almost  prostrate, 
it  is  a  showy  little  plant. 

G.  radiata  is  rather  a  tender  southerner,  up  to 
3ft.  in  height,  a  pretty  plant  for  the  sunny  side 
of  a  sheltered  rock  garden  or  dry  wall,  where  its 
terminal  spikes  of  yellow  blossoms  will  prove 
effective  for  many  weeks  of  late  summer.  G. 
sagittahs,  with  its  winged  stems  and  upright 
shoots  of  silky  flower-heads,  is  familiar  to  most 
and  a  fine  thing  for  covering  a  hot  place.  In 
addition  to  these  the  rock  gardener  will  find  in 
any  good  list  some  half  a  dozen  more  Genistas  of 
a   quite  dwarf   and   often  spiny   type   which   will 


Mr.  Johnson's  estimate  of  the  hardiness  of  Spartium 
junceum. 

The  subjoined  list  of  the  more  desirable  species 
of  Broom  and  some  of  the  more  noteworthy  hybrids 
and  varieties,  with  colour  of  blossom,  approximate 
hei.ght  and  flowering  season  should  be  of  value 
to  planters. 

Speaking  generally,  the  less  pruning  Brooms 
get  the  better  they  look,  but  there  are  exceptions. 
If  pruning  must  be  done  to  reduce  the  size  of  the 
bush,  this  should,  with  most  species,  be  carried  out 
in  winter.  Cytisus  purpureus  should  have  the 
old  wood  cut  out  immediately  after  flowering. 
The  species  grouped  in  the  late  section  flower  on 
wood  of  the  current  year,  and  may  be  pruned  back 
fairly  hard  before  growth  commences  in  spring. 
Many  species  make  more  shapely  trees  if  cut  back 
hard  once  or  twice  when  young,  but  in  the  case 
of  purchased  pot-grown  specimens  this  has  always 
had   attention. — Ed.] 


July  15,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


341 


FRAGRANCE    IN    THE    ROSE 


RECENT  articles  and  correspondence 
in  the  daily  Press  have  brought  up  the 
question  of  fragrance  in  flowers  in 
general  and  of  the  Rose  in  particular. 
^  Scaremongers  would  have  us  believe 
that  fragrant  flowers  are  becoming  things  of  the 
past.  Readers  of  The  G.\rde\  will  know  that 
such  is  verv'  far  from  being  the  case.  The  propor- 
tion of  really  scentless  Roses,  leaving  Ramblers 
aside,  never  very  great,  is  probably  smaller  to-day 
than  it  was  a  few  years  ago. 

It  is,  naturally,  difiicult  to  raise  a  variety  with 
obviously  a  large  preponderance  of  Tea  blood  and 
yet  possessing  the  perfume  of  the  Damask,  Neither 
can  we  expect  raisers  to  discard  a  Rose  of  many 
excellencies  just  because  it  happens  to  be  deficient 
in  scent,  especially  as  there  are  so  many 
folk  with  excellent  eyesight  whose  sense  of 
smell  is  either  entirely  wanting  or  hopelessly 
rudimentary  ! 

It  must  be  granted,  however,  that  perfume  is 
eminently  desirable,  especially  in  varieties  intended 
for  cut  flower.  The  following  excellent  sorts 
are  among  the  most  fragrant  :  General  McVrthur, 
Hugh  Dickson,  George  Dickson,  Chateau^  de 
Clos  Vougeot,  Jonkheer  J.  L.  Mock,  Ulrich 
Brunner,  General  Jacqueminot,  Avoca,  Florence 
H.  Veitch,  Richmond,  Lieutenant  Chaure, 
Liberty,  Commandant  Felix  Faure,  Zephirine 
Drouhin,  Mrs.  A.  E.  Coxhead,  Mrs.  John  Laing, 
Mrs.  George  Nonvood,  Gustav  Grunerwald 
and  Laurent  Carle,  all  the  above  in  shades 
of  crimson,  deep  rose  and  carmine ;  Conrad 
F.  Meyer,  Mme.  Abel  Chatenay,  Pharisaer,  Ophelia, 
Lady  Alice  Stanley,  La  France  and  Augustine 
Guinoisseau  in  pink  shades  ;  Mrs.  Foley  Hobbs 
and  Mme  .■\lfred  Carriere,  almost  white ;  The 
^ueen  Alexandra  Rose,  Duchess  of  Wellington, 
Dr.  Joseph  Drew,  Eugenie  Lamesch  and  Marechal 
Niel  in  copper  and  yellow  shades.  Three  of  the 
\\'ichuraiana  hybrids  in  addition  are  noticeably 
fragrant,  namely,  Leontine  Ger\ai3,  Francois 
Juranville  and  Evangeline. 


The  varieties  given  must  by  no  means  be  taken 
to  exhaust  the  list  of  sweet-scented  Roses,  though 
most  of  the  powerfully  fragrant  sorts  are  included. 
Quite  apart  from  these, 
there  are,  of  course,  the 
Moss  Roses  with  their 
curiously  sharp  but  pleas- 
ing fragrance  and  the 
deli  ghtful  Hybrid  Sweet 
Briars  with  scented 
foliage,  not  to  speak  of 
the  old  Damask  and 
Provence  Roses  still 
procurable  by  tho33  who 
wish.  The  Musk  Rose, 
Rosa  moschata,  yields  a 
characteristic  an.l  charm- 
ing if  not  overstrong 
perfume  not,  so  far, 
noticeably  transniitted  to 
its  descendants. 

The  incidence  of  per- 
fume among  seedlings  is 
very  interesting  but  as 
yet  imperfectly  under- 
stood. This  not  only  in 
the  cases  of  Roses,  but 
of  other  flowers  which 
may  be  either  scented  or 
scentless.  It  certainly 
seems  that  in  some  cases 
the  presence  of  two 
special  colour  factors  will 
inhibit      the      factor     for 

fragrance   from   appearing  in  that  particular  cross 
though  it  may  reappear  in  the  next  generation. 


highways  and  hedges  and  compelled  all  I  could  find 
to  come  in,  and  thus  the  garden  was  furnished 
with  guests — good,  bad  and  indifferent.  It  is 
too  soon  to  pronounce  any  sort  of  a  final  ex 
cathedra  judgment  upon  their  relative  merits, 
but  I  mav  sav  that  I  am  confident  that  some  are 


THE    OLD    FRAGRANT    DAMASK    ROSE. 


TROLLIUSES 

After  an  interval  of  more  years  than  I  care  to 
remember  I  ha\'e  once  more  Trolhuses  in  the 
garden.       Last    autumn    I    went    out    into    the 


A 

-1 

\ 

Bfifc^^^^^^^         *»i. 

1 

S.-.^ft^^S^^^'              '«^  "^                            / 

, 

1 

"'^*'-.  wk  —- 

THE    FRAGRANT    HYBRID    NOISETTE    MME.    A.    CARRIERE,    AN    ADMIRABLE    CLIMBING 


much  better  than  others.     Perhaps  another  year 
when  the  plants  have  got  into  their  stride  once 
more  the  order  of  preference  will  not  be  exactly 
the  same  ;    meanwhile  may  I  suggest  as  worthy 
of    trial    the    following    varieties :     Newry    Giant 
(deep  orange,  rather  late  flowering),  Ophir  (magnifi- 
cent large  orange),   Mrs.  Harkness  (pale  orange), 
Giantball   (yellow).    Lemon    Queen    (pale   yellow), 
Potten's  variety  (an  improved  Europ.TUs),  Intrusion 
(dwarf,  small  flowered,  early  and  free)  and 
Triumph  (rich    yellow,    one   of    the  latest 
to    bloom).     On   looking   at   my    garden 
book    I    find  that    every    one    of    these 
interim  selections  came  from  Mr.  G.  W. 
Miller  of  Wisbech.     He  supplied  me  with 
excellent  plants.     Only  one  variety  out 
of  the   thirty-two  w'hich  came  from  him 
did  not  do  well.     To  be  a  wee  bit  Irish, 
old  Miller's  the  boy  for  TroUiuses.     The 
surprise    of   my    large    collection    up    to 
now  is  Intrusion.      It  is  a  plant  apart — 
a   sort   of   General  Tom    Thumb  of  the 
TroUius  family,  but  so  well  proportioned 
in  height  of  stem,  fohage  and  flower  that 
it  looks  perfectly  all  right    in  every  way. 
Another   point   that   no   one   could    help 
noticing    is  the    great   difference    in    the 
foliage  between    that   of    the    new-comer 
pumilus    vunnanensis    and    that     of    all 
the    other    brethren.     It    reminds  me  of 
Hepaticas,    whereas    that    of    the     rest 
suggests    very    finely   divided  Buttercup 
leaves.         I     feel     I     really     must     call 
attention      to      what      splendid     plants 
all      the     Trolliuses     are     for     cutting. 
Not  only  do  they     last    well    in     water, 
but    the    shghtly    feathered    stems    give 
such    a    comfortable   well   filled    appear- 
ance to   a    vase   that   no   other  greenery 
is    necessary.      It     is    rather    surprising 
that    Trolliuses     are    not    more    largely 
grown   than  at  present    seems  to  be  the 
ROSE.  case.  Maelor. 


342 


THE     GARDEN. 


[July  15,  1922. 


MORE    ABOUT    THE    SUMMER    ROSE    SHOW 


M 


OST  of  the  many  baskets  of  Roses  in 
tlie  amateur  section  were  very  beauti- 
ful. The  best  basket  of  fourteen 
blooms  of  one  variety  was  that  of 
Hugh  Dickson,  shown  by  Mr.  G.  C. 
Sawday,  while  Mr.  Wettern  was  a  very  good 
second  with  Avoca.  A  tasteful  association  of 
the  Lyon  Rose  and  Mrs.  Foley  Hobbs  by  Mr. 
G.  Marriott  won  the  first  prize  in  the  class  for  a 
basket  of  not  more  than  two  varieties,  and  Mr. 
Marriott  was  also  first  in  the  other  basket  classes  ; 
his  basket  of  Los  .Angeles  was  the  best  of  very  many 
praiseworthy  efforts.  The  decorative  Roses  in 
baskets  were  also  very  effective  and  brought  many 
exhibitors.  Mr.  H.  L.  Wettern,  Mrs.  Henry 
Balfour  and  Mr.  F.  H.  Fieldgate  won  the  first 
prizes. 

The  special  tent  was  well  filled  with  dinner  table 
and  other  decorations  and  many  meritorious 
arrangements  had  to  go  unrewarded.  In  the  open 
dinner-table  class,  Mrs.  May,  Waltham  Cross,  was 
first  with  a  tasteful  arrangement  of  Ophelia.  Mrs. 
A.  R.  Bide,  Farnham,  was  second  with  a  bright 
table  of  Emma  Wright,  and  Miss  Pemberton  was 
third  with  The  .Adjutant.  In  the  Amateurs'  Class, 
permitting  only  single  Roses,  the  competition  was 
very  severe  and  here  Mrs.  Courtney  Page  was 
first  with  a  charming  table  of  Irish  Elegance, 
while  Mrs.  Barton,  Chappell,  who  used  Isobel, 
was  second,  and  Jlrs.  Oakley  Fisher,  showing  her 
name  variety,  was  third.  Mrs.  Courtney  Page  was 
also  first  in  the  dinner-table  class  which  permits 
the  use  of  any  varieties  except  singles  and  she 
used  Mme.  Butterfly  very  tastefully.  The  Nickerson 
prize  was  won  by  Mrs.  Barton,  who  combined 
Padre,  Irish  Fireflame,  Sunstar  and  Irish  Elegance 
very  effectively,   while   Mrs.   Courtney    Page   was 


second  with  a  delightful  table  of  Mable  Morse  and 
Ethel  James. 

The  best  bowls  of  Roses  in  the  various  amateurs' 
classes  were  arranged  by  Mrs.  Barton,  Mrs.  Oakley 
Fisher,  Mrs.  E.  M.  Burnett  and  Miss  Ethel  James, 
while  in  the  nurserymen's  class  Mrs.  A.  Bide  was 
first  with  a  tasteful  bowl  of  Irish  Elegance  and 
Irish  Fireflame. 

In  the  nurserymen  s  classes  it  was  a  great  day 
for  Messrs.  Alex.  Dickson  and  Sons,  who  repeated 
their  successes  of  last  year  by  winning  the 
champion  trophy  and  gold  medal  with  seventy- 
two  splendid  exhibition  varieties  and  being 
also  again  first  with  thirty-two  distinct  varie- 
ties, three  blooms  of  each.  In  the  champion- 
ship class  they  had  in  Mrs.  G.  Marriott  the 
silver  medal  Hybrid  Tea  bloom  of  the  open 
section  and  also  beautiful  examples  of  Archie 
Gray,  Florence  Pemberton,  Snow  Queen,  Dean 
Hole,  Mrs.  G.  Shawyer,  Lady  Inchquin,  H.  V. 
Machin,  Marjorie  Bulkeley  and  Mildred  Grant. 
Their  trebles  were  also  a  wonderfully  good  collec- 
tion, and  of  them  the  very  best  were  Mrs.  G. 
Marriott,  Molly  Bligh,  Dean  Hole,  Edward  Bohane, 
Florence  Pemberton,  Mrs.  Fred  Searle  and  Lady 
Barham.  In  the  championship  class  Messrs. 
Hugh  Dickson,  Limited,  were  a  good  second, 
and  their  very  best  blooms  were  cf  Gorgeous, 
E.  Godfrey  Brown,  George  Dickson,  .-Mex.  Emslie, 
Mrs.  J.  Laing,  Mildred  Grant,  Mrs.  G.  Marriott, 
Pink  Pearl  and  the  Lyon  Rose.  Messrs.  D.  Prior 
and  Son,  who  were  third,  shewed  good  examples 
of  such  as  George  Dickson,  Gorgeous,  Florence 
Forrestier  and  Snow  Queen.  The  second  prize 
winners  in  the  superb  trebles  class  w-ere  Messrs. 
B.  R.  Cant  and  Sons,  who  staged  excellent  sets 
of    Gorgeous,    Snow    Queen,    Hugh    Dickson    and 


Lemon  Pillar  ;  while  Messrs.  D.  Prior  and  Sons 
were  third. 

The  China  Trophy,  which  requires  forty-eight 
distinct  exhibition' blooms,  was  won  by  Mr.  George 
Prince,  and  while  the  exhibit  did  not  quite  reach 
the  very  high  standard  of  the  first  two  classes, 
it  contained  enviable  blooms  of  Mrs.  Edward 
Mawley,  Edith  Cavell,  Golden  Emblem,  Snow 
Queen,  Modesty  and  Margaret  Dickson  Hamill. 
Mr.  Charles  Godfrey,  showing  such  as  William 
Shean,  the  Lyon  Rose  and  George  Dickson,  was 
second.  Mr.  Henry  Drew,  who  was  third,  took 
chief  honours  in  the  class  for  eight  varieties,  three 
blooms  of  each,  where  he  had  beautiful  specimens 
of  such  as  Gorgeous,  Golden  Emblem,  Margaret 
Dickson  Hamill  and  Mrs.  R.  I.  M'CIure.  Mr. 
Charles  Gregory,  showing  very  fine  sets  of  H.  V. 
Machin  and  Lyon  Rose,  was  again  second,  and 
Messrs.  G.  and  H.  Burch  were  third.  The  best 
twenty-four  exhibition  Roses  were  shewn  by 
Mr.  John  Pigg,  whose  outstanding  sorts  were 
Colonel  Oswald  Fitzgerald,  White  Maman  Cochet, 
H.  V.  Machin,  Golden  Emblem  and  Mrs.  W.  J. 
Grant.  Messrs.  Chaplin  Brothers  were  a  close 
second. 

The  Tea  and  Noisette  Roses  were  not  equal  to 
the  high  standard  of  the  blooms  in  the  first  two 
classes,  which  nearly  all  were  characterised  by 
exceeding  freshness,  shapeliness  and  size  and, 
it  must  be  confessed,  they  were  rather  inferior  to 
the  first  prize  exhibits  in  the  amateurs'  section. 
The  best  nurserymen's  Teas  were  by  Mr.  George 
Prince,  who  staged  such  as  Auguste  Comte,  Mrs. 
H.  Taylor,  White  Maman  Cochet  and  Mrs.  Campbell 
Hall.  In  the  second  prize  collection  of  Mr.  Henry 
Drew  there  were  examples  of  W.  R.  Smith,  Mrs. 
Foley  Hobbs  and  Lady  Plymouth. 


NEW    ROSE    J.     G.     GLASSFORD,    DEEP    CRIMSON    LAKE. 


THE    RICH    SHELL-PINK    ROSE    LADY    VEREY. 


July  15,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


343 


New  Roses  always  fascinate,  and  one  turned 
with  interest  to  the  class  for  twelve  blooms  of 
varieties  distributed  since  January  i,  1918,  and 
while  not  discovering  any  epoch-making  variety, 
saw  quite  good  blooms  of  such  as  Princess  Victoria, 
J.  G.  Glassford,  Mrs.  Lamplough  and  Mrs.  Darling- 
ton in  the  first  prize  exhibit  of  Mr.  George  Prince. 


Angeles,  Chateau  de  Clos  Vougeot  and  Mrs.  Henry 
Morse  by  Mr.  Mattock  ,  while  Mr.  Gregory  was 
second  with  Emma  Wright,  Christine  and  Golden 
Emblem. 

The  groups  of  Roses,  as  those  glorious  masses 
of  cut  Roses,  each  exhibit  differently  arranged 
but  still  of  characteristic  style,  are  termed,  were 


.IV  BASKET  OF  MARGARET  DICKSON  HAMILL  SHEWN  BY  MESSRS.  ALEX.  DICKSON  AND  SONS. 


Messrs.  Hugh  Dickson,  Limited,  were  second,  and 
had  .Alex.  Emsley,  Mrs.  J.  R.  .Allen,  Margaret  .M. 
Wylie  and  Marjorie  Bulkeley. 

The  silvery  pink  .Marjorie  Bulkeley  shown  by 
Messrs.  Hugh  Dickson,  Limited,  were  adjudged 
the  best  twelve  blooms  of  any  Rose  distributed 
I  since  January  i,  1918.  Brilhant  blooms  of  The 
Queen  .Alexandra  Rose  by  Mr.  Elisha  J.  Hicks 
were  placed  second,  and  the  rich  pink  Mrs.  Henry- 
Morse  by  Messrs.  G.  and  H.  Burch  were  third. 

Messrs.  W.  R.  Chaplin  Brothers  won  the  first 
prize  in  the  class  for  two  baskets  of  varieties  not 
yet  in  commerce  by  showing  Earl  Beatty,  a  flatfish, 
very  fragrant  dark  crimson  somewhat  of  Chateau 
de  Clos  Vougeot  type,  and  the  brilliant  Waltham 
Crimson. 

.As  ever,  the  baskets  of  cut  Roses  were  all 
delightful  and  exceedingly  decorative.  In  tlie 
classes  for  single  baskets  of  exhibition  Roses, 
Snow  Queen,  shown  by  Messrs.  Chaplin  Brothers 
and  .Messrs.  D.  Prior  and  Son,  was  the  best  Hybrid 
Perpetual.  Edith  Cavell  by  Mr.  G.  Prince  and 
George  Dickson  by  Messrs.  W".  and  J.  Brown 
won  the  tirst  two  prizes  in  the  order  named  as 
the  best  baskets  of  Hybrid  Tea  Roses  ;  while  of 
the  Teas  Mme.  Jules  Gravereaux  by  Messrs.  D. 
Prior  and  Son  was  first,  and  Mrs.  Foley  Hobbs 
by  Messrs.  W.  and  J.  Brown  was  second.  The 
seven  baskets  of  decorative  Roses  that  won  first 
prize  for  Messrs.  Chaplin  Brothers  were  uniformly 
excellent,  and  included  such  sorts  as  Mrs.  Henry 
Bowles,  Isobel,  Colonel  Oswald  Fitzgerald,  Golden 
Emblem  and  K.  of  K.  Messrs.  .Alex.  Dickson 
and  Sons  were  second  with  charming  baskets  of 
Lady  Inchquin,  Sunstar,  Betty  Uprichard,  K.  of 
K.  and  Margaret  Dickson  Hamill.  The  best  three 
baskets     were     excellent     arrangements     of     Los 


eagerly  scanned  by  enthusiasts  throughout  the 
whole  of  the  afternoon,  for  in  them  they  could  see 
the  more  recent  varieties  together  with  old 
favourites,  and  so  properly  appraise  their  value  ; 
while  perhaps  most  important  of  all,  the  newest 
recruit  to  the  great  army  of  amateur  rosarians 
could  not  fail  to  be  so  fascinated  as  to  order  more 
Roses  than  he  or  she  intended  when  setting  out 
for  the  Show.  This  would  be  a  good  fault,  because 
one  cannot  very  well  grow  too  many  Roses,  and 
the  time  and  skill  expended  in  arranging  these 
generous  displays  of  beautiful  blooms  certainly 
deserved  more  tangible  reward  than  the  honour 
of  winning  the  first  prizes  in  the  various  classes 
or  of  being  honourably  beaten  in  the  struggle. 
The  champion  group  was  by  Mr.  Ehsha  J.  Hicks, 
who  has  secured  the  coveted  trophy  for  the  third 
successive  year.  His  cross  arches  of  Joanna 
Bridge  and  Mrs.  F.  W.  Flight,  of  Red  Letter  Day 
and  Blush  Rambler,  for  instance,  were  singularly 
effective  associations,  while  of  the  many  large 
stands  we  would  select  those  of  American 
Pillar,  Hoosier  Beauty,  Golden  OpheUa,  Ethel 
James,  Richmond,  Ophelia,  Mrs.  Henry  Morse 
and  Lady  Hillingdon  for  their  great  decorative 
value.  The  same  high  quality  and  tasteful  associa- 
tion were  present  in  the  second  prize  arrange- 
ment of  Messrs.  B.  R.  Cant  and  Sons,  and  in  this 
were  to  be  seen  generous  stands  of  such  as  Lady 
Pirrie,  Christine  and  Paul's  Scarlet  Climber  at 
the  back,  while  in  front  were  Emily  Gray,  K.  of 
K.,  Flame  of  Fire  and  very  many  others. 

High  quality  and  skilful  arrangement  were 
continued  in  the  smaller  though  still  large  groups. 
Messrs.  Chaplin  Brothers  had  veritable  masses 
of  bloom  with  such  sorts  as  Golden  Emblem, 
Paul's    Scarlet    Climber,    American    Pillar,    Mrs. 


Henry  Morse,  George  Dickson  and  Ophelia.  Messrs. 
A.  J.  and  C.  .Allen,  who  were  second,  shewed  beauti- 
ful stands  of  K.  of  K.,  Mrs.  Henry  Morse  and 
Ophelia. 

Although  decorative  effect  is  still  aimed  at, 
the  number  of  varieties  is  restricted  in  the  remain- 
ing classes,  so  these  have  a  distinct  value  to  the 
visitors  who  desired  to  select  the  two  or  three 
dozen  or  even  fewer  decorative  Roses.  The 
challenge  cup  offered  for  the  best  three  dozen 
vases  was  won  by  Messrs.  F.  Cant  and  Co.  with 
such  as  Moonlight,  Braiswick  Charm  and  Miss 
Ada  Francis  (of  the  cluster  varieties),  Donald 
McDonald,  Ophelia,  K.  of  K.  and  The  Queen 
Alexandra  Rose.  Mr.  Mattock,  who  was  second, 
included  Mrs.  Redford,  Rayon  d'Or.  Mrs.  Curnock 
Sawday  and  Constance.  The  dwarf  Polyantha 
Roses  were  also  particularly  well  shewn,  and  there 
were  delightful  vases  of  Mrs.  W.  H.  Cutbush, 
Etoile  de  Mai,  Leonie  Lamesch,  Perle  d'Or  and 
Baby  Tausendschbn  in  the  first  prize  collection 
of  Messrs.  W.  and  J.  Brown  ;  while  Mr.  John 
Mattock  had  a  beautiful  vase  of  Rodhatte  in  his 
good  second  prize  exhibit. 


BRANCHING  IN  TULIPS 

BRAN'CHING  has  been  very  much  in  the 
limelight  this  last  season.  The  abnor- 
mal summer  of  1921  seems  to  have  upset 
a  great  many  Tulips,  and  it  has  been 
(juite  a  common  occurrence  to  find  on 
a  plant  in  place  of  the  usual  orthodox  single  flower 
as  many  as  three,  four  and  five.  Letters  have 
reached  me  asking  if  I  can  account  for  this  strange 
behaviour,  and  enquiring  if  this  newly  acquired 
habit  is  hkely  to  be  permanent.  My  answer  to 
the  last  question  is  in  the  negative.  Experience 
tells  me  that  although  "  branching "  is  in  the 
blood  of  the  Tulip  family,  as,  for  example,  in  some 
species  like  prsestans  and  dasystemon,  it  is  unusual 
in  the  great  majority  of  garden  varieties.  The 
first  question  is  not  so  easily  answered.  Unfortu- 
nately, I  cannot  remember  if  the  hot  summer  of 
191 1  had  a  similar  effect  upon  Tulips  that  that  of 
1921  had.  .Artificial  warmth  when  the  bulbs  arc 
out  of  the  ground  is  nowadays  not  infrequently 
applied  to  retard  their  blooming  the  following 
year,  but  I  have  never  heard  that  it  caused  the 
phenomenon  of  "  branching."  This  seems  to 
suggest  that  it  was  not  the  heat  alone  that  caused 
it  in  1921,  but  that  the  sun  was  an  all-important 
factor.  Again  if,  as  I  am  inclined  to  think  possible, 
there  has  been  a  branching  strain  of  garden 
varieties  ever  since  the  primeval  days  when  hybrid 
Tulips  first  reached  Western  Europe — that  is, 
roughly  speaking,  somewhere  about  1550  to  1560 — 
it  is  anything  but  a  novelty  to  meet  with  them 
now.  On  page  143  of  the  "  Rariorum  Plantarum 
Historia  "  of  Carolus  Clusius,  published  as  early 
as  1601,  there  is  a  good  representation  of  a  branch- 
ing Tulip  which,  if  it  is  that  of  a  hybrid,  supports 
my  supposition.  If  this  be  so,  what  we  then  want 
to  know  is  if  its  branching  depended  on  cultivation, 
as  it  undoubtedly  does  in  the  case  of  Monsieur  S. 
Mottet.  Starve  it  and  there  is  little  or  no  branch- 
ing. Feed  it  on  good  fare  and  the  branching  is  very 
marked.  Thus  branching  may  be  the  result  of  the 
stimulation  of  either  a  dormant  natural  propensity 
or  a  latent  partly  acquired  habit  brought  about 
by  a  most  abnormal  season.  The  branching  of 
species  is  naturally  a  subject  of  great  interest. 
All  that  need  be  said  now  is  that  as  far  as  my 
experience  goes  they  follow  the  rule  of  the  hybrids 
and  hat  the  largest  bulbs  produce  plants  that 
branch  the  most. 

Coming,  then,  to  the  branching  of  garden 
hybrids,  there  seems  little  doubt  that  it  has  been 
known  to  Tulip-growers  in  Western  Europe  from 


344 


THE     GARDEN. 


[July  15,  1922. 


a  date  within  fifty  years  after  the  coming  of  the 
Tulip  from  the  East,  if  the  picture  in  Clusius  is 
that  of  a  hybrid.     From   1601   onwards  pictures 
of  them  appear  in  "  flower  "  books  from  time  to 
time.     An  example  of  peculiar  interest  is   to  be 
found  in  the  "  Livre  Nouveau  De  Fleurs,"  pub- 
lished  at    Paris   by   Baltazar   Moncomet   in    16+5. 
The  pictures  of  flowers  were  intended  for  models 
for  workers  in  gold,  so  it  is  only  in  a  secondary 
sense  a  "  flower  "  book.     Here,  however,  we  find 
two   distinct   examples   of  branching  Tulips,   one 
with   egg-shaped,    round-topped    blooms   and    the 
other  totally  different,   as  the  perianth  segments 
are     decidedly     pointed.     The     egg-shaped     one 
seems   to  have   been  inspired  by   the   picture   in 
Clusius,  but  whence  came  the  other  ?     I  have  no 
idea.     It    may    have    been    drawn    from    "  life," 
but  there  is  no  evidence  one  way  or  the  other. 
Judging    from    the    other    flowers    in    the    book, 
Moncomet  certainly  did  not  go  in  for  depicting 
monstrosities     or     very     out-of-the-way     flowers, 
hence  the  presumption  is  that  branching  Tulips 
were  fairly  well  known  in  his  day.     We  pass  on 
to  1771,  when  we  find  in  "The  New  Gardeners' 
Dictionary  "  of  John  Dicks  another  picture  of  a 
branching    Tulip    and    in    the    letterpress    a    full 
description     of    its     appearance.     Somehow     the 
illustration   suggests    the    "  Historia "    of    Clusius 
as  its  inspiration,  and  as  the  author's  description 
of  the  plant  in  the  letterpress  is  not  altogether 
convincing  as  to  whether  it  is  taken  from  some 
book  or  from  his  personal  observation,  one  rather 
wonders  if  there  really  were  such  Tulips  in  garden? 
in  the  last  half  of  the  eighteenth  century.     The 
name   in    Dicks'    book — Cluster   Tulip — seems    to 
be  a  very  happy  one,  and  I  wish  it  could  be  brought 
into  common  use  to  describe  the  race  of  hybrid 
"  branching "    Tulips.     We    again    pass    over    a 
century  and  come  to  a  coloured  illustration  of  a 
double-flowered    branching    Tulip    in    the    Revue 
Horticole  for  February  i,  1882.     This  is  inscribed 
"  Tulipe    pluriflore    double    Roi   des   bleu?."     We 
see  there  portrayed  a  plant  with  a  fasciated  stem 
which  divides  into  five  separate  ones,  and  at  the 
end  of  each  a  flower  much  after  the  style  of  the 
popular  Blue   Flag,   but  of  a  deeper  and   redder 
shade  of  purple.     In  the  letterpress  a  short  account 
is  given  of  the  work  of  M.   Marel  Foulin  and  of 
M.  Thiebaut-Legendre,  and  the  writer  asks,  is  it 
worth  while  trying  to  rear  races  of  Tulips  which 
will   permanently   take   on   this   branching   habit. 
"  Ya-t-il  avantage  a  multipher  les  Tuhpes  pluri- 
flores  ?     Nous  le  croyons."     Partly  from  a  scientific 
and  partly  from  a  practical  garden  point  of  view 
it  is,  he  thinks.     From  1882  we  pass  to  1922.     In 
the  month  of  May  in  the  present  year  a  flower- 
basket  full  of  magnificent  stems  of  a  deep  purple 
Cluster  Tulip  arrived  at  my  house  from  M.  Bony 
of  Clermont-Ferrand.      .'\lthough   they   had  been 
just   a  week   on   the   way,   they   were,   thanks   to 
careful  packing,  still  fresh  enough  to  give  one  a 
good   idea   of   what    they   were   like.     M.    Bony's 
plants  are  tall,  strong  growers,  and  again  to  quote 
from  the  Revue  Horlicole,  "  une  seule  hamp  coupee 
k  un  certain  6tat  de  floraison  constitue  un  bouquet 
tout  fait."     M.  Bony  once  by  great  good  fortune 
found   a   Tuhp   in   an   old   French   garden   which 
regularly    threw    up    a    branching    stem.     From 
this  he  has  been  able  to  breed  various   varieties 
which,  hke  it,  permanently  shew  the  same  habit 
under  congenial  conditions   of  culture.     The   one 
that  is  most  widely  known  is  that  named  Monsieur 
S.  Mottet,  which  I  must  have  had  in  my  garden 
for  at  least  ten  or  eleven  years  and  which   I  find 
never  fails  to  branch  if  the  bulbs  are  large  enough 
and  if  the  ground  in  which  it  is  planted  is  sufficiently 
good.     Thanks  to  the  kindness  of  M.  Bony,  I  had 
in  my  garden,  just  before  the  war  began,  a  second 
branching  variety,  but  I  am  sorry  to  say  some- 
thing went  wrong  with  it  and  it  died  out,  so  I 


am  unable  to  speak  of  it  as  a  growing  plant.  It 
had,  I  think,  a  red  and  yellow  flower.  One  year 
I  sent  M.  Bony  some  of  our  best  Cottage  and 
Darwin  varieties  for  the  purpose  of  hybridisation. 
Then  the  war  came  and  for  a  long  time  I  heard 
nothing  from  him  or  about  him.  The  basket, 
followed  by  a  long  letter,  that  arrived  in  May, 
was  a  most  welcome  and  pleasant  surprise.  It 
told  me  that  my  friend  is  "  ali\'e  and  kicking," 
and  the  good  work  is  still  going  on  at  Clermont- 
Ferrand.  The  wise  man  never  prophesies  until 
after  the  event,  so  I  will  only  say  that  if  M.  Bony 
can  manage  to  give  us  various  self-coloured 
varieties    with    the    habit    and    general    look    of 


Monsieur  S.  Mottet  (egg-shaped,  white,  which 
flushes),  he  will  have  conferred  a  lasting  benefit 
on  those  of  his  fellows  who,  like  himself  and  myself, 
are  lovers  of  the  Tulip.  It  is  but  fair  to  say  that 
in  normal  years  it  is  only  the  big,  well  nourished 
bulbs  that  produce  the  fasciated  stems  of  the 
Cluster  Tulip.  After  I92r,  it  is  true,  quite  small 
bulbs  sent  up  the  same  fasciated  stems,  but 
happily  for  most  other  plants  such  years  do  not 
come  very  often  ,  and  even  for  these  Tulips  it 
is  unnecessary  that  they  should  do,  seeing  that 
good  cultivation  and  big  fat  bulbs  produce 
similar  results  in  a  pleasanter  way  in  normal 
seasons.  Joseph  Jacob. 


THE    MULLEIN    MOTH 

An  Enemy  of  the  Mullein  and  Buddleia 


DURING  the  months  of  June  and  July 
I  the  lar\Te  of  the  Mullein  moth, 
I  CuculUa  Verbasci,  are  likely  to  attract 
'  attention,  when  \"arious  species  of 
\'erbascum  and  Scrophularia  are  liable 
to  be  almost  defoliated  by  the  pest.  The  leaves 
of  Buddleias  also  sometimes  shew  evidences  of  its 
presence. 

The  moth,  which  has  a  wing  expanse  of  from 
ijins.  to  2ins.,  is  on  the  wing  in  April  and  May, 
when  it  oviposits  commonly  on  Verbascum  Thapsus. 
It  is  one  of  the  group  of  moths  known  as  "  Sharks." 
The  forewings  are  "  pale  wainscot-brown  shaded 
with  redbrown,  and  with  a  rich  mahogany  or 
dark  chocolate  stripe  along  the  costal  and  dorsal 
margins.  Hind  wings  white  shaded  with  red- 
brown  ,  hind  margin  strongly  crenulated."  (Barrett, 
"  British   Lepidoptera.") 

The  moth  is  a  strong  flyer,  and  probably  feeds 
on  night-flowering  plants  and  trees,  since  it  is 
rarely,  if  ever,  seen  on  the  wing  by  day.  It  has, 
however,  been  found  resting  on  dead  twigs  and 
bark  where  it  is  only  difficultly  noticeable, 
so  completely  do  its  form  and  colour  harmonise 
with  the  surroundings.  It  is  found  in  the  South- 
East  of  England,  but  is  more  common  in  the  West, 
both  in  Wales  and  its  borders  and  in  Devon  and 
Cornwall,  where,  on  the  sparsely  wooded  uplands, 
the  Mullein  thrives. 

THE    CATERPILLAR. 

The  larva  is  a  very  handsome  and  striking  one. 
It   is  described   bv   Barrett   as   "  Stout,   rounded, 


THE   MULLEIN    MOTH   (NATURAL   SIZE). 

smooth,  and  with  a  few  short,  scattered  hairs 
.  .  .  head  small,  yellow,  spotted  with  black  ; 
body  greenish  white  with  a  broad  deep  yellow 
transverse  band  on  each  segment  from  spiracle 
to  spiracle  ;  on  each  segment  are  also  four  large 
black  dorsal  spots,  the  second  pair  larger  and 
elongated  laterally  ;  sub-dorsal  line  represented 
by  two  black  spots  and  two  black  transverse 
lines  on  each  segment,  spiracles  black,  .  .  . 
legs  and  prolegs  yellowish,  the  latter  marked 
in  front   and  the  former  behind  with  black." 


The  larv<B  feed  quite  openly  in  bright  sunshine 
and  in  favourable  weather  grow  very  rapidly. 
The  writer  has  seen  a  plant  of  Verbascum  6ft. 
high  completely  defoliated  by  nearly  mature 
larvEe  in  about.,  two  days.  The  plants  most 
frequently  attacked  are  Verbascum  Thapsus, 
V.  pulverulentum,  various  wild  and  cultivated 
Scrophularias  and  certain  species  of  Buddleia. 
The  larv<e  may  be  found  in  June  and  July,  the 


LARVA   (somewhat   REDUCED). 

duration  of  this  stage  varying  according  to  the 
weather,  de%'elopment  being  retarded  when  it 
is  cold  and  dull.  When  fully  fed  the  larvre  measure 
from  liins.  to  2ins.  in  length. 

THE    PUPAL    STAGE. 

When  mature  the  larvw  burrow  down  into  the 
soil  to  a  considerable  depth,  where,  with  layers 
of  earth  and  silk,  large-sized  cocoons  are  con- 
structed. The  larvffi  then  become  quiescent, 
gradually  contract  and  finally  pupate.  The  pupa 
is  from  reddish  brown  to  dark  brown  in  colour. 
The  duration  of  the  pupal  stage  is  very  variable, 
some  adults  emerging  the  following  spring,  but 
others  not  coming  forth  for  two,  three  or  four 
years,  hence  the  depth  at  which  the  pupas  are 
buried  will  afford  considerable  protection. 

OCCURRENCE    OF    THE    PEST. 

Owing  to  a  variety  of  natural  causes  which  keep 
pests  in  check  a  periodicity  in  epidemics  is  notice- 
able, and  if  any  particular  pest  is  carefully  observed 
over  a  number  of  years  it  will  be  seen  that  it 
recurs  again  and  again  at  more  or  less  regular 
intervals.  This  probably  occurs  in  the  case  of 
Mullein  moth.  Thus  in  1916  and  1917  there  was 
a  severe  outbreak  in  the  Forest  of  Dean,  when 
practically  every  Mullein  plant  was  seen  to  be 
attacked.  Since  that  time  Uttle  attention  had 
been  attracted  to  the  pest  until  1921,  when  it 
shewed  a  sudden  increase  in  numbers,  and  now 
in  1922  reports  of  attack  are  received  from  Devon 
and  Cornwall,  the  Bristol  area  of  Somerset  and 
parts  of  the  Forest  of  Dean. 

Mulleins,  both  singly  and  in  groups  in  herbaceous 
borders,  are  liable  to  attack,  and  unless  the  closest 
attention  is  paid  to  the  plants,  the  development 
of  the  attack  may  not  be  noticed  until  it  is  almost 
too  late. 


July  15,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


345 


PREVENTIVE  AND  CONTROL  MEASURES. 

Very  little  is  known  about  the  natural  enemies 
of  the  Mullein  moth,  though  it  is  undoubtedly 
checked  by  various  insect  parasites.  The  larv^ 
feeding  in  bright  sunshine  would  appear  liable 
to  be  attacked  by  birds,  and  some  authorities 
hold  that  birds  are  an  important  factor  in  destroy- 
ing them.  Barrett  states  that  they  are  distasteful 
to  jackdaws,  and  it  is  quite  possible  that  they  may 
be  so  to  other  insect-feeding  birds.  The  larva> 
are  protected  to  some  e.\tent  by  their  nervous 
excitability,  for  they  throw  themselves  off  their 
host  plant  and  curl  up  in  the  denser  vegetation 
below  at  the  least  touch  or  jar. 


Where  Mulleins  are  grown  for  commercial  pur- 
poses this  pest  is  of  special  importance  ,  but  the 
destruction  of  ornamental  groups  in  border  or 
wild  garden  is  sufficiently  annoying. 

Where  only  one  or  two  plants  are  attacked 
hand-picking  the  larvie  will  probably  be  the  most 
satisfactory  treatment,  but  where  an  extensive 
attack  is  in  progress  spraying  with  arsenate  of 
lead  is  the  most  efficacious  remedy.  The  poison 
should  be  obtained  in  the  paste  form  and  used 
at  the  rate  of  4lb.  of  lead  arsenate  to  loo  gallons 
of  soft  water.  If  needful,  a  Uttle  soft  soap  may 
be  added  to  gi\'e  additional  wetting  power  to  the 
spray.  Herbert  W.  Miles,  N.D.A. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


SILVER-LEAF    DISEASE. 

T  WAS  much  interested  in  the  note  by  Mr.  W.  F.  M- 
Cupeland  on  this  subject  in  The  Garden, 
issue  July  i,  page  319,  as  the  letter  referred  to  by 
Mr.  Copeland  was  mine.  Further,  I  am  very  pleased 
to  learn  that  someone  else  troubled  with  the  pest 
has  benefited.  I  know  of  another  case  also 
where  true  silver-leaf  has  been  got  rid  of  by  using 
soot  as  I  recommended.  My  case,  as  stated  last 
year,  was,  alas  !  true  silver-leaf  and  testified  to 
by  such  experts  as  Messrs.  Rivers  and  Messrs. 
Dicksons  of  Chester.  I  felt  sure  myself,  but 
thought  it  well  to  have  the  opinion  of  more  expert 
cultivators.  I  had  it.  My  tree,  treated  as  I 
stated,  was  cured,  and  again  this  year  it  has  made 
wonderful  growth  and  is  bearing  a  big  crop  of 
fine  fruits.  Throughout  the  winter  soot  was 
applied.  Mixing  soot  with  water  in  a  bucket 
"  a  nasty  job  ?  "  Not  a  bit  of  it  if  the  work  be 
done  the  right  way.  First  mix  a  small  quantity 
of  soot  and  water  and  add  more  of  both  till  the 
bucket  is  full  and  the  mixture  of  the  consistency 
of  mortar.  But  it  does  not  matter  as  long  as  the.,, 
soot  is  washed  down  to  the  roots  freely  how  it 
is  applied.  The  soot  induces  a  wonderfully  free 
growth,  too,  and  the  foliage  is  not  readily  attacked 
by  red  spider. 

With  regard  to  canker  in  Apple  trees,  I  may  say 
that  I  have  cured  them  when  in  a  bad  condition 
from  it.  In  fact,  one,  a  Cox's,  had  a  hole  right 
through  the  stem  at  the  junction  of  branches  and 
stem  when  I  had  finished  cutting  away  the 
cankered  parts.  The  wounds  were  then  dressed 
several  times  with  pure  Fir  tree  oil  and  the  roots 
also  pruned.  The  following  year  the  tree  bore 
about  half  a  bushel  of  Apples  and  the  bark 
eventually  entirely  filled  up  all  hollows  made  by 
the  severe  cutting.  Very  old  cankered  trees  I 
should  not  trouble  to  treat,  but  should  plant 
young  trees  instead. — George  Garner. 

COLOUR    IN    THE     GARDEN. 

"LJOW  often  it  happens  in  the  garden  that  a 
colour  plan  is  more  or  less  of  a  disappoint- 
ment and  an  accidental  arrangement  a  brilliant 
success  !  This  dry  summer  has  seen  the  failure 
of  many  winter-planned  combinations,  but  one 
great  success  that  has  given  me  much  pleasure  is 
a  grouping  of  red  Mountain  Spinach  (Orach) 
with  orange  Cheiranthus  .AUionii,  self  sown.  Messrs. 
Thompson  and  Morgan  of  Ipswich  sell  the  Orach 
seed.  Sown  in  patches  between  other  tall  plants 
it  needs  no  support  and  looks  like  some  large  kind 
of  Prunus  Pissardi. — Ethel  Case,   Swaytage. 

RABBIT    PROOF    PL.\NTS    FOR    WILD 
GARDEN. 

TV/fY  experience,  such  as   it   is,   may  be    of    use 
to  some  of   your   readers   who    are   contem- 
plating   starting    a    wild    garden.     The    following 


are  plants  which  rabbits  do  not  seem  to  touch  : 
Arundo  Donax,  .Astilbes,  .-^ralia  eduhs,  .\.  spinosa, 
Beschorneria  yuccoides,  Ererauri,  Gunnera 
manicata,    Kniphofia,    Mulgedium,    Phormium   in 


the  plant  at  Kew  have  only  met  with  partial 
success.  It  may  therefore  interest  readers  of 
The  Garden  to  know  that  on  June  24  I  saw  a 
plant  of  this  beautiful  shrub  in  perfect  health 
and  laden  with  its  heath-like  flowers  on  a  south 
wall  in  the  gardens  of  .\diniral  Milne,  Inveresk 
Gate,  Musselburgh. — Charles  Comfort. 

NOTES  ON   THE  SUMMER    ROSE    SHOW. 

OOMETIMES  the  views  of  an  "  outsider " 
are  welcome  as  coming  from  a  standpoint 
that  has  at  least  no  personal  bias.  The  Rose 
Show  at  the  Botanic  Gardens  in  Regent's  Park 
had  so  many  admirers  that  I  think  they  cannot 
all  be  experts  in  the  matter  of  Rose  growing, 
and  really  the  show  was  so  fine  and  the  Roses  so 
superbly  well  grown  and  well  fed  that  I  think  a 
note  of  warning  as  well  as  admiration  may  be 
not  unwelcome  !  When  gazing  at  these  fat  and 
well  fed  blooms,  with  petals  often  carefully  curled 
back  and  sheltered  no  doubt  from  rain  and  wind, 
how'  few  admirers  realise  that  such  perfection  is 
not  to  be   attained   by  the  ordinary  grower,  w^ho 


A    NUMBER    OF    THE    RARE    SUCCULENT    BESCHORNERIA    YUCCOIDES    IN    FLOWER  ;     EREMURI 

IN    THE    BACKGROUND. 


variety,  Polygonum  cuspidatum,  P.  sachalinense. 
Rheums  in  variety.  Rodgersia  in  variety,  Saxifraga 
peltata,  Senecios  in  variety.  Yuccas  in  variety. 
On  the  other  hand,  they  will  destroy  Crambe 
orientalis,  Fatsia  japonica  (Araha  Sieboldi)  when 
young,  Dracienas  if  they  can  reach  the  heart- 
leaves,  Petasites  giganteus  and  the  young  shoots 
of  Bamboos.  I  enclose  a  photograph  of  Beschor- 
neria yuccoides  in  flower,  though  I  fear  it  is  not 
clear  enough  for  reproduction. — R.  Hague, 
Osmington,  Weymouth. 

[The  Agave-hke  Beschornerias  are  hardy  only 
on  the  seacoast,  and  it  is  not  too  generally  known 
that  they  are  hardy  there.  Johnson's  Gardeners' 
Dictionary,  even  in  the  latest  edition,  describes 
them  as  warm  greenhouse  succulents.  Perhaps 
by  continued  acclimatisation  they  may  ultimately 
come  to  be  hardy  inland.  All  the  species  hail 
from  Mexico. — Ed.] 

A     RARE     SHRUB. 

TN  The  Garden  for  July  i,  page  320,  "  Somerset- 
shire "  writes  about  a  plant  of  Fabiana 
imbricata  growing  on  a  south  wall  in  a  stable- 
yard  in  Somersetshire.  In  the  Editorial  note 
appended  it  is  stated  that  attempts  to  acclimatise 


has  room  in  his  heart  but  not  room  enough  in 
his   garden. 

Yet  none  the  less  we  may  in  our  smaller 
degree  strive  after  perfection,  and  if  we  have 
not  achieved  it  in  past  days  with  the  old 
Roses  may  we  not  hope  to  do  so  with  the  new 
ones  ?  So  let  us  gaily  admire  these  new  arrivals 
and  note  that  in  some  cases  the  growers  have  dug 
up  a  strong  young  plant  to  shew  its  strength  of 
growth  or  vigorous  constitution — a  welcome  step 
in  ad\'ance  of  old  days.  I  fear,  however,  that  the 
stumpy  growths  of  such  lovely  Roses  as  Mrs. 
H.  Moore  or  Florence  Forrestier  are  not  en  evidence, 
and  the  fine  stand  of  that  perverse  Rose  Bessie 
Brown,  every  flower  of  which  must  be  tied  up  with 
wire  lest  it  hang  like  a  Snowdrop,  is  not  the  only 
instance  of  a  Rose  which  is  not  for  the  ordinary 
Rose-lover  ! 

The  Rose  reporters  will  tell  of  the  awards 
made,  I  merely  mention  the  Roses  that  took 
my  fancy.  There  may  be  others  still  better, 
but  the  following  seemed  to  be  of  outstanding 
interest.  Of  all  the  new  red  Roses  shown.  Captain 
Kilbee  Stuart  seems  to  me  to  be  the  best  all 
round.  Bright  and  fresh  in  colour,  good  in  shape, 
sweet  scented  and  of  good  growth.     It  seemed  to 


346 


THE     GARDEN. 


[July  15,  1922. 


me  as  good  as  that  fine  American  Rose  Hadley, 
which  is  several  shades  deeper  in  colour  but  of 
the  same  style  and  excellence  (I  suppose  it  is  not 
yet  ready,  as  I  saw  no  blooms  shown  that  day). 
Were  other  folk  as  much  disappointed  as  I  was 
with  the  red  Rose  named  Prince  of  Wales  ?  I 
always  feel  as  if  a  Rose  should  not  be  named  after 
a  special  celebrity  or  favourite  %vithout  due 
authority  and  consideration.  I  am  reminded  of 
a  French  friend's  warning,  "  Never  buy  a  Rose 
named  after  a  celebrity,  but  when  a  Rose  is  named 
after  another  Rose  grower  or  his  daughter  you 
ittay  be  sure  it  is  good,^*  and  the  advice  holds  good, 
I   think,   still. 

However,  Lady  Roundway,  Mrs.  H.  Bowles 
and  Emma  Wright  are  three  such  glorious 
Roses  of  orange  or  bright  pink  that  I  think 
we  must  all  hope  to  have  them  in  our  gardens 
some  day.  I  hear  that  fine  but  rather  uncertain 
Rose  Gorgeous  is  one  of  their  parents.  I  must 
say  the  daughters  are  still  more  lovely  than  the 
mother.  Ruth  and  Miriam  are  also  to  be  com- 
mended. The  only  pity  is  one  cannot  yet  say 
which  is  the  best.  I  was  interested  to  see  the 
creamy  white  climbing  Tea  Rose  Muriel  Wilson 
shown  so  much  "  fatter  "  and  more  solid  in  petal 
that  when  I  saw  it  on  the  Riviera  that  I  felt  more 
than  ever  convinced  one  cannot  judge  a  Rose 
at  one  sitting.  Kallisto  also,  which  last  autumn 
was  so  glorious  in  colour,  was  this  day  quite  dull 
and  commonplace.  The  table  decorations  alone 
were  below  the  usual  standard,  but  the  setting  of 
the  Show  in  the  Botanic  Gardenswasmuch  enhanced 
by  the  greatly  improved  conditions  of  the  gardens 
and  the  flowers  growing  there.  Much  praise  is 
due  to  those  who  have  achieved  it. — E.  H.  W. 

A    SUGGESTION    FOR    EXHIBITORS. 

T  WAS  pleased  to  see  the  charming  illustrttion 
of  a  tropical  pool  as  "  a  suggestion  for  exhibi- 
tors," by  Mr.  Brown,  which  appeared  in  The 
Gardem  of  June  lo.  I  have  myself  suggested 
the  construction  of  such  a  tropical  pool  for  Chelsea. 
One  of  my  earliest  recollections  is  just  such  a 
rocky  pool  in  a  house  where  my  grandfather 
grew  exotic  Ferns,  for  which  he  was  awarded  the 
R.H.S.  silver  medal  in  i8.)6.  In  the  foreground 
at  the  sides  of  the  pool  there  were  some  graceful 
Palms  and  a  particularly  fine  specimen  of  a  Date 
Palm  which  almost  reached  the  roof.  In  the 
middle  distance,  growing  in  niches  of  old  red 
sandstone  rocks  which  rose  to  the  height  of  about 
6ft.  were  various  large  Ferns,  Lj'copodiums  and 
Monstera  deliciosa.  The  back  wall  of  the  house 
was  completely  covered  with  smaller  Ferns, 
chiefly  self-sown  Maidenhairs.  To  the  left  of 
this  wall  a  low  waterfall  twisted,  splashing  among 
the  rocks,  giving  a  pleasing  movement  to  the  water 
in  the  pool,  from  which  rose  the  leaves  of  giant 
Caladiums.  The  most  striking  feature  of  the 
httle  picture  was  given  by  the  plants  which  grew 
overhead.  The  rich  mauve  clusters  of  Todea 
mingled  with  the  blossoms  of  a  large  tropical 
Passion  Flower.  Crimson  Tacsonia  flowers  swung 
at  various  heights  on  their  long  threadlike  stalks, 
like  lanterns,  almost  to  the  surface  of  the  pool, 
and  among  them  their  fruits,  ranging  from  green 
and  citron  to  all  tones  of  yellow  and  orange. 
The  glass  of  the  roof  for  about  loft.  from  the 
back  of  the  house  was  darkened,  giving  great 
distance  to  the  picture,  but  when  I  knew  it  this 
artificial  shading  was  rendered  unnecessary  by 
the  growth  of  a  large  India-rubber  plant.  Should 
such  a  scene  ever  appear  at  Chelsea,  as  I  hope, 
I  should  like  to  add  the  beautiful  blue-flowered 
Nymphiea,  the  Indian  Lotus  (exquisite  both  for 
leaf  and  flower)  and  introduce  a  large  Banana  or 
two  in  place  of  one  or  more  of  the  Palms. — 
H.  H.  Warner. 


AN  INTERESTING  PARASITE. 
A  NOPLANTHUS  COCCINEUS  is  a  remarkable 
parasite  belonging  to  the  Broomrape  family 
which  grows  on  the  roots  of  various  plants  but 
chiefly  on  those  of  Centaurea  dealbata,  in  which 
case  the  beautiful  silvery  foliage  of  the  host  plant 
acts  as  a  delightful  foil  for  the  large  velvety 
flowers,  which  are  of  a  brilliant  scarlet  colour. 
They  are  about  2^ins.  in  diameter,  and  are  borne 
singly  on  reddish  brown  stems  I2ins.  or  more 
high.  These  stems  are  naked,  with  the  exception 
of  two  or  three  bracts  on  the  lower  halves.  The 
flowers,  which  resemble  those  of  a  giant  LobeUa, 
are  five-lobed,  with  two  upper  and  three  lower 
lobes,  the  latter  forming  a  hp  at  the  base  of  which 
is  a  large  black  blotch.  The  seeds  from  which  the 
plants  here  illustrated  were  grown  were  originally 
received  from  Tiflis  Botanic  Garden.  They  were 
sown,  at  Kew  with  those  of  the  host  plant,  in  a 
pot.  Only  the  Centaurea  appeared  the  first  year, 
and  this  was  planted  out  in  the  bed.  Nothing 
else  appeared  for  two  years,  when  in  May  several 
stems    of    the    .■\noplanthus    were    noticed,    each 


.\N    INTERESTING    PARASITE,    .'VNOPL.^NTHUS    COCCINEUS. 


with    a    solitary    flower    bud.     These    developed, 

and   the   flowers  opened  towards  the  end  of  the 

month.     Owing    to    the    dry    weather    this    year 

the  flowers  did   not   last   long,   but   it  is   a  most  THE 

attractive  plant  when  in  good  condition  with  its 

intense  scarlet  blooms.     After  the  first  vear  two 


rotation.  No  two  crops  exhaust  the  food  con- 
stituents of  the  soil  in  quite  the  same  manner, 
and  in  spite  of  .Mr.  Lodge's  conviction,  there  must 
be  increased  danger  of  infection  from  any  pest 
that  has  done  much  damage  the  previous  year, 
such  as  Onion  mildew,  Pea  weevil  or  Cabbage 
aphis.  The  case  of  "  club  "  is  notorious.  But  I 
have  long  wanted  to  know  whether  a  two  years' 
interval  between  crops  of  the  Brassica  tribe  is 
necessary  in  a  garden  free  from  "  club  "  but  in  a 
locality  where  "  club  "  is  prevalent,  provided  great 
care  is  exercised  over  the  seed-bed.  The  chief 
difficulty  of  a  three-year  rotation  lies  in  the  all- 
pervasive  Cabbage  tribe  unless  a  good  deal  of  the 
ground  carries  only  one  crop  in  the  season. 

I  cannot  see  that  for  roots  to  succeed  Brassica:; 
infers  poor  cultivation.  You  may  dig  three  spits 
deep  if  you  will,  and  leave  all  three  in  the  same 
relative  position  with  regard  to  each  other.  Now, 
if  you  grow  Long  Surrey  after  Broccoli,  the  roots 
certainly  go  down  into  a  level  below  that  occupied 
by  the  previous  crop.  But  on  the  way  down 
and  during  that  hazardous  period  of  youth  the 
Carrot  goes  through  soil 
exhausted  by  the  Broccoli 
(the  spitj  having  been 
more  or  less  reversed 
in  digging),  and  if  an 
intermediate  Carrot  or 
Beet  is  grown,  it  does 
not  penetrate  to  the 
second  spit  at  all.  "  The 
rising  of  moisture  in  the 
soil "  occurs  only  in  dry 
weather.  In  wet  weather 
the  reverse  is  the  case, 
and  the  nourishment 
of  the  plant  would  then 
come  from  above  and 
from  its  immediate 
surroundings. 

The  advantage  of  the 
"  over-glorified  "  Dutch 
hoe  depends  partly  on 
its  make.  The  blade 
is  best  nearly  in  a 
straight  line  with  the 
handle.  Like      other 

tools,  it  depends  also 
on  the  user.  I  have 
observed  that  it  is  not 
everybody's  tool  —  the 
draw-hoe  man  often  does  not  understand  it. — 
G.  Price-Davies. 


AFTER     EFFECTS     OF     THE 
DROUGHT 


or  more  flowers  appear  annually,  so  that  it  may  be       T  W.\S  pleased  to  see  the  reference  to  "  the  after- 
'""    "  effects   of   the  drought  "   in  The   Garden   of 

June    24.     Never    have    I    seen    such    sprays    of 
Forsythia  and  of  the  Pink  Double  Plum  (Prunus 


called  a  perennial. — W.   I 

THE    ROTATION    OF     CROPS. 

ly/fR.  LODGE  (page  294)  has  opened  up  an 
interesting  subject.  It  has  appeared  to 
me  that  the  theory  of  rotation  of  crops  has  been 
copied  automatically  from  one  vegetable  book 
into  another,  and  that  it  requires  criticism  and 
revision.  I  have  been  surprised  to  see  it  treated 
as  an  easy  thing  to  do,  and  taken  so  for  granted. 
It  is  easy  to  write  the  names  of  a  lot  of  vegetables 
in  little  squares,  but  to  work  it  out  in  detail  on 
the  ground  is  another  matter.  The  suggestions 
in  my  article  in  the  issue  for  April  29  as 
regards  a  few  crops  are  based  on  my  own 
practice,  and  I  hoped  might  provoke  some 
remarks  on  cropping. 

Some  crops  that  require  special  preparation, 
such  as  Onions  and  Peas,  are  already  often  grown 
year  after  year  on  the  same  ground,  but  I  cannot 
see   any   wisdom   in   disregarding   any  system   of 


triloba)  and  such  a  wealth  of  blossom  on  the 
Lilac,  Mock  Orange  and  Weigela.  I  have  also 
had  the  baby  Tuhps  in  flower,  to  which  other 
correspondents  have  referred.  Mention  should  also 
be  made  of  the  profusion  of  flowers  on  the  Rock 
Roses  in,  I  think,  every  variety.  Last  week  I 
visited  the  ancient  Fig  garden  at  West  Tarring, 
where  the  remains  of  the  tree  planted  by  Thomas 
a  Becket  in  1162  are  still  carefully  preserved. 
There  are  about  a  hundred  Fig  trees  in  this  garden, 
and  they  are  carrying  a  heavier  crop  of  fruit  than 
any  previously  recorded.  The  varieties  chiefly 
grown  are  the  Brown  Turkey  Fig  and  the  large 
pink-fleshed  Madagascar.  On  reaching  Ventnor, 
where  Figs  are  largely  grown,  nearly  every  tree 
was  bearing  a  recorb  crop.  There  is  no  doubt 
about  this  tree  being  a  lover  of  heat,  but  it  also 
seems  able  to  withstand  a  long  period  of  drought, 


July  15,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


347 


which  is  just  what  one  would  expect,  considering 
its  original  habitats.  The  fine  show  of  fruit  is 
worth  recording,  and  some  is  now  ripe  and  being 
offered  for  sale  in  the  town  of  Worthing. — 
H.   \V.,  Worthing. 

LYSICHITUM     CAMTSCHATCENSE. 

T  WAS  interested  in  two  references  in  your  issue 
of  May  27  to  this  plant  by  Lady  Moore  and 
Mr.  A.  T.  Johnson.  I  recently  received  some 
plants  of  what  is  commonly  known  in  British 
Columbia  as  Skunk  Cabbage  from  a  cousin  living 
at  Milne's  Landing,  near  Victoria,  who  wrote 
me  that  it  is  there  a  very  common  plant  in  marshes 
and  uncleared  ditches.  He  further  tells  me  that 
bear  use  it  as  a  spring  medicine  as  soon  as  they 
come  out  of  their  winter  sleep,  perhaps  in  the 
same  way  that  dogs  eat  a  species  of  grass,  which 
I  believe  is  Couch  Grass,  mentioned  by  Culpeper 
in  his  Herbal  as  Dog  Grass  and  having  certain 
medicinal  quaUties.  This  may  be  the  origin  of 
its  local  name.  Can  anybody  tell  me  what  are 
the  medicinal  qualities  in  Lysichitum  ?  If  bear 
use  it,  there  is  a  possibihty  it  may  have  some 
value  for  human  beings.  I  wonder  if  someone 
who  grows  this  Arum  would  give  it  a  trial.  My 
own  plants  are  not  sufficiently  advanced  to  do  so. 
The  leaves,  however,  look  very  succulent  and 
tempting.  On  the  other  hand,  there  grows  in 
Perthshire  a  wild  plant  with  a  similar  leaf,  also 
known  there  as  Skunk  Cabbage.  Perhaps  some 
Scotch  or  Highland  settler  gave  it  this  name 
from  its  similarity  in  leaf  to  the  British  plant. 
The  young  unfolded  leaves  are  very  similar  in 
appearance  to  a  spring  Cabbage.  How  in  Scotland 
comes  the  word  Skunk  unless  it  might  be  the 
ancient  name  for  bear  ?  My  plants  arrived  in 
perfect  condition  packed  in  damp  moss  after  a 
three  weeks'  journey,  and  they  began  to  grow 
away  at  once,  but  the  leaves  were  badly  cut 
during  the  recent  frosts.  I  should  think  that  it 
may  not  be  absolutely  hardy  in  the  South  of 
England,  and  evidently  requires  a  moist  position 
where  the  morning  sun  does  not  reach  the  young 
spring  growth.  There  are  plants  at  Kew. — 
Edward  Shoosmith. 

[The  Skunk  Cabbage  or  Skunkweed  of  North 
America  is  Symplocarpus  foetidus.  All  parts 
of  the  plant  have  a  disagreeable  fcetid  odour  thought 
to  resemble  that  of  the  animal  after  which  it  is 
named.  The  root  is  the  part  usually  employed 
in  medicine.  It  has  an  acrid  taste  and  is  regarded 
as  stimulant,  antispasmodic,  narcotic  and  expecto- 
rant. The  drug  may  be  obtained  from  herbalists 
in  this  country.  We  cannot  trace  the  name 
Skunk  Cabbage  as  apphed  to  Lysichitum 
camtschatcense  or  to  any  British  plant. — Ed.] 

MICE    AND    VOLES    IN    THE    GARDEN. 

AT  the  beginning  of  the  year  you  published  a 
letter  which  I  wrote  advocating  the  use 
of  the  Colin  PuUinger  Balance  Mouse  Trap  for 
catching  long-tailed  field  mice  and  bank  and  field 
voles  in  the  garden,  so  I  am  writing  to  let  you  know 
that  a  few  weeks  ago  I  purchased  half  a  dozen 
of  these  traps,  and  on  unpacking  the  parcel  my 
attention  was  arrested  by  the  angle  of  the  balance, 
which  was  much  more  acute  than  I  was  accustomed 
to  see  it.  On  examining  a  trap  more  closely  I 
found  that  instead  of  it  being  pivoted  about  one- 
eighth  of  an  inch  from  the  ground  level,  it  was 
pivoted  half  an  inch  from  it,  thus  accounting 
for  the  acuteness  of  the  angle.  I  at  once  com- 
municated with  the  makers,  Messrs.  Duke,  Waring, 
Crisp  and  Co.,  139,  Wardour  Street,  London, 
W.I,  and  pointed  out  to  them  that  at  the  angle 
of  the  balance  in  the  trap  sent  to  me,  a  mouse  on 
the  balance  when  feeling  it  begin  to  move  would 
have  time  to  retreat   to  the  entrance  before  the 


balance  had  passed  the  centre  of  gravity, 
whereas  in  the  original  Colin  PuUinger  trap 
the  angle  being  much  less  acute,  the  weight 
of  the  mouse  had  carried  the  balance  beyond 
the  centre  of  gravity  before  the  mouse  had 
time  to  get  back  to  the  entrance.  The  firm  are 
extremely  sorry  for  the  mistake  which  their  work- 
man has  made,  but  they  have  no  knowledge  as 
to  when  he  began  to  depart  from  the  original 
model,  and  therefore  cannot  tell  how  many  traps 
have  been  sold  since  the  alteration  in  the  pattern 
was  inadvertently  made.  They  are  most  anxious 
to  do  all  in  their  power  to  rectify  the  mistake 
and  are  repivoting  traps  returned  to  them  which 


have  been  thus  improperly  put  together.  I  am 
writing  to  mention  what  has  occurred,  for  the 
traps  as  sent  to  me  were  practically  useless,  and 
unless  the  mistake  is  rectified  a  most  efficient  trap 
will  fall  into  disrepute.  The  head  of  the  firm 
came  to  see  me  about  the  matter  and  told  me 
that  they  were  examining  their  stock  to  rectify 
the  mistake.  He  mentioned  incidentally  that 
one  evening  some  altered  traps  were  left  on  the 
bench  and  in  the  morning  it  was  found  that, 
although  unbaited,  two  of  them  had  each  captured 
a  mouse  in  the  night,  the  mice  probably  being 
attracted  to  the  bench  by  the  crumbs  from  the 
workman's  tea. — T.   Mark  Hovell. 


GARDENING     OF     THE     WEEK 


FOR    SOUTHERN     GARDENS. 

The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Carrots. — it  is  an  excellent  practice  to  make 
a  sowing  about  this  time  to  provide  some  delicate 
young  roots  for  autumn  and  winter  use.  They 
may  safely  be  left  in  the  ground,  for  should  the 
weather  be  very  severe  a  Utile  dry  straw  or 
bracken  may  be  strewn  over  the  bed.  For  this 
sowing  it  is  best  to  select  a  quick-growing  early 
Short  Horn  variety,  and  the  necessary  thinning 
of  the  seedUngs  should  be  done  in  good  time. 
Some  growers  scatter  the  seed  broadcast  for  winter, 
and  on  a  clean  soil  the  plan  is  to  be  recommended, 
because  plants  strewn  over  the  whole  surface 
of  the  bed  undoubtedly  do  lend  a  little  protection 
to  one  another  during  severe  weather,  but  on 
weedy  soils  the  seed  should  alwavs  be  sown  in 
driUs! 

Celery. — Plants  from  the  first  sowing  will  need 
a  Utile  soil  drawn  up  or  the  adjusting  of  the  paper 
bands  if  blanching  is  carried  out  with  the  aid  of 
these.  Before  doing  such  work  aU  sucker  growths 
should  be  removed  and  the  plants  be  thoroughly 
watered  the  day  previously  if  at  all  dry.  There 
is  nothing  to  gain  in  being  in  too  great  a  hurry 
with  the  blanching  unless  the  plants  are  required 
by  an  early  date.  The  chief  point  is  to  keep  the 
plants  growing  clean  and  healthy,  and  upon  no 
consideration  must  the  maggot  be  allowed  a  footing. 
Regular  light  dustings  of  old  soot  applied  during 
the  evening  after  the  plants  have  been  sprayed 
is  one  of  the  best  antidotes  to  this  pest.  Any 
delay  experienced  in  getting  later  batches  into 
their  places  should  be  made  good  as  soon  as  con- 
venient, keeping  the  plants  in  the  meantime  weU 
cared  for. 

Outdoor  Tomatoes. — The  warm  weather  gave 
these  a  good  start  and  considerable  growth  has 
been  made.  Restrict  all  side  growths  and  thus 
confine  the  plant's  energies  to  one  stem.  Feeding 
the  plants  is  not  to  be  recommended  until  several 
trusses  of  fruits  are  secured  and  swelling,  or  too 
much  leafage  wiU  be  encouraged. 

Cucumbers. — Some  seed  should  be  sown  at 
once  to  provide  plants  for  autumn  fruiting  and 
some  again  in  about  another  month's  time  to 
supply  plants  for  winter  bearing.  Keep  the 
plants  in  full  cropping  well  suppUed  with  moisture 
both  at  the  roots  and  atmospherically,  and  cut 
all  fruits  as  soon  as  large  enough  to  use  so  as  not 
unduly  to  weaken  the  plants  by  carrying  them 
too  long.  The  fruits  will  keep  in  good  condition 
for  a  week  in  a  cool  cellar  in  a  little  water. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Carnations  of  the  Border  section  may  be 
layered  at  any  time  from  mid-July  until  the  middle 
of  .August.  A  light,  gritty  compost  is  the  best 
medium  for  the  layers  to  take  root  in,  and  it  is  a 
good  plan  previously  to  placing  this  in  position  to 
loosen  the  surface  soil  a  little  round  the  old  plants. 
Make  a  clean  cut  on  the  underside  of  each  selected 
shoot  and  press  the  tongue  formed  into  the  soil 
and  make  it  secure  with  a  peg.  Give  water  from 
time  to  time  through  a  fine  rose,  according  to  the 
weather  conditions. 

Pinks. — Cuttings  or  pipings  of  all  varieties 
of  Pinks  will  root  readily  if  inserted  in  a  sandy 
soil  in  a  cold  frame,  which  should  be  kept  shaded 
until  root  action  has  commenced.  Keep  the 
frame  fairly  close  at  the  commencement,  but 
give  abundance  of  air  when  roots  are  formed, 
finally  removing  the  Ughts  and  so  make  sturdy 
stock  for  autumn  planting.  The  plants  now 
popularly  known  as  AUwoodii  may  also  be  readily 
increased  in  this  manner. 


The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Budding  Fruit  Trees. — Whether  it  is  desirable 
or  profitable  to  carry  out  this  operation  in  private 
gardens  everyone  must  judge  for  themselves. 
Personally,  unless  it  is  deaUng  with  some 
special  variety,  I  do  not  think  it  is  when  plenty 
of  firms,  which  regularly  advertise  in  the  pages 
of  The  Garden,  offer  trees  to  suit  any  position 
at  prices  which  it  is  fair  to  state  must  be  con- 
sidered reasonable.  July  and  August  are  the 
best  months  for  the  work,  when  bark  and  sap  are 
in  a  responsive  condition.  Of  the  several  different 
methods  of  budding,  that  which  is  spoken  of  as 
the  T  method  is  to  be  recommended.  When 
carrying  out  the  work  it  is  essential  to  have  every- 
thing ready  so  that  as  soon  as  ever  the  bud  is  made 
and  fitted  into  the  T  cut  a  little  damp  moss  and 
broad  raffia  strands  are  at  hand  to  finish  the  job. 
Choose  buds  from  the  haU-ripened  shoots  of  the 
present  season's  growth.  Wood  buds  are  dis- 
tinguishable by  being  more  pointed  and  thinner 
than  fruit  buds. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Melons. — Seed  must  be  sown  at  once  where  a 
late  crop  of  fruit  is  required.  This  batch  of  plants 
must  be  grown  where  plenty  of  pipe  heat  will  be 
available  when  required  at  a  later  date.  Make  the 
bed  thoroughly  firm  and  place  a  couple  of  seeds 
at  intervals  of  2oins.  apart  on  the  bed,  removing 
the  weaker  seedUng  as  soon  as  such  may  be  deter- 
mined. Make  the  utmost  use  of  aU  bright  weather 
to  bring  the  plants  quickly  along  into  a  bearing 
condition,  and  as  soon  as  two  or  three  fruits  are 
secured  on  each  plant  concentrate  the  plant's 
energies  upon  the  speedy  development  of  them  to 
a  useful  size. 

H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland). 

Albury  Park  Gardens,  Guildford 


FOR    NORTHERN    GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Spring  Cabbage.— Make  a  first  sowing  of  early 
Cabbage  on  one  of  the  borders  that  has  been  cleared 
of  early  crops.  The  seed-bed  should  only  be 
moderately  rich.  Do  not  sow  thickly,  taking 
every  precaution  to  see  that  the  plants  are 
not  allowed  to  become  drawn  or  weakly  in  the 
bed.  Suitable  varieties  for  autumn  planting  are 
Sutton's  Flower  of  Spring,  Harbinger  and  Ellam's 
Early. 

Herbs. — Seedhngs  of  various  herbs  raised  this 
summer  should  now  be  planted  out  in  nursery 
lines  from  which  permanent  beds  may  be  made 
next  spring.  Water  the  seedUngs  thoroughly 
if  the  weather  is  dry  and  shade  with  a  few  Spruce 
branches    until    growth    commences. 

French  Beans. — Encourage  this  important 
crop  by  placing  Ught  mulchings  of  half-rotted 
manure  on  each  side  of  the  rows.  This  treatment 
is  especially  advisable  on  Ught,  hungry  soils,  the 
plants  lespondmg  quickly  and  producing  fine  crops 
of  tender  pods.  Water  freely  during  dry  spells, 
gi\ing  occasional  applications  of  Uquid  manure. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Fruit  Trees  in  Pots. — Extreme  care  must  be 
exercised  at  this  time  in  the  watering  of  the  various 
fruit  trees  in  pots  or  tubs.  Trees  bearing  heavy 
crops  should  be  liberally  assisted  with  top-dressings 
and  Uquid  manure,  varying  it  at  times  with 
chemical  manure.  As  the  fruits  approach  the 
ripening  stage  feeding  should  be  withheld,  as  there 
is  always  a  dansrer  of  spoihng  the  flavour  of  the 


348 


THE     GARDEN. 


[July  15,  1922. 


fruit  if  feeding  is  overdone.  More  especially  is 
this  applicable  to  Peaches  in  their  tinal  stages. 

Vises. — In  houses  where  the  Grapes  are  begin- 
ning to  colour  a  good  watering  with  liquid  manure 
may  be  given,  while  all  superfluous  laterals  should 
be  pinched  off  so  that  the  berries  may  be  induced 
to  swell  further  and  finish  well.  Where  Madres- 
field  Court  is  grown  a  certain  amount  of  lateral 
growth  may  be  allowed  to  remain,  as  this  to  a 
certain  extent  is  a  safeguard  against  the  splitting 
of  the  berries. 

Young  Vines. — Encotu-age  these  to  make 
vigorous  growth  by  giving  generous  attention  in 
the  wav  of  watering  and  syringing  the  rods. 
Close  the  house  earlv  so  as  to  conserve  sun-heat. 
Allow  the  laterals  to  grow  freely  so  long  as  there 
is  no  overcrowding,  and  stop  the  leader  when  it 
nears  the  top  of  the  house.  The  basal  buds  will 
then  plump  more  readily. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Newly  Grafted  Trees.— Look  over  these 
occasionally  and  close  up  any  cracks  that  may 
be  showing  in  the  wax  or  clay.  .-Vs  the  young 
shoots  on  the  scions  begin  to  lengthen,  support  by 
fixing  them  to  neat  canes,  which  should  be  tied 
firmly  to  the  stem  or  branch. 

Morello  Cherries.— Except  where  the  trees 
are  grown  in  bush  form  no  summer  pruning  is 
required  for  Morellos.  It  is  well  known  that  this 
luscious  Cherrv  bears  its  finest  fruit  on  the  young 
wood,  but  a'  little  judicious  thinning  out  of 
superfluous  or  weak  growths  will  be  advantageous, 
although  the  Morello  will  bear  a  closer  lay  in  of 
young  growths  than  any  other  wall  tree.  Pinch 
the  points  of  the  growths  of  trees  grown  in  standard 
or  bush  fonn. 

The  Flower   Garden. 

Border  Chrysanthemums.— Stake  and  tie  beds 
of  these  in  good  time,  as  when  once  the  growths 
of  Chrysanthemums  are  allowed  to  fall  over  and 
get  bent  thev  never  seem  again  to  attain  that 
symmetrv  of  form  which  is  necessars-  in  the 
formation  of  a  well  grown  pl.-mt.  Hoe  the  ground 
freelv  between  the  plants  and  stimulate  growth 
at  the  same  time  by  giving  a  light  dusting  of 
artificial  manure. 

The  Rose  Garden. — Where  light  soils  prevail 
heavv  waterings  will  be  necessary  during  lengthy 
periods  of  drought.  Where  liquid  manure  is 
available  it  should  also  be  apphed  freely,  inore 
especiallv  when  the  soil  is  in  a  mcist  condition. 
This  feeding  not  only  prolongs  the  season  of  flower- 
ing, but  makes  an  enormous  difference  in  building 
up  strong  plants  for  the  ensuing  year.  Remove 
all  faded  blossoms  and  maintain  the  beds  and 
borders  in  as  trim  a  condition  as  possible. 
James  McGran 

(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.). 

Coodham,  Kilmarnock. 


each  year,  for  when  grown  in  pots  it  does  not 
break  readily  after  being  cut  back.  Good  flowering 
plants  can  be  grown  in  6in.  pots.  Planted  o\it  in 
a  bed  or  border  in  the  cool  conservatory  it  makes 
a  fine  large  bush,  and  stands  pruning  back  much 
better  than  when  pot  grown.  It  should  be  pruned 
back  when  it  finishes  flowering,  about  the  beginning 
of  June.  This  plant  is  nearly  hardy,  and  should 
be  grown  on  a  warm  wall  in  the  South  and  West. 

Olearia  Gunniana,  although  hardy  in  sheltered 
positions  in  the  South  and  VVest,  is,  in  the  colder 
parts  of  the  country,  well  worth  growing  for  the 
cool  greenhouse.  It  is  easily  propagated  at  this 
season  by  means  of  short,  half-ripened  shoots, 
which  root  readily  in  sandy  soil  under  a  bell- 
glass  in  a  cool  house.  The  plants  flower  freely 
in  quite  small  pots,  and  should  be  pinched  fre- 
quently in  the  young  state  to  induce  a  bushy 
habit.  They  grow  quite  well  in  ordinary  potting 
compost.  This  plant  is  generally  known  as 
O.  stellulata,  but  differs  from  the  latter  plant  in 
having  larger  and  whiter  flowers 

Olearia  ramulosa  is  also  a  graceful  and  attractive 
plant  for  pot  culture.  ^\'eU  grown  examples  are 
very  beautiful  with  their  slender  shoots  covered 
with  small,  starry  white  flowers.  This  plant  is 
seen  to  best  advantage  when  run  up  fairly  tall, 
as  the  slender  drooping  shoots  are  then  displayed 
at  their  best.  To  attain  this  the  young  plant 
should  only  be  stopped  twice  ;  then  about  three 
shoots  should  be  selected  and  tied  up  to  a  neat 
stake.  .Although  this  plant  is  easily  rooted  by 
means  of  small,  twiggy  shoots,  it  is  by  no  means 
such  an  easy  plant  to  cultivate  successiullv,  as 
is  O.  Gunniana.  It  grows  quite  well  in  light, 
medium  loam  with  the  addition  of  a  little  leaf- 
soil,  with  enough  coarse  s.-md  to  render  the  whole 
porous,  but  it  must  ne\"er  be  overpotted,  and 
requires  careful  watering  at  all  times. 

Campanula  Vidalii.  —  This  unique-looking 
Campanula  is  a  native  of  the  Canaries,  and  is  very 
useful  for  the  conservatory,  as  it  flowers  during 
.\ugust,  at  a  time  when  it  is  very  difficult  to  get 
a  variety  of  interesting  plants  for  the  flowering 
house.  This  plant  can  be  propagated  by  means 
of  the  side  shoots,  but  stock  is  best  raised  by 
means  of  seeds,  which  may  be  sown  at  this  time. 
As  the  seed  is  very  fine,  the  pots  should  be  well 
watered  some  time  before  sowing.  The  seed 
should  be  covered  with  a  sprinkling  of  fine  sandy 
soil.  The  young  plants  should  be  potted  on  as 
thev  require  it,  and  may  be  grown  throughout 
in  a  cool  greenhouse  or  even  in  a  cold  frame. 
.\lthough  this  plant  will  produce  a  few  flowers 
in  its  second  year,  it  is  at  its  best  during  its  third 
year.  For  this  reason  some  young  plants  should 
be  raised  every  year,  and  thus  keep  up  a  regular 
succession  of  flowering  plants.  J.  CouTTS. 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kcw. 


GREENHOUSE  .\ND  COXSERV.\TORY. 
AotUS  gracillima.^This  beautiful  Australian 
shrub  is  worthy  of  more  general  cultivation  lor 
the  cool  greenhouse  and  conservatory.  Its  long, 
slender  shoots  wreathed  with  small  yellow  flowers 
with  dark  blotches  are  always  very  much  admired. 
It  may  easilv  be  propagated  now  by  means  of 
small  twiggy  shoots  inserted  in  pots  of  sandy 
peat,  and  these  root  readily  if  stood  under  a 
propagating  glass  in  a  cool  greenhouse.  When 
rooted  they  should  be  potted  off  singly  into  thumb 
pots,  and  when  they  are  established  in  the  fresh 
compost,  they  should  be  pinched  once,  and  two 
or  three  shoots  selected  and  run  up  some 
24ft.  high,  pinching  them  at  this  height  to  form  a 
iiead,  as  the  beauty  of  this  plant  is  best  displayed 
when  grown  in  the  form  of  a  small  standard. 
The  young  plants  should  be  potted  on  as  they 
require  it  until  they  are  in  their  flowering  size 
(7in.  pots  being  large  enough  for  this  purpose). 
After  the  first  potting,  which  should  consist  of 
sandy  peat,  it  is  well  to  add  some  light  loam  to 
the  potting  compost.  For  the  final  potting  it 
should  consist  of  at  least  half  loam,  with  the 
addition  of  good  fibrous  peat  and  enough  coarse 
sand  to  render  the  whole  porous.  This  is  a  fine 
plant  to  put  out  in  a  bed  in  the  cool  conser\-atory. 

Prostanthera  rotundifolia  is  another  beautiful 

greenhouse  shrubby  plant  which  produces  :ts 
small  purple  flowers  in  great  profusion.  It  is 
readily  propagated  at  this  time  by  means  of  small 
twiggy  shoots  in  the  same  way  as  advised  for  the 
Aotus'.  When  stopped  several  times  it  makes 
a  neat,  bushy  plant  for  the  conservatory  stage. 
,\fter  the  final  stopping  some  eight  to  ten  strong 
shoots  shotild  be  allowed  to  grow  away  for  flower- 
ing.    Some    voung    stock    should    be    propagated 


BOOKS 

A  Book  on  Dahlias. — The  Dahlia  is  even 
more  popular  in  the  United  States  than  it  is  in 
Britain,  so  that  it  is  not  surprising  to  find  that  the 
quite  bulky  volume  on  this  flower  just  issued* 
hails  from  across  the  .Atlantic.  Mrs.  Stout  has 
the  right  to  be  considered  something  of  an  authority 
on  this  very  useful  flower.  She  has,  indeed, 
raised  several  excellent  \arieties.  As  Mrs.  Stout 
herself  points  out,  the  Dahlia  has  every  title  to 
the  specific  name  variabilis,  for  it  is  surely  among 
the  most  variable  of  flowers.  It  is  immensely 
affected  by  climatic  conditions  and  by  environ- 
ment, so  that  varieties  quite  admirable  here  in 
England  may  well  prove  failures  in  U.S..^. 
Certainly  many  sorts  highly  esteemed  in  America 
have  proved  worthless  on  this  side. 

Much  of  the  information  given  in  this  book  is 
necessarily  special  to  U.S.A.,  and  the  list  of  varie- 
ties is  naturally  quite  up  to  date  as  regards  American 
intrctductions  and  a  good  way  behind  as  regards 
British  novelties.  Mrs.  Stout's  knowledge  of 
the  extremely  popular  and  very  promising  Star 
class  is  anything  but  extensive.  Of  the  later 
introductions  to  this  class  she  seems  not  to  have 
heard. 

Of  the  raising  of  new  varieties  she  writes  clearly 
and   helpfully,   and   her   remarks   on   the   dangers 


•  "  The  .Amateurs'  Book  of  the  Dahlia,"  by  .Mrs.  Charles 
H.  Stout.     Lcndon  :  AVilliam  Ueinemann,  10s.  6d.  Det. 


of  over-propagation  are  well  judged  and  worthy 
of  study.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  so  able  a  writer 
should  cotifuse  varidx  with  species.  She  several 
times  uses  variety  improperly,  as,  for  instance, 
''  Three  of  the  eight  varieties  of  Dahlias  known  to 
grow  in  Mexico  .  .  ."  .\nother  rather  sur- 
prising statement  is  "  Gravel  contains  no  food 
element  nor  does  it  hold  moisture."  The  italics 
are  ours,  but  the  statement  is  assuredly 
inaccurate. 

Doubtless  owing  to  their  different  (and  differing) 
chmatic  conditions,  the  Dahlia  is  even  more 
highly  esteemed  in  the  United  States  than  with 
us.  Assuredly  it  is  to  an  EngUshman  somewhat 
surprising  to  see  it  described  as  "  the  most  beautiful 
of  all  flowers."  It  is  perhaps  a  little  unfair  to 
pick  out  the  startling  statements  from  a  book  of 
high  general  excellence.  The  book  as  a  whole 
was  perused  with  interest  from  cover  to  cover, 
and  can  be  heartily  recommended  to  all  who  wish 
to  improve  their  knowledge  of  an  increasingly 
popular  flower.  W. 


Swiss  Wild  Flowers. — M.  Henry  Correvon 
has  now  pubUshed  a  companion  volume  to  his 
"  Fleurs  des  Champs  et  des  Bois,"  which  he  calls 
"  Champs  et  Bois  Fleuris."  Those  who  are 
famiUar  with  M.  Correvon's  works  will  remember 
the  beautiful  coloured  plates  by  Mile.  S.  Rivier 
with  which  many  of  them  are  adorned.  The 
volume  under  notice*  has  seventy-five  such  plates, 
all  excellently  drawn  and  coloured,  many  of  them, 
of  course,  depicting  wildings  more  or  less  common 
in  our  own  fields  and  coppices.  With  the  seventy- 
five  entirely  different  plates  in  "  Fleurs  des 
Champs  "  these  make  an  invaluable  set  depicting 
more  than  200  species  of  lowland  wild  flowers. 

Turning  now  to  the  letterpress,  in  his  first 
chapter  the  author  shews  himself  as  at  once  an 
ardent  upholder  of  the  theory  that  real  happiness 
is  to  be  found  only  in  physical  endeavour.  He 
confesses  himself  an  uncompromising  opponent 
of  alcoholic  beverages  and  tobacco — even  of  the 
theatre !  His  prescription  for  the  salvation  of 
the  human  race  is  work  and  mountain  climbing  ! 
Whether  one  wholly  agrees  with  the  author's 
reasoning  or  not,  one  can  but  be  charmed  with 
the  vigour  and  charm  of  his  writing  and  his  evident 
sincerity  ;  indeed,  the  very  real  personal  charm 
of  the  author — "  the  father,"  as  he  truly  calls 
himself,  of  rock  gardeners — is  reflected  in  all  his 
writings. 

Of  the  body  of  the  book  with  its  admirable 
descriptions  of  the  many  species  indigenous  to 
Switzerland,  it  is  only  necessary  to  say  that  it 
is  as  lucid  and  as  helpful  as  "  Fleurs  des  Champs," 
and  gives  at  some  length  the  medicinal  properties 
and  economic  uses  of  the  plants  under  notice. 
M.  Correvon  has  many  English  friends,  but  his 
knowledge  of  our  manners  and  customs  is  eNidently 
as  yet  not  quite  complete,  otherwise  he  would  not 
write  that  we  make  mint  sauce  with  Peppermint 
or  take  it  with  roast  beef  !  English  cooking  is 
not  so  barbarous.  The  reWewer  was  not  aware 
that  in  this  country  the  Bog  Bean,  Menyanthes 
trifoUata,  is  sometimes  used  as  a  substitute  for 
Hops  in  beer,  but  it  may  be  that  it  is.  Tansy  is, 
of  course,  so  used,  and  M.  Correvon  draws  atten- 
tion to  this  also.  To  sum  up,  the  book  is  almost 
indispensable  to  those  deeply  interested  in  garden- 
ing, botany  or  simples,  but  it  is  so  charmingly 
written  and  so  free  from  tables,  footnotes  and  such- 
hke  ingredients  tending  to  "  dryness "  that  it 
makes  a  powerful  appeal  to  all  lovers  of  Nature 
however  elementarv  their  present  knowledge. 

R.  V.  G.  W. 

•  "<.hamps    et    Bois   Fleuris."   by    Henry    Correvon. 
Delaitiaux  et    N'iestle  8..^.,  Neuchatel  and  26,  Kue  St.. 
Bominique,  Paris,  30  francs. 


July  15,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


349 


WINDSOR     ROSE     SHOW 


A   T  the   head   of    the  Royal    hst   of   patrons 
/\       of  the  Windsor,  Eton  and  District  Rose 
/    %      and   Horticultural   Society — to   give   its 
f'^'^L    full  title — appears  "  His  Most  Gracious 
^  *  Majesty  the  King,"  and  one  soon  learns 

that  the  King  is  no  mere  titular  head  of  the  Society, 
for  he  grants  penmssiou  for  the  annual  show  to  be 
held  on  the  slopes  of  Windsor  Castle,  gives  a 
challenge  cup  for  Roses  that  is  coveted  by  the 
foremost  growers  in  the  kingdom  and  is  also  a 
generous  contributor  to  the  funds  of  the  Society. 
It  was  under  such  high  patronage  and  amid  such 
historic  and  beautiful  surroundings  that  the 
twenty-ninth  annual  show  was  held  on  July  i  last. 
Following  their  great  triumph  at  Regent's 
Park  on  the  previous  Thursday,  when  they  won 
the  championship  trophy  for  the  second  successive 
year,  Messrs.  .Alex.  Dickson  and  Sons  again  won 
the  King's  Cup  at  Windsor.  Their  forty-eight 
blooms  were  all  beautifully  fresh  and  of  splendid 
quality.  The  collection  included  such  sorts  as 
.Archie  Gray,  Gorgeous,  Edgar  M.  Burnett,  Captain 
Kilbee  Stuart,  Marcella,  Candeur  Lyonnaise  and 
Lady  Inchquin.  Messrs.  F.  Cant  and  Co.,  who 
were  a  good  second  in  this  well  contested  cham- 
pionship class,  included  characteristic  examples  of 
Gorgeous,  Snow  Queen,  Golden  Emblem,  St. 
Helena,  Mrs.  G.  Marriott  and  .Mrs.  J.  H.  Welch. 
Messrs.  B.   R.  Cant  and  Sons  were  third. 

As  at  Regent's  Park,  Messrs.  Alex.  Dickson 
and  Sons  also  won  the  first  prize  for  tables  of 
exhibition  Roses,  and  their  twelve  varieties  were 
of  even  better  quality  than  in  the  former  class. 
Messrs.  F.  Cant  and  Co.  were  second  and  Messrs. 
D.  Prior  and  Son  were  third. 

The  best  twelve  blooms  of  any  H.  P.  or  H.  T. 
Rose  proved  to  be  a  handsome  dozen  of  .Augustus 
Hartmann,  shewn  by  Messrs.  B.  R.  Cant  and  Sons, 
while  Lady  Ashtown  by  Messrs.  D.  Prior  and  Son 
were  a  close  second.  With  beautiful  specimens 
of  Mme.  Jules  Gravereaux  Messrs;  Prior  were  first 
in  the  similar  class  for  Teas,  and  they  also  won 
premier  honours  with  Snow  Queen  and  George 
Dickson  in  the  class  for  twelve  blooms  each  of 
any  white  and  crimson  Roses. 

Decorative  Roses  set  up  in  goodly  vases  are 
always  more  attractive  to  the  general  public  than 
the  show  blooms  on  boards,  and  at  Windsor  the 
collections  were  of  great  merit.  Mr.  George 
Lilley  had  the  best  in  the  open  section,  while 
Mrs.  F.  W.  Saunders  won  first  place  among  the 
amateurs,  and  each  arranged  particularly  beautiful 
vases.  Mrs.  Charlton,  using  the  bright  and  graceful 
Rose  Ethel  James,  with  great  taste,  won  the  dinner- 
table  prize. 

Dr.  T.  E.  Pallett  had  a  great  day  in  the  Open 
Amateurs'  Classes,  for  he  won  all  three  challenge 
cups  and  also  first  prize  for  twelve  Tea  and  Noisette 
varieties.  His  collections  included  in  George 
Dickson,  the  N.R.S.  silver-gilt  medal  bloom,  as 
being  the  best  in  the  whole  of  the  Show.  This 
variety  was  decidedly  the  Rose  of  the  Show,  for 
it  was  shown  in  great  excellence  in  a  number  of 
exhibits.  The  N.R.S.  bronze  medals  in  the  local 
classes  were  won  by  Mr.  G.  .A.  Govett,  with  excellent 
blooms  of  Maman  Cochet  (T.)  and  Candeur  Lyon- 
naise (H.  P.),  and  by  Mr.  W.  C.  Romaine  with 
George  Dickson  (H.  T.),  while  the  R.H.S.  Banksian 
medal  for  the  best  single  vase  of  decorative  Roses 
was  won  by  Mr.  H.  J.  Stokes,  with  a  beautiful  vase 
of  Irish  Elegance.  Mrs.  Henry  Balfour  was  a  good 
winner  of  the  first  prize  in  the  class  for  growers  of 
fewer  than  i,ooo  plants. 

The  Prince  of  Wales'  Cup,  offered  for  the  best 
eighteen  vases  of  Sweet  Peas,  has  hitherto  induced 
good  competition,  but  this  year  Sir  Randolph 
Baker  had  a  "  walk-over  "  with  a  splendid  collection 


and  he  also  was  similarly  awarded  the  first  prize 
in  the  class  for  twelve  vases  of  Sweet  Peas.  In  the 
local  amateurs'  classes,  Mrs.  V.  M.  Woolmer  won 
the  first  prize  with  a  praiseworthy  collection. 

Fruits  and  vegetables  were  rather  at  a  premium, 
though  there  were  several  meritorious  collections 
of  vegetables.  The  Sutton  Special  Prize  was  won 
by  Mr.  E.  Baldwin,  who  had  especially  good  Best 
of  .All  Tomatoes  and  Sutton's  Selected  Duke  of 
Albany  Peas.  Miss  Henderson  won  both  the  Carter 
Special  and  the  Society's  Prizes  with  good  col- 
lections. 

The  trade  supported  the  Show  in  a  splendid 
manner  and  their  excellent  exhibits  were  a  great 
feature.  Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons  made  a  very 
attractive  flower  garden  and  Lily  pool,  which  was 
greatly  admired.  Mr.  Chas.  Turner  brought  his 
customary  collection  of  valuable  hardy  shrubs, 
many  border  flowers  and  had  a  deUghtful  group 
of  Malmaison  Carnations.  Mr.  J.  C.  Allgrove  set 
out  many  trained  pot-grown  Gooseberries  and 
Currants  and  arranged  a  great  variety  of  border 
plants,  which  included  excellent  spikes  of  Eremuri. 

Roses  were  freely  shewn  in  these  honorary 
exhibits.  Mr.  E.  J.  Hicks  had  a  large  collection 
and  Messrs.  Waterer,  Son  and  Crisp  associated 
theirs  with  border  flowers.  Mr.  G.  Lilley  con- 
tributed Roses  ;  Messrs.  J.  Piper  and  Son  included 
many  varieties,  with  border  flowers,  and  Mr.  Bide 
set  up  an  attractive  collection  of  Sweet  Peas. 


Potatoes  and  Broad  Beans 
at  Reading 

A    T    the    request    of    the    Ministry   of   .Agri- 

i\  culture  Messrs.  Sutton  and  Sons  allowed 
/  %  the  expert  Potato  inspectors  of  the 
^~"%  Board  to  visit  their  Potato  trials  at 
*  *  Reading  on  Tuesday,  June  27.     Among 

those  present  were  Mr.  P.  G.  Dallinger  (Chief 
Inspector  of  the  Potato  Department  of  the 
Ministry),  Mr.  G.  C.  Goff  (District  Inspector) 
and  Mr.  G.  P.  Berry  (Technical  Horticultural 
Adviser).  This  illustrates  the  thoroughness  and 
extensiveness  of  Messrs.  Sutton's  trials  that  they 
warrant  the  presence  of  the  experts  on  the  look-out 
for  additional  knowledge. 

The  party  was  first  conducted  by  Mr.  Noel 
Sutton  through  the  spacious  ofiices  and  gigantic 
seed  stores.  Of  exceptional  interest  to  all  were 
the  seed-cleaning  machines,  which  were  very- 
numerous  and  of  various  designs.  After  viewing 
the  seed  stores  the  party  went  to  the  trial  grounds, 
and  were  met  here  by  Mr.  Martin  H.  F.  Sutton, 
who  after  lunch  conducted  them  through  the 
grounds.  What  interested  the  writer  perhaps 
the  most  was  the  vast  collection  of  wild  Potatoes 
which  came  from  such  places  as  Chile,  Peru. 
Mexico  and  Lruguay.  The  trials  of  commercial 
varieties  included  all  the  latest  and  most  impor- 
tant varieties  in  cultivation,  including  numerous 
seedlings,  many  of  which  are  already  under  trial 
at  Ormskirk. 

The  inspectors  were  greatly  impressed  by  the 
trials.  The  many  varieties  were  planted  early 
in  .April  and  others  a  month  later.  Those  planted 
in  May  were  infinitely  better  than  those  planted 
earher. 

Very  interesting,  too,  were  the  new  types  of 
Broad  Beans.  These  are  the  result  of  a  cross 
between  Sutton's  Exhibition  Longpod  (white- 
seeded)  and  Beck's  Green  Gem  (a  rather  dwarfer, 
small  podded,  green-seeded  variety). 

One  of  the  new  varieties  is  white-seeded, 
about   i8ins.  high,  of  vigorous  habit,  and  carries 


a  heavy  crop  of  pods.  It  is  dwarfer  than  either 
parent  and  much  branched. 

The  other  two  are  distinctly  dwarf,  reaching 
a  height  of  ift.  only,  very  much  branched  and 
somewhat  spreading.  The  crop  produced  is 
quite  an  extraordinary  one,  especially  when  the 
dwarf  habit  of  the  plants  is  taken  into  considera- 
tion. The  individual  pods  contain  four  and  five 
beans,  green  in  the  case  of  one  selection  and 
white  in  the  other.  The  seeds  are  of  the  longpod 
character,  intermediate  in  size  between  the  two 
parents. 

The  two  dwarf  strains  should  prove  of  great 
value  for  early  crops  in  frames  or  pits,  but  all  the 
three  types  are  also  eminently  suitable  for  culture 
in  the  open  ground  for  the  obvious  reason  that 
they  can  be  grown  closer  together  than  is  usual, 
while  naturally  they  do  not  rob  neighbouring 
crops  of  light  and  air  to  the  same  extent  as  ordinary 
tall  kinds. 

Messrs.  Suttons  hope  that  sufficient  seed  of  the 
semi-dwarf  and  white  seeded  dwarf  strains  may 
be  harvested  this  season  to  allow  of  their  being 
offered  in  next  year's  catalogue. 


Pretty  Native  Rock  Plants.— One  of  the  best 
of  our  native  plants  for  the  rock  garden  is  the 
Horse-shoe  Vetch  (Hippocrepis  coraosus),  a 
delightful  trailer  which  will  creep  over  the  face 
of  a  rock  or  slope  of  arid,  sun-beaten  soil  and 
cover  either  with  a  veil  of  olive  green.  In  June 
the  flower-stems  rise  an  inch  or  so  above  this, 
each  bearing  a  Coronilla-like  head  of  little  yellow 
flowers,  which  on  passing  over  gives  way  to  the 
seed  vessel  which  is  supposed  to  resemble  a  horse- 
shoe. H.  comosus  is  found  naturally  on  the 
limestone,  but  it  will  do  in  ordinary  loam.  It  is 
in  every  respect  a  charming,  orderly  and  easily 
satisfied  plant,  coming  readily  from  seed,  and  the 
best  place  in  any  rock  garden  is  not  too  good  for 
it.  There  is  an  alpine  form  (H.  glauca)  with 
grey-green  leaves  which  is  also  first-rate. 

Diplacus  glutinosus  in  the  Open. — For  many 

years  this  splendid  plant  with  its  aromatic  foliage, 
elegant  habit  and  long  succession  of  golden  buff 
or  deep  maroon  flowers  has  been  successfully 
grown  in  the  open  in  a  north-west  country  garden 
where  15°  to  20°  of  frost  is  by  no  means  uncommon 
in  winter.  The  soil  is  light,  stony  and  well  drained, 
and  in  such  a  medium  D.  glutinosus  will  live  for 
years  without  any  attention  beyond  cutting  back 
to  the  ground  level  (like  a  Fuschia)  each  spring. 
The  shrub  makes  a  wonderfully  fast  growth  after 
this  treatment  and  flowering  commences  about 
midsummer  and  continues  to  the  first  frost  of 
autmnn.  Only  in  very  severe  weather  is  a  little 
dry  Bracken  laid  over  the  crowns.  D.  glutinosus 
seems  to  prefer  a  westerly  aspect  and,  though  a 
sun-lover,  it  will  do  very  well  in  partial  shade. 
Fresh  plants  are  easily  raised  from  cuttings  struck 
in  July,  and  if  these  are  wintered  in  a  cold  frame 
and  put  out  in  May,  many  of  them  will  flower 
in  their  first  season. 

Francoas  as  Border  Plants. — Though  usually 
seen  indoors,  Francoa  ramosa  and  other  species 
make  first-rate  border  plants,  the  tall,  branching 
stems  (2ft.)  being  rigid  enough  to  hold  erect  the 
handsome  head  of  white  or  pink  Saxifrage-hke 
flowers.  Being  Chilean  plants,  these  are  not 
necessarily  as  tender  as  many  suppose.  In  fact, 
they  may  be  grown  in  the  open  border  and  left 
without  protection  throughout  the  winter  in  all 
but  our  very  bleakest  counties.  None  of  the 
Francoas  appears  to  be  particular  as  to  soil  or 
situation,  but  while  they  prefer  a  well  drained 
root-run  in  full  sun  they  have  done  successfully 
in  quite  heavy  land  in  partial  shade.  The  long- 
stemmed  sprays  are  excellent  for  cutting,  and 
the  plants  bloom  from  July  on  to  autumn,  when 
many  flowers  have  gone  over. 


350 

Wright  Memorial  Fund.— The  Secretary  of  the 
R.H.S.  asks  us,  as  there  is  some  doubt  as  to  the 
purpose  of  the  Wright  Memorial  Fund,  to  state 
that  its  object  is  to  purchase  an  annuity  for  Mrs. 
Wright.  It  is  hoped  that  a  considerable  sum  will 
be  raised  in  order  that  this  may  be  possible. 

Kew  Gardens.— We  understand  that  the  five 
"  foremen  "  at  the  Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kew, 
Messrs.  Coutts,  Osborn,  Irving,  RaffiU  and  Taylor, 
have  been  appointed  assistant  curators.  The  title 
"  foreman  "  certainly  was  open  to  improvement, 
as,  to  the  uninitiated,  it  conveyed  a  totally  wrong 
impression  of  the  responsibihty  of  the  position. 

Classification  and  Synonymy  ol  Crocuses.— 
The  Royal  Horticultural  Society  is  desirous  of 
planting  all  available  species  and  varieties  of 
Crocus  for  purposes  of  comparison,  and  the 
Director,  R.H.S.  Gardens,  Wisley,  Ripley,  Surrey, 
will  be  glad  to  receive  examples  for  the  purpose 
so  far  as  possible  by  July  31,  1922. 

A  Trial  of  Lettuces.— The  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  will  carry  out  a  trial  of  autumn-sown 
Lettuces  in  their  Gardens  at  Wisley  this  season. 
A  packet  of  seed  of  each  variety  to  be  tried  should 
be  sent  to  reach  The  Director,  R.H.S.  Gardens, 
Wisley,  Ripley,  Surrey  (from  whom  the  necessary 
entry  forms  may  be  obtained)  on  or  before  July  31, 
1922.  Only  varieties  suited  for  autumn  sowing 
should  be  sent. 

An  Excellent  Spraying  Syringe.— The  Editor 
has  recently  had  under  trial  one  of  the  .\bol 
Company's  spraying  syringes,  special  features  of 
which  are  the  anti-drip  collar— a  great  boon  to 
the  amateur— and  the  fine,  medium  and  coarse 
nozzles  which  enable  the  fineness  of  the  spray  to 
be  regulated  for  various  purposes.  To  clear  the 
nozzle  should  dirt  enter  the  syringe  is  the  work 
of  a  moment,  and  the  spray  is  very  evenly  dis- 
tributed. For  damping  flowers  to  keep  them 
fresh  during  transit  or  otherwise  the  fine  jet  is 
splendid.  These  syringes,  which  are  recom- 
mended to  members  by  the  National  Rose  Society, 
are  made  in  several  sizes  with  or  without  the  useful 
angle  joint.  Those  in  search  of  a  first-rate  syringe 
will  find  it  in  the  Abol. 

Netting    Supports    !or    Wall    Fruit.— Many 

visitors  to  the  Summer  Rose  Show  were  attracted 
to     the    new     "  Everyman's "     netting    supports 
exhibited   for   the   first   time   by   the   House   and 
Garden   Sundries   Company.     These   consist   of   a 
strong  wire  bracket  to  support  canes  in  a  manner 
similar  to   their  well  known   netting  supports   for 
seed   and  Strawberry-beds,  etc.     The  upper  arm. 
which  rests  on  the  top  of  the  wall,  is  provided 
with  two  loops  through  which  any  ordinary  iron 
nail  of  sufficient  length  may  be  driven.     A  smaller 
loop  at  the  lower  arm  gives  the  necessary  support. 
These  nails  are  driven  into   the  mortar  between 
the  joints  or  suitable  nails  can  be  driven  into  the 
brick  itself,  the  netting  being  fastened  along  the 
top  of  the  wall  by  a  series  of  hooks  (the  "  Every- 
man "    patent   wall   chps    are    admirable    for    the 
purpose),  is  brought  forward  over  the  canes  and 
hangs  down,   thus  projecting  about  a  foot   from 
the  wall,  so  holding  the  netting  clear  of  the  fruit 
trees  and  giving  space  for  foliage  and  <ruit      The 
lower  end  of   the  netting  can   very   quickly   and 
conveniently  be  secured  to  the  ground  by  means 
of  the  special  netting  pins  also  supphed  by  the 
firm.     When    not   required    for    use    netting    and 
canes   can   be   very   easily   and   rapidly   detached 
from  the  supports,  and  when  stowed  away  occupy 
very   little   space.     The   brackets    themselves   are 
galvanised     after     manufacture,     which     protects 
them    from   rust.     The    netting   pins   referred    to 
are  also  galvanised  after  manufacture,  and  are  well 
adapted    to    their    purpose.     Made    to    the    same 
pattern  but  a  size  smaller  are  excellent  layering 
pins,    equally    useful    for    Carnations,    Pinks    or 
Strawberries.    They  are  so  shaped  that  the  top 


THE     GARDEN. 

of  the  pin  remains  in  sight  when  the  layering  is 
completed  and  so  may  easily  be  released  at  the 
proper  season. 


[July  15,  1922. 

a  plant  for  a  vltv  suuny  position  and  Khododendron-* 
especially  object  hi  it.  It  is  surprisingly  difficult  to 
wet  soil  when  once  it  lias  become  dr>-  as  we  fear  our 
correspondent's  Rhododendron  soil  has. 


FORTHCOMING     EVENTS. 

July  18. — Durham,  Northumberland  and  New- 
castle-on-Tyne  Horticultural  Society's  Annual 
Show  (3  days). 

Julv  20.— Walsall  Horticultural  Society's  Show 
(3  days). 

July  21. — Birmingham  Horticultural  Society's 
Show  {2  days). 

July  22. — Caterham  Horticultural  Society's 
Show. 


TO 


ANSWERS 
CORRESPONDENTS 


PLOWER     GARDEN. 


ANTIRRHINUMS  DYING  (K.  L.,  Sussex).— The  Antirr- 
hinums are  attnoked  by  the  fungus  Phyllostieta  antirrhini. 
They  should  be  destroyed  as  they  are  not  likely  to  outgrow 
the  trouble  and  if  left  they  may  be  a  menace  to  tlie  same 
type  of  plant  next  year.  Antirrhinums  do  not  require 
•'  stopping  "  if  they  are  not  allowed  to  become  lanky  in 
the  seedling  boxes. 

IRISES  ATTACKED  (A.  E.  I...  Inverary).— We  expect 
that  our  correspondent's  Irises  are  attacked  by  tlie  Iris 
rhizome  rot  and  recommend  liiin  to  remove  the  diseased 
parts  and  give  the  soil  a  dressing  of  superphosphate  of 
lime  at  the  rate  of  2ozs.  to  the  square  yard. 

LUPINS;(  "Plauve  Poppy  "  ).— The  little  swellings  on  the 
roots  of  the  Lupins  are  not  the  sign  of  a  disease,  but  of 
he  presence  of  beneficient  bacteria  that  take  nitrogen 
from  tlie  air  and  pass  it  on  for  the  use  of  the  plant.  They 
enrich  the  soil  by  this  work  for  plants  that  follow  after 
and  are  encouraged,  therefore,  by  farmers  and  others  by 
growing  plants  belonging  to  the  family  Legiunluosje. 

THE  FLOWERING  OF  RANUNCULDS  ALPESTRIS 
(D.  C.  M.). — This  white  flowered  Buttercup  prefers  chalky 
soils  and  grows  on  mountains  between  3,600ft.  and  5,400ft., 
occasionally  going  a  little  higher.  It  flourishes  in  fallen 
debris,  in  moist  chinks  of  the  rocks,  and  among  the  cool 
orass,  and  blooms  from  June  to  August  in  its  native 
habitats.  The  difficulty  in  growing  it  in  the  more  southern 
and  warmer  parts  of  tliis  country  is  due  to  the  warmth  and 
dryness  of  the  atmosphere  during  its  period  of  flowering, 
as  well  as  before  and  after  that.  To  oycrcome  this  difficulty 
it  should  be  planted  in  a  cool  situation,  facing  east  or 
north  or  simply  shaded  from  the  south  by  a  tree,  wall  or 
other  object.  Water  should  be  given  to  keep  it  regularly 
moist  all  through  the  growing  season.  The  soil  may  be 
deficient  in  lime,  and  chalk  or  old  mortar  would  meet 
this.  It  is  possible  to  resuscitate  old  plants  by  giving  them 
cool  and  moist  treatment,  with  some  lime  in  the  soil. 

IRIS  QUESTION  (Felsttd).— There  are  no  English 
Irises  "  identical,  as  far  as  colouring  goes,  with  the  Spanish 
Irises  Cajanus  and  L'Uniquc,"  nor  are  we  acquainted 
with  any  Dutch  varieties  that  would  meet  the  case. 
Yellow  colour  (as  in  Cajanus)  does  not  occur  in  English 
Irises,  and  the  particular  blue  and  wnite  of  L'Uniquc 
is  very  difficult  to  match  exactly.  The  nearest  Enghsh 
Iris  so  far  as  we  know,  is  either  Matador  or  Prince  of 
Wales,  but  the  shade  of  colour  rather  lies  between  the 
two.  The  nearest  to  the  rich  golden  colour  of  Cajanus 
in  the  Dutch  Irises  are  probably  Golden  Glory  or  Van 
der  Heest,  though  the  precise  shade  is  perhaps  more 
nearly  matched  in  Iris  Monnieri,  which,  however,  is  not 
a  bulbous  Iris  and,  unless  it  can  be  given  a  very  sunny 
position,  does  not  always  flower  regularly,  but  it  is  a 
glorious  species,  and  well  worthy  of  additional  trouble 
and  care. 

RABBITS  AND  IRISES  (H.  W.,  Wirksworth).- Rabbits 
destroy  a  great  variety  of  plants  and  in  warrens,  where 
there  is  little  crass,  they  will  eat  Gorse  and  Broom  to  the 
"round  line.  In  one  case  where  they  got  into  a  flower 
garden  thev  gnawed  and  damaged  the  Zonal  Pelargoniums 
in  the  beds'.  Where  grass  is  plentiful  we  have  not  observed 
much  harm  to  things  in  general.  They  are  fond  of  Car- 
nations, Pinks  and  Ijiburnums,  and  otII  single  out  these 
in  preference  to  most  other  plants.  We  have  seen  about 
an  acre  of  Irises  near  a  large  pond  and  at  a  considerable 
distance  from  houses,  yet  failed  to  see  any  damage  b> 
rabbits  and  heard  no  complaints.  Judging  by  this  the 
rabbits  are  not  so  fond  of  Irises  as  to  single  them  out  for 
special  attention,  and  if  grass  is  plentiful  we  think  that 
damage  to  Irises  would  be  negligible. 

ROSE     GARDEN. 

ROSE  COMPARISONS  (Kelsted).— The  two  Roses— 
W.  C.  Clark  and  Chateau  de  Clos  Vougcot — altlwugh 
both  dark  crimson  in  colour,  are  quite  distinct.  W.  C. 
Clark  is  much  more  shaded  with  maroon,  is  a  better- 
shaped  flower,  is  more  fragrant,  and  is  decidedly  a  stronger 
grower,  so  tliat,  unless  there  is  some  special  reason  to  the 
contrary,  it  is  to  be  preferred  to  Chateau  de  Clos  \ougeot. 
W.  C.  Clark  also  surpasses  in  all  respects  Capitaine  Georges 
Dessirrier  which  was  considered  by  the  raiser  to  be  an 
improved  Chateau  de  Clos  Vougeot. 

TREES     AND     SHRUBS. 

AUCUBAS  AND  RHODODENDRONS  UNSATISFAC- 
TORY (A.  B..  Woking).— The  Aucubas  and  Rhododen- 
drons are   both  suffering  from  the  drought.    Neither  is 


FRUIT     G.\RDEN. 

RASPBERRIES  NOT  FRUITING  (' Raspberry  "I.- 
We  can  find  no  fungus  or  insect  to  account  for  the  failure 
of  the  Raspberries.  They  may  have  been  attacked  by 
a  little  rusty  brown  beetle  which  often  eats  the  stamens 
and  tends  to  prevent  fruiting. 

STRAWBERRY  PLANTS  UNSATISFACTORY  (H.  F. 
M.j.^We  have  carefully  examined  the  Strawberries  sent 
for  examination  and  find  neither  fungus  nor  insect  present 
in  them  to  account  for  the  failure  of  the  plants.  The 
roots,  however,  are  not  healthy,  and  we  wonder  whether 
the  soil  is  kept  well  hoed  and  free  from  stagnant  moisture. 
Deep  digging  alter  the  plants  are  in  is,  of  couree.  dangerous 
and  so  also  is  too  hot  an  exposure  of  the  soil.  It  would  be 
worth  while  to  attend  carefully  to  such  points  as  these 
and  to  make  a  bed  on  another  spot. 

CHERRY  TREE  UNSATISFACTORY  (Hampton  Court). 

It  is  very  likelv  that  the  blossoms  were  frozen.    This 

does  occur  in  some  seasons  and,  curiously  enough,  portions 
of  the  trees  are  affected  while  others  are  not.  Afford  some 
protection  to  the  blossoms  another  year.  As  the  tree  is 
very  h»althy,  beyond  the  necessary  pruning  and  a  surface 
mulch  of  liine  and  loam— 2  pecks  of  lime  and  5  pecks  of 
loam — next  winter,  there  is  nothing  to  improve  the  tree 
and  its  fruitfulness. 

LIFTING  AND  PLANTING  APPLE  AND  PLUM  TREES 
(H.  D.  M.  T.). — It  would  not  answer  at  all  to  lift  the  trees 
in  October  and  endeavour  to  keep  them  with  their  roots 
wrapped  in  straw  sacking  and  earth.  They  would  live, 
certainly,  if  lifted  and  well  heeled-in.  then  replanted  next 
April ;  "but  the  check  would  be  very  severe.  We  advise 
our  correspondent  to  do  one  of  two  things,  namely : 
sell  the  trees  to  someone  who  would  he  able  to  re-plant 
them  at  once  and  permanently  next  October,  and  buy 
young  trees  to  plant  in  November,  1923.  Or  arrange  with 
someone  to  replant  the  trees,  forthwith,  in  their  ganlen  in 
October  and  leave  them  there  til!  the  month  of  November, 
1923,  then  planting  in  your  new  quarters. 

HOW  TO  MAKE  STRAWBERRY  NETTING  WATER- 
PROOF (A  B.  P.). — The  following  process  will  make  the 
string  netting  waterproof  for  at  least  two  yeare.  Five  pints 
of  linseed  oil,  2ozs.  of  sugar  of  lead,  6ozs.  of  white  resm. 
Simmer  or  boil  gently  the  above  ingredients  in  an  iron 
pot  over  a  slow  flre  for  twenty  minutes  or  half  an  hour. 
Apply  in  one  of  two  ways,  namely,  by  painter's  brush 
while  the  liquid  is  hot,  iMving  first  stretched  the  nets  out 
fairly  tightly  to  posts  or  outbuildings,  or  dip  the  nets 
in  the  hot  liquid  and  then  stretch  them  out  to  dry.  Mix 
the  inTcdients  thoroughly  in  the  pot  before  placing  the 
latter  on  the  fire  and  stir  slowly  while  the  boiling  is  going 
on  Dip  or  paint  the  nets  twice,  but  in  the  case  of  dipping 
be  sure  to  lift  out  the  net  before  the  liquid  cools  too 
much. 

PEAR  TREE  UNSATISFACTORY  (P.  B.  H.,  Bourne- 
mouth) —The  variety,  Gansells  Bergamotte,  is  a  shy  one  iB 
the  matter  of  bearing  and  answers  best  when  double-grafted. 
It  is  alsoassistedif  very  free-setting  sortsare  growing  near- 
A  cordon  or  two,  ol  the  variety  Durondcau,  planted  con- 
veniently near  would  help  matters  and  the  latter  sort 
would  rarely  fail  to  bear  some  very  handsome  fruits.  As 
the  variety  is  making  new  wood  freely  it  would  be  bene- 
ficial if  our  correspondent  root-pruned  the  tree  next 
November  or  during  December.  Take  out  a  trench 
18ins  wide,  4Jft.  from  the  stem  and  about  2ft.  deep.  Cut 
off  all  flbrelcss  roots  crossing  the  trench,  fill  up  with  good 
loam  and  make  it  firm.  Summer  prune  the  tree  now  and 
winter  prune  in  due  course. 


KITCHEN    GARDEN. 

ASPARAGUS  BEDS  (Bromley). — Do  not  use  salt  on 
the  Asparagus  beds  till  growth  begins  next  spring,  it 
would  not  benefit  them.  Keep  the  beds  quite  c  can  and 
water  freely  with  such  diluted  liquid  manure  as  that  from 
a  farmyard.  Do  not  continue  to  cut  Asparagus  after  the 
first  week  in  July,  at  the  latest. 

CLUBROOT  IN  CABBAGES  (A.  B..  Woking).— Cabbages 
become  clubbed  because  of  the  attack  upon  them  of  a 
slime  fungus  (Plasmodiophora  brassicaj).  The  only  remeay 
is  a  dressing  of  quick  lime,  and  this  should  be  applied  m 
autumn  in  a  powdered  state  and  dug  in  immediately, 
bnt  not  buried  deeply.  The  presence  of  club  root  is  a  sign 
of  soil  sourness. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

IMPROVING^TENNIS  LAWN  (Bromley).— Undoubtedly 
our  eorre>p..u.lr„f.  lawn  is  poor  and  the  grass  needs 
stimulatiii"  liuniiK  the  summer  months  get  nd  ol  the 
coarse  weeds  by  dropping  oil  of  vitriol  in  the  centre  of.each 
weed  such  as  'the  Plantains  ;  use  gloves  and  a  pointed 
and  slightly  notched  stick  when  appljnng  •>?,%;;';'„"?'; 
dip  the  point  in  the  vitriol  then  gently  force  it  into  the 
heart  of  the  plant,  which  will  soon  die.  Keep  the  oil  of 
vitriol  locked  away  in  a  safe  place,  also  tfie  mplement 
with  which  it  is  applied.  Early  in  September  have  ready 
some  sifted  rich  soil,  mix  it  with  ground  lime  one  barrow- 
load  to  four  of  the  soil ;  apply  as  a  liberal  surface  dressing, 
rfortnight  afterwards  sow  seeds  of  Hard  Fescue  Grass 
and  roll  the  lawn.  Next  March  repeat  application  and 
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NAMES  OF  PLANTS.— J.  C,  Shrewsbury.- 1,  Broditea 
lax";  2  Senecio  Smithii ;  3,  Rhus  Cotinus,  Smoke 
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CATALOGUE    RECEIVED. 

Elisha  J.  Hicks,  Hurst,  Berks.— Roses. 


THE 


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>l.  LXXXVI.— No.  2644. 

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[July   22,  1022. 


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^--'*^-^-i^ 
^s^^ 


No.  2644.— Vol.  LXXXVL] 


[July  22,  1922. 


DECORATIVE    RAMBLING    ROSES    FOR    HOUSE 

AND    GARDEN 


THERE  are  probably  no  Roses  which 
make  so  brilliant  a  display  in  the  garden 
as  do  the  hybrid  Wichuraianas  and  the 
climbing  Multifloras.  From  the  point 
of  view  of  this  article,  namely,  their 
decorative  value,  I  need  not  rigorously  discrim- 
inate between  the  two  classes. 

Turner's  Crimson  Rambler,  introduced  in  1893, 
was,  so  far  as  I  know,  the  first  of  the  Climbing 
Polyanthas  grown  in  England.  It  quickly  found 
its  way  into  almost  every  garden.  It  is  a  Rose 
to  which  "  distance  lends  enchantment."  Seen 
near  at  hand  the  bunches  of  blossom  are  too 
heavy  and  crowded,  and  the  colour  is  a  little 
crude.  In  the  distance,  especially  with  the  sun 
shining  upon  them,  they  make  a  fine  splash  of 
decided  colour.  As  cut  flower  I  cannot  recom- 
mend them. 

In  1897-98  Mr.  N.  J.  Manda  of  New  Jersey 
brought  out  the  two  fine  hybrid  Wichuraianas 
and  called  them  Manda's  Triumph  and  Pink 
Roamer.  Though 
poor  things  in  them- 
selves, they  were  the 
pioneers  of  a  great 
race,  and  were 
followed  in  1S99  by 
the  beautiful  yellow 
varieti  es  Alberic 
Barbier  and  Gardenia, 
still  two  of  the  best 
yellows.  In  the  same 
year  Manda  introduced 
the  single  creamy 
yellow  Jersey  Beauty 
with  evergreen  foliage. 
In  1901  Messrs. 
Perkins  and  Jackson 
may  be  said  to  have 
revolutionised  the 
appearance  ot  our 
Rose  gardens  by  bring- 
ing out  the  much 
loved,  and  of  late 
much  abused,  Dorothy 
Perkins.  No  doubt 
her  arrival,  quickly 
followed,  as  it  was,  by 
other  brilliantly 
coloured  varieties, 
marks  a  distinct 
advance  in  the  decora- 
ti\"e  value  of  the  Rose 
as  a  garden  plant. 


For  screens,  tall  hedges  or  pergolas  the  Wichurai- 
anas are  the  most  effective  of  all  climbers,  and 
they  have  what  for  these  purposes  is  very  desir- 
able, an  exceedingly  rapid  growth.  They  are 
also  excellent  for  tall  pillars.  When  grown  as 
pillars  all  the  old  wood  should  be  cut  away  as 
soon  as  they  have  finished  flowering  and  the  young 
growths  should  be  carefully  tied  up  to  the  pillar. 
This  allows  the  sun  free  access  to  the  plants  and 
helps  to  ripen  the  new  wood,  from  which  very 
fine  blossoms  should  be  obtained  the  following 
year.  If  the  plants  are  to  cover  large  buildings 
or  to  make  a  big  hedge  or  screen,  some  of  the 
old  wood  with  the  best  of  the  new  growths  or 
"  continuing  laterals  "  may  be  left  in  the  autumn, 
only  the  dead  and  weak  wood  being  taken  right 
out.  In  the  following  spring  these  laterals  rnay 
be  cut  back  to  a  few  buds  or  "  eyes,"  when  they 
also  should  produce  quite  fine  clusters  of  bloom. 
There  are  now  such  a  large  number  of  varieties, 
all  in   their  way  decorative,   that  it  is  impossible 


ROSE    ALBERIC    BARBIER    AND    FOXGLOVES. 


to  make  a  complete  list,  but  I  will  mention  a  few 
in  their  different  colours  which  we  have  found 
the  most  eflfective. 

White. — Sander's  White  (late)  and  Griiss  an 
Zabem  (early).  These  have  clusters  of  small 
flowers.  The  most  beautiful  of  the  white  varieties 
with  large  fragrant  flowers  and  very  strong  thorny 
growth  is  Purity.  It  is  delightful  cut  in  long 
sprays  and  loosely  arranged  in  tall  glass  vases. 

Yellow. — Gardenia,  Alberic  Barbier,  Shower 
of  Gold  and  Emily  Gray.  Of  these  Alberic  Barbier 
is  one  of  the  most  delightful  when  cut,  as  the 
yellow  buds  open  to  rather  large,  creamy  flowers 
which  last  a  long  time  in  water  and  are  very 
fragrant.  Emily  Gray  has  flowers  consider- 
ably larger  than  those  of  most  of  the  "  Wichs." 
and  \'ery  handsome  foliage,  but  it  does  not  make 
big  clusters.  It  is  the  deepest  of  the  yellows. 
Jersey  Beauty  has  single  flowers  and  ver>;  large 
evergreen  foliage. 

Pink. — There  are  a'ferge  number  of  excellent 
•  .  "      .  pink  varieties,  some  of 

which  are  sports  of 
Dorothy  Perkins. 
Chatillon  Rambler, 
deep  pink  ;  Minnehaha, 
deep  pink  ;  Lady  Gay, 
deep  pink;  Lady 
Godiva  and  Dorothy 
Dennison,  pale  creamy 
pink.  The  two  last 
named  are  often  con- 
sidered identical,  but 
in  this  garden  we  have 
found  Dorothy  Denni- 
son the  better  of  the 
two  on  account  of  its 
greater  immunity 
from  mildew.  Cut  in  a 
young  state  the  flowers 
last  quite  a  week. 

Rose  Pink. — Ameri- 
can Pillar  is  one  of 
the  most  effective  of 
ail  the  Ramblers,  with 
huge  clusters  of  single 
flowers.  Ethel  has 
erect  trusses  of  pretty, 
almost  single,  flesh  pink 
blossoms  ;  while  Chris- 
tine Wright  has  large 
bright  pink  flowers. 

Salmon  Roski  and 
Copper. — Among  these 


35^ 


THE     GARDEN. 


[July  22,  1922. 


.:«.#* . 


'ilMMi^^ 


ROSE    TEA    RAMBLER. 


shades  of  colour  Frani;ois  Juranville  (very  sweetly  scented),  Leontine- 
Gervais  (with  exquisite  orange-tinted  buds),  Tea  Rambler  and  Rene 
Andre  are  perhaps  the  best. 

Evangeline,  single  flowered,  pink,  with  a  white  centre  not  unhke 
our  English  Briar  Rose,  is  worth  growing  for  the  sake  of  its  delicious- 
fragrance,  which  on  a  warm  July  evening  tills  the  garden  with  its 
sweetness. 

Joseph  Lamy,  white,  edged  with  soft  blush  pink,  is  less  well 
known  than  it  deserves  to  be.  It  is  not  so  rampant  as  most  of 
the  "  Wichs."  For  some  positions  this  may  be  an  advantage,  and 
its  delicately  tinted  flowers  have  a  refinement  lacking  in  some  of  the 
more  flaunting  varieties. 

Crimson. — Coronation  is  the  brightest  crimson  we  have  with  the 
exception  of  Paul's  Scarlet  Climber  mentioned  in  my  last  article  (July  8 
issue).  This  is  undoubtedly  the  finest  crimson  pillar  Rose  yet  brought 
out,  and  the  blossoms  last  in  good  condition  longer  than  those  of  any 
other  variety.  They  come  on  smooth  almost  thomless  stems,  there- 
fore in  many  ways  it  is  an  ideal  Rose  for  cutting.  It  is,  however,  quite- 
scentless.  Hiawatha  (crimson  with  white  eye,  single  flowered)  and 
Excelsa  (with  huge  bunches  of  crimson  flowers)  are  two  of  the  best 
in  this  colour.  In  driving  about  the  country  during  July  and 
August  one  cannot  help  noticing  the  popularity  of  these  two  varieties,, 
almost  equalling  that  of  Dorothy  Perkins.  They  seem  to  be  taking, 
the  place  of  the  older  Crimson  Rambler.  They  are  brighter  in  colour 
and  are  less  given  to  mildew.  Diabolo  is  a  nearly  single  "  Wich." 
of  a  very  rich  crimson  shade  with  bright  golden  anthers. 

A  Wichuraiana  of  a  different  character  from  most  of  the  above  is 
Gerbe  Rose.  It  is  not  specially  rampant,  but  it  has  beautiful  light 
green  foliage  and  smooth  stems.  The  pale  pink,  very  fragrant 
blossoms  are  arranged  along  the  stems  in  the  fashion  of  a  wreath, 
hence  the  name.  The  flowers  are  produced  in  the  autumn  as  welt 
as  the  summer. 

From  the  point  of  view  of  the  decoration  of  the  house  many  of  the 
climbing  Roses  are  exceedingly  useful,  although  to  me  they  have  not 
quite  the  charm  for  this  purpose  that  the  more  beautifully  formed 
Teas  and  Hybrid  Teas  possess.  They  are,  nevertheless,  extremely 
effective  when  they  are  arranged  in  tall  vases,  and  even  the  tender- 
hearted can  cut  them  with  long  sprays  without  compunction. 
Many  of  them  as  we  have  seen  are  fragrant,  and  nearly  all  have 
the  great  advantage  of  lasting  well  when  cut.  Leontine  Gervais  with 
its  pretty  orange  buds  and  bright  shining  foliage  makes  a  delightful 
table  decoration,  and  for  this  purpose  the  single  Jersey  Beauty  and 
the  creamy  pink  Dorothy  Dennison  are  also  very  well  suited  :  in 
fact,  in  skilful  hands  and  used  with  moderation  these  Rambling  Roses 
may  add  much  to  the  attraction  of  our  houses,  as  they  undoubtedly 
do  to  our  gardens.  White  L.idy. 


ROSE    GARDENIA    AS    A    WEf.PING    STANDARD. 


POSITIONS  FOR  WICHURAIANA  ROSES 

The  hybrid  Wichuraianas  are  probably  the  easiest  to  grow  of  all  hybrid 
garden  Roses.  They  flourish  on  light,  not  over-rich  soil,  which,  without 
considerable  alteration  and  improvement,  would  be  quite  unsuitable 
for  the  beautiful  Hybrid  Teas  and  even  more  impossible  for  the  Hybrid 
Perpctuals.  Easily  increased  from  cuttings  and  for  the  most  part 
vigorous  in  growth,  whether  on  their  own  roots  or  budded  on  the  Briar, 
their  ease  of  culture  often  leads  to  their  being  planted  in  quite  unsuit- 
able situations. 

It  borders  on  the  banal  to  point  out  that  some  varieties  shew  more 
of  Wichuraiana  blood  than  others,  but  it  is  this  fact,  obvious  though 
it  be,  which  leads  to  mistakes  at  planting  time.  Rosa  Wichuraiana 
itself  has  exceedingly  glossy  foliage.  It  is  followed  in  this  respect 
by  most  of  its  descendants  with  yellow  or  creamy  flowers,  such  as  .\lberic 
Barbier,  Klondyke,  Jersey  Beauty  or  Gardenia.  On  the  other  hand, 
varieties  with  pink  or  crimson  blossoms  in  clusters,  such  as  the  Dorothy 
Perkins  group.  Troubadour,  Hiawatha,  etc.,  have  foliage  noticeably 
less  glossy  and,  incidentally,  less  beautiful. 

It  is  quite  safe  to  use  Roses  belonging  to  the  former  class  to  drape 
a  hot  bank  with  a  southern  exposure.  They  may  either  be  planted 
at  the  top  and  allowed  to  trail  down  or  planted  at  the  bottom  and  trained 
up.  In  either  case  they  are  unlikely  to  be  troubled  with  red  spider 
or  badly  attacked  by  aphis.  Dorothy  Perkins,  however,  despite  its 
robust  constitution,  will  not  flourish  under  such  conditions.  It  may 
grow,  for  it  has  immense  vitality,  but  it  will  almost  certainly  become 
infested  with  red  spider.  If  a  pink  Rose  is  wanted  for  such  a  position, 
it  will  be  wise  to  fall  back  upon  the  more  truly  beautiful  if  less  spectacular 
Rene  Andre,  which  has  a  dark  glossy  foliage  so  characteristic  as  to 
identify  the  variety  even  when  out  of  flower. 

It  must  always  be  remembered  that  Rosa  Wichuraiana  is  a 
trailing  species  and  that  most  of  the  hybrids  are  happiest  when 
allowed  to  trail. 


July  zi,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


353 


BORDER    CARNATIONS    AND    THEIR 
PROPAGATION 

Their  merits  and  increasing  popularity,  with  some  recommendable  varieties. 


SMALL  wonder, ^ when  we  consider  their 
many  charms,  that  Carnations,  "  the 
fairest  flowers  o'  the  season,"  as  Perdita 
so  rightly  described  them,  have  long  had  a 
warm  place  in  the  hearts  of  the  English 
people.  Xot  only  have  they  been  beloved  alike 
by  peer  and  peasant,  but  kings  have  paid  homage 
to  their  beauty  and  deUcious  fragrance.  A  portrait 
■of  King  Edward  W,  painted  in  1463,  shews  him 
holding  a  red  Carnation, 
.and  this  royal  predilection 
is  shared  by  our  own  King 
■George,  who  at  the  Chel- 
-sea  Show  of  iy2i,  when 
n  e  a  r  i  n  g  Mr.  Douglas's 
<;oUection  of  most  magni- 
ficent (flowers,  remarked, 
with  great  enthusiasm,  to 
Her  Majesty  and  to  Lord 
Lambourne,  on  his  great 
dove  of  Carnations. 

Such  perfect  blooms  as 
those  shown  by  Mr. 
Douglas  are  not  possible 
•with  all  of  us,  and  the 
blooms  in  question  must 
fcave  been  pot  grown,  but 
in  the  generality  of  gardens 
it  is  not  at  all  difficult  to 
^ow  Carnations  really 
•well.  They  also  have  the 
■merit  of  being  good  town 
plants.  But,  as  with  so 
many  other  plants,  success 
is  only  attained  by  care 
■and  timely  attention  to 
■cultural  details.  N'ow, 
■while  the  plants  are  in  full 
bloom,  it  should  be  decided 
■what  sorts  are  to  be  per- 
petuated and  what  new 
varieties  purchased  in 
■order  to  keep  the  col- 
lection as  up-to-date  as 
possible.  In  the  matter 
«f  propagation  the  old- 
time  florist  mostly 
pinned  his  faith  to  pip- 
ings, which,  they  said, 
produced  sounder  plants 
that  "  will  encounter  the 
Tigours  of  a  sharp  winter 
better."  But  most  of 
these   fanciers    grew  their 

plants  in  pots,  so  it  is  not  likely  that  they  possessed 
■such  sound  constitutions  as  have  our  present- 
day  Carnations,  which  may  well  be  propagated 
by  the  easier  method  of  layering. 

The  layering  should  be  done  as  soon  as  the 
"  grass,"  as  the  basal  shoots  are  termed,  has 
^rown  long  enough  to  be  treated,  and  it  will 
generally  be  found  that  this  happens  towards  the 
latter  part  of  July.  The  work  can  well  be  done 
throughout  a  month  from  that  time.  The  earher 
the  shoots  are  layered,  however,  the  better  will  the 
next  season's  flowers  be.  .-^s  it  will  be  a  consider- 
■able  time  before  the  plants  can  be  copiously 
•watered,  once  layering  has  been  commenced,  it  is 
•well  to  make  sure  that  the  soil  is  thoroughly 
moist  before  commencing  the  work.  Layering  is 
<juite  a  simple  operation ;  the  "  points  to  be 
observed "  are :  select  a  good  healthy  growth, 
cleared  of  its  lower  leaves  and  cut  well  along  the 


centre  with  a  sharp  knife,  the  layer  to  be  well 
pegged  down  in  suflScient  sifted,  leafy  soil ;  the 
soil  surrounding  the  layered  shoots  to  be  left 
uniformly  moist.  When  removing  the  basal 
leaves,  care  must  be  taken  not  to  strip  the  skin 
from  the  shoot ;  if  the  leaves  do  not  pull  awa\^ 
cleanly,  a  pair  of  scissors  should  be  used.  It  will 
be  found  that  a  worn-out  birch  broom  will  furnish 
a  number  of  suitable  pegs  for  the  layering,  while 


BORDER  CARNATION,  CRYSTAL  CLOVE,  HAS  THE  TRUE 
OLD  CLOVE  SCENT. 


in    country    districts    many    use    pegs    cut    from 
bracken  fronds. 

During  the  long  period  that  the  Carnation  was 
grown  as  a  florists'  flower,  form  and  ground  colour 
were  much  more  esteemed  than  fragrance,  but  now, 
while  a  well  formed  flower  is  stiU  rightly  admired,  it 
is  held  in  greater  esteem  when  it  possesses  that 
precious  gift  of  fragrance.  The  most  fragrant  01 
all  Carnations — the  old  Clove  Carnation  which 
formerly  was  in  nearly  all  gardens — seems  now 
to  have  totally  disappeared,  but  that  beautiful 
variety  Bookham  Clove  more  nearly  approaches 
it  in  perfume  than  any  other  sort  and  is  quite  the 
best  of  all  the  crimson  Carnations.  It  has  long 
been  known  that  the  crimsons  and  scarlets  are 
distinctly  more  fragrant  than  those  of  any  other 
colour,  so  those  who  prize  fragrance  above  all  will 
also  grow  such  as  John  Knox  (a  deep  \'elvety 
crimson  flower),  Mrs.  A.  Brotherston  (white  ground. 


heavily  marked  with  crimson-purple),  Jean  Douglas 
(vivid  scarlet),  with  Cardinal  (light  scarlet),  Gordon 
Douglas  (the  best  bright  crimson),  and  Fujiyama 
(the  best  of  the  bright  scarlets).  Of  the  pinks. 
Rosy  Morn,  Mrs.  Robert  Gordon,  Miss  WiUmott 
and  Hilda  Blick  are  all  beautiful  and  reliable,  and 
of  the  blush  pinks  Iimocence,  Annie  Laurie  and 
Lady  Roscoe  are  as  good  as  any.  From  the 
apricot-shaded  sorts  one  would  select  Elizabeth 
Shiffner,  Salmonea,  Mrs.  G.  A.  Reynolds  and 
Dora  Blick.  Bookham  White  is  the  best  of  all 
whites,  though  Mrs.  Henwood  and  Trojan  have 
also  great  merits.  Daffodil  and  Border  Yellow, 
with  the  ruby-coloured  Lord  Nelson,  and  Grey 
Douglas  and  Duchess  of  Wellington,  from  those  of 
heliotrope  shades,  with  the  above,  would  make  a 
good  selection  of  self-coloured  varieties.  There  is 
now  quite  a  strain  of  Clove-scented  sorts,  includ- 
ing the  pure  white  Crystal  Clove  and  the  beau- 
tiful Salmon  Clove. 

The  Fancy  Carnations  are  increasing  in  favour 
now  that  it  is  realised  how  very  beautiful  many  of 
them  are  and  what  wide  ranges  of  colouring  they 
possess.  A  good  selection  would  include  The 
Bride  (rosy  red  on  white  ground),  Delicia  (pink 
and  crimson  on  white  ground),  John  Ridd  (yellow 
suffused  with  rosy  red),  Mona  (buff,  suffused  with 
pink),  Mrs.  H.  L.  Hunt  (lavender  on  white  ground), 
Liberte  (maroon  and  crimson  on  rich  yellow), 
Mellon  Prior  (glowing  scarlet  on  rich  yellow), 
Harlequin  (rose  and  crimson  on  canary  yellow), 
Daisy  \N'alker  (rose  pink  on  white  ground).  Lord 
Kitchener  (bright  red  on  glistening  white),  Pasquin 
(yellow  ground  edged  and  flushed  with  rosy- 
lavender). 

Picotees  have  a  distant  charm  and  while  it  is 
rather  difficult  to  grow  the  ideal,  perfect  flower, 
they  are  exceedingly  graceful  and  decorative.  They 
are  divided  into  yellow  ground  and  white  ground 
sections.  Each  section  has  varieties  with  a  broad, 
medium  or  light  edge.  In  all  \arieties  the  ground 
should  be  clear  and  unspotted.  The  following 
is  a  good  selection  of  yellow  ground  Picotees : 
.■\gnes.  Exquisite,  Togo,  Constance,  Santa  Claus, 
^largaret  Lennox,  Onward  and  Ophir ;  while 
Gannymede,  John  Smith,  Radiant,  Polly,  Brunette 
and  Mrs.  Sharp  are  good  white  ground  sorts. 

The  new  Perpetual  Border  Carnations,  which 
have  been  shown  so  consistently  by  Messrs.  AUwood 
Brothers,  have  great  possibiUties.  The  raisers 
claim  that  they  will  surpass  the  true  Border 
\'arieties,  as  they  flower  perpetually  from  late 
spring  to  late  autumn.  In  growth  and  habit  they 
are  much  like  the  Border  varieties  and  to  this 
charm  of  foUage  they  add  the  long  period  of 
flowering  derived  from  the  Perpetuals.  The  best  of 
these  sorts  are  Avondale  (rich  salmon  pink' 
Brilliant  (white  ground,  heavily  edged  and  flakea 
with  chocolate).  Highland  Lassie  (white  ground, 
edged  with  red),  Rosalind  (heavily  pencilled  with 
red  on  white  ground),  Sussex  Pink  (delicate  peach, 
deepening  in  the  centre),  and  Sussex  Maid  (flaked 
with  rose  pink  on  white  ground). 

A.  Cecil  Bartlett. 


FORTHCOMING     EVENTS. 

July  25. — Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Fort- 
nightly Meeting.  Lecture  at  3  p.m.  by  Dr.  A.  B. 
Rendle  on  "  Plants  of  Interest  Exhibited." 

July  26.— Cardiff  County  Flower  Show  (two 
days). 

July  27. — Royal  Botanic  Society's  Meeting. 
Bristol  and  District  Gardeners'  Association's 
Meeting. 

July  28. — Midland  Carnation  and  Picotee 
Society's  Exhibition  (two  days). 

July  29. — National  \'iola  and  Pansy  Society's 
Show,  to  be  held  at  the  Botanic  Gardens, 
Birmingham. 


354 


THE     GARDEN. 


[July  22,  1922. 


ESSENTIALS    OF    GARDEN    DESIGN 


//. —  Unity   and    Gradation 


OUR  first  article  was  devoted  to  the 
1  importance  of  Simplicity.  Of  two 
I  ways  choose  the  simpler.  Let  tis 
this  week  consider  the  closely  related 
principle — Unity.  How  often  after 
visiting  a  garden  does  one  speak  or  think  of  the 
component  parts  or  some  of  them  rather  than  of 
the  whole.  "  Mr.  So-and-so  has  a  charming  rose 
garden  "  or  "  lovely  water  garden,"  as  the  case 
may  be.  Such  gardens,  most  of  us  think,  just 
miss  greatness  through  a  lack  of  homogenity — 
for  want  of  a  settled  plan  or,  it  may  be,  for  lack  of 
a  competent  planner ! 

It  may  disarm  criticism  to  say  at  once  that  not 
everyone  likes  a  planned  or  ordered  garden,  or 
planned  or  ordered  house  for  that  matter.  Lovers 
of  the  heterogenous  in  architecture  will  like  the 
scattered  and  haphazard  in  garden  construction. 
Their  gardens,  Uke  Topsy,  will  have  "  growed  " — 
grown  awkwardly  at  that,  an  outgrowth  here  and 
an  extension  there,  the  whole  reminding  one  of  a 
supertuberated  Potato.  These  notes  are  not  for 
such,  so  they  had  better  turn  the  page. 

Unity  is  chiefly  manifested  in  the  connexion 
of   the   various   features.     Obviously   it    is   easier 


the  straightness  in  the  formal  garden.  On  the 
other  hand,  a  severely  formal  garden  is  more 
difficult  to  connect  to  purely  informal  planting 
because  the  two  have  no  feature  in  common. 

It  would,  in  fact,  be  true  to  say  that  some 
feature  in  common  must  be  provided  if  a  satis- 
factory junction  is  to  be  effected.  Such  feature 
may  be  nothing  more  than  an  unbroken  stretch  of 
greensward,  the  common  groundwork  of  formal 
and  informal  alike,  or,  if  paving  be  employed 
in  the  formal  garden,  a  hne  of  paving  leading 
onward  into  the  informal  garden  will  often  establish 
a  unity  that  was  previously  entirely  lacking. 

We  all  know  the  more  or  less  "  picturesque  " 
type  of  building  either  designed  by  some  architect 
of  the  last  generation  or,  occasionally,  formed  by 
the  addition,  at  odd  periods,  of  wings,  single 
rooms,  porches  and  what  not.  To-day  such 
buildings  are  not  greatly  favoured.  Not  only  does 
their  architecture  lack  distinction,  but  they  are, 
as  a  rule,  singularly  inconvenient  within — often, 
indeed,  lacking  some  of  the  more  elementary 
conveniences  one  is  entitled  to  expect. 

While  the  "  picturesque  "  and  higgledy-piggledy 
in  architecture  has  gone  into  disfavour,  the  higgledv- 


/i1 


\^m 


-* d * 4i 1 

^' ? 1 J- — i 


:-%L-=.: 


-9  -^-^ f ' 


^"■^ '-"'^"-    '■■■ 'i;^  ^ 


I 


-^ 


A    GARDEN    WITH    MANY    AND    VARIED    FEATURES. 

From  Jormal  pergola  and  rose  garden,  one  traverses  a^bold  curving  vis/a  which  might  in  itself  incor- 
porate   a   great    number    oj^  features    such    as    wild  rose,    rhododendron,  azalea,    heath    and  Ishrub 
gardens.     Suitable  plantings  elsewhere  nill  readily  suggest  themselves. 

satisfactorily  to  connect  features  presenting  points 
of  similarity  than  those  entirely  dissimilar.  Formal 
rose  garden  and  pergola  are  readily  linked,  because 
both  are  formal  and  both  make  Roses  a  main 
feature  ;  pergola  and  summer-house  or  pavilion, 
because  both  are  architectural ;  a  straight  herba- 
ceous walk  and  any  sort  of  formal  garden,  because 
the  straightness  of  walk  and  borders  conforms  to 


piggledy  and  assuredly  unpicturesque  in~garden 
lay-out  still  lingers.  The  reason  for  this  "is  suffi- 
ciently ob\-ious.  The  owner  of  a  new  house 
usually,  in  the  first  instance,  lays  out  only  the 
ground  immediately  around  it.  He  is  absorbed 
in  the  details  of  the  house  itself.  Consequently 
when  he  turns  to  the  question  of  the  house  surround 
he    gives   it    more   or   less    perfunctory    attention 


and,  as  a  rule,  makes  no  attempt  to  visuaUse  the 
completed  scheme.  He  may  possibly  enlist  the 
services  of  his  house  architect  to  design  a  surround. 
The  result,  in  this  case,  is  but  too  likely  to  be  the 
same.  A  house  architect  usually  considers  garden- 
design  as  a  very  subsidiary  portion  of  his  duties,, 
and,  at  any  rate,  he  lays  out  the  surround  only 
from  the  point  of  view  of  shewing  to  best  advantage 
the  house  architecture.  The  immediate  surround 
of  the  house,  however,  forms  the  connexion  between 
house  and  garden  and  needs  thus  to  be  thought  of 
from  two  aspects. 

How  often  does  one  see  what  should  be  a  straight 
herbaceous  walk,  leading  on,  perhaps,  to  further 
gardens  or  it  may  be  terminating  in  some  archi- 
tectural feature,  swerve  like  a  shying  horse  towards 
the  end  because,  probably,  lack  of  foresight  has 
made  the  proper  connexion  impossible.  It  is  not 
always,  of  course,  that  such  ineffective  paths  and 
strange,  inconsequent  awkward  joinings  are  caused 
by  the  impossibility  of  getting  better  effects. 
Sometimes  it  is  merely  that,  through  slight 
acquaintance  with  the  subject,  the  right  solution 
is  passed  over. 

There  can  be  little  sense  of  unity  in  a  garden 
where  the  connexions  between  various  features 
are  "  hole  and  corner."  On  the  other  hand,  let 
no  one  confuse  unity  and  monotony.  A  gardere 
springs  to  mind — a  garden  of  some  extent — 
largely  consisting  of  winding  walks  planted  on. 
either  hand  with  flowering  trees  and  shrubs  and 
hardy  plants.  Similar  trees,  shrubs  and  plants 
were  to  be  found  in  each  section,  and  the  owner 
and  his  head-gardener  were  pleased  to  speak  of 
the  "  essential  luiity  "  of  the  design  ;  "  deadly 
monotony "  would  have  been  the  writer's 
description. 

Unity  and  simplicity  in  a  garden  are  so  closely 
intertwined  that  it  is  difficult  at  times  to. 
differentiate ;  the  same  may  truly  be  said  of 
imity  and  gradation.  The  unity  and  complete- 
ness of  a  garden  largely  depends  upon  proper 
gradation.  It  must  always  be  right  to  have  the 
most  formal  treatment  nearest  to  the  house  and 
the  most  informal  at  a  distance  from  it.  To 
obtain  a  -;  ^tisfactory  and  pleasing  effect  the 
gradual  rrfefjging  of  the  formal  into  the  informal 
must  be  riianaged,  and  this  is  admittedly  most 
difficult  when  the  house  calls  for  very  formal 
surroundings  and  the  space  at  disposal  is  hmited. 
In  such  case  it  is  often  better  to  eschew  infonnal 
effects  altogether. 

There  are,  throughout  the  country,  many 
gardens  which  it  is  a  real  pleasure  to  view,  where 
excellent  plants  are  grown,  where  the  arrangement 
and  proportioning  are  in  every  way  satisfactory,. 
but  which  from  the  owner's  standpoint  are,  never- 
theless, open  to  grave  objection  because  the  view 
of  the  gardens  from  the  house  is  unsatisfactory 
or,  in  some  cases,  there  is  practically  no  garden, 
view  from  the  house  at  all.  The  garden  is,  after 
all,  merely  the  setting  for  the  house,  and  it  is^ 
assuredly,  a  very  grave  drawback  if  it  fails  to 
provide  a  series  of  beautiful  views  from  the 
principal  points  of  vantage  in  and  around  the 
house  itself.  There  are,  of  course,  houses  where, 
owing  to  various  extraordinary  conditions,  such 
views  may  not  be,  but  they  represent  but  a  very 
small  proportion,  and  the  appearance  of  the 
garden  from  various  windows  and  entrances  should, 
certainly  be  the  would-be  designer's  first  care. 

The  normal  sequence  of  gradation  between 
formal  and  informal  may  be  expressed  as  follows,., 
commencing  with  the  house-surround  : 

(i)  Entirely  formal — rectangular  paving,  formal 
beds,  mown  level  lawns,  dressed  stone  walls,, 
moulded  copings,  carved  pillars,  caps,  urns  or  stone 
vases. 

(2)  Rectangular  paving,  either  "  coursed- 
random  "    or    "  rectangular-random  "  ;     probabljr 


July  22,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


355 


self-faced  and  possibly  with  Thymes  and  other 
low-growing  plants  between  the  joints  ;  walls  of 
undressed  stone,  either  coursed  or  rectangular- 
random  ;  simple  unmoulded  copings,  mown  level 
lawns  and  terrace  banks ;  formal  beds  with 
informal  plantings,  probably  mounding  on  or 
trailing  over  the  pathway  stones. 

(3)  Formal  hedges,  formal  beds,  stone  seats, 
etc.  If  carried  out  in  the  grand  manner  may  be 
as  formal  as  or  more  formal  than  (2). 

(4)  Formal  hedges,  regularly  arranged  curvi- 
linear beds,  possibly  on  sloping  ground. 

(5)  Straight  herbaceous  walks  and  straight- 
edged  shrubberies. 

(6)  Beds  of  curvilinear  outline,  the  curves  free 
and  dissimilar,  but  all  defining  a  straight  or  easily 
curving  vista. 

(7)  Similar  work,  but  contoured,  with  the 
probable  introduction  of  rockery  stone. 

(8)  The  entirely  informal  wild  garden. 

This  does  not  precisely  describe,  of  course,  every 
desirable  style  of  garden,  but  it  will  not  be  difficult 
to  place  any  such  as  about  equal  in  formality  to 
one  or  other  of  the  above.  Between  (6)  and  (7) 
some  would  place  gardens  withVbeds  bounded  with 
free  and  dissimilar  curves,  but  giving  no  vistas. 
These  are  omitted  as  unworthy.  Such  gardens 
must  lack  essential  combination. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  point  out  that  all  the 
above  gradations  need  not  be  present  in  the  same 
garden  to  shew  satisfactory  design.  Only  with 
Classical  or  Renaissance  architecture  of  some 
pretensions  is  the  purely  formal  style  (No.  i) 
necessary,  while  in  grounds  of  limited  extent 
there  is  no  scope  for  wild  gardening  and,  maybe, 
no  place  even  for  the  balanced,  informal  masses 
described  in  Nos.  6  and  7. 

Speaking  generally,  it  is  undoubtedly  a  mistake, 
especially  in  the  gardens  of  limited  area  which  are 
being  formed  to-day,  to  pass,  as  one  leaves  the 
house  behind,  from  formal  planting  to  informal 
and  then  revert  to  the  formal  once  more.  It  is, 
however,  allowable,  even  necessary  in  many  cases, 
to  reintroduce  a  degree  of  formality  around  a 
pavilion,  summer-house  or  other  architectural 
feature  closing  a  vista.  For  this  reason,  if  for 
no  other,  the  architecture  of  such  garden  building 
should  be  as  simple  and  unaffected  as  possible. 
An  austere  Georgian  house — and  some  Georgian 
houses  may  accurately  be  so  described — with 
modern  garden  architecture,  including  elaborate 
pillars  in  one  or  other  of  the  recognised  orders 
and  oniate  cornices  and  other  mouldings  is  a 
truly  pitiable  combination. 

Gradation  is,  of  course,  important  as  applied 
to  the  actual  planting.  There  must  be  gradation 
of  mass  and  gradation  of  colour  if  the  result  is 
to  be  satisfactory.  Gradation  in  planting  is, 
however,  a  subject  of  great  importance  and  some 
complexity  and  may  more  fittingly  be  dealt 
with  when  we  come  to  discuss  "  Balance," 
which  it  is  hoped  to  do  in  a  subsequent  article. 
Gradation  in  colour  planting  is  also  altogether 
too  big  a  subject  to  include  in  the  present 
article. 

The  plan  on  page  354  shews  a  method  of  treat- 
ment not  feasible  in  every  garden.  It  could, 
obviously,  not  be  carried  out  on  a  site  greatly 
longer  than  wide,  for  instance.  It  serves,  however, 
to  suggest  how  unity  may  be  maintained  in  a 
garden  displaying  a  wide  variety  of  plants  and 
treatments  and  also  how  a  pleasing  gradation  may 
be  managed.  The  association  of  pergola  and 
rose  garden  will  be  noted,  also  that  the  pergola 
is  definitely  supported  by  architectural  features — 
the  house  at  one  end  and  a  summer-house  at  the 
other.  There  are  few  commoner  mistakes  in  the 
garden  lay-out  than  the  wrong  use  of  the  pergola. 
A  pergola  which  seems  to  have  no  definite  objective 
always  looks  out  of  place. 


THE    CARE    OF    HERBACEOUS    BORDERS 
AT    THIS    SEASON 


UNLESS  care'i  be  taken,  herbaceous 
borders  are  but  too  apt  to  become 
untidy  and  unsatisfactory  as  soon  as 
the  Delphinium  blossom  is  over,  if  not 
before.  The  copious  rains  which  have 
supplied  sadly  needed  moisture  have  also  in  many 
cases  laid  low  the  occupants  of  the  border,  even 


the  clumps.  Plants  from  seed  have  usually 
sufficient  vigour,  given  good  soil  and  cultivation, 
to  make  the  double  effort  without  loss  of  stamina 
and  this  is  undoubtedly  the  reason  why  in  many 
gardens  in  which  only  the  best  is  good  enough, 
seedling  Delphiniums  arc  chiefly  to  be  met  with  in 
the  herbaceous  border. 


EFFECTIVE    HERBACEOUS    BORDERS. 


where  staking  and  tying  had  been  thoroughly  and 
intelligently  carried  out. 

The  havoc  having  been,  as  far  as  practicable, 
repaired,  remains  to  hoe  or  otherwise  break  up  the 
surface  of  the  border  and  apply  a  mulch  of  rotted 
manure  or  even  lawn  clippings  so  that  the  moisture 
may  be  conserved  in  the  very  possible  spell  of  hot 
weather.  If  the  border  has  been  planted  to 
advantage,  most  of  the  gaps  caused  by  the  passing  of 
early-flowering  plants  may  be  largely  concealed  by 
judicious  "  tying  out."  There  will,  however, 
always  remain  some  gaps  which  may  not  satis- 
factorily be  filled  by  this  method. 

This  is  where  the  value  of  plants  grown  on  in 
the  reserve  garden  becomes  apparent.  Many 
Michaelmas  Daisies  and  a  number  of  sorts  of  border 
Chrysanthemum  will  lift  quite  well,  if  thoroughly 
soaked  two  or  three  days  previously.  If  Michaelmas 
Daisies  belonging  to  the  Novae-Angliaa  class  are 
wanted,  however,  they  must  be  grown  plunged 
in  large  pots  as  they  do  not  transplant  satisfactorily 
from  the  open  ground.  The  same  remark  applies  to 
the  more  tap-rooted  Chrysanthemums.  There  is  an 
enormous  difference  between  varieties  in  this  respect. 

It  is  becoming  increasingly  the  custom  to  plant 
out  Dahlias  of  all  the  decorative  classes  to  "  carry 
on  "  after  Lupins,  Doronicums,  Anchusas  and  such 
Uke  have  finished.  It  is  quite  possible  to  use  them 
after  Delphiniums  and  other  flowers  of  full  summer. 
They,  too,  must  of  course  be  grown  in  pots. 

Delphinium  plants,  if  cut  back  immediately  after 
flowering,  will  produce  a  second  and  very  welcome 
crop  of  bloom  in  autumn.  Many  amateurs  have 
cut  them  back,  however,  who  have  subsequently 
regretted  doing  so,  for,  especially  in  the  case  of 
named  varieties,  it  has  a  very  weakening  effect  upon 


Undoubtedly  the  average  man  when  forming 
his  herbaceous  border  uses  too  large  a  proportion 
of  plants  of  short  duration.  Some  of  the  grandest 
flowers,  unfortunately,  produce  the  shortest 
cUsplay  ;  think  of  Lilies  or  Gladioli,  for  example. 
The  following  plants  have  a  long  flowering  season 
and  should  be  used  for  some  of  the  largest  groupings. 
Unfortunately,  they  are  all  comparatively  low- 
growing.  Geum  coccineum,  all  forms,  including 
the  Winchmore  Hill  variety,  now  called  Mrs. 
Bradshaw,  must  first  be  mentioned,  then  Gaillardias 
— the  soft  yellows,  such  as  Lady  Rolleston  or  E.  T. 
Anderton  are  invaluable — Nepeta  Mussini,  .Anthe- 
mis  Cupaniana,  Coreopsis  grandiflora,  Iceland 
Poppies  (if  the  seed  pods  are  removed)  and  Violas, 
many  bedding  varieties. 

Quite  a  number  of  plants,  of  which  the  flowering 
season  is  short,  are  decorative  when  out  of  flower  and 
so  merit  special  attention.  These  include  the  her- 
baceous Pjconies,  the  Bearded  Irises,  many  Torch 
LiUes  (Kniphofia),  the  Day  Lihes  (Hemerocallis), 
the  Globe  Thistle  (Echinops  Ritro),  and  some  of  the 
Thalictrums,  as  well  as  such  generally  used  shrubs 
as  Lavender  (tall  and  dwarf),  Rosemary  and  the 
Southernwood  family,  .\rtemisia.  The  same  remark 
applies,  of  course,  to  the  smaller-growing  Yuccas — 
filamentosa,  flaccida  and  angustifoUa — now  often, 
and  very  effectively  used  in  herbaceous  borders. 

Flowering  plants  with  especially  pleasing  but 
low-growing  fohage  include  Heuchera,  Rudbeckia 
maxima,  Paradisea,  Potentilla,  Campanula  persici- 
foha,  and  Pinks  and  Carnations.  All  these,  irre- 
spective of  the  height  of  their  flower  stems,  should 
be  kept  towards  the  front,  when  in  some  cases 
their  upspringing  blossom  will  serve  to  break  the 
otherwise  too  even  slope  of  vegetation. 


356 


THE     GARDEN. 


[July  22,  1922. 


SUMMER    FLOWERS    AT    VINCENT    SQUARE 


A    LTHOUGH    the  Show   at  Vincent  Square 

/\       on  July  II  was  not  quite  equal  to  those 

/   \      of   late,    there   was   a   pleasant    variety 

/       %    and  the  hall  was  fairly  well  filled.     The 

*  •  few     vacant    spaces     were     apparently 

allotted   to   the    National   Carnation   and   Picotee 

Society,  which  held  its  Southern  Section  Show  in 

conjunction    with     the    R.H.S.    meeting.      Their 


and  to  supply  fuller  particulars  in  view  of  a  probable 
award.  It  has  solid  flesh  and  a  small  stone, 
and  is  of  good  flavour.  Mr.  G.  P.  Berry  of  the 
Ministry  of  Agriculture,  who  has  a  good  opinion 
of  its  merits,  says  it  is  a  prolific  variety  which 
promises  to  be  profitable  for  market  purposes. 

The     principal    floral    exhibits    included    very 
handsome    stove    and    greenhouse    plants,    many 


THE    GRACEFUL    NEW    ROSE,    KEW    RAMBLER. 


display   was    not    so   extensive    as    its    promoters 
anticipated. 

It  was  interesting  to  see,  if  only  a  few,  some 
exhibits  of  fruits  and  vegetables  in  addition  to 
the  flowers.  Messrs.  Carter  and  Co.  liad  some 
really  good  Peas  and  Broad  Beans,  both  as 
whole  plants  to  illustrate  tlieir  bearing  capabili- 
ties and  as  dishes  of  gathered  pods.  The  Peas 
were  two  new  dwarf  sorts.  Superb  crossed  with 
Quite  Content  gave  Raynes  Park  No.  i  and 
Raynes  Park  No.  2.  The  former  is  said  to  be 
the  earliest  and  to  grow  ijft.  in  height,  while 
No.  2  is  a  second-early  and  2ft.  in  height.  Both 
have  pods  as  large  as  Carter's  Quite  Content. 
These  very  promising  sorts  are  to  lie  tried  at 
Wisley,  and  we  await  the  result  with  great  interest. 
The  Broad  Beans  were  all  of  fine  appearance, 
and  included  such  sorts  as  Green  Leviathan, 
Green  Longpod,  Mammoth  Longpod  and  Mammoth 
Windsor,  and  all  seemed  equally  valuable. 

The  fruits  on  shew  were  a  collection  of 
Tasmanian-grown  Apples  of  excellent  appearance 
by  Mr.  Frank  Walker  and  two  varieties  of  Red 
Currant  by  Messrs.  G.  G.  Whitelegg  and  Co.  The 
Apples  included  Jonathan,  Crofton,  Tasma  and 
Hoover  of  brilliant  crimson  colour  and  the  delicate 
Dunn's  Seedling.  Messrs.  Whitelegg's  Currants 
were  Orpington  Prolific  and  Littlecroft  Beauty. 
Fruiting  branches  and  gathered  fruits  of  each 
were  staged,  and  they  illustrated  exceedingly 
fruitful  habits  aiul  large  clusters.  Like  the  Peas 
and  Beans,  these  are  to  be  tried  at  Wisley,  after 
which,  no  doubt,  they  will  receive  awards. 

A  seedling  black  Cherry  was  submitted  to  the 
Fruit  and  Vegetable  Committee,  and  Mr.  Yates, 
the    exhibitor,    was    asked    to    name    the    variety 


Roses,  Carnations,  Liliums,  Dclphiiiiunis.  garden 
Pinks  and  other  border  flowers.  A  \ery  large 
exhibit  of  the  old  favourite  Madonna  Lily  (Lilium 
candidum)  was  shewn  by  Messrs,  Barr  and  Sons, 
pleasantly  scenting  the  hall  to  a  considerable 
distance,  and  many  garden  lovers  who  experience 
some  difficulty  in  establishing  this  beautiful 
Lily  were  amazed  at  the  quantity  of  handsome 
spikes.  Besides  that  which  received  an  award, 
Mr.  Amos  Perry  shewed  a  nmiiber  of  his 
interesting  hybrids,  of  Lilium  pardalinum  and 
L.  regale,  which  should  prove  valuable  garden 
plants. 

Some  beautiful  herbaceous  Phloxes  were  shewn 
by  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones.  Messrs.  Blackmore  and 
Langdon  had  some  stately  Delphiniums  and  double 
Begonias  of  great  merit.  Lady  Rhondda  is  a 
very  handsome  orange-coloured  variety  bearing 
immense  nicely  waved  flowers. 

Japanese  Irises  of  great  excellence  were  staged 
by  Messrs.  Whitelegg  and  Co.,  and  Messrs.  W.  H. 
Rogers  and  Son.  Messrs.  Ladhanis,  Limited, 
had  a  long  stretch  of  Lavatera  Olbia  rosea,  which 
was  particularly  effective.  Messrs.  John  Forbes, 
Limited,  brought  from  Hawick  in  Scotland,  Phloxes, 
Delphiniums  and  other  border  flowers.  The 
alpines  were  not  so  numerous  as  of  late,  but  these 
included  the  fascinating  silvery  lavender  batch 
of  Campanula  Bellardii  Miranda  in  a  collection  by 
Messrs.  R.  Tucker  and  Son.  Mr.  M.  Prichard 
had  an  interesting  collection  of  good  garden 
Pinks. 

The  Carnations  were  all  excellent.  Messrs, 
Allwood  Brothei-s  had  many  good  sorts  and  also 
an  abundance  of  their  AUwoodii.  Mr.  C.  Engel- 
maiin   also  had   a   fine   display. 


Roses  were  staged  by  Messrs.  Paul,  Frank  Cant 
and  Co.,  D.  Prior  and  Son  and  the  Rev.  J.  H. 
Pemberton,  who  all  had  excellent  collections. 
The  most  popular  Rose  seemed  to  be  the  deliciouslv 
fragrant  crimson  Red  Star,  though  the  dusky 
maroon  Dinah  fascinated  many  visitors.  Such 
golden  and  orange  yellow  sorts  as  Golden  Emblem, 
Independence  Day,  Margaret  Dickson  Hamill  and 
Rayon  d'Or  were  also  well  shewn. 

NEW     AND     RARE     PLANTS. 

Begonia  Sir  J.  Reid. — An  exceedingly  hand- 
some double-flowered  tuberous-rooted  variety. 
The  Camellia-Uke  flowers  are  of  perfect  shape  and 
bright  orange  colour,  while  the  foliage  is  prettily 
marked,  making  it  a  most  desirable  variety. 
.AvN-ard  of  merit  to  Messrs.  Blackmore  and  Langdoi\. 

Carnation  Mary  Murray. — Quite  the  best  of 

the  canary  yellow  Border  Carnations.  It  is  exceed-' 
ingly  x'igorous,  free-flowering,  and  the  flower- 
stems  are  so  stout  and  erect  that  supports  are 
unnecessary.  The  flowers  are  large  and  slightly 
perfumed.  First-class  certificate  of  the  National 
Carnation  Society  to  Messrs.  Lowe  and  Gibson. 

Carnation  Snowflake. — That  this  was  the 
premier  white  self  at  the  Carnation  Show  is 
an  indication  of  its  great  excellence.  The  flowers 
are  of  medium  size,  well  formed,  and  the  habit 
and  foliage  are  ideal.  First-class  certificate  of 
the  National  Carnation  Society  to  Mr.  J.  Douglas. 

Clematis  sp. — A  very  graceful  free-growing 
species  which  bears  long  racemes  of  four-petalled 
star-like  white  flowers.  The  pea  green  glaucous 
foliage  is  reminiscent  of  C.  Armandi,  and  it  appears 
to  be  a  very  desirable  species  where  a  climber 
of  free  habit  is  needed.  The  award  is  subject 
to  naming.  Award  of  merit  to  the  Rev,  W. 
Wilks. 

Esclischoltzia  Crimson  Carmine. — A  welcome 
addition  to  the  Californian  Poppies  The  varietal 
name  aptly  describes  the  colour  of  this  exceedingly 
showy  annual.  The  flower  is  made  more  con- 
spicuous by  having  a  white  centre.  Eschscholtzias 
are  not  generally  known  to  be  excellent  for 
cutting,      .\ward  of  merit  to  Mr.  W,  H,  Gardiner. 

Heleniura  Crimson  Beauty. — This  is  a  rather 
brighter  H,  cupreum,  and  should  be  a  valued 
addition  to  the  genus.  Its  height  will  make  it 
useful  for  the  middle  and  back  portions  of  the 
flower  border,  and  it  should  also  be  valuable  for 
cut-flower  purposes.  Shewn  by  Messrs,  G, 
Jackman  and  Son, 

Hypericum  sp. — The  award  to  this  valuable 
hardy  shrub  was  subject  to  its  being  named. 
It  may  well  be  termed  a  buttercup  yellow  form 
of  H.  patulum  Henryi  and,  like  that  variety, 
should  be  very  useful  for  the  front  parts  of  the 
shrubbery.  It  is  of  good  habit  and  very  free 
flowering.  Award  of  merit  to  -Mr,  Lionel  de 
Rothschild, 

Lilium  X  gloriosum. — This  is  one  of  the  many 
Lilium  pardalinum  hybrids  raised  by  Mr.  Amos 
Perry,  and  was  the  most  robust  of  the  many  he 
had  on  view.  Judging  from  the  cut  spike,  we 
should  expect  the  growing  plant  to  become  about 
3ft.  high,  so  it  is  of  quite  useful  size.  It  bears 
plenty  of  blooms  of  pale  orange  colour,  freely 
spotted  with  crimson.  The  floral  segments  are 
relatively  long  and  pointed,  so  that  it  is  a  very 
graceful  flower,  .\ward  of  merit  to  Mr.  Amos 
Perr\', 

Magnolia  raacrophylla. — This  South-Eastern 
United  States  species  bears  the  largest  leaves  of 
all  the  MagnoUas,  Under  really  suitable  con- 
ditions they  are  said  to  become  3ft.  in  length, 
while  those  at  the  hall  were  about  2ft,  long.  They 
had  rather  a  delicate  appearance  and  were  of  thin 


July  22,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


357 


texture.  They  are  oblong-o\ate,  pale  green  above 
and  silvery  grey  beneath.  The  bloom  was  of 
correspondingly  noble  appearance,  being  quite 
4ins.  across  and  of  globular  shape.  The  dull 
■creamy  white  petals  are  stout  and  fleshy,  and 
there  is  a  sUght  fragrance.  It  is  a  handsome  tree 
ior  a  sheltered  spot,  though,  while  hardy,  is  liable 
to  injury  from  spring  frosts  when  young.  Cultiural 
■commendation  to  Mr.  Lionel  de  Rothschild. 

Phlox  suflruticosa  Snowdon. — This  is  quite  the 
best  white-flowered  herbaceous  Phlo.v  we  ha\'e 
seen.  It  is  of  stiurdy  habit  and  bears  \-ery  large, 
compact  trusses  of  pure  white  flowers,  which  are 
relieved  from  insipidity  by  the  closely  set  cluster 
■of  deep  primrose-coloured  stamens.  The  flowers 
are  pleasantly  fragrant.  Shewn  by  Mr.  H.  J. 
Jones. 

Rhododendron     auriculatuin     variety. — This 

appears  to  be  an  interesting  white  \ariety  of  the 
Chinese  species  which  was  introduced  by  Wilson 
in  iqoo  though  it  was  discovered  by  Henry  in  W. 
Hupeh.  The  whiteness  is  in  the  flower-stalks 
as  well  as  the  blooms,  and  there  are  soft  hairs 
■on  the  stalks  and  towards  the  base  of  the  exteriors 
■of  the  flowers.  .■Vward  of  merit  to  the  Hon.  H. 
SIcLaren. 

Rhododendron  discolor,  pink  variety. — .\ 
pleasant  soft  pink  variety  of  the  beautiful  fragrant, 
hardy  Rhododendron  which  received  a  first-class 
certificate  on  June  27  last.  Award  of  merit  to 
the  Hon.  H.  McLaren. 

Rose   Kew   Rambler. — In 

this  graceful,  free-flowering 
smaller  rose  pink'  American 
foliage    is    slightly    glaucous. 


general    appearance 

Rose    is    a    slightly 

Pillar,    though    the 

It    was    raised    at 


Kew  by  crossing  the  Chinese  R.  Soulieana  with 
the  popular  Hiawatha.  It  is  of  robust  habit, 
the  outer  parts  of  the  petals  are  of  wild  rose  colour, 
and  it  is  eminently  adapted  for  planting  on 
pergolas,  archways  and  for  similar  purposes. 
.Award  of  merit  to  the  Director,  Royal  Gardens, 
Kew. 

BORDER  CARNATION  CLASSES. 

.Although  there  were  not  many  exhibitors 
at  the  annual  show  of  the  National  Carnation 
and  Picotee  Society  (Southern  Section)  on  July  11 
last,  there  were  quite  sufficient  high-class 
blooms  to  enable  visitors  to  see  how  beautiful  and 
decorative  the  Border  Carnations  really  are.  The 
bizarres  and  flakes  which  in  years  gone  by  were 
the  Alpha  and  Omega  of  the  Carnation  fancier, 
ha\'e  almost  entirely  fallen  from  favour.  It  is  a 
matter  of  congratulation  to  the  Society  that  these 
formal  yet  attractive  varieties  were  no  longer 
shown  on  boards  with  a  stiff  paper  collar  aroimd 
their  necks.  The  present  day  method  of  exhibiting 
tlie  varieties  in  vases  permits  them  to  be  set  up 
in  a  natural  and  graceful  manner  so  that  quite  a 
number  of  visitors  admired  the  six  \arieties  which 
Mr.  R.  Morton,  Woodside  Park,  shewed  so  well. 
His  collection  included  an  almost  perfect  bloom 
of  Master  Fred,  which  proved  to  be  the  premier 
bizarre  bloom  in  the  Show.  He  also  had  excellent 
blooms  of  Meteor  and  George  Morland. 

There  were  no  white  ground  Picotees  in  the  open 
classes,  but  Mr.  James  Douglas  shewed  such 
splendid  blooms  that  he  was  awarded  the  remaining 
five  first  prizes.  His  very  best  blooms  included 
the    new    Snowflake ;      Salmon    Clove,     a    most 


deliciously  fragrant  variety  which  was  judged  as 
the  best  clove-scented  in  the  show  ;  Marechal  Niel, 
a  self  almost  of  the  colour  of  the  well  known  Rose 
that  bears  the  same  name  ;  Viceroy,  the  premier 
yellow  ground  Fancy  Carnation  ;  and  Steerforth, 
the  premier  white  ground  Fancy,  while  in  the  special 
class  for  clove-scented  varieties  his  best  were, 
Scarlet  Clove,  a  variety  of  vivid  colour,  almost 
as  strongly  scented  as  Salmon  Clove,  and  King 
of  Cloves,  which  in  intense  dark  crimson  colour  and 
in  fragrance  approaches  the  old  Clove  Carnation. 

There  were  ten  or  eleven  classes  of  a  rather  more 
decorative  character,  inasmuch  as  buds  were  used 
in  addition  to  the  blooms  and  these,  we  imagine, 
were  colour  classes,  but  there  was  no  indication  on 
the  exhibitors'  cards  or  in  the  schedule  as  to  their 
object  or  nature.  None  of  the  cards  bore  any  clue 
otlier  than  the  class  number,  so  the  general  visitor 
received  no  assistance  from  them.  Still,  we  suppose 
"  the  flowers  are  the  thing  "  (to  paraphrase),  and 
in  these  classes  they  were  all  charming.  Mr. 
Douglas  carried  off  most  of  the  first  prizes  and 
incidentally  he  again  won  the  Cartwright  Challenge 
Cup.  Here  his  outstanding  varieties  were  superl) 
blooms  of  Cherry  Blossom,  .\lbion.  King  of  Cloves, 
Scarlet  Clove,  Kelso,  F.clipse,  Prospero  and 
Margaret  Keep.  Miss  Elizabeth  Shiffner,  Lewes, 
won  first  prizes  with  very  fine  vases  of  Grey 
Douglas,  Border  Yellow  and  Eftie  Deans. 

In  the  principal  amateurs'  classes  Miss  Shiffner 
was  the  most  successful  exliibitor,  and  she  again 
won  the  Martin  Smith  Challenge  Cup.  Her 
splendid  \'ases  of  blooms  included  Lieutenant 
ShacUleton,  Salnion  Clove,  White  Fox,  Border 
Yellow,     Elizabeth    Shiffner,     Fujiyama,     Gordon 


PERHAPS    THE    BEST    WHITE    PHLOX,    P.    SUFFRUTICOSA 
SNOWDON. 


THE    MAGNIFICENT    SOFT-YELLOW    BORDER    CARNATION 
MARECHAL'  NIEL,    . 


358 


THE     GARDEN. 


[July  22,  1922. 


Douglas,  Mrs.  R.  P.  Smith  and  Grey  Douglas. 
Mr.  J.  J.  Keen,  Southampton,  won  first  prize 
with  Huntsman,  which  was  also  the  premier 
scarlet  flake ;  Garmymede,  premier  heavy-edged 
Picotee  ;  and  Eclipse,  premier  light-edged  Picotee. 
Mr.  Keen's  were  all  splendid  blooms. 

In  the  amateurs'  division  for  growers  of  fewer 
plants,  Mr.  E.  W.  Painter,  Brentford,  was  par- 
ticularly successful,  and  he  won  the  Charrington 
Cup  with  very  meritorious  exhibits.  The  two 
classes  for  Carnations  grown  unprotected  in  the 
open  border  did  not  induce  great  competition, 
but  the  best  three  vases  shewn  by  Miss  J-  B. 
Wells,    Clapham,    were    of   high    quality,    as    also 


was    the   one    vase   shewn    by    Mr.    E.    J.    Lowe, 
Cricklewood. 

Large  non-competitive  collections  were  arranged 
by  Mr.  James  Douglas  and  Messrs.  Lowe  and 
Gibson,  and  these  were  so  good  as  to  recei\'e 
medal  awards  from  both  societies.  Mr.  Douglas 
had  excellent  vases  of  Maroon  Clove,  Bookham 
Rose,  Gordon  Douglas,  Fair  Ellen  and  Lieutenant 
Shackleton.  Messrs.  Lowe  and  Gibson  gave 
special  prominence  to  their  new  Mary  Murray, 
which  received  a  deal  of  admiration.  Among 
their  collection  were  also  the  sweetly  scented 
Surrey  Clove,  Kathie  Moore,  Skirmisher,  Border 
Yellow  and  J.  Saville. 


THE    WHITE    BUTTERFLY    PEST 

The    life-history   of    the   offending    species   as    it    bears    upon    methods    of   control 


OF  course  one  finds  White  butterflies 
elsewhere  as  well,  especially  in  the 
Cabbage  fields,  but  they  are  essentially 
garden  pests.  The  reason  for  this  is 
not  far  to  seek.  When  the  caterpillars 
are  full-fed  they  at  once  begin  to  seek  out  some  dry, 
sheltered  spot  where  they  can  pupate  in  safety  and 
comfort  ;  the  spot  must  be  dry  and  it  must  be 
sheltered.  A  garden,  with  its  fences  and  wooden 
sheds,  provides  many  more  suitable  places  than  an 
open  field.  Still,  on  the  face  of  it,  this  hardly  seems 
a  sufficient  reason,  because  the  butterfly,  though 
she  takes  care  to  lay  her  eggs  on  the  food  plant, 
certainly  does  not  look  so  far  ahead  as  to  choose  a 
place  suitable  for  pupation.  It  is,  however,  a  fact 
that  both  butterflies  and  moths  have  a  tendency  to 
hover  and  linger  over  the  place  where  they  emerged 
from  the  pupa  case,  and  butterflies  born  in  a 
vegetable  garden  will  probably  stay  there.  This  is, 
naturally,  particularly  the  case  with  the  female 
insects. 

This  characteristic  of  the  white  butterfly  suggests 
a  remedy,  and  that  is,  the  thorough  sweeping  out 
of  all  sheds  and  outhouses,  where  there  will  most 
surely  be  pupse.  The  pupre  will  be  found  at  the 
end  of  July  and  all  through  August,  and  also  during 
the  winter.  It  is  the  July  and  .•August  brood  that 
is  the  more  important  of  the  two  yearly  broods  ; 
it  is  these  insects  that  produce  the  great  swarm 
of  butterflies  in  May.  Also,  at  this  time  we  are 
not  helped  very  greatly  by  the  insect-eating  birds  : 
they  have  no  young  ones  to  feed,  and  there  is  plenty 
of  food  for  themselves. 

Among  all  the  butterflies  that  come  to  our  gardens 
there  are  only  the  large  and  the  small  whites  that 
have  injurious  larvae.  There  is  a  little  doubt  about 
the  caterpillars  of  the  green-veined  whites  ;  it  is 
possible  they  do  some  harm  to  the  leaves  of  Turnips 
and  Cabbages,  but  their  natural  food  is  Hedge-garhc, 
Winter  Cress  and  Watercress,  and  whatever  harm 
they  do  is  infinitesimal  compared  with  that  done  by 
the  other  whites.  Their  larvre  are  very  like  those 
of  the  small  whites,  but  tlie  insects  themselves  are 
easily  recognised,  for  their  hind  wings  are  yellow 
with  very  dark  veinings. 

The  large  and  small  whites  are  too  well  known 
to  need  any  description,  though  the  differences 
between  male  and  female  may  not  be  very  common 
knowledge.  In  the  case  of  the  large  whites,  both 
have  white  wings,  with  black-tipped  fore  wings  and 
a  black  spot  on  the  hind  wings  ;  the  female  has 
two  black  spots  also  on  the  fore  wings,  while  the  male 
has  only  one.  Both  sexes  in  the  small  whites  are 
very  much  alike,  and  neither  has  the  spots  very 
deep  black.  .Another  difference  is  that  the  large 
whites  generally  lay  their  eggs  on  the  underside  f>f 
the  leaves,  while  the  small  whites  as  often  choose 
the  upper. 


The  large  whites  are  seen  on  the  wing  from  May 
to  August,  but  the  small  whites  appear  as  early  as 
April  and  are  sometimes  seen  in  November.  In 
the  appearance  of  their  caterpillars  they  differ 
too.  Those  of  the  large  whites  are  the  most 
generally  known,  because  they  are  much  more 
evident  than  the  others.  The  small,  green  larva; 
of  the  small  whites  are  often  hardly  distinguishable 
from  the  leaves  they  feed  on,  but  the  blue-green 
bodies,  the  black  tubercles,  the  three  yellow  lines 
running  from  head  to  tail,  these  make  the  larvre  of 
the  large  whites  very  prominent  creatures. 

Both  species  feed  for  about  a  month  before 
pupating,  and  both  take  about  a  week  to  hatch 
from  the  eggs,  but  the  weather  has  a  great  deal  to 
do  with  prolonging  or  lessening  these  periods. 
The  eggs  are  very  easily  seen,  almost  as  easily  a> 
the  caterpillars,  and  hand-picking  of  both  eggs  and 
caterpillars  is  the  best  remedy.  There  are  others, 
but  they  injure  the  plant  as  well  as  the  larva-. 
One  of  the  least  damaging  is  the  scattering  of  lime 
and  soot  over  the  plants,  but  if  this  is  done  when 
the  larvrc  are  resting  on  the  under  surface  of  the 
leaves  they  will  escape.  On  dull,  dark  days  they 
will  be  found  resting,  and  also  at  dusk  ;  though  it 
is  quite  possible  that  they  may  go  on  eating  through 
the  night.  A  sharp  shower  of  rain  often  washes 
them  off  the  leaves  ;  therefore,  a  sharp  spray  of 
water  from  the  hose  pipe  will  do  the  same  thing. 
The  larvjp  of  the  large  whites,  especially,  have  a 
habit  of  rolling  oB  the  leaves  when  disturbed,  but 
you  have  to  be  quick  to  collect  them  or  they  will 
find  their  way  back  to  the  plants. 

\\'hen  you  see  a  white  butterfly  in  the  kitchen 
garden,  follow  it.  Most  probably  it  is  a  female, 
intent  on  egg-laying  ;  the  males  prefer  the  flower 
garden.  Anyway,  a  glance  will  tell  you  the  sex, 
for  the  markings  on  the  wings  are  very  apparent 
as  the  insect  flies.  If  you  approach  too  closely, 
it  will  lay  its  eggs  in  ones  and  twos,  but  if  you  take 
care  not  to  disturb  it,  the  whole  batch  of  from  six 
to  sixty  will  be  laid  in  one  place,  and  it  is  then  a 
simple  matter  to  destroy  them.  Incident.illy, 
there  is  nothing  more  exquisite  in  the  whole  world 
of  nature  than  these  golden  eggs  of  the  white 
butterfly,  with  their  twenty  longitudinal  ribs  and 
finely  chiselled  transverse  lines.  They  each  have 
a  little  base,  and,  when  the  tiny  larvae  hatch  out 
and  eat  their  shells,  these  little  white  bases  remain  to 
show  where  the  batch  of  eggs  was  laid.  After  the 
shells  are  eaten  the  larvre  turn  their  attention  to 
the  leaf,  but,  until  the  second  moult,  they  keep 
closely  together  ;  after  that,  they  gradually  scatter 
in  all  directions. 

The  caterpillars  of  the  large  whites  have  one 
single  weapon  of  defence,  a  very  curious  one.  They 
are  able  sometimes  to  eject  from  their  mouths  a 
drop  of  green,  disagreeable  smelling  liquid.     This 


..if*  ' 

Fi;:.     I        .'-':--    ■'_'     ih-     1.111:4,      White    butterfly 
ij-'fens  brassiere),  <_;reat/Y  enlar^ied 


«*      ..   4. 


Fig.   2. —  The   z-e:y  young   iarvn'   ,5,    F.   tyrassicie 

work   in   companies   and  are   relatively   easy    te 

collect  and  to  destroy. 


Fig.  3. — Six  caterpillars  cf  the  Large  White 
species  haiie  reached  maturity.  One  has  already 
pupated,  four  have  been  attacked  by  Ichneumons, 
and  one,  though  not  pupated,  appears  to  have 
escaped  attack .  The  grubs  of  the  parasite  are  spin- 
ning cocoons  beside  the  dead  larvrc.  Such'co.'oons 
should  on  no  account  be  damaged  or  destroyed. 


Fig.  4. — Garden  White  butterflies  :    The   Smalt 

White    (Pieris    rapce),     the    Large     White    (P. 

brassier),  female  and  male. 


July  22,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


359 


is,  however,  all  that  they  can  do  ;  it  may  perhaps 
protect  them  from  the  attacks  of  birds.  Sparrows 
eat  them  in  spite  of  it,  but  most  other  birds  will 
not  touch  them,  except  when  they  are  very  small 
and  then  probably  they  are  collected  for  the  nest- 
lings. 

It  is  a  depressing  but  interesting  reflection  that 
for  an  immense  number  of  years — ever  since  man 
first  started  the  cultivation  of  the  wild  sea  Cabbage 
— agriculturists  all  over  Europe,  in  Northern 
Africa  and  in  some  parts  of  Japan,  have  been  trying 
to  exterminate  the  white  butterfly,  and  have  never 
really  had  the  least  permanent  success.  Perhaps 
if  the  balance  of  nature  had  not  been  so  recklessly 
interfered  with  the  butterflies  might  not  have 
increased  so  disastrously,  in  spite  of  our  having 
supplied  them  with  unhmited  quantities  of  the  food 
they  prefer  ;  sparrows,  if  they  had  been  allowed  to 
do  so,  would  certainly  have  accounted  for  a  very 
great  number,  and  the  little  black  ichneumon  fly, 
Apanteles  gloraeratus,  that  is  such  an  inveterate 
parasite  of  the  lar\'5e,  would  have  done  more  good 
still  if  its  cocoons  had  not  been  systematically 
destroyed  and  the  fly  itself  killed  by  the  sprays 
that  were  meant  to  kill  the  caterpillars. 

There  are  country  folk  still  who  call  the  cocoons 
of  these  ichneumon  flies  "  caterpillars'  eggs  "  and 
crush  them  as  soon  as  found  !  It  is  impossible 
to  say  what  might  have  been  the  position  to-day 
if  the  sparrows  and  the  ichneumons  had  had  a 
free  hand  ;  but  ignorance  and  stupidity  have 
fatally  checked  them.  The  extent  of  the  small 
parasite's  operations  among  the  cabbage  cater- 
pillars may  be  estimated  by  the  fact  that,  out  of  a 
hundred    larvae    collected,    more    than     half    will 


generally  be  found  to  have  been  "  stung  "  by  the 
ichneumon.  They  are,  of  course,  not  really  stung 
at  all ;  the  fly  has  Laid  her  eggs  in  the  butterfly's 
eggs  or  in  the  larv?e — probably  in  the  eggs,  in  spite 
of  reiterated  assertions  to  the  contrary — and  the 
grubs,  hatching  out,  have  fed  on  the  larval  juices 
and  eventually  killed  the  larvse.  The  grubs,  at 
this  stage  of  their  existence,  when  they  have 
destroyed  their  host,  are  ready  to  pupate.  Each 
step  in  their  career,  from  the  laying  of  the  eggs  to  the 
death  of  the  caterpillar,  has  been  for  their  benefit 
and  for  their  host's  destruction.  All  the  scenes 
in  the  really  dreadful  little  drama  are  played  out 
with  unfaiUng  precision.  When  the  grubs  are 
ready  to  pupate,  so  is  the  caterpillar — if  it  could. 
All  it  can  manage  to  do,  however,  is  to  spin  its 
little  pad  of  white  silk  on  which,  as  a  normal 
chrysalis,  it  ought  eventually  to  have  been  sus- 
pended, but  which  the  grubs  immediately  annex. 
While  the  silken  pad  is  being  spun  they  have  sucked 
a  little  opening  in  the  skin  of  the  caterpillar  and 
now  come  tumbhng  out,  each  in  a  tremendous 
hurry  to  get  safely  inside  its  cocoon.  These 
cocoons  are  piled  up  anyhow  on  the  silken  pad,  close 
to  the  empty  and  used-up  caterpillar,  and  owing 
to  their  size  and  golden  yellow  colour  they  are  very 
conspicuous  Uttle  objects. 

Nothing  that  we  can  do,  no  remedy  that  we  can 
possibly  devise,  will  destroy  the  cabbage  cater- 
pillars so  effectually  as  the  "  sting "  of  this 
ichneumon  fly,  and  the  greatest  care  should  be 
taken  that  neither  the  fly  nor  its  cocoons  are 
injured  by  insecticides  and  sprays,  and  especially 
that  the  cocoons  are  not  destroyed  througli 
ignorance.  M.  H.  Crawford. 


possibly  causing  the  loss  of  the  bloom  through 
damping  as  the  flower  nears  full  development. 
Three  days   after   the   buds  have   been   "  taken  " 


DISBUDDING    LARGE-FLOWERED 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS 


To  cultivators  it  will  not  seem  to  be  a 
long  time  since  the  cuttings  were  inserted, 
as  the  days  go  by  quickly  to  those 
deeply  interested  in  their  work.  That 
interest  will  now  be  still  deeper,  as  the 
very  interesting  phase  of  cultivation  has  come, 
namely,  the  "  taking "  of  the  flower-buds.  Of 
course  I  am  referring  to  the  selection  of  buds  on 
plants  grown  to  bear  large  blooms  of  those  of  the 
Japanese  section  and  blooms  refined  and  of  high- 
class  quality  of  the  incurved  and  single-flowered 
sections  respectively. 

Beginners  and  those  of  limited  experience  are 
generally  somewhat  puzzled  as  to  how  they  should 
treat  their  plants  at  that  stage  when  the  flower- 
buds  form,  as  they  \vill  do  from  the  middle  of  July 
till  late  in  September,  according  to  the  variety 
and  season. 

\'arieties  which  naturally  flower  late,  if  propa- 
gated late  in  winter-time,  will  not,  if  grown 
naturally,  show  buds  till  late  in  -August  or  early 
September.  Such  buds  would  be  too  late  to  develop 
into  large  blooms.  We  will,  however,  suppose  that 
all  propagation  and  "  stopping  "  of  shoots  has  been 
done  in  due  time  and  everything  is  quite  in  order  ; 
the  flower-buds  will  then  appear  on,  or  near  to, 
the  right  date.  The  massive  blooms  of  the  newer 
varieties  require  a  long  time  in  which  to  develop 
from  the  bud  stage.  It  may  be — as  was  the  case 
last  year — that  some  buds  will  be  shewing  by 
the  date  these  words  are  in  print.  All  such  of 
late  sorts  must  be  gradually  "  taken,"  as  to 
remove  such  buds  and  then  depend  upon  later 
ones  would  spell  disappointment  in  the  shape  of 
thin  blooms  shewing  an  eye. 

Some  of  the  largest  blooms  grown  in  this  country 
last   year  were   the  result  of   "  taking  "   buds  on 


July  15  ;  they  were  late-flowering  sorts.  The 
blooms  are  larger  from  crown  buds  than  from 
terminal  ;  the  latter,  it  is  true,  produce  flowers 
richer  and  deeper  in  colour,  but  usually  lacking 
in  depth. 

HOW    TO    "  TAKE  "    THE    BUDS. 

In  the  accompanying  sketches  the  crown  bud 
is  shewn  at  a,  the  side  shoots  6,  6,  b,  and  c,  c  must 
be  gradually  removed  %vhen  they  are  less  than 
lin.  long  ;  not  all  in  one  day,  but  one  or  two  each 
day  till  only  the  bud  and  the  main  leaves  are  left. 
The  letter  d  shews  the  bud  growing  freely,  and  e 
shews  how  buds  with  weak  stems  may  be  supported 
and  kept  in  an  upright  position.  Watch  the 
buds  day  by  day,  and  go  round  the  plants  at 
night  and  inspect  them  by  lantern  Ught.  Earwigs 
are  fond  of  the  buds,  and  will  soon  do  a  lot  of 
harm  if  not  checked.  They  eat  out  the  centres 
as  shown  at  /.  While  the  flowers  are  in  the  bud 
stage  it  seems  a  trifling  matter  enough,  but  see, 
at  g,  what  the  result  is  as  the  bud  develops  ; 
the  flower  petals  are  packed  very  closely  together 
in  the  bud,  and  in  one  night  the  earwig  will  spoil 
the  bloom  as  shown  at  g.  There  are,  besides  the 
earwigs,  small  grubs  that  gnaw  the  tender  stems 
just  below  the  buds  as  shewn  at  h.  Result :  half 
the  bud  fails  to  develop,  as  shewn  at  i,  the  other 
half,  j,  being  affected  too,  in  sympathy  it  would 
seem  to  be.  To  prevent  damage  to  the  tender 
stems  the  cultivator  should  dip  fingers  and  thumb 
in  soot  and  gently  smear  a  small  quantity  on  the 
stems. 

Aphides,  of  course,  must  be  kept  off  the  plants. 
Should  they  infest  the  buds,  syringe  them  off 
with  clear  water  early  in  the  day.  Do  not  use 
tobacco  powder  on  the  buds,  as  some  will  remain 
and    eventually    work    down    among    the    petals. 


"T.'VKING"    THE    BUDS. 

recommence  the  judicious  feeding  of  the  plants  as 
before. 

The  main  requirement  of  the  Chrysanthemuia 
cultivator,  indeed  of  gardeners  in  general,  is  a 
capacity  for  taking  pains.  George  Garner. 


THE  SOUTH  SEA  MYRTLES 

The  Leptospennums  are  much  hardier  than  is 
generally  supposed.  Though  they  attain  their  great- 
est perfection  on  the  South  Coast,  they  can  be  growi* 
satisfactorily  and  without  the  shelter  of  a  wall 
in  all  but  our  bleakest  counties.  They  appear,. 
however,  to  need  a  well  drained  loam,  and  if  there 
is  any  doubt  as  to  their  being  able  to  stand  the 
winter,  a  mound  of  ashes  at  the  base  will  generally 
save  the  plant  should  the  upper  parts  get  cut 
back  by  frost.  One  of  the  most  beautiful  is- 
L.  Nicolli,  with  velvety  crimson  flowers,  and  it 
is  doubtless  as  easily  managed  as  the  commoner 
L.  bullatum  (scoparium).  L.  Boscaweni,  the  white- 
flowers  of  which  are  suffused  and  centred  with 
crimson,  is  a  very  lovely  form,  coming  near  to 
L.  Chapmanni  in  appearance,  and  L.  stellatum  is  a 
good  creamy  white.  They  are  evergreens  of  an  erect, 
slender  habit  with  tiny,  rather  bronzed  leaves. 


360 


THE     GARDEN. 


[July  22,  1922. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


IRIS    NOMENCLATURE. 

rf~\UR  attention  has  been  drawn  to  a  letter  appear- 
ing in  your  issue  of  July  8  over  the  signature 
■"  Geo.  Dillistone,"  criticising  our  action  in  giving 
"the  supplementary  name  "  Sunset  "  to  M.  Denis' 
beautiful  Iris  Ochracea  coerulea. 

We  think  it  is  desirable  to  state  that  Mr.  George 
Dillistone  is  a  member — we  believe  a  director — of  tlie 
■firm  of  R.  Wallace  and  Co.,  Limited,  of  Tunbridge 
Wells.  A  few  of  your  readers  may  he  aware  of  this, 
but  the  majority  probably  are  not,  and  we  draw 
-attention  to  the  fact  because  we  will  not  be  drawn 
into  a  controv^ersy  with  a  trade  competitor  in  the 
■columns  of  the  amateur  gardening  press  ;  it  would 
be  neither  interesting  nor  edifying  to  your  readers. 

We  wish  to  say  that  those  of  your  readers  who 
.are  interested  in  this  matter  will,  we  think,  be 
<juite  satisfied  with  the  manner  in  which  we  have 
•dealt  with  Iris  Ochracea  coerulea  in  our  Iris  cata- 
logue if  they  will  be  good  enough  to  refer  to  this 
publication. 

We  must  also  add  that,  so  far  as  we  are  aware, 
"this  Iris  has  never  been  offered  to  the  public  in 
any  Iris  catalogue  hitherto  published  in  this  country, 
■on  the  Continent,  or  in  America,  and  that  if  we 
■should  have  stated  at  any  time  that  we  are  dis- 
tributing it  this  season,  we  should  have  been 
perfectly  justified  in  doing  so.  Further,  the  name 
■"  Sunset  "  has  not  previously  been  appropriated 
for  any  other  variety  in  any  Iris  catalogue  with 
-which  we  are  familiar,  nor  does  it  appear  in  the 
American  Iris  Society's  List  of  Irises  (at  any  rate, 
not  in  our  copy),  as  stated  by  Mr.  Dillistone,  and 
■«'e  have  every  right  to  use  it  cis  a  supplementary 
name.  Our  reasons  for  doing  so  are  sufficiently 
obvious  and  well  founded. 

We  have  never  wiUingly  misled  our  customers 
"with  regard  to  any  matter  in  connection  with  the 
plants  we  sell,  and  we  are  not  doing  so  in  this  case. 
- — G.  G.  Whitei.egg  &  Co. 

THE    SYRINGA. 

T  WAS  under  the  impression  that  the  word 
Syringa  appUed  to  the  Lilac  only.  In 
Bentham's  Flora  there  is  a  reference  to  "  Phila- 
•delphus  (Syringas)  "  under  the  family  of  Saxifrage, 
•and  to  Lilac  (Syringa)  under  the  Olive  family. 
Again  in  The  Garden  of  July  i,  "  Pruning  and 
Thirming  Flowering  Trees,"  page  313,  mention 
is  made  of  "  Syringa  (Philadelphus),"  and  Syringas 
and  Lilacs  are  separately  named  Would  it  not 
be  correct  to  classify  Syringa  =Lilac,  Philadelphus 
=Mock  Orange  ? — W.  T.  D. 

[The  botanic  name  of  the  Lilac  is  Syringa, 
and  the  common  name  of  the  Philadelphus  is 
Mock  Orange  or  Syringa,  though  the  latter  is 
■unquestionably  more  generally  used,  which  is 
^infortunate.  It  certainly  is  wiser  always  to  refer 
to  the  Philadelphus  as  Mock  Orange. — Ed.] 

ROSE    "GERBE    ROSE." 

n^HE  different  futures  of  the  two  women  in  the 
Gospel  narrative  who  were  grinding  corn 
is  but  one  instance  out  of  an  immense  number 
■where  it  is  inexplicable  why  one  should  be  taken 
and  the  other  left.  What  has  Gerbe  Rose  done 
that  it  is  not  more  frequently  seen  clothing  pillars 
■or  rambling  over  arches  in  our  kitchen  gardens 
■when  others  of  no  greater  decorative  merit  are 
here,  there  and  everywhere  ?  Is  it  that  it  cannot 
be  labelled  with  that  delightful  Irishism,  invariably 
associated  in  my  own  mind  with  a  great  raiser 
■who  is  a  very  St.  Chrysostom  in  his  descriptions 
of  new  Roses  ?  If  it  falls  short  of  being  "  very 
perpetual  "  it  is  proxime  accessit.  It  has  splendid 
vigour.  It  is  a  cut-and-come-again  in  the  multi- 
tude  of   its   blooms.     I    do  not  know  whose  nose 


a  Rose  has  to  satisfy  before  it  is  admitted  into 
the  select  circle  of  Selection  i::  in  the  192 1  Rose 
book  of  the  National  Society  ;  but  again  it  must 
be  proxime  accessit.  It  is  described  in  that  invalu- 
able httle  pubUcation  as  "  deep  pink."  That  is 
just  what  it  is.  I  want  to  pass  on  something  of 
the  enthusiasm  of  a  rose-lover  who  has  lately 
made  it  known  to  me.  She  even  coupled  it  with 
Zephirine  Drouhin.  One  hopes  that  history 
will  repeat  itself  in  the  case  of  Gerbe  Rose  and 
that,  Uke  Zephirine,  it  will  in  the  end  come  into 
its  own. — Maelor. 

THE    SPIRIT   OF   THE    GARDEN. 

A  summer's  day  was  sinking  to  its  close. 
Hushed  was  the  busy  hum  of  Nature's  life 
With  all  its  myriad  voices  and  around 
The  well  known  daylight  colours  of  the  flowers 
Changed  all  their  values  in  the  mellow  light. 
Peace  reigned.     On  every  hand  the  garden  lay 
In  that  sweet  state,  half  sleeping,  half  awake 
Where  the  soul's  ocean  breaks  on  conscious  shores 
Waking  those  utterances  which  men  call  dreams. 
This  mood  the  poet  knew  and  well  percei\'ed 
The  Spirit  of  the  Garden  brooding  near  ; 
Yet,  as  he  mused,  the  question  crossed  his  mind  : 
"  Where  are  thy  haunts  and  when  may'st  thou  be 

found  ?  " 
Unspoken  was  the  thought,  unspoken  too 
The  answer,  borne  upon  the  evening  air. 

"  When  in  Spring  life  wakens  slowly 
Making  earth  rejoice 
In  the  soft  air  blowing  lowly 
Breathes  my  voice. 

"  Where  the  moonbeams  bright  are  falling 
On  the  dew-starred  grass 
And  the  nightingales  are  calling 
Do  I  pass. 

"  Summer's  sun  which  bids  the  flowers 
Glow  with  fragrant  light 
Traces  on  the  dial  the  hours 
Of  my  dehght. 

"  When  life  fades,  the  funeral  pyres 
Flame  from  shrub  and  tree 
With  the  autumn-coloured  fires 
Lit  by  me. 

"  Where  the  hoar-frost  glistens  brightly 
O'er  the  frozen  land. 
He  who  loves  a  garden  rightly, 
Sees  my  hand. 

"  Noble  park  or  plot  most  humble 
Both  are  haunts  of  mine 
For  alike  I  fill  a  temple 
Or  a  shrine. 

"  Gardens  all,  whate'er  their  measure, 
Tilled  with  loving  care 
Hold  the  source  of  highest  pleasure, 
I  am  there." 

A.  E.  Sims. 

THE    SUMMER    ROSE    SHOW. 

nPHE  Show  is  getting  back  to  its  pre-war  size,  but 
all  those  wonderful  groups,  wholly  or  in  part 
made  up  of  plants  in  pots,  w'ere  still  conspicuous 
by  their  absence.  Have  they,  I  wonder,  gone  for 
ever  ? 

The  groups  had  gone,  but  Miss  WiUmott  told 
me  that  she  thought  it  was  the  finest  Show  the 
Society  had  ever  had.  Now,  of  all  people  Miss 
WiUmott  knows  what's  what  in  Roses.     Another 


testimony  to  its  excellence  was  that  of  Mr.  E.  H. 
Woodall.  He,  too,  is  no  mean  authority.  What 
struck  me  more  than  anything  was  the  almost 
imiversal  break  away  from  the  ancient  jammed-all- 
together  arrangement  of  the  flowers  in  the  groups. 
I  am  sure  the  poor  Roses  appreciated  being  given 
breathing  room  ;  and  I  am  still  more  sure  that  all 
who  came  to  see  them  thought  the  change  beneficial. 

The  weakness  of  the  Show  appeared  to  me  to 
be  the  slovenly  way  in  which  many  of  the  round 
baskets  were  finished  off.  There  has  to  be  a 
behind-the-scenes,  one  knows,  but  one  does  not 
want  to  see  it.  Probably  moss,  like  early  sown 
vegetables,  has  not  grown  over  well  this  dry 
spring,  but  surely  enough  could  have  been  found 
to  hide  the  wire  and  tubes  necessarj'  to  hold  the 
flowers  in  their  places. 

Managers  of  larger  shows  than  the  Rose  .Show 
would  do  well  to  take  notice  of  the  spacious  gang- 
ways. It  makes  the  whole  difference  to  the 
enjoyment  and  comfort  of  the  visitors  ;  and,  what 
is  of  equal  importance,  it  helps  trade.  Now  trade 
at  a  show  is  like  charity  in  daily  life,  it  blesses  the 
visitor  no  less  than  the  exhibitor. 

No  one  who  has  ever  been  to  a  National  Rose 
Show  if  asked  to  name  its  most  distinctive  feature 
could  make  any  other  reply  than  "  The  new  Roses 
tent."  The  long  thick  line  of  patient  waiters  out- 
side the  entrance  would  not  have  disgraced  the 
outside  of  a  theatre  when  a  popular  play  is  running. 
Then  once  inside  all  was  order.  It  was  refreshing 
after  the  higgledy-piggledy,  shoved-in-anyhow 
flower  salad  behind  the  iron  bars  at  Chelsea  !  I 

The  popularity  of  the  Decorated  Table  section  is 
as  great  as  ever.  There  were  in  all  no  fewer  than 
thirty-four  tables  competing  in  one  class  or  another. 
Unfortunately  the  beauty  of  the  arrangement  of 
the  whole  is  not  the  one  and  only  thing  to  be 
thought  of — probably  because  of  this  I  profoundly 
disagreed  with  most  of  the  awards  of  the  judges. 
If  the  arrangers  of  the  flowers  had  to  grow  their 
own,  there  might  possibly  be  something  to  be  said 
for  show  standards  being  necessary  in  the  individual 
blooms,  but  when  all  the  flowers  and  all  the  foliage 
may  be  acquired  by  purchase  or  by  presentation  it 
is  rough  on  the  exhibitor  who  has  no  friend  at 
court  or  who  has  not  a  very  deep  purse  ;  and  yet 
can  arrange  simply  and  tastefully.  The  table  that 
was,  to  me,  miles  ahead  of  all  in  the  tent  only  got 
a  "  third  "  in  its  class.  Is  it  easier  to  make  a  silk 
purse  out  of  a  sow's  ear  or  out  of  a  silken  skein  ? 

Lastly  no  one  could  fail  to  notice  a  general 
improvement  in  the  look  of  the  Botanic  Gardens 
themselves.  Now,  more  than  ever,  they  make  an 
ideal  home  for  a  show.  The  Rose  Show  is  a  very 
wise  creature. — Joseph  Jacob. 

BORDER    CARNATIONS. 

T  NOTICED  a  letter  from  my  friend  Allwood 
in  a  recent  copy  of  your  paper,  and  although 
the  copy  is  lying  on  my  desk  at  Edenside  half  a 
mile  away,  perhaps  you  will  allow  me  to  reph' 
to  the  only  important  point  I  noticed  that,  to  my 
mind,  needed  elucidating.  The  whole  sense  of 
Mr.  Allwood's  letter  seemed  to  point  to  some 
potent  gift  of  perpetuity  possessed  by  hybrid 
Carnations  as  opposed  to  the  flowering  period  of 
the  genuine  Border  strain.  Nothing  could  be 
more  illusory  nor  calculated  to  puff  one  section 
against  another  (quite  innocently,  I  admit,  for 
we  all  acquit  Mr.  Allwood  of  any  such  unfair 
intention).  I  suppose  the  full  flowering  period 
of  a  Carnation  in  the  garden  is  from  June  to 
September,  inclusive.  The  gardener  who  cannot 
produce  Border  Carnation  bloom  over  that  period 
has  something  to  learn.  Almost  every  variet>- 
of  our  new  Clove-scented  Borders,  if  grown  the 
second  and  third  year  in  the  same  place  without 
disturbance,  will  produce  bloom  from  May  until 
September,  and  even  October  if  the  weather  is  dry. 


July  22,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


361 


I  seem  to  have  heard  that  "  a  shoemaker's 
wife  is  usually  badly  served  for  shoes."  Surely 
in  the  same  sense  the  wife  of  a  Carnation  specialist 
is  usually  badly  off  for  Carnations.  At  any  rate, 
I  am  about  to  confess  that  in  my  garden  there  is 
only  one  Carnation  plant.  (I  must  have  Lavender, 
Sweet  Williams,  Pansies,  Stocks  and  Roses — but 
Carnations,  No,  sir !)  This  plant  of  the  new 
Bookham  -  White  Clove,  planted  October,  1920, 
has  been  in  bloom  (rarely  having  less  than  three 
blooms  on  at  the  time)  since  May  21  last,  and  I 
herewith  give  you  an  account  of  its  present  develop- 
ment as  I  stand  before  it  :  128  layers,  or  growths, 
for  1923  flowers;  fifteen  visible  flower  spikes 
that  will  bloom  between  end  of  July  and  end  of 
September  ;  ninety  shoots  bearing  buds  that  will 
flower  within  the  present  month  ;  sixteen  shoots 
bearing  full  blooms  and  buds  shewing  colour, 
some  of  them  4ins.  across,  the  calyx  of  every  one 
perfect,  and  the  scent  of  the  flowers  perfuming 
the  evening  air  with  the  glorious  aromatic  Clove 
odour. 

In  spite  of  the  heavy  winds  of  the  last  week 
all    spikes    are    standing    erect    without    staking. 


the  appointment,  should  go  thoroughly  into  the 
objects  the  Wisley  Gardens  are  intended  to  serve. 
Perhaps  to  some  extent  this  has  been  done  since 
I  see  in  The  Garden  that  the  genus  Crocus  is  to 
be  grown  and  compared,  a  very  welcome  change, 
in  my  opinion,  from  the  eternal  trials  of  vegetables 
and  flowers.  I  consider  the  value  of  these  trials 
to  be  immensely  over-rated  since  they  determine 
only  the  best  varieties  for  a  light  sandy  soil  and 
climatic  conditions  similar  to  those  obtaining  at 
Wisley. — Sl'ssex. 

THE    MOCK    ORANGE. 

VOUR  beautiful  picture  of  Philadelphus  Coupe 
d'Argent  in  the  issue  of  July  8,  page  332, 
has  moved  me  to  write  on  behalf  of  that  now 
imtashionable  shrub  P.  grandiflorus,  which, 
flowering  later  than  most  of  the  Mock  Oranges,  is 
large  flowered,  pure  white  and  noteworthy  for  its 
graceful  habit  and  vigour.  It  attains  a  height  of 
15ft.  to  20ft.,  which  adds  greatly  to  its  value  in 
many  situations.  It  is,  of  course,  scentless,  but 
not  everyone  will  consider  this  a  drawback.  For 
cut  flower  purposes  it  is  certainly  a  great  advantage 


PHILADELPHUS    GRANDIFLORUS.      PROOF    OF    OUR    CORRESPONDENT'S    CONTENTION. 


and  these  characteristics  we  claim  for  thirty-five 
out  of  our  forty  new  Cloves  and  for  80  per  cent, 
of  our  listed  Border  Carnations  if  the  plants  are 
grown  the  second  and  third  year  without  disturb- 
ance. For  many  years  we  have  carefully 
selected  for  hybridisation  varieties  that  have 
shown  a  tendency  to  "  Perpetual  "  habit,  until 
now  we  claim  that  our  strain,  if  treated  as  already 
mentioned,  will  flower  over  the  whole  of  the 
period  permitted  by  our  changeable  climate. 

I  do  not  desire  to  animadvert  on  the  rest  of 
my  friend's  letter,  but  only  to  sympathise  with 
him  on  the  lack  of  taste  shown  by  the  important 
societies  he  mentions  in  not  fathering  his  bantlings. 
That  is  strange  also,  for  I  never  knew  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  backward  in  acknowledging 
merit,  or  the  National  Carnation  Society  for 
th.nt    matter. — James    Douglas,    Grmi  Bookham, 

WI.SLEY     G.4RDENS. 

T  H.WE  not  heard  of  any  successor  being 
appointed  to  the  late  Mr.  S.  T.  Wright,  Super- 
intendent of  Wisley  Gardens,  so  imagine  that  the 
Council  are  taking  their  time  in  the  hope  of  finding 
the  man  best  suited  for  the  post.  I  would  respect- 
fully suggest  that  the  Council,  when  considering 


as  the  scent  of  the  otherwise  valuable  P.  coronarius 
is  quite  overpowering  indoors. 

Philadelphus  l.emoinei  and  its  derivatives  are 
admittedly  very  useful  for  the  front  of  the  shrub- 
bery, but  there  has  been  of  late  years  a  tendency 
to  plant  them,  even  in  large  gardens,  to  the  exclu- 
sion of  the  plant  of  which  I  enclose  a  picture. 
This  should  not   be.— H.  H. 

PRUNING    CLEMATISES. 

TN  your  issue  of  December  31  last  you  publish 
a  letter  from  Mr.  Owen  Thomas  in  which  he 
tells  us  how  to  train  and  prune  the  Clematis  Nellie 
Moser  so  as  to  get  1,500  fully  expanded  flowers 
out  at  once.  I  think  he  is  mistaken  in  ascribing 
Nellie  Moser  to  the  Jackmanni  section  instead 
of  the  Lanuginosae  section,  an  inaccuracy  that  is 
misleading,  as  the  two  sections  require  very  different 
treatment.  He  says  that  in  January,  1920,  he 
had  all  the  shoots  oit  back  to  within  9ins.  of  the 
ground.  I  imagine  the  result  would  be  that  in 
that  year  he  got  no  blossom,  or  very  little,  as 
Nellie  Moser  blossoms  on  the  old  wood. — E.  L.  W. 
[Mr.  A.  G.  Jackman,  a  recognised  authority, 
advocates  precisely  the  same  pruning  for  the 
Lanuginosa;  and  Jackmanni  sections. — Ed.] 


SWEET    PEAS     AT 
EASTBOURNE 

SELDOM,  if  ever,  have  such  fine  Sweet 
Peas  been  seen  as  at  Devonshire  Park 
on  July  12  and  13,  when  the  National 
Society  held  its  annual  show  there  on 
the  invitation  of  the  Eastbourne  Horti- 
cultural Society.  The  great  Winter  Garden  was 
filled  with  glorious,  fragrant  spikes  of  large  blooms, 
and  there  was  an  enormous  attendance. 

The  principal  interest  was  centred  in  the  trade 
competition  for  the  Eastbourne  Challenge  Cup, 
presented  by  the  county  borough  and  v-alued  at 
60  guineas.  Each  of  the  many  competitors  was 
allowed  a  space  15ft.  by  4ft.  6ins.,  and  there  were 
no  restrictions  as  to  varieties  or  style  of  arrange- 
ment. The  judges  experienced  considerable  diffi- 
culty in  awarding  the  first  prize,  as  the  magnificent 
exhibits  by  Messrs.  .'Andrew  Ireland  and  Hitchcock 
and  Messrs.  Dobbie  and  Co.  were  of  such  even 
merit  that  only  a  half  point  separated  them. 
However,  the  greatly  desired  trophy  was  finally 
awarded  to  Messrs.  Dobbie  and  Co.,  who  had  a 
magnificent  lot  of  Sweet  Peas,  all  of  high  quality, 
but  lacking  the  bright  colours  of  their  closest 
competitors.  Among  the  many  sorts  shown  by 
Messrs.  Dobbie  and  Co.  were  Dignity,  Royal  Scot,. 
Melba,  Renown,  Constance  Hinton,  Pink  Pearl,, 
Tangerine  Improved  and  Jean  Ireland. 

In  the  superb  effort  by  Messrs.  Ireland  and 
Hitchcock  vivid  colour  was  displayed  by  the 
generous  vases  of  such  as  Hawlmark  Pink  and 
Tangerine  Improved,  while  Daisybud,  Jean 
Ireland  and  Elegance  were  also  exceedingly 
charming.  The  gold  medal  awarded  for  this 
collection  was  richly  deserved. 

Messrs.  Sutton  and  Sons  had  perhaps  the  most 
attractive  style  of  arrangement  in  all  these  gigantic 
displays,  but,  though  of  first-class  quality,  their 
blooms  were  not  quite  equal  to  the  super-excellence- 
of  the  two  former  exhibits. 

Messrs.  Sutton's  gold  medal  exhibit  included 
Picture,  Tangerine  Improved,  May  Unwin  and 
Hawlmark  Pink. 

Silver-gilt  medals  were  awarded  to  Mr.  J. 
Stevenson,  Messrs.  S.  Bide  and  Sons,  Mr.  W.  J. 
Unwin  and  the  Preston  Hall  Nurseries,  while 
Messrs.  Carter  and  Co.,  A.  Jewell  and  P.  W. 
Abbott  received  silver  medals  for  collections- 
which  on  ordinary  occasions  would  have  been 
considered  of  great  excellence,  butthis  was  no 
ordinary  occasion. 

The  Monro  Challenge  Cup  was  for  competition 
among  the  trade  growers,  and  it  required  twelve 
vases  of  varieties  raised  or  introduced  by  the 
exhibitor.  With  the  trophy  goes  the  Society's 
gold  medal,  and  this  valuable  first  prize  was 
decisively  won  by  Messrs.  Ireland  and  Hitchcock, 
who  had  exceptionally  meritorious  vases  of  such 
as  Mrs.  A.  Hitchcock,  Olive,  New  White  and 
glowir;g  blooms  of  Tangerine  Improved.  Messrs. 
E.  W.  King  and  Co.,  who  were  second,  had  superb 
spikes  of  Giant  Attraction,  Anglian  Orange  and 
Mrs.  A.  Hitchcock. 

Messrs.  King  and  Co.  won  the  Burpee  Challenge 
Cup  with  a  charming  arrangement  of  excellent 
blooms  of  waved  varieties,  and  they  also  had,  in 
Rosemary  (shades  of  pink),  the  best  vase  of  seed- 
ling Sweet  Pea. 

The  raiser's  class  was  won  by  Mr.  J.  Stevenson, 
and  his  very  best  varieties  were  Fair  Lady  (deep 
blush  pink).  Crimson  Glow  and  Wild  Rose  ;  the 
colours  of  the  two  last  are  well  described  in  their 
names. 

With  superb  spikes  of  Mascott's  HeUo,  Picture, 
Mrs.  A.  Hitchcock  and  other  sorts  Mr.  L.  Horton 
won  the  E.  W.  King  Cup,  offered  for  the  best 
twelve  varieties  on  sale  during  the  present  season. 


362 


THE     GARDEN. 


[July  22,  1922. 


The  President's  Prize  is  in  open  competition, 
and  Mr.  A.  H.  Parsons,  Lewes,  won  the  cup, 
medal  and  money  prize  with  a  really  great  exhibit. 
His  spikes  of  Renown,  Mrs.  A.  Hitchcock  and 
Matchless  were  the  very  best.  The  best  varieties 
not  yet  in  commerce  were  shown  by  Messrs.  S. 
Bide  and  Son,  who  included  Almas  Beauty 
and,  in  Nancy  and  Lhiique,  two  uncommon 
bicolors. 

The  Sutton  Cup,  open  to  competition  among 
amateurs  only,  evoked  extensive  competition,  and 
was  won  by  Sir  Randolph  Baker,  whose  best  sorts 
were  Picture,  Felton's  Cream,  Jean  Ireland  and 
Mrs.  A.  Hitchcock.  The  same  competitor  had 
the  best  amateur  display  of  Sweet  Peas,  and  this 
was  highly  decorative.  The  highest  quality 
amateur  blooms  were  in  the  Daily  Mail  Cup 
class,  which  was  won  by  Mr.  F.  W.  Franks,  Loam- 
pits,  Tunbridge,  with  a  superb  collection,  including, 
in  the  vase  of  Picture,  the  best  vase  in  the  com- 
petitive classes.  The  best  vase  of  a  novelty  Sweet 
Pea  was  that  of  Mascott's  Ingman,  a  rich  rosy 
cerise,  in  the  second  prize  set  of  Mr.  H.  Walker, 
Lewes,  which  was  of  such  excellence  that  the 
judges  must  have  experienced  great  difficulty 
in  awarding  the  prizes.  Chief  among  the  other 
sorts  in  these  superb  collections  were  Jean  Ireland, 
Valentine,  Matchless,  Elegance,  Royal  Purple, 
Royal  Scot  and  Mrs.  George  Shawyer,  though  all 
really  deserved  mention.  Mr.  Franks  also  won 
the  Edward  Webb  and  Son's  Cup  and  a  number 
of  first  prizes  in  the  colour  classes. 

At  the  Show  the  best  varieties  of  the  different 
colours  were  Constance  Hinton  (white),  Hawl- 
mark  Pink,  Orchid  (lavender),  Dobbie's  Cream, 
Fiery  Cross  (orange  scarlet).  Royal  Scot  (cerise). 
Field  Marshal  (crimson).  Warrior  (maroon),  Jean 
Ireland  (picotee-edged)  and  Mrs.  Tom  Jones 
(blue).  The  blooms  in  the  smaller  amateurs' 
and  local  classes  were  also  of  very  gratifying 
<juality  and  were  greatly  admired. 

Large  space  had  to  be  devoted  to  the  decorative 
classes,  and  most  of  the  exhibits  were  very  artistic. 
Mrs.  A.  D.  Ruff,  Shombrook,  had  the  best  dinner- 
table  decorations  and  won  both  first  prizes.  Her 
association  of  orange  and  pale  blush  shades  and 
mauve  and  blush  with  elegant  foliage  was  par- 
ticularly successful,  as  also  was  Mrs.  A.  R.  Bide's 
hasket  of  Sweet  Peas.  A  large  table  of  beautiful 
stands  of  Sweet  Peas  and  splendid  dishes  of  fruit 
in  great  variety  arranged  by  Mr.  C.  R.  Aust  of 
Eastbourne  was  one  of  the  features  of  the 
show. 

In  tents  on  the  lawn  there  were  many  delightful 
miscellaneous  exhibits  by  the  trade.  Messrs. 
Allwood  Brothers  won  the  Silver  Challenge  Cup 
■and  piece  of  plate  with  one  of  their  superb  collec- 
tions of  Carnations  and  Allwoodii  Pinks.  Mr. 
C.  Scaplehorn  almost  filled  a  smaller  marquee 
with  a  wide  range  of  excellent  border  flowers,  a 
Lily  pool  and  bank  of  Ferns.  Messrs.  J.  Cheal 
and  Sons  had  a  good  collection  of  many  types  of 
Dahlia,  Roses  and  border  flowers. 

Many  fine  spikes  of  Eremuri  of  such  as  E. 
Bungei  and  E.  Shelfordi  were  associated  with 
various  hardy  border  flowers  by  Messrs.  G. 
Bunyard  and  Co.  A  beautiful  miscellaneous 
exhibit  was  made  by  Mr.  G.  T.  Scott,  who  seems 
to  be  able  to  grow  Gilia  coronopifoha  very 
easily,  as  he  had  many  excellent  plants.  Hardy 
flowers  were  also  shewn  by  Messrs.  Maxwell 
and  Beale  and  Messrs.  G.  and  A.  Clark  ;  while 
Messrs.  Carter  and  Co.  had  splendid  Begonias, 
Gloxinias  and  Eschscholtzias  arranged  with 
Sweet  Peas. 

Very  many  Carnations,  largely  of  the  sorts 
valued  for  market  purposes,  were  well  set  up  by 
Mr.  C.  Engelmann,  and  adjoining  these  Messrs. 
A.  and  J.  McBean  had  a  large  collection  of  valuable 
Orchids. 


PLANTS     FOR     A     SMALL    MORAINE 

GARDEN 

(Continued    from    page    32;;.) 


LEONTOIODIUM  ALPINUM.— The  Edelweiss 
being  quite  happy  in  other  parts,  it  is  not 
necessary  to  find  a  place  for  it  on  the 
moraine,  although  I  suppose  space  should 
•^  perhaps  be  found  for  some  of  the  recently 
introduced  Chinese  "  lemon-scented  "  representa- 
tives of  this  genus. 

Linaria  alpina. — Lo\ely  as  this  miniature 
"  Snapdragon "  is,  owing  to  its  seeding  itself 
so  freely  it  became  a  nuisance  to  other  less  vigorous 
plants  and  had  to  be  weeded  out  altogether. 
There  is  always  plenty  of  it  in  other  situations 
away  from  the  moraine,  both  the  blue  and  the 
prettier  rosy  variety. 

Lithospermum  Gastonii  was  only  once  tried,  and 
1  failed  to  estabhsh  it.  It  seems  a  difficult  plant 
to  move  and  if  taken  from  a  pot  should  be 
planted  without  the  ball  of  earth  being  disturbed, 
which  one  probably  forgets  at  the  time.  It  was 
flourishing  in  several  parts  of  a  very  beautiful 
rock  garden  in  a  Yorkshire  dale  in  the  limestone 
region  visited  by  me  in  1918,  the  plants  being 
nearer  I2ins.  high  than  4ins.,  the  height  given  in 
the  hst.  It  hardly  seems  to  be  a  suitable  plant  for 
moraine  e\'en  if  it  could  be  successfully  established. 

Mertensia  primuloides  —  an  exceedingly  pretty 
Himalayan  Borage  with  velvety,  blue  -  purple, 
kaleidoscopic  coloured  flowers — flourishes,  but  the 
flowers  are  invariably  aborted,  owing  to  the  frosts 
that  nearly  always  occur  when  it  is  coming  into 
flower  ;  this  is  due  to  the  moraine  being  fully 
exposed  to  the  early  morning  sun,  which,  shining 
on  to  them  after  a  night's  frost,  has  a  deadly  effect. 
It  should  be  quite  satisfactory  in  a  more  sheltered 
position. 

Myosotis  rupicola. — Tried,  but  not  very  satisfac- 
tory. Very  difficult  to  keep,  and  must  be  treated, 
as  with  other  "  Forget-me-nots,"  at  the  most  as 
short-lived.  Of  course,  the  happy  thing  would  be 
for  it  to  sow  and  maintain  itself,  as  do  the  commoner 
representatives  of  the  family. 

Morisia  hypogaea. — Finely  flowered  plants  of  this 
dwarf,  evergreen-leaved,  yellow-flowered  plant 
are  quite  desiderata.  It  usually  does  well  in 
moraine,  the  only  danger  being  that,  its  stems 
becoming  "  woody,"  it  has  a  tendency  to  rot  off 
in  very  damp  winters,  although  seedlings  spring 
up  round  the  parent  plant  at  times. 

Papaver  alpinum. — The  loveUest  of  "  Poppies," 
which  maintains  itself  happily  for  a  longer  period 
in  moraine,  and,  as  it  seeds  itself  freely,  there  is 
usually  no  fear  of  losing  it.  Quite  indispensable, 
both  for  its  beautiful  flowers  and  pretty  glaucous 
foliage  and  for  the  lengthy  period  it  keeps  flowering 
if  prevented  from  seeding.  If  allowed  to  seed  freely 
it  may  take  advantage  of  conditions  which  it  fully 
appreciates  and  take  up  more  space  than  is  desirable. 

PetrocaUis  pyrenaica. — Have  had  no  difliculty 
with  this  member  of  the  Draba  family,  with  its 
close  green  cushions  covered  in  the  spring  with 
squat  pink  flowers.  It  keeps  quite  compact  in 
moraine  (in  richer  soil  it  tends  to  become  "  leggy  ") 
and  does  not  require  winter  protection.  My  plant 
has  been  in  its  present  position  seven  or  eight  years, 
and,  although  it  has  increased  in  size,  its  growth 
has  been  very  slow. 

Polemonium  confertum  mellitum. — One  is  some- 
what in  a  difficulty  here  as  to  what  plant  was  really 
meant  ;  this  difficulty  is  also  intensified  when  the 
plant  under  this  name  is  ordered  from  some  of  the 
dealers  in  alpines.  There  seem  to  be  so  many 
inferior  Polemoniums  about,  passing  under  good 
names,  that  one  may  have  many  disappointments 


before  the  right  plant  is  obtained.  I  do  not  seem 
to  have  succeeded  yet,  although  oue  of  the  first 
plants  received  as  this  proved  to  be  quite  a  good 
dwarf  species  with  very  pretty  pale  blue  flowers 
on  short  stems  ;  the  foliage  was  very  squat,  and 
the  plant  seemed  quite  at  home  in  the  moraine, 
but  never  seemed  to  increase  much,  and,  owing 
to  being  moved,  was  eventually  lost.  It  was 
possibly  P.  lanatum,  and  it  is  a  plant  that  I  should 
like  again.  Other  plants  that  I  have  had  have 
produced  nothing  satisfactory,  and  P.  confertum 
is  still  a  desideratum.  I  find  that  Mr.  Farrer 
evidently  changed  his  mind  as  to  P.  confertum 
mellitum,  as  he  writes  at  a  later  date  that  P. 
confertum  is  "  far  preferable  to  its  variety  P.  c. 
•mellitum  which  is  so  much  commoner  in  gardens." 

Primula  x  intermedia. — This  hybrid  could  not 
very  well  be  tried  unless  it  had  been  obtained 
from  Mr.  Farrer's  own  nursery,  as  it  does  not  seem 
to  appear  in  lists  and  it  is  probably  difficult  to 
differentiate  in  a  class  in  which  there  are  countless 
numbers  of  hybrids. 

P.  spectabilis.  —  I  tried  this  Primula  more 
than  once,  but  failed  to  maintain  it  for  more 
than  one  or  two  seasons.  Primulas  have  not 
been  a  success  with  me  on  the  moraine,  the 
family  reqmring  something  more  substantial  in 
the  way  of  soil  than  is  usually  provided  in  the 
gritty  moraine.  If  any  of  them  do  show  signs  of 
succeeding  they  soon  seem  to  be  attacked  by  pests 
such  as  Noctiae  larva-  or  Crane  fly  ("  Daddy  Long 
legs  ")  larva?,  which  lay  round  about  undergroxmd 
and  gnaw  through  the  stem  at  about  the  ground 
level,  and  you  usually  do  not  realise  what  is  happen- 
ing until  it  is  too  late. 

The  type  of  Primula  that  seems  to  be  most 
satisfactory  is  P.  viscosa,  the  very  striking  hybrid 
P.  Mrs.  J.  H.  Wilson,  and  other  P.  x  pubescens 
hybrids,  if  only  good  forms  are  retained.  A  citron 
yellow  flowered  one  that  I  have  is  a  pleasant 
contrast  to  the  brighter  almost  magenta  coloured 
P.  Mrs.  J.  H.  Wilson  near  by.  The  plant  referred 
to  in  1917  as  P.  luteola  and  sent  me  as  such  proved 
to  be  Cortusa  Matthioli,  a  totally  different  plant, 
with  pretty  foliage  quite  pleasantly  scented,  and 
crimson,  white-eyed,  pendent  flowers  ;  it  requires 
richer  soil  and  does  better  away  from  moraine. 
P.  Wulfeniana,  P.  caruiolica,  P.  x  Venzoi  and 
P.   .AUionii  w'ere  also  tried,  but  without  success. 

Ranunculus  alpestris.  —  This  lovely  flowered 
white  "  Buttercup  "  maintained  itself  for  some  time 
in  the  loamy  part  of  the  moraine,  but  only  flowered 
very  sparingly,  and  trying  to  better  its  condition 
only  ended  in  my  losing  it  altogether.  It  is  now 
being  tried  away  from  the  moraine,  but  owing 
to  the  very  dry  spring  following  last  year's  excep- 
tionally hot  summer  it  has  not  flowered.  The 
leaves  are  being  attacked  by  a  leaf  miner  and  also 
by  the  caterpillars  of  one  of  the  smaller  moths. 

R.  glacialis,  is  usually  found  very  high  up  in  the 
Alps  and  is  quite  common  in  places  at  the  foot  of 
the  higher  glaciers,  in  positions  saturated  with  water 
trickling  down  from  the  same — conditions  difficult 
to  produce  in  a  "  waterless "  town  garden.  It 
has  had  two  trials,  but  never  got  into  the  second 
summer.  The  last  that  was  tried  had  a  place 
specially  made  for  it,  and  was  saturated  with 
water  in  the  early  spring  through  free  drainage. 
It  commenced  to  grow,  but  it  proved  impossible 
to  keep  the  slugs  off  it,  and  it  never  had  the  slightest 
chance  of  ever  getting  into  leaf. 

R.  parnassifolius,  although  slow  in  establishing 
itself,    really    was    the    best    of    those    tried,    and 


July  22,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


363 


(atterlv  flowered  very  well  oti  fairly  short  stems, 
not  drawn  up  as  is  the  case  with  plants  put  in 
«he  shade.  The  plants  kept  dwarf  and  increased 
nicely  until  last  summer's  extra  dry  spell,  which 
threw  them  back  so  much  that  they  were  moved  to 
ja  more  sheltered  and  I  hoped  more  suitable  position, 
fcut  thev  have  failed  to  flower  this  year,  as  have 


also  the  larger  R.  ampIexicauHs  and   R.  gramini- 
folius. 

R.  Seguieri. — This  Dolomite  version  of  R. 
glacialis  included  in  the  list  and  stated  to  be 
easier  and  freer,  has  not  been  tried,  it  rarely  being 
included  in  plant  lists. 

{To  bf  contitiued.) 


A    BEAUTIFUL    WILD    ROSE 

The  Musk  Rose  in  the  Temperate  House  at  Kezv  this  season  ivas  worth  going  far  to  see. 


T 


H£      accompanying    illustration    directs 
attention  to  the  decorative  character  of 
one   of   the   most   beautiful  of   the   wild 
Rose  s — R  o  s  a 
moschata,     the 

^lusk    Rose    of    Southern 

Europe,       Asia        Minor, 

Northern        India        and 

China.      It   is   a  cUmbing 

plant  which,  in   a  natural 

state,      ascends     to      the 

tops     of     trees    50ft.     or 

6oft.    high,    throwing   out 

as    it    climbs    long    ram- 
bling  branches,   which  in 

their  right  season  become 

festoons    of    large,  white, 

fragrant    flowers.       .\s    is 

to      be      expected      with 

such   a  widely  distributed 

plant     there     is    a     good 

deal  of  variation  in  habit 

and    size    of    flowers    be- 
tween specimens  collected 

in       different        countries 

and   there    is    a    marked 

difference     in     hardiness. 

The     two     most     distinct 

forms   in    cultivation   are 

marked     by     green     and 

glaucous-green  leaves,  the 

latter    being     less    hardy 

and   a    distinctly    inferior 

plant  to  the  former.     The 

form      with     plain     green 

leaves  grows  at  least  30ft. 

high  in  Southern  England 

and    several     fine     speci- 
mens  are    to    be    seen    in 

the  Rose  Garden  at   Kew. 

one      being      particularly 

well    placed   at    the    foot 

of    a   large    Holly.       The 

branches      have     reached 

the  top  of  the  HoUy  and 

the    flowers    are   seen    to 

great    advantage    against 

the  dark  background.     As 

may    be    seen    from    the 

illustration  the  flowers  are  produced  in  clusters, 

the  clusters  often  measuring  from  gins,  to  I2ins. 

across  and  the  individual  flowers  from   ijins.   to 

2jin3.    in    diameter.     When    first    they   open    the 

petals  are  creamy  white,  changing  soon  after  to 

pure   white,    the   central   mass   of   stamens   being 

golden  in  colour.     The  accompanying  photograph 

is  of  a  plant  raised  from  seeds  received  at  Kew  under 

another   name   from    India.     Its   hardiness   being 

■doubtful,  it  was  planted  in  the  west  porch  of  the 

Temperate  House.     The  position  suited  it  admirably 

and  it  grew  very  freely.     In  192 1  it  blossomed  well, 

but  evidently  the  sunny  summer  of  last  year  ripened 

the   wood   better   than   usual   and   it   has   been   a 

magnificent  sight  this  year,  flowering  more  freely 


than  it  has  done  on  previous  occasions,  the  clusters 
of  blossoms  being  specially  fine.  Plants  that  have 
grown  out  of  doors  for  many  years  are  also  flowering 


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THE    MUSK    ROSE,    ROSA     MOSCH.\TA 


better  than  usual,  which  proves  the  accuracy  of 
suggestions  that  have  been  made  from  time  to 
time  regarding  this  species,  i.e.,  that  the  best  results 
can  only  be  expected  by  a  thorough  ripening  of  the 
wood.  During  wet  smnmers  numerous  very  long, 
strong  shoots  are  formed,  but  they  almost  invariably 
suffer  severely  during  winter.  If  planted  in  good 
loamy  soil  in  a  position  where  the  branches  are 
fully  exposed  to  sun,  R.  moschata  may  be  expected 
to  thrive  and  it  cannot  fail  to  please  the  most 
fastidious  of  Rose  lovers.  There  is  a  variety  with 
double  flowers,  but  it  is  no  improvement  on  the 
type.  R.  moschata  may  be  found  in  some  gardens 
under  the  name  of  R.  Brunoni,  a  name  given  by 
Lindley  to  the  Musk  Rose.  W.  D. 


GARDENING   OF    THE 
WEEK 

FOR     SOUTHERN    G.ARDEXS. 
The   Kitchen  Garden. 

Spinach. — Seed  to  produce  plants  which  will 
yield  pickings  during  the  autumn  and  winter 
may  be  sown  from  now  onwards  at  intervals 
according  to  requirements  until  the  latter  p;iit 
of  September.  The  drills  should  be  spaced  about 
I5ins.  apart  and  the  plants  left  about  4ins.  or 
6ins.  from  each  other.  Should  the  weather  be 
dry  at  the  time  of  sowing,  the  drills  should  be 
well  watered  previous  to  scattering  the  seeds. 
The  prickly  tvpe  is  the  most  reliable  for  these 
sowings,  but  should  these  have  failed  on  some 
soils  to  give  sufficient  returns,  a  sowing  should 
also  be  made  of  the  Spinach  Beet  or  Perpetual 
variety,  from  which  an  abundance  of  leaves 
may  always  be  gathered  during  the  spring. 

Autumn  Onions  should  be  pulled  up  as  tlieir 
foiiage  ripens  and  laid  in  the  sun  to  complete 
ripening  before  being  stored  away  in  cool  quarters 
In  the  event  of  the  weather  being  showery,  the 
bulbs  should  be  laid  on  treUis-work  to  keep  them 
from  the  ground. 

Globe  Artichokes.— WTiere  this  vegetable  is 
appreciated  and  the  plants  are  growing  on  porous 
soil  it  will  be  necessary  to  give  a  few  waterings 
to  aid  in  the  development  of  the  heads.  .All 
heads  should  be  cut  as  soon  as  ready  for  use. 
otherwise  they  become  tough.  Stood  in  water 
in  a  cool  place  this  vegetable  will  remain  in  good 
condition  for  some   time. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Hedges. — Any  necessary  trimming  of  Yew, 
Box  or  Thorn  may  be  done  now.  Where  close 
or  formal  effect  is  required  a  pair  of  garden  shears 
juust  be  used,  but  where  this  is  not  desired  a  pair 
uf  secateurs  or  a  strong  knife  should  be  employed 

Helianthemums,  or  Sun  Roses  as  thev  are 
more  popularly  called,  are  useful  for  dry  edgings, 
as  well  as  for  the  rockery  and  walls.  There  are 
two  forms,  the  single  and  the  double.  The  former 
may  be  raised  from  seed,  while  the  latter  must 
be  increased  by  cuttings.  Beth  may  be  propa- 
gated now,  using  a  hght  sandy  soil  and  a  cold 
frame.  Where  a  quantity  of  Sun  Roses  are 
established  on  a  large,  dry  bank  some  of  the  seed 
may  be  scattered  about  as  soon  as  it  ripens,  and 
quite  a  measure  of  success  should  be  obtained  in 
increase  of  plants. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 
Summer  Pruning. — This  work  having  been 
completed  on  wall  trees  it  may,  where  thought 
necessary,  be  commenced  on  Apples,  Pears. 
Plums,  etc.,  growing  in  the  open,  whether  trained 
in  pvramid,  standard  or  bush  form.  There  is, 
I  think,  a  tendency  to  carry  out  this  operation 
too  early  sometimes,  with  the  evil  result  that  a 
lot  of  secondary  growths  are  encouraged  from 
buds  which  should  have  remained  donnant  and, 
indeed,  would  have  done  so  had  pruning  not 
been  done  so  early.  It  is  somewhat  difficult 
to  lay  down  any  definite  rules,  as  so  much  depends 
upon  the  de\elopment  of  each  tree.  A  general 
rule  is  to  shorten  side  growths,  leaving  from  five 
to  eight  leaves,  while  leaders  and  growths  required 
for  extension  may  be  left  full  length  or  onlv 
slightly  shortened  according  to  circumstances. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Pot  Trees  of  Peaches  and  Nectarines  having 
been  cleared  of  their  fruits  must  be  removed  to 
the  open.  It  is  still  most  essential  that  the  trees 
do  not  suffer  from  lack  of  moisture  at  the  roots, 
and  until  such  time  as  the  wood  is  well  matured 
the  feeding  of  the  trees  must  be  kept  up.  This 
may  be  discontinued  when  the  leaves  begin  to 
come  off.  Care  must  be  taken  that  strong  winds 
do  not  blow  the  trees  over,  and  vmless  stout  stakes 
are  made  use  of  to  combat  this  it  is  better  partlv 
to  plunge  the  pots  in  old  ashes  or  on  a  spare 
plot  of  ground. 

Pot  Vines  grown  with  the  object  in  view  of 
fruiting  next  season  must  be  kept  well  supphed 
with  nourishment  and  recei\e  all  the  light  avail- 
able, as  it  is  most  important  that  the  wood  become 
hard  and  thoroughly  ripened.  Suppress  all 
unnecessary  lateral  growths  and  concentrate 
e\-ery  ounce  of  the  plants'  energies  into  the  building 
up  and  proper  maturation  of  firm  wood  and  plump, 
well  ripened  buds. 

H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland). 

Albury  Park  Gardens,  Guiid/ord, 


364 


THE     GARDEN. 


[July  22,  1922. 


FOR    NORTHERN    GARDENS. 

The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Shallots. —  Ripe  Shallots  should  now  he  pulled 
and  laid  in  a  sunny  position  so  that  they  may 
be  thoroughly  dried   before  storing. 

Autumn-Sown  Onions  may  also  be  lifted 
immediately  they  are  ripe.  After  a  thorough 
dri'ing  in  the  sun  they  should  be  removed  to  a 
cool,  airy  loft  or  shed. 

Curly  Kale. — Fill  up  a  goodly  portion  of  the 
ground  that  has  been  cleared  of  early  Potatoes 
with  some  of  the  dwarf-growing  varieties  of  Kale. 
These  winter  greens  are  always  in  fa\our.  and 
although  late  in  the  season  for  general  planting, 
nice  useful  heads  may  be  depended  upon  for 
winter  use  if  planted  now.  Plant  fairly  close  in 
lines  i8ins.  apart. 

Leeks. — Complete  the  planting  of  the  desired 
quantity  as  soon  as  possible  so  that  they  may 
develop  into  useful  and  well  blanched  specimens 
before  the  winter  months.  Leeks  are  gross  feeders, 
so  that  the  ground  should  receive  generous  treat- 
ment by  being  heavily  manured. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Melons  in  Frames.- AVherc  the  fruits  are 
swelling  they  may  be  considerably  assisted  by 
the  application  of  a  top-dressing  composed  of 
old  turf  with  a  liberal  sprinkling  of  old  lime  rubble 
and  artificial  manure.  Elevate  the  fruits  on 
pieces  of  slate  placed  on  an  inverted  flower-pot, 
so  that  they  may  be  kept  clean  and  clear  of  the 
foUage.  Keep  all  lateral  growths  in  check. 
Syringe  and  close  the  frames  as  early  in  the  after- 
noon as  possible.  Late  batches  coming  into 
flower  should  be  fertilised  daily  until  the  required 
number  are  set. 

Late  Crops  of  Figs. — Trees  in  late  houses 
should  have  all  the  air  it  is  possible  to  give  them, 
and  should  be  syringed  daily  to  keep  the  foliage 
fresh  and  clean.  In  well  drained  borders  abundant 
supplies  of  water  will  be  re-.iuired  and  the  roo:s 
should  be  fed  according  to  the  crop  the  trees  are 
carrying. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 
Late    Peaches    and    Nectarines. — Where    red 

spider,  aphides  or  other  insect  pests  are  in  c\'idence, 
measures  should  at  once  be  taken  to  combat  them 
by  spraying  with  a  reliable  insecticide.  Syringing 
■with  clear  water  in  the  evening  is  also  of  much 
benefit  in  promoting  a  free  growth  of  both  wood 
and  foliage.  See  that  the  border  is  kept  in  a 
moist  condition,  using  liquid  manure  where  it 
is  thought  advisable. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Herbaceous  Borders. — Plants  in  herbaceous 
borders  now  require  considerable  attention  both 
in  the  way  of  staking  and  tying  and  frequent 
hoeing  of  the  surface  soil  so  that  weeds  may  be 
kept  in  check. 

Seedlings. — I?un  the  hoe  between  rows  of 
the  various  seedlings  growing  in  nursery  beds 
and  see  that  the  young  plants  do  not  suffer  from 
lack  of  water. 

Border  Carnations. — Keep  the  beds  well 
hoed  and  give  occasional  waterings  with  liquid 
manure  or  soot  water.  This  not  only  strengthens 
the  flower-spikes,  but  helps  materially  in  producing 
fine  strong  growths  for  layering  later  on. 
James  McGran 

(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.). 

Coodhamy  Kilmaniock. 


GREENHOUSE     AND    CONSERVATORY. 

Calceolaria  Violacea.— This  beautiful  plant  is 
hardy  on  warm  walls  in  Devon  and  Cornwall,  but 
is  also  fine  for  the  cool  conservatory,  either 
planted  out  in  a  bed  or  border.  It  also  succeeds 
well  in  loin,  or  I2in.  pots.  Propagation  mav  be 
carried  out  now  by  means  of  cuttings  of  the  young 
shoots,  using  the  shorter  twiggy  growths  for  the 
purpose.  It  is  by  no  means  an  easy  plant  to 
propagate,  and  such  shoots  are  more  likely  to 
root  than  soft  gross  growths.  The  cuttings  are 
best  rooted  in  a  close  case  in  a  cool  house.  The 
plants  grow  quite  well  in  ordinary  light  potting 
compost.  Plants  propagated  at  this  time  and 
potted  on  ,as  they  require  it,  shoiild  make  nice 
specimens  for  the  conservatory  stage  next  year. 
This  plant  will  flower  with  greater  freedom  in  its 
second  year  when  grown  on  as  a  large  specimen. 

Clethra  arborea  (Lily  of  the  \'alley  TreeV — 
This  small  tree  is  a  native  of  Madiera  and  is 
extremely  useful  for  planting  out  in  a  large  con- 
servatory ;  it  also  makes  fine  specimens  when 
grown  in  tubs.     There  is  a  variety  with  variegated 


leaves  of  pale  yellow  and  rose  colour  which 
also  makes  fine  specimens  and  grows  as  freely  as 
the  green-leaved  form.  These  plants  are  easily 
propagated  at  any  time  by  means  of  half-ripened 
shoots  about  4ins.  long.  The  cuttings  should  be 
put  in  a  close  case  in  a  cool  house.  They  will 
grow  freely  in  any  ordinary  potting  compost,  and 
if  potted  on  as  they  require  it  soon  make  large 
specimens. 

Senecios. — There  are  several  species  of  Senecio 
wliich  are  well  worth  growing  for  the  conservatory. 
S.  grandifolius  and  S.  Petasites  are  both  useful 
for  their  large  handsome  foliage  ;  the  former  being 
fine  for  planting  out  in  a  large  conservatory. 
S.  Petasites,  grown  in  6in.  or  yin.  pots,  makes 
good  plants  suitable  for  the  conservatory  stage ; 
while  grown  on  in  loin.  or  I2in.  pots  it  malces  very 
handsome  specimens  for  standing  on  the  ground. 
Both  species  may  be  propagated  at  this  time  by 
means  of  cuttings,  which  root  readily  in  a  close 
case  with  slight  bottom  heat  at  command. 

Senecio  glastifolius  is  of  quite  a  different  type, 
having  thin  narrow  foliage.  It  is  a  beautiful 
flowering  plant  for  the  conservatory  and  it  produces 
rosy-purple  flowers  in  great  profusion.  It  may  be 
raised  from  seed,  which  it  generally  ripens  freely, 
or  from  cuttings,  which  may  be  rooted  in  a  close 
case  in  a  cool  house  at  this  time.  If  propagated 
at  this  time  large  specimens  should  be  obtained  for 
flowering  next  spring.  Being  a  thin,  slender- 
growing  plant,  it  is  a  good  plan  to  put  three  plants 
in  a  pot,  if  their  final  potting  is  into  Sin.  pots  ;  they 
should  make  fine  specimens  for  standing  on  the 
ground.  They  require  stopping  several  times  to 
induce  a  bushy  habit.  If  plants  are  required  for 
the  stage  they  shoiild  be  rooted  a  month  later,  and 
should  lie  confined  to  smaller  pots. 

Amphicome  Emodi  is  a  beautiful  plant  for  the 
cool  greenhouse  which  produces  erect  rose  coloured 
flowers  with  an  orange-yellow  throat  ;  the  foHage 
is  also  very  graceful.  This  plant  may  be  propagated 
either  by  seeds  or  cuttings.  The  cuttings  root 
readily  in  pots  of  sandy  soil,  placed  under  a  bell 
glass  in  a  cool  house.  The  plants  thrive  quite 
well  in  a  light  rich  potting  compost.  .\.  arguta. 
although  not  so  showy  as  the  former  species,  is 
well  w'orth  growing  for  the  cool  greenhouse.  In 
warm,  dry  situations  this  species,  if  given  some 
protection  during  winter,  is  fairly  hardy. 

Helichrysum  humilis  (syn.  Aphelexis),  of  which 
there  are  several  varieties,  were  at  one  lime  great 
fa%'ourites  for  the  greenhouse  and  as  specimen 
plants  for  exhibition.  At  present  they  are  seldom 
seen  except  in  a  few  trade  establishments,  where 
they  are  grown  in  a  small  state  chiefly  for  market 
work.  They  are  "  everlasting  "  flowers  and  retain 
their  beauty  for  a  long  time.  This  plant  may  be 
propagated  by  means  of  cuttings  at  this  time. 
Use  for  this  purpose  small  side  shoots.  When 
taking  cuttings,  use  a  very  sharp  knife,  as  the 
stems  arc  covered  with  a  woolly  felt-Iike  substance 
and  unless  great  care  is  used  in  trimming  off  the 
leaves,  the  bark  is  stripped  off  and  there  is  little 
chance  of  their  rooting.  The  cuttings  should  be 
inserted  in  pots  containing  fine  sandy  peat.  Well 
water  the  cuttings  with  a  fine  rosed  can  and  stand 
under  a  propagating  glass  in  a  cool  greenhouse. 
When  rooted  pot  the  young  plants  into  thumb  pots, 
using  fine  sandy  peat  for  this  purpose.  In  sub- 
sequent pottings  the  peat  should  be  of  a  rougher 
character,  while  a  little  charcoal  mav  with  advan- 
tage be  added.  The  pots  should  be  w-ell  drained 
and  great  care  in  watering  must  be  exercised  at 
all  times,  as  these  plants  are  very  impatient  of 
stagnant  water  at  their  roots. 

Phaenocoma  prolifera  is  another  beautiful 
plant  producing  "  everlasting  "  flowers  ;  even  if  it 
never  flowered  it  is  worth  growing  for  its  fine,  grev 
colo'.u-ed  foliage  and  stems  Well  matured  plants 
attain  a  height  of  some  3ft.  This  plant  is  propa- 
gated and  grown  in  the  same  way  as  the  Heli- 
chrysum, but  even  greater  care  is  required  in 
preparing  the  cuttings,  the  stems  also  being  covered 
with  a  felt-like  substance.  J.  Coutts. 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kew. 


ANSWERS 
TO  CORRESPONDENTS 


British  Bulbs.— The  Secretary  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  informs  us  that  there  will 
not  be  a  Bulb  Show  this  year,  but  exhibits  of 
home-grown  bulbs  will  be  welcomed  on  August  9 
and  22.  Applications  for  space  should  be  made  in 
the  ordinary  way  a  week  before  the  meetings 
and  be  accompanied  by  a  declaration  that  the 
whole  of  the  produce  shown  has  been  grown  in  the 
British  Isles. 


FRUIT    GARDEN. 

PEAR  TREE  NOT  FRUITING  (An  Old  Rtader).— 
Thi'  variity  may  b<'  one  that  nqiiircs  the  pollt-n  of  a  free- 
sr-ttcr  to  be  fruitful.  Furtliermore,  root  pruning  in 
November  wouUI  be  benefieial.  Very  severe  branch, 
pruning  without  dealing  with  the  roots  at  the  same  time 
(year)  would  result  in  a  still  more  robust  branch  growth. 
\Vater  thoroughly  in  dry  weather  and  apply  a  sub-^tantial 
mulch.  The  immediate  treatment  should  be  summer 
pruning  in  July.  Cut  back  the  current  year's  shoots 
to  five  or  six  leaves  from  the  base.  More  young  shoots 
will  grow  at  the  end  of  the  shoot  or  cut-back  branch, 
in  each  case,  and  these  must  be  rubbed  out  while  quite 
small.  In  due  time  the  ordinary  winter  pruning  should 
be  done.  When  root-pruning  take  out  a  trench  semi- 
circular in  form  and  4ft.  to  5ft.  from  the  stem  of  the 
tree.  Cut  off  all  large  roots  crossing  the  open  trench, 
then  fill  the  latter  with  a  gritty  compost  and  fibrous  loam, 
ami  make  it  all  quite  firm. 

CHERRY  TREE  ATTACKED  (A.  S.  W..  Carnarvon).— 
Till-  insert  attackint;;  our  correspondent's  Cherry  tree  is 
one  of  the  Ermine  moths  (Hyponomeuta  Sp.).  The 
caterpillars  are  nearly  fully  fed  and  will  shortly  pupate 
in  the  nests  on  the  tree  or  about  the  tnmk.  and  the  moths, 
will  appear  about  a  fortnight  later.  These  adults  will 
tlien  proceed  to  lay  eggs  in  masses  on  tht*  small  twigs 
of  the  tree.  The  egg  masses  are  covered  over  with  a 
glutinous  substance  which  protects  the  eggs  and,  later*, 
the  young  caterpillars,  which  liatch  in  thi'  autumn  and 
remain  under  the  glutinous  substance  during  the  winter. 
In  spring  the  minute  larvce  leave  their  shelter  and  enter 
the  expanding  buds,  where  thi>y  penetrate  the  tissue 
and  feed.  In  May  they  reappear  in  the  open  and  spin 
up  the  nests  or  ti^nts,  which  can  be  easily  seen  on  infested 
trees.  As  regards  treatment  in  the  case  of  a  single  tree 
being  attacked,  it  is  advisable  to  cut  out  the  nrsts  with 
long-handled  pruners  and  burn  them.  In  case  some 
caterpillai's  have  escaped  and  pupated  sing;ty  and  the 
adults  have  laid  eggs  on  tlie  twig-;,  a.  lime  sulphur  spray 
should  be  applied  at  the  rate  of  1  in  10  in  spring,  about  » 
fortnight  before  the  buds  show  signs  of  movement — say, 
the  first  week  in  March. 

PEARS  ATTACKED  (S.  \V.).— From  careful  examination 
of  th''  fruit  sent  it  would  app-ar  that  our  corrrspondent's 
tree  lias  bei-n  severely  attaektd  by  the  Pear  midgi'  (Diplosis 
pyrivora,  Kiley).  This  pest  is  a  small  midge  which  lays 
its  eggs  in  the  blossom.  The  minute  maggots  feed  on 
the  developing  fruitlets.  in  many  cases  causing  the  total 
failure  of  the  crop.  The  maggots  leave  the  damaged 
fruitlets  in  early  June  and  fall  to  the  ground,  where  they 
burrow  into  the  soil  and  cliange  into  pupae,  which  remain 
below  ground  until  fhe  following  April  when  the  Hies 
emerge.  Very  little  can  be  done  as  regards  controlling 
the  pest.  In  the  case  under  notice  the  condition  of  the 
fruitlets  i-\amiin<l  indicatis  tliat  the  maggots  left  sometime 
aso,  so  tlint  littli  can  now  bi'  done.  Good  results  have 
followed  an  api'heation  of  Kainit  to  the  soil  beneath  the 
trees  at  (he  end  of  May.  The  best  plan  would  be  to  burn 
the  soil  under  the  trees  to  a  depth  of  about  6ins.  This 
is  a  very  laborious  operation,  but  is  the  only  one  likely 
to  yield*  satisfactory  results. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

DESTRUCTOR  FOR  BURNING  GARDEN  REFUSE 

(C.  B.  It.). — We  do  not  know  of  any  destructor  of  the 
kind  described  by  our  eoirespondent  and  advise  him  to 
write  to  Messrs.  Osman  and  Co.,  132-134.  Commercial 
Street,  London,  E.,  and  state  his  requirements.  If  unablu- 
to  obtain  the  right  kind  of  destructor,  one  may  be  made  as 
follows  ;  it  is  simple,  answers  the  purpose  and  is  veiy 
riieap,  also  durable.  Procure  seventy-five  ordinar>'  hard- 
burned  bricks,  make  a  hole  in  the  ground  1ft.  deep  and 
2ft.  across,  then  build  up  a  loop-holed  wall  round  the 
hole  in  the  ground  about  18ins.  high.  This  is  an  ideal 
destructor,  in  which  all  kinds  of  rubbish  may  be  burned  or 
charred  to  asht-s.  If  the  wind  is  strong  put  on  an  iron 
lid  ;  if  calm,  burn  the  rubbish  without  the  lid  on.  The 
holes  in  the  wall  should  be  about  '2ins.  wide,  about  six 
of  them  in  each  course,  or  layer,  of  bricks.  Everything 
will  be  consumed  and  the  ashes  will  be  available  as  manure 
for  the  garden. 

NAMES     OF     PLANTS.— X.     G.    W.— 1.     Calycanthus 
tloridus,   "Carolina  Allspice";    2,  The  Rose  had  fallen 

to  pieces  on  arrival. M.  L. — 1,  Campanula  linifolia  ; 

2,  Cistus  albidus  ;    3,  The  Rose  had  fallen  to  pieces  on 

arrival. M.      \V.,      Renfrewshire. — Snirsea      Menziesii, 

This  is  a  shrub  (not  a  climber)  which  attains  a  height  of 
3ft.   to    5ft.     Spiraeas   thrive    best   in    good   loamy    soil. 

Abundant  moisture  and   full  sunlight  are  essential. 

"  Winslow." — Arum     Dracunculns. J.    B.,    Surrey. — 

Arum  Dracunculus  {common  Dragon). 


CATALOGUES  RECEIVED. 

King's  Acre  Nurseries,  Limited,  Hereford. — Strawberries, 

Raspberries,  etc. 
Mr.  C.  n.  Van  Tubergen.  junr.,  Haarlem,  Holland.     British 

Agents  :    R.  Silberrad  and  Son,  660,  Commercial  Road, 

London,  E.14.— Bulbs. 
Mr.  G.  H.  Dalrymple,  The  Nurseries,  Bartley,  SoutJiamp- 

ton  :    Hybrid  Freesias. 
Messrs.  Stewart  and  Co.,  13,  South  St.  Andrew  Street, 

Edinburgh  :    Bulbs. 


GARDEN 


ORCHARD 


Vol.  LXXXVI.— No.  2645. 

Eotered  as  Second-class  Matter  at  the  New  York,  N.  Y..  Post  Office. 


GARDEN 


Saturday,  July  29,  1922 


WOODLAND 


REGISTERED     AT    THE     GENERAL 

POST    OFFICE    AS    A    NEWSPAPER 

AND     FOR     CANADIAN     RAGAZINE 

POST 


Price  THREEPENCE 

Yearly  Subscription: 
Inland.   '7/4:    Foreicn.   '7/4 


CHERRY,    GOVERNOR    WOOD. 
First    rate    for    Garden    or    Orchard    House. 


jitrtSx/f<f< 


oico 


THE    KING'S 
SEEDSMEN, 

READING. 


SUTTON'S     CABBAGES 

For    SpritiK     Cutting. 

Recognised  by  an  ever  increasing  number 

of  Growers  as  the  best  varieties. 
Sutton's  Harbinger    ...  per  pkt.  1  -  &  1/6 
.,    oz.     1  9 

Sutton's  April per  pkt.   1/-&1/6 

,,    oz.     1/9 
Sutton's     Flower    of  [    per  pkt.   I  /- 
Spring  ...         )      ,,    oz.     1/3 

Sutton's  Favourite     ...  per  pkt.  1/- 
..    oz.     1(3 
"  I     have     never    grown    such    lovely 
Cabbages  as  I  have  this  Spring  from  your 
Harbinger  seed.     Of  5,000  plants  not  one 
'  bolted."'— Mr.  J.  Parkins,  North  Hill. 


BARR'S  Beautiful  New  Seedling  NERINES 

The  most  beautiful  and  easiest  grown  of  Autumn-ficwering  Bulbs  for  the  Greenhouse. 

Bulbs  now  ready  for  potting  to  flower  in  the  Greenhouse  this  Autamn. 
For  autumn  decoration  in  the  greenhouse  few  plants  can  compare  with 
Nerines  for  their  brilliant  and  attractive  colours.  The  flowers,  which  are 
produced  in  umbels  of  6  to  24  blooms,  are  borne  on  stout  stems  varying  in 
height  from  i  to  2  feet.  In  colour  they  range  from  dark  red,  vivid  crimson 
cerise  and  scarlet  to  salmon,  coral-rose,  pink,  blush  and  white,  many  having  a 
glistening  lustre  which  in  sunlight  gives  them  the  appearance  of  being  dusted 
with  gold  or  silver.  They  remain  decorative  for  many  weeks,  and  their  beauty 
may  be  enjoyed  in  a  sitting-room  as  well  as  the  greenhouse,  if  the  pots  are 
kept  in  a  sunny  window. 

12  in  12  beautiful  named  varieties    ..     42/-,   50/-,   63/-   and    84/- 
6  in     6  „  „  „         •■      18/-,    24/-.   30/-  and   42/- 

SPECIAL     LIST    ON    APPLICATION. 
BARR        JL       ^OIM^  ^1-     '■2    &    13,     KINQ    STREET, 

^r^r^r%.     ex     ^v^m^,    covent  garden,   london,   wIc.z 

WHITE    FLY    death! 

NO     FURTHER     LOSS     FROM    THIS     PEST    IF     YOTJ     USE 

CORRY'S  WHITE  FLY  DEATH  FUMIGANT 

It    is   unique   and   differs   from   all  others.      NON-POISONOUS.       No  danger  to  operator 
No    apparatus.      Simply    pour    from    the    container   on    to    the    floor    of    the    greenhome! 

FULL    DIRECTIONS    WITH    EACH    PACKAGE. 
Cheaper  aid  safer  Oian  an;   other  Fumigant  on  the  market  and  absolntely  effective  ataintt  White  Fly« 
Mr.  J.  B.  Jacklin,  Jersey,  writes : —  •'  May  Slst,  1922 

"  Your  new  White   Fly  eradicator  is  simply  splendid,  and   you  can  recommend  iWrom 
me,  as  it  is  a  perfect  killer  of  White  Fly." 

SOLD    BY    ALL    NURSERYMEN,    SEEDSMEN   AND  FLORISTS. 

Cub.  ft.          1,000               2,000               4,000               8,000               16,000  32  000           '  64,0K> 

Price        lOd.             1/3               2/-               3/6               6/3  11/6            22/- 

And  in  all  sizes   up  to  40-gallon  Itarrels. 

CORRY   &   CO.,   Ltd.,    Shad    Thames,    LONDON,    S.E.I. 

SPECIAL     TERMS    TO    THE    TRADE. 

YORK  STONE  CRAZY  PAVING 

7d.  per  foot  super.,  100  ft.  lots   or  more. 

GREY    LIMESTONE    and    RED     SANDSTONE    ROCKERY, 

50/-  per  ton.      Special  prices  for  truckloads. 
Excellent   GARDEN   MOULD,  in  bags  or  by   lorry  load.      Price 

on  request. 

Delivered     Free    in    London    within    reasonable    distance. 

ROCKERIES     FORMED     AND      PLANTED. 

Wm.     BIGNELL     &     SON, 

NORTH       ROAD,      HIGHGATE,      N.  6. 


•Pho 


Harnsey  2868. 


/ 


11. 


THE    GARDEN. 


[July  29,  1922. 


i< 


THE    GARDEN"   CATALOGUE    GUIDE 


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No.  2645— Vol.  LXXXVI.] 


[July  29,  1922. 


THE    WILD    GARDEN    AND    ITS    PLANTING 


*  S  this  is  one  of  the  seasons  when  the  wild 
^m  garden  is  especially  attractive,  it  may 
/   ^     not  be  inapposite  to  consider  its  arrange- 

^~^^L    ment   and   planting.     The   wUd   garden 
*  ^  of    to-day    has   little    in    common    with 

the  "  wildernesses "  of  times  gone  by  and  is, 
indeed,  essentially  modem  in  feeling.  Like  the 
"  Yorkshire  moor "  style  of  rock  garden,  it  is 
especially  suited  to  those  whose  taste  inclines  to 
the  realistic  in  Art.  A  weU  designed  wild  garden 
will  nowhere  betray  the  .\rt  that  fashioned  it 
unless  it  be  that  the  prodigaUty  of  perhaps  alien 
vegetation  calls  its  natural  origin  into  question. 

The  plants  which  may  be  used  in  wild  gardening 
are  many.  It  is  the  more  regrettable,  therefore, 
to  find  plants  there 
which  by  their  habit 
of  growth  or  cultural 
requirements  are  un- 
suitable. The  ideal 
wild  garden,  like  the 
chameleon,  changes  in 
appearance     according 

to   environment.      On 

the  light  soils  of  Surrey 

it     will     probably    be 

woodland  in  character, 

and      Rhododendrons, 

Heaths,    Azaleas    and 

Kalmias  will  be  largely 

in  evidence,  also  Scotch 

Firs  and  Silver  Birches. 

Little     grass     cutting 

will,    in   this   case,   be 

called  for. 

On    richer,    alluvial 

soils       shrubby       and 

herbaceous        Spir<Eas 

will  luxuriate  in  com- 
pany   with    Gunneras, 

Heracleums  and  other 

plants  largely  valuable 

for  ample  foliage.     In 

moorland  districts  the 

native     Heaths     may 

often     be     reinforced 

with  other  species  and 

\arieties    to    improve 

the  effect.      Water  or 

natural  bog  in  the  wild  garden-to-be  can  always 

be  turned  to  good  account. 

Because  a  particular  plant  does  well  in,  let  us 

say,  a  Warwickshire  wild  garden  it  by  no  means 

follows  that  it  will  succeed  equally  well  or  form 

a  satisfactory  part  of  the  picture  in  a  Surrey  one. 

Much  outlay  both  on  plants  and  labour  has  been 

wasted     in     establishing     particular     famiUes     of 


plants  in  uncongenial  surroundings  only  to  provide 
effects  which  were  not  entirely  happy,  when  a 
tithe  of  the  outlay  would  have  produced  results 
satisfactory  in  every  way.  The  plants  mentioned 
below  must,  therefore,  be  considered  only  with 
reference  to  suitable  environment. 

Natural  effects  are  not  always  beautiful,  and 
if  our  wild  garden  is  to  be  a  success  forethought 
must  be  used  in  the  planting  so  that  we  may 
obtain  as  many  satisfactory  well  balanced  pictures 
as  may  be,  not  just  at  one  season,  but  the  greater 
part  of  the  year.  A  certain  amount  of  contouring 
is  almost  invariably  desirable.  It  should  assist 
in  giving  dignity  to  the  weightier  masses  and 
should  also  please  by  its  own  unaided  beauty  of 


A    TYPICAL    WILD-GARDEN    SCENE. 

curve.  Naturally,  ways  must  be  left  through 
which  to  walk  and  admire  the  plants.  These 
will  resolve  themselves  into  tramped  paths  or 
"  sheep-tracks "  in  semi-woodland  or  quite 
informal  grassy  vistas  on  open  ground.  It  will 
be  more  effective  if  these  traverse  the  valleys 
made  in  contouring  unless  a  general  view  is  ■ 
desirable,  in  which  case  the  path  may  climb  the 


"  hillside "     occasionally    to     get     the     necessary 
glimpses. 

FOR    WOODLAN'D    WILD. 

Semi-shade  in  woodland  is,  of  course,  the 
natural  home  of  inost  Rhododendron  species. 
It  certainly  suits  the  hardy  hybrids  admirably 
also,  yet  the  average  hybrid  Rhododendron 
seems  hardly  suitable  for  the  wild  garden, 
and  the  same  may  be  said  of  many  of  the 
species,  which  are  often  rather  gaunt  and  un- 
attractive when  out  of  flower.  The  old 
Rhododendron  ponticum,  of  which  fine  bushes 
are  often  to  be  found  in  woodland — it  is  an 
excellent  covert  plant  —  is  admirable  for  the 
woodland  wild,  where  its  purplish  flower  trusses 
tone  admirably  with 
the  violet  shadows.  The 
common  yellow 
fragrant  Ghent  Azalea 
is  much  at  home  in 
such  a  situation,  and 
if  it  grows  a  little 
"  loose  -  jointed,"  few 
will  quarrel  with  it 
on  that  account.  It 
will  be  found  that  the 
Japanese  Maples  will 
succeed  here  too. 
Dampish  ground  sug- 
gesting a  httle  spring 
will  accommodate  the 
Sweet  Pepper,  Clethra 
alnifolia,  the  Royal 
Fern,  Osmunda  regahs, 
or  that  best  of  all 
the  Meadowsweets, 
the  brilliant  rose 
red  Spirtea  palmata. 
Bamboos  may  be 
included  where  the 
effect  desired  is 
somewhat  exotic  and 
if  biting  winds  are 
not  prevalent.  How 
effective  these  may 
be  in  woodland  the 
wild  garden  at  Wisley 
bears  witness.  In 
association  with  these 
we  may  well  plant  many  species  of  Lily,  such 
as  L.L.  giganteum,  auratum,  speciosum,  pardali- 
num,  Henryi,  regale  and  testaceum.  This  last 
agziin  associates  well  with  the  Clary-Uke  purple 
Wood  Sage,  Salvia  virgata. 

Over-thick  planting  is  fatal  m  the  wild 
garden, '■  especially  if  in  woodland,  for  space 
should    be    left    effecti\ely    to    display    not     onl 


366 


THE     GARDEN. 


[July  29,  1922, 


H.\RDY    GHENT    AZALEAS    IN    THE    WILD. 


JAPANESE    ANEMONES 


the  larger  plants  already  referred  to,  but  lowlier  plants, 
such  as  Primroses,  Cowslips,  Oxslips,  Violets,  hardy- 
Cyclamens  and  such  bulbous  things  as  Bluebells,  Snakes- 
heads  (Fritillaria),  Dog's  Tooth  Violets  (Erythronium), 
including  some  of  the  beautiful  American  species  and 
varieties,  Triteleias,  etc.  If  space  and  growing  timber 
permit,  such  beautiful  trees  as  Birches,  some  of  the  Willows 
with  coloured  bark  (Salix  daphnoides  and  S.  vitellina, 
for  example)  may  be  planted. 

THE    OPEN    WILD    GARDEN. 

An  open  grassy  glade  with  moderately  good  soil  will 
accommodate  such  plants  as  Heracleums  of  sorts,  such 
Rheums  as  tanghuticum,  Gunneras,  the  briliant  Willow  Herl> 
which  transfigures  some  of  our  railway  banks,  Epllobium 
angustifoUum,  the  purple  Loosestrife,  Lythrum  Salicaria 
(of  which  the  rosy  forms  are  best),  such  Berberises  as- 
stenophylla  and  Darwinii  (keep  clear  of  weeds  until  estab- 
lished), Brambles  and  Rose  species  of  sorts,  New  Zealand 
Flax,  I'hormium  tenax  (not  in  colder  localities),  such  Cranes' 
Bills  as  Geranium  Wallichianum  and  G.  atlanticum.  Day 
Lilies  (Hemerocallis)  in  variety,  many  hardy  Orchises — 
but  their  special  requirements  as  to  lime  or  what  not  must 
have  attention — and  Lilies  such  as  croceum  and  tigrinum. 
The  more  upright-growing  Cotoneasters,  such  as  C.C. 
Simonsii,  acutifolia,  pannosa,  Francheti,  frigida,  etc., 
Japanese  Cherries,  and  such  flowering  .Apples  as  Pynis. 
iloribunda,  P.P.  Scheideckeri  and  Niedzwetzkj'ana  will 
furnish  the  knolls,  and  in  partial  shade  at  their  feet,  even 
though  the  soil  be  on  the  light  side.  Primroses,  whether 
wild,  coloured  or  blue,  will  flourish.  If  the  soil  be  really 
good  and  they  be  kept  free  from  coarse  grass,  the  single 
and  double  Japanese  Irises,  I.I.  setosa  and  laevigata  (Iris 
Kn?mpferi)  will  make  a  brave  patch  of  colour  in  their 
season. 

B\'  waterside  or  in  bogland  the  Siberian  Irises  and  their 
cousins,  the  varieties  of  Iris  orientalis,  will  luxuriate,  with 
yellow  and  bronze  Mimuluses  and  water-loving  Primulas — 
P.P.  japonica,  BuUeyana,  pulverulenta,  Beesiana,  helodoxa, 
sikkimensis,  chionantha,  Parryi,  Poissoni,  latifolia  and 
rosea.  Indeed,  in  ground  naturally  fairly  moist  and 
in  partial  shade  most  of  these  plants  will  do  well  quite 
away  from  water,  as  will  the  herbaceous  Spirjeas — S.S. 
palmata,  gigantea  elegantissima  and  g.  rosea,  and  Ulmaria 
Horc  pleno — and  Astilbes.  The  Goat's  Beard,  Spiraa 
.\runcu5,  does  not  require  a  specially  moist  spot,  and  with 
its  handsome  foliage  and  towering  creamy  plumes  is  a 
splendid  wild  garden  plant.  The  cut-leaved  variety 
S.  A.  Kneifii  is  less  strong  growing  and  not  recommendable 
for  the  wild  though  valuable  in  the  herbaceous  border. 

In  shady  comers  the  bulbous  plants  mentioned  as  suit- 
a'ole  for  woodland  will  succeed,  while  in  more  open  spaces 
drifts  of  Crocuses  and  Daffodils  will  be  gorgeous  in  their 
season  and  again  in  autumn  the  Colchicums  will  add  beauty 
and  colour.  It  is  needless  here  to  particularise  suitable 
Daffodils  for  this  purpose  ;  suffice  it  to  say  that  the  best 
of  all  is  that  stately  Pheasant's  Eye,  Narcissus  Poeticus 
recurvus. 

Other  plants  there  are  which  will  be  successful  or  not 
according  to  the  particular  soils.  If  Brooms  flourish  in 
the  neighbourhood,  they  should  certainly  be  made  a 
prominent  feature  of  the  wild  garden.  The  same  will 
apply  to  those  beautiful  flowers  the  Mallows,  which  often 
flourish  in  the  same  localities.  Lupins,  both  the  Tree 
Lupin,  Lupinus  arboreus,  and  the  herbaceous  forms  of 
L.  polyphyllus  will  succeed  in  any  moderately  light  soil. 
Of  many  flowers  which  seem  much  out  of  place  in  the  wild 
garden  the  garden  Phlox  may  be  taken  as  an  "  awful 
example."  Delphinium  and  Anchusa  are  awkward  plants 
which  cannot  truly  be  naturalised,  but  they  have  not  the 
gauche,  unhappy  look  that  distinguishes  the  Phloxes  in 
such  planting. 

.Autumn  colour  and  "  berry  "  effects  are  well  worthy 
:>i  consideration  in  the  wild  garden.  Rose  species,  the 
taller  Barberries,  the  before-mentioned  Cotoneasters  and 
their  relatives  the  Thorns  (Crat,Egus)  will  first  spring  to 
mind  in  the  latter  connexion,  but  the  combined  foliage 
and  fruit  effects  of  two  native  shrubs,  the  Guelder  Rose 
(Viburnum  Opulus',  and  the  Wayfaring  Tree  (V.  Lantana), 
should  give  them  a  high  place  in  any  list  of  desirable 
species. 


July  29,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


367 


COLOURED      FREESIAS 

A  Flowery  Mede — Cultivation — Seedling  Raising. 


You  know  the  ladders  at  election  times 
with  either  the  candidates  or  the  parties 
climbing  up  them  day  by  day.  Were 
such  ladders  displayed  in  the  windows 
of  our  big  bulb  dealers  I  have  a  shrewd 
idea  that  coloured  Freesias  would  be  found  to  be 
.getting  on  very  nicely  in  the  race  for  popular 
approval.  It  is  but  a  straw  ;  but  I  know  of  one 
flarge  firm  whose  list,  which  has  hitherto  been 
immune,  will  this  autumn  be  found  to  be  infected 
•with  named  varieties.  This  new  race  of  flowers  is 
<-atching  on.  If  only  the  public  could  have  seen 
"  flowery  raede  "  in  my  "  No.  6  "  greenhouse 


pots  of  Dainty,  Merry  Widow,  Apogee,  Buttercup, 
Conquest  or  La  Charmante.  The  mede  may 
come  after.  The  foundation  stone  of  success  is 
early  potting.  The  sooner  the  bulbs  are  snug 
in  their  pots  after  .\ugust  15  is  passed  the 
better.  Any  good  light  soil  suits  them.  It  is 
a  mistake  to  overpot  them.  Seven  bulbs  may 
safely  be  put  in  a  5in.  pot  and  so  on  in  proportion. 
They  should  start  life  in  a  cold  frame  or  in  a  cold 
greenhouse,  and  have  all  the  air  possible,  provided 
they  are  kept  from  cold  draughts  and  protected 
against  frost.  No  heat  will  be  necessary  until 
I."ovember,    when    the    first    batch    may    be    given 


sufficient  stimulus  to  accomplish  the  purpose  in 
lite  for  which  we  grow  them.  There  seems  to  be 
a  work-shy  strain  in  several  South  African  bulbous 
plants,  in  Freesias  among  others,  so  give  them  any 
decent  e.\cuse  arising  from  any  mistake  or  neglect 
and  they  will  remain  lazily  and  unconcernedly 
in  the  soil  for  a  whole  year  just  as  they  were  left 
when  planted.  Thus,  on  no  account  must  pots 
after  being  in  a  comfortable  greenhouse  be  suddenly 
put  out  into  a  cold  frame  to  get  on  as  best  they 
can  ;  provision  must  somehow  be  made  for  the 
annual  baking  before  their  contents  are  once  more 
turned  out  as  planting-time  gets  near. 

Timely  tying  and  staking  add  much  to  their 
appearance.  AUwood's  wire  rings  are  good. 
At  the  Rose  Show  in  June  I  was  told  that  a  special 
Freesia  stick  was  soon  coming  on  the  market, 
and   the  in\'entor  promised  to  send  me  some  for 


A    BEAUTIFUL    GROUP    OF    FREESIAS. 


in  the  early  part  of  March,  1920,  the  process 
would  have  been  accelerated.  It  is  one  of  the 
floral  sights  that  comes  back  to  me  again  and 
again.  Familiar  as  I  had  been  for  a  long  time 
with  the  different  varieties,  I  had  never  before 
tealised  what  a  big  jumble-up  of  them  altogether 
"was  like.  There  were  whites,  primroses,  yellows, 
Ted  mauves,  blue  mauves,  lavenders,  with  here 
and  there  real  pinks,  soft  oranges,  bright  roses 
.and  tawny  reds.  It  was  so  different  from  the 
barbaric  splendour  of  the  Tulips,  or  the  rich 
inagnificence  of  the  Roses,  or  the  varied  grandeur 
of  the  DahUas.  It  was  the  simple  quiet  profusion 
■of  the  ancient  mediaeval  garden  living  again  in 
■my  greenhouse,  and  had  the  Three  Fates  or 
Vertumnus  and  Pomona  suddenly  stepped  down 
from  their  tapestries  at  South  Kensington  or 
Madrid  ("  L'Art  des  Jardins,"  by  G.  Riat)  and 
iippeared  among  the  Freesias  it  would  not  have 
•surprised  me.  Please  make  some  allowance 
for  the  uncontrolled  thoughts  of  an  enthusiast. 
Take  them  cum  grano  salis  ;    but  just  try  a  few- 


warmer  quarters.  We  no  longer  attempt  to  gfc. 
the  coloured  varieties  into  flower  as  early  in  the 
year  as  the  whites.  They  do  not  seem  to  like  the 
unnatural  treatment,  and  they  are  apt  to  go  blind 
and  bring  blooms  which  are  a  good  deal  out  of 
character.  Coloured  Freesias  do  not  need  the 
softening  influence  of  heat.  Their  colours  are  not 
improved,  as  is  the  case  with  such  Tulips  as  Le 
Notre  and  Sweet  Lavender. 

Feeding  with  alternations  of  soot-water,  some 
reliable  fertiliser  dissolved  according  to  instruc- 
tions in  water,  and  very  weak  cow  or  hen  beer 
begins  when  we  see  signs  of  the  flower-spikes 
shewing  through  the  leaves.  During  the  actual 
period  of  flowering  none  is  given — only  pure  water — 
but  afterwards  we  start  again  and  continue  until 
the  foliage  shews  evident  signs  of  dying  down, 
when  both  pure  water  and  stimulants  are  gradually 
withheld.  The  after-care  of  the  bulbs  is  most 
important.  The  coloured  varieties  seem  e.\tra 
sensitive  to  sudden  chills,  and  they  need  a  thorough 
good  baking  during  May  and  June  to  give  them  a 


trial.  None  has  come  so  far.  I  must  jog  his 
memory.  There  is,  of  course,  the  old-fashioned 
way  of  caging  the  plants  by  putting  there  or  four 
sticks  round  a  pot  and  connecting  them  with  raffia 
or  twine  at  two  or  three  levels  as  growth  proceeds. 
Freesias  can  be  so  readily  raised  from  seed  that 
a  few  words  on  this  subject  may  be  acceptable. 
I  always  sow  as  early  in  August  as  possible.  The 
difference  was  most  marked  between  those  sown 
on  ."August  9  and  those  sown  on  September  9  whei\ 
they  were  harvested  in  the  second  week  of  this 
month  (July).  Pots — preferably  the  6in.  size — 
are  used  in  preference  to  pans,  as  the  bulbs  are 
more  easily  dealt  with  when  they  are  turned  out, 
it  being  most  important  to  keep  the  different  little 
lots  from  being  mixed  with  one  another  so  that 
each  stock  may  start  hfe  true.  In  sowing  it  is 
quite  worth  while  to  place  the  seeds  in  regular 
order,  each  one  half  an  inch  from  its  neighbour. 
This  tends  to  help  matters  at  turning-out  time. 
Short,  bushy  little  twigs  6ins.  to  Sins,  high  should 
be    stuck   among   the   seedlings   when    they   have 


368 


THE     GARDEN. 


[July  29,  1922. 


grown  2ins.  or  3ins.  Xo  other  staking  is  necessary. 
No  stimulants  are  given  until  the  new  year  has 
come  in,  and  then  only  in  a  very  weak  form. 
During  the  winter  months  they  are  kept  in  the 
varmest  of  our  cool  houses,  where  the  night 
temperature  is  between  40°  and  45'.  About 
March  a  few  odd  flowers  may  be  expected,  but  we 
usually  pinch  them  off  when  the  ijrst  one  has 
opened.  At  potting-time  each  main  bulb  with 
iti  offsets  is  put  into  a  3in.  or  3iin.  pot.  These  are 
amply  large  enough  for  producing  good  blooms 
and,  later  on,  fine  bulbs. 


I  have  dwelt  on  seedling  raising  because  it  is 
so  interesting.  Seed  may  now  be  had  from  some 
dealers,  and  should  be  bought  at  once  ;  but  I 
would  far  rather  get  enough  bulbs  of  good  varieties 
to  make  a  few  potfuls  so  that  one  can  have  one's 
own  seed.  Cross-fertilisation  is  necessary  to  get 
a  good  set.  Carrying  out  this  operation  and 
watching  the  results  is  most  fascinating,  and  in 
the  case  of  Freesias  there  is  no  long  wait  of  years 
as  in  the  case  of  Daffodils  and  Tulips.  With  good 
culture  and  management  eighteen  or  nineteen 
months  suffice.  Joseph  Jacob. 


convenient  where  numerous  varieties  in  moderate 
quantity  have  to  be  reared.  The  boxes  should  be 
well  drained  with  crocks  all  over  the  bottom,  which 
should  have  slits  or  holes   to  let   the  superfluous 


ANTIRRHINUMS    FROM    SEED 


DURING  the  sixties  and  seventies  of 
the  last  century,  florists  prided  them- 
I  selves  on  improving  the  Antirrhinum. 
Popular  varieties  in  those  days  were 
spotted  or  striped  or  both,  much  like 
the  Carnations  of  the  florist.  Of  twelve  of  the  best 
named  varieties,  tw'O  were  shaded,  one  a  delicate 
rose  self,  and  all  the  rest  striped  or  spotted.  These 
named  varieties  were  popular  exhibition  flowers, 
and  there  was  much  emulation  as  to  who  should 
win  the  leading  prizes.  This  fashion  soon  died  out, 
but  it  still  persists  to  some  extent  in  the  North 
and   named   striped   varieties   are   yet  offered   by 


THE   BEAUTIFUL   CLEAR-PINK   INTERMEDIATE 

V.^RIETY  NELROSE. 

Best  for  winter  flowering. 


some  of  the  Scottish  florists,  though  they  now 
have  a  hst  of  bedding  varieties.  Tall,  intermediate 
and  Tom  Thumb  strains  existed  in  those  days, 
and  cultivators  could  grow  bushes  measuring 
7ft.  by  5ft. 

.MODERX     IMPROVEMENTS. 

The  more  recent  improvements  have  been  to 
get  beautiful  and  bright  self  colours,  or  an  attractive 
combination  of  two  or  more  colours,  giving  good 
general  effect  when  looked  at  from  a  short  distance. 
.\11  three  sections  continue  to  be  improved  in  these 
respects,  but  the  intermediate  strain  is  the  most 
popular,  most  numerous  in  varieties,  and  most 
useful.  Many  beautiful  self  colours  now  come 
fairly  true  from  seed,  or  practically  dependable  as 
to  colour,  where  the  seed  beds  or  cultures  have  been 
properly  rogued.  One  is  tempted  sometimes  to 
save  one's  own  seed,  but  this  inevitably  leads  to 
disaster  in  all  gardens  where  two  or  more  varieties 
are  grown  within  easy  distance  one  of  another. 
.\ntirrhinums  are  very  popular  with  humble  bees, 
which  have  no  difficulty  in  opening  and  entering 
the  dragon  mouthed  flowers,  and  cross  them  hope- 
lessly for  garden  purposes.  On  first  thoughts  one 
might  consider  the  resulting  seedlings  as  reversions, 
but  after  a  httle  reflection  and  on  observing  the 
bees  at  work,  no  one  need  hesitate  as  to  the  true 
cause  of  the  mixing  of  colours  in  stem,  leaf  and 
tiower. 

TIME     TO     SOW'. 

.\ntirrhinums  are  sown  at  various  times  and 
under  a  variety  of  conditions,  but  the  best  time  is 
undoubtedly  in  August  or  early  in  September, 
either  in  a  cold  frame,  or  a  cool  greenhouse.  This 
gives  the  plants  time  to  acquire  strength  under 
cool  conditions,  and  if  pinched  once  or  twice  the 
seedlings  will  make  bushy  specimens  by  the  time 
they  are  planted  out  at  the  beginning  of  .^pril. 
The  Antirrhinum  is  a  hardy  perennial  when  grown 
in  well  drained,  firm  and  not  too  rich  soil,  but  it 
gives  by  far  the  best  results,  in  longer  spikes  and 
larger  flowers,  if  treated  as  a  biennial,  by  being 
sown  at  the  time  indicated  and  wintered  in  a  cold 
frame  or  cool  greenhouse.  Drip  or  damp  is  the 
worst  enemy  of  Antirrhinums,  and  for  that  reason 
they  should  be  reared  and  kept  under  drip-proof 
glass  structures  during  winter  and  well  ventilated 
except  when  it  is  actually  freezing. 

Good  plants  may,  it  is  true,  be  raised  from 
sowings  made  in  January  or  February,  germinating 
the  seeds  in  a  fairly  brisk  heat,  but  afterwards 
ventilating  more  or  less  freely  according  to  the 
weather  and  keeping  the  plants  exposed  to  all 
available  light  near  the  glass.  Very  good  results 
may  be  obtained  by  this  method,  but  the  plants 
have  not  the  same  time  to  get  strong  and  allow 
for  pinching  as  when  sown  in  August. 

PREPARATIONS     FOR     SOWING. 

When  Antirrhinums  are  to  be  raised  in  any 
quantity  it  is  best  to  sow  them  in  boxes,  either  in 
iines    or   broadcast,    the   former   being    the   most 


A  TYPICAL    LARGE-FLOWERED    SNAPDRAGON. 

water  drain  away.  After  putting  some  half  decayed 
leaves  or  siftings  of  soil  over  the  drainage,  the 
compost  should  be  filled  in,  pressed  until  fairly 
firm  and  made  level,  within  a  quarter  of  an  inch  or 
a  little  more  of  the  top.  Any  light  sandy  soil, 
with  some  leaf  soil  in  it  will  answer  the  purpose. 
It  should  be  sifted  to  take  out  the  lumps  and  other 
rubbish.  The  watering  of  seed  boxes  is  always 
an  important  operation,  and  can  be  done  by  water- 
ing them  heavily  twice  with  a  fine  rose  on  the  can, 
thoroughly  to  wet  the  whole  of  the  soil.  If  there 
is  any  doubt  about  this,  a  sure  plan  is  to  submerge 
the  boxes  half  their  depth  in  a  tub  of  water  and 
leave  them  there  till  the  moisture  has  risen  to  the 
top. 

SOWING     .4ND     AFTER     TREATMENT. 

Whether  the  seeds  are  to  be  sown  in  lines  or 
broadcast,  it  is  always  good  policy  to  sow  thinly, 
to  promote  a  short-jointed  sturdy  habit,  so  that 
if  they  cannot  be  transplanted  as  soon  as  ready, 
no  great  harm  will  result  if  they  have  to  wait  a 
week  longer.  The  seeds  are  small  and  this  con- 
duces to  thick  sowing,  which  should  be  avoided. 
Cover  the  seeds  with  a  thin  layer  of  the  same 
compost  and  water  that  down  with  a  fine  rose. 
Place  the  boxes  on  ashes  in  a  cold  frame  and  keep 
the  lights  closed  till  the  seeds  are  well  up,  when  top 
air  should  be  given.  Should  the  weather  be  dry 
and  bright,  in  order  to  prevent  the  soil  in  the  boxes, 
from  getting  dry  it  may  be  necessary  to  resort  tO' 
shading.  It  is  desirable  to  avoid  watering  as  long 
as  possible  till  the  seeds  have  germinated,  wheit 
the  ventilation  of  the  frame  will  make  it  necessary 
in  dry,  bright  weather.  Considering  their  internal 
structure  and  the  stores  of  food  surrounding  the- 
embryo,  the  seeds  do  not  take  long  to  germinate- 
and  after  that  event  the  seedlings  grow  rapidly. 
Hence  a  good  reason  for  sowing  thinly  and  for 
giving  free  ventilation  to  prevent  them  from 
getting  drawn. 

As  soon  as  they  can  readily  be  handled  they 
should  be  potted  off  singly  in  long  thumb  pots, 
transplanted  into  other  boxes,  sins,  apart  each 
way,  or  directly  into  a  cold  frame  on  a  preparecl 


July  29,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


369 


bed.  About  3ins.  or  41115.  of  sandy  soil  and  leaf 
mould  laid  over  a  level  bed  and  pressed  linn  will 
answer  the  purpose.  Dibble  them  into  this  in 
lines  sins,  apart  and  2ins.  between  the  plants  at 
least.  Give  a  good  watering  to  settle  the  soil  and 
keep  the  frame  close  for  a  day  or  two.  Shading 
may  or  may  not  be  necessary  till  the  seedlings  pick 


up,  when  increasing  ventilation  should  be  given. 
.Antirrhinums  are  liable  to  get  mildew  if  kept  un- 
duly close  for  any  length  of  time.  With  this 
exception  they  are  not  much  subject  to  disease. 
They  are,  indeed,  of  easy  culture,  if  their  require- 
ments as  to  light  and  air  are  well  attended  to  all 
through  the  winter.  J.   F. 


DWARF     POLYANTHA     ROSES 

For   the   decoration   of  house   and  garden. 


THE  dwarf  Polyanthas,  or  as  they  are 
more  familiarly  called,  the  "  Poly-Poms," 
originated  from  a  cross  between  a 
Tea  Rose  and  Polyantha  simplex.  In 
the  Rose  .■Vnnual  for  1916  Mr.  Walter 
Easlea,  writing  on  this  class,  states  that  the  first 
variety  was  Paquerette,  which  appeared  in  1875  ; 
and  though  others  followed,  I  think  the  two 
varieties  which  first  made  their  way  into  many 
rose  gardens  were  Cecile  Brunner,  1880,  and 
Perle  d'Or,  18S4.  Ihese  have  perfect  little 
floH-ers  of  shell  pink  and  apricot  yellow  respectively, 
and  are  exceedingly  pretty  if  allowed  to  grow 
into  good  sized  bushes  ;  but  if  pruned  hard  they 
are  apt  to  put  up  rather  ungainly  and  leggy 
sprays,  and  are  therefore  not  particularly  suitable 
for  bedding. 

.\'ow  it  is  as  bedding  plants  that  these  Poly- 
Poms  are  most  valuable  ;  therefore  the  advent 
of  Mrs.  W.  H.  Cutbush  in  1906  was  a  very  real 
gain  to  our  rose  gardens,  and  in  spite  of  the 
beauty  and  briUiancy  of  many  of  the  later  varieties, 
i  think  it  is  true  to  say  that  Mrs.  W.  H.  Cutbush 
still  holds   her  place  as  the  most  popular  of  the 


dwarf  Polyanthas.  It  has  practically  all  the 
qualities  useful  in  this  class  of  Rose,  a  dwarf  habit, 
good  foliage,  small  flowers  in  good  sized  clusters 
of  a  particularly  bright  clear  pink,  which  are  freely 
and  continuously  produced  and  which  stand  a 
reasonable  amount  of  rain  without  being  spoilt. 
The  only  good  quality  in  which  it  is  entirely 
packing  is  that  of  fragrance,  and  in  this  respect 
Ellen  Poulsen  (1912),  with  prettily  shaped  blossoms 
of  cherry  rose  colour  turning  to  soft  pink,  is 
superior  to  Mrs.  Cutbush.  Under  glass  Ellen 
Poulsen  is  quite  first  class,  the  flowers  coming 
of  a  brighter  and  clearer  colour  than  they  do 
out  of  doors,  and  it  is  a  favourite  for  cutting 
and  bringing  into  the  house ;  indeed,  for  all 
purposes  for  which  a  really  dwarf  variety  is 
required  Ellen  Poulsen  is  hard  to  beat. 

The  Orleans  Rose  (1909)  is  more  vigorous  than 
the  two  last  varieties  and  comes  into  flower  a 
little  later.  It  makes  extra  large  sprays  of  deep 
rosy  pink  flowers  and  is  very  useful  for  cutting 
and  putting  into  fairly  tall  vases.  A  charming 
little  rose  of  a  pale  pink  shade  is  Perle  Orleanaise. 
This  is  one  of  the  dwarfest  in  habit,  though  Coronet, 


with  flowers  of  deep  cream  flushed  with  p.uk, 
makes  a  good  companion  for  it.  The  new  Coral 
Cluster,  if  it  proves  to  be  as  good  in  the  garden 
as  it  is  under  glass,  is  sure  to  become  very  popular, 
for  its  soft  salmon  tints  are  very  attractive  and 
would  be  charming  used  for  table  decorations 
by  artificial  light.  Juliana  is  another  pale  salmon 
coloured  variety  which  is  well  worth  a  trial. 

For  some  time  Jessie,  with  bright  cherry 
crimson  flowers,  was  the  best  of  the  red  Polyanthas, 
but  in  the  last  few  years  several  good  reds  have 
been  brought  out.  Triomphe  d'Orleanaise,  bright 
carmine,  large  trusses  ;  Koster's  Orleans,  a  deeper 
coloured  and  less  vigorous  Orleans  ;  and  Verdun, 
similar  to  Koster's  Orleans,  but  not  so  clear  in 
colour,  are  three  good  varieties — if  I  eUminated 
one  it  would  be  Verdun.  The  best  red  in  this 
type  is  undoubtedly  Edith  Cavell ;  the  blossoms 
are  really  bright  dark  crimson,  changing  with  age, 
not  to  dull  pink  or  bluish  red,  but  to  blackish 
crimson.  It  is  of  the  same  habit  and  height  as 
Koster's  Orleans.  .A  very  dwarf  and  brilliant 
crimson  variety,  well  named  Eblouissant,  is,  on 
account  of  its  extra  dwarf  habit  and  freedom  of 
flowering  the  most  useful  of  the  reds  as  an  edging 
to  beds  of  taller  Roses.  It  is  in  some  respects 
more  like  a  China  than  a  Polyantha  ;  the  colour 
is  very  much  that  of  the  old  Cramoisie  Superieure. 

Katharine  Zeimet  is  an  excellent  very  free 
blooming  white  Polyantha.  It  comes  early  into 
flower.  Yvonne  Rabier  is  another  good  white  ; 
it  is,  however,  prettier  when  allowed  to  grow  into 
a  good  sized  bush  than  when  pruned  hard.  It 
has  a  delicious  fragrance.  .Anne  Marie  de  Mont- 
ravel  is  a  dainty,  very  dwarf  variety,  with  unusually 
well  shaped  little  blossoms.  Little  Meg,  a  cross 
between  a  white  Hybrid  Tea  and  Shower  of  Gold, 
is    a   great    favourite    of   mine.      It    has   glistening 


APTLY    N.AMED,    POLYANTHA    ROSE    CORAL    CLUSTER. 


THE  NEW  GLORY'  OF  HURST  BIDS  FAIR  TO  SUPERSEDE  ORLEANS  ROSE- 


370 


THE     GARDEN. 


[July  29,  1922. 


dark  foliage,  apparently  quite  mildew  proof,  and 
pretty  white  buds  tipped  with  red  which  open  to 
pure  white  iiowers  of  a  fair  size  and  shape.  It  is 
very  perpetual  and  has  a  charming  effect  when 
cut  for  arranging  in  small  baskets  or  vases  ;  it 
lasts  a  long  time  in  water. 

I  know  of  no  really  satisfactory  yellow  Pompon. 
George  Elger  is  the  best  ;  it  is  free  flowering,  and 
the  buds  are  a  good  yellow,  but  they  open  to 
rather  an  uninteresting  pale  shade.  We  want 
a  yellow  of  the  brilliant  coloiuring  of  Mrs.  Wemyss 
Quin  or  Christine. 

We  have  found  the  most  satisfactory  way  of 
growing  these  dw'arf  Polyanthas  is  in  small  round 


lieds  on  the  lawn — about  a  dozen  plants  in  the 
bed.  We  prune  them  very  hard  towards  the  end 
of  March.  Like  all  Roses,  they  require  a  good 
deep  rich  soil  to  start  with,  and  a  certain  amount 
of  liquid  manure  during  the  summer  adds  to  their 
\igour.  If  I  were  limited  to  growing  half  a  dozen 
for  bedding  my  choice  would  be  :  Mrs.  Cutbush, 
Orleans  and  Ellen  Poulsen,  pink  and  rose  ;  Edith 
Cavell  and  Roster's  Orleans,  crimson ;  and 
Katharine  Zeimet,  white. 

For  edging  other  rose  beds,  Eblouissant  (crimson), 
Anne  Marie  de  Montravel  (white).  Coronet  (yellow 
and  pink)  and  Perle  Orleanaise  (pale  pink)  are  on 
account  of  their  dwarf  habit  the  most  desirable. 


For  larger,  unpruned  bushes,  Yvonne  Rabier 
(white),  Marie  Pavie  (white  and  pink),  Cecile 
Brunner  (shell  pink)  and  Perle  d'Or  (yellow) 
are  hard  to  beat.  Leonie  Lamesch  is  a  curious 
terra-cotta  variety  with   a   pleasant  fragrance. 

The  great  value  of  these  dwarf  Polyanthas  is 
their  hardiness,  their  bright  colours  and  freedom 
and  continuity  of  flowering  and  their  compact 
habit.  All  these  qualities  make  them  particularly 
suitable  for  small  gardens.  They  are,  in  fact, 
ideal  bedding  plants,  with  the  inestimable  advan- 
tage of  being  perfectly  hardy.  As  cut  flowers 
they  are  very  gay  and  cheerful,  and  all  last  well 
in  water.  White  Ladv. 


CLIMBERS    FOR    PERGOLAS    AND    ARCHWAYS 


IN  the  very  large  garden  a  pergola  may 
appropriately  be  clothed  with  one  kind  of 
climber,  and  this  is  often  exceedingly 
effective,  as,  for  examples,  the  Rose  Walk 
adjoining  the  Iris  garden  at  Kew  and  the 
similar  structure  supporting  a  great  variety  of 
ornamental  Vines  running  south  from  the  refresh- 
ment pavilion  in  the  same  gardens.  .\t  Bodnant, 
i  1  the  wonderfully  beautiful  grounds  of  Lady 
Aberconway's  North  Wales  home,  a  pergola  solely 
of  Laburnum  has  entranced  thousands  of  visitors, 
though  few  would  have  thought  of  using  the 
"  Golden  Rain,"  which  becomes  a  tree  when 
allowed  to  grow  naturally,  for  such  a  purpose. 
But  under  skilful  pruning  and  training  it  became 
a  complete  success  at  Bodnant.  In  a  smaller 
garden  in  Surrey  there  is  a  beautiful  little  pergola 
of  Wistaria  multijuga,  which  is  exceedingly 
effective,  though,  unfortunately,  the  pergola 
was  not  made  sufficiently  high  to  permit  on; 
to  walk  comfortably  under  the  long  racemes 
when  the  Wistarias  are  in  flower.  The  question 
of  head-room  is  important  in  relation  to  the  full 
enjoyment  of  a  pergola  and,  perhaps  in  a  lesser 
degree,  a  climber-clad  archway.  This  must 
also  govern  the  selection  of  climbers,  as  those 
which  should  be  allowed  to  hang  freely  in  order 
tn  disclose  their  full  beauty  cannot  well  be  planted 
to  ramble  over  pergolas  which  are  much  less  than 
8ft.  high. 

Roses  are,  of  course,  indispensable  for  the  mi.xcd 
pergola.  Within  the  limits  of  their  habit  of 
growth  the  choice  of  varieties  must  be  a  matter 
of  individual  taste,  but  when  making  a  selection 
it  should  always  be  borne  in  mind  that  such  as 
Alberic  Barbier,  American  Pillar,  Blush  Rambler, 
Carmine  Pillar,  Francois  Juranville,  I.eontine 
Gervaise,  Goldfinch  and  Tea  Rambler,  to  name 
only  a  few  of  the  popular  varieties,  are,  while 
exceedingly  beautiful  when  in  flower,  purely 
seasonal  and  unlike  Ards  Rover,  Griiss  an  Teplitz, 
Mme.  Alfred  Card;  re,  Reine  Olga  de  Wurtemberg 
and  others,  which  are  more  of  a  perpetual  character. 
Many  of  the  more  free-growing  Roses,  and  therefore 
of  great  value  for  furnishing  pergolas  and  archwaxs, 
are  generally  somewhat  bare  below.  In  the  case 
of  the  pergola  which  is  associated  with  narrow- 
borders  of  Lilies  and  herbaceous  plants — a  very 
charming  arrangement — this  is  in  the  nature  of 
an  advantage,  but  when  it  is  purely  a  pergola 
It  becomes  a  fault,  which,  however,  can  easily  be 
remedied  by  planting  a  less  vigorous  sort  with 
that  which  will  cover  the  cross  timbers.  Different 
shades  of  the  same  colour  are  exceedingly  effective 
or,  if  preferred,  a  direct  contrast  may  be  provided. 
For  the  sides  of  a  gateway  or  open  masonry  arch 
the  larger-flowered  single  Roses  are  very  beautiful, 
and  if  it  is  a  southern  aspect  the  Macartney  Rose 
(Rosa  bracteata)  is  greatly  to  be  recommended. 
It   is   a  very  distinct   Rose  that   in   the   full  sun 


becomes  exceedingly  charming,  as  also  do  R. 
kevigata  (syn.  sinica)  and  the  silvery  pink  variety 
Anemone.     Other    desirable    large    single     Roses 


THE    GOLDEN    BLOSSOMS    OF    FORSYTHIA    SUSPENSA    ENLIVEN 
PILLAR  OR  ARCHWAY    IN   LATE   WINTER  AND   EARLY  SPRING. 


iui  lude  the  orange-flushed  carmine  Isobel,  the 
deep  brownish  red  Moyesii,  Sheila  Wilson  (light 
scarlet  with  yellow  base)  and  the  pale  cream  Una. 
The  great  family  of  Clematis  gives  a  wide 
selection  of  climbers  for  the  pergolas  and  arch- 
ways. The  beautiful  and  popular  Clematis 
montana  is  almost  too  vigorous  for  the  pergola 
unless  it  is  carefully  and  systematically  thinned 
after  it  has  covered  the  alloted  space,  but  is  admir- 
able when  trained  to  archways  and  allowed  to 
hang  down  in  graceful  trails.  C.  Flammula  is  of 
similar  habit,  though  not  so  rampant,  so,  provided 


it  receives  fair  attention,  it  could  be  planted  against 
the  pergola  as  well  as  the  archway.  The  Virgin's 
Bower,  as  C.  Flamnmla  is  often  called,  bears 
abundant  trails  of  fragrant 
white  flowers  during  the 
late  summer  and  autumn. 
Of  the  large-flowered 
hybrids  the  names  are 
legion.  The  Patens  group 
are  the  earliest  to  flower, 
then  come  the  Florida 
\arieties,  followed  by  the 
Lanuginosa  group  and, 
last  of  all,  the  splendid 
Jackmani  sorts. 

The  mixed  pergola  is 
not  complete  without  at 
least  one  plant  each  of 
Honeysuckle  and  Jasmine. 
For  general  purposes  the 
best  flowering  Honey- 
suckles are  the  Early 
Dutch  and  the  Late 
Dutch,  but  Lonicera 
japonica,  L.  sempervirens 
and  L.  Heckrottii  all  have 
great  merits.  That  largest 
of  all  Honeysuckles,  L. 
Hildebrandiana,  is  unfor- 
tunately only  for  the  most 
favoured  positions  out 
ot  doors.  As  a  foliage 
climber  the  golden  I,. 
aureo  -  reticulata  is  of 
value  and  often  seen  on 
garden  arches. 

The  common  Jasmine, 
DC  Jessamine,  was  pro- 
bably the  first  climber 
to  be  cultivated  in  this 
country,  and  its  merits  are 
thoroughly  well  known. 
But  on  the  pergola  it 
should  be  kept  within 
bounds  or  it  will  encroach 
t]n  the  other  climbers. 
Although  strictly  they  are 
not  climbers,  there  are  two 
yellow-flowered  species  which  have  distinct  value 
for  the  pergola.  Jasminum  nudiflorum  is  an  old 
favourite  and  could  well  be  associatetl  with  the  white 
Jasmine,  when  it  would  furnish  the  uprights,  while 
the  later-flowering  species  will  gi\'e  its  best  display 
along  the  cross-timbers.  The  summer-flowering 
J.  revolutum  is,  for  some  unaccountable  reason, 
a  neglected  shrub.  Its  free,  yet  lax  habit  makes 
it  \'ery  suitable  for  the  pergola  and  for  archways. 
Its  good  yellow,  fragrant  flowers  are  produced 
over  quite  a  long  period  and,  being  nearly  ever- 
green,  is   an  additional   attraction.     By  judicious 


July  29,  1922. 


THE     GARDEN. 


371 


pruning  fiowers  can  be  obtained 
along   the   full   length   of   the   plants. 

Besides  these,  what  one  may  terra 
indispensable  cHmbers,  there  are  a 
great  variety  of  flowering  species 
which  will  add  great  interest,  .\kebia 
quinata  and  A.  lobata  will  readily 
clothe  the  pergola,  and  in  a 
favourable  season  the  flowers  will 
be  followed  by  fruits  of  uncommon 
appearance.  Of  the  various  hardy 
Aristolochias  the  Dutchman's  Pipe, 
.\.  Sipho,  and  A.  mox:pinensis  may 
well  be  included.  Berberidopsis 
corallina  is  a  beautiful  shrubby 
climber  for  the  north  or  north-west 
side  of  the  pergola  in  the  warmer 
parts  of  the  country,  and  Bignonia 
capreolata  atrosanguinea  is  also  for 
favoured  places,  though  rather 
hardier.  For  the  warm  archway 
few  plants  are  handsomer  than  B. 
(Tecoma)  grandiflora,  which  when 
established  produces  large  racemes 
of  splendid  flowers.  Forsythia  sus- 
pensa  and  the  even  more  striking 
F.  spectabilis  may  well  be  planted  to 
furnish  the  uprights  of  any  fairly 
broad  pergola. 

The  fragrant  Blue  Passion-flower  is 
quite  hardy  in  the  western  counties 
and  in  many  other  parts  the  roots 
■will  survive  if  they  receive  a  little 
protection.  It  is  such  a  beautiful 
and  interesting  climber  that  it  might 
well  be  tried  even  when  there  is 
some  element  of  doubt  as  to  its 
hardiness.  Passiflora  ca^rulea  grows 
so  quickly  during  the  summer  that, 
although  the  frosts  will  often  kill 
the  shoots  to  the  ground-level,  it  will 
furnish  its  allotted  space  and  flower 
freely  from  midsummer  to  late 
autumn.  Periploca  grseca,  the  Silk 
Vine,  is  not  very  showy,  but  it  is  an 
interesting  climber  that  will  grow 
quickly,  though  in  this  respect 
Polygonum  baldschuanicum  surpasses 
it  and  also  seems  quite  indifferent  as 
to  soil — it  will  flourish  exceedingly 
in  the  most  poverty-stricken  places. 
The  pleasantly  scented,  abundant, 
trailing  panicles  become  almost  a 
cloud  of  whitish  flowers,  and  the 
effect  is  continued,  enhanced  by  a 
pinkish  tinge,  on  the  seed  vessels, 
which  persist  for  a  long  time.  The 
Wistarias  are  rather  better  adapted 
for  the  archway  than  for  the  pergola 
of  mixed  shrubs,  though  they  can 
be  used  with  great  effect  on  the 
latter  structure  if  the  long  shoots 
are  regulated  as  they  grow. 
Solanum  crispum  is  wondrouslv 
beautiful  when  it  can  be  grown 
■well,  but  this  usually  is  only  in 
the  warmest  part  of  the  country. 
Elsewhere  it  should  be  tried  for  the 
brick  archway  facing  south. 

Chief  among  the  climbers  that 
are  used  for  their  foliage  come  the 
many  hardy  Vines,  and  these  include 
Vitis  armata  Veitchii,  V.  Coignetia', 
y,  flexuosa  VVilsoni,  V.  Henryana,  V. 
Thomsonii,  V.  Thunbergii  and  the  cut- 
leaved  varieties  of  V.  vinifera,  the 
Grape  Vine.  Ampelopsis  Veitchii 
is  botanically  a  species  of  Vitis 
(V.  inconstaiis),  and  its  value  has 
long       bee.i        realised.  Actinidia 


A    PLENITUDE    OF    BLOSSOM. 


WISTARIAS    ARE    ADMIRABLE    PERGOLA    PLANTS. 


372 


THE     GARDEN. 


[July  29,  1922. 


chinensis  is  a  noble- foliaged  climber  that  will 
rapidly  furnish  a  part  of  the  pergola  or  an  archway 
with    very    handsome    leaves    where    ornamental 


foHage  is  esteemed,  and  it  has  great  value  in  the 
pergola  scheme;  a  selection  of  the  many  Ivies  should 
certainly  be  included.  A.  Cecil  Barti.ett. 


THE    CARE    OF    ORCHARDS 

Orchards  should  be  places  of  beauty  and  utility,  and  to  achieve  both  ends  they  must  have 
summer  attention.      Hereunder  are  mentioned  a  few  things  that  ought   to   be   done   now. 


IN  these  days  it  is  not  the  custom  to  plant 
fruit  trees  in  orchards,  as  was  the  case  a 
century  and  more  ago,  and  for  this  we  have 
largely  to  thank  the  introduction  of  the 
dwarfing  stocks  on  which  trees  are  now 
almost  invariably  worked  by  budding.  These 
are  of  compact  habit,  come  into  profitable  bearing 
several  years  sooner  than  the  regulation  orchard 
standard,  give  a  higher  average  of  quality,  and 
are  infinitely  easier  to  manage  in  all  the  numerous 
and  varied  details  of  treatment. 

It  has  frequently  been  urged  that  all  the  orchards 
of  the  country  should  be  uprooted  because  the 
fruits  are  generally  round  about  third  grade,  are 
commonly  blemished,  and  the  yield  is  normally 
biennial.  While  I  should,  personally,  prefer  bush 
trees  in  practically  all  instances,  I  am  quite  satisfied 
that  the  three  reasons  which  have  been  spread 
in  favour  of  grubbing  are  thoroughly  unsound. 
If  one  wants  to  find  orchards  which  ought  to  be 
destroyed,  one  can  find  them  in  plenty — congre- 
gations of  gnarled  old  trees  to  which  a  thought 
is  never  given  and  which,  consequently,  give 
unspeakably  wretched  returns. 

There  are,  however,  many  orchards  up  and  down 
the  country  that  have  been  planted  intelligently 
and  which  are  capable  of  developing  grand  burdens 
of  fruit  season  after  season,  and  for  such  it  were 
the  height  of  folly  to  advocate  destruction.  On 
the  contrary,  they  deserve  to  be  cared  for  to  main- 
tain them  when  they  are  at  a  fair  standard  of 
excellence,  and  to  be  specially  considered  where 
the  prospects  justify  exceptional  attention. 

This  is  not,  as  all  readers  of  The  Garden  know 
full  well,  the  period  of  the  year  when  serious  renova- 
tion work  can  be  put  in  hand,  but  it  is  indisputably 
1  period  when  the  burdens  of  the  year  may  be 
substantially  helped  to  the  ultimate  benefit  of 
the  cultivator,  and  when  the  foundation  for 
succeeding  crops  can  be  materially  strengthened. 

Putting  on  one  side  the  disadvantages  and 
difficulties  of  pruning,  cleansing,  gathering  and 
other  cultural  details  of  standards  compared  with 
bushes,  since  this  is  not  a  moment  when  they  can 
be  discussed  with  practical  utility,  let  us  consider 
the  things  which  should  be  done  during  the 
inmiediately  ensuing  two  months  in  direct  aid 
of  the  present  principally  and  of  the  future 
secondarily. 

.^t  the  height  of  summer,  when  standard  and 
half-standard  trees  are  in  full  growth,  carrying 
heavy  burdens  in  the  fat  year  and  building  up 
to  the  point  of  perfection  blossom  buds  in  the 
lean  year,  they  suffer  most  of  all  from  lack  of 
food,  with  lack  of  Hght  and  fresh  air  as  an  equally 
prejudicing  factor  in  those  instances  where  the 
heads  are  so  dense  that  they  cannot  be  seen  through 
clearly  at  all  times  of  the  year.  We  can  deal  in 
varying  degrees  according  to  circumstances  with 
the  former,  but  we  can  do  nothing  in  respect  of 
the  latter  beyond  the  prompt  removal  of  dead 
wood  whenever  it  is  seen.  It  is  true  that  most 
orchards  are  "  fed  off,"  but  the  amount  of  food 
resulting  from  this,  except,  perhaps,  when  pigs 
are  abundantly  utilised  for  the  purpose,  is  com- 
paratively small  and  totally  inadequate  to  meet 
urgent  demands. 

One  ol  the  most  desirable  things  to  do,  then, 
now    and   onwards    to    the   middle   of   September 


is  to  use  fairly  strong  liquid  manure  ^vith  a 
generosity  which  would  lead  inevitably  to  con- 
siderable trouble  if  it  were  given  to  bush  trees 
in  plantation  form.  The  difference  Ues  in  the 
fact  that  in  the  orchard  it  is  safe  to  assume  that 
the  grass  will  appropriate  not  less  than  half  the 
nutrient  value,  whereas  in  the  plantation  it  is  not 
an  insurmountable  difficulty  to  ensure  that  nearly 
all  the  benefits  go  to  the  trees. 

In  many  orchards,  one  might  say  the  majority, 
it  is  the  custom  to  keep  a  circle  cut  out  round  the 
bole  of  each  tree  in  which  weeds  are  not  permitted 
to  grow,  and  great  virtue  is  set  upon  it.  If  the 
circles  were  increased  in  size  annually  with  top 
growth  and  their  margins  were  maintained  at 
the  full  spread  of  the  branches,  there  can  be  no 
doubt  as  to  their  value  and  importance,  but  the 
3ft.  rings  which  are  usually  seen  serve  the  pur- 
poses of  encouraging  a  little  fresh  air  to  find  its 
way  into  the  soil  and  preventing  the  serious 
accumulation  of  rubbish  at  the  base  of  the  boles, 
thus  substantially  reducing  the  harbourages  so 
beloved  of  the  pests  of  fruit  trees  ;  beyond  those 
two  things,  certainly  important,  they  are  of  no 
appreciable  value.  They  are  called  attention  to 
at  this  juncture  in  direct  association  with  feeding 
because  it  is  by  no  means  unusual  to  see  amateurs 
pouring  on  Uquid  manures  and  dredging  on  con- 
centrated fertilisers  in  the  hope  that  the  trees 
will  derive  full  benefit.  This  they  will  not,  cannot, 
do.  It  is  obvious  that  there  must  be  some  spread 
(if  the  moisture  as  it  passes  down,  but  the  bulk 
will  go  direct,  and  it  is  fair  to  estimate  that  half 
the  benefits  will  be  lost,  while  if  the  soil  happens 
to  be  on  the  dry  side  the  proportion  wasted  will 
run  to  not  less  than  three-quarters. 

The  active  feeding  roots  of  the  trees  are  princi- 
pally approaching  to  beneath  the  extreme  spread 
of  the  branches,  and  they  extend  always  a  short 
distance  beyond  them.  If  it  is  desired,  therefore, 
to  give  sustenance  which  will  be  almost  instantly 
available  for  appropriation,  it  must  be  applied 
at,  or  approximately  at,  the  position  indicated. 
With  limited  circles  this  is  impossible,  and  extend- 
ing beyond  come  the  grasses,  so  that  one  is  forced 
to  bore  holes  about  2jft.  to  3ft.  deep  at  similar 
distances  asunder  and  5ins.  or  6ins.  in  diameter 
at  the  top  over  the  extremes  of  the  comparatively 
wide  area  and  to  fill  them  repeatedly  with  the 
liquid  at  command  at  intervals  of  ten  to  fourteen 
days.  Then  an  immense  amount  of  good  will 
be  done  to  the  crop  of  the  season  and  to  the  fruit- 
buds  for  next  year  which  are  building  up  to  perfec- 
tion. It  must  be  borne  in  mind,  though  it  is 
improbable  that  the  reminder  will  have  real 
substance  this  season,  that  when  the  soil 
is  dry  it  must  be  efficiently  moistened  with 
pure  water  before  liquid  manures  are  used  to 
reduce  the  loss  of  the  foods  they  contain  and 
to  obviate  any  danger  of  the  strong  liquor  used 
damaging  any  tender  roots  with  which  it  may 
come   in   contact. 

It  is  imperative,  too,  that  cleanliness  shall  be 
maintained  at  the  foot  of  the  trees,  and  also, 
as  far  as  it  is  feasible  to  accomplish  it,  in  the 
branches  also.  If  it  is  convenient  to  turn  in  a 
flock  of  fowls,  by  all  means  do  it,  because  they 
will  prove  to  be  assiduous  searchers  for  grubs, 
and  consequently  will  reduce  the  trouble  from  insect 


attacks  in  future  seasons.  Failing  these  indus- 
trious scavengers,  which  give  at  any  rate  some 
financial  return  for  the  work  they  do  in  the  form 
of  eggs,  a  strong,  sharp  rake  should  be  used  with 
frequent  regularity  to  remove  every  scrap  of 
rubbish,  not  from  the  neighbourhood  of  the  trees 
merely,  but  right  out  of  the  orchards ;  and  the 
surrounding  hedges  and  ditches  must  similarly  be 
kept  in  scrupulously  clean  condition  for  the  same 
reason — reduction  of  future  danger  from  insect 
enemies. 

If  woolly  aphis  or  American  blight  is  a  trouble 
of  the  moment,  spare  no  efforts  to  eradicate  it 
as  quickly  as  possible.  A  touch  with  a  drop  of 
methylated  spirits,  sweet  or  linseed  oil  will  account 
for  all  those  which  are  readily  accessible,  while 
for  the  heads  Woburn  Tobacco  Wash  used  as  the 
manufacturers  instruct,  will  be  found  invaluable 
and  will  do  no  harm  even  to  young  leaves.  It 
should  be  sprayed,  not  syringed  on.  In  the  routine 
process  of  cleaning  fallen  fruits  will  be  removed, 
but  in  the  intervals  between  Takings  all  such 
ought  to  be  picked  up  the  instant  they  are  seen, 
for  destruction  or  consumption,  this  being  of 
outstanding  importance  when  fruits  are  falling 
as  a  result  of  codlin  moth  attack  ;  the  grubs  leave 
the  fruits  shortly  after  they  fall,  and  are  then 
much  more  difficult  to  deal  with. 

A  middle  of  September  task  which  must  not  be 
forgotten  in  any  circumstances  in  orchards  is 
the  attachment  to  the  trunks  and  to  the  bases 
of  the  main  branches  of  sticky  or.  greasy  bands 
which  will  prevent  the  upward  march  of  the 
wingless  female  Winter  and  other  injurious  moths 
into  the  heads  of  the  trees.  Notwithstanding 
the  fact  that  the  bulk  of  the  enemies  will  be  caught 
before  the  end  of  November,  it  is  most  wise  to 
keep  the  bands  fully  effectual  until  at  least  the 
middle  of  next  March  by  renewals  which  will 
vary  in  frequency  of  necessity  with  the  material 
used  and  the  weather.  W.  H.  Lodge. 


A  CHARMING  NATIVE 

I  coi:li)  write  ever  so  much  about  Echium  vulgare. 
It  would  make  a  good  text  for  a  long  sermon,  but 
although  I  am  going  to  divide  what  I  have  to  say 
into  three  heads,  I  hope  to  put  it  all  in  a  moderate- 
sized  nutshell.  First,  Echium  vulgare  is  nothing 
but  the  nam'e  of  a  British  plant  written  botanically 
in  Latin.  Those  familiar  with  our  wild  flowers 
know  it  as  Viper's  Bugloss.  "  Are  not  Abana 
and  Pharpar,  rivers  of  Damascus,  better  than  all 
the  waters  of  Israel  ?  "  How  many  of  our  native 
plants  are  neglected  seemingly  because  they  are 
native  ?  Viper's  Bugloss  is  one.  This  is  very 
strange,  because  real  blue  in  flowers  is  uncommon. 
Secondly,  Viper's  Bugloss  is  a  splendid  plant  for 
cutting.  Its  i8in.  to  2ft.  long  sprays  are  grand 
in  good-sized  vases.  The  buds  open  just  as  if 
they  were  buds  of  a  Gladiolus.  In  the  cutting 
quarters  of  a  large  garden  a  bed  of  it  would  be 
found  very  useful.  Thirdly,  its  English  name 
is  a  good  instance  of  the  once  fashionable  and  all- 
important  "doctrine  of  signatures."  I  must 
not  start  on  this  fascinating  subject.  Wilham 
Coles,  whose  "  Adam  in  Eden  "  may  be  described 
as  our  EngUsh  text-book,  shall  be  my  spokesman 
and  say  all  that  need  be  said  in  a  general  way  : 
"  The  Signatures  likeTiesse  are  taken  notice  of, 
they  being  as  it  were  the  Books  out  of  which  the 
Ancients  first  learned  the  Vertues  of  Herbes  ; 
Nature  or  rather  the  God  of  nature  having  stamped 
on  divers  of  them  legible  Characters  to  discover 
their  uses."  Thus  because  the  seed  of  our  plant 
has  a  distant  resemblence  to  the  head  of  a  viper, 
it  was  held  to  be  a  cure  for  the  bites  of  snakes  ; 
just  as  those  plants  with  yellow  juice  were  said  to 
be  good  for  jaundice.  Maelor. 


July  29,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


373 


LAXTON'S    STRAWBERRIES 


THE  Stra-.vberry  is  the  one  fruit  for  which 
space  can  be  demanded  with  eomplete 
justification  in  all  gardens,  wholly 
irrespective  of  size.  It  is  true  that  the 
usual  practice  is  to  cultivate  the  plants 
in  cycles  of  three  years,  in  the  maintenance  of 
which  the  oldest  bed  is  grubbed  annually  and  a 
new  one  planted  to  take  its  place.  Under  rational 
treatment,  especially  in  regard  to  the  quantity 
of  manure  incorporated  with  the  soil  when  the 
fresh  bed  is  in  course  of  preparation,  the  system 
gives  excellent  results  and,  broadly  speaking, 
it  may  be  said  to  be  the  best.  Nevertheless,  where 
it  is  difficult  or  impossible  to  ensure  satisfaction 
by  this  method  owing  to  the  arrangement  of  other 
crops,  it  is  a  simple  matter  to  produce  magnificent 
yields  when  the  plants  are  utilised  as  edgings  to 


since  their  nurseries  may  be  fairly  regarded  as  the 
most  representative  breeding  places  of  this  fruit 
in  the  British  Empire.  Thence  have  come,  to  find 
ready  welcome  in  the  gardens  of  the  world  during 
the  past  three  or  four  decades,  most  of  the  finest 
varieties  in  cultivation.  .\n  excellent  foundation 
for  the  great  work  was  laid  by  the  late  Mr.  Thomas 
I.axton,  it  is  maintained  in  the  second  generation 
by  Messrs.  William  and  Edward  Laxton,  and 
in  the  third  generation  by  Mr.  Edward  Laxton,  jun. 
There  are  scores  of  acres  devoted  to  standard 
varieties,  comparative  novelties,  others  of  proved 
merit  which  are  being  increased  until  the  stock  is 
big  enough  to  justify  distribution,  and  to  seedlings 
of  varying  ages  which  have  not  yet  won  their  spurs 
— there  are  thousands  of  these  in  the  stage  of 
indi'/idual  piants  of  which  every  cross  is  recorded 


A    PROBABLE    SUCCESSOR    TO    ROYAL    SOVEREIGN,    STRAWBERRY    THE    DUKE. 


a  path,  fruited  once,  and  then  consigned  to  the 
rubbish  heap.  This  is  often,  in  fact,  the  only 
^)racticable  manner  of  providing  the  requisite 
accommodation  in  very  small  places. 

No  matter,  however,  what  system  of  culture  may 
be  chosen,  it  is  most  necessary  that  the  variety 
or  varieties  grown  shall  be  of  the  best.  The  average 
yield  to  each  plant  must  be  a  good  one,  the  fruits 
must  be  handsome  in  shape,  rich  in  colour  (though 
this  may  vary  from  light  to  dark),  and,  perhaps 
III' <t  important  of  all,  seeing  that  we  of  The 
|.\RDEN  grow  the  Strawberries  to  eat  ourselves 
11'!  not  to  dispose  of  in  the  markets  to  other  people, 
t!.</  flavour  must  be  rich,  with  a  distinct  tendency 
to  cleanse,  not  to  cloy,  the  palate.  Sufficient 
importance  is  not  attached  by  the  majority  of 
amateurs  to  the  fact  that  when  a  variety  is  grown 
and  propagated  in  the  same  garden  year  after  year 
there  is  a  marked  deterioration  in  vigour,  and  that 
it  is  not  merely  desirable  but  very  decidedly 
advisable  that  fresh  stock  shall  be  purchased  at 
limited  intervals  from  a  different  soil  and  climate 
if  the  best  results  are  to  be  achieved  consistently. 

With  a  view  to  ascertaining  whether  there  was 
anything  of  conspicuous  merit  among  the  new 
or  comparatively  new  varieties,  a  visit  was  paid 
recently    to    Messrs.    Laxton    Brothers',    Bedford, 


and  the  merits  or  demerits  of  which  are  accurately 
entered  in  the  firm's  books.  .Many,  not  all,  of 
these  were  closely  examined,  and  a  few,  a  very 
few,  were  tasted,  and  it  must  suffice  to  say  that 
some  were  delicious  and  others  were  the  reverse. 


Considerably  more  attention  was  directed  to 
the  comparatively  new  varieties  already  on  the 
market,  and  it  w.as  decided  after  many  tests  that 
Marshal  Foch,  Sir  Douglas  Haig  and  Titbit  were 
of  conspicuous  merit.  Each  has  an  excellent 
constitution,  and,  while  it  cannot  be  claimed  for 
them,  or  for  any  Strawberry  known,  that  the  results 
will  be  equally  satisfactory  on  all  soils,  these  have 
been  so  generously  praised  in  letters  from  expert 
gardeners  in  all  parts  of  the  British  Isles  that 
those  who  have  not  yet  given  them  a  trial  need  not 
feel  the  slightest  hesitation  in  doing  so.  The 
first  named  ranks  wth  the  maincrop  sorts,  the 
second  named  is  notable  for  earliness,  while  the 
last  named  is  a  maincrop,  perhaps  just  on  the  small 
side,  but  it  has  an  exceptionally  rich  flavour — 
it  was,  in  fact,  the  finest  of  the  group  in  this  respect 
that  we  tasted,  proving  superior  to  even  the  great 
Marshal  Foch. 

Mention  must  on  no  account  be  omitted  of  the 
novelty  of  the  year — Abundance.  This  is  a  Straw- 
berry of  Strawberries,  and  if  it  maintain  in  all 
soils  the  merits  which  made  it  so  outstandingly 
apparent  among  the  hundrecls  of  thousands  of 
plants  in  Goldington  Road  Nurseries,  Bedford, 
it  will  soon  be  King  Strawberry  of  our  gardens. 
It  belongs  rightly  to  the  mid-season  section  and 
is,  naturally,  extremely  robust  and  vigorous  in 
habit,  characteristics  which  should  serve  to  warn 
growers  to  guard  against  excessively  manuring 
the  ground  in  preparation  for  it.  The  glow-ing 
scarlet,  very  firm  fruits  are  wedge-shaped,  rather 
above  the  average  in  size,  and  the  flavour  is  truly 
excellent.  .A.dd  to  these  proud  recommendations 
the  fact  that  the  plant  is  a  very  heavy  cropper, 
and  it  will  be  agreed  that  it  is  justifiable  to  say 
that  Laxton's  Abundance  is  a  Strawberry  fully 
entitled  to  a  trial  in  every  garden. 

Just  a  word  to  those  who  have  more  space  in  their 
gardens  than  is  necessary  to  meet  personal  require- 
ments. If  they  want  to  grow  half  an  acre  or  an 
acre  of  Strawberries  for  sale  let  them  go  for  The 
Duke.  It  is  early,  a  grand  cropper,  firm  and  there- 
fore a  good  traveller,  and  if  the  flavour  is  not  that 
uf  a  Marshal  Foch  or  a  Titbit  it  does  not  matter 
very  much,  since  someone  else  is  to  eat  it. 

Laxtons  do  not,  as  their  supreme  position  as 
introducers  of  Strawberries  has  led  many  people 
to  suppose,  restrict  their  attention  to  this  fruit ; 
on  the  contrary,  they  have  given  us  marked 
improvements  in  Apples,  Pears,  Currants, 
Gooseberries,  Raspberries  and  other  kinds ; 
but  while  we  stand  on  the  threshold  of  the 
Strawberry  planting  season,  the  kinds  just 
named  do  not  come  to  that  season  until  the 
autumn  and  winter,  and  reference  to  them 
may,  therefore,  usefully  be  left  over  until  that 
practical  period.  H.  L. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


USE    OF    THE    R.H.S.  HALL. 

lyrv  council  have  had  under  consideration  the 
charges  sought  to  be  imposed  on  kindred 
societies  for  the  use  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society's  Hall,  which,  as  you  know,  was  built  by 
public  subscription  and  intended  to  further 
horticulture,  and  have  made  arrangements  to  hold 
their  shows  elsewhere  in  rg23. — Courtney  Page, 
Hon.  Fecretai-y,  National  Rose  Society. 

IRIS    NOMENCLATURE. 

WHY  Messrs.  G.  G.  Whitelegg  and  Co.  should 
consider  it  necessary  to  "  broadcast  "  the 
news  that  I  am  associated  with  the  firm  of 
R.  Wallace  and  Co.,  Limited,  I  do  not  know, 
.^fter  fifteen  years  connexion  with  that  firm  it 
would  be  hopeless  for  me  to  prove  an  alibi,  even 


if  that  association  were  a  crime.  In  any  case,  if  it 
is  a  crime,  I  am  proud  to  be  able  to  plead  guilty. 

With  reference  to  the  remark  about  the  manner 
in  which  they  have  dealt  with  Iris  Ochracea- 
ccerulea  in  their  Iris  catalogue,  I  have  no  doubt 
that  this  is  quite  satisfactory.  In  any  case  it 
is  a  matter  of  indifference  to  me. 

Reference  to  my  notes  on  this  question  must 
convince  everyone  interested  that  nothing  that 
I  have  written  was  intended  to  cast  an  aspersion 
on  either  their  commercial  integrity  or  business 
procedure.     I  have  the  highest  opinion  of  both. 

One  point,  however,  in  the  letter  that  does 
concern  me  is  the  accusation  of  my  lack  of  veracity, 
and  this  I  am  compelled  to  deal  with.  They  say  : 
"  This  Iris  has  never  been  offered  in  any  Iris 
catalogue  hitherto  published  in  this  country,   on 


374 


THE     GARDEN. 


[July  29,  1922 


the  Continent,  or  in  America."  One  example 
•will  be  sufficient.  I  have  before  me  two  successive 
editions  of  the  catalogue  of  Messrs.  Millet  et  Fils, 
a  French  firm  of  some  considerable  standing, 
and  in  both  I  find  the  following ;  in  the  second 
edition  the  page  is  13  : 

■"  OcHR.\CE.'\-ccERULE.\  (Denis)  tres  tardif,  jaune 
citron  et  mauve  lilace,  violet  cobee,  coloris 
original  "  (followed  by  price). 
The  next  statement  made  in  their  letter  is  that  "  the 
name  Sunset  has  not  previously  been  appropriated 
•for  any  other  variety  in  any  Iris  catalogue  with 
•which  we  are  familiar,  nor  does  it  appear  in  the 
American  Iris  Society's  List  of  Irises,"  etc.  I  do  not 
know  which  edition  of  the  Iris  Check  List  they 
possess,  but  in  the  copy  that  I  have  before  me, 
on  page  34,  in  the  second  column,  the  thirteenth 
name  down  the  list  is  Sunset  T.  B. 

With  reference  to  their  concluding  remark  in 
this  paragraph.  They  have  the  indusputable 
right  to  name  any  number  of  different  plants 
•with  the  name  "  Sunset  "  if  they  wish  to  do  so  ; 
whether  it  is  wise  or  conducive  to  the  avoidance 
of  complications  is  another  matter. 

I  might  point  out  that,  in  addition  to  being 
registered  in  America  among  the  varieties  in 
commerce  in  1919,  see  Iris  Check  List,  page  18, 
column  I,  thirteenth  name  down  the  Ust  (curious 
how  this  13  recurs),  and  having  been  certificated 
in  London,  it  has  also  been  certificated  by  the 
Society  Nationale  Horticole  de  France  under  the 
name  Ochracea-ccerulea.  This  latter  award  had 
escaped  my  notice  when  writing  previously. 
Thanking  you  in  anticipation  for  your  courtesy. — 
George  Dillistone  (of  R.  Wallace  and  Co., 
Limited,  Tunbridge  Wells). 

BESCHORXERIA    AND    LITHOSPERMl'.M. 

■^^ITH  moderate  shelter  the  Beschornerias 
should  be  easily  grown  in  the  South.  Here, 
in  a  valley  where  a  small  degree  of  frost  is 
injurious,  owing  to  the  proximity  of  the  Avon, 
Beschorneria  Roseana  is  scarcely  affected  even  by 
a  sharp  winter  spell,  while  such  plants  as  Tricuspi- 
daria,  Eucryphia  cordifoIiiE  and  most  of  the 
Hydrangeas  are  severely  cut.  South  Devon  is 
a  name  to  conjure  with,  and  ten  miles  to  the 
south  of  this  place  Oranges,  Lemons  and  Citrons 
are  growing  in  the  open  against  a  wall — but  not 
here  ! 

As  to  Lithospermum,  whence  comes  the  super- 
stition that  lime  is  obnoxious  to  it  ?  The  race 
is  a  passionate  lime-lo\'er.  I  have,  to  prove  it, 
planted  Lithospermum  Heavenly  Blue  on  a  mass 
of  little  else  but  lime  rubble.  It  has  been  there 
for  a  year,  where,  despite  the  drought,  it  has 
flowered,  and  its  leaves  are  dark  green  and 
vigorous.  No !  what  Lithospermum  dislikes  is 
winds  or  draughts.  If  in  an  exposed  position 
it  is  then  that  it  exhibits  those  blackened  twigs 
and  leaves  which  are  often  the  despair  of  those 
who  would  like  »d  grow  it  well. — T.  A.  Hyde. 
Avoiiw:ck,  S.  Devon. 

TWO    BLUE    ANNUALS. 

TN  WiUiam  Robinson's  "  English  Flower  Garden," 
which  I  should  not  criticise  because  the  talented 
author  presented  me  with  my  copy  many  long 
years  ago,  the  Phacelias  are  described  as  "  Cali- 
fornian  hardy  annuals  :  none  of  the  cultivated 
Icinds  very  important."  Phacelia  campanularia 
■was  introduced  in  1882,  and  the  first  edition  of 
Mr.  Robinson's  work  was  pubMshed  in  18R3, 
and  it  is  possible  this  particular  Phacelia  would 
not  be  widely  known.  I  consider  it  the  brightest 
and  best  of  all  hardy  blue  annuals.  The  shade 
is  pure  ultramarine  ("  Repertoire  de  Couleurs," 
211 — 4);  the  pure  white  anthers  are  an  added 
attraction  in  the  earlv  stage  of  the  flower.     Sown 


in  the  open  in  early  .April  and  thinned  to  4ins. 
apart  or  even  6ins.,  it  will  flower  during  the  whole 
of  June  and  July  and  longer  in  the  N'orth. 

In  August  of  last  year  when  spending  a  holiday 
at  Cruden  Bay,  Aberdeenshire,  I  formed  a  higher 
opinion  than  I  previously  held  of  Nemophila 
insignis.  On  light  soil  in  the  pure  northern  air 
nothing  was  prettier  in  the  gardens  than  this 
Neraophila.  I  know  it  is  a  common  thing  and 
was  largely  sold  in  penny  packets  before  the 
war — twopence  now,  please — but  many  common 
things  are  beautiful.  The  colour  is  the  brightest 
sky  blue  with  white  centre,  but  the  general  effect 
is  blue.  It  can  be  sown  either  in  autumn  or 
spring  and  ought  also  to  be  well  thinned  out. 
It  is  simply  ruining  annuals  to  sow  them,  as  is 
so  often  done,  like  Mustard  and  Cress  and  leave 
them  unthinned.  I  have  an  annual  border  at 
present  25yds.  long  with  seventy  to  eighty  varieties 
in  it,  and  it  is  a  continuous  interest  and  pleasure. — 

W.    CUTHBERTSON. 

THE     BOUGAINVILL.EA. 

(~\NE   reads   so  often  that   Bougainvillxa   glabra 

should  be  hard  pruned  in  the  same  way  as 

a  Grape  Vine  that  I  am  enclosing  a  photograph 

I  have  taken  of  a  plant  growing  in  a  small  tub 


there  \i  a  heavy  rainfall  in  summer,  the  conditions 
coincide  with  those  we  give  them. — H.  C.  W. 

THE    SKLT\'K    CABBAGE. 

T  ALSO  have  been  interested  in  the  references 
to  the  "Skunk  Cabbage"  of  British  Columbia. 
I  brought  some  back  with  me,  and  then  further 
roots  were  sent  me  in  1013.  .\11  have  grown 
successfully  and  without  any  "  nursing "  right 
from  the  first  and  are  thoroughly  established 
by  the  bank  of  a  pond,  some  in  the  water,  some  by 
its  side,  in  Sussex.  (I  abstain  from  mentioning 
the  locality  :  enthusiasts  and  others  are  so  fond 
of  trespassing  and  taking  samples  of  uncommon 
plants.)  They  bloom  well  ;  each  clump  had  four 
or  five  yellow  spathes  this  spring,  and  very 
handsome  they  are,  reflected  in  the  water.  The 
only  damage  they  have  had  is  from  late  frosts, 
which  catch  the  tender  leaves.  I  think  the  clumps 
are  increasing — the  drought  last  summer  was  a 
setback — and  some  must  have  seeded. 

In  The  Garden  for  May  6,  191 1,  there  is  notice 
of  the  Skunk  Cabbage  under  the  name  Lysichitum 
camtschatense  ;  in  your  issue  of  July  15,  1922, 
you  call  it  Symplocarpus  foetidus.  Both  are 
jaw-breaking,  so  better  keep  to  the  "  Man-in-the- 
Street  "  nomenclature.  Skunk  Cabbage. 


*r':'^*''rf_,i»'. 


AN    UNPRUNED    B0UGAINVILL;EA. 


which  has  been  left  quite  unpruned.  This  shews 
the  great  mass  of  flower  and  beautifully  coloured 
bracts  given  by  the  small  side  growths.  It  stands 
on  the  back  stage  of  a  greenhouse  and  covers  a 
space  of  about  15ft.  by  4ft.  It  is  used  to  cover 
the  wall  and  is  not  trained  on  the  roof.  For  many 
weeks  it  is  a  very  fine  sight  and  the  admiration 
of  all  who  see  it.  In  other  respects  it  is  treated 
as  usual — dry  during  the  winter  months  and  an 
abundance  of  water  through  the  summer.  Seeing 
how  easy  and  accommodating  it  is  and  how  little 
it  is  troubled  with  insect  pests,  one  wonders  why 
it  is  not  used  more  freely  for  covering  walls,  roofs 
and  pillars  in  conservatories  and  greenhouses 
where  but  little  heat  is  given.  I  am  told  by  those 
who  have  spent  many  years  in  the  .Argentine  that 
it  is  a  great  favourite  there  and  much  used  for 
training  on  houses.  It  will  cover  a  very  large 
space  and  is  never  pruned.  Its  popular  name  there 
is  Santa   Rita.     As  the  winter  there  is  dry  and 


My  garden  also  boasts  of  a  fine  British  Columbia 
Dogwood  (Cornus  Nuttali)  and  a  Vine  Maple, 
both  brought  over  as  tiny  plants  and  now  about 
15ft.  high  and  blooming  well. — D.  E.   B. 

[Lysichitum  and  Symplocarpus  are  distinct 
plants,  the  latter  being  the  Skunk  Cabbage  of 
North  America. — Ed.] 

ROTATION    OF    CROPS. 

T  HAVE  no  quarrel  with  rotations  in  the  vegetable 
garden,  but  question  their  practical  necessity. 
They  are,  however,  so  held  up  as  a  fetish  that 
cultivators  of  small  areas  are  driven  to  the  utterly 
erroneous  conclusion  that  failure  is  sure  to  result 
it  one  particular  kind  occupies  the  same  site  even 
a  second  season  and  that  real  success  can  be 
insured  only  under  three  yearly,  four  yearly  and, 
according  to  some  writers,  five  yearly  rotations. 
In  restricted  areas  divide  the  space  into  two 
approximately     equal     portions,       making       due 


July  29,  1922.] 

allowance  for  the  few  essential  permanent  crops. 
On  one  section  put  the  Potatoes  and  Onions,  which 
might  well  be  treated  as  permanent  except  in  the 
case  of  a  bad  attack  of  mildew,  and  on  the  remaining 
moiety  all  other  crops  ;   reverse  the  positions  each 
year    and    the    old    fashioned    simple    rotation    is 
achieved,  with  imperfections,  of  course,  but  never- 
theless  satisfactory   for   general   usage.     The   one 
disadvantage  of  non-rotation  is  that  the  value  of 
unappropriated     food     elements     is     not     always 
secured    and    the    system    would,    obviously,    fail 
wholly  where  shallow  soil  working  was 
practised.     I  incline  to  the  view  that 
Miss    Price-Davies    (page   346)    is    in 
error    or   mis-states    her   point    when 
she  says  that  in  "  wet  weather    .    .   . 
the   nourishment  of  the  plant  would 
then  come  from  above  and  from   its 
immediate  surroundings."      Is  it  not 
true  that  imbibition  by  the  root  hairs 
of  the  elements  of  plant  food  occurs 
only  when  the  moisture  is  ascending 
and    not     when     it    is    descending  ? 
Surely  save  in  rare  torrential  rainfalls 
there    is    always    some     capillarity  ? 
If    the    fact    is  as  suggested  by  your 
correspondent,  plants  would  continue 
to  feed    in    a   water-logged    medium ; 
whereas,  owing  to  the  root  hairs  perish- 
ing, they  starve  amid  plenty,  precisely 
as  happens  in  a  quite  dry  soil.     Draw 
and    push    hoes    have    had   places   in 
every  garden  in  which  I  have  worked 
for  nearly  half  a  century  and  while  the 
latter  has  had  its  value  it  has  not  once 
entered  into  serious  competition  with         K 
the   former  ;    the  trouble  is  that  few 
amateurs   manipulate    the    draw    hoe 
with  that    smoothness   which    carries 
it  slithering     sweetly,      rapidly      and 
effectively  through    the    soil     as    the 
professional     does       with     inherited 
naturalness. 

In  my  experience  neither  two  years, 
nor   three  years,  nor   any  more   years 
is     a     sufticiently    long     interval     in 
"  club  "   localities.     The  disease   may 
come  in  one  year  or  in  twenty   years,  but  in  the 
latter  case  the  chances  are  that  the  spores  will  be 
mechanically  borne  and  for  this  reason,  if  for  no 
other,   it  cannot  be  prevented  absolutelv.     I  have 
had  to  contend  w-ith  it  in  hght  Surrey  land,  where 
we   earthed  every   plant   up   with   good  compost, 
packed    firmly,    and    kept    moist    by    watering    as 
necessary,  and  freely  confess  that  it  is  the  worst 
garden  enemy  with  which  I  have  fought  doughty 
battles,   and,   incidentally,   generally  lost. — W.  H. 
Lodge. 

YELLO\V    ASPHODEL. 

T^HE  old  Yellow  .Asphodel,  .Asphodeline  lutea, 
still  frequently  called  ."Asphodelus  luteus, 
is  not  by  any  means  so  common  as  it  was  at  one 
time.  It  is  generally  met  with  in  the  form  of  a 
clump  in  a  border  with  a  few  spikes  of  its  yellow 
flowers  standing  well  up  to  a  height  of  3ft.  or  so. 
The  other  day  I  came  across  a  mass  of  plants 
upwards  of  a  hundred  in  number,  and  although 
they  were  in  somewhat  formal  array,  they  gave 
one  an  idea  of  what  this  Asphodeline  might  be 
when  planted  among  masses  of  other  plants  in 
a  wild  garden.  The  plants  were  well  grown  and 
were  upwards  of  3ft.  and  nearer  4ft.  high,  and  were 
well  flowered.  Stiff-looking  as  were  the  spikes, 
one  can  appreciate  how  such  a  mass  would  look 
-ft  among  other  plants  and  how  effective  the 
yellow  flowers  would  be  amid  greenery.  I 
have  not  found  it  a  free  plant  in  poor  soil, 
but  in  a  good  fertile  loam  it  is  much  more 
satisfactory. — S.  A. 


THE     GARDEN. 


375 


PLANTS    FOR   A    SMALL    MORAINE    GARDEN 


SAXIFR.AGES. —  Moraine  conditions  are 
indispensable  for  many  of  the  Kabschias 
and  other  dwarf  species  and  the  innumer- 
able hybrids  that  have  been  brought  out 
in  recent  years,  some  of  which  are  really 
valuable  additions  and  others  not  worth  a  place 
along    with    the    many   beautiful    alpine    species. 


{Continued   from   page   363). 

regions  in  which  they  are  located.  Of  all  the 
Saxifrages  tried  only  two  have  really  been  failures, 
and  with  those  exceptions  the  Saxifrages  men- 
tioned in  iqi7  are  still  in  existence,  for  the  most 
part  in  the  identical  positions,  very  much  increased 
in  size  or  would  have  been  if  they  had  not  in  some 
cases  been  pulled  back. 


AMONG    THE    MOST    INTERESTING   OF  SAXIFRAGES,    S.    GRISEBACHII. 


Saxifrages     are    always  interesting   either   in    leaf 
or  flower,  and  can    be   seen    to    great    advantage 
on    an    island    moriane.     The    upper    portion   of 
the      moraine     is     almost     fully      occupied     with 
Saxifrages,      mostly     the     smaller     ones.       They 
commence   to  flower  very  frequently  in  January 
(January   i   this  year),  and  there  is  a  continuous 
succession  up  to  the  end  of  June,  when  S.  cochlearis 
and   its   various   hybrids   are   at    their   best.     No 
protection  is  needed  for  the  plants  in  the  winter 
if  the  drainage  is  sharp,  as  it  should  be  ;    but  the 
earlier-flowering    plants     are     better    with     glass 
protection  over  them  when  in  flower,  the  weather 
at   that   period   being  so   uncertain,   and   by   this 
means   the   flowers   are   maintained  in   good  con- 
dition for  a  considerable  period,  which  is  especially 
desirable  to  some  of  us  who  only  have  an  oppor- 
tunity when  days  are  so  short  of  seeing  them  at 
the   week-end.     The   plants   are   usually   mulched 
with  crushed  old  mortar  after   flowering  and   the 
dead   flowers   cut   off,   which   helps   the   plants   if 
they   have   been    flowering   freely    to   regain    their 
vitaUty.     They    also   require   water   at   the   roots 
(not  on   top  of  the  rosettes,   especially  if  sunny) 
at  this  period,  particularly  if  dry,  as  it  frequently 
is  in  my  district.     A  little  shade  is  also  requisite 
for  a  small   proportion  of   the  species.     This  can 
be  obtained  by  placing  a  small  rock  alongside  to 
keep  the  direct  sun's  rays  off  for  a  part  of  the  day, 
conditions   many   of   them   have   in    their   native 
habitats,  where  the  hot  sun  may  only  be  on  them 
for  two  or  three  hours  each  day  owing  to  the  sharp 
contours  that  are  characteristic  of  the  mountainous 


S.  Burseriana  magna. — Quite  one  of  the  best 
of  this  group,  which  has  flowered  freely  year  after 
vear  until  this  spring,  when  it  failed  for  the  first 
time  to  do  itself  justice,  probably  due,  to  some- 
extent,  to  the  very  dry  summer  of  last  year  and 
to  the  plant  having  got  rather  large,  the 
tufts  having  worked  somewhat  loose  in  the  centre 
and  should  have  been  opened  out  and  top-dressed. 
This  has  been  done  now,  and  it  seems  to  be  recover- 
ing. I  had  the  same  experience  with  S.  Paulin*', 
quite  one  of  the  best  of  the  yellow  hybrids,  in  the 
previous  year,  but  it  has  fuUy  reco\'ered  and 
flowered  fairly  well  this  spring,  being  at  its  best 
about  April  23.  S.  B.  magna  has  flowers  almost, 
if  not  quite,  as  large  as  S.  B.  Gloria,  but  on  shorter 
reddish  stems,  which  if  exposed  stand  the  rough 
weather  much  better  than  S.  B.  Gloria.  A  glorious 
form  of  the  type,  the  first  named  is  the  latest  of 
the  three  to  come  into  flower.  This  year  it  was 
in  flower  on  March  g.  S.  B.  Gloria  on  March  i, 
and  the  type  opened  its  first  flowers  on  January  i, 
at  which  time  the  flower-buds  of  the  others  were 
well  developed,  but  owing  to  the  continuous, 
period  of  low  temperatures  they  practically 
remained  dormant  for  weeks. 

S.  caesia. — This  desirable  tiny  grey  resetted 
species  has  died  out  with  me  on  two  occasions, 
never  lasting  more  than  two  seasons.  I  hope  to- 
give  it  another  trial,  and  will  see  if  protection 
from  winter  rains  and  freedom  from  lime,  which 
it  possibly  resents,  will  prove  satisfactory.  A 
very  near  relative  and  quite  as  pretty,  S.  diapen- 
sioides,  has  proved  quite  at  home  over  a  period 


376 


THE     GARDEN. 


[July  20,  1922. 


of  years  and  flowered  beautifully  in  early  May. 
Another  very  similar  species,  S.  Tommasiniajia, 
which  I  have  had  three  or  four  years,  keeps  quite 
healthy,  but  has  never  flowered  yet. 

S.  Burnata. — This  natural  h5'brid,  which  has  S. 
cochlearis  as  one  of  its  parents,  has  very  beautiful 
delicate  sprays  of  S.  cochlearis-like  flowers,  but 
on  a  much  larger  scale  ;  it  has  flowered  profusely 
this  season  and  being  one  of  the  latest  Saxifrages 
to  flower  is  just  going  over,  at  the  end  of  June. 
Given  a  position  on  the  outside,  when  its  pendulous 
flower  sprays  can  be  thrown  clear  of  the  side,  it 
■will  show  its  deUcate  beauty  to  perfection. 

S.  Faldonside. — Still  one  of  the  best  of  the 
yellow-flowering  Kabschias,  with  large  sized,  short 
stemmed  citron-coloured  flowers.  While  I  still 
have  the  original  stock,  this  is  due  to  my  taking 
off  a  portion  of  the  original  plant,  which  died  out, 
which  it  seems  to  have  the  habit  of  doing  aud  usually 
unexpectedly.  It  has  not  flowered  for  the  last 
two  years  and  this  may  be  due  to  the  flowers 
being  frosted  when  in  bud  two  winters  ago  and 
the  resultant  check. 

S.  Grisebachii. — This  species  and  S.  caesia  already 
mentioned,  are  the  only  real  failures  that  I  have 
had  out  of  a  large  number  of  species  and  hybrids 
that  have  found  a  place  among  my  Saxifrages. 
Apparently  a  satisfactory  position  has  not  been 
found  for  it  yet  as  it  is  a  plant  that  should  prove 
amenable  to  the  conditions  provided  ;  one  of  the 
difficulties  has  been  to  prevent  it  from  being 
loosened  out  in  the  winter  months  without  using 
special  protection.  It  is  much  the  finest  of  the 
"  Engleri "  Saxifrages  and  its  best  forms  are 
extremely  interesting,  with  its  crozier  -  hke  red 
stem  which  gradually  unfolds  itself  and  red  flowers. 
S.  Petraschii  is  still  quite  happy  with  its  white 
crinkled  blooms  of  good  size  and  substance  and, 
following  after  the  S.  Burserianas,  is  quite  among 
the  best  of  the  group.  S.  Salomoni,  quite  attractive 
and  easy,  with  its  paper-white  flowers  on  reddish 
stems,  has  the  cushion  grey  and  compact.  When 
first  planted  it  was  somewhat  shy  in  flowering,  but 
recently  it  has  flowered  exceptionally  well.  The 
flower  stems  are  somewhat  long  and  deUcate,  and 
it  is  hkely  to  suffer  damage  from  the  stormy 
weather  that  very  frequently  happens  when  it  is 
in  flower,  usually  about  March.  S.  Irvingii,  another 
hybrid  with  Burseriana  as  one  of  its  parents,  has 
been  raised  since  Mr.  Farrer's  list  was  published, 
otherwise  it  could  hardly  have  been  left  out  of  the 
select  "  Fifty  "  ;  it  has  very  compact  grey  spiny 
foliage,  from  which  are  thrown  up  on  short  stems 
delicate  rose-tinted  flowers,  deeper  at  the  base  of 
the  petals  ;  it  always  flowers  very  freely,  in  fact  the 
cushions  usually  are  absolutely  covered  with  the 
delicate  rosy  pink  flushed  flowers.  S  lilacina,  with 
its  hard,  very  compact  tiny  green  rosettes,  has 
slowly  increased  until  it  is  now  quite  a  nice  sized 
plant,  which  in  recent  years  has  given  bountifully 
of  its  somewhat  uncommon  rosy  lilac  flowers. 
This  is  a  Himalayan  species  and  seems  best  planted 
in  a  position  shaded  from  the  sun  for  a  good  part  of 
the  day  and  in  one  that  ensures  somewhat  more 
moisture  than  is  usually  allowed. 

S.  Borj'i.  —  This  has  increased  considerably 
and  to  me  seems  to  be  very  close  to  S.  mar- 
ginata,  with  smaU  green  silvery-tipped  rosettes 
and  its  clusters  of  beautifully  white,  good 
sized  flowers  carried  well  on  a  sturdy  stem 
and  is  quite  one  of  the  most  satisfactory  of 
the  Saxifrages.  It  usually  flowers  in  early  April, 
about  a  month  later  than  Burseriana,  and  lasts 
for  quite  a  good  time.  S.  x  Haagii,  with  hard  green, 
very  compact  rosettes,  very  similar  to  S.  sancta  in 
many  respects  and  quite  as  easy,  but  the  deep  yellow 
flowers  have  much  larger  petals,  which  are  carried 
on  sturdy  stems  and  the  flowers  resist  bad  weather 
much  better  than  many  species  that  flower  about 
the  same  period.     S.  apiculata,  with  its  primrose 


yellow  flowers,  is  still  quite  one  of  the  best  and 
easiest,  and  the  white  form  of  apiculata  is  equally 
good  ;  both  usually  flowering  very  freely,  which  is 
not  so  usual  with  the  S.  EUzabetha;  section.  S. 
Boydii  alba  is  a  good  early-flowering  plant ;  S. 
coriophyUa,  which  is  out  when  S.  Burseriana  is  well 
over  and  S.  scardica,  usually  later  still,  are  worth 
growing,  all  helping  to  lengthen  the  flowering  period. 

S.  aretioides.  —  This  compact  Pyrenean  Saxi- 
fraga,  with  its  deep  bright  yellow,  short  stemmed 
flowers,  is  one  of  the  latest  to  come  into  flower. 
My  plant  was  taken  out  of  a  friend's  garden  when 
on  its  "  last  legs,"  only  one  cushion  apparently 
having  life  in  it,  and  planted  on  the  moraine, 
where  it  slowly  recovered  and  has  grown  into 
quite  a  nice  plant. 

S.  S.  cochlearis  and  cochlearis  minor,  the  latter 
with  the  pleasant  grey  rosettes  much  smaller  in 
fully  exposed  positions,  give  generously  of  their 
deUghtful  flowers  year  by  year.  Of  the  Engleri 
section,  S.  Stribnyri  makes  rosettes  fairly  freely, 
but  it  has  not  flowered  for  some  years.  S.  Frederici- 
Augusti  failed  to  flower  this  spring,  although  it 
has  flowered  in  previous  seasons. 


S.  Bertoloni. — This  hybrid  has  flowered  freely 
both  this  year  and  last.  S.  media,  the  Pyre- 
nean red-flowered  species  has  just  been  planted. 
While  the  above  are  all  interesting,  none  of 
them  is  nearly  as  fine  as  S.  Grisebachii,  before 
mentioned.  The  moraine  is  the  most  suitable 
position  for  the  tiny  silver-edged  S.  Aizoou 
baldensis,  with  its  pretty  flowers  ;  some  of  the 
better  S.  .'\izoon  \arieties  find  a  place  and  are 
desirable  for  lengthening  tlie  Saxifrage  flowering 
period.  Among  the  best  are  S.  Aizoon  rosea,  S. 
A.  lutea,  S.  A.  pectinata,  etc.  The  very  fine 
hybrid  "  Dr.  Ramsay  "  {longifolia  x  cochlearis), 
finds  a  place,  %vith  its  interesting  rosettes  and 
beautiful  flower  spikes,  as  does  also  S.  Kolena- 
tiana  (possibly  cartilaginea),  an  Asia  Minor  plant 
with  long  narrow  pointed  leaved  rosettes  and 
pinkish  flower  spikes. 

S.  retusa. — This  minute  running  oppositi- 
foUa-Uke  plant,  which  has  been  planted  for 
some  years,  flowered  for  the  first  time  this 
season,  the  deep  ruby  red  flowers  being  distinctly 
pretty.  T.  .\shton  Lofphouse 

To   be  cO'ttinucd. 


GARDENING    OF    THE    WEEK 


FOR     SOUTHERN     GARDENS. 

The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Summer  -  sown  Cabbage.  —  The  sowing  of 
Cabbage  to  yield  produce  for  spring  and  early 
summer  is  an  important  pouit  where  the  supply 
of  kitchen  vegetables  is  on  air  extensive  scale. 
The  actual  date  of  sowing  may  vary  in  some 
districts,  but  I  do  not  think  a  few  days  either 
way  will  make  much  difference.  A  point  I  think 
of  more  importance  is  the  selection  of  suitable 
varieties,  such  as  Flower  of  Spring,  etc.  Two 
separate  sowings  should  be  made,  and  the  first 
one  should  be  in  by  the  early  days  of  August, 
followed  by  another  one  about  the  middle  of  the 
month. 

Vegetable  Seeds. — The  clearing  of  early  vege- 
tables, such  as  Peas  and  Potatoes,  will  provide  a 
suitable  piece  of  ground  for  sowing  quickly- 
maturing  varieties  of  several  vegetables  which 
will  come  in  very  useful  during  autumn.  Where 
the  soU  is  cold  and  retentive,  only  a  partial  measure 
of  success  must  be  expected.  Among  other  kinds, 
mention  may  be  made  of  Peas,  Spinach,  Carrot, 
Beet  and  French  Beans,  choosing  a  warm  spot  for 
the  latter  where  covering  can  be  given  later  if 
necessary.  If  Cabbag:e  seed  is  sown  thinly  and 
not  transplanted  it  is  possible  to  have  plants 
with  nice  young  hearts  during  November  and 
December. 

Winter  Greens. —  Kale,  Savoy  or  other  kinds 
should  be  looked  over  and  have  all  deficiencies 
made  good  and  additional  plantings  made  where 
necessary. 

Early  Potatoes  may  be  lifted  even  though  the 
tops  have  not  died  down  aud  will  keep  well  if 
care  is  taken  not  to  damage  the  skins.  If  any 
of  the  tubers  are  required  for  seed  purposes  they 
should  be  left  outside  to  ripen  a  Uttle  before 
being  placed  in  their  storage  quarters. 

The  Flower  Garden. 
Perennial    Lobelias,    such    as    L.    cardinalis, 

require  re-stockrng  to  some  extent  most  seasons, 
and  the  present  is  a  suitable  time  to  sow  seeds 
for  this  purpose.  Sow  in  pans  or  boxes  filled  with 
sandy  soil,  and  place  in  a  cold  frame  for  germina- 
tion. When  the  seedhngs  are  strong  enough 
prick  out  in  boxes  or  in  a  shallow  frame,  shading 
from  bright  sunshine  until  established.  Given  a 
little  attention,  nice  plants  will  be  available  for 
another  season.  The  wintering  of  the  plants 
may  be  done  where  grown,  remembering  that 
dampness  is  the  greatest  enemy. 

Hydrangeas. — To  maintain  the  stock  of  plants 
necessary  for  vases  or  tubs  it  is  advisable  to  have 
a  continuous  supply  of  healthy  young  plants 
coming  along.  August  is  the  proper  time  for 
securing  cuttings  to  strike  and  grow  on  for  this 
purpose.  The  partly  ripened  shoots  may  either 
be  placed  singly  in  small  pots  or  about  three  may 
be  put  round  the  sides  of  a  large  bo  sized  pot. 
Treated  thus  and  grown  on  undisturbed  it  is 
soon    possible    to     have    nice    bushy    plants.     A 


slight  bottom  heat  will  give  a  quicker  "  strike," 
but  later  the  plants  should  have  cold  frame  treat- 
ment with  plenty  of  light  and  air. 

Antirrhinums. — To  provide  a  stock  of  plants 
for  flowering  early  next  summer  the  seed  must 
be  sown  during  .August,  and  for  preference  not 
later  than  the  middle  of  the  month.  Sow  thinly 
in  shallow  boxes  or  a  cold  frame,  and  prick  the 
seedlings  out  as  soon  as  ready  to  about  4ins. 
apart.  This  may  either  be  in  cold  frames  or  on 
a  fairly  warm,  well  drained  border  where  some 
protection  may  be  given  when  necessary.  The 
plant's  greatest  enemy  during  the  winter  months 
is  dampness. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Early  Vines. — As  soon  as  a  clearance  of  the 
fruit  from  the  plants  is  made  steps  should  be 
taken  at  once  to  ascertain  the  condition  of  the 
borders,  and  if  necessary  a  thorough  watering  be 
given.  Should  the  crop  have  been  a  heavy  one. 
or  if  the  Vines  are  at  all  weak,  manure  water  should 
be  used.  Keep  all  lateral  growths  cut  off,  and 
concentrate  all  the  plant's  energies  upon  the 
ripening  up  of  the  wood  by  airing  the  house  freely 
day  and  night.  If  red  spider  is  present  it  may  be 
checked  by  syrmging  well  with  an  insecticide, 
and  a  few  good  drenchings  of  water  through  a 
hose. 

Pot  Trees. — Trees  in  orchard  houses  or  else- 
where, carrying  heavy  crops  of  Apples,  Pears,  etc., 
should  receive  regular  assistance  with  manure 
water  until  the  ripening  period  is  apparent. 
Unless  suitable  supports  in  the  way  of  nets  are 
in  use  for  the  fruits,  the  latter  must  be  securely 
fastened  on  with  strong,  broad  raflia. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 
Morello  Cherries. — It  is  not  too  late  to  help 

these  with  supplies  of  water  if  tho.ight  necessary, 
but  probably  other  varieties  not  yet  gathered 
had  better  be  omitted,  as  it  is  now  too  late  to 
do  so  with  safety,  owing  to  danger  of  the  fruits 
spUtting.  Give  the  trees  cleared  of  their  crops 
a  good  cleansing  if  necessary,  and  cut  away 
growth  not  required. 

H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 
Albury  Park  Gardens,  GuihiforJ. 


FOR    NORTHERN    GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Lettuce. — Make  a  larger  sowing  than  usual 
at  this  time  for  autumn  use,  choosing  a  con- 
x-enient  border  for  the  purpose.  Sow  in  lines 
I  ft.  apart,  thinning  out  to  loins,  apart  in  the 
rows.  Lettuce  are  generally  more  satisfactory 
if  sown  where  they  are  to  remain,  and  if  accorded 
considerate  treatmeut  vnll  produce  crisp  and 
tender  plants  of  good  size. 

Spring  Cabbage. — The  second  and  in  many 
gardens  the  most  important  sowing  of  sprmg 
Cabbage  should  now  be  made.     Choose   an  open 


July  29,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


377 


position,  and  sow  thinh"  in  rows  lit.  apart  so 
that  short,  sturdy  growth  may  result.  Sutton's 
Flower  of  Spring  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  most 
suitable  varieties  for  sowinsc  now,  as  it  possesses 
all  the  quaUties  that  go  to  make  a  good  spring 
Cabbage,  being  very  hardy,  hearting  quickly,  and 
not  being  so  liable  to  "  bolt  "  as  some  sorts.  It 
has  few  outer  leaves  and  proves  of  excellent  quality 
when  cooked. 

'.■  General  Work. — The  present  is  one  of  the 
busiest  seasons  of  the  year  in  the  kitchen  garden, 
as  crops  of  various  kinds  are  .going  over,  and 
where  time  and  circumstances  permit,  the  ground 
should  be  cleared  and  utihsed  for  catch  crops, 
such  as  late  sowings  of  Spinach,  stump-rooted 
Carrots,  Globe  Beet,  etc.  In  regard  to  late  Peas 
that  have  made  extra  strong  growth,  these 
should  recei\"e  additional  support,  and  thus  save 
the  crop  from  damage  by  the  autumn  gales. 
Keep  all  ground  free  from  weeds  and  well  hoed 
when  the  weather  is  suitable,  resorting  to  hand- 
weeding  when  the  weather  is  showery. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

New  Plantations  of  Strawberries. — Where  it 
is  desirable  to  lay  do^vn  new  beds  of  Strawberries 
with  expectations  of  securing  fruit  from  the  young 
plants  next  season,  no  time  should  be  lost  in 
having  the  work  carried  through.  It  is  essential 
that  good  strong  runners  be  secured  and  that  the 
ground  they  are  to  occupy  should  be  in  good 
heart.  The  Strawberry  Ukes  a  deep  soil  and  will 
revel  in  a  part  that  has  been  deeply  dug  and  well 
manured  for  earlier  crops.  Set  the  runners  out 
in  lines  2ift.  apart  and  i5ins.  apart  in  the  rows. 
Strong-growing  sorts  may  be  allowed  3ft.  between 
the  rows  and  iSins.  between  the  plants,  but  for 
most  varieties  the  first  mentioned  distance  will 
be  found  suitable.  After  root  action  commences 
the  ground  should  be  kept  well  hoed  and  ever\- 
encouragement  given  the  plants  to  establish 
themselves  before  winter. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Peaches. — In  early  houses  w-here  the  fruit 
has  been  gathered  all  unnecessary  wood  should 
now  be  cut  away  and  the  trees  subjected  to  a 
thorough  washing  with  the  garden  engine  or 
syringe.  Where  traces  of  red  spider  are  noticeable, 
means  should  be  taken  at  once  to  eradicate  the 
pest.  Use  one  of  the  many  reliable  preparations 
sold  for  the  purpose,  taking  care  to  see  that  it 
is  applied  to  every  portion  of  wood  and  foUage. 
Allow  abundance  of  air  both  day  and  night,  and 
thus  ensure  short-jointed,  healthy  fruiting  wood. 
Examine  the  border  and  see  that  the  roots  do 
not  suffer  from  lack  of  moisture. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Pinks. — Cuttings  of  these  fragrant  and  free- 
flowering  plants  should  be  inserted  without  delay. 
UtiUse  a  cold  frame  for  the  purpose,  and  dibble 
the  cuttings  firmly  into  a  mixture  of  leaf-mould 
and  sharp  sand.  Pinks  are  greatly  favoured  for 
planting  on  the  margins  of  borders,  the  variety 
Mrs.  Sinkins  being  singularly  effective  when 
planted  in  conjunction  with  Nepeta  Mussini. 

The  Rock  Garden. — Cuttings  of  such  alpine 
plants  as  Dianthus,  Phloxes,  Androsaces,  Sapon- 
arias,  Drabas,  Saxifragas,  Linarias  and  numerous 
others  should  now  be  got  in,  and  in  this  way 
the  stock  for  replenishing  or  augmenting 
existing  groups  next  year  will  be  kept  up. 

Seedling  Pansies. — Seed  of  this  old  favourite 
may  be  sown  now  on  a  Ught  border  in  the  open, 
or  germinated  in  a  cold  frame  and  planted  out 
in  nursery  lines,  where  they  may  remain  until 
transferred  to  their  flowering  quarters.  Treated 
thus  they  will  produce  a  mass  of  bloom  during 
spring  and  early  summer. 

James  McGran 
(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth.  Bart.), 

Coodham^  Kilmarnock. 


FORTHCOMING    EVENTS. 

August  I. — Royal  Caledonian  Horticultural 
Society's  Meeting. 

.August  2. — National  Viola  and  Pansy  Society's 
Show. 

August  3.  —  Taunton  Deane  Horticultural 
Society's  Annual  Show. 

August  4. — Bradford  Hospital  and  Convalescent 
Fund's  Show  (two  days). 

August  5. — Auchencairn  Horticultural  Society's 
Show. 


Beauties    and    Beasts    at 
Cambridge 

THOSE  whose  knowledge  of  Cambridge 
is  only  that  of  a  bird  of  passage  know 
that  there  are  always  beauties  in  the 
gardens  of  the  splendid  colleges  and 
private  houses  and  that  beasts  are 
numerous  on  market  days,  but  the  richness  to  the 
point  of  embarrassment  of  both  have  never  been 
equal  on  any  one  occasion  to  that  concentrated 
at  the  Royal  Show.  The  Garden  has  nothing 
akin  to  the  beauties  of  the  beasts  (if  it  had,  a  more 
knowledgeable  pen  than  the  present  one  would 
be  needed  to  describe  them),  but  it  is  father, 
mother,  brother  and  sister  of  many  of  the  finest 
gardens  in  the  land  and  is,  therefore,  in  intimate 
relationship  to  the  beauties  of  the  flowers,  and 
it  is  to  these  that  attention  will  be  drawn  briefly. 
The  two  marquees  of  noble  proportions  were 
disposed  to  form  a  gigantic  capital  T,  the  one 
entrance  to  which  was  approached  between  fruit 
trees  from  Laxtons  and  Carnations  from  Engel- 
mann  planted  in  beds,  doubtless  to  create  the 
imperative  good  first  impression ;  anyway,  that 
is  what  they  did.  Within  was  a  blaze  of  colour, 
relieved  from  the  positively  plethoric  by  Pulham's 
delightful  little  rockery,  Ellison's  cool  Ferns  and 
Palms  and  Miss  Thompson's  quaint  and  varied 
Cactaceous  plants.  Repose  to  the  eye,  with, 
perhaps,  a  whetting  of  the  palate,  came,  too,  in 
admirably  grown  fruit  trees  in  pots  contributed 
by  Sir  Carl  Meyer,  the  King's  Acre  Nurseries, 
Limited,  Jas.  Vert  and  Sons  and  W.  Seabrook 
and  Sons  ;  luscious-looking  Strawberries  from 
Laxton's,  with  Melons  the  equals  of  which  are 
much  too  rarely  seen  at  shows  in  these  days  ; 
and  superb  vegetables,  arranged  with  artistic 
skill  to  make  a  harmonious  group,  amid  beautiful 
Sweet  Peas,  from  Sutton  and  Sons. 

Rosarians  represented  included  the  Rev.  J.  H. 
Pemberton,  who  staged  several  varieties  of  his 
own  raising ;  Laxton  Brothers,  shewing  one  sort 
only,  the  exquisite  single  Pink  DeHght ;  R. 
Harkness  and  Co.,  who  staged  a  varied  group  ; 
Wood  and  Ingram,  who  had  also  numerous 
varieties  ;  A.  J.  and  A.  Allen,  who  had  many 
grand  flowers  ;  J.  Burrell  and  Co.,  who  worthily 
upheld  the  town  of  Cambridge  ;  B.  R.  Cant  and 
Co.,  who  were  in  grand  form  ;  Daniels  Brothers, 
who  added  herbaceous  flowers  to  their  Roses  ; 
A.  Dickson  and  Sons  and  A.  Edwards.  Superb 
Sweet  Peas  came  from  A.  Ireland  and  Hitchcock, 
Sutton  and  Son,  Dobbie  and  Co.,  E.  Webb  and  Son, 
R.  Bolton  and  Alex.  Dickson  and  Sons. 

Carnations,  Border,  Tree  and  Malmaison,  were 
staged  by  AUwood  Brothers  (who,  of  course, 
remembered  to  bring  some  AUwoodii  Pinks  to 
cheer  up  their  relatives),  K.  Luxford  and  Co. 
and  H.  Lakeman.  Among  those  who  sent  hardy 
flowers  or  plants  or  both  were  R.  H.  Bath,  Limited, 
Bakers,  the  Chalkhill  Nurseries,  John  Forbes, 
Limited,  R.  C.  Notcutt  and  R.  Wallace  and  Co. 
W.  Artindale  and  Son  brought  a  pleasant  change 
in  the  form  of  a  small  collection  of  fine  Violas, 
while  I.  House  and  Son  shewed  a  collection  of 
flowers  of  perennial  Scabiouses. 

There  were  a  few  competitive  classes,  which 
although  they  did  not,  speaking  generally,  bring 
as  many  exhibitors  as  might  have  been  expected, 
were  magnificent  in  respect  of  the  quahty  through- 
out and  of  splendid  arrangement  in  most  instances. 
J.  Cypher  and  Sons  and  W.  A.  Holmes  com- 
peted in  the  group  of  miscellaneous  plants 
and  were  placed  as  named.  In  each  instance 
the  plants  were  the  same  and  were  disposed  in 
precisely  the  manner  with  which  visitors  to  the 
leading  provincial  shows  have  become  famiUar 
with  during  the  past  few  years,  and  the  thought 


occurs  that  it  is  time  that  a  material  change  of 
design  was  made.  J.  Cypher  and  Sons  led  with 
a  collection  of  Orchids,  excellent  in  all  respects. 
Blackraore  and  Langdon  were  not  assailed  in  the 
classes  for  Delphiniums  and  tuberous-rooted 
Begonias,  and  consequently  annexed  the  premier 
award  in  each  case.  For  a  collection  of  hardy 
perennial  plants  and  cut  blooms  the  order  of 
merit  was  ."Vrtindale  and  Son,  Harkness  and  Co. 
and  G.  Gibson  and  Co.  For  a  collection  of  cut 
sprays  of  Tree  Carnations  C.  Engelmann  assumed 
the  lead  over  S.  Low  and  Co.,  while  in  a  similar 
class  for  Border  \arieties  H.  Lakeman  was  in 
the  premier  position.  Collections  of  Sweet  Peas 
were  abo\e  the  average  of  merit,  and  the  prizes 
went  to  R.  Bolton,  E.  W.  King  and  Co.  and 
J.  Stevenson  in  the  order  gi\'en.  The  last  and 
probably  the  finest  class  of  all  was  for  a  collection 
of  Roses,  and  the  prizes  were  taken  by  T.  Robinson, 
A.  J.  and  A.  Allen  and  W.  and  J.  Brown. 

The  final  impression  on  leaving  was  that  this 
was  the  finest  horticultural  show  that  the  Royal 
Agricultural  Society  had  had  ;  that  it  was  most 
admirably  arranged  for  the  convenience  of  the 
exhibitors  and  the  comfort  of  the  visiting  pubUc 
by  Mr.  Peter  Blair  ;  and  that  if  it  had  been  poor 
the  steward.  Sir  Arthur  Hazlerigg,  Bart.,  would 
ha\e  made  people  think  that  it  was  fine  by  his 
genialit\'  and  prompt  willingness  to  give  assistance 
or  advice.  L. 


A    Sussex    Flower  Show 

HA\"\\"ARDS  HEATH  is  blessed  with 
a  particularly  good  railway  connexion 
to  many  residential  districts,  so  that 
fine  trade  exhibits  may  usually  be 
found  there  This  year's  Show,  held 
on  July  19,  was  no  exception,  exhibitors  coming 
from  as  far  afield  as  Wolverhampton.  Messrs. 
Charlesworth  won  the  President's  Cup  for  the 
best  trade  exhibit  for  the  third  year  in  succession. 
It  now  becomes  their  property.  Noteworthy 
Orchids  in  this  exhibit  included  Cattleya  Dupres- 
iana,  C.  Hesta,  Odontoglossum  Xanthina  (with 
bright  lemon  spots  on  a  prinu-ose  ground,  the 
nearest  approach  to  yellow  in  this  section), 
Coelogyne  burfordense  (C.  pandurata  x  C.  aspera). 
Odontonia  brugensis,  /Erides  BaUantineanum, 
Lselio-Cattleya  Phoebe  magnifica,  the  br  ght 
yellow  sepalled  Lrelia  tenebrosa  Walton  Grange 
Variety  and  the  Reed-Hke  Swamp  Orchid,  Sobralia 
Colmanii. 

Perpetual  Carnations  were  worthily  shewn  by 
Messrs.  Allwood.  Varieties  specially  noteworthy 
included  the  gallant  scarlet  Edward  Allwood, 
Jessie  Allwood,  the  quaint  rose  and  helio  Eastern 
Maid,  Wivelsfield  Beauty  and  the  Perpetual 
Malmaison  Mrs.  C.  F.  Raphael.  .Among  a  con- 
siderable display  of  .AUwoodii  the  soft  pink  Maud 
was  much  admired. 

A  particularly  fine  exhibit  of  Sweet  Peas  came 
from  Messrs.  Sutton,  all  grown  in  their  Reading 
trial  ground  and  proving  conclusively  that  with 
proper  care  and  cultivation  these  flowers  can  be 
grown  up  to  exhibition  standard  on  almost  an\ 
soil  found  in  Britain,  for  the  soil  at  Reading  is 
natiu-ally  shallow,  light  and  hungry.  Particu- 
larly fine  were  their  masses  of  Tangerine,  Sensation 
(a  fine  scarlet),  Doris  L'sher,  Barbara  and  Sutton's 
Black-seeded  Cream.  A  smaller  exhibit,  but  with 
wonderful  flowers  particularly  bright  and  fresh  in 
colour,  was  set  up  by  Mr.  H.  T.  Dixson,  of  Polegate. 
Rather  invidious  to  select  the  best  here  but  personal 
taste  suggested  Hebe,  Fantasy,  Annie  Ireland, 
Jean  Ireland.  Giant  Attraction  and  the  fine 
crimson  Charity. 

Colonel  S.  R.  Clarke  had  an  attractive  exhibit 
of  uncommon  shrubs,  with  plants  of  the  glorious 


378 


THE     GARDEN. 


[July  29,  1922. 


new  Anemone  glaucophylla.  Messrs.  Cheals  had 
alpine  and  herbaceous  plants,  Dahlias  and,  in  the 
open  air,  some  well  shaped  and  clipped  topiarv. 
Messrs.  James  Box  had  herbaceous  plants, 
including  .  many  Phloxes,  Eremurus  Bungei, 
Lilium  Henryi  and  Romneya. 

The  rock  and  water  garden  carried  out  by  Mr. 

E.  Scaplehorn,  of  Lindfield,  was  quite  ambitious. 
Primula  Littoniana  was  an  attraction  in  this 
exhibit.  It  is  surprising  how  many  keen  amateurs 
still  seem  not  to  know  it.  In  a  good  bank  of 
herbaceous  plants,  that  best  of  Rudbeckias, 
R.  maxima,  was  notable,  while  the  Phloxes  also 
were  good. 

Mr.  Frank  Woollard,  of  Brighton,  had  a  bright 
display  of  Roses  and  quite  a  collection  of  small 
fruits.  Messrs.  Bunyard  brought  from  Maidstone 
some  good  Roses,  including  the  popular  Golden 
Emblem  ;  also  herbaceous  plants  in  some  variety, 
including  Liliums  Auratum  and  testaceum. 

In  the  competitive  classes  popular  interest 
always  largely  focusses  at  this  Sliow  upon  the 
table  decoration  class,  for  which  Messrs.  Charles- 
worth  offer  a  very  handsome  cup  additional  to 
the  prize  money.  These  were  judged  by  Mr. 
R.  F.  Felton,  the  well  known  Hanover  Square 
florist,  who  afterwards  explained  the  merits  and 
demerits  of  the  different  arrangements  to  the 
competitors.  Mrs.  A.  Swann,  ot  Waminglid,  was 
placed  first  with  an  arrangement  of  deep  salmony 
apricot  Carnations,  Croton  foliage  and  the 
variegated  swords  of  Glyceria  aquatica  fol.  var. 
The  second  prize  winner,  Mrs.  A.  E.  Sales,  shewed 
what  could  be  achieved  with  sprays  of  Dorothy 
Dennison  Rose  arranged  viith  its  own  foliage. 
The  premier  award  in  the  decorated  fruit  table 
class  went  to  Mr.  C.  T.  .^llen,  Warninglid  (gardener. 

F.  L.  Tilling).  The  various  kinds  were  good 
throughout,  but  there  was  nothing  of  outstanding 
excellence.      Mr.     F.     H.     ."^nsell,     of    Haywards 


Heath,  was  first  with  a  collection  of  hardy  flowers, 
but  the  arrangement  and  setting  up  left  much  to 
he  desired.  Much  better  was  the  first  prize 
exhibit  in  the  class  for  twelve  bunches  of  herba- 
ceous flowers  shewn  by  Mr.  W.  S.  Poole,  also  of 
Hay  ward's  Heath  (gardener,  J.  W.  Penfold). 
His  best  vases  were  probably  Lilium  candidum. 
Phlox  Antonin  Mercie,  Pentstemon  George  Home, 
Galega  Her  Majesty,  Pentstemon  barbatus  and 
Salvia  virgata. 

Fruit  and  vegetable  classes  throughout  the 
Show  were  well  filled.  Other  interesting  classes 
included  arrangements  of  hardy  flowers  in  baskets 
and,  for  the  school  children,  named  collections  of 
wild  flowers. 


ANSWERS 
TO  CORRESPONDENTS 


a 


WiNDOLITE 


99 


FLOWER     GARDEN. 

LAVENDER  UNSATISFACTORY  (  "Shadow"  ).— This  is 
one  of  thf  troubles.  v.i!;uely  classed  as  "  Wilts,"  of  which 
the  cause  is  unknown,  hut  in  this  case  it  is  very  probable 
that  it  is  the  result  of  very  trying  conditions  cf  temperature. 
The  colour  of  the  damaged  tissue  is  due  to  the  collection 
of  a  blue  pigment  in  the  epidermal  cells.  The  nodes 
survive  longer  because  they  are  more  flesh.v  and  also 
because  they  can,  to  some  extent,  draw  on  the  supplies 
of  water  in  the  leaves.  This  trouble  is  not  likely  to 
constantly  recur. 

LILIUM  CROCEUM  UNSATISFACTORY  (K.  T>.).— 
The  Lilies  seem  to  be  affected  with  the  well  known  Lily 
disease,  though  liliuni  croceura  is  not  often  so  affected. 
It  is  probably  placed  where  cold  winds  and  spring  frosts 
reach  it,  and  this  has  weakened  it  and  laid  it  open  to  the 
attacks  of  the  fundus  Botrytis  par.asitica  which  is  the  cause 
of  this  disease,  llemove  diseased  plants  and  destroy 
tliem,  also  colteet  and  burn  diseased  foliage.  Tt  is  ad^  isabl'e 
not  to  plant  fresh  stork  in  infected  bed=. 

NAME     OF   PLANTS.— J     M.    r.—Rnfc    Lndv    Pirrie. 

B.  B.  P. — Ulmus  major. M.   S.   S.,   Banbury.— 

Phacelia  tanacetifolia. T.  K. — 1.  Dipsaeus  sylvestris. 

"Wild  Teasel";  2,  .\morpha  fruticosa  (shrub),  "False 
Indigo." 


consists   of   a    transparent    composition    reinforci 
with  fine  wire,  from  which 

ROSE  PROTECTORS 

can  be  made  at  home  in  a  few  minutes  at  the  cc 
of  a  few  pennies  only. 

Take  a  rectangular  piece  of  "  Windolite  "  rain 
6in.  (or  according  to  size  of  protector  requirec 
Cut  notch  ^in.  deep  in  centre  of  one  of  longer  sid 
Bend  "  WindoHte "  into  conical  or  funnel  shap 
the  notch  coming  at  apex  to  allow  overlap.  Fasti 
in  this  position  by  sewing  or  with  "Windolite 
solution.  If  desired  the  corners  may  be  cut 
with  ordinary  scissors. 

"  Windolite  "  being  practically  unbreakable  h 
many  other  uses  in  the  garden,  taking  the  place 
glass  to  make  feathervveight  lights  for  frames  ai 
pits,  or  it  can  be  made  up  without  skilled  labo 
into  hand-lights  and  cloches  of  any  shape  or  si? 
Also  largely  used  for  Poultry  and  all  Out  Hous) 
If  your  local  dealer  does  not  stock  we  wiU  send  ai 
length  from  one  yard  upwards,  carriage  paid,  ■ 
receipt  of  remittance. 

Width  -  23iin.  zyiin.  3ijin.  35in.  39ir 
Prices  4/11  5/8  6/5  7/2  7/1 
Also  made  in  Double  and  Triple  strengths,  cU 
or  in  any  colour. 

"  Windolite  "  solution  1  /6  per  2-oz.  bottle, 
post    free. 
Various    uses    are    demotistrated   in    our    shomroo 
lohere     lue     are     always    glad    to    receive     calle 

C.    M.     DAVIES    &    COMPANY    (Dept.    I 
179-185,  Gt.  Portland   St.,  London,  W. 

The  Culture  of  Chrysanthemum 

By     H.     WELLS. 

Freely    Illustrated. 

Paper  Covers.  2/6  net ;   Cloth.  3/6  net ;   By  post  4d.  exi 

Published  at  the  Offices  of  "  Cocntey   Life,"  Limited. 

20,  Tavistock  Street,  W.C.2. 


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THE 


T.mT?  A>^V«'>«'  n>fei 


eltfe* 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


I.  LXXXVI.— No.  2646. 

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^r 

^fe^' 

-J 

1 

1 

-I       ■  <  .«tMi 


mm 


t.t< 


AN    AUGUST    BORDER. 
Coreopsis  Grandiflora  in  the  Foreground. 


Merryweather's    Hardy    Plants. 

NOW  is  the  time  to  fill  all   vacancies    in    the    Hardy    Plant 
Border. 

We  offer  a  fine  selection  in  our  new  li~t,  just  published. 
All  plants  of  highest   quality. 
Please  send  for  a  copy. 

HENRY  MERRYWEATHER  &  SONS,  Ltd., 

THE  NURSERIES,   SOUTHWELL,   NOTTS. 


MXtj^KA^i 


CfllQ 


THE    KING'S 
SEEDSMEN, 

READING. 


SUTTON'S      CABBAGES 

For    Spring     Cutting. 

Recognised  by  an  ever  increasing  number 
of  Growers  as  the  best  varieties. 

per  pkt.  1  -&  1,'6 

..     02.      1   9 

per  pkt.  1/-  &  1/6 
,.    oz.     1/9 
per  pkt.   \  I- 
,.    oz.     1/3 
per  pkt.  1/- 
,,    oz.     1  3 
"  I     have     never    grown    such     lovely 
Cabbages  as  I  have  this  Spring  from  your 
Harbinger  seed.     Of  5,000  plants  not  rne 
'  bolted."— Mr.  J.   Parkins.  North  Hill. 


Sutton's  Harbinger    ... 

Sutton's  April 

Sutton's     Flower    of  ) 

Spring  ...         I 

Sutton's  Favourite     ... 


BARR'S     TALL     FLAG    IRISES 

FOR    AUGUST    AND    SEPTEMBER    PLANTING. 


Awarded   R.H.S.    Cold   ^edal   at    the    Qreat    Iris  Conference  June  7th.    1922. 


BARR    &    SONS'    COLLECTIONS. 


100  in  lOO  superb  named  varieties 

50  „     50 

25   „      25         „  „  „ 

12   ,,     12 
Choice  mixed  varieties,  without  names 


. .      75/-,    100  -    &    120/- 

36/-,       48/-    &      60/- 

16/-,      24/-    &      30- 

8/-,       12/-    &      15/- 

per  100,  55/-  ;  per  doz.,  8 - 

For  full  descriptions  see    Barr's   Hardy  Plant  Catalogue  free. 

11,     12     &     13,     KINO     STREET, 
COVENT     QARDEN,     LONDON,     W.C.2 


BARR    &    SONS, 


BENTLEY'S  Weed  Destroyers 

Largest  Sale  !     Nearly  50  per  cent,  more  powerful  than  any  other  ! 

The    most    effective,     the    most    lasting,    the    most    economical  ! 

CONCENTRATED    (Liquid,    1    to   80):    6   galls.,   47/-;     12    galls.,    90/-; 

24  galls.,  175/-.     POWDER  (1  to  2.5)  :    4  tins,  11/6;    8  tins,   22/8  ;    12  tins, 

33/-;    20  tins,  52/6  ;    40  tins,  102/6. 

BENTLEY'S    Quassia    Extract   (^°l'?qSI'd'''') 

The  Original!     Non-poisonous!     An  infallible  and  safe  destroyer  of  Aphis  in 

all  its  forms.     One  gallon  makes  80  to  100  gallons  of  wash.       5  gallons,  10/- 

per  gall.  ;   1  gallon,  10/6  ;   J  gallon,  6/-  ;   1  quart,  3/8  ;   1  pint,  2/- 

Carriagc    Paid    on    20l-    Orders    and    upwards. 

Sole    Manufacturers:    JOSEPH    BENTLEY,    Ltd.,    Chemical    Works, 

BARROW-ON-HUMBER,      HULL. 


THE     GARDEN. 


[AuGCST  5,  1922. 


n 


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ANTIRRHINUMS      AND      PENTSTEMONS, 

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Fumigatoi 

Introdaced     1885. 

NOTHING  yet  introduci 
has  surpassed  this  val 
able  method  of  Funi'gatii 
Greenhouses.  It  combine 
economy  with  efficiency  in  evei 
way.  and  is  certain  dea-th  to  a 
pests,  without  any  injury 
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Only  a  match  required  fi 
starting  it  !  Full  directions  f< 
use  on  each  Cone. 

Nicotine  is  the  effective  agei 
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Prices.— No.  1.  for  Frames  and  "Leanto's"  up  to  1,0« 
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1.500  cubic  ft.,  1  /3  each  ;  No  3.  for  general  use  in  Larj 
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FOWLER'S   LAWN   SANI 

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SAND  has  exceeded  all  others  in  money's  worth  genera  llj 
TO    BE    HAD    FROM    THE    TRADE    GENERALLY. 

Prices.— Tins.  1 '6,  3/-.  5;6  ;  Bags,  281bs.  10/-.  561b 
19/-,  ll21bs.  35/-. 

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PRIMULAS.  CINERARIAS, 
CALCEOLARIAS,  FERNS. 

PRIMULAS  Sinensis,  MalacoidesRobusta, 
Obconica  Gigantea,  strong  plants,  ready  for 
3i-in.  pots,  2/6  doz.,  15/-  100. 

CINERARIAS  Grandiflora, compact  large 
flowered  strain,  strong  young  plants,  ready 
for  3i-in.  pots,  2/6  doz.,  15,'-  100. 

CALCEOLARIAS— Dalkeith  Park  Strain, 

super  grade  strain,  large  flowered,  beauti- 
fully marked.  Strong  young  plants,  clean 
and  healthy,  2/6  doz.,  15/-  100. 
FERNS  Nephrolepis,  Majors,  Wimsettiis, 
Cyrtomiums,  fine  busliy  young  plants,  ex 
pots,  4/-  doz.  Asparagus  Piumosus  and 
Sprengerii,  2/6  doz. 

All  Carriage  PaiJ.  Send  for  August  List. 

H.     H.     MAW     &     SON, 

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Tire"    By  Herbert  Cowley     9d.  net.  by  post,  lid.— Pub.    !u 
at  the   Offices   of   "  CO0NTRY    LIFE,"   LIMITED,   20,   Tavl  lot 
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HOME-BREWED     WINES    AND    UNFER 

MENTED    BEVERAGES    for    all    seasons    of    the    year.      fl' 
\NNE  AMATEUR.     A  helpful  booklet  containing  also  recipe 
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(if  "COUNTRY  Life,"  Limited.  20,  Tavistock  Street,  W.C 


No.  2646.— Vol.  LXXXVL] 


[August  5,  1922. 


LILIES    FOR    GARDEN    AND    WOODLAND 

Everyone   admires  Lilies.       Popularly  supposed   to  be  of  difficult    culture, 
many  species  are  quite  as   easy  to  grow  as  Stocks  or  Asters  for  example. 


JUST  at  this  season,  when  so  many  Lilies 
blow,  it  may  be  well  briefly  to  consider 
the  requirements  of  some  of  the  commoner 
species.  Where  provided  with  good  rich 
soil  and  partial  shade, 
conditions  which  they  like 
exceedingly,  so  that  the  rich  soil 
be  not  gross,  the  beautiful  Madonna 
Lily,  Lilium  candidura,  will  yet 
be  in  flower.  A  very  few  weeUs, 
however,  will  suffice  to  ripen  off 
the  bulbs,  and  before  the  month  is 
out  the  planting  season  for  this 
species  will  be  upon  us.  The 
early  ripening  of  L.  candidum  is 
somewhat  of  a  nuisance,  since  it 
may  not  be  planted  at  the  season 
when  herbaceous  borders  are 
remade.  The  nuisance  is,  how- 
ever, mitigated  by  the  fact  that, 
once  established,  it  is  best  left 
undisturbed  for  a  number  of 
years,  and  may  be  left  in  situ 
during  two  or  three  successive 
remakings  and  replantings  of  the 
border. 

Most  Lilies  in  the  climate  of 
Southern  England  Uke  some  shade 
or  screen  from  the  heat  of  the 
midday  sun,  a  possible  exception 
being  the  Tiger  Lily,  L.  tigrinum. 
Shade  is  more  especially  necessary, 
however,  for  the  stem-rooting 
LiUes,  such  as  L.  auratum,  L. 
speciosum  and  L.  Henryi,  which 
do  best  planted  where  their  stems 
can  rise  through  light  shade, 
between  Rhododendrons  or  Azaleas, 
for  instance,  which  are  especially 
suitable  in  that  they  can  always  be 
lifted  and  replanted  further  apart 
when  they  become  too  close 
together  to  give  the  Lilies  breathing 
room. 

All  the  Auratum  Lilies  are 
beautiful,  but  the  most  vigorous 
grower  is  probably  L.  a.  platy 
phyllum  and  the  most  striking 
L.  a.  rubro-vittatum  with  a  deep 
crimson  band  to  each  petal.  Of 
the  varieties  of  L.  speciosum — or 
lancifoUum  as  it  is  often  called  in 
catalogues — the    best    are    album 


Kraetzeri,  a  magnificent  white  ;  Melpomene  and 
magniflcum,  two  fine  crimson  spotted  sorts  ;  and 
roseum,  less  handsome,  but  plentiful — conse- 
quently cheap — and  a  vigorous  grower. 


MOST    VIGOROUS    OF    AURATUM    LILIES.        L.    A.    PLATYPHYLLUM 
Admirable  for  thin  ivoodland  planting. 


Similar  in  shape  to  the  speciosum  group  is  the 

rich  orange  L.  Henryi,  which  is,  however,  of  bigger 

habit  and  more  readily  acclimatised.     Indeed,   it 

will   succeed   quite   well   in   any   good   herbaceous 

border.     The  beautiful  salmon  buff 

hybrid  Nankeen  Lily,  L.  testaceum. 

is   another  excellent   Lily   for   the 

herbaceous      border,      where      its 

dignified   carriage   and   uncommon 

colouring   make   it   unique.     It   is 

equally  \'aluable  for  thin  woodland 

planting,      which,      indeed,      suits 

practically  every  species. 

Lilies  like  a  soil  which,  while 
never  suffering  from  want  of 
moisture,  never  becomes  in  the 
least  waterlogged.  .\n  exception  is 
the  Panther  Lily,  L.  pardalinum,  a 
handsome  species  attaining,  mider 
favourable  conditions  giant  stature 
— yft.  to  8ft. — with  orange  flowers 
like  a  giant  "  Turn-agaiu-gentle- 
man,"  more  or  less  spotted  with 
black.  This  fine  Lily  has  recently 
been  largely  used  for  hybridisa- 
tion, notably  by  Messrs.  .Amos 
Perry  of  Enfield,  and  some  very 
fine  hybrids,  all  featuring  in  greater 
or  less  degree  the  parent,  have 
recently  been  exhibited. 

No  garden  Lily  is  better  known, 
probably,  than  the  Tiger  Lily, 
yet  even  this  is  not  always  grown 
as  well  as  it  should  be.  Some 
Ught-gro\\'ing  screen  to  shade  its 
roots  from  the  scorching  rays  of 
midsummer  sun  is  a  great  help. 
Many  Lilies  increase  not  only  by 
offsets  or  from  seed,  but  by  means 
of  bulbules  formed  up  the  stem, 
one  in  the  axil  of  each  leaf  and 
which  often  emit  roots  even  while 
growing  on  the  parent  plant. 
With  many  Lilies  this  is  a  phenome- 
non more  frequent  in  some  seasons 
than  in  others  and  partial  at  all 
times,  but  with  the  Tiger  Lihes 
it  may  be  relied  upon  as  a  constant 
happening,  and  these  bulbules 
if  removed  and  planted  in  shallow 
trenches  in  clean  soil  not  devoid 
of  humus  will  flower  in  two  or  at 
most     three     seasons.     The     best 


380 


THE     GARDEN. 


[August  5, 1922. 


THE  BEAUTIFUL   NEW   HYBRID   MARTAGON   LILY,  MRS.   BACKHOUSE. 


IHt     .MAUUNiNA     LILY,     L.     CANDIDUM. 


single  forms  of  the  Tiger  Lily  are  called  L.  t.  Fortunei  and  L.  t.  splendens 
respectively.  Lilium  tigrinum  Acre  pleno  is  the  beautiful  double 
form  much  admired  by  many  who  have  no  love  for  double-flowered 
forms  in  general 

.Among  Lilies  unsuitable  for  the  herbaceous  border  but  admirable 
in  thin  woodland  planting  protected  in  some  way  from  draughts 
are  L.  giganteum,  which  some  seasons  does  well  in  the  wild  garden 
at  Wisley,  L.  regale,  the  related  L.  sulphureum  and  the  hybrid  L. 
sulphurgale.  The  "  Tum-again-gentlemen,"  as  villagers  often  caD 
the  fragrant  Turk's  Cap  Lily,  L.  Martagon,  also  shews  to  greatest 
advantage  in  semi-shade,  but  it  is  an  accommodating  plant,  and  is 
often  seen  to  grow  and  to  increase  in  the  herbaceous  border.  The 
beautiful  pure  white  form  is  especially  attractive.  Somewhat  similar 
in  appearance  but  larger  in  blossom  and  more  vivid  in  colouring  are  the 
Scarlet  Turk's  Cap,  L.  chalcedonicum,  and  the  the  golden  Martagon, 
L.  Hansoni.     These  choice  Lihes  also  like  shade  from  midday  sun. 

That  invaluable  forcing  Lily,  L.  longiflorum,  is  of  little  use  outdoors, 
but  an  alpine  form  of  the  Uttle-known  and  tender  Lihum  phiUppinense, 
L.  p.  formosanum,  bids  fair  to  be  an  excellent  and  hardy  white 
trumpet  Lily.  Bulbs  received  this  spring  under  this  name  from 
India  which  had  unfortunately  *'  sweated  "  somewhat  in  transit,  have 
not  so  far  shown  up,  but  as  it  comes  readily  and  grows  rapidly  from 
seed  in  this  country,  it  should  not  long  remain  scarce. 

Lihum  croceum,  the  beautiful  Orange  Lily  of  cottage  gardens, 
which  will  flourish  in  any  well  tilled  border  or  even  under  thin  grass 
in  old  orchards,  a  situation  in  which  it  is  seen  to  perfection,  has,  for 
some  unexplained  reason,  become  scarce  of  late  years. 

Beautiful  among  low-growing  .American  plants  in  thin  woodland 
is  the  fragrant  Lilium  rubellum,  a  dwarf  Lily  which  bears  rosy  pink 
blossoms  towards  the  end  of  May. 

One  of  the  most  beautiful  of  Lilies  of  the  herbaceous  border  is 
saddled  with  a  frightful  name — L.  monadelphum  Szovitzianum. 
This  was  well  illustrated  in  The  Garden,  October  15,  1921,  page  513. 
In  colour  it  is  straw  yellow,  spotted  black. 

Lihum  Thunbergianum,  also  known  as  elegans,  is  a  very  dwarf 
species  which,  Uke  L.  croceum,  holds  its  cup-shaped  blossoms  erect. 
Sanguineum  is  the  form  most  commonly  seen  ;  its  rather  brick-red 
flowers  are  spotted  black,  but  there  are  others  yet  more  beautiful. 
Van  Houttei  has  larger  flowers  of  a  rich  crimson  hue  ;  atrosanguineum 
deep  red  blooms,  black  spotted  ;  alutaceum,  bright  apricot  flowers, 
also  black  spotted  ;  and  the  still  rare  Orange  Queen  has  large  bright 
orange  flowers,  usually,  on  established  bulbs,  in  threes. 

Another  free-flowering,  easy  and  early  species  is  L.  umbeUatum, 
which  attains  a  height  of  2ft.  or  so.  The  commoner  forms  of  this 
variable  species  are  grandiflorum,  Sappho,  erectum  and  incomparabile, 
the  first  two  light  orange,  while  the  last-named  is  a  good  rich  crimson. 
Erectum  has  reddish  flowers,  flushed  orange  ;  and  the  later-flowering 
and  admirable  Diadem,  bright  crimson  blossoms  with  a  central  yellow 
stripe  to  each  petal,  the  finest  and,  alas  !    the  dearest  of  the  group. 

Like  a  small  Turk's  Cap,  Lilium  pyrenaicum  is  yet  another  early- 
llciwcring  Lily  with  clear  yellow  flowers,  spotted  black.  Strongly 
scented,  it  is  of  the  easiest  culture. 

The  general  requirements  of  this  noble  family  of  plants  may  be 
briefly  summarised  as  follows ;  Partial  shade,  good  drjiinage,  a 
sufficiency  of  moisture  in  the  growing  season  (in  the  air  as  well  as  in 
the  soU),  shelter  from  cold  draughts,  soil  with  an  abundance  of  humus 
but  free  from  any  undecomposed  manurial  matter,  and  clean  porous 
material  immediately  beneath  and  around  the  bulbs.  Moisture  in 
the  air  is  best  obtained  by  surrounding  vegetation  which  tends  to 
retain  the  evaporation  which  always  follows  copious  watering  around 
the  plants.  Shelter  from  draughts  is  often  difficult  to  arrange,  but 
very  necessary.  In  woodland  Bamboos  are  often  planted  to  provide 
this,  and  if  encroaching  varieties,  such  as  Arundinaria  japonica 
(Bambusa  Metake)  are  avoided,  are  excellent  for  the  purpose. 

Quite  spent  horse  manure,  peat  and  well  rotted  leafsoil  are  suitable 
ingredients  for  providing  hiunus,  and  are  also  admirably  suited  to 
the  American  plants  of  various  sorts,  especially  Rhododendrons, 
with  which  Lihes  are  most  happily  associated.  The  best  medimn 
with  which  to  surround  the  bulbs  to  keep  them  free  from  possibly 
harmful  bacteria  in  the  soil  is  coarse  silver  sand.  Dusting  the  bulbs 
before  planting  with  flowers  of  sulphur  is  supposed  to  assist  in  this, 
and  is  often  done,  but  the  writer  would  rather  express  no  decided 
opinion  upon  its  efficacy. 

Most  Lilies  are  obtainable  from  about  October,  but  imported 
bulbs  of  auratum  and  speciosum  seldom  arrive  before  January.  The 
shorter  the  period  that  the  bulbs  remain  out  of  the  ground  the  better 
for  their  ultimate  well-being.  For  this  reason  the  first  arrivals  almost 
always  do  best.  It  is  wise,  then,  to  order  early — as  soon  as  the  price 
lists  come  to  hand,  in  fact — and  to  plant  the  bulbs  immediately  upon 
receipt. 


August  5,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


381 


NOTABLE    HARDY    GERANIUMS 

For  Border  and  Woodland. 


THE  Cranesbills  have  many  good  qualities, 
apart  from  their  individual  beauty,  one 
of  these  being  the  habit,  common  to  the 
majority,  of  blossoming  in  full  summer 
when  border  and  rock  garden  are  not 
so  gay  as  they  were,  and  another  is  their  easy- 
going temperament  and  adaptability  to  all  manner 
of  soils  and  situations.  Most  of  them  are  sun- 
lovers,  deUghting  in  a  free,  warm  soil,  but  there 
are  some  which  appreciate  shade  and  a  cooler 
medium.  Those  which  produce  seed,  and  few  do 
not,  are  easily  raised  from  outdoor  sowings,  and 
they  are,  as  a  race,  almost  immune  from  pests 
and  disease. 

Here,  as  the  heading  suggests,   I  shall  confine 
my    remarks    to    those    of    the    larger    Geraniums 


are  easy-doers  edmost  anywhere,  and  they  hybri- 
dise so  freely  that  the  garden  will  soon  be  peopled 
with  their  pretty  offspring  in  various  shades  of 
soft,  chalky  pink,  veined  and  plain.  So  vigorous 
are  these  seedhngs  in  suitable  soil  that  they  will 
naturalise  freely  in  the  herbage  of  open  woodland 
and  maintain  a  succession  of  flowers  from  June 
to  November. 

G.  anemonaefoUum,  a  Madeiran,  which  comes 
into  flower  about  midsummer,  is  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  and  beautiful  of  its  race.  The  broad, 
glossy  and  deeply  divided  leaves  are  borne  on 
rigid  stems  that  spring  from  the  crown  of  a  short, 
stout  stem,  and  from  the  centre  of  this  fan-palm 
arrangement  rise  the  equally  stiff  flower-stalks. 
These  are  beautifully  furred  with  iridescent  hairs. 


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LOVELY    SOFT     PINK,     GERANIUM     LANCASTRIENSE. 


grown  in  this  garden,  and  in  doing  so  leave  to 
someone  else  the  task  of  unravelling  the  mysteries 
and  nomenclature  of  the  remainder  which  crowd 
the  pages  of  some  books  and  catalogues  in  such 
bewildering  array. 

G.  atlanticum  may  be  given  first  place  because 
it  is,  with  us,  generally  the  first  to  flower.  This 
species,  which  hails  from  the  Atlas  Mountains, 
makes  a  dense  carpet  of  finely-cut  leaves  with  a 
close  resemblance  to  those  of  some  Anemone, 
and  from  this  green  setting  rise  the  ift.  flower- 
stems  in  April  or  May.  The  blossoms  are  about 
an  inch  across,  of  a  deep  violet  with  faint  veins 
of  red.  Shortly  after  the  blooming  season  is 
over  most  of  the  foliage  dies  away  until  autumn, 
when  the  new  leaves  appear.  This  has  proved 
a  "  pernickety  "  plant  in  some  situations  and  one 
that  takes  a  considerable  time  to  get  estabUshed, 
but  this  difficulty,  I  rather  think,  would  be  less 
apparent  if  the  moving  were  done  as  soon  as  the 
foliage  dies  away  in  summer.  It  seems  to  be 
perfectly  hardy. 

The  fine  rose  of  G.  Endressi  is  usually  the  next 
to  appear,  this  being  followed  by  the  more  silvery 
and  reticulated  pink  of  striatum.     Both  of  these 


and  they  branch  into  several  heads  which  produce 
at  their  tips  pairs  of  flowers  in  a  charming  crimson- 
pink,  satiny  of  texture  and  deepening  to  a  lustrous 
ruby  eye.  A  succession  of  these  delightful  flowers 
is  kept  up  until  autumn,  when  the  plant  begins 
to  make  new  leaves,  and  these,  pushed  out  of 
the  crown-like  fronds  of  male  fern  in  spring, 
continue  growing  throughout  the  winter  so  long 
as  the  weather  remains  open.  G.  anemontefolium 
seeds  freely,  and  the  little  plants  come  up  in  all 
kinds  of  unexpected  places.  With  us  it  prospers 
in  thin  woodland  and  many  other  situations, 
but  it  seems  to  enjoy  a  cool,  yet  well  drained, 
soil,  and  shelter  from  the  noonday  sun  is  advisable. 
In  windy  situations  the  head  is  liable  to  be  broken 
off.  and  though  G.  anemonsfolium  will  stand 
15°  to  20°  of  dry  frost,  it  is  liable  to  perish  when 
melting  snow  suddenly  freezes  Uke  it  did  last 
April. 

The  Madeiran  Geranium  is  a  true  perennial 
and,  allowing  for  family  similarities,  could  hardly 
be  more  unUke  G.  Lowei,  with  which  it  has  been 
confused  by  some.  The  latter  is  simply  a  much 
magnified  Herb  Robert,  invariably  biennial,  and 
quite  a  pleasing  plant  for  the  woodland  or  border 


of  shrubbery  where  it  can  come  up  and  take  care 
of  itself  year  by  year.  Well  grown  specimens 
will  go  up  to  2ft.  high,  and  the  branching  stems 
and  large  leaves  assume  a  brilliant  blood-red  tint 
before  the  plant  seeds  and  dies. 

Of  G.  sanguineum  one  need  say  little.  It  is  so 
splendid  a  thing  in  the  midsummer  rock  garden, 
and  on  its  own  limestone  cHffs,  that  it  is  known 
and  admired  by  everyone,  even  by  those  whose 
perception  of  colour  is  such  an  uncomfortable 
possession  that  they  must  affect  a  wry  face  at  the 
faint  suggestion  of  blue  which  may  possibh' 
permeate  the  gorgeous  crimson  of  the  Bloody 
Cranesbill.  There  are,  of  course,  several  forms 
of  G.  sanguineum — local  types — and  if  I  am  not 
much  mistaken,  the  G.  nepalense  usually  sent 
out  by  the  trade  is  none  other  than  one  of  these, 
and  a  very  fine  one,  too.  Then  we  have  the 
admirable  white  sanguineum,  much  larger  in 
growth  than  our  native  and  doubtless  an  albino 
sport  from  a  Continental  form,  albeit  a  first-rate 
plant  that  will  make  a  loose  mound  i8ins.  high 
and  3oins.  across.  The  charming  little  G.  lancas- 
triense  is  another  of  the  sanguineum  clan,  very 
dainty  and  prostrate,  with  flowers  of  a  soft  rose 

Of  G.  nodosum  of  gardens  there  appears  to  be 
some  doubt,  both  as  to  description  and  origin  ; 
but  to  me  it  is  an  almost  prostrate  species,  much 
after  the  habit  of  lancastriense,  but  rather  larger, 
with  little  and  round,  deeply  cut,  grey-green 
leaves  and  crimson-purple  flowers  about  an  inch 
across.  At  any  rate,  this  plantling  is  one  that 
makes  a  very  cheerful  note  of  colour  from  June 
(inwards  for  many  weeks.  It  seeds  freely  and  does 
not  indulge  in  indiscriminate  unions  with  other 
species. 

By  no  means  to  be  despised  is  a  good  specimen 
of  another  native,  G.  phaeum,  with  very  dark, 
claret  coloured  flowers  about  the  size  of  a  shilling. 
This  will  make  a  bold,  many  branched  plant  up  to 
aft.  in  height,  and  its  bright  green  leaves  are  not 
infrequently  marked  with  sepia  blotches  at  the 
base  of  each  of  the  large  indentations.  One 
form  I  gathered  has,  in  addition  to  these  blotches, 
similar  variegations  in  bright  rose  and  cream,  all 
three  colours  being  sometimes  on  the  same  leaf. 
Geranium  phaeum  is  a  first-rate  plant  for  thin 
woodland,  but  it  appears  to  like  a  cool  root  run 
and  enjoys  nothing  better  to  grow  in  than  a  heap 
of  builder's  rubbish.  Though  a  sombre  colour, 
there  is  something  peculiarly  fascinating  about 
this  Cranesbill,  so  much  so  that  it  is  getting  rare 
as  a  wild  plant  in  many  localities.  There  are 
phspums  with  flowers  of  a  paler  hue  verging  into 
pink  and  one  with  reflexed  petals,  but  the  almost 
black,  large-flowered  type  with  blossoms  opening 
perfectly  flat  is,  to  me,  the  most  attractive. 

For  a  warm,  sunny  corner  there  is  no  more 
lovely  species  than  G.  Tra\'ersii,  the  home  of  which 
is  New  Zealand.  The  prevailing  impression  one 
gets  of  this  Geranium  is  a  silvery  softness,  for . 
not  only  is  the  green  of  the  ample  fohage  glossed 
over  with  a  delicate  film  of  silk,  but  this  eSect 
seems  also  to  suffuse  and  cool  to  a  more  tender 
pink  the  exquisite  flowers.  G.  Traversii  is  in 
habit  and  in  ail  its  parts  the  acme  of  good  taste, 
a  little  difficult,  perhaps,  on  some  soils,  but  on** 
of  which  a  stock  from  offsets  may  easily  be  raised 
and  kept  in  a  frame  over  winter. 

G.  pratense  is  a  useful  old  plant  for  massing 
in  open  woodland  or  shrubbery,  and  some  of  its 
varieties,  notably  the  clear  blues  and  whites,  in 
singles  and  doubles,  are  not  to  be  despised  at 
the  back  of  one's  borders  during  July  and  later. 
Another  well  known  kind,  for  a  place  nearer  ^the 
front  is  G.  grandiflorum,  which  bears  at  the  tips 
of  its  i2in,  stems  pairs  of  very  l.irge  single  flowers 
which  are  a  really  good  blue  in  the  evening  light, 
or  the  half  shade  that  it  enjoys.  Like  the  fore- 
going, this  is  one  of  the  later  bloomers  and  one 


382 


THE    GARDEN. 


[August  5,  1922. 


that,  although  it  increases  by  root  division  readily 
enough,  is  happiest  when  left  quite  alone  in  a 
mass.  G.  grandiflorura  remains  in  flower  for 
some  weeks,  which  cannot  be  said  of  the  rich 
violet-purple  G.  ibericum.  This  is,  nevertheless. 
a  rare  old  plant,  and  its  copious  and  handsome 
foliage  makes  amends  for  a  short  flowering  season 
by  turning  a  brilliant  colour  in  autumn. 

The  gorgeous  G.  armenum,  which  will  grow  to 
nearly  3ft.  in  height  and  cover  a  square  yard  or 
so  with  its  many-branched  stems  of  bold  leaves 
and  brilliant  crimson  flowers,  is  one  of  the  most 
noteworthy  of  this  handsome  family.  It  must 
be  admitted  that  there  is  a  tinge  of  blue  in  the 
wonderful  colour  of  the  large  flowers,  especially 
as  these  are  going  off,  but  the  shining  jet  of  the 
eye  and  its  radiating  veins  does  more  than  remove 
the  stigma  of  magenta  which  the  ultra-sensitive 
would  bestow  upon  this  noble  plant.  G.  armenum 
does  not  set  seed  here.     It  is  increased  by  root 


division  and  is  the  better  for  breaking  up  every 
three  or  four  years. 

With  G.  Wallichianum  I  must  wind  up  my  list. 
This  is  a  very  distinct,  hardy  species,  a  Himalayan, 
with  an  uncommon  predilection  for  a  cool,  half- 
shaded  comer  where  it  has  plenty  of  room  to 
disport  at  wiU,  among  Ferns  or  other  things,  its 
long,  trailing  stems.  G.  WalHchianum  is  a  variable 
plant  in  the  colour  of  its  large,  flat,  or  saucer- 
shaped,  blossoms,  which  are  commonly  a  subdued 
rosy  lilac  centred  with  a  bold  zone  of  white.  But 
•  the  best  form  by  a  long  way  is  Mr.  E.  C.  Buxton's 
variety,  in  which  the  blossoms  are  a  clear 
Nemophila  blue  and  not  at  all  unlike  those  of 
that  pretty  Califomian.  This  species  can  be 
raised  easily  from  seed  sown  in  the  open,  and 
Mr.  Buxton's  blue  comes  remarkably  true  to 
colour ;  but  to  attain  its  full  beauty  this  plant 
must  have  shade,  at  any  rate  from  the  midday  sun. 

North  Wales.  A.  T.  Johnson. 


THE    ENGLISH    PERGOLA 

Its   Design   and  Placing 


IT  is  usual  nowadays  to  designate  any  partially 
covered  way  clothed  with  vegetation  a 
pergola.  Within  this  all-embracing  term 
must  be  included  the  tunnel  of  "  rustic " 
woodw'ork — horrible  survival  of  the  scrappy 
"  knick-knacky  "  ideas  of  a  past  generation — 
the  iron  arched  fruit  pergola  and  the  stately 
erection  with  Doric  or  Corinthian  columns  which 


are  obviously  not  intended  to  be  smothered  with 
creepers. 

Of  structures  so  elaborate  as  the  last  named 
there  is  no  need  here  to  speak,  since  the  number  of 
people  in  want  of  such  is  small  and  since  the 
services  of  a  qualified  architect  are  obviously 
required  to  design  them.  Leaving  the  classic 
colonnade    aside,    flower   pergola    pillars    may   be 


A     SIMPLE    WOODEN     Pl-.KGOI..'^.       WINTHK     ASHhL  1  . 


adequately  constructed  of  stone,  brick  or  wood. 
The  material  employed  will  depend  to  a  consider- 
able extent  upon  the  architecture  of  the  house 
with  which  they  are  to  be  associated,  but  in  many 
cases  the  question  of  cost  also  will  be  important. 
A  pergola  constructed  of  wood  and  capable  of  with- 
standing wind  and  weather  for  a  number  of  years 
will  cost  considerably  less  than  one  built  of  brick. 
Brickwork,  moreover,  is  generally  considerably 
cheaper  than  even  the  roughest  masonry.  Brick 
and  stone  have,  of  course,  the  advantage  of 
practically  alisolute  permanence. 

Taken  broadly,  the  pergola  should  be  rather  a 
link  between  architectural  features  than  a  feature 
in  itself.  Of  two  features  connected  one  is  usually 
the  dweUing-house,  the  other  may  be  a  summer- 
house,  a  substantial  seat,  a  rotunda  giving  a  view 
of  hill  and  valley,  or  an  ornamental  building  of 
almost  any  sort.  In  the  small  garden  or  in  grounds 
of  rather  less  than  medium  size  this  will  almost 
certainly  be  the  case,  but  where  space  is  ample 
the  pergola  may  be  a  feature  in  itself,  as  when  a 
semi-circular  pergola  forms  an  amphitheatre  in 
a  hillside  or.  backed  by  trees  on  slightly  rising 
ground,  is  used  to  close  a  vista.  Since  the  pergola 
is  admirable  to  display  climbing  and  Rambler 
Roses,  it  has  become  usual  to  introduce  a  pergola 
partially  to  bound  the  rose  garden.  The  rose 
garden  is  hardly  a  recommendable  feature  to 
introduce  in  the  immediate  purlieus  of  the  house, 
and  it  is  correspondingly  difficult  to  arrange  a 
pergola  in  the  desired  position  which  shall  have 
any  justification  as  a  connecting  Unk.  It  may,  in 
such  case,  be  made  more  satisfactory  as  an  indepen- 
dent feature  by  taldng  it  round  two  adjacent  sides 
of  the  rose  garden.  If  the  floor  of  such  pergola 
can  be  arranged,  without  too 
great  a  sense  of  artificiality, 
at  the  height  of  one  or  two 
shallow  (say  sin.)  steps  above 
the  level  of  the  rose  garden, 
so  much  the  better. 

The  "  tunnel  "  pergola 
with  both  sides  closely  draped 
with  vegetation  is  a  justifi- 
able expedient  where  a  path 
has  to  be  taken  through  a 
stretch  of  ground  in  which 
it  is  not  feasible  to  provide 
other  features  of  interest,  but 
generally  an  erection  entirely 
open  betw'een  the  columns  on 
at  least  one  side  will  be 
desirable.  It  will  often  happen 
that  a  pergola  quite  open 
l>etween  the  columns  on  both 
sides  may  be  improved  by 
the  addition  of  a  narrow 
herbaceous  border  perhaps 
4ft.  wide  on  either  side. 

So  much  for  the  placing 
of  the  pergola  !  In  its  pro- 
portioning we  are  restrictedl 
in  one  direction  by  the  fact 
that  its  height  must  be  suffi- 
cient to  allow  comfortable 
walking  when  it  is  draped 
with  chmbers.  This  in  prac- 
tice means  that  it  should  be 
not  less  than  8ft.  tall  to  the 
\inderside  of  the  cross  timbers. 
Another  6ins.  is,  indeed, 
desirable.  It  is,  of  course, 
possible  to  carry  a  brick  or 
stone  -  piered  pergola  con- 
siderably higher  than  this- 
minimum,  but  except  in 
the  case  of  very  massive 
pillars  (associated  with 
a     building     on     the     grand 


August  5,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


383 


scale)  it  is  not  desirable  so  to  do.  Admitting 
then,  as  we  must,  that  a  pillar  in  stone  about 
SJft.  high  and  about  iSins.  or  igins.  in  diameter 
looks  properly  proportioned  in  a  pergola,  how  are 
we  to  arrange  our  slender  (6ins.  by  6ins.)  oak 
posts  in   a  pergola   the  same  height  so   that   the 


Whatever  the  material  employed,  it  is  important 
in  a  squared  pergola — the  arched  fruit  pergola  is 
really  a  thing  apart — that  the  timbers  should 
project  beyond  the  piers  on  either  side  to  a  suitable 
distance  which  will  vary  considerably  according 
to    the    width    and    proportioning    of    the    pergola 


AN    ADMIRABLE    FRUIT    PERGOLA. 


proportioning  shall  remain  satisfactory  ?  The 
answer  is  simply  by  a  narrowing  of  the  internal 
width  of  the  pergola  itself  and  by  spacing  the 
piers  closer  together  in  the  length  of  the  pergola 
also.  It  may  incidentally  be  mentioned  that 
the  piers  may  be  set  further  apart  in  the  length 
of  the  pergola  if  the  tops  are  disjoined  so  that  the 
pergola  resolves  itself  into  a  series  of  quite  inde- 
pendent square-headed  arches.  Some  ideas  as  to 
suitable  proportionings  should  be  obtained  from 
the  annexed  diagrams,  but  it  must  be  borne  in 
mind  that  the  character  and  finish  of  the  material 
employed  has  much  to  do  with  the  apparent 
proportioning  as  we  see  it.  A  plain,  smooth  surface 
of  dressed  stone,  for  example,  seems  much  wider 
than  one  of  narrowly  coursed  but  otherwise  un- 
dressed stone  with  play  of  light  and  shade  upon 
its  surface. 


itself.  JIany  a  satisfactory  building  owes  its 
charm  almost  entirely  to  a  bold  roof-cornice  or 
adequately  overhanging  eaves.  The  projecting 
cross  pieces  of  the  pergola  are,  though  not  con- 
tinuous, in  efifect  the  roof-cornice  of  the  pergola, 
and-  their  proportioning  is  equally  important. 
In  case  of  doubt  it  is  better  to  leave  them  a  little 
overlong — they  are  more  easily  shortened  than 
lengthened  and  in  any  event  as  vegetation  more 
completely  smothers  the  pergola,  the  overhang 
will  appear  to  get  "  smaller  by  degrees  and  beauti- 
fully less." 

THE    PERGOLA    ON    SLOPING    GROUND. 

The  pergola  running  along  the  hillside  presents 
no  possible  difficulty.  It  is  merely  a  question  of 
terracing  below  it  and  either  terracing  or  con- 
touring above  to  obtain  delightful  results.  The 
pergola   running   up   and   down    hill   is,   however. 


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quite  a  different  proposition,  but  providing  the 
slope  is  not  too  severe,  it  may  be  made  very 
beautiful  and  interesting.  The  main  points  to 
be  borne  in  mind  are  : 

(i)  That,  as  in  all  terracing,  the  general  he  of 
the  pergola  floor  (taken  either  altogether  over  or 
altogether  under  the  separate  flights  of  steps) 
should  be  concave,  which,  turned  into  practice, 
simply  means  that  the  flights  of  stairs  should  be 
longer  and  the  level  stretches  be  shorter  at  the 
upper  end  than  at  the  lower. 

(2)  That  to  avoid  the  danger  of  pedestrians 
striking  with  their  heads  the  cross-timbers,  or 
rather  to  avoid  all  appearance  of  danger  of  such 
a  happening,  the  flights  of  steps  should  be  kept 
well  back  under  the  higher  pillars.  The  appear- 
ance of  additional  height  to  the  piers  flanking 
these  stairs,  which  would,  of  course,  destroy  the 
proportion,  may  be  avoided  by  having  the  stairs 
somewhat  less  than  the  width  of  pergola,  thus 
leaving  the  piers  a  base  upon  which  to  stand. 

THE    FRUIT    PERGOLA. 

The  fruit  pergola  has  a  very  real  charm,  and  is 
at  the  same  time  eminently  utiUtarian.  It  is, 
therefore,  a  feature  which  might  well  Tae  seen 
more  frequently.  The  British,  as  a  nation,  are 
somewhat  neglectful  of  the  beauties  of  fruit  trees 
in  all  forms,  whether  as  more  or  less  naturally 
grown  or  as  trained  to  walls,  fences  or  pergolas. 
Most  fruit  trees  are  worthy,  from  a  purely  decora- 
tive standpoint,  of  inclusion  in  the  pleasure  grounds, 
a  fact  which  is  now  being  realised  to  a  greater 
extent  than  has  been  the  case  for  several  centuries. 
May  the  realisation  grow  !  The  fruit  pergola  in 
its  simplest  form  consists  of  arches  of  hurdle-iron 
with  galvanised  wires  strained  between  them 
upon  which  cordon  trees  may  be  trained.  The 
training  of  fruit  trees  to  a  square  framed  pergola 
presents,    however,    little    difficulty,    and    this    is 


Plan  of  a  pergola  "  returned''  and  made 
symmetrical  to  form  a  feature  in    itself. 


the  natural  form  where  wood  is  employed  in  the 
construction.  There  is  no  need  to  confine  the 
planting  of  such  a  pergola  to  Apples  and  Pears. 
It  may  be  diversified  by  the  use  of  Loganberries 
and  other  hybrid  Brambles,  Blackberries .  and — 
where  birds  are  not  too  troublesome — Red  and 
White  Currants. 


A  viooden  pergola  in  end  and  side  elevation  shewing  suitable  proportioning  ;    one  in  narrozii 
coursed  stone  {undressed)  ;    and  a  series  of  disconnected  wooden  pergola  arclies. 


FORTHCOJIEVG    EVENTS. 

.August  7. — Drayton  Horticultural  Society's 
.Annual  Show.  Chippenham  and  District  Horti- 
cultural Society's  Annual  Show.  Lichfield  Horti- 
cultural Society's  Annual  Show. 

.August  8. — Leicester  Abbey  Park  Flower  Show 
(tw'o  days). 

.August  Q. — Royal  Horticultmal  Society's  Fort- 
nightly Meeting.  East  .AngUan  HorticiJtural 
Society's  Meeting. 

August  10. — Yorkshire  County  Flower  Show  at 
Huddersfield.  Cheshire  County  Flower  Show  at 
Stockport. 

-August  II. — Paisley  Florists'  Society's  Meeting. 

•August  12. — Ringwood  Horticultural  Society's 
Meeting. 


384 


THE     GARDEN. 


[August  5,  1922. 


LAVENDERS  &  SWEET  PEAS  AT  VINCENT  SQUARE 


A    I.THOUGH    it    was    not    a    large    Show, 
/\        there  was  a  pleasant   variety  of  plants 
/   \      -ind    flowers    at    the    R.H.S.    Hall   on 
^■"^    Jiijy    25    last.     The   new    plants   were 
^  ^   perhaps    the    most    Interesting,   and  in 

addition  to  those  described  below,  there  were 
others  of  more  than  passing  interest.  A  set  of 
splendid  Cannas  was  submitted  by  Mr.  H.  J. 
Jones,  and  these  included  J.  B.  Van  der  Schoot, 
bearing  large  yellow  flowers  freely  spotted  with 
veirmilion,  and  Aini  Max  Kolb,  of  gorgeous  scarlet- 
crimson  colour.  Messrs.  Carter  and  Co.  brought 
a  good  strain  of  Antirrhinums  and  Godetias, 
which  are  to  be  tried  at  Wisley.  Mrs.  M.  V. 
Charrington,  How  Green,  Hever,  had  a  most 
interesting  Uttle  collection  of  seedling  Lavenders 
which  she  has  raised,  and  several  of  them  are  of 
distinct  garden  value.  We  understand  that 
these  were  to  be  seen  later  by  the  Scientific  Com- 
mittee with  the  view  to  a  certificate  of  appreciation 
being  awarded. 

In  the  hall  Messrs.  Robert  Veitch  and  Son 
had  flowering  sprays  of  such  "  Riviera  shrubs  " 
as  Plagianthus  Lyalli  (bearing  beautiful  white 
flowers),  the  deep  scarlet  shrubby  Pentsteraon 
cordifolius,  and  the  Giant  Honeysuckle,  Lonicera 
Hildebrandiana.  Another  interesting  and  rather 
uncommon  Honeysuckle  was  the  plant  of  the 
golden  variegated  variety  shown  by  Messrs. 
L.  R.  Russell,  Limited,  who  also  had  a  fine  plant 
of  Erythrina  Crista-galli  (the  Brarilian  Coral  Tree), 
bearing  plenty  of  its  large  pea-shaped,  deep 
scarlet   coloured   flowers.     This   shrubby   plant   is 


nearly  hardy  and  may  be  yrown  in  many  gardens 
if  it  can  be  planted  at  the  foot  of  a  warm  wall 
and  the  roots  covered  with  broken  coke  for  the 
winter.  On  the  approach  of  spring  the  stems 
should  be  cut  down  close  to  the  root-stock.  In 
the  same  group  there  was  a  large  standard,  double- 
flowered  Pomegranate.  The  flattish,  pale  rose 
coloured  flowers  were  very  interesting,  but  they 
are  hidden  away  among  the  branches  and  do  not 
show  themselves  so  well  as  do  the  single  flowers. 
Well  benied  branches  of  Rhamnus  Alaternus 
were  to  be  seen  in  the  exhibit  of  Messrs.  J.  Cheal 
and  Sons.  The  genus  has  no  floral  beauty,  but 
it  includes  in  R.  Purshiana  the  low  tree  that 
supplies  the  cascara  of  commerce.  An  allied  bush, 
Paliurus  aculeatus  (one  of  the  Christ's  Thorns), 
was  shown  by  Mr.  G.  Reuthe,  who  also  had  the 
latest-flowering  Rhododendrons. 

Sweet  Peas  were  splendidly  shown  by  Messrs. 
Sutton  and  Sons,  who  were  awarded  the  coveted 
gold  medal.  The  many  beautiful  pink  varieties 
held  most  attention,  and  these  were  Mrs.  A. 
Hitchcock,  Frilled  Beauty,  Picture,  Giant  Attrac- 
tion and  Doris  Usher,  though  other  shades  were 
represented  by  equally  well  grown  flowers  which 
Messrs.  Sutton  and  Sons  always  arrange  so 
charmingly.  In  addition  they  had  lovely  sorts 
of  annual  Scabious  and  Dianthus.  Excellent  Sweet 
Peas  were  also  staged  by  Mr.  J.  Stevenson.  La 
France  is  a  desirable  blush  pink  variety  and, 
with  Royal  Scot,  was  quite  the  best  of  the 
standard  sorts.  Of  several  seedlings  on  view  we 
were    impressed    with    Poppy,    which    is    almost 


the  colour  of  the  cornfield  Poppy  and  said  to 
be  quite  sunproof ;  Wild  Rose,  charming  shades 
of  rose  pink  ;  and  Cynthia,  a  most  delightful 
soft  lavender. 

Carnations  were  very  fresh  and  good,  and 
besides  Messrs.  AUwood's  large  collection  and 
Messrs.  Stuart  Low's,  which  included  a  quantity 
of  their  large  White  Pearl,  there  was  a  new  variety 
called  Mrs.  G.  R.  Groom,  shown  in  masses  by 
Messrs.  J.  B.  Groom  and  Son.  It  is  said  to  be  a 
cross  between  a  Malmaison  and  a  Perpetual, 
also  that  it  is  iust  as  valuable  for  the  border  as 
for  pot  cultivation.  The  colour  is  a  peculiar 
shade  of  salmon  rose,  and  it  is  pleasantly  fragrant. 
A  very  good  collectiou  of  Border  Carnations,  with 
a  few  spikes  of  Gladioli,  were  set  up  by  Messrs. 
Lowe  and  Gibson,  who  also  had  a  fascinating  vase 
of  Picotees. 

Roses  were  freely  shown  by  several  trade 
growers,  but  these  did  not  include  any  new  variety 
of  merit,  except  the  sweet  red  Henry  Nevard 
and  the  pink  Mrs.  Alfred  West  in  the  collection 
of  Messrs.  F.  Cant  and  Co.,  though  Messrs.  G. 
Bunyard  and  Co.  had  beautiful  blooms,  especially 
of  the  yellow  shades.  The  most  striking  were 
Golden  Emblem,  Margaret  Dickson  Hamill  and 
Christine,  %vhile  the  bowls  of  the  single  sorts 
Sheila  Wilson  and  Isobel  were  dehghtful.  Messrs. 
Bunyard  also  had  some  dishes  and  a  few  branches 
of  culinary  Cherries,  but  they  hope  another  time 
to  have  a  larger  collection  so  as  to  illustrate  the 
various  types.  The  French  sort,  Triaux,  was  o* 
splendid  appearance. 


FANCY    BORDER    CARNATION    JESSIE    MURRAY. 


NEW    SULPHUR    YELLOW    DELPHINIUM    NYMPH. 


August  5,  1922. 


THE     GARDEN. 


385 


NEW     .\ND    RARE  JPLANTS. 
Campanula  >;  R.  B.  Loder.— A  good  pan  o(  thi:; 

graceful  little  Campanula  was  shown.  The  dark 
blue  flowers  are  "  doubled " — there  are  two 
corollas  set  hose-in-hose  fashion.  Its  general 
appearance  suggests  C.  pusilla  and  C.  rotundifoUa 
fl.-pl.  parentage.  Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  M 
Prichard. 

Campanula  Zoysii. — .\lthough  this  charming 
little  alpine  was  introduced  from  the  Austrian 
Alps  in  1S96,  it  is  not  often  seen  in  cultivation. 
The  pale  blue  flowers  have  long  tubular  corollas 
with  five  triangular  lobes  which  almost  meet. 
Although  it  is  quite  a  tiny  plant,  it  flowers  pro- 
fusely and  increases  freely  in  the  moraine.  Shown 
by  Mr.  M.  Prichard. 

Carnation  Jessie  Murray.— This  is  a  very 
beautiful  fancy  Border  Carnation.  The  large 
blooms  are  of  perfect  shape,  and  it  is  said  to  be 
very  free  flowering.  Tlie  milk-white  ground 
colour  is  lightly  flaked  with  lavender,  and  the 
flowers  are  pleasantly  fragrant.  .Award  of  merit 
to  Messrs.  Lowe  and  Gibson. 

Delphinium  Nymph. — A  handsome  spike  of 
\ery  uncommon  appearance.  It  is  exceedingly 
well  furnished  with  large,  shapely  flowers  of 
sxilphur  yellow  colour,  which  is  relieved  by  brighter 
stamens.     Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  M.  Prichard. 

Erynjium  prostratum. — .A  very  fascinating 
httle  plant  only  a  few  inches  high.  It  forms 
rosettes  of  pale  green  foliage,  from  which  rise 
the  short-stemmed  blue  flower  heads  surrounded 
by  green-tipped  white  bracts.  This  pretty  httle 
Sea  Holly  does  not  differ  greatly,  if  at  all,  from 
E.  CavaniUesii.  Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  .Amos 
Perry. 

Disa  Julia  A.  StUCkey^ — This  genus  of  beautiful, 
nearly  hardy  Orchids  are  now,  unfortunately, 
rarely  seen  ;  but  when  well  grown,  as  was  the 
case  with  this  new  variety,  the  flowers  are  most 
handsome.  Disa  grandiflora,  which  was  one  of 
the  parents,  is  sometimes  known  as  the  "  Flower 
of  the  Gods "  ;  the  other  parent  is  D.  italia. 
The  two  lateral  sepals  are  of  glowing  rose  colour, 
while  the  hooded,  lateral  sepal  is  lightly  flushed 
\s-ith  rose  and  beautifully  veined.  .Award  of 
merit  to  Messrs.  Flory  and  Black. 

Gladiolus    primulinus    Firecrest.  —  In    this 

primuhnus  hybrid  the  individual  blooms  are 
well  disposed  on  the  spike.  The  velvety  scarlet 
crimson  flowers  have  plenty  of  substance,  and  the 
three  outer  segments  are  flaked  \vith  maroon. 
It  should  be  exceedingly  effective  either  for  the 
garden  or  for  cut  flower.  Our  only  objection 
to  this  variety  is  perhaps  a  sentimental  one,  but 
we  do  think  it  a  pity  that  so  many  of  the  new 
primulinus  hybrids  which  find  favour  have 
entirely  lost  the  coy  charm  of  the  species.  The 
primulinus  hybrids,  in  our  view,  should  not  be 
mere  miniatures  of  such  varieties  as  Halley  or 
America.  .Award  of  merit  to  Major  George 
Churcher. 

KniphoQa  Rouge  et  SouSre. — Very  few  of  the 
visitors  who  saw  this  handsome  "  Red-hot  Poker  " 
agreed  with  the  Committee  in  "passing"  it.  for 
it  is  a  really  gorgeous  \ariety.  The  loin.  heads 
are  borne  on  tall,  stout  stems,  and  the  vermilion 
flushed  buds  at  the  upper  part  contrast  finely 
with  the  pure  yellow  flowers  below.  Shown  by 
Mr.   M.   Prichard. 

Lavender  Lady  Violet. — This  well  variegated 
Lavender  should  be  very  welcome  to  lovers  of 
variegated  foliage.  A  compact  little  bush  was 
exhibited,  and  it  appears  to  be  of  neat  habit. 
It  was  not  in  flower,  but  the  leaves  retain  the 
agreeable  scent  of  the  type.  .Award  of  merit 
to  Mrs.  M.  V.  Charrington. 


QUAINTEST    OF    BELL    FLOWERS,    CAMPANULA    ZOYSII. 


RICH    PURPLISH-BLUE,    CAMPANULA  x  R.   B.   LODER. 


Lavender  Prudence. — The  flowers  are  larger 
than  those  of  the  common  Lavender  and  they 
are  borne  in  more  compact  spikes.  The  colour, 
which  is  rather  paler  than  the  type,  may  be 
ts-'rmed  a  glowing  silvery  lavender.  .Award  of 
merit  to  Mrs.   M.  V.  Charrington. 

Odontoglossum    Tagus. — .A    robust    spike    of 

large  flowers  was  shown.  The  markings  are  of 
dull  chocolate  colour,  and  the  lip  is  lightly  flushed 
with  pink.     Award  of  merit  to  Mr.   R.  Gerrish. 

0.  Topaz. — This  Orchid  is  somewhat  similar 
to  the  abo\e,  but  the  flowers  are  larger.  The 
marking  is  a  warm  claret  maroon  on  ivory-white 
ground,  and  the  crest  is  golden.  Award  of  merit 
to  Mr.   R.  Gerrish. 

Pyrus  Aucuparia  moravica. — The  .Moravian 
Mountain  .Ash  is  also  named  Pyrus  dulcis.  no 
doubt  because  the  fruit  is  eaten  in  Germanv  and 


.Austria.  The  pale  orange  coloured  fruits  are 
larger  than  those  of  the  common  Mountain  Ash, 
and  the  finely  cut  leaves  are  more  graceful.  From 
a  foUage  point  of  view  it  is  one  of  the  handsomest 
of  the  Rowan  trees.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs. 
R.  Veitch  and  Sou. 

Lilium  X  SUlphurgale. — This  garden  hybrid, 
which,  as  the  name  indicates,  is  derived  from 
L.  sulphureum  and  L.  regale,  is  tall,  robust,  well 
furnished  with  relatively  small,  narrow  leaves 
and  surmounted  by  plenty  of  flowers.  The  buds 
are  bronzy  purple,  and  this  outer  colour  is  retained 
on  the  petals.  The  flowers  are  much  shorter 
than  those  of  L.  sulphureum  and  lack  the  yellow 
tone,  but  are  exceedingly  pleasant  to  look  upon. 
Many  people  prefer  the  purity  of  tone  of  L.  regale, 
but  this  is  a  matter  of  taste.  .Award  of  merit 
to  Mr.  .Amos  Perrv  and  Messrs,  Wallace  and  Co. 


386 


THE     GARDEN. 


[August  5,  1922. 


SOME     EXCELLENT     ANNUALS 

Being  notes  of  a  recent  visit  to  the  trials  of  annuals  at   Messrs.   Sutton's 
seed  trial  grounds,  Reading. 


THE  world-famous  seed-house  of  Sutton 
deserves  well  of  all  gardeners,  amateur 
and  professional,  not  only  because  of 
the  super-excellence  of  their  strains  of 
vegetable  and  flower  seeds,  but  because 
of  the  value  of  the  trials  which  are  held  each  year 
on  their  well  known  trial  grounds  at  Reading. 
Anyone  interested  is  gladly  shewn  the  trials  and 
furnished  with  all  the  information  he,  or  she, 
may  desire. 

The  large  demonstration  plots,  from  which, 
incidentally,  seed  is  gathered,  form  the  glowing 
masses  of  colour  which  are  so  notable  a  feature 
when  viewed  from  passing  trains  on  the  G.W.R. 
main  line,  but  the  actual  trials  raised  from  the 
bulk  of  seeds  from  which  customers  were  supplied 
in  the  spring  are  the  most  interesting  feature. 
Trueness  to  type  may  thus  readily  be  observed, 
for  the  trials  are  not  "  rogued."  The  quality  of 
the  mixtures  suppUed  may  also  be  appreciated. 

Of  the  liigh  quality  of  the  strains  under  trial 
there  can  be  no  question.  Taking  the  annuals 
as  a  whole,  the  percentage  of  "rogues"  is  quite 
negligible.  Such  satisfactory  results  can  only 
be  obtained  by  the  utmost  care  on  the  seed  grounds 
to  prevent  cross-pollination,  and  by  periodical 
re-selection  in  addition. 

The  selection  of  varieties  is  always  to  a  large 
extent  a  matter  of  personal  taste,  but  the  following 
were  some  of  those  which  made  the  most  favour- 
able impression  on  the  writer.  It  must,  however, 
be  mentioned  that  the  day  was  dull  after  a  wet 
night,  and  sun-loving  flowers,  like  the  Eschscholt- 
zias  and  Sweet  Sultans,  shewed  to  small  advantage 
on  that  account. 

Of  the  forms  of  the  Field  Poppy,  Papaver 
Rhoeas,  the  double  Shirleys  are  perhaps  most 
noteworthy,  though,  owing  to  the  conditions  of 
culture — the  seeds  are  sown  thinly,  but  the  seed- 
hngs  go  unthinned — they  have  not  the  size  which, 
under  good  cultivation,  the  same  strains  shew 
in  our  gardens.  The  single  sorts,  however,  are 
very  beautiful,  especially  the  selected  "  pink  and 
apricot  "  shades.  The  "  single  scarlet,"  too,  some- 
what similar  in  colour  to  the  field  Poppy,  but  a 
thought  brighter  and  with  a  white  basal  cross 
■nstead  of  the  typical  black  one,  would  appeal  to 
many.  The  "  slate  blue "  shades  of  so-called 
Double  Shirleys  also  have  an  attraction,  even 
to  those  who,  like  the  writer,  appreciate  most 
pure  clear  colour.  Shirley  Poppies  these  should 
not  really  be  called,  since  they  have  not  the  pale 
base  which  is  the  "  Shirley's  "  birthright. 

The  Opium  Poppies,  P.  somniferum,  make  a 
less  general  appeal,  but  the  best  on  view  are  perhaps 
P;eony-flowered  "  mauve  "  and  "  creamy-white  " 
— the  latter  of  a  pleasing  greenish  hue  reminiscent 
of  Chrysanthemum  Mme.  E.  Rogers — and  the 
"  giant  double  chamois-rose."  The  crimson- 
scarlet,  black  blotched  species,  Papaver  umbrosnm, 
is  very  striking,  and  two  other  species,  P.P. 
glaucum  (Tulip  Poppy)  and  Pavonia,  also  are  note- 
worthy. 

As  all  gardeners  know,  dull  weather  is  all 
against  the  increasingly  popular  Eschscholtzias, 
but  the  splendid  Geisha — crimson  brown  without, 
golden  yellow  within — is  wonderfully  beautiful 
even  with  its  flowers  close  sheathed.  Near-by,  a 
row  of  the  tiny  "  miniature  primrose,"  surely 
one  of  the  most  delightful  of  miniatures  is 
absolutely  smothered  in  blossom. 

The  Clarkia  trials  are  noteworthy  for  absolute 
trueness  to  type  and  colovu",  but  the  individual 
flowers  are,  owing  to  the  conditions  under  which 


they  are  culti\'ated,  nut  up  to  the  standard  easily 
attainable  in  gardens.  The  new  stock  of  salmon- 
scarlet  is  of  almost  dazzling  brightness  and  excel- 
lent in  every  way,  but  the  old  stock  bearing  this 
name  is  exceedingly  beautiful  and,  moreover, 
more  restful  in  colouring.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that 
the  lirm  will  not  abandon  it  altogether  in  favour 
of  the  new  one  ;  there  is  room  for  both.  The 
trial  of  "  mixed  Clarkia "  was  remarkable  for 
the  entire  absence  of  the  purplish  shades  which 
not   so  many  years  ago  largely   predominated. 

Those  who  admire  that  large-growing,  sub- 
shrubby  Mallow,  Lavatera  Olbia,  will  wish  to 
possess  for  their  annual  borders  Lavatera  rosea 
splendens,  very  similar  to  it  in  many  ways,  as 
well  as  the  newer  deep  coloured  form  listed  as 
Loveliness. 

The  Scotch  Marigolds  (Calendula)  as  they  grow 
at  Reading  rival  in  size  of  blossom  and  colouring 
the  "  leggy "  .African  Marigolds,  while  they  are 
infinitely  freer  to  flower.  The  glorious  double 
forms,  Orange  King  and  Lemon  Queen,  are  admir- 
able and  come  very  true  to  type,  but  the  single 
Meteor,  orange  yellow  with  a  primrose  zone, 
probably  makes  an  equally  wide  appeal.  French 
Marigolds  are  largely  represented,  both  in  tall  and 
dwarf  strains.  Two  dwarf  varieties  are  specially 
attractive — Star  of  India,  with  petals  alternatelv 
bronze  and  gold,  and  Queen  of  the  Dwarfs,  crimson 
bronze,  wire-edged  with  gold. 

.Among  the  Godetias  the  first  to  catch  the  pye 
must  always  be  the  brilliant  magenta-tC'ned 
crimson  Afterglow,  more  crimson  than,  but  almost 
as  startling  as,  the  Rock  Purslane,  Calandrinia 
umbellata,  which,  by  the  way,  is  readily  raised 
from  seed.  This  is  a  dwarf  variety,  the  nearest 
to  a  counterpart  in  the  tall  section  being  ScaMet 
Queen,  a  little  richer,  a  thought  less  brilliant  in 
tone.  The  beautiful  Apple  Blossom  is  not  so 
happily  named  as  most  of  Messrs.  Sutton's 
specialities.  The  larger  portion  of  each  flower 
truly  is  apple  blossom  colour,  but  the  deep  ruddv 
blotches  which  occupy  almost  half  the  petals 
give  a  weight  of  colouring  inconsistent  with  the 
title.  The  double  counterpart  of  this,  also  verv 
lovely,  is  called  Double  Beauty.  Another  fine 
bicolor,  but  in  deeper  shades  of  colouring,  rejoices 
in  the  name  of  Rosy  Morn.  Other  really  beautiful 
sorts  here  are  Lavender  Gem  and  Double  Rose, 
this  last  having  a  decided  hint  of  salmon  in  its 
colouring. 

Of  the  annual  Lupins  much  might  be  written 
did  space  permit,  but  since  a  selection  must  be 
made  we  will  plump  for  Sutton's  dwarf  rich  blue 
(sub-carnosus)  and  Sutton's  dwarf  yellow,  the 
latter  of  a  clear  rich  golden  Shade  still  wanting 
in  the  perennial  herbaceous  forms,  as  the  best 
two  varieties.  Hartwegii  azure  blue  and  muta- 
biljs  cream  and  pink,  which  is  very  similar  to 
the  best  types  of  pink  perennial  Lupins,  must  be 
placed  proxime  accessit,  so  near,  indeed,  that  some 
good  judges  would  no  doubt  prefer  them.  That 
quaint  yellow- flowered  species,  Lupinus  Menziesii, 
was  also  noted. 

The  popular  Gypsophila  elegans  is  much  in 
evidence,  not  only  the  useful  and  ubiquitous 
white  form,  but  the  so-called  crimson  variety, 
of  which  the  newly  opened  flowers  are  truly  bluish 
crimson,  but  which  in  the  mass  gives  a  rich  rose 
effect,  and  the  yet  showier  variety  called  delicate 
pink.     This  is  a  real  pink,  not  a  blush. 

Of  the  Sweet  .Alyssums,  minimum  is  distinctly 
the  most  compact  and  best  for  edgings,  though 
Little    Dorrit,    of    less    prostrate    growth,    is    also 


excellent,  .\mong  the  showy  annual  Viscarias, 
the  very  compact  and  rather  late-flowering 
"  dwarf  carmine "  is  most  attractive.  Of  the 
Virginian  Stocks  (not  favourites).  Crimson  King 
seems  best,  though  in  the  mass  it  gives  little  hint 
of  crimson.  Many  who  dislike  or,  at  any  rate,  can 
find  no  use  for  the  typical  form  of  Silene  Armeria, 
would  like  the  new  soft  pink  form. 

Tlie  prostrate  Campions,  Silene  pendula,  are 
invaluable  for  spring  bedding,  as  well  as  useful 
for  summer  flower.  Very  lovely  and  true  to 
type  is  Sutton's  "  double  salmon-pink,"  its  only 
rival  being  the  rather  more  compact  "  dwarf 
delicate  pink."  From  these  dehcate  pink  shades 
we  turn  to  the  bright  china-blue  platters  of 
Nemophila  insignis.  The  other  colours  in  this 
charming  annual  seem  so  inferior  that  one  wonders 
they  are  still  in  commerce.  It  is  rather  surprising, 
however,  that  Nemophila  atomaria  atrocoerulea, 
an  easy-doing  plant  with  flowers  of  Phacelia  blue, 
is  not  more  widely  cultivated. 

(To  be  continued.) 


THE    CULTURE    OF 
BEARDED  IRISES 

THOSE  fellow-readers  of  The  G-\rden 
who  have  gi"own  the  old  German  Irises 
for  years  and  been  uniformly  successful 
with  them  although  they  have  never 
spared  a  thought  as  to  their  culture, 
will  doubtless  smile  at  my  title.  It  is  of  course, 
true  that  in  certain  rather  light,  clean  soils  these 
plants  will  flower  freely  and  the  blossoms  will  be 
little  out  of  character,  even  though  the  only 
attention  they  receive  is  lifting  and  dividing  when 
they  become  excessively  overcrowded. 

Not  everyone,  however,  has  such  natural  soil, 
nor  will  the  possessor  of  such  find  it  of  much 
avail  should  his  plants  unhappily  become  infected 
with  rhizome-rot.  To  obtain  the  best  results 
with  these  Irises,  particularly  as  regards  size  of 
flower,  the  soil  should  not  be  over-light ;  it  should, 
on  account  of  the  "  rot  "  danger,  contain  a  fair 
percentage  of  lime,  but  it  should  not  contain  any 
appreciable  content  of  humus.  Burnt  earth, 
particularly  if  rather  on  the  heavy  side  before 
burning,  suits  them  admirably  and  may  be  used 
freely.  Drainage  should  be  free,  the  site  where 
they  are  planted  open  to  sun  and  air,  and  the  root- 
stocks  should  at  no  time  be  buried  to  more  than 
half  their  depth. 

There  seems  no  doubt  that  varieties  w^hich  are 
shy  to  flower — and  some  of  the  newer  ones  are 
rather  shy — flower  best  when  planted  in  full 
sun  and  left  to  establish  themselves  for  a  year  or 
so,  but  there  is  wide  scope  for  systematic  investi- 
gation as  to  the  comparative  requirements  of  the 
different  sections.  Personal  experience  would 
suggest  that  the  squalens  and  variegata  sections 
are  more  weatherproof  than  the  stately  pallidas 
and  trojanas,  for  instance.  The  former  appear 
to  withstand  with  greater  equanimity — if  the 
word  may  be  pardoned — summer  heat  and  winter 
wet. 

The  same  remark  will  apply  with  equal  force 
to  planting  times.  It  is  by  no  means  clear  which 
is,  in  fact,  the  best  planting  season — indeed,  there 
are  considerable  differences  of  opinion  on  the 
question — but  may  not  the  fact  be,  after  all, 
that  different  sections  and,  since  so  much  inter- 
crossing has  taken  place,  different  varieties,  even 
though  somewhat  similar  in  appearance,  trans- 
plant best  at  separate  seasons  ?  Such  an  investi- 
gation might  not  be  of  much  practical  value,  since 
the  average  gardener  would  scarcely  care  to  plant 
half  a  dozen  sorts  of  Iris  at  different  seasons,  but 
it  would  be  interesting  none  the  less.         H.  H. 


August  5,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


387 


THE   TENT    CATERPILLARS 

A  plague    to  fruit  gioueis. 

ONE  of  the  most  injurious  of  these 
tent  dwellers  is  the  handsome  little 
I  caterpillar  of  the  lackey  moth.  It 
happens  that,  in  some  years,  our 
fruit  trees,  especially  the  .-Apples, 
are  infested  with  these  larvte  ;  a  single  tree  will 
support  colonies,  and  in  each  colony  there  may 
be  as  many  as  two  hundred  individuals.  It  is 
difficult  to  do  anything  with  them  when  they  have 
once  got  well  started  on  their  raids,  and  the  fruit 
trees  often  suffer  enormously. 

They  have  now  stopped  eating,  however.  They 
stopped  three  weeks  ago,  and  the  caterpillars 
left  the  communal  home  and  sought  suitable  spots 
for  pupating.  Their  cocoons  are  of  yellow  silk, 
mixed  with  caterpillar  hairs  and  a  yellow  powder, 
and  the  occupants  are  now  ready  to  emerge  as 
moths.  A  few  have  already  emerged,  and  their 
next  and  immediate  step  is  to  lay  the  foundations 
for  the  next  generation. 

The  moths  themselves  are  out  of  our  reach  ; 
it  is  always  a  very  difficult  matter  to  trap  and 
destroy  w-inged  insects  ;  but  what  about  the  eggs  ? 
In  this  case,  fortunately  for  us,  the  eggs  are  very 
easily  found  and  as  easily  destroyed.  The  moth 
lays  them  in  such  a  curious  fashion  and  in  such 
an  exposed  situation  that  many  hundreds  may, 
with  a  httle  trouble,  be  destroyed  early  this  month. 
They  are  laid  on  the  tiny  apple  twigs,  not  in  little 
groups  that  might  readily  be  overlooked,  but  in 
close-titting  circles  round  the  twig.  They  are 
firmly  glued  together,  but  are  not  fastened  to  the 
twig  itself,  and  if  the  latter  is  cut  off  with  a  pen- 
knife the  bracelet  of  eggs  may  be  gently  twisted 
off  without  breaking  it.  Before  you  crush  and 
destroy  all  the  little  bracelets  you  find  put  one 
under  a  magnif\-ing  glass  and  examine  the  neatly 
arranged  eggs  ;  they  are  covered  with  a  sort  of 
varnish  that,  no  doubt,  perfectly  protects  them 
from  the  weather  during  the  winter,  if  they  are 
lucky  enough  to  escape  the  sharp  eyes  of  the  owner 
of  the  .\pple  tree  and  of  the  birds.  It  is  possible 
that  the  moth  owes  its  popular  name  to  this 
varnish  or  lacquer,  thoiigh  a  more  generally 
accepted  explanation  is  that  it  is  due  to  the  gay 
stripes  and  colours  of  the  caterpillar's  coat. 

Of  course,  this  remedy  of  destroying  the  eggs  is 
useful  only  in  smaU  gardens  and  orchards.  On  a 
larger  scale  other  remedies  would  have  to  be  used, 
such  as  toxic  sprays.  Powdered  white  hellebore 
(freshly  ground)  may  be  mixed  with  water — say, 
2ilb.  to  10  gallons  of  water  ;  the  spray  must  be 
very  fine.  These  quantities  make  a  strong 
solution,  and  very  frequently  a  solution  of  lo  ozs. 
to  5  gallons  is  sufficiently  powerful.  Though 
hellebore  is  poisonous  to  animal  life,  it  does  not 
injure  the  trees,  beyond  discolouring  the  leaves, 
and,  when  dry,  the  powder  may  be  sprayed  off 
with  clean  water  if  desired.  This  is  a  remedy 
for  the  summertime,  when  the  caterpillars  are 
devouring  the  leaves.  I  do  not  think  either 
this  or  a  spray  made  of  Paris  green  would  have 
any  effect  ou  the  eggs  ;  they  have  been  too  well 
protected  with  the  "  varnish." 

The   services   of  insect-eating  birds  during  the 

autumn    and    winter    should    be    utilised    to    the 

utmost.     In    this    connexion,    probably,    the    tits 

are  our  best  friends.     During  the  nesting  season, 

f   course,    all   birds   search   out   eggs   and   grubs 

and   insects   for   their   families,   but   the   tits   eat 

insects  themselves  as  well,     .^n  excellent  idea  is 

to  provide  them  with  nest  boxes.     I  believe  they 

appreciate  these  for  sleeping  in  during  the  very 

'  Id  nights,  and  it  is  very  probable  that,  in  the 

;  ring,  many  birds  will  stick  to  these  cosy  home» 

instead  of  wandering  away.      M.  H.  Crawford. 


Lackey  Moths,  small  plump-looking  insects 
zvith  an  average  wing  expanse  of  i  J  ins. ; 
colour  pale  ochre,  the  transverse  line  brmunish. 


^SS^  "/  Lackey  ^loth  laid  around  apple  tivigs 
in  early  August. 


Lackey  Moth  Caterpillar 


Cocoon  of  Lackey  Moth. 


FLOWERS    IN    RAIN 

By  Gertrude  Jekyll,  V.M.H. 

IT  is  interesting  to  see,  when  steady  rain  is 
falling,  how  differently  various  kinds  of 
flowers  take  it.  Hydrangeas  are  quite 
undaunted  ;  Mulleins  are  wide  open  and 
enjoying  themselves.  Some  tall  old  bushes 
of  Cistus  cyprius  look  as  if  they  were  bearing  the 
bloom  of  quite  something  else,  for  instead  of 
having  the  usual  flat,  open  shape,  the  flowers 
hang  like  inverted  cups.  The  tall  CEnothera 
Lamarckiana  is  also  heavily  depressed,  but  only 
mechanically ;  one  sees  that  it  is  but  for  the 
moment  and  that  as  soon  as  the  heaviest  of  the 
wet^is  over,  the  overladen  blooms  will  expand 
and  rejoice.  Some  are  nearly  full  open  in  spite 
of  the  downpour — great  luminous  cups  of  purest 
pale  yellow.  The  low-growing  (E.  missouriensis 
is  wide  open.  .411  the  Campanulas  seem  to  be 
rainproof ;  none  shews  any  signs  of  distress  except 
C.  lactiflora,  and  that  again  is  only  mechanical, 
the  tops  being  broken  down  with  weight.  Chry- 
santhemum maximum  is  wide  open  ;  Eryngiums 
and  white  Everlasting  Pea  are  untouf^hed. 
Heleniums  and  other  flowers  that  shut  down 
their  petals  at  night  have  them  half  down.  Senecio 
artemisia?folius,  that  fine  deep  yellow  border 
plant  that  is  so  strangely  neglected,  stands  up 
bravely.  The  perennial  Mullein,  Verbascura 
Chaixi,  is  brilliant  and  more  fully  open  than  it 
ever  is  even  in  ordinarily  cloudy  or  drizzly  weather. 
The  great  cup  and  saucer  Canterbury  Bells  get 
partly  filled  and  then  turn  down  to  tip  out  their 
load  of  wet.  It  is  amusing  to  watch  an  adven- 
turous bee,  one  of  the  few  that  are  about,  trying 
flower  after  flower,  and  refusing  any  of  the  great 
bells  that  have  a  wet  flooring  ;  at  last  he  reaches 
one  that  was  protected  by  others  above  it,  finds 
dry  footing  and  disappears  into  its  recesses. 

But  of  all  flowers  in  rain  the  Sweet  Williams 
are  the  most  deplorable.  They  have  the  appear- 
ance of  being  thoroughly  soaked  and  miserably 
ancomfortable  and  as  it  they  could  never  be  quite 
dry  again.  They  are  close  to  the  Raspberry 
cage  and  the  Raspberries  must  be  visited.  The 
fruits  are  loaded  with  wet,  and  it  is  as  if  one  ate 
quite  a  new  kind  that  had  quite  three  or  four 
times  its  usual  amount  of  juice.  I  can  confidently 
recommend  Raspberries  and  rain  ! 

.-Vnchusa  hangs  down,  but  only  from  the  weight 
of  wet,  for  a  little  shaking  restores  its  poise. 
The  rain  runs  down  the  Bamboo  foliage  and  drops 
freely  from  the  points,  leaving  all  the  surface 
wet,  but  if  one  turns  a  leaf  over  the  raindrops  run 
off  without  wetting  it.  I  do  not  know  whether 
it  is  the  same  with  all,  but  of  the  Bamboos  I  have 
I  find  it  impossible,  short  of  rubbing  it  hard  in, 
to  wet  the  underside.  But  it  is  pretty  to  see  the 
Lupins.  Coming  upon  them  in  an  interval  in 
the  downpour,  every  leaf  holds  a  Httle  cr>^stal 
globe  where  the  leaflets  join,  with  many  smaller 
ones  all  about.  Here,  again,  the  leaf  surface  does 
not  seem  to  be  wetted  all  over,  as  the  crystal 
beads,  sometimes  singly  and  sometimes  clustered, 
do  not  lose  their  globular  form.  Their  size  is  in 
proportion  to  that  of  the  leaf.  In  the  large 
perennial  L.  polyphyllus  the  leaf-cup  holds  a 
globe  over  a  quarter  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  while 
the  smaller  leaved  Tree  Lupins  are  gemmed  all 
over  with  tiny  round  crystals.  Erigerons  are 
certainly  unhappy  and  look  woefully  bedraggled  ; 
the  ray  florets,  though  on  plants  of  the  best  kinds, 
are  for  the  time  being  thin  and  skimpy.  .Artemisia 
lactiflora  is  thoroughly  contented,  in  pleasant 
contrast  to  its  shrivelled,  withered  appearance 
in  the  drought  of  last  year,  .\nthemis  tinctoria 
stands  the  wet  well,  but  best  of  all  is  the  triumphant 
appearance  of  the  Snapdragons. 


388 


THE     GARDEN. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


ROSE    ICEW  RAMBLER. 

TN   the  issue  of  July   22,   page   357,   Rose   Kew 

Rambler  is  referred  to  as  suitable  for  "  pergolas, 

archways   and    for   similar   purposes."     To   avoid 

disappointment  to  planters  of  this  beautiful  Rose 


i^&^i 


«^- 


THE    QUAINT    TUBER    AND    SEEDS    OF    CYCLAMEN 
NEAPOLITANUM. 


they  should  be  acquainted  with  its  habit  of 
growth.  No  doubt,  with  a  certain  amount  of 
persuasion  and  pruning,  Kew  Rambler  could  be 
induced  to  cover  an  arch  or  pergola,  as  the  old 
(parent)  plant  is  now  loft.  high.  Rather,  how- 
ever, is  it  a  bushy  "  rambling  "  than  a  "  chmbing  " 
Rose,  more  suitable  for  clothing  a  rustic  fence, 
an  open  wooden  fence  or  rough  poles  with  spurred 
branches  5ft.  to  7ft.  or  8ft.  in  height.  Pushing  up 
vigorous  young  shoots  from  the  base,  the  best 
treatment  would  appear  to  be  the  removal  of 
the  old  stems  to  the  base  after  flowering  each 
year. 

A  cross  between  Rosa  Soulieana  and  the  popular 
Hiawatha,  the  individual  flowers  average  ijins. 
in  diameter.  The  centre  of  the  flower  is  white 
with  a  broad  band  or  edging  of  rich  pink.  Kew 
Rambler  might  easily  be  mistaken,  as  far  as  colour 
goes,  for  the  artificial  Roses  sold  on  Alexandra 
Day.  In  addition  to  a  pleasing  fragrance,  it  has 
a  very  showy  tuft  or  rosette  of  golden-tipped 
stamens  an  inch  across.  Another  important 
characteristic  is  the  substance  and  consequent 
lasting  character  of  the  flowers. — A.  O. 

THE    LACHENALIA    IN    NATURE. 

TT  may  be  of  interest  to  growers  of  Lachenalias 

in  England  to  know  of  the  severe  conditions 

they  have  to  put  up  with  in  their  native  haunts. 

The  best  patch  of  these  charming  flowers  I 
have  seen  is  situated  on  the  top  of  a  small  rounded 
peak  at  about  2,000ft.  above  sea-level.  Here 
they  grow  in  thousands  and  are  comparatively 
undisturbed,  except  by  baboons,  which  destroy 
a  good  many  by  pulling  up  the  bulbs  and 
scattering  them  about. 

During  the  past  week  (the  last  week  in  June) 
this  peak  was  thickly  covered  with  snow  for  four 
days,  just  at  the  time  when  the  plants  are  in  full 
growth.  This  is  no  unusual  occurrence,  though 
the  snow  seldom  lies  for  so  long.     The  temperature 


in  the  valley  (500ft.)  fell  to  32.9  the  night  alte'' 
the  snowfall,  so  presumably  there  would  have 
been  several  degrees   of  frost  at  that  altitude. 

As  they  enjoy  wet  situations  and  a  heavy 
rainfall  (we  had  25ins.  during  last  June  and  July 
and  probably  double  this  faU  in  the 
mountains),  I  should  think  they 
ought  to  succeed  out  of  doors  in 
the  South  of  England. — Lionel 
Baker,  Groot  Drakenslein,  Cape  of 
Good  Hope. 
'  's 

QUAINT    CYCLAMEN    SEED 

PODS. 
T  AM  enclosing  a  photograph  of 
a  tuber  of  Cyclamen  neapoU- 
tanum  which  should,  I  think,  be  of 
interest  to  readers.  The  tuber  is 
6ins.  in  diameter  and  was  grown  in 
deep  loam  soil  in  Hertfordshire. 
The  picture  shows  what  I  consider  to 
be  an  unusually  fine  lot  of  seeds. 
As  win  be  seen,  fibres  are  produced 
all  over  the  surface  of  the  tuber. 
This  Cyclamen  has  been  naturalised 
successfully  in  several  localities  in 
Britain. 

This,  perhaps  the  handsomest  of 
hardy  Cyclamens,  has  ivy-Uke  foliage 
and  relatively  large  flowers,  produced 
in  the  autumn  in  varying  shades  of 
pink  or  pure  white,  spotted  crimson 
at  the  base  of  each  segment.  It 
flowers  best  when  not  growing  too 
luxuriantly,  but  is  not  at  all  shy 
to  blossom  under  any  reasonable 
conditions  of  culture.  It  will  succeed  in  light 
shade  of  full  sunshine. — H.  s 


THE   REMOVAL   OF    SPENT    FLOWERS. 

TLJOW  often  one  sees  in  gardens  dead  flowers — 
especially  Roses — left  on  the  plants !  I 
make  a  practice  of  removing  all  flowers  when 
past  their  best.  This  work  in  some  instances 
is  a  back-aching  pastime,  but  I  get  my  reward 
in  the  form  of  more  flowers.  Not  only  do  spent 
flowers  give  the  garden  an  untidy  appearance, 
but  they  do  not  improve  the  health  of  the  plant- 
concerned.  Suckers  should  also  be  removed 
If  every  garden-lover  would  pay  a  little  attention 
to  this  "  cutting  over,"  our  gardens  would  present 
a  more  cheerful  appearance. — L.  H. 


MUSSIN'S     CAT.MINT. 

A  NOTE  of  mine  concerning  Nepeta  Mussini 
which  appeared  in  The  Garden  last  October 
gave  rise  to  some  enquiries  among  friends  of  mine 
as  to  its  capabilities,  and  the  outcome  was  the  estab- 
lishing of  it  in  several  gardens  to  which,  previously, 
it  had  been  a  stranger.  I  know  of  no  hardy  herb 
half  so  accommodating,  and  be  the  season  what  it 
may,  its  flowering  is  never  hindered.  At  the 
present  time — thanks  to  the  rain — plants  are  full 
of  young  shoots  which  spring  from  the  base,  and 
these  if  cut  and  planted  in  sandy  soil  quickly  take 
root.  One  point  worth  remembering  in  propa- 
gating Nepeta  is  to  prevent,  if  at  all  possible, 
flagging  of  the  cuttings  should  the  weather  be  hot 
and  dry.  Young  plants  as  a  rule  give  the  finest 
spikes,  though  from  old  plants  there  is  little  dearth 
in  numbers.  The  colour,  a  la\-ender  or  smoky 
blue,  is  very  pleasing,  and  the  blossoms  continue 
in  good  state  for  many  weeks.  I  have  noticed  in 
several  establishments  that  Nepeta  Mussini  is 
being  used  as  a  fringe  to  borders  in  the  vegetable 
domain  as  well  as  on  shrubbery  borders.     This  is 


[August  5.  1922. 

not  a  matter  for  surprise  considering  how  rapidly 
young  plants  grow.  Every  little  portion  quickly 
strikes  in  soil  of  a  sandy  nature. — Claremont. 

BOX    EDGINGS    TO    ROSE-BEDS. 

COMETIMES  in  old  estabhshments  one  finds 
beds  and  borders  edged  with  Box  that  gives 
evidence  by  its  growth  of  having  been  planted 
many  years.  One  such  instance  came  under  my 
notice  recently,  where  beds  of  Roses  surrounded 
by  this  primly  kept  shrub  were  in  a  very  bad  state 
through  the  ramification  of  the  roots  of  the  Box, 
which  had  simply  sapped  all  the  nutriment  rightly 
belonging  to  the  Roses.  Comparatively  few  in 
these  days  permit  Box  to  usurp  ground  rightly 
belonging  to  other  plants,  least  of  all  Roses.  In 
the  case  under  notice  the  edging  consisted  of  a 
wall  of  Box  some  Sins,  in  height  and  6ins.  in  width, 
and  the  roots  had  spread  to  such  an  extent  that 
scarcely  any  Rose  in  the  bed  was  free  from  them, 
and  poverty  of  wood  and  insignificant  flowers 
revealed  all  too  plainly  that  the  edging  had  taken 
complete  possession.  At  its  best  Box  cannot  but 
be  regarded  as  prim  and  stifi,  and  if  left  for  years 
must  eventually  destroy  plants  in  the  immediate 
neighbourhood  of  its  roots. — W.  Linders  Lea. 

LILIES    FROM    SEED. 

T  H.WE  read  your  article  on  "  Raising  Perennials 
from  Seed  "   (The  Garden,  July   i)   with   the 
greatest  interest,  especialh-  as  regards  Lilies.     In 
19 18    I    sowed    a    packet    of    l.ihum   regale   seed, 
obtained  from  Messrs.  Thompson  and  Morgan,  in 
a  pot  which  was  placed  in  a  small  cold  greenhouse, 
hor  some  reasons   (chiefly  woodlice,   I   believe)   it 
was  very  difficult  to  raise  anything  in  the  house 
in  question,  and  I  thought  myself  lucky  in  getting 
two  strong  seedlings— this  Lily  then  being  priced 
at    los.    6d.   each   by   nurserymen.     The    two,   in 
5in.    pots,    suffered    many    things    from    repeated 
removals  on  our  part,  but  triumphantly  flowered 
in  1920,  being  then,  still  in  their  pots,  in  a  small 
town    garden,    or    backyard,    in    PuUeney    Street, 
Bath.     They   then   ripened   seed,   which    I   sowed 
immediately  in  a  box.     This,  in  its  turn,  travelled 
about  with  us,  spent  six  months  in  Wales,  where 
the  seedlings  grew  rapidly,  then  a  like  period  at 
Trowbridge  and  at  Box  in  Wilts,  both  of  which 
places     they    seemed    to    dislike,     making    Uttle 
advance ;     finally    they    returned    to    Bath,    were 
potted  off,  three  in  a  6in.   pot,  in  rich,  hght  soil 
of  loam,   leaf-mould   and   old   hot-bed  stuff,   with 
a   httle    Weston-super-Mare   sand,    and    are    now, 
to  the  number  of  about  fifty,  a  picture  of  health. 
There  is,  of  course,  nothing  particularly  interesting 
in    this    history,    but   it   shews    that    there   is   no 
difliculty    in   raising   for   oneself   a   fine   stock   of 
Lilies  that,  even  now,  would  cost  5s.   to  7s.  6d. 
each   to  buy.     (It  also  shews,   I   think,   that  the 
nurserymen   ask  too  much  for  Lilies  in  general.) 
No  doubt  the  LiUes  would  have  got  on  faster  if 
I  could  have  treated  them  in  the  right  way,  as 
described   in   your   .-irtirle,    and   left    them   undis- 
turbed. 

Some  Martagons  we  found  in  our  garden  at 
Trowbridge  ripened  a  lot  ot  seed  last  summer, 
and  this,  sown  in  boxes,  is  also  up  and  making 
second  leaves,  but  does  not  seem  quite  so  quick 
or  so  vigorous  as  L.  regale.  The  worst  thing 
about  this  most  fascinating  pursuit  of  Lily  growing 
is  that  it  is  so  hard  to  come  by  the  seed  in  a  fresh 
condition,  or  in  any  at  all,  for  that  matter.  I 
hope  some  of  your  readers  who  grow  Lilies  will 
be  kind  enough  to  advertise  their  supertluous 
seed  for  sale  this  season  ' 

It  is  a  curious  thing  that  the  common  L. 
candidum,  seen  so  much  more  often  than  any 
other  Lily,  never  seems  to  increase  itself  by  seed. 
I  never  got  a  voluntary  seedhng  from  Luge  beds 


August  5,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


389 


of  it,  and,  for  that  matter,  cannot  recall  having: 
seen  its  seed — perhaps  because  I  never  looked 
for  it !  When  one  has  a  large  garden  it  is  so  easy 
to  divide  things.  It  is  only  viiien  a  gardener 
goes  under  the  harrow  of  repeated  house-movings 
that  he  realises  what  working  up  stocks  means, 
and  begins  to  sit  up  and  take  an  intelligent  interest 
in  economical  production  ! — M.  L.  W. 

[The  nurseryman  who  grows  his  own  Lilies 
has  to  employ  hired  labour  and  allow  for  rates, 
taxes,  depreciation  of  frames  and  other  items. 
Competition  alone,  would  ensure  cheaper  prices 
were  such  feasible. — Ed.] 

IMPROVING    VILLAGE    GARDENS. 

f\S  page  202  of  your  issue  dated  April  23,  1921, 
you  pubUshed  a  review  of  the  excellent 
work  which  has  been  accompUshed  at  Old  Warden, 
Bedfordshire,  in  the  cottage  gardens  as  a  direct 
consequence  of  the  competition  instituted  in 
1903  by  the  late  Colonel  Frank  Shuttleworth  and 
maintained  since  his  demise  by  Mrs.  Canapbell, 
whose  residence  is  Old  Warden  Park.  There 
was  a  compulsory  break  in  the  sequence  in  the 
war  years  of  1915,  1916  and  igi7,  and  a  second 
lapse  came  last  year  when,  owing  to  the  pro- 
tracted drought,  there  were  no  crops  upon  which 
to  adjudicate,  very  much  to  the  regret  of  Mrs. 
Campbell. 

The  judging  was  done  this  year  on  July  17 
and  18,  when  marks  for  every  crop  growing  in 
rather  more  than  forty  cottage  gardens  were 
recorded  on  the  recognised  scale.  The  result 
brought  no  fewer  than  thirty-four  successful 
cultivators,  with  a  grand  total  of  4iOi2  marks. 
The  prizes  are  at  the  rate  of  a  penny  a  mark  for 
every  mark  secured,  with  the  reser\-ation  that  no 


do  the  judging.  The  keenest  interest  is  displayed 
by  every  cottager  in  the  village,  and  there  is 
a  proper,  general  appreciation  of  Mrs.  Campbell's 
generosity  in  maintaining  it. — Horace  J-  Wright. 

FRAGRANCE    IN    THE    ROSE. 

tJEADERS  of  The  Garden  are  indebted  to  the 
writer  *of  the  short  article  on  page  341  on 
this  subject.  There  is,  unfortunately,  too  much 
pessimism  rampant  in  regard  to  Roses  which  lack 
fragrance,  and  though  scentless  varieties  only 
constitute  a  very  small  minority,  some  people 
apparently  never  seem  to  forget  their  shortcomings 
in  this  particular,  and  close  their  eyes  to  the  other 
charms  they  possess  of  beauty  and  grace,  in  colour 
and  form.  It  may  be  remembered  at  the  time 
of  the  introduction  of  Frau  Karl  Druschki,  with 
its  peerless  white  blossoms,  its  lack  of  perfume 
was  much  commented  upon,  and  on  this  account 
alone  there  were  those  who  refused  to  grow  it. 
Surely  when  so  many  Roses  possess  the  subtle 
gift  of  sweetness  we  can  afford  to  ignore  the 
absence  of  it  in  so  few  otherwise  charming  sorts  ! 
After  all,  the  proportion  of  Roses  exempt  from 
perfume  is  so  small  that  we  need  not  be  despondent ! 
The  Ust  of  fragrant  sorts  pubUshed  does  not 
include  all  those  valued  because  of  their  aroma 
by  any  means,  but  it  is  enough  to  show  that  no 
one  need  be  without  Roses  that  are  both  sweet 
and  beautiful. — L.   W. 

BEARDED    IRISES    AND    LUPINS. 

OHOULD    you   care    to   reproduce    the   enclosed 

photograph  of  a  piece  of  my  garden  I  should 

be  glad  for  you  to  do  so.     Very  few  people  realise 

what  a  gorgeous  display  can  be  had  in  May  and 


LUPINS    AND    BEARDED    IRISES;      DARTMOOR    IN    THE    BACKGROUND. 


competitor  scoring  fewer  than  100  marks  shall 
receive  an  award  ;  the  cash  value  of  the  prizes 
on  this  occasion  was  therefore  jfr6  14s.  4d.,  which 
was  distributed  to  the  several  recipients  on  the 
evening  of  the  second  day  of  judging.  The  premier 
position  was  taken  by  Mr.  J.  Wiltshire — as  it  has 
been  regularly  since  the  first  inspection — with 
1 89  marks  ;  the  second  by  Mr.  W.  Foster,  with 
136  marks;  and  the  third  by  Mr.  W.  Palfrey, 
with  151.     .^s  usual,  it  was  a  very  real  pleasure  to 


June  from  the  close  proximity  of  Irises  and 
Lupins.  The  picture,  I  think,  tells  its  own  tale. 
— (Mrs.)  Annie  B.  Butcher,   Tavistock,  Devon. 

[Our  correspondent  is  undoubtedly  right  as  to 
the  lack  of  appreciation  of  this  particular  com- 
bination. In  a  comparatively  small  proportion  of 
gardens  is  justice  done  either  to  the  Bearded  Iris 
or  the  Lupin,  so  that  it  is  scarcely  wonderful  that 
their  value  in  combination  is  not  widely  recog- 
nised.— Ed.] 


ENGLISH    IRISES 

Collection  grozving.—  The  pleasures  of  antici- 
pation.—  A    selection. —  The  wand  of  the 
rain. 

AFTER  a  long  interregnum  I  have  this  year 
.Tgain  renewed  my  personal  acquaintance 
with  the  Englsh  Iris,  not  that  the 
k  garden  has  ever  been  wholly  without 
'  any,  for  I  have  been  carefully  "  growing 
on  "  a  lovely  deep  rosy  mauve  seedling  of  my  own  ; 
and  for  a  short  time  I  had  a  deep  purple  and  a 
rich  blue — both  likewise  home-raised — but  these 
last  two,  alas  !  were  victims  of  the  war.  They 
were  all  three  selis.  Last  autumn  the  time  seemed 
to  have  come  when  I  might  get  a  small  collection 
for  trial.  I  am  always  very  keen  on  collection- 
growing.  The  pleasure  of  anticipation  is  still 
as  green  and  virile  within  my  breast  as  ever  it 
was  and  coupled  with  this  there  is  the  mild  but 
very  real  excitement  of  seeing  if  anything  good 
will  turn  up  among  the  unknown  or  the  forgotten. 
I  am  always  ready  to  be  told  of  "  good  things," 
but  as  "  stolen  waters  are  sweet  and  bread  eaten 
in  secret  is  pleasant,"  so  finding  out  for  oneself 
which  are  the  best  among  the  flowers  that  have 
lent  themselves  to  variation  is  sweet  too.  There- 
fore I  am  a  confirmed  grower  of  collections. 
Comparisons  here,  as  Shakepeare  says,  are  odorous, 
not  as  lesser  men  would  have  it,  odious.  They  are 
the  sweet  smelling  savour  which  seems  to  satisfy 
the  natural  bias  of  human  nature  to  pick  and 
choose. 

Sometimes  we  get  jars.  The  result  of  the  trial 
is  far  from  what  we  expected.  The  truth  must 
be  told  that  the  English  Irises  were  a  most  dis- 
appointing lot.  There  was  not  a  single  self- 
coloured  variety  among  the  twenty-five  and, 
worse  still,  for  the  first  time  my  choice  mauve 
seedUng  had  six  broken  or  blotched  blooms.  I 
cannot  honestly  say  that  I  cared  very  much  for 
any  one  of  the  whole  collection.  Even  the  whites 
were  tinged  or  striped  with  colour,  and  were  poor 
things  compared  with  the  pure  Mt.  Blanc  of  other 
days.  Every  one  was  blotched  or  marked  in 
some  way.  Have  all  English  Irises  become 
jazzers  ?  Have  they  all  discarded  those  beautiful 
self  colours  that  I  remember  so  well  ?  Tell  us, 
someone  with  greater  experience  than  mine,  if 
this  is  so.  Tell  us  if  there  are  any  of  those  delight- 
ful selfs  left.  Is  my  experience  this  year  only 
what  one  must  nowadays  invariably  expect  ? 
Is  "  Tekel,  tekel,"  written  large  on  the  wall  ? 
Does  it  mean  that  there  have  been  no  raisers  of 
seedling  English  Irises  among  the  last  generation  ? 
I  have  an  idea  that  sooner  or  later  all  varieties 
undergo  this  distressing  change.  But  the  pity 
of  it ! 

Some  varieties,  of  course,  are  more  presentable 
than  others,  and  if  we  keep  them  at  a  respectable 
distance  are  not  so  bad.  I  remember  an  old  squire 
telling  me  what  a  shock  he  got  when  he  first  saw 
the  face  of  the  wife  of  one  of  his  tenants.  She 
had  a  beautiful  figure  and  well  cut  clothes,  and 
her  back  view  was  charming  ;  but,  poor  woman, 
she  was  very  plain  when  you  saw  the  front  view. 
It  is  much  the  same  with  the  Irises  now  in  flower. 
They  are  all  right  from  the  mndows,  but  they 
are  "  plain  "  when  you  get  a  near  view.  It  is  a 
difficult  matter  to  select  the  best.  It  would  be 
going  too  far  to  call  it  a  choice  of  evils,  but  it  is 
getting  on  in  that  direction.  They  cannot  help 
their  looks  ;  moreover,  it  is  quite  likely  that  it 
is  man  who  does  not  fully  understand  their 
necessities  who  is  in  fault.  Let  me,  then,  conclude 
by  giving  the  names  of  five  of  the  most  satisfactory. 
Snowflake  (good  white  with  faint  rose  markings 
in    the    standards),    Prince    Albert    (mauve    with 


390 

purple  blotches),  Othello  (rich  darU  blue  with 
very  dark  markings),  Socrates  (tall  dark  purple  ivith 
almost  black  markings),  Starhght  (late  ;  purple 
standards  with  blue  falls  with  a  white  centre). 
It  was  very  noticeable  the  difference  that  the 
rain  made  in  all  the  EngUsh  Irises.  I  thought 
I  had  never  seen  such  a  miserable-looking  lot 
of  flowers  as  I  saw  at  the  R.H.S.  Hall  on  June  27 
and  again  at  the  Rose  Show  two  days  later.     I 


THE     GARDEN 

felt  prepared  to  eat  my  hat  if  I  had  not  a  good 
deal  better  at  home,  but  when  I  went  into  the 
garden  on  my  return  and  saw  the  long  bed 
I  found  to  my  horror  that  mine  were  just  the 
same  pitiable  curled-up  looking  objects  ; 
obviously  the  dry  spell  with  the  hot  sun  and 
high  winds  had  been  too  much  for  them.  The 
change  one  long  day's  rain  made  was  almost 
incredible.  Joseph  Jacob. 


GARDENING     OF    THE     WEEK 


FOR  SOUTHERN  GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 
Winter  Tomatoes. — From  seed  sown  at  the 
end  of  June  or  early  July  healthy  young  plants 
should  now  be  available.  Directly  they  are 
sufficiently  rooted  and  strong  enough,  transfer 
them  into  their  fruiting  pots,  which  need  only 
be  Sins,  or  gins,  in  diameter.  When  potting 
them  place  a  few  Jin.  bones  at  the  bottom  of  each 
pot,  as  this  will  prove  beneficial  when  the  plants 
are  developing  their  fruits.  Grow  the  plants 
under  cool  conditions,  and  pinch  out  the  lead  as 
soon  as  four  or  five  trusses  of  fruit  are  set. 

French  Beans. — In  addition  to  seeds  being 
sown  as  advised  in  previous  issue,  it  wiU  be  neces- 
sary, where  it  is  essential  that  a  constant  supply 
of  this  vegetable  be  obtained  as  long  as  possible, 
to  make  use  of  cold  frames  to  ensure  success. 
Use  fairlv  rich  soil,  and  sow  in  rows  about  a  foot 
apart,  allowing  each  plant  gins,  for  development. 
It  will  not  be  necessary  to  put  any  lights  on  for 
some  weeks,  but  encourage  the  plants  to  make  a 
quick,  clean  growth  by  keeping  them  well  watered 
and  regularlv  svringed  on  warm  days.  Should 
a  further  sowing  have  to  be  made,  this  must  be 
in  frames  where  there  is  some  heating  arrange- 
ment to  he  made  use  of  as  soon  as  necessary. 

General  Work  will  include  the  removal  of 
all  exhausted  crops,  which  may  be  burnt  or  taken 
to  the  rot-pit,  as  considered  best  and  most  con- 
venient to  carry  out.  Keep  the  hoe  going  as  much 
as  possible  between  all  growing  crops,  and  water 
such  as  Celery,  Runners,  etc.,  if  possible,  whenever 
necessary.  Use  diluted  farmyard  water  freely 
on  heavily  cropped  Beans.  Allow  no  ground  to 
be  wasteci  by  having  blanks  between  any  of  the 
winter  and  spring  greens.  There  is  still  ample 
time  to  get  out  more  Leeks  if  wanted,  and  these 
later-planted  ones  are  often  much  more  appre- 
ciated than  the  early  ones  which  grow  so  large, 
and  a  most  important  point,  too,  is  that  they 
keep  well  into  spring  without  bolting. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Lilium  candidum. — August  is  the  month  to 
deal  with  this  beautiful  Lily,  whether  it  be  the 
planting  of  new  bulbs  or  the  division  and  replanting 
of  clumps  which  have  grown  too  large — if  such 
be  possible — or  have  lost  something  of  their 
floral  vigour.  The  position  selected  for  the  bulbs 
to  occupy  should  be  deeply  dug  and  thoroughly 
well  drained,  and  while  full  sun  is  not  necessary 
during  the  whole  day,  the  site  should  be  a  warm 
one.  Avoid  planting  too  deeply  on  heavy  land, 
and  introduce  a  liberal  amount  of  gritty  compost 
or  some  sharp  sand  around  each  bulb. 

Woodland  Walks  frequently  provide  not  only 
a  charming  retreat  from  the  more  formal  garden 
walks,  but  are  often  the  agencies  used  to  open 
up  vistas  of  the  surrounding  country.  At  this 
time,  while  leafage  of  aU  trees  and  shrubs  is  so 
luxuriant,  care  should  be  taken  that  overhanging 
branches  do  not  mar  good  views,  particularly  so 
when  the  latter,  a  little  later  in  the  season,  are  rich 
in  the  many  glorious  autumn  tints.  .Anything 
approaching  a  close  trimming  of  trees  in  such 
rides  should  be  carefully  avoided,  the  aim  being 
as  natural  an  effect  as  possible.  All  long,  coarse 
grass  on  and  near  such  walks  can  be  cut  over 
at  the  same  time,  especially  where  it  is  growing 
round  clumps  of  Ferns,  etc. 

Pansies  required  for  spring  display  can  be 
sown  now  in  boxes  of  light  soil  in  a  cold  frame. 
Prick  out  the  seedhngs  when  strong  enough  in 
nursery  quarters.  Unless  a  good  strain  is  pur- 
chased, it  is  as  well  to  leave  Pansies  out  of  the 
bedding  scheme. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Wasps. — These  pests  are  often  excessi\'ely 
troublesome  on  easily  worked  soils,  and  it  is 
necessary    to   commence    the    destruction    of    the 


nests  as  soon  as  thev  are  found.  The  most 
effectual  way  of  dealing  with  them  that  I  know 
of  is  to  place  a  httle  cyanide  of  potassium  in  the 
mouth  of  the  hole  in  the  evening,  afterwards 
placing  a  piece  of  turf  over  the  hole.  Follow 
this  up  next  morning,  if  convenient,  by  digging  out 
the  nest,  thus  making  sure  of  the  destruction 
of  the  grubs.  Cyanide  is  a  deadly  poison  and 
needs  handling  with  the  greatest  care.  It  should 
be  mentioned  that  it  can  be  used  in  the  dry  or 
liquid  form.  When  used  in  the  former  way  a 
small  piece  of  the  crystals  about  the  size  of  a 
small  nut  is  enough  for  a  nest ;  to  use  the 
hquid,  thoroughly  soak  a  piece  of  cotton  wool 
about  the  size  of  a  hen's  egg  with  it  and  place 
in  the  mouth  of  each  nest. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Muscat  Grapes. — Many  houses  of  Muscats  are 
now  approaching  or  have  reached  the  colouring 
stage,  and  no  effort  should  be  spared  which  will 
be  of  assistance  in  enabling  this  queen  of  Grapes 
to  finish  in  the  highest  possible  manner.  Make 
certain  that  the  border  is  sufficiently  moist  and 
that  sufficient  nourishment  has  been  supplied  to 
the  roots.  Suppress  all  lateral  growths  likely  to 
make  too  thick  a  covering,  remembering  that 
the  old  remark  which  says,  "  Light  for  white 
Grapes  and  cover  for  black  "  is  true  when  apphed 
with  discretion.  Maintain  at  all  times  a  httle 
pipe-heat  as  this  ensures  a  freer  circulation  of 
air — a  most  essential  point  to  bear  in  mind.  See 
that  any  atmospheric  moisture  applied  during 
daytinre  is  dried  up  by  early  afternoon. 
H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 

Alhury   Park  Gardens,  Guildford,) 


[August  5,  1922. 


The  Flower  Garden. 

Layering  Carnations. — Most  of  the  Border 
varieties  will  now  have  sufficiently  strong  growths 
to  allow  the  important  work  of  layering  to  be 
proceeded  with.  Prick  over  the  surface  soil 
around  the  plants,  and  add  a  goodly  quantity  of 
sharp  sand  to  keep  the  soil  porous.  Prepare 
a  quantity  of  sifted  soil,  sharp  sand  and  leaf- 
mould  and  use  for  placing  round  the  parent  plant, 
so  that  the  layers  may  root  quickly  and  establish 
themselves  in  other  quarters  early  in  September. 
After  making  the  incision  it  is  important  that 
the  layer  be  firmly  pegged  and  placed  in  such  a 
position  that  the  young  plant  will  be  perfectly 
erect.  Should  dry  weather  prevail,  the  layers 
should  be  thoroughly  watered,  as  root  action  is 
slow  when  the  mounds  of  soil  are  allowed  to 
become  dry.  Continue  watering  regularly  until 
growth  is  noticeable. 

Budding  Roses.— .-Although  this  interesting 
work  is  not  often  practised  in  private  gardens, 
there  are  many  who  prepare  a  few  dozen  Briars 
for  this  purpose  yearly,  and  the  present  time  is 
suitable  for  carrying  out  the  work.  Showery 
weather  is  preferable  for  the  purpose. 

Violets. — Where  these  are  growing  in  nursery 
lines  with  a  view  to  being  transferred  to  frames 
later  on,  hberal  attention  should  now  be  accorded 
the  plants  if  the  finest  results  are  to  be  attained. 
The  plants  should  receive  copious  waterings 
of  liquid  manure  from  the  byre.  Keep  the  soil 
between  the  lines  well  hoed  or  loosened  with  a 
Buco  cultivator.  .As  red  spider  is  apt  to  attack 
the  leaves  of  Violets  during  dry  weather,  the  fohage 
should  be  \'igorouslv  syringed  as  soon  as  the  sun 
goes  off  them  in  the  evening.  As  a  preventive 
a  small  quantity  of  Abol  insecticide  added  to  the 
water  will  be  found  effective. 

James  McGra-V 
(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.), 
Coodhafu    Kilmarnock. 


FOR    NORTHERN    GARDEN'^. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Celery. — Dust  the  plants  now  with  soot  as  a 
preventive  from  attack  by  the  Celery  Hy.  Where 
this  pest  is  allowed  to  breed,  the  crop  may  be 
ruined,  as  the  foliage  becomes  perforated  and 
bhstered,  and  this  naturally  retards  growth. 
Spraying  may  also  be  done,  and  one  of  the  most 
useful  mixtures  for  this  purpose  is  to  boil  a  pound 
of  coal-tar  in  a  gallon  of  water  for  about  twenty 
minutes,  adding  fifty  gallons  of  clear  water,  and 
spraying  every  ten  days  for  a  period. 

Globe  Artichokes. — Cut  the  heads  immediately 
they  have  attained  a  fair  size  and  before  they 
commence  to  open.  If  not  required  for  imme- 
diate use  they  should  be  stood  in  water,  changing 
it  daily  and  placing  the  receptacles  in  a  cool 
cellar. 

Cucumbers. — Attend  to  plants  in  full  bearing, 
and  feed  liberally  so  that  the  crop  may  be  pro- 
longed. Thin  the  laterals  freely,  and  so  permit 
Ught  and  air  to  benefit  the  young  growths  that 
are  retained.  No  fire  heat  is  necessary  at  this 
season,  but  advantage  should  be  taken  of  solar 
heat  by  closing  the  pit  early  in  the  afternoon. 
Cucumbers  in  frames  may  be  treated  in  similar 
manner,  with  the  exception  that  less  moisture 
will  be  needed,  as  the  young  fruits  damp  off 
readily  if  lying  on  the  soil. 

Winter  Greens  may  yet  be  planted  in  quantity 
as  ground  is  cleared.  More  especially  is  this 
desirable  where,  o\ving  to  want  of  space  earlier 
in  the  season,  the  crop  was  Umited. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Pot     Vines. — Where    canes    are    required    for 

early  forcing  next  year  the  pots  should  be  moved 
out  of  doors  and  placed  in  the  shelter  of  a  wall 
or  hedge  facing  south.  This  position  w*ill  prevent 
the  young  rods  from  sustaining  damage  from  high 
winds,  and  yet  allow  full  play  of  sun  and  air  on 
the  wood  and  buds.  Pay  strict  attention  to 
watering;  at  no  time  allowing  the  roots  to  become 
unduly  dry. 


CONSERVATORY  AND    GREENHOUSE. 

Pelargoniums. — Show  and  regal  varieties  that 
have  been  standing  out  in  cold  frames  should  now 
be  cut  back  and  the  tops  inserted  as  cuttings  for 
young  stock.  The  cutting  pots  may  be  stood 
on  a  shelf  in  a  cool  greenhouse,  or  the  cuttings 
may  be  rooted  in  a  cold  frame,  keeping  the  frame 
lights  over  them.  When  the  old  plants  are  starting 
into  growth  they  should  be  shaken  out  and  repotted 
into  the  same  sized  pots.  If  stood  in  a  cool  green- 
house they  should  be  watered  sparingly  until  the 
roots  get  a  hold  of  the  fresh  compost. 

Kalanihoes  flammea,  Dyeri  and  kewensis  are  all 
excellent  plants  for  the  cool  greenhouse.  Cuttings 
may  now  be  inserted  singly  in  small  pots,  and  as 
they  are  all  fleshy,  succulent  plants  they  root 
readily  on  a  shelf  well  up  to  the  roof  glass  in  a 
cool  greenhouse.  When  rooted  they  should  have 
a  shift  into  48  sized  pots,  in  which  size  they  will 
pass  through  the  winter.  During  the  winter 
months  they  should  be  kept  on  the  dry  side. 
They  all  grow  quite  well  in  ordinary  potting 
compost,  to  which  should  be  added  plenty  of 
old  mortar  rubble,  as  these  plants  enjoy  free 
drainage  at  all  times. 

Liriope  spicata  (syn.  Ophiopogon)  is  an  excel- 
lent plant  for  furnishing  the  conservatory  and  is 
useful  for  indoor  decoration.  The  striped  varie- 
gated leaves  are  very  bright  and  pretty,  and  the 
spikes  of  bluish  purple  flowers  are  freely  produced. 
Planted  out  as  an  edging  to  beds  in  the  con- 
servatory it  is  very  effective  at  all  times.  This 
plant  may  be  increased  by  division,  and  for 
furnishing  purposes  it  is  best  grown  in  48  sized 
pots.  The  plants  may  be  divided  at  any  time 
during  spring  or  summer.  They  grow  freely 
in  ordinary  potting  compost  in  a  cool  house  and 
must  never  be  put  in  a  stove  temperature,  or 
they  will  refuse  to  grow  at  all,  the  growing  crowns 
making  a  hard  rounded  bud.  In  this  respect 
the  Liriope  is  unique,  as  most  cool  house  plants  will 
at  least  make  weak  and  weedy  growth  when  placed 
in  a  high  temperature. 

Muehlenbeckia     platyclada.  —  Where     green 

plants  are  required  for  mixing  with  other  plants 
in  the  conservatory  this  species  is  very  useful, 
as  it  quickly  makes  nice  plants.  It  is  easily 
propagated,  either  in  spring  or  summer,  by  means 
of  cuttings,  which  root  readily  in  a  close  case 
with  slight  bottom  heat.  Like  many  other  plants 
used  for  the  embeUishment  of  the  conservatory 
and  greenhouse,  it  is  best  grown  in  an  inter- 
mediate temperature  of  some  50'  to  55°.  Good 
useful  plants  can  be  grown  in  jin.  or  6in.  pots. 

Cordyline  australis  and  its  several  varieties 
are  popular  and  useful  plaiits  for  the  conservatory, 
either   as   specimen   plants   for   beds,   or   in   their 


August  5,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


391 


younger  state  for  the  stages.  The  plants  grow 
freely  in  ordinary  good  potting  compost.  As 
they  become  tall  and  leggy,  the  stem  should 
be  cut  half  way  through  just  under  the  bottom 
leaves.  .-V  handful  or  two  of  moss  should  then  be 
tied  round  the  stem  at  this  point.  If  the  plant 
is  kept  on  the  dry  side,  and  the  nioss  kept  moist, 
plenty  of  roots  soon  push  out  into  the  moss,  when 
the  top  should  be  cut  off  and  potted  into  a  suitable 
sized  pot,  using  a  light,  rich  compost  at  this  stage. 
If  kept  in  a  close,  warm  house  for  a  few  %veeks 
it  soon  becomes  established,  when  it  may  be 
removed  to  a  cool  house.  If  the  old  plant  is 
turned  out  of  its  pot  a  number  of  so-called  toes 
should  be  found  ;  they  are  really  undergi'ound 
stems,  not  roots  as  is  generally  supposed.  Each 
has  a  growing  point.  These  afford  a  ready  means 
of  propagation,  and  if  they  are  cut  off  several 
inches  long,  the  roots  should  be  trimmed  off, 
and  the  toes  laid  in  fibre  in  a  warm  case,  where 
they  in  time  will  produce  leaves.  They  should 
then  be  lifted  and  put  into  small  pots,  afterwards 
potting  them  on  as  they  require  it.  In  addition 
to  the  green  type,  which  \-aries  considerably  when 
raised  from  seed,  there  is  the  variety  purpurea, 
or  lentiginosa,  a  beautiful  dark-leaved  variety. 
The  varieties  Doucettii  and  de  Grootii  are  both 
fine  variegated  forms.  Cordyline  stricta,  C. 
Haageana  and  C.  Bruanti  are  smaller  growing 
and  elegant  species,  all  \ery  useful  in  the  small 
state  for  decorative  work.  They  are  increased 
by  means  of  toes ;  or  the  slender  stems  ma>' 
be  cut  into  short  pieces  which,  if  laid  in  fibre  in  a 
warm  case  soon  produce  roots  and  commence 
to  grow.  They  should  then  be  lifted  and  put  into 
small  pots. 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kt'i^.  J.  Coutts. 


EDITOR'S    TABLE 

From  Mr.  C.  H.  Herbert,  Acock's  Green,  came 
recently  beautiful  flowering  sprays  of  some  of 
his  newer  Pinks  (Herbertii).  These  included 
three  varieties  all  salmon  tinted,  namely.  Brides- 
maid, the  charming  pale  salmon  which  received 
an  award  of  merit  at  Chelsea  ;  Mrs.  Giffard  Woolley, 
an  exceptionally  large  and  handsome  flower  the 
exact  shade  of  Enchantress  Carnation  ;  and  Prince 
of  Wales,  a  bright  rosy  salmon  variety  also  of 
large  size,  but  more  loosely  built  and  with  larger 
petals.  The  last  two  are  not  yet,  we  believe, 
in  commerce,  but  they  should  be  eagerly  sought 
after  when  marketed. 


The  True  Giun  Cistus. — Do  not  plant  that 
magnificent  species  of  Rock  Rose,  Cistus  ladani- 
ferus,  under  the  impression  that  it  is  a  dwarf 
grower  suited  to  the  rock  garden — for  it  is  not ! 
Indeed,  it  is  more  truly  a  shrub  than  most  and 
reaches  a  height  of  between  3ft.  and  5ft.,  although 
it  is  a  very  slow  grower  and  takes  many  years  to 
attain  this  height,  .'^t  the  same  time,  this  should 
be  allowed  for  when  planting,  so  that,  as  it  does 
extend,  less  valuable  plants  can  be  scrapped  to 
make  room  for  this  \ery  handsome  specimen. 
A  sunny  position  should  be  chosen,  for  it  is  apt 
to  be  badly  cut  by  severe  frosts  in  winter  where 
exposed  in  the  open,  especially  if  north  and 
easterly  winds  sweep  across  it.  A  light  soil  suits 
it  well,  and  it  is  splendid  for  planting  where  the 
ground  is  very  thin  and  sandy.  During  July 
the  bushes  are  most  effective  when  covered  with 
the  immense  soUtary  white  flowers,  at  the  base 
of  each  petal  of  which  is  a  large  deep  purple  blotch. 
Visit  it  early  in  the  morning  when  these  have 
first  expanded  and  you  will  be  amazed  at  their 
beauty,  while  fresh  buds  expand  every  morning 
so  that  it  is  striking  and  effective  for  many  weeks. 
No  pruning  is  required,  beyond  cutting  out  any 
dead  wood  in  spring  after  the  new  leaves  are  well 
in  view. 

A  Charming  Poppywort.  —  That  beautiful 
Chinese  plant  Meconopsis  integrifolia  is  one  of 
the  most  precious  gems  that  the  rock  garden  can 
show  when  seen   at   its   best   in   June   and   July. 


Not  so  many  j'ears  ago  it  was  an  entire  novelty, 
and  even  now  is  but  seldom  seen  and,  in  spite  of 
its  extreme  beauty,  seems  likely  to  remain  a  scarce 
plant. 

Culturally,  it  does  not  love  the  sunlight 
over-much,  but  appreciates  a  spot  fully  in  the 
open  where  it  receives  plenty  of  light  within  the 
shade  of — but  clear  from  the  o\erhanging  boughs 
of-^a  belt  of  trees.  Their  preference  in  soil  is 
a  mixture  of  fine  peat,  leaf-mould  and  sand,  which 
should  always  be  evenly  moist.  Sometimes  great 
success  can  be  attained  by  growing  in  a  very 
sunny  place  on  the  outer  margin  of  the  bog  garden, 
where  the  soil  does  not  dry  out ;  but  there  is 
always  a  certain  amount  of  risk  in  this  compared 
with  a  shadier  spot,  for  an  excessively  wet  period 
may  cause  rotting  of  the  plants,  while  a  prolonged 
drought  may  easily  cause  the  outer  fringe  of  the 
bog  to  shrink,  leaving  them  high  and  dry.  Ow-ing 
to  the  woolly  nature  of  the  lea\'es,  protection 
from  wet  in  winter  is  absolutely  imperative.  This 
can  be  supplied  by  means  of  a  pane  of  glass  secured 
a  few  inches  above  the  plants  so  that  the  air  can 
circulate  freely  beneath.  The  plants  are  perfectly 
dormant  all  the  winter,  and  the  glass  may  be  left 
on  until  growth  commences  in  early  spring.  The 
appearance  of  the  plant  is  that  of  a  rosette  of 
beautiful  woolly  green  leaves,  from  the  centre  of 
which  rises  a  central  stem  to  a  height  of  about 
2ft.,  carrying  large  primrose  yellow  flowers  with 
bunches  of  stamens  of  the  same  hue.  It  is  worth 
noting  that  there  are  two  forms  of  this  species, 
that  first  discovered  bearing  several  flowers,  each 
on  a  separate  pedicle  which  branches  from  the 
main  stem.  The  second  variety  does  not  branch 
at  all,  so  far  as  the  stem  is  concerned,  but  produces 
one  flower  at  the  termination  of  each,  although  it 
pushes  several  stems  from  every  root. 

Pannonian  Clover. — .An  uncommon,  but  not 
showy  plant  is  the  Pannonian  Clover,  Trifolium 
pannonicum,  which  begins  to  bloom  in  June  and 
continues  in  flower  until  September.  The  flowers 
are  pale  yellow,  but  of  a  deeper  shade  than 
ordinary  Clover.  They  are,  moreover,  much 
larger  and  are  borne  on  plants  a  foot  or  more  in 
height,  which  varies  considerably  according  to 
the  nature  of  the  soil.  The  foliage  has  the  charac- 
teristic features  of  the  genus,  and  the  flower 
heads,  which  are  of  large  size,  are  more  conical 
than  those  of  the  common  field  Clover.  The  plant 
is  naturally  an  object  of  interest  to  farmers,  but 
it  is  doubtful  if  it  has  any  value  for  forage  purposes. 
As  a  border  flower,  however,  it  is  quite  good.  It 
is,  indeed,  just  one  of  those  plants  which  attract 
and  interest  all  garden  visitors.  It  may  be  raised 
from  seeds  or  increased  by  division.  The  root- 
stock  is  very  hard  and  division  is,  on  the  whole, 
rather  difficult.  T.  pannonicum  thrives  well  in 
ordinary  garden  loams. 

Two  Useful  Thalictrums.— While  there  are 
many  who  grow  the  more  vigorous  sorts  of 
Thalictrum  which  have  an  attractiveness  both 
from  the  point  of  foliage  and  blossoms,  as  repre- 
sented bj'  T.  aquQegifolium  and  T.  dipterocarpum, 
quite  a  number,  for  reasons  not  always  under- 
stood, leave  out  of  their  purview  altogether 
varieties  the  special  charm  of  which  lies  in  their 
dainty  fronds.  In  this  connexion  our  mind  turns 
to  two  sorts  we  have  long  grown,  viz.,  T.  adianti- 
folium  and  T.  a.  minus,  the  latter  being  com- 
paratively dwarf,  seldom  exceeding  more  than  a 
foot  in  height  and — as  its  name  imphes — bearing 
a  close  resemblance  to  the  tender  Fern  of  that 
name.  The  one  under  notice  asks  for  no  other 
treatment  than  that  accorded  to  Thalictrums 
in  general,  viz.,  fairly  light  soil  in  which  leaf-mould 
or  vegetable  matter  is  incorporated,  well  drained, 
and  a  position  where  partial  shade  predominates, 
as  under  a  pergola,  for  instance.     So  many  over- 


look these  daintier  varieties  of  the  Meadow  Rues, 
yet  they  are  practically  as  hardy  as  the  more 
robust  sorts. 

Garden  Refuse. — There  are,  unfortunately, 
many  amateur  gardeners  who  do  not  realise  the 
value  of  decayed  vegetable  matter  in  the  garden. 
They  invariably  burn  it.  In  the  majority  of 
gardens,  both  large  and  small,  there  is  generally 
an  odd  corner  where  a  hole  could  be  dug  and  the 
refuse  thrown  in.  Of  course  diseased  plants 
are  best  burnt.  The  material  so  collected  and 
placed  in  the  rot-pit  should  be  turned  occasionally 
in  order  to  hasten  decay.  By  the  time  that  autumn 
arrives  there  will  be  valuable  manure  for  the 
garden.  -A  light  covering  of  earth  may  be  placed 
over  the  material.  Occasional  waterings  will 
be  helpful.  -As  regards  hard-wooded  material, 
this  should  be  burnt,  as  its  decomposition  may 
take  years  to  effect  if  placed  in  the  rot-pit  and 
while  decaying  it  affords  a  breeding  ground  for 
fungi.  The  ashes  obtained  from  burning  hard- 
wooded  branches  should  be  saved  and  kept  dry. 
They  form  a  very  efficient  and  practical  substitute 
for  artificial  potassic  manures. 

The  Leucothoes. — In  gardens,  the  genus 
Leucothoe,  one  of  the  Heath  family,  is  best  known 
by  L.  Catesb^ei,  a  spreading  evergreen  shrub 
which  bears  great  quantities  of  white  flowers, 
but  on  the  lower  side  of  the  branches,  so  that  they 
are  largely  hidden  from  view  by  the  leaves.  That 
species  is  found  in  mountainous  regions  on  the 
eastern  side  of  North  America ;  Leucothoe 
Da\'isia3  is  a  native  of  California.  The  branches 
are  erect  and  the  flowers  are  shown  to  great 
advantage.  The  racemes  are  2ins.  to  4ins. 
long,  the  flowers  nodding,  pitcher-shaped, 
about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  long  and  white.  They 
open  in  June.  The  foliage  is  evergreen,  and  very 
firm   in    texture. 


National      Diploma     of     Horticulture.— We 

are  informed  that  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society's  National  Diploma  in  Horticulture  has 
been  awarded  to  the  following  as  a  result  of  the 
written  and  practical  examinations  for  the  diploma 
held  this  season  : 

Section  i.  General  Horticulture. — Miss  D  F. 
Cavalier,  Burgess  Hill,  Sussex  ;  Mr.  S.  J.  Channing, 
Sutton  Scotney,  Hants  ;  Miss  C.  Choules,  Horu- 
church,  Essex ;  Mr.  H.  Gethen,  Mondamin, 
West  Mersea,  Essex ;  Miss  M.  H.  Hemming, 
Hayfield,  Derbyshire  ;  Miss  K.  L.  Syer,  Charlton, 
East  Sutton,  Maidstone,  Kent. 

Section  i{6).  Fruit  and  Vegetable  Growing. — 
Mr.  C.J.  Gleed,  Winchester,  Hants  ;  Mr.  H.  F. 
Maidinent,  Cannington,  Bridgwater,  Somersetshire. 

Section  i[c).  Fruit  Growing. — Mr.  J.  W.  Hall, 
Edinburgh  ;  Mr.  D.  G.  Henry,  Portobello, 
Midlothian. 

Section  6.  Public  Park  Gardening. — Mr.  F. 
Baker,  Wigan,  Lanes  ;    Mr.  L.  E.  Morgan,  Crewe. 

Section  7.  Horticultural  Inspection. — Mr.  C.  H. 
Oldham,  Chandlersford,  Southampton. 

Trial    of    Early    Strawberries    at    Wisley.— 

The  Royal  Horticultural  Society  will  carry  out 
a  trial  of  early  Strawberries  in  their  Gardens  at 
Wisley  during  the  coming  season.  Twenty  plants 
of  each  variety  to  be  tried  should  be  sent  to  reach 
The  Director,  R.H.S.  Gardens,  Wisley,  Ripley, 
Surrey  (from  whom  the  necessary  entry  forms 
may  be  obtained)  on  or  before  August  15,  1922. 
Only  early  fruiting  varieties  should  be  sent. 

Trial  of  Antirrhinums  Under  Glass  at  Wisley. 

— The  following  awards  have  been  made  b>-  the 
Council  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  to 
Anturhinums  grown  in  pots  under  glass  at  Wisley. 
.Awards    of    merit. — Snowflake,     Canary    Yellow, 


392 


THE     GARDEN. 


[August  5,  1922. 


Crimson-Scarlet,  The  Bride,  Canary  Bird,  Captiva- 
tion,  Morning  Glow  and  Elegance,  all  sent  by 
Messrs.  Barr ;  Yellow,  Maize  Queen,  Amber 
Queen  and  Moonlight,  all  sent  by  Messrs.  Dobbie  ; 
Yellow  Queen,  from  Mr.  Dawkins  ;  Golden  Gem. 
from  Mr.  Dawkins  and  Messrs.  W.  H.  Simpson  ; 
Rose  Queen,  Queen  Victoria,  Esme  and  The 
Fawn  Improved,  all  from  Messrs.  W.  H.  Simpson  ; 
Prima  Donna,  from  Messrs.  Barr  and  Messrs. 
Veitch  ;  Coral  Red,  Maize  Queen  and  Lilac  Queen, 
from  Messrs.  R.  Veitch  ;  Queen  of  the  North, 
from  Messrs.  Toogood  ;  Firehght,  from  Messrs. 
Dickson  and  Robinson ;  Cerise  King,  sent  by 
Messrs.  Watkins  and  Simpson ;  Bonny  Lass, 
from  Messrs.  Barr  and  Messrs.  Watkins  and 
Simpson  ;  and  The  Fawn,  sent  by  Messrs.  Webb. 
Highly  commended. — White  Beauty,  from  Messrs. 
Dobbie  ;  Rose  Dore,  from  Messrs.  Watkins  and 
Simpson ;  Salmon  Queen,  from  Messrs.  Dickson 
and  Robinson  ;    Admiration,  from  Messrs.  Barr. 

Imperial  Fruit  Show. — From  October  27  until 
November  4  the  Daily  Mai!  Imperial  Fruit  Show 
is  to  be  held  at  the  Crystal  Palace.  The  schedules 
and  prize  hsts  of  the  commercial  and  amateur 
sections  are  now  obtainable.  Entries  are  free  in 
all  amateur  classes.  The  schedules  may  be 
obtained  from  the  Secretary,  Daily  Mail  Imperial 
Fruit  Show,  130,  Fleet  Street,  London,  E.C.4 
Intending  exhibitors  should  state  when  writing 
whether  commercial  or  amateur's  schedule  is 
required.  Entries  close  for  commercial  section 
on  Monday,  October  2  and  for  the  amateur 
section  on  Saturday,  October  14. 

Manual  of  British  Botany.* — This  is  the  tenth 

edition  of  the  late  Mr.  Babington's  book,  which 
has  been  brought  up  to  date  by  Mr.  A.  J.  Wilmott, 
B.A.,  F.L.S.,  who  is  an  assistant  in  the  Department 
of  Botany  at  the  British  Museum.  This  useful 
little  book  contains  612  pages  of  matter  invaluable 
to  the  botanist.  Of  convenient  size,  the  book  will 
slip  in  one's  pocket,  so  should  be  of  great  assistance 
to  those  on  botanising  excursions. 

'  "■  Mauual  of  British  liotany."  Edited  by  A.  ,T, 
Wilmott,  B.A.,  r.L.S.  Published  by  Gumey  and'jacksoD, 
33,  Paternoster  Row,  London,  E.C. ;    price  16s. 


ANSWERS 
TO  CORRESPONDENTS 

QUESTIONS  AND  ANSWERS— .!«  communication' 
should  be  clearly  and  concinebi  written  on  one  Bide  of  the  paper 
only,  and  addressed  to  the  Editor  of  The  Garden,  20, 
Tavistock  Street,  Covent  Garden,  London,  M'.C.2.  When 
more  than  one  query  is  sent,  each  shmdd  be  on  a  separate 
piece  of  paper.  Plants  for  naming  should  he  clearly  numbered 
and  securely  packed  in  damp  grass  or  moss,  not  cotton-wool, 
and  flowering  shoots,  where  possible,  should  be  sent.  It  is 
useless  to  send  small  scraps  that  are  not  characteristic  of 
the  plant. 

FLOWER    GARDEN. 

POPPIES  UNSATISFACTORY  (A.  F.,  Troon).— The 
spccioiL-n  sent  throws  no  light  upon  the  cause  of  the  com- 
parative failure  unless  the  plant  is  in  a  different  position 
from  others  in  the  garden  and  is  exposed  to  conditions  of 
moisture,  et«.,  which  render  it  liable  to  attack  by  the 
fungus  Botrytis  which  seem-s  to  be  present. 

CLARKIAS  DYING  (D.  K.  T.).— The  symptoms 
described  suggest  the  attack  upon  the  Clarkias  of  one 
of  the  fungi  which  cause  collar  rot — a  species  of  Fusarium 
possibly.  Probably  treatment  of  the  soil  with  lime  would 
act  as  a  preventive  in  future. 

STACHYS  LANATA  IN  WINTER.— (A.  E.  B.,  Bermond- 
sey). — The  Lamb's  Tongue  is  usually  quite  liardy  except 
on  wet,  lieavy  soils,  but  such  woolly-leaved  plants  are 
generally  susceptible  to  fogs,  which  will  probably  account 
for  the  plants  dying  in  winter.  This  ditficuity  could  be 
overcome  by  wintering  a  sufficient  quantity  in  a  cold 
frame.  The  plants  should  not  be  subjected  to  artificial 
heat  and  abundant  ventilation  should  be  given  whenever 
the  weather  permits. 

TRANSPLANTING  MADONNA  LILIES  (A.,  .■«ullion).— 
If  it  is  really  necessary  to  transplant  the  bulbs  of  Lilium 
candidum,  the  best  time  to  do  so  is  about  the  middle  of 
August,  and  the  work  can  be  continued  until  the  latter 
part  of  September,  but  it  should  always  be  borne  in 
mind  that  these  beautiful  Lilies  resent  interference  and 
thrive  best  when  left  undisturbed.  Should  it  be  that 
the  bulbs  have  not  been  flowering  satisfactorily  of  late 
we  suggest  that,  instead  of  tiansplanting,  as  much  of  the 
old  soil  as  possible  be  removed  and  replaced  with  a  mixture 
of  good  loam,  sand  and  bone-meal. 


IRIS  SIBIRICA  (Foisted). — Wc  have  not  experienced 
any  difficulty  with  the  Siberian  Iris.  It  18  gencrallv  a 
very  accommodating  plant — one  that  will  tfirive  under 
a  variety  of  conditions.  Tlie  greatest  success  is  met 
with  when  it  is  planted  in  good  soil  in  a  moist  position 
exposed  to  full  sunshine.  It  is  an  admirable  species  for 
waterside  planting  though  it  will  also  flower^well  in  the 
hardy  plant  border. 

ESTABLISHING  BERGAMOT  (Felstcd).— If  the  true 
Bergamot  (Mentha  citrata)  is  meant,  this  should  be 
quite  easy  to  establislt.  It  should  be  planted  in  an 
open  position,  in  a  moderately  moist  soil  for  preference, 
during  February  or  March.  The  roots  should"  never  be 
allowed  to  become  really  dry.  Although  Mentha  citrata 
is  a  native  of  Britain,  it  is  a  scarce  plant  in  gardens. 
Monarda  fistulosa  is  the  wild  Bergamot,  and  this  is  of 
easy  cultivation  in  ordinary  garden  soil,  but  it  is  inferior 
as  a  garden  plant  to  Monarda  didyma.  Either  of  the 
Monardas  may  be  propagated  by  root  division  in  the 
autumn  or  early  spring,  which  a'lso  are  the  best  times 
for  planting. 


TREES    AND     SHRUBS. 

PROPAGATING  THE  DOUBLE  POMEGRANATE 
BY  CUTTINGS  '(N.  W,).  —  Cuttings  of  this  year's 
young  growths  are  by  this  time  fairly  firm,  and  are  ready 
for  insertion  now-.  Remove  the  shoots  with  a  very  tllin 
portion  of  tlie  old  wood  attached  (termed  a  heel).  Insert 
the  cuttings  fairly  firmly  in  pots  of  soil  composed  of  equal 
parts  of  light  loam,  leaf-mould  and  coarse  sand,  with  a 
thin  surfacing  of  fine  sand  to  trickle  in  the  Iioles  when 
dibbling  in  tlie  shoots  with  a  pointed  stick.  Cover  each 
pot  with  a  bell-glass  or  place  several  pots  under  a  bell- 
glass  or  hand-light. 

LAYERING  A  WISTARIA  (N.  W.).— Layering  may  be 
done  in  pots  as  suggested  provided  our  correspondent  is 
able  to  elevate  and  fix  them  in  suitable  positions.  The 
points  selected  for  layering  should  be  near  the  commence- 
ment of  this  year's  new  growths  where  by  this  date  the 
wood  is  fairly  firm.  Fix  the  stems  firmly  "in  the  soil  with 
pegs  and  then  give  each  growth  a  stake  in  such  a  position 
that  there  is  a  decided  bend  or  twist  in  the  stem  to  check 
the  flow  of  sap.  Remove  the  tops  of  the  shoots.  Always 
ensure  that  the  soil  in  the  pots  is  kept  moist. 

WINDBREAK  FOR  NORTH-EAST  ASPECT  (Felsted). 
— Both  the  white  Popl.ar  (Populus  alba)  and  the  two 
Willows  (Salix  alba  and  S.  Caprea)  will  stand  a  good  deal 
of  wind  ;  while,  as  our  correspondent  suggests,  the  Horn- 
beam and  Beech,  though  good  for  the  purpose,  are  rather 
slow  growing.  Other  suitable  trees  would  include  the 
.Austrian  Pine,  Scots  Pine,  Populus  deltoidca,  the  Cornish 
Elm,  the  Wych  Elm,  Sycamore  and  the  Whitebeam 
(Fyrus  Aria).  If  the  area  is  of  moderate  extent,  we 
suggest  the  use  of  the  Austrian  Pine,  White  Poplar,  Beech 
and  Sycamore  in  mixtiue.  Should  a  purely  evergreen 
screen  be  desired,  it  might  well  be  composed  of  Austrian 
Pine,  common  Spruce  and  the  Evergreen  Oak.  If 
Cupressus  macrocarpa  thrives  in  the  locality,  it  should 
be  added  in  any  case.  As  sturdy  growth  "is  required, 
the  planting  should  be  done  as  firnily  as  possible,  and 
quite  6ft.  distance  should  be  allowed  from  tree  to  trei-. 


ROSE    GARDEN. 

ROSES  (Felsted). — Jules  Margottin  is  a  Iree-flowering 
and  hardy  Hybrid  Perpetual  Hose,  and  the  same  may 
be  said  of  Dr.  Andry.  If  they  are  given  a  dressing  of  loz. 
of  nitrate  of  soda  to  the  square  yjird  now,  repeating  it 
a  fortnight  later,  a  second  growth  should  be  obtained 
with  flowers  in  autumn.  Dr.  O'Donel  Browne  is  a  Hybrid 
Tea  and  more  reliable  in  the  autumn  than  the  above. 
Joseph  Hill  is  another  and  blooms  freely.  Single  plants 
cannot  always  be  depended  upon  to  give  the  desired 
results,  because  individuals  are  liable  to  many  mishaps. 
This  is  not  the  fault  of  the  variety,  however.  "The  dwarf 
Polyanthas,  Mrs.  Taft  and  Jessie,  are  very  free  and 
continuous-flowering  Roses  suitable  for  bedding,  but 
they  are  liable  to  mishaps.  A  frosty  night  will  injure 
the  young  flower-buds,  and  the  same  thing  may  happen 
if  they  get  badly  infested  with  aphides.  Frost  did  much 
damage  this  year  early  in  June,  and  many  varieties  of 
Roses  were  injured. 


THE    GREENHOUSE. 

PROPAGATION  OF  MESEMBRYANTHEMUMS 

(W.  R.  J.,  Cornwall). — Mesembryanthcmums  can  be 
readily  propagated  by  cuttings  made  of  the  growing 
shoots  (not  flowering  shoots)  and  by  pieces  broken  off 
from  March  to  August.  Use  very  sandy  soil  mixed  with 
old  mortar  rubble  and  broken  soft  brick.  A  suitable 
proportion  would  be  two  parts  fibrous  loam  and  one  part 
of  sand,  mortar  rubble  and  brick.  Place  the  cutting 
pots  on  an  open  shelf,  not  in  a  close  propagating  frame. 

PLANTS  FOR  COOL  GREENHOUSE  (E.  W.).— In 
addition  to  Geraniums,  Ferns,  Lilies  and  Hydrangeas, 
it  is  only  possible  briefly  to  outline  a  list  of  suitable  plants 
Pot  up  now  bulbs  of  Freesias,  Lachenalias,  Roman 
Hyacinths  and  Paper  White  Narcissi ;  also,  in  a  few 
weeks'  time,  pot  bulbs  of  Daffodils,  Tulips  and  Hyacinths. 
During  the  summer,  tuberous  Begonias  and  Fuchsias  are 
delightful  and  worth  cultivating  largely.  Primulas 
obconica  and  kewensis  flower  freely  in  winter  with  very 
little  licat.  If  the  greenhouse  is  not  large,  root  cuttings 
of  Chrysanthemums  in  April  and  grow  them  to  flower 
during  the  autumn  and  winter  in  fiin.  (S2  size)  pots. 
Auriculas  are  fascinating  small  plants  to  grow  in  pots 
for  the  cool  greenhouse.  The  Chimney  Campanulas 
(C.  pyramidalis),  raised  from  seeds,  Bouvardias,  propa- 
gated by  cuttings,  Indian  Azaleas,  Cytisus  fragrans, 
Phyllocactus,  Epiphyllums,  Clivia  miniata  and  Cannas 
may  all  worthily  receive  attention.  "  The  Greenhouse 
and  How  to  Make  the  Most  of  It."  published  at  this  oflicc, 
price  lid.  post  free,  would  afford  help  as  regards  culture. 

RETARDING  CINERARIAS  t("  Scot  ").— Tlie  most 
important  details  in  the  culture  of  Cinerarias  are  :   (1) 


Throughout  their  growing  period  cultivate  the  plants 
under  cool  conditions.  In  winter  only  give  sufficient 
artiflcial  heat  to  keep  out  frost.  Now  and  in  early  spring 
a  north  frame  or  house  facing  north  is  practically  essential. 
(2)  Give  the  plants  ample  size  pots,  cramped  (pot-bound) 
roots  tend  to  force  the  plants  to  push  up  the  flowering 
stems.  (3)  Do  not  crowd  the  plants  at  any  period  of 
their  growth,  and  keep  them  near  the  roof  glass.  (4) 
Shade  fairly  heavily  in  spring  if  the  sun  is  bright,  but 
open  the  doors  and  ventilators  wide,  damp  the  floor 
and  stages  to  keep  the  atmosphere  cool.  (5)  If,  as  sug- 
gested, when  potting  plenty  of  space  for  soil  is  allowed 
provided  the  plants  make  ample  leafage,  only  give  liquid 
manure  for  the  last  month  before  the  plants  are  required 
in  full  bloom. 

FLOWERS  FOR  DECEMBER  (C.  W.,  Cheshire).— To 
commence  now  it  will  be  necessary  to  rely  largely  upon 
bulbs  for  December  flowering.  Roman  Hyacinths, 
Paper  White  Narcissus,  double  Roman  Narcissus,  Daffodi  1 
Cervantes  and  the  Cynthella  (Jliniature)  Hyacinths  can 
all  be  obtained  in  flower  during  December  witli  very  little 
trouble  if  potted  early  in  August.  As  our  correspondent 
appears  to  Iiave  plenty  of  greenhouse  accommodation, 
the  Due  van  Thol  Tulips  should  be  of  value.  Bulbs  of 
the  latter  may  be  forced  gently  in  a  warm  greenhouse 
during  November.  Retarded  Lily  of  the  Valley  crowns, 
Freesias  and  Lachenalias  would  also  be  useful.  A  heated 
greenhouse  filled  with  single  and  double-flowered  Zonal 
Pelargoniums  (Geraniums)  would  give  an  abundance 
of  flowers  to  cut  during  December.  There  are  also 
several  annuals  which  could  be  sown  now  with  every 
hope  of  a  display  of  blossoms.  Ten-week  Stocks,  including 
the  Beauty  of  Nice  varieties,  Nemesia  strumosa  Suttonii 
and  Calendula  officinalis  Orange  King  and  possibly 
Mignonette  if  sown  at  once  would  be  worth  trying. 


FRUITS     UNDER    GLASS. 

VINES  ATTACKED  (A.  W.).— Probably  a  drop  of 
petrol  injected  into  the  holes  which  the  beetles  are  boring 
would  check  the  pest  which  our  correspondent  describes  ; 
but  is  it  certain  that  the  parts  of  the  Vine  attacked  are 
alive,  for  it  is  very  unusual  for  beetles  to  attack  living 
active  tissues  of  Vines  in  this  way  ? 

PEACH  TREE  NOT  SATISFAC'TORY  (Wood  Dean).— 
It  is  just  possible  that  the  Peach  flowers  were  damaged 
by  a  severe  night  frost  ;  this  has  occurred  in  several  cases 
during  the  past  season.  The  transplanting  of  the  tree 
may  have  caused  a  serious  check,  especially  if  the  roots 
suffered  at  any  time  through  lack  of  water.  The  small- 
flowered  varieties  are  generally  freer  setters  than  the  large. 
The  variety  Hale's  Early  sometimes  fails  to  set  well  under 
glass,  but  rarely  ever  fails  to  do  so  in  the  open  air.  All 
Peach  trees  transplanted  under  glass  should  be  allowed 
to  grow  slowly  the  following  spring  and  with  abundance 
of  air  during  open  weather.  Peach  Duke  of  York  would 
suit  you  admirably  ;  it  is  a  strong  grower,  does  not  drop 
buds,  sets  freely,  has  large  and  very  higlily  coloured 
fruits.  Nectarine  Humboldt,  a  grand  variety,  would 
prove  equally  suitable  and  satisfactory. 

GRAPES  ATTACKED  (UskV— Dust  the  leaves  of  the 
Vines  with  sulphur,  or  paint  tlie  pipes  with  milk  of  sulphur, 
in  order  to  rid  the  Vines  of  red  spider.  Barron's  Book 
on  Vines  is  one  of  the  most  useful  ever  written  on  tills 
subject.  So  far  as  we  know,  no  varieties  of  Grape  are 
more  prone  to  attack  by  rid  spider  than  others.  The 
fruit  sent  was  immature.  Please  send  mature  fruit  and 
a  typical  leaf  for  identiflcation  later  on. 


FRUIT    GARDEN. 

CATERPILLARS  ON  FRUIT  TREES  (J.  N.,  Forfar).— 

The  caterpillars  attacking  our  correspondent's  trees  are 
those  of  one  of  the  Tortiix  moths  or  leaf  rollers.  It  is 
almost  impossible  to  do  any  good  with  lead  arsenate  spray 
at  present,  but  it  would  be  advisable  to  use  it  next  year 
as  soon  as  the  petals  have  fallen.  The  best  plan  now 
would  be  to  kill  what  caterpillars  are  found,  and  thus 
prevent  the  moths  from  developing  and  laying  their  eggs 
on  the  trees.  Our  correspondent  would  be  well  advised 
to  spray  his  trees  next  spring  just  as  the  buds  are  showing 
green  at  the  tips  \vith  lime  sulphur  at  the  rate  of  1  gallon 
concentrated  solution  to  12  gallons  of  water.  This  will 
make  for  general  cleanliness  and  freedom  from  pest 
attack. 


KITCHEN    GARDEN. 

FRENCH  BEANS  AND  IRISES  ATTACKED  (Iris).— 
The  French  Beans  have  been  attacked  by  one  of  the 
soft  rot  bacteria  allied  to  that  which  is  causing  the  rotting 
of  the  Iris  which  is  also  sent  for  examination.  In  both 
cases  destruction  of  the  diseased  portions  and  the  treatment 
of  the  soil  with  superphosphate  is  called  for. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 
THE  DESTRUCTION  OF  ANTS  (E.  E.  B.,  Sussex).— 
Make  a  hole  in  the  nest  of  the  ants  and  pour  llot  water 
into  it,  or  a  teaspoontul  of  carbon  bisulphide,  filling  the 
hole  up  immediately  afterwards.  In  either  case  the 
operation  should  be  performed  after  dusk  when  the  ants 
are  .at  home. 

HOW  TO  TRAP  MOLES  (N.  P.  H.,  Witley).— The  best 
method  is  to  set  proper  mole  traps  in  the  most  used  run 
which  can  be  found.  Do  not  handle  the  trap  with  the 
bare  hand  and  fill  in  the  run  on  either  side  of  and  around 
the  trap,  otherwise  daylight  percolating  into  the  run 
will  probably  put  the  vermin  on  guard. 

NAMES  OF  PLANTS.—"  Stoke  Prior."— Roses  :    1,  Dr. 

Van  Fleet ;  2,  Edmond  Proust. E.  M.  A.  R. — 1,  Sedum 

reflexum ;     2,    S.    album ;     3,    Achillea    umbellata ;     i. 

Geranium    lancastricuse. E.    F.    W.,    S.    Croydon. — 

1,  Spiraea  japoniea  ;    2,  S.  bracteata. R.  B. — Achillea 

Ptarmica  fl.-pl. W.  F.  W. — Ulmus  montana  laciniata. 

"  Dorset." — Orchis     latifolia. "  Ceanothus."- — 1 

Ceanothup  Indigo  ;    2,  C.  Gloire  de  Versailles. 


-p  TT  p  J ,  M  t  >  e  A I  <  V  ' 

GARDEM 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


ol.  LXXXVI.— No.  2647. 

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^,rc^<ft€U 


No.  2647.— Vol.  LXXXVL] 


[August  12,  192: 


IRISES    FOR    THE    WATERSIDE 

Abundant    rains    have    ensured    that    the    planting    season    shall    be    satisfactory. 


sedge-like 
the    task 


THE  only  known  species  of  Iris  which 
really  likes  aquatic  conditions  in  Britaia 
is  our  native  Flag,  Iris  Pseudacorus,  but 
there  are  many  others  which,  to  do 
themselves  justice,  require  abundant 
moisture.  .-Ml  these  have  somewhat 
foliage  which  pecuharly  fits  them  for 
of  adorning  lake  or  stream-side. 
.\11  Irises  have  sword-like  foliage, 
but  it  is  worthy  of  remark  how  this 
diSers  in  character  according  to  the 
cultural  requirements  of  the  plant. 
The  truly  aquatic  common  Flag  has 
lush  green  sw-ords  which  harmonise 
with  those  of  other  water-lo\ing  plants. 
Iris  sibirica  has  quite  distinct  foliage, 
but  with  the  same  boglaud  chjiractti. 
In  the  cultivated  Japanese  varieties 
listed  as  I.  Kaempferi,  a  broader  spread 
of  leaf  is  noticeable,  though  the  lush 
greenness  is  still  discernible,  but  when 
we  come  to  the  rhizomatous  Bearded 
Irises,  the  thin  sedge-Uke  foliage  has 
become  thickened,  almost  succulent. 
and  the  rich  greens  have  become  bluisii 
or  whitish  greys.  Speaking  generally, 
the  cultural  requirements  of  an  un- 
known Iris  may  roughly  be  made  out 
from  a  study  of  the  foliage. 

The  most  suitable  species  of  Iris  for 
the  wateredge  might  be  tabulated  like 
this  : — 

For  sliallow  uiatcr. — I.  P.seudacorus. 
For  Tvet  ground,  liable  to  occasional 
winter  flooding. — I.I.  sibirica,  orientalis 
(and  hybrids  between  these  two), 
ochroleuca,  aurea,  also  I.  x  ochraurea 
and  I.  versicolor. 

For  well  cultivated  and  well  drained 
ground,  not  subject  to  flooding,  the 
Kxmpferi  Irises,  I.  Monnieri,  I. 
xiphioides  forms  (English  Irises),  I. 
DelavajT  and  the  Gladwyn  Iris  (I. 
foetidissima)  especially  valuable  for 
autunmal  berried  effect. 

Of  Iris  Pseudacorus.  so  well  known 
to  all  lovers  of  the  countrv'side,  there 
is  Uttle  to  be  said  except  that  it  grows 
most  vigorously  when  provided  with 
shallow  water  the  year  round,  but 
flowers  under  such  conditions  very 
sparsely.  It  may  be  induced  to 
grow  and  flower  well  in  any  decently 
cultivated  land,  but  probably  shews  to 


best  advantage  on  land  subject  to  winter  flooding, 
but  which  bakes  hard  and  surface-dry  in  summer. 
Iris  sibirica,  a  European  species,  is  very  closely 
related  to  I.  orientalis,  an  .\siatic.  The  latter  bears 
larger  flowers,  indeed  some  selected  varieties 
approach  the  cultivated  Kaempferi  forms  in  size, 
but  the  plants  lack  the  easy  graceful  bearing  of  the 


IRIS    K.^MPFERI,    VARIETIES    NEPTUNE   AND    SNOWDRIFT. 


sibiricas  and  are  apt  to  hide  their  flowers  anions; 
the  tips  of  the  foliage.  No  species  of  Iris — and  this 
is  saying  a  great  deal — is  much  more  variable  than 
I.  sibirica,  but  a  good  form  is,  when  in  flower,  a  joy 
to  behold.  The  grace  and  beauty  of  the  plant  is 
best  appreciated  when  one  sees  an  outlying  clump 
with  its  abundant,  almost  grass-like,  foliage  far 
over-topped  by  the  sheaves  of  wiry 
flower-stems  each  bearing  a  number  of 
flowers  and  flower  buds,  not  large  but 
dainty.  The  typical  blossom  colour  is 
some  shade  of  rich  purplish  blue,  but 
the  variety  Perry's  Blue,  which  has. 
probably,  orientalis  blood,  is  almost 
certamly  the  nearest  to  true  blue  in 
colour  of  any  Iris  in  cultivation.  Ever. 
this  beautiful  form,  however,  has  hardly 
the  grace  of  the  duskier-shaded  forms. 
The  so-called  white  form  of  I.  sibirica  is 
a  semi-transparent  looldng  dirty  cream. 
Iris  orientalis  Snow  Queen,  hoivever, 
though  it  has  httle  of  the  sibirica  habit, 
is  a  beautiful  pure  white  variety,  more 
worthy,  in  the  writer's  estimation,  than 
any  of  the  rather  numerous  coloured 
forms. 

Irises  ochroleuca  and  aurea  are  giant 
moisture-loving  Flags  which,  in  rich 
damp  soil,  often  reach  6ft.  in  height. 
The  former  has  flowers  white  at  the 
margins  but  deepening  to  yellow 
towards  the  centre  and  blotched  with 
yellow  on  the  falls,  and  the  latter 
blossoms  of  a  deep  rich  golden  shade. 
I.  ochraiirea  is  a  vigorous  and  free- 
*         j  flowering   hybrid   between   thes     two, 

^  and  I.  Monnieri  is  in  appearance  a 
lemon- yellow  ochroleuca,  but,  though 
it  likes  rich  soil,  seems  not  to  tolerate 
excessive  moisture. 

Iris  versicolor  is  practically  a  New 
World  form  of  Pseudacorus,  with 
flowers,  however,  of  a  purplish  cast, 
varWng  according  to  the  type  selected, 
from  indeterminate  washy  mauves  to 
purpUsh  blues  in  somewhat  the  colour 
range  of  I.  sibirica  and  including  the 
rich  red-purple  listed  as  I.  v. 
Kcrmesiana. 

The  colour  range  of  the  Japanese 
(  Ksempferi)  Irises  is  very  extensive,  but 
it  is  difficult  to  suggest  a  Ust  of  varieties, 
since  the  names  of  them  are  legion  and 
it  is  often  impossible  to  procure  any 


394 


THE^^GARDEN. 


IRIS      K/EMPFERI      MORNING      MISTS. 
Pure  white,  pale  blue  at  the  throat. 


THE    GIANT    IRIS    OCHROLEUCA     'N    THE    BORDER. 


[August  12,  1922. 

particular  sort.  White,  lavender,  red  mauve,  blue 
mauve,  blue  purple  and  red  purple  all  are  repre- 
sented, and  there  are  blotched,  veined  and  edged 
forms  in  practically  every  tone  of  the  colour  range. 
In  addition,  there  are  two  distinct  types  of  flower 
in  this  Iris,  the  ordinary  single  forms  with  incurving 
standards  and  slightly  reflexing  falls,  and  the  so- 
called  double  forms  in  which  all  the  six  components 
of  the  floral  envelope  reflex  slightly  to  form  an 
almost  tabular  flower.  These  latter  always  appear 
larger,  "but  the  single  forms  have  more  real  beauty 
of  outhne.  Sn 

The  English  Irises  are  bulbous,  closely  related  ,ta 
the  Spanish  and  Dutch  (.Xiphiurn)  strains,  but 
the  appearance  of  the  flowers  both  as  regards  form 
and  colouring  favours  rather  the  single  Kaempferi 
forms.  In  rather  stiff  moist  soil  these  Irises  have 
a  real  distinction  which  none  of  the  Spanish — 
no,  not  even  the  remarkable  Thunderbolt — 
possesses. 

Unfortunately,  the  English  Iris  has  received,  of 
late,  less  attention  from  the  hybridist  than  have 
the  Dutch  and  Spanish  strains.  As,  moreover,  the 
beautiful  self-coloured  forms  always  "  break " 
sooner  or  later  into  often  worthless  mottled  ones,  it 
is  not  now  easy  to  get  together  a  really  representa- 
tive collection.  On  some  soils  the  English  Irises 
flower  more  freely  than  the  Japanese.  Although 
bulbous  they  do  best  when  left  undisturbed  for 
seA'eral  seasons. 

Iris  Delavayi  is  a  tall  species  related  to  I.I. 
sibirica  and  orientalis,  but  of  less  easy  culture. 
It  seems  to  do  best  in  soil  not  actually  boggy,  but 
with  water  at  all  times  in  reach  of  its  roots.  The 
flowers  are  dark  purple,  blotched  white. 

The  dingy  flowered  Gladw>Ti,  which  covers  the 
^and  dunes  on  some  of  our  coasts,  needs  little 
description.  Its  specific  name — foetidissima —  is 
due  to  the  unpleasant  odour  given  off  by  the  leaves 
when  bruised.  There  is  a  yellow-  flowered  iorm 
which,  though  not  brilliant,  is  at  any  rate  an 
improvement  on  the  type.  Both  set  seed  readily 
and  it  is  for  these  brilliant  seeds  which,  in  their 
split  pods,  always  remind  one  of  the  burst  fruits 
of  the  Spindle  Tree,  that  the  plants  are  grown. 
The  variegated  leaved  form  seems  never  to  flower, 
so  is  worthless  for  autumn  effect. 

The  present  month  is  a  suitable  time  to  plant 
English  Irises,  though  planted  next  month  or  in 
October  they  also  answer  well.  Now  that  flowering 
is  finished  the  Japanese  Irises  move  well.  Care 
should  be  taken  not  to  transplant  these  during 
winter  or  it  is  more  than  probable  that  there  will 
be  a  large  percentage  of  losses.  Spring  planting 
answers,  but  is  less  satisfactory.  Such  tall  Flags 
as  aurea,  ochroleuca  and  Monnieri  also  move  well  at 
this  season,  so  do  versicolor,  Pseudacorus,  sibirica 
and  orientalis,  though  all  these  transplant  fairly 
well  throughout  the  usual  planting  season,  except, 
perhaps  in  the  dead  of  winter. 

These  waterside  Irises  all  like  moderately  rich 
soil,  so  that  well  decayed  farmyard  manure— cow 
dung  for  preference — decayed  leaves,  etc.,  should 
be  incorporated  during  the  work  of  preparation. 
The  Japanese  Irises  and  others  wiU  not  tolerate 
soil  actually  bogg\',  but  should  have  the  ground 
thoroughly  well  trenched  for  them  as,  however 
near  the  waterside  they  may  be  planted,  they  w^ill 
receive  little  moisture  by  capillary  action  if  there  is 
a  hard  dry  pan  just  below  the  roots. 

Given  an  adequate  amount  of  moisture  at  the 
root,  all  Irises  flow-er  best  if  planted  in  almost  full 
sunlight,  so  that  half-shady  spots  around  pool  or 
at  brook  side  should  be  reserved  for  shade-loving 
plants  such  as  Spirffias,  which,  incidentally,  form  a 
pleasing  foil,  with  their  soft  and  somewhat  rounded 
outline,  to  the  stiff  spiry  Irises. 

Lime,  so  essential  to  the  Bearded  Irises  if 
rhizome  rot  is  to  be  avoided,  is,  as  might  be 
expected,  inimical  to  the  waterside  species. 


August  12,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


395 


PROPAGATING    ROCK    PLANTS 

The  showery  weather  experienced  since  the  last  week  in  June  has  been   favourable  for 
propagation.      There  is  still  time  to  divide  or  to  take  cuttings  of  many  alpines  and  other 

dwarf  plants. 


struck — division  is  better  unless  close  ntteution 
can  be  given  the  cuttings  until  they  are  sately 
rooted.  The  various  forms  of  S.  oppositifolia  divide 
easily  enough,  but  should  be  established  in  pots 
before  planting  out.  The  minute  but  related 
S.  retusa  also  divides  readily. 


THIS  is  an  excellent  time  to  take  cuttings 
of  Violas  of  all  sorts  and  such  rockery 
species  as  V.V.  gracilis,  cornuta,  bosniaca, 
canina,  calcarata  and  lutea.  are  no  excep- 
tions to  the  general  rule.  The  Grecian  V. 
gracilis  is  a  charming  species,  easy  to  grow,  com.pact 
of  habit  and  nith  lo\ely  velvety  purple  flowers. 
It  should  be  found  in  e\ery  rock  garden,  however 
small.  The  Horned  Violet,  V.  comuta.  is  a  rampant 
Rowing  and  well  known  plant.  It  has  nevertheless 
many  virtues,  being  almost  perpetual  flowering 
and  admirable  for  cut  flower.  V.  c.  purpurea  is 
the  most  effective  form  of  this,  though  the  French 
„rey  and  white  varieties  are  also  useful.  V. 
'osniaca  is  more  uncommon  than  either,  very  easy: 


Similar  compost  will  answer  for  the  nearly  related 
Oriosmas,  but  owing  to  the  woolly  surfacing  to  the 
foliage,  great  care  in  ventilation  is  necessary  to 
pre\ent  wilting  and  at  the  same  time  to  guard 
against  "  damping  off.'* 

This  is  the  season  when,  if  one  has  the  heart  to 
do  it,  one  may  divide  established  clumps  of  those 
quaint  South  American  Oxahses.  O.O.  enneaphylla 
and  adenophylla,  the  former  from  the  Falliland 
Isles  and  the  latter  from  the  .-^ndes  of  Valdivia. 
It  is  better  to  establish  the  di\ided  pieces  in  pots 
and  put  out  the  resultant  plants  next  sprmg. 
O.  enneaphylla  is  generally  supposed  to  like  a 
shadier  corner  than  the  other  species  mentioned, 
but  the  writer  has  had  them  growing  side  by  side 


THE    .\LTOGETHER    CHARMING    CREAMY    WHITE    OXALIS    ENNEAPHYLLA. 


of  rosy-mauve  hue  with  just  a  hint  of  magenta. 
Good  forms  of  the  Dog  Violet,  \'.  canina  are  sery 
beautiful.  Of  the  colour  forms  a  deep  violet  blue 
is  the  best,  but  a  good  albino  is  in  commerce.  The 
Dog  Violet  may  be  readily  increased  either  from 
outtings  or  by  division.  V.  calcarata  is  a  \ery 
variable  plant  and  many  forms  are  very  weedy- 
looking  in  the  garden.  Viola  lutea  of  our  own 
Northern  hills  is  a  much  better  and  more  constant 
plant  and  quite  easily  propagated. 

There  is  still  time  to  take  rooted  cuttings  of 
Phlox  subulata,  but  the  plants  wifl  not,  of  course, 
be  as  large  next  spring  as  those  set  out  two  months 
ago.  The  same  remark  will  apply  to  Aubrietias, 
Arabises  and  Alyssuras.  Lithospermums,  both 
the  commonly  seen  prostratum  forms  and  the  even 
■more  beautifiil  L.L.  graminifoUum  and  petr.Tum, 
■with  the  hybrid  intermedium,  increase  fairly 
readily  from  cuttings  of  half  ripened  wood  in  pots 
or  pans  of  sweet  sandy  soil  in  a  cold  frame.  To 
«nsure  the  sweetness  of  the  compost  it  is  well  to 
add  a  little  crushed  mortar  rubble.  Most  Litho- 
spermums love  lime.  L.  prostratum  is  not  so 
particular,  but  it  dislikes  a  noticeably  sour  soil. 


in  a  sunny  nooli  of  the  rock  garden  and  in  gritty 
soil.  The  equally  beautiful  autumnal  flowering 
O.  lobata,  with  yellow  blossoms,  if  not  already 
divideil  should  now  be  left  for  another  season. 

The  present  season  has  favoured  the  growth  of 
Primulas  of  every  kind.  This  is  quite  a  good  time 
to  divide  the  more  or  less  auricula-like  species,  such 
as  P.P.  .Auricula,  hirsuta,  villosa,  x  pubescens  and 
marginata.  Frequent  division  or,  where  suitably 
placed,  top-dressing  is  very  necessary  with  the 
last  named,  the  leggy  habit  of  which  is  othenvise 
an  eyesore. 

.■Mmost  all  forms  of  Saxifrage  may  still  be 
propagated.  The  Mossy  (Dactyloides)  section  may 
be  di\ided  under  lights  outdoors,  or  rooted  from 
cuttings  inserted  in  very  sandy  compost  in  pans 
or  boxes  in  a  cold  frame.  The  latter  is  the  better 
method  if  a  large  stock  is  required  in  the  minimum 
of  time.  The  encrusted  forms  may  readily  be 
divided  -o  that  a  little  root  remains  to  each  plant 
to  be.  The  knife  may  have  to  be  employed  to 
effect  this  however.  The  tufted  (Kabschia)  forms 
may  be  carefully  divided,  retaining  as  much  root 
as  possible   to  each   portion,  or  cuttings  may  be 


PERENNIALS    FROM 
SEED 

Ox  pages  137  and  138  there  appeared 
an  interesting  article  on  the  raising 
of  alpines  from  seed,  and  several 
very  useful  "  tips  "  were  given  on  the 
treatment  of  various  kinds  to  ensure 
the  best  possible  percentage  of  germination. 
Always,  on  reading  any  article  on  this  fascinating 
subject,  I  think  how  very  useful  it  would  be  if 
all  the  known  data  of  seeds  which  require  special 
treatment  were  collected  and  published  in  book 
form.  Seeds  are,  to  my  mind,  one  of  the  great 
wonders  of  creation,  and  much  could  be  written 
nf  their  infinite  variety,  beauty  of  form  and  the 
means  adopted  by  Nature  for  their  distribution, 
but  what  chiefly  concerns  the  cultivator  is  how  to 
coax  them  to  germinate  under  artificial  conditions 
after  being  dried  and  stored,  which  is  contrary  to 
Nature's  way  of  sowing  as  soon  as  ripe. 

Jlany  of  them  which  grow  in  almost  any  soil 
are  wind-borne  or  carried  to  a  distance  by  bird 
or  beast ;  others  which  need  a  special  soil  for  their 
growth  fall  near  the  parent  plant,  where  they 
are  certain  to  find  their  special  need  supplied. 
Books  on  the  cultivation  of  the  plant  spring  up 
like  Mushrooms,  but  I  know  of  none  which  deals 
entirely  with  the  more  interesting  work  of  growing 
the  plant  from  seed.  The  old  hand  generally 
has  the  memory  well  stored  with  information 
on  the  subject,  but  those  of  less  experience  and 
fewer  opportunities  treat  all  seeds  much  alike, 
and  in  consequence  meet  with  so  many  failures 
that  they  soon  get  discouraged  and  give  it  up 
in  despair.  .\  guide  as  suggested  above  would 
go  far  to  alter  this  and  give  to  all  a  more  equal 
chance  of  success.  When  seeds  of  an  unknown 
or  untried  Idnd  come  to  hand  in  sufficient  number 
the  grower  of  experience  does  not  trust  all  the 
eggs  in  one  basket,  but  tries  in  as  many  ways 
as  seem  necessary  and  notes  results  for  future 
guidance ;  the  inexperienced  use  one  pan,  one 
compost,  and  trust  to  luck.  Personally,  I  have 
met  with  a  few  instances  which  may  be  worth 
giving. 

Here,  on  a  cool  soil  in  East  Surrey,  Tropaeoleum 
speciosum  does  well,  and  when  visitors  see  a 
mass  of  it,  perhaps  loft.  high,  with  its  glorious 
trails  of  scarlet  on  an  evergreen  shrub,  they  at 
once  want  either  seeds  or  roots.  As  disturbance 
of  the  roots  soon  destroys  it,  seed  was  usually 
given — and  rarely  grew,  and  I  set  myself  the 
task  of  finding  out  why  it  failed.  Experiment 
proved  that  quite  a  short  period  of  dr\-ing  killed 
the  seed,  and  also  that  seed  properly  stored 
required  a  whole  year  before  germination  took 
place.  I  adopted  the  plan — by  no  means  new — • 
of  storing  the  seed  in  damp  soil.  Drainage  was 
placed  in  a  pot  and  a  small  quantity  of  soil,  then 
ripe  seed  as  collected  and  soil  was  added  until 
the  pot  was  full.  This  was  kept  in  a  peach  house, 
and  the  soil  was  never  allowed  to  become  dry 
until  well  on  into  the  second  winter,  when  the 
seeds  began  to  vegetate  and  the  pot  was  at  once 
moved  to  even  colder  quarters.  The  mystery 
was  now  solved,  and  towards  the  spring  the  seeds 
which  had  not  germinated  were  distributed  packed 
in  damp  soil  or  moss  with  instructions  for  sowing 
at  once  near  or  under  shrubs,  where  disturbanCg 


396 


THE     GARDEN. 


[August  12,  1922. 


of  seeds  or  roots  was  unlikely.  This  proved  quite 
successful  in  those  cases  where  soil  and  situation 
were  favourable  to  its  growth. 

Another  case  comes  to  my  mind  w-here  a  short 
period  of  dry  storage  of  some  tree  seeds  delayed 
germination  for  a  whole  year.  My  employer 
owned  woods  in  East  Kent  in  which  the  •'  Wild 
Service"  tree,  Pyrus  Torminalis,  known  there  as 
Chequers,  grew.  Although  they  bore  fruit  abun- 
dantly, self-sown  seedlings  were  rare,  and  as 
increase  was  wanted  I  was  requested  to  grow  a 
good  batch,  and  received  a  quantity  of  fruit  for 
the  purpose.  When  quite  ripe  the  seeds  were 
washed  out  and  a  part  was  sown  at  once  and  part 
kept  and  so^vn  in  the  following  spring.  The 
autumn-sown  seed  germinated  well  in  the  spring, 
but  that  which  had  been  stored  and  sown  in  March 
lay  dormant  for  a  whole  year  and  then  germinated, 
as  well  as  the  autumn-sown  seed  had  done  in  the 
previous  spring.  Seeds  of  Pyrus  japonica  sown 
at  the  same  time  behaved  in  exactly  the  same  way, 
thus  proving  that  Natiu-e's  way  of  sowing  is  best 
when  the  seed  can  be  protected  from  its  enemies. 

Shingle  and  the  washings  of  compost  from  pots 
during  watering  would  not  appeal  to  many  as 
an  ideal  medium  in  which  to  sow  seeds,  but  the 
staging  in  the  greenhouses  here  is  entirely  of 
iron  and  the  corrugated  iron  beds  are  covered 
with  this  material,  and  it  is  found  that  many 
seeds  germinate  in  it  more  freely  than  in  ordinary 
compost.  Seeds  of  greenhouse  Primulas  germinate 
like  Mustard.  Even  two  year  old  seeds  come 
well,  and  form  such  a  mass  of  roots  that  scarcely 
any  check  is  given  when  transferring  to  pots. 
With  P.  malacoides  I  stand  plants  on  it  when 
ripening  seeds,  and  obtain  all  the  plants  wanted 
without  further  trouble,  and  if  any  are  left  they 
grow  and  flower  well,  yet  plants  in  small  pots 
with  less  moisture  often  damp  off.  P.P.  obconica, 
kewensis  and  sinensis  come  well,  and  doubtless 
others  of  this  rather  difficult  class  would  succeed 
if  tried.  Many  other  greenhouse  plants  are  self- 
sown  in  the  same  wav.  H.  C.  W. 


similar  frame  along  its  longer  side,  will  outline  a 
frame  of  the  same  shape  as  the  original  (Fig.  3), 
and,  of  course,  twice  its  size  is  a  very  satisfactory 
one  for  many  subjects.  The  proportioning  of  the 
adjacent  sides  in  such  a  frame  will  be  as  the 
square  root  of  2  is  to  i,  or,  roughly,  7  :  5. 
Such  proportioning  will,  even  so,  need  modifica- 
tion according  to  the  treatment  to  be  accorded 
to  the  interior  of  the  frame. 

Lest  it  be  thought  that  we  are  getting  a  long  way 
away  from  garden  design,  we  will  hasten  to  point 
out  that  since,  except  from  an  aeroplane,  we  can 
never  see  the  design  of  a  garden  from  anything 
approaching  the  viewpoint  depicted  on  a  plan, 
this  test  of  proportioning  cannot  be  appUed  directly 
to  a  garden  plan.  It  is  quite  possible,  however, 
from  plan  and  elevation  to  set  up  a  mathematically 
accurate  perspective  and  to  such  perspective  we 
can,  if  we  wish,  readily  apply  our  tests.  Better 
still,  we    can    visualise,    if    we    have    adequately 


represented  on  our  sketch  the  weight  of  the  varying 
features  (mainly  trees,  shrubs  and  plants!,  the 
completed  picture  from  the  viewpoint  in  question. 

The  garden  architect  often  makes,  for  his  own 
satisfaction,  a  perspective  such  as  this  of  some 
specially  important  feature  but,  in  general,  long 
experience  of  the  work  enables  him  inwardly  to 
visualise  the  perspective  he  is  seeking  to  obtain 
and  to  draw  his  plan  in  such  a  way  as  to  obtain  it, 
for  it  must  be  remembered  that  it  is  equally 
feasible  to  draw  a  perspective  from  a  plan  or  to 
plan    a    particular    feature    from    a    perspective. 

Given  carte-blanchc  to  provide  a  pleasing  per- 
spective from  one  given  viewpoint — preferably 
on  a  little  elevation — it  would  be  the  easiest 
matter  possible  for  anyone  with  a  knowledge  of 
plants  and  the  gift  of  composition  to  draw  a  plan 
which,  properly  carried  out,  would  provide  it.  A 
blank  canvas,  however,  the  garden  designer, 
whether  amateur  or  professional,  never  has.     He 


ESSENTIALS     OF 
GARDEN    DESIGN 

III.— PROPORTION. 

IT  is  self-evident  that  the  first  gift  necessary 
for  anyone  who  aspires  to  be  a  designer — no 
matter  what  he  may  seek  to  design — is  a 
I  fine  sense  of  proportion.  Some  folk  have 
a  colour  sense  so  refined  that  it  is  almost,  if 
not  quite,  a  nuisance  to  them,  because  it  is  so 
frequently  shocked.  Others  have  a  sense  of 
musical  values  far  above  the  average  and  yet  others 
that  nice  sense  of  perfect  proportioning  to  which 
reference  has  been  made.  All  these  gifts  are 
likely,  in  this  workaday  world,  to  cause  their  owners 
a  large  amount  of  inconvenience  to  countervail 
against  any  pleasure  their  proper  use  may  afford 
but,  applied,  they  are  of  the  greatest  use  to  the 
community. 

It  is,  perhaps  fortunately,  quite  impossible  to 
impart  a  sense  of  proportion.  One  has  the  gift 
or  has  it  not.  Granted,  however,  a  tolerably 
acute  sense  of  proportion,  some  preliminary 
experience  or  tuition  will  be  necessary  before  it 
can  be  applied  to  garden  design  otherwise  than 
empirically.  Accumulated  experience  has  taught 
even  those  whose  eye  for  proportion  is  most 
rudimentary  that  an  oblong  picture  is,  speaking 
generally,  more  pleasant  to  look  upon  than  a 
square  one.  Experience  has  gone  fiu'ther,  it  lias 
suggested  that  a  frame  to  a  picture  or  a  panel  ol 
xuh   a  shape  that,  with  the  addition  of  another 


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s'  -1  i- 


TvL   i;Nv!.   :>-\.{    VM   ^.^rTT^ 


1"    -     .|,  ■-  - 


■is  -r^ 


Fig.    I. — A  satisfactorily  proportioned  pool;     its  proportions  correspond  to    those    of   the  sunk 
garden,  of  zohich  it  is  the  principal  feature. 


HE 


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IbH^ 


i-l  l-^.'' .' 


:^.'^-^'^-i.^.s  :.:::i  ....,'. y.-^...:? .SSL  y^^ 


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I'i 


Fig.  2. — An  arrangement  of  flower  beds  in  which  each  succeeding   series  folloios  the   outlines 
of  the  complete  garden.       This  is  a  quite  good  but  by  no  means  necessary  arrangement. 


August  12,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


397 


has  usually  to  provide  his  effect  within  defined 
limits,  often  in  a  very  confined  space.  Nor  is 
this  his  only  or,  indeed,  his  chief  difficulty.  He  has 
to  pro\ide  not  one  picture  but  many  on  the  line 
of  vista  originally  in  mind  and  also  so  to  unify 
the  vista  in  question  with  the  rest  of  the  garden 
scheme  that  many  other  charming  views  may  be 


out,  a  reft,  one  may  well  be  too  narrow.  It  is 
impossible  to  give  any  rule  for  path  widths,  but 
it  may  safely  be  assumed  that  a  turf  path  in  any 


position  should  be  broader  than  a  paved  one  in  the 
same  setting,  while  a  gravel  one  should  be  narrower 
still. 


Fig.  3.  —  A  B  D  E  gives  tlie  outline  generally 
approved  as  best  proportioned  for  framing  pictures 
of  average  subjects.  Let  A  B  be  one  side  of 
the  frame,  tlie  adjacent  side  to  extend  from  li 
towards  K.  AC  is  marked  off  on  tlie  perpendicular 
from  A  equal  to  ab.  bd  is  tlien  made  equal  to 
BC.  AFGE  and  BK]H  are  each  double  the  size 
of  ABO  E  and  similarly  proportioned. 

obtained  and  that  nowhere  shall  there  be — to 
put  it  at  its  lowest — an  entire  lack  of  interest. 

It  has  been  remarked  that  a  square  picture  or 
panel  frame  is  unsatisfactory.  To  many  it  may 
seem  strange,  therefore,  that  square  centre  pieces 
are  so  much  used  in  gardens.  They  are,  in  fact, 
employed  to  an  even  greater  extent  than  circular 
or  oval  ones.  The  parallel  actually  is  fallacious. 
From  no  conceivable  viewpoint,  except  the  air, 
does  a  square  garden  look  square  to  the  eye.  The 
straight  narrow  rill  now  so  popular  represents  a 
feature  made  picturesque  by  fore-shortening. 
This,  it  may  be  said,  in  passing,  is  a  feature  much 
overdone,  since  it  is  really  effective  only  from  one 
viewpoint  ;  indeed,  it  often  looks  particularly 
banal  and  uninteresting  when  \iewed  from  across 
its  length. 

There  are  a  hundred  and  one  details  of  pro- 
portioning which  the  novice  can  only  decide  by 
setting  up  a  perspective,  but  the  following  hints 
may  be  of  service.  A  very  common  and  very 
pleasing  feature  in  present  day  designs  is  a  paved 
pool  garden,  the  coping  of  the  pool  flush  with  the 
paNing.  In  such  a  garden  the  proportioning  of 
the  pool  should  be  the  same  as  that  of  the  garden 
itself  if  the  planting  be  light,  but,  if  heavy  planting 
bound  the  garden,  the  edge  of  such  planting  should 
be  taken  to  give  the  proportion.  Fig.  i  mil 
illustrate  this  point.  The  same  point  holds  good 
with  the  arrangement  of  beds  in  a  formal  garden. 
The  arrangement  of  the  beds  will  be  satisfactory  if 
each  successive  sets  of  beds  is  proportional  to  the 
garden  as  in  Fig.  2.  The  converse,  however,  is 
not  true.  A  quite  satisfactory  arrangement  of 
beds  may  be  obtained  which  does  not  conform 
to  this  rule. 

There  is  scarcely  anything  more  important  in 
the  garden  than  the  proportioning  of  the  paths. 
In  a  small  garden  a  4ft.  path  may  be  over  wide. 
In  grounds  of  some  size,  especially  if  broadly  laid 


REGULATING  THE  FLOWER  BORDER 


By    GERTRUDE    JEKYLL,     V..M.II. 


BESIDES  the  obvious  duties,  such  as 
staking,  weeding,  mulching  when  needed, 
and  watering  when  drought  threatens, 
there  are  many  things  that  have  to 
be  seen  to  if  an  important  flower  border 
is  to  shew  its  best.  At  intervals  during  the  summer 
we  go  through  it  attending  to  the  various  matters 
that  are  the  urgencies  of  the  moment.  Now, 
in  the  end  of  July,  beginning  at  one  end  where 
the  flowers  are  blue  and  white  and  pale  yellow, 
the  Delphinium  bloom  going  fast  to  seed  is  cut 
down  to  about  4Jft.  from  the  ground.  A  strong 
plant  of  Clematis  Flammula  planted  some  years 
ago  and  now  in  full  growth  is  trained  so  that  it 
will  rest  on  the  cut   Delphinium  stalks  and  form 


pumilura.  Though  not  tall,  it  is  of  a  heavy, 
sappy  nature  ;  when  heavy  rain  comes  it  is  apt 
to  be  thrown  down  in  a  lumpy  way  that  is  difScult 
to  set  right.  We  therefore  support  it  with  the 
branching  tips  of  last  year's  pea  sticlvs.  Now, 
in  looking  at  it  from  a  few  yards'  distance,  the 
group  looks  a  little  too  regular  and  formal.  This 
is  corrected  by  shifting  a  few  of  the  bits  of  spray, 
and  as  the  plant  has  now  hardened  into  maturity, 
some  of  the  flower-laden  growths  are  pulled  a 
little  out  to  give  more  play  and  freedom  to  the 
outline  of  the  group.  The  same  thing  is  done 
with  a  nearly  adjoining  group  of  Chrysanthemum 
maximum,  as  the  mass  of  white  Daisy  flowers, 
all  nearly  of  a  height  and  covering  2  sq.  yds.  of 


THE    FRAGRANT    CLEMATIS    FLAMMULA    MAY    BE    TRAINED    TO    STOP    GAPS. 


a  sheet  of  bloom  over  their  place  in  September. 
Close  by,  that  fine  perennial  Mullein,  Verbascum 
Chaixi,  now  going  out  of  bloom,  is  cut  right  down. 
It  leaves  rather  gappy  places  at  the  base,  but 
these  are  filled  by  plunging  some  pots  of  Hydrangea 
just  in  good  bloom,  and  nothing  is  more  useful 
for  such  a  piu^jose.  A  little  further  along  near 
the  back  of  the  border  is  a  patch  of  the  tall 
Helianthus  orgyalis.  If  this  was  left  to  grow 
naturally  it  would  shoot  up  to  a  height  of  7ft. 
to  gft.  and  bear  a  bunch  of  its  pale  yellow  flowers 
at  the  top  only.  But  we  pull  it  down  and  peg 
it  over  some  of  the  middle  plants  of  the  earlier 
summer,  and  it  will  develop  flowers  at  every  axil. 
Some  of  it  is  so  tall  that  it  nearly  reaches  to  the 
front  of  the  border  and  looks  Uke  some  quite  un- 
common plant.  A  longish  patch  of  Crested 
Tansy  at  the  front  edge,  put  there  for  the  sake 
of  its  rich  deep  green  foliage,  must  have  the  tips 
of  the  shoots  pinched  out  for  the  third  time ; 
this  keeps  it  to  a  foot  in  height  and  preserves 
the  richly  cut  foliage  in  the  best  order.  Just 
behind   the   Tansy   is   a   long   drift   of   Helenium 


space,  was  too  much  of  a  solid  patch.  The  border 
towards  the  middle  of  its  length  has  a  careful 
arrangement  of  Hollyhock,  Dahlia,  Canna  and 
dark  Snapdragon,  and  needs  no  present  attention 
except  that  in  one  or  two  places  where  there  was 
a  gap  a  Dahlia  stake  has  been  altered  to  bring  the 
plant  forward  to  fill  the  empty  place. 

The  biggest  job  was  with  a  white  Everlasting 
Pea  of  many  years'  growth  and  now  a  mass  of 
heavy  bloom.  Its  earlier  regulation  had  not  been 
taken  in  time,  so  that  though  it  was  supported 
with  strong  pea  sticks  it  had  not  been  properly 
disided  and  the  growths  separated.  It  was  in 
one  dense,  heavy  mass  of  bloom  lying  all  together 
in  one  soUd  ridge.  We  drove  in  two  stout  Dahlia 
stakes  about  5ft.  apart  behind  it  and  slit  up  a 
Phormium  leaf  in  half-inch  wide  strips — a  string 
would  have  cut  the  easily  broken  stems — and 
passed  the  band  as  nearly  as  might  be  half  way, 
longitudinally  through  the  mass  of  plant  and 
pea  stick,  and  drew  it  back  carefully,  separating 
the  head  part  by  hand,  and  made  the  ends  fast 
to   the   stakes.     Luckily,   nothing   was   hurt,   and 


398 


THE     GARDEN. 


[August  12,  1922. 


now  the  fine  old  Pea,  instead  of  being  a  shapeless 
shelf  of  crowded  white,  is  suitably  diffused  and 
in  good  shape,  and  looks  as  if  the  newly  released 
and  separated  blooms  and  branches  were  enjoying 
their  restoration  to  air  and  light.  The  Pea  is 
now,  near  the  end  of  July,  in  full  flower,  but  in 
another  ten  days  will  be  going  over.  As  it  occupies 
a  prominent  place  in  the  border  and  cannot  be 
made  to  look  well  alter  blooming,  a  strong-growing 
hybrid  Clematis  planted  just  behind  it  will  cover 
and  hide  it,  and  will  make  another  sheet  of  bloom 
in  the  late  summer.  The  Clematis  is  a  natural 
hybrid  that  occurred  in  the  garden  ;  the  parentage 
is  evidently  C.  ritalba  x  C.  Davidiana.  The 
same  cross  has  taken  place  in  other  gardens  and, 
I  believe,  has  been  given  a  name,  which  at  the 
moment  I  do  not  recall.  Further  in  the  border 
is  a  range  of  the  purple-leaved  Sage,  whose  quiet 
purple  grey  colouring  is  delightful  with  pink  and 
purple  flowers.  It  is  being  cut  back,  partly  to 
allow  of  the  dropping  in  of  more  Hydrangeas  and 
also  to  promote  its  own  young  growth. 

As  to  all  these  lesser  cares  of  a  flower  border, 
some  may  say,  "  What  a  lot  of  fuss  and  trouble  !  " 
Yes  it  is,  but  then,  that  is  gardening ! 


SOME    BULBS    FOR     AUGUST    PLANTING 


Cl'IXG  garden  Tulips  on  one  side, 
which  are  more  liable  to  suffer  from  the 
disease  known  as  "  fire  "  if  planted  too 
early,  the  earlier  bulbs  can  be  replanted 
the  better,  as  a  rule,  will  be  the  results, 
not  only  the  following  season,  but  in  subsequent 
years.  The  softer  the  bulb  the  more  it  will  shrink 
and  lose  substance  if  kept  out  of  the  ground. 
Really  soft  bulbs,  such  as  Erythroiiiums,  for 
instance,  or  Lilies,  ought  not  to  be  kept  out  of  the 
soil  a  day  longer  than  is  absolutely  necessary. 

The  copious  rains  of  July  have  made  it  certain 
that  bulb  planting  will  be  practicable  this  month. 
Unfortunately,  except  on  a  very  limited  scale  (and 
then  by  only  the  use  of  precious  water),  it  was 
quite  impracticable  last  year.  Narcissi  planting 
is  a  big  subject  and  beyond  the  scope  of  an  article 
such  as  this.  [We  shall  hope  to  deal  with  Xarcissi 
somewhat  fully  next  week. — Ed.]  Leaving  that 
important  family  on  one  side,  the  question  then  is  : 
Which  bulbs  should  be  planted  in  August  ? 

Among  the  most  urgent,  mention  must  be  made 
of    the    Dog's    Tooth    \'iolets    (Erythronium),    so 


COLOUR   EFFECTS   IN  THE 
FLOWER    GARDEN 

IT  is  difficult  to  give  any  absolute  reason  for 
the  preference,  but  I  think  that  others  who 
give  thought  to  using  colour  carefully  will 
be  likely  to  agree  with  me  that  one  feels 
a  disinclination  to  the  placing  in  shady 
places  of  anything  of  verj'  strong  colour,  and 
especially  of  any  kind  of  red,  and  that  in  such 
places  one  would  much  rather  have  white  or 
purple.  Any  opponent  to  this  idea  may  quote 
the  Foxglove,  Rose  Bay  and  Campion  of  the 
natural  woody  wilds,  but  I  suggest  that  though 
it  is  pleasant  to  see  these  bright  flowers,  they  do 
not  promote  that  feeling  of  mystery  which  is 
one  of  the  charms  of  woodland.  In  my  own  bit 
of  copse  a  pure  white  Foxglove  is  rather  largely 
grown,  and  beautiful  it  is  in  the  half  light.  Places 
are  prepared  for  it  in  the  winter  among  the  Oaks 
and  Birches ;  in  some  cases  where  there  is  an 
undergrowth  of  Bracken  or  Whortleberry,  in 
others  where  there  are  those  tangles  of  Bramble 
that  the  pheasants  choose  for  nesting  places. 
Two  of  the  tall  garden  Campanulas  are  admitted 
to  the  wood,  the  white  form  of  C.  macrantha 
and  the  large-belled  purple  macrocarpa  ;  a  lower 
one,  C.  alliaritefolia,  is  also  used  where  the  wood 
joins  the  garden.  It  is  about  2ft.  high  and  has  a 
pyramidal  form  because  of  the  taller  central 
spike.  It  is  suitable  at  the  entrance  to  the  wild 
because  it  is  not  a  very  common  garden  flower. 
For  the  same  reason  C.  persicifolia,  although  in 
nature  a  true  woodland  plant,  is  not  admitted 
to  the  wild  ground  ;  it  is  so  familiar  in  the  garden 
that  it  would  give  the  impression  of  a  garden 
plant  gone  astray.  White  flowers  and  foliage  of 
deep  glossy  green  are  always  pleasant  together, 
and  just  now  in  the  nearer  garden  ground  there 
is  a  group  of  the  white  Campanula  macrantha 
shooting  up  through  several  strong  tufts  of 
Alexandrian  Laurel  (Ruscus  racemosus)  ;  the 
Ruscus  just  in  the  fresh  deep  green  of  its  newly 
matured  fronds. 

I  have  no  great  liking  in  general  for  shrubs 
with  variegated  foliage,  but  in  a  wide  flower 
border  am  glad  to  have  a  biggish  bush  of  the  gold 
Privet,  the  clear  yellow  of  which  is  almost  as  telling 
as  that  of  a  flowering  plant.  Almost  touching  it 
and  closely  matching  it  in  colour  is  a  group  of  the 
fine  perennial  \'erbascura  Chaixi.  The  two,  in 
close  combination,  form  a  splendid  foil  for  some 
pale  blue  Delphiniums  G.  J. 


MOST    BEAUTIFUL    OF 


DOG  S    TOOTH    VIOLETS, 
PINK    BEAUTY. 


beautiful  in  woodland  planting  or  on  the  half- 
shaded  rockery.  They  all  like  a  rather  light  com- 
post quite  free  from  fresh  manure,  but  rich  in 
decayed  vegetable  matter.  They  do  not  object  to 
a  light  covering  of  fine  Grasses  or  an  overplanting  of 
Sedums  or  such  like,  which  ser\-e  to  mark  their  site 
and  prevent  their  accidental  disturbance.  Erythro- 
nium Dens-canis  is  the  European  species  with, 
normally,  flowers  of  a  rather  bluish  rose,  but  there 


are  now  a  number  of  colour  \'ariations ;  some 
inclining  rather  to  dull  magenta  shades,  while  flesh- 
colour  and  pure  white  are  also  represented.  These 
are  generally  considered  easier  to  grow  than  the 
American  species  but,  in  the  writer's  experience, 
this  is  not  the  case. 

These  .American  sorts  are  fairly  numerous,  as 
there  are  several  species  and  a  considerable  number 
of  varieties.  The  very  best  of  these  are  probably 
E.  grandiflorum  Pink  Beauty,  with  delicately 
poised  flowers  of  a  pretty  pink  shade,  often  3ins. 
across,  and  E.  californicum  White  Beauty,  which, 
quite  distinct  from  the  former  as  regards  foliage,  is 
very  similar  in  everything  but  colour,  as  regards  the 
flower.  The  flowers,  of  a  charming  creamy  white 
shade,  are  seen  when  gathered  to  be  orange  at  the 
base.  The  typical  E.  californicum  is  a  pale  yellow 
flowered  species  of  considerable  beauty.  Other 
excellent  kinds  are  Hartwegi  and  Nuttallianum, 
both  yellow ;  Hendersoni,  pinkish  mauve  with 
a  deep  crimson  eye  ;  Johnsoni,  rose  piiik  with  a  rich 
yellow  zone,  and  grandiflorum  giganteum,  white 
with  a  brown  zone,  an  easy  and  excellent  plant. 
Erythronium  americanum, 
so  common  in  North 
American  woodland,  has 
charming  rather  small 
yellow  blossoms.  Unfortu- 
nately it  is  not  free  to 
flower. 

FritiUarias,  very  closely 
related  to  the  tr  u  e 
Lilies,  should  all  be  got 
into  their  permanent 
quarters  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible. The  Snakeshead  or 
Meadow  Fritillary,  Fritil- 
laria  Meleagris,  is  an 
indigenous  specie.5  which 
grows  freely  in  meadows 
in  the  Thames  valley. 
The  colour  varies  con- 
siderably, but  is  always 
cither  some  more  or  less 
diluted  shade  of  purple, 
heavily  and  quaintly 
chequered  green  or  white, 
also  green  chequered. 
The  white  form  has  been 
so  largely  propagated  that 
it  is  now  as  cheap  as  or 
cheaper  than  mixed 
\-arieties.  It  reproduces 
true  to  type  from  seed. 
If  named  varieties  are 
wanted,  Orion  is  a  good 
deep  coloured  form  and 
Cassandra  a  charming 
pale  hued  one  having 
quite  a  silvery  cast ;  both 
large.  Emperor  is  a  giant 
white  with  flowers  more 
saucer  shaped  than  usual 
and  Luna  a  grand  pure 
white  sort.  The  Crown 
Imperials  also  belong  to 
this  family — F.  Imperalis 
— and  should  also  be  got 
in  as  soon  as  possible.  They  disUke  removal  so 
should  be  planted  in  a  position  where  they  may 
remain  for  some  years. 

There  are  several  very  charming  and  unusual 
small  species  of  Fritillaria  which  will  delight  the 
hearts  of  those  who  love  the  quaintly  beautiful 
rather  than  the  spectacular.  Such  are  F.F. 
pyrenaica,  Thunbergii  and  coccinea.  Pyrenaica  is 
oUve  green,  mottled  brown  ;   Thunbergii  green  and 


ERYTHRONIUM 


August  12,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


399 


purple,    with    pretty    grey    foliage,   and  coccinea, 
almost  scarlet. 

Early-flowering  bulbs  of  all  kinds  should  be 
planted  as  soon  as  may  be,  including  The  Glory 
of     the     Snow,     Cbionodoxa,     such     early     Irises 


nor  does  the  trouble  end  there,  for  it  is  quite 
possible  for  bulbous  plants  to  flower  quite  well  the 
first  season  after  planting,  but  to  fail  subsequently 
because  of  unduly  late  planting.  The  beautiful 
dwarf  blue  Squill  often  used  to  edge  flower  beds,  but 


ONE    OF    THE    EARLIEST    BULBS    TO    FLOWER,     IRIS    RETICULATA    VAR.    CYANEA. 


as  I.I.  reticulata  and  Dantordiae  Scillas, 
Grape  Hyacinths,  (Muscari),  Crocuses  and  Snow- 
drops. 

Of  the  Scillas,  the  Bluebells  (SciUa  nutans)  and 
the  nearly  related  Spanish  Squills  (S.  campanulata) 
have  rather  soft  bulbs  and  should  on  that  account 
have  preference.  Late-planted  Crocuses  often 
seem  to  take  little  harm,  but  they  are  better 
planted  none  the  less.  Snowdrops,  if  kept  out  of 
the  ground  too  long,  not  infrequently  prove  bhnd. 


which  may  also  be  naturalised  under  trees  and  even 
in  turf,  is  SciUa  sibirica. 

The  Glory  of  the  Snow,  Chionodoxa  Lucilise, 
provides  masses  of  glorious  blue  flowers,  when 
flower  still  is  scarce  in  early  spring.  It  is  also 
excellent  for  naturalising.  C.  gigantea  is  less 
well  known.  The  flowers  are  china  blue,  slightly 
paler  in  shade  than  with  Luciliae,  much  larger  and 
borne  singly.  C.  sardensis  is  more  like  Lucilice  ia 
habit,  but  a  darker  blue. 


COLOUR    IN    THE    IRIS    GARDEN 


ONE  of  the  excellent  consequences 
L  of  the  growing  popularity  of  Irises 
I  is  that  many  gardeners  are  led  to 
devote  more  attention  to  garden 
colour.  Recent  issues  of  The  G.\rden 
have  contained  many  evidences  of  the  search  for 
suitable  company  for  the  Bearded  Irises  ;  here 
are  a  few  notes  for  the  amusement  of  those  who, 
like  the  writer,  enjoy  playing  the  colour  game 
witly'the  wide  range  of  Iris  colour. 

The  most  obvious  associate  of  the  Iris  is  the 
Lupin,  and  it  is  fortunate  that  just  when  the  one 
flower  is  being  transformed  by  the  hybridist,  the 
other  should  also  be  receiving  increased  attention. 
I  wish  someone  who  is  famiUar  (as  I  am  not) 
with  the  many  varieties  of  Lupin  now  in  com- 
merce would  study  their  colour  and  habit  in 
relation  to  the  best  sorts  of  Iris,  and  would  tell 
readers  of  The  Garden  of  their  results.  Here, 
for  instance,  is  an  elementary  question  :  What  is 
a  satisfactory  blue  Lupin  to  grow  in  company 
with  Iris  pallida  dalmatica,  Geranium  ibericum 
platyphyllum  and  Catmint  ?  It  may  be  that  a 
sufficient  answer  is  to  be  found  in  any  packet  of 
seed  of  the  commonest  blue  Lupinus  polyphyllus  ; 
yet  I  cannot  help  thinking  that  it  is  worth  taking 


the  trouble  to  secure  a  selected  form,  and  to 
propagate  it,  so  that  the  group  of  plants  may  be 
uniform  in  height  and  colour.  The  very  bluest 
Lupins  are  rather  too  blue  to  go  with  these  pallida 
Irises ;  Prichard's  beautiful  L.  azureus,  which 
has  a  good  deal  of  mauve  in  it,  is  about  the  right 
colour.  This  Lupin  is  also  very  good  with  that 
most  free-flowering  Iris,  Sweet  Lavender  (Bliss  ; 
sent  out  by  Wallace)  ;  and  the  deeper  blue  Lupin, 
Eureka  (Waterer),  can  be  added  to  this  group, 
or  planted  with  the  purple  Geranium  and  Catmint. 
Other  good  Lupins  of  a  purer  blue  that  I  have 
tried  are  Waterer's  Felicity  and  Admiration. 
The  former  has  the  good  quality  of  keeping  its 
leaves  in  condition  until  late  in  the  season,  so 
that  it  can  be  put  into  a  mixed  border,  if  necessary, 
without  its  making  an  untidy  litter  ;  the  ordinary 
L.  polyphyllus  generally  becomes  an  unsightly 
ruin  soon  after  flowering.  The  herbaceous  Lupin 
which,  so  far  as  I  know,  keeps  its  leaves  better 
than  any  other  is  Barr's  variety  Nelly  (Barr,  and 
Waterer).  This  is  a  white  sort  with  a  touch  of 
clear  mauve,  and  associates  beautifully  with 
Sweet  Rocket  and  Thalictrum  aquilegifoliura, 
and  with  Iris  Alcazar.  I  presume  that  this  is 
one  of  the  sorts  with  some  Tree  Lupin  blood  in  it. 


The  clear  yellow  herbaceous  Lupin  Sunshine 
(Waterer)  takes  up  the  colour  of  the  yellow  Tree 
Lupin  and  of  Iris  Flavescens,  and  is  much  fresher 
in  colour  than  the  other  herbaceous  yellow  sorts 
that  I  have  tried  ;  those  with  a  tinge  of  ochre 
in  them  are  not  satisfactory. 

There  is,  I  think,  a  tendency  to  get  the  colours 
of  the  new  Lupins  too  compUcated  and  muddled. 
The  so-called  "  shot "  effects,  now  so  easily 
obtained  in  Lupins,  are  not  often'a  success  in  this 
flower.  Can  anyone  tell  me  of  a  silvery-leaved  Tree 
Lupin  of  really  good  constitution  and  effective 
flower  ?  I  want  one  which  combines  the  good 
qualities  of  argenteus  and  arboreus. 

But  to  return  to  Irises.  I  had  long  been  puzzled 
to  find  the  right  foils  for  the  subtle  colour  of 
Irises  Prosper  Laugier  and  Jacquiniana.  Iris 
Flavescens  and  the  pale  yellow  Tree  Lupin  used 
to  be  the  best  I  could  do  ;  but  this  year  I  found 
what  seems  to  me  a  much  better  arrangement. 
Instead  of  the  clear  pale  yellow,  which  in  bright 
light  kills  the  sombre  smoky  colour  of  Prosper 
Laugier,  I  put  the  cool  washed-out  rose  of  Deutzia 
elegantissima,  and  backed  that  with  Rosa  rubrifoUa. 
Iris  Dawn,  which  is  very  pale  yellow  in  effect, 
took  the  place  of  I.  Flavescens.  I  feel  sure  that 
if  you  try  Prosper  Laugier  with  this  Deutzia  you 
will  agree  that  the  Iris  has  a  good  chance  of  showing 
iiff  its  rare,  subtly  compounded  colour. 

There  is  sometimes  a  difficulty  in  finding  the 
right  sort  of  pink  flower  to  relieve  the  blues  and 
\ellows  of  the  Iris  garden.  China  Roses  are  good, 
and  so  are  the  cool  pink — not  the  salmon  pink — 
later-flowering  Weigelas.  The  pink  Lupins,  Pyre- 
thrums,  Thrifts  and  Pinks  and  the  pink  Columbines 
are  all  available,  and  I  think  the  pink  Deutzias, 
such  as  the  beautiful  one  I  have  mentioned,  might 
well  be  more  commonly  used.  A  very  good  white 
Deutzia,  by  the  way,  is  D.  Wilsoni,  certainly  one 
of  the  most  beautiful  of  its  race. 

Someone  suggested  the  other  day  in  these  columns 
that  Irises  would  look  well  with  Azaleas,  but  I 
confess  this  does  not  appeal  to  me.  The  associations 
of  the  two  families  are  so  different,  for  one  thing  : 
the  Azalea  seems  to  call  for  half-shadowed  wood- 
land spaces  (such  as  one  sees  it  in  at  South  Lodge), 
whereas  the  Irises  remind  one  rather  of  their  own 
parents,  the  species  that  one  has  seen  growing  wild 
on  hot  hillsides  in  the  South.  And  there  is  the 
further  point,  apart  from  all  questions  of  horti- 
culture, that  the  Azalea's  characteristic  range  of 
colour  includes  many  oranges  and  flaming  reds 
that  are  too  warm  and,  so  to  speak,  too  insistent 
to  associate  well  with  the  Iris  colours.  That,  at 
least,  is  how  it  strikes  me  ;  I  admit  that  I  have  not 
actually  tried  the  planting  suggested.  No  !  for 
this  particular  purpose  I  shall  stick  to  the  cooler 
range  of  colour.  The  shrubs  that  get  admitted 
into  my  Iris  garden  will  be  such  as  Solanum 
crispum,  Abutilon  vitifoUum,  Rosa  Wilhnottia;, 
Honeysuckles,  and  the  early  Clematises,  e.g., 
C.C.  montana,  m.  rubens,  Spooneri  and  Spooneri 
rosea.  Fair  Rosamond  and  Mrs.  Cholmondeley. 
Try  Rosa  Hugonis  with  Solomon's  Seal  and 
Dielytra,  or  with  Rosemary,  Cytisus  praecox,  and 
blue  Columbines. 

But  I  see  I  have  got  out  of  the  Iris  garden 
altogether,  so  I  must  stop.  A  P.iinter. 


FORTHCOMING    EVENTS. 

August  14. — United  Horticultural  Benefit  and 
Provident  Society's  Meeting. 

.August  15. — Clay  Cross  Horticultural  Society's 
Show. 

August  16. — Derbyshire  .Agricultural  and  Horti- 
cultural Society's  .Annual  Exhibition  (two  days). 

August  18. — Royal  Horticultm'al  Society  of 
Perthshire  Exhibition  (two  days).  Eastbourne 
Horticultural  Society's  Meeting. 


400 


THE     GARDEN. 


[August  12,  1922. 


PL4NTS  FOR  A  SMALL  MORAINE  GARDEN 


{CoiitinuthI  from  page  375.) 


SILENE  ELI ZABETH.E.— This  uncommon 
Silene  has  not  been  a  success.  One  or  two 
plants  raised  from  seed,  and  also  purchased 
plants,  never  seemed  to  become  properly 
estabhshed,  although  living  through 
two  or  three  winters,  and  eventually  died  out 
without  iJowering.  Silene  Hooked. — This,  the 
outstanding  beauty  of  the  family,  has  not  been 
tried.  It  seems  to  be  very  rarely  offered  for 
sale,  and  when  it  is,  is  usually  sold  out  when 
appUed  for.  S.  acaulis,  S.  a.  exscapa  and  S.  a. 
alba. — The  dwarf  green  cushions  keep  compact 
on  the  moraine  and  the  plants  flourish,  but  if 
they  flower  at  all  it  is  very  sparingly.  S.  acaulis 
alba  flowered  fairly  well  in  May  of  this  year,  and 
seems  to  do  better  in  Hthis 
respect  than  the  types,  which 
rarely  flower  at  all.  Last 
year,  however,  one  of  the 
plants  had  a  few  flowers  on  in 
August  in  a  position  away 
from  the  moraine  facing  north, 
where  it  is  being  tried. 
S.  laciniata  Purpusii. — This 
species  with  its  brilliant  red 
flowers,  would  be  most  useful, 
flowering  late  when  flowering 
plants  are  badly  needed.  Un- 
fortunately, it  has  been  found 
difficult  to  keep  with  me. 
The  damp  and  frost  of  the 
winters  set  in  rot  in  the 
somewhat  woody  stems  at 
about  the  ground  level.  It 
seems  to  flourish  in  a  friend's 
garden  only  a  short  distance 
away  in  a  more  sheltered 
position,  having  come  up 
annually  for  the  past  three 
or  four  years.  S.  alpestris. — 
This  dainty  white-flowered 
species  is  only  too  much  at 
home.  Tending  to  run  into 
other  plants,  it  has  to  be  placed 
in  more  unrestricted  quarters. 
The  double  form  S.  alpestris 
fl.  pi.  might  prove  more  suit- 
able and  last  longer  in  flower 
for  those  who  hke  double 
forms  ;  that  is  if  it  does  not 
revert  back  to  the  type,  as  it 
seems  to  have  a  tendency  to 
do  in  one  or  two  gardens  in 
which  I  have  seen  it. 

Soldanella  pyrolsefolia  is  pro- 
bably one  that  Farrer  acquired  on  one  of  his 
expeditions  in  the  Eastern  Alps,  and  one  which 
may  have  rewarded  him  with  its  pretty  flowers 
better  than  other  members  of  this  dainty  flowering 
family  do  in  a  good  many  of  our  gardens.  S. 
alpina  and  S.  pusilla  appreciated  moraine  con- 
ditions so  far  as  to  become  well  estabhshed,  but 
as  they  never  flowered  in  the  fully  exposed  position 
they  were  tried  in  a  more  shady  situation,  with 
the  result  that  S.  alpina  has  flowered  for  the  last 
two  or  three  years,  but  S.  pusilla  and  S.  minima 
have  failed  to  flower  as  yet.  S.  montana  is  a 
much  more  vigorous  plant  than  those  previously 
mentioned,  and  given  suitable  conditions  with 
richer  soil  than  the  moraine  usually  provides 
flowers  quite  freely. 

Thlaspi  limoseltefoUum. — This  is  another  rare 
species  which  does  not  appear  to  be  found  in 
catalogues.  It  is  a  family,  too,  that  is  very  rarely 
represented  in  gardens.     Seeds  were  taken  by  me 


of  what  is  probably  Thlaspi  rotundifolium  under 
the  Matterhorn  two  years  ago,  and  some  of  the 
plants  raised  appear  to  be  quite  healthy,  but 
have  not  flowered  yet.  T.  Keeneri  has  very  dark 
green  rosettes.  Seedlings  planted  recently  are 
growing  away  well  and,  "  winter  permitting," 
should  flower  next  summer. 

Veronica  canescens.^This  appreciated  the  con- 
ditions too  well.  It  was  moved  to  other  parts 
of  the  garden,  where  a  little  of  it  still  exists,  but 
it  has  almost  been  lost  owing  to  the  damp  winters 
and  very  dry  springs,  especially  the  latter,  as  it 
depends  on  a  certain  amount  of  moisture  for  its 
revival,  and  once  nicely  set  going  it  will  run  a 
considerable  distance  in  a  season.     I   am  inchned 


A    BEAUTIFUL    LAVENDER-COLOURED    ALPINE,    SOLDANELLA 
ALPINA. 


to  think  it  is  hardly  worth  its  place,  the  pale  blue 
flowers  not  being  particularly  interesting. 

Viola  cenisia  has  not  been  tried  by  me,  nor 
have  any  of  the  Violas  on  the  moraine.  It  is 
possible  that  some  lovely  high  "Fell"  pasture 
forms  of  Viola  lutea  may  be  tried. 

Wahlenbergia  pumilio. — This  lovely  dwarf  pale 
Bluebell  flower  is  very  happy  and  well  worth  its 
place,  and  once  estabhshed  stands  the  winter 
exposure  without  any  protection.  The  only 
drawback  is  that  the  flowers  are  all  out  and  over 
in  a  week  or  less,  especially  if  it  is  dry,  hot  weather 
at  the  time.  W.  dalmatica  and  W.  tenuifolia 
are  interesting  and  in  this  position  very  free 
flowering.  W.  serpyllifolia  major  seems  quite 
easy  with  its  large  lovely  "  Purple  Bells  "  very 
freely  produced  but,  unfortunately,  short-lived. 
W.  Vincajflora  is  somewhat  different  to  the  others, 
the  delicate  blue  flowers  being  thrown  out  on 
wiry,  pendulous  stems.     It  is  a  continuous  flowerer 


and  especially  lovely  in  an  overhanging  position. 
Unfortunately  it  is  liable  to  be  killed  off  in  the 
winter  months,  although  plants  have  gone  through 
two  or  three  winters  in  the  somewhat  bleak  climate 
of  these  parts. 

Wahlenbergia  puiniUo  completes  Mr.  Reginald 
Farrer's  "  fifty  "  plants  for  the  moraine.  A  few 
notes  of  other  famiUes  that  have  been  tried  may 
be  of  interest,  some  of  which  have  only  come  into 
our  gardens  since  his  list  was  published. 

Acantholimon  glumaceum  and  A.  venustum. — 
Both  plants  have  fine  hard  green  cushions,  the 
latter  greyer  and  very  prickly.  Both  are  acquisi- 
tions and  appear  to  prosper  in  an  exposed  position. 
The  flowers  of  venustum,  which  are  clear  rosy 
pink  thrown  well  out  from  the  cushion  in  racemes, 
are  especially  beautiful. 

Of  the  Sandworts,  ."^renaria  caspitosa  aurea,  with 
its  bright  yellow  fohage,  provides  a  very  good 
colour  contrast  and  brightens  the  moraine  up  in 
the  "  off "  season.  It  is  much  less  aggressive 
than  the  rampant  A.  csepitosa,  which  should  not 
be  included  on  any  account.  It  also  provides  a 
good  position  for  a  few  dwarf  Crocuses,  the  flowers 
easily  penetrating  the  somewhat  loose  sand. 
k.  purpurascens. — This  Spanish  species,  with  its 
close  foliage  and  Ulac  flowers,  is  useful  and  easy  to 
keep  to  its  place.  A.  tetraquetra  forms  a  neat 
hard  tuft  of  somewhat  peculiar  foliage,  with  white 
flowers,  interesting  without  being  specially  striking. 
,\.  verna. — This  beautiful  native  is  well  worth  a 
place,  with  its  deep  green  grassy  foliage  and  dainty 
white  star  flowers  and  should  be  planted  in  a  limy 
position  for  preference.  Beware  of  A.  balearica, 
which  will  run  over  everything  and  what  is  more, 
very  few  plants  can  push  through  it ;  it  is  a  thorough 
nuisance  and  once  established  (quite  easy  in 
moraine),  it  will  be  a  difficult  matter  dislodg- 
ing it. 

Armeria  caespitosa,  a  charming  dwarf  Thrift 
from  the  mountains  of  Southern  Spain,  with  its 
compact  resetted  clumps  and  pale  pink  flowers,  is  an 
indispensable.  I  appear  to  have  two  forms,  one 
with  dark  green  foliage,  which  is  usually  covered 
with  flowers,  the  other  with  finer  and  brighter  green 
leaves  and  which  has  not  flowered  anything  hke  so 
freely. 

Daphne  petra;a. — This  dwarf  and  beautiful 
Daphne,  from  a  restricted  portion  of  the  Maritime 
.\lps,  appears  to  be  "  settling  "  down  and  at  present 
looks  quite  healthy,  but  it  has  only  flowered 
sparingly  ;  I  am  hoping  it  will  flower  more  freely 
when  thoroughly  estabhshed.  The  moraine  seemed 
to  me  to  be  a  suitable  place  for  this  very  dwarf 
shrub  and  I  may  say  that  a  few  other  "  small  " 
shrubs  have  been  included,  some  of  which  will  be 
mentioned  later,  all  evergreen  and  mostly  with 
darker  fohage  than  the  plants  and  thus  providing 
some  colour  contrasts. 

The  more  compact  Erodiums  or  "  Crane's  Bills" 
provide  beautiful  foliage  plants,  with  Geranium- 
like  flowers,  which  in  some  of  the  species  are  con- 
tinuous for  most  of  the  summer  if  kept  from 
seeding.  Among  the  best  are  E.  chrysanthum, 
with  pale  yellow  flowers.  E.  corsicum,  a  very 
pretty  compact  free-flowering  species.  E.  Richardii, 
a  dwarf  running  plant  with  dainty  white  upstanding 
short-stemmed  flowers.  A  variety  with  rosy  pink 
flowers  was  seen  at  the  Edinburgh  Botanic  Gardens 
last  September,  which  is  a  valuable  addition. 
E.  supracanum  is  one  of  the  prettiest,  with  its  lovely 
"  ferny "  foliage  and  rosy  pink  flowers  freely 
produced. 

Of  the  Gentian  family  only  three  have  been  tried 
on  the  moraine.  G.  acauhs,  which  did  quite  well,  but 
as  it  does  even  better  in  more  ordinary  conditions 
and  flowers  very  freely,  it  has  been  moved  from  the 
moraine  altogether.  G.  excisa,  tried  on  two 
occasions,  but  never  got  over  the  effects  of  winter 
rain  and  frost,  the  continuous  disturbance  through 


August  12,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


401 


frost  and  thaw  causing  the  plants  to  rot  ofi  near 
the  crown. 

G.  vema. — This  lovely  native  does  best  with  me 
on  the  moraine,  two  plants  bearing  seventeen  and 
twenty-five  to  thirty  flowers  last  May ;  the 
larger  flowered  plant  had  glass  protection  above  for 
a  good  part  of  the  winter  and  not  only  flowered 
better  than  the  one  unprotected,  but  had  larger  and 
greener  foliage  and  much  larger  flowers.  I  have 
had  as  many  as  seventy  flowers  on  the  larger 
clump,  but  owing  to  the  moraine  in  the  portion  in 
which  it  was  planted  (the  deepest  portion),  not 
having  been  properly  consoUdated,  it  had  to  be 
disturbed  and  in  doing  this  it  was  found  that  the 
thread-like  rootlets  penetrated  down  to  the  sand 
in  the  bottom  and  were  about  3ft.  in  length, 
partially  suspended  in  mid  air  owing  to  some 
of     the    fiUing    having    "  settled "     away.       This 


disturbance  checked  the 
plant,  but  it  seems  to  be 
recovering.  It  is  quite 
possible  to  raise  small 
plants  from  the  flower 
rosettes  of  this  Gentian. 
Some  time  ago  some  wild 
collected  flowers  were 
placed  in  a  saucer  with 
damp  sand  in  the  green- 
house so  as  to  keep  them 
in  flower  for  a  time,  but 
my  mother  promptly 
pinched  the  flowers  off  and 
most  of  them  rooted  in 
a  very  short  time. 

T.   ASHTOX    LOFTHOUSE. 

{To  be  continued.) 


CORRESPONDENCE 


A    FINE    rOLY.ANTHA    ROSE. 

■yHERE  is  a  little  bed  on  the  lawn,  containing 
eight  plants  arranged  in  a  circle — plants  of 
the  wonderful  dwarf  Polyantha  Rose  Ellen 
Poulsen.  Everyone  who  looks  out  of  the  window 
or  walks  round  the  garden  notices  it  first  of  all. 
The  %ivid  hue  and  gorgeous  mass  of  blossom 
compel  them  to  do  so.  Peerless  and  irresistible, 
it  is  the  most  intense  and  joyful  spot  in  the  whole 
length  and  breadth  of  the  garden.  I  suppose  that 
it  has  some  leaves — indeed,  I  know  that  it  has — 
but  all  of  which  one  is  conscious  in  the  way  of 
green  about  it  is  the  turf  that  surrounds  the  bed. 
Its  height  averages  about  iSins.,  and  it  is  remark- 
able how  "  even "  the  growth  is ;  while  the 
flowers  .  .  .  mass  upon  mass  of  cherry  rose, 
large  and  full  and  free.  The  colour  is  one  that 
at  once  penetrates  and  compels  attention  and 
satisfies  the  eye. — Croydo.n. 

ROMNEYA     COULTERI     GROWING 
THROUGH    A    W.\LL. 

nPHE  photograph  was  taken  in  July  at  Perriton 

Mead,   near   Minehead,    the   property   of   Mr. 

C.    S.   Orwin   of   Balliol   College,    Director   of   the 

Institute  for  Research  in  .Agricultural  Economics 


at  Oxford.  Originally 
planted  five  years  ago  3ft. 
from  the  slate  and  rough 
earth  wall,  which  is  2iins. 
wide,  in  1921  shoot^ 
appeared  at  a  lower  level 
through  the  wall ;  and 
this  year  there  are  on 
that  side  about  thjee 
dozen  such  shoots,  4ft. 
to  5ft.  long,  with  blossoms 
7ins.  across.  But  a  but- 
tress immediately  in  front 
of  the  original  plant,  which 
faces  east,  caused  the 
penetration  of  the  wall 
in  a  south-easterly  and 
downward  direction.  A 
somewhat  similar  instance, 
but   on    a    smaller    scale, 

of  the  Califomian  Poppy  sending  shoots  through 
a  wall  appears  in  the  charming  garden  of  my 
friend,  Mr.  N.  G.  Hadden  at  West  Porlock  in 
the  same  district  of  Somerset. 

At  the  entrance  to  Perriton  Mead  I  was  allowed 
by  the  gardener,  Mr.  Parkman,  to  inspect  two  fine 
and  tall  shrubs  of  Fremontia  califomica,  a  brilliant 


ROMNEYA    COULTERI    GROWING    RIGHT    THROUGH    A    GARDEN    WALL. 


THE    GOLDEN     BLOSSOMS    OF    FREMONTIA    CALIFORNICA. 


yellow  flowered  Californian  plant  rarely  seen  in  this 
country.  Like  the  Romneya  in  its  land  of  origin 
it  is  interesting  as  being  the  only  known  example 
of  its  genus.  It  belongs  to  the  StercuUaces,  one  of 
the  Malvales  group  of  families.  The  deep  yellow 
blossoms  are  ^ins.  or  more  in  diameter  ;  the  egg- 
shaped  fruit  is  densely  clothed  with  yellowish 
hair,  and  the  lobed  leaves,  often  smaller  than  the 
flowers,  are  thickly  coated  beneath  with  short 
grey  stellate  hairs,  which  give  them  an  ashen 
appearance. — H.  Stu.4RT  Tho.mpson. 

"AFFECTED"    G.\RDENS. 

T  AM  sure  all  lovers  of  flowers  for  their  own  sake 
must  agree  with  Anne  Amateur's  letter  on 
this  subject  (July  8  issue,  page  333).  If 
Liardeners  would  study  the  welfare  of  each  indi- 
\idual  plant,  giving  it  the  position  that  is 
most  suited  to  its  taste  and  follow,  in  the 
general  design  of  the  garden,  the  natural  suggestion 
if  the  soil — making  paths  take  the  course  that 
would  be  followed  by  a  stream  (the  line  of  least 
resistenre),  and  studying  the  wild  shrubs  and  plants 
■  f  the  neighbourhood  as  a  guidance  in  selecting 
what  garden  varieties  to  grow,  we  should  see  more 
i  leauty  and  less  vulgarity  in  some  of  the  gardens 
laid  out  during  the  last  ten  or  fifteen  years.  That 
^ardens  can  look  affected  is  bail  enough,  btit  that 
(lowers  should  be  forced  to  look  vulgar  is  un- 
pardonable. I  have  seen  lately  several  fairly  new 
I'rench  villa  gardens  and  anything  more  sad 
111  the  way  of  distorting  and  insulting  Nature  I 
hope  never  to  see.  One  is  on  the  side  of  a  hUl  and 
consists  of  small  round  beds  made  level  with 
infinite  pains  and  surrounded  with  narrow  paths  of 
stone  ;  each  bed  contains  a  Turner's  Crimson 
Rambler  Rose  as  a  centrepiece  and  is  encircled 
by  a  row  of  crimson  Godetia,  after  which  each  bed 


402 


THE     GARDEN. 


[August  12,  1922. 


has  a  border  of  highly  coloured  annuals.  At  one 
corner  there  is  a  modern,  most  grotesque  well- 
head, large  enough  for  the  courtyard  of  a  chalet, 
with  wrought-iron  top  and  rope  complete  (a 
standard  pipe  from  the  waterworks  being  within 
sight).  On  the  ledge  by  the  well-head  are  two  life- 
sized  china  animals,  a  white  cat  and  a  black 
and  tan  terrier.  The  whole  garden  is  partially 
enclosed  by  a  belt  of  shrubs,  mostly  variegated  ; 
I  suppose  the  whole  atrocity  occupies  about  half 
an   acre. 

Half  a  mile  from  this  distressing  sight  there  is  an 
old  house  standing  in  a  garden  of  about  the  same 
size  as  the  other  and  surrounded  by  a  high  wall. 
This,  mercifully,  has  been  bought  by  a  woman  with 
garden  knowledge  and,  still  more  important,  a  love 
of  nature.     Finding  it  in  a  neglected  state  she  has 
cleared  away  the  useless  old  Currant  bushes  and 
ugly  stunted  shrubs,  keeping  a  few  old  fruit  trees 
and  the  lovely  old  \'ines  on  the  stone  west  wall. 
In  the  flower  beds  that  are  in  half  shade — that 
most   blessed   of   positions   for   most   plants   in   a 
temperate    climate — Carnations    and    Alstrcemeria 
revel  in  the  warm  sandy  soil.  Sweet  Peas  grow  7ft. 
high  without  manure,  and  annuals  sow  themselves 
between    the   larger   plants,    the   whole    giving   a 
blessed     feehng    of     tranquihty,     sweetness     and 
simplicity.      There    is    nothing    new    in    this.     I 
suppose   there  have   always  been   these   contrasts 
between  those  who  feel  with  and,  naturally,  copy 
Nature  and  those  who  misunderstand  and  contort 
her.      But  there  are  also  those  who  follow  a  fashion 
blindly  and  unthinkingly,   and  it  is   they  usually 
who  produce  the  effect  of  affectation  when  they  try 
to  design  a  new  garden  or   alter   one    of   mature 
growth,   and   for   them,   because   they  sin  uncon- 
sciously,   there   is   hope.     The   modern   craze   for 
stone   paths,   stone  walls   and  rock   gardens   is   a 
terrible  pitfall   to  many.     I  have  in  my  mind  a 
small  garden  that,  being  in  a  peaceful  valley  not 
far  from  the  gas  works  and  the  railway,  has  the 
battlemented  appearance  of  being  constructed  to 
resist  a  determined  siege  at  any  moment  of  the  day 
or  night. 

I  feel  sure  that  the  majority  of  affected 
gardens  have  been  designed  on  paper  and  con- 
structed as  a  whole  at  one  time,  this  doing  away 
with  the  pleasure  of  discovering  new  possibilities 
as  the  owner  becomes  more  intimate  with  the 
garden  through  living  in  it.  This  rush  for  com- 
pletion is,  of  course,  the  spirit  of  the  age,  and  is 
hard  to  combat,  but  defeats  itself  as  far  as  gardens 
are  concerned,  for  nature  is  slow  and  a  garden  must 
grow  ;  it  cannot  be  made. — Ethel  C.\se,  Swanas;c. 

FLAVOUR     IN    MUSHROOMS. 

TN  this  strange  autumnal  July,  with  a  frost  in 
the  small  hours  of  its  last  day,  even  here  in  the 
Garden  of  England  I  have  for  some  days  past 
been  engaging  in  niy  annual "  Feast  of  Mushrooms  " 
— quite  a  month  earlier  than  usual  and  have  had 
enough  to  satisfy  even  me  (about  a  pound  a  day 
all  to  myself !). 

I  have  this  season,  for  the  first  time,  had  an 
opportunity  of  comparing  the  flavour  of  wild  held 
Mushrooms  with  those  grown  from  cultivated 
spawn  in  bricks.  The  latter  were  obtained  from 
those  celebrated  seedsmen,  "  Messrs.  Swank  and 
Selfpraise  " — shall  1  call  them  ? — (who  finds  the 
cap  fits  may  wear  it).  The  first  and  largest  Mush- 
rooms came  from  the  turf  Mushroom  pits,  where 
the  cultivated  spawn  had  been  inserted,  and  they 
are  continuing  to  yield  a  fair  crop.  A  day  or  two 
later  I  had  some  smaller  wild  field  Mushrooms,  and 
the  third  cooking  contained  some  of  each.  I 
must,  as  a  connoisseur  of  Mushrooms,  unhesitatingly 
record  my  verdict,  that  there  is  ab-so-lute-ly  no 
doubt  that  the  wild  ones  are  far  and  away  superior 
in  flavour  to  those  grown  from  Messrs.  S.  and  S.'s 
bricks.     The  latter,  though  larger,  are  lacking  iii 


flavour  and  also  have  far  too  much  tasteless  and 
tough  "  white  kid  glove  "  on  the  top  towards  the 
centre,  and  scarcely  any  gills  underneath  near  the 
stalks,  while  the  wild  Mushrooms  from  the  meadow 
have  much  thinner  white  integument  and  more 
depth  of  gills  and  are  vastly  superior  in  flavour. 

Perhaps  while  writing  on  this  topic  I  may  note 
that  some  old  writer  (I  think  it  is  Evelyn,  but  am 
not  quite  sure),  notes  that  "  donkeys'  dung  is 
the  best  for  growing  Mushrooms,"  so  possibly 
some  of  the  credit  is  due  to  my  donkey  "  Sally," 
who  "  thinks  she  is  a  person  and  doesn't  know  she 
is  only  a  donkey,"  as  a  dear  little  niece  of  Mrs. 
Busy  Bee  once  explained  to  the  other  children 
when  visiting  us  at  Blackbird  Bungalow. — .\nne 
Amateur. 

[If  "  Anne  Amateur  "  would  spawn  some  of  her 
pasture  from  the  source  she  mentions  and  would 
compare  the  produce  with  the  wild  field  Mushrooms, 
she  might  probably  find  less  difference  than  she  does 
at  present  though,  unquestionably,  some  of  the 
finest  flavoured  (red  stalked)  Mushrooms  seem 
not   to  be  cultivated. — En.] 

A    "PALM"    IN    FLOWER. 

T   EN'CLOSE  a  photograph  of  CordyUne  australis 

in  flower  here  on  June  21.     The  tree  is  now 

17ft.  high.     I  have  had  it  about  fourteen  or  fifteen 

vears  and  it  has  never  flowered  before.     That  it 


as  the  colouring  of  the  foUage  is  more  bronze- 
Uke  than  glaucous.  It  is  believed  to  be  the 
first  specimen  of  this  species  to  be  flowered  north 
of  the  Tweed. — Chari.es  Comfort. 

[This  is  the  plant  which  recently  received  a 
first-class  certificate  from  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  as  .\.  glaucophylla.  It  was  figured  in 
The  Garden  for  July  8,  page  331.  The  certificated 
name,  as  altogether  of  Greek  derivation,  certainly 
seems  better. — Ed.] 


CORDYLINE 


AUSTRALIS 
IN    KENT. 


FLOWERING 


has  done  so  this  year  is,  I  presume,  the  result  of 
the  roasting  it  got  last  summer  ?  It  is  well  sheltered 
from  north-east  winds  by  a  Lime  tree.  A  Persimmon 
tree  here  has  also  set  several  fruits  for  the  first 
time. — A.  C.  BoRTON. 

A    RE.MARKABLE    ANEMONE. 

A  WELL  flowered  specimen  of  Anemone  glauci- 
folia  from  the  Edinburgh  Royal  Botanic 
Garden  was  exhibited  at  the  monthly  meeting 
of  the  Royal  Caledonian  Horticultural  Society 
on  August  I,  and  was  awarded  a  cultural  certificate. 
This  Chinese  species  attains  a  height  similar  to 
that  of  A.  japonica.  The  flowers  which  are  pale 
blue  are  somewhat  globular  in  shape.  The  leaves 
are  much  serrated,  reminding  one  of  those  of 
Francoa  ramosa.  If  one  may  judge  by  this 
plant,  the    specific   name   is   not    very    felicitous, 


GARDENING   OF    THE 
WEEK 

FOR     SOUTHERN     GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Onions. — Seed  may  be  sown  this  month  to 
serve  two  purposes,  if  necessary.  First,  to  pro- 
vide suitable  material  for  salads  and  useful  small 
bulbs  for  kitchen  use  during  autumn  and  winter  ; 
and,  secondly,  to  provide  bulbs  for  using  the 
following  summer  and  autumn.  For  the  former 
purpose  space  the  drills  about  loins.  or  lains. 
apart,  and  this  will  also  be  enough  for  the  latter 
if  transplanting  is  done  the  following  Februarv 
and  March,  otherwise  the  drills  should  be  rjins. 
apart.  If  sowing  is  done  where  the  crop  has  to 
mature,  the  plot  should  be  prepared  accordingly. 
Growers  who  have  to  deal  with  cold  soils  and 
find  that  the  spring-sown  crop  cannot  be  finished 
and  ripened  up  as  it  should,  ought  to  make  the 
best  possible  use  of  the  advantages  offered  by 
autunm  so\ving. 

Leeks  and  Celery  of  early  plantings  should 
be  attended  to  as  required  and  according  to  the 
purpose  in  view.  Whatever  method  of  blanching 
or  earthing  up  is  practised,  see  that  the  plants 
are  in  an  even  state  of  moisture  before  carrying 
out  the  work. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Amaryllis  Belladonna,  more  popularly  known 
as  the  Belladonna  Lily,  is  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  of  the  hardy  flowering  bulbs.  Planting 
can  be  carried  out  now  and  until  the  early 
autumn,  but,  to  secure  good  root  establishment 
before  winter  sets  in,  the  sooner  planting  is 
done  the  better.  Choose  a  position  having  a 
southerlv  aspect  on  house,  wall  or  building,  and 
see  that  it  is  a  well  drained  one.  -Among  the 
bottom  layers  of  soil  incorporate  old  manure, 
and  use  some  coarse  sand  and  gritty  compost 
around  the  bulbs  when  planting. 

Dahlias. — These  having  made  and  still  making 
rapid  growth  call  for  attention  in  staking  and 
tying  to  gi\e  them  the  necessary  support  during 
their  flowering  season.  Do  not  allow  the  plants 
to  be  too  crowded  with  shoots,  remo%-ing  all 
weaklings,  particularly  from  the  centre  of  the 
plants.  Should  earwigs  prove  troublesome,  invert 
some  small  pots  on  the  tops  of  the  stakes,  having 
first  placed  a  little  moss  in  the  bottom  of  each 
one.  In  this  way  the  regular  destruction  of  the 
earwigs  as  they  congregate  among  the  moss  will 
soon  clear  them,  .\nother  way  of  trapping  them 
is  to  place  Broad  Bean  stalks  cut  into  suitable 
lengths  among  the  plants,  into  which  the  earwigs 
readily  enter  and  can  be  destroyed. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Strawberries. — The  potting  of  those  intended 
for  earlv  work  under  glass,  if  not  already  seen  to, 
should  be  pushed  forward  as  rapidly  as  possible, 
for  by  the  end  of  the  month  even  the  late  batches 
should  be  in  their  fruiting  quarters  if  it  can  be 
managed.  The  main  compost  for  the  final  potting 
must  be  good  loam,  and  to  each  cartload  of  this 
may  be  added  three  barrowloads  of  dried 
horse  droppings,  one  of  old  soot  and  one  of  wood- 
ash.  Bone-meal  may  be  added  if  desired  at  the 
rate  of  a  bushel  to  the  cartload,  or  a  coarser  bone 
manure  be  used  by  sprinkling  a  thin  layer  abo%e 
the  drainage  of  each  fruiting  pot.  Firm  potting 
is  absolutelv  essential,  and  the  plants  must  be 
regularlv  dealt  with  as  regards  syringing  and 
watering  according  to  weather  conditions.  Should 
the  weather  be  very  hot  and  dr\-  when  potting  is 
in  progress,  the  plants  may.  for  a  couple  of  days, 
be  allowed  to  recuperate  a  little  in  a  somewhat 
sheltered  place,  but  they  must  then  be  placed  in 
full  sun  and  light  on  a  firm  ash  or  gravel  bottom 
and  left  there  until  the  time  comes  for  removing 
them  to  their  winter  quarters. 


August  12,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


403 


Early  Peach  Houses. — Where  time  can  be 
spared  for  the  work  it  is  indeed  well  spent  to 
give  attention  to  the  early  fruiting  trees  of  Peaches 
and  Nectarines  as  they  are  cleared  of  their  fruits. 
Should  heavy  crops  have  been  carried  and  the 
trees  be  not  too  gross  in  growth,  continue  to  water 
the  borders  regularly  with  copious  supplies  of 
liquid  manure,  and  thus  assist  the  trees  to  build 
up  good  fruiting  wood  for  another  season.  Cut 
out  all  old  fruiting  wood  that  can  be  spared  so 
that  light  and  air  may  have  a  freer  access  for 
the  necessary  ripening  of  the  new  wood.  Should 
red  spider  have  obtained  a  footing,  thoroughly 
drench  the  trees  several  times  with  a  good  insecti- 
cide until  it  is  got  rid  of,  after  which  one  good 
syringing  each  evening  with  clear  water  will  keep 
the  trees  m  a  healthy  state. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Early  Apples,  such  as  Gladstone  and  Irish 
Peach,  are  practically  of  no  value  for  gathering 
and  storing,  but  require  to  be  used  as  ready, 
direct  from  the  trees.  It  will  be  necessary  to 
give  protection  from  birds,  or  the  damage  they 
commence  will  soon  be  made  much  worse  by  the 
insects  following  them. 

H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 

Albiiry  Park  Gardens,  Guildford. 


at  night  according  to  weather  conditions.  .All 
unnecessary  lateral  growths  should  be  removed, 
so  that  the  maximum  of  light  and  air  may  reach 
the  fruiting  wood. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Climbing  Plants  growing  against  walls  should 
be  regularly  attended  to  as  regards  water,  as, 
owing  to  their  position,  even  the  heaviest  rains 
fail  to  reach  their  roots.  To  assist  growth  liquid 
manure  should  also  be  given,  while  a  moisture- 
retaining  mulch  of  short  litter  will  also  be  beneficial. 
In  dry  situations  red  spider  is  often  troublesome, 
but  may  be  checked  in  time  by  judicious  syringings 
with  a  rehable  insecticide. 

Daffodils. — Where    the    bulbs    of    these    were 

lifted   after  flowering,   opportunity  may  be   taken 

now  to  have  the  bulbs  planted  in  their  flowering 

quarters  in  woodland  or  shrubbery. 

James  McGran 

(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.), 

Coodham,  Kilmarnock. 


FOR   NORTHERN    G.\RDEXS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Beet. — Do  not  allow  the  early  sown  globe- 
shaped  sorts  to  remain  in  the  ground  after  they 
have  attained  a  good  size,  as  they  readily  become 
coarse  and  stringy.  Lift  and  store  in  sand  in  a 
cool  position,  when  they  will  be  found  to  keep 
in  usable  condition  for  a  lengthy  period.  Keep 
the  hoe  going  among  later-sown  sorts. 

Potatoes. — When  lifting  early  sorts,  tubers 
of  the  size  suitable  for  seed  should  be  laid  aside 
and  placed  in  shallow  bo.xes.  .-Mlow  them 
thoroughly  to  ripen  before  finally  storing  in  an 
airy'  loft  or  shed. 

Turnips. — Make  a  final  sowing  of  a  quick  matur- 
ing sort  on  an  early  border.  Sow  thinly  and 
encourage  a  quick  growth  so  that  nice  tender 
roots  may  be  had  during  late  autumn. 

Saladings. — Sow  regularly  quantities  of  Mustard 
and  Cress,  and  Radishes  both  of  the  long-rooted 
and  turnip-rooted  sorts.  Encourage  Lettuce  by 
copious  waterings  of  liquid  manure  and  tie  up 
the  Cos  varieties  to  assist  in  hearting. 

Onions. — During  the  next  week  sowings  should 
be  made  in  sheltered  quarters  for  spring  and  early 
summer  use.  One  of  the  essentials  in  wintering 
this  crop  is  that  the  ground  be  well  drained.  To 
sow  on  ground  that  is  damp  or  sour  is  to  court 
failure.  More  especially  is  this  so  in  northern 
gardens,  where  heavy  rains  and  severe  frosts 
prevail  during  the  winter  and  spring  months. 
Give  the  surface  of  the  seed-bed  a  generous  dressing 
of  wood-ashes,  working  it  well  in  with  the  rake. 
Sow  in  lines  i^ins.  apart,  using  the  Tripoli  type 
for  the  purpose. 

Parsley. — WTien  thinning  late  sowings  a  quantity 
of  the  young  plants  should  be  pricked  out  in  a 
spare  frame  for  winter  supplies. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Apple  Trees. — When  summer  pruning  it  is 
essential  that  the  operator  know  the  difference 
between  ordinary  growths  and  fruit-bearing 
spurs,  meaning  the  short,  sturdy  growths  which 
terminate  with  a  fruit-bud.  It  is  noticeable 
that  many  varieties,  such  as  Worcester  Pearmain 
and  Irish  Peach,  produce  a  goodly  portion  of  their 
crop  on  growths  of  this  description.  Naturally, 
the  indiscriminate  removal  of  these  causes  dis- 
appointment next  season.  Sufficient  extension 
wood  should  be  retained  on  all  young  trees,  and 
any  necessary  thinning  of  fruits'  have  attention. 
Where  the  trees  are  suffering  from  attacks  of 
aphis  they  should  be  thoroughly  syringed  for  a 
few  evenings,  using  the  garden  engine  for  this 
purpose. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Melons. — Plants  growing  in  frames  still  require 
careful  treatment,  particularly  so  as  the  fruits 
approach  maturity  ;  neglect  in  this  respect  often 
causing  loss  of  flavour.  Close  the  frames  early 
in  the  afternoon,  and  reduce  the  moist  conditions 
hitherto  allowed.  Thin  out  any  superfluous 
foliage  that  is  likely  to  prevent  the  sunhght  reach- 
ing the  fruit.  .As  the  fruit  begins  to  ripen  leave  a 
httle  air  on,  both  day  and  night. 

Grapes. — In  vineries  where  the  berries  are 
colouring,  additional  air  should  be  allowed  at 
both    top   and   bottom,   reducing   it   considerably 


GREENHOUSE    AND  CONSERV.\TORY. 

Freesias. — If  a  batch  is  required  to  flower  at 
Christmas,  they  should  be  potted  up  without 
further  delay,  for  Freesias  cannot  be  hurried 
and  must  have  cool  treatment  at  all  stages  of  their 
cultivation.  It  is  true  they  may  be  gently  forced 
if  required  for  a  special  purpose,  but  it  is  always 
at  the  expense  of  the  plants  and  also  the  quahty 
of  the  flowers.  Freesias  enjoy  a  Ught  rich  compost, 
some  dried  cow  manure  rubbed  down  fine,  or  old 
mushroom-bed  manure  is  excellent  to  add  to  the 
potting  compost.  They  are  best  grown  in  gin. 
or  6in.  pots,  putting  ten  to  fifteen  corms  in  a  pot. 
The  pots  should  then  be  stood  in  a  cold  frame. 
They  should  be  well  watered  and  then  heavily 
shaded  until  they  show  signs  of  growth.  The 
shading  keeps  them  moist  and  does  away  with 
the  need  of  frequent  watering,  always  an  evil 
in  the  case  of  bulbous  and  tuberous-rooted  plants 
until  they  have  made  a  quantity  of  roots.  Some 
cultivators  cover  the  pots  with  ashes  or  leaf-soil, 
but  I  do  not  advise  this  method,  as  the  young 
growths  are  often  weak  and  drawn  if  by  some 
chance  the  covering  material  is  not  removed  in 
time.  Some  support  is  essential  before  the  growths 
fall  over,  for  if  this  happens  they  never  quite 
recover  from  it.  The  many  beautiful  coloured 
varieties  are  becoming  increasingly  popular,  and 
require  the  same  treatment  accorded  Freesia 
refracta  and  its  varieties.  Freesias  raised  from 
seed  sown  during  March  should  now  have  well 
filled  their  pots  with  roots,  and  will  benefit  by 
frequent  applications  of  diluted  hquid  manure  and 
weak  soot  water. 

Lachenalias  form  another  beautiful  genus  of 
South  .African  bulbs  worthy  of  more  general 
cultivation.  They  should  be  potted  up  some 
time  this  month.  Where  home-grown  stock  is 
available  the  largest  bulbs  should  be  sorted  out 
for  potting.  Smaller  bulbs  should  be  placed  in 
pans  or  boxes,  and  if  well  grown  should  make 
good  flowering  bulbs  for  next  year.  The  larger 
bulbs  should  be  potted  in  48-sized  pots,  placing 
six  or  eight  bulbs  in  a  pot.  They  enjoy  the  same 
cultural  conditions  as  advised  for  Freesias,  doing 
well  in  cold  frames  until  such  time  as  their  flower- 
spikes  appear,  when  they  may  be  removed  to  a 
cool,  airy  greenhouse.  During  February  and 
March  special  care  is  required  in  applying  venti- 
lation, as  cold  draughts  disfigure  and  injure  the 
foUage.  .Although  there  are  quite  a  number  of 
species,  very  few  of  them  are  in  cultivation,  the 
most  popular  and  useful  being  L.  tricolor  and  its 
varieties,  also  L.  pendula  and  L.  Nelsoni,  a  garden 
hybrid.  The  latter  is  very  beautiful  and  probably 
the  most  popular  with  the  average  cultivator. 

Bulbs  for  Early  Forcing,  such  as  Roman 
Hyacinths,  Paper  White  Narcissus  and  Due  van 
Thol  Tuhp  should  be  potted  up  or  placed  in 
boxes  some  time  this  month.  Success  in  forcing 
such  plants  depends  very  largely  on  their  being 
well  rooted,  hence  the  importance  of  early  potting, 
so  that  they  have  plenty  of  time  to  develop  a  good 
root  system.  WTiere  quantities  of  Roman 
Hyacinths  and  Tulips  are  required  for  decorative 
work  it  is  just  as  well  to  put  the  bulbs  into  small 
boxes.  The  flowers  can  then  be  cut  in  quantity, 
or  the  bulbs  may  be  lifted  from  the  boxes  as  they 
come  into  flower  and  used  for  filling  suitable 
receptacles  for  use  in  the  dwelling-house.  If 
pots  are  used,  sin.  is  large  enough  for  the  Hyacinths 
and  TuUps,  putting  five  bulbs  in  a  pot  ;  while 
Paper  White  Narcissus  will  require  yin.  pots. 
Stand  the  pots  at  the  bottom  of  a  wall  and  cover 
with  ashes  that  have  been  exposed  to  the  weather 
for  some  time,  or  leaf-soil  may  be  used  for  the 
purpose.     WTien  growth  begins  to  appear  through 


the  top  of  the  soil  the  plants  should  be  removed 
from  the  covering  material  and  stood  in  a  cold 
frame,  one  with  a  north  aspect  being  best  for  this 
purpose  until  such  time  as  they  are  required  for 
forcing. 

Lilium  candidum. — The  Madonna  Lily  can 
be  successfully  grown  in  pots  for  the  cool  con- 
servatory, but  it  must  be  potted  some  time 
during  August,  for  this  Lily  commences  to  make 
its  growth  soon  after  flowering.  One  good  bulb 
should  be  put  into  a  7in.  pot.  As  this  is  not  a 
stem-rooting  Lily,  it  is  not  necessary  to  leave  room 
for  top-dressing.  Good  medium  loam  with  the 
addition  of  a  little  leaf-soil  and  sand  should  be 
used ;  also  a  sprinkling  of  lime  or  basic  slag, 
as  this  Lily  is  a  lime  lover.  Stand  the  pots  in  a 
cold  frame,  and  give  plenty  of  air  at  all  times  ; 
in  fact,  cool  treatment  right  throughout  is  the 
secret  of  success  in  growing  L.  candidum  in  pots. 
It  is,  of  course,  essential  to  start  with  healthy 
bulbs. 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kcw.  J.  Coutts, 


Alpines   at  the   Grand 
St.   Bernard,     Switzerland 

"     ■     ~^UT  now  you  have  come  so  far,"    said 

I        B  genial   Professor  Chodet  in  the  midst 

■      ^L  of   his   dissection   of  Colchicum   bulbs 

I  »  3'    '1'^    Garden    Lirmea,    "  you   should 

^      ^  really   go   on   to   the   Hospice   of   the 

Grand   St.   Bernard   and   taste   the   hospitality   of 

the  monks.    Only  six  hours  from  here  Ijy  the  post 

cart." 

And  so,  at  7.0  a.m.  I  registered  myself  as  a  parcel 
and  started  with  the  letters  for  that  famous  Hospice 
— and  a  grimmer,  more  desolate  road  I  have  never 
seen.  Vegetation  was  scant,  though  Saxifraga 
caesia  was  in  abundance  at  sides  of  the  road  and 
so  were  the  faded  leaves  of  Gentiana  lutea,  and 
on  getting  out  (to  try  to  warm  myself  by  walking), 
I  found,  near  the  river,  Gentiana  germanica  of  an 
ugly  red  mauve. 

Soon  we  were  beyond  the  snow  line.  No  more 
trees,  nothing  but  grim  rocks  and  thistles.  A 
peasant  girl  was  busy  cutting  the  latter  and  carr\ing 
them  home  in  sacks  to  boil  down  for  the  pigs. 
The  postman  told  me  that  all  througli  the  winter 
he  goes  on  skis  thrice  weekly  to  the  monastery,  as. 
there  is  no  other  way  of  reaching  it.  Even  in 
August    the    little    valleys    are    full    of   snow. 

Once  arrived  at  the  Hospice  all  sense  of  loneliness, 
vanished  in  the  clamour  of  the  dogs  of  St.  Bernard 
and  the  chatter  of  some  hundreds  of  Italian 
tourists  who  had  crossed  the  frontier. 

After  seeing  the  chapel  and  library.  I  was  taken 
to  the  Prior's  garden,  which  he  and  a  "  brother  " 
amuse  themselves  by  maldng !  It  was  reaUy 
pathetic  !  After  climbing  like  a  goat  over  and  round, 
boulders  for  two  or  three  hundred  feet  one  comes 
upon  a  little  ledge  with  pitiless  rocks  on  three  sides. 
Here  is  a  small  bed  of  earth,  carried  up,  a  basketful 
at  a  time,  by  these  two  patient  monks,  and  a  few- 
pockets  of  soil,  and  one  can  just  get  round  the  tiny 
path.  The  plants  have  been  collected  on  the 
mountains  in  the  near  neighbourhood  and  must  be 
of  an  astounding  hardiness  to  survave  in  such  a 
severe  chmate,  which  kills  any  man  who  stays  at 
the  Hospice  more  than  ten  years,  even  though  he 
be  of  a  mountain  race,  which  is  a  sini;  qua  non  of 
the  brotherhood.  Here  were  growing  \'iscaria 
alpinum  (rose),  Doronicum  grandiflorum,  Poten^ 
tilla  grandiflora,  Achillea  nana  hybrida  (very 
pretty),  Geum  reptans  (yellow),  one  or  two  rare 
specimens  of  miniatiue  Willows  (Salix  aurita  x 
reticulata).  The  exquisite  little  cushions  of 
Androsace  alpina  (jewelled  with  pink  and  white), 
and  the  "  heavenly "  blue  Myosotis  pyrenaica 
were  side  by  side. 

They  and  the  beautiful  Hugueninia  lancifoUa 
(yellow)  were  the  most  attractive  flowers  out, 
but   Cerastium   arvense   and   SUene   exscapa   were 


404 


THE     GARDEN. 


[August  12,  1922. 


lovely  too.  Delphinium  elatum  was  over,  but 
Papaver  rhaticum  showed  a  few  flowers.  Geranium 
rivulare  was  also  over,  but  Aconituni  paniculatum 
was  in  pmple  bloom,  and  Erigeron  uniflorus. 

A  hundred  feet  or  so  higher  up  the  "  brother  " 
had  made  a  tiny  bed  in  the  form  of  his  initials, 
S.  B.,  edged  with  rocks,  and  here  were  growing 
happily  Primula  farinosa,  Gentiana  imbricata  and 
the  beautiful  Campanula  Scheuchzeri,  such  a 
glorified  edition  of  our  Harebell,  but  in  richer 
colouring. 

Lower  down,  near  the  gloomy  little  rock-bound 
lake,  the  white  Ranunculus  was  to  be  found  and 
among  the  stones  at  side  of  road  were  Hieraciuni 
glanduliferum,  Leucanthemum  alpinum,  Achillea 
moschata,  Silene  rupestris  and  Saxifraga  stellaris. 

And  there,  said  my  guide,  wav^ing  his  arm  across 
the  guarded  frontier  towards  Savoy,  lies  "  Paradiso, 
full — full  of  the  most  wonderful  flowers  and  strictly 
preserved  as  a  hunting  domain." 


To  reach  the  Grand  St.  Bernard  one  takes  the 
train  from  Martigny  (near  Lac  Leman),  as  far  as 
it  goes.  Then  one  hires  a  vehicle  which  in  si.\ 
hours  takes  one  to  Bourg  St.  Pierre,  where  the 
famous  alpine  garden  La  Linnee  was  founded  b>' 
M.  Correvon,  and  which  contains  25,000  different 
plants.  A  few  Gentians,  Aconites  and  the  beautiful 
Pyrenean  Valerian  are  all  that  can  be  seen  in 
August,  but  the  place  is  a  liberal  education  to  a 
rock  gardener.  A  somewhat  comfortless  night  in  a 
very  old  Swiss  Inn  and  an  early  start  either  on 
foot  or  by  the  post  cart  as  a  parcel !  The  more 
comfortable  way  is  by  motor. 

The  prospect  of  a  night  spent  in  that  gloomy 
place,  even  with  three  hundred  Itahan  trippers, 
did  not  attract  me  and  I  gladly  accepted  the  offer 
of  a  seat  in  a  luxurious  Mercedes  car  as  far  as 
Martigny.  The  most  wonderful  drive.  To  descend 
8,000  ft.  in  two  hours  !  From  bitter  cold  to  the 
intense  heat.    From  glaciers  to  grapes.    A.  M.  M. 


STRAWBERRIES    IN  THE    GARDEN 

This  is  the  time  to  lay  down  the  foundation  for  the  Strawberry  crop  of  next  season.      Time 

always  flies  fast,  and  that  which  passes  can  never  be  overtaken.     Decide,  therefore,  what 

ought  to  be  done  and  do  it  at  once  with  all  your  might. 


BEFORE  the  whole  of  the  Strawberries 
of  one  season  have  been  harvested 
the  grower  must  commence  preparations 
for  the  crop  of  the  following  year. 
There  must  be  thought  of  those  plants 
which  have  yielded  three,  two  and  one  burdens, 
and  still  other  thought  for  the  youngsters  which 
have  to  be  planted  to  give  their  first  welcome 
returns  in  the  ensuing  summer.  While  it  is 
certainly  possible  to  plant  until  the  end  of  Septem- 
ber, and  even  somewhat  later  in  a  specially  favour- 
able season,  and  still  secure  a  return  in  the  first 
year,  there  is  no  gainsaying  the  fact  that  cultivators 
who  aspire  to  the  production  of  a  really  heavy  bulk 
of  excellent  quality  must  see  that  the  work  is 
accomplished  by  the  end  of  August.  .'Vgain,  the 
quarters  which  are  entering  upon  their  second 
and  third  years  of  bearing  may  be  dealt  with  much 
later  than  this,  but  the  burdens  will  be  consider- 
ably prejudiced  the  longer  the  necessary  tasks  are 
delayed  after  the  present  moment. 

EXHAUSTED    BEDS. 

Save  in  exceptional  circumstances  plants  which 
have  borne  three  crops  may  be  regarded  as  having 
reached  the  end  of  their  useful  lives,  and  should 
therefore  be  grubbed  to  provide  space  for  something 
that  will  give  a  comparatively  more  profitable 
return.  Nevertheless,  it  is  wise  always  to  bear 
in  mind  that  in  strong  land  that  was  thoroughly 
prepared  and  has  been  intelligently  cared  for 
subsequently,  and  in  which  the  plants  have  had 
the  attention  in  summer,  autumji  and  spring 
which  they  demand,  a  fourth  crop  can  be  secured. 
It  is  not  suggested  that  it  will  be  equal  to  one, 
two  or  three  year  old  beds,  particularly  in  respect 
of  fruits  of  conspicuous  individual  merit,  but 
the  bulk  will  be  heavy  and  admirably  suited  for 
preservation  in  bottles  or  as  jam  because  of  even- 
ness of  size  and  firmness  of  flesh.  However, 
the  safe  general  rule  is  to  uproot  all  plants  which 
have  cropped  thrice. 

It  may  be  mentioned  in  passing  that  after  the 
site  has  been  efficiently  hoed  to  ensure  the  total 
removal  of  weeds  it  becomes  ideal  for  Broccoli 
to  stand  through  to  the  spring,  as  there  is  enough 
food  and  so  sohd  a  root  run  that  the  vegetables 
are  not  encouraged  to  that  grossness  which  leads 
to  so  many  losses  during  bad  weather  in  the  first 
and  second  months  of  the  vear. 


FRl'ITING    BEDS. 

Although  it  is  more  than  probable  that  one 
year  old  plants  give  the  finest  individual  fruits, 
those  two  years  and  three  years  old  should  be, 
and  will  be  under  careful  treatment,  capable  of 
developing  heavy  weights  w'ith  excellent  individual 
specimens.  It  is  necessary  that  the  residue  of 
aU  mulching  material  shall  be  instantly  removed 
as  the  initial  step  in  cleansing.  This  done,  clear 
off  every  leaf  that  shows  the  shghtest  indication  of 
rustiness  or  is  hardening  to  that  state  of  crinkliness 
which  may  be  accepted  as  indicative  of  small  power 
to  assist  future  progress  ;  at  the  same  time  every 
runner  that  is  not  earmarked  for  a  definite  purpose 
will  go  too.  This  done  there  must  be  perfect 
weeding  as  well  in  as  between  the  lines,  and,  finally, 
forking  over  to  encourage  the  free  admission  or 
invigorating  fresh  air  to  the  soil.  When  the 
trimming  up  is  carried  to  the  last  degree,  as  ought 
to  be  the  rule,  the  general  appearance  of  the  beds 
will  be  on  the  bare  side  for  a  brief  interval,  but 
the  plants  will  be  enabled  to  build  up  those  splendid 
crowns  which  we  confidently  regard  as  promising 
fine  crops  in  future. 

As  regards  plants  which  have  fruited  once  only, 
if  the  planting  distance  was  ijins.  all  ways,  each 
alternate  row  and  each  alternate  plant  in  the 
remaining  rows  should  be  struck  out  in  soils  that 
are  notably  adapted  to  Strawberry  culture ; 
while  if  the  original  space  was  3oins.  by  I5ins., 
each  alternate  plant  in  the  row  must  be  grubbed. 
The  result  will  be  3oins.  in  all  directions  for  the 
second  and  third  seasons  of  profit,  and  it  is  not 
too  much  under  the  best  of  management.  In 
nearly  all  instances  where  the  soil  is  on  the  strong 
side  an  October  dressing  of  basic  slag  at  the  rate 
of  from  40ZS.  to  60ZS.  to  the  square  yard  will 
prove  markedly  beneficial. 

NEW    BEDS. 

It  is  in  the  preparation  and  planting  of  these 
that  by  far  the  most  important  work  of  .August 
lies,  because  one  is  not  then  taking  fuU  advantage 
of  a  previously  laid  admirable  foundation,  but 
putting  down  the  foundation  itself  in  such  a  manner 
that  it  will  prove  efficieni  lor  a  period  of  not  less 
than  three  years.  This,  it  will  be  generally 
agreed,  is  a  comparatively  brief  life,  and  proceeding 
on  that  assumption  growers  in  private  gardens 
have    not    hesitated    for    an    instant    in    deciding 


that  it  shall  be  a  merry  one.  I  should  be  the 
last  to  join  issue  with  advocates  of  deep  and 
thorough  cultivation  for  this  crop,  since  I  look 
upon  deep  friability,  associated  with  proper  firm- 
ness, as  the  best  preventive  of  mildew  either  in  a 
dry  or  a  wet  season,  but  I  am  ever  ready  to  question 
the  wisdom  of  those  who  advise,  and  personally 
use,  excessively  heavy  dressings  of  natural  manure. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  heavy  manuring  encour- 
ages big  plants  with  large  leaves,  but  these  latter 
are  not  nearly  as  valuable  as  those  perhaps  only 
three-quarters  of  their  size  but  of  deeper  colour 
and  infinitely  firmer  texture,  and  the  reason  is 
simply  that  the  smaller,  harder  foliage  has  a  finer 
power  of  performing  essential  functions.  As 
supplementary  to  the  best  possible  mechanical 
culture  I  recommend  moderate  quantities  of 
natural  man\ire  and  concentrated  fertilisers  in 
the  spring,  after  the  first  crop  has  been  harvested, 
with  basic  slag  in  the  second  and  third  autumns 
on  soils  where  it  is  known  from  previous  experience 
to  be  advantageous.  One  secures  thus  a  thriftier 
plant  with  superior  crowns,  and  it  is  on  these 
that  we  must  depend  for  our  yields  of  Strawberries. 

If  it  is  compulsory  to  plant  immediately  after 
working,  special  attention  must  be  directed 
towards  firming  in  advance  of  planting,  but  w-hen 
an  interval  of  round  about  three  weeks  can  elapse, 
as  it  ought  always  to  do,  between  the  operations 
all  land,  except  that  of  very  light  nature,  wil 
have  settled  down  naturally  to  the  desirable  point, 
provided  that  in  the  planting  itself  the  soil  is 
packed  sohdly  to  the  roots.  Some  discretion  is, 
of  course,  necessary  in  this  matter,  as  packing  a 
strong  soil  too  firmly  when  it  is  on  the  wet  side 
may  easily  carry  one  too  far  in  a  direction  which, 
under  considered  judgment,  is  invariably  desirable 
and  beneficial.  It  is  superfluous  to  add  that  the 
dibber  should  never  enter  into  the  Strawberry 
planter's  simple  tool  equipment — all  work  should 
be  done  with  a  handfork  or  a  trowel,  the  former 
for  preference,  and  there  ought  to  be  a  small  ball 
with  the  roots  if  it  is  within  the  bounds  of  possi- 
bUity.  If  the  site  is  dry  when  the  task  must  be 
accomplished,  a  state  of  affairs  which  one  ventures 
to  think  improbable  this  year,  the  individual 
positions  for  the  plants  should  be  very  thoroughly 
soaked  a  few  hours  in  advance,  as  this  is  conducive 
to  vastly  better  results  than  planting  first  and 
W'atering  afterwards. 

Distances  both  in  and  between  the  lines  vary 
considerably  in  accordance  with  the  opinions  of 
different  growers  and  with  their  knowledge  of 
the  growth  of  particular  varieties  in  their  own 
circumstances.  Many  gardeners  favour  i8ins. 
in  all  directions  to  prevail  through  the  three 
yearly  cycle,  but  while  this  is  too  much  for  the 
first  season,  it  is  commonly  insufficient  for  the 
second  and  third  years  with  modern  varieties  on 
the  majority  of  soils.  .Another  favoured  spacing 
is  ijins.  in  all  directions  for  the  first  year,  each 
alternate  row  and  each  alternate  plant  in  the 
remaining  rows  being  cut  out  for  the  second  and 
third  years.  Then  there  comes  the  system  under 
which  the  rows  are  set  at  3oins.  asunder  and  the 
plants  at  isin.  in  them,  but  in  this  case  autumn 
Onions  should  always  be  planted  between  the 
rows  for  the  first  year  with  a  view  to  ensuring 
that  full  \alue  is  derived  from  the  ground  utiUsed  ; 
when  the  Strawberries  have  cropped  once,  each 
alternate  plant  in  the  rows  must  be  struck  out. 

A  final  word.  Spare  no  efforts  w-hich  will  go 
to  finishing  all  planting  by  or  before  the  end  of 
August.  The  soil  is  then  about  at  its  warmest, 
and  with  the  pleasant  moisture  provided  naturally 
or  artificially  the  roots  will  be  encouraged  to  secure 
a  quick  and  excellent  start,  a  condition  of  affairs 
that  goes  far  to  favoiu-  a  big  return  in  fruit  in  the 
first  season  and,  of  course,  in  the  subsequent 
years  also.  W.  H.  Lodge. 


< 


August  12    192 


THE     GARDEN. 


405 


THE    UNHEATED    GREENHOUSE    ON   A 
WARMER    SEABOARD 

A  correspondent  experiences  a  difficulty  which  is  probably  shared  by  other    readers,    and 

that  is  to  ensure,  with  only  an  iinheated  greenhouse  in  a  locality  favoured,  as    far    as 

temperature  is  concerned,  a  supply  of  plants  and  flowers  during  autmnn  and  winter. 


UNDER  such  conditions  it  should  be 
possible  to  grow  a  number  of  interesting 
and  decorative  plants  which  would  be 
impossible  elsewhere.  It  will  be  a 
comparatively  easy  matter  to  main- 
tain a  suitable  temperature ;  the  principal 
cultural  difficulty  will  be  in  regard  to  atmospheric 
moisture,  which  is  generally  excessive  on  the 
western  seaboard  and  consequently  detrimental 
to  plants  in  flower.  The  simplest  method  of 
dispelling  excessive  atmospheric  moisture  is  by 
affording  gentle  artificial  heat  and  at  the  same 
time  opening  the  ventilators  as  mdely  as  circmn- 
stances  permit.  With  the  unhealed  glasshouse 
this  is  impossible,  so  careful  attention  must  be 
paid  to  prevention,  and,  with  this  end  in  view, 
the  gardener  will,  natiu-ally,  exercise  the  greatest 
care  when  apphnng  water.  Throughout  the 
autumn  and  winter,  when  flowers  are  most  required, 
plants  may  often  be  safely  left  unwatered  for 
considerable  periods,  and  advantage  can  be  taken 
of  sunny  days  then  to  afford  water,  so  that  a  fairly 
dry  atmosphere  will  be  ensured  by  nightfall.  If 
the  floor  is  paved  or  tiled  it  should  be  mopped  up, 
and  as  much  ventilation  as  possible  should  be 
given  at  the  time  of  watering.  It  should  scarcely 
be  necessary  to  say  that  during  the  autumn  and 
winter  watering  should  be  done  in  the  mornings. 

In  such  a  greenhouse  as  that  under  con- 
sideration there  should  be  no  climbers  trained 
to  the  roof,  as  these  have  a  tendency  to  induce 
a  moist  atmosphere  by  restricting  the  free  circu- 
lation of  air.  The  flowering  plants,  in  particular, 
should  be  allowed  ample  space — overcrowding 
always  leads  to  damping  and  decay  of  the  foliage 
and  flowers,  as  well  as  militating  generally  against 
their  well-being. 

For  our  correspondent's  purpose  flowering 
plants  will,  naturally,  be  the  more  important  and 
be  grown  in  the  greatest  proportion.  Chrysan- 
themums, which,  we  learn,  are  already  grown 
most  satisfactorily,  are  very  important,  and  their 
season  can  be  extended  by  growing  a  goodlv 
number  of  such  late-flowering  decorative  varieties 
as  A.  J.  Balfour,  Bertha  Lachaux,  Bronze  Cheer, 
December  Bronze,  Docteur  Enguehard,  Framfield 
Pink,  Heston  White,  Mile.  L.  Charvet,  The 
Favourite,  Tuxedo,  White  Queen  of  the  Exe  and 
Winter  Cheer.  In  an  average  season  these  ma>' 
be  safely  left  outside  until  the  larger-flowered 
November  sorts  have  finished  flowering. 

In  the  greenhouse  of  mixed  plants  it  is  rarely 
wise  to  attempt  the  cultivation  of  the  Perpetual- 
flowering  Carnation,  as,  under  such  conditions, 
they  are  not  often  whoUy  satisfactory,  but  if  a 
few  are  greatly  desired  the  following  sorts  may  be 
grown :  White  Enchantress,  Lady  Northcliffe, 
May  Day,  Aviator,  Beacon  and  Triumph. 

By  potting  them  as  early  in  the  autumn  as 
possible  quite  a  number  of  spring  bulbs  may  be 
had  in  flo%ver  towards  the  end  of  the  winter, 
but  early  potting  is  very  essential.  Other  bulbous 
and  aUied  plants  which  wiU  be  of  value  include 
the  brilliant  Vallota  purpurea,  which  is  often  so 
beautiful  in  cottage  \vindow5  in  the  West  Country 
and  Imantophyllums,  better  known  in  gardens  as 
Clivias,  and  of  these  it  will  be  found  that  C. 
miniata  will  flower  first  and  be  followed  by  the 
greatly  improved  varieties.  LachenaUa  Nelsonii 
is   useful,    especially   in    that    the    flowers    last    a 


considerable  time.  Primula  kewensis  is  quite 
easy  to  manage  and  will  produce  plenty  of  yellow 
flowers  throughout  the  winter. 

There  are  several  Begonias  which,  if  grown 
out  of  doors  in  a  sheltered  half-shady  place  during 
the  summer  and  brought  into  the  greenhouse  in 
the  autunni,  will  continue  to  bloom  for  a  very 
long  time.  The  best  sorts  are  B.  fuchsioides  and 
the  B.  semperflorens  varieties.  The  improved 
strains  of  Streptocarpus  are  almost  perpetual 
flowering,  so  seeds  of  these  sown  in  the  spring  will 
provide  plants  that  would  flower  well  in  the 
autumn  and  onwards.  Bouvardias  are  also 
valuable  for  winter  cut-flowers,  and  with  an 
unheated  greenhouse  it  would  be  best  to  grow 
them  in  pots  during  the  summer,  rather  than  to 
plant  them  out  and  lift  them  in  the  autumn. 
The  pot  plants  can  well  be  plunged  to  their  rims 
in  an  ash-bed  during  the  summer  to  keep  the 
roots  cool  and  moist.  Coleus  thyrsoideus  will 
commence  to  open  its  beautiful  blue  flowers 
towards  the  end  of  January,  and  the  plants  may 
be  grown  similarly  to  the  Bouvardias. 

Well-budded  Azaleas,  both  of  the  indica  and  the 
Mollis  sections,  may  be  had  in  flower  towards  the 
end  of  the  winter,  and  although  Camellias  are 
quite  hardy  in  the  West,  they  are  also  useful 
for  the  unheated  greenhouse,  while  the  fragrant 
Daphne  indica  should  also  be  included. 

Generallj',  annuals  would  not  flower  early 
enough  for  our  correspondent's  pm-pose,  with 
the  exception  perhaps  of  Mignonette  and 
.\crocUniuni  roseum,  which,  if  seeds  are  sown 
in  August,  will  flower  early.  If  labour  and  space 
permit,  a  deal  may  be  done  by  growing  the  earliest 
hardy  shrubs,  such  as  the  Prunuses,  Pyruses, 
Forsythias,  MagnoUas  and  Viburnums,  in  pots. 
If  such  are  well  rooted  and  placed  in  the  green- 
house early  in  the  winter  they  will  flower  con- 
siderably in  advance  of  their  normal  season. 


SOME     EXCELLENT 
ANNUALS 

{Continued    from    page     386.) 

01-'  the  Love-in-a-Mists,  Nigella  Miss 
Jekyll  seems  still  to  stand  alone,  but 
I  she  has  a  very  dwarf  colleague,  called 
"  double  dwarf,"  which  is  really  ex- 
cellent for  the  front  of  the  border  or 
for  edgings.  Rich  dark  blue  with  just  a  hint  of 
purple,  each  flower  almost  Uke  a  miniature  Clematis, 
Nigella  hispanica  atropurpurea  can  hardly  be 
called  a  Love-in-a-Mist,  for  the  flowers  are  quite 
devoid  of  the  characteristic  "  misty "  greenery. 
Gilia  capitata,  like  a  large-growing  Sheep's  Bit 
Scabious  (Jasione)  next  claims  attention ;  then 
the  curious  Androsace-Uke  Leptosiphons,  aureus 
and  androsaceus.  Many  varieties  of  the  showy 
annual  Toad-flaxes,  Linaria  maroccana,  are  under 
trial.  Easily  the  most  attractive  is  the  brilhant 
"  crimson  and  gold,"  but  the  deep  carmine  rose 
variety  called  "  pink  "  also  is  very  attractive. 

Yonder  patch  of  brilliant  colotn:  can  only  be 
the  Crimson  Flax,  Linum  rubrum  grandiflorum, 
one  of  the  really  indispensable  annuals.  Near-by 
is  the  brilliant  golden  Bartonia  aurea,  while  those 
masses     of     cloudy     mauve     represent     Asperula 


azurea  setosa.  Here  is  Centranthus  macrosiphon, 
more  compact  than  the  perennial  Valerians,  and 
beyond  rows  of  rosy-pink  and  white  Hawkweed 
(Hieracium).  Those  cousins  of  the  Groundsel, 
the  annual  Senecios,  are  but  just  coming  into 
flower,  but  they  are  cheerful  little  plants,  even 
though  their  range  of  colour  does  run  in  bluish 
tones  of  pink  and  red. 

Of  many  sorts  of  Coreopsis  under  trial,  Drum- 
mondii  and  coronata  are  the  most  brilhant,  and 
these,  like  the  more  or  less  peretmial  C.  grandiflora, 
are  excellent  for  cut-flower. 

Here  are  the  Cornflowers  in  pink  and  white 
and  glorious  blue,  and  beyond  them  the  pigmv 
forms,  called  respectively  Victoria  Blue  and 
Victoria  Rose,  the  latter  quite  showy  and 
attractive.  That  species  yonder  with  more 
spreading  habit  and  larger  flowers  of  a  deeper 
blue  than  the  Cornflower  we  all  know  and  love, 
is  Centaurea  depressa,  the  "  King  of  Bluebottles." 
As  we  pass  quickly  on  we  notice  the  quick  to 
flower  Acrohniums,  very  pleasing  "  everlastings  "  ; 
Kaulfussia  ameUoides,  excellent  edging  plants,  in 
blue  and  crimson ;  and  that  quaint  and  tiny 
prostrate  Sunflower,  Sanvitaha  procumbens. 

The  large  patch  of  Sweet  Sultans  in  their 
several  colours  are  waiting  sulkily  for  finer  weather, 
but  the  bright-eyed  annual  Chrysanthemums  stand 
soIdier-Uke  in  rain  or  shine.  Of  these  the  most 
noteworthy  seem  to  be  Coronaria  Coronet,  with 
a  distinct  white  zone,  and  Coronaria  double  yellow, 
which  always  makes  one  wonder  as  to  the  value 
of  the  slow-to-flower  African  Marigolds.  Very 
excellent  are  the  mixed  strains  of  these  annual 
Chrysanthemums.  A  glorious  patch  of  yellow 
near-by  denotes  the  proximity  of  the  beautiful 
Corn  Maiigold,  Chrysanthemum  segetum  grandi- 
florum. It  would  be  easy  to  write  columns  on 
other  speciahties  under  trial,  but  these  notes  are 
already  overlong ;  so  we  will  pass  over  the 
Ornamental  Grasses,  the  "  Japanese  flower-garden  " 
mixture  and  the  mixed  seeds  generally.  We  will 
neither  stay  to  enthuse  over  the  brilhant  blue 
annual  Anchusa,  nor  the  blue  and  pink  Clarys. 
We  cannot,  however,  refrain  from  remarking  what 
an  excellent  fohage  plant  is  the  Giant  Hemp, 
Cannabis  indica  ;  and  a  Une  must  be  spared  to 
point  out  the  decorative  possibiUties  of  the  Red 
Mountain  Spinach,  Atriplex  hortensis  rubra.  With 
two  dwarf  annuals,  the  well  named  Oxahs  Cloth 
of  Gold,  and  the  minute  lonopsidium  acaule,  we 
must  conclude  these  notes,  merely  remarking  that 
the  very  complete  Antirrhinum  trials  elsewhere 
ill  the  grounds  are  alone  weU  w-orth  some  little 
expense  and  trouble  to  see. 

The  Reading  trials  are  carried  out  on  shallow, 
very  light,  hungry  soil,  full  of  stones  and  over  a 
subsoil  of  clean  gravel.  That  annuals  can  be 
grown  so  well  upon  it  should  be  a  great  encourage- 
ment to  those  would-be  growers  who  are  troubled 
with  shallow,  hungry  soils. 


A  Chinese  Hemlock  iTsuga  yunnanense  .— 

If  has  been  known  for  some  years  that  a  Hemlock 
Spruce  or  Fir  grew  in  Central  and  Western  China, 
collectors  having  sent  home  dried  specimens. 
More  recently  Mr.  E.  H.  Wilson,  collecting  on 
behalf  of  Messrs.  James  Veitch  of  Chelsea,  has 
succeeded  in  introducing  it  into  our  gardens 
Previous  to  the  advent  of  this  plant  only  three 
species  of  the  Hemlock  Spruce,  natives  of  the  Old 
World,  were  grown  in  this  country,  namely,  T. 
Brunoniana,  from  the  Himalayas,  which  can  only 
be  grown  outside  in  the  milder  parts  of  the  British 
Isles,  and  the  two  Japanese  species,  T.  diversifolia 
and  T.  Sieboldii.  Compared  with  the  two  last- 
named  species,  the  leaves  of  the  Chinese  plant 
are  much  brighter  green,  also  larger  and  not  nearly 
so  closely  arranged  on  the  twigs  as  in  T.  diversi- 
folia.    Another  marked  difference  is  that  both  of 


406 


THE     GARDEN. 


[August  12,  1922. 


the  Japanese  species  have  blunt-pointed  leaves, 
which  are  silvery  white  beneath,  while  in  the 
young  plants  of  T.  yunnanense  they  are  green 
beneath  and  taper  to  a  point.  Whether  these 
characteristics  will  disappear  with  age  remains 
to  be  seen  ;  certainly  in  a  young  state  the  plants 
are  very  distinct.  The  Tsugas  are  useful  subjects 
for  lawn  specimens  of  moderate  size.  The  Old 
World  species  are  not  so  tall  in  growth  as  their 
counterparts  in  the  New  World,  of  which  the 
best-known  tree  is  the  North  American  species, 
T.  canadensis.  Some  authorities  include  the 
Tsugas  as  a  section  of  the  genus  Abies. 

A  Useful  Clematis.  —  That  showy,  late- 
flowering  Clematis,  C.  jouiniana,  is  of  particularly 
vigorous  habit,  and  is  well  worth  growing  in 
gardens  where  autumn-flowering  plants  are  en- 
couraged. Its  origin  appears  to  be  something 
of  a  mystery,  though  it  is  probably  a  hybrid.  Some 
of  its  characters  suggest  that  C.  Davidiana  is  one 
parent,  while  C.  paniculata  or  a  form  of  C.  Vitalba 
may  be  the  other.  It  has  been  distributed  as  a 
variety  of  the  Himalayan  C.  grata,  but  is  distinct 
from  that  species.  Forming  strong,  sturdy 
branches,  it  attains  a  height  of  at  least  12ft., 
bearing  large,  deep  green,  five-parted  leaves, 
which  are  somewhat  like  those  of  C.  Davidiana  in 
shape.  The  flowers  are  borne  in  clusters  from  the 
leaf-axils  and  points  of  the  shoots,  the  upper  half 
of  each  branch  thus  forming  a  large  inflorescence. 
Somewhat  similar  in  shape  to  the  blossoms  of  C. 
Davidiana,  but  not  tubular,  the  flowers  in  this 
case  are  white  in  colour,  stained  with  violet  on  the 
outer  sides  of  the  segments.  The  flowering  ends 
of  the  branches  die  back  each  year  ;  therefore  a 
certain  amount  of  pruning  is  necessary  in  February 
in  order  that  the  centres  of  the  plants  may  be  kept 
free  from  dead-wood.  It  thrives  against  a  group 
of  rough  posts,  a  trellis,  or  over  an  old  bush,  and 
is  of  decorative  appearance  in  either  case.  Like 
other  species,  it  succeeds  in  loamy  soil,  and  is 
benefited  by  a  fair  amount  of  lime. 


A    Fine    Catalogue   of    Gardening    Books.— 

It  is  pretty  generally  known  among  book  collectors, 
librarians  and  literary  workers  in  hortic\ilture 
that  the  Massachusetts  Horticultural  Society 
possesses  what  may  be  fairly  described  as  the 
finest  library  of  its  kind  in  the  world.  Altogether 
it  contains  about  22,000  volumes,  and  in  addition 
there  is  a  unique  collection  of  about  1 1,000  nursery- 
men's and  seedsmen's  catalogues,  going  back  to 
a  period  of  150  years  or  thereabouts.  Nearly 
fifty  years  have  elapsed  since  the  last  catalogue 
of  the  Society's  hbrary  was  published,  and  there 
has  now  recently  been  completed  a  new  issue 
which  is  a  volume  of  the  greatest  bibliographical 
importance  from  the  horticultural  standpoint 
Part  I  of  this  invalualile  work  was  issued  a  few 
years  ago,  but  the  catalogue  in  its  entirety  has 
only  recently  been  completed.  It  forms  a  well 
printed,  nicely  arranged  large  quarto  volume  in 
dark  green  cloth.  There  are  587  pages  in  double 
columns,  the  authors'  names  being  printed  in 
heavy  type.  Part  I  is  devoted  to  an  alphabetical 
list  of  authors  and  titles,  the  arrangement  being 
very  full,  for  we  get,  first,  author's  name, 
followed  by  the  title  of  his  work ;  then  size, 
number  of  pages,  if  illustrated,  place  of  publica- 
tion and  date,  with  such  other  additions  as  may 
be  needful  in  various  cases.  The  contents  of  this 
part  may  be  summarised  as  follows ;  Preface, 
Explanation  of  Abbreviations  and  Signs,  Authors' 
Catalogue,  Additions,  Further  .Additions.  Part  II 
is  the  Subject  Catalogue,  the  contents  of  which 
are,  briefly,  Table  of  Subjects,  Subject  Catalogue, 
Con'ections,  Index.  There  can  be  no  doubt 
that  everybody  who  has  an  interest  in  horticultural 
literature  has,  in  this  remarkable  catalogue  of  a 
very  comprehensive  and  valuable  library,  a  work 


of  reference  tlie  like  of  which  does  not  exist  any- 
where in  the  world.  The  information  it  contains 
is  invaluable,  and  every  book  collector,  journalist 
and  literary  worker  in  horticultuie  will  find  it 
an  immense  help  if  he  can  place  it  upon  his  book- 
shelf with  his  other  reference  books.  The  price 
is  stated  to  be  $10,  and  the  work  can  only  be 
obtained  from  the  Librarian,  Massachusetts 
Horticultural  Society,  .-500,  Massachusetts  .■\venue, 
Boston,  Mass.,  U.S.A. 


ANSWERS 
TO  CORRESPONDENTS 


FLOWER      GARDEN. 

HOLLYHOCKS  DISEASED  (L.  M.  S.,  Chester).— 
The  cause  of  the  trouble  is  one  of  tln^  rust  fungi.  It  is 
not  likely  si;riou-;ly  to  injure  the  plants.  Hand-pick  the 
lowermost  leaves  and  burn  them.  As  soon  as  flowering 
bf'pins  to  go  off  pull  the  plants  up  and  burn  them. 

ANTIRRHINUMS  ATTACKED  (O.  B.  B.,  Twicken- 
ham).— Thi-  Antirrhinums  rtv  attacked  by  a  species  of 
Botrytis  which  has  destroyed  the  stems  just  below  the 
flower-spikes.  The  plants  were  in  all  probability  weak 
througli  some  cause,  or  possibly  dead  corollas  had  remained 
on  the  plant,  and  in  tlie  damp  weather  they  had  been 
attacked  by  the  fungus,  which  had,  as  often  happens, 
spread  thence  to  the  li\'ing  tissues.  This  fungus  forms 
resting  bodies  on  the  dead  tissues,  and  all  such  diseased 
material  should  therefore  be  burnt.  It  is  difficult  to 
suggest  any  really  effective  measures  for  the  control 
of  such  a  fiingus,  but  probably  the  brst  is  to  give  ample 
space  in  order  to  allow  air  free  play  among  the  plants. 

REPLANTING  DELPHINIUMS  AND  LUPINS  <C.  B.  W). 
— The  best  time  to  transplant  Delphiniums  and  Lupins 
is  during  September  and  October.  In  order  to  get  as 
fine  spikes  as  possible  especial  attention  sliould  be  paid 
to  the  border,  particularly  for  the  Delphiniums,  which 
delight  in  a  rich,  well  worked  soil.  Slugs  often  attack 
Delphiniums  during  winter  and  early  spring,  so  their 
depredations  should  be  guarded  against. 

SWEET  PEAS  UNSATISFACTORY  AND  OTHER 
QUESTIONS  (E.  F.  P.,  Penrith).— The  Peas  are  probably 
adversely  atfected  by  the  presence  of  water  too  near 
the  surface.  If  means  can  be  devised  for  getting  rid 
of  the  surplus  water  and  a  dressing  of  lime  can  be  given, 
we  think  Peas  should  succeed  with  our  correspondent. 
In  addition  to  Primulas  of  many  kinds,  our  correspondent 
might  grow  Trollius  sp..  Fern's  of  many  species,  some 
Spiraeas,  Phloxes  (if  not  too  shady).  Irises,  such  as  sibirica, 
orientalis  and  chrysographes,  Saxifraga  peltata  and 
Lysimachias.  Dusting  sand  moistened  witlj  parafhn 
al<ni2  the  row^  is  the  best  preventive  against  carrot  fly. 

BULBS  DISEASED  (W.  S.,  B.  S.).— The  diseased 
bulbs  slionid  be  carefully  picked  out  from  the  bulk  and 
burned  and  the  healthy  ones  should  be  steeped  in  a  solution 
of  formalin.  1  part  to  200  parts  of  water,  for  two  hours 
and  dried  before  planting. 


THE     GREENHOUSE. 

TOMATOES  ATTACKED  (H.  J.  R.,  Cornwall).— 
The  Tomatoes  are  attacked  by  black  spot.  All  thi- 
diseased  fruits  should  be  removed  and  burned,  and  care 
should  he  taken  that  the  watering  is  quite  regularly 
douti  so  as  to  avoid  the  danger  of  causing  the  cracking 
of  the  skin  of  the  fruit.  This  is  to  be  done  to  a  consider- 
able extent  by  watering  at  weekly  intervals  with  sulphate 
of  potasli,  in/.",  to  1  gallon  of  water. 


FRUIT     GARDEN. 

FIG  TREE  ATTACKED  ("  Fir ").— There  are  two 
fungi  on  the  Fig  shoots,  the  one  forming  red  pustules 
called  Nectria  cinnabarina,  the  other  with  grey  patches. 
Botrytis  cincrca.  Both  have  gained  entrance  into  the 
shoots  through  wounds,  and  avoidance  of  wounding  is 
the  most  important  measure  to  adopt.  Probably  also 
the  soil  for  the  flower  border  has  been  manured,  and  the 
trouble  has  doubtless  been  aggravated  by  this  treatment. 


FRUIT    UNDER    GLASS. 

GRAPES  UNSATISFACTORY  (Miss  L..  Somerset).— 
The  Orapt's  (Black  Haniburgh),  as  well  as  having  been 
attacked  by  mildew,  shew  evidences,  in  the  form  of 
"pitting"  and  shallow  sunken  areas,  of  unliealthy  con- 
ditions. Our  experience  is  that  where  the  range  of 
temperature  has  been  too  wide  and  where  the  heat  has 
not  been  properly  controlled  Vines  become  weakened 
and  readily  susceptible  to  disease.  Syringing  with  too 
cold  water  and  ineffective  ventilation  also  predispose  to 
disease.  Our  correspondent  would  be  well  advised  to 
pay  close  attention  to  cultural  details  as  a  general  safe- 
guard. The  rods,  after  pruning,  should  be  thoroughly 
drenched  with  a  solution  made  by  dissolving  lib.  of 
copper  sulphate  in  25  gallons  of  water.  This  should  bP 
applied  towards  the  end  of  November. 


KITCHEN     GARDEN. 

POTATOES  UNSATISFACTORY  (M.  B.).— Our  corre- 
spondent does  not  give  us  any  particulars  as  to  source 
of  seed,  varieties  doing  badly,  previous  i^ropping,  or 
cultural  treatment  and  manuring,  all  points  which  would 
assist  us  in  our  examination.  The  specimen  sent  shews 
general  dwarfing,  due,  possibly,  to  insufficient  feeding  ; 
evidences  of  root-feeding  insects  which  may  have  caused 
a  ■'  girdling"  or  "  ringing"  effect,  which  is  quite  enough 
to  produce  stunting  ;  evidences  of  leaf  scorch,  due,  possibly, 
to  lack  of  potash  manures  ;  that  the  tubers  were  suffering 
from  the  effects  of  a  slight  cessation  of  growth,  being 
followed  by  a  stimulation  to  rapid  gro^\■t]|,  an  effect 
due  possibly  to  drought  conditions  followed  by  rain. 
This  has  caused  growi:h  cracks  to  appear,  and  rot  has 
apparently  followed. 

CABBAGE  QUERY  (C.  B.  W.).— The  purplish  colovir 
on  the  out^r  leaves  of  seedling  Cabbages  is  caused  by 
their  ha\ing  received  some  check  to  their  growth,  but 
if  the  plants  receive  ordinary  treatment  afterwards  it  is 
not  detrimental  to  them. 

PARSNIPS  ATTACKED  (L.  M.  S.,  Chester).— The 
Parsnips,  though  containing  no  lar\'£e  on  arrival,  have 
apparently  been  attacked  by  the  carrot  fly  (Psila  rosae). 
This  fly  deposits  its  eggs  beside  the  developing  tap-root. 
These  eggs  produce  the  small  larvae  which  gnaw  at  and 
tunnel  into  the  roots,  often  causing  considerable  loss. 
It  is  probable  that  the  fly  is  attracted  to  the  young  Parsnips 
by  the  smell  of  the  bruised  plants  or  broken  rootlets 
at  thinning  time.  One  very  successful  grower  known  to- 
ns states  that  he  gets  practically  no  trouble  from  this 
fly  when  he  sows  his  seed  very  sparingly  and  does  not 
thin  out.  This  method  would  be  well  worth  a  trial.  If 
our  correspondent  must  thin,  however,  sprinkle  sand 
soaked  in  paraffin  along  the  rows  after  thinning  to  disguise 
the  smell  of  the  bruised  plants.  As  an  alternative 
powdered  lime  and  carbolic  might  be  tried.  Nothing 
can  be  done  this  year,  but  the  ground  should  be  cultivated 
deeply  and  thoroughly  before  next  year's  sowing. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

DESTRUCTION    OF    WEEDS    ON    POND    (C.    L.    H., 

Tooting).— ('aleulate  the  number  of  cubic  feet  in  the 
pond  and  multiply  the  result  by  (ij.  This  will  give 
approximately  the  number  of  gallons  of  water  in  the 
pond.  For  every  10,000  gallons  of  water  put  into  a 
loose  canvas  bag  2iozs.  of  copper  sulphate,  and  draw 
the  bag  across  and  athwart  the  pond  through  the  water 
until  all  the  copper  sulphate  is  dissolved.  ThJs  will  kill 
the  weed  without  injury  to  Lilies  or  fish. 


Established     1832. 

No  connection  with  any  other  firm  of  a  similar  name. 

VV&SONS 

Celebrated  BULBS 

For  Early  Forcing,  etc. 

Our   Illustrated    Catalogue   for    1922  will   be 
sent  post  free  on  application  to  our  offices  at 

Overveen, 
HAARLEM,      HOLLAND 


SINGLE     WHITE     ROMAN 
HYACINTHS  (the  earliest). 


NARCISSUS    PAPERWHITE 
GRANDIFLORUS. 


FREESIAS. 


DUTCH     HYACINTHS 

(Specially    prepared    for    Christmas 

flowering). 


IRIS    RETICULATA. 


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THE 


A.RY  of  tH» 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


ol.  LXXXVI.— No.  2648. 

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Fruit  Trees  and  Plants 


PERRY'S 

Hardy  Pl.\nt  Farms 

ENFIELD,  MIDDX. 


New  Alpines 
and  Perennials 

Complete 
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Hardy  Plants 
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R.  &  G.  CUTHBERT  IZstrl^y  ''"" 

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MIDDLESEX  "»"  '""^  beautiful 

varieties  post 
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LAXTON   BROS. 

Nurseries 

BEDFORD 


Strawberries 

and 

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Hardy  Plant  Nursery 
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Begonias 
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ARTHUR  CHARLTON  &  SONS  Bulb  Catalogue 

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408,  King's  Road 

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Forcing  List 
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etc. 


Garden  Sundries 


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Merchants  and 
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of  Horticultural 
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Alexandra's  Cu,'  for 
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LONDON,    S.W.I. 
Nurseries  near  Matlock. 
700  ft.  above  sea  level. 


Kock.  Formal.  or 
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Paved  P.iths  and  Ti  r- 
races.  Drives,  Tei  nis 
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soucied  in  any  part 
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fch.ub--.         Heathers. 

Alpines,    and 
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(Specialist  in  Garden  Planning) 

83,  High  Street 
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ANTIRRHINUMS      AND      PENTSTEMONS, 

by  A  J.  MAO8KLP.  A  practical  booklet  on  the  beat  methods 
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DUTCH 
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Also     NETTING    BRACKETS    for    protecting    WALL 
TREES  and   FRUIT. 

(For  Illustration  see  Next  Wtek's  Issue.) 


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HOUSE  «&  GARDEN    SUNDRIES   CO. 

Dept.  C.    Botolph  House,  10.  EASTCHEAP.  LONDON,  E.C  3. 


THE      SERVANTLESS      HOUSE 
AND     HOW     TO     EQUIP     IT. 

By  R.  Randal  Phillips. 

A  thoroughly  practir al  book  by  the  Editor  of  •■  Our  Homes  an( 
Gardens,"  showing  especially  what  ran  be  done  in  existim 
houses  to  secure  the  greatest  (omioit  in  the  most  etonomical  way 

Large  8vo.,  full  of  illustrations,  6s.  net.      By  post  €h.  6d. 

A   prospoclus  of  this  book  will  be  sent  post  free  on  applicatiox 

to  tlic  Manager.  '  Country   Life."  Ltd.,    i2(l,  Tavistock   Street 

Covent  Garden,  London,  W.C.2. 


No.  2648.— Vol.  LXXXVL] 


[August  19,  1922. 


EVERGREENS    FOR    VARIOUS     SOILS    AND    SITES 


THE  planting  season  for  evergreens  will 
shortly  be  upon  us,  indeed  where  very 
large  specimens  have  to  be  moved, 
possibly  without  previous  preparation,  it 
would  be  well  to  put  the  work  in  hand  at 
once-  Ground  for  permanent  planting  of  any  kind 
can  hardly  have  too  thorough  a  preparation,  but 
such  preparation  will  vary  considerably  with  the  soil 


which  it  is  proposed  to  plant.  Light  moderately 
fertile  loams  will  need  no  special  preparation  other 
than  thorough  trenching,  burying  the  turf,  if  any, 
face  downwards  in  the  bottom,  for  the  generality 
of  Conifers,  including  that  invaluable  hedging 
plant  the  Yew.  If  lime  free,  the  addition  of  a  fair 
proportion  of  well-rotted  leaf  mould  and  spent 
hot-bed  manure  or,  failing  these,  peat  will  suffice 


to  make  such  a  soil  suitable  for  Rhododendrons 
and  other  American  plants.  There  is  no  need  to 
incorporate  such  vegetable  matter  in  more  than 
the  top  foot  or  I5in5.  of  soil,  as  such  plants  are 
always  surface  rooting. 

Thin  soils  over  limestone  or  chalk  present  a 
problem  of  their  own.  It  is  difficult  to  keep  a 
sufficiencv  of  vegetable  matter  in  thenr  to  satisfv 


EVERGREEN    AND     DECIDUOUS    RHODODENDRONS     (AZALEAS)    IN     WOODLAND. 


408 


THE     GARDEN. 


[AuGKsr  19,  1922. 


even  such  unexacting  trees  as  the  majority  of 
Conifers.  American  plants  must  be  ruled  out 
entirely.  Even  the  provision  of  specially  prepared 
beds,  with  entirely  new  soil,  is  not  really  satis- 
factory. The  young  plants  soon  begin  to  sicken 
and  seldom  survive  for  more  than  a  year  or  so. 
Of  Conifers  the  undermentioned  usually  flourish 
when  once  estabhshed,  but  it  is  wise  to  establish 
them  in  specially  improved  compost  containing 
a  fair  percentage  of  decent  loam  in  the  first 
instance. 

Common    Spruce,    Larches    both    Enghsh    and 
Japanese,  the  Corkscrew  Fir  (Pinus  Pinsapo)  and 
those  other  splendid  Firs,  Picea  magnifica  and  P. 
nobilis   all  thrive  once  established ;   while  P.  Nord- 
manniana  is  spoken  of  favourably  by  some  planters 
on  chalk,  though  it  is  certainly  less  to  be  relied 
upon   than   the   others.     Of   Pines,   the   .Austrian, 
Corsican  and  Scotch  all  succeed  ;  so  do  the  Bhotaii 
Pine,   P.  excelsa — an  excellent  substitute  for  the 
Weymouth  Pine— and  the  Cluster  Pine,  P.  Pinaster. 
The    Maidenhair  Tree,   Ginkgo    biloba    is    chalk- 
loving.     Practically    all    the    race    of    Arbor-vita; 
succeed,      including      that      accommodating      tree 
Cupressusnootkatensis  and  most  Junipers,  including 
the  Savin,  the  Chinese,  the  Irish  and  the  Virginian. 
Cedats   have   also   been   satisfactorily    established 
on  chalk  though  some  find  the  Cedar  of  Lebanon 
more  difficult  than  the  Atlas  Cedar  or  the  Deodar. 
The  "  blue  "  variety  of  the  Atlas  Cedar  seems  as 
satisfactory  on  chalk  as  the  typical  green  form. 
The  Wellingtonia,  too,  once  estabhshed,  is  quite 
successful.     It  is  better  as  a  rule  to  dispense  with 
the   Lawson's  Cypresses,   which   ha\e,   during  the 
last  few  decades,  been  planted  far  more  lavishly 
than    their   merits   would    warrant.     The    typical 
tree,  however,  has  been  established  on  chalk,  also 
the  varieties    Triomphe  de  Boskoop  and  .■Mlumi, 
two  of  the  most  useful,  and  the  very  distinct  erecta 
viridis.      Cupressus     macrocarpa,      an      excellent 
hedging  plant  succeeds  on  limy  soils,  but  it  must 
be  remembered  that  this  species  is  hardy  inland 
only   in    the   south    and   south    Midlands.     Hollies 
will  not  survive  in  sour  soil,  yet   thin  soils  over 
limestone  or  chalk  need  some  improvement  before 
Hollies  will  really  thrive. 

Stiff  clay  soils  are  perhaps  more  difficult  than 
chalky  ones  to  furnish.  It  is  true  that  there  is 
here  no  class  of  evergreen  which  may  not  witli 
trouble  and  by  the  importation  of  more  suitable 
soil,  be  grown,  but  the  working  of  really  stiff  soils 
to  make  them  suitable  for  Conifers  of  any  kind 
is  a  serious  business.  Leaf  mould,  drift  sand,  road 
scrapings  (free  from  tar),  and  fibrous  loam — even 
that  from  the  top  spit  of  a  stiff  pasture  is  helpful- 
may  all  be  pressed  into  seivice  to  provide  that 
easy  root-run  which  the  fine  root  hairs  of  Conifers 
need.  Nor  must  adequate  ilr  linage  be  overlooked 
on  such  soils.  Laurel  alon-7  of  common  shrubs, 
excluding  Roses  of  course,  !lkes  a  really  heavy- 
soil. 

Of  flowering  evergreen  sin-. lbs  there  are  some 
which  will  flourish  in  alni.-i=*  a-r.-  hght  soil,  whether 
chalky  or  not.  Such  aic  il:c  lurberries,  probably 
all  species.  These  are  c-peci..  'i  valuable  because 
they  will  grow  in  partial  sli.ide,  though  some 
deciduous  species,  such  as  Berbcris  vulgaris  and 
B.  Thunbergii,  chiefly  valuable  for  their  autumnal 
colour,  should  not,  of  course,  be  planted  otherwise 
than  in  full  sun.  The  same  may  be  said  of  that 
now  large  group  of  species  cultivated  principally 
for  their  ornamental  fruits.  Such  are  B.  B. 
Wilson.-r,  subcauliata,  Prattii,  polyantha,  dicto- 
phylla,'  X  rubrostilla  and  the  almost  innumerable 
hybrids  of  these.  None  of  these,  of  course,  is 
really  evergreen,  but  like  the  Brooms  they  have 
a  furnishing  effect  in  winter  even  when  destitute 
of  berries.  The  Laurels,  including  the  Portugal 
Laurel,  should  have  limestone  or  old  mortar  rubble 
incorporated  in   the  compost  on  lime-free  soils. 


MOST  USEFUL   OF  FLOWERING   SHRUBS,   BERBERIS  STENOPHYLLA. 


THE   GRACEFUL    AND    ORNAMENTAL   ESCALLONIA   PHILIPPIANA. 


August  19,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


409 


The  Rock  Roses  (Cistusl  seera  to  thrive  on  any 
light  soil,  but  perhaps  they  withstand  frost  better 
oa  one  %\nth  a  fair  lime  content.  The  Escallonias 
are  equally  accommodating,  so  are  the  evergreen 
Euonymuses.  The  Escallonias  are,  of  course,  not 
hardy  in  colder  districts  and  the  e\ergreen  Euony- 
muses are  only  of  practical  use  where  sea  breezes 
can  reach  them.  .\11  evergreen  Privets,  the  Laurus- 
tinus  (Viburnum  Tinus),  the  Rose  of  Sharon 
(Hj'pericum  calycinum),  the  Yuccas  and  Lavender 
are  other  shrubs  asking  nothing  better  than  a 
fairly  light  soil. 

It  is  a  great  thing  to  know  which  shrubs  and 
trees  are  likely  to  succeed  on  a  particular  soil, 
but  it  is  vital,  in  addition,  to  know  which  of  the 
"  possibles "  will  yield  desirable  effects  in  the 
garden.  In  some  landscapes,  heavily  timbered 
with  deciduous  trees,  the  use  of  Conifers  at  all  is 
to  be  deplored  as  gi\ing  a  spotty  effect  and  so 
spoiling  an  otherwise  beautiful  view.  Such  sites 
are  few  and  far  between,  but  the  number  of  gardens 
which  have  been  planted  with  Cupressus  Lawsoniana 
and  its  varieties,  to  the  serious  detriment  of  the 
garden  itself  and  its  surroundings,  is  legion. 

Conifers  in  the  average  garden  can  only  be  a 
setting.  There  is  not  space  for  them  fully  to 
display  their  beauty  as  individual  specimens  and 
the  simpler  the  setting  and  the  more  it  is  in  keeping 
with  the  landscape,  the  more  satisfactory  will  be 
the  result.  Of  all  Conifers  the  Scotch  Pine  is 
most  in  keeping  with  the  scenery  of  our  less  pastoral 
counties.  The  reasons  for  its  comparatively  small 
use  are  probably  (i)  it  does  not  transplant  readily 
except  when  young,  and  {2)  it  does  not  grow  as 
rapidly  as  the  much  planted  Douglas  Fir.  The 
','alue  of  this  latter  tree  as  a  screen  for  shutting  out 
unsightly  objects  cannot  be  gainsaid,  but  it  has 
an  exotic  appearance  even  when  planted  in  a  grove. 
Its  colouring,  too,  is  overlight  to  form  a  satis- 
factory background  to  colour  so  that  some  more 
satisfactorily  toned  e\'ergreen  should,  ■  wherever 
possible,  be  planted  in  front  to  provide  the  necessary 
background.  The  Colorado  variety  has,  of  course, 
the  necessary  colour,  but  lacks  the  quick  growth 
which  is  the  principal  attribute  of  the  "  Douglas." 

The  Scotch  Pine  is,  on  congenial  soil,  a  rapid 
grower,  but  is  certain  in  the  long  nm  to  go  bare  at 
the  base  ;  so  that,  near  the  flower  garden,  space 
should  be  provided  in  its  case  also  for  lower  planting 
to  provide  a  solid  background.  Less  exotic  looking 
than  the  Douglas  Fir,  the  .\ustrian  Pine  "  furnishes" 
better  than  the  Scotch  Pine,  but  is  rather  funereal 
in  appearance.  It  also  must  be  moved  when  small 
and  even  then  is  somewhat  liable  to  be  uprooted 
by  strong  winds.  The  Weymouth  Pine,  Pinus 
Strobus  and  the  Bhotan  Pine,  P.  excelsa,  are  too 
sparse  in  habit  and  too  pale  in  colouring  to  make 
satisfactory  backgrounds. 

The  Cedar  is  a  fine  tree,  too  valuable  and  too 
distinctive,  of  course,  to  use  for  backgrounds, 
but  admirable,  despite  its  rather  un-English  effect, 
for  avenues  and  as  a  specimen  tree.  Despite  its 
most  attractive  appearance  when  young  the  Deodar 
as  a  grown  specimen  is  noticeably  inferior  to  both 
the  .-^tlas  and  Lebanon  Cedars.  How  many  fine 
Cedars  there  are  to  be  seen,  their  branches  almost 
touching  the  windows  of  what  should  be  living- 
rooms,  but  which  are  in  fact  little  better  than 
family  vaults  for  comfort !  The  owner  has  had 
to  choose  between  the  tree  and  comfort  indoors  and 
has  (from  a  tree-lover's  viewpoint,  not  unnaturally) 
chosen  the  tree.  Cedars  of  all  sorts  should  be 
kept  quite  away  from  the  house  and  in  positions 
where  room  can  be  afforded  them  to  develop  fully. 
This  means  that  space  cannot  be  found  for  them 
in  any  garden  less  than  two  or  three  acres  in  extent. 

The  Spruce  is  a  beautiful  tree  which,  if  allowed, 
will  retain  its  foliage  to  the  ground.  It  should  be 
planted  in  groups  rather  than  as  indi\idual 
specimens. 


PINK  AND  ROSE  EARLY  TULIPS 

Being  an  account  of  a  trial  at  Whitewell. 


ALTHOUGH  Darwin  and  Cottage  varieties 
claim  the  pride  of  place  nowadays  in 
our  gardens,  it  was  not  always  so.  We 
I  were  once  glad  enough  to  have  the 
^  "  earlies  "  to  give  us,  along  with  the 
Hyacinths,  the  first  reds  and  pinks  of  the  year. 
It  was  a  welcome  change  from  all  white,  yellow, 
purple  and  blue.  They  still  fulfil  the  same  purpose 
and  we  are  loath  to  banish  them  altogether.  There 
is  nothing  to  take  their  place  at  the  early  period 
of  the  year  when  they  are  in  bloom.  Not  that  I 
would  Umit  my  choice  altogether  to  pinks  and  reds. 
The  very  shape  of  their  flowers  provides  a  different 
look,  for  the  Crocuses  are 
past  and  over  before  it  is 
their  turn  on  the  stage. 
Then  sentiment  comes  in 
and  pleads  with  all  the 
force  of  a  Sir  Charles 
Russell  for  their  retention. 
A  garden  cicerone  ought 
to  have  a  tongue.  Is  it 
nothing  to  take  visitors  to 
see,  say,  a  patch  of  Couleur 
Cardinal,  and,  finding  that 
two  or  three  have  cast 
aside  their  demure  coats 
of  deep  crimson  and  plum 
and  appear  in  far  gayer 
dark  red  and  rich  yellow 
stripes,  to  point  out  how 
any  self  coloured  flower 
may  another  year  become  a 
striped  one  ?  Is  it  nothing 
to  be  able  to  say  of  any 
of  these  striped  earlies, 
"  It  was  such  flowers  as 
these  that  created  the 
mania,"  and  then  to  go  on 
and  tell  a  few  tales  of  that 
most  exciting  and  extra- 
ordinary time  ?  I  think 
it  is  almost  certain  that 
Semper  .-Augustus,  Admiral 
van  der  Eyck  and  the  rest 
were  Tulips  of  the  earh- 
type,  whose  counterpart 
we  get  now  in  Admiral 
Reinier  (red  and  white 
stripes),  Golden  Bride 
of  Haarlem  (scarlet  and 
yellow),  and  Fabiola  (rosy 
mauve  and  white  stripes). 
This  is  why  the  earlies 
always  appeal  to  me.  .Any 
broken  or  rectified  "early" 
is,   in  its  way,  a  modern 

replica  of  those  famous  flowers.  One  astounding 
fact  about  the  mania  time,  and  which  shows  how 
artificial  it  all  was,  is  the  fact  that  bulbs  in  the 
end  came  to  be  sold  by  weight !  Fancy  Sutton's 
opening  an  order  for  two  pennyweights  of 
Cottage  Maid,  or  Barr's  for  an  ounce  of  Prince  of 
.Austria,  as  if  they  were  peppermint  humbugs  or 
boiled  fruit  drops  !  Xo,  I  would  not  like  to  be 
without  some  earlies,  although  \isitors  to  my  garden 
find  them  few  in  number  compared  with  the  more 
important  and  more  popular  long-stemmed  Darwin 
and  Cottage  varieties.  I  take  them  up  in  relays. 
In  1920-21  it  was  yellows,  and  readers  may  remem- 
ber how  high  in  my  list  I  placed  Prince  de  Ligny. 
I  want  to  add  to  it  Rising  Sun,  Jaune  Supreme  and 
Hildebrand  of  the  lesser  known  ones  in  the  order 
named.  These  make  a  grand  quartet.  Last 
time,  in  1921-22,  I  went  in  for   the  pink  and  rose 


shades.  My  collection  of  thirty-six  varieties  was 
not  a  complete  one,  but  it  included  pretty  well  all 
the  best  known  ones  Uke  Cottage  .Maid,  La  Reine 
(this  is  not  pure  white  outside),  and  Jenny.  There 
were  quite  sufficient  in  the  long  bed  to  pick  from. 
Before  going  into  details  I  would  ask  readers  to 
remember  that  what  follows  applies  entirely  to 
their  behaviour  out  of  doors  and  that  this  last 
spring  has  been  a  very  rotten  one  for  these  early 
birds.  La  Reine  has  already  been  mentioned.  It 
is  grown  by  the  ten  thousand  for  forcing  for  market 
and  then  it  is  a  pure  white.  Outside,  however,  it 
develops  a  pretty  pink  edge.       It  is  rather  a  poor 


TULIP    PINK    BEAUTY. 

little  flower  in  itself,  but  it  has  a  peculiar  faciUty  of 
sporting,  and  unless  my  eyes  ha\'e  deceived  me  ii 
has  given  rise  to  a  good  many  novelties.  There  is  a 
pinky  set  and  a  rosy  set.  I  may  say  at  once  I  am 
not  very  keen  on  any  of  them.  Somehow  they  have 
too  unkempt  an  appearance  to  please  me.  Perhaps 
I  am  too  fastidious  about  shape  for  I  have  a  seedling 
Tulip  which  we  call  Rosy  Morn  which,  in  a  mass  is 
the  most  glorious  bit  of  colour  that  anyone  can  wish 
to  set  eyes  on,  but  alas  !  many  flowers  come  rough 
and  produce  more  petals  than  they  ought  to  do. 
I  am  inclined  to  scrap  it.  "  No,"  says  my  head 
man,  "  you  must  not  do  any  such  thing.  Let  us 
grow  it  on.  Such  a  lot  of  visitors  say  they  like  it 
just  because  it  has  not  such  a  strait-laced  look 
like  most  others  and  is  a  bit  uncon\entional.  For 
garden  decoration  it  does  not  matter  a  pin."  So 
Rosy   Morn's   life   is  spared   and  next  year  there 


410 


THE     GARDEN. 


[August  ig,  1922. 


wiU  be  a  goodly  stock,  and  it  ought  to  be  a  great 
sight.  I  hope  I  am  not  doing  the  sports  of  La 
Reine  an  injustice  in  saying  none  of  them  appeals 
to  me,  but  I  am  now  recording  my  personal  likes. 
Of  one  thing  I  do  feel  confident  in  writing  about 
them.  They  are  not  all  wanted.  They  are  too 
near  to  one  another  for  their  differences  to  be  really 
appreciable  in  a  garden.  Prosperity,  Flamingo, 
Ibis,  Rose  La  Reine  and  Ariadne  (rosy  sports)  are 
not  all  wanted.  Ibis  is  my  choice.  It  is  very 
bright  looking  and  has  a  more  decided  colour 
than  the  others.  Rose  Falcon,  Princess  Juhana 
and  Blushing  Bride  are  a  pinky  trio.  The  most 
taking  is  the  last  named. 

This  gets  rid  of  a  fair  proportion  of  the  trial.  Of 
the  others  I  plump  for  the  following :  Van  der 
Heist  (Princess  Wilhelmina  is  almost  identical  as 
I  have  them).  Rose  Tendre,  Alice  Roosevelt,  Rose 
.•\platie,  Roos  van  Dekama,  and  Pink  Beauty. 
Jenny  and  Proserpine  were  included  with  the  others. 
Both  are  excellent  for  bedding.  They  are  roses,  it 
is  true,  but  only  just.  Carmine-rose  they  are  often 
labelled.  But  then  Pink  Beauty  is  no  more  pink 
than  a  scarlet  hunting  coat.  But  as  Shakespeare 
(or,  as  a  learned  and  determined  E.xmouth  friend 
would  have  had  me  write.  Bacon),  says,  "  What's 
in  a  name  ?  "  If  Pink  Beauty  is  a  deep  rose — in 
some  Ughts  almost  red — it  is  a  grand  garden 
Tulip — a  veritable  "  Bobby  Spencer  "  among  its 
fellow  members  of  the  House  of  Pink  and  Rose. 
There's  no  agricultural  labourer's  look  about  its 
smart,  dapper  appearance.  It  no  more  looks  like 
one  than  my  Rosy  Morn  looks  like  a  florist's 
breeder  of  the  first  water.  Seeing  Pink  Beauty  in  a 
garden  for  the  first  time,  you  are  bound  to  ask, 
"  What's  that  ?  "  Rose  Tendre  I  have  long  known 
as  an  improved  Cottage  Maid  for  pots.  I  also  place 
it  above  that  well  known  and  popular  variety  for 
outside.  Rose  Grisdehn.  Alice  Roosevelt  was  new  to 
me.  It  is  a  particularly  delightful  shade  of  real  pink, 
large  enough  to  please  anybody  and  a  good  laster. 
In  early  life  it  is  very  nearly  a  self.  If  these  lines 
are  read  by  any  of  my  Dutch  friends,  I  would  very 
much  Hke  to  know  if  Van  der  Heist  and  Princess 
\\'ilhelraina  are  considered  to  be  synonyms  ;  if 
they  are  different,  there's  very  little  in  it,  so  little 
that  it  does  not  much  matter  which  one  has.  1 
feel  sure,  unless  the  wrong  bulbs  were  sent  to  me 
last  year,  that  the  R.H.S.  book  errs  in  placing 
them  in  different  colour  sections.  Much  the  largest 
patch  was  labelled  Van  der  Heist.  It  is  a  pointed 
flower,  deep  rose,  with  a  pale  fiame  on  the  exterior 
of  the  petals,  and  of  quite  a  respectable  height. 
It  w-as  in  full  bloom  in  early  May,  at  least  ten  days 
before  Pink  Beauty.  Rose  Aplatie  is  very  much  on 
the  dwarf  side,  but  it  is  a  taking,  square-shaped 
flower  and  attracted  me  because  the  pink  was  so 
much  paler  than  in  all  the  others  from  the  start 
to  the  finish.  Roos  van  Dekama — my  last  "spot  " — 
does  not  seem  to  have  been  in  the  R.H..S.  trials  in 
1914-15,  but  I  have  long  known  it  as  an  A  i  plant 
for  pots.  It  is  very  nice  outside,  too.  It,  like  Rose 
Aplatie,  is  rather  a  dwarf,  but  its  wide,  deep  rose 
and  pink  petals  give  it  an  air  of  distinction  and 
importance  I  think  a  mixture  of  Roos  van  Dekama 
and  Rose  Tendre  in  a  bed  would  be  most  effective, 
as  the  difference  in  their  heights  would  take  away 
that  stiff  look  which  cannot  be  avoided  if  one 
variety  only  is  used.  I  think  I  ought  to  mention 
R  ose  Due  van  Thol.  It  was  almost  over  when  I 
arrived  home  and  saw  it  for  the  first  time,  but  m\' 
gardener  told  me  the  pretty  little  pink  flower  had 
stood  all  the  rough  weather  without  turning  a 
hair. 

By  the  way,  can  anyone  tell  me  anything  about 
a  wonderfully  charming  and  distinct  small  double 
which  was  sent  to  me  for  trial  by  my  friend  Mr. 
Bull  of  Ramsgate  ?  He  describes  it  as  a  coral  pink, 
and  he  sent  it  under  the  name  of  Rose  La  Reine.  It 
is  such  a  pleasing  little  flower.      Joseph  Jacob. 


THE   REGELIO-CYCLUS  IRISES 


SO.ME  little  time  ago  (June  24,  page 
307),  you  pubhshed  a  photograph  show- 
ing one  of  the  beds  of  the  Regelio-cyclus 
Irises  as  grown  at  my  Zwanenburg 
Nurseries.  Judging  from  the  poor 
and  disappointing  results  the  Oncocyclus  or 
Cushion  Irises  mostly  give,  some  people  are  only 


REGELIO-CYCLUS    IRIS    POLYH\'MNIA. 


too  ready  to  think  that  the  Regelio-cyclus  behave 
in  the  same  way.  Much  already  has  been  said 
in  the  colunms  of  The  Garden  by  enthusiastic 
amateurs,  who  reported  their  experience  with  these 
Irises,  stating  that  they  were  quite  satisfactory 
and  flowered  well  for  years  in  succession  and  I 
once  more  venture  to  bring  this  topic  to  the 
front.  Our  Dutch  climate  is  by  no  means  so  rnild 
and  sunny  as  is  sometimes  believed  ;  we  had  a 
truly  arctic,  inclement  winter,  the  ground  in  our 
garden  was  frozen  more  than  ijft.  deep  and  our 
summers  are  mostly  cool,  with  more  cloudy  days 
than  bright  sunshine.  Notwithstanding  these 
facts  the  Regelio-cyclus  Irises,  which  I  have  now 
grown  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century, 
always  do  well  and  flower  very  profusely,  as  the 
photograph  clearly  showed.  It  is  no  exaggeration 
to  state  that  they  flower  more  freely  than  the 
common  Bearded  Iris,  which  certainly  give  a 
mass  of  bloom,  but  only  if  they  have  been  left 
untouched  for  some  years  ;  transplanted  rhizomes 
generally  want  a  year  or  more  to  get  estab- 
lished.    The  Regelio-cyclus    group,  which  requires 


transplanting  every  year,  gives  a  wealth  of  flowers 
the  first  season  after  being  planted,  coming  into 
bloom  at  a  period  when  all  the  tall  Bearded 
\arieties  are  only  just  showing  buds. 

It  may  be  that  their  success  here  is  partly  due 
to  our  porous,  sandy  soil,  full  of  lime,  but  on  the 
other  hand  cold,  wet,  hea\y  soils  are  just  as  un- 
suitable to  the  ordinary 
Bearded  Irises  and  any- 
one who  has  a  warm, 
sheltered  garden  in  good 
cultivation,  so  that  he  can 
grow  the  Bearded  Irises 
well,  can  safely  try  the 
Regelio  -  cyclus  varieties. 
Visitors  to  the  Chelsea 
Show  had  the  opportunity 
of  seeing  great  quantities 
of  these  flowers,  EngUsh 
grown,  and  cut  from  the 
open  ground  only  the  day 
before  the  opening  of 
the  Show,  which  proves 
that  they  do  not  want 
the  "  favourable  "  cUraate 
of  Holland  to  develop 
well. 

Readers  of  The 
Garden  who  are  not 
yet  acquainted  with  the 
iirigin  of  this  class  and 
wonder  why  the  Regelio- 
cyclus  class  always  does 
well,  as  corn-pared  with 
the  capricious  Oncocyclus 
group,  must  not  over- 
look that  they  have  been 
sa\'ed  from  varieties  of 
the  \'arious  Regelia  Irises 
(Korolkowi,  Leichtlini, 

vaga),  crossed  with  the 
best  forms  of  the  Cushion 
Iris  (iberica,  Lortetii, 
Susiana).  The  fovme- 
never  give  any  digr 
appointment,  forming  in 
one  season  big  clumps 
with  many  flower  stems. 
The  progeny  of  these 
crosses,  to  wit,  the 
Regelio-cyclus  group,  have 
inherited  the  tree-flower- 
ing qualities  of  the  seed 
parents,  as  well  as  the 
noble  shape  of  flower  which  distinguishes  all  the 
pollen  parents. 

Culture  may  be  briefly  summed  up  as  follows  : 
select  a  warm,  sheltered  spot  in  the  garden,  for 
preference  at  the  foot  of  a  south  wall,  and  work  it 
deeply  to  ensure  perfect  drainage.  If  the  soil  is 
poor,  mix  a  fair  quantity  of  old  pulverised  cow 
dung  in  it ;  if  the  ground  be  heavy,  use  plenty  of 
sharp  silver  sand  and  surround  the  rhizomes  with  it. 
This  will  facilitate  the  formation  of  roots.  Soils 
that  are  destitute  of  lime  must  be  mixed  with  finely 
crushed  old  mortar.  Plant  about  the  middle  or 
end  of  October  and  cover  the  rhizomes  to  a  depth 
of  about  3ins.  in  heavy  soils,  lin.  more  in  light 
soils.  Carefully  spread  out  the  fleshy  roots  attached 
to  the  rhizomes  without  huddling  them  together. 

Where  the  soil  is  on  the  heavy  side,  plant,  if 
possible,  on  a  slightly  raised  bed,  which  will  allow 
all  superfluous  water  to  drain  away  easily  in 
winter.  As  these  Irises  are  hardy,  they  require 
little  protection  in  winter,  but  to  prevent  the 
soil  getting  beaten  down  by  continuous  heavy 
rains,  a  covering  of  fir  boughs  will  suffice  to  keep 


August  19,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


411 


the  soil  soft  and  manageable.  About  the  middle  of 
July,  as  soon  as  the  foliage  shews  sif»ns  of  turning 
yellow,  lift  the  rhizomes,  leave  them  in  tlie  open 
air  for  about  three  or  four  days  to  ripen  off 
thoroughly,  cut  the  foliage  to  about  4ins.  from  the 
rrowns  and  shorten  the  roots  a  little.  The  rhizomes 
are  then  stored  away  in  an  absolutely  dry,  rather 
warm  place  (a  shelf  in  a  vinery  is  a  capital  spot). 
until  planting  timo  comes  roimd  again.  If 
necessary  the  clumps  may  be  di\*ided  then. 

The  variety  Polyhymnia,  ot  which  I  send  a 
picture,  is  one  of  the  best  of  my  recent  seedlings  ; 
it  is  the  result  of  a  cross  between  a  specially  large 


flowering  strain  of  Regelias,  found  by  my  collector 
some  years  before  the  war  in  Bokhara,  and  some  of 
the  best  Oncocyclus  forms.  These  flowers  are  nmcli 
superior  to  the  ori^nal  KorolUowi  varieties  as 
iiitroduced  by  the  Russian  botanist.  Dr.  Regel  of 
St.  Petersburg,  and  crosses  between  this  strain  and 
the  Oncocyclus  have  given  remarkable  results. 
The  variety  Polyhymnia  has  stately  stems,  aoins. 
tall  or  more,  and  bears  uncommonly  large  ilowers 
of  noble  Oncocyclus  shape,  with  well  rounded 
petals  of  a  delicate  creamy  white,  netted  and  veined 
all  over  with  pinkish  brown. 
Holland.  C.  G.  v.\n  Tuberc.en,  Ju.\-. 


THE    TALLER    GOTONEASTERS 


A    I.THOUGH  not  commonly  seen  in  gardens, 

/%        Cotoneaster    pannosa    can  claim   to  be 
/    %      one  of    the   best  of   its   race.     Hailing 
^"■^^     from    Yunnan,   the  home  of   so   many 
'  *    good  things,  it  is   perfectly  hai-dy  and 

of  the  easiest  culture  almost  anywhere.  C.  pannosa 
merits  a  foremost  place  among  its  clan  because  it 
is  not  only  a  free  and  handsome  berry  producer, 
but  because  of  the  graceful  habit  of  its  evergreen 
branches,  which  are  most  elegantly  tapered  and 
arched.  The  wine-red  stenis  prove  an  admirable 
setting  for  the  downy,  grey-green  leaves,  which  in 
their  turn  make  a  fine  background  for  the  bright 
crimson  berries.  These  fruits,  pear-shaped  and 
in  small  pendent  clusters,  are  yielded  so  generously 
that  it  is  not  an  uncommon  experience  to  see  every 
twig  on  a  large  bush  terminated  with  its  prettily 
poised  bunch.  Moreover,  since  birds  do  not  seem 
fond  of  them,  the  fruits  often  remain  on  the  branches 
until  early  spring.  C.  pannosa  grows  7ft.  to  8ft. 
high  and  makes  a  good  specimen  bush. 

C.  Franchetii  is  not  unhke  pannosa  in  stature 
and  general  appearance.  The  evergreen  foliage 
and  young  wood  are  rather  more  downy  and,  if 
the  bush  is  not  so  graceful,  it  excels  during 
the  flowering  period,  for  the  blossoms  are  rather 
larger  than  those  of  the  above-mentioned  and  they 
are  effectively  splashed  with  bright  pink  on  the 
outside.  On  close  inspection  they  resemble  tiny  wild 
Roses.  The  fruit  which  ripens  early  (September), 
hangs  well  and  is  a  pale  orange. 

.\nother  species,  introduced  about  twelve  year; 
ago,  which  has  rosy  ffowers  and  is  a  handsouK 
bush  when  in  fruit  is  C.  Zabelii.  So  far,  this  on'! 
has  not  attained  a  height  of  more  than  about  4ft. 
with  us,  the  several  fish-bone  branches  radiating 
upwards  and  outwards  from  the  base  like  the 
fronds  of  a  Fern,  but  it  will  doubtless  grow  higher. 
The  berries  are  pear-shaped,  bright  red,  and  the 
rather  broad,  rounded  leaves  are  a  grey-green  with 
white  undersides. 

In  foliage  and  fruit  C.  Dielsiana  runs  the  last 
mentioned  rather  close.  But  this  deciduous  species 
is  distinctive  in  its  habit  of  growth,  the  branchlets 
breaking  in  angular  planes  from  the  main  stems, 
as  in  C.  horizontalis  and  others,  a  feature  which  has 
given  the  species  the  syr.onyra  applanata.  Berries 
are  copiously  produced  upon  every  twig  and  they 
ripen  to  crimson  in  autumn.  Like  C.  pannosa,  this 
species  often  has  a  crop  of  self-sown  seedlings 
coming  up  about  it.  It  will  attain  the  proportions 
r-f  a  small   tree. 

The  evergreen  C.  salicifolia  floccosa  is,  as  its 
name  suggests,  a  willowy  shrub  of  exceedingly 
graceful  habit,  the  long  and  slender  whip-like 
ijranches  sweeping  over  in  a  charming  way.  The 
pointed  narrow  foliage  is  also  willow-like  and  the 
highly  glossed  leaves  are  rendered  still  more 
attractive  by  being  bronzed  above  and  white,  or 
nearly  so,  on  their  undersides.  This  Cotoneaster, 
in  common  with  the  ne.xt  mentioned,  appears  to  be 


rather  longer  coming  into  the  flowering  state  than 
most.  .\  specimen  here  is  some  5ft.  high,  but  it 
has  not  berried  freely  yet.  The  fruit  is  nearly  as 
large  as  that  of  the  Mountain  .Ash,  a  bold  crimson- 
red  and  produced  in  bunches  which  stand  out 
conspicuously  from  the  sparsely  foliaged  branches. 


FRUITING    SPRAY    OF    COTONEASTER    FRIGIDA 


C.  salicifolia  floccosa  was  brought  over  by  Mr. 
Wilson  from  Western  Szechuan  about  ten  years 
ago,  being  preceded,  I  believe,  by  a  few  years  by 
its  near  kinsman,  C.  rugosa  var.  Henryii.  This 
would  appear  at  a  glance  to  be  merely  a  much 
enlarged  form  of  the  other,  being  more  robust  in 
habit  and  bigger  in  all  its  parts.  It  has  not  yet 
berried  here,  but  the  fruit,  I  am  told,  is  not  only 
proportionately  larger,  but  has  more  orange  in  its 
crimson  than  that  of  its  lesser  prototype. 


In  C.  Simonsii  we  have  a  shrub  that  is  too  well 
known  to  need  descriptio;i.  It  is,  however,  one 
which  is  seldom  appreciated  at  its  full  worth,  for 
a  good  specimen,  a  dozen  or  more  feet  in  height, 
bearing  its  large  crimson  or  vermilion  fruits  when 
the  fall  of  the  richly  tinted  autumn  foliage  leaves 
the  branches  bare  is  a  cheerful  sight  at  the  end  of 
the   year. 

Not  unUkc  C.  Simonsii  is  the  evergreen 
species  C.  angustifolia,  now  called  Pyracantha 
angustifolia.  This  is  a  handsome  shrub  of  5ft. 
to  6ft.  and  a  good  wall  subject,  in  which  position 
it  will  often  go  to  a  much  greater  height.  It  makes 
a  brilliant  autumn  display  when  laden  with  its 
gorgeous  clusters  of  orange-yellow  berries.  A  good 
town  shrub. 

Though  seldom  seen,  C.  moupinensis  (bullata)  is 
well  worthy  of  wider  popularity,  for  though  its 
branches  are  somewhat  sparsely  foliaged  with 
"  blistered,"  pointed  leaves,  ain.  or  more  in  length 
and  half  as  much  in  breadth  and  the  flowers 
insignificant,  the  glossy  fruit  is  as  large  as  a  small 
Cherry  and  a  rich  blood  crimson.  These  berries 
are  borne  in  copious  flat  clusters,  but  they  un- 
fortunately afford  an  irresistible  attraction  for 
birds.  C.  moupinensis 
makes  a  large,  thin- 
habited   shrub. 

-Another  deciduous 
species  which  hardly 
attains  to  its  dimensions 
and  which  is  in  form 
more  akin  to  C.  Zabelii, 
is  C.  houpehensis.  The 
spreading,  gently  curved 
branches  of  this  shrub 
are  thinly  furnished  with 
rounded,  grey-green  leaves 
above  which  are  produced 
in  early  autumn  the  con- 
spicuous corymbs  of  white 
flowers.  C.  houpehensis 
has  not  yet  set  fruit  here, 
but  it  is,  when  in  blossom, 
one  of  the  most  notable  of 
its  race,  the  flower-clusters 
Jeing  not  only  large,  but 
of  good  pure  white  and  dis- 
posed along  the  branches 
after  the  manner  of 
Spirsa  canescens. 

C.  frigida  is  a  deciduous 
tree  some  20ft.  in  height 
with  abundant  velvety 
toliage  of  a  tender  shade  of 
green.  When  in  fuU  fruit 
this  is  a  most  handsome 
species,  certainly  among 
the  best  of  berry-bearing 
trees.  The  fine  bunches  of 
large  berries  are  a  vivid 
orange-scarlet,  but  birds 
like  them  and  they  do  not 
stay  long  should  the  eariy 
winter  be  severe.  There 
are  several  forms  of  C. 
frigida  marked  by  differing 
foUage  and  by  variations 
in  the  size  and  colouring 
of  the  berries. 
Though  usually  grown  as  a  creeping  shrub,  and 
often  unnaturally  pinioned  with  nails  and  wire 
against  a  wall,  C.  horizontalis  will  make  a  specimen 
of  considerable  size  if  allowed  full  freedom  for 
expansion  and  a  good  soil.  For  that  reason  I  am 
induced  to  include  it  here.  Its  excellent  attributes, 
the  fine  autumnal  leaf-colouring  and  wonderful 
fruiting  propensities,  are  well  enough  known,  but 
these  are  not  enjoyed  to  the  full  unless  the  shrub 
is,  as  I  have  suggested,  given  the  opportunity  oi 


412 


THE    GARDEN 


[August  19,  1922. 


disposing  its  long  "  mill-sail  "  branches  in  a  free 
and  natural  manner.  A  good  specimen  of  C. 
horizontalis  will,  under  such  circumstances,  cover 
an  area  with  a  diameter  of  12ft.  to  15ft.  Of  the 
variety  known  as  C.  h.  purpusilla,  which  is  said  to  be 
somewhat  smaller  and  denser,  but  otherwise  equally 
desirable,  I  have  had  no  experience.  But  the  quite 
prostrate  form,  originated  in  Mr.  E.  C.  Buxton's 
garden,  with  the  fish-bone  branches  disposed  in 
flat,  creeping,  horizontal  planes,  is  quite  as  large 
in  all  its  parts  and  as  robust  as  the  type,  a  shrub 
of  rare  beauty  in  habit,  leaf  and  fruit. 

The  latest  addition  to  the  horizontalis  family 
is  C.  h.  variegata.  This  is  a  distinctly  variegated 
form  of  the  type,  the  leaves  being  margined  with 
creamy  white,  which  alone  strikes  an  uncommon 
note  in  this  genus,  but,  in  addition,  the  variegated 
leaves  assume  wine-red,  purple  and  other  autumn 
tints  which  are  not  apparent  in  the  typical  plant. 
C.  h.  variegata,  for  which  we  have  to  thank  a 
French  grower,  is  a  %'aluable  addition  to  the  Coto- 
neaster  family,  but  whether  it  will  prove  to  be 
quite  so  free-growing  and  vigorous  as  the  original 
there  would  seem  to  be  some  reason  to  doubt. 

N.  Wales.  A.  T.  Johnson. 


SOME    GARDEN 
GROUPINGS 


M 


sort  Edinburgh,  or  Donard  seedling.  Edinburgh 
is  indispensable.  Here  are  some  groupings  from 
the  herbaceous  border — very  simple  ones,  mostly 
of  similar  colours.  Eryngium  Oliverianuin  with 
Montbretia  G.  Davison  ;  Monarda  didyma  with 
red  Pentstemons  of  the  colour  of  Newbury  Gem  ; 
Erigeron  Quakeress  with  or  behind  dwarf  purple 
Lavender ;  Lilium  croceum  with  Clematis  recta 
flore  pleno  ;  Ceanothus  Gloire  de  Versailles  with 
Aconitum  volubile,  Clematis  Perle  d'Azur,  and  a 
foreground  of  Potentilla  Friedrichseni  ochroleuca. 
This  last  grouping,  which  I  think  1  referred  to  in 
these  columns  some  years  ago,  is  certainly  very 
beautiful,  both  in  form  and  colour.  Ochroleuca 
is  better  for  the  purpose  than  the  ordinary  P. 
Friedrichseni,  being  paler  in  colour,  but  either  will 
do.  If  you  can  get  the  Clematis  to  grow  up  into  a 
tree,  say  an  Apple  tree,  behind  or  among  the 
Aconites,  so  much  the  better.  The  Aconites  will 
run  up  9ft.  high  or  more  and  will  need  very  little 


ANY  a  keen  gardener  has  no  liking 
for,  or  cannot  be  bothered  with, 
elaborate  colour  schemes  in  the 
garden ;  but  few  can  go  through  the 
gardening  year  without  noting  with 
extra  pleasure  at  least  a  few  happy  associations  of 
plants  with  one  another.  Here  are  some  notes 
of  groupings  that  have  struck  me  lately,  some  of 
them  accidental,  others  designed.  I  pass  them 
on  for  the  amusement  of  others  who  may  enjoy 
the  same  game. 

Early  in  the  year  nothing  in  any  garden  gave 
me  so  much  pleasure  as  a  mass  of  Crocus  Tom- 
masinianus  thickly  interwoven  with  Iris  reticulata. 
In  Mght  soil,  in  a  httle  enclosed  spring  garden, 
both  bulbs  had  multiphed  amazingly  and  the  play 
of  colour  from  pale  amethyst  to  the  deepest  violet 
purple  made  a  most  lovely  sight. 

Later  in  the  spring  I  noticed  how  well  the  grey- 
blue  flowers  of  Rosemary  served  as  a  contrast 
to  the  pale  yellow  of  Cytisus  precox.  There  are 
some  other  blue  flowers,  including  blue  Columbines 
and  Scilla  campanulata,  which  carry  on  ind  inten- 
sify the  colour  of  the  Rosemary. 

It  is  not  often  that  one  sees  that  wonderful 
shrub,  Berberis  Darwinii  used  in  perfectly  appro- 
priate company.  A  beautiful  planting  that  I  saw 
this  year  was  a  tall  tree  of  the  Barberry  leaning 
up  a  face  of  grey  rock  ;  leading  up  to  this,  on  either 
side  of  the  path,  was  Narcissus  Lucifer,  backed 
by  half  shadowed  clumps  of  the  giant  Crown 
Imperial.  The  orange  crowns  of  the  Narcissus 
took  up  the  colour  of  the  Barberry,  and  the  pale 
yellow  perianths  seemed  more  beautiful  in  that 
place  than  white  ones  would  have  been. 

•Another  grouping  which  I  noted  at  the  same  time 
was  that  of  Helleborus,  with  the  green-flowered 
Correa  virens.  But  this  is  a  planting  too  discreet 
and  colourless  to  be  of  interest  to  most  people, 
and  the  Correa  is  of  course  only  hardy  enough  for 
the  mildest  localities. 

Rosa  Hugonis  is  curiously  beautiful  in  the 
company  of  Solomon's  Seal ;  Dielytra  spectabilis 
and  Iris  flavescens  are  worth  adding  to  this  group. 
Escallonia  langleyensis  is  splendid  traiUng  over  a 
foreground  or  a  wall  planting  of  the  Red  Valerian. 
I  should  like  to  see  this  on  a  big  scale.  I  notice, 
by  the  way,  that  many  who  know  this  delightful 
shrub  do  not  know  the  paler  but  no  less  beautiful 


staking  if  the  Ceanothuses  and  Potentillas  support 
them  properly.  The  Ceanothuses  should,  of  course, 
be  cut  hard  back  in  the  spring,  leaving  those  at  the 
back  rather  taller  bushes  than  the  front  ones. 

Let  me  recommend  those  who  do  not  know  Lilium 
Pseudotigrinum  to  make  its  acquaintance.  In  the 
article  on  Lilies  in  The  Garden  of  August  5,  this 
species  was  omitted,  but  it  is  certainly  very  easy 
to  grow  and  of  the  highest  beauty,  much  more 
graceful  than  the  common  Tiger  Lily.  So  far  as 
1  have  tried  it  it  does  not  seem  to  object,  as  the 
Tiger  Lily  sooner  or  later  does,  to  a  chalky  soil. 
It  is  most  beautiful  in  colour  with  creamy  whitf- 
flowers,  such  as  Clematis  ITammula,  and  with  grey- 
green  foliage  such  as  that  of  Buckthorn. 

In  conclusion,  have  you  ever  used  Teucriurn 
fruiticans  (on  a  wall)  as  a  background  to  Gladiolus 
primuUnus  ?  If  not,  do  try  it  ;  it  makes  an 
incomparable  foil,  especially  to  the  pure  pale 
yellow  sorts  such  as  Canopus.  A  Painter. 


NATURALISING    DAFFODILS 


C.AX  one  ever,  I  wonder,  ha\e  too  many 
Daffodils  planted,  in  as  natural  a  way 
as  possible  in  httle  drifts  and  clumps 
among  plants  or  shrubs  in  the  mixed 
border  or,  space  permitting,  in  wide 
flung  masses  amid  thinly  planted  trees,  so  that  a 
\eritable    sea    of    golden    glory    results    and    one 


far  as  flowering  is  concerned  ;  the  bulbs  li\e  upon 
their  stored-up  energy,  but  the  overdraft  has  to 
be  met  and,  the  following  year,  if  flowers  are  poor 
and  sparse,  one  should  think  backwards  to  the  date 
of  planting. 

While   it   is   true   that   some   Daffodils   will  n"t 
thrive  for  a  period  of  years  in  the  cultivated  border, 


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DAFFODILS     NATURALISED     AT     WARLEY     PLACE. 


almost  loses  sight  of  the  grass  in  which  they  are 
growing. 

At  this  season  the  Daffodil  cycle  of  growth 
starts  afresh.  Pictures  like  those  on  this  page  do 
not  "  happen,"  they  are  created  by  the  flower 
lover.  Nature  is  always  ready  to  back  our  efforts, 
however,  and  respond  to  our  attempts  ;  even,  in 
many  cases,  in  time  largely  to  correct  our  errors, 
Imt  she  exacts  a  certain  amount  of  effort  on  our  side 
before  she  pays  the  reward. 

A  golden  rule  is  to  plant  the  bulbs  early.  This 
season  the  work  may  be  put  in  hand  at  once  since 
abundant  rains  have  made  soft  the  ground.  Late 
planting  may  not  shew  so  badly  the  first  year,  Sq 


I  do  not  believe  that  there  is  a  single  one  that  will 
nut  do  so  in  grass  ;  it  is  the  natural  home  and  one 
and  all,  without  exception,  do  remarkably  well 
in  it.  Should  you  be  so  happily  placed  that  you 
have  a  piece  of  undulating  ground,  by  all  means 
seize  upon  it — you  cannot  possibly  improve  upon 
this  ;  the  small  hillock,  dipping  into  a  miniature 
valley,  is  a  possession  to  prize. 

By  all  means  include  as  many  classes  as  possible, 
for  thus  will  naturalised  Daffodils  give  the  greatest 
possible  display  of  bloom.  Glorious  trumpets, 
yellow,  white  and  bicolored,  incomparabilis  with 
short  cups  and  yellow  or  white  perianths,  Barrii, 
starry  Leedsii  with  white  perianths  and  cream  or 


ArcusT  19,  1922. 


THE     GARDEN. 


413 


citron  cups,  tinged  with  pink  or  apricot, 
Jon'juils,  Poeticus  and  double  forms,  one  and 
all  must  be  pressed  into  service  if  the  broadest, 
most  perfect  and  most  lasting  pictures  are  to  be 
procured. 

Another  thing  to  which  too  great  importance 
cannot  be  attached  is  natural  grouping.  No 
formality  must  appear  anywhere.  Take  the  bulbs 
by  handfuUs,  fling  them  from  you  across  the 
ground  they  are  to  occupy,  plant  where  they  fall 
and  one  can  make  but  little  mistake. 

The  following  list  of  excellent,  reasonably  priced 
Narcissi  for  naturalising  includes  varieties  to  give 
at  once  the  longest  possible  display  and  the  best 
possible  massed  effect  consistent  with  such  length 
of  flowering. 

The  earhest  varieties  to  flower  of  those  suitable 
for  naturalising  under  turf  are  Golden  Spur, 
Henry  Irving  and  the  gigantic,  but  not  yet  very 
low  priced.  King  .Alfred.  Flowering  at  about  the 
same  time  there  are  the  dwarf  golden  yellow 
Nanus,  beautiful  on  a  grassy  bank,  and  the 
delightful  creamy-white  Moschatus  of  Haworth, 
which  will  flourish  in  cool  soil  in  semi-shade  or  011 
a  bank  with  a  north  aspect,  .-^bout  the  same  time 
there  flowers  the  Tenby  Daffodil  (obvallaris), 
which  also  does  best  in  partial  shade  and  is  quite 
ideal  for  naturalising. 

A  little  later  than  those  just  mentioned  comes 
Lobularis,  an  admirable  dwarf  bicolor,  for  half 
shady  banks  where  its  beauty  can  properly  be 
appreciated.  Still  a  little  later  and  the  Lent  Lily 
of  our  own  damp  meadowlands  is  in  flower.  This 
is  quite  easy  to  naturalise  in  damp  grassland  or 
not  too  shady  woodland,  though  it  always  proves 
a  failure  in  the  garden  proper.  At  the  same 
season,  the  creamy-white  trumpet  variety,  W.  P. 
Milner,  is  at  its  best,  also  the  showy  and  magnificent 
Sir  Watkin,  an  incomparabilis  with  all  the  sub- 
stance and  texture  of  a  giant  trumpet.  Among 
bicolors  flowering  at  the  same  time  is  the  fine 
Glory  of  Noordwijk,  while  that  early  Leedsii, 
The  Dove,  will  be  little  if  any  behind.  In  a  warm 
comer  those  two  fragrant  Jonquils,  the  Camper- 
nelle  and  rugulosus,  will  also  be  in  flower  at  the 
same  season. 

Now  the  Daffodil  season  approaches  its  height 
with  Emperor  and  Empress,  both  good  enough  in 
quality  for  the  most  fastidious  and  both  wonderfulh' 
free  to  flower,  giving  of  their  best.  Quite  different 
from  Empress,  though  belonging  to  the  same 
section,  is  the  graceful  white  and  primrose 
William  Goldring.  Among  the  incomparabilis 
varieties,  Beauty  and  Frank  Miles  are  good 
and  cheap  ;  while  of  the  Barrii  flowering  with 
Emperor,  Firebrand,  Seagull  and  Gay  Hussar 
are  worthy  of  mention.  Excellent  cheap  and 
beautiful  Leedsiis  include  .Ariadne,  Bridesmaid, 
Janet  Image,  Mrs.  Langtry,  Mountain  Maid  and 
Watervvitch.  For  grassland  under  trees  or  in 
partial  shade  the  beautiful  Queen  of  Spain  is 
waiting. 

Just  a  little  later  and  the  almost  white  trumpei, 
Mme.  de  Graaf  is  in  flower,  with  such  Leedsii  forms 
as  Duchess  of  Westminster,  Una  and  Undine,  and 
Barrii  varieties  such  as  Conspicuus,  Cceur  de 
Lion,  Lady  Godiva  and  Royal  Star.  That  beautiful 
Poeticus  variety  Horace  also  flowers  now,  but  is 
still  not  cheap  enough  for  most  people  to  naturalise 
it  extensively,  but  the  more  starry  and  fragile 
ornatus  is  cheap  enough. 

Next  come  the  generality  of  the  Poeticus  sorts, 
including  Cassandra,  Glory  of  Lisse,  Herrick 
(very  fine).  White  Standard  and,  a  little  later,  the 
fine  old  Pheasant's  Eye,  Poeticus  recurvus. 
Flowering  with  this  is  that  excellent  late  Leedsii 
Royal  Lady.  These  close  the  season  aniess  one 
except  the  tiny  fragrant  Jonquil-Uke  gracilis, 
which  flowers  quite  at  the  end  of  May  and  likes  a 
sheltered  grassy  bank.  C. 


A    WOODLAND    PATH. 


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BY    THE    LAKESIDE. 


FROM    THE    WATER  S    EDGE.       THREE    VIEWS    AT    GRAVETYE    M.ANOR. 


414 


THE   GARDEN. 


[August  19,  1922 


ANNUALS,  GLADIOLI  and  PHLOXES 

The  Fortnightly  Meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticuhwal  Society. 


THE  R.H.S.  meeting  at  Vincent  Square 
on  August  9  last  might  have  included 
a  "  dry-bulb  "  show,  but  in  view  of  the 
lack  of  support  previous  shows  received, 
the  idea  was  abandoned  and  in  place  of 
it  an  ordinary  meeting  was  arranged,  at  which 
informal  exhibits  of  home-grown  bulbs  would  be 
welcomed.  This  enforced  abandonment  of  the 
annual  displays  of  home-grown  bulbs  is  unfortunate 
and  seems  inexplicable  in  view  of  the  very  large 
acreage  devoted  to  'Dutch"  bulb  culture  in 
various  parts  of  our  islands.  It  may  be  that  the 
industry  is  so  thriving  as  to  need  no  advertisement 
or  assistance.  Indeed,  it  is  conceivably  so  at  the 
moment.  It  is  quite  probable  that  the  cut  flower 
trade  could  absorb  the  total  output.  If  this  is 
so,  well  and  good,  though  scarcely  good  enough, 
for  the  time  will  certainly  arrive  when  the  supply 
will  exceed  this  demand.  We  are  well  aware  that 
a  part  of  the  present  output  does  find  an  outlet 
in  sales  to  amateurs  for  general  garden  purposes. 
For  this  the  growers  seem  to  rely  on  their  exhibits 
of  flowers  in  their  season.  It  seems  to  us,  however, 
that  the  flowering  season  is  not  quite  the  right 
time  to  impress  on  potential  buyers  the  great 
excellence    of    home-grown    Daffodil    and    Tulip 


bulbs.  It  is  just  previous  to  the  buying  season 
that  the  purchasing  public  begin  to  consider  bulbs. 
This  being  so,  such  an  opportunity  as  that  afforded 
by  the  R.H.S.  shows  of  dry-bulbs  ought  to  have 
been  of  immense  value  to  the  industry  and  on 
this  account  we  deplore  its  neglect.  It  may  be 
that  the  awards  offered  by  the  R.H.S.  were  not, 
in  tliemselves,  sufficient  to  induce  competition, 
though  a  medal  award  should  not  be  the  whole  end 
and  aim  of  a  trade  exhibitor.  At  the  meeting  under 
notice  the  only  exhibit  of  home-grown  bulbs  was 
from  a  private  garden.  Mrs.  VVallis  Toller,  Wood- 
side,  Weybridge,  sent  a  collection  which  included 
nearly  all  the  spring  flowering  bulbs  that  can  be 
grown  in  this  country  and  although  some  of  the 
bulbs  and  tubers  were  perhaps  a  trifle  small,  they 
were  sound  and  firm  and  surely  deserving  of  some- 
official  recognition. 

The  floral  exhibits  were  of  the  usual  character, 
except  that  Orchids  were  much  fewer  than  at 
previous  meetings.  That  two  gold  medals  were 
awarded  is  an  unusual  occurrence  at  this  time  of  the 
year.  The  collection  of  hardy  annuals,  sent  by 
Messrs.  Sutton,  was  considered  by  several  of  the 
judges  to  be  the  finest  that  has  ever  been  seen  at 
the  hall,  though  we  are  inclined  to  the  opinion  that 


the  Reading  firm's  exhibit  of  two  years  ago  was 
even  more  pr.iiseworthy.  On  the  present  occasion 
it  was  very  beautiful,  however,  and  full}'  illustrated 
what  a  wealth  of  annuals  we  may  draw  upon  to 
make  our  gardens  beautiful  at  comparatively  little 
expense,  even  during  such  an  unfavourable  season 
as  this.  There  were  aimuals  for  all  tastes  and  for 
all  purposes,  tho\igh  for  striking,  floral  effect  it 
was  the  handsome  baskets  of  Lavatera  Loveliness 
and  the  large  vases  of  annual  Lupins  that  were  so 
very  successful  while  quieter  and  perhaps  more 
artistic  effect  was  piovided  by  the  Shirley  Poppies 
which,  in  both  single  and  double  forms,  included 
many  delightful  shades  of  colour.  Marigolds  hav.' 
long  been  favourite  garden  flowers  and  of  these 
there  were  the  rich  orange  variety  of  the  old- 
fashioned  type  as  well  as  the  massive  double 
African  and  the  smaller  compact  flowers  of  Legion 
d'Honneur.  The  blue  Love-in-a-Mist  is  very  well 
known  and  was  represented  by  a  large  vase  delight- 
fully arranged,  but  the  white  variety  was  new  to 
many  visitors,  as  also  was  .Arctotis  grandis,  which 
is  really  quite  an  old  annual.  Viscaria  Pink  Beauty 
and  Larkspur  Pink  Pearl  are  two  very  elegant 
annuals  of  charming  colouring.  Space,  however, 
does  not  permit  the  mention  of  a  tithe  of  these 
gold  medal  annuals,  which  included  almost  every 
one  of  those  worth  growing. 

The  other  gold  medal  was  awarded  to  Mr.  H, 
J,  Jones  for  a  collection  of  herbaceous  Phloxes. 
At    several    meetings    Mr.    Jones    has    arranged 


AN    EXTRAORDINARY    DUTCHMAN  S    PIPE,    ARISTOLOCHIA    GIGAS 

STURTEVANTII. 


A    GRAND    ADDITION    TO    HERBACEOUS  "  SPIR^AS. 
KING    ALFRED 


ASTILEE 


August  iq,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


415 


excellent  exhibits  of  this  showy  and  valuable 
plant  and  this  medal  is  a  very  appropriate  reward 
for  the  whole  series.  The  bright  colours  of  such  as 
C.  Edwards,  Homeland,  Scarlet  Gem,  Imperator 
and  Jules  Sandeau  were  exceedingly  pleasant  to 
look  upon  during  the  dull  afternoon. 

Gladioli  came  next  in  importance  and  of  these 
handsome  flowers  Messrs.  Kelway  had  the  largest 
collection.  They  shewed  a  great  many  of  the  best 
large-flowered  sorts  and  also  some  very  graceful 
Primulinus  hybrids.  The  latter  were  expecially 
good  in  a  collection  of  iMessrs.  Lowe  and  Gibson, 
who  had  vases  of  Zenobia,  Insurpassable,  Regulus 
and  many  others,  with  some  large-flowered  kinds, 
among  which  the  remarkably-coloured  Fieldmousc 
was  noteworthy.  Decorative  spikes  of  Primulinus 
hybrids  were  also  shown  by  Major  G.  Churcher. 

.Among  the  border  flowers  was  a  good  vase  of  the 
Californian  Poppy,  Romneya  Coulteri,  shown  by 
Mr.  G.  R.  Downer,  and  there  were  several  splendid 
Kniphofias  with  the  elegant  Poterium  obtusatum 
in  a  collection  by  Messrs.  M.  Prichard  and  Son.  A 
goodly  vase  of  .Mlium  sphaprocephalum  was  note- 
worthy in  the  group  arranged  by  Mr.  G.  Reuthe. 
This  round-headed  species  has  had  a  ready  sale 
at  Covent  Garden  lately.  It  is  a  native  of  South 
Europe,  but  the  bunches  on  sale  were  mostly 
grown  in  Holland.  They  were  exceptionally 
vigorous  and  unless  bruised  one  did  not  notice  the 
"  oniony  "  smell. 

At  the  end  of  the  hall  under  the  clock  were 
three  very  distinctive  exhibits.  Messrs.  J.  Mac- 
Donald  and  Sons  made  a  pretty  little  garden 
solely  of  Grasses,  somewhat  on  the  style  of  their 
Chelsea  exhibit.  Messrs.  J.  Vert  and  Sons  brought 
some  of  the  magnificent  Hollyhocks  for  which  they 
are  noted.  These  were  all  double-flowered  varie- 
ties, and  the  tall  stems  were  thickly  studded  with 
fully  double  flowers  which  possessed  the  outer 
*'  guard  "  petals  without  which  the  old  time  florist 
would  have  spurned  any  Hollyhock,  no  matter 
how  beautiful  its  colour  might  be.  By  the  stairs 
Messrs.  G.  Bunyard  and  Co.,  had  a  small  but  very 
choice  collection  of  pot  fruits,  all  illustrating  high 
cultivation.  There  were  Pears,  Apples,  Plums  and 
Figs,  all  first  rate,  and  the  Pears  surpassingly  good. 
The  bushes  of  Marguerite  Marillat  bore  immense, 
perfectly  shaped  fruits.  The  varieties  of  Apple 
shown  were  Rival,  Rev.  W.  Wilks  and  Peasgood's 
Nonsuch,  while  of  Plums  there  were  Monarch, 
Late  Orange  and  Victoria. 

In  another  part  of  the  hall  Sir  James  Knott, 
Bart.,  Close  House,  Wylam-on-Tyne,  sent  from 
his  gardens  over  sixty  dishes  of  Gooseberries. 
This  was  the  largest  collection  that  has  been  seen 
at  the  hall  for  a  considerable  time  and  it  received 
a  deal  of  deserved  admiration.  The  large  fruited 
sorts  included  such  well  known  names  as  Leveller, 
Overseer.  Speedwell,  ColUe's  Lane  Leader  and 
Matchless,  and  there  was  also  a  dish  of  the  luscious 
Uttle  yellow  Champagne.  Adjoining  the  excellent 
Gooseberries  there  were  several  dishes  of  equally 
meritorious  Red  and  White  Currants. 

From  their  Wisley  trials  the  Society  sent  up 
specimens  of  all  the  Turnip-rooted  Beet  that 
received  awards  of  merit  and  these  so  impressed 
the  Committee  that  the  collection  received  a  card  of 
cultural  recommendation. 


Astilbe  King  Alfred. — This  is  one  of  the  tallest 
of  the  hardy  herbaceous  "  Spir^as,"  the  flower 
spikes  rising  fully  6ft.  in  height.  The  fastigiate, 
almost  congested  habit  of  the  flower  spikes  suggests 
Astilbe  Davidii  parentage.  The  long  plume-like 
inflorescences  are  composed  of  myriads  of  creamy- 
A'hite    flowers    on    chestnut    coloured    stems.     .An 


NEW    AND    R.4RE    PL.^NI'.S. 

Aristolochia  gigas  Sturtevantii. — A  vigorous 
plant  f<f  this  trfjpical  climber,  bearing  a  fully 
expanded  flower  and  several  large  buds,  was  shown. 
The  uncommon  appearance  of  the  enormous 
perianth,  with  its  curiously  contracted  tube  and 
long  tail  attracted  much  attention  in  spite  of  its 
unpleasant  odour.  A  good  specimen  is  in  flower 
on  the  roof  of  the  Victoria  regia  house  at  Kew. 
Shown  by  Messrs.  L.  R.  Russell,  Limited. 


Gladiolus  Butter  Boy. — A  well  disposed  spike 
of  a  Primulinus  hybrid.  The  flowers  are  rather 
less  hooded  than  usual,  but  the  Primulinus  parent- 
age is  quite  obvious.  The  colour  is  pale  golden 
yellow  with  tw'o  narrow  crimson  lake  lines  on  the 
lower  segment.  .Aw'ard  of  merit  to  -Messrs.  Lowo 
and  Gibson. 

Gladiolus  Red  Fire. — A  most  brilliant  spike  of 
living  scarlet-crimson  colour.  As  is  the  case  with 
the  previous  variety  the  flowers  are  well  disposed 
and  they  have  an  unusual  amount  of  substance. 
Both  will  be  valuable  for  the  garden  and  as  cut 
flowers.  .Award  of  merit  to  Messrs.  Lowe  and 
Gibson. 

KniphoOa  C.  M.  Prichard.— .A  tall  stately 
spike  of  bright  yellow  flowers.  This  is  an  exceed- 
ingly effective  variety  in  the  garden.  Award  of 
of  merit  to  Messrs.  M.  Prichard  and  Son. 

Kniphofla  Rouge  et  SoufTre. — This  is  the 
handsome  vermilion-scarlet  and  yellow  variety 
so  greatly  admired  at  the  pre\"ious  meet- 
ing. .Award  of  Merit  to  Messrs.  M.  Prichard  and 
Son. 

KniphOfia  July  Sun.— -A  long  and  somewhat 
slender  spike  of  brilliant  \'erniilion-scarlet  flowers. 
Shown  by  Messrs.  M.  Prichard  and  Son. 

Lewisia  Wisley  Seedling. — This  quaint  httie 

plant  is  said  to  be  the  first  genuine  hybrid  and  was 
raised  from  L.  Cotyledon  and  L.  oppositifolia.  It 
bears  well  flowered  6in.  to  Sin.  spikes  of  widely 
expanded  flowers,  which  are  about  fin.  across. 
They  are  of  creamy  white  colour 
magenta  lines,  giving  a  rosy  pink  effect, 
certificate  to  the  Director,  R.H.S 
Wisley. 

Stokesia  cyanea  praecox  Perry's  Purple. — 
This  is  a  freer  and  earlier-flowering  variety  of  the 
.American  Aster-like  Stokesia  cyanea.  The  flowers 
are  nearly  .^ins.  across  and  of  a  dark  bluish-purple. 
An  uncommon  and  attractive  herbaceous  perennial. 
.Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  Amos  Perry. 


THE    BRILLIANT    GLADIOLUS    RED    FIRE. 

admirable   plant.     .Award   of  merit   to   Messrs.    M. 
Prichard  and  Son. 
Astilbe  simplicifolia  hybrida  rosea.— In  general 

appearance  this  is  a  more  vigorous  Astilbe  sim- 
plicifolia and  so  is  a  valuable  garden  plant.  The 
rosy  coloured  spikes  were  freely  borne  on  a  plant 
in  a  5in.  pot.  A  white  variety  of  elegant  habit 
was  also  shown.  The  rosy  variety  was  the 
more  robust,  but  both  are  quite  twice  the 
height  of  the  type  plant.  .Award  of  merit  to 
Mr.  G.  Reuthe. 

Asplenium  F.  f.  angustatum  medio-decipiens 
corymbiferum. — It  was  sapiently  suggested  that 
this  name  rjiight,  for  general  purposes,  be  con- 
siderably shortened.  The  plant,  however,  is 
a  very  beautiful  and  uncommon  hardy  Fern. 
The  pleasantly  green  fronds  are  about  iSins. 
long  and  the  ends  of  the  pinna;  are  deli- 
cately crested.  .Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  Amos 
Perry. 

Cattleya   Eleanore   var.   Prince  of  Wales. — 

A  well  grown  plant  bearing  three  good  flowers 
was  shown.  The  sepals  and  petals  are  pure  white 
and  this  is  relieved  by  violet-purple  on  the  broad 
lip,  a  yellow  disc  and  hnes  of  the  same  colour 
running  from  the  base.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs. 
Hassall  and  Co. 


with  rosy 
Botanical 
Gardens, 


A    ROSE    TRIAL    GROUND 
FOR    WISLEY 

The  Council  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society 
has.  we  are  informed,  decided  to  estabUsh  a  planta- 
tion of  Roses  in  order  to  compare  the  behaviour 
of  different  varieties  in  the  garden.  The 
Council  regrets  that  in  spite  of  long  negotia- 
tions, the  National  Rose  Society  has  not  seen  its 
way  to  co-operate,  but  a  confident  appeal  is  made 
to  rose  growers  for  assistance  in  making  this 
effort  a  success.  A  portion  of  the  newly  acquired 
farm  land  at  Wisley  has  been  set  aside  for  the  pur- 
pose, providing  ample  room  with  space  to  expand 
in  the  future,  and  while  the  primary  object  of  the 
plantation  will  be  the  testing  of  new  varieties  of 
all  classes  against  well  known  standard  varieties, 
it  is  hoped  also  to  increase  the  collection  of  Rose 
species  which  is  already  considerable.  The 
varieties  planted  will  be  reported  upon  at  intervals 
and  awards  will  be  made  according  to  their  value 
for  use  in  gardens.  The  tests  will  be  made,  as  a 
r\ile,  with  not  fewer  than  six  plants  of  each  variety 
and  all  varieties  sent  for  trial  should  reach  the 
Director,  R.H.S.  Gardens,  Wisley,  Ripley,  Surrey 
(if  by  rail,  L.  and  S.  W.  Railway,  Horsley  Station), 
on  or  before  November  15.  The  necessary  forms 
for  entering  new  varieties  for  the  trials  can  be 
obtained  from  the  Director,  who  will  also  be  glad 
to  receive  offers  of  standard  varieties  for  planting 
for  comparison.  It  is  hoped  that  this  Rose  trial 
ground  will  eventually  be  developed  into  a  National 
Rose  Garden  for  Great  Britain,  where  Roses  of  all 
types  will  be  well  represented. 


416 


THE     GARDEN. 


[August  19,  1922. 


WINTER    GREENHOUSE    PLANTS 

Only  when   it  is  too  late  to  put  things  right  zvi/l   many   cultivators   realise    that    timely 

attention  to  winter-flowering  plants  was  not  given,  and  that  as  a  result  the  greenhouse  will 

not  be  as  gay  during  the  dull  days  as  it  might  be. 


till  towards  the  end  of  September.  During  mild 
weather  and  while  early  and  late  dews  prevail 
fully  expose  these  plants  and  Cyclamen,  as  such 
treatment  is  most  benetiriai.      George  Garner. 


THROUGHOUT  summer  and  early 
autumn  the  gardener  is,  generally,  very 
busy  indeed  and  can  rarely  find  time  to 
pay  attention  to  anything  beyond 
current  work.  It  is,  in  fact,  always 
"  harvest  time "  with  the  gardener  and  rarely. 
indeed,  will  work  "  keep  "  even  for  a  few  days 
without  something  going  wrong. 

At  this  season,  however,  it  is  well  to  look  ahead 
and  spend  a  short  time  now  and  again  preparing 
plants  for  placing  under  glass  ;  the  reward  for 
such  work  will  come  in  due  course. 

Plants  now  outside,  such  as  Azaleas,  Arum 
Lilies,  Genistas,  Acacias,  Libonias,  Zonal  Pelar- 
goniums and  the  berried  Solanums,  first  need 
consideration.     All  the  hard-wooded  plants,  such 


matter  before  that  date.  All  very  hairy-leaved 
plants  must  be  syringed  where  necessary  and  not 
sponged.  When  engaged  in  \^'atering  the  plants, 
closely  observe  how  the  water  percolates  through 
the  soil ;  if  freely,  the  drainage  must  be  satis- 
factory ;  if  it  remains  for  some  minutes  on  the 
surface  of  the  soil  the  drainage  should  be  examined 
by  carefully  turning  out  the  plants,  and  any 
obstruction  found  should  be  removed. 

Chrysanthemums  should  be  housed  before  the 
flower  petals  begin  to  unfold  ;  if  left  out,  night-dews 
and  rain  will  cause  decay  of  unfolding  blooms. 
All  plants  that  are  to  be  retarded  should  be  placed 
on  ashes,  slates  or  tiles  on  the  north  side  of  a 
wall  or  fence.  Plants  of  all  kinds  needing  stimu- 
lants   should   receive    graduallv    weakening   doses 


A    MOST    USEFUL    GREENHOUSE     PLANT,     PRIMULA    MALACOIDES. 


as  Azaleas,  were  potted  into  larger  pots  several 
weeks  prior  to  their  being  placed  outside,  or 
should  have  been  repotted  then  ;  if  they  were  not 
so  dealt  with  there  must  not  be  any  repotting  of 
them  now.  The  great  thing  is  to  have  all  plants 
quite  clean  when  they  are  placed  under  glass  in 
autumn,  the  leaves  and  stems  free  from  soil, 
sediment  and  insects  and  the  pots  clean  and  free 
from  weeds. 

All  growers  of  these  plants  are  not  able  to  house 
their  stock  in  early  autumn  because  room  is 
unavailable,  but,  where  early  housing  is  practicable, 
it  is  desirable  to  carry  out  the  work  in  good  time. 
The  colder  nights  chill  the  plants,  so  that  many 
leaves  fall  off  before  Christmas  ;  this  is  especially 
the  case  with  Salvias. 

There  are  two  ways  of  cleansing  the  foliage, 
namely,  by  syringing  and  sponging ;  and  after 
August  25  !i  is  not  good  for  the  plants  to  be 
syringed,   so  close  attention   must   be  paid  to  the 


week  by  week  until  housing  time.  After  housing, 
none  should  be  given  for  a  week  or  so.  Even 
clear  water  will  be  needed  less  frequently  than 
during  August.  For  a  time  it  will  be  beneficial 
to  the  plants  if  free  ventilation  be  the  rule,  with, 
maybe,  a  light  shade  during  very  bright  sunshine. 

POTTING    PLANTS. 

There  are  some  kinds  of  plants,  such  as  Arum 
Lilies,  Chrysanthemums,  etc.,  which  have  been 
planted  out,  that  must  be  Hfted  and  potted. 
This  work  should  be  done  carefully,  and  a  rather 
fine  compost  of  average  richness  will  be  found 
helpful,  also  moderately  firm  potting.  Some 
shade  for  a  time  is  essential  till  the  roots  take 
to  the  new  soil  and  begin  to  permeate  it  freely. 
Quite  cool  treatment  is  correct  in  their  case ; 
it  would  be  a  mistake  to  introduce  them  forthwith 
to  artificial  heat. 

Plants  of  Primulas,  Cinerarias  and  Calceolarias 
are,  of  course,  in  frames  and  should  be  kept  there 


ANNUALS     UNDER 
GLASS 

JL'ST  now,  when  annuals  in  the  garden 
are  giving  of  their  best,  ray  mind  goer- 
back  to  the  spring  months  when  many 
of  them  in  pots  were  even  finer.  Safe 
from  extremes  of  any  kind,  in  a  cool  green- 
house or  conservatory,  they  are  encouraged  to 
grow  much  taller  than  when  in  the  open,  and  this 
reflects  upon  the  flowers  as  to  improve  them 
almost  beyond  recognition,  and  an  effect  is  produced 
which  is  not,  in  floral  beauty,  eclipsed  by  anything 
later  in  the  season.  In  this  lies  the  reward  of 
sowing  in  August  and  September.  Some  prefer 
to  wait  until  the  new  year,  but  only  in  rare  cases 
do  the  plants  equal  those  which  have  been  given 
a  longer  growing  season. 

The  culture  of  annuals  in  pots  may  be  managed 
by  anyone  in  possession  of  a  slightly  heated  frame 
or  greenhouse.  In  fact,  in  the  matter  of  heat 
one  can  be  too  kind.  Cool,  comparatively  dry 
and  airy  surroundings,  with  all  available  light 
when  days  are  short,  are  what  annuals  must  have 
to  keep  them  dwarf  and  strong.  Until  November, 
fuel  is  wasted  upon  them,  and  it  is  the  same,  in 
an  average  spring,  from  April  onwards.  In  the 
period  between,  a  temperature  of  from  45'  to  so° 
Fahr.  is  ample. 

Excepting  Schizanthus,  which  are  best  sown 
about  the  middle  of  the  present  month,  the  remain- 
der of  those  to  be  named  here  are  best  sown  in 
September.  Schizanthus  require  pricking  out ; 
the  others,  being  more  or  less  tap-rooted,  succeed 
better  when  not  put  to  this  strain,  and  therefore 
need  not  be  sown  so  early.  In  the  initial  stages 
.a  rich  soil  is  not  desirable,  for  over-luxuriant  growth 
is  very  liable  to  damp  off  in  the  depth  of  winter. 
A  poor  soil  makes  for  wiry  plants  and  such  as  are 
capable  of  resisting  ordinary  extremes.  Fibrous 
loam,  with  just  a  little  leaf-mould,  and  enough 
coarse  sand  to  ensure  porosity,  make  a  suitable 
compost.  The  details  of  sowing  and  potting  have 
often  been  repeated  and  need  not  detain  us.  Pot 
off  the  August-sown  plants  singly  into  3in.  pots 
as  soon  as  they  are  fit  to  handle.  In  the  same  size 
sow  a  pinch  of  seed  of  the  other  kinds,  subsequently 
thinning  the  resultant  plants  so  as  to  leave  three 
or  four  to  stand  the  winter.  This  is  merely  a  pre- 
caution against  accidents,  for  one,  or  at  most  tw<,). 
is  all  that  will  be  required  at  the  final  potting. 
.A  cold  frame  is  the  ideal  place  for  the  plants  until 
October.  Afterwards  a  shelf  near  the  roof  glass 
in  a  cool  house  is  most  suitable.  In  this  position 
all  that  the  slender  roots  call  for  is  sufficient  water 
just  to  keep  them  going.  To  give  more  than  this 
is  to  court  disaster.  There  are  many  days  in  winter 
when  it  will  be  possible  to  open  the  ventilators 
without  creating  draughts,  and  these  opportunities 
should  be  fully  utilised. 

With  the  turn  of  the  year  Schizanthus  will  be 
weU  enough  rooted  to  go  into  .sin.  pots,  and  later 
into  yin.  One  shift  into  6in.  will  best  suit  the 
remainder.  A  little  old  manure  may  be  added 
to  the  compost  at  this  stage,  and  in  potting  dis- 
cretion should  be  exercised  in  the  use  of  the  rammer. 
Potting  should,  in  any  event,  be  deferred  until 
it  is  seen  that  the  plants  are  responding  to  the 
lengthening  days.  .Some  prefer  to  pinch  the 
growths  occasionally,  but  this  is  really  not  essential, 
and  the  operation  may  be  left  to  individual  dis- 
cretion.    As  the  plants  increase  in    height    they 


August  19,  1922. j 


THE     GARDEN. 


417 


will  need  a  position  on  the  side  benches,  and 
should  be  provided  with  neat  stakes.  A  Uttle  fer- 
tiliser sprinkled  over  the  surface  of  the  pots  when 
the  latter  are  full  of  roots  will  be  helpful. 

Follows  a  description  of  some  of  the  most  reliable 
annuals  for  the  p\irpose  suggested. 

Among  Schizanthuses  there  is  wide  di\'ersity 
of  form.  The  Wisetonensis  type  is  one  of  the  oldest, 
valuable  for  its  compact  habit  of  growth,  its 
freedom  to  flower,  and  wide  range  of  colouring. 
In  size,  however,  the  flowers  do  not  equal  those 
of  the  hybrid  types.  Nearly  every  well  known  firm 
has  its  own  strain  of  these,  and  it  is  only  by  actually 
seeing  them  in  bloom — as,  for  instance,  at  Chelsea — 
that  one  realises  of  what  these  plants  are  capable. 
In  the  retusus  section 
the  flowers  are  almost 
orchid-like  and  in  many 
shades. 

Clarkias,  perhaps,  conip 
next  in  importance. 
They  make  handsome  pot 
plants  up  to  5ft.  high 
from  autumn  sowing,  and 
they  cover  themselves 
right  from  the  base 
with  brilliantly  coloured 
double  flowers  in  long 
loose  sprays.  The  elegans 
varieties  are  those  required 
and  they  n)ay  be  had  in 
salmon  scarlet,  pink, 
white,  purple  and  rose. 

Salpiglossis.  It  is  onl\- 
of  quite  recent  years 
that  the  value  of  this 
annual  for  conservatory 
decoration  has  become 
realised,  but  it  is  rapidly 
gaining  favour,  since  it 
has  proved  to  be  quite 
as  easy  to  manage  as  any 
of  the  older  kinds,  and 
more  striking  than  some. 
The  colours  vary  through 
shades  of  yellow,  red 
and  purple,  blue  and 
gold,  and  crimson  and 
gold,  and  the  large  funnel- 
shaped  flowers  have  an 
exquisite  veh'ety  texture 
which  well  displays  the 
colouring.  When  well 
grown  the  height  is  about 

Phlox  Drummondii  is 
also  worthy  of  a  place, 
for  it  makes  a  charming 
pot  plant,  and  there  is  a 
variety  of  colour  in  sweet- 
scented  flowers.     Sutton's 

Purity  is  e.xceptionally  good,  being  pure  white, 
and  usually  at  its  best  about  Eastertide.  Pink 
Beauty  and  Fireball,  a  pleasing  red,  also  are 
useful. 

Xeraesias  of  suntmer  bedding  fame  are  invaluable, 
for  while  there  is  no  lack  of  tall  growers,  dwarfer 
kinds  are  scarce.  In  a  good  strain  the  colours 
and  markings  of  the  flowers  are  remarkable  and 
defy  description. 

Sweet  Peas  are,  beyond  all  question,  the  finest 
annuals  we  have,  and  equally  as  reliable  under 
glass  as  any.  The  only  difference  in  the  routine 
of  cultivation  set  forth  above  is  that  these  plants 
can  be  wintered  safely  in  a  cold  frame  until  January, 
when  they  are  brought  indoors  and  potted  in  uin. 
pots,  or  planted  out,  as  the  case  may  be. 

Other  suitable  annuals  include  Mignonette, 
Nicotianas,  annual  Chrysanthemums,  Godetias 
and  .Monsoas.  J.  T. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


LILIES    FROM     SEED. 

(^N  page  388  your  correspondent  M.  L.  W. 
deplores  the  fact  that  Lilium  candidum  does 
not  seed  in  this  climate.  I  had  always  believed 
this  to  be  so,  but  a  few  years  back,  in  191 7,  I 
think,  a  friend  sent  me  a  few  pods  of  seed  gathered 
in  Salonica.  From  these  I  raised  seedlings  which 
again  produced  seed  in  their  turn,  which  gerininateil 
well.  But  this  year  the  strain  is  not  setting  seed 
well  and  I  think  it  very  possible  that  in  this  country 
it  may  gradually  fall  into  line  with  our  old  strain  of 


THE    YELLOW    BANKSIAN    ROSE. 


candidum     and     become     sterile. — F.     Herdert 

Cn.\PMAN,    Rvi. 

A     GOOD     EVERGREEN     SHRUB. 

(~\F  the  large  and  varied  genus  Veronica,  V. 
Tras'ersii  is  one  of  the  hardiest  of  the  shrubby 
section  and,  when  well  flowered,  one  of  the  most 
showy.  We  have  several  quite  large  specimens 
here — the  best  being  about  loft.  to  12ft.  across  and 
6ft.  to  7ft.  high — and  though  they  have  now,  the 
last  week  in  Juh-,  just  passed  out  of  flower,  no 
shrubs  could  have  been  more  effective,  so  massed 
with  blossom  were  they.  The  short  spikes  of 
bloom  stand  up  well  above  the  box-like  foliage, 
while  the  individual  flow'crs  are  of  a  pale  mauve 
shade.  When  not  in  flower  this  shrub  can  be 
said  also  to  be  reasonably  attractive  in  growth  and 
leafage,  while  pieces  of  the  latter  are  not  to  be 
despised  by  the  floral  decorator  when  looking  for 


suitable  evergreens  in  winter.  V.  Traversii  is  a 
quick  grower  and  can  be  raised  from  seed  and 
cuttings,  which  fact  atones  for  its  refusal  to  shoot 
out  healthily  after  being  cut  back.  This  ever- 
green will  succeed  in  most  soils,  in  sun  or  shade, 
though  too  dense  shade  will  much  hinder  its  flower- 
ing worth. — C.   T.,  Amplhill. 

AN     INTERESTING     PALM. 

VOU  may  be  interested  to  hear  that  two  rather 
unusual  plants  are  in  flower  in  Cheltenham, 
both  in  the  public  street.  In  St.  George's  Road 
two  tall  plants  of  Dracana  indivisa  have  borne 
large  spreading  heads  of  flower,  and  in  Queen's 
Road  a  plant  of  Phormium  tenax  has  thrown  up 
four  flower  spikes  some  8ft.  in  height,  bearing 
many  of  its  dull  red  flowers  widely  spaced  on  the 
stems. — J.  P. 

[Drac.-ena  indivisa  is  a  synonym  for  Cordyline 
australis,  a  plant  of  which,  flowering  outdoors  near 
Maidstone,  was  figured  in  last  week's  issue. — Ed.] 

ROSES     FOR     WALLS. 

TN  my  journeyings  abroad  I  see  many  Roses  on 
house  walls  which  cannot  be  considered  well 
placed.  Dorothy  Perkins  seems  to  be  an  especial 
favourite  for  this  purpose,  but  surely  it  has  many 
drawbacks.  To  train  it  properly  it  is  necessary 
either  to  wire  the  walls — an  expedient  I  do  not 
like — or  to  be  continually  driving  in  fresh  wall- 
nails,  which  is  destructive  of  the  fabric.  Then 
again  there  are  so  many  places  where  one  mav  plant 
the  Wichuraiana  Ramblers  effectively  that  it 
would  surely  be  better  to  reserve  house  walls, 
many  of  them,  naturally,  having  a  southerly 
aspect,  for  choicer  cUmbers,  such  as  the  many  fine 
climbing  Noisette,  Tea  and  Hybrid  Tea  Roses,  to 
say  nothing  of  other  beautiful  and  not  over  hardy 
shrubs  which  would  succeed  there.  Especial 
favourites  of  mine  are  the  small  flowered  but  wonder- 
fully graceful  Banksian  Roses,  but  how  seldom, 
iiowadays,  does  one  see  them  !  If  less  striking  a*; 
regards  colouring  than  Dorothy  Perkins,  how  much 
more  beautiful  are  they  as  regards  pleasing  form 
and  gracious  arrangement  of  blossom. — Midlasuer. 

HOW     TO     TRAP     MOLES. 

■jLJ.WING  read  your  reply  to  N.  P.  H.  (.August  3, 
page  392),  on  "  How  to  Trap  Moles,"  may  I 
give  some  results  of  my  experience  in  a  garden 
infested  with  moles  ?  Chose  a  place  for  your  trap 
in  a  tunnel  between  two  mole  hills.  Open  a 
moderate  hole  with  a  trowel  as  cleanly  as  possible 
and  leave  all  smooth  and  firm  where  the  mole  is 
to  pass.  Set  the  trap  as  near  the  middle  of  the 
tunnel  as  you  can  judge,  and  place  flat  crocks  or 
stcjues  on  the  right  and  left  hand  at  either  entrance 
to  the  trap,  so  disposing  them  as  to  guide  the  mole 
into  its  jaws.  Cover  the  opening  with  turf  or 
anything  handy.  Vou  must  be  careful  not  to  let 
any  loose  earth  fall  into  the  hole,  nor  to  tread  in 
the  tunnel  anywhere  near  the  trap.  Otherwise 
the  mole  will  heave  the  obstructing  earth  before 
him  and  so  spring  the  trap  without  hurting  himself. 
I  do  not  find  that  the  mole  pays  any  attention  to 
the  taint  of  the  human  hand  used  in  smoothing 
down  the  surface  of  the  tunnel  and  in  handling 
the  trap,  nor  is  he  scared  by  the  gleam  of  dayhght 
from  above.  The  fact  seems  to  be  that  the  mole, 
having  no  natural  enemies  underground,  is  the  most 
unsuspicious  beast  in  the  world.  You  may  tread 
heavily  close  to  the  spot  where  he  is  heaving  up 
a  molehill  (provided  you  do  not  tread  on  his  tunnel), 
without  causing  him  to  stop  work.  A  more  sus- 
picious beast  would  pause  on  finding  an  obstruction 
of    unfamiliar    shap"    and    material    barring    his 


418 


THE     GARDEN. 


[August  19,  1922 


path.  Not  so  the  mole.  He  wrestles  with  it  until 
it  gives  way,  and  thus  his  very  fearlessness  is  his 
undoing.  The  conclusion  is — set  your  trap  so 
that  the  mole  has  an  unobstructed  pathway  intu 
its  jaws  and  his  destruction  is  certain. 

I  have  also  got  rid  of  a  mole,  before  he  had  had 
time  to  make  many  tunnels,  by  placing  pieces  of 
carbide  of  calcium  in  the  latter,  but  where  a  plot 
of  ground  is  riddled  with  a  network  of  runs  this 
method  is  not  successful. — A.  C.  C. 

THE    R.\SPBERRY  AS    A    SAPROrHYTIC 
PLANT. 

XX7HILE  walking  round  a  pool  in  Cannon  Hill 
Park,  Birmingham,  the  other  day,  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  plant  growth  was  noticed 
on  an  old  branch  of  a  tree  (probably  .\sh),  which 
has  been  lying  partly  covered  in  shallow  water  for 
a  number  of  years.  On  examination,  the  plants 
proved  to  be  the  common  wild  Raspberry  (Rubns 
Idaeus,  Linn),  together  with  some  hardy  Ferns  and 
a  few  varieties  of  Grasses.  A  few  of  the  plants 
were  lifted,  the  roots  of  which  had  permeated 
the  decaying  bark  and  cortical  tissues.  No  soil 
could  be  seen  and,  it  might  be  added,  very  little 
decaying  matter  had  been  collected.  The  plants 
appear  quite  healthy  and  are  growing  just  above 
the  normal   water  level.     They   are   fruiting  well 

El.SON. 

IMPROVING    THE    ROCK    GARDEN. 

'T'HE  rock  garden  is  now  a  regular  feature  of  most 
gardens,  and  is  the  part  which  often  has  the 
greatest  share  of  its  owner's  affection  and  attention. 
Yet  people  are  still  heard  to  regret  that  its  beauty 
is  comparatively  short-lived.  They  speak  of  it 
as  a  part  of  the  garden  to  be  enjoyed  in  the  months 
of  May  and  June  only,  except  for  little  specimen 
plants  dotted  about,  which  are  interesting  from 
a  gardener's  or  botanist's  point  of  view,  but  not 
generally  attractive  or  effective  in  colouring. 
This  is  chiefly  the  case  because  it  is  not  generally 
realised  that  by  a  careful  selection  of  plants  the 
charm  of  a  rock  garden  may  begin  with  the  first 
mild  spell  of  weather  in  the  new  year  and  continue 
until  the  autumn  frosts  become  severe. 

Lithospennum  prostratum,  Alyssuni  saxatile, 
Arenaria  montana  and  .Aubrietia,  which  form 
such  gorgeous  patches  of  blue,  yellow,  white  and 
mauve  that  they  are  admired  by  all  who  see 
them,  will  find  serious  rivals  early  in  the  year 
if  Chionodoxa  sardensis  or  Scilla  sibirica,  Eranthis 
hyemaUs,  Galanthus  nivalis  or  Leucojum  vernum 
and  Crocus  Sieberi  are  planted  in  drifts.  These 
are  quite  as  easy  to  giow  if  equal  attention  is  paid 
to  their  tastes  in  the  matter  of  soil  and  position, 
and  the  only  difficulty  will  be  to  choose  a  place 
where  their  leaves  can  be  left  to  mature  and 
furnish  the  bulbs  for  the  next  season. 

In  similar  fashion  the  rock  garden  may  be  made 
a  place  well  worth  visiting  in  the  autumn  if 
Gentiana  Farreri,  Cerastostigma  plumbaginoides 
and  Crocus  speciosus  are  planted  with  a  somewhat 
lavish  hand,  all  of  which  are  easy  to  grow  and 
propagate.  The  late  summer  season  can  be  pro- 
vided for  by  free  plantings  of  Alpine  Dianthus 
in  variety  and  of  several  kinds  of  the  smaller 
Campanulas,  a  selection  of  both  of  which  may 
easily  be  made  from  any  of  the  horticultural 
trade  catalogues  deahng  with  this  class  of  plant. 
The  following  may  also  be  relied  upon  to  give 
pleasure  and  satisfaction :  For  the  early  part 
of  the  year. — Hyacinthus  azureus  (often  the 
firstling  of  the  season),  .Anemone  blanda.  Crocus 
Imperati,  C.  biflorus,  C.  Susianus,  Saxifraga 
apiculata,  S.  Burseriana,  .Adonis  amurensis. 
Cyclamen  Coum,  Iris  reticulata,  I.  r.  var.  histrioides. 
Primula  denticulata  and  its  varieties,  Helleborus 
niger  and  H.  orientalis  in  variety.  For  the 
autumn. — Crocus    zonatus,    C.    longiflorus,    Sedum 


spectabile,  Scbizostylis  coccinea  and  Colchicums 
in  variety  (where  there  is  room  for  their  large 
leaves  to  develop  in  the  spring).  Wliere  there 
is  space  for  small  shrubs  the  following  should  be 
included  :  Rhododendrons  dauricum  or  mucro- 
latum.  Daphne  Mezereum  (both  the  white  and 
the  pink  forms),  Zauschneria  californica  and 
Cotoneaster  horizontalis  for  its  berries. 

As  the  best  season  for  making  alterations  and 
additioi\s  to  the  rock  garden  is  approaching, 
it  would  be  w'ise  to  decide  what  is  to  be  done 
without  further  delay,  so  that  the  plants  and 
bulbs  may  be  got  in  early  in  September  and  get 
established  before  the  cold  weather ;  indeed,  it 
will  be  better  if  the  bulbs  are  planted  at  once. 
They  will  do  better  and  flower  earlier. — A.  E.  \V. 

WHY   "AMETHYSTINE"? 

r^AX  any  reader  of  The  Garden  explain  the 
meaning  of  the  word  "  amethystine  "  which 
frequently  occurs  as  the  specific  name  of  some 
plant  with  blue  flowers  ?  No  doubt  it  is  in  con- 
sequence of  its  being  so  used  in  botanical  names 
that  we  often  see  in  trade  catalogues  the  colour 
of  some  plant  that  has  flowers  of  a  good  pure  blue 
described  as  a  "  brilUant  amethystine  blue." 
Why  amethystine  ?  An  amethyst  is  a  gem  whose 
colour  is  distinctly  a  reddish  purple  :  except  in 
the  best  examples  a  rather  light  or  washy  reddish 
purple.  It  is  certainly  no  compliment  to  a  flower 
of  pure  blue  colour  to  compare  it  with  that  of  an 
amethyst.  It  sounds  like  a  slip-slop  or  boggle 
of  terms.  How  did  it  arise,  and  when  and  why  ? 
Was  it  originally  a  slip  of  the  botanist's  pen,  or 
of  his  intellect  ?  Did  he  perhaps  mix  up  amethyst 
and  sapphire  ?  Sappliire  is  certainly  a  pure  blue, 
and  yet  I  cannot  remember  seeing  it  applied  to 
a  flower  as  a  colour  word.  And  if  it  is  merely  an 
error  of  ignorance  or  carelessness,  how  is  it  that  it 
has  gone  on  w-ithout  correction  until  it  has  become 
so  famiUar  that,  without  accepting  it  as  a  correct 
colour  definition,  one  knows  that  when  the  word 
amethystine  is  used  it  is  meant  to  denote  something 
blue  either  of  flower  or  stem  ? — G.  J. 

THE    JAPANESE    WISTARIA. 

TT  is  quite  remarkable  to  notice  how  little  this 
very  desirable  plant  is  Ivnown  in  gardens, 
especially  in  the  northern  parts  of  the  kingdom 
It  is  decidedly  a  hardier  and  less  requiring  plant 
than  the  universal  Chinese  Wistaria  that  everyone 
knows  and  admires,  and  yet  one  may  go  to  garden 
after  garden  and  nursery  after  nursery  and  never 
find  one  specimen  to  look  at  or  to  buy  !  Wistaria 
multijuga,  the  Japanese  Wistaria,  has  several 
advantages  over  the  Chinese  form,  in  that  it  will 
thrive  in  strong,  cold  calcareous  soils  where  the 
Chinese  plant  can  hardly  exist,  and  it  is  not  only 
hardier,  but  later  in  its  flowering  period,  so  that 
it  often  escapes  the  frost  that  cuts  off  the  earlier 
sorts.  In  the  North  of  England  it  is  really  the 
most  reliable  and  hardy  climber,  flowering  more 
freely  on  an  exposed  pergola  and  in  more  adverse 
conditions  of  weather  than  the  well  known  Chinese 
plant.  The  flower  racemes  are  much  longer  than 
the  Chinese  Wistaria,  and  the  flowers  are  decidedly 
smaller.  The  colour  varies  considerably,  as  does 
also  the  length  of  the  clusters  of  bloom,  because 
this  variety  seeds  abundantly  in  many  parts  and 
especially  in  Japan,  therefore  propagation  is  made 
by  seedling  plants  rather  than  by  the  much  more 
tedious  method  of  layering.  This,  however,  has 
a  drawback,  and  that  is  that  the  seedlings  vary 
greatly,  so  that  one  can  never  be  sure  if  one  will 
get  a  good  or  an  inferior  variety.  The  very  finest 
and  richest  coloured  varieties  are  to  my  mind 
even  more  beautiful  than  the  Chinese  plant  we  all 
love.  The  white  flowered  form  is  specially  de- 
sirable, as  not  only  are  the  racemes  of  great  length 


and  purity  of  colour,  but  the\'  are  three  week^ 
later  than  the  coloured  forms,  while  the  white 
Chinese  form  is  earlier  than  even  this  type,  and 
almost  always  suffers  i[i  consequence.  The 
Japanese  forms  also  have  the  advantage  of  the 
leafage  being  more  advanced,  so  that  the  racemes 
of  flowers  are  set  off  by  the  green  foliage. 

If  nurserymen  will  propagate  only  from  the 
finest  types  the  Japanese  send  over,  I  think  the 
public  would  soon  be  convinced  of  the  value  of  the 
Japanese  Wistaria.  .As  it  is,  it  is  disappointing  to 
buy  a  plant  that  turns  out  an  inferior  variety, 
pale  in  colour  and  short  in  raceme,  whereas  the 
raceme  should  be  a  yard  long  and  of  a  richer  coloui 
than  the  Chinese.  .As  for  the  white  it  is  at  its 
best  far  superior  to  any  of  the  Chinese  white 
forms. — E.  H.  Wood.\ll,  Scarboro'. 


SWEET  PEAS  &  ROSES 
AT   GLASGOW 

THE  third  annual  exhibition  of  the 
Scottish  Sweet  Pea,  Rose  and  Carnatioti 
Society  was  held  in  the  St.  .Andrew's 
Halls,  Glasgow,  on  .August  2  and  3. 
Notwithstanding  the  unfavourable 
weather  experienced  in  Scotland  this  summer, 
the  promoters  had  every  reason  for  congratulation 
on  the  success  which  attended  the  Show.  In  every 
class,  with  the  exception  of  that  for  Border  Carna- 
tions, the  entries  showed  a  considerable  increase 
over  those  of  last  year.  The  quality  of  the  exhibits 
was  of  rare  e.xcellence,  and  one  seldom  sees  Rose.> 
and  Sweet  Peas  exhibited  in  such  fine  condition. 
Competent  judges  expressed  the  opinion  that  the 
Scottish  Show  was  a  good  way  ahead  of  that  held 
recently  at  Eastbourne  by  the  .National  Sweet  Pea 
Society. 

The  prize  offered  for  the  best  six  blooms  of  new 
varieties  of  Sweet  Peas  was  awarded  to  Mr.  John 
Smellie  of  Helensburgh. 

There  was  keen  competition  for  the  Burpee  Cup. 
as  most  growers  seemed  keen  to  secure  this  trophy. 
It  was  won  by  Mr.  George  Bowness.  Busby,  who 
staged  twelve  \'ases  of  distinct  varieties,  all  fine 
outstanding  blooms,  the  most  noticeable  being 
.Austin  Frederick  Improved,  Pri\"ate  Jack  Smellie, 
Mrs.  Bowness,  Picture  and  Hercules.  The  second 
prize  went  to  Mr.  James  Paul. 

Mr.  Bowness  was  also  leading  winner  in  the  class 
confined  to  nurserymen.  In  the  .Amateurs'  Section 
the  individual  exhibits  were  well  grown  and  attrac- 
tively staged.  -A  group  of  nine  vases  shown  b\' 
Mr.  James  Paul,  Killearn,  gained  the  first  prize 
here,  and  the  same  exhibitor  also  carried  off  the 
Eckford  Cup. 

Roses  were  also  specially  fine,  the  gold  medal 
for  the  best  bloom  in  the  Show  being  awarded 
to  Messrs.  Hugh  Dickson,  Limited,  Belfast,  who 
were  also  winners  of  the  Polytechnic  Cup  for  thirty- 
six  blooms  of  Roses.  In  the  Amateur  Class  the 
class  for  twenty-four  distinct  varieties  was  very 
keenly  contested,  first  prize  going  to  Mr.  J.  E. 
Turner,  Gourock.  The  cup  for  blooms  in  the 
.Amateur  Section  was  won  by  Mr.  James  Kerr, 
Stewarton,  with  splendid  specimens  of  Mrs.  Foley 
Hobbs.  While  for  three  vases  of  distinct  varieties, 
Mr.  J.  G.  Williamson,  Giffnock,  was  awarded 
the   Turner  Cup. 

Among  the  trade  exhibits,  Messrs.  Dobbie  and  Co., 
Edinburgh,  displayed  a  fine  collection  of  Sweet 
Pea  blooms  which  included,  among  others,  Hawl- 
mark  Tangerine,  Picture,  Majestic,  George'  Sawyer, 
Royal  Purple,  Doris,  Renown  and  .Melba. 

Messrs.  Lowe  and  Gibson,  Crawley  Down,  Sussex, 
staged  an  attractive  collection  of  Gladioli,  also  ot 
Border  Carnations  and  other  flowers.       J.  McG. 


August  19,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


419 


GARDENING     OF     THE     WEEK 


FOR    SOUTHERN     GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

~  General  Work. — The  month  of  July  was  an 
excellent  one  for  getting  the  main  supplies  of  all 
the  Brassica  family  established  and  all  look 
promising.  If  not  already  planted  and  room  can 
be  found  there  is  still  plenty  of  time  for  putting 
in  Coleworts  and  the  Portugal  Cabbage  (Cou\e 
Tronchuda).  The  latter  may.  with  advantage, 
be  more  extensively  used  where  large  kitchen 
supplies  are  always  required,  for  it  may  be  generally 
relied  upon  to  stand  the  winter  well.  This  Cabbage 
not  onlv  provides  acceptable  hearts  for  using, 
but  the  mid-ribs  taken  from  the  large  leaves  are 
an  excellent  dish  and  should  be  cooked  in  the 
manner  of  Sea  Kale.  .-Vs  it  is  a  robust  grower  on 
well  worked  soils,  a  distance  of  2ft.  should  be 
allowed  between  the  rows  and  i8ins.  between  each 
plant.  For  Coleworts,  about  2oins.  is  enough 
between  the  rows  and  liins.  from  plant  to  plant. 
Leeks  for  late  use  should  be  got  in  as  soon  as 
possible,  dropping  tliem  in  holes  made  with  a 
long  dibber  or  bar  and  of  sufficient  depth  to  allow 
for  a  well  blanched  stem.  Keep  the  hoe  going  as 
much  as  possible  between  developing  crops. 

Lettuce. — Besides  sowing  some  of  the  recog- 
nised winter  varieties,  some  seeds  of  early  maturing 
kinds  should  be  sown  on  a  warm  border,  taking 
c.ire  to  sow  thinly  and  thin  early.  Given  an  open, 
f  ivourable  autumn  some  useful  salading  will  be 
aNailable  until  quite  late  from  this  sowing. 

Endive. — .-Kny  necessary  thinning  or  transplanting 
should  be  seen  to  before  the  plants  become  crowded 
or  drawn.  Where  the  plants  are  remaining  in 
drills  where  sown  thin  out  to  about  a  foot  apart. 
Water  should  be  afforded  during  dry  weather. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Rambler  Roses. — These  plants  should  be  over- 
hauled as  soon  after  the  flowering  period  as  con- 
venient. The  pruning  chiefly  consists  in  the  cutting 
away  of  as  much  as  can  possibly  be  spared  of  the 
old  flowering  wood.  This  will  concentrate  the 
energies  of  the  plants  upon  next  season's  flowering 
growths,  and  should  these  be  weak  and  unsatisfac- 
tory much  may  be  done  to  improve  them  by  the  end 
of  the  season  by  giving  a  few  copious  waterings 
with  liquid  manure  water. 

The     Hardy     Fruit     Garden. 
Summer  Fruiting  Raspberries. — Remove   the 

nets  as  soon  as  the  crop  is  cleared  and  cut  to  the 
ground  all  canes  that  have  been  bearing  fruit  this 
season,  also  any  weakly  new  growths  which  are  not 
required.  With  so  many  pressing  operations  on 
hand  at  this  season  of  the  year  it  may  not  be 
possible  to  stop  and  regulate  next  year's  fruiting 
wood,  but  care  should  be  taken  that  tliis  is 
sufficiently  secure  against  damage  by  wind  or 
other  agencies.  Should  autumn  fruiting  varieties 
be  grown,  sec  that  the  nets  are  in  position  at  once 
if  not  already  done. 

Gooseberries. — The  season  of  these  fruits  for 
dessert  purposes  may  be  considerably  lengthened 
by  planting  trees  in  a  position  with  a  northerly 
aspect.  Where  a  portion  of  a  wall  can  be  spared  for 
cordons,  they  do  well  and  give  a  supply  of  fruit 
for  many  weeks  after  gathering  is  over  from  trees 
in  wanner  aspects. 

Vines. —  Keep  all  lateral  growths  well  in  sub- 
jection so  that  plenty  of  air  and  sunshine  can 
penetrate,  without  which  it  is  impossible  for  the 
Crrapes  to  finish  as  they  should.  Feed  the  plants 
liberally  if  carrying  good  crops  and  protect  all 
bunches  from  birds  and  wasps,  etc. 
H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 

Albury  Park  Gardens,  Guildford. 


FOR    NORTHERN    G.\RDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Brussels  Sprouts. — Where  "  autumn  sowing  " 
is  practised  the  work  may  be  carried  out  now.  Sow 
thinly  in  rows  I2ins.  apart  and  leave  in  the  seed 
bed  until  spring.  Brussels  Sprouts  stand  the 
winter  well  in  most  districts.  It  is  always  wise 
to  accord  them  a  sheltered  site  when  in  the  seedling 
stage,  as  cutting  winds  prove  more  harmful  than 
frost. 

Savoys  also  may  be  sown  now  and  treated  in 
like  manner  to  Brussels  Sprouts. 

Cauliflowers. — A  small  sowing  of  Early  London 
and  Walcheren  may  be  made  now  in  the  open. 
In   northern   gardens   it   is   wise    to   prick  out   the 


seedlings  at  a  later  date  into  a  cold  frame  and  winter 
in  this  way.  In  more  favourable  localities  the 
remainder  may  be  pricked  out  at  the  foot  of  a 
south  wall  and  afforded  some  shelter  during  severe 
weather. 

Celery  will  be  growing  apace,  and  forward 
batches  will  now  be  ready  to  be  partly  earthed  up. 
Clear  awa\'  all  superfluous  or  decayed  growths  from 
around  the  heads  before  earthing  up  takes  place. 
Encourage  late  crops  by  waterings  of  liquid 
manure. 

Tomatoes. — In  pits  where  early  crops  are  about 
past,  the  plants  should  be  cleared  out  at  the  first 
opportunity  and  the  structure  thoroughly  washed 
in  readiness  for  the  reception  of  other  plants. 
Save  the  soil  that  the  Tomato  plants  have  been 
growing  in,  as  this,  if  stored  in  an  open  shed,  will 
prove  useful  in  the  spring  for  numerous  purposes — 
being  rich  in  \'arious  unexhausted  qualities,  and 
finely  adapted  for  potting  purposes  where  Dwarf 
Peas  and  French  Beans  are  forced. 

The   Hardy   Fruit  Garden. 

Strawberry  Runners. — Where  these  have  been 
rooted  in  small  pots  for  spring  forcing  they  may 
now  be  lifted  in  preparation  for  moving  into  their 
fruiting  pots.  When  potting,  use  a  rich  loamy  soil 
and  place  the  pots  on  a  layer  of  sifted  ashes  in 
an  open  situation.  Spray  the  foliage  freely  with 
clear  water  on  warm  afternoons. 

Gooseberries  and  Currants. — Remove  the 
nets  from  these  immediately  the  crops  are  gathered 
and  use  the  Dutch  hoe  freely  among  the  bushes 
where  the  surface  soil  is  caked.  This  will  assist 
in  keeping  the  ground  clean  and  porous  for  the 
remainder  of  the  season. 

The   Flower  Garden. 

General  Work. — The  time  is  not  far  distant 
when  preparations  must  be  made  for  securing  the 
necessary  stocks  of  various  plants  for  filling  the 
flower  beds  next  season.  Cuttings  of  Geraniums, 
Heliotropes,  double  and  single  Marguerites, 
Fuchsias,  etc.,  should  be  secured  and  rooted  at  an 
early  date.  Geraniums  and  Marguerites  root  best 
when  allowed  plenty  of  air,  just  shading  from  the 
strongest  rays  of  the  sun.  Place  the  boxes  along 
the  foot  of  a  sheltered  wall  and  remove  to  safe 
quarters  on  the  first  indication  of  frost. 

Climbing  Roses. — Tie  in  the  strong  young 
growtlis  necessary  for  replacing  older  wood 
Remo\'e  others  not  likely  to  be  required  and  w^ater 
thoroughly  with  liquid  manure  so  that  the  plants 
may  be  further  invigorated. 

Mixed  Borders  require  frequent  attention  at 
this  time  if  tidiness  is  to  be  maintained.  .Additional 
staking  and  tying  will  be  necessary  or  the  autumn 
gales  will  cause  considerable  damage  among  the 
taller  growing  plants.  Cut  back  or  trim  plants  as 
required  and  keep  weeds  in  check. 

Sweet  Peas. — Owing  to  the  continual  wet 
Sweet  Peas  have  grown  to  an  unusual  height  this 
season,  and  in  many  gardens  it  will  be  found 
necessary  to  augment  the  existing  stakes.  Where 
the  plants  are  in  rows,  strong  poles  may  be  inserted 
every  few  yards  and  several  rows  of  binder  twine 
stretched  between  them. 

James  McGran 

(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.), 

Coodham,  Kilmarnock. 


GREENHOUSE   AND    CONSERVATORY. 
Dimorphotheca      Ecklonis. — This      attractixe 

South  .African  plant  is  very  useful  for  the  green- 
house during  spring  and  early  summer.  It  is 
easily  propagated  at  this  time  by  means  of  cuttings 
placed  in  a  case  in  a  cool  house.  The  young  plants 
require  frequent  stopping  to  induce  a  bushy 
habit,  but  this  should  not  be  done  later  than 
January,  as  this  plant  has  a  definite  flowering 
season  and  if  stopped  later  than  this  the  chances 
are  that  no  flowers  will  be  produced. 

Dendromecon    rigidum. — This  beautiful   Call- 

fornian  Poppywort,  although  hardy  in  the  south 
and  west  when  planted  against  a  wall,  should  be 
especially  in  the  colder  parts  of  the  country,  more 
generally  planted  in  the  cool  conservatory  or 
greenhouse.  The  other  week  I  saw  a  splendid 
specimen  of  it  in  the  nursery  of  Messrs.  R.  Veitch 
and  Son,  Exeter,  where  it  was  planted  against 
the  back  wall  of  a  cold  greenhouse.  This  plant 
is  generally  regarded  as  being  difficult  to  propagate, 
but  I  have  ne\'er  found  any  difficulty  in  rooting 
it  by  means  of  short  twigg>'  shoots,  inserted  in 
pots  of  sandy  soil,  standing  them  under  a  bell  glass 
in  a  cold  house.     Like  most  plants  of  this  order 


it  does  resent  disturbance  at  the  root,  and  great 
care  must  be  exercised  when  potting  off  tlie  young 
plants. 

Aristea  (Witsenia)   corymbosa  is  a  beautiful 

blue-flowered  plant  hailing  from  South  .Africa, 
and  belongs  to  Irideas.  It  is  unique  in  this  order  as 
it  is  hard  and  woody  in  character.  It  is  by  no 
means  an  easy  plant  to  propagate,  but  is  best  done 
by  means  of  cuttings  inserted  some  time  during 
tliis  month.  They  should  be  put  into  pots  of  fine 
sandy  peat,  and  stood  under  bell  glasses  in  a  case 
in  a  cool  house.  If  the  cuttings  are  taken  from 
healthy  plants  there  should  be  httle  difficulty  in 
rooting  a  good  proportion  of  them.  Here,  as  in 
the  propagation  of  all  choice  plants,  the  covering 
glasses  should  be  wiped  dry  every  morning.  This 
plant  grows  well  in  a  compost  of  sandy  peat,  using 
it  in  a  rough  and  lumpy  state  for  the  older  plants. 
Ample  drainage  must  he  given  and  careful  watering 
is  essential  at  all  times,  as  the  fleshy  roots  are  apt 
to  be  injured  by  over  watering. 

Pimelias  include  quite  a  number  of  desirable 
greenhouse  plants,  but  at  the  present  day  very 
few  of  them  are  in  cultivation.  Some  of  the  liest 
are  P.  P.  ligustrina,  spectabilis  and  ferruginea. 
The  two  former  species  make  fine  specimens  if 
planted  out  in  a  well  drained  bed  in  the  cool 
conservatory.  They  grow  well  in  a  compost  con- 
sisting of  sandy  peat  and  a  little  good  medium 
loam.  .After  flowering  they  should  be  trimmed 
back  so  as  to  keep  them  close  and  well  furnished. 
P.  ferruginea  also  does  well  when  planted  out,  and 
it  is  the  best  species  for  pot  culture,  being  of  a 
compact,  bushy  habit.  It  produces  its  rosy  red 
flowers  in  great  profusion.  Good  plants  can  also 
be  grown  in  quite  small  pots.  PimeUas  are  easily 
propagated  by  means  of  cuttings  during  the  spring 
months,  and  again  during  .August,  when  plenty 
of  good  cuttings  are  available,  as  the  plants  are 
completing  their  growth.  -As  is  usually  the  case 
with  woody  plants  of  this  character,  short  twiggy 
shoots  are  best  for  cuttings,  and  they  usually 
root  readily  in  pots  of  sandy  peat,  covered  with  a 
bell  glass  and  stood  in  a  cool  house.  Really  the 
best  conditions  for  rooting  aU  or  most  of  the  so- 
called  hard-wooded  greenhouse  plants,  is  a  case 
w'ith  slight  bottom  heat,  but  with  no  top  heat  in  the 
house.  In  the  absence  of  such  ideal  conditions  a 
cool  house  is  best  for  propagating  this  class  of  plant, 
the  process  of  rooting  taking,  in  most  cases,  a  little 
longer. 

Ericas, — Most  of  the  greenhouse  Heaths  may 
be  successfully  propagated  during  this  month, 
as  plenty  of  cuttings  in  the  right  condition  can 
usually  be  got  at  this  time.  They  will  all  root  in 
fine  sandy  peat,  and  the  cutting  pots  should  be 
carefully  prepared,  being  at  least  half  filled  with 
drainage.  The  soil  should  be  rammed  \ery  firm 
and  the  surface  of  the  pots  covered  vvith  clean  silver 
sand.  The  required  number  of  pots  should  be 
prepared  the  previous  day,  watering  them  well  to 
settle  the  soil  and  thus  have  it  in  suitable  condition 
for  the  reception  of  the  cuttings.  The  condition 
of  the  soil  is  important,  otherwise  it  is  by  no  means 
easy  to  firm  the  very  small  cuttings  that  are  used. 
I  have  frequently  seen  amateurs  insert  cuttings 
in  too  dry  soil,  with  the  result  that  when  they 
watered  them  in  air  bubbles  would  lift  the  majority 
of  cuttings  up  again.  Cuttings  must  be  made  from 
the  ver\-  small  twiggy  growths,  taking  them  an 
inch  or  even  less  in  length.  The  leaves  should  be 
carefully  trimmed  off  and  with  some  practice  this 
is  best  done  with  the  thumb  and  finger,  but  of 
course  the  knife  must  be  used  for  varieties  where 
the  leaves  do  not  rub  off  readily.  The  cuttings 
should  be  carefully  dibbled  into  the  prepared  pots, 
afterwards  watering  them  well  in  with  a  tine-rosed 
can  and  covering  with  bell  glasses.  The  above 
remarks  may  be  applied  to  the  propagation  of 
most  hard-wooded  greenhouse  plants. 

J.    COUTTS. 

RiiViil  Botanic  Gardens,  Kfw. 


FORTHCOMING    EVENTS. 

.August  22. — Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Fort- 
nightly meeting. 

.August  23. — Westerham  Horticultural  Society's 
Annual  Show.  Helensburgh  and  Gareloch 
Horticultural  Society's  .Annual  Show.  High- 
land Horticultural  Society's  Annual  Show. 

August  24. — .Aberdeen  Flower  Show  (3  days). 

.August  25. — Dunfermline  Horticultural  Society's 
Show  (2  days). 

.August  26. — Dumfries  and  District  Horticultural 
Society's  Show.  Ulverston  Garden  and  .Allot- 
ment Holders'  Association  Annual  Show. 


420 


THE     GARDEN. 


[August  19,  1922. 


Trials  of  Violas  at  Wisley. — The  following 
awards  have  been  made  by  the  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society  to  Violas  aiter  trial  at  Wisley. 
Awards  to  Bedding  Violas. 
Atsard  of  Merit. — Snow  Queen,  sent  by  Messrs. 
Dobbie  ;  Purity  and  Snowflake,  sent  by  Messrs. 
Forbes.  The  above  three  varieties  bracketed  as 
practically  synonymous.  Swan,  Mary  Burton  and 
-Archie  Grant,  sent  by  Messrs.  Dobbie  ;  Lady  Knox, 
Mrs.  Alsop  and  President,  sent  by  Messrs.  Forbes  ; 
\V.  H.  Woodgate  and  J.  B.  Riding,  sent  by  Messrs. 
Dobbie  and  Messrs.  Forbes  ;  Royal  Sovereign,  sent 
by  Mr.  Stark  ;  Dr.  McFarlane  and  Dorothea,  sent 
by  Mr.  Crane  ;  Red  Edina,  sent  by  Mr.  Scarlett  ; 
Moseley  Perfection,  sent  by  Messrs.  Dobbie,  Messrs. 
Forbes  and  Messrs.  Harrison  ;  Margaret  Wood, 
sent  by  Messrs.  Artindale  and  Messrs.  Dobbie ; 
Maggie  Mott,  sent  by  Messrs.  Forbes,  Messrs. 
Dobbie  and  Mr.  Crane. 

Highly  Commended. — Blanche,  Primrose  Dame. 
Perdita,  John  Forbes,  Wm.  Daniels  and  Jacka- 
napes, all  sent  by  Messrs.  Forbes  ;  Kingcup  and 
Kitty  Bell,  sent  by  Messrs.  Dobbie  and  Messrs. 
Forbes  ;  Walter  Welsh,  sent  by  Messrs.  Dobbie  ; 
Tangerine  Harrison,  Pride  of  Daraas  and  Annie 
Jobson  (the  last  two  bracketed  as  practic.illy 
synonymous),  sent  by  Messrs.  Harrison  ;  Bertha, 
Newton  Mauve  and  Peace,  sent  by  Mr.  Crane  ; 
John  Quarton,  sent  by  Messrs.  Forbes  and  Messrs. 
Harrison  ;  Mauve  Queen,  sent  by  Messrs.  Dobbie, 
Messrs.  Forbes  and  Mr.  Crane  ;  .Alexandra,  sent 
by  Messrs.  Dobbie  and  Messrs.  Artindale  ;  .Admiral 
of  the  Blues  and  Mrs.  Moss,  sent  by  Mrs.  Dobbie  and 
Mr.  Elliott.  The  above  two  varieties  bracketed  as 
practically  synonymous.  Councillor  Waters,  sent 
by  Messrs.  .Artindale  ;  Dunbryan,  sent  by  Messrs. 
Dobbie  and  Mr.  Crane  ;  Mrs.  Chichester,  sent  by 
Messrs.  Forbes  and  Mr.  Crane  ;  .Admiration  and 
Jubilee,  sent  by  Messrs.  Forbes  and  Messrs.  Dobbie. 
The  above  two  varieties  bracketed  as  practically 
synonymous. 

.Awards  to  Violas  for  E.xhibition". 
.iward  of  Merit. — Master  Banks,  Xurse  Cavell 
,-;nd  Bessie  Ferguson,  sent  by  Messrs.  Harrison  ; 
Mrs.  Jas.  Smith,  sent  by  Messrs.  Artindale  ; 
Mrs.  J.  Lawrence,  sent  by  Messrs.  Forbes  ;  .Moseley 
Perfection,  sent  by  Messrs.  Forbes,  Messrs.  Dobbie 
and  Messrs.  Harrison. 

Highly  Commended. — Criss  Littlejohn,  Mrs. 
.Andrew  Stevenson,  Mrs.  D.  Stevenson  and  .Mrs. 
J.  McEwan,  all  sent  by  Messrs.  Harrison.  The  last 
two  varieties  bracketed  as  practically  synonymous. 
Awards  to  Violetta  Types  of  Viola. 
Award  of  Merit. — Violetta,  sent  by  Messrs. 
Forbes  and  Messrs.  Dobbie. 

Highly  Commended. — Princess  Mary  (Violetta), 
Gold  Crest  (Violetta)  and  Queen  of  the  Year 
(Violetta),  sent  by  Messrs.  Forbes  ;  Lyric  (\'ioletta), 
sent  by  Messrs.  Dobbie  and  Messrs.  Forbes. 
.Awards  to  Varieties  of  Viola  gracilis. 
Highly  Commended. — V.  gracilis  J.  B.  Taylor 
and  V.  g.  Lady  Crisp,  sent  by  Messrs.  Clarence 
Elliott  ;  \'.  K.  Purple  Robe,  sent  by  Messrs.  Dobbie. 
Trial  of  Carrots  at  Wisley. — The  Royal  Horti- 
cultural Society  will  carry  out  a  trial  of  Carrots 
for  growing  in  frames  during  the  coming  autumn 
and  winter.  The  Director,  R.H.S.  Gardens, 
Wisley,  Ripley,  Surrey,  will  be  glad  to  send  entry 
forms  to  those  desiring  to  enter  varieties  for  this 
purpose  and  one  packet  of  seed  of  each  variety 
should  reach  him  on  or  before  August  31. 


probably  the  hardiest  of  its  race,  a  true  perennial 
and  one  that  in  a  free  soil  will  withstand  severe 
frosts  without  injury.  It  is,  moreover,  practically 
immune  from  mildew  and  looks  bright  and  cheerful 
in  the  dampest  of  autumn  weather.  In  very  cold 
localities,  or  on  uncongenial  soil,  the  roots  may  be 
lifted  and  stored  in  a  cold  frame  over  the  winter. 
Propagation  is  easily  affected  by  off-sets,  but  the 
plant  produces  seed  freely  and  \vill  often  appear 
self-sown  in  gardens  where  the  soil  is  warm  and 
gritty. 

A  Quaint  Scabious. — Often  catalogued  as 
Pterocephalus  Parnassi,  Scabiosa  Pterocephala  is 
a  noteworthy  plant  in  the  .August  rock  garden, 
making  a  dense  cushiony  mass  of  grey,  hoary 
foliage  which  forms  an  admirable  setting  for  the 
large,  rosy-lilac  pin-cushjon-Uke  flowers  which  are 
raised  just  clear  of  the  leaves.  It  is  a  plant  of 
the  easiest  culture  in  any  light  soil  in  full  sun,  and 
though  it  is  apt  to  suffer  in  winter  it  is  seldom 
killed  outright.     It  hails  from  Greece. 

A  Late-flowering  Azalea. — .A  Californian  species, 
.Azalea  (Rhododendron)  occidentalis  will  thrive  in 
any  non-calcareous  loam  and  it  does  not  object  to 
the  half  shade  of  woodland  trees.  It  makes  a 
good-sized  bush  and  is  particularly  valuable  on 
account  of  the  fact  that  it  does  not  bloom  until 
most  of  its  kind  have  gone  over.  In  some  seasons 
it  may  open  its  white,  or  pinky-white,  sweet 
scented  flowers  soon  after  midsummer,  but  the 
normal  season  of  blossoming  is  late  July.  The 
broad,  glossy  leaves  are  shed  in  autumn  and  the 
shrub  appears  to  be  perfectly  hardy.  By  using  it 
in  hybridisation  with  earlier  kinds,  R.  occidentalis 
has  been  very  instrumental  in  extending  the 
flowering  season  of  this  beautiful  race  of  shrubs. 


showing  tliat  an  earlit^r  attack  of  gri^r-n  fly  had  oci-urreU, 
for  which  the  liest  treatment  is  spraying  with  a  nicotine- 
wash  made  by  dissolving  3o7.s.  of  nicotine  and  41b.  of 
soft  soap  in  40  gallons  of  water. 


FRUIT     UNDER     GLASS. 

NECTARINE  FRUITS  CRACKING  (J.  R.,  Ctolwall).— 
Ill  the  absence  of  specimens  we  can  only  state  that  in  our 
own  experience  of  Nectarines  in  uuheatcd  hou-ses  too 
wide  a  variation  in  temperature  from  midday  to  midnight, 
accompanied  by  syringing  the  trees  with  water  at  too  low 
a  temperature,  invariably  result  in  spotting  and  crackint; 
of  the  fruit.  Moreover,  moisture  condensing  on  the  fruit 
is  apt  to  chill  the  epidermis,  so  that  a  few  of  the  surface 
cells  may  die  and  turn  brown,  and  then  as  groMrth  anj 
swelling  of  the  fruit  continues  splitting  or  growth  cracks 
may  follow. 


ANSWERS 
TO  CORRESPONDENTS 

FLOWER     GARDEN. 

STOCKS  AND  ANEMONES  DYING  (C.  B.  R.,  Berks).— 
The  mildew  on  the  roots  of  the  Stocks  our  correspondent 
has  examined  mav  be  tlie  cause  of  the  plants  dying,  in 
which  case  very  little  can  be  done.  The  specimen  of 
Anemone  sent  was  too  dry  on  receipt  to  furnish  any 
reliable  information.  The  blackening  of  the  stem  may 
be  due  to  trying  conditions  of  temperature,  while  the 
root  looks  stunted  and  ill  nourished.  If  our  correspondent 
cares  to  send  further  specimens  packed  in  damp  moss, 
we  might  be  in  a  better  position  to  advise. 

TREES     AND     SHRUBS. 

CYPRESS  TREES  DYING  (A.  W.,  Stockport).— It  is 
unlikely  tliat  the  large  Cypress  trees  will  recover  since  so 
much  of  tlie  foliage  is  dead.  Certainly  the  means  tliat 
our  correspondent  suggests  (to  defoliate  the  trees)  are 
not  likely  to  help  them.  The  dead  may  be  cut  out  and 
the  living  parts  syringed  frequently  as  the  only  chance 
of  saving  them.  The  trees  were  probably  too  large 
to  move  in  the  first  place.  Only  when  such  trees  are 
lifted  with  a  very  large  mass  of  earth  or  transplanted 
practically  every  year  before  they  are  to  be  moved  is 
there  much  cliance  of  success. 

TREES  OR  SHRUBS  FOR  CHALKY  HILLSIDE 
(Enquirer). — The  question  of  moisture  for  trees  or  shrubs 
during  June  and  July  arises  in  connexion  with  newly 
planted  trees.  They  can  grow  from  seeds  because 
they  have  time  to  root  deeply  before  they  have  much 
foliage  to  support.  Japanese  Cherries  would  be  appro- 
priate, but  it  would  be  desirable  to  dig  the  soil  2ft.  deep 
if  possible  to  give  the  trees  a  start.  They  cannot  be  reared 
from  seeds,  but  small  trees  would  be  the  most  likely  to 
take  hold.  Our  native  wild  Cherry  (Prunus  Avium) 
and  the  double  variety  (P.  A.  flore  pleno)  should  not  be 
overlooked.  The  White  Beam  Tree  (Pyrus  Aria)  would 
be  effective  in  spring  when  in  bloom,  all  the  season  when 
in  leaf,  and  in  autumn  when  the  fruits  change  to  orange. 
.\  quantity  of  St.  John's  Wort  (Hypericum  calycinum) 
planted  near  the  foot  would  climb  up  the  hill  and  cover 
the  ground  as  few  other  plants  would.  It  succeeds  well 
on  chalk  in  sun  or  shade. 


FRUIT     GARDEN. 

PEAR  FOR  IDENTIFICATION  (B.  S.,  S.W.18).— 
The  Pear  sent  is  probably  Summer  Beurre  d*Arenberg, 
but  the  fruits  were  not  sutficii  iitiy  matured  to  say  with 
certainty.  This  Pear  should  be  picked  when  just  ripe, 
as  can  be  easily  tested  by  lifting  the  fruit  gently  and  it 
it  falls  into  the  hand  with  little  leverage  and  ivithovt 
pulling  it  is  ready.  The  actual  time  varies  in  ditferent 
localities. 

APPLE  COX'S  ORANGE  PIPPIN  UNSATISFACTORY 
(C.  J.  L.,  Braughing). — These  leaves  were  from  a  "  Cox's  " 
nine  or  ten  years  old  grown  as  an  espalier.  Our  corre- 
spondent gives  us  no  account  of  cultural  operations. 
I.e. J  tillage  or  manuring,  two  important  considerations. 
The  leaves  are  mottled  yellow  and  pale  green,  with  the 
edges  slightly  browned,  symptoms  classed  together  as 
leaf  scorch.  Such  scorching  may  be  caused  by  faulty 
or  unhealthy  root  conditions  or  by  excessive  heat  affecting 
the  leaves.  Where  due  to  root  conditions  the  soil  may 
be  low  in  organic  matter  content,  deficient  in  available 
potash  and  phosphates  or  lacking  in  lime.  If  the  tree 
concerned  is  grown  against  a  wall,  scorching  may  be 
largely  due  to  high  temperature,  with  lack  of  sufficient 
organic  matter  in  the  soil  as  a  predisposing  cause.  If 
our  correspondent  would  inform  us  of  his  system  of 
manuring  and  give  particulars  as  to  soil,  etc.,  we  might 
probably  be  able  to  give  more  detailed  advice. 


For  Rock  Garden  or  Border. — That  .Argentine 
species.  Verbena  vcnosa,  is  worthy  of  wider  apprecia- 
tion than  it  now  enjoys,  for  not  only  are  its  coronets 
of  rich  purple  flowers,  raised  on  stiff  isin.  steins, 
very  beautiful,  but  they  are  borne  during  .August 
and  later  when  colour  is  none  too  plentiful  in  the 
rock  garden  and  margins  of  borders.     V.  venosa  is 


ROSE     GARDEN. 

ROSES  ATTACKED  (A.  .M.  T.,  West  Calder).— The 
shoots  of  the  Roses  have  been  attacked  by  the  Rose 
tortrix  caterpillars,  which  have  fi'd  on  the  buds.  None 
Is  present  now,  but  probably  they  were  of  one  of  the 
common  species.  If  only  a  few  Roses  are  concerned, 
pressure  of  the  attacked  buds  between  finger  and  thumb 
is  the  most  satisfactory  method  of  dealing  with  tlieni. 
There  is  also  present  the  empty  shell  of  a  green  fly  that 
had  been  parasitised  by  one  of  the  green  fly  iehneunions, 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

LAWN  MOWINGS,  CUTTINGS,  ETC.  (J.  W.).— The 
leaf  mould  would  have  to  be  sifted  tor  seed  sowing  and 
for  cuttings  and  that  would  remove  the  lawn  mowings, 
which  would  be  injurious  to  seedlin::s  and  also  to  pot 
plants  if  used  in  quantity.  Lawn  mowings  would  stick 
together  in  masses,  rot,  hold  too  much  moisture,  keep  air 
from  getting  to  tender  young  roots,  and  so  destroy  them. 
Leaf  mould  should  not  be  sifted  for  potting  or  planting, 
but  the  lawn  mowings  should  be  cleared  away  as  well 
as  possible  to  get  clean  leaf  mould.  Cuttings  of  Syringa 
(Lilac),  Philadelphus  and  Forsythia  can  be  inserted  in 
pots  of  sandy  soil  now  and  kept  close  till  rooted  in  a  cold 
trame.  They  would  root  more  quickly  if  placed  in  a 
close,  moist  pit  or  house  with  bottom  heat.  Plumbago 
will  root  best  in  spring  in  a  propagating  or  close  case. 
Cuttings  of  young  shoots.  Sins,  long,  with  a  heel  are  best. 
Cuttings  of  Prunus  triloba  and  alTthe  rest,  except  Plum- 
bago, can  be  inserted  in  a  cold  frame  after  the  leaves  drop 
in  autumn.  Any  or  all  of  them  can  be  layered  at  the 
present  time.  Cuttings  for  pots  should  be  oins.  long,  for 
the  cold  frame  in  autumn  9ins.,  inserting  them  Sins,  or 
eins.  deep.  Ceanothus  azureus  and  C.  Gloire  de  Versailles 
would  be  the  most  likely  to  succeed  in  Yorkshire,  if  trained 
to  a  wall  facing  south.  The  shoots  of  Plumbago  can  be 
pruned  back  lialf  theirlength  now,  and  in  October  shortened 
to  lin.  The  old  stems  should  not  be  cut  back,  but  some 
of  them  may  be  cut  away  in  October  if  too  numerous  for 
the  space.  A  book  that  deals  thoroughly  with  the  pro- 
pagation of  shrubs  is  "  Trees  and  Shrubs  tor  English 
Gardens."  This  book  is  published  at  this  office  and  a 
prospectus  will  be  sent  to  our  correspondent  if  he  will 
kindly  forward  his  name  and  address. 
H  NAMES  OF  PLANTS.— J.  W,— 1.  Lilium  pardaliuuni  : 
2,  Probably  L.  .Martagon  (specimen  very  poor)  ;  3,  Seduiu 
spurium  and  var.  album  ;  4,  -Alchemilla  alpina ;  o, 
Veronica  Traversii ;  6,  Funkia  sp.  probably  flava  (speci- 
men poor) ;  7,  Hypericum  Androssenium  ;  8,  Arundinaria 
Fortune!  ;  9,  Probably  Davaliiasp.  (specimen  tooscrappy) : 

lU,    Fuchsia    gracilis. E.    M.    H.— Rhus    Cotinus. 

T.  B.  — 1,  Clirvsanthemum  Parthenium ;  2,  Stachy's 
Betonica  ;  3,  Fumaria  olficinalis  ;  3,  Prunella  vulgaris  ; 
5,  Lychnis  divica  ;  6,  Seuecio  Jacobaea  ;  7.  Jasione 
mont'ana  ;  8.  Hypericum  perforatum  ;  9.  Lotus  corni- 
eulatus  ;  10,  Circsea  lutetiaiia  ;  11.  Valeriana  officinalis ; 
12  Hieracium  sp.  (specimen  too  poor  for  correct  identi- 
fication).  B.    B.    P.— Suckers    of    Ulmus    ma]or. 

Hereford.— Border  Carnations  :    1,  The  Bride  ;    2.  Raby 

Castle  •    3.   Banner. C.  F..   Ascot.— 1,   Rose   Dorothy 

Perkins  I     2,    Olearia    Haastii. 1.    St.    J.    JI.— Spirwa 

Menzi.sii. Mrs.     K.,     Odstock.— 1,      Salvia     ppteiis  ; 

2.    Probably    Embothrium   coccineum. II.  C.  W.,  Xew 

Elfham— 1,  Lychnis  coronaria  Walkeri:  Trachymene 
enrulea,  a  native  of  Australia  (blue  flower). 


CATALOGUES    RECEIVED. 

Mr   John  B.  van  der  Schoot,  Hillegom,  Holland  :    Bulbs. 

Messrs.  R.  Wallace  and  Co..  Limited,  The  Old  Gardens, 
Tunbridge  Wells:  "Irises  and  Iris  Gardens."  a  cata- 
logue of  all  sections  of  Irises  with  cultural  hints, 
profusely  illustrated. 

Mr.  .Anthony  C.  van  dn-  Schoot,  Hillegom,    Holland— 

Messni  William  Paul  and  Son.  Walthara  Cross  Liniitrd. 
Waitham  Cross,  Herts:  Bulbs,  Camellias  and  Spr;iig 
Flowering  Plants. 


THE 


Masisach  usettvs 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


ol.  LXXXVI.— No.  2649. 

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THE      SERVANTLESS      HOUSE 
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By  R.  Randal  Phillips. 

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No.  2649.— Vol.  LXXXVI. 


[August  26,  1922. 


EARLY     AUTUMN     FLOWERS 


EVERY  practical  gardener  knows  that  it 
is  far  from  easy  to  keep  flower  borders 
interesting  in  early  autumn.  One  by  one 
the  summer  flowering  plants  become 
desolate  until,  in  early  September,  few 
hardy  flowers  remain.  A  few  second  spikes  of 
Delphinium,  masses  of  the  starry  Aster  acris, 
and  the  ever-flowering  Nepeta  Mussini  will  provide 
welcome  blue  shades,  and  the  later  perennial 
Sunflowers  and  Solidagos  will  afford  abundance  of 
fairly  showy  yellow,  but  for  the  main  colour  masses, 
reliance  must  be  placed  upon  Dahlias, 
Gladioli  and  Early-flowering  Chrysan- 
themums. In  all  three  families  yellow 
and  apricot  tones  are  obtainable,  also 
shades  of  pinkish  mauve.  Rich  crim- 
sons and  salmon  pinks  are  common  to 
Gladiolus  and  Dahlia,  and  ruddy 
bronze  shades  are  found  in  the  early 
Chrysanthemum.  For  smoky  tints  of 
mauve  and  heliotrope  we  must  rely 
upon  the  Gladiolus  ;  indeed  this  flower 
displays  them  better  even  than  the 
Carnation. 

Since  so  much  reliance  must  be 
placed  upon  these  three  families  of 
plants,  it  is  wise,  if  time  permit,  to 
visit  nurseries  and  private  gardens  in 
search  of  suitable  colour  combinations. 
It  will  be  found  that  in  the  Dahlia, 
soft  art  shades  are  especially  preva- 
lent in  the  Pieony  classes,  while 
brighter  colour  should  be  sought  in 
the  Decorative,  Pompon,  Single  and 
Star  groups.  Almost  all  shades  may  be 
found  among  the  Cactus  sorts,  but 
these  do  not,  as  a  rule,  make  such 
effective  splashes  of  colour  in  the 
border  as  do  the  other  groups  men- 
tioned. A  good  primrose  yellow 
PKony-flowered  variety  is  Nadia, 
admirable  in  colour  and  appearance 
for  associating  with  crimson  and  purple 
tones  in  other  flowers.  For  a  charm- 
ing shade  of  blush  pink,  Lillie  is 
perhaps  the  best.  Other  good  ones 
include  Cassandra,  orange-buff ; 
Dream,  a  pleasing  salmon  shade  ;  Ethel 
May,  bronzy  yellow  ;  Gladys,  salmon- 
buff  ;  Jenny,  soft  rose ;  Polar  Star, 
white,  and  Progress,  salmon,  fine  erect 
habit.  Richer  colours  are  also  to  be 
found  in  this  section,  such  as  Gipsy 
Queen,  dark  crimson  ;  Salome,  bright 
orange  ;  Luna,  deep  yellow  ;  Sparkler 
and  Martial,  almost  scarlet ;  Torea- 
dor, bright  crimson,  and  Maggie, 
salmon  rose  flushed  orange. 


Star  Dahhas  are  preferable  to  the  exhibition 
singles  for  the  mixed  border  and  every  one  of  Messrs. 
Cheal's  varieties  in  this  class  is  worthy  of  a  place. 
White  Star  should  certainly  be  included  and  of  the 
others,  personal  taste  inclines  to  Coral  Star, 
Ifield  Star,  Yellow  Star,  Crimson  Star,  Reigate 
Star  and  the  older  but  very  desirable  Crawley 
Star. 

The  great  advantage  of  Dahlias  is  the  length 
of  their  flowering  season.  They  may  always  be 
relied  upon  to  remain  in  full  blossom  until  the  first 


THE     GRACEFUL     GLADIOLUS    PRIMULINUS    NYDIA. 

A  beautiful  variety  of  pink  and  zuhite  colouring. 


sharp  night  frost.  The  Gladiolus,  on  the  other 
hand,  is  short  lived.  By  planting  at  a  suitable 
season,  however,  its  effect  may  be  obtained  just 
when  it  is  most  wanted  and  it  has  the  grace  and 
dignity  so  common  among  bulbous  plants.  The 
finish  and  texture  of  the  flowers,  too,  are  really 
beautiful. 

Even  a  decade  ago  Gladioli  were  divided  into 
numerous  classes.  Groff's,  Kelway's,  Childsii, 
Lemoinei,  nancieanus,  etc.,  but  the  ever  increasing 
popularity  of  the  exquisite  primulinus  hybrids  has 
practically  divided  them  nowadays 
into  two  classes,  the  primulinus 
hybrids  and  the  large-flowered  sorts 
The  Americans,  always  to  the  fore- 
front with  this  stately  flower,  have 
lately  evolved  a  large  -  flowered 
crimped  or  ruffled  strain  which 
will  in  all  probability  be  worth 
placing  in  a  class  by  itself. 

Of  the  primulinus  hybrids  with 
their  fine  stems  and  generally  refined 
colouring,  the  main  thing,  so  it  seems 
to  the  writer,  is  to  avoid  the  sorts 
which  are  little  more  than  ii.iniatures 
— some  of  them  hardly  that — of  the 
large- flowered  type.  The  character- 
istic hooded  form  ought  certainly 
to  be  preserved. 

Following  are  a  few  first-rate 
varieties,  but  there  are  others  which 
would  make  equal  or  greater  appeal 
to  many  tastes.  Myra  may  be 
described  as  giving  an  effect  of 
rather  salmony  apple-blossom.  Scar- 
letta  is  one  of  the  most  brilliantly 
coloured,  the  total  effect  approaching 
to  scarlet.  Among  yellows,  Messrs. 
Kelway's  claim  for  Golden  Girl, 
that  it  is  the  nearest  to  rich  yellow, 
should  probably  be  conceded.  It 
approaches  that  colour  from  the 
same  angle  as  Lady  Hillingdon 
Rose ;  that  is  to  say,  there  is  a 
distinct  hint  of  buff  in  the  coloration. 
Other  fine  yellows  of  paler  tint 
but  clearer  colouring  are  Gold  and 
Butter  Boy,  the  latter  easily  identi- 
fied by  three  brown  streaks  on  the 
lip.  Nydia,  with  its  "  dairymaid  " 
colouring  of  pink  and  white  ; 
W'oodcote,  nearly  scarlet  ;  Insur- 
passable,  unhappily  named,  but  a 
glorious  orange  buff  ;  Enon,  of  orange 
apricot  hue  ;  Eurydice,  an  excellent 
pink ;  and  White  Buttercup,  are 
all  excellent.  Some  of  the  1922 
novelties      are     indescribably    lovely 


422 


THE     GARDEN. 


[August  26,  1922. 


DAHLIA     IFIELD    STAR    AT    MUNSTEAD     WOOD. 


CHRYSANTHEMUMS    IN     THE    EARLY     AUTUMN    BORDER. 


but  will,  for  a  while,  be   too  scarce   and  dear  for 
e.xtensive  planting. 

Of  the  large  -  fiowered  type  the  number  of 
varieties  is  quite  bewildering,  but  for  border 
decoration  such  cheap  but  effective  kinds  as 
Halley,  Baron  J.  Hulot,  .America,  Faust,  Golden 
West,  Empress  of  India,  Lily  Lehman,  Panama, 
Peace,  Princeps,  Swaben,  Yellow  Hammer,  Marcchal 
Foch,  will  amply  suffice.  They  will  he  found  with 
colour  descriptions  in  any  decent  bulb  list. 

The  ruffled  varieties  emanating  from  that 
eminent  American  raiser  Kunderd  are  remarkable 
for  the  vigour  of  the  plant  and  the  beauty  of  the 
''  grass,"  as  well  as  for  the  characteristic  ruffling 
or  crinkling  of  the  petal  edges.  Those  anxious 
to  try  this  new  and  very  beautiful  class  should 
procure  a  corm  or  two  of  .\lton,  which  in  addition 
to  beauty  of  form,  has  extraordinary  beauty  of 
colouring.  The  exact  shade  is  hard  to  describe, 
but  may  best  be  described  as  a  blend  of  clear  but 
rather  pale  salmon  and  cerise. 

With  Early-flowering  Chrysanthemums  it  is 
necessary  to  select  varieties  sufficiently  early  for 
the    special    purpose. 

There  is  a  great  preponderance  of  yellow  shades 
among  the  really  early-flowering  sorts.  Of  clear 
vellows  the  following  are  all  recommendable. 
Mrs.  A.  Thomson,  richest  golden  yellow,  very  free 
and  bushy,  2ft.  ;  Carrie,  perhaps  the  best  early 
yellow,  but  not  so  bushy  as  Thomson,  2ft.  ;  Flora, 
an  admirable  pompon  variety,  also  bushy,  2ft.  ; 
Champ  d'Or,  deep  canary,  spreading  habit,  ijft.  ; 
Clara,  2ft.  ;  Ethel,  a  primrose  coloured  sport  from 
Robbie  Burns,  3ft.  or  more  ;  and  Horace  Martin, 
the  buttercup-yellow  Masse,  3ft. 

In  bronzy  shades  there  is  a  fairly  wide  selection 
as  the  following  list  shews  : — Orange  Pet,  a  large- 
flowered  Pompon  of  graceful  habit,  with  bronzy- 
orange  flowers,  24ft.  ;  Bronze  Pet,  cactus  petalled, 
bright  bronze,  ijft. ;  Harrie,  orange  bronze, 
rather  large  flower,  2ft.  ;  J.  Bannister,  reddish 
copper  on  lemon  yellow  ground,  rather  thin  and 
slender  in  habit,  a  sport  from  Perle  ChatiUonaise, 
3ft. ;  Mrs.  E.  Stacey,  a  pretty  and  compact  growing 
bronze  Porapon,  ijft.  ;  and  Nina  Blick,  large  and 
shapely  rich  bronze  flowers,  one  of  the  most 
handsome,  but  not  so  early  to  flower  as  most  of 
those  mentioned,  ajft. 

Of  pinkish  sorts,  the  following  are  the  most 
useful  : — Gustav  Grunerwald,  early  and  dwarf, 
ijft.  ;  Mr.  Selby,  a  very  neat  and  dainty  soft  pink 
Pompon,  ijft.  ;  Normandie,  pale  blush  pink, 
2jft. ;  Perle  ChatiUonaise,  peach  pink  and  cream, 
a  fine  flower,  but  rather  sparse  in  habit,  3ft.  ; 
Provence,  rosy  pink  petals,  tipped  gold,  2ft. ; 
Perle  Rose,  deep  rose  with  of  course  the  hint  of 
blue  always  present  in  pink  Chrysanthemums,  a 
beautiful  variety,  but  not  out  until  mid-September, 
2ft. ;  and  Mme.  Marie  Masse,  rosy  mauve,  prolific 
and  useful ;  this  and  its  sports,  several  of  which 
are  mentioned,  are  quite  the  hardiest  border  varie- 
ties in  existence ;  should  be  left  outdoors  in 
winter  and  flower  better  the  second  season  than  the 
first  ;    3ft. 

Of  reddish  shades  there  are  Goachers  Crimson, 
rich  velvety  crimson  with  gold  reverse,  2ft.  ; 
Fleuve  Rouge,  orange  salmon,  unique  and  telling 
colour  and  a  good  flower,  September,  2ft. ;  Little 
Bob,  small  bright  crimson  Pompon,  neat  compact 
flower,  September,  ift.  ;  Minnie  Carpenter,  terra- 
cotta colour,  habit  somewhat  in  the  way  of  Mme. 
Marie  Masse,  3ft.  ;  and  L'.^rgentuillais,  bright 
scarlet  crimson  and  gold. 

Good  white  varieties  are  not  numerous,  but 
these  include  Market  White,  an  excellent  sort, 
2ft.  ;  Holmes'  White,  not  quite  so  pure  a  white, 
but  valuable  as  a  dwarf  variety,  ijft. ;  and  Roi  des 
Blancs,  with  admirable  flowers,  but  sparse  of 
habit  so  should  be  planted  rather  thickly,  sift. 


August  26,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


423 


BULB     ORDERS.-I 

The   Value  of  "  Tips" — Crocus  species.  Hyacinths,  Freesias,  Lachenalias,  Daffodils. 


THE  Horticultural  Club  has  never  been 
the  same  to  me  since  it  left  the  small, 
rather  dingy  room  at  the  end  of  the  long 
ground-floor  passage  at  the  Hotel 
Windsor.  Its  size  and  homeliness 
encouraged  confidences.  Within  its  walls  cats  not 
only  looked  at  kings,  they  spoke  to  them  and  with 
them.  It  was  here  that  Mr.  WiUiam  Marshall, 
who  was  for  many  years  the  chairman  of  the  Floral 
Committee  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  once 
confessed  to  me  that  he  did  not  know  the  early 
Tulip.  Prince  of  Austria.  If  it  had  been  some  out- 
of-the-way  variety  like  Karel  de  Moor  I  would 
not  have  been  surprised  ;  but,  Prince  of  Austria  ! 
In  a  similar  wa>',  one  of  the  best  and  most 
knowledgeable  gardeners  in  old  Ireland  con- 
fessed in  a  letter  onlv  a  verv  short  time  since  that 


the  bud  stage),  and  Tommasinianus  (with  delicate 
looking  flowers  usually  of  a  pale  lavender  colour 
and  with  the  tube  long  and  slender).  .As  this  last 
named  species  seeds  freely  and  is  very  unstable  in 
its  colouring,  a  good  deal  of  quiet  and  interestmg 
amusement  can  be  got  out  of  raising  seedlings, 
possibly,  ton,  a  little  profit  if  anything  of  excep- 
tional merit  should  turn  up.  I  have,  for  example,  a 
very  lovely  dark  purple  form  which  I  raised  from 
my  own  seed  and  which  I  am  trying  to  grow  into 
a  stock  in  the  hope  that  some  day  it  may  find 
itself  "  on  the  market." 

I  have  an  idea  that  one  cause  of  the  mild 
Hyacinth  mania  in  Holland  in  the  thirties  of  the 
eighteenth  century  was  the  development  of  the 
double  flower.  It  seems  to  have  gone  on  increasing 
in   favour  until  somewhere   about   the  middle   of 


A    BEAUTIFUL    CROCUS    SPECIES,    C.    SIEBERI. 


until  this  summer  he  had  not  known  that  exquisite, 
if  somewhat  fickle,  annual  PhaceUa  campanulata  ! 

The  moral  is  two  fold.  It  proclaims  the 
necessity  for  tips  at  bulb-catalogue  time  and, 
further,  it  tells  us  that  the  knowledge  of  the  best 
ordinary  varieties  is  not  as  universal  as,  in  all 
probability,  we  imagined. 

Thus,  to  take  the  Crocus  family,  we  find  some  of 
the  Dutch  varieties  in  almost  every  catalogue  and 
in  every  garden,  but  we  comparatively  seldom 
come  across  any  Crocus  species  in  the  beds  and 
borders  of  our  friends.  The  tinre  for  planting  the 
autumn-flowering  ones  is  over,  so  I  omit  them,  and 
only  mention  four  of  those  which  are  to  be  found 
under  the  head  of  winter  or  spring  flowering 
varieties.  Every  one  ought  to  have  a  few  of  each, 
for  they  are  quite  hardy  and  they  are  among  the 
first  flowers  of  the  new  year  to  come  into  bloom. 
The  quartet  is  composed  of  Imperati  (when 
fuUy  open  a  beautiful  blend  of  some  shade  of 
purple  and  buff),  Sieberi  (a  rather  dwarf  grower, 
with  comparatively  small  flowers  of  a  rosy  lavender 
shade),  Susianus  or  Cloth  of  Gold  (another  dwarf 
growing,  small  flowered  species  with  pretty  pointed 
blooms  marked  externally  with  rich  brown  stripes, 
which  are  most  conspicuous  when  the  flower  is  in 


last  century,  when  the  tide  turned  and  the  single 
flower  began  to  come  more  and  more  to  the  front. 
At  the  present  time  some  of  our  leading  firms  do  not 
catalogue  a  single  double  variety.  .All  the  same, 
anyone  who  can  get  hold  of  a  few  bulbs  of  the 
double  pale  rose  Kastanjebloom  (Chestnut-flower) 
will  find  he  has  a  very  beautiful  flower  and,  like 
myself,  will  wish  to  grow  it  a  second  time.  While 
on  the  subject  of  Hyacinths  I  can  well  remember 
the  time  when  the  gracef\il,  small  flowered  Oranje 
Boven  was  cold-shouldered  by  the  growers  of 
Haarlem,  and  how  at  the  dinner  of  the  Horticul- 
tural Club  after  the  first  forced  bulb  show  at  Vincent 
Square,  dear  ancient  (he  was  more  than  old)  Mr. 
G.  H.  van  Waveren  took  a  spike,  which  I  suddenly 
produced  in  the  course  of  my  lecture,  out  of  my 
hand  and  dashed  it  down  on  the  table,  accom- 
panying his  action  with  such  scornful  vituperations 
in  his  own  language  that  I  never  ventured  to  ask 
for  a  translation.  You  know  the  old  saying  about 
the  blood  of  martyrs  being  the  seed  of  the  church. 
The  death  of  my  poor  little  spike  seems  to  have 
given  renewed  life  to  the  outcast.  Hard  headed 
and  gallant  hearted  Mr.  WiUiam  Cuthbertsou 
spoke  up  for  it,  and  said  he  was  sure  the  ladies 
would  hke  it,  not  only  because  of  its  pretty  ruidy 


apricot  colour,   but   also  because   it   featured   the 
graceful  Roman  Hyacinth  in  its  slender  spike  and 
in  the  loose  arrangement  of  its  small  bells.     Most 
of  our  leading  bulb  merchants  now  give  it  a  place 
in  their  lists.     It  is  not,  however,  a  very  sociable 
plant  as  far  as  its  own  family  is  concerned.     One 
must  see  it  alone  to  see  it  at  its  best.     One  then 
realises  why  it  is  yearly  increasing  in  favour.     It 
should  ne\er  be  planted  singly,   but   three  bulbs 
should  be  put  in  a  6in.  pot  and  so  on  in  proportion. 
I   wonder  if  anyone  is  thinking  of  taking  the 
advice  I  gave  not  long  since  when  writing  about 
Freesias  and  is  going  in  for  seedling  raising.     The 
seed  should  now  be  sown.     It  is  not  too  late  to 
purchase  bulbs  (strictly  one  should  write  corms),  but 
no  time  must  be  lost.     Following  my  usual  custom 
I    am    growing   a   collection   of   yellows.     I    have 
got  some  from  Mr.  van  Tubergen  of  Haarlem  and 
some  from  Mr.  G.  H.  Dalrymple  of  Bartley.     These 
will    be    grown    alongside   my  own  seedlings    and 
the    whole    will    provide    interest    and    excitement 
when  their  flowering  time  comes  round.     Dainty, 
Merry  Widow,  Conquest,  Buttercup,  Rosebud  and 
Canary  are  all  good  varieties  with  which  anyone 
going  in   for  coloured   forms   may  make   a  start. 
Early  to  bed  is  the  Freesia  slogan,  so  buy  and  pot 
betimes.    The  sooner  the  better.     My  Lachenalias 
have  taken  a  leaf  out  of  Dizzy's  book  and  after 
giving  a   really   top-hole   show,   said   before   they 
went  into  their  summer  torpor,   "  The  time  will 
come    when    everyone    will    grow    us."     In    early 
July  I  sent  three  httle  parcels  to  Australia  and 
New  Zealand,  and  since  then  I  have  sent  some  to 
Guernsey  and  the  South  of  England.     Perhaps  the 
tide  has  turned.     Considering  the  ease  with  which 
Lachenalias    may    be    grown    and    their    time    of 
flowering,  added  to  their  wonderful  lasting  power, 
it  is  surprising  they  are  not  more  often  seen.     A 
dozen    Lachenalia    Nelsoni,    enough    to    make    a 
couple  of  sin.  pots,  would  be  sufficient  for  a  trial 
test.     Fashion  is  a  fickle  jade.     You  never  know. 
It  may  be  with  LachenaUas  as  it  has  been  with  the 
Daffodil  Cervantes.      In  the  returns  made  by  the 
Narcissus  Committee  in  1913,  only  a  single  member 
returned   this    \'ariety   as   suitable   for  growing   in 
pots.     Now  it  has  suddenly  sprung  into  fame  and 
bids  fair  to  be  a  serious  rival  to  all  the  yellow 
trumpets.     It    is    so    wonderfully    free    flowering. 
Messf^.  J.   R.  Pearson  and  Sons  in  their  1922  list 
quote  two  instances  of  this  from  bulbs  supplied 
to  customers  ;  in  one  case  twelve  bulbs  of  Cervantes 
produced  forty-nine  blooms,  and  in  the  other  one 
bulb  produced  six.    I  have  Mr. '*  Daffodil  "  Pearson's 
return  of  1913  before  me  as  I  write  ;    I  fancy  were 
he  to  fill  the  same  form  up  in  1922  Cervantes  would 
not   be   left   out.      No   Daffodil   can   beat    Henry 
Irving  for  early  work  in  pots,  especially  if  the  bulbs 
have    been    grown    in    the    region    round    about 
Penzance,  or  in  Scilly,  or  in  the  Channel  Islands. 
In  the  return  a'oove  mentioned  it  came  second  to 
Golden  Spur  in  the  yellow  trumpet  section.     .Any 
Daffodil  or  Polyanthus  Narcissus  which  is  intended 
for  early  work  cannot  be  potted  too  soon.  Cervantes 
reminds  me  of  old  Hartland  of  Cork,   because  I 
believe  that  he  introduced  it  into  commerce.     I 
think  he  told  me  it  was  the  Italian  form  of  Priuceps. 
The  name  of  Hartland  I  always  associate  with  the 
delightful    Leedsii    Countess    of    Southesk.       No 
Daffodil  has   a  higher  decorative  value   as   a  cut 
flower.      I    am    dehghted    to    see   it    included    in 
Pearson's  list.     I  will  conclude  these  notes  with 
their  description — "  Countess  of  Southesk   (Hart- 
land). A  very  pretty  I.eedsii,  especially  valuable  for 
cutting.     .\  large  starry  flower,  very  much  in  the 
style  of  Frank  Miles.     Segments  white,  cup  pale 
lemon   yellow   turning  white   with   age.     A   very 
strong  plant,  flower  stalks  iS  to  20  inches  long." 
Now  comes  the  nasty  jar ;    price,  half  a  guinea  a 
dozen.     Why  not  buy  a  few  and  grow  your  own 
stock  ?  Joseph  J.\cob. 


424 


THE     GARDEN. 


[August  26,  1922. 


SOME    BETTER    SWEET    PEAS 

All  Sweet  Peas  are  good.     There  are,  however,   some   better   than   others  and  it   is   of 

these  that  mention  is  made  here.     Which  are  the  "  best,"  no  one  man  can  say  for  all  ;   the 

popular  heading  the  "  Best  Sweet  Peas  "  is  therefore  shirked. 


M 


Y  earliest  recollections  of  Sweet  Peas 
carry  me  back  well  over  forty  years, 
and  the  rows,  some  long,  some  short 
in  cottage  gardens  are  still  clearly 
imprinted  in  my  memory.     The  plants 

are  grown  closely  together,  they  are  usually  about 

4Mt.  in  height  and  they  are  always  loaded  with 

many  coloured  flowers  whence  comes  a  perfume 

unsurpassed  by   that  of  any  other  plant   grown. 

Big  posies  are  taken   into    the    room 

and     one     inhales,     aye     tastes,     the 

exquisite   fragrance.      One  cannot  do 

that  with  the  sorts   we    grow  to-day. 

That  is  one  of   the  things   for  which 

evolution  must   answer. 

Later    they    still    come  sharply  to 

mv  mind  in  widely  different  circum- 
stances   and    conditions.      Now  there 

are  no    rows    of   mixed    colours,   but 

instead  long  rows  of  plants  more  than 

ift.    taller,   divided    into  sections    ot 

separate  varieties,   as  profuse  in  their 

flowering    and    as    delicious    in    their 

characteristic   scent.      The  individual 

blossoms  are  larger,  they  are  possessed 

of    greater   substance  and  if  there  be 

loss     of     scent,    it    is    imperceptible. 

No  one  can  take   exception   to  what 

the  process  of  evolution  has  done  up 

to  this  point. 

The  third  era  in   my    little    history 

may  be  said  to  have  commenced  with 

the  celebration    of    the      bicentenary 

of  the  introduction  of  the   plant   into 

this   country.     Paxton's    monumental 

glass  house,   the  Crystal   Palace,   was 

the     venue    of    the    most   important 

shows  in   those   days  and  therein  the 

Sweet   Peas   were  displayed.      Scores 

of     bunches,     hundreds    of    bunches, 

thousands  of  bunches,  more  or  less 
artistically  arranged,  and  their  per- 
fume converted  the  normal  atmos- 
phere   of    the     huge    building,   which 

was    on     the    somewhat     unpleasant 

side,  to  something  indescribably   clean 

and  countrified  and  sweet — Rimmel's 

shop,  if  you  will,  but  infinitely  more 

delicious.  Still  the  advance  of  evolu- 
tion was  in  a  direction  at  which  none 

could  cavil. 

Next  came  the  formation  of  the 
National  Sweet  Pea  Society,  which 
maintained  its  initial  success  by  leap- 
ing forward  in  giant  strides  to  the  position 
next  to  that  of  our  national  flower,  the  Rose, 
Interest  in  the  simple  annual  assumed  a  different 
aspect.  From  being  an  indispensable  plant  for 
the  garden  of  the  cottage,  the  villa  and  the  hall, 
it  became  an  exhibition  plant  and  special  shows 
in  its  honour  were  held  all  over  the  country  as  well 
as  in  our  Colonies,  while  the  village  flower  show 
without  classes  for  Sweet  Peas  was  regarded  as 
generations  behind  the  times.  Enthusiasts,  some 
with  knowledge  and  many  without,  commenced 
selecting  and  cross-fertilising  and  novelties  were 
pressed  forward  from  all  directions  until  the  chaos 
of  the  varieties  was  exceeded  only  by  the  chaos  of 
multiplied  names.  The  result  was,  perhaps, 
inevitable,  but  it  was  to  be  deplored  by  those 
who  were  unswervingly  loyal  to  Sweet  Peas  which 
bad  a  reliable  character. 


Concurrently  ran  the  introduction  of  the  waved 
flower,  of  which  Countess  Spencer  must  be  recognised 
as  the  type.  It  was  just  about  as  splendid  a  beauty 
as  it  was  a  worry,  for  the  simple  reason  that  when 
seeds  of  Countess  Spencer  were  sown  no  one  knew 
what  the  harvest  of  flowers  would  bring  forth. 
Actually  it  gave  us  many  grand  Sweet  Peas. 
vigorous  of  constitution,  profuse  of  flowering,  but 
markedlv     deficient     of    characteristic     fragrance. 


WELL   FURNISHED  CLUMPS  OF  SWEET  PEAS,   I  IFT.  HIGH. 


Since  then,  although  some  varieties  are  more 
highly  and  pleasingly  perfumed  than  are  others, 
we  have  been  constantly  descending  in  what  ought 
to  be  accepted  as  an  essential  attribute.  The  superb 
exhibitions  of  the  National  Society  at  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Hall  failed  to  pervade  the  atmosphere 
with  the  same  delicious  scent  that  the  flowers 
at  the  bicentenary  celebration  had  done  the  atmos- 
phere of  the  Crystal  Palace. 

.And  all  the  time  the  craze,  the  mania,  for  size 
w'as  developing.  Stems  had  to  be  2ft.  long, 
individual  flowers  had  to  be  a  quarter  of  that 
length  (more  or  less)  across  and  if  they  were  set 
6ins.  asunder  on  the  stalks  so  much  the  better 
considered  the  exhibitors,  and  presumably  the 
judges  too,  since  it  was  the  monsters  alone  which 
were  accorded  the  places  of  honour.  The  National 
Society  fought  the  tendency  vigorously  and  received 


unstinted  support  from  those  growers  who  were 
firm  in  their  opinion  that  refinement  should  come 
first.  The  Society's  judges  upheld  the  perfect 
stem  with  its  perfectly  arranged  blossoms  and 
condemned  by  default  the  travesties  of  what  a 
Sweet  Pea  should  be.  In  the  end  the  London 
exhibitions  became  collections  of  superb  Sweet 
Peas,  but  the  faults  continued  to  prevail  in  many 
directions  in  the  provinces.  Now  there  are  not 
lacking  indications  that  size,  with  ungainUness,  is 
again  coming  into  the  ascendant  and  it  is  a  fact 
that  all  true  lovers  w'ill  not  only  deprecate  most 
strongly,  but  will  also  fight  against  when  they  are 
called  upon  to  act  the  part  of  adjudicators. 
Judges  should  never  overlook  the  fact  that  they 
are  teachers  of  what  is  best  and  exercise  the  utmost 
care  that  their  judgments  are  educating  the 
learners  on  the  correct  lines.  But  let  me  see  to  my 
varieties  before  the  patience  of  reader  and  editor 
alike  has  gone. 

It  is  not  my  intention  to  pass  under  criticism 
all  the  novelties  of  very  recent  years,  because 
I  have  not  bad  them  in  my  garden  and  am  not 
therefore  qualified  to  express  an  opinion  of  value. 
It  is  true  that  several  have  been  given  a  place  once 
and  either  because  of  their  similarity  or  inferiority 
to  older  sorts  they  have  not  appeared  again. 
Some  have  come  to  stay,  while  others  will  have  to 
wait  at  least  another  season,  and  possibly  two, 
before  final  judgment  is  reached.  It  must  be 
understood  clearly,  too,  that  the  names  do  not 
constitute  a  special  selection,  but  are  simply  of 
varieties  of  substantial  excellence  which  may  be 
relied  upon  to  give  satisfaction  provided  that  their 
:olours  meet  the  tastes  of  other  amateur  growers. 

As  a  pink  there  is  none  that  appeals  to  me  so 
"•"ongly  as  Hawlmark  Pink,  because  it  is  charming 
irom  the  moment  of  expansion  to  collapse  ;  it 
ranks  among  the  finest  of  all  Sweet  Peas  in  my 
estimation.  .As  a  white,  Edna  May  Improved  is  a 
chaste  beauty,  but  Constance  Hinton  is  no  whit 
interior  for  those  who  do  not  object  to  the  slight 
tmt.  Picture,  among  the  cream  pinks  of  deep 
shade,  stands  nearly  alone,  as  does  Mrs.  .Arnold 
Hitchcock  among  those  of  paler  hue.  Felton's 
Cream  and  Bobbie's  Cream  force  me  to  act  the 
pendulum  in  swinging  from  side  to  side,  trying  to 
decide  which  I  prefer.  Charity,  as  a  crimson,  seems 
o  me  to  be  unrivalled,  in  fact  it  undoubtedly  is  so 
compared  with  several  others  which  have  had  their 
trials  from  time  to  time. 

John  Ingman  and  Mrs.  Hardcastle  Sykes  are 
veterans  among  Sweet  Peas,  but  neither  has  a  rival 
in  its  own  shade  of  colour.  As  dark  and  Hght  blues 
respectively.  Commander  Godsall  and  Mrs.  Tom 
Jones  are  well  able  to  hold  their  own  up  to  now  in 
my  esteem.  No  collection  must  be  completed 
without  a  lavender  and  as  a  pure  shade  it  will  not 
be  easy  to  find  a  superior  to  R.  F.  Felton.  Maroon, 
either  reddish  or  chocolate,  does  not  make  strong 
appeal  to  me,  but  I  am  willing  to  pay  tribute  to 
the  merits  of  Splendour  and  Warrior.  Royal 
Purple  stands  alone,  so  no  more  need  be  said  of  it. 
In  picotee  edged  my  favourites  are  .Annie  Ireland 
in  the  white  ground  set  and  Jean  Ireland  in  the 
cream  ground  group.  As  a  scarlet  I  incline  to 
the  view  that  Hawlmark  Scarlet  is  the  best  that 
has  had  a  place  in  my  garden,  but  must  confess 
to  some  doubts  on  the  point  when  I  remember  the 
glorious  clumps  of  Dobbie's  Scarlet  which  have  been 
grown.  Mascott's  Helio  in  its  peculiar  shade  of 
lilac,  Mrs.  J.  T.  Wakefield,  flushed,  and  Magic,  as  a 
fancy,  have  always  pleased  me  by  their  excellent 
qualities,  though  I  am  not  always  satisfied  that 
their  coloiu-s  make  strong  appeal. 

Tangerine,  richest  of  orange ;  The  President, 
glowing  orange  scarlet  ;  Royal  Salute,  and  Royal 
Scot,  deep  and  scarlet  cerise  respectively  ;  must 
have  their  places  in  exhibition  collections  as  they 
are  all  of  very  conspicuous  merit,  but  as  I  do  not 


August  i6,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


425 


exhibit  aiui  liave  a  rooted  objection  to  turning 
my  garden  into  an  apology  for  a  drying  ground  I 
do   not   grow   them   because  they   bum   and  that 


badly  ;  ho\ve\  er,  each  to  his  of  her  own  taste 
as  well  in  colours,  and  in  sizes,  shapes  and  "  drying 
grounds."  H.   L. 


WATER      LILIES 


ONE  of  the  most  fascinating  and  in- 
teresting phases  of  gardening,  where 
there  is  a  large  enough  expanse  of 
water,  whether  pond,  lake  or  rivulet, 
and  pleasant  surroundings,  is  the 
cultivation  of  aquatic  plants  in  general  and  the 
hybrid  Water  Lilies  (NymphiEas)  in  particular. 
It  is  remarkable  with  what  rapidity  these  beautiful 
and  interesting  plants  have  of  late  years  come  to 
the  front,  so  that  there  are  few  gardens  of  any 
note  without  their  Water  Lily  tank  or  artificial 
pond. 

Natural  or  artificial  sheets  of  water  dotted  with 
these  fragrant  flowers  and  the  accompanying 
fresh  green  or  mottled  leaves,  are  sights  not 
readily  to  be  forgotten.  All  are  quite  hardy. 
They  range  in  colour  from  snow  white  to  cream, 
from  soft  pink  to  dark  crimson,  and  pale  sulphur 
to  full  yellow,  and  their  foliage  seems  specially 
designed  to  lend  added  beauty  to  each  particular 
t\-pe  and  hue  of  flower.  It  is  very  desirable 
that  Nymphieas  should  be  planted  in  full  sun, 
and  in  still  water,  though  the  stronger  growing 
kinds,  such  as  the  Marhacea  group,  will  thrive 
in  slightly  running  water  if  planted  in  nooks  or 
bays  away  from  the  full  force  of  the  current. 

Whether  planted  in  tubs,  tanks  or  small  ponds, 
evaporation  takes  place,  but  water  for  replenish- 
ment should  never  be  allowed  to  enter  with  great 
force,  or  a  large  quantity  at  one  time,  as  the 
sudden  chill  is  harmful  and  especially  detrimental 
to  their  flowering.  Water  Lilies  are  not  at  all 
capricious  as  to  soil,  but  it  should  be  rather  on 
the  stiff  side.  Stiffish  loam  mixed  with  a  little 
well  decaved  cow  manure  is  excellent. 


Planting  may  be  proceeded  with  during  May 
and  June,  but  they  may  be  safely  transplanted 
as  long  as  the  water  remains  warm.  When 
intended  for  large  ponds  it  is  better  to  plant  first 
in  baskets  and  sink  in  the  required  positions  for 
flowering.  When  planting  in  tubs,  these  should 
be  pitched  inside  and  out  and  then  sunk  in  tlie 
ground  until  the  edge  is  but  a  little  above  the 
ground  level  There  should  be  6ins.  to  gins,  of 
prepared  soil  placed  in  the  bottom  and  the  roots 
should  be  firmly  planted,  leaving  gins,  to  I2ins.  of 
water  all  o\er 

It  is  always  well  to  introduce  gold  fish  into  tubs 
and  small  artificial  ponds,  as  they  destroy  the 
mosquito  larvre  and  other  injurious  water  insects 
If  fed  from  one  comer  the  fish  become  quite  tame 
and  are  much  in  evidence  towards  feeding  time. 

The  list  of  Nymphaias  is  a  long  one,  so  I  will 
confine  myself  to  a  few  of  the  better  and  more 
prolific  sorts. 

Varieties  for  ift.  to  2ft.  of  W.^ter. — 
Marliacea  albida,  large  flowers,  white  ;  M.  carnea, 
blush  pink  ;  M.  rosea,  rich  rose  ;  M.  rubra  punctata, 
rich  purplish  red,  spotted  carmine,  has  conspicuous 
orange  scarlet  stamens  ;  M.  chromatella,  a  real 
gem,  having  large  sweetly  scented  chrome  yellow 
flowers,  should  be  in  all  collections  ;  Colassea,  rich 
rose,  very  free  and  vigorous  ;  Escarboucle,  a  most 
beautiful  vermilion  flower ;  Robinsoni,  medium 
sized  flowers,  a  pretty  crimson  vermilion,  shaded 
towards  centre  with  rich  ochre  foliage,  spotted 
chestnut  brown  ;  Moorei,  this  is  undoubtedly  one 
of  the  finest  introductions,  large  globular  shaped 
flowers  of  a  beautiful  soft  yellow,  with  dark  olive 
green  foliage,  marbled  chocolate  ;   Mrs.  Richmond, 


J7'jJrj^-:.irr 


e^-* 


another  exceedingly  handsome  variety  with  clear 
soft  pink  flowers,  very  vigorous;  Gladstoniana, 
one  of  the  best  for  large  ponds,  having  large 
ornamental  leaves  and  gigantic  snow  white 
flowers. 

For  Tubs  or  Ta.vks  for  6ins.  to  giNS.  of 
Water. — Laydekeri  fulgens,  rich  amaranth  ;  L. 
purpurata,  rose,  shaded  lilac ;  odorata  minor, 
small  pure  white  flowers,  very  suitable  for 
aquaria  ;  o.  Exquisite,  clear  pink  ;  o.  sulphurea, 
large   flowers  of   clear   sulphur  shade. 

Other  attractions  to  the  water  garden  are 
the  many  varieties  of  bog  and  water  plants  for 
planting  near  the  edge  of  the  water,  or  forming  small 
islands  ;  these,  however,  are  best  planted  earlier 
in  the  year.  W.  Logan. 


WATER    LILIES    AT     GRAVETYE    MANOR. 


BULBS  FOR  THE  ROCK 
GARDEN 

THERE  lives  a  man  who,  not  so  very 
long  ago,  said  that  he  would  have  no 
bulbs  in  his  rock  garden.  The  flowers 
were  all  very  well,  many  of  them  quite 
good  in  fact,  but  there  was  the  '*  after- 
wards "  to  be  faced  and  he  drew  an  awful  picture 
of  fading  stems  and  dying  leaves  just  when  every- 
thing else  was  at  its  best.  Of  course,  his  rock 
garden — to  use  his  owm  phrase — was  "  quite  good  "; 
there  is  such  an  abundant  mass  of  non-bulbous 
material  that  it  could  hardly  be  otherwise,  so  that 
he  cherished  his  delusion  until  one  day,  early  in 
April,  he  visited  my  garden,  when  a  sudden  and 
very  violent  conversion  took  place.  If  this  was 
what  bulbs  did  for  the  alpine  garden — well  I  I 
could  not  refrain  from  reminding  him  of  the 
gigantic  masses  of  decaying  leaves  that  must,  so  he 
had  suggested,  mar  the  scene  in  May  and  June,  but  I 
invited  him  to  come  again  and  advised  him  to  visit 
Kew  and  see  the  bulbs  there.  He  almost  feU  down 
and  worshipped  before  a  Httle  clump  of  Narcissus 
triandrus  (Angels'  Tears),  and  left,  a  badly  shaken 
man.  Later  I  heard  that  he  had  been  to  Kew 
and  that  this  had  completed  the  cure.  His  own 
bulbless  garden  became  unsatisfactory  in  his  eyes 
and  he  impatiently  awaited  planting  time  so  that  he 
could  rectify  the  omission.  When  he  came  again 
I  took  him  to  the  rock  garden  to  prove  that  the 
barren  masses  of  decaying  leaves  were  not  there. 

No  doubt  there  are  others,  like  my  friend,  whose 
gardens  are  lacking  just  what  his  lacked.  They 
thus  miss  some  of  the  real  charm  of  new-born 
spring.  For  the  amount  of  fading  foliage  that 
obtrudes  itself  depends  upon  the  planter  and  the 
means  that  are  taken  to  associate  the  bulbs  with 
other  plants  and  thus  screen  them  when  the 
inevitable  dying  back  does  take  place,  while  the 
pictures  which  a  free  use  of  dwarf  bulbs  enables  us 
to  create  are  abundant  repayment  for  the  thought 
and  time  involved.  Consideration  must  be  given 
to  date  of  flowering,  height,  colour  and  suitabihty 
in  connexion  with  the  plants  immediately  surround- 
ing them,  and,  finally,  aspect,  from  the  point  of 
view  of  the  plants  themselves. 

.All  dwarf  and  early- flowering  bulbs,  such  as  the 
tiny  Daffodils,  should  have  an  "  open  "  carpeting 
plant  through  which  they  can  easily  make  their 
way.  Many  Dianthuses  are  excellent  for  this,  as 
the  growths  permit  the  tiny  bulbs  to  spear  their 
way  through  and  yet  keep  the  flowers  from  becoming 
mud-splashed  in  showery  weather.  Mossy  Saxi- 
frages are  often  recommended  for  this  purpose  and 
very  good  they  are  too,  but  I  prefer  something  that 
enables  the  growth  to  make  its  way  through  more 
readily.  Where  used  thus,  choose  one  of  the  green- 
foUaged  Dianthuses  rather  than  a  glaucous-leaved 
kind  ;  the  latter  does  not  give  sufficient  contrast 
and  detracts  from  the  daintiness  of  the   flowers. 


426 


THE     GARDEN. 


[August  26,  1922. 


One  could  scarcely  have  too  many  of  these  minia- 
ture Narcissi — cyclaniineus,  juncifolius,  triandrus, 
Bulbocodium,  etc.,  for,  wherever  they  peep  out, 
they  are  indescribably  attractive  and,  once  estab- 
lished, do  better  and  better  with  each  year  that 
passes.  Many  people  are  disappointed  with  these 
the  first  year  after  planting,  because  flowering 
is  sparse  and  the  majority  of  the  bulbs  only  produce 
leaves,  but  time  alone  will  correct  this.  Give 
them  a  position  where  they  will  be  partially  shaded 
during  the  hottest  part  of  the  day ;  plant  about 
liins.  to  2ins.  deep  in  a  rich  loam  and  time  will  do 
the  rest. 

An  especially  attractive  plant  is  Roraulea 
Bulbocodium,  that  resembles  but  is  hardier  than 
R.  Celsii.  A  great  sun  lover,  it  requires  a  light 
sandy  soil,  nesthng  against  the  foot  of  a  large 
boulder  that  first  absorbs  and  then  gives  out  the 
heat  of  the  sun.  Scillas  are  very  "  alpine  **  and 
both  early  and  late,  give  a  splendid  selection  of 
dainty  httle  flowers,  rich  in  real  gorgeous  blue,  a 
colour  that  illuminates  and  penetrates  in  its  vivid 
intensity.  S.S.  bifoha,  itahca,  unifolia,  vema  and 
sibirica,  all  are  grand  species  for  the  rock  garden 
and,  if  an  especially  "  cunning "  Uttle  effect  is 
wanted,  try  planting  these  close  to  a  group  of 
Saxifraga  cordifolia  (Megasea),  so  that  the  lovely 
little  flowers  are  seen  against  the  large  glossy, 
rather  coppery  leaves  of  the  Saxifrage. 

After  mid-April  we  can  enjoy  a  continuous  pro- 
cession of  Tuhps,  in  every  gorgeous  hue  that  this 
wonderful  genus  contains.  Not  the  common 
border  or  bedding  Tulips,  of  course — these  would 
be  out  of  place — but  the  wildling  un-improved 
children  of  Nature,  Uttle  gems  only  a  few  inches  high 
but  glowing  with  a  fire  and  brilUance  that  compete 
on  equal  terms  with  the  finest  of  the  florists' 
varieties.  A  rock  garden  rich  in  these  is  an  enviable 
place  indeed  during  the  best  of  the  spring  days, 
for  there  you  will  have  Tuhps  that  flame  in  gold  and 
crimson,  blush  in  softest  pink  or  cream  or  white, 
endeavour  to  prove  that  they  are  wee  Water  Lihes. 
or  cajole  us  into  the  belief  that  they  are  star  dust 
dropped  from  last  night's  sky.  Tuhps,  in  short,  in 
such  a  diversity  of  form  and  colour  that  those  who 
are  only  familiar  with  the  garden  forms  would  rub 
their  eyes  and  stare  in  amazement. 

Among  the  choicest  httle  plants  of  all  for  shaded 
nooks,  where  the  ground  is  cool,  moist  and  rich  in 
leaf  mould,  are  the  hardy  Cyclamens  ibericum  and 
repandum.  These  look  best  in  httle  colonies, 
with  here  and  there  an  isolated  plant  breaking 
away  from  the  main  mass.  C.  ibericura  is  some- 
times listed  as  vernum  and  is  doubly  beautiful, 
in  that  the  leaves  are  nearly  as  attractive  as  the 
lovely  httle  crimson  flowers  on  thin  stems  which 
never  exceed  3ins.  in  height.  There  is  an  equally 
charming  white  variety  of  this  with  a  crimson 
blotch  at  the  base.  The  repandum  varieties  are 
shghtly  taller  than  ibericum,  with  ivy-like  leaves, 
barred  with  a  silver  zone.  These  are  later  in 
flowering  too,  being  at  their  best  in  April  and  May. 
By  including  a  group  of  each  species  therefore,  one 
has  a  continuous  succession  of  wee  flowers  from 
early  February  to  mid-May.  When  these  plants 
strike  a  home  that  is  to  their  liking,  they  lose  no 
time  in  taking  possession  of  it  by  sowing  their 
seeds  all  round  the  original  colony  so  that  as  the 
years  pass  they  peep  out  far  and  wide,  and  are 
usually  especially  happy  in  their  "  choice "  of 
positions.  In  company  with  these  should  be  the 
Erythroniums  (Dog's  Tooth  Violets),  ideal  frail- 
loolvjng,  shade-loving  plants  that  are,  however, 
absolutely  hardy.  These  plants  are  much  more 
individualists  tlian  the  Cyclamen  and  a  single  plant 
or  quite  small  colony  in  just  the  right  setting  is 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  sights  that  the  rock 
garden  can  shew.  Do  not  omit  an  annual  dressing 
of  old  manure  and  peat  in  equal  mixture  over  the 
spot  where  they  are  growing.     With  this  attention 


they  are  long  lived  and  flo\\'er  splendidly  everv 
year.  It  is,  perhaps,  curious  that,  although  they 
love  damp,  they  detest  wet  and  never  do  better 
than  where  growing  in  a  rather  loose  soil,  below 
which  there  is  ample  drainage. 

The  charms  of  the  dainty  little  bulbous  Iris 
must  not  be  overlooked.  These  are  gem?  indeed 
and  fill  many  a  little  sunny 
nook  as  no  other  flower 
could  do.  There  are 
I.I.  bucharica,  caucasica, 
cristata  and  orchioides,  for 
instance,  lost  in  the  space 
of  a  mixed  border,  but 
plants  of  glorious  charm 
amid  rocks.  Iris  orchioides 
is  one  of  my  own  par- 
ticular favourites,  with  its 
self-coloured  yellow  flowers 
on  foot  tall  stems.  It  is  a 
dehghtful  little  plant,  well 
worth  the  trouble  of  making 
happy,  which  is  easily  done 
if  a  sunny  spot  is  found. 
The  soil  should  be  very 
Ught  and  sandy,  but  well 
etu-iched  with  rotten  leaves 
and  old  manure.  It  should 
be  disturbed  as  little  as 
possible,  for  it  has  thick 
fleshy  roots  that  remain 
attached  to  the  bulbs 
during  the  resting  season  ; 
time,  therefore,  is  required 
to  estabUsh  them.  Of 
course  I.  reticulata  must  be 
planted,  and  planted  freely 
too ;  there  is  nothing  to 
excel  this  for  early  flower- 
ing. If  the  season  is  at  all 
forward,  mid-February  will 
see  the  first  of  the  lovely 
deep  blue  flowers,  with  a 
brilliant  touch  of  deep 
orange  on  each  fall,  ex- 
pand ;  these  continue  to 
open  in  succession  for 
several  weeks.  The  bulbs 
are  covered  with  an  outer 
coating  of  netted  fibre  and 
should  not  be  planted  too 
deeply.  Another  point 
that  should  not  be  over- 
looked in  connexion  with 
this  is  to  plant  in  rather 
poor  and  stony  soil.  I 
speak  feelingly,  remember- 
ing one  of  my  own  mis- 
takes. The  bulbs  came  to 
me  from  a  friend  and  I 
put  them  in  a  deep  pocket, 
filled  with  a  rich  fibrous 
loam.  The  first  year — two 
flowers  !  "  Oh,"  said  I, 
"  freshly  planted  of  course 
— next  year."  ,\  n'd  I 
watched  the  long  stroni; 
leafage  witli  a  cheerful 
heart.  But  that  is  just 
where  I  made  my  mistake, 
strong  leafage  is  not  a  sign 
of  health  and  the  follow- 
ing year  I  got  no  flowers. 
Then  I  did  what  I  ought 
to  have  done  earUer. 
consulted  the  donor  of 
the  bulbs.  His  plants, 
I  found,  did  not  make 
long  lea\'es ;  on  the  con- 
trary,     they      were      quite 


dwarf  even  in  early  July  and  the  bulbs  that 
flowered  most  profusely  of  all  were  those  that 
had,  in  course  of  time,  worked  their  way  out 
into  a  gravel  path.  I  took  the  hint,  went  home 
and  changed  the  position  of  those  bulbs  at  the 
earliest  opportunity.  Now  they  grow,  but  not 
over  luxuriantly,    and   I    have  never  since   had   a 


A    LITTLE    COLONY    OF    NARCISSUS     CYCLANIINEUS. 


CROCUS     SIEBERI,    VAR.     ATTICUS,    IN    THE    ROCK    GARDEN. 


August  26,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


427 


season  pass  without  flowers.  To  ine  too,  the  Spring 
Star  Flower,  Milla  uniflora,  always  has  a  special 
charm,  while  it  is  one  of  the  most  permanent  of  all 
bulbs.  Once  planted,  it  seems  to  go  on  for  ever 
and  there  should  be  an  increasing  mass  each 
spring  of  the  lovely  pure  white  starry  flowers  that 
last  so  long  in  perfection. 

Fritillarias,  Muscaris,  Crocus  species  and  others 
of  that  ilk  should  be  used  lavishly,  but  more 
in  the  approach  to  than  in  the  actual  rock 
garden  itself,  for  they  do  so  well  among  Ferns, 
shrubs  or  short  grass,  that  they  are  more  useful 
there  than  in  the  pockets  among  the  choicer 
plants. 

The  above  remark  applies,  of  course,  to  the  bulk 
of  varieties  among  the  genera  named,  but,  and 
especially  in  the  case  of  the  Fritillarias,  there  are 


a  few  varieties  so  good  that  nothing  less  than  a 
dwelling  of  their  own  meets  the  case.'  There  is, 
for  example,  F.  pudica,  an  entirely  distinct  form 
with  small  drooping  bell-shaped  flowers,  first  green 
and  later  becoming  golden  yellow.  One  of  the 
most  magnificent  of  all  is  F.  recurva,  a  splendid 
Californian  species  that  must  have  a  protected 
spot  and  a  rich  cool  soil  where  it  can  produce  its 
tall  stems,  carrying  the  chequered  scarlet  and  yellow 
flowers. 

To  revert  for  a  moment  to  the  Muscari.  Those 
fond  of  the  quaintly  beautiful  should  procure  a 
dozen  bulbs  of  M.  plumosum,  the  Feather  Hyacinth, 
the  flowers  of  which  have  become  little  more  than 
long  twisted  mauve  threads,  the  whole  forming  a 
feather-like   flower  of  striking   appearance. 

H.  W.  C.\nning-Wright. 


THE     HERBACEOUS     PHLOXES 

As  the  planting  season  is  gradually   drawing   near,   perhaps   a  few   remarks   on    these 
beautiful  summer  and  autumn  flowering  plants  will  not  be  inopportune. 


ALTHOUGH  herbaceous  Phloxes  will 
thrive,  more  or  less,  in  the  majority  of 
soils,  those  who  wish  to  e.tcel  with  them 
L  should  bear  the  following  points  in  mind. 
^  These  Phloxes  are  gross  feeders,  so  a 
well  enriched  soil  that  has  been  deeply  cultivated 
should  be  chosen.  During  the  period  of  growth 
copious  supplies  of  liquid  manure  or  other  such 
stimulant  should  be  given.  In  the  event  of  a 
drought  a  good  mulch  of  well  decayed  dung  will 
materially  assist  in  retaining  moisture  and  suppljdng 
nourishment  to  the  roots.  The  value  of  mulching 
under  such  circumstances  was  brought  home  to  us 
last  year  at  Mr.  Jones'  nursery.  These  mulchings 
enabled  Mr.  Jones  to  bring  to  the  R.H.S.  meetings 
at  Westminster,  despite  the  unfavourable  season, 
many  tine  groups  of  Phloxes  Phloxes  certainly 
show  to  greatest  advantage  planted  in  masses, 
preferably  of  one  colour.  If  planted  in  beds  it  is 
advisable  to  have  depressed  surfaces  so  that  rain 
win  not  run  off.  Phloxes  are  surface  rooting 
plants  so  these  depressed  surfaces  will  also  allow 
for  a  rich  mulch.  When  planting,  the  heights 
that  various  varieties  attain  should  he  taken  into 
account. 

The  actual  planting  is  best  carried  out  in  early 
autumn  and  this  is  practically  essential  on  light 
soils.  At  this  season  the  soil  will  be  moist  and 
warm,  which  will  enable  the  plants  to  get  a  firm 
grip  of  the  soil  before  winter  sets  in.  The  earher 
the  planting  the  finer  is  likely  to  be  the  display  of 
bloom  the  following  summer. 

Plants  from  the  open  ground  are  undoubtedh' 
best  and  yearlings  raised  from  cuttings  better, 
generally  speaking,  than  divided  stuff.  There  are 
many  gardeners  none  the  less  who  never  propagate 
Phloxes  from  cuttings.  They  divide  up  large 
clumps  during  the  autumn.  This  division  often 
meets  with  a  certain  amount  of  success.  However, 
rooted  cuttings  are  far  superior,  as  they  have  the 
merit  of  possessing  a  new  lease  of  life,  whereas 
the  divided  portion  is  more  or  less  exhausted. 
Division,  too,  often  produces  poor,  straggly  plants 
and  inferior  blooms. 

If  one  must  rely  upon  the  divided  clump  as  a 
means  of  "  propagation,"  only  the  outer  portions 
.should  be  planted  and  the  centre  be  consigned  to 
the  rubbish  heap.  Now  as  regards  stakes,  it  is 
advisable  to  put  these  in  place  as  early  as  possible, 
so  that  damage  to  the  spreading  roots  may  be 
minimised.  The  flower  stems  should  not  all  be 
tied  to  one  stake,  otherwise  the  plant  is  but  too 
likely  to  take  on  a  besom-like  appearance.     Nor 


is  it  advisable  to  use  over  long  stakes  for  the 
purpose  since  this  will  sadly  mar  the  picture 
when    the    plants   come   into   flower. 


flowers  fulK'  expand.  Some  varieties  are  especially 
charming  under  artificial  light.  They  are,  however, 
unsuited  for  table  decorations  because  of  the 
possibility  of  the  pips  shedding. 

The  list  of  varieties  is  now  exceedingly  long. 
The  following  list,  while  not  in  any  way  exhaustive, 
contains  some  of  the  best  and  most  distinctive. 
Dr.  Charcot,  bluish  mauve,  has  large  flowers  in  good 
trusses  ;  Elizabeth  Campbell,  light  salmon,  very 
large  truss,  is  an  old  favourite  ;  Fran  A-  Buchner 
is  perhaps  the  best  pure  white  ;  Embrazemeut 
is  a  fine  salmon  with  darker  eye  ;  Dr.  Konigshofer 
is  one  of  the  best  of  the  orange  scarlets  ;  Freifrau- 
lein  von  Lassberg,  another  good  snow  white  sort ; 
G.  A.  Strohlein  is  almost  vermilion  in  colour  with 
a  carmine  eye  ;  H.  J.  Jones  is  quite  the  best  of  the 
rosy  scarlets  ;  Le  Mahdi  is  probably  the  best  violet 
blue,  not  an  attractive  colour  to  many  people, 
nor  are  the  pips  a  very  wonderful  size ;  Gen. 
van  Heutsz  is  a  salmon  red,  white  centred,  all 
sorts  approaching  this  colour  burn  in  strong  sun- 
shine. Gruppenkonigin,  flesh  colour,  carmine  eye  ; 
Mrs.  H.  Jenkins,  white ;  William  Watson,  soft 
pink,  mauve  eye  ;  Tapis  Blanc  and  suffruticosa 
Snowdon,  both  good  dwarf  whites,  are  all 
excellent. 

Besides  these  we  have  Mrs.  J.  H.  Jones,  mauve, 
shaded  pink,  carmine  eye  ;  Mrs.  A.  W.  Alder,  shell 
pink  ;  Muriel  Alder,  salmon  red,  dark  eye  ;  the 
Rev.    Gilbert    Ravnor,    a    fine    intense    salmon ; 


A    BORDER    OF    PHLOXES. 


Each  shoot  should  be  spread  out  and  attached 
to  a  stake.  Where  the  shoots  are  numerous  the 
weakest  ones  should  be  removed.  The  sooner  this 
very  necessary  thinning  can  be  done  the  greater 
will  be  the  amount  of  vigour  available  for  those 
selected  to  produce  perfect  blooms. 

As  cut  flowers  many  varieties  of  Phlox  look 
admirable,     The  spikes  should  be  cut  before  the 


Rijnstroom,  rose  pink ;  Rosenberg,  carmine 
violet,  blood  red  eye  ;  Mrs.  Louie  WilUams,  deep 
salmon  ;  C.  Edwards,  clear  salmon,  bids  fair  to 
come  to  the  front ;  La  Neige,  white,  fine  truss  ; 
Imperator,  rich  crimson ;  Jesse  Waters,  salmon 
orange,  carmine  eye  ;  Florrie  Freeman,  carmine 
cerise,  and  Hanny  Pfleiderer,  creamy  blush,  carmine 
eve.  G.  H. 


428 


THE     GARDEN. 


THE    ENEMIES   OF    THE    GREENFLY 


THE  greenfly  has  three  inveterate  enemies — 
the  hover-fly,  the  lacewing-fly  and  the 
ladybird.  With  all  of  them,  in  their  adult 
stage,  we  are  familiar.  The  ladybird  needs 
no  introduction  ;  the  lacewing,  ^\Tth  its 
large,  deHcate  wings,  its  green  body  and  its  brilliant 
golden  eyes,  we  have  often  seen  resting  on  a  wall 
or  fence  ;  and  the  black  and  yellow  banded  hover- 
flies  are  exceedingly  common  in  every  garden, 
especially  towards  the  end  of  summer,  poising 
over  the  flowers  or  darting  to  and  fro  like  tiny 
hawks. 

All  three  insects  should  be  protected  in  every 
possible  way,  for  their  grubs  all  feed  on  aphides 
or  greenfly  ;  and  they  feed  on  them  to  such  an 
enormous  extent  that  they  destroy  far  more  than 
any  remedy  we  can  devise. 

The  eggs  of  both  the  lacewing  and  the  ladybird 
are  easily  detected  and,  therefore,  easily  preserved 
from  destruction  ;  they  are  laid  in  groups,  and 
the  groups  are  sufficiently  large  readily  to  be  seen. 
In  the  case  of  the  hover-fly,  however,  it  is  different  ; 
one  egg  only  is  usually  laid  at  a  time  and,  of  course 
it  is  so  small  as  to  be  practically  invisible.  Three 
days  after  this  minute,  bolster-shaped  egg  is  laid 
the  grub  hatches  out ;  it  is  blind,  Ught  yellow  in 
colour,  less  than  one-sixteenth  of  an  inch  long, 
and  ready  from  the  moment  of  arrival  to  catch 
and  eat  greenfly.  It  does  not  actually  eat  them, 
by  the  way,  it  sucks  them  ;  but,  so  far  as  the 
gardener  is  concerned,  the  result  is  the  same — 
the  complete  annihilation  of  the  pest.  The  grub 
is   provided   with   a   curious   three-spiked   weapon 


*   .  > 


HOVER-FLY     LAYING     EGGS     .'iMONG 
GREENFLY. 


L.AR\A     OF     THE     HOVER-FLY. 


on  its  head,  and  with  this  it  seizes  and  holds  aloft 
its  prey.     V\'hen  quite  young  it  can  manage  only 


HOVER-FLY     PUPA. 


THE    LARVA    OF  THE   LADYBIRD,   POPULARLY 
CALLED    "  NIGGER." 

two  small  greenflies  per  day,  but  before  it  reaches 
the  pupation  stage  it  devours  one  every  minute  ! 
.And  this  goes  on  all  day,  and  probably  most  of 
the  night.  What  insecticide  can  boast  such  a  result  ? 
The  colour  of  a  full  grown  grub  is  a  pale  green, 
with  a  touch  of  reddish  purple  at  the  tail,  and  a 
whitish  dorsal  stripe.  It  is  rather  easy  to  overlook 
these  greenish,  slow-moving  creatures  and  to 
brush  them  away  with  the  greenfly. 

Fortunately,  one  is  not  at  all  likely  to  overlook 
the  black  and  red  larvae  of  the  ladybird.  The  eggs 
are  greenish  in  colour  and  are  laid  in  little  bundles  ; 
sometimes  they  are  so  yellow  that  it  is  possible 
to  mistake  them  for  the  eggs  of  the  Large  White 
butterfly.  As  soon  as  they  hatch  out,  however 
the  larvEe  are  leaden  grey,  almost  black,  with  patches 
of  red  ;  they  are  fairly  active,  hunting  about  on 
the  leaves  for  their  food  and  eating  every  greenfly 
they  find.  The  chrysalis  is  a  little  dark,  shapeless 
object  that  hangs,  head  downward,  on  the  upper 
side  of  a  leaf  or  on  a  twig.  Both  the  insect  and 
the  larva  have  the  power  to  exude  a  very  dis- 
agreeable odour  by  means  of  a  liquid  that  comes 
out  of  the  joints  of  the  legs  ;  this  odour  is  very 
perceptible  if  a  number  of  the  little  beetles  chance 
to  hibernate  during  the  winter  in  a  living-room. 
But  in  spite  of  its  disagreeableness,  or  perhaps 
because  of  it,  this  liquid  is  considered  by  some 
country-folk  to  be  a  good  remedy  for  toothache. 

I  do  not  think  the  hover-fly,  as  an  adult  insect, 
is  ever  carnivorous.  There  is  a  doubt  about  the 
lacewing  in  this  respect,  because  it  seems  to  have 
the  power  to  inflict  a  sUght  bite  on  the  skin,  .^bout 
the  ladybird  there  is  no  doubt  at  all ;  it  is  certainly 
carnivorous  and  a  very  good  hunter ;  I  have 
seen  it  exhaust  and  Ivill  a  gnat  in  a  very  few  seconds 
by  sucking  its  juices.  Therefore  ladybirds  are 
useful  in  the  garden,  both  as  larvas  and  as  beetles. 

As  larvae,  perhaps  the  lacewings  are  the  most 
voracious  of  these  three  insects  ;  they  are  also 
merciless  cannibals  should  the  supply  of  greenfly 
fail  them.  For  this  reason,  it  is  a  wise  provision 
of  Providence  for  their  race  that  the  eggs  are 
laid  apart  and  each  on  its  own  little  foot-stalk. 
Sometimes  it  does  happen  that  the  eggs  have  been 
laid  quickly  and  that  the  stalks  have,  in  a  way, 
run  together,  so  that  the  eggs  appear  as  a  little 
bunch,  and  in  such  a  case  the  first  larva  to  escape 
from  its  shell  will  probably  eat  all  the  other  eggs, 
or  the  larvae  as  they  appear.  But  usually  the 
stalks  are  quite  separate,  and  each  little  newly 
hatched  grub  has  to  climb  down  its  own  stalk 
and  go  in  search  of  greenfly.  The  way  these  eggs 
are  laid  is  very  remarkable.  The  lacewing  first 
places  on  the  leaf  a  drop  of  sticky,  transparent 
fluid  ;  she  keeps  her  ovipositor  attached  to  this 
and  draws  it  out  and  up  into  a  thread  that  hardens 
very  rapidly  ;  on  the  top  of  it  she  places  her  egg, 
probably   fastening  it   to   the   thread   by   another 


[August  26,  1922. 

drop  of  the  liquid.  The  eggs  have  a  papery,  vege- 
table appearance,  and  this  led  casual  observers 
some  years  ago  to  conclude  that  they  were  some 
sort  of  moss  or  fungus.  It  is  possible  that  this 
Uquid,  which  hardens  round  the  eggs  into  a  sort 
of  parchment,  is  disagreeable  to  birds  ;  otherwise 
one  wonders  why  the  birds  do  not  snap  them  all  up. 

The  pupae  of  the  lacewings  are  not  often  seen, 
because  the  larvae,  before  pupation,  wander  away 
and  hide  themselves  in  chinks  and  crevices  and 
withered  leaves.  The  fly  emerges  during  the  day, 
as  the  warmth  of  the  sun  is  necessary  to  develop 
the  mngs,  but  for  the  rest  of  its  Ufe  it  is  inactive 
during  the  day  and  flies  at  dusk. 

Besides  its  stalked  eggs,  there  is  another  strange 
feature  in  the  lacewing's  career,  and  this  is  the 
fact  that  the  pupa,  before  the  emergence  of  the 
perfect  insect,  develops  leg-muscles  that  are 
functional.  As  soon  as  the  fly  is  ready  to  appear, 
the  pupa  cuts  its  way  out  of  the  pupa  case  with 


THE    LACEWING-FLY. 


CURIOUSLY    STALKED    EGGS    OF    THE 
LACEWING-FLY. 

a  pair  of  specially  constructed  jaws  that  are  used 
on  this  occasion  only,  and  then  cHmbs  out  and 
seeks  a  rough  projecting  surface.  When  it  has 
found  a  suitable  spot,  usually  a  tree-trunk,  it  re- 
mains quiet  till  the  skin  spHts  on  its  back,  and  the 
small,  crumpled  wings  appear ;  the  pupal  skin 
is  now  finally  discarded,  and  the  fly  hangs  on  to 
the  trunk  till  its  wings  have  grown  and  stiffened. 
There  is  very  little  one  can  do  to  induce  these 
three  immensely  useful  little  foes  of  the  greenfly 
to  breed  in  our  gardens.  Only  in  the  case  of  the 
hover-flies  are  we  able  to  place  any  attraction 
in  their  way.  Hover-flies  are  all  very  fond  of  certain 
flowers,  among  which  are  Michaelmas  Daisies 
and  Mint  blossoms.  It  is  certain  that,  after  enjoying 
the  sweets  of  these  flowers,  the  flies  would  be  more 
likely  to  lay  their  eggs  among  greenfly  near  at  hand 
than  wander  off  elsewhere  ;  so  it  would  be  a  wise 
thing  to  see  that  the  garden  contains  a  flourishing 
bed  of  .Michaelmas  Daisies  or  Mint  or  any  other 
flowers  over  which  these  flies  are  observed  to  hover 
and  dart.  M.   H.  Cr.\wfori). 


August  26,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


CENTAUREA  CANDIDISSIMA  EST  SEASIDE 

GARDENS. 

VIITERE  I  to  name  one  plant  as  quite  indispensable 
to  seaside  gardens,  I  should  certainly  say 
Centaurea  candidissima.  Tender  it  may  be  in 
inland  and  sheltered  gardens,  but  plant  it  in  the 
most  exposed,  mndy  spot  on  the  sea  coast,  where 
the  wind  dries  up  all  stagnant  moisture,  it  proves 
itself  the  hardiest  of  the  hardy.  Need  I  say  how 
very  ornamental  it  is  when  properly  planted  ? 
The  other  day  I  came  across  a  tangled  mass  of  the 
lovely  soft  rose-pink  form  of  Convolvulus  althceoides 
in  full  flower,  this  Centaurea  towering  above  it 
with  its  bold  silver  leafage  and  handsome  yellow 
heads  of  flower,  contrasting  with  the  purple  of 
the  wild  Knapweed,  while  the  whole  hillside  is 
overrun  with  Muehlenbec'- ia  complexa,  never  so 
happy  as  by  the  seaside.  No  formal  bedding  could 
surpass  the  beaiity  of  this  semi-wild  cUff  side.  The 
Centaurea  grows  into  big  rounded  masses  of  foliage 
that  neither  wind  nor  rain  nor  cold  seems  to 
touch,  taking  care  of  itself  in  the  most  satisfactory 
manner.  With  a  few  Fuchsia  bushes  or  the  hardy 
Olearia  Haastii,  nothing  more  is  wanted  to  enliven 
a  cliff  side  garden  where  Thrift  is  already  in  evidence 
and  with  the  pretty  Uttle  white  or  pink  Convolvulus 
arvensis  of  the  chffs.  E\'en  the  penurious  Folkestone 
gardeners  might  take  a  hint  ?  Their  cliffs  do  need 
beautifying. — E.  H.  W. 


SE.MPERVIVUMS   ON   N.\KED 

T    ENCLOSE  a   photograph,  which    may 


ROCK. 

be  of 
interest  to  your  readers,  of  a  rock  planted  with 
Sempervivums.  These  plants  are  usually  rather 
uninteresting  in  a  rock  garden,  but  when 
planted  on  a  rock  give  an  added  charm,  especially 
with  the  numerous  kinds  that  are  now  procurable 
and  if,  in  selecting  and  planting,  the  colours  are 
considered.     The  limestone  rock  was  first  planted 


SEMPERVIVUMS     FLOURISHING     WITHOUT      SOIL. 


with  Sempervivum  arachnoideum  about  1913 
and  larger  varieties  added  later.  The  rough 
surface  of  rock  was  covered  with  powdered  lime- 
stone and  earth  mixed  so  as  to  form  a  kind  of 
mortar  and  S.  arachnoideum  gently  pressed 
into  it.  This  mortar  dries  quickly  and  does  not 
crack.  It  holds  the  plant  in  place  till  it  is  rooted, 
by  which  time  the  weather  has  gradually  removed 
the  mortar.  For  the  larger  kinds  a  steel  drill 
was  used,  and  holes  bored  2ins.  or  3ins.  deep 
and  roots  packed  into  these  with  earth  and  finished 
off  with  mortar.  Saxifraga  Sir  Francis  Cade 
can  also  be  grown  like  this.  Its  rosettes  may  be 
seen  towards  the  top  left-hand  side  of  the  rock 
in  the  illustration,  ."^t  the  base  can  be  seen  the 
white  flower  of  Saxifraga  hngulata  lantoscana 
superba  and  S.  .^izoon  rosea  spikes  about  to 
flower,  also  rosettes  of  S.  Sir  Francis  Cade. 
At  the  bottom  left-hand  corner  can  be  seen 
Wahlenbergia  serphyllifolia  major  about  to  burst 
into  flower.  There  are  eight  varieties  of 
Sempervivums  now  growing  on  this  rock,  and 
last  year  Sempervivum  arachnoideum  had  eight 
or  nine  flowers. — H.   P.  Leschallas. 

YUCCA    FILAMENTOSA  ? 

T  ENCLOSE  a  photograph  of  a  Yucca  which  1 
believe  to  be  Y.  filamentosa.  It  forms  at 
present  a  very  attractive  object  in  my  little  front 
garden.  The  plant  flowered  for  the  first  time  two 
summers  ago  and  then  broke  up  into  about  a 
dozen  crowns,  four  of  which  have  sent  up  flower 
spikes  this  season.  Is  it  advisable  to  divide  the 
plant  which  will  probably  be  overcrowded  with 
new  shoots  later  on  and  what  is  the  best  time  for 
this  operation  ? — G.  S.,  Lougliton,  Essex. 

[Both  those  very  similar  Yuccas,  Y.Y.  filamentosa 
and  flaccida  and  their  almost  innumerable  hybrids, 
may  be  increased  by  division.  These  species 
produce  rhizomatous  underground  stems  which 
will  make  good  plants 
when  cut  off  and  potted. 
Division  is  best  carried 
out  fairly  soon  after 
flowering.  Unless,  how- 
e\'er,  our  correspondent's 
clump  shews  failing  vigour 
in  the  height  and  size  of 
the  flower  stems,  we  should 
be  inclined  to  leave  it  un- 
disturbed. ^From  the 
photograph  the  plant  pro- 
bably is  Y.  filamentosa. 
—Ed.] 

PRLTNING 

CLEMATISES. 

P  R  O  M  correspondence 
which  has  appeared 
from  time  to  time  in  the 
horticultural  press,  there 
undoubtedly  appears  to  be 
some  confusion  as  to  the 
correct  treatment  in  prun- 
ing the  various  types  of 
Clematis.  I  had  a  practi- 
cal demonstration  of  the 
fact  when  visiting  a  private 
garden  towards  the  end 
of  the  autumn.  The 
owner  was  conducting 
me  round,  discussing  the 
merits  of  various  plants, 
when  we  came  to  a 
strong,     healthy     Clematis 


429 

covering  a  considerable  wall  space.  He  asked, 
"  Can  you  tell  me  why  I  never  get  any  blooms 
on  this  plant ;  it  has  been  well  manured  and  cut 
hard  back  every  year  ?  "  I  saw  at  once  from  the 
foliage  that  it  was  a  spring-flowering  variety  of 


A  GOOD   PLANT  OF   YUCCA  FILAMENTOSA  (?). 

the  -Azuraj  or  Patens  type,  which  flower  from  the 
old  wood,  so  was  able  to  assure  him  that  if  he 
would  instruct  his  gardener  not  to  prune  it  back 
hard  that  winter  he  would  have  a  wealth  of  blossom 
the  following  spring. 

All  Clematises  need  some  pruning,  and  this  should 
be  done  in  February  or  early  in  March,  after  the 
severe  frosts  are  over,  and  the  buds  commence  to 
shew  signs  of  swelling. 

It  is  impossible  to  mention  particular  varieties 
where  they  are  so  numerous,  but  speaking  generally, 
all  spring-flowering  varieties  of  the  .Azurffi,  Floridse, 
.Anemoniflorte  and  Calycinte  types,  which  flower 
from  the  old  ripened  wood,  only  require  to  have 
the  weak,  straggling  or  overcrowded  branches 
removed.  In  the  case  of  the  rampant  growing 
varieties,  such  as  C.  montana,  it  is  a  good  plan  to 
cut  back  hard  some  of  the  branches  each  year  to 
encourage  new  growth  from  the  base,  and  so 
prevent  the  plants  from  getting  out  of  control  and 
becoming  bare  and  unsightly. 

The  large  summer-flowering  varieties  of  the 
Lanuginosa;  type  are  not  so  rampant  as  the  autumn 
bloomers,  so  it  is  often  only  necessary  to  prune 
back  the  weak  or  dead  branches  to  strong  breaking 
eyes,  though  where  they  do  well  they  may 
be  cut  back  to  within  two  pairs  of  axillary  buds. 

The  large  autumn-flowering  varieties  of  the 
Jackmanni  and  Viticellse  types,  which  flower  in 
profusion  from  the  young  summer  shoots,  require 
to  be  pruned  back  hard  to  within  two  pairs  of 
axillary  buds,  to  encourage  the  development  of 
vigorous  young  shoots,  while  the  small  flowering 


430 


THE    GARDEN. 


[August  26,  1922 


varieties  of  the  Viornae,  Wokingensis,  Aromaticac 
and  ErectOG  types  require  the  shoots  cut  back  as  far 
as  they  annually  die  down. — A.  G.  Jackman. 

A    "  PALM "     IN    FLOWER. 

T  HAVE  been  greatly  interested  in  the  photograph 
and  description  of  the  flowering  of  a  Cordyline 
australis  in  Kent,  given  by  Colonel  A.  C.  Borton 
in  your  issue  of  The  Garden  for  August  13.  We 
have  had  a  somewhat  similar  experience  further 
north  and  it  may  interest  you  to  learn  that  at 
Castlehill,  Ayrshure,  N.B.,  .a  Cordyline  australis 
bloomed  most  luxuriantly  this  summer  and  at 
the  same  time  the  Palm,  Chamserops  Fortunei 
flowered  freely.  They  are  both  in  open  ground  and 
no  special  care  is  needed  in  winter.  The  flower 
spike   of   the   Cordyline,  when   cut   off,   measured 


Surely  she  must  have  misunderstood  the  genial 
and  learned  Prof.  Chodat  in  saying  "  Only  six  hours 
from  here  (Bourg  St.  Pierre)  by  the  post  cart  "  to 
the  Hospice.  It  is  only  eight  miles  by  the  road, 
and  of  course  less  on  foot  by  crossing  the  zigzags. 
The  traveller  must  indeed  be  congratulated  on 
spotting  from  a  carriage  the  tiny  Saxifraga  csesia 
"  in  abundance  at  the  sides  of  the  road."  Whenever 
I  walked  along  that  truly  dismal  road  above  Bourg 
I  failed  to  see  it,  though  this  rare  Saxifrage  is 
frequent  between  here  and  Val  Ferret.  Getting 
out  of  the  carriage  she  found,  "  near  the  river, 
Gentiana  germanica  of  an  ugly  red  mauve."  This 
could  not  be  germanica  at  that  height  and  season, 
and  was  possibly  a  colour-form  of  G.  campestris. 
G.  germanica  is  a  plant  of  the  plains,  hills  and  sub- 
alps,  and  is  at  its  best  in  September  and  October. 


CORDYLINE    AUSTRALIS    IN     FLOWER    ON    THE    RIGHT.        ON    THE    LEFT    CHAM^^ROPS 
FORTUNEI,    ALSO    IN    BLOSSOM. 


7ft.  in  height  and  8ft.  in  circumference,  the  tree 
itself  being  i6ft.  in  height.  I  enclose  a  photograph 
shewing  both  plants. — [Mrs.)  Helen  J.  Wilson. 

THE    GREAT    ST.    BERNARD    PASS. 

TN  reading  the  interesting  article  signed 
"  A.  M.  M."  and  entitled  ''  Alpines  at  the  Grand 
St.  Bernard,  Switzerland "  (August  12  issue, 
page  403),  one  is  reminded  almost  of  the  very 
early  writers  on  Alpine  matters  who  always  ex- 
aggerated the  awfulness  and  the  difficulties  of  snow 
ascents,  in  keeping  with  the  lingering  belief  that 
dragons  frequented  the  Alps,  and  feared  that  to 
ascend  above  the  snow-line  they  were  in  perpetual 
risk  of  avalanches  and  tempests. 

None  of  us  enjoy  correcting  errors  or  misleading 
statements,  however  unintentional,  in  the  published 
writings  of  fellow  scribblers  in  the  press  ;  but  some- 
times it  may  not  be  well  to  let  such  pass  unnoticed. 
A  well  known  scientist  once  said  at  a  meeting  of 
journaUsts  that  perhaps  80  per  cent,  of  the  so- 
called  scientific  and  geographical  statements 
published  in  the  daily  press  would  not  bear  in- 
vestigation. "  A.  M.  M.  "  will  therefore  bear  with 
me  when  I  venture  to  draw  attention  to  a  few 
points  ;  particularly  as  The  Garden  is  kept  by 
many. 


It  is  recorded  from  only  about  four  places  in  the 
whole  of  the  Valais,  and  never  from  the  district  in 
question,  and  it  is,  perhaps,  more  frequent  on  the 
English  chalk  than  in  Switzerland.  Its  four-cleft 
corolla  is  much  larger  than  the  finest  campestris, 
though  in  the  .Alps  the  latter  is  often  very 
beautiful  and   most  varied. 

"  Soon  we  were  beyond  the  snow  line."  But 
"  no  more  trees,  nothing  but  grim  rocks  and 
thistles  "  does  not  indicate  the  line  of  perpetual 
snow,  which  is  what  is  always  meant  by  the  snow 
line !  Patches  of  snow  were  probably  implied. 
On  that  side  of  the  pass  the  snow  line  is  somewhat 
low,  but  even  the  Hospice  (8,iioft.)  with  its 
severe  cold,  is  just  below  the  line  of  perpetual 
snow.  That  the  climate  "  kills  any  man  who 
stays  at  the  Hospice  more  than  ten  years "  is, 
fortunately,  an  exaggeration.  After  twelve  or 
fifteen  years  the  Canons  (.Austin  Canons  Regular) 
usually  descend  to  the  mother  house  at  Martigny. 

"  There waving     his     arm    across     the 

guarded  frontier  towards  Savoy,  '  lies  Paradiso.  full 
— full  of  the  most  wonderful  flowers  and 
strictly  preserved  as  a  hunting  domain.'  "  The 
fact  that  the  King  of  Italy  has  most  of  these 
extensive  hunting  domains  should  have  re- 
minded the  visitor  that  it  is  long  since  Magenta, 


when  Savoy  was  ceded  to  France  (1839),  and  that 
a  good  stretch  of  Italian  Piedmont  intervenes 
between  the  St.  Bernard  Pass  and  Savov  on  the 
West. 

What  is  meant  by  the  statement  that  the  Linnea 
garden  "  contains  2.';, 000  different  plants  "  .'  Ten 
years  ago  there  were  about  three  thousand  kinds 
of  plants  in  this  beautiful  and  half  natural  garden. 
It  would  be  interesting  to  know  about  how  many 
more  species  are  there  now.  Yes,  it  is  a 
"  wonderful  drive  "  and  a  still  more  wonderful  walk 
down  from  the  Hospice  to  Martigny  ;  but  the  drop 
is  not  quite  "  8,000ft.  in  two  hours  "  (by  motor- 
car), but  6,560ft. — H.   Stuart  Thompson. 

THE  RETURN  OF  THE  EARWIG. 

TJE  the  season  what  it  may,  on  the  approach  of 
autumn  the  earwig  gives  evidence  of  its 
presence  in  the  garden.  If  in  the  borders  there  are 
to  be  found  Anemones,  Chrysanthemums,  Dahlias 
and  Sunflowers,  so  surely  will  this  pest  be  present. 
Vou  may  have  admired  one  evening  the  chaste 
white  blossoms  of  Anemone  japonica  alba,  rising 
from  out  a  perfect  setting  of  their  dark  green  leaves, 
only  to  find  on  visiting  the  garden  next  morning 
that  both  blossoms  and  foliage  have  been  subject 
in  the  short  interval  to  numerous  perforations  such 
as  to  render  them  useless  for  cutting.  The  depreda- 
tion among  Dahlias  is  equally  bad,  and  the  most 
promising  crown  buds  on  the  choicest  Chrysan- 
themums fall  a  prey  to  this  enemy  of  the  gardener. 
.As  yet  there  does  not  appear  to  be  any  reliable 
specific  for  the  prevention  of  the  inroads  of  earwigs 
amongst  plants  which  are  peculiarly  liable  to  its 
onslaughts.  Dahlia  growers  of  a  former  generation 
trapped  the  pests  in  inverted  flower  pots  containing 
wool  or  moss.  The  same  "  dodge  "  holds  good 
to-day.  There  is  no  easy  way  to  the  extermination 
of  earwigs.  The  grower  for  show  of  both  Dahlias 
and  Chrysanthemums  takes  little  or  no  risk.  .\s 
with  his  forefathers,  so  with  him,  the  nightly  visit 
with  lantern  in  hand  and  a  pair  of  sharp  scissors,  is 
the  only  specific  he  believes  in.  It  involves  trouble, 
but  it  saves  the  best  blooms,  probably,  and  this  is 
what  really  counts. — L.  W. 

IS    THE    HOLLYHOCK    DECLINING? 

TS  the  fungoid  growth  to  which  Hollyhocks  are 
susceptible,  and  which  makes  its  presence  felt 
more  particularly  on  old  plants,  by  an  earlv  rusting 
away  of  the  leaves,  the  reason  why  they  are  seen 
less  frequently  in  gardens  than  they  were  thirty  and 
more  years  ago  ?  Possibly  this  may  have  had  a  deal 
to  do  with  the  dechne  of  this  one  time  popular 
florist's  flower.  The  mistake  made  by  those  who 
used  to  grow  Hollyhocks,  and  who  have  since  given 
them  up  because  of  failure  through  the  prevalence 
of  fungus,  seems  to  me  was  of  treating  them  as 
perennials  and  allowing  all  and  sundry  suckers 
to  remain,  the  result  being  that  the  original  plant 
developed  into  a  colony  of  plants,  filching  from  the 
soil  most  of  its  nutriment  very  quickly  and  ren- 
dering the  plants  an  easy  prey  to  the  rust  disease. 
Hollyhocks,  when  well  grown,  are  such  noble  and 
attractive  plants  for  the  back  of  a  border,  or  for 
grouping,  that  it  seems  a  pity  their  popularity 
should  be  on  the  wane.  I  think  if  we  treated  them 
more  as  biennials  and  gave  them  fresh  quarters, 
in  medium  soil,  rendered  rich  with  rotted  manure 
and  decayed  vegetable  matter,  we  should  hear 
less  of  disease.  I  feel  confident  that  the  biennial 
treatment  of  the  Hollyhock  is  the  only  sure  and 
safe  method  to  overcome  the  dreaded  fungus. 
Hollyhocks  are  best  planted  at  the  back  of 
herbaceous  borders,  since  they  lose  their  bottom 
leaves  when  attacked  by  this  disease,  which  gives 
the  plants  a  very  untidy  appearance  when  planted 
alone   in   beds. — Claremont. 


August  26,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


431 


GARDENING     OF     THE     WEEK 


FOR    SOUTHERN    GARDENS. 

The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Early  Beetroots. — Do  not  allow  these  to  remain 
too  long  in  the  ground  or  they  will  become  very 
coarse  and  imshapely.  Lift  the  roots  carefully 
and  remove  to  a  cool  store  ;  failing  such,  the  back 
of  a  north  wall  will  do.  A  covering  with  leaves 
or  bracken  should  be  afforded  when  stored  in  this 
way. 

Beans  of  the  Runner  and  dwarf  French  type 
should  be  kept  regularly  picked  whether  imme- 
diately required  for  use  or  not.  If  left  hanging 
on  the  plants  they  not  only  become  tough  and 
unusable,  but  they  rob  the  plants  of  vitaUty, 
which  greatly  hinders  the  development  of  later 
Beans,  .\fter  having  been  gathered  Beans  will 
keep  in  good  condition  for  at  least  a  week  if  placed 
on  the  ground  in  a  cool  cellar.  It  is  an  excellent 
practice  to  use  surplus  suppUes  as  they  become 
fit  by  storing  in  large  earthenware  pans  to  be 
drawn  upon  during  winter. 

Potatoes. — Lift  all  second  earUes  and  mid- 
season  varieties  and  remove  to  the  store.  Select  a 
dry  day  for  this  work.  Remove  those  required  for 
seed  to  empty  frames  having  a  firm  ash  bottom 
thoroughly  to  ripen,  and  where,  if  necessary,  they 
may  be  protected  from  rains  until  they  are  placed 
in  storage  quarters. 

Cucumbers. — Give  every  encouragement  to 
the  yoimg  plants  which  are  to  supply  fruits  for 
the  next  few  months.  .\n  abunaance  of  water  will 
be  required  during  hot  weather,  and  to  keep  the 
plants  in  good  going  order  top-dress  as  soon  as  the 
roots  make  their  way  to  the  top.  By  careful 
ventilation  the  growths  of  the  plants  can  be 
assisted  to  maintain  their  cleanliness  and  vigour, 
important  points  for  winter  fruiters. 

The  Flower  Garden. 
General  Work. — The  propagation  of  various 
plants  must  be  pushed  on  to  suit  requirements, 
erring  always  by  propagating  too  many  than 
otherwise,  for  it  is  a  simple  matter  to  discard 
surplus  plants  when  the  results  of  the  "  strike  " 
are  assured.  In  addition  to  the  propagation  of  the 
usual  run  of  plants  used  for  bedding  purposes, 
the  present  time  is  suitable  for  inserting  cuttings 
of  a  great  many  shrubs,  using  a  sandy  compost 
and  a  cold  frame  for  the  purpose.  Beds  and 
borders  now  need  a  great  deal  of  attention  to 
keep  them  constantly  tidy  and  effective.  Seed 
pods  soon  exhaust  a  great  many  of  the  plants 
so  must  not  be  allowed  to  form.  Two  plants  in 
particular  need  watching  for  these  if  they  are  to 
be  kept  well  up  to  the  flowering  standard — viz., 
Sweet  Peas  and  Violas.  These  plants,  in  com- 
pany with  others,  if  shewing  any  signs  of  exhaustion, 
should  have  a  thin  sprinkhng  of  artificial  manure 
hghtly  worked  in  around  them  and  watered  in, 
unless  the  weather  renders  the  latter  operation 
unnecessary.  Keep  Violet  plants  free  from  runners 
and  if  red  spider  is  present  give  several  good 
syringings  with  an  insecticide,  and  use  the  hoe 
occasionally  to  keep  weeds  down. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Figs. — As  the  fruits  approach  the  ripening 
stage  care  must  be  taken  to  see  that  they  are  secure 
from  birds  and  insects.  Select  strong  well  placed 
growths  for  training  in  to  provide  next  year's 
crop  and  at  the  same  time  cut  out  strong  growing 
breast  wood.  The  removal  of  this  and  the  laying 
in  of  the  former  will  allow  plenty  of  light  and  air 
to  penetrate,  which  is  essential  for  the  successful 
finish  of  the  fruits. 

Black  Currants. — The  crop  having  been  cleared, 
the  thinning  of  the  bushes  may  be  taken  in  hand 
if  so  desired.  In  dealing  with  this  fruit  the  essential 
point  is  to  induce  and  encourage  good  basal 
growths,  and  this  should  be  borne  in  mind  when 
planting,  by  getting  them  well  down  in  the  soil. 
Old  trees  in  particular  should  have  some  of  their 
branches  which  have  carried  fruit  cut  out  entirely, 
thus  concentrating  the  energies  of  the  plants 
upon  next  year's  fruiting  wood.  If  some  manure 
can  be  spared  a  good  mulch  appUed  now  while 
roots  are  still  active  will  do  old  or  weakly  trees  a 
great  deal  of  good. 

Loganberries. — These  require  similar  treatment 
to  the  Raspberries  as  soon  as  the  fruiting  season  is 
over.  Cut  out  all  the  old  fruiting  canes  and  lay 
in  sufficient  of  the  young  ones  as  required  for 
covering  their  allotted  space.  This  is  a  most 
useful  berry  for  immediate  use  or  for  preserving 
and  those  who  wish  to  prolong  its  season  and  have 
not  tried  it  on  a  north  wall  or  against  any  support 
having  similar  aspect,  would  do  well  to  try  it. 
Should  a  few  new  roots  be  required  they  may  be 


secured  by  pegging  down  the  ends  of  some  of  the 
shoots  into  the  ground,  or  into  pots  if  preferred. 
The  young  plants  will  be  sufficiently  rooted  for 
autumn  planting. 

Fruits  Under  Glass. 

Melons. — It  is  essential  that  the  late  plants  be 
encouraged  to  make  rapid  headway,  and  to  assist 
in  doing  this  plenty  of  heat  must  be  provided. 
Every  bit  of  sun  heat  must  be  husbanded  and  the 
hot-water  pipes  kept  sufficiently  warm  to  prevent 
the  temperature  of  the  house  falling  below  70°  to 
75°  at  night.  Having  secured  a  couple  of  fruits 
to  each  plant  suppress  all  urmecessary  wood  and 
build  up  the  plants  quickly  to  develop  the  fruits. 
Watch  frame  Melons  carefully  and  see  that  the 
finishing  fruits  are  clear  of  leaves.  Where  there  is 
no  pipe  heat,  cover  the  frames  on  cold  nights  with 
thick  mats. 

H.  Turner 

(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 

Albury  Park  Gardens,  Guildford. 


to  thrive  best  on  a  light  loamy  soil,  while  on  others 
it  deteriorates  quickly  and  requires  replanting 
occasionally.  On  heavy  soils  leaf  mould  and  sand 
should  be  added,  while  the  addition  of  some  well 
decayed  manure  for  the  roots  to  work  into  will 
add  to  the  vigour  of  the  plants.  When  grouped 
judiciously  in  the  herbaceous  border  they  add  a 
brightness  to  the  garden  at  a  period  when  there  is 
often  a  gap  between  summer  and  autumn  flowering 
plants. 

Ja.mes  McGrav 

(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.), 

Coodliam,  Kilmarnock. 


FOR    NORTHERN    GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Spinach. — Thin  earUer  sown  lots  of  winter 
Spinach  to  4ins.  or  sins,  between  the  plants  and 
make  further  sowings  of  hardy  sorts  for  picking 
during  early  spring. 

Lettuce. — Prick  out  quantities  of  the  more 
hardy  sorts  in  sheltered  quarters  for  cutting  during 
October.  Spare  frames  may  also  be  utilised  for 
this  purpose.  The  advantage  in  employing 
frames  is  that  they  may  be  covered  during  wintry 
weather. 

French  Beans. — Where  these  are  required  during 
winter  and  the  necessary  faciUties  are  available, 
a  start  should  now  be  made  by  sowing  in  pots  or 
in  beds  in  heated  pits.  Osbom's  Forcing  and 
Sutton's  Evergreen  being  commendable  varieties 
for  this  purpose.  Ventilation  and  watering  will 
need  careful  attention  so  that  no  chill  or  excess 
of  moisture  may  result.  The  ultimate  success  of 
this  crop  depending  on  the  plants  maintaining  a 
sturdy   growth. 

Leeks. — Fill  up  any  vacant  ground  available 
with  Leeks,  for  although  the  season  may  be  some- 
what advanced,  this  desirable  vegetable  makes 
good  headway  during  autumn  and  early  spring, 
provided  that  the  weather  keeps  open.  Early 
lots  now  growing  freely  may  be  further  assisted 
with  regular  waterings  of  liquid  manure  or  soot 
water. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Pot  Fruit  Trees  that  are  required  for  forcing 
must  be  repotted  now  and  every  encouragement 
given  them  to  matiu'e  their  buds.  Later  pot 
fruits  which  have  recently  been  cleared  of  their 
crop  should  be  stood  out  of  doors,  as  this  will 
allow  for  proper  ripening  of  the  wood.  Attention 
must  still  be  given  the  trees  as  regards  watering. 
Where  it  is  intended  to  grow  a  few  Peaches  and 
Plums  in  pots  for  the  first  time,  the  following  will 
prove  suitable  sorts  for  this  mode  of  culture. 
Plums  :  Jefferson  Gage,  Denniston's  Superb  Gage, 
Kirke's  Blue  and  the  old  Green  Gage.  Peaches  : 
The  Marchioness  of  Devonshire,  Royal  George  and 
Dr.  Hogg  are  good  and  rehable  sorts.  WTiile  Early 
Rivers,  Pine  Apple,  Dryden  and  Humboldt  may 
be  chosen  from  among  the  Nectarines. 

Late  Vineries.^Keep  a  moderate  amount  of 
heat  in  the  pipes  at  this  period,  more  especially 
during  sunless  weather.  Grapes  now  ripening 
should  be  given  the  necessary  generous  treatment 
so  that  they  may  develop  berries  of  fine  size  and 
colour.  Varieties  such  as  Gros  Colmar  are  at 
times  rather  difficult  to  get  entirely  black,  but 
this  may  be  caused  by  the  lack  of  certain  essentials 
in  the  soil.  Where  this  is  likely  a  note  should  be 
made  so  that  the  addition  of  certain  chemicals, 
such  as  sulphate  of  iron,  may  be  applied  while  the 
Vines  are  dormant.  Over-cropping  is  often  the 
primary  cause  of  the  fruits  not  colouring  properly, 
while  the  exhausted  condition  of  the  border  is  also 
to  blame  at  times. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Polyanthuses. — Give  the  young  seedlings  every 
assistance  to  make  strong,  weU  developed  plants 
before  the  bedding  out  period  arrives,  as  these  are 
among  the  most  useful  spring  flowering  plants  we 
have.  When  preparing  the  beds  give  rotted  dung 
so  that  healthy  foliage  and  strong  flower  spikes 
may  result. 

Lilium  candidum. — As  bulbs  of  this  charming 
old  Lily  come  to  hand,  no  time  should  be  lost  in 
having  them  planted  out  so  that  they  may  get  well 
rooted  before  winter  eets  in.     This  Lilium  seems 


GREENHOUSE    AND    CONSERVATORY. 

Richardia  africana. — Plants  that  have  been 
standing  at  the  bottom  of  a  waU  and  partially 
dried  off,  should  now  be  turned  out,  and  all  the  old 
soil  shaken  off  the  roots.  They  should  then  be  placed 
into  small  or  large  pots  according  to  the  purpose 
for  which  they  are  required.  If  for  indoor 
decoration,  small  pots,  6ins.  or  7ins.  in  size, 
generally  prove  most  useful.  On  the  other  hand, 
if  quantities  of  cut  flower  are  required,  it  is  best 
to  use  larger  pots,  in  fact,  for  this  purpose  it  is 
a  good  plan  to  put  them  into  boxes.  As  they  are 
gross  feeding  plants,  a  very  rich  compost  is 
necessary.  Dried  or  well  rotted  cow  manure 
may  be  added  to  the  potting  compost,  or  faihng 
this,  some  old  Mushroom  bed  manure.  After 
potting,  stand  the  plants  in  cold  frames  and  water 
sparingly  until  they  have  made  some  fresh  roots 
and  have  started  into  growth.  Plants  that  have 
been  outdoors  for  the  summer  may  be  hfted  towards 
the  middle  of  September  and  put  into  suitable 
sized  pots  or  boxes. 

Humea  elegans. — If  not  already  done,  no 
time  should  be  lost  in  sowing  seeds  of  this  desirable 
plant.  This  sowing  should  form  the  main  batch 
of  plants  for  next  season.  This  plant  is  generally 
considered  difficult,  but  given  reasonable  treat- 
ment it  is  quite  easy.  Cool  treatment  and  great 
care  at  all  times  in  regard  to  watering  being  neces- 
sary. The  plants  should  never  be  allowed  to 
become  pot  bound,  but  at  the  same  time  over 
potting  must  be  avoided. 

Cyclamen  seed  should  be  sown  thinly  this 
month  in  pots  or  pans,  and  stood  in  a  house  with 
an  intermediate  temperature,  in  which  the  young 
seedlings  are  best  kept  all  the  winter.  A  tem- 
perature of  50°  to  55°  being  suitable.  It  is  essen- 
tial to  have  fresh  seeds  of  Cyclamen,  as  old  seed 
takes  a  long  time  to  germinate. 

Calceolarias  of  the  herbaceous  type  should  also 
be  sown  at  this  time.  The  seed  is  very  fine  and 
should  be  very  hghtly  covered.  Cover  the  pots 
with  a  piece  of  glass  an4  keep  shaded  imtil  the  seed 
germinates.  Calceolarias  of  this  type  thrive  best 
in  a  hght  rich  compost,  and  enjoy  cool  moist  con- 
ditions at  all  times. 

Mignonette. — Well  grown  plants  of  Mignonette 
are  always  much  appreciated  for  the  greenhouse 
or  for  indoor  decoration,  but  with  the  exception  of 
a  few  market  growers,  one  seldom  sees  it  well  cul- 
tivated in  pots.  Provided  a  few  essential  details 
are  observed  it  is  by  no  means  so  difficult  as  is 
generally  supposed.  Unless  the  loam  is  very 
heavy  it  is  not  wise  to  add  leaf  soil  to  the  potting 
compost.  Sufficient  coarse  sand  or  old  mortar 
rubble  should  be  added  to  keep  the  whole  porous, 
and  lime  in  some  form  is  essential.  The  soil  should 
be  rammed  very  firm,  adding  a  little  at  a  time. 
As  Mignonette  does  not  transplant  readily  the 
seed  should  be  sown  directly  into  the  flowering 
pots,  which  may  be  jins.  or  6ins.  in  size,  afterwards 
thjnning  out  the  plants  to  one  or  three  in  a  pot. 
After  sowing  and  watering,  stand  the  pots  in  a  cold 
frame  and  shade  until  the  seed  germinates. 

Fuchsias. — Well  grown  specimen  Fuchsias  are 
very  useful  for  conservatory  decoration  and  now  is 
a  good  time  to  propagate  plants  for  next  year's 
flowering.  Plants  that  have  been  Ughtly  pruned 
back,  and  are  started  in  shght  warmth,  soon  give 
young  growth  which  may  be  utilised  for  cuttings. 
These  young  shoots  root  very  readily.  After 
rooting  they  should  be  potted  off  singly  and  kept 
growing  steadily.  If  standards  are  required  the 
stems  should  be  rim  up  to  the  desired  height  before 
stopping,  rubbing  out  all  side  shoots  as  they 
appear.  If  pyramids  are  desired  the  main  stem 
should  not  be  stopped,  and  the  laterals  as  they 
appear  should  be  allowed  to  develop,  pinching  them 
occasionally  to  form  the  foundation  of  the  specimen. 
Potted  on  as  they  require  it  and  kept  liberally  fed, 
they  should  in  their  second  year  make  specimens 
some  7ft.  to  8ft.  high.  During  their  second  winter 
they  should  be  kept  dry  in  a  frostproof  shed.  Such 
plants  may  be  kept  for  many  years,  but  they  are 
so  easily  and  quickly  grown  that  it  is  not  necessary 
to   keep   them   after   their  second   or   third   year. 


432 


THE     GARDEN. 


[August  26,  1922. 


There  are  "few  plants  that  are  better  suited  for 
planting  in  conservatories  or  greenhouses,  for 
training  under  the  roof  or  for  furnishing  pillars  and 
rafters.  Planted  out  they  grow  freely  and  flower 
with  wonderful  profusion  all  through  the  sunnner 
and     autumn     months.     They     should     be     kept 


drier  at  the  roots  during  the  winter  and  should  be 
pruned  hard  back  during  the  spring.  For  this 
purpose  free  growing  varieties  should  be  selected, 
such  as  Monarch,  Lord  Grenfell,  Royal  Purple  and 
Rose  of  Castile.  j.  Coutis. 

lioval  Botanic  Gardens,  Kea\ 


VEGETABLES    ALL    THE    YEAR    ROUND: 
SEPTEMBER    OPERATIONS 

The  first  article  on  this  subject  zcas  in  the  nature  of  a  general  review,  in  which  an 
endeavour  was  made  to  point  out  specifically  things  of  paratnount  importance ,  and  brief 
reference  was  made  to  the  routine  operations  due  in  the  months  of  July  and  August.  It 
is  now  proposed  to  call  attention  to  the  details  which  make  their  urgent  call  in  September . 


IN  a  sense  this  is  one  of  the  most  difficult 
months  and  certainly  it  is  the  one  in  which 
the  inexperienced  grower  is  likely  to  stray 
from  the  paths  of  rectitude.  He  has  before 
him  the  splendid  fruits  of  his  earlier  labours 
and  his  anxiety  is  keen  to  seize  the  full  advantage 
of  them.  He  has  to  decide,  for  instance,  whether 
he  shall  push  on  with  Potato  and  Onion  harvesting 
or  with  spring  Cabbage  planting.  If  the  Potato 
and  Onion  yields  are  heavy  the  work  connected 
with  them  may  demand  all  the  time  available  until 
the  end  of  the  month  and  the  wisdom  of  getting 
them  garnered  cannot  be  questioned  for  one  moment. 
Nevertheless,  it  would  be  a  most  serious  cultural 
error  to  fail  to  get  a  proportion  of  the  young 
Cabbages  to  their  permanent  positions  by  or  before 
the  middle  of  the  month  and  it  is  therefore  recom- 
mended, as  a  general  principle,  that  when  harvesting 
and  seeding  or  planting  come  into  intimate  com- 
petition, the  latter  should  be  regarded  as  the  detail 
for  first  attention. 

As  a  matter  of  fact  September  brings  compara- 
tively little  seed  sowing  and  planting.  As  far  as 
the  former  is  concerned  the  chief  plant  is  Spinach, 
of  which  a  sowing  may  be  made  about  the  middle 
of  the  month  ;  the  site  should  be  in  good  heart, 
yet  not  rich,  quite  open  and  the  drills  should  be  set 
I5ins.  asunder,  the  plants  being  thinned  gradually 
until  they  stand  an  equal  distance  apart  in  the 
rows.  Winter  Spinach  is  always  more  or  less  a 
doubtful  crop  in  a  small  garden,  as  while  it  succeeds 
easily  in  some  it  refuses  to  flourish  in  others, 
though  the  management  may  be  just  as  admirable. 
Then,  Spinach  is  frequently  unappreciated  at  the 
table,  usually,  one  dares  venture  to  afftrm,  because 
the  autocrats  of  the  kitchen  do  not  prepare  it 
correctly. 

Seedlings  of  all  kinds  from  seeds  sown  last  month 
must  be  wisely  thinned  out,  whether  they  are  to 
remain  in  situ  or  moved  to  other  quarters,  because 
it  is  only  the  sturdy,  hardy  youngster  which  has 
made  all  its  advance  from  the  seed  leaf  stage 
onwards  under  the  influences  of  light  and  fresh 
air  that  will  pass  safely  and  satisfactorily  through 
the  w^inter. 

In  planting,  the  crop  of  outstanding  importance 
is  that  of  spring  Cabbages,  which  are  among  the 
most  highly  welcomed  of  all  vegetables.  Choose 
a  piece  of  ground  that  has  been  thoroughly 
prepared  by  deep  digging  and  which  has  had 
some  rotten  manure,  but  not  a  heavy  dressing. 
Make  it  firm,  either  by  allowing  ample  time 
for  settlement  or  by  treading,  and  pack  the 
soil  firmly  to  the  roots  ;  the  distance  both  in 
and  between  the  rows  will  necessarily  vary  some- 
what with  the  variety,  but  it  should  rarely  be  less 
than  I5ins.  in  all  directions.  Put  out  a  batch  in 
the  first  week  and  a  second  a  fortnight  or  three 
weeks  later.  Plant  also  winter  Lettuces.  Late 
Borecoles  or  Kales,  too,  must  be  planted,  in  case 
they  are  needed  in  spring,  and  again  planting  must 
be  firm  in  rather  richer  ground. 


Crops  in  full  productiveness.  Scarlet  Runners  and 
Vegetable  Marrows  are  typical  examples,  must  have 
proper  encouragement  by  the  closest  possible 
gathering  and  by  supplies  of  water  and,  perhaps, 
food  if  it  is  deemed  essential.  Peas  coming  on  for 
late  bearing  must  be  adequately  supported  ;  have 
the  soil  between  the  lines  frequently  hoed  and 
generous  mulching  on  light,  poor  sites. 

All  Potatoes  should  come  out  this  month  and 
they  will  be  taken  in  turn  according  to  their  seasons 
of  finishing.  Cut  off  the  tops  a  few  days  in  advance 
as  it  facilitates  Ufting  and  assists  the  skins  to  harden, 
leave  the  tubers  on  the  surface  for  a  few  hours, 
again  to  aUow  the  skin  to  harden,  and  place  in  a 
temporary  store  where  it  will  be  easy  to  examine 
them  at  the  end  of  the  month  and  prior  to  permanent 
storage  in  a  dark,  absoUitely  frost-proof  place.  If 
seed  sets  are  to  be  saved,  which  is  not  advised, 
separate  them  from  the  ware  at  this  point  and  store 
in  fuU  Ught,  with  abundance  of  fresh  air  and  com- 
plete safety  from  frost.  Onions  must  be  given  plenty 
of  time  in  full  light  and  air  with  provision  for 
protection  from  rain,  before  going  to  a  store  where 
the  bulbs  are  fully  exposed  to  light  and  fresh  air 
and  perfectly  protected  from  damp ;  it  is  the 
latter,  and  not  frost,  which  causes  such  disastrous 
losses  in  winter  and  spring. 

Gather  Tomatoes  closely  as  they  ripen  and 
remove  the  growing  points  of  the  plants,  if  it  has 
not  been  done  already.  Judicious  reduction  of 
foliage  to  ensure  the  admission  of  light  and  air  to 
the  finishing  fruits  may  be  practised  advantageously, 
but  it  is  not  desirable  that  it  shall  be  carried  to  the 
uttermost  limit.  \V.  H.  Lodge. 


The  Miniature  Torch  Lilies. — Comparatively 
few  amateurs  seem  to  be  aware  of  the  existence  of 
the  dwarf  "  Red-Hot  Pokers,"  yet  they  are  among 
the  most  priceless  adornments  of  the  late  summer 
border.  For  the  rock-garden  they  are  ideal,  while 
they  are  also  excellent  for  cut  flowers  since  they 
last  several  weeks  in  water.  One  of  the  best  is 
Kniphofia  Nelsoni,  a  real  gem,  which  raises  its 
I  Sin.  stems  above  deep  green  grassy  foliage  in 
August,  each  flower-head  a  blaze  of  fiery  scarlet. 
On  a  ledge  of  very  light  but  good  soil  in  full  sun 
this  delightful  plant  will  maintain  a  succession  of 
brilhant "  torches  "  right  through  to  November,  and 
in  doing  so  strike  just  the  right  note  of  colour  to 
harmonise  with  the  rich  and  mellow  effects  of  the 
passing  year.  Rather  earlier  (June-July)  dwarfer 
and  more  golden  in  its  spires  is  the  dainty  little 
K.  rufa,  while  still  more  diminutive  but  not  less 
brilliant  is  K.  pauciflora,  unfortunately  not  too 
hardy  everywhere.  K.  corallina,  one  of  the  prettiest 
of  the  hybrids,  also  flowers  in  siunmer  and,  as  its 
name  suggests,  its  flowers  are  a  vivid  coral  red 
passing  to  bright  yellow.  K.  Pfitzeri  is  similar 
to,  if  not  identical  with,  corallina,  but  some  nursery- 
men catalogue  several  others.  All  are  quite  easily 
grown    and    though    oldiestablished    clumps    are 


the  most  desirable,  these  dwarf  Torch  Lilies  do 
not  resent  moving,  strong  off-sets  flowering  freely 
the    first  season  after  transplanting. 

A  fine  Strain  of   Calceolaria. — One  w-onders 

that  more  has  not  been  seen  of  that  exquisite  little 
plant,  Calceolaria  gracilis,  both  in  the  cool  green- 
house and  for  planting  outside  in  cool  shaded 
beds.  It  will  succeed  splendidly  in  the  open  air  if 
the  seed  is  sown  late  and  the  young  plants  are  kept 
very  cool  so  that  flowering  is  retarded  until  June 
or  July.  The  plants  should  be  a  perfect  picture 
for  many  weeks.  It  is  generally  used  as  a  cool 
house  plant  and  here  it  flowers  in  May  and  June  at 
the  same  time  as  the  huge  herbaceous  varieties,  but 
— how  different !  In  place  of  the  large  solid  flowers, 
a  bloom  about  twice  the  size  of  the  ordinary  yellow- 
bedding  kind,  with  all  the  attractive  spotting  and 
colouring  one  meets  in  the  larger  type.  The  strain 
is  known  as  Calceolaria  graciUs,  John  Innes  strain, 
and  a  mixed  packet  will  provide  a  good  range  of 
colours  and  markings.  Indoor  culture  is  precisely 
similar  to  that  afforded  the  large  herbaceous  kinds, 
always  taking  care  that  not  one  single  degree  of 
heat  is  used  more  than  is  necessary  to  exclude 
frost.  Where  it  is  intended  to  try  them  outdoors, 
sowing  should  be  deferred  until  early  September, 
doing  it  then  very  thinly  so  that  they  may  pass  the 
\\inter  in  the  box  in  which  they  were  sown.  When 
active  growth  commences  in  spring,  take  them  up 
and  pot  off  singly  in  small  pots  and  transfer  them 
at  the  earliest  possible  moment  to  a  cold  frame 
with  an  ash  bottom.  This  provides  ideal  conditions 
of  growth,  for  it  ensures  that  they  are  both  cool 
and  moist,  items  that  fa\'our  healthy  growth  and 
freedom  from  pests.  Harden  off  carefully  and  do 
not  hurry  planting  out.  Select  a  position  for 
planting  where  the  sun  carmot  scald  the  foUage 
or  parch  the  soil  ;  they  like  a  quiet  shaded  place 
where  strong  winds  will  not  break  them. 
Droughty  conditions  must  not  be  allowed.  The 
plants  reach  a  height  of  about  iSins.  and  terminate 
in  little  sheaves  of  flower,  to  which  the  name 
"  gracilis  "  is  most  suitably  applied. 

A  New  Scarlet  Ivyleaf  Geranium. — For  many 
jears  Scarlet  Crousse  has  held  undisputed  sway  as 
the  foremost  scarlet  ivyleaf  and  one  must  feel  a 
deep  debt  of  gratitude  for  the  splendid  way  in 
which  it  has  filled  the  role.  A  new  star  has,  how- 
ever, arisen  called  Sir  Percy  Blakeney,  which 
eclipses  the  old  time  favoiuite.  It  will  take  a 
Uttle  time,  of  course,  for  it  to  become  available 
in  quantity  and  the  price  at  present  is  considerable, 
but  admirers  of  good  "  ivyleaves "  should  not 
overlook  this  valuable  plant.  The  flowers  are 
semi-double  and  a  real  scarlet,  borne  in  large 
trusses,  with  great  freedom.  It  grows  and  branches 
freely  so  that  it  is  not  a  difficult  matter  to  work  up 
stock  rapidly.  It  is  a  fine  outdoor  variety  and 
should  prove  extremely  valuable  for  window  box 
and  basket  work. 

A  Greenhouse  Climber. — Those  looking  for 
a  delightful  and  unusual  roof  cUmber  for  the  green- 
house should  consider  the  claims  of  Abutilon 
insigne,  which  requires  only  a  cool  temperature 
to  do  well,  is  extremely  graceful  and  almost 
always  in  flower.  It  makes  leaves  of  moderate 
size,  so  that  it  does  not  prejudice  the  growth  of 
plants  on  the  staging  beneath.  The  leaves  are 
borne  on  green  brown-haired  stems,  the  flowers  of 
good  size  with  open  mouths  on  hanging  peduncles. 
These  flowers  are  very  showy,  white  in  colour,  but 
so  heavily  overlaid  by  heavy  markings  of  purple 
and  red  as  to  be  almost  obscured.  The  growth 
should  be  allowed  to  hang  loosely  to  display  the 
plant  at  its  best.  It  is  a  native  of  Columbia  and 
flowers  from  late  January  until  well  into  October. 
Propagation  can  be  effected  by  cuttings  at  any 
time,  as  it  grows  all  the  year  through,  although  it 
will  bear  hard  pruning  well  during  winter  and 
breaks  into  new  growth  freely  after  this. 


THE 


otF  1  tL1922 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


►I.  LXXXVI.— No.  2650. 

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No.  2650.— Vol.  LXXXVI.]' 


[September  2,  1922. 


THE    RHODODENDRON     DELL 


THE  present  month  is  the  best  ofTall'the 
year  for  transplanting  evergreen  Rhodo- 
dendrons and,  indeed,  evergreens 
generally.  Large  specimens  should  have 
first  attention,  as  plenty  of  new  root 
before  the  ground  becomes  chilled  is  more  important 
in  their  case  than  it  is  with  smaller  specimens. 
The  ease  with  which  quite  large  Rhododendrons 
can  be  removed  is  one  of  their  principal  recommen- 
dations, since  they  can  without  permanent  detri- 
ment be  used  as  fiUings  among 
permanent  plantings  of  trees  and 
shrubs. 

It  may  sound  a  little  banal  to 
say  that  the  Rhododendron  is  a 
woodland  shrub,  but  it  is  only  too 
evident  as  one  goes  about  the 
country  that  this  fact  is  still  but 
imperfectly  realised.         These 

glorious  plants  will,  of  course, 
with  proper  attention  both  before 
planting  and  during  growth, 
succeed  in  the  open,  butjthey  are 
easier  far  to  grow,  and  much  more 
effective  when  grown,  if  partial 
shade  from  trees  can  be  afforded. 
There  is  a  sharp  difference  of 
opinion  as  to  whether  the  old 
purple  Rhododendron  ponticum. 
the  many  new  species  from  the 
"  roof  of  the  world,"  or  the 
brilliant  hardy  hybrids  are  most 
suitable  for  woodland.  Surely  the 
answer  to  this  depends  upon  the 
interpretation  one  places  upon'  the 
word  "  woodland."  If  purely 
natural  effects  are  aimed  at  ; 
if,  in  other  words,  the  woodland 
is  a  delightful  accessory  to  the 
garden — adjacent  to  it  perhaps, 
but  not  of  it — then  Rhododendron 
ponticum,  with  the  addition  pos 
sjbly  of  such  small  species  as 
Rhododendron  Veitchii,  the  yellow 
Honeysuckle  Azalea  and — if  the 
climate  be  suitable — some  of  the 
more  robust  and  paler  of  the 
Asiatic  species,  will  alone  be 
suitable.  With  them  \vill  be 
associated  plants  either  native  to 
Britain  or  which  at  least  one 
might  consider  wild  without  too 
wide  a  stretch  of  imagination. 
Wild  effect  cannot  be  obtained 
with  plants  of  noticeably  e.^otic 
appearance,  such  as  Bamboos  or 
Aralias,  nor  with  plants  commonly 


met  with  in  flower  borders,  however  suitable  for 
the  purpose  they  might  otherwise  be.  Holly- 
hocks, Phlo.xes,  Rhododendrons,  Anchusas  and 
.Antirrhinums  would  thus  be  ruled  out. 

In  many  cases,  however,  natural  timber  is 
taken  advantage  of  to  provide  suitable  effects 
in  the  garden  proper,  effects  which,  without  any 
straining  after  the  purely  natural,  are  yet 
obtained  by  a  certain  informality  of  planting.  In 
such   case   all   and   every   species   and   variety  of 


A    HUGE    BUSH    OF    RHODODENDRON    THE     BRIDE. 


Rhododendron  sufficiently  hardy  in  thellocalitv 
may  be  employed,  care  being  taken,  naturally,  not 
to  associate  closely  together  colours  which  clash, 
although  the  danger  of  this  is  not  so  great  as  one 
might  suppose  from  the  space  sometinies  devoted 
to  the  matter  in  books  and  articles  upon  the 
Rhododendron. 

When  it  comes  to  a  selection  of  suitable  sorts 

for  this  kind  of  planting,  there  is  wide  scope  for 

individual    taste.     Were    it    not    so    there    would 

hardly   be   more   than    130   hardy 

hybrids   listed   in   John   Waterer's 

list  alone. 

Some  sorts  there  are  about  which 
there  will  be  a  pretty  general 
consensus  of  opinion  by  those  in 
a  position' to  hazard  one.  Every- 
one, for  example,  will  wish  to 
include  Pink  Pearl  and  probably 
that  grand  old  rosy  crimson 
variety  Cynthia,  though  here  some 
will  truly  point  out  that  the  foliage 
is  not  quite  all  that  might  be 
desired.  Mrs.  E.  C.  StirUng  and 
Lady  Clementina  Mitford  seem 
fairly  obvious  selections,  the  former 
with  pinkish  lilac  and  the  latter 
with  peach-coloured  flowers. 
.•\mong  whites  there  is  something 
to  be  said  for  Mme.  Carvalho, 
Mrs.  John  Glutton,  Gomer  Waterer, 
Minnie  and  Geprge  Hardy,  whije 
the  comparatively  small- flowered 
The  Bride  makes  a  satisfactory 
specimen  and  a  pleasing  spectacle 
the  attached  picture  will  testify. 

The  briUiant  but  rather  difficult 
colouring  of  Bagshot  Ruby  and 
Doncaster  makes  a  big  appeal  to 
some,  while  others  would  rather 
be  without  it.  Those  who  like 
the  colouring  should  grow  both 
varieties,  as  they  are  quite  different 
in  habit  of  growth,  Bagshot  Ruby 
being  the  more  erect.  The  magnifi- 
cent Loder's  White  everyone  will 
wish  to  have  who  can  procure  it, 
and  few  will  wish  to  omit  Lady 
Eleanor  Cathcart  or  Lady  Grey 
Egerton  or  the  deep  salnion  Mrs. 
Holford  and  the  still  brighter 
Mrs.  F.  Hankey. 

The  writer  has  a  partiality  for 
heavily  spotted  and  blotched  sorts, 
such  as  Marchioness  of  Lansdowne 
Pictum,  Sappho,  Sigismund  Rucker, 
Lord  Eversley,   Lady  Annette   de 


434 


THE    GARDEN 


[September  2,  1922. 


[Nj  THE    RHODODENDRON    DELL    AT    KEW    GARDENS. 


RHODODENDRON    MRS.    E.    C.    STIRLING. 


BEAUTIFUL    MOLLIS    AZALEAS. 


Trafford  and  T.  B.  Hayes,  but  there  are  many  who 
have  use  for  other  than  those  approximating  to  self 
colour,  though  they  may  make  an  exception  in  favour 
of  the  almost  picotee-edged  Helen  Waterer.  Others, 
again,  are  specially  fond  of  the  mauve  tints.  These 
are  lucky  in  some  respects,  for  with  that  range  of 
colouring  almost  invariably  goes  exceptionally  hand- 
some foliage.  Everestianum,  fastuosum  flore  pleno- 
and  Princess  Ena  are  recommendable  in  this  colour. 

There  is  something  more  than  a  form  of  words 
in  the  idea  of  a  Rhododendron  dell.  It  is  true  that 
when  the  individual  specimens  attain  a  considerable 
size,  backed,  as  they  should  be,  by  taller  plantings, 
a  dell  effect  is  produced  even  if  the  planting  was 
originally  upon  quite  level  ground,  but  it  is  none  the 
less  desirable  to  aid  this  effect  by  a  certain  amount 
of  contouring  where  tree  roots  and  other  obstacles 
permit  it.  Anything  in  the  nature  of  steep  banks 
must  at  all  costs  be  avoided,  since  the  Rhododendron, 
being  shallow  rooted,  is  exceedingly  impatient  of 
drought,  so  much  so,  in  fact,  that  exceptionally 
hot  and  droughty  summers  like  those  of  1893,  1911  and 
1921  killed  off  large  numbers  on  quite  level  ground, 
in  cases  where  watering  could  not  be  done  and  little 
or  no  shade  was  available. 

Decayed  and  decaying  vegetable  matter  in  old 
woodland  is  the  natural  soil  for  the  Rhododendron, 
e\en  rotten  wood,  so  detrimental  to  most  forms  of 
vegetation,  seems  beneficial  rather  than  harmful  to 
the  Rhododendron.  It  may  be  that  decaying  wood 
facilitates  the  increase  of  the  fungus  which  it  is  now 
generally  recognised  is  necessary  to  the  growth  of  the 
Rhododendron.  The  usual  method  of  providing 
this  decayed  vegetable  matter  is  to  form  beds  of. 
often,  pure  peat.  Leaf-mould  is  certainly  equal 
and  probably  superior  to  peat  for  the  purpose,  and 
spent  hot-bed  manure  or  well  rotted  cow  dung  is, 
when  available,  excellent.  One-third  part  of  such 
humus-providing  ingredients  will  ordinarily  be 
sufficient,  the  remaining  two-thirds  being  a  light 
turfy  loam.  Such  compost  will  grow  sturdier,  healthier 
plants  than  will  pure  peat. 

The  fine  roots  of  the  Rhododendron  cannot  penetrate 
stiff  loam,  but  if  this  is  nearly  or  quite  lime  free, 
"  Rhodes  "  may  be  grown  successfully  if  the  drainage 
is  closely  attended  to  and  a  foot  of  the  proper  compost 
provided  either  above  the  natural  soil  or  in  lieu  of 
the  top  spit  of  it.  On  soils  with  any  appreciable 
lime  content  it  is  quite  impossible  to  grow  American 
plants  satisfactorily,  though  there  are  a  few — a  very 
lew — exceptions  which  serve  to  emphasise  the  rule. 
Such  are  Rhododendron  ferrugineum,  Erica  camea 
and  E.  mediterranea  hybrida,  and  the  Arbutuses, 
which  shew  no  objection  to  lime  even  when  plentiful. 
With  the  Rhododendrons  it  is  usual  to  associate 
Kalmias.  These  are  noticeably  less  showy  than  their 
more  popular  relatives,  but  are  valuable  because 
they  provide  colour  when  the  Rhododendrons  are 
over.  K.  latifolia,  the  Mountain  Laurel,  is  the 
(]uickest  growing,  largest  in  leaf  and  latest  to  flower. 
Interest  later  in  the  year  may  readily  be  provided  by 
planting  various  Lilies  in  groups  among  the  bushes. 
Soil,  shade  and  setting  combine  to  make  the  Lihes 
do  well  and  shew  themselves  to  best  advantage. 

Many  people  like  to  associate  the  Mollis  and  Ghent 
Azaleas  with  Rhododendrons.  A  sure  eye  for  colour 
is  needed  if  this  is  to  be  managed  successfully,  though 
some  of  the  softer  yellow  Azaleas  go  well  with  the 
more  richly  toned  Rhododendrons.  It  Azaleas  are 
available  "  on  the  spot,"  there  is  no  need  to  wait 
until  the  leaf  falls  to  remove  them  ;  they  may  be 
transplanted  right  away.  The  writer  well  remembers 
that  somewhat  unexpected  building  operations  necessi- 
tated the  removal  in  early  .'\ugust  of  a  large  specimen 
.Azalea  mollis,  the  ground  being  dust  dry  at  the  time 
and  the  weather  droughty.  The  specimen  had  not 
previously  been  moved  for  probably  twenty  years, 
yet  it  transplanted  perfectly  and  flowered  much 
as  usual  not  only  the  next  spring  but  the  one 
following  ! 


September  2,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


435 


SOME    HARDY    MALLOWS 

The  persistence   with  which  that  peculiar  shade  of  silvery  bluish  rose,  sometimes  called 
malloiu  pink,    runs    through    the    whole   of  the   Malvacece    is    the    reason   for    treating 

several  distinct  genera  together. 


HARDY  Mallows  might  well  be  thought 
to  refer  to  the  genus  Malva  but  in  the 
following  notes  it  is  intended  to  refer 
also  to  the  closely  related  genera 
Lavatera  and  Sidalcea  and  the  also 
related  Hollyhocks  (Althsa).  The  Hibiscus  also 
are  nearly  related,  but  as  shrubs — and  stilted 
habited  shrubs  at  that — hardly  associate  with 
the   rest. 

Of  the  true  Mallows  (Malva)  the  most  useful 
species  are  M.  moschata  (the  Musk  Mallow  of  our 
own  countryside)  and  M.  Alcea  with  the  very 
■distinct  sub-species  M.  A. 
fastigiata.  The  pure 
■white  variety  of  the  Musk 
Mallow  is  perhaps  even 
more  charming  than  the 
typical.  Malva  .\lcea  is 
a  taller  species,  with  the 
characteristic  Mallow 
colouring  at  its  deepest 
and.  consequently,  most 
"difficult"  tint.  M.  A. 
fastigiata  once  classed  as 
a  species — M.  Morenii — is 
more  upright  growing  and 
the  flowers  are  reddish. 
Malva  campanulatum,  oc- 
casionally met  w'ith  in  very 
mild  districts,  is  an  admir- 
able dwarf  species,  but 
tender. 

Of  the  Lavateras, 
■which  may  be  described 
as  sub-shrubby  Mallows, 
the  two  best  are  pro- 
bably L.  Olbia,  which  is 
tall  enough  for  the  back 
of  the  border  and  bears 
large  and  showy  flowers 
in  the  utmost  profusion, 
and  the  more  slender,  but 
perhaps  even  more  beauti- 
■ful,  L.  thuringiaca,  which, 
excellent  in  the  border, 
is  even  more  admirable 
■when  naturalised  in  wood- 
land or  on  wild  banks 
-where  it  grows  as  readily 
as  the  Musk  and  Marsh 
Mallows.  Lavatera  tri- 
Tuestris  is  an  annual — a 
much  improved  annual 
be  it  said — not  unhke  L. 
Olbia  in  appearance  antl 
valuable  for  filling  tem- 
porarily  the   gaps    which 

always  occur  even  in  the  best  managed  gardens. 
It  may  be  had  with  white  flowers  or  with 
those  of  some  rather  deep  shade  of  Mallow  pink. 
The  best  and  deepest  form  of  this  is  probably 
that  known  by  Messrs  Sutton  as  Loveliness. 
The  biennial  species,  Lavatera  arborea  is 
often  used  for  "  sub-tropical  "  bedding  but  is 
iairly  hardy  and  may  be  sown  outdoors  in 
autumn  in  suitable  spots.  There  is  a  rather 
handsome    variegated    form. 

The  Greek  Mallows  (Sidalcea)  so  called,  as  the 
Irishman  said,  "  because  they  come  from  North 
America,"  are  perhaps  more  graceful  than  most 
of  the  Lavateras,  having  smaller  flowers  on  spikes 
somewhat  reminiscent  of  the  Hollyhock.     Though 


perennial  the  Sidalceas  are  not  long  li%ed  plants 
but  they  are  readily  renewed  from  seed.  Sidalcea 
Rosy  Gem  is  one  of  the  best.  It  has  a  pure  white 
counterpart  listed  as  S.  Candida.  S.  malvteflora  is 
considerably  larger  both  in  plant  and  flower,  its 
flowers  are  deeper  in  colour,  bordering  on  purple 
in  fact.  More  pleasing  in  colour  is  S.  Listeri.  with 
soft  silvery  rose  flowers.  S.  spicata  is  another 
worth  growing,  it  produces  purple  rose  cups. 

Of  the  Althceas,  the  varieties  usually  grown  in 
gardens  are  the  true  Hollyhocks  (tonus  of  .A.  rosea), 
but  others  are  sometimes  met  with  in  gardens,  and 


THE    SILVERY    PL\K    HOLLYHOCK    PALLING    BELLE. 


one,  the  Marsh  Mallow  (.Althaja  officinahsi  is  an 
English  wild  flower,  and  a  very  beautiful  one.  A. 
ficifolia  is  the  fig-leaved  or  .Antwerp  Hollyhock, 
with  beautiful  single  yellow  flowers.  Of  more 
branching  habit  than  the  forms  of  A.  rosea,  it  is 
a  short  lived  plant,  being  practically  if  not  actually 
a  biennial. 

The  double  Hollyhock  in  its  many  colour  forms 
is  the  product  of  centuries  of  endeavour,  but  the 
now  popular  single  forms  are  equally  beautiful  and 
more  suitable  to  many  situations.  A  deep  rich 
well  cultivated  soil  is  necessary  if  the  Hollyhock 
is  to  be  seen  at  its  best.  Stately  port  should  be 
its  chief  characteristic,  and  this  can  only  be  obtained 
if  good  culture  obtains.    Even  for  garden  decoration 


it  is  unwise  to  leave  more  than,  say,  four  spikes 
on  even  the  strongest  plants,  as  a  multiplicity 
of  spikes  destroys  the  vigour  of  the  plant.  The 
tliinning  should  be  done  as  soon  as  the  plants  have 
attained  a  height  of  a  foot  at  most.  Less  vigorous 
plants  should  be  thinned  to  two  spikes  or  one, 
according  to  their  strength  or  weakness. 

Named  varieties  of  Hollyhock  are  very  beautiful, 
but  for  garden  decoration  it  is  surprising  how  true 
to  colour  and  how  good  in  form  seedlings  come. 
Seed  may  be  sown  now,  and  if  the  young  plants  arc 
pricked  out,  grown  on  and  potted  off,  and  planted 
out  next  April  they  will  all  flower  well  next  summer 
and  early  autumn.  The  crimson  and  soft  yellow 
varieties  are  invaluable  for  associating  with  blue 
Delphiniums  and  such  like,  while  the  silvery  piiUv 
and  rose  shades  are  invaluable  in  a  section  of  the 
border  devoted  to  Mallow  pinks  and  dilute  purples 
and  grey  foliage. 

When  thinning  growths  in  spring  it  is  well  to 
save  the  thinned  shoots  for  cuttings,  which  root 
fairly  readily  with  a  little  bottom  heat. 

On  stiff  soils.  Hollyhocks  often  die  off  in  winter. 
This  may  largely  be  prevented  by  removing  the 
heavy  loam  from  around  the  collar  of  the  plant  and 
replacing  it  with  sharp  sand  or  clean  and  sharp, 
l>ut  spent  ashes.  Staking  is  very  necessary  with 
Hollyhocks  as  the  great  spikes  easily  twist  off  at 
the  crown  but  it  is  unnecessary  to  supply  tall 
stakes.  If  the  stakes,  when  driven  in,  stand  3ft. 
out  of  the  ground,  this  should  prove  ample. 

The  Hollyhock  may  be  and  often  is  grown  in 
beds,  as  shewn  in  the  accompanying  picture  of  that 
beautiful  variety  PaUing  Belle.  This  method  of 
culture  should  never  be  adopted  however,  if 
trouble  is  experienced  with  the  Hollyhock  Fungus 
(Puccinia  malvacearum)  which  always  first  attacks 
the  lower  leaves.  Dusting  the  undersides  of  the 
leaves  with  flowers  of  sulphur  or  spraying  with 
liver  of  sulphur  is  a  wise  precaution  against  attacks 
by  this  pest,  or  Messrs  Vert  of  Saffron  Walden,  who 
specialise  in  this  flower,  supply  a  very  efficient 
powder  for  the  same  purpose.  None  the  less,  if 
trouble  has  previously  been  experienced  with  the 
fungus,  it  is  wiser  to  reserve  the  Hollyhocks  for 
grouping  at  the  back  of  the  herbaceous  border  or 
way  back  in  openings  in  the  shrubbery.  Dying 
foliage  on  the  Hollyhock  is  not  always  caused  by 
rust,  which  is  easily  distinguished  by  the  circular 
spore-cases  on  the  undersides  of  the  leaves.  Red 
spider  also  is  a  serious  enemy  and  in  dry  seasons 
■  iften  does  immense  damage.  Good  culture  will 
do  much  to  minimise  the  trouble  but  it  is  a  wise 
precaution  to  soak  young  plants  in  soapy  wate^ 
for  an  hour  or  so  before  planting  out,  as  red  spider 
is  but  too  prevalent  under  glass.  Syringing  the 
plants  each  evening  in  hot  weather  serves  the 
double  object  of  encouraging  growth  and  keeping 
down  thrips,  which  also  are  sometimes  very 
troublesome. 

If  a  large  stock  is  desired  of  a  particularly  good 
variety  (unaffected  by  rust),  a  quick  way  of  in- 
creasing it  is  to  use  any  available  side  shoots  or 
small  spikes  and  cut  them  up  into  lengths  with  a 
single  joint  and  eye  to  each  and  keep  them  close, 
and.  of  course,  shaded  from  sun  heat.  Almost 
every  cutting  should  break  and  produce  a  young 
plant  which,  properly  treated,  will  flower  well  the 
following  season. 


FORTHCOMING    EVENTS. 

September  5. — Royal  Horticultural  Society's 
Fortnightly  Meeting.  Caledonian  Horticultural 
Society's  Meeting. 

September  6. — National  Dahlia  Society's  Annual 
Show,  to  be  held  at  the  R.H.S.  Hall. 

September  8. — Paisley  Florists'  Society's 
Meeting. 

September  9. — Ringwood  Horticultural  Society's 
Meeting 


436 


THE     GARDEN. 


[September  2,  1922. 


BULB     ORDERS— II 


More  about  Daffodils — l/arieties  for  Pots — .-J    Garden    Tzvelve 

of  Fashion. 


-Tulips — The   Influence 


A   T  the  end  of  my  first  instalment  of  Bulb 
/»       Order  notes  I  got  upon  the  subject  of 
/  %      Daffodils    and    I    suggested    a    trial    of 
^•^^k    Cervantes  for  planting  in  pots  as  a  first 
4.  ■  early  and  the  investment  in  a  little  stock 

of  Countess  of  Southesk  for  growing    on    for  pro- 
viding some  dainty  cut  flowers. 

I  thoroughly  sympathise  with  poor  Persephone 
as  Jean  Ingelow  depicts  her  wandering  on  and  on  in 
the  "  Meadows  of  Enna  "  as  beauty  after  beauty 
caught   her  eye. 

"  Lo  !  one  she  marked  of  rarer 
growth 
Than  orchis  or  anemone  ; 
For   it   the   maiden    left  them 
both. 
And  parted  from  her    com- 
pany. 
Drawn  nigh  she  deemed  it  fairer 
still, 
.^nd  stooped  to  gather  by  the 
rill 
The   daffodil,  the  daffodil." 
iPersephonc,  by  Jean  Ingdou.\ 

Anyone,  like  Persephone,  could 

easily    wander   on    and    on    and 

never  know  where  to  stop  when 

engaged  in  singling  out  some  of 

the  best.      There  are    so    many 

varieties   in    the    modern  list    of 

any   firm   that   rather    makes    a 

speciality   of   the   Daffodil.     One 

must  become  a    double    distilled 

eclectic  to  make   at   all  a  decent 

job  of  it.     Let  me  give  a  concrete 

example.   We  have  two  singularly 

beautiful  small  cupped  I.eedsiis  iu 

White     Lady      and     E\'angeline. 

In  selecting,  say,  a  dozen   diffpr- 

ent  varieties  for  the  garden,  there 

is  hardly  room  for  both.     Which 

is  to  be  taken,  and  which  left  ? 
.Again  to  take  an  extreme  case, 

let    me    suppose,  out   of  all. the 

varieties  and  species  of  Daffodils 

produced  by  wanton   Nature    or 

by  the  skill  or  luck  of  man,  I  was 

only  allowed  to  have  three  in  mv 
garden,  which  would  I  select  ?  If 
to-day  I  said  Emperor,  Barrii 
conspicuus  and  Poeticus  re- 
curvus  ;  to-morrow  it  might  be 
Emperor,  White  Lady  and  Virgil. 
In  what  foUows  I  am  just 
going  to  make  a  few  suggestions 
of  varieties  that  I  think  are  worth 
general  way  almost  all  the  red 
edged  cups  and  eyes  are  mvich  more  beautiful  under 
glass,  flowering  as  they  do  when  the  sun  has  consider- 
ably less  power,  than  when  their  natural  time  comes 
when  they  are  grown  out  of  doors.  Lady  Moore 
is  extraordinarily  good  in  a  greenhouse,  but  except 
for  a  few  short  hours  it  is  nothing  in  the  open. 

Firebrand  with  its  deep  red  cup  is  among  my 
special  favourites  under  glass,  so  too  are  Blackwell, 
Sunrise,  Homer  and  the  new  poetaz  Orange 
Blossom.  This  last  is  the  result  of  a  similar  cross 
to  that  by  means  of  which  Van  der  Schoot  produced 
his  well  known  Elviza,  .Alsace  and  Jaune  a  Merveille 
but  I  am  told  the  seed  bearer  was  the  Tazetta 
(Polyanthus)  variety  and  not  the  Poeticus  as  in  the 
old  strain.  Anyhow  the  substantial  white  perianth 
with  its  rich  orange  spreading  centre  makes  a  most 


attractive  flower.  In  all  but  the  southern  parts  of 
England  it  must  have  ample  protection  if  it  is 
planted  in  the  open.  So  many  people  object  to  the 
strong  perfume  of  the  ancient  Tazettas,  and  always 
give  them  a  miss  when  making  out  their  order  on 
this  account.  These  once  all-important  varieties, 
which  alone  were  noticed  by  George  Glenny  in  his 
little  book  on  the  properties  of  flowers  in  the  middle 
of  last  century,  seem  to  be  slowly  dropping  out  of 
favour  and  being  supplanted  by  the  ne%v  poetaz. 
I  should  like  to  mention  Admiration,  Helios  and 


a   trial.      In   a 
eyes    and    red- 


THE    FRAGRANT    POET  S    NARCISSUS. 

Orange  Cup  as  three  good  ones  well  worth  a  trial. 
The  time  will  come  when  the  Giant  Leedsiis  will  be 
cheap  enough  to  use  for  pot  work — Norah  Pearson 
and  Capella  are  two  which  would  give  a  good  run 
for  anyone's  money.  But  here  1  am,  wandering  on 
and  on  and  doing  exactly  what  I  did  not  intend  to 
do,  and  I  have  only  got  as  far  as  pots  !  Peccavi. 
To  make  amends,  1  wiU  just  give  a  list  of 
what  I  might  order  if  I  wanted  a  good  dozen  for 
my  own  planting  in  the  open  :  Emperor,  .Urgent, 
White  Lady,  Mrs.  W.  O.  Wolseley,  Virgil,  Kingsley, 
Great  \V"arley,  Blackwell,  Lucifer,  Steadfast, 
Weardale  Perfection  and  the  Rugulosus  variety  ot 
Campernelle  Jonquils. 

And  now  to  come  to  the  Tulip  family.  Mistress 
Daffodil  and  old  Mother  Tulip,  like  the  old  woman 
who  lived  in  a  shoe,  have  so  many  children  that  the 
perplexed  gardener  does  not  know  what  to  do  when 


he  sees  the  tens  of  varieties  in  one  of  our  modem 
catalogues.  Xo  one  wishes  to  order  them  all.  If, 
in  the  days  of  John  Rea  and  Samuel  Gilbert — that 
is  in  the  middle  years  of  the  seventeenth  century — 
it  was  "  which  Agot  ?  "  or  "  which  Paragon  ?  "  so 
now  it  is  "  which  Cottage  ?  "  and  "  which 
Darwin  ?  "  ;  or,  as  glass-houses  have  become  so 
common,  "  which  must  it  be  for  pots  and 
which  for  the  garden  ?  "  My  purpose  once 
again — as  in  the  case  of  the  Daffodil — is  neither 
to  give  detailed  selections  from  the  various 
sections  into  which  the  Tulip  family  has  been 
divided  for  gardening  purposes  (see  the  R.H.S. 
Tulip  book),  nor  to  point  out  with  any  measure  of 
fulness  which  will  be  the  best  for  rock-work, 
greenhouse  or  open  ground,  but  rather  in  a  hap- 
hazard sort  of  way  to  suggest  for  the  consideration 
of  purchasers  some  of  those  which  at  the  present 
appeal  very  strongly  to  myself.  I  have  recently 
received  Sutton's  1922  Catalogue  and  on  the  very 
first  page  among  the  very  select  selection  of 
"  new  and  interesting  bulbs  possessing  exceptional 
merits  "  I  find  three  Tulips,  Fireglow  (syn.  De  Wet), 
'"he  Fairy  and  Canary  Queen.  I  know  the  first 
ind  last  ones  very  well  indeed.  Few  varieties  are 
more  beautiful  under  glass  if  only  they  are  not 
hurried  into  a  too-early  flowering  stage.  Few  are 
more  taldng  in  the  open  garden.  I  can  never 
forget  my  first  sight  of  Fireglow  decorating  a  typical 
room  in  a  Woman's  Industrial  Exhibition  at 
.Amsterdam  and  how  excited  I  became  until  I  had 
found  out  W'hat  it  was  and  where  it  came  from.  It 
is  a  sport  of  the  famous  Prince  of  Austria  in  which 
the  yellow-  and  red  colouring  has  become  separated, 
and  on  close  inspection  is  seen  to  form  a  very 
delicate  network,  while  at  a  distance  the  effect  is 
that  of  a  very  bright  orange  red.  Canary  Queen, 
very  tall  and  stately  and  so  refined  looking  with 
the  dainty  lemon  edging  of  its  delicate  primrose 
coloured  petals,  is  a  gem  of  the  first  water  under 
glass,  and  it  is  just  as  pleasing  in  the  open,  only  the 
distinction  between  the  edge  and  the  ground  colour 
is  not  so  clearly  brought  out.  It  blooms  about  the- 
same  time  as  White  Sw-an.  The  Fairy,  which  is 
described  as  a  glistening  white  Parrot  Tulip, 
delicately  tinted  with  rose,  is  entirely  new  to  me. 
I  have  never  seen  it,  but  Fantasy,  another  novelty 
of  the  same  type  I  have  seen.  It  is  a  sport  or 
development  from  the  well  known  Clara  Butt  and 
has  all  the  charm  of  that  beautiful  flower  in  its 
colouring.  To  those  who  like  the  Bohemian 
deshabille  of  the  Parrots,  I  commend  this  startling 
new  comer.  How  is  it  that  every  rock  garden  in 
the  length  of  the  land  has  not  its  patch  of  the  bright 
little  yellow  and  white  TuUpa  dasystemon  ? 
"  Where  are  you  going,  my  pretty  maid  ?  I'm  gomg 
a  milking.  Sir,  she  said."  That's  just  it.  It  is  the 
innocent  looking  freshness  of  dasystemon  that  is 
so  charming.  Everything  is  influenced  by  fashion. 
Tulips  are  no  exception.  It  was  all  stripes,  feathers, 
and  flames  when  the  belles  of  seventeenth-century 
Paris  wore  them  in  their  dresses.  It  was  the  same 
in  the  first  half  of  the  last  century  when  the  drab' 
lives  of  many  artisans  in  northern  England  w-ere 
relieved  by  the  pleasure  of  their  culture,  culminating 
in  the  struggle  at  the  Ring  o'  Bells  for  the  time- 
honoured  copper  kettle.  Now  it  is  sells.  We  call 
them  Cottage  \-arieties  and  Darwin  varieties.  The 
popular  taste  just  now  I  think  is  for  mauves,  such 
as  MeUcette,  Euterpe  and  Oliphant — three  of  the 
very  best — and  pinks  such  as  the  ever  popular 
Clara  Butt  and  Sophrosyne  and  Suzon.  The  year, 
however,  the  head  gardener  of  a  neighbouring  Hall 
came  along  and  said  "  No  colour  was  like  bright  red 
in  a  garden,"  I  pointed  out  Goldfinder,  Scarlet 
Emperor  and  Marksman.  He  quite  agreed  he 
could  not  have  much  better  varieties,  although  it 
is  very  likely  he  would  have  wished  Goldfinder  to 
be  rather  bigger  than  it  is.  The  Darwins.  Home- 
and  North  Dakota,  might  also  be  included  among 


September  2,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


437 


the  very  brilliant  scarlets.  They  come  very  near. 
It  is  strange  how  our  love  for  past  favourites 
suddenly  revives,  I  have  been  quite  dotty  over 
Petrus  Hondius  this  year.  It  must  be  a  case  of 
great  minds  etc.  etc.  for  in  Pearson  and  Sons  1922 
List  I  read,    "  Has  been  much  admired  of  late." 


It  is  described  as  "a  rich  rose,  and  very  beautiful 
and  quite  distinct."  I  do  not  grudge  old  Hondius 
this  fascinating  flower,  although  he  was  somewhat 
of  a  Jeremiah  over  the  growing  taste  for  Tulips. 
His  warnings  fell  on  deaf  ears,  and  the  mania 
(1635-37)   was  the  result.  Joseph  Jacob. 


Tke  EVOLUTION  of  tke  GLADIOLUS! 

The   Primidinus   Hybrids. 


THE  hybrids  of  Gladiolus  primulinus  are 
legion.  Fashionable  flowers  of  the 
moment,  they  have  inspired  hybridisers 
the  world  over,  and  the  ease  with  which 
they  can  be  raised  from  seed  has  brought 
many  amateurs  into  the  ranks  of  the  producers. 
But  while  these  hybrids  are  certainly  fashionable 
flowers  of  the  moment,  their  popularity  is  not  for 
the  moment  only.  They  have  come  to  stay  and 
to  increase  iu  popular  favour  year  by  year.  The 
happy  discovery  of  the  primulinus  species  infused 
new  interest  into  the  cultivation  of  Gladioli.  Its 
introduction  has  given  grace  to  a  family  of  plants 
which  hitherto  wrested  attention  by  a  massive 
and  formal  display  of  gorgeous  colour,  but  which 
failed  to  win  the  sympathies  of  many  people  because 
of  a  too  compact  and  rather  stiff  habit  of  growth. 
Not  only  are  the  flowers  of  the  primuhnus  species 
arranged  more  loosely  on  the  spikes,  but  the  latter 
themselves  are  more  slender  and  tapering,  giving 
altogether  a  more  refined  aspect  to  the  plant, 
which  is  further  enhanced  by  the  hooded  formation 
of  the  bloom  and  the  extreme  dehcacy  of  the  yellow, 
orange  and  saffron  tints  so  frequently  foimd 
therein.     So    far    the    primulinus    hybrids    have 


GLADIOLUS    PRIMULINUS    ARGO 


remained  in  a  class  by  themselves  ,  distinguished 
from  all  others  by  the  characteristics  mentioned, 
but  what  the  future  holds  for  them  is  a  matter  of 
some  concern  to  interested  growers.  Already 
certain  varieties  listed  as  primulinus  hybrids  are 
barely  distinguishable  from  the  large-flowered 
section,  and  if  the  public  taste,  which  so  often 
sacrifices  the  more  refined  pleasures  of  appreciation 
for  mere  size,  is  going  to  fall  into  this  error  as 
regards  these  hybrids,  then  before  many  years  we 
shall  have  only  one  word  to  describe  every  section 
of  the  Gladiolus  family  and  that  one  word  will  be 
merely — Gladiolus.  However,  that  time  is  not 
yet,  and  it  may  be  long  delayed  by  the  discrimin- 
ating taste  of  originators  themselves.  Practically 
the  only  path  along  which  evolution  of  the  Gladiolus 
has  progressed  is  by  means  of  crossing  the  varieties 
and  species  in  our  possession  and  the  resulting 
selection  from  the  seedlings  obtained  thereby. 
Until  only  the  last  few  years  amateur  gardeners 
seem  to  have  been  entirely  ignorant  of  the  ease 
with  which  Gladioli  can  be  raised  from  seed.  At 
our  own  place  we  flower  hundreds  of  seedlings  six 
months  after  sowing  and  have  repeatedly  shown 
the  flower  spikes  thus  grown  at  the  fortnighth- 
meetings  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society. 

I  have  no  hesitation  in 
giving  our  friends  in  the 
United  States  premier 
place  in  the  production  of 
new  varieties  of  the 
primuhnus  hybrids.  Those 
illustrated  here  are  both 
of  American  origin. 
White  Butterfly  is  a 
novelty  of  1922  and  is 
perhaps  the  purest  white 
yet  attained  in  this  section. 
.\rgo,  styled  the  primu- 
linus .Myrtle,  is  a  lovely 
salmon  rose  with  pastel 
cream  throat,  large  enough 
in  flower,  but  lacking 
nothing  in  graceful  bearing 
and  a  fine  fresh  looking 
colour. 

It  is  not  my  intention 
to  give  a  catalogue  of 
varieties,  but  a  selection, 
taken  as  the  flowers  are 
open,  of  those  that  most 
appeal  to  me,  would  in  all 
probability  also  please  the 
eye  of  average  colour 
sense.  As  we  have  already 
touched  on  American 
varieties,  we  might  here 
note  Butterboy,  which 
gained  an  award  of  merit 
for  us  a  week  or  two  ago. 
This  is  a  large  well 
hooded  flower  of  almost 
buttercup  yellow,  with  just 
a  Hne  of  dark  brown  down 
each  of  the  lower  seg- 
ments,    very     handsome. 


GLADIOLUS  PRIMULINUS    WHITE    BUTTERFLY. 

Golden  Gleam  is  of  richest  orange  saffron  with 
more  of  the  former  than  the  latter  and  an  intensely 
bright  shade  at  that.  What  a  rare  sunny  splash 
of  colour  this  makes  in  the  border  !  .A.lice  Tiplady, 
thoroughly  established  as  one  of  the  primulinus 
"  classics,"  has  something  of  Golden  Gleam  colour, 
but  here  the  saffron  tinge  predominates.  This  one 
should  always  be  included  in  a  collection,  as  so 
should  Altair,  one  of  the  loveliest  of  the  lot, 
described  as  salmon  saffron,  anyway  a  real  beauty. 
Then  there  is  Eden,  pale  salmon  pink  deepening  to 
the  edges,  the  lower  segments  being  mostly  cream 
with  a  picotee  edge  of  blush  pink,  a  favourite  this 
with  all  who  see  it.  Utopia  and  Zenobia  are  both 
superbly  showy,  the  former  in  shades  of  salmon  and 
the  latter  richest  orange-red,  near  to  a  scarlet. 
Salmon  Beauty  is  very  fine,  the  yellow  throat  setting 
off  the  wing  colours  to  perfection.  Canopus  is  a  very 
lovely  pale  yellow,  deeper  in  the  lower  segments  and 
in  the  same  class  are  Anita  and  Elberton,  yet  each 
is  quite  distinct.  Topaz,  sahnon  buff,  very  pretty 
form,  and  Enon,  creamy  yellow  and  orange,  are 
lovely  in  the  softer  tones  and  Firefly,  Capella,  Mid- 
summer Dream  and  Sonia  are  conspicuous  for  their 
strong  shades  of  red  and  scarlet 

Among  the  EngUsh  raised  hybrids.  Major  Churcher 
claims  Woodcote  and  Otranto.  These  I  consider  are 
two  of  the  finest  sorts  yet  brought  to  light,  but  the 
same  gentleman  has  some  very  choice  seedUngs  in 
the  making.  Woodcote  is  the  softest  of  coral 
scarlets,  with  a  large  cream  yellow  blotch,  perfect  in 
form  and  well  placed  on  the  spike.  Otranto  is  a 
maize  yellow  with  beautiful  red  hues  in  the  throat 
and  just  a  flush  of  rose  on  the  shoulders  of  the  upper 
petals  ;  one  of  our  best  hybrids.  Messrs.  Kelway 
havesomefine  varieties  in  their  "  Langprim  "  group, 
of  which  Lieutenant  Kelway,  Ella  Kelway  and 
Superior  are  noteworthy.  J.  L.  Gibson. 


438 


THE     GARDEN. 


GLADIOLI     AND     OTHER 

VINCENT 


HARDY 
SQUARE 


[September  2,  1922. 

FLOM^ERS     AT 


ON  entering  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  s  Hall  on  August  22  the  visitor 
felt  that  it  was  a  Gladioli  Show,  for 
large  quantities  of  handsome  spikes 
seemed  to  dominate  there,  and.  while  it 
was  seen  that  there  were  plenty  of  other  flowers,  the 
many  exhibits  of  Gladioli  claimed  most  attention. 
The  most  attractive  collection  was  by  Messrs  Sutton 
and  Sons  and  this  was  set  up  with  all  the  skill  and 
taste  expected  from  the  Reading  firm.  The 
glorious  vivid  colour  of  such  sorts  as  Red  Emperor, 
Captain  Fryatt  and  Electra  was  freely  remarked 
upon,  as  also  was  a  large  bowl  ot  the  glowing  salmon 
pink  Prince  of  Wales.  White  Giant,  Brimstone 
and  the  rich  yellow  Lucie  were  equally  admirable 
representatives.  These  were  all  of  the  large- 
flowered  type,  which  also  predominated  in  a  large 
collection  by  Messis.  Kelway  and  Sons  that  in- 
cluded many  of  the  graceful  primulinus  hybrids.  Of 
their  large  -  flowered  sorts  many  visitors  were 
fascinated  by  those  which  have  an  intense  blood 
red  blotch  on  the  lower  segment  in  such  startling 
contrast  to  the  milk  white  or  creamy  yellow  of  the 
remainder  of  the  flowers.  Notable  examples  ot 
these  are  Golden  Dawn,  Lady  Faire,  Sunspot  and 
Lady  Montague. 

The  primulinus  hybrids  were  especially  beautiful 
in  a  collection  by  Messrs.  Lowe  and  Gibson,  who 
included  the  variety  Butter  Boy,  which  recently 
had   an   award  of  merit.     Maiden's  Blush,  Altair 


and  Niobe  were  also  de- 
lightful. A  couple  of  blue 
sorts — Due  de  Massa  and 
Blue  Isle,  were  very  strik- 
ing in  Major  Churcher's 
collection,  and  primulinus 
h\"brids  were  also  well 
sliewn  by  Messrs.  R.  H. 
Bath,   Limited. 

Goodly  collections  of 
Dahlias  were  rather  ex- 
pected, as  the  valuable 
Cory  Cup  was  offered  for 
the  best  representative 
exhibit,  but  only  Messrs. 
J.  Cheal  and  Sons  entered 
for  the  Cup,  and  by 
some  unfortunate  muddle 
their  exhibit  was  con- 
sidered in  relation  to  the 
border  flowers  by  the  com- 
mittee, and  was  even 
described  officially  as  con- 
sisting of  hardy  plants. 
Among  the  various  types 
of  Dahlia  on  shew  was 
the  Anemone  -  flowered 
Mons.  C.  Dupont,  which 
many  thought  was  a  new 
type,     but    it    was    raised 


^ 


THE    ANEMONE-FLOWERED    DAHLIA    MONS.    C.    DUPONT. 
Floivers  of  a  purplish  crimson  shading. 


THE    FRAGRANT    BLOOMS    OF    MAGNOLIA     GRANDIFLORA 
EXMOUTH   VAR. 


in  France  some  years  ago. 
The  compact  flowers  are 
of  fascinating  purplish 
crimson  shading.  Messrs. 
Jarnian  and  Company  also 
had  some  Dahhas,  but 
their  Sweet  Sultans  were 
even  better. 

The  general  floral  ex- 
hibits included  Heleniums, 
Hollyhocks,  Phlox  and 
such,  while  Mr.  C.  Turner 
had  a  vase  of  most  beau- 
tiful blooms  of  Magnolia 
grandiflora  Exmouth 
variety,  which  flowers  at 
an  earlier  age  than  the 
species. 

Among  the  Orchids,  the 
chief  exhibit  was  the 
wonderful  gold  medal  col- 
lection of  Lajlio-Cattleyas 
by  Baron  Bruno  Schroder. 
There  were  100  plants, 
which  the  committee  con- 
sidered to  be  the  finest 
ever  shewn,  and  Mr. 
Shill,  the  gardener,  was 
awarded  the  silver-gilt 
Lindley  medal  for  cultiva- 
tion 


Roses  and  Carnations  were  again  shewn  in 
great  beauty,  .^mong  a  display  of  Roses  by 
Messrs.  D.  Prior  and  Son  there  was  a  vase  of 
Ideal,  a  new  velvety  dark  crimson  httle  Polyantha 
which  seems  quite  distinct.  Mr.  Pembertou 
shewed  the  value  of  massing  several  ot  his  free- 
flowering  sorts,  such  as  Vanity,  .Aurora  and 
Mermaid. 

Great  interest  was  centred  in  the  excellent 
exhibit  of  Black  Hambro  Grapes  from  the  gardens 
of  Mr.  J.  A.  Nix,  Tilgate.  Each  of  the  sixteen 
bunches  was  very  shapely,  and  the  berries  were 
sloe-black,  thus  indicating  expert  cultivation. 
Messrs.  Daniel  Brothers  had  large  mounds  ot 
gathered  fruit  as  well  as  fruiting  branches  of  theif 
September  Black  Currant.  This  variety,  which 
received  a  first-class  certificate  last  year,  bears 
immense  berries  in  great  profusion.  The  fruits 
are  of  excellent  flavour.  .\n  uncommon  exhibit 
was  the  splendid  collection  of  vegetables  shewn 
by  the  members  of  the  High  Wycombe  and  District 
Horticultural  Society.  Practically  all  seasonable 
vegetables  and  salads  were  represented,  the  Peas, 
Beans,  Carrots,  Leeks  and  Potatoes  being  of  very 
high  quality. 

NEW  AND  RARE  PLANTS. 
Aster     hybridus     luteus. — This      modeiately 

dwarf  herbaceous  plant  will  appeal  to  those 
who  like  a  mass  of  bloom  rather  than  individual 
flowers    of    fair    size.     It    makes    dense,    flatfish 


September  2,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


439 


heads  of  ye!low  flowers.  The  fohage  is  almost 
negligible — the  leaves  are  short  and  narrow. 
Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  Amos  Perry. 

Gladiolus  Rarity. — .A  medium-sized  spike, 
well  furnished  with  widely  expanded  flowers  of 
fascinating  soft  shell  pink  colour.  The  lower 
segment  has  a  crimson-lake  blotch.  Shewn  by 
Messrs.  Lowe  and  Gibson. 

Helianthus    multiflorus    Loddon     Gold.— In 

general  characteristics  this  is  a  glorified  form 
of  the  old  perennial  double  Sunflower.  The 
flowers  are  much  larger  than  those  of  the  old 
favourite,  and  they  are  of  a  rich  yellow.  It  is 
distinctly  a  plant  for  the  back  of  the  hardy  flower 
border.     ..^ward  of  merit  to  Mr.  Thomas  Carlile. 

Dipteronia  sinensis. — It  is  rather  difficult 
to  understand  why  this  deciduous  tree  received 
an  award.  It  has  no  floral  beauty  and  its  chief 
attraction  must  be  the  clusters  of  flattish  pairs 
ot  winged  seed  vessels,  which  are  little,  if  any, 
more  ornamental  than  those  of  the  W'ych  Elm 
or  the  Hop  Tree  (Ptelea  tritoliata).  The  pinnate 
leaves,  which  are  about  gins,  long,  are  decidedly 
less  ornamental  tli_an  those  of  many  other  trees — 
the  Tree  of  Heaven  (Ailanthus  glandulosa),  for 
instance.  Dipteronia  sinensis  was  introduced  by 
Wilson  from  Central  China  in  or  about  igoo.  It 
becomes  a  small  tree  about  25ft.  in  height,  .^ward 
of  merit  to  the  Hon.  Vicary  Gibbs. 

Rosa  Sweginzowii. — This  is  an  ugly  name 
for  a  spreading  Rose  that  is  very  handsome  when 
in  fruit.  The  bright  crimson  haws  are  of  inverted 
urn-shape  and  glow  with  colour,  and  the  neat, 
fern-like  leaves  are  somewhat  like  those  of  Rosa 
sericea.  The  plant  was  raised  from  seed  collected 
by  the  late  Mr.  R.  Farr.ir.  Wilson  is  of  the 
opinion  that  it  is  a  geographical  form  of  R. 
setipoda.  Award  of  merit  to  the  Director,  R.H.S 
Gardens,  Wisley. 

Laelio-Cattleya  Golden  Light.— Three  large 
blooms  of  this  handsome  new  hybrid  were  shewn. 
The  sepals  and  petals  are  coloured  reddish  orange, 
while  the  lip  is  tinged  with  ruby-red.  Award  of 
merit    to   Lieutenant-Colonel   Sir   George    Holford. 

Laelio-Cattleya  Idina. — A  very  beautiful  bloom 

with  mauve  sep.-'.ls  and  petals,  a  violet-purple 
lip  and  yellow  disc.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs. 
Flory  and  Black. 

Laelio-Cattleya  Sargon. — The  broad  sepals 
and  petals  are  heavily  stippled  with  rosy  mauve 
and  the  hp  is  ruby-crimson.  Award  of  merit  to 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Sir  George  Holford. 

NEW    DAHLIAS. 

The  Joint  Dahlia  Committee  met  for  the  first 
lime  and,  following  the  recent  custom,  selected 
the  best  varieties  for  trial  at  Wisley. 

Bronze  Star. — This  appears  to  be  rather  a 
poor  type  of  Star  Dahlia.  The  flowers  were  of 
indifferent  shape  and  hung  their  heads.  The 
colour  is  a  bronzy  apricot.  Shewn  by  Messrs. 
J.  Cheal  and  Sons. 

Estacy. — The  name  is  obscure,  and  one  wonders 
whether  Ecstacy  is  not  meant.  However,  it  is 
a  beautiful  flower  of  large  size  and,  although  a 
Cactus  variety,  much  like  the  Decorative  type. 
The  colour  is  a  bright  mauve  with  a  milky  white 
centre.     Shewn  by  Messrs.  Stredwick  and  Son. 

Gatton  Star. — L'nlike  the  first-named  variety, 
this  is  a  worthy  addition  to  the  not  inconsiderable 
number  of  elegant  Star  Dahhas.  The  colour  is 
orange-buff  shaded  with  purplish  mauve.  Shewn 
l>y  Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and  Sons. 

Megantic. — .\n  excellent  exhibition  Cactus 
Dahlia  of  perfect  form.  The  rolled  petals  have 
incurving  tips  and  the  pale  yellow  colour  of  the 
unexpanded  florets  develops  into  pale  apricot. 

Noble. — -\n  immense  but  not  coarse  Decorative 
variety.  The  shapely  blooms  are  borne  on  stout, 
erect  stalks,  so  that  it  should  be  a  good  sort  for 


THE    BRIGHT    CRIMSON    HIPS    OF    ROSA    SWEGINZOWII. 


the  garden  as  well  as  for  house  decoration.  The 
warm  scarlet  colour  pales  towards  the  tips  of  the 
petals. 

Signal. — This  is  a  highly  decorative  Cactus 
variety  of  star-Uke  appearance.  The  pale  brick- 
red  rolled  florets  are  almost  straight. 

Siren. — .A  medium-sized  Decorative  bloom  of 
perfect  form.  The  broad  petals  are  regularly 
stippled  with  rosy  mauve  on  a  creamy  ground. 


Skyrocket. — .^  handsome  Cactus  variety  which 
has  long  rolled  florets  that  curve  inwards  at  the 
tips.  The  colour  is  rosy  purple,  with  a  golden 
bronze  centre. 

Yellow  Queen. — This  rich  golden  yellow 
Decorative  variety  is  of  immense  size,  but  perfect 
form  and  possesses  good  substance.  The  last 
six  varieties  were  shewn  by  Messrs.  J.  Stredwick 
and  Son. 


THE    LATE    SUMMER    BORDER 


THE  herbaceous  border  is  very  often  less 
of  a  success  at  this  season  than  it  is  earlier 
in  the  summer.  It  is  quite  easy  to  have 
a  fine  display  of  flowers  in  June  and  July, 
but  when  that  is  over  there  are  often  sad 
gaps  to  be  seen,  and  the  general  display  of  flowers 
is  much  diminished.  It  is  well,  therefore,  to 
consider  the  border  very  carefully  at  that  season 
of  the  year — note  book  in  hand — and  to  make 
careful  note  of  the  arrangement  of  plants  as 
regards  colour,  height,  form,  season  of  flowering 
and  numerical  proportion,  since  the  less  left  to  the 
memory  the  better.  It  is  so  easy  to  forget,  long 
before  planting  time  comes,  the  many  little 
differences  in  shades  and  manner  of  growth  on 
which  the  real  success  of  the  planting  for  the  next 
year  will  depend.  A  few  fortunate  people  have 
the  colour  sense  exceptionally  well  developed, 
and  the  colour  memory  equally  so,  but  the  majority 
cannot  safely  trust  to  these,  and  are  wise  to  have 
a  good  note  book,  and  to  try  various  combinations 
of  flowers  either  in  vases  or  held  loosely  in  the  hand. 
There  will  often  be  surprises.  Even  plants  of 
exactly  the  same  shade  of  colour  as  regards  the 
flowers  do  not  alw^ays  make  good  neighbours ; 
their  manner  of  growth  and  the  actual  form  of  the 
flower  itself  may  prevent  an  entirely  satisfactory 
combination. 

Sufficient  attention  is.  indeed,  seldom  paid  to  this 
point  ;  colour  is  the  chief  study,  and  only  a  com- 
paratively small  notice  given  to  the  form  in  which 
that  colour  is  displayed  beyond  inquiring  the 
height   of  the   plant.     Numerical  proportion,   too. 


is  seldom  considered  very  much  ;  the  usual  plan 
is  to  put  a  patch  of  each  plant,  varying  it  according 
to  the  size  of  the  plants  and  the  number  of  them 
at  the  gardener's  disposal.  But  a  combination  of 
colours  to  be  quite  satisfactory  wiU  depend  largely 
on  the  numerical  proportion  of  each  shade  in  the 
mixture.  The  writer  was  greatly  struck,  earher 
in  the  season,  by  this  point  when  looking  at  a 
long  border  in  a  large  garden.  The  elderly  head 
gardener,  a  man  with  an  unusually  good  eye  for 
colour,  said  that  it  had  really  been  a  chance 
planting,  but  seemed  so  successful  and  uncommon 
that  he  had  had  it  left  undisturbed.  It  was  a 
daring  mixture  of  red  and  pink  Valerian  and 
double  scarlet  Geum.  The  crimson  Valerian 
appeared  to  predominate,  and  the  Geum  was  con- 
siderably in  the  minority,  and  the  effect  was  gor- 
geous, but  would  in  all  probability  have  been  quite 
spoilt  had  either  the  scarlet  or  the  pink  been  the 
principal  partner. 

Of  course  many  people  work  closely  to  a  colour 
scheme  that  does  not  admit  of  experiments  of 
this  sort,  but  in  these  days  when  variety  is  so  much 
appreciated,  and  there  is  a  great  love  of  rather 
bright  and  uncommon  mixtures  of  colour,  it  may 
often  be  possible  to  let  the  herbaceous  border 
benefit. 

Phloxes  are.  perhaps,  the  mainstay  of  this 
border,  but  they  need  careful  arrangement  both 
as  regards  colour  and  height  if  they  are  to  make  a 
thoroughly  successful  effect.  Shades,  beautiful  in 
themselves,  may  be  "  just  wrong  "  grown  next  to  an 
equally  beautiful  one  which  does  not  quite  tone  in. 


440 


THE     GARDEN. 


[September  2,  1922. 


and  it  would  be  very  easy  to  waste  half  the  effect 
of  those  whose  growth  is  short  by  putting  them 
behind  those  of  a  taller  habit.  Hollyhocks,  too, 
where  they  can  be  successfully  grown,  will  make  a 
splendid  effect  in  this  late  border. 

Other  plants  which  should  not  be  forgotten  are 
Gypsophila  paniculata  (the  double  flowered  variety 
being  the  best  and  showiest),  Anthemis  tinctoria, 
Helenium  autumnale  var.  magnificura,  Heleniura 
cupreum   and   the  tall   growing  Helenium  Golden 


Glow,  Rudbeckia  digitata  (another  tall  yellow 
perennial),  Statice  latifolia  and  Aster  acris. 
Dahlias  of  all  sorts,  of  course,  as  well  as  Pent- 
stemons,  can  be  included,  and  will  help  greatly 
to  enliven  the  border,  but  they  both  require  more 
attention  than  many  people  care  to  give  to  the 
occupants  of  the  herbaceous  border. 

Lastly,  it  should  not  be  forgotten  that  the  easiest 
way  to  avoid  the  possibility  of  large  and  unsightly 
gaps  is  to  arrange  each  kind  of  plant,  not  in  the 


usual  rather  rounded  clump,  but  in  a  long  and  rather 
narrow  stretch  or  "  drift,"  as  Miss  Jekyll  calls  it. 
Then  when  a  plant  has  finished  blooming  and  can 
be  cut  down,  its  neighbours,  if  judiciously  chosen  to 
follow  on  in  the  flowering  period,  will  spread  and, 
to  some  e.\tent  at  least  cover  the  space.  This  plan, 
however,  certainly  calls  for  more  care  in  arrange- 
ment of  colours,  since  the  plants  intermingle  through 
the  border  in  longer  lines.  The  effect  if  the  job  is 
well  carried  out,  will  be  far  better.         A.   E.  W. 


GREENHOUSE     PLANTS 

Every  year  provides  additions  to  the  already   long    list   of  lovers    of  greenhouse  plants.       The  follozving,  largely  tabulated, 

information  should  therefore  prove  helpful. 


IT  is  only  in  our  large  nurseries  where  it  is 
possible  to  have  a  fairly  complete  collection 
of  greenhouse  plants.  Although  there  are 
many  kinds  besides  those  in  the  table,  the 
latter  contains  the  most  suitable  ones  for  a 
beginner  and  will  prove  to  be  a  helpful  guide. 

COMPOSTS     FOR     CUTTINGS     AND     SEEDS. 

Only  a  small  bulk  of  soil  is  needed  for  the  above, 
SO  that  it  is  essential  to  success  that  the  ingredients 
be  of  the  best.  Let  no  one  be  tempted  to  use 
ordinary  garden  soil ,  it  is  far  better  to  purchase 
a  bushel  or  two  if  suitable  soils  are  not  available 
at  home.  Where  it  is  convenient  to  procure  sound 
peat,  leaf  soil  and  fibrous  loam,  these  should  always 
be  kept  in  stock  for  use  as  required.  Well  rotted 
loam,  two  parts  ;  leaf  soil,  one  part  ;  and  coarse 
sand,  one  part,  will  generaUy  speaking  be  a  suitable 
compost  both  for  rooting  cuttings  and  for  raising 
seeds.  For  the  benefit  of  Palms,  more  loam  and 
less  leaf  soil  must  be  used.  For  such  hard- wooded 
plants  as  Azaleas,  add  more  leaf  soil  or  peat  and 
less  loam.  The  general  mixture  as  apportioned 
above  will  do  nicely  for  the  general  run  of  plants 
such  as  Zonals,  Abutilons,  Cannas,  etc. 

Seed  or  cutting  pots  should  be  clean  inside  and 
out,  the  crocks  also  ;  the  sand  should  first  be 
washed  and  dried  ;  for  seeds  the  pots  or  pans  must 
be  filled  with  the  prepared  soil,  watered  and  then 
left  to  drain  tor  one  hour  before  sowing.  For 
cuttings  the  soil  must  be  in  a  medium  state  of 
moisture  and  the  inserted  cuttings  watered  in. 
The  soil  should  be  firm  and  well  surfaced  with 
sand. 

The  average  length  of  a  cutting  is  sins.  The 
cuttings  should  always  be  severed  with  a  sharp 
knife  immediately  below  a  joint  and  the  leaves 
from  that  joint  cut  off. 

REPOTTING. 

The  transplanting  of  seedhngs  or  the  repotting 
of  rooted  cuttings  should  be  accomplished  by  first 
transferring  them  singly  to  small  pots  (in  the  case 
of  cuttings)  and  then,  as  roots  become  plentiful, 
to  larger  pots,  till  the  final  potting  is  reached. 
A  too  big  shift — from  a  tiny  pot  to  a  large  one — 
is  wrong.  The  general  run  of  seedlings  are  all 
the  better  if  first  transplanted  into  other  pans  or 
boxes  several  inches  apart  before  the  actual 
potting  of  them  begins.  Finer  composts  for  seeds 
and  cuttings  and  gradually  coarser  ones,  as  the 
plants  are  shifted  to  larger  pots,  should  be  the 
rule. 

W.^TERING. 

Seedlings  and  cuttings  should  be  watered  with  a 
rosed  watering-can,  and  not  in  full  sunshine  ;  some 
shade  will  be  required  when  the  sun  shines  brightlv. 
Early  morning  and  evening  are  the  best  times  to 
apply  water  in  spring  and  summer,  and  early 
morning  only  during  the  late  autumn  and  winter 


months.     Tepid  water  and  rain  water  are  better 
than  cold  or  pipe  water. 

VENTILATION     AND     TEMPERATURES. 

Sudden  rises  of  temperature  are  harmful.  In 
the  winter  the  day  temperature  should  be  from 
40°  to  50°  F.,  the  night  temperature  not  falling 
much  below  40'.  Owing  to  sudden  changes  from 
comparatively  mild  to  severe — often  frosty — 
weather,  there  should  be  a  range  of  10'  in  a  green- 
house ;    it  is  better  to  be  rather  low,  with  safety, 


than  high,  with  the  aid  ot  very  hot  pipes,  during 
frosts. 

The  ventilators  must  be  used  judiciously  to 
regulate  the  internal  heat,  opening  to  prevent  it 
becoming  too  hot  and  closing  to  husband  sun  heat 
and  so  prevent  a  sudden  lowering  of  the  internal 
heat.  Cold  draughts  must  always  be  guarded 
against,  but  especially  in  spring.  In  summer 
time  both  ventilation  and  temperatures  are  more 
easily  managed.  George   Garner. 


HOW   TO    RAISE    AND    TREAT    USEFUL    GREENHOUSE    PLANTS. 


Kitul  of  Plant. 

Method  of 
Propagation. 

Date  of  Sowing  or 
Striking. 

Poti    for 

Final        Dtte  of  Flowering 
Potting. 

.\butilon    . . 

Cuttings  . . 

Early  spring 

6in. 

.     AU  summer. 

.-Knthericum  variegatuiu. 

Roots  and  seeds.  . 

Wlien  ripe 

4-6in.   . 

.     Orn.  foUage. 

.\ralia  Sieboldii  (Fatsia  japonica)     Cuttings    of    ripe 

Autumn  and  spring 

5in. 

Orn.  foliage. 

wood 

.^raucaria  excelsa 

. .     Seeds  and  cuttings 

Spring  under  glass 

4-6in.   . 

Orn.  foliase. 

Arum  Lily 

Division  . . 

Summer  . . 

4-i2ins. 

-August-Easter. 

.Aspidistra  Inrida 

.  .      Division   .  . 

Spring      . . 

Various 

Orn.  foliage. 

Azaleas  (Indian)  . . 

. .     Cuttings  . . 

Early  summer     . ". 

4-i2in. 

-Autumn  to  spring 

Balsams     . . 

. .     Seeds 

March-.Vpri! 

6in. 

-August. 

Begonias  (tuberous) 

..     Seeds 

January-April    . . 

7in. 

June-September. 

„         (fibrous) 

. .     Cuttings  . . 

Lnte  spring 

(iins.      . 

.Aut.,  early  winter 

Bouvardias 

. .     Cuttings  . . 

March 

bin. 

.Autumn,  winter. 

Browallia  elata     . . 

. .     Seeds 

Spring      .  . 

5in. 

Summer. 

Calceolaria 

. .     Seeds 

June 

7in. 

Spring,  early  sum 

Campanula  isophylla 

. .      Division   .  . 

Spring 

6in. 

.      Summer. 

.,           pyramidalis 

..     .Seeds-      .. 

March 

7- loin. 

Summer. 

Cann.TS       . .  ' 

. .     Seeds  and  division 

March 

7in. 

Summer. 

Celosias     . . 

..     Seeds 

March 

6in. 

Late  summer. 

Carnations 

. .     Seeds  and  cuttings 

January-Marcli  .  . 

7in.       . 

All  year. 

Cineraria    .  . 

. .     Seeds 

.April- June 

7in.       . 

\Vinter,  spring. 

Clematis  indivisa. . 

. .     Cuttin.es  . . 

Summer  . . 

i2in. 

Spring. 

Cobxa  scandens  variegatf 

. .     Seeds  ""    . . 

Spring      . . 

i2in. 

Climber. 

Clarkia  elegans     . . 

..     Seeds 

Spring 

6in. 

Early  summer. 

Coleus 

. .     Seeds  and  cuttings 

Spring      . . 

8in. 

Orn.  foUage. 

Crassula  coccinea 

Cuttings  . . 

-After  flowering  . . 

'i-7in.   . 

Summer. 

Cyclamen  . . 

..     Seeds 

June-July 

.S-8in.   . 

Autumn-spring. 

Cyperus  altemifolius  var. 

. .     Division  . . 

Spring      . . 

5in. 

Orn.  foliage. 

Cy'tisus  racemosus 

. .     Seeds 

Spring      . . 

8in. 

Summer. 

Epacris 

. .     Cuttings  . . 

Spring 

6in. 

Spring. 

Erica         

. .     Cuttings  . . 

Spring      .  . 

6in. 

Spring-summer. 

Eucalyptus 

..     Seeds 

Spring 

I  Jin. 

Orn.  foliage. 

Eulalia 

Division   .  . 

Spring 

'lin. 

Orn.  foliage. 

Eupatorium 

.  .      Cuttings  .  . 

Spring      . . 

Sin.       . 

Summer. 

Fuchsias    . . 

.  .      Cuttings  .  . 

Spring 

join. 

Summer. 

Gloxinias  . . 

. .     Seeds 

Spring      . . 

7in. 

Summer. 

GreviUea  robusta 

. .     Seeds 

Spring 

(Sin. 

Orn.  fohage. 

Hehotropp 

.  .      Cuttings  .  . 

.Autumn  and  spring 

7in. 

Summer. 

Hippeastrum 

Seeds  and  offsets 

Spring 

Sin.       . 

Early  summer. 

Hydrange.i 

. .     Cuttings  . . 

Ripened  shoots  . . 

7in. 

Summer. 

Isolepis  gracilis    .  . 

Seeds  and  division 

Spring      . . 

4in. 

Orn.  foliage. 

Jasminum 

. .     Cuttings  . . 

Autumn  and  spring 

Various 

Winter,  summer. 

Lantana    . . 

. .     Cuttings  . . 

.Spring      . . 

7in. 

Summer. 

Mignonette 

..     Seeds        .. 

.Aug   and  spring . . 

6in. 

Spring,  summer. 

Palms 

. .     Seeds 

When  ripe 

Various 

Orn.  fohage. 

Pelargonium  (Zonal) 

Cuttings  . . 

-Autumn  and  spring 

Various 

Winter,  summer. 

„            (show,  etc.) 

.  .      Cuttings  . . 

-Autumn  . . 

Various 

Spring. 

Petunia     . . 

. .     Seeds  and  cuttings 

Spring      . . 

Various 

Summer. 

Primula  (sinensis,  etc.)    . 

..     Seeds 

-April,  June 

6-7in.  . 

Winter,  spring. 

(double) 

. .     Layers     . . 

Midsummer 

6-7in.  . . 

Winter,  spring. 

Roses 

Cuttings,  budding 

.Autumn,    summer 

Various 

Spring-autumn. 

Salvias 

..     Seeds 

Spring      . . 

Various 

Summer,  winter. 

Schizanthus 

. .     Seeds 

Early  spring 

3-7in.   .  . 

Spring,  early  sura. 

Solanum  capsicastrum    . 

..     Seeds        .. 

E.'u'ly  spring 

6in. 

Autumn,  winter 
(berried). 

Streptocarpus 

. .     Seeds 

Early  spring 

6-8in.  . . 

Summer. 

Vallota  purpurea . . 

. .     Offsets     . . 

When  large  enough 

6-8in.   .  . 

Early  summer. 

Verbena     . . 

Division,   cuttings 

Spring  and  autumn 

Various 

Summer. 

SEPTEMBER 


1922.] 


THE     GARDE>J. 


441 


CORRESPONDENCE 


"SURPRISES?" 

'T'HE     flowering     of     the     New     Zealand     Flax 
{Phormium    tenax)    and   of   the   Dracaena   or 
Cordyline  is  not  confined  to  the  Southern  Counties, 
for  there  are  many  plants  of  both  these  well  known 
New    Zealand    natives    flowering    abundantly    at 
Scarborough   and   other   Northern   stations.     The 
wonder  is   that   they   are   worth   mention   at   all, 
as  each  year  they  flower  freely,  if  not   quite  so 
abundantly   as  this  year  !     By  the  seaside  these 
should   be   planted   in   any   public   garden   where 
there    is   room    for   them    to   develop.     Never   in 
the  course  of  many  years  have  I  seen  the  Phormium 
cut  severely,  and  the  Cordyline  has  perhaps  been 
cut   down   to   the   ground   once  in   twenty   years, 
so    they    may    be    depended    upon    to    vary    the 
vegetation     during     winter.     AraUa     Sieboldi     is 
another    shrub    that    is    often    miscalled    tender, 
while  it  stands  cold  and  wind  by  the  sea  as  robustly 
as   the   Japanese   Euonymus,   the   only   difference 
being   that   the   Euonymus   prefers   the   open   air 
and   sunshine   while   the   AraUa   prefers   being   in 
shade   under   trees   or  under  a  north   wall.     One 
of  the  plants  that  shews  the  effects  of  last  year's 
heat   and  sunshine  is  the  Cape  Agapanthus.     In 
the  North  this  does  not  flower  freely  every  season. 
This  year  I  counted  twenty-one  heads  of  bloom 
in    various   stages   on   one  clump   that   had   been 
divided  and  the  crowns  separated  the  year  before 
last,   a  record   worth   mention.     How  excessively 
vigorous   the   spikes   of   Gladiolus   primulinus   are 
this  wet  season  !     If  they  ripen  their  bulbs  suffi- 
ciently after  this  cold  and  wet  season  this  charming 
bulb  will  take  its  place  as  one  of  the  indispensables 
in  the  hardy  border.     The  hybrids  one  is  tempted 
to  think  must  be  less  impervious  to  wet  than  the 
spray-loving     Gladiolus     primulinus     (from     the 
Zambesi   Falls),   but   there  is   always  room  for  a 
surprise  in  the  behaviour  of  hybrids.     Surprises, 
whether  they  be  pleasant  or  unpleasant,  are  the 
soul  of  gardening   for  pleasure   and  stinmlate   to 
still   greater   adventures.     How  duU  it   would   be 
if  there  were  no  difficulties  to  overcome  ;    there 
would   be   no   successes   to   chronicle  !     The   next 
great   surprise   that   I   am   looking   forward   to   is 
the    flowering   of   the    Blue    Laburnum    found   in 
Australia.     I  do  not  know  that  it  will  be  hardy 
in  England,  but   I   have  seen  young  plants  that 
are    exactly    like    young    seedling    plants    of    the 
ordinary  Laburnum,  and  as  far  as  looks  go  they 
should  require  the  same  conditions.     I  only  hope 
that  when  they  flower  it  will  be  later  in  the  season, 
as  I  do  not  think  the  two  plants  would  look  well 
together.     As  in  the  case  of  the  Japanese  Wistaria, 
it  is  a  pleasure  to  have  a  succession  of  flower,  be 
it  early  or  be  it  late. — E.  H.  \V. 


\vm' 


■  AiMETHYSTENE  "  ? 


■\XriTH  reference  to  "  G.  J.'s  "  query  on  page  418, 
I  have  a  plant  of  Eryngium  the  specific 
name  of  which  is  amethystinum,  but  the  colour 
of  the  whole  plant  is  steely  blue !  In  Johnson's 
Dictionary  the  amethyst  is  described  as  of  a 
molet  colour.  I  suggest  that  in  nurserymen's 
catalogues  the  epithet  "  amethystine "  has  an 
attractive  sound  to  purchasers,  certainly  more 
so  than  the  "  reddish  purple  "  which  your  corre- 
spondent considers  to  be  the  colour  of  the 
amethyst. — M.  J.  T. 

THE   LOQUAT   FRUITING   OUTDOORS. 

T  ,\M  sending  branches  of  Loquat  or  Japanese 
Quince  (Photinia  japonica),  bearing  ripe  fruit. 
1  thought  it  might  interest  you  to  know  that  the 
tree  from  which  the  branches  were  taken  is  laden 
with  ripe  fruits.     It  is  growing  in  the  open  border 


in  the  gardens  of  Elfordleigh,  Plympton,  South 
Devon.  The  tree  is  about  20ft.  in  height  and  as, 
much  through.  It  was 
raised  from  seed  sown  about 
thirty  years  ago  and  is 
quite  improtected  by  any 
wall  or  screen.  It  has 
flowered  on  several  occa- 
sions, but  this  is  the  first 
time  we  have  gathered 
any  ripe  fruit  from  it. 

It  very  rarely  fruits  in 
this  country,  the  blossom- 
ing period  being  so  late  in 
the  year.  It  is  a  very 
handsome  tree  or  shrub 
and  is  well  worth  growing 
for  its  foliage  alone. 
Sufficiently  hardy  to  with- 
stand the  cold  of  an 
ordinary  winter ;  an  un- 
usually severe  frost  is 
likely  to  prove  fatal  to  it. 
For  this  reason  it  is  usually 
given    the  protection   of  a 

wall.     It  prefers    a    rather  FRUITS    OF 

light  loamy  soil  and    does 

not     really     succeed     in     very     stifi     loams. — 
F.  W.    Rich,  Plympton,   South  Devon. 

[The  fruits  sent  were  fully  ripe  and  quite  pleasant 
eating.  They  have  a  brisk  acid  flavour  which 
would  make  them  especially  welcome  in  hot  weather. 
They  are  usually  considered  more  suitable  for 
culinary  purposes  than  for  dessert  however.  .\ 
large  proportion  of  the  interior  of  the  fruit  is  taken 
up  by  the  seeds  which,  three  in  number  and  Jin. 
long  and  wide,  remind  one,  though  much  smaller, 
of  those  of  the  Horse  Chestnut.  They  have  the 
deep  brown  of  the  dried  "  cobbler,"  however, 
rather  than  the  glossy  red-brown  of  the  freshly- 
opened  Horse  Chestnut  seed.  Like  so  many  other 
edible  fruits  the  Loquat  belongs  to  the  great  Rose 
family. — Ed.] 

DWARF    POLYANTHA    ROSES. 

TN  that  able  and  informing  article  on  the  above 
by  "  White  Lady  "  on  page  369  no  mention 
is  made  of  Laxton's  Crimson  Orleans,  a  sport 
from  the  well  known  Rose 
Pink  Orleans.  Probably 
the  writer  has  not  tried 
Crimson  Orleans  ;  it  is, 
however,  a  good  thing  ! 
The  individual  flowers 
are  not  too  closely  packed 
on  the  spray,  a  feature 
that  enables  the  blooms 
to  open  freely,  while 
the  foliage  would  appear 
to  be  practically  immune 
from  attack  by  mildew. 
Its  colour  is  fittingly 
described  as  brilliant 
crimson.  We  have  here 
a  dozen  plants  of  it. 
"  White  Lady  "  rightly 
emphasises  the  fitness  of 
beds  on  a  lawn  for 
accommoda  ting  these 
"  Poly-Poms."  In  addition 
to  this  position  these 
dwarf  Roses  look  well  used 
as  a  grouping  in  the  front- 
niake-up  of  a  herbaceous 
border,  especially  an  open 
corner  site.  Furthermore, 
the    low     trim      habit     of 


the  dwarf  Polyanthas  renders  them  particularly 
suitable  as  permanent  plants  iu  flagged  and  other 
strictly  formal  gardens.  Incidentally,  too,  where 
there  is  much  bedding-out  to  be  done  annually 
and  labour  and  other  means  are  none  too  plentiful. 


THE    LOQUAT,  PHOTINIA    JAPONICA. 

it  spells  economy  in  the  long  run  to  include  a  few 
beds  of  these  multiflora  dwarfs  in  the  bedding 
scheme  because  they  ask  so  little  attention  year 
after    year. — C.  T.,  Ampthill. 

A    GRAND    PERENNI.\L. 

T  AVATER.4  OLBI.-\  is  one  of  the  most  useful 
and  reliable  plants  for  late  summer  blooming. 
Here,  it  usually  opens  its  first  flowers  about  mid- 
July,  from  which  time  a  continuous  succession 
is  maintained  until  the  late  autumn.  Individually, 
the  flowers  are  about  as  large  as  those  of  a  good 
HoUvhock,  single  and  of  a  lively  pink,  veined 
with  rose.  The  leaves,  bluntly  lobed,  are  a  dull 
green  and  so  thickly  covered  with  fine  hairs  that 
the  plant  is  afforded  a  grey  effect.  Though  L. 
Olbia  never  sets  seed  here,  it  is  easily  propagated 
by  cuttings,  and  these  grow  away  so  quickly  that 
they  will  bloom  in  their  first  season.  L,  Olbia 
is  a  robust  and  long-lived  plant,  and  one  that  will 
thrive    in    poor,    hot    soil    without    any    attention 


^^^OSj 


A     USEFUL 


PLANT     FOR    LATE     SUMMER    FLOWERING, 
LAVATERA    OLBIA. 


442 


THE   GARDEN. 


[September  2,  1922. 


beyond  cutting  back  to  the  base  every  spring. 
It  appears  to  be  pertectly  hardy,  and  is  quite 
indifferent  to  drought,  even  in  our  thin,  shaley 
ground.  The  specimen  illustrated  is  over  ten 
years  old,  and  as  vigorous  and  floriferous  to-day 
as  ever  it  was.  It  is  more  than  4ft.  in  height 
and  fully  6ft.  in  diameter. — \.  T.  Johnson,  North 
Wales. 

THE     BRUGMANSIA    OUTDOORS. 

T  SEND  you  a  picture  of   Datura  (Brugmansia) 
Knightii,    a   native   of   .Africa,    growing  in   the 
open   in    the    "  white    garden "    of    the    Rookery, 
Streathara  Common.      The  stems  have 
been  pruned  at  a  height  of  from  5ft. 
to  7ft.   in  order  to  facilitate   removal 
and    transport    to    Battersea,    where 
they  are   kept   under    shelter    during 
the  winter.     The  large  white  trumpet- 
shaped  flowers  (double)  here   attain    a 
length    of    about    loins.,  but  at  Kew, 
where     the     plant     is    grown     under 
glass   and   not   cut   down,  the  flowers 
are  larger. — H.  C.  Ward. 

THE    DOUBLE    SUN    ROSES. 

TS^HETHER  or  not  we  prefer  double 
to  single  flowers  is  a  question 
which  we  would  require  to  consider 
well  before  making  a  general  pro- 
nouncement regarding  it.  In  the 
case  of  the  Sun  Roses  it  would  be 
difficult  to  answer  from  a  purely 
gardening  standpoint.  The  single 
flowers  are  charming  indeed,  and  no 
lover  of  the  Helianthemums  would 
willingly  say  anything  which  would 
appear  to  be  derogatory  to  their 
loveliness.  But  for  many  places  they 
have  the  defect  of  being  so  fugacious 
that  in  bright  weather  and  when  the 
day  is  blowy  the  flowers  are 
sometimes  past  before  midday,  and 
in  dull  weather  the  httle  bushes  are 
covered  with  buds  which  rarely  open 
on  many  days  in  summer.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  double  varieties  retain 
their  petals  much  longer  and  are 
independent  of  sunshine  once  the\- 
have  opened.  These,  briefly  stated, 
are  the  main  factors  which  should 
decide  the  choice  of  the  one  who 
seeks  to  add  some  of  these  flowers  to 
his  or  her  garden. 

But  there  is  another  point  to  be 
considered,  and  one  which  is  a  strong 
argument  against  most  of  the  double 
varieties  in  e.xistence.  This  is  that 
the  flower-stalks  are  not  strong  enough 
to  support  the  blooms  erect  and,  in 
consequence,  they  hang  down  in  a 
manner  which  prevents  them  from 
shewing  properly  except  in  places  above  the 
level  of  the  eye.  This  has  always  been  the  great 
obstacle  in  the  way  of  the  majority  of  the  existing 
double  varieties  of  Helianthemum.  Of  these 
there  are  many  which  may  be  enumerated,  although 
one  nmst  premise  that  the  nurserymen  appear  to 
name  these  to  suit  themselves  in  many  cases. 
.\mong  those  offered  are  album  plenum,  white  ; 
Double  Chocolate,  chocolate  brown  ;  hyssopi- 
folium  multiplex,  orange  ;  Salmon  Queen  ;  and 
Serpyllum  plenum,  yellow. 

The  most  valuable  of  all,  however,  are  the 
double  varieties  which  have  originated  from  the 
old  H.  amabile  or  H.  venustum.  The  oldest  of 
these  is  H.  amabile  fl.  pi.  or  venustum  plenum, 
which,  from  being  praised  by  Mrs.  C.  W.  Earle 
in  one  of  her  works — "  Pot-Pourri  from  a  Surrey 


Garden  " — came  into  considerable  prominence 
and,  from  want  of  another  name,  was  called 
"  Mrs.  Earle."  This,  with  the  varieties  derived 
from  it,  must  be  greatly  favo\u-ed  by  all  who  have 
grown  them.  They  have  not  the  f.niling  of  the 
other  double  varieties,  and  hold  their  flowers 
well  up  and  are  not  only  floriferous  at  the  same 
time  as  the  others  but  give  a  few  flowers  long 
afterwards,  sometimes  until  frost  has  set  in.  The 
ftrst  sport  of  this  fine  variety,  which  has  rich 
crimson  flowers,  was  the  bright  yellow  Jubilee, 
raised  at  Aberdour  by  the  late  Mr.  P.  Hill-Normand. 
This    was    followed    by    a    bronze    variety    called 


BRUGMANSIA    KNIGHTII    FLOWERING    OUTDOORS    IN    LONDON. 


Bronze  Jubilee,  originating  in  the  same  garden. 
Still  another  double  variety  has  originated  with 
Messrs.  Stormonth  at  Kirkbride,  Cumberland. 
This  is  Cumberland  Belle.  It  gives  plants  which 
bear  crimson,  bronze  and  yellow  flowers  on  the 
same  bush.  All  these  double  Sun  Roses  are  as 
easy  to  cultivate  in  light  soil  and  a  sunny  place 
as  any  others,  and  by  their  beauty  lend  much 
assistance  to  the  attractions  of  the  rock  garden. — 
S.   Arnott. 

THE    GIANT    IRIS    OCHROLEUCA. 

nPHAT  is  a  very  charming  illustration  in  Thk 
Garden,  August  12,  page  394,  of  Irisochroleuca, 
and  I  can  confirm  the  reference  to  it  liking  damp 
soil,  wherein  it  often  reaches  a  height  of  6ft.  [I  have 
grown  it  for  many  years  now  and  consider  it  one 


of  the  most  attractive  Irises  for  a  border.  It  is  a 
most  accommodating  plant,  too,  revelling  in  the 
partial  shade  found  under  a  pergola,  where  the 
blossoms  unfold  gradually  and  continue  longer. 
At  the  same  time  I  have  been  most  successful  with 
it  on  a  south  border,  open  to  every  gleam  of  sun, 
and  during  the  early  part  of  July  had  a  larger  show 
of  flowers  than  ever  before.  Probably  the  hot 
summer  of  1921  and  ripening  had  a  deal  to  do  with 
the  abnormal  number  of  flowering  spikes.  I. 
ochroleuca  differs  from  some  of  the  flags  from  the 
fact  that  its  foliage  is  slender  and  sword-like.  As 
is  known  the  blossoms  are  borne  one  above  the  other, 
earning  for  it,  in  some  quarters,  the  not 
inappropriate  name  of  '*  Pocket  Iris." 
I  counted  no  fewer  than  five  flowers  out 
simultaneously  on  several  spikes  this 
year. 

To  me  it  seems  somewhat  singular 
that,  although  an  old  Iris,  it  has  never 
become  common,  indeed,  in  many 
gardens  where  Irises  are  grown, 
ochroleuca  is  not  always  found.  I  am 
glad  that  the  writer  of  the  very 
interesting  article  points  to  the 
advisability  of  planting  at  this  season 
of  the  year.  Those  who  omit  to  do  so 
imtil  spring  often  miss  a  season  of 
bloom  ;  at  any  rate,  this  is  true  of 
I.  ochroleuca  so  far  as  my  own 
experience  goes. — W.  Linders  Lea. 

TROP.EOLUM    SPECIOSUM. 

tS  there  to  be  found  a  more  vivid- 
coloured  flowering  creeper,  when 
once  established  and  doing  well,  than 
Tropaeolum  speciosum,  or  one  about 
which  there  has  been  more  disappoint- 
ment at  the  unsuccessful  attempts  at 
cultivation  ?  I  venture  to  say  there  is 
not.  The  reference  to  it,  as  having 
been  raised  from  seed  by  H.  C.  W. 
(see  page  393)  in  East  Surrey,  gives  one 
hope  that  the  general  experience  of 
failure  in  southern  counties  may  yet 
be  overcome.  It  is  certainly  a 
capricious  plant  and  difficult  to  under- 
stand. I  have  seen  it  thriving  in 
Devonshire  in  isolated  places,  but  if 
one  wishes  to  see  it  in  its  rich  prodigality 
of  emerald  green  foliage  and  brilliant 
vermiUon  blossoms,  one  may  do  so 
north  of  the  Tweed,  for  around  many 
a  Scottish  homestead  Tropaeolum 
speciosum  is  to  be  found  in  richest 
garb.  It  is  certainly  a  moisture 
loving  plant,  as  one  finds  it  running 
over  limestone  rocks  where  water 
trickles,  and  in  the  Highlands,  amid 
peat  bogs.  The  tantalising  part  of  it 
is,  that  you  plant  your  specimens  or 
sow  seeds  and  they  grow  for  a  time, 
in  the  mortar  rubble  and  loam 
you  ha\e  prepared,  and  then  die  off.  Vou  wonder 
then  whether  the  cool  environment  of  Scottish 
moors  does  not  count  for  much  ! — Claremont. 

THE    MOUNT    ETNA    LILY. 

T^HIS  is  a  little-known  name  for  what  will  perhaps 
be  more  familiar  as  Sternbergia  lutea,  a  very 
valuable  late  autumn  Crocus-like  flower  that — if 
planted  in  a  position  to  its  hking — never  fails  to 
produce  its  golden  yellow  flowers  in  abundance  in 
late  autumn.  Plant  in  a  warm,  sheltered  position 
in  light  sandy  soil.  The  bulbs  hate  disturbance 
and,  in  cold  and  exposed  places,  should  be  given 
slight  protection  after  the  flowers  are  over  until 
spring.  Never  touch  the  bulbs  until  they  become 
too  crowded,  then  lift  immediately  flowering  is 
completed,  divide  and  replant. — Bulbist. 


September  2,  19-22.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


443 


GARDENING    OF    THE    WEEK 


FOR    SOUTHERN    GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Cardoon. — As  this  plant  becomes  fit  for  blanch- 
ing it  will  be  necessary  to  remove  some  of  the 
bottom  leaves  and  to  ascertain  that  the  roots 
are  sufficiently  moist  before  carrying  out  the 
operation.  The  remaining  leaves  must  then  be 
drawn  closely  together  and  made  secure  by  strong 
raffia,  afterwards  placing  bands  of  brown  paper 
and  hay  bands  round  the  base  of  the  plant, 
gradually  adding  to  such  until  the  whole  of  the 
plant  has  been  dealt  with. 

Lamb's  Lettuce,  or  Com  Salad  as  it  is  frequently 
called,  makes  an  additional  autumn  and  winter 
salading.  The  seed  may  be  sown  now  in  drills 
similarly  to  Lettuce,  but  it  is  not  necessary  to 
thin  out  so  severely.  This  plant  i-;  very  hardy 
as  a  rule,  and  will  generally  continue  to  throw 
up  a  goodly  amount  of  leaves  throughout  the 
winter. 

Cauliflowers. — To  secure  good  heads  of  e.irly 
Cauhflowers  next  spring  it  will  be  necessary  to 
sow  seed  now,  and  a  further  pinch  may  be  added 
in  a  fortnight's  time.  Sow  thinly  in  a  warm, 
well  drained  spot  outside  or,  as  some  growers 
prefer,  in  boxes.  -As  soon  as  the  plants  are  large 
enough  prick  out,  about  4ins.  apart,  into  frames 
where  plenty  of  air  can  be  given  and  dampness 
guarded  against.  In  addition  to  those  in  the 
frames  pot  a  quantity  into  4in.  pots  and  place 
them  in  a  brick  pit  so  that  plenty  of  light  and 
air  may  reach  them.  Plants  grown  in  the  latter 
way  should  make  excellent  stuff  for  potting  into 
larger  pots  early  next  year  to  provide  the  first 
cutting. 

General  Work. — Should  such  be  required 
make  further  sowings  of  Prickly  Spinach  as  ground 
becomes  vacant.  Examine  the  rows  of  late  Peas, 
and  if  mildew  has  made  its  appearance  dust  the 
rows  with  sulphur  to  help  check  the  fungus.  The 
month  of  July  was  so  wet  that  watering  should 
not  be  required  for  late  Peas.  See  that  late-sown 
roots  are  sufficiently  thinned  in  good  time.  Watch 
the  supply  of  Lettuce  seedlings  and,  if  necessary, 
sow  more  .seed  thinly  on  a  warm  border. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Grass  Seeds  may  be  sown  now  and  onwards 
for  several  weeks  or,  if  preferred,  postponed  until 
next  spring.  If  sowing  to  make  a  tennis  or 
croquet  ground,  see  that  the  site  is  well  prepared 
and  the  best  seed  used  for  the  purpose.  After 
getting  the  surface  to  a  fine  and  perfectly  even 
finish,  scatter  the  seeds  liberally,  afterwards 
raking  and  rolling  them  in  unless  the  condition  of 
the  soil  is  such  that  the  latter  operation  had 
better  be  postponed  for  a  few  days. 

Hardy  Annuals. — To  provide  an  early  display 
next  season  it  is  a  good  practice  to  sow  seeds 
during  the  present  month.  Circumstances  will 
probably  settle  where  and  how  it  must  be  done. 
It  is  possible  to  sow  directly  into  their  flower- 
ing quarters  unless  the  site  is  greatly  exposed 
and  the  soil  cold  and  retentive,  in  which  case 
the  seeds  should  be  sown  on  a  wanner  site  and 
the  young  plants  lifted  and  placed  in  their 
permanent  positions  as  early  as  possible  next 
year.  Annuals  such  as  Larkspurs,  treated  thus, 
make  strong  plants  and  give  a  splendid  display. 

Hardy  Fuchsias. — These  graceful  and  free- 
flowering  plants  are  most  useful  for  brightening 
up  beds  and  borders  as  the  season  advances. 
In  favoured  locaUties  a  plant  will  soon  develop 
into  a  large  bush,  and  a  few  such  bushes  suitably 
placed  make  an  excellent  lawn  group.  After 
flowering,  the  young  growths  arising  from  the 
base  afford  a  ready  means  of  increase  if  inserted 
as  cuttings. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 
Planting  Fruit  Trees. — Should  this  work  be 

contemplated  on  a  large  scale  and  the  site  has 
to  be  cleared  the  matter  may  well  receive  early 
attention,  so  that  the  plan  may  be  carefully 
thought  out  and  the  different  varieties  allotted 
to  their  respective  positions.  Having  arranged 
this  the  order  may,  with  advantage,  be  placed  at 
an  early  date  in  the  nurserymen's  hands,  as  this 
may  lessen  the  possibility  of  having  to  accept 
substitutes. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Early  Vine  Border. — If  the  Vines  in  the  early 
house  have  failed  to  give  satisfaction,  the  reason, 
in  all  probability,  is  faulty  root  action.  To  correct 
this  it  may  be  necessary  wholly  or  partially  to 
remake  the  border  according  to  conditions  ascer- 


tained upon  inspection.  Should  there  be 
both  an  inside  and  outside  border,  it  will  be 
unwise  to  interfere  with  both  of  them  in  one  season. 
Deal  with  the  inside  one  first  and  encourage  as 
far  as  possible  the  making  of  abundant  roots 
inside,  as  they  are  here  under  control.  Having 
accomplished  that  it  may  be  found  possible  after 
a  couple  of  seasons  to  do  away  with  the  outside 
border.  If  this  cannot  be  done  without  destroving 
strong  r  ots,  try  to  reduce  it  as  much  as  possible, 
for  outside  borders  are  more  of  a  handicap  than  a 
help  in  growing  early  Grapes.  The  compost 
required  for  Grape  culture  is  good  fibrous  loam 
to  which  may  be  added  some  crushed  bones, 
wood-ash  and  rubble.  The  drainage  must  be 
ample  and  clear,  and  overlaid  with  freshly  cut 
turves  placed  grass  downwards. 

H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 

Alhiirv  Park  Gardens,  Guildford. 


frosts  nearer.  Violas,  Pansies,  Calceolarias,  Pent- 
stemons,  .Antirrhinums,  Nepeta  and  any  other 
bedding  plants  amenable  to  cold  frame  treatment 
should  now  be  got  in.  La^-ender  will  also  root 
readily  at  this  time. 

Ja.vies  McGr.w. 
(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  r>art.), 
Coodkam,  Kilmarnock. 


FOR     NORTHERN    GARDEN.S. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Cabbages  for  Spring  Cutting. — The  ground 
should  now  be  prepared  for  the  reception  of  plants 
from  the  first  sowing.  This  crop  is  generally 
found  to  do  well  on  ground  from  which  early 
Potatoes  have  been  cleared.  The  soil  should  be 
fairly  rich,  but  not  enough  so  as  to  cause  soft 
growth  before  severe  weather  sets  in.  Always 
aim  at  having  firm,  sturdy  growth.  Where  such 
varieties  as  Flower  of  Spring  or  Harbinger  are 
grown,  i8ins.  between  the  rows  will  be  ample, 
allowing  about  uins.  apart  in  the  row. 

Vegetable    Marrows.— Owing    to    the    erratic 

season  Marrows  in  the  open  are  much  later  than 
usual  in  swelling  their  fruits.  Liquid  manure 
should  be  given  frequently  to  assist  plants  which 
are  bearing  heavy  crops.  Cut  the  fruits  before 
they  attain  too  large  a  size  and  remove  all  super- 
fluous or  decaying  foliage. 

Onions. — Look  over  planted-out  Onions  and 
bend  over  the  stems  to  one  side  so  that  the  bulbs 
may  be  induced  to  swell  to  their  fullest  extent 
and  quicken  the  maturation  of  the  crop. 

General  Work. — Continuous  rains  have  opposed 
the  use  of  the  Dutch  hoe  in  the  destruction  of 
weeds,  but  every  favourable  opportunity  should 
now  be  taken  to  have  the  ground  hoed  and  cleaned. 
All  spent  crops  should  also  be  cleared  away, 
burning  all  pea  and  potato  haulms. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Gathering  Fruit. — The  principal  work  in  the 
hardy  fruit  department  at  this  time  is  the  protect- 
ing of  crops  from  the  ravages  of  birds  and  the 
harvesting  of  those  which  are  fit  for  gathering. 
Early  -Apples  will  require  to  be  looked  over 
frequently,  and  any  that  are  ripe  should  be  picked 
and  stored  for  early  use. 

Raspberries. — Cut  out  the  old  fruiting  canes 
immediately  the  crop  is  cleared,  and  thus  allow  the 
sun  and  air  to  circulate  freely  among  the  young 
canes.  The  latter  should  be  secured  to  stakes 
or  trellis  if  there  is  any  likeUhood  of  them  being 
damaged  by  wind. 

Strawberries. — Lift  the  remainder  of  the 
rimners  required  for  spring  planting  and  heel 
firmly  into  lines  in  the  nursery  border,  afterwards 
cleaning  between  the  rows  of  the  old  plantation. 
.A  good  dressing  of  short  litter  may  then  be  given 
for  pointing  in  at  a  later  date. 

The  Fruit  Room. — Take  the  cpportunitv 
during  inclement  weather  to  have  this  structure 
thoroughly  cleaned  so  that  it  will  be  readv  for 
the  reception  of  the  various  fruits  that  require 
scoring.  Wash  down  the  shelves  and  Hmewash 
the  walls.  So  long  as  the  shelves  are  clc-m  nothing 
else  is  required  on  which  to  lay  the  fruit. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Trimming  Hedges. — The  various  types  of 
hedges  bordering  the  flower  garden  may  now 
receive  their  final  trim  of  the  season.  Opinions 
di'Ter  regarding  the  shape  to  which  hedges  ought 
to  be  trimmed.  Personally,  I  think  the  wedge- 
shaped  top  is  the  neatest,  and  is  less  liable 
to  sustain  damage  from  heavy  falls  of  snow 
than  the  broad-topped  form.  Young  hedges 
should  be  cut  well  down  so  that  close  growth  may 
result. 

Propagating     Bedding     Plants. — Time     must 

now  be  found  for  carrying  out  this  important 
work,   as  every  day  brings   the  danger  of  se\'ere 


GREENHOUSE    AND    CONSERVATORY. 

Achimenes  as  they  pass  out  of  flower  should 
be  stood  in  cold  frames,  gradually  withholding 
water  as  the  foliage  dies  down.  The  frame  Ughts 
should  be  kept  on  to  keep  the  plants  dry.  When 
the  stems  have  dried  up  the  plants  should  be 
turned  out  of  their  pots  and  the  rhizomes  stored 
in  dry  sand  for  the  winter.  Small  tins  are  \'ery 
suitable  for  this  purpose,  but  it  is  advisable  to 
punch  a  few  holes  in  them  as  this  allows 
any  superfluous  moisture  to  escape. 

Veltheimia  viridifolia  and  V.  glauca  are 
natives  of  South  Africa,  and  deserve  to  be  more 
generally  cultivated  for  the  cool  greenhouse. 
They  are  not  very  showy  plants,  but  have  a  quaint 
charm  that  appeals  to  many  plant  lovers  who 
are  fond  of  interesting  plants.  In  common  with 
so  many  South  African  bulbous  plants,  their 
growing  season  is  during  our  winter,  and  dry 
roots  should  be  potted  up  at  this  time.  Plants 
that  have  been  resting  in  cold  frames  are  now 
showing  signs  of  growth,  and  should  be  shaken 
out  and  repotted,  cleaning  away  all  dead  roots 
and  decaying  matter  from  the  base  of  the  bulbs. 
These  plants  grow  well  in  any  good  potting  compost, 
using  sin.  or  6in.  pots,  according  to  the  size  of 
the  bulbs.  After  repotting  they  may  be  stood 
in  a  cold  frame  or  cool  greenhouse,  gi\'ing  them 
very  little  w'ater  until  they  have  made  some 
growth  and  a  quantity  of  new  roots.  The  repotting 
of  bulbous  and  tuberous-rooted  plants  is  usually 
the  most  critical  stage,  as  more  plants  of  this, 
class  are  ruined  at  this  time  through  over-watering 
than  by  any  other  cause.  As  there  is  not  any 
root  action,  an  overdose  of  water  renders  the 
soil  sour  and  stagnant,  and  the  fleshy  roots  of 
most  bulbous  plants  refuse  to  grow  in  such  a 
medium. 

Nerines  require  attention  at  this  time.  Some 
of  them,  such  as  N.  Fothergillii  major,  should 
now  begin  to  throw  up  their  flower-spikes  and 
soon  afterwards  signs  of  fresh  growth.  They 
usually  flower  best  when  the  pots  are  crowded 
with  bulbs,  and  repotting  should  only  be  done 
at  an  interval  of  several  years.  Some  cultivators 
believe  in  repotting  the  plants  after  they  have 
finished  flowering,  while  others  prefer  to  repot 
before  they  flower  and  start  into  growth.  If 
they  are  simply  to  be  shifted  into  a  larger  pot 
without  disturbing  the  roots,  repotting  may  very 
well  be  done  when  they  ha\'e  finished  flowering. 
If  the  plants  have  to  be  divided  or  have  to  be 
repotted  through  being  in  bad  condition  at  the 
root,  I  prefer  to  repot  them  before  they  start 
into  growth,  as  it  gives  opportunity  to  clean  off 
all  dead  roots  and  decaying  matter  at  the  base 
of  the  bulbs.  If  dry  bulbs  are  piu-chased,  they, 
of  course,  are  best  potted  at  this  time.  Nerines 
require  a  rich  compost,  as  they  are  not  frequently 
repotted.  A  good  rich  mellow  loam  should  be 
used  to  which  a  little  leaf-soil  and  some  dried 
cow  dung  has  been  added,  also  a  6in.  potful  of 
fine  bone-meal  to  every  bushel  of  soil.  Bone-meal 
is  very  beneficial  on  account  of  its  lasting  properties, 
and  is  the  best  manure  to  use  in  the  potting 
compost.  Enough  coarse  clean  sand  or  old 
mortar  rubble  should  be  added  to  render  the 
whole  porous.  N.  FothergiUii  major  has  large 
bulbs,  and  when  doing  well  makes  fine  specimens,, 
thus  when  repotting  five  or  six  bulbs  may  be 
put  in  a  yin.  pot.  The  smaller  varieties  may  be 
potted  singly  into  6o-sized  pots,  or  three  or  four 
in  48-sized  pots.  After  potting  they  may  be 
stood  in  a  cold  frame  or  on  a  shelf  in  a  cool  green- 
house, gi^■ing  water  very  sparingly  until  they 
have  made  plenty  of  new  roots.  Grow  quite 
cool,  with  full  exposure  to  sun  and  air  at  all  times.. 

Calceolarias    should    now    be    in    6o-sized    pots 
and  placed  close  to  the  glass,  so  as  to  obtain  a 
dwarf  habit.     A  temperature  of  45°   to   55°   will 
suit   these  plants  admirably.     Pot  on   the  plants  , 
as  it  becomes  necessary. 

Anemones. — The  roots  of  the  tuberous  varieties 
may  be  potted  up  from  now  until  the  end  of  the 
year,  so  as  to  ensure  a  succession  of  flowers.  As 
pot  plants  these  Anemones  are  ideal,  not  only  on 
account  of  their  flowers,  but  also  for  their  distinc- 
tive foliage.  .Attention  is  essential  as  regards 
watering. 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kcw.  J.  Coutts. 


444 


THE    GARDEN. 


[September  2,  1922. 


PLANTS  FOR  A  SMALL  MORAINE  GARDEN 


(Conlinued  ficm  page  401). 


INULA    ACAULIS.— An    interesting    "  Flea- 
bane,"    with    large    yellow    flowers    thrown 
out     very    Uttle    above    the   ground   level. 
Might    be    useful     as     a    later      flowering 
plant. 
Sedum  buxifolium. — A  useful    evergreen  shrub 
about  6ins.  high,  with  whitish  flowers  in  the  early 
summer,  which  is  placed  in  a  central  position  on  one 
of  the  sections. 

Lauren  tia  teneUa  has  tiny  bright  green 
rosettes,  from  which  aiise,  on  short  stems,  pretty, 
delicate,  obeUa-like  whitish  flowers.  This  plant 
has  come  through  four  winters  in  an  exposed 
position,  but  is  not  increasing,  and  it  is  possible 
that  a  specially  bad  mnter  may  finish  it  of?  ;  it 
would  probably  be  more  at  home  in  a  damper 
position,  but  away  from  the  moraine  there  would 
be  the  great  risk  of  it  being  overgrown  by  more 
vigorous  plants. 

The  Lewisias  are  a  great  acquisition  and 
mostly  have  lovely  flowers  and  rosettes ; 
it  is  perhaps  unfortunate  that  they  come  into 
flower  at  the  same  time  as  many  of  the  Aizoon 
Saxifrages.  Four  species  were  planted  in  1918  ; 
of  these,  Lewisia  Cotyledon  with  its  large  leathery- 
leaved  rosettes  and  lovely  buff  flowers  with 
deeper  rose  suSused  markings  along  the  centre 
of  each  petal,  and  L.  Howelli  with  its  large  deep 
green  crinkled  edged  rosettes  and  pale  apricot 
coloured  clusters  of  flowers  with  rosy  flushed 
stripe  the  lengthway  of  the  petals,  are  the  only 
plants  that  have  flowered  with  me  up  to  the 
present ;  both  have  flowered  annually  during 
May,  providing  large  clusters  of  flowers  each 
year,  but  they  have  failed  to  ripen  seed  and  have 
shown  no  sign  of  throwing  out  further  rosettes. 
Lewisia  Leeana  and  L.  oppositifolia,  the  other 
two  species  as  yet  have  not  flowered,  nor  shew 
any  signs  of  increasing,  although  both  appear 
to  be  quite  healthy. 

The  Micromeria  family  provide  one  or  two 
dwarf,  sweetly  scented  "  shrublets,"  very  suitable, 
especially,  for  the  outer  edges  or  crevices,  the  two 
best  that  I  have  tried  being  M.  Corsica,  with  deep 
green  scented  foliage  on  stiff,  wiry  stems,  thrown 
out  horizontally  about  .-jins.  high ;  from  these 
pretty  rose  coloured  flowers  spring  up  in  the  late 
summer.  One  plant,  unfortunately,  has  attracted 
the  attentions  of  the  "  cat "  family,  which  in 
the  spring  seems  to  lay  on  it,  to  the  detriment 
both  of  the  Micromeria  and  some  adjacent  plants, 
one  of  which  happened  to  be  the  interesting  very 
dwarf,  silvery-leaved  Raouha  austraUs.  When  it 
is  noticed  that  the  plant  is  being  visited  now,  a 
few  pieces  of  broken  glass  are  placed  about  the 
plant  for  a  day  or  two  to  discourage  the  unwelcome 
visitors.  Another  good  species  is  a  golden-leaved 
one  which  was  noticed  in  the  Edinbiurgh  Botanic 
Gardens  under  the  name  of  Micromeria  varia. 
It  was  sent  me  originally  as  Thymus  "  Golden 
Dwarf  "  ;  it  is  specially  good  for  a  crevice  on  the 
outer  edge,  making  a  compact  and  dwarf 
delicately  scented  bush.  AH  this  family  are 
easily  propagated  from  slippings. 

Oxalis  enneaphylla  and  O.  e.  rosea,  pretty 
both  in  foliage  and  flower,  usually  flower  well 
and  are  much  more  compact  on  moraine  than 
in  richer  conditions,  which  induce  longer  and 
weaker  stems  in  place  of  the  almost  stemless 
flowers  produced  on  moraine.  This  plant  never 
seems  to  ripen  its  seed.  O.  adenophylla  is  another 
lovely  plant  which,  on  moraine,  produces  large 
almost  stemless  flowers  in  clusters,  but  the  bulbous 
root  seems  to  have  a  tendency  to  rot  off  after 
flowering.  In  shade  and  richer  soil  the  pretty 
grey    foUage    and    rosy    flowers    are    much    less 


compact,  but  it  flowers  well  and  the  flowers  last 
much  longer.  The  flowers  in  the  more  exposed 
positions  are  over  very  quickly  in  the  hot  and 
dry  sunny  weather  that  usually  happens  at  the 
period  it  is  in  flower.  Sun  is  requisite  for  the 
flowers  to  open  out.  The  root  of  O.  adenophylla 
is  very  different  to  the  "  corms  "  of  O.  ennea- 
phylla, being  more  like  that  of  a  Cyclamen.  I  dis- 
covered this  when  trying  to  get  some  out  for  a 
friend,  and  also  that  it  had  worked  its  way  down 
a  good  depth  below  the  ground  level. 

Pentstemon  cristatus,  a  fine  dwarf,  prostrate 
shrubby  plant  with  its  dark  evergreen  foliage 
and  quite  pleasing  purplish  blue  flowers,  as  is 
also  P.  Davidsoni,  which  is  more  prostrate,  if 
anything,  with  pretty  grey  green  leaves  and 
lovely  red  flowers.  These  are  perhaps  more 
suitable  for  a  dwarf  wall,  but  are  certainly  worthy 
of  a  choice  position. 

Phyteuma  coraosum. — This  is  the  only  Phyteuma 
that  has  been  tried.  It  was  planted  in  19 iG.  The 
dark  green  campanula-hke  leaves  on  the  plant 
which  never  shewed  any  sign  of  increase  or  flower 
made  me  doubtful  as  to  whether  it  was  the  correct 
plant.  However,  this  summer,  probably  due 
to  last  year's  "  scorching,"  having  put  new  hfe 
into  it,  resulted  in  it  producing  this  last  June 
its  interesting  quaint  blue  clustered  heads  of 
bottle-shaped  (Schweppe's  soda  water  contracted 
to  a  pint)  flowers. 

Potentilla  nitida. — This,  the  best  of  the  species 
with  silvery  grey  leaves  and  fairly  compact  mats, 
would  be  indispensable,  with  its  extremely  pretty 
rosy  pink  flowers,  if  it  would  only  produce  the 
flowers  more  freely.  It  has  been  tried  on  and  off 
the  moraine,  in  good  and  very  poor  soil,  but 
with  little  success  so  far  as  flowering  goes,  the 
plants  never  bearing  more  than  three  or  four 
flowers.  The  white-flowered  variety  seems,  how- 
ever, to  flower  more  freely  but  is  not  so  beautiful 
as  the  type. 

Saponaria    c^espitosa    is    the    loveliest    of    an 
interesting  family  that  has  several  suitable  varieties. 
It  is  quite  dwarf  and  fairly  compact  with  its  some- 
what   fleshy,    narrow-pointed    leaves    and    lovely 
good-sized  rosy  pink  flowers.     The   fleshy  leaves, 
unfortunately,    are    an    irresistible    attraction    to 
the    slug    family,    and    only    persistent    watching, 
especially  in  the  winter,  can  save  the  plant  when 
slugs  are  about.     Owing  to  this  one  or  two  of  the 
plants   have  been   covered   with  glass  during  the 
past  winter,  which  kept  the  leaves  dry,  and  the 
slugs  certainly  did  not  seem  to  trouble  them  so 
much.     Saponaria    Boissieri    is    a    m.ore    compact 
plant    with    good-sized    flowers    of   a    paler    pink. 
S.    X   Wienmanniana,  a  hybrid  raised  by  Sunder- 
mami,  seems  to  be  more  compact  than   the  last 
with   very   similar   flowers   more   freely   produced. 
S.      .X     Sundermannii,     compact,     but    somewhat 
larger,  \vith  white  flowers  that  seem  to  go  pink, 
has  longer  stems  than  the  above  and  not  nearly 
so  freely  produced.     The   plant  that  I  have  under 
the  name  of  S.    pedriniana    is    very    unhke    the 
other  Saporiarias  (and  possibly  may  not  be  correct). 
It   has   bright   grassy   green   tufted   foliage   fairly 
compact,     from     which     are     produced     pretty 
alpestris-liUe    (not    scalloped)    white    flowers     on 
4in.     to     6in.     stems.        S.      x     Wilkommiana     is 
more    in    the    way   of   a  compact    S.   ocymoides. 
It  always  produces  quite  a  lot  of  clustered  pendulous 
flower-heads,  but  they  have  always  failed  to  open 
out,  and  it  is  difficult  to  understand  the  reason. 
I   thought   that  they  might  be  aborted  by  frost, 
but  this  year,  when  so  far  as  I  know  there  was  no 
night  frost  about  at  the  time,  they  have  just  acted 
the  s;""ie  way. 


Among  the  Sedums  two  striking  species  from 
the  Caucasus  add  to  the  interest  and  are  quite 
suitable,  .\lthough  biennial,  they  are  easily 
raised  from  seed  and  well  worth  a  little  trouble. 
Both  species,  S.  pilosimr  and  S.  sempervivoides. 
have  sempervivum-like  rosettes,  the  former 
having  bright  green  hairy  rosettes  which  are  covered 
with  pretty  pink  flowers  in  early  June.  S.  semper- 
vivoides has  glaucous  green,  stiff,  almost  echeveria- 
like  reddish  tinged  rosettes  which  grow  up  in  the 
Sempervivum  manner  before  opening  out  their 
dazzling  scarlet  flowers. 

T.    .^SHTON    LOFTHOUSF. 


Seasonable   Work   Among 
Chrysanthemums 

To   obtain    a  full  harvest    of    blossom  the 
plants  will  need  daily,  almost  hourly,  atten- 
tion  in    the   case  of  those  grown  specially 
for  large  blooms. 

THE  buds  are  now  swelUng  up  freely  on 
plants  of  very  fair  strength,  clean  and 
free  from  mildew.  They  are,  altogether, 
very  interesting  objects  to  the  enthusiast. 
The  beginner  may  think  it  is  a  very 
simple  matter  to  place  plants  under  glass  ;  it  is 
much  easier  to  do  so  in  these  days  of  comparatively 
dwarf  plants  to  what  it  was  when  they  often 
attained  a  height  of  loft.  and  more. 

But  that  is  not  my  main  point.  It  is  rather  that 
of  placing  plants  in  houses  so  that  the  blooms  will 
be  at  their  best  just  when  required — late,  medium 
and  early-flowering  sorts.  When  the  cap  is  broken 
and  the  colour  of  the  petals  can  be  seen,  moisture 
must  not  reach  them.  It  would  be  a  mistake  to 
leave  them  out  after  this  stage.  The  best  struc- 
ture is  a  cool  one,  dry  and  facing  north,  preferably, 
for  the  earliest  varieties,  including  the  singles. 

Then  there  are  a  few  that  need  a  long  time  to 
develop  their  flowers,  such  as  Mrs.  R.  C.  Pulhng, 
Victory,  Majestic  and  Louisa  Pockett.  The  latter,  I 
think,  requires  eight  weeks  from  the  date  of  housing 
if  the  buds  are  then  the  size  of  a  farthing,  the  others 
seven  weeks  ;  the  medium  early  ones  six  weeks  and 
the  naturally  early  varieties  a  mouth  to  five  weeks 
from  the  time  that  the  colour  of  the  petals  can  be 
seen. 

TRE.\TMENT  L'N'DER     GLASS. 

Avoid  overcrowding ;  have  the  buds,  if  con- 
venient, about  4ft.  from  the  roof-glass  ;  leave  open, 
for  several  days,  doors  and  ventilators.  Fumigate 
several  times  to  kill  green  and  black  aphides  before 
the  pests  get  among  the  unfolding  flower  petals. 
Do  not  sprinkle  tobacco  powder  on  any  unfolding 
buds,  else,  in  time,  the  powder  may  absorb  moisture 
at  the  base  of  the  petals  and  thus  rot  the  whole 
bloom.  Use  dry  sulphur  freely  if  mildew  covers 
the  leaves. 

As  the  flowers  unfold  lessen  the  ventilation 
considerably  ;  continue  to  feed,  but  with  weaker 
doses  each  week.  Put  a  shade  on  the  roof-glass, 
and  allow  the  blooms  to  develop  in  a  quite  cool,  dry 
structure.  Do  not  use  any  nitrate  of  soda  nor 
sulphate  of  ammonia ;  there  will  be  sufficient 
stimulant  in  prepared  artificials. 

Examine  the  buds  for  earwigs  every  night,  and 
for  caterpillars  and  leaf-rolling  grubs  during  tKte 
daytime,  the  latter  pests  are  numerous  this  year. 

Specimen  plants  should  be  placed  by  themselves 
to  enable  them  to  retain  their  leaves  whole  and 
green.  Turn  round  such  plants  two  or  three 
times  in  a  week  towards  the  best  hght. 

Decorative  stock  must  be  freely  fed,  disbudded 
and  staked.  Provide  retarding  shelters  against 
north   walls   or  fences.  G. 


September  2,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


445 


SHREWSBURY  FLORAL 
FETE 

OF  the  good  things  seen  at  Shrewsbury 
recently,  Roses,  Sweet  Peas  and 
Carnations  stood  out  among  the 
flowers,  and  the  herbaceous  plants 
were  well  worth  a  visit  to  see  for 
those  making  a  garden,  while  the  endless  variety 
of  fruits  in  season  was  superb. 

Roses  were  shewn  more  extensively  than  any 
other  flower,  and  it  would  be  a  big  task  to  chronicle 
the  whole  of  the  exhibits.  Those  from  Messrs. 
Gunn,  Olton,  however,  won  the  champion  com- 
petitive prize  with  a  very  remarkable  lot  arranged 
in  tall  pillars  12ft.  to  15ft.  high.  Other  fine  lots 
came  from  Messrs.  Mattock,  Oxford  and  Dunton, 
Wolverhampton  ;  while  non-competitive  exhibits 
of  Messrs.  Debbie,  Edinburgh  ;  King's  Acre 
Nurseries,  Hereford  ;  and  Messrs.  Alex.  Dickson 
and  Co.  stood  out  among  many  others. 

UnUke  the  London  shows,  the  prize  money 
offered  induces  many  private  gardeners  to  come 
forward,  and  the  decorated  fruit  tables  were  a 
sight  to  enthuse  over.  Mr.  James  Vert,  gardener 
to  Lord  Howard  de  Walden.  secured  first  prize 
for  a  table  resplendent  with  such  good  things 
as  Peach  Peregrine,  Nectarines  (of  which  Pine 
Apple  was  the  best),  .Apricot  Moor  Park,  Plum 
Transparent,  Melons  and  several  varieties  of 
Grapes.  The  second  prize  went  to  Sir  John 
Leigh's  gardener,  whose  exhibit  was  but  a  few 
points  behind  the  winner  of  the  first  prize. 
Winners  in  the  Grape  classes  were  Mr.  R.  J. 
Corbett,  Messrs.  Webber  and  Sons  (Minehead) 
and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Leigh  (gardener,  Mr. 
A.  J.  Cook). 

Among  non-competitive  exhibits  of  fruit  a 
large  group  by  The  King's  Acre  Nurseries,  Limited, 
was  remarkable.  Apple  Herring's  Pippin  was 
very  conspicuous.  James  Grieve,  as  ever,  was 
one  of  the  best  .-Apples.  Pears  Beurre  Superfin, 
Margaret  Marrilat  and  Doyenne  du  Comice  were 
all  well  shewn,  as  w-ere  Nectarines,  Peaches  and 
Plums.  A  gold  medal  was  the  well  merited 
award. 

The  Worcesterberry,  a  hybrid  fruit  of  interest, 
and  some  good  dishes  of  .Apples  were  shewn  by 
Mr.  E.  J.  Parsons  of  Worcester. 

Vegetables  from  the  Hon.  Vicary  Gibbs  (gar- 
dener, Mr.  E.  Beckett)  included  Peas  such  as 
Quite  Content,  Tomato  Peachblow  (a  rosy  red). 
Potato  Drummond  Castle  and  Runner  Bean 
Prizewinner.  Gold  medals  to  groups  such  as 
these  and  those  of  Messrs.  Sutton  and  Sons, 
Dickson  and  Robinson  are  fitting  comments  on 
their  quality  and  style  of  arrangement. 

Carnations  were  well  shewn  by  Messrs.  C. 
Englemann  (who  secured  the  challenge  cup), 
C.  Wall,  Jones  and  Son,  and  Stuart  Low  and 
Co.  Gold  medals  were  awarded  to  these  groups. 
Sweet  Peas,  as  might  be  expected,  were  very 
fine.  Most  of  the  best  came  from  trade  exhibitors, 
of  which  Messrs.  Alex.  Dickson,  Newtownards ; 
Herd  Brothers,  Penrith ;  R.  Bolton,  Halstead 
(who  secured  gold  medals)  ;  and  J.  King  and 
Sons,  Coggeshall.  The  varieties  are  legion,  but 
Picture  was  one  of  the  best  in  pale  rose  colour. 

Messrs.  James  Cypher  and  Sons,  Cheltenham, 
staged  a  large  group  of  plants.  Here  were  Statice 
profusa.  Orchids,  Ixoras,  Crotons,  Dracjenas, 
Francoa  ramosa  and  such  plants.  This  group 
was  backed  with  stately  Palms. 

Little  behind  and  similar  groups  came  from 
Sir  G.  Kenerick  and  Mr.  W.  R.  Manning. 

The  hardy  flowers  from  Messrs.  G.  Gibson, 
Leeming  Bar,  were  particularly  gorgeous,  but 
in  this  class  Messrs.  Maurice  Prichard,  Christ- 
church,  were  first  and  Messrs.  Harkness,  Bedale, 


second.  Delphiniums,  Lupins,  Phloxes  and 
Antirrhinums  were  the  principal  plants  shewn. 

The  only  Violas  and  Dahlias  in  the  Show  came 
from  Mr.  H.  Clarke  of  Taunton.  Dainty  rock 
garden  plants  came  from  Messrs.  Bowell  and 
Skarratt,  who  also  had  some  Nymphreas. 

.'V.stilbe  Cxruno,  a  deep  rosy  pink  with  thick, 
heavy  spikes,  was  noticeable  in  the  group  of 
Messrs.  Bakers,  Wolverhampton,  and  Romneya 
Coulteri  in  the  Chalk  Hill  Niu-series'  collection. 

Phloxes  all  the  way  from  Hawick,  Scotland, 
were  shewn  by  Mr.  John  Forbes. 

In  an  important  class  for  rock  gardens  of 
500  sq.  ft.  a  fine  display  by  Mr.  T.  R.  Hayes, 
Keswick,  secured  Lord  Howard  de  Walden's 
Challenge  Cup  and  £30  ;  Mr.  P.  Gardener,  Ilkley, 
winning  the  second  prize  of  £30,  and  Messrs. 
Broadhead  and  Son,  Thougsbridge,  the  third  of  £20. 

Rare  plants  were  less  in  evidence  this  year,  but 
a  choice  lot  of  Orchids  came  from  Messrs.  Sander 
and  Sons  and  Stuart  Low  and  Co.,  gold  medals 
being  awarded   to  both  groups. 


PLANTS   FOR  WINTER 
SALADING 

C'.  most  things  grown  in  a  garden,  it 
is  necessary,  in  the  case  of  salads,  to  have 
them  just  when  required,  to  look  ahead 
and  make  provision  accordingly.  Prac- 
tically all  the  real  growth  of  each  plant 
is  finished  by  the  end  of  autumn,  the  only  continued 
growth  being  that  of  a  few  kinds  assisted  by  the 
aid  of  fire  heat. 

Endive  and  Lettuce. — There  are  two  distinct 
varieties  of  the  former,  broad-leaved  Batavian 
and  the  moss-curled.  The  first  named  is  favoured 
for  winter  use  because  it  resists  excessive  moisture 
better  than  the  other  and  it  is  also  large,  free- 
growing  and  excellent  when  nicely  blanched. 
Strong  seedlings  should  be  planted  out  gins, 
apart  each  way,  at  this  season,  in  a  fairly  rich, 
deeply  dug  soil,  in  as  dry  a  part  of  the  garden  as 
possible.  Sturdily  grown  plants  will  resist  frosts 
very  well  ;  the  blanching  may  be  done  in  frames  or 
houses,  but  I  prefer  to  blanch  them  where  growing 
bv  placing  two  roughly  made  frames  on  them, 
moving  the  frames  so  as  to  ensure  a  succession  of 
tender  hearts.  Tying  up  the  plants  and  then 
covering  with  empty,  inverted  flower  pots  will 
also  answer  our  purpose. 

Cultivators  may  have  their  favourite  winter 
Lettuce  ;  I  recommend  AH  the  Year  Round  as 
the  best  for  the  purpose.  In  the  South,  and  on 
dry  borders  in  the  Midlands  and  North  Midlands, 
the  plants  will  do  well  outside  even  when  severe 
frosts  occur.  ..But  where  it  is  convenient  make 
use  of  a  frame,  too,  it  does  not  matter  how  roughly 
constructed  the  frame  is  as  long  as  it  affords 
protection  in  time  of  frost  or  heavy  rain.  Where 
soils  are  of  a  heavy,  retentive  nature,  I  find  it 
answers  well  to  place  glass  Ughts  on  gin.  pots 
inverted.  The  sides  and  ends  being  open,  the  air 
passing  under  prevents  damping. 

In  the  northern  counties  seeds  should  be  sown 
before  the  middle  of  August,  but  in  the  South  the 
first  week  in  September  will  be  soon  enough.  If 
raised  too  early  the  plants  are  liable  to  "  bolt  " 
prematurely.  A  rich,  firm  soil,  steady  growth 
without  any  codling  are  the  essentials  to  success. 
The  Tomato. — Only  where  plenty  of  fire-heat 
is  available  and  suitable  houses  is  it  advisable  to 
attempt  to  grow  Tomatoes  throughout  the  winter 
months.  If  it  is  decided  to  grow  them,  they  should 
be  raised  so  that,  strong  and  short  jointed,  they 
wUl  be  ready  for  planting  out,  or  better  still,  for 
final  potting  into  loin.  pots  by  the  second  week  in 
October.     The    treatment   is   similar   to    that   for 


summer  grown  plants,  except  that  more  space  must 
be  allowed  between  the  plants  and  a  somewhat 
drier  atmosphere  maintained.  Grow  only  special 
winter  fruiting  sorts.  In  this  structure  an  odd 
Cucumber  plant  may  be  grown  and  plenty  of 
Mustard  and  Cress  ;  the  forcing  of  Rhubarb  and 
the  blanching  of  Chicory  and  Dandelion  will  be, 
too,  an  easy  matter  and  tend  to  economy. 

Chicorv  or  Christmas  Salad  may  be  blanched 
in  a  cellar,  shed  or  unheated  glass  structure.  The 
points  to  observe  are  strong  crowns  (strong  roots), 
packing  close  together  in  fine  soil,  avoidance  of 
stagnant  moisture  and  absolute  darkness. 

Salad  Onions  and  Radishes. — Make  a  sowing 
of  Salad  Onions  at  once,  also  one  of  Radishes 
at  the  same  time.  The  third  week  in  September 
sow  more  Radishes  and  afterwards  sow  in  January 
and  February  in  a  suitable  house  or  a  cold  frame. 
Sow  the  Radish  seed  broadcast  and  thinly,  the 
French  Breakfast  being  the  best.  Do  not  thin  out 
the  Onion  plants  except  as  they  are  used. 

Spinach  Beet  will  be  useful.  Plants  from 
July  and  August  sowings  will  yield  nice  succulent 
leaves  for  a  long  period  ;  the  plants  should  be 
i6ins.  apart. 

Celery. — Reserve  the  latest  raised  plants  for 
use  in  the  winter  salads.  The  necessary  attention 
needed  will  be  that  to  ensure  good  blanching  and 
freedom  from  damp. 

Beet  must  be  lifted  and  carefully  stored 
in  sand  in  a  cool,  dry  position  before  frosts 
come.  G     G. 


Erica  striota  as  a  Hedge. — For  an  ornamental 
hedge  there  are  few  finer  plants  than  the 
Corsican  Heath  (E.  stricta),  which  wiU  attain 
a  height  of  4ft.  to  5ft.  in  good  loam.  The  stiff, 
wiry  branches,  thickly  furnished  with  leaves  of  a 
very  pleasing  shade  of  green,  maintain  a  neat, 
upright  habit,  so  that  very  little  pruning  is  needed 
to  keep  the  hedge  within  bounds.  Indeed,  a  well 
grown  line  of  this  Heath  is  always  orderly  without 
being  formal.  E.  stricta  flowers  in  late  summer,  the 
shell  pink  blossoms  appearing  on  the  tips  of  the 
shoots,  and  it  continues  in  bloom  until  nearly  the 
end  of  the  year  when  the  faded  flowers  assume  a 
warm,  foxy  red  tint  which  is  highly  attractive 
throughout  winter.  Any  good  lime-free  loam 
will  suit  this  species.  It  is  rather  impatient  of 
drought,  but  generally  of  quite  easy  culture.  The 
best  time  to  plant  is  late  .April  or  May. 


The     British     Pteridological     Society.— The 

twenty-seventh  annual  meeting  of  this  Society 
was  held  on  August  1.4,  at  Llanberis.  Members 
attended  from  Co.  Dublin,  Manchester,  Reading, 
Horsham,  Woodford  and  Brondesbury.  The 
President  (Mr.  W.  B.  Cranfield)  presided,  and 
nine  certificates  were  awarded  to  meritorious 
varieties.  A  long  discussion  took  place  on  the 
question  of  the  altered  nomenclature  of  Ferns 
as  part  of  the  general  revision  of  this  subject 
at  the  Vienna  Conference.  Some  doubt  was 
expressed  whether  the  settlement  as  presented 
by  Dr.  G.  C.  Druce  in  the  December  Gazette 
would  be  a  stable  one,  and  eventually  it  was 
resolved  that  a  Sub-Committee,  consisting  of  the 
President  and  Dr.  F.  W.  Stansfield,  be  appointed 
to  confer  with  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society 
and  the  Kew  authorities  in  order  that  the  Society 
should  come  into  line  with  the  leading  scientific 
bodies  on  the  question,  .\mong  the  new  members 
who  joined  the  Society  during  the  past  year  was 
the  eminent  French  botanist.  Prince  Roland 
Bonaparte.  The  Society  cordially  invites  all 
lovers  of  British  Ferns  to  join.  Particulars  of 
membership  and  copies  of  the  Gazette  can  be 
obtained  from  the  Hon.  Secretary,  Mr.  C.  Henwood, 
21,  Clifton  Road,  London,  W.g. 


446 


THE     GARDEN. 


[September  2,  1922. 


ANSWERS 
TO  CORRESPONDENTS 


y 


QUESTIONS  AND  ANSWERS.— .4/^  communicaixom 
shoiihl  hi-  clt'iirlji  and  concisely  uritten  on  one  side  of  the 
paper  oiiln.  and  addressed  to  the  Editor  0/  The  GABDEN. 
20,  Tavistovk  Street,  Covent  Garden,  London,  ir.C.2.  When 
more  than  one  query  is  sent,  each  should  be  on  a  separate 
pie^e  of  paper.  Plants  for  naming  should  be  clearly  numbered 
and  securely  paclced  in  damp  grass  or  moss,  not  cotton-wool, 
and  floivering  shoots,  where  possible,  should  be  sent.  It  /.v 
nseless  to  send  small  scraps  that  are  not  characteristic  of 
the  plant. 


FLO\VER    GARDEN. 

GLADIOLI  NOT  FLOWERING  (C.  M.).— The  latter 
part  of  May  is  rather  late  for  planting  Gladioli  and  this 
may  explain  the  lack  of  flowers,  though  it  is  quite  possible 
that  flower  spikes  will  appear  a  little  later  in  the  season 
tlian  would  have  been  the  case  had  the  corms  been  planted 
in  March  or  early  April.  Our  correspondent  does  not  say 
what  price  was  paid  for  the  Gladioli.  If  they  were  very 
cheap — and  a  large  number  of  cheap  corms  were  on  offer 
last  spring — these  could  scarcely  be  expected  to  include  a 
big  proportion  of  flowering  size.  With  bulbs,  as  with 
seeds,  it  is  false  economy  to  purchase  at  low  prices.  As 
the  corms  appear  to  have  been  properly  planted  and  have 
been  well  looked  after,  they  should  flower  next  year  if 
they  are  lifted,  when  the  foliage  has  ripened,  and  stored 
in  a  frostproot  shed. 

LAVATERA  OLBIA  (G.  T.  W..  Yorkshire).— The 
easiest  method  of  propagation  is  by  seeds  sown  in  gentle 
heat  in  the  spring.  Although  La  vatera  Olbia  is  a  perennial, 
it  is  usually  more  satisfactory  when  grown  as  a  biennial ; 
that  is,  seeds  should  be  sown  each  year  and  the  plants 
discarded  after  they  have  flowered.  Lavatera  rosea  is 
not  a  "  good  "  name.  Lavatera  trimestris  rosea  is  an 
annual  which  may  easily  be  raised  from  seed,  but  care 
must  be  exercised  in  transplanting.  We  are  not  acfiuainted 
with  a  perennial  form. 


ROSE    GARDEN. 

DWARF  POLYANTHA  ROSES  ("  Pompon  ").—Th  e 
variety  Baby  Tausendsclicin  should  meet  our  corres- 
pondent's requiremints,  being  identical  in  colour  with 
Maman  Turbat,  but  less  robust,  yet  very  free  flowering. 
The  dwarf  Polyantha  or  Pompon  Roses  may  be  hard 
pruned  in  spring  with  excellent  results.  Coral  Cluster 
and  Phyllis  are  also  free-flowering  pink  Pompon  Roses 
deserving  of  attention. 

ROSE  MARECHAL  NIEL  (N.,  Lyndhurst).— The  hot 
weather  of  May  and  early  June  is  responsible  for  the 
ripening  of  the  new  growths  and  the  quick  flowering  of 
the  plant.  Obviously,  as  the  young  wood  is  producing 
flowers  now,  it  must  interfere  with  the  blooming  next 
spring.  Probably  when  these  are  cut  more  young  shoots 
may  push  up  if  the  autumn  weather  is  warm  and  other- 
wise favourable. 

ROSES  ATTACKED  (J.  S.  C,  Hants).— The  best  spray 
for  the  Roses  will  be  Bordeaux  mixture  applied  at  intervals 
from  May  onwards.  Liver  of  sulphur  and  other  washes 
usually  used  are  impotent  against  black  spot  of  Roses. 
The  Cineraria  leaves  may  be  sprayed  with  a  nicotine 
wash. 

ROSE  CUTTINGS  ("  Cranford  ").— If  the  proper  shoots 
are  selected  and  rooted,  these  will  become  Rose  bushes 
of  precisely  the  same  variety  as  their  parents  and  will 
not  revert  to  a  Briar,  Mam-tti,  rugosa,  laxa,  or  whatever 
stock  was  used  for  the  original  Rose  bushes.  It  often 
happens  with  budded  Roses,  both  standard  and  dwarfs, 
that  there  are  on  the  stock  dormant  buds  too  small  to 
be  readily  seen  at  the  time  they  are  *"  worked,"  and 
consequently  they  are  not  removed.  In  the  course  of 
time  these  tiny  dormant  buds  develop,  and  if  not  detected 
and  cut  off  grow  away  and  dominate  the  scion.  Such 
growths  if  made  into  cuttings  and  rooted  would  naturally 
be  independent  bushes  of  the  stock,  which,  with  dwarf 
Roses,  is  usually  Rosa  Manetti. 


GREENHOUSE. 

CRASSULA  FOR  IDENTIFICATION  ("  Mauve  Poppy  "). 
— The  plant  sent  is  Crassula  tetragona,  a  South  African 
plant  that  requires  cool  greenliouse  treatment,  a  sandy 
soil,  a  moderate  supply  of  water  in  summer  and  not  much 
moisture  in  winter,  but  the  soil  sliould  never  be  dust  dry. 


FRUIT     GARDEN. 

CRAB  APPLE,  APPLE  AND  PEAR  TREES  (J.  E.  A., 

E.  Vorks.). — In  different  parts  of  the  country  tlie  stems 
of  fruit  trees  have  split,  bark  deep,  more  or  less  this 
yt-ar  owing  to  the  dry  weather  experienced  last  year 
and  the  sudden  swelling  01  the  trunks  this  year  ;  there 
is  no  need  for  alarm,  as  nature  will  right  matters 
in  due  course.  We  suggest  that  our  correspondent 
fastens  Bamboo  canes  to  the  wires  and  trains  the  branches 
of  the  Apple  tree  to  the  canes.  It  seems  a  pity  to  disturb 
the  roots  again  so  soon  unless  growth  is  very  strong. 
Evidently  the  bush  Apple,  planted  three  years  ago,  is 
growing  in  a  very  unsuitable  soil  and  would  be  all  the 
better  for  lifting  and  re-planting  in  a  drier  and  richer 
medium.  Canker  causes  the  malformation  and,  in  time, 
the  death  of  branches.  It  would  be  necessary  to  see 
affected  portions  of  the  latter  to  determine  whether  it 
was  canker  or  not.  Surface  mulch  all  the  fruit  treis 
immediately  after  replanting. 


TREES    AND     SHRUBS. 

PYRACANTHA  COCCINEA   AS  A  HEDGE  (A.  D.   X., 

Gios.). — Pyracantha  coccinea  (syn.  Crataegus  Pyracantha) 
could  weii  be  used  for  the  hedge,  but  unless  the  wire 
fence  is  already  in  position,  this  support  is  unnecessary, 
as  when  grown  naturally  this  plant  becomes  a  fairly 
dense  bush.  With  the  variety  Lalandei  it  is  often  planted 
against  a  wall,  but  both  are  excellent  shrubs  for  ordinary- 
positions.  To  make  a  hedge  lairly  quickly  the  shrubs 
should  be  planted  about  3ft.  apart,  but  the  exact  distance 
must  be  governed  by  the  size  of  the  shrubs  and  the  time 
that  can  be  allowed  for  their  growth. 

PLANTING  AND  PRUNING  A  BEECH  HEDGE  (E.  E.  B.. 
Surrey). — Being  a  deciduous  plant,  Beech  may  be  planted 
at  any  time  from  November  to  the  middle  of  March 
when  the  ground  is  in  a  suitable  condition,  November 
being  the  best  time.  Just  the  trimming  of  the  young 
twigs  with  shears  may  be  done  at  any  time  during  the 
summer  when  required.  Hard  pruning  should  be  done 
at  the  end  of  March.  The  Japanese  Wistaria  may  be 
obtained  from  Messrs.  Wallace,  The  Old  Nurseries. 
Tunbridge  Wells,  or  Messrs.  Gauntlett  and  Co.,  Limitid, 
Japanese  Nurseries,  Chiddingfold,  Surrey. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

NON-POISONOUS  FUMIGANT  FOR  THE  GREEN- 
HOUSE ("  Mauve  Poppy  "). — XL  All  Nicotine  Fumigating 
Shreds  is  a  perfectly  safe  fumigant  to  use  and  non-poisonous. 
The  smell  disappears  within  twelve  hours  if  the  house  is 
freely  ventilated  the  morning  following  fumigation. 
This  fumigant  is  supplied  by  Mr.  G.  H.  Richards,  234, 
Borough  High  Street,  London,  S.E.I. 

BEES  KILLED  (G.  K.,  Reading).— The  nectar  from  the 
lime  probably  intoxicates  the  bees,  which  are  then  caught 
and  eviscerated  by  tits,  or  possibly  mice,  if  the  mutilation 
occurs  on  the  ground. 

MANURING  TENNIS  LAWN  (C.  S.  H.,  Feibridge).— 
The  soot  and  fine  earth  would  answer  very  well,  but 
the  lime  must  not  be  applied  at  the  same  time.  A  peck 
of  soot  and  two  of  lime  per  square  rod  applied,  the  former 
at  the  end  of  September  and  the  latter  in  November, 
would  be  a  right  proportion  to  use  with  one  barrow-load 
of  fine  soil  per  square  rod.  If  rotten  stable  manure  is 
procurable  and  it  is  rendered  rather  fine,  apply  this  early 
in  November,  one  barrow-load  per  square  rod,  and  brush 
it  in  during  the  winter  months.  Next  Spring,  about 
April,  put  on  4ozs.  per  square  yard  of  fine  bone-meal  and 
nill  the  lawn  afterwards  ;  next  summer  the  latter  ought 
to  be  in  a  very  satisfactory  condition. 

MELONS  UNSATISFACTORY  (W.  M.).— The  seeds 
are  not  faulty.  There  may  be  eel  worm  in  the  roots ; 
this  worm  is  very  tiny,  but  does  a  lot  of  harm  to  Melons 
and  Cucumbers.  Melons  in  frames  sliould  be  grown  on  a 
hot-bed  made  up  of  sweet  litter  in  March  and  the  plants 


should  be  strong  and  ready  to  plant  out  in  April.  The 
bed  must  be  firm.  The  rooting  medium  should  be  loam 
of  a  heavy  nature  rather  than  of  a  light,  without  any 
manure  added  to  it  and,  while  in  a  medium  dry  state, 
made  firm  for  the  plants.  Top-dress  and  feed  when  the 
fruits  are  swelling,  but  keep  the  soil  near  the  stems  a** 
dry  as  possible.  Plant  the  Melons  on  slight  ridges  of 
soil,  not  on  the  flat,  for  extra  warmtli.  The  frequent 
light  surface  mulches  keeps  roots  active  and  the  plants 
strong  and  healthy.  Ventilate  freely  in  fine  weather 
do  not  syringe  in  dull. 

NAMES    OF    PLANTS.— E.    B.— Quercus    Ilex,    Holm 

Oak. E.  E,  B.— Aiyssumargenteum. "  Torquay." — 

Potentilla    fruticosa. H.    J.    B.,    Barnwood. — Catalpa 

bignonioides. G.  H.  S. — Thuya  plicata. 


CATALOGUES     RECEIVED. 

Mr.  T.  Smith,  Daisy  Hill  Nursery,  Newry. — Hardy  Bulbs. 
Messrs.  Dobbie  and  Co.,  Edinburgh. — Bulbs,  Iloses  and 

Sweet  Peas. 
Mr.   E.    P.   Smith,    The   Rosery,    Boston.    Lines. — Roses. 

Also  booklet  on  "  The  Amateur's  Garden  Collection  of 

Roses." 
Wm.    Cutbush    and    Son,    Bamet,    Herts. — Bulbs,    Fruit 

Trees  and  Roses. 
Edward    Webb    and    Sons    (Stourbridge),    Limited,    The 

Royal   Seed    Establishment,    Wordsley,    Stourbridge. — 

Bulbs. 
James  Carter  and  Co.,  Raynes  Park,  London,  S.W.20. — 

Bulbs  and  Lawn  Seeds. 
Messrs.  R.  H.  Bath,  Limited,  The  Floral  Farms,  Wisbech. 

— Bulbs,  Roses,  Pteonies,  Carnations  and  Fruit  Trees 


Vines   and   Peaches  in  the  Same   House. — 

Although  it  is  not  advisable  to  plant  Vines  and 
Peaches  in  the  same  house,  where  there  is  ample 
acoommodation  for  them  in  separate  structures, 
it  is  a  fact  that  they  are  grown  together  in 
hundreds  of  gardens.  Cultivators,  who  have  had  no 
experience  with  the  two  kinds  of  fruits  when 
associated  as  referred  to,  will  find  it  a  difiicult 
matter  to  give  them  correct  treatment.  The 
greatest  difficulty  is  encountered  in  the  spring 
and  early  part  of  the  summer  before  the  time  comes 
when  air  in  abundance  can  be  admitted.  The 
Peach  is  regarded  as  the  hardier  of  the  two,  and 
so  some  cultivators  refrain  from  ventilating  as 
freely  as  they  shouJd  do  during  the  autumn, 
as  they  fear  they  may  do  harm  to  the  Vines. 
Even  where  Grapes  are  still  on  the  Vines  very  free 
ventilation  may  be  given  while  the  air  is  dry 
outside,  and  in  the  evening  more  air  should  be 
admitted  to  play  directly  on  the  Peaches  than 
on  the  Vines.  In  cold,  damp  weather  admit  air 
also,  but  in  less  quantity,  and  have  the  pipes- 
nicely  warmed  at  night.  The  result  will  be  to- 
create  a  buoyant  atmosphere,  which  will  be  con- 
ducive to  the  well-being  of  the  Grapes  while  not 
exciting  the  buds  of  the  Peaches.  Both  the  Vines- 
and  the  Peach  trees  must  have  sufi&cient  water. 
Their  roots  must  at  no  time  suffer  through 
lack  of  water,  and  it  is  equally  necessary  to  avoid 
having  the  soil  in  a  sodden  condition.  When 
the  Grapes  are  cut,  the  Vines,  as  well  as  the 
Peaches,  will  be  benefited  by  exposure  to  quite 
cool  treatment — thus  giving  them  a  complete 
rest. 


DUTCH   BULBS    DIRECT    FROM    THE   GROWER 


Reliable    Quality    at     Lo>vest     Price.  • 

THE      WELL      KNOWN      DUTCH      BULB-HOUSE      OF 

ANTHONY     C-     VAN     DER     SCHOOT, 

ESTABLISHED    1830. 

HILLEGOM,     Holland. 


LARGEST 


BULB      AND      PERENNIAL      FARMS 
IN     HOLLAND. 

Fine     coloured     and    descriptive     catalogue    on    application, 
CARRIAGE     PAID.  NO     CHARGE     FOR     PACKING. 


From  the   Tjev.  Harold  ^ayall.   Tilsden    House.  Ctanhrook.  Kent  .— 

"From  peraoQal  inspection  while  on  a  visit  to  Holland  in  April,  1922.  of 
Mr.  Anthony  C.  van  der  School's  Bulb-farms  and  Nurswies.  I  can  not  only 
t-estify  to  the  very  high  standard  in  which  everything  on  this  very  extensive 
farm  is  organiaed.  but  also  to  the  excellent  stock  of  bulbs  that  he  carries. 
I  liave  no  hesitation  in  reeommendine  this  Arm.  not  only  as  THE  VERY 
KELIABLE    BULB    FAKM,    but  as  VERY    KELIABLE    in  every   respect." 

—HAROLD    AL^YALL. 


THE 


K  Y  of  tn©  ' 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


p^ol.  LXXXVI.— No.  2651. 

ntered  as  Second-class  Matter  at  the  New  York,  N.Y..  Post  OfHce. 


Saturday,  September  9,  1922 


REGISTERED     AT    THE     GENERAL 
POST    OFFICE    AS    A    NEWSPAPER 

AND     FOR     CANADIAN     MAGAZINE 
POST. 


Price  THREEPENCE 

Yearly  Subscription  : 
Inland,    17/4;    Foreign,   !7|4 


CEANOTHUS     GLOIRE     DE     VERSAILLES. 

Among  the  most  effective  of  Shrubs  at  this  season. 


MERRYWEATHER'S    ROSES 


FOR    THE    GARDEN  1 
FOR    BEDS! 


FOR    EXHIBITION! 
FOR    EVERYWHERE! 


Also  Fruit  Trees,  Slirubs,  Ornamental  Trees. 
Please  state  your  wants. 

H.    MERRYWEATHER   &    SONS,   LTD. 
Garden  Specialists,  SOUTHWELL,  NOTTS. 

BARR'S  Beautiful  New  Seedling  NERINES 

The  most  beautiful  and  easiest  grown  of  Autumn-flowering  Bulbs  for  the  Greenhouse. 

For  autumn  decoration  in  the  greenhouse  few  plants  can  compare  with 
Nerines  for  their  brilliant  and  attractive  colours.  The  flowers,  which  are 
produced  in  umbels  of  6  to  24  blooms,  are  borne  on  stout  stems  varying  in 
height  from  i  to  2  feet.  In  colour  they  range  from  dark  red,  vivid  crimson, 
cerise  and  scarlet  to  salmon,  coral-rose,  pink,  blush  and  uhite,  many  having  a 
glistening  lustre  which  in  sunlight  gives  them  the  appearance  of  being  dusted 
with  gold  or  silver.  They  remain  decorative  for  many  weeks,  and  their  beauty 
may  be  enjoyed  in  a  sitting-room  as  well  as  the  greenhouse,  if  the  pots  are 
kept  in  a  sunny  window. 

12  in  12  beautiful  named  varieties       ..     42/-,  50/-,  63/-  and  84/- 
6in     6         „  „  „  ..      18/-,  24/.,  30/-  and  42/. 

SPECIAL     LIST     LN     APPLICATION. 

BARR    &    SONS, 


11,     12     &    13,     KING    STREET, 
COVENT     GARDEN,     LONDON,     W.C.2. 


G  LASS 


Write  for  our  prices  of  Sheet   Glass  and   Putty. 

We    have   some   Special   Lines   of   Horticultural    Glass   at 
Very   Low   Prices. 

Please    state    your    requirements    and    allow    us    to    quote. 

We  can  supply  any  quantity  and  any  size  at  Lowest  Prices, 
ALL    KINDS     OF    GLASS    AND    WORK    ON    GLASS, 


JOHN 
M. 


N  E  \A/  T  O  N  *  t?^.^- 


20,  21,  22  &   23,  CHARLES  ST.,  Hatton  Garden,   LONDON,  E.C.I. 

THE    BULB    GARDEN 

Order    now    to    avoid    disappoinlment. 
Complete  success  can  be  obtained  by  planting 

BRITISH   GROWN  BULBS 


We  have  an  excellent  stock  of  CHOICE  DAFFODILS 

AND  TULIPS     and    solicit    your    early    enquiries. 

Complete  List  free  on  application. 

CARTWRIGHT     &     GOODWIN,     LTD. 

THE    PREMIER    HOUSE,    KIDDERMINSTER, 


11. 


THE     GARDEN. 


[September  9,  1922. 


"THE    GARDEN"   CATALOGUE    GUIDE 


NOTICE  TO  OUR  READERS 


/^N  receipt  of  a  Post  Card  the  under- 
^^  mentioned  firms  will  be  pleased  to 
send  their  useful  Catalogues  free  of  charge. 

Fruit  Trees  and  Plants 


PERRY'S 

Hardy  Plant  Farms 

ENFIELD,  MIDDX. 


New  Alpines 
and  Perennials 

Complete 
Collection 


KELWAY   &   SON 
Retail  Plant  Department 
LANGPORT,   SOMERSET. 


Hardy  Plants 
Colour  Borders 
Gladioli 


HARDY    AZALEAS    ANO     FLOWERItMQ     SHRUBS 

R.  &  G.  CUTHBERT 

SOUTHGATE 

MIDDLESEX 

Established  1797 


For  planting    and 
Conservatory 
decoration. 
Catalogue  of  our 
new  and  beautifu! 
varieties  post 
free 


LAXTON   BROS. 

Nurseries 

BEDFORD 


Strawberries 

and 

Fruit  Trees 


W.  WELLS,  JuNR. 
Hardy  Plant  Nursery 
MERSTHAM,  SURREY 


Specialist  In 
Hardy  Plants 
and  Alpines 
Catalogues  free 


Seeds  and  Bulbs 


R.  H.  BATH,  Ltd. 
The  Floral  Farms, 
WISBECH 


Hotne-Grown 
Bulbs  and 
Seeds 


BLACKMORE  &  LANGDON 
TwERTON  Hill  Nursery 
BATH 


Begonias 
Delphiniums 
Qloxinias 
Cyclamen,  etc. 


DAWKINS 

408,  King's  Road 

CHELSEA,   S.W. 


Bulb 

Catalogue 
now  ready. 


SPECIALITE. 


TREES   AND    SHRUBS 


for    AUTUMN     COLOUR 
and  WINTER    BERRIES 

(Carriage  Paid.) 

V.  N.  Gauntlett  &  Co.,  Ltd., 

J,ipanese  Nurseries.  Chiddingfold.  Surrey. 


.HOW  TO  PRUNE  ROSES  &  FRUIT  TREES. 

A  most  helpful  booklet  by  Owes  Thum.\s,  v.m.h.  Sent  post 
free  on  receipt  of  lid.  "  CousTEr  Lifb  "  Offices,  20,  T.iWstock 
Street,  Covent  Garden,  W.C.2. 


Garden  Sundries 


CORRY   &    CO.,   Ltd. 
Shad    Thames  ,    S  .E.  i    and 
Bedford  Chambers 
Covent  Garden,  W.C.2 


Merchants  and 

Manufacturers 
of  Horticultural 
Sundries 
Fertilizers  and 
Insecticides,  etc. 


J.  BENTLEY,  Ltd. 
Barrow-on-Humber 
HULL. 


Weed   Destroyers 

Fertilizers 

Insecticides 

Nets  andSundries 


Landscape  Gardening 


W.  H.  GAZE  &  SONS,  Ltd. 
High  Street 
KINGSTON-ON-THAMES 


Landscape,  Rock 
and  Water  Garden 
Model  Gardens 
Portsmouth   Road 
Surbiton 


R.  WALLACE  &  CO., 
The  Old  Gardens 
TUNBRIDGE  WELLS 


Ltd. 


Landscape  &  Garden 
Architects.  Quetn 

Alexandra's   Cup    for 
Best  Rock  and  Water 
Garden,  International 
Show.  KVl. 


J.  CHEAL  &  SONS,  Ltd. 

Nurseries 

CRAWLEY 


Landscape 
Qardeners 
Trees  and 
Shrubs,  etc. 


I  PULMAM  ^  SON 

R' APPOINTMENT     TO  015  MAJESTY 

TINEVMAN   5T- CPCrOIiD  5T 

LONDON -V 
NUR5EPJr!5  •  EL5CNnAM 


GPAPniC  CLP 
for  be^r  RockGanden 
'CnELSEA*I92i 

Plarvs  Si  5iiruejij5- 
\'aso'?  ■  rburvtaitx-i  - 
Fi^jres-Sorvdiob-zic 


HODSONS,  LIMITED, 
i4,ViCT0RiA  St., London, S.W. I 
&58,  Castlegate,  Nottingham 
Nurseries  near  Matlock 


Rock,  Water  or 
Formal  Gardens, 

Stone  Paved  Paths. 

Green  &  Hard  Courts 

Trees,  Shrubs.  R.'Ses. 
Heathers.  Alpines.  & 
Herbaceous  Plants. 


MISS  EVELYN  FAWSSETT 

(Specialist  in  Garden  Planning) 

83,  High  Street 
LEWES,  SUSSEX 


New  Oard&as  de- 
signed. Old  Gardens 
Re-arrantied.  Plant- 
lag  plans  for  borders. 
etc.  Terma  on  appH- 
caticD. 


WALLACE'S  IRISES. 

Send  for  our  attractive  publication — "  Irises  and 
Iris  Gardens."     Post  free  on  application. 

R.    WALLACE    &   CO.   LTD., 

TUNBRIDGE     V/ELLS. 


DUTCH 
BULBS 


Descriptive  Catalogue  of  CHOICE  DUTCH 

BULBS  free  on  application. 
Delivery  Carriase  Paid.  No  Charge  for  Packiog. 


JOHN  B.  VAN  DER  SGHOOT, 

The   Old-Established   Bulb   Farms 

(Comprising  over  400  acres), 

HILLEGOM,    HOLLAND. 


TeleKrEimH  : — "  Narcissas.  Hillegom.* 


Established   1830 


WIPCOTT  CRAZY  PAVING 

(DEVON). 

Enquiries   Invited.  Delivered  any  Station. 

HENRY  L.  COOPER  &  CO., 
29,  Mark  Lane,    LONDON,    E.G. 


'Phone      1741  Cenlml 


7 el,  Adart 


Quarlzico  Fen 


PROTHEROE     &     MORRIS'S 
AUCTION     SALES     of 

BULBS 

Every  MONDAY,  WEDNESDAY   &  FRIDAY. 

Write  for  CatHogues  at  67  &  68,  CHEAPSIDE,  LONDON,  E.C.2 


Tubs   for    shrubs 

WIRE  BOUND  P.ATENT,  over  10 
prizes.  R.H.S.  Medal.  IHIO.  No  warping  o 
shrinking.  In  Oak.  Beach,  Tea't.  etc.  Highl 
decorative. —  Price  List  from  Phadal  &  Co 
26,  Gcodge  Street.  London,  W.I. 


EUREKA 


WEED 
KILLER 


Y  LABOUR  SAVERS. 'EURE.K*'  LA«<r<  Samo.  Soilfumc. 
Micorinc.tHSE.cnciocs.FuMEits. Sprays. AMD  othcrCke-micals 
AND  SuHomcs.  set  UST   Pleasc  ask  vous  AGCftr  KM  T«t  Eureka 

AflTlCLtS-THtV  ARC  AUWAVS  SATlSfACTORT     If  *NY  tXrFlCULTY 
OeTAINING    WC  SEHO   DtACCT,     CAnoiACE   PAID 


Collin's  Famous  Roses 

For  all  purposes.      Noted  for  reliability, 

De  scriptive    and    Jllii^traied    Catalogue    Post    Free. 

W.   H.  COLLIN  St  SONS,  Rose  Growers. 
SCRAPTOFT,      LEICESTER. 


Special   Offer. 

Alpines&  Hardy  Perennial} 

CARRIAGE    PAID. 


We  have  a  particularly  fine  lot  of  the  above  th 
season  and  shall  be  pleased  to  forward  an  instructi\ 
and  descriptive  Catalogue  on  application.  A 
orders  of  lo-  and  o\er  will  be  sent  Carriage  Paid  I 
any  part  of  Great  Britain.  Smaller  orders  Carriaj 
Paid  for  i/-  extra. 

FRUIT    TREES    &    ROSES 

A  grand  stock  of  these  to  offer  at  reasonable  price 
Catalogues  Free. 


THE  BARNHAM  NURSERIES,  LTD 

BARNHAM,  SUSSEX. 


f^~"-^        Si^(l 


'-^^-^J, 

'  f*'^ 


No.  2651.— Vol.  LXXXVI.] 


[September  9,  1922. 


PLANTS    FOR    ADORNING    WALLS 


IN  no  branch  of  gardening  is  there  displayed 
so  general  a  paucity  of  originality  as  in  the 
adornment  with  vegetation  of  the  walls 
of  houses  and  other  buildings.  The  country 
home  must  be  very  old  and  very  beautiful 
if  it  will  not  tit  better  into  the  landscape  with  some 
clothing  of  vegetation  for  the  walls.  On  the 
other  hand,  a  house  must  indeed  be  an  epitome  of 
ugliness  if  it  looks  better  entirely  smothered  in 
Irish  Ivy  or,  indeed,  in  "  Creepers  "  of  any 
description.  Irish  Ivy  is  an  ex- 
ceedingly useful,  if  much  abused, 
plant,  but  it  is  emphatically  an 
unsuitable  covering  for  any  build- 
ing with  any  beauty  either  of 
workmanship  or  material.  Even 
where  Ivy  seems  to  be  called  for, 
there  are  many  more  beautiful 
species  and  varieties  than  the  Irish, 
though  for  screening  ugly  fences 
and  such  like  it  has  the  supreme 
advantage  of  rapid  growth.  In 
the  two  pictures  on  the  following 
page  there  is  depicted  the  shelter 
on  the  bowling  green  at  Gravetye 
Manor,  a  simple  structure  made 
beautiful  by  its  covering  of  the 
large-leaved  Ivy,  Hedera  colchica 
(Roegneriana),  of  which  the 
seemingly  varnished,  deep  green 
cordate  leaves  are  ver>'  handsome. 
Even  our  small-leaved  English 
Ivy,  which  often  plays  such  havoc 
among  growing  timber,  is  intrinsi- 
cally more  beautiful  than  the 
Irish.  The  golden  Ivies  are  not, 
on  the  whole,  so  satisfactory  as  the 
silver  variegated  ones,  which  latter 
are  often  wonderfully  effective  on 
buildings  of  red  brick.  It  is  really 
no  more  difficult  to  keep  Ivy  in 
its  place  on  a  building  than  any 
other  self-clinging  plant,  and  very 
little  more  difficult  than  plants 
which  provide  no  support  them- 
selves— though  these  latter,  because 
they  obviously  need  constant  train- 
ing, tend  to  prevent  neglect.  Ivy 
should  never  be  planted  against  or 
allowed  to  encroach  upon  old 
buildings  in  which  the  mortar  has 
perished,  otherwise  it  is  but  too 
likely  to  force  its  way  between  the 
stones  and,  as  its  stems  expand, 
destroy  the  fabric. 

The  following  are  desirable  Ivies, 
but  it  is   usually   better  to  select 


sorts  at  the  nursery,  taking  due  heed  of  what  the 
nurseryman  has  to  say  as  to  habit,  etc.,  since  the 
nomenclature  of  Ivies  in  commerce  is  particularly 
muddled.  Of  green  forms  deltoidea,  o\'ata  (very 
distinct  oval  foUage),  pedata  and  sagittrefolia, 
the  above  all  varieties  of  the  English  Ivy,  and 
H.  canariensis,  larger  leaved  and  handsomer  than 
the  Irish  Ivy,  are  all  worthy  ;  while  good  silver 
variegated  sorts  are  Cavendishii  and  albo  marginata. 
Next    to    Irish    Ivy   the   most   commonly   used 


THE    BEAUTIFUL    CE.\NOTHUS    THYRSIFLORUS    VAR.    GRISEUS 


wall  plant  is  almost  certainly  the  self-clinging 
Virginia  Creeper,  Vitis  inconstans,  generally 
listed  by  nurserymen  and  named  by  gardeners  as 
Ampelopsis  Veitchii.  This  is  an  effective  plant 
enough  and  really  beautiful  when  "  lit  by  autumn 
fires,"  but  is  even  faster  growing  than  the  Ivy 
and  is  almost  as  effectual  in  concealing  the  texture 
and  detail  of  a  building,  so  that  it  should  be 
planted  circumspectly  and  subjected  to  constant 
supervision.  It  must  always  be  borne  in  mind 
that  this  fast-growing  plant  is 
very  apt  to  die  completely  away 
from  no  obvious  cause,  and  that 
the  bunches  of  "  suckers  "  adhere 
so  firmly  to  the  fabric  that  it  is 
impossible  to  remove  them.  On 
buildings  with  offensively  glazed 
"  facing-brick  "  fronts  this  peculi- 
arity may  be  an  advantage,  but 
it  is  grievous  on  beautiful 
stonework. 

The  larger  -  leaved ,.  Virginia 
Creepers,'though  needing  periodical 
attention,  are  really  far  more 
suitable  for  house  walls,  since 
their  thinner  habit  of  growth 
not  only  prevents  their  entirely 
obscuring  the  wall,  but  allows  the 
beauty  of  their  foliage  to  be  better 
appreciated.  Vitis  quinquefoha, 
the  true  Virginia  Creeper,  is 
provided  with  suckers  by  which 
to  attach  itself  to  the  object  upon 
which  it  is  climbing,  and  is.  on 
that  account,  desirable ;  but  it  is 
not  easy  to  procure  true,  the 
plant  usually  supplied  under  this 
name  being  V.  vitacea,  which  is 
not  self-supporting  on  a  wall, 
but  has  larger  leaves,  brighter  in 
colour  both  when  in  growth  and 
when,  in  autumn,  they  turn  crimson 
before  the  fall.  Vitis  heterophylla 
is  excellent  against  a  south  wall, 
especially  if  it  has  a  rather  restricted 
root-run,  as  its  porcelain-blue 
berries  are  then  very  freely 
produced. 

Of  climbing  trees  suitable  for 
house  fronts,  surely  there  is  none 
more  beautiful  than  the  Wistarias, 
which,  beautiful  in  flower  and 
light  and  pleasing  in  foliage,  are 
not  so  dense  in  habit  as  altogether 
to  conceal  the  texture  of  the  wall 
veil  behind.  It  is  not  possible  to 
deal  adequately  with  the  beautiful 


44S 


THE     GARDEN. 


[September  9,  1922. 


THE    LARGE-LEAVED    IVY,    HEDERA    COLCHICA,    ON    A    SHELTER 
AT    GRAVETYE. 


A    CLOSER     VIEW,    SHOWING    THE     BEAUTY    OF    THE     FOLIAGE. 


plants  in  a  general  article  such  as  this.  The  Editor  hopes, 
however,  to  include  an  article  on  this  family  in  an  early 
issue.  It  should  be  pointed  out  that  it  is  by  no  means 
easy  to  train  Wistarias  without  the  use  of  straining  wires, 
as  the  natural  habit  of  the  plant  is  to  twine  itself  around 
the  stems  of  other  trees 

Clematises  are  deservedly  popular  for  house  walls,  though 
even  here  a  greater  variety  is  available  than  is  commonly 
employed.  C.  niontana  and  C.  montana  granditlora  are 
quite  commonly  met  with.  Both  need  careful  training 
and  pruning  if  they  are  not  to  get  entirely  out  of  hand. 
Some  old  wood  should  be  cut  to  near  the  base  each  year 
if  it  is  desired  to  furnish  with  them  the  base  of  the  wall, 
otherwise  they  quickly  become  leggy.  C.  montana  rubens 
is  a  delightful  flesh  pink  form  equally  as  vigorous  as  the 
two  white  sorts  mentioned,  and  with  handsome  purplish 
young  wood  and  foliage.  It  is  particularly  pleasing  against 
a  stone  wall.  There  is  now  a  wide  selection  of  large- 
flowered  hybrid  forms,  but  these  will  be  better  left  for 
consideration  in    a   separate   article. 

Many  of  the  most  beautiful  and  most  suitable  plants 
for  adorning  walls  are  not,  strictly  speaking,  cUmbers  at 
all,  though  they  may  be  trained  to  cover  a  considerable 
area  of  wall  surface.  Prominent  in  this  class  are  some  of 
the  Ceanothuses,  such  as  C.  rigidus,  with  small  neat  dark  ^ 
green  evergreen  foliage  and  small  but  crowded  heads  of 
almost  indigo  blue  flowers  ;  C.  thyrsiflorus,  with  pale  blue 
flowers,  and  its  variety  griseus  with  larger  foliage  and  pale 
lilac  flowers,  an  excellent  sort ;  C.  dentatus,  bright  blue  ; 
and  C.  Veitchianus,  also  bright  blue.  The  nomenclature 
of  these  Ceanothuses  is  much  confused  in  nurseries,  but, 
fortunately,  if  the  wrong  species  be  supplied  it  is  unUkely 
to  be  otherwise  than  beautiful.  Ceanothus  Gloire  de 
Versailles  is  now  common  in  gardens  ;  it  does  not,  in  most 
localities,  require  the  protection  of  a  wall,  but  the  typical 
Ceanothus  azureus,  though  smaller  in  leaf  and  flower,  is 
very  desirable,  less  often  seen  and  more  tender.  It  w^ill 
reach  a  height  of  8ft.  or  so  against  a  wall. 

Other  invaluable  non-climbing  shrubs  for  a  wall  are 
the  Pyracanthas,  both  the  typical  Pyracantha  (P.  coccinea). 
with  its  orange-fruited  variety  Lalandei,  and  the  very 
variable  P.  Rogersiana,  with  varieties  bearing  fruits  of 
every  hue  from  golden  yellow  to  red.  Then  there  is  the 
delightful  Winter  Sweet,  Chimonanthus  fragrans,  which, 
on  a  wall,  flowers  in  the  darkest  days  of  winter.  Its  curious 
semi-transparent  flowers  of  greenish  yellow  have  small 
inner  purplish  petals.  There  is,  however  a  variety  (luteus) 
with  the  petals  all  yellow  and  a  form  larger  in  all  its  parts 
called  grandiflorus,  which  has  flowers  of  brighter  colouring 
but  with  less  of  the  characteristic  and  delightful  fragrance. 

The  White  Jasmine  (Jasminum  officinale)  is  a  beautiful 
and  fragrant  if  rather  informal-looking  climber,  admirable 
for  the  walls  of  stabling  or  outbuildings.  It  is  too  well 
known  to  need  description.  The  yellow  Jasmine  (J. 
nudiflorum),  with  its  bright  yellow  flowers  in  midwinter 
is  generally  admired,  its  only  drawback  being  the  bare 
stems  upon  which  the  flowers  are  produced.  This  may, 
hoW'Cver,  be  largely  overcome  by  training  the  plant  on  a 
trellis  in  front  of  a  small-leaved  Ivy  or  other  close-growing 
evergreen  climber.  The  beautiful  but  not  very  hardy 
J.  primulinura,  with  larger,  more  substantial  flowers  is 
evergreen,  and  is  a  valuable  shrub  for  a  south-west  wall 
in  more  sheltered  districts. 

For  a  south  wall  in  fairly  mild  localities  there  is  little 
more  beautiful  than  Solanum  jasrainoides,  which  flowers 
for  a  long  period  in  summer.  -Again,  there  is  the  Passion 
Flower,  Passiflora  ccerulea,  and  its  white-flowered  variety 
Constance  EUiott,  which,  while  not  quite  hardy  in  most 
districts,  are  admirable  near  the  coast.  The  Rose  family 
is  too  big  to  consider  in  detail  in  this  short  article,  but 
preference  should  be  given  to  true  climbing  varieties  rather 
than  to  ramblers.  Such  sorts  as  the  two  Banksians  (white 
and  yellow),  the  Gloire  de  Dijon,  Mme.  Berard,  William 
.\llan  Richardson,  .'\hster  Stella  Gray,  Reve  d'Or,  sinica 
Anemone,  the  climbing  forms  of  Lady  .\shtown.  Lady 
HiUingdon,  Papa  Gontier,  Mrs.  W.  J.  Grant,  Melanie 
Soupert  and  Paul  Lede  are  excellent  for  south  or  west 
walls  ;  while  Mme.  A.  Carriere,  Griiss  an  Teplitz,  Gloire 
de  Dijon,  Ard's  Rover  and  Climbing  Caroline  Testout 
provide  a  selection  for  those  with  an  eastern  aspect, 


September  q,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


449 


VIOLAS  FOR  GARDEN  DECORATION 

AN    IMPRESSIOX    OF    THE    VIOLA    TRIALS    AT    WISLEY. 


The    following   notes   on    some   of    the    best 
garden    varieties   should  be  of  exceptional    v 

beautiful 

THE  trial  of  Violas  in  the  gardens  of  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society,  Wisley, 
Surrey,  during  the  current  year,  may  be 
regarded  as  an  unqualified  success. 
Violas  in  the  south  of  England,  so  far  as 
the  writer  is  able  to  determine  after  a  long  associa- 
tion with  these  plants,  ha\'e  never  been  represented 
in  better  form  and  condition.  This  is  all  the  more 
remarkable  in  view  of  the  unsatisfactory  condition 
of  many  of  the  small  plants  sent  to  the  gardens  in 
February  and  March  last  by  the  trade  and  others. 
Readers  will  remember  how  burnt  up  were  the 
plants  of  most  Violas  last  year  owing  to  the  long 
period  of  drought  throughout  the  summer  months, 


Violas  that  have  proved  good  all-round 
alue  to  those  contemplating  growing  these 
flowers. 

Those  responsible  for  the  trial  are  heartily  to  be 
congratulated  on  the  very  excellent  results  achieved. 

The  trial  is  not  so  large  or  so  comprehensive  as 
that  which  was  held  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Viola  Conference  Committee  in  the  Royal  Botanic 
Gardens,  Regent's  Park,  London,  N.W. ,  during 
1896,  but  it  is  infinitely  better  than  the  last  trial  of 
Violas,  held  in  the  old  Chiswick  Gardens,  of  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society. 

In  the  present  instance,  quite  a  large  number  of 
the  better  Violas  are  represented,  but  many  notable 
sorts  are  conspicuous  by  their  absence.  It  must 
not  be  thought,  however,  that  there  is  anything 
wanting  in  this  trial  :    nothing  of   the  sort  !     It  is 


THE     RICH     YELLOW     VIOLA     SIR     R.     BADEN-POWELL. 


<luring  which  season  the  Viola  almost  invariably 
makes  rapid  growth.  It  was  not  so  dry  as  it  was 
during  the  year  igri,  when  so  many  growers 
completely  lost  their  stocks  :  still,  it  was  very  hot 
and  dry  for  an  unduly  long  period,  and  caused 
many  stocks  to  fail  and  others  to  become  so 
impoverished  as  to  exhaust  their  vitality  to  no 
■small  extent.  It  will,  therefore,  be  easily  under- 
stood that,  until  copious  rains  had  fallen,  to  assist 
in  the  rehabihtation  of  the  plants,  the  growths 
■were  not  of  the  character  to  promise  good  material 
for  the  perpetuation  of  the  different  stocks. 
•Consequently,  the  supply  of  cuttings  was  restricted 
and  the  cuttings  themselves  not  at  all  satisfactory. 
It  was,  no  doubt,  largely  due  to  this  fact  that  the 
■small  plants  sent  to  the  Wisley  gardens  for  trial 
did  not  possess  the  character  and  stamina  that  are 
■seen  after  a  more  normal  season,  I  believe  many 
of  the  young  plants  on  reaching  the  gardens  had  to 
be  "  nursed,"  so  to  speak,  with  considerable  care 
before  they  could  be  regarded  as  being  in  a  fit 
condition  to  plant  outdoors  in  the  quarters  allocated 
to  them. 


an  excellent  representation  of  the  plant,  and  the 
varieties  included  therein  comprise  plants  possess- 
ing habits  of  growth  of  \^arying  character,  and  the 
colour,  form  and  markings  of  the  flowers  are 
pleasingly  diversified. 

The  Society  asked  for  three  plants  of  each  sort 
to  be  sent.  This  is  rather  few  :  six  plants  of  each 
variety  I  think  would  have  been  better.  This 
shortcoming  is  made  up  in  some  measure,  however, 
as  several  growers  have  sent  plants  of  the  same 
variety,  and  of  the  more  popular  sorts,  there  are 
sometimes  as  many  as  twelve  plants.  The  newer 
and  less  known  sorts  are  often  represented  by  three 
plants  only. 

Violas  especially  suited  for  garden  embellishment 
largely  predominate,  and  this  is  very  fortunate,  as 
their  free- flowering  propensity  and  their  generally 
acknowledged  beauty  completely  eclipse  the 
exhibition  Viola.  This  latter  plant  evolves  unduly 
large  flowers  of  good  form  and  pleasing  colour,  but 
the  habit  is,  in  most  cases,  thoroughly  unsatis- 
factory. In  very  few  instances  indeed  can  the 
exhibition  Viola  be  regarded  as  equally  useful  as 


a  plant  for  garden  embellishment.  For  this 
reason  it  is  very  necessary  to  differentiate  between 
the  two  sections  or  types. 

As  I  mentioned  before,  I  have  ne\'er  seen  the 
Viola  better  grown  anywhere  in  the  South  of 
England  during  the  thirty-three  years  I  have 
endeavoured  closely  to  follow  the  development  of 
this  beautiful  flower.  Certainly,  the  moist  weather 
of  the  latter  half  of  June  and  throughout  July 
provided  the  plants  with  just  the  conditions  they 
revel  in.  and  to  this  fact,  together  with  the  careful 
preparation  of  the  flowering  quarters,  may  be 
largely  attributed  the  undoubted  success  of  the 
trial.  When  they  were  visited  by  the  conunittee 
appointed  to  adjudicate  upon  the  trial,  the  plants 
were  luxuriating.  They  were  flowering  in  the 
greatest  profusion,  and  their  real  value  in  the 
garden,  consequently,  could  be  seen  and  appre- 
ciated  at  once. 

The  raoister  weather  experienced  during  the 
period  above  mentioned,  was.  no  doubt,  responsible 
for  the  wonderful  growth  made  in  a  comparatively 
short  season  since  the  plants  were  put  out  in  their 
flowering  quarters.  I  believe  the  plants  were  put 
out  a  foot  apart  and,  in  a  great  many  instances,  the 
intervening  spaces  were  filled  with  free-flowering 
growths,  on  the  occasion  of  the  writer's  visit  during 
the  third  week  of  July  last.  They  were  then  in 
the  pink  of  condition,  spent  blossoms  and  seed  pods 
were  not  in  evidence  and  the  plants  were  blossoming 
in  the  greatest  profusion.  Readers  will,  no  doubt, 
be  interested  to  learn  the  results  of  the  Committee's 
adjudication  of  the  trial.  This  result  should  be  of 
considerable  service  to  those  who  purpose  planting 
the  Viola  another  season,  and  who  naturally  desire 
to  plant  only  the  very  best  sorts.  I  therefore  pur- 
pose to  call  attention  to  the  more  noteworthy  sorts. 

The  plants  are  arranged  in  colours  together  so 
that  in  this  way  comparison  can  be  made  between 
one  sort  and  another,  both  in  regard  to  habit  and 
the  quality  or  character  of  the  respective  flowers. 

Of  white  sorts  there  is  a  large  number  of  chaste 
varieties  mostly  rayless,  although  there  are  a  few 
dainty  sorts  with  neatly  pencilled  rays.  The  best 
white  variety  to  which  an  award  of  merit  was 
granted  is  Swan.  This  is  a  free-flowering  plant, 
having  almost  circular,  pure  white  rayless 
blossoms  with  a  big  orange  yellow  eye  ;  the  habit 
in  this  instance  is  dwarf  and  compact,  and  the  plant 
has  a  good  constitution.  Three  other  sorts,  named 
respectively  Snow  Queen,  Purity  and  Snowflake, 
are  white  sorts,  so  nearly  alike  that  they  are 
bracketed  together  in  regard  to  the  award  of  merit 
granted  ia  their  favour.  They  are  rayless  sorts, 
very  free  flowering,  but  not  so  dwarf  or  compact  as 
Swan.  A  creamy-white  rayless  variety  is  Blanche  ; 
it  is  also  known  as  White  Empress.  In  this  case 
the  habit  is  dwarf  and  compact  and  rather  free 
flowering.  This  plant  was  highly  commended.  .A 
rayed  white  sort  that  was  also  highly  commended 
is  Alexandra.  This  is  a  large  flower  and  one  of  the 
best  of  its  type.  Queen  of  Whites  is  a  good  white- 
rayed  sort,  much  admired  by  some  growers. 

There  is  quite  a  plethora  of  highly  attracti\'e  and 
distinctly  beautiful  yellow  sorts.  Some  of  the 
large  flowered  kinds  are  rather  coarse  in  appearance, 
while  others  are  refined  and  beautifully  finished 
in  character.  The  huge  flowers  of  Moseley  Per- 
fection are  in  evidence  on  plants  received  from 
several  sources.  This  is  one  of  the  varieties  useful 
alike  for  the  garden  and  for  exhibition.  The 
rayless  flowers,  however,  are  rather  coarse,  but  are 
freely  produced  on  long  stout  stems,  on  plants 
possessing  a  vigorous,  if  somewhat  coarse  habit  of 
growth.  For  bold  effects,  however,  this  rich  ^■ellow 
variety  in  a  mass  is  very  striking  and  notable. 
It  well  deserves  the  award  of  merit  granted  in  its 
favour.  Another  variety  that  received  this  award 
is  Margaret  Wood.  This  is  a  refined  circular 
rayless  flower,  colour  canary  yellow  with  a  rich 


450 


THE     GARDEN. 


[September  9,  1922. 


orange  eye.  The  plant  is  free  flowering,  but  rather 
less  robust  than  some  others.  Quite  the  best  ot 
this  type,  and  more  refined  than  the  last  mentioned 
is  Dorothea,  which  also  received  an  award  of  merit. 
It  is  a  novelty,  and  one  of  the  best  I  have  seen  this 
season.  The  colour  may  be  described  as  rich 
canary  yellow,  with  a  rich  orange  suffusion  running 
into  the  eye,  and  rayless.  The  flowers  are  large 
and  circular,  and  beautifully  finished.  The  plant 
is  a  profuse  bloomer  and  the  habit  excellent.  Two 
rayless  sorts  that  received  the  recognition  of 
being  highly  commended  are  Kingcup  and  Royal 
Sovereign,  both  rich  yellow. 

Sir  Robert  Baden-Powell  is  a  useful  flower  of 
beautiful  finish,  of  the  richest  tone  of  yellow  and 
rayless.  It  was  shown  at  a  recent  fortnightly 
meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society.  Pale 
yellow  rayless  sorts  are  well  represented  by  Prim- 
rose Dame,  which  was  highly  commended.  The 
plant  is  free  flowering  and  has  a  good  constitution. 
An  award  of  merit  was  granted  to  Lady  Knox,  a 
beautiful  primrose  rayless  oval  self,  largely  grown 
in  British  gardens. 

Mary  Burton,  as  we  saw  it,  is  one  of  the  most 
distinct  Violas  and  the  best  of  its  kind.  The  colour 
may  be  described  as  pale  rosy  mauve,  with  very 
neat  veins  or  pencillings  ;  this  plant  well  deserved 
the  award  of  merit  it  received.  J.  B.  Riding  is 
another  consistently  good  sort  and  was  deservedly 
granted  an  award  of  merit ;  it  is  one  of  the  finest  and 
most  dependable ;  colour  crimson  mauve.  Another 
good  rosy  mauve  sort  that  was  highly  commended 
is  Bertha,  which  is  very  free  flowering. 

Mauve  and  mauve  blue  sorts  abound  Maggie 
Mott  is  a  soft  mauve  sort  probably  more  largely 
grown  than  any  other  Viola.  This  variety  rightly 
received  an  award  ci  merit.  It  is  free  flowering, 
has  a  good  constitution  and  is  most  dependable. 
A   similar   award   was   made   in   fa^■ou^   of   W.    H. 


Woodgate,  a  pale  lavender  blue,  almost  a  pale 
blue  Viola,  that  is  valued  for  its  colour  more  than 
for  any  other  quality  that  the  plant  may  possess. 
An  award  of  merit  was  also  granted  to  Mrs.  Alsop, 
a  bluish  mauve  sort,  very  free  flowering,  possessing 
a  good  habit  of  growth.  When  in  good  form, 
John  Quarton,  a  light  mauve  self,  is  a  useful  plant 
in  the  garden.  This  variety  was  highly  commended. 
It  is  a  profuse  bloomer,  although  the  blooms  are 
rather  small ;  the  constitution  is  excellent.  A  deep 
lavender  self  that  was  also  highly  commended  is 
Perdita  ;  it  is  a  useful  sort  and  is  free  flowering. 
Kitty  Bell  is  quite  an  old  sort,  but  well  main- 
tains its  position  as  a  dependable  sort  of  lavender 
colour.  It  is  a  profuse  flowering  plant  and  possesses 
a  wiry  constitution,  highly  commended.  Mauve 
Queen  received  a  like  award.  It  is  a  plant  with 
a  sturdy  habit  of  growth,  of  somewhat  compact 
habit,  evolves  bluish  mauve  flowers  of  a  quite 
distinct  tone  of  colour,  and  comes  into  flower  rather 
later  than  most  others.  Bridal  Morn  was  also 
highly  commended.  As  a  flower,  there  is  not  much 
to  commend  it,  but  it  is  free  flowering  and  the 
flowers  are  of  a  light  mauve  blue  colour,  but  its 
habit  leaves  much  to  be  desired.  One  of  the  newer 
rayless  varieties  to  command  attention  is  Newton 
Mauve.  This  is  a  rich  mauve-coloured  flower  that 
is  evolved  quite  freely  on  a  tufted  habit  of  growth 
and  one  that  has  been  admired  all  through  the 
season.  This  variety  was  highly  commended. 
Especially  noteworthy  are  the  flowers  of  John 
Forbes,  which  may  be  described  as  violet  shading  to 
rich  rose,  and,  at  the  time  of  our  visit,  the  plants 
were  flowering  quite  freely :  highly  comntended. 
Another  of  a  similar  class  which  received  the  same 
recognition  is  William  Daniels ;  this  is  a  purple 
violet  flower  of  good  form  and  of  splendid  substance. 
Admiral  of  the  Blues  is  one  of  the  best  rayless  rich 
blue  selfs,  but  the  habit  is  not  all  we  w'ould  desire. 


It  is  very  beautiful,  however,  and  well  merited  the 
high  commendation  it  received.  Councillor  Waters 
is  an  old  and  tried  sort,  and  is  described  as  crimson 
purple,  and  as  such  it  is  quite  distinct.  Its  habit 
is  good  and  the  plant  flowers  freely  :  highly  com- 
mended. It  is  years  since  Admiration  was  first 
sent  out,  but  as  seen  at  the  trial  it  is  a  quite  good 
plant,  flowering  in  profusion,  and  yielding  useful 
blossoms  of  a  deep  purple  blue  colour  ;  its  habit  of 
growth  is  excellent :  highly  commended.  Peace 
received  a  like  award.  It  is  a  lovely  circular 
flower,  rayless,  and  the  colour  may  be  described  as 
creamy  white,  upper  petals  tinted  heliotrope. 
Dunbryan,  pale  mauve,  lighter  centre,  was  also 
highly  commended.  It  is  a  dainty  flower  and  the 
plant  is  a  free  bloomer.  Mrs.  Chichester  was- 
credited  with  a  similar  honour.  It  is  a  large  flower, 
colour  white,  flaked  and  bordered  bluish  purple, 
paling  in  warm  weather.  It  is  a  very  dependable 
plant,  flowers  in  the  greatest  profusion  and  possesses 
a  most  robust  constitution.  The  best  of  the  fancj' 
Violas  is  undoubtedly  Dr.  McFarlane,  which 
received  an  award  of  merit.  It  is  a  most  consistent 
sort  and  is  quite  old.  The  colour  may  be  described 
as,  upper  petals,  mauve,  lower  petals,  purple — a 
quite  effective  plant  in  the  border,  and  a  good 
constitution.  A  similar  honour  w'as  conferred  on 
President,  a  flower  streaked  and  blotched  crimson  ; 
quite  distinct.  A  very  old  variety  named  Jacka- 
napes was  highly  commended.  It  is  a  highly- 
popular  variety,  and  the  colour  is  brown  and  yellow- 
It  is  one  of  the  freest  of  the  free-flowered  sorts,'and 
is,  in  the  opinion  of  some  people,  a  most  effective 
bedder.  Mrs.  Marrison,  in  shades  of  mahogany  and 
bronze,  is  also  excellent.  D.  B.  Crane. 

[We  are  indebted  to  Mr.  William  Yandell, 
Castle  Hill  Nurseries.  Maidenhead,  for  the  flowers 
from  which  the  accompanying  pictures  were 
made.— Ed.]  ' 


VIOLA    QUEEN    OF    THE    WHITES. 


A    STUDY    IN    MAHOGANY    AND    BRONZE,    MRS.    MARRISON. 


September  9,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


451 


BULB      ORDERS.-III 


The  Ranunculus- 
A     lament    over 


-Broad-casting    to    learn    its   management — Crocuses — Bulbous    Irises — 
names —  Ornithogalum    nutans — Betty-go-to-bed-at-noon — Ixiolirions — 


Last  tips. 


IN  my  previous  notes  I  have  written  abont  the 
"  big  three  "  of  the  various  families  of  bulbs 
which  are  included  in  a  present-day  catalogue. 
Here,  again,  in  dealing  with  the  smaller  fry 
I  am  simply  going  to  draw  my  bow  at  a 
venture.  First,  however,  let  me  ask  for  information. 
Who  buys  all  the  Ranunculuses  ?  I  am  going  to 
buy  a  few  this  autumn — so  many  French  ;  so  many 
Turban ;  so  many  Persian.  In  thus  stating  my 
intention  I  have  to  confess  that  it  is  a  very  decided 
case  of  "  if  at  first  you  don't  succeed,  try,  try 
again."  I  have  planted  them  here,  I  have 
planted  them  there ;  I  have  dug  out  a  huge 
hole  to  the  depth  of  two  feet  and 
filled  it  up  with  carefuUy  selected 
and  arranged  ingredients  ;  I  have 
put  them  in  ordinary  good  soil 
at  just  the  prescribed  depth  ;  I 
have  watered  them  and  shaded 
them  with  unfailing  regularity  ; 
Eve  did  not  tend  her  flowers  in 
Paradise  with  greater  diligence 
and  enthusiasm  than  I  displayed 
in  looking  after  my  Ranuncu- 
luses ;  but  all  to  no  purpose.  The 
best  results  were  bad  bests.  How 
is  it  in  other  gardens  ?  When  I 
look  back  1  can  only  call  to  mind 
one  in  which  I  have  seen  them. 
That  was  in  that  "  Lancashire 
Garden "  made  famous  for  all 
time  by  those  delightful  essays  of 
its  scholarly  owner,  Henry  Bright. 
I  saw  it  under  the  ownership  of 
his  son.  Ranunculuses  were  still 
grown  and,  as  a  rule  were  a 
success,  but  when  I  was  there  it 
was  one  of  their  bad  years.  I  do 
not  think  I  have  ever  seen  them 
elsewhere.  Why?  Because  I  feel 
sure  they  come  under  the  head  of 
' '  difficult  "  plants.  Our  grand- 
fathers realised  this  and  in  the  "  Florists'  and 
Amateurs'  Annual,"  published  by  the  Gardeners^ 
Gazette  in  1840,  a  writer  there  states  that  the 
best  methods  for  growing  them  have  equalled 
in  number  the  "  specifics  for  the  gout  and 
rheumatism  or  pills  to  cure  the  bile,  or  remedies 
for  cough  and  asthma,  invented  by  all  the 
quacks  of  the  last  century."  *'  Some,"  says 
the  writer,  "  were  truly  monstrous,"  on  a  par 
with  "  filling  the  mouth  with  water  and  sitting 
on  the  fire  till  it  boils,  to  cure  the  toothache  " 
It  is  consoling  in  a  way  to  know  the  difiiculties  of 
Ranunculus  culture  are  of  long  standing,  but  it  is 
not  helpful.  I  would  like  to  have  been  able  to 
suggest  some  varieties,  but  perhaps  the  recitation 
of  my  failures  will  do  instead,  on  the  principle  of  the 
longest  way  round  being  the  shortest  way  there. 
They  are  such  bright  flowers,  I  should  like  to  know 
a  real  best  way  from  some  successful  modem  Tyso. 
.\fter  Hyacinths,  Tulips  and  Daffodils,  which 
comes  next  in  importance  ?  Crocuses  or  bulbous 
Irises  ?  I  am  not  going  to  get  off  my  perch  on  the 
gate.  A  modern  garden  would  be  no  garden 
unless  representatives  of  both  families  were  planted 
in  it.  My  love  for  the  great  yellow  Dutch  crocuses 
is  no  less  than  that  of  Forbes  Watson,  who  saw  so 
much  of  the  hidden  beauty  of  the  ordinary  everyday 
flowers  of  our  gardens.  Plant  in  quantity  and  leave 
them  alone.  With  their  diminution  in  size  there 
comes  a  greater  intensity  of  colour — real  or  possibly 
only  imagined  from  their  closer  juxtaposition.     If 


you  do  buy  any  Crocuses  don't  leave  out  Dorothea 
or  Dorothy.  It  is  a  pale  silvery  mauve  with 
glorious  orange  red  stigmas.  I  have  found  it, 
after  Sieberi,  about  the  most  satisfactory  of  Crocuses 
for  growing  in  pots.  A  new  lot  of  garden  hybrids 
have  recently  been  raised  with.  I  believe,  only 
species  blood  in  them.  The  lovely  deep  primrose 
"  E.  A.  Bowles  "  makes  me  wish  I  had  a  self-filling 
purse  that  would  allow  me  occasionally  to  indulge 
an  expensive  fancy.  As  far  as  my  experience  goes, 
it  is  as  well  able  to  take  care  of  itself  as  the  old 
yellow.  Just  as  Gibson  Bowles  suggests  Parliament 
so  E.  A.  Bowles,  when  you  are  thinking  about  Irises, 


THE   CHARMING   AND   BRILLIANT   HYACINTHUS   AZUREUS. 


suggests  Cantab,  He  raised  it.  If  we  describe 
reticulata  as  Oxford  blue  in  colour,  Cantab  may 
be  called  Cambridge  blue — neither  description  is 
strictly  accurate,  but  it  marks  their  difference  and 
gives  a  rough  idea  of  their  colour.  Would  that 
reticulata  were  less  expensive  so  that  it  might  be 
grown  ad  lib.  in  pots.  It  would  be  so  useful 
to  have  a  dozen  low  pots  or  small  pans  of  it 
in  early  January.  With  me  this  treatment 
almost  invariably  means  death  to  the  bulbs. 
My  soil  does  not  really  suit  either  Spanish  or 
Dutch  Irises. 

Span.ish  sorts  which  I  suggest  are  Prince  Henry 
(bronze).  Souvenir  (pale  silvery  mauve),  Flora 
(white  and  mauve).  Royal  Blue  (deep  rich  blue). 
Sweetheart  (primrose)  and  Cajanus  (rich  yellow). 
The  Dutch  Irises  are  a  useful  race,  flowering  from 
ten  days  to  a  fortnight  before  the  Spanish  and 
being  more  amenable  to  the  conditions  of  life  in 
pots.  I  cannot  help  an  aside  here.  It  is  to  shed 
a  tear  over  the  degeneracy  of  their  names.  A 
superb  race  of  garden  flowers,  raised  by  a  Dutch- 
man, matured  and  grown  on  Dutch  land,  and 
then  named  with  righteous  pride  after  the  master- 
painter-geniuses  of  the  Dutch  race,  are  no  longer 
Hals,  Rembrandt,  Van  der  Heist,  Potter  and 
Sanredam,  but  have  such  colourless  names  as 
Golden  Glory,  White  Excelsior  and  True  Blue. 
It  is  a  poor  exchange  to  be  told  a  certain  flower 
of  a  certain  race  is  blue  or  yellow  or  white  from 
the  fuller  meaning  that  is  attached  to  the  painter 


name.  They  are  by  no  means  exhausted.  There 
are  still  Adriaan  van  Ostade  and  Jan  van  Huysum 
to  be  used  ;  and  when  all  are  exhausted  it  will 
be  high  time  to  think  if  the  making  of  these 
flowers  without  end  has  not  gone  far  enough. 
Try,  if  only  to  remind  yourself  of  the  great  painters 
of  Holland — Rembrandt,  Frans  Hals,  van  Evei- 
dingen,  Voerman  (the  magnificent  white)  and 
Van  der  Heist,  which  after  two  years'  experience 
I  single  out  as  about  the  best  when  beauty  and 
constitution  are  taken  into  account. 

When  a  plant  is  championed  by  Sir  Herbert 
Maxwell  it  is  certainly  one  to  be  reckoned  with. 
I  can  recall  no  flower  with  such  a  real  silvery  look 
as  Ornithogalum  nutans.  It  is  very  hardy,  not  in 
the  least  particular  about  soil,  and  very  uncomn  on- 
looking.  It  is  useful  and  uncommon-looking  in 
vases  either  alone  or  in  combination  with  other 
flowers,  especially  those  of  a  pink  shade  The  casual 
person  might  easily  imagine  that  if  he  heard  these 
two  nicknames,  "  Go-to-bed-at- 
noon  "  and  "  Betty-go-to-bed- 
at-noon,"  that  they  stood  for  the 
same  plant.  It  is  not  so,  by  any 
means,  "  Go-to-bed  -  at  -  noon  " 
is  Tragopogon  pratensis,  which, 
since  the  war,  has  suddenly  ap- 
peared as  a  weed  in  my  garden 
and  is  none  other  than  the  widely 
known  Goat's  Beard,  "  Betty- 
go-to-bed-at-noon "  is  our  very 
local  name  for  Ornithogalum 
umbellatum  (see  "English 
Plant  Names,"  by  Britten  and 
Holland,  page  40,  where  EUes- 
mere  (Salop)  is  given  as  the 
locality  for  its  usage — we  are  nine 
miles  from  Ellesmerc — old  folk 
still  speak  of  it  under  this  name), 
which  also  is  in  the  Rectory 
garden  where  it  has  seeded  itself 
"  all  over  the  shop "  and  is 
generally  known  as  Star  of  Beth- 
lehem, as  it  has  been  from 
Tusser's  day  onwards.  The 
nomenclature  of  plants  is  often 
most  confusing ;  in  fact,  it  is 
frequently  on  a  par  with  "  the 
Rule  of  Three  "  of  the  nursery 
rhyme.  1  want  to  sing  the  praises  of  an  infre- 
quently-met-with  bulb,  but  for  the  life  of  me  I  do 
not  know  what  I  ou^ht  to  call  it.  If  the  "  Kew 
Hand  List  "  is  the  final  court  of  appeal,  I  must  write 
it  down  as  Ixiolirion  montanum  var.  tartaricum  : 
but  if  I  wanted  to  buy  a  few  bulbs  from  van 
Tubergen  of  Haarlem  I  would  have  to  write  for 
"  Pallasii  (tartaricum)  "  and  then  to  find  out 
something  about  it  from  Nicholson's  Dictionary  I 
would  find  "  tartaricum  syn.  montanum."  Beware, 
then,  in  buying.  Say  you  want  the  rich  deep 
purple-blue,  which  is  a  good  doer.  I  do  not  know 
how  it  came  about  that  the  genus  was  cayed 
Ixia  Lily  (IxioUrion).  The  general  eftect  in 
gardens  and  vases  reminds  me  much  more  of  a 
Brodirea,  especially  B.  Purdyi.  Its  inflorescence 
is  neither  a  simple  spike  nor  an  umbel,  but  some- 
thing between  the  two.  The  purple-blue  colour 
of  the  flowers  is  much  more  like  a  Brodisea. 
I  have  had  fine  pots  of  it  in  a  cold  frame  from  which 
frost  has  been  excluded.  I  have  had  just  once 
a  couple  of  stray  plants  turn  up  in  a  border  outside, 
but  it  is  only  in  the  warmest  and  most  favoured 
parts  of  Britain  that  open-air  culture  should  be 
attempted.  I  must  pay  the  penalty  for  this 
digression.  My  final  tips  must  be  but  bare  names — 
Brodiffia  ixioides  splendens,  B.  Bridgesii,  Hyacin- 
thus  azureus,  Ixia  (var.  Englishton),  Erythronium 
Hartwegi,  E.  grandiflorum,  E.  revolutum.  White 
Beauty  and  E  Johnsoni  and  the  pure  white  Milla 
(Triteleia)  uniflora.  Joseph  Jacob. 


452 


THE     GARDEN. 


COLOUR    EFFECTS    IN     THE 
SUMMER     BORDER 


LATE 


Bv    GERTRUDE   JEKYLL,    V.M.H. 


IT  is  to  be  regretted  that  so  many  people 
make  it  a  rule  to  be  away  from  home  in 
August,  for  that  month  is  just  the  time  when 
a  well  arranged  flower  border  is  likely  to  be 
at  its  best.  It  is  necessarily  so  because  the 
plants  that  are  of  the  noblest  aspect,  of  the  greatest 
stature  and  of  the  most  gorgeous  colouring,  such 
as  HoUyhocks,  Dahlias,  Cannas  and  Pentstemons, 
are  then  in  bloom.     However,   August   has  July 


on  one  side  and  September  on  tlie  other,  and,  as 
the  season  of  the  main  flower  border  extends  over 
these  three  months,  it  is  only  the  middle  portion 
that  is  lost  by  those  who  are  away. 

Taking  the  main  features  of  an  existing  border 
that  faces  nearly  south,  the  western  end  has  flowers 
of  blue,  with  tender  coloured  accompaniment  of 
white  and  pale  yellow.  The  Delphiniums  of  July 
have  had  their  tall  seed  pods  cut,  leaving  the  stems 


THE    EASTERN    END    OF    THE    FLOWER    BORDER    AT    MUNSTEAD    WOOD. 


THE    CROSS    PATH. 


[September  9,  1922. 

about  5ft.  high.  Clematis  Flammula,  planted 
behind,  is  coming  over  and  resting  in  these  cut 
stems  and  will  be  a  sheet  of  bloom  in  September. 
A  bush  of  Ceanothus  Gloire  de  Versailles  still  shows 
a  misty  cloud  of  its  grey-blue  bloom.  Further 
forward  in  the  border  are  tall  white  Snapdragons 
and  a  drift  of  the  charming  dwarf  Agapanthus 
Mooreanus,  and  then  the  stronger  blue  of  a  carefully 
kept  strain  of  Delphinium  consolida.  Next,  at 
the  back,  is  the  good  old  Dahlia  Mrs.  Hawkins, 
pale  yellow  with  a  warmer  shade  towards  the  outside 
of  the  petals,  and  then  a  pleasant  mixture  of 
primrose  Sunflowers  peeping  through  and  showing 
above  a  mass  of  the  creamy  plumes  of  Artemisia 
lactiflora.  This  is  backed  by  a  goodly  bush  of 
Gold  Privet,  whose  yellow  is  actually  brighter 
than  that  of  the  Sunflowers. 

Now  comes  a  yard  or  two  without  much  positive 
colour  except  for  some  short  yellow  Snapdragons 
in  the  front  with  the  rich  deep  green  of  Crested 
Tansy,  and  a  good  show  of  bloom  of  Buddleia 
Veitchiana  on  the  wall  at  the  back.  A  large  group 
of  Chrysanthemum  maximum  is  here  out  of  bloom  ; 
behind  it  is  the  tall  Helianthus  orgyalis,  the  greater 
part  of  it  trained  down  over  the  Chrysanthemum 
and  a  patch  of  Eryngium  of  earlier  bloom.  This 
pulling  down  makes  it  throw  out  flowering  shoots  at 
every  axil,  and  in  September  it  will  be  a  spreading 
sheet  of  bright  yellow.  Now  comes  a  gold  Elder 
at  the  back,  cut  back  every  year  so  that  it  makes 
a  good  head  of  its  yellow  green  leaves.  Rudbeckia 
Golden  Glow,  of  lanky  growth,  is  partly  trained 
into  the  Elder  and  partly  pulled  down.  Again 
there  comes  a  patch  of  pale  Sunflower  in  a  setting 
of  Artemisia  lactiflora,  and  in  front  a  yard  or  two 
of  Heleniun-i  pumilum  giving  several  weeks'  display 
of  its  splendid  yellow. 

From  here  onward  the  colouring  becomes  warmer, 
with  a  group  of   the  low- toned  copper- red  Dahlia 
Oban  accompanied  by  the  reddish  leaved  Atriplex 
hortensis,  a  plant  that  shows  redder  as  the  season 
advances  and  the  bloom  turns  to  a  mass  of  flatfish 
seed  pods.   The  colour  strengthens  through  Tritomas 
tall  and  dwarf,  and  orange  African  Marigold,  both 
as  yet  only  beginning  to  show  colour,  but  full  of 
promise    for    September.      Helenium    striatum    is 
behind  the  Tritomas.   and  in  front  is  a  gorgeous 
mass  of  Helenium  cupreum,  orange  Pot  Marigold 
and  a  double  orange  dwarf  Tropaeolura.     Now  is 
coming  the  most  sumptuous  mass  of  the  border's 
colouring.      At   the   back  is  a  mixture  of  darkest 
claret  with  deep  blood-red  Hollyhocks,  intergrouped 
with  bushes  of   Prunus   Pissardi  and  with  a  tall 
dark  claret  Dahlia.     Shorter  Dahlias  of  strongest 
red  come  next  to  these,  and  nearer  still  a  brilliant 
pot-pourri  of  scarlet  Pentstemon,  Scarlet  Phlox  and 
Monarda,  leading  to  orange  red  Snapdragon  and 
orange  Gazania  next  the  path.     A  deep  red  drift 
also  streams  away  from  the  rich  warm  colouring 
of  the  back  ;    it  is  of  dark  velvety  Snapdragons, 
with  a  good  French  variety  of  Amaranthus  and 
Iresine  coming  forward  and  mingling  with  Geranium 
Paul  Crampel. 

The  colour  now  passes  again  through  orange  to 
vellow  with  Rudbeckia  speciosa  in  the  front, 
leading  to  the  pale  primrose-coloured  African 
Marigold  and  the  good  striped  grass  Glyceria 
aquatica,  with  the  clear  pale  yellow  of  Calceolaria 
amplexicauUs  and  the  yeUow,  white- splashed, 
Mentha  rotundifolia.  Striped  Maize  is  at  the  back. 
A  patch  of  Eryngium  that  was  in  flower  in  July 
has  been  shrouded  by  a  white  Everiasting  Pea, 
and  as  this  goes  over  it  is  again  covered  with  a 
late  blooming  hybrid  Clematis.  This  is  foUowed  by 
a  cloudv  mass  of  the  greyish  blue  purple  of  Cam- 
panula lactiflora,  and  then  comes  a  bold  group  of 
Yuccas. 

The  length  of  the  border  so  far  is  130ft.,  but 
now  a  path  cuts  across,  leading  to  an  arched  door- 
way in  the  stone  wall.     The  arch  is  now  obscured 


September  9,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


453 


by  the  growth  of  Choisya  on  each  side  ;  through 
the  open  door  one  sees  a  more  distant  arch  of  Yew 
that  leads  out  of  a  part  of  the  garden  that  is  beyond 
the  wall.  The  tall  tree-like  growth  to  the  left  of  the 
opening  is  Magnolia  conspicua,  loaded  with  bloom 
at  the  end  ot  March.  Beyond  the  cross  path  there 
is  a  shorter  length  of  border,  about  50ft.,  also 
beginning  with  Yuccas.  It  has  flowers  of  Ught 
colouring,  answering,  with  quite  different  treat- 
ment, to  the  blue  and  white  of  the  western  end. 
Here  the  flowers  are  purple,  pink  and  white ; 
pink  and  white  Hollyhocks  at  the  back  and  white 
Dahlias,  with  one  or  two  of  the  earlier  Asters  of 
which  the  beautiful  A.  acris  is  one  ;  Salvia  \irgata 
for  July  and  the  showy  inau%e  bracted  Clary.     The 


Clary  is  cleared  away  when 
the  bloom  is  over,  as  it  is  a 
biennial,  and  its  place  is  taken 
by  some  pots  of  Hydrangeas 
plunged  here  and  also  in  suit- 
able places  elsewhere.  There 
are  Snapdragons  white  and 
pink  and  Campanula  lactiflora 
and  a  general  front  planting 
of  grey  and  glaucous-leaved 
plants  —  Seakale  and  Funkia 
Sieboldi,  Cineraria  maritima, 
Santolina  and  Stachys,  with 
Ageratum  both  tall  and  dwarf 
tilling  anv  vacancies. 


HARDY      ESGALLONIAS    FOR 


M 


PRESENT    PLANTING 


OST  of  them  being  evergreens,  the 
Escallonias  should  be  planted  in  early 
autumn  or,  failing  that,  the  later  spring. 
As  to  the  hardiness  of  this  beautiful 
race  of  South  American  shrubs,  I  can 
only  say  that  most  of  those  mentioned  here  have 
come  through  some  severe  trials  (15'  to  20^  of  frost) 
with  little  more  injury  than  shrivelled  foliage. 
Even  when  the  ends  of  the  branches  have  been  killed 
by  frost  the  bushes  have  come  away  in  spring  with 
the  vigour  of  a  Scotch  Fuchsia.  In  all  cases  they 
are  growing  in  well  drained,  light  loam  (rather 
stony,  which  they  seem  to  like)  and  quite  in  the 
open.  Doubtless,  Escallonias  are  seen  to  greatest 
perfection  in  seaside  gardens,  and  in  those  of  our 
milder  counties  ;  but  that  many  of  them,  including 
some  of  the  best,  will  succeed  in  less  genial  climates 
there  is  sufficient  proof.  In  very  bleak  districts 
these  shrubs  may  be  used  on  walls  with  admirable 
effect. 

The  old  E.  macrantha,  with  its  large,  glossy 
leaves  which,  when  young,  emit  a  delightfully 
aromatic  perfume,  is  still  one  of  the  handsomest 
and  best  of  its  race.  It  will  make  a  fine  specimen 
shrub  growing  up  to  8ft.  or  loft.  high,  with  an  even 
greater  diameter,  and  is  not  less  pleasing  as  an 
ornamental  hedge.  There  are  several  forms  of  this 
species,  varying  considerably  in  the  colour  and  size 
of  their  flowers  and  foliage.     In  a  good  form  the 


waxen,  tubular  blossoms  borne 
in  bold  clusters  should  be  abovit 
an  inch  long,  nearly  half  as  wide 
and  of  a  deep  crimson.  E.  In- 
grami  is  apparently  a  form  of 
macrantha,  and  rubra  also  comes 
close  to  the  latter  in  form  and 
habit.  But  whilst  both  are 
inferior  in  flower  and  leaf,  In- 
gram! appears  to  enjoy  the  merit 
of  superior  hardiness.  One  of 
the  best  varieties  of  E.  mac- 
rantha is  one  I  have  seen  sent 
out  under  the  name  of  sanguinea 
(punctata),  which  excels  in  the 
brilliant  colouring  of  its  flowers. 

Whilst  the  above  are  not  usually  in  full  bloonr 
until  the  later  summer,  the  splendid  hybrid,  E. 
langleyensis  (macrantha  x  Philippiana,  will  often 
commence  in  June  and  continue  to  flower  until  well 
into  autumn.  This  is  a  very  \-igorous  and  in  every 
way  an  admirable  shrub,  hardier  than  many  others, 
and  a  rapid  grower  which  throws  out  its  gracefully 
arched  wands  to  several  feet  in  length  in  a  season. 
The  foliage  is  rather  more  sparse  than  in  the  above- 
mentioned,  and  the  smaller  leaves  are  a  yellowish 
green.  The  bright,  blood-red  flower  clusters  are 
longer  and  more  prominent  than  is  usual  in  others 
of  this  genus,  and  when  the  arching  branches  are 


^■^ 

*-• 

'fwm      «j    , 

%'#ife  Si 

HARDIEST    OF    ESCALLONIAS — E.    PHILIPPIANA. 


A    BEAUTIFUL    WHITE    ESCALLONIA,    E.    MONTEVIDENSIS. 


wreathed  with  these  in  the  generous  manner  peculiar 
to  this  hybrid,  the  effect  is  most  beautiful.  The 
individual  flowers  are  about  \m.  in  diameter,  and  a 
well  grown  shrub  will  attain  to  loft.  in  height  and 
as  much  in  width.  Save  when  one  is  obliged,  on 
account  of  climate,  to  grow  E.  langleyensis  on  a 
wall,  it  should  always  be  given  free  space  to  make  a 
large  natural  mound,  for  in  no  other  way  is  it  seen 
to   full   advantage. 

E.  Philippiana,  despite  the  fact  that  it  is  said  to 
be  "  evergreen  "  in  not  a  few  books  and  catalogues, 
is  here  thoroughly  deciduous  and  quite  one  of  the 
hardiest  of  aU.  It  makes  a  good-sized  bush,  con- 
sisting of  dense  growths  of  fine  interlacing  branches 
which,  about  midsummer,  bear  myriads  of  little 
white  flowers,  sweetly  scented.  The  leaves  being 
very  small,  a  well  flowered  specimen  of  E.  Philip- 
piana will  look  as  white  as  the  Blackthorn  in  March. 

Perhaps  the  finest  white  is  E.  floribunda*  (monte- 
vidensis),  which  is  rather  more  tender  than  any  of 
the  foregoing,  though  it  has  never  had  more  than 
its  tender  tips  injured  with  us.  E.  floribunda  attains 
a  height  of  6ft.  to  8ft.,  the  oar-shaped,  apple- 
green  leaves  being  glossy  and  inclined  to  be  red  in 
the  midrib  when  young.  The  flowers  are  produced 
at  the  ends  of  the  new  shoots  in  August  or  later,  in 
large,  loose  clusters  of  pure  white  blooms,  very 
conspicuous  and  fragrant. 

E.  "  Donard  Seedling "  is  a  free-growing, 
\-igorous  variety  in  a  pale  blush,  hardly  producing 
so  fine  a  show  as  "  Edinburgh,"  said  to  be  a  hybrid 
between  Philippiana  and  sanguinea.  This  is  a  first- 
rate  Escallonia  much  after  the  style  of  langleyensis, 
very  hardy  and  an  abundant  producer  of  vivid  pink 
flowers.  Another  exceptionally  striking  hybrid  is 
E.  exoniensis,  which  goes  up  to  12ft.  or  more, 
bearing  creamy-white  waxen  flowers  ;  and  organ- 
ensis,  with  coral-red  blossoms  and  a  reddish  tinted 
foliage,  is  a  good  species.         A.  T.  J..  A'.  Wales. 

♦[According  to  Bean's  '•  Trees  and  Shrubs," 
E  montev-idensis  is  distinct  from  E  floribunda. 
and  has  larger  flowers — Ed] 


454 


THE     GARDEN. 


[September  9,  1922. 


ALPINES    UNDER    GLASS 


THOUGH,  in  some  quarters,  a  prejudice 
still  exists  against  growing  alpines  in  any 
other  way  than  in  the  open  air  on  the  rock 
garden,  there  cannot  be  any  doubt  that 
Alpine  house  culture  for  these  beau- 
tiful plants  is  gaining  fresh  adherents  e%-ery  year. 
Artificial  ?  Yes.  But  so  is  the  rock  garden,  when 
compared  with  the  free  open  mountain  and  pasture 
land,  and  a  system  of  culture  which  provides  such 
a   charming   effect    during    February,    March    and 


April  as  the  alpine  house  affords  does  not  merit 
much  criticism.  True,  that  everything  is  confined 
in  a  pot  or  pan  and  set  out  in  rows  confined  within 
four  walls ;  but  when  so  displayed  the  plants 
become  individuals  and  less  one  of  a  crowd,  so  that 
their  exquisite  beauty  and  charm  appeal  with  far 
greater  force  and  are  much  more  highly  appreciated. 
Though  I  have  singled  out  February,  March  and 
April  for  special  mention,  do  not  let  us  overlook 
the  fact  that  this  is  the  flower  time,  and   that  by 


A    CHARMING    BELL-FLOWER,    CAMPANULA    TYMONSII. 


SILVER  AND   BLUE,   ERYNGIUM    PROSTRATUM. 
This  recently  received  an  Award  of  Merit  from  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society. 


judiciously  selecting  the  plants  that  are  to  be  grown, 
the  house  may  be  crammed  with  interest,  even 
as  early  as  December,  when,  as  a  rule,  the  average 
garden  has  but  Uttle  of  interest  to  show.  One  is 
called  upon  to  stoke  no  fire,  so  that  cost  is  reduced 
to  a  minimum  ;  one  has  no  worry  as  to  whether  Jack 
Frost  has  nipped  in  and  ruined  the  labour  of 
months ;  while  the  house  is  left  vacant  just  at  the 
right  time  to  fill  up  with  tomatoes  or  summer 
flowers,  as  the  owner's  fancy  may  dictate. 

The  questions  arise  :  "  What  kind  of  house  is 
the  best  for  growing  these  miniature  gems  ?  " 
"  What  are  the  other  necessary  accessories  ?  "  and 
"  When  is  the  best  time  to  start  ?  " 

THE     HOUSE. 

Th«  first  essential  is  that  it  should  be  a  span  roof 
building  (preferably  running  north  and  south),  not 
too  lofty  and  right  out  in  the  open,  so  that  it  will 
not  be  shaded  either  by  trees  or  buildings.  It 
must  be  unheated.  Let  there  be  no  doubt  on  that 
point :  heat,  even  the  gentlest  warmth,  is  not  only 
unnecessary,  but  positively  harmful.  Many  and 
many  a  house  that  has  been  used  as  a  greenhouse 
and  that  is  fitted  with  hot  water  heating  can  be 
adapted  by  the  simple  expedient  of  not  using  the 
tire  ;  but  no  heat  must  be  used — that  is  final. 

The  sole  object  of  an  alpine  house  is  to  afiord 
protection  against  rain,  snow  and  wind,  so  that  the 
longest  possible  period  of  flower  perfection  can  be 
enjoyed,  so  that  free  and  abundant  ventilation  is 
of  the  utmost  importance.  Too  much  emphasis  can- 
not be  laid  upon  this  ;  a  damp,  clammy  atmosphere 
being,  with  artificial  heat,  one  of  the  two  things 
which  the  plants  will  not  tolerate.  Bottom,  side 
and  top  ventilators  should  be  provided  upon  the 
most  generous  lines,  so  that  night  and  day,  urdess 
under  most  exceptional  circumstances,  a  current 
of  air  will  be  passing  through  the  house,  carrying 
away  all  superfluous  moisture  w4th  it.  The  roof 
ventilators  ought  not  to  be  quite  closed  at  any  time, 
those  below  the  stage  and  at  the  side  being  used 
according  to  the  state  of  the  weather.  A  closed 
staging  is  best,  consisting  of  a  layer  of  slate  upon 
which  a  couple  of  inches  of  coke  breeze  have  been 
spread,  though  proper  facilities  must  be  provided 
for  draining  this  or  it  will  produce  damp. 

So  much  for  the  house  and  its  fitment,  but — in 
addition  to  this — provision  must  be  made  for  the 
happiness  of  the  plants  at  other  seasons  of  the  year, 
while  they  are  not  occupying  the  house.  The  most 
satisfactory,  from  the  cultural  point  of  view  as 
well  as  saving  labour,  is  an  ash  bed  in  the  open 
ground  where  the  pans  can  be  sunk  to  the  rim  and 
so  kept  cool  and  moist. 

THE     PLANTS     TO     GROW. 

This  leads  us,  naturally,  to  the  best  period  at 
which  to  make  a  beginning,  the  material  to  use, 
and  general  cultural  management.  Personally, 
I  think  there  is  no  better  period  than  autumn,  for 
so  many  plants  can  then  be  potted  on,  so  many 
seedlings  have  made  good  progress  and  so  many 
bulbs  can  be  procured  from  the  dealers,  that  one  is 
sure  of  a  very  good  display  the  first  spring,  .'\part 
from  the  consideration  of  bulbs  and  seedlings, 
however,  there  is  no  season,  except  the  middle  cf 
the  summer,  during  which  a  good  beginning  cannot 
be  made. 

Of  bulbs  and  tubers  which  can  be  planted  during 
the  next  few  weeks  a  special  note  should  be  made 
of  the  following  :  Anemone  blanda,  with  its 
splendid  starry  blue  flowers  ;  .f^nemone  nemorosa 
Robinsoniana,  the  finest  and  choicest  variety  of 
our  Wood  .Anemone  ;  Crocus  species  ;  Dog's  Tooth 
Violets ;  Fritillaria  aurea,  and  F.F.  citrina, 
Meleagris,  persica,  pudica,  and  recmrva ;  Irises  in 
a  large  range  of  species,  such  as  alata  (which  flowers 
before  Christmas)  Bakeriana,  orchioides  and 
reticulata';  and  Muscaris  in  both  white  and  blue. 
Among  the  most  charming  plants  of  all  are   the 


September  g,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


455 


miniature  Narcissi — cyclamineus,  Bulbocodium, 
minimus  and  triandrus  ;  while,  as  brilliant  com- 
panions, the  little  known  but  interesting  dwarf 
Tulip  species  provide  us  with  a  host  of  pans  for 
successional  purposes.  Everything  in  the  way  of 
dwarf  bulbous  rooted  plants  is  very  attracti  'e  and 
the  flowers  open  in  spotless  purity  under  the  glass 
protection. 

Of  other  plants  it  would  scarcely  be  possible  to 
write  e.\haustively  within  the  limits  of  an  article, 
but  Primulas  and  Saxifrages  alone  (to  mention  but 
two  genera)  would  be  sufficient  to  fimiish  a  large 
house  for  many  weeks  with  such  a  display  of 
lovely  blossom  as  few  who  have  not  experimented 
with  indoor  alpines  would  be  disposed  to  credit. 
Just  think  for  a  moment  of  the  various  beautiful 
flowering  "  Saxies  "  :  the  red  "  mossies,"  delicious 
alike  in  bud  and  blossom  ;  the  earUest  tufted  gems, 
such  as  Burseriana  Gloria  ;  the  Megasea  section  ; 
and  then  the  gracious  encrusted  forms.  One  can 
scarcely  imagine  a  more  dignified  picture  among 
all  the  wealth  of  the  tropics  than  a  fine  example  of 
Saxifraga  longifolia  in  full  flower.  The  great 
arching  stem,  rising  ijft.  to  2ft.  high,  smothered 
with  myriads  of  its  white  flowers,  springing  from 
a  huge  rosette  of  silvery  foliage,  forms  a  glorious 
picture    indeed. 

With  Primulas,  too,  the  story  is  the  same,  save 
that  here  is  an  even  greater  diversity  of  form, 
colour  and  perfume.  It  is  one  of  my  dreams  t" 
possess  a  small  house,  filled  entirely  with  hardy 
Primulas,  in  some  future  April  and  May  that  is  to 
be  and,  when  I  do,  I  know  that  the  result  will  prove 
that  this  is  not  the  madness  of  an  enthusiast,  but 
that  a  real  garden  picture  will  result,  a  picture 
crowded  with  varying  form,  aglow  with  vivid  colour 
and  crammed  with  interest  to  garden  lover,  flower 
lover  and  botanist  alike. 

But  even  yet  we  have  not  exhausted  possibilities. 
There  is  stiU  a  mighty  host  of  .^chilleas,  .'Adonises, 
Campanulas,  Daphnes,  Ramondias,  Haberleas, 
Scillas,  Sempervivums,  Statices,  TrilUums,  Violas, 
etc.,  that  are  no  less  interesting  or  beautiful.  From 
the  end  of  May  onwards,  all  the  plants  should  be 
taken  into  the  open  again  and  plunged  to  the  rim 
in  the  ash-bed  where  a  couple  of  good  waterings  a 
week  will  be  all  the  care  that  they  need.  Two  of 
these  ash-beds  are  better  than  one,  although  both 
must  be  in  an  open  position  and  not  overhung  by 
trees.  One  must  be  in  shade  and  another  in  full 
sun  so  that  all  cla.sses  of  plants  can  be  suitably 
accommodated.  Primulas,  Cyclamens,  Trilliums, 
etc.,  going  into  the  shaded  bed  ;  sun-lovers  such 
as  the  Saxifrages,  Sempervivums,  Irises,  etc., 
enjoying  the  one   in    fullest    sunshine. 

The  alpine  house  certainly  provides  us  with  one 
of  the  cheapest,  most  interesting  spring  features  in 
the  garden,  and  one  can  but  hope  to  see  an  even 
larger  extension  of  such  a  beautiful  feature  in  the 
near  future.  H.   W.    Canning-Wright. 

[Mr.  Canning- Wright  echoes  the  general  ex- 
perience in  advocating  a  low  house  for  Alpines. 
Some  of  the  best  .Alpines  ever  grown  under  glass, 
however  (and  the  least  drawn)  have  been  grown 
in  tall  (Palm)  houses  (quite  drip-proof)  where 
there  is  sufficient  atmosphere  to  produce  a  little 
condensation  on  the  foliage  at  night. — Ed  ] 


CORRESPONDENCE 


FORTHCOMING    EVENTS. 

September  11. — United  Horticultural  Benefit 
and  Provident  Society's  Meeting. 

September  12.  —  Auchencaini  Horticultural 
Society's  Annual  Meeting. 

September  13. — East  Anghan  Horticultural 
Society's  Meeting.  Sheffield  Chrysanthemum 
Society's  Meeting.  Royal  Caledonian  Horticul- 
tural  Society's  Exhibition   (2  days). 

September  14. — Bristol  and  District  Gardeners' 
Association's  Meeting. 


A    L.\TE-FLOWERING    RHODODENDRON 

SPECIES. 

T  ENCLOSE  a  photograph  of  Rhododendron 
auriculatum.  .Mrs.  Bayley  of  Highlands, 
Ivybridge,  writes  me  "  that  it  flowered  the  last 
week  of  July  and  had  sixty-three  large  trusses,  and 
the  scent  was  wonderful."  The  plant  is  one  of  the 
first  sent  out  by  Veitch  and  is  now  9ft.  high  and 
1 1  yds.  in  circumference.  Your  readers  may  be 
interested  in  this  wonderful  late-flowering  Chinese 
species.     In  a  few  years,  as  the  results  of  various 


satisfactory,  and  shall  probably  be  faithful  to  in 
the  future,  are,  Lady  Grisel  Hamilton,  lavender ; 
Mrs.  Hardcastle  Sykes,  pink  ;  and  Nora  Unwin, 
white. — G.  J. 

"  SOMERS'  "     SHIRLEY    POPPIES. 

TN  early  spring  I  wrote  about  "  Annual  Flowers 
for  Old  Folks,"  and  proceeded  to  carry  my 
preaching  into  practice,  but  "  it  is  always  the 
unforeseen  that  occurs,"  and  the  loveliest  of  all 
my  annuals  this  year  have  been  "  Somers'  " 
Shirley   Poppies.     He  very  kindly  sent  me  some 


A    FINE    PLANT    OF    THE    LATE-FLOWERING    RHODODENDRON    AURICULATUM. 


crosses,  we  may  have  a  July-flowering  section  of  good 
hybrid  Rhododendrons,  which  should  prove  a  great 
addition  to  that  wonderful  family. — F.  Gomer 
W.'VTERER,  Bagshot. 

SWEET    PEAS. 

■XX^ISDOM  comes  by  experience  in  gardening  as 
in  all  else,  though  human  frailty  is  always 
apt  to  be  beguiled  by  enticing  words.  For  some 
years  I  have  been  tempted  by  the  descriptions  of 
Sweet  Peas  in  the  many  seed  lists  that  come  to 
hand,  and  have  often  been  captured  by  the 
alluring  qualities  ascribed  to  the  numerous  novelties 
that  are  brought  forward  from  year  to  year.  But 
thinking  over  some  older  kinds,  and  remembering 
which  of  these  have  given  me  the  most  genuine 
pleasure,  I  have  reduced  to  three  the  kinds  that 
are  to  me  the  most  desirable.  They  are  beautiful, 
fairly  sweet  scented,  and  the  colours  of  the  three 
in  a  mixed  bunch  are  an  unending  delight.  .All 
further  trouble  or  uncertainty  as  to  what  kinds  of 
Sweet  Peas  to  provide  is  at  an  end,  for  when 
complete  contentment  is  achieved  there  is  no  need 
to  look  for  further  perplexity,  or  for  further  experi- 
mental excursions  into  the  unknown.  My  own 
choice  excludes  the  colours  approaching  salmon, 
scarlet  and  purple,  finding  greater  delight  in  some 
of  the  tenderer  shades.     Those   I  have  found  so 


seed  last  year  which  I  sowed,  but  only  a  few  plants 
came  up  and  soon  disappeared  in  the  drought,  to 
my  deep  disappointment.  But  after  sulking  for 
a  whole  twelve  months,  behold  !  this  season  they 
came  up  freely  and  were  a  daily  delight  for  about 
two  months.  Never !  never !  have  I  seen  any- 
thing to  equal  them.  Well  may  "  Somers  "  dilate 
on  them  !  They  truly  surpass  any  Shirley  Poppies 
I  have  ever  seen.  Neither  description  nor  photo- 
graph can  convey  their  beauty.  The  Rev.  Wilks 
himself  would  turn  green  with  envy.  Of  course,  1 
am  saving  seed  in  the  hope  of  perpetuating  them 
and  doUng  out  little  dollops  of  the  same  to  a 
favoured  few  of  my  chief  garden  chums. — Anne 
.•Amateur. 

SWEET    PEA   ROYAL    SCOT. 

p\N  page  424  of  your  issue,  dated  August  26th. 
your  correspondent  "  H.  L.  "  presents  his 
experiences  with  several  popular  Sweet  Peas.  The 
article  is  very  interesting,  but  in  its  final  stages 
reference  is  made  to  the  variety  Royal  Scot  as 
requiring  shading  from  the  hot  sunshine.  It  is 
quite  obvious  that  the  very  rich  colour  of  this 
variety  suggests  that  some  shading  is  necessary^ 
but  my  experience  is  that  it  is  not  required  ;  in  fact, 
it  seems  to  revel  in  the  sunshine.  In  the  most 
sunny  portion  of   my  gardens  I  have  100  plants  of 


456 


THE     GARDEN. 


[September  9,  1922 


Royal  Scot  trained  on  the  outer  side  of  bamljoos, 
where  they  get  the  benefit  of  sunshine  practir.ally 
all  day  long,  and  no  burning  of  the  Ijlooin  has  been 
noticed. 

Royal  Scot  is  such  an  excellent  grower — nearly 
all  four  flowered  spikes — that  I  confidently  suggest 
to  "  H.  L."  that  he  give  it  another  trial ;  in  fact,  its 
delightful  perfume  should  appeal  to  an  enthusiast 
like    "  H.    L." — Harrv   Scholefield,    Heysluim. 

A    BEAUTIFUL    SALVIA. 

TN  Salvia  dichroa  we  have  one  of  the  most  beauti- 
ful representatives  of  the  Sage  family,  but  in 
this  part  of  the  country  it  is  not  quite  hardy  and 
must  be  grown  in  a  sheltered  position,  although  in 
more  favoured  districts  it  could  undoubtedly  be 
grown  in  the  open.  The  species  is  not  common  in 
gardens,  although  it  is  by  no  means  new,  as  it  was 
introduced  in  1871  by  Mr.  G.  Maw,  of  Crocus  fame, 
who  collected  it  at  the  base  of  the  Greater  Atlas, 
south  of  the  City  of  Morocco,  at  about  2,000ft. 
below  Tasmeroot.  Mr.  Maw  flowered  it  in  August 
of  the  following  year  in  his  garden  at  Broseley  in 
Shropshire.  In  Nicholson's  Dictionary  the  height 
is  given  as  2  to  3ft.,  but  this  is  misleading,  as  it 
grows  6  to  Sft.  high,  and  a  good  specimen,  bearing 
its  fine  spikes  3ft.  long,  is  a  beautiful  sight  It  has 
quite  I2ins.  out  at  once.  The  corolla  is  i}ins.  long, 
the  upper  lip  being  bright  blue  in  colour,  arcuata. 
pubescent,  the  lower  lip  of  the  same  length  as  the 
upper  and  three  lobed,  the  lateral  lobes  being  pale 
blue,  oblong  in  shape,  and  recurved,  the  central 
white  lobe  being  concave,  orbicular,  and  pendulous. 
The  leaves,  which  are  from  5  to  loins.  long,  are 
roughly  corrugated  on  the  upper  surface,  with 
hairs  on  the  reverse.  It  is  closely  allied  to  Salvia 
bicolor,  and  in  the  Index  Kewensis,  Salvia  dichroa 
is  referred  to  as  S.  bicolor,  but  there  are  considerable 
points  of  difference.  The  flowers  of  S.  bicolor  are 
bright  blue  with  yellow  dots  on  the  upper  lip,  and 
although  the  flowers  of  S.  dichroa  are  chiefly  blue, 
the  centre  lobe  of  the  lower  lip  is  white,  as  already 
stated.  The  leaves  of  S.  dichroa  at  the  base  are 
oblong,  acute,  irregularly  cut  into  large  obtuse 
lobules  that  point  to  the  apex,  while  the  radical 
leaves  of  S.  bicolor  are  deeply  cordate,  sinuate 
and  toothed,  much  cut  with  spreading  teeth  and 
lobes,  and  while  the  hairs  on  the  stem  of  S.  bicolor 
are  spreading,  those  of  S.  dichroa  are  reverted. 
The  plant  is  not  difficult  to  cultivate  and  can  be 


easily  propagated  by  divi- 
sion, root  cuttings,  or  from 
seed. 

The  illustration  is  of  a 
plant  that  has  grown  out- 
side at  Cambridge  for  a 
number  of  years  against  an 
east  wall  of  one  of  the  cool 
houses,  where  it  gives  an. 
attractive  display  every 
year,  making  it  quite 
evident  that  it  deserves  to 
be  better  known  than  it  is  at 
present.  Its  free  flowering 
and  stately  h.ibit  makes  it 
a  plant  worthy  of  a  place 
in  all  gardens  where  it  can 
have  that  slight  amount  of 
protection  which  it  re- 
quires. —  F.  G.  Preston 
(Bot.  Garden,  Cambridge). 

A     FIELD      OF 

YELLOW  VERBASCUM 

LYCHNITIS. 

TN  the  Botanical  Gazette, 
1850,  page  251,  the  late 
Professor  C.  C.  Babington 
recorded  this  plant  "  On  the 
slope  of  the  hill  above 
Bossington,  near  Porlock 
.  .  .  far  above  cultivation  ; 
and  on  the  common  near 
the  mouth  of  the  brook 
below  that  village,  June, 
1850." 

Not  only  does  this  rare 
Mullein  still  grow  in  the 
vicinity,  but  a  small  en- 
closure on  the  steep  hillside 
above  Bossington  was  so 
yellow  with  it  in  July, 
1922,  that  It  formed  a 
yellowish       patch       visible 

from  the  hills  several  miles  away.  Normally  white 
or  cream  coloured,  the  Bossington  plants  are 
all  a  clear  lemon  yellow,  with  a  small  purple 
blotch  at  the  base  of  each  petal ;  and  the  stamens 
are  orange.  The  flowers  are  also  smaller  than  in 
the    type.      This    is    the    variety    micranthum    of 


WHERE    VERBASCUM    LYCHNITIS    GROWS    WILD. 


THE    STATELY    SALVIA    DICHROA. 


Moretti,  very  rare  in  this  country,  as  pointed  out 
by  Mr.  S.  T.  Dunn  in  Vns  Journal  of  Botany,  1894, 
page  23. 

The  small  field  above  Bossington  is  of  very  stony 
ground  and  was  at  some  recent  time  planted  with 
Potatoes,  for  numerous  Potato  plants  appear  this 
year — also  a  considerable  number  of  Thistles. 
On  July  16,  when  I  photographed  the  scene,  I 
counted  about  125  plants  of  the  Mullein  averaging 
4ft.  to  5ft.  high.  Many  are  branched  to  the  ground, 
and  one  of  the  largest  had  about  seventy  branches 
over  6ins.  long  and  numerous  shorter  branches  on 
the  top  i8ins.  of  spike.  Some  of  the  leaves  lie 
flat  on  the  ground,  the  largest  being  a  foot  long. — 
H.  S.  Thompson 

HOW    TO    TRAP    MOLES. 

TN  your  issue  of  August  19th  is  an  interesting 
letter  on  the  above-named  subject  by  A.  C.  C, 
in  which  he  says  "  you  may  tread  heavily  close 
to  the  spot  where  he  is  heaving  up  a  molehill 
(provided  you  do  not  tread  on  his  tunnel),  without 
causing  him  to  stop  work."  Now,  I  find  that  the 
best  way  of  exterminating  moles  is  to  shoot  them 
when  they  can  be  seen  moving  the  earth,  but  the 
chief  difficulty  is  in  approaching  softly  enough  for 
the  mole  not  to  hear  or  feel  one's  approach.  If 
they  do,  they  at  once  stop  and  stop  for  good.  I 
see  in  Wood's  "  Natural  History  "  that  he  agrees 
with  this,  and  I  cannot  understand  how  A.  C.  C. 
comes  to  make  his  statement.  I  have  cleared  a 
whole  field  of  moles  in  a  few  days  by  going  out  at 
1 1  o'clock  (or  12  o'clock  summer  time),  which  is  the 
liour  they  will  be  found  working.  My  gardener  also 
shoots  them  and  says  the  chief  difticulty  is  to  get 
near  without  their  knowing. — Thackeray  Turner. 


September  9,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


457 


GARDENING     OF    THE     WEEK 


FOR     SOLTHERX    GARDENS. 

The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Herbs. — Take  the  opportunity  afforded  by  a 
fine  day  to  cut  those  herbs  required  for  use  in  a 
dried  state  during  the  winter.  Previous  to  tying 
them  into  bunches  for  suspension  in  a  dry,  coo] 
shed  spread  them  out  thinly  for  a  few  days  to 
complete  drying.  Should  Sweet  Basil  be  required, 
sow  some  seed  in  a  moderate  temperature,  and 
when  the  seedlings  are  strong  enough  prick  five 
to  seven  out  into  sin.  or  6in.  pots  and  keep  them 
growing  in  the  same  heat  until  good  bushes  are 
secured,  when  they  may  be  transferred  to  cooler 
quarters. 

Spring-Sown  Onions  are,  owing  to  the  cold, 

wet  July  and  early  .-Vugust  showers,  very  slow 
in  ripening  off.  Directly  growth  is  complete 
pull  the  bulbs  up  and  lay  them  on  trellis  to  finish 
drjTng  and  ripening.  Failing  suitable  conditions 
for  them  to  be  finished  properly  outside,  an  open 
airy  shed  or  some  dry  cold  frames  must  be  utilised  ; 
for  a  thorough  ripening  is  of  great  help  in  keeping 
the  bulbs  through  the  winter  and  early  spring 
months.  Onions  having  a  thick  neck  are  generally 
bad  keepers,  so  should  be  drawn  upon  first  for 
kitchen  supplies. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Lavender. — Whether  the  flowers  have  been  cut 
and  dried  for  indoor  use  or  not,  the  plants  in  most 
instances  will  now  be  quite  over  and  the  majority 
of  established  hedges  will  be  all  the  better  for  a 
good  trimming  back  with  a  pair  of  shears.  Should 
the  plants  have  become  large  and  unshapely, 
and  perchance  overgrown  too.  no  fear  whatever 
need  be  felt  in  cutting  well  into  the  old  wood, 
as  they  generally  quickly  respond  with  an 
abundance  of  new  growths.  Cuttings  inserted 
now  in  a  cold  frame  in  sandy  soil  will  root  readily 
and  be  available  for  autumn  or  spring  planting 
as  required. 

Nepeta  Mussini. — This  extremely  useful  old 
garden  favourite  may  be  used  in  many  ways  with 
most  pleasing  results,  and  it  is  ahvays  advisable 
to  have  a  good  stock  on  hand.  Plenty  of  cuttings 
are  now  available,  and  will  root  readily  in  light 
soil  in  a  close  cold  frame.  The  old  plants,  too,  if 
necessary,  may  be  split  up  now  into  small  pieces 
and  replanted.  Planted  in  front  of  a  tall-growing 
Lavender,  and  linking  up  bold  beds  of  the  annual 
Delphinium  in  two  shades  of  blue,  it  gave  a  most 
pleasing  picture  here  this  summer. 

Pentstemons, — Where  old  plants  can  remain 
and  the  soil  and  district  are  favourable  for  a  fairh' 
safe  wintering  the  results  amply  repay  the  second 
season.  Southgate  and  Xewberry  Gem  seem 
particularly  free  the  setoui  season.  It  is,  however, 
advisable  to  always  have  young  stock  coming 
along,  and  the  present  time  is  suitable  to  see  to 
this  by  inserting  cuttings  in  a  cold  frame  about 
3ins.  apart.  Keep  close  until  rooted  and  after- 
wards always  give  plenty  of  air  e-\cept  during 
severe  weather. 

Rose  Cuttings. — Quite  good  results  are  obtain- 
able from  cuttings  of  some  of  both  sections,  dwarf 
and  climber.  To  attempt  to  increase  all  varieties 
of  the  former  will  probably  be  to  court  failure, 
and  the  Teas  had  better  be  omitted.  Ramblers 
generally  are  easy  to  root  so  long  as  good  finn 
wood  is  used  after  the  tree  has  flowered.  It  is 
important  to  use  a  firm  sandy  compost  and  see 
that  at  least  half  the  length  of  the  cutting  is  in 
the  ground.  It  is.  certainly,  not  necessary  for 
cuttings  of  the  climbing  section  ;  but,  if  preferred, 
cuttings  of  the  dwarfs  may  be  placed  in  pots  under 
a  bell  glass.  The  present  is  a  suitable  time  for 
inserting  the  cuttings. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Apples  and  Pears. — Ripe  and  ripening  fruits 
of  the  early  .Apples  and  Pears  require  watching 
carefully  now,  and  the  latter  should  be  gathered 
a  few  days  previous  to  becoming  quite  ripe. 
Pears,  and  more  particularly  the  early  ones,  are 
most  easily  damaged,  so  should  be  carefully  handled, 
and  when  gathered  placed  in  a  cool,  airy  room. 
Some  of  the  very  early  Apples  are  not  worth  much 
labour  and  expense  as  regards  storage,  but  are 
better  to  be  used  up  as  far  as  it  is  possible  to  do 
so  direct  from  the  trees,  keeping  storage  quarters 
available  for  more  profitable  later  varieties. 

Peaches  must  not  be  allowed  to  get  too  far 
advanced  before  gathering  them  or  thev  will 
probably  prove  quite  second-rate  in  flavour. 
Rather  gather  them  when  it  requires  a  decided 
pull  to  remove  them,  and  give  them  a  few  days 
in  the  even  temperature  of  a  store  room. 


Fruit  Under  Glass. 
Strawberries  in  Pots. — The  first  batch  that 
was  potted  should  now  be  well  supplied  with 
roots  ;  and  to  enable  the  plants  to  build  up  plump, 
strong  crowns  which  will  respond  to  early  forcing 
it  will  be  best  to  feed  them  with  diluted  farmyard 
manure  water,  .\bout  once  a  week  will  be  enough 
the  first  three  weeks,  but  aftenvards  it  may  be 
used  for  every  second  watering.  Keep  all  weeds 
and  runners  removed. 

H.  Turner. 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland.) 
Albury  Park  Gardens,  Guildford. 


their  being  shortened.  Remove  about  one  third 
of  each  shoot  at  the  same  time  removing  all  sub- 
laterals  from  the  remaining  parts.  This  pruning 
proves  of  considerable  benefit  in  enabling  an 
increased  amount  of  light  to  ripen  the  wood, 
and  by  concentrating  the  sap  will  assist  the  buds 
that  are  to  produce  fruit  next  season.  The  border 
should  still  be  kept  reasonably  moist. 
J.-\MES  McGr.\n. 

(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.) 

Coodham,  Kilmantock. 


FOR    NORTHERX    GARDENS. 

The   Kitchen   Garden. 

Seakale. — Give  the  plants  every  assistance  so 
that  fine  strong  crowns  may  be  had  for  forcing 
purposes.  An  apphcation  of  guano,  followed  with 
a  Ught  sprinkling  of  sulphate  of  ammonia  at  a 
later  date,  should  be  given,  hoeing  the  dressing 
lightly  in  between  the  rows.  Old  established 
plantations  may  also  be  considerably  strengthened 
at  this  time  by  copious  supplies  of  liquid  manure. 

Mushrooms. — Where  material  has  been  gathered 
and  got  into  the  right  condition  for  making  up 
the  beds,  no  further  time  should  be  lost  in  having 
the  beds  prepared.  Spread  the  manure  evenly  and 
have  the  bed  thoroughly  consoUdated  by  treading 
and  beating  firmly.  The  depth  of  the  bed  made 
upon  the  flat  need  not  be  so  deep  as  will  be  required 
at  a  later  date  when  the  weather  becomes  colder, 
I  Sins,  being  deep  enough  for  present  purposes. 
When  finished,  a  bottom-heat  thermometer  will 
indicate  when  the  heat  of  the  bed  has  declined 
sufficiently  to  allow  for  spawning  being  done. 
This  should  take  place  when  the  mercury  falls  to 
80°.  Use  fresh  spawn  and  break  into  small  pieces 
about  2ins.  square.  Insert  them  just  under  the 
surface  of  the  bed,  about  sins,  apart  each  way. 
Make  the  surface  quite  firm  again,  covering  over 
with  finely  sifted  loam.  This  should  be  moist 
enough  to  allow  for  beating  down  and  leaving 
perfectly  smooth  with  the  back  of  a  spade.  Cover 
over  with  a  light  dressing  of  hay  or  short  litter. 
If  the  bed  retains  its  heat  and  the  temperature 
remains  steady.  Mushrooms  should  appear  in 
about  five  or  six  weeks'  time.  When  the  myceUum 
begins  to  run  freely  remove  the  covering. 

Early  Sown  Carrots  should  now  be  lifted  and 
stored  in  a  cool  dry  shed,  placing  sufficient  sand 
among  them  to  keep  the  roots  moist.  If  left  too 
long  in  the  ground  the  roots  split  readily.  More 
especially  does  this  happen  on  heavy  ground. 

Cucumbers. — Fire  heat  will  now  be  necessary 
in  late  planted  pits  if  a  profitable  crop  is  to  be 
produced.  Less  moisture  will  now  be  required 
owing  to  the  shortening  days  and  want  of  sun- 
shine. Give  a  surface  dressing  of  a  quick  acting 
fertiliser  to  plants  in  bearing  and  thin  out  all 
unnecessary  growth. 

Fruits   Under   Glass. 

Melons. — Where  crops  are  ripening  care  should 
be  taken  that  the  fruits  are  not  allowed  to  hang 
too  long  before  being  cut.  Directly  the  crack 
round  the  insertion  of  the  stalk  appears  the  fruit 
may  be  cut.  Store  the  fruit  in  a  cool  room  for 
some  time.  Keep  the  house  dry.  but  allow  free 
ventilation    during    suitable    weather. 

Replanting  Peach  Trees.— If  for  any  cause  the 

renovation  of  the  border  has  been  decided  upon 
in  the  early  Peach  house,  the  work  may  be  under- 
taken whenever  the  leaves  show  signs  of  maturity, 
with  every  prospect  of  the  work  turning  out  suc- 
cessfully, as  owing  to  the  trees  still  carrying  their 
foliage  new  roots  will  at  once  be  emitted  and  the 
trees  will  as  a  result  recover  more  quickly  than 
if  left  till  the  foliage  has  fallen.  Provided  the 
required  quantity  of  compost  has  been  pre- 
pared, the  actual  lifting  and  remaking  of  the 
border,  wholly  or  partly,  can  be  quickly 
effected.  See  that  the  ends  of  all  broken  roots 
are  pared  smooth  with  a  sharp  knife  before  re- 
planting. The  new  compost  should  be  settled  about 
the  roots  by  giving  copious  waterings,  and  this  is 
best  done  before  the  final  or  topmost  layer  is 
spread  and  levelled  down.  Care  should  be 
taken  to  see  that  the  roots  are  kept  in  a 
moist  condition  during  the  interval  elapsing 
between  their  removal  from  the  old  soil  and  their 
being  spread  out  afresh  in  the  new  compost. 
Mats  soaked  in  water  and  rolled  round  the  roots 
will    serve  the  purpose. 

Early  Vines. — The  laterals  of  early  forced 
vines  will  now  be  sufficiently  ripened  to  allow  of 


GREENHOUSE    ASD    CONSERVATORY. 

Annuals  for  Pots  may  be  sown  from  now 
until  the  end  of  the  month.  There  is  quite  a 
number  of  hardy  annuals  that  are  general  favourites 
for  this  purpose.  Mignonette  should,  of  course, 
always  be  included.  Other  plants  specially  suited 
for  this  purpose  are  GcKietias  and  Clarkias.  In 
dealing  with  the  former  Godetia  Lavender  should 
not  be  overlooked,  as  it  makes  a  fine  plant  and 
is  distinct  in  colour  from  any  of  the  others. 
Schizanthus  are  very  popular,  and  there  are  quite 
a  number  of  good  strains.  The  following  are  also 
exceedingly  useful :  Larkspurs  in  variety,  Scabious, 
Chrysanthemum  segetum  varieties  Evening  and 
Morning  Star,  Chrysanthemum  carinatum  and 
varieties,  C.  inodorum  Bridal  Robe,  Collinsia 
bicolor  and  its  variety  candidissima.  Viscarias, 
Antirrhinums  (although  not  strictly  annuals, 
are  generally  treated  as  such),  Trachymene 
crrrulea  and  Gilia  capitata.  This  by  no  means 
exhausts  the  lists,  but  it  will  show  what  a  variety 
one  can  choose  from.  The  essential  points  to 
bear  in  mind  are  thin  sowing  in  the  first  instance, 
pricking  the  resultant  seedlings  off  before  they 
become  crowded,  cool  treatment,  with  full  exposure 
to  hght  and  air  at  all  stages  of  their  cultivation, 
ample  ventilation  without  draughts  whenever  the 
weather  conditions  are  suitable,  prompt  attention 
as  regards  staking  to  those  plants  that  require 
it.  and,  of  course,  careful  watering  at  all  times. 
If  these  annuals  receive  a  check,  it  is  hardly  ever 
possible  to  pull  them  round,  as  they  have  little 
power  of  recovery  compared  with  plants  of  a 
perennial  character.  Seed  should  be  sown  in 
pots  or  boxes  of  Hght  rich  soil.  Plants  hke 
Larkspurs  and  Mignonette  that  transplant  badly 
should  be  sown  directly  into  their  flowering  pots, 
48-sized  pots  being  best  for  this  purpose.  After 
sowing  stand  the  pots  or  boxes  in  a  cold  frame 
or  cool  house,  and  shade  them  with  sheets  of 
paper  until  such  time  as  they  germinate.  .As 
already  stated,  these  plants  require  a  Ught,  rich 
compost,  which  should  be  made  fairly  firm,  as 
this  tends  to  produce  sturdier  growth.  Some  old 
mushroom-bed  manure  is  excellent  to  add  to  the 
potting  compost. 

Violets. — To  attain  the  best  results  with  these 
plants  they  must  be  well  established  before  winter, 
thus  there  should  be  no  delay  in  lifting  them  and 
transferring  them  to  frames.  Any  frames  that 
have  been  used  for  growing  vegetables  are 
excellent  for  this  purpose.  If  such  are  not  avail- 
able, the  frame  may  be  partly  filled  with  leaves, 
finishing  off  with  at  least  a  foot  of  good  rich  compost. 
The  compost  in  the  frame  should  be  allowed  to 
settle  down  for  at  least  a  week  before  the  plants 
are  placed  therein.  If  the  weather  be  at  all  dry, 
the  plants  should  be  given  a  thorough  soaking 
at  the  root  the  day  before  it  is  proposed  to  Uft 
them.  When  planting  they  should  be  kept  close 
up  to  the  glass  and  well  watered  in  and  kept 
close  for  a  few  days,  shading  them  for  a  few  hours 
each  day  in  bright  weather.  In  a  few  days  the  frame 
lights  may  be  removed  altogether  until  such  time 
as  inclement  weather  sets  in.  If  it  is  desired  to 
grow  any  in  pots,  they  should  be  lifted  with  a 
good  bail  of  soil  attached  and  carefully  potted 
up  in  6in.  or  7in.  pots,  standing  them  in  cold 
frames  and  keeping  them  close  for  a  few-  days 
until  they  become  established.  If  infested  with 
red  spider  the  plants  must  be  kept  well  syringed 
until  they  are  clean. 

Chrysanthemums. — The  early  \arietie3  whose 
buds  are  forward  should  now  be  removed  to  a 
cool,  airy  house  ;  others  should  be  kept  regularly 
tied  and  made  secure  against  stormy  weather. 
Houses  required  for  Chrysanthemums  and  other 
greenhouse  plants  that  have  been  stood  outdoors 
for  the  summer  should  be  cleaned  and  prepared 
for  their  reception.  The  glass  should  be  washed 
down  and  ali  wall  surfaces  gi\en  a  coating  of 
hmewash.  The  best  medium  for  making  this 
fast  is  skim  milk.  AU  permanent  shading  should 
now  be  washed  off,  as  it  is  very  essential 
that  plants  should  have  all  the  light  possible, 
and  in  a  general  way  there  is  far  too  much  shading 
used. 

Tritonia  crocata,  of  which  there  are  quite  a 
number  of  varieties,  is  \ery  beautiful  and  useful 


458 


THE     GARDEN. 


[September  9,  1922 


for  the  coo]  greenhouse,  and  it  is  surprising  they 
are  not  more  generally  grown.  Like  most  South 
African  bulbs,  their  growing  season  is  during  our 
winter,  and  they  succeed  under  the  same  cultural 
conditions  advised  for  Freesias  and  may  be  potted 
up  any  time  during  this  month.     The  corms  are 


small,  and  six  or  eight  should  be  put  into  a  48-sized 
pot.  They  can  be  grown  in  cold  frames  until 
thev  show  their  l5ower-spikes  during  the  spring, 
when  they  are  best  removed  to  a  cool  greenhouse. 

J.    COUTTS. 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kete. 


THE  CULTURE  OF  SWEET  PEAS 


THE  art  of  growing  Sweet  Peas  has  now 
been   brought    to   great   perfection,    and 
those   who   desire   to  exhibit  should   be 
prepared  to  spend  a  good  deal  of  time 
over   them   in   order   to   ensure   success. 
This   appUes   to   fruits,   flowers   or   vegetables,   so 
that  Sweet  Peas  are  no  exception  to  the  general 
rule.     In  olden  times  the  general  custom  was  to 
sow  Sweet  Peas  in  mixture  in  the  form  of  hedges, 
or  much  the  same  as  for  garden  Peas,  and  even 
now  one  may  see  them  so  grown  occasionally  in 
rural  gardens.     This  plan  does  not  allow  individual 
varieties  to  show  what  they  are  capable  of  doing, 
because    the    strong-growing    varieties    cripple    or 
suppress  the  weaker  ones.     It  was  not  till  the  late 
Herury     Eckford     began     to     sow     the     varieties 
separately    and    to    evolve     fine     new    ones    that 
the   Sweet   Pea   showed   what   it   was   capable   of 
doing  for  the  beautifying  of  gardens. 
WHEN  TO  sow. 
Where  the  soil  is  suitable,  Sweet  Peas  may  be 
sown  in  the  open  at  the  beginning  of  March,  and 
again  in  October  or  November  to  stand  the  winter 
and   flower   early.     Both   these   plans   have   been 
superseded,  whether  the  object  is  for  exhibition, 
for  adorning  the  garden  or  for  home  decorations. 
Skilful   growers  now  sow   the   seeds  in   gin.   pots 
and  place  them  in  a  cold  frame,  to  be  kept  close 
till    the    seedUngs    appear    and    then    gradually 
ventilated.     The    best    time    to    do    this    for    the 
southern  half  of  England  is  from  October  7  to  14. 
Northern  growers  should  sow  a  little  earlier.     As 
soon    as    the    seedlings    are    well    estabhshed    the 
lights  should  be  drawn  right  off  every  day,  except 
during  heavy  rain   and  hard   frost  or  snow.     In 
gardens   that   are   badly   infested   with   sparrows, 
it  will  be  necessary  to  lay  netting  over  the  frames 
to   keep   these   marauders   at   bay.     During   mild 
weather    the    grower    who    is    on    the    alert    will 
occasionally  examine  the  frames  for  slugs. 

The  next  best  time  to  sow,  perhaps,  would  be 
at  the  end  of  January  or  beginning  of  February, 
and  at  this  period  of  the  year  it  will  be  necessary 
to  give  them  gentle  heat  and  keep  them  as  near 
the  glass  as  possible.  As  soon  as  they  are  well 
up,  the  seedUngs  will  require  judicious  ventilation 
and  weeding,  for  most  soils  are  more  or  less  full 
of  the  seeds  of  weeds. 

PREPARATION    OF    THE    SOIL. 

If  only  one  long  row  is  to  be  sown,  the  soil 
should  be  trenched  3ft.  wide  and  deep,  well 
manuring  it  at  the  same  time.  Where  several 
rows  are  intended,  the  whole  of  the  soil  should 
be  trenched  to  this  depth  and  well  manured  between 
the  different  spits.  Where  the  subsoil  is  very 
heavy  this  should  be  well  broken  up  and  manured, 
to  ameUorate  it  and  enable  the  roots  to  penetrate 
freely.  Deep  working  of  the  soil  adds  greatly  to 
its  water-holding  power  in  summer,  for  Sweet 
Peas  must  have  a  continuous  supply,  or  growth 
will  get  checked  during  the  first  period  of  drought. 
Each  trench  should  be  laid  up  in  the  form  of  a 
ridge  at  the  top  to  expose  as  much  of  the  soil  as 
possible  to  the  action  of  frost  and  rain,  which 
crumble  down  stubborn  soils  to  the  powdery 
condition  favourable  to  growth.  When  trenching 
has  been  finished,  sprinkle  the  soil  equally  all  over 
the  top  with  slaked  Ume.  In  old  gardens  that 
have  been  manured  for  a  long  series  of  years 
so  that  the  soil  is  black  with  decaying  vegetable 


matter,  it  is  advisable  to  throw  out  the  soil  from 
the  trenches  in  autumn  and  leava  it  exposed  to  the 
sweetening  influence  of  the  elements.  It  should 
be  replaced  in  February  or  March. 

PLANTING. 

In  Ught  and  friable,  well  drained  soils  planting 
may  be  done  during  the  third  week  of  March. 
Where  they  are  heav;-  and  not  in  suitable  con- 
dition for  the  operation,  planting  should  be 
delayed  till  a  more  favourable  time.  It  has 
been  done  with  success  as  late  as  May.  Cut  a 
trench  of  suitable  depth,  with  the  spade,  alongside 
the  garden  line.  Turn  the  plants  out  of  the  pots, 
shake  away  the  soil,  disentangle  the  roots,  set 
the  plants  alongside  the  straight  edge  of  the 
furrow,  place  some  of  the  finer  soil  over  the  roots, 
then  seme  of  the  rougher  material  and  tread  it 
firmly.  Fill  in  the  rest  of  the  soil,  make  it  tidy 
and  put  some  small  twigs  against  the  plants  to 
keep  them  upright.  Something  should  be  done 
at  this  stage  to  frighten  birds  away,  otherwise 
it  may  be  found  that  they  have  ruined  many  of 
the  plants  at  the  first  opportunity.  Green  and 
tender  plants  put  out  where  nothing  was  growing 
before  have  a  great  fascination  for  the  destructive 
sparrow.  Even  where  sown  outdoors.  Sweet  Peas 
in  some  gardens  get  regularly  pinched  by  these 
marauders.  Black  cotton,  elevated  about  sins, 
above  the  soil  on  pegs,  on  either  side  of  the  row,  is 
usually  very  effective.  TinkUng  pieces  of  tin  or 
glass,  suspended  on  sticks,  are  sometimes  employed. 

AFTER-TREATMENT. 

Early  support  must  be  given,  whether  that 
consists  of  bamboo  rods,  stakes  or  SimpHcitas 
netting.  Either  one  of  these  must  be  made  secure 
against  wind,  for  it  must  be  remembered  that  the 
wind  has  a  great  power  on  the  side  of  a  row  when 
the  plants  are  4ft.  to  8ft.  or  more  high,  and  just 
when  they  are  at  their  best  it  may  be.  Most 
growers  know  the  capabiUties  of  their  soil  in 
giving  height  to  Sweet  Peas,  and  should  make 
provision  accordingly. 

When  sown  in  October,  the  plants  will  make  a 
number  of  shoots  more  than  is  necessary  or  desir- 
able, and  these  should  be  thinned  to  two  or  three 
of  the  best,  the  remainder  being  pinched,  as  well 
as  others  that  may  subsequently  arise.  This 
should  be  done  when  the  shoots  have  grown  to  a 
height  of  gins,  to  lains.  The  selected  shoots 
should  be  tied  to  the  stakes,  but  not  too  tightly. 
Some  room  should  be  allowed  for  the  thickening 
of  the  stems.  If  grown  especially  for  exhibition 
and  the  show  does  not  occur  till  late  in  the  season, 
some  growers  pinch  the  shoots  in  June,  or  at  least 
six  to  seven  weeks  before  the  exhibition,  to  retard 
them.  Only  one  shoot  should  be  taken  up  from 
this  pinching,  all  the  rest  being  stopped. 

Hoe  the  ground  once  a  week  whether  it  seems 
to  require  this  or  not.  Hoeing  has  other  purpose; 
to  serve  besides  keeping  down  weeds.  In  dry 
weather  it  serves  to  conserve  the  moisture,  and  in 
moist  weather  it  sweetens  the  soil,  and  at  all  times 
allows  freer  access  of  air  to  the  roots.  Mulching 
is  sometimes  advisable  in  prolonged  drought, 
but  it  is  best  to  keep  the  hoe  going  as  long  as 
possible.  It  is  often  necessary  to  give  copious 
suppUes  of  water  during  dry  weather  in  order 
to  keep  the  plants  growing  steadily  and  vigorously 
to  get  length  to  the  flower-stem  and  size  to  the 
blooms,  as  well  as  colour. 


If  a  sufficiency  of  farmyard  manure  was  un- 
obtainable at  planting-time,  it  will  be  necessary 
to  use  artificial  manures.  These  may  consist  of 
proprietary  or  general  fertilisers.  Potash  and 
phosphates  are  suitable  for  Sweet  Peas.  What- 
ever is  used,  it  should  be  applied  in  small  doses 
and  often.  Clear  soot  water  makes  a  good  stimu- 
lant, but  this  should  never  be  strong.  Weak 
liquid  manure  is  also  a  safe  one  to  use,  always 
well  diluted.  Overdoses  of  anything  are  harmful, 
or  even  ruinous  in  some  cases.  After  ever\' 
watering  or  appUcation  of  manures  that  necessitates 
watering,  the  soil  should  be  hoed  the  following 
day.  During  the  evenings  of  warm  days  it  proves 
refreshing  to  the  plants  if  they  are  sprayed  with 
water  that  has  been  exposed  to  the  air  for  twenty 
four  hours. 

VARIETIES    TO    GROW. 

Out  of  the  hundreds  of  varieties  available  it 
is  difficult  to  make  a  selection  of  the  best  for 
any  particular  purpose  and  yet  keep  within  the 
limits  of  space  available.  There  may  be  differences 
of  opinion,  but  for  exhibition  the  following  selection 
is  in  all  respects  worthy  :  Mrs.  Tom  Jones  (blue). 
Renown  (carmine).  Royal  Scot  (cerise  scarlet). 
Picture  (deep  cream  pink).  Charity  (crimson). 
Warrior  (dark  maroon),  Tangerine  (orange), 
Gloriosa  (orange  scarlet),  Jean  Ireland  (picotee 
edge  on  cream).  Royal  Purple  (deep  purple), 
Hawlmark  Scarlet  (bright  scarlet),  Edna  May 
Improved  (white),  Felton  Cream,  Royal  Salute 
(deep  cerise),  R.  F.  Felton  (lavender).  King  Mauve 
(mauve),  Annie  Ireland  (picotee  edge  on  white), 
Hawlmark  Pink  (deep  pink).  Sunset  (rose)  and 
Barbara  (salmon).  If  it  is  desired  to  Umit  the 
above  number,  the  first  twelve  may  be  grown. 
All  the  above  may  be  grown  in  the  open  garden, 
without  shading,  except  Tangerine  and  Barbara, 
which  are  liable  to  burn  in  bright  sunshine,  and 
should  be  shaded.  There  are  other  distinctive 
colours  in  the  Sweet  Pea,  but  the  above  are  among 
the  most  telling. 

For  garden  decoration  and  cut  flowers,  light 
and  pleasing,  but  distinct  and  teUing  colours 
should  be  selected.  The  following,  among  others, 
are  distinct,  free  flowering  and  vigorous :  Mrs. 
Tom  Jones,  Royal  Salute,  Royal  Scot,  Charity, 
Jean  Ireland,  Royal  Purple,  Picture,  Hawlmark 
Scarlet,  Market  Pink  (deep  pink),  Helen  Pierce 
Spencer  (marbled  blue),  Rosabelle  (deep  rose) 
and  Constance  Hinton  (white).  J.  F. 


The  False  Lupin. — A  plant  that  has  been  desig- 
nated "  False  Lupin  "  on  account  of  its  flowers 
resembling  those  of  Lupinus  arboreus,  Thermopsis 
montana  syn.  fabacea.  is  a  most  attractive  and 
useful  plant  for  planting  on  the  margins  of  shrub- 
bery borders.  It  grows  from  2ft.  to  3ft.  high. 
It  should  be  planted  where  it  can  remain  undis- 
turbed and  will  quickly  establish  itself.  Its  pal- 
mate, downy  leaves  and  numerous  bright  yellow 
pea-shaped  blossoms  in  terminal  clusters  are  very 
attractive  in  the  shrubbery.  It  may  also  be 
planted  in  partial  shade,  such  as  under  the  shade 
of  tall  trees,  and  is  a  recommendable  plant  for 
London  gardens.  It  flowers  during  late  spring 
and  early  summer. 

Horticulture  and  the  Hospitals. — The  South - 
gate  Allotments  Federation  is  organising  a  Fete  in 
aid  of  the  Royal  Northern  and  Passmore  Edwards 
Hospitals,  which  will  be  held  in  Broomfield  Park, 
Palmers  Green,  N.,  on  Saturday,  September  r6. 
The  Horticultural  Section  promises  to  be  most 
successful,  no  less  than  five  challenge  cups  being 
available  for  competition.  The  exhibition  fee  is  is., 
which  includes  admission" to  the  Fete  and  entrance 
fee  to  any  two  classes.  Particulars  and  entry 
forms  are  obtainable  from  the  Hon.  Secretary 
to  the  Horticultural  Committee,  Mr.  J.  T.  Chilvers, 
81,  Selborne  Road,  N.i). 


THE 


22 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


i^ol.  LXXXVI.— No.  2652. 

Entered  as  Second-class  Matter  at  the  New  York,  N.Y..  PoatOfiBce. 


Saturday,  September  16,  1922 


REGISTERED  AT  THE  GENERAL 
POST  OFFICE  AS  A  NEWSPAPER 
AND     FOR     CANADIAN     MAGAZINE 

POST. 


Price  THREEPENCE 

Yearly  Subscription: 
Inland,    nl4:    Foreign,   17/4 


THE      STATELY      BEAR'S      BREECH, 
ACANTHUS  MOLLIS  AT  GRAVETYE. 


BARR'S  Beautiful  New  Seedling  NERINES 

The  most  beautiful  and  easiest  grown  of  Auttmn-flowering  Bulbs  for  the  Greenhouse. 

For  autumn  decoration  in  the  greenhouse  few  plants  can  compare  with 
Nerines  for  their  brilliant  and  attractive  colours.  The  flowers,  which  are 
produced  in  umbels  of  6  to  24  blooms,  are  borne  on  stout  stems  varying  in 
height  from  i  to  2  feet.  In  colour  they  range  from  dark  red,  vivid  crimson^ 
cerise  and  scarlet  to  salmon,  coral-rose,  pink,  blush  and  tihite,  many  having  a 
glistening  lustre  which  in  sunlight  gives  thtm  the  appearance  of  being  dusted 
with  gold  or  silver.  They  remain  decorative  for  many  weeks,  and  their  beauty 
may  be  enjojed  in  a  sitting-room  as  well  as  the  greenhouse,  if  the  pots  are 
kept  in  a  sunny  window. 

12  in  12  beautiful  named  varieties       ..     42/-,  50/-,  63/-  and  84/- 
6in     6         „  „  „  ..      18/-,  24/-,  30/-  and  42/. 

SPECIAL    LIST    ON    APPLICATION. 

11,     12     &    13,     KINO    STREET, 
COVENT     GARDEN,     LONDON,     W.C.2. 


BARR    &    SONS, 


MERRYWEATHER'S    ROSES 


FOR    THE   GARDEN  1 
FOR    BEDS! 


FOR    EXHIBITION! 
FOR    EVERYWHERE! 


Also  Fruit  Trees,  Shrubs,  Ornamental  Trees. 
Please  state  your  wants. 

H.    MERRYWEATHER    &    SONS,   LTD. 
Garden  Specialists,  SOUTHWELL,  NOTTS. 

BENTLEY'S  Weed  Destroyers 

Lagrest  Sale  !     Nearly  SO  per  cent,  more  powerful  than  any  other  I 

The    most    effective,    the    most    lastirg,    the    most    cccncmical ! 

CONCENTRATED    (Liquid,    1    to   fO)  :    6   galls.,   47/-;     12    galls.,    SO/- • 

24  galls.,  175/-.     PCWEER  (1  to  25)  :    4  tins.  11/6;    8  tins,   22/8  ;    12  tins,' 

33/-;    20  tins,  52/6  ;    40  tins,  102/6. 

BENTLEY'S    Quassia    Extract   (^^l'^qSJeT'') 

The  Original  !     Non-poifonous  !     An  infallible  and  safe  destroyer  of  Aphis  in 

all  its  forms.     One  gallon  makes  £0  to  100  gallons  of  wash.      5  gallons,  10/- 

per  gall. ;   1  gallon,  10/6  ;  J  gallon,  6/-  ;   1  quart,  3,8  ;   1  pint,  2/- 

Carriage    Paid    on    20/-    Orders    and    uj.vcarcs. 

Sole    Manufacturers:    JOSEPH    BENTLEY,    Ltd.,    Chemical    Works, 
BARROW-ON-HUMBER,      HULL. 

THE    BULB    GARDEN 

Order    now    to    avoid    disappointment. 

Complete  success  can  be  obtained  by  planting 

BRITISH   GROWN   BULBS 


We  have  an  excellent  stock  of  CHOICE  DAFFODILS 

AND  TULIPS     and    solicit    your    early    enquiries. 

Complete  List  free  on  application. 

CARTWRIGHT     &     GOODWIN,     LTD. 

THE    PREMIER    HOUSE,    KIDDERMINSTER. 


11. 


THE     GARDEN. 


[September   i6.  1022. 


"THE    GARDEN"   CATALOGUE    GUIDE 


NOTICE  TO  OUR  READERS 


C\ti  receipt  of  a  Post  Card  the  under- 
^^  mentioned  firms  will  be  pleased  to 
send  their  useful  Catalogues  free  of  charge. 


Fruit  Trees  and  Plants 


PERRY'S 

Hardy  Plant  Farms 

ENFIELD,  MIDDX. 


New  Alpines 
and  Perennials 

Complete 
Collection 


KELWAY   &   SON 
RvTAiL  Plant  Department 
LANGPORT,   SOMERSET. 


Hardy  Plants 
Colour  Borders 
Oladioli 


HAROY    AZALEAS    AND    FLOWERINQ     SHRUBS 


R.  &  G.  CUTHBERT 
SOUTHGATE 
MIDDLESEX 
Established  1797 


For  planting    and 
Conservatory 
decoration. 
Catalogue  of  our 
new  and  beautiful 
varieties  post 


LAXTON   BROS. 

Nurseries 

BEDFORD 


Strawberries 

and 

Fruit  Trees 


W.  WELLS,  JuNR. 
Hardy  Plant  Nursery 
MERSTHAM,  SURREY 


Specialist  in 
Hardy  Plants 
and  Alpines 
Catalogues  free 


PULMAM  ®  SON 

Tie  NUCSEBtES  -ELSENHAM 
STANSTED  •  ESSEX. 


Rock- 
Alpine® 
Handy  Plants 


Seeds  and  Bulbs 


R.  H.  BATH,  Ltd. 
The  Floral  Farms, 
WISBECH 


Home-Grown 
Bulbs  and 
Seeds 


BLACKMORE  &  LANGDON 
TwiRTON  Hill  Nursery 
BATH 


Begonias 
Delphiniums 
Qloxinias 
Cyelamen,  etc. 


DAWKINS 

408,  King's  Road 

CHELSEA,   S.W. 


Bulb 

Catalogue 
now  ready. 


SPECIALITE. 


TREES   AND   SHRUBS 


for    AUTUMN     COLOUR 
and  WINTER    BERRIES 
(Carriage  Paid.) 

V.  N.  Gaontlett  &  Co.,  Ltd.. 

Japanese  Nurseries,  CHiDDrNGPOLD,  Surrey. 


Garden  Sundries 


CORRY   &   CO.,   Ltd. 
Shad   Thames,    S.E.i    and 
Bedford  Chambers 
Co  VENT  Garden,  ^W.C. 2 


Merchants  and 
Manufacturers 
of  Horticultural 
Sundries 
Fertilizers  and 
Insecticides,  etc. 


J.  BENTLEY,  Ltd. 
Barrow-on-Humber 
HULL. 


Weed  Destroyers 

Fertilizers 

Insecticides 

Nets  and  Sundries 


Special   Offer. 

AlpinesA  Hardy  Perennials 

CARRIAGE    PAID. 


Landscape  Gardening 


W.  H.  GAZE  &  SONS,  Ltd. 
High  Street 
KINGSTON-ON-THAMES 


Landscape,  Rock 
and  WaUr  Garden 
Model  Qardens 
Portsmouth   Road 
Surbiton 


R.  WALLACE  &  CO.,  Ltd. 
The  Old  Gardens 
TUNBRIDGE  WELLS 


Landscape  &  Garden 
Architects.  Quetn 

Alexandra's    Cup    for 
Best  Rock  and  Water 
Garden,  International 
Show,  iMli;, 


We  have  a  particularly  fine  lot  of  the  above  this 
season  and  shall  be  pleased  to  forward  an  instructive 
and  descriptive  Catalogue  on  application.  AH 
orders  of  lo/-  and  over  will  be  sent  Carriage  Paid  to 
any  part  of  Great  Britain.  Smaller  orders  Carriage 
Paid  for  i/-  extra. 

FRUIT    TREES    &    ROSES. 

A  grand  stock  of  these  to  offer  at  reasonable  prices. 
Catalogues  Free. 


THE  BARNHAM  NURSERIES,  LTD. 

BARNHAM,     SUSSEX. 


J.  CHEAL  &  SONS,  Ltd. 

Nurseries 

CRAWLEY 


Landscape 
Qardenere 
Trees  and 
Shrubs,  etc. 


PULMAM  ©  SOIN 

a' APPOINTMENT     ro  r1l5  MAJE^TI' 

71  NEWMAN  ST-OXrORDST 

LONDON -V 
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35th     SEASON. 

MRS.   PYM'S   FAMOUS  PLANTS. 

OrdorsS/-  and  over,  post  free  or  carriage  paid,  passenger 
train  ;   4d.  extra  for  orders  under  3/-. 

New  Catalogue  for  Autumn  and  Spring  Planting  now 
ready,  free  on  application. 

Strong  Hardy  Perennial  Plants,  Rockery  Plants,  Hardy 
Climbers,  Spring  Bedding  Plants,  Greenhouse  Plants, 
Vegetable  Plants,  etc. 


Extract  from  one  of  the   leading  Qardening  Journals, 

March,  1922:  "Mrs.  Pym's  hardy  plants  have  been  advertised 
consistently  in  these  pages  for  many  years  and  have  never  given 
our  readers  anything  but  satisfaction.  Her  plants  are  at  prices 
which  shoiUd  suit  the  leanest  pocket." 

Chrysanthennums,  large  strong  plants  for  autumn  and  winter 
flowering,  best  varieties  for  pots  or  garden,  white,  yellow, 
crimson,  pink,  bronze,  golden,  6,  1/9.  Primulas,  hardy 
assorted  for  winter  and  spring  tlowertng  for  cool  house,  rockery 
or  border,  6,  1/6.  Wallflowers  for  transplanting,  dark  blood- 
red,  bright  blood-red,  rich  crimson,  early  dark  red,  bronze, 
yellow,  golden,  ruby,  purple,  Eastern  Queen  and  new  large- 
flowering  hybrids,  2/3,  100;  10/-,  500;  15/-,  1,000.  Alpine 
and  Siberian  Wallflowers  Cheiranthus,  very  dwarf,  bright 
orange  or  clear  yellow,  50,  2/6 ;  100,  4/6. 

STRONG  VEGETABLE  PLANTS.  Cabbage,  Brussels 
Sprouts,  Coleworts,  Cauliflower,  Broccoli,  Savoys,  Curled 
Kale,  Pickling  Cabbage,  Leeks,  Perpetual  Spinach,  Kelway'a 
Sprouting  Kale,  Sprouting  Broccoli,  1/9,  100;    3/-,  200. 

SenJ  for   New   Catalogue. 

Liberal  Gratis  Plants  with  every  5/-  Order  during  Septembep. 


Mrs.    PYM,    F.R.H.S., 

10,  Vine  House,  Woodston,  Peterborough. 


■•^^ 


No.  2652.— Vol.  LXXXVI.] 


[September  16,  1922. 


AUTUMN  COLOUR  IN  THE  SHRUBBERY 


A    S      autumn      progresses      the      herbaceous 

^^      border     tends     to      become     "  draggle- 

/  ^    tailed  "   and  the  rock    garden  shews   to 

^^^^k  small  advantage,   so    that   the   principal 

*  *  effects  must  be  looked  for  in  wild  garden 

and  shrubben.-.     E%-en  here,  however,  forethought 

must  be  used  if  really  good  results  are  to  be  obtained. 
Colour  among  shrubs  and  trees  at  this  season 

is  obtainable  in  flower,  fruits  and  foUage.  Late- 
fiowering  shrubs  are  comparati\ely  few  in  number 

but,    fortunately, 

excellent    in 

quality.      During 

September       and 

often  in  October 

the    varieties    of 

Buddleia  varia- 
bilis  with    i  m  - 

mense  panicles  of 

purple  or  almost 

\'iolet    pleasingly 

fragrant     flowers 

with     orange 

throats     are,      if 

not  at  their  best, 

still      briUiant. 

The   best   known 

varieties    are 

Veitchiana,   mag- 

nifica    and     Wil- 

sonl.       The    first 

named  is  the  first 

to  fiower  and  the 

palest   in    colour. 

Of    the     t  h  r  e  e, 

magnifica    is    the 

deepest  in  colour, 

the     latest     and 

has     the     largest 

panicles,  but  var. 

superba,  less  often        ;_ 

seen,  is  later  still 

and  quite  as  large         i- 

in   panicle,    these 

being      a      little 

'■  fatter  "       and 

more  blunt   ended   than   in   var.   magnifica.     The 

Spanish  or  Rush  Broom,  Spartium  junceum.  often 

provides  welcome  golden  colour  in  September,  as 

do   many    of    the   Ceanothuses,    particularly   C.C. 

azureus  and  americanus  and  their  hybrids,  notably 

the    beautiful   Gloire   de   Versailles,   perhaps     the 

longest  flowering  of  all.     Four  rather  uncommon 

Escallonias  provide  useful  autumn  blossom,  namely 

E.E.  exoniensis,  organensis  and  the  two  somewhat 

similar   white   varieties,    floribunda   and  montevi- 

densis.     The  late-flowering  Hydrangea  paniculata 


or  its  all  sterile-flowered  and  very  distinct  variety 
grandiflora  is  to  be  found  in  most  shrubberies,  but 
Hydrangea  arborescens  grandiflora  is  less  well 
known  though  quite  worthy.  It  really  requires 
and  well  repays  a  little  staking  as  otherwise  the 
shoots  prove  too  weak  for  the  heavy  flower  heads 
which,  especially  in  wet  seasons,  crowd  towards 
the  ground. 

The    abutilon-Iike    forms   of    Hibiscus   syriacus 
are  genuine  autumn  bloomers.    They  have,  however 


THE   SMOKE    PLANT    (RHUS    COTINUS)    IN   AUTUMN. 

several  drawbacks,  such  as  the  rather  stodgy 
shape  of  the  bushes  and  the  not  too  interesting 
foUage,  the  unpleasing  colouring  of  most  of  the 
varieties  and  above  all  their  unwillingness  to  flower 
freely  except  after  a  warm  and  moderately  dry 
summer.  These  defects  notwithstanding,  the  white 
varieties  at  any  rate  are  worth  growing.  .Another 
purely  autumn  flowering  shrub  is  that  sometimes 
called  the  "  Blue  Spira;a "  (Caryopteris  Masta- 
canthus).  The  trusses  of  bloom  are  of  a  moderately 
deep   but   rather   cloudy   blue   and   the   foliage   is 


fragrant.     Not  over  hardy,  it  should  be  given  a 
fairly  sheltered  position. 

The  Venetian  Sumach  or  Smo'ce  Bush, 
Rhus  Cotinus,  with  its  persistent  fluffy  inflor- 
escences, is  one  of  the  ornaments  of  the 
autumn  garden.  The  inflorescence,  which  is 
largely  sterile,  is  pinkish  at  firsf,  afterwards 
turning  a  smo';y  grey.  It  is  exceedingly  effec- 
tive  when   massed. 

Two   Magnolias   continue   to   produce   blossoms 
until       far      into 
autumn       and 
though   there  are 
never      sufficient 
open  at  one  time 
to        make         a 
display     their 
exquisite  chalices 
give     dignity     to 
the       shrubbery. 
One  species  is  the 
Swamp      Bay 
Magnoha    glauca, 
with      dehciously 
fragrant     flowers 
sins,  or  so  across, 
either  pure  white 
turning  buff  with 
age     or     creamy, 
also      going      off 
deeper  in  colour. 
This   is   a   rather 
variable,  more  or 
less    I  deciduous 
species      with 
foUage      glaucous 
and    downy    be- 
neath.   It  attains 
at     last      the 
stature       of       a 
small       tree. 
Magnolia   grandi- 
flora,   the    other 
species,         some- 
times   called    the 
Laurel   MaguoUa, 
is  a  larger  growing  and  evergreen  and  takes  some 
years  to  produce  blossom.     The  flowers  are  often 
as    much    as    loins.    across,    however,    and    very 
fragrant.      There    are    many    varieties,   of    which 
perhaps  the  best  is  known  as  gloriosa,  though  the 
Exmouth  variety  {sometimes  called  lanceolata  or 
exoniensis),  figured  in  The  G.^rden  for  September  2, 
page  438,  is  very  fine  also.    In  the  North  this  fine 
tree  is  generally  grown  against  a  south  or  west 
wall.    It  is  hardy,  but  liable  to  be  broken  by  falls 
of  stickv  snow. 


460 


THE     GARDEN. 


[September  i6,  1922. 


THE   AUTUMN   BLOOMING    HIBISCUS   STiTUACU; 


FRUITS   OF  A   H^'BRID   CHINESE   BARBERRY   OF   THE   WILSON.^  SECTION. 


CEANOTHUS   GLOIRE  DE   \-ERSAILLES  WHICH   FLOWERS   FROM  JULY  UNTIL 

SE\-ERE   FROST. 


For  the  fronts  of  shrubberies  the  late  and  long-flowering 
Lead  Plant,  Amorpha  canescens,  is  useful.  Its  panicles  of 
purplish  flowers  are  often  a  foot  long.  That  quaint  leguminous 
shrub  Indigofera  Gerardiana  (like  the  hardy  Fuchsias,  it  is 
only  sub-shrubby  in  the  North)  produces  its  pea-hke  rosy 
purple  flowers  imtil  well  on  in  autumn  and  should  not  be 
overlooked  when  ordering.  Mention  of  the  hardy  Fuchsias  calls 
to  mind  their  ver>-  special  merits  for  our  purpose.  F.  macro- 
stemma,  with  several  closely  allied  species  or  (probably) 
forms,  such  as  corallina,  globosa  and  gracilis,  and  the  stouter 
but  less  free  to  flower  F.  Riccartoui,  are  the  hardiest,  but  the 
beautiful  rose  and  white  hybrid,  Mme.  Comelison,  is  worthy 
of  trial. 

Many  of  the  varieties  of  Veronica  speciosa  flower  well  into 
autumn,  including  the  beautiful  crimson  Simon  Delau.x,  but 
these  are  hardy  only  in  favo<ired  localities.  \'eronica  angusti- 
folia  with  long  racemes  of  white  flowers  is  hardier  and  there 
are  many  similar,  probably  hybrid,  forms  which  are  also 
autumn-flowering.  Short  in  the  raceme,  but  of  a  glorious 
purple  colour  is  the  rather  prostrate  mongrel  sort  called 
.\utumn  Glor>',  which  again  crosses  freely  with  V.  angustifolia 
and  others  to  produce  useful  autumn-flowering  varieties. 

Quite  a  nxmaber  of  Heaths  flower  at  the  *'  back  end," 
these  including  the  Cornish  Heaths,  Erica  vagans  (several 
varieties),  the  Cross-leaved,  E.  Tetralix,  and  varieties,  E. 
ciliaris  and  its  variety  Mawiana  and  the  hybrid  between  this 
species  and  E.  Tetralix  (Watsoui),  as  well  as  E.  Mackaii, 
which  comes  very  near  to  Tetralix.  The  Irish  Heaths, 
Dabcecia  polifolia  also  flower  well  in  autumn,  especially  th<^ 
loose-growing,  lantern-flowered  varieties  usually  listed  as 
D.  p.  var.  globosa. 

The  shrubby  Cinquefoil,  Potentilla  fruticosa  and  its  many 
varieties  are  useful  for  the  fronts  of  shrubberies.  The  typical 
plant  bears  butter  yellow  flowers,  but  there  are  varieties 
with  flowers  of  almost  every  shade  from  pure  white  to  the 
tvpical  colour.  The  Romneyas  are,  of  course,  excellent  for 
autumn  flowers,  but  they  make  but  a  comparatively  poor 
show  in  such  a  season  as  the  present.  The  water-lo\ing  Sweet 
Pepper,  Clethra  aluiiolia,  with  its  spicy  fragrance  and  the 
similar  but  rather  later  flowering  C.  tomentosa  are  valuable 
as  late-flowering  shrubs. 

Other  late-flowering  shrubs  are,  generally  speaking,  either 
not  conspicuous — such  as  for  example,  Clerodendron,  Fatsia 
and  Hamamelis  virginica — or  not  reliable,  such  as  the  larger 
Yuccas,  which  flower  but  seldom  and  then  not  always  in 
autumn.  The  garden  hybrid  Clematises  provide,  however,  a 
feast  of  colour  in  early  autunm  if  allowed  to  ramble  on  the 
branches  of  trees  and  shrubs. 

Coloured  fruits  should  play  a  larger  part  in  garden  decora- 
tion than  they  do  at  present.  The  Barberries  alone  have 
fruits  of  many  sizes  with  great  diversity  of  shape  and  a  remark- 
able range  of  colour,  varying  from  bright  clear  coral,  through 
bright  red  to  crimson,  deep  purple  and  black,  some  covered 
with  white  or  purple  bloom,  some  smooth  and  clear  as  the 
hips  of  the  Dog  Rose. 

The  Common  Barberr>-  is  one  of  the  most  effective  tall 
species  and  the  purple-lea\ed  form  seems  equally  as  fruitful 
as  the  green,  though  with  the  former  one  misses  the  brilliant 
autumn  foUage  colour  associated  with  the  typical  plant. 
Berberis  Thunbergii  has  rather  similar  berries  less  freely 
produced,  but  the  added  glory  of  the  autmnn-tinted  foliage 
more  than  compensates  for  this.  In  good  soil  in  full  sunlight 
this  shrub  is  for  a  few  weeks,  before  the  fall  of  the  leaf,  easily 
the  most  beautiful  thing  in  the  choicest  shrubbery.  Berberis 
polyantha  is  especially  effective  when  roped  with  berries,  but 
now  we  come  to  the  great  group  of  intensely  spiny  Barberries 
from  the  "  Roof  of  the  World."  These  are  all  beautiful  and 
distinct  enough  when  side  by  side,  but  difficult  to  differentiate 
in  an  article.  There  are  Wilsonae,  subcaulialata,  brevi- 
paniculata,  Pratti,  dictophyUa  (a  Uttle  of  the  vulgaris  or 
Thunbergii  appearance  lurks  in  this),  and  Stapfiana. 

Berberis  Dar»-inii  and  its  hybrid  with  B.  empetrifolia — 
B.  stenophylla — are  ver>'  beautiful  when  laden  with  their  deep 
purple  fruits  but,  unless  cottoned,  the  birds  soon  clear  them. 

The  Cotoneasters  are  largely  grown  for  autumn  effect, 
mainly  of  fruit,  though  C.  horizontalis  is  worth  growing 
for  foliage  colour  alone.  C.  microphylla  hides  its  berries 
with  foliage  when  grown  as  a  bush.  It  is  at  its  best 
growing  over  a  wall,  but  is  more  apt  than  most  to  become 
lousy. 

{To  be  concluded.) 


September  i6,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


461 


THE  INVALUABLE  DELPHINIUM 

Its  Culture,   Use,  and  a  Selection  of  Varieties. 


WHEREIN  Ues  the  admitted  charm 
of  the  Delphinium  ?  It  has  no 
particular  beauty  of  foliage ;  it 
does  not  continue  overlong  in 
bloom,  although  it  is    true  that  by 

cutting   out    the   central    spike   as    it    passes,  the 

flowering  period  may  be  somewhat  prolonged  ;  it 

does  not  wTeathe  itself  ia  blossom  like,  'at  us  say, 

Lavatera  Olbia — indeed,  under  averag j  cultivation 

the  length  of  the  flower-spike  is  but  a  small  fraction 

of  the  total  height    of    the 

plant.     WTierein,  then,  lies 

its  charm  ? 

To  the  writer  the  peren- 
nial   Larkspur   in   its    best 

forms  has  two  great  claims 

to  popularity.     In  the  first 

place,  its  spir>-,   erect,    yet 

not  stolid  habit  of   growth 

makes      it     invaluable    for 

providing     ver>-    necessary 

variety    of    outline     either 

ia   the    herbaceous    border 

or      among     round-headed 

flowering  shrubs.    Secondly, 

it    provides    a    wide  range 

of  blue  shades,  which,  after 

midsummer,       are      all      too 

scarce  among  hardy  flowers. 
To     obtain    Delphiniums 

at  the  best,  pains  must  be 

taken    with     their   culture. 

In  a  dry  season  on  shallow, 

undercultivated      soU      the 

spikes   will   be  distressingly 

short  and  crowded,  and  the 

plants   themselves    dwarfed 

and  miserable.     In  a    wet, 

draughty    season    there    is 

always  the  bugbear  mildea- 

to     contend    with.       Soft, 

sappy      growth      obviously 

conduces     to    mildew.       It 

foUoK-s,   then,  that  soil    for 

Delphiniums  should  be  culti- 
vated as  deeply  as  practic- 
able and  well  enriched,  but 

not  excessively,   as  regards 

nitrogenous  manures.  Bone- 
meal  and,  on  loose-textured 
soils,  a  little  basic  slag 
should  be  included.  Two 
ounces    to   the  square  yard 

is  a  fair  dressing  of  a 
"  slag  "  containing  22  per 
cent,  soluble  phosphates, 
quite  settled  and  solid  before  planting  takes  place. 
Whatever  precautions  be  taken,  it  vsill  certainly 
be  desirable  to  apply  water  dining  prolonged 
drought,  but  one  reaUy  good  soak  and  a  mulch  will 
under  such  favourable  conditions  go  a  long  way. 

Two-year  plants,  that  is,  those  which  have  been 
established  one  year,  generally  give  the  best  results, 
but  three  and  four  year  stools  should  answer 
^rfectly  if  the  growths  are  thinned  when  6ins. 
to  Sins.  high.  Incidentally,  such  sucker  growths 
make  admirable  cuttings  for  increasing  stock. 
Whatever  the  precautions  in  the  way  of  good 
cultivation,  mildew  u^ill  appear  most  seasons,  and 
the  conditions  under  which  these  plants  are  usually 
grown  make  spraving,  whether  wet  or  dry,  a 
virtual  impossibility.  Some  varieties  are  especi- 
ally prone  to  mildew  and  should  be  avoided,  how- 
ever desirable  they  may  appear  in  other  ways. 
iNeedless  to  say,  none  such  is  included  in  the  short 


list  of  varieties  which  concludes  these  notes. 
If  Delphiniums  seem  called  for  in  a  draughty 
comer  where  mildew  would  be  likely  to  make  itself 
especially  obnoxious,  it  is  best  to  rely  upon  plants 
raised  from  seed,  which  have,  in  the  nature  of 
things,  more  vigour  and  so  resist  the  attack  of 
the  fungus  better.  Raising  Delphiniums  from 
seed  is  an  interesting  process,  and  it  is  remarkable 
how  many  seedlings  seem,  to  the  amateur,  better 
than  standard  named  varieties.     Many  a  novice 


BRIGHT    BLUE,   WHITE    CENTRED — DELPHINIUM    COLONEL    SIR 
WYNDHAM    MURR.\Y. 


The   soil   should   be 


has  thought  that  in  a  few  scores  of  plants  he  had 
an  army  of  new  sorts  which  would  revolutionise 
everyone's  ideas  of  the  Delphinium.  Alas  ! 
after  propagation  the  swans  timi  out  but  very 
ordinary  geese  after  all,  and  quite  inferior  to  the 
named  varieties  they  seemed  so  much  to  excel ! 

AU  this,  however,  detracts  not  at  all  from  the 
value  of  these  seedlings  as  border  plants,  especially 
when  it  is  remembered  that  by  purchasing  or 
saving  seed  of  some  good  variety,  say.  Rev.  E. 
Lascelles.  for  instance,  the  bulk  of  the  seedlings 
will  closely  resemble  the  parent  as  regards  general 
colouring.  -A  few  rogues  can,  after  all,  be  readily 
weeded  out.  Nor  is  it  necessary  in  many  cases 
to  select  them  to  colour,  for  the  Delphinium  has 
this  merit — that  considerable  as  is  the  colour 
range  (and  different  flowers  contain  almost  every 
shade  of  blue-purple,  whether  strong  or  diluted 
as  well  as  almost  pure  blue,  pink  and  white), 
"  clashing  "  is  unknown. 


It  has  hitherto  been  assumed  that  the  Del- 
phinium is  what  is  commonly  called  a  "  blue " 
flower,  but  there  are,  of  course,  sorts  with  flowers 
of  a  shade  of  dirty  ivory  and  one  with  blue-white 
flovcers  (Moerheimi).  The  ivoty-white  sorts  are 
frankly  unacceptable.  Moerheimi  is  better,  though 
its  flowers  tend  to  become  a  washy  lilac  in  wet 
weather. 

Were  it  not  so,  however,  it  is  very  doubtful  if 
we  want  a  white  Delphinium.  There  is,  after  all. 
no  shortage  of  v\hite  flowers.  Indeed,  many 
gardens  look  "  cold  "  because  white  is  employed  to 
excess.  Of  white  shrubs  the  name  is  legion. 
.Among  herbaceous  plants  there  is  certainly  no 
shortage.  We  get  white  in  Chrysanthemum 
maximum.  Verbascum,  Hollyhock,  Galega,  Phlox, 
Malva,  Sidalcea,  Campanula,  .\nthemis  and  a  host 
of  other  common  plants  beside  Lilies,  Asphodel 
and  St.  Bruno's  Lily.  No  !  Of  the  two  outstanding 
virtues  of  the  Delphinium  one  is  missing  in  the 
white  sorts. 

The  propagation  of  named  Delphiniums  consists 
in  dividing  up  the  clumps  periodically  and  in 
striking  cuttings  taken — detached  with  a  trace  of 
"  heel  " — from  the  stools  in  spring.  These  latter, 
which  usually  make  the  best  plants,  should  be  about 
6iiis.  or  Sins,  long  and  should  be  inserted  in  gritty 
soil  and  kept  just  sufficiently  close  to  prevent 
flagging  until  rooted.  A  little  bottom  heat  is 
beneficial  and  tends  to  hurry  up  what  is  otherwise 
rather  a  tedious  process,  but  it  must  be  slight  or 
the  constitution  of  the  young  plant  will  be  enfeebled; 
Seed  may  be  sown  either  as  soon  as  it  is  ripe  or 
about  the  shortest  day.  Ordinary  seed  compost  is 
suitable,  but  boxes  or  pans  are  preferable  to  pre- 
pared beds  in  frames,  since  slugs  have  a  great 
predilection  for  Larkspurs  (both  annual  and 
perennial).  The  seedlings  grow  quickly  and  should 
be  pricked  out  before  they  become  drawn  and 
weakly.  They  may  go  into  their  permanent 
quarters  in  autumn  and  should  flower  gloriously 
the  following  summer. 

Slugs  by  no  means  confine  their  attention  to 
the  tiny  seedlings.  In  old  slug-infested  gardens 
they  not  infrequently,  by  repeated  grazings, 
entirely  destroy  full  grown  plants.  This  pest  must 
certainly  be  kept  in  check  if  Delphiniums  are  to  be 
.1  success.  A  temporary  but  often  successful 
measure  is  to  sprinkle  soot,  or  soot  and  lime,  around 
the  crowns  front  early  spring  until  the  growths 
liave  lengthened  considerably,  but  the  elimination 
of  such  slug-harbours  as  box  edgings  and  dressing 
the  land  when  bare  with  an  approved  soil  fumigant 
is  at  once  more  effectual  and  permanent.  Noi 
should  the  use  of  a  large  pair  of  scissors  after  a 
shower  be  considered  unworthy. 

From  so  many  varieties  it  is  not  easy  to  make  a 
selection,  but  the  following,  if  not  "  the  best,"  are 
all  excellent :  Rev.  E.  Lascelles.  royal  blue,  white 
centred,  3ift.  ;  The  .Alake,  deep  violet  blue,  5ft. ; 
Queen  Wilhelmina,  a  splendid  pale  blue,  +ft. ; 
Persimmon,  "  Belladonna  "  colour,  sift.  ;  Mrs. 
Thompson,  clear  blue,  4ift.  ;  J.  S.  Brunton,  almost 
sky  blue,  Ught  and  elegant  and  good  for  cut  flower, 
4ft. ;  Lizzie  van  Veen,  Cambridge  blue,  6ft.  ;  King 
of  Delphiniums,  rich  blue  and  plum  colour,  white 
eye,  5ft.  ;  Henri  Moisson,  deep  purple,  black  centre, 
4ft.  ;  Colonel  Sir  WvTidham  Miuray,  bright  blue, 
white  centred,  6ft.  ;  Lorenzo  de  Medici,  a  remark- 
able variety,  soft  blue,  pink  shaded,  5ft.  ;  Statuaire 
Rude,  pale  heUotrope,  magnificent,   6ft. 

Of  recent  novelties  the  best  is  unquestionably 
the  tall  and  handsome  MiUicent  Blackmore,  a 
pleasing  shade  of  blue-mauve,  black  centred. 
For  nearer  the  front  of  the  border  and  for  grouping 
alone  in  suitable  positions,  the  old  Delphinium 
Belladonna  is  still  unsurpassed.  The  plant  called 
Belladona  semi-plena  is  also  useful  for  the  same 
purpose,  so  are  Persimmon,  already  referred  to, 
and  Capri,  of  almost  sky-blue  colouring. 


462 


THE     GARDEN. 


[September  i6,  1922 


THE    MUCH -ABUSED    CONIFER 


IN  the  following  notes  only  species  and  varieties 
will  be  mentioned  which  are  suitable  for 
gardens  of  moderate  size,  say  not  exceeding 
three  or  four  acres  in  extent.  Some,  of  course, 
are  suitable  for  gardens  even  smaller  in  size. 
The  conclusions  arrived  at,  representing  as  they  do 
the  writer's  personal  experience,  mainly  on  a  light 
sandy  loam  overlying  gravel  and  practically  lime- 
free  in  a  Midland  garden,  are  necessarily  imperfect. 
A  writer  with  experience  of  the  south-west  of 
England  or  the  corresponding  corner  of  Scotland, 
would  no  doubt  have  different  ideas  as  to  the 
relative  values  of  species,  but  the  cUmate  and  soil 
of  this  Midland  garden  may  be  taken  as  fairly 
typical  of  very  extensive  areas  in  South  Britain. 

In  considering  the  various  genera  of  coniferous 
trees,  we  will  commence  with  the  Cypresses,  not 
because  they  are  especially  beautiful  or  interesting 
but  because  they  are  almost  universally  planted  in 
small  gardens  to  the  exclusion  of  many  really 
beautiful  trees.  The  Cypress  family  is  divided  into 
two  great  divisions,  the  Cypresses  proper  and  the 
so-called  White  Cedars  (Chamscyparis),  which 
includes  Lawson's  Cypress  (Cupressus  Lawsoniana) 
in  all  its  many  forms,  C.  obtusa,  C.  pisifera  and 
C.  nootkatensis,  each  with  several  interesting 
varieties. 

Cupressus  Lawsoniana  in  anything  approaching 
its  typical  form  is  a  rather  funereal  tree  of  no  special 
beauty  of  habit  or  colour,  but  some  of  the  varieties 
are  certainly  beautiful.  The  very  columnar  and 
rather  glaucous  Fraseri  is  one.  C.  L.  .^Ilumi  is 
rather  bluer  but  less  elegant  of  habit,  while 
Triomphe  de  Boskoop  is  bluest  of  all,  but  is  in 
habit  very  similar  to  the  tv-pical  "  Lawson." 
Less  often  seen  than  any  of  these,  closely  fastigiate, 
singularly  rigid  of  habit  and  small  foliaged,  is  the 
variety  Wisselii,  with  rich  deep  green  foliage. 
This  is  a  very  distinct  and  handsome,  though  by 
no  means  solid  looking  tree.  The  much  planted 
erecta-viridis  is  hardly  satisfactory  in  the  Midlands 


or  North  as  snow  is  apt  to  mar  its 
beauty.  Elsewhere  it  needs  using 
with  discretion  or  its  rather  "  Noah's 
.\rk  "  formality  may  ruin  the  garden 
picture.  There  are  variegated  and 
golden  coloiu:  variations  of  this,  only 
mentioned  as  best  avoided.  Cupressus 
Lawsoniana  lutea  is  an  admirable 
close-growing  golden  form,  perhaps 
a  Utile  more  columnar  in  habit  than 
the  typical  plant.  Stewarti  has  paler 
yellow  foliage  and  a  more  spreading 
habit.  It  is  faster  growing  than 
lutea  and  makes  a  handsome  tree. 
For  those  enamoured  of  variega- 
tion, the  variety  albo-variegata  is 
recommendable. 

Cupressus  obtusa  is  also 'a  vari- 
able species  and  one  not  seen  in 
gardens  as  frequently  as  it  might 
be.  The  typical  form  is  quite  good, 
while  there  are  fine  golden  forms, 
such  as  elegans  (not  often  seen), 
Crippsii  and  densa  aurea,  the  last 
two  somewhat  alike.  Lycopodioides 
and  tetragona  aurea  are  quaint  and 
beautiful  dwarf  forms  suitable  for 
rockery  or  front  of  the  shrubber\- 
border.  There  are  several  miniature 
Retinosporas  which  are  in  fact  only 
forms  of  C.  obtusa  which  have  failed 
to  change  their  "  baby  coat  "  for 
the  adult  sail-like  foliage.  Cupressus 
pisifera  is  a  broad-based  shrub 
which,  with  its  useful  golden  form, 
has  been  planted  far  too  freely  the 
last  fifty  years.  It  takes  up  a 
good  deal  of  ground  as  it  is  much 
more  spreading  in  habit  than  the 
Lawsons.  Varieties  of  this  are  those 
so-called       Retinosperas  —  plumosa. 


A    MAGNIFICENT    CEDAR. 


THE    FINE      INCENSE    CEDAR     LIBOCEDRUS    DECURRENS 
AT    FROGMORE. 


plumosa  aurea  and  squarrosa,  the  latter  with 
pretty  blue-grey  fohage,  but  all  with  the  spreading 
habit  of  the  typical  plant. 

The  Nootka  Sound  Cypress  (C.  nootkatensis), 
olten  still  hsted  as  Thuyopsis  borealis  is  a  more 
gracious  and  shapely  tree  than  C.  Lawsoniana. 
There  is  a  very  pleasing  colour  form  in  which  the 
young  foliage  is  pale  gold  and  another  (pendula) 
in  which  the  branchlets  droop  from  the  main 
branches,  giving  the  tree  a  most  distinct  and  note- 
worthy appearance. 

The  true  Cypresses  are  not  often  seen  in  small 
or  suburban  gardens.  They  are  emphatically  trees 
for  the  Midlands  and  South,  as  even  the  hardiest 
will  not  withstand  the  rigours  of  our  Northern 
winters.  Their  lack  of  popularity  is  largely  due, 
however,  to  the  fact  that  except  as  small  trees  from 
pots,  they  transplant  badly.  To  counterbalance 
this,  however,  they  for  the  most  part  grow  rapidly 
and  are  far  more  beautiful  than  the  White  Cedars. 
The  commonest  species  is  C.  macrocarpa,  much  used 
in  Southern  England  as  a  hedge  plant  and  wind 
screen.  The  best  and  most  upright  form  of  this  is 
called  fastigiata  and  this  form  has  a  beautiful  soft 
yellow  counterpart  called  macrocarpa  lutea.  Some- 
what similar  to  macrocarpa  but  glaucous  in  tint  is 
C.  sempervirens,  the  ItaUan  Cypress,  of  which  there 
is  a  very  fastigiate  form  (fastigiata),  and  a  more 
spreading  one  (horizontalis).  This  seems  quite 
hardy  in  the  South  Midlands  once  established,  but 
a  severe  winter  is  apt  to  play  havoc  with  young 
trees.  Hardier  than  the  foregoing,  similar  in 
colouring — perhaps  a  httle  brighter  though — and 
more  spreading  is  C.  arizonica. 

For  open  spaces  as  specimen  trees  there  is  nothing 
to    beat    the    stately    Incense    Cedar,   Libocedrus 


September  i6,  1925 


THE     GARDEN. 


463 


decurreus,  often  listed  as  Thuya  gigantea  in 
nurseries,  though  Thuya  plicata  (Lobbii),  a  quite 
different  and  inferior  tree,  is  often  sold  as  r. 
gigantea  also.  The  effect  produced  by  the  Incense 
Cedar  is  often  aimed  at  by  those  who,  for  want  of 
knowledge,  plant  Cupressus  Lawsoniana  erecta- 
viridis,  which  is  not  really  satisfactory  when  adult. 

There  are  many  varieties  of  the  .\rbor-vita;. 
Thuya  occidentalis.  some  of  which  are  valuable 
for  the  browns  and  russets  of  their  "  winter  dress." 
Variety  lutea  is  a  very  good  one  in  this  respect. 
Var.  Vervsneana  is  a  pleasing  garden  pyramidal 
conifer  which  turns  brown  in  winter.  Unfortunately 
it  loses  its  colour  on  some  soils.  Thuya  orientalis 
(Chinese  Arbor-vitce)  is  not  too  hardy,  so  should 
not  be  used  in  Northern  gardens.  In  its  better 
and  more  compact  form  it  is  a  handsome  tree. 
Thuya  plicata  is  a  distinct  and  useful  shrub  though, 
as  already  stated,  a  poor  substitute  for  the  Incense 
Cedar.  The  best  form  is  the  tall  columnar  one 
known  as  var.  pyramidalis. 

The  Cedar  needs  space  for  development  and  time 
for  growth  to  be  elTective.     Consequently  of  the 


three  species  only  the 
Deodar  (Cedrus  deodora), 
which  is  beautiful  as 
a  young  tree,  is  nowa- 
days often  planted. 
There  are  several  varieties 
o  f  Deodar,  but  the 
typical  plant  from  seed 
is  likely  to  ntake  the 
handsomest  tree.  The 
magnificent  Cedar  of 
Lebanon  needs  no 
description,  but  should 
be  more  often  planted. 
So  should  the  Atlas 
Cedar  (C.  atlantica)  and 
i  t  s  beautiful  blue-grey 
variety  C.  a.  glauca. 
Most  upright  growing  of 
Cedars,  C.  atlantica,  may 
be  used  to  form  a  little 
grove  to  accentuate  a  hill- 
top  or   to   form  a  screen. 


PANDANUS-LEAVED  PLANTS 

Under  the  above  title  the  writer  discusses  the  merits  and  uses  of  such 
plants  as  the  Pampas  Grass,    Yuccas,   Torch  Lilies,  etc. 

s 


Ab  seen  in  many  gardens,  the  Pampas 
Grass  is  a  pitiable  object,  not  because 
it  is  badly  grown,  but  because  it  is  ill- 
L  placed.  For  this  reason  many  people  of 
^  taste  and  discrimination  are  now  leaving 
it  out  of  their  garden  scheme  entirely.  If  they  have 
any  extent  of  groimd  at  disposal,  this  is  a  mistake. 


Plants  of  the  formal,  cer- 
tainly exotic  and  probably 
somewhat  tropical  appear- 
ance of  the  Pampas 
Grass  look  best  grouped 
together.  It  is  a  good 
idea  to  devote  the  borders 


SMALL    BUT    DISTINCT  AND    BEAUTIFUL,    YUCCA    ANGUSTIFOLIA. 


A   STATELY   NEW   TORCH    LILY — KNIPHOFIA   C.    M.    PRKHARD. 


enclosing  a  grassy  vista 
almost  entirely  to  the 
culture  of  such  plants. 
The  Torch  Lilies  will 
make  there  a  show  of 
brilliant,  but  pleasing 
colour  in  the  summer 
months,  reinforced,  it  may 
be,  with  creamy  Yucca 
blossom — f  or  Yuccas 
filamentosa  and  flaccida 
at  least  may  be  relied 
upon  to  flower  year  by 
year. 

Later  in  the  year  the 
various  pink  and  snow 
white  Pampas  plumes  pro- 
duce an  entirely  different 
but  quite  beautiful  effect 
and  even  in  winter,  at 
least  in  our  warmer 
counties,  the  various  but 
harmonising  foliage  gives 
pleasure  to  the  eye. 
Further  north  it  is  neces- 
sary to  tie  up  the  leaves 
of  all  three  genera  to  pre- 
vent snow  broth  from 
reaching  the  crowns  and, 
by  alternately  freezing  and 
thawing,  destroying  the 
plants.  Even  here,  how- 
ever, there  is  great  prac- 
tical advantage  in  having 
all  the  plants  together. 
The  front  of  such  borders 
is  an  excellent  place  to 
display  the  late-flower- 
ing, all  but  scarlet,  Schi- 
zostj'lis  coccinea. 


Springtime  need  not  see  such  borders  entirely 
bare  of  colour,  for  spring-flowering  bulbs  may 
readily  be  introduced  towards  the  front.  From 
the  point  of  view  of  effect  it  is  better  to  group 
one  or  two  classes  of  plants  at  each  season  in  each 
separate  section  of  the  garden,  since  vistas  which 
are  more  or  less  a  repetition  one  of  another,  even 
though  not  "  spotty  "  in  themselves — which  they 
are  apt  to  be — become,  after  a  while,  wearisome  to 
traverse. 

White  is  easily  supplied  when  the  Torch  Lilies 
flower  by  the  use  of  various  White  LiUes,  such  as 
the  beautiful  White  Martagon  or  even  the  Madonna 
Lily  (L.  candidum),  but  blue  is  not  readily  intro- 
duced. The  Delphinium  is  the  time-honoured 
plant  for  the  purpose  but,  despite  its  aspiring 
habit,  its  foliage  is  scarcely  suitable  for  such  a 
position.  Some  of  the  tall-growing  but  short-lived 
Echiums  would  be  more  suitable.  Soft  yellow  may 
be  introduced  into  the  background  by  employing 
that  stately  Mullein  Harkness's  Hybrid ;  but  if 
the  briUiant  colouring  of  the  Kniphofias  is  properly 
led  up  to  few  will  find  the  effect  need  softening. 

There  are  now  many  excellent  varieties  of  Pampas 
Grass  which  are  immense  improvements  on  the 
too  often  dirty-coloured  seedling  forms,  sold  simply 
as  "  Gynerium  argenteum."  One  of  the  earUest 
to  flower,  rather  erect  of  habit  and  dark  of  stem  and 
foliage  is  the  rosy  Rendatleri.  .'Vn  early  and  ver^ 
beautiful  white  sort  is  called  Bertini,  while  for 
later  in  the  autumn  there  are  Reine  des  rouges, 
Reine  des  roses  and  the  giant  silvery-plumed 
Monstrosa. 

The  pink  forms  do  not  long  retain  their  colour, 
unfortunately,  so  that  the  silvery-white  ones  should 
be  more  freely  planted.  In  Northern  gardens, 
the  late  forms  are  spoiled  by  frost  before  they  can 
display  their  beauty,  so  should  be  omitted. 
Indeed  in  the  North  it  might  be  well  to  confine 
ones    attention  to  the   very    ornamental    .\rundo 


464 


THE     GARDEN. 


[September  i6,  1922. 


coQspicua,  to  the  casual  eye  very  like  the  true 
Pampas  Grass  and  much  earlier  to  flower. 

The  list  of  Torch  Lihes  grows  longer  year  by 
year  and  some  of  the  newer  introductions  are 
extraordinarily  beautiful.  An  especially  beautiful 
new  yellow  sort  with  towering  spikes  is  called 
C.  M.  Prichard.  Yellow  sorts  may  now,  in  fact,  be 
obtained  to  match  in  stature  such  red  giants  of 
the  family  as  Kniphofia  aloides  (Uvaria)  nobilis, 
which  in  congenial  situation  will  reach  8ft.  to  the 
top  of  the  spikes.  T.  a.  grandis  is  similar.  T. 
aloides  pr^ecox  is  free-flowering  and  very  early, 
often  commencing  to  flower  in  May,  but  it  lacks 
the  dignity  of  the  later  sorts. 

Some  of  the  Kniphofia  species  are  \ery  interesting 
and  have  especially  beautiful  foliage.  There  is, 
for  instance,  the  sub-shrubby  group,  of  which  the 
species  form  a  distinct  permanent  stem  as  do  most 
Yuccas.  The  best  known  of  this  section  is  K. 
caulescens,  a  happily  named  plant  as  this  species 
produces  spikes  which  do  truly  resemble  the  colour- 
ing of  a  poker  heated  beyond  redness.  .As  the 
flowers  age,  moreover,  they  change  to  a  greenish 
yellow  colour  not  unlike  the  straw-yellow  of  highly 
heated  steel.  The  colouring  of  this  plant  is  too 
harsh  for  the  mixed  flower  border  and  even  in 
the  Torch  Lily  walk  it  is  well  to  associate  it 
with  the  soft  yellow  species  and  varieties.  The 
glaucous  fohage  is,  howe\er,  very  distinct  and 
beautiful. 

K.  Northise  is  nearly  related  to  caulescens  and 
has  the  same  habit  of  growth,  but  its  flowers  are 
pale  yellow  tinged  with  red  at  the  tips.  K.  Tysoni 
is  another  belonging  to  the  same  section,  of  rather 
less  harsh  colouring  than  caulescens  and  of  statelier, 
more  robust  habit.  Its  only  questionable  point  is 
its  comparative  hardiness. 

Of  the  hybrids,  the  giant  yellow  forms  are  most 
interesting  as  being  more  recently  obtained.  Such 
are  Star  of  Baden-Baden,  a  giant  with  straw- 
yellow  spikes  ;  Lachesis,  deep  yellow,  less  stately 
but  more  proUfic  ;  the  orange-yellow  Ophir  and 
the  magnificent  Obelisk,  with  golden-yellow  spikes. 
The  brilliant  John  Benary  is  a  well  known  crimson 
and  deservedly  esteemed.  Many  of  the  apricot  and 
coral  shaded  hybrids  have  Leichthni  or  pauciflora 
blood  and  are  so  less  hardy  than  the  sorts  already 
mentioned.  They  are,  none  the  less,  beautiful  for 
the  fronts  of  borders.  Where  dwarf  but  hardy 
forms  are  wanted  there  are  K.  Macowanii  and  its 
taller  hybrid  coralliua,  also  the  rather  coarse  and 
"  stubby  '*  rufa. 

The  shrubby  Yuccas  are  hardy  only  in  the  South 
and  South  Midlands  of  England,  except  near  the 
sea  coast,  but  Y.  filamentosa  and  the  closely 
related  Y.  flaccida  seem  quite  hardy  everjTi'here. 
The  handsomest  species,  Y.  Whipple!,  is  also  the 
most  tender,  but  the  magnificent  if  rarely  flowering 
Y.  gloriosa,  of  which  there  are  at  least  three  distinct 
forms  is  hardy  even  in  the  North  if  snow  and  winter 
rain  be  kept  from  the  crowns.  Hardier  still,  but 
also  requiring  protection  for  the  crowns  in  the  North, 
is  Y.  recurvifolia  which,  almost  as  handsome, 
flowers  far  more  frequently.  The  miniature  Y. 
angustifoUa  seems  about  as  hardy  as  Y.  gloriosa. 
Its  flowers  are  more  open  and  less  drooping  than 
those  of  other  species  and  the  lea\es  are  long  and 
extremely  narrow.  Midlander. 


GLADIOLI   AND    HARDY   FRUITS   AT 
VINCENT   SQUARE. 


FORTHCO-MING    EVENTS. 

September  19 — Fortnightly  Meeting  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society. 

September  .:o — Hertford  Horticultural  Society's 
Meeting. 

September  21 — National  Rose  Society's  .Autumn 
Show  to  be  held  at  the  Ro\al  Horticultural  Societj's 
Hall. 

September  23— Paisley  Florists'  Society's  Show. 


GL.\DIOLI  again  figured  largely  at 
Vincent  Square,  and  on  September  5 
Messrs.  Kelway  anS  Son  had  a  very 
fine  exhibit  of  the  best  varieties. 
Most  interest  seemed  to  be  centred 
in  the  sorts  of  brilliant  colouring,  and  these 
certainly  were  grateful  to  the  eye  during  the  dull, 
sunless  weather.  The  principal  sorts  were  Colossal, 
.J.  W.  Kelway,  Star  of  Langport,  Sir  H.  Talbot, 
J.  L.  Clucas  and  Nonpariel.  The  PrimuUnus 
hybrids  are  becoming  very  popular  with  exhibitors, 
and  5  some  exceedingly  graceful  varieties  were 
shown  by  such  growers  as  Messrs.  Lowe  and 
Gibson,  Messrs.  R.  H.  Bath  and  Mr.  A.  Edwards. 
The  last  named  is  a  fresh  exhibitor  at  the  hall,  and 


hybrid  tall  Lobelias.  Mr.  F.  G.  Wood  had  a 
useful  new  Golden  Rod  in  SoUdago  Ashstead 
Golden  Spray.  It  is  a  fortnight  earlier  than 
Golden  Wings,  and  has  large  branching  heads 
of  yellow  flowers. 

Suttons  filled  a  laige  floor  space  with  an  enor- 
mous quantity  of  China  .Asters  delightfully 
arranged.  They  had  many  colour  varieties  of 
Giant  Comet,  Giant  French,  Ostrich  Plume, 
Mammoth  and  Victoria  types,  and  also  arranged 
large  bowls  of  the  highly  decorative  single-flowered 
varieties. 

Shrubs  were  well  represented  in  an  interesting 
exhibit  by  Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and  Sons,  who  had 
various    fruiting    Crabs,    shrubbv    Veronicas    and 


THE   SOMEWHAT   UNCOMMON   COLLETIA   SPINOSA  WAS   SHEWN   IN   GOOD   FLOWER. 


he  arranged  a  very  charming  collection.  The 
most  attractive  of  the  Priraulinus  varieties  were 
Orange  BriUiant,  Yellow  Queen,  Valuta,  J.  P. 
Roen,  Salmonea  and  .AUcc  Tiplady.  The  finest 
Gladioli  spikes  were  those  of  such  sorts  as  Red 
Emperor,  White  Giant,  Yellow  Hammer  and 
Pink  Perfection  in  the  exhibit  by  Mr.  W.  F. 
Gullick,  while  the  collection  of  Dutch  varieties 
by  Mr.  K.  Velthuys  was  especially  effective. 
The  Foremarke  Cup  was  awarded  to  Messrs.  Lowe 
and  Gibson  for  an  interesting  collection  of  spikes. 

Mr.  Sidney  Morris  shewed  a  good  selection  of 
the  Montbretias  in  which  he  speciahses.  The 
outstanding  variety  was  His  Majesty,  which  has 
large,  well  shaped  flowers  of  yellow  colour  heavily 
edged  with  duU  crimson.  He  had  other  named 
sorts  and  a  fascinating  vase  of  seedlings. 

The  largest  exhibit  in  the  hall  was  that  of 
herbaceous  Phloxes  and  Delphiniums  by  Mr. 
H.  J.  Jones,  and  it  was  of  such  high  quality  and 
artistic  value  that  he  was  awarded  another  gold 
medal.  Border  flowers  generally  were  very 
interesting.  In  several  collections  there  were 
vases  of  .Achillea  Millefolium  Cerise  Queen,  of 
brilliant  colouring.  Heleniums  were  freely  shewn, 
and  prominent  in  a  general  collection  by  Messrs. 
B.  Ladhams,  Limited,  there  were  several  valuable 


Tamarix  in  flower.  Maples  of  gorgeous  fohage, 
the  brilliant  and  curiously  shaped  fruits  of 
Euonymus  latifoUus  and  some  small  pot  plants 
of  Myrtus  Luma  (Eugenia  apiculata)  profusely 
flowered.  In  the  milder  parts  of  the  country 
this  evergreen  Is  quite  hardy,  and  a  glorious  sight 
W'hen  smothered  with  Its  snow  white  flowers. 
Several  Crabs,  notably  John  Dowiiie,  were  shewn 
by  Mr.  Charles  Turner. 

Several  well-flowered  sprays  of  that  singular 
South  -American  shrub  CoUetla  splnosa  were  on 
view.  Practically  leafless,  it  bears  its  flowers  on 
the  spiny  branchlets.  The  triangular  -  spined 
C.  cruciata  is  a  form  of  this  species 

Roses  were  shewn  in  fair  quantity  by  several 
growers,  but  there  was  no  novelty  of  outstanding 
merit,  nor  is  It  to  be  expected  at  this  season. 
Carnations  were  also  very  beautiful  and  of  high 
quaUty.  Clematises  In  a  number  of  varieties 
and  as  plants  in  quite  small  pots  bearing  several 
flowers  each  were  set  up  by  Messrs.  L.  R.  Russell, 
Linrited,  who  also  had  brilhantly  berried  bushes 
of  Flrethorns  and  a  most  Interesting  collection 
of  Bromehads. 

In  \iew  of  the  annual  exhibition  of  the  National 
Dahlia  Society  the  next  day,  several  growers, 
Including    the    Dutch    Dahlia    Society,    had    fine 


September  i6,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


465 


displays  which  will  be  found  noted  in  the  report 
of  the  DahUa  Society's  Show. 

Fruit  was  better  represented  than  of  late,  and 
many  visitors  greatly  admired  the  comer  group 
of  pot  trees  bearing  bountiful  crops  of  Pears  and 
Plums.  The  perfectly  trained  fan-shaped  Plums 
in  particular  evoked  admiration.  The  chief 
varieties  were  .Mlgrove's  Superb,  upon  which, 
after  trial  at  Wisley,  the  Council  confirmed  the 
award  of  merit  provisionally  bestowed  some  time 
back.  Jefferson,  Althon's  Gage  and  McLaughlan's 
Gage  were  also  admirable,  both  on  the  trees  and 
a5  generous  dishes  of  gathered  fruits  in  this  fine 
exhibit  by  Mr.  J.  C.  Allgrove.  Williams's  Pears 
and  several  Apples  were  also  represented  by 
fruits  of  excellent  appearance. 

Messrs.  Daniel  Brothers  again  had  mounds  of 
fruit  and  branches  literally  festooned  with  bunches 
of  their  September  Black  Currant.  Not  only  is 
it  a  very  late  variety,  but  the  flavour  is  all  that 
could  be  desired,  and  the  individual  berries  are 
as  large  as  small  Gooseberries.  Mr.  J.  J.  Kettle 
of  Violet  fame  also  shewed  fruiting  canes  of  his 
late  Raspberry  Lloyd  George. 

The  Fruit  Committee  had  several  novelties  to 
consider.  Mr.  T.  Pateman  brought  forward  a 
dish  of  a  late  Black  Currant  which  he  found  in 
a  Midland  garden.  It  is  a  larg^  well  coloured 
berry  of  good  quality,  and  the  Committee  recom- 
mended that  it  and  Daniel's  September  be  tried 
at  Wisley  next  year.  Messrs.  Laxton  Brothers 
brought  several  of  their  new  fruits.  Pear  Laxton's 
Cropper  has  appearance  to  recommend  it.  It 
is  a  shapely  fruit  of  medium  size  and  pale  yellow 
colour   prettily   flushed   with    rose   on    the   sunny 


side.  The  flavour  is  pleasant  but  not  first  class, 
but  in  view  of  its  freedom  it  should  be  a  good 
market  variety.  It  was  raised  from  Marguerite 
Marillat  and  Doyenne  d'Ete.  Laxton's  Supreme 
Plum  is  the  result  of  a  cross  between  Dennison's 
Superb  and  Victoria,  and  in  appearance  is  a 
small  pale  red  Victoria  of  good  dessert  quality. 


NEW    AND    RARE    PLANTS. 
Centaurea     Cyanus    Silver    Queen. — This    is 

a  silvery  white  variety  of  the  well  known  Blue 
Cornflower  and,  no  doubt,  will  soon  become 
equally  as  popular  as  that  elegant  flower.  Award 
of  merit  to  Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons. 

Gladiolus  Rt.  Hon.  Countess  Beatty. — One 
of  the  most  beautiful  of  the  crimson-blotched 
varieties.  It  is  a  large  spike  of  perfectly  disposed 
widely  expanded  blooms.  The  lower  segment 
has  a  large  vivid  crimson-lake  blotch  and  the 
remainder  of  the  flower  is  pure  white,  .\ward  of 
merit  to  Messrs.  Kelway  and  Son. 

Primula   Mooreana    Improved.— In   his   book 

on  the  "  Rock  Garden  "  the  late  Mr.  Reginald 
Farrer  wrote  that  Primula  Mooreana  was  quite 
the  best  of  the  \'arieties  grown  in  gardens  as 
Primula  capitata,  and  with  this  there  must  be 
general  agreement.  The  plant  on  shew  was  a 
distinct  improvement,  and  carried  numerous 
spikes  of  beautiful  blue  flowers  on  pulverulent 
stems,     .\ward  of  merit  to  Lady  Aberconwaj'. 

Streptocarpus  Princess  Mary.— Of  late  years 
there  has  been  a  great  improvement  in  the  large- 
flowered  Streptacarpus  hybrids.  The  colours  are 
decidedly  better,  the  blooms  have  more  substance 


and,  what  is  perhaps  most  important,  they  are 
much  more  floriferous.  Princess  Mary  is  a 
splendid  specimen  of  these  improved  giant  Strepto- 
carpuses.  The  rose-shaded  flowers  have  a  well 
marked  straw-coloured  throat.  Award  of  merit 
to  Messrs.  R.  and  G.  Cuthbert. 


NATIONAL   DAHLIA 
SOCIETY'S  SHOW 

THE  National  Dahha  Society  have  reason 
to  be  satisfied  with  their  first  independent 
show  of  .recent  years.  In  the  old  days 
this  special  flower  society  had  big  shows 
at  the  Crystal  Palace  and  elsewhere, 
but  of  late,  in  common  with  so  many  other 
societies,  it  has  had  to  be  content  with  a  smaller 
sphere.  Although  the  sunless  weather  of  the 
last  few  days  was  all  against  Dahlias  opening 
their  flowers  freely,  there  were  plenty  of  blooms 
of  all  types  at  Vincent  Square  on  September  6 
last,  and  their  quaUty  was  decidedly  the  highest 
at  any  show.  Such  a  wealth  of  gorgeous  colour 
has  rarely  been  seen  in  any  flowers.  Present-da>' 
Dahlias  have  gone  very  far  from  the  original 
species  which  were  introduced  from  Mexico  in 
1798,  and  it  was  exceedingly  interesting  to  see 
the  bunches  of  DahUa  Merckii,  D.  variabiUs  and 
D.  coccinea  which  the  Director  of  the  Royal 
Gardens,  Kew,  sent  to  the  Show.  The  influence 
of  the  soft  lilac  colour  of  D.  Merckii  was  very 
evident  in  several  of  the  new  sorts,   particularly 


THE   AMERICAN   SPINDLE-TREE   EUONYMUS    LATIFOLIUS    WITH 
BRIGHT   ORANGE   SEEDS   AND   CORAL    BERRIES. 


FINEST   OF  THE   CAPITATA   PRIMULAS,   MOOREANA   IMPROVED. 
FLOWERS    VIOLET   PURPLE. 


466 


THE     GARDEN. 


[September  i6,  1922. 


in  Mr.  H.  C.  Dresselhuys,  which  was  one  of  the 
selected  varieties.  In  the  magnificent  collection 
from  the  Dutch  Dahlia  Society  there  was  a  most 
dehghtful  bowl  of  it,  and  it  harmonised  well  with 
the  darker  blooms  of  Prince  of  Wales  and  King 
Harold.  This  noteworthy  exhibit  of  their  newest 
sorts  was  the  joint  contribution  of  the  chief  Dutch 
raisers,  and  illustrated  a  number  of  other  very 
handsome  varieties  of  the  large  decorative  type. 
Apple  Blossom  and  Menr.  Ballego  were  especially 
charming.  Along  the  front  of  this  imposing 
group,  which  received  the  Society's  gold  medal 
and  won  the  unstinted  admiration  of  all,  there 
were  several  free-flowering  sorts  in  quantity. 
Little  Jewel  and  Chamois  Rose  were  very  graceful 
representatives  of  these  small,  dainty  flowers. 

The  largest  home-grown  exhibit  of  Dahlias  was 
set  up  by  Mr.  J.  T.  West,  and  it  represented 
especially  good  varieties  of  the  Decorative,  Collar- 
ette and  Single  types.  Of  the  first  named,  Victorine, 
Nancy,  Blanche  and  the  Prince  were  very  promi- 
nent ;  while  Judith  and  White  Fox  of  the  Collarettes, 
and  Oberon,  Dazzle  and  Malcolm  among  the 
singles  were  greatly  admired  in  this  gold  medal 
collection. 

Naturally,  it  was  the  dainty  little  Pompons 
that  attracted  most  attention  in  the  adjoining 
group  by  Mr.  Charles  Turner,  as  the  Slough  firm, 
although  having  a  splendid  general  collection, 
have  rather  specialised  in  Pompons  for  many 
years.  Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and  Sons  are  also  very 
"  strong  "  in  Pompons,  and  such  sorts  as  Phyllis, 
Daisy,  Electra,  Rufus,  Little  Beeswing  and  Girlie 
were  very  fascinating  in  both  collections.  Cactus 
varieties  were  especially  noteworthy  in  an  exhibit 
by  Messrs.  Carter,  Page  and  Co.,  and  of  these 
Royal  Sussex,  Ivory  White,  Arcturus  and  Paragon 
were  perhaps  the  very  best.  Among  their  large 
Decorative  sorts  we  admired  Beauty.  .Ambrosa. 
Jupiter  and  Paul  Crampel,  which  is  almost 
identically  the  colour  of  the  popular  bedding 
"Geranium"  of  that  name. 

In  the  competitive  classes  Messrs.  J.  Stredwick 
and  Sons  took  chief  honours  with  the  Cactus 
varieties  ;  their  sets  of  such  sorts  as  Thos.  Want, 
Valour,  Supreme,  Washington,  British  Lion  and 
Sunbeam  were  well  nigh  perfect. 

Mr.  S.  Mortimer  still  grows  the  Show  and  Fancy 
Dahlias  admirably,  and  many  visitors  admired 
his  superb  first  prize  collections  of  Prince  Bismarck, 
Standard,  .'\rthur  Rawlmg,  Wm.  Powell,  Tom 
Jones  and  other  sorts  in  the  two  classes.  Messrs. 
WiUiam  Treseder,  limited,  were  second  in  each 
case,  and  they  won  first  prizes  in  several  other 
classes,  notably  six  blooms  of  Miss  Stredwick 
Cactus  DahHas,  six  of  the  Show  variety  .\rthur 
Harrison,  six  varieties  each  of  Pajony-iiowered, 
Decorative  and  Collarette  types.  The  large 
Collarette  class  was  won  by  Messrs.  Cheal  and  Son, 
who  had  splendid  blooms  of  Cadet,  Ustance, 
Diadem,  Bonfire  and  such  sorts.  In  this  class 
Crimson  Queen,  Lilian  and  Peronne  were  also 
well  shown.  Messrs.  Cheal  and  Sons  were  also 
first  with  admirable  collections  of  Pompons, 
Singles,  Garden  Cactus  and  small  Paeony-flowered 
varieties,  though  the  very  best  Pompons  were  in 
the  amateurs'  classes,  where  the  first  prizes  were 
awarded  to  Mr.  H.  Brown  and  Mr.  A.  F.  Barne' 
for  wonderfullv  fine  blooms. 


STAR     D.^HLIA     DORKING     ST.\R. 


THE  RATHER  COSMOS-LIKE  SPECIES,  D.  MERCKII 


NEW    DAHLIAS. 

Adorable. — This  is  a  large,  full-shaped  Decora- 
tive variety.  The  broad  orange-buff  petals  are 
tipped  with  white. 

Arthur  Bouquet. — A  robust-growing  Decora- 
tive bloom  borne  on  long,  stout  stems.  The 
colour  is  a  pleasing,  warm  orange-yellow. 

Edith  Page. — A  large-sized  exhibition  Cactus 
variety  of  star  shape.  The  long  petals  are  rolled, 
and  their  soft  yellow  colour  is  delicately  flushed 


LADY     GREER    (P.'EONY- FLOWERED)    AND 


with~pale    coral   pink    when    mature,    so    that   it 
becomes  a  yellow-centred  bloom. 

Nectar. — This  bright  yellow  Decorative  variety 
of  large  size  is  of  great  merit. 

Shepherdess. — A  large,  pure  white  Decorative 
variety  of  splendid  form  and  borne  on  long,  stout 
stalks.  The  above  varieties  were  all  shewn  by 
Messrs.  J.  Stredwick  and  Son. 

Dorking  Star. — A  pretty  bloom  of  the  highly 
decoratixe  .Star  type.  It  is  of  silvery  mauve 
colour  with  crimson  rays  in  the  centre. 

Lady  Greer. — This  is  a  medium-sized  Pasony- 
flowered  variety  oi  fascinating  rosy  mauve 
colour. 

Leonie  Cobb. — A  compactly  formed  small 
Pa'ony-flowered  bloom.  The  double  row  of 
rounded  petals  are  of  rosy-mauve  colour,  and  the 
centre  of  the  flower  is  dusted  with  golden  yellow. 
This  and  the  two  previous  varieties  were  shewn 
by  Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and  Sons. 

Protest. — A  large  Decorative  variety  of  perfect 
form,  borne  on  very  long,  stout  stalks.  The 
colour  is  an  attractive  shade  of  rosy  mauve  which 
is  lighter  at  the  tips  of  the  florets.  Shewn  by  the 
Central  Gardens  Supplies  Company. 

Crimson  Glow. — This  is  a  very  beautiful  small 
Pitony-flowered  bloom  of  vivid  crimson  shading. 
The  petals  are  slightly  incurved  at  the  tips. 

Marcella. — .A.  dainty  little  Peeony-flowcred 
bloom  of  bright  rose  pink  colouring. 

Sophire. — A  good  white  star-shaped  small 
Pa-ony-flfiwered  variety. 

Warrior. — This  is  a  brilliant  small  Paeony- 
flowered  bloom  of  flatfish  shape  and  velvety 
crimson  colour  which  is  rather  paler  in  the  centre. 
Zena. — .A  small  yellow  Decorative  variety 
which  is  tipped  with  bronze.  This  and  the  four 
previous  varieties  were  shewn  by  Messrs.  J. 
Burrell  and  Co. 

Border  Perfection. — A  handsome  rich  crimson- 
coloured,  large  Decorative  bloom  carried  well 
above  the  foliage  on  stout  stalks.  This  and  the 
following  \arieties  were  shewn  by  members  of  the 
Dutch    Dahlia  Society. 

Flambeau. — A  large  Decorative  variety  of 
hriglit  brick  red  colouring.  ' 

Guineeltji. — This  is  a  small  Decorative  variety 
of  mauve  colouring.  It  is  almost  a  large  Pompon 
in  character,  and  seems  to  be  very  free  flowering. 
Jubilee. — This  was  perhaps  the  most  uncommon- 
coloured  variety  in  the  Show.  It  is  a  good  medium 
size  bloom  of  the  Decorative  type,  though  the 
incurving  narrow  petals  give  it  somewhat  a 
Cactus  appearance.  It  is  beautifully  shaded 
with  lilac. 

Mr.  Dresselhuys. — A  medium-sized  Decorative 
\ariety  of  most  beautiful  rosy  lilac  shade  which  is 
paler  at  the  tips  of  the  petals. 

Nelly. — The  small,  compact,  rich  crimson  blooms 
of  Decorative  type  are  borne  on  almost  dispro- 
portionately long  stalks,  though  the  variety 
would  probably  be  ornamental  in  the  flower 
border. 

Misses  G.  Wurflein. — A  very  handsome,  large 
Decorative  variety  of  perfect  shape.  The  colour 
is  rich  claret-crimson  shaded  velvety  maroon  in 
the  centre  '.if  the  flower. 

Oranje  Boven. — A  beautiful  orange-apricot 
coluured.  large  Decorative  variety. 

Prince    of    Wales. — .'Another    large    Decorative 
variety  of  similar  shape  but  butf-orange  colouring. 
Richard  Henckeroth.— This  is  a  large  Decora- 
tive variety  of  vivid  scarlet  colour. 

Wake  Up. — A  white-tipped  ruby-crimson 
Decorative  variety  of  similar  shape  to  the  old 
\ariety  Rosy  Morn  that  was  used  for  bedding-out 
purposes  many  years  ago. 

Zhr  G.  van  Tebs. — .\  white  Cactus  variety 
which    has    broad    petals    and    appears    to    have 


LEONIE    COBB  (MINIATURE   F.^ONY-FLOWERED.)    considerable  garden  value. 


September  i6,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


467 


SOME  IMPRESSIONS  OF  THE  INTERNATIONAL 
SHOW  AT  GLASGOW 


WHAT  the  Glasgow  Corporation 
puts  its  hands  to  it  does  with 
the  might  of  determination,  and 
success  seems  to  foUow  all  its 
enterprises.  The  magnificent  and 
stately  exhibition  ot  flowers  and  fruit  held  in  the 
Kelvin  Hall  from  .August  30  to  September  2  was 
the  joint  production  of  the  Corporation  and  the 
Glasgow  and  West  of  Scotland  Horticultural 
Society,  but  it  was  also  recognised  in  a  very 
practical  manner  by  the  headquarters  of  horti- 
culture— Lord  Lambourne,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wilks  and 
Mr.  Dykes  all  being  present  with  powers  to  present 
R.H.S.  honours  to  worthy  exhibits.  Kelvin  Hall 
makes  an  ideal  venue  for  a  show  of  this  sort, 
spaciousness  and  good  roof  lighting  contributing 
comfort  and  convenience  alike  to  exhibitor  and 
spectator,  and  seldom  has  this  coimtry  seen  a  more 
magnificent  floral  spectacle  than  that  provided 
under  such  amenable  conditions.  Undoubtedly 
the  most  prominent  feature  was  the  informative 
and  eye-satisf>ing  display  of  the  Corporation 
itself.  For  over  looft.  of  the  central  avenue  the 
space  was  converted  into  a  veritable  botanical 
garden.  Tw'o  extensive  designs  were  constructed 
in  the  centre,  the  larger  being  devoted  to  Tree 
Ferns,  Palms  and  exotic  plants  ;  the  smaller  built  up 
as  a  rockery,  from  the  middle  of  which  a  multitude 
of  miniature  water-spouts  fed  a  tiny  lake,  the  whole 
lit  up  in  the  evening  with  cleverly  placed  coloured 
lights.  Banked  up  at  either  side  of  these  groups 
were  borders  of  economic  and  decorative  plants, 
including  many  kinds  of  utility  shrubs  from  tropical 
countries. 

The  remainder  of  the  floor  space  of  the  central 
hall  was  devoted  to  competitive  exhibits  of  green- 
house and  stove  plants,  of  which  the  finest  example 
was  shewn  by  Messrs.  Cypher  of  Cheltenham, 
who  gained  first  prize  and  the  President's  Cup, 
presented  by  Sir  John  Reid. 

Ranged  along  the  sides  of  this  portion  of  the 
central  hall  were  exhibits  by  the  well  known  firms. 
Here  Messrs.  Sutton  of  Reading  shewed  the 
possibility  of  staging  a  multitude  of  vegetables, 
fruit  and  flowers  in  perfect  taste  as  regards  colour 
blending,  the  floral  background  comprising  large 
vases  of  Gladioli  and  Lilies,  while  little  groups  ot 
well  chosen  flowers  reheved  the  soMd  array  of 
excellently  grown  vegetables  and  fruit  in  the  fore- 
groimd. 

On  the  opposite  side,  Messrs.  Dobbie  of  Edin- 
burgh made  a  flower  show  by  themselves,  a  range 
of  exhibits  seldom,  if  ever,  exceeded  by  a  single 
firm  at  any  show.  A  staging  run  of  175ft.  had  been 
used  to  the  utmost  advantage  and  included  immense 
banks  of  Roses,' Dahhas,  Chrysanthemums,  Phloxes, 
Antirrhinums,  Begonias,  Fuchsias  and  Pelar- 
goniums, both  Regal  and  Zonal.  The  firm's  new 
Roses,  >Irs.  Frank  J.  Usher,  deep  yellow,  flushed 
carmine  ;  Lady  Elphinstone,  apricot ;  and  Vanity 
Fair,  salmon  yellow,  were  well  shewn,  and  another 
notable  flower  'was  Begonia  narcissiflora,  with 
quite  a  frilled  trumpet,  instead  of  the  usual  central 
row  of  petals.  Pansies,  too,  were  here  in  perfection, 
as  they  can  only  be  grown  in  Scotland.  Terminating 
this  long  run  of  staging  was  a  group  of  the  famous 
Dobbie  Potatoes,  three  new  varieties  being  shewn, 
Di  Vernon,  a  first  early,  immune  ;  Katie  Glover,  a 
new  pink- eyed  second  early ;  and  Crusader,  a 
grand  main  crop,  yielding  many  tubers  of  moderate 
size  and  of  high  cooking  quaUty. 

Perpetual-flowering  Carnations  made  a  brave 
show  staged  by  Mr.  Engleman,  his  newer  sorts. 
Laddie,  Tarzan  and  Topsy  being  in  e.xcellent  form. 
The  last  named  is  a  glorious  deep  crimson  and  an 


excellent  vase  flower.  Messrs.  Allwood,  too,  had  a 
large  exhibit,  including  the  ever-flowering,  bright 
crimson-scarlet  Carnation,  Edward.Allwood.  Marion 
Wilson,  maize  with  scarlet  flake,  and  Wivelsfield 
-Apricot,  were  also  prominent,  and  the  well  known 
-Allwoodii  Pinks  made  a  good  display.  In  spite 
of  the  late  season,  Messrs.  Blackmore  and  Langdon 
had  a  fine  range  of  Delphiniums,  secondary  spikes 
doubtless,  and  the  different  tones  of  blue  threw 
up  the  warm  and  glowing  colours  of  a  choice  lot 
of  double  Begonias  which  were  staged  in  the 
front   of  their  exhibit. 

Orchids  were  well  represented  by  groups  from 
Messrs.  Charlesworth  and  Co.  of  Hayward's  Heath, 


GLADIOLUS  PRIMULINUS  GOLD   DROP,  SHEWN 

BY    MESSRS.    LOWE    AND    GIBSON. 
Gladioli  were  an  important  feature  oj  the  Sliovj. 

Messrs  Sanders  ot  St.  Albans  and  Mr.  D.  McLeod 
of  Chorlton,  Manchester.  .\part  from  the  well 
grown  exhibits  of  Gladioli  shown  by  Messrs. 
Ryder  of  St.  Albans  and  other  firms  who  used 
them  as  specimen  vase  plants,  one  was  pleased 
to  see  the  glorious  spikes  of  these  flowers  shewn  in 
competition  by  Messrs.  Mair  of  Prestwick  and  Mr. 
Airdrie  of  Dumfries.  The  Scottish  climate  suits 
the  Gladiolus  very  well  and  we  have  seldom  seen 
flowers  in  such  magnificence  of  size  and  colour 
as  these  two  exhibitors  put  up.  Messrs.  Lowe  and 
Gibson  of  Craw'ley  Down  also  had  a  collection  of 
choice  and  rare  Gladioh,  in  which  they  seem  to 
specialise,  their  flowers  including  some  of  the 
ruffled  type  which  has  taken  such  a  hold  of  the 
.American  flower-loving  public.  Particularly  attrac- 
tive in  this  exhibit  were  the  vases  of  beautiful 
Gladioh  produced  from  seed  sown  in  February  of 
this  year. 

Sweet  Peas  were,  naturally,  in  great  force  as  the 
season  in  Scotland  has  been  suitable  for  strong 
growth  and  late  flowering.    We  weie  pleased  to  see 


a  beautiful  group  staged  by  the  time-honoured 
firm  of'Eckford  of  Wem,  who,  we  hear,  are  again 
making  great  preparations  for  raising  new  varietic: 
The  mass  of  colour  supplied  by  these  flowers  came 
however  from  the  competitive  classes  which  were 
numerous  and  keenly  contested. 

It  would  be  an  endless  task  to  notice  even  briefly 
all  the  individual  exhibits  in  such  an  exhibitior, 
but  a  few  notes  jotted  at  random  may  be  worth 
chronicUng.  In  Messrs.  Forbes'  stand,  for  instance, 
there  were  examples  of  the  quaint  inflorescence 
of  Poterium  obtusum  among  an  admirable  group 
of  hardy  plants,  while  on  the  Donard  Nursery 
stage,  among  a  representative  lot  of  flowering  shrubs 
and  dwarf  conifers,  there  were  several  hybrid  forms 
of  Dierama  pulcherrima  shewn  under  numbers,  con- 
siderably deeper  in  colour  than  the  ordinary  form. 
Here,  too,  was  Eucryphia  pinnatifolia,  seldom  seen 
at  flower  shows  and  not  quite  hardy  in  these 
latitudes. 

The  Glasgow  firm  of  Messrs.  .Austin  and  Mc.Aslan 
placed  a  very  important  group  of  conifers  among 
which  the  steel  blue  of  Abies  pungens  glauca, 
Koster's  variety,  rose  prominently.  In  another 
exhibit  they  displayed  vegetables  and  cut  fruit, 
backed  by  tall  vases  of  Gladioli,  Perpetual  Car- 
nations, Lilies  and  .Asters.  Fruit  trees  in  pots 
were  capitally  staged  by  Messrs.  Learmont,  Hunter 
and  King  of  Dumfries,  the  .Apples  being  in  prime 
condition  under  good  cultivation.  It  is  interesting 
to  record  that  Messrs.  Samsons,  Limited,  of  Kil- 
marnock, estabhshed  their  business  so  long  ago  as 
1759  and  that  Burn's  "Ode  to  Tam  Samson" 
referred  to  the  then  principal  of  the  firm.  That 
prosperity  still  marks  their  efforts  was  shewn  by 
the  lovely  collection  of  Roses,  herbaceous  plants, 
hardy  fruits  and  fruit  trees,  and  stove  plants  put 
up  by  them  in  a  tasteful  exhibit.  We  noted  a  verv 
excellent  strain  of  Primula  Littoniana  and  the 
rarer  Primula  glycosma  among  a  group  of  hardy 
plants  from  Messrs.  Oliver  and  Hunter  of 
Moniaive. 

Another  Scottish  firm,  Messrs.  Laird  and 
Dickson,  had  a  representative  selection  of  hybrid 
forms  of  hardy  Ericas  and  a  wide  range  of  rockery 
plants. 

Messrs.  Storrie  and  Storrie,  of  tiny  seedling  repute, 
shewed  fruit  trees  in  pots — .Apples.  Pears,  Figs  and 
Grapes  principally — and  they  were  as  well  cultivated 
as  any  w-e  have  seen  at  the  London  shows.  The 
flower  department  was  represented  by  a  good 
collection  of  greenhouse  and  hardy  plants  in  pots. 

Mr.  J.  Dobson,  Glasgow,  trading  as  "  Leightons," 
whose  business  slogan  is  "  Say  it  in  Flowers," 
makes  a  speciality  of  sending  cut  flowers  for  any 
purpose  to  any  address.  He  had  a  nice  collection  of 
hardy  British  Ferns,  also  a  noteworthy  plant  in 
fine  flower — Begonia  Martiana  grandiflora,  very 
bright  rose  in  colour. 

A  pretty  feature  of  the  exhibition  was  a  com- 
petitive class  for  window  boxes,  some  of  which 
were  most  ornamental  and  ingeniously  planted 
for  colour  effect. 

Although  Border  Carnations  are  over  in  the  South 
of  England,  some  very  fine  specimens  were  seen  in 
the  classes  for  these  flow-ers,  Scotland  this  year  being 
quite  a  month  behind  the  usual  period  owing  to 
lack  of  sun  and  warmth.  The  yellow  ground 
Picotees  were  better  than  we  ha\e  seen  all  the 
season  in  any  part  of  the  country,  and  the  selfs  and 
fancies  quite  up  to  the  average  standard  of  July 
in  the  South. 

.At  the  main  entrance  an  excellent  rockery  W'as 
set  up  by  Mr.  David  King  of  Edinburgh,  an 
ambitious  project  backed  by  tall  conifers  and 
planted  with  appropriate  shrubs  and  flowering 
plants. 

The  Show  n-as  an  unqualified  success  and  a  strong 
feeling  prevailed  that  the  function  should  become  an 
annual  event. 


468 


THE     GARDEN. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


CARPETING  THE  ROCK  GARDEN. 

T  AM  sending  you  herewith  two  photographs 
of  my  rock  garden.  One  shews  a  little  valley 
clothed  with  Festuca  Crinum-Ursi,  that  splendid 
Pyreneau  Grass.  Here  it  scarcely  ever  flowers. 
On  a  hot,  dry  site  it  maintained  its  fresh  green- 
ness right  through  the  heat  and  drought  of  the 
summer  of  igar.  I  have  never  seen  IncarviUea 
grandiflora  so  beautiful  as  when  growing  in  this 
short  natural  turf.  Such  plants  as  Anthericum 
(Paradisea)  Liliastrum,  Ranunculus  amplexicauUs 
and  R.  gramineus.  Dianthus  Carthusianorum, 
the  common  Gentianella  and  .Adonis  vemalis 
are  happy  in  this  Festuca,  which  ne\'er  requires 


Maxwelli   and   P.   e.  nidiformis, 
Olsen,  Kolding,  Denmark. 


in  steps. — .\ksel 


INTERESTING   STEPS   IN   THE   ROCK   GARUE.X 


LITTLE   VALLEY   CARPETED  WITH   THE 

CRINUM-URSI. 


cutting.  Even  Gcntiana  verna  and  Primula 
minima  have  flowered  beautifully  this  last  spring 
in  the  same  Festuca  carpet. 

The  other  picture  shews  Cotula  squalida,  Thymus 
lanuginosa  and  two  dwarf  Spruces,  Picca  excelsa 


IS  THE  HOLLYHOCK  DECLINING? 

'M'OTES  on  the  Hollyhock  are  interesting  to  me, 
as  my  apprenticeship  days  were  passed  with 
Messrs.  Webb  and  Brand,  Saffron  Walden,  Essex. 
As  successors  to  the  business  of  Mr.  Chafer  this 
firm  continued  to  make  the  Hollyhock  a  speciality 
and  raised  very  large  quantities  of  plants  annually, 
there  being  a  big  demand  for  seed  also.  Propa- 
gation was  effected  by  grafting,  by  cuttings, 
by  division  and  from  seed.  At  this  time  the 
rust  (Puccinia  malvacearum)  was  giving  con- 
siderable trouble,  and 
numerous  fungicides  were 
tried  to  combat  the 
disease,  with  varying  de- 
grees of  success.  The 
disease  being  seated  with- 
in the  tissues  of  the 
plant,  remedies  are  diffi- 
cult to  apply.  The  rust 
is  nursed  by  malvaceous 
weeds  and  often  by  the 
Musk  Mallow  (Malva 
luoschata).  Eventually  a 
specific  was  prepared  in 
the  form  of  a  dry  powder, 
which  was  appUed  by 
means  of  specially  con- 
structed bellows,  care 
being  taken  that  the 
undersides  of  the  leaves 
were  thoroughly  dusted. 
By  efficient  cultivation 
and  the  continued  use 
uf  the  powder  throughout 
the  season,  the  fungoid 
growth  was  to  a  great 
extent  prevented.  Beds 
containing  many  hundreds 
nt  plants  with  large 
healthy  leaves  from  the 
ground  upwards  were  a 
conspicuous  feature  of  the 
nurser\'  Exhibitions  of 
the  flowering  spikes  and 
blooms  gained  many 
awards  in  London  and  the 
provinces.  The  Hollyhock 
is  a  gross  feeder.  Deep 
cultivation  and  rich  soil 
are  essential.  In  addition 
to  liberal  mulchings  of 
manure,  frequent  apphca- 
tions  of  manure  water 
should  be  applied  during 
the  early  summer  when 
growth  is  very  active  and 
a  large  amount  of  tissue 
is  being  produced  by  the 
plants.  As  an  aid  to  the 
production  of  large,  per- 
fect flowers,  and  also  to 
simplify  the  work  of  spray- 
ing, all  offshoots  that  shew 
from  the  base  should  be 
removed.  Strong  stakes 
must  be  provided  to 
which  the  plants  must  be 
carefully  secured  as  they 
develop.  If  large  blooms  are  desired,  the  buds 
may  be  thinned,  also  the  top  I2ins.  or  iSins. 
(according  to  the  strength  of  the  plants)  cut  away. 
I  believe  that  it  has  become  the  general  rule  with 
growers    to    treat    the    Hollyhock    as    a    biennial. 


DWARF   GRASS   FESTUCA 


[September  i6,  1922. 

Strong  plants  may  be  raised  from  seed  sown  \er\- 
thinly  in  rich  soil  during  May  or  early  June.  The 
seed  should  be  covered  lightly  with  sifted  soil. 
If  dry,  a  soaking  of  water  should  be  given  and 
the  bed  kept  dusted  over  with  soot  until  the 
seedlings  are  well  estabhshed.  The  seedlings 
should  be  thiimed  to  6ins.  apart.  Some  growers 
transplant  straight  to  their  flowering  quarters 
in  September.  Others  prefer  to  winter  them  in 
frames.  In  heavy  loam  or  wet  clay  the  latter 
plan  may  be  advisable.  In  the  southern  counties 
and  on  Ught  land,  however,  it  is  quite  safe  to  winter 
Hollyhocks  in  the  open,  providing  merely  a  light 
shelter  of  bracken  or  litter  should  severe  weather 
occur.  That  the  present  proprietors  of  the  Saffron 
Walden  nursery — Messrs.  J.  Vert  and  Sons — 
continue  to  cultivate  the  Hollyhock  with  great 
success  is  shewn^b}-  the  honours  gained  by  their 
exhibits  alike  in,  London  and^the  provinces. — 
G.  Ruse.  "* 

THE   SKUNK   CABBAGE. 

'T'HERE  seems  to  be  a  lot  of  disagreement  about 
what  is  Skunk  Cabbage.  As  a  matter  of 
fact,  both  Lysichitum  and  Symplocarpus  are 
known  as  Skunk  Cabbage,  but  in  the  West  in 
British  Columbia  it  is  Lysichitum  camtschatense 
that  is  called  Skunk  Cabbage  and  east  of  the 
Rockies  it  is  Symplocarpus  foetidus.  In  J.  K. 
Heru-y's  "  Flora  of  Southern  British  Columbia  " 
it  reads  "  L.  kamtschatense,  Schort.  (Skunk 
Cabbage).  Leaves  often  i  metre  long,  acute, 
spathe  yellow,  1-2  dm.  long  with  a  sheathing 
base."  I  may  say  that  I  have  found  leaves  4ft. 
long  and  2oins.  wide,  but  Henry  makes  no  mention 
of  the  Symplocarpus,  which  apparently  does  not 
occur  in  British  Columbia.  On  the  other  hand, 
in  Schuyla  Mathews'  "  Field  Book  of  American 
Wild  Flowers  "  it  gives  "  Skunk  Cabbage,  Symplo- 
carpus fiKtidus.  Dark  purple-red  and  green,"  and 
there  is  no  mention  of  L.  camtschatense,  which 
apparently  does  not  occur  in  the  East.  Both 
belong  to  the  Arum  family  and  both  smell  offen- 
sively, so  naturally  the  inhabitants  of  their  several 
localities  call  them  Skunk  Cabbage,  as  that  animal 
has  a  continent-wide  reputation  for  smell. — 
C.  T.  Hilton,  Port  Alberni,  B.C. 

PARIS     AUTUMN    SHOW. 

'T'HE  National  Horticultural  Society  of  France 
will  hold  its  International  Autumn  Exhibition 
of  Chrysanthemums,  Fruit,  Vegetables,  etc.,  in  the 
Palmarium  of  the  Jardin  d'Acclimatation.  In 
conjunction  therewith  the  French  Chrysanthemum 
Society  will  hold  its  Annual  Conference.  The 
Exhibition  will  open  on  October  27  and  close  on 
November  5. 

Having  received  several  enquiries  from  possible 
EngUsh  exhibitors  and  also  being  in  receipt  of  a 
very  pressing  invitation  from  the  Chrysanthemum 
Section  to  induce  English  exhibitors  to  enter  for 
competition,  I  shall  be  pleased  to  furnish  any 
particulars  that  may  be  required. — C.  Harman 
Payne,  Foreign  Secretary,  National  Chrysanthe- 
mum Societv,  195,  Wellmeadow  Road,  Catford, 
S.E.6. 

THE  ATLAS  CEDAR. 
■\^1S1TING  Woodstock  Park  near  Sittingbourne 
recently,  attention  was  arrested  by  the  beautiful 
cones  freely  borne  by  two  aged  Cedars,  survivors  of 
a  group  of  three,  growing  at  a  distance  of  only  a  few 
paces  from  each  other.  Standing  upright  on  the 
flat  branches,  these  large,  curiously  marked  green 
and  red  cones  shew  to  great  advantage.  Though 
not  rare,  such  fruiting  of  the  Cedar  is  far  from  com- 
mon and  is  of  great  natural  interest.  This  ancient 
park,  beautifully  undulating  and  courmanding  a 
magnificent  prospect  over  the  historic  country  of 
the  Lower  Medway,  contains  many  other  arbori- 
cultural    features.       .A    Spanish    Chestnut,    whose 


September  i6,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


469 


branches  have  reached  to  the  ground,  rooted  and 
grown  to  a  considerable  size,  covers  an  area  of 
about  120  paces  circumference.  There  arc  several 
other  ancient  Chestnuts,  but  the  Walnuts  are  the 
characteristic  of  the  park.  Many  are  three  centuries 
old  and  isolated,  and  have  an  immense  and  sym 
metrical  reach  of  branches.  A  Copper  Beech  before 
the  carriage  entrance  of  the  mansion  about  equals 
the  width  of  the  house.  Woodstock  Park  is  a 
survival  of  the  old  England  of  tradition  and  story 
which  is  fast  passing  away  and  without  which 
England  is  the  poorer. — Hurstcot. 

SOME    POINTS    ABOUT    DAFFODILS. 

T  WAS  simply  amazed  to  see  Narcissus  Ornament 
(The  G.4RDEN,  April  ^2,  page  191)  described 
as  "  a  glorious  Barrii."  It  was  sent  me  from 
England  when  a  comparative  novelty  about  five 
years  ago,  if  I  remember  rightly,  as  a  substitute 
for  Heroine.  It  has  bloomed  here  under  varying 
circumstances  and  soils,  but  always  with  the  same 
result — a  small  and  poor  flower,  lacking  form  and 
with  a  sort  of  nondescript  orange  cup.  The  much- 
vaunted  Homespun — which  we  had  many  years  ago 
and  have  tried  from  several  different  lots  of  bulbs 
in  all  sorts  of  soils  and  situations — has  also  proved  a 
disappointment,  as  it  has  always  flowered  as  a  small 
thing  of  washy  yellow,  and  of  form  which  I  need 
not  hesitate  to  describe  (if  slangily)  as  rotten. 
Both  of  these  varieties,  if  appearing  in  seedling 
beds,  would  be  promptly  discarded  here.  On  the 
other  hand.  Princess  Mary  and  many  of  her  seedlings 
are  uncertain  doers  here  but,  when  they  do  well,  are 
really  magnificent.  Whitewell,  too,  for  some 
obscure  reason  rarely  does  itself  justice,  though  a 
good  flower. 

I  have  had  the  same  experience  with  Bernardino 
as  Mr.  H.  G.  Hawker  (May  20,  page  242).  Last 
season  almost  all  Bernardino  and  many  Ivorine  were 
deformed  and  many  Bernardino  went  "  bUnd." 
.'Vs  to  this  "  blindness,"  it  seems  to  me  that  out 
here  it  is  very  largely  (but  not  whoUy),  due  to  lack 
of  sufficient  moisture  during  the  growing  period 
prior  to  flowering  time.  In  dry  seasons  many- 
varieties  suffer  in  this  way,  so  now.  when  the 
weather  is  dry  (especially  in  autumn),  we  always 
water  the  beds  to  be  on  the  safe  side.  Varieties 
very  prone  to  go  "  blind  "  are  Bedouin,  Bernardino, 
Lulworth,  Kittiwake,  Lord  Kitchener,  Diana, 
Minnie  Hume  (worst  of  all).  Queen  of  the  North, 
Thistle,  Sailor,  Lavender,  most  of  the  doubles  and 
several  Poets  and  Barriis,  but  no  Trumpets  and 
very  few  Incomps.  Plenipo  has  never  flowered 
yet,  though  it  grows  strongly  every  year — can 
anyone  give  a  reason  for  this  ?  At  present  we  miss 
Maximus  very  much,  as  it  is  "  on  strike  "  again, 
its  shyness  of  flowering  being  its  greatest  faiMng. 
.\s  regards  abnormal  seasons  (Mr.  Pearson's 
letter  on  the  same  page),  the  vagaries  of  season,  it 
must  be  admitted,  are  somewhat  of  a  trial,  though 
here  we  would  never  have  a  series  of  frosts  such  as 
recorded  by  Mr.  Pearson,  as  frosts  in  this  locality  are 
extremely  rare  by  mid-season,  which  normally 
may  be  reckoned  roughly  as  about  August  23 
to  September  7.  I  well  remember  the  freak  seasons 
of  igi6and  1919.  In  1916  the  season  was  normal  till 
about  August  20,  that  is,  only  the  very  early  and 
the  early  flowers  in  bloom.  I  was  called  away  from 
home  for  about  a  week  and  on  my  return  to  my 
surprise  found  that  almost  all  were  in  full  bloom 
except  the  later  varieties  !  After  that  the  season 
was  soon  normal  again.  In  1919  we  had  the  shortest 
season  I  have  ever  known,  September  being  un- 
usually mild,  the  blooms  after  about  the  second  of 
that  month  simply  rushed  into  flower  and  about 
the  twentieth  the  season  was  completely  over. 
The  present  season  is  late  by  at  least  a  fortnight, 
although  the  tazettas  opened  at  their  usual  time, 
end  of  May  and  early  June. — Austral,  Geelong, 
Victoria,  Australia. 


A    BEAUTIFUL 

SHRUB. 

T^HE  shrub  shown  in 
the  photograph  is 
growing  in  the  garden  at 
Nuthall  Temple,  Notts, 
and  is,  I  think  you  will 
agree,  a  very  fine  speci- 
men of  Eucryphia  pinna- 
tifoUa  (the  Brush  Bush), 
a  native  of  ChiH,  which 
has  pinnate  leaves  and 
large  white  flowers  about 
3ins.  in  diameter.  It  is 
17ft.  6ins.  high.— R.    H. 

[The  chaste,  somewhat 
Rose-of-Sharon-hke  blos- 
soms of  this  glorious  tree 
will  be  familiar  to  most 
readers,  but  there  can  be 
few  British  specimens  of 
the  size  of  the  one  illus- 
trated.— Ed.] 

ANEMONE- 
FLOWERED 
DAHLIAS. 

"pROM  a  passing  allusion 
on  page  438  it  seems 
that  some  persons  are 
under  the  impression  that 
.\nemone- flowered  Dahhas 
are  a  new  type.  The  one 
figured  on  that  page,  M.  C. 
Dupont,  may  be  in  some 
points,  but  it  is  quite 
certain  that  the  Anemone 
form  of  Dahlia  was  pro- 
duced by  growers  at  a 
very   early    stage    in    the 

European  history  of  that  flower.  Want  of  time 
just  now  prevents  my  making  anything  like  a 
systematic  search  among  my  old  Dahlia  records, 
but  when  I  turn  up  "  Sweet's  Florists'  Guide,"  Vol.  I 
(1827-29),  I  find  on  plate  no  a  very  good  example 
of  the  type  then  known.  It  is  called  the  "  painted 
lady  Anemone-flowered  Georgina."  The  text 
tells  us  "  the  present  handsome  variety  belongs  to 
a  new  tribe,  known  by  the  name  of  Anemone- 
flowered  amongst  cultivators,  the  flowers  having 
their  centre  composed  of  narrow  radiated  florets, 
like  the  small  petals  in  the  centre  of  a  double 
Anemone."  It  is  more  than  probable  that  in  the 
subsequent  fever  for  the  show  and  fancy  varieties, 
the  Anemone-flowered  Dahlias  fell  into  disfavour 
and  were  but  Uttle  esteemed  by  our  exhibitors. 

They   were,    however,   known  in  Germany,   for       'J'HAT    pretty  blue  flowered  shrub,  Clerodendron 
Jakob    Ernst    von    Reider,    a    most    voluminous  '  ^"  ""  '  "  '" 

writer  on  floriculture  in  that  country,  tells  us  in  one 
of  his  little  manuals,  "  Die  Beschreibung  und 
Kultur  der  Georginen,  etc.,"  Ulm  1834,  that  the 
Dahlia  was  then  divided  into  four  classes,  of 
which  the  third  is  given  thus  : — 

III   Klasse  :    Anemonenartige  Georginen. 

It  is  not  necessary,  perhaps,  to  explain  to  the 
reader  interested  in  the  Dahlia  that  about  the 
date  mentioned  florists  in  England,  France  and 
Germany  had  to  a  great  extent  adopted  Will- 
denow's  name  of  Georgina  for  Dahlia. 

Anemone-flowered  Dahlias  may  have  remained 
in  cultivation  on  the  Continent  ever  since  they 
were  first  obtained  from  seed,  but  to  make  sure  of 
that  conjecture  necessitates  time.  At  any  rate, 
fifteen  years  ago,  when  Rivoire  of  Lyons  pubUshed 
their  httle  book  "  Le  Dahlia,"  they  included  a 
section  of  what  they  called  "  Dahlias  Gloria " 
(ou  a  fleurs  d'.^nemone),  in  which  twenty-one 
varieties  are  included. 


A   MAGNIFICENT   EUCRYPHIA   PINNATIFOLIA. 


Although  my  old  friend  George  Gordon  makes  no 
reference  to  the  Anemone-flowered  Dahlia  in  his 
work  on  that  flower  in  "  Jack's  Present-day 
Gardening  Series"  in  1913,  it  is  worthy  of  note 
that  Wroe  in  "  Dahlias  and  Their  Cultivation," 
five  years  before,  does  refer  to  them  and  says 
they  were  then  a  recent  introduction  from  the 
Continent,  dating  to  the  year  1901. 

They  are  certainly  known  in  America,  for  they 
are  mentioned  in  Circular  No.  43  of  the  New  York 
Agricultural  Experiment  Station  (1915),  and  in 
Mrs.  Stout's  new  work,  "  The  Amateurs'  Book  of 
the  Dahlia,"  recently  noticed  in  your  columns. — 
C.  H.  P. 

AN   EXPERLMENT   WORTH    MAKING. 


ugandensis  has  recently  become  popular  in 
this  country.  Curiously  enough  here  it  is  looked 
upon  as  a  climber  and  in  the  greenhouse  at  Kew 
it  certainly  has  such  a  habit.  In  its  wild  state, 
however,  it  is  a  low  shrub,  not  more  than  a  few 
feet  high. 

It  is  a  sun  lover,  growing  only  in  grassland,  or 
open  bush  country.  In  parts  it  is  burnt  off  annually 
during  the  grass  fires,  which  take  place  in  the  dry 
season.  The  woody  stems  of  the  plant,  however, 
do  not  appear  to  suffer,  for  it  grows  up  again  in  the 
rains,  and  it  is  particularly  abundant  in  such 
situations. 

I  have  seen  this  species  growing  at  an  elevation  of 
7,oooft.  in  Kenya  Colony,  so  it  appears  worth 
while  trying  as  a  summer  bedding  plant  out  of 
doors.  At  the  high  elevation  the  species  was  par- 
ticularly floriferous.  Judging  by  the  rapidity  of 
its  growth  after  a  grass  fire,  our  English  summer 
should  be  quite  long  enough  for  it  to  flower  in 
if  strong  plants  were  put  out  in  June. — E.  Browk. 


470 


THE   GARDEN. 


[SePTI-.MBER    i6,    iq22. 


GARDENING    OF    THE    WEEK 


FOR    SOl'THERN    GARDENS. 

The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Maincrop  Potatoes. — Make  the  best  use  of 
available  time  during  dry  weather  to  get  all 
Potatoes  hfted,  as  there  is  nothing  to  be  gained 
by  their  being  left  longer  in  the  ground.  Where 
the  work  is  unavoidably  held  up  for  some  weeks, 
the  hauhn  should  be  cleared  away  so  that  all 
light  and  air  possible  may  reach  the  ground. 
H  Tomatoes. — The  present  season  has  pro\'ed 
once  again  the  futiUty  of  placing  much  reliance 
upon  outdoor  Tomatoes,  for  in  the  majority  of 
cases,  according  to  the  reports,  they  are  a  poor 
lot.  Cut  off  all  the  bunches  as  soon  as  they 
commence  ripening  and  finish  in  a  slightly  warm 
building,  such  as  a  greenhouse,  and  thus  allow  the 
small  fruits  to  have  all  the  encouragement  possible 
to  swell  up  to  a  usable  size  for  pickling  and 
chutney  purposes. 

Brussels  Sprouts. — These,  in  common  with 
the  majority  of  the  Brassica  family,  have  made 
an  (abundance  of  growth.  It  may  prove  advis- 
able— indeed  necessary — where  the  crop  is  in 
an  exposed  position  to  secure  some  of  the  taller- 
growing  plants  by  staking.  The  bottom  leaves 
should  now  be  removed  so  that  light  anrl  air 
can  penetrate  more  freely. 

Endive. — Plants  raised  during  the  latter  part  of 
June  and  early  July  wiU  need  treatment  for  blanch- 
ing. The  moss-leaved  ones  should  have  a  flower-pot 
placed  over  them  for  the  purpose,  but  the  other 
varieties  may  be  tied  up  in  similar  manner  to 
Cos  Lettuce.  See  that  the  late  plants,  which  are 
now  being  got  out  to  stand  the  winter,  are  given 
a  light  soil  and  a  warm  border. 

The  Flower  Garden. 
Psonies. — From  now  until  the  latter  part  of 
October  is  the  most  favourable  time  for  planting 
these  beautiful  spring-fiowering  plants.  There 
are  two  groups,  namely,  the  herbaceous  and  the 
"  tree."  The  herbaceous  are  much  more  exten- 
sively grown,  and  may  be  used  with  good  results 
in  several  ways.  Unquestionably  the  most 
effective  results  are  when  they  are  planted  by 
themselves  in  bold  beds  about  the  grounds  in 
semi-shady  spots  or  by  the  side  of  the  pathways 
in  the  woodland  garden.  When  preparing  the 
site  for  them  incorporate  some  well  rotted  manure 
and  afterwards  only  disturb  them  when  they 
need  redividing,  for  the  less  disturbance  the  more 
flowers.  The  tree  Pa'onies  do  not  appear  to  mind 
a  great  deal  what  the  soil  is,  but  as  they  flower 
quite  early  in  the  season  a  cold  retentive  soil 
cannot  be  expected  to  enable  the  plants  to  gi\'e 
such  returns  as  a  warm  sandy  soil  would.  Where 
it  is  necessary  to  have  something  in  flower  later 
than  the  Paonies  it  may  easily  be  provided  by 
planting  bulbs  of  LUies,  the  large-flowering  type 
of  Gladioh  or  Hyacinthus  candicans.  A  very 
pretty  early  spring  effect  may  be  obtained  where 
there  is  a  large  bed  or  border  devoted  to  the 
herbaceous  Paeonies  by  planting  yellow  Narcissi 
among  them.  Flowering,  as  they  frequently  do, 
just  when  the  Paeonies  are  unfolding  their  first 
leaves,  the  many  delicate  tints  of  foliage  help  to 
make  the  picture  quite  a  pleasing  one. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

General  Notes. — In  addition  to  the  gathering 
of  early  Apples,  Peaches  and  Pears,  care  must  be 
taken  of  the  late  Plums,  which  are  often  of  great 
use  for  dessert  purposes,  but  must  not  be  gathered 
too  soon.  Particularly  does  this  apply  to  Coe's 
Golden  Drop.  Mulberries  where  grown  and 
required  for  bottling  purposes  should  not  be  too 
ripe  for  the  purpose  or  they  may  present  a  bruised 
and  pulpy  appearance  in  the  bottles.  The  cold, 
showery  and  sunless  weather  has  been  all  against 
Fig  fruits  finishing  in  a  proper  manner,  so  where 
the  removal  of  an  uimecessary  growth  or  the 
tying  aside  of  a  few  leaves  will  be  of  benefit  to 
finishing  fruits  let  it  be  done  at  once.  The  gather- 
ing of  Nuts  will  soon  call  for  attention,  but  this 
is  essentially  a  crop  which  must  not  be  collected 
until  quite  ripe  and  the  Nuts  ready  to  drop  from 
their  husks,  or  a  goodly  number  will  shrivel.  The 
harvesting  of  aU  kinds  of  fruits  offers  a  good 
opportunity  to  get  doubtful  names  verified  or 
corrected,  as  the  case  may  be. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 
Early  Peaches  and  Nectarines  growing  in 
tubs  and  pots  which  will  be  called  upon  to  supply 
the  earhest  fruits  should  now  be  taken  in  hand 
and  receive  the  necessary  repotting.  Assuming 
the  plants  are  now  occupying  receptacles  as 
large  as  intended  for  them,  a  small  portion  of  the 
old  ball  of  soil  should  be  gently  liberated  with  a 


pointed  stick.  The  tree  can  then  be  replaced 
in  a  clean  receptacle  of  similar  size  and  the  compost 
very  evenly  and  regularly  worked  around  it, 
to  do  which  the  aid  of  a  somewhat  thin  and  flatfish 
potting  stick  will  be  required.  The  compost 
should  be  good  fibrous  loam  to  which  a  little  bone- 
meal,  wood-ash  and  old  mortar  rubble  has  been 
added,  and  it  is  important  that  the  soil  be  made 
very  firm.  When  all  the  trees  are  dealt  with, 
stand  them  fairh'  close  together  on  a  bed  of  ashes, 
giving  a  couple  of  syringings  a  day  for  about  a 
fortnight,  unless  the  weather  is  showery.  See 
that  a  thorough  watering  is  given  so  that  all  the 
new  soil  is  nicely  settled  round  the  roots. 
H.  Tl-rner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 
Albury  Park  Gardens,  Guildford. 


as  much  of  the  old  wood  as  possible,  tying  in  the 
strongest  shoots  ol  the  present  year's  growth. 

Border  Carnations. — Rooted  layers  should  now 
be  lifted  and  put  into  ^in.  pots,  half  plunging 
the  pots  into  ashes  for  the  winter.  A  part  of  the 
frame  ground  should  be  chosen  where  a  light  may 
be  placed  over  them  during  severe  weather.  In 
favourable  districts  many  of  the  more  hardily 
constituted  sorts  may  be  planted  out  direct  into 
their  flowering  quarters. 

James  McGran 

(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.). 

Coodhain,  Kilmarnock. 


FOR     NORTHERN     GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Potatoes. — Mid-season  varieties  should  no^v  be 
lifted  at  the  first  favourable  opportunity  and 
stored  in  a  cool  cellar  or  clamp.  A  sunny  day 
should  be  chosen  for  the  work  and  the  tubers 
be  left  lying  on  the  surface  for  a  few  hours  to  dry 
before  finally  storing.  Tubers  that  are  a  suitable 
size  for  seed  purposes  should  be  laid  aside  and 
boxed.  The  seed  boxes  should  be  placed  in  an 
airy  loit  where  the  tubers  will  be  free  from  frost. 

Celery. — .As  growth  advances,  earthing  up  must 
be  attended  to.  The  stalks  should  be  tied  together 
with  raffia  to  prevent  the  soil  from  working  into 
the  centre  of  the  plant.  Where  the  soil  is  lumpy  it 
should  be  broken  into  a  fine  condition  before 
placing  round  the  plants. 

Late  Peas. — Owing  to  the  dull  and  wet  weather 
experienced  in  northern  gardens  this  autumn, 
late  Peas  are  slow^  to  swell  their  pods  and  in  many 
gardens  considerable  anxiety  is  felt  regarding  the 
success  of  the  ordinary  late  sowings.  Swelling 
mav  be  assisted  by  pinching  the  tops,  while  a  good 
watering  of  liquid  manure  may  be  given  in  cases 
where  the  ground  is  not  over  rich. 

Turnip-rooted  Beet. — All  Turnip-rooted  Beet 
from  ordinary  sowings  should  now  be  lifted  and 
stored  in  an  open  shed,  working  sand  freely  among 
the  roots  so  that  they  may  keep  in  fresh  condition 
through  the  winter  months. 

Spinach  Beet. — Late  sowings  should  now  be 
thinned  freely  and  the  ground  between  the  lines 
loosened  with  a  cultivator  or  hoe. 

Tomatoes. — .A  httle  more  heat  should  be  kept 
in  the  pipes  to  help  the  later  trusses  of  fruit  to 
attain  good  size  and  flavour.  Care  must  be  taken 
at  this  time  to  accord  reasonable  ventilation, 
since  a  close  atmosphere  tends  to  cause  the  fruits 
to  drop  before  ripening. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Vines. — In  vineries  where  the  Grapes  are  ripe, 
free  ventilation  must  be  given  at  all  times  when  the 
weather  is  favourable  in  order  to  keep  a  buoyant 
atmosphere.  Just  sufficient  heat  should  be  main- 
tained in  the  pipes  to  warm  the  air.  Too  hot  a 
temperature  not  only  encourages  red  spider,  but 
also  causes  the  berries  to  shrivel.  Immediately 
the  Grapes  are  cut,  give  the  inside  border  a  good 
soaking  of  diluted  hquid  manure.  On  vines  carrying 
healthy  foliage  this  feeding  will  materially  assist 
bud  development.  An  important  point  in  Grape 
culture  is  to  keep  the  foliage  in  a  perfectly  healthy 
state  till  it  falls  naturally. 

Orchard-house  Trees. — The  general  re-potting 
of  all  pot  fruit  trees  cleared  of  their  crops  should 
now  receive  attention.  Some  may  for  this  year  only 
require  top-dressing  and  this  may  also  be  done 
now.  Trees  re-potted  at  this  season  emit  new  roots 
and  recover  quickly  before  wintry  conditions  set 
in-  Loam  of  good  quality  should  be  employed, 
adding  a  fair  sprinkling  of  i-in.  bones  and  bone 
meal.  Pick  out  as  much  of  the  old  soil  as  possible 
from  the  roots,  using  a  pointed  stick  for  the  purpose. 
Pot  firmly  by  ramming  and  stand  the  trees  out- 
doors for  a  month  or  two.  For  stone  fruit  the  addi- 
tion to  the  compost  of  some  hme  rubble  from  an 
old  building  will  prove  of  benefit. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Hardy  Borders. — To  maintain  tidiness  in  the 
hardy  borders  extra  attention  should  be  given 
them  at  this  time,  cutting  away  all  withered  seed 
tops  from  plants  that  are  past  flowering  ;  this  will 
allow  such  late-flowering  plants  as  Michaelmas 
Daisies,  Phloxes  and  perennial  Sunflowers  more 
light  and  air  to  develop  their  blooms. 

Rambler  Roses. — Iirunediately  these  pass  out 
of  flower  opportunity  should  be  taken  to  cut  out 


GREENHOUSE    AND    CONSERVATORY. 

Sweet  Peas. — Where  it  is  desired  to  grow  Sweet 
Peas  in  pots,  they  should  be  sown  towards  the 
end  of  the  month.  .Although  they  transplant 
readily,  it  is  best,  where  only  smaU  quantities 
are  required,  to  sow  them  directly  into  large 
"  sixties  "  or  "  48  "  sized  pots,  placing  five  seeds 
in  a  pot.  The  compost  should  consist  of  a  good 
rich  loam  with  the  addition  of  a  very  little 
thoroughly  decayed  leaf-soil  and  enough  coarse 
sand  to  keep  the  whole  porous.  It  is  advisable 
to  file  or  chip  some  of  the  varieties  that  have  a 
hard  outer  coating.  After  sowing  stand  the 
pots  in  a  cold  frame,  covering  the  pots  with  pieces 
of  glass  to  protect  from  mice,  or  the  seeds  may  be 
coated  with  red  lead.  .After  germination  they 
should  be  given  fuU  exposure  to  hght  and  air, 
drawing  off  the  frame  lights  on  every  favourable 
occasion,  as  it  is  not  desirable  that  they  should 
make  much  \-isible  growth  during  the  dull  days. 
.Although  making  little  top  grovsth,  they  will, 
if  properly  treated,  make  quantities  of  roots. 
Early  in  the  new  year  they  may  be  transferred 
directly  into  their  flowering  pots,  w'hich  may  be 
loin.  or  liin.  in  size.  With  so  large  a  shift  water- 
ing must  be  carefully  done  until  the  roots  get  a 
good  hold  of  the  new  soil.  As  soon  as  they  require 
it,  they  should  be  carefully  staked  and  be  kept 
regularly  secured  to  their  supports.  They  should 
be  given  perfectly'  cool  treatment  at  all  times 
with  full  exposure  to  light  and  air.  Apart  from 
their  value  for  supplying  cut  flowers,  well  grown 
specimens  are  always  much  admired  in  the  con- 
servatory. 

Oxalis  floribunda  (syn.  rosea)  and  its  white 
variety  and  O.  purpurata  (syn.  O.  Bowiei)  are 
all  beautiful  greenhouse  plants.  Although  once 
very  popular,  they  are  by  no  means  so  generally 
grown  at  the  present  day  as  they  should  be. 
They  make  pretty  and  useful  pot  plants  for  the 
cool  greenhouse  and  very  elegant  basket  plants. 
The  dry  tubers  can  be  purchased  at  this  time. 
Where  stocks  already  exist  they  should  be  turned 
out  of  their  pots  and  the  largest  tubers  selected 
for  potting  up.  They  grow  well  in  any  good 
potting  compost,  and  Gin.  or  7in.  pots  are  the 
most  suitable  size  for  them.  After  potting  they 
may  be  stood  in  a  cold  frame  and  watered  sparingly 
until  they  commence  to  grow.  They  may  remain 
in  the  frame  until  they  show  signs  of  flowering, 
when  they  should  be  given  a  hght  position  in  a 
cool  greenhouse.  They  flower  during  the  early 
summer  months.  After  flowering,  water  should 
be  gradually  withheld  as  the  foliage  dies  down. 
They  should  then  be  kept  dry  in  a  cold  frame 
until  it  is  time  to  repot  them. 

Ixias  and  Babianas  are  both  natives  of  South 
Africa.  The  corms  should  be  potted  towards 
the  end  of  the  month  or  early  in  October.  The 
former  can  be  had  in  a  great  variety  of  colours, 
many  named  varieties  being  offered  for  sale. 
They  are  very  elegant  plants,  and  are  excellent 
for  a  supply  of  cut  flowers.  The  corms  are  small, 
and  six  or  eight  may  be  put  in  a  5in.  pot.  They 
enjoy  a  hght  rich  compost,  and  some  well  decayed 
mushroom-bed  manure  may  with  advantage 
be  included  in  this.  In  common  with  all  South 
African  bulbous  plants,  they  must  have  good 
drainage.  After  potting  they  should  be  stood 
in  cold  frames  and  given  very  little  water  until 
they  have  started  into  growth.  In  every  respect 
they  require  the  treatment  from  time  to  time 
suggested  in  this  column  for  other  South  African 
bulbous  plants. 

Vallota  purpurea  is  another  beautiful  bulbous 
plant,  also  South  .African,  which  one  seldom  sees 
in  good  condition  in  gardens,  although  it  is  com- 
monly seen  gromng  to  perfection  in  cottage 
windows.  Where  fine  well  established  specimens 
are  flourishing  it  is  a  great  mistake  to  disturb 
them,  as  this  is  by  no  means  an  easy  plant  to 
estabhsh.  Established  specimens  often  get  over- 
crowded with  offsets,  which  should  be  removed 
and  may  be  potted  up  if  it  is  desired  to  increase 
the  stock.  About  this  time  dry  bulbs  may  be 
purchased.  According  to  size,  four  or  five  may 
be  put  in  a   7in.   pot.     They  do  best  in  a  good 


September  i6,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


471 


medium  loam  with  very  little  leaf-soil  added, 
but  plenty  of  clean  coarse  sand  to  ensure  perfect 
drainage.  \'ery  little  water  should  be  gi%'en 
until  plenty  of  new  roots  are  produced.  It  is 
probably  at  this  stase  that  most  cultivators  fail, 
for  if  too  much  water  is  given  the  soil  gets  sour, 
in  which  condition  it  is  impossible  for  new  roots 
to   develop.     On    the   other   hand,   some   growers 


dry  them  off,  which  is  a  mistake,  as  the  plant  is 
reallv  evergreen,  although  when  it  has  completed 
its  growth  the  plants  may  with  advantage  be  kept 
on  the  dry  side  for  a  time.  They  are  subject  to 
attacks  of  mealy  bug,  which  must  be  carefully 
guarded  against.  Quite  cool  treatment  is  essential 
at  ^U  times. 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Keui.  J.  Coutts. 


SOME    SUPERLATIVE    SWEET    PEAS 


*    LTHOUGH   I    caimot  claim  to  have  had 

J\       the  long  e.xperience  with  Sweet  Peas  that 

/  %      the  writer  of  the  article  on  page  424  has, 

^— aA    I  have  grown  all  the  best  of  the  modern 

J-  M.  varieties  during   the  last   ten  years,   so 

that  I  venture  to  give  an  opinion  on  the  merits  of 

the  most  important  kinds. 

It  is  true  that  one  cannot  name,  say,  a  dozen 
varieties  and  term  them  "  The  Best  Sweet  Peas," 
for  individual  tastes  regarding  colour  differ  so  much 
and  different  growers  require  their  blooms  for 
different  purposes,  but  there  are  certain  varieties 
that  invariably  succeed  in  most  localities,  and  these 
eventually   become   the   popular   kinds 

Unfortunately  there  are  certain  varieties  that 
are  not  sunproof,  but  as  these  embrace  some  of  the 
loveliest  of  the  shades,  it  is  worth  while  to  protect 
them  from  the  strong  sunshine  if  the  somewhat 
unsightly  appearance  of  shading  material  can  be 
allowed.  I  have  tried,  this  year,  a  neater  plan  of 
shading.  My  Sweet  Peas  are  grown  on  wire  netting 
secured  to  strong  posts  and  all  the  varieties  which 
are  not  simproof  are  planted  together.  Above  these, 
tanned  cord  netting  (such  as  is  used  for  protecting 
fruit)  is  stretched  tightly  and  secured  to  the  top  of 
the  wire  netting  and  the  posts  that  come  between. 
Then  strips  of  white  calico  are  cut  to  such  a  width 
that  there  is  a  space  of  about  six  inches  on  either 
side  to  allow  the  rain  to  reach  the  roots  of  the  plants 
and  prevent  them  from  becoming  draw'n.  This  is 
fastened  to  the  cord  netting  and  the  whole  is  made 
secvu-e  from  being  blown  about  by  strong  winds  by 
t>ing  canes  across,  which  rest  just  below  the  shading 
material.  This  is  not  unsightly,  and  it  is  the  most 
effective  way  of  shading  that  I  have  yet  foimd  out. 
I  will  deal  with  these  exquisite  shades  that  need 
protection  first.  Tangerine  Improved  is  the  best 
orange  and  Gloriosa  the  best  orange-scarlet.  The 
latter  is  much  superior  to  President,  a  variety 
that  will  soon  be  out  of  date.  In  a  summer  like 
the  present,  when  the  sunlight  has  not  been  so 
strong  as  it  was  last  year,  Gloriosa  is  practically 
sunproof,  but  it  will  lose  a  little  of  that  rich  orange 
fire  in  the  standard  when  the  sun  is  very  hot. 
Royal  Flame,  a  novelty  for  1923,  is  an  even  more 
vivid  colour,  having  the  flame  tint  in  the  wings  as 
well  as  the  standard.  These  three  varieties  do 
best  if  a  little  leaf  mould  is  added  to  the  trench. 
Royal  Salute  and  Royal  Scot,  mentioned  as  being 
"  burners  "  in  the  article  on  page  424,  are  both 
perfectly  sunproof,  in  fact  the  more  sun  they  get 
the  more  briUiant  is  their  colour.  It  is  only  in  cold 
unsettled  weather  that  the  flowers  lose  their  colour 
(or  more  correctly  do  not  develop  it)  near  the  edge 
of  the  petals, .and  this  may  give  rise  to  the  mistaken 
idea  that  they  "  bum."  In  the  salmon  shades 
nothing  is  quite  equal  to  Salmon  Queen.  It  is 
most  vigorous  for  a  variety  in  this  colour  and 
produces  blooms  on  very  long  stems,  many  of  which 
are  duplex.  I  have  a  fine  patch  of  it  this  year,  its 
first  season  out,  and  in  1920  and  192 1  (when  I  was 
privileged  to  grow  it  for  trial  before  its  introduction) 
I  found  it  equally  good.  Mignonne.  which  makes 
its  appearance  this  autumn,  is  another  lovely  bit  of 
colour  and,  when  shaded  comes  the  cleanest  and 
softest  of  shades  of  pale  cerise,  resembling  the  pure 
tone  of  the  Cottage  Tulip  Cassandra,  the  Rose 
Cherry   Page    and    the    new  Dahlia   Norah    Bell, 


but  possibly  a  little  more  delicate  than  any  of 
these  colours.  I  have  been  pleased  with  Mignonne 
both  in  the  heat  of  last  year  and  in  the  cooler  con- 
ditions of  the  present  season. 

The  best  scarlet  that  needs  shading  is  Burpee's 
Scarlet  Duplex.  It  is  a  more  vigorous  grower  than 
Hawlmark  Scarlet,  and  gives  more  double  stan- 
dards. It  has  fine  stems  and  altogether  is  a 
variety  well  worth  growing. 

One  cannot  leave  the  non-sunproof  varieties 
without  mentioning  the  orange-pinks.  In  this 
class  George  Shawyer  and  Eva  are  the  two  best. 
They  are  not  identical,  the  latter  having  a  very- 
decided  orange  sheen  in  the  standard,  while  in  the 
former,  the  pink  seems  to  be  more  flushed  with 
salmon.  Both  are  vigorous  growers,  and  have 
long  stems. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  rich  coloms 
can  only  be  found  in  the  varieties  that  will  not 
stand  the  sun.  There  is  a  sunproof  scarlet  in 
Scarlet  Glow,  a  little  different  in  tone  from  Burpee's 
Scarlet.  Doris  is  most  a  beautiful  cherry-pink, 
and  Glory  and  Hawimark  Cerise  are  both  of 
similar  colouring.  All  are  sunproof.  Then 
there  is  Royal  Scot,  scarlet-cerise,  and,  more  vivid 
still,  the  new  variety  Wonderful,  which  glitters  like 
rubies  in  the  sunlight. 

As  a  rich  pink,  Hawlmark  Pink  provides  a  fine 
bit  of  colour,  but  it  has  not  quite  come  up  to  ex 
pectations.  I  grew  five  stocks  of  it  this  year,  the 
best  that  could  be  obtained,  and  although  the 
colour  is  glorious,  the  habit  of  the  plant  is  not 
vigorous  and  the  stems  soon  begin  to  shorten. 
Even  the  best  stocks  give  a  few  paler  tinted  blooms. 
Hawlmark  Salmon  Pink  is  perhaps  a  little  more 
stable  in  colouring,  and  generally  a  little  richer, 
but  I  should  Uke  to  grow  this  another  season 
before  coming  to  a  definite  decision. 

Picture  is  undoubtedly  the  finest  of  the  deep 
cream  pinks,  a  giant  flower  of  superb  colouring. 
In  the  pale  cream  pinks  there  are  several  super- 
lative sorts.  Mrs.  Arnold  Hitchcock  (Messrs. 
E.  W.  King  and  Co.,  have  a  very  fine  stock  of  this), 
Cecily,  Bessie  and  Fair  Lady  are  all  extra  good. 
This  colour  is  exquisite  for  decorative  purposes. 
Mrs.  Hardcastle  Sykes  must  now  take  second 
place  to  Valentine,  one  of  the  finest  varieties  in 
commerce  and  a  beautiful  shade  of  blush  pink. 

John  Ingman  must  be  grown  from  a  very  select 
stock,  and  there  are  but  few  of  these  about  now,  to 
equal  Renown  and  Mascott's  Ingman,  two  very 
fine  new  varieties.  Mrs.  Tom  Jones  is  not  as  good 
as  it  was  two  or  three  years  ago  and  I  have  seen 
one  or  two  very  fine  blue  seedlings  that  may 
possibly  supersede  it.  Colne  Valley  is  the  best  of 
the  pale  lavender-blues,  Elsie  Dene,  the  best  pure 
light  blue  (under  glass  it  incUnes  to  lavender),  while 
there  is  very  little  to  choose  between  Commander 
Godsal  and  Jack  Cornwall  V.C,  in  the  dark  blues. 
In  lavenders,  R.  F.  Felton  still  makes  good  and  it 
has  been  a  wonderful  variety,  but  Austin  Frederick 
Improved  seems  destined  to  lead  the  way  among 
the  rosy  lavenders.  It  is  tremendously  strong, 
has  huge  stems  and  gives  big  blooms  mostly  in  fours. 
The  new  variety  Powerscourt,  which  Messrs. 
Alexander  Dickson's  hope  to  introduce  this  autumn, 
will  probably  lead  the  way  in  pure  lavenders.  Mr. 
G.  T.  Dickson  sent  me  a  box  of  lovely  blooms  the 


other  day,  almost  the  last  word  in  Sweet  Pea  per- 
fection, every  spray  a  four,  all  the  stems  long  and 
stout  and  the  flowers  proportionately  large  and 
well  frilled. 

I  am  still  convinced  that  Constance  Hiuton  is 
the  largest  white.  I  grew  three  of  the  best  stocks 
of  this,  but  they  required  the  sunshine  of  last  year  to 
make  them  equal  in  purity  to  Edna  May  Improved. 
A  lovely  frilled  white  is  Innocence,  which  I  recom- 
mend for  those  who  like  a  pure  white  that  is  really 
white  in  all  weathers.  Matchless  is  the  best  cream 
till  another  from  the  same  raiser  beats  it,  but  that 
will  not  be  yet.  In  the  dark  shades  Warrior,  The 
Sultan  and  Splendour  will  supply  three  different 
colour  tones  for  those  who  like  these  shades.  The 
picotee-edged  varieties  are  very  beautiful,  Annie 
Ireland,  white  ground,  and  Improved  Jean  Ireland, 
cream  ground,  are  the  only  ones  required.  The 
latter  is  a  novelty  for  the  coming  season,  which 
Mr.  Woodcock  hopes  to  distribute.  I  have  grown 
it  this  year  and  it  is  a  decided  improvement  on  the 
old  variety,  having  exceptional  vigour  and  giving 
a  larger  proportion  of  four  bloomed  sprays.  With 
the  exception  of  these  daintily  edged  varieties,  self 
shades  are  the  most  popular,  and  there  are  now  so 
many  fine  varieties  that  it  becomes  increasingly 
difficult  to  decide  which  to  omit  in  making 
selections.  Norman  Lambert. 


THE     ROYA    VALLEY    IN 
THE    MARITIME    ALPS. 

THE  long  valley  ascending  from  Venti- 
miglia  and  leading  to  Tenda  is  one  of 
the  richest  in  the  Maritime  Alps.  Perhaps 
this  is  due  to  the  fact  that  it  is  better 
known  than  others,  as  the  Rev.  Bicknell 
has  written  largely  about  it  as  well  as  Dr.  Mader. 
It  is  one  of  the  most  picturesque  and  curious  of 
them  all.  At  its  foot  along  the  Roya  one  may 
see  thousands  of  Nerium  Oleander  flowering  from 
May  to  October,  and  the  common  Myrtle  and 
Rosemary  springing  up  from  every  rock-  Near 
Tenda  one  finds  the  alpine  flora  (Saxifraga  Ungulata, 
S.  diapensioides,  Lilium  poraponium  and  L. 
Martagon,  Alyssum  halimifolium,  Globularia 
nana,  Iberis,  Primulas  marginata  and  latifolia, 
etc.)  The  valley  is  50  kilometres  long  and  the 
road  passes  through  the  most  remarkable  gorges 
imaginable. 

I  am  just  returning  thence,  and  am  still  under 
the  charm  of  its  rich  and  beautiful  vegetation. 
Let  me  tell  your  readers  about  it.  At  Tenda 
between  the  hardest  rocks  one  finds  the  very  rare 
Moehringia  papulosa,  whose  silver  leaves  are  the 
most  curious  of  all  that  group.  Then  near  the 
old  town  may  be  found  the  very  fine  Linum 
viscosum  with  rose  pink  flowers  and  Lilium  pom 
ponium,  the  most  brilliant  of  all  the  Martagon 
group.  This  Lily  is  the  glory  of  the  South  with 
its  vermilion  crowns,  which  shine  in  the  landscape 
as  stars  in  the  dark.  It  grows — very  curiously — 
between  rocks  and  stones,  as  no  other  Lily  does, 
and  goes  very  deep  in  the  ground.  The  under- 
ground stalk  is  often  covered  with  little  bulbules 
which  reproduce  the  plant  as  well  as  do  the  seeds, 
but  more  quickly,  of  course. 

Sempervivum  calcareum  and  Saxifraga  coch- 
learis  var.  minor  (S.  Probyni)  adorn  the  slopes,  along 
with  masses  of  Campanula  macrorrhiza  in  sunny 
places.  And  then,  if  one  turns  into  the  small 
valleys,  there  is  to  be  found  the  rare  and  curious 
Eryngium  Spinalba,  which  is  to  the  south-western 
.\lps  what  E.  giganteum  is  to  the  Caucasus,  E. 
alpinum  to  the  central  Alps  and  E.  Bourgati  to 
the  Pyrenees.  Micromeria  piperella  with  its  pink 
flowers  adorns  every  rock,  and  the  dwarf  Globularia 
extends  its  masses  of    grey  foliage  on   the  driest 


472 


THE     GARDEN. 


[September  i6,  1922. 


places  together  with  that  of  Saxifraga  cochlearis. 
Above  St.  Dalmazzo  the  rocks  are  at  the  highest 
altitudes  covered  with  big  tufts  of  Primula 
.^Ihonii,  which  is  not  so  rare  as  is  often  thought, 
for  the  whole  of  the  cliffs  of  red  rock  are  covered 
with  it.  The  thing,  however,  is  to  go  high  enough 
to  reach  it.  The  plant  is  there  in  such  quantities 
and  in  such  inaccessible  places,  growing  always  on 
the  face  of  steep  cUffs  which  no  man  can  traverse, 
that  there  is  no  need  to  conceal  its  station.  The 
plant's  nature  protects  it  against  vandals.  There 
are,  besides,  masses  of  Moehringia  sedoides 
(  =dasyphylla)  and  of  Potentilla  Saxifraga  growing 
on  these  perpendicular  walls,  adorning  them 
jewel-Uke.  A  very  curious  Daphne  (Thymelzea 
dioica)  forms  large  tufts  of  grey  foliage  together 
with  the  orange  discs  of  Plagius  .^llionii.  What 
a  display  all  these  flowers  together  provide  and 
how  sweet  is  the  scent  of  all  the  various  herbs — 
Satureia,  Hyssop,  Lavender,  Thyme,  Rue  and 
Nepeta. 

The  Lady  Maidenhair  (Adiantum  Capillus 
Veneris)  and  the  curious  climbing  shrub  called 
Ballota  spinosa  hang  in  shady  and  damp  places, 
and  the  rare  and  curious  Pinguicula  longifolia 
can,  or  rather  could,  be  found  in  masses  on  damp 
rocks  near  Fontan.  I  say  "  could  be,"  as  now 
the  rocks  where  once  it  grew  are  all  obliterated 
by  the  engineers  who  constructed  the  railway. 
It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  plant  has  higher  stations 
on  which  it  has  carried  on  ;  near  the  road  every 
bit  is  destroyed. 

Fontan  is  the  first  French  village  when  descend- 
ing from  Tenda.  Quite  a  little  place,  it  is  the 
best  centre  anywhere  about  for  botanising  expe- 
ditions. The  waUs  and  red  rocks  are  the  best 
home  for  Primula  AlUonii,  and  the  slopes  are 
rich  in  Lilium  pomponium.  .\bove  the  high  rocks 
Bicknell  found  the  rarest  of  all  the  Campanulaceie, 
Phyteimia  Balbisii,  and  I  myself  found  there 
Woodsia  hyperborea  and  Aquilegia  Reuteri. 
Hypericum  Coris,  Micromeria  piperella,  Lihums 
viscosum  and  gallicum,  and  Saxifraga  cochlearis 
are  everywhere,  and  if  one  follows  the  beautiful 
Val  Cairos  to  the  Col  de  Raus,  one  comes  to  fields 
uf  Lilium  pomponium  growing  as  thick  as  the 
grasses  in  our  meadows. 

The  httle  town  of  Saorge,  hidden  among  the 
Olive  trees,  is  quite  a  picturesque  one.  There 
grow  Saxifraga  cochlearis,  Ruta  bracteata,  Lavan- 
dula officinalis  and  Stoekas  in  masses.  .\nd  on 
the  rocks  which  command  the  town  Primula 
.Allionii  can  be  found.  Salvia  Sclarea  and  a  great 
many  odoriferous  herbs  are  growing  along  the 
roadside,  and  under  the  Ohve  trees  in  the  earliest 
spring  there  are  myriads  of  Anemones  and  of 
Gladioli.  Here  the  colours  are  brighter  than  I 
remember  noticing  in  any  cultivated  garden. 

There  is,  high  above  the  village  of  Fontan 
(three  hours'  walk),  a  little  peak  called  La  Ceva. 
It  is  reputed  to  be  the  richest  in  vegetation 
of  the  whole  chain,  and  has  been  compared  to 
the  famous  Lautaret,  above  Grenoble.  I  went 
there  last  month  and  found  the  most  brilliant 
flora  I  could  imagine  (Liliums  pomponium  and 
croceum,  St.  Bruno  Lily,  all  kinds  of  Orchids, 
four  different  Gentians,  Phyteumas,  Campanulas, 
etc.).  It  may  be  considered  as  an  epitome  of 
the  flora  of  the  Alpine  meadows,  but  contains 
nothing  of  exceptional  rarity.        H.  Cokrevon. 


OBITUARY 


The  National  Rose  Society.— We  understand 
that  during  the  past  two  months  the  number  of 
new  members  joining  the  National  Rose  Society  is 
200  per  cent,  greater  than  for  the  corresponding 
period  of  last  year.  Compared  with  pre-war  year, 
1 91 3,  the  increase  is  even  more  remarkable,  being 
more  than  400  per  cent.  A  record  number  of 
fifty-four  new  members  joined  at  the  last  meeting 
The  present  membership  is  close  upon  0,000. 


MRS.    R.     V.     BERKELEY. 

It  will  be  with  a  sense  of  almost  personal  loss  that 
many  readers  will  hear  of  the  death  of  Mrs. 
Berkeley  of  Spetchley,  who,  like  her  sister.  Miss 
Ellen  Willmott,  has  done  so  much  for  horticulture. 
Not  so  much  by  what  she  had  actually  achieved  in 
plant  breeding,  though  her  successes  in  this  field 
were  very  considerable,  but  by  the  enthusiasm 
which  she  brought  to  bear  on  all  matters  connected 
with  gardening,  did  Mrs.  Berkeley  make  her  in- 
fluence felt.  Great  as  was  her  love  for  beautiful 
flowers  and  the  adequate  arrangement  of  the 
growing  plants,  her  influence  and  example  in  food 
production  and  distribution  was  equally  remarkable 
when,  five  or  six  years  ago,  the  danger  of  a  serious 
food  shortage  was  only  too  real.  None  who  saw 
and  admired  her  beautiful  strain  of  coloured 
Primroses  at  Vincent  Square  only  a  few  months 
ago  had  any  inkhng  that  that  was  the  last  time  they 
would  be  shewn  by  their  raiser. 


C.  Bommiilleri,  lilac,  with  white  centre;  C.  byzantinum, 
pale  mauve  feathered  with  white  ;  C.  gigantcum,  dark 
lilac  ;  and  C.  speciosum,  rosy  purple.  The  corms  should 
be  planted  about  Sins,  deep  in  July  or  early  August. 
It  would  be  well  to  cease  cutting  the  grass  at  the  end  of 
July  as,  occasionally,  they  flower  early.  The  leaves 
appear  in  the  spring-time,  so  the  grass  should  not  be  cut 
until  the  foliage  of  the  Colchicums  has  died  down.  Winter 
Aconites  and  spring  Crocuses  may  well  be  planted  in 
association  with  the  Colchicums. 


JOHN    MORGAN. 

With  the  death  of  Mr.  John  Morgan,  partner  in 
the  well  known  seed  and  nursery  firm  of  Thompson 
and  Morgan,  Ipswich,  which  occurred  on  August  1:: 
after  a  short  illness,  there  passed  away  yet  another 
of  the  select  few  who  have  a  really  comprehensi\e 
knowledge  of  hardy  plants  and  their  seeds. 

Mr.  Morgan,  who  had  devoted  his  life  to  horti- 
culture, was  of  a  retiring  nature  and  did  not 
appear  much  in  public,  but  he  was  an  enthusiastic 
worker  in  the  Ipswich  and  District  Gardeners' 
Association,  frequently  presiding  in  a  vice-presi- 
dential capacity  at  their  meetings,  while  for  the 
current  year  he  was  president.  The  business  will, 
we  understand,  continue  to  be  carried  on  under 
the  old  and  well  known  name. 


TO 


ANSWERS 
CORRESPONDENTS 


QUESTIONS  AND  ANSWERS.— .4H  communicahoni 
should  be  ckarly  and  concisely  written  on  one  side  of  the 
paper  only,  and  addressed  to  the  Editor  of  The  Garden, 
20.  Tamsiock  Street,  Covent  Garden,  London,  ir.C.2.  When 
more  than  one  query  is  sent,  each  should  be  on  a  separate 
piece  of  paper.  Plants  for  naming  should  be  clearly  numbered 
and  securely  paeked  in  damp  grass  or  moss,  not  cotton-wool, 
and  flowering  shoots,  where  possible,  should  be  sent.  It  is 
useless  to  send  small  scraps  that  are  not  characteristic  of 
the  plant. 

FLOWER    GARDEN. 

GLADIOLI  FAILING  (O.  C.  S.,  Warminster).— The 
Gladioli  appear  to  be  attacked  by  the  leaf-spot  fungus 
Heterosporiura  gracile.  The  corms  seem  healthy  and  may 
be  planted  again  next  season,  spraying  the  foliage  with 
Biugundy  mixture  from  June  onwards  to  protect  it 
against  future  attack.  The  diseased  foliage  should  be 
burnt. 

CHRYSANTHEMUMS,  ETC.,  WITHERING  (E.  H., 
Surrey). — 8omething  has  been  amiss  with  the  water 
supply.     Has  the  root  been  damaged  in  any  way  V 

CHINA  ASTERS  DYING  OFF  (T.  H.  S.,  Andover).— 
Without  seeing  a  specimen  it  is  most  probable  that  tlie 
Asters  have  succumbed  to  Ph\'t()plif Imra  to  which  this 
plantis  very  subject.  All  affected  plants  should  be  removed 
and  destroyed  and  the  soil  be  well  limed  in  autumn. 
The  soil  of  the  beds  in  question  will  be  affected  and  our 
correspondent  will  be  weil  advised  to  reconsider  his 
decision  to  grow  Asters  in  these  bods  next  year.  As 
plants  in  other  parts  of  the  garden  are  not  affected  there 
would  appear  to  be  no  infection  in  the  compost  in  wllich 
the  young  plants  were  raised. 

ERYNGIUM  PANDANIFOLIUM  (W.  E.  C,  North 
Notts.).  —  This  plant  is  moderately  hardy  In  the 
south  and  sljould  succeed  in  our  correspondent's  locality 
if  it  can  have  shelter  from  the  north  and  east  and,  pre- 
ferably, the  partial  shade  of  a  tall  tree.  The  light  soil 
is  quite  suitnbh'. 

BLUE  HYDRANGEAS  (J.  W.  M.,  South  Devon).— 
The  appliealinns  should  be  conmieneed  in  the  spring 
soon  after  gro^vth  has  commenced.  In  addition  to  the 
substances  named,  it  has  sometimes  been  found  that 
top-dressing  the  Hydrangeas  with  lawn  mowings  has  had 
the  desired  effect. 

AUTUMN  CROCUSES  IN  THE  GRASS  (Beginner, 
Berks). — The  true  autumn  Crocuses  are  not  at  all  likely 
to  thrive  if  planted  in  the  grass;  these  are  decidedly 
bidbs  for  the  border.  But  the  Colchicums,  which  are 
sometimes  termed  "  Autumn  Crocuses,"  are  eminently 
suitable  and  very  beautiful  when  grown  in  grass.  The 
best   purple   and    purplish    varieties   are    C.   autumnale. 


FRUIT    GARDEN. 

APPLE  DISEASED  (C.  L.,  Petworth). — The  Apple  is 
attacked  by  the  apple  scab  fungus,  Fusicladium  dendri- 
tieum.  This  fungus  also  attacks  leaves  and  shoots  and 
passes  from  one  to  the  other  by  means  of  its  spores.  It 
Is  therefore  important  to  destroy  all  diseased  fruits  and 
to  prune  out  all  shoots  shewing  swellings  between  the 
leaf  buds  or  cracks  in  the  bark,  in  order  to  lessen  the  risk 
of  disease  next  year.  Just  before  the  buds  burst  and 
again  after  the  petals  fall,  spray  the  trees  with  Bordeaux 
mixture. 

THE  RIPENING  OF  APPLES  (C.  W.  C,  near  Hertford). 
— Juneating  is  in  season  at  the  end  of  July;  Duchess  of 
Oldenburg  and  Grenadier  during  August  and  September ; 
Worcester  Pearmain  during  September  and  October; 
Warner's  King,  December  to  February  ;  Rosemary  Russet, 
January  and  February  ;  Stunner  Pippin,  March  to  May. 
Early  Apples  are  best  gathered  as  wanted  from  the  tree. 
They  rapidly  lose  flavour  and  crispness  when  gathered. 
Late  Apples  should  be  left  as  long  as  possible  until  the 
approach  of  rough  weather  or  severe  frost  makes  picking 
necessary.  Stunner  Pippin  may  often  be  left  on  the  tree 
until  mid-November. 

FIG  TREE  UNSATISFACTORY  (G.  G.,  Hassocks).— 
The  tree  has  undoubtedly  had  a  check  to  growth,  probably 
owing  to  the  exceptionally  dry  weather  of  last  year.  At 
the  end  of  August,  or  not  later  than  the  middle  of  September 
the  tips  of  the  growing  shoots  should  be  pinched  off. 
Embryo  fruits  will  swell,  but  all  half  an  inch  long  or  more 
must  be  removed,  as,  if  retained,  they  would  partly  swell 
towards  maturity  and  then  fall  off  ;  the  smaller  fruits  are 
the  ones  to  retain  at  the  end  of  the  season — October. 
If  this  work  is  done  the  tree  will,  no  doubt,  be  quite  normal 
again  next  year. 

IvITCHEN  GARDEN. 
CURLING  BRUSSELS  SPROUTS  ("  Brussels  Sprouts,' 
Sturrey). — The  leaves  sent  appear  to  have  been  attacked 
by  aphis.  Soapsuds  sprayed  on  the  plants  will  be  the 
safest  treatment  to  adopt.  '  White  fly  seldom  does  any  real 
harm  outdoors,  certamly  not  on  Cabbages  or  their  kindred. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

STRAWBERRIES     UNSATISFACTORY     (R.     J.     W  . 

Broughty  Kerry). — Your  plant  is  Phormium  Cookianum 
(New  Zealand  Flax).  The  Strawberries  sent  appear  tti 
he  old  plants,  and  this  would  account  for  their  failiu-e. 
No  Strawberry  bed  should  be  left  beyond  three  years. 
The  soil  appears  to  need  a  dressing  of  lime. 

PLANTS  ATTACKED  BY  INSECTS  (Austral,  Geelohg, 
Australia). — The  inseet.s  referred  to  are  doubtless  spring 
tails  (Collembola),  but  if  so  they  have  only  six  legs,  not 
many.  They  rarely  do  much  harm  unless  they  are  very 
numerous  arid  food  is  scarce.  They  appear  to  feed  mainly 
on  decaying  vegetable  matter,  but  may  sometimes  attack 
Uving  plants.  Where  it  can  be  applied  water  at  110°  Fahr. 
will  kill  them,  but  if  this  cannot  be  used,  a  very  weak 
solution  of  potassium  cyanide  (one-tenth  of  1  per  cent.) 
may  be  tried,  or  forking  some  naphthalene  into  the  ground 
about  the  plants  that  need  protection. 

ACETYLENE  GAS  REFUSE  (E.  E.  B.,  Frimley).— 
The  refuse  from  an  acetylene  gas  plant  may  be  used 
on  the  kitchen  garden  as  a  substitute  for  lime,  but  it  is 
not  nearly  so  valuable  bulk  for  bulk,  so  should  be  used  in 
greater  quantity. 

NAMES   OF   PLANTS.— E.   H.,  Wimbome — Maurandia 

erubescens. M.   E.   P..   Wellingborough. — 1,   Probably 

Berberis    vulgaris;     2,    Selaginella    Wildenovii ;      3,    S.- 

Kraussiana  ;  4,  S.  Emiliana. J.  W.  R.  B.,  Warminster.. 

— Cupressus  Lawsoniana. 

NAME  OF  FRUIT.— H.  H.  C,  Caversham.— Pershore 
Plum.  

Useful  Garden  Accessories. — We  are  informed 

that  in  deference  to  a  distinct  pubUc  demand  the 
House  and  Garden  Sundries  Company  are  making 
their  "  Everyman's "  netting  brackets  for  wall 
fruits  double  sided  to  meet  the  case  of  walls  with' 
fruit  trees  on  both  sides.  This  is  a  particularly 
neat  and  satisfactory  arrangement,  forming  when 
fixed  practically  a  cantilever.  The  netting  is 
readily  fixed  and  taken  down  and  the  brackets 
themselves  are  quite  neat  and  unobtrusive.  At  the 
present  season  for  protecting  ripening  fruit,  in 
early  spring  for  safeguarding  the  buds  from  birds 
and  still  later  for  warding  off  spring  frosts,  these 
simple  wall  brackets  should  prove  an  unmixed 
blessing.  The  House  and  Garden  Sundries  Company 
also  supply  a  particularly  useful  pin  for  securing 
the  netting  to  the  ground  with  a  handle  which, 
projecting  just  above  ground  level,  makes  it  eas\' 
to  find  the  pin  when  it  is  desired  to  remove  it. 
Those  who  have  tried  their  well  known  excellent 
layering  pins,  will  appreciate  the  construction,  for 
these  netting  pins  are  exactly  similar,  but  one  size- 
larger. 


THE 


hi 


OUT  1  ij 


lnJfcit:r,s 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


^ol.  LXXXVI.— No.  2653. 

Qtsred  as  Secnnd-cla99  Matter  at  the  New  Yorh.  N.Y..  Post  Off  ce 


Saturday,  September  23,  1922 


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WOODLAND. 


A  VEGETABLE   GROWER'S 
HANDBOOK 

BY 

Mrs.    FANNY    BENNETT,    F.R.H.S. 

Autlior  of  "'  The  Best    Way'   Flower  Garden  Book,"    etc. 
Gardening  Expert  to  Amalgamated  Press. 

AND 

ELEANOUR    SINCLAIR    ROHDE, 

Author  of  "  A   Garden  of  Herbs." 


This  Manual  has  been  practically  written  by  two  practical  gardeners. 

Mrs.  FANNY  BENNETT  needs  no  introduction  to  those  who  delight 
in  gardens,  as  her  admirable  articles  on  horticulture  in  the  Daily  Mail  and 
other  journals  are  appreciated  by  a  very  wide  public. 

This  Handbook  is  written  for  those  who  wish  to  ensure  success  in  the 
growing  of  vegetables,  and  should  be  specially  useful  to  beginners  and  the 
many  thousands  who  are  planning  a  kitchen  garden  on  uncultivated  ground 
for  the  first  time. 

The  writers  have  given  extra  space  to  the  potato,  onion,  pea  and  bean 
crops,  because  these  are  of  the  highest  food  value;  each  vegetable  is  the 
subject  of  a  separate  section. 

The  Calendar,  showing  the  gardener's  work  for  each  month  in  the  year, 
is  useful  for  reference.  The  whole  book  is  full  of  valuable  hints  gathered 
from  many  sources  and  proved  by  personal  experience. 

WRITTEN     IN    SIMPLE    NON-TECHNICAL    LANGUAGE. 
Price  6/-  net,  post  free  6/4;  of  all  Booksellers. 

LONDON:     PHILLIP    LEE    WARNER,    at    the    CHISWICK    PRESS, 
20  &  21,  TooKS  Court,  E.C.4. 

BARR'S  Beautiful  New  Seedling  NERINES 

The  most  beautiful  and  easiest  grown  of  Autumn-flowering  Bulbs  for  the  Greenhouse. 

For  autumn  decoration  in  the  greenhouse  few  plants  can  compare  with 
Nerines  for  their  brilliant  and  attractive  colours.  The  flowers,  which  are 
produced  in  umbels  of  6  to  24  blooms,  are  borne  on  stout  stems  varying  in 
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cerise  and  scarlet  to  salmon,  coral-rose,  pink,  blvsh  and  uhite,  many  havinf;  a 
glistening  lustre  which  in  sunlight  gives  them  the  appearance  of  being  dusicd 
with  gold  or  silver.  They  remain  decorative  for  many  weeks,  and  their  beauty 
may  be  enjoyed  in  a  sitting-room  as  well  as  the  greenhouse,  if  the  pots  are 
kept  in  a  sunny  window. 

12  in  12  beautiful  named  varieties       ..     42/-,  50/-, 
6in     6         „  „  „  ..      18/-,  24/-, 

SPECIAL     LIST     ON     APPLICATION. 

BARR 


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MERRYWEATHER'S    ROSES 


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FOR    THE    GARDEN  1 
FOR    BEDS  I 

Also  Fruit  Trees,  Shrubs,  Ornamental  Trees. 
Please   state  your  wants. 

H.    MERRYWEATHER    &    SONS,   LTD. 
Garden  Specialists,  SOUTHWELL,  NOTTS. 


THE     GARDEN. 


[September  23    1922. 


"THE    GARDEN"   CATALOGUE    GUIDE 


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FOR    AUTUMN    SOWING. 

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stone  Paved  P.itlis. 

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Tubs    for    shrubs. 

'  WIRE  BOUND  PATENT,  over  100 
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'26,  Goodge  Street,  London,  W.l. 


WALLACE'S  IRISES. 

Send  for  our  attractive  publication — "  Irises  and 
Iris  Gardens."      Post  free  on  application. 

R.    WALLACE    &   CO.  LTD., 

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DUTCH 
BU 

Descriptive  Catalogue  of  CHOICE  DUTCH 

BULBS  free  on   application. 
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The   Old-Established    Bulb   Farms 

(Comprising  over  400  acres), 

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Telegrams  : — "  Narcitsas,   Hillegom." 


EslabUshed   1830 


ALPINES 

To  Flower  in  Winter  and  Early  Spring 

Use  your  Conservatory  or  Greenhouse  as 
an  Alpine  House  ;  no  heat  required.  The 
following  suitable  plants — 

Adonis  amuerensis  fl.   plena,   yellow 

Androsace   Chumbyi,  pink 

CEthionema  Warley,   rose  pink 

Gentiana  acaulis,  deep  blue 

Ompholodes  cappadocica,  rich  blue 

Primula  frondosa,   lilac 
„  Wardi,  mauve 

Ramondia   pyrenaica,  lilac  blue 

Saxifraga  apiculata,   pale  yellow 
,,  Boydi  alba,  white 

,,  valdensis,  white 

Sedum   obtusatum,  yellow 

Sent    Carriage    Paid    for     iO/6. 
orders   i/-  extra  carr. 


Smaller 


PULHAM     &      SON, 

Hardy    Plant    Nurseries, 
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Winners  of  the  Graphic  Cup    for    best  Rock 
Garden,  Chelsea.   1922. 


THE  BULB  GARDEN 


Order  now  to  avoid  disappointment. 


Complete  success  can  be  obtained 
by  planting 

British  Grown  Bulbs 


We  have  an  excellent  stock  of 

CHOICE      DAFFODILS 
AND    TULIPS 

and    solicit    your    early    enquiries. 

Complete  list   free   on   application. 

GARTWRIGHT&  GOODWIN,  Ltd. 

The   Premiep  House, 
KIDDERMINSTER. 


^^■ 


.M^rs^^sR^. 


No.  2653.— Vol.  LXXXVI.] 


[September  23,  1922. 


WISTARIAS    AND   THEIR   TRAINING 


EVEN  those  who  have  least  love  for 
Japanese  gardens  and  Japanese  gardening 
must  admire  the  Wistaria.  Like  the 
Japanese  Cherries  it  is  "  everybody's 
tree,"  and  yet  how  many  houses  does 
one  see  smothered  in  various,  more  or  less  effective, 
climbing  plants,  but  destitute  of  Wistaria  ?  Wliy 
is  this  ?  For  a  house  with  any  pretensions  to 
architectural  interest  the  Wistarias  are  surely  the 
best  of  all  climbing  plants.  (Climbing  plants  they 
are,  though  they  cannot  climb  on  a  flat  surface, 
needing  something  comparatively 
thin  round  which  to  twist  the  young 
wood.)  The  growth  of  both  the 
commonly-grown  species — the  so- 
called  Japanese,  multijuga,  and  the 
Chinese,  chinensis — is  vigorous  with- 
out being  overpowering,  so  that 
they  may  be  readily  trained  to  adorn 
rather  than  to  smother  the  front  of 
the  building  against  which  they  are 
planted. 

The  "  Japanese  "  Wistaria,  as  we 
know  it,  has  doubtless  been  consider- 
ably improved  by  the  Japanese 
florists,  but  it  is  really  a  native  of 
North  China  and  probably  not  in- 
digenous to  Japan.  It  is  magnificent 
for  training  over  tall  pergolas  or  on 
an  elevated  trellis.  For  walls  it  is 
really  less  suitable  than  W.  chinensis, 
though  by  training  main  laterals 
horizontally  and  a  sufficient  distance 
apart,  it  may  be  shewn  to  advantage 
there  also. 

The  association  of  various  habited 
"  furnishing  "  plants  to  architecture 
receives  much  less  attention  than  it 
should.  A  bald  uninteresting  expanse 
of  wall  is  caused  by  want  of  appro- 
priate detail.  If  a  cornice  would 
have  filled  the  bill  in  the  original 
design,  the  bad  effect  can  be  at 
least  greatly  mitigated  by  training  a 
Wistaria  horizontally  to  replace  the 
missing  element.  Similarly,  living 
pilasters  of  Cratagus,  for  example, 
will  provide  upright  features  where 
desirable. 

If  the  wood  of  the  past  \'ear  is 
reduced  each  winter  to  three  or  four 
eyes,  the  Wistaria  will  make  a 
satisfactory  self  -  supporting  bush. 
Indeed,  plants  which  have  been 
stunted  in  pots  in  the  nursery  often 
etain   the   bushy   habit.     If  they  are 


wanted  to  climb,  care  should  be  taken  to  purchase 
healthy  young  trees  with  an  abundance  of  young 
wood.  The  pruning  of  a  climbing  Wistaria  is 
(or  should  be),  similar  to  that  of  a  trained  Pear 
tree.  Laterals  are  taken  off  where  required  and 
allowed  to  extend  reasonably  each  year  until 
their  allotted  space  is  filled.  The  sub-laterals 
are  summer  pruned  to  ten  or  a  dozen  leaves — if 
this  is  not  done  there  will  be  yards  of  thin  growth 
tangled  all  together — and  in  winter  spurred  back 
to  the   flowering  wood.     With  plants  trained  on 


WISTARIA    MULTIJUGA^  ALBA    ON    A    HOUSE    WALL 


wires  to  give  the  "floral  bell  tent "  effect'so  well 
known  to  visitors  to  Kew  Gardens,  the  training 
may  be  more  informal,  but  the  same  principles 
will  apply.  -^ 

The  common  form  of  the  Chinese  Wistaria  has 
flowers  of  a  delightful  mauve  tone,  so  distinct  as 
to  be  a  commonly  used  colour  shade.  The  "  Japan- 
ese "  species  is,  in  commerce,  a  much  more  variable 
plant,  but  if  one  can  but  obtain  them,  its  best 
forms  are  darker  and  even  more  desirable  as  regards 
colouring  than  the  Chinese.  The  length  of  the 
racemes  in  this  species  is  extra- 
ordinary. The  rosy  form — rosea,  is 
well  known,  but  less  beautiful  than 
the  mauve  purple  ones  and  there  is 
a  pure  variety  which  is  rather  shorter 
in  the  raceme,  though  still  long,  and 
later  to  flower.  The  white  form  of 
the  Chinese  species  is,  strangely  enough, 
earlier  to  flower  than  the  typical 
plant.  The  general  experience  is  that 
it  is  less  free  to  flower  than  the 
typical  mauve. 

Like  the  Grape  Vine  the  Wistaria 
develops  quite  a  trunk  and  butt  with 
age.  A  diameter  of  more  than  iSins. 
is  not  uncommon  for  the  trunk  of  an 
old  specimen.  The  Wistaria,  fortu- 
nately, is  comparatively  long  lived. 
Its  introduction  to  English  gardens 
dates  back  just  over  a  century  (1816), 
and  some  specimens  now  in  exist- 
ence must  be  close  upon  a  century 
old.  The  oldest  specimens,  however, 
almost  invariably  shew  signs  of 
decrepitude  with  hollow  trunk  and 
diminishing  foliage,  so  that  the  effective 
age  of  the  plant  may  be  placed  at 
from  eighty  to  hundred  years. 

In  some  seasons  there  is  quite  a 
good  second  crop  of  blossoms  on  W. 
chinensis  in  August.  This  has  been 
very  noticeable  this  summer  when 
some  plants  were  almost  as  laden  in 
high  summer  as  they  had  been  pre- 
viously at  the  end  of  May.  This  has 
also  been  a  remarkable  year  for  the 
amount  of  seed  produced.  Probably 
the  hot  summer  of  192 1  and  the 
consequent  ripening  of  the  wood  made 
for  fertility.  The  velvety  and  singu- 
larly shaped  seed  pods  are  distinctly 
cmamental  when  produced  in  quantity. 
There  seems  no  reason  why,  in 
the  south  of  England,  the  Wistaria 
should    not    be    planted    to     overrun 


474 


THE     GARDEN. 


[>EPTEMBER  23,    I922. 


trees  just  as  one  plants  various  Clematis  species 
or  Rosa  moschata  for  the  purpose.  The  long- 
tassellecl  W.  multijuga  would  seem  best  suited 
for  the  task  as  being  more  effective. 

Bush  Wistarias  are,  as  a  rule,  planted  to  associate 
with  water  which,  of  course,  redoubles  their  charm 
by  reflecting  the  glorious  trails  of  blossom.  One 
feels  that  had  these  beautiful  woody  climbers 
been  known  in  Tudor  days,  many  of  the  pleached 
avenues  of  Lime  and  such  like  would  have  been 


carried  out  in  Wistaria.  There  really  seems  no 
reason,  therefore,  why  those  with  old  gardens 
(or  with  gardens  to  an  old  house),  should  not 
plant  Wistaria  to  be  trained  in  this  manner. 
They  would  ultimately  become  almost,  if  not 
quite,  strong  enough  to  stand  alone.  It  is  not 
quite  evident  why,  when  reconstructing  an  old 
garden,  we  should  be  bound  by  the  limitations 
which  handicapped  our  forefathers.  Surely  it 
is  better  to  build   upon   the   past  with   whatever 


WISTARIA    MULTIJUGA    ALBA    AND    W.    CHINENSIS    (TYPE). 


A    WISTARIA    BOWER    AT     KEW. 


of  old  or  recent  introduction  will  best  serve  the 
end  in  view  !  The  Wistaria  is  assuredly  an  old- 
fashioned  flower.  Even  though  it  has  beei> 
cultivated  for  a  mere  century  in  Britain,  it  has 
been  grown  no  doubt  by  the  gardeners  of  Japan 
since  long  before  Tudor  times  and  it  has  that 
pccuHar  sophistication  characteristic  of  plants 
long  in  cultivation. 

.•\s  previously  stated,  both  the  Wistarias  com- 
monly cultivated  in  this  country  are  of  Chinese 
origin.  Though  sufficiently  distinct^ 
they  are  obviously  closely  related. 
There  are,  however,  other  species  in 
existence  of  which  two  at  least  are 
Japanese.  Of  these  the  only  one  of 
which  much  is  known,  W.  japonica, 
was  introduced  for  Messrs.  James 
Veitch  as  long  ago  as  1878.  Com- 
pared with  chinensis  or  multijuga, 
this  species  is  a  pigmy  with  numerous 
small  white  flowers  in  racemes  6ins. 
to  lains.  It  is  said  to  provide  a 
wonderful  spectacle  when  smothering 
a  large  bush  or  small  tree,  but  is 
seldom  seen  in  cultivation  in  this 
country.  It  is  probably  not  over 
hardy  unless  in  favoured  situations, 
otherwise  it  would  be  particularly 
valuable,  as  it  flowers  in  July  and 
August. 

The  American  species,  W.  frutescens, 
bears  its  flowers  in  short  terminal 
racemes,  often  held  erect.  The  flowers 
are  pale  lilac  in  colour,  but  it  never 
gives  a  very  striking  display  because 
the  racemes  do  not  display  their 
beauty  simultaneously.  Commencing 
to  blossom  in  June,  it  continues  more 
or  less  in  flower  until  the  end  of  sum- 
mer. A  form  of  this  or,  possibly,  a 
distinct  species,  variously  called  W. 
frutescens  magnifica  and  W,  macro- 
stachya,  bears  larger  racemes  and  is  in 
every  way  a  better  plant.  It  is  not 
readily  procured  in  nurseries  or  would 
be  well  worth  planting  in  southern 
gardens.  It  is  an  admirable  tree 
climber. 

The  propagation  of  \\'istarias  is 
relatively  easy.  They  may  readily  be 
layered  or  cuttings  of  the  current 
season's  wood,  if  removed  with  a 
heel  as  soon  as  moderately  ripe 
(usually  in  .August),  will  root  satis- 
factorily. 

.■\s  purchased,  the  plants  are  almost 
in\'ariably  grafted.  \\"here  grafting 
is  carried  out  on  to  roots  of  the 
same  species,  it  is  comparatively 
innocuous,  but  plants  on  their  own 
roots  are  safer.  Grafting  is  easily 
carried  out  in  spring  under  glass  with 
a  httle  bottom  heat.  It  is  truly 
astonishing,  however,  how  grafting 
persists  as  a  means  of  propagation 
for  many  plants  which  increase  readily, 
not  only  from  layers,  but  from 
cuttings. 

In  favourable  seasons,  seeds  ripen 
freely  and  are  easy  to  germinate. 
The  seedlings  do  not,  however,  as  a 
rule,  produce  very  good  forms.  Seed- 
lings of  W.  multijuga,  in  particular, 
are  apt  to  be  exceedingly  "  washy  " 
in  colouring  and  comparatively  short 
of  trail.  If  a  good  type  be  secured 
from  seed,  it  has  naturally  abounding 
vigour.  Seedlings  serve  the  nursery- 
man for  stocks  on  which  to  work 
better  types. 


September  23,  1922. 


THE     GARDEN. 


475 


NOTES    FROM    A    SEPTEMBER    GARDEN 


IK  a  garden  where  the  drainage  is  sharp,  the 
soil  porous  and  the  aspect  hot,  the  experience 
of  an  average  summer  does  not  lead  one  to 
expect  very  much  in  the  way  of  colour  in 
August  and  September.  But  the  fierce  heat 
of  the  earlier  months, 
followed  by  sunless,  rainy 
veather,  has  had  the  effect 
of  giving  us  a  garden  that 
is  now  a  gay  medley  of 
spring  and  autumn. 

Most  noteworthy,  per- 
haps, is  the  rock  garden, 
usually  so  bare  just  now, 
■where  such  good  old 
Aubrietias  as  Mrs.  Lloyd 
Edwards,  Dr.  Mules  and 
Perry's  Seedling,  are  all 
bearing  a  fine  crop  of 
blossom  on  growth  that 
would,  under  more 
ordinary  conditions,  not 
flower  until  next  spring. 
That  wonderful  ally  of 
theirs,  .\rabis  Sunder- 
mannii  is  equally  well 
covered  with  its  dehght- 
ful  rose-pink  blossoms. 
Indeed,  it  has  not  been 
out  of  flower  since  April 
and  reached  the  height  of 
its  display  in  the  drench- 
ing days  of  early  August. 
A  m  o  n  g  the  smaller 
Hypericums,  H.  poly- 
phyllum,  which  is  almost 
a  miniature  olympicum, 
has  surpassed  itself  as  an 
autumn  bloomer,  a  large 
plant  being  to-day  (Sep- 
tember 10)  a  silvery  mass 
blazing  with  yellow.  As 
chance  would  have  it 
there  is  near  this  a 
mound  of  R  a  o  u  1  i  a 
australis,  which  loves 
a  wet  late  summer  as 
much  as  it  detests  a 
muggy  winter.  Its  count- 
less   little    leaves    are    so 

closely  set  and  so  silvery  that  it  might  be  mis- 
taken for  a  lichened  rock,  while  over  its  frosty 
hoariness  there  is  creeping,  like  a  fungus,  an  erup- 
tion of  tiny  golden  flowers.  Yet  another  yellow 
iplantling,  Oenothera  pumila,  is  here  and  doing  its 
best,  a  midget  Evening  Primrose  no  more  than 
about  4ins.  high. 

Though  autumn  is  the  season  of  most  of  the 
Evening  Primroses,  such  well  known  and  admirable 
species  as  the  yellow  macrocarpa,  taraxacifolia  and 
marginata  in  white  and  Arendsi  in  blush  have 
this  year  responded  to  the  weather  conditions  with 
a  more  liberal  succession  of  flowers  and  these  of 
larger  size  than  we  have  seen  for  years.  This 
also  applies  to  those  perniclcetty  creatures,  the 
rock  garden  Erodiums,  for  although  some  of  them 
looked  like  saying  goodbye  to  the  grey  skies  six 
•weeks  ago,  they  have  cheered  up  amazingly  and 
are  now  growing  well.  One  of  the  daintiest  of 
these  (also  one  of  the  most  fretful),  is  E.  chrysan- 
thum  which  raises  above  its  silvery  leaves  little 
iragile  sprays  of  flowers  in  the  most  delicate  citron 
yellow.  Of  E.E.  cheilanthifolium,  trichomanefolium 
and  one  or  two  more  of  a  type  whose  foliage  is 
more  or  less  like  the  fronds  of  Parsley  Fern  in 
silver,  and  whose  flowers  are  dotted  or  veined, 
plain  or  blotched  "  pink  butterflies  "  poised  on  airy 
stems    there  is   one   which   seems   to   possess   the 


charm  of  pure  lo\'eliness  to  a  degree  scarcely 
attained  by  others  and  that  is  E.  supracanum. 
One's  September  garden  need  seldom  be  without 
the  delightful  china-white  blossoms  of  E.  Reichardi, 
standing    about    an    inch    above    its    deep    green. 


THE    FREE-FLOWERING    CLEMATIS    COMTESSE    DE    BOUCHAUD. 


prostrate  foliage,  but  this  year  they  have  been 
more  numerous  than  usual.  E.  corsicum,  in  rather 
a  fierce  pink,  has  also  done  tolerably  well  for 
what  is  ever  a  hypochrondriac  with  us.  As  for 
the  big  and  splendidly  healthy  E.  Manescavi,  let 
those  who  will  find  fault  with  its  magenta  blossoms. 
A  plant  that  will,  under  almost  any  circumstances, 
produce  a  mass  of  rich  green,  ferny  foliage  and  an 
unbroken  succession  of  gorgeous  pelargoniums  in 
bold  heads  from  spring  to  Christmas  and  yet  never 
prove  aggressive  or  troublesome,  is  a  possession 
to  be  thankful  for. 

Fuchsia  procumbens  (?)  has  been  especially 
happy  this  summer.  It  seems  to  enjoy  plenty  of 
moisture,  for  the  more  it  rained  in  August  the 
further  it  crept  and  the  more  numerous  its  weird 
little  flowers  to-day.  The  latter  look  like  antique 
candle-snuffers  in  a  gUstening,  waxen,  golden- 
yellow,  with  triangular,  reflexed  adornments  in 
chocolate  and  a  shrill  green.  These  will  be  followed 
by  dull  red  fruits  as  big  as  hazel  nuts.  Another 
curiosity  which  came  here  labelled  Lobelia  Cavanil- 
lesii,  and  of  which  I  know  nothing,  has  expressed 
its  satisfaction  with  the  weather  by  producing 
tubular  flowers  in  a  startling  scarlet  with  a  yellow 
throat  which  yawns  into  the  semblance  of  the  beak 
of  some  strange  bird.  Cyananthus  lobatus  has 
also  done  well  and  is  still  giving  us  its  rich  blue 


bells  in  brown  furry  cups.  With  red  stems  and 
glossy  green  leaves.  Polygonum  sino-capitatum  is 
spreading  over  a  wide  area  and  for  many  weeks  has 
maintained  a  succession  of  club-like  clusters  of 
blood-crimson  flowers,  curiously  dull  and  heavy 
in  comparison  with  the  beautiful  rose-pink  of 
little  Spiraja  digitata  hard  by  and  the  still  mo. e 
elegant  and  airy  plumes  of  diminutive  Astilbe 
simplicifolia  in  white,  faintly  suffused  with  a  hint 
of  blush. 

Although  conditions  have  been  so  advantageous 
for  most  of  tlie  rock  garden  Violas,  the  incomparable 
gracilis  carrying  on  until  well  into  August,  none  oi 
these  have  maintained  such  a  long  period  of 
blossoming  as  Lady  Crisp,  which  is  still  a  mass  of 
bloom.  This  charming  thing,  in-  a  cool  blue- 
lavender,  suggests  in  foliage  and  flower  a  near 
relationship  to  gracihs  and  the  same  must  be  said  of 
the  pale  yellow,  exceedingly  chaste.  Perry's  Yellow, 
which  has  only  just  ceased  flowering.  V.  bosniaca  is 
also  repeating  the  earlier  brilUance  of  its  vivid 
crimson  blossoms  and  Papilio,  of  the  Cornuta 
type,  but  much  less  rampant,  is  faithful  to  its 
traditional  all-season  blooming  and  the  estimable 
habit  that  it  has  of  never  inter-marrying  with  its 
neighbours,  though  it  reproduces  itself  so  freely 
by  seed. 

.\mong  the  Thymes  and  divers  others  after  their 
kind,  T.  erectus  is  now  covered  with  white  flowers, 
while  among  several  Micromerias  (or  is  it  Satureia  ?) 
the  confusion  of  whose  names  is  beyond  me,  there 
are  none  which  are  other  than  perfectly  satisfied 
with  the  aftermath  of  our  hapless  summer.  Cala- 
niintha  grandiflora  has  entered  upon  a  second 
flowering,  the  fine  rich  purple  blossoms  being  even 
finer  than  before.  It  is  noteworthy  how  these  and 
other  Labiates,  like  the  shrubby  Salvias,  Perovskia 
.itriplicifolia  and  others,  though  usually  considered 
suitable  plants  for  dry,  warm  land,  do  so  much 
more  satisfactorily  in  our  soil  when  the  weather 
is  wet  during  the  flowering  period. 

Many  of  the  Cistuses,  notably  cobariensis, 
iusitanicus  and  salvifolius  in  white  and  crispus 
in  rose  are  still  in  full  flower,  having  produced  an 
entirely  new  set  of  flowering  shoots  after  their 
normal  blooming  season  was  over.  As  for  C. 
halimifolius,  with  its  I2in.  sprays  of  blossom,  it  is 
.A  blaze  of  yellow  and  looks  like  continuing  well  into 
late  autumn.  Where  the  greater  space  that  is 
essential  can  be  afforded,  this  is  a  freer  and  hardier 
species  than  C.  algarvensis,  which  it  somewhat 
resembles.  Another  shrub  which  has  given  us  a 
good  second  crop  of  flower,  despite  the  fact  that  it 
set  seed  freely  at  midsummer,  is  Fremontia  cali- 
fornica.  Dendromecon  rigidum  is  at  its  best,  and  its 
beautiful  rich  yellow  and  fragrant  poppy  flowers 
never  look  quite  so  attractive  as  they  do  in  autumn. 
Desfontainea  spinosa  could  scarcely  carry  a  heavier 
burden  of  its  wonderful  scarlet  and  yellow  trumpets 
and  it  will  flower  well  into  late  autumn.  Clethras 
alnifolia  and  acuminata  have  responded  to  the 
wet  season  by  blooming  with  exceptional  liberality, 
and  another  shrub  which  is  always  especially 
fascinating  at  this  season  is  Diplacus  glutinosus. 
Solanum  crispum  var.  autumnale,  which  com- 
menced flowering  in  May,  is  preparing  for  a  second 
display  of  its  pretty  blue-lavender  flowers,  but 
SoUya  heterophylla,  on  a  south  wall,  having  had 
insufficient  sun,  is  only  just  about  to  open  the 
first  of  its  belated  blue  bells. 

The  Clematis  season  has  been  greatly  prolonged, 
but  I  must  confine  my  notes  here  to  two  plants. 
The  one  is  the  elegant  C.  tangutica,  its  graceful 
foliage  clinging  to  an  Ivy-clad  wall  and  covered 
with  not  only  a  generous  late  crop  of  its  rich  yellow 
flowers,  but  the  delightfully  silky  and  iridescent 
seed  pappus  of  the  earlier  blossoming.  The  other 
is  C.  Comtesse  de  Bouchaud.  This  is  a  large- 
flowered  hybrid  in  an  uncommon  bright  satiny  rose, 
but  it  is  notable  not  only  for  its  colour,  but  the 


476 


THE     GARDEN. 


[September  23,  1922. 


abundance  of  its  flowers  and  long  period  of  blooming. 
Though  now  about  ten  years  old  the  plant  referred 
to  (and  illustrated)  has  every  season  borne  an 
enormous  mass  of  blossom  from  June  to  the  present 
time.  This  year  it  is  especially  good,  it  is  now 
full  of  flower  and  still  has  sufficient  buds  coming 


on  to  carry  its  season  to  the  last  days  of  autumn. 
Many  other  hybrids  may  be  as  early  and  as  late  as 
Comtesse  de  Bouehaud,  but  no  other  hybrid 
Clematis  here  has  maintained  such  a  long  succession 
of  heavy  flowering  without  a  lapse  as  this  one. 
.V.  Wales.  A.  T.  Johmson. 


THE    EVER-IMPROVING    DAHLIA 


THOSE  florists  who  worship  the  goddess 
size,  whether  in  Gladiolus  or  Sweet  Pea 
might,  if  they  would,  learn  a  lesson  from 
the  Dahlia.  Is  there  anything  more 
clumsy  and  ugly  in  appearance,  despite, 
in  many  cases,  its  charming  colouring,  than  the 
old  Show  or  Fancy  Dahlia  so  much  in  favour  less 
than  three  decades  ago  ?  Yet,  how  beautiful  and 
decorative  a  flower  it  is  when  reduced  to  a  mere 
fraction  of  its  bloated  size,  equipped  with  an 
adequate  stalk  and  called  a  Pompon  !  In  every 
respect,  except  in  size,  the  two  types  of  flower  are 
the  same,  yet  what  a  difference !  Even  the 
purely  formal  triangles  of  blossom  used  for 
exhibiting  the  Pompons  at  the  Dahlia  Show  cannot 
hide  their  grace  and  beauty.  It  seems  strange  that 
these  Uttle  gems  are  not  more  grown. 

Unquestionably  the  greatest  advance  in  public 
favour  of  recent  years  has  been  made  by  the  light 
and  graceful  Star  Dahlias.  This  is  not  to  be 
wondered  at.  It  would  be  singular  had  they  not 
become  increasingly  popular.  There  is  now  a  very 
wide  range  of  colour  in  this  beautiful  type. 
Probably  a  good  deal  of  this  popularity  has  been 
achieved  at  the  expense  of  the  more  "  set  "  looking 


exhibition  singles,  but  a  deal  has  certainly  been 
won  from  the  heavier  Cactus  and  Decorative  types. 
These  latter  are  "  feeling  the  draught  "  in  another 
direction.  The  Pseony-flowered  Dahlia  is  being 
steadily  improved,  especially  as  regards  strength 
of  stem  and  poise  of  flower.  In  its  present  form 
it  is  particularly  welcomed  for  use  in  the  mixed 
(but  mainly  hardy)  flower  border,  which  has 
largely  superseded  the  herbaceous  border  pure  and 
simple.  The  new  Miniature  Paony-flowered  type 
is  another  instance  of  the  difference  which  com- 
parative size  of  flower  affords.  The  Jliniatures 
are  hardly  likely,  however,  to  supersede  the  typical 
large  P:eony-flowered  sorts.  They  are  far  more 
likely  largely  to  replace  for  garden  purposes  the 
Garden  Cactus  and  Decorative  varieties.  The 
latter,  indeed,  must  expect  a  menace  in  another 
direction,  as  the  new  Camellia  or  Miniature- 
Decorative  class  becomes  more  numerous. 

There  would  seem  to  be  an  opening,  too,  for  the 
Anemone-centred  type  which,  though  by  no  means 
of  recent  introduction,  seems  not,  hitherto,  to  have 
made  much  progress.  \Vith  the  Dahlia  as  with 
the  Chrysanthemum,  new  additions  to  this  class 
should  be  assured  of  a  warm  welcome.     From  the 


.Anemone-flowered  one  turns  naturally  to  the 
Collarette  type  which,  though  it  photographs, 
badly,  is,  in  its  better  forms,  an  attractive  garden 
flower.  The  new  semi-double  Collarette  variety 
called  Novelty  is  particularly  bright  and  pleasing, 
the  contrast  between  the  brilhant  crimson  of  the 
main  petals  and  the  clear  yellow  of  the  collar  being 
very  attractive. 

The  full  garden  value  of  the  DahUa  is  even  yet 
not  fully  appreciated.  It  has  two  drawbacks 
which  have  hitherto  restricted  its  popularity. 
Perhaps  raisers  may  in  the  near  future  do  something 
to  minimise  both.  They  should  certainly  bear 
them  in  mind.  These  weak  points  are  lateness  to 
flower,  and  an  inelegant  foUage.  Lateness  to 
flower,  remembering  their  vulnerability  to  frost,  is 
a  big  disadvantage  and  the  purchasing  public 
would,  in  a  garden  plant,  forgive  a  little  imper- 
fection of  form  if  the  colour  were  right  and  the  plant 
were  noticeably  more  early  flowering  than  the 
average.  Much  has  been  done  to  improve  the 
Cosmos,  which  suffered  from  the  same  neglect. 
Surely  it  is  the  Dahlia's  turn  now  ! 

-■As  regards  foliage,  improvement  Is  likely  to 
be  a  long  business,  since  one  cannot  safely  predict 
what  sort  of  foliage  the  produce  of  a  certain  cross, 
will  display. 

Ml  the  Star  Dahlias  so  far  produced  are  beautiful. 
Their  selection  is  largely  a  matter  for  individual 
preference,  but  the  new  Dorking  Star,  silvery 
mauve,  with  a  crimson  eye  (illustrated  in  last 
week's  issue,  page  466),  is  a  distinct  and  beautiful 
addition.  Quite  indispensable  are  White  Star,. 
Yellow  Star,  liield  Star  (pale  pink),  Cuckfield 
Star  (soft  yellow  and  rosy  buff).  Mauve  Star, 
and  Crimson  Star. 


A    TYPICAL    STAR    DAHLIA,    MAUVE    STAR. 


SEMI-DOUBLE    CRIMSON    AND    GOLD,    DAHLIA    NOVELTY. 


September 


1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


477 


AUTUMN  COLOUR  IN  THE  SHRUBBERY 


OF  the  newer  Cotoneaster?  of  more 
[  erect  habit  probably  pannosa  and 
I  applanata  are  the  best,  but  acutifoHa 
'  and  Francheti  are  both  interesting 
and  beautiful.  So,  for  that  matter 
is  the  old  and  sometimes  despised  C.  Simonsii  and 
the  old  but  not  often  seen  C.  rotundifolia. 
Cotoneaster  frigida  makes  a  handsome  small  tree 
with  multitudes  of  berries.  There  is  a  yellowish 
fruited  form  which  is  interesting  but  not  striking 
in  the  shrubbery.  C  Henryana  has  the  merit  of 
rather  large  evergreen  foUage. 

Few  berried  plants  are  more  effective  than  the 
Sea  Buckthorn,  Hippophae  rhamnoides.  Nor  is  its 
value  confined  to  fruit  laden  beauty  in  autumn. 
The  silvery-grey  foliage  is  admirable  as  a  back- 
ground lor  many  shades  of  brilliant  colour,  some  of 
them  not  too  easily  accommodated  in  the  garden. 
It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  this  plant  is 
dicecius,  so  that  at  least  one  male  tree  should  be 
included  in  every  group,  or  if  massed  largely,  to 
every  half  dozen  or  so  of  female  specimens.  Un- 
happily groups  of  this  have  been  known  to  be 
planted  which  ultimately  turned  out  to  be  all  male 
trees.  Hardly  a  testimonial  for  the  firm  which 
supplied  them. 

Valuable  for  their  jelly  as  well  as  for  their 
intrinsic  beauty,  no  garden  is  complete  without 
some  of  the  large  fruited  Crabs.  Transparent, 
Red  Siberian,  Yellow  Siberian,  John  Downie, 
Fairy,  Transcendant  and  cerasifera,  all  are  beautiful. 
Visitors  in  autumn  to  the  Scottish  Highlands 
cannot  but  be  impressed  by  the  beauty  of  the 
Rowan,  which  we  English,  illogically  enough, 
too  often  call  the  Mountain  .\sh.  On  the  fat 
lands  of  the  South,  the  Rowan  is  less  effective, 
though  still  valuable,  but  it  is  seen  to  best  advantage 
on  sweet,  but  rather  poor  land.  It  is  worth  a  little 
trouble  to  secure  a  good  coloured  form  as  this  tree 
varies  considerably  in  berry  colour.  Indeed,  there 
is  one  quite  useful  variety  with  orange-yellow 
berries.  Xearly  related  to  the  Rowan  is  the  beauti- 
ful Pyrus  Vilmorini,  which  was  illustrated  in  The 
G.4RDEN  of  October  8,  1921,  page  501. 

Of  fruiting  shrubs  surely  the  most  brilliant  is 
the  Spindle  Tree,  Euonymus  europaeus,  with  its 
coral  fruits  and  bright  orange  exposed  seeds. 
Probably  more  graceful  and  even  quainter  is  the 
.■\merican  representative  of  the  family,  E.  latifolia, 
but  it  is  hardly  so  showy  as  the  Spindle  Tree.  It 
should  be  borne  in  mind  that  both  species  are 
practically  dioecious. 

Writing  of  dicecious  trees  brings  to  mind  the 
Pemettyas,  so  valuable  on  Ught  soils  for  berried 
effect.  These  are  readily  raised  from  seed  and  shew 
a  considerable  diversity  in  colour  and  size  of  berry, 
but,  on  an  average,  about  70  per  cent,  of  the  plants 
so  raised  turn  out  males.  Seedlings,  however,  are 
very  prodigal  with  offsets  and  a  good  stock  of 
female  plants  may  quickly  be  worked  up.  The  pure 
white  Pemettya  is  valuable  as  a  contrast  to  the 
crimson  and  rosy  forms. 

White  berries  are  certainly  effective  because  of 
their  contrast  with  foliage.  Herein  lies  the  value 
of  the  Snowberry,  Symphoricarpus  racemosus, 
which  othenvise  is  rather  a  weedy-looking  shrub. 

The  value  of  berried  Holly  needs  no  elaborating, 
though  its  effect  is  more  in  winter  than  in  autumn. 
The  common  green  Holly  usually  berries  best  and 
it  has  a  counterpart  with  yellow  berries.  This 
season  all  female  variegated  HoUies  are  bearing 
berries  freely,  which  reminds  us  that  Golden  Queen 
is  a  male  Holly  !  Sufficient  attention  is  not  usually 
paid  to  the  beauty  of  the  Weeping  Holly,  especially 
the  green  one.    Observant  people  will  have  noticed 


{Continued  from  page  460.) 

that   this   form — sometimes  male   and   sometimes 
female — is  not  uncommon  in  hedgerows. 

Very    beautiful    effects    can    be    achieved    with 
the   great   variety  of  Rose  hips,   always  provided 


The  brilliant  colour  and  wonderful  gloss  are 
outstanding.  All  the  coats  of  paint  and  varnish 
of  a  first  class  coachbuilder  cojild  not  hope  to 
rival   it.     The  single   white   form  seems   to   fruit 


BERRIES    AGAINST    EVERGREEN    FOLIAGE,    COTONEASTER    HENRYANA. 


THE   WHITE   FRUITS   OF  THE   WOLFBERRY,  SYMPHORICARPUS   OCCIDENTALIS. 


that  the  birds  will  allow  them  to  remain  awhile 
when  mature.  This,  in  many  districts,  however, 
they  will  not.  Despite  the  many  new  introduc- 
tions, the  most  handsome  species  in  cultivation, 
from  the  point  of  view  of  its  fruits,  is  the  Japanese 
Rose,  Rosa  rugosa.  It  is  not  merely  the  size  of 
the   fruits   which  makes  this  species  so  effective. 


equally  as  well  as  the  typical  purplish  mauve. 
The  Sweet  Briar,  R.  rubiginosa  and  the  Penzance 
hybrids,  fruit  freely  and  the  fruits  are  handsome, 
though  less  so,  perhaps,  than  those  of  the  Dog 
Rose  of  our  hedgerows.  The  clusters  of  hips  on 
that  beautifully  foliaged  Rose,  R.  rubrifoha,  are 
lovely,    though   being   deep    crimson,    less   showy 


478 


THE     GARDEN. 


[September  23,  1922. 


than  some,  while  the  singular  fruits  of  many 
Asiatic  species,  such  as  R.  R.  macrophylla  and 
Moyesii,    attract   by   their   singularity. 

The  Butcher's  Broom,  Ruscus  aculeatus,  is 
very  beautiful  when  covered  with  its  brilliant 
berries,  but  this  again  is  a  dioecious  plant  and  it  is 
necessary  to  have  both  male  and  female  plants  if 
fruits  are  to  set.  The  fruits  of  the  Laurel  and 
Aucuba  are  showy  enough  in  themselves,  but  not 
efiective  in  the  shrubbery,  those  of  the  Mezereon 
perhaps  more  quaint  than  beautiful.  Of  fruits, 
beautiful  but  not  particularly  showy,  the  following 
deserve  mention  :  those  of  various  Araliads,  such 
as  Fatsia  japonica  and  the  Acanthopanaxes,  with 
ivj'-Uke  berries,  green  or  black,  and  also  of  the 
tree  Ivies ;  of  the  various  Privets,  Ligustrum, 
lustrous  black  ;  of  the  Honeysuckles,  mostly  red, 
but  sometimes  blue-black  ;  and  of  the  Elderberries, 
Sambucus  nigra,  black,  and  S.  racemosus,  red. 

Many  Viburnums  have  handsome  fruits,  but 
none  surpasses  and  few  equal  our  two  native 
species  in  this  respect.  These  are  the  Guelder  Rose, 
Viburnum  Opulus,  and  the  Wayfaring  Tree,  V. 
Lantana,  the  former  with  red  and  the  latter  with 
black  berries  ;  these  are  red  when  partly  ripe  and 
the  black  and  red  berries  side  by  side  are  effective. 
When  procuring  the  Guelder  Rose,  care  should  be 
taken  to  procure  the  wild  form,  not  the  bloated, 
unfertile  Snowball  Tree  (V.  Opulus  sterile).  The 
briUiant  berries  of  the  Skimmia  are  fine  for  the 
American  garden,  but  a  sufftciency  of  male  plants 
must  be  provided.  Foliage  colour  is  a  subject 
worthy  of  a  special  article. 


THE  EVOLUTION  OF  THE  GLADIOLUS-II 

More  about  Prinnilinus  Hybrids. 


FOLLOWING  my  comments  on  the 
American  and  English  hybrids  of  G. 
primulinus,  it  remains  to  describe  a 
few  of  the  best  emanating  from  Holland. 
To  the  credit  of  the  Dutch  growers  it 
must  be  said  they  adhere  to  the  true  characteristics 
of  the  primulinus  type,  but  against  that  \'irtue 
many  of  the  firms  selling  Gladioh  have  a  nasty 
knack  of  mixing  up  their  stocks  with  the  result 
that  one  is  never  certain  of  varieties  being  wholly 
true  to  name.  Last  year  I  purchased  a  batch  of 
a  new  yellow  self  hybrid  which  evoked  such  a 
pseon  of  praise  from  its  raisers  that  I  was  drawn, 
almost  against  my  colder  reason,  into  a  deal.  Out 
of  a  dozen  bulbs  one  came  true  to  what  I  take  to  be 
the  variety  itself,  a  nice  deep  yellow,  fair  in  form, 
nothing  else.  The  other  eleven  were  pathetic 
looking  weeds,  whose  latter  end  was  the  rubbish 
heap.  The  one  specimen,  true  to  name,  was  not 
cheap  ! 

Of  all  the  Dutch  group  I  like  the  Krelage  issues 
best.  They,  like  all  the  worth-while  sorts  from 
that  country,  make  no  sacrifices  on  the  altar  of 
size.  Neat  in  shape,  well  placed  on  the  spikes  and 
full  of  colour,  few  raisers  have  done  better  work 
along  this  line  than  the  firm  of  Krelage.  Adonis, 
brilliant  scarlet,  effective  for  vase  work  or  for 
border  decoration,  is  one  of  the  newer  ones  and 
still  a  little  expensive,  but  .^t.tlante  is  cheap  and  is 


also  a  remarkably  pretty  flower  in  salmon  orange, 
with  a  small  gold  blotch.  Daphne  and  Niobe, 
introduced,  like  Adonis,  last  year,  are  great 
favourites  with  all  our  visitors  and  X  think  I  like 
them  best  of  the  lot.  The  former  is  fiery  orange 
red  with  purple  blotch,  and  the  latter,  brilliant 
orange  scarlet  in  the  wings,  has  a  very  fetching 
suffusion  of  lurid  bronzy  yellow  in  the  lower 
segments,  giving  the  flower  a  distinct  and  attractive 
appearance.  La?titia,  salmon  pmk,  and  La  Ionia, 
soft  rose,  come  within  range  of  the  more  delicate 
tints,  but  in  Psyche,  Sphinx,  and  Scarletta,  we 
have  a  grand  trio  in  strong  tones  of  salmon  rose, 
scarlet  red  and  dazzling  scarlet  respectively. 
Salmonea  is  self-descriptive,  but  there  is  an  orange 
glow  in  it  which  makes  it  something  more  than  mere 
salmon  in  colour  and  it  is  a  gem  under  artificial 
light. 

The  name  of  Grullemans  must  always  stand 
high  among  Dutch  growers  if  only  for  their  intro- 
duction of  the  three  beauties  whose  price  puts 
them  within  reach  of  the  pauper  almost.  Maiden's 
Blush,  Orange  Brilliant  and  Sunrise. — Maiden's 
Blush  is  of  loveliest,  softest  pink.  What  more 
beautiful  could  a  description  be  than  just  its 
name  !  and  if  maidens  do  not  blush  much  in  the 
twentieth  century,  you  can  still  find  the  colour 
in  the  cheeks  of  the  healthy  tennis  girl.  Orange 
Brilliant  is  small  flowered,  dainty,  chic,  robed  in 


A    BEAUTIFULLY    RUFFLED    PRIMULINUS    GLADIOLUS — LINTON.  BRILLIANTLY    COLOURED — ALMOST    SCARLET,    G.    ZENOBIA. 


September  23,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


479 


a  garment  as  glorious  as  a  sunset  off  Cape  Spartel 
and  a  deal  cheaper  to  obtain  for  residents  in  these 
isles.  This  little  one,  and  Nydia  from  America,  are 
the  two  most  exquisite  flowers  for  room  decoration 
one  can  well  imagine  to  exist.  Sunrise  is  a  larger 
flower  as  may  be  gathered  by  the  picture  of  it  here, 
but  there  is  nothing  heavy  about  it.  Its  colours, 
in  fact,  suggest  something  of  the  buoyancy  of 
sunrise  as  against  the  restful  depth  of  sunset  glow. 
This  particular  Sunrise  augurs  fine  weather — a 
radiance  of  sulphur  yellow  and  pink  ;  and  it,  too, 
makes  a  very  nice  centre  to  the  dinner  table,  so 
it  serves  the  useful  and  double  purpose  of  keeping 


is  a  fascinating  flower  with  a  very  beautifully 
marked  throat.  Zenobia  I  mentioned  in  my  last 
notes  as  being  a  hybrid  of  richest  colouring,  an 
orange    red,    approaching    scarlet,    but    I    might 


substantiate  that  by  saying  that  it  forms  a  beauti- 
fully proportioned  tapering  and  slender  spike 
which  makes  it  very  adaptable  for  decorative 
purposes.  J.  L.  GiBSO.v. 


GL.\DIOLUS    SUNRISE. 
SULPHUR    \'ELLO\V    AND    PINK. 

up  the  spirits  and  giving  a  whet  to  the  appetite. 
GruUemans  also  gave  us  Insurpassable,  a  word  of 
some  naivete,  but  the  Britisher  can  none  the  less 
imagine  its  meaning  and  it  hints  at  the  quality 
of  a  \'ery  fine  flower,  a  different  kind  of  pink  from 
Maiden's  Blush,  a  Carol-ne  Testout  pink,  bright 
and  clear.  Kitty  GruUemans  and  Tea  Rose  are  both 
of  ver>'  softly  blended  colours,  with  yellow  and 
orange  predominating,  the  former  almost  passing 
into  a  buff  shade.  From  the  same  source  too.  Rose 
Luisante,  another  happy  name,  carrying  the  picture 
of  the  flower  into  the  mind  at  once.  .Another 
Dutch  introduction  worth  having  is  Souvenir,  real 
golden  yellow,  with  just  a  little  of  the  frilled 
edging  that  lends  an  "  air  "  to  so  many  of  the 
American  sorts. 

Touching  the  other  two  varieties  illustrated  I 
wrote  appreciatively  last  autumn  in  these  pages 
about  Linton,  one  of  the  frilled  or  ruffled  hybrids 
from  America.  This  flower  caught  the  eye  of  Mr. 
Wallace  of  Tunbridge  Wells  at  one  of  our  earlier 
exhibits  this  season  at  Vincent  Square.  He  con- 
sidered it  one  of  the  best  of  its  type  and  it  certainly 


ESSENTIALS     OF     GARDEN     DESIGN 

IV. — Restf  Illness. 


To  great  extent  Restfulness  in  a  garden 
is  not  in  itself  a  principle  of  design. 
Rather  is  it  the  end  of  other  principles, 
the  ultimate  aim  to  which  all  sound 
principles  of  design  tend.  So  important 
an  end  is  it,  however,  that  it  may  be  wise  briefly 
to  consider  what  makes  for  repose  in  a  garden. 

In  nine  cases  out  of  ten  an  "  uneasy "  or 
"  restless  "  garden  derives  some  of  its  unfortunate 
quality  from  "  spottiness."  Such  spottiness  may 
be  brought  about  by  bad  general  design  or  by  bad 
detail  in  planting.  We  ha\e  all  of  us  seen  the 
herbaceous  border,  probably  the  apple  of  its 
owner's  eye,  and  with  the  plants  quite  well  grown 
and  yet  which  produced  in  our  minds  only  feelings 
uf  repugnance  and  regret  that  excellent  materials 
should  be  so  badly  and  distractingly  employed. 
There  is  no  necessity  to  labour  the  point.  The 
planting  of  herbaceous  borders  in  bold  groups 
has  become  the  correct  thing  to  do  and,  like 
the  "  mason's  yard  "  rockery,  the  spotty  border 
will  soon  become  extinct.  Again,  we  have  all 
seen  the  herbaceous  shrubbery  border  laid  out 
by  the  man  who,  "  abhorring  straight  lines  "  and 
not  having  the  wit  to  employ  bold  and  gracious 
curved  ones,  finished  his  border  with  little  meaning- 
less rounded  teeth  like  those  on  a  worn  scythe 
blade.  This  latter  is  perhaps  further  from  utter 
extinction  because  people  without  the  slightest 
constructive  ability  will  attempt  to  lay  out  their 
own  gardens.  To  "  lay  out "  a  garden  or  to 
design  anything  for  that  matter,  something  more 
is  needed  than  critical  ability.  There  is  all  the 
difference  in  the  world  between  knowing  what 
looks  right  or  seems  wrong  and  being  able  to 
design  correctly.  Nothing  is  more  astonishing 
than  the  ease  with  which  educated  people  who 
would  frankly  admit  their  inability  to  lay  bricks, 
lor  instance.  "  because  they  had  not  been  taught," 
will  take  it  for  granted  that  they  can,  without  any 
special  knowledge,  satisfactorily  lay  out  their 
own  gardens  and,  permission  granted,  their 
neighbours'  also  ! 

Spottiness  is  usually  brought  about  by  senseless 
repetition.  The  more  beautiful  and  important 
the  plant  or  material  employed,  the  less  it  will 
bear  repetition.  Ribbon  borders  of  Violas  in 
their  place  look  quite  restful  and  satisfactory, 
but  Lilies  treated  in  the  same  way  lose  more  than 
half  their  attractiveness.  The  Viola  is  a  beautiful 
flower  enough,  but  in  some  way  one  realises  its 
subservience  and  its  fitness  for  producing  a  con- 
tinuous mass  of  colour.  With  the  gracious  Lily 
it  is  quite  otherwise.  Even  the  Rose,  beautiful 
and  graceful  though  in  some  forms  it  be,  may 
well  be  used  for  producing  massed  colour.  Not 
only  the  dwarf  Polyanthas  with  no  special  beauty 
of  floral  form,  but  some  of  the  most  exquisitely 
shaped  and  coloured  Teas  and  Hybrid  Teas  may 
be  used  in  formal  beds  to  produce  masses  of 
crimson,  pink,  white  or  yellow.  Yet  no  one  could 
contemplate  with  equanimity  a  double  or  treble 
row  of  giant  bushes  of  Alister  Stella  Gray,  for 
example  !  Wherein  then  lies  the  difference  ? 
Surely  it  is  mainly  one  of  height.  By  close 
pruning  those  Roses  usually  employed  for  bedding 
may  be  kept  quite  dwarf.  They  may  then  be 
treated  as  subservient,  though  a  close  inspection 
will  reveal  the  individual  beauties  of  the  flowers. 


Speaking  very  generally,  monocotyledonous 
plants  are  less  suitable  for  subservient  massed 
effects  than  the  dicotyledons.  Lilies,  Gladioli, 
Irises,  May-flowering  Tulips,  Torch  Lilies,  Yuccas, 
Pampas  Grasses,  Arundos,  Bamboos  and  Palms 
should  all  be  used  in  comparatively  small  groups, 
so  that  graceful  habit  or  elegant  blossoms  may 
be  seen  to  greatest  advantage.  Exceptions  to 
this  rule  are  early-flowering  and  dwarf  genera  and 
species  such  as  Crocuses,  early-flowering  Tulips, 
Hyacinths,  Narcissi,  and  such  Irises  as  reticulata, 
pumila  and  the  dwarf  ones  of  the  Bearded  group. 
Even  so.  Iris  reticulata  is  too  beautiful  in  itself 
to  use  merely  as  an  edging  or  foil  to  other  plants. 
Though  grouped  boldly,  it  should  be  treated  as 
the  effect  in  itself,  not  as  a  means  to  its  attainment. 

Of  dicotyledons  of  the  highest  class  the  number 
is  smaller,  and  the  list  would  include  few  truly 
herbaceous  families  or  species,  though  obviously 
such  sub-shrubby  plants  as  Romneya  or  Lavatera 
Olbia  would  hardly  be  employed  in  a  subservient 
capacity. 

Leaving  plants  quite  on  one  side  for  the  instant, 
the  repetition  of  ornamental  features  in  stone  or 
wood  will  be  distracting  and  displeasing,  always 
supposing  the  objects  referred  to  have  any  particular 
individual  beauty.  We  may  safely  use  a  pleasing 
stone  paving  to  any  extent  which  seems  called  for 
by  comfort  or  convenience,  but  the  repetition  of 
statuary,  fountains,  sundials,  pergolas  or  what  not 
can  only  be  unsatisfactory.  Not  only  does  such 
overuse  make  for  lack  of  repose,  but  it  prevents 
proper  appreciation  of  the  individual  specimens. 
The  use  of  statuary  at  intervals  along  the  top  of 
an  important  terrace  wall  is  a  possible  exception 
to  this  rule,  but  the  writer  has  doubts  as  to  its 
legitimacy,  and  in  any  case  it  is  a  question  of  little 
more  than  academic  interest  in  these  days  of 
comparatively  small  houses  and  gardens.  The 
abuse  of  noble  materials  by  using  them  for  entirely 
subordinate  purposes  is  one  of  the  commonest 
causes  of  want  of  repose.  It  is  the  old  dis- 
ad\'antage  of  marble  halls  which  were  surely  built 
rather  to  admire  than  to  live  in  ! 

Speaking  generally,  a  hillside  garden  is  less 
restful  than  a  moderately  level  one.  Not  that, 
unless  the  garden  be  absolutely  cliff-like,  it  need 
be  otherwise  than  entirely  satisfactory  in  this 
respect,  but  to  produce  a  reposeful  effect  it  must 
be  adequately  terraced  and  the  general  up  and 
down  contour  of  the  garden  should  be  concave, 
otherwise  unsatisfactory,  badly  arranged  and 
unrestful  glimpses  will  take  the  place  of  what 
should  be  a  comprehensive  view  of  the  lower 
levels  from  above.  The  breaking  of  the  terraces 
by  belts  of  trees  to  define  vistas  or  to  frame  more 
distant  views  is,  of  course,  quite  a  different  matter 
and  bears  no  relationship  to  this  viewing  of  part 
of  a  scheme  of  planting  with  the  foreground  left 
out. 

Almost  everyone  will  have  remarked  the  rest- 
fulness  which  appears  to  attach  to  the  average 
sunk  garden.  To  great  extent  this  is  due  to  the 
hollow  (concave)  outline  such  a  feature  imparts 
to  the  garden  as  a  whole.  Certainh-  nothing  is 
much  more  unfortmiate  than  a  garden  which  is 
constructed  around  a  mound,  unless,  of  course, 
the  house  cap  the  mound,  when  by  suitable  terracing 
magnificent  effects  can  often  be  attained. 


480 


THE     GARDEN. 


[September  23,  1922. 


Too  much  colour,  particularly  a  surfeit  of  garish 
colour,  will  make  the  best  designed  garden  un- 
restful,  especially  if  it  be  badly  placed.  The 
present  fashion  for  the  brilliant  orange,  apricot, 
hot  salmon  and  other  similar  shades  is  good  in 
itself.  There  is  no  harm  in  pure  strong  colour, 
so  it  be  properly  used,  but  it  must  be  confessed 
that  a  little  of  such  colouring  goes  a  long  way. 
In  a  garden  an  abundant  setting  of  green  and,  in 
addition,  some  preparation  of  cooler  colouring 
is  needful  properly  to  appreciate  it.  Colouring 
need  not  be  strong  to  be  pure,  let  it  be  remem- 
bered ;  indeed,  some  exceedingly  brilliant  colour 
is  anything  but  pure,  witness  Crimson  Rambler 
Rose     and      the     Rock     Purslane     (Calandriuia), 


for  instance.  Real  crimson  as  seen  in  such 
flowers  as  Lobelia  fulgens  or  crimson  Snapdragons 
is  at  once  rich  and  restful,  but  the  colouring  of 
Geum  Mrs.  Bradshaw  or  of  some  Torch  J  Lilies 
(almost  brick-red)  is  difficult  to  arrange  without 
clashing,  and  in  any  case,  unless  used  in  strictest 
moderation,  very  tiring  to  the  eye.  Properly 
used  there  is  no  harm  in  the  colouring  of  Paul 
Crampel  Pelargonium,  though  in  combination 
with  blue  Lobelia  and  white  Marguerites  it  produces 
a  harsh  "  starched  collar "  effect  anything  but 
pleasing  to  an  educated  eye.  Yet  for  lighting  up 
what  might  othenvise  be  a  drab  and  uninteresting 
corner  this  plant  has  few  equals,  and  its  colour, 
though  brilliant  is  not  garish. 


NOTES    ON    DAFFODILS 

The  late  Mrs.  Berkeley  of  Spetchley. — Giant  Leedsiis. — Carnation. — Bernardino. 


1  SIMPLY  cannot  begin  these  notes  after 
having  read  the  account  of  Mrs.  Berkeley's 
(of  Spetchley)  death  without  writing  a  few 
words  to  express  the  deep  sorrow  which  I 
and  all  who  were  privileged  to  know  this 
singularly  quiet  and  lovable  woman  must  feel 
at  this  sad  event.  I  httle  thought  when  I  saw 
her  in  her  car  outside  the  Hall  in  Vincent  Square 
this  spring  that  I  would  never  see  her  again,  and 
that  it  would  be  the  last  season  for  her  beloved 
Polyanthuses  to  have  her  to  tend  them.  Under 
her  own  guidance  I  have  seen  the  long  wide  borders 
in  which  they  grow  in  the  old  kitchen  garden  at 


GIANT    LEEDSII    NARCISSUS    PHYLLIDA. 


Spetchley  Park.  I  have  seen,  too,  the  stretch 
of  choice  Daffodils  in  another  part  of  the  grounds 
which  told  of  the  persistent  interest  of  one  of  our 
earliest  "  amateurs "  in  these  flowers.  Of  the 
ancient  trees  of  historic  interest  ;  of  the  newest 
of  the  new  plants  to  be  met  with  in  the  woodland  ; 
of  the  fame  of  the  gardens  and  their  "  ingenious  " 
owner  in  the  distant  days  of  John  Evelyn  (Evelyn's 
"  Kalendarium,"  eighth  edition,  i6gi,  page  68)  ; 
of  Ribes  Jessonise  ;  and  of  many  other  matters 
it  would  be  out  ot  place  to  say  more  in  a  Daffodil 
article.  I  will  just  remind  readers  that  in  the 
years  1902  and  1903  Mrs.  Berkeley  won  the  first 
prize  in  the  fifty'class  at 
the  Midland  Show,  follow- 
ing these  successes  up  by 
winning  the  first  prize  for 
twelve  new  varieties  in 
1904.  The  varieties  shewn 
were  Sihon,  Rhymster, 
Earl  Grey,  Sir  Francis 
Drake,  Robert  Berkeley, 
Great  Warley,  Eleanor 
Berkeley,  Aurora,  Countess 
Grey,  Charles  WoUey  Dod, 
Incognita  and  Noble.  In 
1932  she  got  an  award  of 
merit  for  the  exquisite 
white  trumpet  Robert 
Berkeley.  It  is  a  big  jump 
1904  to  1922,  but  it  shews 
that  she  had  still  an  eye  for 
a  good  flower,  and  that  her 
early  enthusiasm  and  in- 
terest had  not  abated. 
The  Daffodil  has  lost  one 
ot  its  earliest  and  best 
friends,  and  the  human 
world  is  the  poorer,  for  of 
her  it  may  truly  be  said 
n  the  self-samewords  with 
which  Jean  Ingelow  de- 
scribes "my  Sonne's  wife, 
Ehzabeth  "  in  her  pathetic 
description  of  the  devasta- 
tion caused  by  "  The  High 
Tide  on  the  Coast  of 
Lincolnshire  "  in  1571,  a 
"  sweeter  woman  ne'er 
drew  breath."  Requiescat 
in  pace. 

GIANT    LEEDSIIS. 

How  is  it  that  all  the 
Giant  Leedsiis  keep  so 
dear  ?  I  see  the  old 
White  Queen  offered  in  one 


THE    BEAUTIFUL    DOUBLE    NARCISSUS 
CARNATION. 


NARCISSUS    BERNARDINO,    A    GIANT 
INCOMPARABILIS. 

catalogue  at  five  shillings  a  dozen  and  in  another 
at  six  and  six,  but  after  that  there  is  a  jump  to 
ten  and  six,  ending  up  by  a  sovereign  for  Kingdom 
(Sydenham)  and  a  guinea  for  White  Pearl  (Barr). 
We  want  more  of  the  five  shillingers.  They 
would  then  go  off  like  hot  cakes.  This  type  of 
Daffodil  is  one  of  our  modern  creations  and  was 
unknown  until  Engleheart  suddenly  produced 
White  Queen  before  an  astonished  world.  The 
whole  tribe,  more  especially  the  taller  ones  like 
The  Fawn  and  Kingdom,  make  grand  garden 
plants,  and  I  feel  sure  when  the  drop  comes  they 
will  be,  as  undoubtedly  they  ought  to  be,  planted 
as  freely  as  that  grand  old  hybrid  Emperor. 
Phyllida,  which  was  raised  by  Mr.  W.  F.  M. 
Copeland,  received  an  award  of  merit  for  show 
in  1916  along  with  White  Pearl  and  White  Pennant, 
both  Giant  Leedsiis.  In  my  notes  I  see  I  classed 
it  as  an  Incomparabilis,  but  Bath's,  who  now 
hold  the  stock,  class  it  as  a  Leedsii.  There  are 
several   of   these   border-line   varieties   which    are 


September  2^,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


481 


as  difficult  to  place  as  a  horse  in  the  Grand  Xational. 
Phyllida  has  the  look  of  a  glorified  Minnie  Hume 
with  a  gramophone  shaped  lemon  cup,  which 
with  age  fades  to  a  primrose.  The  perianth 
segments  are  pure  white,  and  are  alternately 
rounded  and  pointed. 

CARN.\TI0N. 

One  is  glad  to  have  the  opportimity  of  saying 
a  good  word  for  an  old  friend.  It  came  from  the 
highly  favoured  county  of  Cornwall,  where  atmo- 
sphere and  tempered  sun  work  together  for  the 
Daffodil's  good.  It  can  live  and  flourish  else- 
where though,  and  a  prettier  double  no  one  need 
wish  to  see.  The  palest  of  buff-coloured  petals 
with  the  little  orange-red  tongues  of  flame  at 
their  base  form  a  happy  combination  which 
experience  has  proved  to  be  constant.  The 
flower  has  in  well  grown  specimens  a  diameter 
of  4ins. 

BERNARDINO. 

In  a  Bernardino  year  there  is  very  little  doubt 
about  Bernardino  being  one  of  the  most  beautiful 


of  all  Daffodils.  If  only  the  exquisite  ruddy 
apricot  of  its  large  cup  had  the  staying  power  of 
the  red  in  the  cup  of  Lucifer,  the  ointment  would 
have  no  fly.  This  last  season  I  am  told  our  few 
flowers  here  lacked  colour.  No  doubt  it  was  the 
result  of  the  cold  inclement  weather  that  everyone 
seems  to  have  had  during  March  and  .-^pril.  So 
to  anyone  who  only  knows  Bernardino  from  seeing 
it  in  1922,  I  say,  "  Please  do  not  judge  it  by  what 
you  saw  then,"  and  Bernardino  itself  says,  "  I 
am  not  a  politician  and  my  order  habits  are 
good."  Character  paper. — Health  and  consti- 
tution :  Excellent.  Shape,  size  and  height  : 
All  that  could  be  desired.  Perianth  :  White  and 
iqibricated  without  stiffness.  Behaviour  in  the 
open :  Splendid.  Behaviour  under  glass : 
Indifferent.  Any  other  remark  :  Buy  it  even  if 
it  costs  you  half  a  dollar.  The  above  facts  are 
true  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge  and  belief — 
Narcissus  incomparabiUs,  foster-parent  of  the 
above  -  described  Bernardino  incomparabiUs 
major.  Joseph  Jacob. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


THE   TAMARISK. 

T  WONDER  why  that  interesting  and  beautiful 
shrub,  the  Tamarisk  (Tamarix  gallica),  is  so 
conspicuous  by  its  absence  in  our  gardens  ?  I 
have  visited  a  large  munber  of  gardens,  great  and 
small,  in  the  East  of  Scotland  and  I  have  only  come 
across  this  plant  in  three  of  them,  viz.,  the  Edin- 
burgh Royal  Botanic  Garden,  a  villa  garden  in 
Portobello  and  another  in  Musselburgh  In  all 
three  the  soil  is  of  a  sandy  nature,  to  which  the 
plant  is  undoubtedly  partial,  but  I  fancy  it  would 
succeed  quite  well  in  any  loamy  soil,  in  fact, 
Nicholson  says :  "  It  will  thrive  under  almost 
any  conditions."  It  is  a  very  suitable  plant  for 
the  shrubbery  or  wild  garden,  its  catkin-like  spikes 
of  pink  flowers  being  very  attractive. — Chas. 
Comfort. 

THE    "  CLOVE  "    REDIVIVUS. 

"  'T'HE  old  dark  crimson  Clove  is  dead  :  long 
live  the  Clove."  Mr.  James  Douglas  is 
"  following  in  the  footsteps  of  his  dear  old  dad," 
and  Great  Bookham  is  still  a  most  important 
centre  for  the  choice  border  Carnation.  Not  the 
least  service  that  the  son  has  rendered  to  his  fellow- 
gardeners  is  his  evolution  of  the  new  race  of 
Bookham  Cloves.  Just  when  we  were  bemoaning 
the  loss  of  our  old  grandmother's  plant — the  dark 
sweet-scented  crimson  Clove — Mr.  Douglas  comes 
along  and  places  before  us  this  new  race.  One 
and  all  have  that  same  spicy  aroma  which  the 
old  plant  had  so  abundantly,  but  they  have  not 
all  got  it  in  the  same  degree.  From  personal 
observation  I  should  place  \Miite  Clove  first  and 
Blush  Clove  second.  The  perfume  of  the  white 
is  very  strong.  There  is,  however,  another  pure 
white  variety  called  Crystal  Clove  which,  as  far 
as  looks  go,  might  be  chosen  in  preference  ;  but 
it  would  be  a  mistake  if  it  is  scent,  more  than 
perfection  of  form,  that  is  the  great  desideratimi. — 
Maelor. 

A    SPLENDID    CUT   FLOWER. 

J-IOW  seldom  one  comes  across  that  ideal  flower 
for  cutting,  LxioUrion  tataricum,  in  the 
gardens  of  our  friends,  and  yet  a  nicely  arranged 
vase  is  bound  to  please  the  most  fastidious  unless, 
ladies,  it  is  that  Moloch  of  a  drawing-room  which 
imperiously  calls  upon  you  to  sacrifice  so  many 
beautiful  flowers  before  his  coloured  altars.  Alas  ! 
drawing-rooms,  bedding  out  and  colour  schemes 
have  many  plants  to  answer  for.  One  that  I 
hope  will   escape   the   holocaust  is   this   Ixiolirion 


tataricum.  From  its  generic  name  it  should 
look  something  like  an  Ixia,  but  its  flowers  are 
arranged  so  differently  on  their  stems  and,  as  far 
as  I  know,  are  coloured  so  differently  that  Ixiolirion 
seems  to  be  a  bit  of  a  misnomer.  Had  it  fallen 
to  my  lot  to  do  the  naming,  in  all  probability  it 


A    VASE    OF   IXIOLIRION    TATARICUM 


would  have  been  called  Campanulolirion  or  the 
Bell-flower  Lily.  In  both  form  and  colour  the 
Ixiolirions  remind  me  so  much  of  Campanulas. 
Very  likely  if  I  had  a  wider  acquaintance  with 
this  huge  family  I  could  get  a  perfect  match  as 
far  as  the  individual  flowers  go,  but  their  umbel 
arrangement  is  the  peculiar  adjunct  of  the  Lily. 
It,  however,  lacks  the  measured  stiffness  of  a 
Nerine  or  the  Wild  Garlic  of  our  hedgerows.  It 
has  a  slightly  dishevelled  look,  and  this  gives  it 
a  charm  akin  to  that  of  the  ideal  flower-seller 
of  the  street  as  against  that  of  the  stately  flower- 
wearer  at  a  "  swell  spread."  Catalogues  confine 
themselves  to  some  variety  of  the  species  mon- 
tanura,  aU  of  which  are  of  some  shade  of  campanula 
purple.     Usually    montanum,    the    specific    name, 


is  omitted  and  we  get,  as  in  the  heading  of  this 
note,  simply  Ixiohrion  tataricum,  Ixiolirion 
Pallasii  or  Ixiolirion  Ledebouri.  It  only  means 
a  difference  in  shade.  I  grow  them  in  sin.  or 
6in.  pots  in  an  all  but  cold  frame  ;  but  they  are 
very  nearly  hardy,  as  in  a  made  bed  of  light  soil 
they  have  survived  a  mild  winter.  They  are 
much  of  a  muchness  with  Freesias  in  their  height 
of  flowering  stem,  but  they  have  not  the  same 
stiff,  small,  sword-like  foliage.  Their  leaves  are 
long,  linear  and  arching.  AU  the  same,  a  friend 
seeing  a  vase  in  my  study  exclaimed,  "  I  say, 
what  have  you  got  here,  blue  Freesias  ?  "  He 
might  better  have  said  "  pretty  purple,"  but 
Freesia  is  a  trifle  nearer  the  mark  than  Ixia. — 
Joseph  Jacob. 

A    TINY    GOLDEN  -  FOLL\GED    REDDER. 

nPHOUGH  the  Sandworts  are  rightly  regarded 
as  rock  garden  plants,  the  golden  variety  of 
Arenaria  c^spitosa  can  be  utihsed  in  quite  another 
way,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  make-up  of  the  floral 
clock  that  attracts  its  thousands  daily  in  West 
Princes  Street  Gardens,  Edinburgh.  Although 
carpet  bedding  is  all  but  a  thing  of  the  past,  this 
pretty  httle  plant  is  quite  suitable  for  a  dwarf 
edging  plant  on  well  drained  soils  ;  it  is  easily 
increased  by  division. — Caledonia. 

SW^ET   PEA  ROYAL   SCOT. 

T  CRAVE  a  small  amount  of  space  to  acknow- 
ledge    Mr.      Harry     Scholefield's      courteous 

correction  (page  455)  of  an  error  which  lead  me  to 
do  an  injustice  to  one  of 
the  most  beautiful  and 
useful  of  Sweet  Peas.  I 
have  proved  Royal  Scot 
to  be  one  of  the  kindly 
varieties  in  that  it  grows 
vigorously  in  almost  any 
soil,  flowers  profusely  pro- 
vided that  it  is  closely 
gathered,  and  it  does  not 
burn  in  the  least — on  the 
contrary,  it  shines  out 
in  full  glory  only  when 
the  bright  sun  is  shining 
directly  upon    it. — H.    L. 

THE   FLORISTS' 
RANUNCULUSES. 

•nEFERRING  to  Mr. 
Jacob's  remarks  on  the 
subject  of  Ranunculuses 
(page  451),  I  agree  with 
him  that  they  are  diffi- 
cult. Even  when  grown 
in  soils  and  situations  that 
suit  them  they  seem  to 
be  very  sensitive  to  un- 
favourable chmatic  condi- 
tions, the  character  of  the 
weather  during  the  time 
they  are  making  growth  determining  success  or 
failure.  Although  fond  of  sunshine  they  seem  to 
dislike  the  cold,  dry  atmospheric  conditions  which 
frequently  go  with  it  in  springtime,  and  a  spell  of 
east  wind  is  very  bad  for  them,  even  if  the  plants 
are  sheltered  from  it.  I  am  so  fond  of  them  that 
I  always  plant  a  few  every  year,  although  I  have 
frequent  failures  with  them.  Has  Mr.  Jacob  tried 
them  in  pots  ?  If  not,  I  can  recommend  him  to  do 
so,  for  they  make  charming  little  specimens  grown 
with  three  tubers  in  a  4S.  I  pot  mine  late  in  autumn 
in  light,  rich  soil,  keep  in  a  cold  frame  until  about 
the  end  of  February,  and  then  put  them  in  a 
cool  greenhouse  near  the  glass  until  the  flower  buds 
are  ready  to  open,  f  I  am  more  successful  with  them 
in  this  way  than  when  trying  to  grow  them  in  the 


482 

open  ground,  probably  because  the  conditions  are 
more  under  control.  Both  the  Turban  and  French 
sections  do  well  in  pots.  I  have  not  tried  the 
Persian  kind^,  but  see  no  reason  why  they  should 
not  succeed  also. — A.  D.  Fort. 

THE    LIGURXAN    HAREBELL. 

■\lirHY  is  Campanula  isophylla  reserved  almost 
entirely  for  greenhouse  and  conservatory  ? 
In  the  rock  gardens  of  Raby  House,  near  Chester, 
it  tlooms  profusely,  forming  long  streams  of 
starry  blue  and  white,  the  typical  lilac  blue 
isophylla  being  mixed  with  the  white  variety. 
It  is  also  flourishing  on  the  walls,  which  are  built 
somewhat  differently  from  the  usual  stone  waU, 
the  stones  being  set  decidedly  on  the  slant  and 
so  catching  a  liberal  amount  of  moisture.  Among 
other  plants  that  have  bloomed  remarkably  well 
is  Sisyrinchium  Bermudianum,  which  is  situated 
in  a  semi-shady  position  beside  the  stream.  This 
charming  plant  commenced  flowering  early  in 
June  and  still  opens  its  petals  to  the  sunshine. 
Primula  involucrata  and  P.  kewensis,  after  a 
short  rest,  both  again  attract  the  eye.— Gerrv. 

FROM   JAPAN. 

•yo  Japan  we  owe  many  of  our  most  attractive 
flowers  and  it  is  from  that  land  that  the 
subject  of  this  note,  Anemonopsis  macrophylla, 
has  come  to  rejoice  the  hearts  of  flower-lovers 
who  are  devoted  to  hardy  plants.  It  must  be 
many  years  since  first  I  saw  the  Anemonopsis, 
and  it  must  be  some  seventeen  or  eighteen  years 
since  it  was  added  to  my  garden.  Yet  it  is  not 
by  any  means  a  common  plant,  although  I  have 
aiwavs  found  it  quite  hardy  and  moderately  free- 
flowering.  I  say  "  moderately "  free-flowering 
ad\isedly,  as  it  is  not  a  plant  which  covers  itself 


O^ 


CRINUM  POWELLII  NINE  MONTHS   AFTER_ 


THE     GARDEN. 

with   bloom,   after   the   manner   of   many   plants. 
Vet  it  gives  a  fair  number  of  its  pleasing  flowers 
for  a  considerable  time  in  late  summer  and  autumn. 
In    appearance    it    affords    some    justification    for 
the  generic  name,  as  it  is  really  "  Anemone-like," 
and  many  take  it  to  be  one  of  the  charming  race 
of  Windflowers.     The  blooms,  which  are  of  a  form 
resembling  in  a  far-off  way  those  of  a  Japanese 
Anemone,    are    much    smaller    than    those    of    A. 
japonica,   and  are  of  more  substance.     They  are 
in  some  plants  white  and  in  others  tinged  with 
hlac,  but  I  have  never  come  across  a  plant  with 
flowers   of    lavender    blue,   such   as    is  described 
by  the  late  Mr.  Farrer.     But  that  departed  writer 
is  correct  in  drawing  some  resemblance  from  the 
glossy  foliage  to  that  of  an  Actjea  or  Cimicifuga. 
Mr.  Farrer  apparently  considered  it  rather  difficult, 
but  the  present  writer  has  found  it  easy  to  cultivate 
on  ordinary-  loam,   and  the  other  day  he  saw  a 
good  plant  in  a  rock  garden,  flowering  freely  and 
apparentlv  quite  happy.     It  was  one  of  the  forms 
with    lilac-tinged    blooms.     A    height    of    I4ins.    is 
given  in  some  works,  but  I  have  seen  it  rather 
more  and  as  little  as  gins,  or  so.— S.  Arnott. 

HARDY     CRINUMS. 

iF  the  behaviour  of  Crinum  Powellii  in  heavier 
soUs    I    have    no   experience,   but   in   a   hght 
sandv  soil  that  is  always  well  drained,  it  thrives 
amazingly.    Some   clumps   that    had   stood   for   a 
number  of  years  were  Ufted  last  November.     The 
closely    compacted    masses    of    great    bulbs    were 
something   like   2ft.    through   and   so   heavy   that 
after   digging   all   round   and   loosening   them,    it 
was  a  two-man  job  to  roll  them  out  of  their  holes. 
Their  main  place,  a  border  facing  south  backed  by 
a  /ft.  wall,  was  freshly  prepared  and  some  of  the 
bulbs   replanted.     Now,    after   nine   months   they 
are    well    in    flower.       Formerly      I 
thought  they  were  tender  and  gave 
them    a    winter    covering   of   dried 
bracken,  but  this  has  proved  to  be 
unnecessary.    The  bulbs,  planted  at  a 
good  spade's    depth,    go    down,    so 
that  when  lifted  they  have   a  white 
neck  a  foot  or  more  long.    They  are 
wonderfully  tenacious  of  life.    A  heap 
of    damaged   bulbs,    some   of    them 
chopped    in    half    in    dividing    the 
clumps,  were  thrown  aside,  on  to  an 
open   border  in   the  kitchen  garden. 
Within   three   months   they  were  all 
trving  to  grow.   Roots  were  pushing, 
wounds  had  closed  and  looked  per- 
fectly healthy,  and,  where  a  bulb  had 
been   badly    gashed,   a   quantity  of 
voung    growth    was    forming,    that 
looked  as  if  it  would  become  a  cluster 
of   small   bulbs,    just  as  a  Hyacinth 
does   when   slashed  across. 

These  splendid  plants  should  be 
more  widely  grown.  They  want 
^pace,  for  the  glossy  leaves  are  5ft. 
to  6ft.  in  length.  A  sloping  bank  in 
deep  sandy  soil  they  seem  thoroughly 
to  enjoy,  though  in  any  warm  soil 
they  do  well  on  the  flat.  They  are 
in  bloom  throughout  August  and 
till  late  in  September.  No  flower 
is  of  finer  effect  for  cutting  and  they 
last  as  long  in  water  as  on  the 
plant.  For  arranging  them  indoors 
it  is  worth  while  growing  a  patch 
of  one  of  the  Maize-like  Sorghums, 
such  as  the  French  Sorgho  a  bolai  ; 
the  foliage  is  not  so  large  as  that  of 
Maize  and  it  ,is  also  of  use  in  the 
same  way  with  Dahlias  or  any  of 
the  bolder  flowers  of  late  summer. 
REPLANTING.  — G.   J. 


[September  23,  1922. 


A    WONDERFUL    BRANCH    LOAD    OF 
BULLACES. 

AN   AMAZING    CROP. 

T  AM  now  sending  you  a  few  particulars  of  the 
Bullace  tree  of  which  Mr.  Peter  R.  Barr 
recently  sent  you  a  branch.  Its  height  is  about 
15ft.  to  i8ft.  ;  its  age  unknown,  but  thirty  years 
at  least.  The  soil  is  loamy,  with  a  good  deal  of 
gravel,  and  the  tree  one  of  several  (mostly  Green 
Gages)  all  growing  one  into  the  other,  and  much 
neglected  and  standing  in  the  middle  of  my  kitchen 
garden  of  half  an  acre  at  Harston,  five  miles 
south-west  of  Cambridge.  What  no  doubt  has 
assisted  in  producing  this  enormous  crop  (of 
everything)  is  the  recent  boring  of  an  artesian 
well.  I  had  to  have  two  "  blows-out,"  and 
consequently  the  garden  was  twice  flooded.  But. 
of  course,  we  are  "  smothered  "  in  Plums,  Apples 
and  Pears  of  all  sorts.  The  branch  you  have  was 
taken  at  random.— W.  Fisher. 

"THE   LACHENALIA    IN    NATURE." 

T  SEE  from  your  issue  of  .\ugust  5  (page  388), 
which  has  just  reached  me,  that  I  must  have 
made  a  most  stupid  slip  in  my  letter  which  you 
were  good  enough  to  pubhsh.  The  subject  of 
the  letter  was  the  Ncriiie  and  not  Lachenalia, 
and  I  must  apologise  for  the  mistake.  The 
account  would  not  have  been  at  all  correct  as 
regards  Lachenalia,  the  various  species  of  which, 
as  far  as  I  have  met  them,  are  confined  to  low-  • 
lying  situations.— Lionel  Baker,  Groot  Dmken 
stein.  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 


FORTHCOMING   EVENTS. 

September  28.- Royal  Botanic  Society's  Meeting. 
Bristol  and  District  Gardeners'  Association's 
Meeting.  Wargrave  and  District  Gardeners- 
Society's  Meeting. 


September  2^,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


483 


GARDENING    OF    THE    WEEK 


FOR    SOUTHERN    GARDENS. 

The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Mushrooms. — To  provide  an  autumn  and 
further  successive  crops  a  house  or  cellar  uiust 
be  made  use  of,  as  by  the  time  additional  outside 
beds  are  made  and  brought  into  a  bearing  state 
the  weather  conditions  will  be  too  uncertain. 
The  accumulation  of  sufficient  manure  to  form 
a  bed  generally  takes  some  Uttle  time,  and  during 
such  the  material  should  be  turned  occasionally 
to  sweeten  and  be  brought  to  a  more  equable 
temperature  and  suitable  condition.  A  depth  of  2ft. 
or  less  is  enough,  and  tha  bed  should  be  put  together 
in  even  layers  and  made  very  firm.  Insert  spawn 
when  heat  of  bed  is  incUned  to  fall  a  little  at  a 
temperature  of  about  So°,  and  complete  the  bed 
by  putting  lin.  of  fine  new  soil  on  the  surface, 
making  this  also  firm. 

Cabbages  from  seed  sown  as  advised  some 
weeks  ago  have  enjoyed  the  showery  growing 
weather,  and  are  therefore  ready  for  removal 
to  their  permanent  quarters.  It  will  not  be 
necessary  to  allow  more  than  about  isins.  for  the 
development  of  the  generally  compact  growers 
forming  the  early  batch,  but  a  few  additional 
inches  may  be  given  the  successive  lots. 

Parsley. — If  not  already  done  and  a  few  frames 
being  available,  lift  a  batch  of  young,  vigorous 
stuff  from  the  summer  sowing  and  transfer  them  to 
the  frames,  using  some  good  rich  soil.  -At  the  same 
time  make  use  of  the  base  of  any  warm  wall  or 
building  for  more  plants  should  the  call  for  this 
garnishing  herb  be  constant  and  heavy  all  through 
the  winter  and  early  spring. 

Beetroot. — The  heavy  rainfall  experienced  has 
tended  greatly  to  the  sw'elling  of  the  mid-season 
section,  and  the  sooner  they  are  out  of  the  soil 
the  better,  for  coarseness  of  growth  must  inevitably 
lead  to  deterioration  of  flavour.  In  lifting  Beet- 
root care  should  always  be  taken  that  the  main 
root  is  not  damaged. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Carnations  and  Pinks  layered  and  inserted  as 
cuttings  as  advised  in  an  earlier  issue  will  be 
ready  for  immediate  removal  to  their  flowering 
quarters.  Should  autumn  planting  prove  incon- 
venient, or  in  the  case  of  Carnations,  where  heavy 
loss  has  been  experienced  during  winter,  the  layers 
should  be  placed  in  4in.  pots  and  placed  in  frames 
where  an  abundance  of  air  can  be  given  but 
dampness  warded  off.  In  the  case  of  Pinks 
which  cannot  be  finally  dealt  with  at  present, 
they  may  be  accommodated  in  lines  in  a  nursery 
bed.  The  present  time  is  suitable  also  for  the 
lifting,  dividing  and  replanting  of  old  clumps  of 
Pinks  should  such  be  necessary. 

Cuttings  of  Violas,  Pentstemons  and  Calceolarias 
may  now  be  taken,  dibbling  them  all  in  sandy 
soil  in  cold  frames  a  few  inches  apart. 

Lifting. — Bedding  plants  of  Heliotropes, 
Fuchsias,  Pelargoniums,  etc.,  which  have  been 
grown  as  specimen  plants  (and  often  this  is  the 
work  of  several  years)  must  soon  receive  attention, 
as  a  few  sharp  frosts  are  often  experienced  by  the 
end  of  the  month.  In  many  cases  it  may  be 
possible  by  having  protecting  material  at  hand 
and  conveniently  arranged  to  allow  such  lifting 
to  wait  until  the  latter  part  of  October,  but  without 
such  it  is  unwise  to  risk  what  it  may  take  years  to 
replace. 

Hedges. — It  may  be  necessary  to  give  a  final 
trim  up  where  growth  has  been  somewhat  free 
since  the  main  trimming  was  carried  out  owing 
to  climatic  conditions  being  so  very  favourable 
for  shrub  grow-th.  Do  not  use  the  shears  upon 
such  as  Laurel,  but  rather  make  knife  or  secateurs 
answer  the  purpose. 

Fruits  Under  Glass. 

Late  Grapes. — The  present  season  has  probably 
been  as  unfavourable  for  these  as  last  year  was 
favourable,  and  unless  a  fairly  free  and  judicious 
use  has  been  made  of  fire-heat  to  balance  the  great 
scarcity  of  sunshine,  I  fear  that  many  growers 
will  have  only  moderately  finished  produce, 
which  in  its  turn  will  mean  only  moderate  prospects 
for  late  keeping.  Where  the  fruit  is  very  backward 
much  may  yet  be  done  for  several  weeks  to 
improve  matters  by  strict  attention  to  the  mainte- 
nance of  an  even,  buoyant  atmosphere  brought 
about  by  keeping  a  good  warmth  in  the  pipes 
and  a  careful  use  of  the  ventilators.  All  un- 
necessary lateral  growths  should  be  rigidly 
suppressed,  thus  freeing  the  plants'  energies  to 
ripen   fruit  and  wood. 

Melons. — Here  again  lack  of  sunshine  has  told 
its  tale,  and  growth  of  the  late  plants  may  easily 


have  been  much  better.     Failing  sunshine,  plenty 
of  pipe  heat  must  be  used  to  grow  Melons  satis  - 
factorily,  or  the  results  will  he  poor  and  the  flavour 
quite  second-rate.     Where  the  fruits  are  approach- 
ing the  ripening  stage  maintain  a  warm  moving 
atmosphere  and  water  only  to  prevent  flagging. 
H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 
Albury  Park  Gardens,  Guildford. 


FOR    NORTHERN    GARDENS. 

The   Kitchen   Garden. 

Lifting  Onions. — No  hard  and  fast  rule  obtains 
as  to  the  date  when  all  the  bulbs  in  a  bed  may 
be  lifted,  as  some  Onions  mature  much  earlier 
than  others.  But  in  cases  where  the  fohage  has 
died  down  there  is  nothing  to  be  gained  by  keeping 
them  in  the  ground  any  longer.  In  ripening  the 
bulbs  a  convenient  method  is  to  tie  in  bunches  of 
six  and  hang  o\er  a  wire  so  that  they  may  get 
full  advantage  of  sun  and  air  to  further  the  drying 
process.  Lay  aside  bulbs  that  may  have  sustained 
slight  damage  for  immediate  use,  and  in  due 
course  store  the  crop  in  an  airy,  frost-proof  shed. 

Globe  Artichokes. — Cut  the  spent  flowers 
from  the  plants  and  assist  with  a  generous  watering 
of  liquid  manure. 

Spring  Cabbage. — Complete  the  planting  of 
Spring  Cabbage  at  the  earliest  possible  moment 
so  that  the  plants  may  get  established  before 
severe  weather  sets  in. 

French  Beans. — Where  these  are  growing  in 
pits  or  frames,  attention  must  be  accorded  them 
if  the  best  results  are  to  be  obtained.  Ventilate 
freely  during  the  forenoons  when  the  weather  is 
favourable,  but  when  syringing  is  resorted  to  the 
ventilators  should  be  closed  early  in  the  afternoon. 
Where  the  young  plants  are  inclined  to  be  leggy 
they  should  be  supported  by  small,  twiggy  growths 
of  birch. 

Winter  Lettuce. — Plants  raised  from  seed 
sown  a  few  weeks  ago  are  now  ready  for  transferring 
to  frames,  and  should  be  encouraged  so  that  all 
the  growth  possible  may  be  made  before  wintry 
conditions  prevail. 

Mustard  and  Cress. — Sowings  should  now  be 
made  in  frames  so  that  nice,  juicy  and  tender 
grf)Wths  may  be  had  for  salading  during  the 
autumn. 

Parsley  in  Frames  for  winter  use  should  be 
kept  clear  of  weeds  and  stimulated  by  occasional 
waterings  with  soot  water. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Root  Pruning. — .Although  somewhat  early  for 
this  work,  a  note  should  be  taken  of  the  various 
trees  in  need  of  this  treatment,  and  the  work 
can  then  be  carried  through  before  the  end  of  the 
month.  If  the  work  is  done  while  the  trees  are 
in  full  leaf  they  quickly  recover,  new  roots  being 
emitted  soon  after  the  pruning  has  been  carried 
through.  Where  the  soil  is  poor  a  quantity  of 
good  loam  should  be  added.  Also  add  a  quantity 
of  old  lime  rubble  as  this  proves  of  much  assistance 
to  all  kinds  of  stone  fruits. 

The  Pleasure  Grounds. 
General  Work. — Much  attention  is  now  necessary 
in  tliis  department  if  tidiness  is  to  be  maintaineci, 
owing  to  faUing  leaves  and  the  effect  of  the  autumn 
gales.  All  rough  grass  should  be  scythed  wherever 
possible,  as  the  work  of  raking  leaves  later  on  is 
thereby  considerably  reduced.  Where  lawns  have 
received  their  final  cut  for  the  season  they  should 
be  well  swept  and  thoroughly  rolled. 

The   Flower  Garden. 

Mixed  Borders. — .Annuals  which  have  passed 
out  of  flower  should  be  cleared  away  and  the  vacant 
places  prepared  in  readiness  for  the  reception  of 
Wallflowers,  Giant  Daisies,  Myosotis,  Canterbury 
Bells  and  Sweet  Williams. 

Violets. — Where  these  are  grown  for  winter 
flowering  in  frames,  they  should  now  be  lifted 
with  good  balls  of  soil  attached  and  placed  in 
frames  occupying  a  sunny  position.  Plant  about 
iff.  apart  each  way,  keeping  the  foliage  as  near 
to  the  glass  as  possible.  Violets  enjoy  a  generous 
mixture  of  soil,  that  from  an  old  Melon  or  Cucumber 
bed  suiting  aclmirably.  .A  sprinkling  of  old  lime 
rubble  may  also  be  added.  During  the  winter 
ventilate  carefully,  as  damping  often  causes  the 
loss  of  many  blossoms.  Keep  red  spider  in  check 
by  syringing  the  plants  frequently  with  Abol 
Insecticide  or  other  reliable  wash. 

James  McGran 

(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.), 

Coodkani,  Kilmarnock. 


THE    GREENHOUSE. 

Osmanthus    Delavayi.— This    plant,    although 

hardy  on  walls,  and  even  in  the  open  in  the  south 
and  west,  is  well  worth  growing  in  pots  for  the 
unheated  greenhouse.  In  pots  it  makes  neat 
specimens  with  small  dark  evergreen  foliage  and 
produces  its  fragrant  white  flower  in  wonderful 
profusion.  The  flowers  are  much  larger  than  any 
other  species  of  Osmanthus.  It  is  easily  propagated 
by  means  of  cuttings  at  this  time,  or  again  during 
spring  ;  they  root  readily  in  sandy  soil,  standing 
the  pots  uncler  a  bell  glass  in  a  cool  house  or  in  a 
cold  frame. 

Swainsonia  galegifolia  and  var.  alba  are  old 
greenhouse  favourites,  but  seldom  seen  in  general 
cultivation  at  the  present  day.  They  are  long 
slender-growing  plants  and  are  possibly  seen  at 
their  best  when  planted  out  in  the  conservatory 
and  trained  up  pillars.  They  also  make  good 
specimens  in  large  pots  if  the  long  growths  are  kept 
tied  round  the  supporting  stakes.  They  are 
easily  propagated  by  means  of  cuttings  which,  if 
rooted  at  this  time  will  make  good  plants  for  next 
year.  The  young  plants  should  be  pinched  several 
times  to  induce  them  to  make  a  number  of 
shoots. 

Abutilon  insigne. — This  is  splendid  for  planting 
out  in  the  cool  conservatory,  being  ideal  for 
training  on  overhead  rafters.  The  long  slender, 
flowering  shoots  hang  down  in  a  very  graceful 
manner,  while  the  large  dark  green  rugose  leaves 
are  very  handsome.  Even  though  it  never  flowered, 
the  plant  is  worth  growing  for  its  foliage.  It  is 
easily  propagated  at  this  or  any  other  time  by 
means  of  twiggy  side  shoots.  The  cutting  pots 
should  be  placed  in  a  close  case,  with  slight  bottom 
heat. 

Abutilon  vexillarium  and  its  variegated  variety 
are  elegant,  slender-growing  plants,  well  suited 
for  training  on  rafters  in  the  conservatory  or  cool 
greenhouse.  Their  slender  habit  is  a  great  advantage 
as  they  do  not  shade  the  plants  beneath  over 
much.  Plants  propagated  at  this  time  will  be 
ready  for  planting  out  next  spring.  There  are 
n\any  beautiful  garden  varieties  of  .Abutilon,  with 
flowers  of  varying  shades  of  scarlet,  crimson,  rose, 
yellow  and  white,  but  they  are  seldom  seen  in 
gardens  at  the  present  day.  They  are  rather  strong 
growing  for  training  under  the  roof,  for  unless  kept 
well  thinned  out  they  cast  too  much  shade  on  the 
plants  beneath.  They  are,  however,  excellent 
for  covering  back  walls.  In  such  positions  they 
flower  more  or  less  all  the  year  round.  They  can 
also  be  grown  in  pots  for  the  stages.  Cuttings 
rooted  at  this  time  make  good  plants  for  next  year 
and,  if  stopped  several  times,  make  bushy  plants 
in  6-in.  or  7-in.  pots. 

Climbers  on  the  roof  of  the  conservatory  or 
greenhouse  that  have  finished  flowering,  should 
now  be  partially  thinned  out,  this  to  allow  all 
the  light  possible  to  reach  the  plants  beneath, 
as  it  is  very  essential  that  all  plants  should  now  be 
freely  exposed  to  light  to  harden  their  tissues  for 
the  winter.  Thus,  all  shading  material  should  be 
washed  off,  and  where  blinds  are  in  use,  they  should 
be  dispensed  with  as  soon  as  possible.  They  should 
be  carefully  dried  before  being  stored  away  for 
the  winter. 

Hippeastrums. — .As  they  complete  their  growth, 
bulbs  that  have  attained  flowering  size  should  be 
removed  from  the  plunge  bed  and  be  stood  out  in 
cold  frames,  where  they  should  be  dried  off,  keeping 
the  frame  Ughts  on,  otherwise  they  should  be  fully 
exposed  to  the  sun.  They  must  be  stored  dry  ail 
winter.  I  find  they  winter  quite  well  in  frames, 
where  the  temperature  can  be  kept  about  40°  to 
45°  Fah.  Young  Hippeastrums  raised  from  seed 
this  season  should  now  be  potted  oft'  into  sixty 
sized  pots.  They  should  be  grown  steadily  on 
without  drying  off  until  they  reach  flow^ering 
size. 

Roses  in  pots  should  now  be  o\'erhauled.  Some 
of  the  top  soil  should  be  removed  and  the  plants 
top-dressed  with  good  rich  soil,  to  which  some  fine 
bone  meal  has  been  added.  The  drainage  should 
be  examined  and,  if  necessary,  corrected,  while 
any  that  are  in  bad  condition  at  the  roots  should  be 
repotted,  using  for  this  purpose  good  sound  loam, 
with  sufficient  coarse,  clean  sand  to  ensure  free 
drainage.  Instead  of  leaf  soil,  some  old  Mushroom 
bed  manure  should  be  added  to  the  compost  ; 
faihng  this,  dried  cow  manure  should  be  used  and 
a  6-in.  potful  of  fine  bone  meal  should  be  added  to 
every  bushel  of  soil.  The  dw'arf  Polyantha  Roses 
are  excellent  for  grow-ing  in  pots.  They  are  all 
easily  raised  from  cuttings,  which  may  be  put  in  a 
west  border  any  time  next  month.  They  should 
make  fine  plants  for  lifting  and  potting  up  next 
autumn.  J.  Coutts. 

Roval  Botanic  Gardens,  Kew. 


484 


THE     GARDEN. 


[September  23,  1922. 


A  Shade-loving  Alpine. — There  are  few  alpine 
plants  of  which  the  enthusiast  is  more  enamoured 
than  Haberlea  rhodopensis,  which,  upon  its  intro- 
duction, appeared  to  give  huge  delight  to  those 
who  saw  it  and  which  has  since  that  time  claimed 
an  honoured  place  among  the  choicer  flowers  of  the 
rock  garden.  It  is  no  bar  to  its  popularity,  but  rather 
an  incentive  to  its  cultivation  that  it  is  a  shade-lover 
and  dehghts  most  in  the  cqol,  sunless  parts  of  the 
garden,  where  it  will  thrive  happily,  whereas  in  the 
open,  sunlit  areas  it  suSers  from  the  scorching 
sunshine  and  shrivels  up  unless  most  carefully 
tended  and  shaded  from  the  heat  of  the  day  and 
well  supplied  with  water.  In  the  shade,  on  the 
■contrary,  it  makes  large,  healthy  charming  foliage 
and  produces  plenty  of  its  pretty  flowers,  which 
are  not  inaptly  likened  to  those  of  the  Gloxinia 
or  the  Streptocarpus.  The  deep  green,  toothed, 
bairy,  thick,  felt-like  leaves  well  repay  examination 
in  themselves  and  their  rosettes  alone  are  no  mean 
ornament  to  the  rock  garden,  but  the  consumma- 
tion of  the  plant's  beauty  lies  in  the  grace  and 
colouring  of  the  lavender  or  lilac  flowers  with  the 
spotting  of  gold  which  Hghtens  up  the  colour  of 
the  throat  and  adds  an  additional  charm  to  these 
blooms.  Then  there  is  a  scarce  and  charming  white 
variety,  H.  rhodopensis  alba,  although  I  must 
-confess  to  preferring  the  coloured  one  ;  while  there 
is  also  a  fine  species  (variety  according  to  some), 
■which  passes  under  the  name  of  H.  Ferdinandi- 
Coburgii,  which  is  specially  beautiful.  It  is  not 
difficult  to  cultivate  in  a  compost  of  loam,  sand  and 
peat,  and  is  quite  at  home  in  a  crevice  of  the  rock- 
■work  or  even  between  stones  on  the  level.  One  of 
the  finest  plants  we  have  seen  was  on  the  north 
side  of  a  rock  garden  between  stones  and  shielded 
from  the  sun  by  a  shrubby  Spiraea  and  partly 
overhung  by  the  shrub.  Here  the  Haberlea  was 
a  picture,  with  many  rosettes  of  its  distinct 
leaves  and  numerous  lilac  flowers.  Propagation 
is  effected  by  careful  division  of  established  plants 
or  by  seeds,  but  the  seeds  and  seedlings  require 
most  careful  treatment. 


Trial  of   Raspberries  and   other   Rubi. — \Ve 

are  infonned  that  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society 
desires  to  make  a  test  of  (i)  Raspberries  (both 
summer  and  autumn  fruiting)  and  (2)  other  kinds 
of  Rubi.  Five  plants  of  the  former  and  three 
of  the  latter  of  each  variety  to  be  tried  should 
be  sent  to  reach  The  Director,  R.H.S.  Gardens, 
Wisley,  Ripley,  Surrey  (Horsley  Station,  L.  and 
S.W.  Railway)  by  November  30th,  1922.  The 
Director  would  be  obliged  if  those  desiring  to  send 
varieties  for  these  trials  would  let  him  know  the 
■names  of  the  varieties  to  be  sent  on  the  entry 
forms  (which  may  be  obtained  from  him)  by  the 
end  of  October. 


ANSWERS 
TO  CORRESPONDENTS 

QUESTIONS  AND  ANSWERS.— ^/i  comwvnications 
should  be  clearly  and  conci^^elii  tiritten  on  one  side  of  the 
paper  only,  and  addressed  to  the  Editor  of  The  Garden, 
20,  Tavistock  Street,  Covent  Gtirdcn,  London.  11'. C. 2.  When 
inore  than  one  query  is  sent,  each  sho>dd  be  on  a  separate 
piece  of  paper.  Plants  for  naming  should  be  clearly  numbered 
and  securely  packed  in  damp  grass  or  moss,  not  cotton-uool, 
and  flowering  shoots,  where  possible,  should  be  sent.  It  is 
useless  to  send  small  s'^raps  that  are  not  characteristic  of 
■Ike  plant. 

FLO\\rE:R    GARDEX. 

TULIPS  FOR  THE  ROCKERY  (J.  G.)— Write  to 
Messrs.  K.  Wallace  and  Co.,  Limited,  The  Old  Gardens, 
Tunbridgu  Wells ;  Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons,  12,  King 
Street,  Covent  Garden,  \V.C.2  ;  and  Messrs.  John  Waterer, 
Sons  and  Crisp,  Limited,  Twyford,  Berks,  for  particulars 
■or  copies  of  their  bulb  catalogues. 

HERBACEOUS  PLANTS  FOR  LONDON  GARDEN 
■(N.G.,  Kensington). — The  best  of  all  herbaceous  plants  tur 
London  seems  to  be  the  German  Iri^,  for  one  ^ees  it  thriving 
uiiiler  many  apparently  adverse  conditions.  Bi'sides 
this,  however,  a  fair  number  of  the  liardier  border  plants 
will  do  quite  well  in  the  district  named.  A  short  selection 
would    include    Anemone    japouica.    Aquilegias,    various 


Asters  (Michaelmas  Daisies).  Campanula  eloracrata, 
Centranthus  ruber,  the  Day  Lily  (Hemerocallis  flava), 
Echinops  Ritro,  the  perennial  Sunflowers  and  Heleniums. 
Lythrum  rosoum  superbum,  tEnotheras  eximea,  speciosa 
and  taraxacifolia  (Evening  Primroses),  the  Megasea 
Saxifrages  (S.  cordifolia  and  S.  crassifolia),  Geum 
coceineum  Sirs.  Bradshaw  and  Rudbeckia  .Newmannii. 

WATER  LILIES  ATTACKED  (G.  J.  R..  Surrey).— 
Tilt'  Water  Lilies  are  attacked  by  a  green  fly  (a  species 
of  aphis),  and  the  best  tiling  to  do  to  get  rid  of  them 
would  be  to  spray  the  plants  with  a  nicotine  wash  or 
Katakilla,  but  if  the  water  contains  fish  these  sprays 
would  be  fatal  to  the  fish.  In  that  case  probably  the 
safest  thing  to  u-^e  would  be  quassia  and  soft  soap. 

EDGING  FOR  FLOWER-BED  (B.  C.  F.,  Dorset).— 
Saxifrages  generally  would  scarcely  be  in  harmony  with 
the  bold  habited  plants  in  the  bed.  though  the  Megasea 
section  would  be  a  suitable  exception.  For  the  shaded 
portion  the  St.  John's  Wort  (Hypericum  calycinum) 
would  be  very  suitable  and  successful.  As  an  alternative 
or  addition  to  the  Megaseas,  Alyssum  saxatile  and  A.  s. 
citrinum  are  to  be  recommended. 

VIOLETS  ATTACKED  (B.  T.  T..  Staffs).— The  Violets 
are  attacked  by  the  Violet  leaf-spot.  Phyilisticta  violae. 
They  should  be  sprayed  with  potassium  sulphide  (liver 
of  sulphur)  loz.  to  4  gallons  of  water  at  weekly  intervals 
after  removing  all  the  diseased  foliage. 


TREES    AND    SHRUBS. 

PRUNING  LAUREL  HEDGE  {"  Enquirer,"  Sussex).— 
If  the  proposed  pruning  is  not  intended  to  be  very  severe, 
it  may  well  be  done  now  ;  but  if  it  is  intended  to  cut 
back  into  the  hard  wood,  this  should  be  delayed  until 
the  early  spring  just  belore  growth  recommences,  as  if 
done  now  there  is  a  great  danger  of  the  branches  bursting 
into  fresh  young  growth,  which  would  be  killed  by  the 
winter  frosts. 


ROSE    GARDEN. 

ROSES  DISEASED  (A.  G.  L.,  Bournemouth).— The 
Rose  leaves  are  attacked  by  the  black-spot  disease  of 
Roses,  due  to  the  fungus  Actinonema  rosse.  This  is 
one  of  the  most  persistent  of  Rose  diseases,  and  calls  for 
unremitting  attention  if  it  is  to  be  overcome.  The  best 
treatment  for  it  is  the  destruction  of  all  diseased  leaves 
and  the  spraying  of  the  plants  (as  a  protective  measure) 
with  Bordeaux  mixture  every  fortnight  or  so  frora  May 
onwards.  Some  Roses  are  much  more  seriously  atfected 
by  the  trouble  than  others. 


THE    GREENHOUSE. 

CHRYSANTHEMUMS  ATTACKED  (B.  T.  T.,  Staffs).— 
The  best  spray  to  use  for  tlie  aphis  on  the  Chrysanthe- 
munts  is  nicotine  soft  soap,  made  by  dissolving  3ozs, 
of  nicotine  and  4lb.  of  soft  soap  in  water  and  making  up 
to  40  gallons. 

GRAPES  UNSATISFACTORY  (Torquay).— The  Vines 
would  receive  a  serious  check  when  the  leaves  were 
scorched  by  the  fumes  from  the  sulphur  just  at  the  time 
when  the  buds  in  which  the  embryo  bunches  were  forming, 
should  receive  all  the  nourishment  possible.  Prune  back 
the  side  shoots  when  the  wood  is  ripe  late  in  December, 
surface  dress  the  border  with  lumpy  loam  and  manure 
mixed  atter  thoroughly  clearing  away  all  rubbish,  and 
apply  clear  water  freely.  Do  not  overcrop  next  year. 
Several  pieces  of  flannel  soaked  in  petrol  and  suspended 
from  the  wires  2ft.  below  the  Vine  foliage  will  cause 
wasps  to  leave  the  house.     Soak  the  flannel  twice  weekly. 

PEACHES  IN  POTS  (T.  F.  D.).— Yes,  Peaches  can  be 
grown  successfully  in  large  i)ots.  They  require  more 
attention,  of  course,  than  trees  that  are  planted  out. 
Large  pots  are  better  than  tubs,  because  the  soil  in  them 
retains  moisture  better  than  it  does  in  tubs,  and  the  roots 
of  tJiese  fruit  trees  should  never  be  quite  dry.  If  the 
trees  are  to  be  permanent  in  the  house,  brick  pits  about 
3ft.  long,  18ins.  wide  and  2ft.  deep  wouid  serve  better 
than  pots.  The  latter  should  be  quite  16ins.  across. 
Duchess  of  Cornwall,  Duke  of  York,  Magdala,  Dym.tnci, 
Uoyaf  George  and  Alexandra  Noblesse  are  fine  reliable 
varieties.  If  it  is  decided  to  grow  the  trees  in  pots, 
specimens  in  pots  should  be  procured  and  repotted  if 
necessary  in  November.  Care  should  be  taken  not  to 
subject  the  trees  to  great  h'-at,  especially  early  in  spring. 

PEACH  TREE  UNSATISFACTORY  ("  Shirley  ").— 
The  variety  (Late  Devonian)  is  the  result  of  a  cross 
between  Belle  de  Vitry  and  Late  Admirable.  The  first 
named  is  not  grown  generally  and  the  latter  not  as  mucli 
as  it  used  to  be,  as  there  are  better  varieties.  Late 
L>evonian  is  a  good  variety  tor  September  ripening,  being 
large,  deep  fleshed  and  juicy  when  well  finished.  The 
great  lieat  last  year  killed  many  old  trees  and  crippled 
others  under  glass.  Our  correspondent  appears  to  have 
done  everythfng  necessary  to  ensure  success.  Some- 
times fruits  fail  owing  to  faulty  connexion  between  Peach 
and  stock,  the  free  flow  of  sap  being  impeded.  We 
advise  our  correspondent  to  give  the  tree  another  trial, 
autumn  and  winter  watering  being  important  as  well 
as  summer.  Surface  mulch  next  sprinsj  with  lumpy  loam 
and  mix  2  pecks  of  chalk  or  1  peck  of  lime  with  the  loam, 
wliieh  should  be  put  on  2ins.  thick  in  January  at  the 
latest.  If  the  tree  disappoints  next  year,  replace  it 
with  Peregrine  or  Grosse  Mignonne. 


FRUIT     G.ARDEN. 

LLOYD  GEORGE  RASPBERRY  (Stoke  Prior).— It 
would  be  well  not  to  cut  otf  the  tops  of  the  canes,  even 
though  they  are  just  coming  into  flower,  but  rather  allow 
them  to  remain  untouched  for  the  present  and  shorten 
them  later  on.  As  soon  as  the  fruit  liad  been  gathered 
the  old  canes  should  have  been  removed. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

FUMIGANT  FOR  GREENHOUSE  PLANTS  (Z.   Y.  X., 

Bristol). — If  our  correspondent  insists  on  his  condition 
as   to   a   preparation   absolutely  ^destitute  of   poisonous 


property  to  human  beings  or  animals,  we  can  oniy  suggest 
that  he  sprays  the  afl'ected  plants  with  qua^^sia  and  soft 
soap.  There  is,  however,  no  difficulty  or  danger  attached 
to  the  proper  use  of  a  nicotine  fumigant,  and  we  should 
ourselves  fumigate  with  Darlington's  Auto-shreds,  which 
are  efl^ective.  clean  to  handle  and  readily  used.  There 
is  a  certainty  about  nicotine  not  found  in  other  fumigating 
preparations,  excepting,  of  course,  the  deadly  hydrocyanic 
acid  gas. 

HOW  TO  DESTROY  WASPS  f"  Mauve  Poppy  ").— 
In  glass  structures,  or  where  the  fumes  of  petrol  are  not 
objected  to,  wasps  will  soon  leave  such  places  if  several 
pieces  of  flannel  soaked  in  petrol  are  suspended  ironi 
the  roof  several  feet  below.  The  fumes  will  not  be  harm- 
ful.to  fruit,  flowers  or  plants  as  long  as  the  house  is  venti- 
lated. To  destroy  the  nests,  watch  wasps  as  they  leave 
the  garden,  following  them  as  far  as  they  can  be  seen, 
then  stand  at  that  point  and  watch  and  follow  on  again 
till  they  are  traced  to  their  nests.  Mark  the  latter  with 
pieces  of  white  paper  tied  to  sticks.  All  wasps  are  in 
their  nests  by  9  o'clock  (summer  time).  Roll  up  pieces 
of  rags  to  the  size  of  a  finger,  one  for  each  nest,  soak  the 
rolls  in  pure  turpentine  carried  in  a  can.  Insert  a  roll 
in  the  hole  to  each  nest  as  far  in  as  possible.  Then 
immediately  cover  entrance  with  a  spadeful  of  soil  and 
make  it  firm  by  treading.  All  wasps  will  be  destroyed 
in  the  nests  if  soil  at  entrance  is  not  removed.  The 
nests  are  generally  found  near  water. 

TRANSPLANTING  IVY  (Beginner,  Berks).— The  I\-y 
could  well  be  transplanted  from  the  present  time  onwards 
until  growth  recommences  in  the  spring.  The  shoots 
which  are  clinging  to  the  wall  are  scarcely  likely  to  attach 
themselves  to  the  new  wal.  It  would  be  a  good  plan 
to  select  the  best  shoots,  fasten  them  to  the  wall  fairly 
thinly  so  as  to  furnish  it.  and  cut  the  remainder  away 
close  to  the  ground.  The  selected  shoots  would  break 
out  a  considerable  way  down,  and  these  new  growths 
attach  themselves  to  the  wall,  while  from  below 
new  shoots  would  soon  climb  up  between  the  older  ones 
and  the  wall  thus  become  quickly  furnished.  It  is 
important  to  be  sure  that  the  roots  are  moist  before 
the  moving  is  commenced,  and  a  good  watering  should 
be  given  as  soon  as  the  transplanting  is  finished.  If 
the  weather  is  very  bright,  it  would  be  well  to  shade  the 
Ivy  with  canvas  or  sacking  during  the  middle  of  the 
day,  and  it  should  be  syringed  morning  and  evening 
for  a  time. 

WORMS  IN  FLOWER-POTS  (A.  G.  H.,  Broughton-in- 
Furness). — Prevention  is  always  better  than  cure,  so  to 
ensxu-e  that  there  are  no  worms  in  pot  plants  the  soil 
should  be  searched  for  them  before  it  is  u«ed  for  potting. 
In  most  greenhouses  the  pot  plants  are  grown  on  wooden 
staging  so  there  is  no  likelihood  of  the  worms  entering 
the  pots  while  the  plants  are  in  the  glass  houses.  AH 
pot  plants  that  are  placed  in  frames  or  out  of  doors  for 
the  summer  should  be  stood  on  cinders  in  order  to  ensure 
perfect  drainage  and  also  because  worms  rarely  travel 
through  them.  To  get  rid  of  the  worms  already  in  the  pots 
the  plants  may  be  watered  with  lime  water,  when  the 
worms  willsoonappear  on  the  surface  and  may  be  collected. 
Another  method  is  to  turn  the  plant  out  of  the  pot.  when 
the  worms  may  often  be  seen.  If  they  are  in  the  middle  of 
the  ball  of  soil  they  will  commence  to  emerge  if  the  ball  is 
gently  smacked  a  few  times  or  if  a  stick  is  thrust  into  it. 
The  end  ot  the  worm  should  be  held  firmly  for  a  few 
moments,  when  it  will  be  found  that  the  pest  relaxes 
and  may  be  easily  withdrawn.  No  attempt  should  be 
made  forcibly  to  extract  the  worm,  as  in  such  case  it  would 
break.  Heaths  and  other  lime-hating  plants  must  not, 
of  course,  be  watered  with  lime-water. 

PLANTS  FOR  EXHIBITION  (A.  W.  E.,  Cardiff).— 
A  Phlox  that  should  be  at  its  best  in  our  correspondent's 
district  about  the  third  week  in  July  is  Princess  Alice, 
a  variety  bearing  huge  trusses  and  large  cerise-coloured 
pips  with  an  almost  white  centre.  This  is  about  the 
earliest  of  the  Decussata  section.  Of  course  any  of  the 
Suffruticosa  section  would  be  early  enough,  but  they 
are  not  so  bold  either  in  size  or  colour.  In  regard  to 
Delphiniums,  it  is  more  a  matter  of  age  of  plants  and 
situation  than  of  variety  that  governs  the  date  at  which 
they  are  in  their  prime.  Young  plants  of  Millicent 
Blackmore,  The  Alake,  Bella  Donna  semi  plena,  or  Smoke 
of  War  planted  in  a  position  where  not  more  than  half 
a  summer's  day's  sunshine  reaches  the  plants  should  provide 
spikes  of  useful  quality  at  the  time  required,  but  it  is 
prudent  to  grow  more  than  one  variety,  as  seasons  and 
situations  are  variable.  Spirsea  Aruncus  and  Astilbe 
Ceres  are  both  herbaceous  perennials,  and  may  be  shewn 
as  such.  The  question  of  eligibility  of  Sweet  Peas  in  a 
class  for  annuals  in  variety  when  there  are  separate  classes 
for  Peas  rests  entirely  with  the  wording  of  the  schedule. 
The  usual  intention  is  to  cater  for  annuals  other  than 
Sweet  Peas  in  one  class  and  to  confine  Sweet  Peas  to  their 
own  class,  but  unless  it  is  explicitly  stated  that  Sweet 
Peas  are  excluded,  an  exhibitor  is  perfectly  justified 
in  shewing  them  in  the  class  for  eight  vases  of  annuals  in 
variety. 

NAMES  OF  PLANTS.— X.  Y. — Rose  Irish  Firefiame. 

NAMES  OF  FRUIT.— Stoke  Prior.— Plum  the  Czar 
probablv,    but    partially   lotten    on    receipt.     Pears    too 

immature    to     name.     Send     again    when     mature. 

C.  H.  C  Dorking. — 1.  White  Magnum  Bonum ;  'J,  Coe's 
Golden  Drop;  3.  Belgian  Purple;  4,  cannot  name  from 
specimen;    5,  McLaughlin's  Gage;    6,  Transparant  Gage. 

R.    A.    B.,    Corfe    Castle. —  Plum    Angelina    Burdett 

Gage ;  Apple,  probably  Prince  Edward,  not  matured  or 
coloured  yet. 

Catalogues  Received. 

Messrs.  W.  Drummond  and   Sons,  Limited,   57  and  58, 

Dawson  Street,  Dublin. — Bulbs. 
Messrs.  Dicksons,  Chester. — Bulbs. 
Messrs.     Samsons,     Limited,     Kilmarnock. — Bulbs     and 

Roses. 
Messrs.   Oliver  and   Hunter.   Moiiiaive,   Dumfriesshire. — 

Alpine  and  Herbaceous  Plants. 
Mr.  G.  R.  Downer.  Drayton  Manor  Nurseries,  Chichester. — 

Alpine  and  Herbaceous  Plants. 


THE 


.-rlcLBLiiral 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


ol.  LXXXVI.— No.  2654. 

tered  as  Second-class  Matter  at  the  New  York,  N.V.,  Post  Office. 


Saturday,  September  30,  1922 


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The  most  beautiful  and  easiest  grown  of  Autumn-flowering  Bulbs  for  the  Greenhouse. 

For  autumn  decoration  in  the  greenhouse  few  plants  can  compare  with 
Nerines  for  their  brilliant  and  attractive  colours.  The  flowers,  which  are 
produced  in  umbels  of  6  to  24  blooms,  are  borne  on  stout  stems  varying  in 
height  from  i  to  2  feet.  In  colour  they  range  from  dark  red,  vivid  crimson, 
cerise  and  scarlet  to  salmon,  coral-rose,  pink,  blush  and  tchite,  many  having  a 
glistening  lustre  which  in  sunlight  gives  them  the  appearance  of  being  dusted 
with  gold  or  silver.  They  remain  decorative  for  many  weeks,  and  their  beauty 
may  be  enjoyed  in  a  sitting-room  as  well  as  the  greenhouse,  if  the  pots  are 
kept  in  a  sunny  window. 

12  in  12  beautiful  named  varieties       ..     42/-,  50/-,  63/-  and  84/- 

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[September  30    1922. 


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I 


^f^rMl^^, 


_r--S--0„ 


No.  2654.— Vol.  LXXXVL] 


[September  30,  1922. 


WOODLAND  PLANTING  ON  LIMY  SOIL 


WHERE  soil  is  reasonably  lime-free, 
the  Rhododendron  and  its  allies 
form  the  mainstay  of  the  woodland 
garden.  They  go  far  to  provide 
its  floral  beauty  and  at  the  same 
time  furnish  an  admirable  setting  for  Lilies  and 
other  desirable  woodland  plants.  There  is  in  this 
country,  however,  a  great  extent  of  woodland  or 
copse  of  which  the  soil  consists,  under  a  thin 
stratum  of  humus-containing  loam,  of  limestone 
or  more  frequently  chalky  marl.  Unless  planted 
to  timber  of  comparatively  recent  years,  there  is 
httle  woodland  on  the  chalk  proper.  In  many 
cases  houses  have  been  built  on  the  conlines  of 
such  woodland  and  the  owners  would  naturally 
wish  to  incorporate  these  shady  reaches  in  their 
garden  scheme.  The  necessity  of  substantial 
planting  is  the  more  evident  when  it  is  pointed 
out  that  bulbous  plants  generally  dislike  lime. 
Even  the  Bluebell  of 
our  own  woodlands 
fights  shy  of  noticeably 
limy  soil. 

Of  furnishing  ever- 
greens for  undergrowth 
in  such  woodland  the 
common  Laurels  take 
high  place.  Colchic  or 
Causasican  succeed 
equally  well  and  their 
large  glossy  deep  green 
foliage  shews  to  great 
advantage  in  such 
situations.  Common 
Holly,  too,  will  flourish. 
The  large-leaved  forms, 
such  as  Hodginsii  and 
Shepherdii  are  not  so 
suitable  as  the  common 
form  for  undergrowth. 
The  latter,  of  course, 
grows  laxer  and 
looser  in  shade  than 
in  the  open  and  the 
leaves  come  larger, 
flatter  and  more 
attractive  in  colouring. 
Neither  Holly  nor 
Laurel  fruits  to  any 
extent  in  woodland 
and  their  flowers, 
even  if  produced,  are 
•  scarcely  showy  ;  their 
value,  therefore,  rests 
upon  their  foliage 
alone.      In   a  different 


category  come  those  e\'ergreen  Barberries,  Berberis 
Darwinii  and  B.  stenophylla,  which  are  admirable 
for  an  undergrowth,  though  they,  too,  flower  less 
freely  than  in  the  open.  The  Mahonia,  too, 
Berberis  .\quifolium,  is  invaluable  and  the  Japanese 
species,  B.  japonica,  which  in  some  forms  flowers 
all  winter  through. 

For  the  more  open  places  the  Escallonias  are 
excellent,  especially  E.  macrantha  and  its  nearer 
relatives.  The  almost  indestructible  Rose  of 
Sharon,  Hypericum  calycinum,  is  an  invaluable 
carpeter  and  its  large  golden  many-stamened 
blossoms  shew  to  advantage  in  the  semi-shade. 
For  places  where  sunshine  penetrates — and  on 
limy  soils  the  shade  should  not  anywhere  be  too 
dense — the  single  "  Corkrose,"  Kerria  japonica 
simplex  is  excellent.  Its  bright  green  stems  make 
it  most  effective  in  winter  when  destitute  of  leaf, 
while  in  earlv  summer,  when  the  slender  arching 


A   NEW   CHINESE   FLOWERING   APPLE,   PYRUS   MALUS  TltANSITORIA. 


canes  are  thickly  spangled  with  golden  blossoms, 
it  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  flowering  shrubs. 
It  is  astonishing  how  many  gardens  harbour  the 
bloated  double  form,  which  are  destitute  of  this 
elegant  plant. 

The  Bladder  Senna,  Colutea  arborescens,  is 
another  plant  admirably  suited  to  the  wild  garden 
and  quite  at  home  upon  limy  soil.  It  likes  semi- 
shade,  but  should  not  be  immured  in  woodland 
recesses.  Especially  if  it  can  get  its  "  feet  "  to 
water,  the  Guelder  Rose,  Viburnum  Opulus  will 
flourish  and,  given  a  certain  amount  of  sunUght, 
produce  its  elegant  corymbs  of  flower  and  its 
brilliant  red  fruits  in  abundance.  The  true 
Brooms — Cytisus  scoparius,  C.  albus  and  relatives 
— are  essentially  plants  for  sandy  and  gravelly 
soils,  but  the  Spanish  Broom,  Spartium  junceura, 
flourishes  even  on  the  chalk.  In  many  parts  of 
England  it  is  not  too  hardy  and  the  fringe  of 
woodland  looking 

south  or  west  forms 
a  suitable  place  for  it. 
It  should,  of  course, 
be  planted  to  receive 
an  abundance  of  sun- 
light. 

The  Privets  (Ligus- 
trums),  object  neither 
to  lime  nor  shade  and 
the  oval-leaved  Privet 
is  satisfactory  as  under- 
growth, particularly  as 
its  berries  are  quite 
handsome  when  freely 
produced,  though  they 
could  hardly  be  classed 
as  showy.  The  larger- 
leaved  Eastern  forms, 
L.L.  lucidum  and 
japonicum  are  also 
suitable  and  offer  more 
beauty  of  flower. 

Those  best  of 
shrubby  Spirreas,  SS. 
Lindleyana  and  arire- 
folia,  have  no  objection 
to  lime  and  are,  of 
course,  grateful  for  a 
certain  amount  of 
shade,  while  the  whole 
of  the  Bumalda  clan, 
from  the  crimson 
Anthony  Waterer  to 
the  whitish  callosa  alba, 
will  provide  flower  for 
a   considerable   period. 


486 


THE     GARDEN. 


[September  30,  1922. 


THE    EARLY  FLOWERING    BERBERIS    JAPONICA. 


FINEST    OF    SHRUBBY    SPIR/EAS,    S.    LINDLEYANA. 


THE    CHALK    LIKING    VIBURNUM    TOMENTOSUM    MARIESII. 


The  Cornelian  Cherry  (Cornus  mascula)  and  the 
Dogwoods  (C.  sanguinea  and  varieties),  all  succeed 
and  are  admirably  suited  for  woodland  planting. 
Probably  all  members  of  this  family  would  succeed. 

Groups  of  that  quaint  shrub,  Lycesteria  formosa, 
might  well  be  introduced.  If  planted  in  neighbouring 
garden,  this  invariably  turns  up  in  the  woodland, 
doubtless  from  seeds  dropped  by  birds.  Neither 
flowers,  fruits  nor  bracts  are  e.xactly  showy,  but  the 
green  arching  canes  introduce  a  pleasing  diversity  of 
vegetation  without  giving  an  e.\otic  appearance.  That 
so-called  Aralia,  Fatsia  japonica,  does  well  in  woodland. 
It  is  less  tender  than  most  people  believe,  but  needs  a 
cool  exposure,  even  the  shade  of  trees,  whereas,  with 
the  idea  of  sheltering  it  from  cold  winds  it  is  often 
planted  in  full  sunlight.  It  is  quite  handsome  in 
flower  and  fruit,  but  should  be  kept  for  the  more 
sophisticated  part  of  the  woodland,  because  of  its 
distinctly  exotic  appearance.  Where  a  sufficient 
opening  in  the  tree  canopy  exists  to  admit  the  requisite 
sunshine,  all  the  Thorns  will  flourish,  i  Only  single 
flowered  varieties,  however,  seem  to  the  writer  desirable 
in  such  a  place,  though  some  planters  would  doubtless 
have  other  views.  Suitable  kinds  include  Cratjegus 
Crus-galli  and  C.C.  Douglasii,  macrantha  and  coccinea, 
with  the  single  scarlet  form  of  the  common  Hawthorn, 
C.  Oxyacantha  var.  coccinea  of  nurseries.  Under 
similar  conditions  the  Judas  Tree,  Cercis  Sihquas- 
trum  will  succeed.  The  reddish-purple  flowers  produced 
before  the  leaves  in  spring  are  not  specially  beautiful, 
but  the  twisted  growth  of  trunk  and  branches,  some- 
what similar  to  that  of  an  old  apple  tree,  but  charac- 
teristic of  the  tree  in  question,  make  it,  when  properly 
employed,  a  picturesque  and  valuable  feattu'e.         :-r| 

Almost  all  Pyruses  enjoy  a  calcareous  soil  and, 
as  they  often  unite  beauty  of  flower  with  handsome 
fruits,  are  worthy  of  notice  where  free  from  drip 
and  not  shaded  to  any  extent.  The  new  P.*[Malus 
transitoria  will  be  found  described  under  New  and 
Rare  Plants  in  this  issue. 

The  Oriental  Guelder  Rose,  Viburnum  tomentosum, 
is  best  represented  by  the  fine  variety  Mariesii,  but 
the  totally  sterile  form,  V.  t.  phcatum,  which  bears 
the  same  relation  to  the  typical  plant  as  does  the 
"  Whitsun  Boss,"  V.  Opulus  sterile,  to  the  typical 
Guelder  Rose,  also  succeeds  on  limy  soils. 

In  late  summer  a  great  deal  of  colour  may  be 
afforded  by  the  judicious  planting  of  Clematises. 
The  Clematis  likes  a  sweet  soil  and  a  considerable 
amount  of  shade,  especially  to  the  roots.  For  this  wood- 
land planting  Clematis  Jackmani  and  the  varieties 
classed  with  it  are  most  suitable.  The  typical  plant — 
if  we  may  be  forgiven  for  speaking  of  a  garden  variety 
in  such  a  way — looks  beautiful  when  flinging  its 
shoots  aloft  in  association  with  that  strong-growing 
Wichuraiana  Rose  Dorothy  Perkins,  and  the  Rose 
herself,  despite  her  double  flowers,  looks  happy 
enough  when  climbing  in  the  topmost  branches  of 
a  Silver  Birch.  This  tree,  it  may  be  well  to  point  out, 
may  be  established  even  on  the  chalk.  It  does  not, 
however,  "  peel  "  so  well  on  heavy  marly  soils  as 
on  lighter  sandy  ones.  It  has  so  many  beauties, 
however,  that  if  not  already  existing,  it  should  certainly 
be  introduced  into  woodland  planting.  To  return 
to  our  Clematises,  however  !  Jackmani,  Snow  White 
Jackmani  and  perhaps  Comtesse  de  Bouchaud 
would  be  our  selection  from  this  class  for  the  purpose 
in  this  connexion.  Beyond  these  in  not  too  shady 
a  spot  C.  montana  and  the  flesh  pink  variety  C. 
montana  rubens  might,  be  tried.  The  latter  has 
very  admirable  reddish  foliage  and  young  wood. 
C.  .'\rmandi  would  no  doubt  often  survive  our  winters 
in  woodland  where  (except  against  a  wall)  it  perishes 
in  the  open  garden. 

Those  two  fine  early-flowering  Heaths  Ericas  carnea 
a:id  darleyensis  have  no  objection  to  lime  in  the  soil, 
and  the  tall  E.  mediterranea  has  the  same  happy 
indifference,  while  the  less  showy  E.  cinerea  will 
grow  in  the  humus  containing  vegetation  immediately 
overlying  limestone  rock. 


I 


September  30,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


487 


A    TRIAL    OF    NEW   ROSES 


British   Introductions  of  1920 


*    LTHOUGH   1920  could  well  be  described 
/%       as  a  prolific  year  as  regards  the  immber 

/  %  of  new  Roses  placed  on  the  market, 
^— ^*  the  quaUty  seems  to  have  suffered 
*  M.  for  the  quantity,  and  very  few  striking 

novelties  or  really  first-class  Roses  were  pro- 
duced. The  total  number  tested  here  (Oxted, 
Surrey)  was  sixty-nine,  of  which  thirty-eight  were 
British  and  thirty-one  foreign. 

Although,  patriotically,  one  likes  always  to  give 
preference  to  the  home-produced  article,  it  behoves 
us  at  the  same  time  to  watch  what  the  trade 
growers  across  the  Channel  are  producing,  for, 
in  the  interest  of  the  in- 
dustry, with  all  new 
Roses  the  good  must 
be  acclaimed  and  the 
bad  condemned  and 
discarded  for  ever. 

Would  we  had  a 
judicial  bench,  to  sit  in 
judgment  on  all  new 
Roses,  entering  the 
good  on  the  roll  of 
accepted  and  recom- 
mended varieties, 
sentencing  the  bad  to 
deportation  or  the  fiery 
furnace  and,  above  all, 
to  keep  a  full  record  of 
what  is  produced  and 
what  becomes  of  it. 

Names  should  only  be 
allowed  which  have  not 
been  used  before,  and 
the  too  -  much  -  alike 
varieties  would  be  con- 
signed to  the  scrap- 
heap,  as  well  as  the 
undesirables  —  a  simple 
matter  for  the  powers 
that  be  to  put  into  exe- 
cution, and  how 
amateurs  who  buy  new 
Roses  from  the  high 
falutin  descriptions  in 
the  catalogues  would 
bless  them  for  sa\ing 
them  from  buying  trash, 
and  helping  them  to 
spend  their  money  on 
new  varieties  that  are 
really  novelties  and 
good  ones  at  that  ! 

The  seven  points  on 
which  new  Roses  are 
judged  here  are: 
Novelty,    growth,    form, 

colour,  flowering,  foliage  and  fragrance.  The  latter 
essential  qualification  is,  unfortunately,  zo  often 
lacking  that  mention  is  only  made  of  it  when  it 
exists.  Taking  the  British  Roses  first  in 
alphabetical  order  : 

Archie  Gray  (H.T.,  Hugh  Dickson). — Unfortu- 
nately the  plant  sent  us  was  a  poor  one  and  the 
growth  was  weak,  but  it  was  shewn  well  at  some 
of  the  exhibitions.  A  large,  deep  crimson  bloom, 
of  good  shape,  and  large  enough  for  an  exhibition 
box.  Hardly  a  free  bloomer,  and  the  foliage 
inclined  to  mildew  a  little. 

Bronze  Bedder  (H.T.,  WilHam  Paul  and  Son). — 
A  free-flowering  single  Rose  of  bronze  colour — 
quite  a  novelty.  The  buds,  which  are  long, 
pointed  and  crimson  coloured,  are  exceedingly 
pretty.     Growth  is  good  and  foliage  clean.    Sweet 


scented.  .A  good  single  Rose  to  mass  for  a  bold 
effect. 

CallistO  (Hybrid  Musk,  J.  H.  Pemberton).— 
A.  strong  grower,  with  branching  habit.  Small 
clusters  of  pale  yeUow  blooms  of  rosette  shape. 
Summer  flowering  only.  Should  be  grown  as  a 
bush  Rose,  and  is  hardly  suitable  as  a  bedding 
variety. 

Charm  (H.T.,  William  Paul  and  Son).— Rather 
a  thin,  sparse  grower.  The  buds  are  pretty — ■ 
reddish  orange  opening  out  to  pale  coppery  yellow, 
semi-single  blooms  in  good  trusses.     Sweet  scented. 

Clare    d'Escofet    (H.T.,    W.     Easlea).— Growth 


ORANGE    AND    APRICOT    SHADES,    ROSE    INDEPENDENCE    DAY. 


not  strong.      Blooms   are   flesh  white,  rather  flat, 
and    inchned   to  lose   their   colour.       Hardly  any 
call  for  this  as  a  new  variety. 
Climbing    Chateau    de    Clos    Vougeot    (H.T., 

H.  Morse). — Not  a  strong  grower,  and  at  present 
little  sign  of  climbing  at  all.  The  usual  horizontal 
growth  of  its  namesake,  but  possibly  it  may  start 
off  next  season,  as  some  of  these  climbing  Hybrid 
Teas  have  a  habit  of  doing. 

Climbing  Ophelia  (H.T.,  .Wex.  Dickson  and 
Sons).— .\u  excellent  climbing  variety  of  this 
splendid  and  popular  Rose.  Blooms  are  good 
and  as  true  as  the  dwarf  variety.  The  plant 
started  off  as  if  it  had  made  up  its  mind  to  climb, 
unUke  some  of  the  so-called  cUmbing  Hybrid  Teas, 
of  which  50  per  cent,  never  intend  to  climb  at  all. 
It  should  prove  an  excellent  novelty. 


Constance  Casson  (Pcrnetiana,  B.  R.  Cant  and 
Sons). — .\  very  strong  grower,  with  large,  globular 
blooms  of  bronze  flushed  yellow  colour.  The 
foliage  is  very  fine,  particularly  the  new  growths. 
The  blooms  may  be  strong  enough  for  exhibition, 
but  their  shape  is  inclined  to  be  flat.  It  should 
make  a  splendid  bedding  Rose,  and  the  colour  is 
decidedly  novel. 

Dinah  (H.T.,  William  Paul  and  Son).— Our 
plant  of  this  was  a  weak  one,  but  in  any  event 
it  seems  to  be  a  small  and  thin  grower.  The 
blooms  are  deep  crimson,  but  they  are  inclined  to 
discolour  upon  maturity.  Foliage  is  clean  and 
good. 

Eleanor  Henning  (H.T.,  W.  Easlea). — Semi- 
single,  salmon  pink  blooms,  with  large  petals. 
Medium  grow'er,  with  good  dark  foliage.  Not  a 
very  profuse  bloomer,  but  very  sweetly  scented. 

Esme  (H.T.,  B.  R.  Cant  and  Sons). — .A  good 
strong  grower,  with  heavy  blooms  of  cream  colour, 
flushed  pink  on  edges  of  petals  reminding  one  of 
Mrs.  Foley  Hobbs.  It  should  make  an  exhibition 
Rose,  but  as  a  garden  Rose  a  mass  of  it  would  be 
very  attractive.     Faintly  scented. 

Florinda    Norman    Thompson    (H.T.,    Alex. 

Dickson  and  Sons). — Excellent  growths  and  a 
profuse  bloomer.  Large  trusses  of  lemon  yellow 
flowers  flushed  rose  and  globular  in  shape.  Thick, 
leathery  foliage.     A  fine  free  bedding  Rose. 

Havering  Rambler  (Multiflora,  J.  H.  Pember- 
ton).— Summer  flowering  only.  Very  vigorous 
growth,  with  heavy  trusses  of  pink  and  white 
blooms  with  bright  yellow  stamens,  but  unfortu- 
nately the  blooms  seem  to  lose  colour  quickly. 

Hawlmark  Crimson  (H.T.,  .Alex.  Dickson  and 
Sons). — One  of  the  best  of  the  year's  production. 
A  darker  coloured  Red  Letter  Day  of  the  same 
semi-single  type,  but  a  stronger  grower,  with 
upright  stems.  Fine  long-pointed  buds.  Well 
worth  growing  as  a  bedding  Rose,  and  a  mass  of 
them  should  be  a  sight  for  the  gods. 

Independence  Day  (H.T.,  Bees,  Limited). — 
There  seems  a  little  doubt  as  to  whether  this  is 
a  1919  or  1920  variety.  Origin  Mme.  E.  Herriot 
X  Souvenir  de  Gustave  Prat,  but  the  blooms  are 
held  more  erect  than  the  former  parent.  Reddish 
orange  buds,  opening  out  to  deep  yellow  blooms, 
with  bright  red  stamens.  Not  a  strong  grower, 
but  sweet  scented. 

Jersey  Queen  (H.T.,  Jersey  Nurseries,  Limited). 
— Strong  growth,  but  apt  to  be  lopsided  after  the 
style  of  Mme.  .Abel  Chatenay — throwing  one 
heavy  shoot  only.  Big  trusses  of  yellowish  pink 
blooms.     Sweetly  scented. 

Lady    Anderson    (H.T.,    Alex.    Dickson    and 

Sons). — Fair  growth.  Large  coral  pink  blooms, 
strong  enough  for  exhibition.     SUghtly  scented. 

Lady  Maureen  Stewart  (H.T.,  .\lex.  Dickson 
and  Son). — .A  strong  grower,  with  good  trusses  of 
briUiant  velvety  sf  arlet  blooms,  the  shape  of  which 
reminds  one  of  our  old  friend  A.  K.  Williams. 
Very  sweet  scented,  and  worth  growing  for  that 
alone. 

Lady  Mond  (H.T.,  William  Paul  and  Son).— 
Semi-single  bright  red  pointed  buds,  opening  to 
yellowish  pink.      Fair  growth. 

Manifesto  (H.T.,  S.  McGredy  and  Son).— A 
good  grower.  Large  blooms,  shaped  like  Caroline 
Testout,  flesh  pink  colour,  with  a  deeper  pink 
inside.  .A  bedding  Rose,  but  should  be  good 
enough  for  an  exhibition  box.  Traces  of 
mildew. 

Miss  Connor  (H.T.,  .A.lex.  Dickson  and  Sons). — .A 
real  profuse  bloomer,  w^ith  truss  after  truss  of  canary 
yellow  coloured  blooms.  The  buds  are  brighter  in 
colour  and  foliage  bright  green.  The  blooms  are  cup 
shaped  and  not  large,  but  would  doubtless  come 
bigger  if  disbudded.  .4  splendid  bedding  Rose  and 
sweetly  scented.  Herbert  L.  Wettern, 

(To  be  continued.) 


488 


THE     GARDEN. 


[September  30,  1922. 


THE    PLANTING    SEASON 


PLANTING  operations  will  be  in  full 
swing  again  shortly,  and  it  has  often 
been  a  source  of  wonderment  to  me  wliy 
such  work  is  not  put  in  hand  earlier  than 
it  usually  is.  Ground  preparation  takes 
some  time,  and  often  before  the  necessary  trenching 
and  formation  are  completed  the  best  time  for 
planting  has  passed.  Many  plants,  and  more 
particularly  those  with  coarse  roots,  if  put  in  at 
the  right  time  will  succeed,  while  if  the  time  be 
missed  they  are  unable  to  make  a  quick  start 
in  root  action,  with  the  inevitable  result  that  the 
plant  withers  away  and  dies. 

Given  ripeness  of  wood,  the  early  autumn  in 
most  soils  is  the  best  time  to  plant  evergreens 
of  all  kinds.  Hollies  in  particular  can  be  moved 
without  the  loss  of  a  single  leaf.  Yews  also  and, 
indeed,  any  conifer  will  make  ybung  roots  in 
October,  sufficient  to  ensure  a  commencement 
of  growth  in  the  spring,  even  if  the  weather  should 
not  be  entirely  favourable.  Rhododendrons,  ct 
hoc  genus  omne,  will  go  into  new  quarters  in  October 
without  "  turning  a  hair,"  as  one  says  in  the 
vernacular.  After  a  wet  summer,  combined  with 
an  unusually  low  average  temperature,  the  ripening 
of  wood  generally  is  at  present  not  satisfactory, 
and  care  must  be  exercised  not  to  be  too  soon 
with  any  plant  that  is  not  thoroughly  mature. 
At  the  time  of  writing,  however,  the  weather 
has  taken  a  turn  for  the  better,  and  a  dry  spell 
with  a  bit  of  sunshine  and  a  drying  wind  will 
stop  the  flow  of  sap  as  effectively  as  anything. 

Intending  planters  will  have  an  opportunity 
of  securing  a  more  varied  and  better  class  of  stock 
this  coming  season  than  for  the  past  two  or  three 
years.  Nurseries  are  still  behind  with  stocks, 
more  particularly  in  the  purely  ornamental  stuff 
and  of  larger  sizes,  especially  in  properly  trans- 
planted condition  ;  but  if  care  is  used  in  selection 
a  good  general  all-round  lot  of  plants  is  available, 
and  now  that  there  are  signs  of  improvement 
in  trade,  and  presumably  there  is  some  ameliora- 
tion if  one  can  believe  the  papers,  it  is  to  be  hoped 
that  the  purely  ornamental  side  of  planting  may 
commence  again  in  real  earnest.  There  may  be 
in  the  present  planting  season  a  greater  demand 
than  can  be  filled  for  the  best  quahty  of  stock,  and 
that  to  my  mind  is  another  most  excellent  reason 
for  getting  well  ahead  with  prospective  work. 

Ground  preparation  should  be  very  thorough. 
It  is  no  good  doing  any  job  in  a  half-hearted 
fashion,  and  this  applies  to  planting  as  much  as 
to  anything.  Dung  or  other  manurial  dressing 
must  be  used  with  discrimination.  Some  plants, 
such  as  Yews  and  Hollies,  revel  in  coarse  feeding, 
while  others  would  be  killed  with  the  same 
treatment. 

Generally  speaking,  if  it  is  desirable  to  feed 
coniferous  plants,  it  is  best  to  mulch  on  the  surface 
after  the  trees  are  well  established,  with  ordinary 
stable  or  cow  manure  well  rotted.  I  think 
better  results  are  obtained  by  thorough  prepara- 
tion of  the  soil  in  regard  to  breaking  up  and 
trenching  than  by  the  use  of  artificial  stimulants. 
Most  trees  and  shrubs  will  grow  well  on  ground 
thoroughly  cultivated,  and  failure  can  very  often 
be  traced  to  the  want  of  proper  care  to  this  end. 

Planting  itself  must  be  done  carefully,  and 
one  should  ensure  that  the  roots  of  plants 
when  placed  in  position  have  room  for  proper 
expansion.  If  the  hole  in  which  a  plant  is  put 
is  too  small,  the  roots  are  thereby  restricted  and 
cramped.  The  depth  at  which  plants  should  be 
put  in  is  also  important.  If  too  deep,  root  action 
is  very  slow,  and  in  many  cases  I  have  found  trees 
and  shrubs  planted  so  deeply  that  no  fresh  root 
was  apparent  even   twelve  months  after.     If  too 


shallow,  the  young  fibres  become  exposed  to  sun 
and  wind  and  are  withered  up  as  soon  as  they 
appear.  Great  care  should  be  exercised  to  see 
that  all  trees  and  shrubs  are  firmly  trodden,  and 
in  the  case  of  larger  shrubs  and  all  trees  staking 
is  advisable  to  ensure  immobility. 

The  selection  of  suitable  shrubs  is  of  the  greatest 
importance.  The  choice  is  dependent  in  a  large 
measure  on  the  soil.  In  the  case  of  heavy  loam 
or  clay,  although  there  are  many  things  perfectly 
at  home  in  such  soils,  plants  of  the  Heath  family, 
including  Azaleas,  Rhododendrons,  Kalmias  and 
so  on,  do  not  succeed  unless  considerable  additions 
of  peat  or  leaf-mould  and  fibrous  material  are 
made.  Again,  on  chalk  or  Hmestone  the  whole 
of  this  family  should  be  discarded  and  only  such 
plants  as  are  truly  at  home  on  this  formation 
should  be  used.  The  variety  is  Umited,  but 
good  effects  can  be  made  even  with  limitations 
when  the  planting  scheme  embraces  what  is  likely 
to  succeed.  On  lighter  soils,  either  loamy  or  of 
a  peaty   nature.   Rhododendrons  and  their  family 


generally  can,  and  should  be,  used  extensively, 
and  fortunately  such  soils  will  carry  an  infinite 
variety  of  trees  and  shrubs  as  well. 

I  think  it  best  for  intending  planters  who  are 
not  speciahsts  to  ask  advice  of  any  of  the  leading 
nurserymen,  giving  an  idea  of  what  effect  is  required, 
the  space  to  be  filled,  and,  most  particularly, 
the  class  of  soil  that  has  to  be  dealt  with.  It  is 
not  always  easy  to  advise  by  letter,  and  if  anything 
like  extensive  planting  is  contemplated  it  is  always 
worth  while  to  get  the  advice  on  the  spot.  The 
best  nurserymen  can  be  said  to  be  good  plants- 
men,  and  it  is  always  to  their  credit  to  have 
successful  planting,  and  none,  as  far  as  I  am  aware, 
is  adverse  to  receiving  an  advertisement  by 
recommendation,  which  is  almost  certain  to  follow 
good  work. 

A  good  start  is  half  the  battle.  If  you  are 
going  to  plant,  make  up  your  mind  to  do  it  well. 
If  you  cannot  afford  a  lot,  be  satisfied  with  a  few  ; 
but  always  endeavour  to  plant  the  best  kinds, 
and  the  best  in  quality  as  well.  One  really  healthy, 
well  doing  plant  is  worth  many  in  bad  condition, 
and  once  "  bad  condition  "  prevails  in  a  garden  it 
is  difficult  to  stamp  it  out.     F.  Gomer  Waterer. 


THE    HARDIER    YUCCAS 


SEVER.AL  of  the  Yuccas  are  hardy  enough 
for  all  practical  gardening  purposes  in 
most  parts  of  this  country,  and  con- 
sidering how  easy  they  are  to  grow, 
it  is  surprising  that  more  use  is  not  made 
of  them,  for  they  are 
wonderfully  handsome 
both  in  flower  and  out  of 
flower.  The  best  species 
for  English  gardens  are 
Y.  filamentosa  and  Y. 
gloriosa  and  the  closely 
related  recurvifolia. 

Yucca  gloriosa,  the  true 
type  plant,  is  to  my 
mind  the  handsomest. 
It  forms  in  time  a  thick 
trunk  several  feet  high. 
There  used  to  be  ancient 
specimens  at  Sutton  Place 
taller  than  a  tall  man. 
The  leaves  are  quite  rigid 
and  straight,  and  each  is 
tipped  with  a  terrible 
needle  point.  For  this 
reason  it  is  rather  dan- 
gerous to  plant  it  in 
such  exposed  isolated 
positions  that  folk  might 
walk  into  it  in  the  dark 
or  where  romping  children 
might  collide  with  it.  In 
the  variety  recurvifolia 
the  leaves  take  a  slightly 
pendulous  curve.  To 
some  minds  this  adds 
grace  and  beauty  to  the 
plant.  Personally,  I  pre- 
fer the  magnificent  un- 
compromising rigidity  of 
the  type.  Y.  gloriosa 
may  be  used  with  splendid 
effect  in  association  with 
rather  formal  architec- 
tural features,  and  it  is  also 
effective  for  growing  with 
such  sub-tropical  plants  as 
the  hardy  Dracaena,  Red 
Hot  Pokers,  Eucalyptus, 
Antholyza   and    so   forth. 


Yucca  filamentosa,  if  less  magnificent  than 
gloriosa,  is  none  the  less  a  very  fine  plant.  If 
anything  it  is  hardier,  and  certainly  it  flowers 
very  much  more  freely.  An  established  clump  of 
Y.  filamentosa  happily  placed  may  be  relied  upon 


A    QUAINT    GROUPING. 


September  30,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


489 


to  flower  pretty  well  every  summer.  The  plant 
does  not  form  such  a  pronounced  trunk  as  gloriosa, 
but  it  makes  up  for  this  by  producing  numerous 
offsets  and  more  quickly  forming  a  spreading 
clump.  .-Vll  the  Yuccas  should  be  given  a  warm 
sunny  position,  a  light  rich  soil,  and  if  possible  a 
raised  position.  In  a  rock  garden  which  does  not 
pretend  to  be  alpine — how  few  do  nowadays — 
they  may  be  used  with  splendid  effect.  I  have 
never  seen  them  growing  w-ild,  nor  do  I  know 
what  positions  they  affect  in  the  wild  state,  but 
from  the  way  they  thrive  among  rocks  in  captivity, 
and  from  the  way  filamentosa,  especially,  looks 
happy  and  well  when  placed  in  a  setting  of 
simply  arranged  rocks,  I  have  a  suspicion  that 
such  is  the  sort  of  place  one  would  find  them 
in   at   home. 

The  specimen  in  the  illustration,  mainly  Y. 
recur\'ifolia  with  filamentosa  behind,  has  been 
established  on  a  little  rocky  knoll  in  very  light 


soil  for  some  eight  or  ten  years.  It  seldom  fails 
to  flower  and  this  year  ths  flower  spike  reached 
over  8ft.  above  ground  level.  In  the  foreground 
is  a  grove  of  aged  specimens  of  that  best  of  all 
dwarf  conifers,  Juniperus  hibernica  compressa, 
and  in  the  centre  of  this  impressive  and  very 
suggestive  piece  of  grouping  an  early  marble 
Buddha  broods  inscrutably  over  the  scene.  This 
Uttle  garden  picture  was  not  deliberately  planned. 
Its  features  drifted  together  from  time  to  time 
under  the  tactful  whim  of  its  owner.  From  a 
strictly  critical  point  of  view  it  is,  I  suppose,  all 
wrong.  Buddha  should  have  had  an  Indian 
setting,  and  the  Yucca  comes  from  North  .\merica. 
The  Juniper's  name  suggests  Irish  origin,  while 
the  stream  of  rounded  pebbles  may  quite  well 
have  come  from  Brighton  beach.  Yet  whenever 
I  visit  this  garden  it  is  a  pleasure  to  look  at  that 
queer  individual  little  piece  of  grouping. 

Stevenage'.  Cl.\kence  Elliott. 


SOME    THOUGHTS    ON    ROCK    GARDEN 

PRACTICE 


THE  rock  garden  of  to-day  has  slowly, 
if  surely,  evolved  from  the  rockery 
which  was  so  objectionable  a  feature 
of  "  \'illa  "  gardens  fifty  years  ago.  The 
main  essential  of  the  present-day  rock 
garden  is  that  it  should  suit  its  environment. 
For  this  reason  it  takes,  in  different  gardens,  widely 
different  forms.  There  is,  for  example,  the  rock 
garden  built  against  a  cliff  or  steep  bank.  Broken 
up  and  diversified  as  such  a  garden  may  be,  it 
"ill  remain  none  the  less  a  stone-dressed  bank, 
-•^gain,  there  is  the  garden  formed  in  a  natural 
or  artificial  fissure — perhaps  the  most  natural 
and  easily  constructed  of  all — and  the  garden 
built  in  a  disused  quarry  or  gravel  pit  which  is 
of  the  type  first  mentioned  multiplied  by  four 
with  some  additional  work  in  the  enclosed  space 
Beyond  and  to  some  extent  apart  from  all  these 
is  the  rock  garden  in  a  slight  depression  or  con- 
cavity, often  artificially  fonned  and  consisting 
for  the  most  part  of  turf,  but  with  ledges  of  rock 
and  suitable  planting  apparently  scattered  at 
haphazard  but  yet  assembled  with  a  master's 
hand  to  give  the  maximum  of  pictorial  effect. 
Quite  distinct,  again,  is  the  "  moorland "  type 
of  garden  so  well  exhibited  by  Mr.  John  Wood 
and  others  at  the  annual  Chelsea  Shows. 

Xow  these  few  notes  are  not  written  to  discuss 
the  merits  of  the  various  styles,  except  that  it 
is  well  to  mention  that  the  moorland  effect,  though 
beautiful  in  itself,  is  not  calculated  happily  to 
accommodate  a  collection  of  choice  alpines.  The 
few  notes  are  written  by  one  who  has  to  some 
extent  bought  his  experience  to  suggest  a  few 
considerations  which  should  be  taken  into  account 
when  laying  out  a  new  rock  garden.  To  avoid 
the  drip  of  trees  is  a  commonplace,  but  one  that 
will  bear  repetition.  The  shade  of  trees,  if  not 
heavy  and  if,  cast  from  the  east,  is  beneficial  rather 
than  otherwise.  It  gives  spring  frosts  a  chance 
to  dissipate  before  the  sun's  rays  strike  upon 
and  damage  delicate  blossoms,  and  the  trees 
themselves  help  to  keep  at  bay  those  shrivelUng 
winds  which  dry  up  the  tissues  of  the  hardiest 
plants  and  play  sad  havoc  with  alpines  coming 
from  a  cHmate  where  the  air  (as  they  meet  it) 
is  always  charged  with  moisture. 

A  point,  too,  often  overlooked  in  the  search 
for  a  suitable  location  is  the  general  lie  of  the 
garden.  For  practical  as  well  as  aesthetic  reasons 
a  rock  garden  should  be  much  longer  than  wide, 
and  the  general  direction  of  its  length  should  be 


north  and  south,  so  that  by  far  the  majority  of 
aspects  provided  will  be  more  or  less  east  or  west. 
South-east  or  south-west  will  suit  encrusted  and 


.'\nemone  neinorosa.  Of  these  last  the  most 
beautiful  variety  is  probably  the  jewel-like 
Robinsoniana,  but  the  pure  white  wilding  as 
generally  seen  is  choice  enough  for  any  rock 
garden. 

The  writer  has  in  mind  an  accidental  planting 
which  has  given  an  immense  amount  of  pleasure. 
A  number  of  varieties  of  hardy  Heaths  were  grouped 
more  or  less  naturally  in  front  of  heavier  planting. 
The  Heaths  were  in  groups  of  a  kind,  but  not  as 
boldly  grouped  as  they  would  be  were  the  writer 
carrying  out  the  work  now.  Rough  leaf-mould 
was  collected  for  them  from  a  neighbouring  wood 
containing  Bluebell  bulbs  and  the  twig-like 
rhizomes  of  Wood  .\nemones.  Both  Bluebells 
and  .\nemones  established  themselves,  and  very 
pretty  they  were  among  the  Heaths,  but  as  the 
background  (mainly  Rose  species  with  some  trees 
of  .A.cer  Schwedlerii)  threw  heavier  shade,  the 
Heaths  became  more  straggly  and  at  length  were 
rooted  out.  Now  after  a  number  of  years  the 
shade  is  quite  heavy,  but  each  spring  brings  the 
myriad  silver  chalices  of  the  .\nemone  with  their 
gilded  interiors  followed  after  a  short  interval 
by  the  glorious  blue  of  our  native  Scilla.  No 
picture  in  that  garden  is  more  valued — and  the 
garden  is  of  some  size  and  contains  many  rare 
plants  and,  more  important,  many  pictures — 
than  either  of  the  two  mentioned. 

Planting  in  the  rock  garden  is  still  not  boldly 
enough     conceived.     One     still     sees     Ramondias 


A    GEM    FOR    THE    SHADY    ROCK    GARDEN,    THE    BLUSH    PINK    SHORTIA    UNIFLORA. 


tufted  Saxifrages,  alpine  Phlo.xes,  Aubrietias  and 
the  generality  of  alpine  plants,  whether  bright 
but  common  or  jewel-like  and  rare.  Exposures 
practically  due  east  or  west  will  suit  Mossy 
Saxifrages  and  a  host  of  other  plants  to  which 
excess  of  sunlight  is  detrimental.  Northern, 
north-eastern  and  north-western  aspects  will 
accommodate  the  Ramondias  and  Haberleas 
(planted  sideways  in  almost  perpendicular  cliffs), 
hardy  Cyclamens,  Dog's  Tooth  Violets  (both  the 
European  form,  which  is  properly  so  called,  and 
the  American  Erythroniums  now  grouped  with 
them),  the  Hepaticas,  including  the  similar  but 
larger   Anemone   angulosa   and   Wood   .-Anemones, 


in  clumps  of  one  and  two.  In  their  homeland 
(the  Pyrenees)  these  beautiful  plants  form  dense 
mats  on  the  north  side  of  wet  rocks,  usually  under 
the  shade  of  trees.  If  they  are  worth  growing  at 
all,  they  are  surely  worth  growing  to  produce  this 
effect.  So  with  the  Erythroniums.  In  their 
homelands  these  are  carpeting  plants.  Effective 
as  is  a  clump  of,  say,  half  a  dozen,  a  much  freer 
grouping  is  more  than  proportionately  effective. 
.As  the  bulbs  of  some  species  and  xarieties  are 
rather  scarce,  it  is  fortunate  that,  once  established, 
they  increase  themselves  freely  from  self-sown 
seed,  always,  of  course,  provided  that  the  lady 
of    the    house   does  not   cut   the  blossoms 


490 


THE     GARDEN. 


[Septejiber  30,  1922. 


A     HALL     or     ROSES 


Being   Notes   on   the   National  Rose   Society's   Great   Autumn    Show. 


THE  National  Rose  Society  is  faced  with 
a  serious  problem.  It  was  abundantly, 
and  we  may  add  uncomfortably,  clear 
on  September  21  that  the  hall  at  Vincent 
Square  is  quite  inadequate  for  the  needs 
of  their  Autumn  Rose  Show.  This  is  one  of  the 
penalties  of  the  Society's  great  and  increasing 
success.  The  difficulty  is  to  discover  a  hall  which 
is  at  one  and  the  same  time  suitable  for  displaying 
the  enormous  quantities  of  glorious  Roses  the 
members  grow  and  show  and  of  providing  means 
for  a  great  concourse  to  view  them.  Very  large 
halls  are  to  be  had  in  and  around  the  metropolis, 
but  these  are  too  large  and  they  are  otherwise 
not  quite  suitable.     What  is  required  is   a  large 


every  way,  a  great  Show,  a  Show  which  no  other 
country  could  equal.  There  were  countless  numbers 
of  most  beautiful  Roses  and  these  were  displayed 
in  almost  every  possible  way,  so  that  the  visitor 
who  did  not  go  away  satisfied,  so  far  as  the  Roses 
were  concerned  must,  indeed,  be  difficult  to  please. 
The  only  criticism  we  are  inclined  to  offer  with 
regard  to  the  arrangement  of  the  exhibits,  is  in 
connexion  with  the  great  trade  displays.  This 
is  that  there  seems  just  a  possibiUty  of  the  exhibitors 
becoming  stereotyped  in  their  methods.  It  may, 
perhaps,  be  due  to  the  exigencies  of  space,  but  we 
remember  that  the  same  thing  obtained  at  the 
great  Summer  Show  in  Regent's  Park.  We  have 
no  doubt  that  many  visitors  would  like  to  see  some 


WONDERFULLY    FRAGRANT,    ROSE    ARTHUR    COOK. 


but  not  too  large  hall  with  good  lighting.  The 
discovery  of  this  is,  of  course,  the  National  Rose 
Society's  problem.  Our  present  concern  is  to  do 
iustice  to  the  magnificent  show  of  autumn  Roses  in 
the  limited  space  at  disposal. 

Several  enthusiastic  supporters  of  the  N.R.S., 
and  whose  opinions  carry  great  weight  in  the  horti- 
cultural world,  remarked  to  us  that  the  Show  under 
notice  was  quite  the  finest  of  autumn  Roses,  and 
after  dispassionately  reviewing  its  predecessors, 
we  are  in   full  agreement   with   this.     It  was,  in 


attempt,  at  least,  to  depict  the  rose  garden  of  our 
dreams — the  rose  garden  which  we  all  hope,  but 
do  not  expect,  to  see.  It  is  a  garden  of  Roses 
which  is  at  once  elegant  and  beautiful  and  har- 
monious, a  garden  where  the  colours  blend  so 
perfectly  that  it  would  almost  be  sacrilege  to  cut 
even  one  single  bloom,  yet  would  tempt  one 
irresistibly.  We  are  fully  aware  that  the  nursery- 
man's object  is  to  display  his  Roses  so  that  they 
at  once  catch  the  visitor's  eye,  compel  admiration 
and  stimulate  his  desire  for  possession.     This  is 


the  way  orders  come.  We  feel  that  the  object 
would  be  attained,  even  in  a  greater  degree,  were 
it  possible  to  display  the  collections  more  naturally. 

However,  the  magnificent  groups  of  cut  Roses 
were  worthy  of  unstinted  admiration  and  the  flower- 
loving  public  owe  an  immense  debt  of  gratitude 
to  the  trade  for  making  such  gorgeous  displays. 

These  great  representative  groups  of  cut 
Roses  were  decidedly  the  feature  of  the  Show, 
and  the  first  prize  in  the  largest  class  fell  to  Mr 
Elisha  J.  Hicks  for  a  superb  collection.  His 
arches  of  such  varieties  as  Joanna  Bridge  and 
Ophelia  were  very  fascinating,  as  also  were  the 
generous  stands  of  the  fragrant  Hoosier  Beauty, 
Golden  Ophelia,  CUmbing  Lady  Hillingdon  and 
many  other  sorts.  In  their  second  prize  group 
Messrs.  Bees,  Limited,  had  a  great  display  of  the 
showy  Independence  Day  and  the  deUghtful  single 
Isobel,  a  variety  which  might  well  be  termed  the 
Rose  of  the  Show,  for  it  was  to  be  seen  in  great 
beauty  a  nmnber  of  times.  The  brilUant  colour 
of  the  Queen  Alexandra  Rose  was  freely  com- 
mented upon  in  this  collection.  In  their  third 
prize  exhibit  Messrs.  Chaplin  Brothers  had  tall 
stands  of  splendid  blooms  of  Golden  Emblem, 
Lady  Pirrie,  Isobel  and  Red  Letter  Day.  Messrs. 
Waterer,  Sons  and  Crisp  were  fourth  with  a  very 
creditable  display.  The  beautiful  white  single 
Innocence  was  to  be  seen  in  superb  form  An 
extra  prize  was  awarded  to  Messrs.  Alex.  Dickson 
and  Sons.  In  these  groups  there  were  also  many 
very  beautiful  Roses,  especially  the  vases  of  such 
recent  novelties  as  Betty  Uprichard,  Lady 
Inchiquin  and  Mrs.  Henry  Morse. 

In  the  smaller,  but  still  large  groups,  the  same 
high  standard  was  maintained.  Mr.  George  Prince 
was  first  with  a  charming  display  in  which  he 
disposed  very  artistically  vases  of  such  sorts  as 
Padre,  Isobel,  Souvenir  de  Claudius  Pernet  and 
Ciolden  Ophelia.  Messrs.  A.  J.  and  J.  Allen,  who 
were  second,  included  Isobel,  Los  Angeles  and 
Lady  Pirrie,  but  this  collection  was  not  so  fuUy 
representative  as  the  others.  Messrs.  S  McGredy 
and  Sons  were  third  and  Mr.  T.  B.  Edward  was 
awarded  a  fourth  prize. 

The  Exhibition  Roses  on  boards  were  of  decidedly 
better  quality  than  might  have  been  expected, 
in  view  of  the  cold,  wet  weather  of  late.  But  it 
was  chiefly  in  the  classes  for  Teas  and  Noisette 
Roses  that  any  signs  of  weather  stained  petals 
were  to  be  seen.  In  the  large  class  for  twenty-four 
distinct  varieties  the  competition  was  very  keen. 
Messrs.  Alex.  Dickson  and  Sons,  carried  off  chief 
honours  with  an  enviable  collection  which  included 
in  Annie  Crawford,  the  silver  medal  bloom  of  the 
Open  classes,  Mrs.  C.  Lamplough,  Edgar  M.  Bur- 
nett, Nelly  Bligh,  Florence  Forrestier,  Edward 
Bohane  and  Margaret  M.  Bulkeley,  were  also 
admirable.  Messrs.  Hugh  Dickson  were  second 
and  their  best  blooms  were  Earl  Haig,  Hugh 
Dickson,  George  Dickson,  Caroline  Testout  and 
Alex.  Emslie.  Messrs.  B.  R.  Cant  and  Sons  were 
third. 

The  eighteen  distinct  varieties  which  won  first 
prize  for  Mr.  George  Prince  were  also  admirable 
in  every  way.  The  very  best  were  Earl  Haig, 
George  Dickson  and  Augustus  Hartmann.  Mr. 
Geo.  W.  Burch  was  second.  Mr.  Prince  was  also 
the  most  successful  exhibitor  of  tweh'e  varieties 
of  Tea  and  Noisette  Roses,  where  he  staged  Lady 
Plymouth  and  Mme.  C.  Soupert. 

The  baskets  of  Roses  are  always  a  great  feature 
of  the  Rose  Shows,  and  the  present  occasion  was 
no  exception  to  the  rule.     The  best  three  baskets 


September  30,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


491 


of  exhibition  varieties  by  Messrs.  Hugh  Dicl<son, 
Limited,  were  splendid  masses  of  W.  C.  Wallace, 
Marjorie  M.  Bulkeley  and  Gorgeous.  Messrs.  S. 
McGredy  and  Son  were  a  good  second  and  their 
basket  of  Una  Wallace  was  superb.  Messrs. 
ChapUn  Brothers  have  been  consistently  successful 
of  late  with  baskets  of  Decorative  Roses  and  their 
first  prize  five  baskets  were  very  beautiful.  Messrs. 
Alex.  Dickson  and  Sons  were  second  and  later  in 
the  day  their  baskets  of  Mrs.  Wemyss  Quinn, 
K.  of  K.,  Lady  Inchiquin  and  Betty  Uprichard 
were  magnificent.  Mr.  G.  Lilley's  three  baskets 
were  Miss  May  Marriott,  Mme.  Abel  Chatenay  and 
OpheUa,  while  the  three  best  baskets  of  Dwarf 
Polyanthas  w'ere  of  Orleans,  Nurse  Cavell  and  Coral 
Cluster  shown  by  Mr.  George  Prince. 

The  twenty-four  vases  of  Decorative  Roses  were 
highly  creditable.  Mr.  G.  Mattock  w-as  first,  shewing 
Hadley,  Isobel,  Padre,  Golden  Emblem  and  other 
sorts.  Messrs.  F.  Cant  and  Co.,  who  were  second, 
had  splendid  vases  of  Los  Angeles,  Red  Cross  and 
Golden  Emblem.  In  the  class  for  twelve  vases, 
Messrs.  Chaplin  Brothers  excelled  with  such  sorts 
as  Lady  Pirrie,  K.  of  K.,  Ophelia  and  Padre.  In 
the  second  prize  stand  by  Messrs.  F.  Spooner  and 
Sons,  there  were  glowing  vases  of  Flame  of  Fire 
and  K.  of  K. 


NEW    ROSES. 

Florence  L.  Izzard. — This  Hybrid  Tea  Rose 
had  a  certificate  of  merit  at  the  autumn  show- 
last  year,  when  it  was  called  Florence  M.  Izzard. 
It  now  received  the  highest  award.  It  is  of 
medium  size,  and  its  rich  yellow  colouring  makes 
it  eminently  suitable  for  massing.  The  buds 
and  half-opened  flowers  are  very  pretty,  but 
the  fully  expanded  blooms  are  not  so  good.  The 
deep  green,  shining  fohage  suggests  Pernetiana 
parentage.  This  exceptionally  promising  Rose 
was  illustrated  in  The  Garden,  for  October  2, 
192 1.  Gold  medal  to  Messrs.  S.  McGredy  and 
Sons. 

Arthur  Cook. — A  deliciously  fragrant,  fully 
double  Hybrid  Tea  Rose  of  rich  velvety  cnmson 
colouring  that  occasionally  takes  on  a  purple  tone. 
It  is  of  medium  size,  very  shapely  in  the  bud, 
and  of  rather  flatfish  shape  when  fully  open.  The 
foliage  is  clean  and  good.  Certificate  of  merit 
to  Messrs.  S.  McGredy  and  Sons. 

Mrs.  G.  Heath. — Although  recommended  tor 
various  purposes,  this  is  essentially  a  garden 
Rose.  It  suggests  Independence  Day  in  form 
and  habit  and,  Uke  that  variety,  appears  to  be 
exceptionally  free  flowering.  It  is  heavily  shaded 
with  apricot,  and  when  fully  open  becomes  a 
beautiful  soft  yellow  shade.  Certificate  of  merit 
to  Messrs.  S.  McGredy  and  Sons. 

Nur  Mahal. — .^  Hybrid  Musk  Rose  of  most 
fascinating  fragrance.  Its  habit  is  described 
as  a  spreading  bush,  and  it  is  evidently  very 
free  flowering,  as  there  were  plenty  of  semi-double 
flowers  on  the  branching  sprays.  The  blooms 
are  about  3ins.  across,  of  rosy  crimson  colour, 
with  a  small  cluster  of  bright  golden  stamens 
surrounded  by  an  irregular,  narrow,  white 
zone.  Certificate  of  merit  to  the  Rev.  J.  H- 
Peraberton. 

Westfield  Star.— A  fuUy  double  Hybrid  Tea  Rose 
of  medium  size  and  described  as  a  Polyantha 
seedling.  It  is  recommended  for  bedding  and 
for  forcing.  It  is  of  milk  white  colour  with  pale 
yellow  in  the  heart.  The  flowers  are  very  shapely 
and  apparently  are  freely  produced.  Certificate 
of  merit  to  Messrs.  Henry  Morse  and  Sons. 

Vesuvius. — In  form  this  single  Hybrid  Tea 
Rose  was  decidedly  the  most  uncommon  novelty 
of  the  year,  and  no  doubt  suggested  the  name. 
It  may  be  described  as  being  vase  or  goblet  shaped, 
just  over  2ins.  across,  with  the  edges  of  the  petals 


ROSE    INNOCENCE    IN    EXCELLENT    FORM. 


NEW    HYBRID    MUSK    NUR    MAHAL. 


recurved  and  of  bright  velvety  crimson  colour. 
It  seems  to  be  very  free  flowering.  Certificate 
of  merit  to  Messrs.  S.  McGredy  and  Sons. 

Besides  the  above,  which  received  awards, 
there  were  others  of  more  than  average  merit. 
Messrs.  Bees,  Limited,  again  brought  up  their  charm- 
ing variety  Ariel,  and  the  dark  variety  Macbeth 
of  pleasing  fragrance  ;  Firefly,  a  bright  velvety 
crimson  Hybrid  Tea  Rose  of  flatfish  shape  ;  and 
Sybil,  which  is  of  Mme.  Butterfly  type.  The 
Adjutant,  a  fragrant  Rose  which  has  often  been 
seen  during  the  past  summer,  was  shewn.  Messrs. 
B.  R.  Cant  and  Sons  had  a  stand  of  Sovereign, 
a  rich  yellow  variety  which  received  a  certificate 
of  merit  at  the  summer  show,  but  it  was  not  in 
sufficiently  good  condition  to  warrant  the  higher 
award.  Climbing  Mme.  Edouard  Herriot,  raised 
by  Ketten  Freres  of  Luxembourg  is  not,  as  shewn, 
equal  to  the  bush  form.  The  flowers  were  poor 
in  colour  and  shape.  Messrs.  S.  McGredy  and 
Sons  had,  in  addition  to  those  that  received  awards, 
three  good  varieties.  Herald  is  a  dehciously 
fragrant  deep  velvety  claret-maroon  Hybrid  Tea 
Rose.  The  colour  may  be  a  trifle  difficult,  but 
if  only  for  its  fragrance  Herald  is  well  worth  grow- 
ing, and  it  is  very  shapely  in  the  bud  and  when 
half-opened.  Doris  Trayler  is  a  showy  orange 
yellow  shaded  Hybrid  Tea  Rose  which  when 
fully  expanded  is  pale  golden.  Albert  E.  Amos 
is  a  very  fragrant  H.T.  variety  of  smoky  crimson 
colour,  but  somewhat  lacking  in  form. 


THE    DEEP    CRIMSON    VESUVIUS. 


THE     AMATEURS'     CLASSES. 

While  the  exhibition  blooms  in  this  section  were 
not  quite  equal  to  those  in  the  Open  classes,  many 
reached  a  high  standard  of  excellence.  Mr.  G. 
Speight,  Market  Harborough,  who  was  first  with 
twelve  distinct  varieties,  shewed  fine  blooms  of 
George  Dickson,  which  was  the  silver  medal 
bloom  of  the  section,  E.  Benett  and  Mrs.  C. 
Lamplough.  Mr.  F.  H.  Fieldgate,  Colchester,  was 
a  very  good  second,  and  was  first  with  nine  distinct 
blooms,  where  he  had  beautiful  examples  of 
Colcestrie,  Augustus  Hartmann  and  Florence 
Forrestier.  R.  de  V.  Pryor,  Hitchin,  shewed  the 
best  six  distinct  varieties  and  Mr.  J.  T.  Owen  was 
the  most  successful  exhibitor  in  the  class  for  growers 
within  ten  miles  of  Charing  Cross.  Tea  Roses 
were  well  shewn  by  Mr.  W.  G.  Bambridge. 
I  The  Decorative  Roses  were  very  popular  with 
exhibitors  and  the  judges  must  have  experienced 
considerable  difficulty  in  making  the  awards, 
though  Mr.  G.  A.  Hammond  had  a  very  beautiful 
collection  of  Golden  Emblem,  Irish  Fireflame, 
Mrs.  Redford  and  similar  varieties.  Mr.  A. 
Epiffeth,  Finchley,  had  a  beautiful  basket  of 
Opheha. 

In  the  Artistic  Sections  the  competition  was 
equally  good.  As  a  Rose  lor  dinner-table  decora- 
tion it  was  decidedly  the  day  of  Mme.  Butterfly,  as 
this  variety  was  used  both  by  Mrs.  A.  Bire  and 
Mrs.  Courtney  Page,  who  won  the  two  first  prizes 
and  both  were  exceedingly  artistic  arrangements. 
In  the  amateurs'  class  Mrs.  Oakley  Fisher  had  a 
brilhant  table  of  Isobel  and,  although  unplaced, 
Mrs.  Barton  just  missed  having  a  very  charming 
table  of  Emma  Wright  and  Mrs.  Oakley  Fisher 
Roses.  The  disposition  and  blending  of  these 
two  Roses  were  admirable,  but  the  growths 
of  Rosa  sericea  pteracantha,  though  very 
beautiful  in  their  rich  colour,  were  too  stiff 
and   overpowering. 

The  many  bowls  of  Roses  were  a  pleasant 
feature  and  Mrs.  May  in  the  Open  classes  and 
Mrs.  C.  Geddens  and  Miss  James  are  to  be 
congratulated  on  the  taste  they  displayed, 
while  Mrs.  Charlton  had  a  beautiful  vase  of 
Mme     Butterfly. 


492 


THE     GARDEN. 


[September  30,  1922. 


DAHLIAS    AND    HARDY    FLOWERS    AT 
VINCENT    SQUARE 


WHILE  many  gardeners  in  the 
Home  Counties  have  had  their 
Dahlias  blackened  by  recent  frosts, 
it  was  evident  from  the  display 
at  Vincent  Square  on  Septem- 
ber 19th  that  this  experience  is  not  general 
throughout  the  country.  There  were  gold  medal 
collections  by  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones  and  Messrs.  Dobbie 
and  Co.,  and  both  exhibitors,  in  quite  distinct 
styles,   had   very    attractive    displays.     Although 


quite  a  number  of  people'admire'the  regularity 
of  the  exhibition  Cactus  varieties,  it  was  abundantly 
clear  from  the  visitors  on  the  present  occasion 
as  well  as  at  the  recent  show  of  the  National  Dahlia 
Society  that  the  popular  taste  lies  much  more 
towards  the  Decorative  types,  which  bear  plenty  of 
flowers  on  stout  stems  sufficiently  large  to  carry 
the  blooms  well  above  the  foliage  and,  what  is 
even  more  important,  of  a  length  which  permit 
their  being  arranged  in  vases.     In  this  respect  it 


A    NEW    CAMPANULACEOUS    PLANT,    CODONOPSIS    TIBETICA. 


THE    GLORIOUS    SOFT    BLUE    TRUMPETS    OF    GENTIANA    FARRERI. 


was  interesting  to  find  that  the  whole  of  the- 
flowers  in  Mr.  Jones'  large  exhibit  were  free  from 
any  support.  The  many  Collarette  varieties,, 
which  predominated  in  the  Edinburgh  exhibit, 
were  also  self-supporting. 

The  small  Decorative  and  P.-eony-flowered 
blooms  in  the  collections  by  Mr.  J.  T.  West  and 
.Messrs.  Burrell  and  Co.  were  especially  graceful 
and  of  beautiful  colour  tones,  while  the  dainty 
Pompons  and  the  beautifully  regular  Singles 
were  particularly  well  represented  in  the  exhibit 
by  Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and  Sons,  who  also  had  many 
vases  of  the  popular  Star  DahUas. 

Of  the  general  floral  exhibits  a  deal  of  interest 
was  centred  in  the  large  collection  of  China  .Asters- 
which  Messrs.  Sutton  and  Sons  set  up.  This  was 
quite  an  imposing  display,  and  shewed  what  a 
number  of  different  types  of  .\sters  we  may  choose 
from.  The  sinensis  varieties  are  particularly  ele- 
gant, while  for  depth  of  colour  it  was  such  double- 
flowered  varieties  as  Scarlet  .Mammoth  and  Blood 
Red  that  took  the  eye. 

The  brilliant  Kniphofias  were  displayed  by  several 
firms,  though  the  finest  were  in  a  collection  of 
border  plants  by  Mr.  G.  W.  Miller,  who  had  splendid 
spikes  of  Lord  Roberts,  cambridgensis  and  nobilis, 
and  also  the  queer  greenish-yellow  Star  of  Baden- 
Baden.  The  hybrid  Lobelias  which  Messrs.  B. 
Ladhams,  Limited,  have  shewn  on  several  recent 
occasions,  again  found  many  admirers.  The  tall 
stems  of  such  sorts  as  carmineus,  a  delightful  shade 
of  pink ;  Princess,  rosy  pink ;  Shirley  Beauty, 
rich  mulberry  crimson ;  and  Salmonea,  clear 
salmon  pink,  to  name  only  a  few,  are  very  valuable, 
especially  as  they  continue  in  flower  for  such  a 
long  time. 

Michaelmas  Daisies  were  also  of  considerable 
attraction.  Mr.  Ernest  Ballard  had  a  collection 
of  his  novelties  which  fascinated  many  visitors. 
Little  Boy  Blue  is  a  very  dwarf  variety  that  be- 
comes smothered  with  semi-double  dark  blue 
flowers.  Anita  Ballard,  which  received  an  award 
of  merit  after  trial  at  Wisley  two  years  ago,  is  a 
beautiful  soft  shade  of  blue.  Bee's  Pink  is  the 
pinkest  of  the  early  pink  coloured  sorts.  Very  good 
pink  colour  was  also  provided  by  the  flowers  of 
the  hybrid  Cordebelgii,  which,  as  its  name  sugge^s, 
was  raised  from  Asters  cordifoUus  and  Novi-Belgii. 
Messrs.  Isaac  House  and  Son  continue  to  shew 
large  quantities  of  their  graceful  Scabiosa  caucasica 
varieties.  Mr.  W.  Wells,  in  addition  to  a  new 
Gentian,  had  some  good  pans  of  Gentiana  Farreri, 
and  he  also  had  many  border  flowers.  Some 
immense  Mimulus  in  beautiful  colours,  and  an 
admirable  strain  of  .Antirrhinums,  were  staged  by 
the  Chalk  Hill  Nursery  Company. 

Shrubs  were  not  very  numerous,  but  Messrs. 
L.  R.  Russefl,  Limited,  had  a  good  collection  of 
Clematis  flowering  in  quite  small  pots,  and  Messrs. 
J.  Cheal  and  Sons  shewed  fruiting  and  flowering 
shrubs.  Indigofera  decora,  Colvolvulus  Cneorum 
and  Dabcccia  polifolia  were  very  pretty. 

Greenhouse  Carnations  are  always  in  season, 
and  besides  a  good  collection  Messrs.  .-^llwood 
Brothers  had  many  plants  of  their  useful  Dianthus 
.Allwoodii.  Mr.  C.  Engelmann  and  Messrs.  Stuart 
Low  and  Co.  also  shewed  good  blooms  of  Carna- 
tions. Messrs,  Blackmore  and  Langdon  arranged 
single  blooms  of  their  magnificent  tuberous  rooted 
Begonias. 

In  the  .Annexe  Messrs.  T.  Rivers  and  Son  arranged 
a  collection  of  splendid  pot  Plums.  The  standard 
trees  were  all  heavily  laden  with  large  fruits 
which  bore  a  beautiful  bloom.  The  chief  varieties 
were  Coe's  Golden  Drop,  Coe's  Violet,  River's 
Late  Orange  and  President.  A  goodly  collection 
of  .Apples  and  Pears  was  staged  by  Messrs.  D. 
Prior  and  Son  of  Rose  fame.  Among  the  Apples 
were  Worcester  Pearmain,  Cox's  Orange,  Duchess's 
Favourite    and    Peasgood's    Nonsuch ;     while    the 


September  30,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


493 


ripe  Pears  included  excellent  dishes  of  Souvenir 
de  Congres,  Williams's  Bon  Chretien  and  Mar- 
guerite Marillat. 

The  only  exhibit  of  vegetables  was  a  really 
praiseworthy  collection  of  nearly  all  seasonable 
kinds  with  saladings  from  the  Church  Army 
Garden.  These  vegetables  were  grown  on  a  piece 
of  ground  adjoining  Vaux- 
hall  Bridge  Road,  not  far 
from  the  hall. 


shade  of  colour  which  becomes  deeper  with  age. 
It  is  quite  a  decorative  variety.  Shewn  by  Messrs. 
J.  Cheal  and  Sons. 


The 
many 


XEW     D.\HLT.\S. 

Joint     Dahlia     Committee    had    a    great 
new    varieties    before     them,     and     they 


XEW    .AXD   R.AKE 

PL.\XTS. 
Aster  Queen  of  Colwall. 

— This  is  one  of  the 
largest  Michaelmas  Daisies 
in  cultivation.  The  semi- 
double  flowers  have  plenty 
of  narrow  lavender  blue 
florets  set  on  long, 
straight,  slender  stems,  so 
that,  in  addition  to  being 
very  effective  in  the  garden 
it  is  eminently  adapted 
for  house  decoration. 
.Award  of  merit  to  .Mr, 
Ernest  Ballard. 

Begonia      Boundii.  — 

This  is  a  very  uncommon 
Begonia,  somewhat  of  B. 
gracilis  (syn.  B.  Martianal 
habit,  but  the  glossy  half- 
heart-shaped  leaves  are 
perfectly  glabrous.  The 
fleshy  stems  become  2ft. 
and  more  in  height.  They 
have  smaller  leaves  freely 
scattered  along  them,  and 
in  the  axils  of  these  are 
set  somewhat  chalice- 
shaped,  soft  pink  flowers 
about  ijins.  across.  It 
might  almost  be  named 
the  Balsam  Begonia,  as 
the  flotver  stems  suggest 
a  Balsam.  [Mr.  Bound 
told  us  the  plants  have 
white  tubers,  and  while  he 
had  had  it  in  his  possession 
for  ten  years  he  could  not 
state  its  origin.  Shewn  by 
Messrs.  \V.  P.  Bound 
and  Son. 

Calluna  vulgaris  fl.  pi. 

A  compact,  free-fiowering  little  bush  bearing 
double  flowers  of  a  darker  shade  of  pink  than 
usual  was  shewn  by  Messrs.  T.  R.  Hayes,  Limited. 

Codonopsis  tibetica. — The  plant  which  was  on 
show  had  borne  several  of  the  interesting  cam- 
panula-hke  flowers,  but  only  three  were  open.  It 
is  a  slender  climber,  and  the  sky  blue  five-pet  ailed 
flower  is  lined  with  a  deeper  tone.  An  accompany- 
ing note  stated  that  it  was  raised  from  seed  collected 
by  Mr.  G.  Forrest,  and  that  the  plant  had  stood 
out  of  doors  last  winter,  .\ward  of  merit  to  Mr. 
A.  K.  BuUey. 

Gentiana  Kurroo. — .A  handsome  Himalayan 
species  which  was  introduced  in  1879.  It  forms  a 
neat  rosette  of  coriaceous  oblong-Unear  leaves, 
and  the  long-tubed  azure  blue  flowers  are  borne 
on  semi-prostate  stems.  Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  W. 
Wells. 

Pyrus  Malus  transitoria. — One  of  Wilson's 
introductions.  It  appears  to  form  a  slender, 
graceful  Uttle  tree.  The  irregularly  serrated  leaves 
are  only  a  couple  of  inches  or  so  long,  and  there 
are  small,  roundish,  shining  red  fruits.  Shewn  by 
.Mr.  C.  J.  Lucas. 

Rhus  Cotinus  atropurpurea. — The  young  leaves 
of  this  purple  Venetian  Siunach  are  of  a  bright 


ASTER    QUEEN    OF    COLWALL. 

With  a  flower  of  the  large  A.  Amelhts  King  George  to  shew 
comparative  size. 


selected  the  following  sorts  for  trial  at  Wisley 
next  year. 

Cameo. — .\  large  yellow  Collarette  of  yellow 
colour  flushed  with  carmine  in  the  middle  of 
the  petals. 

Cavalier. — .A.  large  Decorative  variety  of  dull 
crimson  colour  tipped  with  white. 

Doris  Tisdale. — This  is  an  exhibition  Cactus 
Dahlia  with  broad  recurved  petals.  The  yellow 
colour  is  heavily  stippled  with  dull  rose. 

Primrose. — .\  primrose  yellow  Collarette  with 
nearly  white  quills.  The  above  were  shewn  by 
Messrs.  J.  Stredwick  and  Son. 

Betty. — A  delightful  miniature  Psony-flowered 
variety  of  lilac  shades. 

Leonie. — The  mauve  colour  of  this  miniature 
P«ony-flowered  bloom  is  heavily  stippled  with 
carmine  except  at  the  tips. 

Peach. — -A  silvery  mauve  miniature  Pa;ony- 
flowered  variety  lightly  edged  with  carmine. 

Princess. — .\  golden  buff  miniature  Pa?ony- 
flowered  variety  flushed  with  rose  pink,  especially 
on  the  outer  half  of  the  petals. 

Raider. — -A  miniature  Decorative  bloom  of 
soft  terra-cotta  shade  with  a  suggestion  of  purple 
in  the  centre. 


Tipsy. — .Another  miniature  Decorative  bloom 
of  rich  scarlet  colour  rather  darker  in  the  centre. 
This  and  the  five  previous  varieties  were  shewn 
by  Messrs.  J.  Burrell  and  Co. 

Crawley  Beauty. — .A  Parisian  single  of  large  size 
and  velvety  maroon  colour  edged  with  crimson. 

Lady  Hurst. — .A  bright  rosy  mauve  Star  Dahlia 
which  has  a  yellow  centre. 

Mrs.  Trist. — .A  compact  CamclUa-flowered 
variety  of  purplish  magenta  tone. 

Peggy  Lobjoit. — The  colour  of  this  Star  Dahlia 
is  a  light  rosy  mauve,  and  there  is  a  little  yellow 
in  the  centre  of  the  flowers. 

Rowett  Star. — .A  very  uncommon  variety  of 
yellow  colour  shaded  with  light  purple  on  the 
outer  half.  This  and  the  four  above  were  shewn 
by  Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and  Sons. 

Dainty. — .A  charming  Star  Dahlia  with  a  yellow 
centre  and  flushed  with  mauve.  This  and  the 
following  were  shewn  by  Mr.  Charles  Turner. 

Sweet  Dorothy. — .A  bright  mauve  Star  Dahlia 
which  has  a  paler  zone. 

Snowdrift. — .A  very  good  miniature  Cactus 
Dahlia  of  milk  white  colour. 


XEW     CHRYSAXTHEMmiS. 

.At  their  first  meeting  of  the  season  the  Floral 
Committee  of  the  National  Chrysanthemum 
Society  re-elected  Mr.  D.  B.  Crane  as  chairman 
for  the  twentieth  time  and  considered  the  merits 
of  a  great  many  novelties.  The  following  varieties 
were  the  most  promising. 

Cissbury  White. — This  is  a  very  useful  incurved 
sport  from  the  reflexed  variety  Frarafield  Wliite. 
It  produces  plenty  of  compact  blooms  about  3iins. 
across.  The  pure  white  of  the  mature  florets  is 
relieved  by  the  suggestion  of  yellow  in  the  centre 
of  the  flower.  First-class  certificate  to  Mr.  M. 
Aish. 

Framfield  Early  Yellow. — .Another  sport  from 
Framfield  White,  but  in  this  case  the  habit  more 
nearly  approximates  the  type  and  as  the  colour  is 
a  pleasing  shade  of  yellow  it  will  be  valued  as  an 
early  Chrysanthemum.    Shewn  by  Mr.  J.  Emberson. 

Lichfield  Early  White. — This  white  seedhng 
was  raised  from  Sanctity  and  Miss  G.  K.  Thorpe. 
It  is  a  medium-sized  Japanese  bloom  of  graceful 
form.  The  centre  of  the  bloom  is  greenish  yellow. 
First-class  certificate. 

Mrs.  A.  W.  Thorpe. — The  colour  of  this  graceful 
Japanese  variety  is  a  delightful  warm  shade  of 
buff  terra-cotta.  Both  naturally  grown  and  dis- 
budded blooms  were  shewn  and  they  are  equally 
attractive.  The  flowers  are  of  medium  size  and 
made  up  of  narrow  sUghtly  drooping  florets. 
First-class  certificate. 

Ray  of  Hope. — -A  small  single-flowered  variety 
suitable  for  growing  as  sprays.  It  is  a  seedling 
from  Shrapnel  and  of  warm  orange  yellow  colour. 
There  is  a  slight  rosy  zone  to  the  flowers.  This 
and  the  two  varieties  named  above  were  shewn  by 
Mr.  M.  Thorpe. 

September  Gem. — .Although  this  rather  more 
than  medium-sized  rich  yellow  single  did  not  find 
favour  with  the  committee,  it  has  all  the  appearance 
of  being  a  highly  decorative  variety  for  the  garden 
and  for  decoration.      Shewn  by  Messrs.  Wells. 

Waterwitch. — This  dainty  Uttle  pure  white 
single  was  decidedly  worthy  of  a  better  fate  than 
being  "  passed."  It  appears  to  be  exceptionally 
free-fiowering  and  a  flower  that  will  last  well  in 
a  cut  state.     Shewn  by  Mr.  M.  Thorpe. 


FORTHCOMIXG    E^^EXTS. 

October  3. — Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Great 
Autumn  Show  to  be  held  at  the  Holland  Park  Rink 
(four  days). 

October  4. — United  Horticultural  Benefit  and 
Provident  Society's  .Annual  Dinner  to  be  held  at 
the     Imperial     Hotel,     Russell    Square,    London. 


494 


THE     GARDEN. 


[September  30,  1922. 


SHADY     BORDERS 

Their  Plamiins  and  Planting. 


THE  shady  border  is  perhaps  the  most 
difficult  problem  with  which  the  suburban 
gardener  has  to  deal,  and  really  calls 
for  a  great  deal  more  consideration  than 
it  usually  gets  from  even  the  very  best 
gardening  books  and  newspapers.  Queries  are 
too  often  answered  by  the  suggestion  that  it  is 


to  3ft.,  will  be  desirable,  but  generally  speaking  it 
will  be  found  sufficient  thoroughly  to  trench  the 
ground  to  that  depth,  incorporating  with  it  plenty 
of  leaf-mould,  road  scrapings,  and  well  decayed 
manure  ;  anything,  in  fact,  that  will  hghten  it  if 
heavy  and  help  to  give  it  consistency  if  over-light. 
In   most   cases   a   dressing   of   lime   will   be   \'ery 


ADMIRABLE    FOR    THE    SH.\DY    BORDER,    LILIUM    MARTAGON    ALBUM. 


just  the  place  for  Ferns,  and  that  the  Japanese 
Anemone  does  not  mind  shade  if  it  is  not  under  the 
drip  of  trees.  In  large  gardens  it  is,  of  course, 
often  possible  to  lay  out  the  ground  so  that  the 
shady  border  is  not  much  in  evidence  ;  but  in  the 
comparatively  small  suburban  garden  it  is  almost 
sure  to  be  there  and  in  full  view  from  the  windows 
of  the  house.  The  plot  has  probably  a  little  piece 
of  grass  in  the  centre  which  gives  a  sufficiency  of 
green,  and  most  people  would  like  to  have  something 
bright  to  look  out  upon  on  either  side  and  at  the 
end,  and  incidentally  to  hide  the  palings  or  the 
bare  wall  which  divides  their  plot  from  their 
neighbours.  Numbers  of  plans  have  been  drawn 
out  by  skilful  garden  artists  shewing  delightful 
variations  of  this  simple  scheme,  yet  it  is  still 
the  most  common,  and  few  succeed  in  eliminating 
the  shady  border  altogether. 

In  deahng  with  the  problem  the  first  point  for 
consideration  is  whether  the  shade  is  open,  or  the 
site  overhung  by  trees.  In  the  former  case  there 
are  many  plants  which  should  succeed  perfectly  well, 
but  in  the  latter  the  number  is  greatly  restricted. 
It  will,  therefore,  perhaps  be  simpler  to  deal  first 
with  the  border  in  open  shade. 

The  first,  and  really  after  all  the  chief,  considera- 
tion is  to  prepare  the  soil  properly  ;  many  of  the 
failures  which  occur  must  be  attributed  entirely 
to  neglect  of  this  matter.  Soil  which  does  not  get 
much  sun  tends  to  get  sour  more  quickly  than  that 
in  a  sunny  situation,  and  extra  attention  to  drainage 
will  be  necessary.  In  some  cases  a  6in.  layer  of 
stones  and  brickbats,  placed  at  a  depth  of  ajft. 


beneficial,  but  this  must  be  omitted  if  tne  space 
is  to  be  planted  with  Rhododendrons,  .\zaleas  or 
other  lime-hating  plants.,  Any  good  soil  there  is 
should  be  kept  fairly  well  to  the  surface.  If  good 
turf  loam  is  available  it  will  be  appreciated  by 
everything.  A  sharp  look-out  should  be  kept  for 
snails  and  slugs,  which  rejoice  in  damp  and  shaded 
spots,  and  a  good  soil  furaigant  could  be  employed 
with  great  advantage. 

Should  the  border  be  very  narrow,  as  it  often 
is,  it  will  generally  be  found  a  great  improvement 
to  widen  it  considerably  ;  to  a  minimum  of,  say, 
4ft.  The  amateur  gardener  often  does  not  care  to 
do  this  as  he  fears  that  it  may  merely  increase 
the  area  of  unsuccessful  gardening,  while  taking 
away  from  the  lawn  which  is,  it  may  be,  in  a  thriving 
condition.  Yet  the  increase  in  width  will  greatly 
increase  the  probability  of  success  since  it  will  give 
room  for  the  majority  of  the  plants  to  be  placed 
further  away  from  the  fence,  thereby  probably 
ensuring  them  a  little  sunshine  in  the  summer, 
and  also  giving  them  a  considerably  larger  space  of 
good  soil  to  draw  upon  for  nourishment.  In  any 
case  provide,  as  far  as  possible,  against  draughts. 

Having  thoroughly  prepared  the  soil,  the  ne.\t 
point  is  to  plant  something  to  cover  the  wall  or 
palings  as  quickly  as  may  be  if  they  are  objected 
to  as  a  background,  which  will  almost  certainly  be 
the  case.  The  choice  will  be  quite  limited,  since 
these  plants  must  be  placed  fairly  close  to  the 
fence  and  consequently  in  a  deeply  shaded  spot ;  in 
fact  it  will  probably  be  best  to  plant  it  entirely  with 
Yellow  Jasmine  (Jasminura  nudiflorum),  as  that  is 


one  of  the  very  few  things  which  will  flower  satis- 
factorily in  such  a  site,  and  it  has  moreover  the 
merit  of  flowering  in  winter,  and  so  making  the 
border  cheerful  at  the  dullest  time  of  the  year.  It  is 
a  pretty  dark  shade  of  green  which  will  form  a  good 
background  to  almost  any  flower,  and,  although 
deciduous,  the  stems  are  of  the  same  shade,  and 
when  it  is  well  and  thickly  grown  they  give  almost 
the  same  satisfactory  effect.  The  Morello  Cherry 
would  do  quite  well  in  this  position,  and  its  beau- 
tiful flowers  in  spring  will  be  followed  by  a  crop  of 
fine  red  fruit.  It  should  be  allowed  to  grow  some- 
what loosely,  as  Cherries  do  not  like  severe  pruning. 

When  the  background  has  been  arranged,  the 
following  can  be  recommended  as  likely  to  prove 
thoroughly  satisfactory :  Snowdrops,  Winter 
Aconites,  Scillas  bifolia  and  sibirica,  for  early 
spring,  followed  in  mid  and  late  spring  by  Daffodils 
in  endless  varieties.  Oriental  Poppies  or  Pseonies 
will  make  a  fine  show  in  early  summer,  but  perhaps 
the  Pwonies  are  most  to  be  recommended,  as  their 
fine  foliage  will  help  to  hide  the  decaying  leaves  of 
the  bulbs,  which  are  so  difficult  to  arrange  for. 
For  raidsumraer,  Campanula  lactiflora,  a  tall  growing 
perennial  with  lovely  pale  blue  flowers,  would  be 
very  satisfactory.  It  will  reach  a  height  of  4ft.  or 
5ft.,  but  not  in  the  first  year  after  planting. 

Then  for  late  summer  and  early  autumn.  Phloxes 
will  prove  the  most  brilliant  choice,  but  Michaelmas 
Daisies  and  Golden  Rod  will  also  be  quite  successful 
and  give  a  good  touch  of  colour.  Japanese 
.Anemones,  especially  the  pink  form,  could  also 
be  added.  The  many  people  who  always  ask  for 
blue  flowers  would  perhaps  prefer  English  Irises  in 
the  early  summer,  and  add  Monkshood  in  autumn ; 
but  blue  really  seems  to  want,  unless  of  a  pale 
shade,  more  sunlight  if  it  is  to  be  seen  in  full  beauty. 

The  edging  will  depend  much  upon  the  taste  of 
the  gardener,  and  is  too  large  a  subject  to  deal 
with  in  the  course  of  this  article,  beyond  recom- 
mending Violas  and  Mimulus  as  likely  to  be  the 
most  successful  low-growing  flowering  plants  for 
the  situation.  Polyanthuses  would  also  do  well, 
but  they  flower  only  in  the  spring.  An  entirely 
difl'erent  treatment  for  the  border  in  open  shade 
would  be  to  plant  it  chiefly  with  Rhododendrons 
or  Azaleas,  interspersed  with  various  Lihes  which, 
if  well  chosen,  would  continue  the  flowering  season 
right  into  autumn.  The  bulbs  recommended  in 
the  previous  scheme  would  furnish  colour  in  the 
earlier  spring,  and  Rhododendrons  dauricum  and 
mucrolatum  could  be  added.  They  flower  in  late 
winter,  and  look  lovely  with  Snowdrops  and  Scillas, 
but  then  Winter  Aconites  should  be  omitted  as 
their  bright  yellow  colouring  does  not  shew  to 
best  advantage  against  the  pale  magenta  Rhodo- 
dendrons. 

The  same  soil  would  be  suitable,  omitting  the 
dressing  of  lime.  The  more  leaf-mould  and  grit 
the  better,  and  a  little  peat,  if  available,  would  be 
acceptable  to  all.  A  layer  of  sand  should  be  put 
round  each  Lily  bulb.  The  Lilies  may  not  flower 
very  well  the  first  season,  but  when  well  established 
they  are  admired  by  everyone,  and  this  beautiful 
genus  of  plants  is  too  much  neglected  in  the 
suburban  garden. 

Many  people  do  not  plant  Rhododendrons  and 
Azaleas  because  they  consider  them  too  slow 
growing,  but  they  respond  wonderfully  to  continuous 
watering  in  summer,  and  will  then  put  on  new  growth 
at  least  twice  as  long  as  they  do  when  left  alone. 
They  prefer  rain  water,  but  do  not  seem  to  mind 
ordinary  hard  water,  though  they  do  not  like  one 
definitely  chalky.  A  great  deal  may  be  done  to 
keep  them  moist  and  in  continuous  growth  in 
summer  by  a  good  mulch,  and  it  is  well  to  spray 
them  as  often  as  possible.  They  respond  gratefully 
to  atmospheric  moisture,  even  if  only  suppUed 
by  the  hose.  Of  course  this  scheme  of  planting 
would  be  more  expensive  in  the  first  place,  but  it 


September  30,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


495 


should  solve  the  problem  for  a  number  of  years  with 
comparatively  little  further  outlay  of  money  or 
labour.  Where  very  good  immediate  effects  are 
desired,  quite  large  bushes  may  be  moved,  and  if 
good  varieties  are  chosen,  especially  of  the  late- 
flowering  brilliant  red  and  pink  .Azaleas,  the 
effect  when  they  are  in  bloom  will  be  gorgeous. 

Yet  a  third  solution,  which  might  appeal  strongly 
to  the  more  botanically  minded  gardener,  would 
be  to  devote  the  open  shady  border  to  the  Primula 
family,  but  that  solution  would  require  an  article 
to  itself  to  do  it  justice. 

THE  SHADY  BORDER  OVERHUNG  BY  TREES. 

Under  the  drip  of  trees  it  is  difficult  to  get  many 
things  to  thrive  ;  still,  with  careful  cultivation,  a 
good  number  may  be  grown.  Often  it  is  the  poverty 
of  the  soil  and  the  dryness  caused  by  the  greedy 
tree  roots  that  are  the  chief  causes  of  failure.  Trees, 
especially  large  ones  with  dense  foliage,  quickly 
drain  the  soil  of  almost  all  moisture,  and,  also,  as 
may  be  readily  imagined,  of  the  plant  food  that 
is  in  the  soil.  People  so  often  put  plants  under 
trees  and  then  leave  them  alone  to  get  on  as  best 
they  can ;  whereas  they  are  really  much  more 
in  need  of  care  and  feeding  and  watering  than  most 
plants  in  the  open  border. 


Evergreen  trees,  it  is  true,  offer  an  almost 
insoluble  problem,  since  the  few  things  that 
might  be  made  to  flourish  under  them  are  scarcely 
suitable  for  suburban  gardens. 

The  following  plants  and  shrubs  may  be  relied 
upon  in  a  carefully  cultivated  shady  border,  even 
if  overhung  by  deciduous  trees  :  Rhcidodendrons, 
including  the  early-flowering  variety  nobleanum  ; 
Rubus  odoratus,  a  purple  flowered  Raspberry  with 
very  fine  foliage  ;  the  Mahonia,  Berberis  Aqui- 
foUum  ;  Sarcococca  ruscifolia  ;  Rose  of  Sharon, 
Hypericum  calycinum  ;  the  Rose  Bay  Willow  Herb, 
Epilobium  angustifolium  ;  Lysimachia  punctata, 
a  fine  yellow  flowered  perennial ;  Solomon's  Seal  ; 
the  common  Bluebell,  Scilla  nutans ;  Sweet 
Woodruff,  .'^sperula  odorata ;  the  Winter  .Aconite, 
Eranthis  hyemalis  ;    and  Snowdrops. 

Rhododendrons  really  prefer  shade,  and  often 
suffer  from  a  very  virulent  fly  when  grown  in  full 
sunlight.  One  is  often  told  that  Snowdrops  do 
not  flourish  in  suburban  gardens,  but  in  most  cases 
there  would  be  no  difficulty  with  them  if  they  were 
helped  with  a  little  leaf-mould  and  a  constant 
watch  were  kept  for  slugs.  Rhododendron  noble- 
anum flowers  in  February,  and  is  very  bright  and 
cheerful  to  look  upon  in  that  specially  dull  time  of 
the  year.  A.  E.  W. 


COLOUR  EFFECTS   IN  THE  FLOWER  GARDEN 

By    Gertrude    Jekyll,    V.M.H. 


IN  some  arrangements  for  colour  effect  in  late 
summer  there  has  been  a  difficulty  in  fitting 
the  colour  required  to  the  place  and  season, 
yet  I  felt  sure  that,  with  the  now  extensive 
range  of  garden  plants,  the  thing  wanted 
must  surely  exist.  What  was  desired  was  some 
DahUas  of  the  so-called  Decorative  class  in 
colourings  of  cool  pink  and  bright  yellow.  As  I 
am  unable  to  visit  nurseries  or  shows,  I  wrote  to 


Messrs.  Cheal  of  the  Nurseries,  Crawley,  Sussex, 
and  am  thankful  for  their  kindness  in  sending  me 
a  series  of  superb  blooms.  .As  other  readers  of 
The  G.\rde!j  who  are  keen  on  good  colour  may  hke 
to  know  of  them,  I  should  wish  to  mention  the 
following.  A  beautiful  series  of  cool  pink  or  mauve 
pink  is  Amethyst,  Silver  Queen  and  Remembrance. 
These  may  be  described  as  of  a  true  amethyst 
colour,  near  akin  to  typical  mauve,  the  cool  pink 


of  the  wild  Mallow.  The  word  amethyst  has  been 
so  often  misused  both  in  botany  and  horticulture 
to  denote  something  of  a  blue  colour,  that  it  is  a 
pleasure  to  see  the  word  rightly  applied.  Anyone 
who  knows  or  possesses  amethysts  would  see  how 
useful  the  name  of  the  gem  is  for  describing  a 
certain  class  of  colour,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  case 
of  these  lovely  flowers.  In  this  series  Remembrance 
is  the  deepest  and  Amethyst  the  lightest,  being 
only  tinged  with  colour,  as  it  is  in  the  least  strongly 
tinted  of  these  gems.  .Another  range  is  Queen 
Mary,  palest  rosy  pink  ;  Loveliness  and  Dehce  ; 
Delice  is  the  deepest  of  the  three.  These  have  no 
hint  of  amethyst  in  them,  but  are  of  a  clear  rosy 
pink,  charming  to  use  together. 

The  yellows  are  truly  magnificent  in  nearly 
related  shades  of  clear  and  brilliant  colour.  Yellow 
Colosse  has  something  of  the  old-fashioned  charm 
of  the  old  quilled  Dahlias,  but  has  less  formaUty  ; 
Brentwood  Yellow  is  a  splendid  flower,  evidently 
one  of  the  best  for  border  planting.  Yellow  Kin^, 
a  slight  shade  lighter  than  the  others,  is  an  immense 
and  massive  bloom,   yins.  across. 

Three  pretty  flowers  of  the  Mignon  class,  also  in 
a  clear,  bright  yellow,  are  named  Louise,  Pembroke 
and  Daffodil ;  the  last,  a  little  the  deepest  in  colour 
and  of  firm  substance.  These  starry  yellow  Dahlias 
group  beautifully  with  striped  Maize  and  with 
Caniias  that  have  light  green  fohage  and  pale 
yellow  flowers  ;  in  association  with  white  and 
yellow  Snapdragons,  the  clear  yellow  Calceolaria 
amplexicaulis  and  the  ever  useful  variegated 
Mentha  rotundifolia,  a  charming  picture  of  well 
related  colouring  may  be  .made. 


DECORATIVE    DAHLIAS    IN    THE    HERBACEOUS    BORDER. 


The  Decorative    Possibilities    of 
Autumn    Foliage 

JN  spring  the  young  tender  leaves  are  admired 
and  welcomed,  although  some  would  think 
their  beauty  a  trifle  cold.  The  observer 
knows,  moreover,  that  soon  there  will  be 
deeper  tints,  maturity  and  fruit  following 
flowers  in  many  instances.  In  autumn  the  tints 
are  warm  and  soothing  to  the  eye  and  one  wishes 
that  they  would  Unger  on  throughout  winter. 

In  the  wild  woodlands  the  harvest  of  autumn 
tints  is  abundant.  There  are  many,  however,  who 
are  not  able  to  enjoy  woodland  scenery,  but  even 
in  the  town  and  suburban  garden  some  autumn 
colour  in  leaf  and  stem  may  be  enjoyed  if,  when  the 
work  of  planting  is  being  carried  out,  a  few  small 
bushes  or  a  couple  of  trees  be  included  which  will 
furnish  this  desired  colouring  in  due  course. 
Cornus  alba  (Dogwood),  Rubus  biflorus  (with 
almost  pure  white  stems),  P>tus  Aria  majestica. 
Ivies  (under  trees),  Cotoneasters,  Berberis  .Aqui- 
folium,  are  a  few  that  succeed  in  town  gardens. 

For  large  gardens  and  pleasure  grounds  in  the 
country,  the  kinds  and  varieties  suitable  are 
numerous.  To  obtain  the  most  desirable  effect 
where  borders  or  grounds  are  fairly  extensive, 
there  must  be  a  judicious  addition  of  evergreen 
trees  and  shrubs,  mixed  with,  or  affording  a  back- 
ground to,  the  deciduous  ones,  the  fohage  of  which 
contains  the  various  colours  and  shades  which 
we  so  much  admire.  Care  should  be  taken, 
however,  to  avoid  spottiness  in  planting. 

In  a  garden  I  visited  some  while  ago,  the  yellow- 
stemmed  Willows,  growing  luxuriantly  in  moist 
ground  near  a  pond,  were  very  effective  ;  a  dell, 
from  which  the  sturdy  branches  of  Oaks  and 
Beeches  rose  30ft.  to  40ft.  above  ground  level, 
formed  a  background  ;  nearer  at  hand  were  the 
terraces  and  less  formal  parts  of  the  pleasure 
grounds,  well  furnished  \vith  groups  of  suitable 
shrubs.  In  many  cases  the  tinted  fohage  suggested, 
at  first  glance,  masses  of  flowers.  G.  G. 


496 


THE     GARDEN. 


[September  30,  1922. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


THE    YELLOW     MICHAELMAS    DAISY. 

T  AM  very  glad  that  Auios  Perry  got  an  award 
of  merit  for  the  novelty  Aster  hybridus  luteus. 
a  while  ago.  I  have  a  couple  of  plants  in  my 
collection  of  Asters,  and  so  1  can  say  from  personal 
experience  that  it  is  a  most  attractive  little  plant 
with  its  beautifully  formed  small  soft  yellow 
flowers,  very  near  that  delightful  shade  which 
the  older  generation  of  Daffodil  lo\'ers  called  a 
John  Nelson  or  a  Captain  Nelson  yellow.  Little, 
of  course,  is  only  a  comparative  term.  The  new- 
comer is  tall  if  measured  against  one  ol  the  Aniellus 
section.  The  adjective  is  intended  to  describe 
it  alongside  a  typical  Novi  Belgii  or  a  Novs- 
Anglia.  On  decently  good  ground  here  it 
measures  2  ft.  gins.  It  was  in  full  fiowei  on 
August  30.  I  feel  in  duty  bound  to  mention  the 
fact  that  someone  who  evidently  did  not  think 
\'ery  much  of  this  flower  placed  one  day  among 
the  blooms  some  sprays  of  a  common  wayside 
weed  known  locally  by  a  name  not  suitable  for 
polite  ears  to  hear  (but  which  is  faithfully  re-orded 
on  page  323  of  that  most  interesting  work  "  A 
Dictionary  of  Enghsh  Plant  Names,"  by  Britten 
and  Holland),  which  to  the  "  high  larn'd "  is 
Senecio  Jacobaea.  The  unwritten  name  is  still 
used  locally,  but  not  in  drawing-rooms.  My 
friend  has,  since  these  words  were  written,  seen 
the  Aster  in  full  flower  and  has  apologised  for  the 
suggestion  made  by  the  placing  of  the  Senecio. — 
Maelor. 

COLLETIA    SPINOSA. 

1  AM  puzzled  by  the  exhibition  at  the  R.H.S. 
Show  on  September  5  of  flowering  sprays  of 
Colletia  spinosa.  Here  this  shrub  always  flowers 
in  early  summer.  This  year  it  began  on  May 
31,  and  is  now  wholly  without  blossom. — Herbert 
Maxwell,  Monreith. 

THE     POPLAR     HA\VK    JIOTH. 

'P.'XRLY  in  July  a  pair  of  these  beautiful  moths 
was  brought  me,  and  in  a  day  or  two  many 
green  eggs  dotted  the  breeding-cage.  On  July  22 
a  general  hatching  took  place,  and  the  tiny  larvaj 
at  once  "  got  busy  "  on  Poplar  leaves.  Several 
were  placed  on  a  tree  in  the  garden,  but  thev  soon 
disappeared,  possibly  eaten  by  birds.  A.  solitary 
egg  was  found  glued  firmly  to  a  leaf.  Was  this  a 
coincidence  or  had  another  moth  of  this  species 
"  sensed "  the  presence  of  the  other  larva-  ? 
They  are  a  beautiful  shade  of  green  ;  the  skin  is 
rough  Uke  shagreen,  and  down  each  side  is  a  row 
of  seven  yellow  stripes.  If  one  uses  a  strong 
magnifying  glass,  one  can  see  a  row  of  red  breath- 
ing holes  along  the  sides.  At  the  end  of  the  body 
is  a  yellow  horn,  red  at  the  base,  and  the  legs  are 
pink  in  colour.  The  amount  these  creatures  eat 
is  astonishing.  Leaves  placed  in  the  cage  soon 
become  a  mass  of  shrivelled  stalks.  The  magnify- 
ing glass  shews  you  how  powerful  their  jaws  are, 
and  when  one  larva  gives  another  a  nip  you  can 
see  by  the  sudden  twitch  that  discomfort,  if  not 
pain,  is  felt.  Earth  has  been  placed  at  the 
bottom  of  their  cage,  and  they  are  now  full-fed 
and  beginning  to  turn  into  pupa>.  When  this 
transformation  has  taken  place,  they  will  remain 
quiescent  until  the  spring.  The  colour  of  the 
pupa  is  brown,  and  has  a  queer  look  as  if  it  had 
been  dipped  in  mud  and  dried.  The  moth  emerges 
from  the  pupa-case  in  early  summer.  Its  fore- 
wings  are  grey  with  a  white  spot  in  the  middle, 
the  hind-wings  having  a  bright  red-brown  patch 
at  their  base.  It  gets  its  name  of  hawk  from  its 
pecuhar  darting,  hovering  flight,  a  characteristic 
of  all  the  Sphingida-,  or  hawk  moths.       The  sphinx 


like  attitude  of  the  larwe  is  seen  at  once  when  it 
is  touched,  as  its  head  is  suddenly  raised,  remaining 
immovable  till  danger  is  past.  Verily  there  are 
other  things  of  interest  in  a  garden  besides  the 
flowers.— D.  W.  D. 

^VHAT    DOES    THE    PICTURE 
REPRESENT  ? 

T  THINK  the  accompanying  picture  of  a  branch 
of  Blackthorn  may  interest  your  readers,  if 
only  as  shewing  what  the  blossom  ordinarily  loses 
for  want  of  foliage  to  accompany  it.  In  this  case 
the  dearth  of  foliage  is  largely  compensated  for  by 
a  w-ealth  of  Lichen  which,  judging  by  the  flowering, 
appears  to  have  had  little  detrimental  effect  upon 
the  tree.  The  Blackthorn  is  effective  when  in 
flower  either  in  the  hedgerow  or  in  thin  woodland 
and  the  double  form  (Prunus  spinosa  fl.  pi.)  makes 


SINGULAR 


FOLIAGE. 


a  pretty,  small  tree  or  large  shrub.  There  is  now 
a  pink-flowered,  purple-foliaged  form  called  var. 
purpurea,  which  is  said  to  be  very  effective,  but  I 
am  not  personally  acquainted  with  it.  When 
heavily  laden  with  its  blue-black  sloes,  the  typical 
tree  is  very  effective  in  autumn,  but  its  cropping 
is  rather  spasmodic. — S. 

THE    TREE    CYPRESSES. 

'T'HE  writer  of  a  paper  on  Conifers  (page  462) 
refers  to  the  true  Cypresses  as  "  emphatically 
trees  for  the  Midlands  and  the  South,  as  even  the 
hardiest  will  not  withstand  the  rigours  of  our 
Northern  winters."  May  I  point  out,  as  has 
been  often  done  before,  that  in  Great  Britain 
winter  temperature  is  far  more  a  matter  of  longitude 
than  of  latitude.  Cupressus  macrocarpa  thrives 
vigorously,  both  as  a  forest  tree  and  a  hedge  plant, 
in  the  maritime  districts  of  Scotland,  especially 
on  the  west  coast  as  far  north  as  Ross-shire.  To 
produce    clean    timber    (valuable    because    of    its 


durability  when  exposed  to  weather)  it  must  be 
planted  in  close  canopy.  As  for  the  Italian 
Cypress.  C.  seinpervircns,  its  hardiness  in  our 
climate  seems  to  depend  in  some  degree  on  the 
region  whence  seed  is  obtained.  In  1878  I  gathered 
some  cones  at  Fiesoli,  near  Florence,  where  there 
is  considerable  winter  cold.  The  offspring  of 
these  cones  now  stand  here,  averaging  30ft.  high, 
in  perfect  health.  In  1907  I  gathered  other  cones 
at  Ragusa  in  Dalmatia.  Seedlings  raised  from 
these  were  all  killed  by  frost  in  the  nursery. 
Cupressus  formosana,  recently  introduced  from 
Formosa,  said  to  be  the  loftiest  species  of  Cypress, 
attaining  a  height  of  200ft.,  has  passed  through 
three  winters  here  unhurt  without  any  protection. 
— Herbert  M.^xwell. 

[It  is  doubtless  a  pity,  as  Sir  Herbert  Maxwell 
suggests,  that  when  writing  of  shrubs,  hardy  only 
in  favoured  districts,  the  "  south  "  is  often  used 
without  the  qualifying  word  inland,  but  happily 
most  readers  are  aware  of  the  special  conditions 
applying  on  our  western 
seabcards. — Ed.] 

AXriRRHrNU-VI 

PRliVIA   DONNA. 

T-J.\VE  youl  ever  re- 
flected on  the  swing  of 
the  pendulum  from  the 
usage  of  old-fashioned 
English  names  to  the 
more  '  "  starchy  "  Latin 
and  Greek  ones  ?  Thus 
Larkspurs  have  become 
Delphiniums  and  Snap- 
dragons Antirrhinums  ! 
Pages  and  pages  might 
be  written  about  it.  We 
must  nowadays  be  so 
precise  and  correct.  The 
sea  of  continually  improv- 
ing communication  is 
slo^vly  and  surely  wear- 
ing away  the  little  inlets 
'  of  isolated  hamlets  and 
secluded  villages  with 
their  old-fashioned 
speech,  and  the  coastline 
is  becoming  monotonous 
in  its  uninteresting  even- 
ness. Never  mind,  there 
are  compensations.  We 
have  no  end  of 
varieties.  They  are  as 
the  sand  on  the  seashore. 
To  these  we  can  still  give 
English  names,  but  it  is 
not  quite  the  same  thing.  They  are  seldom 
"  pet "  names  as  Apple-pie  and  Betty-go-to- 
bed-at-noon  were.  The  rolling  panorama  of 
the  world  of  flowers  moves  so  quickly  that  it 
is  "  here  to-day  and  gone  to-morrow."  The 
pretty  pink  Nelrose  among  .Antirrhinums  is  one 
exception  to  this  rule,  although  it  probably 
owes  much  of  its  comparatively  long  vogue  to  its 
behaviour  under  glass.  Prima  Donna,  which 
came  to  me  from  Dobbie's,  is  worthy  of  a  place 
beside  Nelrose.  It  has  a  colour  which  is  difficult 
to  describe.  The  best  I  can  do  is  to  call  it  a  soft 
rosy  fawn.  It  is  very  pleasing  in  the  open  and 
even  more  so  under  artificial  hght.  I  always  grow 
the  medium  of  Antirrhinums,  In  doing  so  I  do 
not  see  exactly  eye  to  eye  with  Jesse  Suff  (I  am 
uncertain  of  my  spelling),  a  philosopher  of  a 
bricklayer  who  in  the  course  of  a  conversation 
when  he  was  helping  to  build  my  rectory  con- 
vincingly remarked,  "  I  don't  like  any  of  them 
mediums  ;  give  mc,  I  say,  beer  or  champagne." — 
Joseph  Jacob. 


September  30,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


497 


GARDENING    OF    THE    WEEK 


FOR     SOUTHERN'    GARDEN'S. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

French  Beans  growing  in  frames  require  rather 
inore  attention  from  now  onwards.  Should  the 
weather  be  cold  and  changeable,  it  will  be  better 
to  keep  the  Mghts  always  on,  even  though  the 
plants  are  in  bearing.  The  extra  warmth  gained 
will  greatly  help  the  plants,  though  on  warm  days 
a  more  free  airing  should  be  given  to  assist  in 
getting  rid  of  accumulated  dampness.  Should 
the  plants  be  growing  in  frames  without  the  aid 
of  pipe-heat,  some  outside  covering  should  be 
given  on  all  cold  nights  and  thus  help  to  conserve 
the  existing  natural  warmth. 

Cauliflowers. — .\n  abundance  of  these  have 
been  available  and,  indeed,  are  still  turning  in 
so  readily  that  it  may  be  found  necessary  to  pull 
some  of  the  plants  up  and  have  them  removed 
to  a  cool  dark  cellar,  suspended  in  which,  curds 
domiwards,  they  will  keep  many  days  in  excellent 
condition.  The  lesser  developed  heads  must 
also  be  thought  of  and  upon  the  threat  of  a  cold 
night  have  a  few  of  their  leaves  broken  over  them 
as  these  will  greatly  assist  in  warding  oft"  possible 
danger  from  frost. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Transplanting  Shrubs. — The  present  time  is 
quite  one  of  the  best  and  often  convenient,  too, 
for  carrying  out  this  operation.  .An  important 
point  which  should  not  be  overlooked,  more 
especially  in  cold  districts  and  where  a  cold  soil 
has  to  be  dealt  with,  is  that  the  work  should  be 
carried  out  as  early  in  the  autumn  as  possible. 
At  this  season  the  soil  is  not  only  in  a  good  work- 
able condition,  but  it  still  has  a  great  amount  of 
warmth  left  in  it,  and  the  importance  of  these 
two  factors  in  encouraging  new  root  action  can 
be  readily  understood. 

Sweet  Peas. — Where  the  raising  of  these  plants 
is  done  during  the  autumn,  now  is  a  good  time  to 
carr>"  out  the  work.  Seed  may  either  be  sown 
in  4in.  or  sin.  pots  or  in  well  prepared  ground 
outdoors.  On  cold  heavy  land  the  latter  method 
is  hardly  worth  attempting,  but  on  a  warm,  well 
drained  soil  there  is  decidedly  a  gain  of  several 
weeks  between  the  autumn  and  spring  sowings. 
The  batch  grown  in  pots  cannot  be  grown  too 
sturdily,  and  only  during  a  very  severe  spell  or 
a  prolonged  wet  period  is  it  necessary  to  shut  the 
frames  up.  Place  three,  four  or  five  seeds  in  pots 
a  corresponding  number  of  inches  in  diameter. 

Cuttings  of  many  evergreen  shrubs  made  now 
from  the  well  ripened  wood  will  root  readily  in 
cold  frames  or  even  outside  on  warm  borders. 
Use  plenty  of  grit  in  the  compost  and  see  that 
the  cuttings  are  made  thoroughly  firm. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Preparations  for  Planting. — .\  few  %vords 
upon  this  matter  ha\e  already  appeared  in  an 
earlier  issue,  but  it  will  now  be  necessary  to  push 
on  with  the  work  as  quickly  as  possible.  Trenching 
or  clearing  of  the  ground  should  be  attended  to 
at  once  so  that  the  site  may  be  somewhat  settled 
again  before  planting  is  done.  While  the  above 
operation  is  in  hand  ascertain  that  the  position 
of  a  new  one  is  sufficiently  drained.  Make  use  of 
wood-ash  and  any  old  burnt  refuse  to  improve  the 
soil,  and  also  a  goodly  amount  of  old  plaster 
rubble  where  stone  fruits  are  to  be  grown. 

Grease  Banding. — Early  October  may  be  taken 
as  a  con\'enient  time  to  get  this  work  done,  the 
object  being  to  trap  the  female  moth  as  she  travels 
up,  which,  generally  speaking,  commences  about 
this  time. 

Fruits  Under  Glass. 
Root-Pruning  Peaches.— The  next  six  weeks 

is  the  time  for  dealing  with  any  necessary  root 
pruning,  making  a  start  now  in  the  early  house 
if  such  work  be  intended.  It  is  not  very  often 
that  such  work  is  necessary  upon  well  established 
trees  giving  good  annual  returns,  but  rather 
upon  more  recently  planted  trees  which  are 
inclined  to  be  rather  gross  of  growth.  Having 
taken  a  trench  out  about  2ft.  deep  and  from 
2ft.  6ins.  to  4ft.  away  from  the  stem,  according 
to  the  size  of  the  tree,  gradually  work  with  the 
aid  of  a  fork  until  it  can  be  ascertained  whether 
any  strong  tap  roots  are  penetrating  the  subsoil, 
and  when  such  are  found  sever  cleanly  through 
with  a  sharp  knife.  Be  careful  when  filhng  the 
soil  in  again  to  make  it  very  firm  and  encourage 
the  lay  of  the  roots  in  an  upward  direction  as  much 
as  possible.  The  carrying  out  of  this  operation 
affords   an  excellent   chance   of   adding  some   old 


mortar  rubble  to  the  border.   Gi\'e  a  good  watering 
to  resettle  the  soil,  and  syringe  the  trees  for  about 
a  fortnight  should  the  weather  be  warm  and  dry. 
H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 
.4/(n(n'  Park  Gardens,  Guildjord. 


Dahlias  should  be  looked  over  at  this  time  and 
any  additional  tying  necessary  be  done.  Where 
growth  is  very  dense  it  may  be  thinned  out  with 
advantage  to  the  plant  and  the  better  development 
of  later  flowers. 

James  McGran 

(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.), 

Coodham.  Kilmarnock. 


FOR    NORTHERN'    GARDENS. 

The   Kitchen  Garden. 

Beetroot. — The  main  crop  of  Beet  must  be 
accorded  more  care  when  lifting  than  is  necessary 
with  the  early  Globe  varieties,  .\void  bruising 
or  breaking  the  roots,  especially  the  tap  roots, 
otherwise  they  will  be  of  little  use  for  kitchen 
purposes,  being  insipid  and  pale  in  colour  when 
cooked.  Store  the  roots  in  a  cool  shed  in  fine 
soil  or  sand,  arranging  them  in  layers.  Cover 
over  with  straw  during  the  winter. 

Mushrooms. — Continue  to  collect  horse-drop- 
pings for  successional  beds.  Have  the  manure 
placed  in  an  open  shed  where  it  may  be  frequently 
turned  to  pre\-ent  it  becoming  sour.  Beds  which 
were  spawned  a  month  ago  should  be  examined  and 
if  the  surface  should  be  dry,  give  a  gentle  watering 
with  tepid  water.  Syringe  the  walls  and  floor  of 
the  house  regularly.  On  beds  where  the  Mush- 
rooms are  shewing  through,  covering  material 
should  be  removed  as  the  Mushrooms  will  be  found 
to  develop  more  quickly  and  cleanly  without  it. 

Lifting  Potatoes. — .\11  Potatoes  should  be 
hfted  at  the  first  favourable  opportunity,  as  owing 
to  excessive  rains  during  .\ugust  disease  is  notice- 
able in  many  gardens  in  our  western  district. 
Where  airy  sheds  or  cellars  are  available  for 
storage,  they  will  be  found  most  convenient, 
especially  for  looking  over  the  tubers  during  the 
winter  months,  but  if  placed  in  well  made  clamps 
they  will  also  be  found  to  keep  in  excellent  condi- 
tion. Tubers  showing  the  slightest  trace  of  disease 
or  damage  should  be  picked  out  during  the  storing 
period.  When  arranged  in  position  in  the  clamp 
a  good  supply  of  straw  should  be  used  as  a  covering, 
placing  on  top  of  this  sufficient  soil  to  exclude 
hard  frost. 

Celery. — Add  more  soil  to  that  already  put 
round  the  earliest  crop  and  give  the  first  moulding 
to  later  lots.  Remove  all  suckers  and  decayed 
outside  leaves  and  tie  the  stalks  sufficiently  firmly 
to  keep  the  soil  from  working  in  and  destroying 
the  hearts.  Dig  up  and  pulverise  the  soil  thoroughly 
before  earthing  up. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Planting  Fruit  Trees. — .\lthough  it  is  yet 
rather  early  to  plant,  notes  of  requirements  in 
the  way  of  new  trees  for  filling  vacancies  caused 
by  trees  dying  out  or  which  may  arise  through 
clearing  away  worn-out  specimens  or  from  a 
desire  to  replace  inferior  kinds  by  those  of  a  superior 
quality  may  be  taken,  and  the  order  placed  in  the 
hands  of  a  reliable  nurseryman.  Do  not  be  led 
away  by  advertisements  regarding  cheap  trees. 
In  many  cases  this  is  only  the  cause  of  much 
worry  and  regret,  as  they  cannot  always  be 
depended  upon  as  being  true  to  name.  It  is  certainly 
more  economical  to  pay  a  fair  price  to  firms  who, 
in  working  and  training  their  young  stocks,  la\' 
the  foundation  of  a  tree  that  at  an  early  date 
will  give  satisfaction  to  the  purchaser.  When 
grubbing  up  old  trees,  care  should  be  taken  that 
all  the  old  roots  are  removed,  as  when  roots  of  anv 
size  are  left  in  the  ground  there  is  always  a  risk  of 
fungi  being  bred  which  in  due  course  may  attack 
the  roots  of  any  young  trees  that  may  be  planted 
on  the  same  site. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Violas. — Cuttings  of  these  should  now  be  got 
in  for  next  season's  display.  Choose  the  firm 
stocky  growths,  breaking  away  from  the  centre 
of  the  plants  and  dibble  into  a  cold  frame  containing 
a  mixture  of  leaf-mould  and  sand.  Keep  the  frame 
close  for  a  few  days  and  then  allow  a  chink  of  air 
during  open  weather.  Viola  cuttings  damp  oft' 
readily  if  the  frame  is  kept  too  moist  or  ventilation 
neglected. 

Bedding    Calceolarias. — The    first    week    in 

October  is  the  best  time  to  propagate  these.  In 
taking  cuttings  do  not  use  growths  showing  a  flower 
bud,  as  these  are  the  least  satisfactory.  Similar 
frame  treatment  to  that  recommended  for  Violas 
suit  these  Calceolarias  admirably. 


GREENHOUSE     AND     CONSERVATORY. 

Basket  Plants  add  greatly  to  the  appearance 
of  a  large  conservatory  and  there  is  quite  a  number 
of  beautiful  plants  useful  for  this  purpose. 

Asparagus  Sprengeri  makes  an  excellent 
basket  plant  and  plants  that  were  raised  from  seed 
during  the  spring  are  now  ready  for  putting  into 
baskets.  These  plants  have  a  large  root  system 
so  therefore  require  fairly  large  baskets. 

Asparagus  scandens  deflexus  is  another  verv 
graceful  and  beautiful  plant  for  baskets  and  caii 
be  raised  from  seed  in  the  same  way  as  A. 
Sprengeri. 

Saxifraga  sarmentosa  is  very  pretty  for  small 
baskets,  and  if  runners  are  secured  and  potted  up 
at  this  time  they  will  be  ready  for  transferring 
to  baskets  early  in  the  New  Year. 

Convolvulus  mauritanicus,  although  hardy  in 
many  places  in  the  south  and  west,  is  a  very 
beautiful  basket  plant  for  the  cool  greenhouse. 
It  is  easily  raised  from  seed,  which  if  sown  about 
this  time  will  make  good  plants  for  flowering  next 
summer.  It  grows  well  in  any  ordinary  potting 
compost  and  requires  perfectly  cool  treatment 
at  all  times,  and  in  a  sunny  greenhouse  produces 
its  beautiful  blue  flowers  in  great  profusion. 

Lotus  Bertholetii  (syn.  L.  peUorhyncus)  is 
also  an  excellent  plant  for  baskets,  with  tine  grey 
fohage  and  briUiant  scarlet  beak-shaped  flowers. 
If  propagated  from  cuttings  at  this  time  good 
plants  may  be  obtained  for  next  summer.  It 
is  not  always  an  easy  plant  to  root  successfully, 
as  the  cuttings  are  very  apt  to  damp  off.  It  is 
best  rooted  in  a  cool  airy  greenhouse,  placing  the 
cuttings  under  a  beU  glass,  which  should  be  care- 
fully wiped  dry  every  morning. 

Ivy-leaved  Pelargoniums  are,  of  course,  popular 

and  well  known  basket  plants.  If  good  specimens 
are  required  for  next  summer,  cuttings  should  be 
rooted  at  this  time.  A  few  of  the  best  varieties 
for  the  purpose  are  Mme.  Crousse,  Scarlet  Crousse, 
Jean  d'.\rc,  Gahlee,  Souv.  de  Charles  Turner  and 
Elegante.  The  last  named  is  a  very  prettv 
variegated  variety.  Here  I  may  say  that  some  of 
the  stronger  growing  varieties,  if  planted  out,  are 
excellent  for  covering  the  back  wall  of  sunny 
greenhouses. 

Fuchsias  are  also  excellent  for  baskets,  and  for 
this  purpose  preference  should  be  given  to  such 
varieties  as  naturally  are  of  the  slender  or  drooping 
habit.  If  plants  are  required  for  early  summer 
flowering,  cuttings  should  be  inserted' now  and 
they  will  make  good  plants  for  transferring  to 
baskets  early  in  the  Xew  Year.  For  late  summer 
and  autunm  flowering,  cuttings  may  be  put  in 
during  January  and  February. 

Fuchsia  procumbens  is  a  small  prostrate- 
growing  species  from  N'ew  Zealand  and  makes  a 
very  pretty  picture  in  a  small  basket.  It  is  easily 
propagated  at  any  time  by  means  of  cuttings, 
which  root  readily  in  a  close  case  in  a  cool  house. 

Heeria  elegans  is  another  good  plant  for  small 
baskets  and  is  easily  propagated  at  any  time  by 
means  of  cuttings.  If  inserted  at  this  time  they 
should  make  good  flowering  plants  for  next  summer. 

Chlorophytum  comosum,  with  slender  variegated 
leaves,  is  an  elegant  plant  fur  small  baskets  and  is 
easily  increased  at  any  time  by  means  of  the 
young  plants  which  are  produced  at  the  end  of 
the  runners. 

Campanula  isophylla,  blue  and  white  and  the 
variety  Mayii  are  beautiful  for  baskets,  as  also 
is  Campanula  fragiUs.  The  examples  given  will 
serve  to  show  that  there  are  quite  a  variety  of  plants 
that  can  be  used  for  this  purpose  ;  and  many  others 
will  suggest  themselves  to  the  plant  lover. 

Darwin  Tulips  are  increasingly  popular  for 
pot  culture,  and  as  success  depends  very  largely 
on  their  being  well  rooted,  they  should  be  potted 
up  as  soon  as  possible.  They  are  much  larger- 
growing  that  the  early-flowering  varieties,  there- 
fore require  larger  pots  to  grow  them  successfully. 
I  find  it  pays  to  put  them  into  7-in.  or  even  S-in. 
pots.  In  such  pots  they  make  fine  specimens  and 
are  useful  for  standing  on  the  floor.  Some  five  or 
six  bulbs  should  be  placed  in  a  pot.  .\fter  potting 
they  should  be  placed  outside  and  covered  with 
leaf  soil  or  finely  sifted  ashes.  If  the  latter  are  used 
they  should  have  been  well  exposed  to  the  weather. 


498 


THE     GARDEN. 


[September  30,  1922. 


as  it  is  never  safe  to  use  fresh  ashes  for  this  purpose. 
The  bulbs  should  remain  under  the  covering  until 
they  are  well  rooted  and  growth  begins  to  show 
on  the  top  of  the  pot,  when  they  should  be  removed 
to  a  north  frame.  This  class  of  Tulip  requires 
much  more  careful  management  that  the  early- 
flowering  varieties.  They  will  not  stand  the  same 
hard  forcing,  but  must  be  brought  on  more  gradu- 
ally and  cooler  than  the  early  varieties.  They 
are  so  beautiful  that  they  are  worth  some  extra 
trouble.  J-  Coutts. 

Royal  Botanic   Gardens,  Kew. 


Vegetables    all    the   Year 
Round 

October   Operations. 

NOTWITHSTANDING  the  fact  that 
we  are  rapidly  approaching  the  period 
of  comparative  slackness  in  the  vege- 
table garden,  October  must  be  regarded 
as  a  month  of  considerable  importance, 
as  well  in  respect  of  the  results  of  the  past  season's 
cropping  as  of  the  results  that  it  is  hoped  will 
be  achieved  next  year.  There  still  remains  some 
planting  which  can  be  done  advantageously, 
hars'esting  work  miist  be  carried  to  finality,  while 
the  desirabihty  of  coming  to  a  decision  upon  future 
planting  may  well  have  due  consideration. 

GROWING    CROPS. 

These  will  comprise  plants  in  various  stages, 
and  all  will  demand  thoughtful  attention.  It 
is  of  paramount  importance  that  the  rows  of 
winter  Spinach  shall  be  adequately  thinned, 
since  it  is  only  those  plants  which  complete  their 
development  under  the  beneficent  influences 
of  unobstructed  light  and  fresh  air  that  yield 
satisfactory  returns.  Therefore  follow  up  gradual 
thinning  until  the  individual  plants  in  the  hnes 
are  now  less  than  isins.  asunder,  and  when  the 
time  comes  for  gathering  from  them  do  not  forget 
that  it  is  infinitely  more  profitable  to  take  the 
best  leaves  from  many  plants  than  it  is  to  strip 
one  or  two,  as  is  usually  done  in  summer.  Parsley, 
too,  should  be  freely  thinned  out. 

The  hoe  should  be  used  incessantly  during 
suitable  weather  between  these  crops  and  also  all 
Winter  Green  vegetables,  as  well  to  keep  down 
weeds  as  to  facilitate  the  admission  of  rain  and 
fresh,  invigorating  air.  It  is  not  infrequent  to 
find  that  these  last-named  plants  grow  too 
luxuriantly  in  open  weather ;  in  such  event 
choose  a  time  when  the  surface  is  just  on  the  dry 
side  and  tread  hard  down  round  the  stems  slightly 
to  check  the  root  action  ;  it  is  not  much  trouble 
and  goes  to  favour  a  hardier  plant.  The  latest 
batch  of  spring  Cabbages  and  Borecoles  should 
go  to  their  permanent  positions  forthwith  to  give 
them  a  chance  to  secure  a  roothold  at  least,  even 
though  they  do  not  make  material  progress  until 
the  spring.  Sometimes  this  late  planting  is  value- 
less, but  there  comes  the  occasional  season  when 
it  proves  absolutely  invaluable.  It  is,  then,  a 
useful  form  of  insurance.  There  is  a  possibiUty 
that  both  Celery  and  Leeks  will  demand  water  ; 
if  they  do,  see  that  the  soaking  is  a  generous  one. 
Earthing  of  the  first  named  crop  should  proceed 
as  necessary.  It  wiU  be  wise  to  break  leaves  over 
the  heads  of  autumn  Broccoli  and  CauUflowers 
about  the  middle  of  the  month  as  a  measure  of 
precaution. 

HARVEST    WORK. 

It  is  the  custom  of  many  growers  to  leave  all 
Potatoes  in  the  ground  to  ripen,  and  the  reason 
given  is  that  otherwise  they  will  not  keep.  This 
is,  of  course,  utterly  erroneous,  and  the  practice 
should  fall  into  disuse  because  it  is  late  in  the  season 
that  blight  is  apt  to  secure  a  hold  on  the  tubers 
and  develop  when  they  go  to  store  to  the  partial 


or  entire  ruination  of  most  valuable  food.  The 
one  disadvantage  of  lifting  before  ripeness  is  that 
the  skins  rub  unless  they  are  handled  with  care, 
but  even  so  they  will  keep  just  as  long,  though 
their  appearance  will  be  somewhat  marred. 
Storage  of  "  ware  "  tubers  must  be  in  the  dark 
with  total  exclusion  of  frost.  If  seed  tubers  are 
saved  at  home,  they  should  be  separated  when 
lifting  is  in  process,  and  their  place  of  storage 
should  have  fuU  light,  abundance  of  fresh  air  and 
entire  freedom  from  frost. 

The  principal  root  crops  to  go  to  store  are 
Beetroots  and  Carrots,  and  the  best  method  is 
in  heaps  of  alternate  layers  of  soil  and  roots,  tails 
inwards.  Beetroot,  as  the  more  tender  plant  of 
the  two,  will  be  dealt  with  first.  Scrupulous  care 
must  be  taken  not  to  break  or  bruise  the  roots, 
and  the  tops  should  be  screwed  off  a  couple  of 
inches  above  the  crown.  Carrots  may  have  the 
tops  cut  off  close  to  the  crown.  In  neither  instance 
should  all  the  soil  be  rubbed  away  on  the  score 
of  cleanhness  ;  a  little  adhering  assists  the  keeping 
properties  appreciably.  Parsnips  lose  quality  so 
quickly  after  lifting  that  it  is  preferable  to  leave 
them  in  the  bed  and  take  out  sufficient  for  a  week's 
requirements  at  a  time.  W.  H.  Lodge. 


TRIAL    OF     DAHLIAS     AT 
WISLEY 

The  following  awards  have  been  made  to  Dahlias 
by  the  Council  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society 
after  trial  at  Wisley.  The  DahUa  trials  at  Wisley 
were  judged  by  the  Joint  Dahlia  Committee, 
consisting  of  members  of  the  R.H.S.  Floral 
Committee  and  the  National  Dahlia  Society. 

Exhibition  Singles. — Awards  of  Merit. — 
Clematis  and  Bishop  Crossley,  sent  by  Messrs. 
Treseder.  Highly  Commended. — Mamie,  sent  by 
Messrs.  Cheal ;    Amy  Barrillet,  from  Mr.  Bowles. 

MiGNON. — Awards  of  Merit. — Albion  and  Janet, 
sent  by  Messrs.  Cheal.  Highly  Commended. — 
Kathleen  and  Mincio,  sent  by  Messrs.  Cheal ; 
Coltness  Gem,  from  Messrs.  Purdie. 

Collarette. — Awards  of  Merit. — Rona,  Linnet, 
Tuskar  and  Scarlet  Queen,  from  Messrs.  Dobbie  ; 
Lolah,  from  Messrs.  Burrell.  Highly  Commended. — 
Tiger,  from  Messrs.  Dobbie. 

-Anemone-flowered.  —  Highly  Commended. — 
Mons.  C.  H.  Dupont,  from  Messrs.  Cheal. 

P.^onv-flowered.  — ■  Awards  of  Merit. — 
Aphrodite,  from  Mr.  Turner;  Faithful, 
Enchantress,  Scarlet  King  and  Psyche,  from 
Messrs.  Burrell.  Highly  Commended. — Nelson's 
Xarifa,  from  Messrs.  Bath ;  Vesuvius  and  The 
Rose,  from  Messrs.  Velthuys ;  Extase,  from 
Messrs.  Hornsveld. 

Small-flowered  P,eonv. — Highly  Commended. 
— Trixie  and  Norah  Dell,  from  Messrs.  Burrell. 

Decorative. — Awards  of  Merit. — Mrs.  Courtney 
Page,  from  Messrs.  Burrell ;  Salmonea,  from 
Messrs.  Velthuys ;  Hanny  van  Waveren,  from 
Messrs.  van  Waveren. 

Small- FLOWERED  Decorative. — Awards  of 
Merit. — .\glaia  and  Vida,  from  Messrs.  Burrell. 
Highly  Commended. — Marianne,  from  Messrs. 
Dobbie. 

Camellia-flowered.  —  Ateards  of  Merit. — 
Fedora  and  Mrs.  F.  J.  Sage,  from  Messrs.  Burrell. 
Highly  Commended. — .Artis,  from  Messrs.  Topsvoort. 

Show. — Award  of  Merit. — Doreen,  from  Messrs. 
Cheal. 

Star. — Highly  Commended. — SeafielJ,  from 
Messrs.  Dobbie  ;   Reigate  Star,  from  Messrs.  Cbeal. 

Dwarf  Cactus. — Highly  Commended.  —  Reg, 
from  Messrs.  Treseder. 


ANSWERS 
TO  CORRESPONDENTS 

FLOWER     GARDEN. 

SINGLE-FLOWERED  ROSES  TO   GROW  NATURALLY 

(D.  J).  O.,  l)un(l'--i).^All  the  varittiis  nann'il  ari-  ut 
vigoroas  habit  and  quite  iikely  to  succtud  under  the 
conditions  mentioned,  provided  tliey  are  given  a  good 
start  and  the  soil  is  kept  hoed  until  the  bushes  are  estab- 
lished. Other  singie-flowered  varieties  that  might  be 
planted  are  Lady  Curzon,  Lady  Penzance,  Anne  of  Oeier- 
stein,  Rosa  Hugonis  and  K.  macrantha.  K.  of  K.  is  also 
suitable,  and  as  it  seems  that  singles  are  not  to  be  solely 
used,  we  suggest  Griiss  an  Teplitz,  Conrad  F.  Meyer, 
La  Tosca,  Moonlight,  Danae,  Fcllenberg,  Sarah  Bernardt, 
Trier  and  Yvonne  Rabier.  It  will  be  found  beneficial 
to  cut  away  some  ol  the  older  shoots  periodically.         ^ 


TREES    AND    SHRXIBS. 

TREATMENT  OF  LAVENDER  HEDGE  (F.  S.  N., 

Wylam). — The  woody  eonditioii  of  the  base  of  a  Lavender 
hedge  is  inevitable  after  a  time,  though  it  does  not  generally 
happen  so  soon  as  stated  (four  years).  We  fear  it  is  caused 
by  undue  haste  in  making  the  hedge  full  sized.  Jt  this 
had  been  accomplished  more  slowly,  there  would  have 
been  sufficient  side  shoots  all  the  way  up  to  keep  the 
hedge  well  furnished.  In  the  circumstances  the  best 
procedure  would  be  to  cut  the  hedge  plants  rather  hard 
back  next  spring  and  then  regulate  the  growths.  If  the 
planting  was  done  thinly,  it  should  be  possible  to  peg 
down  some  of  the  branches  and  so  assist  in  forming  a 
good  base  to  the  hedge.  When  a  Lavender  hedge  bi-coines 
old  the  inevitable  should  be  anticipated  and  sutficient 
plants  raised  to  replace  the  old  ones,  forming  a  new  hedge 
in,  of  course,  fresli  soil, 

FRUIT    LTNDER    GLASS. 

GROWING    CHERRIES    UNDER    GLASS    (H.   C.    F., 

Carnfortli). — Cherries,  when  grown  under  glass,  do  not 
require  any  artificial  lieat.  When  the  trees  are  at  rest 
they  need  quite  cool  treatment  and  if  this  can  be  given, 
the  trees  would  thrive  planted  in  the  inside  border.  Our 
correspondent  may,  however,  grow  the  tree,  or  trees,  in 
large  pots  or  tubs  and,  when  the  crop  has  matured  under 
glass  remove  the  trees  to  an  outside  position,  of  course, 
paying  attention  to  watering,  etc. ;  this  is  very  important^ 
and  cleanliness  while  the  foliage  is  growing.  Royal  Duke 
is  a  good  variety  for  growing  under  glass. 

FRUIT    GARDEN. 

VARIETIES    OF    APPLES    AND    PEARS    (W.    U.    X.,. 

Readinir). — The  following  varieties  are  excellent.  Apples  : 
James  Grieve,  fit  for  use  from  September  to  November  ; 
Cox's  Orange  Pippin,  from  November  till  end  of  January  ; 
and  Upton  Pine  or  Sturmer  Pippin,  till  end  of  April  or 
even  later.  Pears  :  Marie  Louise,  Doyenne  du  Cornice 
and  Easter  Buerre,  The  cause  of  our  correspondent's 
Apples  falling  may  be  due  to  the  fact  that  the  fruits- 
contained  a  grub  which  attacks  the  fruits  when  they 
set  and  gradually  work  their  way  to  the  core,  causing- 
them  to  drop  off  prematurely  ;  or  some  outward  injury 
may  have  caused  the  trouble.  If  the  fruits  are  free 
from  attack,  then  the  tree  is  evidently  wrong  at  the  roots- 
— the  latter  being  in  a  bad  rooting-medium  or  otherwise- 
damaged. 

APPLES  UNSATISFACTORY  ("  Torquay  ").—  The 
sitccimen  sent  for  examination  was  affected  with  bitter 
pit.  This  disease  is  not  due  to  any  fungus  or  insect  pest,, 
but  is  in  some  way  connected  with  irregularities  in  the 
fiow  of  sap.  Good  cultivation  goes  far  to  prevent  the 
complaint,  at  any  rate,  in  a  normal  season. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

CUCUMBERS  DYING  (**  Torquay ").— The  Cucumber- 
stem  is  compUtriy  (iiiid  and  infested  with  myriads  of 
decay-producing  bacteria,  so  that  it  is  impossible  to  say 
what  has  killed  it.  Possibly  the  soil  contains  insufficient 
lime  or  is  not  well  drained. 

LICHEN  ON  A  LAWN  (A.  D.,  Sussex).— Ammonia cal 
copper  carbonate  will  be  the  safest  remedy.  Spray  or 
lightly  but  thoroughly  water  the  part  of  the  lawn  affected 
with  this  lichen  with  the  amraoniacal  copper  carbonate,, 
to  kill  the  lichen,  and  then,  if  necessary,  dress  with  fresh 
soil  and  re-sow  with  grass. 

NAMES    OF   FRUIT.— E.    B.,    Bournemouth.— Apples  : 

1,  Annie  Elizabeth  ;  2,  Werder  Golden  Reinette ;  3, 
Golden  Spire  ;  4,  Bramley's  Seedling ;  5  and  7,  Blenheim 
Orange  ;  6,  Charles  Ross  ;  8.  Wellington  ;  9,  Antonowka  ; 
10,  Keswick  Codlin  ;    11,  Too  immature  to  identify;    12, 

Probably      Warner's      K.ing,     specimen     immature.- 

D.  H.  "S.-S.— Apples :  1,  Lord  Suffield  ;  2,  Probably 
Pott's  Seedling ;  3,  Worcester  Pearmain  ;  4,  Probably 
Autumn  Rouge  ;  5,  Pear  William's  Bon  Chretien  ;  6,. 
Too  immature  to  identify ;  7,  Bramley's  Seedling ;  8, 
Pear  Fertility  ;  9,  Emperor  Alexander ;  10,  Probably 
a  local  variety  ;  11,  Lord  Grosvonor  ;  12,  Gage  too  squashed 
to  identify.     The  above  fruits  were  somewhat  late  due, 

no  doubt,    to    heavy    soil. G.   R..  Elstead. — 1,  Pyrus 

Niedzwetzkyana  ;  2,  Prince  Englebert, ;  3,  Poor  specimen 
of  Jefferson  ;   4,   Probably  Victoria,  fruit  badly  squashed  ; 

5,  Probably  Apple  St.  Everard,  not  a  typical  specimen  ; 

6.  Cox's  Pomona;  7,  Old,  "Curl  Tail";  8,  Alliugton 
Pippin. 

NAMES    OF   PLANTS.— E.    F.    C— 1,    Olearia    olbida : 

2.  O.     Fosteri.  "  Bradwell."  —  Atriplex     hortensis 

"  Mountain  Spinach." J.      Rogers.  —  HLlianthemum' 

oeymoides. C.    W.,    Hants. — Senecio    tanguticus. 


CATALOGUES    RECEIVED. 

Messri.    J.    Cheal    and    Sous,    Crawley,    Sussex. — Fruit 
Trees  and  Roses. 


THE 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


'^ol.  LXXXVI.— No.  2655. 

□tered  as  Second-class  Matter  at  the  New  York,  N.Y..  Post  Office 


Saturday,  October   7,  1922 


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MERRYWEATHER'S    ROSES 


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BARR'S  COLLECTIONS  OF  BULBS 

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Containing  Early  Hyacinths,  Daffodil-^.  Polyanthus  Narcissi,  Tulips,  Freesias.  etc. 
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11,  12  &     13,  KINQ  STREET, 
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Over     lOO    Acres. 

CHEALS'   Ornamental  Trees  and  Shrubs,   in  great   variety;    Climbers, 

Forest  Trees,   etc. 
CHEALS'   Roses;  all  sections. 

CHEALS'   Fruit  Trees;    hardy,  healthy,   true  to  name. 
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The  Nurseries,  CRAWLEY. 


THE    BULB    GARDEN 

Order    now    to    avoid    disappointment. 

Complete  success  can  be  obtained  by  planting 

BRITISH   GROWN   BULBS 

We  have  an  excellent  stock  of  CHOICE  DAFFODILS 

AND  TULIPS     and    solicit    your    early    enquiries. 

Complete  List  free  on  application. 

CARTWRIGHT     &     GOODWIN,     LTD. 

THE    PREMIER    HOUSE,    KIDDERMINSTER. 


11. 


THE     GARDEN. 


[October  7,   1922. 


"THE    GARDEN"   CATALOGUE    GUIDE 


NOTICE  TO  OUR  READERS 


/^N  receipt  of  a  Post  Card  the  under- 
^^  mentioned  firms  will  be  pleased  to 
send  their  useful  Catalogues  free  of  charge. 


Fruit  Trees  and  Plants 


PERRY'S 

Hardy  Plant  Farms 

ENFIELD,  MIDDX. 


N*w  Alpin*« 
and  Perennials 

Oomplato 
Oolleotion 


KELWAY   &   SON 
RrrAiL  Plant  Drpahtmsnt 
LANGPORT,   SOMERSET. 


Hardy  Plants 
Colour  Borders 
Gladioli 


HARDY    AZALEAS    AND     FLOWBRINO    SHRUBS 

R.  &  G.  CUTHBERT 
SOUTHGATE 
MIDDLESEX 
Established  1797 


For  planting    and 
Conaarvatory 
decoration. 
Catalogue  ol  our 
new  and  beautilu! 
varieties  post 


LAXTON   BROS. 

NuRSBKies 

BEDFORD 


Strawberries 

and 

Fruit  Trees 


W.  WELLS,  JuNR. 
Hardy  Plant  Nursery 
MERSTHAM,  SURREY 


Specialist  In 
Hardy  Plants 
and  Alpines 
Catalogues  free 


THE   CARSE    OF   COWRIE 
NURSERY    COMPANY 

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Specialists  in 
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and  Bushes 


Seeds  and  Bulbs 


R.  H.  BATH,  Ltd. 
The  Floral  Farms, 
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Delphiniums 
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Cyelamen,  etc. 


DAWKINS 

408,  King's  Road 

CHELSEA,   S.W. 


Bulb 

Catalogue 
now  ready. 


SPECIALITE. 


TREES   AND   SHRUBS 


for    AUTUMN     COLOUR 
and  WINTER    BERRIES 

(Carriage  Paid.) 

V.  N.  Gauntlett  &  Co..  Ltd., 

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CORRY  &  CO.,  Ltd. 
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Merchants  and 
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of  Horticultural 
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LONDON -V 
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I 


GBAPnic  cup 

[or  besl  Rock  Garden 
CHELSEA- 1922 
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rigyres-  5cjr\dlol  5  -  DC 


Ihodsons,  limited, 

i4,VicT0RiA  St., London, S.W. I 
&58,  Castlegate, Nottingham 
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Rock,  Water  or 
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Trees,  Shrubs.  Roses, 
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(Specialist  in  Garden  Planning) 

83,  High  Street 
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New  Oardens  de- 
altfned.  Old  Gardens 
Re-arrantted.  Plant- 
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etc.  Terms  on  appli- 
cation. 


V 


TUBS     FOR     SHRUBS. 

■  WIRE  BOUND  PATENT,  over  100 
prizes.  R.H.S.  Medal,  1910.  No  warping  or 
shrinking.  In  Oak,  Beach. Teak.  etc.  Highly 
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26.  Goodge  Street.   London.  W.l. 


WALLACE'S  IRISES. 

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Descriptive  Catalogue  of  CHOICE  DUTCH 

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JOHN  B.  VAN  DER  SCHOOL 

The   Old-Established   Bulb   Farms 

(Comprising  over  400  acres), 

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DELPHINIUMS 

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Plantthis  month  for  effect  nextSummor. 

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and  descriptive  Catalogue  on  application.  Al 
orders  of  lo/-  and  over  will  be  sent  Carriage  Paid  ti 
any  part  of  Great  Britain.  Smaller  orders  Carriagi 
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FRUIT    TREES    &    ROSES 

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Catalogues  Free. 


THE  BARNHAM  NURSERIES,  LTD. 

BARNHAM,     SUSSEX. 


ON'S 

TREES 
SHAPES 

ES  GRATIS 

N  BROS 
BEDFORD   . 


FRUIT 

IN  ALL 

catalog! 


*^i>0^im0tm00¥m00^fi00t»0i0mfi00^/iti0m0itifm0^0t0i0f¥m00i0>tf*0i000*m0t 


ENGLISH    BULBS. 

We  are  Actual  Growers  and  have 

been  established    78   years. 

Illustrated   List   /iost    free    on    application. 


SPECIAL     OFFER. 

Mixe  Daffodils,  No.  3.  rtally  fine  bulbs,  com- 
prising Emperor.  Empress.  Sir  Watkin, 
Barri  Conspicuus,  Ornatus,  Pheasant  Eye, 
all  sound  Bowering  bulbs.  100.  7/6;  1000. 
60'-.  Carr.  or  post  paid  for  cash  with  order. 


GEORGE  ELSOM,  Dept.F,  SPALDING,  LINGS. 


MMMMMtfmMMkMmM 


CAMPING. — All  Campers  and  lovers  of  out 

door  life  should  read  *'  Camping,"  by  J.  ScoTT  MOORE,  publishe 
at  the  Offices  of  "  CoDMTRY  Life,"  Limited,  20,  Tavistoc 
Street,  W.C.2  ;   price  9d.  net  ;    by  post,  lid. 


,<5-Q!X^t€U 


r-^-'-'. 


"^  iTO, 


No.  2655.— Vol.  LXXXVI.] 


[October  7,  1922. 


INDIVIDUALITY    IN     GARDENS 


THE  garden-loving  public  may  roughly 
be  divided  into  two  classes,  namely, 
the  picture  makers  and  the  plant 
collectors.  The  writer  claims  no 
originaUty  in  finding  this  out,  but, 
banal  though  it  be,  it  is  worth  setting  down,  for 
each  has  something  to  learn  of  the  other.  The 
collector  might  often  group  his  collection  more, 
with  great  advantage  pictorially  and,  incidentally, 
with  considerable  saving  of  labour  and  thought, 
inasmuch  as  nearly  related  plants  are  apt  to  require 
similar  treatment  as  regards  pruning  and  such 
like.  The  picture  maker  might,  if  only  he  would 
study  the  collector's  garden  thoroughly,  find 
new  plants  for  his  schemes  which  would  give  his 
garden  a  certain  originality  which  at  present  it 
too  probably  lacks.  The  eye  wearies  in  the  end 
of  sights,  however  beautiful  in  themselves,  which 
have  become  over-familiar,  and  however  good 
the  colour  massing,  however  pleasing  the  curves, 
it  is  hard  to 
become  enthusi- 
astic about  a 
garden  which  is 
for  practical  pur- 
poses a  counter- 
part of  many  of 
its  neighbours  ! 

Soils  and  situa- 
tions vary  im- 
mensely, and  this 
fact  alone  should 
go  far  to  provide 
suitable  variety 
of  treatment,  but 
does  it  ?  Almost 
every  garden, 
however  unsuit- 
able the  soil,  must 
have  its  Rhodo- 
dendron bed,  yet 
other  equally 
beautiful  Ameri- 
can plants  are 
much  neglected. 
What  wonderful 
effects  can  be 
produced  —  on 
suitable  soils,  of 
course  —  by  as- 
s  o  c  i  a  t  i  n  g  the 
mollis  and  mollis 
X  sinensis  Azaleas 
with  Kalmias, 
Pieris  and  Lilies  ! 
The     evergreens 


provide  winter  colour  and  a  little  weighf  of 
greenery  for  the  glowing  masses  of  Azaleas ; 
the  Kalmias  provide  welcome  flower  when  the 
Azaleas  are  over,  and  the  Pieris  before  the 
riot  of  colour  begins.  If  additional  summer 
colour  is  required  beside  the  Lilies,  there  are 
various  Ceanothuses  to  fall  back  upon,  and  group- 
ings of  Silver  Birch  in  the  background  may,  some 
of  them,  carry  festoons  of  purple,  rose  or  white 
Clematises. 

Why  is  it,  one  wonders,  that  so  many  would-be 
gardeners  always  think  of  Rhododendrons  in 
connexion  with  beds  ?  The  idea  is  a  survival  of 
the  bedding  tradition  of  a  generation  ago.  Not 
only  is  the  round  or  nondescript  bed  a  very  un- 
happy 'way  of  displaying  these  brilliant  shrubs, 
it  is  also  a  very  unfortunate  one  from  a  cultural 
standpoint,  inasmuch  as  it  is  very  difficult  to 
keep  plants  alive  in  such  beds — placed,  as  they 
usually  are,  in  full  sunlight — during  hot,  droughty 


THE    BEAUTIFUL    SNOWDROP    TREE,    HALESIA    CAROLINA. 


spasons.  The  Rhododendron  is  naturally  a  wood- 
land plant,  but  where  no  existing  growing  shade 
is  in  existence  such  can  readily  be  provided  by 
suitable  planting  and  contouring.  A  few  Scots 
Pines  and  Silver  Birches  will  provide  a  very 
helpful  and  steadily  increasing  screen. 

Many  of  the  named  varieties  of  Azaleas  now 
on  offer,  especially  the  double  sorts,  are  not  worth 
garden  room.  For  garden  effect  and  real  beauty 
a  dozen  .'Vzalea  mollis  seedlings  are  worth  a  hundred 
of  such.  That  is  not,  of  course,  to  say  that  no 
named  Azaleas  are  worth  having.  Such  brilliant 
sorts  as  Anthony  Koster  and  J.  C.  van  Tol  are, 
in  fact,  all  but  indispensable.  What,  by  the  way, 
has  become  of  the  old  Honeysuckle  Azalea,  parent 
of  all  the  Ghent  hybrids,  pleasing  in  its  rich  yellow 
colouring  and  thrice  welcome  tor  its  delicious 
fragrance  ?  To  many  this  grand  old  kind  comes 
as  a  new  plant  when  they  meet  it.  It  will  be 
found    catalogued    in     John      Waterer's    list    as 

Azalea  pontica 
Doubtless  U  may 
also  be  obtained 
elsewhere 

The  fact  that 
the  Eucryphias 
are  rare  in 
gardens  may  be 
explained  by  the 
fact  that  hitherto 
they  have  been 
rather  expensive 
(though  surely 
one  really  good 
shrub  is  worth  a 
number  of 
mediocre  ones  ?) 
or  to  their  sup- 
posed, but  quite 
imaginary,  diffi- 
culty in  cultiva- 
t  i  o  n.  The 
common  E.  pin 
natifolia  is  the 
best  but  E. 
cordifolia  is  desir- 
able. Another 
family  of  shrubs 
scantily  r  e  p  r  e- 
sented  in  the 
garden  is  the 
genus  Exochorda. 
Their  flowers, 
individually,  are 
quite  as  beauti- 
ful   as    those    of 


500 


THE     GARDEN. 


[October  7,  1022. 


BEST    OF    FLOWERING    BRAMBLES,    RUBUS    DELICIOSUS. 
The  foliage  is  that  of  Stephanandra  Tanaka. 


THE    PEARL    BUSH,    EXOCHORDA    GRANDIFLORA. 


(^^<ai^^eaj&d 


\.M>     IIIL-NBERGII     IN     M 


any  of  the  Myrtles  and  are  borne  in  elegant 
sprays,  but  through  some  curious  perversity  the 
Myrtle  is  given  a  wall  and  coaxed  and  protected 
in  many  gardens  where  Exochorda  is  not  repre- 
sented. White-washed  Brambles,  doubtfully  hand- 
some, abound,  but  the  beautiful  Kubus  deliciosus 
is  seldom  seen. 

Then  how  curious  seems  to  be  the  general 
taste  in  shrubby  Spirseas !  What  quantities 
one  sees  of  Spirsea  japonica  and  its  variety  Anthony 
Waterer  and  the  dingy  w'hite  form  usually  cata- 
logued as  S.  callosa.  Next  to  these  the  most 
popular  variety  seems  to  be  S.  Douglasi,  while 
crowds  of  somewhat  similar  but  inferior  species, 
abound.  Still  on  the  descending  scale  of  popularity 
we  come  to  S.  Van  Houttei,  which  is  really  ai» 
excellent  shrub,  but  the  most  beautiful  of  all, 
Lindleyana,  arii-efoha,  Thunbergii  and  prunifolia 
fl.  pi.,  are  those  most  seldom  seen.  Practically  all 
herbaceous  Spiraeas  are  valuable  if  rightly  placed, 
but  the  glorious  S.  palmata  should  be  planted 
wherever  semi-shade  and  moisture  can  be  found 
in  conjunction.  S.  Aruncus  is  one  of  the  most 
dignified  and  most  generally  useful  of  herbaceous 
plants.  It  will  grow  and  flower  in  sun  or  shade. 
Whole  famiUes  of  plants  on  someone's  ipse 
dixit  become  branded  as  tender.  The  Daisy 
Trees  (Olearia)  form  a  case  in  point.  It  has  even 
been  stated  that  Olearia  stellulata  is  only  hardy 
on  a  wall  in  specially  favoured  districts.  The 
fact  is  that  in  light,  warm  soils,  given  general 
natural  shelter  from  the  east  and  the  hill  top  or, 
at  any  rate,  some  remoteness  from  the  moisture- 
laden  valley,  such  species  as  O.O.  stellulata,  the 
nearly  related  Gunniana,  macrodonta  and  numrau- 
larifolia  have  passed  safely  through  all  recent 
winters  in  the  South  Midlands  of  England,  and 
this  without  any  protection  whatever  other  than 
the  natural  shelter  already  mentioned.  .^11 
those  mentioned  are,  in  point  of  fact,  much  hardier 
than  such  Rock  Roses  (Cistus)  as  C.C.  salvifoUus, 
algarvensis,  creticus  and  purpureus.  When  one 
thinks  how  much  more  interesting  these  and  other 
Daisy  Trees  are  than  the  much  planted  O.  Haastii, 
one  can  but  wish  that  they  may  be  more  frequently 
planted  in  future.  They  are  readily  propagated 
from  cuttings,  and  0.0.  stellulata  and  Gunniana 
are  quick  growing,  so  that  should  a  severe  winter 
destroy  them  their  replacement  could  readily  be 
effected.  The  Snowdrop  Tree,  too,  Halesia 
Carolina  is  still  scarce  in  gardens. 

Near  our  seaboards  the  Hortensias,  or  Changeable 
Gardeners  as  they  are  also  called  (Hydrangea 
hortensis)  flourish  outdoors.  The  fine  new  hybrids 
are  presumably  as  hardy  as  the  older  and  less 
beautiful  forms.  Why  not  plant  these  in  prefer- 
ence to  the  others  ?  Inland  gardens  where  the 
Hortensias  do  not  stand  usually  contain  the  huge 
panicled  Hydrangea  paniculata  grandiflora.  This 
is  au  effective  shrub,  though  hardly  so  graceful 
as  Cv2  typical  H.  paniculatum,  of  which  it  is  a 
sterile  form,  but  it  needs  copious  supplies  of  water 
if  it  is  to  succeed.  The  greenish  white  Hydrangea 
arborescens  grandiflora  is  even  freer  to  flower 
and  withstands  drought  much  better.  True  it 
is  quite  a  distinct  plant,  but  it  is  certainly  worthy 
of  more  extended  cultivation  than  it  at  present 
enjoys.  Its  chief  drawback  is  that  to  see  it  at 
its  best  it  needs  a  certain  amount  of  staking  or 
supporting,  old  peasticks  being  admirable  for  the 
purpose.  The  climbing  Hydrangea  scandens  is 
also  worthy  of  a  place  in  gardens. 

On  any  decent  soil,  but  especially  on  those 
containing  lime,  the  ornamental  Plums  and 
Cherries  flourish.  What  a  multitude  of  Prunus 
cerasifera  Pissardi  one  sees  (though  its  better 
forms,  called  Moseri  fl.  pi.,  Blireiana  and  nigra, 
are  scarce  enough)  yet  P.P.  microlepis  and  pendula, 
and  even  the  double  form  of  the  Blackthorn, 
P.   spinosa,    are   comparatively   rare   in   gardens. 


October  7,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


501 


MAPLES    FOR    THE    GARDEN 


IN  the  following  notes  no  attempt  will  be 
made  to  describe  all  the  species  now  grown 
in  Britain,  nor  even  all  the  desirable  sorts. 
Rather  will  an  attempt  be  made  to  select 
from  the  rather  bewildering  list  of  names  a 
few  of  proved  worth  for  various  purposes.  The 
common  Maple  of  our  hedgerows,  with  its  very 
characteristic  growth,  beautiful  bark  and  never- 
failing  autumn  colour,  forms  an  admirable  small 
tree.  It  is  splendid  for  ornamental  hedges  where 
deciduous  hedges  are  in  demand,  being  equally  as 
valuable  as  the  Beech  or  Hornbeam  for  the  purpose. 


probably  the  best  variegated  deciduous  tree  which 
attains  any  size.  The  purple-leaved  form  {A.  P. 
purpureum)  has  the  foliage  bright  purple  beneath. 
It  is  rather  a  dull-looking  tree  when  seen  from  a 
distance,  though  pleasing  on  closer  inspection. 
A.  P.  brilliantissimum  is,  as  its  name  would  imply, 
a  striking  tree,  especially  when  the  leaves  first 
unfold.    They  are  then  of  a  bright  pinkish  shade. 

The  Sugar  Maple,  A.  saccharum  is  rather  of 
sentimental  interest  than  valuable  for  garden  or 
woodland  in  Britain.  Its  foliage  turns  yellow  in 
autumn  but  the  effect  produced  is  inferior  to  that 


A    SPECIMEN    ACER    PALMATUM. 


There  are  several  varieties,  some  with  jnottled  or 
variegated  leaves,  but  the  wild  plant  is  the  best. 

The  red  Norway  Maple,  Acer  platanoides  Schwed- 
lerii,  forms  an  admirable  tree,  but  requires  room 
to  display  itself  to  advantage.  The  young  foliage 
is  bright  red  and  the  yellow  flower  attractive.  The 
ioliage  matures  a  deep  purplish  green,  but  the  keys 
are  deep  red  and  the  foliage  colours  in  autumn. 
There  are  other  varieties  of  the  Norw^ay  Maple 
■which  are  worth  growing,  notably  var.  globosum, 
a  small  grower  which  forms  a  flatfish  head.  All  the 
green  forms  of  Acer  platanoides  are  valuable  for 
red  autumnal  foUage  colouring. 

The  common  Sycamore  (A.  Pseuodoplatanus)  is 
a  tree  valuable  for  its  extreme  hardiness  and 
easiness  of  culture.  It  is  an  admirable  tree  for 
near  the  sea  coast.  It  may  become  deformed  from 
the  force  of  the  wind,  but  will  unflinchingly  endure 
the  salt  with  which  the  winds  are  laden.  The 
Sycamore  is  more  prone  than  most  forest  trees  to 
exhibit  variegation  and  the  form  albo-variegatum 
with    bold    milky-white    blotches    and    stripes    is 


of  the  common  Maple.  In  North  America  this  is  a 
very  ornamental  tree  with  brilliant  autumn 
colouring,  but  it  does  not  take  kindly  to  our 
climate. 

The  Italian  Maple,  A.  Opalus,  is  really  beautiful 
when  in  flower  in  March  and  April.  The  flowers 
are  quite  a  bright  yellow,  the  tree  grows  well 
in  Britain  and  has  large  and  rather  handsome 
foliage. 

The  Moose  Wood  or  Snake-bark,  A.  penn- 
sylvanicum,  forms  a  tree  of  about  the  stature  of  the 
common  Maple.  It  is  chiefly  remarkable  for  the 
white  striping  which  distinguishes  the  wood  when 
two  years  old  and  upwards.  In  the  variety 
erythrocladum,  the  young  wood  turns  bright 
crimson  in  autumn.  This  is  one  of  the  most 
attractive  of  Maples,  being  handsome  of  foliage 
and  colouring  well  in  autumn. 

The  Box  Elder,  A.  Negundo,  is  now  well  known 
in  gardens  in  its  variegated  forms,  but  the  typical 
tree  being  rather  gauche  in  its  young  stage  is  not 
nearly  so  often  planted  as  it  should  be.     It  makes  a 


handsome  tree.  The  Negundo  is  dicccious  and  the 
female  with  its  huge  bunches  of  keys  the  more 
handsome.  The  variety  usually  seen  in  gardens  is 
called  varicgatum.  It  is  handsomely  variegated 
with  white,  but  like  all  variegated  trees  may  easily 
be  overdone  and  has,  indeed,  been  planted  far  too 
largely  (and  spottily)  in  many  gardens.  It  is  not 
a  strong  grower  and  has  a  persistent  tendency  to 
revert  to  the  typical  green  form.  This  form  is 
female  and  the  keys  are  variegated.  The  golden- 
variegated  form  called  aureo-marginatum  is  an 
altogether  more  robust  tree  than  the  white  one, 
more  effective  and  better  worth  planting.  Variety 
aureum  (odessanum)  has  leaves  entirely  golden. 
It  is  one  of  the  best  of  yellow-foliaged  trees  and 
k^eps  its  colour  well. 

Most  garden  lovers  would  consider 
the  fancy  Japanese  Maples  worthy 
of  admiration  in  the  garden.  They 
assuredly  are  the  most  suitable  repre- 
sentatives of  the  genus  for  the  com- 
paratively small  garden.  These  are 
all  varieties  of  Acer  japonicum  or  A. 
palmatum,  mostly  of  the  latter,  and 
represent  careful  selection  over  a  long 
period  by  Japanese  gardeners.  The 
typical  Acer  japonicum  is  a  beautiful 
and  useful  species  which  grows  slowly 
but  attains  at  last  the  dimensions  of 
a  small  tree.  It  is  interesting  when  in 
early  spring  the  reddish  flowers,  appear 
and  again  when  the  leaves  unfold  ; 
it  is  a  handsome  tree  when  in  full 
foliage ;  the  reddish  spreading  keys  are 
good  to  look  upon  and,  in  autumn, 
when  the  foUage  takes  on  crimson 
tones,  it  is  most  beautiful  of  all.  The 
smooth  clean  wood  is  attractive  when 
the  tree  is  bare.  The  most  pleasing 
varieties  of  this  beautiful  species  are 
the  golden-leaved  aureum  and  filici- 
folium,  with  handsome,  much  cut 
deep  green  foUage. 

Acer  palmatum  (syn.  A.  polymor- 
phum),  is  in  the  typical  form  less 
beautiful  than  A.  japonicum,  but  many 
of  its  varieties  are  among  the  most 
beautiful  foUage  plants  in  existence. 
The  palmate  (five  lobed)  forms  are,  on 
the  whole,  inferior  to  the  seven  lobed 
(septemlobum)  varieties.  Some  of  the 
best  of  these  latter  are  elegans  with 
\ery  beautiful  green  foUage,  which 
turns  scarlet  in  auturiin ;  elegans 
purpureum,  simUar,  but  with  purple 
foliage ;  sanguineum,  leaves  bright 
purplish  red ;  atropurpureum,  foUage 
deep  purple ;  and  reticulatum, 
strangely  mottled  yellow,  pale  green  and  white 
on  a  darker  background  formed  by  the  deep 
green  leaf-veins.  The  typical  septemlobum  is  an 
admirable  green  form  which  colours  beautifully 
in  autumn.  Of  the  five-Iobed  forms  perhaps  the 
most  useful  is  A.  palmatum  aureum  with  golden 
foliage  ;  often  confused  with,  but  quite  distinct 
from,  A.  japonicum  aureum.  A.  p.  roseo-margina- 
tum  has  a  distinct  rosy  edging  to  the  leaf,  but,  as 
with  many  variegated  leaved  plants,  the  variegation 
is  accompanied  by  considerable  distortion  of  the 
leaf  form  and  considerable  loss  of  size.  The 
dissectum  forms  are  very  beautiful  with  their 
much  divided  feathery  fohage,  but  are  hardly  so 
strong  growing  as  the  seven  or  five-lobed  forms. 
This  very  cut-leaved  form  is  to  be  procured  with 
green  foliage,  with  foliage  of  a  bronzy  hue  as  well  as 
with  the  wine  red  shading  of  septemlobum  san- 
guineum. There  are,  in  addition,  variegated  and 
rose-margined  forms,  aU  with  the  much-cut  leaf. 

Besides  these  (and  other)  forms  of  A.A.   japoni- 
cum and  palmatum,   the  Japanese  have  selected 


502 


THE     GARDEN. 


[October  7,  1922. 


varieties  of  A.  pictum,  a  much  larger  and 
quicker  growing  tree  than  the  other  two  species. 
A.  pictum  itself  is  a  sufficiently  handsome 
tree,  but  the  variegated  forms  are  not  recom- 
mendable.  They  have  a  considerable  tendency 
to  revert  to  the  type  and  are  moreover  too  quick 
in  growth  to  associate  with  the  palmatum  and 
japonicum  forms. 


The  Maples  as  a  whole  are  not  particular  as  to 
soil,  but  while  by  no  means  bog-lovers,  they 
certainly  flourish  best  where  they  have  access  to 
water.  The  Japanese  varieties  are  very  liable  in 
our  climate  to  be  damaged  by  rough  winds  and 
by  spring  frosts.  Shelter  from  rough  winds  and 
from  the  morning  sun  is  therefore  advisable. 
They  succeed  best  in  soil   which    will    grow   good 


Rhododendrons.  A  little  shade  is  not  harmful 
to  them,  but  it  tends  to  detract  from  the 
foliage  colouring.  They  have  one  great  advan- 
tage in  that,  like  many  American  plants,  they 
transplant  very  readily,  even  when  of  some  size 
and  not  recently  transplanted.  They  may,  there- 
fore, be  planted  fairly  closely  and  given  more 
space  when  they  grow   together. 


THE  NEW  HERBACEOUS  BORDER  :    HOW  TO  MAKE  IT 

Really  hardy  border  plants  that  flower  freely,  and  grow  well  with  good  treatment,    are   increasing   in  favour 
every  year.     These  notes  and  accompanying  table  are  intended  to  be  helpful  to  inexperienced  cultivators  who 

wish  to  form  new  borders  either  in  new  or  old  gardens. 


THE  list  is  not  an  exhaustive  one  as 
there  is  such  wealth  to  select  from,  but 
the  kinds  and  varieties  named  will 
answer  the  purpose  as  they  are  reliable, 
lovely  in  every  way  and,  in  addition  to 
furnishing  a  border,  will  yield  a  harvest  of  blossom 
for  cutting. 


PREPARING    THE    GROUND. 

Herbaceous  plants  will  thrive  in  most  soils  if 
these  are  well  prepared.  It  is  quite  as  necessary 
to  trench  the  ground  for  herbaceous  plants  as  it  is 
for  fruit  trees,  shrubs  and  vegetables.  Too  often 
does  one  see  herbaceous  plants  showing  signs  of 
distress   about   midsummer  in   a  dry  season  just 


A     SELECTION     OF     HARDY     HERBACEOUS     PLANTS. 


Navic. 
Achillea  Eupatorium 
A.  The  Pearl 

.^conitum  Napellus  bicolor 
A.  Wilsoni 
Adonis  vemalis    . . 

-Agrostemma  (Lychnis)  coronaria  Walkeri 
Alyssum  saxatile  citrinum 
Anchusa  italica    Dropmore  var. 

A.  i.   Opal  

Anemone  Pulsatilla 

.^nthericum  Liliago 

Aquilegia  chrysantha 

A.  Helentc 

Arabis  albida  compacta 

Armeria  Cephalotes  rubra 

Aster  acris 

A.  Amellus  bessarabicus 

A.  Brightness 

A.  Edna  Mercia    .  . 

A.  White  Queen  . . 

A.  Perry's  Pink    . . 

Bocconia  cordata 

Campanula  carpatica 

C.  van  Houtteii    . . 

Centaurea  montana 

C.  m.  alba 

Chrvsanthemimi  latifolium  grandiflorum 

C.  Mrs.  C.  Lothian  Bell 

Coreopsis  grandiflora 
Delphinium  in  variety 
Dictamnus  Fraxinella 
Doronicum  piantagineum  excelsuni 
Erigeron  speciosus  superbus 
Gaillardia 

Galega  officinalis 

Gypsophila  paniculata    .  . 

Helenium  superbum 

H.  pumilum  magnificum 

Helianthus  rigidus  Miss  Mellish 

H.  r.  semi-plenus 

Heuchera  sanguinea 

Iris  sibirica 

I.  aurea 

I.  cristata 

Linum  narbonense 

Lychnis  chalcedonica 

Malva  moschata  alba 

Monarda  didyma  Cambridge  Scarlet    . . 

Orobus  vemus 

Phlox  Coquehcot 

P.  Embrasement 

P.  Etna 

P.  Henri  Murger 

P.  Le  Mahdi         

P.  Sylphide  

P.  Tunisie . . 

Rudbeckia  Newmanii 

.Scabiosa  caucasica 

Solidago  canadense 

Spiraea  Aruncus   . . 

S.  palmata 

.Statice  latifolia    . . 

Thalictrum  flavum 

Tritoma  coralhna 

TrolUus  europa?us 

Veronica  longifolia  subsessilis    . . 


Heii;Jit 

Flowering 

Feet. 

Colour. 

month  or  months. 

4 

Yellow   . . 

. .   July,  .August,  September. 

3 

.     White     . . 

. .   June,  July,  double. 

3 

. .      Blue  and  white 

.  .    June,  July. 

4 

. .     Deep  blue 

.  .    .-August. 

I 

Yellow   . . 

. .   .April,  May. 

li 

.  .      Rose-crimson    .  . 

. .   June — September. 

i 

Soft  yellow 

.  .    April,  May,  June. 

4 

. .     Deep  blue 

.  .   July,  August,  September. 

4 

. .      Pale  blue 

.  .    July — September. 

1 

. .      Purple    . . 

. .   -April,  May. 

2 

.     White     . . 

. .   -May,  June,  July. 

2 

Golden  yellow  . . 

. .   June,  July,  August. 

2 

. .     Blue  and  white 

..   June. 

i 

.     White     .. 

. .   March,  April,  May. 

I 

..Red 

. .   July,  August. 

2 

. .     Blue       .. 

. .   August,  September. 

2 

. .     Blue       .. 

. .   August,  September. 

4 

. .      Rosy  lilac 

. .    September,  October. 

3 

.  .      Bright  rose 

. .   September,  October. 

4 

. .     White     .. 

.  .    September,  October. 

3i 

.  .      Bright  pink 

. .   September,  October. 

5 

. .     Cream 

.  .    Mav,  Tune. 

J 

. .      Purple,  pale  blue  or  white    June,  Tulv, -'August. 

2 

.  .      Blue        .... 

.  .    June,  July,  August 

a 

. .     Blue       .. 

.  .   July,  August. 

li 

. .     White     .. 

. .   July,  August. 

4 

. .     White     .. 

.  .    July,  August 

3 

. .     White     . . 

.  .   June,  July. 

3 

. .     Yellow   . . 

. .   Julv,  August,  September. 

3-6 

.  .      Blue,  purple  or  mauve .  .    June,  July,  August. 

2 

Rose  or  white     . 

. .   June,  July. 

3 

. .     Yellow   .. 

. .   Slay,  June. 

3 

Violet-purple    . . 

. .   July,  August,  September. 

2 

Various    shades   of 
and  (or)  yellow. 

red  June  to  October. 

4 

. .     Lilac  or  white 

. .   July,  August,  September. 

3 

. .     White     .. 

. .    June,  July,  August. 

5 

. .     Yellow   .. 

. .  August.  September,  October 

3 

. .     Yellow   . . 

. .    July,  August,  September. 

6 

. .     Yellow   .. 

. .  August.  September,  October 

4 

. .     Yellow   . . 

. .    July,  August. 

1* 

. .     Scariet   . . 

. .    June,  July,  August. 

3 

. .     Violet-purple    . . 

. .   May,  June 

3 

Golden  vellow  . . 

. .    May,  June. 

\ 

.      Blue       '. . 

.  .    May,  June. 

2 

.      Blue        .. 

. .   May,  June,  July. 

3 

.     Scarlet  ... 

. .   June,  July,  August. 

2 

.     White     .. 

. .   June,  July. 

3 

.      Scarlet    .  . 

. .   July,  -August,  September. 

I 

.     Red 

.  .    -April,  May. 

3 

.     Orange-scarlet  . . 

. .   July,  -August,  September. 

Zh 

.     Salmon-orange 

. .   July,  August,  September. 

-> 

.      Orange-scarlet 

.  .    July,  .August,  September. 

2\ 

.      White     .  . 

. .   July,  .August,  September. 

2i 

.     Violet-blue 

.  .    July,  August,  September. 

2 

.     White     .. 

.  .    July,  August,  September. 

2 1 

.     Pale  violet 

. .   July,  August,  September. 

li 

.     Yellow   .. 

. .   July,  August,  September 

3 

.      Blue  (pale) 

. .   June,  July,  .August. 

4 

.      Yellow    . . 

. .   July,  August,  September. 

4 

.      White     .. 

. .   July,  August. 

3 

Rosy  crimson    .  . 

. .   July,  August. 

2 

.      Blue-purple 

. .   July,  .August. 

4 

Yellow    .  . 

. .   July,  August. 

3      • 

.      Scarlet    . . 

. .   -August,  .September. 

I 

Yellow    .  . 

. .   May,  June. 

2 

.      Blue        .. 

. .   July,  .August.: 

when  they  should  be  in  a  flourishing  condition. 
There  are  several  causes  of  this,  such  as  overcrowded 
roots,  poor  soils  and  lack  of  depth  of  cultivated 
soil.  Even  where  every  attention  is  paid  to  current 
details  of  culture,  satisfactory  growth  will  not 
result  if  the  soil  is  very  shallow  in  addition  to  being- 
poor.  Trench  the  poorest  ground  first  to  a  depth 
of  at  least  2ft.  ;  if  leaf  soil,  garden  refuse,  which  is- 
suitably  decayed,  wood  ashes  or  rotted  manure 
be  available,  add  such  hbe^ally  to  the  poor  soil,, 
thoroughly  mixing  the  materials  with  the  soil- 
The  roots  of  the  plants  will  penetrate  deeper,  in 
consequence,  and  the  clumps  will  survive  a  dry 
spell,  bearing,  of  course,  finer  spikes,  foliage  and 
flowers. 

Good  loams  will  not  need  the  addition  of  much 
manure  at  the  time  of  digging  ;  it  can  be  applied, 
when  necessary,  as  a  surface  mulch.  Such  loams, 
should,  however,  be  deeply  trenched  for  many 
kinds  of  herbaceous  plants  root  deeply,  and  in 
any  case  deep  cultivation  minimises  the  effects 
of  drought.  It  is  much  better  to  prepare  a  small 
border  thoroughly  than  a  large  one  indifferently. 

PLANTING    AND    ARRANGEMENT. 

Planting  may  be  done  in  open  weather,  any  time 
from  the  end  of  October  to  the  end  of  April  as 
far  as  the  majority  of  kinds  are  concerned.  In  the 
table  the  approximate  height  is  stated  of  the  kinds 
and  varieties  so  that  the  veriest  novice  will  be 
able  to  arrange  the  plants  so  that  the  tallest  are 
in  the  background  with  dwarfer  ones  in  the  centre 
and  front.  But  care  must  be  taken  to  avoid  a  too 
formal  arrangement.  Odd  plants  or  small  groups 
growing  a  little  taller  than  others  near  them,, 
break  up  and  enliven  the  appearance  of  the  border. 

Where  Michaelmas  Daisies  are  used  the  tall 
varieties  should  always  be  at  the  back,  with  the 
dwarfer-growing  ones  in  the  centre  ;  these  plants, 
in  themselves  almost  furnish  a  border  late  in 
the  season.  Ample  room  must  be  allowed  for 
every  clump  to  grow,  without  smothering  others, 
unless,  indeed,  the  "  others  "  have  gone  out  of 
flower.  George   Garner. 


THE    SNAKEROOTS 

Among  the  most  interesting  and  attractive  families 
of  hardy  herbaceous  perennials  are  the  Snakeroots 
(Liatris),  natives  of  North  America  and  quite  unlike 
any  other  genus  in  that  they  commence  to  open  their 
flowers  from  the  top  of  the  spike  and  continue  down- 
wards. From  a  cluster  of  grass-like  foliage  appear 
stout,  straight  leafy  stems  attaining  a  height  of  from 
3ft.  to  4ft.,  of  which  fully  ift.  to  2ft.  is  encircled 
with  crimson-purple,  star-Uke  flowers.  The  flower- 
ing season  is  extended  over  a  period  from  July  to. 
middle  of  September.  The  Liatris  are  perhaps 
most  effective  when  planted  between  such  plants 
as  Pfeonies  or  Phloxes,  their  spikes  towering  well 
above.  All  the  species  thrive  in  ordinary  garden  soil 
in  full  sun  or  partial  shade,  but  respond  handsomely 
to  good  cultivation.  They  are  also  good  bee 
flowers. 


October  7,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


503 


THE     GARDEN    DAHLIA 


THE  present-day  Dahlia,  apart  from  its 
obvious  grouping  into  classes,  such  as 
PsBony,  Decorative,  Cactus  or  Show, 
may  well  be  divided  into  three  great 
groups,  according  as  to  whether  the 
varieties  are  suitable  for  (i)  the  exhibition  board, 
(2)  general  cut  flower  and  decoration,  (3)  garden 
decoration,  or  (4)  for  cut  flower  and  garden 
decoration.  Some  sections  can  be  placed  bodily 
in  one  or  other  of  these  categories.  The  Show 
Dahlia  (this  class  now  includes  the  old  "  Fancies  ") 
are  of  little  decorati\-e  value  anywhere.  The 
Cactus  has  real  decorative  value  when  cut,  but  is 
principally  an  exhibition  bloom.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  quaint  httle 
Pompons  are  equally 
useful  for  the  garden, 
for  cutting  or  for  ex- 
hibition. Many  of  the 
exhibition  singles  and 
some  of  the  Star 
varieties,  while  admirable 
for  cut  flower,  are  too 
shy  to  be  really  effective 
in  the  garden.  This  was 
made  especially  evident 
on  a  recent  visit  to 
Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and 
Sons'  trial  ground  at 
Crawley.  Messrs.  Cheal, 
very  wisely  as  we 
think,  attach  great 
importance  to  the  Star 
class,  which  for  decora- 
tive purposes  is  rapidly 
ousting  the  exhibition 
single  as  being  more 
graceful  when  cut  and 
more  effective  on  the 
plant.  The  two  first 
varieties  of  this  class  to 
be  introduced,  the  rose 
pink  Crawley  Star  and 
White  Star,  are  still 
invaluable.  Messrs.  Cheal 
have  been  trying  a 
curled  petalled  white 
seedling  of  more  starry 
appearance  than  White 
Star,  but  it  is  less  flori- 
ferous  and  though  quite 
distinct,  the  flower  is 
scarcely  more  beautiful 
than  the  older  plant. 
Yellow  Star  is  a  good 
garden  Dahlia,  so  is  the 
tall  upright  -  growing 
Bronze  Star.  A  particu- 
larly fine  DahUa  for  cut  flower  is  Peggy  Lobjoit,  and 
this  is  also  quite  a  good  garden  plant,  though  less 
free  flowering  than  Pink  Star,  which  is  hardly  so  good 
for  cut  flower.  Purchasers  must  take  their  choice. 
Crimson  Star  is  useful,  but  not  up  to  the  quality 
reached  in  other  colours,  nor  as  seen  growing  is  it 
quite  crimson.  Reigate  Star  in  shades  of  apricot 
and  pink  is  good,  but  Surrey  Star  does  not  shine 
as  a  garden  plant.  Mauve  Star,  Coral  Star  and 
the  newer  Cuckfield  Star,  which  is  rose  pink  at 
the  tips  of  the  petals,  shading  off  to  soft  yellow 
at  the  centre  of  the  flower  are  aU  admirable ; 
so  in  a  different  way  is  Primrose  Star,  which  has 
several  rows  of  petals  and  looks  to  have  Cactus 
"  blood  "  in  it. 

Of  almost  equal  value  with  the  Star  class  are 
the  dwarf  bedding  "  Mignon  "  Dahlias,  but  these 
have  not  hitherto  been  so  popular,  probably 
because  the  single  flowers  have  no  special  beauty 


of  form  when  seen  on  the  exhibition  stand.  Almost 
every  colour  wanted  is  now  to  be  found  in  this 
class  except  pink,  and  it  would  really  seem  as  if 
the  pink  coloration  carried  with  it  a  factor  for 
tallness,  but  in  one  way  or  another  this  difiiculty 
will  probably  be  overcome  sooner  or  later.  All 
the  varieties  on  view  at  Crawley  are  free  flowering 
and  admirable  in  their  several  colours,  but  the 
soft  yellows  represented  by  Louise  and  Pembroke 
as  delightful  foils  for  taller  plants  of  rich  red 
colouring  made  the  greatest  appeal.  In  Mr. 
Joseph  Cheal's  private  garden  a  circular  bed 
filled  with  the  camellia-flowered  Crimson  Flag 
and   edged   with    Mignon    Dahlia    Pembroke   was 


THE    CHARMING    DAHLIA    CUCKFIELD    STAR. 


wonderfully  effective.  Janet,  bright  orange,  very- 
free  and  distinct,  and  the  rich  yellow  Daffodil 
were  particularly  taking  also,  but  the  white 
varieties  Niveus  and  Albion  and  the  bright  crim- 
sons, such  as  Etna,  Regent  and  Mincio,  were 
equally  effective.  Mincio,  indeed,  was  practically 
as  bright  as  that  excellent  variety  Coltness  Gem, 
represented  in  the  trials  only  by  cut-back  plants. 

The  exhibition  singles  are  rather  set  and  stiff  for 
cut  flower,  and  for  the  most  part  less  showy  in 
the  garden  than  the  Star  varieties,  but  there  are 
exceptions  in  this  last  regard,  and  we  particularly 
noted  Butterfly,  pure  white  with,  of  course,  the 
characteristic  yellow  zone  and  the  vivid  crimson 
scarlet  Leon  as  excellent  garden  plants,  as  well 
as  being  admirable  for  exhibition  purposes. 

Collarette  Dahlias  are  not  very  noteworthy  as 
plants  for  garden  decoration  and,  since  the  truth 
must  be  told,  the  newer  sorts  seem  less  effective 


for  this  purpose  than  those  first  introduced.  At 
any  rate  the  old  Carl  Beckstadt,  bright  crimson 
with  a  yellow  collar,  seemed  about  the  most 
effective  of  those  under  trial.  The  collar  of  this 
variety  is  rather  poor  and  "  stubby "  and  the 
petals  do  not  lie  flat ;  none  the  less,  it  is  an  excellent 
garden  plant.  Of  the  newer  sorts  Melody,  a  study 
in  bronzy  orange  and  yellow,  made  the  best 
effect,  always  excepting  the  brilhant  semi-double 
Novelty,  which  is  a  brilliant  garden  plant  with 
an  abundance  of  not  too  shapely  flowers  in  bright 
crimson  and  gold. 

The  Pompon  Dahlias  are  quite  admirable  for 
garden  decoration,  since  they  blossom  freely  and 
hold  up  their  flowers  well  above  the  foliage.  That 
they  are  valuable  for  cut  flower  goes  almost  with- 
out saying.  If  they  have  not  quite  the  grace  of, 
say,  the  Star  varieties,  they  largely  make  up  for 
the  shortage  by  the  fact  that  however  long  they 
remain  in  water  they  shed  no  pollen.  It  is  true 
that  if  gathered  before  quite  mature  the  Star 
varieties  may  be  used  quite  safely  even  on  the 
dinner-table  for  two  days  ;  none  the  less,  their 
propensity  to  shed  pollen  is  undoubtedly  a  draw- 
back. One  cannot  say  that  any  special  Pompon 
variety  drew  attention  in  the  trial.  They  were 
all  laden  with  blossom,  so  that  making  a  selection 
resolves  itself  largely  into  a  choice  of  colours. 
Firefly  and  Freedom,  both  crimsons,  are  effective 
in  the  garden,  so  is  the  primrose-coloured  Niobe 
and  the  pure  white  The  Bride.  Nerissa  in  mauve 
pink  and  Bacchus  with  orange  apricot  flowers 
we  do  not  remember  to  have  seen  at  Crawley, 
but  they  are  both  excellent,  if  old,  varieties. 

The  Pteony-flowered  class  is  still  popular  despite 
its  affectation  of  modesty  in  the  border !  The 
Paeony-flowered  varieties  almost  invariably  carry 
their  flowers  well  above  the  foliage,  but  with  equal 
unanimity  they  almost  all  hang  their  heads  to 
greater  or  less  extent.  For  that  reason  many 
people  prefer  the  tall  varieties,  as  then,  especially 
if  they  be  planted  on  rather  high  ground,  one 
looks  upward  to  the  flower.  Probably  a  race  of 
stiff-stemmed  P«ony-flowered  sorts  is  on  the 
way.  At  any  rate  the  new  Lady  Greer  recently 
selected  for  trial  at  Wisley  carries  its  flowers 
firmly  on  stout  stems.  The  miniature  Pffiony- 
flowered  sorts  shade  off  by  insensible  degrees  into 
the  Star  class.  These  are  equally  valuable  in 
the  garden  and  almost  as  good  for  cut  flower. 
Especially  good  at  Crawley  were  Lady  Beatty, 
salmon  pink,  flushed  rose,  and  Leonie  Cobb, 
rosy  lilac. 

A  large  batch  of  the  best  Cactus  varieties 
served  only  to  shew  how  unsuitable  these  are  for 
garden  decoration.  The  miniature  Cactus  forms, 
however,  are  excellent  garden  plants,  but  varieties 
at  present  are  not  numerous. 

The  large  Decorative  varieties  are  all  suitable 
for  garden  decoration,  since  by  their  suitability 
in  this  regard  they  stand  or  fall,  but  they  shew 
great  diversity  of  habit  and  appearance.  The 
popular  Brentwood  Yellow  has  eWdently  much 
Cactus  blood,  whereas  others  are  practically 
quite  double  "  Pseonies,"  and  others,  again,  like 
the  flaming  red  Souv.  de  Gustave  Douzon,  are  a 
class  apart.  This  last  type  is  evidently  being 
bred  for  by  the  Dutch  florists,  since  a  number  of  the 
varieties  with  these  huge  solid  flowers  were  dis- 
played by  them  at  the  Dahlia  Show.  They 
certainly  are  showy  in  the  garden.  At  Crawley 
these  leviathans  came  in  for  their  share  of  admira- 
tion, but  the  smaller  camellia-flowered  type 
seemed  the  more  attractive.  Crimson  Flag  has 
already  been  referred  to.  It  might  be  taken  as 
typical  of  a  good  garden  Dahlia.  Cheal's  White 
represents,  near  enough,  a  white  counterpart. 
Yellow  and  pink  have  yet  to  be  represented  in 
anything  of  the  same  type.  May  they  soon  be 
evolved 


504 


THE     GARDEN. 


[October  7,  1922. 


THE    ASIATIC    SPECIES    OF 
MECONOPSIS 


WELL  do  these  exquisite  flowers, 
that  the  botanist  recognises  as 
Meconopsis,  merit  the  more  English 
name  of  Satin  Poppy,  for  that  is 
exactly  what  they  look  like. 
Great  poppy-formed  flowers,  with  petals  of  such 
delicate  texture  that  they  appear  as  though  made 
of  slightly  crumpled  satin.  Whether  seen  in  the 
early  morning  when  the  enclosing  cases  have  but 
recently  fallen  away  from  the  buds  and  the  petals 
are  but  just  commencing  to  unwrap  and  reveal  a 
peep  of  the  glorious  golden  stamens  that  cluster 
at  the  centre  of  the  flower  or  at  noontide,  when  the 
widely  expanded  blooms  are  at  the  zenith  of  their 
glorious  perfection,  the  "  aristocratic  "  varieties  of 
these  superb  flowers  are  among  the  finest  of  Nature's 
gifts  to  the  garden  lover.  I  use  the  word  "  aristo- 
cratic '*  varieties  to  describe  the  super  forms  that 
come  to  us  from  the  Himalayas,  etc.,  for  we  ha\'e, 
among  our  nati\e  flora,  representatives  of  the  family 
in  the  Welsh  Poppy — Meconopsis  cambrica — which 
beautiful  though  it  is  when  one  comes  upon  it  amid 
its  natural  surroundings,  is  apt  to  become  rather 
troublesome  when  transferred  to  the  garden,  owing 
to  its  free  seeding  habits.  Would  that  the  alien 
types  were  addicted  to  the  same  vice,  for  never, 
never,  could  one  weary  of  the  marvellous  beauty 
of  such  gems  as  aculeata,  nepalensis,  Wallichii,  etc., 
but  alas  !  these  have  to  be  coaxed  and  wooed  to 
do  their  best,  although  the  difiiculties  in  the  way 
are  not  insurmountable  and  splendid  results  may 
be  obtained  where  soil  and  position  are  to  their 
liking.  Here,  indeed,  lies  the  crux  of  the  matter. 
One  must  experiment  and  find  the  particular  spot 
in  one's  own  garden  where  they  wiU  thrive  and 
grow,  perhaps  only  a  few  feet  from  a  previous 
failure.  Sometimes  it  is  full  sun,  at  others  in 
partial  shade  ;  my  own  observation  favouring  a 
spot  sufliciently  in  the  open  for  it  to  be  impossible 
for  any  overhanging  boughs  to  drip  when  rainy 
times  come,  but  within  the  fitful  shadow  where  the 
sunlight  comes  through  tall  tree  boughs. 

Abundance  of  water  is  essential,  yet  must  the  soil 
never  become  wet  or  stagnant  ;    a  cool  moist,  vet 


rich  loam  providing  the  best 
rooting  medium.  Many  of  the 
choicest  types  are  biennials  and 
must  be  sown  annually  and, 
when  dealing  with  these,  the 
best  method  is  to  raise  in  single 
pots,  growing  the  plants  on  as 
strongly  as  possible  all  through 
summer  and  autumn.  Do  not 
allow  them  to  become  stunted ; 
if  larger  pots  are  required,  by 
all  means  provide  them  and 
see  that  the  plants  never  suffer 
from  drought  for  a  single  hour. 
These  biennial  forms  are  best 
wintered  in  a  cold  frame, 
always  with  an  abundant 
circulation  of  air  except  when 
the  conditions  are  unduly  wet 
or  extreme  frost  prevails. 

Planting  in  permanent  posi- 
tions should  be  done  either  in 
late  March  or  early  .'\pril,  taking 
care  that  the  soil  (while  of  the 
character  indicated),  is  also 
deep  and  sufficiently  moist 
Many  plants  will  flowei  the 
succeeding  July,  although 
others  will  not  shew  any  sign 
of  buds  until  another  twelve 
months  have  elapsed  It  is 
these  that  —  ultimately  —  will 
make  the  most  vigorous  speci 
mens  and,  in  the  ever  increasing 
size  of  the  rosettes  of  leaves, 
one  can  watch  the  promise  of 
effective  blossom  accumulating 

\\'hen  winter  comes  again,  what  then  ?  Well, 
some  slight  protection  is  advisable  and  there  is  no 
btttjr  way  of  providing  this  than  by  fixing  a  pane 
of  glass  over  the  top,  a  few  inches  above  the  crown 
so  that  rain  is  shot  off  and  the  foliage  kept  dry 
while  air  can  circulate  freely  over  the  plant. 
Species     are    fairly    numerous     and,    among   the 


MECONOPSIS    WALLICHII    IN    SEMI-WOODLAND. 


VERY    DISTINCT    IN    FOLIAGE,    MECONOPSIS    LATIFOLIA. 


choicest  of  these,  mention  should  be  made  of  M. 
aculeata,  a  small  grower  (2ft.  high)  from  the 
Himalayas,  with  bright  green  leaves  armed  with 
stiff  hair-like  prickles.  From  the  centre  of  the 
rosette  of  leaves,  rises  a  stem,  terminating  in  a 
loose  panicle  of  purple  blue  flowers  of  large  size. 
M.  integrifolia  is  a  grand  thing  from  China  which 
forms  large  rosettes  of  beautiful  woolly  green 
leaves,  from  the  centre  of  which  springs  a  tall 
flower  stem  bearing  splendid  primrose  yellow  flowers 
4ins.  in  diameter,  with  stamens  the  same  colour  as 
the  petals.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  there  are 
two  forms  of  this  plant,  that  first  introduced  pro- 
ducing a  single  stem  with  the  flowers  on  short 
pedicles  branching  from  it,  while  that  which  followed 
produces  several  stems  from  the  root,  each  one  of 
which  bears  but  a  single  bloom.  Both  are  readily 
reproduced  from  seed. 

M.  nepalensis,  native  of  Nepal,  is  a  rare  plant 
and  very  difficult  to  obtain,  though  strikingly 
distinct.  The  flower  stems  attain  a  height  of  4ft. 
to  5ft.,  with  wonderful  large  brick-red  flowers,  2!ns. 
to  3ins.  in  diameter.  The  flowering  stem  is  much 
branched  and  the  flowers  nod  on  the  stalk  at  the 
slightest  breath  of  wind.  M.  paniculata  makes 
very  large  rosettes  of  foliage  covered  v/ith  silky 
tawny  hair,  a  vigorous  stem  3ft.  to  5ft.  in  stature 
rising  from  the  centre,  which  bears  a  profusion  of 
drooping  yellow  flowers.  M.  racemosa  is  quite 
dwarf  compared  with  many  varieties  and  does 
not  exceed  ift.  The  flowers  are  very  like  those  of 
aculeata,  but  a  delightful  shade  of  pale  blue. 
M.  simplicifolia  forms  tufts  of  lance-shaped  leaves, 
sins,  to  sins,  in  length  and  covered  with  a  short, 
dense  brownish  pubescence.  The  flower  stalks  rise 
to  ift.  and  bear,  at  the  top,  a  single  violet-purple 
flower,  2ins.  to  sins,  across.  M.  Wallichii  is  among 
the  choicest  and  finest  species,  capable,  under  the 


October  7,  1922. 


THE     GARDEN. 


505 


best  conditions  of  reacliing  a  heiglit  of  jft.  to  7ft. 
A  native,  once  again,  of  the  Himalayas,  the  foliage  is 
exceedingly  beautiful,  much  divided  and  covered 
with  silky  hairs  and  reaching  a  length  of  ift.  to 
i8ius.  These  leaves  are  extremely  brittle  and, 
though  quite  capable  of  standing  the  winter,  are 


badh'  damaged  by  snow  so  that  our  ally.^the  glass 
pane,  should  certainly  be  requisitioned.  The 
flower  spike  assumes  the  form  of  a  pyramid  and 
branches  freely,  the  first  flowers  to  open  being  those 
at  the  end  of  each  branch,  continuing  until  those 
nearest  to  the  central  stem  expand.     Crovdonh. 


NOTES  on  tke  AUTUMN  ROSE  SHOW 

The   Giving  of  Gold  Medals  and  Azvards  of  Merit. 


THE  bestowal  of  a  gold  medal  on  Florence 
L.  Izzard  gives  me  an  opportunity  to 
correct  a  statement  in  the  Rose  Annual 
for  1922  in  my  account  of  the  Autumn 
Rose  Show  of  1921.  I  am  made 
to  say "  Anyone  who  was  on  this  occasion  a 
little  behind  the  scenes  as  I  was  could  not  fail 
to  be  aware  that  rosarians  of  equal  experience 
with  the  judges  would  have  made  the  same  awards." 
I  intended  to  say,  as  the  immediate  context 
shews,  '*  would  not  have  made  the  same  awards." 
Exactly  the  same  occurred  this  year.  The  selected 
judges  made  their  awards,  but  I  found  rosarians 
of  equal  experience  who  would  have  given  them 
very  differently.  "  Who  shall  decide  when  doctors 
disagree  ?  "  I  really  cannot  tell ;  but  when 
this  happens  it  does  seem  to  give  a  locus  standi 
to  men  and  women  who  are  no  experts  and  to 
whom  the  raised  centre  is  no  fetish.  Hence  I 
venture  to  say  that  I  would  have  given  a  "  gold  " 
to  Mrs.  Edward  Molony.  I  liked  the  general 
form  of  the  flowers,  their  pretty  rose  colouring, 
and  their  pleasing  scent.  I  cannot  help  it,  I  do 
hke  rose-coloured  Roses.  Florence  L.  Izzard, 
the  rival  of  Mable  Morse  in  the  last  autumn  show, 
gained  the  gold  medal  this  time.  It  has  two 
very  good  points.  It  has  a  strong  Tea  scent 
and  exceedingly  nice  shaped  buds.  But  I  thought 
its  yellow  colouring  cold  and  somewhat  unattrac- 
tive. The  award,  which  in  my  eyes  "  took  the 
biscuit "  for  non-understandableness,  was  the 
award  of  merit  given  to  Mrs.  C.  W.  Edward.  Its 
colour  was  all  right,  but  I  do  not  think  there  was 
a  bud  or  a  partly  open  bloom  that  had  not  several 
of  the  outside  petals  greatly  disfigured  by  weather. 
Mr.  McGredy  said,  "  Ah  !  but  the  foliage  is  mildew 
proof !  "  It  may  be,  but  its  flowers  are  not 
weather-proof ;  anything  but  that,  it  seemed  to 
me.  My  good  Irish  friend  looked  very  unwell. 
He  was  just  a  shadow  of  his  old  self.  Eight  weeks 
of  bed  with  double  pneumonia  have  left  their 
mark.  All  his  many  friends  will,  I  feel  certain, 
join  with  me  in  hoping  that  Harrogate,  where 
he  is  as  I  write,  will  set  him  up  again. 

THE     FLOWER    OF    THE     SHOW. 

I  would  not  have  had  the  least  difficulty  w'here 
to  place  the  golden  apple  had  one  come  from  the 
gods  on  this  occasion  labelled  "  To  the  fairest." 
I  would  have  laid  it  at  the  feet  of  two  perfect 
blooms  of  the  pure  white  Innocence  which  graced 
the  centre  of  ChapUn  Brothers'  group  at  the 
north-west  corner  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society's  Hall.  The  beautiful  undulation  of  the 
petals  coupled  with  their  good,  rich,  solid  look, 
and  their  charming  centre  with  the  red  and  rose 
filaments  of  the  stamens  shimmering  below  their 
yellow  anthers,  made  up  as  beautiful  a  Rose  as 
I  ever  wish  to  see.     Pax  must  retire  ! 

THE     "belle"     of     the     SHOW. 

Ever  since  I  first  saw  Isobel  in  the  days  of  her 
youth  in  her  home  at  Portadown  I  have  set  my  cap 
at  her.  I  am  now  her  humble  slave.  Everyone  is. 
Isobel  was  here,  there  and  everywhere;  and  wherever 
she  was  she  added  distinction  and  charm  to  the 
group.     It  is  a  cowardly  thing  to  do,  and  I  know 


I  am  not  practising  what  I  preach,  but  as  words 
fail  me  in  attempting  to  convey  any  idea  of  her 
beautiful  warm  rosy  pink  colouring,  I  just  say 
"  Too  well  known  to  need  any  description." 

c.\ught-my-eye  roses.  t-~-' 

At   every   Show  certain    Roses    catch    my   eye, 
but    for    some    unfathomable    reason     they     are 


A    TRIAL    OF     NEW 
ROSES 

British   Introductions  of   1920. 

(Continued    frnm    page    487.) 

Miss  M.  J.  Spencer  {H.T.,  Hugh  Dickson).— 
Strong  growth.  Golden  yellow  blooms,  not  unlike 
Golden  Opheha  in  the  bud,  and  the  blooms  are 
lighter  coloured  on  the  outside  petals,  but  it  is  a 
stronger  grower  than  Golden  Ophelia  and  a  different 
type.  Should  make  a  good  garden  Rose,  and  is 
sweetly  scented. 

Mrs.  Arthur  Johnson  (H.T.,  S.  McGredy  and 
Son). — To  judge  by  the  foliage  and  growth,  it 
looks  like  a  Pernetiana.  Moderate  growth,  with 
large  blooms  rather  flat,  and  deep  orange 
colour. 

Mrs.  Chas.  Lamplough  (H.T.,  S.  McGredy 
and    Son). — An    exhibition    Rose    of    good,    strong 


ROSE    MRS.    HENRY    MORSE,    BRIGHT    PINK    SHADED    SALMON. 


not  by  any  means  always  the  same — Los 
Angeles  at  Cardiff  in  1920  took  my  tancy 
very  much,  yet  it  left  me  cold  now.  They 
are  sometimes  very  newcomers,  sometimes  "  as 
old  as  the  hills."  Here  is  the  list  of  some  of  those 
which  caught  my  eye  on  September  21  :  Padre, 
Lady  Pirrie,  Betty  Uprichard,  Mrs.  Oakley  Fisher, 
Independence  Day,  Columbia,  Mrs.  Henry  Morse, 
Katharine  Zeimet,  Emma  Wright,  W.  E.  Wallace 
and  Glowworm.  Joseph  Jacob. 


FORTHCOJIING    EVENTS. 

October  9. — United  Horticultural  Benefit  and 
Provident  Society's  Meeting. 

October  1 1 . — East  AngUan  Horticultural  Society's 
Meeting.  Sheffield  Chrysanthemum  Society's 
Meeting. 

October  12. — Bristol  and  District  Gardeners' 
Association's  Meeting.  Wargi'ave  and  District 
Gardeners'  Society's  Meeting. 


and  erect  growth.  Large  pointed  blooms  of  pale 
chrome  colour,  and  plenty  of  them. 

Mrs.  Curnock  Sawday  (H.T.,  EUsha  Hicks).— 
A  strong  grower  and  effective  garden  Rose  with 
pale  pink  blooms  ;  sweet  scented,  but  unfortunately 
liable  to  mildew. 

Mrs.  Fred  Cook  (Pernetiana,  W.  Easlea).— 
Not  a  strong  grower,  although  the  blooms  come 
large  and  pointed,  and  are  of  a  light  terra-cotta 
pink  shade.  Almost  big  enough  for  an  exhibition 
box.     Sweet  scented. 

Mrs.  H.  R.  Darlington  (H.T.,  S.  McGredy  and 
Son). — Again  an  exhibitor's  Rose,  creamy  yellow, 
with  big  blooms  carried  erect  on  stout,  strong 
shoots. 

Mrs.  John  R.  Allen  (H.T.,  Hugh  Dickson).— 
Medium  growth.  The  blooms  are  rather  flat  and 
dark  pink  in  colour,  with  lighter  pink  on  outside 
petals.  None  too  free  a  bloomer,  and  not  yet 
recommended  here  as  a  garden  Rose  until  it  is 
established  mildew-proof. 


506 


THE     GARDEN. 


[October  7,  1922. 


Mrs.  Tom  Paul  (H.T.,  Hugh  Dickson).— Only 
a  moderate  growei,  with  creamy  yellow  blooms, 
flushed  pink.  It  is  a  fairly  free  bloomer,  but  the 
blooms  are  flat  in  shape. 

Mrs.  W.  A.  Lindsay  (H.T.,  Hugh  Dickson).— 
A  good  grower,  with  creamy  pink  blooms,  the 
centres  of  which  are  tinted  a  deeper  pink.  .Almost 
big  enough  for  exhibition.  Plenty  of  strong 
shoots  and  a  fine  bedding  variety.  Slightly 
scented. 

Olive  Whittaker  {H.T.,  W.  Easlea).  — An 
excellent  grower.  Blooms  are  large,  semi- 
single,  of  a  dark  red  colour,  with  bright  golden 
stamens.  The  buds  also  are  very  fine.  A  very 
free  bloomer,  and  a  useful  garden  Rose  to  give 
an  effective  mass  of  colour.     Slightly  fragrant. 

Padre  (H.T.,  B.  R.  Cant  and  Sons).— Without 
doubt  the  strongest-growing  Hybrid  Tea  of  this 
season.  Upright  shoots  carry  large  trusses  of 
blooms,  reminding  us  in  growth  of  Dorothy  Page 
Roberts,  but  a  far  more  profuse  bloomer.  Unique 
colour — coppery  scarlet  flushed  with  yellow, 
and  the  buds  are  exceptionally  long  in  the  petals. 
An  excellent  bedding  Rose  which  should  never 
cause  disappointment. 

Peggy  Astbury  (Pemetiana,  W.  Easlea). — 
Bushy  growth,  moderately  strong.  Semi-single 
blooms,  and  quite  a  unique  amber  yellow  colour, 
and  with  serrated  edges.  The  colour  seems  to 
wash  out  in  wet  weather,  but  it  is  a  good  garden 
Rose  worth  tr\ing,  especially  by  those  in  search 
of  a  novel  shade  of  colour. 

Pink  Bedder  (H.T.,  WiUiam  Paul  and  Son).— 
Straggly     growth.     Single     pink     blooms,     which 


unfortunately  turn  blue  on  maturity.  Not  a 
handsome-shaped  plant  or  bloom  ;  in  fact,  single 
pinks  such  as  this  are  hardly  called  for. 

The  General  (H.T.,  J.  H.  Pemberton).— A 
strong  grower,  but  oh  !  the  mildew  !  Large 
trusses  of  globular  red  blooms,  which  blue  off. 
The  only  redeeming  feature  of  the  variety  is  the 
scent  of  the  blooms,  which  is  exceptionally  sweet. 
Tim  Page  (Pemetiana,  W.  Easlea). — Erect 
growth,  with  pretty,  glossy  foliage  similar  to  our 
old  friend  Louise  Catherine  Breslau.  Heavy 
vellow  clean  blooms,  rather  flat  and  sweet  scented. 
A  free  bloomer  and  useful  garden  variety. 

Vanity  (Hybrid  Musk,  J.  H.  Pemberton).^ 
A  cluster  Rose  with  semi-single  blooms  pink  in 
colour.     Summer  flowering  only. 

Victory  (H.T.,  S.  McGredy  and  Son).— Erect 
growth,  but  not  very  strong,  and  hardly  a  profuse 
bloomer.  The  blooms  are  scarlet  crimson  with 
long  pointed  buds.  We  consider  this  variety 
has  already  been  superseded  by  McGredy's  1921 
Rose  Princess  Victoria,  which  is  far  superior. 

If  awards  had  to  be  given  for  the  best  Roses 
from  the  above  list,  which  is  as  representative 
of  1920  new  varieties  as  it  was  possible  to  find, 
and  selecting  therefrom  the  best  bedding,  the 
best  exhibition  and  the  best  chmbing  Rose  of  the 
season,  our  choice  for  the  first  would  undoubtedly 
fall  on  Padre.  Hawlmark  Crimson  would  be  a 
good  second  and  Olive  Whittaker  third.  Of  exhibi- 
tion Roses  undoubtedly  Mrs.  Chas.  Lamplough 
is  the  best,  and  Mrs.  H.  R.  Darlington  second. 
One  climber  only  could  be  recommended,  namely, 
Chmbing  Ophelia.  Herbert  L.  Wettern. 


NEXT    YEAR'S    SWEET    PEAS 


Alternative  Methods  of  Cultivation. 


IF  one  wishes  Sweet  Peas  in  good  time  next 
summer  it  is  advisable  to  lay  the  foundation 
this  autumn.  If  an  autumn  sowing  outdoors 
is  in  contemplation  the  work  should  be  put 
in  hand  immediately  these  lines  are  in  print. 
Opinions  difier  as  to  the  amount  of  preliminary 
ground  working  desirable  in  such  a  case.  The 
writer's  experience  is  that,  given  really  good 
cultivation  for  an  immediately  preceding  crop, 
it  is  better  not  to  trench  the  ground  before 
sowing  the  seed.  The  objection  to  deep  culti- 
vation is  that  it  is  not  possible  to  get  the 
ground  really  settled  again  before  germination 
takes  place.  For  Sweet  Peas  deep  cultivation  is 
essential,  although,  unless  for  exhibition  (and 
important  shows  at  that),  it  really  is  not  necessary 
to  work  ground  2ft.  or  even  3ft.  deep  as  is  so  often 
recommended.  It  is  easy  (dare  I  say  too  easy  ?)  to 
write  of  trenching  ground  3ft.  deep,  but  it  is  by  no 
means  so  easy  to  carry  out  in  practice.  Trenching 
as  ordinarily  carried  out  moves  the  soil  to  a  depth 
of  from  I  ft.  to  I5ins. — more  often  a  foot  than  the 
bigger  depth — and  to  trench  land  3ft.  deep  will 
mean,  even  given  an  easy  working  subsoil,  five  or 
six  times  the  labour  !  The  light,  hungry,  gravelly 
soil  at  Messrs.  Sutton's,  Reading,  trial  ground  will 
be  familiar  to  many  readers.  It  is  impossible  to 
cultivate  such  ground  deeply  as  at  very  little 
depth,  nowhere  more  than  a  foot,  one  strikes 
clean,  practically  sandless  gravel ;  yet  by  adding 
a  few  inches  of  loam  to  the  surface  —  one  way  of 
getting  depth — the  Reading  firm  have  succeeded 
in  growing  Sweet  Peas  which  have  proved  a 
source  of  delight  to  countless  visitors  to 
London  and  Provincial  shows  I  Still,  deep 
cultivation  must  be  practised  if  satisfactory 
results  are  to  be  obtained  and  if  a  recently 
trenched    site     is    not    available,     the     trenching 


should  be  put  in  hand  at  once  and  the  seeds 
be  sown  in  pots  and  planted  out  in  the  then 
consolidated  trench  next  spring. 

Sowing  in  pots  is  generally  considered  to  give 
better  results  than  sowing  direct  in  the  trench, 
but  provided  the  plants  stand  the  winter,  I  am  by 
no  means  certain  of  this.  Alas  !  there's  the  rub  ! 
In  the  Midlands  the  plants  often  do  not  survive  the 
"trials  of  our  changeable  winters  and  even  in  the 
South  there  is  an  element  of  chance  in  the  matter. 
If  seeds  are  to  be  sown  in  pots,  a  nice  turfy  loam 
makes  a  satisfactory  compost  with,  if  alone  it 
would  tend  to  "  set  "  too  stiffly,  a  little  manure 
from  a  spent  hot-bed  and,  perhaps,  a  little  coarse 
silver  sand.  It  is  wiser  not  to  use  leaf  mould. 
For  exhibition  it  is  well  to  sow  the  seeds  singly 
(having  proved  their  germination  by  the  simple 
expedient  of  just  planting  them  in  silver  sand),  in 
3in.  "  Long-Tom  "  pots.  This  method  takes  up 
a  deal  of  space,  however,  in  the  frames  allotted  for 
the  purpose,  more  space,  indeed,  than  is  always 
available.  This  being  so,  many  growers  sow  three 
or  four  seeds  in  a  5-in.  pot  (if  "  Long-Tom  "  so 
much  the  better  !).  The  pots  should  be  placed  in  a 
cold  frame  looking  either  south  or  south-west  and 
some  protection  should  be  available  should  hard 
weather  ensue,  since  the  plant  does  not  exist 
which  likes  to  have  its  roots  frozen  inside  a  flower 
pot,  to  say  nothing  of  the  broken  pots  which  are 
likely  to  be  found  when  the  thaw  sets  in  !  Border 
Carnations  will  probably  withstand  cold  as  well 
as  any  plants  grown  in  our  gardens,  but  even  the 
Carnation  specialists  take  steps  to  protect  their 
young  plants  from  being  frozen  solid  in  the  frames  ! 
Beyond  the  necessary  watering  the  young  plants 
in  pots  will  need  little  attention  until  early  spring, 
fiiough  a  sharp  look-out  must,  of  course,  be  kept 
for  slugs  and  sfiails. 


"  Do  plants  raised  from  seeds  sown  in  pots  in 
autumn  do  better  than  those  started  early  in  the 
New  Year  ?  "  is  a  question  often  asked.  In  the 
rather  dry  southern  counties  they  certainly  do, 
as  the  thoroughly  well  rooted  plants  establish 
themselves  more  quickly.  Even  further  north 
they  should  have  an  advantage,  but  an  exception 
must  be  made  in  the  case  of  the  suburbs  of  smoky 
towns.  Winter  fog  and  bad  Ught  tends  to  make 
anteraic  plants.  Artificial  heat  to  the  young  plants 
also  makes  for  debiUty.  In  the  open  country  an 
Enghsh  winter  provides  enough  light  for  vegetation 
which,  above  ground,  is  practically  at  a  standstill. 
Give  artificial  heat  and  growth  commences  and, 
there  being  an  insufficient  of  sunhght  to  ripen  the 
growth  as  formed,  the  plants  become  attenuated 
and  their  constitution  is  greatly  impaired. 

So  much  for  the  young  plants  which  are  to 
inhabit  our  trenches  in  the  spring,  but  what  of  the 
trenches  themselves.  If  an  abundance  of  good, 
partially  rotted  horse  dung  (on  heavy  land),  or 
cow  dung  on  lighter  soils,  is  available,  it  will  be 
well  to  incorporate  it  well  with  the  soil  of  each 
spit  except  the  top  one,  but  if  there  is  a  shortage,  it 
will  be  better  to  reserve  it  all  for  the  spit  immediately 
below  the  top  one.  Other  ingredients  should  depend 
somewhat  upon  the  character  of  the  soil  and  its 
active  constituents,  but  it  will  do  no  harm  to 
include  a  fair  amount  of  wood  ashes  from  the  garden 
bonfire — if  these  contain  a  little  charcoal,  so  much 
the  better — and  a  couple  of  ounces  to  the  square 
yard  of  finely  ground  bones.  This  is  a  safer  fertiUser 
to  use  than  bone  meal,  which  too  often  contains  an 
excess  of  free  acid.  Superphosphate  of  Ume,  which 
is  admirable  for  Sweet  Peas,  may  well  be  left  until 
the  plants  are  established  and  applied  dissolved 
in  water.  The  same  remark  will  apply  to  such 
soluble  nitrogenous  manures  as  sulphate  of  ammonia 
or  nitrate  of  soda. 

The  cultivation  of  Sweet  Peas  under  glass  is 
a  test  of  a  gardener's  ability  and  knowledge 
of  the  basic  principles  which  underUe  horticulture. 
Most  amateur  gardeners  make  the  mistake  of 
sowing  the  seeds  too  soon  and  bringing  the  plants 
along  too  quickly.  Exactly  similar  treatment 
to  that  afforded  the  plants  intended  for  outdoors 
should  prevail  until  lengthening  day  and  strength- 
ening light  make  healthy  growth  possible.  Some 
of  the  big  growers  for  market  grow  Sweet  Peas 
under  glass  with  haulm  as  robust  as  most  amateurs 
can  achieve  outdoors  I  Susse.x. 


EDITOR'S    TABLE 

From  Messrs.  John  Forbes  (Hawick),  Limited, 
there  came  to  hand  recently  some  magnificent 
spikes  of  large-flowered  Pentstemons.  These 
flowers  are  very  difficult  to  describe  in  such  a 
way  as  shall  be  helpful  in  making  a  selection. 
One  needs  really  to  see  spikes  or  preferably,  of 
course,  the  growing  plants.  Take  the  varieties 
which  can  only  be  described  as  rose-pink,  white 
throat.  The  combined  effect  gives  a  fairly  Ught 
and  very  pleasing  light  pink,  as  seen  in  the  mass, 
but  the  description  would  suffice  for  Mrs.  Joseph 
Chamberlain,  Miss  Botley  (though  the  throat  in 
that  case  is  margined  cinnamon  and  the  colour 
rather  deeper),  Mrs.  Callander,  Mrs.  A.  P.  Lyle  (a 
very  fine  and  towering  spike),  or  the  pretty 
Marchioness  of  TuUibardine.  Fine  spikes  of  all 
these  varieties  were  included,  together  with 
representative  crimson  and  purple-flowered  varieties 
including  Eari  Haig,  Alex.  McRae  and  James 
McLeod,  crimson,  and  A.  Douglas  Haddon,  Dr. 
Barrie,  Mrs.  Murray  and  Miss  Stewart  Peter  of  the 
purphsh  class.  A  posy  of  blossoms  of  that  briUiant 
Mignon  Dahlia,  Coltness  Gem,  was  also  included. 


October  7,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


507 


CORRESPONDENCE 


THE     TWELVE     BEST     SHRUBS. 

TT  has  often  occurred  to  me  that  an  interesting 
subject  tor  discussion  in  your  correspondence 
columns  would  be  on  the  best  twelve  flowering 
shrubs  for  gardens.  To  simplify  the  issue  it  might 
be  well  to  stipulate  that  they  should  all  be  suitable 
for  massing  (not  necessarily  to  an  equal  extent, 
however  !),  and  that  the  soil  for  which  they  would 
be  intended  should  be  a  rather  light  loam,  such  as 
suits  the  generality  of  shrubs. 

My  own  selection  would  include  a  good  Lilac 
(say  Souv.  de  L.  Spatti),  a  good  Broom  (Cytisus 
scoparius  .^ndreanus),  three  Barberries  (B.B. 
Darwinii,  stenophylla  and  Aquifohum),  the  Pearl 
Bush  (Exochorda  grandiflora),  Spirtea  Lindleyana, 
Ceanothus  Gloire  de  Versailles,  Rhododendron  Pink 
Pearl.  Pieris  floribunda,  Escallonia  macrantha  and 
Rose  Conrad  F.  Meyer.  It  is  only  when  one  comes 
to  make  such  a  list  that  one  realises  what  a  variety 
of  shrubs  there  now  is  and  how  really  difficult  it 
is  to  make  a  selection.  Yet  there  must  be  many 
gardens  which,  if  the  shrubs  are  to  be  displayed 
effectively  (and  in  groups),  can  only  accommodate 
a  dozen  varieties  or  less.  I  hope  some  other  of  your 
correspondents  will  give  their  views  as  to  the  best 
dozen. — G.  Harvev. 

[Our  correspondent's  suggestion  is  an  interesting 
one  and  we  shall  be  glad  to  hear  readers'  views  on 
the  matter.  Our  correspondent  stresses  the 
importance  of  grouping,  but  in  a  small  garden  we 
should,  ourselves,  group  specimens  of  the  different 
species  and  varieties  of  one  genus  or  sub-genus 
together.  This  method  enables  a  greater  variety 
to  be  included   without    making   for   unnecessary 


Ust 
to 


BUPHTHALMUM    SPECIOSUM     IN     WOODLAND. 


'  spottiness."  It  will  be  noted  that  the 
given  contains  shrubs  known  practically 
everyone.  All  of  them 
are  certainly  excellent. 
It  is  a  pity  space 
could  not  be  found  for 
the  beautiful  Eucryphia 
pinnatifolia.  Most 
people  would  probably 
prefer  it  to  the  Pieris. 
Not  everyone  will  choose 
Pink  Pearl  as  the  best 
Rhododendron  and  few, 
we  think,  Conrad  F. 
Meyer  as  the  best  Rose 
for  the  shrubbery. 
There  are  a  number  of 
fine  Rose  species  which 
many  would  think  more 
suitable. — Ed.] 

THE  NEW  ZE.^LAND 

FLAX. 

ZJ  A  V  I  N  G  for  many 
years  been  a  sub- 
scriber to  The  Garden, 
I  thought  I  would  send 
you  a  photograph  of  a 
bed  of  New  Zealand  Flax 
(Phormium  tenax)  plants 
that  have  not  flowered 
before  during  my  resi- 
dence here  of  thirty- 
seven  years. 

The  stems  ot 

the     flowers 

are   lift,    to 

12ft.    high 

and      the 

Flax    leaves 

about       7ft. 

The   picture 

does      not 

really    shew 

the     height. 

I  should  have  had  the   figure  of  a 

man     by    it,    but     did    not    think 

of   it.— H.    G.    Giles,    Com.   R.   N., 

Alverstoke,  Hants. 

FOR  THE  WOODLAND. 

■pOR  open  places  in  woodland  or 
the  margins  of  shrubberies  I 
have  found  Buphthalmum  (Telekia) 
speciosum  a  bold  and  striking 
plant,  with  great  heart-shaped 
leaves  in  a  lively  green  well  above 
which  are  raised  the  tall  and  branch- 
ing flower  stems.  The  blossoms, 
which  appear  in  summer  and  carry- 
on  well  into  autumn,  are  of  the 
composite  type,  2ins.  to  sins,  in 
diameter,  with  long,  narrow  rays  of 
a  deep  golden  yellow  which  blends 
peculiarly  well  with  the  prevailing 
tints  of  approaching  autumn.  This 
is  a  free-growing,  hardy  perennial 
which  will  do  well  in  almost  any 
soil  and  one  that  looks  particularly 
effective  in  groups  of  considerable 
size.  Though  doubtless  a  sun  lover, 
B.  speciosum  does  not  object  to  half 
shade. — .\.  T.  J. 

[Many     people     who      have      no 
fondness     for     its      flowers,    which 


are  rather  coarse  individually  and  have  '"a 
"  greenish "  smell,  yet  tolerate  this  plant 
gladly  because  of  its  attractiveness  to  coloured 
butterflies.  Red  Admirals,  Peacocks  and  both 
species  of  Tortoiseshell  are  much  attracted  by  it. 


THE     NEW     ZEALAND     FLAX     IN     FLOWER. 


It  certainly  is  an  attractive  and  stately  plant  for 
wild   garden  or  woodland. — Ed.] 


IDEAS 


TABLE 


FOR     AUTUMNAL 

DECORATIONS. 

'T'HE  season  of  autumn  is  drawing  near  and  as 
we  walk  in  our  gardens  or  along  the  country 
lanes  we  note  signs  of  its  approach  in  the  yellowing 
leaf  and  ripening  berries  and  nuts.  This  year  is 
especially  noticeable  for  its  shew  of  wild  fruits, 
and  the  Rowans,  the  delight  of  the  artist  and 
designer  are  scarlet  with  their  clusters  of  berries, 
while  Rose  hips  make  no  less  decorative  a  subject. 
Fruits  and  autumn  leaves  make  a  welcome  change 
for  the  vases  in  the  house,  after  the  profusion  of 
summer  flowers,  and  charming  table  decorations 
of  endless  variety  may  be  carried  out  with  them. 
In  the  English  bungalows  in  India,  the  native 
servants  often  make  most  artistic  table  decorations 
of  petals,  flower  heads  and  leaves,  laid  upon  the 
cloth  in  conventional  or  natiu-al  patterns  round 
the  lamps  and  flower  vases  and,  though  these 
schemes  may  be  a  trifle  bizarre,  the  idea  can  be 
carried  out  in  more  artistic  form  with  great  effect. 
.A  central  vase  of  bright  Rose  hips  and  leaves, 
such  as  those  of  the  Japanese  Roses,  Hybrid  Sweet 
Briars  or  Moyesii,  with  a  pattern  laid  out  upon  the 
cloth  in  separated  leaves  around  the  vase  and  small 
bunches  of  hips  at  the  comers  or  interspersed  make 
a  delightful  decoration  for  a  small  table.     A  few 


508 


THE     GARDEN. 


[October  7,  1922. 


sprays  of  Blackberry  bramble  with  fruit,  surrounded 
by  bunches  of  Cob  or  Hazel  nuts  picked  with  some 
foliage,  and  four  corner  bunches  laid  upon  the 
cloth,  is  very  effective.  Crab  Apples  lend  a  vivid 
dash  of  colour  among  the  Nuts  in  this  scheme. 
For  a  more  elaborate  decoration,  autumn  leaves 
with  trailers  of  "  Traveller's  Joy  "  (Wild  Clematis), 
circling  the  table  lamps  and  vases  can  be  made  to 
look  charming.  There  is  material  in  plenty  in  our 
gardens  and  hedges  to  suit  individual  taste,  and 
our  luncheons  and  dinners  may  be  quickly  and 
tastefully  decorated  so  that  the  table  furnishes  a 
feast  for  the  eye  as  well  as  for  the  appetite. — 
M.  E.  B. 

A     HINT     TO     ROSE     GROW'ERS. 

T  HAVE  been  very  interested  to  read  Mr. 
W'ettern's  opinion  of  the  New  Roses  of  1920  and 
am  anxiously  awaiting  the  concluding  portion.  I 
do  wish  our  nurserymen  would  not  attach  to  new 
Roses,  even  after  they  have  grown  them  for  a 
season  or  two,  the  raisers'  description,  or  an  abbre- 
viation of  it.  Such  a  description  is  quite  valueless 
for  shewing  the  real  worth  of  the  variety.  I  was 
really  moved  to  write  this  letter  by  receiving  a  rose 
list  which  not  only  appears  to  contain  original 
descriptions,  but  has  very  candid  opinions  of  Roses 
of  recent  introduction,  including  most  of  the  1921 
novelties.  Will  other  rose-growers  kindly  copy  ! 
The  list  referred  to  is  that  of  Messrs.  A.  J.  and  C. 
Allen  of  Norwich.  I  have  not  tried  their  trees  so 
far,  but  shall  certainly  obtain  what  few  I  need  this 
season  from  them  as  I  have  heard  excellent  reports 
of  their  stuff  from  friends.  I  have  no  interest 
whatever  in  the  firm. — T.  H.  W. 

WALLFLOWERS   IN   WINTER. 

AS  soon  as  the  summer  bedding  plants  have 
been  removed,  I  find  it  a  good  plan  to  sub- 
stitute Wallflowers.  The  Wallflowers  are  valuable 
during  the  winter  months  on  account  of  their  nice 
green  foliage.  In  the  spring  the  plants  will  produce 
a  wealth  of  blossom.  Apart  from  their  beautiful 
colours  the  flowers  will  be  greatly  welcomed  on 
account  of  their  delightful  fragrance,  coming  at  a 
season  when  fragrant  flowers  are  somewhat  scarce. 
The  Wallflowers  will  have  fulfilled  their  important 
part  in  the  embellishment  of  our  gardens  in  time 
to  make  way  for  the  early  summer  flowers. — G.  H. 

A     NEGLECTED    PERENNIAL, 

TROP.«OLUM. 

T^HE  glory  of  Tropajolum  speciosum  where  it 
thrives  and  garlands  with  its  scarlet  flowers 
the  fronts  of  houses  or  clambers  over  hedges  and 
shrubs,  has  perhaps  militated  against  the  greater 
employment  of  other  perennials  of  the  same 
genus,  but  there  have  been  other  causes  at  work 
to  hinder  the  gardener  from  utihsing  the  charming 
T.  tuberosum,  whose  pretty  green  foliage  and 
scarlet  and  orange  flowers  are  so  attractive  in 
their  own  way.  The  main  drawbacks  to  its  use  are 
its  shyness  of  flowering  in  some  gardens  and  its 
want  of  complete  hardiness  in  certain  soils  and 
districts.  Its  shyness  of  flowering  has  often  been 
the  subject  of  complaint  and  some  ninety  years 
or  so  ago,  as  we  gather  from  the  horticultural 
literature  of  the  time,  it  was  troublesome,  and 
numerous  devices  were  tried  to  overcome  the 
difficulty.  Now,  however,  that  we  seem  to  have 
grasped  the  fact  that  there  are  free-flowering  as 
well  as  shy  stocks,  and  that  by  a  process  of  selection 
and  careful  elimination  of  poor  stocks  we  can  obtain 
much  better  results,  it  should  become  more  popular. 
The  other  defect  of  want  of  hardiness  in  some 
places  is  not  easily  overcome.  It  is  certainly  not 
safe  to  leave  out  the  tubers  in  winter,  except  in  a 


very  well  drained  soil  and  in  fairly  mild  districts. 
The  prudent  course  is  to  lift  the  curious  tubers 
after  the  foliage  has  been  cut  down  by  frost  and 
to  store  them  in  dry  sand  out  of  the  reach  of  frost 
until  spring,  when  they  can  be  treated  hke  Potatoes, 
and  either  planted  out  in  April,  at  a  depth  of  6ins. 
or  so,  or  started  in  boxes  and  put  out  in  May  after 
danger  from  frost  is  over.  Where  happy,  this 
charming  chmber  will  give  masses  of  its  scarlet 
and  orange  flowers  in  July  and  August  and  until 
frost  comes  to  deprive  it  of  its  beauty. — S.  Arnott. 

WILD   FLOWERS    AT    COUNTRY    SHOWS 

T  OCAL  flower  shows  are  of  immense  interest 
and  benefit  to  the  districts  concerned,  and 
where  gardens  are  not  exactly  the  strongest  point 
they  may  be  augmented  by  industrial  exhibits 
and  even  by  dogs,  as  in  the  case  of  one  visited 
recently.  Here  very  good  prizes  also  were  offered 
for  wild  flowers,  which  were  certainly  excellent — ■ 
I  have  never  seen  a  more  varied  assortment. 
They  gave  me  food  for  much  thought  and  the 
reason  for  this  note.  "  The  best  bouquet  of  Wild 
Flowers,"  is  usually  the  wording  of  the  schedule — 
and    the   poor   unfortunates    are    tightly    tied   up 


FOR  LXDOOR  DECORATION. 
f~\\I.Y  those  who  have  seen  leaves  and  berries 
adequately  used  as  a  table  decoration  can  realise 
the  beautiful  effects  possible.  Many  years  ago 
it  was  my  duty  to  assist  in  the  work  of  decorating 
a  nobleman's  dinner  table  in  one  of  the  northern 
counties.  In  the  shooting  season  it  was  usual  to 
have  a  different  scheme  of  table  decoration  each 
night  for  about  six  weeks,  and,  although  the  garden 
was  a  large  one  and  well  furnished,  the  tax  on  it 
was  very  considerable.  One  year  the  head  gardener 
sent  out  several  men  to  collect  berries,  leaves, 
moss  and  bark  in  the  woods.  Flowers  were  not 
used  at  all,  the  table — more  than  20ft.  long^ 
being  decorated  entirely  with  the  foliage  and  berries. 
Result — general  approval  and  a  request  to  repeat 
the  decoration  several  times  ! — Geo.  Garner. 

A  FINE  YELLOW  TRAILER. 
■IxrHY  is  it,  I  often  wonder,  that  that  brilliant 
yellow  trailer,  Tropjeolum  polyphyllum, 
is  so  seldom  seen  in  gardens  ?  One  can  easily 
understand  why  T.  speciosum  is  not  largely 
grown  in  Southern  gardens — because  it  is  difficult. 
The  lack  of  appreciation  for  T.  tuberosum  is  also 
explicable.     There    are    so    many    folk    nowadays 


^^f:J 


THE    GOLDEN    TROP/EOLUM    POLYPHYLLUM    AMONG    ROCKS. 


regardless  of  number  or  arrangement  and  crammed 
into  a  jug  or  other  receptacle  much  too  small  for 
them.  In  this  case,  to  the  credit  be  it  said  of  the 
exhibitor,  the  specimens  were  all  very  carefully 
and  correctly  named,  although  it  was  difficult  owing 
to  the  overcrowding  to  find  the  labels  on  all  the 
ninety  or  more  specimens  in  the  first  prize  collection. 

With  all  due  deference  to  committees  and  gener- 
ous prize-givers,  I  would  respectfully  make  the 
following  suggestion  : — All  wild  flowers  to  be  shewn 
arranged  in  the  natural  order,  one  order  only  in  a 
vase — the  number  of  species  in  the  vase  limited 
according  to  table  space.  For  the  largest  orders  two 
or  more  vases  might  be  necessary.  The  name  of  the 
order  on  a  large  label  with  the  specific  names 
below.  Points  to  be  given  for  the  largest  number 
of  orders  represented  and  further  points  for  the 
species. 

Educationally  this  should  prove  beneficial  both 
to  exhibitors  and  visitors  alike,  and  give  our 
beautiful  wild  flowers  a  better  chance  of  being 
appreciated  at  their  true  value. — W.  DuGG.\N. 


who  will  not  grow  even  Gladioli  because  the  corms 
must  be  lifted  and  stored  ;  moreover,  the  quaint 
plant  with  the  turban-like  tuber  is  more  lavish  of 
growth  than  flowers  in  some  gardens.  I  can  only 
attribute  the  lack  of  appreciation  of  T.  poly- 
phyllum, however,  to  its  easiness.  Quite  hardy 
outdoors  here  in  Warwickshire,  It  increases 
year  by  year  without  dividing  or  attention.  If  it 
sometimes  flings  its  beautiful  glaucous  trails  and 
gallant  yellow  blossoms  over  other  plants,  these 
seem  none  the  worse  when  at  length  the  trails 
wither  and  are  removed. — H.  H. 

NARCISSUS      BERNARDINO :     A 
CORRECTION. 

■DERN.\RDINO  intended  to  say  (September 
23,  page  4S0)  "  I  am  not  a  pohtician  and 
my  other  habits  are  good."  The  quotation  from 
Artemus  Ward's  Fourth  of  July  Oration  was 
suggested  by  the  parallel  changeableness  of  certain 
politicians  and  the  colour  of  its  cup  under  the 
stress  of  external  conditions. — Joseph  Jacob. 


October  7,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


509 


GARDENING     OF     THE     WEEK 


FOR     SOUTHERN    GARDENS. 

The  Kitchen  Garden. 

General  Work. — Take  the  opportunity  on  dry 
days  to  eradicate  weeds,  particularly  from  where 
crops  are  still  growing  and  will  lie  occupying  the 
ground  for  several  months.  \\'here  the  main 
batch  of  Leeks  were  not  holed  in,  a  little  moulding 
up  may  be  necessary  so  that  blanching  may  be 
commenced.  Turnips  fully  grown  should  be 
lifted  and  stored  in  a  cool  outside  pit,  otherwise 
they  will  become  pithy  and  useless.  During  the 
brightest  part  of'the  day  push  on  with  the  lifting 
of  late  Potatoes.  Should  there  still  be  Tomatoes 
outside,  the  trusses  should  now  all  be  cut  and  those 
not  w'orth  ripening  off  will  be  useful  for  chutney. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Roses. — Planting-time  will  soon  be  with  us, 
and  where  a  considerable  quantity  has  to  be 
dealt  with,  necessitating  the  making  of  new  beds, 
the  preparation  of  such  should  be  seen  to  in  good 
time,  so  that  no  delay  need  be  experienced  when 
planting-time  actually  arrives.  Should  the  order 
not  vet  have  been  placed,  no  time  should  be 
lost  before  doing  so. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Fruits  to  Plant. — To  attempt  much  advice 
on  this  subject  in  a  brief  note  is  quite  useless, 
but  for  the  benefit  of  intending  planters  who 
have  neither  the  time  nor  inchnation  to  go  into 
the  matter  very  much  a  few  reliable  varieties 
are  given  below.  It  must  be  distinctly  under- 
stood that  no  attempt  has  been  made  to  make  out 
an  up-to-date,  comprehensive  list.  The  order  of 
ripening  may  be  taken  as  names  are  given. 
Dessert  Apples. — Beauty  of  Bath,  James  Grieve, 
.American  Mother,  Ribston  Pippin,  Cox's  Orange 
Pippin  and  Wyken  Pippin.  Culinary  Apples. — 
Lord  Grosvenor,  Stirling  Castle.  Bramley's  Seed- 
ling, Lane's  Prince  .Albert  and  Xewton  Wonder. 
Dessert  Pears. — Williams's  Bon  Chretien,  Beurre 
d'.Amanlis,  Marie  Louise,  Doyenne  du  Comice, 
Glou  Morceau  and  Josephine  de  Malines. 
Culinary  Pear. — Catillac.  Dessert  Plums. — Rivers' 
Early  ProUfic,  OuUin's  Golden  Gage,  Green  Gage, 
Jefferson  and  Coe's  Golden  Drop.  Culinary 
Plums. — Czar,  Victoria  and  Monarch.  Damsons. — 
Frogmore  Prolif^.c  and  the  Merryweather.  Pro- 
spective planters  with  but  little  experience  of 
soils  and  suitable  varieties  would  do  well  to  get 
in  touch  with  a  good  local  grower  and  get  his  advice, 
or  give  particulars  of  soil,  etc.,  to  a  reliable 
nurseryman. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Tomatoes. — Should  the  winter  fruiters  have 
been  growing  outside  they  should  at  once  be 
housed,  for  no  reliance  can  now  be  placed  upon 
the  weather.  To  obtain  good  results  a  light, 
airy  structure  is  necessary  with  only  the  welfare 
of  the  Tomatoes  considered.  By  keeping  the 
hot-water  pipes  nicely  warmed  plenty  of  air 
can  be  kept  on,  and  this  is  most  important,  par- 
ticularly for  the  first  few  weeks  after  taking  the 
plants  indoors.  About  four  trusses  of  fruits  are 
enough  for  each  plant  to  carry,  or  less  if  the  plants 
are  not  in  good  health.  .4s  the  days  become 
shorter  and  less  sunny  avoid  overw-atering,  and 
care  should  be  taken  with  the  application  of 
stimulants. 

H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 

Albtiry  Park  Gardens,  Guildford. 


FOR    NORTHERN    GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Cucumbers. — Plants  coming  into  bearing  must 
be  accorded  considerate  treatment  at  this  time 
if  the  crop  is  to  be  a  success.  Maintain  a  night 
temperature  of  65°  so  that  free  growth  may  be 
encouraged,  at  the  same  time  being  careful  to 
see  that  all  unnecessary  growths  are  kept  well 
thinned  out  and  only  a  moderate  quantity  of 
fruits  left  to  develop.  Spray  only  on  fine  days, 
as  a  low  temperature  and  dull,  simless  weather 
encourages  the  spread  of  mildew.  The  plants 
will  benefit  by  occasional  top-dressings  of  loam 
and  leaf-mould. 

Winter  Spinach. — During  dry  weather  this 
important  crop  should  be  further  encouraged 
by  frequent  stirring  of  the  soil  between  the  rows. 
.Make  sure  that  the  plants  are  not  too  dense  in 
the  rows,  othenvise  the  foliage  weakens  and 
suffers  more  readily  from  severe  frost  than  that 


which  has  been  allowed  more  space  to  develop 
a  sturdy  growth. 

Tomatoes. — Continue  to  assist  all  late  fruiting 
plants  b>'  giving  frequent  applications  of  weak 
liquid  manure.  .A  httle  warmth  must  also  be  kept 
in  the  pipes  now  so  that  the  ripening  of  the  fruit 
may  be  quickened.  In  estabhshments  where 
winter-fruiting  Tomatoes  are  grown  the  flower 
trusses  should  be  lightly  tapped  every  day  to 
assist  in  fertihsation. 

Winter  Salads. — .Attend  to  batches  of  Lettuce 
in  frames,  keeping  the  soil  well  stirred  and  giving 
a  light  dusting  of  soot  around  the  plants  to  keep 
slugs  in  check.  Mustard  and  Cress  will  now  prove 
more  satisfactory  if  grown  in  boxes  in  a  warm 
greenhouse  or  forcing  pit,  sowing  every  ten  days 
or  so. 

Seakale  for  Forcing.  —  In  gardens  where 
this  delectable  vegetable  is  grown  in  quantity 
for  forcing  purposes  every  opportunity  should 
be  given  the  crowns  to  ripen  properly,  so  where 
the  foliage  is  turning  yellow  it  should  be  removed, 
thus  allowing  the  crowns  to  be  more  fully  exposed 
to  the  influence  of  sun  and  air. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Fruit  Picking. —  Gather  .Apples  and  Pears 
whenever  ready,  exercising  extreme  care  in  hand- 
hng.  See  that  no  damaged  fruit  is  stored.  .All 
windfalls  should  be  laid  aside  and  used  first.  .After 
the  trees  are  cleared  of  their  crop  all  broken  or 
lacerated  branches  should  be  cut  clean  off  and 
the  wounds  painted  with  Stockholm  tar. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Vineries. — In  late  vineries  where  the  Grapes 
are  now  ripening  freely  the  utmost  care  must  be 
taken  when  ventilating  the  structures,  as  the 
shortening  days  and  the  cold,  damp  nights  all 
tend  towards  encouraging  mildew  or  rotting  of 
the  berries.  .Assist  the  ripening  process  by  the 
judicious  use  of  fire-heat,  maintaining  a  warm, 
dry  atmosphere.  If  a  mulch  of  dry  litter  is 
applied  to  the  border  it  will  check  evaporation 
and  thus  save  the  necessity  of  frequent  watering. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Paeonies. — These  plants  as  a  rule  resent  being 
disturbed  about  their  roots,  but  established  beds 
will  give  satisfaction  for  several  years  if  accorded 
a  liberal  top-dressing  of  farmyard  manure  at  the 
start  of  the  growing  season.  Where  the  planting 
of  new  beds  or  groups  of  these  plants  is  contem- 
plated no  time  should  now  be  lost  in  having  the 
ground  prepared  for  their  reception.  Dig  the 
beds  deeply,  at  the  same  time  incorporating  a 
generous  quantity  of  well  rotted  manure  and  leaf- 
mould.  Do  not  plant  too  closely,  allowing  reason- 
able space  for  the  plants  to  develop  and  show 
their  handsome  blossoms  to  the  best  advantage. 

Wintering  Bedding  Plants. — The  softer  grow- 
ing types  of  bedding  plants  which  are  generally 
stored  in  genial  quarters  for  the  winter,  such  as 
Heliotrope,  standard  Fuchsias  and  Lantanas, 
should  now  be  dug  up  and  potted,  placing  thern 
in  a  warm,  moist  pit  for  a  week  or  two  until  they 
have  recovered  from  the  check.  Roots  of  Lobelia 
cardinalis  should  also  be  lifted  now  and  packed 
closely  together  in  ordinary  cutting  boxes,  working 
sand  or  fine  soil  round  the  roots.  Stand  the  boxes 
in  a  cool  frost-proof  frame  for  the  winter.  Tuberous 
Begonias  should  also  be  hfted  now  and  laid  in 
a  frame  until  the  foliage  dies  down,  when  they 
can  be  stored  in  a  dry  loft  where  they  will  be  free 
from  frost. 

J.4MES  McGran 
(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.), 

Coodham,  Kilmarnock. 


GREENHOUSE    ANTD    CONSERVATORY. 

Crocuses  as  represented  by  the  large  named 
varieties  of  C.  vernus  are  well  worth  growing 
in  pots  or  pans  for  the  cool  greenhouse  ;  in  fact 
they  are  ideal  for  the  small  unheated  house. 
They  are  also  excellent  for  growing  in  bowls  of 
fibre.  Their  cultivation  is  of  the  simplest,  as 
they  grow  well  in  any  ordinary  good  garden 
soil  and  require  cool  treatment  ;  in  fact,  any 
attempt  at  forcing  will  end  in  failure.  If  brought 
on  in  a  cool  greenhouse  they  will  flower  just  before 
those  growing  outdoors.  .After  potting  they 
should  be  stood  outdoors  and  covered  with  ashes. 
Any  of  the  named  varieties  are  suitable  for  this 
work,  and  they  can  be  had  from  pure  white  through 
varying  shades  of  lilac,  blue  and  purple,  as  well 
as  striped.     The  many  beautiful  spring-flowering 


species  are  also  suitable  for  growing  in  pots  or 
pans  for  the  small  unheated  greenhouse,  or  even 
with  the  shelter  of  a  cold  frame.  Mice  are  very 
fond  of  Crocus  corms,  and  a  sharp  look-out  must 
be  kept  for  them  at  all  times,  whether  the  corms 
are  in  store  or  potted  up. 

Irises    and    Other    Bulbous    Plants.— There 

are  many  beautiful  species  and  varieties  of  Iris 
that  may  be  successfully  grown  in  pots  for  the 
cool  greenhouse.  Although  they  are  all  more  or 
less  hardy,  they  are  well  worth  the  shelter  of  a 
cool  house  or  frame,  as  many  of  them  flower  so 
early  that  they  are  apt  to  get  damaged  by  inclement 
weather.  The  species  and  varieties  suitable  for 
this  work  are  the  bulbous-rooted  section  as  repre- 
sented by  LI.  alata  and  its  varieties,  Bakeriana, 
Danfordia?,  orchioides,  reticulata  and  its  varie- 
ties, Vartani,  persica,  Histrio,  and  tingitana, 
the  latter  a  tall-growing  species  which  is  worth 
growing  in  quantity  for  cutting.  Grown  in  this 
country,  it  is  very  shy  flowering,  but  imported 
bulbs  usually  flower  freely.  The  English  and 
Spanish  Irises  may  also  be  grown  in  pots,  and 
are  worth  growing  in  quantity  in  bo.xes  for 
a  supply  of  cut  flowers.  The  Oncocyclus  and 
Regelio  species  are  notoriously  difficult,  but  LI. 
iberica  and  Susiana  can  be  successfully  grown 
in  pots,  and  always  attract  by  reason  of  their 
extraordinary  colouring.  The  Regelio-Cvclus 
hybrids  are  more  amenable  to  culti\'ation,  and 
there  are  many  beautiful  varieties  among  them, 
some  of  the  most  distinct  being  Artemis,  Charon, 
Hecate,  Hera,  Jocaste,  Mars,  Osiris  and  Psyche. 
They  require  a  good  medium  loam,  with  the 
addition  of  old  mortar  rubble,  to  ensure  free 
drainage  ;  three  or  four  good  rhizomes  may  be 
placed  in  a  6in.  pot.  They  should  be  stood  in 
a  cold  frame  fully  exposed  to  all  possible  sun- 
shine. Water  very  carefully  until  they  ha\'e 
made  plenty  of  roots  and  have  commenced  to 
grow.  They  require  perfectly  cool  treatment, 
and  should  be  given  plenty  of  air  on  all  fa\'ourabIe 
occasions.  The  rhizomes  should  be  potted  up 
within  the  next  month  or  so.  There  are  quite 
a  number  of  bulbous  and  tuberous  rooted  plants 
that  should  be  more  generally  grown  for  the  cool 
greenhouse.  Some  of  the  smaller-growing  ones 
are  well  suited  for  the  small  unheated  greenhouse, 
Scillas,  Muscarias  and  Chionodoxas  being  good 
examples  of  what  I  mean.  There  are  quite  a 
number  of  others,  such  as  AlHum  neapolitanum, 
which  produces  a  profusion  of  pure  white  flowers. 
.Anemone  fulgens  can  be  very  fine  if  well  grown 
in  6in.  pots.  Some  old  mortar  rubble  should  be 
added  to  the  potting  compost,  as  this  plant  is  a 
lime-lover.  The  double  .Anemones,  such  as  King 
of  the  Blues  and  King  of  the  Scarlets,  are  also 
well  worth  growing  in  the  same  way,  while  the 
blue  .A.  apennina  and  .A.  blanda  should  be  grown 
in  pans.  Ismene  calathina  also  does  quite  well 
in  an  ordinary  greenhouse,  while  Ixiolirion  PaUasi 
is  very  pretty  if  some  six  or  eight  bulbs  are  grown 
in  a  48-sized  pot.  Montbretia  rosea  is  also  very 
graceful  and  free  flowering,  and  is  best  grown  in  6in. 
pots.  Ornithogalum  arabicum  is  a  very  beautiful 
plant,  but  is  very  uncertain  in  flowering.  The 
examples  given  will  serve  to  shew  that  there  are 
quite  a  number  of  plants  that  can  be  used  for  this 
purpose.  It  is  true  many  of  them  are  hardy, 
but  it  is  a  great  pleasure  to  many  people  to  enjoy 
their  beauty  indoors  in  the  cool  greenhouse. 
Their  cultivation  is  of  the  simplest,  as  most  of 
them  grow  freely  in  any  ordinary  potting  compost. 
They  only  require  the  shelter  of  a  cold  frame 
until  such  time  as  they  shew  signs  of  flower,  when 
they  may  be  removed  to  the  greenhouse.  Hyacinths 
and  all  other  bulbous  plants  used  for  forcing 
should  now  be  potted  with  as  little  delay  as 
possible.  J.  CouTTs. 

Royal  Botanic  Gurden^,  Kew. 


TRIALS    AT    WISLEY 

PEREN'NIAL  PHLOX. 

The  following  awards  have  been  made  to  Perennial 
Phloxes  by  the  Council  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  after  trial  at  Wisley. 

White. — Award  of  Merit. — Mia  Ruys  and  Frau 
Ant.  Buchner,  sent  by  Mr.  Jones  and  Messrs. 
Ruys ;  La  Neige,  sent  by  the  R.H.S.  ;  Abel 
Tasman  and  Netty  Stuart  (suffruticosa)  =Snowdon, 
sent  by  Mr.  Jones  ;  Europe,  sent  by  Mr.  Jones, 
Messrs.  Forbes  and  Messrs.  Ruys. 

Pink. — Award  of  Merit. — Selma,  sent  by  Mr. 
Jones,  Messrs.  Ruys  and  Jlessrs.  Forbes  ;  Mrs.  W. 
Hargreaves,   sent   by  Mr.  Jones  ;    Bridesmaid  and 


510 


THE     GARDEN. 


[October  7,  192 


Liberty,  sent  by  Mr.  Prichard.  Highly  Com- 
mended.— Peach  Blossom,  sent  by  Mr.  Prichard  ; 
Mrs.  A.  H.  Dykes,  sent  by  Mr.  Jones  ;  Mme.  Paul 
Dutrie,  Mrs.  Milly  van  Hoboken,  Pantheon  and 
Meteore,  sent  by  Mr.  Jones  and  Messrs.  Ruys. 

Salmon. — Award  of  Merit. — Elizabeth  Campbell 
and  Mrs.  Scholten,  sent  by  Mr.  Jones  and  Messrs. 
Ruys  ;  Mrs.  F.  P.  Steward,  sent  by  Mr.  Jones. 
Highly  Commended. — Evelyn  and  America,  sent  by 
Mr.  Jones  and  Messrs.  Ruys  ;  C.  Edwards  and  W. 
Robertson,  sent  by  Mr.  Jones  ;  S.  Pope,-  sent  by 
Messrs.  Dickson  and  Robinson ;  Marion  Riddle, 
sent  by  Messrs.  Forbes  ;  Coccinea,  sent  by  Mr. 
West. 

Rose. — .Award  of  Merit. — Jules  Sandeau,  sent  by 
Mr.  Jones  and  Messrs.  Ruys  ;  Wiirttembergia,  sent 
by  Messrs  Ruys  (the  above  two  varieties  are  con- 
sidered identical)  ;  Thor,  sent  by  Mr.  Jones  and 
Messrs.  Ruys ;  Mrs.  Callander,  sent  by  Messrs. 
Forbes  ;  Elsie  Walker  and  H.  J.  Jones,  sent  by 
Mr.  Jones.  Highly  Commended. — Splendour  and 
Glory,  sent  by  Mr.  West ;  Rijnstroom,  sent  by 
Messrs.  Ruys,  Messrs.  Forbes  and  Mr.  Jones ; 
Kucken,  Florrie  Freeman,  Tom  Abbott,  Muriel 
Rogers  and  Marshal  French,  sent  by  Mr.  Jones  ; 
Lady  Wilson  Todd,  sent  by  Messrs.  Forbes  ;  Mrs. 
Noordewier,  sent  by  Messrs.  Ruys. 

Orange-Scarlet. — .iward  of  Merit. — General 
van  Heutsz  and  Mrs.  Bevill  Fortescue,  sent  by  Mr. 
Jones  ;  Minnie  West  and  Brilliant,  sent  by  Mr. 
West ;  Deutschland  ( =  Homeland)  and  G.  A. 
Strohlein,  sent  by  Messrs.  Ruys,  Messrs.  Forbes 
and  Mr.  Jones.  Highly  Commended. — Baron  van 
Dedem,  sent  by  Messrs.  Ruys,  Messrs,  Forbes 
and  Mr.  Jones  ;   Ruby  King,  sent  by  Mr.  Prichard. 

Mauve. — Award  of  Merit. — Mrs.  L.  Stewart 
Watson,  sent  by  Messrs.  Forbes  ;  Lofna  and  Marie 
S.  Jacob,  sent  by  Messrs.  Ruys  and  Mr.  Jones  ; 
Mrs.  H.  Rossitur,  sent  by  Mr.  Jones.  Highly 
Commended. — Asia,  sent  by  Messrs.  Ruys  and 
Mr.  Jones. 

Violet. — Highly  Commended. — Marvel,  sent  by 
Messrs.  Forbes. 

Purple. — Highly  Commended. — William  Ram- 
say, sent  by  Messrs.  Ruys  and  Mr.  Jones. 

Flushed. — Award  of  Merit. — Mrs.  H,  J.  Jones 
and  Mrs.  .\.  Jeans,  sent  by  Mr.  Jones  ;  Riverton 
Jewel,  sent  by  Messrs.  Ruys  and  Mr.  Jones. 


BEET. 

The  following  awards  have  been  made  to  Beet 
by  the  Council  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society 
after  trial  at  Wisley.     Judged  August  2,   1922. 

Award  of  Merit. — Egyptian  re-selected,  sent 
by    Messrs.    Carter. 

Highly  Commended.-^Crimson  Globe,  sent  by 
Messrs.  Hurst ;  Express  Crimson  Globe,  sent  by 
Messrs.  Dickson  and  Robinson  ;  Rehance  Globe, 
sent  by  Messrs.  Webb ;  Echpse  Turnip-rooted, 
sent  by  Messrs.  Barr ;  Perfect  Model  Globe, 
sent  by  Messrs.   Kelway. 

Commended. — Globe  selected  No.  2,  sent  by 
Messrs.  Dobbie ;  Crimson  Globe  (sent  as  Model 
•Globe),  sent  by  Messrs.  R.  Veitch  ;  The  Cooper- 
Taber  Tuxnip-rooted,  sent  by  Messrs.  Cooper, 
Taber. 

Judged  August   16,   1922  : 

Award  of  Merit. — Feltham  Intermediate,  sent 
by  Messrs.  Watkins  and  Simpson. 

Highly  Commended. — Intermediate,  sent  by 
Messrs.  King  ;  New  Intermediate,  sent  by  Messrs. 
R.  Veitch  ;   Queen  Mary,  sent  by  Messrs.  HaiTison. 


Pink,  sent  by  Messrs.  .\.  Dickson  and  Messrs. 
Cullen ;  Cottage  Rose,  sent  by  Messrs.  Birtles ; 
Royal  Cherry,  sent  by  Messrs.  H.  Dickson ; 
Doris,  sent  by  Messrs.  Dobbie,  Messrs  King 
and  Messrs.  Webb ;  Picture,  sent  by  Messrs. 
Dobbie  and  Messrs.  Webb. 

Highly  Commended. — Mavis  and  Mignonne, 
sent  by  Messrs.  King  ;  Joan  of  Arc,  sent  by  Mr. 
J.  Stevenson ;  Annie  Bownass,  sent  by  Messrs, 
Cullen  and  Messrs.  A.  Dickson  ;  Hawlmark  Pink 
No.  I,  sent  by  Messrs.  Unwin  and  Messrs.  A. 
Dickson  ;  Rosamund,  sent  by  Mfessrs.  H.  Dickson  ; 
Glory  and  Mrs.  Jessop,  sent  by  Messrs.  Bolton  ; 
Hawlmark  Cerise,  sent  by  Messrs.  A.  Dickson  ; 
Eva,  sent  by  Messrs.  S.  F.  Curtis. 


Aronia  floribunda  was  very  beautiful  with  its 
black  fruits  and  foliage  already  in  full  autumn  tint. 

Cotoneasters  are  bearing  their  various  tints  in 
great  profusion,  and  I  was  specially  charmed  with 
the  flowers  of  Buddleia  magnifica  and  Ceanothus 
Gloire  de  Versailles.  F.  Gomer  Waterer. 


SWEET   PEAS. 

The  following  awards  have  been  made  to  Sweet 
Peas  by  the  Council  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  after  trial  at  Wisley  : 

Awards  of  Merit. — Hebe  and  Fair  Lady,  sent 
hy     Mr.      J.     Stevenson ;      Hawlmark     Salmon- 


HALF    AN    HOUR    AMONG 
THE    SHRUBS 

THERE  is  no  day  in  the  year  when  one 
cannot  find  some  special  interest  in 
the  garden.  During  the  growing  season 
every  twenty-four  hours  brings  big 
changes.  Spring,  of  course,  takes 
premier  place  for  development,  but  the  days  as 
they  go  on  through  the  year  bring  other  changes 
in  general  feature,  and  it  is  wonderful  what  special 
beauty  can  be  found  even  on  the  deadest  and 
dullest  day  of  winter.  Some  effect  of  light  or 
shade  will  bring  out  the  colour  of  some  special 
plant  which  on  another  day  is  passed  over. 

To-day,  brilliant  sunshine  and  light  following 
yesterday's  heavy  rain  and  wind,  the  first  touches 
of  autumn  colour  and  fruit  were  the  dominant 
features,  and  I  specially  noted  a  wild  Cherry 
poking  its  head  through  the  Chestnut  and  Oak, 
a  brilliant  patch  of  yellow  and  crimson.  Snowy 
Mespilus  on  one  side  is  already  beautiful,  and 
Acer  Ginnala,  one  of  the  Chinese  scrub  Maples, 
is  glorious  in  a  sunny  corner  on  rather  poor  ground. 
One  or  two  of  the  Japanese  Maples  are  also  doing 
their  bit.  But  most  brilliant  of  all,  as  far  as 
to-day's  foliage  is  concerned,  was  a  good-sized 
bush  of  Vaccineum  pennsylvanicum,  and  one 
of  its  great  charms  is  the  length  of  time  it  holds 
its  foliage. 

Some  of  the  Berberises  caught  my  eye  to-day, 
and  surely  as  some  of  the  varieties  of  this  wonderful 
family  become  more  generally  known  they  will 
be  planted  in  quantity.  Those  I  saw  specially 
were  B.  lucida  with  its  rather  large  fruits,  brilliant 
red,  and  the  weight  of  the  fruit  on  each  bough 
sufficient  to  separate  them  in  graceful  semi- 
pendulous  fashion.  B.  asiatica,  with  its  fruit 
partly  black  with  ripeness  and  the  remainder 
coloured  with  a  glaucous  bloom,  shone  like  silver 
with  the  sun  touching  the  fruit  still  laden  with 
the    moisture   of   the   night.     B.    brevipaniculata, 

B.  subcauhalata  and  B.  concinna  were  all  laden 
with  fruit  and  a  joy  to  behold.  -A  plant  of  B. 
verruculosa  planted  on  a  dry  poor  bank  was 
turning  colour  and  was  a  rich  crimson,  with  the 
silvery  shine  of  the  underside  of  the  leaf  shewing 
up  as  the  wind  from  time  to  time  rustled  through 
the   foliage. 

Some  American  Thorns  are  laden  with  fruit, 
and  many  of  these  bear  well  in  this  country  and 
give  every  promise  of  being  a  valuable  addition 
to  our  gardens,  where  fruit  and  autumn  colour 
are     always     welcome.     Cratwgus     durobrivensis, 

C.  mollis  and  C.  cordata  are  worthy  of  a  place 
in  any  collection.  The  last  time  I  was  over  in 
the  States  I  was  much  struck  with  the  wonderful 
collection  of  these  plants,  collected  to  very  large 
extent  by  Professor  Sargent  himself  and  running 
into  many  himdreds  of  species.  Among  them  I 
specially  remember  the  section  of  what  he  called 
dwarf  forms,  which  may  eventually  prove  to  be 
good  plants  over  here. 


DAFFODIL    SILVER    PLANE 

A   Great  Dominion   Flower. 

DURING  the  first  week  of  September 
I  have  been  enjoying  the  sight  of  this 
very  excellent  Daffodil  in  my  own 
garden  in  superb  condition.  I  doubt 
if  anyone  in  England  has  ever  seen 
the  variety,  except  he  happened  to  be  at  Christ- 
church  Show  early  last  September,  or,  better  still, 
to  have  paid  a  visit  to  Sir  Heaton  Rhodes'  famous 
garden — Otahuna — at  Tai  Tapu  about  the  same 
time.  In  the  happy  days  when  I  was  able  to  get 
about  among  DaSodil  people  we  often  used  to 
discuss  the  quahty  of  Dominion-raised  flowers. 
At  the  moment  I  can  only  recall  two  varieties 
which  have  ever  appeared  in  decent  form  at 
English  shows,  viz..  Pink  'Un,  a  famous  AustraUan 
flower,  and  The  Hon.  R.  J.  Seddon  from  New 
Zealand.  Both,  at  different  times,  were  exhibited 
by  Mr.  A.  M.  Wilson  and  attracted  much  attention. 
Pink  'Un  is  a  very  good  flower — quite,  in  my 
opinion,  first  rate,  but  other  judges  thought  the 
pinky  colouring  of  the  edge  of  the  large  cup  was 
not  decided  enough  and  gave  it  rather  a  washy 
appearance.  In  Silver  Plane  New  Zealanders 
have  a  variety  of  which  they  may  well  be  proud, 
and  I  heartily  congratulate  Mr.  Lowe  and  Sir  Heaton 
Rhodes  on  its  production.  Need  I  say  more  than 
that  it  would  grace  any  twelve  ever  shown  in  the 
Bourne  Cup  Competition,  and  I  have  seen  all  of 
them  except  those  of  1922?  My  good  friend 
Bourne,  certainly  one  of  the  best  judges  who  ever 
judged  a  Daffodil,  loved  Diana ;  he  told  me  so 
more  than  once,  and  at  his  death,  when  his  collec- 
tion came  into  the  market,  I  was  not  surprised  to 
see  that  he  had  more  of  this  than  of  any  other 
variety.  How  he  would  have  Uked  Silver  Plane  ! 
It  is  Diana  brought  up  to  date.  The  white,  wide, 
pointed,  beautifully  smooth,  overlapping  perianth 
segments  round  the  deep  lemon,  saucer-shaped 
corona,  with  its  edge  more  pronounced  than  the 
interior,  make  up  a  Leedsii  of  very  great  charm. 
The  Otahuna  List  of  SeedUng  Daffodils  (1921) 
gives  its  diameter  as  4iins.  and  describes  the 
centre  as  "  pale  yellow  changing  to  white."  My 
flower,  from  quite  a  small  bulb  (planted  in  a  pot. 
May  loth,  1922),  is  but  3|ins.,  with  the  centre 
just  an  inch  across,  and  as  yet,  after  being  open 
over  a  week,  shows  no  sign  of  going  white,  but, 
on  the  contrary,  it  is  rather  becoming  deeper  in 
colour,  especially  towards  the  edge.  I  am  very 
greatly  indebted  to  Mr.  Hine,  Editor  of  the  Canter- 
bury Sun,  for  a  detailed  description  of  the  flower 
by  himself,  made  on  the  spot,  on  one  of  his  many 
visits  to  Sir  Heaton's  beautiful  garden.  It  shows 
what  a  keen  lover  of  the  flower  thinks  of  it,  and 
at  the  same  time  it  will  free  me  from  any  charge  of 
exaggeration  in  what  I  have  written  : 

"  Silver  Plane  is  a  peerless  flower  which  has  no 
rivals  imported  or  otherwise  in  New  Zealand. 
The  perianth  is  very  large  and  solid  and  of  the  purest 
white.  The  broad  cup  is  very  large  and  flattened 
to  a  degree.  It  is  also  a  fine  upstanding  garden 
flower.  As  a  show  flower  it  will  always  attract 
attention  and  has  already  secured  championships 
in  the  leading  Spring  Shows  in  New  Zealand." 

I  sincerely  thank  Sir  Heaton  and  Mr.  Lowe 
for  their  kind  gift,  which  has  enabled  me  to  see, 
in  this  my  lean  year,  a  flower  which  has  a 
very  good  chance  indeed  of  becoming  world- 
famous.  Joseph  Jacob. 


THE 


or  cnf 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


►I.  LXXXVI.— No.  2656. 

cred  as  Second-olasa  Matter  at  the  New  York,  N.Y..  Po9tOfBoe. 


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BARR'S  COLLECTIONS  OF  BULBS 

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Containing  Early  Hyacinths.  Daffodils.  Polyanthus  Narcissi.  Tulips,  Freesias,  etc. 
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CHEALS'   Ornamental  Trees  and  Shrubs,   in   great   variety;    Climbers,. 

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THE    BULB    GARDEN 

Order    now    to    avoid    disappointment. 

Complete  success  can  be  obtained  by  planting 

BRITISH   GROWN   BULBS 


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[October   14,   1922. 


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^'■^^^s^^^ 


No.  2656.— Vol.  LXXXVI.] 


[October  14,  1922. 


HERBACEOUS    PLANTS    and    THEIR    USES 


THE  ob\dous  way  to  use  herbaceous 
plants  is  in  a  more  or  less  formal  border, 
and  this,  it  must  be  confessed,  is  a  quite 
excellent  way.  Such  a  border  will 
front  to  a  lawn  or  path  ;  if  a  path,  it 
Nvill  be  well  for  the  sake  of  balance  of  effect  to 
plant  herbaceous  plants  on  either  hand.  We 
then  get  what  is  known  as  a  herbaceous  walk. 
It  is  not  advisable  to  plant  dwarf  Roses  to  balance 
herbaceous  plants.  The  effect  produced  is  usually 
unsatisfactory,  both  as  regards  "  weight "  and 
colouring.  A  herbaceous  walk  lends  itself  admirably 
to  the  use  of  colour  schemes,  and  as,  to  be  satisfac- 
tory, the  borders  should  be  backed  by  substantial 
hedges  (or  walls), 
there  is  no  diffi- 
culty in  fitting 
such  colour 
gradations  into 
the  general 
garden  scheme. 
Such  borders 
may  be  rendered 
far  more  effective 
than  they  could 
otherwise  be  by 
the  introduction 
of  many  bulbous 
plants  —  M  a  y- 
flowering  Tulips. 
Daffodils,  Gladioh 
(both  early  and 
late  flowering).  r%, 
Montbretias, 
Schizostyhs  and, 
above  all,  Lihes. 
Their  effect  may 
be  still  further 
enhanced  by  the 
employment  of 
rather  |  dwarf 
shrubs  with 
silvery,  greyish 
or  glaucous  foU- 
age,  such  as  many 
of  the  Southern- 
woods (Arte- 
misia),     and 

Lavender,  with  such  tender  and  scarcely  hardy 
plants  as  Dahlias  and  Chrysanthemums.  Certain 
Grasses  may  be  employed  with  advantage  also, 
notably  some  of  the  species  and  varieties  of 
Miscanthus  (Eulalia)  and  that  beautiful  bronze 
purple  Barley,  Hordeum  jubatum. 

If  shrubs  are  useful  as  foils  to  herbaceous  plants, 
some  of  the  latter  are  equally  effective  and  valuable 


in  the  shrubbery.  The  bulk  of  herbaceous  plants 
flower  when  blossom  is  scarce  in  the  shrubbery 
and  the  green  background  of  the  shrubs  shews 
to  advantage  the  generally  brilUant  colouring  of 
the  "  groundUngs."  Some  plants  there  are 
which  have  a  natural  grace  particularly  suitable 
for  the  shrubbery.  Such  are  the  Torch  Lilies 
(Kniphofia),  the  Delphiniums,  the  Foxgloves  (Digi- 
taUs),  such  Campanulas  as  lactiflora,  latifoha  and 
alUarisefolia,  Buphthalmum  (Telekia)  speciosum. 
several  of  the  giant  Knotweeds  (Polygonum) — 
but  only  in  the  wild  garden,  not  the  cultivated 
shrubbery — Spirsa  Aruncus,  S.  palmata  and  the 
various  forms  of  the  Meadowsweet — S.  Ulraaria — 


THE    GRACEFUL    CAMPANULA    LACTIFLORA    ALBA. 

several  Goats'  Rues,  notably  Thalictrum  aquilegi- 
folium  purpureum,  but  also  including  T.T.  flavum 
and  glaucum,  Lavateras  Olbia  and  thuringiaca, 
the  Sidalceas  and  Mallows,  .Asphodels  (both  white 
and  yellow)  and  the  various  Giant  .\sphodels 
(Eremuri),  Anchusa  myosotidi flora.  Salvia  uHginosa, 
such  Michaelmas  Daisies  as  CUmax ;  Monarda 
didyma    Cambridge    Scarlet,    Lythrum    Salicaria 


roseum,  the  Evening  Primrose  (fEnothera  biennis). 
Wrbascums  of  sorts  and  .-Anemone  japonica,  both 
pink  and  white. 

Such  plants  as  the  forms  of  Anchusa  itaUca 
and  the  beautiful  Cynoglossum  araabile  are  more 
sophisticated  in  outUne,  but  invaluable  none  the 
less  for  the  glorious  blues  they  afford.  Salvia 
%'irgata  nemorosa  is  invaluable  for  half-shady 
glimpses,  and  the  Azure  Sage,  .\triplex  Perovskiana, 
might  be  included,  but  is  really  sub-shrubby. 
The  same  remark  will  apply  to  Romneya. 

Some  plants  there  are  which  seem  made  for 
the  paved  garden.  Delphiniums  are  especially 
happy  there  when  of  mauve  or  violet  colouring, 

though  the  clear 
blues  look  well 
enough.  The  deep 
crimson  Lobelia 
iulgens  Queen 
Victoria  is  admir- 
able  but  in 
almost  all  dis- 
tricts needs  pro- 
tection in  winter, 
agreeing  in  this 
respect  with  the 
florists'  Pentste- 
inons,  which  are 
also  good  for  the 
same  purpose. 
Some  of  the  large- 
flowered  sorts,  if 
free,  are  valu- 
able, e.g.,  Emile 
Rodigas,  but, 

generally     speak- 
ing,    the     small- 
flowered        sorts, 
such  as  Newbury 
Gem   and   South- 
gate     Gem.      are 
most  satisfactory, 
Newbury  Gem  is 
hardy  enough   to 
stand    the   winter 
outdoors  in  many 
districts,     but    if 
it  is  to  be  a  real 
success    needs     renewing    from    cuttings    at    least 
every  second  year.     Such  things  as  that  invaluable 
Catmint,  Nepeta  Mussini  and  Anthemis  Cupaniana 
will  occur  to  most  people  for  such  a  garden,  so 
will  the  peach-leaved    Campanula,  C.  persicifoUa. 
Crimson,  soft  pink  and  soft  yellow  Antirrhinums 
are    all    admirable.     Though   classed    officially    as 
hardy    perennials,    these    are    almost    universally 


512 


THE     GARDEN. 


PENTSTEMON    DAYDREAM 


THE    SHRUBBERY. 


r    -     J*    AT- 


^*m-: 


,-»  •»" 


THE    LARGE    EVENING    PRIMROSE,    CENOTHERA    BIENNIS    GRANDIFLORA    AMONG 


P.qiONIES. 


THE    MICHAELMAS    DAISY    BORDER    AT    ALDENHAM. 


[October  14,  1922. 

grown  as  biennials,  but  it  is  worth  while  increasing 
stock  vegetatively  for  one  year  to  obtain  exactitude 
of  shade.  Cuttings  from  seedlings  should  produce 
vigorous  plants.  Cuttings  from  plants  grown 
from  cuttings  are,  too  often,  unsatisfactory. 
The  dwarfer  sorts,  however,  when  raised  from 
seed  may  be  readily  rogued  and  replaced  even 
when  in  fiower,  for  they  lift  and  transplant  readily. 
The  tall  varieties  so  useful  in  many  situations  are 
less  amenable  in  this  respect. 

Other  plants  especially  suitable  for  the  paved 
garden  include  mauve  and  soft  yellow  Violas, 
Carnations  and  Pinks — including  AUwoodii  and 
Herbertii  and,  if  liked,  the  new  Perpetual  Border 
Carnations — Michaelmas  Daisies,  particularly  Aster 
acris  and  the  varieties  of  the  Amellus  section, 
many  Phloxes,  Campanulas  lactiflora  and  carpatica, 
herbaceous  Psonies,  Pyrethrum  (particularly  single 
ones),  Artemisia  lactiflora,  Thalictrums  aquilegi- 
folium  purpureum  and  dipterocarpum  and  Salvia 
Tenori.  ThaMctrum  dipterocarpum  makes  all  other 
members  of  the  genus  look  not  worth  growing, 
but  unfortunately  its  want  of  vigour  in  our  climate 
has  to  be  set  against  its  greater  refinement  when 
comparing  its  value  with  that  of  the  purple  form 
of  T.  aquilegifolium. 

Herbaceous  plants  are  often  used  in  gardens  to 
fonn  beds  or  borders  including  only  one  or  two 
or  perhaps   three  genera  in  each  bed,  border  or 
walk.     A   border   may,   for   instance,   be   planted 
entirelv    with    Michaelmas    Daisies   or   with    Del- 
phiniums, Phloxes,  Campanulas,  Chrysanthemums, 
Pentstemons,    Antirrhinums    or    Torch    LiUes,    or 
Delphiniums    may    be    associated    with    Madonna 
Lilies   with    or   without   Nepeta,    and    the   whole 
will  serve  as  a  delightful  foil  to  the  reds  and  pinks 
of     chmbing     and     rambler     Roses.     Michaelmas 
Daisies  associate  well  with  various  Golden   Rods 
(Solidago)    and   Perennial   Sunflowers   (HeUanthus) 
or,    again,    with    Torch    Lilies.     Chrysanthemums 
and  Michaelmas  Daisies  are  sometimes  associated 
happily  together,  especially  if  the  hghter  yellow 
and    crimson    Chrysanthemums    are    relied    upon. 
Pentstemons   and   Antirrhinums  do  not   associate 
well  together  as  a  rule,  for  the  lustrous  flowering 
of  the  Snapdragons  kills  the  "  flatter  "  finish  of 
the     Pentstemons.     Soft     yellow     "  Snaps "     and 
crimson     Pentstemons    form   a    happy   exception 
""    to   this   rule,   while   white   Antirrhinums   may   be 
used  to  coimterbalance  the  want  of  crystal  white 
in     the     Pentstemon.     Though     no     dead    white 
exists,  the  palest  shades  of  Pentstemon,  whether 
faintly    touched    with   pink   or   mauve,    are   very 
beautiful  and  especially  attractive  in  the  gloaming 
when     rich     colours     appear     black.     The     great 
drawback  to  these  limited  associations  as  to  beds 
and  borders  of  one  genus   (often  one  species)   is 
the    shortness    of    time    during    which    they    are 
effective.     Take    a    Phlox    border,    for    instance. 
A  little  spring  colour  may   be   provided   from   a 
foreground     of     Aubrietia,     Arabis     or     Alyssum 
associated  with   spring-flowering  bulbs,   but  with 
this   exception   the   border   must   be   destitute   of 
colour  except  for  perhaps  six  weeks  of  the  year, 
nor  will  it  be   at   anything  approaching  its  best 
even  for  that  comparatively  short  time. 

For  the  not  overlarge  garden  an  association 
of  PEeonies  with  Delphiniums  and  Daffodils  is 
far  more  desirable  as  providing  a  display  of  colour 
over  a  long  period,  though  necessarily  the  colour 
effect  at  any  one  time  is  somewhat  restricted. 
That  again  is  where  the  use  of  herbaceous  plants 
in  the  shrubbery  scores.  Michaelmas  Daisies 
alone  produce  an  effect  for  a  month  or  so  and 
little  of  interest  for  the  remainder  of  the  year, 
but  establish  in  bold  drifts  of  one  suitable  variety 
among  shrubs,  and  if  careful  selection  be  made, 
interest  can  be  maintained  throughout  the  year. 
The  close-growing  forms,  such  as  the  small- 
flowered  ericoides  varieties  and  those  intermediate 


October  i^,  1922. 


THE     GARDEN. 


513 


in  type,  like  St.  Egwiii,  are  not  suitable  for  such 
grouping.  Climax  la;vis,  the  late-flowering  and 
typical  vimineus,  the  spreading  diffusus  horizontalis 
and  the  .'\meUus  forms  are  all  e.xcellent,  and  may 
be  taken  as  typical  of  the  habits  which  are  desirable 
in  the  shrubbery.  There  are,  of  course,  a  multitude 
of  suitable  varieties. 

Wherever  herbaceous  plants  are  grown,  very 
thorough  preparation  of  the  ground  should  be 
given.  Almost  without  e.xception  fairly  rich 
sweet  soil  is  called  for  if  success  is  to  be  obtained. 
In  every  case  good  and  deep  cultivation  prior  to 


planting  will  be  beneficial.  The  peculiarities  of 
different  genera  and  species  as  regards  aspect, 
etc.,  must  always  be  borne  in  mind.  Phloxes, 
for  instance,  like  a  rich  soil  with  a  good  moisture 
content,  but  they  are  by  no  means  bog  plants. 
.\n  easterly  or  westerly  aspect  suits  them  better 
than  a  site  exposed  to  the  direct  and  sometimes 
pitiless  rays  ot  the  sun.  Spir^as  also  like  an 
abundance  of  moisture  and  partial  shade.  An 
exception  in  this  regard  is  S.  Aruncus,  sometimes 
called  the  Goat's  Beard,  which  succeeds  impartially 
in  light  soil  or  heavv  sun  or  shade. 


FAST-GROWING     TREES 

I.— THE    POPLAR 

The  desire  among  planters  of  trees    to-day,   much    more    than    formerly,   is  for   an 
immediate  ejfect,  or  at  least  in  a  very  short  time. 


FOR  many  positions  and  purposes  the 
Poplars  are  unrivalled  for  the  follow- 
ing reasons :  They  are  quick-growing 
and  transplant  readily  when  a  good 
size ;  few,  if  any,  trees  thrive  better 
in  a  variety  of  soils,  positions  and  climatic  con- 
ditions in  town  and  country  ;  and  they  are  only 
rivalled  by  the  Willow  in  the  rapidity  and  ease 
wnth  which  they  may  be  propagated  by  cuttings 
inserted  in  the  open  ground. 

The  cutting  up  of  large  estates  and  the  building 
of  smaller  houses  in  suburban  and  country  districts 
has  resulted  in  a  very  large  demand  for  quick- 
growing  trees.  This  may  be  for  one  or  other 
object  or  a  combination  of  several  reasons.  Fast- 
growing  trees  may  be  required  quickly  to  furnish 
the  pleasure  grounds  and  set  off  in  at  least  some 
slight  degree  the  new  character  of  the  house. 
Perhaps  more  often  than  not  the  desire  is  to  screen 
the  house  from  the  road,  or  quickly  to  form  a 
barrier  to  shut  out  other  buildings  which  overlook 
or  may  be  an  eyesore  from  the  new  house. 

When  there  is  ample  space  and  abundance  of 
head-room  the  tall,  wide-spreading  Poplars  may 
justly  claim  attention.  In  cramped  positions, 
with  little  or  no  space  for  overhanging  branches, 
the  Lombardy  Poplar  is  usually  the  most  satis- 
factory. In  smoky  districts  and  indifferent  soils 
Poplars  can  generally  be  depended  upon  to  give 
good  results. 

PROPAGATION. 

Poplars  and  their  close  allies  the  Willows  are  the 
easiest  of  all  tall-growing  trees  to  increase  by 
cuttings.  The  normal  growth  of  a  Poplar  cutting 
ift.  long  inserted  during  October  or  November 
would  be  4ft.  to  6ft.  the  first  year  in  the  open 
ground.  If  need  be  Poplar  poles  8ft.,  loft.  or 
12ft.  in  length  with  a  diameter  base  of  3ins.  or 
more  may  be  used,  placing  these  in  the  permanent 
positions.  I  can  call  to  mind  two  instances  of 
Poplar  poles  being  used  for  pillar  Roses  which 
have  to-day  become  a  couple  of  tall  Poplar  trees. 
Though  Poplars  can  be  quickly  raised  from  seeds, 
for  several  reasons,  besides  the  ease  with  which 
cuttings  root,  it  is  not  much  practised.  To  begin 
•with.  Poplar  trees  are  usually  unisexual,  hence 
more  often  than  not  when  a  mixed  collection  of 
Poplars  are  grown  the  seedlings  prove  to  be 
hybrids.  This  is  undoubtedly  the  reason  for  so 
many  hybrid  Poplars  in  our  gardens  to-day. 
The  germinating  power  of  Poplar  seeds  is  both 
rapid  and  fleeting.  Marked  evidence  of  germi- 
nation can  often  be  seen  within  twenty-four  hours 
of  gathering  and  sowing  the  seeds.  On  the  other 
hand,  Poplar  seeds  quickly  lose  their  vitality. 
Several  seedling  trees  of  Populus  generosa  (secunda) 
raised  in  1914,  eight  years  ago,  are  now  40ft.  in 
height. 


The  idea  of  this  note  is  to  re%iew  the  Poplar 
for  ornamental  planting  rather  than  their  econonri- 
cal   or   commercial   value.     In   passing,    however. 


consider  the  timber  of  this  tree  the  most  service- 
able, superior  to  that  of  P.  serotina  and  P.  Eugenei. 
Free  in  growth,  P.  robusta  quickly  forms  an 
attractive  tree  with  large  ornamental  leaves. 

P.  generosa  is  a  hybrid  of  remarkaljly  quick 
growth  raised  ten  years  ago  by  pollinating  P. 
angulata  var.  cordata  with  pollen  of  P.  tricho- 
carpa.  Two  years  later  the  same  cross  was 
repeated  at  Kew,  the  resulting  trees  being  known 
as  P.  generosa  secunda.  The  trees  in  eight  years 
ha\'e  grown  to  a  height  of  40ft.,  and  it  is  interesting 
to  record  that  of  three  trees  which  have  flowered 
two  are  females  and  one  male.  There  is  no 
difference  in  their  rapid  rate  of  growth,  an  average 
of  jft.  for  eight  years  being  extremely  good  in 
the  light  sandy  soil  and  atmosphere  of  Kew. 
The  largest  ot  the  leaves  measure  i3ins.  by 
iiins. 

P.  serotina,  the  Black  Italian  Poplar,  said  to 
be  a  hybrid  between  P.  nigra  and  P.  monilifera, 
is  of  Continental  origin.  It  is  a  male  tree,  and 
has  been  very  much  planted,  no  doubt  because 
of  its  free  and  rapid  growth.  P.  marilandica  is 
reputed  to  be  the  same  parentage  but  a  female 
tree,    as   also  is   a  similar  hybrid    P.   regenerata. 


POPLARS    EFFECTIVELY    PLANTED    BY    THE    WATERSIDE. 


it  may  be  useful  to  point  out  the  value  of  quick- 
growing  Poplar  as  a  timber  tree.  Though  a  soft 
wood,  there  is  a  ready  demand  for  the  wood  to-day 
for  such  things  as  packing  cases,  cotton  reels, 
toys,  etc. 

Populus  trichocarpa,  the  Black  Cottonwood  of 
Western  North  America,  is  the  fastest  growing 
of  the  Balsam  Poplars  and  quite  one  of  the  most 
ornamental.  A  tree  planted  by  the  riverside 
at  Kew  about  twenty  years  ago  now  exceeds 
6oft.  in  height.  Native  trees  are  sometimes 
said  to  reach  200ft.  in  height.  The  natural 
growth,  of  young  trees  at  least,  is  upright,  making 
a  very  good  screen  tree,  though  it  is  not  advisable 
to  plant  as  closely  as  is  done  with  the  Lombardy. 

P.  robusta  is  a  fast-growing  hybrid  Poplar 
obtained  by  crossing  P.  angulata  var.  cordata 
with     P.    Eugenei.     In    France    some    authorities 


which  originated  in  Belgium.  A  frequent  nursery 
name  for  this  group  ot  hybrids  is  Canadian  Poplars. 

P.  Eugenei  is  a  male  hybrid  tree  which  appeared 
as  a  chance  seedling  in  the  nursery  of  Messrs. 
Simon  Louis  near  Metz  about  ninety  years  ago. 
The  original  tree  is  150ft.  high.  Several  trees 
planted  at  Kew  hi  1888  are  approaching  looft. 
in  height.  It  is  said  to  be  a  seedUng  from  one 
of  the  female  Canadian  Poplars  crossed  with 
pollen  from  a  male  Lombardy,  hence  the  strikingly 
tall  pyramidal  habit. 

The  Black  Lombardy,  P.  nigra  var.  italica 
(svn.  pyramidahs)  and  the  White  Lombardy, 
P.  alba  var.  pyramidalis  (syn.  BoUeana),  are  the 
best  trees  for  close  planting  to  form  an  effective 
screen  or  hedge  20ft.,  25ft.  or  more  in  height. 
The  distance  apart  varies  according  to  circum- 
stances.    For   a   close   hedge,    and   to   be   almost 


514 


THE     GARDEN. 


[October  14,  1922. 


immediately  effective,  plant  iff.  apart.  .\%  a 
permanent  tall  screen  loft.  apart  is  a  good  distance  ; 
while  if  space  permits  of  a  second  row,  plant  these 
8ft.  or  loft.  behind  the  first  row,  setting  the  trees 
alternately  between.  Being  very  twiggy  trees, 
they  will  in  a  very  few  years  form  a  most  effective 
screen,  even  in  winter  after  the  leaves  have  fallen. 
For    town    and    suburban    gardens    in    particular. 


where  space  is  valuable,  tlie  Lombardy  Poplars 
are  frequently  planted,  the  white  (BoUeana) 
being  of  the  two  the  more  ornamental.  Having 
no  overhanging  branches  the  trees  give  only  a 
minimum  of  shade.  When  immediately  behind 
a  flower  border,  trenching  the  ground  within  a 
reasonable  distance  of  the  trees  every  few  years 
does  little,  if  any,  harm.  A.  O. 


ON    TULIP   CULTIVATION    IN   THE  OPEN 


I 


N  the  year  1907  an  excellent  book  on  Daffodils 
was  pubUshed  by  Doubleday,  Page  and 
Co.  of  New  York.  Its  author  was  Mr.  A.  M. 
Kirby,  who  had,  it 
is  very  evident  from 
the  contents,  s  wide 
experience  of  everything 
connected  with  the  flower. 
On  page  9  he  refers  to  the 
small  Syndicate  of  Six 
which  was  formed  to  buy 
Mr.  Engleheart's  earliest 
seedlings.  I  quote  this 
as  an  example  of  his 
thoroughness  and  his  in- 
timate knowledge  of  what 
he  was  writing  about. 
Hence  we  feel  that  the 
heading  of  Chapter  VIII 
states  a  simple  fact,  "  The 
One  Insect  and  One 
Disease."  The  disease  was 
"  basal  rot "  and  the 
insect  the  daffodil  fly 
"Merodon  equestris." 
Nineteen  hundred  and 
seven  from  nineteen 
hundred  and  twenty-two 
leaves  fifteen. 

Only  fifteen  years  a.go. 
then,  that  was  the  happy 
position  in  Daffodil  land. 
How  different  now  ! 
When  man  upsets  the 
balance  of  Nature  he  is 
providing  himself,  more 
often  than  not,  with  a 
very  big  job  to  put 
matters  right  again.  The 
gathering  together  of 
plants  in  a  garden  is  such 
an  upsetting.  The  inter- 
breeding that  creates  new 
varieties  is  an  upsetting. 
Man  is  not  out  of  the 
wood  yet  in  the  case  of 
the  Daffodil. 

Now  that  the  Tulip  is  incieasing  year  by  year  in 
public  favour  we  must  not  forget  that  its  life  under 
garden  conditions  in  the  West  is  an  upsetting  of 
stern  Nature.  Let  us  remember  the  Daffodil 
and  all  that  has  come  to  pass  since  the  fateful 
sweltering  summer  of  19:1.  We  were  bhnd. 
We  did  not  discern  the  symptoms  of  coming  trouble, 
with  the  melancholy  result  that  there  is  hardly 
one  garden  of  any  size  where  that  scourge,  the 
Tylenchus  devastatrix  or  eelworm,  is  not.  Let 
us  try  to  be  wiser  in  our  cultivation  of  the  TuUp. 
Once  bitten,  twice  shy.  I  feel  that  this  article 
will  be  well  worth  writing  if  only  it  helps  to  put 
lovers  of  this  flower  on  their  guard  ;  if  only  it 
makes  cultivators  keep  theu:  eyes  open  so  that 
they  will  see  when  anything  is  going  wrong  ;  if  only 
it  prompts  them  to  deal  instantly  and  adequately 
with  the  evil.  The  chief  enemy  of  the  Tulip  is 
an  insidious  fungus  known  to  the  learned  as 
Botrytis    parasitica    but    colloquially    as    "  fire." 


The  time  when  it  begins  to  be  very  noticeable 
is  about  that  of  flowering.  Grey  or  brown  patches 
are  to  be  seen  on  the  foliage,  and  the  blooms  are 


TULIPS  IN  THE  PAVED  GARDEN. 


frequently  disfigured  as  well.  Mild  attacks  do 
little  harm,  but  when  they  are  severe  the  bulbs 
suffer  and  rot.  Most  probably  many  readers 
have  at  one  time  or  another  been  troubled  with 
this  "  fire."  Much  can  be  done  at  planting-time 
to  avoid  it,  or  at  least  to  minimise  it.  First, 
no  TuUps  should  be  planted  in  the  same  beds  or 
parts  of  borders  where  last  year  it  appeared  in 
a  virulent  form.  Secondly,  no  Tulips  should  ever 
be  put  where  they  wiU  be  exposed  to  cutting  cold 
winds.  If  these  do  not  actually  originate  an 
attack  of  "  fire,"  they  decidedly  aid  and  abet  it. 
Thirdly,  low-lying  ground  which  is  subject  to 
spring  frosts  should  if  possible  be  avoided.  Fourthly, 
I  am  rather  incUned  to  think  that  in  light  soil 
Tulips  are  more  subject  to  it  than  in  heavier  land. 
Fifthly,  late  planting  helps.  Even  if  it  does  not 
do  much  in  this  direction,  by  delaying  the  appear- 
ance of  the  young  foUage  above  ground  it  lessens 
the  time  that  slugs  have  for  feeding  on  it.     Several 


times  I  have  noticed  how  the  leaves  of  early-flower- 
ing varieties  have  been  badly  eaten  when  withiu 
4ft.  the  late-flowering  ones  have  been  untouched. 
The  ideal  ground  for  Tuhps  is  land  just  on  the 
stiff  side,  from  which  a  crop  of  Potatoes  has  been 
lifted.  We  do  not  have  Potato  patches  on  our 
lawns  or  in  our  best  flower  borders,  so  all  that 
can  be  done  is  to  remember  the  ideal  and  to  make 
the  ground  as  much  like  it  as  one  can.  Lime  is 
beneficial,  it  follows  that  care  should  be  taken 
to  see  that  there  is  no  deficiency  in  the  soil. 

There  seems  to  be  a  quite  unnecessary  amount 
of    tribulation    about   the   depth    at   which   Tulip 
bulbs   should   be   planted.     Editors   put   it   down 
as  one  of  the  most   necessary  ingredients  in   an 
article   on   cultivation.     "  You   know,"    they   tell 
me,  "  what  to  say,  how  deep  to  plant  and  all  that 
sort  of   thing."     Friends  continually   ask,   "  Now 
how   deep   must   we   plant   the   bulbs  ?  "     Really 
Tulips  are  not  very  particular.     It  matters  very 
little  if  there  are  3ins.  4ins.,  sins    or  6ins.  of  soil 
over  the  top  of  the  bulbs.     Only  last  autumn  in 
my  garden,   as   an  experiment,  some  were  put  in 
at    a    depth    of    6ins.   and  some  at  9ins.,   and   I 
could  not  see  any  difference  between  them  when 
they    bloomed.     What    does    make    a    difference 
is  the  way  the  bulbs  are  treated  before  they  are 
planted.     It    is    not    generally    known    that    by 
keeping  bulbs  in  a  temperature  of  about  65°  to  70° 
for  two  or  three  weeks  before  they   are  planted 
that     their    flowering    is     considerably     delayed. 
I  saw  several  large  beds  of  the  Rev.  H.  Ewbank 
and  three  or  four  other  varieties  the  last  time  1 
was  in   Haarlem   in   Mr.   Polman   Mooy's   ancient 
Tulip  ground  at  the  back  of  his  house  in  Kleine 
Hontweg,   some   of   which   had  been  warmed  up 
and    some   not.     The   contrast   was   striking.     In 
each   case  the   treated  ones  were  just  expanding 
and  the  non-treated  ones  were  going  out  of  flower. 
It    is    almost    unnecessary  to  say   that   this  fact 
may    be    of    considerable    use    in    some    gardens. 
I    am   sorrj'   I    cannot   give   exact   figures   of   the 
necessary    temperature    and    the    length    of    time 
that  the  bulbs  should  be  in  it,  but  the  principle- 
is  all  right.     The  origin  of  the  saying  that  a  cat 
has  nine  lives  is  lost  in  the  mists  of  hoary  antiquity. 
Bedding-out   has   at  least   the  same   number,   for 
it  still   goes  on  in  many   gardens — only  priest  is 
writ     presbyter.     Because     of     this    neo-bedding,. 
late-flowering  TuUps  are  not  used  as  much  as  they 
might  be  for  making  a  big  show  in  the  month  of 
May  or,  in  very  late  parts  of  our  island,  in  early 
June.^  'They  are  in  the  way  when  the  beds  should; 
be  filled  with   their  summer  occupants.     Now  it 
is  very  easy   to   circumvent   this   little  difficulty. 
M.  Vianney,  the  tamous  priest  of  Ars,  was  once- 
asked  by  a  lady  who  liad  been  in  a  serious  carriage 
accident   what   she   should   do   to   avoid   another. 
"  Madame,"    said    the    holy    man,    "  the    way   is. 
simple.     Never  ride  in  a  carriage."     The  difficulty 
of  the  late-flowering  TuUps  might  be  easily  avoided 
in  a  similar  way  by  never  using  any  ;    but  this 
would  be  something  akin  to  cutting  off  one's  nose 
to  spite  one's  face.     It  is  wholly  unnecessary.     If 
the  TuUps  are  carefuUy  Ufted  without  damaging- 
either  the  roots  or  the  foUage  as  soon  as  they  are 
out  of  flower  and  there  and  then  put  in  an' out  of 
the  way  place  by  their  heels  and  watered  well  to 
settle  the  soil,  they  will  then  ripen  off  very  respect- 
ably and  will  give  quite  decent  flowers  the  next 
year. 

In  writing  as  I  am  doing  about  cultivation  I 
feel  as  if  I  were  making  a  fruit  salad — so  much 
goes  in.  I  have  another  ingredient  to  add.  Those 
who  Ufted  TuUp  bulbs  this  summer  will  have 
found  in  many  cases  that  they  have  got  a  whole 
lot  of  small  bulbs.  The  hot  season  of  1921  seems- 
to  have  made  the  bulbs  spUt  up  this  summer  as 
they  have  never  done  before.  I  had  a  long, 
narrow  bed  of  the  early  Rose  Tendre  containing: 


October  14,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


515 


about  700  to  800  bulbs.  I  have  no  end  ot  small 
bulbs,  but  I  ani  very  doubtful  if  I  will  find  fifty 
first-sized  in  the  whole  lot.  What  ought  to  be 
done  with  these  ?  They  should  be  planted  at 
once.  The  smaller  the  bulb  the  sooner  it  should 
be  put  into  Mother  Earth  is  a  very  safe  rule  to  go 
by.  ."Vny  bulbs  about  hazel  nut  size  should  be 
in  by  the  end  of  September.  Smaller  ones  still, 
m  August  ;  whereas  large  ones  need  not  be  planted 
until  November.  It  seems  to  surprise  a  good 
many  people  that  small  bulbs  can  be  grown  into 
big  ones  when  they  are  told  what  I  have  just 
written.  I  suppose  they  have  never  stopped 
to  think  where  or  how  dealers  get  the  big  ones. 


"  Thank  goodness,"  say  the  dealers,  "  even  if 
people  do  know  it,  we  have  generally  a  good  friend 
at  court — Mr.  Want-of-Room." 

I  must  bring  one  more  ingredient  into  the 
salad — droppers.  What  are  droppers  ?  They  are 
hard-coated  little  beggars  that  one  finds  a  good 
bit  lower  down  in  the  soil  than  we  would  naturally 
expect  them  to  be  when  we  take  up  our  bulbs. 
Whence  come  they  ?  As  a  rule  they  are  produced 
by  the  small  offsets  of  less  than  hazel  nut 
size.  Why  the  new  bulb  should  come  into 
being  in  this  fashion  and  not  be  formed  beside 
the  parent  bulb  is  one  of  the  unsolved  pro- 
blems   of    tulipdom. 


.\s  a  general  rule  the  smaller  the  bulb  planted 
the  greater  the  number  of  droppers.  Naturally, 
they  are  a  bit  of  a  worry  at  lifting-tirae  if  we  want 
to  get  the  bed  up  "  clean."  Droppers  look  different 
to  ordinary  bulbs.  They  have  a  hard  skin  and  a 
long  elongated  shape.  When  they  are  set  they 
become  normal  before  they  are  lifted.  Those 
who  can  read  German  should  get  "  Das  Leben  der 
Tuipe,"  by  Edmund  Doring,  published  in  1910, 
if  they  want  to  learn  more  about  them  and  also 
how  new  bulbs  are  formed  in  the  ground.  Not 
everyone  knows  that  you  say  good-bye  for  ever 
to  a  bulb  when  you  plant  it.  Truly  the  Tulip 
is   La    Fleur   Merveilleuse.  Joseph  Jacob. 


THE    EVOLUTION    OF    THE    GLADIOLUS-III 


A  YEAR  or  two  ago  a  serious  thought 
assailed  me  of  scrapping  all  the  large- 
flowered  Gladioli  so  as  to  devote  con- 
centrated attention  to  the  primulinus 
hybrids.  Then  came  intimate  know- 
edge  of  some  of  the  fine  new  varieties  raised  in 
.America,  and  my  resolution  went  the  way  of  those 
reborn  on  December  31  of  each  year  of  grace. 

I  think  B\Ton  L.  Smith  and  .\lton  were  the 
founders  of  this  personal  renaissance.  When 
first  I  saw  these  two  flowers  I  recognised  that  the 
large-flowered  hybrids  had  an  important  mission 
to    fulfil,     and    also    there     was     the     immediate 


The  Large-flowerei  Hybrids. 

suggestion  of  unbounded  possibilities  of  a  union 
between  the  popular  primulinus  hybrids  and  the 
glorious  colour  blends  of  this  new  race  of  giant- 
flowered  Gladioli.  Of  Byron  L.  Smith  I  have 
written  before  in  these  pages,  and  now  that  the 
public  have  had  repeated  opportunities  of  seeing 
it  their  appreciation  has  been  immediate  and 
conclusive.  It  has  bounded  into  supreme  favour 
and  caimot  fail  to  retain  its  place  for  a  long  time 
to  come.  This  summer  I  have  Ustened  to  many 
opinions  and  guesses  as  to  its  real  colour,  but 
probably  the  truest  value  in  words  is  "  softest 
cattleva  mauve."     But  so  soft  is  the  shade  that 


lavender  pink  might  also  aptly  figure  it  in  the  mind 
if  you  know  the  flower.  If  you  do  not,  no  jargon 
of  words  will  give  you  its  portrait.  On  the  lower 
segments  there  is  a  milky  yellow  blotch  suggestive 
of  moonhght  which  tones  out  the  petal  colour  to 
perfection,  .'ilton  is  a  fine  type  of  the  ruffled- 
flowered  Gladiolus.  The  large  circular  flowers 
are  rather  compactly  held  on  the  massive  spike, 
but  the  colour  is  soul-satisfying.  Described  in  the 
catalogue  as  of  finest  orange  colour,  my  notes  say 
salmon  orange  with  an  intense  fiery  orange  scarlet 
blotch  in  the  throat,  a  good  blend  of  warm  tones. 
.\fter  the  same  stvle  is  Favourite,  of  which  we  have 


GLADIOLUS    FAVOURITE 


GL.\DIOLUS    RARITY. 


516 


THE     GARDEN. 


[October  14,  1922. 


a  picture  here ;  more  a  self-coloured  flower 
perhaps,  and  if  there  is  any  meaning  in  a  shuffling 
of  the  descriptive  words,  I  should  call  it  more 
orange  salmon  where  the  other  is  salmon  orange. 
The  emphasis,  I  take  it,  rests  mth  the  second 
word.  Some  more  crinkled  ones  are  Charm, 
a  pure  deep  rose  pink  with  a  deeper,  almost  red 
blotch ;  Glorious,  a  deep  cream  with  apricot 
throat  ;  Gypsie  Queen,  of  lovely  orange  red 
with  just  a  trace  of  bluish  lavender  colour  in  the 
edges.  I  like  this  variety  very  much  for  the 
purity  and  intensity  of  Its  colour.  Major  Churcher 
shewed  it  well  at  the  International  Show  in  Glasgow 
in  a  competitive  class  where  the  judging  was  a 
bit  awry.  Humming  Bird  is  somewhat  dwarf 
in  growth  but  with  a  stifHy  held  strong  spike. 
The  flowers  are  not  so  pretty  as  in  some,  but  it  is 
pleasantly  peculiar,  a  sort  of  lavender  sheen 
overlying  a  rather  harsh  pink  shade.  The  lower 
segments  are  almost  coveted  with  a  deeper  and 
harmonising  blotch.  .lEolian  is  very  handsome, 
having  plenty  of  flowers  open  at  once  and  the 
colour  very  telling,  pure  salmon  rose  with  distinct 
bluish  margin.  Adoration  is  practically  a  self 
of  dark  Lincoln  red  deepening  in  the  throat,  and 
has  about  six  flowers  open  at  a  time.  Then  there 
is  Crinkles,  intensely  ruffled  and  of  pleasing  peach 
blossom  pink,  but  the  flowers  are  not  very  large. 
It  is  fine  for  vase  decoration,  however.  E.  J. 
Shaylor  is  particularly  good,  and  is  better  known 
in  this  country  than  most  of  these  ruffled  sorts. 
Two  years  ago  it  gained  the  A.M.  at  Vincent  Square 
and  at  that  time  attracted  much  notice.  It  is 
a  deep  rose  pink,  forming  a  bold  spike  and  is  a 
good  grower.  I  do  not  like  purple-coloured 
Gladioli  as  a  rule,  but  Purple  Glory  is  a  thing 
apart,  perhaps  because  it  is  not  purple,  .■\nyway 
it  arrests  the  attention  at  once  with  its  giant 
ruffled  flowers  and  enormous  spike.  The  colour 
is  elusive  of  description,  but  I  imagine  it  to  be 
an  intense  violet  maroon  with  great,  almost  black, 
blotches.  It  is  a  pity  it  takes  12s.  6d.  to  purchase 
a  bulb  of  this  one,  for  it  is  a  powerful  help  to  the 
exhibitor  and  cannot  but  capture  the  judge's  eye. 

Some  of  the  plain-petalled  Gladioli  from  America 
are  even  more  astounding  in  colour  than  the  ruffled 
sorts.  Among  the  novelties  introduced  this  year 
John  J.  Pirrie  is  quite  remarkable  as  an  entirely 
fresh  break.  The  flowers  are  beautifully  formed 
and  of  the  most  extraordinary  slaty  mauve  colour 
adorned  with  a  rich  crimson  blotch.  No  other 
Gladiolus  within  my  ken  has  a  complexion  any- 
thing near  this.  Marshal  Foch,  not  to  be  con- 
founded with  Hopman's  Dutch  variety  of  the 
same  name,  is  another  ig22  novelty  and  a  decided 
acquisition.  Its  giant  flowers  are  brilliant  salmon 
pink  of  a  very  fresh  shade  and  many  flowers  are 
open  at  a  time,  making  it  valuable  for  exhibition. 
Red  Fire  (A.M.,  1922)  is  the  best  red  Gladiolus 
of  any  so  far  as  my  experience  goes.  It  has  a 
depth  of  colour  and  "  fire "  seldom  seen  in  a 
flower,  and  when  more  reasonable  in  price  will 
be  in  great  demand.  Several  of  the  192 1  intro- 
ductions from  the  U.S.A.  have  proved  very  good 
in  our  gardens,  notably  Hollyhock,  a  remarkably 
round  flower,  tinted  white  with  large  crimson 
blotch  and  so  arranged  on  the  spike  that  it  closely 
resembles  the  flower  it  is  called  after. 

Red  Copper  is  a  fancy  Gladiolus  of  peculiar 
colour- — dark  salmon  flaked  bluish  old  rose,  the 
lower  petals  being  red  and  yellow  with  bluish 
lines  running  through.  Rarity,  of  which  a  good 
illustration  is  given,  is  quite  unique,  and  should 
become  a  popular  variety.  The  petals  are  waxy 
in  substance  and  smoothness,  and  of  a  very 
delicate  pale  lavender  pink.  This  is  a  grand 
flower  of  high  quahty.  Tranquil  does  not 
seem  very  happily  named,  the  colour  be'ng 
blood  red  with  a  faint  white  lining  at  the  edges 
of    each    petal.    The    last    two    might    well    ha\e 


changed  names.  Rarity  would  ha\e  made  a 
splendid  Tranquil,  but  the  latter  is  too  sanguine 
to  be  placid. 

The  yellow  Gladiolus  seems  to  take  a  lot  of 
procuring.  There  is  Kelway's  Golden  Measure 
introduced  a  dozen  or  more  years  ago,  still  listed 
at  the  absurd  price  of  42s.  a  bulb,  a  figure  I  should 
have  grudged  for  it  as  a  first  year  novelty.  From 
.■\merica  comes  a  new  one  called  Gold  and  in 
point  of  colour  it  is  an  improvement  on  Golden 
Measure,  though  not  so  good  a  grower.  Mr. 
Herbert  Robinson  of  Hinckley,  Leicestershire, 
has  been  good  enough  to  send  me  a  new  yellow 
self  of  his  own  raising,  and  this  promises  to  become 
an  extremely  useful  variety  if  its  constitution 
proves  as  good  as  reported.  It  is  only  in  the 
seedling  stage  yet,  having  bloomed  for  the  first 
time  last  year,  but  the  appearance  of  the  spike 
certainly  indicates  vigour  and  good  style  of  growth, 
while  the  colour  of  the  flower  itself  leaves  little 
to  be  desired. 

Each  year  I  admire  the  beautiful  contrast  of 
colour  in  Incontestable.  I  first  saw  it  as  shewn 
by  Major  Churcher  at  Vincent  Square,  and  imme- 
diately procured  it.  The  large,  round,  white 
flowers  are  perfectly  pure  except  for  a  big  crimson 
blotch  on  the  two  lower  segments,  sharply  defined, 
no  feathering  of  one  colour  into  the  other.  Kelway's 
Painted  Lady  is  very  similar,  and  both  are  con- 
spicuously beautiful.  I  should  guess  that  the 
progenitors  of  these  two  varieties  were  highly 
coloured  for  practically  every  seedling  from  them 
is  full  of  colour,  scarlet,  crimson  and  deep  pink 
predominating,  but  all  shew  something  of  the 
wonderful  blotch  of  the  parents.  We  have  some 
extremely  beautiful  new  sorts  emanating  from 
this  blood.  Two  moderately  priced  red  ones 
which  ought  to  be  in  every  collection  are  Black 
Pansy,  a  \'ery  dark  red  with  almost  black  lower 
segments,  and  Fire  Ribbon,  of  intense  fiery  red. 
The  special  feature  of  the  latter  is  that  by  the  time 
the  first  flower  is  open  the  colour  is  shewing  on 
the  topmost  bud,  so  that  the  spike  resembles  a 
perfect  band  of  glowing  colour.  Challenger,  a 
very  popular  Gladiolus  in  our  exhibits  this  summer, 
is  also,  fortunately,  not  too  expensive.  It  has  a 
huge  flower  of  richest  velvety  red,  practically 
self,  and  is  a  strong-growing  plant.  The  best 
white  for  the  moderate  purse  is  Lily  White, 
a  very  pure  lily-petalled  flower  with  about 
six  blooms  expanded  at  once  on  a  graceful 
spike. 

One  of  the  strangest  of  the  "  fancy  "  group  is 
Loella,  very  fascinating  to  the  lover  of  the  outre 
in  flowers.  The  ground  colour  is  a  smoky  old 
rose,  and  it  is  overlaid  with  flakes  of  smoky  blue. 
Try  it  on  the  dinner-table  with  double  Gypsophila 
or  fine  Asparagus  foliage  and  your  guests  will 
ask  you  what  you  mean  by  it ! 

Then  Romance,  that  beautiful  smooth  glowing 
orange  salmon  flower  with  a  picotee  edge  of  blue, 
wonderful  under  artificial  light,  and  the  great 
Mary  Pickford  of  pastel  cream  and  sulphur  yellow, 
wanted  by  everyone  who  sees  it,  and  Scarlet 
Princeps  for  a  bold  group  in  the  border  where 
rich  scarlet  is  wanted,  and  Villa,  the  httle  dark, 
almost  black,  Gladiolus.  One  could  go  on  describ- 
ing favourites  all  the  time,  and  the  half  has  not 
been  told.  There  is  wealth  enough  in  the  colours 
of  the  modern  Gladiolus  to  eruich  the  most  reckless 
spendthrift.  It  is  a  wealth  which,  luckily,  one 
cannot  amass,  but  it  comes  with  such  prodigality 
for  months  in  each  year — from  early  May  till  late 
November  we  have  them  in  flower — that  it  almost 
seems  hke  a  rest  to  have  nothing  but  the  imagination 
to  draw  on  for  inspiration. 

To  those  who  cannot  afford  to  form  an  extensive 
collection  of  expensive  varieties  I  would  urge 
again  the  possibility  and  the  desirability  of  growing 
from  seed.     We  have  so  many  exquisite  seedlings 


here  that  I  dare  hardly  mention  them  lest  I  be 
suspected  of  romancing,  but  in  due  time  they  will 
see  the  light  of  criticism  and  speak  for  themseh-es. 
If  you  imagine  seedling  raising  to  be  a  slow  process 
think  of  this.  Many  of  The  G.\rden's  readers 
grow  Border  Carnations  and  other  plants  whose 
seeds  are  sown  one  year  and  the  flowers  enjoyed 
the  following.  Well,  Gladiolus  seed  sown  in  the 
spring  will  give  you  some  flowers  the  same  summer 
and  practically  all  the  plants  should  bloom  in 
the  succeeding  season.  You  cannot  have  results 
much  sooner  than  that  unless  you  go  in  for  annuals 
only.  Here  we  get  seedlings  throwing  spikes 
of  twelve,  thirteen  and  fifteen  flowers  seven 
months  from  seed.  J.   L.  Gibson. 


A    MORNING    STROLL 

I  SUPPOSE  there  never  was  such  a  season 
for  late  Roses  as  the  present.  The  blooms 
have  been  magnificent  and  the  colour  as 
near  perfection  as  possible.  Recently,  we 
have  had  a  few  days  genial  warmth  and 
Nature  responds  very  quickly.  To  day,  after 
a  foggy  morning  and  a  heavy  dew,  I  have  been 
struck  with  the  beauty  of  various  conifers,  par- 
ticularly those  with  glaucous  foliage.  Perhaps  the 
most  noticeable  are  Cedrus  atlantica  glauca,  Picea 
pungens  glauca  and  Picea  Engelmanni  glauca, 
the  latter  being  a  comparatively  rare  tree  even  in 
good  collections.  Abies  arizonica,  a  variety  of  A. 
lasiocarpa,  is  a  wonderful  colour,  shining  like  silver 
in  the  sun. 

I  was  struck  with  the  great  beauty  of  A.  Webbiana, 
the  long  deep  coloured  leaves  of  which  are  of  a  vivid 
electric-blue  tint  beneath  This  characteristic  is 
very  noticeable  in  many  of  the  Piceas  and  as  the 
trees  grow  to  some  size,  sufficient  to  expose  the 
under  part  of  the  leaf,  is  one  of  the  greatest  attrac- 
tions. I  notice  a  considerable  burden  of  cones  on 
the  conifers  this  year,  due  no  doubt  to  weather 
conditions  last  summer,  when  there  was  maturity 
of  a  kind  seldom  seen  in  this  country. 

The  Yews  are  fruiting  very  well  and  to-day  I 
noted  specially  the  yellow-berried  Yew,  Taxus 
baccata  fructu-Iuteo,  which,  with  Taxus  Dovastoni 
alongside  made  a  very  charming  combination. 
Some  of  the  Junipers  were  also  very  attractive 
and  particularly  Juniperus  virginiana  glauca,  a 
very  beautiful  form  of  the  Red  Cedar.  J.  Tamaris- 
cifolia  and  J.  communis  var.  hibernica  were  both 
tinted  with  a  lovely  sheen  of  glaucous  tint,  while 
opposite  habits  of  growth  formed  a  wonderful 
contrast.  What  a  beautiful  family  is  the  Juniper 
with  all  its  varieties  both  upright  and  recumbent  ! 
They  have  the  added  merit  of  growing  well  on 
limy  soils  and  are,  perhaps,  the  best  conifers  for 
such  soils.  They  are  not,  however,  confined  to  the 
lime  and  in  fact  with  few  exceptions  seem  to  thrive 
almost  anywhere.  A  very  beautiful  form  of  J. 
Sabina  is  var.  horizontalis,  and  this  seems  to  thrive 
specially  well  on  soils  lacking  in  lime. 

.•\nother  point  forced  itself  upon  me  in  my  stroll 
to-day.  The  wet  weather  and  conditions  generally 
have  produced  luxuriant  growth  on  almost  all 
conifers,  and  I  could  not  help  but  contrast  their 
present  richness  of  colour  and  luxuriance  of  growth 
with  the  half  starved  condition  of  last  summer, 
and  some  that  were  only  able  to  grow  inches  last 
\ear  have  produced  almost  as  many  feet  this 
time.  There  may  be  some  trouble  and  disap- 
pointment as  the  colder  weather  comes  on,  as 
many  plants  will  go  into  the  winter  in  very 
soft  condition.  One  prays  for  a  touch  of  real 
Indian  summer  which  would  do  a  lot  towards 
hardening  up  the  sappy  growth,  which  is  the 
natural  consequence  upon  the  moist  conditions  of 
the  last  few  weeks.  F.  Gomer    Waterer. 


October  14,  1922-] 


THE     GARDEN. 


517 


THE    GREAT    AUTUMN    SHOW 


THE  new  departure  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  in  holding 
a  great  combined  Show  early  in 
October  was  a  conspicuous  success. 
As  most  of  our  readers  are  well 
aware,  the  custom  for  some  time  past  has 
been  to  hold  a  Summer  Show  in  the  beauti- 
ful grounds  at  Holland  Park.  This  admir- 
ably situated  ground  is  no  longer  available 
and,  in  any  case,  it  has  long  been  felt  by 
niembers  of  the  trade  that  the  Holland 
Park  Show  followed  too  closely  upon  the 
Chelsea  Show.  In  their  wisdom  the 
Council  of  the  R.H.S.  decided  to 
try  the  experiment  of  discarding 
the  early  summer  show  and  of 
holding  a  large  representative 
exhibition  which  would  include 
the  annual  competitions  for 
B  r  i  t  i  s  h  -  g  r  o  w  n  fruit  and 
vegetables.  After  a  prolonged 
search  the  Holland  Park  Rink 
Hall  was  decided  upon  as  the 
best  venue  for  this  new  depar- 
ture. The  Show  opened  on 
October  3  and  closed  on 
October  6.  The  floor  area  of 
this  hall  is  approximately  four 
times  that  of  the  V  i  n  c]e  n  t 
Square  building,  and  there  is 
also  a  convenient  gallery. 
Large  as  was  this  space,  it 
was  taxed  to  the  utmost. 

Previously  to  the  opening  of 
the  Show  there  was  no  ques- 
tion as  to  the  quantity  and 
quality  of  the  exhibition, 
which  was  all  that  could  be 
desired.  The  only  question 
which  concerned  the  Council 
was  that  of  attendance,  but 
any  fears  entertained  were 
soon  dissipated,  for  a  long 
queue  of  visitors  awaited  the 
opening  hour  and  the  large 
hall  was  soon  filled  almost  to 
overflowing ;  in  fact,  for  a 
couple  of  hours  or  so  it  was 
uncomfortably  filled. 

When  viewed  from  [the  near 
gallery  the  general  appearance 
of  the  exhibits  was  especially 
good,  the  bright  colour  was 
very  fascinating.  The  principal 
exhibits  were  magnificent  col- 
lections of  fruit  and  vegetables, 
trees  and  shrubs  in  their  full 
autumn  beauty  of  foliage  and 
berries,  Roses,  Carnations,  Dahlias  and 
Michaelmas  Daisies. 


Mrs.  C.  Lamplougli.     The  large  vase  of  the  brilliant 
hips  of  Rosa  Fargesii  found  many  admirers. 

Roses  of  recent  introduction  were  fairly  plentiful 
and  amply  illustrated  their  autumn  value.  In  the 
exhibit  by  Messrs.  Alex  Dickson  and  Sons  there 
were  generous  masses  of  Lady  Inchiquin  and 
Betty  Uprichard,  almost,  if  not  quite,  as  beautiful 
as  at  Regents  Park  in  the  height  of  the  Rose 
season.  Lulu,  Sunstar  and  Earl  Haig  were  also 
very  handsome.  The  Hybrid  Musk  Nur  Mahal, 
which  received  a  certificate  at  the  .Autumn  Rose 
Show,  was  again  shewn  in  great  quantity  by  the 
Rev.   J.    H.    Pemberton   and   was   here   equally   as 


Plymouth,  Mrs.  Henry  Stevens  and  Alex.  Hill  Gray 
are  the  names  of  only  a  few  so  well  shewn.  Souvenir 
de  Claudius  Pernet  has  been  shewn  in  great  beauty 
on  several  occasions  this  year  and  at  the  Holland 
Hall  was  staged  by  Messrs.  Jarman  and  Co.  and 
Mr.  George  Prince.  Niphetos  has  become  almost  a 
scarce  variety  of  late  years,  so  its  appearance  in  the 
collection  by  Mr.  John  Mattock  was  particularly 
welcome  and,  while  losing  none  of  their  pale 
beauty,  the  blooms  had  the  robust  appearance  of 
having  been  grown  out  of  doors.  Mr.  Mattock  also 
shewed  the  richly  coloured,  fragrant  Walter  C. 
Clarke  with  Hadley,  La  Tosca,  Ophelia  and  other 
sorts.  Hoosier  Beauty  and  Hadley 
were  in  good  form  as  shewn  by 
Messrs.  Stuart  Low  and  Co.,  while 
.Messrs.  Dobbie  and  Co.  included 
Col.  Oswald  Fitzgerald,  Lieut.  Chaure 
and  Christine  in  their  good  collection. 


ROSES, 


Seldom,  if  ever,  have  Roses  been  shewn  in  such 
quantities  and  great  beauty  during  October  as 
on  the  present  occasion.  Xot  only  were  the  blooms 
fresh  and  very  good,  but  there  was  a  marked 
absence  of  mildew  on  the  foliage.  Mr.  Elisha 
J.  Hicks  was  particularly  successful  in  his  method 
of  arrangement.  In  the  arches  of  such  varieties  as 
Mrs.  Henry  Stevens,  Mme.  Butterfly,  Climbing 
Lady  Hillingdon  and  Ophelia,  the  blooms  stopped 
at  just  the  right  place  and  gave  way  to  the  foliage 
and  berries.  In  his  large  stands  Mr.  Hicks  dis- 
played such  highly  decorati\e  sorts  as  Isobel, 
Covent   Garden,   Padre,    Mrs.    Elisha    Hicks    and 


THE    NEW    EARLY-FLOWERING    INCURVED    CHRYSANTHEMUM 
CISSBURY    WHITE. 


effective.  Ruth,  of  fascinating  golden-apricot 
shading,  was  a  delightful  toil  to  the  fragrant 
crimson  novelty.  In  the  collection  by  Messrs.  F. 
Cant  and  Co.,  their  large  pink  Hybrid  Tea  variety. 
Captain  F.  S.  Harvey  Cant,  was  quite  as  good  as 
when  first  shewn  at  Chelsea  last  May.  The  Queen 
Alexandra  Rose  has  been  most  successful  this 
year  and  was  well  shewn  here  and  in  the  fine 
stand  by  Messrs.  B.  R.  Cant  and  Sons,  who  also 
had  Golden  Emblem,  Ophelia  and  Lady  Pirrie  in 
great  beauty. 

Climbing  Mme.  Edouard  Herriot,  which  was 
included  by  Messrs.  C.  Prior  and  Sons  in  an  inter- 
esting collection,  will  scarcely  be  as  popular  as 
the  bush  variety  ;  it  is  not  nearly  so  beautiful  and 
is  of  poor  form,  but  "  Golden  Mail,"  as  Mr.  Prince 
named  a  charming  pale  orange  yellow  sport  will 
probably  have  a  future.  In  this  collection  Tea 
and  Noisette   Roses  were  especially  good.     Lady 


CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 

For  the  most  part  it  was  the  out- 
door varieties  that  were  shewn, 
though  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones  in  one  of  his 
characteristic  groups  displayed  a  great 
number  of  Japanese  blooms  of  exhi- 
bition size.  Several  of  these  were 
unusually  early.  The  largest  were 
Mona  Davis  (a  beautiful  mauve), 
Mrs.  G.  Lloyd  Wigg  (yellow)  and 
Donatello  (a  very  bright  incurving  yel- 
low). His  decorative  varieties  included 
October  Glow  (rich  chestnut'.  Pink 
Delight,  Pink  Profusion  and  L^xbridge 
Pink.  Of  all  the  small-flowered  sorts 
none  was  brighter  than  Verona,  of 
which  Messrs.  Wells  and  Co.  had  a 
large  vase  of  the  intense  terrp-cotta 
blooms.  Golden  Polly,  the  pure  white 
Sanctity,  Knaresborough  Yellow, 
Harvester  (of  chestnut  colouring), 
September  Glow  and  September  Gem 
were  all  of  great  decorative  value. 

The  massed  colours  of  many  out- 
door varieties  made  a  great  show  in 
the  exhibit  of  Messrs.  Keith  Luxford 
and  Co.  They  also  had  the  vivid 
\'erona,  with  Early  Buttercup,  Lich- 
lield  Purple,  the  Pink  Marie  Masse 
Golden  PoUy,  Uxbridge  Pink  and 
Framfield  White  in  delightful  sprays. 
Normandie,  which  is  such  a  valuable 
hardy  variety,  was  very  beautiful 
in  a  group  arranged  by  Mr.  W.  Yandell, 
and  he  also  shewed  the  white  Mrs. 
Roots,  Cranfordia  (of  fascinating 
bronzy  yellow  colouring),  Crimson. 
Pride  (in  intense  colour),  Le  Pactole,  Horace 
Martin  and  a  valuable  scarlet  sport  from 
Almirante. 


DAHLIAS. 

The  gorgeous  coluius  in  the  many  groups  of 
Dahlias  were  very  welcome  amid  some  of  the  more 
sombre  exhibits.  Of  the  many  types  on  view- 
it  was  the  highly  decorative  small  Pseony-flowered 
that  attracted  most  attention,  and  small  wonder, 
for  these  are  of  very  useful  size — suf&ciently  large 
for  decorative  purposes  and  yet  not  so  large  as 
to  flop  about  after  having  been  cut  a  few  days. 
The  colours  of  the  newer  miniature  Pseony- 
Howered  varieties  are  most  entrancing.  Besides 
the  new  varieties  which  have  been  described  in 
these  pages  from  time  to  time,  Mr.  J.  T.  West 
shewed  Oriole,  Floss,  The  Quest,  Sweetness, 
Winter    Sun    and    Lovely    of    this    type.     There 


518 


THE     GARDEN. 


[October  14,  1522.. 


was  also  an  admirable  selection  of  them  in  an 
exhibit  by  Mr.  J.  B.  Riding,  who,  by  the  way, 
is  of  the  decided  opinion  that  these  beautiful 
flowers  will  be  the  most  popular  Dahlias  of  the 
near  future.  He  included  in  a  representative 
collection  such  sorts  as  Marcella,  Ladybird, 
Judith,  Cato,  Gladys  Unwin,  Tendresse,  Picture 
and  Nora  Bell,  and  they  were  all  most  charming 
examples  of  the  type.  Yellow  Pet  and  the  new 
varieties  were  also  very  beautiful  in  a  collection 
by  Mr.  Charles  Turner,  though  one  associates  him 
more  particularly  with  the  dainty  little  Pompon 
varieties,  of  which  he  had  perfect  specimens 
in  Mignon,  Nerissa,  Orpheus,  Little  Beeswing 
and  many  others.  Such  large  Pi-eony-flovvered 
sorts  as  Liberty,  Phidias,  Coralie  and  Sunray 
provided  glowing  colours  in  this  collection. 

To  Messrs.  Cheal's  exhibit  one  always  turns 
for  the  artistic  Star  Dahlias,  and  on  the  present 
occasion  they  included  Crimson,  Autumn,  Gatton, 
Mauve  and  Horley  Stars.  Their  singles  were  of 
fascinating  form  and  wonderful  colouring.  The 
old  favourite  Show  and  Fancy  Dahlias  of  perfect 
form  and  really  charming  colouring  were  promi- 
nently shewn  by  Messrs.  W.  Treseder,  Limited. 
The  principal  varieties  were  Pandora,  Xugget, 
Nansen  and  Hon    Mrs.  Percy  Wyndham. 

Exhibition  Cactus  varieties  were  the  most 
important  in  a  large  collection  by  Messrs.  Carter 
Page  and  Co.,  and  the  outstanding  sorts  were 
Silverhill  Park,  Princess,  Paragon,  Border  King 
and  Pennant.  The  Decorative  type  was  also 
good,  particularly  such  dusky  maroon  varieties 
as  King  Harold,  Pharao  and  Romney.  Messrs. 
Dobbie  and  Co.  have  long  specialised  in  the 
Collarette  varieties,  and  displayed  excellent  blooms 
of  Tiger,  Clyde,  Glencoe,  Linnet  and  Ouse. 


TREES  AND  SHRUBS. 

.\s  one  would  expect  in  the  autumn,  berried 
trees  and  shrubs  were  extensively  shewn,  though 
it  must  be  confessed  they  did  not  make  the  gorgeous 
display  of  colour  one  would  have  anticipated. 
For  the  most  part  the  lighting  of  the  hall  was 
responsible,  but  in  several  instances  the  wealth 
of  available  material  was  not  displayed  to  the 
best  advantage.  This  was  particularly  notice- 
able in  the  large  circular  group  from  the  Hon. 
Vicary  Gibbs,  Aldenham  Gardens.  This  had 
the  place  ot  honoin-  in  the  centre  ot  the  hall,  and 
while  the  individual  items  were  mostly  of  great 
value,  the  arrangement  was  distinctly  uninspiring. 
Flowering  species  were  represented  by  branches 
of  Lespedeza  Sieboldii,  Spartium  junceum,  Spira?a 
sorbifolia  and  the  old  favourite  Erythrina  Crista- 
galli.  Glowing  autumn  colour  was  provided  by 
Acer  japonicura  laciniata,  while  the  most  showy 
berried  shrub  was  Pyrus  firma.  The  pure  white 
berries  of  Pyrus  Aucuparia  munda  subarachnoides 
were  very  uncormnon.  Near  the  outside  of  this 
group  there  was  a  dwarf  plant  of  Vitis  Brand  ti 
bearing  small,  clean  bunches  of  Grapes. 

A  very  interesting  collection  of  berried  shrubs 
was  arranged  by  Mr.  Sidney  Morris,  Earlham 
Hall,  and  this  included  fruits  and  the  immense 
yellow  flowers  of  Lonicera  Hildebrantii.  These 
were,  ot  course,  grown  in  a  greenhouse,  but  all 
the  rest  were  hardy.  Euonymus  intermedia, 
which  may  almost  be  termed  an  improved  E. 
europaBUS,  was  particularly  well  fruited.  Hippophae 
rhamnoides,  Cratregus  and  Berberis  in  many 
varieties  were  well  represented.  Berberises  {very 
well  berried),  Cotoneaster  Zabelli,  with  various 
conifers    and    Maples   were    associated   with    bold- 


habited  herbaceous  flowers  and  Liliums  by  Messrs.- 
Wallace  and  Co.  ;  while  Messrs.  J.  Piper  and 
Sons  had  Eleagnus  glabra  and  other  species  in 
their  mixed  group. 

The  best  arrangement  of  shrubs  was  that  by 
Messrs.  Hillier  and  Sons,  and  they  made  a  group 
of  conifers  and  another  of  mixed  trees  and  shrubs 
very  attractive.  Many  of  the  cones  on  such  species 
as  Abies  hrachyphylla,  A.  arizonica,  Picea  bicolor 
and  its  variety  reflexa,  Pinus  Ayacahuite  and 
P.  sinensis.  -A.  graceful  arrangement  was  made  by 
Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and  Sons,  and  they  displayed 
Crataegus  yunnanense,  C.  coccinea  dentata,  C. 
mollis  and  Pyrus  discolor  among  fruiting  shrubs. 
A  young  plant  of  the  Maidenhair  Tree  (Ginkgo 
biloba)  was  very  striking  in  its  rich  golden  autumn 
colour.  Messrs.  Cheal's  flowering  species  included 
Eucryphia  cordifolia,  Clerodendron  fcetidum  and 
Buddleia  compacta.  A  good  selection  of 
Ceanothus,  including  C.C.  Ceres,  Gloire  de  Versailles 
and  floribunda  was  displayed  by  Messrs.  Waterer,. 
Sons  and  Crisp,  who  also  had  attractive  plants 
of  Taxus  nova  aurea.  T.  japonica  and  several' 
heavily  fruited  Berberises.  The  pairs  of  rounded 
pea-Mke  fruits  of  Descaisnea  Fargesii  shewn  by 
Mr.  G-  Reuthe  attracted  a  deal  of  attention,  and! 
he  also  had  a  good  collection  of  dwarf  shrubs, 
suitable  for  planting  in  the  rock  garden. 

Clematis  were  particularly  handsome.  Messrs. 
L.  R.  Russell,  Limited,  had  great  blocks  of  many 
varieties  all  in  5in.  pots  just  as  they  are  despatched- 
These  were  excellent  plants  bearing  half  a  dozen 
or  so  beautiiul  flowers.  The  most  striking  varie- 
ties were  Lady  Neville,  Lord  Neville,  King 
Edward  VII,  Gipsy  Queen,  Lady  NortheliSe, 
Marie  Boisselot  and  Jackmani  rubra  of  the  large- 
flowered   sorts ,    while   the  smaller,   very  profuse 


ASTER    LITTLE    BOY    BLUE. 


THE    BEAUTIFUL    MICHAELMAS    DAISY    BARR  S    PINK. 


October  14,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


519 


JUDGED    THE    FINEST    EXHIBIT     (VT    THE    SHOW,    ARRANGED    BY    MESSRS.    BUNYARD    AND    CO. 


Viticella  alba  luxurians  was  also  admirable.  The 
smallest  Clematis  at  the  Show  was  C.  tangutica 
obtusiscula  in  the  collection  of  Messrs.  G.  Jackman 
and  Sons,  and  its  quaint,  pendulous  yellow  ilowers 
fascinated  many  visitors.  In  Crimson  King 
Messrs.  Jackman  have  a  magnificent  large-flowered 
variety.  Messrs.  Cutbush  shewed  a  large  collection 
of  topiary  work  The  specimens  were  very  well 
trained. 


HARDY  PLANTS. 

Herbaceous  plants  formed  a  much  more  impor- 
tant part  of  this  late  season  Show  than  one  would 
expect.  Signs  of  a  wet  summer  were  everywhere, 
for  only  in  dripping  Junes,  Julys  and  .Augusts 
do  these  herbaceous  things  keep  on  growing  and 
flowering  as  we  saw  at  Holland  Park  when  October 
was  already  well  established.  To  walk  around 
and  see  such  Antirrhinums  as  Chalk  HUl  Nurseries 
staged  was  Uke  looking  back  to  August.  So,  too, 
with  Mr.  Forbes'  Pentstemons  from  far  away 
Hawick,  quite  reminiscent  of  a  July  show  we 
used  to  know  of  similar  name  and  now  lost  to  us. 
Naturally  enough,  autumn  had  to  make  its  presence 
felt  in  the  great  array  of  Michaelmas  Daisies 
and  Asters  of  all  descriptions.  Speaking  of  these 
plants  brings  to  mind  the  name  of  Mr.  Ernest 
Ballard,  who  has  done  so  much  for  the  Aster 
family,  and  he  had  an  excellent  display  of  his 
wares  staged  on  a  large  floor  space.  Some  of 
his  new  Michaelmas  Daisies  are  real  acquisitions 
to  the  hardy  plant  border.  Snowdrift,  Queen  of 
Colwall,  Grey  Lady,  Purple  Emperor  and  Little 
Boy  Blue  are  particularly  meritorious.  The 
last  named  is  dwarf,  bushy  and  extremely  floriferous, 
and  is  probably  the  nearest  to  a  real  gentian  blue 
yet  achieved.  A  seedling  to  be  called  October 
Dawn  struck  us  as  being  a  new  one  likely  to 
become  very  popular.  Its  colour  is  mauvy 
lavender  and  the  plant  forms  a  perfect  mass  of 
blossom. 

In  Mr.  Clarence  ElUott's  stand  it  was  pleasing 
to  see  a  fine  pan  of  Primula  Juliana  in  full  flower 
among  a  host  of  Saxifrages  and  other  rock  plants, 
and  Gentiana  sino-ornata  was  also  well  flowered. 

A  prominent  exhibit  was  a  large  display  of 
seedUng  Scabious  from  Messrs.  Isaac  House  and 
Son.  There  is  quite  a  wide  range  of  colour  in 
these  flowers  now,  and  a  lot  of  the  new  seedlings 


are  sensibly  self-descriptive,  such  as  Blue  King, 
Mauve  Queen,  Silver  Queen  and  even  Violet 
Walters,  where  the  Christian  name  hints  the 
colour.  Collarette,  Harold  and  Nellie  Dark 
were  also  good  breaks.  Mr.  Wells,  jun.,  of 
Merstham  had  a  great  variety  of  Asters  relieved 
with  the  more  highly  coloured  Kniphofias  and 
late  Oriental  Poppies. 

A  neat  little  rock  garden  was  put  up  by  the 
Misses  Hopkins,  uncrowded,  placid  and  restful 
to  the  eye.  Quite  works  of  art  were  the  large 
floor  space  exhibits  of  Mr.  Amos  Perry  and  Mr. 
G.  Reuthe.  The  former  used  Hollyhocks  as  a 
centre-piece  surrounded  by  lavish  displays  of 
Oriental  Poppies,  Asters  in  every  imaginable 
kind  and  Tritomas.  Mr.  Reuthe  gave  additional 
colour  to  his  collection  with  a  varied  selection  of 
LiUes,  such  as  auratum,  Henryi  and  superbum. 

Excellent  samples  of  Lupins,  Kniphofias,  Del- 
phiniums and  Scabious  came  from  Mr.  Thomas 
Carlile  ot  Twyford,  and  Pentstemons  were  at 
their  best  as  staged  by  Messrs.  Cutbush  and  Son. 

Messrs.  Rich  and  Co.  of  Bath  had  a  really 
attractive  lot  of  herbaceous  plants,  very  bright 
being  Gaillardia  Sunshine  and  the  Heleniums 
Riverton  Gem  and  Riverton  Beauty,  the 
former  coppery  red  and  the  latter  lemon  with 
dark  eye. 

Meritorious  exhibits  of  general  herbaceous 
plants  were  staged  by  Messrs.  Bakers  of  Wolver- 
hampton, Messrs.  Harkness  of  Bedale  and  Messrs. 
(;ibson  of  Leeming  Bar.  Perennial  Lobelias 
designated  hardy  came  from  Messrs.  B.  Ladhams, 
Limited,  Southampton,  whose  hybrids  are  gradually 
extending  the  colour  hst  among  these  flowers. 
Mrs.  Humbert  (salmon  rose).  Rose  Queen,  B. 
Ladhams  (crimson),  Shirley  Beauty  (intense 
fiery  crimson),  DeHght  (lavender  purple)  and 
Purple  King  are  good  examples.  A  pretty  group 
of  dwarf  Delphiniums  styled  No.  i  Sky  Blue 
shewn  as  a  bedder,  only  some  lains.  high,  was 
staged  by  Mr.  Herbert  Vigers  of  Dartford.  Quite 
a  neat  feature  ot  the  Show  was  a  pretty  little 
formal  rock  garden  exquisitely  designed  and 
shewn  by  Mr.  Ernest  Dixon  of  Putney. 

The  only  exhibit  of  Gladioli  was  of  the  excellent 
seedlings  that  Messrs.  Lowe  and  Gibson  specialise 
in.  These  are  as  yet  unnamed,  but  they  include 
so  many  of  great  merit  that  we  anticipate  seeing 
them  again  next  season. 


A  very  uncommon  and  welcome  exhibit  was 
the  large  quantity  of  Liliinn  auratum  stems  sent 
by  Mrs.  C.  Lemon  from  Brodrick,  Arran,  N.B. 
This  generous  collection  was  evidently  from 
bulbs  grown  in  the  open  air,  but  there  was  a  great 
number  of  large  flowers  which  diffused  a  most 
delightful  fragrance. 


CARNATIONS. 

The  style  of  arrangement  adopted  by  Messrs. 
.'Mlwood  Brothers  was  particularly  effective, 
and  served  to  display  to  the  full  the  beauties  of  a 
very  large  collection  of  perpetual-flowering  Car- 
nations as  well  as  their  free-flowering  AUwoodii 
varieties.  Of  the  latter  the  bowls  and  hanging 
baskets  of  such  as  Marion,  Joyce,  Vera  and  Betty 
were  delightful.  Among  the  Carnations  proper 
Wivelsfield  Apricot  (in  a  jar  of  dull  apricot  colour), 
Wivelsfield  Claret,  Edward  Allwood  of  intense 
scarlet  colour,  the  fragrant  old  rose  Mary  Allwood 
and  Nikko  were  perhaps  the  very  best.  Pink 
Carnations  were  very  prominently  displayed  by 
Mr.  C.  Engehnann  in  his  extensive  collection, 
and  these  included  Laddie,  Bona,  Cupid  and  the 
paler  Dehce.  Snowstorm  is  a  very  good  white, 
while  dazzling  colour  is  provided  by  Tarzan. 
Their  large  White  Pearl  was  a  central  feature 
in  the  group  of  Carnations  arranged  by  Messrs. 
Stuart  Low  and  Co.,  and  they  also  displayed 
Eileen  Low,  Reginald  Cory  and  the  Rose  Pink 
Enchantress.  Many  useful  sorts,  including  May 
Day  and  Mrs.  C.  F.  Raphael,  were  shewn  by  the 
Preston  Hall  Nurseries. 


ORCHIDS. 

While  the  Orchids  are  flowers  of  many  seasons, 
there  was  ample  evidence  at  Holland  Park  that 
their  period  of  perfection  was  again  drawing  near. 
Looking  at  the  gorgeous  richness  of  colouring 
attained  in  the  modern  forms  of  Cattleyas  alone, 
it  is  difficult  to  realise  how  far  the  British  climate 
is  from  the  ideal  for  these  plants. 

Messrs.  Charlesworth  of  Hayward's  Heath 
included  some  new  varieties  in  their  collection 
as,  for  instance,  Oucidioda  Medena,  a  cross 
between  Oncidium  cheiropherum  and  Cochlioda 
Noetzliana.    This  has  a  long  spray  of  small  coppery 


520 


THE     GARDEN. 


[October  14,  1922. 


red  flowers  shaded  heliotrope.  Cattleya  Desde- 
iiioiia  gained  an  award  of  merit  and  loolied  very 
handsome  with  its  rich  mauve  petals,  old  gold 
throat  and  deep  purple  Up.  A  new  Brasso-Lalio- 
Cattleya  Golden  Crown  was  awarded  a  first-class 
certificate,  and  had  petals  and  sepals  of  rich 
Indian  yellow  with  reddish  purple  lip  and  beauti- 
fully veined  throat.  Rosslyn,  a  novelty  among 
Miltonias,  was  of  blackish  chocolate  colour  tipped 
greeny  yellow,  the  lower  portion  of  the  lip  being 
pure  white.  This,  too,  had  an  award  of  merit. 
Many  other  forms  were  shewn  in  the  group,  which 
secured  a  gold  medal. 

From  St.  Albans  Messrs  Sander  brought  an 
interesthig  La;lio-Cattleya  Gareloch  var.  Vivid. 
The  petals  and  sepals  are  pure  mauve,  and  the 
labellura  of  deep  reddish  purple  and  rich  velvety 
te.vture.  Here,  too,  was  Brasso-Cattleya  Maroniris 
of  exquisite  soft  mauve  and  the  pretty  blue  Vanda 
coerulea.     A  silver  cup  for  this  e.\hibit. 

Sir  Jeremiah  Coleman,  Bart.,  shewed  a  well 
balanced  lot  of  various  forms. 

Messrs.  Flory  and  Black  of  Slough  shewed 
Brasso-Cattleya  Olympus  and  another  called 
\'i3count  Toda,  for  which  they  got  an  A.M.  The 
latter  is  a  handsome  Orchid  of  soft  reddish  mauve 
and  rich   purple  with  a  wonderful    golden   throat. 

From  the  North  Messrs.  Mansell  and  Hatcher 
brought  some  outstanding  flowers,  notably  Brasso- 
Cattleya  Heatherwood  of  soft  mauve  and  nicely 
veined  throat  of  golden  yellow ;  Sophro-Lselio- 
Cattleya  Vivid  of  pecuUar  colour  blend  in  which 
copper,  red  and  purple  all  play  a  part.  We  liked 
Cattleya  Eleanor  with  an  exceedingly  dark  and 
lustrous  lip,  a  really  beautiful  flower. 

Messrs.  Stuart  Low  and  Co.  had  a  very  pretty 
Lajlio-Cattleya  christened  Mrs.  Medo.  The  petals 
.and  sepals  are  of  bright  Indian  yellow  toning 
down  to  a  brownish  yellow  margin,  the  lip  being 
purple  red  veined  with  gold. 

.A  very  handsome  and  tastefully  constructed 
floor  display  by  Messrs.  J.  Cypher  and  Sons  of 
Cheltenham  attracted  a  good  deal  of  attention. 
Many  beautiful  Orchids  were  cunningly  arranged 
with  a  background  of  foliage  plants,  including 
highly  coloured  Crotons  and  the  graceful  Jacaranda 
mimosacefolia.  The  quaint  butterfly  Orchid  On- 
cidium  Papilio  major  was  here  with  many  others 
■of  all  classes.  One  noticed  a  particularly  fine 
spike  of  Cattleya  Peetersii  alba,  Odontoglossum 
Cirande,  Cattleya  Elenore  and  Oncidium  oblonga- 
tum  all  very  well  grown  and  flowered. 


FRUIT. 

As  was  to  be  expected  fruit  formed  an  important 
item  on  the  menu  at  Holland  Park.  Many  of  the 
■well  known  fruit  growers  put  up  quite  sumptuous 
arrays  of  tempting  ware  and  it  was  pleasant  to 
note  that  much  artistry  was  employed  in  this  form 
■of  staging.  Messrs.  Bunyard's  exhibit  was  not 
only  a  great  display  of  fruit,  but  it  was  most  taste- 
fully put  before  the  visitors,  one  might  almost  say 
beautifully.  There  is  no  need  to  employ  the 
platitude  that  the  produce  was  well  grown  ;  it 
was  indeed  passing  well  grown,  but  the  way  in 
which  the  highly  coloured  .Apples  were  utilised 
with  an  eye  to  decoration  was  a  revelation  to 
many  people.  Baskets,  arranged  pendant-wise,  of 
Ben's  Red,  Worcester  Pearmain  and  Lady  Sudeley 
Apples  formed  a  conspicuous  centre  of  almost 
gaudy  colour,  cooled  off  with  cunningly  entwined 
foliage  of  berried  Berberis.  Marshalled  around 
these  were  generous  samples  of  all  the  leading 
varieties  of  .Apples  and  Pears,  notably  Grenadier, 
Lord  Derby,  Emperor  Alexander,  Warner's  King 
and  the  Rev.  W.  Wilks  among  the  former,  and 
Marguerite  Marillat,  Buerre  Superfin,  Louise  Bonne 
of  Jersey,  Doyenne  du  Cornice,  Roosevelt,  Catillac 
and    Double    de   Guerre    among    the    latter.      This 


exhibit  gained  the  Coronation  Cup  for  the  best 
stand  in  the  Show  and  the  special  congratulations 
of  the  Council  of  the  R.H.S.  Opposite  was  Messrs. 
Laxton'sof  Bedford,  another  exhibit  nmch  enhanced 
by  the  art  of  decoration.  From  this  firm  one  looks 
for  new  varieties  of  hardy  fruits,  and  of  these  the 
following  were  shewn  in  excellent  condition  : — 
Apples ;  Lord  Lambourne,  a  cross  between 
Worcester  Pearmain  and  J  as.  Grieve.  This  is  a 
heavy  cropping  variety  of  delightful  flavour,  in 
season  during  October  and  November.  Medium 
size  and  well  coloured.  Laxton's  Pearmain  and 
Laxton's  Superb  have  both  gained  R.H.S.  awards. 
The  latter  is  the  freer  cropper  of  the  two,  a  cross 
between  Wyken  Pippin  and  Cox's  Orange,  and 
makes  free  healthy  growth.  Its  flavour  is  be- 
queathed from  Cox's  Orange  Pippin,  which  it  much 
resembles  also  in  outward  guise,  but  its  great 
value  over  that  well  known  King  of  Apples  is  its 
long  season,  which  extends  to  March.  Laxton's 
Peerless  is  a  cooking  .Apple  of  exceptional  quality, 
in  season  from  October  to  Christmas.  A  new  Pear, 
Buerre  Bedford,  a  seedUng  from  Marie  Louise  x 
Durondeau  shewed  distinct  characteristics  of  both 


Wilks  and  The  HouMon,  which  were  very  well 
shewn.  Messrs.  Daniel  Bros,  of  Norwich  and 
Messrs.  Prior  of  Colchester  were  also  to  the 
fore  with  heavily  laden  dishes  of  finely  grown 
.Apples  and  Pears. 

A  new  .Apple  called  Pantia  Ralli  was  exhibited 
by  Mr.  Will  Tayler  of  Godalming  and  is  said  to  be 
a  very  prolific  bearer  and  of  good  flavour.  Mr. 
Jas.  .A.  Ni.K  of  Tilgate,  Crawley,  carried  off  the 
Gordon-Lennox  Cup  for  the  best  collection  of 
fruit  shewn  by  an  amateur  and  his  collection  of 
.Apples,  Pears,  Peaches,  Nectarines,  Melons, 
Dessert  Plums  and  Filberts  also  won  him  a  large 
silver  cup  from  the  R.H.S. 

In  the  competitive  classes  the  chief  prize  winners 
were  Mr.  J.  H.  Louden  of  Wye,  Kent,  Lord  Bess- 
borough,  Sir  Hy.  Webb,  Bart.,  Captain  Drummond, 
Mr    F.  C.  Stoop  and  Rev.  C.  G.  Kean. 


VEGETABLES. 

Never  before,  do  we  think,  have  the  R.H.S. 
had  such  a  magnificent  and  comprehensive  exhibit 
of  vegetables  as  that  arranged  by  Messrs.  Sutton 


PART    OF    MESSR.S.    SUTTOn'S    MAGNIFICENT    VEGETABLE    EXHIBIT. 


parents  and  its  melting  flesh  is  well  flavoured. 
This  is  an  October  fruit. 

Messrs.  Bunyard  had  a  further  example  of  their 
wares  on  the  floor  in  the  centre  of  the  hall.  Here 
was  erected  an  arched  trellis  on  which  vines 
bearing  beautiful  bunches  of  Grapes  were  trained, 
making  a  pretty  background  to  pot-grown  Fig 
trees  and  dishes  of  Apples,  Pears  and  small  fruits. 
Mr.  J.  C.  AUgrove  and  Messrs.  Rivers  of  Saw- 
bridgeworth  at  the  west  end  of  the  great  hall, 
and  the  King's  Acre  Nurseries  at  the  east  end, 
put  up  fine  lots  of  fruit  trees  in  pots,  while  other 
notable  stagings  of  harvested  fruits  were  displayed 
by  Messrs.  Stuart  Low  and  Co.,  the  Barnham 
Nurseries,  Messrs.  G.  G.  Whitelegg  and  Co.,  of 
Chislehurst,  Mr.  Spooner  of  Hounslow,  Mr.  R.  C. 
Notcutt  and  Mr.  E.  J.  Parsons.  Fine  results  of 
the  work  carried  on  at  the  Rudgwick  Fruit  School 
in  Sussex  were  also  shewn. 

On  Messrs.  Cheal's  stand  one  was  attracted  by 
the  two  Apples,  Herring's  Pippin  and  Ellison's 
Orange,  comparatively  new  varieties,  also  Crawley 
Beauty,  which,  with  its  peculiar  colouring  of  dark 
green  and  purple,  resembles  the  older  Encore. 
Fruit  seems  to  flourish  luxuriantly  at  the  nurseries 
of  Messrs.  Waterer,  Sons  and  Crisp,  judging  by 
the  size   and  quahty  of  such  Apples  as   Rev.  W. 


and  Sons  on  the  present  occasion.  Occupying 
360  sq.  ft.,  were  staged  170  dishes  of  vegetables 
of  the  highest  quality.  We  always  look  forward 
to  the  wonderful  exhibits  emanating  from  the 
famous  Reading  firm,  but  with  the  present  display 
they  surpassed  themselves.  It  is  impossible  here 
to  enumerate  all  the  good  things  on  view.  How- 
ever, the  following  will  suffice  to  shew  what  a 
wealth  of  vegetables  were  staged.  Celery  of 
immense  size  and  excellent  quality  included 
Sutton's  Superb  Pink  and  Sutton's  White  Gem  ; 
Leeks,  Sutton's  Royal  Favourite  ;  Pea  Sutton's 
Peerless  ;  magnificent  specimens  of  Ailsa  Craig 
Onion  ;  Cauliflowers  ;  Carrots  ;  Tomatoes  ;  Beans 
Potatoes  and  a  host  of  other  things.  Messrs. 
Sutton  deservedly  received  the  gold  medal  and 
congratulations  from  the  Council  of  the  R.H.S. 

.Another  excellent  display  came  from  the  Hon. 
Vicary  Gibbs  (gardener  Mr.  E.  Beckett).  Here  as 
usual  Mr.  Beckett  shewed  the  excellent  specimens 
that  we  always  expect  from  Aldenham.  Turnips, 
Radishes,  Endive,  Brussels  Sprouts,  Tomato 
Peachblow  and  Onions  were  all  of  first  rate  quality. 
This  exhibit  also  received  the  coveted  gold  medal. 

From  Messrs.  Dobbie  and  Co.  came  an  extensive 
exhibit  of  Potatoes,  for  which  the\'  deservedly 
received   a  gold  medal.     Of   tip-top   quality   and 


October  14,  1922. 


THE     GARDEN. 


521 


excellently  arranged,  this  exhibit  drew  a  great  deal 
of  attention  and  admiration.  ,\mong  the  innumer- 
able varieties  on  view  we  especially  noted  Kerr's 
Pink,  King  Edward,  Katie  Glover,  The  Bishop, 
Rhoderic   Dhu,   British   Queen   and   Majestic. 

Messrs.  Herbert  Chapman,  Limited,  shewed 
their  new  Tomato  Rotherside,  which  is  of  excellent 
flavour.  We  also  noted  the  yellow  Tomato  Orange 
Sunrise,  their  seedling  stringless  chmbing  Runner 
Bean  and  Capsicum   Rotherside   Mammoth. 

Mr.  T,  H.  Jones,  Llandilo,  won  the  first  prize  in 
the  amateur  section.  He  received  the  Sutton  Cup 
for  the  best  exhibit  of  vegetables  in  this  section. 
His  carrots  were  of  excellent  quality. 

Mr.  W.  H.  Myers  was  awarded  a  silver-gilt 
Knightian  medal  and  the  R.H.S.  Vegetable  Cup 
for  the  most  successful  amateur  competitor.  In  the 
amateur  classes  the  produce  shewn  was  generally  of 
excellent  quality. 


September  Gem. — This  very  decorative  single 
yellow  Chrysanthemum  is  suitable  either  for 
cultivation  as  disbudded  blooms  or  in  sprays. 
First  class  certificate  to  Messrs.  Wells  and  Co. 


NEW  AND  RARE   PLANTS. 

Aster    Novae-AnglisB    Barr's    Pink.— In    its 

large  size  and  the  general  structure  of  the  floweu 
this  exceedingly  beautiful  Michaelmas  Daisy 
might  well  be  termed  a  deep  rosy -pink  counter- 
part of  the  lavender-blue  Queen  of  Colwall,  which 
we  illustrated  on  Page  493,  but  the  habit  is  more 
robust.  It  is  a  splendid  variety,  quite  the  best  of 
its  type.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs.  Barr  and 
Sons. 

Aster  Little  Boy  Blue. — This  is  a  very  decora- 
tive, dwarf,  bright  blue  Michaelmas  Daisy.  The 
plants  form  neat  little  pyrainids  of  semi-double 
flowers,     .\ward  of  merit  to  Jlr.  Ernest  Ballard. 

Chrysanthemum  Cissbury  White. — This  is 
the  first  new  decorative  incurved  variety  which 
received  the  first  class  certificate  ot  the  National 
Chrysanthemum  Society  a  fortnight  ago  and  is 
described  on  page  493.  .'\ward  of  merit  to  Mr. 
S.  Aish. 

Kniphofia  The  Rocket. — This  variety  is  much 
more  graceful  than  most  others  of  the  same  size. 
The  long  spikes  are  of  bright  coral  red  coloui. 
Award  of  merit  to  Messrs.  Artindale. 

PyrUS  Eleyi. — On  May  9  last  this  handsome 
Crab  received  an  award  of  merit  as  a  flowering 
tree,  when  its  vinous  red  flowers  and  the  purplish 
tinge  on  the  young  foUage  was  greatly  admired. 
This  was  illustrated  in  The  G.\rden,  May  20, 
page  240.  It  is  equally  handsome  when  in  fruit. 
It  produces  large  quantities  of  long  stemmed  deep 
red  fruits  which  are  nearly  as  large  as  those  of 
John  Downie  and  in  shape  much  like  elongated 
Apples.    First  class  certificate  to  Mr.  R.  C.  Notcutt. 

Viburnimi  Davidii. — This  species,  which  was 
introduced  by  Wilson  in  1904,  is  the  most  distinct 
Viburnum  in  cultivation.  It  is  an  evergreen 
shrub  of  somewhat  spreading  habit.  The  stout, 
shining  three-nerved  leaves  are  about  sins,  long 
by  2ins.  wide  and  its  chief  beauty  lies  in  these 
and  the  bluish  shining  little  oval  fruits  which 
followed  the  stiff  cymes  of  dirty  white  flowers. 
Both  fruiting  and  flowering  sprays  were  shewn. 
Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  Lionel  de  Rothschild. 


NEW    CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 

The  Floral  Committee  of  the  National  Chrysan- 
themum Society  met  on  October  2  and  made  the 
following  awards  to  novelties. 

Blanche  de  PoitOU. — This  free-flowering  variety 
is  quite  the  best  of  the  early  white  Chrysanthemums. 
It  received  an  awaid  in  1920  as  a  large,  exceedingly 
free  variety  and  on  the  present  occasion  has  the 
special  first  class  certificate  as  a  market  variety. 
Shewn  by  Messrs.  Wells  and  Co. 

Mme.  E.  David. — A  compact  market  sized 
Japanese  bloom  of  rich  rosy-lilac  colour.  There 
is  a  suggestion  of  an  old  gold  centre  to  the  flowers. 
First  class  certificate  to  Messrs.  Wells  and  Co. 


NEW    DAHLIAS. 

The  following  varieties  were  selected  by  the 
Joint  DahUa  Committee  for  trial  at  Wisley. 

F.  G.  Bird. — A  very  showy  single  Dahlia  of 
vivid  scarlet  colour.  Shewn  by  Messrs.  W. 
Treseder,   Limited. 

Hector. — A  dehghtful  miniature  Pajony-flowered 
variety  of  starhke  form  and  rich  orange-scarlet 
which  changes  to  purplish  crimson.  Shewn  by 
Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and  Sons. 

Lady  Hall. — This  is  a  medium-sized  Paeony- 
flowered  Dahlia  ot  light  rosy-mauve  colouring. 
Shewn  by  Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and  Sons. 

Mrs.  Barrie. — A  very  pretty  miniature  Paeony- 
flowered  variety.  The  white  petals  are  lined  and 
lightly  flushed  with  rosy  mauve  and  there  is  a 
crimson  lake  zone  to  the  flowers.  Shewn  by 
Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and  Sons. 

OFFICIAL   LIST  OF   AWARDS. 

Coronation  Cup  to  Messrs.  G.  Bunyard  and  Co., 
Limited,  for  the  most  meritorious  group. 

Gordon-Lennox  Cup  to  Mr.  J.  A.  Nix  (gardener. 
Mr.  E.  Neal),  for  the  most  meritorious  exhibit  of 
fruit  by  an  amateur. 

Sutton  Cup  to  Mr.  T.  H.  Jones  tor  the  best 
collection  of  vegetables. 

R.H.S.  Cup  for  Vegetables  to  Mr.  W.  H.  Myers 
for  the  competitor  who  secured  the  greatest  number 
of  first  prize  points. 

George  Monro  Memorial  Cup  to  Mr.  G.  Miller 
for  the  best  exhibit  of  Grapes  by  an  amateur. 

National  Chrysanthemum  Society's  piece  of 
plate  to  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones  for  the  best  exhibit  of 
Chrysanthemums. 

Wigan  Cup  to  Messrs.  A\ex.  Dickson  and  Sons 
tor  the  best  exhibit  of  Roses. 

Alpines,  etc. — Silver-gilt  Flora  Medal  to  Messrs. 
Clarence  Elliott,  Limited,  for  alpines.  Silver-gilt 
Baiiksian  Medal  to  Mr.  E.  Dixon  for  small  rock 
gardens.  Silver  Flora  Medals  to  Messrs.  Maxwell 
and  Beale  tor  alpines  ;  and  Mr.  F.  G.  Wood  for 
alpines.  Silver  Banksian  Medal  to  Messrs.  Bowell 
and  Skarratt  for  alpines  and  herbaceous. 

Shrubs.  —  Large  Silver  Cup  to  the  Hon. 
Vicary  Gibbs  (gardener,  Mr.  E.  Beckett),  for 
shrubs.  Small  Silver  Cups  to  Messrs.  J.  Piper 
and  Son  for  shrubs  ;  and  Messrs.  L.  R.  Russell, 
Limited,  for  Clematis,  etc.  Silver-gilt  Flora 
Medals  to  Messrs.  R.  W.  Wallace  and  Co.,  Limited, 
for  shrubs  ;  and  Messrs.  Waterer,  Sons  and  Crisp 
for  shrubs.  Silver-gilt  Banksian  Medals  to  Messrs. 
J.  Cheal  and  Sons  for  shrubs  ;  Messrs.  W.  Cutbush 
and  Son  for  topiary  ;  and  Mr.  Sydney  Morris  for 
shrubs.  Silver  Flora  Medals  to  Mr.  G.  Reuthe 
for  shrubs  ;  and  Messrs.  G.  Jackman  and  Sons  for 
Clematis  and  herbaceous.  Silver-gilt  Lindley 
Medal  to  Messrs.  Hillier  and  Sons  for  shrubs. 
Silver  Lindley  Medal  to  the  Hon.  Vicary  Gibbs 
for  shrubs  of  botanical  interest. 

Chrysanthemums,  etc. — Gold  Medal  to  Mr. 
H.  J.  Jones  for  Chrysanthemums.  National 
Chrysanthemum  Society's  special  piece  of  plate 
to  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones  for  Chrysanthemums.  Silver- 
gilt  Banksian  Medal  to  Mr.  W.  VandeU  for  Chry- 
santhemums. Silver  Floral  Medals  to  Messrs. 
K.  Luxford  and  Co.  for  Chrysanthemums  ;  Messrs. 
W.  Wells  and  Co.  for  Chrysanthemums  ;  and 
Mrs.  C.  Lemon  for  LiUum  auratum.  Bronze 
Flora  Medal  to  Mr.  J.  J.  Kettle  for  Violets. 

Dahlias,  Carnations,  etc. — Gold  Medal  to  Mr. 
C.  Engelmann  for  Carnations.  Large  Silver  Cup 
to  Messrs.  .\Uwood  Brothers  for  Carnations. 
Small  Silver  Cup  to  Messrs.  Dobbie  and  Co.  for 


Dahlias,  etc.  Silver-gilt  Banksian  Medals  to 
Messrs.  Carter  Page  and  Co.  for  Dahlias,  etc.  ; 
and  Mr.  J.  B.  Riding  for  Dahlias,  etc.  Silver 
Flora  Medals  to  Messrs.  Stuart  Low  and  Co.  for 
Carnations ;  Messrs.  W.  Treseder,  Limited,  for 
Dahlias ;  and  Mr  J.  T.  West  lor  Dahhas. 
Silver  Banksian  Medals  to  Mr.  C.  Turner  for 
Dahlias  ;  and  Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and  Sons  tor  Dahlias. 
Bronze  Flora  Medals  to  the  Preston  Hall  Nurseries 
and  Messrs.  Jarman  and  Co.  for  Carnations 

Roses. — Gold  Medal  to  Mr.  Elisha  J.  Hicks. 
Large  Silver  Cup  to  Messrs  A.  Dickson  and  Sons, 
Limited.  Small  Silver  Cup  to  Mr.  G.  Prince. 
Silver-gilt  Flora  Medal  to  Mr.  J.  Mattock.  Silver- 
gilt  Banksian  Medals  to  Messrs.  B.  R.  Cant  and 
Sons  ;  and  Messrs.  F.  Cant  and  Co.  Silver  Flora 
.Medals  to  Messrs.  Dobbie  and  Co.,  Limited  ;  and 
the  Rev.  J.  H.  Peniberton.  Silver  Banksian  Medal 
to  Messrs.  D.  Prior  and  Son. 

Orchids. — Silver  Lindley  Medal  to  Sir  Jeremiah 
Colman,  Bart,  (gardener,  Mr.  J.  Collier).  Gold 
Medals  to  Messrs.  Charlesworth  and  Co.  ;  and 
Messrs.  J.  Cypher  and  Sons  for  foUage  and  Orchids. 
Small  Silver  Cups  to  Messrs.  Sander  and  Sons 
and  Messrs.  Stuart  Low  and  Co.  Silver  Flora 
Medals  to  Messrs.  Flory  and  Black  and  Messrs. 
ManseU  and  Hatcher. 

Greenhouse  Flowers,  dladioli,  etc. — Small  Silver 
Cups  to  Messrs.  Blackmore  and  Langdon  for 
Begonias ;  and  Messrs.  L.  R.  Russell,  Limited, 
for  stove  plants.  Silver  Flora  Medals  to  Messrs. 
H.  N.  Elhsoii  for  Cacti  and  Ferns  ;  and  Mr.  S. 
Smith  for  Cacti.  Silver  Banksian  Medals  to 
Messrs.  R.  J.  Bastin  and  Sons  for  Begonias ; 
and  Messrs.  R.  G.  Cuthbert  for  Streptocarpus. 
Bronze  Flora  Medals  to  the  Chalk  Hill  Nurseries 
for  Pelargoniums  ;  and  Messrs.  Lowe  and  Gibson 
for  Gladioli. 

Herbaceous. — Silver-gilt  Flora  Medals  to  Mr. 
E.  BaUard  for  Michaelmas  Daisies  ;  and  Messrs. 
Amos  Perry  for  perennials  and  Ferns.  Silver- 
gilt  Banksian  Medals  to  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones  for 
Michaelmas  Daisies ;  Mr.  W.  WeUs,  jun.,  for 
herbaceous  ;  and  Messrs.  W.  Cutbush  and  Sons 
for  herbaceous,  etc.  Silver  Flora  Medals  to 
Messrs.  Harkness  and  Son  for  herbaceous  ;  Messrs 
I.  House  and  Sons  for  Scabious ;  Mr.  G.  Reuthe 
for  herbaceous ;  Messrs.  Rich  and  Co.  for 
herbaceous  ;  and  Mr.  E.  Scaplehorn  for  herbaceous. 
Silver  Banksian  Medals  to  Messrs.  Bakers,  Limited 
for  herbaceous  ;  and  Messrs.  B.  Ladhams,  Limited, 
for  Lobelias.  Bronze  Flora  Medals  to  Mr.  T. 
Carlile  for  herbaceous  ;  and  Messrs.  John  Forbes 
lor  Pentstemons.  Silver  Lindley  Medal  to  Mr. 
J.  MacDonald  for  a  grass  garden. 

Fruit  (non  competitive  groups). — Gold  Medal  to 
Messrs.  R.  C.  Notcutt.  Large  Silver  Cup  to  J.  A. 
Nix,  Esq.  (gardener,  Mr.  E.  Neal).  Small  Silver 
Cups  to  Messrs.  Laxton  Brothers  and  the  Rudgwick 
Fruit  School.  Silver-gilt  Hogg  Medals  to  Messrs. 
J.  Cheal  and  Sons  ;  Messrs.  J.  Waterer,  Sons  and 
Crisp  ;  Messrs.  G.  G.  Whitelegg  and  Co.  ;  and 
the  Studley  College.  Silver  Hogg  Medals  to  Mr. 
E.  J.  Parsons  for  Apples ;  and  Messrs.  Stuart 
Low  and  Co.  Bronze  Hogg  Medals  to  Mr.  H.  M. 
Jones  for  Apples  ;    and  Mr.  E.  A.  Watts. 

Fruit  and  J'egitables  (non-competitive  groups). — 
Gold  Medals  and  congratulations  to  Messrs.  G. 
Bunyard  and  Co.,  Limited,  tor  fruit  trees  and 
fruit ;  and  Messrs,  Sutton  and  Sons  for  vegetables. 
Gold  Medals  to  Mr.  J.  C.  AUgrove  for  fruit  trees 
in  pots  ;  the  Hon.  Vicary  Gibbs  for  vegetables  ; 
and  Messrs.  Dobbie  and  Co.  for  Potatoes.  Large 
Silver  Cup  to  the  King's  Acre  Nurseries  for  fruit 
trees  in  pots  and  fruit.  Small  Silver  Cup  to 
Messrs.  T.  Rivers  and  Sons  for  fruit  trees  in  pots. 
Silver  Hogg  Medal  to  Messrs.  Daniels  Brothers, 
Limited,  for  fruit  trees  in  pots.  Silver  Knightian 
Medal  to  Messrs.  H.  Chapman,  Limited,  for 
vegetables. 


522 


THE    GARDEN. 


[October  14,  1922. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


ORIENTAL    LILIES    IN     SOLITHERN 

SCOTLAND. 

"P\URING  the  last  summer  atmospheric  con- 
ditions have  been  unusually  exacting  with 
Liles,  and  especially  with  those  in  exposed 
situations  that  attained  a  very  considerable 
height.  Here,  in  a  Wigtownshire  garden  the 
strong  wnnds  that  have  so  very  frequently  visited 
us  this  season,  accompatded  by  heavy,  devastating 
rains,  drove  out  of  root  the  grandest  representative 
of  Liiium  giganteum  I  have  ever  possessed.  Though 
it  afterwards  developed  its  fifteen  flowers  when 
planted  in  a  large  pot,  the  leaves  had  suffered 
so  very  severely  from  atmospheric  adversity 
that  their  delicate  green  colour  was  utterly 
destroyed.  The  head  gardener  at  Castle  Kennedy 
tells  me  that  he  has  during  the  last  three  months 
had  many  experiences  of  a  similar  description. 
In  Logan  Gardens,  where  the  shelter  is  greater, 
with  lofty,  protecting  hedges,  they  appear  to  have 
escaped,  but  I  had  not  the  privilege  of  seeing  them 
in  bloom.  In  my  own  Liiium  borders,  which  arc 
much  more  exposed,  the  other  Lilies  I  endeavour 
to  cultivate  were  more  fortunate,  owing  doubt- 
less largely  to  their  smaller  foliage  and  less 
commanding  height,  and  especially  such  fine 
representatives  as  Monadelphum  Szovitzianum 
(which  was  the  first  to  unfold  its  graceful,  lemon- 
coloured  flowers),  Krameri  (capricious,  but  a 
veritable  gem),  auratum  platyphyllum,  longi- 
florum  Wilsoni  (which  flowered  impressively) 
and  the  deUcately  fragrant  speciosum  magnificum. 
— David  R.  Williamson. 

A     USEFLIL     PL-^NT     FOR     THE    ROCK 

GARDEN. 

WHETHER  at  the  front  of  the  nii.xed  border 
in  a  widely  spreading  tuft  or  amid  the  rocks 
and  boulders  of  the  alpine  garden,  Erigeron 
glabellus  cannot  fail  to  charm  and  please.  It 
is  at  its  best  from  June  to  August,  although  you 
will  not  find  that  it  is  devoid  of  flowers  even  as 
late  as  the  middle  of  September,  for  it  seems  to 
possess  an  inexhaustible  fund  of  energy  and 
continues  to  push  up  new  flower-stems  all  the 
while.  The  habit  is  very  compact  and  bushy, 
forming  little  clumps  of  low-growing  foliage 
from  which  spring  slender  stems  of  medium- 
sized,  very  perfectly  formed  daisy-like  flowers 
in  bright  mauve  with  conspicuous  golden  centre. 
The  point  of  the  plant  is  its  extended  flowering 
season,  and  where  a  very  dwarf,  neat  grower 
is  required  you  will  scarcely  do  better. — H.  W. 
Canning-Wright. 

A     GOOD     BORDER     PLANT. 

ALL  the  Rudbeckias  are  splendid  border  plants 
for  "  backing  up  "  other  flowers,  proving 
their  value  to  the  hilt  as  the  autumn  days  come 
on,  and  one  of  the  most  distinct  of  all  is  the  species 
subtomentosa.  Though  most  are  very  tall  growers, 
this  does  not  exceed  2ift.,  so  that  it  is  splendid 
for  the  small  garden  as  well  as  under  more  spacious 
conditions,  and  is  excellent  for  large  masses  in 
the  medium-sized  mixed  border.  The  plants 
have  very  stiff,  sturdy,  upright-growing  stems 
with  three  parted  deep  green  foliage,  which  is, 
in  common  with  the  stems,  rather  hairy.  The 
flowers,  though  small,  are  produced  with  astonish- 
ing freedom,  and  resemble  golden  yellow  Daisies 
with  a  purple-brown  centre.  The  Rudbeckia 
is  not  at  all  fastidious  as  to  soil,  and  provided 
that  they  have  plenty  of  sun,  only  one  thing 
must  be  observed,  which  is  never  to  allow  them 
to  remain   without   division   for   more   than    three 


years.  R.  subtomentosa  quickly  makes  a  fine 
clump,  but  this  does  not  mean  that  it  will  continue 
to  do  so  indefinitely.  The  reverse  is  true  and, 
unless  the  whole  is  Ufted  bodily,  split  up  into 
smaller  pieces  and  the  ground — into  which  they 
are  to  be  returned — well  dug  and  manured, 
deterioration  will  set  in  and  the  flowers  become 
smaller  and  less  in  number. — H.welock. 

YUCCA     GLORIOSA    BY    THE    SEA. 

T  WENT  down  to  the  East  Coast,  Skegness  in 
fact,  ten  days  ago  to  spend  a  short  holida\' 
and  was  surprised  to  find  blooming  in  a  friend's 
garden  a  Yucca,  within  200yds.  of  the  waves. 
Unfortunately  it  was  rather  past  its  best,  but 
nevertheless  I  took  a  photograph  of  it,  which  1 
enclose,  thinking  that  it  may  be  of  some  interest, 
owing  to  the  plant  being  so  exposed  to  the  elements. 
Some  idea  of  the  growth  may  be  gained  fronr  the 
fact   that   the  ladv  standing  beside    it    is    6ft.    in 


*^!K«^' 


YUCCA    GLORIOSA     WITHIN     TWO     HUNDRED 
YARDS    OF    THE    SEA. 

height.  It  has  been  planted  as  far  as  I 
can  tell  you  about  twelve  years  and  has  not 
flowered  before.  A  glimpse  of  the  sea  may  just 
be  seen  in  the  background  of  the  photograph. 
— Eric   B.    Frecki.ngham. 

A    LATE-FLOWERING    CRANESBILL. 

T  TNLl  KE  most  of  its  kind,  Geranium  Wallichi- 
anum  is  a  late  bloomer,  a  species  of  rare 
beauty  and  one  that  is  a  robust  and  long-Uved 
perennial.  In  habit  it  is  a  sprawUng,  semi- 
prostrate  plant  that  enjoys  the  support  of  a 
neighbour  upon  which  it  may  rest  its  long,  traihng 
red-tinted  stems  and  bluntly-lobed  leaves.  The 
blossoms  often  appear  at  midsummer,  though  the 
usual  date  is  towards  the  end  of  July,  and  an 
abundant  yield  is  maintained  right  on  without 
a  break  into  late  autumn.  These  blooms  are  flat, 
or  saucer-shaped,  well  over  an  inch  in  diameter, 
and  in  the  typical  plant  they  are  a  bluish  purple 
with  a  broad  white  eye.  But  in  the  form  or  sub- 
species known  as  E.  C.  Buxton's  Variety,  they 
are,  while  retaining  the  white  eye,  a  clear  and  most 


lo\cly  blue,  almost  rivalling  that  of  Nemophila 
insignis,  to  whose  blossoms  they  have  some 
resemblance,  .\nother  somewhat  unique  feature 
of  G.  Wallichianuin  is  its  preference  for  a  coo  1 
root  run  and  shelter  from  the  hottest  sun.  In  such 
a  situation  the  flowers  are  usually  larger  and  the 
blue  of  Buxton's  variety  is,  like  that  of  many 
other  blossoms  of  that  colour,  seen  to  better  effect. 
This  Geranium  is  quite  hardy,  sets  seed  freely  and 
is  easily  propagated  by  that  means,  the  seed  being 
sown  in  the  open  ground  in  summer. — J.  N.  W. 

FOR    PARTIAL    SHADE. 

'T'H.^T  curious  Japanese  plant,  Kirengeshoma 
palniata,  still  uncommon  in  gardens,  is 
worthy  of  a  wider  appreciation  and  culture 
wherever  it  can  be  afforded  a  moderately  good 
and  deep  loam,  not  too  dry,  and,  for  preference, 
in  partial  shade.  In  such  conditions  it  will  soon 
make  an  imposing  clump,  about  a  yard  in  height 
and  width,  of  shining  ebony  stems,  broad  and 
handsome  palmate  leaves  of  unusual  design,  above 
and  beyond  which  are  extended  in  loose,  drooping 
sprays  the  quaint  yellow  flowers.  If  it  never  bore 
the  latter,  K.  palmata  would  be  worth  a  place  for 
its  foliage  alone,  and  if  it  does  not  expand  its  petals 
sufficiently  to  please  some  people,  others  would  be 
content  if  it  never  opened  them  at  all,  so  curiously 
attractive  are  the  buds,  like  ivory  acorns  in  cups 
of  highly  polished  green.  K.  palmata  is  a  first- 
rate  plant  for  estabUshing  in  fairly  open  woodland 
where  it  can  make  a  large  mass.  Slugs  are  inor- 
dinately fond  of  its  tender  shoots  as  they  appear 
in  spring,  but  beyond  that  it  seldom  seems  to  give 
any  trouble,  for,  being  hardy  and  of  good  consti- 
tution, it  takes  care  of  itself.  The  flowers  appear  in 
.■\ugust  or  September,  after  which  the  leaves 
assume  brilliant  shades  of  yellow  and  buff  and,  with 
the  stems,  entirely  disappear  as  winter  approaches 
— A.  T.  Johnson. 

A  BEAUTIFUL  ROCK  PURSLANE. 

nPHOSE  who  shrink  from  the  glowing  magenta 
tints  that  predominate  in  the  elegant  Rock 
Purslanes  of  South  America  will  find  nothing 
to  complain  of  in  Calandrinia  grandiflora, 
which  is  an  annual  that  flowers  freely  in  late 
summer  and  well  into  autumn  from  seed 
scattered  in  any  warm,  gritty  soil  in  May.  It 
makes  a  bold  rosette  of  smooth  fleshy  leaves  of 
an  attractive  glaucous  hue  veined  with  reddish 
purple.  Branching  flower  stems,  also  in  purple, 
rise  above  them  to  the  height  of  a  foot,  terminating 
in  pendent  clusters  of  poppy-Uke  buds  which 
expand,  one  at  a  time,  into  large  and  very  beautiful 
flowers,  about  the  size  and  shape  of  those  of  a 
Welsh  Poppy,  in  a  clear,  vivid  rose.  C.  grandiflora 
fully  deserves  to  be  more  widely  known.  The  seed 
is  very  cheap  and  germinates  easily. — Cambria. 

A    GOOD    LATE    ANNUAL. 

QMPH.^LODES  UniloUa  is  an  annual  not  often 
seen  in  gardens,  but  it  is  one  that  has  many 
good  points,  among  which  may  be  mentioned 
its  long  season  of  flowering,  extending  from 
June  to  November.  O.  linifoUa  is  not  a  showy 
plant,  but  it  never  fails  to  arrest  attention 
since  its  silvery  grey  leaves  and  large  ice-white 
flowers  on  elegant  gin.  stems  have  a  pecuUarly 
soft  effect  and  make  an  admirable  group  among 
greys  and  shades  of  lavender.  Culture  is  easy,  all 
that  needs  to  be  done  being  the  scattering  of  a 
httle  seed  in  the  desired  spot  in  .^pril.  In  many 
gardens  this  annual  sows  itself  freely,  which  means 
that  an  October  sowing  may  be  made  in  any  light 
soil  with  every  prospect  of  early  bloom  the  following 
summer. — W. 


October  14,  1922. 


THE     GARDEN. 


523 


GARDENING    OF    THE    WEEK 


FOR     SOUTHERN     GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Maincrops  of  Carrot  and  Beetroot  may  be 
lifted  as  sooa  as  they  shew  signs  that  growth  is 
finished.  The  lifting  of  these  maincrops  in  good 
time  is  especially  necessary  on  cold,  heavy  land, 
as  such  ground  tends  to  much  coarseness  in  the 
Beetroot  and  causes  sphtting  of  many  roots  among 
Carrots.  Should  these  crops  have  to  be  stored 
outside,  use  plenty  of  sharp  sand  among  the  roots 
to  minimise  the  losses  from  rotting. 

Seakale  crowns  required  for  autumn  forcing 
are  not  nearly  in  such  a  favourable  state  of  ripeness 
as  may  be  wished  for.  The  plants  have  made 
growth  in  abundance  and  crowns  required  for 
later  use  will  be  all  right.  To  assist  those  required 
early  to  ripen  up  a  httle  the  roots  must  be  fully 
one-half  raised  out  of  the  ground  so  that  hght  and 
air  may  reach  the  crown.  In  about  a  fortnight 
dig  them  out  entirely  and  give  them  a  week  or 
so  on  top  of  the  ground  to  finish  off. 

Cold  Frames  not  required  for  propagating 
any  stock  or  wintering  such  should  all  be  gradually 
filled  up  with  young  plants  of  Lettuce  and  Endive 
to  be  growing  on  for  future  use.  Frames  containing 
any  such  plants  of  CauUflowers,  Parsley,  etc., 
should  have  the  surface  soil  Ughtly  moved 
occasionally  and  receive  an  abundance  of  air. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Lawns  and  Verges. — The  time  to  put  away  the 
mowing  machine  can  only  b?  decided  by  the 
person  on  the  spot.  This  autumn  has  been 
remarkable  for  the  vigour  ar.i  constancy  of  the 
growth  of  grass  in  whatever  position  it  may  happen 
to  be,  and  late  mowing  is  absolutely  necessary 
if  neatness  and  general  appearance  are  to  be  kept 
up.  About  this  time,  in  the  lesser  well  dressed 
portions  of  grounds  and  among  groups  of  deciduous 
trees,  the  scythe  should  be  used  so  that  the  leaves 
a  little  later  on  may  be  more  easily  and  quickly 
collected.  Verges,  too,  may  soon,  in  the  majority 
of  cases,  receive  their  last  trimmiag. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Root-Pruning. — This  is  a  most  important 
operation,  and  may  briefly  be  explained  as  one 
carried  out  with  the  aim  of  increasing  fruitfulness. 
The  next  six  weeks  is  the  most  favourable  period 
for  the  work,  and  although  it  is  often  extremely 
difficult  to  see  to  all  matters  at  the  most  favour- 
able moment  when  so  many  jobs  are  all  waiting, 
still  it  is  worth  a  great  effort  to  get  it  through 
during  the  time  mentioned  if  possible,  for  plenty 
of  fresh  roots  then  get  moving  before  winter. 
The  actual  work  consists  in  taking  out  a  trench 
several  feet  away  from  the  stem  of  the  tree  and 
carrying  out  suggestions  generally  as  advised  for 
indoor  Peaches,  etc. — ^see  issue  September  30.  It 
may  be  advisable  to  add  that  should  such  pruning 
have  been  decided  upon  for  a  very  large  tree,  it 
may  be  wise  to  be  satisfied  with  doing  half  way 
Toiind  this  season  and  watch  results. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Early  Vines. — Pruning-time  will  soon  be  here, 
both  for  plants  in  pots  and  those  growing  in 
borders.  With  this  operation  looming  directly 
ahead  an  examination  should  be  made  at  once  of 
the  fitness  or  otherwise  of  the  wood.  There  is 
no  comparison  between  the  wonderful  early 
ripening  List  season  and  the  long  drawn  out 
process  of  this.  It  may  be  that  where  pipe-heat 
has  been  cut  off  for  very  necessary  considerations 
that  the  readvent  of  it  judiciously  used  with  an 
abundance  of  air  may  yet  tone  up  the  condition 
of  unsatisfactory  wood  and  harden  it  by  the  end 
of  the  month. 

H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 

Albury  Park  Gardens,  Guildford. 


FOR     NORTHERN     GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Trenching. — As  crops  are  cleared  away  and 
opportunity  occurs  this  very  important  work 
should  be  dealt  with.  Trenching  is  specially 
desirable  where  the  ground  is  heavy,  such  land 
benefiting  in  no  small  degree  from  autum.n  trench- 
ing, and  should  be  thrown  up  in  rough  ridges 
so  that  disintegration  may  take  place  through  the 


combined  influences  of  frost  and  sunshine.  Choose 
a  dry  spell  for  the  work,  otherwise  the  soil  cements 
and  requires  a  good  deal  of  extra  labour  to  put  it 
into  working  order  in  spring.  Plots  trenched 
in  this  way  prove  suitable  quarters  for  deep- 
rooting  plants  such  as  Onions  or  tap-roots  such 
as  Parsnips,  Carrots  and  Beet. 

Potatoes. — Complete  the  hfting  of  all  late 
varieties  as  soon  as  possible.  When  saving  seed 
of  particular  sorts  reject  unshapely  tubers  or 
others  not  in  keeping  with  the  type  being  lifted. 

Asparagus. — Immediately  the  foUage  is  ripe 
it  should  be  cut  over  and  the  beds  thoroughly 
cleaned  of  weeds,  afterwards  applying  a  top- 
dressing  of  well  rotted  manure. 

Globe  Artichokes. — A  wise  precaution  in 
districts  where  these  die  off  readily  during  a  severe 
winter  is  to  shp  off  a  number  of  the  side  shoots 
and  pot  into  suitable-sized  pots,  standing  them 
in  a  cold  frame  during  the  winter.  Excessive 
damp  on  a  heavy  soil  is  at  times  more  detrimental 
than  frost,  but  suitable  protection  may  be  afforded 
the  old  plants  by  placing  mounds  of  ordinary  coal 
ashes  round  the  crowns. 

Turnips. — With  the  exception  of  Swedes,  all 
Turnips  may  now  be  lifted  and  stored  away, 
as  when  left  longer  in  the  ground  they  become 
coarse  and  split  readily. 

General  Work. — Continue  to  clear  away  all 
spent  crops  and  decaying  leaves  from  the  vegetable 
borders,  placing  them  in  the  rot-pit,  where  in 
time  they  will  become  useful  manure.  This 
clean  up  not  only  rids  the  garden  of  an  offensive 
odour  but  adds  to  the  tidiness  of  these  quarters 
and  clears  away  the  breeding  places  of  innumer- 
able garden  pests.  Pea  sticks  should  also  be 
stacked  away  in  readiness  for  another  year,  dis- 
carding those  which  are  of  no  further  use  and 
auguienting  the  quantity  at  the  first  chance 
during  the  winter  months. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Raspberries. — Remove  the  old  fruiting  canes 
from  the  Raspberry  plantation  and  tie  in  the 
necessary  quantity  of  canes  for  next  season's 
fruiting.  Choose  stout,  well  ripened  growths, 
cutting  away  any  superfluous  or  weak-growing 
canes. 

Planting    Currants    and    Gooseberries.— The 

middle  of  this  month  is  quite  a  good  time  to  plant 
Red  Currants,  Black  Currants  and  Gooseberry 
bushes,  as  this  early  planting  enables  them  to 
emit  new  roots  before  the  more  severe  weather 
sets  in.  Plant  firmly,  and  should  staking  be 
necessary,  have  it  done  when  planting,  as  con- 
siderable damage  may  be  caused  to  young 
plantations  bj*  winter  storms. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Iris  hispanica. — The  Spanish  Irises  thrive  best 
when  planted  in  sandy  loam,  shghtly  enriching 
the  ground  by  the  addition  of  some  well  decayed 
manure  from  a  spent  hot-bed.  Plant  the  bulbs 
about  6ins.  apart  and  about  sins.  deep.  This 
popular  Iris  is  esteemed  for  its  lasting  quaUties 
when  cut,  so  it  is  a  wise  procedure  where  space 
permits  to  plant  a  good  breadth  of  the  most 
attractive  sorts  for  this  purpose.  They  are  also 
suitable  for  planting  in  clumps  near  the  front  of 
the  herbaceous  or  shrubbery  borders.^    .       io*  B 

Narcissi. — Among  the  Narcissi  varieties  such 
as  Emperor,  Sir  Watkin,  Horsfieldi  and  Victoria 
make  a  fine  show  when  planted  in  groups  in  the 
hardy  flower  borders,  giving  a  fine  display  before 
the  other  occupants  have  made  much  growth. 
When  planting,  place  the  bulbs  in  groups  of  from 
ten  to  twelve,  keeping  them  about  7ins.  apart 
in  the  group  and  about  4ins.  deep. 

Anchusa  italica  Dropmore. — Few  colours  in 
the  hardy  flower  border  find  more  favour  than 
does  that  of  this  beautiful  Allianet.  Unfortunately, 
in  very  cold  districts  it  often  dies  out  during  the 
winter,  so  that  the  present  is  a  suitable  time  to 
lift  and  pot  up  the  old  roots,  standing  the  pots 
in  a  cold  frame  until  the  spring.  At  the  same  time 
a  quantity  of  root  cuttings  should  be  inserted 
for  fresh  stock.  If  the  thong-hke  roots  are  cut 
in  lengths  of  sins,  and  dibbled  into  cutting  boxes, 
crowns  will  soon  form  and  produce  plants  suitable 
for  flowering  the  following  summer. 

James  McGran 

(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.), 

Coodham,  Kilmarnock. 


GREENHOUSE  AND  CONSERVATORY. 

Gladiolus  Colvillei  and  its  variety  alba  have 
for  many  years  been  favourite  market  plants, 
and  they  are  well  worth  more  general  attention 
from  the  private  grower.  Their  cultural  require- 
ments are  simple  and  they  may  be  grown  in  pots 
for  standing  in  the  conservatory  or  simply  cul- 
tivated for  a  supply  of  cut  flower.  They  may 
be  potted  at  any  time  now,  and  will  grow  well  in 
any  good  potting  compost.  The  corms  are  not 
large  and  six  of  them  may  be  put  in  a  7in.  pot. 
The>'  are  free-rooting  plants  and  I  find  it  an 
advantage  to  give  them  a  httle  extra  room  at  the 
root.  The  same  remarks  apply  to  the  so-caUed 
nanus  section,  which  includes  quite  a  number  of 
beautiful  named  varieties,  such  as  Blushing  Bride, 
Fire  King,  Peach  Blossom,  Queen  Wilhelmina, 
deUcatissima,  insignis  and  Non  plus  Ultra.  Like 
other  bulbous  plants  used  for  forcing,  they  should 
be  stood  outdoors  and  the  pots  covered  with  ashes 
until  the  plants  are  well  rooted.  They  should  then 
be  removed  to  cold  frames,  where  they  may  be 
drawn  from  as  required  for  forcing  purposes,  or 
they  may  be  grown  on  quite  cool,  where  there  is 
no  desire  or  facilities  for  forcing  them.  G.  byzan- 
tinus  is  a  graceful  species  with  rosy  purple  flowers, 
which  is  worthy  of  more  general  cultivation  in 
pots  for  the  cool  conservatory. 

Bravoa  geminiflora  is  a  beautiful  Mexican  plant 
that  should  be  much  more  generally  grown  for 
the  cool  or  unheated  greenhouse.  In  the  south 
and  west  it  is  more  or  less  hardy  in  light  warm 
soils  at  the  bottom  of  sunny  walls,  and  it  is  just 
such  plants  that  are  on  the  borderUne  of  hardiness 
that  are  so  valuable  for  cool  houses,  where  little 
of  no  fire  heat  can  be  used.  Dry  roots  of  this 
plant  can  generally  be  purchased  during  the 
winter  months,  when  they  may  be  potted  and 
stood  in  a  cold  frame.  These  plants  Uke  a  light 
rich  loam  with  the  addition  of  some  well  decayed 
leaf  soil,  and  enough  coarse  sand  to  keep  the  whole 
porous.  One  root  may  be  placed  in  a  48,  or  three 
in  a  6in.  pot.  It  is  a  slender  growing  plant  some 
2ft.  in  height,  and  produces  its  beautiful  orange- 
scarlet  flowers  in  great  profusion  during  July  or 
even  earher  when  grown  in  a  cool  house. 

Manettia  bicolor  is  an  old  favourite  which  is 
seldom  seen  at  the  present  day.  It  is  a  slender 
twining  plant  which  makes  a  nice  specimen  if 
trained  over  neat  supports.  It  may  also  be  trained 
over  a  treUis  or  used  as  a  roof  chmber  in  a  small 
house.  This  plant  is  easily  propagated  by  means 
of  cuttings,  especiaUy  if  they  can  be  placed  in 
sUght  bottom  heat,  and  if  propagated  at  this  time 
good  plants  may  be  had  for  next  summer.  The 
scarlet  and  yellow  tubular  flowers  are  produced 
more  or  less  all  the  year  round. 

Morsea. — There  are  several  beautiful  species  in 
this  genus,  but  with  the  exception  of  M.  iridoides 
there  are  very  few  of  them  in  cultivation  at  the 
present  day.  They  resemble  the  Iris  in  habit  and 
M.  iridoides  makes  a  fine  specimen  if  grown  in  a 
large  pan,  but  this  and  the  other  species  are  seen 
at  their  best  when  planted  out  in  a  well  drained 
border  of  rich  soil  in  a  cool  conservatory.  In 
such  a  situation  these  plants  wiU  throw  up  their 
slender  wiry  flower  stems  to  a  height  of  some  3ft. 
or  4ft.  The  flowers  are  very  fugitive,  but  are  pro- 
duced in  succession  over  a  long  period.  Most 
cultivators  make  the  mistake  of  cutting  away  the 
flower  stems,  ignorant  of  the  fact  that  they  remain 
green  and  produce  flowers  for  several  years. 

Maricas  somewhat  resemble  Moraeas  and  the 
best  known  species  are  coerulea,  gracihs  and 
Northiana.  Although  they  are  generally  supposed 
to  require  stove  treatment  I  have  found  them  do 
quite  well  in  the  ordinary  heated  greenhouse,  and 
like  Mor£eas  they  are  seen  to  best  advantage  when 
planted  out  in  well  drained  borders. 

Cannas  and  other  plants  such  asICrinums, 
Agapanthus  and  specimen  Hydrangeas  that  have 
been  standing  outdoors  after  flowering,  should 
now  be  placed  indoors  for  the  winter.  Cannas 
may  be  turned  out  of  their  pots  and  after  shortening 
the  shoots,  stored  in  any  cool  building  from  which 
frost  can  be  excluded.  I  find  they  keep  much 
better  if  they  are  not  allowed  to  become  too  dry. 
They  keep  splendidly  under  a  stage  on  a  earthen 
floor  in  a  cold  greenhouse.  Agapanthus  may  be 
kept  in  a  shed,  but  as  they  are  really  evergreen, 
it  is  really  much  better  if  they  can  be  given  a  hght 
position  in  a  old  greenhouse.  Large  specimen 
Fuchsias  and  Hydrangeas  can  be  safely  wintered 
in  a  dry  shed.  Fuchsias  will  stand  the  winter 
without  water,  but  Hydrangeas  should  not  be 
dried  off  to  the  same  extent  and  if  standing  on  an 
earthen  floor  they  wiU  generaUy  get  enough  moisture 
to  bring  them  through  the  winter. 

J.    COUTTS. 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,   Kew. 


524 


THE     GARDEN. 


[October  14,  1922. 


Dahlia  Conference. — The  National  Dahlia 
Society  has  arranged  a  Conference  to  be  held  in 
the  Lecture  Room  at  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society's  Hall,  Vincent  Square,  Westminster,  on 
October  17,  commencing  at  4.30  p.m.  Sir  Frederick 
Keeble,  K.B.E.,  F.R.S.,  has  promised  to  preside, 
and  papers  for  discussion  will  be  read  by  Mr.  T. 
Hay,  Regent's  Park,  on  "  Dahlias  for  Parks  and 
Gardens,"  and  by  Mr.  J.  T.  West,  Brentwood,  on 
"  Exhibiting  Dahlias."  There  is  no  charge  for 
admission  and  everyone  interested  in  Dahlias  is 
in\'ited  to  attend. 

A  New  Lawn  Mower. — The  Editor  has  received 
for  trial,  through  Messrs.  A.  W.  Gamage,  Limited, 
the  well  known  Holborn  firm,  a  specimen  of  the 
new  "  Qualcast "  mower,  which  is  intended  to 
supplant  the  American  side-wheel  mowers  now 
so  popular  in  this  country.  The  machine  is  light 
to  handle  and  cuts  well  and  closely,  while  the 
grass  box  and  deUvery  plate  are  entirely  satis- 
factory, whereas  with  the  usual  .American  machine 
they  are  ornamental  rather  than  useful.  This 
really  excellent  machine  is  manufactured  by  the 
Derwent  Foundry  Company,  Derby,  who  are 
already  turning  out   1,000  machines  per  week. 


ANSWERS 
TO  CORRESPONDENTS 

QUESTIONS  AND  ANSWERS.— ^/i  communicationfi 
should  be  clearly  and  concisely  written  on  one  side  of  the 
paper  only,  and  addressed  to  the  Editor  of  The  Garden, 
20,  Tavistock  Street,  Covent  Garden,  London,  ir.C'.2.  When 
more  than  one  query  is  sent,  each  should  be  on  a  separate 
pieee  of  paper.  Plants  for  naming  should  be  clearly  numbered 
and  securely  pocked  in  damp  grass  or  moss,  not  cotion-wool, 
and  flouering  shoots,  where  possible,  should  be  sent.  It  is 
useless  to  send  small  scraps  that  are  not  characteristic  of 
the  plant. 

FLOWER    GARDEN'. 

FLOWERING  PLANTS  FOR  SHADY  PLACES  (H.  T.  T., 
Stalfordshire). — Annuals  >ifnerally  an-  ntit  to  W  n-com- 
inrndcd  for  shady  plao's.     The  most  suifalil'-  inTrnnial-^ 


incUuli>  Gt-rman  Irises.  Anemone  japonica  and  variftii-s, 
Funkias,  Aquilegias.  Campanula  lactiflora,  Dodecathfon 
Mfadia  elcgans.  Epigaea  re  pons,  Epimedium  nivcuni, 
Helianthus  varieties  (if  thf  shade  is  not  too  dense). 
Hellebores,  Hemerocallis  varieties,  Hepatica  triloba. 
Megasea  eordifolia,  Saponaria  offieiualis  fl.  pi.,  Symphytum 
officinale  and   Trillium  tiiandillnrum  (in  a  moist  soil). 

JAPANESE  IRISES  (Frlstrd).— Although  these  plants 
do  well  under  boggy  conditions,  we  are  inclined  to  the 
opinion  that  they  are  not  likely  to  be  very  successful 
in  a  zinc  tank  unless  measures  are  taken  to  shade  the 
sides  during  hot,  sunny  weather  and  to  provide  some 
drainage. 

MILDEW  ON  IRISES  AND  TULIP  QUERY  (M.  K., 
Norfolk). — The  best  time  to  dust  or  spray  plants  affected 
with  fungi  is  immediately  the  attack  commences.  As 
the  lime  which  has  been  used  is,  apparently,  ineffective, 
we  suggest  spraying  with  potassium  permanganate, 
which  may  be  obtained  in  the  form  of  crystals  that  readilv 
dissolve  in  cold  water.  A  pale  rose  red  solution  should 
be  made  and  the  spray  should  be  as  mist-like  as  possible. 
If  the  Tulips  have  been  grown  well,  they  will  not  neces- 
sarily be  "  blind  "  next  year.  It  must  be  remembered 
that,  generally,  it  is  only  full-sized,  well  ripened  bulbs 
that  produce  flowers.  During  the  season  of  growth 
the  bulbs  that  are  not  flowering  should  be  encouraged  to 
develop  good,  firm  bulbs  by  being  watered  with  weak 
liquid  manure. 


TREES    AND    SHRUBS. 

PRUNING  CLEMATISES  ("  Bismarck  ").— The  varieties 
'lamed  (Lady  Northcliife  and  Afme.  le  Coultre)  belong 
t(i  the  .Taekmani  section,  and  will  give  a  good  show  of 
Mower  if  they  are  pruned  hard  back  in  the  early  spring. 

AZALEAS  NOT  FLOWERING  (Felsted).— We  assume 
tliat  it  is  the  Ghent  and  Mollis  varieties  that  are  alluded 
to.  Generally  these  would  not  flower  so  freely  the  second 
year  as  when  first  planted,  but  if  due  attention  is  paid, 
particularly  in  the  matter  of  removing  the  old  flower- 
heads  as  soon  as  they  have  faded,  they  should  flower 
well  afterwards.  But  our  correspondent  must  remember 
that  last  summer's  drought  was  especially  trying  to  all 
shrubs.  As  the  Azaleas  are  planted  in  a  made-up  bed 
of  peat  and  leaf-mould,  the  fact  of  there  being  lime  in 
the  natural  soil  should  have  no  effect. 

CLEARING  SHRUBBERY  FOR  REPLANTING  (R.  E.  B.. 
S.W.5).— If  the  Laurels  have  been  established  lor  any 
length  of  time,  the  shallow,  sandy  soil  will  require  a 
considemble  amount  of  enriching  to  render  it  suitable 
for  more  ornamental  shrubs  and  spring  bulbs.  After  the 
Laurels  have  been  grubbed  up  the  site  should  be  dug 
two  spits  deep  if  possible,  incorporating  a  liberal  quantity 
of  any  natural  manure,  leaf-mould  and  old  potting  soil 
thnt  may  be  available.  The  shady  portion  will  require 
different  sorts  of  shrubs,  and  in  this  respect  our  corre- 
spondent will  no  doubt  derive  assistance  and  suggestions 
from  the   article   on  the   subject  in  The  Garden  dated 


September  30,  1922.  We  sugget^t  tliat  as  much  planting 
as  possible  be  done  this  autumn  rather  than  wait  three 
months  as  apparently  is  intended. 

FRUIT    CxARDEN. 

PRUNING  BISMARCK  APPLE  ("Bismarck").— 
Although  this  variety,  like  many  others,  does  on  occasion 
fruit  at  the  tips  of  unpruned  branches,  it  is  not  one  of 
the  relatively  few  that  will  fruit  only  in  this  manner. 
The  best  fruits  will  be  obtained  by  pruning  in  the  ordinary 
)nanner  so  as  to  induce  tlie  formation  of  fruit-spurs,  the 
leading  shoots  on  bush  or  standard  trees  being  cut  back 
to  from  four  to  eight  buds,  according  to  their  vigour. 
In  the  small  garden  Bismarck  may  well  be  grown  as  a 
cordon. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

INSECT    FOR    IDENTIFICATION    (G.    G..    Clacton-on- 
Sea). — Larvje  of  death's  head  moth  (Acherontia  atropus). 
IMPROVING      GROUND      BENEATH      ELM      TREES 

(M.  C,  Oxon).— If  the  Elm  trees  are  at  all  luxuriant, 
the  summer  shade  will  prevent  much  use  being  made  of 
the  ground  beneath  them  unless  the  trees  can  be  thinned. 
In  addition  to  this.  Elms  are  great  robbers  of  the  soil. 
If  it  is  practicable,  it  would  be  well  to  dig  a  trench  about 
30lns.  deep  as  near  to  the  Elms  as  may  be  convenient 
and  sever  all  the  roots  met  with  ;  this  will  keep  the  area 
free  from  roots  for  a  time.  The  ground  should  then  be 
well  dug,  and  as  it  is  certain  to  be  rather  exhausted,  it 
should  be  improved  by  adding  a  considerable  quantity 
of  farmyard  manure,  if  this  is  available,  and  any  old 
potting  soil  that  may  be  on  liand. 

NAMES  OF  FRUIT.— W.  ^^.  W..  Thornliebank.— 
Apples:  1,  probably  (iranfonian  (culinary);  2,  probably 
Kcklinville  (culinary) ;  3,  probably  Royal  Late  (culinary)  ; 
4,  probably  Wormsley  Pippin  (culinary) ;  5,  probably 
Alfriston  (culinary);  6,  Wellington  (culinary);  7,  Court 
of  Wick  (des.sert);  8,  probably  Lord  Derby  (culinary). 
The  specimens  sent  were  very  poorly  developed  and 
the  majoritv  were  immature,  thus  making  correct  identifi- 
cation difficult. H.  \\.  R.,  Sussex. — Apples;    1,  The 

tiueen  ;  2,  Annie  Elizabeth  ;  3,  Charles  Ross  ;  4,  AUington 
Pippin  ;  5,  probably  Ecklinville,  specimen  badly  squashed  ; 

6,  Pear  Beurr6  Bosc. N.  G.  W. — Pears  :   1,  Bergamotte 

d'Automne,  dessert,  October  to  December ;  2,  Triomphe 
de  Vienne,  dessert,  September;  3,  Souvenir  du  Congr^s, 
dessert,  September;    4,  Williams's  Bon  Chretien,  dessert, 

September. C,      H.,      Glennsford.— Probably       Plum 

Yellow  Myrobalan,  specimen  badly  squashed G.  Y., 

Brough. — 1.  Foster's  Seedling;  2,  Catshead  ;  3,  probably 
Albury  Park  Nonsuch  (specimen  badly  scabbed) ;  4,  Gold 
Medal;  5,  Worcester  Fearraain ;  6,  Lemon  Pippin  ;  7. 
Blenheim  Orange ;  8,  AUington  Pippin  ;  9,  probably 
Prince  Edward  (specimen  badly  bruised) ;  10,  Napoleon  : 

11.  Duke  of  Devonshire.    12,  "Monarch. N.  G.  W.— 

Ai)ples:   1,  Lord  Derby  ;  2.  Warner's  King  ;  3,  Ben's  Red. 


SALE  OF  BUSINESS. 


Wm.    PAUL    &    SON,    Waltham   Cross,   Ltd., 

beg  to  give  notice  that  they  have  disposed  of  their 
Nursery  at  Wahham  Cross,  together  with  the  stock 
and  goodwill  of  their  business,  to  Mr.  W.  E. 
CHAPLIN,  of  Waltham  Cross,  to  whom  all 
orders  and  enquiries  should  be  addressed. 

All  accounts  due  to  Wm.  Paul  &  Son,  Waltham 
Cross,  Ltd.,  for  goods  supplied  up  to  September 
30th,  1922,  should  be  paid  to  them  at  their 
registered  address  as  below  ; — 

Paul's  Nursery,  Nursery  Road, 

Loughton,  Essex. 
2nd  October,  1922. 


YORK  STONE 
CRAZY    PAVING 

50/-  per  ton,  100  ft.  lots  or  more. 


GREY  LIMESTONE  AND  RED  SAND- 
STONE ROCKERY,  50/-  per  ton. 

Waterworn  and  Weathered  WESTMORE- 
LAND LIMESTONE,  also  WALLING 
STONE,  at  57/6  per  ton. 

Delivered  Free  in  London   within  reasonable  distance. 
SPECfAL    PRICES    FOR    TRUCKLOADS. 


ROCKERIES     FORMED    &    PLANTED. 


NA/m.     BIGNELL     &      SON, 

NORTH     ROAD,      HIGHGATE,     N.6. 

'Phone  :     Hornsey  2868. 


MAURICE  PRIGHARD  &  SONS' 

NEW    ALPINE    &    HERBACEOUS 

CATALOGU  E 

NOW     READY, 

Intending    Planters   should  write    for   a    Copy. 

MAURICE   PRICHARD   &  SONS, 

Hardy  Plant  Nurseries,  CHRISTCHURGH,   HANTS. 


HARRIS'S    ROSE    TREES 

200,000     TO     OFFER. 

My  Catalogue   describes   more    than    400    varieties. 
Contains  eight  illustrations,  and   is  post  free  from 

E.      HARRIS, 
Cyprus   Road   Nursery,    LEICESTER. 


CHOICE    NEW    NARCISSI. 

"BRIGHTLING."— A  very  distinct  and  beautiful  flower 
of  excellent  form,  perianth  primrose,  segments  broad 
and  flat.  large  flat  crown  of  rich  orange  with  a  double 
frilled  margin  of  fiery  orange  red.  Award  rf  Merit. 
Midland  Dafi^.  Society.  1922.  Award  of  Merit,  Royyl 
Horticultural  Society,  1922.     Each   63/-. 

"  PELICAN,'*— Perianth  soft  primrose,  crown  intense 
orange  red.  Award  of  Merit.  Royal  Horticultural 
Society,  1922.     Each  63/-. 

"SUNRISE."— Perianth  white  flushed  yellow,  cup  rich 
orange,  early.  Award  of  Merit.  Midland  Daff.  Society. 
1922.     Each  2  -;  doz.  20/-. 

"PRINCESS  VICTORIA."— Perianth  and  cup  rich 
yellow,  cup  suff^used  tright  orange  red.  Specially 
recommended.     Very  early.     Each  3/6;   doz.  37/6. 

DAFFODILS    AND    TULIPS    A    SPECIALITY. 

W.  1,  WATTS,  F.R,H.S.,  St,  Dsaph.  N.  Wales. 


BEST  BULBS 

Post    Free. 

SATISFACTION    GUARANTEED. 


MATCHLESS  HYACINTHS,  named  sorts, 

A,  Coll.     25  distinct  varieties      , .      13/6 

B,  „  12        ,,  ,,  ,.        7/6 

C,  ,,  12         ,,  ,,  ..        6/6 

D,  „  6         „  „  ..        3/6 

E,  .,  6         „  „  ,.        3/3 
EARLY  WHITE    ROMAN    HYACINTHS. 

Per  dozen.  5/-  ;  per  too,  37/6 

EARLY-FLOWERING   TULIPS. 

F,  Coll.     I  GO  Bulbs  in  lo  varieties     10/6 

G,  ,,  50  „  5        „  5/6 

COTTAGE  TULIPS,  finest  named. 

H.  Coll.     100  Bulbs  in  10  varieties     10  6 

DARWIN  TULIPS,   finest  named. 

I.  Coll.      100  Bulbs  in  to  varieties     12/- 
POPULAR    DAFFODILS. 

J.  Coll.     too  Bulbs  in  10  varieties     12/6 
K.     ,,         50  ,,  10  ,,  7- 

THE   WHITE   LILY    (Lllium    candidum). 
Per  dozen,  7/6;    100,   45/-. 


Wm.  POWER  &  CO.,  WATERFORD 

Nurserymen  and    Seed    Merchants. 


BPEOIALITE. 


TREES  AND   SHRUBS 


for    AUTUMN     COLOUR 
and  WINTER    BERRIES 

(Carriage  Paid.) 

V.  N.  Gauntlett  &  Co.,  Ltd.. 

Japanese  Nurseries,  Chiddingpold.  Surrey, 


THE 


iVIassiachu«©tts» 
ral- 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


il.  LXXXVI.— No.  2657. 

tered  as  Secoad-class  Matter  at  the  New  York,  N.Y.,  Post  Office. 


Saturday,  October  21,  1922 


REGISTERED  AT  THE  GENERAL 
POST  OFFICE  AS  A  NEWSPAPER 
AND  FOR  CANADIAN  MAGAZINE 

POST. 


Price  THREEPENCE 

Yearly  Subscriptiofi : 
Inland,   17/4;    Foreign,  17/4 


THE     HARDY     MOISTURE-LOVING 
HYDRANGEA    PANICULATA. 


MERRYWEATHER'S    ROSES 


FOR    THE   GARDEN! 
FOR    BEDS! 


FOR    EXHIBITION! 
FOR    EVERYWHERE! 


Also  Fruit  Trees,  Shrubs,  Ornamental  Trees. 
Please   state  your  wants. 

H.    MERRYWEATHER    &   SONS,  LTD. 
Garden  Specialists,  SOUTHWELL,  NOTTS. 

BARR'S  COLLECTIONS  OF  BULBS 

FOR      PRESENT      PLANTING. 

30/-  Collection  fop  Forcing,  Greenhouse  &  Sitting  Room 

Containing  Early  Hyacinths,  Daffodils.  Polyanthus  Narcissi.  Tulips,  Freesias,  etc. 
Half  Collection  -        -         IS  - 

25/-  Collection  of  Bulbs  for  Bowls  and  Vases. 

Giving  a  succession  of  bloom  from  late  Autumn  to  Spring,  including  the  most  suitable 
Hyacinths.  Daffodils,  Jonquils,  Polyanthus  Narcissi,  Chionodoxas,  etc. 
Half  Collection         -        •         1216 

25/-  Collection  of  Daffodils  for  Bowl  Culture. 

Contains  6  each  of  15  most  suitable  v.^rieties — all  extra  strong  bulbs. 
Half  Collection         ■        -         1216 

Full  Desctiptix^e  Catalogue  /rec  on  application, 

la  A  ^  ^        e         ^/^IMC  11,    12     &    13,     KINQ    STREET, 

^#*l^r^       Ot       ^V/I^^y     COVENT      GARDEN,       LONDON,     W.C.2. 

CHEALS'    NURSERIES 

Over     lOO    Acres. 

CHEALS'  Ornamental  Trees  and  Shrubs,   in   great  variety;    Climbers, 

Forest  Trees,  etc. 
CHEALS' 
CHEAL.S' 
CHEAI-S' 
CHEALS' 
CHEALS' 


CHEALS' 


Roses ;  all  sections. 

Fruit  Trees  ;    hardy,  healthy,  true  to  name. 

Hardy  Flowers  for  Borders,   Bogs,   Rock  Gardens,   etc. 

Dahlias  a  Speciality. 

Seeds,   Bulbs  and  Sundries, 

Catalogues    of    each     Department    free. 
Landscape  Gardeners  &  Garden  Architects,     Designs  preparei 


and  advice  given  in  any  part.     Illustrated  Pamphlet  free. 

J.  CHEAL  &  SONS,  Ltd.     ■    The  Nurseries,  CRAWLEY 

YORK  STONE  CRAZY  PAVING 

50/-  per  ton,  100  ft.  lots  or  more. 

GREY    LIMESTONE   AND    RED    SANDSTONE    ROCKERY, 

50/-  per  ton. 
Waterworn  and  Weathered  WESTMORELAND    LIMESTONE, 

also  WALLING  STONE,  at  57/6  per  ton. 
Delivered  Free  in  London  within  reasonable  distance.      Special  Prices  for  Truclrfoarfs, 
ROCKERIES     FORMED     AND     PLANTED 

NA/m.     BIGNELL    &     SON, 

NORTH     ROAD,     HIGHGATE,     N.6 


'Phone 


Hornsey  2868. 


THE     GARDEN. 


[October  21,   1922. 


t( 


THE    GARDEN"   CATALOGUE    GUIDE 


NOTICE  TO  OUR  READERS 


/~\N  receipt  of  a  Post  Card  the  under- 
^^^  mentioned  firms  will  be  pleased  to 
send  their  useful  Catalogues  free  of  charge. 

Rose  Specialists 


GEORGE  PRINCE 

LONGWORTH 

BERKS 


Specialist  in 
Rases  of  all 
descriptions 


piRST     The  Champion  Decorative  Rose  Grower 
A      ^^^  of  England, 

RELISHA  J.  HICKS.  M.C.N.R.S.,  etc. 


<OSES 


Hurst,  Berks. 


Fruit  Trees  and  Plants 


PERRY'S 

Hardy  Plant  Farms 

ENFIELD,  MIDDX. 


N«w  Alpines 
amJ  Perennials 

Oomplete 
Oolleotion 


KELWAY   &   SON 
Retail  Plant  Dbpartmknt 
LANGPORT,   SOMERSET. 


Hardy  Plants 
Colour  Borders 
Gladioli 


HARDY    AZALEAS    AND     FLOWER  INQ    SHRUBS 


R.  &  G.  CUTHBERT 
SOUTHGATE 
MIDDLESEX 
Established  1797 


For  planting    and 
Oonaervatory 
decoration. 
Catalogue  of  our 
new  and  beautifu! 
varieties  post 
free 


LAXTON   BROS. 

Nursbribs 

BEDFORD 


Strawberries 

and 

Fruit  Trees 


W.  WELLS,  JuNR. 
Hardy  Plant  Nursery 
MERSTHAM.  SURREY 


Specialist  in 
Hardy  Plants 
and  Alpines 
Catalogues  free 


THE   CARSE    OF  GOWRIE 
NURSERY    COMPANY 

ERROL,  PERTHSHIRE 


THE  Scottisll 
Specialists  in 
Fruit  Trees 
and  Bushes 


Seeds  and  Bulbs 


R.  H.  BATH,  Ltd. 
Thi  Floral  Farms, 
WISBECH 


Hotne^rown 
Bulbs  and 
Seeds 


BLACKMORE  &  LANGDON 
TwmTON  Hill  Nursiry 
BATH 


Beaoniaa 
Delphiniums 
Qloxinias 
Cyelamen,  etc. 


DAWKINS 

408,  King's  Road 

CHELSEA,   S.W. 


Bulb 

Catalogue 
now  ready. 


Garden  Sundries 


CORKY   &   CO.,   Ltd. 
Shad    Thames,    S.E.i    and 
Bedford  Chambers 
CovENT  Garden,  W.C.2 


Merchants  and 
Nlanafacturers 
of  Horticultural 
8undri«fl 
F*rtJliz«r«  and 
Insocticidee,  etc. 


J.  BENTLEY,  Ltd. 
Barrow-on-Humber 
HULL. 


Wood  Dootroyors 

Fortilizero 

Insecticides 

Nets  and  Sundries 


Landscape  Gardening 


W.  H.  GAZE  &  SONS,  Ltd. 
High  Street 
KINGSTON-ON-THAMES 


Landsaape,  Rock 
and  Watar  Qarden 
Model  Qardens 
Portsmouth   Road 
Surbiton 


R.  WALLACE  &  CO.,  Ltd. 
The  Old  Gardens 
TUNBRIDGE  WELLS 


Landscape  &  Garden 
Architects.  Queeo 

Alexandra's   Cup    for 
Best  Kock  and  \Va;t;r 
Garden,  International 
Show,  lyilJ. 


J.  CHEAL  &  SONS,  Ltd. 

Nurseries 

CRAWLEY 


Landooapo 
Qardonero 
Trooo  and 
Shrubs,  etc. 


PULMAM  ©  SON 

a'AJ'POINTMENT     TO  ni5  M\JE5T1' 

TINEVMAN  5T-ax:rORD5T 

LONDON -V 

NURSERIES  •  EL5ENnAM 


*GUAPriIC'CLP 
for  best  RockGarden 
CnELSnA-192> 

Plarvs  S)  5ur(,'ei-j5- 
\'a5e,5  ■  fmirvfoirv's  - 
rigfjrea*  Sarsdioi  5  -  i»c 


HODSONS,   LIMITED, 

i4,Victoria  St., London, S.W.I 
&s8,  Castlegate, Nottingham 
Nurseries  near  Matlock 


Rock,  Water  or 
Formal   Qardens, 

Stone  Paved  Paths. 

Green  &  Hard  Courts 

Trees,  Shrubs.  Rnses. 
Heathers.  Alpines,  & 
Herbaceous  Plants. 


MISS  EVELYN  FAWSSETT 

(Specialist  in  Garden  Planning) 

83,  High  Street 
LEWES,  SUSSEX 


New  Gardens  de- 
slgned.  Old  Gardens 
Re-arranned.  Plant- 
iDS  plana  for  borders, 
etc.  Terms  on  appli' 
cation. 


WM.  BIGNELL  &  SON 
North  Road  Nurseries, 
HIGHGATE,  N.6 


Experts  In  Garden 
Formation  and 
Reconstruction. 
Advice  &  Estimates 
Free. 


WALLACE'S  IRISES. 

Send  for  our  attractive  publication — "  Irises  and 
Iris  Gardens."     Post  free  on  application. 

R.    WALLACE    &   CO.   LTD., 
TUNBRIDGE     ^VELLS. 


DUTCH 
BULBS 


Descriptive  Catalogue  of  CHOICE  DUTCH 

BULBS  free  on  application. 
Delivery  Carriage  Paid.  No  Charge  for  Packing. 


JOHN  B.  VAN  DER  SCHOOT, 

The    Old-Established   Bulb   Farms 

(Comprising  over  400  acres), 

HILLEGOM,    HOLLAND. 


Telegrams  : — "  Narcissus,  Hillesom." 


Established  1830 


BLACKMORE  &  LANGDON'S      | 

DELPHINIUMS 

Have  received  the  highest  honours 
at    all    the    principal    Exhibitions. 


Plant  this  month  for  effect  next  Summer. 

In  choicest  named  kinds — our  selection — at 
20/-,  25/-,  30/-,  35/-,  40/-  and   50/-  per  dozen. 


Catalogue     Free     from 

BLACKMORE  &  LANGDON,  BATH 


SPECIALITIES. 


J 


FRUIT   TREES 
ROSES         I 

Alpines  &  Hardy  Perennial' 
Ornamental  Trees  &  Shrul: 
Hardy  Climbing  Plants 

Interesting    Descriptive    and    Illustrated    Catalogi 
of  all  the  above  free  on  application. 

We    ha\e    very   large   stocks   of    Fruit   Trees 
splendid  condition  this  season.     Grown  on  select 
pedigree  stocks,   healthy,   well   rooted,  and  true 
name.      Roses  and  other  stocks  are  equally  good 
quality  and  in  great  variety. 

200    ACRES    UNDER    CULTIVATION. 

Special  quotations  given  for  large  or  small  quantiti 
including  careful  packing  and  free  delivery. 

THE  BARNHAM  NURSERIES,  LTD 

BARNHAM,     SUSSEX. 


DNS 

FREES 
IMAPES 

ES  GRATIS 

N  BROS 
BEDFORD 


LAX 

FRUIT 
IN  ALL 

CATALO 


ENGLISH    BULBS. 

We  are  Actual  Growers  and  have 
been  established   78   years. 

Illustrated   List   post    free    on    application. 


SPECIAL     OFFER. 

Mixture  No.  4. — Avery  fine  lot  of  Daffodils 
and  Narcissi,  from  10  to  15  leading  varieties. 
We  can  strongly  recommend  them  for 
naturalisinji  and  cut  bloom.  100,5|6;  1,000, 
45/-.    Carr.  or  post  paid  for  cash  with  order. 


GEORGE  ELSOM,  Dept.  F,  SPALDING,  LINGS. 


Tubs   for    shrubs 

WIRE  BOUND  PATENT,  over  If 
prizes.  R.H.S.  Medal.  1910.  No  warpinR  o 
shrinking.  In  Oak.  Beech, TeaU.  etc.  Highl 
decorative.— Price  List  from  Phadal  &  Co 
26.  Goodge  Street.  London.  VV.l. 


^,z^H^^ 


£:?-^^ 


No.  2657.— Vol.  LXXXVL] 


[October  21,  1922. 


HARDY    PLANTS    TO    REPLACE    BEDDING 

The  time  has  come  and  the  season  to  put  hardy  plants  into  position  jor  next  year's  display. 


THERE  are  numbers  of  people  who 
object  to  "  bedding-out  "  plants  because, 
as  generally  employed,  they  offend  their 
sense  of  taste.  Even  when  a  better 
selection  is  made  and  the  colour  effect 
harmonises  they  do  not  like  them,  chiefly  because 
of  the  memories  they  stir  of  innumerable  bedding 
schemes  which  were  banal  at  the  best  and  exceed- 
ingly offensive  at  the  worst !  The  objection  of 
most,  however,  is  on  the  ground  of  expense. 
Since  the  war  there  are  comparatively  few  gardens 
which  are  as  well  staffed  as  formerly.  The  bedding- 
out  being  nearest  to  the  house,  many  have  hesitated 
to  give  it  up  because  they  were  uncertain  of  the 
extent  to  which  it  could  be  replaced  by  plantings 
of  hardy  perennials  reinforced,  where  desirable, 
by  hardy  annuals. 

The  pictures  which 
illustrate  these  notes 
■were  taken  in  the 
formal  paved  "  flower 
garden  "  at  Gravetye 
Manor,  where  this 
method  of  furnishing 
has  been  in  use  for  a 
great  number  of  years. 
Mr.  William  Robinson 
was  the  pioneer  in 
the  fight  against  over- 
formality,  and  at 
Gravetye  the  veteran 
author  of  "  The  English 
Flower  Garden  "  (and 
founder  of  The 
G.\RDEN")  has  ample 
space  in  which  to 
display  the  possibili- 
ties of  more  natural 
methods. 

The  "  flower  gar- 
den "  is  quite  formal 
and  paved  throughout 
with  rectangular  pav- 
ing. (The  craze  for 
the  conipar  a  t  i  v  e  1  y 
rubbishy  crazy  paving 
has  received  no  counte- 
nance from  Gravetye.) 
It  is  as  simple  in  the 
arrangement  of  its 
beds  and  borders  as 
it  possibly  can  be. 
There  are  no  elaborate 


colour  schemes,  and  the  planting  is  neither  specially 
formal  nor  studiously  natural.  A  few  Roses 
are  included  in  the  scheme,  including  those  two 
"  invaluables  **  Pharisaer  and  La  Tosca,  otherwise 
a  wide  variety  of  plants  is  grown,  though  visitors 
in  late  summer  and  autumn  cannot  fail  to  be 
struck  with  the  use  which  is  made  of  Clematises 
trained  over  trellises  and  archways  and  also  over 
rough  pyramids  formed  of  Larch  tops.  One  of 
the  most  striking  plants  to  be  seen  in  this  garden 
is  that  brilhant  blue  Houndstongue,  Cynoglossum 
amabile.  This  in  some  ways  resembles  the  Alkanets 
(.\nchusa),  but  is  dwarfer  and  more  compact  in 
habit  and  perhaps  more  valuable  even  than  those 
brilliant  %arieties  of  Anchusa  italica — Dropmore 
Variety     and     Opal.     .Another     plant     which     is 


IN    THE    "  FLOWER    GARDEN        AT    GRAVETYE    MANOR. 


extremely  valuable  for  such  a  situation  is  the  dwarf 
Anchusa  myosotidifiora,  which  is  effective  for  a 
very  long  period. 

The  bottom  illustration  on  the  following  page 
shews  a  border  of  Sedum  Ewersi,  a  deciduous 
Stonecrop  which  is  valuable  from  spring  to  autumn 
for  its  beautiful  grey  fohage  and  quite  attractive 
H'hen  not  in  flower.  The  only  other  species 
of  Sedum  really  useful  for  such  gardening 
is  S.  spectabile  atropurpureum,  which  also 
has  interesting  and  beautiful  foliage  and  in 
August  rather  handsome  heads  of  red-purple 
flowers. 

Plants  which  continue  in  flower  over  a  long 
period  are  especially  valuable  in  beds  and  borders 
upon  which  one  is  sure  to  look  day  by  day,  and 
which  should  there- 
fore always  provide 
interest  and  beauty. 
Violas,  therefore,  are 
invaluable  in  soils  and 
situations  where  they 
may  be  expected  to 
do  well.  The  cool 
shades  of  colour  which 
they  provide  are  always 
w  e  1  c  o  m  e.  Nepeta 
Mussini,  as  at  once  long- 
flowering  and  charm- 
ing, will  occur  to  every- 
one as  among  the 
desirables.  Scabiosa 
caucasica  is  a  universal 
favourite  for  cut 
flower,  and  singularly 
graceful  and  attrac- 
tive in  the  border. 
It  has  a  reputation 
tor  being  short-lived — 
some  even  call  it  a 
biennial  —  but  if 
divided  and  replanted 
every  autumn  it  is 
perennial  enough,  its 
short  life  if  left  to 
itself  probably  being 
brought  about  by 
what  physicians  call 
"  auto  -  intoxication." 
It  probably  poisons 
the  soil  in  which  it 
grows  while  exhausting 
the        food       content. 


526 


THE    GARDEN. 


[October  21,  1922. 


THE    BRILLIANT    BLUE    CYNOGLOSSUM    AMABILE. 


GKHY    FOLIAGE,    ROSE    FLOWERS SEDIUVI     EWERSI. 

Both  pictures  taken  at  Gravetye. 


However  that  may  be,  this  is  certainly  a  plant 
of  sufficient  importance  to  justify  its  annual 
lemoval  and  division. 

Such  small-flowering  Pentstemons  as  Newbury 
Gem,  White  Newbury  Gem  and  Southgate  Gem, 
useful  everywhere,  are  specially  valuable  in  the 
South  and  South  Midlands  and,  of  course,  any- 
where near  a  western  seaboard,  as  in  such  localities 
they  are  hardy  outdoors.  The  importance  of 
this  ability  to  survive  the  winter  lies  not  so  much 
in  the  saving  of  labour  it  involves — though  that 
is  considerable — but  chiefly  in  the  fact  that  old- 
estabUshed  plants  flower  earlier  than  young  ones 
from  cuttings  of  the  previous  year.  As  the 
Pentstemon's  glory,  like  that  of  the  Dahlia,  is 
usually  curtailed  by  frost,  early  flowering  is 
important.  Southgate  Gem  is  larger  in  flower 
and  taller  in  habit  than  Newbury  Gem,  so  that 
the  two  varieties  hardly  compete.  White  Newbury 
Gem  is  less  free  to  flower,  but  valuable  for  its 
colouring.  Pink  Newbury  Gem  is  of  small  garden 
value. 

The  Lychnis  family  is  rather  a  difficult  one  in 
gardens.  Some  are  bad  in  habit,  some  hard  of 
colour  and  difficult  to  combine  satisfactorily 
with  other  plants,  but  two  species  both  usually 
found  listed  under  Agrostemma  are  valuable 
for  our  purpose.  These  are  L.  coronaria  Walkeri, 
with  wine  red  flowers  and  whitish  grey,  woolly 
foliage,  and  the  Rose  Campion,  L.  Flos  Jovis, 
also  with  whitish  woolly  foliage  and  rosy  flowers. 
The  almost  scarlet  crimson  of  L.  chalcedonica 
may  be  useful  in  some  places. 

As  already  mentioned,  Roses  of  the  Hybrid 
Tea  section  are  grown  in  prominent  positions  at 
Gravetye.  Excellent  varieties  for  the  purpose 
are  General  McArthur,  crimson ;  Joseph  Hill, 
salmon  pink  ;  Pharisaer,  soft  pink  ;  and  La  Tosca, 
blush:  For  continuity  of  flower  and  sohdity  of 
colouring  when  seen  in  mass  this  section  must, 
however,  give  way  to  the  Dwarf  Polyantha  varie- 
ties. There  is  here  quite  a  number  of  varieties 
from  which  a  selection  may  be  made,  all  free- 
flowering  and  admirable  for  producing  good  colour 
effect  over  a  lengthy  period.  Good  white  Polyantha 
varieties  are  Katherine  Zeimet  and  Yvonne 
Rabier.  In  pink  shades  Mrs.  W.  H.  Cutbush, 
Aschenbrodel  and  Maman  Turbat  are  good. 
Rose  shades  are  well  represented  by  Ellen  Poulsen 
and  Orleans  Rose,  and  rosy  crimson  by  Jessie 
and  Rodhatte.  Most  brilliant  in  colouring  is 
the  newer  Edith  Cavell,  not,  of  course,  to  be 
confused  with  the  Hybrid  Tea  of  the  same  name. 
Yellow  shades  are  represented  by  the  nankeen 
yellow  Perle  d'Or  and  the  golden  yellow,  shaded 
crimson  Canarienvogel, 

Lobelia  fulgens  Queen  Victoria  is  an  invaluable 
plant,  but  it  will  not.  unfortunately,  stand  the 
winter  outdoors  except  in  a  few  specially  favoured 
localities.  As  in  addition  it  must,  to  be  satis- 
factory, have  abundant  supplies  of  moisture 
throughout  the  summer,  it  is  not  welcomed  in 
every  garden.  The  newer  soft  rose  and  crimson 
purple  varieties  of  L.  fulgens  (or,  as  some  would 
make  them,  hybrids  between  L.  fulgens  and 
L.  syphilitica)  are  also  valuable,  but  have  the 
same  Umitations.  L.  syphilitica  itself,  whether 
in  blue,  white  or  purple,  is  not  worth  garden  room. 
The  same  may  be  said  of  the  true  (green  foliaged) 
L.  cardinalis. 

The  Azure  Sage,  Perovskia  atriplicifolia,  so 
much  admired  by  all  visitors  to  Gravetye,  is  of 
bushy  habit  and  reaches  a  height  of  3ft.  or  more. 
It  needs  accordingly  a  fair-sized  bed  or  moderately 
long  stretch  of  border  if  it  is  to  be  seen  to  best 
advantage.  The  slender  spikes  of  blue  flowers 
are  attractive  and  useful  for  cutting,  but  much  of 
the  beauty  of  the  plant  resides  in  the  silver  grey 
foliage  on  the  elegant  slender  growths. 
{To  be  continued). 


October  21,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


527 


TULIP    SELECTIONS 

The  difficulty  of  choice — Species — A   True  Tale  of  Bishop    Stuhbs — My   two-dozen 
pots — "  For  Themselves  Alone." 


CIRCUMSTANCES  alter  cases.  It  is 
not  altogether  complimentary  to  tell 
a  person  he  picks  and  chooses  in  an 
ordinary  way,  but  when  a  man  is 
known  carefully  to  pick  and  choose 
what  goes  into  his  garden  it  is  different.  He  is 
labelled  wise  and  careful.  If  he  can  pick  and 
choose  for  himself,  it  is  so  much  the  better,  but 
if  he  is  unable  to  do  it,  then  the  next  best  thing  is 
to  get  advice  from  those  who  can.  In  what  follows 
I  am  venturing  to  make 
some  suggestions  which 
may  be  helpful  to  those 
who  are  less  conversant 
with  the  different  varieties 
than  I  am.  They  are  not 
the  pronouncements  of  an 
infallible  expert.  If  the 
standard  of  excellence  in 
an  Enghsh  florist's  Tulip 
is  so  minutely  defined  and 
understood  that  there  is 
very  little  room  indeed  for 
any  individual  likes  and 
dislikes  to  come  in,  there 
is  nothing  of  the  kind  to 
be  found  in  the  other 
branches  of  the  family. 
Vou  may  pay  your  money 
and  take  your  choice, 
whether  it  be  Melicette  or 
Re\".  H.  Ewbank,  whether 
it  be  Avis  Kennicott  or 
Mrs.  Moon,  Arizona  or 
Eclipse  is  purely  a  personal 
matter,  depending  upon 
individual  taste  or  the 
requirements  of  a  par- 
ticular garden.  Among 
tlie  species  group  it  is 
somewhat  different.  I 
remember  being  told 
year's  ago  in  Mr.  van 
Tubergen's  garden  at 
Haarlem,  where  I  saw 
the  biggest  mass  of  Foster- 
iana  that  I  have  ever 
seen,  that  they  had  re- 
peatedly to  send  travellers 
to  Mid-Asia  to  collect  it 
and  others  like  Eichleri 
and  linifolia  as  they  were 
unable  to  propagate  them 
in  a  satisfactory  manner 
at  home.  Many  of  them 
it  will  be  seen  are  priced  at  a  higher  figure 
than  is  usual  among  Tulips  that  have  been  an 
equal  number  of  years  in  commerce.  Take  my 
special  favourite,  linifolia,  and  compare  it  with 
the  lily-flowered  Siren.  The  first-named  has 
risen  and  the  last  named  has  decreased  in  value 
since  1914.  The  meaning  of  it  is  that  Siren  is  a 
good  doer  and  produces  plenty  of  offsets,  while 
linifolia  is  a  poor  increaser,  seldom  giving  any 
offsets  and  depending  for  increase  upon  seed,  which 
in  turn  does  not  always  behave  as  it  should  do. 
I  lost  all  the  species  I  had  during  the  war,  with  the 
sole  exception  of  the  pretty  little  yellow  and  white 
tlasystemon.  "  When  my  ship  comes  in  "  I  hope 
t'l  renew  them  and  start  once  again  upon  their 
culture.  Meanwhile  I  would  advise  a  planting  of  this 
Jvindly  disposed  species  in  rock  gardens  in  places 
%vhere  it  will  get  plenty  of  sun.  Linifolia  and 
Qataliaii  as  a  rule  do  well  in  similar  positions  in 


well  drained  soil,  but  they  do  not  increase.  I  am 
very  fond  of  priestans,  which,  for  a  species  is  not 
a  bad  doer.  Strong  bulbs  produce  several  flowers 
on  a  stem.  They  are  a  solid  seahng-wax  red  from 
centre  to  outside.  Kaufmanniana,  I  had  almost 
forgotten  ;  I  lost  it  by  pure  carelessness,  for  it  is  a 
good  doer  and  once  planted  takes  care  of  itself. 
It  blooms  in  March  and  a  patch  in  bright  sunshine 
when  the  flowers  are  fully  expanded  looks  exactly 
as   if   some   Water   Lilies   had   suddenly   changed 


TULIP    JOHN    RUSKIN,    APRICOT    ROSE. 


their  nature  and  taken  to  Mother  Earth.  Varieties 
with  glorious  red  splashes  of  colour  on  the  outside 
of  the  petals  and  a  halo  of  similar  colouring  round 
the  pale  yellow  base  have  been  selected  and  named. 
Ryensis  is  about  the  best.  I  have  also  seen  pure 
red,  pure  yellow  and  pure  rosy-yellow  forms  which, 
as  so  frequently  happens  in  the  case  of  "  good 
things,"  are,  unfortunately  for  the  gardener,  of 
great  price.  Tulipa  persica  makes  itself  at  home 
and  goes  on  from  year  to  year  without  any  nursing. 
Well  drained  sun-bathed  pockets  in  the  rock 
garden  might  be  filled  with  it.  It  makes  also  a 
good  edging  to  borders.  This  much  must  suffice 
about  the  species.  The  task  the  Editor  has  set 
me  is  to  make  selections  and  I  am  conscious  that 
so  far  I  have  rather  been  sitting  on  the  gate.  It 
is  a  job  to  know  which  to  choose.  I  envy  the 
definiteness  of  decision  once  displayed  by  WilUam 
Stubbs,    the    historian-Bishop.      Soon    after    he 


became  Bishop  of  Chester  he  was  approached  by 
the  then  Archdeacon,  who  said  that  his  brother 
clergy  would  like  to  make  him  a  present  of  some- 
thing that  he  wanted  and  which  would  be  useful. 
They  had  suggested  a  pastoral  staff.  "  No,"  said 
the  Bishop,  "  if  they  wish  to  give  me  something 
I  really  want,  let  them  give  me  a  dozen  night- 
shirts !  !  " 

These  forewords  upon  the  difficulty  of  choice 
have  taken  on.  in  my  own  case,  something  of 
the  nature  of  hardy  perennials.  Nature  seems  to 
tell  them  when  I  am  about  to  begin.  Increased 
knowledge  of  varieties  makes  the  task  no  easier. 
Do  not  I  wish  at  such  times  that  the  only  Tulips 
in  existence  were  Prince  of  .Austria,  Teddy  and 
Louis  XIV  ?  Is  it  not  Caroline  Testout,  the  Rose, 
that  is  called  the  slave  of  the  garden  ?  Prince 
of  Austria  merits  that  honourable  title  among 
early  Tulips.  Although  Mrs.  Siddons,  the  great 
actress  of  early  Victorian  days  liked  a  garden  of 
sombre  evergreens,  relieved  with  little  but  narrow 
edgings  of  deep  purple  Pansies,  might  she  not  have 
admitted  the  quite  dignified  Louis  XIV  ?  It  is 
beautiful  anywhere,  but  if  the  garden  lover  wants 
onlv  a  garden  of  bright  flowers,  he  must  go  else- 
wliere  to  suit  his  taste.  Teddy  would  be  far  more 
to  his  mind,  although  Homer  and  a  very  old  Darwin 
which  I  never  can  find  in  any  list — Oliver  Gold- 
smith— would  put  in  their  claims  as  brightest 
among  the  almost  vermilion  reds,  and  Petrus 
Hondius  as  a  very  bright  rose,  glorious  and  gay  as 
only  roses  minus  any  blue  intermixture  can  be. 
Passing  on  to  more  precise  details,  I  am  going  to 
suppose  I  have  two  dozen  pots,  for  each  of  which 
I  want  a  different  variety,  some  to  bloom  early 
and  some  later.  I  would  get,  of  the  early  singles. 
Rose  Due  Van  Thol,  Vermilion  BriUiant,  Prince 
of  .Austria,  Hector,  De  Wet  and  the  very  sweet 
Jenny.  None  of  these  is  either  white  or  yellow, 
because  whites  and  yellows  are  easily  supplied  by 
different  Daffodils.  Three  early  doubles  would  be 
included,  viz.,  Couronne  d'Or  (yellow  and  orange), 
Salvator  Rosa  (rose  and  white),  and  Safrano  (soft 
primrose).  The  remaining  fifteen  pots  would  be 
filled  with  Cottage  and  Darwin  varieties,  of  the 
first  named  class  there  would  be  Emerald  Gem, 
Cassandra,  John  Ruskin,  Orange  King,  Bronze 
Queen  and  Canary  Queen.  Then  to  complete  my 
tale  of  pots  I  would  select  from  the  Darwins,  Sweet 
Lavender,  Pride  of  Haarlem,  WiUiam  Pitt,  Massa- 
chusetts, Jefferies  (very  early),  Rev.  H.  Ewbank. 
Suzon,  The  Bishop,  and  for  a  real  dark,  Fra  Angelico. 
Perhaps  some  will  be  wondering  why  no  mention 
has  been  made  about  growing  Parrot  Tulips  in 
hanging  wire  baskets.  It  is  not  a  very  difficult 
thing  to  do,  but  it  is  too  much  of  the  nature  or 
freak  gardening  for  me.  The  contorted  stems 
which  are  caused  by  the  frantic  efforts  of  the  poor 
plants  not  to  pass  their  allotted  span  standing 
on  their  heads  rather  nauseates  me.  Lastly  and 
hardest  task  of  all,  I  pass  on  to  my  choice  for 
planting  out  of  doors.  Before  I  disclose  the  names 
of  the  fortunate  (?)  ones,  I  must  say  that  nothing 
in  the  way  of  colour  schemes  or  their  sympathy  or 
antipathy  with  regard  to  other  hues  than  their 
own  ;  or  their  special  suitability  for  this  room  or 
that  wall-paper,  or  their  stature,  or  their  size  of 
bloom  has,  as  far  as  I  am  conscious  of  it,  been 
taken  into  consideration.  "  For  themselves  alone  " 
is  my  motto.  My  twelve  Cottage  and  Breeders  are 
Marksman,  Louis  XIV,  Boadicea,  Prince  Albert 
(orange  and  brown).  Prince  Charming,  Salomon, 
John  Ruskin,  elegans  alba,  Walter  T.  Ware, 
Moonlight,  Retroflexa  and  The  President.  My 
Darwins  are  Petrus  Hondius,  Teddy,  William  Pitt, 
Miranda,  Clara  Butt,  Sophrosyne,  Euterpe,  Ronald 
Gunn,  Duchess  of  Hohenburg,  Pride  of  Haarlem, 
Farncombe  Sanders  and  The  Bishop.  L'ndoubtedh- 
I  would  like  to  have  included  a  few  more,  but  all 
those  mentioned  above  are  very  particular  favourites 


528 


THE    GARDEN. 


[October  21,  1022 


ot  mine  and  there  would  be  a  void  were  any  ot  them 
to  be  dropped  out.  This,  I  think,  accounts  for 
some  omissions  which  many  may  thinl;  strange, 
Venus,  for  example.  Many  new  varieties  raised 
from  seed  in  Holland  and  by  the  late  Walter  T. 


Ware,  are  beginning  to  get  over  the  garden 
wall.  Which  will  remain  ?  and  which  will  be 
kicked  cut  ?  I  do  not  know — one  wants  to  see 
more  of  them  than  I  have  done  to  be  able  to 
decide.  Joseph  Jacob. 


BORDER      CARNATIONS 


SELDOM  has  the  weather  been  more 
favourable  to  Carnation  layers  than 
during  the  present  season,  so  that,  where 
reasonably  good  stock  plants  were 
I  available,  plenty  of  strong,  well  rooted 
layers  are  now  ready  for  treatment.  Most  of  the 
present-day  Border  Carnations  are  decidedly 
hardier  than  was  the  case  a  decade  and  more 
ago.  As  a  consequence  in  many  gardens  it  is 
possible  safely  to  transfer  the  layered  plants  to 
their  flowering  quarters.  In  a  great  many  gardens 
specially  prepared  beds  are  devoted  either  solely 
to  Carnations  or  to  them  associated  with  some 
other  plant,  and  especially  with  Gladioli.  This 
is  almost  an  ideal  combination,  and  such  a  bed  is 
interesting  and  beautiful  for  a  considerable  period. 
Others,  like  the  present  writer,  consider  that, 
while  the  finest  outdoor  Carnations  are  grown  in 
special  beds,  the  Border  Carnations  may  also  be 
grown  in  the  hardy  flower  border.  In  this  we 
fully  recognise  the  fact  that  our  method,  if  practised 
solely,  precludes  the  making  of  a  collection  of  Car- 
nations, but  this  is  amply  compensated  lor  by  the 
pleasure  in  coming  upon  patches  of  favourite 
Carnations  cheek  by  jowl  with  the  herbaceous 
perennials  along  the  front  of  the  border. 


However,  when  growing  Carnations  in  this 
manner  their  requirements  must  always  be  studied, 
and  it  would  be  courting  disappointment  and 
failure  simply  to  plant  them  and  to  leave  them 
pretty  much  to  their  own  devices  for  several 
years,  just  as  one  does  with,  say,  Michaelmas 
Daisies.  The  Carnation  is  a  much  more  exacting 
plant,  and  the  ordinary  flower  border  method 
would  soon  result  in  weedy  flowers,  fewer  in  number 
and  inferior  in  attraction  to  the  old-fashioned 
garden  Pinks.  As  Turner  wrote  so  long  ago  as 
in  1550,  the  Carnation  is  "  made  pleasant  and 
sweet  by  the  wits  of  man  and  not  by  nature," 
so  that  more  perhaps  than  any  other  border 
flower  the  wits  and  skill  of  man  are  required  if 
the  plants  are  to  be  enjoyed  at  their  highest 
perfection,  but,  of  all  flowers,  the  fresh  and  fragrant 
Carnation  is  well  worth  the  little  trouble  it  demands. 
In  the  herbaceous  border  it  is  quite  an  easy  matter 
to  take  out  the  old  soil  where  the  Carnations  are 
to  be  planted  and  to  replace  it  with  a  fresh  compost. 
The  ideal  Carnation  soil  is  a  mellow  fibrous  loam 
with  a  little  well  rotted  cow  manure  and  sufficient 
coarse  sand  to  keep  the  whole  porous,  but  this 
ideal  is  not  always  possible  of  attainment.  The 
rather  too  heavv  soil  can  always  be  rendered  more 


suitable  by  the  addition  of  old  mortar  rubble 
and  leaf-mould,  while  a  proportion  of  turfy  loam 
will  greatly  improve  a  light  soil.  Lime  in  some 
form  is  essential  to  the  well-being  of  Carnations, 
and  the  best  and  safest  method  of  applying  it 
is  in  the  form  of  old  mortar  rubble.  A  poor  soil 
cannot  grow  good  Carnations,  and  if,  as  is  too  often 
the  case,  good  loam  and  suitable  organic  manure 
are  not  available,  the  lack  of  plant  food  must 
be  made  good  in  some  other  form.  At  the  present 
season  chemical  manures  are  not  to  be  recommended 
for  use  on  poor  soils  intended  for  Carnations, 
but  bone-meal  or  quarter-inch  bones  applied  at 
the  rate  of  40Z.  per  square  yard  will  yield  a 
valuable  supply  of  plant  food. 

If  a  fresh  Carnation-bed  is  being  made,  as  open 
and  airy  a  site  as  possible  should  be  selected, 
and  perfect  drainage  is  very  essential.  The 
precise  space  allowed  for  each  plant  is  a  matter 
for  individual  consideration,  but  as  a  general 
guide  it  may  be  said  that  where  fresh  plants  are 
raised  or  purchased  annually  from  isins.  to  I5ins. 
will  be  found  a  suitable  distance,  but  if  the  plants, 
are  to  continue  longer  an  additional  sins,  will 
be  found  an  advantage.  When  planting  the 
layers  great  care  must  be  taken  not  to  plant  too 
deeply — it  is  better  to  err  on  the  other  side  and 
plant  shallowly,  because  in  this  case  the  danger 
of  wind  disturbance  can  be  avoided  either  by 
staking  or  by  placing  three  short  stakes  around 
each  plant.  Firm  planting  is  also  an  important 
item. 

Fancy  Carnations  are  becoming  increasingly 
popular,  as  befits  their  manifold  charms.  As  a 
short  selection  for  the  beginner  the  following 
sorts  may  be  recommended :  Steerforth,  as 
shewn  by  Mr.  J.  Douglas  at  the  show  on  July  11 


BORDER     CARNATION     KELSO. 


PINK    (hERBERTII)    GERTRUDE. 


October  2t,  1922. 


THE     GARDEN. 


529 


last  was  the  premier  white  ground  fancy,  and  in 
Viceroy  he  had  the  premier  yellow  ground  fancy. 
Kelso  was  also  beautiful.  The  Bride,  rosy  red 
markings ;  John  Ridd,  yellow,  suffused  with 
red  ;  Mona,  buff,  suffused  with  pink  ;  Delicia, 
pink  and  crimson  markings  ;  Mrs.  H.  L.  Hunt, 
lavender  on  white  ground  ;  Liberte,  maroon  and 
crimson  on  rich  yellow  ;  Daisy  Walker,  rose  pink 
on  white  ground  ;  Lord  Kitchener,  bright  red  on 
glistening  white  ;  and  Pasquin.  yellow  ground 
edged  and  flushed  with  rosy  lavender. 

Of  the  many  excellent  sells  one  can  recommend 
such  old  favourites  as  Uriah  Pike,  rich  crimson 
and  of  great  fragrance  ;  Raby  Castle,  pink  ;  and 
Elizabeth  Shiffner,  orange  buff,  with  Bookham 
White  ;  Border  Yellow  ;  Dora  Blick,  orange  apricot 
with  a  sheen  of  gold  ;  Fujiyama,  intense  scarlet ; 
Grey  Douglas,  deep  heliotrope  with  a  sheen  of 
French  grey  ;  Gordon  Douglas,  bright  crimson  ; 
Duchess  of  Wellington,  lavender ;  Innocence, 
pale  salmon  pink,  almost  a  blush  pink  ;  Mrs.  A. 
Brotherston,  clove  scented,  heavily  splashed  with 
cr  mson-purple  on  white  ground  ;  Rosy  Morn  ; 
and  Bookham  Clove,  a  splendid  cnmson  b'oom 
with  a  delicious  fragrance.  For  fragrance  few, 
if  any,  sorts  can  surpass  Scarlet  Clove,  Surrey 
Clove,  Salmon  Clove  and  King  of  the  Cloves. 

Besides  these  Border  Carnations  proper  the 
newer  Perpetual  Border  Carnations,  which 
Messrs.  AUwood  Brothers  have  been  shewing  so 
well,  are  worthy  of  a  place  in  any  garden.  The 
best  sorts  include  Avondale,  rich  salmon  pink  ; 
Brilliant,  heavily  edged  and  flaked  with  chocolate 
on  white  ground  ;  Highland  Lassie,  white  ground, 
edged  with  red  ;  Rosalind,  heavily  pencilled  with 
red  on  white  ground  ;  Sussex  Pink ;  and  Sussex 
Maid,  flaked  with  rose  pink  on  white  giound. 
The  popularity  ot  the  hybrid  .Alhvoodii  seems  to 
be  fully  assured 

Like  many  other  very  floriferous  plants,  they 
succeed  best  when  renewed  periodically — each 
year  for  preference — either  by  division  or  from 
cuttings.  The  latter  method  is  preferable.  Owing 
to  their  long  season  of  flowering  they  are  invaluable 
for  edgings  and  for  underplanting,  being  especially 
useful  among  Delphiniums.  That  they  are  no 
substitute  for  the  Border  Carnation  Messrs. 
AUwood  would  be  the  first  to  admit ;  indeed,  the 
introduction  of  the  "  Perpetual  Borders  "  shews 
that  the  Hayward's  Heath  firm  are  alive  to  the 
special  beauty  of  the  Border  Carnation.  Some 
of  the  newer  varieties  of  this  popular  flower  shew 
a  distinct  advance  both  as  regards  form  and 
colouring  upon  the  older  and  better-known  sorts. 
This  is  well  exemplified  in  the  "  May  Day " 
coloured  Maud,  which  is  very  dwarf  and  compact 
of  habit.  Marion,  which  is  a  rose-coloured  self, 
shews  more  true  Pink  blood  than  do  many  of  these 
hybrids.  The  flowers  are  fringed  and  very  fragrant. 
Nell,  on  the  other  hand,  shews  more  of  the  Per- 
petual Carnation  blood.  Peach-pink  in  colour, 
it  should  be  valuable  for  grouping  in  the  herbaceous 
border,  a  position  for  which  the  vigour  of  the 
crossbreds  renders  them  more  suitable  than  the 
Border  Carnation. 

For  some  reason  amateurs  will  confuse  or  com- 
pare these  Allwoodii  with  the  Perpetual  Pinks 
sent  out  by  Mr.  C.  H.  Herbert  and  sometimes 
called  Herbertii.  These  latter  have  all  the  perennial 
character  ot  the  Border  Carnation,  w-hich  in  some 
ways  they  much  resemble.  They  are  easily 
propagated  in  a  similar  way,  rooting  readily  irom 
layers,  but  may  not  be  pulled  apart  indiscrimi- 
nately Uke  most  of  the  .Allwoodii.  Like  all  the 
Carnation  and  Pink  family,  they  are  best  established 
in  autumn.  The  variety  illustrated  (Gertrude)  is 
a  very  good  one.  Other  indispensable  sorts  in- 
clude Queen  Mary,  Model,  Red  Indian,  May  Queen 
and  Victory.  They  are  exceeding  free  flowering 
and  "  perpetual  "  in  character.  A.  C.  B. 


FAST -GROWING    TREES— II 

Having  dealt  ivith  the  Poplar  in  our  last  issue,  the  writer  now  confines  his  attention  to 

various  quick-grozviiig  trees.     The  follozving  notes  should  be  helpful  to  intending  planters, 

especially  where  a  screen  is  needed. 


IN  planting  the  pleasure  grounds  surrounding 
a  new  house,  and  the  renovating  of  existing 
plantations,  specimen  trees  on  lawns  and 
in  the  park,  the  rate  of  growth  of  the  trees 
chosen  is  of  necessity  of  great  importance.  It 
is  not  for  us  to  find  fault  with  the  plantings  of 
our  ancestors,  fifty  to  one  hundred  years  ago,  but 
rather  to  introduce  variety  where  and  when  we  can. 
Few  of  them  could  have  had  any  desire  for  variety 
in  the  planting  of  the  grounds  and  woodlands 
surrounding  their  houses.  It  is  quite  true  to  say 
that  many  choice  exotic  trees  are  of  recent  intro- 
duction, but  there  are  a  few  old  specimen  trees 
scattered  over  the  country  proving  that  some 
exotic  trees  were  known,  but  little  planted.  In  the 
Thames  Valley  for  instance,  there  are  a  number  of 
fine  old  specimens  of  the  Tulip  Tree,  Liriodendron 
tulipifera,  in  the  Ham,  Petersham  and  Teddington 
districts. 

Next  to  having  vigorous  young  trees  in  any 
scheme  of  planting,  the  greatest  asset  for  quick 
results  in  the  growth  of  the  trees  is  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  the  ground.  The  work  may  take  some  time 
and  on  the  surface  appear  expensive,  but  it  is  as 
well  to  remember  that  once  planted,  at  least  in  the 
case  of  large  trees,  if  growth  is  satisfactory,  the 
ground  will  probably  not  be  disturbed  again  in 
the  life  of  the  planter.  Hence  the  necessity  to 
trench  the  ground  some  2ft.  deep,  with  holes  8ft. 
or  loft,  across  for  single  specimens.  Manual 
labour  must  be  employed  to  trench  the  ground 
when  deahng  with  small  plantations  and  shrub- 
beries, but  for  large  areas  steanr  tractors  can  be 
requisitioned. 

In  dealing  with  large  areas  and  in  small  planta- 
tions for  that  matter,  the  question  of  planting 
Larch,  Spruce  or  Douglas  Fir  among  the  permanent 
trees  need  not  be  dealt  with,  except  to  point  out  its 
value  in  providing  shelter  for  the  trees  in  the  early 
years  of  growth,  and  tending  to  force  upright 
rather  than  w-ide-spreading  growth. 

While  most  fast-growing  trees  are  deciduous, 
where  they  thrive  the  value  of  Thuya  plicata 
(grown  in  some  gardens  and  nurseries  as  T.  gigantea 
and  T.  Lobbii),  Cupressus  Lawsoniana,  Picea 
excelsa  and  Pseudotsuga  Douglasii  must  not  be 
overlooked.  Planted  fairly  thickly  at  first  and 
gradually  cut  out  as  growth  proceeds,  these  ever- 
green conifers  quickly  form  a  shelter  belt  or  screen 
of  the  first  importance  in  any  scheme  for  the  laying 
out  of  new  pleasure  grounds. 

.Acer  raacrophyllum,  the  Oregon  Maple,  as  the 
Latin  name  suggests,  is  a  large-leaved  tree,  native 
of  W^estern  North  America,  where  trees  looft.  in 
height  are  not  uncommon.  It  grows  freely  with 
us  from  seeds.  On  a  lawn  as  a  specimen  the  tree 
is  widespreading,  but  in  a  plantation  grows  taller 
in  proportion  to  the  spread  of  the  branches. 
During  .\pril  the  yellow  flowers,  bonie  freely  in 
pendulous  racemes,  are  conspicuous.  Several 
varieties  of  the  Norway  Maple  (Acer  platanoides) 
are  fast-growing  trees  and  valuable  for  ornamental 
planting.  A.  p.  Reitenbachii  with  green  leaves  in 
summer  which  in  autumn  change  to  a  brilliant  red, 
is  one  of  the  most  brilliant  and  reliable  trees 
for  its  autumn  colour.  In  contrast  to  this  is  the 
variety  Schwedleri,  which  has  rich  red  leaves 
in  April  and  May,  these  turning  green  as 
summer  approaches.  The  Sycamore  (.Acer  Pseudo- 
platanus)  is  one  of  the  hardiest  and  best  trees  for 
town  gardens  and  poor  soils.  Few  large  trees  have 
produced  more  varieties  under  cultivation.  Of 
these  the  variety  erythrocarpum  is  one  of  the  most 


interesting  and  attractive,  being  gay  during  most 
seasons  from  June  till  autumn,  with  quantities  of 
red  fruits  hanging  in  conspicuous  racemes.  The 
Pilrig  Plane  is  similar  in  character,  for  while  the 
fruits  are  not  quite  so  large,  there  are  more  of 
them  in  a  raceme,  .^cer  dasycarpum,  the  Silver 
Maple  is  another  fast-growing  tree,  and  as  a  lawn 
specimen  very  attractive  when  the  silvery  under- 
surface  of  the  leaves  are  seen  swaying  on  the  semi- 
pendulous  branchlets  in  the  breeze.  This  tree  is 
also  readily  raised  from  seeds. 

In  all  except  the  coldest  parts  of  the  country 
the  Indian  Horse  Chestnut  (.^sculus  indica),  should 
be  freely  planted  now  that  trees  are  being  grown 
from  home-saved  seeds.  With  green  foliage  of 
almost  tropical  luxuriance,  and  attractive  upright 
panicles  of  white  flowers,  which  are  borne  in  June 
and  July,  it  should  become  one  of  our  most  beauti- 
ful summer-flowering  trees.  The  double  Horse 
Chestnut  is  a  fast-growing  tree,  and  producing 
no  fruits  to  tempt  the  free  use  of  sticks  and 
stones  by  small  boys,  is  preferable  to  the  common 
Horse  Chestnut  for  planting  in  public  parks  and 
gardens.  For  the  same  reason  the  hybrid  Chestnut 
JE.  plantierensis  (.■£.  Hippocastanum  x  .'E.  carnea), 
with  delicate  pink  blossoms  should  be  considered  as 
a  specimen  or  avenue  tree  of  free  growth. 

The  Tree  of  Heaven,  ..\ilanthus  glandulosa,  is  an 
attractive  pinnate-leaved  tree  of  easy  culture  and 
free  growth  from  Northern  China.  It  thrives  in 
towns  and  is  a  good  tree  for  street  planting.  Usually 
male  and  female  flowers  are  borne  on  separate 
trees.  Cuttings  made  of  the  thick  fleshy  roots 
placed  in  light  soil,  or  the  fibre  of  a  propagating 
frame,  provide  an  easy  method  of  propagation. 

Betula  Maximowiczii,  the  Japanese  Birch,  is  of 
free  and  open  growth,  with  large  leaves,  6ins.  or 
7in3.  long  and  4ins.  or  jins.  broad.  Native  trees 
reach  looft.  in  height  and  though  first  introduced 
to  this  country  less  than  thirty  years  ago,  trees 
are  growing  freely  which,  with  their  large  leaves 
and  conspicuous  female  catkins,  promise  to  be  a 
distinct  addition  to  our  taller  exotic  trees. 

The  Western  Catalpa,  Catalpa  speciosa,  is 
perhaps  not  so  well  known  to  many  readers  as  the 
Indian  Bean,  Catalpa  bignonioides,  which  is  one  of 
our  best  town  trees,  and  the  most  beautiful  large- 
flowering  tree  w'e  have  during  .August.  C.  speciosa 
(syn.  C.  cordifolia)  is  taller  and  faster  in  growth, 
flowering  a  fortnight  earlier,  the  individual  blossoms 
larger  but  not  so  freely  produced.  Both  trees 
should  be  planted,  the  Western  Catalpa  in  the 
woodland  and  plantations,  with  C.  bignonioides 
(syn.  C.  syringjefolia)  as  a  lawn  or  park  specimen 
tree. 

That  attractive  pinnate-leaved  tree,  Cedrela 
sinensis,  is  a  native  of  Northern  and  Western  China. 
When  first  introduced  it  was,  and  still  is,  grown  in 
some  nurseries  as  .Ailanthus  flavescens.  Known 
as  the  Chinese  Cedar,  a  considerable  number 
of  trees  have  been  raised  during  the  last  twenty 
years  from  seeds  collected  by  Mr.  E.  H.  Wilson. 
Several  of  these,  growing  in  a  rather  moist  and 
shady  position  in  the  Rhododendron  dell  at  Kew, 
are  making  excellent  growth. 

Each  succeeding  year  that  beautiful  Chinese 
tree,  Davidia  involucrata,  and  the  closely  allied 
D.  Vilmoriniana,  are  increasing  in  favour  with 
most  tree  lovers.  Vigorous  in  growth  and  free- 
rooting,  trees  are  growing  as  luxurieut  as  the  Limes 
(Tilias)  which  they  resemble  in  leaf.  Mr.  L.  A. 
Dode,  the  French  botanist,  described  three 
species,  but  growing  in  gardens  only  two  can  be 


530 

distinguished  :  D.  iiivolucrata,  vvitli  red  petioles  and 
veins  of  tlie  leaves,  ivhich  are  liairy  beneath,  and 
D.  Vilmoriniana  (syn.  D.  l<rta),  with  green  petioles 
and  smooth  under-surface.  So  far,  I  believe,  only 
the  last  named  has  llowered  and  produced  seeds  in 
this  country.  Though  free  in  growth  when  the\- 
once  commence  to  push,  the  hard  walnut-hke  seeds 
lie  in  the  ground  sometimes  for  two  years  before 
germination  begins  to  shew. 

As  an  ornamental  tree  Juglans  nigra,  the  Black 
Wahiut  of  Eastern  and  Central  United  States,  is 
much  superior  and 
faster  in  growth 
than  the  common 
Walnut,  J.  regia.  A 
tall,  handsome  tree 
up  to  looft.,  some- 
times more  in  height, 
it  has  long  pitmate 
leaves  isins.  to  24ins. 
in  length  consist- 
ing of  thirteen 
to  t  w  e  n  t  y  -  o  n  e, 
rarely  more,  leaf- 
lets. There  is  a 
very  fine  specimen 
of  the  Black  Wahiut 
in  the  London 
County  Council 
Park  at  Marble  Hill, 
Twickenham,  and 
also  several  good 
street  trees  growing 
in  the  Kew  Road, 
Richmond. 

Of  the  six  or  eight 
of  the  Nothofagus 
group  of  Beeches  tried 
in  the  open  in 
Britain,  Nothofagus 
obUqua  appears  to  be 
the  hardiest  and  fast- 
est growing,  its  onh- 
Hkely  rival  being 
N.  antarctica,  but 
this  does  not  produce 
such  a  clean  stem 
and  tall  straight 
growth.  Trees 
raised  from  seeds  at 
Kew  obtained  by 
Mr.  Elwes  in  190.; 
{twenty  years  ago) 
are  now  about  50ft 

high.  In  addition  to  its  free  growth  this  Chilian 
Beech  is  an  elegant  and  attractive  deciduous 
tree.  A  valuable  timber  tree  of  South  America, 
the  Roble  Beech  should  be  worth  experimenting 
with  in  the  West  of  Scotland  as  a  forestry  tree,  as 
it  should  not  be  difficult  to  import  seeds. 

The  Red  Oak,  Quercus  rubra,  is  the  best  of  the 
American  species  for  general  planting  in  Britain. 
It  is  faster  in  growth  than  the  common  Oak,  young 
trees  in  particular  growing  vigorously.  A  deciduous 
tree  up  to  looft.  in  Eastern  North  America,  the 
largest  tree  in  Britain  recorded  by  Messrs.  Elwes 
and  Henry,  is  at  Pains  Hill.  Soft,  high  with  a  trunk 
19ft.  in  girth.  The  large  three  to  five  lobed  leaves 
are  Sins,  to  loins,  long  and  3lins.  to  6ins.  wide. 
Though  of  much  less  value  as  a  timber  tree  than 
the  common  Oak,  the  Turkey  Oak,  Quercus  Cerris 
is  more  ornamental  for  plantation  and  landscape 
planting,  besides  being  faster  growing. 

In  a  stiff  and  moist  soil  the  Willows  have  few 
rivals  among  trees  of  rapid  growth.  I  place  Salix 
coerulea,  the  Blue  or  Cricket-bat  Willow  first 
because  of  its  free  and  upright  growth,  together 
with  the  value  of  the  wood  for  cricket  bats.  For 
ornamental  trees  of  large  size  the  planter  has  also 
S.  Salamoni,  S.  alba,  S.  babylonica  and  S.  viteUina 


THE     GARDEN. 

Three  Lime  trees,  all  of  free  growth,  are  worthy  of 
e.\tensive  planting  in  preference  to  the  widely 
grown  Common  Lime,,  Tilia  vulgaris.  T.  euchlora 
(syn.  T.  dasystyla  of  nurseries)  is  a  handsome  tree 
with  large  glossy  green  leaves,  especially  notable 
because  so  far  as  I  am  aware  it  is  "  immune  " 
from  the  aphides  which  detract  so  much  from  the 
value  of  Lime  trees  in  general.  T.  platyphyllos 
forms  a  large  shapely  tree  of  free  growth,  as  also 
does  the  pendent  Silver  Lime,  T.  petiolaris. 
In      the      large     family     of     Elm    trees    two    in 


A    FINE    HORSE-CHESTNUT. 


particular  claim  attention  because  of  their  fast  and 
vigorous  growth.  These  are  the  Cornish  Elm, 
Ulmus  stricta  (syn.  U.  cornubiensis)  and  the 
Guernsey  Elm,  U.  Wheatleyi.  While  not  so 
distinctly  ornamental  as  many  of  the  trees  pre- 
viously mentioned,  in  certain  soils  and  positions, 
less  favourable  to  the  growth  of  choice  trees,  these 
Elms  would  be  very  valuable.  A.  O. 

[Most  readers  will  prefer  the  glossy  foliage  and 
handsome  trunk  of  the  Sweet  Chestnut,  Castanea 
sativa,  to  the  rather  flamboyant  leafage  and 
uninteresting  bark  of  the  Horse  Chestnut.  This 
latter  is  certainly  not  a  good  roadside  tree,  as 
the  rough  leaves  gather  dust  and  the  whole  tree 
becomes  disreputable.  The  Horse  Chestnut  has, 
of  course,  other  good  points  besides  its  rapid 
growth.  The  partly  expanded  foliage  is  pleasing 
in  spring,  but  the  same  may  be  said  of  many  other 
trees,  and  the  trees  are  certainly  striking  when 
wreathed  with  blossom.  The  growth  of  the 
Sweet  Chestnut  varies  immensely  in  different 
soils  and  situations.  On  the  Buckinghamshire 
soil,  for  example,  so  famed  for  its  Beeches,  the 
Sweet  Chestnut  actually  grows  more  quickly 
than  the  Horse  Chestnut,  which  hereabouts  does 
not    flourish.     An    avenue    of    Sweet    and    Horse 


[October  21,  1922. 

Chestnuts  planted  alternately  at  Checkenden 
Court,  ill  the  Buckinghamshire  country,  but 
actually  in  the  county  of  Oxford,  illustrates  the 
point  well,  for  the  Sweet  Chestnuts,  which  were 
the  smaller  when  planted,  have  quite  outdistanced 
their  supposed  "  nurses."  It  is  scarcely  necessary 
to  point  out  the  Sweet  Chestnuts  and  Horse 
Chestnuts  are  in  no  way  related  the  one  to  the  other. 
While  writing  of  the  Sweet  Chestnut  it  is  per- 
missible to  regret  that  better  varieties  from  the 
point  of  view  of  their  fruits  are  not  usually  planted. 
Most  of  the  seedling  forms  grown  here  produce 
"  nuts  "  almost  as  insignificant  as  Beech  mast. 
Probably  careful  selection  would  provide  even 
seedling  plants  which  would  produce  in  good 
summers  nuts  of  commercial  value.  There  are, 
of  course,  numerous  named  varieties  in  commerce, 
but  seedUng  trees  are  usually  quicker  in  growth 
and  somewhat  more  shapely.  In  1921  Sweet 
Chestnuts  everywhere  cropped  heavily,  but, 
with  rare  exceptions,  the  produce  was  practically 
valueless.  On  soils  where  it  really  flourishes,  the 
Common  Birch  is  admirably  quick-growing  and 
on  account  of  its  grace  and  beauty,  specially 
valuable  where  very  limited  space  can  be  devoted 
to  the  screen,  since  it  helps  the  screen  and  provides 
foreground  at  the  same  time.  Under  favourable 
conditions  the  Birch  progresses  almost  as  fast  as 
the  Loiiibardy  Poplar. — Ed.] 


HALF    AN    HOUR    IN 
MY    GARDEN 

I  HAVE  been  charmed  to-day  (September  29) 
with  a  few  things  which  seem  to  be  flowering 
particularly  well  for  so  late  a  period  of  the 
season.  Ceanothus  Gloire  de  Versailles, 
George  Simon  and  others  are  as  good  as 
possible  and  in  the  soft  light  of  these  autumn  days, 
particularly  beautiful.  The  Buddleias,  too,  are 
still  fine  and  I  noticed  a  specially  weU  flowered 
piece  of  Caryopteris  Mastacanthus.  Hypericums 
Moserianum  and  patulum  Henryi  made  a  splendid 
gleam  of  yellow  in  the  sunshine  ;  I  also  noticed  a 
plant  of  Berberis  Darwinii  full  of  bloom  as  if  it 
had  mistaken  the  season. 

Hydrangeas  still  make  a  good  show  and  the  old 
Spiraeas,  callosa  alba  and  Antony  Waterer  side  by 
side  with  Weigela  E\'a  Rathke  were  a  blaze  of 
colour.  I  was  much  pleased  with  a  fine  plant  of 
Andromeda  (Oxydendron)  arborea,  flowering,  it 
is  true,  somewhat  behind  its  time,  but  of  great 
beauty.  What  a  pity  this  tree  does  not  do  better  in 
this  climate.  .-V  contrast  to  this  in  size  and  also 
out  of  season  is  a  clump  of  Vaccineum  Vitis-id^ea 
in  fruit  and  flower  simultaneously.  Laurustinus, 
too,  is  making  a  good  show.  I  am  afraid  se\-eral  of 
these  plants  may  feel  a  severe  check  before  long. 

The  Vegetable  Marrows  have  already  been 
nipped  off  by  ground  frost  and  we  may  expect  at 
any  time  now  sufficient  frost  to  cut  any  plants 
that  are  too  tender  for  the  time  of  year. 

Other  plants  I  noticed  to-day  in  flower  were 
Abelia  sinensis,  quite  a  number  of  Clematises, 
Escalloiiias,  Ligustrum  Quihoui  with  its  long  and 
fragrant  flowers,  and  a  few  flowers  were  also  to  be 
found  on  Ligustrum  lucidum.  Some  of  the  hardy 
Heaths  are  still  giving  a  good  show  and  among 
them,  flowering  very  well,  were  Erica  Maweana,  E. 
vulgaris  Searleii  and  E.  vagans  alba,  also  Hydrangea 
quercifoha,  Spartium  junceum  and  Cytisus 
monspessulanus.  To  these  may  be  added  several 
varieties  of  Veronicas,  a  few  blooms  of  Magnolias 
and  some  grand  spikes  of  Yuccas.  Altogether  a 
goodly    list    of    flowering   shrubs    for    the    end    of 


September ! 


F.  GoMER  Waterer. 


October  21,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


531 


ALLIUMS  IN  THE  FLOWER  GARDEN 


A    I.LIUM     is     a     large     genus     comprising 
i\      something  like    two    hundred   and   fifty 
/   %     species,    natives   of  many  parts   of   the 
^■■■^^  world,  but  largely  represented  in  Europe. 
*  M-In  cultivation  they  are  more  commonly 

seen  in  the  vegetable  quarters  than  in  the  flowei 
garden,  for  the  genus  covers  all  our  Onions,  Leeks 
and  Shallots,  besides  Garlic  and  Chives.  But 
the  Onions  of  the  flower  garden  should  not  be 
neglected,  for  among  them  there  are  many  fine 
things.  Probably  the  best  known  is  the  bright 
yellow  A.  Moly,  a  really  handsome  plant  flowering 
in  June,  closely  followed  by  the  tall  A.  neapoli- 
tanum  with  its  great  white,  globular  head  and 
important  foliage.  The  species  that  are  good 
for  garden  culture  cover  a  wide  range  of  colouring. 


for  there  is  the  strikingly  handsome  A.  cceruleum, 
a  Siberian  plant  with  flowers  of  a  good  blue  on 
iSin.  stems  ;  the  familiar  yellow  .\.  Moly  ;  several 
whose  colour  ranges  through  rosy  red,  magenta 
and  purple ;  the  great  white  neapoUtanum ; 
and,  besides  others  of  white  colouring,  A. 
karataviense,  a  native  of  Central  Asia,  with 
short-stemmed  spherical  heads  of  bloom  and 
very  wide  leaves. 

The  subject  of  one  illustration,  A.  angulosum 
or  some  very  near  species,  may  be  taken  as  typical 
of  the  form  and  way  of  flowering  of  the  greater 
nunrber  of  the  Alliums.  By  no  means  the  least 
beautiful  is  our  native  wild  Garlic  (A.  ursinum), 
not  uncommon  in  woody  places.  If  it  were  not 
for  its  rank  smell  that  is  onlv  too  freelv  given  oh, 


ALLIUM    ANGULOSUM    OR    NEAR    SPECIES. 


THE    WHITE-FLOWERED    ALLIU.M    KARAT.'WIhNSE. 


it  would  be  a  desirable  plant,  especially  in  places 
where  garden  joins  woodland,  for  not  only  is 
the  white  bloom  attractive,  but  also  the  glossy- 
green  foliage,  much  like  that  of  Lily  of  the 
Valley,  but  of  a  deeper  colour  and  more  polished 
surface.  Gertrude   Jekyll. 


POISONOUS    FRUITS 
AND    SEEDS 

FROM  time  to  time  cases  of  poisoning 
occur  among  human  beings  and  animals 
which  can  be  traced  to  eating  fruits  or 
seeds  of  various  plants.  These  cases 
have  sometimes  proved  fatal,  and  at 
others  have  ended  after  a  few  days'  sickness  with 
no  worse  result  than  an  unpleasant  remembrance. 
.\s  there  are  many  plants  that  bear  fruits  and  seeds 
of  an  unwholesome  nature,  though  not  necessarily 
poisonous,  it  is  wise  to  instil  into  the  minds  of 
children  the  necessity  for  leaving  unknown  berries 
or  seeds  alone,  this  being  the  only  way  to  safe- 
guard them  against  possible  injury.  The  case 
is  still  fresh  in  the  minds  of  people  of  a  child  being 
killed  by  eating  Belladonna  berries  picked  from 
a  plant  in  a  Scottish  botanic  garden.  The  law 
subsequently  held  that  the  municipal  authorities 
of  the  city  were  to  blame  for  exposing  a  poisonous 
plant  where  it  would  be  tampered  with,  and  allowed 
the  parents  compensation.  That  may  have  been 
good  law,  but  whether  it  was  common-sense  is 
another  matter.  Some  people  still  think  that  it 
is  the  parent's  place  to  train  their  children  to 
distinguish  between  right  and  wrong,  and  to  curb 
any  tendency  they  may  notice  in  a  child  to  picking 
and  eating  anything  that  may  take  his  or  her 
fancy.  There  are  many  plants  that  bear  un- 
wholesome fruits  which  are  exposed  in  public 
parks  and  gardens,  and  necessarily  so,  for  they 
are  often  very  ornamental,  but  we  ought  not  to 
expect  municipal  authorities  to  discard  them 
because  some  unprincipled  child  may  pick  and 
eat  the  fruits ;  neither  should  public  bodies  be 
expected  to  act  the  part  of  nursemaids. 

In  the  following  notes  attention  is  directed 
to  a  number  of  plants  which  bear  fruits  or  seeds 
of  an  unwholesome  nature. 

Atropa  Belladonna. — This  is  one  of  the  most 
poisonous  plants  found  wild  in  Britain,  and  it  is 
known  under  the  common  name  of  Deadly  Night 
shade.  A  valuable  drug  is  obtained  from  the 
plant,  hence  it  is  cultivated  in  large  quantities 
by  herbalists  and  is  usually  to  be  found  in  collec- 
tions of  medicinal  plants  in  botanic  and  other 
gardens.  It  is  wild  in  many  parts  of  the  country, 
probably  as  an  escape  from  cultivation,  but  it 
is  these  wild  plants  that  offer  the  most  serious 
temptation  to  children.  The  plant  is  herbaceous 
in  character,  grows  i^ft.  to  ajft.  high,  and  bears 
bright,  black,  attractive  fruits,  which  are  extremely 
poisonous.  Potato  fruits,  usually  green  in  colour 
and  about  lin.  in  diameter,  are  produced  freely 
by  some  varieties  ;  they  must  not  be  fed  to  stock, 
as  they  possess  poisonous  properties.  Two  plants 
belonging  to  the  same  family,  although  not  strictly 
poisonous,  are  unwholesome  and  may  cause  trouble 
in  some  cases.  These  are  the  Bitter-sw-eet  (Solanum 
Dulcamara)  and  the  annual  weed  Solanum  nigrum. 
The  former  is  a  climbing  plant  well  known  for  its 
masses  of  rich  red  berries  and  purple  flowers, 
while  the  latter  is  remarkable  for  the  profusion 
of  its  small  round  berries.  People  have  been 
known  to  eat  the  berries  with  impunity,  whereas 
in  other  cases  sickness  has  quickly  followed. 

Bryony  (Bryonia  dioica),  a  wild  climbing  plant 
belonging  to  the  Cucumber  family,  is  well  known 
by  reason  of  its  rapid  growth,  small  yellow  flowers 
and  small  round  fruits,  which  are  red  when  ripe. 


532 


THE     GARDEN. 


[October  21,  1922. 


Fifteen  berries  eaten  by  a  child  have  resulted  in 
death.  Cherry  or  Common  Laurel,  a  bush  met  with 
in  most  gardens,  bears  racemes  of  bright  black 
fruits  which  are  said  to  contain  prussic  acid. 
They  are  very  juicy,  and  people  might  be  tempted 
to  utilise  them  for  jelly,  but  although  the  cooked 
juice  might  not  be  unwholesome,  it  would  be  wise 
to  exclude  them  from  domestic  use.  The  kernels 
of  one  kind  of  Almond  are  poisonous  if  eaten 
in  quantity.  That  is  the  Bitter  Almond  (Prunus 
Amygdalus  var.  amara).  Fortunately  this  variety 
is  rarely  met  with  in  cultivation  in  Britain.  The 
kernels  of  otlier  varieties  are  wholesome. 

Questions  are  often  asked  regarding  the  value 
of  the  Caper  Spurge  (Euphorbia  Lathyrus)  as  a 
substitute  for  capers.  The  fruits  are  sometimes 
utilised  for  the  purpose,  but  they  are  extremely 
dangerous,  and  if  not  very  carefully  prepared  may 
cause  serious  illnesj  or  even  death.  The  plant 
often  appears  as  a  wilding  and  fruits  freely.  The 
genus  Euphorbia  may  be  regarded  as  poisonous 
throughout. 

Castor  Oil  seeds  are  attractive  and  not  un- 
palatable, but  by  eating  three  or  four  serious 
vomiting  may  occur,  while  a  larger  number  would 
probably  lead  to  collapse.  Laburnum  seeds  are 
decidedly  poisonous,  and  scarcely  a  year  passes 
without  records  of  sickness  or  death  among  children 
from  eating  the  seeds.  \ot  alone  are  the  seeds 
poisonous,  but  the  twigs  also,  and  children  have 
been  known  to  become  very  ill  from  biting  the 
shoots.  The  seeds  of  Broom  (Cytisus  scoparius) 
and  Gorse  {Ulex  europsus)  also  possess  poison- 
ous properties.  Daphnes,  too,  are  poisonous 
and  as  the  bright  red  fruits  of  Daphne 
Mezereum  are  very  showy,  children  should  be 
warned  against  their  use.  Lupins,  Henbane, 
Lathyrus  sativus,  Lords  and  Ladies  (.\rum 
maculatum).  Black  Bryony,  Privet,  Rhamnus 
and  Euonymus  are  other  plants  bearing  more 
or  less  attractive  fruits  which  have  dangerous 
quahties  and  should  not  be  eaten.  The  outer 
Heshy  part  of  the  Yew  seed  is  not  poisonous,  but 
it  is  probable  that  the  inner  hard  seed,  if  eaten, 
would  prove  fatal.  Juniper  berries  have  strong 
diuretic  properties,  and  should  not  be  eaten, 
while  the  cones  of  several  conifers  are  doubtfully 
wholesome.  Acorns  are  often  fed  to  stock,  yet 
stock  have  been  killed  by  over-indulgence. 
Injurious  effects  appear  to  follow  when  cattle 
are  suddenly  turned  into  an  Oak  wood,  or  park 
where  Oak  trees  abound,  after  a  heavy  fall  of 
.\corns. 

Although  so  many  of  our  common  ornamental 
berries  and  fruits  are  unwholesome,  there  are  many 
others  that  can  be  profitably  used  for  culinary 
purposes.  Thus  the  various  Crab  Apples  make 
excellent  jelly,  as  also  do  the  Japanese  Quinces 
(Cydonia  japonica  and  C.  Maulei)  ;  Berberis 
fruits  may  also  be  used  for  jelly  ;  Sloe  fruits, 
Vaccineum  berries,  the  wide  range  of  Rubi,  includ- 
ing the  Blackberries  and  wild  Raspberries,  are 
wholesome  ;  Rose  hips  may  be  turned  into  jelly  ; 
Hawthorn  fruits,  although  not  palatable,  are  not 
poisonous  ;  while  wild  Gooseberries  are  edible  but 
sour. 

This  list  does  not  include  all  the  unwholesome 
or  wholesome  fruits,  but  it  serves  to  direct 
attention  to  a  number  in  each  group.  W.  D. 


GREASE-BANDING  FRUIT  TREES 


FORTHCOMING     EVENTS. 

October  24. — Southampton  Chrysanthenmm 
Society's  Show  (two  days). 

October  25. — Irish  Gardeners'  Benefit  Society's 
Meeting. 

October  26. — Bristol  and  District  Gardeners' 
.Association's  Meeting.  Wargrave  and  District 
Gardeners'  Society's  Meeting.  Hertford  Horti- 
cultural Society's  Annual  Show. 


THIS  is  a  very  important  matter,  and 
ought  to  receive  timely  attention,  which 
means  applying  the  bands  forthwith. 
The  Codlin  Moth. — In  epitome  I 
will  tell  readers  who  have  not  had  any 
experience  of  this  pest  what  it  is  like  and  how  it 
destroys  their  crops  of  Apples.  The  caterpillar 
of  the  codlin  moth  is  responsible  for  the  worm- 
eaten  Apples  so  plentifully  found,  alas !  in  our 
orchards.  Apples  found  under  the  trees  prema- 
turely coloured  are,  generally,  the  ones  attacked 
by  the  grub  and  dislodged  before  their  time  from 
the  branches.  I  daresay  many  cultivators  have 
noticed  the  cobwebby  appearance  of  the  young 
fruits  with  the  flowers  attached  in  the  early 
summer-time.  The  moth  has  laid  eggs  in  the 
"  eye  "  of  the  young  fruits  and  when  the  cater- 
pillars or  grubs  hatch  out — they  are  varied  in 
colour,  being  shades  of  brown  and  grey — they  work 
their  way  tunnel-fashion  to  the  centre  of  the  fruit 
in  due  course.  As  the  core  is  the  hardest  part 
of  the  Apple,  the  grub  tunnels  past  it  but  close  to 
it,  and  this  causes  the  core  to  harden  with  its 
pips  prematurely,  and  then  the  fruit  falls  early, 
when  the  branches  are  shaken  by  the  wind.  The 
food  of  the  caterpillar  is  taken  from  the  pips 
while   the  grub  is  inside.     Having  exhausted  its 


SCRAPING     THE    STEM. 

food  supply  the  grub  crawls  out  of  the  Apple 
and  makes  for  itself  a  home  on  a  rough  branch 
under  the  bark,  covering  the  hole  with  a  web. 
They  thus  remain  established  in  the  tree  when 
they  leave  the  fruits  in  good  time,  but  thousands 
of  them  fall,  with  Apples,  to  the  ground,  and 
grease-banding  will  prevent  them  again  gaining 
access  to  the  branches. 

The  Winter  Moth. — Grease-banding  in  this 
case  is  most  efficacious,  and  must  not  be  neglected. 
The  bands  should  be  put  in  place  forthwith 
— two  to  each  stem  if  possible.  The'  female 
is  practically  wingless  and  must  crawl  up  the 
trunks  or  supports  to  gain  the  branches.  They 
are  grey  in  colour  with  full,  heavy  bodies  for 
moths.  The  caterpillars  eat  the  leaves  of  other 
fruit  trees  as  well  as  Apples.  The  female  winter 
moths  come  out  from  a  chrysalis  under  the  trees 
where  they  developed  from  the  caterpillars  that 
went  to  the  soil  in  summer,  and  crawl  up  the  trees 
or  props  and  lay  their  eggs  on  the  branches 
and   buds. 


Grease-banding  stops  the  female  crawling  past 
the  bands.  Many  stick  on  the  latter,  so  that  a 
renewal  of  the  greasing  of  the  bands  is  necessary 
at  least  twice  during  the  winter  months.     FlanneJ 


"^^mr 


APPLYING  A  BAND  WITH  PASTE. 

cloths,  in  my  opinion,  form  the  best  bands,  as 
this  material  absorbs  the  oils  or  grease  and  makes 
It  difficult  for  the  moths  to  pass  under  the  bands. 
The  latter  should  be  fixed  to  the  stem  or  prop 
at  least  i6ins.  from  the  ground  and  be  firmly  tied 
to  the  stem  in  two  places  about  lin.  from  the  top 
and  bottom  of  band  respectively.  Select  a  com- 
paratively smooth  part  of  the  tree  trunk  for  the 
hand,  which  should  be  folded  twice  after  greasing, 
thus  enclosing  some  of  the  grease.  Cart  grease 
with  a  thin  outer  smearing  of  birdlime  will  answer 
the  purpose,  the  main  point  being  to  maintain 
the  bands  in  a  greasy  condition.  One  band  will 
do  if  it  be  carefully  applied  and  afterwards  attended 
to.  If  grease  is  scarce,  tar  may  be  used  on  the 
rags  wrapped  round   the   stakes   and   any   branch 


Jrf-"?^ 


PUTTING    ON    THE    GREASE. 


October  21,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


533 


supports,  but  tar  must  not  be  used  on  the  bare 
bark.  If  grease-proof  paper  is  used,  as  is  more 
usual,  care  should  be  taken  to  see  that  it  makes 
contact  with  the  trunk  of  the  tree  all  round, 
otherwise    the    moths    will    crawl    between    tree 


and  band.  With  paper,  too,  the  "  grease " 
employed  becomes  important.  .\  grease  specially 
prepared  for  the  purpose  should  be  used  or 
one  of  the  excellent  non-greasy  banding  pre- 
parations,  such   as  Stictite  G.    G. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


THE    WIGAN    CUP:      WHO    WON    IT? 

TN  the  hst  of  awards  made  at  the  R.H.S.  Holland 
Park  Rink  Show  the  Wigan  Cup  is  given  as 
being  won  by  ilessrs.  .Wex.  Dickson  and  Sons, 
and  to  those  who  have  not  heard  the  story  of  the 
events  leading  up  to  this  I  ask  your  permission 
to  explain.  The  points  are:  (i)  Who  really  did 
win  the  Wigan  Cup  ?  and  (2)  What  is  it  offered 
for  ?  I  will  deal  with  No.  i .  Now  if  your  readers 
will  refer  to  the  list  of  awards,  they  will  find  that 
my  exhibit  was  placed  first — gold  medal — and 
when  the  award  card  was  sent  out,  there  came 
the  Wigan  Cup  card,  written  in  as  being  awarded 
to  me.  To  my  great  surprise,  when  I  arrived  back 
from  sending  out  the  result  to  my  friends,  I  found 
someone  had  taken  away  the  card.  This  was 
very  anmoying,  and  I  soon  found  myself  at  the 
enquiry  oflice  seeking  the  reason.  All  I  could  tind 
out  was  that  I  must  wait  until  the  secretary  had 
dealt  with  it,  as  something  was  not  in  order.  I 
cannot  understand  why  the  Council  could  not 
have  made  quite  sure  before  sending  out  the  cards 
and  so  making  me  look  like  an  impostor.  .\s 
regards  No.  2,  the  Wigan  Cup  is  offered  (see  page  5 
of  .•Vutumn  Schedule  re  Challenge  Cups)  for  the 
best  exhibit  of  Roses.  Even  if  I  am  not  eligible 
because  I  won  it  in  1921,  how  can  it  be  said  truth- 
fully and  fairly  that  it  was  given  to  the  best 
exhibit  if  held  by  another  exhibit  that  was  placed 
second.  I  consider  that  if  I,  as  the  holder,  was 
not  eligible,  the  only  fair  course  would  be 
for  the  R.H.S.  to  withhold  it.  Even  Mr.  Dickson 
could  not  understand  the  action.  To  see  two  cards 
for  this  award  upon  two  separate  groups  and  also 
various  papers  giving  both  myself  and  Messrs. 
Ale.x.  Dickson  and  Sons  as  the  winners  is  ridiculous, 
and  I  trust  that  the  R.H.S.  will  see  that  thi* 
never  occurs  again.  May  I  ask,  why  have  such 
stupid  conditions  ?  for  the  only  way  to  keep 
up  the  standard  of  the  exhibits  and  get  us  all  tn 
put  out  our  best  is  to  give  all  a  free  hand.  If  a 
firm  can  win  each  year,  let  them  have  what  is  their 
just  reward. — Elish.\  J.  Hicks,  Hurst,  Berks. 

THE     TWELVE     BEST     SHRUBS. 

TJERE  are  twelve  shrubs  that  I  should  not  care 
to  be  without.  My  garden  is  in  North- 
Eastem  Scotland,  where  late  spring  frosts  are 
often  troublesome.  Spir«a  arguta.  Viburnum 
tomentosum  var.  plicatum,  Buddleia  variabilis 
var.  Veitchiana,  Ribes  sanguineum,  Deutzia 
Pride  of  Rochester,  Diervilla  Abel  Carriere, 
Forsythia  suspensa,  Hamamelis  mollis,  Cytisus 
albus,  to  which  add  Rhododendrons,  .\zaleas 
and  Roses  according  to  individual  taste. — Brodie 
OF  Brodie. 

TN  reply  to  Mr.  G.  Harvey  (page  507),  it  is  very 
difficult  indeed  to  recommend  the  best  twelve 
shrubs  without  having  any  clue  as  to  the  enquirer's 
tastes.  Some  people  want  a  gay  garden,  pure  and 
simple ;  some  like  old  friends ;  others  like  to 
study  the  ways  and  habits  of  comparative  strangers. 
There  are,  however,  a  number  of  well  tried 
favourites  without  which  no  garden  really  seems 
complete,  so  that  few  novelties  can  as  a  rule  be 
included  among  the  first  dozen.  The  following 
list  would  please  many  people,  and  the  plants 
mentioned     would    do    well    in    most    gardens : 


Early-flowering. — Hamamelis  mollis,  Pyrus  japonica 
(red  form)  and  Magnolia  stellata.  Later  spring. — 
Berberis  stenophylla.  Lilac  (a  middle  shade). 
Rhododendron  Ascot  Brilliant  (bright  red  and 
early)  and  .Azalea  (choosing  one  of  the  late-flowering 
red  or  deep  pink).  Summer. — Rose  Grliss  an 
Teplitz  (or  Rosa  Moyesii  if  it  must  be  a  species), 
Philadelphus     grandiflorus     (late-flowering     Mock 


chosen  should  be  suitable  for  massing,  but  in  my 
opinion  many  of  our  most  beautiful  shrubs  are 
much  more  effective  when  empl'>yed  as  specimens, 
and  in  the  above  list  I  would  mark  Nos.  i,  2  and  9 
as  being  notable  examples  for  this  purpose. — 
Cecil     M.     Bailey. 

AURATUM    LILIES. 

nPHE  magnificent  spikes  of  Lilium  auratum 
exhibited  at  the  Holland  Park  Show  by 
Mrs.  Lemon  and  grown  at  Ormidale,  Brodick, 
Isle  of  .\rran  (gardener,  Mr.  John  McGowaii), 
created  something  of  a  sensation  among  Southern 
gardeners.  .\n  exhibit  of  Auratum  Lilies  from 
the  same  garden  won  a  gold  medal  at  Edinburgh 
Show  last  year. 

They  are  the  only  Lilies  of  their  kind  and  size 
in   the   British   Isles.     This  is   the  first  time   they 


AURATUM    LILIES    AT    HOLLAND    PARK    SHOW. 


Orange),  Spartium  junceum  and  Buddleia  variabilis 
inagnifica.  .\utumn. — Cratsegus  Pyracantha  (for 
its  glorious  berries). — A.  E.  W. 

AS  an  occasional  contributor  to  The  Garden 
and  in  answer  to  your  request  for  the  opinion 
of  readers  as  to  the  best  twelve  flowering  shrubs 
for  gardens,  I  venture  to  suggest  the  following  : 
(i)  Eucryphia  pinnatifolia,  (2)  Embothrium 
coccineum,  (3)  Berberis  Darwinii,  (4)  Cytisus 
prjBCOx  sulphurea,  (5)  Rhododendron  Pink  Pearl, 
(6)  Mock  Orange  (Philadelphus),  (7)  Ribes  sangui- 
neum, (8)  Forsythia  viridissima,  (9)  Tricuspidaria 
lanceolata,  (10)  Escallonia  Donard  Seedling, 
(11)  Veronica  Gauntletti  and  (12)  Lilac,  the 
variety  to  be  chosen  according  to  the  planter's 
taste  as  to  colour.  I  should  not  care  to  claim 
that  the  above  are  the  "  best  "  twelve,  but  I  have 
every  confidence  in  recommending  them  as  being 
"  very  fine."  A  word  of  warning  may  be  neces- 
sary, as  some  of  the  above  would  not  thrive  in 
every  district  and  garden,  accordingly  I  would 
advise  that  they  should  not  be  planted  in  quantity 
until  they  had  been  given  a  good  trial — this  applies 
especially  to  Nos.  i,  2,  9  and  11.  Your  corre- 
spondent G.   Harvey  mentions  that  the  varieties 


have  been  shewn  in  England.  They  were  brought 
all  the  way  from  Arran  in  the  Clyde  (an  achieve- 
ment— sixty  .stems  !).  They  will  not  grow  in 
any  other  soil  even  on  the  same  island  as  they 
do  in  their  present  site.  They  have  been  estab- 
lished for  almost  forty  years.  These  Lilies  in 
their  native  country  (Japan)  attain  only  half 
this  size.  Some  of  the  largest  stems  grown 
measure  8ft.  6ins.  high  and  have  as  many  as 
forty- two  blossoms  on  one  stem  ! — G.  M.  .\-.\. 

[Pictures  of  these  Lilies  growing  outdoors  at 
Ormidale  have  appeared  in  The  Garden  on 
several  occasions. — Ed.] 

HARDY    H\BRID    LOBELIAS. 

A  ONE-F.\MILY  exhibit  always  appeals  to  me. 
There  is  the  interest  born  of  "  fellow  feeling  "  : 
there  is  the  interest  inseparable  from  every  collec- 
tion of  similar  but  yet  different  things  ;  and  there 
IS  the  astonishment  at  seeing  what  well  directed 
eifort  has  accompUshed.  Not  even  Bunyard's 
fruit  or  Sutton's  vegetables  were  as  interesting  to 
me  as  the  comparatively  humble  display  of  seedling 
Lobelias  staged  by  Mr.  B.  Ladhams  of  Shirley, 
Southampton.  It  was  a  sort  of  equivalent  to  House's 
well    known    Scabiosa    caucasicas.       My    memory 


534 


THE     GARDEN. 


[October  21,  1922. 


carries  me  back  to  some  fine  Irish  raised  seedlings 
that  used  tn  appear  at  shows  in  the  days  ot  long 
ago,  but  magnificent  as  they  were  they  lacked 
the  variety  which  was  to  be  seen  at  the  "  Skating 
Rink."  Cardinalis,  fulgens,  syphilitica  and  some 
of  their  hybrid  forms  have  been  laid  under  con- 
tribution, with  the  result  that  we  get  an  array  of 
colours  and  shades  which  are  both  novel  and 
pleasing.  The  rich  reds  and  crimsons  of  wide- 
petalled  flowers,  arranged  in  handsome  spikes 
and  associated  with  various  greens  and  maroons 
in  the  foliage,  are  probably  fairly  famihar.  Mr. 
Ladhams,  however,  provides,  in  addition,  roses, 
pinks  and  purples.  Naturally,  the  varieties  are 
not  all  equally  good,  and  in  some  directions  im- 
provement may  be  expected.  I  made  a  note  of 
B.  Ladhams  (bright  crimson-scarlet  \vith  green 
foliage),  Shirley  Beauty  (mulberry-red),  Mauve 
Queen  and  Delight  (two  good  mauves  or  pale 
grey-purples)  and  carminea  (rose).  There  is  room 
for  improvement  especially  in  the  whites  and 
deeper  purples,  so  I  hope  Mr.  Ladhams  will  perse- 
vere in  his  work. 

One  wishes  there  was  no  difficulty  about  their 
cultivation.  Mr.  Ladhams  advocates  covering 
the  plants  in  ashes  for  the  winter,  and  then  in  spring 
dividing  the  clumps  into  single  crowns  and  re- 
planting fairly  thickly  for  effect.  We  used  to  lift 
ours  in  olden  days  in  the  autumn  and  box  them, 
keeping  the  boxes  all  winter  on  the  dry  side  in  a 
cool  greenhouse  or  frost-proof  frame.  What  is  the 
experience  of  readers  ? — Joseph  Jacob. 

COLLETIA     SPINOS.\. 

TV/TR.  VEITCH  of  the  Royal  Nurseries,  E.xeter, 
has  kindly  replied  to  the  enquiry  which  I 
made  in  The  Garden  of  September  30  as  to  the 
flowering  season  of  Colletia  spinosa.  He  informs 
me  that  there  are  two  \'arieties  of  this  species, 
one  flowering  in  spring,  distinguished  by  the 
varietal  name  infausta,  the  other  and  normal 
form  flowering  in  autumn.  Here  w'e  have  only 
the  spring-flowering  variety. — Herbert  Ma.xwell, 
Monreith. 

■XX/ITH  reference  to  Sir  Herbert  Maxwell's  note 
on  the  above-named  plant  in  your  issue 
dated  September  30,  page  496,  I  think  he  will 
find  that  the  form  that  flowers  with  him  in  early 
summer  has  dull  pink  inflorescences,  while  in  the 
case  of  the  autumn-flowering  form  the  shrub 
bears  pure  white  flowers.  I  have  here  plants  that 
observe  these  differences  of  time  of  flowering 
and  colour  of  flower.  In  other  respects  the  two 
plants  appear  identical,  sd  I  cannot  say  whether 
they  are  distinct  species  or  only  seminal  variations. 
— H.  W.  Grigg,  South  Devon. 

THE  GREAT  AUTU.MN  SHOW. 

"  N'^'^^^'^'^  succeeds  hke  success,"  they  say. 
Certainly  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society 
will,  another  year,  have  to  find  still  larger  quarters 
for  the  .-^uturan  Show.  The  Skating  Rink  at 
Holland  Park  Road  is  quite  as  inadequate  for  such 
a  Show  as  Vincent  Square  proved  itself  last  year. 
Nothing  short  of  Olympia  will  suffice,  judging  by 
present  conditions  and  the  crowd  at  last  Tuesday's 
Show.  By  half-past  two  there  was  barely  standing 
place  in  the  most  favoured  divisions  of  the  Show  ; 
and  as  for  seeing  anything  special  or  talking  to  a 
trades  representative  at  his  stall,  it  was  not  to  be 
thought  of — indeed,  one  might  fairly  have  said  : 
"  I  can't  see  wood  for  trees  !  "  I  came  away 
a  disappointed  man,  vowing  I  would  never 
again  pay  a  4s.  taxi  fare  for  so  little  profit  or 
pleasure,  and  for  folk — women -folk — of  lesser 
stature  it  must  have  been  a  suffocation  rather 
than  a  sight.  Is  it  a  sign  of  the  times,  I  wonder, 
or  is  it  that  young  ladies  are  wondrous  wise,  that 
I  saw  so  few  of  them  there  ?    Did  they  feel  cut  out 


by  the  beauty  and  complexions  of  the  fruit,  and 
so  carefully  kept  away  ?  I  should  like  to  know, 
for  there  were  masses  of  elderly  ladies  and  their 
companions,  regiments  ot  stalwart,  rosy  cheeked 
men  with  elastic  step  and  far-reaching  arm.  On  the 
other  hand,  elderly  men  were  comparatively  scarce 
and  quite  insignificant  by  the  side  of  their  glowing 
manhood  testifying  to  the  health-giving  power  of 
the  garden  life  in  these  strenuous  times.  But  I 
w'as  most  impressed  by  one  thing,  and  that  is  the 
immortality  conferred  on  anyone  who  has  the 
honour  to  give  his  name  to  a  new  fruit  of  outstand- 
ing excellence.  We  all  know  the  fame  of  the  Ribston 
Pippin,  renowned  throughout  the  globe,  in  Aus- 
tralia, Tasmania  and  Europe,  to  say  nothing  of 
the  continent  of  America  What,  then,  will  be 
the  fame  of  the  individual  after  whom  is  named 
the  huge  Lord  Derby  or  the  yellow  and  red  striped 
fruit  the  Rev.  W.  Wilks,  named  after  our  late 
good  secretan,-  ?  I  did  not  taste  the  fruit,  of  course, 
but  it  appearance,  size  and  beauty  go  for  anything, 
they  must  hand  down  to  posterity  an  honoured 
name  that  will  defy  the  ages — more  lasting  than 
brass  or  monument.  Really,  to-day  it  would  be 
fair  for  the  raiser  to  sav  :    "  If  mv  fruit  honours 


GROWN    WITHOUT    HEAT. 

your  name  it  is  I  who  should  rather  profit  by  it." 
Lord  Derby's  and  Mr.  Wilks'  names  may  be  as 
enduring  as  the  Egyptian  king  Amenophis  and  his 
queen  T'aia  ;  will  they  not  be  hierogh-phed  on  labels 
as  their  predecessors  are  on  temple  walls  ? 

After  struggling  in  vain  for  two  hours  to  gain  a 
comfortable  look  at  anything  I  gave  the  whole 
thing  up,  and  when  I  got  outside  an  enthusiastic 
policeman  said  :  "  Did  you  ever  see  such  a  crowd 
of  motors  ?  There  must  be  two  miles  of  them, 
anyway  !  " — E.  H.  W  . 

VIBURNUM     CARLESH. 

INTENDING  growers  may  like  to  know  that 
besides  the  form  with  pale  pink  buds  there 
is  one  in  w"hich  these  as  well  as  the  open  flowers 
are  white  ;  this  is  much  less  attractive,  and  it 
is  well  worth  while  taking  trouble  to  obtain  the 
first  mentioned.  In  growth  this  appears  to  be  a 
very  spreading  shrub  and  not  very  tall  growing. 
It  is  possible  that  the  habit  may  be  affected  by 
the  stock  upon  which  it  is  worked,  but  a  plant 
the  writer  carried  home  from  one  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society's  shows  in  a  small  pot 
two  and  a  half  years  ago  is  now  4ft.  across  and 
and  not  more  than  2ft.  in  height.  No  attempt 
has    been   made    at    pruning   so    that    the   natural 


growth  might  be  observed.  The  soil  is  clay, 
lightened  with  leaf-mould  and  road  grit,  and  has 
received  copious  waterings  in  dry  spells.  The 
plant  appears  not  to  object  to  light  shade,  but, 
like  many  choice  shrubs,  it  does  not  like  neighbours 
too  near  on  either  side,  and  a  few  branches  which 
have  had  to  compete  with  other  shrubs  for  space 
are  not  in  a  very  flourishing  condition.  It  has 
always  flowered  earlier  than  the  time  mentioned 
in  The  Garden,  varying  a  little  according  to  the 
season.  April  is  generally  mentioned  as  the 
month  when  its  lovely  and  strongly  fragrant 
flowers  may  be  expected.  This  spring  some  pest 
(probably  sparrows)  destroyed  a  number  of  the 
flower-buds  as  they  were  swelling ;  next  spring 
it  is  proposed  to  spray  with  quassia  as  a  pre- 
caution. This  Viburnum  is  said  to  be  difficult 
to  propagate  ;  at  least  to  grow  on  its  own  roots, 
but  bud  cuttings  are  said  to  be  satisfactory. — 
A.  E.  W. 

HYACINTHS    IN   PANS. 

T  THINK  perhaps  the  enclosed  photograph  of 
Hyacinths  grown  by  an  amateur  in   moss   fibre 

may  interest  some  of  your  readers  who  have  never 
tried  this  method  of  culture.  The 
bulbs  were  planted  in  October  and 
placed  in  a  cellar.  They  received  no 
artificial  heat  other  than  that  usual  in 
a  dwelling-house,  as  I  have  no  green- 
house. Nevertheless,  they  were  very 
beautiful  in  March,  and  provided 
welcome  blossom  for  six  weeks. — 
E.  M.  L. 

WILD     FLOWERS     AT 

COUNTRY    SHOWS. 

VOUR  note  on  the  above  in  the  issue 
of  October  7  is  a  matter  well 
worthy  the  attention  of  horticultural 
societies  when  considering  their 
schedules  for  1923,  while  much  can 
also  be  done  by  donors  of  special 
prizes  to  encourage  the  exhibiting 
and  classifying  of  wild  flowers  at 
shows.  For  many  years  this  has 
been  an  interesting  class  at  the  annual 
show  at  ."Mnwick,  Northumberland, 
where  the  excellent  practice  prevails 
of  having  all  specimens  pressed  and 
dried  carefully  and  mounted  on  white 
cards,  with  their  common  and  also 
botanical  names  attached.  At  the  recent  show 
of  the  society  named  the  first  prize  was  awarded 
to  an  excellent  collection  of  140  specimens.  By 
following  this  practice  the  exhibitor  had  been 
making  up  her  collection  since  February,  selecting 
each  species  as  they  canre  into  flower,  thus  enabling 
a  very  representative  collection  of  the  wild  flowers 
of  the  district  to  be  shewn,  and  many  of  these 
were  of  very  considerable  interest,  being  rare 
species  or  varieties  not  often  met  with,  and 
which  necessitated  much  searching  on  the  part 
of  the  collector.  Not  only  does  this  make  an 
interesting  exhibit,  but  the  exhibitor  also  gets 
a  thorough  grounding  in  the  life-history  and 
habitats  of  the  wild  flowers  which  will  doubtless 
be  of  much  interest  and  may  be  of  great  practical 
use  to  them  in  after  years.  The  same  society  also 
encourages  the  collection  of  the  various  wild 
fruits  of  the  district,  and  although  these  have 
fallen  off  greatly  of  late  years,  one  was  greatly 
pleased  to  see  one  i-ery  fine  specimen  basket  at 
the  recent  show,  which  was  well  worthy  of  the 
many  appreciative  remarks  made  about  it.  The 
exhibitors  in  this  class  use  fiat  baskets,  designing 
and  moulding  in  clay  and  overlaying  the  whole 
surface  with  the  fruits.  Excellent  results  can 
thus  be  achieved. — Horticus. 


October  21,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


535 


GARDENING    OF    THE    WEEK 


FOR     SOITHERN     GARDENS. 
Tbe  Kitchen  Garden. 

Globe  Artichokes. — The  unused  heads  of  this 
vegetable,  also  old  and  decaying  leaves,  should 
be  cut  away  and  the  plot  lightly  forked  over. 
This  and  the  removal  of  any  weeds  there  may  be 
will  give  the  plot  a  tidy  appearance.  Where 
protection  is  given  these  plants  for  winter  it 
had  better  wait  at  any  rate  for  another  month 
or  so.  By  removing  some  of  the  side  growths 
at  this  time  and  placing  them  in  pots  of  suitable 
size  some  useful  plants  will  be  available  for  spring 
planting.  The  wintering  of  the  plants  potted  up 
can  be  done  in  a  cold  frame. 

Autumn  Broccoli. — These  are  turning  in 
weU,  and  cold  nights  must  be  watched  for.  The 
usual  bending  over  of  the  large  leaves  will  be 
sufficient  unless  the  weather  gets  very  cold,  in 
which  case  lifting  them  and  heehng  them  in  on  a 
warm  border  or  in  a  pit  may  be  necessary. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Spring-Bedding  Plants.— The  filling  of  beds 
and  borders  with  the  various  plants  which  come 
under  this  heading  will  soon  claim  attention. 
In  the  meantime  should  such  beds  have  been 
or  still  be  occupied  with  summer  and  early  autumn 
plants,  an  early  clearance  of  them  must  now  be 
arranged  so  that  a  proper  preparation  of  the 
soil  can  be  carried  out  and  the  beds  allowed 
to  aerate  for  a  little  time  before  refilling. 
Heavy  land  should  receive  a  liberal  dressing  of 
burnt  refuse  and  decayed  leaves,  while  if  the 
soil  be  light  a  good  dressing  of  cow  manure  and 
leaves  will  be  suitable.  The  actual  planting 
arrangement  must  naturally  be  to  great  extent 
a  matter  of  individual  tastes  and  requirements. 
An  immense  point  in  favour  of  a  spring  display 
is  that  a  really  fine  one  may  be  obtained  with  a 
very  small  outlay.  A  free  and  judicious  use 
of  Wallflowers,  Myosotis,  Polyanthus,  Cheiranthus 
Allionii,  Arabis  and  Erysimum  will  give  a  wonder- 
fully effective  return,  even  without  the  addition 
of  any  bulbs,  and  it  should  be  noted  that  each 
of  the  plants  mentioned  are  within  the  range  of 
everyone  and  can  be  raised  and  grown  without  the 
aid  of  artificial  heat.  .Assuming  these  plants 
are  to  be  relied  upon  for  spring  flowering,  the 
coolest  soil  should  always  be  allotted  to  the 
Polyanthus. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Cherries. — Provided  suitable  aspects  can  be 
allowed  for  this  fruit,  a  good  selection  of  varieties 
will  supply  early,  mid-season  and  late  gatherings. 
Where  Cherries  are  appreciated  and  an  annual 
yield  expected,  an  orchard-house  should  be  used. 
The  extra  cost  in  providing  such  a  structure 
would  be  repaid  not  only  by  a  guaranteed  regular 
crop  grown  without  interference  from  weather 
and  birds,  but  because  the  fruits  come  finer  in  size, 
colotir  and  flavour.  The  following  varieties  can 
be  recommended  :  Black  Eagle,  Early  Rivers, 
Frogmore,  Early  Biggareau,  Governor  Wood, 
May  Duke,  Bigarreau  and  Morello.  The  last 
named  is  the  best  Cherry  for  kitchen  purposes, 
does  well  on  a  north  wall,  and  is  also  to  be  recom- 
mended for  pyramid  or  standard  work  in  orchards. 
As  an  earher  fruit  for  kitchen  use  May  Duke  can 
be  recommended.  In  the  preparation  of  the  soil 
a  free  use  of  old  mortar  rubble  is  beneficial. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Late  Muscats. — These  will  require  a  Uttle 
extra  nursing  so  that  the  finish  may  be  as  favour- 
able as  possible,  thus  rendering  possible  the 
keeping  of  the  berries  in  a  good  condition.  It 
is  important  to  see  that  all  superfluous  foliage  is 
removed  and  the  hot-water  pipes  always  warm. 
On  favourable  days  a  fairly  free  circulation  of 
air  should  be  allowed,  but  rigidly  shut  out  a  foggy 
atmosphere.  No  hard  and  fast  rules  are  possible  as 
to  a  fixed  temperature,  as  this  may  with  benefit 
be  varied  according  to  the  structure  in  which  the 
Vines  are  growing,  large  or  small.  As  a  general 
guide  do  not  allow  the  night  temperature  to  fall 
below  60°  to  65°  until  the  Grapes  are  ripe,  after 
which  gradually  drop  to  io°  less,  according  to 
climatic  conditions.  Ripe,  well  finished  bunches 
which  may  have  become  destitute  of  leaf  covering 
should  not  be  continuously  exposed  to  direct 
rays  of  hot  sunshine.  If  only  a  few  bunches 
require  shading,  sheets  of  tissue  paper  will  be 
handy,  but  when  a  large  number  has  to  be  seen 
to  the  easiest  way  is  to  throw  an  old  fruit  net 
over  the  glass. 

H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 

Alhury  Park  Gardens,  Guildford. 


FOR     NORTHERN     GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Parsley. — Now  that  sharp  frosts  are  imminent, 
means  should  be  taken  to  protect  this  popular 
herb  so  that  fresh  suppUes  may  be  obtained  for 
a  lengthened  period.  Where  lack  of  frame  accom- 
modation exists  cover  the  bed  with  a  few  wire 
pea  trainers  laid  on  narrow  strips  of  wood  about 
I  Sins,  from  the  ground.  This  will  prove  a  useful 
guard  for  running  mats  over  on  frosty  evenings, 
and  thus  protect  the  bed.  Feathery  Spruce 
branches  are  also  useful  for  this  purpose. 

Rhubarb  for  Early  Forcing. — .\  number  of 
roots  of  a  good  forcing  variety  should  be  lifted 
shortly  and  placed  in  a  corner  of  the  Mushroom- 
house  or  other  darkened  structure  where  a  certain 
amount  of  heat  and  moisture  may  be  obtained. 
If  suitable  quarters  are  available,  a  dish  may  be 
had  by  Christmas  or  early  in  the  new  year. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Root  Pruning. — Where  this  important  work 
has  become  necessary  preparations  may  now  be 
made  so  that  any  over-luxuriant  trees  may  receive 
the  required  treatment  to  reduce  rank  growth 
and  bring  them  to  a  more  fruitful  state.  If  the 
work  is  undertaken  now,  more  satisfactory  results 
may  be  expected  than  when  the  trees  are  resting. 
The  fact  of  the  foliage  still  being  on  the  trees 
should  enable  them  more  readily  to  overcome 
the  shock  of  the  large  roots  being  removed.  They 
are  further  induced  to  push  out  young  fibrous 
roots  more  quickly  after  root  pruning  is  finished. 
Where  the  soil  has  become  exhausted  or  sour  it 
is  a  wise  procedure  to  mix  some  good  fibrous  loam 
W'ith  the  ordinary  soil  before  filling  in  about  the 
roots.  In  the  case  of  stone  fruits  lime  rubble 
is  also  beneficial  if  the  soil  in  its  present  state  is 
short  of  lime.  When  root  pruning  is  being  done 
the  necessary  trench  should  never  be  opened 
nearer  the  tree  than  3ft.  The  operator  should 
be  guided  in  this  matter  more  by  the  age  of  the 
tree  and  the  spread  of  the  branches  than  by  any 
set  rule. 

Strawberries. —  Remove  any  runners  which 
may  have  formed  on  young  plantations,  after- 
wards running  the  hoe  between  the  lines  so  that 
weeds  may  be  checked.  Older  beds  should  have 
the  soil  more  deeply  stirred,  after  which  a  generous 
dressing  of  half-rotted  manure  may  be  applied. 

Black  Currants. — Bushes  of  these  should  never 
be  allowed  to  become  overcrowded  in  the  centre, 
otherwise  the  quahty  of  the  fruit  is  poor,  the 
berries  being  small  and  **  woody "  in  flavour. 
.\s  the  fruit  is  produced  on  the  young  wood  the 
heads  need  an  annual  thinning,  and  the  sooner 
this  is  done  now  the  better  will  it  be  for  the  ensuing 
year's  crop.  After  completing  the  work  of  thin- 
ning (and  removing  any  unshapely  branches)  add 
a  surface  mulch  of  good  farmyard  manure  and 
fork  lightly  between  the  rows. 

Fruits  Under  Glass. 

Figs. — Thin  out  any  soft  or  superfluous  growths 
and  regulate  the  short,  sturdy  shoots  essential 
for  next  season's  crop.  In  this  way  more  light 
and  air  reaches  the  wood,  thus  assisting  the 
ripening  process. 

Vines. — If  the  wood  of  the  Vines  is  not 
thoroughly  ripened  before  the  dull,  sunless  weather 
sets  in,  the  chance  of  a  profitable  crop  next  year 
is  considerably  lessened.  Therefore  by  ventilating 
freely  and  keeping  a  slight  touch  of  warmth  in 
the  pipes  the  ripening  process  will  be  hastened. 
Where  it  is  desirable  to  clear  a  vinery  of  any 
remaining  bunches,  these  may  well  be  cut  now 
with  enough  wood  attached  to  allow  of  their 
being  placed  in  bottles  and  stored  in  an  airy 
fruit-room.  Should  the  borders  be  dry,  see  that 
they  are  given  a  thorough  watering.  The  venti- 
lators should  be  kept  open  night  and  day. 

The  Flower   Garden. 

Gladioli. — Where  early  -  planted  Gladioli  shew 
signs  of  ripening  their  foliage  they  should  be  Ufted 
with  stems  attached  and  laid  in  a  cool,  airy  place 
more  thoroughly  to  dry  off.  Before  storing  for 
the  winter  all  offsets  should  be  rubbed  off  and  the 
conns  graded  according  to  size. 

Roses. — Place  a  stake  to  plants  that  may  have 
made  extra  long  growths  this  season,  othenvise 
they  may  sustain  damage  from  the  winter  storms. 
Standards  should  also  be  examined  at  this  time 
and  the  stakes  strengthened  or  renewed  where 
necessary. 

James  McGran 
(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.), 

Coodham,  Kilmarnock. 


CONSERVATORY    .\ND    GREENHOUSE. 

Lily  of  the  Valley. — .\s  soon  as  the  crowns 
ran  be  procured  they  should  be  potted  up.  One 
dozen  to  eighteen  crowns  may  be  put  in  a  48-sized 
pot,  and  after  potting  plunged  outdoors  and 
fully  exposed  to  the  weather.  This  plunging 
applies  to  all  hardy  plants  used  for  forcing  purposes, 
as  they  all  force  more  readily  after  being  fully 
exposed  to  the  cold.  If  Lily  of  the  Valley  is 
required  for  Christmas,  some  six  weeks  should  be 
allowed  for  forcing,  and  even  more  if  a  high 
temperature  is  not  at  command.  This  plant 
will  stand  a  temperature  of  75"  to  80^  if  plunged 
in  a  warm  case,  and  there  are  few  hardy  plants 
that  will  stand  such  a  high  temperature  with 
impunity.  Where  one  relies  on  home-grown 
suppUes  of  this  plant  for  forcing  they  should  be 
lifted  as  soon  as  the  foliage  turns  yellow  and  has 
partly  died  down,  selecting  the  strongest  crowns 
for  forcing  and  reserving  the  smaller  ones  for 
planting  fresh  beds.  For  this  purpose  fresh  beds 
should  be  made  every  year,  and  if  the  plants  are 
well  grown  they  should  be  at  their  best  for  forcing 
the  third  year  from  planting.  When  using  home- 
grown plants  some  cultivators  prefer  to  litt  them 
in  turves  and  fit  them  into  boxes.  By  this  means 
and  not  forcing  too  hard  one  is  assured  of  a  plentiful 
supply  of  good  foUage  to  go  ivith  the  flowers. 
Other  hardy  herbaceous  plants  that  may  be  used 
for  this  purpose  are  Astilbes  (both  white  and  rose 
coloured),  Dicentra  spectabilis  and  Solomon's 
Seal,  the  latter  a  most  beautiful  and  graceful 
plant  for  the  decoration  of  the  cool  conservatory. 
They  should  all  be  put  into  pots  suitably  sized 
according  to  the  size  of  the  roots. 

Double-Flowered  Wallflowers  and  Canterbury 
Bells  if  prepared  as  advised  during  July  should 
now  be  lifted  and  potted,  afterwards  standing 
them  in  cold  frames  until  such  time  as  they  are 
required.  Damp  should  be  guarded  against 
during  winter,  giving  them  ample  ventilation 
at  all  times  ;  in  fact,  the  frame  Ughts  should  be 
pulled  off  whenever  the  weather  conditions  are 
suitable.  The  ordinary  single-flowered  varieties 
may  be  potted  up  for  the  same  purpose,  and  are 
very  useful  for  furnishing  the  unheated  greenhouse. 
In  a  large  public  garden  like  Kew,  where  such 
common  plants  are  often  used  for  the  conservatory, 
it  is  surprising  how  the  general  public  appreciates 
them  when  used  in  this  way.  Other  hardy  plants 
of  which  I  previously  advised  the  use,  such  as 
Campanula  persicifolia  in  blue  and  white,  also 
the  variety  Telham  Beauty,  as  well  as  strong 
roots  of  Anchusa  italica  Dropmore  var.,  should  now 
be  hfted  and  potted.  By  using  plants  of  which 
everyone  can  grow  a  supply,  one  can  easily  add 
to  the  variety  of  plants  used  for  furnishing  the 
ordinary  greenhouse. 

Liliums. — Where  a  stock  of  Liliums  has  been 
used  for  the  conservatory — here  I  have  in  mind 
L.L.  regale,  Henryi,  auratum  and  speciosum — 
they  should  now  be  examined  for  repotting.  If 
they  are  in  small  pots  and  are  in  good  condition, 
with  plenty  of  healthy  roots,  they  should  have  a 
shift  into  a  larger-sized  pot  without  disturbing 
the  roots.  If  in  bad  condition  at  the  root,  they 
should  be  turned  out  and  all  decaying  scales  and 
roots  cleaned  off,  afterwards  repotting  them  in  a 
mixture  of  good  medium  loam  and  flaky  leaf-soil, 
with  the  addition  of  plenty  of  clean  coarse  sand 
to  keep  the  whole  sweet  and  porous.  Such  varie- 
ties as  root  from  the  stem  should  only  have  their  pots 
about  three  parts  full,  this  to  allow  for  top-dressing 
when  the  plants  are  growing.  Lilium  longiflorum 
is  now  obtainable,  and  as  soon  as  the  bulbs  come 
to  hand  they  should  be  potted  without  delay. 
If  this  cannot  be  done  at  once,  they  should  be  laid 
out  in  boxes  and  covered  with  leaf-soil,  as  Lily 
bulbs  will  suffer  if  left  exposed  to  the  air  for 
any  length  of  time.  Where  seed  has  been  saved 
it  should  be  sown  at  once  and  the  boxes  or  seed- 
pans  stood  in  a  cold  frame  or  cool  greenhouse. 
Wherever  possible  choice  Liliums  should  be  raised 
from  seed.  Here  I  would  warn  cultivators  who 
have  Uttle  experience  of  raising  Lilies  from  seed 
that  some  species  form  bulbs  without  shewing 
any  signs  of  germination,  and  seed-pans  with  tiny 
buibs  are  often  thro.in  away. 

Macleania  insignis  is  a  very  beautiful  plant 
for  the  cool  conservatory,  and  its  long,  slender 
shoots  are  weU  adapted  for  training  over  the  sides 
of  the  greenhouse.  Another  point  in  its  favour 
is  the  fact  that  it  will  succeed  in  a  partly  shaded 
situation.  It  flowers  more  or  less  all  the  year 
round,  and  the  bright  Vaccinium-like  flowers 
and  dark  evergreen  foliage  are  very  attractive. 
It  is  easily  propagated  at  any  time  by  means  of 
cuttings,  and  does  best  when  planted  out  in  a  well 
drained  bed  of  rough,  lumpy  peat  and  loam  with 
plenty  of  coarse  sand    to  keep  the  whole  porous. 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kew.  J.  Coutts. 


536 


THE     GARDEN. 


[October  21,  1922. 


EDITOR'S    TABLE 

A    FL\E    LILV. 

Very  rich  in  colouring,  fine  in  shape,  substantia] 
and  of  good  size  was  a  bloom  of  Liliura  speciosuni 
"which  arrived  recently  from  Mr.  J.  Henry  \\'atson 
of  Withington,  Manchester.  The  spray  was 
gathered  from  outdoors.  Mr.  Watson  considers 
the  variety,  which  has  now  flowered  for  the  first 
time,  being  one  of  the  offspring  of  a  batch  of  seeds 
obtained  several  years  ago  from  the  Yokohama 
Xursery  Company,  an  improvement  on  any  known 
form  of  L.  speciosum.  We  should  very  much  have 
hked  to  compare  it  with  a  typical  blossom  of 
L.  s.  magnificum,  but  one  was  not  to  hand.  It  is 
very  difficult  to  carry  in  one's  mind's  eye  the 
minutiae  of  colour  and  form  which  would  enable  a 
satisfactory  comparison  to  be  made,  but  the 
flower  sent  was  certainly  admirable  and  of  fine 
substance,  colour,  form  and  size.  With  the  petals 
straightened  out  the  flower  measured  about  /ins. 
across,  the  diameter  of  a  very  respectable  Auratum 
Lily. 


Correction, — Owing  to  a  typographical  error, 
the  plant  illustrated  at  the  bottom  of  page 
500  in  our  issue  dated  October  7  was  inadver- 
tently described  as  a  Berberis  instead  of  Spinea 
Thunhergii. 

M.  Correv'on  Honoured. — .\lpine  lovers  and 
readers  generally  will  be  pleased  to  hear  of  the 
distinction  conferred  on  our  valued  contributor 
M.  Henry  Correvon  by  the  Jury  of  the  International 
Horticultural  Exhibition  at  Brussels.  The  Jury 
after  closely  inspecting  more  than  twenty-five 
volumes  from  the  pen  of  the  distinguished  author 
of  "  Fleiurs  des  Champs  et  des  Bois,"  asked  per- 
mission to  add  to  the  Diploma  of  Honour  which 
they  awarded  *'  the  warmest  congratulations  of 
the  Jury,"  aunique  distinction. 

National  Carnation  and  Picotee  Society.— 
At  a  committee  meeting  of  the  above  Society 
on  the  30th  ult.  it  was  decided  to  hold  two  separate 
exhibitions  of  Border  Carnations  in  1923,  the 
earlier  one  on  July  8  and  the  later  on  the  23rd. 
This  obviously  will  extend  the  chances  of  all 
classes  of  Carnation  growers  to  stage  their  flowers 
at  their  best,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  oppor- 
tunities will  be  accepted  by  growers  who  have  not 
hitherto  managed  to  bring  their  flowers  up  to 
Vincent  Square. 

The  United  Horticultural  Benefit  and  Provi- 
dent Society. — -The  annual  festival  dinner  of  the 
above  Society  was  held  at  the  Imperial  Hotel, 
Russell  Square,  W.C,2.,  on  October  4,  Mr.  Leonard 
Sutton  presiding.  Among  the  large  number  of 
guests  was  Sir  Frederick  Keeblc.  In  his  speech 
the  chairman  briefly  outUned  the  history  of  the 
Society  and  explained  to  the  visitors  what  good 
the  Society  was  doing.  The  most  interesting 
event  of  the  evening  was  the  presentation  of  a 
gentleman's  wardrobe  and  barometer  to  Mr.  C. 
H.  Curtis  in  appreciation  of  his  services  as  chairman 
of  the  committee  for  twenty-one  years. 


CHRYSANTHEMUMS  FOLIAGE  UNHEALTHY  (t\, 
Chichfster). — TIuti-  is  somu  si<;n  (if  tlirip?;  on  tht-  Chry- 
sautheraums,  but  the  main  rause  of  thi'  trouble  appears 
to  be  overfeeding.  Great  care  is  needed  with  this  variety 
(H.  W.  Tiiorp)  in  tlie  applicatinn  of  manures. 

HARDY  PERENNIALS  ("  Sussex  by  the  Sea  ")■— 
'J'he  herbaceous  pirmiiials  tiiat  would  give  a  display 
with  the  least  attention  would  include  German  Irises, 
perennial  Sunflowers,  Day  Lilies,  Michaelmas  Daisies, 
Anemone  japonica,  Golden  Kod.  Heleniums,  Liatris 
pycnostachya.  Lysimaehia  elethroide?.  Lythrum  roseum 
superbum,  Metiaj^ea  cordifolia.  P;i paver  orientale,  Poly- 
gonum amplexicaule.  Pyrethruni  uliginnsum,  Kudbeckia 
ealiforniea,  li.  maxima,  ^ipir;I'■l  palmata,  Veronica  latifolia, 
V.  virginica  and  the  lianlier  larly-ttowering  Chrysanthe- 
mums, snch  as  the  Mas^e  family  and  C.  Normandie. 

LILIES  UNSATISFACTORY  ("  Lily."  Glasgow).— 
Our  coiTespomlent  dois  nut  ■.'ive  the  variety  of  Lily  he 
lias  grown  iu  a  box  for  two  years.  Undoubtedly  the 
cause  of  the  stunted  growth  is  exhaustion  of  nutriment 
in  the  soil  and  general  weakening  of  the  bulbs.  After 
the  first  year  the  bulbs  should  be  planted  in  the  border 
in  due  course  or  thrown  away  and  new  buibs  planted  in 
their  place.  The  bulbs  are,  probably,  very  small  now  if 
examined.     Use  new  compost  and  new  bulbs. 

GRASSES  AND  CLEMATISES  C-Cotswold"  and 
\V.  li.  J.}. — The  Grass  Festuca  Crinum-Ursi  belongs  to 
the  Fescue  Grass  genus,  and  these  latter  grow  freely 
all  over  this  country,  forming  some  of  our  best  pasture 
land.  Hard  Fescuew'ill  thrive  in  very  poor  soil,  grows 
freely  by  the  roadsides  in  the  country,  is  very  dwari, 
seeds  mature  rapidly,  and  the  reproduction  of  the  plant 
is  assured  throughout  the  season.  Festuca  Crinum- 
Ursi  was  introduced  in  this  country  about  the  year  1890. 
It  only  grows  3ins.  high,  and  will  establish  itself  in  any 
ordinary  garden  soil.  It  is  considered  ornamental,  but 
not  much  is  known  about  it  generally  as  a  garden  plant 
beyond  iLse  on  rockeries,  where  it  succeeds.  "  Cotswold  " 
should  prune  his  Clematis  as  he  would  C.  montana — 
tliin  out  weakly  shoots  and  decaying  ends  of  older  wood. 
If  overcrowded,  some  of  the  big  shoots  may  be  shortened 
considerably.  "  W.  R.  J."  would  probably  find  "  British 
Wild  Flowers."  by  Lubbock,  suitable.  He  should  wTite 
to  The  Abbey  Library,  1.  Little  College  Street,  Westminster, 
S.W. 

PRIMULA  CALYCINA  ("  Bismarck ").— There  should 
be  no  special  difficulty  in  flowering  this  old  species  if 
it  is  grown  under  fairly" cool  conditions.  That  is,  it  should 
not  be  exposed  to  the  full  sunshine  in  a  small  town  rock 
garden.  With  most  of  the  alpine  species  winter  damp 
is  their  chief  enemy,  and  to  combat  this  the  crowns  should 
be  kept  fairly  high  and  pieces  of  sandstone  may  be  placed 
around  them. 


ANSWERS 
TO  CORRESPONDENTS 

FLOWKR      GARDEN. 

TREATMENT  OF  LILIUM  AURATUM  (M.  C, 
.Norfolk). — We  su.spect  that  the  soil  in  the  bed  near  the 
stream  is  too  wet  and  cold  during  tlie  winters  for  the 
well-being  of  the  Lily  bulbs,  and  in  such  a  position 
it  would  probably  be  best  to  lift  the  bulbs  during  the 
late  autumn.  Unless  it  is  intended  to  purchase  fresh 
bulbs  each  year  it  would  be  best  to  grow  the  Liliums 
in  a  more  suitable  place,  and  especial  attention  should  be 
paid  to  shelter  from  rough  winds.  X  light,  rich  soil  is 
the  most  suitable,  and  the  bulbs  should  be  planted  quite 
6ias.  deep. 


ROSE      (iARDEX. 

ABOUT  ROSES  FOR  GROWING  (K.  51..  Bo'ness).— 
Hugh  Dickson,  a  strong-growing  variety  ;  Irish  Elegance, 
vigorous  in  ordinary  soil  ;  Lady  Pirrie,  vigorous  ;  General 
Mc Arthur,  strong  gromng  ;  Golden  Emblem,  vigorous  ; 
Ophelia,  moderately  strong  growing  ;  Mrs,  George 
Marriott,  not  as  vigorous  as  the  above  named  ;  and 
Mrs.  David  MeKee.  similar  to  last-named  variety. 

ROSES  ATTACKED  (T.  H.  S..  Andover).— The  Roses 
are  attack-d  by  the  ordinary  rose  rust  fungus  (Phrag- 
midium  subcorticiura).  This  fungus  attacks  also  wild 
Roses,  and  may  often  spread  from  these  to  the  cultivated 
ones.  Tiie  fungus  passes  the  winter  on  fallen  Rose  leaves. 
It  is  therefore  important  to  collect  and  burn  all  these 
as  far  as  possible  so  as  to  prevent  the  possibility  of  new 
infection  in  spring.  The  first  stage  appears  in  spring  in 
the  form  of  orange  masses  ot  spores  on  the  shoots,  and 
at  this  season,  at  the  end  of  April  or  during  May  further 
infection  may  be  prevented  by  spraying  with  a  rose  red 
solution  of  potassium  permanganate,  a  spray  that  may 
also  be  used  as  soon  as  any  fresh  outbreak  is  seen. 


TREES     AND     SHRUBS. 

CALIFORNIAN  BUSH  POPPY  {T.  S.  C.).— Our  corre- 
spondent uuLst  not  cut  down  the  plant  until 
winter  is  passed.  The  safest  plan  is  to  leave  the 
plant  untouched  till  new  shoots  can  be  seen  growing 
near  the  base  of  the  plant  in  the  new  year  and  then  to 
cut  back  the  stems  to  these  shoots.  If  grown  iu  a  sheltered 
place  and  treated  in  the  way  described  the  plant  will 
soon  increase  in  size  in  the  Southern  Counties. 


THE     GREENHOUSE. 

CARNATION  RUST  ("  Slmndon  ")■— To  prevent  rust 
in  Carnations  maintain  a  dry  atmosphere  and  ventilate 
freely. 

CHRYSANTHEMUMS,     CARNATIONS      AND     BULBS 

IN  A  VINERY  (P.  H.  H.  M..  Lingfield).— The  period 
during  wljicli  our  corrcspondnit  proposes  heating  tin- 
vinery  tu  keep  out  frost  would  be  from  November  till 
March,  Almost  the  whole  of  this  time  the  Vines  should 
be  at  rest,  and  until  they  are  started — forced — again 
oniy  frost  must  be  excluded  anil  not  any  temperature 
luaintained  unduly  to  e.xcite  growth  ot  Vines.  The 
flowers  named  do  not  require  much  heat,  just  sufficient 
to  expel  moisture  and  frosts.  The  paraffin  stove  will 
:ui-wer  the  purpose  if  the  wick  is  triaimed  daily,  fresh 
(ill  put  in  and.  after  lighting,  duly  regulated  so  that  the 
uick  does  not  emit  smoke.     The  Vines  will  not  be  injured. 


roots  could  be  imprfived,  I'o  this  end  a  surface  mule!: 
of  4  peck^  111  fibrous  hiain  aii<l  1  peck  ot  lime  applied  iu 
November  to  earb  tiee  wnuld  prove  very  bi'neflcial. 

GRAPES  UNSATISFACTORY  (A.  L.  L..  Mon.).— 
The  trouble  with  the  Grapes  does  not  arise  from  the 
attack  of  fungi  or  insects,  but  from  something  wrong  in 
cultivation.  Probably  the  ventilation  has  not  been 
consistently  well  looked  after,  and  the  border  may  not 
be  in  good  order — well  drained  and  properly  supplied 
with  water. 

APPLE  ELLISON'S  ORANGE  (H.  C.  G.).— Ellison's 
Orange  i>  similar  to  Cipx's  Orange  in  both  form  and  colour, 
also  iu  regard  to  flavour.  The  tree  succeeds  where  Cox's 
often  fails  to  grow  satisfactorily,  making  strong  shoots. 
The  cropping  qualities,  too  are  good.  It  is  in  season 
a  month  earlier  than  Cox's,  but  keeps  well  in  average 
seasons.  It  is,  undoubtedly,  an  Apple  of  high  merit, 
but  we  think  that  there  is  room  for  both — ^the  variety 
in  question  and  Cox's,  as  the  latter  always  sells  well. 

PEARS  DISEASED  {M.  G.,  Hinksey  Hill).— The  disease 
of  the  Pears  is  caused  by  a  fungas,  not  by  a  caterpillar. 
The  fungus  is  Fusicladium  pirinum,  and  the  best  treat- 
ment is  to  cut  out  all  the  shoots  and  spurs  shewing  cracks 
in  the  bark  or  signs  of  disease  during  the  winter  and  to 
spray  the  trees  with  Bordeaux  mixture  just  before  the 
buds  burst  and  again  after  the  petals  fall. 


ailSCELLANEOUS. 

SOUTH  AFRICAN  FRUIT  ("  Gardener,"  Chingford).— 
From  tiie  description  given  it  is  not  possible  to  name 
tlie  fruit  with  any  degree  of  certainty,  and  in  the  absence 
of  the  Iruit  the  best  we  can  do  is  to  suggest  that  it  may 
be  the  Loquat  or  Japan  Medlar  (Eriobotyra  japonica), 
although  this  is  not  a  native  of  South  Africa.  As  no 
doubt  our  correspoiident  realises,  the  phonetic  spelling 
of  a  native  name  is  often  of  very  little  guide  as  a  clue. 
As  the  seedling  develops  it  should  be  an  easy  matter  to 
ascertain  whether  or  not  our  guess  is  correct.  The 
Loquat  makes  a  handsome  wall  shrub  and  will  grow  well 
in  anv  garden    that  is  not  very  heavy. 

ERADICATING  PLANTAINS  AND  DAISIES  FROM 
LAWN  (A.  W.,  Derby). — The  Wikeham  Weed  Eradicator 
will  be  found  a  handy  implement  to  use  for  destroying 
coarse  weeds  on  lawns!^  It  can  be  charged  with  any  good 
liquid  weed  killer  and,  if  the  spike  is  pushed  well  down  into 
the  rootstock.  Plantains  soon  die.  They  can  then  be 
removed  and  the  hole  filled  either  with  a  piece  of  fresli 
turf  or  fine  soil  and  sown  with  a  pincli  of  grass  seed. 

BOOKS  DEALING  WITH  ROSES  (A.  G.  H.,  Barrow- 
in-Furness). — The  history  of  the  present-day  Rose  is 
well  treated  in  ""  Roses  :  Their  History.  Development 
and  Cultivation."  by  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Pemberton,  and 
published  by  Longmans  and  Co.  This  work  also  deals 
with  pests  and  diseases,  but  the  most  up-to-date  infor- 
mation on  these  matters  is  to  be  found 'in  a  publication 
of  the  National  Rose  Society,  wliich  is  issued  free  to  all 
membi-rs  subscribing  10s.  6d.  and  upwards. 

VARIOUS  QUESTIONS  ("  Summer ").— When  the 
leaves  begin  to  fade  and  the  stems  to  mature  the  latter 
should  be  cut  down  to  within  6ins.  of  the  ground  in  the 
case  of  Hollyhocks.  If  left  outside  during  the  winter, 
surround  t!ie  stems  with  ashes.  Hydrangeas  may  be 
grown  outside,  remaining  in  the  open  aii  the  year  round 
in  Surrey.  All  runners: — forming  now — on  Violets  should 
be  cut  off  forthwith.  The  surface  soil  must  be  lOosened 
occasionally  between  the  plants  and  decaying  leaves 
removed.  Take  strong  cuttings  of  the  Violas  and  insert 
in  sandy  soil  in  a  cool  border  or  rough  frame.  The  old 
plants  will  deteriorate,  so  young  ones  nmst  be  raised 
annually. 

NAMES     OF    PLANTS.— K.     M..     Birkenhead.— Pyrus 

Aria.    "White    Beam." "Torquay." — 1.    Rose    Mrs. 

Wemyss  O'hn  ;    2,  Rose  G.  Nabonnand. "  Dinnet." — 

Physostegia      virginiana.      False      Dragon's      Head. 

K.    H.    B..   Fife. — Tacsonia   mixta. E.    W.,   Luton. — 

1,  Cotyledon  glauca  ;  2,  C.  Scheideckeri ;  3,  Sempc-r- 
vi\-um  tabuliformc;  4,  Cotyledon  elavifolia  ;  5,  Fuchsia 
triphyila  :  6.  probably  Veronica  Ingrami,  specimen 
poor ;  7.  Veronica  Andersonii  variegata ;  8,  Begonia 
fucli^ioides. 

NAMES  OF  FRUIT.— (F.  M.  J.).— Apples  :  1,  very  much 
like  Cellini ;  2.  unnamed  seedlmg.  If  trees  are  raised 
from  pips,  the  fruits  are  certain  to  differ  from  any  known 

Apple. T.     S.     C— Apple     Cellini. "  Nagrom."  - 

Apples:  1,  Lord  Suffield ;  2,  Worcester  Pearmain  : 
3.  immature,  please  send  later;    4,  Old  Hawthornden  , 

5,  Beauty  of  Stoke;  6,  Bramley's  Seedling;  7,  Margi! ; 
8.  Tower  of  Glamis  ;  9.  cannot  identify ;  10,  Waltham 
Abbey  Seedling;  11.  Caiville  Rouge  Preeoce,  specimen 
immature;  12.  Pott's  Seedling;  13,  Striped  Beefing; 
14,  CelHni. E.  S.  S. — Apples  :    1,  Blenheim  Orange  ; 

2,  Emperor  Alexander  ;  3,  Lady  Henniker  ;  4,  Saiidring- 
ham  ;    5.  probably  Fearn's  Pippin,  specimen  malformed" ; 

6,  Bramley's  Seedling,  poor  specimen. 


FRUIT     GARDEN. 

PLUM  COES  GOLDEN  DROP  (G.  C.  D.).— If  our  corre- 
spondent has  space  in  which  to  plant  a  Victoria,  bush  or 
pyramid  in  form,  within  10ft.  or  so  of  the  trees  of  Golden 
Drop,  the  setting  of  the  fruits  ot  the  latter  will  be  assisted 
considerably  by  bees  and  insects.  Judging  from  the 
description  given,  we  think  that   the  condition  of  the 


CATALOGUES  RECEIVED. 

Messrs.  Barbier  et  Cie..  Tlio  Nurseries,  Orleans,  France. — 

Roses. 
The    Biirnham    Nurseries,    Limited,    Barnham    Junction, 

Sussex. — Trees  and  Shrubs,  Climbers,  etc. 
Messrs.   Amos    Perry,   The    Hardy    Plant  Farm,   Enfield, 

Middlesex.— Hardy  Plants  and  Bulbs. 
Messrs.  V.  Lemoine  et  Fils,  136-142,    Rue    du  'Montet, 

Nancv,  France. — Greenhouse  Plants,  Ferns  and  Hardy 

Plant's. 
Messrs.  W.  Seabrook  and  Sons,  Limited,  The  Nurseries, 

Chelmsford. — Fruit  and  Rose  Trees. 
The  Hampton  Plant  Company,  New  Jfalden,  Surrey.— 

Rose  Trees. 
Messrs.  E.  P.  Dixon  and  Sons,  Limited,  Paragon  Square, 

Hull.— Fruit  Trees.  Roses,  Trees  and  Shrubs,  etc. 
Donard     Nursery     Company,     Newcastle,    Co.     Down. — 

Shrubs. 


THE 


.V. .  J.,  V  <-vjt  X  or  rrie 


^OV  1  0)922 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


ioU  LXXXVI.— No.  2658. 

:otered  as  Second'Ctass  Matter  at  the  New  York,  N.Y..  Post  Office. 


Saturday,  October  28,  1922 


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Containing  Early  Hyacinths.  Daffodils,  Polyanthus  Narcissi,  Tulips,  Freesias,  etc. 
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RADD     SL     CON^  11,  12   &  13,   kino  street, 

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CHEALS'    NURSERIES 

Over     100    Acres. 

CHEALS'   Ornamental  Trees  and  Shrubs,   in   great   variety;    Climbers, 

Forest  Trees,   etc. 
CHEALS'    Roses;  all  sections.  i- 

CHEALS'    Fruit  Trees;    hardy,  healthy,   true  to  name.  1- 

CHEALS'   Hardy  Flowers  for  Borders,   Bogs,   Rock  Gardens,  etc. 
CHEALS'   Dahlias  a  Speciality. 
CHEALS'    Seeds,   Bulbs  and  Sundries. 

Catalogues    of    each     Department    free. 
CHEALS'    Landscape  Gardeners  &  Garden  Architects.     Designs  prepared 

and  advice  .given  in  any  part.     Illustrated  Pamphlet  free. 

J.  CHEAL  &  SONS,  Ltd.     ■    The  Nurseries,  CRAWLEY. 

YORK  STONE  CRAZY  PAVING 

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GREY    LIMESTONE   AND    RED    SANDSTONE    ROCKERY, 
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Waterworn  and  Weathered   WESTMORELAND    LIMESTONE 
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THE    GARDEN. 


[October  28,  1922. 


"THE    GARDEN"   CATALOGUE    GUIDE 


NOTICE  TO  OUR  READERS 


/^N  receipt  of  a  Post  Card  the  under- 
^"^  mentioned  firms  will  be  pleased  to 
send  their  useful  Catalogues  free  of  charge. 


Rose  Specialists 


GEORGE  PRINCE 

LONGWORTH 

BERKS 


Specialist  in 
Roses  of  all 
descriptions 


The  Champion  Decorative  Rose  Grower 
of  England, 

RELISHA  J.  HICKS.  M.C.N.R.S.,  etc., 
OSES  Hurst,  Berks. 


riRST 

FOR 


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PERRY'S 

Hardy  Plant  Farms 

ENFIELD,  MIDDX. 


N«w  Alpines 
and  Perennials 

Complete 
Oollectton 


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Conservatory 
decoration. 
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varieties  post 


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Nurseries 

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and 

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and  Alpines 
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408,  King's  Road 

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Bulb 

Catalogue 
now  ready. 


New    Pink    Glory,  | 

A  grand  flower  and  a  strong  grower.    Now  ^ 

is    the  time    to   plant    for    flowering    next  = 

June.     Strong  plants,  8/-  doz.,  six  for  5/-.  = 

POST    FREE    FOR    CASH.  J 

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"  wire  bound  patent,  over  100 
prizes.  R.H.S  Medal.  1910.  No  warping  or 
shrinking.  In  Oak,  Beech,  Tea'<.  etc.  Highly 
dccorativ*-. —  Price  List  from  Pradal  &  Co., 
V!6,  Goodge  Street,  London.  W.I. 


Garden  Sundries 


CORRY   &   CO.,   Ltd. 
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Rock,  Water  or 
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Stone  Paved  Paths. 

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Trees,  Shrubs,  Rnses. 
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I 


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PEMBERTON'S  ROSES. 

Descriptive    List,     Guide    to     Selection 
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I 


THE      SERVANTLESS      HOUSE, 
AND     HOW     TO     EQUIP     IT. 

By  R.  Randal  Phillips. 

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200,000    TO    OFFER. 

My  Catalogue  describes  more    than   400    varieties 
Contains  eight  illustrations,  and   is  post  free  fron 

El.      HARRIS, 
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SPECIALITIES. 

FRUIT   TREES 
ROSES 

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Hardy  Climbing  Plants 

Interesting    Descriptive    and    Illustrated    Catalogue 
of  all  the  above  free  on  application. 

We  have  very  large  stocks  of  Fruit  Trees  ir 
splendid  condition  this  season.  Grown  on  selectee 
pedigree  stocks,  healthy,  well  rooted,  and  true  tc 
name.  Roses  and  other  stocks  are  equally  good  ;r 
quality  and  in  great  variety. 

200    ACRES    UNDER    CULTIVATION. 

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ONS 

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IN  AU»^ 

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We  are  Actual  Growers  and  have 
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SPECIAL     OFFER. 

Mixe'  Daffodils,  No.  3,  really  fine  bulbs,  com- 
prising Emperor.  Empress,  Sir  Watkin. 
Barri  Conspicuus,  Ornatus,  Pheasant  Eye, 
all  sound  flowering  bulbs,  100.  7/6:  1000, 
60/-.  Carr.  or  post  paid  for  cash  with  order. 


GEORGE  ELSOM,  Dept.  F,  SPALDING,  LINGS. 


No.  2658.— Vol.  LXXXVL] 


[October  28,  1922. 


DECORATIVE    HARDY    CRABS 


WITH  the  possible  exception  of  the 
Flowering  Cherries,  there  is  no 
group  of  flowering  trees  which  is 
so  valuable  as  that  which  embraces 
the  various  flowering  and  fruiting 
Crabs.  The  Crab  Apple  of  our  hedgerows,  Pj-rus 
Mains,  is  by  no  means  destitute  of  beauty,  but  for 
the  garden  it  has  been  quite  surpassed  by  some  of 
its  varieties  and  hybrids.  Of  varieties  the  Red 
Astrachan  Apple,  P  M.  var.  astracanica,  with  a 
long,  thin  stalk  and  bloom-covered  crimson  fruits, 
and  P.  M.  pendula  (usually  called  Elise  Rathke  in 
gardens),  handsome  in  flower  and  «ith 
yellow  fruits,  are  probably  the  best, 
though  many  of  the  Cider  .Apples  of 
commerce  are  well  worth  growing  for 
their  beauty  of  flower  and  fruit  alone. 

The  true  Siberian  Crab,  Pyrus 
baccata,  is  an  exceedingly  decorative 
tree,  being  handsome  when  in  flower, 
but  chiefly  notable  for  the  brilhant  red 
globular  fruits,  the  better  part  of  an 
inch  across  and  usually  produced  with 
the  utmost  prodigality. 

Pyrus  prunifolia,  with  more  elongated 
fruits,  which  are  crowned  with  the 
persistent  calyx  is,  so  Bean  suggests, 
perhaps  a  hybrid  between  P.  Mains  and 
P.  baccata  ;  at  any  rate,  its  wild  habitat 
is  not  known.  Like  the  true  Siberian 
Crab  a  somewhat  variable  plant,  it  is, 
as  a  rule,  less  effective  than  that 
species  when  in  flower,  but  is  very 
handsome  when  the  fruits  colour. 
There  is  a  weeping  variety  (pendula), 
and  several  yellow  fruited  forms,  most  of 
which  are  quite  pleasant  eating.  Pyrus 
cerasifera  is  a  beautiful  Crab  ■  is  said 
to  be  a  cross  between  P.  prunifolia 
and  P.  baccata.  The  fruits  are  pur- 
plish red  and  about  the  size  of  a  Cherry 
and  the  tree  is  very  handsome  when  in 
flower. 

Pyrus  Ringo  is  probably  a  hybrid, 
but  was  introduced  to  EngUsh  gardens 
from  Japan.  This  is  quite  the  hand- 
somest of  the  yellow-fruited  Crabs  and 
among  the  most  conspicuous  of  yellow- 
fruited  shrubs  and  trees.  The  flowers 
are  blush  when  fully  expanded,  but 
the  rosy  buds  are  very  effective. 

Pyrus  Scheideckeri  is  another  of, 
doubtless,  hybrid  origin.  It  is  alike 
remarkable  for  the  profusion  of  its 
blossom  and  the  vigour  of  its  growth. 
The  flowers  are  soft  rose  in  colour  and 


the  fruits,  which  are  not  usually  produced  very 
abundantly,  are  yellow.  Closely  allied  to  this  is 
P.  floribunda  ;  indeed  many  authorities  think  that 
P.  Scheideckeri  has  floribunda  "  blood."  When 
in  bud,  or  before  many  of  the  flowers  are  fully 
expanded,  this  is  a  very  beautiful  (and  well  known) 
tree.  The  expanded  flowers  are  pale  pink,  fading 
off  almost  to  white,  but  the  unexpanded  buds 
are  a  beautiful  clear  rosy  red.  The  variety 
atrosanguinea  is  an  improvement  on  the  type, 
being  richer  in  colouring  though  even  here  it  is 
the  bud  colour  w-hich  chieflv  counts.     The  vellow 


THE    PURPLISH    CRIMSON    FRUITS    OF    PYRUS    ELEY^f 


fruits    are     scantily      produced    and     are    scarcely 
ornamental. 

With  purplish  rose  flowers,  red-purple  fruits  and 
purplish  wood,  Pyrus  Niedzwetzkyana  might  well 
be  called  the  Purple  Crab.  It  appears  to  bear  a 
similar  relationship  to  the  Crab  .Apple  of  our 
hedgerows  to  that  borne  to  the  Filbert  (Corylus 
maxima)  by  the  Purple  Filbert — var.  purpurea. 
However  that  may  be,  P.  Niedzwetzkyana  is  a 
sufficiently  beautiful  tree,  though  one  would 
hesitate  to  include  it  in  a  short  list  of  ornamental 
flowering  trees.  Pyrus  Eleyi,  the  flower  of  which 
was  figured  in  The  Garden  for  May  25 
last,  page  240,  is  said  to  have  been 
raised  by  crossing  this  species  with  P. 
floribunda.  Its  foliage  and  fruits  have 
something  of  the  purplish  hue  of  P. 
Niedzwetzkyana,  but  it  is  much  freer 
both  in  flower  and  fruit.  The  fruits 
are  much  smaller  than  in  the  purple 
parent,  indeed  they  would  easily  pass 
muster  as  those  of  some  variety  of  the 
Siberian  Crab.  Pyrus  Eleyi  seems 
destined  to  take  its  place  as  one  of  the 
indispensables  of  this  valuable  family. 
Pyrus  angustifoHa  is  a  quite  inter- 
esting species  not  so  often  seen  in 
gardens  as  it  well  might  be.  The 
flowers,  which  are  very  profusely  borne, 
are  pale  pink  fading  almost  to  white. 
The  double  form  more  often  seen  in 
cultivation  as  P.  angustifolia  flore 
pleno  is,  according  to  Bean,  really  a 
double  form  of  the  closely  allied  P. 
ioensis,  which  is  distinguished  by  its 
persistently  woolly  foliage. 

Closely  allied  to  these  two  species  is 
P.  coronaria — the  American  Crab — 
which  comes  from  the  eastern  states 
of  North  America.  The  whitish  flowers 
are  freely  produced  and  exceedingly 
fragrant — the  scent  is  said  to  resemble 
that  of  Violets,  but  that  is  a  matter  of 
opinion.  It  is  later  flowering  than  most 
species,  the  blossom  lasting  usually  well 
into  June  and  additionally  valuable  on 
that  account.  The  comparatively  large 
truits  are  greenish  yellow  and  of  little 
merit  from  any  point  of  view.  This  is, 
lor  a  Crab  Apple,  a  large-growing 
species  and  a  very  valuable  one, 
though  not  commonly  seen  in  gardens- 
The  well  named  Pyrus  cratajgifolia 
is  a  shrub  or  small  tree,  very  uncomnTon 
at  present  in  this  country.  It  blossoms 
in  June  when  the  pure  white  flowers  ara 


538 


THE     GARDEN. 


[October  28,  1922. 


EARLinST    OF    FLOWERING    CRABS,    PYRUS    SCHEIDECKERI. 


AN    EFFECTIVE    GROUPING    OF    PYRUS    FLORTBUNUA. 


exceedingly  effective.  The  reddish  fruits  are 
not  particularly  attractive,  being  not  unlike  those 
of  P.  floribunda,  but  the  foliage  usually  colours 
beautifully  in  autumn.  This  is  one  of  the  finest 
flowering  shrubs  for  a  small  garden  it  is  possible 
to  imagine  but,  unfortunately,  not  easy  to  procure. 

Pyrus  Parkmaiuii,  or  to  give  it  its  proper  name, 
P.  Halliana,  unlike  the  last  mentioned  is  exceedingly 
common  in  gardens  and  nurseries  but,  in  the  writer's 
opinion,  it  is  too  largely  planted.  Somewhat  in 
the  way  of  Pyrus  floribunda,  but  with  flowers 
usually  semi-double,  it  is  more  erect  in  habit  and 
less  free  flowering  than  that  admirable  tree.  It 
seems  rather  larger  habited   than  floribunda. 

The  Oregon  Crab,  P.  rivularis,  is  often  listed  by- 
Continental  nurserymen.  It  is  an  American  species 
of  no  particular  beauty  or  value.  Pyrus  Toringo, 
to  which  it  is  closely  allied,  has  rosy  flowers  and 
resembles  in  many  ways  P.  floribunda  from  which, 
however,  it  is  readily  distinguished  by  the  very 
small  (pea  sized)  fruits.  The  more  recently  intro- 
duced P.  Zumi,  with  larger  fruits  bright  red  in 
colour,  may  perhaps  prove  a  valuable  garden  tree. 
The  flowers  are  pale  pink.  P.  Sargenti,  more 
recently  introduced  still,  forms  a  low  shrub — not 
more  than  5ft.  or  so  high — smothered  in  spring 
with  pure  white  flowers,  followed  by  globular 
fruits  which  are  bright  red  when  ripe. 

Pyrus  spectabilis  is  one  of  the  most  worthy  of 
Crabs  grown  for  beauty  of  flower,  but  the  yellowish 
fruits  are  not  attractive.  This  species  grows  into  a 
tree  of  some  size,  much  larger  than  P.  floribunda  for 
instance,  which  species  it  resembles  as  regards  flower 
colour,  though  the  individual  flowers  are  larger. 
There  is  a  semi-double  variety — flore  pleno — which 
perhaps  retains  its  colour  a  little  better,  but  the 
typical  form  is,  as  Crab  .Apples  go,  particularly 
long-lasting  in  flower. 

The  Sikkim  Crab,  Pyrus  sikkimensis,  is  rarely  seen 
in  Britain  outside  botanic  gardens.  If  forms  an 
admirable  small  tree,  valuable  both  for  its  abundant 
white  blossom  and  rather  pear-shaped  dark  red 
fruits  which,  in  the  quantity  it  produces  them,  are 
exceedingly  showy.  Undoubtedly  closely  allied  to 
the  true  Siberian  Crab,  it  is  quite  distinct  as  a 
garden  tree  and  indeed  much  more  refined. 

There  are  several  hybrid  fruiting  Crabs  of  great 
value  for  garden  decoration  of  which  the  origin  is 
uncertain  and  which  can  hardly  be  referred  to  any 
one  species.  One  of  the  best  of  these  is  Transparent, 
of  which  the  fruits  when  quite  ripe  become  more  or 
less  translucent.  Their  colour  is  yellow  with  a 
bright  red  flush  on  the  sunny  side.  John  Downie, 
with  apple-like  fruits  sometimes  2ins.  across,  is 
perhaps  the  finest  of  all  both  as  regards  flavour  and 
appearance.  The  tree  is,  naturally,  handsomest 
when  roped  with  fruits,  but  the  individual  fruits 
are  then  considerably  smaller.  The  colouring  is 
a  bright,  if  pale,  orange  with  a  scarlet  cheek. 
Other  unclassified  varieties  include  Dartmouth, 
with  crimson  fruits  covered  with  purplish  bloom  ; 
Fairy,  yellow  and  crimson  ;  Orange,  clear  soft 
yellow  ;    and  Transcendent,  yellow  and  rosy-red. 

The  fruits  of  almost  all  these  Crabs  have  an 
economic  value  for  jelly  making,  but  most  of  them 
are  mainly  grown  as  ornamental  trees  and  shrubs. 
They  are  not  particular  as  to  soil  so  long  as  their 
root-run  is  sweet  and  not  too  poor.  Taking  them 
for  all  in  all,  they  succeed  best  on  rather  Ughter 
loams  than  those  which  would  be  considered  ideal 
for  an  Apple  orchard,  but  any  soil  not  deficient 
in  Hme  will,  if  thoroughly  cultivated,  suit  them 
quite  well. 

-Many  people  think  it  a  pity  that  the  Apple 
family,  previously  considered  a  separate  genus — 
Mains — should  now  be  combined  with  the  totally 
dissimilar  White  Beams,  Service  Trees  and  Rowans, 
the  Pears  and  a  couple  of  smaller,  less  known  groups, 
to  form  the  huge  genus  Pyrus.  It  is  certainly  very 
confusing  to  the  average  amateur  gardener. 


October  28,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


539 


MICHAELMAS    DAISIES 

No    hngir  garden  Cinderellas,  thanks  to   "  Ballard,  Beckett  and  Co." — Cinderellas   do 
not  look  zvell  overdressed — Notes  on  Beauties  at  the  Autumn  Shows — About 


M 


ICHAELMAS  DAISIES  are  slowly 
but  surely  worming  their  way  into 
the  autumn  garden.  The  triumvirate 
of  Sunflower,  Dahlia  and  Chrysanthe- 
mum no  longer  has  it  all  its  own  way. 
At  last — advisedly  I  say  at  last — this  stranger 
from  North  America  has  found  some  good  friends 
like  Mr.  Beckett  and  Mr.  Ballard,  who  have  waved 
their  wands  of  selection  and  hybridisation  over 
its  ancient  colourings  and  habits,  with  the  result 
that  it  can  no  longer  be  denied  an  honoured  place 
in  the  autumn  Paradise  of  the  \\^ise.  There  have 
been  writers  who  have 
doubted  the  appropriate- 
ness of  the  surname  for 
a  family  whose  floweruig 
extends  from  soon  after 
Lammas  right  on  to 
Martinmas  ;  just  as  I 
would  question  the  appro- 
priateness of  the  sug- 
gested alternative.  Star- 
wort,  for  except  in  acris  I 
can  see  no  particular  re- 
semblance in  their  shapes, 
sizes  and  colours  to  the 
stars  of  heaven  beyond 
that  of  an  endless  number 
of  other  flowers.  But  if 
I  must  discuss  names,  I 
would  like  some  time  or 
other  to  go  into  the 
history  of  NovEE-Anglia; 
and  Novi-Belgii  and  find 
out  why — if  it  was  not 
pure  chanc  e — these 
branches  ot  the  family 
were  so  christened.  Any- 
thing that  concerns  what 
I  think  I  may  without 
hesitation  call  its  most 
important  garden  section 
must  be  of  interest.  One 
had  only  to  look  at  the 
beautiful  exhibits  of  Mr. 
Ernest  Ballard,  Mr.  H.  J. 
Jones  of  Lewisham,  Mr. 
-Amos  Perry  and  Mr. 
Wells  at  the  R.  H.  S. 
Autumn  Show  to  see  how 
the  Novi-Belgii  section 
eclipses  all  others.  These 
others,  though,  are  also 
very  lovely,  and  have 
many    devoted    admirers. 

The  award  of  merit  given  on  the  same  occasion 
to  a  Novae-Anglite — Barr's  Pink — was  a  gentle 
reminder  that  it  is  so.  Barr  and  Sons  were 
among  the  first  to  give  a  prominent  place  in  their 
herbaceous  catalogue  to  Michaelmas  Daisies, 
which  is  the  soulless  trade  equivalent  to  an 
individual's  tender  place  in  his  heart.  I  was 
.glad  to  see  they  are  still  on  the  qui  vive  for 
good  things.  What  a  contrast  this  vase  was  to 
that  of  Little  Boy  Blue  from  Mr.  Ballard,  a  new 
and  low-growing  variety  with  enough  deep  purple- 
blue  ray  florets  to  make  it  a  so-called  double. 
It,  too,  received  an  award.  It  is  one  of  the  popular 
Novi-Belgii  section,  which  I  cannot  help  sighing 
over,  as  the  "  advances  "  which  are  being  made 
are  too  iconoclastic  by  far  to  please  me.  A  multi- 
tude of  petals  (?)  and  horrible  distorted  centres 
are  ill  exchanges  for  the  quite-all-right  ray  florets 
and  the  smart,  well  defined  centres  of  Attraction 


withering.' 


and  Climax.  I  fear,  however,  we  gardening  folk 
are  a  somewhat  novelty-ridden  crowd,  and  that 
anything  that  is  new  is  apt  to  appeal  to  us  in  a 
way  that  is  often  out  of  all  proportion  to  its 
intrinsic  merits.  This  is  why  some  of  the  good 
old  stagers  drop  out. 

I  have  had  the  very  great  pleasure  this  year 
of  seeing  two  exhibits  of  Mr.  Ernest  Ballard's 
in  London.  One  on  September  19  at  the 
R.H.S.  Hall  and  the  other  at  the  big  .Autumn 
Show  on  October  3.  What,  however,  pleased  me 
more  than  seeing  the  flowers  was  seeing  the  man 


THE    NEW    ASTER,    "  CORDI-BELGII  "    PIONEER. 


himself ;  and  again  what  pleased  even  better  still 
was  hearing  what  he  said  about  distorted  centres 
and  doubles  ;  and  lastly,  and  best  of  all,  to  find 
that  he  is  bent  on  seeing  if  new  and  probably 
untried  crosses  will  not  give  us  something  quite 
out  of  the  ordinary.  I  saw  a  vase  of  a  delightful 
pink  graceful  variety  tucked  away  behind  others 
in  his  R.H.S.  Hall  exhibit.  It  is  well  named 
Pioneer,  for  it  is  the  result  of  a  cross  between 
cordifolius  and  a  Novi-Belgii.  Mr.  Ballard 
thinks  he  has  broken  entirely  new  ground.  Whether 
he  has  or  no,  he  has  given  us  something  very 
nice,  something  that  reminds  me  of  that  exquisite 
variety  which  seems  also  to  have  cordifolius  blood 
in  its  veins  and  which  is  named  after  Mr.  Ballard's 
rival,  Edwin  Beckett.  I  happen  to  have  two 
Becketts  in  my  collection,  both  good,  as  of  course 
any  Michaelmas  Daisy  bearing  such  a  name 
should  be,   but   one  quite  out  of   the  ordinary  in 


its  light,  graceful  habit  and  delicately  poised 
flowers  of  the  very  palest  lavender.  Mr.  Ballard's 
group  at  the  Holland  Park  Rink  was  one  of  the 
features  of  the  Show.  It  was  not  very  large, 
but  all  the  flowers  were  fresh-looking  and  good. 
.\\\  the  varieties,  or  very  nearly  all,  were  his  own 
raising,  and  among  the  very  best  "  looking  fine  " 
were  the  semi-single  pale  mauve  Queen  of  Colwall 
and  the  deep  red-purple  Purple  Emperor  with  its 
rather  spidery-looking  petals.  Frankly,  I  was 
disappointed  with  the  quantity  of  Michaelmas 
Daisies  at  the  Show.  I  expected  to  find  far  more 
than  there  were.  I  knew,  for  example,  that  Mr. 
H.  J.  Jones  of  Lewisham  intended  to  "  lick 
creation  "  in  the  group  he  would  put  up.  When 
I  asked  him  why  he  had  not  done  so,  he  laconically 
replied,  "  The  weather."  Nevertheless,  there 
were  a  number  of  fine  varieties  scattered  here  and 
there  in  the  different  groups.  .Among  those  which 
appealed  to  me  were  the  following :  Ryecroft 
Pink,  a  good  example  of  a  rose  Novffi-.Angli."E  ; 
Kate  Bloomfield  (raised  by  Mr.  F.  G.  Wood), 
another  Nova?-.Anglia;  with  somewhat  small  blooms 
of  an  exceptionally  clear  and  bright  rose,  several 
shades  brighter  than  Barr's  Pink  and,  I  thought, 
more  attractive  in  a  bunch  ;  Rev.  Charles  Lunn, 
also  in  Mr.  F.  G.  Wood's  group,  a  beautiful  soft 
blue-purple  Novi  -  Belgii  ;  Cattleya,  a  semi- 
double  of  a  very  attractive  shade  of  mauvy  pink, 
a  variety  which  I  find  I  noted  when  I  visited 
Mr.  H.  J.  Jones  at  his  garden  at  Flower  House, 
Lewisham,  and  which  is  certainly  one  of  the  most 
popular  ones  in  my  own  collection  at  Whitewell  ; 
Harold  Reuthe  (raised  by  Mr.  Reuthe),  one  of  the 
best  rose  pinks  that  I  have  seen,  with  its  flowers 
arranged  after  the  fashion  of  the  beautiful  Louvain  ; 
Sam  Banham.  one  of  the  best  whites,  but  I  feel 
it  is  rather  a  libel  on  Climax  to  describe  it  as  a 
snow  white  edition  of  what  I  am  very  much  dis- 
posed to  think  is  the  best  Aster  every  raised  ; 
Cleneral  Leman,  a  most  attractive  rose  with  con- 
siderably less  blue  in  it  than  there  is  in  the  rose 
of  Mons  (this  last  named  was  everywhere,  whereas 
I  onh'  noted  one  solitary  vase  of  the  brighter 
and  better  General  ;  Mrs.  Bowman,  noteworthy 
i!n  account  of  its  orange  centre  and  deep  purple 
ray  florets  or,  as  one  so  often  for  convenience  calls 
them,  petals  ;  Grey  Lady,  for  those  who  like  such 
spidery-petalled  forms  as  Miss  Eisle,  a  gem  with 
its  pale  soft  pink  tinted  lavender  flowers  ;  Advance, 
a  good  example  of  an  .Aniellus  (if  we  may  include 
the  section  under  Michaelmas  Daisies)  of  the 
colour  ot  the  well  known  King  George  ;  and 
Rapture,  a  good  pudv. 

Before  I  close  I  want  to  draw  attention  to  a 
strange  withering  of  the  foliage,  which  seemingly 
may  take  place  at  any  period  of  a  plant's  growth 
and  which  picks  and  chooses  its  plants  without 
any  visible  rhyme  or  reason,  as  the  victims  are 
necessarily  never  all  together.  I  am  told  that 
Wisley  has  said  that  it  is  no  disease,  and  this 
\-iew  of  the  matter  is  supported  by  what  we  find 
in  the  "  Garden  Doctor,"  by  Mr.  Chittenden,  who 
is  the  head  of  the  R.H.S.  Gardens  at  Wisley. 
Under  the  head  of  Aster  the  only  ill  noted  to 
which  the  family  is  heir  is  the  beastly  lungus 
Erysiphe  cichoracearum  (mildew).  Disease  or 
no  disease,  one  wants  to  avoid  it  if  possible.  Can 
any  readers  who  have  experienced  it  throw  any 
hght  upon  its  cause  or  cure  ?  It  has  never 
appeared  here  until  this  year,  when  I  bought  a 
number  of  plants  from  four  different  sources  to 
make  up  my  collection,  which  now  numbers 
about  125  varieties.  Mildew  I  have  known  in 
previous  years,  but  it  has  never  been  so  bad  as 
in  the  present.  There  was  no  sign  of  it  until  a 
spell  of  cold,  windy  and  wet  weather  came  in  the 
early  part  of  September.  By  timely  spraying 
with  a  mildew  wash  it  has  been  kept  in  check, 
but  here  and  there  are  plants  on  which  it  has  had 


540 


THE     GARDEN. 


[October  28,  1922. 


no  effect.  It  is  doubtless  the  result  of  their 
different  constitutional  susceptibihties.  This  is  a 
curious  fact.  The  Michaelmas  Daisies  are  grown 
in  three  different  parts  of  the  garden.     In  two  the 


plants  have  been  "  well  done,"  in  the  third  they 
have  been  half  starved — at  least  that  is  what  they 
look  like — and  the  rootins;  medium  is  on  the  dry 
side.     Here   there  is   not   a  speck  of  mildew      Is 


it  misplaced  kindness  to  do  Michaelmas  Daisies 
very  well  ?  When  one's  plants  go  wrong  it  is 
small  consolation  to  think  one  lives  in  the  spraying 
age  of  gardening.  Joseph  J\cob. 


ROUND    ABOUT    A    WOODLAND    GARDEN. 


THERE  is  no  more  delightful  season  in 
a  woodland  garden  than  those  few  weeks 
which  come  between  the  autumnal 
equinox  and  the  leat-fall  ot  the  Oaks. 
It  is  not  only  a  season  in  which  one  may 
enjoy  the  colour  splendours  of  waning  foliage 
and  ripening  fruit,  but  one  in 
which  Nature,  claiming  a  brief 
indulgence  in  her  ancient  preroga- 
tive of  untidiness,  demands  to 
be  left  alone.  .\t  any  rate,  if 
there  is  any  of  that  inherent 
laziness  in  the  gardener,  which 
is  the  common  heritage  ot  man, 
it  is  during  the  good  month  of 
corn  and  wine  and  oil  that  he 
is  most  liable  to  be  affected  by 
it.  So  we  gladly  (when  we  may) 
accede  to  Nature's  mandate,  roll 
up  our  blue  aprons,  and  listen 
to  the  Broom  pods  snapping  in 
the  sun.  It  is  possible  in  such 
a  moment  to  watch  the  brown 
leaf  sink  softly  as  a  curled  feather 
in  the  still  air  without  rushing 
for  a  besom,  to  hear  a  tmy  rustle 
in  the  herbage  of  the  bank 
without  thinking  of  a  mouse 
trap,  for  it  is  Nature's  armistice 
and  ours.  If  we  have  no  blue 
apron  to  roll  up,  we  can  always 
grow  one  of  those  beards  which 
a  considerable  section  oi  the 
daily  Press  seemed  to  think  were 
not  the  least  entertaining  of  the 
exhibits  at  the  Holland  Park 
Show  the  other  day 

It  so  happens  that  a  dry, 
sunny  spell  having  set  in  after 
the  drenching  of  the  later 
summer,  there  are  more  flowers 
in  our  October  garden  than  is 
usual  at  this  season.  The  Heaths  have  carried 
on  exceptionally  well,  and  among  those  which 
are  of  special  merit  just  now  the  Dorset 
Heath,  Erica  ciliaris,  must  take  a  foremost  place. 
The  very  large  clear  rose  purple  bells  and  the 
soft,  grey-green  of  the  elegant  foliage  combine 
to  give  an  irresistibly  charming  effect.  E.  Stuartii, 
a  hybrid  discovered  in  Ireland,  with  small  white 
bells  distinctly  tipped  with  vivid  carmine,  is  even 
better  than  it  was  a  month  ago.  E.  stricta, 
naturally  a  late  bloomer,  is  of  course  at  its  best 
and  always  distinctive.  While  most  of  the  E. 
vulgaris  (Calluna)  clan  rigidly  adhere  to  their 
proper  season,  the  dark-foliaged,  deep  crimson 
Alporti  will  usually  give  some  colour  throughout 
the  autumn  ;  and  another  form  which  is  always 
later  in  coming  into  flower  than  the  rest  of  its 
class  and  which  is  now  a  mass  ot  colour  is  E.  v. 
var.  aurea.  Though  not  a  choice  species,  E. 
scoparia  is  useful  for  late  autumn  fioweiing, 
and  in  passing  I  may  mention  that  there  is  a  dwarf 
and  prostrate  form  of  this  Heath  which,  as  a 
close-set  foliage  plant  of  a  peculiarly  striking 
moss  green,  suggests  possibilities  in  woodland 
plantings.  I  saw  this  recently  at  Kew  and  made 
a  note  of  it. 

Bryanthus     empetriformis     can     generally     be 
relied  upon  to  flower  at  the  "  back-end,"  and  it 


is  now  bearing  a  good  crop  of  blossom  ;  but  perhaps 
the  most  attractive  of  all  the  peat-loving  plants  in 
bloom  is  Polygala  Cham,-Ebuxus.  This  grows  and 
spreads  in  large,  dense  mats,  and  would  always 
flower  abundantly  in  our  woodland  loam  were  the 
mice   less    fond   of   its   blossom    buds.      But    it    so 


PUKPLE   FRUITS   AND   RED-PURPLE   FOLIAGE    OF   VITIS   VINIFERA   PURPUREA. 


happens  that  this  year  one  patch  has  been  left 
untouched,  with  the  result  that  the  low  mound 
ot  myrtle  green  leaves  is  bristling  with  pea-shaped 
flowers  in  the  rose  purple  and  yellow  of  the  variety 
purpurea  and  the  ivory  and  yellow  *'  butterflies  " 
of  the  type.  The  even  more  delightful  P.  C.  var. 
\'ayred<E  planted  two  years  ago  is,  however, 
still  nursing  a  grudge.  But  one  must  be  patient 
with  these  things. 

The  very  keen  yellow  ot  the  tall,  upright  Genista 
tinctoria  against  the  fiery  hues  of  an  .Azalea  bank 
seem  to  strike  a  somewhat  harsh  note  at  this 
season.  Individually  the  plant  is  attractive 
and  welcome  enough,  but  its  shrill  charlock  yellow 
suggests  spring  rather  than  autumn.  Spartium 
junceum,  still  as  full  of  flower  as  ever,  just  escapes 
the  sulphur  tint,  but  even  it  is  better  away  from 
the  mellower  hues  of  autumn  foliage  plants. 
Mention  of  Azalea  reminds  me  that  someone 
in  a  recent  issue  of  The  Garden  regretted  the 
disappearance  from  our  gardens  of  the  old  yellow 
Honeysuckle  .•\zalea  (A.  pontica),  but  I  am  happy 
to  feel  that  we  still  have  a  (quantity  of  this  fine 
and  easily  grown  old  shrub.  In  range  and 
splendour  of  leaf-colouring  A.  pontica  has  few 
rivals.  The  best  (selected)  forms  are  admirable 
in  colour  and  size  of  blossom,  and  the  species  is 
well  worth  gi'owing  for  its  fragrance  alone.     Another 


common  shrub,  not  very  effective  in  flower,  but 
excellent  in  leaf  colour  is  Ribes  aureum.  There 
are  some  first-rate  varieties  of  this  Currant,  but 
a  well  grown  bush  of  the  type  is  not  to  be  despised 
when  every  leaf  is  stained  a  brilliant  vinous 
crimson  for,  perhaps,  six  weeks  or  more. 

Few  autumn  flowers  can  be 
grouped  with  such  pleasing  re- 
sults in  open  woodland  as 
Montbretias.  Their  range  of 
colouring  is  now  so  wide  that 
one  may  select  almost  any  shade 
from  pale  yellow  to  deepest 
orange  or  bronzy  vermilion,  and 
they  will  always  be  in  harmony 
with  their  surroundings.  Groups 
set  in  creeping  Ivy  or  other 
herbage  have  been  established 
here  for  years,  and  though  the 
flowers  would  doubtless  be  finer 
and  more  plentiful  under  more 
orthodox  treatment,  they  could 
hardly  fulfil  their  purpose  better. 
Enough  is  sometimes  better  than 
a  feast  in  this  matter.  So  much 
might  also  be  said  of  Antholyza 
I  can  raise  no  enthusiasm  for 
"  .Aunt  Eliza  "  as  an  individual, 
but  "  distance  lends  enchant- 
ment," and  the  October  sun 
and  a  woodland  setting  does 
the  rest.  Both  Montbretia  and 
.Antholyza  are  worthy  successors 
to  the  Alstroemerias  in  thin 
woodland  planting,  the  last  in 
the  sunniest  places.  The  Kaffir 
Lily,  which,  like  Montbretia,  is 
apt  to  demand  too  much  space 
and  attention  when  in  the 
border,  is  also  admirable  in  such 
situations.  It  does  best  perhaps 
in  grass,  and  very  seldom  needs 
if  one  is  not  too  exacting  as 
regards  quantity  and  size  ot  flower-spikes. 

A  bush  of  .Abelia  chinensis  in  full  flower  at 
this  season  is  a  cheerful  object,  and  if  it  does  look 
rather  spring-like  and  bridal  in  its  apple  blossoin 
pinky  white  there  is  enough  bronze  and  ruddy 
crimson  about  it  to  harmonise  with  the  prevailing 
tints  of  the  hour.  So,  too,  with  Papaver  rupi- 
fragum,  whose  delicate  green  leaves  seem  to 
belong  to  any  other  season  than  this  ;  but  when 
this  handsome  Poppy,  which  seeds  freely  in  sun 
or  half-shade,  opens  its  large  apricot  blossoms 
nothing  could  be  more  in  sympathy  with  its 
surroundings,  and  never  does  it  look  quite  so- 
handsome  as  it  does  to-day.  Under  some  Hollies, 
now  laden  with  berries  changing  to  orange,  and 
about  the  roots  of  old  Oaks  hardy  Cyclamens  of 
various  kinds  give  gay  patches  of  rose  pink  ;  while 
along  the  waterside,  Omphaltjdes  cappadocica 
and  O.  nitida  are  making  worthy  efforts  to  equal 
the  spring  display  of  their  incomparable  blue. 
Some  torms  of  Gentiana  asclepiadea  in  dark  blue, 
hght  blue  and  pure  white,  with  arching  stems 
from  I  Sins,  to  3ft.  in  length  are  also  here,  nor  can 
one  overlook  the  gorgeous  colour  afforded  by  the 
autumn  foliage  of  Pseonia  albifiora  grandiflora, 
which  for  nearly  two  months  has  gradually  changed 
from  a  uniform  beetroot  purple  glossed  with  bronze 


anv    attention 


October  28,  1922. 


THE     GARDEN. 


541 


to  rich  crimson  and  so  on  to  scarlet.  Bnt  even 
this  splendid  thing  cannot  excel  the  glory  ot  that 
e.xcellent  little  Vine,  Vitis  vinifera  purpurea, 
which  is  here  so  planted  that  it  will  be  between  us 
and  the  evening  sun.  In  such  a  position  the 
plum-coloured  foliage  will  be  lit  with  a  blood 
crimson  of  amazing  depth  and  brilhance,  an  effect 
which   can  otherwise   never   be   enjoyed. 

.'\nemone  japonica  is  always  a  reliable  stand-by 
in  the  autumn  border,  but  not  all  of  its  kind  are 
really  satisfactory  for  the  wild  garden.  Some  are 
too  weak  in  the  legs,  some  seem  too  cold  for 
association  with  the  glowing  splendours  of  the 
hour.  A.  j.  crispifolia  (Lady  Gilmour),  with 
curiously  crimped  leaves  and  single,  wine-stained 
flowers,  is  one  of  the  most  satisfying  here,  and 
a  good  word  must  be  said  for  an  old  ift.  semi- 
double  variety  in  crimson-purple,  a  very  pest  in 
the  wrong  place,  but  admirable  in  the  right  one. 
"  Grassy "    plants,     a     broad     and     loose    term 


embracing  everything  from  the  big  Bamboos 
downwards,  are  seldom  so  attractive  as  they  are 
in  the  autumn  garden,  for  there  is  a  whispering 
softness  about  them  that  just  seems  to  fit  the 
mood  of  the  moment  when  the  little  gossamer 
spiders  are  teaching  us  that  to  them  at  any  rate 
"  ghding "  is  no  novelty.  What,  for  example, 
can  be  more  in  sympathy  with  the  spirit  and  colour 
of  the  woodland  than  a  broad  clump  of  Apera 
arundinacea  whose  countless  blades  of  ruddy  gold 
are  veiled  with  the  gracefully  curved  seed-bearing 
panicles  all  shimmering  with  crimson  and  bronze 
and  iridescent  hght  ?  It  is  the  last  word  in 
elegance,  refinement  and  harmony,  just  as  the 
hot  torches  of  the  Kniphofias  are  the  last  and 
fiercest  word  in  the  glow  of  autumn's  embers. 
The  ill-at-ease  man  may  calm  his  fretful  soul  by 
a  gentle  contemplation  of  the  one,  he  may  warm 
his  hands  at  the  other,  and  thank  the  god  of  gardens 
for  both.  A.    T.    J. 


FRUIT   TREES    FOR    ORNAMENT 

Properly  used,  Apple,  Pear,  Plum  an  I  Cherry  will  serve  to  help   the 

garden  picture. 


THE  use  of  fruit  trees  in  the  garden  calls 
for  a  certain  amount  of  imagination 
if  their  full  decorative  value  is  to  be 
ut'hsed  in  the  garden  scheme.  On  the 
one  hand,  most  fruit  trees  are  exceed- 
ingly beautiful  when  in  blossom  and  again  wlien 
in  fruit,  while  some,  notably  Pears  and  Cherries, 
are  valuable  for  their  autumn  colour ;  on  the 
other,  with  some  exceptions,  they  are  the  reverse 
of  decorative  for  a  great  part  of  the  year. 

Such  trees  as  the  .•Almond,  the  Sweet  Chestnut, 
the  Mulberry,  the  Blackthorn,  the  Cherry  Plum 
and  its  purple  variety  (P.  cerasifera  Pissardi,) 
the  Pomegranate,  the  Loquat,  many  sorts  ot 
coloured  Crabs  and,  perhaps,  the  Walnut  are 
principally  grown  in  this  country  as  ornamental 
trees.  Some  excel  in  beauty  of  bark,  growth  and 
foliage,  some  of  flower,  while  with  some  the  fruit 


itself  is  the  main  attraction.  Among  shrubby 
fruits  the  Japanese  Wineberry,  Rubus  phcenico- 
lasius,  and  the  Parsley-leaved  Blackberry,  R. 
laciniatus.  are  also  largely  utilised  for  their  decora- 
tive effect.  The  purple-leaved  Filbert,  Corylus 
maxima  atropurpurea,  is  largely  cultivated  for 
the  sake  of  its  appearance,  but  the  green  Filberts, 
many  of  which  crop  so  heavily,  are  very  effective 
when  planted  to  form  an  alley  loft.  or  12ft.  wide. 
They  are  really  beautiful  when  bare  of  foliage, 
their  wonderful  twiggery  being  seen  to  greatest 
advantage  when  outlined  in  hoar-frost  on  a  winter's 
morning.  The  summer  shade  they  afford  seems 
exactly  to  suit  such  shade-loving  bulbous  plants 
as  Erythroniums,  Cyclamens  and  Narcissus 
moschatus. 

The  value  and  disposition  of  the  various  Crab 
.\pples    provides    matter    for    a    separate    article. 


STAxNDARD    CHERRIES    IN    BLOSSOM. 


and  the  use  of  the  other  ornamental  trees  mentioned 
is  sufficiently  understood,  except,  indeed,  that  it 
may  be  well  to  set  down  that  the  Purple  Plum 
is  much  more  effective  when  grouped  than  a; 
commonly  seen  dotted  here  and  there  in  single 
specimens.  The  Wineberry  is  empliatically  a 
specimen  plant,  as  when  several  are  planted  together 
one  loses  the  grace  of  the  elegantly  arching  golden- 
spined  young  canes.  The  Parsley-leaved  Black- 
berry is  commonly  used  for  training  on  pergola 
or  trellis.  It  answers  for  either  purpose,  but  shews 
to  best  advantage  when  allowed  to  mound  itself 
over  shrubs  of  lesser  worth  in  shrubbery  or  wild 
garden. 

The  main  object  of  these  notes,  however,  is  to 
consider  the  use  which  may  properly  be  made 
of  the  more  humdrum  fruits  which  no  garden 
worthy  of  the  name  should  be  without — .\pples. 
Pears,  Plums  and  Cherries.  Raspberries,  Goose- 
berries, Black  Currants  and  Strawberries  are 
hopeless  from  a  decorative  point  of  view,  so  of 
them  there  is  nothing  to  write.  Red  and  White 
Currants  and  Peaches  have  some  decorative 
value  mainly  on  walls. 

The  standard  .\pple  is  a  beautiful  tree,  especially 
when  mature,  and  in  small  gardens  it  might  well 
be  employed  in  the  parts  of  the  garden  which  are. 
as  a  rule,  entirely  devoted  to  purely  ornamental 
trees,  shrubs  and  plants.  That  in  such  a  position 
it  is  more  difficult  to  keep  the  trees  clear  from 
insect  and  fungoid  pests  is  usually  considered 
axiomatic,  but  in  actual  fact  such  trees  are  often 
much  cleaner  than  those  grown  together  in  an 
orchard,  especially  if  the  latter  are  somewhat 
neglected,  which  in  private  gardens — at  least 
when  judged  by  the  standard  of  the  commercial 
fruit-grower — they  are  apt  to  be.  Still  the  arrange- 
ment is  only  suggested  for  gardens  where  space 
is  very  limited  and  in  which  no  separate  quarters 
can  be  devoted  to  hardy  fruits. 

From  a  practical  standpoint  the  culture  of 
.\pples  on  pyramid  or  bush  trees  is  to  be  com- 
mended. Where  it  is  desired  to  use  this  fruit  to 
help  the  effect  of  the  general  garden  scheme,  it  is 
wiser  to  rely  on  standards,  cordons  and  espaliers. 
Magnificent  pyramids  such  as  are  to  be  seen  at 
Gravetye  certainly  have  a  real  decorative  value, 
but  there  are  few  to-day  prepared  to  devote  the 
labour  necessary  to  produce  trees  such  as  these. 
The  grass  orchard  planted  with  standard  trees 
is  one  of  the  most  picturesque  features  of  the 
countryside,  and  one  that,  with  forethought, 
can  almost  always  be  used  advantageously  in 
the  garden  scheme.  The  fines  of  trees  should  run 
approximately  north  and  south  to  allow  the  greatest 
possible  amount  of  sunlight  to  reach  the  buds. 
Cross  vistas  from  east  to  west  are,  however,  easily 
arranged  for,  and  he  must  indeed  be  an  ignoramus 
at  garden  planning  who  cannot  arrange  avenues 
of  fruit  trees  to  define  in  part  some  of  his  vistas 

The  grass  orchard  provides  an  admirable  site 
for  naturalising  bulbs,  particularly  Narcissi, 
in  turf,  while  around  the  trees  where  the  soil 
should  be  kept  turf  and  weed  free.  Primroses, 
preferably  the  wild  one,  and  Winter  Aconites 
rt-ill  flourish.  The  writer  well  remembers  a  crop 
of  Shirley  Poppies  around  the  butts  of  the  trees 
in  a  fairly  young  orchard.  The  ashes  from  a 
garden  bonfire  had  been  spread  upon  this  orchard. 
Evidently  Poppy  seed  from  plants  thrown  upon 
the  heap  for  destruction  had,  being  heavy,  fallen 
through  into  the  ashes  and,  strangely  enough, 
escaped  destruction.  These  self-sown  Poppies — 
could  one  call  them  that  ? — were  the  finest  the 
writer  has  ever  had  the  good  fortune  to  behold, 
and  they  looked  singularly  well  placed  there. 
Vistas  which  finish  in  "  thin  air  "  are  never  satis- 
factory unless  defined  by  trees  of  such  size  as  to 
form  a  natural  cathedral.  Some  solid,  preferably 
evergreen   planting   should   be   arranged    to   close 


bii 


THE    GARDEN. 


[October  28,  1922. 


them,  and  in  some  situations  room  for  this  planting 
will  have  to  be  provided  when  laying  out  the 
orchard. 

Pear  trees  of  vigorous  habit,  such  as  the  Catillac 
or  Pitmaston  Duchess,  are  so  handsome  all  the 
year  round,  but  especially  when  in  flower  and 
again  betore  the  fall  of  the  leaf,  that  they  should 
always  be  placed  where  they  readily  come  under 
notice.  Either  might  well  be  used  as  screen  tree;, 
for  their  rapidity  of  growth  is  very  considerable. 
All  Pears  which  are  suitable  for  orchard  culture 
are  handsome,  and  they  provide  considerable 
variety  of  habit.  Some  of  those  the  writer  has 
tried  successfully  as  standard  trees  on  a  fairly 
light    and   warm   soil   are,    in    addition    to    those 


already  mentioned,  Williams's  Bon  Chretien, 
Jargonelle,  Beurre  Diel,  Petite  Marguerite, 
Conference  and  Durondeau. 

Cordon  and  espalier  Pears  and  Apples  are  of 
great  value  for  a  number  of  purposes.  They 
might  well  be  used  to  far  greater  extent  than  they 
are  at  present  to  cover  the  walls  of  buildings. 
To  utilise  such  walls  for  the  growth  ot  choice 
shrubs  which  would  not  in  our  climate  succeed 
elsewhere  is  understandable  and  praiseworthy, 
but  to  smother  them  wholesale  with  such  common 
climbers  as  Irish  Ivy  and  Virginia  Creeper  is  worse 
than  waste  of  valuable  room. 

EspaUer  trees  (or  cordons  if  preferred)  form  a 
very    suitable    backing    for    the    flower    borders 


which  nowada>'S  otten  bound  the  principal  paths 
in  the  kitchen  garden.  Cordon  trees  may  be 
utilised  to  form  a  very  handsome  fruit  pergola, 
though  the  fruit  pergola  need  not  be  confined  to 
such.  Loganberries,  Blackberries,  Red  and  White 
Currants,  even  Gooseberries,  may  be  pressed 
into  service,  and  be  at  once  useful  and  ornamental. 
The  decorative  value  of  Cherries,  whether  on 
orchard  standards  or  on  trained  trees,  needs  no 
emphasising,  but  their  special  worth  for  planting 
on  north  walls  cannot  too  often  be  reiterated. 
This  fitness  for  a  wall  with  a  cold  exposure  is  not 
confined  to  the  Morello  ;  it  apphes  to  the  generality 
of  eating  Cherries.  Red  Currants,  too,  answer  in 
such  a  position. 


MIXED    "FARE"    AT    VINCENT    SQUARE 


FOLLOWING  so  closely  upon  the  great 
.\utumn  Show  at  the  Holland  Park  Hall, 
many  visitors  were  agreeably  surprised 
to  find  so  fine  a  display  at  Vincent  Square 
on  October  17.  The  hall  was  well  filled 
with  a  great  variety  of  interesting  exhibits,  chiefly 
of  hardy  flowers,  though  there  were  several 
interesting  collections  of  fruit.  Messrs.  G.  G. 
Whitelegg  and  Co.  had  some  dishes  of  splendid 
Apples  and  Pears.  The  former  included  such 
valuable  sorts  as  Cox's  Orange  Pippin,  AUington 
Pippin,  King  of  the  Pippins,  Royal  Snow,  Ben's 
Red,  Peasgood's  Nonsuch  and  Bramley's  Seedhng, 
all  admirable  in  size  and  colouring.  Among  the 
Pears  there  were  dishes  of  Doyenne  du  Cornice, 
Pitmaston  Duchess  and  Beurre  Clairgeau.     Boxes 


of  .\pples  as  sent  to  market  and  of  splendid  appear- 
ance were  shewn  by  Mr.  G.  Trinder,  Guildford 
Fruit  Farm,  while  Messrs.  Laxton  Brothers  had 
Laxton's  Superb  and  Lord  Lambourne,  their 
two  new  Apples,  whose  appearance  is  a  strong 
recommendation.  Golden  Hornet^  a  prolific, 
perpetual  bearing,  large  golden  Raspberry,  shewn 
by  Mr.  G.  Trinder,  attracted  a  deal  of  attention. 
It  received  an  award  of  merit  last  year.  According 
to  the  official  list  of  awards  posted  in  the  vestibule. 
Lady  Margaret  Bickersteth,  Cottingham  House, 
Yorks,  was  awarded  a  card  of  cultural  commenda- 
tion for  Sultana  Grapes,  but  search  and  enquiry 
failed  to  discover  them. 

Chief  among  the  flowers  were  Chrysanthemums, 
and    for    these,    associated    with    Sunflowers    and 


.Michaelmas  Daisies,  in  an  imposing  group  Mr. 
H.  J.  Jones  received  his  fifth  R.H.S.  gold  medal 
of  the  year.  .Among  the  Chrysanthemums  Red 
.Almirante  was  of  dazzUng  colour,  even  brighter 
than  Verona.  October  Glow  is  a  bright  orange- 
scarlet  variety  that  went  well  with  Harvester. 
.Another  showy  variety  was  Ethel  Blades  with 
deep  crimson  sprays,  in  the  collection  of  Messrs. 
W.  Wells  and  Co.  This  with  the  yellow  Mrs.  A. 
Thomson  and  Goacher's  Crimson  appeared  to  have^ 
been  cut  from  the  open  ground.  Their  large 
Japanese  blooms  of  Viscount  Chinda  (the  new 
golden  yellow),  James  Stredwick  and  the  rich 
crimson  Mrs.  G.  Monro  were  splendid.  Those 
who  prefer  disbudded  sprays  found  plenty  to 
choose   from   in    a   large   display   by   Messrs.    K. 


THE    APTLY    NAMED    CARNATION    TANGERINE. 


ALMOST    SCARLET    FRUITS    OF    ROSA    FARGISII. 


October  28,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


543 


Luxford  and  Co.,  who  had  such  sorts  as  Countess 
(white).  Goldfinch,  Bouquet  Rose,  Nathalie  (a 
single  of  rose  terra-cotta  colouring)  and  Mrs.  M. 
Field  (which  is  a  deeper-coloured  Normandie. 
Mr.  Yandall  of  Maidenhead  had  a  very  bright  and 
attractive  group.  Lichfield  Purple,  which  was 
well  shewn  in  this  collection,  is  a  beautiful  shade 
of  this  somewhat  uncommon  colour  in  Chry- 
santhemums. 

There  was  the  usual  quota  of  Orchids,  and  green- 
house plants  were  chiefly  represented  by  Car- 
nations and  Sutton's  graceful  Lloydii  type  of 
Begonia.  This  latter  is  a  very  elegant,  free- 
flowering  strain  which  produces  plenty  of  double 
and  semi-double,  pendulous  flowers  in  a  variety 
of  colours.  The  plants  are  quite  easily  raised 
from  seed  and  do  well  in  a  cool  greenhouse.  There 
did  not  seem  to  be  any  new  varieties  among  the 
collections  of  Carnations.  Messrs.  Stuart  Low 
and  Co.  shew  their  large  White  Pearl  regularly 
and  in  quantity,  which  points  to  its  being  a 
free-flowering  variety.  The  AUwoodii,  too,  seem 
to  be  as  free-flowering  and  attractive  in  autumn 
as  at  midsummer. 

Roses  are  becoming  a  trifle  smaller,  but,  except 
for  this,  one  might  have  imagined  it  to  be  .August 
rather  than  October  when  inspecting  such  collec- 
tions as  those  arranged  by  Mr.  EUsha  J.  Hicks, 
Mr.  G.  Prince,  Messrs.  D.  Prior  and  Son  and  the 
Rev.  J.  H.  Pemberton,  for  all  the  blooms  were 
beautifully    fresh    and   of   good   colour. 

It  is  only  in  a  few  places  that  frosts  have  checked 
the  flowering  of  the  Dahlias,  so  there  were  quite 
good  displays  by  such  growers  as  Mr.  J.  T.  West, 
Messrs.  J.  Cheat  and  Sons  and  Mr.  C.  Turner. 
As  at  the  Holland  Park  Hall  Show,  it  was  the 
small  Pffony-flowered  sorts  that  were  the  most 
attractive.  Winter  Sun,  Sweetness,  Olive  and 
Our   Annie   are   excellent   examples. 

General  border  flowers  included  some  very  good 
Delphiniums,  Lupins  and  Kniphofias  in  a  large 
collection  by  Messrs.  John  Waterer,  Sons  and 
Crisp.  Just  inside  the  door  the  tall,  snowy  white 
plumes  of  Pampas  Grass  in  the  group  by  Mr. 
F.  G.  Wood  immediately  attracted  attention 
and  drew  the  eye  to  the  bold  plumes  of  the 
purple-tinted  species  Cortaderia  Kermesiana,  which 
is  also  very  attractive  as  a  large  clump  near  the 
Temperate  House  at  Kew.  Messrs.  B.  Ladhams 
continue  to  stage  their  tall  Lobelia  hybrids  in 
great  variety.  Of  the  bright-coloured  sorts 
Queen  Victoria,  B.  Ladhams  and  magnificans 
were  perhaps  the  best,  while  the  pink  variety 
Mrs.  Humbert  is  attractive.  They  all  produce 
flowering  stems  quite  3ft.  high,  and  have  a  long 
flowering  period. 

Vivid  autumn  colour  was  provided  by  the 
branches  of  Quercus  rubra  and  Pyrus  discolor 
in  a  collection  by  Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and  Sons. 
They  also  had  a  little  group  of  New  Zealand 
shrubs,  including  graceful  Pittosporums  and  the 
deep  blue  shrubby  Veronica  Autumn  Glory. 
Messrs.  Skelton  and  Kirby  had  vivid  sprays  of 
Berberis  Thunbergii  and  Crata?gus  Crus-galli. 

Messrs.  Barr's  Nerines  attracted  the  attention 
of  lovers  of  graceful  greenhouse  bulbs.  The 
cut  spikes  of  the  beautiful  pink  varieties,  Jupiter 
and  Miss  Jekyll,  with  the  glowing  scarlets  and 
crimsons  of  Scintilla,  Carolus  and  Vivid  were 
especially  good.  Opinion  seemed  divided  con- 
cerning the  large  plants  of  the  hybrids  Aurora 
and  Hero,  which  bore  exceptionally  stout  spikes 
of  pink  flowers.  They  were  so  tall  as  to  give 
almost  the  impression  that  they  were  pink 
Agapanthuses. 

N'EW     AND     RARE     PLANTS. 
Acer    griseum. — This    delightful    Maple    was 
introduced   from   Central  China   in    lyoi   by   Mr. 
E.  H.  Wilson  when  he  was  travelling  for  Messrs. 


James  \'eitch  and  Sons,  and  he  sa\'s  that  mature 
trees  have  a  very  striking  appearance  when  the 
peeling  bark  hangs  down  in  large  flakes,  disclosing 
the  fresh  orange-coloured  skin  beneath.  The 
tree  from  which  the  branch  on  view  was  cut  is 
i8ft.  high  and  has  not  yet  reached  that  condition, 
but  it  is  exceedingly  beautiful  by  reason  of  the 
glorious  intense  crimson  colour  of  the  small, 
toothed,  trifoliate  leaves,  which  are  borne  in 
pairs  on  downy  stalks.  This  fine  down  is  also 
present  on  the  undersides  of  the  leaves,  and  there 


\ariety  under  notice  is  well  worth  growing  on 
account  of  its  exceptional  freedom  in  fruiting. 
.■\ward  of  merit  to  the  Hon.  Vicary  Gibbs. 

Gladiolus  Oakfleld.— A  very  handsome  spike 
was  shewn  of  this  Primuiinus  seedling,  which 
approximates  to  the  large  hybrids.  The  well  dis- 
posed blooms  are  not  hooded,  but  have  somewhat 
reflcxed  margins.  It  is  of  delightful  warm  rose 
pink  colour,  and  the  lower  segments  are  spotted 
with  the  same  colour  on  a  pale  yellow  ground. 
We  understand  that  this  variety  was  raised  from 


BRILLIANTLY    COLOURED    FOLIAGE    AND    KEYS    OF    ACER    GRISEUM. 


i^  a  denser  brown  tomentum  on  the  seed  keys. 
It  becomes  a  deciduous  tree  up  to  40ft.  in  height, 
and  when  better  known  will  be  greatly  valued 
tor  its  autumnal  colour.  Award  of  merit  to  Mr. 
C.  J.  Lucas. 

Carnation  Tangerine. — This  is  a  very  distinct 
Perpetual-flowering  variety.  The  deep  yellow- 
ground  and  rosy  stripes  give  the  general  appearance 
of  rich  salmon  buff.  It  is  a  well  formed  flower, 
but  there  is  no  perfume.  Award  of  merit  to 
Messrs.   Keith  Luxford  and  Co. 

Chrysanthemum  Viscount  Chinda. — A  rich 
golden  yellow  Japanese  variety  of  first  exhibition 
size.  The  broad,  drooping  florets  have  an  incurv- 
ing tendency,  and  there  is  plenty  of  substance 
in  them,  so  the  blooms  should  continue  fresh  for 
a  long  time.  First-class  certificate  of  the  National 
Chrysanthemum  Society  to  Messrs.  W.  Wells 
and  Co. 

Chrysanthemum  Godfrey's  Triumph. — This 
name  was  given  to  an  exhibition  Japanese  variety 
of  rich  colouring  about  a  quarter  of  a  century 
ago.  For  a  long  time  it  was  very  popular,  but  in 
the  fulness  of  time  was  superseded  by  other  sorts, 
though  none  had  quite  the  same  colouring  Now 
the  name  has  been  revived  for  a  large,  many- 
petalled  single  variety.  The  blooms  have  several 
rows  of  stout  petals,  which  are  shghtly  rolled  at 
the  edges  a  id  incurve  at  the  tips.  .-Xward  of  merit 
to  Messrs.  J.  Godfrey  and  Son. 

Euonymus    europaeus    Aldenhamensis. — This 

Spindle  Tree  differs  from  the  type  in  being  excep- 
tionally fruittul  and,  perhaps,  in  the  fleshy  seed 
covering  (the  aril)  being  a  trifle  brighter.  The 
branch  of  the  type  bought  by  the  exhibitor  for 
comparison  was  a  wretched  starvUng — a  travesty 
of  one  of  our  most  beautiful  autumn  trees.     The 


seed  sown  early  this  year,  and  that  the  plant  was 
of  branching  habit  and  fully  4ft.  high.  Shewn  by 
Messrs.  Lowe  and  Gibson. 

Rosa  Fargesii. — This  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
species  in  the  autumn,  when  the  long,  bottle- 
shaped  fruits  have  their  rich  crimson  colour. 
The  hips  are  lightly  furnished  with  stoutish, 
dark  spines.  Among  the  extensive  collection  of 
Rose  species  near  the  Pagoda  at  Kew  this  species 
stands  out,  at  present,  as  the  most  decorative  of 
them  all.     Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  J.  C.  AUgrove. 

Brasso-Cattleya    J.    G.    Macdonald,  Langley 

Variety. — The  reason  for  the  tag  on  to  the  name 
of  this  gorgeous  Orchid  is  not  apparent  and  renders 
it  very  clumsy.  However,  it  is  a  most  beautiful 
bloom  of  large  size  and  rich  mauve  colour,  deeper 
on  the  lip,  which  is  marked  with  orange.  Award 
of  merit  to  Messrs.  Flory  and  Black. 

Laelio-Cattleya  St.  George  Variety  Victory. — 
Another  charming  Orchid  with  a  cumbersome 
name.  The  sepals  of  the  very  large  flowers  are 
of  very  pale,  sparkling  mauve  colour,  while,  in 
almost  startling  contrast,  the  large  lip  is  of  rich 
velvety  crimson  shade,  .\ward  of  merit  to  Messrs. 
Stuart  Low  and  Co. 

Miltonia  spectabilis  extraria. — For  a  time 
the  Committee  doubted  the  correctness  of  the 
generic  title,  but  finally  agreed  that  it  was  a 
Miltonia.  The  delicate,  pale  ivory  white  sepals 
are  somewhat  reflexed,  and  there  is  rosy  purple 
marking  on  the  lip.  A  most  uncommon  Miltonia. 
.-\ward  of  merit  to  Messrs.  Sander  and  Co. 

Odontoglossum   St.    George   var.    solum. — A 

good  spike  of  well  formed  flowers  freely  marked 
with  chocolate  maroon  on  a  white  ground,  and 
with  a  golden  crest.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs. 
J.  and  A,  McBean. 


544 


THE     GARDEN. 


[October  28,  1922. 


SURPRISE  GROUPINGS 
OF    BULBS 

THE  element  of  surprise  is  always  exciting 
and  generally  pleasing.  To-day  oppor- 
tunity is  knocking  at  our  doors  in  the 
form  of  various  small  bulbs  which  may 
be  used  to  tuck  in  here  and  there  to 
form  "  unexpected  "  pictures  in  the  flower  garden. 
Wake  your  imagination  and  let  it  flutter  round 
your  garden,  be  it  ever  so  small,  and  I  will  warrant 
that  your  journey  shall  not  have  been  in  vain 
and  that  the  garden  will  be  the  richer  by  many 
and  many  an  unexpected  surprise  picture  that 
will  peep  out  in  the  spring  days,  when  you  had 
all  but  forgotten  the  wee  bulbs  you  buried. 

Here  is  a  large  piece  of  rock  at  the  corner  of  a 
pathway  on  the  north  side  of  which  are  two  tufts 
of  the  wonderful  Shooting  Star  of  America  (Dodo- 
catheon).  No  sunshine  ever  burns  their  roots, 
and  every  spring  they  push  out  their  little  tufts  of 
leaves,  from  the  centre  of  which,  before  May  has 
passed,  springs  a  stalk  canying  a  tuft  of  rose  or 
white  or  purple  flowers.  Beneath  that  Mock 
Orange  bush  the  ground  is  filled  with  tubers  of 
Anemone  apennina,  which  never  fail  to  carpet 
the  earth,  before  the  shrub  puts  on  its  leaves, 
with  a  mass  of  starry  blue  flowers  equalled  by 
nothing  else.  I  cannot  explain  how  that  clump 
of  Allium  Ostrowskianura  became  allied  with  the 
white  garden  Lily,  but  there  it  is,  and  the  "  un- 
expectedness," when  it  pushes  up  its  large  umbels 
of  reddish  purple  in  early  spring,  is  so  charming 
that  I  would  not  move  it  for  worlds.  It  is  so  safe, 
too,  for  everyone  knows  that  the  Madonna  Lily 
must  not  be  disturbed,  and  so  the  Allium  is  pro- 
tected from  destruction  by  a  careless  wielder  of 
the  spade. 

The  old  Rose  arches  were  becoming  insecure, 
and  "  struts  "  had  to  be  put  in  to  secure  them 
against  winter  storms,  and  these  provided  just 
the  little  home  where  wee  bulbs  would  be  secure, 
for,  analogous  with  the  case  of  the  Lily,  no  one 
ever  digs  right  up  against  a  support,  and  so  a 
safe  harbour  and  ideal  homes  exist  for  small 
tufts  of  chequered  Snakesheads,  Brodircas,  Cycla- 
mens, Muscaris,  etc.  There  they  grow  and  increase, 
taking  nothing  from  their  neighbours,  secure  and 
safe  themselves,  and  contributing  many  and  many 
a  dainty  surprise  to  visitor  and  owner  alike. 

Then,  too,  there  are  the  alternate  and  combi- 
nation plantings — altogether  '*  unexpected  "  except 
to  those  very  familiar  with  the  garden.  Possibly 
I  ought  to  explain  the  terms  more  in  detail.  What 
do  I  mean  by  an  "  alternate  "  planting  ?  Well, 
let  us  suppose  two  kinds  of  bulbs,  say.  Winter 
Aconite  and  Blue  Muscari.  These  are  planted 
in  equal  mixture  alternately,  so  that  early  in 
the  year,  when  winter  has  scarce  relaxed  its 
grip,  there  is  a  little  patch  of  vivid  gold,  cushioned 
in  flat,  much-divided  green  foliage,  while,  con 
siderably  later,  another  flower  picture  is  presented 
on  the  same  space  of  ground  by  the  stiffly  upstand- 
ing spikes  of  blue  Grape  Hyacinths.  "  Combi- 
nation "  planting  is  a  variation  of  this.  Two 
kinds  of  bulbs  are  used  and  planted  in  a  precisely 
similar  way,  but  chosen  so  that  flowering  synchro- 
nises. Thus  the  golden  Jonquil  would  be  seen 
intermingled  with  the  white  Star  of  Bethlehem. 

Close  against  the  edge  of  a  gravel  path  is  another 
good  "  unexpected  "  bulb  home,  and  I  know  a 
garden  where,  each  February  and  March,  every 
inch  of  pathway  is  outlined  in  gold,  purple,  mauve 
or  white  Crocuses.  A  gorgeous  sight  indeed ! 
where  on  sunny  days  bees  in  myriads  hold  happy 
revelry. 

To  my  mind  the  "  unexpected  "  bulbs  which 
pry  out  from  edge  and  comer  and,  in  general, 
the  surprise  features  of  any  garden  are  the  ones 


that  linger  long  in  memory  and  get  the  biggest 
welcome  when  they  appear.  The  days  that  are 
coming   are   the   great   opportunity  offered   us   to 


create  for  ourselves  studied  "  unexpected  "  littlu 
bulb-groupings  that  shall  endure  for — who  cai> 
sav  how  long  ?  H.  W.  Canning-Wright. 


THE    KING    OF    THE    ALPS 


E"^  RITKICHIUM  NANUM  is  what  our 
.Mpine  climbers  call  "  the  King  of  the 
^  .■\lps  "  and  what  we,  Roman-Swiss,  call 
Blue  Moss  ("  La  Mousse  bleue  ").  It  grows 
'  on  the  highest  altitudes,  from  5,000ft. 
to  8,000ft.,  on  granitic  or  limestone  rocks,  always 
in  full  sun  and  in  dry  positions.  It  is  one  of  those 
plants  everyone  would  hke  to  have  in  their  garden 
but  with  which  very  few  can  succeed.  I  saw 
some,  however,  twenty  years  ago,  beautifully 
flowered  by  my  late  friend,  Mr.  Charles  Ellis,  at 
Frencham  Hall  in  pans  in  a  cold  house,  and  I 
know  some  English  amateurs  who  succeed  with 
it  very  well.  It  even  sometimes  reproduces  itself 
freely  on  their  rockeries,  but  how  rare  are  these 
successes !  At  Edinburgh  Botanic  Gardens 
Professor  Sir  Isaac  Bayley  Balfour  shewed  me 
once  nice  examples  seemingly  very  healthy, 
and  on  the  west  coast  it  is  here  and  there  luxuriant 
in  walls  or  rockwork.  It  dishkes  stagnant  moisture, 
however,  and  rots  off  very  easily  ;.  hence  it  is 
wise  in  some  wet  localities  to  protect  it  with  a 
sheet  of  glass.  Here  at  Floraire  we  tried  it  in 
several  places — in  the  wall,  on  the  rockery,  in 
pans,  in  Sphagnum  and  in  pure  sand.  Best  of 
all  was  the  culture  in  a  peat  bed,  as  shewn  in  the 
accompanying   picture.     We   have   here   what   we 


flowering  as  freely  as  they  do  in  Nature.  But 
they  were  growing  in  a  cool  greenhouse  or  frame. 
.At  Hindhead  in  Surrey  Dr.  Jenkin  grows  things 
like  Saxifraga  bryoides  and  S.  retusa,  Androsace 
pyrenaica,  and  A. A.  glacialis  and  argentea, 
Thlaspi  rotundifolia,  .■Azalea  procumbens,  Phy- 
teuma  hemisph.T?ricum,  Gentiana  bavarica  and 
G.  verna,  Phyteuma  comosum.  Anemone  vernalis 
and  A.  sulphurea  in  a  cold  Irame  with  a  sunny 
exposure  as  well,  I  thou.ght,  when  I  saw  them 
last  May,  as  on  our  .Alps. 

After  all,  I  think  that  the  best  means  of  growing 
and  succeeding  with  Eritrichium  nanum  in  the 
British  climate  is  to  grow  it  in  a  wall  or  cliff  facing 
south  and  to  keep  it  dry — even  very  dry  in  winter — 
and  to  grow  it  in  a  poor  soil. 

The  Alpen  King  is  not  such  a  rare  plant  as  people 
generally  are  apt  to  think.  I  saw  it  last  summer 
in  the  Maritime  Alps  above  Nice  in  such  abundance 
and  luxuriance  that  at  iirst  sight  I  could  hardly 
believe  it  was  not  a  dwarf  species  of  Forget-me- 
not  (Myosotis  alpestris).  There  it  was  at  an 
altitude  of  more  than  8,oooft.  and  only  on  primitive 
rocks ;  but  in  the  Champorcher  Valley  (Vallee 
d'Aosta)  it  grows  on  the  chalk  at  a  height  not 
exceeding  6,000ft.,  and  is  beautiful  in  colour 
and  health.     The  plant  grows  all  over  the  .Alpine 


ERITRICHIUM    NANUM     IN    THE     "  TOURBIERE  "    AT    FLORAIRE. 


call  a  tonrbierc,  the  base  of  which  is  irrigated  by 
running  water,  the  top  being  a  bed  of  peat  which 
drinks  up  the  water,  absorbing  it  according  to  the 
needs  of  the  plants.  In  such  a  way  the  plant  is 
never  exposed  to  danger  of  rotting  off,  as  it  is 
watered  from  below  and  water  is  never  spilt  upon 
the  plant.  But  that  method  of  culture,  good  for 
our  Continental  climate,  is  useless  for  the  damp 
climate  of  England.  There  it  is  necessary  to 
struggle  against  excessive  humidity  by  exposing 
the  plant  to  the  lull  sun  to  produce  active  transpira- 
tion. I  saw  in  Yorkshire,  at  Scampston  Hall, 
the  most  delicate  and  tender  alpines  (Pyrola 
uniflora,    .Androsace    argentea,    etc.)    growing    and 


chain,  always  on  dry  cliffs,  in  full  sunshine,  and 
in  the  purest  light  of  the  high  Alps.  In  the 
Western  Caucasus  it  ascends  to  9,000ft.,  and  is 
very  abundant.  A  friend  of  mine  brought  me 
once  from  the  highest  summits  of  the  Cordillera 
in  North  .America  some  dried  specimens  of  Eritri- 
chium saying  that  the  plant  was  very  abundant 
there.  The  specimens  were,  in  fact,  of  a  very 
near  species  of  Eritrichium,  called  argenteuin, 
and  given  by  Clements  (see  "  Clements'  Rock 
Mountain  Flowers,"  page  119,  and  plate  21, 
Fig.  8)  quite  wrongly  as  an  annual,  since 
the  plants  I  had  in  my  hands  were  very  old 
ones.  Henrv  Correvon. 


October  28,  1922, 


THE     GARDEN. 


545 


CORRESPONDENCE 


THE    TWELVE    BEST    SHRUBS. 

"VTR.  G.  H.\RVEY'S  suggestion  is  an  interesting 
one,  and  lends  itself  to  correspondence, 
but  would  it  not  be  preferable  to  ask  for  a  list 
of  the  twelve  best  hardy  flowering  trees  or  shrubs  ? 
It  is  difficult  to  differentiate  between  trees  and 
shrubs,  e.g.,  some  might  say  the  bole  of  a  Eucryphia 
makes  it  a  tree.  I  know  one  quite  34ins.  in  circum- 
ference !  .\gain,  I  do  not  see  the  object  in  the 
plants  listed  being  "  suitable  for  massing."  Few 
people  lay  out  really  good  groups,  and  some  shrubs 
are  most  effective  as  individual  plants.  Some  of 
the  groups  at  Kew  and  the  .\rnold  .\rboretum 
are  good,  but  space  and  ^elected  plants  are  both 
necessary  to  get  the  best  results. — Seme.x. 

[Probably  most  readers  will  agree  with  "  Senex's  " 
suggestion  that  value  for  massing  is  not  essential 
in  a  shrub,  especially  in  a  large  one,  but  perhaps 
our  original  correspondent  was  anxious  to  compile 
a  list  of  the  twelve  best  shrubs  for  massing ! 
We  must  all  agree  with  "  Senex  "  that  it  is  exceed- 
ingly difficult  to  draw  a  dividing  line  between 
flowering  trees  and  shrubs,  but  we  imagine  our 
correspondent  wished  to  exclude  such  things  as 
Laburnums  and  Robinias,  which  grow  to  a  con- 
siderable size.  May  we  hope  that  "  Senex " 
(a  recognised  authority)  will  send  us  his  own 
ideas  as  to  the  twelve  best  flowering  shrubs. — Ed.] 

'T'HE  correspondence  on  the  twelve  best  shrubs 
is  very  interesting  if  only  for  its  wide  differ- 
ences of  opinion.  I  quite  believe  that  if  twenty 
experts  were  asked  to  name  the  twelve  best  shrubs 
we  should  find  they  had  at  least  loo  among  them. 
I  like  a  yellow  Rose,  therefore  Golden  Emblem 
is  a  better  Rose  than  Red  Letter  Day !  For 
some  years  it  has  been  part  of  my  duties  to  shew 
visitors  round  a  fairly  extensive  and  up  to  date 
collection  of  shrubs,  and  it  has  been  one  of  my 
chief  aims  to  get  their  opinions  on  the  various 
plants  and  also  my  order  book  shews  very  strong 
opinion  for  the  following  twelve ;  Eucryphia 
pinnatifolia,  Tricuspidaria  lanceolata,  Embothrium 
coccineum,  Ceanothus  floribundus,  Olearia  senii- 
dentata,  Desfontainea  spinosa.  Erica  australis, 
Cytisus  Donard  Seedhng,  Osmanthus  Delavayi, 
Veronica  Gauntletti,  Leptospermum  Chapmanii 
and  Berberis  Prattii.  These  are  closely  followed 
by  Rhododendron  .^scot  Brilliant,  Philadelphus 
\"irginal,  Rosa  Moyesii,  Viburnum  Carlesii, 
Escallonia  Donard  SeedUng,  Forsythia  suspensa, 
Cotoneaster  bullata  and  Pieris  formosa.  Now 
with  this  collection  I  should  expect  quickly  to 
bump  with  the  person  who  has  lime,  with  the 
one  that  registers  over  20°  of  frost,  and  with  the 
one  whose  garden  could  not  afford  plants  that 
would  get  very  big.  So  we  seem  to  be  driven  to 
the  conclusion  that  there  are  no  such  things  as 
the  twelve  best  shrubs,  for  what  would  be  a  gem 
in  Cornwall  would  be  a  farce  in  Manchester — hand- 
some is  as  handsome  does. — W  Sunger  {of  the 
Donard  Nursery  Company). 

T.\  accordance  with  the  suggestion  that  readers 
of  The  Garden  should  give  their  views  on 
this  subject  (page  507),  I  am  sending  you  a  list 
of  the  dozen  shrubs  which  would  be  my  choice 
were  I  to  be  Umited  to  this  number.  Perhaps 
there  is  nothing  out  of  the  ordinary  in  the 
selection,  but  all  are  decorative,  and  all  have  been 
found  hardy  in  a  West  of  England  garden  on  the 
side  of  a  hill  with  a  slope  to  the  west  but  badly 
exposed  to  easterly  winds.  1  have  intentionally 
omitted  shrubs  with  special  soil  requirements, 
such  as  Rhododendrons,  and  I  have  not  included 
Roses,  which  to  my  mind  are  not  in  place  in  a 
mixed  shrubbery,  but  had  I  to  name  one  I  should 


vote  for  the  beautiful  Chinese  R.  Moyesii,  as  much 
for  its  splendid  hips  as  for  its  blood-red  flowers. 
The  following  is  my  list :  Lilac  Mme.  Lemoine, 
Spirffia  Anthony  Waterer,  S.  arguta,  Ceanothus 
Gloire  de  Versailles,  Berberis  Darwinii,  B.  steno- 
phylla,  Deutzia  crenata,  Buddleia  globosa,  Leyces- 
teria  formosa,  Forsythia  suspensa,  Cistus  ladani- 
lerus  and  Solanum  crispum. — R.  E.  H. 

AS  your  correspondent  remarks  (page  507),  it 
is  no  easy  matter  to  make  a  selection  of 
twelve  good  flowering  shrubs,  especially  when 
these  must  be  suitable  for  a  light  loamy  soil. 
I  agree  with  you,  Mr.  Editor,  that  Eucryphia 
pinnatifolia  should  most  certainly  be  one  of  the 
twelve.  My  vote  is  given  for  the  following  eleven 
shrubs  in  addition  :  Magnolia  stellata,  Deutzia 
crenata  fl.  pi.,  Ceanothus  Gloire  de  Versailles, 
the  Mexican  Orange   (Choisya  ternata),  the   Pearl 


vitifolium  should  be  in  all  gardens,  either  in  the 
open  or  on  a  west  wall.  It  is  difficult  to  leave  out 
the  flowering  Crabs,  Plums,  Cherries  and  .Azaleas. 
— Tl.M. 

.\    NOTEWORTHY     KNIPHOFIA. 

nPHERE  is  a  certain  amount  of  magic  in  the 
word  "  garden."  It  sounds  quite  as  stimu- 
lating to  a  real  devotee  as  "  rats  "  to  a  terrier. 
So  I  thought  when  I  saw  the  wonderful  setting 
of  briUiant  flame-like  flowers  of  Kniphofia  corallina 
in  full  flower  quite  recently.  The  picture  I  send 
is  by  permission  of  Mr.  J.  Bradshaw,  of  The 
Grange,  Southgate,  where  this  most  beautiful 
hybrid  (Macowanii  x  aloides)  has  been  in  flower 
since  July,  successively  throwing  up  its  perfectly 
erect,  brilliant  coral  red  flower-scapes.  It  will 
continue  until  severe  frost.  It  is  evident  that 
Kniphofias  are  deservedly  becoming  more  popular, 
providing  as  they  do  charming  effects  during  the 
dull  days  of  autumn  and  early  winter,  especially 
if     undisturbed     and     allowed     to     form     clumps. 


MASSED    SPIKES    OF    KNIPHOFIA    CORALLINA. 


Bush  (Exochorda  grandiflora),  Pieris  floribunda, 
two  Barberries,  B.  Darwinii  and  B.  stenophylla, 
a  small  group  of  Rhododendron  Doncaster,  Spir:Ea 
ariafolia  and  Escallonia  macrantha. — Robert  H. 
Jeffers,  Edinburgh.. 

TN  reply  to  Mr.  G.  Harvey  (page  507),  I  beg  to 
enumerate  what  I  consider  a  very  desirable 
dozen.  They  are:  (i)  Rhododendron  campylo- 
carpum,  pale  yellow ;  R.  Loderi,  white ;  or  R. 
Thorasoni,  crimson — according  to  colour.  Pink 
Pearl  is  nowhere  with  these  masterpieces  of 
Nature.  (2)  Rosa  Hugonis,  yellow ;  R.  altaica, 
pale  yellow ;  or  R.  Moyesii,  superb  crimson — 
according  to  colour ;  (3)  Buddleia  globosa ; 
(4)  Cytisus  scoparius  Andreanus ;  (5)  Eucryphia 
pinnatifoha ;  (6)  Halesia  Carolina  ;  (7)  Magnolia 
parviflora,  M.  stellata  or  M.  Lennei ;  (8)  Syringa 
Souvenir  de  L.  Spath ;  (5)  Ceanothus  Gloire 
de  Versailles ;  (10)  Philadelphus  Virginal ; 
(11)  Escallonia  Edinburgh  ;  (r2)  Berberis  Darwinii. 
For  a  south  wall  Chimonanthus  fragrans,  and 
for  a  few  dwarf  shrubs  Viburnum  Carlesii,  Daphne 
Cneorum,  Pentstemon  Scouleri,  Philadelphus 
microlepsis      and     Azalea     rosseflora.       Abutilon 


Kniphofias  thrive  best  in  a  deep  rich  sandy  loaui, 
well  drained  and,  if  possible,  on  a  raised  bed 
where  the  drainage  can  be  assured.  Its  grass- 
like  foliage  and  flower-scapes  are  seen  to  advantage 
when  planted  in  the  foreground  of  a  shrubbery 
border.  Plantine  is  best  done  either  in  spring 
or  very  early  in  autumn. — W.  Logan. 

COOKING    SWEET     CORN. 

T  THINK,  possibly,  the  enclosed  note  on  the  cook- 
ing of  Indian  Com  may  be  interesting  to  your 
readers.  The  information  is  given  to  me  by  a 
Mr.  Starr  Truscott  of  the  Navy  Department, 
Bureau  of  .Aeronautics,  Washington,  who  told  me 
that  his  mother  knew  more  about  the  proper 
cooking  of  Indian  Corn  than  any  lady  in  the 
States. 

"  The  most  difficult  thing  is  to  determine  just 
when  the  ear  of  Corn  is  ripe  for  plucking.  Usually 
this  may  be  known  by  the  fact  that  the  silky  tassel 
at  the  tip  of  the  ear  is  brown  and  dry,  and  the  ear 
when  grasped  firmly  feels  soUd  and  not  cushiony. 
If  the  husk  be  stripped  back  for  a  short  distance 
to  expose  a  narrow  strip  of  the  grains  on  the  ear, 
the  grains  should  show  completely  filled  out  and 


546 


THE     GARDEN. 


[October  28,  1922. 


plump.  If  pressed  by  the  tip  of  the  fingernail, 
the  skin  should  break  easily  and  a  milky  juice 
appear.  When  the  grain  is  tough  under  this  test, 
the  best  stage  for  eating  has  passed.  If  the  husk 
is  pulled  back  and  the  grains  found  immature, 
simply  straighten  it  back  and  wait. 

"  When  ripe  break  the  whole  ear  from  the  stalk 
by  grasping  it  firmly  and  breaking  the  ear  stem 
near  the  ear.  Remove  the  husk  and  the  fine 
'  silk  '  which  lies  along  the  grains. 

"  Use  a  rather  deep  kettle  if  possible.  Place 
at  the  bottom  a  pad  made  of  the  inner  layers  of 
the  husks.  This  should  hold  the  ears,  when  placed 
on  it,  about  sins,  up  from  the  bottom.  After 
putting  the  ears  in,  pour  in  boiling  water  until 
it  just  touches  the  lowest  ears.  Cover  the  kettle 
and  boil  for  fifteen  minutes  to  twenty  minutes 
according  to  size  of  ears.  (Small  ears  like  Golden 
Bantam   should   take   about    fifteen    minutes.)      It 


years  old,  and  has  never  been  known  to  do  so 
before. — (Miss)  E.  Giffard,  Moitt  au  Prclrc, 
Jersey,  C.I. 

[The  fruiting  of  Akebia  quinata  in  Britain  has 
been  recorded  from  time  to  time,  especially  in  the 
Southern  and  Western  Counties,  but  it  is  far 
from  common.  The  fruits  are  greyish  violet  in 
colour,  cylindrical  in  form,  with  rounded  heads, 
not,  dissimilar,  in  fact,  to  those  of  some  of  the  so- 
called  Egg  Plants  (Solanum  Melongena). — Ed.] 

AN  ENGLISH  THISTLE. 
'T'HE  accompanying  illustration  is  of  Cirsium 
eriophorum,  Scop,  sub  sp.  anglicum,  Petrak. 
It  may  be  interesting  to  mention  in  these  columns 
that  the  Woolly-headed  Thistle  of  England  (it 
does  not  grow  in  Scotland  or  Ireland)  has  been 
designated  sub  species  angUcum  by  Dr.  Petrak 
of  Czechn-Slovakia  in  his  Monograph  of  the  genus. 


THE    UNCOMMON    ENGLISH    THISTLE,    CIRSIUM    ERIOPHORUM    VAR.    ANGLICUM. 


will  be  noted  that  the  process  is  really  steaming, 
and  a  steamer  may  be  used  if  available. 

'*  There  have  been  many  ways  proposed  to  make 
the  method  of  eating  more  elegant,  but  all  good 
Americans  who  really  like  Sweet  Corn  prefer  to 
eat  it  '  from  the  cob.'  This  means  simplv  '  gnaw- 
ing '  the  grains  off  the  cob,  holding  the  ear  by  the 
ends.  A  little  butter  with  salt  and  pepper  spread 
on  the  ear  at  the  point  of  attack  makes  the  dish 
complete.  The  grains  may  also  be  separated 
from  the  cob  by  slicing  them  off  with  a  knite, 
collecting  them  on  a  plate.  This  produces  a  dish 
resembling  the  American  '  canned  corn.'  " — 
Peter  R.  Bark. 

UNCOMMON    FRUITS. 

'TPHE  pretty  Japanese  chmber  Akebia  quinata 
grows  and  flowers  very  well  here.  This  year, 
owing  doubtless  to  last  summer's  abnormal  sun- 
shine, one  branch  that  has  grown  away  from  the 
main  plant  (made  very  bushy  by  constant  cutting 
back)  has  fruited,  and  the  fruit  shews  every  sign 
of  ripening.  Is  this  fruiting  unusual  ?  I  should 
be  very  glad  to  hear  of  other  cases  of  this  climber 
fruiting.     The  plant  I  am  writing  of  is  over  thirtv 


By  special  request  I  collected  and  dried  a  large 
number  of  specimens  of  this  very  prickly  and 
handsome  Thistle  for  the  "  Cirsiotheca "  which 
Professor  Petrak  has  been  forming,  and  which  in 
due  course  will  be  distributed.  The  photograph 
is  one  of  several  taken  on  August  21  on  a  steep 
slope  of  rough  pasture  resting  on  Lower  Lias 
between  Bristol  and  Bath,  where  the  plant  is  very 
abundant,  as  it  is  sometimes  on  similar  ground  in 
other  parts  of  Somerset,  but  it  is  absent  from 
Devon  and  Cornwall.  The  root-leaves  form  very 
handsome  rosettes,  and  some  of  the  largest 
leaves  were  just  3ft.  in  length.  The  Thistle  is 
biennial. — H.   Stuart  Thompson. 

EUONYMUS    JAPONICUS    FLOWERING. 

T  .\M  unaware  if  it  has  been  put  on  record  that 
the  common  fleshy-lea\'ed  Euonymus  of 
gardens,  and  especially  of  seaside  gardens  and 
promenades,  has  flowered  profusely  this  year. 
Se\'eral  of  my  friends  in  different  parts  of  Southern 
England  have  had  a  similar  experience  with  myself 
in  not  having  previously  observed  it  in  blossom. 
I  have  seen  many  bushes  in  flower  or  bud  about 
Bristol,  in  Dorset  and  at  Minehead.— H.  S.  T. 


TRIALS     OF     NEW 
ROSES 

Foreign  Introductions  of  1920. 

THE  new  foreign  Roses  of  1920  bear 
little  comparison  with  those  produced 
in  this  country  so  far  as  can  be  ascer- 
tained from  one  year's  trial.  There  are 
a  few  novelties  and  others  are  worth 
watching  for  the  result  of  another  year,  but  on 
the  whole  very  few  of  them  are  likely  to  find  their 
way  to  official  recognition  here. 

Cornelia  (H.T.,  Robert  Scott  and  Son). — A 
clean  medium  grower  with  nice  foliage,  but  the 
blooms  are  not  satisfactory,  being  white,  diffused 
with  pink,  and  rather  flat.  A  free  bloomer, 
however. 

Evrard  Ketten  (H.T.,  Ketten  Freres). — Not  a 
vigorous  grower.  A  carmine  red  resembling 
Laurent  Carle  in  colour,  with  the  same  failing  of 
turning  blue  on  maturity.  Its  best  point  is  its 
fragrance — the  good  old  red  rose  scent,  and  plenty 
of  it. 

F.  L.  de  Voogt  (H.T.,  J.  Timmermans). — Strong, 
erect  grower,  with  good  trusses  of  thin  yellowish 
pink  blooms.     A  free  bloomer. 

Geisha  (Pernetiana,  G.  A.  von  Rossem). — 
Yet  another  sport  of  Mme.  E.  Herriot,  the  growth 
being  exactly  similar.  The  blooms  are  flat  and 
deep  ■  sulphur  yellow  in  colour,  but  they  hang 
their  heads  just  as  their  parent.     Sweet  scented. 

Glory  of  Steinfurth  (H.T.,  Schultheis). — Origin 
Frau  Karl  Druschki  ■  General  Mc.^rthur.  The 
growth  resembles  the  former,  but  is  not  so  strong. 
The  blooms  are  large,  deep  pink  in  colour,  and 
witli   the  scent  of  General   McArthur. 

Irene  Bonnet  (Climbing  H.  T.,  G.  Nabonnand). 
— This  has  not  bloomed  here  yet,  but  has  made 
good  growth.  It  is  described  as  being  rose 
pink  in  colour  and  fragrant. 

Jacotte  (Wichuraiana,  Barbier  et  Cie).  —  This 
also  has  not  yet  bloomed,  but  growth  is  exceUent. 
Described  as  a  hybrid  of  Rosa  Wichuraiana  x 
.■\.  R.  Goodwin,  and  coppery  salmon  in  colour. 

Juan  Quevado  (H.T.,  M.  Leenders  and  Co  ). — 
Fair  growth.  Very  pale  yellow  blooms,  with 
deeper  centre.  Not  a  good  shape  ;  too  fiat,  but 
\ery  sweetly  scented. 

Julia  Bartet  (Pernetiana,  Barbier  et  Cie). — 
A  moderate  grower  with  big  trusses  of  bright 
yellow  blooms.  Type  of  Mme.  E.  Herriot,  but 
the  blooms  come  small,  and  there  are  already 
plenty  of  bigger  and  better  varieties  on  the  market. 

La  Joconde  (Pernetiana,  J.  Croibier  et  Fils). — ■ 
A  sport  of  A.  R.  Goodwin.  Very  weak  grower, 
with  small  yellowish  blooms  edged  pink.  Sweet 
scented,  but  not  a  free  bloomer. 

La  Rosee  (Dwarf  Polyantha,  E.  Turbat  et 
Cie). — This  is  quite  a  novelty,  and  a  good  one. 
The  growth  is  excellent,  a  continuous  bloomer, 
the  second  crop  being  out  before  the  first  blooms 
were  over.  Light  sulphur  yellow  blooms,  the 
backs  and  edges  of  petals  splashed  red  almost 
like  a  picotee  edge.  A  distinct  variety  and  worth 
growing. 

Le  Loiret  (Dwarf  Polyantha,  E.  Turbat  et 
Cie). — An  erect-growing  and  strong  Dwarf  Poly- 
antha. Bright  rose-red  blooms  in  dainty — not 
heavy — trusses. 

Limburgia  (H.T.,  M.  Leenders  and  Co.). — A 
strong  grower,  very  similar  to  J.  L.  Mock  in  shape 
and  colour.     A  "  too-much-alike  "  variety. 

Lodewijk  Opdebeck  (H.T.,  M.  Leenders  and 
Co.). — Very  weak  and  thin  growth.  Red  blooms 
which  turn  blue,  and  a  very  shy  bloomer,  too 

Mme.  P.  Doithier  (H.T.,  C.  Chambard). — Also 
a  weak  grower  and  a  late  bloomer.  Resembles 
Mme.  Abel  Chatenay,  but  the  blooms  are  flatter 


October  28,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


547 


Mme.  Pizay  (H.T.,  C.  Chambard).— Erect 
grower.  Blush  pink  blooms,  cup  shaped,  but  they 
get  dirty.     An  undesirable  new  Rose. 

Mme.  Victor  Rault  (H.T.,  J.  Croibier  et 
Fils). — A  good  grower,  erect  and  with  heavy  trusses 
of  bloom.  The  latter  are  yellowish  pink  colour, 
globular  in  shape.  A  promising  bedding  Rose, 
with  good  foliage  and  a  free  bloomer. 

Marie  Lunnemann  (H.T.,  J.  Timmermans). — 
Origin,  Pharisaer  x  Laurent  Carle.  Medium 
grower,  but  fairly  erect.  Blush  pink  blooms — 
nothing  striking. 

Merveille  des  Jaunes  (Dwarf  Polyantha,  E. 
Turbat  et  Cie). — Not  a  strong  grower.  The 
blooms  are  rather  unique  in  colour — copper  with 
bright  red  edges,  opening  out  reddish  copper. 
The  colour,  however,  washes  out  in  wet  weather. 
Small  clusters  of  bloom,  not  heavy  heads.  Worth 
trying. 

Mevrouw   C.   van  Marwyk   Kooy   (H.T.,    M. 

Leenders  and  Co.). — Were  it  needed,  the  name  of 
this  Rose  would  prevent  its  ever  becoming  popular. 
An  erect,  moderate  grower.  Large  white  blooms 
slightly  tinted  blush. 

Paul  Lafont  (H.T.,  P.  C.uillot).— .-^  thin  grower, 
but  promising.  Blooms  are  white  with  a  deep 
yellow  centre.     Worth  trying  another  season. 

Pilgrim  (H.T.,  A.  Montgomery). — Not  a  strong 
grower.  This  variety  also  resembles  J.  L.  Mock, 
but  blooms  afe  not  so  heavy.     Sweet  scented. 

President  Poincare  (H.T.,  Grand  Roseraies 
du  Val  de  la  Loire). — Origin  Caroline  Testout  x 
Dora  van  Tets.  Strong  grower,  with  small 
globular  blooms,  deep  pink  with  darker  centres. 

Souvenir  de  Claudius  Denoyel  (H.T.,  C. 
Chambard). — Origin  Chateau  de  Clos  Vougeot  x 
Mme.  Jules  Gravereaux.  The  growth  is  good, 
but  blooms  are  poor.     Deep  red  and  very  flat. 

Souvenir    de    Claudius    Pernet    (Pemetiana, 

Pernet  Ducher). — Very  strong  and  upright  grower, 
with  excellent  foliage.  Large  bright  yellow 
blooms  of  good  shape.  Sweet  scented  and  a  free 
bloomer.  Quite  one  of  the  best  of  M.  Pernet 
Ducher's  productions. 

Souvenir  de  Gilbert  Nabonnand  (Tea,  G. 
Nabonnand). — The  only  new  Tea  Rose  of  the  year. 
A  good  grower.  Small  blooms,  deep  yellowish 
cream  colour,  edged  with  red.  Good  foUage  and 
sweetly  scented.     A  free  bloomer. 

Souvenir  de  Mme.  Augustine  Gillot  (Pernetiana, 

F.  Gillot). — Origin  Frau  Karl  Druschki  x  Lyon 
Rose.  Very  vigorous  grower,  but  should  rather 
be  described  as  a  Hybrid  Perpetual  than  a 
Pernetiana,  for  the  growth  resembles  its  Druschki 
parent.  Pale  pink  blooms,  big  enough  for 
exhibition. 

Souvenir  de  Mme.  Morln  Latune  (H.T.,  P. 
Bemaix). — Thin,  erect  growth.  Blooms  resemble 
Ophelia,  being  Ught  salmon  with  deeper  centre, 
and  good  shape. 

Victor  Teschendorff  (H.T.,  Ebehng).— Origin 
Frau  Karl  Druschki  x  Mrs.  .Aaron  Ward.  Medium 
growth,  but  excellent  blooms,  resembling  Florence 
Forrester.     An  exhibitor's  Rose. 

Violincelllste  Albert  Foures  (H.T.,  J.  Croibier 
et  Fils). — Strong,  erect  growth,  with  big  trusses. 
Deep  orange-coloured  blooms  of  Mme.  Ravary 
type.  A  good  Rose  for  massing  in  a  bed.  Sweetly 
scented. 

William  Thompson  (Dwarf  Polyantha,  M. 
Leenders  and  Co.). — Good  growth  and  clean  fohage. 
Large  bright  pink  blooms,  but  they  turn  blue. 
An  unwanted  variety. 

Of  the  bedding  Roses  undoubtedly  the  best  is 
Souvenir  de  Claudius  Pernet.  Some  of  the  others 
may  improve  upon  acquaintance,  but  many  of 
them  will  expect  little  further  recognition  or  even 
remembrance. 

In  one  direction,  namely,  the  production  of 
new  Dwarf  Polyantha  Roses,  our  foreign   friends 


seem  to  excel,  and  there  is  still  room  for  additions, 
especially  in  real  yellow  varieties. 

The  only  new  Tea  Rose  of  the  year  1920 
is  a  foreign  production,  but  it  is  unfortu- 
nate that  it  is  not  a  more  worthy  specimen  of 
its  race. 


Many  of  the  foreign  Rose  growers  give  the 
parentage  of  their  new  productions,  which  is 
helpful,  as  it  always  enables  one  better  to  realise 
what  the  Rose  is  likely  to  be.  Perhaps  some  ol 
our  raisers  could  do  the  same  ! 

Ox'.ed.  Herbert  L.  Wettern. 


GARDENING     OF    THE     WEEK 


FOR     SOUTHERN     GARDENS. 

The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Asparagus. — As  soon  as  the  growths  are  well 
matured  they  may  be  cut  down,  and  the  beds  and 
alleys  cleared  finally  of  weeds  for  the  autumn. 
Should  it  be  the  practice  to  use  farmyard  manure 
on  the  beds  at  this  season,  it  should  be  so  well 
decayed  that  it  can  be  lightly  pricked  into  the 
surface,  for  it  is  not  a  good  plan  heavily  to  top- 
dress  the  beds  during  the  winter  months,  as  it 
tends  to  keep  them  cold.  Take  the  opportunity 
at  this  time,  unless  the  alleys  are  still  occupied 
with  catch  crops  of  other  vegetables,  to  dig  them 
well,  using  plenty  of  manure,  as  some  of  the 
fine  rich  soil  thus  made  will  be  excellent  dress- 
ing for  the  beds  in  the  spring.  The  digging  of  the 
ground  is  also  very  beneficial  as  an  aid  to  good 
drainage  for  the  beds,  an  important  point  in 
successful  Asparagus  cultivation. 

Salads. — Where  there  is  a  constant  demand 
for  these  at  all  seasons,  it  is  absolutely  necessary 
to  devote  a  number  of  cold  frames  to  keep  up  late 
autumn,  winter  and  early  spring  supplies.  Given 
a  favourable  season  and  a  warm  soil,  the  supply 
of  Lettuces  and  Radishes  may  be  fairly  easily 
arranged  outside  until  December,  but  it  is  an 
uncertain  yield  later  without  frames  of  some  sort. 
Any  large  plants  of  Lettuce  and  Endive  growing 
in  open  positions  where  it  is  not  convenient  to 
give  skeleton  frame  protection  should  be  carefully 
lifted  with  good  balls  of  soil  and  be  accommodated 
where  a  covering  can  be  given  as  necessary. 
Continue  the  blanching  of  batches  of  Endive  as 
requirements  demand  either  by  the  use  of  inverted 
pots  outside  or  by  removing  the  plants  to  a 
Mushroom-house  or  cellar.  Mustard  and  Cress 
should  be  sown  in  heat  every  ten  or  twelve  days, 
allowing  the  Cress  about  three  days  longer  for 
development  than  the  Mustard. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

BuIbs.^The  planting  of  Tulips  and  Hyacinths 
may  be  done  as  early  in  November  as  convenient. 
They  are  both  admirably  fitted  for  mixed  planting, 
also  for  associating  with  other  spring-fiowering 
plants,  particularly  Forget-me-nots,  Arabis  and 
Silene,  each  of  these  making  an  effective  ground- 
work as  a  setting  for  their  bulbous  associates. 
In  making  a  selection  of  Tulips  and  Hyacinths 
for  the  chief  beds  and  borders  it  is  better  to  select, 
as  far  as  possible,  varieties  of  proved  merit.  As 
a  general  rule  those  TuHps  catalogued  as  bedders 
are  more  extensively  used  than  the  Darwins, 
but  the  latter  should  also  be  largely  used  when 
the  spring  beds  are  to  be  kept  gay  as  long  as 
possible.  As  au  example  a  border  of  blue  Myosotis 
may  be  interplanted  with  Queen  of  Pinks,  or 
Proserpine  perhaps,  also  with  Clara  Butt  or 
Baronne  de  la  Tonnaye.  The  use  of  the  Darwins 
will  give  the  Forget-me-nots  an  added  charm  for 
several  weeks  longer  than  when  only  the  so-called 
bedding  Tulips  are  used.  In  the  preparation  of 
the  soil  for  the  bulbs  avoid  using  new  manure  ; 
burnt  refuse  and  bone-rneal  are  both  good.  Unless 
the  soil  is  cold  and  retentive,  Tulips  and  Hyacinths 
require  from  4ins.  to  6ins.  of  soil  on  top  of  the 
bulbs,  while  the  distance  from,  each  other  may  be 
anything  from  6ins.  to  i2ins.,  according  to  the 
nature  of   the  groundwork   and  effect  desired. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Top-Dressing. — The  operation  of  top-dressing 
Peaches  and  Nectarines,  although  perhaps  not 
often  carried  out,  may  sometimes  be  done  with 
much  advantage.  It  may  be  that  the  trees  have 
carried  quite  satisfactory  crops  but  shew  signs  of 
exhaustion  in  some  way  or  other,  or  the  fruit 
may  perhaps  have  hardly  realised  anticipations. 
In  either  case  a  good  top-dressing  will  prove 
beneficial,  inasmuch  as  the  increased  vigour 
given  by  aiding  the  development  of  fibrous  roots 
by  the  top-dressing  will  greatly  assist  to  maintain 
the  trees  in  a  continued  state  of  fruitfulness. 
Before  putting  the  new  soil  into  position  loosen 
some  of  the  old  surface  soil  carefully  with  a  fork, 
removing  a  little  of  it  at  the  same  time  ;  then 
lightly    prick    up    the    under   surface,    as    this   will 


enable  the  roots  to  get  a  quicker  grip  of  the  new 
compost  and  also  allow  of  the  new  soil  being  firmed 
into  position  better.  A  suitable  top-dressing 
should  be  chiefly  good  loam  to  which  has  been 
added  some  wood-ash.  old  mortar  rubble  and 
some  bone-meal  at  the  rate  of  a  6in.  potful  of  the 
latter  to  each  barrowful  of  loam,  and  an  Sin.  one 
of  wood-ash  and  a  good  shovelful  of  rubble.  Get 
the  work  done  as  soon  as  possible  so  that  the  new 
roots  can  get  a  good  hold  of  the  soil  before  winter, 
and  if  the  weather  be  dry  give  a  good  watering 
to  resettle  the  whole. 

H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 
Aibury  Park  Gardens,  Guildjord. 


FOR     NORTHERN     GARDENS . 

The  Kitchen  Garden. 

General  Work.— The  clearing  away  of  spent 
crops  should  receive  close  attention,  as  it  is  neither 
good  for  the  ground  to  be  carrying  decaying 
vegetation,  nor  yet  does  it  tend  towards  tidiness. 
Therefore  have  all  Cabbage,  Cauliflower  and 
Turnip  leaves  placed  in  the  rot-pit,  where  in  time 
they  will  turn  into  useful  manure.  The  haulm 
of  Potatoes,  Peas  and  Beans  is  best  burned,  as 
is  also  much  of  the  other  spent  material  in  the 
garden,  the  ashes  of  such  being  rich  in  potash  and 
proving  a  valuable  fertiliser.  These  ashes  are 
well  worth  taking  care  of,  and  should  be  stored 
under  cover  or  used  at  once  where  digging  opera- 
tions are  in  progress.  Take  the  opportunity 
during  dry  weather  to  wheel  manure  on  to  the 
ground  that  has  been  cleared  so  that  the  work 
of  digging  and  trenching  may  be  proceeded  with 
during  favourable  weather. 

Leeks. — Draw  the  soil  slightly  up  towards  the 
plants  and  thus  assist  the  blanching  process. 
This  is  particularly  desirable  for  late  lots  which 
were  not  planted  so  deep  as  those  for  the  principal 
crop. 

Autumn-Planted  Cabbage. — The  excessive  wet 
experienced  in  northern  gardens  during  the  last 
two  months  has  been  against  the  welfare  of  this 
crop,  many  blanks  having  been  caused  by  the 
ravages  of  slugs.  Make  good  the  losses  and  run 
the  hoe  through  between  the  lines  ;  this  aerates 
the  soil  and  checks  the  growth  of  weeds. 

Brussels  Sprouts.^Remove  all  decaying  foliage 
from  the  plants  and  encourage  a  healthy  growth 
so  that  firm  Sprouts  of  high  quality  may  result. 

Onions  that  have  been  ripened  thoroughly 
may  now  be  stored  in  quarters  where  they  will 
keep  in  good  condition  during  the  winter.  The 
value  of  medium-sized  Onions  has  been  further 
exemplified  this  season,  being  more  easily  ripened 
and  keeping  in  usable  condition  longer  than  those 
of  larger  size. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

The  Orchard-House.^.'Ml  pot  fruits  will  now 
have  been  cleared  of  their  crops,  but  the  trees 
must  in  no  way  be  neglected  in  regard  to  moisture 
at  the  roots.  Much  of  the  trouble  in  regard  to 
the  dropping  off  of  the  buds  may  be  traced  to 
neglect  in  watering  at  this  time.  Keep  the  syringe 
going  freely  until  the  leaves  fall,  as  this  helps  to 
keep  insect  pests  in  check.  Allow  full  ventilation 
both  night  and  day. 

Pot  Vines  that  have  been  standing  out  of  doors 
should  now  be  pruned  back  to  the  desired  length 
and  placed  in  a  cool  house  until  required  for  forcing. 
Dress  the  wounds  with  styptic. 

Late  Grapes  should  now  be  of  sufficient  ripeness 
to  allow  of  artificial  heat  being  considerably 
reduced,  maintaining  only  enough  warmth  in 
the  pipes  as  will  keep  the  atmosphere  in  a  buoyant 
condition  and  damp  from  condensing  on  the 
berries.  This  will  ensure  the  bunches  keeping 
in  good  condition.  The  danger  is  that,  should  too 
much  fire-heat  be  used,  the  berries  will  shrivel' 
During  fine  weather  air  may  be  admitted 
freely,  reducing  it  to  a  chink  at  night.  The 
bunches  must  be  examined  regularly  at  this 
time   and   any  decayed   berries   removed   at  once. 


548 


THE     GARDEN. 


[October  28,  1922. 


Promptitude  in  regard   to  this  will  often  pre\eiit 
the  loss  of. the  whole  bunch. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Bedding  Plants. — Boxes  containing  cuttings 
of  bedding  Geraniums  should  now  be  placed  under 
glass.  If  moderately  heated  pits  are  not  avail- 
able, they  may  meantime  be  placed  in  vineries 
from  which  the  fruit  has  been  cut.  Pick  off  all 
the  dead  leaves  before  housing  and  allow  plenty 
of  space  to  keep  the  plants  from  becoming  drawn. 
Ageratums,  Heliotropes,  Lobelias  and  Cupheas 
require  rather  warmer  quarters,  as  they  suffer 
readily  from  damp. 

Planting  Roses. — Where  it  is  intended  to 
plant  Roses  this  autumn  the  ground  should  be 
prepared  without  delay.  As  the  plants  are  not 
likely  to  be  disturbed  for  several  years,  the  soil 
should  receive  a  generous  preparation.  The  most 
suitable  soil  for  Roses  is  a  rich  loam.  Light, 
sandy  or  gravelly  soils  are  not  so  suitable,  but 
may  be  improved  by  taking  out  a  quantity  of 
the' natural  soil  and  adding  good  rich  hea\-y  loam. 
When  trenching  the  ground  dig  in  plenty  of  well 
rotted  farmyard  manure,  but  do  not  allow  the 
roots  to  come  into  immediate  contact  with  it  when 
planting,  Roses  may  be  planted  during  favour- 
able weather  at  any  time  from  now  onwards  to 
the  end  of  March,  but  from  the  last  week  in  October 
till  the  end  of  November  is  best. 
James  McGran 
(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart,), 

Coodham,  Kilmarnock. 

GREENHOUSE    AND    CONSERVATORY. 

Hardy  Slirubs  for  Forcing.— There  are  a  large 
number  of  beautiful  hardy  shrubs  that  are  most 
useful  for  furnishing  the  conservatory  during  the 
spring  months.  Many  of  them  can  be  purchased 
specially  prepared  for  forcing,  such  as  pot-grow-n 
Lilacs.  Others,  such  as  Azaleas,  Rhododendrons, 
Pvruses,  Prunuses,  Kerria  japonica,  Spiraea  van 
Kouttei  and  S,  prunifolia  var,  fl,  pi.,  to  mention 
a  few,  can  be  hfted  from  the  open  ground  at  this 
time,  and  if  placed  in  pots  and  tubs  may  in  due 
course  be  successfully  used  for  forcing.  Instead 
of  throwing  the  plants  away,  as  is  too  commonly 
done  after  forcing,  most  of  them  can  be  used 
for  a  number  of  years.  If  they  are  planted  out 
in  the  reserve  garden  for  two  years  to  recover 
and  by  using  them  in  rotation  one  can  have  a 
regular  supply  each  year.  While  it  may  be 
necessary  to  piu-chase  some  plants,  there  are 
others  that  can  easily  be  propagated  by  means  of 
cuttings,  Deutzia  graciUs,  for  example,  and 
Forsythia  suspensa,  but  the  best  Forsythia  for 
this  purpose  is  F.  intermedia  var,  spectabiUs, 
which  with  slight  heat  can  be  had  in  flower  just 
after  Christmas.  This  plant  produces  deep  golden 
yellow  flowers  in  wonderful  profusion,  and  in  an 
ordinary  conservatory  keeps  in  good  condition 
for  several  weeks.  A  forced  plant  affords  a  ready 
means  of  propagation,  as  the  young  soft  shoots 
root  very  readily.  This  also  applies  to  many 
other  shrubbv  plants  used  for  this  purpose. 
Azaleas  and  Rhododendrons  with  their  restricted 
root  system  are  well  adapted  for  forcing,  as  it  is 
a  fairly  easy  matter  to  get  them  into  moderate- 
sized  pots.  When  using  .Azaleas  and  Rhododen- 
drons for  this  purpose  preference  should  be  given 
to  such  varieties  as  naturally  flower  early,  as 
thev,  of  course,  respond  more  readily  to  forcing, 
Rosa'  Mundi  is  a  dwarf  free-flowering  variety 
that  may  be  had  in  flower  by  Christmas  ;  while 
R.  pra!Cox,  often  cut  by  frost  outdoors,  is  very 
charming  for  indoor  work.  The  latter  plant  is 
very  free-flowering,  and  I  have  frequently  forced 
this  species  for  three  and  four  years  in  succession. 
R,  Prince  Camille  de  Rohan  is  also  good  ;  in  fact, 
most  of  the  hybrids  with  caucasicum  blood  in  them 
force  readily.  Pink  Pearl  and  the  newer  .Alice 
are  also  excellent  for  pot  work.  Rhododendron 
Ktempferi  in  a  number  of  beautiful  varieties  is 
excellent  for  forcing,  and  it  is  surprising  that  this 
plant  has  been  so  long  neglected  for  this  purpose. 
Viburnum  Carlesii  is  \ery  charming  for  the 
conservatorv,  its  fragrant  flowers  coming  pure 
white  when  grown  indoors.  It  will  not  stand 
hard  forcing,  and  is  best  brought  on  in  a  warm 
greenhouse  temperature.  It  is  also  best  pot 
grown,  as  it  seems  to  resent  too  much  disturbance 
at  the'root.  Purchased  plants  are  usually  worked 
on  the  common  Viburnum,  and  a  sharp  outlook 
should  be  kept  for  suckers  which  prove  very 
troublesome.  It  is  easily  rooted  by  means  of 
soft  young  shoots. 

wistaria  sinensis  is  a  beautiful  plant  for  the 
conservatory,  and  is  best  when  established  in 
pots  Like  the  Viburnum,  it  must  not  be  given 
too  much  heat,  or  else  all  the  buds  will  drop 
off      One  of    the  secrets  of   successful  forcing   is 


gradualh"  to  accustom  the  plants  to  a  high 
temperature,  introducing  them  too  suddenK" 
usually  ends  in  failure,  although  Lilacs  and 
.Azaleas  will  stand  high  temperatures  with  im- 
punity ;  but,  of  course,  they  do  not  stand  so 
well  as  when  brought  on  under  cooler  conditions. 
.After  the  plants  are  potted  up  they  should  be 
stood  outdoors  until  such  time  as  they  are  required, 
protecting  the  pots  from  frost  by  means  of  hay 
or  ashes. 

Funkia  grandiflora,  although  hardy  in  warm 
situations,  is  usually  so  late  in  flowering  that  most 
seasons  it  gets  cut  with  frost.  For  this  reason 
it  is  well  worth  growing  in  pots  for  the  unheated 
greenhouse.  If  grown  in  Sin.  or  loin.  pots  it  forms 
a  handsome    specimen   with   its    large  ornamental 


foliage  and  beautiful  white,  sweet-scented  flowers. 
Funkia  tardiflora  is  another  late-flowering  species 
which  is  well  worth  growing  in  pots  for  a  cool 
house.  It  is  a  neat-growing  plant  and  produces 
its  purplish-coloured  flowers  in  great  profusion. 

Zonal  Pelargoniums. — Although  these  plants 
may  be  had  in  flower  more  or  less  all  the  year 
round,  they  are  never  more  valuable  than  when 
in  flower  during  the  winter  months.  At  this  time 
it  is  essential  that  they  be  given  a  light,  airy 
position  in  the  greenhouse  and  not  be  overwatered, 
as  damp  is  fatal  to  them.  As  a  dry  atmosphere 
must  be  maintained,  it  is  necessary  to  have  some 
heat  in  the  pipes  during  the  night  and  during 
dull  days,  J,  Coutts. 

Roval  Botanic  Gardens,   Kew. 


OTHER     PEOPLE'S    TREES 


IT  often  occurs  to  me  how  beautiful  other 
people's  trees  are.  Anybody's  or  every- 
body's trees  are  subjected  to  scrutiny, 
admired  and  noted  mentally,  without 
invidious  feeling  and  without  the  owner 
being  aware  of  it.  I  have  examined  the  minutis 
of  all  of  them  at  one  time  or  other  and  can  recog- 
nise most  of  the  species  at  a  distance  without 
handling  a  leaf.  Some  of  them  I  can  diagnose 
at  a  mile  away  and  others  at  lesser  distances, 
so  that  I  never  become  a  nuisance  to  anybody 
and  no  one  has  to  cut  down  anything  to  prevent 
himself  from  being  overlooked  by  the  sightseer. 
The  trees  are  a  source  of  delight  no  matter  to  whom 
they  belong,  and  under  those  circumstances 
they  are  as  much  mine  as  the  air  I  breathe,  I 
can  use  the  latter,  view  the  trees  and  enjoy  them  ; 
and  the  lord  of  the  manor  himself  cannot  do  more, 
I  once  heard  of  a  servant  who  walked  out  into  the 
grounds  of  his  master,  sat  down  upon  a  seat  and 
imagined  himself  the  owner  of  the  place,  but  was 
disillusioned  when  he  went  home  to  breakfast. 
He  was  not  a  domestic,  but  lived  in  a  separate 
house  on  the  estate,  which  made  the  contrast 
seem  the  greater. 

.All  are  aware  of  the  splendid  assortment  of 
trees  available,  but  they  are  best  represented  in 
the  tree  niu-sery  or  the  botanic  garden.  Except 
in   the   large   private   garden   it   is   impossible   to 


f'^J- 


mCr, 


^■^:' 


*^:---.w.: 


accommodate  a  tithe  of  the  trees  actually  in  the 
country,  so  that  the  selection  for  gardens  generally 
has  several  limiting  factors.  Space  is  Umited, 
the  trees  must  be  easy  to  grow,  and  few-  being 
specialists,  people  seldom  attempt  searching  for 
rare  trees.  Such  as  they  grow  they  have  made 
the  objects  of  their  choice,  and  their  selections 
may  be  regarded  as  an  index  of  their  affections 
in  the  arboreal  world.  It  is  always  a  pleasure 
to  see  more  and  more  really  handsome  trees 
getting  outside  the  nursery  and  the  botanic  garden. 
Many  of  them  are  of  ancient  introduction,  highly 
ornamental,  easy  to  grow  and  therefore  popular, 
which  is  the  reason  why  they  have  outlasted 
hundreds  of  other  introductions. 

Of  more  showy  or  conspicuous  trees  the  first  to 
commence  flowering  are  the  Almonds,  of  which 
there  are  several  colours.  Flowering  takes  place 
in  February  or  March.  From  that  time  onwards 
the  flowering  trees  expand  their  blossoms  in 
succession  like  a  panorama  to  the  eye  of  those 
who  walk  abroad  at  frequent  intervals  or  view  it 
from  the  top  of  a  motor  'bus  or  any  other  vehicle. 
The  Purple-leaved  Plum  usually  opens  its  snowy 
blossoms  in  March  before  the  bad  weather  has 
gone,  so  that  frost  or  rain  may  spoil  them  and  so 
prevent  the  production  of  the  Cherry  Plums, 
which  are  excellent  for  preserving.  The  display, 
even  if  short-lived,   is  delightful.     The  profusion 


^N 

=;.».»&■ 

^ 

1 

m^ 

^ 

fly 

WkkM 

L,^ 

^Km 

ALMONDS    IN    BLOSSOM    IN    KEW    GARDENS. 


October  2S,  1922. 


THE     GARDEN. 


549 


of  blossom  of  Pyrus  floribunda.  P.  f.  atrosanguinca 
and  P.  f.  purpurea  cannot  fail  to  arrest  attention, 
and  all  are  finest  or  deepest  in  colour  when  the 
buds  are  half  expanded.  The  fruits  set  well  in 
some  seasons,  and  the  tiny  crabs  are  highly  orna- 
mental in  autumn.  Few  of  the  fruiting  Crabs 
are  more  ornamental 
than  John  Downie, 
the  fruits  becoming 
showy  in  late 
summer. 

During  their  season 
nothing  is  finer  than 
the  double  Cherries, 
and  first  place  may 
be  given  to  the 
double  Gean  (Prunus 
Avium  flore  pleno) , 
every  branch  of 
which  becomes 
covered  with  a  mass 
of  the  purest  white 
flowers,  which  last 
a  long  time  in  per- 
fection. The  Gean 
is  a  British  tree, 
and  the  double  one 
has  been  in  culti- 
vation for  about  two 
hundred  years.  The 
double  Morello 
Cherry  with  the 
small  green  heart  is 
less  showy,  though 
a  beautiful  and 
smaller  tree.  The 
most  popular  of  the 
Japanese  Cherries  is 
P.  serrulata  flore 
pleno,  with  large 
double  pale  rose 
flowers,  this  being 
the  oldest  and  best 
known  introduction. 
The  darkest  and  finest  of  a  large  group  are  James 
H.  Veitch  and  Hisakura,  with  large  deep  rose 
pink  flowers.  The  Rose-bud  Cherry  (P.  pendula) 
cannot  be  overlooked,  for  the  deep  rose,  half- 
opened  buds  at  the  end  of  March  are  very  striking 
on  the  umbrella-shaped  tree.  The  Bird  Cherry 
(P.  Padus)  and  its  small-flowered  variety  (P.  P. 
parviflora)  have  been  fine  this  year,  as  usual,  and 
attracted  the  eye  by  reason  of  their  long  racemes 
of  white  flowers,  drooping  in  the  former  and 
erect  in  the  latter. 

In  .\pril  or  early  May  the  large  white  flowers 
of  Magnolia  Soulangeana  easily  take  pride  of 
place  in  many  gardens.  It  is  the  most  popular 
Magnolia  in  Europe,  because  it  flowers  freely  and 
escapes  frost  when  M.  conspicua  may  get  injured 
by  flowering  earlier.  The  paler  M.  Alexandrina 
is  a  less  common  tree.  The  evergreen  M.  grandi- 
flora  blooms  aU  the  summer  and  autumn,  but  many 
growers  get  impatient  for  it  to  reach  the  flowering 
stage.  This  could  be  overcome  by  selecting  M.  g. 
exoniensis,  which  blooms  at  an  earlier  age. 

The  Lilacs  make  a  short-lived  display  in  droughty 
seasons  like  last  spring,  and  commence  the  display 
with  the  old  white  Syringa  vulgaris  alba,  followed 
by  the  ordinary  Lilac  and  then  others  in  great 
\ariety,  of  which  the  deep  purple  Souvenir  de 
Louis  Spath  is  the  finest  of  the  dark  purple  varieties. 
The  best  varieties,  single  and  double,  are  not  so 
well  represented  as  they  might  be. 

The  Hawthorns  or  Mays  are  a  host  in  themselves, 
but  the  most  popular  of  all  and  the  best  is  Paul's 
Double  Scarlet  Thorn,  which  was  put  into  com- 
merce by  the  late  Mr.  George  Paul  about  seventy 
years  ago.  There  is  no  need  to  urge  the  beauty 
of  this  variety,  because  it  is  the  best  among  the 


large  group,  every  one  of  which  is  worth  growing. 
This  one  sometimes  gives  rise  to  sports,  and 
branches  bearing  double  deep  rose  flowers,  like 
Crataegus  Oxyacantha  punicea  plena,  appear  on 
it  The  double  rose  and  double  white  varieties 
are  also  valuable  because   they  remain  longer  in 


JAPANESE    CHERRY    (PRUNUS    SERRULATA). 


bloom  than  the  singles.  All  these  Thorns,  as 
well  as  other  trees,  bloom  eailier  in  towns  than 
outside  of  them,  hence  the  advantage  of  going 
to  the  country  occasionally.  Soil  and  surround- 
ings have  a  marked  eft'ect  in  giving  an  early  or 
a  late  display.  The  Fiery  Thorn  becomes  a  mass 
of  creamy  white  in  late  May  and  June,  but  it 
becomes  irresistible  in  autumn  when  the  red 
berries  ripen.  Cratffigus  Pyracantha  Lalandi 
has  larger,  more  orange  berries  than  the  type  and 
is  the  finer  of  the  two.  Most  of  the  trees,  bushes 
and  wall  plants  in  some  districts  are  now  of  this 
variety. 

The  popularity  of  the  common  Laburnum  may 
be  gauged  by  the  immense  number  of  trees  to  be 
met  with  in  a  day's  journey.  The  racemes  of 
flowers  vary  in  length  from  ains.  to  6ins.,  showing 
that  the  trees  have  been  raised  from  seeds.  The 
same  applies  to  the  Scotch  Laburnum,  which 
blooms  two  or  three  weeks  later  than  the  common 
one.  It  came  into  fuU  bloom  in  many  places 
this  year  at  the  beginning  of  June,  when  the  faded 
blooms  of  the  common  species  were  Uttering  the 
groimd.  For  length  of  raceme  and  intensity  ot 
yellow  blossonr  the  Scotch  Laburnum  puts  the 
other  in  the  shade,  resembling  "  dripping  wells 
of  fire,"  as  the  poet  has  it.  Both  species  are 
necessary  to  prolong  the  display,  though  the  late- 
flowering  one  is  the  finest,  as  anyone  will  admit 
who  knows  the  two. 

Contemporaneous  with  the  late  Laburnum 
comes  the  False  Acacia,  with  its  snowy  trusses  ot 
bloom,  the  glory  of  which  is  enhanced  in  proportion 
to  the  size  of  the  tree.  The  handsome  rose- 
coloured  variety  (Robinia  Pseudacacia  Decaisneana) 
is  rare,  as  is   R.   P.  semperflorens,  which  blooms 


in  a  straggling  way  all  the  summer  on  the  long 
shoots  ot  the  current  year.  R.  P  monophylla 
is  a  curiosity,  inasmuch  as  it  leaves  are  reduced 
to  one  large  leaflet,  with  one  or  two  small  ones 
occasionally.  The  narrow-leaved  R.  P.  angusti- 
folia  and  the  golden  yellow  leaved  R.  P.  aurea 
are  also  uncommon  trees  in  private  gardens. 
The  Clammy  Locust  (R.  viscosa)  is  rarely  met 
with,  but  the  Rose  Acacia  (R.  hispida)  is  more 
common.  Not  so  the  variety  R.  h.  macrophylla, 
which  lacks  the  bristles  clothing  the  branches 
nf  the  type,  and  which  is  rare. 

The  common  Horse  Chestnut  needs  no  eulogy 
from  me,  since  thousands,  perhaps  millions,  can 
testify  to  that.  The  English  trees  contain  many 
among  them  richly  blotched  with  red,  such  as 
are  not  found  in  some  Continental  countries. 
The  finest  red  Chestnut  is  undoubtedly  .Esculus 
carnea,  a  reputed  hybrid  between  the  common 
Horse  Chestnut  and  the  small  red  Buckeye  [JE. 
Pavia),  the  characters  of  both  being  evident  in 
it.  The  Pavias  have  smooth  fruits  and  leaves. 
Among  them  the  yellow-flowered  Sweet  Buckeye 
{/E.  octandra)  blooms  contemporaneously  with 
the  False  Acacia,  and  JE.  purpurascens  versicolor 
has  yellowish  flowers,  shaded  with  red  or  even 
heavily  blotched  with  red  on  the  inner  face  of 
the  petals.  The  first  named  commences  flowering 
when  only  6ft.  to  8ft.  high,  and  is  a  delectable 
and  distinct  little   tree. 

The  Mountain  Ash  is  glorious  in  fruit,  and  the 
same  may  be  said  of  the  rare  Pyrus  latifoha, 
with  its  large  yellow  and  orange-coloured  berries 
in  autumn.  The  Limes  in  July  make  the  air 
redolent  with  their  perfume.  At  the  same  time 
the  Tree  of  Heaven  becomes  highly  conspicuous 
when  covered  with  its  bronzy  yellow  bunches  of 
keys.  The  Catalpas  are  late-flowering  trees, 
the  Indian  Bean  being  the  more  common,  while 
C.  ovata  is  quite  rare  outside  of  large  collections. 
Equally  or  more  rare  is  the  yellow-flowered  and 
large-fruited  Koelreuteria  paniculata,  which  blooms 
only  in  warm  seasons,  like  1911  and  1921,  in  this 
country.  Laburnum  Adami  does  not  come  into 
the  same  category  for  ornamental  value  as  the 
two  above  named,  but,  being  a  graft  hybrid, 
is  a  most  interesting  little  tree,  because  after  being 
grown  some  years,  it  almost  invariably  sports  on 
branches  into  Laburnum  vulgare  or  Cytisus 
purpureus,  or  both,  which  were  the  parents. 

The  above  have  all  come  under  observation  in 
one  garden  or  another,  but  do  not  even  exhaust 
the  list  of  flowering  trees,  let  alone  the  shrubs  : 
while  trees  grown  for  the  sake  of  their  foliage 
chiefly  have  been  omitted,  with  the  exception 
of  the  Purple  Plum  and  Tree  of  Heaven.       J.  F, 


Trial  of  Late  Culinary  Peas  at 
Wisley 

The  following  awards  have  been  made  by  the 
Council  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  to 
late  culinary  Peas  after  trial  at  Wisley  : 

First-class  Certificate. — Ne  Plus  Ultra  reselected, 
sent  by  Messrs.  Carter. 

Awards  of  Merit. — Autocrat,  sent  by  Messrs. 
Dobbie,  Messrs.  Toogood,  Messrs.  Barr,  Messrs. 
Watkins  and  Simpson,  Messrs.  Nutting  and 
Messrs.  Carter ;  and  Freedom,  sent  by  Messrs. 
Hurst. 

Highly  Commeiiaed. — Glory  and  Perfection, 
sent  by  Messrs.  Unwin  ;  Passport,  sent  by  Messrs. 
Hurst  ;  Queen  reselected,  sent  by  Messrs.  Sharpe  ; 
Glory  of  Devon,  sent  by  Messrs.  R.  Veitch  ;  Wm. 
Richardson  and  ."Mliance,  sent  by  Messrs.  Kelway  ; 
and  Goliath  or  Improved  Mammoth  Sugar,  sent 
by  Zwaan  and  de  Wiljes. 

Commended. — Dwarf  Giant,  Renown  and 
Conquest,   sent  by   Messrs.   Unwin  ;     Michaelmas, 


550 


sent  by  Messrs.  Carter  ;  Captain  Cuttle,  sent  by 
Messrs.  Pearson ;  Matchless  Improved,  sent  by 
Messrs.  Hurst  •  and  Alderman  selected,  sent  by 
Messrs.  Dobbie. 


Meadow  Saffrons. — At  this  season  of  the  year 
when  the  summer  flowers  are  fast  fading  a  patch 
of  fresh  colour  is  a  source  of  joy  to  all  gardeners. 
Such  a  welcome  sight  is  provided  by  Colchicums, 
flowering  as  they  do  at  a  season  when  flowers  are 
much  appreciated.  The  fact  that  they  are  low- 
growing  rather  enhances  their  value,  for  low- 
growing,  autumn-flowering  plants  are  not  too 
plentiful.  Colchicums,  or  Meadow  Saffrons,  to 
give  them  their  good  English  name,  will  adapt 
themselves  to  almost  any  position,  but  thrive 
best  in  open,  sunny  places.  They  can  be  grown 
in  grass,  along  borders,  or  on  rockeries.  The  best 
effects  are  obtained  by  planting  in  masses,  though 
heavy  massing  is  not  desirable  on  a  rock  garden  ; 
here,  however,  a  good  effect  may  be  obtained 
by  judicious  selection  of  position.  Owing  to  the 
fact  that  the  leaves  die  down  before  the  flowers 
appear,  it  is  well,  especially  in  the  case  of  rock 
gardens,  to  plant  the  Colchicums  where  they  will 
be  best  displayed  by  surrounding  foliage  plants. 
They  can  quite  well  be  raised  from  seed  ;  but 
as  plants  raised  in  this  manner  will  not  flower 
till  the  third  year,  it  is  usual  to  purchase  bulbs, 
which  should  be  planted  in-  autumn.  There  are 
several  species  in  cultivation,  but  most  of  the  forms 
common  in  English  gardens  are  varieties  of  C. 
autumnale.  The  largest-flowered  species  is  C. 
speciosum.  Though  outwardly  similar  in  many 
respects  to  the  Crocus,  the  Colchicum  differs 
largely  in  the  shape  of  its  leaves,  which  in  some 
species  are  I2ins.  long  and  2ins.  or  sins,  broad. 

For  the  Foot  of  a  Warm  Wall. — An  attractive 
plant  for  flowering  along  a  south  wall  is  Crinum 
Powellii  var.  album.  The  pure  white  flowers  are 
borne  in  umbels  of  eight,  nine  or  even  more  on  a 
stiff  peduncle.  With  good  treatment  flowers 
measuring  4ins.  to  jins.  across  the  trumpet  may 
be  obtained.  The  plant  commences  to  flower  in 
July  and  will  in  some  cases  continue  sending  out 
flowering  buds  until  the  early  days  of  September. 
The  long  glossy  leaves  add  to  the  attractiveness 
of  the  plant.  Crinum  Powellii  is  a  hybrid  between 
C.  longifolium  and  C.  Moorei  and  is  one  of  the  very 
few  hardy  Crinums.  The  bulbs  should  be  planted 
about  a  foot  deep  in  good  garden  soil.  Away  from 
the  Southern  Counties  it  will  be  necessary  during 
the  winter  months  to  protect  the  plants  from 
frost,  for  which  purpose  a  layer  of  straw  or  bracken 
is  usually  sufficient. 

For  Bulbs  and  Plants. — The  Editor  recently 
received  from  Messrs.  Richard  Sankey  and  Sons, 
the  well  known  flower-pot  makers  of  Bulwell, 
Notts,  samples  of  their  ornamental  pans  in  red 
pottery.  These  pans  are  made  with  or  without 
drainage  holes,  as  desired,  and  would  be  suitable 
for  growing  bulbs  or,  with  drainage,  for  cultivating 
a  wide  variety  of  plants.  Of  agreeable  form  and 
pleasing  colouring,  these  simple  pans  will  make 
appeal  to  persons  with  real  artistic  feeling  on 
account  of  their  lack  of  meaningless  "  ornamenta- 
tion," their  beauty  of  outhne,  and  entire  fitness 
for  the  purpose  in  view. 


FORTHCOMING     EVENTS. 

October  27  to  November  4.  —  The  Imperial 
Fruit  Show  to  be  held  at  the  Crystal  Palace. 

October  31. — Royal  Horticultural  Society's 
Fortnightly  Meeting.  Lecture  at  3  p.m.  by  Mr. 
C.  T.  Musgrave  on  "  Methods  of  Propagation  in 
an  Amateur's  Garden." 

November  i. — Croydon  Chrysanthemum  Society's 
Show. 

November  3. — Paisley  Florists'  Society'sMeeting, 


THE     GARDEN. 

ANSWERS 
TO  CORRESPONDENTS 


FLOVVKR      (iAHUKX. 

ACANTHUS  MOLLIS  AND  A.  LATIFOLIUS  (M.  J.  T.). 
— Thrsf  two  plants  arr  hutaiiii-ally  imlititinyuishab.c 
beins  only  forms  of  one  .species.  A.  latifolius  (which  means 
broatl-lcavcd)  is  larger  and  more  robust  in  all  its  parts, 
being  very  easy  to  distingui-sh  by  this  means. 


TREES     AND     SHRUBS. 

BROOMS  (Fclstcd).— The  dry  sunny  bank  described  by 
our  correspondent  appears  to  be  an  ideal  spot  for  Brooms. 
The  best  to  raise  from  seeds  sown  now  would  be  Genista 
pilosa,  G.  tinetoria,  Cytrsus  purpureus  and  C.  Arduirii. 
Cytisus  kewcnsis  and  C.  Beanii  are  beautiful  prostrate 
Brooms,  but  as  they  an-  hybrids  increase  is  by  cuttintis. 

YUCCAS,  AND  OTHER  QUESTIONS  (A.  JI.  T.  ll.,Birt- 
ley). — Yuccas  are  hardy  in  most  parts  of  the  country. 
In  cold  winters  and  as  -i  protection  against  snow,  tie  lip 
the  leaves  tightly,  holding  them  together  witli  hay  or 
straw  bands.  The  loamy  soil  for  Yuccas  must  be  very 
well  drained.  This  is  best  done  by  digging  in  plenty 
of  old  broken  mortar  rubble  and  other  builders'  rubbish. 
Cedrus  Dcodara  and  C.  atlantica  glauca  are  perfectly  Jiardy . 
The  only  trouble  with  these  would  be  the  breaking  of  the 
branches  with  hca\'y  falls  of  snow.  The  three  Magnclias 
named  {MM.  stellata,  conspicua  and  Soulangeana)  are 
quite  hardv. 

PLANTING  RHODODENDRONS  {A.  M.  T.  R.,  Birtlcy). 
— The  best  guide  tu  tlie  riiiture  of  Khododendrons  in  our 
correspondent's  neighlwurhoinl  is  to  visit  the  surrounding 
gardens  to  see  if  any  lihododendrons  are  grown  and  with 
what  success.  The  treatment  proposed  should  be  quite 
satisfactory,  including  the  top-spit  soil  where  bracken 
thrives.  Manure  is  not  required  for  Rhododendrons  : 
the  only  thing  that  might  be  beneflcial  is  a  top-dressing 
of  very  old  spent  manure  after  the  Rliododendions  have 
been  planted  a  few  years.  Wood  ash  would  be  beneficial, 
and  possibly  a  little  charcoal  if  the  soil  is  moist. 


FRUIT     UTNDER     GLASS. 

VINES  ATTACKED  (F.  M'..  Southampton).— During 
the  winter,  overhaul  and  disinfect  thoroughly  the  whole 
house  in  which  the  vines  are  growing.  Taki-  otf  all  loose 
bark  from  the  vines  and  wash  them  with  Gishurst  com- 
pound. Thoroughly  fumigate  the  house  on  the  first  sign 
of  the  pest  with  one  of  the  advertised  fumigants.  and 
touch  every  mealy  bug  seen  with  a  brush  dipi)ed  in  petrol 
or  methylated  spirit.  Take  all  the  other  plants  out  of 
the  hou.se  while  the  vines  are  dormant,  if  possible,  and 
fumigate  it  thoroughly.  If  this  is  not  possible,  then  a 
weaker  fumigant  must  be  used.  For  mildew,  see  that 
the  ventilation  is  thoroughly  etticient  and  tliat  no 
draughts  occur. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

TRAPPING  SLUGS  {M.  I).  \Y.,  Ripon).— Slugs  may 
be  trapped  by  placing  pieces  of  Potato,  liollowed  cnit,  near 
their  haunts  anil  examining  them  at  intervals  to  kill  the 
captives,  and  the  plants  they  attack  may  be  protected 
by  dusting  with  lime  or  by  ringing  round  with  ashi-s 
fresh  from  the  furnace. 

PACKING  LILY  OF  THE  VALLEY  FOR  EXPORT 
(K.  S.  M.). — Lift  t)ie  crowns  in  the  form  of  mediuiii-?-ized 
clumps  and  place  the  latter  in  a  dry.  cool  shed  for  at  least 
one  night  prior  to  packing.  Only  remove  any  loose  soil 
and  not  any  leaves.  Place  a  thin  layer  of  coconut  fibri' 
quite  dry  in  tlie  bottom  of  a  box  just  deep  enough  to 
hold  the  crowns,  soil  and  leaves,  and  then  pack  the  clumps 
quite  close  together,  filling  up  tightly  with  coconut 
fibre  before  nailing  down  the  lid.  When  unpacked  simply 
plant  the  roots  in  a  cool  border,  water  once  to  settle  thi- 
soil,  and  leave  the  foliage  to  die  as  naturally  as  possible. 
Do  not  rrniove  it  forcibly  from  the  crowns.  The  check 
to  the  latter  will  not  be  great. 

NAME  OF  PLANT.— .Mrs.  P.,  Bournemouth  West.— 
Rose   Ills   Majesty. 

NAMES  OF  FRUIT.— B.  C— The  two  Apples  sent  were 
such  smuU,  diseased  and  malformed  specimens  that  it 
was  impossible  to  identify  them.  The  Bismarck  Apple 
sent  was  not  alfected  with  mildew,  but  was  attacked  by 
the  Scab  fungus  and  aphides  liad  also  done  some  damage, 

E.  B.,  Berks. — 1,  Cannot  identify  ;    2,  Beurr6  de  le 

Assumption  ;  3,  Beurr6  Clairgeau  ;  4,  Beurr6  Capiau- 
mont ;    5.   Claygate   Pearmain  ;    6,    Autumn   Pearmain  ; 

7,   Yorkshire  Greening;    8,   Golden   Noble. T.   S.   T., 

Winscombe. — Apples:  1,  Winter  Hawthorndcn  ;  2,  Royal 
Late;  3,  Wellington;  4,  Probably  Blenheim  Orange, 
specimen  poor  ;  5,  Sandringham  ;  6,  Probably  Bramley's 
Seedling,  specimen  poor ;  7,  Probably  Rival,  specimen 
poor.— — C.  P.  C. — Apples  :    1.  Queen  Caroline  ;    2.  Lord 

lUirghley.     Pears  :     1    and    2,    Marie    Louise. T.   F. — 

Apple  Hormead  Pearmain. J.  B. — Apples:   1,  Ribston 

I'ippin ;  2,  Cellini;  3,  Beauty  of  Stoke;  4,  Allington 
rippin  ;  5.  Lady  Henniker  ;  6,  The  Queen;  7.  Cliarl.  s 
Ross;  8,  Golden  Spire  ;  9.  Bramiey's  Seedling  ;  10,  .Alaigil; 
II,    Emperor    Alexander ;     12,    Manks'    Codlin.     Pear  : 

Doyenn6  du  Comice. R.  H.  B..    Fife. — 1.    Gascoync's 

Scarlet;  2.  Bismarck;  3,  Annie  Elizabeth  ;  4,  Alfriston  ; 
5,  Specimen  too  poor  to  identify;  6,  Allington  Pippin  ;  7. 
Summer  Golden  Pippin ;  8.  Lord  Derby ;  9.  Probably 
Royal  Late ;  10.  Cannot  identify,  specimen  too  small 
and  diseased;  11,  Ben's  Red.  The  labels  had  become 
detached  from  the  remainder  in  transit. 


[October  28,  1922. 


BEST  BULBS 

Post    Free. 

SATISFACTION    GUARANTEED. 


FAT   DUTCH    HYACriMTHS,  named 

A.  Collection.     25  distinct  var. 

B.  „  12 

C.  „  12        „ 
D-          „  6 

E.  „  6 

EARLY-FLOWERING   TULIPS. 

F.  Colle.tion.   100  Bulbs  in  10  var. 

G.  ,,  50        ,,  5      ,, 
COTTAGE  TULIPS,    finest   named. 

H.  Collection.    100  Bulbs  in  to  var. 
DARWIN   TULIPS,   finest  named. 
I.  Collection.    100  Bulbs  in  10  var. 

POPULAR      DAFFODILS. 

J.  Collection.    100  Bulbs  in  10  var 
K-  „  5°        M  10     ,. 

SPANISH    IRIS. 

L.  Collection.    150  Bulbs  in  6  var 

THE   WHITE    LILY    (Lilium    candid 

Per  dozen,  7/6  ;    100 


sorts. 

13/6 
7/6 
6/6 
3/6 
3/3 

10/6 
5/6 

10/6 

12/- 

12/6 

71- 

61- 
um). 
45/-. 


Wm.  POWER  &  CO.,  WATERFORD 

Nurserymen   and    Seed    Merchants. 


The  Culture  of  Chrysanthemums 

By     H.     WELLS. 

Freely    lllustpated. 

Paper  Covers,  2/6  net ;  Cloth,  3/6  net ;  By  post  4d.  extra 

Published  at  the  Offices  of  "  Country  Life,"  Limited, 
20,  Tavistook  Street,  W.C.2. 


CATALOGUE 

>frssrs.  Tliinnpson  ami  Mmj^'ui 
-\!ltiiii's.  Fruit  ami  Rose  Trr 


RECEIVED. 

Ipswich  ;    Hardy  Plants 


ESTABLISHED     1832. 


NO    CONNECTION    WITH    ANY   OTHER    FIRM 
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CATALOGUE   for    1922 

(With   Cultural   Directions) 
'  OF 

SPLENDID 

DUTCH  &  CAPE  BULBS 

AND 

HERBACEOUS   PLANTS 

ETC. 


DIRECT  FROM  THE  GROOVERS 


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.FECIAL    ROSE    NUMBER. 


THE 


l^lUV2i)1922 


GARDErt 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


ol.  LXXXVI.— No.  2659. 

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Saturday,  November  4,  1922 


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MERRYWEATHER'S    ROSES 

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VICTORIA,  wliite  perianth,  yellow  trumpet,  early       -  -  -  -  21 '- 

LADY  AUDREY,  heaiitiful  white  trumpet  variety       -  -  -  -  35,- 

INCOrVIPARABILIS  YELLOW  STANDARD,   larso    yellow    elialieeeupped 

variety,  \ery  handsome  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  35 /- 

INCOMPARABiLIS  LADYBIRD,  perianth  yellow,  cup  fiery  scarlet  21/- 
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niarsin.  stroniz  free  liloonier         ......  15/- 

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PEMBERTON'S  ROSES,  i 

I 


35th     SEASON. 

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Orders  3  -  and  over,  post  free  or  carriage  paid,  passenger 
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New  Catalogue  for  Autumn  and  Spring  Planting  now 
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Strong  Hardy  Perennial  PlanU,  Rookery  Plants,  Hardy 
Climbers,  Spring  Bedding  PlanU,  Qreenhouse  Plante 
Vegetable  Plante,  etc.  ■«■■«>, 


Descriptive    List,     Guide    to  '  Selection 
and  Pruning  now  ready 

J.  H.  PEMBEBTQW,  Havering,  Romford 


FRUIT  TREES  :  ROiE  TREES 

Descriptive  Catalogue  post  free  on  demand. 

Inspectio-i  Invited. 

S.    SPOONER    &    SONS, 

ESTD.     1820, 
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Extract  from  one  of  the  leading  Gardening  Journals 

.Marcli  1922 :  »Irs.  Pym's  liardy  plants  liave  been  advertiaed 
consistently  in  these  pages  for  many  years  and  have  never  eiven 
our  readers  an>thing  but  satisfaction.  Her  plants  are  at  prices 
which  should  suit  the  leanest  pocket." 

Chrysanthemums,  large  strong  plants  tor  autumn  and  winter 
Howermg,  best  varieties  for  pots  or  garden.  whit#,  yellow 
bronze,  golden  and  mixed  colours,  6,  1/9.  Primulas/hardy 
.isborted  for  winter  and  spring  (lowering  for  cool  house,  rockerv 
"r^J^ltf^i.^]'^.,  W^'lflow'-?  to  transplanting  da^k  blood- 
red  bright  blood-red,  rich  crimson,  early  dark  red,  bronze 
yeUow  golden  ruby,  purple.  Eastern  Queen  aud  new  large- 
nowering  hybrids  2/3,  100 :  10/-,  5OO ;  15/-,  1,000.  Alpine 
and  Siberian  Wallflowers,  Cheiranthus,  very  dwarf  bright 
orange  or  clear  yeUow,  50,  2/6  ;  100,  4-6.  Lavender,  fragrant 
Old  Lnglish.  strong,  bushy,  two  years  oli.  4/-  dozen 
Lavender,  new  dwarf,  bushy,  for  edging,  fragrant  bloom  and 
loliage.  strong  two  year  old  plants.  4  li  dozen.  Cinerarias, 
strong.  trans;ilanted,  Exhibiti.in  and  Stellata,  (i.   1  '4. 

STRONQ  VEGETABLE  PLANTS.  Cabbage,  Brussels 
Sprouts,  Coleworts,  Cauliflower,  Broccoli,  Savoys,  Curled 
Kale,  Pickling  Cabbage,  Leeks,  Perpetual  Spinach,  Kelway's 
SP™'J*J>^iK  Kale,  Sprouting  Broccoli,  Winter  Onions,  Lettuce, 

Sind  for   New   Catalogue. 


Mrs.    P/M,    F.R.H.S., 

10,  Vine  House,  Woodston,  Peterborough. 


No.  2659.— Vol.  LXXXVI.] 


[November  4,  1922. 


VARIOUS    USES     OF    ROSES    IN    THE    GARDEN 


THE  English  climate  is  particularly  suit- 
able for  many  classes  of  plant,  but  notably 
so  lor  the  Apple  and  the  Rose  No 
wonder  that  the  latter  is  our  National 
Flower  !  It  may  be  doubted,  none  the 
less,  whether  on  the  whole  we  use  the  Queen  of 
Flowers  to  best  advantage  in  our  gardens. 

The  typical  formal  Rose  garden  is  admirable 
enough  in  its  way  and  displays  fairly  closely 
pruned  dwarf-habited  varieties  to  great  advantage, 
but  it  is  not  the  only  way  of  using  the  so-called 
dwarf  Roses  satisfactorily.  Such  varieties  as 
Hugh  Dickson,  Fellenberg,  Boule  de  Neige,  Mme. 
Eugene  Resal,  La  Tosca,  Pharisaer,  Caroline 
Testout,  Mermaid,  Joseph  Hill,  Pax,  Irish  Elegance, 
Florence  H.  Veitch,  Zephirine  Drouhin,  Danae 
and  J.  B.  Clark  will  aU,  if  allowed,  grow  into 
handsome  bushes  as  wide  as  or  wider  than  high 
and  at  least  4ft.  to  5ft.  tall.  To  these  may  be 
added  Rosa  rugosa  in  variety  and  most  of  the 
Rose  species  and  such  semi-cUmhers  as  Alister 
Stella  Gray  (which  will  make  a  magnificent  bush 
8ft.  high  and  as  much  through),  Griiss  an  Teplitz, 
Conrad  F.  Meyer,  Nova 
Zembla,  Lady  Water- 
low,  Trier  and  Gustave 
Regis.  Such  almost 
naturally  grown  bushes 
are  useful,  of  course, 
for    the    Rose   dell    or  ifj" 

lor  informal  gardening 
however  named,  but 
they  have  a  real  value 
in  the  more  formal 
and  ordered  parts  of 
the  garden.  On  the 
Riviera,  bush  Roses  are 
actually  bushes,  but 
in  this  country  the 
very  term  is  a  mis- 
nomer, the  conseiiuence 
being  that  the  great 
majority  of  gardeners 
scarcely  look  upon  the 
Rose  as  being  a  shrub 
at  all. 

The  Hybrid  Sweet 
Briars  almost  without 
exception  make  charm- 
ing bushes,  but  ample 
space  should  be  left 
around  them  on 
account  of  their  heavy 
armament  of  thorns. 
Meg  Merrilies  is  prob- 


rolour  and  freedom  into  consideration,  the  best 
variety,  but  the  crimson-scarlet  Refulgence  is 
at  once  attractive  and  vigorous.  The  crimson 
and  white  Janet's  Pride  has  many  admirers,  so — • 
though  it  is  not  a  Sweet  Briar — has  the  rose  and 
white  Leuchtstern.  This  is  a  variety  of  moderate 
vigour  which  never  sheds  its  petals,  a  very  unusual 
trait  in  a  single  Rose.  It  is  excellent  for  bushes 
in  the  open  or  for  Rose  hedges.  To  return  to  our 
Sweet  Briars,  the  most  attractively  coloured 
varieties  are,  of  course.  Lord  Penzance  and  Lady 
Penzance,  but  not  everyone  can  persuade  them 
to  make  satisfactory  bushes.  Some  of  us,  how- 
ever, will  keep  on  trying,  for  when  they  do  succeed 
they  are  certainly  very  lovely. 

The  popularity  of  weeping  standards  has  become 
so  great  as  almost  to  amount  to  a  craze.  The 
cult  of  tall  weeping  standards  has,  indeed,  been 
carried  to  absurd  lengths,  but  those  with  "  legs  " 
not  exceeding  4ft.,  or  at  most  5tt.,  are  valuable 
as  affording  a  variety  not  otherwise  obtainable 
in  specimen  bushes,  for  so  such  trees  may  fairly 
be    called    when    thev   have   become    almost    solid 


mounds  of  vegetation.  Almost  aU  the  Wichuraiana 
hybrids  are  successful  so  treated,  but  mention 
may  be  made  of  Alberic  Barbier,  Jersey  Beauty, 
Klondyke,  Rene  Andre,  Debutante,  Gardenia 
and  Troubadour  as  especially  suitable.  The 
less  substantial  foUage  of  the  Dorothy  Perkins 
section  renders  them  less  valuable,  but  they,  too, 
answer  fairly  well. 

Rambler  Roses,  also,  though  used  extensively — 
in  the  case  of  a  few  favourite  varieties  perhaps  too 
extensively — are  not  always  employed  as  effectively 
as  they  might  be.  They  are  used  to  far  too  great 
an  extent  for  covering  walls,  where  some  of  the 
choicer  climbing  varieties  would  succeed  better 
and  give  incomparably  finer  effects.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  Rambler  section  is  far  too  seldom 
seen  growing  into  and  over  trees.  It  is  surprising 
how  readily  people  will  go  to  some  expense  and 
trouble  to  provide  a  more  or  less  unsightly  pole 
for  a  Rambler  when  labour  and  eyesore  might  be 
at  once  avoided  by  planting  the  Rose  to  chmb  a 
tree  with,  ultimately,  far  finer  effect.  The  Musk 
Rose,  Rosa  moschata,  is  finest  of  all  for  climbing 
through  and  flowering 
in  the  tree  tops,  but 
unfortunatelv  even  the 
hardiest  forms  are  not 
recommendable  lor 

inland  gardens  in  the 
North.  The  double 
Hybrid  Musk,  The 
Garland,  is  almost 
e(|ually  free  and  very 
considerably  hardier 
Most  ot  the  stronger- 
growing  Wichuraiana 
hybrids  are  suitable 
for  the  same  purpose, 
especially  Dorothy 
Perkins  and  its  rela- 
tives Excelsa  and  Lady 
Godiva.  The  multi- 
flora  Ramblers,  once 
so  popular  but  now 
largely  superseded  by 
varieties  having 
Wichuraiana  blood,  do 
not  make  sufficient 
I'ontinuing  growth  to 
be  suitable  for  tree 
climbing,  but  they 
never  shew  to  greater 
advantage  than  when 
planted  in  a  shrubbery 
and   allowed   to   throw 


ably,      taking     habit. 


AMERICAN    PILLAR,    PERHAPS    THE    HANDSOMEST    OF    WICHURAIANA    ROSES. 


their    trails    almost    at 


552 


THE     GARDEN. 


[November  4,  1922. 


■will  over  other  shrubs.  They  serve,  too,  to  provide 
colour  in  the  shrubbery  when  it  is  none  too  plenti- 
ful. Any  varieties  belonging  to  the  section  will 
answer  so  treated,  lor  they  value  the  shady  root- 
run,  but  perhaps  the  two  best  are  Crimson  Rambler, 
once  so  ubiquitous,  and  the  really  charming 
Blush  Rambler.  Other  worthy  sorts  include 
the  early-flowering  and  charming  single  Carmine 
Pillar,  Helene  (a  very  strong  grower).  Goldfinch, 
Tausendschon  and  Tea  Rambler. 

Roses  are  to-day  largely  used  lor  screens, 
Rambler  varieties  being  trained  for  the  purpose 
to  a  trellis  or  other  framework.  If  the  framework 
is  made  sufficiently  stout,  they  answer  the  purpose 
quite  well,  especially  where  a  wise  selection  of 
varieties  is  made.  Alberic  Barbier  is  especially 
suitable  for  several  reasons.  It  has  handsome 
dark  green  glossy  foliage,  is,  in  favourable  situations 
and  winters,  evergreen,  is  a  robust  and  "extending;" 
grower  so  makes  little  dead  or  worn-out  wood, 
and  flowers  more  or  less  continuously  from  mid- 
summer until  late  autumn.  Strained  wire  answers 
quite  well  for  the  training  if  the  wire  be  of  fairly 
stout  gauge  and  well  galvanised,  and  the  straining 
posts  be  substantial  and  securely  anchored.  The 
strain  caused  by  a  considerable  weight  of  Rose 
branches  laden  with  snow  is  very  considerable, 
and  it  is  wise  wherever  possible  to  provide  one 
length  of  rails  running  between  the  posts  at  the 
top  to  counteract  the  pull  of  the  wires. 

Rose  hedges  are  often  spoken  and  written  of, 
but  less  frequently  seen  in  gardens  than  their 
value  would  suggest.  If  a  measure  of  protection 
is  needed  against  straying  cattle  or  other  tres- 
passers— and  a  second  line  of  defence  is  olten 
useful — nothing  better  can  be  employed  than 
Sweet  Briar,  either  some  of  the  more  robust 
Penzance  hybrids  or  the  delightfully  fragrant 
species  itself.  Such  a  fence  may  be  reinforced 
if  desirable,  with  posts  and  wire  or  chestnut 
spile  fencing.  Japanese  (rugosa)  Roses  or  the 
fragrant  and  altogether  delightful  hybrid  Conrad 
F.  Meyer  may,  if  preferred,  be  used  in  a  similar 
way. 

If  tjie  hedge  is  to  be  purely  ornamental,  there 
is  a  great  number  of  varieties  from  which  a  selec- 
tion can  be  made,  and  any  height  may  readily 
be  provided  from  2ft.  to  8ft.  The  Scotch  Roses 
in  variety  are  useful  for  hedges  up  to  3ft.  in  height, 
and  this  represents  about  the  maximum  practic- 
able height  of  hedge  oi  Mme.  Eugene  Resal,  Irish 
Elegance  or  Fellenberg.  Hugh  Dickson  and 
Griiss  an  TepUtz  will  run  to  5ft.  or  so,  and  Leucht- 
stern  is  most  effective  when  headed  back  at  about 
6ft.,  while  Mme.  A.  Carriere  and  Alister  Stella 
Gray  have  an  effective  height  of  quite  8ft.  Mme. 
Carriere  is  very  free,  handsome  and  fragrant, 
and  .^lister  Stella  Gray  is  surely,  of  tall-growing 
Roses,  the  most  prolific  and  perpetual.  Even 
in  November  bushes  are  often  still  smothered 
with  the  rather  small  orange  buds  and  creamy 
blossoms.  The  elegant  arching  canes,  hand- 
some foliage,  luridly  brilliant  flowers  and  glossy 
hips  of  Rosa  Moyesii  make  this  perhaps  the 
best  of  the  species  for  hedges,  though  the  hips  01 
Rosa  Fargesii  are  even  more  brilliant.  The  very 
pale  yellow  Rosa  altaica,  closely  related  to  the 
Scotch  Roses,  is  excellent  for  the  purpose,  and 
may  be  relied  upon  to  reach  5ft.  or  perhaps  a 
little  more.  The  happily  named  Moonlight 
(Hybrid  Musk)  is  also  becoming  popular  as  a 
hedge  plant.  The  thornless  Z^phirine  Drouhin 
with  its  rose-coloured  blossoms  is  another  much 
prized  for  this  purpose. 

The  standard  Rose — the  ordinary  old-fashioned 
standard,  not  the  newer  "  weeping "  sort — is, 
properly  employed,  exceedingly  useful  and  hand- 
some. Too  often,  however,  specimens  are  dotted 
more  or  lessj  promiscuously  about  beds  of  dwarf 
Roses.     Nor    is    this   all.     Very   frequently,   even 


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WICHURAIANA    ROSHS    OVER    A    ROUGH    FRAMEWORK    OF    TIMBER. 


WEEPING    STANDARD    ROSES    WELL    USED. 


PLEASING    MOUNDS    OF    ROSE    ELECTRA. 


November  4,  1922. 


THE     GARDEN. 


553 


when  the  general  placing  of  the  standards  is  good, 
an  unsuitable  selection  of  varieties  ruins  the 
intended  effect.  Roses  suitable  for  standards 
niav  be  roughly  di\'ided  into  three  classes,  namely, 
those  which  form  large  heads,  those  which  form 
heads  of  medium  size,  and  the  more  usual  varieties 
which  form  small  heads.  Ob\iousIy  in  a  row  of 
standards  all  should  be  of  about  equal  vigour. 
Large  growers  include  Gloire  de  Dijon,  Griiss  an 
Teplitz,  Lady  Waterlow,  Mme.  A.  Carriere,  Alister 
Stella  Gray  and  William  Allen  Richardson. 
Smaller  than  these  but  still  far  more  vigorous 
than  the  ordinary  standard  are  General  McArthur 
{admirable  as  a  standard),  Hugh  Dickson,  Joseph 
Hill  and  Gustave  Regis.  Of  the  ordinary  run  of 
standards  the  following  are  especially  recom- 
raendable :  Caroline  Testout,  Chateau  de  Clos 
Vougeot,  Cynthia  Forde,  Ecarlate,  Geoige  Dickson, 
Isobel,  K.  of  K.,  Lady  Ashtown,  Lady  HiUingdon. 
Lady  Pirrie,  Louise  Catherine  Breslau,  Lyon 
Rose,  Margaret  Dickson  Hamill,  Mme.  A.  Chatenay, 
Mme.  Ravary,  Mme.  Segond-Weber,  Molly  Sharman 
Crawford,  Mr.  A.  E.  Coxhead,  Opheha,  Pharisaei 
and  Prince  de  Bulgirie.  Standard  Roses  are 
seen  to  best  advantage  when  used  to  form  an 
avenue  in  rather  restricted  quarters  where  larger 
trees  would  be  out  of  place  or  when  utilised  in 
single  rows  to  balance  a  weightier  feature  on  the 
opposite  side  of  a  pathway  or  vista. 

The  advent  of  the  Wichuraiana  hybrids  made 
feasible  the  training  of  Roses  down  walls  or  un- 
sightly banks,  which  is,  in  some  cases,  a  great 
advantage.  To  take  a  typical  instance,  let  us 
consider  the  question  of  the  terraced  garden  which 
almost  necessarily  calls  for  a  retaining  wall  with 
a  parapet  above  ground  level  on  the  upper  side. 
The  material  of  which  such  a  wall  is  composed 
should  be  good,  perhaps  shapely  brick  or  more 
or  less  dressed  stone.  It  is  a  thousand  pities 
entirely  to  hide  such  a  wall  but,  in  a  garden,  it  must 
obviously  be  draped.  Now,  looked  at  from  below, 
an  occasional  sHght  mounding  of  vegetation  on 
top  of  the  wall  with  trails  depending  from  it,  is 
certainly  preferable  to  the  effect  produced  by 
climbers  all  starting  at  the  foot  of  the  wall. 

It  may  be  said  that  if  there  were  no  Roses  of  a 
more  or  less  weeping  habit  of  growth,  there  is 
an  abundance  of  vines  which  would  serve  our 
purpose.  This  is  so,  but  as  the  Roses  do  exist,  let 
us  use  them  and  be  thankful.  Most  of  the  Wich- 
uraiana section  are  suitable  for  the  purpose  so  far 
as  habit  of  growth  goes.  American  Pillar,  which 
many  consider  quite  the  best  of  the  section  and 
which  is  illustrated  on  page  551,  is  an  exception, 
the  growths  being  too  stout  to  hang  with  any 
grace.  The  Dorothy  Perkins  section  answers  on  a 
wall  with  an  easterly  exposure  (or  with  a  westerly 
one  if  anyone  can  be  found  to  devote  this  to 
such  commonplace  plants  !),  but  they  usually  get 
badly  infested  with  aphides  on  walls  or  banks  at 
all  sun-parched.  Alberic  Barbier  is  the  great 
stand-by  for  such  positions,  but  the  beautiful  single 
Jersey  Beauty  or  the  semi-double  Klondyke  answer 
well.  Of  the  pinkish  sorts,  Rene  Andre  seems  to 
withstand  heat  the  best  and  of  crimsons  the  best  is, 
undoubtedly.  Troubadour,  a  variety  which  for 
some  reason  seems  to  have  made  little  progress 
towards  popularity.  For  banks  the  species  itself 
<Wichtiraiana)  is  extremely  beautiful  and  useful. 
It  has  the  great  merit  of  quickly  obtaining  a  root- 
hold  on  the  bank  itself,  thus  staying  any  tendency 
towards  crumbling. 

The  popularity  of  these  W'ichuraiana  hybrids  is 
understandable,  but  for  pillars  and  suchlike  the 
more  compact  growing,  if  older,  multifloras  have 
great  advantages.  There  is  no  reason  why  both 
classes  should  not  continue  to  exist  side  by  side 
The  best  of  the  Multifloras  are  Blush  Rambler, 
Philadelphia  Rambler,  Mrs  F.  W.  Flight,  Taus- 
endschbn,  Leuchtstern,  .Aglaia  and  Thalia 


ABOUT     SINGLE     ROSES 


I.AM  not  burning  my  boats  in  writing  this 
heading.  I  am  just  using  language  which 
my  ten  thousand  fellow  members  of  the 
National  Rose  Society  understand.  It  goes 
a  bit  against  the  grain  to  put  "  single  "  in 
'he  title.  How  much,  the  above  ten  thousand 
may  know  by  their  feelings  if  on  reading  an  article 
"  On  Rose  Monstrosities  "  they  were  to  find  it 
was  all  about  Lady  Pirrie,  Ophelia,  Independence 
Day,  Mme.  Abel  Chatenay,  Gloire  de  Dijon  and 
Zephirine  Drouhin — in  fact,  all  about  those 
endless  varieties  which  a  rosarian  would  ordinarily 
label  "  Roses."  I  had  no  idea  how  some  people 
look  down  on  single  Roses  until  I  paid  a  visit  to 


THE    "  STATUESQUE-LOOKING    WHITE  "    INNOCENCE 


a  Rose  friend  who  had  many  times  asked  me  to 
come  and  see  his  garden.  After  I  had  seen  almost 
everything  we  came  to  a  bush  whose  flowers  had 
but  one  row  of  petals,  which  surrounded  a  golden 
centre  of  stamens.  Quite  innocently  I  remarked 
that  I  thought  it  was  the  most  beautiful  Rose 
1  had  seen  that  afternoon.  Oh  my  !  wasn't  the 
fat  in  the  fire  !  Only  the  politeness  of  an  English 
host  saved  me  from  an  angry  and  forcible  dismissal. 
My  friend  is  doubtless  rather  extreme  in  his 
views,  but  I  wonder  if  it  has  struck  people  that 
there  is  not  one  class  in  the  National  Society's 
schedule  for  single  Roses.  Surely  it  is  a  bit  hard 
upon  their  feelings  to  find  themselves  denied 
admission  to  the  company  of  show  flowers  because 
they  have  never  put  on  a  sufficiency  of  skirts. 
At  the  late  Church  Congress  at  Sheffield  a  well 
loiown  London  clergyman  poured  out  the  vials  of  his 


wrath  on  what  he  called  "  official  love."  It  i?  a 
grand  phrase.  Not  long  since  I  had  a  silly  woman 
looking  at  my  Michaelmas  Daisies.  Does  no  one 
know  what  1  mean  when  I  say  she  gave  them 
"  fulsome  '  official '  admiration  "  ?  Thus,  m 
writing  in  praise  of  single  Roses,  it  is  not  that  I 
wish  to  bring  about  a  grudging  official  recognition 
of  their  charms  either  from  superior  individuals 
or  from  a  thoughtless  society.  They  are  "  when 
unadorned,  adorned  the  most,"  and  can  very  well 
be  left  to  take  care  of  themselves  ;  but  if  people 
do  not  know  there  are  such  flowers,  how  is  it 
then  ?  There  are  both  species  singles,  like  Moyesii 
and  nitida,  and  hybrid  singles  like  Isobel  and 
the  climber  .American 
Pillar.  But  as  climbing 
Roses  are,  as  it  were,  a 
class  apart,  and  as  they 
have  been  freely  admitted 
into  very  many  garde-s 
as  persona  gratce,  they 
may  be  left  with  this 
passing  reminder  of  one 
of  the  best  and  most 
effective  of  all,  although 
it  is  only  a  summer 
bloomer.  Isobel  is  de- 
servedly one  of  the  most 
popular  of  all  Roses  at 
the  present  time.  Many, 
however,  seem  unable  to 
appreciate  it  when  it  is 
fully  open,  and  write  of 
it  as  if  its  beauty  has 
well  nigh  departed  when 
its  "  sweet  seventeen " 
stage  is  passed  and  it 
has  become  a  full-blown 
flower.  Take,  too,  for 
example  the  sweet  fresh 
pink  Mrs.  C.  E.  Salmon 
or  the  warm  buff  Mrs. 
Oakley  Fisher,  or  that 
statuesque-looking  white 
Innocence  which  Mr. 
Chaplin  brought  to  the 
last  autumn  show.  Can 
the  fleeting  girlish  charms 
of  even  Los  Angeles 
and  Lady  Pirrie  compare 
with  the  more  mature 
beauty  of  these  singles  ? 
Were  I  to  include  semi- 
singles  I  would  add  to  the 
three  already  named 
Rose  Celeste,  Moonlight 
and  the  Hon.  Ina  Bing- 
ham. How  delicious  the 
scent  and  how  brilliant 
the  colouring  of  the  new  Glowworm  !  I  would 
like  to  be  somewhere  where  its  perfume  is  "  very 
thick."  It  seems  so  Eastern-like.  "  Sure  "  then  if 
I  weie  to  shut  my  eyes  and,  opening  them,  look 
around,  I  would  find  myself  in  that  "  bower  of 
Roses  by   Bendemeer's  stream." 

How  marvellous  the  deep  carmine  colouring 
of  nitida's  leaves  and  stems  iu  autumn  time ! 
But  neither  scent  nor  deep  autumn  tints  are  the 
pecuhar  inheritance  of  single  Roses,  so  perhaps 
it  is  a  wee  bit  unfair  to  mention  them  at  all  ; 
only,  again,  e\-eryone  may  not  know  they  are  to 
be  found  among  the  singles.  The  unaccustomed 
rather  loud  double  colouring  of  The  Queen  Alex- 
andra Rose  is  not  halt  so  "  jolly  "  as  that  exquisite 
contrast  which  we  find  in  the  Austrian  Copper — 
a  true  single.  And  to  pass  on  to  species  singles. 
A   big  debt  of  gratitude  is  owing  to  those  who 


554 


THE     GARDEN. 


[November  4,  1922. 


have  brought  us  from  China  and  elsewhere  sucli 
delightful  varieties  as  Moyesii,  Hugonis,  Will- 
mottiae  and  some  which  I  only  know  by  repute 
or  from  seeing  their  features  delineated  in  such 
pictures  as  are  to  be  found  among  the  pages  of 
the  "  American  Rose  Annuals,"  as,  for  example, 
Gentiliana,  multibracteata,  bella,  Jackii  and 
multifiora  var.  cathayensis.  It  makes  one's  mouth 
water  to  think  of  them,  and  it  goes  without  saying 
that  the  lover  of  single  Roses  would  like  to  possess 
some  of  them.  Where  are  they  to  come  from  ? 
A  quotation  from  the  third  volume  of  the 
"  American  Rose  Annual  "  (that  for  iqiS),  page  27, 


hits  the  nail  on  the  head.  "  One  drawback  to  the 
popularity  of  single  or  bush  Roses  is  the  difficulty 
of  getting  most  of  them.  Many  nurseries  carry 
R,R.  rubiginosa  (the  Sweetbriar  is  more  attractive 
to  the  writer  than  the  showier  Penzance  hybrids), 
Carolina,  lucida,  nitida,  setigera  and  rugosa.  The 
others — dozens  of  them — are  hard  to  find.  Why 
does  not  some  nurseryman  stock  up  with  every 
kind  of  wild  and  bush  Rose  he  can  find  (perhaps 
he  does  already,  unknown  to  the  writer,  in  which 
case  I  think  the  Editor,  who  is  a  Rose  crank  him- 
self, ought  to  give  him  a  little  free  advertising), 
and  why  do  not  a  hundred  or  a  thousand  make 


collections  as  complete  as  possible  if  only  to  encour- 
age him  in  his  good  work  ?  "  The  argument  is 
somewhat  of  a  circular  nature.  The  amateur 
must  begin  to  form  collections,  presumedly  from 
the  nurseryman's  stock  in  trade  which,  when  rung 
up,  simply  is  not  there ;  and  the  nurserymen 
must  hold  stocks  for  collectors  who  have  still  to 
be  enthused.  In  our  own  Rose  Annual  for  IQ18 
Mrs.  Darlington  and  Mr.  J.  R.  Ramsbottom  both 
write  in  praise  of  Rose  species.  The  seed  has 
been  sown.  Let  lovers  of  Roses  water  the  tender 
plant  with  words  in  season,  and  as  opportunity 
offers  proclaim  their  love.  J.   J.icob. 


THE    BEAUTY    of    tke    WILD    ROSES 


UNDER  this  heading  it  is  possible  to 
arrange  a  large  number  of  wild  or 
quasi-wild  species,  hybrids  and  varie- 
ties of  Roses  that  appeal  to  many 
garden  lovers  on  account  of  the  beauty 
of  their  flowers,  fruit  or  foliage,  or  the  fragrance 
of  their  flowers  or  leaves.  The  list  could  be 
extended  indefinitely,  but  a  selection  will  afford 
variety  sufficient  to  meet!  the 
requirements  of  most  gardens, 
except  those  of  the  specialist. 
No  class  of  plants  is  more  vari- 
able in  the  wild  state,  and  when 
brought  under  cultivation  their 
possibilities  are  unlimited  when 
subjected  to  crossbreeding  or 
hybridisation. 

The  White  'Rose  (Rosa  alba) 
has  been  cultivated  from  time 
immemorial,  although  it  is  re- 
corded in  some  books  as  having 
been  introduced  in  1597.  Various 
countries  of  Europe  and  the 
regions  of  the  Caucasus  have 
been  given  as  its  native  habitat, 
but  most  botanists  are  agreed 
that  it  is  a  hybrid.  It  has  beeii 
found  wild  in  France  and  else- 
where. It  appeals  by  the  fra- 
grance of  its  white  or  blush 
flowers,  one  variety  being  largely 
cultivated  for  extracting  attar 
of  rose.  In  one  form  or  other 
it  is  the  glory  of  manv  a  cot- 
tage garden,  the  varieties  being 
represented  by  Rose  Celeste  or 
Celestial,  Maiden's  j  Blush  and 
Jacobite  White.  A  closely  aUied 
hybrid  is  R.  macrantha,  which 
enjoyed  considerable  popularity 
some  thirty  years  ago.  The 
blooms  are  blush  fading  to  white, 
and  measure  3ins.  to  4ins.  across. 
Another  that  figured  prominently 
in  floral  decorations  some  years 
ago  is  R,  Andersoni,  with  bowl- 
shaped  rose  pink  flowers. 

The  Musk  Rose  (R.  moschata) 
is  represented  in  this  country 
by  the  vigorous  chmber  best 
known  as  R.  Bruiioni,  which 
many  rosarians  term  the  Wila 
Briar  of  the  Himalayas.  This 
is  seen  at  its  best  when  given  an 
old  tree,  of  considerable  height, 
over  which  it  can  ramble  and  spread  out  its  com- 
pound clusters  of  flowers,  at  first  pale  yellow, 
but  soon  changing  to  white.  In  a  wild  state 
it  extends  from  South  Europe  to  the  Himalayas 
and    China.     Very    numerous    hybrids    exist     in 


gardens,  a  goodly  proportion  of  which  are  of 
recent  origin.  The  Macartney  Rose  (R.  bracteata) 
would  be  more  often  seen  in  gardens  than  it  is 
were  it  only  somewhat  hardier.  It  is  quite 
suitable  for  the  South  and  West  of  England 
but,  about  London,  is  better  for  the  protection 
of  a  wall.  The  leaves  are  dark  green,  leathery 
and    evergreen,    the    latter    character    being,    no 


THE    BRIGHT    YELLOW    FLOWERS    OF    ROSA    HUGONIS 


doubt,  the  chief  reason  lor  its  tenderness.  The 
white  flowers  measure  3ins.  to  4ins.  across,  and  are 
surrounded  at  the  base  by  several  large,  deeply 
cut  bracts  that  invest  the  orange-red,  woolly 
fruits.     Most   wild   Roses  have  these  bracts,  but 


their  size,  structure  and  arrangement  constitute 
a  striking  feature  of  this  species,  which  in  leaf  and 
flower  is  unique  in  cultivation.  Several  hybrids 
have  been  produced  in  gardens,  of  which  Mermaid 
is  one  of  the  most  recent  and  striking  on  account 
of  its  large,  pale  yellow  flowers.  It  can  be  grown 
as  a  bush  or  climber. 

The  most  popular  of  the  recently  introduced 
yellow  Roses  is  R.  Hugonis, 
named  after  Father  Hugh  Scal- 
lan,  who  sent  seeds  of  it  from 
Western  China  to  Kew,  where 
it  was  reared  in  1889.  It 
forms  an  upright  self-support- 
ing bush  for  the  first  few- 
years,  and  produces  a  profusion 
of  bright  yeUovv  flowers  about 
the  middle  of  May  onwards.  It 
never  becomes  rampant,  though 
it  will  ultimately  get  8ft.  high 
and  as  wide,  if  not  restricted. 
The  leaves  are  not  unlike  those 
of  the  Scotch  Rose,  but  larger, 
and  produced  in  such  quantity 
as  to  form  a  deUghtful  bush. 
The  Scotch  Rose  (R.  spino- 
sissima)  is  the  first  of  our 
native  Roses  to  open  its  creamy 
white,  fragrant  blossoms  in  May. 
Rare  specimens  are  deep  red, 
one  having  been  found  recently 
in  Cheshire  by  Major  WoUey 
Dod,  who  monographed  the 
British  Roses.  The  variety 
R.  s.  lutea  bears  buttercup 
yellow  flowers  ains.  across. 
Larger  in  every  way  is  R.  s. 
altaica,  with  creamy  white 
flowers  sins,  in  diameter.  All 
these  forms  make  self-support- 
ing bushes  of  great  beauty. 
They  are  perfectly  hardy  and 
of  the  easiest  cultivation.  The 
first  coloured  variety  was  found 
in  Perthshire,  and  that  gave  an 
impetus  to  the  cultivation  ot 
this  race  till  a  very  large 
number,  probably  hundreds  of 
varieties,  single  and  double,, 
were  named  and  put  into  cul- 
tivation. This  gave  rise  to  the 
name  Scotch  Rose,  for  the  wild- 
ing is  common  to  Britain. 
The  beauty  of  the  Austrian' 
Yellow  (R.  lutea)  cannot  be  over- 
looked, though  so  well  known  that  a  mention  may 
suffice.  The  species  is  closely  allied  to  the  Scotcb 
Rose,  but  differs  in  the  absence  of  the  bristly 
prickles  that  clothe  the  stems  of  the  latter.  It 
is  the  yellow  parent  that  has  given  the  Pernetianij 


November  4,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


555 


Roses  their  most  striking  characteristics.  The 
Austrian  Copper  (R.  lutea  punicea)  has  given  its 
two  remarkable  colours  to  Juliet  and  The  Queen 
Alexandra  Rose.  AU  the  above  group  only 
require  thinning  occasionally,  but  no  regular 
pruning,  for  they  bloom  profusely  on  very  small 
t%vig3. 

The  thomless  Roses  are  not  particularly  common, 
although  they  have  been  long  in  cultivation. 
The  bright  pink  flowers  of  R.  alpina  are  followed 
by  narrowly  pear-shaped,  deep  red  fruits.  It 
has  given  rise  to  the  Boursault  Roses  in  cultiva- 
tion. The  Pyrenean  variety  (R.  a.  pyrenaica) 
is  notable  for  its  dwarf  habit,  sea-green  hue  and 
long,  bristly  yellow  fruits.  It  takes  up  little 
space  and  is  suitable  for  the  rock  garden.  The 
Smooth  or  Meadow  Rose  is  thomless,  though  it 
may  have  a  few  bristles  on  the  stem  occasionally. 
Many  visitors  have  been  charmed  by  its  rose  and 
deep  pink  flowers  growing  along  the  sides  of  the 
street  or  in  the  small  front  gardens  of  a  central 
Highland  village,  often  cjuite  unprotected.  It 
makes  an  upright  bush  about  4ft.  high. 

The  long,  bright  red  and  pear-shaped  frtiits  of 
R.  raacrophylla  are  preceded  by  clusters  of  large 
light  red  blossoms,  and  accompanied  by  beautiful 
foliage.  This  leads  up  to  R.  Moyesii,  one  of  the 
most  striking  and  interesting  of  recent  introduc- 
tions. The  colour  of  the  large  flowers  is  difficult 
to  describe,  and  has  been  called  rosy  red,  reddish 
crimson,  lurid  dark  red,  deep  red  and  terra-cotta 
red  by  various  people  who  have  attempted  to 
define  it.  The  bottle-shaped,  red  fruits  are 
glandular  and  rough  at  the  base.  The  species 
was  accorded  an  award  of  merit  by  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  when  shewn  by  Messrs. 
Veitch  in  June,   IQ08. 

A  really  splendid  companion  to  this  variety 
is  R.  Fargesii.  which  was  honoured  by  an  award 
of  merit  on  October  ly  when  shewn  by  Mr.  J.  C. 
.^llgrove.  The  fruits  are  2ins.  to  2iins.  long, 
bristly  all  over,  and  have  longer  necks  than  those 
of  its  relative.  Even  the  sepals  are  fleshy  and 
scarlet  like  the  rest.  In  clusters  of  two  or  three, 
the  pendent  fruits  resemble  the  tube  and  sepals 
of  a  scarlet  Fuchsia. 

The  four-petalled  Roses  are  notable  for  their 
tall,  slender,  upright  growth  and  profusion  of 
white  flowers,  produced  singly  and  closely  wreath- 
ing the  long  stems  in  May  in  advance  of  most 
other  Roses.  The  best  known  is  R.  sericea,  but 
this  was  followed  by  the  Mount  Omi  Rose  (R. 
omiensis)  in  1901.  The  pear-shaped,  red  fruits 
have  a  thickened  deep  yellow  stalk.  The  stems 
var>'  greatly  in  armature,  and  the  most  remark- 
able in  this  respect,  R.  o.  pteracantha,  has  recently 
been  placed  under  the  Mount  Omi  Rose  instead 
of  under  R.  sericea.  The  young  and  growing 
stems  are  more  or  less  covered  with  large,  flattened, 
translucent  blood  red  spines  that  make  them  appear 
winged  and  unique  among  Roses. 

Many  other  Roses  are  noted  for  their  large 
and  handsome  fruits,  particularly  the  Ramanas 
Rose  (R.  rugosa)  and  the  Burr  Rose  fR.  micro- 
pliylla),  both  with  flattened,  globular  fruits, 
the  last  named  resembling  a  burr  in  its  bristly 
character,  and  green  colour,  to  which  fragrance 
is  added.  The  Apple-fruited  Rose  has  the  largest 
of  any,  and  is  related  to  the  British  R.  moUis, 
which  is  much  dwarfer,  perfectly  upright  and 
usually  loaded  with  its  handsome,  globular,  deep 
red  fruits.  The  wild  Sweet  Briar  has  a  variety 
with  orange-scarlet  fruits  that  are  bristly  all 
over  ;  this  is  R.  rubiginosa  echinocarpa,  that  is, 
hedgehog  fruited.  R.  rubrifolia  is  unique  in  its 
purplish  red  and  sea-green  foliage,  reddish  stems 
and  deep  rose  flowers.  It  should  certainly  find  a 
place  in  collections.  The  fruits,  which  are  pro- 
duced in  bunches  of  some  little  size,  are  also 
attractive.  Hortulanus, 


ROSES   FOR   CUT   FLOWER  AND   INDOOR 

DECORATION 


WITH  the  possible  exception  of  the 
Violet,  no  flower  gives  so  much 
pleasure  when  used  for  indoor 
decoration  as  does  the  Rose. 
Even  the  Violet  itself  can  scarcely 
be  called  a  serious  rival,  for  though  it  holds  a 
very  high   place  in  our  affections  on  account  ot 


ADMIRABLE    FOR    CUT    FLOWER,    ROSE    OPHELIA 


its  unsurpassed  fragrance,  yet  it  has  quite  a 
limited  range  of  colour  and  form,  while  the  Rose 
in  both  these  respects  has  almost  infinite  variety. 
We  can  fill  small  bowls  and  low  vases  with  Violets 
in  the  spring  and  again  in  the  autumn,  but  from 
May  to  November  the  Rose  will  give  us  sprays 
large  and  brilliant  enough  to  be  effective  used 
in  tall  epergnes  and  high  standard  vases,  or  small 
and  delicate  enough  for  tiny  specimen  vases. 
The  comparison  between  these  two  flowers  brings 
to  our  mind  Sir  Henry  Wooton's  verses  : 

"  Ye  Violets   that   first   appear. 
By  your  pure  purple  mantles  known, 

Like  the  proud  virgins  of  the  year. 
As  if  the  spring  were  all  your  own — 

What  are  you,  when  the  Rose  is  blown  ?  " 

The  pre-eminence  of  the  Rose  as  a  cut  flower 
is  further  proved  by  the  fact  that  at  many  flower 
shows  it  has  been  found  necessary  to  make  a 
separate  class  for  Roses  when  used  for  table 
decorations,  because  judges  seemed  unable  to 
resist  the  beauty  of  the  Rose  even  though  it  might 
not   be   so   well    arranged   as   some   of   the   other 


flowers ;  and  hence  there  was  dissatisfaction 
among  the  competitors.  Without  a  doubt  many 
flowers  are  far  easier  to  arrange  gracefully  and 
lightly  than  Roses  are.  Poppies,  Sweet  Peas. 
Carnations,  to  mention  only  three  kinds,  have 
slender,  smooth  stems  which  will  easily  be  per- 
suaded to  stay  just  where  they  are  wanted  to 
when  cut  and  placed  in 
water,  whereas  Roses  have 
for  the  most  part  thorny, 
somewhat  thick  stems, 
and  not  infrequently  they 
hang  their  heads  and 
droop  in  an  ungainly 
way.  Those  varieties 
which  do  this  in  a  marked 
degree — for  instance,  the 
beautiful  Tea,  Mrs.  Foley 
Hobbs  —  are  really  not 
suitable  for  cut  flowers 
e.xcept  in  specimen  vases 
or  in  exhibition  boxes 
where  the  wiring  they 
require  is  given  them  as 
a  matter  of  course.  But 
to  my  mind  wiring  Roses, 
or  any  other  flower,  for 
ordinary  house  decoration 
is  much  to  be  deprecated, 
for  a  wired  bloom  never 
has  the  grace  of  natural 
pose  which  goes  far  ^to 
make  the  beauty  of  a 
flower. 

If  only  we  choose  the 
right  sorts  of  Roses  they 
will  provide  us  virith 
what  we  most  want  in 
our  house  decoration— 
colours,  pure  and 
varied  ;  fomi  of  surpass- 
ing loveliness :  and  fra- 
grance, refreshing  as  well 
as  sweet ;  and  to  add  to 
these  attractions  many 
\'arieties  have  singularly 
beautiful  foliage. 

Some  may  object  to  the 
Rose  blossoms  on  account 
of  their  short  life,  and 
certainly  the  Rose  does  not 
last  so  well  as  the  Carnation.  But  many  Roses 
bloom  with  wonderful  freedom  and  continuity, 
so  that  though  the  Rose  of  to-day  may  be  gone, 
the  Rose  of  to-morrow  quickly  takes  its  place, 
.\nd  it  is  well  worth  our  while  to  take  a  little 
pains  with  our  cut  Roses.  In  the  first  place, 
we  should  always  cut  them  in  the  bud  or  half- 
open  stage,  and  we  should  also  cut  them  in  the 
coolest  part  of  the  day.  If  before  arranging  them 
in  the  vases  they  are  to  fill,  we  cut  off  the  thorns 
and  scrape  the  stems  and  plunge  them  for  not 
less  than  a  couple  of  hours  into  basins  or  bowls, 
being  careful  not  to  let  the  petals  actually  touch 
the  water,  they  will  be  able  to  take  up  suflicient 
moisture  to  make  the  stalks  firm  and  the  Roses 
will  probably  last  two  or  three  days  even  during 
hot  weather,  and,  naturally,  a  day  or  two  longer 
as  the  weather  gets  cooler. 

There  is  no  way  in  which  Roses  look  more 
delightful  than  when  arranged  in  bowls  either  of 
one  variety  or  of  mixed  varieties.  A  few  years 
ago  one  could  go  out  in  the  garden  and  pick  from 
many  different  sorts,  then  come  in  and  arrange 
them  together  in  a  bowl  with  usually  quite  happy 


556 


THE    GARDEN. 


[November  4,  1922. 


results  from  a  colour  point  of  view.  Tlie  pale  and 
deep  pinlis,  the  crimsons  and  maroons,  the  cream, 
yellow  and  buff  shades  would  all  blend  harmoniously. 
But  since  the  advent  of  such  Roses  as  Mme. 
Edouard  Harriot,  Henrietta  and  others  of  terra- 
cotta and  strawberry  or  orange  tints  we  have  to 
be  much  more  careful.  The  exquisite  glowing 
rose  pink  of  Mrs.  E.  G.  Hill  loses  all  its  brilhancy, 
and  looks  "  blue  "  and  dowdy  if  it  is  arranged 
vrith  either  of  the  kinds  I  have  mentioned.  For 
this  reason  I  think  the  plan  of  arranging  each 
variety  separately  has  become  more  and  more 
popular.  Nothing  looks  better  than  a  big  bowl 
or  vase  of  a  brilliant  crimson  Rose  with  handsome 
dark  foliage,  such  as  Mrs.  Edward  Powell  or  Hugh 
Dickson,  or  for  those  who  prefer  light  colours 
the  glistening  yellow  Mrs.  Wemyss  Quin  or  the 
softer  tinted  and  perfectly  formed  fragrant  Opheha. 
Still,  tliose  who  have  the  artistic  sense  and  who 
love  colour  will  not  rest  content  with  such  simple 
schemes.  They  will  find  a  fascinating  occupation 
in  arranging  together  Roses  whose  varying  tints 
add  to  instead  of  detracting  from  one  another's 
loveUness.     A    combination    of    Old    Gold    with 


Severine  or  Emma  Wright,  of  Red  Letter  Day 
with  young  blooms  of  Hoosier  Beauty  or  Dora 
van  Tets,  or  of  some  of  the  soft  pink  or  pale  flesh 
varieties  may  make  very  charming  table  decora- 
tions, especially  if  to  be  seen  only  by  artificial 
light,  for  "  colours  seen  by  candle-Ught  look  not 
the  same  by  day,"  and  many  Roses  blend  well 
even  by  electric  Ught  whose  colours  are  not  nearly 
so  harmonious  when  seen  by  the  white  light  of 
day.  Such  a  Rose  as  Mme.  Edouard  Herriot 
will  not  always  "  go "  even  with  itself !  The 
intense  flame  colour  of  the  young  buds  will  clash 
with  the  distinctly  blue  tinge  which  sometimes 
appears  unexpectedly  on  the  open  blossoms. 

Those  who  have  but  little  time  to  give  to  arrang- 
ing their  flowers  will  find  the  Dwarf  Polyantha 
Roses  useful.  Their  straight  clusters  of  blossoms, 
for  the  most  part  with  smooth  stems,  are  very 
quickly  picked  and  placed  in  vases.  Little  brown 
baskets  arranged  w'ith  the  deep  crimson  Poly. 
Pom.  Edith  Cavell  and  the  brightly  tinted  leaves 
of  Rosa  nitida  make  quite  a  pretty  autumn  table 
decoration  which,  w'hile  taking  the  minimum  of  time 
to  arrange,   will  last   fresh   for  many  days.     The 


fern-like  foliage  of  Rosa  sericea,  the  four-petalled 
Rose,  and  the  glaucous  stems  of  Rosa  rubrifolia 
are  very  decorative  when  used  sparingly  with  some 
of  the  Hybrid  Teas,  and  look  far  better  than 
Asparagus  or  other  Ferns  which  some  are  tempted 
to  mix  with  their  Roses. 

The  Rose  is  so  glorious  and  complete  in  itself 
that  it  wants  very  simple  treatment  when  used 
as  a  cut  flower.  Over-elaborate  treatment  and 
the  mixture  of  other  flowers  usually  takes  away  from 
its  consummate  beauty.     As  Browning  puts  it 

"  The  crattsman  thinks  to  grace  the  Rose 
Plucks   a   mould   flower 
For  his  gold  flower. 
Uses  fine  things  that  efface  the  Rose." 

Let  us  remember  this  when  arranging  our  Roses. 
By  over  elaboration  and  careless  admixture  of 
colours  it  is  easy  to  "  efface  "  their  beauty,  while 
by  simplicity  of  treatment  and  artistic  feeling 
for  those  forms  and  colours  which  lend  them- 
selves to  grouping  we  may  make  charming  flower 
pictures  such  as  no  other  flower  but  the  Rose  can 
give  us.  White  L.'Idv. 


SOME    OF    THE    NEW    ROSES    OF    1921 


OUR  collection  of  the  192 1  new  Roses 
I  is  incomplete — some  of  the  varieties 
I  were  too  highly  priced  for  a  slender 
purse,  and  the  continental  specimens 
were  mostly  sold  out.  Thirty-four 
varieties  were  tested  and,  taken  all  round,  they 
can  be  said  to  shew  a  great  improvement  on 
the  new  Roses  of  1920 — in  fact,  some  excel- 
lent productions  have  been  placed  on  the 
market.     Let  us  take  them  in  alphabetical  order. 


Annie  Gregg  (H.  T.,  Chaphn  Bros.). — A  medium 
grower  with  large  pale  pink  blooms  with  deeper 
pink  centres.  Of  poor  shape,  however,  and  it 
seems  a  questionable  policy  to  put  such  "  new  " 
varieties  on  the  market  at  all. 

Bessie  Chaplin  (H.  T.,  Chaplin  Bros.).— Quite 
a  superior  article  ;  a  strong,  erect  grower,  with 
large  bright  pink  blooms  of  Caroline  Testout 
type,  but  a  more  pointed  shape.  Although  perhaps 
an  exhibitor's  Rose,  it  would  be  useful  also  as  a 


garden  variety,  where  its  sweet  scent  would  be 
especially  appreciated. 

Coral  Cluster  (Dwarf  Polyantha,  R.  Murrell).— 
A  unique  break  in  dwarf  polyanthas,  so  far  as 
colour  is  concerned,  being  a  pretty  coral  pink. 
A  strong  grower  with  large  trusses  of  blooms, 
reputed  to  be  a  sport  of  Orleans,  but  it  is  firmly 
established  and  shews  no  sign  of  throwing  back. 

Duke  of  Normandy  (H.  T.,  Jersey  Nurseries). — 
Very    vigorous    and    upright    growths,    with    good 


ROSE    SUNSTAR. 


FULL    AND    FRAGRANT,    MRS.    HORNBY    LEWIS. 


November  4,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


557 


trusses  of  blooms.  Correctly  described  in  catalogues 
as  a  high  coloured  La  Francej  Disbudded,  the 
blooms  would  be  strong  enough  for  an  exliibition 
box.  Origin  St.  Helena  x  George  Dickson.  Well 
worth  a  trial. 

Earl  Haig  (H.  T.,  .-^lex.  Dickson  and  Sons). — 
A  strong  grower  with  large  crimson  blooms. 
Although  considered  a  bedding  variety,  most  of 
the  blooms  are  quite  good  enough  for  an  exhibition 
box,  as  they  are  full  and  come  a  good  shape. 
It  mildews  slightly,  but  to  its  credit  it  is  very 
sweetly  scented  and  should  be  grown  by  exhibitors 
who  also  want  good,  effecti\'e  beds  of  bloom  in 
their  gardens.     .\  gold  medal  Rose. 

Elizabeth  Cllllen  (H.  T.,  Alex.  Dickson  and 
Sons). — Another  gold  medal  Rose.  A  fine  bedding 
Rose  and  an  improvement  on  K.  of  K.  A  strong 
grower,  giving  masses  of  large  semi-double,  deep 
crimson  blooms,  making  a  wonderful  effect  when 
massed  in  a  bed.  Water  occasionally  in  dry 
weather.  My  experience  is  that  this  strain  ol 
Roses  resents  drought. 

Etoile  de  Feu  (Pernetiana,  Pemet  Ducher). — 
Medium  growth.  Vellowish-pink  to  flame  red 
blooms,  globular  in  shape,  but  too  much  like  our 
old  friend  Louise  Catherine  Breslau,  though  more 
fragrant.  Hardly  any  call  for  this  as  a  "  new  " 
variety. 

Ethel  James  (H.  T.,  S.  McGredy  and  Son). — 
Good,  strong,  bushy  growth,  with  single  blooms 
very  similar  to  Isobel,  though  not  such  a  tall 
grower,  in  fact  bloom  and  plant  might  be  described 
as  a  refined  Isobel.  Sweetly  scented  and  an 
excellent  bedding  Rose,  especially  for  amateurs 
who  have  not  already  got  a  bed  of  Isobel  in  their 
gardens.  Well  deserved  the  gold  medal  of  the 
N.R.S. 

Ethel  Somerset  (H.  T.,  Alex.  Dickson  and  Sons). 
— A  good,  clean  grower  of  bushy  habit,  with  pink 
blooms,  the  colour  resembling  that  of  Mme.  Abel 
Chatenay.  The  blooms  should  be  large  enough  for 
exhibition,  but  are  inchned  to  be  a  little  flat. 
A  profuse  bloomer. 

Helene  Duche  (H.  T.,  E.  Buatois). — An  un- 
wanted \ariety.  Medium  growth  only,  with  pale 
pink  blooms  of  Caroline  Testout  type,  but  in  no 
way  superior  thereto. 

Irene  Thompson  (H.  T.,  S.  McGredy  and  Son). — 
Medium  growth,  with  clean,  erect  blooms  of 
orange-yellow  colour,  well  pointed  in  shape. 
The  dark,  glossy  fohage  is  wonderfully  effective 
with  the  bright  coloured  and  sweet  scented  blooms. 
A  good  bedding  variety,  to  which  the  gold  medal  of 
the  X.R.S.  has  been  awarded. 

Laxton's  Crimson  Orleans  (Dwarf  Polyantha, 
Laxton  Bros.). — A  strong  grower,  in  fact  so  tall 
that  it  is  almost  a  misnomer  to  call  it  a  Dwarf 
Polyantha.  Big  trusses  of  crimson  blooms,  with 
foliage  similar  to  Orleans,  but  it  is  not  cjuite  fixed, 
some  growths  throwing  back  to  its  original  parent. 
Very  free  flowering,  the  blooms  continuing  through 
the  autumn  months. 

Mme.  Edmond  Gillot  (H.  T,,  Pernet  Ducher)  — 
A  moderate  grower,  with  large  reddish-yellow, 
cup-shaped  blooms.  A  garden  Rose,  hardly  a 
novelty,  and  no  call  for  it  as  a  "  new  "  variety. 

Margaret  Horton  (H.  T.,  Elisha  Hicks).— A 
good  grower  with  nice  clean  foliage.  Long  pointed 
buds,  large  well-shaped  blooms  held  erect,  deep 
orange  in  colour.     A  good  bedding  Rose. 

Martha  Drew  (H.  T.,  S.  McGredy  and  Son).— 
Upright  medium  growth.  Large  creamy-white 
blooms,  with  light  pink  centres,  resembling  in 
colour  Mme.  Augustine  Guinoisseau.  Not  in 
my  opinion  quite  up  to  the  usual  high  standard 
of  Messrs.  McGredy's  productions,  although  it 
has  been  well  shewn  and  awarded  the  gold  medal  of 
the  N.R.S. 

Mary  Munro  (H.  T.,  J.  H.  Pemberton).— A 
very  strong  grower,  with  heax'y  light  coral  pink 


blooms,     globular     like     Caroline     Testout.     The 
foliage  is  excellent. 

Minnie  Sanders  (H.  T.,  Elisha  Hicks). — An 
excellent  grower.  Straight  shoots,  with  big  trusses 
of  bloom.  The  buds  are  i|uite  pretty — of  Red 
Letter  Day  type,  but  scarlet  rather  than  crimson. 


AN  ORANGE  OPHELIA,  ROSE  MARGARET  HORTON. 


Blooms   are   bright   red   and   do   not   lade.     Very 
tree  flowering ;    it  will  prove  a  splendid  bedding 
Rose. 
Mrs.  Henry  Bowles  (H.  T..  ChapHn  Bros.).— 

A  good  grower,  upright  in  habit,  with  heavy  warm 
pink  blooms,  reminding  us  of  the  old  Koningin 
Carola.  A  sjjlendid  exhibition  \'ariety,  it  being 
quite  an  exception  to  lind  a  badly  formed  bloom. 
One  of  the  best  exhibition  Roses  of  the  year  and 
well  worthy  of  the  gold  medal  bestowed  on  it  by 
the  N.R.S.  judges. 

Mrs.  Hornby  Lewis  (H.  T..  Elisha  Hicks).— 
Strong  growth  and  a  good  shaped  plant.  Large, 
erect  blooms,  pale  yellow,  with  deeper  centres, 
rather  flat  in  shape.  Sweetly  scented,  but  un- 
fortunately not  altogether  mildew-proof. 

Mrs.  Oakley  Fisber  (H.  T.,  B.  R.  Cant  and  Sons). 
— This  really  is  a  distinct  novelty  and  as  such 
worthy  of  a  special  reward.  The  plant  grows 
strongly  and  keeps  a  good  shape.  The  blooms  are 
single  and  a  rich  orange-yellow  similar  to  Ladv 
Hilhngdon.  It  should  pro\'e  the  most  effecti-.'c 
Rose  for  dinner  table  and  home  decoration  since 
Irish  Elegance  was  put  on  the  market,  and  bids 
fair  even  to  outclass  that  wonderful  production. 
Everyone  should  grow  Mrs.  Oakley  who  loves  a  real 
decorative   Rose. 

Princess  Victoria  (H.  T.,  S.  McGredy  and  Son). — 
An  excellent  grower  and  very  free  bloomer.  The 
plant  when  in  bloom  is  most  striking  and  a  bed 
of  them  should  be  a  veritable  sight  for  the  Gods. 
The  shapely  scarlet-crimson  blooms  shew  up 
brilliantly  amid  the  dark,  glossy  foliage.     .-V  real 


gold  medal  Rose  with  an  extra  point  for  its  fra- 
grance. It  should  quickly  prove  to  be  the  most 
popular  Rose  of  the  season. 

Rev.  David  R.  Williamson  (Pernetiana,  Pernet 

Ducher). — Good    grower,    with    heavy    trusses    of 

blooms,    which    rather    resemble    Lyon,    and    are 

coral  red,  shaded  lake.  -Sweetly 

scented  and  a  free  bloomer. 

Rev.  F.  Page  Roberts  (H.  T., 

B.  R.  Cant  and  Sons). — Strong, 
upright  grower  which  seems  to 
point  to  Duchess  of  WeUington 
parentage,  although  the  shape 
of  the  blooms  resembles  Lady 
Plymouth.  The  blooms  are 
very  bright  yellow,  suitable 
both  for  exhibition  and  garden, 
and  sweetly  scented.  .Another 
really  good  new  Rose  which 
has  justly  been  awarded  the 
N.R.S.  gold  medal. 

Ruth  (H.  T.,  J.  H.  Pem- 
berton).— From  its  habit  of 
growth,  blooms,  foliage  and 
thorns  this  should  rather  be 
described  as  a  Pernetiana  than 
a  H.  T.  Mr.  Pemberton  seems 
to  have  struck  a  new  type 
here  which  should  have  a  good 
future.  It  is  a  strong  grower. 
The  blooms  are  orange-carmine, 
but  lighter  than  Miriam.  Good 
foliage  and  sweetly  scented. 

Sammy  (Hybrid  Musk,  J.  H. 
Pemberton). — A  cluster  Rose 
of  Griiss  an  TepUtz  type,  which 
it  resembles  closely,  except  that 
it  is  almost  scentless.  Very 
strong  grower,  but  unfortu- 
nately subject  to  mildew. 

Soyecourt  (H.  T.,  Jersey 
Nurseries).  —  Parentage  is 
General  McArthur  x  G.  C. 
Wand.  The  growth  resembles 
McArthur,  being  very  erect, 
but  the  blooms  are  smaller 
with  just  a  tint  of  G.  C.  Waud 
colouring.  .A  pretty,  sweet  scented  buttonhole 
Rose. 

Souvenir  de  Georges  Pernet  (Pernetiana,  J. 
Pernet  Ducher). — A  very  strong  and  erect  grower 
ot  Mme.  Edouaid  Herriot  blood.  Large,  rather 
flat  blooms,  deeper  coloured  than  Lyon.  A  free 
bloomer,  but  scentless.  A  fine  addition  to  the 
Pernetiana  class,  to  which  the  gold  medal  of 
Bagatelle  was  justly  awarded  after  the  Rose  had 
been  tested  in  the  Paris  Rose  Garden  over  a  period 
of  two  years. 

Souvenir  de  Mme.  BouUet  (H.  T.,  J.  Pernet 
Ducher). — Strong  branching  growth  and  blooms 
carried  well  and  erect.  Dark  yellow  blooms 
resembling  Mme.  Ravary,  but  heavier  and  of  better 
shape.  The  blooms  last  a  long  time  m  flower 
when  the  weather  keeps  fine,  but  they  lose  colour 
somewhat  in  wet.  In  the  autumn  the  blooms  are 
very  similar  to  Lady  HilUngdon.  It  should  prove 
strong  enough  for  exhibition. 

Sunstar  (H.  T.,  Alex.  Dickson  and  Sons). — 
Excellent  bushy  growth,  with  large  trusses  of 
blooms.  A  most  effective  bedding  Rose,  with  a 
fiery  combination  of  colour  described  as  orange 
splashed  with  red.  Quite  an  unique  variety,  but 
well  remembered  by  visitors  to  the  big  rose  shows, 
where  it  has  been  so  often  staged  in  baskets  and 
nearly  always  secured  the  premier  awards. 

Toison  d'Or  (H.  T.,  J.  Pernet  Ducher). — A 
good  grower  with  nice  straight  shoots.  Bright 
apricot  yellow  blooms  shaded  orange,  but 
rather  flat  in  shape.  A  very  fragrant  bedding 
Rose. 


558 


THE     GARDEN. 


[November  4,  1022. 


Una  Wallace  (H.  T.,  S.  McGredy  and  Son).— 
Vigorous  upright  growth,  with  blooms  carried  erect 
on  long  stems.  Cherry  rose  colour,  good  fohage 
and  free  blooming.  Although  a  gold  medal  Rose 
we  should  like  to  try  it  another  season  before 
finally  pronouncing  on  its  merits. 

Waltham  Flame  (H.  T.,  Chaplin  Bros.). — Very 
vigorous  grower  with  large  trusses  of  bloom. 
The  buds  are  pretty,  blooms  are  semi-single  and 
coppery  salmon  colour.  A  garden  Rose,  but 
unfortunately  it  seems  to  be  subject  to  mildew, 

Yvonne  (Wichuraiana,  Frank  Cant  and  Co.). — 
The  only  cUmbing  Rose  of  the  season.  Fairly 
strong,  good  glossy  fohage  and  big  trusses  of 
light  pink  blooms,  with  yellowish  base.  Very 
fragrant.  Deservedly  awarded  the  gold  medal 
of  the  N.R.S. 

Yves  Druhen  (H.  T.,  E.  Buatoi?).— Parentage 
Genera!  McArthur  x  Chateau  de  Clos  Vougeot. 
It  has  the  growth  of  the  former  with  blooms  of  the 
latter,  rather  a  good  combination.  The  half 
open  buds  are  very  pretty  and  the  full  blooms 
would  appeal  to  those  who  love  dark  red  velvety 
Roses. 

Such  are  our  first  impressions  of  some  of  the 
new  Roses  of  1921,  most  of  which  are  good,  and 
others  will  doubtless  improve  upon  acquaintance. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  select  one  to  crown  as  the 
best   new    Rose   of   the   vear,   but   fairlv   "asv   to 


select  the  best  of  each  type  or  classification. 
Bedding  Roses  are  perhaps  the  most  popular 
and  of  these  Princess  Victoria  must  undoubtedly 
stand  pre-eminent.  Elizabeth  CuUen,  Minnie 
Saunders  and  Souvenir  de  Georges  Pernet  are  all 
second  best,  and  well  worth  considering  for  new  beds. 

The  singles  we  put  in  another  category.  Two 
of  them  would  tie  for  first  place,  namely  Mrs. 
Oakley  Fisher  and  Ethel  James. 

Yellow  Roses  seem  to  be  all  in  the  fashion 
nowadays,  and  there  are  two  new  varieties  for  all 
round  purposes — decorative  and  exhibition,  viz., 
Rev.  F.  Page  Roberts  and  Souvenir  de  Madame 
Boullet.     Both  should  be  grown. 

Of  high  standard  exhibition  Roses,  first  awards 
will  undoubtedly  go  to  Mrs.  Henry  Bowles  for  a 
pink,  and  Earl  Haig  for  a  red. 

The  best  new  Dwarf  Polyantha  of  the  season  is 
Coral  Cluster,  and  the  only  climbing  Rose  Yvonne. 

Finally,  from  the  novelty  point  of  view  Sunstar 
stands  first  and  will  attract  attention  in  every 
garden,  while  Ruth  should  not  be  passed  without 
a  reference. 

I  shall  hope  to  complete  the  full  catalogue  of 
1921  new  Roses  next  season  with  the  addition  of 
Messrs.  Hugh  Dickson's,  Bees',  Wra.  Paul's  and 
others  which  were  lacking  this  year,  and  thereby 
shall  be  able  to  pronounce  better  judgments  on 
the  whole  year's  productions.     H.  L.  Wettern. 


PLANTING    ROSE    TREES 

How  to  make  the  best  use  of  various  garden  soils. 


THE  principal  questions  that  imme- 
diately beset  the  novice  in  Rose  growing 
are  very  much  the  same  as  in  other 
gardening  operations — the  When  and 
the  How.  At  the  moment  varieties 
are  no  real  worry  :  the  beginner  usually  has  already 
prepared  a  long  list — far  too  long  for  his  garden, 
of  course — of  varieties  it  is  hoped  to  grow.  This 
is  soon  modified.  The  nature  of  the  soil  does  not 
at  the  moment  seem  greatly  to  matter,  and  in 
any  case  most  gardeners  have  to  take  their  garden 
soil  pretty  much  as  they  find  it.  Yet  on  mature 
consideration  the  character  of  the  soil  is  an  impor- 
tant matter. 

Roses  are,  or  should  be,  of  the  nature  of  perma- 
nent occupants  of  the  garden,  and  it  is  most  impor- 
tant to  give  them  as  good  a  start  in  their  new  hves 
as  possible.  If  mistakes  are  made  with  any  of 
the  plants  in  the  hardy  flower  border,  it  is  very 
disappointing,  but  not  really  serious.  It  can 
usually  be  remedied  fairly  easily,  but  when  about 
to  plant  Roses  at  least  as  much  care  in  preparation 
and  selection  should  be  taken  as  for  fruit  trees. 

The  ideal  Rose  soil  is  quite  a  heavy  loam,  if 
it  approximates  to  clay  so  much  the  better.  It  is 
in  gardens  on  such  soils  that  the  best  exhibition 
Roses  are  grown.  The  admixture  of  clay  to  Mght 
soils,  in  order  to  make  them  more  suitable  for 
growing  Hybrid  Perpetuals  and  the  larger  Hybrid 
Teas,  has  been  recommended,  but  the  present 
writer,  having  tried  the  experiment  years  ago, 
has  come  to  the  definite  conclusion  that  it  is  a 
decided  mistake.  There  are  great  mechanical 
difficulties  to  be  overcome,  and  although  a  great 
deal  of  labour  was  expended,  the  Roses  objected, 
and  the  experiment  was  realised  to  be  another 
of  life's  disappointed  hopes. 

In  Rose  growing  one  must  bow  to  the  inevitable 
to  a  great  extent,  and  confine  one's  attention  to 
the  types  of  Roses  that  will  succeed  in  the  soil 
being  dealt  with.  There  are  Roses  suitable  for 
all  garden  soils  ranging  from  the  very  heaviest 
down  to  almost  pure  sand.  .Although  the  purpose 
of  this  article  is  not  to  give  lists  of  suitable  Roses 


for  various  purposes,  soils  and  situations,  it  may 
usefully  be  stated  that  most  of  the  Wichuraiana 
and  the  Dwarf  Polyanthas  will  do  well  in  the  very 
poorest  of  soils,  while  no  one  should  hesitate  to 
plant  the  beautiful  Hybrid  Tea  varieties  in  soil 
of  average  texture.  The  owner  of  a  garden  in 
which  the  soil  is  moderately  light,  but  good, 
and  in  not  too  cold  a  district  is  one  of  the  enviable 
persons  who  could  grow  the  wonderfully  beautiful 
and  deliciously  fragrant  Tea  Roses  to  perfection. 
These  most  fascinating  of  all  Roses  are  sadly 
neglected  nowadays,  yet  in  any  of  the  few  public 
gardens  where  they  are  grown  they  attract  more 
attention  than  any  other  type.  .Although  they 
thrive  only  indifferently  well  at  Kew,  the  beds 
devoted  to  the  dehcately  fashioned  Tea  Roses 
compel  an  immense  amount  of  admiration  during 
their  long  season  of  flowering.  In  that  most 
successful  rose  garden  at  Chalkwell  Park,  Westcliff- 
on-Sea,  there  used  to  be,  and  no  doubt  still  are, 
Tea  Roses  that  delight  thousands  of  visitors 
through  the  summers  and  autumns.  The  Teas 
are  considered  by  some  to  be  too  tender  for  every- 
day use,  but  if  on  the  approach  of  winter  some 
soil  is  drawn  up  around  the  stems,  the  plants  will 
survive  very  hard  frosts.  The  branches  are  often 
killed,  but  then  the  next  season's  shoots  are  all 
the  stronger  for  Nature's  pruning. 

The  best  position  for  Roses  is  the  best  position 
in  the  garden.  Roses  are  not  hole-and-corner 
plants  ;  they  demand  and  deserve  the  hghtest, 
airiest  and  most  sheltered  place  that  can  be  given. 
Although  the  wild  Rose  is  often  found  in  natural 
woodlands,  it  is  on  the  very  outskirts  of  the  wood 
that  it  thrives,  and  it  flowers  best  on  the  sunniest 
side. 

Although  one  must  to  great  extent  take  the 
garden  soil  as  one  finds  it,  yet  a  deal  may  be 
done  to  improve  it  when  it  is  not  quite  so  suitable 
as  may  be  wished.  If  the  hght  soil  can  have  the 
addition  of  a  few  loads  of  pasture  loam,  well  chopped 
up  and  thoroughly  mixed  with  it,  the  extra  vigour 
of  the  Roses  and  the  higher  quality  of  the  blooms 
mil  amply  repay  for  the  work.     The  best  manure 


is  well  decayed  farmyard  manure,  and  instead 
of  placing  this  as  a  layer  beneath  the  top  spit  of 
soil,  it  is  of  much  greater  value  when  thoroughly 
incorporated  with  it.  Contrary  to  the  idea  which 
seems  to  be  far  too  prevalent,  the  Rose  is  not  a 
gross  feeder,  and  layers  of  strong  animal  manure 
will  do  more  harm  than  good.  Where,  as  so  often 
happens,  one  must  literally  deal  with  the  soil 
as  one  finds  it  and  it  is  not  possible  to  add  better 
soil,  recourse  may  be  had  to  chemical  manures 
in  order  to  provide  sufficient  plant  food.  Phosphates 
are  most  essential  to  the  Rose's  well  being,  and 
the  cheapest  artificial  form  is  as  basic  slag.  For 
a  long  time  it  was  beheved  that  basic  slag  was 
suited  only  to  the  heavy  soils  ;  whereas,  if  it  is 
dug  in  sufficiently  early,  it  is  equally  valuable 
on  light  soils,  even  when  used  for  a  crop  of  only 
annual  duration,  while  its  comparatively  slow 
action  renders  it  admirable  for  Roses.  When 
preparing  the  beds  or  borders,  basic  slag  may  be 
dug  in  at  the  rate  of  ilb.  per  square  yard  on  poor 
soils  and  at  about  half  this  quantity  for  moderate 
soils. 

The  value  and  necessity  of  lime  has  yet  to  be 
learnt  in  very  many  gardens.  Great  numbers  of 
garden  soils  are  deficient  in  hme,  and  unless  this 
is  present  fuU  value  cannot  be  obtained  from  any 
manure  that  is  used.  .\t  least  Jib.  of  lime  per 
square  yard  should  be  spread  on  the  soil  for  Roses 
and  be  dug  in. 

Except  in  very  heavy  soils  in  cold  districts, 
the  greatest  success  in  Rose  planting  is  obtained 
when  the  work  is  done  not  later  than  the  end  of 
November.  This  autumn  planting  allows  time 
for  the  bushes  to  become  estabhshed  before  the 
next  growing  season  commences,  and  root  action 
is  always  better  at  this  season,  while  the  soil  is 
still  warm,  than  later  on.  If  for  various  reasons 
the  work  cannot  be  done  towards  the  end  of 
October  or  during  November,  it  can  be  carried 
on  later  whenever  the  weather  is  suitable.  It 
should  on  no  account  be  proceeded  with  when 
the  soil  is  wet  and  sticky  or  during  frosty  weather. 
If  the  Roses  arrive  at  such  times  it  is  far  better 
to  lay  them  in  temporarily  or  even  to  place  the 
bimdles,  still  packed,  in  a  frost-proof  shed  until 
conditions  improve. 

As  has  already  been  indicated,  no  trouble  should 
be  considered  too  great  to  ensure  that  the  Roses 
are  well  and  truly  planted.  When  planting  in  a 
very  heavy  soil  it  is  well  worth  while  to  have  some 
prepared  soil  if  only  to  sprinkle  around  the  roots. 
Old  potting  soil  will  do  admirably  for  the  purpose 
and  by  its  aid  the  roots  can  be  properly  covered 
and  made  quite  firm.  If  the  roots  are  at  all  dry, 
they  should  be  dipped  in  water.  AU  broken  roots 
should  be  cut  cleanly  in  an  upward  direction, 
and  they  should  be  spread  out  evenly  and,  even 
though  the  fingers  are  used,  the  soil  must  be  placed 
well  around  each  root.  This  may  sound,  and  be, 
a  tedious  business,  but  attention  to  such  detail 
is  well  worth  while.  The  correct  depth  to  plant 
can  be  seen  by  the  soil  mark  on  the  stems,  but 
if  the  soil  is  very  light  it  is  well  to  plant  the  bushes 
a  couple  of  inches  deeper  than  they  were  in  the 
nursery. 

The  planting  should  be  done  quite  firmly  in 
all  cases  and  in  all  soils.  When  planting  early 
it  is  well  to  leave  the  surface  of  the  soil  around 
each  Rose  somewhat  saucer-shaped  in  order  to 
facilitate  watering  should  this  be  necessary,  but 
at  the  beginning  of  December  this  depression 
must  be  filled  up,  and  it  is  usually  wise  more  than 
to  fill  it  and  to  have  a  little  mound  of  soil  around 
the  stems  of  the  Roses.  .At  this  season  pruning 
is  neither  necessary  nor  advisable,  though  any 
unduly  long  shoots  may  be  shortened  in  order 
that  the  bushes  may  not  be  blown  about  by  winds. 
When  planting  late  in  spring,  however,  it  is  best 
to  prune  the  Roses  at  planting-time.       A,  C    B. 


November  4,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


559 


CORRESPONDENCE 


THE     AZURE     SAGE. 

T  \V.\S  pleased  to  see  a  reference  in  The  Garden 
(page  526)  to  that  fine  plant,  Perovskia 
atriplicifolia,  and  to  hear  that  it  occupies  a  place 
of  importance  in  "  The  Master's "  garden  at 
Gravetye.  The  surprising  thing  about  P.  atripUci- 
folia  is  tliat  one  so  seldom  sees  it,  for  it  appears 
to  be  hardy  enough  for  all  but  our  bleakest  districts 
and  does  not  ask  any  more  than  ordinary  well 
drained  loam  in  a  sunny  spot.  Even  in  places 
where  the  winters  are  severe  enough  to  injure  the 
growths  the  root  will  generally  survive  with  a 
little  protection  and  break  away  in  spring  like  a 
hardy  Fuchsia. 

P.  atriplicifoha  belongs  to  the  Sages  and  it  is 
a  sub-shrubby  plant  of  some  3ft.  high,  the  stems 
and  leaves  being  almost  white.  The  flowers  are 
borne  at  the  ends  of  the  new  growths  in  a  spike 
several  inches  long  and  their  vivid  violet-blue  in  a 
woolly  setting  ot  white  gives  a  most  striking  effect. 


be  as  effective  as  a  mass  giving  a  range  of  shades 
that  harmonise  with  Pink  Pearl.  Who,  for  instance, 
would  prefer  a  bank  of  wild  Dog  Roses  all  exactly 
the  same  shade,  or  a  meadow  in  Upper  Teesdale, 
mauve  with  Primula  farinosa,  that  did  not  show 
a  subtle  difference  in  tone  between  plant  and 
plant  on  closer  inspection  !  Perhaps  in  five  years' 
time  I  would  make  many  alterations  after  having 
had  more  experience  with  such  things  as  Eucryphia 
pinnatifolia,  Rosa  Moyesii,  etc.,  and  if  I  could 
grow  Rhododendron  campylocarpum  as  I  saw  it  at 
Edinburgh  this  year,  and  MagnoUa  Soulangeana  and 
Arbustus  Unedo  rubra  as  they  grow  at  Kew,  they 
certainly  would  have  to  be  included. — R.  B.  C. 

TV/TAY  I  add  the  names  of  another  "  twelve  best 
shrubs  "  that  flourish  in  my  httle  garden  at 
Dawlish  ;  Genista  Dallimorei,  Tricuspidaria  lauceo- 
lata,  Veronica  Hulkeana,  Chiraonanthus  fragrans, 
Berberis    Thunbergii,     Daphne     indica,      Fabiana 


RHODODENDRON    (aZALEA)    OCCIDENTALE    IN    ITS    HOMELAND. 


These  flower  shoots  are  excellent  for  cutting  and  the 
blossoming  season  extends  from  the  end  of  summer 
well  into  autumn.  The  whole  plant  has  the  odour 
of  Sage.— N.  W. 

THE     TWELVE     BE.ST     SHRUBS. 

DEFERRING  to  your  correspondent's  letter  on 
page  507,  ray  list  would  include  Rhododendron 
Nobleanum,  Hamamelis  mollis,  Ribes  sanguineum, 
Prunus  triloba  fi.  pi..  Rhododendron  racemosum, 
Berberis  Darwinii,  Berberis  stenophylla,  a  good 
Lilac,  Rhododendron  Pink  Pearl.  Robinia  hispida. 
Escallonia  langleyensis,  Cistus  laurifolius.  This 
list  is  based  on  twenty  years  experience  in  a  North- 
umberland garden  situated  on  the  side  of  a  hiU 
about  500ft.  above  sea  level.  The  names  are  given 
more  or  less  in  the  order  of  flowering,  and  Rhodo- 
dendron Nobleanum  and  Hamamelis  molhs  are 
only  included  on  account  of  their  early  blooming. 
Robinia  hispida  is  perhaps  more  of  a  tree  than  a 
shrub,  but  in  an  exposed  situation  is  only  suitable 
when  grown  as  a  shrub.  Although  these  are  all 
suitable  for  massing,  it  does  not  follow  that  a 
mass  of  such  as  Rhododendron  Pink  Pearl  would 


imbricata,  Diplacus  glutinosus  coccineus.  Mag- 
nolias nigra  and  stellata,  Leptospermum  NirhoUi, 
Heaths  (Ericas  mediterranea  and  Veitchiana), 
Melianthus  — Violet  C.  Bentinck. 

T  HAVE  read  with  much  interest  the  lists  of 
twelve  best  shrubs.  Here,  on  stiff  loam  with 
lime,  the  best  seem  to  be :  White  Mezereon, 
Double  Peach,  Prunus  Pissardi,  Crab  John  Downie 
(equally  beautiful  and  useful  for  fruit),  Forsythia 
suspensa,  Berberis  stenophylla.  Lilac  Mme.  Lemoine, 
Choisya  ternata  (which  blooms  twice),  Spir;ea 
japonica,  Cratajgus  Pyracantha,  Arbutus  Unedo, 
Viburnum  Tinus.  The  evergreens  are  decorative 
at  all  times  of  year.  I  hope  to  try  Viburnum 
Carlesii  and  Eucryphia  pinnatifolia  this  autumn, 
but  am  told  the  latter  dislikes  hme. — E.  Hunting- 
field. 

THE    FORM     OF    ROSES. 

TT  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  in  notes  on  new- 
Roses  the  form  is  so  often  omitted.     Even  in 
the    National    Rose    Society's    Official    Catalogue 
it  is  not  mentioned,  and  yet  to  many  of  us  the 


question  as  to  whether  the  Rose  is  full,  thin  or 
only  semi-double  is  one  of  the  most  important 
points.  If  you  could  effect  a  change  as  regards 
this,  I  for  one  should  be  very  grateful. ^N.  Rovde. 
[The  point  raised  is  an  important  one,  but, 
of  course,  form  in  a  Rose  implies  something  more 
than  a  question  of  mere  "  fulness  "  or  "  thinness." 
—Ed.] 

IRIS     UNGUICULARIS     SEEDING. 

TRIS  unguicularis  (stylosa)  flowered  well  here 
last  winter,  thanks  to  the  hot  summer  of  1921. 
I  brought  the  roots  from  Algeria  some  years  ago, 
and  though  they  produced  a  number  of  flowers 
at  first,  for  several  years  none  had  appeared. 
I  felt  sure  that  the  lack  of  flowers  was  caused  by 
the  roots  not  being  sufficiently  ripened,  and  last 
year's  experience  seems  to  prove  this  to  be  the  case. 
In  East  Yorkshire,  autumn  is  usually  damp  and 
chilly,  so  that  plants  requiring  late  autumn  sun- 
shine do  not  do  well  here.  Last  year  the  flowers 
on  this  Iris  began  to  appear  in  November — I 
gathered  some  before  I  left  for  Italy  in  tlie  middle 
of  that  month — and  they  were  in  full  flower  when 
I  returned  in  February,  and  lasted  till  .\pril. 
I  have  been  interested  in  finding  several  ripe  seed 
pods,  and  hope  to  succeed  in  raising  some  young 
plants,  having  already  sown  two  or  three  pots, 
while  other  seed  is  still  drying  in  the  sun. — Ruth 
Bickersteth,  Cottingham,  East  Yorks. 

A    LATE-FLOWERING    AZALEA. 

T  HAVE  read  with  interest  the  note  on  a  late- 
flowering  Azalea  (Azalea  occidentalis),  in  the 
August  ig,  1922,  issue  of  The  Garden,  page  420. 
Thinking  that  you  might  be  interested  in  seeing  a 
photograph  of  the  plant  in  its  native  habitat,  I 
am  sending  a  print  to  you  herewith.  This  plant 
was  photographed  by  me  at  Eureka,  California. 
The  gentleman  in  the  photograph  is  the  late  Mr. 
C.  W.  Ward,  who  for  many  years  was  one  of  our 
leading  Carnation  growers  and  also  the  proprietor 
of  a  nursery  at  Queens,  Long  Island,  as  well  as 
Eureka,  Cahfornia. — Peter  Bisset,  Plant  Intro 
ditcer  in  Charge  of  Experimenters^  Service,  Bureau 
of  Plant  Industry,  Washington. 

THE     ELSCHOLTZIA. 

T7OR  several  years  a  plant  of  Elscholtzia  Stauntonii 
at  Castleford,  Chepstow,  has  attracted  a  good 
deal  ot  attention  from  visitors  during  the  months 
ot  .\ugust  and  September,  when  it  is  usually  in 
bloom.  It  is  a  semi  -  shrubby  plant,  and 
forms  a  bush  about  4ft.  across  and  2ft.  high 
when  it  is  in  flower,  but  during  the  winter  months 
the  growths  die  back  to  the  extent  of  ift.  or 
i8ins.  In  the  spring  it  begins  to  grow  again, 
and  pushes  up  leafy  shoots,  which  eventually  bear 
large  spikes  of  carmine-pink  flowers.  Individually 
these  are  small  and  crowded,  but  a  well  grown 
plant  is  quite  effective  and  worthy  of  a  place 
near  the  front  of  a  shrubbery  or  where  it  will  be 
fully  exposed  to  the  sun.  Plants  in  shady  positions 
are  not  nearly  so  good,  the  growths  being  too 
weak  to  support  the  flower-spikes.  It  is  quite 
hardy,  and  was  introduced  from  China  in  1909. 
This  plant  belongs  to  the  Natural  Order  Labiatde, 
and  the  leaves  when  crushed  in  the  hand  have  a 
mint-like  odour.  It  may  be  propagated  by 
cuttings  made  from  the  young  shoots,  and  these 
soon  form  roots  if  placed  in  a  cold  frame  or  cool 
greenhouse. — T.  W.  B. 

CUP     .\NOMALIES     OF     THE     ROYAL 
HORTICULTURAL     SOCIETY. 

/~\N  page  533  of  your  issue  of  October  21,  Mr. 

Elisha  J.  Hicks  raises  a  just  query  as  to  who 

won  the  Wigan  Cup.    This  brought  to  my  mind  the 

position  of  the  East  Anghau  Horticultural  Club  ii» 


560 


THE     GARDEN. 


[November  4,  1922. 


respect  of  the  challenge  cup  for  hardy  fruits — 
open  to  affiliated  societies.  In  1920  the  East 
Anglian  Club  won  premier  position  and  I  think 
brought  the  cup  home,  to  the  pride  of  its  members 
In  1921  they  secured  the  coveted  position  again  out 
of  four  entrants,  but  neither  had  the  cup  nor  any 
compensating  award.  This  year  they  did  not  thinl< 
it  worth  trying  for  again,  and  perhaps  other 
societies  were  of  the  same  opinion,  for  there  was 
no  entry  in  the  class.  What  I  should  like  to  know 
is,  where  is  the  cup  and  who  is  designated  the 
holder  ? — Herbert   Perry,   Norwich. 

[No  doubt,  as  there  was  no  entry  this  year,  the 
R.H.S.  have  retained  possession  of  the  cup  and 
will  offer  it  again  ne.xt  season.  The  rule  that  certain 
cups  must  not  be  won  two  years  in  succession  by 
the  same  exhibitor  is,  in  our  view,  thoroughly  bad, 
but  the  cups  are  doubtless  disposed  of  according  to 
the  wishes  of  the  donors  and  there  is  an  old  adage 
an-nt  "  paying  the  piper  and  calling  the  tune." — 
Ed.] 

AUTUMN     FLOWERING     OF     BE.\RDED 
IRISES. 

TT  is  not   unusual  for  some  varieties  of   Iris  to 

flower  again  in  the  autumn.     Peter  the  Great 

has  been  in  flower  since  September  20,   and  will 


full  beauty.  It  is  a  vigorous  plant,  and  is  quite 
hardy  in  most  parts  of  the  country.  No  doubt 
it  is  the  finest  of  the  Abelias  which  are  suitable 
for  outdoor  cultivation.  It  is  readily  increased 
from  cuttings,  and  they  will  form  roots  at  almost 
any  time  of  the  year. — B, 

A     GROUP     OF    HYDRANGE.AS 

T  ENCLOSE  a  photograph  of  a  group  of  the 
common  Hydrangea,  H.  hortensis,  growing 
in  these  gardens.  They  always  flower  well, 
but  I  have  never  seen  them  flowering  so  freely 
as  this  year.  The  unusual  wealth  of  blossom  may 
probably  be  accounted  for  by  the  thorough  ripen- 
ing of  the  wood  caused  by  the  heat  and  drought 
of  last  year.  The  two  tall  middle  plants  have 
been  in  their  present  position  for  about  twenty- 
five  years  ;  they  are  between  8ft.  and  gft.  in  height 
and  nearly  as  much  through.  The  end  plants 
were  put  in  about  ten  years  ago.  They  are  pro- 
tected on  the  north  side  by  the  fern  house  shewn 
in  the  picture,  on  the  east  by  a  large  Yew,  but 
are  fully  exposed  to  the  south  and  south-west. 
They  receive  no  attention  beyond  cutting  off 
the  dead  flowers  and  shortening  back  any  growth 
that  may  have  encroached  too  far  over  the  Rose 
bed  in   front.     They   get   nothing  in  the   way  of 


SOME    FINE    "  CHANGEABLE    GARDENERS." 


continue  for  some  time  yet  if  not  cut  by  frost. 
The  flower-stems  are  not  so  high  as  those  produced 
in  spring  and  the  flowers  a  little  smaller,  but  there 
are  a  goodly  number  and  the  effect  is  quite  pleasing. 
The  following  have  also  flowered,  but  not  so  well : 
Crimson  King,  Florentina  alba,  Loute  and  atro- 
purpurea.  I  have  noticed  that  this  autumn 
blooming  habit  does  not  appear  to  prejudice  free 
blooming  in  spring. — G.  N.  B.,  Maidstone 

A     LATE-FLOWERING     SHRUB. 

"pLOWERING  shrubs  are  none  too  plentiful 
during  the  months  of  September  and  October, 
hence  the  reason  for  calling  attention  to  that 
delightful  plant  Abelia  grandiflora,  which  is  still 
a  mass  of  its  pretty,  almost  pure  white  flowers. 
I  have  had  the  same  plant  under  the  names  of 
A.  rupestris  and  A.  chinensis,  but  no  doubt  the 
above  is  the  correct  name,  and  it  is  stated  to  be 
a  hybrid  between  A.  chinensis  and  A.  uniflora. 
It  is  evergreen  and  from  4ft.  to  5ft.  high,  and 
the  slender,  arching  growths  are  covered  with 
bloom.  The  leaves  are  a  shining  dark  green, 
and  th"  general  habit  of  the  plant  makes  it  desirable 
for  an  isolated  position  where  it  can  develop  its 


manure  but  a  little  soil  is  thrown  over  the  dead 
leaves  that  drift  under  them  during  winter.  They 
generally  commence  flowering  in  July,  but,  like 
other  things  on  this  East  Coast,  were  very  late 
this  season.  I  noticed  the  first  open  flower  of 
the  Belladonna  Lily  on  October  9.  Last  year 
the  plants  were  in  their  full  beauty  by  the  end  of 
August.  I  might  say  that  we  are  situated  about 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  coast,  with  no  pro- 
tection whatever  between  us  and  the  sea. — H. 
Reynolds,  Scratby  Hall  Gardens,  Great  Yarmouth. 

DIPLACUS     GLUriNOSUS. 

TN'  most  parts  of  the  country  this  pretty  shrubby 
plant  is  cultivated  under  glass,  but  in  mild 
localities  it  is  well  adapted  for  a  warm  corner 
with  a  south  aspect.  A  plant  at  Castleford, 
Chepstow,  has  been  blooming  freely  throughout 
the  summer — in  fact,  so  long  as  conditions  are 
favourable  to  growth  the  shoots  continue  to 
produce  flowers.  It  is  a  native  of  California,  and 
will  attain  a  height  of  5ft.  The  flowers  are  salmon 
colour,  and  greatly  resemble  those  of  Musk. 
This  plant  is  also  known  as  Mimulus  glutinosus, 
and  it  was  figured  in  the  Botanical  Magazine  as 


Mimulus  aurantiacus.  There  are  several  forms 
or  hybrids  of  D.  glutinosus,  and  they  vary  in 
colour  from  shades  of  red  to  yellow.  No  doubt 
this  plant  would  be  destroyed  if  the  winter  was  a 
severe  one.  but  it  is  well  worth  the  trouble  to  re- 
plant it  in  the  more  favoured  parts  of  the  country. 
It  is  readily  increased  Irom  cuttings,  which  will 
root  at  any  time  during  the  spring  and  summer 
months.  A  few  plants  could  be  accommodated 
in  the  cool  greenhouse,  to  take  the  place  of  any 
that  are  destroyed  by  frosts.  Anyone  who  has 
seen  a  healthy  and  vigorous  plant  outside  with 
its  wealth  of  bloom  spread  over  a  long  period 
will  be  inclined  to  despise  it  as  a  pot  specimen 
with  its  restricted  root  run  and  somewhat  starved 
appearance. — T.  W.   B. 

THE    CULTURE    OF    THE    SILVER 

BERRY. 

T~'HAT  beautiful  species,  Eleagnu;  argentea 
(not  to  be  confused  with  Shepherdia  argentea) 
is  one  ot  the  most  silvery  bushes  that  it  is  possible 
to  conceive  and  the  tubular  yellow  daphne- 
like flowers  are  as  pretty  as  they  are  fragrant. 
But  although  I  have  had  this  species  sent  over  from 
Canada  and  also  got  plants  from  an  Irish  nursery, 
it  does  not  seeni  to  be  happy  in  our  hands.  Can  any 
reader  tell  me  what  it  needs  ?  On  the  prairie  of 
Sasketchewan  it  is  mainly  confined  to  the  higher 
levels,  or  knolls,  where  the  soil  is  comparatively  dry 
and  deficient  in  humus  and  there  it  grows  in  masses, 
spreading  by  means  of  suckers,  which,  latter,  I 
am  told  are  not  so  apparent  in  cultivation.  The 
farmers  over  there  call  it  "  Wolf  Willow,"  but  it  is 
also  known  as  "  Silver  Berry,"  since  the  fruits,  in 
common  with  the  twigs  and  leaves,  appear  as  if 
dipped  in  aluminium  paint. — A.  T.  Johnson. 

FOR     A     SUNN\'     CORNER. 

'T"H.AT  little  Daisy-Uke  thing,  Erigeron  mucro- 
natus,  is  surely  the  most  cheerful  Southerner 
that  ever  found  place  in  our  gardens.  The  weather 
has  so  little  effect  upon  it  that  a  group  of  plants 
have  flowered  no  less  abundantly  during  this  cold 
and  wet  season  than  they  did  during  the  torrid 
heat  of  last  summer.  Normally,  E.  mucronatus 
(more  properly,  Vittadenia  australis),  makes  a 
rounded  mass  of  thin  and  elegant  stems  some  gins, 
liigh  and  a  foot  or  more  in  diameter,  and  throughout 
-ummer — from  the  end  of  May  to  the  first  frosts  of 
.lutumn — it  bears  a  profusion  of  pretty  Daisies 
\vhich  open  a  good  deep  pink  and  die-off  white, 
so  that  flowers  in  both  colours  and  every  inter- 
mediate shade  are  open  at  the  same  time.  No 
plant  that  I  can  call  to  mind  yields  such  a  constel- 
lation ot  blossoms  for  so  long  a  period  and,  what  is 
more,  E.  mucronatus  never  seems  to  grow  weary  of 
this  "  mass  production."  The  blooms  which  pass 
away  leave  no  unsightly  remnants  behind  them, 
there  is  no  shabby  period,  no  *'  running  to  seed." 
The  plant  is  as  clean  and  bright  and  full  of  life  and 
colour  at  the  end  of  October  as  it  is  on  Midsummer 
Day.  All  that  this  amazing  little  plant  asks  is  a 
free,  warm,  gritty  soil  and  "  a  place  in  the  sun," 
and  there  it  will  freely  propagate  itself  by  seed. — 
Cambrica. 

ARALIA  CHINENSIS. 
'T'HIS  Chinese  shrub  with  its  sub-tropical  look 
never  fails  to  arrest  attention.  It  is  not 
much  in  evidence  in  gardens,  more  especially  north 
of  the  Tweed,  it  not  being  regarded — and  that 
rightly — as  quite  hardy.  The  ideal  site  for  it 
is  a  well  drained,  sheltered  spot.  It  was  therefore 
a  pleasant  surprise  to  me  when  on  a  visit  to  Perth 
in  September  to  find  quite  a  good  specimen  of 
it  in  a  villa  garden  at  a  high  altitude  and  in  an 
exposed  situation  in  Craigieknowe,  a  suburb  of 
the  Fair  City.  Doubtless  the  perfect  drainage 
was  an  important  factor  in  its  welfare. — C.  C. 


November  4,  1922. j 


THE     GARDEN. 


561 


DEUTZIAS     FOR     THE 
COLD  GREENHOUSE 

THOUGH  perfectly  hardy  shrubs  in  the 
ordinary  sense  of  the  word,  many  of  the 
Deutzias  are  worth  protecting,  particu- 
larly the  varieties  or  hybrids  of  D. 
gnracilis,  which  commence  to  unfold  their 
leaves  and  flower  rather  early  in  the  season. 
Spring  frosts,  although  they  seldom  entirely 
destroy  the  beauty  of  the  bushes,  frequently 
considerably  impair  it.  Certainly,  if  allowed  to 
develop  under  glass,  protected  from  winds  and  rains 
cind  sudden  rises  and  falls  of  temperature,  the 
blossoms  are  usually  seen  to  much  greater  ad vant  age. 
Under  glass  also,  even  without  artificial  heat,  the 
flowers  open  in  advance  of  those  outside. 

The  cultivation  of  the  bushes  in  large  pots  or 
tubs  presents  no  difficulty.     This  is  preferable  to 


THE    PURE    WHITE    DEUTZIA    WILSONI. 

planting  out  in  the  borders,  as  it  is  not  only  better 
for  the  health  of  the  plants  to  be  outside  from 
June  to  January,  but  leaves  the  house  vacant  for 
other  plants. 

A  fibrous  loamy  soil  is  the  best  for  Deutzias,  with 
the  addition  of  some  old  decayed  manure,  leaf- 
mould  and  coarse  grit.  Repotting,  or  tubbing,  of 
the  bushes  should  not  be  necessary  for  three  or 
four  years,  if  a  top-dressing  of  rich  soil,  or  half 
loam  and  half  rotten  manure,  be  given  annually 
in  January,  after  removing  some  of  the  surface 
soil.  The  smaller  plants  can  be  readily  grown 
in  6in.  and  /in.  pots. 

Increase  by  division,  layering  and  cuttings 
provides  easy  means  of  propagation.  Cuttings 
made  of  the  half-ripe  shoots  about  midsummer 
root  readily  in  a  close  frame  or  under  bell  glasses 

A  selection  of  the  best  for  flowering  in  the  cold 
greenhouse  follows. 


D.  GR.^ciLis  is  pure  white ;  var.  erecta,  has 
upright  branches  wreathed  in  snow-white  flowers  ; 
var.  fastuosa,  long  inflorescences  with  twenty  to 
twenty-five  flowers,  milk  white  ;  and  var.  rosea, 
pink-tinted  blossoms. 

p.  CRENATA  ebumea  has  light  and  graceful 
clusters  of  white  flowers  in  profusion  ;  var.  erecta, 
is  more  upright  in  habit,  producing  pyramidal 
clusters  of  large  milk-white  flowers  ;  var.  formosa 
is  one  of  the  best  double-flowered  sorts,  pure  white  ; 
var.  latiflora  has  large  white  flowers  lin.  to  liins. 
across  and  fifteen  to  twenty  together  in  upright 
panicles  ;  when  var.  magnifica  was  shewn  at  one 
of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  s  meetings  this 
profuse  flowering  pure  white  variety  was  given 
an  award  of  merit ;  var.  staphyleoides  is  one  of 
the  largest  white-flowered  Deutzias. 

D.  DISCOLOR  elegantissima  has  carmine  buds 
opening  to  dainty  pink  blossoms  ;    var.  excellens 


has  been  called  the  cratajgus-flowered  Deutzia,  me 
large  flat  corymbs  of  blossoms  closely  resembling 
those  of  the  Hawthorn ;  var.  fasciculata  has 
arching  branches  of  pale  pink  blossoms.  The  fine 
D.  Wilsoni,  pure  white,  is  closely  related. 

After  flowering  the  aim  should  be  to  obtain  as 
much  new-  growth  as  possible,  as  the  wood  now 
formed  will  produce  next  season's  blossoms. 
Remove  as  much  of  the  old  flowering  wood  as 
possible  when  the  flowers  shatter,  seeing  that  some, 
at  least,  of  the  oldest  branches  are  cut  out  to  the 
base  each  year.  Copious  supplies  of  water  and 
liquid  manure  may  be  given  when  growth  is 
active.  When  placed  outside  in  June  a  little 
shelter  from  the  brilliant  mid-day  sun  may  be 
worth  while  at  first,  but  by  August,  when  growth 
should  be  complete,  they  should  be  moved  to 
fully  exposed  positions  in  order  thoroughly  to 
ripen   the   wood.  A.   O. 


THE    TOWN    GARDEN 

How  to  make  and  maintain  it  satisfactorily 


ANEW  interest  and  a  changed  outlook 
on  London  Ufe  is  surely  dawning  in  the 
advent  of  a  bona-fide  garden  of  one's 
own  into  which  it  is  but  a  step  from 
^  the  house  through  some  connecting 
doorway.  Even  if  the  available  space  be  of  so 
small  an  area  as  40ft.  by  20ft.  or  even  less,  this 
desirable  possession  can  be  quite  successfully 
acquired,  especially  if  the  walls  on  either  side  are 
not  too  high. 

First,  it  is  well  carefully  to  take  down  any 
creepers  that  may  be  already  on  the  walls  and  to 
erect  a  wooden, trellis  painted  green,  taking  care, 
also,  to  run  wire  netting  all  round  the  outside  walls 
and  reaching  quite  2ft.  abo\e  the  top  of  them 
in  order  to  exclude  cats,  after  which  the  creepers 
should  be  carefully  trained  to  the  treUis  and  netting, 
and  at  once  one  gets  a  pleasant  background  for 
the  garden  proper. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  a  stone-paved  court 
with  spaces  between  the  stones  in  which  to  grow 
rock  plants,  with  shaped  flower-beds  next  the  walls, 
is  far  the  most  effective,  practical  and  picturesque 
way  of  treating  the  London  garden. 

It  is  a  mistake  to  consider  that  there  are  all- 
pervading  smuts,  that  one  cannot  sit  in  a  "  London 
dress  "  on  the  garden  seats  without  getting  the 
benefit  of  them  ;  it  is  a  mistake  to  think  that, 
whatever  one  plants,  it  will  stay  unwillingly  for 
a  few  days  and  then  die  off ;  it  is  a  still  greater 
mistake  not  to  make  an  intelligent  study  of  what 
will  flomish  in  London  in  the  aspect  and  the  soil 
it  has  to  be  planted  in.  The  "  self-faced  "  paving 
now  in  vogue  is  admirably  suited  to  these  small 
spaces,  and  every  flower  and  every  leaf  growing 
near  it  cannot  fail  to  "  tell."  The  initial  expense 
ot  laying  it  down  is  well  worth  while,  for  it  makes 
it  most  easy  to  be  one's  own  gardener  with  very 
little  extra  help  once  the  garden  is  arranged. 
I  can  only  speak  by  experience,  and  I  think  many 
will  be  encouraged  to  acquire  that  precious  posses- 
sion— one's  own  garden  in  the  heart  of  a  great  city. 
We  cannot  easily  forget  arriving  just  as  our 
house  was  being  finished,  its  exterior  and  interior 
fresh  and  charming,  when  behold !  our  eyes 
rested  on  a  scene  of  perfect  desolation  without. 
Grimy  walls,  grimy  gravel,  the  dreary  remains 
of  aged  flower-beds,  old  boxes,  even  concrete 
slabs — 40ft.  or  so  of  ugUness. 

We  felt  this  terrible  state  of  things  must  not 
continue,  and  forthwith  set  to  work  to  call  in  aid 
as  to  planning,  paving  and  trellising,  and  for  this 
1  strongly  recommend  expert  advice,  especially 
for  the  inexperienced.     One  saves  time  and  money 


thereby.  We  began  operations  in  the  spring  of 
this  year,  before  Nature  had  covered  up  ugly 
walls  with  the  leaves  of  Vines  and  creepers  which, 
indeed,  were  mercifully  there,  and  at  a  season 
when  no  garden  looks  its  best,  especially  if  there 
has  been  the  tramp  of  many  feet  over  it  and  a 
litter  of  tools  cast  in  every  direction !  .\fter 
this  depressing  picture  let  me  describe  what  we 
found  on  another  return  in  early  autumn  after 
only  a  few  months'  planning  and  watching  for 
results,  for  we  left  the  garden  for  many  weeks 
with  only  an  occasional  hour's  attention  from  a 
visiting  gardener. 

The  Fig  tree  has  now  mellowed  into  gold  and 
green,  its  outstretched  "  hands "  or  leaves  will 
not  long  be  uphfted  but  cast  down.  It  is  still 
pleasant,  however,  to  sit  under  the  branches 
at  the  end  of  the  garden,  to  hear  the  pigeons 
cooing  and  a  neighbour's  bird  singing,  and  to  see 
the  bunches  of  Grapes  ripening  on  our  Vines. 
The  great  Paeony-flowered  DahUas  are  over  6ft. 
high  with  blooms  measuring  half  a  yard  in  circum- 
ference, niau\e,  scarlet,  white  and  wine  colour — 
a  gay  company  !  We  wondered  when  they  were 
planted  in  early  summer  whether  they  would  ever 
grow  up  !  Here  the  bees  have  come,  ho%v  and 
whence  I  know  not,  and  clustered  busily  where 
the  DahUa  has  opened  its  heart.  The  mauve 
stars  ot  the  Michaelmas  Daisies  are  spangling 
the  garden,  and  golden  and  bronze  Chrysanthe- 
mums are  aglow  in  the  sun's  rays.  The  white  and 
purple  Thymes  have  finished  flowering,  but  they 
grow  apace,  and  are  now  like  green  mats  flung  on 
the  paving  stones.  The  Violas,  too,  have  done 
their  flowering,  but  are  making  good  with  further 
green  shoots  and  filUng  up  corners,  as  are  the 
double  pink  and  white  Daisies,  which  have  sown 
themselves  in  the  crevices  of  the  stones  all  about 
the  garden.  Watch  must  te  kept,  of  course,  for 
caterpillars. 

The  Jasnune,  which  was  a  small  plant  put  in 
early  in  the  summer,  has  now  cUmbed  high  over 
the  fence,  and  a  little  Rose  tree  is  covered  with 
late  bloom.  Stone  vases  and  green  tubs  stand 
about  here  and  there,  two  of  them  occupied  by 
frilly  petticoated  carmine  and  white  Fuchsias 
which  have  flowered  all  summer  long.  Now  let 
me  say  a  word  about  watering.  However  much 
it  rains,  always  see  that  plants  in  tubs  and  such 
like  do  not  get  neglected,  for  no  rain  will  penetrate 
under  them. 

In  talking  of  autunm  effects  in  our  httle  garden. 
I  like  to  point  out  that  it  is  not  only  bedding-out 
and    easily    removed    plants    that    flom-ish — those 


562 

that  are  with  us,  as  it  were,  on  a  visit — but  that 
it  is  those  that  are  here  to  stay  that  win  our  special 
affections,  the  climbers  and  such  herbaceous 
things  as  are  suited  to  our  conditions. 

Not  the  least  charm  of  all  is  that  real  atmosphere 
of  a  garden  one  can  get  even  in  so  small  a  space  as 
ours.  Where  else  can  we  go  out  into  the  open  air, 
hatless  and  gloveless  and  undisturbed !  Think 
of  the  blessing  of  this  to  a  busy  city  man,  a  Member 
of  Parliament,  or  to  anyone  pursued  by  con- 
ventionalities and  obUged  continually  to  acknow- 
ledge the  greetings  inseparable  from  public  life,  or, 
again,  to  the  tired  woman-worker  whose  avocation 
condemns  her  to  stuffy  studio  or  class-room. 

Never  do  we  return  to  London  in  the  autumn 
without  a  pang  of  regret  at  turning  our  backs 
upon  river,  mountain,  moor  and  lake  and  all  the 
wonderful  beauties  of  Nature  at  her  lovehest — 
yet  am  I  bound  to  say  that  this  year  grey  skies 
and  soaking  countryside  and  the  breaking  down 
of  a  motor  miles  from  anywhere  took  the  glamour 
from  the  scenery.  Next  day,  however,  the  bright 
sunshine,  the  gay  colour  in  the  briUiant  Bowers, 
the  quickly  dried  paving  stones  and  inviting 
garden  seats  made  us  feel  that  we  can  indeed 
"  get  almost  everything  in  London." 

I  remember  years  ago  being  asked  by  my  host 
at  luncheon,  "  What  do  you  think  of  my  garden  ?  " 
(this  a  small  space  behind  his  London  house). 
"  I  have  planted  a  Fig  tree  !  "  There  was,  it  is 
true,  one  occupant  of  the  said  "  garden,"  a  drooping 
Fig  tree  thoroughly  resenting  its  transplantation. 
Those  were  early  days  for  London  gardens,  but 
I  felt  so  disappointed  at  the  efforts  of  a  really 
distinguished  naturalist  that  I  answered,  I  am 
afraid,  in  a  rather  uncomplimentary-  tone,  "  I 
think  it  reminds  me  of  what  is  said  in  the  collect, 
'  By  reason  ot  the  frailty  of  our  nature  we  cannot 
always  stand  upright.'  " 

Do  not  put  too  severe  a  strain  upon  your  tree 
or  plant,  and  always  transplant  it  at  the  right 
time,  if  possible  in  early  spring  in  London  rather 
than  late  autumn.  Get  good  specimens,  do  not 
rely  on  cuttings  or  seeds  (experiment  with  them 
if  you  like  !).  Do  not  be  content  with  "  bedding- 
out,"  for  the  charm  of  such  a  garden  is  much  in 
its  setting,  that  is,  in  the  things  that  really  grou' 
and  flourish.  Never  expect  plants  to  flourish 
under  the  drip  ot  trees.  Here  is  where  pavement 
comes  in,  and  the  effect  of  sunUght  on  it,  flickering 
through  the  trees,  is  very  attractive.  There  is 
always  something  to  do  when  one  walks  round. 
One  can  cut  off  all  dead  flowers,  especially  from 
the  Violas.  They  will  then  remain  in  flower  very 
much  longer,  and  they  flourish  amazingly  with  us, 
as  do  Pentstemons  also,  and  Catmint  London 
Pride  from  its  name  association  should  find  a 
place,  and  many  other  Saxifrages  too.  Many 
plants  that  have  not  spongy  leaves  and  do  not  hold 
the  raindrops  prosper.  Even  the  most  unlearned 
amateur  may  hope  for  a  gorgeous  display  of  Tulips 
and  other  bulbs  in  spring  if  they  plant  betimes  in 
autumn. 

In  the  depth  of  the  winter  also  it  is  pleasant 
to  look  out  on  formal  clipped  shrubs,  some  of  them 
in  stone  vases,  and  perhaps  a  lead  figure  placed 
attractively  or  a  sundial.  In  our  Fig  tree  hangs 
a  green  bird-box  for  tit-bits  to  be  served  on  cold 
winter  days  when  natural  food  is  scarce. 

To  a  small  house  what  an  addition  it  is  to  have, 
as  it  were,  one  large  room  with  the  heavens  for 
ceiling,  open  air  for  refreshment,  and  numberless 
flowers  for  one's  delight  !  Instinctively  one 
walks  out  after  luncheon  or  dinner,  when  the 
coffee  appears  on  the  green  table  under  the  tree,  a 
nice  country  interlude  in  the  day. 

Across  the  road  the  earliest  greenery  is  to  be 
seen  in  the  gardens  of  Cadogan  Place,  so  we  hope 
to  respond  with  bright  echoes  of  purple  and  white 
Aubrietia  and  Arabis,.  Hilda  Haking. 


THE     GARDEN. 


[November  4,  1922. 


GARDENING    OF    THE    WEEK 


FOR     SOUTHERN     GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Rhubarb. — As  an  article  of  food  "during  the 
sprmg  months  Rhubarb  is  extremelv  valuable. 
It  can  be  well  grown  without  a  too  frequent 
disturbance  on  a  deep  and  somewhat  sandy  loam 
Where  it  is  freely  used  it  is  a  good  plan  to  deal 
with  a  portion  of  the  roots  every  three  or  four 
years,  and  to  have  the  ground  in  good  heart  for 
spnng  planting,  it  should  be  thoroughly  dug 
during  the  winter  and  have  plenty  of  manure 
worked  in  as  the  work  proceeds.  It  will  be  an 
advantage  to  have  the  Rhubarb  plot  marked  off 
into  sections  so  that  newly  planted  roots  and 
those  intended  for  forcing  purposes  may  be  treated 
accordingly.  From  now  onwards  the  roots  will 
easily  respond  to  growth  provided  they  are  hfted 
and  left  on  the  ground  for  a  week  before  taking 
them  into  a  Mushroom-house  or  warm  cellar 
Wherever  they  are  accommodated  plenty  of  old 
leaf-soil  should  be  placed  round  them  and  the 
roots  kept  uniformly  moist.  FaiUng  any  inside 
accommodation  for  early  Rhubarb,  some  deep 
boxes  or  pots  should  be  placed  over  a  few  roots 
outside  and  then  be  completely  covered  up  with 
leaves  and  strawy  htter  to  a  depth  of  about  3ft. 
This  method  has  the  great  advantage  of  not  causing 
any  waste  of  roots,  as  they  soon  recover  to  their 
normal  strength  after  forcing  in  this  manner. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

The  Torch  Lily,  or  Flame  Flower,  greatlv 
appreciated  last  season's  warmth,  which  ripened 
up  the  crowns  so  well,  and  the  result  is  that  in 
many  places  this  season,  although  the  weather 
has  been  most  unsettled,  the  plants  have  done 
splendidly.  It  is  not  a  happy  plant  for  a  mixed 
border,  but  should  be  boldly  grouped  in  front  of 
a  shrubbery  or  near  a  streamside  walk,  where, 
perchance,  a  group  of  Grasses  or  other  autumn 
feature  may  give  its  statehness  and  rich  colourings 
even  greater  dignity.  Where  owing  to  a  cold 
soil  there  has  been  a  loss  of  plants  during  the 
winter,  it  would  be  helpful  when  severe  weather 
approaches  to  tie  all  the  foliage  up  to  a  stake  and 
to  interlace  plenty  of  dry  bracken  fern,  covering 
the  root  stools  with  it  at  the  same  time. 

The  Rockery.— Alpines  of  a  hairy  leaf  nature 
Uable  to  suffer  from  dampness  should  now  be 
protected  by  having  sheets  of  glass  or  horn  placed 
over  them  and  the  same  securely  fastened  so  that 
the  wind  cannot  displace  them.'  Any  alterations 
either  in  the  way  of  additions  or  remaking  are 
best  carried  out  during  autumn  and  winter  as 
opportunity  offers.  Keep  the  undisturbed  part 
of  the  rockery  free  from  weeds  and  faUing  leaves, 
and  give  the  soil  a  light  pricking  over  if  it  has 
become  soured. 

Tub  Plants,  such  as  Agapanthus,  Hydrangea, 
Bay,  etc.,  which  have  occupied  positions  out  of 
doors  during  the  summer  should  now  be  got  into 
winter  quarters,  such  as  a  frost-proof  shed  or  a 
cold  house.  The  interlacing  of  boughs  of  spruce 
or  hracken  fern  is  of  great  help  in  wintering  shrubs 
safely,  and  it  should  be  remembered  that  dampness 
is  often  a  greater  enemy  than  frost  for  many  resting 
plants  and  roots. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Crab  Apples. — Do  not  overlook  the  planting 
of  these  very  useful  and  exceedingly  handsome 
fruits.  The  spring  beauty  of  the  trees  when  in 
flower  is  quite  equal  to  many  of  the  so-called 
choice  shrubs,  and  in  many  cases  this  is 
followed  in  autumn  by  brilhantly  coloured 
fruits,  giving  them  a  splendid  appearance  when 
well  placed  in  a  shrubbery  or  in  suitable  positions 
in  the  pleasure  grounds.  It  is,  perhaps,  hardly 
necessary  to  touch  upon  the  excellent  properties 
of  the  fruits  for  making  jelhes,  etc. 

Damsons. — The  wonderful  crop  of  these  fruits 
in  most  districts  this  season  only  tends  once  again 
to  enhance,  if  such  is  necessary,  their  great  value 
as  a  culinary  and  preserve  commodity.  Another 
great  point  in  their  favour  is  their '  lateness  in 
coming  to  maturity,  thus  prolonging  the  stone 
fruit  season  by  several  weeks.  On  account  of 
their  hardihood  Damsons  may  be  safely,  and  with 
advantage  to  other  fruit  trees,  planted  as  guard 
trees,  that  is,  placed  on  the  coldest  side  of  the 
fruit  plantation.  In  making  a  selection  of  varie- 
ties the  more  recently  introduced  variety  known 
as  Merryweather  should  certainly  be  included. 
H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland). 
Albury  Park  Gardens,  Guildford.    _^ 


FOR    NORTHERN     GARDEN.S. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

General  Work.— During  inclement  weather 
advantage  may  be  taken  to  look  over  Potatoes 
that  are  stored  in  cellars  or  sheds,  removing  all 
shewing  signs  of  decay.  Where  seed  was  not 
secured  at  the  lifting  period,  opportunity  may 
now  be  taken  to  lay  aside  the  necessary  quantity, 
placing  in  shallow  boxes  and  storing  in  an  airy 
frost-proof  shed.  See  that  the  varieties  are 
properly  labelled  and  thus  save  confusion  when 
planting-time  comes  round. 

Turnips.— Roots  of  the  Golden  Ball  variety 
should  now  be  lifted  and  stored,  as  they  become 
overgrown  and  stringy  if  allowed  to  remain  longer 
in  the  ground.  Store  in  an  open  shed  and  cover 
with  straw,  when  they  will  be  found  to  remain 
fresh  and  crisp  for  a  considerable  period. 

Autumn    Giant   Cauliflowers.— These   popular 

Cauliflowers  are  often  in  good  usable  condition 
well  into  November,  provided  no  very  severe  frosts 
have  occurred.  To  save  the  curd  from  being 
unduly  discoloured  a  careful  survey  should  be 
made  of  the  plants  and  a  few  leaves  broken  over 
the  flowers.  If  well  placed  these  also  ward  off 
heavy  rains.  Where  the  plants  are  turning  in 
quickly,  as  they  often  do  during  a  mild  spell, 
a  number  may  be  uprooted  and  hung  up  by  the 
roots  in  a  coo!  shed,  where  they  will  be  found  to 
keep  in  serviceable  condition  for  several  weeks. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Planting  Fruit  Trees.— Eariv  planting  is  to 
be  commended,  as  the  trees  readily  push  out  a 
few  young  roots  at  this  time  which  allow  the 
trees  to  make  a  more  generous  start  in  the  spring. 
When  the  ground  and  weather  conditions  prove 
favourable,  no  time  should  be  lost  immediately 
the  young  trees  come  to  hand  in  having  therii 
transferred  to  their  permanent  quarters.  Should 
the  roots  have  become  dry  on  the  journey,  give 
a  thorough  soaking  before  planting.  Spread  the 
roots  out  evenly  before  covering  in,  and  should 
the  natural  soil  be  cold  or  of  a  clayey  nature, 
add  a  goodly  dressing  of  light  fibrous  turf.  For 
stone  fruit  the  addition  of  some  Urae  rubbish 
will  prove  beneficial  on  ground  where  Mme  is 
naturally  deficient.  Cut  away  all  damaged  or 
broken  roots  and  make  standard  trees  firm  by 
staking.  The  latter  operation  is  best  done 
immediately  after  planting  is  finished. 

Raspberries. — Where  it  is  proposed  to  make 
new  plantations  or  replace  unfruitful  or  worn-out 
canes  the  ground  should  be  well  prepared  before- 
hand. As  Raspberries  usually  occupy  the  same 
position  for  a  number  of  years,  generous  treatment 
should  be  accorded  the  site.  The  soil  should 
be  double-dug,  taking  care  not  to  bring  the  under 
spit  to  the  surface  if  it  is  at  all  clayey.  Rasp- 
berries are  essentially  surface-rooting  plants  and 
enjoy  a  fairly  Ught  soil  suitably  enriched.  Popular 
varieties  for  summer  fruiting  are  Superlative 
and  Baumforth's  Seedling,  while  a  new  sort  noticed 
this  season  named  Pyne's  Royal  carried  a  wonder- 
ful crop  of  excellent  quality.  It  also  proved  of 
vigorous  growth.  Established  beds  should  be 
lightly  forked  over  and  a  surface  dressing  of  well 
rotted  manure  added. 

Fruits  Under  Glass. 
Strawberry    Plants   in    Pots.— Pots   of   these 

which  have  been  standing  in  the  open  will  now 
benefit  by  being  removed  to  the  shelter  of  a  cold 
frame,  plunging  the  pots  to  the  rims  in  ashes  or 
leaves.     Ventilate  freely  during  fine  weather. 

Peach  Trees. — After  the  leaves  have  fallen 
from  the  trees  the  work  of  pruning  and  thinning 
the  shoots  may  be  taken  in  hand.  At  the 
same  time  the  house  should  receive  a  thorough 
cleansing.  After  the  pruning  is  finished  gather 
up  the  remaining  shoots  and  tie  them  loosely 
together  so  that  room  may  be  made  for  washing 
the  glass  and  woodwork,  which  should  receive 
most  careful  attention,  especially  where,  during 
the  summer,  red  spider  was  troublesome.  The 
walls  should  also  be  Umewashed,  or  should  the 
spent  material  from  the  acetylene  gas  plant  be 
procurable  it  will  prove  an  excellent  substitute, 
being  adhesive  and  also  acting  as  a  disinfectant. 
It  does  not  scale  off  like  ordinary  lime  or  cement 
wash.  After  the  work  of  cleaning  the  structure, 
the  shoots  should  also  be  sponged  with  an  approved 
insecticide,  being  careful  to  see  that  it  is  not 
apphed  strong  enough  to  injure  the  buds.  The  older 
branches  may  be  washed  with  a  stronger  solution. 

James  McGran 
(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H,  Houldsworth,  Bart.), 

Coodham,  Kilmarnock. 


THE 


I.T13T?A'RVof  tha 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


Vol.  LXXXVI.— No.  2669. 

entered  as  Second-olass  Matter  at  the  New  Yorb.  N.Y.,  Poit  Office. 


Saturday,  November   11.  1922 


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MERRYWEATHER'S    ROSES 


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FOR    BEDS! 


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FOR    EVERYWHERE! 


Also  Fruit  Trees,  Shrubs,  Ornamental  Trees. 
Please  state  your  wants. 

H.    MERRYWEATHER    &   SONS,   LTD. 
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BARR'S      BEAUTIFUL      IRISES 

FOR    NOVEMBER    PLANTING. 

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COLLECTIONS    OF    TALL    FLAG     IRISES. 

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50  ,,     50 

25   ,.     25 

12    ,,      12 

Choice   mixed   varieties,  without  names 

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THE     GARDEN 


[November   ii,   1922. 


"THE    GARDEN"   CATALOGUE    GUIDE 


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Fruit  Trees  and  Plants 


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BLACKMORE  &  LANGDON 
Twerton  Hill  Nursery 
BATH 


Begenlas 
Delphiniums 
Qloxinias 
Cyelament  stc. 


DAWKINS 

408,  King's  Road 

CHELSEA,   S.W. 


Bulb 

Catalogue 
now  ready. 


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Appointment 


DICKSON'S 

HAWLNARK 

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Tubs   for    shrubs. 

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26.  Goodge  Street.  London,  W.l. 


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CORRY   &   CO.,   Ltd. 
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R.   WALLACE   &   CO.,   Ltd. 
The  Old  Gardens 
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Laodsc^ipe  &  Gaiuen 
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J.  CHEAL  &   SONS.   Ltd. 

Nurseries 

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HODSONS,   LIMITED, 
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PULMAM  ©  SON 

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(Specialist  in  Garden  Planning) 
^■^,  High  Street 
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New  Oardena  de- 
signed.  Old  Gardens 
Re-arranged.  Plant- 
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cation. 


WM.  BIGNELL  &  SON 
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WALLACE'S  IRISES. 

Send  for  our  attractive  publication — "  Irises  and 
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R.    WALLACE    &   CO.   LTD., 

TUNBRIDGE     AVELI.S. 


PEMBERTON'S  ROSES. 

Descriptive    List,     Guide    to     Selection 
and  Pruning  now  ready. 

J.  H.  PEMBERTON,  Havering,  Romford 


SES.| 


FRUIT  TREES  :  ROSE  TREES 

Descriptive  Catalogue  post  free  on  demand. 

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S.    SPOONER    &    SONS, 

ESTD.     1820, 
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SPECIALITIES. 

FRUIT   TREE  Si 
ROSES 

Alpines  &  Hardy  Perennials 

Ornamental  Trees  &  Shrubs  i 

Hardy  Climbing  Plants 

Interesting    Descriptive    and    Illustrated    Catalogues 
of  all  the  above  free  on  application. 

We  have  very  large  stocks  of  Fruit  Trees  in 
splendid  condition  this  season.  Grown  on  selected 
pedigree  stocks,  healthy,  well  rooted,  and  true  to 
name.  Roses  and  other  stocks  are  equally  good  in 
quality  and  in  great  variety. 

200    ACRES    UNDER    CULTIVATION. 

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including  careful  packing  and  free  delivery. 

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BARNHAM,     SUSSEX. 


::mt*^^ 


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IN  AMb. 

CAT 


TREES 
RAPES 

,^>y-UES  GRATIS 

TON  BROS 
BEDFORD   . 


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ILLIERS'      „ 

"^"  "  Nurseries 

ARDY  350  to  475  ft. 

AMPSHIRE     Up       PLANTS 


TREES 

and 


Jlsk  for  Ihe 
Latest  Edition  of  our  Catalogue  of 

NEW     CHINESE,     RARE    AND 
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ALSO 

LARGE     SPECIMENS 

10  to  20  ft.  high. 

Rose  and  Fruit   Trees,    Hardy  Perennials,   etc. 

EXTRA    LARGE    STANDARD 

AND     DWARF-TRAINED 

Peaches,  Nectarines,  Pears  and  Plums, 

ALSO 

Fine  Pyramid  Pears. 


Carriage    "Paid  Quotations   Given. 

HILLIER  &  SONS 

Nurserymen,    Etc., 

WINCHESTER. 


No.  2660.— Vol.  LXXXVI.]  [November  ii,  1922. 

SUMMER    COLOUR    IN    THE    SHRUBBERY 


THE  average  shrubbery  is  lamentably 
short  of  summer  colour.  The  great 
bulk  of  flowering  shrubs  blossom  in  or 
near  the  month  of  May.  Many  garden- 
lovers  greatly  appreciate  the  massed 
colour  of  Broom,  Gorse,  Barberry  and  Lilac, 
which  each  spring  affords  and  are  loath  even  to 
•water  this  effect  to  admit  of  summer  colour. 
For  ourselves,  we  think  this  a  mistake,  believing 
that  a  sufficiency  of  colour  to  please  almost  anyone 
may  be  obtained  in  spring  and  yet  far  more  of 
summer  interest  be  introduced  than  is  generally 
the  case.  One  very  satisfactory  way  of  introducing 
summer  colour  is  by  planting  drifts  of  herbaceous 
plants  among  the  shrubs.  This  point  has  been 
recently  dealt  \vith  in  our  columns.  There  is  no 
necessity,  therefore,  to 
traverse  that  ground 
on  this  occasion. 

The  most  striking  of 
iate  -  srnnmer  -  flowering 
shrubs  is  undoubtedly 
Buddleia  variabiUs, 
There  are  several 
distract  forms  of  thi/ 
■which,  in  the  garden, 
intercross  freely,  so 
that  if  self-sown 
seedUngs  are  allowed 
to  mature  one  soon  has 
a  whole  constellation 
of  slightly  differing 
forms  which,  as  a  rule, 
are  httle,  if  at  all, 
inferior  to  the  parent 
plants.  All  are  beloved 
of  coloured  butterflies 
and  other  insects.  The 
best  and  most  distinct 
forms  in  commerce  are 
called  respectively 
Veitchiana,  magnifica 
and  superba.  Veitch- 
iana resembles,  as  far 
as  flower-colour  goes, 
the  original  and  very 
inferior  form  first 
introduced  to  English 
gardens,   but  is   much 

finer  in  habit  of  plant  and  as  regards  size  ot  truss. 
Magnifica  is  much  more  violet  of  hue  and  perhaps, 
of  the  two,  the  more  desirable.  Superba  is  some- 
what like  magnifica,  though  sUghtly  paler  in  tone, 
fatter  and  larger  of  truss  and,  distinct  advantage  ! 
quite  a  fortnight  later  to  flower.  It  is  usual  to 
prune  these  Buddleias  very  hard  in  spring,  removing 


all  old  wood  and  cutting  back  the  young  to  a  few 
eyes,  exactly  as  one  treats  Hydrangea  paniculata 
in  fact.  Such  pruning  undoubtedly  tends  to 
produce  extra  fine  blossom  trusses,  but  is  not 
essential.  The  plants  make  enormous  growth  and 
flower  freely  and  handsomely  if  left  quite  unpruned. 
Readers  will  appreciate  that  for  some  situations 
plants  should  not  be  too  sophisticated. 

As  Hydrangea  paniculata  has  been  mentioned  it 
may  be  as  well  next  to  consider  the  Hydrangea 
family,  for  its  members  are  all  summer-flowering 
and  exceedingly  valuable  in  the  garden.  The 
sterile  form  of  Hydrangea  paniculata,  H.  p. 
grandiflora,  is  the  member  of  the  family  most 
commonly  met  with  in  gardens,  though  the  typical 
H.  paniculata  is  more  graceful,  and  H.  arborea  far 


A    SPRAY    OF    EUCRYPHIA    PINNATIFOLIA. 

more  floriferous.  This  latter  is  not  white,  however, 
but  a  greenish  cream  colour,  effective  none  the  less 
in  the  mass  and  admirable  associated  with  crimson 
Fuchsias  or  with  Buddleia  variabiUs  or  purple 
Veronica.  In  the  southern  counties  or  near  our 
seaboards  the  now  numerous  forms  of  Hydrangea 
hortensis     prove     hardy.        On    some    soils    no 


provocation  is  necessary  for  the  coloured  forms  to 
come  blue.  They  are  then  most  welcome,  as  blue 
shrubs  are  scarce.  The  deep  coloured  forms  are 
especially  worthy,  and,  seen  among  the  changing 
hghts  of  woodland,  are  very  beautiful.  The  pure 
white  forms  are  not  to  be  despised, however,  and  the 
fine  trusses  of  Mme.  E.  Mouilhere  are  particularly 
noteworthy.  Closely  related  to  these  Hortensias, 
and  probably  rather  hardier,  H.  japonica  is  well 
worth  growing  where  it  will  "  stand  "  outdoors. 

Hardy  Fuchsias  are  a  general  standby  for  summer 
blossom.  Only  near  the  coast  do  they  retain 
sufficient  wood  through  the  winter  to  be  treated  as 
shrubs,  but  they  break  from  the  bottom  each  spring 
in  all  but  the  very  coldest  localities.  Most  of  them 
are  forms  of  F.  macrostemma  and  differ  mainly  in 
the  size  of  the  plant 
and  its  component 
parts.  F.  Riccartoni 
is,  many  think,  hardiest 
of  all,  but  it  is  less 
free  flowering  than  the 
macrostemma  forms. 
The  red  and  white 
hybrid  Mme.  Come- 
lison  seems  hardier  as 
a  shrub  than  the  sup- 
posedly hardier  species 
and  sub-species,  but 
it  shews  less  power  of 
recovery  if  cut  to  the 
ground. 

The  shrubby  Ver- 
onicas are  exceedingly 
valuable  for  summer 
flower.  Like  many 
races  of  plants  from 
the  Antipodes  they 
are  suspect  as  regards 
hardiness.  Several 
species,  however,  are 
equally  as  hardy  as 
many  other  regular 
inhabitants  of  our 
shrubberies.  Veronica 
Traversii  is  perhaps 
sufficiently  showy  to 
be  worthy  of  notice  as 
summer  flowering, 

though  it  lacks,  o;  course,  the  grace  and  beauty  of 
the  far  less  hardy  V.  Hulkeana.  This  latter 
withstands  average  winters  outdoors  in  the  Midland 
Counties,  but  except  in  the  moister  and  more 
congenial  cUmate  of  the  West,  does  not  properly 
develop  its  lavender  panicles  outdoors.  There  are 
now  many  beautiful  forms  and  hybrids  of  Veronica 


564 


THE     GARDEN. 


[November  ii,  1922. 


Ht--  -    % 

<L»      tS^-      V> 

r:%»^^: 

tii><;!'^7 

,  * 

if.. 

•i'V^-.  ■ 

VERONICA    DIEFFENBACHII     WITH     PURPLISH    FLOWERS. 


A    FREE-FLOWERING    ROCK    ROSE,    CISTUS    CRISPUS.       THE    BLOOMS    ARE    PURPLISH    ROSE. 


A    RATHER    UNCOMMON    BROOM,    GENISTA    CINEREA. 


speciosa,  but  this  is  a  tender  species,  though  a 
quick  growing  and  easily  propagated  one.  It 
stands  outdoors,  however,  unless  in  exceptionally 
severe  winters,  anywhere  south  of  London  and, 
naturally,  anywhere  near  the  sea.  The  crimson 
Simon  Delaux  is  especially  beautiful,  so  is  the 
wonderful  violet-blue  M'lle.  Delaux,  but  there  are 
many  other  charming  varieties.  The  nearly  related 
Veronica  Diefienbachii,  now  illustrated,  has  purplish 
flowers  and  withstands  about  the  same  amount  of 
inclement  weather.  Perhaps  the  most  striking  of 
these  shrubby  Speedwells  is  the  aptlj'  named 
\'.  salicifoha,  for  the  leaves  do  indeed  resemble 
tliose  of  some  of  the  true  Willows — Salix  vitellina, 
for  instance.  The  rather  twisted  spikes  of  pure 
white  are  large  in  themselves  and  abundantly 
produced  and  shew  to  advantage  against  the  glossy 
foliage.  This  very  hardy  species  reproduces  itself 
freely  from  self-sown  seeds.  Somewhat  like  this 
species,  but  much  smaller,  is  V.  angustifolia,  which 
forms  neat  httle  bushes  for  the  forefront  of  the 
shrubbery.  Species  smaller  than  this  need  not  be 
considered  here  for  they  pertain  rather  to  the  rockery 
than  the  shrubbery.  There  is  a  multitude  of  hybrid 
forms,  however,  with  more  or  less  claim  on  our 
attention,  .\mong  these  is  the  deep  violet,  semi- 
prostrate  Autumn  Glory.  This  is  free  to  flower  and 
produces  a  succession  of  blossoms,  but  the  individual 
spikes  are  very  small.  It  hybridises  freely  (and 
without  artificial  assistance)  with  salicifolia, 
angustifolia,  pinguifoha  and  the  speciosa  forms, 
and  many  of  these  natural  hybrids  are  quite 
beautiful.  Given  the  opportunity  it  would  probably 
hybridise  with  glaucophylla  and  other  small 
species  and  possible  with  V.  Traversii.  Veronica 
Andersoni  is  said  to  be  a  cross  between  V.  speciosa 
and  \*.  salicifolia.  Its  variegated  form  is  one  of 
the  handsomest  of  variegated  shrubs,  but,  unfortu- 
nately, even  less  hardy  than  the  forms  of  V. 
speciosa. 

The  beautiful  Eucryphia  pinnatifolia  is  gene- 
rally supposed  to  Uke  peaty  soil — but  it  will  grow 
even  in  stiff  clay !  This  glorious  shrub  (or 
small  tree)  is,  imlike  the  Buddleias,  for  instance, 
quiet  and  restrained  in  its  beauty,  but  amazingly 
attractive.  There  are  those  who  think  E.  cordifoUa 
even  more  beautiful — high  praise  indeed.  This 
species  is,  however,  hardy  only  near  our  seaboards, 
whereas  pinnatifolia  seems  hardy  everywiiere. 

Some  little  while  ago  we  published  an  article 
on  late-flowering  Brooms  (July  15,  page  340). 
The  best  are,  no  doubt.  Genistas  eetnensis, 
cinerea   and  virgata,   and  Spartium   junceum. 

If  the  hardy  Heaths  had  no  other  claim  to 
consideration  the  fact  that  a  number  of  species 
and  a  multitude  of  varieties  flower  in  summer  would 
make  them  useful  for  the  shrubbery  where  the 
soil  is  at  all  suitable  for  their  culture.  The  Heaths 
are  too  big  a  family  to  be  dealt  with  at  all  compre- 
hensively in  such  an  article  as  this,  so  that  an  almost 
bald  list  of  a  few  of  the  better  sorts  must  suffice. 
The  Cornish  Heath  is  exceedingly  valuable  on 
account  of  the  long  period  dming  which  it  remains 
in  flower.  The  choicest  form.  Erica  vagans 
St.  Keverne,  with  salmony  blossoms,  is  still  scarce. 
The  varieties  alba  and  grandiflora,  though  rougher, 
are  quite  good.  Erica  cinerea  flowers  earh'er,  but 
some  varieties,  notably  the  compact  coccinea,  are 
very  brilliant.  Var.  atropurpurea,.  of  a  deep  red- 
dish purple  hue,  is  also  valuable  and  a  robust 
grower.  There  is,  too,  a  pure  white  variety.  The 
cross-leaved  Heath,  E.  Tetralix,  though  a  very 
common  wilding,  is  valuable  for  massing.  The 
variety  mollis  is  very  distinct  and  remarkable, 
with  white  flow'ers  and  greyish  white  foliage. 
Mackay's  Heath  is  closely  related  to  the  last  species. 
It  is  a  handsome  rosy-red  sort.  There  is  a  double 
form  of  this,  said  [Bean,  "  Trees  and  Shrubs  ")  to 
be  longer  lasting  than  the  type. 

{To  be  concluded.) 


November  ii,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


565 


PROGRESS    WITH    THE    BEARDED    IRIS 


By   John    C.   Wister,   President,  The  American   Iris   Society. 


I  HAVE  had  the  pleasure  this  year  of  revisiting 
a  number  of  the  chief  Iris  gardens  in  France 
and  England  and  of  seeing  the  great  im- 
provements that  have  been  made  in  them 
in  the  past  three  years.  The  nurseries  and 
gardens  are  now  again  in  first-class  condition, 
and  the  Iris  breeders  have  produced  many  new 
seedlings  of  surpassing  beauty. 

The  reason,  or  rather  the  excuse,  for  my  trip 
was  to  attend  the  Iris  Conference  in  Paris  on 
May  27.  On  the  day  of  the  Conference  a  number 
of  fine  new  varieties  were  shewn,  the  best  probably 
being  some  of  the  new  seedlings  from  Cayeu.^  and 
Le  Clerc.  Three  of  these — BeUsaire,  Jean  Chevreau 
and  Grand  Ferre — received  certificates  of  merit, 
and  they  were  very  fine  Irises  judged  from  any 
point  of  view. 

The  next  day,  with  Mr.  Wallace,  Mr.  Dykes 
and  others,  I  went  to  the  Cayeux  nursery  and 
saw  there  a  dozen  or  fifteen  very  fine  seedlings. 


inchned  to  put  it  right  up  at  the  top  in  the  class 
with  Souv.  de  Mme.  Gaudichau,  Swazi  and  Bruno. 
I  was  much  fallen  with  this  variety  three  years 
ago,  and  I  am  more  and  more  impressed  by  it 
each  year.  Ballerine  also  shewed  up  well,  but 
Magnifica,  the  largest  of  all  Irises  in  general 
commerce,  to  me  at  least  is  somewhat  of  a  dis- 
appointment, as  it  is  so  floppy.  The  unique 
colour  of  Medrano  again  attracted  me,  but  the 
newer  Vilmorin  varieties  did  not  seem  to  me  of 
such  great  importance.  I  will  want  Trianon, 
Turco  and  Zouave  in  my  own  garden,  where  I 
can  judge  them  more  carefully,  but  I  do  not  expect 
to  find  them  as  high  class  as  .\mbassadeur,  Ballerine 
and  Medrano.  It  is  a  disappointment  to  me  that 
the  V'ilmorins  do  not  introduce  Allies,  as  this  seems 
a  very  unique  colour.  I  am  told  it  has  bloomed 
four  or  five  years  in  succession  in  October,  so  that 
it  looks  as  if  it  might  be  the  beginning  of  an 
Autumn-blooming  strain. 


IRIS   TIME. 


among  them  Eclaireur,  Glorije,  Imperator,  Liberty, 
Peau  Rouge,  Salonique  (which  had  received 
honours  in  Paris  in  1921),  Marc  Aureau,  Mme. 
Henri  Cayeux,  Mme.  Abel  Chatenay,  Fidelio  and 
Mrs.  Robert  Wallace,  the  latter  being  named 
that  day  because  Mr.  Wallace  admired  it  so. 
These  are  going  to  make  the  name  of  Cayeux 
important  in  the  next  year  or  two,  and  are  going 
to  give  the  English  breeders  something  to  think 
about  and  to  strive  to  outdo.  If  we  consider 
that  Ma  Mie,  sent  out  by  Cayeux  and  Le  Clerc 
■sixteen  years  ago,  is  to-day  more  important  than 
the  day  it  was  sent  out,  we  can  see  that  Cayeux 
knows  something  about  Irises,  and  when  he  makes 
his  final  selection  I  am  sure  it  will  be  a  good  one. 
The  plants  are  all  grown  in  the  small  walled-in 
garden  at  Vitry  only  a  few  miles  from  Paris,  and 
presented  a  brilliant  display  of  colour  against  the 
old  grey  walls. 

On  Monday,  May  29,  we  were  all  invited  to  the 
^'ilrnorin's  nursery  in  Verrieres  to  see  their  new 
things,  and  their  fields  were  indeed  a  fine  sight. 
The  more  I  see  of  Ambassadeur  the  more  I  am 


The  grounds  at  Verrieres  were  spotless,  and  we 
had  a  chance  to  see  not  only  the  new  Irises,  but 
the  old  ones,  and  to  be  impressed  with  the  great 
progress  that  this  flower  has  made.  A  delightful 
lunch  was  ser\'ed  to  about  forty  guests,  who  were 
most  gracefully  welcomed  by  Mnie.  Phillipe  de 
\'ilmorin. 

At  Millet's  nursery  in  Bourg-la-Reine,  of  course, 
the  outstanding  variety  was  Souv.  de  Mme. 
Gaudichau,  which  Mr.  Wallace  has  proclaimed 
the  finest  variety  ever  grown  in  France.  Certainly 
no  garden  should  be  without  it.  Each  year  I  am 
more  and  more  impressed  by  the  excellence  of 
some  of  the  other  Millet  varieties,  which  have  as 
yet  not  attracted  the  attention  they  deserve. 
I  refer  particularly  to  Corrida,  Delicatissima  and 
Col.  Candelot,  all  of  them  free  blooming,  of  excellent 
colour  and  fair  height,  but  all  of  them  apparently 
ignored  in  the  race  for  giants.  They  can  be  had 
at  reasonable  prices,  and  are  far  superior  to  many 
much  more  advertised  kinds. 

We  saw  also  in  and  around  Paris  a  number  of 
Denis  seedlings,  but  none  of  the  new  ones  seemed 


as  good  as  Mile.  Schwartz,  which  received  an 
award  at  the  Paris  show.  His  varieties  have  a 
tendency  to  have  weak  stems  and  need  more 
careful  selecting.  Mr.  Bonuewitz  tells  me  that 
his  new  variety  Louis  Bel  is  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  of  all  dark  Irises.  It  is  a  Gaudichau- 
Kochii  cross. 

In  England  I  saw  Irises  at  two  flower  shows 
and  in  a  large  number  of  gardens  and  nurseries. 
Wallace's  exhibits,  both  at  Chelsea  and  on  June  7, 
were  the  finest  I  have  ever  seen.  There  can  be 
no  doubt  about  the  value  of  Swazi,  Cardinal, 
Bruno  and  Duke  of  Bedford  under  English  con- 
ditions. I  would  be  afraid  to  recommend  them 
in  .America  until  they  have  been  more  tested,  as 
Dominion  with  us  has  been  a  disappointment  in 
many  places. 

The  same  holds  true  with  many  of  Sir  .Arthur 
Hort's  seedlings,  but  where  they  can  be  gi  3wn  I 
predict  a  wonderful  future  for  Leonato,  Shylock, 
Blanche,  Willoughby  and  five  or  six  others.  His 
continued  breeding  with  Caterina,  Cypriana, 
Mesopotamica  and  Ricardi  have  given  him  wonder- 
ful height  and  size,  and  apparently  he  has  got 
away  from  the  crooked  stems  which  are  character- 
istic of  Denis's  Ricardi  seedlings.  He  has  made 
wonderful  progress  since  I  saw  his  seedlings  in 
1919,  even  the  beautiful  Ann  Page  and  Volumnia 
being  left  far  behind  by  his  newer  ones.  His 
garden  is  on  a  steep  slope,  and  is  underlaid  with 
chalk,  so  that  the  Irises  have  just  what  they  want; 
The  view  of  the  neighbouring  church  and  of  the 
fields  and  trees  and  hills  in  the  distance  is  as 
charming  as  any  garden  outlook  I  have  seen. 

I  was  perhaps  more  astounded  by  Perry's 
seedlings  than  by  anything  else  I  saw  on  my  trip, 
for  while  I  had  recognised  for  years  Mr.  Perry's 
work  with  Delphiniums,  Poppies  and  other  plants, 
I  had  never  considered  him  seriously  as  an  Iris 
breeder,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  he  had  given  us 
many  good  varieties  like  Her  Majesty,  Black 
Prince,  King  George  V  and  Wm.  Marshall  in  the 
past.  One  glance  at  his  nursery  this  year  con- 
vinced me  of  my  mistake,  for  he  has  as  wonderful 
a  patch  of  seedlings  as  I  have  ever  seen,  all  of 
extraordinary  height,  of  good  form  and  fine  clear 
colouring.  His  trouble  is  going  to  be  selecting 
them  so  that  only  the  very  best  wiU  get  into 
cultivation.  There  is  always  a  temptation  to 
name  too  many,  and  this  has  worked  harm  to  the 
reputations  of  many  of  our  breeders.  When  I 
saw  them  they  were  all  under  numbers,  but  at 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Show  on  June  7 
three  of  the  best  were  named  Benrimo,  Marion 
Cran  and  Robert  Wallace. 

I  was  greatly  disappointed  not  to  see  the  Perry 
\'arieties  which  had  won  such  fine  awards  in 
1921,  but  they  had  evidently  been  cut  up  too  much 
to  bloom.  I  cannot  imagine  that  they  are  as 
fine  as  the  seedlings  which  I  did  see  and  among 
which  a  flower  almost  the  duphcate  of  .Archeveque, 
but  as  tall  as  Alcazar,  stood  out. 

My  visit  to  Mr.  Bliss  in  Devonshire  was  a  most 
delightful  one,  although  I  did  not  here  see  as  many 
important  novelties  as  I  had  hoped  for  from  Mr. 
Bliss'  past  performances.  It  was  worth  the  long 
journey,  however,  to  see  Pioneer,  a  variety 
descended  from  Germanica  and  having  some  of 
the  earliness  of  that  species.  I  should  say  its 
colour  was  somewhere  between  Gaudichau  and 
Pare  de  Neuilly.  This  should  be  a  most  important 
addition  to  our  gardens.  Citronella,  which  has 
won  such  high  awards,  did  not  excite  me  as  much 
as  I  expected,  nor  did  Susan  Bhss,  although  I 
am  willing  to  admit  that  it  may  be  one  of  the  best. 


566 


THE     GARDEN. 


[November  ii,  1922. 


if  not  the  best,  of  our  pinks.  I  can  promise  Mr. 
Bliss  however,  that  it  is  going  to  have  some  real 
competition  with  a  number  of  American  seedlings 
C'f  that  colour,  among  them  May  Rose,  Dream 
and  Wild  Rose. 

i  saw  a  number  of  BUss  seedlings  also  at  the 
W  hitelegg  nursery  in  Orpington,  where  Moa  and 
Clamour  stood  out.  There,  also,  was  a  very 
line  mass  of  Tamar,  a  variety  which  has  rather 
disappointed  us  in  this  country.  It  is  not  much 
as  an  individual  flower,  but  it  makes  a  magnificent 
mass,  and  should  be  in  great  demand  when  i 
gets  cheaper. 

At  Mr.  Bliss'  also  I  saw  a  number  of  new 
Dominion  race  seedlings,  but  while  they  may 
technically  have  improvements  over  Cardinal 
and  Duke  of  Bedford,  these  improvements  are  not 
such  as  to  make  it  worth  while  for  the  gardener 
to  bother  with  them  until  they  have  gone  a  step 
further ;  in  other  words,  they  are  too  close  to 
existing  sorts.  This,  of  course,  is  a  common  fault 
of  Iris  seedlings  everywhere.  I  notice  in  this 
country  since  coming  home  that  the  reaction  is 
setting  in  and  that  people  are  refusing  to  buy 
new  sorts  until  they  see  them. 

In  Mr.  Baker's  garden  at  Bexley  I  had  the 
pleasure  of  meeting  Mr.  Yeld  and  seeing  some  of 
his  finest  seedlings,  the  best  of  all  of  which  was 
Asia,  which  was  a  most  magnificent  flower.  I  had 
admired  a  few  plants  of  it  at  Chelsea,  but  Mr. 
Baker  had  a  mass  of  it  more  than  loft.  long  by 
2ft.  wide,  and  I  think  in  this  mass  it  surpassed 
any  variety  I  have  ever  seen  an\'where.  He  also 
had  a  splendid  mass  of  his  older  Lord  of  June, 
and  I  am  still  ready  to  stick  up  for  this  variety, 
which  excited  me  so  much  when  I  first  saw  it 
five  or  six  years  ago.  Big  masses  of  Lord  of 
June,  Halo  and  Neptune  made  one  wonder  which 
was  the  best.     I  have  never  been  able  to  decide. 

At  Mr.  Baker's  also  was  the  finest  Dominion 
I  have  ever  seen.  It  stood  jft.  in  height.  I 
heard  some  criticism  at  the  R.H.S.  Show  on 
Jime  7  that  Dominion  was  no  better  than  Black 
Prince.  With  all  due  respect  to  the  people  who 
said  this,  they  could  never  have  seen  a  first-class 
Dominion.  Black  Prince  as  shewn  at  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Show  was  very  fine  and  fully  equal 
to  a  poor  Dominion.  The  show  at  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Hall  was  certainly  a  wonder.  Mr. 
Wallace's  table  was  to  my  mind  by  far  the  best. 
Mr.  Barr's  also  was  very  fine,  and  would  have  been 
still  finer  if  he  had  eliminated  about  twenty  old 
varieties  which  were  no  good.  I  noted  at  that 
Show  several  tables  which  were  ruined  by  shewing 
what  in  American  vernacular  we  call  "  junk." 
Splendid  Irises  hke  Alcazar  and  Arabassadeur  and 
some  of  the  new  Bhss  varieties  were  interspersed 
with  Honourable,  Duchesse  de  Chautefort,  Comtesse 
de  Courcy,  Mexicana,  Harrison  Weir,  Faustin 
and  other  old  sorts  which  have  been  superseded 
for  quite  twenty  years.  In  one  case  at  least  I 
am  sure  this  nursery-man  could  have  received  a 
prize  if  he  had  taken  twenty  vases  out  of  his  table 
and  left  the  rest.     They  killed  the  exhibit. 

We  were  glad  to  see  the  competition  for  the 
American  Iris  Society  medal  interest  an  amateur, 
and  I  for  one  was  sorry  that  he  did  not  win  it, 
as  he  came  so  close  to  doing.  In  America  our 
shows  bring  out  a  great  number  of  amateurs, 
and  while  we  do  not  have  the  wonderfully  large 
exhibits  of  skilled  professionals  that  you  have  in 
England,  we  feel  that  we  are  ahead  in  interesting 
the  amateur  in  this  flower. 

The  American  visitors  can  never  cease  to  thank 
the  French  and  Enghsh  for  the  hospitable  recep- 
tions which  were  tendered  to  them.  Everywhere 
we  were  received  with  the  greatest  of  kindness, 
and  I  do  hope  that  many  European  Iris  growers 
wll  be  able  to  visit  some  of  our  American  Iris 
shows  and  give  us  a  chance  to  return  the  hospitality. 


A    ROCK    GARDEN   IN   AUTUMN 

It  is  regrettable  thai  more  attention  is  not  paid  to   late  summer   and 
autumn  effect  in  the  rock  garden. 


WITHOUT  including  the  many 
early  flowering  rock  garden  plants 
which  will,  in  favourable  circum- 
stances, produce  a  sprinkling  of 
bloom  in  autumn  as  a  kind  of 
farewell  to  summer,  there  are  a  goodly  number 
which,  from  nature  or  habit,  will  give  a  good  shew 
of  colour  right  on  to  the  brink  of  winter.  Thus 
an  idle  tour  of  inspection  around  the  garden 
during  the  third  week  of  October  revealed 
several  clumps  in  various  situations  of  Oxalis 
floribunda  alba  in  full  flower,  and  this,  oddly 
enough,  several  weeks  after  the  entire  foliage 
of  the  rose-coloured  type  had  disappeared.  Another 
very  beautiful  species  of  this  family,  O.  lutea, 
with  large  cowslip-like  heads  of  flowers  in  gUsten- 
ing  gold,  grows  here  like  a  weed  and  is  never  out 
of  bloom  from  May  to  December. 

Ceratostigma  plumbaginoides  is  another  late 
bloomer  w'hich  loves  to  send  its  roots  among 
buried  stones  and  which,  once  it  is  thoroughly 
established  in  a  light,  warm  soil,  will  annually 
provide  a  mass  of  rich  blue  flowers  above  its 
crimson-tinted  foliage.  In  a  paler  hue  is  C. 
WiUmottiana,  and  this  is  taller  and  of  more 
bushy  habit,  but  that  it  is  an  improvement  on 
the  older  form  all  will  not  admit.  Another  fine 
patch  of  blue  may  be  found  in  a  cool  comer  where 
Geranium  Wallichianum  var.  E.  C.  Buxton  is 
sprawUng  in  elegant  disorder,  and  the  few  flowers 
which  one  may  always  expect  to  find  in  a  bed  of 
G.  grandiflorum  will  invariably  be  a  purer,  more 
arresting  colour  than  those  of  summer.  Another 
fine  Geranium  that  will  carry  a  head  of  bloom 
well  into  these  last  days  is  Russell  Prichard. 

That  little  sun-worshipper.  Verbena  chamaedri- 
folia,  which  almost  startles  one  with  the  brilliance 
of  its  scarlet,  white-eyed  flowers,  is  also  a  depend- 
able autumn  bloomer.  The  same  may  be  said  of 
Verbena  venosa — -never  to  my  eye  so  pleasing 
massed  in  the  bed  as  it  is  in  the  rock  garden  of 
poor  hot  soil,  where,  if  shorter  in  stature,  it  is 
larger  in  the  flower-head  and  of  a  more  sumptuous 
purple.  This  is  a  much  hardier  plant,  by  the 
way,  than  is  generally  supposed.  Two  Convol- 
vuluses always  blossom  freely  here  during  these 
late  days,  namely,  the  silvery-leaved  C.  Cneorum 
and  the  traiUng  C.  mauritanicus,  whose  delicate 
charm  needs  no  word  of  praise  from  me.  Yet 
another  lovely,  if  common,  thing  is  Corydalis 
lutea,  a  plant  whose  fragile  beauty  is  apt  to  be 
overlooked  in  gayer  days. 

Pentstemon  heterophyllus,  which  will  sometimes 
survive  a  winter  in  the  open  with  us,  will  give  a 
brave  shew  of  its  amazing  trumpets  in  varying 
shades  of  blue  and  amethyst  gleaming  with  an 
opalescent  sheen  until  the  last,  provided  the  w-eather 
remains  kindly.  Then  there  are  the  Linarias, 
a  genus  which  provides  a  number  of  good  autumn 
bloomers,  though  most  of  the  creeping  kinds 
are  too  rampant  and  overwhelming  to  be  admitted 
among  the  more  orderly  denizens  of  the  rock  garden. 
Two  of  these,  yea,  three,  must  however  be  afforded 
a  place  for  their  undeniable  beauty  and,  happily, 
they  are  not  the  most  difficult  to  keep  within 
bounds.  These  are  the  tiny  L.  aquitriloba,  a 
minute  cUnging  creeper  with  lilac  flowers,  L. 
palUda  in  lilac  and  white  and  its  pure  white  variety 
L.  p.  alba.  The  blossoms  of  the  last  two  are  the 
largest  among  those  of  this  class,  and  they  are 
borne  profusely  among  strikingly  handsome 
foliage.  Of  quite  another  kind  is  the  indescribably 
lovely  L.  alpina,  which  is  everyone's  friend,  one 
of  the  most  delightful  alpines  ever  introduced  to 


English  gardens.  Then  if  one's  rock-gardeninp 
principles  do  not  forbid  an  indulgence  in  annual? 
{and  why  should  they  ?),  the  Linaria  family  will 
provide  a  number  of  excellent  Uttle  species  and 
hybrids,  among  the  most  charming  of  which  is- 
the  chocolate  and  golden  L.  multipunctata. 

Dianthus  Carthusianorum  is  sometimes  called 
hard  names,  but  both  it  and  such  others  of  its. 
class  as  D.  cruentus  and  D.  atrorubens — which' 
last  is  perhaps  the  best,  though  Carthusianorum) 
is  always  the  latest  here — are  not  to  be  treatedi 
too  indifferently  these  shortening  days.  They 
may  lack  many  of  the  charms  of  the  Pinks  of 
midsummer,  but  they  are  the  most  weather- 
proof flowers  I  know,  never  plead  for  any  atten- 
tion, but  carry  on  doggedly  year  after  year,  the- 
Stoics  of  their  happy  race.  And  so  it  is  with  the- 
Mule  Pinks.  There  are  rock  gardeners  w-ho  nurse 
the  same  antipathy  for  these  bright  and  cheerful 
things  as  they  do  for  annuals — because  they  are- 
annuals.  But  there  are  others,  to  whose  company- 
I  humbly  belong,  who  have  an  appreciation  for 
the  D.  hybridus  group — always  so  faithful  to  their 
autumn-flowering  reputation — which  is  not  chilled 
by  the  knowledge  that  one  of  Napoleon  Ill's 
parents  was  just  a  common  Sweet  William.  At 
the  moment  of  writing  D.  hybridus  roseus  and  the- 
salmon-pink  D.  striatiflorus  are  among  the  brightest 
bits  of  colour  in  the  garden. 

There  are  always  some  flowers  about  the  Armeria? 
at  this  time  of  year,  but  there  is  not  one  of  this- 
race  of  pretty  things  known  to  me  which  will 
yield  an  autumn  display  as  fine  as  that  of  earlier 
days  as  the  variety  known  as  Bees'  Ruby  Thrift. 
Two  feet  high,  this  splendid  Armeria  is  now  bear- 
ing its  large  vivid  carmine-pink  flowers,  and  there- 
are  enough  buds  still  coming  to  maintain  a  succes- 
sion for  several  weeks  longer.  The  very  antithesis, 
of  this  blazoning  beauty  is  the  autumn-winter 
flowering  Periwinkle,  Vinca  acutiloba,  whose 
large,  clean-cut  flowers,  in  a  white  so  delicately 
suffused  with  just  a  hint  of  blue  as  to  seem  positively- 
cold,  peer  out  of  the  depths  of  the  dark  green 
foliage  with  a  w-an  but  penetrating  hght. 

Lithospermum  prostratum  and  its  variety- 
Heavenly  Blue  seldom  fail  at  this  time  to  break 
into  a  fuller  bloom  than  they  have  borne  since 
the  later  spring,  and  the  gem  of  their  tribe,  L. 
rosmarinifolium,  is  just  opening  the  first  of  its. 
large  and  surpassingly  lovely  flowers,  the  first  of  a 
series  which  will  be  maintained  during  fair  intervals, 
until  there  is  an  unmistakable  scent  of  spring  in 
the  air.  The  neat  and  bushy  Helianthemum, 
(Cistus)  lunulatum,  with  foliage  of  silver  grey- 
is  covered  with  its  little  yellow  flowers,  the 
petals  of  which  each  have  a  tiny  crescent  of 
orange  at  the  base,  while  of  its  kind  H.  oelandi- 
cum  may  be  counted  a  worthy  second  in  autumoi 
flowering. 

Not  to  be  passed  without  respectful  notice  is- 
the  white-foliaged  Teucrium  ackermerus,  a  bushy- 
and  beautiful  species  which  first  opens  its  rosy- 
crimson  heads  of  flower  at  this  season.  Thoughi 
the  rock  garden  Campanulas  have  mostly  had 
their  day,  C.  garganica  alba  is  always  true  to. 
its  reputation  for  late  blooming,  and  there  is  a 
newer  one,  a  carpatica  x  rotundifolia  hybrid,, 
known  as  C.  car-rotundi,  which  has  so  far  proved 
a  most  reliable  autumn  blossomer.  The  deeply- 
and  sharply  segmented  bells  of  this  variety  are  of 
a  peculiarly  luminous  sky  blue,  and  the  plant  seems-- 
to  be  vigorous  and  easy.  Spreading  in  wiry, 
prostrate  sprays  of  grey  fohage  in  a  sunny  corner, 
.Alvssum    idaeum    has    adorned   its    tinv   self   witl> 


November  ii,  1022. 


THE     GARDEN. 


567 


clusters  of  bright  yellow,  and  in  a  still  more  telling 
shade  of  the  same  colour  are  those  exquisite 
little  Eschscholtzias  tenuifolia  and  caespitosa, 
most  lovable  bantUngs,  the  product  of  seed 
scattered  at  random  about  the  rocks  in  June. 
Thymus  camosus,  upright  and  stiff,  with  fiowere 
of  a  dead  white,  represents  its  genus,  and  among 
the  shrubby  Potentillas  which  have  made  the 
best  success  of  a  late-flowering  season  are  PP. 
Farreri  and  fruticosa  argentea  nana.  Geum 
Borisii  is  also  much  in  evidence,  its  orange-scarlet 


being  just  the  colour  to 
respond  to  the  golden 
sunlight  of  October,  a 
colour  which  glows  with  a 
still  intenser  heat  in  the 
torches  of  the  miniature 
Kniphofias,  without 
which  the  autumn  rock 
garden  can  hardly  afford 
the  fullest  appeal. 
.V.  Wales.    A.  T.  Johnson. 


OWN    ROOT    CLEMATISES    AT 
GRAVETYE 


OF  hardy  climbing  plants,  the  Clematises 
with  their  graceful  and  varied  forms 
I  of  bright  and  charming  flowers  are 
the  most  beautiful  when  grown  to 
perfection.  This  notwithstanding, 
many  of  our  gardens  have  been  robbed  of  their 
presence  through  the  unnecessary  practice  of 
grafting  choice  kinds  upon  the  coarse  stocks  of  the 
Traveller's  Joy  of  our  chalky  hills  and  hedge- 
rows. Thousands  and  thousands  are  propagated 
each  year  and,  so  grafted,  sent  out  to  customers 
to  die. 

I  frequently  visit  gardens,  but  it  is  quite  an 
event  to  come  across  a  healthy  Clematis.  If  one 
remarks  upon  their  absence,  the  answer  invariably 
is,  "  Clematises  are  so  liable  to  die  off  suddenly — 
often  as  the  flowers  begin  to  expand — that  we 
have  given  them  up  altogether."  In  order  to 
get  over  this  trouble  considerable  pains  have 
been  taken  here  over  a  period  of  many  years, 
with  the  result  that  we  now  layer  our  own  plants. 
The  layers  are  put  down  in  March  each  year, 
being  pegged  to  the  tops  of  6in.  pots  of  sandy  soil, 
which  are  sunk  into  the  ground  to  the  level  of 
the  border.  By  the  following  autumn  the  pots 
are  well  filled  with  roots,  and  the  young  plants 
are  ready  to  be  severed  from  the  parent  and 
transferred  to  fresh  positions. 

When    new    varieties    arrive    from    a    nursery 
their     roots     are     thoroughly    washed    out,    and 


invariably  two  distinct 
sets  of  roots  are  to 
be  seen,  one  the  long 
fleshy  root  of  the  true 
Clematis  and  the  other 
the  roots  of  the  wild 
stock,  which  we  cut  right 
away,  leaving'  the  plant 
to  establish  itself  upon 
its  own  roots.  From 
this  practice  we  have 
had  better  results  than 
when  leaving  the  stock 
roots  to  them. 

Clematises  are  grown 
here  in  quantities. 
Varieties  such  as  Perle 
d'Azure,  Nellie  Moser, 
Ville  de  Lyon,  WilUam 
Kennett,  the  Nippon 
Clematis  and  many 
others  are  scrambling  over 
great  bushes  of  Magnoha 
to  a  height  of  20ft. ; 
providing,  over  many 
months,  a  wealth  of  beauty 
such  as  could  scarcely  be  surpassed.  In  addition 
to  their  association  with  host  plants,  we  grow  them 
largely  upon  walls,  fences,  tripods  and  pergolas  ; 
in  all  some  thirty  or  more  kinds.     Some  of  these 


CLEMATIS    ON    OAK    TRELLIS    BEHIND    A    MIXED    BORDER    AT    GRAVETYE. 


PART    OF    A    PLANT    OF    CLEMATIS    PERLE    D  AZURE    ON    ITS 

OWN    ROOTS. 

Established  over  25  years,  without  protection. 


plants  have  occupied  the  positions  they  fill  to-day 
for  over  twenty  years,  producing  thousands  of 
choice  flowers  each  year. 

In  its  native  habitat  the  Clematis  is  found  on  the 
fringes  of  woods,  where  its  flowery  growths,  as 
they  veil  the  natural  undergrowth,  are  exposed  to 
full  sunshine,  while  their  roots  are  shaded  and 
cool.  There  are  some  other  causes  which  will 
lead  to  the  death  of  a  plant,  such  as  slugs  barking 
the  growths.  Mice  will  damage  them  also,  and 
even  the  wind,  so  fragile  are  their  stems,  but 
grafting  is  the  great  enemy. 

Clematises  growing  in  the  open  obtain  great 
benefit  from  mulching,  especiallv  during  long 
spells  of  drought,  and  I  have  known  healthy- 
stems  to  develop  new  roots  up  to  6ins.  above 
ground-level. 

.Although  the  Clematis  is  essentially  a  plant  of 
calcareous  regions,  it  will  succeed  in  ordinary  soil. 
At  Gravetye,  when  making  fresh  plantations, 
the  soil,  3ft.  deep,  is  made  up  of  loam  and  leaf- 
soil  with  a  good  proportion  of  sand.  Nothing  is 
added  after  planting  but  a  mulch  of  bracken,  no 
manure  being  given. 

I  have  frequently  noticed  that  where  plants  on 
their  own  roots  have,  from  one  cause  or  another, 
been  damaged  above  the  ground  Une  during'  their 
early  growth  fresh  young  wood  quickly  appears  and 
fills  the  vacancy. 

There  is  thus  ample  proof  here  that  the  loss  of 
this  precious  group  of  cUmbers  of  the  northern 
world  in  the  gardens  and  nurseries  of  Europe  is 
wholly  due  to  the  practice  of  grafting  Japanese 
and  Chinese  kinds  on  the  wild  Clematis  of  our 
chalk  hills,  and  in  France  on  C.  viticella,  a  native 
of  that  country,  both  equally  harmful.      E.  M. 


568 


THE     GARDEN. 


[November  ii,  1922. 


NOTABLE    NOVELTIES    AT    VINCENT    SQUARE 


IT  was  supposed  to  be  an  Orchid  Show 
at  Vincent  Square  on  October  31,  and 
the  growers  of  these  flowers  came  in  great 
force.  The  amateur  orchidists  were  induced 
by  the  special  oiJer  of  challenge  cups  presented 
to  the  R.H.S.  by  the  trade.  Mrs.  Mary  Joicey 
had  a  very  attractive  group  in  which  the  beautiful 
blue  Vanda  coerulea,  many  Cypripediums  and 
Sophro-Lffilio-Cattleyas  were  prominent.  Sir 
Jeremiah  Colman  included  a  number  of  Odonto- 
glossums  and  Cattleyas,  particularly  a  large  plant 
of  C.  Bowringiana  lilacina,  which  in  the  spike 
had  much  the  appearance  of  an  unusually  large 
Dendrobium.  Mr.  H.  T.  Pitt  also  had  a  beautiful 
collection. 

Messrs.  Charlesworth  and  Co.  staged  a  very  large 
display     of     Odontoglossum     crispum     xanthotes 


H.  E.  Converse,  Mrs.  S.  Dove,  Mrs.  G.  Monro,  jun., 
and  the  new  Viscount  Chinda  in  this  and  Messrs. 
Wells'  collection  were  especially  imposing,  though 
many  admired  the  grace  of  the  spray  blooms 
and  those  with  anemone  centres — Thora  of  rosy 
mauve  colouring,  and  Mabel  Weston,  a  dainty 
blush. 

Another  gold  medal  exhibit  was  the  splendid 
collection  of  winter-flowering  Begonias  from  Sir 
Charles  Nail-Cain,  The  Node,  Welwyn,  and  this 
filled  a  whole  length  ot  tabhng.  Nearly  all  of  the 
exceedingly  floriferous  plants  were  growing  in 
quite  small  pots.  Ideala,  deep  old  rose  colour  ; 
Scarlet  Beauty,  semi-double  of  drooping  habit  ; 
Emita,  orange  ;  and  Flambeau,  rich  orange  semi- 
double,  are  only  a  few  of  the  fourteen  sorts  on 
view. 


Messrs.  AUwood  Brothers,  Messrs.  Stuart  Low 
and  Co.  and  Mr.  C.  Engelmann. 

The  winter  value  of  many  alpines  was  well 
illustrated  by  Messrs.  G.  G.  Whitelegg  and  Co., 
who  filled  a  whole  length  of  tabling  with  pots  and 
pans  of  very  neat  plants.  Some  of  them,  such  as 
Saxifraga  h\'brida,  S.  Aizoon  and  S.  pectinata,  had 
an  attractive  reddish  bronze  on  the  outer  leaves, 
but  it  was  the  intense  silveriness  of  Teucrium 
aureum,  Raoulia  australis  and  Saxifraga  longifolia 
that  attracted  most  attention.  Anyone  with  a 
cold  greenhouse  to  spare  would  be  well  advised 
to  have  a  collection  of  such  alpines,  if  only  for 
their  winter  beauty. 

Among  other  hardy  plants  Mr.  G.  Reuthe  had 
flowering  sprays  of  the  uncommon  Hoheria 
populnea   and   Salvia   Grahami.     The   latter  is   a 


ALMOST    MARY    RICHARDSON    COLOUR,    CHRYSANTHEMUM 
MISS   A.   HAZELL. 


A    VERY    PROLIFIC    NEW    WHITE    PERPETUAL    CARNATION, 
THOMAS    C.    JOY. 


in  quantity  and  many  other  crispum  varieties. 
Messrs.  Sander  and  Co.  showed  the  beautiful 
Vanda  ccerulea  splendida,  while  Messrs.  A. 
and  J.  McBean  included  Oncidiums  and  Odonto- 
glossums  of  merit  and  Messrs.  J.  Cypher 
and  Sons  gave  prominence  to  many  Cattleyas  and 
Cypripediums  Messrs  Charlesworth  and  Co.  and 
Messrs    McBean  were  awarded  gold  medals 

The  Chrysanthemums  were  to  a  great  extent 
composed  of  the  large  exhibition  Japanese  varieties, 
and  for  an  excellent  collection  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones 
won  his  sixth  gold  medal  of  the  year — which 
certainly  must  constitute  a  record.  The  huge 
blooms    of   such    sorts    as    Mrs.    R.    C.    Pulling, 


In  the  collection  of  stove  plants  by  Messrs. 
L.  R.  Russell,  Limited,  there  was  a  plant  of  the 
rich  blue  Tillandsia  Lindeniana  which  attracted  a 
deal  of  attention.  In  former  days  these  Brome- 
liads  were  often  grown  in  our  hot-houses,  but  they 
are  now  very  rare.  Another  comparatively  rare 
glasshouse  plant  to  be  seen  at  the  hall  was  the 
white,  double-flowered  Primula,  of  which  General 
Sir  Charles  Haddon  sent  up  a  number  of  fine  plants. 
For  a  very  long  time  the  old  double  Primula 
had  to  be  raised  from  layers,  but  now  a  good 
strain  of  seed  can  be  relied  upon  to  produce  a 
great  proportion  of  double  flowers.  Carnations 
were,  as  usual,  very  beautiful  in  the  collections  of 


beautiful  little  bush  for  the  herbaceous  border, 
though  it  is  not  entirely  hardy  in  most  districts, 
Mr.  J.  J.  Kettle  had  bunches  of  large,  fragrant 
Violets  with  his  late  Raspberry  Lloyd  George, 
still  fruiting  abundantly. 

A  very  good  collection  ot  Grapes  was  sent  by  the 
Hon.  V'icary  Gibbs,  and  these  were  staged  with 
great  skill.  The  chief  white  sorts  weie  Muscat 
of  .\lexandria  and  Lady  Hutt,  while  among  the 
black  Grapes  were  .'\ppley  Towers,  Black  .\licante 
and  Gros  Maroc.  The  R.H.S.  had  Beetroots 
from  their  Wisley  trials.  There  were  fourteen 
sorts  and  all  of  the  long  shape,  and  while  all  were 
well    grown,    one    selected    Dobbie's    Purple    and 


November  ii,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


569 


Dell's    Crirason-leaved    on    account    of    the    fine, 
dark  colour  of  their  roots. 


NEW     AND     RARE     PLANTS. 

Berberis  x  Lady  Beatrice  Stanley. — This  is  a 
most  lovely  Barberry.  It  has  somewhat  the 
habit    of    B.    Wilson*    and    the    autunni    foUage 


in  colour.  Many  planters  will  prefer  C.  coccinea 
to  either,  .^ward  of  merit  to  the  Hon.  Vicary 
Gibbs. 

Pelargonium  Fascination. — .^s  a  pot  plant 
this  did  not  fascinate  us,  but  sduic  greatly  admired 
the  cut  trusses  in  the  floral  decoration,  where  the 
small,  scarlet,  cactus-Uke  flowers  were  moder- 
ately   effective.     It    is    said    to    be    a    seedhng 


GLOWING    BERRIES     OF    BERBERIS  >.  LADY    BEATRICE    STANLEY. 


colour  of  B.  Thunbergii,  while  it  bears  almost 
a  superabundance  of  bunches  of  roundish  rich 
coral  pink  berries  about  the  size  of  Sweet  Pea 
seeds.  The  most  critical  need  not  have  demurred 
had  a  first-class  certificate  been  given.  Award 
of  merit  to  Lady  Beatrice  Stanley. 

Carnation  Thos.  C.  Joy. — This  very  fragrant, 
white  perpetual-flowering  variety  is  of  medium 
size,  fully  double,  and  has  serrated  edges  to  the 
petals.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs.  Allwood 
Brothers. 

Chrysanthemum  Miss  A.  Hazell. — .\  perfectly 
formed  single  variety  of  Mensa  type  and  very 
uncommon  orange  terra-cotta  colouring  with  a 
rosy  sheen.  R.H.S.  award  of  merit  and  N.C.S. 
first-class  certificate  to  Mr.  G.  Carpenter. 

C.  Mrs.  B.  Carpenter. — A  very  beautiful 
Japanese  bloom  of  the  largest  size  yet  particularly 
graceful  form.  It  measures  loins.  across  and 
gins.  deep.  The  long,  broad  florets  reflex  at  the 
tips  and  the  colour  is  a  charming  shade  of  soft 
rosy  pink.  R.H.S.  award  of  merit  and  N.C.S. 
first-class  certificate  to  Mrs.  B.  Carpenter,  Crouch 
End,  Finchley. 

C.  Wycombe  Pink. — A  large,  graceful  single 
soft  pink  Chrysanthemum.  The  narrow  petals 
are  attractively  reflexed  at  their  tips.  Award  of 
merit  to  Mr.  W.  H.  Tyzack. 

Croton  Lord  Balfour. — A  very  beautiful  seed- 
ling raised  by  the  exhibitors.  The  long,  fairly 
narrow  leaves  have  very  uncommon  red  markings 
on  bronzy  green  ground.  Shewn  by  Messrs. 
L.  R.  Russell,  Limited. 

Crat8egUS  FuUeriana. — This  appears  to  be  a 
hybrid  between  C.  Crus-Galli  and  C.  coccinea 
which,  as  shewn,  lacks  the  grace  of  coccinea. 
Stiff,  leafless  branches  bearing  large  bright  scarlet 
haws,  perhaps  a  trifle  larger  but  not  so  bright 
as  those  of  C.  coccinea,  were  on  view.  The  branches 
have  occasional  stiff  spines.  Award  of  merit  to 
the  Hon.  Vicary  Gibbs. 

C.  X  Ellwangeriana. — ^The  above  remarks  apply 
to  this  except   that   the  fruits  are  a  trifle  duller 


from  the  old  variety  Fire  King.     ."Vward  of  merit 
to  Mr.  W.  Bunn. 

Nerine  Glitter. — This  is  a  most  attractive 
spike  of  sarniensis  type  and  bright  crimson-scarlet 
colour.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs.  Barr. 

N.  His  Majesty. — Of  similar  form  to  Nerine 
Glitter,  but  bright  scarlet  colour.  .Award  of  merit 
to  Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons. 

Rhodostachys  andina   splendens. — This  is   a 

\ery      uncommon      Broineliad.     The      type      was 
introduced  from  the  Chilian  .Andes  in  1850.     The 


plants  on  view  were  especially  vigorous,  and  the 
leathery,  lanceolate,  very  spiny  leaves  were  much 
longer  than  usual.  Each  plant  had  in  its  centre 
the  characteristic,  compact,  round  head  of  soft 
pink  flowers  studded  with  pale  orange  stamens. 
Shewn  by  Messrs.  Barr  and  Sons. 

Salvia  Lord  Lascelles. — If  well  grown  this 
might  be  a  useful  variety  of  the  well  known  Salvia 
splendens.  The  colour  is  an  uncommon  pale 
salmon  pink.     Shewn  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Crosby. 

S.  Princess  Mary. — Another  variety  of  S. 
splendens,  but  of  better  habit,  though  the  pale 
primrose  yellow  corollas  and  paper  white  calyces 
are  not  Ukely  to  attract  many  gardeners.  She%vn 
by  Mr.  J.  H.  Crosby. 

Laelio-Cattleya    Venada. — A    large    bloom   in 

which  the  sepals  and  petals  are  stippled  with 
mauve  and  the  broad  orange  yellow  lip  is  margined 
with  the  same  shade  of  colour.  .Award  of  merit  to 
Mr.  H.  T.   Pitt. 

Laelio-Cattleya  Dodona. — This  is  a  wondrously 
beautiful  flower  of  large  size.  The  sepals  and 
petals  are  of  golden  buff  colour,  heavily  stippled 
with  rosy  purple,  while  the  broad,  velvety  purple 
lip  has  an  orange  throat.  First-class  certificate 
to  Messrs.  Cowan  and  Co. 

Odontoglossum    crispum     Beauty    Spot. — -A 

particularly  fine  variety.  It  has  silvery  white 
sepals,  the  lower  pair  are  lightly  flushed  with 
purple,  and  there  is  a  large  brick  red  blotch  on 
each  segment.  First-class  certificate  to  Mr. 
Pantia  Ralli. 

0.  crispum  Silver  Moon. — A  charming  silvery 
white  flower  of  good  shape  which  has  a  small  pair 
of  pale  chocolate  blotches  on  the  Up.  .Award  of 
merit  to  Mr.  Pantia  Ralli. 

0.  Princess  Yolande  Gerrish's  var. — -A  large 

spike  of  well  formed  flowers  heavily  marked  with 
chocolate,     .Award  of  merit   to  Mr.   R.   Gerrish. 

Vanda  luzonica  var.  dulcis. — .Although,  no 
doubt  on  account  of  the  cold  weather,  we  did 
not  detect  any  sweetness,  the  flowers  are  quaintly 
beautiful  in  their  somewhat  hooded  appearance 
and  lilac  markings  on  a  white  ground.  First- 
class  certificate  to  Messrs.  Sander  and  Co. 


THE    CRIMSON    FRUITS    OF    CRATAEGUS  ;■   ELLWANGERIANA. 


570 


THE     GARDEN. 


[November  ii,  1922. 


THE    IMPERIAL    FRUIT    SHOW 


THE  exact  appeal  of  this,  presumably, 
annual  fixture  to  the  general  public  is 
not  obvious.  Perhaps  the  War  Museum 
and  other  side  shows  at  the  Crj'stal 
Palace  form  part  of  the  attraction. 
Certainly  it  is  not  easy  to  imagine  anyone  not 
a  market  grower  or  retail  fruiterer,  becoming 
enthusiastic  about  scores  and  hundreds  of  boxes 
of  Apples  and  Pears  as  packed  for  market.  The 
cider  makers'  exhibits  were  exceedingly  interesting 


The  Apples  included  fine  dishes  of  Charles 
Ross,  King  of  Pippins,  Duke  of  Devonshire  {green 
russet).  Royal  Russet,  AUington  Pippin,  Peas- 
good's  Nonsuch,  Warner's  King  and  Bristol  Queen. 
Among  the  Pears  the  quite  round  fruits  of  Buerre 
de  Naghan  were  noteworthy. 

Messrs.  Laxton's  admirable  exhibit  included  fine 
dishes  of,  among  many  others,  Rival,  Newton 
Wonder,  Coronation,  Laxton's  Superb,  Peacemaker 
and  Rev.  H.  Wilks  Apples  and  Diamond  Plums, 


MESSRS.    LAXTON  S    ATTRACTIVE    EXHIBIT. 


in  their  way,  so  were  the  British  nurserymen's 
exhibits  of  fruits  in  a  more  usual  setting,  but  the 
cold,  draughty  atmosphere  of  the  Palace  and  their 
remoteness  one  from  another,  took  from  the  effect 
even  in  their  case. 

Messrs.  Bunyards  had  a  wonderfully  fine  exhibit 
of  Apples  and  Pears,  though,  largely  owing  to  the 
position  allotted,  it  was  less  attractive  than  their 
magnificent  group  at  the  Great  Autumn  Show 
at  HoUand  Park.     Their  Pears  included  Pitmaston 


the   latter   on   close   inspectiou   shewing   signs   of 
shrinking. 

Messrs.  Brambers  of  the  Norfolk  Nurseries 
shewed  lifted  plants  of  various  fruit  trees,  Roses, 
etc.,  all  clean,  healthy  stuS.  The  Barnham 
Nurseries  had  an  interesting  exhibit  consisting,  on 
the  one  side,  solely  of  market  varieties,  but  on  the 
other,  we  noted  good  dishes  of  such  Apples  as 
Alfriston,  Charles  Eyre,  Orleans  Reinette,  Ribston 
Pippin,    Egreraont    Russet,    Cox's   Orange    Pippin 


THE    king's    ACRE    NURSERIES    WORTHILY    REPRESENTED    THE    MIDLAND    COUNTIES. 


Duchess,  Catillac,  Doyenne  du  Cornice,  Buerre 
Diel,  Emile  d'Heyst,  Double  de  Guerre,  Roosevelt 
(an  immense  and  highly  coloured  dessert  sort), 
and  Buerre  Alexandre  Lucas,  all  of  admirable 
quality.  Among  a  great  variety  of  Apples, 
Rev.  W.  Wilks,  Ellison's  Orange  and  Peasgood's 
Nonsuch  caught  the  eye  as  especially  good. 

Messrs.  Seabrook's  exhibit  consisted  of  boxed 
fruits,  and  in  another  place,  of  specimen  fruit  trees 
in  tip-top  condition. 

The  King's  Acre  Nurseries  had  a  large  and 
representative    collection    of    .\pples    and    Pears. 


and  Brownlees  Russet.  Their  Conference  Pears  were 
also  very  good. 

Messrs.  Isaac  House  and  Sons  made  quite  a 
display  with  their  new  Apple,  John  Standish. 
The  big  Covent  Garden  salesmen  were,  as  usual,  well 
represented,  notably  Messrs.  T.  J.  Poupart>  and 
Messrs.  Geo.  Munro. 

Mr.  W.  Wells,  Junior,  provided  in  one  part  of  the 
hall  some  of  the  Ughtness  and  variety  which  was 
so  sadly  wanting  elsewhere.  He  had  a  charming 
arrangement  of  Delphiniums  and  Scabiosa  cauca- 
sica.     We  can  only  hope  that  his  enterprise  was 


rewarded.  Messrs.  Carters  of  Raynes  Park  had 
an  attractive  mixed  display  of  dry  bulbs,  vegetables 
and  garden  sundries. 

Upstairs,  in  the  gallery,  there  were  the  usual 
scientific  exhibits  of  the  Ministry  of  Agriculture 
cmd  the  various  experimental  stations.  We  noted, 
besides,  on  the  attractive  stand  of  Messrs.  W. 
DarUngton  and  Sons,  Limited,  the  Titan  Horti-Plow, 
a  cheap  and  handy  tool,  %vhich  should  be  very- 
useful  in  gardens  of  any  size,  and  the  M.  P.  (Motor) 
Mower-pusher.  So  far  as  appearances  go,  both 
these  appliances  should  be  eminently  useful. 
Messrs.  Darlington  exhibited  in  addition  a  great 
array  of  garden  sundries,  Nicotine  preparations 
and  what  not  ! 

Messrs.  Abol,  Limited,  were,  as  usual,  well  to 
the  fore  with  their  specialities,  such  as  Stictite 
their  admirable  banding  compound),  "  Limsul " 
(lime-sulphur  wash),  Abol  (the  e-xcellent  general 
insecticide),  etc  Their  excellent  patent  syringes 
and  spraying  machines  were  also  on  view.  The 
Wilkinson  Sword  Company  shewed  their  sword- 
steel  pruning  shears  and  other  sundries. 


APPLE    ALFRISTON 

ON  account  of  the  extraordinary  heavy 
I  crop  of  -Apples  we  had  in  1919,  so 
I  that  we  could  afford  to  lose  some,  it 
'  was  decided  that  several  experiments 
be  tried  to  ascertain  the  best  methods 
of  keeping  them  in  good  condition  for  a  lengthened 
period.  Some  of  these  experiments  were  successful 
— most  were  not. 

One  of  the  trials  was  to  wrap  each  Apple  ia 
brown  paper,  and  at  the  time  of  storing  no 
particular  variety  was  selected  for  this  purpose, 
except  those  which,  in  the  past,  were  considered 
good  keepers  when  laid  on  the  shelves  in  the 
ordinary  way.  On  the  present  occasion,  the 
fruit-room  was  filled  to  overflowing,  ,\lfiiston 
being  among  the  last  to  be  picked.  As  it  is 
a  large  .\pple,  one  did  not  grudge  the  time 
for  wrapping  so  much  as  might  have  been  the- 
case  with   a  small  variety. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  remind  fruit-growers 
that  dry  days  only  should  be  taken  advantage 
of  for  storing  Apples.  When  picking  fruit  from 
high  trees  1  wear  a  strong  apron  securely  fastened 
over  the  shoulders,  as  well  as  tied  round  the 
waist.  The  apron  should  be  long  enough  to  double 
up  so  that  it  can  be  strapped  to  the  waist, 
leaving  both  hands  free.  It  is  so  important 
that  the  fruit  should  not  be  bruised  or  damaged 
in  any  way. 

Our  AlfristoDS  were  taken  to  the  fruit-room 
and  each  wrapped  in  a  square  of  brown  paper 
and  packed  away  in  a  section  of  the  house  as 
carefully  as  if  they  were  intended  to  be  sent  to 
New  Zealand.  With  the  exception  of  a  cursory 
examination  of  one  or  two  on  the  top  of  the  pile, 
they  were  not  again  looked  at  till  May  of  the 
following  year,  the  house  by  that  time  being 
cleaned  out  of  all  the  best  samples. 

Alfriston  is  a  superior  cooking  variety,  and 
when  Apples  were  plentiful  no  one  would  think 
of  eating  it  raw  ;  but  after  being  stored  away  in 
this  way  it  was  so  beautifully  coloured  and  so 
attractive  to  look  at  that  some  were  sent  to  the 
table  for  dessert,  and  it  was  no  surprise  to  us 
to  be  told  they  were  so  good  they  must  all  be  kept 
for  eating. 

.\s  our  crop  in  1920  was  the  most  wretched  we 
have  had  in  twenty-five  years  these  Alfristons 
were  used  as  sparingly  as  possible,  and  a  year 
after  being  stored  we  had  them  quite  sound,  though 
slightly  shrivelled.  Peter  McCowan. 

Antgomery  Gardens,   Kippin,   Stirling. 


November  ii,  1922,] 


THE     GARDEN. 


571 


CORRESPONDENCE 

THE     TWELVE     BEST     SHRUBS.  amateur.     Our  garden  of  three  acres  has  a  poor 

■you  ask  me  for  a  list.  I  will  give  you  two  lists.  and  sandy  natural  soil,  and  this  place  is  rather 
First,  what  your  correspondent  asks  for,  high  and  cold.  My  list  of  twelve  flowering  shrubs 
twelve  good  shrubs  for  massing,  not  trees.  The  is  :  Pyrus  japonica,  Pieris  (Andromeda)  japonica, 
other  list  is  twelve  trees  and  shrubs,  all  of  the  Berberis  (many  beautiful  varieties),  Forsythia 
highest  quality  when  well  grown  under  favourable  suspensa,  Azalea  mollis,  Lilac  (Marie  Lemoine 
conditions.     Both  hsts  are  alphabetical.  or     Souv.    de     L.    Spathe),    Deutzia     Lemoinei, 

List  I. — Berberis  Darwinii,  Cydonia  Knaphill  Philadelphus  (grandiflorus  or  Lemoinei),  Kalmia 
Scarlet,  Erica  carnea.  Hydrangea  hortensis,  latifolia,  Spir<ea  (white  and  pink).  Hydrangea 
Kalmia  latifolia.  Lavender,  Magnolia  stellata,  paniculata  and  Buddleia  variabihs.  Each  one 
Rhododendron  Loder's  White,  Rhododendron  in  its  turn  seems  to  me  the  most  beautiful  and 
(.■\zalea)  Gloria  Mundi,  Rhus  Cotinus,  Rosa  Moyesii,  beloved  of  all ! — A.  M.  D.,  Surny. 
Viburnum  tomentosum  Mariesii. 
I  have  endeavoured  to  select 
a  list  of  shrubs  fairly  easy  to 
obtain  and  easy  to  grow,  but 
such  a  list  must  largely  be  a 
matter  of  domicile  and  taste.  I 
select  Rhododendron  Loder's 
White  as  probably  the  best  white 
Rhododendron  (it  is  being  uni- 
versally hsted  by  the  trade 
now),  but  many  people  would 
prefer  a  coloured  hybrid  or  a 
species  !  I  take  Azalea  Gloria 
Mundi  as  a  well  tried  orange 
Honeysuckle  Azalea,  but  some 
people  will  turn  to  the  obtusum 
section.  Cistuses  and  Viburnum 
Carlesii  are  too  fugitive  (in 
different  ways).  Viburnum 
tomentosum  Mariesii  Lprefer  to 
V.  pUcatum,  but  some  will  not 
agree. 

List     IL — Acacia     Baileyana, 
Berberis  Darwinii,  Embothrium 
coccineum,  Eucryphia  cordifolia. 
Hydrangea   hortensis,    MagnoUa 
Campbelhi,       Prunus       Cerasus 
Hisakura,  Rhododendron   .Auck- 
landii.  Rhododendron  obtusum, 
var.    Hinemayo,    Rosa   Moyesii, 
Rhus  Cotinus,  Wistaria.    In  this 
list  some  plants   are  not   hardy, 
but     all     are    first-class     in    a 
suitable    cUmate    and    position. 
Acacia  Baileyana  is  hardier  than 
many  others  and  a  most  beautiful 
plant.     Eucryphia   cordifolia  in 
good  form  is  undoubtedly  even 
more  beautiful  than  E.  pinnati- 
folia.     No  one  who  has  seen  a 
fine  group    of   blue    Hydrangea 
hortensis  in  a  Cornish  wood  will 
refuse  this  plant  a  place.     I  hesi- 
tated  between   Magnolia  Camp- 
bellii  and  M.  grandiflora,  but  the 
former   is   undoubtedly   a   more 
arresting    plant  !      The   Double 
Cherry,  Hisakura,  may  have  com- 
petitors, but,  personally,  I  place 
it    first    among     the     Cherries. 
Rhododendron  Aucklandii  is  probably  the  tenderest 
plant  I  name,  but  the  quality  is  unequalled  and  I 
prefer  it,  though  I  am  sure  I  shall  not  have  universal 
support.    Of  Azaleas  I  turn  to  the  soft  silvery  pink 
of  the  Kurume  known  as  Hinemayo  ;    this  plant 
in  a  half  shady  place  in  a  mild  climate  will  give 
six  weeks  perfect  colour  in  March  and  April.     Rosa 
sinica  Anemone  is  not  so  good  in  habit  or  in  fruit  as 
R.  Moyesii.     Camellia  reticulata  is  just  excluded. 
The  others  need  no  comment. — "  Sene.x." 


EUCRYPHIA    CORDIFOLIA. 
"In  good  form  even  more  beautiful  than  E.  pinnatifolia.' 

TN  the  correspondence  in  your  paper  concerning 
the  twelve  best  shrubs  I  do  not  recollect  any 
mention  of  Escallonia  montevidensis,  which  is,  to 
my  mind,  incomparably  the  finest  of  our  autumn 
shrubs.  It  begins  to  bloom  in  October  and  is  now, 
after  several  sharp  frosts,  at  its  very  best.  The 
bright  green  lanceolate  leaves  are  surmounted  by 
large  clusters  of  pure  white  cinquepetalous  flowers 
gleaming  as  though  they  were  the  children  of 
spring  ! — Reginald  Rankin. 


T  AM  reading  with  great  interest   the  discussion 

on   the   twelve  best   flowering  shrubs.     Some 

lists    have    been    very    good,    but    others,    I    feel, 

would  lead  to  sad  disappointment  to  the  ordinary 


'T'HE  twelve  best  do  not  exist !   How  so  ?   Because 

no    two   persons    will    be    agreed    as    to   the 

merits    of    any    given    dozen    plants !     This    fact 

of    opinions    differing   widely    when    it    comes    to 


making  a  choice  concerning  a  special  gardening- 
feature  was  well  shewn  a  few  years  back  by  the 
correspondence  and  voting  conducted  by  The 
Garden  on  dessert  Apples.  Individual  likes  and 
dislikes  vary  much,  whether  they  concern  the 
flavour  of  a  fruit  or  the  decorative  merit  of  a  shrub. 
As  the  old  lady  said  when  she  kissed  her  pet  cow, 
"  There  is  no  accounting  for  tastes."  However,, 
the  exercise  of  making  a  selection  of  the  dozeni 
best  shrubs  has  been  interesting,  and  I  submit  the- 
following  twelve  :  Prunus  sinensis  rosea  plena  V 
Notospartium  CarinichEeliffi,  the  Pink  Broom,  a 
real  treasure  for  a  garden  ;  Ceanothus  Gloire  de- 
Versailles,  seen  well  at  Kew  as  a  massed  shrub  ; 
Cistus  ladaniferous  (a  good  shrub,  though  per- 
chance the  rather  fleeting  nature 
of  its  flowers  may  cause  it  to  be 
less'  popular  in  some  gardens  ;  be 
this  as  it  may,  a  bush  5ft.  to  6ft. 
high  and  sjft.  across,  is,  when- 
smothered  in  bloom,  a  picture 
not  easily  surpassed).  An  ever- 
green and  deciduous  Rhododen- 
dron must  be  in  the  list — the 
gorgeous  heads  of  bloom  of  the 
former  and  the  brilliant  hued 
trusses  of  the  Azalea  make  these 
shrubs  among  the  most  beautiful. 
.Azalea  pontica  is  excellent  as  a 
single  specimen  and  still  more 
showy  when  grouped,  the  same 
remarks  applying  to  Rhododen- 
dron fragrans.  Eucryphia  pin- 
natifoUa  ;  Rosa  Hugonis  or  R. 
Moyesii ;  Spirsea  ari^efolia  or 
.Aitchisoni ;  Exochorda  mac- 
rantha ;  Cytisus  Carlierii,  the 
lovely  pale  yellow  Broom  that 
flowers  for  quite  two  months 
from  July ;  Berberis  steno- 
phylla.  As  only  twelve  are 
allowed  to  the  dozen, 
Magnoha,  Olearia,  Hydrangea, 
Philadelphus,  Camellia,  Deutzia, 
Viburnum  and  Genista  have 
had  to  be  omitted  from  the 
final  choice. — C.  T.,  Ampthill 
Park  Gardens. 

ACER    GRISEUM? 

TT  seems  almost  presumption 
on  my  part  to  question  the 
nomenclature  of  the  plant  sent 
to  Vincent  Square  on  October  17 
by  Mr.  C.  J.  Lucas,  under  the 
name  of  Acer  griseum  and  to 
which  an  award  was  given.  I 
would  venture  to  suggest,  how- 
ever, that  the  "  absence  of  the 
peeling  bark,"  as  specially  noted 
in  your  description  under  New 
and  Rare  Plants,  points  to 
another  species  ? 

My  plants  of  Acer  griseum, 
now  about  i6ft.  in  height, 
commenced  shedding  their  outer  bark  when  quite 
immature,  and  are  now  never  without  the  large 
hanging  flakes  of  dark  red  peeUng  bark  shewing 
the  Ughter  skin  underneath  and  which  even 
extends  to  the  side  branches !  I  seem,  too,  to  note 
other  differences  in  the  comparison  with  the  spray 
photographed  for  The  Garden. 

The  leaves  in  the  photograph  appear  somewhat 
larger  and  perhaps  less  toothed,  while  the  seed 
keys  are  more  acutely  angled.  I  am  strongly  of 
opinion  that  if  Mr.  Lucas's  Maple  has  not  shed  its 
bark  now  that  it  has  reached  the  height  of  iSft.,  it 
never  intends  to  do  so,  and  if  this  characteristic  is 
essential,  then  another  specific  name  must  be  found. 
In   Mr.   Bean's  book   (Trees    and  Shrubs,   etc.),   I 


572 


THE    GARDEN. 


[November  ii,  1922. 


find  under  Acer  nikbense  the  description  of  a 
species  which  seems  entirely  to  fit  Mr.  Lucas's 
Maple.— H.  W.  Grigg. 

ASTER    WILT. 

TN  his  article  on  Michaelmas  Daisies  (page  539) 
Mr.  Jacob  refers  to  the  "  withering "  which 
has  of  late  years  attacked  these  plants  with  dis- 
■quieting  frequency.  As  his  remarks  are  likely  to  be 
misleading,  and  in  view  of  the  fact  that  he  appears 
to  be  misinformed  as  to  what  "  Wisley  has  said  " 
and  to  misconstrue  the  absence  of  mention  of  the 
■disease  from  "  The  Garden  Doctor,"  it  may  be 
■well  to  define  the  present  position  regarding  the 
<iisease.  When  it  originated,  or  where,  we  do  not 
know.  That  it  can  be  and  is  distributed  by  means 
of  plants  passing  from  one  grower  to  another  is 
■certain.  That  the  diseased  condition  of  the  plants 
follows  the  attack  of  a  fungus  in  the  lower  part 
■of  the  plant  has  been  definitely  proved  at  Long 
Ashton  by  Mr.  Wiltshire  and  at  Wisley  by  Mr. 
Dowson.  That  the  source  of  fresh  attacks  upon 
Jiealthy  plants  is  soil  infected  by  the  spores  of  the 
iungus  they  have  isolated  and  are  studying  is 
probable.  Mr.  Dowson  has  demonstrated  that 
ihe  fungus  makes  a  poison  that  kills  the  foliage 
far  away  from  the  actual  spot  at  which  infection 
took  place  or  to  which  the  fungus  has  penetrated 
in  the  plant.  He  has  also  shewn  that  healthy 
tips  taken  from  diseased  plants  may  be  rooted 
.and  will  give  perfectly  healthy  plants.  It  is 
itherefore  easy  to  secure  healthy  stock ;  it  is 
probably  impossible  to  cure  a  plant  once  affected  ; 
it  is  folly  to  plant  in  infected  soil.  So  far  our  new 
knowledge  takes  us  ;  but  there  is  much  more  we 
■want  to  know,  and  as  it  happens  the  discovery 
•of  these  things  would  probably  be  of  very  far- 
.reaching  effect.  They  call  for  prolonged  and 
tedious,  and  possibly  costly,  investigations  ;  but 
they  are  well  worth  while,  and  the  endowment 
■of  such  research  would  be  Ukely  eventually  to 
■confer  lasting  benefit  upon  horticulture.  We 
know  (or  believe)  that  environmental  factors 
•determine  to  a  large  extent  the  intensity  of  the 
.disease,  and  probably  its  first  incidence.  The 
ju.xtaposition  of  fungus  and  plant  are  by  no  means 
the  only  factors  involved,  but  the  other  factors 
■have  to  be  sorted  out,  and  the  influence  of  each 
tested  individually  and  in  combination  with  one 
.another.  We  know  how  to  kill  the  fungus  in  the 
soil,  but  we  have  no  sure  method  of  applying  this 
knowledge  to  large  areas  outdoors  except  at  vast 
•cost.  If  we  had  this  knowledge,  we  might  be  able 
to  use  it  in  many  directions.  As  it  is  we  are  handi- 
•capped  in  our  efforts  to  grow  many  plants  healthily 
and  well,  whether  they  be  for  use  or  ornament, 
and  when  success  crowns  our  efforts  it  is  often 
merely  empirical.  We  cannot  ensure  success  in 
the  future.  Perhaps  some  public-spirited  man  of 
means  will  enable  us  to  attempt  the  solution  of 
these  riddles  and  so  to  confer  a  lasting  benefit 
■upon  horticulture  ! — F.  J.  Chittenden. 

THE    CAUCASIAN     SCABIOUS. 

■^OW  that  Messrs.  Isaac  House  and  Sons  have 
shewn  the  public  what  can  be  done  with 
.■Scabiosa  caucasica  I  had  hopes  that  this  Queen 
•of  Hardy  Flowers  would  be  more  generally  grown 
by  amateurs.  They  are,  however,  not  Ukely  to  be 
•encouraged  if  rash  statements  like  those  contained  in 
your  issue  of  October  21,  page  523,  are  not  contra- 
•dicted.  This  Scabious  is  quite  easily  grown  in 
a  light,  well  drained  loam  and  requires  only 
■(i)  full  sun,  {2)  to  be  kept  dry  in  winter,  (3)  to 
be  guarded  against  slugs.  As  for  "  auto- 
lintoxication,"  I  have  grown  them  for  twenty- 
five  years  on  the  same  ground  and  have  plants 
twelve  years  old  shewing  no  signs  of  deterioration. 
They  are  easily  propagated  from  seed  or  division 
in  August  or  the  spring  (to  divide  in  the  autumn 


I  ha\'e  long  ago  found  certain  failure).  They 
like  lime  (I  have  found  no  other  manure  necessary) 
and  are  worthy  of  a  place  to  themselves  and  not 
in  the  mixed  border. — Lancastri.\n. 

['*  Lancastrian's  "  views  on  Scabiosa  caucasica 
are  interesting  and  go  to  shew  the  partiaUty  of 
the  plant  for  limestone  or  chalky  soils,  but  it  would 
be  doing  vendors  of  the  plant  a  disservice  to  hold 
it  up  on  most  soils  as  a  long-lived  plant  if  left 
alone.  Even  on  "  Lancastrian's "  own  shewing 
a  plant  which  needs  to  be  "  kept  dry  in  winter  " 
and  to  be  "  guarded  against  slugs  "  is  not  one  for 
the  careless  gardener.  Experience  has  convinced 
us  that  on  a  great  variety  of  soils  this  Scabious 
may  be  kept  only  by  annual  division,  preferably 
in  very  late  summer  or  early  autumn.  The  plant  is, 
of  course,  easily  renewed  from  seed,  but  one  cannot 
rely  on  such  plants  to  come  true  to  type — En.] 

WHITE    MARTAGON    LILIES. 

""PHE  Hon.  Mrs.  Cropper  encloses  photographs 
of  white  Martagon  Lilies,  part  of  a  long 
border  in  her  garden,  in  case  one  of  them  should 
be  thought  interesting  to  other  readers.  They 
receive  no  special  culture. — Kendal. 

The    climate    of    the    English    Lakes    is    very 


WHITE     M.\RT.\GO.N     LILIES    AT 

favourable  for  many  Lilies.  It  is  not  easy  to  see 
why  Auratum  Lilies  should  not  succeed  there  as 
well  as  in  the  Isle  of  -Arran. — Ed.] 

THE     COLOUR    OF    ROSA    MOYESII. 

'T'HE  correspondence  on  "  The  Twelve  Best 
Shrubs "  discloses,  I  am  pleased  to  see, 
that  the  merits  of  Rosa  Moyesii  are  at  last  receiving 
recognition.  Veitch's  auction  at  Coombe  Wood 
in  1914  no  doubt  partook  of  the  nature  of  a 
"  bargain  sale  "  ;  nevertheless,  I  was  surprised 
(and  gratified  !)  when  a  dozen  plants  were  knocked 
down  to  me  for  7s.  6d.  !  I  think  there  can  be  no 
doubt  that  the  reason  this  Rose  is  so  seldom  seen 
in  gardens  is  that  some  nurserymen  are  marketing 
a  variety  which  is  not  the  true  Moyesii  as  originally 
distributed  by  Veitch  (and  AUgrove)  I  have 
seen  at  the  shows  a  plant  with  all  the  characters 
of  Moyesii  except  that  the  colour  of  the  flower 
was  a  hideous  combination  of  brown,  red  and 
yellow,  suggesting  a  relationship  with  the  Austrian 
Briar.  The  true  colour  is  difficult  to  describe, 
being  unlike  that  of  any  other  flower  known  to 
me.  "  Brownish  red,"  "  blood  red "  are  mis- 
descriptions   suggesting    the    spurious    variety    I 


have  mentioned  ;  "  deep  old  rose  pink  "  is  the 
nearest  I  can  get,  suggestive  of  shades  one  sees 
in  Chinese  and  Indian  silks. — A'  B.  Bruce. 

A   NEW   RACE    OF    CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 

nPHIS  season  the  autumn  rains  are  fairly  abundant 
on  the  Riviera,  and  everything  is  green  and 
growing,  a  great  contrast  to  last  year,  when  no 
rain  fell  till  after  winter  had  begun,  so  the  prospects 
of  the  winter  gardens  are  hopeful.  The  ground, 
however,  is  still  dry  when  one  digs  down  deeply, 
so  it  is  to  be  hoped  there  will  be  a  further  fall 
while  the  temperature  is  fairly  high.  As  usual, 
there  are  surprises  to  greet  one.  Many  shrubs 
and  flowers  have  succumbed  to  the  long  drought, 
while  others  seem  all  the  better  for  the  long  rest 
imposed  by  it.  Tea  Roses  have  thoroughly 
enjoyed  the  heat  and  drought,  and  are  most  promis- 
ing, but  most  Hybrid  Teas,  and  especially  the 
Pernetiana  section,  are  barely  alive  and  must 
be  pulled  up  !  Of  the  newer  Roses  Hadley,  deep 
red,  and  Golden  Emblem  are  the  only  two  that 
have  stood  the  drought.  Mermaid  is  growing 
strongly  and  is  shewing  flower,  so  that  seems  an 
acquisition  among  climbers.  There  is  one  new- 
comer in  the  garden  that  is  decidedly  attractive. 
Hitherto  on  this  coast  we 
have  been  so  satisfied  with 
the  blaze  of  colour  pro- 
\-ided  by  Salvias,  Zinnias, 
Begonias,  French  Mari- 
golds and  other  well 
known  autumn  flowers 
that  Chrysanthemums 
have  been  at  a  discount 
^  ^ave  for  cut  flower.     Last 

•*    •■'  -  year,     however,      Messrs. 

\'ilmorin  shewed  some 
very  dwarf  single  Japanese 
Chrysanthemums  in  Paris, 
and  from  the  photographs 
taken  I  thought  them  very 
attractive.  I  had  already 
seen  the  very  dwarf  double 
varieties  that,  blooming 
late  on  this  coast,  were 
useful  about  Christmas- 
tide,  so  I  sent  for  a  few 
cuttings  to  see  what  these 
new  varieties  were  like. 
The  first  impressions  are 
so  favourable  that  I  hope 
English  gardeners  will  go 
KENDAL.  to    the    Paris   shows   next 

month  and  satisfy  them- 
selves as  to  their  worth.  To  an  outsider  these  two 
or  three  varieties  now  in  bloom  give  the  effect  of 
Cinerarias  of  strange  colouring,  so  dwarf  is  their 
growth  and  so  flat  are  the  spreading  heads  of 
narrow-petalled  daisies.  For  bedding  purposes  and 
for  edgings  they  will  be  a  real  acquisition  if  they 
last  long  enough  in  flower.  Cinerarias  are  so 
valuable  in  spring  gardens  on  this  coast  that  an 
autumn  flower  that  resembles  it  in  effect  must 
be  welcome  to  all  who  care  for  their  autumn 
garden.  If  they  succeed  in  England,  they  would 
make  a  delightful  dwarf  edging  to  the  late  Asters, 
and  probably  be  of  some  use  in  pots,  though  I  think 
their  proper  place  is  in  the  open  border.  The 
Orange  trees  here  are  more  laden  with  fruit  than 
I  have  seen  for  many  years.  Where  properly 
watered  and  attended  to  they  are  a  "  sight," 
weighed  down  with  their  fruit  just  as  the  .Apple 
trees  have  been  in  England.  The  Lemon  trees 
are  recovering  from  that  terrible  frost  of  nearly 
two  years  ago,  but  the  drought  has  punished  them 
more  than  the  Oranges.  The  markets  seem  fuller 
of  flowers  than  ever,  but  neither  fruits  nor  vege- 
tables are  as  fine  as  I  have  often  seen  them  — 
Edw.\rd  H.  W00D.ALL. 


November  ii,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


573 


GARDENING     OF     THE     WEEK 


FOR     SOUTHERN     GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

MVinter  Greens. — All  plants  which  may  be 
included  under  this  heading  have  made  an  abun- 
dance of  growth  this  season,  rendering  work 
between  them  somewhat  difficult.  Select  a  dry 
day  and  remove  any  weeds,  and  at  the  same  time 
cut  away  all  decayed  or  decaying  leaves  so  that 
light  and  air  can  penetrate  more  easily. 

Celeriac  roots  that  have  become  sufficiently  large 
should  be  lifted  and,  after  trimming  off  the  leaves, 
be  removed  to  a  cool  store  and  have  some  sand 
placed  about  the  roots.  .\ny  left  in  the  ground 
can  be  trimmed  up  and  be  protected  from  frost 
by  being  moulded  up  with  some  soil. 

French  Beans. — Where  a  fairly  liberal  amount 
of  pipe  heat  can  be  conmianded  a  sowing  of  French 
Beans  can  be  made  in  "in.  pots,  placing  about 
eight  or  nine  seeds  in  each,  reducing  the  number, 
after  the  stronger  may  be  determined,  to  five. 
Grow  the  plants  in  a  light  position,  maintaining 
at  all  times  a  little  humidity  in  the  atmosphere 
by  the  use  of  the  syringe. 

Seakale. — introduce  batches  every  few  weeks 
into  the  mushroom-house  or  wherever  similar 
conditions  may  be  had.  When  Ufting  the  crowns 
in  readiness  for  forcing  save  the  best  of  the  thong- 
hke  roots  to  furnish  plants  for  another  season. 
For  the  present  they  may  be  tied  into  bundles 
and  buried  in  sand  away  from  wet  and  frost. 

Salsafy  and  Scorzonera  may  both  be  Ufted 
and  stored  in  cool  quarters  to  be  drawn  upon  as 
required.  Cut  the  foliage  off,  but  leave  fibrous 
roots  alone  until  sending  to  kitchen. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Planting  Roses. — The  various  positions  for 
the  plants  ha\ing  been  prepared  as  advised  in 
the  last  issue  of  The  Garden  planting  should  now  be 
pushed  ahead  as  rapidly  as  possible.  Plant  the 
bushes,  etc.,  the  same  depth  as  practised  by  the 
firm  supplying  them,  and  make  them  firm  by 
treading.  Newly  made  beds  or  borders  of  Roses, 
which  may  look  a  little  bare  the  first  season,  could 
be  given  a  carpeting  of  Aubrietias,  Violas  or 
Xepeta  in  colour  to  suit  the  Roses,  but  should  not 
be  allowed  to  smother  the  latter. 

Border  Chrysanthemiuns.  —  When  removing 
these  plants  as  they  pass  out  of  flower  be  careful 
to  save  sufficient  to  provide  stock  another  year. 
Place  them  in  boxes  of  sandy  soil  fairly  close 
together  and  keep  the  boxes  in  cold  frames  during 
the  winter,  which  treatment  %vill  ensure  plenty 
of  good  cuttings  during  the  spring.  Some  of  the 
best  displays  from  border  Chrysanthemums  are 
obtained  from  plants  where  they  are  allowed  to 
remain  undisturbed  the  second  year,  and  where 
this  method  is  possible  it  is  well  worth  carrying  out. 

Herbaceous  Borders. — The  planting  of  these 
has  been  fully  dealt  with  in  The  Garden,  but 
where  no  such  work  or  that  of  regrouping  is 
necessary,  it  only  remains  to  remove  all  decayed 
foliage,  etc.,  when  the  flower-stems  are  quite  dead. 
Where  it  can  be  arranged  for,  groups  of  Del- 
phiniums, Lupins  and  all  robust  plants  should 
be  liberally  mulched  with  rotten  cow  dung,  as 
this  will  prove  of  great  benefit  to  the  plants  next 
season,  especially  on  light  land. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Pruning. — Plenty  of  this  work  is  now  waiting 
to  be  done,  and  every  advantage  should  be  taken 
of  favourable  weather  to  push  the  job  ahead. 
The  amount  of  time  necessary  for  the  operation 
at  this  season  is,  naturally,  influenced  by  the  time 
spent  upon  the  trees  during  the  summer.  Pruning 
may  briefly  be  classed  under  two  heads,  i.e.,  spur 
pruning  as  practised  upon  Apples  and  Pears  and, 
on  the  other  hand,  the  removal  of  the  fruited 
branches  and  laying  in  fresh  wood  for  fruiting  as 
generally  adopted  for  Peaches.  It  may  be  that 
in  some  instances  this  can  be  varied,  and  a  good 
illustration  is  the  Morello  Cherry,  which  will 
respond  either  to  spur  treatment  or  otherwise. 
When  pruning  fully  estabhshed  trees  on  the 
spur  method,  great  care  should  be  exercised  that 
the  trees  do  not  become  too  crowded  with  spurs. 
Trees  on  walls  and  other  supports  should  be  dealt 
with  first. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Early  Peach-House. — Just  when  to  start 
forcing  is  purely  a  matter  of  convenience  to  suit 
the  requirements  of  the  establishment,  and  can 
only  be  settled  by  those  in  charge,  but,  where  there 
are  several  houses,  early  December  is  quite  a  suit- 
able time  to  get  one  on  the  move  slowly.     Should 


the  necessary  pruning  have  been  done  after  the 
fruit  was  gathered,  it  only  remains  now  thoroughly 
to   cleanse   the   house   and  get    the   trees   cleaned 
with   an  insecticide  before  again  tying  them  into 
position.       It  may  be   that   the  border  has  been 
dealt  with  owing  to  root  pruning,  etc.,  but  if  not, 
having  finished  with  house  and  trees,  remove  all 
loose  surface  soil,  then  lightly  fork  up  the  border, 
and  give  a  good  dressing  of  broken  loam,  rubble, 
wood-ash   and   a   little   bone   manure,    taking  care 
that  all  is  made  very  firm.     A  temperature  of  45° 
is  quite  enough  to  start  with. 
H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 
Albuyy  Park  Gardens,  Guildford. 


FOR 


NORTHERN     GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 


Spring  Cabbage. — Early  planted  lots  should 
now  have  a  little  soil  drawn  up  to  them  on  either 
side  of  the  rows.  This  not  only  steadies  the 
plants,  but  also  acts  as  a  protection  to  the  stems. 

Celery. — The  very  latest  batch  should  now  be 
ready  for  a  final  moulding,  which  should  be  pro- 
ceeded with  immediately  the  weather  is  favourable. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

The  Early  Vinery. — The  Vines  in  the  early 
house  should  now  be  pruned  and  e\'erything  put 
in  readiness  for  a  start  early  in  the  new  year. 
After  the  pruning  has  been  finished  the  interior 
of  the  vinery  should  be  thoroughly  cleansed. 
Wash  down  all  the  woodwork  and  glass  with  hot 
water,  adding  a  quantity  of  Bentley's  Insecticide. 
The  latter  w-ill  assist  in  eradicating  the  numerous 
insect  pests  common  to  fruit-houses.  Wash  the 
rods  with  a  solution  of  Gishurst  Compound.  We 
find  this  the  most  effective  and  reliable  of  the 
many  washes  recommended  for  the  purpose. 
The  surface  of  the  border  should  be  carefully 
removed  till  the  roots  are  reached  and  a  fresh 
dressing  applied.  This  dressing  should  consist 
of  good  fibrous  loam  with  a  generous  sprinkling 
of  coarse  w'ood-ashes.  Add  a  6in.  potful  of  fine 
grade  vine  manure  to  each  barrow-load  of  soil. 
Should  the  border  be  over-dry,  sufficient  water 
should  be  given  to  keep  it  in  a  fairly  moist  con- 
dition during  the  winter. 

Late  Vines. — Where  bunches  are  still  hanging 
on  the  rods  they  should  be  examined  at  short 
intervals  and  all  decayed  berries  removed.  A 
little  heat  in  the  pipes  with  careful  ventilation 
will  keep  down  damp. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 
Gooseberries  and  Currants. — Cuttings  of  these 

should  now  be  formed  of  shoots  about  liins.  long. 
Choose  strong,  short-jointed  cuttings  from  the 
current  season's  growth,  and  rub  off  all  but  four 
or  five  of  the  top  buds  on  the  Gooseberry  and 
Red  and  White  Currant  shoots,  as  these  are  best 
grown  with  clean  stems.  In  the  case  of  Black 
Currants  the  basal  buds  should  be  left,  as  it  is 
desirable  that  they  send  out  vigorous  growths 
from  the  base  of  the  plants.  Make  a  clean  cut 
through  a  joint  and  insert  the  cuttings  in  trenches 
6ins.  deep  and  6ins.  apart  in  the  rows,  adding  some 
sharp  sand  to  the  bottom  of  the  trench  should  the 
soil  be  heavy.  A  partly  shaded  spot  is  best, 
and  firmness  at  the  base  is  essential.  Keep  the 
rows  at  least  I2ins.  apart. 

Pruning. — Where  a  lot  of  pruning  has  to  be 
done  a  start  may  now  be  made  among  the  Currants, 
thinning  out  all  spent  growths  and  encouraging 
the  formation  of  strong  young  shoots. 

The  Shrubbery. 
Planting  Trees  and  Shrubs. — This  is  a  popular 

time  of  the  year  as  regards  the  planting  of  trees 
and  shrubs  and  the  thinning  and  transplanting 
of  others  that  may  require  more  space  in  the 
shrubbery.  Crowded  belts  of  mixed  shrubs  are 
not  always  desirable  unless  for  a  screen,  so  if  the 
finer  plants  are  to  be  seen  at  their  best  they  should 
be  planted  sufficiently  far  apart  to  allow  for  their 
proper  development.  In  sheltered  parts  the 
choice  Desfontainea  spinosa  should  not  be  neglected, 
as  its  presence  gives  much  pleasure  with  its  dark 
evergreen  foUage  and  trumpet-shaped  flowers  of 
scarlet  and  gold.  The  late-berrying  shrubs  should 
also  be  considered,  none  giving  more  satisfaction 
in  our  Northern  gardens  than  the  well  known 
Cotoneaster  frigida.  The  less  known  C.  Franchetti 
is  also  of  much  value,  being  more  graceful  in  habit 
and  being  better  balanced  as  a  shrub  than  C. 
frigida.  It  also  carries  its  berries  well  through  the 
winter.     An   interesting  contrast   is   the   common 


Snowberry  (Symphoricarpus  racemosus)  planted 
in  conjunction  with  the  Spindle  Tree  (EuonymuS 
europaeus),  both  being  beautiful  when  in  fruit. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Dahlias. — These  have  now  been  cut  down 
by  frost,  so  should  be  hfted  and  stored  in  a  cool 
place  for  the  winter.  Do  not  over-clean  the  tubers 
when  storing,  as  the  adhering  soil  prevents  undue 
shriveUing  of  the  roots. 

Summer   -    Flowering      Chrysanthemums.— 

.Although  these  stand  quite  well  out  of  doors  in 
certain  districts,  we  find  it  best  to  lift  the  necessary 
quantity  of  roots  for  propagating  purposes,  pack- 
ing the  roots  closely  in  cutting  boxes  and  working 
plenty  of  leaf-mould  and  sand  firmly  round  the 
stools.  They  may  be  kept  in  a  cool  frame  during 
the  winter,  and  if  treated  thus  better  faciUties 
are  offered  for  obtaining  cuttings  in  spring. 

Spring-Flowering  Plants. — Now  that  the  beds 
have  been  cleared  of  their  summer  occupants, 
no  time  should  be  lost  in  having  the  beds  filled 
with  the  ever-popular  spring-flowering  plants. 
W'allflowers  in  variety.  Polyanthuses,  Erysimums, 
double  and  single  Arabis  and  Myosotis,  with 
Sutton's  Giant  Daisies,  all  prove  adaptable  plants. 
The  appearance  of  the  beds  may  be  considerably 
enhancsd  by  the  judicious  planting  of  various 
Tulips  or  Hyacinths  among  the  plants. 

James  McGran 
(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.), 

Coodham,  Kilmarnock. 


CONSERVATORY   AND   GREENHOUSE. 

Cinerarias. — Unless  it  is  possible  to  introduce 
a  little  heat  in  frames  where  these  plants  are  growing, 
the  latter  should  now  be  removed  to  a  cool,  airy 
house.  So  transferred  they  should,  if  possible, 
be  stood  on  a  cool  moist  bottom,  as  they  abominate 
heat  and  drought.  A  dry  atmosphere  and  too 
much  fire  heat  is  fatal  to  Cinerarias.  Plenty  of 
air  should  be  admitted  on  all  favourable  occasions, 
a  temperature  of  40°  to  45°  being  quite  high  enough 
for  them.  Where  large  specimens  are  required 
some  of  the  most  forward  plants  should  have  a 
shift  into  Sin.  or  loin.  pots  ;  this  of  course  applies 
specially  to  the  intermediate  and  tall-growing 
stellata  varieties.  Such  plants  are  valuable  for 
furnishing  beds  in  large  conservatories.  The 
dw^arfer  varieties,  which  are  suitable  for  the 
benches,  can  be  grown  quite  well  in  Gin.  or  /in. 
pots.  These  plants  enjoy  a  light,  rich  compost, 
and  some  old  mushroom  bed  manure  is  excellent 
for  mixing  with  the  potting  compost.  Cinerarias  are 
very  subject  to  attacks  of  aphis,  but  this  can  be 
guarded  against  by  frequent  fumigation.  The 
leaf  miner  often  proves  troublesome,  but  it  can 
generally  be  prevented  by  spraying  with  some 
nicotine  compound. 

Herbaceous  Calceolarias. — The  plants  obtained 

from  seed  sown  during  .August  will  now  require 
to  be  potted  off  and  the  earlier  batches  will  also 
require  a  shift  into  larger  pots.  These  plants 
thrive  best  in  a  light,  rich  compost  to  which  some 
old  mushroom  bed  manure  has  been  added. 
Calceolarias  enjoy  moist  conditions  and  should  be 
stood  on  a  cool  bottom.  Except  with  the  object 
of  excluding  frost  the  plants  do  not  require  to 
be  subjected  to  any  artificial  heat.  Fumigation 
is  frequently  necessary  owing  to  attacks  of  green 
fly,  which  quickly  ruin  the  foliage  of  the  plants. 
Continue  to  root  successional  batches  of  the  shrubby 
section,  according  to  requirements,  and  pot  off 
rooted  cuttings  of  the  earlier  rooted  plants.  Large 
plants  of  Calceolaria  Burbidgei  are  excellent  for 
mnter  flowering  and  are  valuable  for  furnishing 
beds  in  the  conservatory.  This  variety  is  so  useful 
that  it  is  surprising  it  is  not  more  generally  grown. 

Tropseolum  triCOlorum. — This  plant  should  now 
be  starting  into  growth  and  the  shoots  are  best 
supported  by  sprays  of  hazel.  Well  grown  speci- 
mens are  very  effective  when  in  flower  and  to 
produce  good  specimens  fi\'e  or  six  tubers  should  be 
placed  in  an  Sin.  pot.  They  grow  well  in  ordinary 
potting  compost  and  require  cool  greenhouse  treat- 
ment throughout  all  stages  of  their  growth. 
Beyond  the  fact  that  they  are  subject  to  attacks 
of  red  spider,  their  cultivation  presents  no  difficulty 
Dry  tubers  can  generally  be  purchased  at  this 
time,  and  it  is  not  yet  too  late  to  obtain  successful 
results.  Tropaeolum  azureum  is  a  beautiful  blue- 
flowered  species  from  ChiU  which  succeeds  under 
cool  greenhouse  treatment,  but  I  doubt  if  it  is  at 
present  in  cultivation  ;  if  so,  I  should  be  pleased 
to  hear  of  it.  T.  Jarrattii  is  also  seldom  seen  now. 
All  three  species,  when  their  foliage  dies  down, 
should  be  stored  dry  in  a  cool  place  until  they  start 
into  growth  again. 

Azaleas  of  the  indicum  section  that  were  forced 
early  last  season  and  in  consequence  finished  their 


574 


THE     GARDEN. 


[November  ii,  1922. 


growth  early,  will  now  be  available  for  forcing 
again.  Varieties  with  forward  buds  should  be 
selected  and  introduced  to  a  warm  house,  when 
they  should  flower  in  some  three  of  four  weeks 
time.  The  plants  should  be  kept  well  syringed 
as  they  are  very  subject  to  attacks  of  thrips. 
These  Azaleas  are  imported  in  enormous  quantities 
from  the  Continent,  where  they  are  cultivated  in 
beds.  They  should  be  potted  up  as  soon  as  they 
are  received,  using  sandy  peat  for  this  purpose. 
After  potting  they  should  be  stood  in  cold  frames 
■where   they  can   be   kept  close  until  estabhshed. 


If  they  have  become  dry  in  transit  they  should  be 
thoroughly  soaked  before  potting,  as  once  peat  is 
dry  it  is  very  difficult  to  wet  again,  and  if  the  balls 
are  dry  the  plants  will  likely  drop  all  their  leaves 
and  flower  buds.  Azaleas  are  very  popular  for 
decorative  work  of  all  sorts,  and  if  successional 
batches  are  used  they  may  be  had  in  flower  for 
several  months.  Some  of  the  small-flowered 
varieties  are  very  beautiful  and  can  be  successfully 
grown  in  small  pots. 

J.    COUTTS. 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kew. 


VEGETABLES  ALL  THE  YEAR  ROUND 


November  and  December  operations. 


WE  have  reached  the  season  of  sere 
and  yellow  and  it  is  conceivable 
that  the  ine.xperienced  grower  of 
vegetables  thinks  that  his  duties 
for  the  present  year  have  come  to 
an  end,  but  that  is  far  from  being  the  case  ;  on 
the  contrary,  he  has  immediately  in  front  of  him 
the  important  task  of  laying  the  foundation  for 
next  season's  crops.  Success  then,  as  a  matter 
of  fact,  will  depend  very  largely  indeed  on  the 
manner  in  which  the  late  autumn  and  early  winter 
work  is  done  and  the  man  who  merely  apologises 
to  the  soil  now  will  find  himself  very  heavily 
penalised  in  comparison  with  the  one  who  carries 
out  every  detail  to  the  extreme  limit  of  thorough 
^ess. 

THE    CONCLUSION    OF    HARVEST 

Those  who  were  wise  in  their  generation  com- 
pleted all  harvesting  by  or  before  the  end  of 
October,  for  one  thing  because  there  could  not 
possibly  be  any  further  advantage  in  leaving  pro- 
duce in  the  ground  and  for  another  thing  because 
the  weather  of  November  is  never  to  be  rehed 
Tipon  for  important,  urgent  work,  especially  where 
the  land  is  heavy.  There  are,  however,  always 
procrastinators  who  persist  in  allowing  their 
Potatoes,  and  often  Beetroots  and  Carrots  too,  to 
remain  until  November,  and  if  they  could  find  an 
excuse,  no  matter  how  thin  it  might  be,  they  would 
leave  them  still  longer.  Let  it  be  most  clearly 
understood  that  there  is  no  excuse,  not  even  a 
bad  one,  and  also  that  further  delay  must  inevitably 
lead  to  direct  and  perhaps  very  serious  loss.  With 
the  exception  of  Parsnips,  which  are  best  lifted  in 
■weekly  supplies,  get  any  roots  that  may  still  be 
in  the  ground  out  and  into  store  at  once. 

GROWING    CROPS. 

There  are,  of  course,  numerous  plants  in  active 
growth  and,  speaking  generally,  they  are  in  splendid 
•condition  and  ought  to  provide  valuable  food  for 
the  home  regularly  until  the  spring  Cabbages 
come  in.  Late  Broccoli  is  certainly  a  source  of 
worry  in  many  cases,  but  where  any  real  difficulty 
has  presented  itself  in  the  past  growers  have  usually 
safeguarded  themselves  by  reducing  the  area  to 
the  lowest  limit  and  having  a  few  rows  of  perpetual 
or  Spinach  Beetroot,  grown  hardily  from  August- 
sown  seed,  as  these  never  fail  to  give  abundant 
suppUes  of  succulent  leaves  which,  if  they  are  not 
quite  equal  in  flavour  to  some  other  vegetables, 
are  infinitely  better  than  nothing  at  all.  The 
one  duty  associated  with  this  group  of  plants  is  to 
hoe  frequently  to  keep  the  soil  open  and  the  weeds 
down,  but  stringently  to  avoid  that  or  other  work 
entaiUng  actual  treading  on  the  soil  when  it  is 
wet. 

PROFITABLE    LABOUR. 

Every  opportunity  must  be  grasped  to  push 
forward  soil  working  during  these  two  months, 
especially  November,  because  strenuous  labour 
now  will  always  prove  highly  profitable  in  the 
ensuing   season.      The    ground   is    opened    up    to 


varying  depths  to  admit  air,  rain  and  frost,  each 
of  which  plays  a  part  of  paramount  importance, 
and  insect  eating  birds  are  able  to  proceed  with 
their  useful  tasks  more  easily  and  successfully. 
It  is,  of  course,  tor  the  individual  cultivator  to 
decide  whether  he  will  dig,  bastard  trench  or  trench 
his  soil,  but  no  one  should  be  content  with  the 
depth  of  single  digging  when  there  is  a  greater 
cultivable  depth  at  command  on  the  one  hand  and 
no  one  should  go  to  the  length  of  trenching  unless 
he  is  quite  certain  that  the  subsoil  is  sweet  on  the 
other  hand ;  the  intennediate  course,  called 
bastard,  false  or  mock  trenching,  in  which  the  sub- 
soil is  perfectly  opened  up  but  retained  wholly  in 
its  original  position  is  wisest  in  all  instances  of 
doubt  and  when  it  is  done  thoroughly  the  lower 
strata  are  sweetened  by  aeration  and  in  due  course 
trenching,  undoubtedly  the  finest  form  of  soil 
working  can  be  done  in  the  certain  knowledge  that 
it  will  be  generously  repaid.  Whatever  the  system 
decided  upon,  let  the  surface  remain  as  rough  as 
possible,  because  this  exposes  a  greater  area  to  the 
action  of  the  weather,  and  leads,  consequently,  to 
greater  good.  Manure,  which  is  almost  invariably 
best  incorporated  with  the  second  spit,  can  be  used 
now  on  medium  to  strong  soils,  but  on  very  light, 
sandy  land  it  is  frequently  preferable  to  leave  it 
until  spring,  say  till  February.      W.  H.  Lodge. 


BOOKS 

Winter  Flowers.— The  author  of  the  handy, 
compact  httle  booklet*  on  winter  flowers  is 
evidently  well  versed  in  the  cultivation  of  the 
various  Idnds  of  flowering  plants  he  has  selected 
for  his  object,  namely,  the  encouragement  of 
amateurs  who  possess  small  greenhouses  to  fill 
them  with  useful  and  interesting  plants  during 
the  dull  days  of  winter.  He  has  not  used  more 
words  than  are  absolutely  necessary  to  convey 
his  meaning  in  a  straightforward  manner.  .Amateur 
cultivators  will  not  find  any  difficulty  in  carrying 
out  the  practical  instructions  given.  The  selection 
of  the  plants  is,  of  course,  not  an  exhaustive  one, 
but  it  includes  those  that  will  afford  a  good  supply 
of  cut  flowers  and  those,  too,  that  will  furnish  the 
stages  with  handsome,  attractive  pot  plants, 
such  as  Cyclamen,  Primula,  Cineraria,  Calceolaria, 
Schizanthus,  etc.  Those  to  yield  cut  flowers 
include  Chrysanthemums  and  Tree  Carnations. 
All  the  plants  dealt  with  may  be  economically 
grown,  as  they  do  not  require  much  artificial  heat 
to  bring  them  to  perfection.  The  author  rightly 
devotes  some  space  to  "  Hints  on  Lifting  Chry- 
santhemums "  in  addition  to  their  treatment  in 
pots.     Lists  of  suitable  varieties  are  given.     The 


*  "  Winter  Flowers  and  How  to  Obtain  Them,"  by 
David  Armstrong.  Published  by  Country  Lite,  Limited, 
20,  Tavistock  Street,  Covent  Garden,  W.C.2.  Price  lid., 
post  free. 


chapter  on  Perpetual- flowering  Carnations  is  a 
brief  one — rather  too  brief.  Perhaps  this  will  be 
amplified  in  future  editions  and  more  informa- 
tion given  respecting  the  more  up-to-date  varie- 
ties. The  Schizanthus  has  been  much  improved 
as  regards  strains  during  recent  years,  and  the 
author  has  not  omitted  to  include  this  plant  and 
to  devote  a  very  useful  and  instructive  chapter 
to  its  culture.  Under  the  heading  of  Miscellaneous 
the  author  some  gives  brief  cultural  hints  on 
Sweet  Peas,  Azaleas,  Deutzia  graciUs,  Freesias, 
Narcissi  and  Tulips,  East  Lothian  Stocks,  Violets, 
etc.  All  amateur  cultivators  who  wish  to  increase 
their  winter  supply  of  charming  flowers  should 
procure  a  copy  of  this  booklet  as  soon  as  possible. — 
George  Garner. 

For  the  Gardening  Beginner. — Of  the  books 
for  the  instruction  of  the  new-comer  to  the  garden- 
ing fold  there  is  no  end.  It  was  in  expectation 
of  some  very  pleasurable  reading  that  we  opened 
a  newly  issued  book  printed  in  large,  clear  type 
and  written  by  those  well  known  and  deservedly 
respected  horticulturists,  Messrs.  Horace  J.  and 
Walter  P.  Wright.J  Yet  now,  after  perusing 
more  than  half  of  it,  the  writer  has  pushed  it 
impatiently  away  in  disgust.  The  matter  of  the 
book  bears  every  indication  of  its  having  been 
written  before  the  war — probably  several  years 
prior  to  1914.  What  service  to  anyone  is  a  work 
so  out  of  date  as  to  omit  Hugh  Dickson  from  a 
list  of  Hybrid  Perpetual  Roses,  Lady  Hillingdon 
from  the  Tea  section  and  General  McArthur  from 
the  "  H.T.'s "  ?  The  lists  of  cUmbing  and 
Wichuraiana  Roses  are  equally  antiquated. 
Dorothy  Perkins,  for  instance,  is  included  under 
Climbers.  Under  Wichuraiana  appear  only  Alb^ric 
Barbier  and  Gardenia.  The  magnificent  American 
Pillar  is  nowhere  mentioned,  nor  are  such  sorts  as 
Elise  Robichon,  Excelsa,  Dorothy  Dennison, 
Jersey  Beauty,  etc.,  to  be  found.  The  list  of 
Michaelmas  Daisies  is  equally  out  of  date.  What 
can  we  think  of  this  ?  "  There  are  many  varieties, 
of  which  Bessarabicus,  Framfieldii  and  Riverslea 
(forms  of  the  species  Amellus),  Mrs.  Raynor  and 
Wm.  Bowman  (forms  of  the  species  Novi-AngUae)  " 
— the  spelling  is  as  given — "  and  ericoides  are  a 
few  of  the  best.  Alpina  and  Novi-Bdgii  are 
also  goad."  The  itaUcs  are  the  reviewer's  !  To 
think  of  Michaelmas  Daisies  without  Chmax  and 
some  others  of  the  Novi-Belgii  is  worse  than 
picturing  Hamlet  without  the  Prince  ! 

The  article  on  Gladioli  is  no  more  up  to  date. 
Hybridisation  is  spoken  of  in  the  past  tense, 
and  there  is  not  a  word  about  the  all-conquering 
primuhnus  hybrids,  let  alone  the  new  *'  ruffled  " 
forms.  A  fairly  long  list  of  Violas  does  not  include 
Moseley  Perfection !  Again,  "  At  the  time  of 
writing,  the  popularity  of  the  Psony  Dahlias 
is  rather  a  matter  of  promise  than  of  fact.  So 
far  only  a  few  varieties  have  appeared."  Show 
and  Fancy  Dahhas  are  differentiated,  though  the 
National  Dahlia  Society  has  amalgamated  them, 
and  the  three  Star  Dahlias  mentioned  are  Jupiter, 
Mars  and  Saturn  !  Even  the  list  of  Sweet  Peas 
is  equally  out  of  date.  Further,  the  only  mention 
of  Lupinus  polyphyllus  describes  it  as  blue,  but 
"  There  are  several  varieties,  including  a  white, 
a  purple  and  a  yellow  (Somerset)  " — no  mention 
of  the  pink  sorts  at  all ! 

The  titles  of  some  of  the  chapters  are  not  too 
happy,  e.g..  that  on  "  Hardy  Herbaceous  Plants," 
which  includes  such  things  as  China  Asters  and 
Phlox  Drummondii.  Of  these  latter  it  is  stated 
"  Named  varieties  of  annual  Phlox  are  not  offered," 
which  will  be  news  to  most  people  ! 


X  "  Beautiful  Flowers  and  How  to  Grow  Them,"  by 
Horaee  J.  Wright  and  Walter  P.  Wright ;  402  pages, 
4to.  Published  by  T.  C.  and  B.  C.  Jack,  Limited,  35  and 
36,  Paternoster  Kow,  E.G.  ;    price  not  stated. 


THE 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


/oU  LXXXVI.— No.  2661. 

:iitered  as  Second-class  Matter  at  the  New  York.  N.V.,  PoatOffloe. 


Saturday.  November   18,  1922 


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SALMON     CORAL     FRUITS     AND    GOLDEN     SPINES 
OF     BERBERIS     SUBCAULL\LATA. 


MERRYWEATHER'S    ROSES 


FOR    THE    GARDEN  I 
FOR    BEDS! 


FOR    EXHIBITION! 
FOR    EVERYWHERE 


Also  Fruit  Trees,  Shrubs,  Ornamental  Trees. 
Please   state  your  wants. 

H.    MERRYWEATHER   &   SONS,  LTD. 
Garden  Specialists,  SOUTHWELL,  NOTTS. 

BARR'S      BEAUTIFUL      IRISES 

FOR    NOVEMBER    PLANTING. 

AwariJed  R.H.S.   Cold  Medal  al  the   Great  Iris   Conference,  June   7th.    1922. 
COLLECTIONS    OF    TALL     FLAG     IRISES. 
100  in  lOO  superb  named  varieties 
50    ..     5°        >,  ,1  ,, 

25   ,,     25 


12 


75/-,  100  -   &   120/- 

36/-,     48/-   &     60/- 
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8/-,     12-  &      15/- 
per  loo,  55/-  ;   per  doz.,  8/- 


Choice  mixed  varieties,  without  names 

COLLECTIONS     OF    LARGE-FLOWERED     BULBOUS     IRISES. 
6  each  of  12  splendid  varieties  .  .  .  .  20/- 

3      ,,  12  ,,  ,,  10/6 

Splendid    mixture  of  large-flowered  Bulbous  Irises  per  100,   9/6  ;    doz.,  1/4 
BARR    A     ^OIM^  '*'*>  ^^  ^  13'  KINO  street, 

^_Z^jy_  **   ^V^l^^j  COVENT   QARDEN,   LONDON,  W.C.A. 

THE    CHEAPEST     FRUIT    TREE 
SMEARING    COMPOUND. 


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141bs.,  30/-;    2Slbs.,  55'-. 


9/6;    71bs.,    17/-; 


TAPLOW    GARDEN    MATS. 

i\'o  Archangels  this  season  !     Taplows  are  equal   in  weight,  superior  in  frost 
resistance,  wear  longer,  and  are  nearly  as  cheap  as  Archangels 

CAUSTIC  ALKALI,  The  Original  Winter  Wash 

Tested  and  accepted  by  the  World's  Fruit  Growing  Centres  as  the  best. 
40  tins,  60/-  ;  20  tins,  30/-  ;   10  tins,  15/6  ;  5  tins,  8/-. 

New  Autumn  and   Winter  List   Gratis. 

Wm.  WOOD  &  SON,  Ltd.,  Taplow,  Bucks. 

YORK  STONE  CRAZY  PAVING 

50/-  per  ton,  100  ft.  lots  or  more. 

GREY    LIMESTONE   AND    RED    SANDSTONE    ROCKERY, 
50/-  per  ton. 

Waterworn  and  Weathered  WESTMORELAND   LIMESTONE, 
also  WALLING  STONE,  at  57/6  per  ton. 
Delivered  Free  in  London  within  reasonable  distance.      Special  Prices  for  Truckloads. 

ROCKERIES     FORMED     AND     PLANTED 


Vs/m.     BIGNELL    &     SON, 

NORTH      ROAD,     HIGHGATE,     N.6 


Pho 


Hornsey  2868. 


THE     GARDEN. 


[November   i8,   1922.  j 


"THE    GARDEN"   CATALOGUE    GUIDE 


Rose  Specialists 


GEORGE  PRINCE 

LONGWORTH 

BERKS 


Specialist  in 
Roses  of  all 
descriptions 


The  Champion  Decorative  Rose  Grower 
of  England, 

RELISHA  J.  HICKS.  M.C.N.R.S.,  etc., 
OSES  Hurst,  Berks. 


riRST 

FOR 


Fruit  Trees  and  Plants 


PERRY'S 

Hardy  Plant  Farms 

ENFIELD,   MIDDX. 


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and  Per*nnialfl 

Complata 
Collection 


KELWAY   &   SON 
Retail  Plant  Department 
LANGPORT,   SOMERSET. 


Hardy  Plants 
Colour  Borders 
Gladioli 


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MIDDLESEX 

Established  1797 


For  planting    and 
Conservatory 
decoration. 
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BEDFORD 


Strawberries 

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MERSTHAM,   SURREY 


Specialist  in 
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and  Alpines 
Cataloguaa  free 


KINGSLEY  FRUIT  FARM 

AND  NURSERY 
KINGSLEY 
BORDON,  HANTS 


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BLACKMORE  &  LANGDON 
TwERTON  Hill  Nursery 
BATH 


Beasnias 
DelpNiniums 
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Cyolannen,  etc. 


DAWKINS 

408,  King's  Road 

CHELSEA,   S.W. 


Bulb 

Catalogue 
now   ready. 


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HAWLNARK 


NEWTOWNARDS. 

09  Down. 

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SPECIALISTS 


by  Royal 
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decorative.— Price  List  from  Pradal  &  Co  , 
26,  Goodge  Street.  London,  W.I. 


Garden  Sundries 


CORRY   &    CO.,    Ltd. 
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Merchants  and 
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kingston-on-th.\mes 


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R.   WALLACE   &   CO.,   Ltd. 
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tunbridge  wells 


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&  58,  Castlegate, Nottingham 
Nurseries  near  Matlock 


Rock,  Water  or 
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(Specialist  in  Garden  Planning) 

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WALLACE'S  IRISES. 

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Iris  Gardens."      Post  free  on  application. 

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PEMBERTON'S  ROSES. 

Descriptive  '  List,     Guide    to     Selection 
and  Pruning  now  ready. 

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1 


FRUIT  TREES  :  ROSE  TREES 

Descriptive  Catalogue  post  free  on  demand. 
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SPECIALITIES. 

FRUIT   TREES 
ROSES 

Alpines  &  Hardy  Perennial 
Ornamental  Trees  &  Shrub 
Hardy  Climbing  Plants 

Interesting    Descriptive    and    Illustrated    Catalogu 
of  all  the  above  free  on  application. 

We  have  very  large  stocks  of  Fruit  Trees  : 
splendid  condition  this  season.  Grown  on  selecte 
pedigree  stocks,  healthy,  well  rooted,  and  true  I 
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quality  and  in  great  variety. 

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[glElB]ElB]E]E]E]E]E]E]E]E]B]E]E]E]E]E 

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noted  for  over  a  Century 
for  their  hardiness  and  reli- 
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HARRIS'S    ROSE    TREES 

200,000    TO    OFFER. 

My  Catalogue  describes  more    than   400    varietie; 
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E.      HARRIS, 
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SPEOIALrrE. 


TREES   AND   SHRUBS 


for    AUTUMN      COLOUR 
and  WINTER    BERRIES 
(Carriage  Paid.) 

V.  N.  Gauntlett  &  Co.,  Ltd., 

Japanese  Nurseries,  Chiddingfold,  Surrey, 


^<7>CLX«?v€la 


No.  2661.— Vol.  LXXXVI.] 


[November  18,  1922. 


SOME      BEAUTIFUL      ANEMONES 


No  one  could  call  the  Anemone  a  popular 
flower  and  yet  it  undoubtedly  comprises 
some  species  and  varieties  as  beautiful 
as  anything  that  Nature  can  shew  and 
in  its  whole  range,  so  far  as  we  know  it 
at  present,  there  is  nothing  ugly  and  very  little 
that  is  not  really  beautiful.  The  colour  range  is 
very  extensive  and  includes  brilliant  reds  (A.^. 
fulgens  and  coronaria),  bright  blues  (.^A.  apennina 
and  blanda),  clear  yellows  (.\A.  ranunculoides  and 
palmata),  and  a  great  variety  of  soft  shades  of 
purple,  pink  and  yellow,  besides  wonderful  crystal 
whites.  Some  of  the  alpine  species  are  perhaps  a 
little  difficult,  at  any  rate  they  need  special 
treatment,  and  some  species  and  strains 
need  some  winter  protection,  but  there 
are  many  to  which  neither  qualification 
at  all  applies.  It  is  therefore  a  matter 
for  speculation  why  the  Anemone  is 
not  more  highly  esteemed  by  gardeners 
generally.  Perhaps  it  is  awaiting  its 
turn.  It  may  be  that  the  day  will 
come  when  this  flower  will  have  a 
society  to  further  its  interest.  There 
are  many  who  think  it  far  worthier  of 
such  assistance  and  distinction  than 
the  rather  coarse  and  only  half-hardy, 
if  very  useful,  DahUa. 

The  brilliantly  coloured  St.  Brigid 
-Anemones  and  their  relatives  and 
progenitors,  A.\,  fulgens  and  coronaria, 
are  worthy  of  more  detailed  considera- 
tion than  can  be  afforded  them  here. 
The  beautiful  and  useful  Japanese 
Anemone  in  its  many  charming  varieties 
is  generally  known  and  cultivated  and 
it  must  suffice  now  to  call  attention  to 
the  merits  of  two  varieties  which  are 
not  so  widely  grown  as,  according  to 
their  merits,  they  certainly  deserve  to 
be.  These  are  Gcante  des  Blanches, 
the  magnificent  and  substantial  pure 
white  which  should  entirely  supersede 
Honorine  Joubert,  and  cristata,  with 
soft  rose  flowers  and  pretty  divided 
rather  ferny  foliage. 

The  Hepaticas  alone,  w'ith  their 
welcome  blossom  in  early  spring,  should 
make  the  Anemone  family  an  honoured 
one  in  gardens.  The  original  and 
typical  single  blue  form  is  undoubtedly 
the  best,  but  the  albino  and  rosy 
varieties  are  also  welcome.  The  double 
blue  is  very  rare  and  correspondingly 
dear,  but  has  no  special  garden  value. 
The  double  white,  too,  is  uncommon. 


but  the  double  rose  is  very  plentiful  and  cheap 
and,  being  a  shade  deeper  in  colour  than  the  single 
rose  form  and  more  lasting,  is  worth  ha\ing. 
A.  angulosa,  however,  is  the  finest  of  the  Hepaticas, 
the  flowers  being  larger  and  the  habit  of  the  plant 
more  lax  than  in  A.  Hepatica.  The  typical  plant 
is  a  glorious  bright  blue,  but  there  are  several 
colour  forms  in  commerce  and  a  rather  uncommon 
pure  white  one. 

It  is  doubtful  if  any  species  is  really  much  more 
beautiful  than  our  native  Wood  Anemone,  A. 
nemorosa  which,  as  generally  seen,  is  a  pure,  if 
partially  transparent  white  with,  of  course,  beau- 
tiful  clusters   of   golden   stamens.      In   the   west, 


A    CHOICE    WHITE    ANEMONE,    A.    RUPICOLA. 


however,  forms  with  blue  coloration  abound,  of 
which  probably  the  finest  is  A.  n.  AUenii,  though 
many  prefer  the  more  fragile  looking,  rather  opal- 
escent Robinsoniana,  in  which  most  of  the  colouring 
is  on  the  exterior  and  shines  through.  Though  so 
fragile  looking  this  is  a  good  "  doer  "  and,  in  a 
nice  leafy  compost  will  increase  rapidly,  even  in  the 
open  rock  garden.  There  is  the  inevitable  double 
form  and  a  much  more  beautiful  one  called  bracteata 
which  in  any  other  flower  would  be  called  "  anemone- 
flowered." 

Of  the  nemorosa  kindred,  A.  trifoha  is  an  alpine, 
more  robust  in  appearance  and  more  solid  of  flower. 
Like  A.  nemorosa,  it  has  a  tendency  to  produce 
blue-flowered  forms  but,  white  or  blue, 
it  is  always  lovely  and,  under  similar 
conditions  to  the  Wood  Anemone,  easy. 
A.  nikoensis  from  Japan  is,  except  for 
slightly  more  cut  foliage,  almost 
identical  with  A.  nemorosa.  A. 
ranunculoides  is  near  akin  though  the 
more  cup-shaped  and  smaller  blossoms 
are  practically  buttercup  yellow.  Small 
clumps  with  few  flower  heads  are  not 
attractive,  but  a  little  drift,  whether  in 
semi-woodland  or  in  the  rock  garden,  is 
pleasing  enough.  From  Siberia  comes 
a  very  similar  plant  called  A.  coerulea, 
though  the  blue  appears  never  to  be 
niore  pronounced  than  that  of  A. 
nemorosa  Robinsoniana.  Forms  \vith 
more  pink  than  blue  are  common. 

^  A.  alpina  and  its  variety  sulphurea 
adorn  vast  stretches  of  the  European 
.Mps.  Both  species  and  variety  are 
exceedingly  variable  and  it  is  very 
necessary  to  look  out  for  good  types 
for  our  gardens.  This  species  has  huge 
woody  rootstocks  and  needs  a  deep, 
well  cultivated  soil  quite  in  the  open. 
.A  light,  moderately  fertile  loam  suits  it 
best,  which  must  be  reaUy  well  drained. 
The  best  forms  of  A.  alpina  are  larger 
flowered  than  the  sulphur  form  and  in 
their  snowy  purity  magnificent,  but 
this  latter  is  entirely  worthy  and  so 
distinct  as  almost  to  deserve  specific 
rank.  A.  occidentahs,  the  correspond- 
ing form  from  the  New  World,  is 
smaller  in  all  its  parts,  rather  starrier 
of  flower  and  with  much  more  finely 
divided  foliage.  It  requires  similar 
cultural  conditions. 

The  clear  blue  stars  of  A.  appenina 
are  one  of  the  joys  of  the  spring 
garden.    Easily  established  in  any  light 


576 


THE    GARDEN. 


[November  i8,  1922. 


ANEMONE    ALPINA    SULPHUREA    ON    THE    MEIDEN    ALPS. 


THE    EXCEEDINGLY    GRACEFUL    ANEMONE    NARCISSIFLORA 


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^^ 


«  -  »r' 


A    COLONY    OF    ANEMONE    NEMOROSA    ALLENII. 


rather  leaf-mouldy  soil  in  full  or  partial  shade,  it 
is  one  of  the  "  indispensables,"  A.  blanda  has- 
usually  the  same  clear  blue  flowers,  but  is  smaller 
habited  and  less  leafy.  Of  the  two  species  it  is 
the  less  effective,  but  has  the  more  than  counter- 
balancing advantage  of  early  flowering.  The 
scanty  foliage  quickly  withers  after  flowering  and 
it  may  be  used,  with  or  without  a  carpet  of  Stone- 
crop  or  other  light  carpeter,  to  fringe  a  shrubbery. 
It  succeeds  in  open  woodland,  however,  and  is 
admirable  there,  though  it  flowers  most  freely  and 
increases  (from  seed)  most  readily  on  the  southern 
fringe  where  the  sun  can  penetrate  to  ripen  the 
tubers.  There  are  soft  pink  and  rich  purple  forms 
and,  perhaps,  most  beautiful  of  all,  the  variety 
scythinica,  of  which  the  flowers  are  blue  without, 
white  within. 

The  Pasque  Flower,  A.  Pulsatilla,  may  be  taken 
as  typical  of  a  very  quaint  and  beautiful  section  of 
the  family.  It  is  often  found  as  a  wilding  in 
Britain,  but  is  not  truly  indigenous,  having  probably 
been  introduced  by  the  Romans,  who  used  it  as  a 
dye.  As  raised  from  seed  the  Pasque  Flower  varies 
somewhat  in  hue,  but  is  almost  invariably  some 
rich  but  rather  sombre  shade  of  purple.  The 
opening  flowers  are  held  erect,  but  as  the  stems 
elongate  they  become  more  or  less  pendent.  The 
slowly  unfurling,  much  divided  leaves  are  one  of 
the  plant's  chief  charms  at  blossom  time,  for  they 
are  a  delightful  silvery  grey  in  colour  and  wonder- 
fully silky  in  texture.  There  is  a  pure  white  form 
called  White  Swan  and  a  clear  shell-pink  one  called 
Mrs.  Van  der  Elst.  The  plant,  usually  or,  at  least, 
often  offered  as  Pulsatilla  alba,  is  not  a  pure  white, 
nor  very  pleasing.  A.  Pulsatilla  is  quite  easy  to 
grow  in  any  well  drained  soil  with  a  good  lime 
content.  It  is  apt  to  become  coarse  and  weedy  in 
loose  or  over-rich  soils. 

Closely  related  is  A.  Halleri.  The  foliage  of  this 
species  is  also  grey  and  silky,  but  not  at  all  finely 
divided  and  the  flowers  are  throughout  held  erect. 
The  flowers  are  violet  purple  within  and  heavily 
hung  with  "  silk "  without.  This,  perhaps  the 
most  beautiful  of  the  Pulsatilla  clan  which  have 
found  their  way  into  our  gardens  is  also  a  European 
alpine,  but  unlike  that  species  it  is  calcifuge.  A 
good  depth  of  sweet,  not  over  rich  loam  in  full  sun 
meets  its  requirements. 

Three  other  species  of  the  Pulsatilla  group  some- 
times seen  in  gardens  are  AA.  pratensis,  montana 
and  patens.  Pratensis  too  often  masquerades  in 
gardens  as  Pulsatilla,  to  which,  in  fact,  it  is  much 
inferior.  The  foUage  is  similar,  but  the  flowers  are 
duller  in  colour,  never  held  erect,  even  when  first 
open,  and  narrow  bell  shaped,  whereas  in  Pulsatilla 
they  are  flat,  cup-shaped.  A.  montana  is  a  more 
interesting  plant,  but  rare  in  gardens.  The  flowers 
are  ruddy  purple — sometimes  \-ery  dark — and  the 
foliage  dark  green,  not  grey.  The  blossoms  are,  in 
shape,  somewhat  like  those  of  pratensis,  but  are 
borne  on  taller  stalks.  With  Anemone  patens 
the  foliage  does  not  commence  to  unfurl  until  after 
the  blossoms  have  expanded.  The  very  distinct 
much  cut,  but,  on  the  whole,  rather  rounded  foliage, 
is   smooth   and   green   above,   but   silky   beneath. 

In  A.  narcissiflora  we  come  to  an  alpine  of  a 
totally  different  type,  and  instinct  with  grace  and 
loveliness.  The  blossoms  are  creamy,  often  with  a 
purplish  stain  on  the  backs  of  the  petals  and  the 
plant  is  not  inaptly  named,  for  something  in  the 
poise  of  the  loosely  clustered  flowers  reminds  one 
of  some  of  the  polyanthus  Narcissi ;  moreover,  at  a 
little  distance,  the  clustered  stamens  suggest  the 
Narcissus  cup.  It  grows  about  a  foot  tall  and  like 
many  other  alpines  seems  to  ha\e  an  objection  to 
isolation.  It  is  much  happier  interplanted  and 
hedged  about  with  other  plants  of,  preferably, 
dwarfer  habit — small  Ferns  answer  excellently. 

Similar  conditions  suit  A.  sylvestris,  though  many 
find  this  easier  to  grow.     Indeed,  given  fairly  rich 


November  i8,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


577 


light  loam  and  a  tolerably  moist,  but  not  bogar\", 
root  nm,  it  will,  like  A.  japonica,  run  about  until 
it  is  almost  a  nuisance.  The  flowers,  though 
■smaller,  are  reminiscent  of  those  of  the  Japanese 
Anemone,  but  carried  on  naked  stems  Sins,  to 
loins.  tall.  Anemone  rupicola  from  the  Himalaya 
is  more  or  less  intermediate  between  AA.  sylvestris 
and  japonica. 

A.  baldensis  is  a  true  alpine  from  the  Southern 
Alps,  including  the  Dolomites,  and  is  always  found 
at  very  considerable  elevations.  Farrer  recom- 
niends    to    grow    this    white-flowered    gem,    which 


is  sparse  habited  and  spreads  by  underground 
wires,  in  "  a  very  earthy  moraine  with  a  few  large 
coarse  blocks  buried  in  it  and  water  flowing  below," 
but  gi%cn  a  light,  rather  stony  soil  and  the  com- 
pany of  other  dwarf  plants,  it  has  always  succeeded, 
if  not  exactly  flourished,  with  the  writer. 

With  A.  palmata  we  come  to  the  end  of  the 
species  to  which  it  is  desired  to  call  attention. 
This  is  undoubtedly  the  best  of  the  yellow  species 
and  not  at  all  difficult  of  culture  in  the  sunny  rock 
garden.  It  likes  a  deep  soil  containing  a  fair 
amount  of  humus  and  sharp  drainage. 


HEATHS    AND    OTHER    SHRUBS    FOR 
UNDERGROWTH 


A    NY  Ught  woodland  loam,  free    from    lime, 

^^       is   a   suitable   medium   for   the   growing 

/  ^     of    a    considerable    number    of    lowly 

^^^%    shrubs  which,  in  addition  to  their  own 

'  ■  individual     beauty     and     interest,     are 

useful  for  covering  the  ground  beneath  trees  and 


fine-leaved  foliage  in  a  pecuharly  vivid  moss  green 
which  is  distinctive.  Among  such  Heaths  as  the 
above,  various  Cotoneasters  as,  for  example,  CC. 
microphylla  and  congesta  may  be  planted  with 
most  charming  results,  even  on  the  flat.  In 
addition   to   these   species   one   may   mention   the 


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W/^^Kj^r^f^^t^T    •                  '     .^^     J^^^ .    -liA^flOuLi^^i^^^WltM         I  jitll 

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VERONICA    TRAXTRSII    IN    A    WOODLAND    GARDEN. 


taller    shrubs    and    thus    enhancing    the    general 
eSect. 

Many  of  the  Heaths  are  admirable  for  such 
conditions.  If  they  do  not  bloom  quite  so  abun- 
dantly as  with  lull  exposure,  they  give  more  colour 
ihan  most  shade  plants,  and  that  at  seasons  when 
flowers  are  comparatively  few.  Erica  cinerea, 
in  a  robust  form  like  rosea,  or  even  the  typical 
wild  species,  is  one  of  the  best  of  Heaths  for  fairly 
open  woodland,  and  one  that  will  blossom  freely 
over  a  long  period  in  summer.  Another  first-rate 
member  of  this  genus  is  E.  camea.  This  species 
flowers  from  Januar>'  to  May,  and  we  have  planta- 
tions in  the  shadow  of  Oaks  which  give  as  fine  a 
display  of  colour  as  those  fully  exposed.  E. 
darleyensis,  though  it  will  make  a  dense  bottom 
growth  of  a  deeper  and  more  pleasing  shade  of 
green  than  the  foregoing,  does  not  bloom  quite 
so  freely  as  it  does  in  full  light.  Then  there  is 
the  prostrate  form  of  E.  scoparia  (var.  pumila) 
vhich     will    form     a    thick-set,    low    cushion    of 


deciduous  C.  horizontalis  and  its  smaller  "  edition  " 
C.  adpressa. 

Most  of  the  Gaultherias  are  also  suitable  for 
woodland.  Among  these  G.  trichophylla,  a  little 
creeping  species  with  deep  green  leaves  and  pink 
flowers  which  produces  pale  blue  berries  as  large 
as  a  robin's  egg,  is  one  of  the  most  delightful. 
G.  nummularioides  is  another  excellent  species, 
and  the  white-berried  and  more  shrubby  G. 
pyrolffifolia  should  always  be  given  a  place.  G. 
procumbens,  which  will  carry  its  bright  crimson 
fruits  all  winter,  is  another  deservedly  popular 
kind,  and  there  are  several  others,  including 
G.  Shallon,  whose  normal  height  of  4ft.  is  usually 
much  less  in  land  not  naturally  moist.  Though 
generally  listed  among  the  peat  plants,  all  these 
Gaultherias  will  do  in  a  hme-free  loam  which  does 
not  get  too  dry  in  summer.  An  occasional  top- 
dressing  of  leaf-mould  or  half-decayed  fir  needles 
in  spring  is  beneficial,  and  some  of  this  should  be 
incorporated  with  such  soil  when  planting. 


I'achystima  Myrsinites  and  P.  Canbyi,  hardy 
American  evergreens  of  about  ift.,  with  box-like 
lea\'es,  are  uncommon  and  interesting  shrublets 
for  the  rather  more  open  spaces.  Pachysandra 
terininalis,  from  Japan,  with  its  variegated  form, 
may  also  be  planted  in  shade  that  is  not  too 
dense,  and  the  .American  P.  procumbens  will  do 
in  similar  conditions.  Both  of  these  are  quite 
dwarf  foliage  plants,  but  the  latter,  being  sub- 
evergreen,  is  the  less  attractive.  The  Sand 
Myrtle,  Leiophyllum  buxifolium,  is  another  little 
evergreen  shrub  in  character  with  the  aboxe, 
but  in  addition  to  its  small  but  numerous  dark 
green,  glossy  leav'es  it  bears  a  multitude  of  tiny 
white  flowers  which  are  preceded  by  vivid  pink 
buds.  This  is  quite  easy  in  average  cool  loam 
where  the  shade  is  not  too  heavy,  but  the  allied 
Ledums,  of  which  there  are  several  good  kinds, 
do  not  seem  to  prosper  here  save  where  moister 
and  more  peaty  conditions  are  provided.  This 
also  applies  to  our  native  Andromeda  polifolia, 
which,  however,  is  a  low,  spreading  shrub  well 
worthy  of  the  attention  of  those  who  can  give  it 
the  necessary  dampness  and  a  vegetable  soil. 

The  Euonymus  genus  affords  several  dwart 
species  of  exceptional  merit  for  the  purpose  in 
\iew,  both  evergreen  and  deciduous,  and  the 
fruits  of  some  of  these  are  well  known  for  their 
brilliant  colours.  Many  of  the  lesser  Veronicas, 
often  grown  in  the  rock  garden,  may  also  be  included 
here,  more  especially  those  whose  foliage  is  their 
chief  attraction.  The  partial  screen  against 
frost  provided  by  the  branches  of  deciduous  trees 
is  of  no  small  assistance  in  preserving  through  the 
winter  such  of  these  Veronicas  as  may  be  too 
tender  to  stand  more  exposed  conditions.  A 
selection  should  include  VV.  lycopodioides, 
loganioides,  cupressoides,  Hectori,  camosula, 
edinensis  and  decumbens.  For  breaking  the 
monotony,  or  wherever  something  taller  is  desir- 
able, Veronica  TraversU  is  excellent 

The  Vacciniums  also  comprise  several  species 
which  ■  are  of  lowly  stature  and  by  nature 
eminently  adapted  for  life  beneath  tall  woodland 
trees  in  any  lime-free  loam.  W.  buxifolium 
(Gaylussacia  brachycera),  pennsylvanicum,  Vitis- 
Idrea.  macrocarpum  (Oxycoccus  macrocarpus) 
and  canadense  are  among  the  best,  and  some  of 
these  are  not  only  pretty  in  flower  and  fruit  but 
they  assume  fine  autumn   tints. 

Ruscus  aculeatus  (Butcher's  Broom)  will  thrive 
in  the  densest  shade,  and  then  there  is  the  less 
rigid  and  generally  more  pleasing  Ale.\andrian 
Laurel,  Ruscus  racemosus,  which  prefers  a  rather 
more  open  situation.  Though  both  of  these 
delight  in  a  calcareous  soil,  they  will  do  quite  well 
in  lime-free  loam.  The  familiar  Rose  of  Sharon, 
Hypericum  calycinum,  is  one  of  the  handsomest 
of  woodland  flowering  shrubs  we  possess,  but, 
one  need  hardly  add,  it  must  be  used  with  caution 
owing  to  its  ramping  nature.  H.  Moserianum  is 
equally  good,  much  safer  and  its  variegated  form 
is  very  distinct.  Hymenanthera  crassifolia  is  a 
low-growing,  shrubby  New  Zealand  species,  hardier 
than  most  plants  from  that  country,  and  one  that 
may  be  planted  with  confidence  in  any  thin  wood- 
land. It  may  be  grouped  with  good  effect  with 
such  shrubs  as  Corokeas,  also  from  New  Zealand, 
with  their  pretty  leaf  tints  and  yellow  fruits, 
provided  the  shade  is  not  too  heavy.  Nor  can  one 
pass  over  the  merits  of  that  diminutive  Holly, 
Ilex  crenata,  of  which  there  are  one  or  two  attrac- 
tive varieties.  The  best  forms  of  Berberis  .Aqui- 
toUuni  (Oregon  Grape)  are  admirable  for  wood- 
land, and  we  have  found  B.  Wallichianum  first- 
rate'  for  semi-shade.  B.  Bealii,  since  it  flowers  in 
mid-winter,  appreciates  the  shelter  afforded  by  tall 
deciduous  trees,  and  other  members  of  this  charm- 
ing race  suitable  for  such  planting  will  occur  to  the 
reader  who  scans  the  trade  lists.  A.  T.  J. 


578 


THE    GARDEN. 


[November  i8,  ic,22. 


THE    NEW    SWEET    PEAS 


THE  Sweet  Pea  is  still  a  popular  flower. 
The  leading  raisers  are  busy  improving 
and  reselecting  stocks  of  the  favourite 
standard  varieties  as  well  as  introducing 
new  colours.  At  the  same  time  they 
are  losing  little,  if  any,  of  the  charm  that  character- 
ises the  flower  from  a  decorative  standpoint, 
its  gracefulness  and  scent.  A  bunch  of  freshly 
gathered  modern  Sweet  Peas  is  sufftciently  fragrant 
to  diffuse  a  delicate  perfume  indoors,  and  when 
one  walks  down  the  rows  on  a  warm,  sunny  day 
the  presence  of  the  Queen  of  .Annuals  is  quite 
evident.  There  are  critics  who  would  have  us 
believe  that  no  modem  lavender  Sweet  Pea  can 
compare  with  the  old  Lady  Grisel  Hamilton, 
that  Dorothy  Eckford  or  Nora  Unwin  are  still 
unsurpassed  as  whites,  or  that  Moonstone  or 
Mother  o'  Pearl  have  not  yet  been  equalled  in 
their  respective  colours,  but  W'hen  these  are  grown 
side  by  side  with  such  fine  new  varieties  as  Powers- 
court  and  Elsie  Dene,  Austin  Frederick  Improved 
or  any  of  the  modern  frilled  whites,  it  is  easy  to 
see  how  the  Sweet  Pea  has  advanced  in  size,  form, 
length  of  stem  and  waviness  since  the  days  of  the 
late  Henry  Eckford.  Lady  Grisel  Hamilton, 
Dorothy  Eckford,  Moonstone  and  Mother  o'  Pearl 
have  had  their  day — it  is  the  age  of  the  super- 
Spencer  type. 

I  do  not  think  that  the  up-to-date  grow'er  will 
have  much  cause  for  complaint  if  he  tries  a  selection 
of  the  undermentioned  new  Sweet  Peas.  Most 
of  them  I  know  well,  many  of  them  I  have  tried 
for  the  past  two  seasons,  the  hot,  dry  summer 
of  1921  and  the  past  year  when  the  w*eather  was 
the  reverse. 

The  raiser's  name  is  indicated  in  parentheses 
after  each  variety. 

Advance  (E.  W.  King  and  Co.). — .\  rich  shade  of 
rosy  pink  on  a  white  ground.  For  many  years 
Mr.  Burt  has  been  trying  to  obtain  an  outstanding 
variety  in  this  popular  colour,  and  this  novelty 
is  the  greatest  advance  he  has  yet  made,  hence 
the  name.  The  flowers  are  beautifully  formed, 
with  a  great  proportion  of  double  and  triple 
standards,  and  in  the  height  of  the  season  borne 
mostly  in  fours.  I  have  found  this  variety  most 
reliable  in  all  kinds  of  weather.  It  is  one  of  the 
best  of  the  novelties. 

Artistry  (Bolton  and  Son). — This  variety  is 
starred  as  the  best  in  the  Fancy  Section  in  the 
new  Classification  List  of  the  National  Sweet  Pea 
Society  just  issued.  It  has  very  similar  colouring 
to  the  old  variety  Princess  Mary — shades  of  blue 
and  lavender  pink.  There  is  an  opal  sheen  in 
the  standard,  and  when  well  grown  this  art  shade 
is  very  pronounced  and  beautiful.  It  is  a  really 
vigorous  grower  and  gives  an  abundance  of  four- 
flowered  sprays  on  long  stems. 

Benbow  (Damerum). — A  brilliant  shade  of 
carmine  which  produces  fine  flowers  with  very 
long  stems.  It  wiU  be  a  rival  to  Renown  and 
Mascott's  Ingman. 

Cynthia  (J.  Stevenson). — Mr.  Stevenson  says 
of  this  novelty,  "  The  largest  pale  lavender  without 
a  doubt."  It  is  an  improvement  on  his  variety 
Faith,  both  in  size  and  colour,  and  is  very  strongly 
perfumed. 

Diana  (J.  Stevenson). — A  rich  lavender-coloured 
Sweet  Pea  which  Mr.  Stevenson  teUs  me  is  more 
frilled  and  rather  deeper  than  .\ustin  Frederick 
Improved,  a  v.iriety  that  is  very  popular  in  the 
North.  Diana  is  of  very  vigorous  constitution, 
and  if  it  beats  its  famous  rival  it  should  prove 
one  of  the  raiser's  masterpieces. 

Elsie  Dene  {Bolton  and  Son).— When  I  saw 
this  growing  in  the  seed  rows  at  Mr.  Bolton's  it 


struck  me  as  being  the  finest  of  the  pure  lavender 
blues.  Under  glass  it  is  a  soft  shade  of 
lavender,  but  out  of  doors  the  colour  is  cleaner 
and  more  distinct.  It  is  a  novelty  of  super- 
excellence,  and  one  that  is  certain  to  become 
very  popular. 

Faerie  Queen  (.\lex.  Dickson  and  Sons). — When 
grown  under  glass  or  for  garden  decoration  this 
Sweet  Pea  is  very  beautiful.  It  is  a  lovely  shade 
of  salmon  pink  on  a  cream  ground  with  a  ray  of 
apricot  salmon  across  the  centre,  the  blend  of 
colour  being  quite  unique. 

Improved  Elegance  (Woodcock). — .\  superb 
stock  of  the  well  known  variety  with  a  richer 
tone  and  the  same  perfect  placing  of  the  blooms. 
Mr.  Woodcock  sent  me  blooms  of  this  during  the 
summer,  and  I  was  much  impressed  with  it.  He 
tells  me  that  it  has  been  in  great  demand  and  the 
stock  is  nearly  exhausted. 

Improved    Jean    Ireland     (Woodcock). — This 

was  to  have  been  sent  out  as  Sylvia,  but  the  colour 
is  practically  identical  with  the  old  favourite, 
so  that  it  was  decided  to  retain  the  popular  name. 
Mr.  Woodcock  has  thus  given  the  start  in  a  com- 
mendable attempt  to  prevent  multiplicity  of 
names.  It  is  having  an  enormous  run,  and  Mr. 
Woodcock  tells  me  that  almost  every  order 
includes  it.  I  have  grown  it  this  year,  and  can 
bear  out  the  raiser's  claim  that  it  is  a  rampant 
grower,  with  huge  stems  and  an  abundance  of 
fours. 

Kenneth  (Dobbie  and  Co.). — Those  who  are 
familiar  with  the  very  frilled  type  of  Sweet  Pea 
that  Messrs.  Dobbie  and  Co.  have  made  famous 
will  be  pleased  with  this  novelty,  which  is  a  rich 
shade  of  rose  on  a  cream  ground  and  which  keeps 
its  colour  well  in  water.  It  is  short-jointed  and 
makes  an  ideal  flower  for  the  exhibitor  or  for 
culture  under  glass.  It  has  done  well  with  me 
this  year. 

May  Cowdy  (Unwin). — May  Unwin  had  great 
length  of  stem,  and  Edward  Cowdy  that  rich, 
almost  dazzling  flame  colour,  especially  in  the 
standard.  May  Cowdy  is  a  fictitious  name  that 
helps  to  shew  that  the  novelty  combines  the  best 
points  of  each  of  the  others.  It  should  be  a 
great  favourite  with  Irish  growers,  who  seem  to 
get  the  best  out  of  these  orange-scarlet  shades. 

Mignonne  (E.  W.  King  and  Co.). — A  pretty 
name  for  an  equally  pretty  Pea.  I  have  tried  it 
for  two  seasons  and  have  found  it  most  beautiful 
It  is  the  softest  shade  of  pale  cerise  on  a  cream 
ground,  rather  a  delicate  grower  and  not  quite 
sunproof,  but  well  worth  a  httle  extra  care  in 
cultivation.  Under  lampHght  the  colour  is 
exquisite. 

Mrs.  H.  Richards  (Unwin).— This  is  a  very 
pretty  decorative  v-iriety  with  a  salmon  rose 
flush  over  a  white  ground.  The  deepest  shade 
of  colour  is  in  the  wings  and  the  centre  of  the 
standard.  It  is  a  vigorous  grower  with  well 
placed  blooms  on  long  stems. 

Mrs.  Norman  Lambert  (Woodcock). — The  most 
distinct  of  the  novelties,  a  rich  blood  crimson 
not  unlike  the  colour  of  the  dark  red  Roses.  It 
is  quite  sunproof ;  in  fact,  it  simply  revelled  in 
the  hot  summer  of  192 1.  A  patch  of  this  variety 
in  full  bloom  is  a  most  brilliant  sight  and  its  unique 
shade  instantly  arrests  attention.  It  is  a  vigorous 
grower  with  plenty  of  fours  on  long  stems.  Like 
Mr.  Woodcock's  other  novelties,  it  is  in  great 
demand. 

Mrs.  Stirling  Stent  (Damemm). — .\  rich  shade 
of  salmon  rose  and  one  of  the  most  pleasing 
colours  for  culture  under  glass. 


Poppy  (J.  Stevenson). — .\  very  vivid  orange 
red  that  is  absolutely  sunproof.  In  late  autumn 
Mr.  Stevenson  had  plants  of  this  variety  loft. 
high  and  3ft.  through  the  rows  all  ablaze  with 
bloom. 

Powerscourt  (.\lcx.  Dickson  and  Sons). — Mr. 
G.  T.  Dickson  says  that  this  is  the  finest  pure 
lavender  extant  and,  judging  from  the  magnificent 
blooms  he  sent  me  in  late  August,  his  opinion  will 
not  be  far  wrong.  They  were  nearly  perfection. 
Purity  of  colour,  refinement  and  length  of  stem 
were  the  chief  characteristics,  and  every  spray 
was  a  four.  It  is  one  of  the  finest  of  modera  j 
introductions — an  outstanding  novelty.  ' 

Ringdove  (Dobbie  and  Co.). — A  lovely  cream 
pink  counterpart  of  Kenneth,  with  the  same 
heavy  frilling  in  the  standard  and  a  similar  habit. 
A  great  Sweet  Pea  grower  has  said  that  this 
variety  in  the  hands  of  an  expert  would  be  capable 
of  producing  flowers  that  would  be  unbeatable 
for  quality. 

Rosemary  (E.  W.  King  and  Co.). — A  very 
distinct  Sweet  Pea — rich  carmine  pink  overlaid 
on  a  white  ground — that,  owing  to  its  very  vigorous 
habit  and  great  length  of  stem,  is  very  easy  to 
grow.  It  makes  a  brilliant  bit  of  colour  in  the- 
rows. 

Royal  Flame  (Bolton  and  Son). — The  most 
striking  colour  yet  evolved,  and  when  I  saw  it 
growing  under  glass  at  Birdbrook  it  was  at  least 
loft.  high  and  literally  smothered  with  dazzUng 
blooms.  All  who  grow  Sweet  Peas  in  the  green- 
house should  not  fail  to  try  it.  Out  of  doors  it 
should  be  shaded. 

Royal  Cherry  (.\lex.  Dickson  and  .Sons). — 
.\nother  very  beautiful  new  colour,  bright  salmon 
cerise  which  intensifies  towards  the  edges  of  the 
standard,  afterwards  changing  to  deep  rose.  It 
needs  to  be  well  grown  to  be  seen  at  its  best. 

Shamrock  (Ireland  and  Hitchcock). — A  rosy 
mauve  with  the  vigour  of  R.  F.  Felton.  The 
colour  brightens  after  the  flowers  have  been  kept 
in  water. 

Sheila  (Damerum). — .^.nother  addition  to  the 
pale  cream  pinks.  It  is  highly  recommended 
for  exhibition  work. 

The  Sultan  (E.  W.  King  and  Co.). — The  best 
of  the  very  dark  Sweet  Peas.  It  is  a  shining 
black  maroon.  Of  similar  habit  to  Rosemary,, 
and  I  find  it  as  easy  to  grow  as  this  variety.  It 
will  make  a  very  telling  vase  for  exhibition. 

Viscountess  Lascelles  (Damerum). — A  pale 
lavender  with  a  \'ery  frilled  standard  that  was- 
much  admired  at  the  last  Chelsea  Show. 

Wild  Rose  (J.  Stevenson). — Mr.  Ste\'enson 
tells  me  that  everyone  who  has  seen  this  novelty- 
wants  it.  It  is  a  very  vigorous  grower,  and  the 
colour  is  a  soft  shade  of  old  rose  with  a  flush  of 
orange  in  the  standard. 

Wonderful  (Bolton  and  Son). — When  I  first 
saw  this  variety  two  years  ago  I  was  very  much 
impressed  with  its  wonderful  colouring,  and 
suggested  to  Mr.  Bolton  that  it  could  have  no- 
better  name  than  the  adjective  which  so  aptly 
describes  it.  To  see  it  growing  in  the  long  rows- 
at  Mr.  Bolton's  home  gives  a  true  impression  of 
its  striking  colour,  and  it  may  be  described  as  a 
deeper  Royal  Scot.  I  have  found  it  as  sunproof 
as  that  famous  variety. 

A  dozen  clumps  of  the  following  novelties- 
would  look  very  effective  in  this  order : 
Wonderful,  .Advance,  Poppy,  Powerscourt, 
Kenneth,  Improved  Jean  Ireland,  Mrs.  Norman 
Lambert,  Elsie  Dene,  The  Sultan,  Mrs.  H. 
Richards,  Shamrock  and  Benbow.  It  would  be 
a  representation  of  the  latest  creations  of  the 
leading  raisers  of  this  very  useful,  almost  indis- 
pensable, annual.  Norman  Lambert. 


November  i8,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


579 


TREE    AND    SHRUB    GARDEN 

PENDULOUS    OR    WEEPING    TREES 


TREES  of  weeping  or  pendulous  habit 
can  be  most  effectively  planted  in  the 
pleasure  grounds  and  park.  They  are 
perhaps  seen  to  best  advantage  on  closely 
shaven  lawns.  The  more  or  less  formal 
outline  of  weeping  trees  can  be  used  effectively, 
too,  in  courtyards  and  terrace  gardens.  With  a 
little  training  some  weeping  trees  make  excellent 
arbours  in  summer.  The  best  for  this  purpose 
are  the  pendulous  forms  of  the  common  Ash, 
of  the  Beech,  and  of  the  Scotch  and  Feathered 
Elms.  In  the  park,  protection  against  animals 
is  necessary,  unless  the  trees  are  grafted  or  trained 
to  a  considerable  height  in  the  early  stages  of 
growth.  Shady  arbours  by  the  waterside  are 
refreshingly  cool  and  dehghtful  in  summer.  The 
best  trees  for  this  purpose  are  the  pendulous 
Willows,  Alder  and  Aspens. 

There  are  two  distinct  types  of  pendulous 
or  **  weeping  "  branches,  the  first  being  of  more 
or  less  prostrate  habit  of  growth  and  requiring 
constant  training  to  produce  specimen  trees. 
This  type  is  represented  by  Ulnius  montana  var. 
pendula  and  Fraxinus  excelsior  var.  pendula. 
The  second  type  comprises  trees  which  naturally 
grow  more  or  less  upright  but  have  distinctly 
pendulous  branchlets,  as  illustrated  by  Salix 
babylonica  and  Taxus  baccata  var.  Dovastoni. 

While  a  good  number  of  the  second  group  can 
be  grown  on  their  own  roots,  by  far  the  best  results 
with  the  first  group  are  secured  by  grafting  on 
the  straight  or  type  species  usually  fairly  high  up 
to  give  the  tree  a  good  start.  Until  the  desired 
height  is  attained  it  is  necessary  to  keep  the 
leader  or  leaders  tied  to  a  central  stake.  To 
obtain  the  large  arbour  (umbrella)  like  growth 
with  the  clean  central  trunk  the  pendulous  graft 
is  worked  at  a  height  of  8ft.,  loft.  or  more.  The 
spread  of  the  branches  is  gradually  trained  out- 
wards. In  course  of  time  supports  in  the  form  of 
props  are  often  necessary  to  keep  the  branches 
off  the  ground.  If  the  tree  is  used  as  an  arbour, 
the  props   must  necessarily  be   6ft.   or   8ft.   long. 


I  have  in  mind  a  beautiful 
specimen  Weeping  Beech, 
with  at  least  twenty  props 
beneath,  under  which  it 
would  not  be  difficult  to 
accommodate  twenty-five 
to  thirty  people  to  tea. 

Taken  botanically,  in 
alphabetical  order,  the 
most  important  pendulous 
trees  include  : 

Acer  d.\svcarpum  pen- 
dulum.— This  form  of  the 
Silver  Maple  has  pen- 
dulous branches.  It  no 
doubt  originated  as  a 
seedling,  being  an  ex- 
tremely graceful  tree 
requiring  only  normal 
training. 

.-^LNUS  INCAN.\  PENDUL.'i. 

— -A  VV'eeping  Alder  of 
which  there  is  said  to  be  a 
specimen  at  Elvaston 
Castle  about   looft.   high. 

Betula  Youngii. — This 
Birch  has  more  or  less 
pendulous  branchlets. 
Young's  Weeping  Birch 
is  a  very  distinct  and 
attractive  tree. 

Crat.egus  monogyna 
PENDULA. — The  Weeping 
Hawthorn  is  a  most 
beautiful  tree  when  in 
flower,  and  particularly 
valuable  for  small  gardens. 

Fagus      sylvatica 
PE.NDULA. — The  Weeping  Beech  is  one  of  the  widest 
spreading  and  best  known  trees  of  pendulous  habit. 
F.  s.  purpurea  pendula  is  a  Weeping  Purple  Beech. 

Fraxinus     angcstifolia     pendula     and     F. 
EXCELSIOR  pendula  are  distinct  and  ornamental. 


THE     WEEPING     WYCH     ELM,    ULMUS     MONTANA    PENDULA. 


A    NOBLE    LIME,    TILIA    PETIOLARIS. 


The  last  named  can  be  very  effectively  trained 
to  form  a  "  living "  summer-house  or  arboui;. 
.^t  Elvaston  Castle,  Derby,  there  is  a  famous 
Weeping  Ash  g8ft.  high.  It  was  illustrated  in 
The  Garden,  Vol.  LXVIII,  page  400. 

Ile.x  Aquifolium  pendula. — The  Weeping 
Holly  is  an  attractive  evergreen,  forming  a  beautiful 
lawn  specimen  when  worked  high  up  and  carefully 
trained.  There  are  also  silver  (argentea  pendula) 
and  golden  (aurea  pendula)  forms. 

JuGLANS  regia  PENDULA  has  rigid  branches 
which  must  be  worked  high  up  to  be  effective. 

MoRus  ALBA  pendula. — The  Weeping  white 
Mulberry  is  a  very  elegant  tree  when  well  grown. 
It  is  a  most  persistent  "  weeper,"  requiring  un- 
ending attention  to  form  the  framework  of  a 
specimen  tree. 

POPULUS     TREMULA      PENDULA      and      P.      TREMU- 

LoiDES  PENDULA. — The  Weeping  Aspens  form 
distinct  and  attractive  trees.  The  former  is  more 
rigid  in  outhne  and  has  the  more  attractive  (male) 
catkins.  The  latter  is  a  female  and  has  longer, 
more  slender  twigs. 

Prunus  pendula. — The  Japanese  Rosebud 
Cherry  is  said  to  be  a  tall  tree  in  Japan  50ft. 
high,  but  it  attains  the  dimensions  of  only  a  small 
tree  in  British  gardens.  It  is  attractive  when 
covered  with  delicate  pink  blossoms  in  spring, 
but,  unfortunately,  these  open  rather  early  and, 
together  with  the  young  growths,  are  frequently 
damaged  by  frosts.  One  of  the  best  weepers  of 
the  Plum  family  is  the  Weeping  St.  Lucie  Cherry, 
Prunus  Mahaleb  pendula. 

QuERCus  pedunculata  pendula. — The  Weep- 
ing Oak  is  not  so  well  known  as  the  pendulous 
forms  of  the  Ash,  Elm  and  Beech,  probably  because 
it  is  slower  in  growth. 


580 


THE    GARDEN. 


[November  i8,  1922. 


Salix  babylonica. — The  Weeping  Willow  is 
the  best  known  and  possibly  the  most  beautiful 
of  all  trees  with  pendulous-branches,  and  a 
very  attractive  waterside  tree.  S.  vitellina, 
S.  Caprea  pendula,  the  Weeping  "  Palm  "  or 
Kilmarnock  Willow,  and  S.  purpurea  pendula 
are   all  desirable   trees  lor  moist  soils. 

Taxus  baccata  Dovastoni. — The  main  stem 
of  this  Yew  is  upright,  the  branches  more  or  less 
horizontal  and  the  branchlets  drooping.  This 
is  a  female  tree  and  one  of  the  handsomest  of  all 
Yews.  [We  were  under  the  impression  that  this 
is  a  male  form. — Ed  ] 

TiLiA  petiolaris  (T.  americana  pendula  of  some 
gardens)   is   a  tall  tree  with  pendulous  branches. 


The  undersides  of  the  leaves,  which  are  white, 
shew  when  swaying  in  the  breeze,  hence  the 
name  Pendent  Silver  Lime.  One  of  the  most 
beautiful  Limes  in  foliage  and  flower. 

Ulmus  glabra  (nitens)  pendula. — The  Weep- 
ing Smooth-leaved  Elm  and  U.  Montana  pendula, 
the  Weeping  Scotch  or  Wych  Elm,  are  two  well 
known  pendulous  trees,  especially  the  latter  with 
its  stiffly  pendulous  growth. 

There  are  also  pendulous-branched  forms  of 
numerous  conifers,  notably  Cedrus  atlantica 
pendula,  C.  Deodara  pendula  and  C.  D.  robusta, 
Cupressus  Lawsoniana  pendula,  C.  nootkatensis 
pendula,  Sequoia  gigantea  pendula,  and  Tsuga 
canadensis  pendula  and  T.  c.  Sargentii.      A.  O. 


SHRUBS     HARDY    IN    YORKSHIRE 


M 


Y  experiences  of  three  of  the  New  Zea- 
land Olearias  alluded  to  in  the  interest- 
ing and  suggestive  contribution  to  The 
Garden  of  October  7  (page  500),  in 
this  cold  north-east  comer  of  Yorkshire, 
may  be  of  sufficient  interest  to  put  on  record. 
O.  stellulata  stands  very  well,  giving  freely  of  its 
pretty  white  daisy  flowers  every- summer;  cold  frosty 
winds  sometimes  cut  the  fohage  back,  especially 
in  the  late  spring,  but  when  this  happens  it  usually 
recovers  and  flowers  a  little  later.  O.  nummulari- 
folia  has  taken  very  little  harm  up  to  now,  but 
grows  very  slowly  and  the  flowers  are  not  nearly 
so  showy  as  O.  stellulata,  and  the  foliage  is  much 


holly-like   leaves   and   its   fine   clustered   heads  of 
white  daisy  flowers. 

The  whole  of  the  Rock  Roses  (Cistus)  estabUshed 
here  withstood  all  recent  winters  and  they 
include  C.  Loreti  (lusitanicus),  one  of  the  loveliest, 
with  its  graceful  white  petals  with  deep  crimson 
spot  at  the  base  of  each  petal,  one  of  the  latest  to 
flower  with  me,  and  it  had  a  flower  on  as  late  as 
October  21,  as  also  had  C.  algarvensis,  which 
has  flowered  much  better  than  usual  this  summer. 
C.  formosus,  which  also  has  flowered  fairly  freely 
this  month  (October)  is  the  form  with  the  purple- 
brown  blotch  at  the  base  of  its  bright  yellow  petals. 
I  also  have  C.  formosus  immaculatus,  with  simple 


WHITE    WITH    CRIMSON    BLOTCHES,    CISTUS    LORETI. 


more  stiff.  O.  macrodonta  is  more  liable  to  suffer 
than  the  before-mentioned  and  very  frequently 
gets  partially  cut  back,  but  usually  recovers  quite 
well  and  flowers,  although  last  winter  my  largest 
bush  suffered  badly  in  January  and  again  later 
and  had  to  have  the  damaged  branches  cut  off, 
but  it  has  come  again  quite  strongly  from  the  base  ; 
it   is   well   worth   having,  both    for   its   evergreen 


yellow  flowers,  but  this  is  only  a  recent  addition. 
C.  salvifolius,  the  sage-leaved  Cistus,  still  has  a 
few  flowers  on,  as  has  also  C.  florentinus ;  this 
Cistus  seems  to  have  branches  killed  by  frost  at 
times,  but  usually  has  plenty  left  to  re-establish 
itself.  C.  crispus,  was  later  in  flowering  this 
year  owing  to  being  checked  somewhat  badly 
in   the  spring,   but  recovered    completely   and    is 


still  in  flower.  I  have  quite  a  number  of  C. 
purpureus,  probably  the  best  of  the  family,  with 
its  large  crimson  blossoms  with  a  blotch  of 
maroon  at  the  base  of  each  petal ;  this  has  been 
in  bloom  this  wet  season  from  June  right  up  to 
October.  C.  villosus,  with  rose-coloured  flowers, 
still  has  odd  ones  in  bloom.  Other  Cistuses  which 
I  have  that  have  been  out  of  bloom  some  time  are 
CC.  corbaricnsis,  corsicus,  laurifolius,  cyprius  and 
cyprius  maculatus,  the  three  last  named  sturdy, 
very  free-flowering  shrubs ;  C.  rosmarinifolius, 
very  slow  growing  and  somewhat  tender  (but  two 
specimens  I  have,  have  gone  through  the  past  six 
or  seven  w'inters)  ;  and  C.  monspeliensis,  an  upright 
growing  species,  covered  with  small  dainty  white 
roses,  with  a  yellowish  blotch  at  the  base  of  each 
petal.  The  dwarf  C.  alyssoides  I  have  failed  to 
establish  up  to  now  and  the  true  C.  ladaniferus  I 
do  not  seem  to  have,  what  was  obtained  for  this 
proving  to  be  C.  cyprius,  as  is,  I  am  afraid,  very 
often  the  case. 

Practically  all  the  Cistuses  above  mentioned  have 
been  raised  from  cuttings  and  all  have  gone  through 
at  least  three  winters  and  many  eight  or  nine. 
The  time  when  they  suffer  most  is  in  the  cutting 
frosty  winds  we  often  have  in  the  spring.  My 
Cistuses  are  usually  cut  well  back  as  soon  as  they  are 
out  of  flower,  this  keeps  down  the  straggly  branches 
which  the  wind  gets  hold  of  in  the  winter  thus 
causing  the  roots  to  be  loosened  so  much  that  the 
wet  and  frost  get  in — probably  the  cause  of  many 
plants  not  surviving  the  winter  period.  It  is  also  a 
good  thing  to  examine  the  plants  early  in  the  autunui 
and,  if  at  all  loose,  to  fix  them  up  to  small  stakes 
to  prevent  movement.  The  long  continued  wet 
weather  that  we  have  had  in  these  parts  since  the 
middle  of  June  has  brought  on  a  good  deal  of  sappy 
growth  which,  if  we  have  a  severe  winter,  may  be 
the  undoing  of  some  of  them  later. 

The  hardy  shrubby  Potentillas  should  be 
included  among  the  smaUer  flowering  shrubby 
plants  worthy  of  more  use  in  our  gardens.  The 
native  Potentilla  fruticosa,  with  its  darkish  green 
fohage  and  its  innumerable  simple  golden  yellow 
flowers — "  glittering  stars  of  gold,"  as  Farrer 
describes  them — is  very  beautiful  when  at  its 
best  and  the  flowers  are  produced  over  a  con- 
siderable period.  In  addition  to  our  native 
species,  many  good  varieties  have  been  introduced 
from  the  wilds  of  China  in  recent  years,  and  all  that 
have  been  tried  (with  the  exception  of  a  very  dwarf 
form  of  P.  fruticosa  nana,  planted  at  an  unsuitable 
time),  have  succeeded  in  establishing  themselves 
in  niy'garden.  These  include  P.  Vilmoriniana,  of 
more  upright  growth  than  P.  fruticosa,  with  sUvery 
grey  leaves  and  large  creamy  white  flowers  and 
P.  Veitchii,  also  of  similar  growth,  with  green 
foliage  and  white  flowers.  These  two  are  usually 
pruned  back  after  flowering  to  keep  them  dwarf. 
P.  sp.  188  Farrer  has  pendulous  branches  with 
smaller  green  leaves  and  small  yellow  flowers 
running  along  the  branches  ;  it  is  usually  later  in 
flowering  than  the  others  before  mentioned. 
.■\nother  that  I  have  was  sent  out  as  P.  fruticosa 
forma  (Forrest),  is  somewhat  pendulous  and  has 
deeper  yellow  flowers — not,  however,  deep  orange  as 
it  was  described  as  having  in  the  R.H.S.  list.  AU 
the  above  have  gone  through  three  or  more  winters 
satisfactorily. 

Spartium  junceum,  the  Spanish  or  Rush  Broom, 
is  most  useful  for  its  late  and  free-flowering,  its 
fragrant  bright  yellow  racemes  of  flowers  being 
freely  produced,  usually  in  early  July,  and  if  cut 
back  a  little  it  flowers  again  in  the  autumn  up  to 
the  first  severe  frosts  ;  it  is  very  useful  for  cutting 
for  inside  decoration.  Plants  are  best  raised  from 
seed,  potted  up  until  "  pot-bound,"  and  planted 
out  with  as  little  disturbance  of  root  as  possible, 
when,  if  not  in  too  heavy  soil,  it  should  readily 
establish   itself,  that  is  if  rabbits,  which  seem  to 


NOVEIIBER  iS,    1022. 


THE     GARDEN. 


581 


appreciate  it  only  too  well,  do  not  find  it.  Several 
seedlings  planted  out  were  eaten  down  to  the  grovnid 
by  them,  one  of  the  garden's  worst  pests. 

Two  specimens  of  Buddleia  Farreri  (one  raised 
from  a  cutting),  planted  out  last  year  came  through 
last  winter  and  have  grown  well  with  their  large 
grey  flannel-like  leaves,  but  have  shewn  no  sign  of 
flowering ;  it  apparently  flowers  in  its  native 
habitats  in  March,  before  coming  into  leaf.      Is  it 


usual  for  it  to  flower  in  this  country  ?  The  early 
spring  up  here  is  rather  a  trying  time  to  have  a 
Buddleia   coming   in   bloom  ! 

With  reference  to  Tropsolum  polyphyllum, 
which  was  described  in  a  recent  issue,  it  is  pro- 
bably worth  mentioning  that  the  tuberous  roots 
should  be  planted  at  least  iSins.  deep  to  ensure 
success  in  establishing  it. 

Middlesbrough.  T.  .^shton  Lofthouse. 


FLOWER    HOUSE 

The  new  Tenant— What  next? — Earlham  Montbretias— Phloxes  in   Sweet's   British 
Flower  Garden"^ and  in  Jones's  at  Flower  House 


w 


rHERE   there's  a  will,    there's    a 
way."     Where   there's   a  Wales 
there's  a  Jones.     Whenever  any 
big  herbaceous 
family  comes  into 

thk  limeUght  and  is  of  sufficient  merit 

and  importance    to  be   "  handled  " 

profitably,  look  out  for  H.  J.  Jones. 

These  last  two  pleasantries  are  home- 
made,  but    all   who   know   '*  Who's 

Who,"  will  agree  that  the  fact  in  the 

first  and  the  delicate  insinuation    in 

the    second     are     credibly    correct. 

Gold  medals  in  the  office  at  Hither 

Green,     Lewisham,     are     no     more 

*'  accounted  of  "  than  gold  in  Jerusa- 
lem   when    Solomon  was  king.       It 

was    the    lure    of    his   gold  -  medal 

Michaelmas    Daisies    that    drew  me 

to     Hither    Green    as    once    before 

these    grand    autumn    flowers    had 

enticed  me  to  the  still  more  famous 

gardens  at  Aldenham  House,  where 
I  was  given  a  splendid  treat  and 
shown  great  kindness.  I  boarded 
the  No.  10  tram  at  Victoria  and 
was  to  be  met  by  Mr.  Jones  at  its 

country  terminus,  for  be  had  ex- 
plained to  me  that  his  original 
Ryecroft  Nurseries  were  full  and 
overflowing  and  that  we  would  have 
to  go  further  afield  to  get  to  where 
the  Michaelmas  Daisies  were.  He 
met  me  all  right  and  almost  im- 
mediately we  found  ourselves  in 
the  grounds  of  what  must  have 
once  been  a  fine  country  residence 
. — Flower  House,  the  home  of  the 
a  Becketts.  He  had,  he  told  me,  been 
fortunate  enough  to  secure  four 
acres.  Here  he  has  Dahlias,  Phloxes, 
Montbretias,  Delphiniums  and 
Michaelmas  Daisies.  Everything 
except  the  Montbretias  were  "  in 
the  pink."  These  had  suffered  from 
the  cold,  damp  time  and  some  of  the 
varieties  looked  rather  sorry  for 
themselves.  I  have  never  cared  very 
much  for  His  Majesty.  Somehow  it  always  seems 
to  me  to  be  over  large  and  it  was  no  surprise  to 
find  the  flowers  looking  very  sorry  for  themselves 
and  bedraggled.  Queen  Alexandra,  Nimbus  and 
Queen  Elizabeth  are  the  three  that  I  would  select 
if  I  were  choosing  to  please  myself.  The  first  of 
the  three  is  a  very  pleasing  shade  of  dark  straw, 
the  last  is  an  orange-red,  while  Nimbus,  as  its 
name  suggests,  is  distinguished  from  all  others  by 
the  red  halo  round  the  centre  of  the  flowers  which 
recalls  Gaillardias  and  certain  forms  of  Tulipa 
Kaufmanniana.  These  Earlham  Montbretias  have 
revolutionised  the  race.  I  remember  when  we  had 
to   go   to   Lemoine   for   our   up-to-date    varieties. 


Then  came  the  Davidson  hybrids,  culmhiating  in 
the  fine  orange-yellow  Star  of  the  East,  which  was 
considered  so  wonderful  at  the  time  it  first  appeared 


THE    LARGE    MONTBRETIA    HIS    MAJESTY. 


that  it  had  the  distinction  of  being  the  talk  of  a 
Shrewsbury  Show.  These  have  now  been  passed 
by  the  Earlham  strain.  The  children  have  out- 
distanced their  parents  and  instead  of  being  content 
with  Nelson,  Lady  Hamilton  or  even  Prometheus, 
which  I  believe  was  raised  in  Holland,  we  must 
have  His  Majesty,  Queen  Alexandra,  Citronella  or 
Nimbus. 

But  Montbretias  are  not  Michaelmas  Daisies, 
and  these  are  what  I  came  to  see.  I  saw  them — 
quantities  of  them — but  the  fates  had  not  been 
kind  and'only  a  very  small  percentage  were-  in 
flower.  I  think  the  most  attractive  was  one  raised 
by  Mr.  Jones  himself  and  named  after  the  present 


owner  of  Flower  House,  Major  Pat  a  Beckett.     It 
is  a  flower  of  the  particular  shade  of  mauve  which 
always  finds  me  and  touches  the  approval  spot  in 
my    brain.     It    is    Euterpe    against    Erguste    in 
Tulips,  and  Gladys  against  Victory  in  Sweet  Peas. 
Cattleya,  a  loose  double  soft  pink  shade  and  Ethel 
Ballard,  a  narrow  petalled  "  mauvy  "  pink,  are  the 
only   others   of   this   section   down   in   my   notes. 
Disappointed    here,    I    had    the    compensation    of 
learning  something  about  the  earlier  flowering  and 
dwarfer    growing    Amelias    branch.      It    must    in 
future  be  Rudolph  Goethe  and  not  King  George, 
while  there  is  undoubtedly  no  pink  in  the  same 
boat  with  the  rather  difficultly  named  Wienholtzi. 
Mr.  Jones's  remark  as  we  stood  looking  at  it  is  one 
to  read,  mark,  learn  and  inwardly  digest.     "  Were 
I  tied  to  one  only  of  the  Amellus  lot,  this  would  be 
my  choice."     I  saw  the  Delphiniums  and  made  no 
note  except  that  all  seemed  to  be  seedlings  (and  a 
very  promising  lot  they  were).     I  glanced  at  the 
acre  or  more  of    Dahlias    and    spotted    Salmonea 
(a   pretty  salmon   pink)  and  King  of   the  Autumn 
(a  lovely  shade  of  pale  apricot)   but  most  of   the 
time  was  spent  among  the  Phloxes.     This  bright 
late-summer   and   autumn   flower   may   be   called 
a  fairly  popular  one  at  the  present  time.     History 
is   repeating   itself   after   an   interval   of  nearly   a 
hundred   years   if    the   numerous   illustrations    of 
different    members   of    the    family    published     in 
Sweet's  "  British   Flower  Garden,"   from   1827   to 
1831   are  anything  to  go  by.     In  those  days  the 
nursery  of  Mr.  George  Wheeler  at  Warminster  was 
a   great   distributing  centre,   just   as   Mr.   Jones's 
Ryecroft    Nurseries   at   Lewisham  are  now.     The 
picture  of  Phlox   odorata   (Plate  224,  first  series) 
shows  a  very  beautiful  variety,  with  slender  panicles 
of  pretty   bright   rose-coloured   flowers   a   foot  or 
over  in  length,  and  which  from  the  description  were 
\'ery  sweet  and  retained  their  scent  in  dried  speci- 
mens.    It  is  of  particular  interest  because  the  long 
panicle  is  a  breakaway  from  the  ordinary  pyramid 
shaped  ones  with  which  we  are  now  so  famiUar. 
What  struck   me   on   my  visit   to   Flower   House 
garden  was  the  large  number  of  dwarfs.     It  had 
never  occurred  to  me  that  there  were  so  many.     I 
mention  it  because  it  is  a  useful  bit  of  knowledge. 
In  this  age  of  manufactured  bigness,  some  niches 
still  remain  which  only  small  plants  can  properly 
fill.     I  am  leading  up  to  the  suggestion  of  a  late- 
flowering    Phlox   border   where   dwarfs   would   be 
wanted  for  the  "  front  seats."     Phlox  means  flame. 
.\  border  of  flame  !     Yes,  but  only  conventional 
flame.     Yellow  is  conspicuous  by  its   absence  in 
the   family — so   I   would  rather  say,   a  border  of 
brilliant  magnificence.     On  turning  to  my  notes 
I  find  that  quite  unconsciously  a  goodly  number  of 
my  selections  would  be  admirable  for  such  a  purpose. 
It  was  a  lovely  day  and  I  know  I  went  very  largely 
for  the  bright  colours,  much  I  fancy  to  Mr.  Jones's 
amusement,  who  has,  I  think,  rather  a  penchant 
for  the  salmon — not  quite  so  much,  however,  as  I 
have  for  the  real  thing — I  went  for  red  and  cerise 
and  rose  more  than  anything  else.     Here  are  my 
dwarfs.     Commander-in-Chief,    deep    rose    with    a 
dark  eye  ;  Mont  Pelee,  orange-red  ;  Jules  Dandeau, 
2ft.,  cerise  ;    Florrie  Freeman,  a  pale  rosy-scarlet ; 
Selma,    soft    pink,    with    a    darker   eye ;     Jones's 
Pink,  pink  ;    and  Mauve  Queen,  a  pretty  shade  of 
heliotrope  with  a  white  eye.     The  taller  ones  were 
(i)   Charles  Davies,   a  rich    rosy  crimson,    in    my 
judgment  the  brightest  and  gayest  variety  in  the 
whole  of  Mr.  Jones's  Phlox  patch.     (2)  September 
Glow.     I  think  my  host  considered  this  his  gayest 
and  brightest.    There  was  more  of  it  and  it  was  in 
better  condition  and  the  freshly  opened  blooms  had 
a   touch  of  salmon,   which  evaporated  with   age, 
leaving   behind    a   glorious   rose   red.      (3)    vEgir, 
medium   height,    brilUant   scarlet-red.      (4)    Rosa- 
muudi,   a  pretty  pink  with  a  soft  rose  eye.     In 
Tulip  language  the  petals  quarter,  but  the  Bohemian 


582 


THE     GARDEN. 


[November  i8,  1922. 


sort  of  look  rather  suits  it.  (5)  Mrs.  H.  J.  Jones — 
before  I  knew  the  name  I  said,  "  that's  a  saucy 
looking  piece."  The  mauvy-pink  body  colour  of 
the  petals,  some  tipped  with  rose,  some  half  inclined 
to  show  quartering  and  the  extra  large  bright 
carmine  eye,  compose  a  charming  truss,  at  once 
vivacious  and  fascinating.  (6)  R.  A.  Goldie — it  has 
got  out  of  place  in  my  notes — the  catalogue  descrip- 
is  very  dwarf.    It  is  an  undoubted  salmon  red  with 


a  large  rose  eye — large  too  in  pip  and  truss.  If 
you  must  have  a  dwarf  salmon,  try  this.  Mr. 
Jones  gives  it  a  capital  character.  "  It  is  always  up 
to  the  knocker."  This  is  my  "  lastly."  But  the 
pie  is  a  very  large  one.  It  contains  181  plums,  so 
allowing  Jack  Horner  his  one,  and  J.  J.  his  baker's 
dozen,  there  will  still  be  enough  left  for  many  more 
thumbs.  Mark  well  my  words,  "  H.  J.  J.  is  a 
grand  maker  of  Phlox  Pie,"  Joseph  Jacob. 


FRUIT    FOR    THE    MEDIUM-SIZED 

GARDEN 


IT  is  necessary  as  a  safeguard  against  possible 
misrmderstandings  that  readers  and  w-riter 
shall  become  sufficiently  en  rapport  as  to  agree, 
at  least  broadly,  on  what  is  meant  by  the 
term  "  medium-sized  garden."  The  writer's 
conception  is  one  of  which  the  owner  is  the  head 
gardener  and  he  does  practically  the  whole  of  the 
work  among  the  flowers  himself,  superintends  the 
working  of  the  vegetable  department  more  or  less 
perfunctorily,  but  generally  leaves  it,  with  sole 
charge  of  the  fruit  trees  and  bushes  to  the  "  expert  " 
care  of  the  jobbing  man,  who  attends  on  one,  two 
or  three  days  a  week,  according  to  the  actual  size 
of  the  place  and  the  standard  of  its  upkeep.  The 
head  gardener  here  sets  out  upon  his  task  with  the 
satisfactory  feeling  that  he  knows  enough  about 
flowers  to  take  complete  control,  sufficient  about 
vegetables  to  enable  him  to  guide  the  some- 
times erring  hand  and  nothing  whatever  about 
fruits,  and  therefore  he  leaves  them  severely 
alone. 

In  my  opinion,  and  I  state  it  without  the  slightest 
hesitation  and  in  the  almost  certain  knowledge 
that  it  will  be  vigorously  disputed  by  some  of 
the  keen  men,  and  women  too,  who  read  The 
Garden,  the  head  gardener  is  proceeding  on  the 
worst  possible  lines.  Instead  he  should  grow  his 
own  fruits,  grow  or  supervise  to  the  uttermost 
limit  his  own  vegetables  and  leave  the  flowers  to 
the  man.  The  successful  production  of  excellent 
fruits  and  vegetables  demands  more  intelligence 
than  the  successful  production  of  flowers  and  it  is 
in  that  direction,  therefore,  that  the  head  gardener 
should  take,  and  keep,  his  way.  It  may  be  well, 
as  a  set  off  to  the  critics,  to  mention  that  in  making 
this  statement,  all  consideration  of  the  head 
gardener  who  grows  Roses,  or  Dahlias,  or  Sweet 
Peas  or  Carnations  as  a  speciaUty  is  ignored. 

ANCIENT,    ERRONEOUS    IDEAS. 

From  time  immemorial  or  from  those  long  gone 
past  days  which  the  journalist  would  assure  us 
are  "  lost  in  the  mists  of  antiquity,"  the  idea  has 
prevailed  that  fruits  can  be  successfully  grown  only 
by  those  who  have  made  them  a  life-long  study 
and  that  there  are  mysterious  little  things  which 
must  be  done  to  them  from  time  to  time  that  are 
known  to  the  profoundly  learned  alone.  Never 
was  there  a  more  erroneous  or  ridiculous  fallacy. 
I  assert,  and  that  without  fear  of  substantial 
refutation,  that  there  is  no  point  in  connexion 
with  the  culture  of  any  of  the  fruits  grown  in 
British  gardens  with  which  the  man  of  intelligence 
cannot  make  himself  perfectly  familiar  in  the 
course  of  two  or  three  years,  provided,  and  it  is  an 
important  proviso,  that  he  is  determined  to  do  so. 
The  weather  will  bring  him  a  purler  sooner  or 
later  of  a  certainty,  but  it  will  inevitably  bring 
the  profoundly  learned  down  with  just  as  big  a 
crash.  If  the  theme  of  the  moment  were  growing 
fruits  of  all  kinds  under  glass,  a  diffierent  tale 
would  have  to  be  told  and  even  then  the  lessons 


could  be  learned,   though   they  would  demand   a 
longer  period  of  study. 

There  is  no  mysterious  art  in  planting,  training, 
pruning,  thinning,  gathering,  feeding,  cleaning  or 
storing.  Given  a  modicum  of  intelligence  and 
commonsense  in  its  application,  fruit  growing  in  a 
medium-sized  garden  will  be  a  fascinating  and  a 
successful  pleasure  and  it  will  be  all  the  more 
fascinating,  successful  and  pleasurable  if  the  head 
gardener  controls  it  himself.  The  unfortunate 
individual  who  has  neither  intelligence  nor  common- 
sense  should  not  set  foot  inside  a  garden  gate  since 
he  will  never  be  able  to  grow  either  flowers,  vege- 
tables or  fruits. 

GETTING    READY SOME    SPADE    WORK. 

As  it  is  with  everything  else,  so  it  is  with  fruit 
culture — there  must  be  preparatory  operations,  and 
seeing  that  we  do  not  plant  fruit  trees  or  bushes 
to  occupy  their  sites  for  one  season,  but  for  a 
decade  or  a  generation  or  considerably  longer,  it  is 
obvious  that  all  the  preliminary  details  must  be 
thoroughly  attended  to  in  a  workmanlike  manner. 
In  these  days  of  plentiful  drains  it  is  improbable 
that  the  medium-sized  garden  will  ever  become 
waterlogged  ;  on  the  contrary,  it  is  much  more 
probable  that  excessive  drainage  will  prove  the 
disability.  If  there  is  a  danger  in  the  former 
direction,  drains  must  be  put  in  and  that  is  a 
task  which  the  head  gardener  will  wisely  relegate 
to  one  who  has  the  necessary  knowledge  ;  while 
if  the  soil  is  apt  to  run  too  dry,  it  must  be  strength- 
ened by  the  addition  of  clay  or  better  still,  burned 
clay,  or  failing  that,  by  very  real  consolidation. 

Assuming  normal  conditions  the  soil  must  be 
thoroughly  worked  to  a  depth  of  i8ins.  by  perfectly 
digging  the  top  spit  and  efficiently  loosening  the 
under  stratum.  Here  the  head  gardener  may  pro- 
ceed by  deputy,  provided  that  he  sees  the  operation 
is  done  and  that  there  are  no  miserable  apologies, 
such  as  are  far  too  common  in  the  work  of  the 
"  expert  "  jobbing  gardener  who,  as  a  matter  of 
fact,  is  frequently  a  drifter  who  comes  in  because 
"  anyone  can  do  gardening."  If  it  can  be  managed, 
digging  must  be  done  not  less  than  three  weeks 
in  advance  of  planting  and,  failing  that,  the  soil 
must  be  artificially  firmed  in  the  second  spit  first 
and  the  top  spit  in  its  turn.  Lime  can  invariably 
be  added  on  the  surface,  either  before  or  after 
planting,  to  advantage,  since  should  there  be 
enough  present,  which  is  seldom  the  case,  it  will  do 
no  permanent  harm,  but  it  is  in  the  rarest  cases 
only  that  manure  should  be  incorporated.  Indeed, 
it  is  wiser  always  to  vote  against  it  as  feeding 
can  be  done  later,  as  judgment  decides,  without 
trouble. 

TREES,    ROOTS,    PLANTING. 

The  head  gardener  of  the  medium-sized  garden 
should  not  accept  the  advice,  indisputably  excellent 
as  it  is  to  the  man  who  is  already  "  profoundly 
learned,"    to    plant    maidens    or    one    year    olds. 


because  this  necessarily  involves  foundation  laying, 
a  task  which  will  have  to  be  learned  by  patient 
practice  and  close  observation.  Instead  he  should 
have  three  year  olds  or,  if  the  slightly  increased 
cost  does  not  worry  him,  four  year  olds,  whose 
foundations  have  been  formed  already  in  the 
nursery  by  men  of  skill  in  the  craft.  In  addition 
to  the  shapely  head  there  must  be  an  admirable 
rooting  system,  largely  fibrous  in  its  nature  and  . 
such  as  will  be  secured  in  trees  purchased  from  I 
the  reputable  fruit  nurserymen  who  do  not  fail  to 
advertise  their  wares  in  the  fertile  pages  of  The 
Garden.  There  must  be  no  seeking  to  the  utter- 
most ends  of  the  earth  to  find  something  a  little 
cheaper — no,  not  cheaper — lower  in  price.  The 
fruit  nurseryman  transplants  his  stock  and  thus 
ensures  a  rooting  system  which  is  directly  favour- 
able to  transplantation  ;  the  vendor  of  low-priced 
stuff  cannot  afford  to  do  that  and  the  comparisons 
will  work  out  at  failures  conspicuous  by  their 
absence  from  the  reliable  source  and  successes 
conspicuous  by  their  absence  from  the  unreliable 
one.  Our  head  gardener  must  avoid  so-called 
cheap  trees  as  strenuously  as  he  would  avoid  the 
plague. 

If  the  roots  become  dry  before  it  is  convenient 
to  plant  the  trees,  soak  the  roots  in  water  for 
twenty-four  hours  or  so  to  plump  them  up.  Go 
over  them  with  proper  care  and  cut  back  to  sound 
portions  any  which  have  been  broken  or  bruised  in 
transit.  A  safe  guide  for  depth  of  planting  is  to 
take  the  nurseryman's  line,  which  is  always  correct 
for  his  own  soil ;  or  to  accept  the  rule  that  the 
uppermost  roots  should  never  be  covered  to  a 
depth  exceeding  3ins.  Friable  mould  must  be 
worked  tjioroughly  between  the  numerous  roots,  and 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  fresh  loam  is  the  best 
soil  for  the  purpose,  but  it  is  not  always  at 
command. 

Then  the  head  gardener  must  keep  in  his  mind 
that  firmness  is  essential,  that,  indeed,  firmness 
to  the  point  of  solidity  is  of  outstanding  importance. 
It  is  impossible  for  one  who  is  endeavouring  to 
give  helpful  hints  to  brethren  whose  learning  is 
presumably  less  profound  to  stress  this  point  to 
excess,  since  it  is  incontrovertible  that  as  much 
disappointment  with  fruit  arises  from  looseness  of 
the  soil  about  the  roots  at  planting  time  as  from 
all  other  causes  in  combination.  Spread  the  roots 
fully  out,  make  absolutely  sure  that  all  are  com- 
pletely surrounded  with  friable  soil  and  drive  the 
mass  down  with  a  rammer.  In  advocacy  of 
desirable  firmness  one  hesitates  just  short  of  carry- 
ing it  as  far  as  the  hardness  of  the  macadamised 
road.  It  is  thrifty  growths  to  which  firmness  at 
the  roots  is  directly  conducive  that  we  want  in  our 
trees  and  not  long,  luxuriant,  sappy  shoots  which 
are  favoured  by  looseness,  especially  when,  as  is 
frequent  in  gardens,  there  is  a  greater  depth  of 
root  run  than  is  really  necessary,  or  than  is  even 
desirable. 

The  first  pruning  or  cutting  back  should  be  done 
immediately  on  planting  in  nearly  all  instances  and 
the  head  gardener  of  the  medium-sized  garden  who 
does  not  feel  himself  qualified  to  decide  to  what 
degree  the  reduction  ought  to  be  carried  should 
pick  somebody  else's  brains.  Instantly  comes  the 
question  from  several  head  gardeners,  **  Whose 
brains  ?  "  and  with  equal  promptitude  the  answer 
is  Mr.  Owen  Thomas's  in  "  How  to  Prune  Roses 
and  Fruit  Trees"  (Country  J.ife  Offices,  iid.,  post 
free).  If  it  can  be  managed  all  planting  should 
be  done  in  November  and  that  which  remains 
undone  at  the  end  of  the  month  named,  at  any 
time  thence  to  the  end  of  March,  when  the  condition 
of  weather  and  soil  permits. 

THE    kinds   to    grow    .\ND    THEIR    POSITIONS. 

In  a  brief  review  of  the  kinds  which  ought 
to  be   grown    it    may   be   well    to  commence  low 


November  i8,  ic22.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


583 


and  work  upwards,  because  there  may  be 
medium-sized  gardens  in  which  the  head 
gardener  cannot  find  accommodation  for  some 
of  those  trees  which  demand  a  substantial 
amount  of  space. 

Strawberries  come  first  then.  .411  things  con- 
sidered they  are  best  worked  into  the  ordinary 
rotations  of  the  vegetable  section,  as  it  is  easy  to 
maintain  the  three  yearly  cycle  in  which  quarters 
which  have  fruited  three  times  are  grubbed  annually 
and  an  equal  area  is  planted  with  perfectly  rooted 
runners.  These  plants  constitute  the  one  variation 
from  the  rule  of  November  planting.  The  best 
season  for  them  is  .August  or  early  September,  as 
there  is  then  a  reasonable  certainty  that  the  crop 
will  be  heavy  and  excellent  in  quality  in  the  summer 
immediately  following.  Failing  space  in  the  vege- 
table or  other  department  they  can  be  grown  as 
edgings  to  the  paths  ;  set  them  not  less  than  i8in?. 
and  better  24ins.  back  and  treat  them  as  •'  annuals," 
planting  afresh  each  year. 

There  must  be  at  least  one  or  two  rows  of  Rasp- 
berries, allowing  not  less  than  4ft.  asunder  with 
2ft.  between  the  individual  plants.  The  single 
stem  of  every  plant  ought  to  be  cut  down  to  within 
about  6ins.  of  the  ground  as  soon  as  planting  is 
finished  and  in  no  circumstances  should  the  occa- 
sional late  blossoms  which  come  be  permitted  to 
remain  the  first  summer  subsequently.  It  is  w*ell 
to  note  that  this  fruit  does  not  thrive  to  perfection 
on  a  cold,  tenacious  clay  on  the  one  hand,  or  a  hot, 
thin  sand  on  the  other  hand  ;  the  ideal  is  a  medium 
loam. 

Black  Currants  are  partial  to  a  cool,  holding 
soil  and  they  must  be  represented  notwithstanding 
big  bud  and  the  intimately  associated  "  reversion." 
A  distance  of  5ft.  in  all  directions  should  be  given 
and  in  pruning  the  oldest  wood  must  be  removed 
first  and  then  such  of  the  young  as  is  necessary 
to  admit  light  and  air  unobstnictedly  to  the  young 
shoots  retained. 

Red  Currants  and  Gooseberries  rank  among  the 
"  must  he's,"  with  one  or  two  White  Currants,  if 
the  fancy  so  dictates.  They  are  usually  grown  as 
bushes  at  5ft.  to  6ft.  apart  all  ways,  but  much 
superior  quality  will  be  secured  from  single  or 
multiple  stemmed  plants  trained  to  strained 
wire  treUises  not  less  than  6ft.  in  height  or  to  north 
walls  where  nothing  else  flourishes  profitably  and 
where  the  fruits  hang  very  late  indeed,  provided 
that  they  are  efficiently  netted  against  birds.  As 
single  cordons  ift.  is  ample  space  and  the  yields 
on  healthy  plants  are  simply  enormous.  The  most 
popularly  recommended  fruit  for  a  north  wall  is 
the  Morello  Cherry,  but  it  is  not  nearly  as  generally 
useful  as  either  Red  Currants  or  Gooseberries  and 
these  should,  therefore,  be  given  the  preference. 
Besides,  brandy  is  expensive  these  days — but 
enough  on  that  point. 

Apples,  Pears  and  Plums  in  bush  form  are  almost 
indispensable  in  the  medium-sized  garden,  but  if 
it  should  be  decided  that  one  of  them  must  be 
omitted,  let  it  be  the  Pears,  as  they  are  never  so 
reliable  in  the  open  garden  as  the  others.  The 
soil  will  be  that  natural  to  the  garden  and  it  must 
contain  lime,  with  more  for  the  Plums  than  the 
others.  A  distance  of  8ft.  asunder  may  be  allowed 
and  when  the  trees  meet  later  each  alternate 
one  must  be  grubbed  for  destruction,  or  transference 
to  another  position  if  required.  There  may  be, 
too,  one  or  two  Sweet  Cherries,  but  they  are 
never  very  satisfactory  in  the  medium-sized  garden 
because  the  birds  demand  so  heavy  a  toll  in  the 
absence  of  costly  and  always  somewhat  difficult 
netting.  A  final  word  may  be  said.  Do  not 
leave  an  inch  of  wall  or  fence  space  unoccupied. 
There  is  a  fruit  which  will  clothe  it  at  once 
handsomely  and  profitably,  but  exhaustive  con- 
sideration of  this  phase  of  the  subject  must 
stand  over.  W.  H.  Lodge. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


THE   CH.\LI,ENGE  CUPS  OF  TliE  ROYAL 

HORTICULTURAL   SOCIETY. 

TPHE  Council  has  now  decided  to  abandon  the 
rule  by  which  the  same  competitor  could  not 
win  the  same  challenge  cup  in  successive  years. 
In  future  he  may  win  it  year  after  year  until  he 
is  beaten  in  the  competition. — W.  R.  Dvkes, 
Secretary,  Royal  HorlicitUural  Society. 

THE     BEST     ROSES. 

AT  the  present   time,  when  so  many  notes  and 

articles    on    Roses    are    appearing    in    your 

valuable  paper,   I  should  like  to  draw  attention 

to  a  very  beautiful  variety  that  seems  to  be  greatly 


A    FRUITING    SPRAY    OF    THE    HARDY    JAPANESE   ORANGE, 
/EGLE    SEPIARIA. 


overlooked  during  the  present  craze  for  new  and 
striking  colours,  namely  Harry  Kirk.  In  the 
writer's  opinion  Harry  Kirk  is  one  of  the  most 
reliable,  as  well  as  one  of  the  most  beautiful, 
yellow  Roses  on  the  market,  even  though  it  is 
not  of  such  a  deep  or  striking  shade  of  yellow 
as  Christine,  Golden  Emblem,  Mrs.  Wemyss 
Quin,  etc.  The  buds  are  deep  sulphur  yellow 
streaked  with  crimson,  while  the  expanded 
flowers  turn  to  a  pale  sulphur.  It  is  splendid 
either  as  a  dwarf  for  bedding  or  as  a  standard, 
and  for  table  and  house  decoration  is  unsurpassed 
by  any  of  its  more  gaily  coloured  rivals.  It  is 
also  sweetly  scented,  which  nowadays  is,  in  my 
opinion,  worth  consideration.  If  I  had  room 
for  six  varieties   only,   the  following  in   order  of 


preference    would    be    my    selection :      (i)    Hugh 

Dickson,    (2)    Harry    Kirk,    (3)    Lady    Pirrie,    (4) 

Red   Letter   Day,    (5)    Mmc.    Abel   Chatenay   and 

(6)    Christine.     I    am    sure    the    above    selection 

will  be  severely  criticised  by  lovers  of  the  newer, 

more  brilliantly  coloured  Roses,  but  in  this  garden, 

situated  in  Ulster,  the  above-mentioned  varieties 

have  proved  themselves  in  every  way  worthy  of 

attention,   especially   Nos.    i,   2,    3   and   4,   which 

I   would   plant   more   freely   than   the  other   two 

Hugh  Dickson  is  magnificent  as  a  standard,  and 

is  at  its  best  as  such.     If  another  six  sorts  were 

rec|uired  I  would  add  .Augustus  Hartmann,  Lady 

Ashtown,  General  Mc-\rthur,  Lyon,  Miss  Wilmott 

and   Lieutenant  Chaure.     If  five  red   Roses  were 

considered  too  many  in  a 

collection    of    a   dozen,   I 

would      substitute      Mrs. 

A.     R.     Waddell    for 

Lieutenant     Chaure     and 

Mrs.   Henry    Balfour    for 

General  Mc.^rthur.  Isobe! 

and  Simplicity  are  two  fine 

single    varieties.  —  Cecii- 

M.  Bailey. 

THE  HARDY 
JAPAKESE  ORANGE 

"TJESPITE  the  somewhat 
unfavourable  season, 
the  Japanese  Orange, 
^gle  sepiaria,  seems  to 
have  fruited  freely  this 
season  in  many  gardens, 
though  I  do  not  know  of 
any  having  ripened.  The 
curious  little  downy  fruits 
are  distinctly  attractive 
and  the  blossoms  beauti- 
ful, and  it  is  rather  strange 
that  so  interesting  a  shrub 
should  be  so  compara- 
tively seldom  seen.  Its 
entire  hardiness  is  unques- 
tionable, but  it  does  not 
appear  to  flower  so  freely 
in  Northern  gardens  as  it 
does  further  South.  The 
fruits  are  not  poisonous, 
but  are  so  acrid  as  to  be 
quite  inedible.  There  was 
a  note  by  Lady  Moore  in. 
The  Garden  —  I  think 
last  year — on  the  Citrange, 
which  is  a  cross  between 
the  .Egle  and  the  Sweet 
Orange.  It  would  be  in- 
teresting to  hear  to  what 
extent  this  has  proved 
hardy  in  England. — H.  H. 
[The  article  referred 
to  was  published  on  March  4  of  this  year,  page- 
105.  If  any  readers  have  had  experience  with 
the  Citrange  in  Great  Britain,  perhaps  they  will 
give  us  the  benefit  of  their  experience. — Ed.] 

THE     TWELVE     BEST     SHRt^BS. 

'T'HE  discussion  on  this  subject  has  interested 
me  from  the  first  on  page  507  to  page  559. 
I  quite  anticipated  differences  of  opinion,  being 
always  in  that  mood  myself.  I  have  often  been 
asked  to  give  the  best  twelve  or  six,  although  I 
confided  to  myself  that  there  was  no  such  thing, 
just  as  expressed  by  Mr.  Slinger  on  page  545. 
In  the  first  place  I  decided  for  hardiness  according 
to  the  part  of  the  country  from  whence  the  enciuiry 
came,   and  ease  of  cultivation,  but  often  had  to 


584 


THE     GARDEN. 


[November  i8,  1922. 


hesitate  on  the  score  of  the  taste  of  the  mdividual. 
This  latter  is  borne  out  in  everyday  experience, 
and  by  the  examination  of  various  gardens,  irrespec- 
tive of  size,  I  give  the  following  as  an  excellent 
dozen  without  priority  of  merit :  Berberis  Danvinii, 
B.  stenophylla,  Lilac  Mme.  Lemoine,  Ceanothus 
Gloire  de  Versailles,  Pieris  japonica,  Ribes  sangui- 
neum,  Forsythia  suspensa,  Cytisus  albus,  Crattegus 
Pyracantha  Lalandei,  Eucryphia  pinnatifolia, 
Magnolia  Lennei  and  Prunus  triloba  Acre  pleno. 
All  of  the  above  admit  of  massing,  and  the  last 
named  can  be  kept  down  to  3ft.  by  annual  pruning 
as  soon  as  the  flowers  fade.  All,  I  think,  could 
be  grown  in  Cornwall,  Nairn  or  Co.  Down  ;  but 
there  are  many  inland  counties  where  the  Ceanothus, 
Pieris,  Eucryphia  and  Magnolia  might  fail  to  give 
satisfaction.  The  lists  already  given  ought  to 
be    valuable    to    planters. — J.  F. 

T  WAS  much  interested  in  your  issue  of  October  ::8 
to  see  the  correspondence  with  regard  to  the 
Twelve  Best  Flowering  Shrubs.  I  should  much  like 
to  add  the  twelve  which  I  consider  most  worthy  of 
•cultivation,  and  I  beg  to  submit  the  following  : — 
Embothrium  coccineum,  Feijoa  Sellowiana,  Car- 
pentaria californica,  Pieris  japonica,  Andromeda 
cassinefoUa  (Zenobia  speciosa),  Tricuspidaria  Ian- 
•ceolata,  CalUstemon  speciosus,  Drimys  Winteri, 
Drimys  aromatica,  Plagianthus  LyalUi,  Eucryphia 
pinnatifolia  and  Eucryphia  cordata. 

I  fear  that  most  of  the  above  would  only  flourish 
in  a  mild  cUmate.  I  grow  them  most  successfully 
on  the  West  Coast  of  Argyllshire,  but  I  have  been 
•quite  successful  in  growing,  against  a  wall,  in  the 
West  Riding  of  Yorkshire.  Drimys  Winteri  and 
Carpentaria  californica.  There  are  many  shrubs 
that  I  should  Uke  to  suggest,  but  as  your  corres- 
pondent mentions  twelve,  I  do  not  Uke  to  exceed 
the  number. — (Mrs.)  Gwendolen  Gascoigne. 

THE     CAUCASIAN     SCABIOUS. 

DEADERS  of  The  Garden  who  have  a  hking 
for  lavender  shades  in  flowers  could  not  do 
better  than  go  in  for  a  stock  of  this  lovely  Composite. 
As  a  distinct,  prolific  and  lasting  plant  for  the 
iierbaceous  border  it  has  few  equals,  and  as  a  cut 
flower  with  its  strong,  long,  accommodating  stem, 
it  is  superbly  decorative,  lasting  a  long  time  in 
water,  especially  when  the  latter  is  frequently, 
changed.  The  seeds  are  not  very  dear.  Two 
shillings  invested  in  a  packet  from  a  reliable  firm 
gave  us  our  sturdy  stock.  These  were  sown 
•early  in  January  in  well  drained  pans  in  a  fine 
compost  of  equal  parts  of  loam,  old  mushroom- 
bed  manure  and  sea  sand.  Gently  watered, 
they  were  then  placed  upon  a  shelf  near  the  glass 
in  a  temperature  of  about  50°,  and  germinated 
in  about  two  months.  When  they  were  large 
enough  to  handle,  they  were  potted  off  singly  into 
2iin.  pots  in  a  similar  compost  to  that  in  which 
they  were  sown.  After  planting  them  out  in  a 
•well  manured  border  in  late  May,  they  made 
good  progress,  and  commenced  to  throw  up  their 
sturdy  flower-stems  in  August.  Though  classified  as 
a  hardy  perennial  in  most  catalogues,  this  plant 
•will  not  stand  the  rigours  of  a  severe  winter  outside. 
This  we  found  out  to  our  sorrow  in  our  first 
year's  experience  with  it.  In  our  second  year's 
trial  we  took  up  the  plants  full  of  buds  and  flowers, 
and  potted  them  into  6in.  pots  in  October  and 
placed  them  in  a  cool  greenhouse.  What  a  wealth 
of  bloom  we  had  from  them  all  that  winter  !  In 
fact,  this  plant,  with  its  clean,  shining,  rich  green 
foliage,  if  given  favourable  treatment,  would  seem 
to  flower  for  ever. — Robt.  McHardy,  West  Derby. 

ABOUT     SINGLE     ROSES. 

T  QUITE    agree    with    Mr.   Jacob   (pages   533-4) 

that  we  ought  to  collect  and  grow  the  single 

•wild    Roses    that    are    offered    us    by   enterprising 


nurserymen  in  order  to  encourage  them  in  this  good 
work.  When  Roses  have  attained  such  a  vogue 
as  at  present,  I  am  surprised  that  no  one  in  this 
country  seems  to  have  conceived  the  idea  of 
making  large  or  representative  collections  of 
Roses,  single  and  double,  in  private  gardens. 
More  single  wild  Roses,  however,  are  offered  by 
the  nurserymen  than  is  apparently  generally 
known.  The  late  Mr.  George  Paul,  who  catered 
so  long  for  our  delight,  and  who  gave  us  the  best 
coloured  Hawthorn — Paul's  Scarlet  Thorn — 
seventy-one  years  ago,  also  offered  forty-three 
species  and  seventeen  or  more  varie- 
ties of  single  wild  Roses  exclusive 
of  the  varieties  of  Rosa  rugosa  and 
its  hybrids.  Among  them  he  offered 
Rosa  sancta,  ■which  he  considered 
probably  the  oldest  Rose  in  the 
world.  Another  of  recent  introduc- 
tion was  R.  lucens,  the  stems,  leaves 
and  even  the  thorns  of  which 
appear  lacquered.  He  had  awards 
of  merit  for  two  hybrids  of  this 
which  he  had  produced.  In  another 
British  Rose  catalogue  I  notice 
thirty-two  species  and  six  or  more 
varieties  of  single  wild  Roses  offered. 
Twenty  species  and  seventeen 
varieties,  ten  species  and  seven 
varieties,  ten  species  and  three 
\arieties,  and  seven  species  and 
three  varieties  are  offered  in  four 
other  British  catalogues  which  I 
have  consulted.  Such  enterprise 
deserves     encouragement.   — 

HOKTULANUS. 

[Mr,  T.  Smith  of  Daisy  Hill 
Nurseries,  Newry,  Ireland,  offers  no 
fewer  than  eighty-one  species  and 
sub-species  in  his  list. — Ed.] 

AN     INTERESTING 
DELPHINIUM. 

"T^HE  name  of  Delphinium  inevit- 
ably brings  to  us  pictures  of 
the  towering  spikes  of  the  hybrid 
Delphiniums,  so  indispensable  in 
the  herbaceous  border,  presenting 
as  they  do  some  of  the  greatest 
triumphs  of  the  florist's  and  seedling 
raiser's  art.  In  Delphinium  Brunoni- 
anum  we  have,  however,  a  Larkspur 
of  quite  different  character  and 
one  which  appeals  more  to  the 
lover  of  distinct  things  than  to  him 
who  is  devoted  to  grand  spikes 
and  showy  flowers.  It  is  a  low- 
growing  species,  rarely  more  than 
2ft.  high,  and  frequently  less,  and 
ha\'ing  iiuiet  and  quaintlooking  flowers  of 
purple  which  seem  at  times  as  if  they  had 
been  dimmed  on  the  surface  yet  not  had 
their  beauty  destroyed.  The  plant  is  musk- 
scented,  too,  which  gives  it  a  distinct  feature. 
It  is  not  difficult  to  grow  in  ordinary  loam,  and 
can  be  suited  well  in  the  border.  It  is  hardy 
and  can  be  raised  from  seed  or  increased  by 
division.  There  are  two  plants  in  nurseries  under 
this  name.  They  are  aUke  in  many  points  but 
distinct  in  others,  and  it  is  difficult  to  say  which 
is  the  true  species.  Probably  both  are  geographical 
varieties  of  the  same  plant. — S.  Arnott. 

[According  to  the  late  Reginald  Farrer  ("  The 
EngUsh  Rock  Garden "),  D.  Brunonianum  is  a 
"  curiosity  from  the  high  Alps,  not  more  than 
a  foot  in  height  at  most  with  large  and 
rounded  hairy  flowers  of  pjle  blue  in  a  loose 
and  long  peduncled  corymb.  The  D.  Brunonia- 
num of  gardens  is  usually  of  a  deep  and  very 
sombre    piuplish    black."     The    identity    of    the 


plant  linown  in  gardens  as  D.  Brunonianum 
seems  wrapped  in  mystery.  Perhaps  some  of  our 
botanical  correspondents  can  help  to  unravel 
the  matter. — Ed.] 

SEASIDE     FLOWERS. 

T  AM  enclosing  a  picture  of  a  rock  garden  built 
facing  the  sea  at  Walton-on-Naze,  which  I 
think  you  may  find  interesting  as  shewing  how- 
well  many  plants  succeed  at  the  seaside.  The 
following  plants  were  in  bloom  at  the  time  of 
my  visit ;    Verbascum  Caledonia,    Anchusa   Opal, 


A    SEASIDE    ROCKERY. 

Lupinus  polyphyllus  Mcerheimi,  Verbascum  densi- 
florum.  Fuchsia  Riccartoni,  Spartium  junceum, 
Cytisus  praecox,  Cytisus  Daisy  Hill,  Cytisus  Moon- 
light, King  of  Delphiniums,  Foxgloves,  Sal-via 
virgata.  Yuccas,  Aster  Amellus  in  variety 
and  Erigeron  Quakeress  :  all  these  in  the  back- 
ground. In  the  front  of  these  there  are  Geum 
Mrs.  Bradshaw,  Statice  latifoha,  Anemone  Mont 
Rose,  Verbena,  AnthemisCupaniana,  Anthemis  Kel- 
way's  var.,  Gypsophila  paniculata,  Sun  Roses, 
Cistuses  in  variety,  Heucheras  in  variety,  CEnot- 
hera  speciosa,  Qi.Arendsii  and  Kniphofia  caulescens. 
Rock  plants  in  the  foreground  include  Saxifrages, 
Sedums,  Violas,  Veronicas,  Aubrietias,  Phlox 
subulata,  Dianthuses,  Mimulus,  Primulas,  Nepeta, 
Papaver  alpina,  Linums,  Oxalis,  Iris  pumila, 
Lithospermum  prostratum,  Armerias,  Artemisias, 
.•\renarias.  Campanulas,  Alyssum,  Cheiranthus 
.•MUonii,  Androsace  Chumbyi.  Most  alpines  do 
well  near  the  sea,  and  it  is  strange  they  are 
not  more  largely  grown  — H.  W. 


November  i8,  1922,] 


THE     GARDEN. 


585 


GARDENING     OF    THE     WEEK 


FOR    SOUTHERN     GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Asparagus. — Where  early  supplies  of  this 
vegetable  are  required  some  arrangements  should 
be  made  now  to  get  the  roots  into  their  forcing 
quarters.  One  of  the  best  places  for  bringing 
the  grass  along  is  a  moderately  heated  range  of 
pits  facing  south.  Into  these  throw  some  stable 
Utter  and  leaves  well  mi.xed  together  and  sufficient 
to  form  a  firm  bed  of  about  2ft.  Place  on  the 
top  a  layer  of  about  sins,  of  sifted  leaf-soil,  then 
the  roots  to  be  forced,  placing  them  quite  closely 
together,  and  finish  by  covering  with  another 
3ins.  of  fine  leaf-soil.  Give  a  good  watering 
through  a  rosed  can  and  afterwards  keep  roots 
and  atmosphere  in  an  even  state  of  moisture. 

Broad  Beans. — Unless  the  district  is  very 
cold  and  the  soil  a  heavy  one,  there  is  certainly 
a  gain  in  making  an  autumn  sowing  of  Beans. 
While  this  vegetable  delights  in  an  open  position 
generally,  it  is  better  to  try  to  make  this  sowing 
in  cnie  a  little  protected.  Space  the  seed  in  double 
drills  about  Sins,  apart,  allowing  a  distance  of 
2ft.  between  each  set  of  drills. 

Peas. — Autumn  sowing  of  this  Legume  is  not 
practised  so  much  as  of  the  former,  and,  prob- 
ably, where  there  is  plenty  of  convenience  for 
bringing  along  plants  in  the  New  Year  previously 
to  planting  out,  there  is  but  little  to  be  said  in  its 
favour.  On  cold  soils  the  plan  is  certainly  not 
worth  carrying  out.  Where  a  sowing  is  made, 
choose  a  warm,  well  drained  border  and  select 
a  round-seeded  variety,  such  as  Pilot,  which  is 
one  of  the  best  I  know  for  autumn  sowing. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Overcrowded  Shrubberies  are  by  no  means 
an  uncommon  sight,  owing  in  great  measure  to 
unsettled  staff  conditions.  It  may  be  that 
judicious  pruning  consistently  followed  for  a  few 
seasons  will  remedy  some  of  the  evil,  but  where 
several  years  of  unavoidable  neglect  has  to  be 
dealt  with  it  may  be  a  wiser  policy  to  remove 
some  of  the  trees  and  bushes  rather  than  overdo 
the  pruning.  Oft-times  there  is  many  a  spot  in 
the  woodland  near  the  dwelling  which  is  admirably 
adapted  for  the  surplus  stock  from  a  too  thickly 
populated  shrubbery.  Now  is  the  time  to  do  the 
work. 

The  Reserve  Garden  may  be  called  a  necessary 
and  most  useful  portion  of  the  garden,  particularly 
where  large  general  supphes  of  bedding  and  other 
plants,  as  well  as  plentiful  supplies  of  cut  flowers, 
are  required.  The  best  and  most  convenient 
arrangement  of  such  an  enclosure  would  consist 
of  simple  narrow  beds  so  that  it  is  easy  to  pass 
between  them  to  give  necessary  attention,  etc. 
The  portion  devoted  to  plants  grown  to  supply 
cut  flowers  should  always  be  well  cultivated, 
but  it  is  not  a  good  or  a  necessary  procedure  to 
have  a  great  depth  of  rich  soil  in  the  beds  used  as 
nurseries  for  growing  different  plants  on  for 
removal  later. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

The  Orchard. — There  is  no  prettier  spring 
picture  than  an  orchard  of  fruit  trees  in  flower, 
especially  when  drifts  of  Daffodils  are  added  to 
it.  Where  a  new  orchard  is  in  contemplation 
the  ground  should  be  well  cultivated  and  thoroughly 
cleaned.  Unless,  of  course,  the  whole  of  the 
ground  is  to  be  cropped,  i.e.,  between  the  rows  of 
trees  and  between  the  trees  as  well,  it  is  a  waste 
of  time  and  quite  unnecesaary  to  turn  over  the 
whole,  but  only  where  each  tree  is  to  be  planted. 
Give  the  warmest  positions  to  dessert  fruits, 
plant  firmly  and  stake  securely.  Any  necessary 
pruning  in  established  orchards  can  be  dealt  with 
as  opportunity  may  offer  during  the  next  three 
months.  There  may  be  but  little  required  other 
than  cutting  out  to  prevent  the  centres  of  the 
trees  becoming  too  thick  and  the  shortening  of  a 
few  branches  to  keep  a  better  balance.  Also 
remove  entirely  branches  which  cross  each  other, 
and  among  old  trees  there  will  almost  certainly 
be  a  few  dead  and  decaying  portions  to  cut  away. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Early  Vines. — Should  it  be  the  aim  to  make 
a  start  by  closing  the  house  or  pit  in  early  Decem- 
ber, permanent  rods  or  pot  plants  should  now 
be  got  ready  by  pruning  and  cleansing  if  not 
already  seen  to.  Should  mealy  bug  have  been 
allowed  a  footing,  every  possible  care  should  be 
taken  to  see  that  the  cleaning,  both  of  the  plants 
and  the  structure,  is  very  thoroughly  done.  Having 
put   these   two  in   order,   any  necessary  work   to 


the    border    can    be    done.     First    of    all    remove 
every  bit  of  loose  manure,  etc.,  then  lightly  prick 
up  a  little  of  the  border,  removing  this  also  if  at 
all  sour,  then  apply  about  3ins.  of  broken  fibrous 
loam  to  which  has  been  added  a  Httle  old  rubble, 
some  wood-ash  and  a  few  fine  bones.     This  top- 
dressing  must  be  firmly  done. 
H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 
Albury  Park  Gardens,  Guildford. 


in.  In  borders  where  quantities  of  bulbous  plants 
are  grown  the  work  of  forking  over  is  best  left 
until  the  spring  or  such  times  as  the  majority 
show  above  the  surface. 

Violets  in  Frames. — To  prevent  damping,  the 
plants  need  to  be  examined  at  regular  intervals, 
removing  all  decaying  foUage.  Admit  air  on  all 
favourable  occasions  and  protect  from  frost  by 
suitable  coverings. 

James  McGran 
(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.) 

Coodham,  Kilmarnock. 


FOR    NORTHERN    GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Cucumbers. — In  pits  where  late  batches  of 
Cucumbers  are  coming  into  bearing  they  may 
be  assisted  with  some  quick-acting  fertihser. 
Should  ordinary  liquid  manure  from  the  byre 
be  favoured,  see  that  it  is  used  in  sufficiently 
warm  a  condition  to  cause  no  check  to  the  tender 
surface  roots.  Keep  all  unnecessary  growths 
in  check,  damping  down  only  on  bright  days, 
at  the  same  time  keeping  up  a  brisk  and  even 
temperature  by  the  judicious  use  of  fire-heat. 

Tomatoes  in  Pits. — For  early  fruiting  these 
plants  must  also  receive  strict  attention  at  this 
time  by  keeping  the  temperature  of  the  structure 
buoyant.  A  close  atmosphere  with  too  much 
fire-heat  encourages  soft  growth  which  can  ill 
resist  the  attacks  of  insect  pests.  Aim  at  having 
firm,  stocky  plants,  keeping  them  as  near  to  the 
glass  as  possible.  While  the  plants  should  receive 
a  thorough  watering  when  necessary,  added  care 
must  be  taken  to  see  that  none  gets  the  least  water- 
logged, as  nothing  tends  towards  the  failure  of 
the  early  spring  crop  more  than  careless  watering. 

Forcing  Asparagus. — Preparations  for  the 
forcing  of  this  delectable  vegetable  should  be 
made  from  now  onwards.  A  heated  pit  is  best 
for  this  purpose,  and  saves  both  time  and  labour. 
However,  where  accommodation  cannot  be  spared 
indoors,  excellent  results  may  be  had  with  the 
aid  of  a  fermenting  bed  of  stable  fitter  and  leaves. 
The  latter  being  available  in  quantity  now,  a 
bed  may  be  made  up  of  one-third  manure  and 
two-thirds  leaves.  If  the  materials  are  turned  a 
few  times  previously  to  forming  the  bed,  sufficient 
heat  will  soon  be  developed  for  forcing  Asparagus. 
The  bed  should  be  made  large  enough  to  hold  one 
or  two  frames  as  desired.  When  ready  for  planting 
the  roots  should  be  lifted  or  strong  crowns  procured 
from  a  rehable  seedsman,  placing  them  closely 
together  on  a  layer  of  old  potting  soil  and  packing 
firmly  round  the  crowns  with  similar  material. 
The  temperature  of  the  frame  should  be  kept 
about  55°.  When  mild,  sunny  weather  prevails 
admit  air  to  keep  the  growths  from  becoming 
drawn  and  weakly.  Cover  the  frames  with  mats 
should  sharp  frosts  occur. 

Parsnips. — It  is  not  absolutely  necessary  to 
hft  and  store  Parsnips  for  the  winter,  and  many 
growers  leave  them  in  the  ground  until  early  spring. 
It  is  advisable  in  cold  districts  where  frost  and 
snow  are  frequent  to  lift  and  store  in  a  cool  shed, 
covering  the  roots  over  with  sand  or  fine  soil. 
Treated  thus  tney  will  be  found  to  keep  perfectly 
succulent  and  free  from  that  toughness  so  common 
with  badly  stored  Parsnips. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Fruit  Trees  on  Walls. — .\  start  should  now  be 
made  on  the  pruning  and  training  of  fruit  trees 
on  walls,  so  that  as  much  work  as  possible  may  be 
completed  before  the  winter  is  too  far  advanced. 
Should  the  ground  be  wet,  several  rough  boards 
may  be  laid  along  part  of  the  border.  The  work 
may  then  be  done  more  comfortably,  while 
trampUng  of  the  surface  of  the  border  is  prevented. 
Where  the  growths  of  Morello  Cherries  have 
become  congested  the  branches  should  be  loosened 
from  the  wall  and  all  worthless  shoots  removed. 
The  main  branches  should  then  be  evenly  dis- 
tributed over  the  allotted  space,  while  the  strong 
young  fruiting  shoots  should  be  tied  in  about 
6ins.  apart.  The  pruning  of  Sweet  Cherries  is 
entirely  different  from  that  practised  in  the  case 
of  Morellos,  for  the  Sweet  Cherries  fruit  best  on 
spurs.  Where  summer  pruning  is  done  spur 
formation  is  encouraged  and  the  trees  require 
little  attention  now. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

The  Herbaceous  Border. — The  occupants  of 
the  herbaceous  border  having  now  passed  their 
flowering  period,  may  be  cut  over  and  the  borders 
made  clean  and  tidy  for  the  winter.  A  dressing 
of  well  rotted  manure  or  the  material  from  a  spent 
hot-bed  should  be  applied  now,  pointing  it  lightly 


GREENHOUSE     AND     CONSERVATORY. 
Tibouchina    seraidecandra,    also    known    as 

Pleroma  and  Lasiandra,  is  a  fine  plant  for  autumn 
and  winter  flowering,  and  for  some  weeks  now 
has  been  producing  its  large  purple  flowers  with 
great  freedom.  It  may  be  used  for  clothing  a 
pillar  or  rafter  in  the  conservatory,  but  is  seen 
at  its  best  when  it  can  be  trained  over  a  wall  or 
the  gable  end  of  a  conservatory.  It  is  best  planted 
out  in  a  restricted  root-run,  as  it  is  a  rampant- 
growing  plant  and  requires  considerable  space 
to  display  itself  to  the  best  advantage.  During  the 
spring  the  plant  should  be  pruned  hard  back, 
and  as  it  breaks  freely,  some  of  the  weaker  growths 
should  be  thinned  out.  During  the  spring  months 
it  is  easily  propagated  by  means  of  the  smaller 
twiggy  shoots  and  as  cuttings.  If  the  plants  are 
kept  regularly  pinched  until  August  they  form 
nice  bushy  plants  in  6in.  pots  for  the  stages, 
and  to  ensure  freedom  of  flowering  they  should 
be  well  exposed  to  sun  and  air  to  ripen  the  wood. 
Peristrophe  Speciosa  is  another  useful  plant 
for  autumn  flowering,  as  it  produces  its  flowers 
freely  over  a  long  period.  The  flowers  are  reddish 
purple,  almost  magenta  in  colour  ;  not  a  popular 
colour  it  is  true,  and  requires  careful  placing, 
although  it  groups  well  with  pale  yellow.  A 
native  of  the  Himalayas,  this  is  easily  propagated 
during  the  spring  by  means  of  cuttings,  and 
succeeds  under  perfectly  cool  conditions  throughout 
its  growing  season. 

Lindenbergia  grandiflora  is  another  Himalayan 
plant  with  pale  yellow  flowers  that  is  useful  for 
autumn  and  winter  flowering.  This  plant  is  also 
easily  propagated  by  means  of  cuttings  during 
the  spring,  and  requires  cool  treatment,  but  it 
is  by  no  means  such  an  easy  plant  as  the  Peris- 
trophe to  grow  successfully. 

Philesia  buxifolia  is  a  very  beautiful  Chihan 
plant  which  is  hardy  in  the  West.  Its  red  flowers 
are  like  miniature  Lapageria  blossoms.  Philageria 
Veitchii  is  a  hybrid  between  Lapageria  and 
Philesia,  and  is  probably  very  rare  in  cultivation 
to-day.  The  Philesia  is  a  peat-loving  plant, 
and  succeeds  in  a  similar  compost  to  the  greenhouse 
Ericas.  It  enjoys  a  cool,  moist  atmosphere. 
This  is  by  no  means  an  easy  plant  to  grow  success- 
fully, but  is  worth  some  extra  trouble,  as  a  well 
grown  specimen  in  full  flower  is  very  beautiful 
indeed.  Its  propagation  by  means  of  cuttings 
is  slow  and  uncertain,  and  it  is  best  increased  by 
layering,  which  is  easily  done  by  using  the  suckers 
it  sends  up  from  the  base  of  the  plant. 

Lapagerias. — Where  a  suitable  situation  can 
be  found,  Lapagerias  are  beautiful  climbing 
plants  for  the  conservatory.  They  do  best  on  the 
coolest  part  of  the  house  and  do  not  object  to 
partial  shade  for  at  least  part  of  the  day.  Good 
specimens  may  be  grown  in  large,  well  drained 
tubs,  but  they  are  seen  at  their  best  when  they 
can  be  planted  out  in  a  well  drained  bed  or  border. 
If  planted  in  such  positions  it  is  well  to  confine 
them  to  a  portion  of  the  border  by  means  of  slate 
slabs.  This  is  necessary  as  they  travel  so  far  at 
the  root  and  send  up  suckers  where  they  are  apt 
to  get  damaged.  Slugs  are  very  fond  of  the  young 
shoots,  and  often  do  much  damage  unless  they 
are  carefully  guarded  against.  Some  cotton 
wool  wrapped  round  the  base  of  the  young  shoots 
until  they  become  hard  is  a  good  preventive. 
The  sites  for  the  plants  should  be  well  drained, 
and  the  compost  should  consist  of  good  fibrous  peat 
and  loam,  which  is  best  used  in  a  rough,  lumpy 
condition,  with  plenty  of  coarse  clean  sand  to  keep 
the  whole  open  and  sweet.  It  is  also  an  advantage 
to  add  some  charcoal  to  the  compost.  Lapagerias 
are  subject  to  attacks  of  a  small  white  scale,  and 
now  is  a  good  time  to  take  down  the  plants,  thin 
them  out  where  they  require  it,  and  clean  them 
thoroughly  before  retying  them.  This  requires 
to  be  done  with  great  care,  as  the  shoots  are  very 
brittle  and  easily  damaged.  Lapagerias  can  be 
propagated  by  means  of  cuttings,  but  it  is  a  slow 
and  uncertain  process,  and  they  are  usually  in- 
creased by  layering  ;  they  then  take  twelve  months 
to  root,  which  accounts  for  the  fact  that  plants 
are  always  fairly  expensive. 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kew."  J.  Coutts. 


586 


THE     GARDEN. 


[November  i8,  1922. 


THE    FORTHCOMING    BRITISH    EMPIRE 

EXHIBITION 

Its  Horticultural  Possibilities  and  the  Facilities  Afforded. 


THE  British  Empire  Exhibition,  which 
wiU  open  at  Wembley  Park,  London, 
in  the  summer  of  1924,  will  devote 
considerable  space  to  British  horti- 
culture. The  gardens  that  are  now 
being  laid  out  wiU  not  only  be  a  worthy  setting 
for  the  largest  and  most  influential  exhibition 
that  has  ever  been  held  in  the  Empire,  but  will 
furnish  a  complete  record  of  the  development  and 
progress  of  our  horticultural  industries. 

Their  extent  and  importance  are,  indeed,  far 
greater  than  is  generally  realised.  E.xhibitions 
held  periodically  under  the  auspices  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  and  other  societies  afford  some  idea 
of  what  is  grown,  but  their  limitations  with  respect 
to  space  and  time  prevent  that  full  and  continuous 
display  which  would  adequately  present  British 
horticulture  in  all  its  aspects.  The  facihties 
that  can  be  afforded  at  Wembley  Park  will,  if 
taken  full  advantage  of  by  the  horticultural  trade, 
be  a  great  improvement  on  all  previous  efforts 
for  the  advancement  of  the  various  industries 
concerned.  The  areas  that  are  being  reserved 
will  be  prepared  with  suitable  soil  for  the  perma- 
nent occupation  of  groups  of  hardy  trees,  shrubs, 
herbaceous  perennials  and  all  kinds  of  summer- 
flowering  plants.  Suitable  conditions  will  also 
be  available  for  a  great  display  of  bog  and  water- 
loving  plants  in  and  about  the  margins  of  the 
several  lakes  in  the  park. 

It  is  intended  to  retain  the  existing  sylvan 
beauties  of  the  Park,  adding  to  them  all  the  best 
that  horticultural  art  can  pro\ide.  To  do  this 
the  aid  of  all  our  great  nurserymen  and  florists 
is  being  sought,  and  they  will  be  assisted  by  the 
Exhibition  staff  in  the  planting  and  care  of  their 
exhibits.  It  is  expected  that  the  grounds  will 
be  ready  for  all  permanent  planting  by  next  spring 
with  a  view  to  getting  the  plants  established  and 
in  growing  order  by  April,  1924,  when  the  Exhi- 
bition will  be  opened.  A  Committee  of  experts 
experienced  in  the  organisation  of  horticultural 
exhibitions  will  supervise  the  arrangements. 

When  the  lay-out  of  the  grounds  is  completed 
and  the  allotment  of  space  decided  upon,  it  is 
intended  to  prepare  plans  of  the  various  sites 
that  will  be  available  for  a  horticultural  display. 
No  charge  will  be  made  for  these  sites,  the  only 
condition  being  that  they  should  be  furnished 
with  plants  in  keeping  with  their  surroundings 
and  maintained  in  good  order  throughout  the 
period  of  the  Exhibition. 

Special  provisions  are  also  being  made  for  exhi- 
bitions of  tender  plants,  i.e.,  Orchids,  Pahns, 
Ferns,  etc.,  also  for  fruits  and  vegetables,  and  the 
committees  of  the  several  horticultural  societies 
are  being  invited  to  hold  their  exhibitions  at 
Wembley  in  1924.  A  large  hall  mth  a  floor  area 
of  about  i2,oooft.  and  ample  top  light  will  afford 
space  and  suitable  conditions  for  this. 

Provision  will  be  made  in  one  of  the  main 
industrial  buildings  for  the  display  of  models  of 
greenhouses  and  other  structures,  statuary, 
machines,  hot-water  apparatus,  implements, 
garden  furniture,  plant  foods,  insecticides  and 
fungicides,  and  horticultural  sundries  generally. 
These  will  be  on  shew  if  desired  during  the  whole 
period  of  the  Exhibition.  A  charge  will  be  made 
for  space  for  such  exhibits,  particulars  of  which 
will  be  furnished  on  application.  Sites  can  also 
be  hired  in  the  open  air  for  the  display  of  full- 
sized   greenhouses,   summer-houses,    garden    seats 


and  other  articles  which  do  not  require  to  be  under 
cover. 

The  accessibility  of  Wembley  Park  from  London 
and  the  provinces  is  exceptional.  No  exhibition 
site  has  evei'  enjoyed  such  traffic  facilities.  There 
are  two  main  line  stations  close  to  the  grounds, 
and  the  great  trunk  lines  of  Britain  will  be  able 
to  run  trains  direct  to  the  E.xhibition.  There  is, 
further,  direct  and  quick  railway,  tram  and  motor 
'bus  communication  between  Wembley  and  all 
parts  of  London.  A  few  of  the  distances  by 
train  are  :  Baker  Street,  lomins.  ;  Charing  Cross, 
iSmins.  ;  Euston,  ismins.  ;  Paddington,  I4mins.  ; 
Richmond,  romins.  ;  and  Willesden,  jmins.  A 
special  siding  for  goods  has  been  constructed 
within  the  Exhibition  so  that  it  will  be  possible 
for  packages  of  plants,  etc.,  to  be  conveyed  direct 
from  nurseries,  etc.,  to  the  exhibitors'  stands. 

The  Exhibition  will  be  open  daily  from  .\pril 
till  the  end  of  October,  1924. 


BOOKS 

A  Flora  of  the  Riviera. — .Mr.  Stuart  Thompson's 
book  on  "  Flowering  Plants  of  the  Riviera,"*  a 
copy  of  which  was  recently  received  for  review,  is 
not  exactly  new.  It  was,  indeed,  published  as  long 
ago  as  19 14,  but  the  thoughts  of  all  of  us  were,  at 
that  time,  directed  to  quite  another  part  of  France  ! 
The  work  is  excellently  got  up  and  arranged  and 
should  be  in\aluable  to  anyone  contemplating 
botanising  along  the  Cote  du  Sud.  Even  to  the 
more  casual  amateur  gardener-botanist  it  should  be 
very  helpful,  for  it  is  far  more  interesting  if  one 
can  readily  trace  the  name  and  Uneage  of  some  new 
plant  which  one  admires.  Brief  but  adequate 
descriptions  are  given  of  about  1,800  plants  and 
twenty-four  plates  illustrate  in  colour  no  less 
than  112  of  the  species,  while  there  are  sixteen 
photographs  of  the  vegetation.  An  admirable 
chapter  on  collecting  and  preserving  plants  is  not 
the  least  valuable  part  of  the  book.  It  is  immediately 
followed  by  an  excellent  glossary  of  botanical  terms 
which  should  make  the  descriptions  understandable 
to  the  tjTo.  .\n  introduction  on  Riviera  vegetation 
by  Mr.  A.  G.  Tansley,  is  also  very  helpful.  The 
book,  though  extending  to  some  250  pages,  is 
printed  on  thin  but  tough  paper,  so  that  it  will 
easily  shp  into  the  side  pocket,  a  great  convenience 
in  the  case  of  a  work  of  this  kind. 

In  Sun  and  Shade. — We  have  received  a  httle 
twenty-page  bookletf  which  might  serve  as  a  token 
of  friendship  to  send  to  a  flower-loving  friend  at 
Christmastide.  It  consists  entirely  of  verse  and 
reproductions  of  painting  in  colour  by  the  author, 
no  doubt  a  lady.  The  verses  are  unpretentious, 
but  none  the  worse  on  that  account  and  the  Uttle 
pictures  quite  attractive. 

Oddments  ! — We  have  received  for  review 
a  slender  little  volume  called  by  the  above-written 
illuminating  titlej  and  owning  as  author  and 
compiler  a  Dr.  Gilbert  E.  Brooke,  at  present  Chief 
Health    Officer,    Straits    Settlements.     Largely   in 

•  "  Flowering  Plants  of  the  Eiviera,"  by  H.  Stuart 
Tliomson,  Published  by  Longmans,  Green  and  Co., 
39,  Paternoster  Row,  K.C. ;  8vo.  Now  reduced  to 
7s   6d.  net. 

t  "  Gardens  in  Sun  and  Shade."  by  M.  .'Vumonicr. 
Publislied  by  O.  Anacker,  Limited,  38,  Soho  Square 
W.,  price  Is.  6d.  net. 

{  ••  Oddments,  Being  Extracts  from  a  Scrap-book." 
by  Gilbert  E.  Brooke,  2,  Fort  Canning  Road,  Singapore  ; 
price  not  stated. 


verse,  but  partly  in  prose,  this  whimsical  little 
book  is  a  welconie  companion  for  odd  half-hours. 
The  reviewer  could  not  at  first  see  its  special 
interest  to  readers  of  a  newspaper  devoted  to 
gardening,  but  his  eye  presently  caught  an  article 
beginning  "  Gardening  is  such  an  absorbing 
subject "  which  proved  to  be  a  description  of 
the  "  cultural  "  and  other  pecuharities  of  Clavus 
galUcus — the  French  Nail !  The  very  subtle 
humour  of  the  author  cannot,  however,  be  well 
illustrated  at  second-hand.  A  short  poem  with 
the  metre  and  very  flavour  of  Longfellow's 
"  Hiawatha  "  called  "  Dainty  Dishes  "  is  par- 
ticularly well  done,  but  it  must  not  be  assumed 
that  all  the  oddments  are  facetious  or  even 
humorous.  All  are  interesting  reading,  however, 
and,  as  was  suggested  before,  this  booklet,  for 
it  is  little  more,  would  be  a  welcome  pocket  com- 
panion for  anyone  at  a  loose  end  for  an  hour. 

Hardy  Fruits  in  North  America. — The  Mac- 

millan  Company'  of  New  York  have  just  published 
an  authoritative  work  on  Hardy  Fruits  cultivated 
in  North  America.*  The  compiler.  Dr.  U.  P. 
Hedrick,  is  "  Vice-Director  and  Horticulturist " 
of  the  New  York  Agricultural  Experimental 
Station.  American  readers  of  The  Garden 
who  are  interested  in  fruit  culture  should  certainly 
procure  this  very  comprehensive  work.  To 
readers  in  the  British  Isles  it  is  chiefly  interesting 
as  shewing  how  entirely  different  are  the  varieties 
of  Apples  cultivated  "  across  the  Pond "  from 
those  ordinarily  grown  here.  In  the  case  of  the 
Pear,  on  the  other  hand,  the  varieties  grown 
are  pretty  much  the  same  in  both  continents, 
though  Bartlett,  as  the  Americans  call  Bon 
Chretien,  is  more  popular  "  over  there  "  than 
Pitmaston  Duchess,  which  is  the  more  useful 
variety  on  this  side.  The  book  is  divided  into 
eight  parts.  Part  I  being  devoted  to  "  Pome " 
Fruits — .Apples,  Crabs,  Pears  and  Quinces  ;  Part  II 
Drupe  Fruits — Apricots,  Cherries,  Nectarines, 
Peaches  and  Plums  ;  Part  III  to  the  Grape  Vine  ; 
Part  IV  to  Brambles — Raspberries,  Blackberries 
and  Dewberries  ;  Part  V  to  Currants  and  Goose- 
berries ;  Part  VI  to  Heath  Fruits  (mis-spelled 
"  Health  "  Fruits  in  the  Table  of  Contents) — 
Cranberries,  Blue  Berries  and  Huckleberries ; 
Part  VII  to  Strawberries  ;  and  Part  VIII  to 
Miscellaneous  Fruits — Persimmons,  Mulberries, 
Pawpaws,  Elders,  Highbush  Cranberries,  Buffalo- 
Berries,  Goumis  and  Barberries,  a  chapter  being 
devoted  in  each  part  to  the  botany  of  the  section 
and  in  subsequent  chapters  very  careful  descrip- 
tions being  afforded  of  each  variety.  Many 
varieties  are  illustrated  diagramatically,  and  there 
are  sixteen  plates,  four  of  them  excellently  repro- 
duced in  colour.  This  is  an  admirably  arranged 
work,  quite  destitute  of  verbiage.  It  might  be 
taken  as  a  model  by  authors  desiring  to  impart 
information  conciselv. 


EDITOR'S    TABLE 

From  Messrs.  Artindale  of  Nether  Green,  Sheffield, 
the  Editor  recently  received  some  admirable 
trusses  of  Primula  obconica.  These  shewed  a 
very  considerable  and  good  range  of  colour,  one 
or  two  of  the  deep  crimson  forms  being  especially 
noteworthy.  Some  of  the  fimbriated  sorts  were 
also  very  attractive.  Quite  by  accident  these 
flowers  were  seen  by  Dr.  Macwatt  of  Primula  fame, 
who  was  much  "  taken  "  with  them.  He  especially 
remarked  on  the  neatness  of  the  "  eye  "  in  all  those 
sent  and  said  he  was  incUned  to  consider  them  the 
best  "  obconicas  "  he  had  seen.  It  is  not  suffi- 
ciently recognised  how  easy  these  plants  are  to  grow. 

*  "  Cyclopedia  of  Hardy  Fruits,"  by  U.  P.  Hedrick  ; 
4to.  Published  by  The  Macmillan  Company  New  York  ; 
price  56.00. 


1^  .'1 « ijwv^ccei 

^^^^  THE  ,,.^  141922 

GARDEN 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


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ol.  LXXXVI.— No.  2662. 


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BUILD  ON  A 
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In  planting  a  garden  or  an  orchard,  whether  larj 
or  small,  for  pleasure  or  for  profit,  it  is  importai 
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This  means  thorough  preparation  of  the  groum 
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sorts  on  the  right  stocks. 

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Good  fruit  can  command  one. 

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FORMAL   &   WILD  GARDENS 

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V.  N.  Gauntlett  &  Co.,  Ltd., 

Japanese  Nurseries.  Chiddinopold.  Surrey. 


.4^^^ 


No.  2662.— Vol.  LXXXVI.] 


[November  25,  1922. 


HARDY    PRIMULAS     FOR    GARDEN     AND     WILD 


THERE  are  many  gardens  in  which  Hardy 
Primulas  are  held  in  no  esteem,  in 
which,  indeed,  they  are  conspicuous 
by  their  absence.  On  light,  dry  soils 
there  is  much  excuse  for  this  neglect, 
at  least  as  regards  the  many  moisture-loving 
species,  but  any  soil  not  absolutely  devoid  of 
humus  will  grow  the  various  forms  of  our  native 
Primroses  and  Cowslips  to  perfection  provided 
advantage  is  taken  of  the  shade  of  trees  and 
shrubs.  The  value  of  coloured  Primroses,  par- 
ticularly of  the  blue  ones,  is  undoubted,  and  if 
their  merits  are  not  discussed  at 
length  here  it  is  simply  because,  to 
do  them  justice  would  require  a 
moderately   long   article. 

Coloured  Cowslips  are  not  grown 
to  a  tithe  of  the  extent  to  which  their 
merits  would  seem  to  entitle  them. 
In  natural-looking  colonies  in  the 
shade  of  shrubs  they  are  exceedingly 
attractive.  As  they  reproduce  them- 
selves freely  from  self-sown  seeds, 
they  should  appeal  to  those  very 
numerous  garden  owners  who  are 
compelled  to  curtail  maintenance 
costs.  Their  comparative  lack  of 
popularity  is  almost  certainly  due 
to  the  fact  that  they  do  not  shew  to 
advantage  on  the  show  bench.  No 
doubt  they  could  be  staged  effectively 
if  someone  thought  it  worth  while, 
just  as  the  late  Mrs.  R.  V,  Berkeley 
set  up  coloured  Primroses  effectively. 

There  are  many  hardy  Primulas 
which  are  quite  happy  wedged  between 
stones  in  the  rock  garden  and  which 
require  no  more  than  an  average 
amount  of  moisture.  The  florists' 
.\uriculas  are  by  no  means  enamoured 
of  wet  ground  ;  indeed,  the  choicer 
varieties  need  culture  under  glass 
chiefly  because  of  their  propensity 
to  "  damp  off  "  in  the  dank  days  of 
late  autumn  and  winter.  Some  few 
species  like  a  rather  dry  position, 
preferably  in  open  woodland.  This 
particularly  applies  to  the  cortusoides 
(Sieboldi)  group,  which  includes  PP. 
saxatihs,  Sieboldi  (many  varieties), 
V'eitchii  and  lichiangensis.  Primula 
sSxatilis  is  almost  always  met  with 
in-,  gardens  as  P.  cortusoides,  which 
is  _rare  in  cultivation.  P.  saxatihs 
is  an  equally  good  and  effective 
plant,  however,  with  lilac  rose  flowers. 


P.  Veitchii  varies  considerably  in  flower  colour 
from  a  rather  washy,  but  not  pale,  lilac  rose  to  a 
brilUant  rosy  purple  nearing  magenta.  Despite 
the  testimony  of  the  late  Reginald  Farrer  to  its 
hardiness,  this  Primula  withstands  an  average 
winter  inland  only  in  specially  favoured  situations. 
It  is  certainly  more  tender  than  most  of  the  forms 
of  Primula  Sieboldi.  P.  lichiangensis  is  somewhat 
similar  to  P.  Veitchii,  but  the  foUage  is  stiffer 
and  more  robust,  the  flower-stems  more  rigid 
and  erectly  carried,  and  the  flowers,  which  are  a 
little   smaller,    have   a   conspicuous   dark   eye   and 


A    FINE    COLONY    OF    PRIMULA    FRONDOSA. 


\'ery  distinct  brown  calyces.  The  colouring  of 
the  flo\vers,  a  deep  rose,  is  also  practically  constant. 
This  is  a  far  hardier,  more  interesting  and  better 
plant  than  P.  Veitchii. 

Tlie  saxatile  smooth-leaved  forms  of  PP. 
•Auricula,  viscosa,  villosa  and  hirsuta  are  easy 
enough  in  the  rock  garden.  Primula  Auricula 
itself  is  not  so  often  seen  in  gardens  as  it  should 
be.  The  leaves  are  mealy  and  the  flowers  a 
beautiful  clear  yellow.  The  plant  is  more  compact 
and  desirable  when  growing  in  a  compost  con- 
taining an  abundance  of  lime,  but  it  is  by  no 
means  difficult  in  any  really  well 
drained  soil.  Primula  hirsuta  is, 
sad  to  say,  usually  called  P. 
viscosa  in  gardens.  It  is  a  highly 
desirable  species  with  bright  rose 
or  mauve  flowers  and  the  foliage 
clothed  with  yellow  or  tawny  hairs. 
Overshadowed  nowadays  by  many 
garden  forms  and  hybrids,  the  best 
of  the  wild  forms  of  the  species  are 
well  worth  growing.  They  are  less 
formal  and,  if  one  may  say  so,  more 
natural  looking.  P.  villosa  is  nearly 
related,  but  the  foUage  is  limper 
and  the  hairs  are  longer  and  darker 
and  equally  dense.  P.  viscosa  (true) 
is  generally  hsted  as  P.  latifolia, 
which,  indeed,  is  fairly  good  as  a 
descriptive  name.  The  flowers,  which 
are  carried  on  fairly  tall  stalks,  are 
violet  purple,  and  the  whole  truss 
hangs  to  one  side.  The  broad  foliage 
is  greyish  green  in  colour,  lax  in 
texture  and  has  an  objectionable 
odour. 

The  garden  forms  of  Primula 
hirsuta  (generally  listed  under  P. 
viscosa)  are  almost  all  hybrids  and 
are  best  referred  to  P.  x  pubescens. 
They  are  all  miniatiure  forms  in 
various  colours  of  the  garden  Auricula, 
which  botanically  is  now  itself  classed 
as  P.  X  pubescens,  this  name  being 
reserved  for  all  cross-breeds  of  the 
four  species  (or  any  two  or  three  of 
them)  already  mentioned.  Primula 
Mrs.  J.  H.  Wilson,  P.  The  General, 
P.  Mrs.  Barclay  and  a  whole  host 
more  together  with  the  beautiful 
white-flowered  plants  usually  grown 
in  gardens  as  P.  nivalis  and  P.  helvetica 
alba  are  all  referable  to  P.  x  pubescens. 
P.  viscosa  alba  is  occasionally  met  with, 
but    there    is    a    very    beautiful    pure 


588 


white  form  near  akin  but  witli  P.  Auricula  blood 
which  should  be  referred  to  P.    x  pubescens. 

Primula  marginata  is  another  of  the  Auricula 
kindred,  and  one  of  the  most  lovely.  It  hfts  itself 
above  the  ground  on  ever-lengthening  vi'oody 
"  trunks "  and  in  gritty  soil  spreads  rapidly, 
soon  forming  an  involved  mat.  The  flowers  are 
a  very  pleasing  amethyst  shade,  but  perhaps  the 
principal  charm  of  the  plant  centres  in  the  foliage. 
Stem  and  furled  leaves  are  swathed  in  golden 
farina,  and  the  prettily  notched  expanded  foliage 
is  distinctly  edged  with  it ;  hence  the  specific 
name. 

The  farinosa  group  of  Primulas  is  represented 
in  Britain  by  the  beautiful  Bird's  Eye  Primrose, 
P.  farinosa,  one  of  the  most  widely  distributed  of 
plants.  Farrer  considered  it  the  loveliest  of  our 
native  alpines,  but  not  everyone,  we  imagine, 
would  agree  with  him.  The  rosettes  of  mealy 
foliage  are  exceptionally  charming,  however, 
and  the  flowers,  which  are  carried  in  loose  umbels, 
are,  if  not  brilliant,  exceedingly  dainty  and  attrac- 
tive. On  page  587  we  illustrate  P.  frondosa, 
which  is  the  most  robust  of  the  farinosa  section, 
and  which  will  naturalise  itself  in  any  light,  open, 
well  drained  soil. 

Many  of  the  moisture  loving  Primulas  and 
certainly  the  most  showy  species,  belong  to  the 
Candelabra  section,  that  is,  those  in  which  the 
flowers  are  produced  in  whorls,  "  tier  upon  tier." 
Primula  japonica  was  the  first  introduced, 
and  is  still  perhaps  the  best  known,  of  the  water- 
side or  wet-ground  Candelabra  species.  It  is  a 
robust  species  which  under  favourable  conditions 
reproduces  itself  very  freely  from  self-sown  seed- 
lings. There  are  so  many  bad  forms  about  that 
it  is  well  worth  going  to  some  trouble  to  procure 
really  good  ones.  The  typical  plant  is  crimson — 
in  a  good  form  a  rich  velvety  blackish  crimson — 
but  the  plant  is  now  procurable  in  a  wide  range 
of  colours,  including  pure  white  with  a  rich  golden 
eye.  Many  of^the  plants  sent  out  as  P.  japonica 
alba  are  of  a^dirty  buff  colour  usually  tinged 
around  the  eye  with  rosy  shades  and  altogether 
abominable.  There  is  a  brilliant  deep  salmony 
rose  form  which  is  very  desirable,  and  there  are 
other  good  rose  forms  of  softer  colouring. 

Primula  pulverulenta  is  by  many  considered 
little  more  than  a  mealy  stemmed  form  of 
P.  japonica.  To  those  who  know  the  two  plants 
well,  however,  there  is  an  immense  difference, 
and  it  must  be  admitted  that  P.  pulverulenta 
makes  the  older  plant  look  very  •<  cabbagy  "  and 
commonplace.  The  mealy  stems  of  pulverulenta 
tower  much  higher  than  those  of  the  Japanese, 
the  flowers  are  larger  and  handsomer  and  are 
better  spaced,  and  the  spike  has  more  tiers  and  is 
more  spiry.  The  spike  of  P.  japonica  has  a 
tendency  to  be  round-headed.  The  difference 
between  the  two  plants  is  clearly  shewn  in  the 
pictures  illustrating  them  on  this  page.  A  solitary 
plant  of  P.  japonica  may  be  seen  near  the  water 
side  in  the  picture  of  P.  pulverulenta.  Both 
plants  like  wet  ground  yet  are  their  cultural 
requirements  not  precisely  similar.  .  Whereas  P. 
japonica  will  flourish  in  not  too  dry  woodland 
and  luxuriates  in  any  rich  garden  soil  quite  away 
from  water,  P.  pulverulenta  is  less  accommo- 
dating in  that  respect.  It  may  be  grown  under 
such  conditions  certainly,  but  does  not  give  of 
its  best  anl  is  very  prone  to  attack  by  red  spider. 
P.  japonica,  on  the  other  hand,  is  nc>t  anjaquatic, 
and,  if  submerged  for  any  length  of  time  through 
winter  flooding,  will  perish.  The  more  recently 
introduced  species  will  tolerate,  even  appreciate, 
such  flooding,  and  will  grow  well  in  wet  places 
in  quite  dense  shade  even  under  the  drip  of  trees, 
where  P.  japonica  would  fail.  There  are  two 
pink  forms  of  P.  pulverulenta  in  existence.  One, 
a  very  soft,  almost  blush  pink  with  a  yellow  eye, 


THE     GARDEN. 


[.November  25,  1022. 


PRIMULA    PULVERULENTA    IN    THE    DELL. 


THE    YELLOW    TINGED    APRICOT    PRIMULA    BULLEYANA. 


PRIMULA    JAPONICA     IN    THE    WILD. 


November  25,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


589 


was  certificated  as  Mrs.  R.  V.  Berkeley.  The 
other,  which  is  more  robust  in  habit,  has  salmony 
pink  flowers  and  a  rich  orange  eye,  and  is  perhaps 
the  most  beautiful  of  hardy  Primulas.  When 
offered  by  nurserymen  at  all  it  is  usually  as  Mrs. 
R.  V.  Berkeley,  but  it  is  absolutely  distinct  from 
the  true  stock  of  that  variety. 

Primula  Bulleyana  can  be  described  very 
briefly  as  a  rather  late-flowering  P.  japonica  with 
orange  yellow  flowers  with  rather  an  apricot 
tinge.  They  are,  however,  much  more  yellow  in 
colouring  than  Rose  Lady  Hillingdon,  for  instance. 
Primula  Beesiana  is  still  later  flowering,  and  therein 
lies  its  chief  value.  It  is,  however,  a  less  desirable 
species  than  either  of  the  three  last  mentioned. 
The  flowers  are  reddish  purple.  The  best  coloured 
forms  have  more  than  a  hint  of  magenta  ;  the 
others  are  dowdy  in  the  extreme. 

Primula  Cockbumiana  is  a  much  smaller  plant, 
growing  only  loins.  or  ift.  tall  to  the  top  of  the 
developed  inflorescence.  It  has  flowers  of  a  fiery 
coppery  orange  colour,  but  being  of  little  better 
than  biennial  duration,  chiefly  appeals  to  the 
gardener  on  account  of  the  many  attractive 
hybrids  of  which  it  is  one  parent.  It  crosses 
exceedingly  readily  with  P.  pulverulenta  to 
produce,  according  to  the  way  the  cross  is  made, 
the  plants  known  as  PP.  Lissadell  Hybrid  and 
Unique.  Both  are  of  a'  curious  mahogany  colour 
lit  with  salmon  and  extraordinarily  brilliant  in 
sunlight.  Lissadell  is  freer  to  flower,  rather  paler 
and  smaller  than  Unique.  By  crossing  P.  Cock- 
burniana  with  one  of  the  pink  P.  pulverulenta 
forms,  paler  shades  are  produced,  but  most  of  them 
are  rather  washy  in  colour  and  undesirable.  All 
these  Cockburniana  x  pulverulenta  crosses  are 
fertile,  and  there  is  consequently  a  practically 
endless  series  of  forms  between  the  two  parents. 
Some  of  the  very  finest  dark  forms  of  P.  pulveru 
lenta  are  produced  as  recessives  in  this  inter- 
crossing. They  accordingly  breed  true.  A  form 
of  P.  Cockburniana  is  produced  in  a  similar  way, 
which  is  even  fierier  in  colour  and  more  robust- 
looking  but  less  free-flowering.  This  is  a  better 
perennial  than  the  plant  as  introduced. 

With  PP.  Bulleyana,  and  Beesiana  Primula 
Cockbumiana  crosses  also,  but  not  so  readily 
as  with  P.  pulverulenta.  Some  of  the  Beesiana 
hybrids  are  very  striking  and  beautiful,  others 
quite  valueless.  The  same  remark  applies  to  the 
hybrids  between  PP.  Bulleyana  and  Beesiana, 
for  the  two  species  intercross  readily  enough. 

Primula  Poissoni  is  another  of  the  Candelabra 
section,  but  very  distinct.  It  has  smooth  glossy, 
rather  flaccid  foliage  and  whorls .  of  blossom  of 
an  unattractive  shade  of  magenta  purple.  An  easy 
doer,  it  likes  partial  shade. 

Other  wet-land  Primulas  include  the  w'^U 
known  but  admirable  P.  rosea,  P.  involucrata 
with  bluish  white  flowers  ;  P.  Wardei,  somewhat 
similar,  but  of  a  lively,  if  variable,  pale  violet 
colouring  (this  is  the  plant  usually  listed  as  P. 
sibirica  ;  it  is  peculiarly  valuable  because  so  often 
in  flower)  ;  PP.  sikkimensis,  chionantha,  helodoxa 
and  Parryi.  Primula  sikkimensis  with  its  nodding 
pale  sulphur  yellow  cowshp-hke  flowers  is  a  general 
favourite  but  a  short-lived  plant.  The  creamy 
white  P.  chionantha  is  related  but  more  robust- 
looking,  and  will  probably  prove  more  truly 
perennial.  Primula  helodoxa  really  belongs  to 
the  Candelabra  section,  but  differs  from  other 
■species  in  the  section  rather  considerably.  It  is 
a^tall  species,  very  easy  to  grow  in  moist  ground, 
and  the  flowers  are  a  pleasing  shade  of  soft 
but  rich  yellow. 

^  There  is  a  multitude  of  interesting  species  even 
now  not  mentioned,  but,  except  for  the  members 
of  the  capitata  group  whose  confused  nomenclature 
we  hope  shortly  to  tackle,  few  are  of  much  garden 
value . 


MICHAELMAS      DAISIES 

The   composition   of  my   collection. — Climax  for    ever. — A    rapid   run  through  the 
Novi-Belgii. — Oh  !  what  a  surprise  .'^Smaller  fry. 


IT  is  very  possible  that  many  people  have 
gro%vn  a  larger  collection  than  I  have, 
but  I  can  safely  say  that  even  if  they  had 
had  ten  times  the  hundred  and  twenty-five 
varieties  that  I  have  had  they  could  not 
have  given  them  more  pleasure  nor  pro\ided 
them  with  more  interest.  I  want  to  make  plain 
my  limitations.  There  was  none  of  the  Amellus 
section.  These  somehow  seem  only  half  Michael- 
mas Daisies  on  account  of  their  stature  and  their 
flowering  period.  There  was  not  a  single  example 
of  a  Nov:E-.'\ngli!E,  because  I  do  not  care  for  them 
so  much  as  I  do  for  the  Novi-Belgii  and  my 
garden  is  not  elastic.  I  have  very  few  doubles, 
again  for  the   last-named   reason.     They  do  not 


consideration  of  garden  ornament,  the  con- 
sideration of  fine  graceful  habit,  the  consideration 
of  a  perfectly  delightful  flower  and  the  considera- 
tion of  grace  in  a  vase — let  alone  that  of  being 
nearly  mildew-proof,  no  other  Daisy  is  quite 
what  Climax  is.  I  take  my  hat  off  to  Edwin 
Beckett,  its  raiser  ;  and  after  this  act  of  homage 
I  pass  on  to  deal  with  some  of  those  of  this 
splendid  race  which  have  "  found  me  "  in  Iy22. 
King  Albert  is  a  tall  man  with  a  wide  outlook 
on  affairs.  King  of  the  Belgians  is  his  counter- 
part in  a  Michaelmas  Daisy.  It  is  very  tall, 
very  handsome,  and  its  great  big  rosy  lavender 
blooms  are  "  just  right."  They  are  not  a  bit 
out  of  keeping,  as  are  the  soup-plate  blooms  of 


MR.  EDWIN  Beckett's  michaelmas  daisies. 


appeal  to  me  at  all,  and  one  has  to  cut  some- 
thing out.  These  facts  will  explain  what  other- 
wise many  would  think  strange  omissions  in  the 
list.  Can  I  call  any  one  "  mea  rosa  "  ?  any  one 
'•  the  apple  of  my  eye  "  ?  any  one  "  the  pink  of 
perfection "  ?  I  think  I  can  ;  at  all  events 
if  I  were  tested  by  being  told  I  might  only  grow 
one  Michaelmas  Daisy  in  my  garden,  it  would 
not  be  the  magnificent  towering  King  of  the 
Belgians  with  its  great  big  flowers  ;  it  would 
not  be  the  lovely  soft  pink  Louvain  ;  it  would 
not  be  the  beautiful  bright  rose  General  Leman 
or  the  rather  softer  clear-toned  Hilda  ;  I  would 
pass  over  the  hair-like  petalled  Miss  Eisle  ;  even 
the  Edwin  Beckett  that  came  from  Wells  and 
is  not  a  deep  blue  cordifolius,  would  have  to  be 
given — very  grudgingly  I  own — a  reluctant 
cold  shoulder. 

"  The  great  Emathian  conqueror  bid  spare 
The  house  of  Pindarus,  when  temple  and  tower 
Went  to  the  ground." 

So  would  I  beg  for  the  life  of  Climax  if  all  my 
beauties  had  to,  be  destroyed  by  a  cruel  fate. 
Taking     one     consideration     with     another — the 


the  much  shorter  Bruges,  although  the  extra- 
ordinary floriferousness  of  this  last  compels 
the  attention  of  even  the  least  observant.  A 
variety  of  somewhat  similar  colouring,  but  with 
no  rose  tint  in  the  mauve,  is  Brussels.  It  is  almost 
a  true  lavender,  but  these  shades  are  very  difficult 
to  describe  with  accuracy  when  there  are  so 
many  different  varieties  whose  colouring  runs 
very  much  one  into  another.  Blue-toned  helios 
li  the  first  water  include  Climax  and  also  Felthara 
Blue.  This  last  has  a  very  deep  yellow  eye  and, 
what  after  all  is  to  me  a  most  valuable  asset, 
it  is  a  clear  clean-cut  flower.  Would  you  like 
the  "  wee  modest  crimson  tipped  flower "  if 
its  centre  were  all  blurred  and  half  its  tiny  florets 
seemingly  undecided  if  they  were  to  dress  for 
the  centre  or  the  outside?  It  would  not  then 
very  much  matter  if 

"  Stern    Ruin's    ploughshare    drives    elate 
Full  on  thy  bloom." 

In  fact,  there  are  some  Michaelmas  Daisies  which 
I  would  dearly  like  to  see  sharing  that  fate. 
The  greatest  offender  in  my  collection  is  not 
contented  with  putting  up  a  much  blurred  central 


.90 


THE     GARDEN. 


[November  25,  1922. 


flower,  but  there  are  an  innumerable  number  of 
smaller  ones  tightly  packed  all  round  it  d  la 
hen-and-chicken  Daisy.  I  do  not  know  its 
name.  I  wish  I  did  so  that  I  might  fence  it 
with  a  notice  board  "  keep  off."  It  came  to  me 
under  the  name  of  Mrs.  Twinan,  but  as  it  is  a 
deep  helio  and  no  more  pink  than  an  Emperor 
Daffodil,  it  cannot  be  that  variety.  I  know  now 
why  I  saw  a  well  known  would-be  purchaser 
look  under  the  flower  of  a  fine  white  seedling 
that  he  was  asked  to  consider  with  a  view  to  a 
purchase  and  why  that  wise  head  shook  as  if 
it  would  come  off  after  he  had  inspected  it.  It 
had  the  mark  of  the  beast  writ  large  behind 
each  central  flower.  Careful  man  !  Keeping  in 
a  rough  way  to  colour,  no  one  should  be  without 
Edith  Goodwin.  It  has  such  a  splendid  habit — 
feathered  with  subsidiary  sprays  all  down  to  the 
ground  ;  clean-cut  flowers  not  far  off  the  shade 
of  old  Attraction.  I  never  seem  to  remember 
any  pinks  in  olden  days.  There  cannot  have 
been  many,  but  now  we  have  Louvain,  Lady 
Lloyd,  Thelma  Perry,  Mrs.  Wheeler  Bennett, 
Mrs.  H.  Morris,  Sunset,  Pink  Perfection  and  the 
spidery  petalled  Ethel  Ballard.  These  far  from 
exhaust  them,  but  I  do  not  wish  for  any  more. 
Of  these  give  me  Louvain,  tall,  branching, 
reminding  one  in  a  distant  way  of  Climax,  and 
of  a  lovely  soft  colour  which  keeps  pink  to  the 
end  :  Sunset  next,  later  to  flower  and  shorter  in 
stature  than  Louvain  and  more  of  a  typical 
Michaelmas  Daisy  in  its  habit ;  as  a  third,  Lady 
Lloyd,  paler  in  the  centre  of  the  flowers  than 
at  the  outside,  which  adds  to  their  charm,  early 
to  bloom  and  exceptionally  free. 

How  difficult  it  is  in  many  cases  to  say  where 
one  begins  and  the  other  leaves  off.  Heat  and 
cold,  for  example  !  How  about  pink  and  rose  ? 
There  must  be  a  watershed  down  one  side  of 
which  go  the  pinks  and  down  the  other  the  roses, 
but  it  is  to  me  a  terra  incognita.  Hence  one  is  a 
little  uncertain  about  one's  labels,  and  passing 
from  pink  to  rose  is  rather  a  ticklish  job.  How- 
ever, General  Leman  is  a  rose,  and  it  is  a  rose 
which  keeps  rose  to  the  end.  This,  however, 
is  where  that  much  pufled-up  variety  Brightest 
and  Best  signally  fails.  Dainty,  now,  with  similar 
semi-double  flowers,  does  keep  rose  all  its  Ufe, 
and  is  far  brighter  and  more  pleasing  if  it  is  not 
so  tall  and  has  rather  smaller  blooms.  Hilda, 
although  the  edges  of  its  petals  incurve,  which 
is  a  trick  I  do  not  at  all  like,  nevertheless  at  a 
distance  stands  out  as  a  really  beautiful  shade 
of  rose.  It  is  fairly  tall,  and  I  have  it  down 
as  of  a  nice  branching  habit.  This  is,  unfortu- 
nately, the  failing  in  the  case  of  Sirius,  which, 
were  I  to  judge  it  by  its  flowers  alone,  would 
almost  be  my  favourite  rose.  It  has  such  a 
large,  attractive  centre,  round  which  the  bright 
ray  florets  are  so  orderly  arranged  that  the  whole 
effect  is  exceptionally  smart.  It  is,  alas  !  one  of 
the  "  mop-heads,"  a  name  I  have  coined  to  express 
the  type  which  bears  all  the  blooms  in  a  sort  of 
more  or  less  flat  mass  at  the  top  of  the  plant, 
as  we  get,  to  take  a  second  example,  in  Reverend 
Nunn,  the  variety  which,  of  all  the  many  peren- 
nial Asters  I  know,  may  be  called  blue,  not, 
of  course,  a  blue  like  Forget-me-not  or  Teco 
philjEa  blue,  but  not  bad  for  a  Michaelmas  Daisy. 

Collection  growing  is  wonderfully  exciting  work 
if  you  have  a  good  proportion  of  unknowns 
among  those  you  have  got  together.  Do  try  it 
if  you  never  have  done  so.  Colour  scheming  is  a 
dull  job  compared  to  collection  growing,  in  my 
opinion,  but  chacun  d  son  goCit.  Among  my 
most  pleasant  surprises  were  Magnet  and  Edwin 
Beckett,  as  I  got  it  from  Amos  Perry.  The 
first  of  these  is  a  rich  dark  helio  several  tones 
deeper  than  Belgian  Queen.  It  is  a  true  counter 
part  of  Climax  in  its  habit  of  growth,  but,  like 


Belgian  Queen  and  The  Queen  (another  good 
Michaelmas  Daisy),  it  is  late  to  come  into  bloom, 
which  makes  it  of  additional  value.  The  indi- 
vidual flowers  are  2iins.  to  cHns.  across.  Perry's 
Edwin  Beckett  I  am  very  much  inclined  to  put 
proxime  accesit  to  Climax.  I  hardly  dare  begin 
to  write  about  it  and  sing  its  praises.  It  is  a 
mid-season  bloomer — a  good  5ft.  high — the 
much-branched  stem  all  crowded  over  with 
medium-sized  pale  lavender  blooms,  and  as  each 
one  has  a  nice  little  pedicel  of  its  own,  the  result 
is  that  the  whole  tout  ensemble  is  lightness  itself 

"  The  rose   that   all   are   praising 
Is  not  the  rose  for  me." 

No,  Mr.  Baily,  I  can  only  say  "  not  always." 
Whites  seem  none  too  plentiful.  Sam  Banham 
has  improved  on  acquaintance,  but  I,  personally, 
still  like  Perry's  White  the  best,  although  Maid 
of  Colwall  runs  it  somewhat  close.  For  vases 
Nina  Redman  is  very  charming.  It  is  so  light- 
looking  and  graceful  and,  being  one  of  the  early 
birds  of  the  race,  we  give  it  a  do\ible  welcome. 


Now  I  hear  someone  thinking  aloud,  "  Why 
the  fellow  has  never  mentioned  any  of  the  smaller 
fry.  Does  not  he  care  for  them  ?  "  On  the 
whole  I  do  not  think  I  do,  but  there  are  many 
exceptions.  Little  Bo-Peep,  which  was  a  present 
from  Mr.  Vicary  Gibbs,  is  a  real  topper — Photo- 
graph, Ideal  and  the  rest  of  you  cordifolius 
people,  you  must  retire.  Little  Bo-Peep  was  the 
universal  favourite.  Its  wealth  of  small  delicate 
lavender  blooms  appealed  to  everyone.  As  a 
good  companion  to  the  above  why  not  the  old 
Diana  ?  Where  does  this  differ  from  cordifolius 
elegans  ?  I  have  them  both,  or  as  it  seems  to 
me,  I  have  the  same  thing  under  two  names. 
If  this  is  correct,  Diana  has  been  before  the  public 
for  the  last  twenty  years  and  still  goes  very 
strong.  "  Time !  "  If,  Mr.  Editor,  you  think 
all  this  has  been  interesting,  may  I  beg  a  little 
more  space  another  week  still  further  to  unburden 
myself  of  some  of  the  things  I  would  like  to  say  ? 
I  make  my  appeal  as  a  devoted  slave  of  the 
"  slave  "  of  our  autumn  gardens.  Will  anyone 
challenge  this  ?  Joseph  Jacob. 


THE    HERBACEOUS    PHLOXES 


Is   their   Place   the   Herbaceous   Border? 


I  HAVE  often  thought  it  rather  strange 
that  if  the  average  gardener  is  asked  for 
a  list  of  plants  for  the  herbaceous  border, 
he  almost  invariably  starts  by  mentioning 
"  Phlox,"  by  which,  of  course,  he  means 
the  erect-habited  decussata  and  suflruticosa 
forms.  Unquestionably  the  best  results  are 
obtained  with  these  when  they  have  a  border 
allotted  to  them.  These  Phloxes  are  rather 
shallow  rooting,  very  gross  feeders  and  intolerant 
of  drought.  If  planted  in  the  herbaceous  border 
special  attention  must  be  given  to  them  most 
seasons,  but  they  are  easier  to  attend  to  and  do 
better  when  given  quarters  to  themselves.  Given 
an  abundance  of  moisture  at  the  root,  they  do 
not    object    to    sun-heat,    although    the    salmon 


shades  fade  badly  in  smilight.  They  are  les5 
troublesome  to  grow,  however,  in  a  border  with 
a  north  or  west  aspect  and,  preferably,  backed 
by  a  wall.  Hedge  roots  abstract  much  nutri- 
ment from  the  soil  and,  what  is  perhaps  even 
more  important,  they  render  it  almost  impossible 
to  keep  an  adequate  supply  of  moisture  in  the 
soil. 

Phloxes  should  be  replanted  at  least  every 
two  years.  Growers  for  exhibition  usually 
replant  every  season.  It  is  quite  possible  to 
grow  fine  spikes  from  divided  plants  if  care  is 
taken  only  to  retain  the  vigorous  outer  portions 
of  the  clumps.  Propagation  from  cuttings 
is,  however,  quite  easy,  and  many  people 
will    consider     Phloxes     as     worthy     of    careful 


A    BORDER    OF    PHLOXES    AT    NEW    PLACE,    LINGFIELD. 


November  25,  1922] 


THE     GARDEN. 


591 


propagation  as  Chrysanthemums.  Who  nowadays 
propagates  the  Queen  of  Autumn  by  dividing 
the  stools  ?  The  plants  offered  by  nurserymen 
are  almost  invariably  from  cuttings,  so  that  the 
amateur  makes  a  good  start  and  is  set  a  good 
example  ! 

Cow  manure  is  generally  advised  as  a  fertiliser 
owing  to  its  moisture-holding  property,  especially 
on  light  soils,  but  good  horse  dung  is  excellent. 
Wakeley's  Hop  Manure  is  exceedingly  valuable 
for  its  moisture-holding  properties  and  is,  of 
course,  a  fertiliser  as  well. 
It  makes  an  excellent 
mulch  for  use  in  droughty 
weather,  but  lawn-clip- 
pings or  other  material 
may,  at  a  push,  be  pressed 
into  service  for  this  pur- 
pose. The  surface  should 
be  broken  with  the  hoe 
before  the  mulch  is  ap- 
plied, but  only  the  top 
inch  should  be  broken,  or 
damage  will  be  done  to 
the  spreading  roots. 

To  be  effective  the 
plants  should  be  set  out  in 
groups  of  a  size  propor- 
tionate to  that  of  the 
border.  Each  group 
should  consist  of  at  least 
three  plants  ;  a  dozen  or 
eighteen  will  hardly  be  too 
many  for  a  large  border. 
Eighteen  inches  between 
the  plants  is  a  suitable 
distance.  .\  certain 
amount  of  thinning  out  of 
the  weaker  growths  is 
essential  if  the  best  results 
are  to  be  obtained,  this 
being  especially  the  case 
where  plants  more  than 
a  year  old  are  concerned. 

Phlo.xes  certainly  do 
well  by  the  waterside  in 
places  where  a  constant 
level  of  the  water  is 
maintained,  so  that, 
never  flooded,  their  roots 
always  have  access  to  an 
abundance  of  moisture. 
I  should  not,  myself, 
plant  them  there,  because 

I      do    not     think     their         FRUITS     OF     THE 
habit    of     growth    lends 

itself  to  such  planting,  but  that  is  purely  a 
matter  of  taste. 

The  question  of  varieties,  now  that  there  are 
so  many  sorts  in  cultivation,  is  rather  a  difficult 
one,  but  the  following  are  all  excellent  for  garden 
decoration. 

For  the  garden  I  have  yet  to  see  the  white 
sort  which  surpasses  the  old  Sylphide.  Fran 
Ant.  Buchner,  however,  is  the  one  generally 
grown,  and  Tapis  Blanc  is  useful  for  the  extreme 
front  of  the  border.  Mauve  Queen  is  probably 
the  best  mauve  ;  it  has  a  white  eye,  but  in  sHghtly 
different  colouring,  -Antonin  Mercie  is  good. 
Sir.  Jacob  has  an  excellent  selection  of  really 
bright  border  sorts  in  last  week's  issue.  George 
A.  Strohlein  and  even  the  old  rather  small- 
flowered  Coquelicot  might  be  added  to  these 
as  desirable.  That  grand  old  sort  Selma  "  J.  J." 
mentions  among  the  dwarf  ones.  Another 
admirable  cream  pink  is  Hanny  Pfleiderer. 
Violet  Phloxes  are  in  demand  for  some  purposes, 
but  at  present  the  quality  is  indifferent.  Perhaps 
the  best  is  Le  Mahdi,  but  there  is  immense  room 
for  improvement  in  this  colour.  W. 


TREE    AND    SHRUB    GARDEN 

THE   HAWTHORN   FAMILY. 


THE  hot  summer  and  autumn  of  1921 
ripened  the  wood  of  many  trees  and 
shrubs  so  thoroughly  that  they  flowered 
more  freely  than  usual  this  year,  and 
those  that  flowered  early,  while  the 
weather  was  good,  set  very  heavy  crops  of  fruit. 
This  was  the  case  with  the  Hawthorns,  and  rarelv 


COCI'ISPUR    THORN,    CRAT/EGUS    CRUS-GALLI . 

have  they  bloomed  so  freely  as  they  did  in  May 
and  early  June,  or  borne  heavier  crops  of  fruit. 
The  country  has  rarely  been  more  beautiful  at 
^^'hitsuntide  than  it  was  in  1922,  for  every 
hedgerow  and  isolated  Thorn  bush  was  covered 
with  flowers,  whether  it  happened  to  be  in  a 
highly  cultivated  garden  or  a  wilding  on  hillside 
or  common.  At  the  present  time  these  same 
bushes  are  covered  with  red  fruits. 

Nor  is  it  the  common  Hawthorn  alone  that 
has  blossomed  and  fruited  so  profusely,  for 
the  same  thing  has  happened  with  cultivated 
varieties  and  exotic  species.  The  old  theory  of 
heavy  crops  of  Hawthorn  and  Holly  berries 
being  sure  signs  of  a  hard  winter  is  still  credited 
in  some  quarters,  but  the  theory  cannot  be 
substantiated  by  fact,  for  the  flowering  and 
fruiting  of  trees  and  shrubs  is  determined  by  the 
weather  that  has  gone  before,  not  by  what  is 
to  come,  and  a  hard  and  cold  winter  is  just  as 
likely  to  follow  a  poor  as  a  good  crop  of  fruit. 

.\s  a  good  deal  of  interest  has  been  created 
in  the  Crataegus  family  during  the  last  few  months, 
it  may  be  wise  to  direct  attention   to  a  few  of 


the  best  species  and  varieties  for  present 
planting. 

Many  people  pin  their  faith  to  the  double- 
flowered  forms  of  the  common  Hawthorn,  and 
they  are  certainly  very  beautiful  in  May,  but 
they  have  one  great  defect,  they  produce  no 
fruit.  Possibly  the  best  of  the  doubles  is  Paul's 
Double  Scarlet,  a  variety  with  rich,  bright  red 
flowers,  but  alba  plena  and  Candida  plena  with 
white,  and  rosea  plena  with  rose-coloured  flowers 
arf.  also  good.  These  are  all  varieties  of  Crat^gus 
Oxyacantha.  Other  varieties  of  the  same  species 
are  coccinea  with  single  red  flowers,  coccinea 
pendula  of  weeping  habit  and  fructu-luteo  with 
yellow  fruits.  Of  the  other  form  of  the  common 
Hawthorn,  C.  monogyna,  the  following  varieties 
are  specially  worthy  of  note  :  aurea,  yellow 
fruits ;  granatensis  and  fusca  with  large  red 
fruits  ;  pendula  with  weeping  branches  ;  prscox — 
the  Glastonbury  Thorn,  which  blossoms  in  mid- 
winter— and  stricta,  remarkable  for  its  stiff, 
erect  branches,  which  have  the  same  £ffect  as 
those  of  the  Lonibardy  Poplar. 

There  are  many  other  species  that  are  equally 
beautiful  in  flower,  and  more  so  in  fruit,  for 
the  fruits  are  larger  and  brighter  coloured  than 
those  of  the  common  Hawthorn.  C.  coccinea, 
a  North  American  species,  is  one  of  the  best 
known.  Forming  a  tree  20ft.  to  25ft.  high  with 
a  large  and  wide-spreading  head,  it  is  one  of  the 
most  regular  of  all  Thorns  in  flowering  and  fruiting. 
The  flowers  are  white,  jin.  across  and  produced 
in  large,  flat  heads.  The  flowers  are  followed 
by  pendent  bunches  of  bright  red  fruits,  each 
fruit  being  Ain.  in  diameter.  They  are  ripe  in 
September.  There  is  a  variety  rotundifolia 
which  is  not  so  well  known.  It  forms  a  smaller 
tree  but  fruits  quite  as  freely.  C.  mollis  is 
another  very  beautiful  Thorn  from  North  America. 
In  flowers  and  fruit  it  is  very  like  C.  coccinea, 
but  differs  by  the  hairy  character  of  the  leaves. 
C.  coccinioides  is  one  of  the  newer  species  that 
has  affinities  to  C.  coccinea  ;  its  fruits  are  darker 
coloured,  but  borne  very  freely. 

The  Washington  Thorn,  C.  cordata,  is  easily 
distinguished  from  all  others  by  its  rather  small 
leaves  and  late  flowering  period,  the  white  flowers 
being  at  their  best  in  July.  The  fruit  is  small, 
scarlet,  ripens  late,  and  often  remains  on  the 
tree  throughout  winter.  It  grows  30ft.  high 
and  is  a  native  of  the  Eastern  United  States. 
C.  punctata  is  very  distinct  by  reason  of  its  large, 
prominently  ribbed  or  veined  leaves  and  large 
spotted  fruits.  The  fruits  of  the  type  are  deep 
red,  Jin.  to  fin.  long,  and  dotted  over  with  small 
brown  spots.  There  is  a  variety  santhocarpa 
in  which  the  fruits  are  yellow  with  brownish  dots. 

C.  .\zarolus,  a  native  of  the  Orient,  is  a  very 
remarkable  Thorn,  not  so  much  by  its  white 
flowers  as  by  its  fruits.  The  fruits  are  about 
lin.  in  diameter,  apple-like,  yellow,  orange, 
red  or  white  ;  fleshy,  sweet  and  edible.  .-Vnother 
Thorn  with  large  edible  fruits  is  C.  tanacetifolia. 
This  has  very  hairy  leaves  and  shoots,  short 
stiff  branches,  white  flowers  and  yellow  fruits 
lin.  in  diameter  which  bear  green,  leaf-like 
bracts  on  the  surface.  It  is  a  native  of  .\sia 
Minor  and  Syria.  In  leaf  C.  orientaUs  is  rather 
like  C.  tanacetifolia,  but  the  leaves  and  fruits 
are  smaller,  the  fruits  also  vary  in  colour  from 
yellow  to  orange  and  red. 

C.  sanguinea,  from  Russia  and  Siberia,  bears 
rather  small,  glossy,  bright  red  fruits,  and  is  a 
good  kind  to  select.  C.  prunifolia  is  often 
regarded  as  a  hybrid  between  C.  Crus-galli  and 
C.    macrantha.     It    forms    a    bushy-headed    tree 


592 


THE     GARDEN. 


[November  25,  1922 


20ft.  high,  and  bears  white  flowers  arid  deep 
red  fruits  freely,  but  is  perhaps  most  remarkable 
by  reason  of  the  rich  autumnal  tints  of  the 
foliage,  which  embrace  many  shades  of  red, 
yellow,  orange  and  bronze.  C.  macrantha  is  an 
Eastern  North  American  species  which  bears 
very  attractive,  glossy,  crimson  fruits.  C. 
Crus-galli,  the  Cockspur  Thorn,  so  called  by 
reason  of  its  long,  strong  spines,  bears  white 
flowers  and  crimson  fruits  ;  the  leaves  have 
attractive    autumn    colouring.     C.    durobrivensis. 


one  of  the  newer  American  Thorns,  bears  bright 
crimson  fruits  rather  more  than  half  an- inch  in 
diameter.  C.  Carriferei  should  be  in  every  collec- 
tion on  account  of  its  late  flowering  and  fruiting. 
The  flowers  are  white,  nearly  an  inch  across  and 
produced  in  flat  heads  3ins.  or  more  in  diameter. 
The  fruits  are  orange  red,  iin.  in  diameter, 
and  ripen  in  November.  There  are  several 
Thorns  with  black  fruits,  such  as  C.  nigra, 
C.  chlorosarca  and  C.  Douglasii,  but  their  fruits 
are    less   attractive  than   those  of   other  species. 


C.  Douglasii,  however,  is  very  beautiful  in 
autumn  by  reason  of  the  bright  tints  taken  on 
by  the  foliage. 

The  Thorns  are  easily  grown  in  any  good 
garden  soil.  They  should  receive  a  little  attention 
in  the  way  of  pruning  while  they  are  young  in 
order  to  induce  height  instead  of  lateral 
growth,  but  it  is  not  a  good  plan  to  remove 
large  branches  from  old  trees,  for  this  may 
set  up  disease,  resulting  in  the  loss  of  a  favourite 
specimen.  W,  D. 


A  SELECTION  OF  BORDER  CARNATIONS  AND  CLOVES 


THE  following  list  of  \'arieties,  which 
includes  some  of  the  latest  introduc- 
tions, comprises  the  best  varieties  in 
the  different  colour  sections.  All  the 
sorts  mentioned  can  be  relied  upon 
to  give  satisfaction  for  garden  decoration,  and 
almost  all  of  them  are  suitable  for  exhibition 
purposes. 

Grenadier  is  easily  first  among  the  scarlets. 
It  is  a  brilliant  colour  and  does  not  scald  in  the 
hottest  sunshine.  It  is  a  large  flower,  sometimes 
attaining  a  diameter  of  4ins.,  yet  its  petals  are 
the  right  size  for  expanding  in  wet  weather. 
It  has  a  fine  border  habit. 

Veldtfire  is  another  fine  scarlet  self,  not 
quite  as  brilliant  as  Grenadier,  and  not  as  reliable 
in  wet  weather.  At  its  best,  however,  it  is  a 
very  fine  variety  w'ith  a  sound  calyx. 


Glow-worm. — This  .  is  a  real  dwarf  scarlet 
of  perfect  size  for  border  work,  very  floriferous 
and  the  flowers  carried  on  wiry  stems.  One  year 
plants  have  had  as  many  as  120  blooms  at  a  time. 

Scarlet  Clove  is  one  of  the  finest  of  the  new 
Cloves.  It  is  a  colour  that  Mr.  James  Douglas 
has  been  working  on  for  years,  and  he  has  at 
last  succeeded  in  producing  it  with  the  true 
Clove  habit.  It  is  not  a  brilliant  colour  like 
Grenadier,  but  a  pleasing  shade  of  reddish  coral. 
It  has  a  very  strong  aroma. 

Fujiyama  is  a  deep  red  rather  than  scarlet. 
It  sometimes  shews  white  ticks  in  the  colour. 
It  is  a  good  exhibition  variety. 

Crystal  Clove  is  a  peerless  white  Clove  of 
fine  shape  and  habit  and  very  fragrant. 

White  Clove. — Of  strong  dwarf  habit,  this 
very  powerfully  scented  Clove  is  ideal  for  border 


work.  If  left  undisturbed  it  makes  a  huge  plant 
the  second  season,  when  its  freedom  of  flowering 
will  be  a  revelation.  It  is  possibly  the  most 
highly  perfumed  Clove  to  date. 

Goldylocks  is  a  really  fine  apricot  self  for 
border  cultivation.  It  is  a  very  pleasing  colour 
and  the  habit  is  grand. 

BooKHAM  Salmon. — This  is  a  very  beautiful 
salmon  pink,  and  although  the  flowers  are  very 
large,  it  has  a  splendid  calyx.  It  is  a  fine  variety 
of  good  constitution. 

Salmon  Clove. — Like  the  above,  this  variety 
changes  to  a  lovely  shade  of  salmon  pink  after 
opening.  Sometimes,  however,  it  opens  without 
scent,  but  after  a  few  hours  develops  a  strong 
Clove  fragrance.     This  is  a  peculiar  characteristic. 

Stirling  Castle  and  Moonbeam  are  two  of 
the  best  yellows  of  their  type,  and  the  vigorous 


FANCY    CARNATION    STEERFORTH. 


THE    FRAGR.\NT    KING    OF    CLOVES. 


November  25,  1922. 


THE     GARDEN. 


593 


habit  and  sound  calyx  of  Srs-SHIXE  are  two  of 
its  best  points.  The  latter  is  a  good  variety  for 
the  border. 

Robin  Grey  is  a  fine  border  variety  of  very 
robust  habit.     It  is  a  lavender  grey. 

BooKHAM  Belle  is  a  lovely  fancy,  canary 
yellow  with  heavy  markings  of  lavender  grey 
and  lighter  stripes  of  soft  apricot.  It  is  a  very 
large  flower  of  perfect  form  and  sound  caly.x, 
and  it  is  also  a  strong  grower. 

King  of  Cloves  is  the  best  dark  Clove  yet 
produced.  It  is  a  glowing  shade  of  deep  purplish 
crimson.  Besides  having  a  very  vigorous  habit, 
the  flower-stems  are  very  rigid  and  the  caly.x  is 
non-splitting. 

I\[.\RGARET  Keep. — A  dainty  shade  of  blush 
pink  with  the  old  Clove  scent  very  pronounced. 
One  of  the  finest  of  the  newer  Cloves. 

Marechal  Niel. — An  appropriately  named 
\-ariety,  for  the  colouring  of  the  well  known 
Rose  is  practically  reproduced  in  the  Carnation. 
The  large  blooms  are  of  fine  substance. 

Steerforth. — A  fine  flower  of  dainty  colour- 
ing, a  white  ground  edged  and  flecked  with  a 
deep  shade  of  crimson.  It  has  the  Clove  scent. 
Corallina. — A  deUcate  shade  of  rich  coral 
pink  which  is  particularly  beautiful  under  artificial 
light.  It  is  a  fiower  of  fine  form  and  good  habit. 
Claret  Clove. — A  crimson  claret  coloured 
Clove  of  very  strong  habit  with  a  perfect  caly.\. 
It  is  very  fioriferous  and  powerfully  fragrant. 

Kelso  is  unique  in  colouring.  In  the  young 
flowers  it  is  a  purple-grey  on  a  golden  red  ground, 
afterwards  changing  to  heliotrope  on  soft  apricot. 
It  is  a  perfectly  formed  ijower  and  good  for  either 
exhibition  or  the  border. 

Melanie  is  a  magnificent  apricot  self  of  fine 
border  habit. 

Paladin. — This  is  a  beautiful  fancy,  a  finely 
formed  fiower  with  an  edge  and  pencillings  of 
purple  on  a  yellow  ground.  It  is  a  good  border 
variety. 

Purple  Clove. — This  is  the  finest  of  its  colour 
yet  produced.  It  has  strong  habit  and  good 
border  form.  The  perfume  is  very  pronounced. 
Pearl  Clove. — A  deUcate  shade  of  pearly 
lilac  rose.  It  is  a  strongly  scented  variety, 
and  the  habit  and  constitution  are  quite  good. 

Sir  Bru.netto  Clove  is  one  of  the  best  of  the 
dark  varieties.  It  is  a  rich  deep  maroon,  at  times 
almost  black.  It  has  a  grand  border  habit, 
and  the  blooms  are  borne  on  strong,  rigid  stems. 
Blush  Clove  is  another  deUcately  coloured 
variety  with  an  exceptionally  heavy  perfume. 
It  requires  no  staking  as  the  flowers  are  carried 
on  very  strong,  rigid  stems,  which  stand  erect 
above  the  foliage. 

Mrs.  Hawksbee  is  a  very  beautiful  fancy, 
lightly  flecked  and  barred  with  bright  rosy 
crimson  on  a  pure  white  ground. 

Sir  Douglas  Haig  is  another  fancy  of  the 
best  form.  It  is  heavily  marked  with  crimson 
maroon  on  a  white  ground.  It  has  a  splendid 
border  habit. 

Loyalty  is  regarded  by  many  as  the  finest 
orange  apricot  in  existence.  It  is  a  fine  variety 
for  the  border,  having  a  strong  habit,  rigid  stems 
and  a  good  calyx. 

In  addition  to  the  above  the  following  can  all 
be  rehed  upon :  Alice  Byron  Stewart,  buff, 
edged  and  marked  rose  ;  Centurion,  yellow  with 
scarlet  markings  ;  Cleopatra,  rose  madder  with 
light  scarlet  pencillings  ;  Ironside,  buff,  marked 
and  suffused  with  deep  rose  ;  Liberte,  rich  yellow 
with  heavy  markings  of  maroon  and  crimson  ; 
Linkman,  yellow  with  heavy  scarlet  markings  ; 
Melton  Prior,  one  of  the  richest  coloured  fancies, 
yellow,  heavily  marked  with  bright  scarlet  ; 
and  Pasquin,  yellow,  edged  and  flushed  with  rosy 
lavender.  Norman  Lambert. 


HARDY  PLANTS    TO  REPLACE   BEDDING 


{Continued  from  page    526.) 


THE  great  white  silky  cups,  golden 
stamened,  of  Romneya  Coulteri  against 
the  dark,  rather  greyish  green  foliage 
are  very  effective,  but  it  is  advisable 
to  establish  this  plant  near  the  foot 
of  a  sun-baked  wall,  otherwise  it  is  not  sufhciently 
reliable  in  cold  seasons  to  merit  a  place  in  the 
garden  immediately  adjacent  to  the  house. 

Of   shrubs   more   properly   so   described    which 
may     advantageously     be     employed,    there     are 


are  innocuous  in  colouring)  and  the  inevitable 
Madonna  Lily  (L.  candidum).  The  beautiful 
speciosum  varieties  and  the  even  grander 
auratums  are,  of  course,  delightful  anywhere, 
but  they  can  be  considered  permanent  denizens 
of  few  British  gardens.  Even  where  they  succeed 
it  is  rarely  possible  to  provide  for  them  properly 
in  the  flower  garden.  They  like  their  "  heads  " 
in  sunlight  and  their  "  heels  "  in  shade. 

For    autumn    effect    Michaelmas    Daisies    are 


SNAPDRAGONS,    CAMPANULAS    AND    GREY    FOLIAGE    PLANTS    IN    A    PAVED    GARDEN. 


Lavender,  Rosemary,  some  of  the  smaller-growing 
Veronicas  and  many  species  of  Southernwood. 
Both  tall  and  dwarf  Lavenders  are  available. 
Of  these  latter  probably  the  Munstead  Variety 
is  the  most  desirable.  It  may  be  used  for  edging 
beds  in  a  similar  manner  to  Box  if  such  edging  is 
required.  Veronica  Autumn  Glory  is  an  effective 
semi-prostrate  sort,  but  VV.  glaucophyllum, 
pinguifoUa,  crerulea  glaucescens  and  even  the 
quaint  heath-like  V.  loganoides  have  their  value. 
Of  Southernwoods  (.Artemisia)  the  nomenclature 
in  nurseries  is  not  too  reliable,  but  in  addition  to 
the  true  Southernwood,  Artemisia  Abrotanum, 
A.\.  arborescens,  Stellariana  and  margaritaceura 
are  some  of  those  valuable  for  silvery  foUage. 
The  herbaceous  A.  lactiflora  is  also  quite  a  useful 
plant  with  its  creamy  flower  spikes. 

Lilies  assuredly  produce  a  fine  display  when 
in  blossom,  but  they  need  using  with  caution 
for  two  reasons.  In  the  first  place,  their  glory 
is  comparatively  short-lived  ;  and,  secondly, 
choice  things  such  as  these  should  not  be  used 
with  too  prodigal  a  hand.  They  shew  to  best 
advantage  when  contrasted  with  flowers  of 
lesser  pedigree.  Many  Lilies  are  too  difficult 
in  colouring  for  close  association  with  other 
plants ;  some,  on  the  other  hand,  are  both 
charming  in  themselves  and  excellent  as  neigh- 
bours. Such  are  Lilium  testaceum,  an  admirable 
and  easy-doing  hybrid  Lily  with  flowers  of 
pinkish  buff ;  L.  Henryi,  like  a  stalwart  soft 
yellow  L.  speciosum ;  L.  Martagon  album  {or 
even  Martagon  itself,  for  its  flowers,  if  not  brilliant 


invaluable.  Some  of  the  taller  varieties  may 
be  included  in  the  permanent  planting,  but  it 
helps  the  general  effect  greatly  if  plants  of  the 
Amellus  section  and  other  dwarf  varieties  are 
grown  in  a  reserve  garden  and  lifted  in  autumn 
to  fill  up  blank  spaces.  The  related  Erigerons 
are  also  useful,  and  some  of  them  lift  quite  well 
if  they  are  kept  carefully  staked  as  growth 
proceeds. 

Some  of  the  smaller  Torch  Lilies  (Kniphofia) 
are  very  free-flowering  and  attractive,  and  their 
erect  spires  and  rather  grassy  foliage  give  needed 
diversity,  but  care  must  be  taken  to  select  suit- 
ably coloured  varieties.  There  are  so  many 
sorts  nowadays,  of  which  any  one  nurseryman 
stocks  but  a  small  proportion,  that  the  best 
advice  we  can  offer  is  to  see  the  plants  in  flower 
and  select  them.  Those  with  soft  yellow  and 
coral  tones  are  quite  innocuous. 

The  glowing  blood  crimson  of  the  Cambridge 
Scarlet  variety  of  the  False  Bergamot,  Monarda 
didyma,  is  valuable  where  it  flourishes.  It 
likes  a  fairly  light  sweet  loam.  Of  Rudbeckias 
the  old  speciosa  (Newmani)  is  specially  valuable 
as  giving  a  fine  mass  of  colour,  but  the  tall  and 
handsome-foliaged  R.  maxima  has  more  indi- 
viduality and  charm.  Rudbeckias  are  particu- 
larly valuable  for  rather  damp  corners  ;  they 
will  not  tolerate  drought.  That  dwarf  and 
brilliant  Helenium,  H.  pumilum,  and  its  variety 
magniftcum  are  also  unhappy  in  droughty  con- 
ditions, but  good  cultivation  and  a  fair  amount  of 
humus  will  usually  suffice  to  keep  them  "  happy." 


594 


THE     GARDEN. 


[November  25,  1922. 


There  are  many  spring-flowering  plants  which 
may  be  included,  mostly  with  pleasing  foliage, 
to  form  a  background  to  summer- flowering 
things.  Aubrietia,  Alyssum,  Phlox  subulata 
(for  light,  dry  soils)  and  some  of  the  Mossy 
Saxifrages  may  be  taken  as  typical.  Of  the 
last  mentioned  Wallacei,  trifurcata  ceratophylla 
and  all  the  true  moschata  forms,  such  as  S.  m. 


atropurpurea  and  S.  m.  laxa ;  the  last-named 
plant  is  identical  with  the  true  S.  Rhei.  S. 
Rhei  of  gardens,  however,  is  almost  invariably  a 
rather  pretty  pink  mossy  hybrid. 

No  permanent  planting  can  give  quite  the 
solid  blaze  of  colour  produced  by  "  bedding  out  " 
and  keep  it  up.  Anyone  whose  taste  calls  for  such 
effects  must  be  content  to  use  bedding  plants. 


LATE     AUTUMN 
VINCENT 

THE  dense  fog  which  enveloped  London 
and  the  suburbs  overnight  and  throughout 
the  early  hours  of  November  14,  resulted 
in  a  small  Show  at  Vincent  Square, 
Westminster,  and  the  attendance  was 
smaller  than  of  late.  But  those'who  braved  the 
weather  were  amply  compensated  by  the  quality 
of  the  exhibits  in  the  hall.  In  view  of  the  annual 
show  of  the  special  society  later  in  the  week. 
Chrysanthemums  formed  an  important  section. 
Mr.  H.  J.  Jones  excelled  himself  with  a  superb 
group  and  incidentally  won  his  seventh  gold  medal 
of  the  year  and,  what  no  doubt  pleased  him  even 
more,  received  the  Special  Congratulations  of  the 
Couhcil  for  his  great  display.  Baron  Bruno  Schroder, 
whose  name  is  so  closely  associated  with  Orchids 
of  great  merit,  sent  an  attractive  group  of  Chrysan- 
themums of  the  highly  decorative  Caprice  du 
Printemps  type.  Messrs  Keith  Luxford  and  Co. 
also  had  a  valuable  display  of  Chrysanthemums, 
but  as  these  and  the  others  are  to  remain  for  tlie 
special  show,  we  reserve  our  comments. 

.Although  not  great  in  numbers,  Orchids  were 
of  particularly  high  quality.  Baron  Bruno  Schroder 
had  a  unique  group  of  Calanthe  Harrisii.  It  was 
a  very  large  collection,  arranged  with  great  skill 
and  taste  and  each  plant  was  a  perfect  specimen, 
bearing  tall  spikes  of  milk-white  flowers  very 
slightly  flushed  with  rosy  purple.  .\  gold  medal 
would  not  have  been  too  high  an  award  for  this 
superb  group,  but  Baron  Schroder  received  a 
silver-gilt  Flora  medal,  while  the  coveted  silver- 
gilt  Lindley  medal  for  the  exceptional  skill  he  has 
shewn  in  cultivation,  goes  to  Mr.  Shill,  the  Orchid 
grower. 

Sir  Jeremiah  Colman  sent  a  small  but  choice 
collection  of  Cattleyas  and  Brasso-Lselio-Cattleyas. 
Cattleya  coerulea  was  daintily  charming  and 
Brasso-Lffiho-Cattleya  Antoinette  was  of  gorgeous 
colouring. 

Carnations  were  particularly  bright  and  good. 
The  vivid  colours  of  Lord  Lambourne  and  Red 
Ensign  in  the  group  by  Messrs.  Stuart  Low  and 
Co.,  who  also  massed  their  new  Eileen  Low  and 
White  Pearl,  was  welcome  on  the  raw,  foggy  day. 
The  deep  rose  pink  Mary  Allwood  diffused  pleasing 
fragrance  even  under  the  unpromising  conditions. 
Messrs.  Allwood  Bros,  had  several  vases  of  the 
fancy  Carnations,  which  are  fast  increasing  in 
popularity,  and,  while  these  do  not  make  the  colour 
display  of  the  selfs.  they  are  very  fascinating.  The 
free-flowering  Marian  Willson,  Benora  and  Eastern 
Maid  were  prominent  examples.  In  Mr.  C. 
Engelmann's  collection  we  noted  in  Arnos  Grove  a 
very  uncommon  fancy  of  red  and  mauve- violet 
shading. 

There  was  a  fresh  trade  exhibitor  in  Mr.  E.  H. 
Causer  who,  we  understand,  intends  regularly  to 
contribute  large  collections,  principally  of  green- 
house plants.  His  first  exhibit  was  a  very  meri- 
torious one  of  Primula  obconica  of  an  excellent 
strain  ;  floriferous  plants  of  Cyclamen  and  green- 
house Ferns.  Among  the  last  named  were  some 
beautiful  plants  of  the  billowy  Nephrolepsis  exaltata 
Marshall!    compacta    which    appears    to    be    too 


FLOWERS 
SQUARE 


AT 


delicate   for  everyday  use  and  yet  is  a  splendid 
room  plant. 

Some  vases  of  splendid  Violets  were  shown  from 
the    Hayden   Violet   Grounds,    Blandford.     These 


NEW    AND    RARE    PLANTS. 
Carnation    Eileen    Low. — Already    the    value 

of  this  novelty  has  been  realised  by  the  show- 
attending  pubhc  and  we  have  on  several  recent 
occasions  commented  upon  its  grace  and  beauty. 
It  is  regarded  by  the  raisers  as  being  the  most 
perfect  of  all  the  salmon  pink  varieties.  From 
the  plants  we  should  judge  it  to  be  a  "  good  doer  " 
and  very  free-flowering.  The  flowers  are  large 
and  of  good  form.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs. 
Stuart  Low  and  Co. 

Carnation  Master  Michael  Stoop. — This  is  a 
rather  large  flowered  perpetual  Carnation  of  very 
uncommon  colouring  which  may  best  be  described 
as  a  rich  rose-cerise  fading  to  old  rose  with  a 
suggestion  of  salmon  pink.  It  appears  to  be  a 
free-flowering  variety,  the  blooms  are  compact 
and  under  better  conditions  it  is  probably  fragrant. 
Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  G.  Carpenter. 


APPLE    JOY     BFXLS. 


were  Princess  ot  Wales,  exceptionally  robust  and 
fragrant. 

An  uncommon  but  intensely  interesting  exhibit 
was  the  large  collection  of  water-colour  paintings 
of  U.S.A.  native  plants  on  behalf  of  Miss  Mary  E. 
Eaton  of  the  New  York  Botanic  Garden.  These 
were  dainty,  but  most  faithful,  representations  of 
specimens  of  a  great  number  of  plants. 

Fruit  was  represented  by  collections  of  Apples 
and  Pears  by  Sir  Chas.  Nail-Cain  and  Messrs.  J. 
Cheal  and  Sons,  and  Cider  Apples  and  Pears  by 
Messrs.  H.  P.  Bulmer  and  Co.  The  private  collec- 
tion was  the  largest  and  was  characterised  by  the 
brilhant  colour.  The  outstanding  dessert  Apples 
were  Paroquet,  Baumann's  Red  Reinette,  The  Hou- 
blon  and  Orange  Pippin  and  among  the  many 
culinary  fruits  the  useful  Mere  de  Menage  and  Peas- 
good's  Nonsuch  were  especially  fine.  The  Pears 
included  Conference,  Pitmaston  Duchess  and  Beurre 
Bachelier.  Messrs.  Cheat's  Apples  were  also  of 
high  quality,  such  sorts  as  Christmas  Pearmain, 
.\dam's  Pearmain,  Buxted  Favourite,  Cox's  Orange 
Pippin  and  Morris  Green  were  perfect  examples  of 
dessert   Apples. 

The  Cider  Apples  were  in  boxes  containing  a 
couple  of  dozen  or  so  fruits  and  several  of  the 
varieties  were  very  attractive.  Kingston  Black, 
Foxwhelp  and  Dymock  Red,  for  instance,  were 
very  attractive  in  their  high  colour,  while  White 
Norman  and  the  small  yellow  fruits  of  Eggleton 
Styre  were  of  uncommon  appearance.  The  Perry 
Pears  were  Aylton  Red,  Blakeney  Red  and  Butt. 


Carnation  The  Hon.  Neta  Weir. — This  may  be 
described  as  being  a  deeper  coloured  Enchantress 
Supreme  with  all  the  good  quahties  of  that  popular 
variety.     Shewn  by  Messrs.  Stuart  Low  and  Co. 

Chrysanthemum  Miss  M.  A.  Hunter. — A  well 

formed  single  variety  of  rather  more  than  medium 
size.  It  has  several  rows  of  broad,  yellow  petals 
which  are  hghtly  stippled  with  bronze  towards 
their  tips,  which  are  slightly  recurved.  Award  of 
merit  to  Mr.  G.  Carpenter. 

Chrysanthemum  Oriole. — This  is  another  very 
decorative  single-flowered  variety  of  large  size. 
The  narrow,  rolled  petals  stand  out  straight, 
giving  somewhat  the  same  uncommon  effect  as 
seen  in  Rayonante.  The  colour  is  a  good  yellow 
and  we  anticipate  a  future  demand  as  a  variety  for 
decorative  purposes.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs. 
Keith  Luxford  and  Co. 

Chrysanthemum  Radiant. — This  handsome 
single-flowered  Chrysanthemum  which,  for  some 
unaccountable  reason  did  not  find  favour  with  the 
Floral  Committee,  might  well  be  termed  a  much 
larger  Sandown  Brilhance,  for  it  possesses  in  an 
increased  degree  the  glorious  colour  and  substance 
of  that  fine  variety.     Shewn  by  Mr.  G.  Carpenter. 

Brasso-Cattleya  Ahna. — A  striidngly  beautiful 

hybrid  more  nearly  approximating  the  Brassovola 
than  a  Cattleya.  It  is  a  very  large  flower  aiid  the 
broad  sepals  and  petals  are  the  colour  of  very  old 
ivory,  while  the  beautifully  fringed  lip  is  a  delicate 
pale  rose  pink,  freely  \'eined  with  golden  yellow. 
Award  of  merit  to  Messrs.  Charlesworth  and  Co. 


November  25,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


595 


Brasso-Cattleya  Wm.  Pitt.— The  Cattleya 
parentage  is  very  evident  in  the  rich  mauve  sepals 
and  petals  which  colour  is  continued  in  the  large, 
fringed  lip  where  it  is  relieved  by  yellow  flushing 
in  the  throat,  making  it  a  very  showy  flower. 
.\ward  of  merit  to  Mr.  W.  Pitt. 

Cattleya  Our  Prince. — .\  wonderfully  beautiful 
and  uncommon  flower  of  rose  and  gold  colours. 
The  broad  sepals  and  petals  are  glistening  golden 
yellow,  while  the  sUghtly  constricted  lip  is  old 
rose  colour,  very  freely  lined  with  deep  golden 
yeUow.  .\ward  of  merit  to  Messrs.  Flory  and 
Black. 

Cypripediiim  Gwen  Dixon. — .A.  very  dainty 
warm  greenhouse  Lady's  Slipper  Orchid  of  C. 
Spicerianum  type.  The  dorsal  sepal  is  pure  white 
while  the  remainder  of  the  flower  is  of  delicate 
greenish-yellow  colour.  Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  L. 
Dixon. 

Cypripedium  Linda. — This  is  a  larger  and 
more  rounded  bloom  of  the  Dreadnought  or  Bull 
Dog  type  and  though  a  trifle  smaller  than  these  is 
still  a  large  flower,  but  carries  the  characteristic 
somewhat  squat  habit  and  roimded  shape.  It  is 
of  greenish-yellow  colour  with  pure  white  on  the 


upper  half  of  the  large 
dorsal  sepal.  Award  of 
merit  to  Messrs.  Cowans, 
Limited. 


NEW    FRLTIT. 
Apple    Joy     Bells.  ^ 

.Ailthough  its  origin  is 
unknown  the  general 
appearance  of  this 
seedling  Apple  suggests 
Bismarck  and  Emperor 
Alexander,  though  it  is 
of  superior  quality  to 
either.  It  is  a  juicy, 
sweet,  aromatic  November 
.\pple,  but  larger  than  is 
generally  preferred  for  the 
table.  In  shape  it  is  much 
like  Bismarck  and  very 
brightly  coloured  on 
quite  three  parts  of  its 
surface,  the  remainder 
is  a  pleasant  yellow.  Award 
of  merit  to  Mr. Will  Tayler. 


THE     CHRYSANTHEMUM 
SOCIETY'S     SHOW 


NEVER  before  have  such  magnificent 
exhibition  Chrysanthemums  been  seen 
as  at  the  R.H.S.  Hall,  Vincent  Square, 
on  November  i6  and  17,  when  the 
National  Chrysanthemum  Society  held 
its  annual  show.  Not  only  was  there  an  appreciable 
increase  in  the  size  of  the  blooms,  but  the  quality 
was  decidedly  the  highest  ever  seen  in  this  or 
probably  any  other  country.  The  season  seems 
to  have  been  particularly  favourable  to  the  pro- 
duction of  beautiful  floral  colouring,  and  in  practi- 
cally all  the  many  blooms  in  the  haU  the  clarity 
and  depth  of  colour  were  most  noteworthy. 

While  it  is  a  tribute  to  the  great  skill  of 
the  chief  cultivators  and,  to  a  certain  extent, 
the  raisers  of  Chrysanthemums,  this  increase  in 
size  is  not  altogether  an  unmixed  blessing.  As 
ever,  it  brings  a  rather  serious  problem  in  its  train. 
.Already  the  exhibition  board  has  proved  too 
small  fully  to  display  the  manifold  charms  of  these 
gargantuan  blooms,   and   on   the   present   occasion 


it  was  still  more  inade- 
quate. It  might  well  be 
said  that  the  remedy  is 
to  dispense  with  boards 
altogether  and  to  display 
the  blooms  more  natmrally 
and  gracefully  in  vases. 
This      would    be    the 

counsel  of  perfection,  but  there  are  decided  objec- 
tions to  its  adoption  for  all  the  classes.  It  is  a 
difiicult  matter  to  transport  sufficient  exhibition 
blooms  on  long  stems  to  set  up  a  collection  in  the 
Holmes*  Memorial  Class,  for  instance.  We  are 
fully  aware  that  this  was  done  in  the  William  Wells' 
Memorial  Class,  which  requires  the  same  number 
of  similar  blooms,  but  the  greater  number  of 
exhibits  in  the  former  class  indicates  the  truth 
of  our  statement,  and  it  applies  most  to  those 
exhibitors  who  Uve  some  distance  away. 

The  increased  size  of  blooms   is   not   the   only 
problem  before  the  Society.     Its  increasing  success 


MR.    H.    J.    JONES  S    MAGNIFICENT    EXHIBIT 


GOLDEN    SINGLE    CHRYSANTHEMUM    ORIOLE. 


requires  even  more  serious  consideration.  Last 
November,  and  again  this  year,  it  was  abundantly 
borne  upon  the  executive  that  in  every  way  the 
Vincent  Square  hall  is  too  small. 

Great  as  is  the  improvement  in  the  large  Japanese 
blooms,  which  many  thought  years  ago  had  reached 
their  apogee,  it  was  the  single-flowered  varieties 
that  shewed  the  most  marked  improvement. 
This  elegant  and  useful  class  is  as  yet  only  in  its 
infancy,  and  we  confidently  anticipate  that  the 
day  is  not  far  distant  when  we  shall  see  quite 
distinct  as  well  as  improved  types. 

The  greatest  effect  was  seen  in  the  large-flowered 
singles,  and  the  George  Monro  Cup  was  won  by 
Mr.  H.  Woolman  with  beautiful  examples  of  such 
sorts  as  Edith  Dimond,  Mars,  Esme  Waters,  San- 
down  Radiance,  Molly  Godfrey  and  Reg.  Godfrey. 

The  trade  growers  supported  the  show  in  very 
generous  fashion.  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones  freshened  his 
enormous  group  of  the  previous  Tuesday  to  such 
good  purpose  that  he  was  awarded  a  Special 
Large  Gold  Medal  and  the  comphments  of  the 
Committee  for  making  the  most  comprehensive 
and  representative  collection  ever  seen  at  the 
Society's  shows,  and  also  the  Clay  Gold  Medal 
for  the  best  trade  group  in  the  show.  To  date 
Mr.  Jones  has  won  ten  gold  medals  in  fourteen 
weeks,  which  is  a  record  not  easily  to  be  broken. 
It  was  quite  a  stupendous  exhibit,  and  made  a 
feast  of  floral  colour  that  will  be  long  remembered 
by  all  who  saw  it.  -At  the  back  there  were  tall 
stands  chiefly  fiUed  with  large  exhibition  blooms 
of  high  quahty.  Below  were  ranged  large  baskets 
of  decorative  sized  Japanese  and  single  varieties, 
with  occasional  baskets  of  Pompons  and  Anemone- 
flowered  varieties. 

On  the  opposite  side  of  the  hall  Messrs.  W. 
Wells  and  Co.  had  a  beautiful  collection  which 
won     a    gold    medal.     Many    of    the    exhibition 


596 


THE     GARDEN. 


[November  25,  1922. 


Japanese  varieties  would  have  done  credit  to  a 
first  prize  exhibit,  and  such  as  Majestic,  Louisa 
Pockett,  Mrs.  G.  Drabble,  Mrs.  George  Monro, 
jun.  and  Wni.  Rigby  were  shewn  in  quantity. 

Another  gold  medal  collection  was  contributed 
by  Messrs.  Keith  Luxford  and  Co.,  and  in  addition 
to  many  exhibition  Japanese.  Decorative  and 
Single  varieties,  it  included  a  fascinating  vase 
of  such  dainty  Httle  Pompons  as  Golden  West, 
Snowdrop,  Mary  Pickford  and  Baby  Doll.  The 
vases  of  the  graceful  Anemone-flowered  varieties 
also  attracted  attention.  Thora,  a  rosy  mauve 
which  has  a  straw-coloured  centre,  w'as  particularly 
admired. 

Silver-gilt  medals  were  awarded  to  Mr.  H. 
Woolman  and  Mr.  W.  Yandall  for  graceful  collec- 
tions. In  the  latter  the  baskets  of  Bronze  Molly, 
Josephine  Bernier,  Mavis  and  Mr.  W.  Smith 
were  very  successful ;  while  Mr.  Woolman  had 
well  grown  examples  of  the  Japanese  \'arieties 
Ida,  Miss  A.  E.  Roope  and  Mrs.  J.  T.  Henry. 
Collections  were  also  shewn  by  Messrs.  J.  W. 
Cole  and  Son,  Messrs.  W.  J.  Godfrey  and  Son  and 
Baron  Schroder. 

NEW    CHHYSANTHEMUMS. 

The  Floral  Committee  of  the  N.C.S.  found 
forty-eight  novelties  awaiting  judgment.  Nearly 
all  of  them  were  of  merit  and  the  following  were 
selected  for  award. 

Absolute. — In  the  opinion  of  several  speciaUsts 
this  is  the  finest  single  in  cultivation.  It  is  of 
medium  size,  perfect  form  and  most  delightful 
shade  of  amber  with  a  suggestion  of  orange,  and 
a  golden  zone.  First  class  certificate  to  the  Bridg- 
water Nurseries  Company. 

Crimson  Perfection, — A  very  handsome  Japanese 
variety  of  rich  velvety  crimson  colour  and  useful 
decorative  size.  First  class  certificate  to  Mr.  C.  J. 
Henderson. 

Floria. — A  valuable  pink  single  Chrysanthemum 
of  medium  size  and  good  form.  There  is  a  small 
white  zone  to  the  flowers.  First  class  certificate 
to  the  Bridgwater  Nurseries  Company. 

Hilda  Slioesmith.— .A  «ell  formed  single  with 
broad,  blunt,  silvery  pink  florets  slightly  drooping 
at  the  tips.  First  class  certificate  to  Mr.  Jas. 
Shoesmith. 

Mrs.  R.  Harris.— .\  bright  yellow  single 
Chrysanthemum  of  round  form.  The  broad  florets 
recurve  shghtly  at  the  tips.  First  class  certificate 
to  Mr.  Walter  Jinks. 

Nero. — A  medium  sized  market  Japanese 
variety  of  flaming  crimson  colour.  The  broad, 
slightly  drooping  florets  give  the  blooms  a  graceful 
appearance.  First  class  certificate  to  Mr.  H. 
Shoesmith. 

November  Clieer. — This  is  a  rose  pink  market 
Japanese  variety  of  distinct  cup-shaped  habit. 
It  appears  to  be  a  bloom  that  will  travel  exceedinglv 
well.  First  class  certificate  to  Messrs.  W.  Wells 
and  Co. 

y  Poulton's  Climax.— An  exhibition  Japanese 
variety  of  large  size  and  very  graceful  habit. 
The  long  white  curled  florets  droop  and,  since 
there  are  plenty  of  them,  give  an  elegant  appearance. 
First  class  certificate  to  Mr,  H.  Poulton. 

Radiant. — This  is  the  gloriously  beautiful  single 
variety  that  failed  to  receive  recognition  at  the 
previous  R.H.S.  meeting.  First  class  certificate 
to  Mr.  G.  Carpenter. 

Sunset. — This  is  a  very  attractive  single-flowered 
Chrysanthemum  of  Mensa  size  and  bright  amber 
colouring  and  though  not  so  regular  in  shape  as 
Mensa,  it  is  an  elegant  flower.  First  class  certificate 
to  the  Bridgwater  Nurseries  Company. 

Wellington  Wack.— Although  the  florets  are 
narrow  and  stiff,  this  is  a  graceful  market  Japanese 
variety  of  uncommon  pale  primrose  colouring. 
First  class  certificate  to  Mr.  E.  Jones. 


THE     PLANNING     OF    A    GARDEN    ORCHARD 


SITUATION.— First  we  will  discuss  the 
situation,  although  I  am  afraid  we  are 
not  always  able  to  choose  for  ourselves. 
It  should  afford,  if  possible,  some  protec- 
tion from  the  north  and  east  and  also  from 
the  local  prevailing  winds.  Damp  and  low-lying 
situations  should  be  avoided,  as  should  dry  and 
really  sandy  soils.  If  natural  protection  is  lacking, 
hedges  and  windbreaks  should  be  planted,  and 
if  fruit  of  large  size  or  of  a  delicate  constitution 
is  to  be  grown,  then  a  wall  would  be  a  great  help 
and  even  a  necessity  in  some  cases.  Wooden 
fences  are  not  to  be  recommended,  as  they  are 
not  profitable  and  harbour  a  lot  of  insect  pests, 
especially  if  they  are  of  the  rustic  type  with  the 
bark  left  on.  Trees  on  a  slope  facing  south-east 
or  south  receive  the  full  force  of  the  sun's  direct 
rays  in  the  early  morning  and  if  a  frost  should  occur 
the  rapid  thawing  will  often  destroy  some  of 
the  blossoms.  Therefore  it  is  not  wise  to  plant 
an  orchard  on  a  slope  of  this  description. 

Preparation. — The  type  of  soil  must  be  con- 
sidered, and  I  would  say  at  the  beginning  that  the 
most  generally  suitable  is  a  medium  loam  of 
moderate  depth  resting  on  a  well  drained  subsoil. 
If  it  were  grass  and  there  were  no  immediate  hurry, 
then  the  best  plan  would  be  to  dig  up  the  grass 
in  August  or  September  and  let  it  die  on  the  land, 
choosing  a  spell  of  very  dry  and  hot  weather 
if  possible.  If  wet  prevailed,  then  the  grass 
would  in  aU  probabiUty  take  root  and  it  would 
have  to  be  dug  all  over  again.  If  only  quite  a 
small  area  was  being  planted  and  if  time  was 
pressing,  then  the  sods  could  be  carted  off  and 
heaped  to  rot  down.  This  would  waste  no  time 
and  the  thorough  digging  could  then  be  commenced 
straight  away.  To  kill  any  pests,  such  as  wire- 
worms,  which  infest  grass  roots,  a  dressing  of  some 
good  soil  insecticide  would  be  advisable.  Gasonite 
is  one  which  is  reUable,  and  should  be  spread 
on  the  top  after  the  shallow  digging  at  the  rate 
of  about  8olb.  to  I  rood.  When  the  grass  has 
died  down  then  the  thorough  digging  must  be 
commenced.  Good  stable  manure  should  be 
applied  at  the  rate  of  five  tons  to  the  rood  if  the 
soil  is  in  poor  condition.  However,  if  the  land 
underneath  the  trees  is  to  be  kept  open  and  un- 
planted,  then  manuring  would  be  inadvisable 
for  the  present.  If  Strawberries,  vegetable  crops 
or  flowers  are  to  be  grown,  then  apply  manure  as 
above.  The  land  should  preferably  be  trenched 
and  the  subsoil  should  be  broken  to  a  spade's 
depth.  Care  should  be  taken,  however,  not  to 
bring  any  sour  subsoil  up  to  the  surface.  It  is 
very  necessary  when  planting  a  new  orchard  to 
remember  that  the  soil  should  be  in  excellent 
heart,  be  well  drained,  and  be  kept  open  with 
fibrous  matter,  such  as  long  straw  manure,  dead 
leaves  or  ashes.  These  are  essential  points  for 
the  best  growth  and  heaviest  yields. 

Windbreaks, — .\nyone  who  has  grown  fruit 
on  a  rather  exposed  situation  will  know  the  damage 
caused  by  an  unexpected  high  wind,  especially 
if  the  trees  are  standards.  It  certainly  pays  to 
protect  such  an  exposed  garden  with  a  windbreak 
of  some  description.  Poplar,  Hawthorn  and 
Privet  are  very  useful  and  generally  planted,  but 
why  not  grow  a  profitable  wind  screen  ?  Plums, 
such  as  Monarch  or  Czar,  I  have  seen  planted 
thickly  enough  to  afford  a  considerable  amount 
of  shelter,  and  such  tall-growing  Pears  as  Catillac 
and  Fertility  can  be  used  and  will  be  foimd  service- 
able and  profitable.  Pear  and  Apple  trees  for 
this  purpose  are  best  bought  as  "  feathered " 
trees  {:.<•.,  unpruned  when  one  year  old),  planted 
about  12ft.  apart,  and  allowed  to  grow  up  naturally 
and  without  training  them  to  any  special  shape. 
Plums    and    Damsons    should    be    planted    closer 


than  this,  the  usual  distance  being  8ft,  to  loft. 
If  a  hedge  to  prevent  pilfering  has  to  be  formed, 
then  I  should  suggest  planting  Hawthorn  and 
interplanting  with  Czar  Plums  12ft.  apart.  Here 
you  have  a  close  and  profitable  boundary  and 
windbreak  combined.  No  wind  screen  should 
be  planted  on  the  south  side,  because  it  would 
hide  the  sun  from  the  crops  growing  within  a 
distance  of  lof  t.,  and  poor  results  would  be  obtained 
therefrom.  Although  these  breaks  seem  un- 
necessary to  some  gardeners,  I  am  confident  that 
an  increased  yield  of  sound  fruit  would  result 
from  their  use. 

Marking  Out. — When  the  ground  is  ready 
the  exact  position  of  each  tree  should  be  marked 
with  a  stake.  These  positions  are  easily  marked 
out  by  means  of  an  ordinary  chain  with  pieces 
of  tape  tied  on  to  it  at  distances  apart  equal  to 
the  correct  distances  at  which  your  trees  are  to 
be  planted.  Get  your  base  line  first  and  by  means 
of  a  home-made  square  or  a  surveyor's  instrument 
the  various  positions  can  be  marked  off,  drawing 
the  chain  along  as  you  want  it.  Any  stakes  that 
are  out  of  alignment  when  finished  can  easily  be 
corrected  by  sighting  along  each  row. 

Planting. — Now  as  to  the  actual  planting. 
This  may  be  done  from  the  middle  of  October 
to  March,  but  the  sooner  they  are  planted  after 
they  ha%e  dropped  their  leaves  the  better.  The 
ground  will  be  more  easily  worked  and  the  trees 
will  be  able  to  form  new  root  fibres  before  winter 
sets  in.  The  method  of  planting  is  most  important, 
because  growth  is  checked  on  transplanting  and 
everything  must  be  done  to  give  them  a  good 
start  in  their  new  quarters.  The  first  important 
point  is  the  careful  treatment  of  the  trees,  especially 
the  roots  when  actually  out  of  the  ground.  They 
must  not  be  exposed  to  frost  or  drying  winds, 
and  if  on  arrival,  the  roots  are  found  to  be  shrivelled 
up,  plunge  them  into  a  tub  of  water  for  twenty- 
four  hours.  Also  any  damaged  or  thick  tap  roots 
should  be  cut  off  with  a  sharp  knife,  taking  care 
to  make  the  cut  from  the  centre  of  the  tree  and 
with  its  face  downwards.  Thus  new  lateral  roots 
will  be  encouraged. 

Each  hole  should  be  dug  out,  leaving  liberal 
space  for  the  roots  of  the  trees  without  cramping. 
For  trees  worked  on  the  dwarfing  stock  the  depth 
of  planting  should  be  so  as  just  to  cover  the 
junction  of  the  scion  and  stock,  othenvise  an 
unsightly  protuberance  will  result,  and  when  it 
attains  the  size  of  a  football  it  will  not  reflect  much 
credit  on  its  owner  !  Trees  on  the  free-growing 
stock  should  be  planted  at  the  same  depth 
as  they  were  in  the  nursery  rows,  which  can  be 
seen  by  the  soil  mark  on  the  stem.  When  the 
hole  has  been  dug,  then  drive  in  your  stake.  This 
is  much  better  than  putting  it  in  after  the  tree 
has  been  planted  and  damaging  the  roots  and, 
incidentally,  damaging  the  tree  by  a-  misjudged 
blow. 

Carefully  place  the  tree  in  the  hole  and  spread 
out  the  roots  flatly  and  evenly  distributed.  Now, 
when  the  alignment  is  correct,  shovel  in  a  Mils 
of  the  best  soil  and  stamp  down  with  your  heel. 
Then  a  little  more  soil  and  tread  firm  again,  and 
keep  on  in  small  quantities  until  the  hole  is  filled. 
This  is  the  secret  of  good  planting,  and  ensures 
a  good  start  for  the  tree  in  the  following  spring. 
It  is  useless  to  fill  in  the  hole  all  at  once  and  tread 
down  the  top.  A  drying  of  several  of  the  roots 
will  result  and  in  some  cases  the  ultimate  death 
of  the  tree.  Leave  the  earth  round  the  tree 
slightly  higher  than  the  surrounding  ground  to 
allow  for  gradual  consolidation,  or  otherwise  a 
hollow  will  result  which  will  make  a  harmful  pit 
for  w'ater.  Also  lea\'e  the  ground  loose  and  not 
just  as  it  is  after  trampling  down.         See-Jee. 


November  25,  1922. 


THE     GARDEN. 


597 


CORRESPONDENCE 


"BEAUTIFL'L    FLOU'ERS   AND    HOW   TO 

GROW    THEM.' 

TX  reference  to  the  review  of  this  book  in  your 
issue  dated  the  nth  inst.,  suffice  it  to  say 
that  it  is  thirteen  years  since  it  passed  through 
the  hands  of  either  my  brother,  Walter  P.  Wright 
or  myself. — Horace  J.  Wright. 

AN    E.\RLY    NARCISSUS. 

T  BELIEVE  the  stocVi  of  that  line  Narcissus 
Henrietta  is  in  the  hands  of  Messrs.  Cartwright 
and  Goodwin  of  Kidder- 
minster, but  it  was  raised 
by  Mr.  W.  F.  M.  Cope- 
land.  It  is  one  of  the 
rather  small  class  of  all 
yellow  Incomparabilis. 
Its  perianth  is  not  quite 
"  up  to  the  knocker " 
from  a  florist's  stand- 
point, but  it  has  the 
making  of  a  fine  garden 
plant,  being  large,  tall, 
robust,  a  fast  increaser, 
very  floriferous  and  ex- 
tremely early.  This  ex- 
tract from  a  letter  which 
I  recently  received  from 
"  C.  and  G."  in  answer 
to  one  from  me  enquiring 
how  early  ?  speaks  for 
itself:  "In  1921  it  was 
the  first  variety  to  flower. 
We  have  not  j  got  the 
exact  date,  but  it  was 
completely  over  long 
before  the  R.H.S.  Daffodil 
Show,  while  this  year 
it  was'  the  only  bloom 
out  for  that  show  that 
had  not  been  forced  on. 
On  March  18,  i  9  2  i , 
Henrietta  was  past  its 
best.  We  have  this 
record."  These  early 
varieties  help  to  prolong 
the  Daffodil  season  out  of 
doors  at  one  [end,  while 
such  a  one  as  Steadfast 
does  the  same  thing  at 
the  other.  Then  come 
the  Poets ;  and  then, 
after  recurvus  and  the 
old  double  white,  the  end. 

I    am   very   glad    there  is  ALL 

an  end.      Not  even  Roses 

and  Carnations  are  loved  any  the  more  for  being 
always  with  us. — Joseph  Jacob. 

THE   TWELVE   BEST   SHRUBS. 

'T'HE  interest  in  the  selection  of  the  twelve 
best  flowering  shrubs  seems  to  be  increasing 
week  by  week,  and  no  wonder,  as  no  more  fascinating 
subject  could  have  been  introduced  to  readers  of 
The  Garden.  As  was  to  be  expected,  the  various 
lists  shew  widely  divergent  choices,  because  some 
beautiful  shrubs  which  succeed  well  in  favoured 
localities  are  anything  but  satisfactory  in  others. 
Individual  taste  is  also  a  very  important  factor 
in  choosing  flowers  of  any  sort,  and  the  great 
variety  both  in  habit  of  growth  and  form  and 
colour  of  flower  among  shrubs  allows  an  extra 
wide  latitude  in  this  instance.  It  is  a  pity  that 
Roses  and  Rhododendrons  were  permitted  to 
entfer  the  arena,  not  because  they  are  unworthy,  but 
because  of  their  sterling  worth,  as  we  think  they 


are  each  worthy  to  form  a  class  by  themselves  and 
could  without  difficulty  provide  a  choice  dozen 
in  either  group.  Another  feature  which  should 
be  taken  into  consideration,  is  the  hardiness  of  the 
shrubs,  as  some  were  mentioned  in  several  of  the 
lists  which  it  would  be  foolishness  to  attempt  to 
grow  in  Scotland,  except  in  the  highly  favoured 
localities  on  the  west  coast.  In  making  my  selection 
I  have  kept  these  points  in  view  and  also  have 
purposely  chosen  shrubs  of  moderate  growth, 
which  can  be  grown  in  even  the  smallest  garden, 
consequently    some    choice    large-growing    things 


YELLOW,    NARCISSUS    HENRIETTA. 

such  as  Laburnums,  Lilacs,  etc.,  have  necessarily 
been  omitted.  The  list  also  includes  such  species 
as  will  provide  bloom  for  as  long  a  period  as  possible. 
My  choice  is  as  follows : — Forsythia  suspensa. 
Daphne  Mezereum,  Andromeda  fioribunda,  Spircea 
ari,!efoha,  Ribes  sanguinea,  Escallonia  langleyensis, 
Philadelphus  Lemoinei,  Berberis  stenophylla, 
Olearia  Haastii,  Weigela  Eva  Rathke,  Ceanothus 
Gloire  de  Versailles,  Buddleia  variabilis  Veitchiana. 
. — Albvn. 

THE   COLOUR   OF  ROSA   MOYESII. 

'T'HE  note  from  Mr.  A.  B.  Bruce  on  "  the  colour 
of  Rosa  Moyesii,"  in  your  issue  of  November  11, 
filled  me  with  surprise.  The  writer  states  that 
"  '  brownish-red  '  and  '  blood-red  '  are  misdescrip- 
tions suggesting  the  spurious  variety  mentioned." 
He  also  states  that  he  has  "  seen  at  shows  a  plant 
with  all  the  characters  of  Moyesii  except  that  the 
colour  of   the   flower  was  a   hideous  combination 


of  brown,  red  and  yellow  !  "  I  have  seen  R.  Moyesii 
both  at  the  Oxford  Botanic  Garden  and  the  Botanic 
Garden,  Cambridge,  as  well  as  at  the  shows,  and 
this  Rose  is  quite  accurately  described  as  brownish- 
red  (or  even  blood-red,  if  the  blood  has  become  dry), 
but  the  great  characteristic  of  Moyesii  is  that  there 
is  not  a  trace  of  yellow  shading  on  either  stamens  or 
petals  and  certainly  no  trace  of  old  rose  pink — a 
rich  maroon  might  convey  a  fair  idea  of  the  colour 
or  a  tawny  deep  rich  Indian  red  or  even  tawny 
port. — H.  H.  Warner. 

ERIGERON    MUCROXATUS. 

"^^.^MBRICA"  makes  a  curious  mistake"  in 
describing  this  little  Daisy  flower  (see 
page  560)  To  begin  with,  this  is  its  proper 
name,  though  I  believe  a  certain  number  of 
nurseries  sent  it  out  as  Vittadinia  australis,  endemic 
to  New  Zealand,  which  I  have  raised  from  seed  and 
is  utterly  different  from  E.  mucronatus,  which  is 
a  native  of  Mexico  (see  Nicholson).  Secondly,  the 
colour  of  the  opening  of  the  flowers  is  exactly 
reversed — they  open  white,  "  tip-tinted,"  certainly, 
with  pink,  like  our  common  Daisy,  but  die  off  to 
almost  a  crimson,  as  you  will  see  from  the  flowers 
enclosed  (in  every  stage).  It  is  truly  an  almost 
everlasting  flowerer  and  is  best  and  neatest  if 
clipped  over  closelv  in  spring,  just  before  making 
its  new  growth.  An  excellent  plant  for  an  edging 
among  stones. — Western  Wight. 

[Erigeron  mucronatus  appears  to  be  identical 
with  Vittadenia  triloba  (not  V.  austraUs),  but  as 
sent  out  from  nurseries  the  tw'o  plants  are  too 
often  identical.  The  flowers  sent  were  nothing 
but  seed  heads  on  arrival. — Ed.] 

BULBS  IN  OUT-OF-THE-WAY    CORNERS. 

nPHERE  are  nooks  and  corners  in  many  gardens, 
sometimes  at  the  foot  of  walls  or  beneath 
overhanging  trees,  where  the  advent  of  spring 
brings  no  change  and  fails  to  mark  with  her  light 
fingers  of  beauty  "  the  days  and  weeks  with 
bud  and  blossom  "  ;  where,  indeed,  little  attempt 
has  ever  been  made  to  brighten  them.  Not 
infrequently  it  is  because  some  of  these  corners 
are  out  of  the  way  and  do  not  appear  within  sight 
of  windows  of  the  home  that  they  are  neglected. 
One  such  garden  with  which  we  are  acquainted 
has  come  under  the  transforming  influence  of 
lowly  treasures.  Some  of  them,  like  the  Winter 
Aconites  (Eranthis  hyemalis)  shew  their  golden 
blossoms  while  the  year  is  young,  followed  hard 
on  by  Snowdrops  and  bright  blue  Scilla  sibirica 
and  Chionodo.xa  sardensis.  A  little  colony  of 
that  gem  among  Anemones,  neraorosa  var.  Robin- 
soniana,  never  fails  with  its  sheeny  sky  blue 
flowers  that  open  wide  their  petals  in  the  spring 
sunshine.  If  planted  near  to,  or  in  conjunction 
with,  groups  of  Narcissi,  the  effect  is  most  marked. 
Time  and  again  one  notices  bare  spaces  in  the 
vicinity  of  shrubs  that — if  a  summer  use  cannot 
be  made  of  them — may  at  least  by  planting  small 
bulbs  be  rendered  attractive  in  spring.  Besides 
those  mentioned,  Muscaris,  Crocuses  and  Fritillaria 
Meleagris  are  serviceable.  None  of  these  plants 
is  fastidious.  They  involve  little  trouble  once 
planting  has  been  done  ;  there  is  no  necessity 
to  lift  them  very  often,  and  they  can  well  be  left 
to  colonise  without  much  sign  of  deterioration. 
In  a  corner  in  our  own  garden,  nestling  up  to  a 
wall,  that  early  Crocus  Cloth  of  Gold  has  now 
for  many  years  shewn  its  bright  yellow  face 
practically  simultaneously  with  Scillas,  and  al 
the  time  the  bulbs  have  been  left  to  themselves. 
It  is  these  out-of-the-way,  httle  regarded  positions 
in  a  garden  that  can  be  made  real  beauty  spots 
in  the  morning  of  the  year  if  only  we  seek  to  make 
them  so  by  planting  what  cannot  fail  to  bring 
beauty  and  pleasure  in  their  train — flowers  that 
blossom  early — L.  W. 


598 


THE     GARDEN. 


PLANTING    THE    ROSE    GARDEN 


THE  Rose  is  said  to  be  the  Queen  of 
Flowers.  She  has  certainly  an  imperious 
way  with  her  which  lends  some  colour 
to  her  sovereignty !  The  best  site  in 
the  garden  is,  in  too  many  cases,  hardly 
good  enough  for  her.  So  was  it  in  our  case.  We 
picked  the  best  site  we  could,  however,  remembering 
that  poor  soil  may  be  improved  but  that  light  and 
air  are  more  difficult  to  control. 

I  should,  perhaps,  make  it  clear  that  we  were 
new-comers  to  an  old  garden  when  we  decided 
that  a  Rose  garden,  however  small,  must  be  added 
to  the  existing  garden  scheme.  The  site  ultimately 
decided  upon  was  sheltered  from  the  north  by  a 
screen  of  conifers,  interplanted  effectively  enough 
with  Lombardy  Poplars  and  Silver  Birches.  This 
screen  would  have  been  better  a  little  further  ofi, 
but  it  provides  shelter  from  biting  winds  and 
also  adds  greatly  to  the  privacy  of  the  garden, 
which,  but  for  it,  would  be  overlooked. 

On  east,  south  and  west  there  was  nothing  of 
sufficient  size  to  obscure  light  or  to  cause  draughts  ; 
nothing,  at  all  events,  of  such  value  that  it  could 
not  be  sacrificed.  The  soil  itself  was  as  poor  as 
could  be  ;  part  of  it,  however,  was  under  tiurf. 
which  was  incorporated  face  downwards  all  over 
the  garden  as  trenching  progressed.  The  larger 
part,  however,  had  once  been  planted  tfiinly 
with  shrubs,  some  never  first  class,  some  quite 
good  kinds,  but  all  quite  overgrown  and  useless. 
The  ground  was  simply  ahve  with  twitch.  From 
late  spring  until  early  autumn  unremitting  war 
was  waged  on  this  and  other  weeds,  but  the  work 
of  destruction  was  complete,  for  the  following 
season  (1922)  none  of  this  insidious  grass  shewed 
up  and  even  annual  weeds  were  scarcer  here  than 
elsewhere  in  the  garden.  I  believe  that  the  great  ' 
thing  in  deaUng  with  twitch,  and  with  other 
weeds  with  underground  "  «-ires  "  for  that  matter, 
is  to  preserve  the  root  mats  as  entire  as  possible. 
Once  get  it  broken  up  into  bits  an  inch  or  t>vo.  long 
it  is  almost  beyond  the  «it  of  man  to  eradicate 
it  in  a  single  season. 

No  doubt  this  very  necessary  fallowing  helped 

to  enrich  the  ground,  but  a  dressing  of  cow-manure 

was  added  to  the  lower  levels  with  the  view  of 

improving   its    texture.     There   was   some   doubt 

about  the  fertilising  value  of  the  only  cow-dung 

procurable,     however,     and    it    was     accordingly 

supplemented    with    really    good    stable    manure. 

The    ground   was    trenched    two  good  spits  deep 

and  the  subsoil  broken  below.     The  manure  was 

incorporated  into  the  bottom  spit  and  the  chopped 

up  turf  between  the  top  and  bottom  spits.     Finely 

ground   bones   (not  bone-meal)   were   also  dusted 

between   the  spits   as   the  work  proceeded.     The 

land,    though   poor,   seemed   sweet,   but   its   lime 

content  on  such  a  soil  would  be  small,  so,  without 

troubling  to  test  it,  a  dressing  of  ground  Umestone 

at  the  rate  of  about  ilb.  to  the  square  yard  was 

spread  on  the  surface  and  aftenvards  hghtly  forked 

in.     A   dressing   twice   as   heavy   is   quite   usual, 

but,  personally,    I    think  it   is  more  satisfactor>' 

and  less  wasteful,  at  any  rate  on  Ught  land,  to 

apply  smaller  dressings  at  more  frequent  intervals. 

All  this  work  was  completed  early  in  September, 

and  by  the  beginning  of  Nosember  the  ground, 

having    been    well    firmed    when    trenching    took 

place,  was  ready  for  the  trees.     The  paths  were 

all  marked  out  and  levelling  pegs  put  in,  but  the 

turf  was  not  laid  until  after  the  Rose  trees  were 

planted.     The  object  of  this  was  to  prevent  the 

edges  being  trodden  off  the  newly  laid  turf  before 

it  had  a  chance  to  get  established.     I  have  since 

come  to  the  conclusion,  however,  that  where  turf 

is  to  be  laid  it  would  be  better  to  get  this  done 

in  early  autumn   and   leave  it    to  establish  itself. 


allowing  the  usual  2ins.  or  sins,  of  "  overhang  " 
to  permit  of  trimming  and  leaving  this  trimming 
until  planting  is  finished.  There  was  rather  a 
lot  of  re-levelling  to  do  before  the  turf  could  be  laid 
and  though  in  the  end  an  entirely  satisfactory 
result  was  obtained,  I  am  con\inced  it  was  not 
economical. 

The  Roses  were  planted  in  the  way  so  often 
described  in  The  G.^rdex.  .■\  hole  amply  large 
enough  was  made  and  the  roots  spread  out  some- 
what. No  attempt,  however,  was  made  to  make 
the  fibrous  roots  run  all  ways  from  the  main  tap- 
root. They  were  encouraged  to  lie  as  nearly  as 
possible  in  the  same  relative  direction  as  they 
had  done  when  growing  in  the  nmsery.  The 
ground  was  made  quite  soUd  as  the  work  pro- 
ceeded, but  the  surface  was  forked  up  and  left, 
moderately  rough  for  the  winter.  In  spring 
Mauve  Queen  Violas  were  planted  as  a  double 
edging  round  the  beds.  These  were  a  great  success, 
and  this  season  I  purpose  planting  them  in  the 
centres  of  the  beds  also  to  form  a  continuous 
undergrowth.  Except  for  a  fortnight  or  so  about 
July  when  they  are  cut  over  they  produce  a  display 
of  beautiful  coloiu'  all  summer  through.  They 
are  particularly  valuable  when  Rose  blossom  is 
rather  scarce. 

For  my  own  part  1  think  an  elaborate  Rose 
garden  with  complicated  beds  a  sad  mistake. 
The  appearance  of  grass  is  preferable  to  that  of 
paving  in  a  Rose  garden.  In  our  own  case  we  intro- 
duced pa\ing  down  the  centres  of  the  main  paths 
to  give  comfortable  access  in  early  morning  when 
the  dew  is  on  the  sward  or  after  rain  and  also  to 
save  the  damage  to  the  turf  which  is  likely  to  be 
caused  by  the  gardener's  barrow. 

For  the  twenty  beds  in  the  garden  the  following 
varieties  were  employed,  one  sort  in  each  bed  : 
General  Mc.\rthur,  rich  crimson,  very  fragrant  ; 
Lady  Hilhngdon,  golden  buff,  tea-scented  ;  Mrs. 
Herbert  Stevens,  white ;  Opheha,  flesh  colour ; 
Mme.  A.  Chatenay,  pink ;  Prince  de  Bulgarie, 
soft  pink  tinted  yellow  ;  Pharisaer,  silvery  rose  ; 
Mrs.  .\.  R.  Waddell,  coppery  tones  ;  Mrs.  Wemyss 
Quin,  bright  yellow  ;  Chateau  de  Clos  Vougeot, 
black-crimson  ;  Mrs.  George  Shawyer,  pale  rose  : 
George  C.  Waud,  red  ;  Molly  Shanuan  Crawford, 
ivory  white  ;  Mme.  Segond- Weber,  salmon  rose  ; 
Lady  Pirrie,  coppery  salmon  ;  Joseph  Hill,  salmon 
pink ;  Mme.  Ravary,  soft  yellow ;  La  Tosca. 
flesh  colour  ;  Jonkheer  J.  L.  Mock,  deep  carmine 
rose ;  and  Isobel,  orange  scarlet.  One  keeps 
learning  by  experience,  and  I  have  found  Joseph 
Hill  and  La  Tosca  too  tall  compared  with  the 
others  and  Mme.  Ravary  too  dwarf.  -A.n  abundance 
of  soft  colours  is  very  necessary  to  bring  into 
harmony  some  of  the  daring  shades  now  in 
favour.  S.  A.  N. 


PARIS     INTERNATIONAL 
AUTUMN    EXHIBITION 

This  Exhibition  opened  on  October  27  and  closed 
on  November  5th.  It  was  held  in  the  Palmarium 
and  adjoining  greenhouses  in  the  Jardin  d'.\ccli- 
matation,  Paris.  Unfortunately  the  night  pre\ious 
to  the  opening  a  sudden  frost  took  place,  with  the 
result  that  the  Begonias  and  many  of  the  Chrysan- 
themums were  greatly  disfigured. 

The  Committee  of  Patronage  was  composed  of 
many  eminent  names  in  horticulture  in  allied  and 
neutral  countries  and  on  the  jury  were  members 
from  Belgium,  Spain,  Switzerland,  Poland,  Italy 
and  England,  besides  France.  The  Show  was  very 
tastefully    arranged,    a    piece    of    artificial    water. 


[November  25,  1922. 

crossed  by  a  rustic  bridge,  formed  an  attractive 
centre,  around  which  were  grouped  several  of  the 
most  important  exhibits.  At  the  far  end  of  the 
Palmarium,  leading  to  the  adjoining  hall,  on  each 
side  of  the  steps  were  two  large  masses  of  rock 
which  also  helped  to  give  an  artistic  effect  to  the 
Show. 

On    one    side    of    the    Palmarium    was    a    long 
greenhouse  or  annexe  filled  with  the  fruit  exhibits 
and  on   the  opposite   side   was  a  series  of  small 
greenhouses,   each   containing   some   special   class 
of    exhibits,    such    as    Orchids,    Japanese    dwarf 
trees,  etc.     In  the  grounds  close  by  was  another 
large  greenhouse  devoted  to  the  vegetable  classes, 
a   grand   display   by   various  exhibitors  of  every 
conceivable  vegetable  in  season.    Chrj'santhemums, 
of   course,   occupied   the   principal  place   and   the 
Grand    Prix   d'Honneur  was   awarded    to    Messrs. 
\"ilmorin  .\ndrieux  et  Cie  for  an  enormous  display 
of  trained  and  specimen  plants  arranged  in  several 
sections.     Most  of  the  plants  were  of  decorative 
value  only,  being  covered  with  medium-sized  blooms 
and    were    principally    French    varieties.      M.    G. 
Truffaut  put  up  a  remarkable  display,  consisting  of 
five  huge  columns  of  blooms,  one  variety  in  each, 
and  a  series  of  circular  groups,  on  a  soft  green  moss 
ground,   of   large   exhibition   blooms.      His   finest 
flowers   were   Undaunted,   Captain    Fox,    Mrs.    G. 
Drabble,  Majestic,  Mrs.  R.  C.  PuUing,  Paul  Oudot, 
Miss  Edith  Cavell  and  other  well  known  EngUsh 
varieties.     Close    by    was    the    very    meritorious 
group  staged  by  M.  Paul  Feron.    On  a  square  turf 
lawn,  decorated  with  autumn  foUage,  were  some 
large  vases  with  one  in  the  centre  standing  on  a 
blue   porcelain   pedestal.     They   were    filled   with 
colossal  blooms  of  Mrs.  R.  C.  PulUng,  Edith  Cavell, 
Undaunted,  Daily  Mail,  Captain  Fox,  etc.,  also  a 
few  singles  in  front. 

M.  Leloup-Grimoux  staged  a  most  important 
group  in  two  parts,  divided  by  the  path  leading  to 
the  main  body  of  the  Show.  A  large  number  of 
well  known  English  varieties,  and  some  French 
made  up  this  exhibitor's  very  fine  display.  The 
Maison  Feron  staged  singles,  and  other  prominent 
exhibitors  in  Chrysanthemum  classes  were  Messrs. 
Oudot,  Li\eque  et  fils,  Lochot,  Mme.  Martin  (new- 
seedling),  Souchet-Laurent.  R.  \"ialette  (a  nice 
collection  of  Japs),  Ragot,  Laveau  and  G.  Morin. 

The  Floral  Committee  awarded  a  large  number 
of  certificates  for  new  Chrysanthemums,  but  these 
are  hardly  likely  to  interest  the  general  reader. 
M.  Aug.  Nonin  showed  Roses  and  Camellias.  In 
the  former  Joseph  Guy,  Mme.  Abel  Chatenay, 
Mme.  Butterfly,  Lady  HilUngdon,  Orleans  Rose, 
etc.,  were  presented  in  nice  form.  Messrs.  Leveque 
and  Honor6  Difresne  also  staged  Roses.  Carnations 
were  not  plentiful,  but  some  interesting  lots  came 
from  Messrs.  Leveque,  Davy  and  Vacherot.  Messrs. 
Cayeux  and  Leclerc  put  up  an  attractive  mixed 
group  of  DahUas,  Chrysanthemums  and  Michaelmas 
Daisies.  Some  good  exhibits,  as  usual,  came  from 
the  weU  known  tuberous  Begonia  specialists,  Messrs. 
Vallerand  and  Billard.  Cyclamen  artistically 
arranged  along  the  banks  of  the  artificial  water 
came  from  M.  Ragot.  Mme.  .\ubert-Maille  had  a 
grand  lot  of  the  same,  with  other  plants.  Floral 
art  was  well  represented  by  the  famous  Paris  house 
of  Lachaume,  and  also  Ed.  Debrie,  whose  artistic 
displays  were  much  admired.  M.  G.  Weiss  staged 
Japanese  dwarf  trees  and  in  the  Uttle  side  green- 
houses we  noted  the  exhibits  of  fruit  by  M.  Lepere, 
M.  Lambert,  Pestel  and  others. 

A  large  side  greenhouse  contained  the  leading 
fruit  classes,  some  of  them  nearly  looft.  long,  on 
tables,  the  chief  exhibitor  being  the  well  known 
lirms  of  M.  M.  Nomblot-Bruneau,  Croux  et  fils 
and  Moser  et  fils,  Apples  and  Pears  being  in  the 
majority.  Vegetables  were  shown  in  a  separate 
house  in  great  variety  by  Messrs.  Vilmorin 
.\ndrieux  et  Cie,  M.  George  Truffaut  and  M.  Davy. 


'^'it^tsHual 


M.(! 


THE 


^  i>  ]^^2 


r.i.« 


GARDEN 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


Vol.  LXXXVI.— No.  2663. 

Entered  as  Second-olaas  Matter  at  the  New  York,  N.  Y.,  Post  Cfflae. 


Saturday,  December  2,  1922 


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MERRYWEATHER'S    ROSES 


FOR    THE    GARDEN  I 
FOR    BEDS! 


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Please   state  your  wants. 

H.    MERRYWEATHER   &    SONS,  LTD. 
Garden  Specialists  SOUTHWELL.  NOTTS. 

Barr's  Clearance  Sale  of  Surplus 
MAY-FLOWERING  TULIPS. 


10  each    12   named   Darwin  Tulips 

5     „        12        ,. 
Splendid   Mixture,   Darwin  Tulips,  per   1,000 

,,  ,,        per   100    . . 

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5     ,.       12        ,,  ,,  ,,  ,, 

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Free  from   injurious   mineral   impurities.       41bs.,   9/6;    71bs.,  17/-: 
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TAPLOW    GARDEN    MATS. 

N.'o  Archangels  this  season  !     Taplows  are  equal  in  weight,  superior  in  frost 
resistance,  wear  longer,  and  are  nearly  as  cheap  as  Archangels 

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40  tins,  60/- ;  20  tins,  30/-  ;   10  tins,  15/6  ;  5  tins,  8/-. 

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THE     GARDEN. 


[December  2,   1922. 


^^THE    GARDEN"   CATALOGUE    GUIDE 

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Rose  Specialists 


riRST 

FOR 


The  Champion  Decorative  Rose  Grower 
of  England, 

RELISHA  J.  HICKS,  M.C.N.R.S.,  etc., 
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BUILD  ON   A 
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In  planting  a  garden  or  an  orchard,  whether  bi-ge 
or  small,  for  pleasure  or  for  profit,  it  is  important 
to  lay  a  good  foundation. 

This  m;ans  tliorough  preparation  of  the  ground, 
careful  planting  and,  above  all,  healthy,  reliable, 
well-rooted  trees,  of  good  constitution,  of  the  right 
sorts  on  the  right  stoclis. 

Inferior  fruit  cannot  find  a  profitable  market. 
Good  fruit  can  command  one. 

We  specialise  in  fruit  trees  for  Market  Growers 
or  Amateurs,  and  shall  be  pleised  to  give  intending 
planters  the  benefit  of  o?er  40  years'  experience  in 
fruit  growing. 

Roses,  Shrubs,  Perennials  and 
Alpines  are  equally  well  grown. 


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LAX 

FRUIT 
IN  ALL 

CATALO 


^REES 
$HAPES 

IS  GRATIS 

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[alE]E]E]B]B]B|E]G]E]E]E]E]E]B]E]ElBlE] 

H  KING'S  ACRE  ROSES  H 

Bl  noted  for   over   a    Century  13 

Bl  for  their  hardiness  and  reli-  13 

Q]  ability.     New  alphabetically  13 

El  arranged  Catalogue  of  more  13 

[d1  than  usual  interest,  contain-  13 

E\  ing  helpful  information,with  [3 

[dI  Special  Collections  for  all  13 

El  purposes.     Free  on  request.  13 

[3I  Nurseries  Established  1785.  [3 

El  KING'S  ACRE  NURSERIES,  Ltd.  13 

El  HEREFORD.  [3 

ElBIsIalalalsIsIsIalslalsEIslsIalsS 


Collin's  Famous  Roses 

For  all  purposes.    Noted  for  reliability. 

Dcscriptii-e     ttiut    JVitstratcd     Cuitllngne    Post    Free. 

W.   H.  COLLIN   <&  SONS,  Rose  Growers, 
SCRAPTOFT,      LEICESTER. 


SPEOIALrrE. 


TREES   AND   SHRUBS 


for    AUTUMN     COLOUR 
and  WINTER    BERRIES 

(Carriage  Paid.) 

V.  N.  Gauntlett  &  Co,,  Ltd., 

Japanese  Nurseries.  Chidoingpold,  Surrey. 


^f,^H^ 


^^ 


No.  2663.— Vol.  LXXXVI.] 


[December  2,  1922. 


THE    ARRANGEMENT    OF    FLOWERING    SHRUBS 


PRESENT-DAY  tendencies  in  gardening 
are  all  towards  making  greater  use  of 
flowering  and  fruiting  shrubs  with  trees 
small  enough  to  be  grouped  successfully 
with  them.  This  is  understandable 
enough  for  many  shrubs  are  extraordinarily  beauti- 
ful when  in  blossom,  others  are  exceedingly  attrac- 
tive in  autumn,  while  others,  again,  brighten  the 
landscape  in  winter-time  when  herbaceous  borders 
present  only  a  stubble — and  an  unattractive 
greyish  stubble  at  that.  Though  their  beauty  be 
amply  sufficient  to  justify  and  account  for  the 
increasing  popularity  of  shrubs,  it  is  more  than 
doubtful  whether  it  furnishes  the  only  or,  indeed, 
the  principal  reason  for  their  rapid  progression  in 
public  favour.  The  fact  is  that  the  well  arranged 
shrubbery,  representing,  as  it  does,  the  maximum 
of  beauty  with  a  minimum  of  labour,  exactly 
meets  the  need  of  a  period  of  world-wide  im- 
poverishment. A  series  of  articles  upon  different 
families  of  shrubs  and  trees  has,  doubtless,  proved 
helpful  to  those  desirous  of  selecting  the  species 
and  varieties  best  suited  to  their  purpose.  To-day 
it  may  be  well  to  consider  how  to  dispose  our 
materia  1 — 1  i  v  i  n  g 
material  be  it  noted — 
to  produce  adequate 
effects  at  different 
seasons. 

The  best  soil  for  the 
generality  of  shrubs 
is  unquestionably  a 
light,  practically  lime- 
free  sandy  loam.  It 
can,  with  very  little 
trouble  or  expense, 
be  made  to  suit  all 
classes.  Fairly  well 
rotted  leaf  -  mould, 
spent  hot-bed  manure 
and  turf  loam  will  fit 
it  for  Rhododendrons 
and  other  .'American 
plants  and  the 
addition  of  mortar 
rubble  or  ground  lime- 
stone will  render  it 
suitable  for  trees  and 
shrubs  needing  lime. 

Fig.  I  on  page  600 
shews  an  arrangement 
of  shrubs  to  a  curving 
entrance  drive.  Such 
a  drive  is  often  neces- 
sary owing  to  a  dis- 
crepancy between  the 


level  of  the  roadway  and  that  of  the  house.  The 
opening  shewn  on  the  right  indicates  a  connexion 
to  some  of  the  more  open  parts  of  the  pleasure 
grounds,  perhaps  to  a  more  extensive  shrub 
garden.  This  opening  is  suggested  as  a  turf 
sweep,  but  it  might  be  desirable  to  take  a  dry 
paved  path,  a  gravelled  walk,  or  even  a  subsidar\" 
cartway  through  such  a  gap.  Actual  planting 
in  such  cases  must  largely  depend  upon  individual 
tastes  and  preferences,  but  the  scheme  shewn 
will  suggest  suitable  proportioning  for  the  different 
groups.  It  will  be  noted  that  Holly,  the  practically 
smooth-foliaged  laurel-leaved  variety  to  wit, 
is  suggested  to  give  solid  background  on  occasion, 
If  a  fair  amount  of  land  may  be  devoted  to  such 
backing.  Common  Spruce  (Picea  excelsa)  or,  prefer- 
ably, the  Oriental  Spruce  (P.  orientalis)  may  be 
utiKsed  instead.  The  tree  commonly  employed, 
Cupressus  Lawsoniana,  is  less  suitable,  being  dull 
and  commonplace  of  fohage,  yet  in  some  of  its 
better  forms  it  will  serve.  Trees  which  ultimately 
attain  any  height  should  not  be  used  anywhere 
in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  house.  One 
might  think  it  unnecessary  to  mention  this,  but 


THE  RHODODENDRON  WALK  AT  ALDFNHAM. 


experience   shews    that   such   unsuitable   planting 
is  an  almost  everyday  occurrence. 

To  turn  to  the  actual  shrub  planting  suggested, 
objection  may  be  taken  to  the  use  of  Rock  Roses. 
The  fleeting  character  of  their  blossoms  may  be 
pointed  out  as  well  as  their  want  of  hardiness  in 
many  inland  counties.  The  short-lived  character 
of  their  individual  flowers  granted,  however,  it 
must  be  pointed  out  that  the  bushes  remain 
effective  over  a  very  considerable  period.  The 
second  objection  is  more  serious.  The  only 
species  absolutely  hardy  in  some  inland  counties 
is  Cistus  laurifolius,  though  CC.  cyprius  (usually 
sold  as  ladaniferus)  and  purpureas  are  moderately 
so.  Their  places  in  the  plan  might  be  occupied 
by  Cydonia  Maulei  or  Japanese  Maples  and  Cytisus 
nigricans  Carlieri  respectively.  Where  no  species 
is  mentioned  {e.g..  Barberries,  Brooms)  it  is 
intended  to  plant  a  variety,  but  care  must  hs 
taken  only  to  associate  together  sorts  which  suit 
both  as  regards  habit  and  colouring.  Azaleas  are 
suggested  to  be  used  fairly  freely.  MolUs  seedlings 
are  best  for  such  a  purpose,  and  may  be  had  in  a 
wonderful  range  of  colouring  from  flame,  through 
salmon  pinks,  to  soft 
yellow.  Not  only  are 
they  gorgeous  when 
in  blossom,  but  they 
are  among  the  best 
and  most  certain 
shrubs  for  autumn 
foliage  colour.  The 
planting  as  shewn 
might  be  improved 
by  including,  here  and 
there,  odd  plants  of 
Forsythia  and  Hama- 
melis  molhs  to  give 
colour  in  the  dark 
days.  Escallonia 
macrantha  is  an  admir- 
able and,  on  well 
drained  ground,  a 
hardy  shrub  which 
has  beautiful  foliage 
and  is  almost  always 
in  flower. 

In  Fig.  2  suitable 
planting  for  a  com- 
paratively  short 
straight  drive  is  indi- 
cated. It  has  often 
been  stated  that  shrubs 
are  less  effective  ia 
straight-edged  borders 
than  in  those  of  curving 


600 


THE     GARDEN. 


[December  2,  1922. 


variety.  A  good  clump 
of  Genista  cinerea  would 
be  most  effective  for 
the  Broom  patch,  but 
a  plant  or  two  of  Cytisus 
praecox  might  be  in- 
cluded as  a  concession 
to  those  who  consider 
it  the  loveliest  of  all. 
It  flowers  at  the  same 
time  as  the  Philadel- 
phus  behind  it.  The 
Spanish  Gorse,  Genista 
hispanica,  is  one  of  the 
really  indispensable 
dwarf  shrubs.  Its  tufted 
apparently  e  v  e  r  g  r  e  en 
appearance  is  invaluable 


FIG.    I. — SHRUBBERY    PLANTING    TO    A    CURVED    DRIVE. 


outUne.  That  there  is  some  truth  in  the  conten- 
tion few  will  deny  ;  none  the  less,  given  sufficient 
spacing  properly  to  see  the  borders,  shrubs  may 
be  used  in  such  borders  with  admirable  effect. 
There  are  strips  of  turf  on  either  hand,  which  should, 
if  possible,  slope  gently  up  to  the  shrubs.  The 
Thorns  suggested  might  be  Cratiegus  0.\yacantha 
var.  Single  Scarlet,  which,  if  less  lasting  than 
Paul's  Double  Crimson,  is  more  beautiful  and 
has  the  additional  substantial  merit  of  fruiting 
abundantly  in  autumn.  One  or  other  of  the 
large-fruited  American  species  might  be  substi- 
tuted if  desired.  The  Spirseas  suggested  would 
be  S.  Lindleyana  and  either  S.  arguta  or  S.  pruni- 
folia  fi.  pi.,  with  S.  Bumalda  Anthony  Waterer 
(rosy  crimson)  in  front.  The  Skimmias  have  very 
desirable  evergreen  foliage,  and  are  admirable 
for  lasting  berry  effects.  It  is  necessary  to  include 
at  least  one  male  plant  in  each  group. 
The   Azaleas   will    again   be    moUis   hybrids    in 


female   forms,   and   one  of  the  former  should   be 
included  in  each  group. 

If  the  group  of  Lilacs  is  confined  to  one  variety, 
probably  Charles  X  would  be  as  satisfactory  as- 
any,  but  a  plant  of  the  white  Marie  Legraye- 
might  be  included  without  looking  odd.  Berberis- 
Thunbergii  is  quietly  beautiful  when  its  pinkish 
buff  flowers  expand,  but  is  chiefly  noteworthy 
as  being  the  most  gorgeous  of  many  brilliant 
shrubs  when  in  autumn  dress.  To  match  its. 
salmon  and  copper  tints  in  any  other  autumn 
foliage  one  has  to  turn  to  extra  well  coloured 
current  season's  growths  of  the  self-chnging 
Virginia  Creeper,  Vitis  inconstans  {syn.  Ampelopsis- 
Veitchii).  The  other  fairly  dwarf  Barberries- 
shewn  might  include  B.  Wilsonte  (or  B.  subcaulia- 
lata)  in  front  and  B.  polyantha  behind,  both 
admirable  for  their  fruits,  or  some  of  the  Mahonia 


and,  when  in  flower, 
the  sheet  ot  gold  is 
unrivalled.  It  some- 

times gets  cut  with 
frost  pretty  severely 
inland,  but  it  is  very 
seldom  that  it  fails  to 
throw  up  again  from 
the  centre  of  the  plant. 
The  most  attractive 
Kalmia  is,  unquestion- 
ably, the  Mountain 
Laurel,  K.  1  a  t  i  f  o  h  a, 
but  KK.  angustifoha 
teresting  and  useful  for 
The   American    Spindle 


FIG.    3. — ILLUSTRATES    PLANTING    "BY    FAMILIES. 

Much  of  the  distaste  which  is  felt  for  shrub  gardens  in  some  quarters 

is  due  to  spotty  "higgledy-piggledy"  planting. 


and  glauca  are  in- 
the  front  of  the  group. 
Tree,      Euonymus     lati- 


folius,  is  a  really  handsome  fruiting  shrub,  and 
also  gives  valuable  autumn  colour  in  favour- 
able seasons.  Though  all  Euonymuses  bear 
fruits  more  or  less,  there  are  distinctly  male  and 


.b.r„    I 


-iC  X./a, 


XT 


(t- 


(y- 


^Ani..^  AVi°^'>!.->^;wa^,,^...^; 


..jTx- 


A.^fSk^X. 


'^-■^^m 
-t./. 


^\?'a- 


-\a.~,n^.' 


>S";-?$^ 


FIG.    2. — PLANTING    AND    LAY-OUT    FOR    A    STRAIGHT    DRIVE. 


group  might  be  substituted.     They  are  attractive 

in  flower,  foliage  and  fruits,  though  these  last  are 

less   showy   in   their   violet   dress   than   the   coral 

and  crimson  berries  of  the  purely  fruiting  species. 

The    most    useful    of    the    variabilis    Buddleias 

is  probably  the  variety  magnifica.     Philadelphus 

grandiflorus  is  one  of  the  best  of  the  Mock  Oranges. 

It  flowers  when  the  forms  of  coronarius  are 

over.  Its  total  lack  of  scent  may,  or  may  not, 

be  considered  a  disadvantage.     It  is  rather 

surprising     that     Veronica    salicifolia    has 

not  been  mentioned  in  the  correspondence- 

anent    the   "  twelve   best   shrubs."     When 

seen  under  favourable  conditions  it  always 

draws     favourable     comment,     and     it    is 

certainly    entitled    to    be    considered    the 

handsomest  of  even  "  theoretically  "  hardy 

shrubby  Speedwells.     It  is  probably  hardier 

than    Laurel.     The    deepest    possible    red 

form     of     Ribes     sanguineum     should     be 

procured.     Such  forms  are  often  hsted  under 

fancy  names. 

The  hybrid  Escallonia,    E.    langleyeusis, 
a  cross  between   the  white  and  deciduous 


December  2,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


601 


E.  Philippiana  and  the  glorious  E.  inacrantba  has 
some  of  the  good  points  of  both  parents.  It  has 
the  glossy  evergreen  foliage  of  macrantha,  albeit 
immensely  reduced  in  size,  and  the  arching  growth 
of  E.  Philippiana.  The  coloin-  of  the  blossoms 
is  a  vi\-id  salmony  carmine  very  near  to  that 
of  E.  macrantha.  For  the  benefit  of  those 
who  neither  know  E.  langleyensis  nor  E. 
Philippiana,  it  may  be  well  to  state  that  both 
have  somewhat  the  habit  of  growth  of  Berberis 
?tenophylla.  Cytisus  praecox,  with  its  soft  cream- 
of-sulphur  coloured  blossoms  needs  no  description. 
The  Mount  Etna  Broom,  Genista  retnensis,  is 
not  so  much  groma  as  it  should  be.  It  attains 
in  time  the  stature  of  a  small  tree  and  is  very 
handsome  when  in  flower.  The  golden  yellow 
blossoms  are  produced  in  July.  Prunus  pendula 
is  an  admirable  weeping  tree  with  multitudes 
of  single    cup -shaped    rose    flowers.       It     bears 


extraordinary  names  in  nursery  catalogues  some- 
times. Cerasus  sinensis  rosea  pendula  may  be 
taken    as   typical  of  such  ! 

Philadelphus  I.emoinei  is  here  intended  to 
cover  any  of  Lemoine's  dwarf  hybrids,  which 
may  specially  appeal  to  the  planter.  AH  are 
beautiful.  Cotoneaster  frigida  is  another  species 
which  seems  undecided  whether  to  be  a  shrub 
or  a  tree.  It  is  attractive  when  in  flower  and 
very  handsome  when  laden  with  its  brilliant 
fruits,  which  in  localities  not  too  heavily  stocked 
with  birds  remain  until  the  new  foliage  breaks 
in  spring.  Birds  will  not  take  them  unless  very 
hard  driven.  Magnolia  steUata  is  shewn  under- 
planted  with  Erica  camea.  Though  very  beautiful 
when  in  blossom,  this  Magnolia  is  rather  sparse 
of  habit  and  unattractive  when  out  of  flower. 
That  dwarf  Peach,  Prunus  nana  georgica,  (is 
too  seldom  seen  in  gardens.     .For  a  short  while 


before  the  flowers  expand  the  innumerable  buds 
are  a  delightful  and  brilliant  rose  colour, 
quite  surpassing  those  of  Pyrus  floribunda. 
The  trees  for  background  might  weil  be  Scots 
Pines. 

Fig.  ^  suggests  a  lay-out  for  a  purely  shrub 
garden,  and  suggests  how  species  of  the  different 
families  may  be  grouped  together  so  that  their 
several  beauties  may  readily  be  compared.  Such 
an  arrangement  has  the  added  advantages  of 
minimising  work,  since,  as  a  rule,  allied  species 
like  similar  soils  and  general  treatment  and 
require  similar  pruning.  Best  of  all.  such  a 
grouping  of  species  makes  the  whole  garden 
interesting,  no  matter  how  extensive  it  may  be, 
since  each  section  visited  is  quite  different  from  the 
last.  In  a  subsequent  issue  it  is  proposed  to  take 
a  section  of  the  garden  shewn  and  suggest 
detailed  planting. 


LATEST    DEVELOPMENTS    IN    THE    CHRYSANTHEMUM 


THE  development  of  the  Chrysanthemum 
during  the  last  three  decades  has  been 
immense,  but  there  are  many  who  'have 
not  hesitated  to  express  the  opinion 
that  a  period  of  stagnation  has  arrived. 
No  doubt  there  was  a  momentary'  check  when  the 
<levelopment  of  almost  every  practicable  shade 
of  colour  in  the  huge  exhibition  mops  had  been 
completed.  Since  then,  however,  the  raising  of 
decorative  sorts  has  gone  on  apace,  and  every 
year  a  number  of  good  "  market  "  varieties  is 
<ertificated.  There  has,  indeed,  been  a  danger 
that  "  market  variety  "  and  "  decorative  "  would 
iecome  s>Tionymous,  but  there  are  signs  that 
this   in   future  will  not   be   the   case.     A   market 


flower  must  be  stout  of  petal  and  compact,  and 
must  withstand  rough  usage  without  shedding. 
For  home  decoration,  however,  a  more  fragile 
flower  answers  perfectly,  and,  certainly,  light- 
petalled  varieties  are  hkely  to  be  more  graceful 
and  more  easily  arranged  as  cut  flowers.  The  new 
sulphur  yellow  variety  Wellington  Wack,  which 
is  illustrated  herewith,  is  interesting  for  the 
rigidity  with  which  the  rather  narrow  petals  are 
held  and  the  consequent  spacing  between  them. 
The  petals  themselves  are  not  nearly  so  fine  as 
in  varieties  of  the  spidery  petalled  section  (e.g., 
Rayonnante),  yet  the  variety  is  so  distinct  as  to 
be  worth  considering  a  typical  variety  of  a  new- 
class.     Shall  we  call  it  Golliwog-headed  ? 


The  other  picture  below  shews  a  new  "  eyed  " 
variety  with  several  rows  of  petals.  It  might  be 
said  roughly  to  correspond  to  the  p^ony-flowered 
section  in  Dahlias,  but  the  perfectly  clear  eye 
and  the  good  and  neat  habit  of  growth  are,  of 
course,  points  of  advantage  which  this  particular 
'Mum  has  over  the  Dahlias.  These  "  semi-single  " 
forms  win  probably  be  useful  to  market  men, 
for  they  should  stand  packing  and  travel  better 
than  the  real  singles.  The  variety  illustrated 
rejoices  in  the  name  Alice  Jinks,  and  is  amaranth 
purple  in  colour. 

There  are  great  diversities  of  opinion  as  to  what 
constitutes  the  most  desirable  type  of  single. 
There  are  those  who  consider  Mensa  the  type  of 


THE    SULPHUR    YELLOW    WELLINGTON    WACK. 


ALICE    JINKS    HAS    SEVERAL    ROWS    OF^^AMARANTH    PETALS 


602 


THE     GARDEN. 


[December  2,  1922. 


the  ideal  single.  Evenly  arranged  amootlily 
recurving  florets  are  their  ideal.  They  may  be 
taken  to  be  a  triumph  of  restful  beauty.  There 
are  others — and  the  writer  is  one — who  prefer  the 
varieties  of  the  Pagram  family  with  very  stiff  but 
distinctly  saucer-shaped  flowers.  There  is  less 
repose  but  more  life  in  such  a  flower.  Others, 
again,  there  are  who,  so  that  the  eye  be  clear  and 
shapely,  most  admire  a  variety  with  rather  shaggy 
petals — such  an  one,  in  short,  as  Hilda  Shoebridge, 
also  one  of  this  season's  novelties  and  also  illus- 
trated. There  is  yet  a  fourth  type  which  finds 
some  admirers.     The  varieties  which  constitute  it 


NOTES  ON  SHRUBS  for  FAVOURED 

GARDENS 


CHRYSANTHEMUM    HILDA    SHOEBRIDGE, 

might  almost  be  called  single  incurved.  Owing 
to  the  distinct  inward  rolling  of  the  petals  the 
flowers  never  appear  very  large,  though  if  the  petals 
are  straightened  out  some  of  them  are,  in  fact, 
of  very  respectable  size.  Mary  Richardson  may 
be  taken  as  typical  of  this  style  of  flower.  All 
these  four  types — and  many  varieties  which  will 
not  e.xactly  fit  into  any  of  them — are  beautiful 
enough  and  useful.  It  is  worth  while  calling 
attention  to  the  diversity,  however,  if  only  to 
shew  that  there  are  more  types  of  Chrysanthenmni 
blossom  than  we  are  apt  at  first  sight  to  think. 
The  new  anemone-flowered  singles  are  also  exceed- 
ingly beautiful  alike  for  cut  flower  and  for  decora- 
tion in  pots. 

The  popularity  of  the  Chrysanthemum  as  judged 
by  the  recent  show  of  the  National  Society  is  once 
again  on  the  increase,  and  it  is  quite  evident  that 
the  Society's  executive  will  have  to  look  about 
for  a  more  commodious  building  than  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Hall  in  which  to  house  their 
exhibition. 


OF  all  the  many  species  of  Acacia  that 
can  be  grown  in  favoured  English 
I  gardens,  none  is  more  beautiful  than 
the  common  one,  Baileyana.  Even 
if  it  never  flowered  it  would  be  worth 
growing  for  its  blue  leaves,  and  its  familiar 
"  Mimosa  "  flower  makes  a  yellow  cloud  in  early 
spring  in  many  Cornish 
gardens.  In  a  quite  cold 
house  here  one  can  have 
it  in  flower  by  Christmas. 
I  have  not  yet  seen  A. 
dealbata  as  splendid  in 
Cornwall  as  it  is  at 
.\bbotsbury  in  Dorset, 
where  it  makes  a  huge 
tree.  Like  Baileyana  this 
seems  to  require  a  good 
deal  of  shelter  from  wind 
if  it  is  to  flower  well  out 
of  doors,  but  A.  longifolia, 
though  brittle,  can  stand 
quite  a  lot  of  wind. 

.■\nopterus  is  rather  dis- 
appointing, not  nearly  so 
fine  as  Clethra  arborea, 
which  it  resembles  in 
flower. 

Buddleia  madagascar- 
iensis,  with  orange  plumes 
shaped  like  those  of  B. 
variabihs,  grows  with 
great  vigour  here,  but  I 
have  not  yet  seen  it  pro- 
fuse in  flower,  as  on  the 
Riviera. 

The  orange-  scarlet 
bottle-brush  flowers  of 
Beaufortia  can  be  grown 
here,  but  in  their  differ- 
ent season  the  Calliste- 
mons  do  the  bottle-brush 
effect  much  better.  The 
deep  red  Callistemons  and 
the  pale  pink  one  with 
gold-dusted  anthers,  are 
magnificent. 

There    seems    to   be   a 
better    form    of    Cytisus 
fragrans     than     the     one 
SOFT    PINK.  commonly  grown  in  green- 

houses up-country ;  this 
and  C.  stenopetalus,  and  the  slender  white  C. 
fihfera,  are  always  worthy  of  a  good  place.  There 
is,  too,  another  white  Cytisus,  C.  prohferus,  which 
is  a  treasure  for  a  wild  garden  ;  it  makes  a  fast- 
growing  tree  with  silvered  leaves  and  with  white 
flowers  from  winter  to  spring. 

Clematis  indivisa  lobata,  familiar  in  greenhouses 
up  country,  is  a  wonderful  sight  in  these  parts 
in  April,  smothered  in  great  white  flower  bunches. 
I  feel  sure,  too,  that  when  better  forms  of  Clematis 
.Armandi  than  those  now  commonly  obtainable  in 
commerce  have  been  tried  in  gardens  here,  they 
will  prove  rivals  or  almost  rivals  to  indivisa. 

Why  is  not  Correa  Harrisii  better  known  ?  Of 
all  the  Correas  this  is  the  most  beautiful,  more  so 
even  than  the  scarlet  cardinalis.  Its  rose-red  bells 
are  borne  for  si.\  months,  from  November  onwards, 
and  I  have  seen  a  large  bush  against  a  wall  so 
streaming  with  them  as  to  obscure  the  leaves. 
The  plant  is  delightful  for  a  pot  indoors,  tidy  and 
perfect  in  habit.  This  is,  I  think,  the  best  of  the 
pink  Correas,  better  than  ventricosa.     Cardinalis 


is  vivid  and  most  beautiful,  with  the  darkest 
green  leaves  as  a  foil  for  its  flowers,  but  it  seems  to 
be  a  less  hearty  grower  than  Harrisii  or  the  others. 
C.  alba  makes  a  nice  greyish  leaved  plant  for  a 
shrubbery,  and  the  ordinary  C.  virens  is  delightful 
in  its  quiet  way.  It  has  been  hanging  out  its 
greenish  white  bells  for  some  weeks  already,  and 
will  go  on  doing  so  till  May.  It  looks  very  well,  I 
notice,  in  company  with  the  tall  green-flowered 
Hellebore. 

Of  the  Diosmas  that  grow  here  in  the  open  the 
most  beautiful  is  certainly  D.  uniflora.  This  has 
soUtary  white  flowers,  rather  like  a  Flax,  over  a 
round  mounded  bush.  D.  gracilis,  with  small 
white  flowers,  and  capitata,  with  heads  of  mauve 
pink,  are  also  pleasant  shrubs  to  see,  but  the  deUght 
of  gracilis,  even  more  than  the  others,  lies  in  the 
wonderfully  aromatic  scent  of  its  bruised    leaves; 

Of  the  Escallonias,  macrantha  is,  of  course,  the 
one  most  commonly  grown  here  for  shelter  ;  it 
makes  a  splendid  hedge  12ft.  high  and  many  feet 
through,  and  even  now  is  plumed  all  over  Kith  its 
rose-red  flowers  shining  in  the  glow  of  a  November 
evening.  From  such  short  experience  as  I  have 
had,  however,  I  am  inchned  to  think  E.  exoniensis 
makes  an  even  more  rapid  screen  than  macrantha 
and  deserves  to  be  more  widely  used.  Do  other 
readers  corroborate  this,  and  do  they  find,  what 
I  believe  to  be  the  case,  that  seedlings  of  E. 
macrantha  make  better  plants  than  cuttings  will 
ever  do  ?  E.  floribunda  is  dehghtful  now,  with  a 
profusion  of  white  flower  heads,  which  are  a 
favourite  haunt  of  belated  butterflies.  E.  lang- 
leyensis,  that  treasure  worthy  of  any  garden,  is 
well  known  everywhere,  but  Edinburgh  is  quite  as 
good  and  Donard  SeedUng  very  well  worth  a 
place. 

Of  Erica  melanthera  I  have  written  before  in 
these  columns  ;  the  vigorous  form  of  it,  grown  out 
of  doors  in  some  gardens  here  is  certainly  one  of 
the  noblest  shrubs  I  have  ever  seen,  far  surpassing 
even  E.  austrahs  at  its  best.  It  makes  a  great 
puff  of  mauve  colour  of  rare  waxy  quaUty  and  in 
favourable  conditions  I  have  seen  it  over  12ft. 
high.  In  the  correspondence  recently  about  the 
"  Twelve  Best  Shrubs,"  I  was  glad  to  see  Lepto- 
spermum  Chapmanni  mentioned  by  at  least  one 
contributor.  Yes,  I  quite  agree.  Anyone  who 
has  seen  a  big  bush  of  this  in  full  flower  will  never 
forget  it  and  will  always  want  to  grow  it. 

Leonotis  Leonurus  grows  well  out  of  doors  here, 
and  is  specially  valuable  for  its  late  flowering ; 
its  tawny  orange  colour  looks  fine  against  grey 
wall  or  rock.  I  remember  seeing  beautiful  photo- 
graphs of  Mr.  WiUiam  Robinson's  of  this  plant, 
the  Lion's  Tail,  growing  in  pots  for  the  decoration 
of  stone  steps  late  in  the  year  ;  I  wonder  that  it  is 
not  more  often  used  in  this  way,  since  it  is  easily 
propagated  by  cuttings  and  quickly  reaches 
flowering  size. 

There  are  at  least  three  sorts  of  Metrosideros, 
tomentosa,  robusta  and  diffusa,  which  would  be 
among  the  chief  treasures  of  any  garden.  Un- 
happily they  are  too  tender  to  be  of  use  for  any 
but  the  most  favoured  gardens  out  of  doors. 
Robusta,  I  imagine,  is  the  hardiest,  and  this  flowers- 
freely  on  the  mainland  in  panicles  of  the  splendid 
bottle-brush  red.  Like  tomentosa  it  will  stand  any 
amount  of  wind  ;  tomentosa  does  not  suffer  evea 
from  full  exposure  to  the  fiercest  Atlantic  gales. 
If  only  this  were  hardier  it  would  certainly  be 
regarded  as  one  of  the  most  valuable  trees  we 
have.  7..,  Cornwall. 

{To  be  concluded.) 


December  2,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


603 


TREES  FOR  THE  WATERSIDE  AND  SWAMPY  GROUND 


IN  these  notes  it  is  intended  to  draw  attention 
to  certain  trees  which  thrive  best  by  the 
waterside  and  in  moist  soils  generally, 
rather  than  those  suitable  for  widely  different 
soils  and  positions.  The  selection  of  trees 
tor  planting  in  moist  ground  and  swampy  areas  in 
ornamental  planting  contribute  in  no  small  degree 
to  the  beauty  of  the  landscape.  From  the  economic 
point  of  view  there  is  often  considerable  opportunity 
for  planting  low-lying  ground  which  is  useless  for 
farm  or  general  forestry.  The  trees  suitable  for 
planting  under  these  conditions  chiefly  belong  to 
three  families,  the  Alders,  the  Poplars  and  the 
\Villowp. 

THE     ALDERS. 

The  species  of  Alnus  are  widely  distributed  in 
four  continents,  Europe,  Asia,  Africa  and  .America, 
generally  fringing  the  banks  of  rivers  and  streams 
or  growing  in  swamps  and  marshes.  In  some  ways 
it  seems  remarkable  that  we  are  able  to  grow  side 
by  side  in  Britain  with  our  native  .\lnus  glutinosa, 
the  Himalayan  Alder  {A.  nitida),  the  Oregon  .\lder 
{A.  oregona),  the  Caucasian  .^Ider  (A.  subcordata)* 
and  the  Japanese  Alder  (A.  japonica). 

Readily  raised  from  seeds  the  .■\lders  are  fast- 
growing  trees  in  wet  situations.  In  the  case  of  the 
varieties  of  A.  glutinosa  and  A.  incana,  these  can 
be  propagated  by  layering,  grafting  on  the  Common 
Alder,  or  by  cuttings  inserted  on  a  sheltered  border 
during  November, 

A.  glutinosa,  our  British  Alder,  is  best  known 
in  gardens  as  the  species  from  which  several 
very  ornamental  trees  originated.     These  include 


var.  aurea,  a  form  with  golden-yellow  leaves  ;  var. 
imperialis  (asplenifolia),  an  attractive  tree  with 
deeply  lohed  leaves  ;  var.  laciniata,  also  with  lobed 
leaves,  but  not  so  deeply  cut  as  the  last  named  ; 
var.  quercifolia,  leaves  resembling  those  of  our 
Common  Oak,  and  var.  rubrinervia.  a  form  with 
red  leaf  stalks  and  veins. 

.■\.  incana,  the  speckled  or  grey  .Alder,  is  a 
widely  distributed  tree  in  the  North  Temperate 
Zone.  With  a  smooth  greyish  bark  and  a  grey- 
green  undersurface  of  the  leaves,  it  is  a  more 
attractive  tree  than  the  Common  .Alder.  There 
are  a  number  of  varieties,  the  best  and  most  distinct 
being  var.  aurea,  yellow  twigs  and  leaves  ;  var. 
incisa  (syns.  laciniata,  pinnatifida),  a  beautiful 
cut-leaved  .\lder  for  the  lake  side  ;  var.  monstrosa, 
having  fasciated  branches  and  fruits,  novel  and 
interesting  ;  var.  pendula,  a  very  handsome  tree 
with  weeping  branches  ;  var.  ramulis  coccineis,  a 
very  distinct  tree  when  leafless  in  winter  and 
spring,  with  red  young  twigs  and  catkins. 

A.  elliptica,  the  hybrid  .Alder  ;  there  is  a  fine 
specimen  of  this  fast-growing  tree  by  the  lake  side 
at  Kew,  about  75ft.  high.  It  is  a  natural  hybrid 
between  A.  cordifolia  and  .A.  glutinosa,  found  in 
Corsica.  The  cultivation  of  this  tree  for  its  timber 
is  worth  considering,  for  it  is  well  known  that,  for 
the  soles  of  clogs.  Alder  wood  has  no  equal. 

A.  cordifoUa,  the  Itahan  .Alder,  though  a  south 
European  tree,  is  perfectly  hardy  and  of  fine,  up- 
right growth.  An  attractive  specimen  tree  in 
front  of  the  Economic  Museum  No.  i  at  Kew 
on  the  bank  of  the  pond,  exceeds  70ft.  in  height. 


.A.  nitida,  the  Himalayan  .Alder,  I  should  be 
inclined  to  place  first  among  .Alder  species  as  an 
ornamental  tree,  though  in  time  it  may  be  rivalled 
by  two  new  ones  from  China,  A.  cremastogyne 
and  .A.  lanata.  Native  trees  reach  looft.  in  height 
and  several  trees  at  Kew  raised  from  seeds  in 
1882  exceed  50ft.  The  leaves  are  4ins.  to  6ins. 
long  and  half  as  wide. 

If  space  permits  .AA.  firma,  oregona,  orientalis, 
subcordata,  mollis  and  japonica  are  all  worthy 
of  attention  in  addition  to  those  already 
described. 

THE     WILLOWS. 

The  value  of  Willows  for  waterside  planting 
is  too  well  known  to  need  extolling  to  readers  of 
The  G.\rden.  Among  such  a  large  number  of 
species,  varieties  and  hybrids  it  will  be  pos- 
sible to  draw  attention  only  to  a  few  of  the  best. 

The  most  beautiful  of  all  is  undoubtedly 
Napoleon's  Weeping  Willow,  Salix  babylonica, 
a  wide-spreading  tree  of  great  beauty.  S.  Salamoni 
is  a  hybrid  between  S.  alba  and  S.  babylonica, 
the  branchlets  are  not  so  drooping  as  the  last 
named,  but  it  is  a  very  graceful  and  noble  looking 
tree.  S.  vitellina,  the  Golden  Willow,  is  a  hand- 
some tree,  abundantly  furnished  with  twigs  which 
in  sunshine,  shew  brilliant  yellow  when  leafless  in 
winter.  S.  alba,  the  White  Willow,  is  a  beautiful 
native  tree,  fringing  the  banks  of  our  rivers  in 
many  places.  The  variety  argentea  (syn.  S. 
regalis)  has  leaves  of  a  shining  silvery  hue  which 
are  distinctly  ornamental.  S.  coerulea,  the  Cricket 
Bat  Willow,  Is  a  fast-growing  upright  tree  and  a 


THE   DECIDUOUS   CYPRESS,  TAXODIUM   DISTICHUM 


A   GOLDEN   WEEPING    WILLOW,  SALIX    VITELLINA   PENDLLA 


604 


THE    GARDEN. 


[DECliMBER  2,    1922. 


most  valuable  timber  tree  to  plant  in  \vet  ground. 
The  name  "  ccerulea,"  or  the  Blue  Willow,  is  given 
because,  seen  at  a  distance,  the  tree  has  a  blue- 
green  appearance,  due  to  the  blue-grey  undersides 
of  the  leaves.  S.  fragilis,  the  Crack  Willow,  dis- 
tinguished by  the  readiness  with  which  the  twigs 
crack,  forms  a  large  wide-spreading,  bushy-headed 
tree.  The  Bay-leaved  Willow,  S.  pentandra,  is 
one  of  the  most  distinct  and  ornamental  of  our 
native  Willows.  More  often  a  bush  than  a  small 
tree,  it  can  be  readily  pruned  to  grow  into  an 
attractive  tree,  30ft.  to  40ft.  or  even  50ft.  in 
height.  Large  for  a  Willow — hence  the  name 
"  Bay-leaved " — the  rich  green  leaves  are  from 
2ins.  to  4iins.  long  and  half  as  wide. 

THE     DECIDUOUS     CYPRESS. 

Taxodium  distichum  is  one  of  the  most  distinct 
and  attractive  trees  we  have  for  the  waterside.  At 
Syon  House,  Middlesex,  a  place  famed  for  its  large 
specimen  trees,  there  are  several  Taxodiums  by 
the  side  of  the  lake  over  looft.  in  height.  Here 
they  produce  the  curious  woody  protuberances  or 
"  knees,  from  the  roots  above  the  ground,  which 
we  read  of  their  possessing  in  the  native  swamps  of 


the  southern  United  States.  The  attractivt 
features  of  the  tree  are  its  tall  pyramidal  habit 
and  feathery  foliage,  light  green  in  summer, 
changing  to  rich  brown  before  falling  in  autumn. 

THE    COMMON     ELDER 

Sambucus  nigra  is  usually  delegated  to  out-of- 
the-way  neglected  spots  because  it  has  a  habit 
of  springing  up,  wherever  it  can  get  root-hold, 
through  birds  spreading  the  seeds.  A  well  grown 
tree  of  the  Elder,  however,  with  a  clean  trunk  of 
Sft.  or  gft.,  and  some  20ft.  to  25ft.  in  height,  is  a 
distinctly  attractive  flowering  tree  by  the  waterside 
about  midsummer. 

THE    SITKA    SPRUCE. 

Picea  sitchensis  is  one  of  the  best  evergreen 
conifers  for  wet  ground,  both  as  an  isolated 
tree  for  ornamental  purposes  and  closely 
planted  as  a  commercial  timber  tree.  In  Scot- 
land there  are  trees  over  looft.  in  height. 
Several  years  ago  Mr.  William  Robinson  was  loud 
in  his  praises  of  this  Spruce  which,  in  moist  ground, 
was  making  splendid  growth  with  him  at  Gravetye, 
Sussex.  A.  O. 


MICHAELMAS    DAISIES— II 


THE  Editor  has  very  kindly  granted  my 
request,  so  I  am  off  again.  I  would 
never  have  ventured  to  ask  for  another 
turn,  only  I  feel  that  it  is  not  sufficiently 
realised  what  a  splendid  autumn  flower 
the  Michaelmas  Daisy  has  become.  There  are 
shapes,    habits    and   colours   galore    to   be   found 


A    CEDAR-TREE    TYPE    OF    MICHAELMAS    DAISY    OF    WHICH 
BIANCA    IS    A    FINE    EXAMPLE 


among  its  many  species  and  hybrids.  One  or 
another  gives  us  three  months  of  flowers.  The 
bunch  of  Belgian  Queen,  The  Queen,  Ringdove 
and  some  late  bits  of  Climax  that  I  brought  into 
the  house  on  Armistice  Day  speaks  equally 
eloquently  of  the  hardiness  of  the  race  and  the 
long  period  of  its  usefulness.  Since  then  I  have 
seen  the  splendid  show 
of  the  Chrysanthemum 
Society  in  the  R.H.S. 
Hall  at  Vincent  Square. 
I  had  to  rub  my  eyes 
as  I  stood  before  Jones' 
mammoth  exhibit  of 
beautiful  blooms  of  almost 
every  type  the  Chrysan- 
themum can  give  us,  to 
make  sure  that  I  was 
not  in  some  corner  of  an 
unearthly  Paradise.  I 
had  to  perform  the  same 
rite  before  the  '*  vegetable 
marvels  "  of  patient  care 
and  industry  that  filled 
the  long  Unes  of  show 
boxes.  I  saw  the  abomina- 
tion of  disbudding  in 
the  swollen  heads  of  my 
old  friends  the  ancient 
Pompons.  It  was  all 
v'ery  wonderful,  but  never, 
even' for  the  smallest  frac- 
tion  of  time  that  human 
ingenuity  can  measure, 
did  I  feel  inclined  to 
desert  or  to  be  dissatis- 
fied with  my  Michaelmas 
Daisies  at  home.  Of 
course  I  should  be  sorry 
to  be  without  any  Dahlias, 
and  I  gladly  own  that 
early  -  flowering  Chrysan- 
themums have  their  uses, 
but  neither  the  one  nor 
the  other  are  to  me  quite 
like  Michaelmas  Daisies. 
My  first  article  was 
almost  entirely  confined 
to  notes  about  varieties  in 
my  favourite  section,  the 
Novi-Belgii.     I  concluded 


by  mentioning  two  \-ery  beautiful  ones  of  the 
cordifolius  section.  Little  Bo-Peep  and  elegans. 
Oh  !  these  other  sections  !  Botanists  are  perhaps 
necessary  e\-ils,  and  I  do  try  to  think  of  them 
with  kindly  feelings,  but  when  I  picture  the  enjoy- 
ment they  seem  to  get  out  of  such  a  family  as  that 
of  these  perennial  Asters  and  compare  it  with  the 
slough  of  despair  that  they  are  to  myself,  I  do 
what  the  tale  avers  Bishop  Magee  of  Peterborough 
did  when  a  waiter  upset  the  sauce  over  his  coat, 
I  ask  some  layman  to  make  an  appropriate  remark. 
I  go  a  step  further  than  Bailey's  Cyclopedia, 
wliich  says  of  all  these  species  that  they  are 
"  botanically  confused  "  ;  they  are,  I  fear,  horti- 
culturally  mixed  too.  Such  being  the  case,  the 
best  way  out  of  the  difficulty  is  to  mention  the 
source  from  whence  the  plants  came  that  I  am 
going  to  bring  before  my  readers. 

Of  all  the  many  smaller  fry  in  my  collection 
none  was  more  admired  than  diffusus  Bianca 
(Wells  of  Merstham  and  H.  J.  Jones).  If  hori- 
zontalis  is  a  synonym  of  diffusus,  this  example 
bears  the  idea  out.  More  than  one  visitor  described 
it  as  a  4ft.  high  Cedar  of  Lebanon  made  out  of  a 
small-leaved  and  daisy-flowered  Michaelmas  Daisy. 
The  branches  laden  with  innumerable  white 
flowers  come  off  from  the  central  stem  at  right 
angles  and  so  set  up  the  resemblance.  Without 
elbow-room  it  would  be  nothing.  Hence  it  has 
occurred  to  me  that  a  clump  of  three  to  five  would 
make  a  capital  and  uncommon  isolated  bed  on 
grass.  Goldfinch  (Beckett)  and  Star  Shower 
(."Vmos  Perry)  to  some  extent  feature  Bianca, 
but  they  are  not  nearly  so  important -looking  and 
are,  I  see,  placed  in  the  ericoides  section,  which 
means  they  are  slighter  in  build  and  have  smaller 
flowers.  The  true  companion  of  Bianca  is  prob- 
ably the  Hon.  Vicary  Gibbs,  with  the  pure  white 
flowers  turned  into  a  decided  lavender.  It  was, 
I  regret  to  say,  one  of  the  varieties  which  did  not 
do  as  well  as  they  might  have  done,  so  I  can  only 
say  it  will  surprise  me  if  it  is  not  very  nearly  a 
second  Bianca.  To  revert  again  to  Bo-Peep, 
my  favourite  of  the  feathery-flowered  cordifolius 
type,  I  would  mention  Diana  as  a  second  string 
if  Bo-Peep  cannot  be  had,  for  I  cannot  find  it 
in  the  newest  lists  which  have  just  come  to  hand. 

Decorator  and  Delight  (both  Perry)  are  two 
good  ones  of  the  ericoides  section,  and  corapacta 
alba  (Jones)  is  my  favourite  among  the  vimineus 
section.  It  now  only  remains  for  me  to  mention 
a  few  odd  varieties  which  commend  themselves 
for  particular  idiosyncrasies.  For  a  cannon  ball 
of  bloom  like  the  well  known  St.  Egwin  we  have 
an  excellent  representative  in  the  fine  pale  pink 
Namur  (Barr)  and  one  of  my  own  seedUngs, 
Redbrook,  a  pretty  shade  of  mauve.  They  are 
not  my  fancy  at  all,  but  ever  since  a  gardening 
friend  came  and  picked  out  the  last  named  as  the 
one  he  liked  the  best,  I  feel  bound  to  mention 
them.  They  do  make  good  blobs  of  bloom. 
Cattleya  (Jones)  is  a  semi-double  of  great  charm. 
Everyone,  including  myself,  gives  this  soft  rosy 
pink  a  pat  on  the  back.  Roddy  (Wells)  has,  as 
far  as  my  experience  goes,  one  dreadful  drawback. 
It  suffers  from  spinal  curvature,  and,  unless  every 
inch  of  the  main  stem  is  supported,  over  it  goes. 
Its  individual  flowers  are  so  pretty  and  delicate- 
looking  with  their  almost  white  halo  round  the 
central  yellow  boss  and  their  soft  rosy  petals 
that  it  is  well  worth  while  taking  pains  with  it 
in  order  to  use  the  Uttle  side  branches  for  cutting. 

R.  E.  Hay,  which  came  to  me  from  another 
source,  appears  to  be  the  same  thing.  Bruges 
(Jones)  is  almost  a  "  cannon-ball."  Its  pale  lavender 
flowers  are  so  many  and  so  big  that  you  just  have 
to  notice  it.  Many  of  the  individual  blooms 
are  a  good  2jins.  in  diameter,  but  the  yellow 
centres  are  sadly  disturbed  by  so  many  of  the  disc 
florets   becoming   dissatisfied   with    their   lot   and 


December  2,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


605 


half-heartedly  apeing  the  dress  of  those  which 
rightly  compose  the  ray.  My  last  variety  (or 
species  ?)  to  mentioQ  is  a  very  late  daisy-flowered 
one  that  came  to  me  under  the  name  of  ericoides 
var.  diffusus  (J.  C.  House).  It  might  almost 
be  described  Uke  the  one  that  Mr.  Bowles  in  his 
book  "  lly  Garden  in  Autumn  "  heard  described 
as  an  Asparagus  plant  with  lots  of  white  Daisies 
stuck  all  over  it.  It  is  very  light-looking,  and 
so  is  very  handy  for  cutting,  more  particularly 
because  it  is  so  late  to  flower.  Here  only  Trades- 
cantia  is  behind  it.    At   he  time  of  writing  (Novem- 


ber 20I  there  is  not  one  flower  open.  This  leads 
me  to  ask  the  question,  How  do  Michaelmas 
Daisies  fare  if  the  plants  are  lifted  with  a  good 
ball  of  roots  and  then  potted  and  placed  in  a 
cold  house  in  the  same  way  as  Chrysanthemums  ? 
I  have  been  told  that  some  such  proceeding  is 
the  secret  of  some  of  the  splendid  displays  that 
greet  us  at  shows,  and  I  have  recently  read 
about  hfting  in  private  gardens.  Can  anyone 
give  us  the  A  B  C  of  how  it  is  done  ?  By 
analogy  it  looks  a  very  simple  thing  to  do,  but 
one  never  knows.  Joseph  Jacob. 


A    CHARMING    ALPINE 


THAT  rarest  and  most  beautiful  of  the 
Navehvorts,  Omphalodes  LuciUre,  has  a 
great  reputation  as  a  difficult  plant,  and 
certainly  when  I  first  tried  to  grow  it, 
many  years  ago,  it  did  not  shew  any  great 
enthusiasm  for  my  blandishments.  I  put  it  in  the 
first  funnv  little  moraine  that  I  ever  had.    This  was 


till  early  autumn,  the  plants  carry  a  succession, 
sometimes  a  multitude,  sometimes  just  a  few  and 
then  a  multitude  again,  of  giant  forget-me-not 
flowers,  as  big  as  sixpences,  of  a  delicious  soft  clear 
lavender  blue. 

The    grey    smooth    leaves    make    as    perfect    a 
setting  for  the  soft  blue  flowers  as  the  quiet  grey 


*>T"^** 

*  "^^^B^^S^^^^^^^k^^ 

[   ^^^ 

^.^^T^W^MB^BpiBI'                    "; 

r             ♦ 

s    v.* 

7^ 

? 

MR.    ELLIOTT  S    COLONY    OF    OMPHALODES    LUCILIjE. 


an  affair  of  granite  whose  chief  and  only  merit  was 
that  its  rough  surface  discouraged  the  promenading 
of  slugs.  There,  in  full  sun,  and  deprived  of  Ume, 
sat  Omphalodes  LuciUae,  a  stunted  invalid.  Then 
one  day  I  got  a  broad  hint  as  to  what  the  plant 
really  Ukes.  In  full  shade  under  a  north  wall  on  a 
silly  little  heap  of  bricks  and  mortar,  especially 
mortar,  I  saw  Omphalodes  flowering  and  flourishing 
rampantly.  Lime  and  shade  !  The  exact  opposites 
of  what  I  had  been  providing !  The  hint  was 
too  broad  to  miss  ;  and  I  had  at  Stevenage  the 
very  place  to  try  the  experiment,  on  a  newly  made 
limestone  moraine  rock  garden.  At  the  northern 
end  and  sloping  to  the  north  was  a  broad  com- 
fortable run  of  limestone  moraine  mixture  between 
grey  water- worn  rocks.  I  dug  up  my  old  sun- 
stunted  plant,  pulled  it  ruthlessly  to  pieces,  making 
half  a  dozen  well  rooted  divisions  and  planted 
them  in  their  cool  limestone  home.  The  improve- 
ment was  immediate  and  quite  remarkable.  Every 
piece  took  hold  at  once  and  set  to  work  to  grow  with 
real  enthusiasm  and  they  have  flourished  increasingly 
for  the  last  eight  or  nine  years.  What  a  lovely  plant 
it  is  when  healthy  and  given  a  good  setting.  Here 
the  leaves  are  big  and  fat  and  of  a  pleasing  Quaker 
grey  and  from  May  onward,  right  through  summer 


rocks  make  for  the  whole  plant.  Not  only  does 
my  colony  of  Omphalodes  Luciliie  flourish  and 
flower,  it  sets  good  crops  of  seeds  and  these  have 
given  me  young  plants  which  I  grow  in  small  pots 
with  quantities  of  lime  chips  in  the  soil.  Self-sown 
seedlings,  too,  spring  up  spontaneously  among  the 
old  plants. 

There  is  a  tradition  among  garden  writers  that 
slugs  have  a  passion  for  this  plant  and  will  travel 
enormous  distances  to  obtain  it.  My  own  experience 
of  slugs  teaches  me  that  they  are  very  whimsical 
creatures.  They  will  go  to  any  lengths  to  obtain  a 
certain  plant  in  our  neighbourhood,  while  the  slugs 
of  the  next  parish  would  not  thank  you  for  it. 
The  Stevenage  slugs  are  quite  unconventional  as 
regards  the  pleasures  of  the  table.  They  would 
not  cross  the  street  for  Omphalodes  LuciUs,  they 
do  not  care  a  rap  for  .^ster  alpinus,  are  apparently 
quite  unbiassed  by  the  catalogue  value  of  the  plants 
they  eat  and  they  seem  to  ignore  all  those  plants 
which  journalists  have  done  so  much  to  popularise 
among  the  slugs  of  this  country. 

I  give  my  hint  of  shade  and  lime  for  Omphalodes 
LucUia?  for  what  it  is  worth.  It  works  here  like 
magic,  as  is  shown  in  the  accompanying  photograph 
of  part  of  my  colony.     But  I  know  a  garden  in 


Rutland  where  the  plant  grows  freely  in  the 
ordinary  loam,  which  is  naturally  limy,  as  I  have 
never  seen  it  groiv  anywhere  else.  There  is  a  bold 
edging  of  it  all  round  the  carriage  drive,  in  full  sun. 
This  is  exceptional  and  anyway  I  like  the  plant 
best  snuggling  among  big  grey  rocks. 

Sle-jeimge.  Clarence    Elliott. 


THE    USE    OF    NURSE 
PLANTS 


M 


OST  practical  gardeners  know  full 
well  how  certain  plants  dislike  isolation 
and  under  some  conditions  positively 
refuse  to  prosper  until  given  suitable 
companionship.  Gentiana  vema  might 
be  given  as  an  example  of  one  of  these,  and  I 
have  known  patient  amateur  gardeners  fail  for 
years  to  satisfy  this  charming  species  until,  by 
accident  or  design,  the  plants  became  more  or 
less  grown-over  by  some  other  lowly  plant,  when 
they  immediately  did  satisfactorily. 

The  explanation  why  such  plants,  perhaps  the 
majority,  flourish  better  with  companionship 
is  doubtless  more  or  less  directly  connected  with 
moisture  supply.  Soil  that  is  covered,  being 
less  liable  to  suffer  from  rapid  evaporation,  is 
maintained  in  a  more  equable  condition  than 
that  which  is  fully  exposed  to  the  direct  rays 
of  the  sun  and  sweeping  winds.  Habit,  or  what 
one  might  even  call  temperament,  is  also  a  factor 
to  be  reckoned  with  sometimes,  some  plants 
appearing  to  sulk  from  sheer  loneliness. 

For  several  years  I  have  made  a  regular  practice 
of  using  nurse  plants  in  all  cases  where  their 
presence  seemed  desirable,  and  with  most  satis- 
factory results.  With  such  things  as  Heaths, 
for  example,  which  are  always  apt  to  suffer  during 
their  first  summer  in  our  hot  shaley  loam,  a  partial 
smothering  with  some  suitable  annual  sown  all 
over  the  patch  will  not  only  prevent  many  a  plant 
from  succumbing,  but  actually  encourage  growth. 
Moreover,  the  nurse  plant,  if  chosen  with  discretion, 
will  often  give  beauty  to  a  spot  which  is  usually 
anything  but  pleasing  to  look  upon  during  the 
first  season  or  two. 

.'\mong  the  most  suitable  annuals  for  com- 
panioning newly  planted  Heaths,  more  especially 
on  dry  banks  where  a  sheltering  growth  is  most 
essential,  one  might  mention  the  Collinsias,  the 
large-flowered  blue  and  white,  purple  and  white 
or  pure  white  being  of  suitable  habit  and  stature 
as  well  as  extremely  pretty.  The  Candytufts, 
especially  the  lilac  variet}*,  are  also  admirable 
for  such  use.  Mignonette  can  also  be  employed 
for  this  purpose,  and  for  smaller-growing  things 
than  Heaths  the  dwarf  annual  Alyssum,  called, 
I  beUeve,  Lilac  Queen,  is  first-rate.  But  I  need 
hardly  say  that  there  is  an  infinite  choice  of 
adaptable  annuals  for  employing  in  this  way — 
easy  cultiu-e,  with  fitting  height,  habit  and  colour 
being  the  chief  desiderata. 

Considerably  more  discretion  must,  of  course, 
be  exercised  in  selecting  companion  plants  (not 
necessarily  annuals)  for  the  smaller  Gentians, 
Soldanellas  and  such  like,  for  with  these  latter 
one  must  not  use  anything  whose  colour  would 
be  liable  to  detract  from  that  of  the  plants  we 
are  endeavouring  to  succour.  In  our  own  garden 
we  have  no  difficulty  in  choosing  company  for 
any  of  the  smaller  alpines  we  wish  to  treat  in  this 
manner,  for  a  little  white  Herb  Robert  Cranesbill, 
smaller  and  more  refined  in  all  its  parts  than  the 
native  species,  grows  freely  ever^-where,  and 
nothing  could  suit  better  the  purpose  in  view. 
Failing  that,  one  could  employ  the  Violet  Cress 
(lonopsidium  acaule),  Mentha  Kequieni,  Androsace 
lactiflora,     Veronica     fiUfoUa,     Tunica    saxlfraga. 


606 


THE     GARDEN. 


[December  2,  1922 


Petrocallis  pyrenaica,  (Enothera  pumila,  the 
Globularia  or  Mazus.  There  is,  indeed,  a  host  of 
first-rate  httle  plants  admirably  suited  to  accom- 
pany the  choicer  and  more  difficult  things,  and 
were  these  more  commonly  used  as  nurse  plants 
or  as  a  carpeting  one  feels  convinced  that  they 
would  not  only  help  many  an  amateur  out  of 
the  problem  as  to  how  he  can  better  please  his 
more  obstinate  favourites,  but  they  would  at  the 
same  time  render  the  almost  naked  soil  *'  pockets  " 
one  sees  in  so  many  rock  gardens  much  more 
attractive.  A.  T.  J. 


impatient  of  drought  than  K.  latifoha,  and  it  is 
probably  on  that  account  that  they  do  not  always 
prosper  so  well  in  loam  as  the  last  named.  An 
atmosphere  inchned  to  humidity  is  also  a  desir- 
able   feature.     For    these    reasons    a    mi.xture    of 


leaf-mould,   peat    and   old   cow-manure   may   be 
used  where  the  natural  soil  is  not  of  the  best, 
and  the  site  chosen  should  be  one  that  is  fairly 
cool  and  moist,  yet  freely  drained    and   screened.    I 
from  the  midday  sun  and  high  winds.  J. 


THE    KALMIAS 

No  one  engaged  in  planting  Rhododen- 
drons, Heaths  and  other  peat  shrubs 
should  overlook  the  claims  of  the 
small  but  select  genus  Kalmia,  of 
which  K.  latifolia  is  the  finest  and 
easiest.  This  North  .American  species,  with  its 
broad.  Rhododendron-like  leaves,  is  usually  seen 
as  a  shrub  of  about  4ft.  in  height,  and  it  is  accom- 
modating enough  to  thrive  on  any  good  lime-free 
loam  as  freely  as  it  does  in  peat.  The  largest 
specimens  of  this  kind,  one  which  it  has  been  my 
good  fortune  to  see  in  full  flower  every  season 
for  many  years,  is  growing  in  ordinary  yellow 
loam,  and  it  has  attained  a  stature  of  some 
loft.,  the  diameter  at  the  base  being  quite  as 
much.  This  shrub  is,  on  reliable  testimony, 
not  less  than  100  years  old,  and  it  is  growing  on 
a  lawn  with  full  exposure. 

The  large,  pentangular  flowers  of  K.  latifolia 
are  borne  in  abundant  terminal  clusters  in  May. 
They  are  of  a  peculiarly  waxen  texture,  and  in 
the  ordinary  type  are  vivid  coral  red  in  the  bud, 
opening  to  a  pale  rose  pink  which  passes"  into 
white.  In  some  forms,  however,  the  blossoms 
are  of  a  richer  colour,  the  full-blown  flower 
retaining  the  characteristic  brilliance  of  the 
bud  stage.  But  all  varieties  are  first-rate  and 
never  fail  to  attract  considerable  attention.  When 
planting  K.  latifolia  in  districts  where  peat  does 
not  exist  a  little  leaf-mould  should  be  worked  in 
about  the  roots,  and  old  cow-manure  in  early 
spring  is  highly  beneficial. 

Though  K.  latifolia  excels  all  others  in  si?e 
and  beauty  of  blossom,  no  less  than  in  ease  of 
culture,  the  smaller  K.  angustifolia  should  always 
be  given  a  space  where  suitable  conditions  exist. 
This  is  a  very  charming  little  bush  of  about 
2ft.  or  more,  with  smaller,  blunter  leaves  than 
the  above.  The  flowers  are  rosy  pink,  saucer- 
shaped  and  appear  at  the  tips  of  the  branches 
in  early  June.  The  flowering  season  of  this 
species,  however,  seems  to  vary  considerably 
with  weather  conditions  or  locality,  and  the 
beautiful  crimson  variety,  K.  a.  rubra,  is  often 
an  autumn  bloomer.  There  was  a  group  of 
this  latter  form  in  full  blossom  at  Kew  in  the 
second  week  of  October  last,  but  none  of  the 
other  kinds  which  I  saw  in  those  gardens  had 
a  flower  to  show.  There  is  a  true  alpine 
form  of  K.  angustifolia  which  I  came  across 
growing  near  Lake  Louise  in  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains a  few  years  ago,  an  exceedingly  pretty 
dwarf  trailer  with  brilliant  crimson  flowers. 
This  I  have  failed  to  discover  in  the  lists 
of  English  nurserymen,  though  it  is  doubtless 
obtainable. 

K.  glauca  is  a  narrow,  greyish-leaved  little 
shrub  of  I  Sins,  or  so,  though  old  plants  may  be 
found  of  considerably  greater  height.  The 
flowers  (June)  are  about  half  an  inch  across,  of 
the  same  general  pattern  as  those  of  the  other 
species,  and  of  a  deep  satiny  pink.  Both  KK. 
angustifolia  and  glauca  appear  to  be  rather  more 


A    SELECTION    OF    FUCHSIAS 


THE  following  brief  notes  on  the  behaviour 
and  merits  of  the  various  varieties  of 
Fuchsias  grown  here  during  the  season 
just  ended  may  perhaps  be  of  interest  to 
some  of  the  many  readers  of  The  Garden, 
and  also,  I  hope,  may  be  of  help  to  some  who 
are  contemplating  taldng  up  the  cultivation  of 
this  beautiful  and  easily  grown  cool  greenhouse 
plant. 

The  summer  of  1922  can  hardly  be  said  to  have 
been  a  good  one  for  the  Fuchsia  as,  "wdth  us  at  least, 
the  flowers  and  buds  were  inclined  to  drop  and 
damp  off  owing  to  the  unusually  damp  atmosphere 
and  lack  of  sunshine.  The  gem  of  our  collection  was 
undoubtedly  Jeanne  d'.Arc,  and  at  the  present 
time  {October  25th)  it  is  still  flowering.  The 
colourings  of  this  variety  are  very  beautiful,  the 
reflexed  sepals  being  broad  and  of  a  beautiful  soft 
pink  shade,  while  the  corolla,  when  the  flower  first 
opens,  is  of  a  deep  blue  tone,  changing  in  the  older 
flowers  to  a  rosy  lilac  ;  it  is  one  of  the  earUest  to 
bloom  and  is  free  flowering,  almost  to  a  fault,  as 
it  is  very  difficult  to  get  cuttings  from  it  on  that 
account. 

Isabelle  is  another  very  beautiful  sort,  bearing 
huge  double  flowers  which  hang  in  clusters  at  the 
ends  of  the  growths.  The  sepals  are  carmine  and 
the  corolla  is  pure  white  veined  carmine.  Elsa  is  of 
somewhat  similar  colouring  to  Jeanne  d'Arc, 
though  the  sepals  are  paler  in  colour  and  the 
corolla  is  more  of  a  reddish  violet  shade,  while  the 
flowers,  though  larger  individually,  are  not  produced 
nearly  so  freely  or  continuously  and,  in  the  writer's 
opinion,  are  not  of  such  good  shape.  Mauve  Beauty 
was  grown  here  for  the  first  time  this  year  and  has 
quickly  established  itself  in  favour  ;  the  double 
corolla  is  of  a  very  beautiful  shade  of  mauve  or 
pastel  pink  and  the  horizontal  sepals  are  of  a 
very  deep  red.  White  Queen  was  one  of  the 
earliest  to  flower  and  was  very  beautiful  during 
the  month  of  June  ;  it  is  a  single  Fuchsia  with  long 
tube  and  white  horizontal  sepals,  while  the  corolla 
is  vermilion  ;  the  foliage  is  large  and  of  a  deep 
green,  shaded  bronze.  Prince  of  Orange  is  another 
single  that  is  worth  a  place  in  any  collection,  in 
fact  I  should  be  inclined  to  choose  it  in  preference 
to  White  Queen  as  it  is  more  continuous  in  flowering; 
the  tube  and  sepals  are  short  and  broad  and  are 
shaded  with  orange,  while  the  corolla  is  of  a  very 
rich  orange-red  shade.  Earl  of  Beaconsfield  is  of 
somewhat  similar  though  lighter  colouring,  but 
the  tubes  are  very  long  and  the  individual  flowers 
are  smaller.  Swanley  Yellow  is  another  fine  single 
of  similar  type,  but  the  small  flowers  have 
corollas  of  a  much  more  yellow  shade  ;  the  foliage 
is  exceedingly  handsome  being  very  broad  and  of  a 
deep  sage  green  colour. 

Rose  of  Castille  is  an  old  free-flowering  sort  of 
red  and  purple  hues  and  is  still  well  worth  growing. 
Pink  Paul  is  a  variety  that  was  introduced  by 
Mr.  H.  J.  Jones,  Ryecroft  Nurseries,  in  1921,  and 
the  name  is  fairly  descriptive  of  the  colour  ;  the 
flowers  are  not  large,  and  the  sepals  and  semi- 
double  or  double  corolla  are  of  a  deep  pink  shade, 
while  the  foliage  is  dull  green  and  velvety  to  the 
touch.  Princess  Dollar  is  a  very  free-flowering 
variety  that  is  really  useful  for  indoor  decoration 
on  account  of  its  compact  bushy  habit  of  growth  ; 
the  flowers  are  small,  but  very  bright,  the  double 


corolla  being  of  a  deep  violet  shade,  while  the  sepals 
are  carmine-red.  Avalanche  is  an  old  favoiu-ite  of 
similar  colouring  to  Princess  Dollar,  but,  imlike 
that  variety,  the  flowers  are  very  large  while  the 
foliage  is  shaded  with  golden  bronze. 

Pasteur  is  a  fine  double  sort  that  bears  large 
flowers  in  great  profusion  ;  the  sepals  are  red  and 
the  corolla  is  greyish  white,  heavily  veined  with 
red.  RoUa  is  one  of  the  more  delicately  coloured 
Fuchsias  and  is  certainly  very  beautiful ;  the 
double  corolla  is  white  and  the  sepals  are  of  a  soft 
salmon  pink.  Both  contrast  well  with  the  handsome 
deep  green  foliage. 

-A  very  fine  Fuchsia  with  ornamental  foliage  is 
Thalia,  a  hybrid  from  F.  triphylla ;  the  leaves 
are  large  and  velvety  and  of  a  deep  bronze  shade 
while  the  tiny  trumpet-shaped  flowers  are  carried 
in  clusters  and  are  bright  orange  red  in  colour, 
making  a  fine  contrast.  Sunray  is  another  beautiful 
variety  that  has  foliage  of  a  pretty  combination  of 
cream,  rosy  salmon  and  soft  green,  w'hile  Wave  of 
Life  has  bright  golden  foUage  and  is  a  useful 
variety  for  summer  bedding. 

All  the  above  mentioned  Fuchsias  can  be  strongly 
recommended  to  anyone  desirous  of  starting  a 
collection,  although  I  am  quite  well  aware  of  the 
fact  that  I  have  probably  omitted  many  varieties 
that  another  grower  would  reconnnend  and  it  would 
be  of  interest  if  some  other  amateurs  would  contri- 
bute a  few  notes  on  their  favourite  varieties,  as 
it  is  seldom  that  there  is  any  correspondence  on  this 
beautiful  and  easily  grown  plant.  In  conclusion  I 
will  give  a  list  of  what  I  consider  the  best  twelve 
sorts,  taken  from  those  mentioned,  for  anyone 
about  to  start  their  cultivation  and  will  place  them 
in  order  of  merit  so  that  it  may  perhaps  be  of  help 
where  less  than  a  dozen  are  required.  Jeanne 
d'.^rc,  Isabelle,  Prince  of  Orange,  Avalanche, 
Rolla,  White  Queen,  Elsa,  Pasteur,  Mauve  Beauty, 
Princess  Dollar,  Thalia  and  Swanley  Yellow. 
The  above  selection  gives  a  wide  range  of  colour 
and  also  diversity  of  type,  so  that  it  should  contain 
varieties  that  will  appeal  to  all. 

Belfast.  Cecil  M.  B.'V.ilev. 


THE  ORNAMENTAL  CRABS 

An  important  point  about  these  very  beautiful 
and  interesting  trees  is  the  length  of  time  during 
w-hich  their  fruits  remain  ornamental  or,  indeed, 
remain  on  the  tree  at  all.  The  forms  and  hybrids 
of  the  Siberian  Crab,  which  are  the  only  ones  at 
all  palatable  in  a  raw  state,  do  not  remain  long 
on  the  branches  when  ripe.  Their  fruits,  moreover, 
are  very  attractive  to  birds.  The  forms  of  Pyrus 
Mains  on  the  other  hand  are  usually  very  sour  and 
little  to  the  Hking  even  of  the  hungry  starling. 
Pyrus  spectabilis  is  an  unpalatable  species,  so  is 
P.  Niedzwetzkyana  and  the  same  may  be  said  of 
their  delightful  hybrid,  P.  Eleyi.  The  parentage  of 
P.  Eleyi  was,  by  inadvertence,  wrongly  given  in 
The  G.\kden  for  October  2S.  page  537,  P.  floribunda 
being  mentioned  as  one  parent  instead  of  P. 
spectabilis.  Pyrus  Ringo  is  less  attractive  than 
some  to  birds  because  of  its  yellow  colouring. 
Otherwise,  no  doubt,  the  fruits  would  quickly 
vanish  as  it  is  not  at  all  bad  eating. 


December  2,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


607 


OCTOBER     IN     A     WEST     SOMERSET 

GARDEN 


USUALLY  one  of  the  most  enjoyable 
months  of  the  year  in  the  mild 
South-VVest,  October,  this  year  was 
notable  mainly  for  unfavourable 
climatic  conditions.  With  the  excep- 
tion of  two  or  three  days  early  in  the  month, 
there  was  practically  no  sunshine,  a  bitter 
north-east  wind  having  been  much  in  evidence. 
Still,  the  garden  from  which  I  am  writing  Ues  in 
a  fairly  sheltered  spot  near  the  sea,  and  despite 
frosts  and  winds  there  has  been  quite  a  fair  display 
of  blossom  of  \-arious  sorts. 

Even  in  November  Buddleia  auriculata  scented 
the  air  with  fragrance  from  its  small  cream-coloured 
flowers,  and  made  such  strong  growth  that  it  had 
frequently  to  be  hard  pruned  to 
keep  it  %vithin  bounds.  It  succeeds 
well  here  both  on  a  w*all  and  as  a 
bush,  and  is  much  hardier  than  B. 
asiatica,  with  which  it  has  often 
been  confused.  In  the  early  part  of 
October  there  were  still  flowers 
on  a  very  beautiful  form  of  B. 
variabilis,  which  was  collected  in 
China  by  Farrer  and  is  apparently 
unnamed  as  yet ;  its  semi-pendent 
habit  and  smaller,  neater  growth 
than  the  type  renders  it  most  attrac- 
tive for  small  gardens.  Lack  of  sun 
retarded  the  colouring  of  the  Bar- 
berries, both  as  regards  foliage  and 
fruit,  though  Berberis  yunnanensis 
already  had  some  vivid  scarlet  leaves. 
B.  Wilsons,  B.  subcaulialata  and 
B.  polyantha  flowered  much  later 
than  usual,  consequently  we  could 
not  expect  much  shew  of  berries  till 
later  autumn.  On  a  low  wall  facing 
south  Cassia  corymbosa  was  a 
beautiful  sight  for  many  weeks  ;  its 
deep  golden  yellow  flowers  shew  up 
so  well  against  the  shining  green 
foliage.  It  is  making  such  strong 
growth  that  it  threatens  to  smother 
its  neighbour,  Feijoa  Sellowiana, 
which  was  badly  broken  by  a  heavy 
snowfall  last  .^pril.  The  lovely 
Lonicera  Hildebrandtii  on  the  same 
wall  still  bears  a  few  of  its  giant 
Honeysuckle  blooms,  but  is  happier 
in  a  more  sunny  season.  It  is  grow- 
ing entangled  with  that  rampant 
Brazilian  Araujia  sericifera,  which 
was  a    mass    of    flower,    but    failed  FRUITS 

to  set  fruit  this  year  as  it  did  last 
season.  Near  by  a  pretty  picture  was  formed  by 
the  dainty  Austrahan  Sollya  heterophylla,  whose 
lovely  blue  flowers  on  thread-hke  stalks  appear 
here  and  there  in  the  midst  of  that  wonderful 
Chinese  Vine,  Vitis  Henryana,  one  of  the  most 
exqmsite  of  all  plants  in  its  autumn  livery. 

Rosa  Moyesi',  grown  in  three  years  to  a  large 
plant  armed  with  fearsome  thorns,  is  as  beautiful 
with  its  vivid  scarlet  hips  as  it  was  in  June 
when  the  great  ruby  Roses  were  at  the  height  of 
their  glory.  In  front  of  the  Rose  is  another  berry- 
bearer  of  a  very  different  type,  the  New  Zealand 
Hymenanthera  crassifolia,  a  box-hke  shrub  allied 
to  the  Violet,  laden  with  tiny  piebald  berries 
unUke  those  of  any  other  plant  I  know. 

In  early  CJctober  Ceratostigma  Willmottianum 
was  still  very  charming  with  its  exquisite  blue 
plumbago-like  flowers,  but  the  bitter  winds  soon 
chilled  them  and  made  them  look  pale  and  washy. 
Lithospermum  rosmarimfolium  had  already  begun 


to  put  forth  its  incomparable  deep  blue  flowers, 
and  will  continue  to  do  so  throughout  the  winter 
unless  the  elements  prove  especially  unkind  to 
this  treasure  trom  sunny  Capri.  Leptodcrrais 
pilosa,  somewhat  of  a  new-comer  from  China, 
still  kept  up  a  succession  of  small  pale  lilac 
trumpets,  perhaps  more  appreciated  in  autumn 
than  among  the  summer  wealth  of  blossom. 
Sheltered  by  the  silvery  thicket  of  Convolvulus 
Cneorum  a  young  plant  of  Polygala  ruscifolia 
has  flowered  steadily  for  the  last  three  months, 
its  purple  pea-like  flowers  rendered  very  charming 
by  the  curious  white  brush-like  stamens  which 
protrude  Irom  the  lower  wings.  Here,  too,  nestles 
Chorizema   cordatum,   another  choice   Australian, 


AND    FLOWERS    OF    FUCHSIA    PROCUMBENS. 

well  set  with  buds  for  a  display  early  in  spring — 
if  frosts  permit.  The  Pomegranate  (Punica 
granatum)  has  been  flowering  in  a  mild  way  for 
some  months,  probably  encouraged  by  last  year's 
roasting,  but  though  it  grows  last  enough  and  is 
apparently  perfectly  hardy,  it  does  not  seem  to 
wish  to  give  us  its  flowers  with  any  lavishness. 
Lack  of  sun  this  year  is  no  doubt  the  reason  for 
the  non-flowering  of  Bomarla  multiflora,  that 
glorious  climbing  Alstrceraeria  which  annually 
sends  up  12ft.  shoots  through  a  tangle  of  white 
Chanthus  puniceus  and  Rosa  sinica  Anemone. 
.Abutilon  megapotamicum  still  swung  gold  and 
crimson  lanterns  from  Hs  slender  branches,  and 
is  one  of  those  shrubs  which  looks  far  more  tender 
than  it  is  in  reality.  It  is  a  very  rampant  grower 
and  bears  cutting  back  well. 

■"Myrtus  Ugni  was  laden  with  crimson  fruits,  not 
yet  ripe,  with  their  delicious  strawberry  flavour, 
but  very  beautiful  and  distinct  from  other  shrubs. 


The  shrubby  Pentstemon  cordifolius  still  bore 
some  of  its  showy  crimson  flowers,  so  unlike  the 
familiar  species  of  this  great  genus.  Another 
plant  which  always  perplexes  those  who  have 
not  met  with  it  before  is  the  red  and  yellow  Lobelia 
CavaniUesii,  with  buds  resembling  the  head  of  a 
toucan  and  very  far  removed  in  appearance 
from  the  bedding  Lobelias. 

The  Fuchsias  continue  to  flower  well  in  this 
neighbourhood  until  winter  has  definitely  arrived. 
During  October  none  was  more  charming  than  a 
hybrid  called  Venusta  with  very  long,  tubular 
blooms,  but  it  is  tender  and  gets  cut  to  the  ground 
in  most  winters.  The  tiny  flowered  F.  Cotting- 
harai  was  laden  with  scarlet  flowers,  and  is 
quite  one  of  the  most  desirable  of  all  Fuchsias. 
F.  procumbens  from  New  Zealand  has  enjoyed 
the  damp  of  this  year,  and  its  prostrate  stems  are 
laden  with  purplish  crimson  fruits  and  quaint 
blue-anthered  blossoms.  For  long-continued 
flowering  Diplacus  glutinosus  is  one  of  the  best 
plants  I  know,  and  cuttings  struck  in  autumn 
make  nice  little  shrubs  the  following  season. 
The  dark  red  variety  and  the  ordinary  buff-coloured 
one  are  equally  satisfactory  in  the  Western  Counties. 
Salvias,  of  course,  are  invaluable  for  autumn 
colour.  Most  precious  of  all  in  mild  districts 
is  the  glowing  scarlet  S.  fulgens,  which  is  quite 
hardy  here.  From  cuttings  struck  in  September 
of  last  year  we  have  had  bushes  6ft.  high,, 
a  mass  of  bloom  from  top  to  bottom.  S.  Grahami 
is  a  much  smaller-growing  shrub,  at  least  as  hardy 
and  of  great  beauty,  and  the  Pineapple  Salvia 
(S.  rutilans)  is  now  in  flower,  an  old  plant 
being  about  7ft.  high.  S.  coccinea  is  very  vivid 
in  hue,  but  too  tender  to  winter  unprotected 
outdoors,  though  this  year  some  self-sown 
seedlings  have  come  up  and  have  flowered.  S. 
patens  is  unrivalled  among  the  true  blue  flowers^ 
of  autumn,  and  the  newer  S.  uliginosa  is  very 
valuable  for  its  tall  habit  and  spikes  of  clear 
blue  flowers  at  this  season.  It  is  a  better  plant 
than  S.  a/urea  grandiflora,  with  which  it  is  much 
confused. 

.\nother  beautiful  mass  of  blue  was  conspicuous 
in  the  border  where  a  group  of  Pentstemon  hetero- 
phyllus  had  flowered  persistently  since  June. 
Cuphea  ignea  is  yet  another  wonder  for  flowering^ 
over  a  long  period,  and  is  most  attractive  in  a 
mass  and  when  the  individual  flower  is  closely 
examined — opinion  being  divided  as  to  whether 
it  more  resembles  a  cat  or  a  shrimp  ! 

In  the  rock  garden  a  good  many  plants  con- 
tinued to  flower  as  merrily  as  in  summer, 
Androsace  lanuginosa  being  very  lovely.  This- 
is  quite  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  lasting  of 
rock  plants.  The  intense  blue  of  Lithospermum 
prostratum  contrasted  well  with  the  equally  vivid 
scarlet  of  Verbena  chamajdrifoUa,  which  has 
run  far  beyond  its  allotted  home  and  invaded 
both  Lithospermum  and  .-Androsace  territories. 
Arenaria  grandiflora  had  a  profusion  of  its  large 
white  blooms,  quite  reminiscent  of  the  spring, 
but  Parochetus  communis  was  only  just  shewing 
its  exquisite  blue  pea  flowers  amid  its  dainty  trefoil 
leaves.  A  dull,  damp  summer  agrees  well  with 
this  moisture-loving  Himalayan,  which  soon, 
perishes  in  a  scorching  season  unless  freely  watered. 
The  noble  foliage  of  Geranium  anemona;foliuin 
gives  welcome  shade  and  shelter  to  that  charming 
wee  trailer  Gaultheria  trichophylla,  whose  amaz- 
ingly large  berries  were  just  beginning  to  assume 
their  unique  blue  shades,  almost  suggestive  of 
some  strange  birds'  eggs  lying  on  the  tiny  stems 
and  deep  green  leaves. 

Irises,  too,  have  been  helping  to  bring  interest 
to  the  autumn  garden,  Mrs.  Alan  Gray  in  par- 
ticular bearing  many  fine  stems.  I.  unguicularis 
had  begun  to  flower,  and  will  keep  up  a  succession 
till  next  .^pril.  N.  G.  Hadden. 


608 


THE     GARDEN. 


[December  2,  1922. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


ROSE   TEST   GARDENS. 

VOUR  readers  may  be  interested  to  know  that 
my  Council  had  recenth'  under  consideration 
the  question  of  the  setting  up  by  amateur  rosarians 
of  Rose  test  gardens  in  different  parts  of  the 
countrj'.  The  Council  on  October  30  last  unani- 
mously passed  the  following  resolution  :  "  That 
if  and  when  a  trial  garden  for  Roses  is  set  up  by 


lanceolate,  while  the  stem  leaves  are  long  and 
sessile.  It  appears  to  be  rare  in  Switzerland, 
growing  only  on  some  of  the  Southern  Alps  in 
Valois  on  the  Italian  Frontier,  is  also  a  native 
on  the  Alps  of  Savoy  and  Dauphine  in  Italy,  in 
Bosnia  and  Montenegro.  It  is  said  only  to  grow 
in  stony  silicious  rock  and  is  very  local,  but  from 
the  way  it  grows  here  in  soil  that  contains  lime 


AN    UNUSUAL    CATCHFLY,    SILENE    VALLESIA. 


the  National  Rose  Society,  such  garden  shall 
be  run  by  and  under  the  direct  control  of  the 
Society." — Courtney  Page,  Hon.  Secretary, 
National  Ro^e  Society. 

A    NEW    BARBERRY. 

/~\N  October  31  a  hybrid  Berberis  received  an 
award  of  merit  from  the  Floral  Committee 
of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  when  shewn 
under  the  name  of  Lady  Beatrice  Stanley.  It 
was,  however,  not  Lady  Stanley's  intention  that 
the  Berberis  should  bear  her  name,  and  the  Com- 
mittee has  agreed  that  it  should  be  called  in 
future  Sibbertoft  Coral. — W.  R.  Dvkes,  Secretary, 
Royal  Horticultural  Society. 

AN   UNCOMMON   BUT    EASY    ALPINE. 

gILENE  VALLESIA  is  spoken  of  as  rare.  It 
certainly  does  not  appear  to  be  very  common 
in  gardens,  but  although  perhaps  not  so  brightly 
coloured  as  some,  it  is  one  of  the  most  desirable 
of  the  Catchflies.  It  is  quite  robust  and  spreads 
freely,  but  only  grows  about  4ins.  high.  It  has 
viscid  pubescent  stems  which  are  assurgent  and 
slightly  branched.  The  flowers,  which  are  borne 
in  May  and  June,  are  long-peduncled,  terminal, 
rarely  in  pairs.  The  corolla  with  bifid  segments, 
the  tips  of  which  soon  incurve,  is  of  a  lilac-rose 
colour,  while  the  colour  below  is  of  a  brick  red. 
The  large,  tubular,  elongated  caly.x,  bulging  hke 
a  vase,  glandular  and  pubescent,  somewhat 
inflated  after  anthesis,  is  whitish  striped  with 
red,  and  shows  up  against  the  bright  green  foliage. 
Some  of  the  lowest  leaves  are  spatulate,  others 


it  should  grow  in  almost  any  soil.  It  is  seen  at 
its  best  in  early  morning,  for,  like  some  other 
members  of  the  genus,  it  is  often  closed  during 
the  brighter  part  of  the  day,  but  even  then  the 
striped  inflated  calyx  is  quite  attractive.  It  is 
readily  grown  from  seed  or  pieces  taken  up  soon 
grow  and  make  a  good  clump. — F.  G.  Preston, 
Botanic  Garden,  Cambridge. 

TWELVE    BEST    SHRUBS. 

■MO  doubt  every  reader  of  The  Garden  is  an 
ardent  admirer  of  flowering  shrubs  and  has  been 
much  tempted  to  send  you  his  or  her  views  as  to 
the  best.  If  you  are  not — though  I  expect  you 
are — already  overburdened  with  suggestions,  I 
offer  the  following  :  Spring. — i,  Darwin's  Barberry 
(or  stenophylla)  ;  2,  a  Weigela  (or  dark  red  Ribes)  ; 
3,  Forsythia  suspensa  (or  a  Cydonia).  Stcmmer. — 
I,  Philadelphus  grandiflorns  (or  Lemoinei)  ;  2, 
Escallonia  macrantha  (or  Kalmia  latifolia)  ;  3, 
Hydrangea  hortensis  (or  Tree  Pteony).  Avtumii. — 
1,  Spanish  Broom ;  2,  Buddleia  superba ;  3, 
Tamarix  hispida  a-stivalis  (or  a  Veronica).  Winter. 
■ — I,  Hamamelis  mollis  ;  2,  one  of  the  new  coral 
fruiting  Barberries  (or  Pernettya)  ;  3,  Skimmia 
japonica  (male  and  female).  I  take  it  no  one  asks 
advice  as  to  ordinary  cottage  garden  indispensables, 
such  as  Rose,  Lilac,  Laburnum,  Lavender,  etc., 
or  regarding  such  well  known  but  special  types 
as  Rhododendron,  Azalea  and  Rock  Rose.  Also 
it  would  hardly  be  wise  to  exclude  the  all-round 
good  shrubs  for  the  sake  of  the  tropical  beauty 
of  such  as  Crinodendron,  Andromeda,  Fabiana, 
etc.,  which  must  have  suitable  soil  and  locaHty. — 
F.  T.  Paul. 


A    FINE    ANEMONE. 

TN  the  article  on  Anemones  in  the  issue  dated 
November  18,  no  mention  is  made  of  that 
excellent  variety  Anemone  Mallenderi.  It  is  one 
of  the  very  best  of  all  the  Pulsatillas  on  account 
of  its  splendid  rich  purple  flowers.  It  was  raised  by 
Mr.  J.  Mallender  of  Scrooby,  near  Bawtry,  and  is 
a  reputed  cross  between  Pulsatilla  and  montana. 
There  are  two  distinct  strains,  one  with  more  blue 
and  the  other  with  more  red  or  claret  in  the  purple. 
Anyone  who  has  seen  the  long  beds  of  it  at  Scrooby 
as  I  have  done  could  not  fail  to  be  impressed  by 
its  rich  magnificence. — Joseph  Jacob. 

LATE    STRAWBERRIES. 

T  EN'CLOSE  a  small  bunch  of  Royal  Sovereign 
Strawberries  which  I  picked  this  morning 
(Nov.  19)  in  my  kitchen  garden.  Is  not  this  extra- 
ordinarily late  in  the  year  for  a  Strawberry 
practically  to  ripen  out  of  doors. — J.  A.  Bliss. 

[The  fruits  sent  were  full  grown  and  one  had 
changed  colour.  Such  late  fruits  are  more  common 
after  dry  summers  than  wet  ones.  There  are,  of 
course,  varieties  of  which  late  fruits  may  be  relied 
upon,  but  Royal  Sovereign  is  not  one  of  these. — 
Ed.] 

WHAT    BECAME    OF    THE    GRAPES? 

T  SEE  in  The  Garden  of  October  28,  in  your 
account  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society's 
Show  on  October  17,  "According  to  the  official 
list  of  awards  Lady  Margaret  Bickersteth 
was  awarded  a  card  of  cultural  commenda- 
tion for  Sultana  Grapes,  but  search  and 
enquiry  failed  to  discover  them." 

I  shall  be  very  glad  if  you  can  help  to  unravel  the 
mystery  which  surrounds  this  exhibit.  I  helped  my 
mother  to  pack  two  magnificent  bunches,  weighing 
together,  if  I  remember  right,  about  gib.  We  are 
not,  of  course,  professional  fruit  packers,  but  the 
packing  was  a  long  business  and  done  with  minute 
care.  Two  purposely  made  hinged  and  paper- 
covered  sloping  boards  for  exhibiting  the  bunches 
were  tied  to  the  box  containing  the  Grapes,  with 
a  letter  of  explanation  for  the  Secretary.  Our 
gardener  took  the  box  from  Cottingham  to  Don- 
caster  and  handed  it  himself  to  the  guard  of  the 
London  train.  My  brother  met  the  train  at  King's 
Cross  and  took  the  box  in  a  taxi  to  Vincent  Square. 
I  do  not  think  under  the  circumstances  that  it  is 
possible  for  the  Grapes  to  have  been  injured  in 
transit,  and  a  proof  of  their  safe  arrival  is  the 
"  Card  of  Cultural  Commendation,"  and  my 
mother  also  had  a  letter  from  the  Secretary 
of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  expressing 
his  interest  and  that  of  the  Fruit  Committee. 
My  brother  was  not  able  to  attend  the  show, 
but  went  in  the  evening  to  retrieve  our 
property,  and  found  only  "  the  remains  "  of  one 
bimch.  One  whole  bunch  and  some  of  the  other  ' 
had  apparently  been  stolen  or  eaten  by  the  public 
during  the  show,  and  as  your  representative  failed 
to  find  them,  they  seem  to  have  been  removed 
early  in  the  afternoon..  I  do  not  know  if  this  is  a 
common  occurrence  with  exhibits  sent  unattended, 
but  it  is  not  very  encouraging  to  amateur  exhibitors, 
who  often,  as  in  this  case,  may  have  taken  an 
immense  amount  of  trouble  and  incurred  some 
expense  in  order  to  make  an  interesting  display. 
I  hope  later  to  send  some  photographs  of  this  little 
known  Grape  for  publication,  which  will  doubtless 
be  a  safer  way  of  "  exhibiting  "  them. — Ruth 
Bickersteth. 

[.\s  far  as  we  can  ascertain  these  Grapes  were 
never  placed  on  public  exhibition.  They  appear 
to  have  been  left  in  the  committee  room.  It  is 
certainly  desirable  that  all  exhibits  should  be 
shewn  to  the  public.  We  shall  be  interested  to  see 
the  promised  photographs. — Ed.] 


December  2,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


609 


WILD   FLOWERS   AT   COUNTRY   SHOWS 

T  SEE  in  The  Garden  for  October  21,  page  534, 
a  paragraph  signed  "  Horticus  "  recommending 
collections  of  wild  flowers,  including  rare  ones. 
Is  it  wise  to  encourage  collecting  anything  rare  ? 
The  country  suffers  from  "  collecting  "  rare  birds, 
and  although  the  collecting  of  rare  flowers  may 
possibly  mean  only  the  blossoms,  in  many  cases 
it  will  probably  mean  getting  the  roots  too.  It 
is  an  interesting  subject,  and  perhaps  you  could 
open  discussion  of  it  in  your  pages. — H.  C.  Ford. 

ROSE  PINK  DELIGHT. 
r^AN  you  tell  me  anything  about  a  Rose  called 
Pink  DeUght  ?  I  was  told  it  is  a  good 
pink  single  variety,  but  cannot  trace  it.  If  you 
know  such  a  Rose,  will  you  tell  me  its  exact 
colouring  and  something  of  its  habit  of  growth, 
etc.— H.  G. 

[The  single  Rose  referred  to  would  be  Laxton's 
Pink  Delight,  which  is  a  dwarf  polyantha  variety 
of  wild  rose  colouring.     The  single  flowers  are  of 


points  out  several  forms  of  hybrids,  the  colours  of 
which  vary  from  shades  of  red  to  yellow.  ,  It  is 
worthy  of  note  that  they  make  excellent  plants 
for  bedding  out  in  summer,  and  whefi  so  employed 
those  which  are  pale  in  colour  take  on  deeper 
tints  in  the  open  air.  To  see  the  Diplacus  at  its 
best  under  glass  it  should  be  planted  in  a  border 
at  the  foot  of  a  wall,  where  it  makes  vigorous 
growth  in  comparison  to  specimens  pot-grown 
and,  consequently,  restricted  at  the  roots. — 
Claremont. 

ABOUT   SINGLE   ROSES. 

T  DOUBT  not  that  Mr.  Jacob's  article  on  page  553 
would  be  read  with  considerable  interest  by 
lovers  of  single  Roses.  Notwithstanding  the 
fact — as  the  writer  has  pointed  out — that  there 
is  not  one  class  in  the  National  Society's  schedule 
for  single  Roses,  the  day  has  gone  when  it  is  neces- 
sary to  make  any  apology  for  their  inclusion  in 
the  garden.  If  Roses  are  grown  at  all,  then  one 
cannot  but  admit  their  value  for  table  decoration, 


ROSE    LAXTON  S    PINK    DELIGHT. 


good  size — much  larger  than  the  ordinary  poly- 
antha varieties — and  the  plant  is  a  robust  grower. 
The  flowers  are  too  irregular  to  appeal  to  a  florist, 
but  very  attractive  to  more  ordinary  folk.  The 
picture  reproduced  herewith  gives  a  good  idea 
of  the  habit  and  appearance  of  the  plant.  Quite 
a  new  variety,  it  is  being  sent  out  by  Messrs. 
I-axton  Brothers  of  Bedford. — Ed.] 

DIPLACUS    GLUTINOSUS. 

nPHE  interesting  note  on  page  560  of  The  Garden 
concerning  Diplacus  glutinosus  being  grown 
out  of  doors  in  mild  localities  calls  to  mind  a 
specimen  I  saw  some  years  since  cUmbing  over 
the  front  of  a  house  in  Cornwall,  where  it  had 
evidently  been  long  estabUshed.  It  is  only  in 
favoured  districts,  however,  where  severe  winters 
are  practically  unknown  that  one  can  hope  to 
succeed  with  it  out  of  a  house.  In  a  greenhouse 
from  which  frost  is  excluded  the  Diplacus  answers 
very  well  and  is  admirable  tor  training  over  the 
back  wall  of  a  lean-to  house  or  under  the  rafters. 
Small  plants  in  pots  were  found  in  most  establish- 
ments at  one  time,  but  of  recent  years  they  appear 
to   have   dropped   out   of   favour.     "  T.    W.    B." 


and  for  the  home,  and  of  aU  sections  none  is  more 
beautiful  or  provides  us  with  daintier  specimens 
than  do  the  single  varieties.  I  can  appreciate 
all  that  Mr.  Jacob  has  advanced  in  their  favour, 
and  it  seems  to  me  that  the  sooner  the  executive 
of  the  National  Society  reviews  the  situation, 
and  does  what  is  right  and  proper  by  admitting 
the  singles  with  full  honours,  the  better  it  will 
be  for  the  Society.  It  is,  I  venture  respectfully 
to  submit,  only  another  case  of  history  repeating 
itself.  For  a  long  time  single  Chr\'santhemums 
were  looked  upon  in  disdainful  fashion  by  many 
growers,  and  at  first  little  encouragement  was 
given  by  the  N.C.S.  to  them  ;  as  a  consequence 
not  a  few  provincial  societies,  taking  their  cue 
from  the  N.C.S.,  with  which  they  were  affiliated, 
were  disposed  to  give  them  the  cold  shoiilder. 
I  was  on  the  executive  of  a  provincial  society 
and  remember  many  a  tussle  we  had  before  the 
walls  of  prejudice  were  broken  down.  The  fact 
is  that  the  eyes  of  many  growers  in  those  days 
suffered  from  the  "  big  bloom  beam,"  and  they 
had  no  vision  for  the  charm  of  the  fragile  and 
dainty  singles.  It  is  similar  with  single  Roses. 
Objections  may  be  taken  to  them  in  certain 
quarters,    but    their    own    beauty    will    overcome 


such,  and  the  day  will  come  when  folk  who  grow 
them  will  pause  as  they  stoop  to  cut  the  sprays 
on  some  June  morning  while  the  dew  is  upon  them 
and  say  to  themselves  "  How  lovely  !  why  ever 
didn't  we  grow  them  years  ago."  Xo  !  prejudice 
cannot  stop  single  Roses.  They  arc  here,  are- 
coming  still,  and  will  continue  to  come,  because 
the  public  have  become  quite  enamoured  of 
them. 

Their  delicate  fragility,  their  charmingly  subtle 
tints  and  the  ease  with  which  they  can  be  grown 
are  all  reasons  why  they  ought  to  be  found  in  every 
garden  where  the  Queen  of  Flowers  holds  court. 
The  introduction  of  varieties  like  Irish  Elegance, 
Irish  Fireflame  and  Irish  Afterglow  did  much  ta 
popularise  them,  and  the  worth  of  singles  has  been 
further  enhanced  since  the  sending  out  of  Princess 
Mary,  Mrs.  C.  E.  Salmon  and  Isobel.  These  only 
need  to  be  seen  in  bloom,  surrounded  in  most 
instances  with  highly  coloured  foliage,  to  call 
forth  admiration  and  a  desire  to  have  them. 
Wherever  Roses  are  grown  to-day  for  table  decora- 
tion one  can  scarcely  conceive  an  entire  absence 
of  singles,  which  are  graceful  and  charming  to  a 
degree. — W.  Li.nders  Lea. 

CHRYSANTHEMU.MS    AND    "CURIOS." 

JT  was  with  some  curiosity  that  I  went  to  see  the 
Chrysanthemum  Show  at  Monte  Carlo.  Palms 
and  Bananas  do  not  agree  somehow  with  one's 
idea  of  where  to  grow  that  useful  winter  flower. 
I  must  own,  too,  that  the  way  this  hardy  flower 
withstands  the  heat  and  drought  on  this  coast 
is  an  eloquent  proof  of  the  good  gardening  for 
which  Monte  Carlo  is  renowned.  The  "  finish  " 
of  the  enormous  flowers  alone  shewed  that  a  cooler 
climate  would  have  suited  them  better,  but  the 
stocky  growths  and  splendid  foliage  could  not 
be  surpassed  anywhere.  The  hairy  petaUed 
Japanese  varieties,  however,  were  finer  and  more 
finished  than  any  I  can  remember,  and  the  bright 
pink  of  one  unnamed  variety  was  especially 
beautiful.  They  must  enjoy  more  heat  and  light 
than  other  kinds.  There  were  no  stands  of)  cat 
bloom,  but  instead  enormous  vases  with  sheaves 
of  massive  flowers  arranged  in  many  instances 
with  coloured  foliage  of  the  Venetian  Sumach, 
Rhus  Cotinus.  The  effect  was  strikingly  good, 
and  might  be  copied  elsewhere.  Generally  there 
were  in  each  of  these  huge  vases  two  varieties 
contrasting  in  size  but  matching  in  colour  as  much 
as  possible.  The  effect  struck  me  as  being  par- 
ticularly artistic.  Where  do  they  find  these 
huge  vases,  celadon  green  in  colour  ?  A  dwarf 
could  easily  hide  in  them.  They  made  one  think 
of  AU  Baba  and  the  Forty  Thieves.  The  com- 
parative absence  of  white  and  yellow  varieties 
was  remarkable,  and  I  noticed  that  the  visitors 
gave  all  their  admiration  to  the  highly  coloured 
blooms,  though  any  shade  of  salmon  pink  was 
noted. 

I  was  delighted  to  see  a  number  of  the 
new  little  dwarf  Japanese  single  varieties  that 
were  shewn.  They  are  decidedly  attractive, 
though  one  loses  all  sense  of  their  being  Chry- 
santhemums (is  that  praise,  I  wonder  ?).  They 
masquerade  as  Asters,  Cinerarias  or  Senecios  1 
One  or  two  were  silvery  grey  in  colour,  and  I 
could  have  passed  them  as  Michaelmas  Daisies. 
One  very  distinct  form  mimicked  a  common  Daisy 
to  the  Ufe,  and  I  could  have  sworn  that  a  third 
was  a  Senecio  Jacobiea  !  There  are  many  shades 
of  havana  or  red-brown,  but  no  really  good  vellow 
among  the  real  dwarfs,  those  shewn  being  decidedly 
straggling  and  untidy  in  their  growth.  Open-air 
culture  has  nmch  to  say  in  this  section,  and  I 
should  doubt  if  they  would  be  half  so  taking 
were  they  grown  in  pots  under  glass.  .All  the  same 
I  should  have  a  trv. — E.   H.   Woodall. 


610 


THE     GARDEN. 


[December  2,  1922. 


THE    ASPARAGUS    BEETLE 

The  Life  History  and  Control  of  a  Shious  Pest. 


WITH  the  increasing  popularity  of 
Asparagus  as  a  vegetable  and  the 
consequent  probability  of  a  number 
of  new  beds  being  made  this 
autumn  and  planted  next  spring, 
it  is  necessary  that  more  attention  be  paid  to  a 
pest  which  does  a  great  amount  of  harm,  especially 
to  young  beds  and  edible  shoots. 

The  Asparagus  beetle  (Crioceris  asparagi) 
is  the  only  insect  in  this  country  which  does  an 
appreciable  amount  of  damage  to  this  crop.  It 
is  a  well  known  fact  that  gardeners  grumble  if 
the  "  fern  "  is  picked,  as  it  weakens  the  roots, 
yet  this  beetle  and  its  larva  can  be  responsible 
for  a  complete  defoliation  of  the  bed  in  summer, 
while  the  marketable  shoots  are  often  so  contami- 
nated by  the  eggs  and  lar\-£E  as  to  render  them 
totally  unfit  for  sale  ;  also  the  success  of  the  estab- 
ishment  of  a  new  bed  is  seriously  jeopardised 
if  the  beetle  once  gets  firmly  estabUshed.  The 
distribution  of  this  pest  is  at  present  locaUsed, 
but  its  increase  is  reported  each  year,  and  unless 
stringent  methods  of  control  are  immediately 
adopted  the  success  of  Asparagus  growing  in  this 
country  cannot  in  future  be  relied  upon.  At 
present  the  counties  of  Gloucester,  Warwick,  and 
Kent  and  the  London  district  are  most  infested, 
but  the  pest  is  gradually  spreading  westward. 
Its  presence  has  this  year  been  reported  from 
Somerset. 

The  adult  beetle  is  graceful  and  slender  and 
little  less  than  a  quarter  of  an  inch  long.  The 
elytra  are  shiny  dark  blue  and  yellow  or  dirty 
white.  There  is  a  dark  band  running  down  the 
centre  of  the  back  with  two  lateral  extensions 
towards  the  sides,  giving  a  somewhat  chequered 
appearance.  The  outer  border  is  reddish,  as  is 
also  the  thorax,  which  latter  has  a  number  of 
faint  dark  markings  forming  a  triangle,  the  base 
of  which  lies  towards  the  insect's  head.  The 
distribution  and  relative  amount  of  the  blue  and 
yellow  varies  considerably  in  different  localities 
and  in  individual  specimens.  Some  beetles  appear 
to  be  marked  with  black  and  yellow,  while  on 
others  it  appears  blue  and  white.  On  the  same 
Asparagus  bed  even,  specimens  may  be  found 
which,  as  regards  colour,  differ  considerably. 
The  head  is  black,  with  fairly  prominent  eyes, 
and  the  long  eleven-jointed  antennae  are  generally 
carried  forward  from  the  head.  The  identification 
of  this  beetle  is,  therefore,  comparatively  easy, 
even  apart  from  its  natural  surroundings,  the 
alternate  coloming  giving  it  a  characteristic 
appearance. 

The  larvae  are  of  a  dirty  greenish  grey  colour, 
much  wrinkled  and  always  haWng  a  moist  appear- 
ance. Apparently  they  moult  three  times,  and 
when  full  fed  are  practically  half  an  inch  long. 
Six  jointed  legs  are  present,  also  a  foot-like  tubercle 
on  each  segment  except  the  last,  which  bears  a 
more  distinct  proleg.  The  head  is  black  and 
possesses  a  biting  mouth,  while  a  drop  of  sticky 
black  fluid  may  be  excreted  by  the  larva  when 
disturbed — a  peculiarity  whch  is  characteristic 
of  most  ChrysomUidae.  When  full  fed  they 
generally  go  down  to  the  soil  to  pupate,  the 
parchment-Uke  cocoon  being  hardened  frothy 
saUva  and  is  covered  with  particles  of  earth. 
Lintner,  however,  says  "  that  instead  of  going 
down  into  the  soil  some  larva  merely  conceal 
themselves  beneath  dead  leaves  and  other  material 
on  the  surface." 

The  large  dark  brown  oval  eggs  are  about  one- 
twentieth  of  an  inch  long,  and  are  found  glued  on 
to  the   fronds   or  heads   of   the   Asparagus.     The 


larvae  hatch  in  about  five  to  seven  days  and  are 
full  grown  in  from  ten  to  thirteen  days.  The 
pupal  stage  lasts  two  to  three  weeks,  but  the 
beetles  are  matured  three  or  four  days  before  their 
appearance  above  ground.  It  will  thus  be  seen 
that  the  life-cycle  takes  from  four  to  seven  weeks, 
depending  on  local  cUmatic  conditions.  There 
are  two  or  three  broods  a  year,  both  adults  and 
Iarv£e  being  frequently  found  up  to  October. 

Adults  and  larvee  are  harmful.  Both  continually 
feed  from  late  May — when  the  edible  shoots  are 
attacked — throughout  the  summer  into  autumn, 
when,  if  present  in  large  numbers,  the  green 
epidermis  is  gradually  stripped  from  fronds  and 
stem,  giving  the  bed  a  whitish  dead  appearance. 
Also,  as  was  mentioned  before,  the  marketable 
value  of  the  Asparagus  is  considerably  reduced 
by  the  presence  of  eggs  and  grubs  on  the  shoots. 


A,  Egg  of  the  Asparagus  Beetle  (xi8); 

c,   Larva   (  >•  6)  ;     D,   Imago  (  x  4)  ;  B, 

Damaged  shoot    of  Asparagus. 

and  then:  soiled  appearance  due  to  the  black  fluid 
which  is  excreted  by  the  larvae. 

The  control  of  the  pest  is  greatly  assisted  by 
certain  natural  factors.  In  the  first  place,  Femald 
says  "  excessive  heat  appears  to  kill  many  of  the 
grubs,  and  the  alternation  of  severe  cold  with 
much  warmer  periods  in  the  winter  has  a  similar 
effect  on  hibernating  adults."  Hot  weather  and 
strong  sunlight  diu'ing  summer  cause  many  of 
the  eggs  to  shrivel  up,  and  the  larvae,  if  not  IciUed 
outright,  fail  to  reach  maturity. 

Predacious  insects  and  birds  help  considerably 
in  keeping  down  excessive  numbers  of  the  pest. 
Among  the  former  may  be  mentioned  the  chalcid, 
Tetrastichus  asparagi,  which  is  a  parasite  on  the 
beetle,  since  the  adults  eat  some  eggs  and  oviposit 
in  others.  The  larvae  or  "  niggers  "  of  the  two-spot 
ladybird  and  the  lacewing  fly  destroy  the  larva 
of  the  beetle. 

There  are  various  artificial  methods  at  the 
disposal  of  the  horticulturist.  On  small  beds 
handpicking  is  perhaps  the  most  effective,  especially 
if  it  is  resorted  to  before  the  beetle  has  become 
firmly  established.  On  larger  areas  a  very  effective 
method  of  control,  and  one  which  is  largely  practised 
in  America,  is  that  of  keeping  the  beds  as  clearly 
cut  as  possible,  but  leaving  a  few  stalks  at  intervals 
to  act  as  traps,  on  which  the  adult  beetle  lays  her 
eggs,  which  can  then  be  destroyed  by  cutting  and 


burning.     This  is  continued  throughout  the  early 
season,  the  traps  being  cut  about  every  week. 

The  choice  of  several  sprays  is  open,  and  this 
means  of  control  has  always  been  found  very 
effective  in  practice.  The  best,  perhaps,  is  an 
arsenate  spray — arsenate  of  lead  paste  three  to 
three  and  a  half  teaspoonfuls  (level)  to  one  gallon 
of  water.  In  mixing  the  paste  it  is  bettei  to  add 
some  water  to  the  paste  and  stir  thoroughly 
before  adding  the  rest  of  the  water  in  order  to  get 
a  uniform  mixture.  The  Ministry  of  Agriculture 
in  their  Leaflet  No.  47  advise,  besides  the  above 
spray,  a  paraffin  emulsion  made  by  boiUng  Jib. 
of  soft  soap  in  one  gallon  of  soft  water  and  then 
adding  2  gallons  of  paraffin,  churning  till  a  thorough 
incorporation  is  obtained.  This  should  be  diluted 
with  15  to  20  gallons  of  soft  water  before  use. 
In  Germany  a  spray  is  used  composed  of  5lb.  of 
tobacco  extract  and  i  pint  of  lysol  contained  in 
50  gallons  of  water,  which  is  quite  cheap  and 
effective.  A  very  simple  and  sure  method  of 
control,  however,  is  the  dusting  of  the  bed  every 
three  or  four  days  in  the  early  morning  with  fresh 
air-slaked  lime.  Harold  I.   Kingston. 


CHRYSANTHEMUMS 

Notes  on  Cultivation. 

THE  work  connected  with  the  cultiva- 
tion of  Chrysanthemums  during  the 
past  few  seasons  has  reminded  me, 
personally,  of  the  game  of  cricket. 
One  never  can  tell  beforehand  what  is 
going  to  happen.  There  is  a  lot  of  uncertainty 
about  seasons  always,  and  as  cUmatic  conditions 
in  general  affect  the  growth,  maturity  and  bud 
production  of  the  plants,  the  cultivator's  interest 
in  them  is  always  excited  and  never  allowed  to 
flag.  Undoubtedly  these  plants  are  finding 
more  and  more  favour  with  the  public ;  their 
blossoms  fiU  a  big  gap  every  autumn  and  early 
winter. 

In  the  year  1921  buds  of  plants  in  the  Japanese 
section,  grown  for  the  production  of  large  blooms, 
were  shewing  as  early  as  July  15.  These  buds 
were  "  taken  "  in  many  instances  and  the  resultant 
flowers  were  excellent  in  every  way.  This  year 
the  buds  of  the  same  varieties  shewed  prominently 
during  the  first  week  in  August,  and  the  resultant 
flowers  have  been  splendid,  in  some  instances 
25  per  cent,  better  than  those  in  1921,  but  almost 
a  fortnight  later  in  development. 

Such  naturally  late-flowering  varieties  as  Victory, 
Louisa  Pockett,  Mrs.  R.  C.  Pulling,  Majestic, 
W.  Rigby,  Mrs.  G.  Drabble,  Queen  Mary  and 
Princess  Mary  have  this  year  been  disappointing 
where  the  cuttings  were  inserted  too  late  in  the 
winter  season  ;  but  autumn  propagation  of  these 
and  other  late  ones  has  resulted  m  plants  of  good 
strength,  bearing  blooms  of  great  fulness  and  depth. 
Beginners  in  the  cultivation  of  Chrysanthemums 
would  act  wisely  if,  on  reading  these  notes,  they 
set  about  the  work  of  propagation  of  all  late  sorts 
forthwith.  Cuttings  inserted  during  November 
and  December  take,  as  a  rule,  under  cool  con- 
ditions four  or  five  weeks  to  form  a  few  roots. 
Those  inserted  in  January,  three  weeks,  and  others 
still  later  little  more  than  a  fortnight. 

There  is  no  better  position  for  the  midwinter 
batches  of  cuttings  than  one  on  the  front  green- 
house stage  where  the  shallow  propagating  frame 
should  be  placed.  It  is  only  necessary  to  keep 
out  frost  and  expel  excessive  moisture.  There 
must  not  be  any  forcing  temperature.  If  the 
blooms  of  Zonal  Pelargoniums  keep  fresh  and 
free  from  damp,  the  atmosphere  will  be  ideal 
for  the  cuttings  of  Chrysanthemums.  G.  G. 


December  2,  iq22. 


THE     GARDEN. 


611 


GARDENING    OF    THE    WEEK 


FOR    SOLTHERX    GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Hot-beds. — Material  for  forming  hot-beds  should 
'be  thrown  together  and  turned  once  or  twice  some 
little  time  before  it  is  required.  Where  no 
■strawy  litter  is  available  for  mixing  with  the 
leaves  it  is  sometimes  possible  to  make  use  of 
late  scythings  from  pleasure  grounds,  etc.,  to 
assist  in  a  little  more  rapid  promotion  of  heat 
from  the  newly  gathered  leaves,  but  a  bed  made 
from  leaves  only  is  excellent  for  early  Carrots,  etc., 
so  long  as  it  is  made  quite  tirm  and  of  several  feet 
in  depth. 

Early  Carrots. — To  augment  the  supply  of 
young  roots  which  are  being  produced  from 
autumn  sowings  outside,  some  seed  should  now 
be  sown  in  frames.  Place  about  loius.  of  Ught, 
rich  soil  upon  a  bed  of  leaves,  etc.,  and  sow  the 
seed  in  drills  Sins,  apart.  For  early  frame  work  a 
variety  like  Early  Market  is  suitable. 

Horseradish. — If  it  is  necessary  to  make  a 
new  plantation,  deal  with  half  the  bed  at  a  time, 
leaving  the  other  portion  to  ensure  a  good  supply 
while  the  newly  planted  roots  are  getting  established. 
All  the  strong,  thong-hke  roots  of  the  lifted  plants 
vill  make  suitable  material  for  planting  again, 
having  first  cut  them  into  lengths  of  Sins,  or  loins. 
Plant  the  thongs  in  rows  about  30ins.  apart  and 
a  foot  apart  in  the  rows.  The  old  crowns  may  be 
heeled  in  against  a  north  wall  to  be  drawn  upon  as 
required.  Great  care  is  necessary  when  doing 
away  with  an  old  bed  to  see  that  all  the  roots, 
never  mind  how  small,  are  dug  up  or  they  will 
prove  a  nuisance  to  succeeding  crops. 

The   Flower  Garden. 

Beds  of  Perennials,  such  as  Phlox,  Salvias 
and  Asters  should  be  lifted  now  if  any  division 
of  the  old  plants  is  contemplated.  Should  the 
roots  have  been  undisturbed  for  several  years  it 
will  be  found  that  their  centres  are  getting 
weak  and  exhausted,  so  select  the  growths  for 
replanting  from  the  outside  of  the  clumps.  It  is 
possible  to  leave  such  beds  three  years  and  still 
get  first  class  results  without  again  lifting  and 
replanting,  so  the  ground  ought  to  be  well  dug  and 
have  some  manure  worked  into  it.  Where  it  is 
necessarj'  to  have  something  in  flower  previous  to 
such  mentioned  plants,  there  are  several  kinds 
which  may  be  employed,  Daffodils,  Polyanthuses 
and  Forget-me-nots  for  example  .\n  excellent 
plan  is  to  introduce  LiUums,  both  early  and  late. 

Seedlings. — .\ntirrhinum  seedhngs  and  similar 
plants  raised  from  an  autumn  sowing,  if  not  already 
pricked  out,  should  have  attention.  It  is  not  a 
good  plan  to  use  a  great  depth  of  soil  for  trans- 
planting the  seedlings  into,  as  they  stand  the 
climatic  conditions  of  the  next  three  months 
better  in  a  shallow  soil,  whether  it  be  in  boxes, 
frames  or  on  sheltered  outside  borders.  Dampness 
must  be  carefully  guarded  against  when  the 
plants  are  grown  in  frames. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Protecting  Figs. — This  is  advisable  in  cold 
districts  during  a  severe  spell  of  frost.  It  may  be 
afforded  in  one  of  two  ways,  firstly  by  nailing  mats 
or  stout  can\'as  over  the  trees  without  removing 
them  from  the  wall,  or  by  releasing  the  whole  of 
the  branches,  afterwards  tying  them  into  con- 
venient bundles,  around  which  may  be  bound 
some  bracken,  fern  or  straw. 

Planting  Figs. — One  of  the  most  important 
items  to  bear  in  mind  when  planting  fresh  trees, 
or  overhauUng  unsatisfactory  ones,  is  to  make 
sure  that  the  drainage  is  ample  and  in  proper 
order,  for  this  is  not  only  all  important  to  a  good 
finish  to  the  fruits,  but  helps  a  great  deal  in  cold 
districts  to  assist  the  trees  through  the  winter, 
especially  the  more  recently  planted  ones. 

Mulberries. — An  old  well  grown  tree  of  this 
interesting  fruit  makes  a  picturesque  effect  in  a 
garden  and  looks  quite  appropriate  in  a  suitably 
chosen  spot  on  a  lawn.  While  thriving  in  most 
places  without  any  special  attention,  it  should  be 
given  the  preference  of  a  warm  position,  or  a  wall 
in  veiy  cold  districts. 

Nuts. — Cob  Nuts  and  Filberts  thrive  in  almost 
any  ordinary  garden  soil,  but  they  do  best  in  one 
which  is  well  drained.  It  is  sometimes  possible 
to  make  a  plantation  of  them  on  a  bank  or  on 
stony  ground  which  cannot  be  made  much  use  of 
otherwise.  Bushes  are  the  most  convenient  form 
as  a  rule  for  garden  purposes  and  they  should  be 
planted  about  5ft.  apart  on  a  bank,  or  toft,  apart 
in  a  bed.  Ten  to  sixteen  growths  make  a 
good  bush  and  pruning  may  be  done  on  the  spur 


principle.    All  weak  wood  may  be  cut  out  and  other 
strong  growths  present  in  addition  to  the  selected 
branches  may  be  cut  hard  back  to  one  or  two  eyes. 
If  standard  trees  are  grown,  prune  fairly  hard  until 
a  good  head  has  been  formed,  when   but  little  is 
required  e.xcept  thinning  out  of  surplus  branches. 
H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 
Albury  Park  Gardens,   Guildford. 


soils  plenty  of  cow-manure  should  be  added, 
also  a  liberal  quantity  of  turfy  loam  where  it  can 
be  conveniently  procured.  In  planting  use  dis- 
cretion in  the  colour  arrangement  and  utiUse  the 
outer  or  younger  portion  of  the  roots,  as  these 
give  by  far  the  best  results.  Opinions  differ 
regarding  the  size  of  the  various  groups,  but 
clumps  comprising  from  three  to  five  plants  in 
each  prove  quite  adequate  and  effective  in  most 
mixed  borders.  James  McGran 

(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.), 
Coodham,  Kilmarnock. 


FOR    NORTHERN    GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Seakale. — Another  batch  of  crowns  of  this 
useful  \-egetable  should  be  placed  in  the  mushroom- 
house  with  a  view  to  forcing  for  use  during  January. 
Failing  such  quarters  the  roots  may  be  planted 
in  fairly  deep  boxes  and  placed  beneath  the  staging 
of  an  ordinary  greenhouse  or  stove,  shading 
from  light  so  that  crisp  and  finely  blanched  growths 
may  result.  .-^  thorough  watering  at  the  time 
of  planting  often  suffices  until  the  growths  are 
ready  for  cutting. 

Rhubarb. — A  dish  of  Rhubarb  is  always 
welcomed  early  in  the  year,  and  may  be  had  with 
the  minimum  of  trouble  provided  a  little  heat 
is  available.  Place  the  roots  underneath  the 
stage  in  the  greenhouse  and  pack  firmly  around 
with  leaf-mould  or  old  potting  soil.  Spray  the 
crowns  overhead  occasionally  and  keep  shaded 
in  a  similar  manner  to  that  recommended  for 
Seakale.  FaiUng  the  use  of  any  indoor  facilities. 
Rhubarb  is  easily  forced  in  its  permanent  quarters 
by  placing  barrels  over  the  stools  and  surrounding 
with  a  good  width  of  stable  manure  and  leaves. 

Digging  and   Trenching   will   now  occupy   a 

good  deal  of  time,  and  no  opportunity  should  be 
lost  in  having  this  important  work  advanced 
whenever  suitable  weather  prevails.  It  is  a 
soiurce  of  satisfaction  to  all  gardeners  when  it  is 
found  possible  to  have  the  bulk  of  the  heavy 
digging  finished  by  the  New  Year,  as  this  con- 
siderably facilitates  the  carrying  out  of  any  minor 
alterations  in  the  garden  during  the  early  months 
of  the  year.  Trenching  should  be  practised  in 
the  kitchen  garden  as  frequently  as  possible, 
breaking  up  the  bottom  spit  well  and  enriching 
with  good  farmyard  manure.  By  working  the 
soil  deeply  air  is  admitted  to  a  greater  depth, 
thus  increasing  the  depth  of  the  fertile  layer  and 
enabUng  crops  to  produce  fibrous  roots  at  a  greater 
depth  than  formerly.  In  addition  the  free  ascent 
of  moisture  to  the  surface  during  summer  is  encour- 
aged, due  to  the  greater  divisibility  of  the  soil 
particles. 

Fruit  Under  Glass. 

Late  Grapes. — These  are  much  esteemed  when 
it  is  found  possible  to  keep  them  hanging  in  good 
condition  until  the  end  of  the  year,  it  being  par- 
ticularly pleasurable  to  be  able  to  cut  luscious 
bunches  during  the  festive  season.  Particular 
care  is  necessary  at  any  time,  but  more  especially 
in  a  damp  season  like  the  present,  both  to  prevent 
the  berries  from  decaying  on  the  one  hand  and 
the  skins  from  shrivelling  on  the  other.  To  avoid 
decay  anything  approaching  a  damp  atmosphere 
must  be  guarded  against,  keeping  both  the  paths 
and  the  surface  of  the  border  dry  and  maintaining 
a  gentle  heat  in  the  pipes.  This  will  ensure  a 
free  circulation  of  air  and  prevent  stagnation 
in  the  atmosphere.  Air  should  not  be  admitted  if 
the  outside  conditions  are  humid,  and  only  allowed 
when  the  weather  is  fine  and  bright.  Shrivelling 
of  the  skins  is  generally  blamed  on  to  the  over- 
plentiful  use  of  fire-heat,  but  this  may  be  as  readily 
caused  bv  the  borders  being  unduly  dry.  Once 
this  occurs  no  amount  of  water  will  bring  the 
berries  back  to  a  normal  condition,  but  the  evil 
mav  be  checked  by  giving  suttic  ent  water  to 
carry  the  Vines  on  until  the  time  arrives  for  clearing 
off  the  crop.  Should  this  contingency  occur  the 
border  should  afterwards  be  covered  with  a 
quantity  of  dry  litter  to  counteract  the  moisture 
which  will  arise  from  the  border. 

The  Flower  Garden. 
Replanting      Herbaceous      Borders. — During 

open  weather  the  work  of  replanting  the  hardy 
plant  border  may  be  proceeded  with.  The  soil 
should  be  dug  at  least  two  spits  deep,  working  in 
plenty  of  well  decomposed  garden  refuse  in  the 
bottom  spit,  as  this  is  eminently  suitable  for 
Ughtening  and  enriching  the  lower  strata  of  heavy 
soils.  Old  mortar  rubbish  or  burnt  refuse  from 
the  bonfire  also  renders  stiff  clayey  soils  less 
adhesive  and  assists  in  the  quick  production  of 
new  roots  on  the  various  plants.     On  light,  gravelly 


GREENHOUSE    AND    CONSERVATORY. 

House  Cleansing. — During  the  winter  months 
an  opportunity  should  be  taken  thoroughly  to 
clean  all  plant  houses.  This  is  very  important, 
as  clean  surroundings  help  considerably  to  ward 
off  attacks  of  insect  pests  and  fungoid  diseases. 
The  roof  glass  should  be  washed  and  aU  wall 
surfaces  thoroughly  scrubbed,  and  afterw-ards  lime- 
washed  with  fresh  lime,  to  w-hich  some  flowers 
of  sulphur  should  be  added.  It  is  important  that 
the  lime  wash  should  be  made  fast  so  that  it  will 
not  readily  wash  or  rub  off.  Various  substances 
are  used  for  this  purpose,  such  as  oil,  and  also 
salt,  but  the  only  material  that  I  know  of  which 
is  really  effective  is  skim  milk,  using  about  a 
quart  to  a  bucketful  of  limewash.  All  standing 
material  on  the  stages  should  be  washed  and 
where  necessary  replaced  with  fresh.  All  pipe 
tracks  should  be  examined  and  accumulated 
rubbish  removed,  so  that  the  pipes  are  clear  all 
round  ;  this  adds  considerably  to  the  efficiency 
of  the  heating  system.  Ashes  from  the  stokehole 
should  never  be  placed  in  contact  with  the  pipes, 
as  the  sulphur  compounds  in  them  quickly  corrode 
iron,  especially  when  warmth  and  moisture 
are  also  p  esent.  In  the  London  neighbour- 
hood fogs  are  very  troublesome,  leaving  such 
a  deposit  of  soot  that  it  is  necessary  to  wash  the 
glass.  Here  at  Kew  we  often  find  it  necessary  to 
wash  the  smaller  houses  several  times  during  the 
months  of  November  and  December. 

Roof  Climbers. — Now  is  a  good  time  to  take 
down  summer-flowering  roof  climbers,  thinning 
them  out  and  partly  pruning  them  back.  In  many 
cases  it  is  wise  to  leave  the  final  pruning  until 
the  turn  of  the  year,  because,  if  pruned  right  back 
too  early  there  is  a  danger  of  their  starting  into 
growth  during  the  dull  days.  The  plants  should  be 
thoroughly  cleaned  before  relying. 

Winter-flowering  Begonias  have  been  very 
bright  for  some  weeks  now,  and  should  be  given 
the  warmest  position  in  the  conservatory  or  green- 
house. Having  been  placed  in  a  lower  temperature 
than  that  in  which  they  are  grown,  great  care  is  re- 
quired in  watering,  and  they  will  stand  much  better 
if  they  are  kept  on  the  dry  side.  As  regards  colour 
the  most  distinct  are  Mrs.  Heal,  Elatior,  Exquisite, 
Emita,  Fascination  and  Optima.  The  last  named  is 
very  effective  for  house  decoration,  its  light, 
elegant  habit  and  the  pleasing  shade  of  soft  orange- 
scarlet  in  its  flowers  making  it  ideal  under  artificial 
light.  As  the  plants  pass  out  of  flower  they  should 
be  returned  to  a  house  with  an  intermediate 
temperature  and  plenty  of  stock  should  be  kept,  as 
one  must  expect  a  good  many  losses  during  their 
resting  period.  The  Gloire  de  Lorraine  section  is  as 
popular  as  ever  and  in  the  conservatory  should 
be  given  the  same  treatment  as  advised  for  the 
foregoing  varieties. 

Camellias,  whether  grown  in  beds,  borders,  or 
pots,  should  not  be  neglected  as  regards  watering, 
as  dryness  at  the  root  is  often  the  cause  of  bud 
dropping.  Another  cause  of  the  same  trouble  is 
allowing  the  plants  to  carry  too  heavy  a  crop. 
Now  is  a  good  time  to  commence  thinning  the 
buds,  which  is  best  done  in  several  operations. 
With  the  introduction  of  many  beautiful  single 
varieties.  Camellias  bid  fair  to  regain  some  of  their 
former  popularity.  Mrs.  F.  Sander,  W'hite  Swan, 
Lady  Clare,  japonica  grandiflora,  magnolia-flora 
and  Kimberley,  are  all  beautiful  single-flowered 
varieties.  The  most  beautiful  of  them  all  is  C. 
reticulata.  This  species  is  not  happy  for  long  under 
pot  cultivation,  and  is  best  planted  out  in  a  well 
drained  bed  in  the  cool  conservatory,  using  plenty 
of  good,  rough  lumpy  peat  in  the  plai\ting  compost. 
Stocks  of  this  fine  Camellia  are  generally  short, 
many  cultivators  failing  to  propagate  it  success- 
fully. Although  it  can  be  rooted  from  cuttings, 
it  is  best  increased  by  grafting  it  on  stocks  of  an 
easy  rooting  variety  of  C.  japonica.  The  scion 
should  consist  of  a  piece  of  two  year  old  shoot. 
This  is  where  many  propagators  fail,  as  they  use 
scions  from  one  year  old  wood.  They  should  be 
side  grafted,  and  then  placed  in  a  close  case  in  a 
cool  house. 

Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kew.  J.  Coutts. 


612 


THE     GARDEN. 


[December  2,  1925 


OBITUARY 


MR.     GEORGE    P.     BERRY. 

It  is  with  deep  regret  that  we  record  the  death 
of  Mr.  George  P.  Berry,  who  for  the  last  nine 
years  has  been  Senior  Instructor  in  the  Horti- 
cultural Division  of  the  Ministry  of  Agriculture. 
It  was  the  good  and  great  work  he  performed  as 
Horticultural  Lecturer  to  the  Edinburgh  and 
East  of  Scotland  College  of  Agriculture  that  gained 
for  him  his  important  position  with  the  Ministry 
of  Agriculture,  and  it  is  interesting  to  remember 
that  in  each  instance  he  was  the  first  holder  of 
the  positions,  while  he  was  also  the  first  practical 
horticulturist  on  the  Jlinistry's  staff.  Mr.  Berry 
was  essentially  a  practitioner,  and  he,  wisely, 
looked  at  all  problems  from  the  cultivator's  stand- 
point. In  a  sense  it  was  this  that  led  to  his  com- 
paratively early  breakdown  and  death,  for  he  was 
decidedly  an  outdoor  man  and  the  confinement 
of  a  deal  of  office  work  had  an  adverse  effect  on 
his  health.  He  was  the  son  of  a  well  known 
Scottish  gardener,  and  after  serving  his  apprentice- 
ship Mr.  Berry  gained  valuable  experience  in 
various  nursery  and  private  gardens  and,  entering 
the  Edinburgh  Botanic  Gardens,  soon  became 
foreman-in-charge  of  the  glasshouse  department. 
From  Edinburgh  he  went  to  Morpeth  in  charge 
of  the  experimental  station  of  the  Xorthumber- 
land  County  Council  at  Cockle  Park,  and  later 
was  made  lecturer  in  horticulture  at  the  Armstrong 
College,  Newcastle,  from  which  appointment  he 
came  to  the  Ministry  of  Agriculture. 

Mr.  Berry  brought  with  him  a  wide  experience, 
human  sympathy  and,  beneath  a  natural  reserve, 
a  geniality  which  made  him  respected  and  esteemed 
by  everyone  with  whom  he  came  into  contact. 
He  died  on  November  ii,  and  his  funeral  at 
Hammersmith  on  the  i6th  was  attended  by  many 
prominent  horticulturists.  The  sympathy  of  a 
wide  circle  will  go  out  to  his  widow  and  family. 


Dwarf  Polyantha  Roses. — It  sometimes  happens 
that  those  who  have  a  special  fondness  for  Roses 
are  least  able  to  indulge  their  fancy  owing  to 
limited  room.  To  all  such  some  of  the  dwarf 
Polyantha  Roses,  which  need  little  space,  should 
appeal.  For  narrow  borders  and  small  beds 
there  is  no  section  which  yields  more  dainty 
blossoms  or  has  longer  period  of  beauty  than  the 
Polyantha.  Arranged  in  colour  groups  \-ery 
beautiful  effects  may  be  brought  about,  and  those 
who  have  been  in  the  habit  of  relying  on  summer 
bedding  plants  for  a  display  are  finding  out  that 
among  members  of  this  minor  section  of  the  Queen 
of  Flowers,  some,  in  particular,  are  possessed  of 
delightfully  tinted  blossoms  and  are  very  graceful 
withal.  Once  planting  is  done  and  they  have 
become  established  Polyantha  Roses  need  little 
in  the  way  of  pruning  beyond  removing  the  dead 
wood  every  spring.  We  are  particularly  drawn 
to  sorts  hke  Ellen  Poulsen  (pink),  George  Elgar 
(yellow),  Katharine  Zeimet  (white),  Eugenie 
Lamesch  (orange  and  yellow)  and  Mme.  N. 
Levavasseur  (bright  crimson).  These  and  others 
provide  a  wonderful  display  of  blossoms  over 
a  much  longer  period  than  is  usually  supposed  by 
those  who  have  not  made  their  acquaintance 
or  who  prefer  the  more  perfect  beauty  of  form 
of  the  Hybrid  Teas. 

The  Snakeroot.— That  very  decorative  late- 
flowering  hardy  perennial,  Cimicifuga  cordifolia, 
is  a  plant  with  many  inexplicable  and  curious 
"  common "  names.  For  instance,  we  have 
heard  it  called  both  Bugbane  and  Bugwort  as 
well  as  Snakeroot.  These  somewhat  distasteful 
titles  have  not,  however,  proved  any  handicap 
to    the    plant    itself.     Its    dainty    creamy    white 


flowers  have  seen  to  that,  while  it  must  be  valued 
for  its  easy  culture  and  the  readiness  with  which 
it  grows  in  semi-shaded  spots  in  the  garden.  One 
has  no  difficulty  in  propagating  established  plants, 
for  nothing  could  be  simpler  than  to  lift  and  divide 
in  the  early  spring  months,  just  about  the  time 
that  new  growth  is  commencing.  A  point  that 
should  not  be  lost  sight  of  when  planting  is  the 
desirability  of  associating  it  with  some  other 
plant  that  retains  its  foliage  well  into  the  autumn. 
The  Cimicifuga  flowers  in  September  and  October, 
but  before  this  its  own  broad,  palmate  leaves,  that 
were  so  handsome  in  early  summer,  have  become 
distinctly  shabby,  and  it  needs  something  else 
to  form  a  background  to  its  stems  and  flowers. 
These  rise  to  a  height  of  2ft.  to  24ft.,  and  terminate 
in  spikes  of  creamy  white  brush-Uke  flowers 
that  are  at  their  best  in  early  September.  Below 
the  main  spikes  are  a  number  of  subsidiary  ones 
which  rapidly  push  on,  and  so  the  plant  remains 
decorative  for  a  very  long  season.  A  note  should 
be  made  of  it  for  a  damp  semi-shaded  corner 
where  September  flowers  are  wanted,  for  in  really 
large  clumps  the  effect  is  splendid. 


following  the  Royal  example  in  ordering  these 
useful  hurdles  readers  will  help  to  keep  a  good 
number  of  rural  workers  employed  througho\it 
the  winter. 


ANSWERS 


( 


TO  CORRESPONDENTS 

FLO^^'ER     G.\11DEN. 

VIOLETS  ATTACKED  (Mrs.  R.  H..  N.  Lanes.).— Tli- 
damage  to  the  Violet  leaves  appears  to  be  the  work  '.'t 
slugs  ID  the  main,  but  there  are  some  small  galls,  not 
however  likely  to  be  detrimental  to  th*^  well-being  of  the 
plants,  caused  by  a  minute  two-winged  flv.  The  slugs 
should  be  trapped  by  placing  h-ttuce  or  cabbage  leaves  on 
the  ground  near  the  plants  or  Iiollowed  out  halved  potatot-s, 
with  the  hollow  beneath,  and  examining  them  daily. 


i 


THE     GREENHOUSE. 

ARUM    FOLIAGE    ATTACKED    (C.    T.,    Vork).— The 

.\ruin  foliage  is  attacked  by  a  species  of  Phyllosticta 
which  is  causing  the  spotting.  The  leaves  should  be 
sprayed  with  Bordeaux  or  Burgundy  mixture. 


FORTHCOMING     EVENTS. 

December  5. — Royal  Caledonian  Horticultural 
Society's  Meeting. 

December  6. — National  Viola  and  Pansy  Society's 
Meeting. 

December  7. — Wargrave  and  District  Gardeners' 
Society's  Meeting. 

December  9. — Ringxvood  Horticultural  Society's 
Meeting. 


KITCHEN     G.\RDEN. 

POTATOES  ATTACKED  (O.  H.).— The  Potatoes  are 
attacked  by  corky  scab,  due  to  tlie  fungus  Spongospora 
subterranea.  Do  not  use  such  tubers  for  planting  next 
year. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

NAMES  OF  PLANTS.— W.  JI.,  Lytham.— 1,  Eucal>TtU5 
globulus  ;   2,  Swainsonia'galegifolia  ;   3,  Isoloma  hirsutum. 

NAMES  OF  FROIT.— H.  P.,  Stow-on-tlie-Wold.— 
1,  Northern  Greening;  2,  Melon;  3,  New  Hawthornden  ; 
4,  CalviUe  des  Femmes  ;    5,  Roval  Late  ;    6,  Buerr6  Diel. 

JI.  O.  S.,  .Mon.— .\pples  :   1,  Betty  Gecson  ;   2,  Cellini 

3.  Yorkshire  Greening  ;     4,  Transparent  de  Croncels. 

K.  H.,  Scratby. — Pear  Durondeau. 


Wattle     Hurdles — a     Rural     Industry. — We 

are  informed  that  His  Majesty  King  George  has 
just  sent  a  second  order  for  wattle  hurdles  to 
Rural    Industries,    Limited,    of    Cheltenham.     By 


CATALOGUES     RECEIVED. 

Messrs.  Austin  and  Mc.\slan,  89-95.  Mitchell  Street, 
Glasgow. — Trees  and  Shrubs,  Fruit  Trees  and  Herbaceous 
Plants,  also  Roses. 


YOU    CAN    GIVE    NO    BETTER    GIFT 

to  your  friend,  either  at  home, 
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^ 


No.  2664.— Vol.  LXXXVI.] 


[December  9,  1922. 


A    SELECTIOl^    or    SAXIFRAGES 


THE  genus  Saxifraga  may  truly  be 
considered  the  backbone  of  the  rock 
garden.  There  are  species  for  sun  and 
shade,  for  precipitous  cHff  and  for  the 
water's  edge.  The  generaUty  are  easy 
enough  for  the  veriest  gardening  tyro,  yet  there 
are  species  exacting  enough  to  please  the  most 
ardent  lover  of  "  miffy  "  plants.  The  genus  is 
divided  into  seventeen  sections,  each  with  dis- 
tinguishing characteristics,  but  some  of  them  are 
of  scant  interest  to  the  average  gardener.  The 
principal  ones  for  garden  decoration  are  the  Silver 
Saxifrage     group  —   Euaizoonia,    the 

tufted    group — Kabschia,    the    mossy        

group — Dactyloides,  and  those  of 
oppositifolia  kindred  —  Porphyrion. 
The  Robertsonia  section  is  typified  by 
London  Pride  (S.  umbrosa),  and  the 
Miscopetalum  group  by  S.  rotundifolia. 
The  Engleria  section  contains  no 
really  easy  species.  It  resembles  in 
some  respects  the  Euaizoonia  and 
Kabschia  groups.  To  the  group 
Nephrophyllum  belf^ngs  the  Fair 
Maids  of  France,  S.  granuHta.  The 
Bergenia  section  includes  the  rather 
coarse  leathery-leaved  Megaseas.  fhe 
Peltiphyllum  section,  which  contains 
that  admirable  waterside  species,  S. 
peltata,  is  nearly  related  to  the  last 
named. 

There  are  vast  numbers  of  Eu- 
aizoonia forms  listed  by  nurserymen 
which,  considering  how  easily  the 
various  species  interbreed,  is  not 
surprising,  but  is,  none  the  less,  con- 
fusing, especially  as  practically  identical 
forms  are  often  sent  out  under  widely 
differing  names.  A  few  species  or 
sub-species  are  indispensable.  These  in- 
clude the  gorgeous,  albeit  nionocarpic, 
S.  longifolia,  in  very  truth  the  Queen 
of  Saxifrages.  If  the  rosettes  are  to 
attain  the  huge  dimensions  of  which 
they  are  capable  and  the  spikes  are  to 
reach  their  maximum  of  length  and 
fullest  beauty  of  proportioning,  the 
young  plants  must  not  be  stunted  at 
any  stage  of  growth.  Too  often, 
purchased  specimens  are  pot-bound 
when  supphed  and  never  properly 
overget  the  check.  Home-saved  seeds, 
sown  immediately  they  are  ripe  in  a 
very  gritty  compost  with  a  good  lime 
content,  will  germinate  readily  and, 
given  ordinary  care,  grow  freely,  but 


unless  the  plant  was  isolated  from  other  Encrusted 
Saxifrages  when  in  flower  the  plants  will  not  be 
true  to  type,  although  scarcely  less  interesting  on 
that  account. 

Saxifraga  lingulata  is  another  admirable 
Encrusted  species  with  snowy  plumes,  and  though 
smaller  in  spike  and  rosette  than  S.  longifolia, 
quite  perennial  and  exceedingly  easy  in  any  not 
too  hot  but  open  exposure  between  rocks  and  in 
limy  compost.  Smaller  still,  but  perhaps  most 
beautiful  of  all  Encrusted  Saxifrages  is  S.  lingulata 
lantoseana,  with  mats  of  beautiful  foliage  and  well 


THE    QUEEN    OF    SAXIFRAGES,    SAXIFRAGA    LONGIF 


proportioned  trusses  of  exquisitely  pure  white 
flowers.  Both  lingulata  and  lantoseana  cross 
freely  with  S.  longifolia  to  produce  interesting  and, 
especially  in  some  cases,  beautiful  hybrids. 

Saxifraga  Cotyledon  is  a  large  resetted  species 
being  second  only  to  S.  longifolia  itself  in  that 
respect.  It  is  an  extraordinarily  variable  species 
and  distinct  forms  have  been  given  pseudo-specific 
names.  Such  are  icelandica  and  pyramidalis. 
The  former  is  just  a  gigantic  form  with  spikes  often 
actually  longer  than  those  of  S.  longifolia  but  less 
beautifully  proportioned.  S.  C.  pyramidalis  has 
very  distinct  pyramidal  plumes. 
Owing  to  the  readiness  with  which  it 
crosses  with  any  other  Encrusted 
Saxifrage,  it  is  not  by  any  means 
always  sent  out   true   to   type. 

Saxifraga  .-Mzoon,  after  which  the 
Encrusted  section  is  named,  is  an 
exceedingly  variable  species,  so  variable 
that  a  typical  form  can  hardly  be  said 
to  exist.  S.  Aizoon  rosea  and  S.  A. 
lutea  are  two  forms  or,  more  probably, 
hybrids  of  garden  origin,  with  heavily 
rose-spotted  and  pale  yellow  flowers 
re-'pectively.  Both  have  pretty  and 
distinct  rosettes  and  both  are  admirably 
free  flowering.  S.  A.  minor  is  an 
interesting  tiny  form  and  S.  A.  balcana 
a  rather  "  fat-looking "  one  with, 
apparently  Cotyledon  "  blood."  A 
packet  of  seed  saved  from  one  clump 
of  a  form  of  S.  Aizoon  growing  in  thr- 
open  rockery  will  produce  a  bewildering 
variety  of  types.  Large  rosettes  and 
small  rosettes,  round  ones  and  starry 
ones,  some  looking  as  if  outlined  with 
hoar  frost,  some  dark  and  dour  and 
others,  again,  greenish  yellow,  all  will 
be  found,  and  a  corresponding  diversity 
in  the  shape  and  size  of  the  flower 
spikes  and  the  colouring  of  the  indi- 
vidual blossoms  will  be  noticed.  This 
assumes,  of  course,  that  a  fair  collection 
of  Encrusted  species  and  forms  is  grown. 
Saxifraga  cochlearis  is  one  of  the 
most  valuable  for  quickly  forming 
stretches  of  silver  filigree.  Though 
apparently  related  to  S.  lingulata  this 
is  an  inferior  species  as  far  as  the  flower 
is  concerned.  A  smaller  form  in  every 
way  is  properly  called  S.  c.  minor,  but 
has  been  described  as  a  distinct  species 
under  the  name  S.  Probynii  and  is 
often,  in  nurseries,  sold  as  S.  valdensis. 
OLIA.  S.  c.  major  is  larger  in  all  its  parts  than 


614 


THE    GARDEN. 


[December  9,  1922. 


'^•^  *'i?  %^% 


'  ',1j^"9^T' 


THE    COMPARATIVELY    THIN     PLUME     OF    SAXIFRAGA     LINGULATA    VERA. 


SILVERED    STARS    OF    SAXIFRAGA   x  PARADOXA. 


SNOW    WHITE    PLUMES    OF    SAXIFRAGA  LINGULATA    LANTOSCANA. 


the  type  is  perhaps  a  hybrid  with  S.  lingulata. 
S.  Hostii  is  another  rapidly  spreading  species  with 
greenish- white  flowers  spotted  pinli.  Its  best  form  is 
called  Macnabiana.  In  this  variety  the  spotting  is  sO' 
heavy  as  to  give  the  whole  flower  a  pink  appearance. 
S.  Hostii  is,  however,  a  very  variable,  if  not,  on  the 
whole,  a  very  valuable  species  and  many  varieties  are 
ofi'ered. 

Saxifraga  cartilaginea  is  a  very  distinct  species  with 
sharply  pointed,  rather  aloe-hke  foliage  and  pink.sh 
flowers.  It  is  somewhat  uncommon  in  gardens  and,  when 
seen,  is  usually  known  as  S.  Kolenatiana,  which  is  indeed 
very  closely  related.  S.  Kolenatiana  major  is  only  a 
good  form  of  the  latter.     It  is  often  listed  as  S.  Sendtneri. 

S.  paradoxa  of  gardens  is  a  form  of  .S.  crustata  or 
possibly  a  hybrid  between  that  species  and  S.  Hostii.  It 
is  remarkable  for  its  long  and  narrow  silver-edged  toliage 
which  gives  the  rosettes  a  very  light  and  starry  appear- 
ance. S.  crustata  itself  is,  by  comparison,  scarcely  w-orth 
growing.  To  this  (Euaizoonia)  group  belongs  S.  mutata. 
The  black-green  leaves  are  long  (up  to  iins.)  and  wide 
even  for  their  length.  They  are  fringed  with  long  viscid 
hairs  but  are  entirely  destitute  of  the  silvery  encrustation 
characteristic  of  the  group  as  a  whole.  The  flowers 
are  coppery-yellow  with  spots  of  deeper  colour,  but  are 
not  showy.  .\s  might  be  expected  from  the  foliage,  the 
plant  likes  a  cool,  half-shady  spot.  It  is  monocarpic,  but 
seeds  freely  and  is  easily  raised. 

The  only  Encrusted  species  which  is  at  all  difficult  is 
S.  florulenta,  of  which  the  habitat  and  peculiarities  were 
so  well  described  a  few  months  ago  by  M.  Henry 
Correvon  (The  Garden,  May  6,  page  217). 

From  this  one  difficult  Encrusted  species  one  turns 
easily  to  the  Engleria  group,  which  have  rosettes  very 
similar  in  appearance  to  those  of  the  Euaizoonia 
section,  combined  with  red  or  yellow^  flowers.  The  red 
flowered  species  have  red  flower  stems  and  bracts.  The 
best  known  species  is  perhaps  S.  Griesbachii,  but  S. 
Stribrnyi  is  often  seen.  SS.  Frederici  .\ugusti  and 
porophylla  might  almost  be  considered  small  forms  of  S. 
Griesbachii.  They  bear  their  flowers  in  spikes.  S. 
Stribrnyi  is  a  branching  species  and  S.  media,  a  Pyrenean, 
is  somewhat  similar,  but  smaller.  The  two  yellow- 
flowered  species,  S.  Kotschyi  and  S.  luteo-viridis  are  more 
interesting  than  beautiful  which  remark  might,  perhaps, 
be  applied  to  the  Engleria  section  as  a  whole.  The 
silvery  rosettes  are,  of  course,  beautiful,  but  not  more  so 
than  those  of  most  of  the  Encrusted  species.  None  of 
the  Engleria  species  is,  in  the  open  country,  really 
difficult  in  the  limestone  moraine  if  given  the  sharpest  of 
drainage  and  freedom  from  drip  and  river  mists.  Or> 
low-lying  ground,  however,  or  near  large  towns,  it  is 
useless  to  plant  any  of  them  outdoors. 

Before  passing  on  to  the  exceedingly  beautiful  and 
interesting  Kabschia  species  or  the  extremely  useful  ami, 
in  some  cases,  wonderfully  beautiful  "  mossies,"  it  may 
be  well  to  write  a  few  words  on  the  culture  of  Encrusted 
Saxifrages  from  seed.  The  seeds  are  exceedingly 
minute  and  the  tiny  plantlets  not  only  lime-loving,  but 
exceedingly  impatient  of  stagnant  moisture.  There  are 
few  gardens  in  which  there  is  not  an  abundance  of 
broken  flower-pots.  These  potsherds  should  be  crushed 
with  a  fairly  heavy  hammer  and  passed  through  ^in. 
sieve,  .^bout  half  the  quantity  of  old  weathered  mortar- 
rubble  and  a  little  leaf  mould,  both  passed  through  the 
^in.  sieve  will,  with  a  small  quantity  of  coke  dust  com- 
plete the  compost.  Proper  seed  pans  are  better  than 
pots  and  infinitely  superior  to  seed  trays  for  this  particular 
purpose.  Abundant  drainage  material — about  half  the 
panful — should  be  provided.  The  seeds  should  be 
mixed  with  a  little  fine  silver  sand  previous  to  sowing. 
No  covering  with  compost  should  be  attempted,  but  the 
pans,  having  been  dipped  to  the  rim  in  a  pail  of  water, 
should  be  covered  with  glass  and  brown  paper  and  stood 
in  a  cold  frame  or  unheated  greenhouse.  Most  species 
germinate  readily  and  fairly  quickly  though  the  seedlings 
are  so  tiny  as  to  need  close  inspection  lest  they  be 
overlooked.  The  pans  must  be  uncovered  immediately 
germination  is  evident. 

{To   be  coiitiinted.) 


December  9,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


615 


TREES     AND    SHRUBS    FRUITING    IN    WINTER 

All  trees  and  shrubs  which  produce  attractive  fruits  or  berries  are  valuable.     Those 
most  worthy  of  attention,  however,  carry  their  fruits  in  the  dull  days  of  winter. 


THE  length  of  time  that  fruits  and  berries 
remain  on  the  trees  and  shrubs  varies 
very  considerably  from  several  causes. 
In  the  first  place,  it  depends  how  soon 
the  fruits  reach  maturity,  become  dead 

cipe  and  fall  or  are  eaten  by  the  birds.     Some  of 

the  Thorns,  for  instance,  we  might  liken  to  early 

and    late    \ar;eties    of    Apples.     A    number   drop 

their  fruits  as  early  as  October,  even  if  not  inter- 
fered   with    by   birds  ;     others,  Cratregus  Carrierei 

and  C.  cordata,  for  instance,  usually  hang  on  the 

trees  in  attractive  beauty  well  into  the  New  Year 

Locality  or  environment   also   appears  to  play  a 

no  inconsiderable  part  in 

the    keeping  qualities   (so 

to    speak)    of     the    fruits 

and  berries. 

The  birds  are,  obviously, 

(argely      responsible      for 

the  length  of  time  we   are 

able   to   enjoy    the   many 

ornamental    fruits   in   the 

garden.     In  some  seasons 

when  there  is  a  shortage  of 

food,  possibly  the   ground 

frozen,      the      blackbirds 

and    thrushes     soon     raid 

the       bushes.        Nor      do 

we    grudge   our  feathered 

friends    their    daily    food. 

It    is    delightful    to    have 

them     with     us     in      the 

garden,  and  most  interest- 
ing   to  watch  them   from 

■day  to  day,  always  picking 

out      the     ripest      fruits, 

commencing  usually  with 

the    Mountain    Ash 

i(Pyrus  Aucuparia).   Fruits 

■which     ripen     late     they 

leave    until   last.       Timid 

iy      nature,      the      birds 

seldom  venture  to  feed  on 

the    berries     growing     on 

trees  and  shrubs  in  much- 
frequented    places.      This 

is    why     the     masses     of 

fruits      remain     so     long 

■conspicuously       beautiful 

-on     Pyracantha    Lalandei 

growing  against   suburban 

ihouses,     while     away     in 
the     shrubbery      borders 

the  bushes  are  already  ali\-e  with  blackbirds  and 

thrushes  feasting  on  the  fruits.     In  some  seasons 

•our   Holly   bushes   are   almost   cleared   of   berries 

af  we  get  a  sharp  spell  of  frost  before  Christmas. 
In  the  front  garden  here  which  abuts  on  the  main 

Toad  with  a  frequent  service  of  'buses,  there  are 
three  Holly  trees  which  the  birds  leave  severely 
alone.  1  have  seen  these  trees  red  with  the 
?>revious  year  s  berries  when  in  flower. 

Again,  the  birds  are  only  copying  human  beings 
in  their  partiality  for  certain  fruits.  The  ground 
may  be  covered  beneath  a  tree  with  plenty  of 
<lead-ripe  fruits,  but  another  kind  on  a  neigh- 
bouring tree  is  evidently  more  tasty,  judging 
.by  the  efforts  of  the  birds  swinging  at  the  ends  of 
"the  twigs. 

Two  very  notable  late-fruiting  shrubs  are 
•Chinese  species  of  the  Firethorn,  Pyracantha. 
'The  more  noteworthy  is  P.  angustifolia,  an  ever- 
green shrub   with   bright  orange-coloured   berries. 


Unfortunately,  it  is  on  the  borderland  of  hardiness, 
and  is  best  grown  against  a  wall  except  in  the 
favoured  climate  of  the  South  and  West.  It 
resembles  a  Cotoneaster  in  some  respects.  In 
fact,  when  first  introduced  it  was  awarded  a  first- 
class  certificate  by  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society 
on  November  29,  1904,  as  Cotoneaster  angustifolia, 
a  very  excellent  coloured  plate  of  a  spray  appearing 
as  a  Supplement  to  The  Garden  February  18, 
1905.  Attractive  in  autumn  and  early  winter, 
it  is  in  February  and  March  that  one  appreciates 
most  the  beauty  of  the  rich  orange  fruits. 

Pyracantha     vunnanensis     is     of     more     recent 


COLOURED    FOLIAGE    AND    FRUITS    OF    CRAT^ffGUS    CARRIEREI. 


introduction  with  rather  small  red  fruits  which 
are  borne  in  profusion  and  attract  attention 
long  after  those  of  Lalandei  have  disappeared. 
It  appears  to  be  quite  as  hardy  as  the  better- 
known  species  for  the  open  border  and  shrubbery, 
though  we  have  not  had  a  particularly  hard 
winter  during  recent  years  to  give  it  a  severe  test. 
Three  Cratc-eguses  stand  out  from  all  the  rest 
as  late-fruiting  kinds,  the  fact  that  they  are 
correspondingly  late  in  flowering  giving  them  an 
additional  value.  Crataagus  cordata  (the  Washing- 
ton Thorn)  carries  its  clusters  of  rather  small 
orange  scarlet  berries  to  Christmas,  or  later  if 
untouched  by  birds.  C.  Carrierei  is  one  of  the 
handsomest  of  the  family  in  flower  and  fruit. 
At  present  the  bronze,  crimson  and  gold  foliage 
is  conspicuous  in  the  autumn  sun  with  large 
fruits  which  often  hang  on  the  trees  until  February 
or  March.  C.  stipulosa  (C.  mexicana  of  the 
Botanical  Register)  retains  the  fruit  and  much  of 


the  foliage  until  late  in  the  year  and  sometimes 
into  January.  The  fruits  are  yellowish  green. 
It  is  worthy  of  note  that,  though  a  native  of 
Mexico,  it  is  hardy  in  this  country. 

Cotoneasters  are  represented  by  two  species 
in  particular  which  are  conspicuous  at  Christmas- 
tide  and  after,  and  to  which  birds  do  not  appear 
partial.  C.  rotundifolia  is  a  semi-evergreen  often 
carrying  its  foliage  and  rich  scarlet-red  fruits 
until  March.  It  forms  a  spreading  bush  6ft.  to 
Sft.  or  more  in  height.  Even  better  known  is 
C.  frigida,  remarkable  alike  for  its  wealth  of  red 
berries  and  the  length  of  time  they  retain  their 
beauty.  Usually  seen  as  a  large  wide-spreading 
bush,  this  Cotoneaster  can  be  trained  into  a  tree 
with  a  good  thick-set  trunk.  The  fruits  often 
provide  a  remarkable  contrast  to  the  new  soft 
green  foliage  in  spring. 

Several  Barberries  deserve  attention  as  fruiting 
bushes  in  midwinter.  Two  of  the  most  constant 
in  the  production  of  berries  are  Berberis  sub- 
caulialata  and  B.  Stapfiana.  Both  are  Chinese 
species,  forming  wide-spreading  bushes  some 
3ft.  or  more  in  height  with  gracefully  arching 
branches  laden  with  carmine-red  fruits.  The 
berries  of  B.  subcaulialata  are  brighter  in  colour 
and  have  less  "  bloom  "  on  them  than  those  of 
B.  Stapfiana. 

Celastrus  articulatus  is  a  vigorous  climber 
belonging  to  the  same  Natural  Order  (Celastraceae) 
as  the  Spindle  Tree,  and  the  capsule  (fruit)  opens 
in  the  same  way  to  display  the  scarlet-coated 
seeds.  A  specimen  at  Kew  loosely  clinging  to 
branches  of  a  Lime  tree  to  a  height  of  30ft.  or  so 
is  most  attractive  with  quantities  of  brilliantly 
coloured  fruits  and  seeds — a  study  in  golden  yellow 
and  scarlet. 

A  shrub  or  small  tree  which  the  birds  appear 
to  leave  severely  alone  is  the  Sea  Buckthorn 
(Hippophae  rhamnoides).  It  has  clusters  of 
orange  berries  lasting  in  beauty  from  autumn 
until  February  or  March.  Non-success  with  this 
valuable  seaside  or  waterside  plant  is  usually 
traceable  to  the  fact  that  only  one  se.x  is  grown. 
Male  and  female  flowers  are  borne  on  separate 
trees,  and  both  must  be  grown  fairly  close  together 
to  obtain  fruits. 

Pernettya  mucronata  is  a  spreading  evergreen 
shrub  2ft.  to  4ft.  high,  giving  a  wealth  of  brilliant 
fruits  the  size  of  peas  and  varying  in  colour  from 
waxy  white  to  blackish  purple  and  including 
rose,  lilac  and  mauve.  Pernettyas  are  readily 
raised  from  seeds,  but  as  only  a  portion  of  the 
seedlings  produce  really  showy  fruits,  to  reproduce 
these  true  increase  should  be  by  layering  or  by 
cuttings.  To  improve  the  type,  however,  recourse 
must  obviously  be  had  to  raising  and  selecting 
seedlings.  The  Pernettyas  usually  retain  the 
fruits  until  the  early  months  of  the  new  year. 

The  Snowberry  (Symphoricarpus  racemosus) 
is  too  often  a  neglected  shrub.  Grown  in  deeply 
trenched  and  well  manured  ground,  it  produces 
quantities  of  large  white  fruits  weighing  down  the 
branches.  The  Siberian  Crab  (Pyrus  baccata), 
the  cultivated  garden  form,  not  the  wild  type, 
is  the  last  of  the  Crabs  to  drop  the  cherry-like  red 
fruits,  often  after  Christmas. 

Last,  but  far  from  least,  though  it  is  a  British 
wild  climber  of  the  hedgerows,  mention  must  be 
made  of  the  Traveller's  Joy  or  Old  Man's  Beard 
(Clematis  Vitalba),  decking  all  and  sundry  over 
which  it  can  ramble  with  its  abundant  silky 
fruits.  A.  O. 


616 


THE     GARDEN. 


[December  9,  1922. 


ABOUT      NERINES 

A  small  tribute   to   a  great  grotcer.  ■ — •  Some    early   history.  —  Which    is    the    true 

sarniensis? — Has  there  been  more    than   one  sarniensis? — The  coming   of  Rotcdaii. 

—  Veitch  of  Exeter,  and  Barr. — SeidUng  raising. 


THE  dispersal  of  a  great  part  of  the 
Colesbcme  Nerines  makes  an  epoch 
in  the  histcr\-  of  these  splendidly  hriliiant 
autumn  Sowers,  it  is  a  sad  event,  for 
it  means  th.-,t  the  strong  man,  to  when-, 
the  present  race  of  garden  hybrids  owes  so  ver>" 
much,  is  not  what  he  once  was.  We  who  love  and 
grow  Xerines  owe  a  big  debt  of  gratitude  to  our 
good  old  friend  Henry  J.  Elwes,  It  is  but  the 
literal  truth  to  say  that  what  Voorhelm  was  to 
the  Hyacinth  and  Eckford  to  the  Sweet  Pea. 
he  ha;  been  to  the  Xetine.  The  personal  bond 
of  a  common  keenness  binds  us  together,  and  it 
he  suffers  we  suffer  with  him.  .\  Xerine  come 
into  bloom  in  Paris  on  the  seventh  day  of  October, 
1634.  This  was  in  the  garden  or  one  John  Morin, 
who  may  have  t<;en  a  brother  or  a  cousin  of  the 
Peter  Morin  who  wrote  "  Remarques  necessaires 
pour  la  culture  des  fleuis,"  wliicb  was  published 
in  165s,  and  who  had  at  that  time  a  famous  garden 
of  rarities,  from  which,  it  is  of  interest  to  note. 
General  Lambert — Cromwell's  general — in  his 
retirement  at  Wimbledon  in  all  probability  obtained 
the  bulls  he  sent  to  one  or  two  friends.  .-Vs  one 
might  expect,  John  Evelyn  knew  the  plant  and 
grew  it.  He  menrions  it  in  his  "  Kalendarium  " 
and  also  in  his  "  T'?rra,"  but  reading  between 
the  lines  of  the  first  editions  of  the  first  mentioned 
work,  he  must  have  found  it  somewhat  difficult 
to  manage.     The  Morins  must  have  had  a  similar 


experience  in  Pans,  lor  Rapin,  the  Jesuit,  in  his 
poem  on  gardens  is  but  expressing  what  he  knew 
to  be  the  fact  when  he  writes  in  the  second  edition  : 

'•  This   flower,   ye  skilful   Florists,   often  plant. 
Let  not  our  nation  this  fair  beauty  want ; 
.\nd  tho'  she  answers  not  your  common  care, 
Xor  cost   nor  labour  on   her  dressing  spare, 
For    should    she    but    her    conquering    charms 

display. 
From  every  fair  she  bears  the  prize  away." 

— (Gardener's  translation  of  Rapin.) 

Much  more  may  be  gleaned  about  the  early  days 
of  the  Guernsey  Lily  in  Europe  from  the  classic 
work  "  A  Description  of  the  Guernsey  Lilly," 
by  James  Douglas,  M.D.  The  second  edition, 
which  is  the  best,  was  published  in  1739.  I  am 
disposed  to  think  that  at  one  time  there  were  In 
Europe,  if  not  in  Guernsey,  more  than  one  variety 
of  Xerine.  Whether  there  were  Xerines  in 
Guernsey  before  those  that  came  direct  by  ship 
from  China  or  the  East  Indies  it  seems  impossible 
to  determine.  Xor  does  it  seem  at  all  certain 
that  the  variety  described  in  great  detail  by  Douglas 
is  one  with  what  I  take  to  be  the  true  Xerine 
sarniensis  as  depicted  and  described  in  the  Botanical 
Magazine,  Vo!.  IX,  plate  29.1,  which,  again,  cannot 
be  the  sarniensis  of  Xicholson.  I  believe  the 
colour  in  the  plate  in  the  Botanical  ifaga^ine, 
which  depicts  it  as  an  undoubted  rose,  to  be  very 


much  nearer  the  mark.  It  certainly  coincides 
with  what  some  years  aa;o  was  sent  me  as  the 
true  variety. 

We  now  come  to  the  interesting  question. 
What  was  the  famous  Guernsey  Lily  like  that  for 
generations  used  to  be  grown  in  that  island  and 
yearly  sent  over  to  England  even,-  July  or  .August 
in  great  quantities,  to  bloom  once,  £o  I  imagine, 
and  then  to  be  thrown  away  ?  Can  it  have  been 
the  same  sarniensis  which  a  we!I  known  Guernsey 
firm  described  in  a  letter  to  me  in  1915  as  behaving 
"  in  such  a  hopeless  manner  that  it  has  nuned  the 
whole  family  "  ?  Can  it  have  been  the  old  variety 
which  veterans  Uke  my  friend  Mr.  William  Xlauger 
knew  so  well  and  which  he  has  told  me  was  practi- 
c-Uly  snuffed  out  by  a  frost  of  unprecedented 
severity  in  1S9S,  for  none  was  then  grown  under 
glass  ?  The  advent  of  the  almost  hardy  variety 
Bowdeni  has  introduced  two  new  factors  which 
before  were  unknown.  First,  increased  hardiness  ! 
Dear  old  Mr.  Peter  Veitch  has  gone  for  this,  and 
his  firm  are  now  able  to  supply  hybrids  between 
Bowdeni  and  other  varieties,  which  in  the  favoured 
climates  of  Devonshire  and  Cornwall  are  able  to 
take  care  of  themselves  out  of  doors  all  the  year 
through.  Bowdeni  itself  has  lived  here  at  White- 
weU  for  three  winters  unhanned  at  the  foot  of  a 
warm  south  wall,  but  it  is  so  late  to  come  into 
bloom  that  we  alwa\"s  get  bad  weather  before  the 
umbels  are  anything  Uke  fully  developed.  The 
second  factor  is  size.  The  result  of  a  cross  betweeo 
Bowdeni  and  curvTfolia  (Fothergillii),  which 
suddenly  appeared  in  the  R.H.S.  Hall  in  the 
autumn  of  1920,  literally  took  one's  breath  away.  It 
was  one  of  those  pleasant  shocks  which  lovers  of 
flowers  get  from  time  to  time,  as  when,  in  the  past 
Mrs.  Berkeley  of  Spetchley  electrified  us  with  her 


SE\-EK.\L    V.UUETIES    OF    HT["BRID    XERIXE. 


THE    NEW    SCARLET    NERIXE    HIS    ^L\JESTY. 


December  9,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


617 


seSr 


;  ..lyanthuses    or    Sir    George    Holfofd    with    his 
Hippeastnims  or  Mrs.  R.  O.  Backhoase  with  her 
redK:entr«l  Daffodils.     Mr.  James  Rose  of  Oxford 
mar  now  be  added  to  the  sdect  company  of  thos^ 
who   have   given   ns    these   nneipected    pleasant 
irprises.     His     Flora     measured     2ift.     to     the 
r.nbel,    on   which    were    thirteen    flowers. 
.\s  Messrs.  Robert  Veitch  and  Sons  of  Exeter 
r«cialise     in     Bowdeni     and    Bowdeni     hybrids, 
.   do   Messrs.    Barr  and  Sons  in  the  non-hardy 
arieties  which  everywhere  need  some  protection, 
although  in  favoured  places  it  may  only  be  a  frost- 
proof   cold    frame.     Their    Nerine    list    contains 
nearly  120  varieties,  so  there  is  plenty  of  choice. 
This   last    autumn  they  received   two   awards   of 
merit  for  novelties,  e.g..  Glitter  and  His  Majesty. 
It  is  very  Ettle  use  making  a  selecticm,  because 
what  I  may  call  the  stock  varieties,  known  by 
name,   are   not   many.     There   Is,   of  course,   the 
old  Fotherginii  major,  tall,  free-flowering  (one  of 
my  pots  with  three  bulbs  in  it  had  four  spikes 
of  bloom  this  autumn)  and  of  a  lovely  soft  red, 
cc^ur.     There   are    Lady   ilary   Shelley,   a  most 
satisfactory    pure    pink ;     samiensis    comsca,    a 
pretty   soft   orange   red,   not    very   large   or  tall, 
but    one    of    the    most    free-flowering ;     Meadow- 
bankii,  rich  deep  scarlet ;    Epic,  a  rose  :    Rother- 
side,    a    fine    salmon    red ;     and    Lady    BromLev^ 
mauve  and  cerise. 

This  is  about  the  time  to  think  of  sowing  se 
If  a  person  is  attempting  it  for  the  first  time, 
he  will  very  likely  do  what  I  did,  keep  waiting 
and  waiting  for  it  to  look  as  if  it  was  ripe.  I 
should  be  waiting  still  if  a  friend  had  not  udd  me 
that  it  never  looks  ripe,  but  remains  all  the  time 
a  vivid  green.  .As  soon  as  it  comes  oS  with  a 
touch  it  is  ready  to  be  gathered.  I  usually  keep 
it  in  an  open  bag  for  ten  days  or  a  fortnight  and 
then  sow  it  in  pans.  It  is  well  to  give  plenty  of 
room,  for  the  seedlings  may  remain  where  they 
are  sown  for  three  years.  Then  they  should  be 
transferred  into  3lin.  pots  and  left  there  until 
they  bloom.  This  takes  place  in  the  fourth, 
fifth  or  sixth  year,  or  it  may  take  knger  stilL 
If,  however,  seed  is  saved  from  varieties  which 
have  proved  themselves  to  be  good  bkxmeis 
and  none  others,  it  is  probable  that  the  seedlings 
will  flower  at  an  earlier  period  than  woukl  otherwise 
be  the  case.  As  an  example  :  from  seed  sown  in 
December,  1917,  I  have  had  plants  which  have 
just  bloomed.  The  gradual  attainment  of  a  freer- 
flowering  race  has  been  the  chief  object  of  Mr. 
Elwes's  work.  He  has  effected  an  en<Kinous 
improvement,  but  there  is  much  still  to  be  done 
in  this  respect,  therefore  there  Is  roc»n  for  nrare 
workers  on  the  same  Hnes.  The  first  period  of 
wailing  is  long,  but  once  that  is  past,  if  seeds  are 
sown  every  year  or  even  e%"er>-  other  year,  there 
will  be  an  annual  display  from  plants  which  have 
never  bkx»ned  befcre.  Good  top  spit  loam 
Hghtened  with  silver  sand  and  some  cdd  rotten 
manure  makes  an  ideal  xiL  When  the  foliage 
is  fully  developed  feeding  with  alternate  doses 
of  weak  soot  water  and  weak  "  Clay's  "  or  some 
similar  manure  is  necessary.  .Ml  water  must  be 
withheld  when  the  foliage  has  turned  yellow, 
and  then  all  summer  long  they  must  have  as  long 
and  as  good  a  baking  as  p<ssible.  Let  tbem  have 
all  the  sun  there  Is.  \\'hatever  shortcomings 
there  may  be  in  Xerines,  they  have  one  great 
compensation.  They  might  be  cats,  they  have 
so  many  Uves.     It  is  surprising  what  poor  con- 


SOME     STONECROPS     IN     AUTUMN 

T 


THOUGH  taoii  of  tint  iwiums  ifc.4i»uy 
seen  in  rock  gardens  have  passed  oat 
of  flower  with  the  cocning  of  auttimn, 
not  a  few  develop  l«f  tints  <A  txtx^- 
ordioary  briOianoe.  One  of  the  most 
Striking  of  these  is  S.  SMwidii.  which  for  some 
weeks  has  been  a  vivid  bkmd  red,  this  leaf  coloor 
having  gradually  increased  in  intensity  since  the 
flowers  began  to  go  off  early  in  October.  lu  near 
rdatioo,  S.  Ewersii,  with  more  giaocous  fofiage, 
also  gets  bright  ted  at  the  margins  of  the  leaves 
before  the  stetns  die  back.  Tboogfa  nsoally  seen 
indoors,  lioth  of  the  above  witt  stand  oofsidecalile 
frost  in  a  free  soil,  and  may  be  grown  ootside 
almost  anywhere  if  the  crowns  are  covered  in 
winter  with  a  motmd  of  ashes. 

The  less  hardy  S.  Bourgii  has  been  in  biossom 
here  right  np  to  nrid-Sovember  in  a  sbdteRd 
comer,  the  silt-ery,  irak-tipped  floweis,  neariy 
half  an  inch  across,  being  voy  bri^t  and  cbeerfuL 
.\nother  late  bloomer  is  S.  retusum,  with  spatulate 
leaves  distinctly  notched  at  the  apex  and  white 
flowers,  but  whether  this  Mexican  will  ptit  up 
with  our  winters  in  the  open  remains  to  be  proved. 
Quite  the  gayest  erf  the  genus  now  in  flower, 
however,  is  an  almost  pore  white  form  of  C. 
spurium  which  has  apparently  been  kept  bati 
bv  being  planted  in  a  rather  shady,  damp  place. 
The  inflorescence  of  thfa  specimen  is  unusually 
laiTge,  both  the  individoal  flowers  and  the  cyme, 
and  the  foliage  has  remained  a  licfa,  fleshy  green 
without  a  tinge  <rf  red.  The  leaves  of  other  plants, 
notably  of  S.  spmium  var.  s^andess,  are  a  fei^t 
crimson,  these  being  in  full  expostire  and  a  dry 
soa. 

.\t  this  seas<»  the  very  beautiful  little  S.  brevi- 
foUum  var.  Pottai  assumes  its  most  vivid  tints, 
the  grey  mealiness  becoming  almost  an  electric 
blue  which  is  set  off  by  the  warm  red  of  the  leaf 
tips.  This  fc  a  most  deii^lful  and  e^y  plant 
of  no  more  than  lin.  or  so  in  height,  and  one  that 
win  readily  establish  itself  in  the  Hcheny  chintz 
of  hoary  rocks. 

Both  S.  tematnm  and  S.  Xevii  have  been  a 
glowing  crinsoa  for  many  weeks,  a  crfonr  which 
perhaps  they  might  not  so  readily  acquire  weie 
they  accorded  the  motster  and  more  shdtered 
oonditioDS  which  they  evidently  enjoy.  They 
[Kosper  very  wdl,  however,  with  ordinary  treat- 
ment, so  long  as  the  seal  is  not  too  dry  in  summer, 
and  few  species  are  moce  charming  when  their 
mats  of  foliage  are  covered  with  the  branching 
heads  of  siKery  white  Sowers  at  midsummer. 

.\nother  species  which  {vefos  an  even  danqier 
situation  than  the  above  fe  the  splendid  S.  pul- 
chdltnn,  perhaps  the  finest  hardy  Sedtun  in 
cnltivatioo.  Not  only  are  the  large,  daw-like, 
recurved  inflorescences  in  a  bright  dear  pink 
strikingiy  handsonoe  but,  throogboot  the  autumn, 
the  linear  leaves  which  crowd  the  semi-prostrate 
growths  are  an  intensely  vivid  blood  crimson. 

Of  S.  spatholifcAum  there  are  several  forms, 
as  beautiful  ^  they  are  confusing.  Tboogfa  good 
at  all  seasons,  the  fine  ydknr  flowers  being  large 
and  attractive,  the  various  membas  of  this  species 
are  seldcsn  quite  so  fascinating  as  when  the  rosettes 
assume  the  mealy  greys,  soft  dove  coloms,  and 
pmples  of  autumn  and  winter.  From  the  small- 
leaved,     ^ucous     and     often    led-tipped    form. 


wbj.c^  IS   f  yin 


ditioi^  they  win  stand,  but.  naturally,  as  we  treat/  iprobably  the  tjrpical  plant,  to  the  fat   and  big 
them  so  shall  we  reap.  Joseph  Jacob.    /TTar.  puipmeum  majis  (or  var.  "  Wm.   P^coe," 

as  it  is  sometimes  listed),  which  never  reddens 
at  the  tips,  remaining  a  full  plum  par|de  with  a 
mealy  bloom,  there  are  a  ntmiber  of  intermediate 
sizes  and  colours.  They  are  all  good,  haidy  and 
easy  in  a  gritty  soil,  and  maintain  their  fine  cdoar- 
ing  throughout  the  winter. 


Tat  weil  i:i.iT-  S.  cre;^a2 
to  the  above,  is  a  good  deal  more  variable  in  its 
leaf  cotoor.  Excdkot  as  it  often  is,  especiallr 
the  variety  Imown  as  spieadens,  there  are  plaoes 
where,  and  seasons  when,  the  best  forms  win 
fail  to  acquire  that  iiitensf  czinisan  which  aSords 
soch  a  striking  setting  to  the  golden  yeSov  flowers 
and  where  the  most  bcilfiaiit  SjKiinmis  do  not 
retain  their  wonderfol  cotoor  loag  after  flowerinz 
in  late  summer.  Doobtless  the  variatifity  in 
the  leaf-c<4oaring  erf  S.  oregaman  is  a  faoh  bwn 
which  even  S.  spathnfifoliam  and  other  Idrads  are 
not  exempt.  It  appears  to  be  a  matter  shicfa 
is  governed  mote  by  atmosidietic  inSaenee  fbaa 
by  soil  or  rdative  expoeare. 

The  familjgr  little  S.  dasyphyHnm  always  takes 
on  its  prettiest  ookmr  at  this  season,  the  pearl 
grey  and  pink  leaves  aasauiiug  an  ahnast  opaBtif 
hstie,  hot  here  again  one  has  a  species  wfaose 
leaf  coloor  is  extremdy  variable.  Another  knthr 
Sedmn  vinch  is  specially  attractive  just  now  is 
S.  amplexicaole.  Smoe  flowecmg  in  eady  'iiiiiiiiin 
the  leaves  and  stems  of  the  ^lecies  ba.ve  bad  aB 
the  appearance  at  being  withered,  being  dry  to 
the  touch  and  the  cokor  of  giasE  seed.  But 
with  the  antnmn  rains  the  protectiv<e  (apnnst 
droo^t)  tlM^attK:  are  dispensed  with  and  the  ptant 
breaks  into  a  &esh  ^anooos  green  winch  win  be 
retained  tmtil  the  terminatioa  of  aaotfaer  flowering 

A.  T.  J. 


THE    GARDEN   FRAME 

Hvb:  to  make  the  best  use  of  it  dttring 
the  dull  days  of  vdrnter. 


T 


Since  the  above  artide  came  to  hand  the  sad 
news  has  been  received  of  Mr.  H.  J.  Elwes's  death. 
Mr.  Jacob's  appreciative  words  with  regard  to  one 
phase  of  the  work  of  this  great  gardener  have  there- 
fore, become  in  some  degree  a  tribute  to  his 
memory  — Ed.] 


I  HERE  are  few  lovers  <^  gardens  who 
do  not  possess  a  frame  either  cold  or 
heated  The  latter  is  generally  Sled 
with  {dants,  catting  or  b«dhs  daring  die 
winter  mcnths  and  really  good  nse  s 
made  of  it,  bat  the  0(M  frame — the  kind  I  have 
chieSy  in  tnhul — is  often  ne^ected,  mainly  tfaroogb 
ignorance  3S,  to  the  right  way  to  manage  it.  It  is 
certainly  a  great  pity  to  aOow  a  ocdd  name  to 
remain  empty  or  in  any  way  neglected  daring 
the  winter  months.  The  frame  is  a  ^eat  asset 
to  the  gardener,  whether  the  latter  resides  in  town, 
sdborb  or  open  ooontry.  Yet,  I  think,  in  town  and 
soborh  the  frame  is  (rf  more  value  than  in  the 
coontry,  becar^e  it  is  a  means  o€  protecting  many 
kinds  of  plants  &om  the  effects  of  rltumii  ..lis  and 
gases  which  woold  otherwise  prove  t»jmiritl  Xlie 
lover  of  al{Hne  and  rod>ery  plants  often  possesses 
numbecs  ol  smaB  ^>ecimens  which  are  in  need  of 
ninsing  for  a  time ;  the  fdd  frame  is  ideal  for 
such.  I  know,  hom  peESonal  experience,  how  the 
sockets  and  roots  of  border  Chrysantbenunns 
suffer  &om  severe  frosts  when  1^  quite  mipit>- 
tected.  If  lifted  and  tenqnrarily  planted  in  boxes 
<s  even  the  bed  of  a  cold  hame,  the  roots  will  be 
quite  safe  and  propa^iian  from  tbem  may  be 
carried  on  at  any  convemeni  time.  Badly  froaen 
cutting  do  not  root  satisfactorily.  Rooted  layecs 
of  border  Camatiows  would  be  quite  sale  in  the 
C(dd  frame  till  March,  whoe^  very  late  planting 
in  a  coki  border  mi^t  prove  Karmfwl  The  same 
remarks  ^ply  to  naturally  weakly  or  sickly  ^ants 
from  the  berbaoeoos  border.  Of  ooorse.  Motes 
are  quite  at  home  is  the  cold  hame  if  excesave 
moisture  be  guarded  against.  Cotdn^  of  Calceo- 
larias are  safe  in  a  sandy  soQ  in  sodi  frpmes  and, 
iu  an  csdinary  winter  both  old  plants  and  rooted 
cutting  of  Zonal  Pelargooimits  roay  safdy  be 
wintsed  there.  Very  little  watering  b  needed, 
but  plenty  of  he^  air  e  e^fifT^rial  when  the  days 


618 


THE     GARDEN. 


[December  9,  1922. 


are  mild  or  sunny,  without  frost.  Bulbs,  of  various 
kinds,  do  remarkably  well  in  a  cold  frame  if  placed 
there  for  several  days,  or  even  weeks,  after  being 
taken  from  the  bed  of  sand  or  ashes.  Then,  as 
the  New  Year  comes,  hundreds  of  seedlings  or 
young  plants  of  Lettuces,  Cauliflowers,  Onions  or 
Leeks  may  be  raised  in  the  small  garden  frame, 


thus   ensuring   early   crops   of   these   in   the   open 
border. 

Always  ventilate  so  that  air  may  circulate 
freely  among  the  plants  without  causing  cold 
draughts.  Remove  all  decaying  leaves  weekly. 
When  frosts  come,  cover  the  lights  with  mats, 
straw,  short    litter,  bracken  fern  fronds,  etc.,  and 


in  prolonged  spells  of  frost  pack  short  litter  against 
the  sides  of  the  frame  as  well  as  on  the  top.  If 
the  cultivator  feels  sure  that  the  plants  have  been 
frozen,  leave  the  covering  material  on  till  a  natural 
thaw  is  complete.  The  plants  are  then  nmch  less 
likely  to  suffer  harm  than  if  prematurely  exposed 
to  light  and  air.  G. 


CARNATIONS    AND    CHRYSANTHEMUMS    AT 


VINCENT    SQUARE 


THERE  was  to  have  been  the  Winter 
Show  of  the  British  Carnation  Society  at 
the  R.H.S.  Hall,  Westminster,  on 
November  29,  so  three  of  the  principal 
Carnation  nurserymen  had  arranged 
handsome  collections  for  the  R.H.S.  meeting  of  the 
previous  day,  intending  that  their  groups  should 


stand  over.  For  some  reason  the  Carnation  Show 
was  abandoned.  Nevertheless  these  collections 
gave  great  pleasure  to  visitors.  In  Messrs. 
AUwood's  interesting  selection  of  the  comparatively 
new  Perpetual-flowering  Border  varieties,  Sussex 
Beauty,  Sussex  Bizarre  and  Sussex  Crimson  were 
all   of   considerable   value.     The   blossoms   shewn 


MUCH    IN   THE   WAY   OF  THE   OLD   W.   H.   LINCOLN,    CHRYSANTHEMUM   GOLDEN   BUTTERFLY. 


were  from  plants  lifted  from  the  open  border. 
Among  the  ordinary  type  of  Perpetuals,  the  vivid 
colour  of  Edward  AUwood  was  very  prominent. 
This  bright  colour  was  also  present  in  a  collection 
arranged  by  Mr.  C.  Engelmaim,  who  had  large 
vases  of  Thor  in  intense  colour,  and  the  crimson 
Topsy,  which  received  an  award.  Laddie,  a  new 
pale  salmon-pink,  was  also  of  merit. 

The  large-flowered  White  Pearl  has  been  shewn 
in  such  quantities  throughout  the  year,  by  Messrs. 
Stuart  Low  and  Co.,  as  to  disabuse  those  who 
thought  it  might  be  a  shy  blooming  variety.  In 
Boadicea  they  have  a  new  Perpetual  Malmaison 
of  quite  uncommon  rosy  cerise  colouring.  It  is  a 
very  decorative  Carnation.  Several  vases  of  their 
new  Eileen  Low,  grouped  in  the  centre,  were 
singularly  effective. 

A  warm  greenhouse  plant  not  often  seen  nowa- 
days is  Plumbago  rosea,  but  Mrs.  F.  B.  Surruners, 
Alton,  Hants,  sent  a  goodly  group  of  plants  which 
instanced  first-rate  cultivation.  The  graceful 
racemes  of  warm  rosy  flowers  were  greatly  admired. 

A  long  stretch  of  tabhng  was  filled  by  Messrs. 
Blackmore  &  Langdon  with  greenhouse  Cyclamens 
bearing  plenty  of  good  blooms.  Mr.  J.  J.  Kettle  had 
a  great  many  bunches  of  the  Violets  he  grows 
so  well  in  the  pure  air  of  Dorset,  and  Messrs.  F.  H. 
Chapman,  Limited,  shewed  seedling  Nerines.  For 
the  most  part  they  were  quite  ordinary,  but  a 
salmon  pink  seedUng  of  compact  type  with  waved 
segments  was  very  good. 

Chrysanthemums  occupied  a  considerable  pro- 
portion of  space.  The  largest  group  was  set  up  by 
Messrs.  Keith  Luxford  and  Co.,  and  their  large- 
flowered  Japanese  varieties  were  of  considerable 
merit.  There  were  also  many  vases  of  smaller 
Decorative  blooms,  while  the  Singles  possessed 
great  charm.  Baby  Jack,  a  small  -  flowered 
Single,  was  shown  in  graceful  sprays  of  good  yellow 
colour.  Catriona,  Molly  Godfrey,  Mensa  and 
Flossy  were  also  of  great  charm.  Mr.  Norman 
Davis  had  a  large  vase  of  his  new  Pink  Favourite 
and  also  one  of  Cream  Favourite,  w'hich  is  a  good 
companion  variety.  Messrs.  J.  Godfrey  and  Son 
had  some  vases  of  Singles  and  also  shewed  Golden 
Dot,  a  pretty  little  Pompon  Chrysanthemum. 

The  exhibit  of  winter-flowering  Sweet  Peas  did 
not  attract  as  much  attention  as  might  have  been 
expected  when  one  considers  the  enormous  popu- 
larity of  the  Sweet  Pea.  These  winter  varieties 
are  much  smaller  than  the  summer  sorts,  but 
many  of  them  are  quite  dainty  and  are  eminently 
suitable  for  table  decoration.  The  Rolvenden 
Nurseries  shewed  Mrs.  Kerr,  of  salmon  pink 
shading ;  Flamingo,  pink  shades ;  Princess, 
maUN'c  ;     and  White  Star. 


AN    ADMIRABLE    YELLOW    SINGLE    SPRAY    CHRYSANTHEMUM,    BABY    JACK. 


NEW     AND     RARE     PLANTS. 

Carnation  Topsy. — We  have  on  various  occasions 
during  the  year  remarked  on  the  merits  of  this  rich 
crimson  Carnation.  The  well  formed  blooms  are 
among  the  largest  of  the  Perpetual-flowering 
\arieties  ;    it  is  deliciously  fragrant,  even  in  winter 


December  g,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


619 


and  is  said  to  be  very  free-iJowering.     Award  of 
merit  to  Mr.  C.  Engelmami. 

Chrysanthemiun  Dr.  J.  M.  Inglis.— The  chief 
value  of  this  large  flowered  Japanese  variety  lies 
in  its  uncommon  colour,  which  is  described  as 
purple  amaranth  with  sih-ery  reverse.  It  has  large 
broad  petals,  but  seems  to  lack  stamina  and  would 
soon  droop.  When  at  its  best  it  is  e.xceedingly 
attractive  and  will  no  doubt  be  valued  by  exhibitors. 
Award  of  merit  to  Messrs.  Keith  Luxford  snd  Co. 

Chrysanthemum  Golden 
Butterfly.  —  This  is  a 
very  useful  decorative 
variety  which  bears  flowers 
strongly  reminiscent  of 
W.  H.  Lincohi,  the  late- 
flowering  yellow  of  thirty 
years  or  so  ago.  It  is 
rather  a  fuller  bloom,  the 
stout  florets  are  erect  and 
of  deep  yellow  colour.  A 
plant  was  also  on  view  and 
this  was  dwarf  and  free 
blooming.  Award  of  merit 
to  Messrs.  Scott  and 
^\'ickham. 

Chrysanthemum  Mrs. 
A.  Robertson. — This  is 
a  broad  petalled  pinkish 
mauve  single  variety  of 
very  good  type  and  rather 
larger  than  Mensa.  Aw-ard 
of  merit  to  Mr.  Norman 
Davis. 

Chrysanthemimi  Pink 
Favourite. — An  excellent 
market  variety  that  should 
also  be  of  great  value  for 
home  use.  As  shewn,  the 
blooms  were  of  slightly 
irregular  incurved  habit, 
but  this  was  said  by  the 
raiser  to  be  due  to  the 
necessity  for  subjecting  the 
plants  to  rather  too  great  a 
heat  in  order  to  bring 
them  into  flower  by  the 
time  of  the  meeting.  It  is 
a  sport  from  the  valuable 
market  variety  White 
Favourite.  Award  of  merit 
to  Mr.  Norman  Davis. 

Chrysanthemum  Robert 
Collins.  —  A  medium 
sized  single  of  graceful 
form,  the  tip  of  the  petals 
recurving  evenly.  It  is 
of  bright  orange  buff  colouring 
to  Mr.  G.  Carpenter. 

Cypripedium  Godefroyae  Splendid. — A  very 
good  example  of  the  Dreadnought  or  Bulldog 
Lady's  SUpper.  It  is  a  rounded,  sUghtly  cupped 
flower  spotted  with  maroon  and  tipped  with  white. 
The  pouch  is  nearly  pure  white.  Award  of  merit 
to  Messrs.  Sander  and  Co. 

Odontoglossum  Armstrongii  Aureole. — A  most 
beautiful  variety.  The  plant  bore  only  one  flower 
■which  was  of  perfect  form  and  uncommon  canary 
yellow  colour  tipped  with  white.  The  crest  was  of 
a  deeper  shade  of  yellow.  First  class  certificate 
to  Messrs.  Armstrong  and  Brown. 

Odontoglossimi    eximillus    Tintoretto.  —  This 

■was  a  spike  of  well  formed  lluwers  uf  bright  rosy 
maroon  colour,  very  lightly  margined  with  white 
as  narrow  as  the  line  of  colour  on  a  light-edged 
Picotee.     .Award  of  merit  to  Mr.  J.  J.  Bolton. 

Odontoglossum  Magnificent. — -A  beautifully 
formed  flower  of  chocolate  colour,  tipped  with 
•«'hite  and  with  a  rosy  maroon  lip.  Award  of  merit 
to  Messrs.  Sander  and  Co. 


BONFIRE    ASH    OR    HUMUS? 


T 


every  g 


HE  valley  where  I  live,  and  the  outskirts 
of  the  principal  town,  have  been  hazy 
with  the  smoke  of  many  bonfires  for 
weeks  past.  The  weather  has  been  dry, 
there  has  been  rubbish  to  rake  up  and 
ardener,  from  the  plot  holder  to  the  man 
who  sweeps   the   squire's  avenue,   has  been  busy 


DEEP  CRIMSON  PERPETUAL  CARNATION  TOPSY. 


Award  of  merit 


firing  the  results  ot  his  labours.  That  these 
bonfires  are  a  mistake  all  who  have  stopped 
to  think  must  admit,  for  it  is  an  odd  fact  that 
the  very  gardeners  who  are  keenest  to  reduce  a 
cartload  of  vegetable  refuse  to  ashes  are  usually 
the  very  people  who  are  for  ever  regretting  the 
growing  shortage  of  organic  mannie.  They  know 
that  mcst  lands  must  have  humus  of  som.e  kind 
applied  to  them  if  they  are  to  continue  fruitful 
and  if  artificial  fertihsers  are  tc  be  used  continuously 
with  safety  and  economy,  yet  they  annually  make 
these  burnt  offerings  to  the  god  oi  custom  and  iii  so 
doing  destrcy  the  very  material  whicii  ni.'ht  mean 
so  much  to  them. 

Properlv  used  t):°.  great  bulk  of  this  vegetable 
refuse  might,  with  the  aid  of  suitable  '■  artificials," 
pro^'e  a  perfectly  efficient  substitute  for  horse 
manure  in  allotment  or  kitchen  garden ;  but 
apart  from  that,  regarded  only  as  n  means  of 
restoring  to  the  land  some  of  that  humus  which  is 
ever  being  used  up  under  cultivation,  such  vege- 
table matter  might  be  ot  inestimable  value  to 
most  of  us.     There  mav  be  some  soils  alreadv  so 


charged  with  humus  that  they  do  not  need  any 
addition,  but  porous,  thin  and  light  land,  and 
that  which  is  cold  and  stiff  are  alike  vastly  improvi  d 
by  the  incorporation  of  vegetable  substance,  while 
sandy  land  is  oftea  totally  unable  to  support  the 
life  of  the  majority  of  plants  without  it. 

It  is  doubtless  true  that  the  bonfire  is  the  most 
efficient  receptacle  forjjany  rubbish  which  m:iy  con- 
tain disease  spores,  noxious  weeds  which  resist 
decay,  or  insect  pests.  Woody  material  is  also 
best  put  out  of  the  way  by  burning  But  where 
there  is  one  bonfire  made  with  the  object  of  carrying 
out  some  definite  object  of  that  knd,  there  are  a 
dozen  made  just  to  consume  what  is  generally 
and  thoughtlessly  termed  "  rubbish,"  but  which  is 
actually  nothing  of  the  kind. 

Now  in  regard  to  making  the  best  use  of  our 
autumn  leaves,  weeds  and  other  garden  clearings 
— anything  that  will  decay — each  one  must  act  in 
accordance  with  his  circumstances.  For  genera' 
garden  use,  such  as  top-dressing  borders  and  shrubs, 
and  for  supplementing  the  little  organic  manure 
I  am  able  to  get  for  vegetable  growing  and,  indeed, 
for  practically  the  whole  round  of  gardening  on  a 
light  and  gritty  soil,  I  work  on  these  lines  :  All 
tlie  \egetable  refuse  is  taken  as  collected  (and  this 
is  practically  always  going  on),  and  placed  in 
shallow  pits  or  heaps  in  convenient  corners.  These 
sometimes  get  the  addition  of  a  little  road  soil. 
No  lime  is  used  on  the  heaps  for  two  reasons,  one 
being  that  the  compost  may  be  eventually  needed 
for  plants  which  dislike  lime  and  the  other  that 
lime  has  a  tendency  to  destroy  humus  and  thereby 
defeat  one's  whole  object.  Salt  is  used  instead  and 
it  will  be  found  that  an  occasional  sprinkhng  will 
both  assist  the  decomposition  of  and  sweeten  the 
contents  of  the  heap.  When  available,  fresh  soot 
is  dusted  over  the  compost  pile  and  this  also 
accelerates  decay,  it  enriches  the  mixture,  pests 
dislike  it  and  it  imparts  a  dark  colour  to  the 
compost  which  has  certain  advantages  on  light 
land. 

During  winter  or,  indeed,  at  any  time  that  may 
be  convenient,  the  heaps  are  turned  over  and,  as 
soon  as  one  is  large  enough,  no  fresh  rubbish  is 
added  to  it,  a  new  one  being  started  instead. 
\Vorking  on  that  principle  we  always  have  at  hand 
at  least  one  fully  matured  heap  (about  a  year  old) 
of  compost  which  is  rich  in  humus  and  sufficiently 
charged  with  fertilising  elements  for  general 
purposes.  As  a  matter  of  fact  we  have  used  such 
material  exclusively  for  years  for  a  wide  variety  of 
plants  in  woodland  and  border,  for  heath  bank, 
Ferns,  Rhododendrons,  wall  shrubs  and  others 
with  the  fullest  satisfaction,  only  adding  to  it 
a  little  old  animal  manure  for  such  things  as  need 
more  liberal  feeding — and  this  on  a  particularly 
hungry  soil. 

It  is  sometimes  contended  that  vegetable 
compost  of  this  kind  is  liable  to  bring  weeds  and 
other  undesirables  where  they  are  not  wanted. 
That  has  not  been  our  experience.  We  have,  indeed, 
never  had  any  trouble  of  that  kind  which  could 
be  traced  to  such  a  source.  A  vegetable  mixture, 
made  in  the  manner  I  have  described,  is  infinitely 
"  cleaner  "  than  most  farm  and  stable  manures, 
it  costs  nothing,  its  use  is  the  practice  of  garden 
economics  in  the  truest  sense  and  the  application 
of  a  principle  which  is  one  of  the  most  fundamental 
of  nature's  laws.  .^.  T.  J. 


FORTHCO.MING     EVENTS. 

December  ii. — United  Horticultural  Benefit 
and  Provident  Society's  Meeting. 

December  12. — Royal  Horticultural  Society's 
Fortnightly  Meeting. 


620 


THE    GARDEN. 


[December  9,  1022. 


THE     EXPEDIENCY    OF    GRAFTING 

As  applied  more  particularly  to  Clematises . 


THE  controversy  as  to  the  comparative 
merits  of  own-root  Clematises  and  those 
grafted  on  stocks  of  the  Traveller's 
Joy,  Clematis  Vitalba,  is  again  brought 
to  the  fore  by  a  letter  in  our  Corre- 
spondence columns  from  Mr.  K.  G.  Jackman. 
This  may  therefore  be  considered  an  opportune 
moment  for  the  Editor  to  sort  out  the  facts 
bearing  on  the  value  of  grafting  on  the  one  hand 
and  its  abuse  on  the  other.  .There  is  nothing 
which  can  be  written  which  will 
be  new  to  most  readers.  It  is  hoped, 
however,  that  the  ordered  presenta- 
tion of  the  facts  may  be  helpful 
to  many  who  have  little  time  _  to 
spare  in  sifting  evidence  and  making 
deductions  about  matters  horticul- 
tural. First,  let  it  be  said  that 
there  is  abundant  proof  that  hybrid 
Clematises  root  freely  from  layers 
and  grow  strongly  upon  their  own 
roots.  In  this  respect  they  differ 
materially  from  certain  other  shrubs 
— Roses,  for  instance.  Many  garden 
varieties  of  Rose,  which  are  quite 
satisfactory  when  budded  upon  the 
briar,  are  absolute  failures  on  their 
own  roots. 

There  are  obviously  drawbacks 
from  the  nurseryman's  point  of  view 
to  propagation  solely  by  layers,  so 
that  it  is  worth  investigating 
whether  grafting  is  in  fact  harmful, 
and  responsible  for  the  sudden 
collapse  of  plants  with  which  all 
gardeners  are  but  too  familiar. 
That  Clematis  Vitalba  is  a  species 
very  distantly  related  to  the  large- 
fiowered  Jackmanni  and  lanuginosa 
hybrids  is  self  evident,  but  it  is  only 
fair  to  point  out  that  such  distant 
relationship  is  by  no  means  proof  of 
incompatibility.  The  relationship 
between  the  Dog  Rose,  Rosa  canina, 
and  Rosa  indica  is,  in  all  probability, 
equally  distant,  and  the  latter  species 
owns  the  larger  share  of  the 
parentage  of  many  of  the  very  best 
and  newest  garden'  Roses.  Rosa 
Wichuraiana  has  equally  httle  affinity 
with  the  Dog  Briar,  yet  the  Wichu- 
raiana hybrids  when  budded  upon 
the  wild  Rose  stock  flourish  amaz- 
ingly and  have  an  exceedingly  long, 
useful  hfe.  So  great  is  the  sympathy 
which  seems  to  exist  between  Rose 
Alberic  Barbier,  for  instance,  and  the 
Dog  Rose  stock  that  the  stems  of 
standards  wiU  often  swell  exceed- 
ingly when  the  scion  gets  into  full 
growth.  Stems  3ins.  or  4ins.  thick 
are  not  uncommon  in  such  circum- 
stances. Such  stems  are  never 
seen  on  the  Wild  Briar  growing  free. 

There  is  no  doubt  whatever  that  the  grafting 
of  Cedars  on  Larch  stocks,  to  take  but  one  example, 
•s  thoroughly  unsatisfactory,  but  when  all  is  said 
the  Traveller's  Joy  is  a  Clematis  ! 

It  would  seem,  therefore,  that  we  are  not  likely 
to  be  able  to  decide  the  fitness  of  the  particular 
method  of  propagation  employed  for  the  Clematis 
by  analogy  with  other  famihes  of  plants.  Mr. 
Jackman  in  his  letter  recommends  to  plant  grafted 
plants  deep  enough  to  allow  the  plant  to  establish 
itself  upon  its  own  roots.  There  is  no  doubt 
whatever  that  this  should  be  done  if  only  to  allow 


the  plant  to  break  again  from  the  base  when  the 
original  shoot  gets  damaged  or  becomes  outworn. 
It  has  been  suggested  that  even  if  this  be  done 
the  roots  of  the  original  stock  will  still  prove 
detrimental  to  the  plant  and  may  cause  it  suddenly 
to  fail  altogether. 

\  plant  of  Clematis  Jackmanni  which  this 
past  season  reached  a  height  of  i8ft.,  if  not  20ft., 
and  bote  many  hundreds  of  blossoms,  is  growing 
in  very  poor  hungry  soil  with  its  growth  for  several 


CLEMATIS    NELLIE    MOSER. 

feet  above  ground-level  in  almost  dense  shade. 
It  has  had  no  manure  since  it  was  planted  about 
twenty  years  ago,  and  has  had  no  attention  of 
any  kind  (even  pruning)  since  1914  !  This  plant 
was  grafted  in  the  usual  way,  and  planted  so  that 
the  junction  of  stock  and  scion  was  covered. 

This  is  only  one  illustration  of  many  which  might 
be  given,  all  tending  to  prove  that  grafted  plants 
are  not  necessarily  short-lived.  Nor,  as  Mr. 
Jackman  very  pertinently  points  out,  is  dying- 
baclc  confined  to  grafted  plants.  There  is  at  least 
a    reasonable    probability    that    this    dying-back 


or  sleeping  sickness  may  be  due  to  a  definite 
disease.  If  such  were  the  case,  one  would  expect 
plants  grown  under  natural  conditions  to  possess 
more  resistance  than  those  in  less  favoured  circum- 
stances. Granted  that  the  Clematis  is  a  woodland 
plant  and  likes  a  cool  root-run,  the  expectation 
is  fully  borne  out.  It  is  comparatively  seldom 
that  plants,  given  favourable  conditions,  fail, 
whereas  on  a  pergola,  where  sunUght  strikes  right 
down  to  the  roots  of  the  plant,  "  dying  back  "  is 
common. 

To  sunr  up,  own-root  Clematises  are  undoubtedly 
satisfactory  if  planted  in  suitable  positions,  but 
there  seems  to  be  no  real  weight  of  evidence  to 
shew  that  grafted  plants  are  not  almost,  if  not 
quite,  as  likely  to  succeed. 


LAWNS     IN    WINTER-TIME 

A  REALLY  well  kept  lawn,  especially 
during  the  summer  months,  goes  far 
towards  making  any  garden,  large  or 
small,  a  pleasure  to  its  owner.  Excep- 
tionally dry  summers  spoil  the  appear- 
ance of  most  lawns  unless,  indeed,  they  are  situated 
in  low-lying  districts  or  near  large  ponds  or  rivers. 
Fortunately,  we  hpve  not  often  to  contend  with 
parching  heat  and  a  long  succession  of  rainless 
days  in  this  country. 

The  Small  and  Medium-Sized  Lawn. — Such 

may  be  very  thoroughly  dealt  with,  and  there 
is  no  time  better  than  the  early  winter  months 
for  undertaking  all  work  of  renovation.  A  lawn, 
even  if  well  made,  with  fairly  good  soil  to  a  reason- 
able depth  beneath,  will  become  exhausted  in 
the  course  of  a  few  years  unless  some  feeding 
material  is  put  on  at  the  right  time.  The  regular 
removal  of  the  short  grass  in  the  summer  exposes 
the  roots  to  the  fierce  rays  of  the  sun,  and  after 
a  time  the  grass  shews  signs  of  failing.  There  is 
nothing  which  can  be  done  at  that  season  except 
to  remove  the  grass  box  from  the  mower,  thus 
allowing  the  grass  as  cut  to  spread  itself  on  the 
lawn.  If  this  be  done  occasionally  the  roots  will 
benefit.  In  early  winter,  however,  we  can  dig 
up  the  roots  of  coarse  weeds  and  Daisies  and 
apply  a  top-dressing.  Before  any  surface  mulch 
is  put  on,  grass  and  soil  should  be  vigorously  raked 
with  a  sharp-toothed  iron  rake.  Mix  together 
old  rotted  manure  one-third  and  sound,  rather 
retentive  loam  two-thirds ;  if  fairly  dry  at  the 
time,  there  will  be  no  difficulty  in  thoroughly 
breaking  up  both  loam  and  manure.  In  the 
case  of  poor  lawns,  two  barrow-loads  per  square 
rod  of  ground  may  be  applied  ;  for  an  ordinary 
lawn,  not  badly  exhausted,  one  barrow-load  will 
suffice.  Once  a  week  the  material  should  be 
brushed  in  but  not  rolled.  At  the  end  of  February 
or  not  later  than  the  middle  of  March  lib.  of  bone- 
meal  per  square  rod  should  be  appUed.  Another 
brushing  should  take  place  immediately,  followed 
by  a  thorough  rolling,  and  rolling  ought  to  be 
continued  once  a  week  till  the  first  mowing  is 
done.  Never  roll  when  the  lawn  is  really  wet. 
Bone-meal  will  be  effective  for  quite  six  months. 
Tlie  Large  Lawn. — To  treat  a  lawn  of  several 
acres  in  extent  similarly  to  one  of  several  rods 
would  entail  much  labour  and  expense.  I  should 
not  hesitate  to  make  use  of  a  very  light  "  Par- 
menter  "  grass  harrow  in  place  of  the  rake  if  the 
lawn  was  at  all  unsatisfactory.  It  is  wonderful 
how  much  a  lawn  will  stand  in  the  way  of  pulling 
about  and  be  benefited  instead  of  harmed.  Road 
grit,  ordinary  soil  and  a  small  proportion  of 
manure,  mixed,  spread  broadcast  and  then  worked 
in  with  the  aid  of  a  chain  harrow  will  prove  a  very 
effective  dressing,  cheap  in  itself  and  not  expensive 
to  apply  in  the  way  suggested.  Of  course,  bone- 
meal  may  also  be  used  if  necessary.  G.  G. 


December  9,  1922.] 


THE  GARDEN. 


621 


FERNS    FOR    BASKET    CULTURE 


OF  plants  that  add  to  the  beauty  of 
the  greenhouse  and  conservatory 
when  grown  in  baskets  and  suspended 
from  the  roof,  there  are  few  that 
excel  the  Ferns,  particularly  if  the 
longest  possible  period  of  active  service  has  to  be 
borne  in  mind.  It  is  true  that  they  do  not  add 
brilliant  colom' — that  is  upon  the  staging  beneath 
— but  one  and  all  possess  the  indispensable  charms 
of  beauty  and  grace  of  form  in  no  mean  degree 
One  can  be  very  sure  that  a  house  where  Fern 
baskets  are  plentifully  in  evidence  will  present  an 
attractive  appearance  throughout  the  year. 

The  best  type  of  basket  for  the  purpose  in 
view  is  the  common  galvanised  wire  one, 
thickly  hned  out  with  fresh  green  moss,  and  it 
should  be  noted  that  it  is  by  far  the  best  way  to 


the  baskets  are  really  large,  with  fine  specimens 
growing  in  them,  the  weight  is  considerable  and 
heavy  labour  is  involved  in  taking  them  down  from 
their  hooks,  immersing  and  replacing.  When 
basketed  as  described,  so  that  the  plant  stands  at 
the  centre  of  a  saucer-shaped  depression,  it  is  an 
easy  matter  to  niouut  the  steps  with  a  can  of 
water  in  hand,  fill  them  up  once  or  twice  with  the 
certain  knowledge  that  the  job  has  been  efficiently 
done.  A  point,  which  is  sometimes  overlooked  in 
choosing  the  position  to  hang  basket  Ferns,  is 
the  proximity  of  ventilators  with  their  ill-effects 
in  the  drj-ing  air  currents  that  they  admit.  This 
evil  is  most  pronounced  in  summer,  a  season,  too, 
when  it  is  most  likely  to  be  overlooked  ;  for  in 
winter  and  spring,  even  if  the  ventilators  are  open 
the  atmosphere  is  moister  and  much  less  harm  is 


A    NICE    BASKET    OF    DAVALLIA    DISSECTA. 


re-make  these  annually  each  March.  Constant 
watering  is  essential  to  provide  sufficient  moisture 
where  hung  just  beneath  the  glass  ;  the  body  of 
soil  is  comparatively  small,  it  has  a  considerable 
quantity  of  growth  to  support  and — by  the  end 
of  twelve  months — has  become  almost  exhausted. 
Re-make  them  therefore  every  spring,  using 
fresh  moss  and  fresh  soil  and  so  give  your  fern 
baskets  the  best  possible  chance.  Compost  varies 
somewhat  with  the  variety  that  is  being  grown, 
but,  in  all  cases,  I  have  found  that  the  addition  of 
a  fair  proportion  of  peat  is  a  great  advantage. 
This  is  very  absorbent  and  capable  of  taking  up  a 
large  quantity  of  water  which  it  retains  in  suspension 
and  yet  does  not  unduly  saturate  the  roots.  When 
filling  in  the  soil  in  such  baskets,  a  point  should  be 
made  of  doing  this  in  such  a  way  that  it  slopes 
down  from  the  edge  slightly  towards  the  centre, 
so  that,  when  water  is  poured  in,  it  will  penetrate 
the  ball  and  go  through  to  the  roots  and  not  pour 
off  over  the  edge. 

One  of  the  worst  methods  of  basketing  is  that 
where  the  Fern  stands  upon  a  cone  of  soil  for.  where 
this  is  so,  the  only  satisfactory  method  of  w^atering 
is  to  immerse  the  whole  in  water,  with  the  result 
that  slowly  but  surely  the  cone  of  earth  becomes 
washed  away  and  the  plant,  with  many  roots 
exposed,  stands  right  out  of  the  soil.    Where,  too, 


likely  to  result.  Choose,  as  far  as  possible,  the 
"  half  way  house,"  i.e.,  the  places  between  the 
ventilators,  so  that,  while  air  may  be  circulating 
freely,  it  does  not  blow  right  upon  them — a  fatal 
matter  for  those  of  thinner  composition,  such  as 
the  pinnules  of  a  young  Maidenhair. 

Choice  should  be  made  of  suitable  varieties,  not 
only  for  baskets,  but  for  the  size  of  the  house  in 
which  they  are  to  be  grown.  The  following  are 
ideal  for  a  small  or  medium-sized  house.  Poly- 
podium  appendiculatum,  is  a  variety  perfectly 
distinct  from  all  others,  with  gracefully  pendulous 
fronds,  isins.  in  length.  This  is  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  of  all  Ferns,  for  the  leaves  are  green,  with 
the  mid-rib  and  veins  of  a  deep  crimson.  To  bring 
out  the  full  quality  of  their  brilliant  colour  the 
plants  must  be  grown  in  a  good  hght  and  a  tempera- 
ture of  about  55°.  Asplenium  flabeUifolium  is  at 
home  in  the  temperature  of  the  ordinary  green- 
house and  makes  a  most  decorative  plant,  composed 
of  pretty  slender  growing  fronds,  which  are  ever- 
green. These  fronds  are  brown  stemmed  and  very 
curious  looking,  while  a  bud  is  formed  at  the  end  of 
each  that,  immediately  it  comes  into  contact  with 
soil,  throws  out  roots  and  begins  an  independent 
existence  of  its  own.  A  good  specimen  is  necessary 
before  you  can  judge  the  quaUty  of  the  plant, 
for  a  small  specimen  is  apt  to  look  weedy.  Asplenium 


Sanderson!  is  another  very  fine  small  basket 
plant  that  does  well  in  the  greenhouse,  making 
slender  fronds,  6ins.  to  gins,  in  length,  of  thin, 
papery  texture. 

.\mong  Maidenhairs,  Adiantum  caudatura  is 
quite  distinct  and  makes  fronds  ift.  to  ijft.  long 
that,  where  they  come  into  contact  with  the  soil, 
will  root  and  form  plantlets  at  the  extremity. 
The  pinnae  are  produced  upon  either  side  of  the 
mid-rib  and  it  is  most  curious  that,  while  they  are 
fully  developed  upon  one  side,  they  are  scarcely 
at  aU  on  the  reverse.  Both  stems  and  leaves  are 
thickly  covered  with  light  brown  hairs.  A  variety 
of  .\.  caudatum — .Edgeworthii  is  very  similar  to 
this,  but  distinguishable  by  the  fact  that  the  frond  i 
are  quite  devoid  of  hair. 

A.  lunulatuin  dolabriforme  is  a  very  handsome 
variety  for  the  warm  house  and  preferable  to 
lunulatum  in  that  it  is  evergreen.  The  fronds 
spring  from  a  tufted  crown  on  thin  wiry  stems 
that  droop  gracefully  over,  to  a  length  of  bins,  to 
ift.  These  fronds  are  pinnate  and  proliferous  at 
the  end,  so  that  plants  may  be  seen  carrying  three 
generations  at  one  time.  Take  special  care  with 
this  that  it  never  becomes  dry  or  you  will  certainly 
lose  it.  Blechnum  glandulosum  requires  the  warmth 
of  a  house  heated  to  ss"  or  60°  and  consists  of  a 
creeping  rhizome  which  bears  beautiful  spear- 
shaped  fronds  ift.  to  i^ft.  long,  forming  a  very 
attractive  specimen.  Davallias  provide  a  host  of 
basket  varieties,  among  those  best  suited  to  the 
small  house  being  D.  dissecta.  This  bears  charming 
rusty  brown  rhizomes  and  a  great  abundance  of 
finely  cut  fronds  about  ift.  in  length  and  triangular 
in  form. 

Among  the  unique  Gold  and  Silver  Ferns  that 
display  their  charm  to  the  fullest  extent  under 
basket  culture,  Gymnogramme  calomelanos  argyro- 
phylla  is  perhaps  the  best  of  all.  The  fronds 
of  this  are  iJft.  long,  the  closely  set  leaflets  being 
thickly  covered  upon  both  the  under  and  upper 
surfaces   with   silvery   white   farina.  Grown   in 

baskets,  both  of  these  surfaces  are  exposed  to 
view  and  the  effect  is  both  remarkable  and  really 
beautiful.  Great  care  must,  of  course,  be  taken 
that  this  is  not  watered  overhead  or  accidentally 
sprayed  with  the  syringe  or  the  splendid  appearance 
will  quickly  be  ruined,  though,  at  the  same  time, 
the  roots  must  have  an  abundant  supply  of 
moisture. 

Turning  from  small  baskets  to  larger  ones  and 
larger  houses,  where  great  size  and  length  of 
frond  is  an  advantage,  one  of  the  grandest  features 
that  are  imaginable  is  supplied  by  Polypodium 
subauriculatum,  a  giant  with  fronds  8ft.  to  loft. 
in  length.  This  demands  the  temperature  of  a 
warm  house  and  bears  rhizomes  clothed  with 
brown  scales.  In  young  plants  the  leaflets  are 
slightly  toothed,  with  older  ones  set  widely  apart. 
The  plant  does  not  like  to  be  too  hea%ily  shaded 
and  appreciates  some  chopped  sphagnum  moss  in 
the  compost. 

Large  plants  of  the  wonderful  Nephrolepis,  in 
many  varieties,  form  superb  baskets  in  the  warm 
house  and,  with  their  light  green  colour  and  almost 
endless  fine  division,  always  afford  a  picture  of 
fascinating  beauty.  N.  acuta,  with  its  leathery- 
pale  green  fronds,  2ft.  to  4ft.  in  length,  is  very 
handsome  and  deserves  special  mention,  whi'e 
N.  davallioides  furcans,  with  its  3ft.  to  4ft.  long 
fronds  springing  from  a  cluster  of  crowns,  should  not 
be  overlooked.  Both  of  these  appreciate  a  compost 
of  coarsely  broken  peat,  with  some  chopped 
sphagnum  and  silver  sand.  .Asplenium  caudatum 
needs  a  warm  house  and  makes  fronds  iJft.  to 
2ft.  in  length,  borne  on  firm  stalks  that  are  densely 
clothed  with  brown  scales.  The  pinnae  are  upon 
either  side  of  the  mid-rib  and  deeply  toothed  on  the 
margin,  while  upon  the  underside  of  the  margin  are 
patches  of  red  brown  spores.  H.  W.  C.-W. 


622 


THE     GARDEN. 


[December  9,  1922. 


CORRESPONDENCE 


ROSE  spp:cies. 

T  NOTICE  that  "  Hortulanus,"  in  a  note  on 
single  Roses,  expresses  some  surprise  "  that 
no  one  in  this  country  seems  to  have  conceived 
the  idea  of  making  a  large  and  representative 
collection  of  Roses,  single  and  double,  in  private 
gardens."  I  think  I  may  fairly  claim  to  have  done 
something  to  remove  this  reproach.  For  some  years 
past  I  have  been  collect- 
ing Rose  species  and  I  , 
have  in  my  garden  to-day 
not  less  than  i6o  species 
or  sub-species,  and  very 
interesting  at  all  times  of 
the  year  they  are.  I 
found  that  I  had  seven 
species  which  were  not 
in  the  Kew  collection. 
These  I  sent  to  Kew, 
the  Curator  on  his  side 
giving  me  a  goodly  number 
of  species  not  previously 
in  my  collection.  It  is 
indeed  strange  that  so  few 
people  seem  to  know  of 
or  to  care  for  these  Roses. 
It  is  a  pity  that  there  is 
no  book  suitable  for  the 
amateur  on  their  cul- 
ture, for  Miss  Wilmott's 
magmtm  opus  on  Rose 
■species  is  far  beyond  the 
modest  purse  of  most 
amateurs.  Another  diffi- 
culty in  the  way  of  making 
an  adequate  collection  is 
the  large  amount  of  space 
required.  Many  of  these 
Roses  grow  into  very 
large  bushes  and  it  is  not 
wise  i  to  use  the  ^knife 
on  them  too  vigorously. 
But  to  grow  them  is  an 
intense  delight  and  J  they 
are  j  beautiful  even^  in 
winter,  for  the  hips, 
which  vary  much  in  colour 
and  form,  make  the 
garden  quite  gay  even 
in  December.  The  fohage 
of  many  of  the  species 
is  very  beautiful  and  a 
large     number     of     them 

come  into  flower  at  least  a  fortnight  before  the 
procession  of  Teas  and  Hybrid  Perpetuals.  It  is  a 
bit  of  a  business  to  coUect  these  Roses.  As  you 
remark,  Mr.  T.  Smith  has  a  goodly  number  and 
some  of  the  French  rose  growers  can  supply  others. 
it  is  very  easy  to  grow  these  Roses  from  seed,  if 
one  can  get  it.  I  find,  e.g.,  that  Rosa  Moyesii  and 
Rosa  hispida,  two  of  the  most  beautiful,  grow  very 
readily  from  seed.  If  such  experience  as  I  have  had 
can  be  used  to  help  any  one  desirous  to  form  a 
collection  of  Rose  species,  I  shall  be  very  glad  to 
^ve  any  information  in  ray  power  to  anyone  who 
cares  to  write  to  me.  I  have,  at  any  rate,  learned 
a  good  deal  from  my  own  mistakes  and  have  gained 
at  least  sufficient  wisdom  to  realise  how  little  I 
know  when  contrasted  with  what  there  is  to  know- 
on  this  subject.— (Rev.)  R.  W.  Carew  Hunt, 
Albury  Rectory,  Wheatley,  Oxotr. 

THE    MADRONA. 

'T'HE    .Madrona    of    the    Pacific    Coast    of    North 

America,    .Arbutus    Menziesii,   is    a    handsome 

species  and  one  that  might  be  planted  more  widely, 

since  it  will  do  in  any  locality  where  the  commoner 


Strawberry  Tree  (A.  Unedo)  survives.  In  its  native 
country  A.  Menziesii  will  attain  the  stature  of  a  tall 
tree,  but  here  it  is  more  often  seen  some  20ft.  to 
30ft.  high.  In  general  appearance  it  resembles 
A.  Unedo,  but  the  foliage  is  paler,  fresher  green  and 
the  leaves  are  larger  and  more  rounded  at  the  tips. 
At  this  season  the  Madroiia  is  perhaps  more 
beautiful  than  at  any  other,  for  it  sheds  its  bark 


THE    MADRONA,    ARBUTUS    MENZIESII. 


in  autunm  as  cleanly  as  a  snake  slips  out  of  its 
skin,  leaving  the  stem  and  boughs  a  warm  terra- 
cotta or  foxy  red,  and  perfectly  smooth,  so  that  the 
contrast  between  this  and  the  bright,  glossy 
foliage  is  very  delightful.  The  fruit  is  considerably 
smaller  than  that  of  A.  Unedo,  but  is  borne  in 
much  larger,  grape-like  clusters.  Whether  it 
produces  this  fruit  as  freely  as  does  the  Strawberry 
Tree  I  cannot  say  from  actual  experience,  but  it 
doubtless  does  so  in  favoured  districts.  Quite 
apart  from  this,  however,  the  Madroiia  is  a  tree 
well  worth  the  attention  of  all  who  can  afford  it  a 
reasonably  mild  climate.  It  does  well  at  Kew. — 
X.  Wales. 

THE    TWELVE    BEST    SHRUBS. 

"T'HE  results  of  the  extensive  and  highly  inter- 
esting correspondence  on  the  above  subject 
may,  I  think,  be  summed  up  both  negatively  and 
positively.  In  the  first  place,  it  has  failed  to  tell 
us  which  are  "  the  twelve  best  shrubs  "  or  even 
to  provide  data  for  any  judge  or  set  of  judges 
to  settle  that  question.  I  have  heard  it  asserted 
that  there  is  no  best  flower,  best  book,  best  song 


or  best  sermon,  that  every  good  thing  has  some 
special  merit  of  its  own.  Be  that  as  it  may, 
it  is  impossible  to  say  which  are  the  best  twelve 
shrubs,  if  only  on  account  of  differences  of  latitude 
and  longitude — especially  the  latter  —  soil  and 
situation,  not  to  mention  the  truth  of  the  Latin 
tag,  de  gustibus  non  est  dispulandum.  What  this 
correspondence  has  done,  however,  is  to  furnish 
readers  of  The  Garden  with  a  list  of  several 
dozens  of  shrubs  of  very  high  merit  from  which 
it  should  be  comparatively  easy  for  anyone  to 
choose  a  dozen  which  will  prove  to  be  really 
excellent  for  his  or  her  particular  circumstances. 
By  the  way,  so  far  as  my  memory  serves  me,  no 
list  has  included  Garrya  elliptica  or  Skimmia 
japonica,  both  beautiful  in  early  spring  in  quite 
different  ways. — Caledonia. 

■X^^ITHOUT  any  qualifications  regarding  soils  or 
hardiness,  ray  choice  of  the  best  twelve 
shrubs  for  the  average  garden  is  as  follows : — ■ 
Berberis  stenophylla,  Buddleia  variabilis  magnifica, 
Ceanothus  Gloire  de  Versailles,  Diervilla  Abel 
Carriere,  Forsythia  spectabilis,  Philadelphus 
Virginal,  Ribes  sanguineum  King  Edward,  Spiraea 
arguta,  Sophora  viciifolia,  Tamarix  pentandra. 
Viburnum  Tinus,  Viburnum  tomentosum  plicatum. 
A  next  best  dozen  would  be  of  almost  equal  value, 
in  fact,  individual  shrubs  could  no  doubt  be  picked 
out  which  would  be  preferable  to  some  of  the  best 
dozen  for  certain  gardens.  Cistus  cyprius,  Escal- 
lonia  langleyensis,  Fothergilla  major,  Hamamelis 
mollis,  Hypericum  patulum  Henryi,  Kerria  japonica 
fl.  pi..  Magnolia  steUata,  Olearia  Haastii,  Osmanthus 
Delavayi,  Prunus  triloba  fl.  pi.,  Rhododendron 
racemosum  and  Veronica  Traversii.  A  criticism  of 
this  list  would  be  that  half  of  the  dozen  are  white, 
but  as  the  flowering  season  extends  from  March  to 
August  it  is  not  a  defect  in  the  garden. — A.  O. 

THE    LOQUAT. 

TN  your  issue  of  September  2  you  refer  to  the 
Loquat  (Photinia  japonica)  as  follows : 
"  They  are  usually  considered  more  suitable  for 
culinary  purposes  than  for  dessert."  The  Loquat 
is  quite  common  here  ;  in  fact,  I  have  one  in  my 
own  garden,  but  I  have  never  heard  of  it  as  a 
culinary  fruit.  It  is  principally  esteemed  because 
it  comes  in  so  early. — H.  A.  Marriner,  Auckland, 
New  Zealand. 

["  For  culinary  purposes "  might  have  been 
better  expressed  as  "  for  jelly." — En. J 

GRAFTING    CLEMATISES. 

T  NOTICE  in  your  issue  of  November  ii  an 
article  by  E.  Markham  on  "  Own  Root 
Clematises  at  Gravetye."  I  should  have  expected 
to  see  such  an  article  over  the  initials  "  W.  R.,"  as 
it  speaks  of  considerable  pains  having  been  taken 
there  "  over  a  period  of  many  years,"  whereas  I 
understand  Mr.  Markham  has  only  been  employed 
there  the  last  few  years.  He  also  mentions  the 
"  Nippon  Clematis,"  the  name  given  by  Mr. 
Robinson  several  years  ago  to  C.  Jackmanni. 
I  have  already  explained  in  the  press  that  these 
two  Clematises  are  not  synonymous.  No  un- 
biassed person  now  thinks  that  they  are. 

In  this  article,  as  also  in  an  article  Mr.  Markham 
wrote  last  May,  he  advocates  layering  instead  of 
grafting,  and  stated  in  the  latter,  "  if  this  method  of 
increasing  these  beautiful  cUmbers  were  adopted 
instead  of  the  persistent  practice  of  grafting  upon 
the  poisonous  stocks  of  the  Wild  Traveller's  Joy 
(C.  Vitalba)  and  othei-s,  I  am  convinced  that  we 
should  hear  less  frequently  of  the  sudden  collapse 
of  these  choice  plants.." 

I  am  led  to  ask  Mr.  Markham  if  he  has  ever 
grafted  any  Clematises  on  this  stock,  because  if 
he  has  done  so,  and  has  taken  the  trouble  to  watch 


December  9,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


623 


their  development,  he  would  not  use  such  a  ridiculous 
expression  as  "  poisonous  stocks."  He  would  also 
know-  that  instead  of  the  stock  killing  the  scion, 
the  plant  commences  to  grow  as  soon  as  the  union 
of  the  scion  with  the  stock  takes  place,  and  con- 
tinues to  gain  vigour,  and  within  a  few  weeks  of 
being  repotted,  it  forms  new  roots  round  the  scion, 
which  further  assists  in  the  growth  of  the  plant. 

Layering  is  one  of  the  natural  methods  of 
propagation,  and  is  well  suited  where  a  limited 
quantity  of  a  particular  plant  is  required,  but  I 
should  like  to  know  how  Jlr.  Markham  would  raise 
30,000  plants  annually  on  an  economical  commer- 
cial basis  by  this  process  ? 

Mr.  Xlarkham  also  states,  "  I  ha\e  frequently 
noticed  that  where  plants  on  their  own  roots  have, 
from  one  cause  or  another,  been  damaged  above 
the  ground  Une  during  their  early  growth,  fresh 
young  wood  quickly  appears  and  fills  the  vacancy. 
There  is  thus  ample  proof  here  that  the  loss  .  .  . 
is  wholly  due  to  the  practice  of  grafting." 

.Allow  me  to  tell  Mr.  Markham  it  is  no  proot 
whatever,  because  if  grafted  plants  are  properly 
planted  with  the  scion  below  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  the  plants  will  send  up  fresh  young  shoots 
in  a  like  manner. 

-As  evidence  of  the  fallacy  of  Mr.  Markham's 
imbibed  Robinsonian  theory,  that  grafted  Clema- 
tises only  are  hable  to  "  die  back,"  it  may  interest 
your  readers  to  know  that,  when  on  a  recent  tour 
in  France,  I  visited  some  of  the  growers  of  Clema- 
tises in  that  country,  very  carefully  inspected  their 
stocks  and  saw  numerous  instances,  not  only  of 
the  established  layered  plants  having  "  died  back," 
but  also  the  layered  shoots  on  the  stools,  and  the 
stools  themselves  which  had  succumbed.  .\  gentle- 
man who  has  purchased  these  layered  plants  for 
some  years  also  volvmteered  the  information  that 
most  of  his  plants  died. 

Such  being  the  case,  will  Mr.  Markham  kindly 
explain  why  these  plants  have  been  affected,  if 
grafting  is  the  reason  for  the  "  dying  back." 

Mr.  Markham  concludes  his  article  by  stating 
that  the  use  in  France  of  C.  Viticella,  a  nati\e  of 
that  country,  as  a  stock,  is  equally  as  harmful  as 
C.  Vitalba.  I  should  like  to  know  how  C.  Viticella 
can  possibly  be  harmful  as  a  stock  for  grafting 
hybrids  of  that  species. 

My  experience  of  grafted  plants,  e-specially 
during  recent  years,  is  that  the  percentage  of  those 
affected  has  been  very  markedly  less.  A  customer 
only  this  autumn  informed  me  that  a  Clematis  my 
firm  supplied  him  with  in  spring  192 1,  had  grown 
very  vigorously  this  season  and  had  produced 
300  blossoms,  in  spite  of  the  "  poisonous  stock," 
and  I  know  of  numerous  plants  which  have  been 
established  for  several  years. — A.  G.  Jackman. 

SOWING    FREESL\    SEED. 

T  H.WE  been  asked  to  say  a  few  words  about 
sowing  Freesia  seed  in  the  late  autumn.  There 
is  no  use  crying  for  the  moon,  so  if  anyone  has 
missed  the  best  time  for  sowing,  which  I  think 
is  the  August  or  September  after  the  seed  has 
been  gathered,  he  must  make  the  best  of  it  and 
get  the  seed  in  as  soon  as  possible.  It  will  take 
considerably  longer  to  germinate,  and  possibly 
some  seeds  may  fail,  but  only  very  few.  One 
thing,  however,  is  essential,  the  sower  must  make 
sure  he  has  the  seed  garnered  in  the  last  summer — 
not  older  seed.  About  tw^o  years  ago  some  was 
sent  me  from  New  Zealand,  but  it  came  up  very 
irregularly  and  took  a  long  time  about  it.  I 
cannot  say  how  long  seed  will  keep  good,  as  now 
I  have  always  plenty  of  my  own,  but  no  doubt 
there  is  a  time  after  which  it  is  very  little  use 
Anyone  who  buys  from  the  1923  seed  catalogues 
ought  to  order  it  at  once  and  get  it  sown  as  soon 
as  ever  they   can. — Joseph  Jacob. 


A    H.\RDY    SUCCULENT. 

TT  is  now  a  good  number  of  years  since  I  first 
saw  Cotyledon  Semenovii  in  a  border  of  hardy 
flowers  in  the  garden  of  a  friend  who  has  a  special 
liking  for  such  plants.  It  had  not  found  its  way 
into  many  gardens  in  this  country  at  that  time 
and  was  quite  a  rare  plant.  It  has  been  long 
enough  in  cultivation  in  these  isles,  however, 
to  have  proved  its  suitability  for  oiu-  gardens, 
and  I  may  add  that  the  original  plant  referred 
to  above  is  still  in  the  border  in  the  same  garden 
and  has  considerably  increased  in  size  in  the  years 
which  elapsed  since  it  was  planted.  Cotyledon 
Semenovii  is,  possibly,  more  Ukely  to  find  favour 
in  the  rock  garden  than  in  the  border,  where  its 
genius  seems  less  in  agreement  with  its  neighbours, 
but  it  is  about  iSins.  high,  so  this  must  be  con- 
sidered when  planting.  It  has  the  advantage  of 
flowering  in  autumn — no  mean  consideration  in 
the  rock  garden,  where  flowers  are  frequently 
less  plentiful  at  that  season.  In  general  terms  it 
may  be  described  as  a  sedum-like,  eiect-growing 
plant  with  fleshy  leaves  and  crimson  flowers. 
Not  all  of  the  Cotyledons  are  true  hardy  perennial 
plants,  many  being  only  biennial,  but  C.  Semenovii 
is  a  true  perennial.  It  can  do  with  a  good  rich 
soil,  but  it  may  also  be  grown  in  a  poor,  dry  one, 
its  succulent  habit  rendering  it  capable  of  standing 
a  considerable  amount  of  drought.  It  is  increased 
by  division,  cuttings  or  seeds. — S.  .-Arxott. 

CERATOSTIGMA    PLL'JIBAGINOIDES. 

"  Ceratostigma  plumbagino'ides," 

Hark  to  the  sesquipedalian  roll ! 

Imagine  the  pride  of  the  Greek-seeking  gardener 

When  with  ore  rotunda  he  gets  it  out  whole. 

A  plague  on  the  fool  who,  immersed  in  his  study, 
Set  a  trap  for  the  tongues  of  the  folk  as  can't  tell ; 
Why  change  the  hard  Kappa  of  Keras  to  Ceras  ? 
There's  a  stigma  attaching  to  his  name  as  well. 

"  A  Horn's  prick  which  looks  all  the  world  like  a 

Fleawort  " 
(For  Plumbago  is  Leadwort  or  Fleawort  or  both). 
So  there's  the  plain  EngUsh  of  that  high-falutin' 
WTiich  to  most  minds  suggests  a  cutaneous  growth. 

You  dear  little  Flower  !  Does  it  really  describe  you  ? 
With  your  petals  so  blue,  and  your  leaves  all  so  red  ? 
I  believe  that  our  fatuous  botanist  named  you 
-As  he  lurched,  none  too  steadily,  up  to  his  bed. 

If  I  had  my  way  we  should  spell  that  "Oh  !  Idees  !  " 
(For  the  printer  won't  see  the  two  dots  on  the  "  i  "  ; 
And  from  peers  to  princesses  they  all  call  it  oi'des, 
.•\nd  they  will  call  it  oides,  until  they  all  die. 

Reginald  Rankin 

SOIL      STERILISATION,      AN      OBJECT 
LESSON. 

"TTHE  question  of  sterihsation  of  soils  is  becoming 
pressing  here  on  the  Riviera.  The  Carnation 
in  particular  is  so  sensitive  to  a  soil  charged,  as  it 
were,  with  its  own  excreta,  that  it  was  thought 
impossible  to  grow  this  plant  in  the  same  place 
year  after  year.  I  do  not  say  that  very  scientific 
methods  are  employed  always,  but  at  least  it  is 
universally  understood  that  burning  the  old  plants 
and  baking  as  much  of  the  soil  as  possible  is 
absolutely  necessary  to  success  and  much  of  the 
manure  that  was  used  has  been  found  to  be  the 
ver\-  means  of  propagating  fungoid  disease.  Above 
all,  the  stock  itself  must  be  free  from  this  pest,  and 
the  seed  is  sterilised  before  sowing.  The  common 
white  Madonna  Lily  is  another  plant  found 
peculiarly  liable  to  fungoid  disease,  which  fully 
accounts  for  its  failure  in  so  many  English  gardens. 
The  other  day   1   was  shewn   100  pots  of  Lilium 


candidum  grown  for  early  forcing,  and  those  who 
have  had  to  cultivate  them  in  pots  will,  I  feel  sure, 
corroborate  me  when  I  say  it  has  been  a  very 
uncertain  plant  to  cultivate  for  forcing  purposes. 
There  were  half  a  dozen  pots  at  the  end  of  the 
long  row  that  looked  unhealthy,  so  I  enquired  the 
cause.  "  Those  are  the  few  bulbs  that  were  not 
planted  in  sterilised  soil."  The  superb  health  of 
those  in  the  sterilised  soil  was  quite  a  surprise. 
The  radical  autumn  leaves  were  so  fine  that  the 
bulbs  might  have  been  grown  for  their  foliage 
only,  and  the  great  fat  central  bud  of  the  spiny 
flowering  stems  was  clearly  visible  in  mid-November. 
The  lesson  was  to  me  very  striking.  The  same 
soil — but  not  sterilised — spelt  disappointment  and 
defeat,  the  carefully  treated  soil  spelt  success.  No 
fresh  manure  of  any  sort  must,  of  course,  ever  be 
used  to  this  Lily. — E.  H.  Woodall. 

THE    HAILSHA.MBERRY. 

'T'O-D.'W  (November  24)  we  made  our  last 
gathering  of  this  most  useful  berry,  sufficient 
good  fruits  to  make  a  good-sized  tart.  I  hope 
your  readers  will  note  the  above  date.  We  cut 
the  plants  hard  down  to  the  ground  in  February  ; 
they  made  extraordinarily  proUfic  growth  and 
have  fruited  from  early  in  September  right  up  fo- 
llow. Plants  of  this  Rubus  were  first  sent  me 
as  a  present  by  my  friend  Mr.  King-Sampson  of 
the  Beacon  Hotel,  Crowborough.  He  grows  a 
large  breadth  of  it  for  use  in  the  hotel,  and  told 
me  of  its  abundant  bearing  and  sterUng  useful 
qualities.  1  would  not  be  without  it  now  on 
any  account. — F.   Herbert  Chat-man,  Rye. 

"BEAUTIFUL    FLOWERS    .\ND    HOW 
TO    GROW    THE.AI."' 

TN  your  issue  of  November  11  I  notice  with 
astonishment  a  critical  review  of  a  book  by 
Messrs.  H.  J.  and  W.  P.  Wright.  I  do  not  know 
in  w'hat  manner  this  is  now  being  issued,  but 
as  it  was  pubhshed  in  1909,  there  is  every  reason 
that  it  should  appear  "  antiquated  "  to  one  who 
had  not  seen  it  before.  It  seems  to  me  that  the 
letterpress  was  chiefly  meant  for  a  setting  to  the 
illustrations,  which  you  rightly  label  as  "  really- 
beautiful."  They  are  excellent  reproductions 
from  some  of  the  first  flower  painters  of  that 
time,  and  alone  make  the  possession  of  the  book 
a  delight.  I  confess  I  have  never  studied  the 
letterpress,  and,  possibly,  had  your  critic  known  its 
date  he  would  have  dealt  more  mercifully  with 
it. — Hedgerley. 

[The  book  was  sent  for  review  without  comment. 
It  bears  1922  on  the  title  page  and  there  is  nothing 
to  suggest  that  it  is  only  a  reprint. — Ed.] 

\'VIN'TER  GREENS  BETWEEN  OTHER 
CROPS. 

nPHE  practice,  which  so  long  held  sway,  of  plant- 
ing Winter  Greens  alternately  between  other 
crops  —  Potatoes  mostly — for  economy's  sake 
finds  few  adherents  to-day,  as  it  has  been  proved 
conclusively  time  and  again  that  there  is  no- 
advantage  whatever  to  be  derived  in  so  doing. 
The  best  winter  greens  are  produced  on  ground 
(prepared  for  by  deep  digging  and  manuring) 
set  aside  exclusively  for  them,  and  it  is  when 
an  attempt  is  made  to  wrest  from  the  soil  two- 
strong-growing  vegetables,  often  planted  in  close 
proximity  to  each  other,  that  the  folly  is  seen 
in  poor  crops  from  both.  In  no  season  are  the 
baneful  effects  of  close-cropping  so  clearly  demon- 
strated as  in  a  time  of  drought,  as  then  both 
suffer.  Winter  greens,  whether  they  be  repre- 
sented by  Savoys,  Brussels  Sprouts  or  Kale, 
take  so  much  from  the  soil  as  to  need  rich  feeding 
and  a  reasonable  amount  of  room,  and  it  is  the 
loss    of    this    that    brings    about    vegetables    of 


624 


THE     GARDEN. 


[December  9,  1922 


indifferent  quality.  There  is  no  economy  what- 
ever in  curtailing  the  root  room  of  winter  greens, 
which,  after  all,  are  an  important  item  of  food. 
Is  it  to  be  wondered  at  that  the  dreaded  club- 
root  now  finds  congenial  conditions  in  which  to 
spread  quickly  on  o%'ercrowded  and  ill-nourished 
ground  ? — W.  L.  L. 

WINTER-FLOWERING     BEGONIAS. 

TT  is  rather  surprising  that  these  beautiful 
plants  are  not  more  widely  grown  for 
the  embellishment  of  the  conservatory  during 
the  dull  winter  months.  Apart  from  the 
Gloire  de  Lorraine  section  their  culture  is  un- 
fortunately somewhat  difficult.  However,  if 
care  and  a  little  forethought  be  exercised,  a 
reasonable  amount  of  success  may  be  expected. 
Their  usefulness  as  plants  for  the  conservatory  is 
emphasised  by  the  large  collection  now  on  \'iew 
in  the  conservatory  (House  No.  4)  at  Kew.  An 
explanatory  note  accompanying  this  collection 
states  :  "  Begonia  socotrana  was  introduced  from 
the  Island  of  Socotra  in  1880  by  Professor  Bayley 
Balfour  of  Edinburgh  Botanic  Gardens.  This,  in 
itself  a  beautiful  winter-flowering  species,  proved 
of  immense  importance  as  the  progenitor  of  our 
present  day  race  of  vrinter-iiowering  Begonias. 
From  1883  Messrs.  J.  Veitch  and  Sons  produced 


many  fine  winter-flowering  varieties  by  inter- 
crossing B.  socotrana  with  various  tuberous-rooted 
varieties ;  some  of  their  latest  hybrids  being 
Exquisite,  Fascination  and  Optima,  as  shewn  in 
this  group.  Note  how  their  leaves  resemble  the 
offspring  of  the  Andrean  species.  They  have 
never  been  commonly  cultivated,  this  owing  to 
certain  cultural  difficulties.  Mons.  Lemoine  of 
Nancy,  in  1892,  crossed  B.  socotrana  with  the 
S.  .'African  B.  Dregei  ;  the  following  year,  1893,  they 
sent  out  the  resulting  hybrid,  B.  Gloire  de  Lorraine, 
of  which  there  are  now  several  varieties,  including 
several  of  American  origin,  such  as  Glory  of 
Cincinnati  and  Mrs.  Petersen."  Perhaps  one  of 
the  most  successful  amateur  growers  of  these 
Begonias  is  Sir  C.  Nail-Cain  of  Welwyn,  as  those 
who  have  seen  his  wonderful  exhibits  at  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Hall  will  testify. 
Apart  from  their  value  as  pot  plants,  B.  Gloire  de 
Lorraine  and  its  varieties  are  among  the  most 
useful  of  plants  for  basket  work.  Among  the  sorts 
to  be  seen  at  Kew  are  the  w'ell  known  and  beautiful 
Optima,  Exquisite  ;  BB.  Mrs.  Heal,  Scottiana, 
Bavaria,  Ingrami,  Gloire  de  Lorraine  Mrs.  Roths- 
child, G.  de  Lorraine  Turnford  Hall,  polyantha 
(from  Mexico),  Miss  E.  CUbran,  Sunrise,  Fascina- 
tion, Dregei,  socotrana.  Glory  of  Cincinnati, 
Sanders  and  Mrs.  Petersen.  An  admirably  grown 
and  comprehensive  collection  ! — G.  H. 


SEWAGE     MANURE 


ITS     USE    AND     VALUE 


IT  is  interesting  to  note  that  sewage  manure 
(as  such)  is  now  being  advertised  in  the 
gardening  Press  as  a  commercial  proposition, 
but  there  will  doubtless  be  a  great  many 
gardeners  who  read  such  advertisements,  but 
who  hesitate  to  purchase  sewage  manure  from 
those  who  offer  it,  despite  the  acute  shortage  of 
dung  in  many  districts,  thinking  that  it  will  not 
give  satisfactory  results  and  thus  serve  no  useful 
purpose,  but  be  money  wasted  if  it  is  used.  Such 
fears  are  groundless  and  therefore  the  fullest  use 
should  be  made  of  the  material  as  a  substitute 
for  dung,  since  it  is,  with  certain  striking  exceptions, 
quite  a  good  one. 

I  have  no  wish  to  draw  attention  to  my  own 
work  on  sew'age  manure  in  connexion  with  manuring 
of  gardens  and  allotments,  as  most  readers  have 
probably  read  the  results  of  my  experiments  else- 
where, but  I  may  say  for  the  benefit  of  those  who 
have  not,  that  I  went  into  the  matter  pretty  fully 
quite  recently  and  found  that  many  of  the  objec- 
tions to  using  sewage  manure  were  hollow  ones, 
and  that  it  generally  gave  quite  satisfactory  results 
considering  its  somewhat  variable  composition. 

If  full  use  is  to  be  made  of  sewage  manure  this 
winter  and  next  year,  what  are  some  of  the  most 
important  points  in  connexion  with  it  ?  it  may  be 
asked.  First  of  all  I  place  the  matter  of  price,  and 
bearing  in  mind  that  samples  are  rarely  as  rich  in 
fertilising  material  as  an  equal  weight  (not  bulk) 
of  dung,  a  low  price  should  consequently  be  paid 
for  what  may  justly  be  termed  an  inferior  manure, 
I  see  it  advertised  at  half  a  guinea  per  ton,  carriage 
forward  from  London,  in  four  ton  truck  loads,  and 
this  is  the  maximum  price  which  should  be  paid.  It 
will  probably  be  found  possible  if  the  matter  is 
taken  up  by  the  gardening  public,  to  put  it  on 
rail  later  at  8s.  od.  per  ton — one  hopes  so — as  this 
would  be  a  price  that  no  one  need  hesitate  to  pay 
with  the  assurance  that  it  would  be  money  well 
expended. 

I  have  not  so  far  examined  or  tested  samples  of 
the  sewage  manure  being  offered  as  a  commercial 


article,  so  cannot  speak  definitely  as  to  its  composi- 
tion. The  samples  used  for  my  experiments  were 
samples  of  the  pressed  sludge  cake  and  other 
materials  from  actual  sew'age  works  and  these  were 
found  on  analysis  to  be  very  low  in  potash  content. 
Therefore  it  was  necessary  to  bring  this  up  by 
adding  potash  in  some  form  or  other,  the  most 
economical  material  being  shown  to  be  ordinary 
factory  flue  dust.  The  actual  amount  to  add  varies 
obviously  with  the  analysis  of  the  sample  of  flue 
dust  to  be  used,  but  my  aim  w-as  to  get  about 
4lbs.  of  potash  into  each  ton  of  the  sewage  material. 
Considerably  more  could  be  used  with  advantage 
in  the  case  of  root  crops  and  Potatoes,  which  are 
very  partial  to  potash,  but  a  4lb.-per-ton-standard 
was  shewn  to  be  quite  sufficient  for  ordinary 
work. 

Now  as  regard  the  special  soils  most  benefited 
by  the  use  of  sewage  manure,  the  opposite  takes 
place  to  what  one  would  expect.  Many  casual 
observers  of  sewage  manure  either  in  its  dried  or 
undried  condition  would  regard  it  as  a  good  binding 
agent  for  light  and  chalky  soils,  but  on  the  contrary 
it  is  an  opening  material  much  more  suitable  for 
heavy  clay  land  than  for  light  sandy  soil  and  almost 
equally  useful  on  strong  marly  ground.  If  an 
average  sample  be  taken  and  rubbed  in  the  palm 
of  the  hand  it  will  prove  to  be  far  less  sticky  and 
greasy  than  one  would  expect,  and  in  many  cases 
abundance  of  sand  can  be  noticed  in  it.  This  is 
exceedingly  useful  as  an  opening  agent  on  strong 
soils,  and  advantage  should  be  taken  of  the  fact. 
Where,  however,  mechanical  analysis  (which  can 
easily  be  carried  out  by  any  gardener  who  does 
not  mind  going  to  a  bit  of  trouble),  shews  that  there 
is  more  sand  in  it  than  15  per  cent.,  or  at  the  very 
most  20  per  cent.,  a  considerably  lower  price  should 
be  paid  for  it,  as  one  is  paying  for  sand  in  such 
eases  and  not  for  manure. 

The  amount  of  actual  humus  in  sewage  manure 
varies  between  wide  limits.  I  have  had  samples 
which,  on  being  put  through  the  process  of 
mechanical  analvsis  shewed  that  thev  contained  as 


much  as  50  per  cent,  of  organic  matter.  Average 
samples  are  generally  ranch  nearer  20  per  cent.,  and 
on  strong  soils  this  is  quite  sufficient.  I  might 
mention  that  the  samples  richest  in  humus  can  be 
used  with  fair  advantage  on  hght  soils,  but  that 
the  humus  appears  to  be  very  easily  washed  out  of 
such  soils,  far  more  quickly  than,  say,  the  humus 
produced  from  decomposing  vegetable  manure. 

Sewage  manure  often  contains  a  large  quantity 
of  chalk,  but  this  should  never  exceed  45  per  cent, 
at  the  very  most,  since  one  does  not  want  to  pay 
for  chalk  at  the  manure  rate.  About  35  per  cent. 
is  a  fair  average,  and  a  pretty  good  idea  of  the 
amount  present  can,  of  course,  be  obtained  readily 
by  testing  the  material  in  the  well  known  way  with 
hydrochloric  acid.  It  is  not  necessary  to  give 
details  of  the  method  here.  Dried  sludge  or  dried 
sewage  manure  as  it  is  more  politely  called,  should 
not  contain  more  than  5  per  cent,  of  water,  the 
wet  material,  of  course,  containing  a  variable  and 
comparatively  large  amount  of  water  (which  by 
the  way  makes  the  carriage  mount  up). 

I  have  used  sewage  manure  so  far  to  a  limited 
extent  only  in  the  case  of  flowers,  but  with  very 
good  results  in  each  case,  it  being  proved  quite 
suitable  for  the  manuring  of  borders  intended  for 
and  afterwards  sown  or  planted  with  hardy  annuals 
and  hardy  herbaceous  perenrdals.  Whether  it 
w-Ul  last  as  long  as  dung  in  the  case  of  borders  of  the 
latter,  which  are  left  down  for  a  number  of  years 
is,  of  course,  impossible  to  say  at  present,  but  one 
hopes  for  the  best.  In  the  case  of  vegetables, 
with  a  few  striking  exceptions  such  as  the  more 
salading  kind  of  vegetable,  which  roots  in  the 
surface  soil  and  requires  a  very  rich  medium  to 
give  its  highest  return,  sewage  manure  was  shown 
to  be  of  equal,  if  not  greater  value  than  dung, 
provided,  of  course,  that  it  was  not  used  too  fresh, 
for  it  is  then  full  of  germinating  weed  seeds  which 
give  a  good  deal  of  trouble.  Potatoes  gave  a 
heavy  crop  with  it,  and  root  crops  generally,  if 
supplemented  with  potash,  could  be  grown  with 
it  of  very  high  quality  indeed.  A  poor  soil  could,  it 
was  shown,  be  brought  up  into  a  high  state  of 
fertility  by  its  general  use  with  very  Uttle  danger 
of  fanging  the  roots,  whereas  dung  would  fang 
them  directly.  Peas  and  Beans  can  be  grown  in 
trenches  manured  with  sewage  manure  in  just  the 
same  way  as  one  would  manure  with  dung,  using 
slightly  less  of  the  material  and  not  more,  as  some 
might  expect.  Cabbage  crops  were  shown  to  do 
very  well  with  it,  but  its  use  does  not,  unfortunately, 
cure  clubroot  disease,  as  some  writers  claim.  On 
acid  soils  it  appears  to  aggravate  this  disease, 
unless  it  contains  a  high  percentage  of  lime,  and 
it  will  probably  also  aggravate  wart  disease  in 
Potatoes  on  land  affected  by  that  serious  malady, 
as  the  two  diseases  are  related.  Land  on  which  my 
experiments  were  carried  out  was  free  from  wart, 
and  I  was  unable  to  use  it  on  any  infected  area  to 
note  its  effects. 

About  how  much  should  one  use  ?  That  is  a 
question  which  must,  of  course,  depend  very  largely 
on  the  poorness  or  richness  of  the  soil  on  which 
one  is  working.  A  good  average  dressing  appears 
to  be  2i  tons  to  3  tons  per  1,000  sq.  yds.,  or  under 
14  tons  per  acre.  This,  compared  with  the  weight 
of  dung  usually  applied  is  economical  both  in 
quantity  and  price.  Poor  soils  must  obviously  have 
more,  and  on  very  poor  land  (or  one  might  say  the 
poorest  land  of  all),  the  amount  could  be  increased 
by  as  much  as  50  per  cent.,  while  on  rich  land  it 
could  be  decreased  in  nearly  the  same  proportion. 

I  hope  this  little  sketch  of  the  use,  etc.,  of 
sewage  manure  will  induce  many  other  gardeners 
to  take  it  up.  1  was  very  far  from  being  dis- 
appointed with  the  results  I  obtained  from  its  use, 
and  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  other 
gardeners  will  be  equally  pleased  if  they  will  give 
it  a  fair  trial.  E.  T.  Ellis. 


December  g,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


625 


GARDENING    OF    THE    WEEK 


FOR     SOUTHERN     GARDENS. 
The   Kitchen   Garden. 

Roots  in  Store,  particularly  Onions,  should  be 
looked  over  when  the  weather  is  unsuitable  for 
outside  worli  and  those  found  in  an  unsatisfactory 
state  placed  ready  for  immediate  use.  The  bulbs 
did  not  ripen  too  well  in  this  neighboiu-hood  this 
season,  and  unless  storage  quarters  are  very  good 
it  will  be  impossible  to  keep  them  very  late  in  the 
spring.  Potatoes,  too,  need  attention  and  tubers 
required  for  seed  should  be  laid  out  thinly  in  shallow 
trays  or  spread  out  on  a  cool  store  stage,  where 
it  is  convenient  to  look  over  them  occasionally  for 
disease,  etc. 

Uncropped  Land. — Make  the  best  use  of  dry 
days  to  get  carting  or  wheeling  of  necessary 
manure  on  these  plots  done,  so  that,  as  opportunity 
offers,  the  work  of  digging  or  trenching  will  not 
be  held  up.  It  should  be  arranged  so  that  the 
heaviest  land  receives  such  a  dressing  as  decayed 
leaves,  strawy  manure  and  decaying  greenstuff, 
and  the  lighter  soil  such  as  cow  and  pig 
manure,  etc.  Throw  the  ground  up  roughly  so 
that  the  weather  may  have  full  play  upon  it. 

Autumn  Sown  Cauliflowers  which  were 
pricked  out  in  frames  must  receive  plenty  of  air 
whenev'er  the  weather  is  at  all  open,  as  any 
coddling  of  the  plants  will  only  spoil  them,  par- 
ticularly so  when  such  treatment  encourages  a 
close  damp  atmosphere.  Stir  the  soil  a  Uttle 
occasionally  and  guard  against  slugs.  If  no  plants 
were  potted  up  and  it  is  desired  to  bring  a  few 
along  more  quickly,  lift  the  more  forward  of  them 
now  and  pot  fairly  firmly  into  4in.  pots. 

The  Flower  Garden. 
Protecting  Plants. — It  will  be  advisable  to 
make  the  necessary  arrangements  for  the  pro- 
tection of  the  various  shrubs,  etc.,  which  will 
shortly  need  it,  should  a  cold  spell  be  experienced. 
A  suitable  protection  may  be  afforded  with  matting 
material  or  with  evergreen  boughs.  To  fix  which- 
ever is  chosen  in  position  for  single  plants,  or  small 
groups,  some  stout  stakes  driven  into  the  ground 
and  fastened  securely  at  the  top  will  offer  a  ready 
means  of  attaching  the  covering.  It  may  only  be 
necessary  in  some  cases  to  check  the  north  and 
east  winds  having  full  play,  and  this  may  be  dealt 
with  by  interlacing  plenty  of  evergreen  boughs  in 
among  some  wattle  hurdles  made  sufficiently 
high  to  suit  the  purpose.  It  should  never  be  for- 
gotten that  to  afford  plenty  of  protection  to  the 
roots  and  base  of  the  plants  is  of  even  greater 
importance  than  giving  top  covering  in  many 
cases,  so,  when  dealing  with  any  plants  of  doubtful 
or  unknown  hardihood,  put  a  good  covering  of 
ashes  round  the  plants  and  use  some  dry  bracken 
fern  in  among  the  lower  branches  and  around  the 
stems.  Shrubs  on  walls  or  against  buildings  are 
easily  protected  either  with  mats  or  boughs,  taking 
care  they  are  made  quite  secure  against  strong 
wind.  Bush  Roses  needing  protection  may  have 
some  dry  soil  moulded  cone-fashion  round  the  stems, 
interlacing  at  the  same  time,  if  necessary,  a  Uttle 
bracken  among  the  shoots.  Standards  may  have 
some  of  this  material  worked  among  the  growths. 

The   Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

General  Work. — If  planting  or  root  pruning 
has  been  held  up,  lose  no  time  if  the  soil  is  work- 
able in  getting  this  finished.  Place  a  good 
mulching  of  leaves  and  strawy  manure  round  newly 
planted  Apples,  Pears,  etc.,  to  keep  them  warm  at 
the  root.  Should  woolly  aphis  be  attacking  any 
of  the  trees,  the  present  time  is  a  suitable  one  for 
dealing  with  it,  either  with  a  strong  spray  or,  better 
still,  if  time  can  be  found,  go  over  the  affected 
branches  separately  with  a  good  stout  paint  brush, 
taking  care  that  none  of  the  pests  is  overlooked. 
A  paraffin  emulsion  preparation  is  as  good  as 
anything  for  this  pest. 

Fruits  Under  Glass. 
Strawberries. — Plenty  of  time  should  always 
be  allowed  for  bringing  along  the  early  batches  of 
pot  Strawberries,  as  hard  forcing  may  easily  mean 
I  the  loss  of  the  crop.  There  are  several  suitable 
places  for  giving  the  plants  a  gentle  start,  such  as 
on  shelves  near  the  glass  in  a  slightly  heated  fruit 
house,  or  in  a  moderately  warm  plant  house  in 
similar  position,  or  again  in  a  lean-to  pit  facing  south. 
For  choice  the  last  named  is  the  best,  especially 
when  it  can  be  arranged  for  a  bed  of  leaves  to  be 
placed  in  it.  This  bed  of  leaves,  when  made 
thoroughly  firm,  wiU  give  a  gentle,  regular  heat, 
which  is  very  helpful  in  encouraging  the  plants  into 
a  healthy,  active  state  at  the  roots.  The  plants, 
having  been  cleared  of  decayed  leaves,  etc.,  and 


had    their    pots   cleansed    and    the   drainage   ex- 
amined, should  be  stood  on  the   leaves  for  about  a 
fortnight   when  they  may  be  plunged    into    them. 
Avoid  excessive  moisture  for  some  weeks. 
H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 
Alhury  Park  Gardens,  Guildjord. 


FOR     NORTHERN     GARDENS. 

The   Kitchen  Garden. 

General  Work. — Remove  all  decaying  leaves 
from  among  the  Brussels  Sprouts  and  Green  Kale,  so 
that  more  air  may  circulate  about  the  plants. 
This  assists  in  firming  the  stems  and  imparts  a 
much  tidier  appearance  to  the  garden.  Swedes 
may  be  cleared  from  the  ground  and  stored  in 
suitable  quarters  for  winter  use.  A  quantity 
of  Horseradish  may  also  be  lifted  now  and  stored 
for  convenience  during  wintry  weather. 

Mushrooms. — Beds  spawned  six  or  seven  weeks 
ago  will  now  be  shewing  freely  so  should  have  the 
straw  covering  removed.  Successional  beds  should 
now  be  spawned  and  soiled  down,  keeping  up  an 
even  temperature  of  from  60°  to  65°.  Excessive 
heat  should  be  guarded  against,  it  being  wise 
to  err  on  the  low  side  rather  than  have  the  tem- 
perature too  high.  Spray  the  paths  and  walls 
close  to  the  hot-water  pipes  morning  and  afternoon. 

Parsley. — Where  provision  has  been  made  for 
winter  supplies  by  planting  in  frames,  close 
attention  should  be  given  the  plants  in  the  way 
of  free  ventilation  so  that  damping  oft  of  the  leaves 
inav  be  kept  in  check.  Pick  oS  all  decayed 
growths  and  afford  suitable  protection  during 
se\'ere  frost. 

Perpetual  Spinach  proves  a  welcome  addition 
to  the  winter  supplies,  being  hardy  and  of  free 
growth.  Run  the  hoe  between  the  rows  at  frequent 
intervals  so  that  the  surface  soil  may  be  kept 
stirred  and  thus  encourage  further  growth  while 
the  weather  is  open. 

Cauliflowers. — Young  plants  growing  in  frames 
for  early  planting  require  abundance  of  ventilation 
so  that  they  may  be  kept  from  making  too  much 
soft  growth  as  well  as  to  prevent  the  leaves  from 
becoming  mildewed.  Stir  the  soil  between  the 
plants  with  a  pointed  stick  and  keep  the  soil  on 
the  dry  side  during  the  dull  w'inter  months. 

The   Hardy   Fruit  Garden. 

Red  and  White  Currants. — When  pruning  Red 
and  White  Currants  the  side  growths  should  be 
well  cut  back  to  two  or  three  buds,  leaving  about 
6ins.  of  extension  wood  where  necessary.  The 
cordon  method  of  training  these  Currants  is  to 
be  commended,  as  the  fruit  grown  on  cordon  trees 
is  generally  of  excellent  quahty  and  large  size. 
A  quantity  trained  on  a  north  wall  ensures  late 
suppUes,  while  the  fruit  can  be  more  readily  pro- 
tected from  birds  and  is  easily  gathered. 

Black  Currants  should  not  be  subjected  to 
spur  pruning  as  the  finest  fruit  is  produced  on  the 
previous  year's  growths.  Retain  a  few  of  the  best 
placed  basal  growths  to  take  the  place  of  old  or 
exhausted  branches  which  should  be  removed. 
.'\ny  young  shoots  of  undue  length  should  also  be 
cut  back,  while  bushes  carrying  dense  growth 
should  receive  a  judicious  thinning,  keeping  the 
centre  of  the  bushes  open.  In  gardens  where 
caterpillars  have  been  troublesome  during  the 
past  season  the  soil  should  be  removed  from 
beneath  the  bushes  to  a  depth  of  sins,  or  4ins., 
replacing  it  with  fresh  compost.  A  light  dressing 
of  newly  slaked  lime  will  prove  beneficial  to  the 
roots  and  act  as  a  deterrent  to  the  many  insect 
pests  which  attack  fruit  trees.  A  dusting  of  soot 
and  Hme  should  also  be  given  the  bushes  as  it 
renders  the  bark  clean  and  bright. 

Planting  should  be  pushed  forward  whenever 
the  state  of  the  soil  and  weather  conditions  will 
allow.  After  planting  apply  a  mulch  of  short 
litter  or  old  hot-bed  manure,  as  this  assists  in 
protecting  the  roots  from  severe  frost. 
The   Flower  Garden. 

Early-flowering  Gladoli  always  find  favour 
where  cut  flowers  are  in  demand,  especially  The 
Bride  and  Blushing  Bride,  two  excellent  and  easily 
grown  sorts.  This  section  of  the  Gladiolus  family 
rather  favours  a  fight  soil,  but  on  hea\-y  land  will 
do  quite  well  if  the  bulbs  are  surrounded  by  a 
mixture  of  leaf-mould  and  sand  more  quickly  to 
encourage  root  action.  Plant  the  bulbs  fairly 
closely  and  not  too  deeply.  Choose  a  suiiny 
position  for  the  bed.        James  McGran 

(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.), 

Coodham,   Kilmarnock. 


GREENHOUSE    AND    CONSERVATORY. 

Oranges  are  what  the  gardener  usually  describes 
as  "  dirty  plants,"  and  not  without  good 
reason,  for  they  are  very  subject  to  attacks  of 
scale  and  mealy  bug  ;  both  of  them  troublesome 
pests,  the  former  especially  being  difficult  to 
keep  in  check.  The  best  preventive  I  loiow  of 
is  a  paraffin  and  soft  soap  emulsion,  with  which 
they  should  be  sprayed  once  a  week.  If  the 
plants  are  in  pots  or  tubs,  they  should  be  laid  on 
their  sides  to  prevent  the  liquid  running  into  the 
pots  ;  if  the  plants  are  planted  out  in  beds  or 
borders,  it  is  wise  to  lay  old  sacking  or  some 
such  material  on  the  surface  of  the  border.  During 
wet  days  some  of  the  outdoor  staff  should  be  put 
on  to  sponge  the  plants  thoroughly.  Oranges 
are  not  much  in  favour  at  the  present  day,  yet 
their  blossom  and  fruit  always  attract  attention, 
and  they  are  really  among  the  best  of  evergreen 
shrubs  for  furnishing  the  conservatory  as, 
beyond  keeping  clean,  they  require  very  little 
attention.  They  are  excellent  for  growing  in 
tubs,  but  are  possibly  at  their  best  when  planted 
out  in  beds  or  borders  in  a  cool  conservatory. 
Pruned  and  trained  in  much  the  same  way  as 
Peach  trees  they  are  excellent  for  covering  walls. 
Oranges  enjoy  a  rich  medium  loam,  and  when 
repotting  or  top-dressing  plants  a  6in.  potful  of 
fine  bone-meal  should  be  added  to  every  bushel 
of  soil. 

Paraffin    and    Soap     Emulsion.  —  There     is 

possibly  no  better  or  more  effective  insecticide 
in  the  garden  than  paraffin,  when  properly  and 
intelligently  used.  On  the  other  hand,  this  is 
one  of  the  most  dangerous  insecticides  w-hen 
improperly  emulsed.  Even  at  the  present  day  it 
is  surprising  how.  often  when  its  use  is  advised 
one  reads  something  like  this  :  "  Mix  a  wine- 
glassful  of  paraffin  in  a  bucketful  of  soft  soap  and 
hot  water,  and  when  applying  it  have  an  assistant 
to  keep  it  constantly  agitated  with  a  syringe." 
This  is  a  more  or  less  useless  precaution,  as  the 
mixture  is  no  sooner  sprayed  on  the  plants  than 
the  oil  separates  out  again.  It  is  unnecessary 
to  run  this  risk  of  injury  to  plants,  as  it  is  quite 
easy  to  make  a  safe  emulsion  in  either  of  the  follow- 
ing ways  :  Take  141b.  of  soft  soap  and  place  in 
an  old  pot  or  bucket  with  half  a  pint  of  water. 
Place  on  the  fire  and  when  dissolved  remove  from 
the  fire  and  add  i  gallon  of  paraffin,  stirring  until 
it  thoroughly  combines  with  the  soft  soap.  This 
may  be  put  aw-ay  in  tins  or  jars,  and  will  keep  for 
any  length  of  time  without  the  oil  separating  out. 
The  other  way  is  to  mi,\  them  cold,  working  the 
soft  soap  and  paraffin  together  until  they  combine. 
It  is  not  so  quick  as  the  former  method,  but  there 
is  no  doubt  about  their  perfect  combination, 
as  this  mixture  will  blend  with  cold  water  like 
milk  and  never  shew  a  trace  of  oil.  With  the 
above  emulsions  20ZS.  to  i  gallon  of  water  may  be 
safely  used  for  most  plants,  but  of  course  the 
quantities  must  be  varied  for  different  classes  of 
plants  ;  the  age  of  the  foUage  must  also  be  taken 
into  account.  Whenever  possible  soft  water 
should  be  used  for  mixing  insecticides,  and  they 
are  always  more  effective  when  applied  warm. 
In  fact,  boiling  water  alone  is  an  excellent  insecti- 
cide, and  it  is  surprising  the  number  of  plants 
that  will  stand  spraying  with  "  boiHng  "  water.  Of 
course  it  is  not  boiling  by  the  time  it  reaches 
the  plants  through  a  fine  spray. 

Choisya  ternata  (Mexican  Orange  Blossom). — 
This  shrub,  although  hardy  in  the  open  in  many 
localities,  is  worth  growing,  especially  in  the 
colder  parts  of  the  country,  for  conservatory 
decoration.  It  flowers  freely  in  small  pots,  and 
makes  fine  specimens  when  grown  in  large  pots 
or  tubs.  It  is  easily  rooted  during  the  spring  by 
means  of  short,  half-ripened  shoots,  standing 
them  in  a  close  case  in  a  cool  house,  or  cuttings 
may  be  dibbled  into  a  cold  frame  during  the 
autumn.  Such  cuttings  should  make  nice  plants 
the  following  season. 

Viburnum  Tinus  (Laurustinus). — This  is  also 
very  useful  for  furnishing  the  cool  conservator^', 
and  along  with  the  Choisya  is  excellent  for  un- 
heated  houses.  This  Viburnum  is  fairly  hardy 
outdoors  in  the  London  neighbourhood,  especialh' 
on  light  soils.  It  flowers  more  or  less  from 
September  until  March,  according  to  the  state 
of  the  weather.  \Ve,  in  the  more  favoured  parts 
of  the  country,  are,  I  am  afraid,  somewhat  apt 
to  forget  our  friends  in  less  favoured  parts.  Hence 
plants  that  we  have  come  to  look  upon  as  common 
outdoors  may  under  less  favourable  conditions 
be  well  worth  the  shelter  of  a  cold  house.  This 
is  my  reason  for  mentioning  what  to  many  may 
seem  common  plants.  The  newer  Viburnums, 
Carlesii  and  odoratum,  have  so  far  proved  hardy 
in  the  South,  but  here  in  the  open  the  flowers  of 
the  former  nearly^  always  get  more  or  less  damaged 


626 


by  spring  frosts.  It  should  thus  be  an  ideal 
plant  for  an  unhealed  house  in  the  North. 

Jasminum  nudiflorum  (Winter  jasmine).— 
\\'ell  grown  specimens  in  pots  of  this  connnon 
plant  are  very  charming  for  a  cool  or  unheated 
house.  J.  CouTTS. 

Royal  Bolanic  Gardens,  Kew. 


OBITUARY 


HENRY    JOHN    EL  WES. 

The  death  of  H.  J.  Elwes,  F.R.S  ,  at  his  residence, 
Colesbome,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six,  severs 
another  of  the  links  which  connect  the  Victorian 
giants  in  the  world  of  horticulture  and  botanv 
with  the  students  and  adventurers  of  this  post-war 
age.  A  great  traveller,  Mr.  Elwes  was  a  horticul- 
tural authority  of  the  first  water.  His  monograph 
on  the  genus  Lilium,  published  in  1880,  is  still  a 
standard  work.  In  collaboration  with  Professor 
Henry  he  produced  "  The  Trees  of  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland,"  which  was  issued  in  seven  volumes 
(1906-1913).  This  is  a  magnificent  and  monu- 
mental work  and  must  have  necessitated  a  vast 
deal  of  labour,  but  Mr.  Elwes  possessed  application 
in  marked  degree,  as  well  as  the  capacity  for  taking 
infinite  pains  to  verify  information.  Upon  the 
labour  he  devoted  to  the  hybridisation  and 
improvement  of  the  Nerine  there  is  no  need  to 
dwell.  It  is  to  some  extent  dealt  with  on  another 
page.  Mr.  Elwes  had  a  fine  collection  of  Succulents 
at  Colesborne  and  his  collections  of  the  smaller 
bulbous  plants,  such  as  Crocuses,  Snowdrops, 
Fritillarias  and  Tulips,  were  well  known  and  many 
of  the  species  were  collected  and  introduced  by 
himself.  Why  particularise,  however  ?  He  had  a 
comprehensive  knowledge  of  all  branches  of  horti- 
culture and  was  an  admirable  botanist. 

He  was  a  traveller  in  the  best  sense  of  the  word. 
There  was  nothing  of  the  Cook's  tourist  about 
Henry  J.  Elwes !  From  Asia  Minor  to  far-off 
Japan  and  from  India  to  Siberia,  there  were  few 
extensive  regions  of  .^sia  which  he  had  not  explored. 
North  America,  including  Mexico,  was  also  famihar 
ground  to  him.  Xor  did  he  neglect  Europe  to 
wander  afield.  Few  living  Englishmen  know  as 
much  of  the  different  European  countries  as  did 
the  man  whose  loss  we  lament.  The  plants  he 
introduced  would  alone  furnish  a  respectable 
catalogue  ! 

A  Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society  since  iSg;  and 
a  Victoria  MedalUst  of  Honour,  he  was  largely 
instrumental  in  bringing  about  the  resuscitation  of 
that  venerable  and  important  pubhcation  the 
"  Botanical  Magazine."  As  gardeners  we  are  apt 
to  think  of  Mr.  Elwes  as  a  great  collector,  gardener 
and  botanist,  but,  in  truth,  his  interests  were  infi- 
nitely wider.  He  was,  in  192 1,  elected  President  of 
the  British  Ornithological  Union  and  contributed  as 
long  ago  as  1873  an  important  paper  "  On  the 
Geographical  Distribution  of  Asiatic  Birds."  He  was 
also  a  Past  President  of  the  Entomological  Society, 
his  interest  centring  principally  on  the  lepidoptera! 

His  interests,  when  at  home,  were  not  entirely 
confined  to  his  collections  of  trees  and  plants  and 
his  scientific  pursuits,  for  he  was  fond  of  hunting, 
and  in  his  younger  days  was  an  adept  with  the 
rifle.  There  are,  indeed  many  quarters  from  which 
his  massive  frame  and  resonant  voice  will  be  sadly 
missed. 


SIR    ISAAC    B.^YLEY     BALFOVJR. 

We  hope  in  our  next  issue  to  pubhsh  an  apprecia- 
tion of  Professor  Sir  Isaac  Bayley  Balfour,  K.B.E., 
F.R.S.,  who  for  many  years  was  Regius  Keeper  of 
the  Edinburgh  Botanic  Gardens  and  Professor  of 
Botany  at  Edinburgh  University.  His  death  at 
the  age  of  sixty-nine  occurred  at  Court  Hill, 
Haslemere,  on  30th  ult. 


THE     GARDEN. 

The  Blueberry.— For  a  moist  but  not  heavy 
loam  or  peaty  soil  the  Blueberry  of  America, 
Vaccinium  corymbosum,  is  an  admirable  shrub, 
attaining  a  height  of  some  Sft.  or  more  and  spread- 
ing to  fully  that  width.  It  is  a  deciduous  species, 
and  the  fresh  green  leaves  of  spring  are  followed 
by  clusters  of  pendent  waxen' bells  in  a  clear  pink. 
In  the  later  summer  the  blue  and  luscious  fruits 
ripen,  and  these  are  said  to  be  as  good  to  eat  as 
they  are  to  look  upon.  But  V.  corymbosum 
is,  perhaps,  most  noteworthy  as  an  autumn  foliage 
shrub,  the  leaves  assuming  a  vivid  blood  red 
before  they  fall. 

The  Sensitive  Fern.- The  North  .American 
species,  Onoclea  sensibilis,  is  a  Fern  which  merits 
a  wider  popularity  than  it  now  enjoys,  for  there 
can  be  few  plants  more  delightful  for  a  cool,  rather 
moist  spot  in  partial  shade.  O.  sensibilis  is  remark- 
able for  the  beautiful,  soft  emerald-green  of  its 
bluntly-lobed  fronds,  especially  when  these  first 
appear  in  spring,  while  the  warm,  even  shade  of 
golden  buff  which  they  assume  in  autumn  is  hardly 
less  attractive.  This  Fern  is  most  suitably  placed 
among  the  more  lowly  peat  plants,  or  in  a  cool  bed 
where  it  can  be  associated  with  such  as  hardy 
Orchises  and  Cyclamens,  dwarf  Anemones  and 
any  of  the  smaller  spring-flowering  bulbs  that  will 
do  in  such  conditions.  Spreading  by  means  of 
tmderground  rhizomes  the  Sensitive  Fern  will  cover 
thinly  a  considerable  space,  but  it  is  not  generally 
a  rapid  or  in  any  sense  a  rampant  grower.  The 
height  of  the  fronds  is  about  ift.,  but  this  varies 
considerably  according  to  soil  and  moisture. 

The  Cocltspur  Thorn.— A  tree  somewhat 
Uttle  known  yet  of  great  decorative  value  is  the 
Cockspur  Thorn,  Cratjegus  Crus-gaUi.  Perhaps 
the  most  valuable  characteristic  of  this  tree  is 
the  remarkable  beauty  of  its  autumnal  foUage. 
With  the  "  fall  of  the  year  "  the  leafage  assumes 
various  and  wonderful  tints  of  fiery  red,  golden 
and  sulphur  yellow  and  intermediate  shades  of 
fawn,  thus  forming  an  effect  both  brilliant  and 
artistically  harmonious.  It  should  not  be  supposed 
that  this  autumnal  display  of  splendour  terminates 
its  season  of  beauty,  for  with  the  falling  of  the 
leaves  the  handsome  bright  red  berries  are  revealed. 
These  are  considerably  larger  in  size  than  the 
majority  of  Thorn  berries  and  measure  about 
half  an  inch  in  diameter.  The  berries  continue 
to  adorn  the  branches  for  the  greater  part  of  the 
winter.  With  the  coming  of  spring  the  tree  is 
again  beautiful  with  fresh  green  leaves  and  white 
blossom.  This  Crataegus  forms  a  tree  of  but 
moderate  size,  seldom  exceeding  some  20ft.  in 
height.  It  can  therefore  be  relied  on  not  unduly 
to  monopolise  space  even  in  quite  small  gardens, 
where  it  might  very  advantageously  displace  the 
unsuitable  specimens  of  common  Poplar,  Lime, 
etc.,  too  frequently  met  with.  The  Cockspur 
Thorn  has  been  so  named  on  account  of  the  curious 
shape  of  the  long  thorns  on  the  branches.  Cratajgus 
Crus-galli  is  a  native  of  North  .iimerica.  It 
requires  little  or  no  attention  in  regard  to  pruning 
and  is  also  easily  catered  for  in  respect  to  soil, 
for  it  wiU  thrive  on  almost  any  ground  of  moderate 
fertility. 


Rose  Trials  at  Wisley.— The  Director  of  Wisley 
has  the  pleasure  to  say  that  the  land  set  aside 
for  the  rose-trial  ground  in  the  Gardens  of  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society  is  now  ready  for 
planting.  He  would  be  glad  if  those  desiring  to 
send  Roses  for  trial  this  season  would  let  him  know- 
as  soon  as  possible,  and  will  be  pleased  to  send  the 
necessary  entry  forms.  All  types  of  Roses  will  be 
included  in  the  trials.  All  communications  should 
be  addressed  to  The  Director,  R.H.S.  Gardens, 
Wisley,  Ripley,  Surrey.  (Goods :  Horsley  ' 
L.   and  S.W.Ry.) 


[December  9,  1922. 

ANSWERS 
TO  CORRESPONDENTS 

FLO^VEK    GARDEN. 

PLANTS  FOR  A  MIXED  BORDER  (C.  M,  W.)  — Our 

corrcspoiidcnt  must  not  enrich  the  soil  unduly  if  tlii; 
plants  arc  not  to  grow  too  nigh.  The  following,  if  plantcj 
in  a  soil  of  m-dium  richness,  will  attain  to  the  desired 
height.  For  the  back  of  the  border  use  Erj-n^iuni 
alpinum,  E.  campestrc,  E.  Bourgati,  E.  tripa'rtitum, 
.\stcr  amethystinus,  Aconitum  Fischcri,  Ecliinops  Ritro 
C.impanula  E.  Molynoux.  C.  Van  Houttei.  C.  carpatica 
Riverslea,  Centaurea  montana,  Aquilegia  hybrida  Coerulca 
in  variety,  Scabiosa  caucasica.  For  centre,  the  seven  last 
named  will  bo  ideal.  For  the  front,  next  to  tlie  Nepeta, 
use  the  following :  Gentiana  Andrewsii,  G.  Cruciata 
li.  macrophylla,  G.  purpurea,  G.  scabra.  Anemone  apennina 
purpurea  and  Violas.  These  are  all  blue.  Lilac,  violet 
or  purple  colours  will  be  available  m  Asters,  Delphiniums 
Ins,  Pyrcthrum,  Gentiana  and  Aubrietia,  sufficient  to 
fill  a  very  large  border  with  a  good  range  of  the  various 
sliades  required. 


ROCK     GARDEN. 

PLANTS  FOR  A  ROCKERY  FACING  NORTH-EAST 
SHADED  BY  TREES  (R.  C.  C,  Worcestei-shirel.— With 
such  an  aspi-ct  one  could  not  expect  to  get  a  great  display 
of  colour,  but  many  things  will  grow  in  such  a  situation. 
Among  the  dwarter  plants  are  Anemone  nemorosa,  A. 
apennina,  Omplialodes  verna.  Campanula  Portenschlagiana, 
C'orydalis  bulbosa,  C.  nobilis,  Centaurea  montana.  Crucia- 
nella  stylosa,  Epimedium  pinnatum.  Erantliis  hyemalis, 
Heuchera  brizoides,  Myosotis  alpestris.  Oph'iopogon 
spicatum,  Polygonatum  multiHorum.  Convallaria  majalis 
(Lily  of  the  Valley),  Polygonum  afflne  (Brunonis),  Poten- 
tilla  nepalensis.  Primula  rosea,  P.  japonica,  P.  Bulleyana, 
P.  Beesiana,  P.  sikkimensis,  Pulmonaria  azurea,  Sedum 
spunum  (purple  and  white  vare.)  and  Thalictrum  aquilegi- 
folium.  A  reliable  firm  of  nurserj^men  near  who  would 
supply  the  above  is  Messrs.  Bowell  and  Skarrctt,  Cemetery 
Road,  Cheltenham. 

TREES    .\KQ    SHRUBS. 

PRUNING  LAURELS  (M.  H..  Grisy-Suisnes).— In  the 
ordinary  way  an  establislii'd  Laurel  bush  or  hedge  is  one 
of  the  easiest  tilings  to  prune,  as  it  produces  young  shoots 
so  freely  from  the  old  stems  when  cut  dowii  in  April  or 
early  JIay.  A  recently  transplanted  hedge  is  not  so  easy 
to  deal  with.  ^Ve  should,  however,  not  hesitate  to  reduce 
the  height  now  to  8tt.  or  10ft.,  even  lower  than  this  if 
the  stems  at  this  height  are  not  more  than  2ins.  to  3ins. 
through.  It  would  serve  no  aseful  purpose  to  tie  the 
branches  together,  but  rather  shorten  them  back  to  a 
reasonable  length.  As  a  drastic  cutting  is  suggested 
now.  there  will  not  be  a  great  deal  of  pruning  to  do  in 
spring  beyond  shortening  back  all  the  thin  straggling 
shoots.  Where  thin  at  the  bottom  cut  down  one  or  two 
of  the  thicker  stems,  it  possible,  to  within  about  2ft.  of  the 
ground.  Tar  over  all  cut  surfaces.  During  dry  weather 
now  or  later,  especially  if  the  ground  is  light,  water  the 
Laurels  liberally  until  rooted  well  in  the  new  positions. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

YARROW  IN  LAWNS  (P.  L.,  Snuthiuiiister).— Rake  out 
the  \  arrow  and  apply,  in  March,  lib.  of  sulphate  of 
ammonia   to  each  square  rod  of  lawn. 

HOW  TO  TREAT  POOR  LAWNS  (K.  E.  T.).— Evidently 
the  soil  of  our  correspondent's  poor,  weedy  lawn  is  not  of 
good  quality  and  is  possibly  of  a  light  nature.  Such 
lawns  require  substantal  top-dressings  of  rich  material, 
and  the  present  is  a  suitable  time  to  apply  them.  Half 
a  pound  per  square  yard  of  the  burnt  rubbish  will  do 
good.  Procure  some  well  rotted  manure,  break  it  up 
very  fine  with  a  garden  fork  ;  to  each  bushel  add  two 
of  rather  retentive  loam,  also  well  broken  up,  and  apply 
the  mixture  at  the  rate  of  one  barrowload  per  square 
rod.  From  time  to  time  brush  the  mixture  to  and  fro  r 
by  next  February  it  will  have  disappeared.  At  that 
time  apply  bone-meal  at  the  rate  of  3ozs.  per  square  yard, 
and  during  next  summer  the  lawn  will  look  quite  nice 
and  fresh.  First,  however,  uproot  all  coarse  weeds. 
Do  not  use  sand  nor  sulphate  of  ammonia. 

SOWING  SEEDS  OF  BULRUSHES  (F.  C,  Afford).— 
The  seeds  ought  to  be  quite  ripe  now  ;  it  not,  the  stems 
should  remain  in  water  till  the  heads  break  up  easily.' 
For  sowing  a  place  must  be  selected  about  water-level 
but  care  must  be  taken  that  the  water  does  not  wash 
the  seeds  away  after  being  sown.  Sow  the  seeds  at  once 
in  drills  and  slightly  cover  with  soil,  or  the  seeds  may  be 
pressed  into  the  muddy  soil  with  a  flat  board.  The  best 
and  surest  way  to  establish  fresh  groups  of  Bulrushes 
is  to  transplant  them.  If  the  level  of  the  water  can  be 
lowered,  then  they  may  be  got  at  more  easily,  but  it  is 
generally  possible  to  get  a  few  clumps  at  the  water  edge. 
The  roots  run  rather  deep,  so  care  must  be  taken  to  get 
as  much  of  them  as  possible.  Another  method  is  to  take 
growing  points  with  a  few  inches  of  the  underground 
stems  attached  and  plant  them  firmly  in  muddy  soil. 
They  must  be  kept  very  wet. 

NAMES  OF  PLANTS.— H.  P.,  Somerset.— 1,  Carpinus 
carohiuana  ;    2,  Neillia  (Spira-a)  opuIifoUa  aurea. 

NAMES  OP  FRUIT.— A.  K.,  Liphook.— 1,  Winter 
Qiiarreu.leii  ;  2,  Foster's  Seedling  ;  .3.  Blenheim  Orange ; 
4.  Tower  of  (ilamis  ;  5,  Royal  Jubilee  ;  6.  Kiug  of  the 
Pippins. 

CATALOGUES  RECEIVED. 

Herd  Bros.,  The  Xurscries,  Penrith.— Forest  Trees, 
Ornamental  Trees  and   Shrubs  and  Fruit  Trees. 

Clarence  Elliott,  Limited,  Six  Hills  Nurseries,  Stevenage 
Herts. — New  Jlichaelmas  Daisies. 


LT'R-RA'nvrf  n 


THE 


GARDEN 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


'^ol.  LXXXVI.-No.  2665. 


atere  J  as  Seeood-olass  Matter  at  the  New  Yortr,  N.Y.,  Post  OfBoe. 


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EFFECTIVE     GROUPING     OF     ROCK     ROSES 

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>.                 ,,                 ,,             ,,        per  100   . .  5/6 

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,)                  ,,                       „              ,,              ,,         per  100  5/6 

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GREY    LIMESTONE   AND    RED    SANDSTONE    ROCKERY, 
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THE     GARDEN. 


[December  ifi,   1922 


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"  KING'S  ACRE  ROSES  11 


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TREES   AND   SHRUBS 


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.^^^^^^^ 


^rA. 


No.  2665.— Vol.  LXXXVI.] 


[December  16,  1922 


THE  ARRANGEMENT  OF  FLOWERING  SHRUBS— II 


THE  diagram  at  the  top  of  page  62S 
shews  how  planting  by  families  may  be 
carried  out.  Flowering  trees  of  some, 
such  as  many  of  the  Pyrus  family, 
for  example,  may  be  more  conveniently 
grown  in  plantations  if  it  is  desired  to  grow  a 
collection.  For  the  garden  of  limited  acreage, 
however,  collections  of  trees  are  too  bulky  and 
the  gardener,  if  collect  he  will,  must  be  content 
with  some  of  the  shrub  families.  It  is  neither 
necessary  nor  desirable  to  change  the  character 
of  the  groupings  quite  suddenly.  It  would  be 
unwise  in  the  same  bed,  for  example,  suddenly 
to  stop  a  collection  of  Berberises  and  Thorns 
and  replace  them  with  Viburnums  and  Mock 
Oranges.  It  's  not  wise,  either,  to  have  the 
opposite  sides  of  a  pathway  entirely  different  in 
character.  To  do  so  gives  an  arbitrary  unnatural 
effect. 

It  is  not  essential  to  arrange  shrubs  in  the 
semi-wild  manner  indicated.  Many  of  them  may 
be  grown  successfully  in  open  woodland,  notably 
some  of  the  Rhododendron  species  and  other 
families  on  the  border- 
line of  hardiness.  If 
existing  woodland  is 
not  at  disposal,  a 
certain  amount  of 
shade  and  shelter 
should  be  provided 
as  quickly  as  possible 
for  the  Rhododen- 
drons. Birches  and 
Scots  Pines  are  suit- 
able companions  for 
them  and  afford  the 
kind  of  shade  they 
like,  but  the  Birches 
are  not  specially 
quick  growing  and 
Scots  Pines  do  best 
when  planted  small. 
For  affording  satis- 
factory shade  quickly 
we  are  driven  to 
Willows  or  Poplars, 
which  both  grow  with 
exceeding  rapidity. 
Willows  do  best  when 
sets  are  planted  rather 
than  growing  trees 
More  suitable  perma- 
nent planting  should 
be  put  in  as  well, 
however ;  the  Willows 
and    some,   if   not   all. 


(Continued  from  page  601.) 

of  the  Poplars  may  then  be  cut  out  when  sufficient 
other  shade  is  available. 

To  turn  again  to  woodland  planting,  from  the 
point  of  view  of  effect,  one  of  the  commonest 
mistakes  is  to  plant  too  thickly.  Thick  planting 
of  one  particular  species  or  variety  to  produce 
an  immediate  effect  is,  in  the  case  of  Rhododen- 
drons, understandable  and  excusable,  for  they 
may  be  thinned  before  becoming  overcrowded 
and  will  readily  transplant  to  other  quarters. 
The  thick  planting  to  which  exception  is  taken 
is  the  overplanting  of  the  whole  area  so  that 
there  is,  at  last,  far  more  undergrowth  than  open 
woodland.  From  a  collector's  point  of  view  and 
where  space  is  limited  this  thick  planting  may  be 
justified,  but  real  woodland  pictures  are  not 
possible  under  such  conditions.  The  most  satis- 
factory woodland  gardens  are  oft-times  those 
which  contain  least  undergrowth.  Even  then  it 
is  not  wise  to  confine  such  under-planting  to 
shrubs.  There  is  a  host  of  herbaceous  species 
which  are  wonderfully  effective  and  which  either 
do  not  restrict  the  view  or  confine  it  much  less 


A    GROUPING    OF    AZALE.'iS. 


than    do   evergreen   shrubs   such    as    the    Rhodo- 
dendron. 

Flowering  shrubs  should  never  be  planted  in 
rows — either  straight  or  curving — unless  they 
are  intended  to  form  a  hedge,  in  which  case  the 
fact  that  it  is  a  hedge  may  be  plainly  indicated, 
or  it  may  be  made  apparent  on  one  side,  the  other 
side  being  disguised  by  an  irregular  massing  of 
shrubs,  including  masses  of  the  same  variety, 
against  it.  In  the  more  or  less  ordered  planting 
suggested  in  our  plan  it  is  permissible  to  form 
clumps  of  a  particular  species  or  variety  and 
leave  it  at  that,  but  in  the  woodland  a  more 
natural  arrangement  should  be  sought,  which 
means  that  the  planting,  even  in  the  same  group, 
will  differ  in  thickness.  Here  it  will  be  quite 
thick,  yonder  quite  sparse,  and  on  the  margins 
little  colonies  of  the  same  species  may  be  found 
a  short  distance  apart  from  the  main  grouping. 
Such  planting  is  easy  to  describe  but  far  from 
easy  to  arrange  well.  It  can  only  be  learned 
by  a  studv  of  natural'effects,  and,  even  then,  leaves 
a  good  deal  of  scope  for  imagination,  since  the 
effect  when  the  plants 
have  grown,  will  be 
entirely  diffeient  from 
that  which  prevails 
when  planting  is  first 
completed. 

Reverting  to  the 
planting  of  the  more 
ordered  shrub  garden, 
it  is  necessary  to 
qualify  to  some  extent 
the  permissibility  of 
planting  single  clumps 
of  a  species  or  variety. 
If  for  any  reason  one 
species  stands  out  from 
the  rest  in  the  shrub- 
bery to,  as  it  were, 
form  a  motif  in  the 
arrangement,  such 

planting  will  be  far 
more  effective  if  re- 
peated at  least  once, 
though  not  on  the 
same  scale.  In  con- 
sidering whether  a 
species  will  stand  out 
in  this  way  it  is 
necessary  to  bear  in 
mind  its  flowering- 
time,  since  a  kind 
which  might  be  quite 
ordinarv  if  it  flowered. 


628 


THE     GARDEN. 


[December  i6,  1922. 


say,  in  May,  may  be  exceedingly  prominent  and 
noteworthy  when  it  actually  does  tlower  a  few 
weeks  later.  To  take  a  concrete  example,  there  are 
so  many  Mock  Oranges  that  there  is  certainly 
no  need  thus  to  repeat  any  of  the  general  run 
of  species  or  varieties.  Philadelphus  grandiflorus, 
however,  flow^ers  when  the  other  species  are  o\'er. 


and  one  might  do  worse  than  treat  it  as  a  unifying 
factor  to  be  repeated  in  any  border  into  which 
it  is  introduced. 

Berberis  Darwinii  and  its  hybrid,  B.  stenophylla. 
are  outstanding  shrubs,  but  there  is  no  absolute 
necessity  to  repeat  them,  because  there  are 
several    excellent    forms     of     stenophylla    which 


--    ^.  {  r      ^-^^  ^  C 
■Y r      "-^    ^r       V  ■ 


fitK-BE 


Tu.^f""-"'       W^-^/    JJARJ""^     .    -vT'"- 


^ycaA  cf^ 


=k. 


o     J      /P 


FIG. 


1  3e  ^o  5o  60  70  ««  90  too  110 

-A    CORNER    OF    A    SHRUB    GARDEN    PLANTED 


M         /Jo        "io^yie^ 

BY    FAMILIES.' 


r  re  /f        .io         Ji"       Jo        ii        fo        <5' 

FIG.    2. — SHRUB    ARRANGEMENT    FOR    A    SMALL    GARDEN. 


7':^e(. 


are  sufficiently  like  the  typical  plant  to  repro- 
duce the  effect. 

In  Fig.  2  is  shewn  a  planting  scheme  for  a  small 
garden.  Trees  and  the  larger  shrubs  are  omitted 
from  this  scheme  not  only  because  of  the  space 
they  take  up  but  because  it  is  impossible  really  to 
appreciate  them  unless  one  has  space  to  stand  far 
enough  away  to  see  them  as  a  whole.  In  a  limited 
space,  too,  they  are  likely  to  cast  excessive  shade. 
The  only  plant  included  which  approaches  tree 
stature  is  the  slow  growing  Eucryphia  Even 
this  might  have  a  moderate  growing  Cotoneaster, 
such  as  C.  applanata,  substituted  for  it.  The 
Broom  family  is  a  particularly  valuable  one  for 
the  small  garden  where  the  soil  is  suitable.  The 
chief  drawback  to  the  race  is  that  many  of  the 
most  attractive  forms  are  short-lived.  This 
particularly  applies  to  the  forms  and  hybrids  of 
the  Common  Broom,  Cytisus  scoparius.  This- 
shortness  of  life  is  often  charged  to  grafting  on  a 
Laburnum  stock,  a  practice  which  is  certainly 
undesirable,  but  the  truth  is  that  the  Common 
Broom  on  its  o^vn  roots — from  seed,  for  example — 
is  anything  but  long-lived.  It  grows  quickly 
and  forms  a  rather  open,  irregular  bush,  the  main 
stems  become  brittle  and  shew  other  symptoms 
of  senescence,  and  if  a  snowfall  does  not  wreck 
the  bush,  which  it  is  likely  to  do,  it  ceases  to  make 
healthy  growth  and  becomes  dowdy  and  worn 
out.  It  is  unwise,  then,  to  make  the  clumps 
of  these  Brooms  so  large  that  their  removal  will 
make  a  very  conspicuous  gap  or  to  place  the  forms 
of  C.  scoparius  in  juxtaposition.  The  White 
Broom,  Cytisus  albus,  is,  compared  with  the 
Common  species,  a  long-lived  plant.  It  usually 
produces  a  small  forest  of  seedh'ngs  also,  which 
grow  happily  enough  in  its  shade,  so  that  it  is 
often  possible  to  cut  out  an  overgrown  bush 
from  a  clump  without  in  any  way  disfiguring  the 
border,  though  for  perhaps  one  season  there  may 
be  a  little  shortage  of  flowers. 

Many  of  the  shrubs  suggested  are  too  well 
known  to  need  any  reason  stated  for  their  inclusion. 
This  will  not  be  true,  however,  of  Ribes  speciosum, 
which,  though  long  introduced,  is  not  common 
in  shrubberies.  It  is  the  most  interesting  member 
of  a  rather  commonplace  family.  It  does  not 
make  the  splash  of  colour  of  the  American  Currant, 
Ribes  sanguineum — few  shrubs  do — indeed,  one 
would  describe  it  rather  as  a  Gooseberry  than  a 
Currant.  The  arching  stems  arc  heavily  and 
picturesquely  armoured,  the  foliage  is  neat  and 
agreeable,  and  the  long,  tassel-like,  bright  crimson 
flowers  very  charming.  The  tassel-like  effect  is 
produced  by  the  four  red  stamens  which  protrude 
the  better  part  of  an  inch  below  the  calyx.  It 
has  a  reputation  for  being  tender,  but  this  hardly 
seems  to  be  deserved,  though  it  is  true  that 
it  is  long  enough  since  we  had  a  really  hard 
winter. 

Prunus  triloba  is  best  grown  on  a  short  leg. 
It  is  easy  then  to  keep  down  the  stock  which, 
otherwise,  is  likely  to  smother  the  bush.  The 
necessity  for  working  it  on  an  alien  stock  is  the 
main  objection  to  an  otherwise  admirable  shrub. 
Ceanothus  Gloire  de  Versailles  is  too  well  known 
to  need  praise.  In  cold  localities  it  often  fails 
unless  given  the  shelter  of  a  wall.  Gloire  de 
Plantieres  is  hardier  and  should  be  given  a  trial 
in  such  case.  It  is  not  so  fine  in  truss  and,  a  shade 
deeper,  scarcely  so  effective  in  colouring,  but 
invaluable,  nevertheless,  where  "  Versailles  *'  will 
not  succeed.  Osmanthus  Delavayi  is  an  admirable 
shrub  for  small  gardens.  Very  neat  and  slow- 
growing,  the  tubular  creamy  white  flowers  are 
really  beautiful,  and  though  the  shrub  as  a  whole 
when  in  blossom  could  not  be  called  showy,  it  is 
really  effective.  Quite  young  plants  flower  freely. 
It  appears  to  be  entirely  hardy.  The  blossom  is 
fragrant. 


December  i6,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


629 


THE    CULTURE    OF    JAPANESE    LILIES 


A   T   this   season    of    the   year   Japan-grown 
/%        bulbs  of  the  varieties  of  Lilium  auratum 
/    %       and  L.  speciosum  arrive.   Dutch-grown 
^^■^^    bulbs  have  been  on   the  market  some 
*  ■■  time,   but   do   not,   size   for  size,    give 

such  good  results  as  those  from  Japan.  It  is 
fairly  easy  to  obtain  good  results  with  these  Lilies 
for  one  year  either  outdoors  or  under  glass.  It  is 
far  more  difficult  permanently  to  establish  them 
in  the  garden.  Yet  it  is  just  this  which  most 
gardeners  ardently  desire  to  do.  The  novice  is 
always  proud  of  his  spring  display  of  bulbs,  but 
to  the  seasoned  gardener  there  is  small  joy  in 
extracting  from  a  bulb 
what  another  skilled 
grower  has  put  into 
it  ! 

Permanent  success 
■with  these  Japanese 
LiUes  depends  to  very 
great  extent,  it  must  be 
admitted,  upon  climate. 
It  is  comparatively  easy 
to  persuade  even  Lilium 
auratum  to  flourish  in 
South-Western  Scotland. 
It  is  exceedingly  diffi- 
cult in  the  North  Jlid- 
Jands  and  Eastern 
Counties,  yet  with  skill 
and  care  it  may  be 
managed  in  most  dis- 
tricts. The  advice  usually 
given  is  to  plant  the 
bulbs  among  Rhododen- 
drons or  other  American 
plants.  It  is  not  possible 
to  suggest  a  more  likely 
situation,  always  provided 
that  the  Rhododendrons 
are  in  the  half-shade 
which  they  love.  It  is 
quite  possible  to  grow 
Rhododendrons  success- 
fully in  full  sunshine, 
if  only  the  ground  is 
well  cultivated  in  the 
first  instance  and  water 
is  plentifully  applied  in 
times  of  drought.  Cold 
water  from  the  main 
or  even  ice-cold  well 
water  (so  it  be  lime- 
free)  will  answer  for 
the  "R  hod  OS."  Cold 
water,  however,  in  hot 
weather    is    little     better 

than  sudden  death  to  Lilies.  Even  sudden  falls 
in  the  temperature,  to  which  we  are  but  too  prone 
in  this  climate,  are  liable  to  prove  disastrous. 
Their  effects,  however,  may  be  largely  overcome 
by  screens  of  shrubs  and  trees.  Fairly  open  wood- 
land suits  these  Lilies  well,  but  it  must  not  be  too 
dry  nor  yet  in  the  least  boggy.  Wet  land  suits 
some  Lilies  admirably — the  Panther  Lily,  L. 
pardalinum,  to  wit — but  sharp  drainage  is  essential 
for  these  Japanese  kinds. 

Of  the  several  varieties  of  Lilium  auratum 
some  are  more  robust  than  others,  and  so  more 
likely  to  establish  themselves  outdoors.  Beginners 
with  this  flower  should  try  first  of  all  the  typical 
form  and  the  robust  variety  platyphyllum.  Some 
hnd  the  latter  easiest  of  all  to  manage,  either 
outdoors  or  under  glass.  It  is  a  handsome  sort 
with  fine  foliage  and  large  white  flowers  with 
a  golden  band  down  the  centre  of  each  petal. 
Of  the  speciosum  (lancifolium)  \'arieties  the  easiest 


is  the  form  called  roseum.  Melpomene  and 
magnificum  seem  to  have  less  inherent  vigour. 
Speciosunr  album,  as  generally  sold,  is  a  poor  thing, 
but  album  Krietzeri  is  a  fine  and  vigorous  form 
and  succeeds  outdoors  better  than  many  of  the 
highly  coloured  varieties.  None  of  the  speciosums 
has  the  abounding  vigour  of  the  beautiful  yellow 
Lilium  Henryi,  which,  except  in  colour,  they  so 
much  resemble.  It  is,  nevertheless,  quite  feasible 
to  establish  them  outdoors  even  in  the  Midland 
Counties.  Indeed,  the  writer  has  succeeded 
outdoors  even  with  bulbs  which  had  pre\'iovisly 
been  forced  ! 


A    FINE    SPIKE    OF    LILIUM    AURATUM. 


.'\  moderately  light  but  rich  soil,  well  drained, 
in  half-shade,  preferably  a  westerly  exposure 
with  shelter  from  the  east  and  north,  will  go 
far  to  ensure  success.  Bare  ground  is  hateful 
to  these  stem-rooting  Lilies.  Some  fairly  light- 
growing  annual  or  biennial  plant  should  be  encour- 
aged to  grow  among  them.  The  Pink  Campions 
of  our  woodlands  (Lychnis  diuma)  answer  well, 
but  there  are  many  other  things,  including  hardy 
Ferns,  which  are  equally  satisfactory  ;  indeed,  the 
Ferns  are  infinitely  tidier  and  provide  a  better 
contrast  when  the  Lilies  come  to  flower,  but  they 
should  not  be  planted  in  straight  rows  nor 
religiously  spaced  quincunx  fashion.  Let  their 
arrangement  correspond  as  nearly  as  possible 
with  that  in  which  Nature  has  a  hand  !  The  same 
advice  will,  needless  to  say,  apply  to  the  disposition 
of  the  Lilies  themselves. 

The  auratum  Lihes  are  more  difficult  to  establish 
than  the  scarcely  less  magnificent  speciosum  forms. 


but  similar  conditions  are  the  best  we  can  do 
for  them.  If  there  be  boggy  ground  near  and 
the  air  in  summer  is  usually  well  charged  with 
moisture,  so  much  the  better.  Bitter  winds  are, 
perhaps,  their  worst  enemy. 

It  is  usual  to  "  bed  "  the  bulbs  upon  a  layer 
of  clean  sharp  silver  sand  and  to  scatter  some 
around  and  over  the  bulb  before  replacing  the 
mould.  The  idea  is  to  keep  at  bay  fungoid  pests 
which  might  damage  or  destroy  the  dormant 
bulb.  Once  the  bulb  starts  into  growth  the  rapidly 
extending  spike  must  take  care  of  itself,  but 
it  is  very  soft  at  this  time  and  easily  damaged 
not  only  by  disease  but  by  animal  agency.  Experi- 
ence shews  that  the  sand  docs  increase  the  chances 
of  the  bulb's  success,  but  it  must  be  quite  clean 
and  rather  coarse  to  be  beneficial.  Some  of  the 
loamy  materials  which  often  masquerade  as 
builders'  sand  could  render  no  possible  service 
and  might  easily  do  great  harm. 

The  culture  of  Japanese  Lilies  in  pots  presents 
no  real  difficulty.  The  size  of  the  pots  used 
will  depend  very  largely  upon  the  diameter  of  the 
bulbs  obtained.  Five  good-sized  specimen  bulbs 
may  be  grown  in  an  8^in.  Chrysanthemum  pot 
and  three  large  auratum  bulbs  may  be  accommo- 
dated in  a  loin.  pot.  Very  often,  however,  it 
is  necessary  to  use  receptacles  of  handier  size. 
A  single  bulb  of  auratum  can  be  grown  well  in 
a  7in.  pot,  and  with  very  careful  cultivation  it  is 
possible  to  get  good  results  with  one  6ins.  in 
diameter.  A  6in.  pot  should  easily  bring  one 
Lilium  speciosum  to  perfection.  Whatever  sized 
pot  is  used,  it  is  important  to  leave  space  for  top- 
dressing  as  the  stem-roots  develop.  If  a  very 
small  pot  is  employed,  it  may  be  necessary  to 
afford  this  extra  space  by  adding  a  zinc  collar 
to  the  pot-rim.  The  compost  should  consist  of 
good  sweet  fibrous  loam  two  parts,  thoroughly 
decayed  manure — spent  hot-bed  manure  will 
do — one  part  and  leaf-mould  one  part,  with 
sufficient  clean  sharp  sand  to  ensure  porosity. 
A  few  lumps  of  charcoal  are  a  useful  addition. 
The  drainage  must,  of  course,  be  adequate.  It  is 
well  worth  while  to  sterilise  the  compost  (by 
baking)  before  use.  The  opportunity  which  is 
afforded  for  treating  composts  against  pests  and 
diseases  is  the  greatest  advantage  which  the  grower 
of  hardy  plants  in  pots  has  over  his  neighbour 
who  trusts  his  stock  to  open  border  or  rock  garden. 
The  pots  should  be  given  a  good  watering  and  be 
covered  with  leaves  or  other  moisture-retaining 
material  and  placed  in  a  frost-free  pit  or  cold 
house  until  root  action  is  well  established.  Once 
good  growth  below  ground  is  under  way,  these 
LiUes  will  stand  a  fair  amount  of  heat,  but  it  must 
always  be  remembered  that  the  greater  the  heat 
given  the  softer  the  growth  becomes,  and  the  more 
susceptible  the  plants  get  to  chills  from  cold 
draughts  or  a  fall  of  a  few  degrees  in  the  tempera- 
ture. Lilies,  too,  lose  a  great  deal  of  character 
when  forced  and,  unless  for  some  special  purpose, 
it  is  better  to  grow  them  on  quietly  but  steadily 
in  a  cool  greenhouse.  They  must  not,  in  any 
event,  be  stood  near  hot-water  pipes,  as  uneven 
heating  and  draughts  of  variable  temperature 
are  sure  to  occasion  ill-health.  A  look-out  must, 
of  course,  be  kept  for  green  fly,  though  these 
plants  are  no  more  subject  to  aphis  attacks  than 
the  generality  of  greenhouse  plants. 

Top-dressing  is  important,  and  should  have 
attention  immediately  the  stenr  roots  make  their 
appearance.  The  compost  used  should  be  similar 
to  that  employed  for  potting,  and  should,  when 
applied,  be  as  nearly  as  possible  the  temperature 
of  the  house  in  which  the  plants  are  growing. 
.•\fter  what  has  been  written  it  is  hardly  necessary 


630 


THE     GARDEN. 


[December  i6,  1922. 


to  point  out  that  the  water  given  should  be  soft 
and  rather  higher  than  lower  in  temperature 
than  the  house.  Water  should  be  given  sparingly 
until  rooting  is  well  established,  though  the  soil 
must  not  entirely  dry  out  as  it  might,  with  advan- 
tage, for  Perpetual  Carnations,  for  example.  After- 
wards, when  in  full  growth,  a  great  deal  of  water 
is  required,  but  even  then  generous  soakings 
"  all  round  "  are  not  desirable.     The  separate  pots 


should  be  watered  **  on  their  merits."  Feeding 
may  be  practised — for  plants  in  small  pots  it  is 
essential — but  it  must  be  done  with  discretion. 
A  light  top-dressing  of  Clay's  Fertiliser  is  often 
employed  and  answers  well,  or  a  very  weak 
decoction  of  sheep-dung  may  be  used.  Weak 
soot-water  is  also  beneficial.  Always  water 
with  plain  water  immediately  before  giving  the 
feed. 


are  ovate  and  as  much  as  f.ins.  long.  In  pauper- 
atus,  the  form  illustrated,  they  are  Jin.  or  so  long 
and  narrow.  There  are  several  intermediate 
forms.  The  plants  are  uni-sexual,  the  flowers 
about  ^in.  across,  whitish  in  colour  and  very 
fragrant,  the  fruits  reddish. 


A    FEW    FLOWERING    AND    FRUITING 

BRAMBLES 


T 


HE  most  beautiful  of  flowering  Brambles 

is,     beyond     doubt,     Rubus     deliciosus. 

This   reaches   a   height    of   6ft.    or   8ft., 

sometimes  more, 

and  has  arching 
canes  which  peel  effec- 
tively and  are  quite 
thoniless.  The  rather 
black-currant  like  leaves 
are  downy  beneath,  and, 
when  young,  downy  on 
the  upper  surface  also. 
The  flowers  are  a  couple 
of  inches  across  and 
pure  white.  This  is  an 
eminently  desirable  but 
still  not  common  hardy 
shrub. 

The  Wineberry,  Rubus 
phoenicolasius,  is  a  well 
known  and  beautiful 
shrub,  admirable  in 
winter  with  its  ruddy 
many-prickled  arching 
canes,  and  also  in  late 
autumn  when  the  led 
and  yellow  fruits  on  the 
complicated  hairy  calyces 
contrast  with  the  still 
expanding  flowers.  The 
flowers  themselves  are 
white  or  pinkish,  but 
small  and  rather  incon- 
spicuous, but  the  coloured 
calyces  render  even  the 
unopened  buds  beautiful. 
The  foliage  is  adequate 
and  improved  by  the 
whitish  colouring  of  the 
underside. 

Of  the  many  species 
the  fruits  of  which  are 
called  Blackberries  the 
most  handsome  (and, 
incidentally,  probably 
the  best  for  eating  and  cooking)  is  the  Cut- 
leaved  Blackberry,  R.  laciniatus.  The  flowers 
are  white  and  the  fruits,  which  are  produced 
in  handsome  sprays,  glossy  black,  large  and 
ornamental,  but  the  beauty  of  the  plant 
largely  resides  in  the  large  and  elegantly  cut 
foliage,  which  reminds  one  of  the  dissectum 
forms  of  Acer  palmatum.  This  Bramble  may 
be  allowed  to  mound  itself  over  a  rough  framework 
of  timber  or  shrubs  of  small  value,  or  it  may  be 
used  effectively  on  a  fair-sized  pergola.  It  is 
unsuited  for  "  close  quarters,"  as  the  long  canes 
are  very  formidably  armed. 

The  Low  Blackberry,  Rubus  canadensis,  with 
oracticaUy  thornless  shoots,  is  handsome  when 
in  flower  in  early  summer.  The  flowers,  about 
an  inch  across,  are  white,  but  there  is  a  form, 
or  perhaps  a  hybrid,  with  pretty  pink  blossoms. 


Rubus  bambusaruin  is  an  evergreen  climber 
which,  when  first  introduced  twenty  years  or 
so    ago,    made    something  of    a  sensation.     It   is 


THE    ALMOST    LEAFLESS    "  WAIT-A-BIT  "     BRAMBLE,     RUBUS 
AUSTRALIS    PAUPERATUS. 


interesting  enougii,  and  when  trained  up  a  pillar 
or  tree  trunk  quite  handsome,  as  the  slender 
branches  arch  themselves  very  prettily.  The 
flowers  are  insignificant.  The  beauty  of  the 
plant,  such  as  it  is,  consists  in  the  arching  branches 
already  referred  to,  the  black  fruits  (edible)  which 
are  rather  well  displayed,  and  the  whitish  felting 
beneaSi  the  leaves  which  contrasts  well  with  the 
deep  green  of  the  smooth  upper  sides.  R,  Henryi 
is  in  many  respects  very  similar. 

The  Lawyer  Vine,  or  Wait-a-bit  of  the  Austrahan 
bush,  Rubus  australis,  is  a  very  variable  species, 
the  most  remarkable  form  of  which — var.  pauper- 
atus — is,  fortunately,  the  hardiest.  Even  this, 
however,  is  unsuitable  for  cold  districts.  The 
stems  of  all  varieties  are  very  slender  and  carry 
a  very  considerabl?  armament  of  quite  small 
hooked  prickles.     In  the  typical  form  the  leaves 


SOME    DWARF 
RHODODENDRONS 

FOR  grouping  in  fairly  open  woodland, 
for  the  margins  of  shrubberies,  the  rock 
garden  or  mixed  border,  the  Rhododen- 
dron family  includes  a  large  number  of 
dwarf  species  and  hybrids  which  are 
among  the  most  precious  shrubs  we  possess. 
The  majority  of  them  are  hardy,  and  easy 
to  grow  to  perfection  in  any  lime-free  loam 
in  sun  or  half-shade  with  some  shelter  froni 
wind.  .AH  that  they  require,  where  peat 
is  absent,  is  a  little  leaf-mould  or  really  old 
cow  manure  at  the  time  of  planting  and  later 
on  as  an  occasional  top-dressing.  A  cool  root-run 
and  one  that  does  not  dry  out  in  spring  or  summer 
is  highly  desirable,  for  the  fine,  hair-like  surface 
roots  are  very  susceptible  to  drought.  At  the 
same  time  the  drainage  must  be  good,  and  while 
the  soil  is  retentive  it  should  be  of  a  loose  and 
friable  vegetable  nature. 

Omitting,  owing  to  the  exigencies  of  space,  the 
molUs,  Ghent,  rustica  and  Japanese  groups,  usually 
classed  as  Azaleas,  there  still  remains  a  wide  selec- 
tion of  dwarf  species  and  hybrids  of  great  beauty 
and  interest,  nor  will  the  average  gardener  find 
many  of  them  beyond  his  pocket.  Moreover,  as 
such  plants  as  these  are  almost  invariably  sent 
out  budded,  and  as  they  move  better  than  most 
things,  a  display  may  be  confidently  expected  the 
first  season  and  this  without  detriment  to  the  shrub. 
I  need  hardly  add  that  many  of  the  Rhododendrons 
mentioned  below  are  often  known  as  Azaleas. 

Usually  the  earliest  to  bloom  with  us,  R.  prreco.^ 
is  also  one  of  the  most  charming.  A  hybrid  between 
RR.  cihatum  and  dauricum  it  is  a  neat-habited  ever- 
green of  3ft.  to  5ft.,  with  deep  green,  glossy  leaves 
and  terminal  trusses  of  pretty  rose-purple  flowers 
which  often  appear  a  clear  shell-pink  in  the  subdued 
light  of  January  and  February,  when  the  shrub  is 
frequently  in  full  flower.  An  excellent  variety 
for  grouping  in  woodland  or  where  it  can  be 
afforded  some  shelter  from  hoar  frosts  and  biting 
winds,  both  ot  which  are  liable  to  injure  the 
blossoms. 

Of  the  two  parents  of  R.  pra3C0X,  R.  dauricum, 
a  January  bloomer,  does  not  appear  to  have  a  good 
reputation  and  it  has  not  been  tried  here,  but 
ciliatum,  with  its  fresh  green,  hairy  leaves  and 
usually  large  flowers  in  a  lively  apple-blossom 
pink-and-white  is  reliable  and  good.  This,  how- 
ever, also  needs  a  sheltered  corner,  for  the  big 
blossoms,  produced  in  spring  in  loose  clusters,  are 
apt  to  be  broken  by  wind. 

.■\nother  early  bloomer  is  the  beautiful  Chinese 
R.  ledifolium,  also  an  evergreen,  with  dense,  hairy 
foliage  and  close,  shrubby  habit.  This  fine  species, 
which  reminds  one  of  the  old  Azalea  indica  of 
greenhouses,  and  of  which  it  is  probably  a  form,  is 
perfectly  hardy  here,  though  a  sharp  March  frost 
may  prove  mischievous  with  the  breaking  buds. 
It  is,  nevertheless,  one  well  worth  the  risk  of  occa- 
sional disappointment,  its  milk-white  trusses  being 
indescribably  lovely.  The  wise  will  give  R. 
ledifolium  a  westerly  exposure,  and,  if  possible,  the 
protection  of  some  deciduous  tree. 

Perhaps  the  most  weather-proof  of  all  the  smaller 
Rhododendrons  is  R.  (Rhodora)  canadense^  a 
deciduous  little  shrublet  and  most  faithful  bloomer. 
It  usually  breaks  its  plum-coloured  buds  in  March 


December  i6,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


631 


or  April  and  the  slender  twigs  are  soon  bearing 
a  veritable  constellation  of  gay,  rosy-purple 
flowers  with  long,  protruding  stamens.  An  easy 
doer  in  almost  any  moist  soil.  Before  this  pretty 
thing  is  over,  and  it  remains  in  flower  for  several 
weeks,  another  N.  American,  R.  Vayesi,  opens  its 
daintily  crimped  white  flowers  which  are  taste- 
fully touched  witli  pink.  These  flowers  appear 
before  the  lea\es,  the  species  being  deciduous.  It 
is  perfectly  hardy,  a  reliable  bloomer  and,  though 
it  attains  the  stature  of  a  small  tree  in  its  native 
soil,  it  is  a  very  slow  grower  with  us,  making  no 
more  than  2ft.  to  3ft.  in  many  years. 

R.  racemosum  is  deservedly  a  favourite  for  it  is 
extremely  hardy  and  though  it  flowers  in  early 
April  the  blossoms  (pale  blush)  are  in  such  compact 
trusses  that  they  rarely  suffer  from  spring  frosts 
or  wind.  This  is  an  evergreen  from  some  of  the 
highest  altitudes  of  China,  with  bo.\-like  leaves 
with  wide  underparts  and  a  stature  of  about  4ft. 
There  is  a  variety  (roseum)  with  flowers  of  a  deeper 
pink.  The  sturdy  little  Himalayan,  R.  glaucum, 
though  not  often  seen,  is  worthy  of  wider  popularity. 
It  usually  escapes  the  frost  here,  since  it  does  not 
expand  its  rosy  blooms  until  May  is  well  in.  The 
individual  flowers,  about  lin.  across,  short,  bell- 
shaped  and  fragrant,  are  borne  in  corymbs  of  sev'en 
to  ten.  R.  glaucum  does  not  appear  to  grow  to  more 
than  about  2ft.  The  leaves,  which  are  comparatively 
large,  are  of  dark,  glossy  green  above  and  white 
beneath. 

In  the  woodland  there  is  something  peculiarly 
attractive  about  R.  punctatum.  It  is  a  low, 
spreading  evergreen  with  smooth,  dark  green 
leaves  and  neat  terminal  trusses  of  bloom  in  a  clear 
porcelain  pink.  Being  a  North  .American  it  is 
perfectly  hardy  and  one  that  does  very  well  with 
considerable  shade.  To  RR.  punctatum  and 
hirsutum  we  are  indebted  for  R.  myrtifolium  which 
has  inherited  about  an  equal  share  ot  each  parent's 
features.  The  foliage  is  rather  smaller  and  more 
compact  than  in  punctatum  and  the  flowers  con- 
siderably less  in  size  and  of  a  fuller  pink  or  rosy 
red.  This  is  also  an  easy-tempered  bushling 
almost  anywhere.  But  as  much  cannot  be  said  of 
the  punctatum  x  ferrugineum  hybrid  known  as 
R.  arbutifolium,  or  Wilson's  Rhododendron.  In 
our  experience  this  delightful  little  evergreen,  with 
pointed,  glossy,  pale  green  leaves,  is  everything 
that  could  be  desired  in  one  place  and  a  disgruntled, 
dead-alive  affair  in  another,  even  when  the  latter  is, 
in  our  estimation,  precisely  like  the  other.  The 
fact  is,  with  us  it  inherits  ferrugineum's  habit  of 
dying-off  piecemeal  unless,  as  I  have  suggested, 
we  can  by  chance  hit  upon  a  spot  of  which  it 
approves.  Our  two  best  plants  of  R.  Wilsonae  are 
now  thriving  in  soils  and  positions  totally  different 
from  one  another.  The  one  is  crowded  in  among 
a  mass  of  Erica  ciliaris  and  other  Heaths  where  there 
is  moisture  and  leaf  mould  in  plenty,  the  other  is 
isolated  in  the  driest,  poorest  and  hottest  corner  of 
our  propagating  garden,  usually  delegated  to  such 
"  cast-offs  "  as  may  be  "  stuck-in  "  there  to  do  or 
die  as  they  please.  Yet  both  plants  are  equally 
vigorous.  But,  despite  its  uncertainty,  Wilson's 
Rhododendron  remains  one  of  the  best  of  the 
dwarfs,  one  worth  much  patience. 

RR.  ferrugineum  and  hirsutum,  both  known  by 
the  name  Alpine  Rose,  or  .\lpenrose,  come  from 
the  higher  elevations  of  the  European  .\lps  and  are 
therefore  perfectly  hardy  little  rusty-leaved  ever- 
greens of  about  i8ins.  the  latter  being  the  more 
hairy  of  the  two.  Both  of  them  are  apt  to  dis- 
appoint by  dying-off  in  the  manner  described  and 
neither  of  them  flower  so  freely  with  us  as  R. 
Wilsona;.  These  species  seem  to  nurse  a  longing  for 
the  atmosphere  of  their  lofty  native  home,  as  dri 
some  other  .tlpine  plants,  and  I  am  not  at  all  sure 
that  they  are  good  enough  to  merit  much  patience. 
R.  hirsutum  is  one  of  the  few  members  of  the  genus 


which  will  do  in  limy  soil  and  in  this  respect  may 
be  likened  to  that  precious  gem  and  most  capricious 
of  plantlings,  R.  (Rhodotharanus)  Cham.-Ecistus, 
whose  fatherland  is  the  limestone  of  the  Tyrol  and 
whose  "  spiritual  home  "  is  somewhere  in  the  disap- 
pointed hearts  of  a  legion  of  English  rock  gardeners. 
This  choice  shrublet  of  a  few  inches  has  existed  in  a 
grudging  sort  of  way, for  some  years  in  our  garden 
but,  though  it  puts  forth  shoots  of  hope  every 
summer,  they  are  like  unto  the  "  hopes  that 
triumphed  and  fell  dead,"  for  they  come  to  nought. 
Whether  this  fascinating  infant  wants  lime  or 
w'hether  it  detests  it  I  dare  not  venture  to  decide 
in  the  face  of  the  divergence  of  opinion  that  exists 
on  that  question  ;  but  this  much  may  be  said  with 
certainty.  It  is  not  lime  or  the  absence  of  lime  which 
are  the  chief  causes  of  failure  with  R.  thamaicistus. 


With  the  approach  of  summer  R  viscosum  of  the 
shady  wood-bottoms  of  .America  adorns  its  leaf- 
less branches  with  fragrant  white  flowers,  whose 
stickiness  gives  the  species  its  specific  title  and  the 
English  name  of  "  Clammy  .Azalea."  This  is  a 
good-tempered,  hardy  little  shrub  in  a  suitably 
cool  place  and  the  same  may  be  said  of  one  of  its 
off-shoots,  R.  azaleoides  (fragrans)  a  semi-deciduous 
hybrid  of  3ft.  to  4ft.,  whose  white,  lilac-tinted 
blooms  with  the  scent  of  Honeysuckle  appear  about 
the  same  time  as  those  of  the  foregoing. 

.\  good  word  must  be  said  for  the  evergreen,  R. 
araoenum,  even  if  its  multitudes  of  tiny,  vivid  crim- 
son flowers  do  strike  a  magenta  hue  in  some  lights, 
for  it  is  very  charming  in  itself  and  to  it  we  owe 
much  for  a  long  list  of  lovely  forms  in  shades  of 
orange,  salmon,  flesh,  scarlet  and  crimson.  A.  T.  J. 


A    SELECTION    OF    SAXIFRAGES 


{Colli iniicd  fiiiiii  page  614.) 


THE  Tufted  or  Cushion  Saxifrages — 
those  belonging  to  the  Kabschia  group 
are  among  the  choicest  and  most 
beautiful  of  rock  garden  plants.  Most 
are  early-flowering  and  some  of  them 
blossom  at  a  season  when  what  little  other  flower 
there  is  comes  from  small  bulbous  plants.  Early 
January  will  often  find  Saxifraga  Burseriana  in 
flower.  This  is  a  very  beautiful,  if  variable, 
species  with  pure  white  flowers  on  bright  red 
stems  a  couple  of  inches  tall.  The  foliage  is  very 
glaucous  and  spiny.  Variety  major  has  larger 
flowers  and  is  usually  a  little  later  to  flower  than 
what  is  generally  recognised  as  the  type  plant. 
.Altogetlier  larger  in  flower  and  foliage  is  the  form 
called  Gloria,  which  is  a  little  later  to  flower, 
has  very  substantial  blossoms,  but  very  little 
colouring  to  the  flower-stems,  which  is  unfortunate, 
as  the  bright  stems  greatly  enhance  the  appearance 
of  the  typical  form.  Rather  shorter  of  stalk, 
another  large-flowered  form  is  called  magna. 
Other  distinct  varieties  are  macrantha,  about 
the  last  to  flower,  tridentina  with  wavy  petals 
and  crenata. 

Saxifraga    marginata    is     another    magnificent 
early    white-flowering    species    which    bears    its 


flowers  in  small  heads  of  five  to  se\en.  It  usually 
flowers  in  March.  The  edges  of  the  rosettes  are 
encrusted  with  lime,  hence  the  specific  name. 
This  is  a  particularly  interesting  and  charming 
plant.  S.  Boryi  is  very  similar  but  later  to  flower. 
S.  Rocheliana  is  also  similar  but  smaller.  The 
foliage  is  even  more  noticeably  encrusted  and  the 
flowers  are  borne  fewer  together,  two  or  three 
being  the  usual  numbers.  Variety  coriophylla 
has  broader  leaves  and  ivory  white  flowers,  and 
there  is  also  a  yellow-flowered  form  which  is  still 
uncommon. 

The  golden  yellow  Saxifraga  sancta  is  far  less 
interesting  in  appearance  owing  to  its  deep  green 
mossy  fohage.  It  is,  however,  a  useful,  easy  and 
free-flowering  species  ;  the  small,  rather  cupped 
flowers  are  borne  thickly  together  in  heads. 
Saxifraga  Pseudo-sancta  is  so  similar,  not  only 
in  appearance  but  in  botanical  characteristics,  that 
it  is  hardly  worthy  of  specific  rank.  It  is  later 
flowering.  S.  juniperifolia  is  less  showy  than 
either,  but  has  in  the  eyes  of  some  people 
the  very  considerable  merit  of  being  difficult 
to  grow. 

.Another  admirable  yellow- flowered  specie;  is 
S.    Ferdinandi-Coburgi.     The    foliage    is    slightly 


A    LOVELY    FORM    OF    BURSER'S    SAXIFRAGE,    S.    BURSERIANA    CRENATA. 


632 


THE    GARDEN. 


[December  i6,  1922. 


glaucous  and  the  flowers  are  borne  in  heads  four 
or  five  together.  This  is  an  easy  and  altogether 
desirable  species,  but  it  is  not  often  obtainable 
true  from  nurseries. 

Saxifraga  cresia  is  a  tiny  species  with  closely 
silvered  leaves  and  creamy  flowers  clustered 
loosely  together  in  heads  of  two  or  three.  S. 
aretioides  is  a  glaucous-foUaged  kind  with  yellow 
blossoms.  There  is  a  form  larger  in  all  parts 
and  with  primrose-coloured  flowers  known  as 
primulina.  Saxifraga  tombeanensis  is  another 
silvery  foUaged  species  with  white  flowers.  It 
is  now  considered  to  be  only  a  form  of  S.  diapensi- 
oides,  a  tiny  species,  also  with  silvery  foUage. 
which  bears  disproportionately  large  flowers 
several  together  on,  for  the  rosette,  tall  stems  in 
April. 

With  Saxifraga  lilacina  we  come  to  a  species 
bearing  rosy  Ulac  flowers.  These  are  borne  singly 
on  inch-long  stalks,  and  the  foliage  is  tiny  but 
silvery.     It  is  by  no  means  free  to  flower. 

The  hybrids  of  these  Kabschia  Saxifrages  are, 
on  the  whole,  easier  to  grow  than  the  parent 
species,  and  some  of  them  are  extraordinarily 
beautiful.  It  is  doubtful,  indeed,  whether  the 
average  gardener  realises  how  many  of  his  favourites 
are,  in  fact,  hybrids.  Perhaps  the  best  known  of 
them  all  is  S.  aplculata,  next  to  S.  Burseriana 
perhaps  the  earliest  to  flower.  Its  primrose 
yellow  flowers  are  borne  three  or  four  together, 
and  are  produced  with  remarkable  freedom. 
The  foUage  is  rich  green,  but  by  no  means  so  dark 
as  that  of  S.  sancta,  between  which  species  and 
S.  Rocheliana  it  is  said  to  be  a  hybrid.  There 
is  a  pure  white  sport  from  the  typical  plant  in 
commerce  which  is  equally  desirable. 

Saxifraga  Burseriana  crosses  readily  with  S. 
aretioides,  and  there  are  at  least  two  such  hybrids 
in  commerce.  S.  Boydii  is  very  early-flowering 
and  has  fairly  large  deep  yellow  flowers.  S. 
Faldonside  has  larger,  better  shaped  flowers 
than  the  last  but  of  softer  colouring.  It  is  a  far 
easier  plant  to  cultivate  and  rapidly  grows  into 
nice  tufts.  S.  Boydii  alba  is  misnamed.  Though 
quite  a  good  plant  and  an  easy  doer,  it  bears  little 
resemblance  to  S.  Boydii. 

Saxifraga  Cherry  Trees  is  a  hybrid  between 
S.  Burseriana  and  S.  sancta.  It  differs  onlv  from 
S.  Elizabethan  in  being  a  more  vigorous  grower 
with  a  better  constitution.  The  rosettes  are 
green,  the  flowers  sulphur  yellow  and  the  stems 
(•tinged  with  red. 

The  plant  known  as  S.  Irvingii  is  said  to  be  a 
;  cross  between  S.  Bm-seriana  macrantha  and  the 
'  Engleria  species  Frederici-.^ugusti.  It  features 
Burseriana  habit,  but  has  bright  blush-coloured 
blossoms.  S.  bursiculata  is  said  to  be  the  result 
of  crossing  S.  Burseriana  with  S.  x  apiculata. 
The  flowers  are  white  and  substantial  and 
of  some  size,  and  the  flower-stems  are  stiffor 
than  with  S.  apiculata.  The  fohage  is  slightlv 
glaucous. 

S.  Haagei  represents  the  result  of  crossing 
S.  sancta  with  S.  Ferdinandi-Coburgl.  It  is  mucli 
in  the  way  of  the  last  mentioned,  and  is  an  exceed- 
ingly easy  and  valuable  plant.  S.  Paulino:- 
(Burseriana  minor  x  Ferdinandi-Coburgi)  almost 
featmres  the  last-named  species.  The  flowers, 
however,  are  pale  yellow.  This  is  an  easy  doer 
and  very  charming. 

Saxifraga  Petraschii  (tombeanensis  x  Rocheli- 
ana) forms  a  very  dwarf  cushion  of  glaucous 
rosettes  from  which  flower-stems  spring  freely 
bearing  three  or  more  large  white  blossoms  on 
each  head  in  March.  This  also  is  an  easy  plant 
to  do  and  especially  lovely  under  glass.  S. 
Salomonii  (Burseriana  x  Rocheliana)  is  a  good 
doing  plant  which  might  be  described  as  S. 
Burseriana  with  two  or  three  flowers  to  each 
flower-stem. 


THE    PINKISH    SAXIFRAG.\  x  IRVINGII. 


ONE    OF    THE    BEST    OF    THE    H-i-BRIDS,    SAXIFR.\GA    FALDONSIDE. 


ADMIRABLE    IN    FLOWER    AND    FOLIAGE,    S.    MARGINATA. 


December  i6,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


633 


THE  GENUS  ALONSOA 

A   very   Useful  Race   of  Hardy  Animals. 

HAVE  you  ever  got  down  a  whole 
lot  of  cyclopedias,  dictionaries  of 
gardening,  books  about  annuals  and 
such  like,  and  read  in  them  about 
Alonsoas  ?  I  have  just  done  it,  and 
now  I  am  wondering  whether  I  am  on  my  head 
or  my  heels.  I  did  think  I  knew  orange  from 
scarlet  and  scarlet  from  orange,  but  now  I  doubt 
if  I  know  black  from  white,  and  I  see  as  I  never 
saw  before  the  force  of  W.  S.  Gilbert's  famous 
couplet  in  "  H.M.S.  Pinafore  "  : 

■"  Things  are  seldom  what  they  seem. 
Skim    milk    masquerades    as    cream." 

1  have  grown  w"hat  I  believe  to  be  Alonsoa  acuti- 
folia  in  a  fair-sized  patch  in  the  garden  this  year. 
I  have  observed  it  in  shade  and  sun,  in  early 
morning  and  late  in  the  evening,  on  Sunday  and 
weekday,  and  it  never  entered  my  head  to  call 
it  anything  but  orange,  yet  I  look  it  up  in  "  Speer's 
Annual  and  Biennial  Garden  Plants,"  and  find 
under  acutifoHa  "  Scarlet  flowers  in  June."  I 
am  very  doubtful  indeed  about  the  June  part 
■of  the  description,  and  until  I  consulted  Nicholson's 
Dictionary  and  found  linearis,  which  is  as  like 
acutifoha  in  colour  "  as  two  peas,"  I  would  have 
been  prepared  with  my  bottom  dollar  to  wager 
Speer  was  wrong  about  his  colour.  .\nd  then 
when  I  read  on  in  this  good  man's  book  and  come 
to  jaw-breaking  Warscennczii  where,  to  add 
insult  to  injury,  I  find  it  is  said  to  have  "  small 
but  dazzling  orange-red  flowers,"  I  was  just 
"  done  brown."  In  desperation  I  turned  to  that 
excellent  little  encyclopedia  of  Mr.  Sanders.  He 
is  very  brief.  "  Linearis,  scarlet  "  ;  "  Warsce- 
Aviczii,  scarlet."  Speer,  by  the  way,  also  calls 
linearis  scarlet.  Now  let  Warscewiczii,  linearis 
and  acutifolia  be  what  colours  they  may,  nothing 
is  more  certain  than  that  they  are  not,  as  the 
unwary  might  be  led  to  suppose,  all  alike.  Linearis 
and  acutifoUa  ?  Yes,  but  not  the  unpronounceable 
one.  I  have  probably  told  the  tale  before,  but 
it  is  so  good  it  bears  repeating.  A  friend  of  mine 
one  summer  gave  an  old  lady  in  his  village  some 
plants,  which  she  set  and  tended  with  great  care. 
Later  on  in  the  year  as  he  was  passing  he  called 
and  asked  her  which  she  liked  best.  "  Oh  ! 
Mr.  A,  that  beautiful  red  one,  Alfonso  Whiskey 
and-Soda." 

I  have  never  grown  incisifolia  (unless  as  Warsce- 
wiczii), Unifolia,  Mathewsii  or  the  white  form  of 
acutifolia  albiflora,  so  I  can  say  nothing  about 
them  from  personal  experience,  but  I  have  grown 
a  very  pretty  pink  variety  Mutisii  which  I  am 
unable  to  find  in  either  Bailey's  American  Cyclo- 
pedia or  in  Nicholson's  British  Dictionary.  It  is 
noted,  however,  in  Speer,  where  the  flowers  are 
described  as  chamois-rose.  Personally,  I  would 
have  called  the  usual  t^-pical  colour  a  real  pink, 
with  no  rosy  inclination  whatever.  The  rose 
touch  is  the  exception,  but  when  it  is  there  Mutisii 
is  a  new  creature,  and  can  claim  an  equal  share 
in  the  glory  of  the  race  with  its  old  hard  named 
rival.  Miss  Jekyll  can  never  have  seen  the  very 
latest  out  in  Mutisii  as  we  have  it  here  at  WTiite- 
well  or  I  feel  confident  she  would  not  call  Warsce- 
wiczii "  the  best  of  the  several  kinds  of  Alonsoa  " 
in  her  book  "  Annuals  and  Biennials."  Instead 
of  one  I  put  three  in  the  front  rank  :  acutifolia, 
a  rich  ruddy  orange ;  Mutisii,  a  pink ;  and 
Warscewiczii,  a  real  scarlet.  They  are  all  much 
of  a  muchness  in  their  habit  of  growth,  developing 
with  age  a  multitude  of  long  thin  stems  clothed 
at  frequent  intervals  with  narrow,  saw-edge  1 
leaves  and  bearing  flat,  irregularly  lobed  blooms 
of  any  size  between  a  sixpence  and  a  shilling  in 


their  upper  region.  The  plants  improve  as  the 
branching  increases,  and  the  sparse  show  of  their 
youth  is  soon  forgotten  in  the  goodly  multitude 
of  flowers  to  be  seen  in  their  maturer  age.  \ 
large  clump  in  a  herbaceous  border  or  a  big  isolated 
bed  on  a  lawn  filled  with  them  arc  the  main  purposes 
for  which  Nature  has  fitted  them,  but  they  make 
excellent  and,  at  present,  uncommon  pot  plants 
for  a  conservatory  or  very  cool  greenhouse  if 
treated  like  Schizanthuses  or  Clarkias,  from 
which  families  they  are  a  welcome  variation  in 
their  colour  of  flower  and  habit  of  growth.  The 
easiest  way  to  grow  .Alonsoas  is  to  treat  them  as 
half-hardy  annuals  and  raise  them  in  heat  in  order 
to  promote  early  flowering.  In  such  a  summer 
as  the  one  we  have  just  passed  through  it  was 
very  plain  to  see  how  advantageous  it  was.  They 
take  time  as  it  were  to  get  into  their  stride.  I 
have  sown  them  in  the  open  where  they  are  to 
flower,  in  .April  or  early  May  with  very  fair  success 
in  a  warm  summer,  and  doubtless  in  more  southern 


and  warmer  parts  of  our  island  out  of  door  sowing 
may  be  regarded  as  a  quite  safe  and  satisfactory 
proceeding.  Pinching  is  not  necessary  except 
for  pot  plants.  If  the  young  plants  are  given 
plenty  of  room  when  they  are  put  into  their 
flowering  quarters  they  naturally  branch  a  good 
deal,  and  it  is  only  when  all  these  branches  come 
into  flower  bearing  that  .Alonsoas  are  at  their 
best.  The  usual  strains  grow  from  i8ins.  to  2ft. 
in  height,  but  there  are  pigmy  strains  as  well  I 
am  told,  but  I  have  never  seen  them,  I  am 
always  very  doubtful  about  "  warfs,"  as  my  old 
man  John  invariably  called  them.  Some,  like 
the  pretty  Cambridge  blue  Nemesias,  are  quite 
all  right,  but  others  are  more  fit  for  the  manure 
heap  than  a  bed  or  border,  e.g.,  Cupid  Sweet  Peas. 
Alonsoas  may  be  propagated  by  means  of  cuttings, 
but  they  come  so  readily  from  seed  that  I  should 
doubt  its  ever  being  worth  while  doing  unless  it 
is  desirable  to  increase  some  very  special 
variety.  Joseph  Jacob. 


WINTER  WOOD  &  SUMMER  FOLIAGE 


TREES  as  a  rule  display  the  beauty 
of  their  bark  at  all  seasons  of  the  year. 
Such  are  the  Beech  and  the  Birch, 
for  instance.  Even  these,  however, 
shew  to  greatest  advantage  their  beauty 
of  proportion  from  trunk  to  branch  and  so  to 
branchlet    and    tiny    twig   when   stripped   of   their 


have  another  claim  to  consideration,  resting  on 
their  picturesquely  twisted  growth.  Most  of  the 
Willows  are  handsome  in  their  winter  dress — the 
Sallows  because  of  their  ever-developing  male 
catkins  and  the  Osiers  because  of  their  coloured 
woods,  ranging  as  they  do  from  greenish 
yellow    to    orange    and    crimson    and    again    to 


FLOWERS    AND    BRIGHT    BLUE    FRUITS    OF    VIBURNUM    DAVIDII. 


summer  dress.  Shrubs  with  beautiful  bark 
display  it,  if  at  all,  only  in  winter.  Now  few  of 
us  ha\e  space  at  disposal  to  devote  a  stretch  of 
ground  solely  to  winter  effect.  It  is  wise,  therefore, 
to  consider  how  to  arrange  the  grouping  so  that 
winter  effect  may  be  obtained  without  detriment 
to  summer  beauty. 

Let  us,  first  of  all,  cons.'der  the  trees  and  shrubs 
most  valuable  for  winter  effect.  Of  trees  the 
Birch  and  Beech  have  already  been  mentioned, 
the  latter  too  large  and  too  greedy  a  feeder  for 
the  garden  proper.  In  addition  to  these  the 
Hazel  must  not  be  overlooked,  for  though  it  has 
no  special  beauty  of  colouring,  its  multiplicity 
of  twiggery  is  effective — especially  so  when  laden 
with  hoar-frost.     The  Apple  and  the  Judas  Tree 


the  bloom  strewn  purple  of  Salix  daphnoides. 
Among  shrubs  there  is  a  great  di\'ersity  of 
coloured  wood  ranging  from  the  bright  red  bark 
of  the  Dogwood  to  the  white  of  certain  Brambles 
and  the  bright  greens  of  the  Broom  family  (both 
Cytisus  and  Genista)  and  of  Kerria  and  Leycesteria 
formosa.  The  green  arching  canes  of  the  latter 
to  shew  to  best  advantage  must  be  freed  from 
the  older  wood,  which  is  brown  and  uninteresting. 
The  current  year's  wood  of  the  larger  Mock 
Oranges,  such  as  Philadelphus  coronarius  and 
P.  grandiflorus,  is  at  once  interesting  and  warm 
looking  in  its  bright  paper  brown.  The  wood 
of  the  smaller  sorts  is  actually  similar — so  is  that 
of  the  Deutzias — but  on  the  smaller  scale  they 
are  far  less  effective.     The  arching  canes  of  the 


634 


THE     GARDEN. 


[December  i6,  1922. 


Diervilla  (Weigela)  are  also  handsome  in  a  similar 
way.  The  arching  downy  canes  of  the  small- 
toliaged  evergreen  Cotoneaster  pannosa  are 
efiective  in  winter,  especially  as  they  are  wreathed 
at  that  season  with  rather  dull  red  berries. 

Further  colouring  is  to  be  obtained  if  wanted 
by  utilising  evergreens  which  change  colour  in 
winter,  such  as  the  Mahonia,  Berberis  .^quifolium 
and  the  Wand  Flower,  Galax  aphylla,  on  the  one 
hand,  or  various  kinds  of  Arbor-Vitse  (Thuya) 
and  Cryptomeria  on  the  other.  The  former 
class  provide  rich  crimson  and  orange  shades  to 
an  extent  varying  considerably  with  soil  and 
season,  the  latter  tones  of  russet  brown,  purple 
and  maroon. 

With  such  a  wealth  of  material,  remains  only 
to  use  it  to  best  advantage.     The  Mock  Oranges, 


Brooms  and  Kerria  are  readily  utilised,  since 
they  are  shrubs  we  should  select  for  their  blossom, 
even  though  they  had  no  other  merit,  nor  need 
the  handsomely  flowered  and  fruited  Mahonia 
or  the  gorgeously  berried  Barberries  present  any 
greater  difficulty  than  that  of  bearing  them  in 
mind  when  planning,  but  such  things  as  the  Dog- 
woods and  Leycesteria  need  care  if  the  summer 
effect  is  to  be  satisfactory.  The  common  red 
Cornus  sanguinea  is,  especially  when  cut  to  the 
ground  each  spring,  as  it  should  be  to  produce 
its  maximum  of  winter  effect,  rather  a  coarse- 
looking  plant  for  the  shrubbery.  This  drawback 
may  to  great  extent  be  overcome  by  employing 
the  silver  variegated  form  or  the  handsome  golden 
form  called  aurea  Spathii,  though  neither  of  these 
is  quite  so  handsome  of  wood  as  the  typical  plant 


obtain  some  dung  for  hot-bed?,  which  were  made 
use  of  in  the  way  already  described,  and  the  second 
generation  of  cuttings  grew  like  nettles.  We  had 
an  abundance  of  good  plants  by  the  time  they 
were  wanted. 

The  Council  of  the  Society  were  evidently 
satisfied  with  my  work  under  difficulties,  for  I 
had  the  honour  of  receiving  from  them  a  handsome 
present.  William  Taylor. 


RAPID  METHODS  OF  PROPAGATION 


WILL  cuttings  emit  roots  without 
a  change  of  air  ?  During  the 
fifties  of  the  last  century,  when 
only  seventeen  years  of  age,  I 
was  responsible  for  the  produc- 
tion of  100,000  bedding  plants,  having  previously 
served  under  five  different  foremen  in  the  same 
department.  This  was  at  Shrubland  Park  in 
Suffolk,  made  famous  by  the  work  and  writing 
of  Donald  Beaton.  Some  of  the  routine  then 
practised  is  a  puzzle  to  me  even  now.  Perhaps 
there  is  nothing  extraordinary  in  what  will  be 
mentioned  first,  but  more  will  follow  which,  to 
me,  does  not  appear  so  simple. 

In  the  first  place,  cuttings  of  such  plants  as 
Verbenas,  Petunias,  Heliotropes,  Tropreolums, 
.\geratums,  etc.,  were  inserted  in  boxes,  covered 
with  glass,  and  made  perfectly  air-tight  by  pasting 
paper  on  the  edges  of  the  glass  and  the  boxes. 
These  were  then  placed  in  a  position  in  the  propa- 
gating or  any  other  warm  house  during  winter 
or  early  spring,  where  no  direct  sunlight  could 
reach  them  and  were  not  otherwise  shaded.  They 
remained  till  there  was  a  sign  that  the  formation 
of  roots  had  commenced.  Then  a  sUt  was  made 
in  the  paper  all  round,  and  after  another  day  or 
two  the  glass  was  slid  away  from  one  end  about  a 
quarter  of  an  inch,  and  this  was  done  in  the 
evening.  When  another  day  or  two  had  passed 
the  glass  was  removed  altogether.  This  was  also 
done  in  the  evening  after  the  house  was  closed. 
I  had  previously  been  taught  by  my  several  fore- 
men, who  included  Scotch,  English  and  German, 
that  the  glass  must  be  lifted  and  made  dry,  or 
turned  every  morning.  This  is  not  necessary 
if  the  cuttings  are  placed  where  the  fluctuations 
of  temperature  are  only  slight,  as  on  the  floor  of 
the  house.     Very  little  moisture  will  then  arise. 

The  cuttings  of  plants  already  named  are  not 
long  in  emitting  roots,  so  there  is  nothing  marvel- 
lous so  far  ;  but  I  went  a  step  further  and  tried 
the  same  plan  with  Perpetual  Carnations,  Tea 
Roses,  Gardenias,  etc.,  and  it  succeeded  admirably. 
Roses  were  from  plants  grown  indoors,  with  the 
wood  partly  hardened,  say,  just  forming  a  flower- 
bud.  Carnations  were  mostly  slips  from  flowering 
stems.  If  inserted  in  February,  these  would 
remain  without  ventilation  three  weeks  or  some- 
times a  little  longer.  If  they  were  kept  closely 
covered  a  day  or  two  too  late,  the  result  would  not 
be  satisfactory,  but  attended  to  at  the  proper 
moment  not  a  leaf  would  be  lost. 

When  cuttings  other  than  my  own,  and  where 
perhaps  the  plants  had  not  been  growing  so  freely, 
were  used,  the  results  were  not  so  good.  When 
there  is  visible  growth  before  a  callus  is  formed 
there  is  very  little  chance  of  success. 

Another  plan  with  Verbenas,  which  were  then 
very    popular,     and     of     which     perhap?     twenty 


thousand  would  be  required,  was  to  make  an 
old-fashioned  hot-bed  (many  modem  gardeners 
scarcely  know  what  this  is),  place  a  frame  on  it, 
insert  the  cuttings  in  boxes,  and  keep  them  in 
full  sunlight  as  late  as  the  end  of  April.  The 
steam  rising  from  the  fermenting  material,  in 
the  condition  old  gardeners  called  sweet,  would 
afford  sufficient  shade  and  roots  would  be  formed 
in  about  forty-eight  hours.  I  could  not  say 
what  the  maximum  temperature  would  be,  but 
certainly  120°  or  more,  and  they  were  kept  perfectly 
close  till  growth  commenced.  If  a  light  had 
been  opened  during  the  middle  of  a  bright  day, 
the  cuttings  would  immediately  have  collapsed. 

I  found  that  Verbenas  need  not  be  cut  to  a 
joint,  which,  of  course,  makes  a  great  difference 
in  the  time  required  for  the  operation  and  the 
quantity  produced,  which  are  considerations 
when  many  thousands  are  wanted.  There  are 
many  other  soft  cuttings  which  could  be  rooted 
in  the  way  I  have  mentioned  on  the  unshaded 
hot-bed,  supposing  that  stable  manure  can  be 
obtained. 

I  practised  the  same  express  system  of  propa- 
gating Verbenas  and  Tropreolums  at  Chiswick 
in  the  spring  of  1861,  when  I  was  responsible 
for  the  production  of  plants  to  furnish  the  beds 
at  the  R.H.S.  gardens  at  Kensington,  which  were 
opened  on  June  10  in  that  year. 

The  summer  (?)  of  i860  was  the  wettest  and 
coldest  I  have  ever  known.  Stock  plants  grew 
very  little,  but  insects,  especially  thrips,  flourished 
amazingly,  and  I  did  not  know  so  much  about 
killing  them  as  I  do  now.  There  was  a  trial  of 
Verbenas  of  all  known  varieties,  but  they  were  a 
complete  failure.  To  complicate  matters,  there  was, 
on  Christmas  Eve,  34°  of  frost,  and  the  boiler  of 
the  house  containing  my  principal  collection  of 
bedding  plants,  including  Geraniums,  gave  way  ; 
but,  thanks  to  my  dear  old  friend  Barron,  who 
was  then  genera!  foreman,  not  a  plant  was  lost. 
The  house  was  covered  early  in  the  morning 
with  thick  canvas,  and  when  the  temperature 
rose  to  about  30°  the  plants  were  freely  syringed 
with  cold  water.  Fortunately,  there  was  suffi- 
cient sun-heat  to  raise  the  temperature  of 
the  house  above  the  freezing  point  and  not 
too  rapidly. 

Many  trees  of  Cedrus  Deodora  30ft.  high,  in 
Glendenning's  nursery  at  Turnham  Green,  were 
killed  outright.  The  winter  of  1858-59  was  quite 
as  severe  and  these  trees  escaped,  but  that  came 
after  a  hot  summer,  the  summer  of  Donati's  comet, 
a  never  to  be  forgotten  sight. 

When  March,  1S61,  arrived,  the  Verbenas, 
especially  Purple  liing,  which  was  wanted  in 
quantity,  were  a  sorry  spectacle,  and  Mr.  Eyles, 
the  superintendent,  was  afraid  we  should  have 
nothing  worth  planting  out.      I   persuaded  him  to 


A  WHITE  BUTTERCUP 

THE  plant  of  which  I  wish  to  write  is 
generally  catalogued  and  grown  in 
nurseries  and  gardens  as  Ranunculus 
rutiefolius.  It  takes  people  a  long  time 
to  adopt  some  of  the  authoritative  names 
for  plants  which  we  have  known  for  a  long  time 
by  names  now  superseded  by  botanists,  although 
still  in  use  in  gardens.  In  the  case  of  this  plant 
too,  the  proper  title  of  Callianthemum  coriandri- 
folium  or  C.  rutrcfolium,  is  more  cumbrous  and 
difficult  for  the  many.  Whatever  name  the  reader 
may  choose  to  adopt,  the  plant  itself  is  not  un- 
worthy of  cultivation  in  the  rock  garden.  The 
late  Mr.  Reginald  Farrer  had  but  a  small  opinion  of 
this  flower,  but  I  do  not  think  that  he  could  have 
known  it  well  under  the  best  garden  conditions  or 
he  would  probably  have  modified  his  verdict  to 
some  extent.  The  concluding  paragraph  of  his 
reference  is  more  kindly,  however,  than  his  previous 
remarks,  founded  upon  the  plant  in  its  native 
habitats,  where  it  is  undoubtedly  coarse.  It  must 
be  admitted  that  it  is  not  the  best  of  the  Callian- 
themums,  but  it  is  worthy  of  consideration.  In 
the  poor,  stony,  gritty,  sandy  soil  which  seems  to 
bring  out  its  attractions  much  better  than  a  rich 
one,  it  is  a  neat,  low-growing,  rather  trailing  plant 
with  fine  fern-like  foliage,  giving  rise,  I  suppose,  to 
its  specific  names  of  C.  coriandrifolium  and 
Ranunculus  rutffifolius,  resembling  as  it  does  that 
of  the  Coriander  or  some  of  the  Meadow  Rues. 
From  this  tuft  of  leaves,  only  3ins.  or  4ins.  high,  in 
poor  soil,  are  produced  trailing  stems  bearing  fairly 
large  daisy-formed  blooms  with  narrow  ray-florets 
of  dull  white  and  with  a  greenish  centre.  It 
reminds  one,  so  far  as  its  blooms  go,  of  those  of 
Pyrethrum  uliginosum,  but  not  quite  so  white  in 
tlieir  rays.  It  is  not  a  flower  which  will  bring 
forth  ecstatic  remarks  from  the  many,  but  it  is 
one  which  has  many  points  of  charm  when  treated 
as  it  should  be.  Regarding  its  treatment  we 
may  at  once  abandon  the  idea  of  cultivating  it  in 
rich  soil,  such  as  it  generally  has  at  home,  where  it 
often  grows  among  the  turf,  with  plenty  of  moisture 
beneath.  I  have  never  found  it  so  satisfactory  as 
on  a  flat  terrace  of  the  rock  garden,  a  little  above 
the  ordinary  ground  level,  fully  exposed  to  the 
south  sun,  and  growing  in  loam  with  plenty  of  sea- 
sand,  grit,  and  stones  and  firmly  planted.  In  such 
a  compost  and  with  the  ample  drainage  the  plant 
likes,  we  can  keep  it  dwarf  and  neat ;  but  under 
such  conditions  it  may  suffer  from  drought  iu 
spring  and  summer  when  it  is  coming  into  blossom 
or  even  when  in  flower,  and  it  is  desirable  to  water 
it  freely  and  pretty  frequently  with  pure  water 
at  that  time.  With  such  treatment  it  will  surprise 
those  who  only  know  the  Callianthemum  in  rich 
soil,  where  it  looks  comparatively  coarse  and  un- 
attractive. It  is  not  an  easy  plant  to  propagate, 
indeed,  it  is  risky  to  divide  it,  even  in  the  case 
of  fair-sized  plants.  It  can  be  divided  successfully 
and  an  examination  of  its  roots  would  suggest 
that  it  might  be  increased  by  root  cuttings.  I 
have  not  been  successful  with  these,  however,  and 
I  do  not  think  the  roots  respond  to  this  practice. 
Seeds  are  the  best  means  of  propagation,  but  are 
not  easily  obtained.  S.  .Arnott. 


December  i6,  1022 


THE     GARDEN. 


635 


CORRESPONDENCE 


THE    TWELVE    BEST    SHRUBS. 

T  ENCLOSE  two  lists,  each  of  a  dozen  shrubs. 
The  shrubs  on  the  first  list  are  for  an  everyday 
soil  and  cUmate,  and  on  the  second  for  a  warmer 
and  more  peaty  soil.  I  have  grown  all  that  are 
mentioned  in  ordinary  soil,  but  lost  several  during 
the  very  hard  winter  we  had  some  years  ago.  I 
have  also  grown  all  the  twelve  in  the  second  list  in 
Ireland  and  they  grow  there  much  better  in  prac- 
tically nothing  but  peat. 

I  have  not  included  Rhododendrons,  Azaleas, 
Roses  or  climbers,  as  they  are  classes  by  themselves 
and  one  could  easily  get  twelve  out  of  any  one  of 
them. 

The  trees  in  the  lists  are  Fremontia  californica 
and  Magnolia  stellata,  but  both  of  them  flower  just 
as  well  as  shrubs.  I  have  Fremontia  cahfornica 
on  a  5ft.  wall  well  pruned  back  and  it  flowers 
freely  every  year.  Magnolia  stellata  flowers  when 
2ft.  or  3ft.  high  and  spreads  shrub-like  and  is 
easily  kept  as  a  shrub. 

Perhaps  a  Scotch  reader  would  oblige  with  the 
names  of  a  dozen  selected  shrubs,  hardy  in  the 
colder  parts  of  Southern  Scotland  and  not  near  the 
sea.  Hardy  there,  they  would  be  hardy  anywhere 
in  England.  It  would  be  well  to  get  a  list  of  good 
shrubs  hardy  anywhere  in  England. 

List  I. — Forsythia  suspensa,  Eucryphia  pinnati- 
folia,  Philadelphus  Virginal,  Ceanothus  Gloire  de 
Versailles,  Magnolia  stellata,  Berberis  stenophylla, 
Buddleia  variabilis  Veitchiana,  Cydonia  japonica 
cardinahs.  Daphne  Mezereum,  Syringa  (Lilac) 
Mme.  Lemoine,  Spirrea  Buraalda  .-\nthony  Waterer, 
Exochorda  grandiflora. 

List  II. — Embothrium  coccineum.  Magnolia 
stellata,  Tricuspidaria  lanceolata,  Zenobia  pulveru- 
lenta,  Kalmia  iatifoha,  Eucryphia  pinnatifolia, 
Fremontia  cahfornica,  Buddleia  variabilis  Veitch- 
iana, Cistus  ladaniferus,  Clethra  alnifolia,  Romneya 
Coulteri,  Desfontainea  spinosa. — J.   D.  C. 

FROM    CHILI. 

A  FEW  weeks  ago  (November  23  to  be  precise), 
that  beautiful  shrub,  Desfontainea  spinosa, 
was  a  blaze  of  colour,  the  gorgeous  tubular  flower? 
in  a  bold  crimson-scarlet  and  yellow  being  as  large 
and  as  nmnerous  as  they  were  in  July  ;  but  D. 
spinosa  had  overstepped  its  mark,  for  on  the  night 
of  the  above  date  there  came  a  white  frost  (6^) 
which  turned  every  blossom  to  ashes.  It  must  not, 
however,  be  assumed  that  this  handsome  shrub 
is  peculiarly  susceptible  to  frost.  We  have  grown 
it  for  at  least  fifteen  years  and  never  once  have  its 
holly-like  leaves  suffered  the  slightest  injury.  It 
even  came  scathless  through  the  terrible  ordeal  of 
early  191 7.  Among  the  best  of  the  many  good 
things  we  have  had  from  Chih,  D.  spinosa  is  a 
shrub  not  to  be  overlooked  by  anyone  whose 
climate  is  not  very  bleak.  Perhaps  one  would 
not  be  far  wrong  in  saying  that  it  might  be  planted 
with  confidence  in  any  locahty  in  which  Berberis 
Darwinii,  another  Chihan,  succeeds. — A.  T.  J., 
.V.   Wales. 

A    BEAUTIFUL    WEEPING    ELM. 

■W^HILE  reading  the  informative  article  on 
"  Pendulous  or  Weeping  Trees,"  by  "  A.  O.," 
on  page  579,  I  was  expecting  mention  of  Ulmus 
montana  pendula  Camperdowni.  The  tree  is 
better  known  than  its  name,  for  I  have  noted  a 
considerable  number  in  various  gardens  and  in 
different  counties  during  the  past  twenty  years, 
but  only  ^n  one  nursery,  and  think  that  others 
must  be  distributing  this  beautiful  tree,  consider- 
ing the  wide  area  over  which  it  is  now  distributed 
between  its  original  home,  Camperdown  House, 
near  Dundee,  and  Cornwall.     I  was  recently  shewn 


a  specimen  from  the  latter  county  and  was  asked 
for  its  name.  The  tree  is  much  smaller  or  more 
compact  than  the  much  older  U.  m.  pendula, 
with  a  regular  and  umbrella-shaped  head.  The 
leaves,  on  the  other  hand,  are  very  much  broader 
than  those  of  the  older  weeping  variety,  and 
they  completely  cover  the  branches  of  the  tree 
while  it  is  in  leaf,  whereas  the  leaves  of  U.  montana 
pendula  are  directed  below  most  of  the  branches, 
leaving  the  latter  exposed  to  view.  The  trees  of 
the  Camperdown  Weeping  Elm  that  I  have  seen 
are  sometimes  planted  in  gardens,  occasionally 
in  courtyards,  and  in  one  case  a  tree  was  planted 
on  either  side  of  the  front  garden  gate.  A  Kttle 
trimming  was  given  to  keep   the  gateway   clear. 


planted  thickly  with  the  hardy  Gladioli,  and  for 
an  autumn  display  sowed  Candytuft,  thus  keeping 
the  border  bright  over  a  long  period.  In  1919 
an  attempt  was  made  to  eradicate  the  Trop.tjolum, 
but  this  proved  impossible  owing  to  the  many  roots 
of  climbers  in  the  border.  By  1921  the  few  roots 
left  had  again  monopolised  the  border,  and  I  enclose 
a  photograph  of  part  of  the  border  taken  last  June 
shewing  the  great  mass  of  bloom.  This  should 
encourage  those  who  have  hitherto  looked  upon 
it  as  a  difficult  plant  to  grow.  T.  speciosum  is 
a  much  more  difficult  species  here  in  the  South, 
but  I  feel  sure  there  are  many  gardens  where  it 
might  be  tried  with  a  fair  chance  of  success  if 
its  special  requirements  are  given  due  considera 
tion,  and  disturbance  after  planting,  its  especial 
abomination,  avoided.  Like  many  of  the  Lilies, 
it  loves  to  have  its  heels  in  shade  and  its  head  in 


TROP^OLUM    POLYPHYLLUM    AT    NEW    PLACE,    LINGFIELD. 


but  otherwise  these  small  weeping  trees  gave  no 
trouble.  The  great  spreading  arms  of  U.  m. 
pendula  require  more  room. — J.  F. 

TWO   PERENNIAL    TROP.EOLUMS. 

T  HAVE  noticed  several  references  to  Tropaeolums 
polyphyllum  and  speciosum  in  The  Garden 
during  the  past  season,  and  there  are  doubtless 
many  who  are  desirous  of  growing  them  who 
have  met  with  failures  in  the  past.  As  regards 
T.  polyphyllum,  most  failures  to  establish  it  have 
been  caused  by  shallow  planting.  The  roots 
should  be  not  less  than  a  foot  deep  in  stiff  soils, 
and  in  lighter  soils  and  well  drained  positions 
they  should  be  quite  iSins.  down.  In  an  old- 
established  bed  they  range  themselves  from  ift. 
to  nearly  3ft.  in  depth.  We  have  here  a  narrow 
border  of  about  60ft.  in  length  where  it  has  been 
established  for  several  years.  The  subsoil  is 
clay,  and  I  have  followed  the  roots  down  to  2ft. 
6ins.  in  depth.  This  is  not  a  good  position  for 
it,  as  it  flowers  in  June  and  dies  back  at  the  end 
of  the  month,  leaving  an  awkward  blank  which 
needs  a  good  number  of  plants  to  be  kept  on 
hand  to  give  another  display.  In  former  years, 
when    bedding-out    was    not    favoured    here,    we 


full  light.  This  species  is  a  shallow  rooter,  and 
the  long,  fleshy  roots  are  very  brittle.  Here  it 
thrives  best  in  peat  under  the  shade  of  tall  Rhodo- 
dendrons and  under  other  shrubs  with  plenty  of 
decayed  leaf-mould  near  the  surface.  Lime,  as 
mentioned  by  one  correspondent,  appears  quite 
unnecessary,  as  our  soil  is  quite  free  from  it. 
Why  I  think  it  could  be  more  generally  grown  in 
Southern  gardens  is  the  fact  that  it  has  existed 
for  years  in  every  possible  position  here.  Pieces 
of  it  are  to  be  found  all  over  the  place  among 
shrubs,  herbaceous  plants  and  in  the  kitchen 
garden  borders  under  bush  .\pple  trees,  but  the 
digging  in  the  borders  breaks  up  the  roots  into 
too  small  pieces  to  store  sufficient  food  to  enable 
it  to  throw  up  a  strong  flowering  stem.  The 
best  display  is  given  when  growths  of  the  previous 
season  come  through  a  very  mild  winter  unharmed, 
which  has  occasionally  happened  here.  Those 
who  try  it  must  not  be  too  impatient  for  results, 
but  allow  it  time  to  form  strong  roots.  Seeds  are, 
naturally,  slower  than  roots  and  need  special 
treatment.  Drying  kills  them,  therefore  they 
must  be  sown  as  soon  as  ripe  or  stored  in  soil 
constantly  kept  moist  for  a  year,  as  they  require 
this  time  before  germination  takes  place. — H.  C. 
Wood,  New  Place  Gardens,  Lingfield. 


636 


THE     GARDEN. 


[December  i6,  1922. 


MICHAELMAS    DAISIES. 

"POR  many  years  past  two  varieties  of  Asters 
liave  been  known  tor  their  late  blooming, 
viz.,  Aster  grandiflorus  and  A.  Tradescanti. 
During  1921  Mr.  Amos  Perry  of  Enfield  marked 
a  seedling  which  flowered  later  than  is  usual 
in  the  Novi-Belgii  type,  and  this  year  is  flowering 
equally  late.  Flowers  were  marked  as  opened 
on  September  16,  and  to-day  (December  2)  perfect 
flowers  may  be  gathered  in  perfect  shape.  This 
new  seedling  has  been  named  Winter  Gem.  The 
flowers  are  a  httle  larger  than  a  shilling,  pure  white, 
with  conspicuous  yellow  disc,  and  from  2Mt.  to 
3jft.  tall,  with  perfectly  upright  rigid  stems  and 
free  branching  habit.  As  a  late-blooming  border 
plant  it  will  prove  invaluable. — W.  L. 


CHRYSANTHEMU.MS    AND     WINTER 

ROSES. 

TN  the  account  of  the  .Autumn  Show  in  Paris  I 
was  disappointed  to  see  how'  little  mention  was 
made  of  the  more  artistic  treatment  of  the  flowers 
than  is  commonly  seen  in  England.  The  quality  of 
the  cut  blooms  is  higher  in  England,  I  think,  at 
Chrysanthemum  shows,  but  we  can  learn  something 
from  the  French  methods  of  arrangement.  Not 
being  a  Chrysanthemum  grower  myself  I  do  not 
venture  to  name  what  are  the  finest  varieties,  but 
there  is  one  Japanese  variety  called  Tokyo,  with 
tubular  petals  and  pretty  pink  colouring  that 
entirely  won  my  admiration,  whether  as  a  big  cut 
bloom  or  a  dwarf,  cut-back  pot  plant  with  smaller 
flowers.  I  shall  hope  never  to  be  without  it  and 
add  it  to  the  list  of  half  a  dozen  or  so  that  are 
indispensable.  Continued  fine  sunny  weather  and 
a  steady  moderate  temperature  has  produced  the 
best  crop  of  autumn  or  winter  Roses  I  have  yet 
seen.  The  Roses  that  have  opened  in  a  steady 
temperature  between  65°  and  45'  have  a  perfection 
of  petal  that  is  striking,  and  the  time  that  individual 
flowers  last  at  this  season  is  another  great  charm. 
The  fierce  suns  and  summer  heats  have  their 
drawbacks  in  this  climate.  The  winter-flowering 
Gladioli  are  now  common  objects  on  the  flower 
stalls  in  the  market,  but  they  need  some  improve- 
ment yet  in  the  size  of  the  flowers  and  their  dis- 
position on  the  spikes  ;  still,  with  late  Chrysanthe- 
mums, their  big  sheaves  of  flowers  make  a  very  good 
effect.  That  cruel  wind  frost  of  two  years  ago  has 
left  its  mark,  and  the  beautiful  .Acacia  podalyria-- 
folia  and  the  truly  regal  Dahlia  imperialis  are  but 
rarely  seen,  so  few  survived  that  night.  We  now 
look  forward  to  the  stately  Montanoa  bipinnatifida 
to  grace  our  Christmas  garden. — E.  H.  Woodall. 

PEAR   TREES    FOR   ORNAMENT. 

/^ARDEN  lovers  generally  look  forward  to  the 
great  wealth  of  colouring  in  leaf  and  fruit 
which  characterises  many  trees  and  shrubs  d\iring 
the  autumn  months.  I  should  like  to  call  atten- 
tion to  the  varied  and  beautiful  colourings  of  the 
leaves  of  some  varieties  of  Pear.  It  was  suggested 
recently  in  The  Garden  (page  541)  that  fruit 
trees  be  pressed  into  service  "  to  help  the  garden 
picture."  Referring  to  Pear  trees,  the  writer 
suggested  that  varieties  of  vigorous  habit,  such 
as  Catillac  or  Pitmaston  Duchess,  be  used.  He 
went  on  to  give  a  list  (on  page  542)  of  those 
varieties  with  which  he  had  had  some  success 
as  standard  trees  on  a  light  and  warm  soil.  This 
list  included,  in  addition  to  the  two  sorts  men- 
tioned above,  Williams'  Bon  Chretien,  Jargonelle 
Beurrc  Diel,  Petite  Marguerite,  Conference  and 
Durondeau.  These  varieties,  while  serving  as 
a  guide,  might  be  compared  with  those  which 
have  been  found  to  be  most  reliable  for  the  pro- 
duction of  autumn  tints  when  the  trees  are  grown 


in  heavy  soil.  As  a  result  of  a  number  of  obser- 
vations upon  bush-trained  trees  growing  in  such 
a  soil  it  was  found  that  the  following  seven 
varieties  were  most  dependable  in  giving  good 
coloured  foliage,  viz.,  Triomphe  de  Vienne,  Beurre 
Capiaumont,  Beurre  Jean  van  Geert,  Souvenir 
du  Congres,  Fertility,  Colmar  d'Ete  and  Durondeau. 
— Robert  H.  Jeffers. 

AN    ADVANCE    IN    SWEET   PEAS. 

WONDERFUL,  of  which  I  send  a  picture,  is 
one  of  the  best  of  the  Sweet  Pea  novelties. 
It  is  bright  scarlet-cerise,  a  shade  deeper  than  Royal 
Scot,  and  like  this  variety,  absolutely  sunproof, 
in  fact,  the  more  sunshine  it  receives  the  better 
is  the  colour.     There  is  this  difference,  however, 


SWEET     PEA    WONDERFUL. 

between  the  two  varieties  ;  the  buds  of  Royal 
Scot  are  lighter  and  do  not  develop  the  true,  rich 
colour  in  unfavourable  weather  or  if  opened  in 
water,  while  with  Wonderful  the  blossoms  are 
scarlet,  even  in  the  bud  stage.  This  is  a  decided 
advantage  in  a  sunless  season  such  as  the  past  one 
has  been  or  if  the  flower  spikes  are  cut  in  a  partly 
opened  condition.  I  grew  twenty  plants  of  this 
variety  for  trial  during  the  past  season.  It  lacks 
nothing  in  vigour  and  gives  a  good  proportion 
of  four  bloomed  sprays,  while  during  the  few  sunny 
periods  which  it  enjoyed  its  brilliant  colour  was 
very  telling.  The  long  rows  that  were  growing  for 
seed  were  in  full  bloom  v/hen  I  visited  Essex  in  late 
June,  and  they  presented  a  wonderful  sight.  It 
is  also  as  useful  as  Royal  Scot  for  greenhouse 
culture,  so  is  a  recoramendable  novelty  for  all 
purposes. — X.  L. 


A    NEW   RACE    OF    CHRVSANTHE.MU.MS. 

TN  Mr.  Edward  H.  Woodall's  interesting  letter 
on  page  572,  under  the  above  heading,  he  refers 
to  Messrs.  Vilmorin's  exhibit  at  the  Paris  .Autumn 
Show  last  year  of  some  very  dwarf  single  Japanese 
Chrysanthemums.  He  recommends  English  gar- 
deners to  go  there  this  year  and  satisfy  themselves 
as  to  their  worth.  It  is  not  certain  whether  Mr. 
Woodall  saw  these  varieties  himself  last  year  or 
whether  he  is  speaking  from  the  photographs  of 
them,  but  at  any  rate  last  year  several  of  us  English 
Chrysanthemum  men  were  at  the  Paris  Show  and 
I  have  been  also  there  again  this  year.  Messrs. 
Vilmorin's  exhibit  is  usually  a  colossal  advertise- 
ment, whether  they  shew  in  Paris  or  elsewhere.  It 
contains  named  specimen  plants  of  Chrysanthemums 
of  many  forms  and  sizes.  It  includes  a  variety  of 
pot    plants,    one    in    par- 

ticular     a     little     brassy 

yellow  Pompon  called 
Gerbe  d'Or  they  have 
used  as  an  edging  for 
many  years. 

-Another  family  of  dwarf 
decorative  pot  plants, 
always  weU  represented 
at  the  French  shows,  is 
what  we  call  the  "  Cap  " 
family,  but  which  is 
known  to  French  growers 
as  the  Baronne  de  Vinols 
family,  for  there  are 
probably  twelve  or  fifteen 
sports  from  the  parent  or 
later  issue.  Blanche 
Poitevine,  the  name  of 
which  is  persistently 
mangled  by  English 
growers  in  spite  of  all 
protests,  is  another  valu- 
able dwarf  decorative  Jap 
much  in  demand.  This 
year  while  in  the  Paris 
Show  I  was  accosted  by  a 
Channel  Island  enthusiast 
who  had  periodically 
come  there  to  see  what 
the  variety,  of  which  he 
had  heard  a  good  deal, 
was  like.  We  found  it  in 
the  Vilmorin  group — and 
he  was  content. 

But  the  "  very  dwarf 
single  Japanese  "  referred 
to  by  Mr.  Woodall 
puzrle  me.  He  is  not 
very  explicit  and  although 
my  experienced  eye  of 
forty  years  acquaintance 
with  the  Chrysanthemum 
at  home  and  abroad 
is  quick  to  detect  any- 
thing new  or  striking  at  a  Chrysanthemum 
show,  I  cannot  quite  make  sure  what  is  meant. 
Last  year  at  the  Paris  Show,  which  was  also  held 
in  the  Palmarium  of  the  Jardin  d'AccUmatation 
there  was  rather  a  pretty  display  of  a  lot  of  free- 
flowering  small  single  Chrysanthemums  arranged  on 
each  side  of  the  steps  leading  to  the  great  hall 
where  the  Vilmorin  exhibit  was  then  set  up.  These 
flowers  very  gracefully  covered  the  two  large  pieces 
of  artificial  rockwork  that  adorn  that  end  of  the 
Palmarium.  There  were  two  well  known  English 
Chrysanthemum  experts  with  me  then,  Mr.  H.  J. 
Jones  and  Mr.  Thos.  Stevenson,  but  I  do  not  think 
any  one  of  us  was  very  much  smitten  with  these 
novelties.  Perhaps  it  was  because  we  are  all  big- 
bloom  men.  This  race  is  indeed  a  n?w  one.  I 
doubt  if  it  will  ever  find  much  favour  here — but 
that,  of  course,  depends — floral  fashions  vary.    The 


December  i6,  1922.] 


THE    GARDEN. 


637 


popularity  of  some  of  the  decorative  Dahlia  rubbish 
is  ample  proof  of  that.  These  new  singles  were 
raised  by,  or  at  any  rate,  sent  from  Japan,  a  few 
years  ago  by  M.  Foukouba,  the  gardener  to  the 
Emperor  of  Japan.  My  friend,  M.  Philippe  Rivoire, 
grew  and  distributed  them.  They  are  very  likely 
to  please  the  French  taste,  but  whether  they  will 
please  ours  remains  to  be  seen. — C.  Harm.^n  Payne. 


ROSE   RAISERS   PLEASE   NOTE  ! 

"yHE  season  is  quite  as  irregular  in  Rome  as  it 
appears  to  have  been  in  England.  After  a 
drought  lasting  from  April  25  until  August  30,  with 
great  heat — 104° — and  hot  winds,  it  rained  some- 
what more  than  usual  in  September  and  October. 
On  September  28  I  gathered  a  good  bunch  of 
Violets,  and  by  October  15  one  could  find  Violets, 


Paper  White  Narcissi,  Dahlias,  Chrysanthemums, 
Apple  and  Pear  blossom  in  quantity.  Wallflowers, 
Cosmos,  Orange  blossom  and,  of  course,  very  fine 
Roses.  There  is  to  be  a  municipal  rose  garden  in 
Rome  at  Villa  Borghese,  and  many  of  the  big 
French  rose-growers  have  promised  to  send  plants. 
Perhaps  some  English  or  Irish  rose-growers 
would  also  care  to  do  so.  They  should  be  sent 
by  parcel  post  to  avoid  a  very  long  journey, 
addressed  to  the  Director  of  Public  Parks,  Cav. 
Nicodemo  Severi,  Casino  Dell'  Orologio,  Villa 
Borghese,  Rome.  He  is  the  president  of  the 
newly  formed  horticultural  society  in  Rome, 
which  has  just  held  a  large  and  successful  show. 
Rose-growing  is  somewhat  backward  here,  but 
the  new  rose  garden  will  probably  change  this 
and  shew  people  what  an  excellent  flower  .t  is 
for  this  uncertain  climate. — A   Romas    Reader. 


with  the  species  that  is  found  on  Apple  trees  • 
there  does  not  seem  to  be  an  absolute  certainty 
about  the  matter  one  way  or  the  other.  Anyway, 
if  a  badly  infested  Hawthorn  hedge  is  near  your 
orchard,  it  would  be  worth  while  to  keep  an  eye 
on  it  as  well  as  on  the  trees. 

Mussel  scale  is  found  chiefly  on  trees  that  have 
been   allowed   to   get   their   barks  encrusted  with 


APPLE    TREE    PESTS    IN    WINTER 


WITHOUT  some  knowledge  of  the 
life-history  ot  these  pests  it  is 
impossible  to  treat  the  trees 
properly.  Consider,  for  instance, 
the  very  common  pests  such  as 
woolly  aphis  (American  blight),  the  apple  blossom 
weevil,  the  apple  sucker,  the  small  ermine  moth 


WOOLLY    APHIS    AND    SEVERAL    MUSSEL    SCALES. 


and  the  mussel  scale  ;  all  these  carry  the  race 
over  the  winter  months  in  different  ways,  and 
therefore  the  same  remedy  will  not  always  apply 
in  more  than  one  case. 

The  woolly  aphis  seems  to  be  gradually  solving 
the  problem  of  dispensing  with  the  male  form 
and,  therefore,  also  with  eggs.  The  principal 
form  is  the  \vingless,  viviparous  female,  which 
goes  through  the  winter  hiding  in  cracks  in  the 
bark  or  else  travels  down  to  the  roots  and  hiber- 
nates there.  To  destroy  these  insects,  which 
produce  the  numerous  summer  broods,  a  very 
efficient  winter  wash  is  needed,  either  a  Woburn 
wash  or  a  home-made  alkaline  wash  made  up  of 
2  Jib.  of  caustic  soda  to  10  gallons  of  water.  The 
bluish  white  "  cottonwool "  is  seen  on  badly 
infested  trees  all  winter,  and  this  is,  of  course, 
a  proof  of  the  presence  of  the  insects.  The 
"  cottonwool  *'  exudes  in  long  threads  from 
the  backs  of  the  insects,  both  young  ones  and 
adults. 

The  apple  blossom  weevil  passes  the  winter 
as  an  adult  insect  and  is  extremely  difficult  to 
find.     The  remedy   here  is  an  indirect  one.     All 


rubbish  in  and  around  the  orchard  must  be  burnt  ; 
hedge  bottoms  must  be  thoroughly  cleaned  out, 
also  ditches ;  moss  and  lichen  on  tree  trunks 
must  be  removed,  as  well  as  all  loose  pieces  of 
bark,  under  which  the  weevils  like  to  hibernate. 
A  winter  wash  and,  later,  a  lime  wash  will  destroy 
numbers.  Tits  are  certainly  useful,  and  should 
be  encouraged  to  feed 
in  the  orchard  ;  whatever 
may  be  said  against 
them  during  the  fruiting 
season,  their  services 
are  undoubtedly  valual)le 
in  winter. 

The  apple  sucker  lays 
its  eggs  at  the  end  of  the 
summer  and  dies.  These 
eggs  do  not  hatch  out 
till  March,  and  therefore 
between  that  time  and 
the  previous  November, 
when  egg-laying  stops, 
endeavours  should  be 
made  to  destroy  them. 
Paraffin  emulsion  is  useful, 
both  at  the  beginning 
and  at  the  end  of  winter  ; 
also  a  lime-wash  that 
will  coat  the  twi-gs  and 
prevent  the  hatching  of 
the  eggs  should  be 
applied  just  before  the 
The  lime-wash  is  made  with 
151b.  of  lime  (best  quick,  in  lumps)  to  10  gallons 
of  water,  and  spraying,  may  be  done  to  within 
about  a  week  of  the  opening  of  the  buds.  This 
spraying  must  be  done  rather  late,  or  it  may  be 
washed  off  by  rain  and  the  eggs  exposed  as  before. 
Where  the  apple  suckers  are  numerous  it  is  better 
to  run  the  risk  of  spoiling  some  of  the  leaf  and 
fruit  buds  in  order  to  make  a  thorough  clearance 
of  the  pests. 

In  the  case  of  the  small  ermine  moths  it  is  no 
use  waiting  till  the  larva;  are  doing  their  worst, 
in  July,  before  steps  are  taken  to  eradicate  them. 
.\11  sorts  of  winter  washes  are  useful  in  getting 
rid  of  the  tiny  caterpillars  which  are  hibernating 
on  the  twigs  and  bark.  It  is  not  easy  to  kill 
them,  as  they  are  exceedingly  well  protected. 
The  eggs  are  laid  about  -August  in  compact  masses, 
each  egg  being  firmly  fixed  to  the  next,  and  the 
larvEB,  when  they  hatch  out  the  following  month, 
take  sheltei;  under  the  egg-roof,  not  coming  out 
to  feed  till  spring.  It  should  be  remembered 
that  there  is  a  species  of  small  ermine  that  attacks 
hawthorn,   and  it  is  possible  that  it   is  identical 


buds  begin  to  swell. 


APPLE     BLOSSOM    WEEVIL, 
(Greatly   enlarged) 
Passes    the    tauter    in    the    adult  form. 

lichens  and  moss.  Trees  with  clean  trunks  aro- 
not  often  attacked.  Winter  is  the  best  time  to. 
start  measures  of  control,  and  in  cases  of  bad 
attacks  the  trees  should  be  occasionally  sprayed 
from  November  onwards  into  February.  Woburn 
wash  or  a  home-made  oil  emulsion  will  answer 
all  purposes  satisfactorily  if  spraying  is  done- 
thoroughly.  For  a  few  trees  only  it  is  best  to 
buy  an  oil  that  will  form  an  emulsion  with  water  ; 
there  are  various  oils  of  this  description  on  the 
market.  To  make  10  gallons  of  wash  use  i  gallon 
of  paraffin  and  nearly  2lb.  of  soft  soap.  Tha 
history  of  the  mussel  scale  that  attacks  ."^pple  trees 
is,  briefly,  as  follows :  The  wingless  mites  are 
hatched  about  May.  For  a  few  days  they  walk, 
about  exploring  the  tree  on  which  they  find  them- 
selves ;  after  that  they  choose  a  feeding-spot 
and  fasten  themselves  to  it  by  inserting  their 
"  trunks  "  into  the  bark.  Having  once  accom- 
phshed  this  they  never  move  again  ;  apparently 
they  lose  the  power  of  moving  and  henceforward 
they  live  for  eating  or,  rather,  sucking.  Each 
insect  begins  to  form  a  sort  of  covering,  and 
this  grows  into  the  well  known  mussel  scale. 
Towards   the   end   of   the   summer   they   mature, 


SMALL    ERMINE    MOTH. 
The    eggs   are    on    the    trees    all    the    uinter. 

lay  their  eggs — about  eighty  to  each  insect — and 
die.  The  eggs  are  safe  under  the  scale  and  remain 
there  all  the  winter.  It  may  readily  be  under- 
stood that  a  very  thorough  appUcation  of  the 
winter  wash  is  necessary  in  order  to  reach  the 
eggs.  Pears  and  Currant  bushes  may  be 
infected  if  they  grow  near  the  Apple  trees, 
as  the  insects  are  liable  in  the  first  few  days 
of  their  life  to  be  blown  off  the  trees  and  carried 
elsewhere.  M.  H.  Crawford. 


638 


H.  J.   ELWES,  F.R.S. 

BY  the  death  of  Henry  Elwes  a  famous 
personality  passes  out  of  the  horticul- 
tural world.  For  the  past  year  or  more 
his  health  had  given  his  friends  cause 
for  anxiety,  and  when,  a  few  months  ago, 
he  ceased  his  regular  visits  to  London,  it  was 
evident  the  end  was  in  sight.  Of  vigorous  con- 
stitution, Elwes  had  hardly  known  a  day's  illness 
in  his  life  until,  a  few  years  ago,  he  undenvent 
a  serious  operation,  from  which  he  recovered  in 
wonderful   fashion. 

Elwes  never  spared  himself  and,  finding  the  call 
of  the  world  irresistible,  was  continually  on 
the  move.  His  journeys  were  not  under- 
taken in  the  pursuit  of  pleasure,  but  for  some 
definite  object,  such  as  the  quest  of  animals, 
birds,  butterflies,  plants,  trees  and  shrubs,  of  all 
of  which  he  was  a  keen  student  and  an  insatiable 
though  discriminating  collector.  The  search  for 
these  took  him  to  almost  every  habitable  part  of 
the  globe,  and  at  times  when  travelling  in  foreign 
countries  was  not  the  comparatively  simple  busi- 
ness it  has  since  become.  .  Elwes  was  one  of  the 
first  Europeans  to  enter  Tibet,  and  before  he  went 
there  he  had  made  his  way  into  Sikkim,  a  country 
which  is  still  virgin  ground  to  all  but  a  few  white 
men.  While  there  he  was  vouchsafed  a  sight 
given  to  but  few  mortals — the  destruction  of  an 
area  of  sub-tropical  vegetation  by  an  avalanche. 

Like  all  great  travellers,  Elwes  was  a  born 
shikari,  and  wherever  he  went  was  soon  on 
friendly  terms  with  the  natives ;  even  the 
Ainus  took  to  him.  His  handsome,  commanding 
presence,  resounding  voice,  tireless  energy  and 
ready  grasp  of  languages,  no  doubt  contributed 
to  this  faculty,  to  which  he  owes  much  of  his 
success  as  an  explorer.  As  in  the  case  of  so  many 
men,  Elwes  found  the  call  of  plants  and  trees 
irresistible,  and  for  more  than  thirty  years  past 
he  had  devoted  himself  to  both  with  unflagging  zeal. 
The  foundation  of  his  interest  in  plants  was  laid 
in  1880,  when,  still  in  the  thirties,  he  was  so 
attracted  to  the  study  of  Lilies  that  he  published 
a  critical  monograph  on  the  genus,  and  did  it  so 
well  that,  though  now  out  of  date,  the  book  remains 
the  standard  work  of  reference  on  so  much  of  the 
subject  as  it  covers.  Forty  years  later  found  him 
planning  a  supplement  to  the  book.  Like  all 
true  gardeners,  Elwes  had  a  catholic  taste,  and 
at  one  time  or  another  every  hardy  plant  worth 
growing,  as  well  as  a  host  of  tropical  and  tender 
species,  must  have  passed  through  his  hands. 
Apart  from  Lihes,  he  was  an  authority  on  Fritil- 
laries,  Paeonies,  Crinum  and  Nerines,  as  well  as 
Yucca,  while  his  houses  were  crammed  with 
tropical  and  sub-tropical  bulbous  plants.  He 
often  said  that  of  all  plants,  monocotyledons 
attracted  him  most. 

Elwes  had  a  flair  for  good  plants  and  a  charac- 
teristic impatience  of  garden  trash  ;  but  he  was 
too  restless,  too  much  occupied  with  affairs  and 
too  .much  hampered  by  the  inhospitable  climate 
and  terrain  of  his  garden  on  the  cold  oolitic  lime- 
stone of  the  Cotswolds,  to  be  a  great  cultivator. 
Consequently  his  judgments  on  plants  were  not 
unerring  ;  but,  by  personal  visits  he  knew  almost 
every  garden  worth  knowing  in  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland  and  so  was  often  able,  as  he  was  quick,  to 
adjust  erroneous  impressions  derived  from  his  own 
cultural  experience.  In  his  horticultural  work 
Elwes  had  the  inestimable  advantage,  usually 
denied  to  gardeners,  of  personal  observation  of  many 
species  in  the  countries  of  their  origin,  and  he 
probably  saw  more  of  the  flora  of  the  world  than 
any  amateur  of  his  day.  He  never  returned  from 
a  journey  abroad  empty  handed,  and  horticulture 
is  indebted  to  him  for  the  introduction  of  many 
fine  species. 


THE     GARDEN. 

Long  after  his  forceful  personality  has  been 
forgotten,  Elwes'  name  will  be  gratefully  remem- 
bered for  his  magnum  opus,  "  The  Trees  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland."  This  entirely  satisfying 
work,  in  the  preparation  of  which  he  had  the 
felicitous  collaboration   of  Dr.   Augustine   Henry, 

contains  all  that  anyone — amateur  or  scientist 

needs  to  know  about  our  trees.  In  the  closing 
year  of  his  life  he  initiated  the  movement  which 
resulted  in  the  recent  resuscitation  of  the  Botanical 
Magazine. 

Of  cultured  mind  and,  to  those  who  knew  him 
intimately,  of  singular  and  attractive  character, 
Elwes  was  accustomed  to  take  a  broad  view  of  hfe, 
and  his  natural  impatience  of  the  restraints  con- 
vention imposes  on  individuals  and  committees, 
showed  itself  sometimes  in  a  momentary  super- 
ficial briisquerie,  of  which  he  was  unconscious  ;  but 
his  only  object  was  the  advancement  of  the. cause 
for  which  he  was  working.  An  occasional  tendency 
to  allow  personal  prejudices  to  warp  his  judgment 
was  balanced  by  a  generous  reversal  of  such 
judgment  directly  it  was  shown  to  be  mistaken.    [GJ 


SIR  I.  BAYLEY  BALFOUR,  F.R.S. 

To  both  botany  and  horticulture  the 
passing  of  Sir  I.  Balfour  is  an  irreparable 
loss,  for  although  he  had  recently  retired 
from  the  oflicial  posts  he  had  held  so 
long  and  so  worthily  at  Edinburgh, 
there  was  still  much  for  him  to  do.  While  living, 
too,  he  was  a  perennial  source  of  inspiration  and 

encouragement     to    others — a     priceless     virtue 

and  there  is  no  one  to  take  his  place. 

Sir  Isaac  was  both  receptive  and  responsive  to  a 
degree,  and  it  was  those  qualities  combined  with 
his  practical  knowledge,  and,  above  all,  the  unselfish 
way  in  which  he  placed  that  knowledge  at  the 
service  of  others,  even  complete  strangers,  which 
attracted  to  him  gradually  all  that  was  best  in 
the  world  of  botany  and  horticulture  in  our  islands, 
as  well  as  much  that  Ues  beyond  them.  A  genuine 
interest  in  plants  was  passport  to  his  friendship, 
and  once  admitted,  contact  brought  continual 
refreshment  to  the  eye  and  the  mind. 

Sir  I.  Balfour's  point  of  view  was  that  of  the 
pure  scientist,  yet  he  always  wore  a  pair  of  very 
human  spectacles,  and  therein  in  great  measure, 
lay  the  secret  of  his  success.  He  covered  the 
whole  range  of  scientific  botany  as  well  as  practical 
horticulture,  and  took  as  deep  an  interest,  shall  we 
say,  in  the  hairs  on  the  ovary  of  a  minute  Primula 
from  some  Tibetan  mountain,  as  in  the  proportion  ot 
grit  he  thought  the  same  plant  would  need  in  its 
pocket  on  the  Edinburgh  Rock  Garden. 

In  the  last  few  years  of  office  Sir  I.  Balfour  worked 
at  greater  pressure  even  than  in  the  days  of  his 
prime  ;  he  burned  both  ends  of  the  candle  and 
did  it  solely  for  the  advancement  of  science  and 
horticulture.  His  position  as  head  of  a  great 
national  garden,  to  which  a  multitude  of  newly 
discovered  plants  came  for  cultivation,  enabled 
him  to  distribute  innumerable  species,  which,  in 
ordinary  way,  would  not  have  reached  the  hands 
of  amateurs  in  general  until  after  a  long  period  of 
waiting.  He  used  his  powers  wisely,  generously, 
and  to  the  immense  advantage  of  practical  horti- 
culture. In  his  writings,  as  in  his  lectures.  Sir  I. 
Balfour  was  profound,  but  never  prolix.  The 
precious  gift  of  clarity  of  expression  was  strongly 
developed  in  him,  and  he  exercised  it  to  such 
purpose  as  to  infuse  life  into  the  dried  leaves  and 
withered  flowers  of  some  herbarium  specimen  from 
the  other  side  of  the  world.  His  Master's  lecture, 
"  Some  Problems  of  Propagation,"  should  be  in 
the  hands  of  every  gardener  who  propagates  his 
own  plants  ;  while  his  enumerations  of  the  newer 


[December  16,  1922 

Gentians,  the  genus  Nomocharis,  Primula  and  above 
all  Rhododendron,  are  classical. 

Sir  I.  Balfour  was  appointed  to  Edinburgh  in 
1888,  going  thence  from  Oxford  University,  where 
he  had  occupied  the  Sherardian  Chair  of  Botony 
for  a  few  years.  In  the  thirty-four  years  which  have 
elapsed  since  then  he  has  practically  re-made  the 
Garden — one  of  the  oldest  in  the  world.  As  we 
see  it  to-day,  the  Garden  is  a  monument  to  the 
untiring  devotion  and  wise  administration  of  a 
man  whose  name  nmst  always  be  held  in  high 
honour  in  the  realms  of  botany  and  horticulture. 
[G.] 

Gardening   of  the    Week 

FOR     SOUTHERN     GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 

Early  Potatoes. — As  soon  as  the  selected  tubers 
are  sufticiently  sprouted  planting  mav  be  com- 
menced. The  best  results  are  obtained  when  a 
heated  pit  with  a  southern  aspect  can  be  made  use 
of.  Early  Potatoes  grown  thus  appreciate  a  little 
bottom  heat  and  there  is  nothing  better  for  pro- 
viding this  than  a  good  bed  of  oak  and  beech 
leaves.  Place  about  a  foot  of  hght,  fairly  rich  soil 
on  the  bed  and  plant  the  tubers  i6ins.  to  iSins. 
apart  from  row  to  row,  allowing  loins.  between  the 
sets.  FaiUng  such  a  structure  as  mentioned,  good 
results  may  be  obtained  from  pots,  or  from  narrow 
borders  in  cool  houses,  or  even  bv  erecting  tem- 
porary quarters  on  staging,  so  long  as  plenty  of 
hght  and  air  can  reach  them. 

Parsnips. — L'nless  the  site  occupied  bv  this 
crop  is  wanted  early  in  the  New  Year,  the  roots 
are  bet  ter  left  in  the  ground,  for  the  fla\-our  is 
undoubtedly  improved  after  being  seasoned  with 
frost,  etc.  To  make  sure  of  sufficient  available 
roots  should  a  frosty  spell  be  experienced,  cover  a 
portion  of  the  bed  with  litter  or  leaves  and  there 
will  then  be  no  difficulty  in  lifting  the  roots  when 
required. 

Jhe  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

The  Fruit  Room  requires  an  occasional  looking 
over  for  the  removal  of  all  decaying  fruits,  which, 
if  left,  will  soon  contaminate  others.  It  may  often 
be  arranged  that  kitchen  Apples,  even  though  a 
Utile  unsound,  can  be  used  immediately,  and  it  is  a 
good  plan  when  o\-erhauling  quantities  of  late 
cookers  to  place  all  with  sUght  blemishes  together. 
Keep  the  room  cool  and  maintain  the  atmosphere 
in  as  even  a  state  as  possible. 

Raspberries.— Established  plantations  should 
be  cleared  of  any  unnecessarv  canes  and  have  the 
remainder  made  secure  to  their  supports,  if  the  work 
has  not  ah-ead\'  been  done.  Having  finished 
tying,  etc.,  clear  the  bed  of  anv  weeds,  then  lightly 
prick  up  the  surface  of  the  soil,  mulching  the  old 
stools  at  the  same  time.  Newlv  planted  canes 
should  also  be  mulched,  but  not'  cut  down  until 
February.  Provided  the  soil  is  in  workable  con- 
dition it  is  not  too  late  to  plant,  but  if  unfavourable 
weather  intervenes,  postpone  planting  until 
February.  When  maldng  a  selection  of  sorts,  some 
canes  of  the  perpetual  varietv  Lloyd  George  should 
be  included,  and  this,  being  a  strong  doer,  should  be 
given  more  room  than  other  varieties. 

Fruits  Under  Glass. 

Tomatoes. — Winter  fruiting  plants  require  an 
even  temperature  of  about  56'  to  60=  at  night, 
according  to  the  outside  conditions,  and  about 
10°  higher  during  the  dav.  Maintain  a  buovant 
atmosphere  with  the  aid  of  a  little  air  whenever 
the  climatic  conditions  are  favourable,  and  a\-oid 
atmospheric  moisture  entirely.  The  onlv  moisture 
necessary  in  the  house  is  that  given  to  meet  the 
plant's  requirements.  Alwavs  err  on  the  side  of 
shortage,  if  at  all.  Should  a  batch  of  voung 
plants  have  been  raised  from  an  early  November 
sowing  they  should  be  kept  growing  on  a  shelf 
well  up  to  the  glass  in  a  temperature  which  does 
not  fall  below  55°  at  night. 

Cucumbers.— We  are  passing  through  the  worst 
few  weeks  of  the  year  for  successful  cucumber 
growing,  and  e\-erything  possible  should  be  done 
to  assist  the  plants  carrying  fruits.  \n  occasional 
light  rich  top-dressing  is  always  beneficial  and 
should  be  regularlv  appUed.  See  that  all  the  light 
possible  reaches  the  plants  bv  having  the  outside 
of  the  house  washed  occasionallv  to  free  it  from 
fog  dirt,  etc.  Keep  the  roots  of  t!ie  plants  in  an 
even  state  of  moisture  and  let  the  air  be  alwavs  a 
little  moist.  The  temperature  mav  run  between 
65°  and  75°  for  day  and  night. 


'  \^. 


THE 


GARDEN 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


'^ol.  LXXXVI.-No.  2666. 

Dtered  as  Secoad-class  Matter  at  the  New  York,  N.Y.,  Post  Office. 


Saturday,  December  23,  1922 


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A    YOUNG     BEECH     SNOW-CLAD. 


MERRYWEATHER'S    ROSES 


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FOR    BEDS! 


FOR    EXHIBITION! 
FOR    EVERYWHERE! 


Also  Fruit  Trees,  Shrubs,  Ornamental  Trees. 
Please   state  your  wants. 

H.    MERRYWEATHER    &   SONS,   LTD. 
Garden  Specialists.  SOUTHWELL,  NOTTS. 

Barr's  Clearance  Sale  of  Surplus 
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141bs.,30/-;    28Ibs.,  55/-. 

TAPLOW    GARDEN    MATS. 

No  Archangels  this  season  !     Taplows  are  equal  in  weight,  superior  in  frost 
resistance,  wear  longer,  and  are  nearly  as  cheap  as  Archangels. 

CAUSTIC  ALKALI.  The  Original  Winter  WasK 

Tested  and  accepted  by  the  World's  Fruit  Growing  Centres  as  the  best. 
40  tins,  60/- ;  20  tins,  30/-  ;   10  tins,  15/6  ;  5  tins,  8/-. 

New  Autumn  and   Winter  List  Gratis. 

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YORK  STONE  CRAZY  PAVING 

50/-  per  ton,  100  ft.  lots  or  more. 

GREY    LIMESTONE    AND    RED    SANDSTONE    ROCKERY, 
50/-  per  ton. 

Waterworn  and  Weathered  WESTMORELAND    LIMESTONE, 
also  WALLING  STONE,  at  57/6  per  ton. 
Delivered  Free  in  London  within  rcaionable  distance.     Special  Trices  for  Trucklcads. 

ROCKERIES      FORMED     AND     PLANTED 

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'Phone 


Hornsey  2868. 


THE     GARDEN. 


[December  23,  1922 


4i 


THE    GARDEN"   CATALOGUE    GUIDE 


Rose  Specialists 


riRST 

FOR 


The  Champion  Decorative  Rose  Grower 
of  England, 

RELISHA  J.  HICKS.  M.C.N.R.S.,  etc., 
OSES  Hurst,  Berks. 


Fruit  Trees  and  Plants 


PERRY'S 

Hardy  Plant  Farms 

ENFIELD.   MIDDX. 


New  Alpines 
■nd  Perennlale 

Complete 
Cslleotion 


KELWAY   &   SON 
Retail  Plant  Department 
LANGPORT,   SOMERSET. 


Hardy  Plants 
Colour  Borders 
Gladioli 


HARDY    AZALEAS    AND    FLOWER  INQ     SHRUBS 


R.  &  G.  CUTHBERT 
SOUTHGATE 

MIDDLESEX 

Established  1797 


For  planting    and 
Coneervatory 
decoration. 
Catalogue  of  our 
new  and  beautiful 
varieties  post 
tree 


LAXTON    BROS. 

Nl-rseries 
BEDFORD 


Strawberries 

and 

Fruit  Trees 


W.   WELLS,   Junr. 
Hardy  Plant  Nursery 
MERSTHAM,   SURREY 


Specialist  In 
Hardy  Plants 
and  Alpine* 
Catalogues  free 


Seeds  and  Bulbs 


BLACKMORE  &  LANG  DON 
Twerton  Hill  Nursery 
BATH 


Begenlas 
DelpNInlume 
Oloxiniaa 
Cyolamsn,  eto. 


DAWKINS 

408,  King's  Road 

CHELSEA,   S.W. 


Gladioli  and 
Liliums,  etc., 
now  ready. 


SPENCE'S  Potato  Growing  GUIDE  AND 
CATALOGUE  free  if  you  mention  this  paper. 
—CHARLES  T.  SPENCE,  Seed  Potato 
Specialist,  DUNBAR,  SCOTLAND, 


ON'S 

TREES 
SHAPES 

7  tJES  GRATIS 

TON  BROS 
BEDFORD    . 


LAX 

FRUI# 
IN  ALL 

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e^^lgy 


No.  2666.— Vol.  LXXXVI.] 


[December  23,  1922. 


PERENNIAL     PLANTS     FROM      SEED 


UXQUESTIONABLY  the  average 
amateur  does  too  little  seedling  raising. 
Admittedly  there  are  some  plants  which 
it  is  quite  unprofitable  to  raise  from 
seed — many  shrubs,  for  instance,  which 
may  be  readily  increased  from  cuttings  and  of 
which  a  comparatively  few  plants  are  required. 
Yet  even  here  the  traveller  who  leaves  the  beaten 
track  is  the  one  who  makes  discoveries.  Only 
the  other  day  your  Editor  had  the  controversy 
about  the  colouring  of  Rosa  Moyesii  explained  to 
him.  This  extraordinary  and  handsome  Rose 
refuses,  it  seems,  to  come  true  from  seed,  indeed, 
seedlings  from  what  we  have  always  considered  the 
typical  lurid  red  form  throw  a  preponderance  of 
plants  bearing  rose  pink  flowers  and  approximating 
to  those  of  the  supposed  "  species  "  we  know  as 
Rosa  Fargesii.  It  would  seem,  therefore,  that 
RR.  Moyesii  and  Fargesii  are  but  colour  forms  of 
one  species.  Interesting  information  and  worth 
knowing !  Rosa  Moyesii,  however,  is  readily 
increased  by  cuttings  or  layers  and  had  not  it  been 
raised  from  seeds  in 
the  first  instance, 
we  might  have  been 
long  enough  finding 
out  the  truth  of  the 
matter. 

Very  tew  ama- 
teurs will  trouble 
to  raise  shrubs  from 
seed  even  for  the 
sake  of  finding  out 
pecuharities  such  as 
the  one  mentioned, 
but  there  is  no 
reason  why  every 
flower-loving 
amateur  should  not 
raise  hardy  peren- 
nials from  seed. 
The  gardener  who 
has  never  raised 
anything  more  per- 
ennial than  Coreop- 
sis grandiflora  — 
most  gardeners 
raise  that  from 
seed — will  do  well 
to  try  his  "  prentice 
hand "  on  some 
comparatively  easy 
and  really  inter- 
esting race  of 
plants  which  will 
so  whet  his  appetite 


as  to  give  him  patience  to  await  results  with 
families  even  more  interesting,  but  distressingly 
slow  to  germinate.  Encrusted  and  Mossy  Saxi- 
frages are  suitable,  so  are  .^ubrietias.  All  these 
produce  a  wonderful  variety  from  seed  and,  given 
the  proper  compost,  are  free,  easy,  and  fairly  quick 
to  raise  from  seed.  The  Aubrietias  and  Mossy 
Saxifrages  are  quickest.  They  should  flower  in 
just  over  twelve  months  from  the  date  of  sowing 
the  seeds.  The  raising  of  Encrusted  Saxifrages 
was  explained  in  our  issue  of  gth  inst.,  page  614. 
Any  fairly  porous  open  soil  will  suit  Aubrietias 
or  Mossy  Saxifrages.  The  seeds  may  be  sown  at 
any  time  now  in  pans  in  a  cold  greenhouse  or 
unheated  frame.  If  given  appreciable  heat  there 
is  great  risk  that  the  young  plants  may  "  damp 
6ff."  "  Damping-off "  is  caused  by  a  fungus 
(Botrytis),  which  seems  particularly  fatal  to 
cruciferous  plants.  The  Saxifrages  should  not 
be  exposed  to  too  strong  sunlight. 

Heaths  are  very  interesting  to  raise  from  seed. 
There  seems  no  reason   to  doubt  that  ericaceous 


A    GOOD    FORM    OF    VERONICA    SPICATA. 


plants  generally  are  unable  to  grow  unless  a 
special  fungus  is  present  in  the  soil.  The  matter 
has  been  investigated  specially  in  connexion  with 
the  Rhododendron,  but  from  the  facts  we  may  infer 
that  this  disability  attaches  to  most  members  of 
the  Heath  family.  In  the  case  of  mature  plants 
no  doubt  the  fungus  is  carried  in  their  roots  into 
new  soil.  They,  consequently,  do  quite  well  in 
lime-free  loam  without  peat  or  leaf  mould,  which 
are  apparently  fungus-carrying  materials.  It  will 
be  noticed,  however,  that  self-sown  seedlings 
never  spring  up  in  such  soil.  .-Vn  abundance  of 
good  seed  is  produced  each  year  and  if  a  patch  of 
soil  a  foot  or  so  square  be  taken  out  adjacent  to 
the  Heaths  and  filled  in  either  with  well  decayed 
leaf  mould  or  peat,  multitudes  of  seedlings  will 
spring  up  in  the  prepared  patch,  though  the 
surrounding  loam  never  produces  one. 

The  most  interesting  Heaths  to  raise  from  seed 
are  Erica  cinerea,  any  good  and  unusually  coloured 
variety,  E.  Tetralix — again  a  variety  is  better 
than  the  typical  form  and  the  Irish  Heath,  Daboecia 
poll  folia.  The  seeds 
should  be  mixed 
with  a  pinch  of  fine 
silver  sand  and  be 
sown  in  pans  of 
almost  f  pure  peat 
or  alternatively  a 
mixture  of  light  but 
mellowed  loam  and 
leaf  mould  in 
equal  proportions. 
The  pans  should  be 
watered  before 
sowing  and  nc 
attempt  need  be 
made  to  cover  the 
seeds,  which  should 
be  kept  dark  and 
fairly  close  until 
germination  takes 
place,  which  will 
be  within  a  few 
weeks.  All  the 
plants  will  be 
interesting  and  it 
is  quite  on  the 
cards  that  some- 
thing really  good 
and  worth  sending 
out  may  turn  up. 
The  Irish  Heath  is 
a  very  variable 
plant  and  by  cross- 
pollinating 


640 


THE     GARDEN. 


[December  23,  1922. 


Daboecia  polifolia  (purple),  with  the  globose  white 
form,  usually  listed  as  D.  p.  globosa  alba,  a  great  variety 
of  globose  forms  may  be  obtained  of  rosy-lilac  and 
silvery-lavender  shades  of  colouring. 

Other  shrubs  really  worth  raising  from  seed  are  the 
Brooms.  The  white  Portugal  Broom,  Cytisus  albus, 
comes  readily  from  seed,  indeed,  it  self -sows  itself  freely 
in  the  border.  The  Common  Broom  (C.  scoparius), 
naturally,  reproduces  itself  freely  from  seed,  so  does  the 
very  distinct  form  called  the  Moonlight  Broom  (C.  s. 
sulphureus).  The  crimson  and  gold  variety  Andreanus 
throws  about  25  per  cent,  of  plants  approximately  true 
to  type  and  a  further  considerable  percentage  of  which 
the  flowers  shew  more  or  less  crimson  staining  on  tlie 
golden  blossoms.  The  hybrid  Brooms,  such  as  pra?cox, 
kewensis,  Beani  and  DaUimorei  are  interesting  when 
raised  from  seed.  Most  of  the  seedMngs  revert  more  or 
less  to  one  or  other  parent.  These  Brooms  may  be 
sown  in  drills  outdoors,  but  they  are  rather  tap-rooted 
so  that  if  only  a  few  are  wanted  it  is  as  well  to  sow  them 
in  pots  so  that  they  may  be  transplanted  into  their 
permanent  quarters  with  the  least  possible  disturbance. 
Of  herbaceous  perennials,  Gaillardias  are  readilj- 
raised  from  seed  and  have  a  better  constitution  when  so 
obtained.  The  soft  yellow  self  forms,  such  as  Lady 
RoUeston  and  E.  T.  Anderton,  are  rarely  obtained, 
however,  and  the  seedhng  plants  in  general  are  more 
useful  than  interesting.  The  Goat's  Rues — forms  of 
Galega  officinalis — come  fairly  true  from  seed,  though 
such  as  Her  Majesty  and  Hartlandii  are  apt  to  lose  in 
size  of  blossom  and  truss.  The  form  called  G.  o.  rosea 
fl.  pi.  comes  quite  true  from  seed  and,  strangely  enough, 
self -sows  itself  freely.  Geum  species  come  true  from 
seed,  but  the  fine  form  of  Geum  coccineum  called  Mrs. 
Bradshaw,  which  is  almost  certainly  identical  with  the 
older  Winchmore  Hill  variety,  rapidly  deterioratfs 
from  seed,  so  that  many  stocks  of  this  plant  now  in 
existence,  are  httle,  if  any,  better  than  an  ordinarv 
form  of  Geum  coccineum. 

German  Irises  are  only  worth  attention  from  seed  if 
one  is  prepared  to  follow  up  one's  results  and  engage 
in  plant  breeding  systematically.  A  very  small  per- 
centage of  the  seedhngs  attains  the  standard  of  the 
selected  parents,  let  alone  surpasses  it. 

The  Veronica  family  is  not  a  particularly  suitable 
one  to  raise  from  seed,  but  it  is  interesting  to  raise  a 
batch  of  V.  spicata,  for  instance,  if  only  to  note  the 
immense  diversity  in  habit,  spike  and  foUage  among  the 
seedlings.  Some  of  the  plants  will  be  quite  white  and 
woolly,  others  entirely  glabrous. 

Carnations  and  Border  Pinks  are  interesting  to  raise 
from  seed,  though  even  the  skilled  plant  breeder  will, 
in  the  case  of  the  former  beautiful  flower,  hardly  get 
one  plant  in  three  or  four  thousand  which,  after  trial, 
appears  worthy  of  a  name  !  The  Alpine  Pinks  present  a 
better  field  to  the  amateur.  Cross-fertilisation  is  here 
well  worth  attempting  as  some  of  the  "  mules  "  so 
obtained  are  both  interesting  and  beautiful.  Spencer 
Bickham,  which  we  illustrate,  may  be  taken  as  a  case  in 
point.  This  represents  a  cross  between  Dianthus 
CEesius  and  the  Maiden  Pink,  D.  deltoides.  The  grassy 
foliage  is  somewhat  like  that  of  caesius,  but  smaller  and 
closer,  while  the  flowers  obviously  take  after  those  of  the 
Maiden  Pink. 

.Anemone  seeds  are,  generally  speaking,  slow  to 
germinate,  but  many  interesting  forms  have  come  to 
light  in  this  way.  The  Japanese  Anemone,  for  instance, 
has  been  greatly  improved  from  seed  of  late  years,  but 
a  batch  of  seedlings  from  a  good  variety  always  give 
interesting  forms  and,  no  doubt,  further  improvement 
is  still  iu  store. 

Delphiniums  everyone  should  obtain  from  seed.  For 
grouping  among  shrubs,  for  soils  not  specially  congenial, 
or  for  other  situations  where  the  plants  may  have  to 
rough  it  somewhat,  or,  again,  where  stature  is  of  the 
first  importance,  seedlings  should  be  employed.  There 
is  no  comparison  between  the  vigour  of  a  seedling  and 
that  of  even  the  most  robust  of  named  varieties. 
{To  be  continued.) 


AN    ADMIRABLE    JAPANESE    ANEMONE,    A.    JAPONICA    CRISTATA. 


'#««». 


M 


*»L. 


HYBRID    DIANTHUS    SPENCER    BICKHAM. 


INTERESTING     TO     RAISE     FROM     SEED,      DABOECIA      POLIFOLIA. 


December  23,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


641 


WINTER    FRUITING    TREES    AND    SHRUBS 


By  EDWESr    BECKETT,    V.M.H. 


ONE  is  always  pleased  to  read  notes 
on  trees  and  shrubs,  such  as  those  by 
"  A.  O."  (The  Garden,  December  g, 
page  615),  especially  if  one  happens 
to  be  an  arboricultural  enthusiast,  but 
as  I  scanned  these  I  felt  that  either  too  great  a 
restraint  had  been  exhibited,  or  that  the  writer 
had  somehow  or  other  failed  to  view  some  of  the 
very  best  shrubs  and  trees  that  retain  their  fruits 
well  on  into  the  winter  period,  when  flowers  are 
not,  and  the  bright  seed  pods  thus  become  doubly 
useful  in  the  shrubberies.  In  the  hope  of  relaxing 
somewhat  the  otherwise  rather  hard  and  fast  line 
■set  down  (of  course,  I  admit  that  this  "  hue  "  may 
only  be  a  child  of  my  imagination),  I  have  had  a 
glance  around  to  seek  such  additional  wares  as  we 
can  offer  from  Aldenham,  and  I  do  so  in  the  hope 
that  others  of  your  readers  will  carry  on  the  effort 
<if  the  Editor  will  kindly  permit),  and  also  relate 
their  happy  possessions,  for  I  fancy  the  whole 
tale  would  indeed  be  interesting  reading. 

As  a  start  I  would  dive  into  that  large  family  of 
the  Cratasgi  which  is  referred  to.  What  an 
enormous  group  it  is  too,  for  there  must  be  some- 
thing Hke  a  thousand  different  "  species  and 
varieties "  (American  determination)  in  this 
country  now  (we  actually  have  about  700  or  800 
at  Aldenham),  and  of  these  there  are  many  still 
bolding  the  bulk  of  their  fruits,  and  appear  likely 
to  do  so  for  some  while  yet !  Those  that  have  shed 
their  burden  did  so  as  the  result  of  one  or  two  sharp 
snaps  of  frost,  but  many  still  hold,  and  of  these  I 
can  well  confirm  the  remarks  anent  C.  Carrierei. 
We  can  go  a  little  further  with  the  record  of  the 
persistency  of  this,  for  we  have  actually  had,  on 
more  than  one  occasion,  the  current  season's  fruit 
getting  towards  ripening  while  the  previous  season's 
still  remained  suspended  from  the  same  branches, 
no  doubt,  in  fact,  the  result  of  mild  winter  seasons, 
though  there  may  be  other  explanations.  Crataegus 
tnollicula,  which  is  I  believe  unique  in  this  country, 
among  American  Thorns,  as  having  yellow  fruits, 
still  has  these  suspended  and  though  a  little 
shrivelled  they  look  like  hanging  on  for  some  time. 
Other  excellent  Thorns  that  as  yet  still  carry  most 
of  their  fruit  are  C.  Dammeri,  with  plump,  small 
■elongated  bright  red  ones ;  C.  opulens,  round, 
dull  red ;  C.  Eganii,  small,  round,  rosy  red ; 
C.  cupulifera,  with  many  small,  bright  red  ;  C. 
EUwangeriana,  with  large  pale  red  fruits,  to  which 
C.  FuUeriana  bears  considerable  resemblance  and 
is  also  carrying  well ;  C.  persimilis,  which  is 
somewhat  like  cupuUfera,  but  rather  larger  in  size  ; 
C.  lanuginosa,  with  medium  sized  bright  red 
pomes ;  C.  Calvinii,  rather  shrivelled,  bronzy 
red  in  tone,  carried  in  bunches,  freely  borne  ;  C. 
ferentaria,  having  many  small,  deep  red  fruits,  hke 
Jarge-sized  Red  Currants  ;  C.  diffusa,  observable 
from  a  long  distance  with  its  wealth  of  bright  red 
haws,  while  C.  beata  has  similar  effect,  with  Ughter 
red  fruits  ;  C.  fucosa,  one  of  the  earliest  to  shew, 
■one  of  the  most  persistent,  and  certainly  one  of  the 
brightest  in  colour,  and  so  the  tale  might  go  on, 
though  I  have  only  mentioned  a  few  of  the  best, 
noted  at  random. 

The  Fire  Thorns  have  also  been  referred  to,  but 
surely  two  are  missing  in  the  forms  of  Pyracantha 
Gibbsii  and  C.  Rodgersiana,  that  claim  to  be  of  the 
best,  while  P.  crenulata  also  has  its  claims  for 
inclusion.  P.  Gibbsii  raised  from  seed  sent  home 
by  Mr.  E.  H.  Wilson,  is  to  my  mind  one  of  the  best 
of  winter  fruiting  shrubs,  and  even  at  the  present 
time  can  only  be  said  to  be  colouring  to  perfection, 
so  that  one  will  readily  see  its  great  value,  either  as 
wall   shrub   or   as   specimen     in    the    shrubbery, 


with  its  many  freely  borne,  closely  jewelled  bunches 
of  bright  red  berries,  that  are  most  distinct  from 
the  C.  coccinea  group  in  size  and  colour  and  general 
appearance.  C.  Rodgersiana  is  a  yellow  fruited 
species,  unique  therefore  and  decidedly  worth 
its  place  at  this  season,  when  it  is  just 
assuming  its  deepest  tones.  It  seems  almost  a 
pity  that,  later  on,  the  birds  will  claim  tribute 
from  these  ! 

Almost  mechanically  one  proceeds  to  the 
Hippophaes  which  makes  one  rather  wonder  at  the 
previous  omission  of  the  kindred  and  type  plants 


growths  of  small  crimson  berries,  that  are  decidedly 
in  keeping  with  the  shrub's  pretty  habit  and  long 
arching  delicate  growths  ;  C.  Simonsii,  resplendent 
with  many  large-size  bright  crimson  berries  ;  C. 
amoena,  freely  fruiting,  and  C.  rupestris,  which 
besides  carrying  many  cheerful-looking  red  berries, 
also  bears  as  many  crimson-toned  leaves  among  its 
dark  green  foliage,  while  the  claims  of  such  varieties 
as  C.  divaricata,  C.  horizontalis  and  the  pretty 
ruby-red  fruited  C.  buxifoUa  of  tiny  foliage, 
are  little  more  urgent,  if  at  all,  than  a  score  of 
others. 


FRUITS    AND    FLOWERS    OF    THE    STRAWBERRY    TREE,    ARBUTUS    UNEDO. 


of  the  Rhamnaceffi,  viz. — the  true  Buckthorns 
(Rharanus),  which  at  this  season  of  the  year  are 
so  conspicuous  with  their  many  bunches  of  shiny 
black,  freely  borne  fruits  (black  for  the  majority 
of  the  species,  though  some  of  the  others  are  rather 
of  a  purple  tinge),  and  of  these  R.  cathartica,  R. 
Erythroxylon,  and  R.  utihs  are  assuredly  among 
the  most  striking  fruiters  we  have  at  present,  and 
the  birds  certainly  respect  them  here.  Another 
quaint  black-seeded  bush  is  Zanthoxylum 
piperitum  which  we  have  well  co\^ered  at  the 
moment. 

Cotoneasters  are  almost  multitude,  and  many  of 
them  are  carrying  their  fruits  besides  C.  rotundi- 
foUa  and  C.  frigida.  Good  as  the  last  named  is,  it  is 
absolutely  outclassed  by  its  own  variety,  C. 
frigida  Vicarii,  not  only  as  regards  size  of  foliage, 
but  essentially  so  when  comparison  of  it  is  made  as 
against  the  larger  fruits,  carried  more  freely  in 
bigger  bunches,  of  the  variety,  in  fact  this  is 
probably  the  gem  of  the  whole  garden  at  this 
period  and  can  be  identified  at  a  long  distance 
owing  to  its  bright  crimson  aspect.  Others  that 
are  beautiful  are  C.  saUcifolia  rugosa,  with  its 
crimson  berries  and  the  delightful  red-bronze 
appearance  of  its  leaves,  which  might  almost  be 
taken  to  have  been  carved  out  of  metal,  so  beautiful 
is  their  sheen  ;  the  allied  variety,  C.  sahcifoUa 
floccosa,   so   freely   carrying    its   long  raceme-Uke 


Berberises,  of  which  only  two  are  mentioned,  also 
must  enter  the  field  here,  and  one  must  of  necessity 
restrict  again  to  the  very  best,  though,  with  such 
an  enormous  genus  as  this  one,  a  score  could 
again  be  dealt  with.  The  first  to  which  I  would 
refer  are  two  black-fruited  evergreen  forms  from 
China,  both  with  most  interesting  looking  fohage, 
viz. — B.  Gagnepainii,  with  long  medium-sized 
fruits  that  peep  out  around  the  leaves,  and  B. 
Julianae,  less  in  size,  and  even  more  shy  ;  both  of 
these  are  rendered  more  conspicuous  and  interesting 
by  the  grey-purple  bloom  that  covers  the  fruits. 
Claiming  more  attention  with  their  bunches  of  red 
fruits  are  B.  Wilsonse  and  B.  Giraldii,  the  latter 
also  being  remarkable  just  now,  through  the  red 
tones  of  its  leaves,  while  finally  I  would  refer  to 
B.  orthobotrys,  with  its  large  deep  red  fruits  of 
elongated  shape,  and  B.  brevi-paniculata,  which, 
resembling  in  appearance  the  previous  species,  has 
large  translucent  red  fruits  at  this  season. 

The  claims  of  Symphoricarpus  racemosus  are 
admitted,  but  here  again  a  variety  (or  perhaps  I 
should  write  a  presumed  variety,  as  it  is  a  little 
doubtful  of  origin),  quite  dwarfs  the  typical  form. 
The  variety  referred  to  is  known  as  S.  racemosus 
L-evigatus,  the  fruits  of  which  are  larger  and  of  more 
regular  size  and  born  in  racemes,  which  often 
attain,  in  a  well  grown  plant,  from  2ft.  to  3ft.  in 
length.     The   fruits  of   this   also   appear  to  hang 


642 


THE     GARDEN. 


[December  23,  1022. 


for  a  much  longer  period  and  are  certainly,  so  far 
as  I  can  ascertain,  left  severely  alone  by  oui 
feathered  friends. 

There  are  several  other  plants  of  great  beauty 
in  fruit  and  reference  to  the  Siberian  Crab  calls  to 
mind  the  yellow  fruited  form  Pyrus  baccata 
fructu-tiavo,  the  fruits  of  which  have  certainly 
turned  for  the  most  part  a  pretty  cinnamon  brown 
in  colour,  though  some  maintain  their  very  bright 
yellow  shade,  and  only  a  very  few  have  so  far 
dropped  off.  Two  other  Crabs  must  have  mention. 
Pyrus  Mains  aldenhamensis  still  bears  the  majority 
of  its  reddish-purple  "  cherries,"  and  Pyrus 
Scheideckeri  carries  most  of  its  small  yellow 
fruits. 

Among  Roses,  the  Chinese  R.  Helense  now 
"  queens  "  it  with  a  wealth  of  small  copper-red 
berries,  borne  freely  in  many  bunches,  and  where  the 
large  "  apples"  of  the  Ramanas  Rose  (R.  rugosa), 
from  the  neighbouring  Isles  of  Japan,  is  early-on 
the  victim  of  the  birds,  the  latter,  to  the  great  gain 
of  the  garden,  do  not  seem  to  trouble  about  the 
Cljinese  beauty.  R.  lucida  and  R.  nitida  are  two 
other  species  that  are  particularly  pretty  low- 
growing  gems  at  present,  with  much  fruit. 

Three  Viburnums  look  fine  now :  V.  Opulus, 
carrying  a  quantity  of  deep  red  drupes  ;  its  yellow 
fruiting  variety,  V.  O.  fructu-luteo,  even  more 
striking;  and  V.  Sargentii,  similar,  yet  dissimilar 
to  the  first  named,  bearing  its  many  darker  red 
fruits  in  good  contrast  thereto. 

Ruscus  aculeatus  (the  Butcher's  Broom)  is 
bearing  fairly  freely  its  bright  red  berries  set  deep 
in  its  evergreen  foliage,  and  there  is  a  very  fine 
improved  form  of  this  (introduced,  I  fancy,  by 
Mr.  E.  A.  Bowles),  which  puts  the  original  into  the 
shade  for  size  of  fruit  and  freedom  of  fruiting. 
Lonicera  syringantha  looks  charming  now  that  it 
has  shed  its  foliage,  on  account  of  its  many  twin 
drupes  of  orange-yellow,  and  in  good  contrast 
to  this  there  are  the  bunchy  black  fruits  of  I,. 
Henryi  and  the  red  ones  of  L.  Maackii.  Stranvjesia 
Davidiana,  and  the  lower-growing  species,  S. 
undulata,  are  also  freely  fruiting  now  and  look 
charming  with  their  pure  crimson  berries  and  ever- 
green foUage. 

So  might  the  tale  run  on,  for  there  seem  count- 
less plants  to  which  reference  could  be  made,  but 
one  must  pity  the  patience  of  Editor  and  printer, 
and  beyond  reference  to  the  names  and  colours  of 
Hypericums  Androsa;mum  and  uralum  (both 
black).  Arbutus  Unedo  (with  strawberry-like  red 
fruits),  Taxus  baccata  (drupes  of  both  translucent 
red  and  yellow),  one  must  be  brief  to  leave  final 
note  of  two  specialities  from  China,  both  sent  home 
by  Wilson.  Pyrus  Mains  transitoria  toringoides 
(with  foUage  like  a  Hawthorn),  is  a  wonderful 
sight  at  the  present  time,  even  though  many 
fruits  are  down,  for  two  trees  that  we  have  here 
are  still  hterally  smothered  with  the  bright  red- 
tinted  fruits,  like  white-heart  cherries  in  appear- 
ance, while  Cydonia  japonica  Wilsoni,  despite 
heavy  winds,  still  manages  to  retain  many  of  its 
extraordinary  fruits,  that  look  like  very  large-sized 
green  lemons,  closely  hugging  the  branches  and  it  is 
rather  a  curious  sight  to  see  a  comparatively  small 
tree  carrying  an  enormous  crop  of  these,  for  I 
have  counted  well  over  fifty  on  a  slender  tree  only 
about  12ft.  to  15ft.  high. 

This  year  has  been  a  truly  wonderful  one  for 
fruiting  trees  and  shrubs.  Probably  owing  to  the 
ripening  effect  of  last  year's  long,  hot  summer, 
such  fruits  as  rose  hips,  etc.,  have  been  borne 
with  great  freedom.  One  of  the  finest  sights  at 
the  present  time  is  presented  by  the  Hollies,  both 
red  and  yellow  fruited  ;  probably  few  of  us  will 
ever  see  them  in  greater  perfection,  for,  looking 
back  on  the  years,  they  appeal  to  me  as  being 
far  better  than  I  have  ever  seen  them  in  the 
past. 


THE    CHRISTMAS    ROSE 


THE  Christmas  Rose  would  scarcely  be 
held  in  high  esteem  if  it  blossomed  at 
a  season  when  flowers  were  plentiful  ; 
for  the  rather  saucer-shaped  blossoms, 
though  substantial,  are  not,  as  a  rule, 
a  very  pure  white,  being  tinged  with  the  chloro- 
phyll which  colours  the  true  leaves  and  stems. 
The  flowers  come  very  much  purer  in  colour  if 
grown  under  glass  or  even  given  the  protection 
of  a  hand-light.  If  they  are  to  be  cultivated 
primarily  for  cut  flower,  it  is  wise  to  grow  them 
where  such  protection  can  be  afforded  without 
difficulty  and  without  creating  an  eyesore.  Hand- 
lights  or  bell-glasses,  however,  detract  immensely 
from  the  beauty  of  the  plants  as  growing,  and 
half  the  charm  of  the  Christmas  Rose  in  the  garden 
is  to  see  its  clustered  blossoms  braving  inclement 
weather  outdoors.  The  Christmas  Rose  likes  a 
moderately  rich  not  over-light  soil  in  semi-shade. 
The  flowers  are  tough  and  not  easily  destroyed 
by  frost.  It  is  wise,  none  the  less,  to  give  the 
plants    a   westerly    exposure    rather    than    a   site 


until  two  whole  years  have  elapsed.  If,  however, 
home-saved  seeds  are  sown  as  soon  as  ripe  (about 
May  or  June)  germination  will  take  place  early 
the  following  spring.  With  good  culture  plants 
blossom  in  three  to  four  years  from  seed.  Seedlings 
are  much  more  vigorous  than  plants  which  have 
been  increased  for  several  generations  by  division. 
With  seeds  such  as  these,  which  require  some  time 
to  germinate,  it  is  usually  better  to  sow  in  square 
seed-pans  and  stand  in  a  cold  frame  rather  than  to 
sow  outdoors.  It  is  easier  to  keep  pans  quite 
free  from  weeds  than  it  is  the  open-air  seed-bed, 
also  the  young  plants  are  more  easily  divided 
when  it  becomes  necessary  to  transplant. 

The  typical  form  of  Helleborus  niger  is  hardy 
and  useful  for  outdoor  culture,  but  there  are 
several  selected  forms  with  larger  or  whiter 
blossoms.  Probably  the  best  of  these  is  called 
maximus  or,  sometimes,  altifolius.  It  is  ani 
early  bloomer,  being  usually  at  its  best  in  Novem- 
ber. The  flowers  are  often  tinged  with  rose. 
H.   n.    carnea,   sometimes   called   Apple   Blossom. 


THE    CHRISTMAS    ROSE,    HELLEBORUS    NIGER. 


where  the  morning  sun  can  penetrate  to  probably 
frosted  blossoms.  A  ferny  bank,  the  western 
edge  of  a  wood,  spinney  or  matured  shrubbery, 
the  partly  overgrown  bank  of  a  pool,  sheltered 
corners  in  the  bamboo  dell — all  are  suitable  places 
for  this  lowly  but  always  welcome  flower.  There 
are  few  gardens  which  have  not  places  ready- 
made  for  them,  nor,  if  all  suitable  sites  are  other- 
wise occupied,  is  it  difficult  to  arrange  a  little 
corner  for  their  accommodation.  On  light  soils 
cow-manure  should  be  incorporated  in  the  soil 
before  planting.  As  the  clumps  should  remain 
many  years  undisturbed,  it  is  well  to  trench  the 
ground  deeply  before  planting  takes  place. 

Early  autumn  is  the  best  time  to  transplant  the 
crowns.  Propagation  is  by  division  or  seeds. 
Named  varieties  must,  of  course,  be  increased  by 
division.  Few  amateurs,  however,  have  the 
heart  to  divide  up  a  fine,  well  established  clump, 
so  that  the  hardy  plant  nurseries  always  do  a 
good  trade  in  these  plants.  Seeds,  if  sown  in 
January,  will  not,  under  the  most  favourable 
conditions,  germinate  before  the  spring  of  the 
following  year,  and  the  seedlings  may  not  appear 


has  almost  black  stems  and  dark  foliage,  and 
the  blossoms  are  flesh-tinted.  Of  the  forms 
noteworthy  for  purity  of  colouring  mention  may 
be  made  of  St.  Brigid  and  Riverstoni.  The  form 
called  major  is  desirable,  and  very  robust  and 
free-growing. 

Like  most  tuberous-rooted  perennials — P.-eonies, 
for  example — the  Christmas .  Rose  is  impatient 
of  transplantation.  Patience  is  therefore  very- 
necessary  when  estabUshing  a  new  colony, 
since  really  imposing  results  cannot  be  expected 
for,   at  any  rate,   two  or  three  seasons. 

There  are  in  some  gardens  large  patches  of 
these  plants  which  can  hardly  be  said  to  look 
natural  as  growing,  simply  because  the  plants  are- 
planted  quincunx  fashion  with  mathematical 
accuracy,  at  a  distance  apart  of  from  ajft.  to  3ft. 
Now  the  Christmas  Rose  must  have  room  if  it 
is  to  grow  into  imposing  clumps,  but  2jft.  is  an 
"  outside  "  distance  to  allow  between  the  clumps- 
and  it  is  quite  easy  to  arrange  the  plants  iiii 
drifts  and  little  colonies  without  such  regu- 
larity of  spacing.  An  evergreen  backing  is  very- 
desirable. 


December  23,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


643 


WOOD     LILIES 


A  SMALL  group  of  woodland  plants, 
chiefly  natives  of  North  America,  tile 
genus  Trillium  contains  about  thirty 
species,  of  which  the  best  known  and 
favourite  kind  is  T.  grandiflorum. 
Other  two  or  three  species  are  found  in  North- 
Eastem  Asia  and  Japan.  In  habit  they  bear 
a  great  resemblance  to  each  other,  with  the 
characteristic  three  leaves  in  a  whorl,  borne  on  a 
stem  varying  from  a  few  inches  to  a  foot  or  more 
in  height.  Arising  from  these  three  leaves  is 
the  flower,  also  with  its  parts  in  threes,  borne 
either  on  slender  stalks  or,  quite  sessile,  at  the 
junction  of  the  leaf  petioles. 

The  Trilliums  are  quite  hardy,  and  easy  to  grow 
in  cool,  shady  spots  planted  in  a  mixture  of  loam, 
peat,  leaf-soil  and  sand.  As  they  flower  early, 
a  sheltered  place  protected  from  cold  winds  in 
spring  is  essential  if  they  are  to  be  seen  at  their 
best.  T.  grandiflorum  may  be  naturalised  in 
the  open  woodland,  provided  the  soil  is  rich  and 
moist.  Most  of  the  other  kinds  are  desirable 
plants  for  the  rock  garden  or  bog  garden,  in  the 
former  of  which  many  cool  sites  may  be  selected 
for  their  reception.  While  not  absolutely  essential 
if  the  soU  is  moist,  shade  is  desirable  for  all 
Trilliums.  The  best  kinds  and  their  pecuharities 
are  given  below. 

T.  GRANDIFLORUM  is  a  Well  known  plant. 
famiUar  to  most  garden-lovers.  When  planted  in 
a  suitable  spot  it  increases  freely,  throwing  up 
clusters  of  pale  green  leaves  that  are  bronze 
tinted  when  young.  Each  stem  bears  a  solitary, 
nodding,  white  flower,  measuring  some  4ins. 
across.  The  flowers  become  tinged  with  pink 
after  a  time,  but  are  none  the  less  charming  on 
that  account.  For  woodland  walks,  where  the 
soil  is  rich  with  humus  and  where  there  is  plenty 
of  moisture,  this  is  an  ideal  plant  for  massing. 
In  such  positions  it  will  reach  a  height  of  2ft.  or 
more,  each  stem  carrying  its  large  nodding  flowers 
in  early  May.  There  are  numerous  forms  of  this 
species,  some  with  small,  others  with  large  flowers. 
Most  distinct  of  all  is  the  variety  roseum,  a  charming 
variation  from  the  type  with  flowers  which  open 


a  pale  blush  pink,  deepening  in  tint  to  rose  before 
they  fade. 

T.  SESSILE  is  a  robust-growing  kind  with  broad, 
ovate  leaves  in  threes,  coloured  sage  green,  with 


spotted  as  in  the  type,  but  bears  variable  white 
flowers  in  .April  that  arc  claret  tinted  only  in  their 
lower  parts.  Like  the  type,  it  is  fragrant,  but  it 
is  more  vigorous  in  habit,  often  attaining  to  a 
height  of  from  2ft.  to  3ft.  in  favoured  situa- 
tions. T.  sessile  and  its  varieties  flourish  'in 
boggy  soil. 


THE    RATHER    UNCOMMON    TRILLIUM    SESSILE    CALIFORNICUM. 


numerous  paler  green  and  purple  spots.  The 
flowers  are  sessile  in  the  axils  of  the  leaves,  and 
consist  of  three  chocolate-coloured,  strap-Uke 
segments  sins,  or  3ins.  long.  .Although  not  an 
attractive  plant,  the  flowers  are  deliciously  fragrant. 
A  much  more  desirable  plant  is  T.  sessile  var. 
album     (syn.     cahfornicum),     which     has     leaves 


BEST     KNOWN    OF    WOOD    LILIES,    TRILLIUM    GRANDIFLORUM. 


T.  ERVTHROCARPUM  is  a  chamiing  little  plant 
for  a  selected  nook  in  the  rock  garden.  It  has 
spotted  ovate  leaves  and  showy  white  flowers 
that  are  heavily  spotted  with  crimson.  It  is 
more  difficult  to  estabUsh  than  most  of  the 
others,  preferring  a  drier  position  in  well 
drained  soil. 

Of  the  other  kinds  in  cultivation  there  is  T. 
CERNUUM,  with  pretty,  nodding,  white  flowers 
that  are  fragrant  and  measure  lin.  across.  T. 
ERECTUM  has  dark  green  foliage  and  reddish  purple 
flowers  in  the  type.  There  is,  how'ever,  a  white- 
flowered  variety  that  is  suggestive  of  T.  grandi- 
florum when  doing  well,  often  reaching  a  height 
of  iSins.  The  petals,  however,  are  tinted  with  a 
livid  red  colour  at  the  throat  or  base.  T.  ovatum 
is  a  dwarf  plant  whose  three  leaves  form  a  complete 
circle  round  the  stem.  The  almost  sessile  flower 
is  pure  white  at  first,  but  develops  a  red  tint 
with  age.  It  should  be  grown  in  a  sheltered 
position  in  the  rock  garden.  T.  nivale  may  be 
called  a  miniature  grandiflorum,  bearing  its  pure 
white  flowers  in  April.  It  only  grows  to  a  height 
of  3ins.  or  4ins.,  and  does  well  in  drier  peaty  soil 
Another  dwarf  rock  garden  species  is  T.  rivale, 
which  must  not  be  confused  with  the  above. 
It  has  white  flowers,  produced  in  March,  more  or 
less  covered  with  purple  spots  in  the  lower  half. 
It  is  a  charming  Uttle  plant  and  also  easily 
grown. 

T.  recurvatum  is  more  curious  than  attractive, 
with  flowers  the  segments  of  which  are  ruddy 
purple  in  colour  and  much  recurved.  A  variable 
plant  is  T.  stylosum,  which  is  easy  to  grow  where 
T.  grandiflorum  flourishes.  The  flowers  are  not 
so  large  as  in  that  species,  and  are  usually  rosy 
pink  in  colour,  but  the  colour  varies  considerably. 
When  well  grown,  plants  reach  a  height  of  2ft. 
It  is  one  of  the  later  flowering  kinds,  often  not 


644 


THE     GARDEN. 


[December  23,  1922. 


opening  its  flowers  till  June.  'Jriiliuins  are 
best  left  undisturbed  when  established,  when 
many  of  the  species  will  soon  make  respectable 
clumps.       For    the    purpose    of    propagation    they 


may  be  lifted  in  autumn  and  the  roots  be 
divided.  They  should  not  be  allowed  to  get 
dry ;  indeed,  they  should  be  planted  again  at 
once.  W.  I. 


RARE    ALPINES    AT    HINDHEAD 


NEAR  to  Haslemere,  where  my  late 
good  friend.  Professor  Sir  Isaac  Bayley 
Balfour,  came  to  pass  his  last  days, 
the  doctor  of  the  place  grows  alpines 
with  the  greatest  success.  We  met  at 
Chelsea  Show  and  he  took  me  in  his  motor  through 
the  beautiful  Surrey  countryside — nice  villages, 
hills  covered  with  picturesque  Scots  Pines  and 
Gorse.  At  Hindhead  the  Uttle  cottage  garden  is 
kissed  by  the  evening  sun  and  its  beauties  are  now 
at  their  best.  Imagine  a  paved  path  adorned  with 
the  rarest  of   alpines,   growing  there  like  weeds : 


Linaria  alpina  in  masses  everywhere,  Viola 
bosniaca  and  V.  calcarata,  Saxifraga  caesia,  SS, 
bryoides,  aretioides,  Grisebachii,  Gentiana  verna 
(which  I  would  rather  call  floribunda),  Thlaspi 
rotundifoha,  Draba  pyrenaica  and  D.  p.  alba, 
Pentstemon  rupicola.  Origanum  Dictamnus,  Cam- 
panula AUionii  and  C.  A.  alba,  Dianthus  Freynii 
and  D.  microlepis,  Lithospermums  of  all  kinds, 
etc.,  all  growing  freely  in  full  sun  at  Hindhead. 

This  would  please  Professor  Tyndall,  who 
declared  that  that  part  of  England  has  the  purest 
air  and  is  the  best  place  in  which  to  take  a  change 


CAMPANUL.A    CENISIA    IN    DR.    JENKIn's    ROCK    GARDEN. 


in  the  Idngdom.  In  picturesque  rockeries  were  the 
Gentians  of  the  Alps  (bavarica,  verna,  brachy- 
phylla),  and  those  of  Asia  (Farreri,  sino-ornata, 
Purdomi,  etc.),  Ranunculus  pyrenaeus  in  full 
flower,  Primula  marginata  and  PP.  viscosa, 
deorum  and  farinosa  alba,  Saxifraga  aizoides  and 
SS.  baldensis  and  valdensis,  which  Dr.  Jenkin 
found  near  the  Mont  Cenis  hospice,  where  it 
had  not  previously  been  discovered.  Anemone 
sulphurea  in  flower,  and  .■\.  vernalis  also,  with  seven- 
teen beautiful  flowers,  Meconopsis  in  variety,  even 
the  rare  Prattii,  Aquilegia  glandulosa  and  some 
nice  Sempervivums  such  as  I  had  not  seen  at 
Kew  the  previous  day.  All  these  gems  looked  well 
and  as  healthy  as  they  are  on  the  highest  summits. 

Then,  in  a  frame  kept  well  up  for  the  sake  of 
a  good  drainage,  in  nice  Httle  beds  facing  the 
evening  sun,  were  Azalea  procumbens,  flowering 
as  well  as  at  the  highest  altitudes,  near  to  6,oooft., 
Androsace  glaciahs  perfectly  well,  A.  Vitaliana, 
Phyteuraa  hemisphaerica,  Saxifraga  retusa,  S. 
aspera,  grown  from  seeds.  Campanula  cenisia  and 
C.  c.  alba.  Ranunculus  glaciahs.  Daphne  arbuscula 
and  D.  tangutica,  some  rare  Primulas,  Lobelia 
linnasoides,  Gentiana  chionantha  (verna  alba),  etc. 
In  a  collection  of  pots,  nursed  as  if  they  were  little 
children,  were  Phyteuma  comosum.  Campanula 
excisa  and  C.  Zoysii,  Androsace  imbricata  (from 
seeds),  pyrenaica  (idem)  and  Gentiana  bavarica 
in  a  pot  filled  in  the  middle  with  sphagnum  moss 
or  peat,  in  order  to  provide  a  regular  supply  of 
water  to  the  plant. 

In  such  a  botanic  garden,  time  passes  and  night 
falls  too  early.  I  often  dream  of  the  little  garden 
of  my  friend  the  Hindhead  doctor  and  my  hope 
is  to  see  it  once  again. 

Floraire,  Geneva.  H.  Correvon. 


AN 


ALPINE   "BLUE 
DAISY" 


A    FINE    PLANT    OF    SAXIFRAG.-\    ASPERA    IN    THE    SAMH    GARDEN. 


THERE  are  several  so-called  "  Blue 
Daisies  "  for  the  rock  garden,  none  of 
which  is  either  a  Daisy  or  blue.  Erigeron 
leiomerus  is  the  best  and  prettiest  of 
them  all,  a  deUghtful,  thrifty  httle 
plant,  forming  compact  carpets  of  narrowisli 
leathery  leaves  half  an  inch  high  and  carrying  in 
May  or  June  a  generous  crop  of  lavender  blue 
Daisy  flowers  on  stiff,  erect  stems  only  ains.  high. 
It  is  hke  a  tiny,  very  dainty  edition  of  Aster 
alpinus. 

I  shall  never  forget  my  deUght  when  I  first 
discovered  this  plant.  It  was  growing  amid 
wild  rocky  scenery,  perched  high  and  dry  on  a 
little  promontory  of  gritty  soil  above  a  rushing 
mountain  torrent  in  what  is,  without  a  doubt, 
the  richest  hunting  ground  for  alpine  plants  in 
all  the  world.  I  have  made  expeditions  of  many 
thousands  of  miles  in  search  of  rock  plants,  I 
have  been  to  Mt.  Cenis,  the  Lautaret  and  Mt. 
Baldo  in  their  fullest  flush  of  flower-time,  but  I 
can  say  quite  truthfully  that  for  brilliance  and 
profusion  of  flower,  as  well  as  for  endless  variety 
of  priceless  rarities  and  special  forms,  no  other 
place  I  have  ever  visited  comes  anywhere  near 
that  httle  strip  of  rocky  country  where  I  first 
discovered  Erigeron  leiomerus.  It  is  more  marvel- 
lous in  richness  and  variety  and  in  rarities,  and 
has  a  stranger  geological  formation  than  anything 
that  even  Farrer  has  described  in  "  On  the  Eaves  of 
the  World."  Yet  the  flower-time  is  strangely 
short.  You  must  time  your  visit  to  within  a  day 
or  two,  or  you  will  find  little  or  nothing  of  interest. 
If  you  will  promise  not  to  divulge  the  secret 
to  a  soul,  I  will  tell  you  where  this  richest  of  all 
collecting    grounds    is — among    the    rock    gardens 


December  23,  192 


THE     GARDEN 


645 


at  Chelsea  Show.  So  now  you  can  go  and  collect 
there  to  your  heart's  content,  taking  what  you 
will  and  as  much  as  you  will,  and  the  more  the 
better,  with  no  qualms  of  conscience  about  being 


which  flower  profuseI>-.  Any  decent  loain  suits 
it.  It  is  happy,  too,  and  appropriate  in  the 
moraine,  and  is  an  ideal  plant  to  put  in  the  alpine 
flower  lawn  of  mixed  dwarfs  without  grass.     This 


THE    PRETTY    "  BLUE    DAISY,"    ERIGERON    LEIOMERUS,    IN    THE    MOR.'VINE. 


a  vandal  and  stripping  the  .Alps  I  captured 
a  dozen  good  roots  of  Erigeron  leiomerus  there 
in  1912  (in  Enghsh  it  is  called  Fleabane,  but  what 
can  we  think  of  a  flea  to  which  such  a  flower  is 
distasteful),  and  on  my  usual  principle  planted 
it  out  on  my  rock  garden  to  find  out  if  it  were  a 
grower  or  a  dier,  and  if  it  were  perfectly  hardy. 
If  a  plant  is  not  perfectly  hardy  and  growable, 
then  let  it  get  on  with  it — and  die,  say  I  ;  but 
there  were  no  buts  about  Erigeron  leiomerus. 
It  grows  sedately  but  steadily,  forming  neat  mats. 


last  form  of  alpine  gardening  is  a  recent  discovery 
of  mine,  and  is  going  to  become  as  important 
as  the  moraine.  After  a  year  or  two  in  one  place 
E.  leiomerus  is  apt  to  grow  leggy — in  its  small 
way — but  an  occasional  top-dressing  soon  remedies 
this,  or  the  plant  may  be  dug  up,  pulled  to 
pieces  and  transplanted.  This  is  the  best  and 
easiest  way  of  increasing  it.  If  you  wish  to  go 
further  afield  to  collect  it,  I  believe  E.  leiomerus 
is  a  native  of  Xorth-West  .America. 

Slcveitagc.  Cl.\rence  Elliott. 


THE    LAST    SHOW   OF   THE    YEAR 


*    LTHOUGH     it    was    not   large,     the     last 

#%        R.H.S.    Show    of   the   year    at   Vincent 

/  %      Square  on  December  12  was  very  bright 

^—•^^    and     interesting.        Orchids     were     of 

/  ^  especial    merit    and    from    the   novelty 

point  of  \'iew   the  most  important.     In  addition 

to  the  six  which  we  describe,    another    received 

recognition.     This  was  Cypripedium  Etta,   shewn 

by  Mr.  R.  Windsor  Rickards,  but  its  place  could 

not  be  found.     The  wire  cage  for  the  new  Orchids 

seems  to  have  been  quite  overlooked  of  late  ;  but, 

judging    from    a    recent    correspondence    in    our 

columns,  a  similar  arrangement  for  special  fruits 

would     be     an     advantage     for    all    legitimately 

concerned. 

The  outstanding  Orchid  exhibit  was  the  gold 
medal  collection  of  Cypripediums  by  Mr.  G.  F. 
Moore  of  Chardwar,  Bourton-on-the-\Vater,  and 
this  was  noteworthy  for  the  great  cultural  skill  it 
illustrated,  as  well  as  for  the  value  of  the  many 
varieties  on  view.  Mr.  H.  L.  Pitt  also  had  a 
valuable  collection  of  Orchids.  His  Cypripediums 
were  prominent,  but  the  outstanding  plant  was 
a  superb  specimen  of  the  brilhant  La-lio-Cattleya 
JIajestic.  Messrs.  Sander  and  Co.,  also  had  a 
good  group  in  the  body  of  the  hall. 

Chrysanthemums  were  displayed  well  by  several 
growers.  Messrs.  Keith  Luxford  and  Co.  had  a 
pleasantly  arranged  collection  of  nearly  all  the 
different  types,  each  of  distinct  decorative  value. 
The  contrast  in  size  between   the  immense,   yet 


graceful  exhibition  varieties  such  as  Ida,  made 
up  of  elegant,  narrow  yellow  petals  flushed 
with   rose     with   age,   and   Helena  Margerison  of 


equally  graceful  appearance,  and  the  daintily 
prim  little  Pompons,  was  remarkable.  But  there 
was  no  abrupt  transition,  for  between  them  were 
many  vases  of  highly  decorative  singles  and  Dark 
Baldock,  a  deeply  coloured  form  of  Baldock's 
Crimson,  which  is  grown  so  extensively  for  market 
purposes.  Dr.  Jacobs  is  a  valuable  decorative 
varietv  of  crimson  colouring,  as  also  is  the  golden 
chestnut  Teresa.  Messrs.  Scott  and  Wickham  had 
a  nice  batch  of  the  new  Golden  Butterfly,  which  we 
illustrated  a  fortnight  ago,  while  Mr.  Norman  Davis 
again  staged  Pink  Favourite,  shewing,  in  both 
instances,  that  they  are  good  winter-blooming 
varieties.  Mr.  Isaac  Godber  had  several  vases  of 
(iolden  Star. 

In  many  ways  the  best  floral  exhibit  was  that  of 
the  magnificent  plants  of  Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine 
sent  up  by  Mr.  J.  B.  Body.  Each  of  the  many 
very  large  plants  was  a  splendid  example  of  the 
highest  cultural  skill,  and  the  myriads  of  bright 
pink  flowers  made  a  welcome  feast  of  colour.  There 
were  also  bright  colours  in  the  several  Carnation 
exhibits.  Messrs.  .AUwood  Bros.,  had  their  usual 
good  collection.  In  Eileen  Low  and  Mrs.  T.  Ives 
Messrs.  Stuart  Low  and  Co.  had  two  good  pink 
sorts,  while  Lord  Lambourne  and  Red  Ensign 
provided  brilliant  colouring.  Yvonne  Holmes,  a 
pinkish  Perpetual  Malraaison,  Boadicea  and  Laddie 
were  well  set  up  by  Mr.  C.  Engelmann. 

A  very  imcommon  exhibit  at  this  season  was 
the  collection  of  pot  plants  of  the  beautiful  blue 
Morning  Glory,  Ipomcea  rubro-ccerulea,  by  Messrs. 
Sutton  and  Sons.  These  were  all  excellent  plants 
and  although,  owing  to  the  cold,  the  flowers 
were  tightly  closed  during  most  of  the  afternoon, 
the  late  comer  could  readily  imagine  what  a 
glorious  display  they  would  make  in  a  warm 
greenhouse. 

Quite  a  spring-Uke  effect  was  made  by  Mr. 
G.  W.  Miller  with  his  long  collection  of  Polyanthuses 
and  Double  Daisies,  in  neat,  shallow  baskets. 
This  was  a  direct  contrast  to  the  conifer  collection  of 
Mr.  G.  Reuthe,  though  the  great  variety  and  the 
small  collection  of  cones  were  of  interest. 

Some  useful  alpines  and  his  quaint  miniature 
rock  gardens  were  displayed  by  Mr.  F.  G.  Wood, 
who  also  shewed  his  "  Optical  Square  or  Cross 
Sight,"  a  handy  httle  pocket  instrument  of  great 
value  for  easily  setting  off  straight  lines  and  right 
angles  when  garden  making. 

Winter-flowering  Sweet  Peas  were  again  arranged 
by  the  Rolvenden  Nursery  Company  ;  the  blooms 


Crimson  berries  and  glossy  foliage  of  STRANV.ffiSiA  undulata. 


646 


THE     GARDEN. 


[December  23,  1922. 


were  better  coloured  than  a  fortnight  ago.  Flamingo 
anfi  Mrs.  Kerr,  two  pink  flushed  varieties,  were 
bright  and  daintily  charming,  while  Princess  was 
very  chaste  and  beautiful.  The  blooms  were  well 
disposed  on  sufficiently  long  stalks  for  dimier 
table  decoration  and  for  small  vases.  The  stems 
are  not  so  stout  as  the  summer-flowering  varieties, 
so  the  blossoms  are  easy  to  arrange. 


NEW    AND    RARE    PLANTS. 
Chrysanthemum    Guerdon    Sunflower.  —  This 

single  variety  is  remarkable  for  two  things,  its 
beautiful  colouring — it  is  a  soft  and  yet  bright 
yellow — and  its  freedom  to  flower.  The  flowers 
are  shapely  and,  we  are  told,  very  lasting,  but 
withal  on  the  soft  side.  It  would  be  useless  for 
market  or  for  sending  by  post,  but  for  conservatory 
decoration  or  for  cut  flower  it  should  have  a 
future.  Though  larger  in  blossom,  it  is  of  the 
Mary  .Anderson  type.     Shewn  by  Mr.  S.  .Aish. 

Primula  sinensis  fl.  pi.  var.  Rossway  Beauty. — 

A  cultural  commendation  was  given  for  two  very 
fine  pots  of  double  Primula  from  Major-General 
Sir  Charles  F.  Hadden,  K.C.B.,  Berkhamsted. 
These  plants  were  evidently  of  a  robust  strain  as 
well  as  admirably  grown.  The  flowers  were  tinged 
with  cattleya-mauve,  pointing  probably  to  a  stiff 
soil  with  a  distinct  iron  content.  These  double 
Primulas  are  especially  valuable  for  florists'  work. 
Stranvaesia  undulata. — The  chief  beauty  of  this 
spreading  Chinese  shrub  lies  in  its  abundant 
brilliant  red  berries,  which  are  produced  in  clusters 
and,  individually,  have  somewhat  the  appearance 
of  unusually  showy  Hawthorn  fruits.  It  is  an 
evergreen,  and  the  dark  green  shining  lanceolate 
leaves,  which  are  2ins.  to  3ins.  long  are  an  added 
attraction.  This  hardy  shrub  bears  plenty  of 
small  white  flowers  in  early  summer,  but  the  petals 


soon  drop.  It  was  introduced  by  Wilson  at  the 
beginning  of  the  century  when  he  was  travelling 
for  Messrs.  J.  Veitch  and  Sons,  Award  of  merit 
to  Mr.  Lionel  de  Rothschild. 

Cypripedium  Golden  Fleece. — This  is  one  of 

the  best  of  the  yellow  Lady's  SUpper  Orchids. 
The  plant  had  a  pair  of  large  graceful  blooms 
standing  erect  on  long  stems.  The  pouch  and 
lateral  segments  are  of  shining  golden  yellow  colour 
while  the  standard  is  mostly  creamy  white  with 
a  few  spots  at  the  base,  .\ward  of  merit  to  Sir 
George  Holford. 

Cypripedium  J.  M.  Black. — This  is  a  magnificent 
Lady's  Slipper  Orchid  which  might  almost  be 
termed  a  glorified  and  beautiful  Cypripedium 
insigne.  It  was  a  robust,  green-leaved  plant  and 
the  large  flower  was  carried  well.  The  large  upper 
segment  is  nearly  all  white,  though  the  base  is 
flushed  and  has  a  few  rosy  chocolate  spots.  Award 
of  merit  to  Messrs.  Flory  and  Black. 

Odontioda  Royal  Scot. — The  plant  bore  a 
long  erect  spike  well  furnished  with  perfectly  shaded 
flowers  of  more  than  average  size  and  of  bright 
chocolate  colour  well  margined  with  white.  Award 
of  merit  to  Messrs.  A.  and  J.  McBean. 

Odontoglossum  Vega. — This  is  another  beautiful 
Orchid  bearing  perfectly  formed  blooms.  The 
colour  is  a  rich,  intense  maroon  and  the  segments 
were  very  finely  edged  with  white,  making  it  a 
very  uncommon  flower.  First  class  certificate  to 
Messrs.  A.  and  J.  McBean. 

Sophro-Laelio-Cattleya    Lustre.  —  The    most 

gorgeous  of  all  the  new  Orchids.  The  flowers  were 
of  medium  size,  but  of  dazzling  cerise  crimson 
colour.  Award  of  merit  to  Messrs.  Charlesworth 
and  Co. 

Vuylstekeara  Aspasia.-This  is  an  interesting  and 
beautiful  example  of  the  orchidists'  hybridising  art. 


First,  some  time  ago,  Odontoglossum  and  Coch- 
Uoda  were  crossed,  giving  rise  to  the  new  genus 
Odontioda.  Later,  and  much  more  recently, 
Odontioda  and  Miltonia  were  successfully  crossed 
and  this  new  genus  received  a  very  ugly  name, 
though  all  its  members  have  beautiful  flowers.  The 
latest  is  V.  Aspasia,  which  shows  a  deal  of  the 
Miltonia  parentage  in  the  large  flattish  lip,  which 
is  flushed  and  spotted  with  mauve.  The  other 
segments  are  of  rich  velvety  crimson  colour, 
faintly  edged  with  a  paler  shade.  The  combination 
of  colouring  makes  a  singularly  beautiful  flower. 
First  class  certificate  to  Messrs.  Charlesworth 
and  Co. 


SOME   MUSK  ROSES 

That  delightful  Himalayan  Briar  Rosa  Brunonii 
should  be  in  every  collection  of  Rose  species.  It  is 
a  prodigious  grower  and  profuse  bloomer  when 
established.  There  seems  to  be  some  confusion  with 
these  Rose  species.  I  always  look  upon  the  variety 
known  as  R.  polyantha  grandiflora  as  a  near 
relative  to  Brunonii.  In  any  case,  both  are  worth 
growing.  As  with  aU  the  Musk  Roses,  hug;  panicles 
of  bloom  are  a  feature  of  R.  Brunonii,  and  the 
pure  white  flowers  with  profusion  of  yellow  stamens 
have  a  simple  beauty  all  their  own.  Closely  allied 
to  this  is  one  Mme.  d'Arblay,  a  semi-double  white, 
and  also  a  rampant  grower.  The  wood  is  apt  to 
suffer  in  a  hard  winter.  A  grand  variety  of  the 
Hybrid  Musks  that  every  lover  of  single  Roses 
should  possess  is  Miss  Florence  Mitten.  I  know  of 
no  Rose  that  so  persistently  holds  its  blossoms,  and 
the  large  Apple  blossom  pink  flowers  remind  one 
of  a  glorified  Alexandra  Day  Rose.  Unlike  the 
others  I  have  named,  it  is  a  more  compact  grower 
and  blooms  right  down  to  the  ground.  J. 


A  SEVEN-INCH   POTFUL   OF  THE   DOUBLE   PRIMULA,   P.   SINENSIS 
ROSSWAY  BEAUTY. 


SOFT   GOLD   SINGLE   CHRYSANTHEMUM   GUERDON   SUNFLOWER. 
OF  "  MARY    ANDERSON  "     TYPE. 


December  23,  1922. 


THE     GARDEN. 


647 


CORRESPONDENCE 


GRAFTING    CLEMATISES. 

T  WAS  pleased  to  see  a  criticism  by  so  great 
an  authority  as  Mr.  Jackman  of  the  article 
on  page  567,  on  "Own  Root  Clematises."  I 
read  the  article  through  carefully  and,  Hke  hira,  I 
should  have  expected  to  have  found  the  familiar 
initials  "  W.  R."  at  the  end.  When  I  did  not,  the 
words  of  the  blind  Patriarch  in  Gen.  xxvii,  22, 
came  to  my  mind.  One  fails  altogether  to  under- 
stand how  the  mind  of  so  great  and  respected  a 
gardener  as  "  W.  R."  should  have  become  so 
obsessed  mth  this  fallacy  about  grafting  one 
Clematis  on  the  roots  of  another,  or  why  for  years 
he  should  have  written  so  persistently  against 
it  to  the  perplexion  and 
discouragement  of  many 
amateurs.  He  always 
seemed  violently  opposed 
to  those  who  did  not 
agree  with  his  own  views, 
and  for  long  years  any 
reference  to  grafted 
Clematises  or  the  root- 
pruning  of  fruit  trees 
would  bring  a  sharp 
reply  from  Gravetye.  In 
the  fourth  paragraph  of 
his  article  "  E.  M."  states 
a  fact  which,  in  the  in- 
terests of  his  contention, 
he  might  well  ha\'e  left 
unwritten.  When  it  was 
seen  that  the  scion  had 
itself  formed  roots  why 
was  it  necessary  to  cut 
away  the  stock  ?  No 
intending  planter  should 
be  discouraged  by  this 
mischievous  theory,  but 
when  the  grafted  plant 
comes  to  hand,  plant  it 
with  the  point  of  union 
deep  enough  for  the  scion 
to  grow  away  on  its  own 
roots.  If  by  any  accident 
the  stem  should  be  cut  to 
the  ground,  it  will  push 
up  new  growth  from  the 
eyes  under  the  surface. 
Such  an  accident  hap- 
pened here  to  a  plant  of 
NeUie  Moser  on  the  south 
side  of  a  fence,  and  a 
photograph  of  this  plant 
which  was  taken  two  or 
three  years  later  is  re- 
produced on  the  cover  of 
The  Gardek  of  July  15, 
1922.      The    same    thing 

happened  to  another  plant  here  last  spring  which 
had  been  recently  planted,  but  I  did  not  despair 
about  it,  and,  true  to  expectation,  it  simply  threw 
up  a  stronger  growth  and  probably  did  better 
through  being  cut  down.  There  is  a  mystery  about 
the  sudden  collapse  of  plants  which  can  hardly 
be  traced  to  grafting,  or  one  would  expect  the 
trouble  to  be  common  to  all  gardens  where  grafted 
Clematises  are  grown  ;  but  this  is  not  so.  There 
is  not  a  large  number  of  Clematises  grown  in  these 
gardens,  but  still,  we  have  them  in  every  aspect — 
on  walls,  fences,  arches  and  bushes,  north,  south, 
east  and  west — yet  I  have  never  known  or  heard 
of  the  loss  of  a  plant  from  this  cause.  Friends  at 
East  Grinstead,  four  and  a  half  miles  distant, 
could  tell  a  different  tale.  Why  ?  We  make  no 
special  preparation — they  go  to  much  trouble 
and  labour,  and  yet  the  plants  will  die.     I  have 


struck  cuttings,  or  shps,  in  late  spring,  and  I  have 
grafted  plants,  and  both  thrive.  Thirty  years  ago 
I  was  a  propagator  in  a  nursery,  and  I  often  amuse 
myself  doing  such  things  if  only  to  keep  my  hand 
in.  If  the  trouble  is  ever  traced,  it  will  probably 
be  found  due  to  local  conditions  in  the  soil  or 
otherwise. — H.  C.  W.,  Lingfield. 

ROSES     FROM     HOLLAND. 

TT  may  interest  others  to  know  the  following 
facts.  For  the  first  time  in  my  twenty-five 
years'  experience  of  gardening  I  was  tempted  to 
send  an  order  for  a  few  Rose  trees  to  one  of  the 
largest  Dutch  growers.  The  following  are  the 
particulars  of  the  transaction  :    October  12,  posted 


FRUITS    AND    AUTUMNAL    FLOWERS    OF    THE    JAPANESE    QUINCE. 


the  order  with  remittance.  October  16,  acknow- 
ledgment received.  November  16,  made  en- 
quiries by  letter  re  the  dispatch.  November  20, 
received  reply  that  they  had  been  sent  on  Novem- 
ber II,  but  giving  no  particulars  as  to  route  or 
anything  else.  November  23,  wrote  again,  asking 
for  these  details.  November  29,  received  reply 
to  say  half  had  been  sent  on  November  15  and 
half  on  November  18  via  Hull.  There  are  half  a 
dozen  railways  in  this  district  that  have  con- 
nexions with  Hull,  so  I  had  to  enquire  of  each 
for  tidings  of  this  parcel — without  result.  I  wrote 
to  a  friend  in  Hull  who,  after  some  trouble,  traced 
the  lot,  and  they  arrived  here  in  one  btmdh,  not 
two,  late  on  December  6.  In  the  meantime  I  had 
lost  the  pick  of  the  weather  for  planting.  Further- 
more, they  were  just  packed  in  a  bundle  of  straw, 
with  the  roots  fully  exposed  ;   had  there  been  frost 


during  transit  they  would  have  been  worthless. 
They  are  grafted  on  English  Briar  stock,  and  are 
about  75  per  cent,  cheaper  than  the  list  prices 
of  English  growers.  Notwithstanding  all  this, 
never  again  will  I  touch  them. — A  Lover  of 
Roses,  Birkenhead. 

EARLY    SNOWDROPS. 

"yE.\R  after  year  there  have  been  letters  in  The 
Garden  reporting  the  early  flowering  of  Snow- 
drops, but  it  generally  seemed  to  me  that  they  were 
not  early.  Therefore  I  report  that  this  year  they 
were  in  flower  in  this  garden  on  December  8.— 
Thackerv  Turner,   Godalming. 

ABOUT    NERINES. 

T  READ  with  much  interest  Mr.  Jacob's  article 
on  above.  N.  Bowdeni  does  splendidly  with 
me  here  out  of  doors  and  always  flowers  profusely, 
but  this  year  it  was  quite  three  weeks  later  than 
usual,  and  in  consequence  all  the  blooms  were 
spoilt  by  frost  early  in  November.  I  have  not 
found  that  the  hybrids  of  Bowdeni  flower  as 
well  out  of  doors  :  possibly  they  may  do  so  in 
Cornwall.  Mr.  Veitch  has  his  Bowdeni  hybrids, 
I  think,  in  a  very  sheltered  position  at  Exeter. — 
H.  G.  Hawker,  Ermington,  Devon. 

FLOWERS    AND    RIPE    FRUITS. 

T  .AM  sending  you  a  print  shewing  fully  developed 
fruits  and  newly  expanded  flowers  on  a 
spray  of  the  Japanese  Quince,  Cydonia  japonica, 
which  I  think  may  be  of  interest,  though  such  is  by 
no  means  an  uncommon  occurrence.  The  contrast 
between  the  brilliant,  almost  scarlet  flowers  and 
the  greenish  fruits  is  very  striking.  Oranges  and 
Lemons,  of  course,  produce  flowers  and  fruits 
simultaneously  and  even  among  shrubs  hardy  in 
this  country  we  have  the  Strawberry  Tree,  Arbutus 
Unedo,  the  fruits  of  which  take  a  year  to  develop 
and  ripen.  This  late  flowering  of  the  Cydonia  is, 
however,  really  more  on  a  par  with  the  second 
cropping,  which  is  so  common  with  Pears  and 
Plums  (especially  Victoria  Plum),  and,  occasionally, 
with  Apples.  The  tendency  towards  such  second 
cropping  can  be  developed  by  careful  breeding,  as 
witness  autumn-fruiting  Strawberries  and  "  per- 
petual "   Raspberries. — H.  H. 

SPIDERY     CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 

A  S  I  acted  for  many  years  as  editor  of  the  National 
Chrysanthemum  Society's  Official  Catalogue, 
a  publication  which  it  is  to  be  regretted  no  longer 
appears  as  of  yore,  I  had  some  part  in  the  classifi- 
cation of  exhibition  Chrysanthemums.  I  quite 
remember  the  term  "  spidery  "  being  first  appUed 
to  a  certain  well  marked  and  distinct  kind  of 
Chrysanthemum  which  first  appeared  over  thirty 
years  ago.  It  is  therefore  a  little  difficult  for  me 
to  understand  what  your  contributor  means  on 
page  601  when  he  says  "  varieties  of  the  spidery- 
petalled  section  {e.g.,  Rayonnante.").  The  variety 
"  Rayonnant  "  (sic)  and  its  near  relatives  do  not, 
and  never  did,  belong  to  the  spidery  group.  All 
these  thin,  tubular,  stiff-petalled  forms,  a  small 
group,  and  at  one  time  but  little  appreciated, 
were  commonly  known  as  the  Hedgehog  type, 
but  no  official  section  was  created.  The  Spidery 
group,  subsequently  thrown  together  with  a  number 
of  nondescript  oddments,  consisted  of  those  peculiar 
Japanese  forms  with  long,  thin  petals  curling  and 
twisting  in  a  weird,  fantastic  form  that  placed  them 
outside  all  recognised  exhibition  sections.  The 
term  "  spidery  "  is  a  distortion  of  the  late  Shirley 
Hibberd's  invention  "  spiderkry."  He  appUed  it 
to  a  form  which  he  illustrated  in  the  Gardeners' 
Magazine  many  years  ago  when  I  assisted  him 
in  the  preparation  of  a  Special  Double  Number 
devoted  enturely  to  the  Chrysanthemum.  The 
original  flower  was  grown  in  the  gardens  of  the 


648 


THE     GARDEN. 


[December  23,  1922. 


Emperor  of  Japan,  and  a  photograph  of  it  was 
reproduced  by  Mr.  Hibberd  with  the  odd  name 
he  invented  being  applied  to  it.  "  Spider " 
suggested  the  form  and  "  kry "  was  a  playful 
abbreviation  of  Chrysanthemum. — C.  H.\r.\i.\n 
Payne. 

THE    TRIUMPH. 

The  Sun  loolied  down  on  the  garden 
From  the  height  of  his  summer  power 

And  smiled  to  see  Earth's  happiness 
Told  forth  by  many  a  flower. 

He  breathed  the  Lilac's  incense 

Borne  on  the  quivering  air, 
Saw  the  vestal  Lily  with  downcast  eye, 

And  the  Iris  of  form  so  fair. 

Yet  some  there  were  which  slumbered. 

From  whom  no  answer  broke  ; 
The  Hellebore  and  the  Snowdrop, 

The  Cyclamen  under  the  Oak. 

His  message  in  their  sleep  these  heard : 
"  While  I  ride  on  high — rest  on  ; 

But  rise  and  brighten  the  Earth  for  me. 
In  the  days  when  my  power  has  gone." 

He  passed  to  the  South  and,  behind  him, 
Stern  Winter  arose  and  frowned  ; 

Cried  he  "  This  rule  of  the  Sun  shall  cease. 
My  joy  is  a  barren  ground  !  " 

So  he  tore  the  leaves  from  the  branches. 
Rolled  his  mists  Hke  a  shroud  of  death, 

And  all  the  air  of  the  garden 
He  chilled  with  his  icy  breath. 

Then  the  flowers  which  slept  in  the  summer 
Felt  the  touch  of  his  hand  and  awoke  ; 

The  Hellebore  and  the  Snowdrop, 
The  Cyclamen  under  the  Oak. 

Then,  through  the  gloom  of  the  woodland, 

Shone  the  Witch  Hazel's  light. 
And  each  of  the  barren  branches  gleamed 

With  crystal  jewels  bright. 

When  Winter  saw  his  forces 

By  Beauty  thus  beguiled, 
His  harsher  mood  was  melted. 

His  brow  relaxed — he  smiled. 

A.   E.  Sims. 

ERIGERON    MUCRONATUS. 

T^HERE  is  some  excuse  for  making  mistakes 
about  the  proper  name  of  the  above  plant 
(see  pages  560  and  597).  Vilmorin  of  Paris,  in 
his  book  "  Hardy  Flowers,"  first  edition,  page  959, 
mentioned  a  plant  which  he  called  Vittadinia 
lobata,  which  the  "  Index  Kewensis "  named 
Vittadinia  au-stralis  with  a  query  to  indicate  doubt. 
Stendel  spelt  the  name  Vittadenia,  which  was 
wrong.  Whether  the  confusion  of  names  originated 
in  Paris  or  not,  it  is  certain  that  Erigeron  raucro- 
natus  was  confused  with  Vittadinia  under  the 
name  of  V.  triloba  in  this  country  in  1880.  I 
have  seen  it  in  a  dictionary  under  its  proper  name, 
with  Vittadinia  trilobata  as  a  synonym.  Erigeron 
mucronatus  is  a  native  of  Mexico.  Vittadinia 
australis  in  the  flora  of  New  Zealand  has  white 
rays  to  the  heads  ;  but  the  species  is  also  a  native 
of  Australia  and  Tasmania,  where  it  runs  into 
numerous  varieties.  Three  of  these  described 
varieties  have  become  naturahsed  in  the  South 
Island  of  New  Zealand,  and  all  of  them  have 
purple  ray -florets  besides  other  distinctions. 
Erigeron  mucronatus  and  Vittadinia  australis 
in  their  typical  form  have  ^  some  considerable 
resemblance  outwardly,  and  are  separated 
generically  by  minute  but  important  particulars 
in  that  large  and  compUcated  Order  of  plants, 
the  Composite. — Hortulanus. 


FLOWERING    SHRUBS    FOR    WALLS 
AND    HEDGES 


EVEN  in  the  south  of  England  the 
cultivator  is  justified  in  planting  certain 
choice  flowering  shrubs  so  that  their 
branches  may  be  trained  on  walls.  In 
the  midland  and  northern  counties  the 
protection  afforded  by  a  wall  is  essential  for  the 
satisfactory  growth  of  some  kinds. 

Where  inner  hedges  are  necessary,  more  for 
screens  than  resistance,  there  is  much  to  be  said 
in  favour  of  those  composed  of  flowering  plants. 
The  necessary  pruning  to  keep  the  plants  within 
reasonable  bounds  may  be  carried  out  without 
interfering  very  much  with  their  flowering  from 
year  to  year. 

It  often  happens  that  walls  selected  for  covering 
plants  are  backed  by  tall  trees  or  shrubs,  whose 
roots  permeate  the  soil  under  the  wall  and  beyond 


With  regard  to  hedges  I  am  not  including  Roses 
in  this  note,  though  suitable  varieties  are  always 
welcome  where  they  can  be  grown  as  hedge  plants. 
The  China  Rose,  the  .Austrian  Briar,  the  hybrid 
Sweetbriar,  all  are  charming,  and  not  least  the 
common  Sweetbriar. 

EVERGREEN    PLANTS    FOR    WALLS. 

Azara  lanceolata,  A.  raicrophylla,  Berberis 
stenophylla,  B.  racemosa  variegata,  Buddleia 
globosa,  Ceanothus  dentatus,  C.  floribundus,  C. 
Veitchianus,  Choisya  ternata,  Cotoneaster  buxifolia, 
C.  horizontalis,  C.  rupestris,  Crata;gus  Pyracantha, 
C.  P.  Lalandei,  Elaeagnus  pungens,  E.  glabra,  E. 
pungens  Simoni,  Escallonia  langleyensis,  E. 
macrantha  Ingrami,  E.  montevidensis,  Forsythia 
suspensa,   Fremontia   californica,   Garrya  Thureti, 


THE    MEXICAN    ORANGE,    CHOISYA    TERNATA    AGAINST    A    WALL. 


to  a  considerable  distance.  Where  this  is  the  case 
such  roots  must  be  cut  out  before  any  planting  of 
wall  plants  is  done.  Slates,  on  edge,  should  then 
be  fixed  clear  of  the  wall  foundation,  the  original 
soil  be  replaced  and  some  good  loam  be  placed  on 
top  for  the  benefit  of  the  wall  plants.  The  roots 
of  the  larger  trees  will  again  push  into  the  soil,  but, 
for  several  years,  below  the  new  loam.  When,  at 
length,  they  take  possession  of  the  prepared  com- 
post, light  annual  top-dressings  will  sustain  the 
wall  trees.  Where  there  are  no  large  trees  near 
enough  for  their  roots  to  reach  those  of  the 
shrubs,  very  little  labour  will  be  necessary  in 
preparing  the  border  near  the  wall. 

SUITABLE      PLANTS      FOR      VARIOUS      POSITIONS. 

The  cultivator  should  give  due  thought  to  th'S 
matter.  It  is  always  very  unsatisfactory  when 
strong-growing  plants  are  trained  on  quite  low 
walls  ;  their  proper  place  is  one  where  there  is 
ample  space  both  for  their  roots  and  branches. 
Compact  and  possibly  somewhat  slow-growing 
plants  are  best  for  low  walls. 


Grisehnia  littoralis.  Magnolia  grandiflora  (for  high 
walls),  Myrtus  communis,  Olea  fragrans,  Pitto- 
sporum  eugenioides,  P.  variegatum,  and  Piptanthus 
nepalensis. 

DECIDUOUS     PLANTS     FOR     WALLS. 

Ceanothus  azureus,  C.  Gloire  de  Versailles, 
Cydonia  japonica,  C.  j.  rosea,  C.  Maulei,  Des- 
modium  penduUflorum,  Hydrangea  quercifolia, 
Indigofera  Gerardiana,  Lespedeza  bicolor,  Lyciiun 
europa>um,  Punica  Granatum  (single),  P.  G.  flore 
pleno,  Rubus  dehciosus,  Solanum  crispum.  Vibur- 
num plicatum.  Where  much  wall  space  is  to  be 
furnished  a  few  non-flowering  plants,  possessing 
lovely  fohage,  judiciously  mixed  with  the  majority, 
will  help  to  set  off  the  beauty  of  the  latter. 

A  collection  of  Mock  Oranges  and  Hibiscus 
syriacus  will  form  a  very  charming  hedge  or  screen 
fence  between  the  flower  garden  and  vegetable 
ground,  especially  so  if  there  are  a  number  of  ever- 
green flowering  shrubs  dotted  in  a  few  feet  apart 
immediately  in  tront  of  it.  The  use  of  hardy 
Fuchsias  for  this  purpose  is  also  practised.    G.  G. 


December  23,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


649 


EVELYN'S    KALENDARIUM 


ONE  of  the  Englishmen  of  the  past 
whom  I  admire  above  others  is 
John  Evelyn.  He  was  such  a  real 
gentleman,  and  his  "  Sylva  "  and  his 
"  Kalendarium  "  go  far  to  prove  it. 
They  are  abiding  testimonies  for  all  time  of  his 
thought  for  his  country  and  his  fellows.  Poor 
England  denuded  of  the  wherewithal  to  fashion 
anew  her  wooden  walls  !  No  League  of  Nations 
in  sight !  The  fear  of  the  Great  Armada  from 
Spain  still  fresh  in  men's  memories  !  And  then 
came  Evelyn  with  his  "  Sylva  "  ! — an  altogether 
unconventional  example  of  the 
pen  being  mightier  than  the  sword. 
Fortunate  England  !  his  "  tongue 
was  the  pen  of  a  ready  writer."  Who 
can  measure  or  compute  how- 
much  "  This  precious  stone  set 
in  the  silver  sea "  owes  to  his 
"  Sylva  "  ?  We  are  going  to  dry- 
dock  the  old  Victory.  Will  none 
of  our  great  lovers  -  of  -  their  - 
country  statesmen  take  measures 
to  drv'-dock  in  some  public  place, 
where  he  "  that  runs  may  read," 
this  simple  booli  and  place  upon 
its  case  some  legend  after  this 
manner.  "  No  Evelyn,  no  Nelson  : 
no  '  Sylva,'  no  Victory."  Then  this 
"  Kalendarium,"  if  one  may  com- 
pare small  things  wnth  great.  If 
Humphrey  Davy's,  comparati\'ely 
speaking,  small  invention  of  the 
miner's  safety  -  lamp  may  be 
placed  side  by  side  with  his  much 
greater  work,  and  by  some  be 
judged  of  even  higher  merit 
because  it  was  the  visible  sign  of 
a  much  distressed  heart  in  one 
who  knew  full  well  the  dangers 
of  the  mines ;  may  we  not  in 
some  such  way  compare  these  two 
books  of  this  famous  Squire  and 
say  that  if  the  first,  the  larger 
and  the  more  important  one  com- 
pels our  admiration,  the  second, 
the  smaller  and  the  less  known 
creates  in  all  of  us  gardeners  who 
know  but  too  well  their  hmitations, 
a  fellow  feeling,  nay  a  personal  love 
to  think  that  he  thought  for  begin- 
ners, for  the  ignorant  and  the 
forgetful,  and  compiled  out  of  his 
vast  store  of  gardening  knowledge  a 
simple  little  book  which  he  hoped 
would  be  for  many  years  their 
guide,  philosopher  and  friend. 
We  all  know  how  true  is  the  lesson 
which  Virgil  teaches  in  his  first  Georgic  and  which 
our  author  includes  in  his  preface : 

"  Gard'ners  had  need  each  Star  as  well  to  know. 
The  Kid,  the  Dragon,  and  Arcturus  too. 
As  Sea  men,  who  through  dismal  storms  are  wont 
To  pass  the  Oyster-breeding  Hellespont." 

The  illustration  had  more  point,  naturally,  in  1666 
than  it  would  have  had,  had  the  "  Kalendarium  " 
been  one  of  the  new  books  of  1922.  It  must  be  re- 
membered that  Evelyn  himself  is  not  wholly  free 
from  astrological  domination — under  October's 
work  to  be  done  in  the  orchard  and  olitory-garden 
we  read  "  Moon  now  decreasing,  gather  winter  fruit 
that  remains" — and  secondly,  that  a  good  practical 
florist  like  Samuel  Gilbert,  the  son-in-law  of  John 
Rea  appended  to  his  first  edition  of  his  "  Florist's 
Vademecum,"  published  in  1682,  a  kalendar  or, 
as  he  calls  it,   "  The  Gardener's  .Almanack,"   for 


the  years  1683  to  16S7,  shewing  among  other 
details  "  The  Sun  and  Moon's  Place  each  day  in 
the  Signe,"  which,  if  the  advice  given  in  the  sort 
of  preface  with  which  the  little  book  opens  is  to 
be  followed,  are  absolutely  necessary.  How  else 
w-ould  it  be  possible  to  dress  your  gardens  and  trim 
your  small  trees  and  shrubs  "  when  the  Moon  is  in 
Libra  or  Capricorn"  ?  In  this  same  introduction  we 
seem  to  get  a  hint  of  the  origin  of  this  (to  us)  strange 
and  fanciful  astrological  theory.  There  would  be 
every  likelihood,  considering  the  feeling  of  medijeval 
times,  that  as  with  the  Doctrine  of  Signatures  it 


THE    TITLE    PAGE    OF    THE     KALENDARIUM     HORTENSE. 


should  have  had  a  Biblical  or  religious  origin,  and 
it  seems  to  be  quite  in  the  nature  of  things  that 
there  would  be  a  wish  to  put  into  practice  the  saying 
of  Solomon  "  That  to  every  thing  there  is  a  season, 
and  a  time  to  every  puipose  under  the  heavens  ;  a 
time  to  plant,  and  a  time  to  pluck  up  that  w'hich  is 
planted."  Might  it  not  be  attained  by  a  careful 
study  of  the  position  and  state  of  the  moon  ? 
Even  an  Evelyn  cannot  wholly  divest  himself  of 
the  popularly  accepted  theories  of  his  time,  any 
more  than  an  up-to-date  country  practitioner  can 
resist  the  popular  "  Vou  must  have  your  teeth  out  " 
advice  of  to-day.  I  saw  it  recently  "  in  the  paper  " 
(but  no  certificate  of  authenticity  accompanied 
the  statement)  that  a  tennis  player  had  been 
ordered  this  treatment  for  a  sprained  ankle  !  Thus 
to  know  that  this  famous  man  kept  an  eye  upon 
the  moon  only  makes  him  more  human,  and  by 
no  means  prejudices  us  against,  nay  rather  gives 


us  a  bias  in  favour  of,  th's  splendid  little  book.  It 
was  the  sympathetic  spirit  and  the  keen  eye  of 
John  Evelyn  that  made  him  realise  so  clearly  the 
"  extreme  perplexity,  which  for  want  of  a  constant 
and  uniform  .Method  does  so  universally  distract 
the  vulgar  (or  as  we  should  now  say,  ordinary) 
sort  of  Gardeners."  How  he  met  it  is  disclosed  in 
the  '•Kalendarium."  The  method  was  not  altogether 
new.  In  all  probability  he  got  the  idea  from  others, 
and  among  them  from  our  own  Thomas  Tusser,  who 
in  his  "  Five  Hundred  Points  of  Good  Husbandrv  " 
had  many  years  before  included  something  of  the 
housewife's  work  in  the  garden  in  his  monthly 
directions  about  the  ordering  of  a  country  farm. 
Evelyn  developed  this,  and  by  developing  it  may 
be  said  to  have  made  it  in  his  "  Kalendarium."  It 
is  the  high-water  mark  in  the  history  of  the  art 
and  practise  of  gardening  ;  and  every  editor  of  a 
gardening  paper  in  the  present  year  of  Our  Lord, 
ig22,  still  feels  its  necessity  inasmuch  as  he  devotes 
a  no  inconsiderable  space  in  every  issue  to  "  Gar- 
dening of  the  Week,"  or  "  The  Week's  Work,"  or 
an  article  with  a  similar  title,  all  of  which  in  their 
essence  and  intention  are  but  the  "  Kalendarium  " 
writ  large  and  brought  up  to  date.  Just  for  a 
moment,  ye  modem  columns,  look  at  the  rock 
whence  ye  have  been  hewn  and  at  the  hole  of 
the  pit  whence  ye  have  been  digged.  The 
The  Eocene  stratum  is  Evelyn  ;  then  there  is  Philip 
Miller  ;  newer  still  comes  John  Abercrombie  ;  then 
almost  last  of  all,  Joseph  Paxton.  These  are  the 
great  broad  layers  deposited  by  time  ;  and  careful 
inspection  finds  that  between  them  are  the  thinner 
lines  of  other  deposits — here  continuous,  there 
broken — perchance  a  Bradley,  a  WhitmUl,  a 
Justice,  a  Reid  or  a  Lawrence,  but  altogether 
forming  that  solid  mass  on  which  there  is  now 
accumulating  a  far  deeper  layer  than  any  of  them, 
viz.,  that  being  formed  by  the  long  series  of  "  what- 
raust-be-done-weekly  "  articles  contributed  through 
the  medium  of  the  gardening  press  by  many  of  the 
\ery  front-rankers  of  our  time.  I  have  met  so  many 
garden  lo\ers  who  think  these  week's-work  columns 
are  about  the  most  important  part  of  a  paper  that 
a  glance  at  their  evolution  may  not  be  unacceptable; 
and  I  am  prepared  to  put  my  back  to  the  wall  and 
stand  up  to  those  who  would  say  that  such  writing 

is    not    PR.\CTICAL. 

What  is  "  Practical  ?  "  Why  should  this  hack- 
neyed word  be  confined  to  the  teUing  people  how  to 
plant  and  what  to  sow  ;  how  to  cultivate  and  what 
to  buy  ?  Is  there  nothing  "  practical  "  necessary 
to  equip  the  purely  literary  gardener  ?  I  call  to 
mind  as  I  write  two  of  my  friends — both  welcome 
contributors  to  this  paper,  one  of  whom  Uves  in  a 
lovely  garden  within  an  easy  motor  run  of  our 
Northern  capital,  and  the  other  in  the  far  less 
beautiful  surroundings  of  a  London  suburb, 
whose  name  is  thinly  veiled  by  calling  it  Dogbridge, 
to  whom  history  is  as  the  breath  of  life.  Anything 
that  adds  to  their  stock  of  knowledge  surely  may 
be  called  practical.  It  is  a  different  practical,  of 
course  to  the  being  told  how  to  dig,  and  plant,  and 
sow,  and  alas  !  some  do  not  seem  to  recognise  it. 
Quite  so.  As  Mrs.  Browning  puts  it,  "  Its  only  he 
who  sees  takes  off  his  shoes."  When,  however,  we  • 
come  to  think  of  the  contents  of  the  "  Kalendar- 
ium" we  are  on  somewhat  different  ground.  I  put  it 
like  this.  Suppose  on  a  single  day  these  three  enter- 
tainments were  to  be  advertised  :  the  very  best 
Charlie  Chaphn  film,  the  football  Cup  Final,  and  a 
sort  of  spiritualistic  seance  which  would  show  each 
one  his  home  and  the  places  he  Ivnows  best  century 
by  century  right  through  the  past,  let  us  say,  until 
the  dawn  of  the  Christrian  era,  would  not  the  biggest 
crowd  be  at  the  last  named  ?  The  gardener,  too, 
must  wish  to  know  what  gardening  was  like  at 
different  periods  of  the  past,  and  where  can  he  get 
a  better  idea  of  it  than  in  studying  such  a  very 
practical  book  as  the  one  which  has  set  alight  this 


650 


THE     GARDEN. 


[Decembek  23,  1922. 


present  article.  I  would  like  to  take  a  leaf  ovit  of 
"The  Charm  of  Gardens,"  and  copy  Dion  Calthrop 
by  quoting  the  entire  work,  but  decency  forbids — 
— I  have  to  think  of  our  editor  and  my  readers, 
some  of  whom  might  wish  it  at  Jericho,  as  I  would 
do  myself  were  I  to  come  across  it  in  a  weekly 
gardening  paper — I  hope,  however,  a  very  few 
extracts  may  not  be  unacceptable,  when  we 
remember  upon  how  high  a  pinnacle  Evelyn  him- 
self placed  this  little  book  when  on  the  title  page 
of  his  "Acetaria  '"  he  described  himself  not  as  might 
reasonably  be  expected,  as  author  of  "  Sylva,"  but 
as  author  of  the  "  Kalendarium  Hortense  "  ;  and 
when  we  remember,  too,  the  deliberate  opinion  of 
Cowley,  who  thus  describes  it  :  "  The  most  useful 
Book  that  has  been  written  in  that  kind,  and  which 
is  to  last  as  long  as  Months  and  Years."  In  this 
and  in  the  majority  of  these  old  Kalendars  we  get 
sub-sections  every  month  with  some  such  headings 
as  "  Fruits  in  prime,  and  yet  lasting,"  "  Flowers 
in  prime,  and  yet  lasting  "  (Evelyn),  the  idea  of 
which  might  usefully  be  revived.  Such  lists 
are  very  useful  ;  but  they  seem  to  have 
dropped  out. 

In  vain  do  we  seek  them  in  "  The  Calendar  of 
Garden  Operations  "  (1920),  which  is  Paxton's  in 
modem  dress  ;  or  in  our  weeklies  in  the  week's-work 
columns  ;  and  yet  it  seems  to  me  just  as  necessary 
to  know  when  an  Apple  will  be  in  perfection  for 
eating  as  to  be  told  when  to  plant  it ;  and  to 
visualise  the  flowering  of  July  as  to  know  when 
to  sow  the  seed.  Then  the  importance  of  bees  in 
those  old  days  was  far  greater  than  it  is  now. 
Month  by  month  Evelyn  has  a  short  paragraph 
about  them.  In  September  he  writes  :  "  No  longer 
defer  the  taking  of  your  Bees,  strengthening  the 
entrances  of  such  hives  as  you  leave  to  a  small 
passage." 

We  get  a  peep  at  garden  practice  under 
September,  he  suggests  the  origin  of  our  familiar 
word,  greenhouse  :  "  About  Michaelmas  (sooner 
or  later  as  the  season  directs),  the  weather  fair, 
and  by  no  means  foggie,  retire  your  choice  Greens 
and  rarest  Plants  (being  dry)  as  Oranges,  Lemmons, 
Indian  and  Spanish  Jasmine,  Oleanders,  Barba 
Jovis,  Amonum  Plin,  Citysus  Lunatus,  Chamelaea 
tricoccos,  &c.,  &c."  What  a  difference  in  the  advice 
about  Strawberries  ;  now  it  would  very  likely  be 
"  Get  some  from  Laxton  Brothers  of  Bedford  "  ; 
then  it  was  "  Plant  Strawberries  out  of  the  Woods," 
just  as  it  had  been  in  the  time  of  Tusser  nearly  a 
century  before. 

*'  Wife  into  thy  garden,  and  set  me  a  plot, 
With  strawberry  roots,  of  the  best  to  be  got ; 
Such  growing  abroad,  among  thorns  in  the  wood. 
Well  chosen  and  picked,  prove  excellent  good." 
{September's     Husbandry    in     **  Five 
Hundred  Points  of  Good  Husbandry.") 

This  is  a  curious  bit  under  November  :  "  Take  up 
your  Potatoes  for  winter  spending ;  there  will 
enough  remain  for  Stock,  though  never  so  exactly 
gathered."  It  is  clear  "seed"  from  Scotland  was  not 
then  contemplated.  Earwigs  must  have  troubled 
Evelyn's  Nectarines  rather  badly.  His  denuncia- 
tion is  quite  scriptural  in  its  vehemence  and 
wording,  "  They  are  cursed  Devourers,"  he  says. 
At  the  bottom  of  the  same  page  in  my  edition 
(the  eighth,  page  85)  he  gives  a  bit  of  advice  which 
we  all  should  do  well  to  follow  when  we  are  troubled 
by  the  unwanted  visits  of  biting  animals  and  which 
I  find  as  true  of  flowers  as  of  Iruit.  "  Pull  not  off 
what  is  bitten  ;  for  then  they  will  certainly  begin 
afresh."  It  is  difficult  to  stop,  there  are  so  many 
little  tit-bits  in  the  book.  Perhaps  some  readers 
will  think  it  worth  while  from  what  has  now  been 
extracted,  to  get  the  book  themselves  and  enjoy 
it  at  leisure  with  a  pipe  in  their  own  easy  chair — 
Sic  Volo.  Joseph  Jacob. 


THE   CREEPING   COTONEASTERS 


THE  members  of  the  genus  Cotoneaster 
which  are  prostrate,  or  nearly  so,  in 
habit  comprise  an  interesting  group  : 
they  are  extremely  useful  in  gardens 
and  their  ornamental  value  is  not  the 
least  of  their  good  points.  They  are  all  perfectly 
hardy,  they  will  thrive  in  almost  any  kind  of  soil, 
in  sun  or  shade,  and  they  do  not  object  to  tree  drip. 
Rapidity  of  growth  is  another  attribute  common 
to  most  of  these  Cotoneasters  and  one  that  is 
particularly  essential  in  a  class  of  shrub  which  is 
so  often  planted  for  the  express  purpose  of  quickly 
covering  ugly  rock  faces  and  walls,  untidy,  stony 
corners,  the  ground  beneath  specimen  trees  and 
other  places  of  the  sort.  Some  of  these  species,  in 
addition  to  possessing  an  attractive  fohage  and 
habit,  bear  a  crop  of  brightly  coloured  berries,  and 
all  are  plants  which  are  adaptable  for  the  smallest 
as  well  as  the  largest  garden.  Propagation  is 
simplicity  itself,  for  one  has  but  to  layer  the 
creeping  branches  to  provide  plenty  of  rooted 
bits.  In  fact  most  kinds  make  their  own  layers 
naturally. 

One  of  the  most  taking  of  these  prostrate 
Cotoneasters  is  C.  adpressa,  a  comparatively  new- 
comer from  China,  but  one  which  has  rapidly 
become  a  favoiuite  with  rock  gardeners  and  others 
owing  to  the  pretty  manner  in  which  it  will  creep 
over  a  rock  face,  the  fish-bone  branches  closely 
hugging  every  irregularity  of  the  surface.  This  is 
a  robust  and  fast  grower,  with  a  bright  green, 
glossy  foliage,  which  turns  a  deep  red  before  the 
leaves  fall  in  autumn.  It  flowers  early,  the  blos- 
soms being  much  hke  those  of  C.  horizontalis,  and 
the  scarlet  berries  are  ripe  by  August.  If  for  some 
purposes  the  deciduous  nature  of  C.  adpressa  may 
be  considered  a  misfortune,  the  fact  remains  that 
were  it  an  evergreen  we  should  not  have  the 
autumn  colouring  nor  the  beautiful  fresh  spring 
green  of  the  opening  leaves,  which  is  one  of  the 
most  charming  features  of  the  shrub.  Indeed, 
C.  adpressa  possesses  all  the  excellent  attributes 
of  C.  horizontalis,  of  which  it  might  be  deemed  a 
miniature. 

The  evergreen  Himalayan,  C.  congesta  (num- 
mularia),  said  to  be  a  form  of  microphylla,  viz., 
C.  m.  gracialis,  is  another  of  the  indespensables 
and  a  most  delightful  shrub,  with  ruddy,  often 
claret-coloured  stems  and  comparatively  large  leaves 
of  a  soft  and  pleasing  green.  This  is  a  first-rate 
plant  for  rambhng  over  bold  rockwork  or  for 
covering  sloping  banks  and  it  will  do  equally  well  for 
carpeting  on  the  flat.  We  have  it  growing  among 
Erica  carnea  with  good  effect,  the  branches  arching 
in  characteristic  manner  as  they  weave  their  way 
through  the  Heath.  The  result  is  pleasing  at  all 
seasons,  though  it  must  be  admitted  that  C. 
congesta  does  not  berry  so  freely  with  us  as  the 
other  kinds  do.  There  appears  to  be  an  infinite 
variety  of  forms  of  C.  congesta,  or  perhaps  it  would 
be  nearer  the  truth  to  say  that  this  shrub  will 
materially  alter  its  manner  of  growth  in  accordance 
with  its  position,  aspect  and  other  influences,  not 
always  easy  to  define.  Thus  it  may  be  seen  as 
quite  a  small-leaved  shrub,  clinging  like  Thyme 
to  a  rock  and  yet  a  few  yards  away,  as  in  Mr. 
Buxton's  fine  garden  at  Bettws-y-Coed,  it  will  rise 
up  into  a  conical  mound  4ft.  to  5ft.  in  height  and 
as  symmetrical  a?  it  it  had  been  sheared  by  a 
topiarist. 

Like  congesta,  the  allied  C.  microphylla  can  be 
used  in  all  manner  of  ways.  Though  so  often 
seen  as  a  covering  for  cottage  walls,  it  is,  I  think, 
more  pleasing  as  a  carpeter  or  when  allowed 
naturally  to  mound  into  a  low  bush.  The  small, 
glossy  foliage  is  beautiful  at  all  seasons.  The 
plant  is  a  profuse  bloomer  and,  like  most  others 


of  its  race,  is  very  attractive  to  bees,  wasps  and 
flies  when  the  flowers  open  in  spring.  We  grow 
it  also  on  Heath  banks  and  the  fine  crop  of  fruits 
it  almost  invariably  bears,  the  berries  being  of  a 
peculiarly  high-toned  chalky  pink,  is  usually  carried 
through  the  greater  part  of  the  winter.  C.  micro- 
phylla is  indifferent  as  to  aspect  and  does  well  in 
shade,  but  full  exposure  is  essential  to  free  berrying. 
Though  so  common  everywhere,  this  is  still  one  of 
the  best  Cotoneasters  of  its  class.  It  also  is 
liable  to  "  sport "  curious  aberrations  from  the 
type. 

C.  thymEefolia  might  be  described  as  a  dwarf 
form  of  microphylla,  but  its  evergreen  leaves  (the 
smallest  of  the  family)  are  more  .oblong  in  shape 
and  the  young  wood  is  more  distinctly  silky  before 
it  assumes  the  ruddy  gloss  of  maturity.  This  is  a 
close  grower,  admirable  for  the  small  rock  garden, 
and  while  the  shining,  deep  green  foliage,  which  will 
make  a  dense  mat,  is  refreshing  at  all  seasons, 
the  little  creeping  branches  produce  pretty  pinky 
flowers,  followed  by  scarlet  berries.  Though  also 
a  Himalayan  species  C.  thym.-efoha  is  apparently 
quite  hardy. 

Another  very  prostrate  evergreen  species,  not 
unlike  the  foregoing  in  habit,  is  C.  pyrenaica.  But 
the  leaves  of  this  one  are  larger  and  hardly  so 
thick  and  leathery  as  are  those  of  thymEefolia, 
being  more  akin  to  those  of  congesta.  Indeed, 
there  seems  to  be  no  little  difference  of  opinion 
among  nurserymen  as  to  what  C.  pyrenaica  really 
is,  forms  of  congesta  and  thymaefolia  being  some- 
times sent  out  under  its  name.  C.  rupcstris,  often 
listed  as  a  creeping  kind,  is  a  strong-growing, 
deciduous  species  more  after  the  style  of  hori- 
zontalis, but  with  more  horizontal  "  planes  " — 
unless  I  also  am  fostering  a  case  of  "  mistaken 
identity,'  almost  unavoidable  in  this  confusing 
race. 

There  can,  however,  be  no  mistake  about  C. 
humifusa  (Dammeri  radicans),  for  this  is  entirely 
distinct  from  any  other,  a  perfectly  flat,  creeping 
plant,  whose  long  trailing  stems  seldom  rise  more 
than  an  inch  or  so  above  the  ground  or  the  rock 
face  which  they  so  elegantly  drape.  The  large, 
willow-like  leaves  are  partly  deciduous,  those 
which  are  shed  assuming  brilliant  autumn  colours. 
C.  humifusa  flowers  in  summer,  the  little  white  or 
pinky-white  flowers  being  held  erect  on  short 
stems  which  rise  clear  above  the  prostrate  branches. 
These  are  followed  by  crimson  fruits  which,  if 
the  mice  spare  them,  usually  remain  until  winter. 
This  species  is  one  well  worthy  of  a  good  place. 
It  should  be  given  at  least  a  couple  of  square 
yards,  in  sun  or  half  shade,  and  it  is  seen  to  best 
advantage  when  grown  on  about  the  level  of  the 
eye. 

Several  new  evergreen  or  sub-evergreen  Cotone- 
asters have  been  introduced  of  recent  years,  mainly 
from  China,  most  of  which  are  still,  I  beUeve, 
nameless.  One  of  these  growing  here  might  be 
described  as  a  dwarf  form  of  C.  horizontalis,  but 
with  serai-deciduous  foliage,  and  another  appears 
to  be  wholly  evergreen,  the  comparatively  large, 
glossy  leaves  as  well  as  the  habit  being,  to  the 
average  observer,  identical  with  C.  prostrata,  as 
listed  by  the  trade. 

C.  precox  is  one  of  the  most  distinct  of  the 
more  recent  novelties,  a  strong-growing  shrub 
which  proceeds  with  a  creeping  and  arching 
liabit  over  a  considerable  space,  promising  eventu- 
ally to  make  a  low  mound.  The  leafage,  which  is 
deciduous,  is  larger  than  is  that  of  congesta,  a 
fine,  rich  ivy-green  and  highly  burnished,  but  it  has 
not,  thus  far,  given  us  such  fine  autuiim  colour  as 
horizontalis  usually  does.  C.  prajcox  is  so  called 
from  its  habit   of   fruiting  early,    the   berries,   as 


December  23,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


651 


large  as  peas  and  in  a  striking  crimson,  being  ripe 
in  July. 

I  have  referred  to  the  confusion  which  exists 
regarding  the  identity  or  naming  of  many  Cotone- 
asters  by  nurserymen,  but  while  those  who  compile 
trade  lists  may  perhaps  be  pardoned  for  making 
errors  where  "  doctors  disagree,"  many  such 
irregularities  might  be  avoided.  For  example,  I 
have  before  me  a  catalogue  issued  by  one  of  the 
foremost    nurservmen    in    this    countrv.       In    it 


CC.  horizontalis  and  houpinensis  are  given  as 
evergreens.  In  another  list  of  an  equally  reputable 
firm,  C.  adpressa  is  also  listed  in  the  evergreen 
section.  As  the  trade  catalogues  generally  are 
so  helpful  to  amateur  gardeners,  it  seems  a  pity 
that  such  obvious  sUps  should  be  made,  and  I 
take  this  opportunity  of  suggesting  that  a  little 
more  accuracy  would  be  an  inestimable  boon  to 
those  for  whom  the  catalogues  are  mainly  intended 
— the  strugghng  novices.  A.  T.  J. 


GARDENING    OF    THE    WEEK 


FOR     SOUTHERN     GARDENS. 

The  Kitchen   Garden. 

Celery. — It  will  be  advisable  to  have  means  of 
protection  ready  for  immediate  use  for  the  whole 
of  the  Celery  crop  during  a  sharp  spell  of  frost. 
Failing  any  permanent  covering,  made  of  boards 
or  other  material,  it  will  be  enough  liberally  to 
strew  some  dry  straw  or  bracken  fern  over  each 
row,  taking  care  always  to  remove  the  same  when 
the  frosty  period  breaks.  Although  Celery  is 
better  left  in  the  ground  when  possible,  a  week 
or  ten  days  supply  should  be  lifted  upon  the 
approach  of  a  severe  spell  of  frost  and  kept  fresh 
and  in  good  condition  by  heeUng  in  the  sticks 
deeply  in  soil  in  an  unused  frame  or  close  to  a  wall. 

Parsley  is  so  indispensible  to  the  kitchen  that 
no  effort  should  be  spared  to  keep  up  a  regular 
supply.  It  has  so  far  been  easy  to  make  good 
pickings  from  outside  without  giving  the  plants 
any  protection.  From  now  onwards,  however, 
some  shelter  should  be  afforded  the  crop.  .A 
simple  way  of  giving  such  protection  is  to  drive 
in  stakes  of  suitable  length  along  the  rows  or 
bed  and  stretch  strands  of  wire  to  connect  them 
all,  over  which  it  is  an  easy  matter  to  place  canvas 
or  matting. 

Peas  and  Beans. — Autumn  sown  crops  that  are 
now  nicely  through  the  soil  may  receive  protection 
by  having  the  soil  drawn  up  in  ridges  on  each  side 
of  the  row.     Keep  a  look-out  for  slugs  and  mice. 

The  Flower  Garden. 

Hardy  Ferns. — Should  the  weather  be  open 
and  favourable,  planting  may  be  done  now  or 
it  may  be  postponed  until  spring.  When  pre- 
paring a  fresh  site  for  a  colony  of  these  plants, 
hberal  supplies  of  old  leaf-soil  and  common  peat 
should  be  employed.  It  may  be  necessary,  for  the 
sake  of  appearance,  to  cut  away  the  old  yellowing 
fronds  of  estabhshed  Ferns  in  some  parts  of  the 
garden  at  this  season  of  the  year,  but  they  should 
always  be  left  if  possible,  as  they  are  of  great  help 
later  on  in  warding  off  cold  winds,  etc.,  from  the 
young  fronds.  -Ml  leaves  which  have  accumulated 
among  the  plants  should  be  allowed  to  remain 
until  spring,  when,  if  sufficiently  decayed,  they  may, 
with  great  advantage  to  the  plants,  be  forked  into 
the  ground  or  have  some  old  soil  thrown  over  them, 
thus  making  a  good  mulch  and  adding  to  this  just 
such  rooting  medium  as  the  plants  appreciate. 

Lawns  lacking  in  vigour  will  derive  great  benefit 
from  a  good  dressing  of  well  rotted  manure,  leaf- 
soil  and  good  loam.  Mix  the  whole  well  together 
and  pass  through  a  coarse  sieve  before  spreading 
evenly  over  the  lawn  where  required,  to  a  depth  of  a 
couple  of  inches,  the  compost  being  occasionally 
raked  over  during  winter.  Lawns  requiring  no 
such  treatment  should  have  an  occasional  sweeping 
and  rolling,  the  latter  being  particularly  beneficial 
on  hght  soil. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Basic  Slag. — This  is  recognised  as  a  useful 
phosphatic  manure  for  all  fruit  trees,  particularly 
those  cultivated  on  hea\'y  land.  Being  somewhat 
slow  of  action,  it  is  a  good  plan  to  apply  it  during 
the  autumn  months,  so  that  it  may  filter  gradually 
into  the  soil  during  the  winter.  It  may  be  spread 
fairly  liberally  over  the  ground  covered  by  the 
head  of  each  tree  or  bush  dealt  with. 

Vines. — The  necessary  pruning  of  these  can 
be  done  now,  unless  the  weather  is  very  frosty,  when 
it  is  not  advisable  to  prune,  which,  indeed,  applies 
to  any  other  kind  of  fruit.  Spur  closely  in  unless 
wood  is  required  for  extension  or  is  being  encouraged 
to  develop  so  that  it  may  replace  exhausted 
portions,  in  which  case  the  young  growths,  if 
thoroughly  ripened,  may  be  left  from  ift.  to  3ft.  in 
length.  Xothing  is  gained  by  having  spurs  or 
rods  too  close  together. 


Fruits  Under  Glass. 

Late  Grapes. — Nothing  will  be  gained  by  allowing 
these  to  hang  longer  on  the  vines,  so  they  should 
be  cut  and  taken  to  the  grape-room  or  wherever 
they  are  to  be  stored.  The  great  point  about  the 
storage  quarters  is  that  an  even  temperature 
must  be  aimed  at,  and  the  light  should  be  excluded. 
As  a  general  guide,  if  a  temperature  of  45°  to  50° 
is  regularly  maintained,  the  bottles  kept  re- 
plenished, as  necessary,  with  water,  and  all 
decaying  berries  immediately  removed,  there  will 
be  little  cause  for  worry  about  them  keeping, 
always  providing,  of  course,  the  Grapes  are  in  a 
fit  condition  to  commence  with. 

Vine  Borders  which  extend  outside  the  house 
are  better  if  given  some  measure  of  protection  from 
excessive  rains  and  snow.  It  is  not  so  important 
for  the  borders  belonging  to  mid-season  Vines, 
but  applies  particularly  where  there  is  an  outside 
border  belonging  to  the  early  house.  A  suitable 
covering  may  be  made  by  placing  a  good  depth 
of  newly  gathered  beech  or  oak  leaves,  then  a 
layer  of  straw  to  hold  them  in  position  and  then 
over  both  place  some  boards  or  sheets  of  corrugated 
roofing,  arranging  them  so  that  the  rain  wiU  be 
carried  away  from  the  border. 

H.  Turner 
(Gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland), 
Albury  Park   Gardens,   Guildford. 


FOR     NORTHERN    GARDENS. 
The  Kitchen    Gardens. 

Cucumbers. — Where  well  heated  pits  are 
available  for  forcing  purposes  a  sowing  may  now 
be  made  of  a  free  setting  and  quickly  maturing 
variety.  Sow  singly  in  2  Jin.  pots  and  plunge 
the  pots  to  the  rim  in  fibre  or  sand  in  the  warmest 
corner  of  the  stove  or  pit.  Care  must  be  taken 
that  the  seedlings  are  never  subjected  to  a 
sudden  check  by  the  lowering  of  the  tempera- 
ture, or  chilled  by  the  injudicious  use  of  the 
watering-can.  When  watering  is  necessary  see 
that  the  water  is  of  sufficient  warmth  to  have  no 
ill-effect  on  the  young  plants.  Varieties  such  as 
Blair's  Prohfic  and  Veitch's  Sensation  have  proved 
reliable  sorts  for  forcing  during  the  winter  and 
spring  months. 

Salads. — Continue  to  sow  Mustard  and  Cress 
in  boxes  at  intervals  so  that  a  continuous  supply  of 
tender  growths  may  be  maintained.  Lettuce  in 
frames  should  also  be  looked  over  and  growth 
encouraged,  ventilating  freely  so  that  damp  may 
be  checked. 

Autumn  Sown  Onions. — In  many  gardens  the 
autumn  sown  crop  has  been  making  extra  growth 
owing  to  the  lengthy  spell  of  mild  weather 
experienced  during  late  October  and  November. 
Break  the  surface  soil  between  the  rows  and  give 
a  good  surface  dressing  of  wood  ash.  The  soft 
growths  of  young  Onions  are  at  times  more  readily 
damaged  by  cutting  winds  than  by  severe  frost, 
so  that  it  is  beneficial  to  place  a  few  wattle  hurdles 
or  spruce  branches  in  position   to  shelter  the  crop. 

General  Work. — Continue  to  clear  the  ground 
of  spent  crops  and  tidy  up  the  vegetable  quarters 
in  preparation  for  the  further  carrying  out  of 
digging  or  trenching  operations.  Cabbage  leaves, 
soft  weeds  or  other  quick  rotting  material  may  be 
buried  in  the  trench.  Add  leaf-mould  to  heavy 
land  whenever  such  is  available  as  this  proves  a 
valuable  substance  to  assist  in  the  lightening 
process.  Old  hot-bed  manure  in  which  leaves 
predominate  is  also  excellent  for  this  purpose. 

Herbs. — The  herb  border  should  also  receive 
some  Uttle  attention  at  this  time,  cutting  over  the 
withered  foliage  and  leaving  the  beds  clean  and 
clear  of  weeds.  Mint  being  to  a  large  extent 
surface  rooting,  derives  much  benefit  from  a 
surface  dressing  of  leaf-mould  or  old  potting  soil. 


Beds  of  Sage  may  also  receive  some  stimulating 
manure  at  this  time,  forking  it  lightly  in  between 
the  rows.  These  little  attentions  are  necessary 
where  well  grown  herbs  are  desired  and,  if  done 
now,  considerably  facilitate  the  carrying  out  of 
other  work  during  the  spring  months. 

The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 

Loganberries. — Cut  away  all  the  old  growths 
of  these  and  tie  in  the  quantity  necessarv  for 
furnishing  the  poles  for  next  season's  fruiting. 
Where  the  planting  of  these  is  contemplated,  the 
grower  would  be  well  ad\ised  to  choose  a  part  where 
their  rampant  growth  will  have  full  scope.  The 
rougher  or  outer  portion  of  the  garden  suits  this 
strong-growing  Bramble  admirably. 

Cleansing  Fruit  Trees.— The  important  work 
of  winter  spraying  fruit  trees  should  be  proceeded 
with  immediately  the  pruning  in  the  various  parts 
of  the  garden  is  completed.  Where  a  large  number 
of  trees  have  to  be  dealt  with,  a  knapsack  sprayer 
proves  more  economical  and  effective  than  an 
ordinary  syringe.  A  calm  day  should  be  chosen  for 
carrying  out  the  work.  Among  the  many  pre- 
parations recommended  for  the  winter  spraying 
of  fruit  trees,  we  find  none  more  suitable  than 
Bentley's  Concentrated  Alkali,  as  it  destroys  moss 
and  lichen  as  well  as  the  many  insect  pests  har- 
bouring in  the  crevices. 

The  Pleasure   Grounds. 

Protecting  Tender  Shrubs. — Now  that  severe 
frosts  are  imminent,  the  more  tender  plants  in  the 
shrubbery  or  on  walls  or  trellises  should  receive  a 
certain  measure  of  protection.  This  is  especially 
advisable  in  the  case  of  small  or  newly  planted 
specimens.  Feathery  spruce  branches  are  most 
useful  for  the  purpose  of  sheltering  the  plants, 
while  bracken  is  also  of  \'alue  for  tying  round  the 
small-growing  sorts. 

Planting  Hedges. — Various  sorts  of  hedges  may 
now  be  planted,  using  discretion  in  the  choice, 
according  to  the  site  and  utihty  of  the  hedge. 
For  boundary  hedges  Thorn  and  Beech  are  best, 
while  for  a  quick-growing  screen.  Privet  and 
Thuya  Lobbii  are  popular.  Holly,  Yew  and  Box 
also  provide  desirable  evergreen  divisions  or 
shelters  in  the  pleasure  grounds. 

Magnolia  stellata. — This  beautiful  Japanese 
shrub  should  be  planted  now,  as  it  flowers  during 
April  and  provides  a  most  pleasurable  sight  with 
its  mass  of  waxy  white  blossoms.  It  is  of  undoubted 
hardiness  and  is  of  close  and  compact  habit,  being 
exceedingly  floriferous  and  proving,  with  us,  to  be 
the  most  satisfactory  of  the  Magnolias  planted  in 
the  open.  James  McGran 

(Gardener  to  Sir  Henry  H.  Houldsworth,  Bart.), 
Coodhatn,  Kilmarnock. 


GREENHOUSE    AND    CONSERVATORY. 

Bouvardias  as  they  pass  out  of  flower  should  be 
removed  from  the  greenhouse  and  stood  in  a  dry, 
airy  house,  where  a  temperature  of  40°  to  43°  can 
be  maintained.  The  plants  should  be  kept  dry 
at  the  roots  for  several  weeks  and  towards  the  end 
of  January  should  be  partially  pruned  back  and 
removed  to  a  warm,  moist  propagating  house, 
where,  if  given  water  at  the  root,  they  will  soon 
start  into  growth.  When  the  young  shoots  are 
about  sins,  long  they  should  be  removed  for 
cuttings,  for  at  this  stage  they  root  readily  in  a 
warm  propagating  case.  Many  cultivators  com- 
plain that  Bouvardias  are  difficult  to  propagate, 
but  their  failures  are  usually  due  to  using  too  old 
wood  for  cuttings.  If  young  growths  are  used 
there  is  no  difficulty  in  rooting  them.  Bouvardias 
may  also  be  propagated  by  means  of  root  cuttings  ; 
old  plants  are  best  for  this  purpose.  They  should 
be  turned  out  of  their  pots  and  all  the  soil  shaken 
away  from  the  roots  ;  select  some  of  the  thickest 
roots  and  cut  them  into  pieces  about  lin.  in  length. 
They  should  then  be  placed  in  pans  or  boxes  of 
sandy  soil  and  if  stood  in  a  warm  propagating 
case  they  will  soon  start  into  growth.  Some 
growers  contend  that  root  cuttings  make  the 
best  plants  ;  personally  I  have  never  been  able  to 
detect  any  difference  between  them.  It  must  be 
remembered  that  all  varieties  of  Bouvardia  do 
not  come  true  from  root  cuttings.  The  variety 
Bridesmaid,  for  example,  when  propagated  by 
means  of  root  cuttings,  always  gives  a  proportion 
of  Hogarth  fl.  pi.  Bouvardias  are  so  beautiful  and 
useful  that  it  is  a  pity  then:  cultivation  is  so 
generally  neglected  at  the  present  day.  They  are 
very  subject  to  attacks  of  Begonia  mite,  which  can 
be  prevented  by  the  use  of  Campbell's  sulphur 
\aporiser.  During  the  last  few  years  white  fly 
has  proved  very  troublesome  and  this  pest  may  be 
kept  in  check  by  the  various  remedies  that  are 
in  general  use.     Fumigating  with  sodium  cyanide 


652 


THE    GARDEN. 


[December  23,  1922. 


is  most  effective,  but  it  is  so  dangerous  that  one 
does  not  care  to  advise  its  general  use. 

Hydrangeas  tliat  were  propagated  during  tlie 
summer  and  have  been  standing  in  cold  frames 
exposed  to  the  weather,  should  now  be  ready  for 
forcing.  For  this  purpose  plants  with  strong 
forward  buds  should  be  selected.  When  first 
taken  indoors  they  should  not  be  placed  in  too 
high  a  temperature,  40°  to  45°  being  high  enough 
for  a  few  weeks,  after  which  it  may  be  increased 
to  55°  or  60°.  Hydrangeas,  when  growing,  enjoy 
copious  supplies  of  water  at  the  roots,  but  when 
taken  indoors  at  this  time  they  are  more  or  less 
at  rest,  thus  watering  should  be  carefully  done 
until  the  plants  are  in  active  growth,  when  the 
supply  mav  be  increased.  When  in  full  growth 
•the  plants  will  benefit  by  frequent  apphcations  of 
diluted  hquid  manure  or  soot  water.  Large  speci- 
men plants  stored  for  the  winter  should  not  be 
allowed  to  become  over  dry  and  should  be  examined 
occasionally.  Blue  Hydrangeas  are  usually  in 
favour  and  there  are  various  methods,  more  or 
less  successful,  of  imparting  the  desired  colour. 
Alum  and  iron  fiUngs  are  frequently  used,  but  it 
does  not  always  follow  that  they  will  produce  the 
desired  effect,  the  colour  often  being  an  ugly 
reddish  purple.  This  is  probably  often  due  to  the 
treatment  not  being  started  early  enough,  and  no 
doubt  water  plays  an  important  part,  and  it  is 
well  always  to  use  rain-water.  In  recent  years 
there  have  been  several  proprietary  preparations 
that  are  successfully  used  by  trade  growers  to 
impart  the  desired  blue  colour.  If  any  such  sub- 
stances are  used  the  treatment  should  be  started 
with  the  voung  plants  and  should  be  used  regularly 
until  they  flower.  Only  the  pink-flowered  varieties 
respond  to  the  treatment. 

Plants  for  Forcing,  according  to  requirements, 
should  be  introduced  to  suitable  houses,  remem- 
bering alwavs  to  start  them  gradually,  as  too  high 
a  temperature  at  first  is  apt  to  result  in  failure, 
bulbous  plants  going  what  is  known  as  "  blind," 
while  shrubby  plants  often  drop  their  buds. 

Freesias  that  were  potted  up  early  should  now 
be  well  advanced,  and  should  be  remo\ed  from  the 
cold  frames  to  a  light  airy  greenhouse.  The 
plants  should  be  kept  carefully  supported,  for  the 
growths,  if  allowed  to  fall  over,  never  properly 
recover.  When  in  full  growth  Freesias  enjoy 
frequent  apphcations  of  diluted  farmyard  manure  or 
soot  water. 

Hippeastrums. — Where  early  Howers  are  required 
a  batch  of  plants  should  be  placed  in  a  wann 
house  and  if  they  can  be  phmged  in  a  warm  bed 
they  will  develop  quicker.  For  this  purpose  bulbs 
that  were  started  early  last  year  should  be  selected 
as  they,  of  course,  finished  their  growth  early  and 
having  had  longer  rest  will  more  readily  start  into 
growth.  It  is  also  important  to  select  plants  that 
are  in  good  condition  at  the  root,  as  they  sutler 
no  disturbance  from  repotting  and  start  away  much 
quicker  than  newly  potted  plants.  To  my  mind 
they  have  an  added  charm  as  they  develop  thfeir 
foUage  along  with  the  flowers.  The  plants  should 
be  thoroughly  soaked  at  the  root,  turned  out  of 
their  pots  and  the  drainage  corrected  if  necessary. 
Some  of  the  surface  soil  should  be  removed  and 
replaced  with  a  top-dressing  of  good  loam,  to 
which  a  httle  leaf-soil  and  coarse  clean  sand  has 
been  added,  also  a  6in.  potful  of  fine  bone  meal 
to  every  bushel  of  soil.  Very  little  water  is 
necessary  at  the  root  until  the  plants  are  in  active 
growth.  J.  CouTTS. 

Ktyyal  Botanic  Gardens,   Kew. 


The  Sloe  or   Blackthorn.— 1ti   the  desire   to 

have  in  our  gardens  the  choicest  e.xotic  trees  and 
shrubs  the  best  of  our  native  British  flora  must 
not  be  overlooked.  Among  these  is  the  Black- 
thorn of  our  hedges  and  coppices,  Prunus  spinosa, 
of  which  the  leafless  black  branches  are  whitened 
with  snowy  blossoms  in  March  and  .^pril.  A  small 
tree  or  large  shrub,  the  Sloe  spreads  by  means 
of  suckers  and  is  also  raised  from  seeds.  An 
important  consideration  is  that  trees  growing  in 
poor  soil  usually  flower  more  freely  than  in  deeply 
cultivated  rich  ground.  Equally  or  even  more 
valuable  for  the  shrubbery  border  is  the  double- 
flowered  variety,  flore  pleno.  This  is  usually 
propagated  by  budding,  using  the  Plum  as  a 
stock 

The  Valerian.— .^  word  or  two  should  be 
said  in  praise  of  the  Valerian,  Centranthus 
ruber,    at    this    season,    when    most    of    us  are 


thinking  about  the  spring  planting  of  perennials. 
We  do  not  see  it  in  gardens  nearly  as  often  as  we 
should,  the  popular  idea  being  that  it  is  a  strong- 
growing  weed  and  unworthy  of  a  place. 
Splendid  effects  may  be  produced  if  it  is  planted 
towards  the  top  of  a  very  dry  wall  garden,  or  planted 
on  the  boundaries  of  shrubberies  where  little  else 
will  grow.  Its  floriferous  nature  (for  it  gives  masses 
of  bright  red  flowers  all  through  the  summer)  and 
the  easiness  of  its  cultivation  make  it  a  most 
desirable  town  garden  plant,  and  so  long  as  it  is 
not  permitted  to  seed  itself  and  is  lifted  and 
divided  every  two  years,  it  can  easily  be  kept  within 
bounds.  Its  height  is  somewhat  variable,  ranging 
from  ij  feet  to  3  J  feet.  The  second  year  it  forms 
fine  "  bushes,"  which  look  neat  and  bright  in  the 
mixed  border. 

A  Quaint  Iridaceous  Plant. — .Aristea  corymbosa 
is  an  August-fiowering  greenhouse  shrub  with 
flowers  of  a  beautiful  clear  blue  (Tone  i,  series  211, 
in  the  "Repertoire  des  Couleurs").  It  is  botani- 
cally  interesting  as  being  the  only  member  of  the 
Iridaceae  having  secondary  thickening.  The  short 
woody  stem  is  apparently  an  upright  replica  of 
a  rhizome,  roots  being  produced  from  the  younger 
regions  of  it  at  two  distinct  periods — early  in  the 
year  and  again  in  July,  when  the  flower-spikes 
push.  This  periodic  rooting  habit  is  repeated  in 
the  cuttings  ;  they  callus  fairly  easily,  but  only 
produce  roots  at  the  same  moment  as  the  parent 
plant. 

Staphylea  COlchica.  —  A  pretty  shrub  that 
should  be  in  every  garden.  The  drooping  terminal 
clusters  of  cream  white  bloom  come  in  May 
with  the  Lilacs,  a  little  in  advance  of  the 
Guelder  Roses.  Though  it  is  quite  hardy,  it 
likes  a  sheltered  place  and  does  not  object  to 
a  little  shade.  Prepared  plants  are  often  used 
for  forcing. 


R.H.S.  Gardeners'  Diary. — We  have  received 
a  copy  of  this  excellent  pocket  diary  for  1923 
which  reflects  credit  alike  on  Editor — Mr.  W.  R. 
Dykes — and  the  publishers.  The  make-up  of  the 
book  is  similar  to  previous  years  and  there  is  as 
much  daily  space  as  is  usually  afforded  in  a  pocket 
diary.  An  opening  of  the  book  (two  facing  pages) 
is  devoted  to  each  week's  work  and  advantage  is 
taken  of  the  space  which  would  accommodate 
another  day  to  include,  in  this  most  convenient 
place,  a  summary  of  the  week's  work.  An  immense 
amount  of  incidental  information  is  included  on 
other  pages,  ranging  from  "  Alpines,  Seeds  of,"  to 
"  Worms  on  Lawn,"  and  including  en  route 
"  Scotch  Moorland  Berries,"  the  whole  being 
efficiently  indexed.  As  the  price  is  only  2s. — no 
more  than  one  needs  must  pay  for  an  ordinary 
diary — no  gardener  should  be  without  one. 


ANSWERS 
TO  CORRESPONDENTS 

THi:    FRUIT     GARDEN. 

CURRANTS  AND  STRAWBERRIES  FOR  NORTHERN 
DISTRICTS  (C.  F.  S.,  Baiuiockburn).  —  Red  Currant 
Kaby  Castle  and  Strawberry  Royal  Sovereign  would 
answer  our  correspondent's  purpose.  Both  kinds  are 
liardy,  prolific,  strong -growing  and  of  high-class  ilavour. 

DIGGING  NEAR  FRUIT  TREES  (G.  P.  T.)-— The  soil 
under  fruit  trees  should  be  kept  clean — free  from  weeds 
and  injurious  insects.  To  ensure  tliis  the  surface  soil 
mast  be  loosened  with  the  Dutch  lioe  or  the  garden  fork. 
Furthermore,  the  work  must  be  done  carefully  so  that 
the  fibrous  roots  are  not  broken  olf.  Digging  or  disturb- 
ing the  soil  any  deeper  than  is  necessary  to  accomplisli 
the  purpose  named,  and  to  ventilate  it,  would  prove 
injurious,  A  spade  must  not  be  used,  as  the  blade  would 
cut  off  roots  without  the  workman  being  aware  of  it. 
Only  in  exceptional  cases  should  grass  be  allowed  to 
grow  under  fruit  trees.  Even  in  grass  orchards  a  space 
several  feet  from  the  stem  should  be  free  from  grass. 


THE     GREENHOUSE. 

VERONICA  HULKEANA  (F.  O.  P.).— When  the  plants 
liave  JIuwend  place  them  outside  in  a  slu-Uered  position, 
not  in  a  very  hot  one  at  first.  Apply  clear  water  care- 
fully ;  if  much  pot-bound,  re-pot  the  plants  directly 
new  slioots  grow,  when  pruning  is  advisable  wait  till  the 
young  shoots  are  lin,  to  2ius,  long  before  re-potting. 
Loam  two-thirds  and  peat  one-third  make  a  suitable 
compost.  Pot  firmly  and  be  very  careful  about  watering 
afterwards.  While  new  growth  is  being  made  the  plants 
must  be  in  a  quite  open  position  and  remain  there  till 
September.  The  winter  greenhouse  temperature  should 
range  from  40°  to  45°.  Propagate  cuttings  when  available 
late  in  spring  or  early  in  summer  in  a  similar  compost 
and  sand  added,  under  a  bell-glass  or  frame. 

CHRYSANTHEMUMS  ATTACKED  (D.  W.,  Surrey).— 
The  Chrysanthemums  attacked  by  the  leaf-mining  maggot 
should  be  sprayed  with  a  nicotine  wash  which  \vill  kill 
the  larvae  boring  in  the  leaf,  AVhere  only  a  few  are  con- 
cerned they  may  be  killed  in  their  burrows  by  pinching 
between  finger  and  thumb.  Spraying  plants  with  paraffin 
emulsion  or  dusting  with  soot  are  excellent  preventives. 


KITCHEN    GARDEN. 

ABOUT  SOWING  PARSNIP  SEEDS  (T,  L,),— In  a 
very  light,  sandy  soil  the  seeds  may  be  sown  at  this  early 
date  and  the  resultant  roots  grown  to  a  large  size.  In 
heavy,  retentive  soils  the  majority  of  the  seeds  would 
rot,  especially  if  a  spell  of  wet  weather  came.  It  would 
be  much  the  best  if  our  correspondent  trenched,  or  deeply 
dug  the  soil  now  and  prepared  it  thoroughly  for  the  seeds 
at  the  end  of  January.  As  the  ground  is  clayey  this 
treatment  would  ensure  the  best  results. 

THE  CHINESE  ARTICHOKE  <A,  J.  M,).— This  arti- 
choke (Stachys  tuberifera)  is  not  extensively  grown  now; 
for  some  years  after  its  first  introduction  it  was.  The 
roots  are  spiral  in  form,  an  average  size  of  one  being  2ins. 
long  and  fin.  across  the  centre — the  thickest  part,  Thi; 
roots  should  be  planted  in  March,  1ft.  apart  in  rows  2ft. 
asunder.  Any  ordinary  garden  soil  will  be  suitable, 
especially  that  manured  the  pre\ious  autumn.  The 
plants  increase  and  spread  in  the  soil  very  rapidly,  yielding 
tubers  in  abundance.  They  should  be  boiled  till  tender  ^ 
not  pulpy,  then  lightly  fried  in  boiling  fat  till  nicely 
browMt  d  and,  after  draining,  served  hot. 

CLUB-ROOT  (F,  H..  Wimbledon).— Dress  again  with 
ground  quUk  lime  at  the  rate  of  1  bushel  to  the  square 
rod,  but  do  not  plant  any  Brassicas  for  a  year.  Gas  lime 
is  useless.  Manure  may  be  applied  to  the  Rhubarb  any 
time  now  and  in  February  cover  the  roots  to  blanch 
the  young  growths.  Litter  or  dead  leaves  about  tlie 
boxes  will  hasten  growth  in  spring. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

NAMES  OF  PLANTS.— J,  C.  Shrewsbury.— 1,  Crateegus 
Pyracautha  :  2,  Velthcimia  viridifolia. 

NAMES     OF     FRUIT.— W.     A..     Tregothuan.— Apple 

Gascoyne's     Scarlet. E,     H.     K.,     Salop. — Apples  : — 

1,  Wealthy,  dessert :  2,  Rival,  culinary  or  dessert ; 
3,  James  Grieve,  dessert.     The  Pear  was  too  shrivelled 

to    identify    with  any  certainty. -'Torquay." — .A,pple 

Scarlet  Pearmain. C.  B.  F. — .A.pple  Lord  Hurghley, 

W.  P.  .M.,  Streatham. — Apples  ; — 1,  Yorkshire  Greening 
(green  stiiped) ;  2.  Seaton  House  (yellow  with  faint  flush) ; 
3,  Specimen  too  diseased  and  damaged  to  identify. 


PUBLICATIONS     RECEIVED. 

"  Potato  Growing  in  Australia,"  by  G.  Seymour. 
Published  by  Messrs.  Whitcombe  and  Tombs,  Limited, 
Melbourne,  and  9-10,  St.  Andrew's  Hill,  Queen 
Victoria  Street,  London,  E.G.  Copiously  illustrated. 
Price  3s. 

Illustrated  catalogue  of  rare  books.  Part  I,  largely  con- 
sisting of  herbal  and  garden  literature  and  books  on 
garden  design,  beautifully  illustr-ted.  l*ublighed  by 
Messi-s.  Wheldon  and  Wesley,  2,  3,  4,  Arthur  Street, 
New  Oxford  Street,  London,  W,C,2, 

"The  Romance  of  the  Ajtnthecaries  Garden  at  Chelsea," 
by  Dawtrey  Drewitt.  Published  by  Messrs.  Chapman 
and  Dodd,  Limited,  66,  Great  Queen  Street,  London, 
W,C,2.     Price  7s.  6d.  net, 

" '  Patent,'  Smokeless  and  Semi-Smokeless  Fuel,"  by 
J.  Arthur  Greene  and  F.  Mollwo  Perkin,  Published 
by  Sir  Isaac  Pitman  and  Sons,  Limited,  Parker  Street, 
Kingsway,  W.C,2  ;    price  3s.  net. 

"  The  Old  Knglish  flerbals,"  by  Eleanour  Sinclair  Rohde. 
Published  by  Messrs.  Longmans,  Green  and  Co.,  30, 
Paternoster  Row,  London,  E.C.4  ;    price  21s,  net. 

■■  How  to  Form  a  Company "  {fifteenth  edition),  by 
Herbert  W,  Jordan.  Published  by  Messrs,  Jordan 
and  Sons.  Limited,  Chancery  Lane,  W.C.2 ;  price 
Is.  6d.  net.  

CATALOGUES     RECEIVED. 

Messrs,  Sutton  and  Sons,  Reading. —"  Amateur's  Guide,** 
being  an  illustrated  catalogue  of  flower  and  vegetable 
seeds,  with  cultural  directions,  of  which  the  coloured 
plates  are  really  excellent. 

Messrs,  James  Carter  and  Co.,  Raynes  Park,  London. 
S,W,20, — "  Garden  and  Lawn  " — an  illustrated  seed 
catalogue. 

Mr.  T.  H.  Dipnall,  Hadleigh,  Suffolk,— Seeds. 

Messrs,  David  Green  and  Son,  9,  Seymour  Road,  Ansdeil, 
Lytham, — Government  surplus,  including  many  items 
of  interest  to  gardeners. 

Messrs,  Allwood  Brothers,  Wivelsfield  Nurseries,  Hay- 
ward's  Heath,  Sussex. — Carnations,  abridged  list, 

Messrs,  W,  Watson  and  Sons,  Limited.  Killiney  Nurseries, 
Killiney.  Co.  Dubhn.^ — Fruit  and  Rose  Trees, 

Slessrs.  Dicksons,  Chester. — Forest  Trees,  Ornamental 
Trees  and  Shrubs. 

Mr.  H,  J.  Jones,  Ryecroft  Nurseries,  Hither  Green, 
Lewisham,  —  Chrysanthemums,  Michaelmas  Daisicsl. 
Phloxes  and  Delphiniums. 


THE 


-''  ^f 


of  th 


GARDEN 


:  I  ii« 


rat 


ORCHARD 


GARDEN 


WOODLAND 


'^ol.  LXXXVI.-No.  2667. 

ntered  as  Seeond-olass  Matlei-  atthe  New  York,  N.Y.,  Post  Office. 


Saturday,  December   30,  1922 


REGISTERED  AT  THE  GENERAL 
POST  OFFICE  AS  A  NEWSPAPER 
AND     FOR     CANADIAN     BAGAZINE 

POPT 


Price  THREEPENCE 

Yearly  Subscription; 
Inland,   17/4;    Foreicn,   17/4 


DELPHINIUM     MRS.     TOWNLEY     PARKER. 

Colour  :    Sky  blue,  lohite  eye. 


MERRYWEATHER'S    ROSES 


FOR    THE    GARDEN! 
FOR    BEDS! 


FOR    EXHIBITION! 
FOR    EVERYWHERE! 


Also   Fruit  Trees,  Shrubs,  Ornamental  Trees. 
Please   state  your  wants. 

H.    MERRYWEATHER    &   SONS,  LTD. 
Garden  Specialists,  SOUTHWELL.  NOTTS. 

Barr's  Clearance  Sale  of  Surplus 
MAY-FLOWERING  TULIPS. 

10  each  12  named  Darwin  Tulips           ..          ..          ..  10/6 

5      „        12        ,.              „              „                 5/6 

Splendid   Mixture,  Darwin  Tulips,  per  1,000  50/- 

per  100    . .           . .  5/6 

10  each  12  named  Cottage  Garden  Tulips       ..          ..  10/6 

5     „       12        „              „                „             „             ....  5/6 

Beautiful   Mixture  of  Cottage  Garden  Tulips,  per  1,000,  50/- 

,,                 ,,                      ,,             „             ,,         per  100  5/6 

Descriptive  List  Free. 

Ea  A  ^  ^        a         C^^IVI^  11,    12    &    13,    KINQ    STREET, 

^#Ar\rK       Ot       ^yjt^^y     COVENT      garden,      LONDON,     W.C.2. 


"     THE    CHEAPEST    FRUIT    TREE 
SMEARING    COMPOUND. 


''MOTH-GRIP 

Free  from   injurious   mineral   impurities.       4lbs.,   9/6;    7Ibs.,  17/-; 
141bs.,  30/-;    281bs.,  55/-. 

TAPLOW    GARDEN    MATS. 

No  Archangels  this  season  !     Taplows  are  equal  in  weight,  superior  in  frost- 
resistance,  wear  longer,  and  are  nearly  as  cheap  as  Archangels. 

CAUSTIC  ALKALI,  The  Original  Winter  Wask 

Tested  and  accepted  by  the  World's  Fruit  Growing  Centres  as  the  best^ 
40  tins,  60/-  ;  20  tins,  30/-  ;   10  tins,  15/6  ;  5  tins,  8/-. 

New  Autumn  and   Winter  List  Gratis. 

Wm.  WOOD  &  SON,  Ltd.,  Taplow,  Bucks. 

YORK  STONE  CRAZY  PAVING 

50/-  per  ton,  100  ft.  lots  or  more. 

GREY    LIMESTONE    AND    RED    SANDSTONE    ROCKERY, 

50/-  per  ton. 
Waterworn  and  Weathered  WESTMORELAND   LIMESTONE, 

also  WALLING  STONE,  at  57/6  per  ton. 
Delivered  Free  In  London  within  reasonable  distance.      Special  Prices  for  Truckloads. 

ROCKERIES      FORMED     AND     PLANTED 


\A/m.     BIGNELL    &     SON, 

NORTH      ROAD,     HIGHGATE,     N .  6. 


•Pho 


Hornsey  2868. 


THE     GARDEN 


[December  30,   1922 


tt 


THE    GARDEN"   CATALOGUE    GUIDE 


Rose  Specialists 


The  Champion  Decorative  Rose  Grower 
of  England, 

RELISHA  J.  HICKS.  M.C.N.R.S.,  etc., 
OSES  Hurst,  Berks. 


riRST 

FOR 


Fruit  Trees  and  Plants 


PERRY'S 

Hardy  Plant  Farms 

ENFIELD,   MIDDX. 


New  Alpines 
and  Perenniale 

Complete 
Collection 


Hardy  Plants 
Colour  Borders 
Gladioli 


KELWAY   &   SON 

Retail  Plant  Department 

LANGPORT,   SOMERSET. 

HARDY    AZALEAS    AND    FLOWER  INa    SHRUBS 

R.  &  G.  CUTHBERT 
SOUTHGATE 

MIDDLESEX 

Established  1797 


For  planting    and 
Conservatory 
decoration. 
Catalogue  of  our 
new  and  beautiful 
varieties  post 
free 


LAXTON   BROS. 

Nurseries 

BEDFORD 


Strawberries 

and 

Fruit  Trees 


W.   WELLS,   JuNR. 
Hardy  Plant  Nursery 
MERSTHAM,   SURREY 


Specialist  In 
Hardy  Plants 
snd  Alpines 
Catalogues  'ree 


Seeds  and  Bulbs 


BLACKMORE  &  LANGDON 
Twerton  Hill  Nursery 
BATH 


Begsnias 
DslpNIntyms 
Qlexlalaa 
Cyelamsn,  etc. 


DAWKINS 

408,  King's  Road 

CHELSEA,   S.W. 


Gladioli  and 
Liliums,  etc., 
now  ready. 


SPENCE'S  Potato  Growing  GUIDE  AND 
CATALOGUE  free  if  you  mention  this  paper. 
—CHARLES  T.  SPENCE,  Seed  Potato 
.Specialist,  DUNBAR,  SCOTLAND. 


FRUIT 
IN  ALL 

CATA 


ON'S 

•REES 
HAPES 

lES  GRATIS 

ON  BROS 
ED FORD   , 


Garden  Sundries 


CORRY   &   CO..   Ltd. 

Shad    Thames,    S.E.i    and 
Bedford  Chambers 
CovENT  Garden,  W.C.2 


Merchants  and 
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of  Marticultural 
SaiMlriea 
Farti liters  and 
Inaac^icidGB,  etc. 


J.  BENTLEY,  Ltd. 
Barrow-on-Humber 
HULL. 


Wead  Deatroyers 
Fartlllzars 

Inaecticidaft 

Nets  and  Sundrtua 


Landscape  Gardening 


W.  H.  GAZE  &  SONS.  Ltd. 
High  Street 
KINGSTON-ON-THAMES 


L-anoBcape,  Rock 
and  Watar  Qarden 
Modal  Qardane 
Portsmouth   Road 
Surbiton 


R.   WALLACE   &    CO.,    Ltd. 
The  Old  Gardens 
TUNBRIDGE   WELLS 


Landscape  &   Garden 
Architei'ts.  Qucf  n 

Alexandra's    Cun    for 
Best  Rock  and  Wa  er 
Oaiden.  International 
Show,  1912. 


J.  CHEAL  &  SONS,  Ltd. 

Nurseries 

CRAWLEY 


Landscape 
Qardeners. 
Trees  and 
Shrubs,  etc. 


HODSONS,  LIMITED, 

i4,Victoria  St., London, S.W. I 
&  58 ,  Castlegate,  Nottingham 


Rock,  Water  or 
Formal   Qardena 

Stone  Paved  P.iths, 

Green  &  Hard  Court 


MISS  EVELYN  FAWSSETT 

(Speci  rlist  in  Garden  Planning! 

83,  High  Street 
LEWES,   SUSSEX 


New  Gardens  dc 
atlinrd.  Old  Oardeo» 
Re-arranged.  Plant 
Ing  plans  for  borders 
etc.  Terms  on  appll 
cation. 


WM.  BIGNELL  &  SON 
North  Road  Nurseries, 
HIGHGATE.  N.6 


Experts  in  Garden 
Format'On  pnd. 
Reconstruction. 
Advicti  &  Fstimatcs 
Free. 


WALLACE'S  IRISES. 

Send  for  our  attractive  publication — "  Irises  and 
Iris  Gardens."     Post  free  on  application. 

R.    WALLACE    &   CO.   LTD., 

TUNBRIDGE     AVEL.LS. 


Chrysanthemums  and 
Perpetual  Carnations 

Select  List  of  the  Best 
Varieties  with  cultural 
instructions     post    free. 

KEITH,    LUXFORD   &  CO., 

Sheering  Nurseries,  HARLOW,  ESSEX. 


Bushes  &  Trees  for  Sale. 

GOOSEBERRIES,  Carolrps  ami  ^VlliIll^anls  3  years,  40/- 
100-  2  years,  SO'-  100  BLACK  CURRANTS,  Seabrools's, 
2  years  2C./  li  n.  RED  CURRANTS,  Comets,  16/-  100. 
VICTORIA  PLUMS,  4  to  S  ft.  hlgli.  APPLES,  Bramley's. 
Newton's,  Cox's,  Worcester's,  James  Grieve,  Irish  Peaeli.  16/- 
doz.'  i.'J/-  score;  all  maidens,  assorted  or  separate.  RASP- 
•BERRY  CANES,  Perfection,  7/6  100.     Carr.  pd.  (pass.)  c.w.o. 

.HUGH  REAM,  Fruit  Grower,  FRIDAYBRIDCE,  WISBECH. 


SO  I  I>      PESXS 


Vijii   >_annol   have  gu 

jtl   trups  and 

suil     pcsis     at      llu- 

S3I1K     lime. 

ALPHOL  the  Pest  Killer 

&  Soil  Purifier 

crijlitcs  Mivj  tu  nri.iw  plants  to  ptr 

ctliuci.    Used  l.v  Kit 

<j|  (juuni^cy  !  omalu  grf.twcri..  Wri 

L-nuw  lor  parlKiiKiis 

Garden  Supplies  u?  l-Hk-s 

CRANMER    STREET.   LIVERPOOL 


A  CATALOGUE  DE  LUXE 

is  not  an  exaggerated  description  of  "  My 
Garden  Book  for  1923."  Admittedly  one 
of  the  finest  gardening  guides  published, 
and  invaluable  to  all  who  take  an  interest 
and  a  pride  in  their  garden. 

Secure  a  copy  NOW  before  ordering  your  seeds. 
It  ivill  he  sent  you  post  free  on  application  to 

ALEXANDER  &  BROWN, 
(Dcpf.B),  Seedsmen,   PERTH. 


E]E]E]E]G]C]C]B]E]C]E]E]E]G]Q]E]G]E]E] 


[d1 

51 
[51 
51 

51 
51 
51 
51 


TRANSPLANTED   FOREST    TREES 
AND    HEDGING    PLANTS 

Of    Superior    Quality. 

BEECH.  Common.     ri-lS  and  1'218  ins. 

BROOM.  White.    Transplanted. 

BBUOM.  Yellow.    Transplanted. 

LARCH,  Naiive.    1-lJ  ft.  and  li-2  ft. 

LAUHELS.    S-12  ins..  1-li  ft.,  li-'2ft..  and  -2-24  ft. 

GORSE.     I  ransplanted. 

HORNBEAM.     1215  ins.  and  2-2}  ft. 

LAVENDER.  Blue. 

\n\     QUICHTHORN.     1-lJ  ft..  lJ-2  ft.,  2-'2i  ft.,  ■2j-3  ft. 

PKIVtT  OVALlFOLIA.  Mi  ft..  lJ-2  ft..  2-'2}  ft. 

CHEAP    TO    CLEAR. 
RHODODENDRON     PONTICU.M.       9 -12  ins., 

1-li  ft.,  li-2  ft..  2-'2ifi. 
RHOIiODENDRONS,     nan-ed     liinds.     second 

quality.     1-li  ft.,   li-2  ft. 

SCOTCH  FIR.     9  12  ins..  1-li  ft.,  li-2  (t..  '2-2*  ft. 

FINE     STUFF    (Transplanted). 
SPRUCE  FIR-     9r2ins.,    1'2-18  ins. 
SITKA  SPRUCE.     1218  ins.,   18-24  ins. 


fiU'H  at  IT  grctlter  disttittce  ilt>ai  t  than  i 
1(1  iiios^  Nurseries. 


13 
IS 
13 
]3 
M 
M 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 


prices  on   application. 

51  King's  Acre  Nurseries,  Ltd.,  Hereford  }3 

[^  KSTAIU-lsHED      17S5.  |ul 

SEIslsIalalalaEIalalalsIalalalslals 


SPEOIALITE. 


TREES   AND   SHRUBS 


for    AUTUMN     COLOUR 
and  WINTER    BERRIES 
(Carriage  Paid.) 

V.  N.  Gauntlett  &  Co.,  Ltd., 

Japanese  Nurseries.  Chiddingi  old,  Surrey. 


SPECIAL  OFFER! 

ARTINDALE'S 
GOLD    MEDAL    DELPHINIUMS. 

strong  Plants  from  the  open  ground. 

Each. 

16 
1/6 
1/6 


Gentian    Blue,     *%   I £^ 
White    eye  ■  /  ** 


Beautitul  Light 
Blue 


ANDREW  CARNEGIE,  ^'^J^r 

BELLA  OONNO,  '"l^wa'A"    ■ 

COURAGE,  ^Z-       - 

KING  OF  DELPHINIUMS, 

LIZE  VAN  VEEN,  '^Tl'u"'"'" 

MOGRHEIMI,  ^!;\'^hM"' 

PERFECTION, 

MRS.  H.  KAYE,  XLf 

MRS.  A.  J.  WATSON,  'hZl'^i;;,V. 

USTANE,   'eit' 1/6 

ZUSTER  LUGTENS,   ^^:t    -       -       -1/6 
MRS.  C.  BRUNTON,  "rif  -       -       -1/6 

This  Set  of  the   12  Best  Sorts 
Carriage       Paid        for        1  8s. 

WM.  ARTINDALE  &  SON,  Nether  Green,  Sheffield. 


-  1/6 

-  1/6 

-  1/6 

-  3/6 

-  3/6 


Tubs   for    shrubs. 

■  WIRE  BOUND  PAI  ENT,  over  100 
prizes.  R.H.S  Medal.  1910.  No  warping  or 
shrinking.  In  Oalf.  Beech. Teak.  etc.  Highly 
decorative.— Price  List  from  Pradal  &  Co  , 
•26.  Goodge  Street.  London,  VV.L 


^<5^^t€lft. 


No.  2667.— Vol.  LXXXVI. 


[December  30,  1922. 


PERENNIAL     PLANTS      FROM      SE-ED 


THE  Foxglove,  Digritalis  purpurea,  is  one 
of  those  "  shaky  "  perennials  which  wise 
folk  treat  strictly  as  a  biennial  and  either 
raise  regularly  from  seeds  or  allow  a  few 
spikes  of  the  best  forms  to  remain  and 
seed  themselves.  There  are  very  few  people  who 
Ccin  so  arrange  plants  as  to  produce  the  natural 
effect  which  self-sown  seedlings  always  give. 
There  are  many  who  prefer  the  newer  spotted 
forms  to  the  typical  hedgerow  plant,  but,  some- 
how, the  florist  has  been  less  successful  vrith  the 
Foxglove  than  with  most  plants  he  has  taken  in 
hand  and  beyond  a  variation  in  the  spotting  and 
a  certain  paling  of  the  rich  colouring  of  the  typical 
plant,  he  has  achieved  nothing.  The  admirable 
white  form  he  cannot  claim,  as  it  is  fairly  common 
among  wild  plants.  This  white  form  is  an  excellent 
border  plant,  but  is  really  seen  to  best  advantage 
in  thin  woodland. 

All  perennial  Poppies  are  readily  raised  from 
seeds,  indeed,  some  of  them  are  short-lived  and 
the  only  really  practicable  method  of  renewal  is 
by  raising  seedUngs.  The  Iceland  Poppy,  Papaver 
nudicaule,  is  a  case  in  point.  Like  the  Foxglove 
it  should  be  treated 
strictly  as  a  biennial. 
The  extraordinarily 
large  flowers  some- 
times seen  in  florist's 
shops  represent  a  very 
fine  strain  combined 
with  the  best  of  culti- 
\ation.  The  seeds  are 
sown,  as  soon  as  ripe, 
in  really  good,  deeply 
cultivated  soil  and  the 
seedlings  transplanted, 
as  soon  as  large  enough 
to  handle  readily,  into 
their  permanent  quar- 
ters, leaving  ijins. 
between  the  plants. 
A  few  of  the  very  best 
plants  are  marked  for 
seed  and  the  expanding 
blossoms  gathered  each 
morning  for  market 
from  the  rest.  By 
this  means  the  strain 
is  kept  up  to  the  mark 
or  even  improved. 
Papaver  alpinum,  the 
Alpine  Poppy,  is  Uttle 
more  than  a  miniature 
of  the  last-named 
species,      but,      oddly 


(Continued  from  page   640.) 

enough,  it  is  far  more  perennial.  There  is  a  great 
variety  of  colouring  with  this  charming  little 
species  and  a  fringed  strain  with  deeply  cut  petals 
is  now  obtainable,  which,  if  kept  apart,  reproduces 
itself  fairly  true  from  seed. 

It  is  exceedingly  interesting  to  raise  good  forms 
of  the  Oriental  Poppy  from  seed.  Seeds  from  one 
of  the  spreading-habited,  salmon-pink  forms  will 
often  produce  a  proportion  of  erect  growing 
plants  with  crimson-scarlet  flowers  and  an  immense 
variety  of  other  forms  besides.  Do  not  try  to 
rush  them  into  commerce,  however,  as  magnificent 
named  varieties ;  for  the  sorts  sent  out  by  Mr. 
.\mos  Perry  represent  the  pick  of  many  thousands 
of  seedlings,  and  those  not  raised  indiscriminately 
but  from  carefully  selected  crosses.  Do  not  be 
tempted  to  introduce  Papaver  pilosum  into  the 
garden,  either  in  the  form  of  seeds  or  plants.  It 
has  no  special  beauty  and  once  established  is 
almost  impossible  to  eradicate.  It  seems  to  cross 
readily  with  P.  orientale,  too,  and  the  resultant 
seedlings  are  also  worthless. 

Florists'  Pentstemons  are  exceedingly  interesting 
to  rai=e  from  seed      A  start  should  be  made  with 


WHITE    FOXGLOVES.        ESPECIALLY    ADMIRABLE    IN    WOODLAND. 


a  selection  of  really  first-rate  named  varieties  and 
inferior  sorts  should  be  ruthlessly  discarded,  nor 
should  fine  blossom  and  well  proportioned  spike 
be  allowed  to  outweigh  a  bad  conslitution  and  a 
tendency  to  "  rust."  From  a  sowing  under  glass 
early  in  January  many  plants  should  flower  the 
same  autumn.  It  is  better,  however,  to  sow  the 
seeds  as  soon  as  ripe  and  winter  the  young  plants 
under  glass.  Some  day,  perhaps,  an  amateur 
will  raise  a  pure  white  florists'  Pentstemon.  There 
is  no  such  thing  at  present !  There  is  room,  too, 
for  improvement  in  the  pale  shades  generally. 
There  is  an  immense  number  of  Pentstemon  species, 
probably  all  easily  raised  from  seeds.  Some  of 
these  are  every  year  offered  by  nurserymen  who 
specialise  in  seeds  of  hardy  perennials. 

The  perennial  Sea  Lavenders,  Statice,  again,  are 
readilv  raised  from  seeds.  The  most  generally 
useful  plant  is  S.  latifolia  but,  unfortunately, 
this  is  quite  the  most  difficult  to  increase  satis- 
factorily from  seeds.  A  very  variable  plant, 
undoubtedly  the  forms  with  deep  coloured, 
almost  violet  flowers  are  most  desirable,  but 
however  carefully  one  may  select  one's  seed  parent, 
a  proportion  of  plants 
which  will  give  washy- 
coloured  flowers  is 
produced.  Still,  seed 
raising  produces  a 
number  of  good  plants 
quickly  and  after  selec- 
tion has  been  made, 
vegetative  propagation 
will  quickly  still 
further  increase  the 
number.  SS.  Gmelini, 
eximea  and  tartarica 
are  other  worthy 
species  to  raise  from 
seeds. 

Perhaps  it  may  be 
as  well  now  to  deal 
with  a  few  rock  plants 
of  easy  culture  from 
seeds,  leaving  to  a 
subsequent  article  con^ 
sideration  of  what  are 
usually  considered 

more  difficult  species. 
The  generality  (  of 
Alpine  Violas  are  as 
easy  to  raise  as 
florists'  Violas  or 
Pansie.s,  which  pre- 
sumably most  amateurs 
have    at   one   tinie   or 


654 


THE     GARDEN. 


[December  30,  1922. 


another  raised  from  seed.  Such  are  the  rosy- 
purple  V.  bosniaca,  the  glorious  Grecian  Violet, 
V.  gracilis  with  flowers  of  Imperial  purple,  V. 
calcarata,  extraordinarily  variable  and.  sometimes, 
wondrously  ugly  and,  if  wanted,  V.  cornuta.  This 
last,  howevei ,  can  be  increased  at  express  speed  from 
cuttings  and  as  the  seedlings  are  usually  unsatis- 
factory in  colour,  few  will  wish  to  bother  with  it. 
V.  lutea  of  our  Derbyshire  and  Yorkshire  hills  is 
also  readily  raised  from  seeds,  but  Mkes  mortar 
rubble  in  the  compost.  A  word  of  warning ! 
No  Viola  species  in  the  rock  garden  is  safe  from 
cross-fertilisation.  Imported  seeds  only  should  be 
sown. 

The  alpine  Campanulas  for  the  most  part  seed 
freely  and  the  seedlings  are  easy  to  raise  in  pans 
of  gritty  soil  with  a  proportion  of  old  mortar  rubble. 
Many  of  the  seeds  are  fine  so  that  careful  watering 
is  necessary  and  if  any  artificial  heat  is  given  a 
sharp  look-out  must  be  kept  for  green  fly.  Suitable 
species  are  CC.  carpatica,  c.  turbinata,  pulla, 
barbata,  sarmatica,  Portenschlagiana,  garganica 
and  Raddeana.  The  nearly  related  Edraianthus 
(Wahlenbergia)  serpylUfohus  likes  similar  condi- 
tions. Of  taller  BeUfiowers  suitable  for  the  border 
Which  are  worth  raising  from  seeds,  mention  should 
be  made  of  CC.  persicifoUa,  lactiflora,  latifolia,  bono- 
liiensis  and  alliarijefoUa.  The  first  named  is  an 
Invaluable  border  plant  which  varies  greatly  from 
Seed.  Fortunately  almost  every  form  is  beautiful. 
Campanula  lactiflora  is  fine  for  massing  and  the 
best  coloured  forms  breed  true  from  seed  if  paler 
ones  are  not  tolerated  in  the  neighbourhood.  C. 
bononiensis  is  a  particularly  slender  and  graceful 
species  for  use  towards  the  front  of  the  border 
where  its  spiry  habit  serves  to  break  monotony  of 
outline.  C.  alliariEefoIia  is  an  admirable  species 
for  wild  garden  or  woodland. 

The  CranesbiUs,  if  we  may  thus  group  together 
the  very  nearly  related  Geraniums  and  Erodiums, 
are  quite  readily  raised  from  seeds  and  many  of 
them   if   planted   in    a   favourable   situation    will 
proceed     comfortably    to    naturalise     themselves. 
UnUke  their  cousins  the  Pelargoniums,  almost  all 
species  are  entirely  hardy.     There  is,  by  the  way, 
one  species  of  Pelargonium  which  is  hardy  enough 
and  very  beautiful  and  interesting  withal.     This  is 
P.  Endlicherianum,  with  brilliant  rose  flowers.     It 
Is  readily  raised  from  seeds.     Some  of  the  Geraniums 
may  be  increased  with  extraordinary  rapidity  by 
division — such  an  one   as  Endressi,   for  instance. 
It  is  well  to  raise  from  seed  those  of  slower  growth 
and  more  compact  habit,  such  as  Traversii — most 
beautiful  of  all,  with  its  silk-covered  fohage,  but 
alas  !  not  over-hardy — cinereum  and  argenteum, 
two    close-growing    species    for    the    rock    garden 
and  the  beautiful  blue  Wallichianum.    The  Bloody 
Cranesbill,    Geranium    sanguineum,    a    handsome 
native  plant,  is  also  worth  raising  from  seed.     All 
the   Erodiums    are    best    raised    from    seed.     The 
largest    species    is    E.    Manescavi,    with  briUiant 
purplish  red  flowers,  and  the  choicest  and  neatest 
E.  amanum,  with  soft  rose  blossoms,  but  there  are  a 
number  of  others,  all  interesting. 
)    Many  Silenes   are  of   the   easiest   culture   from 
seed.     The  writer   considers   S.   alpestris  the'  best 
species     of     all,     with     its    beautifully    fringed 
flowers,    startling   in    their    purity    of    whiteness. 
This    is     an    exceedingly     accommodating    plant 
and  naturalises  itself  from  self-sown  seeds  as  well 
as    increasing   rapidly    by    underground    runners. 
S.  Schafta  is  exceedingly  valuable  as  an  autumn- 
blooming  species,  with  vivid  purplish-rose  flowers 
in  dark  calyces.     It  is  readily  raised  from  seed, 
tout,    strangely    enough,    seldom    increases    itself 
by  self-sown  seedUngs.     S.  vallesia,  about  which 
there  was  recently  (page  608)  an  interesting  note 
in  The  Garden,  is  also  easily  raised  from  seeds. 
S.    Saxifraga    is    another    alpine    species  easy   to 
raise. 


t-^ 


'•■'-'              * 

^**ii^i  -  K..  « 

1. 

*^«»* 


*t.-«; 


»• 


MOSSY    SAXIFRAGES    VARY    IMMENSELY    FROM    SEED 


BEST     RAISED    FROM     SEEDS.        EDRAIANTHUS    SERPtLLIFOLIUS. 


THE    GRECIAN    VIOLET,    VIOLA    GRACILIS. 


December  30,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


655 


SINGLE      ROSES 


A  FEW  weeks  ago  The  Garden  gave  a 
good  deal  of  notice  to  the  single  Rose — 
species  and  otherwise.  I  do  not  remem- 
ber to  have  seen  it  pointed  out,  how- 
e\er,  that  the  cultivation  ot  most  of 
these  Roses  is  possible  under  conditions  which 
would  render  the  raising  of  doubles  or  bedding 
varieties  a  disappointing  occupation.  That,  I 
think,  is  a  ver\-  strong  argument  on  behalf  of 
furthering  the  popularity  of  the  wild  or  other 
single  Rose,  for  it  means  that  a  vast  number  of 
people  who  could  never  hope  to  become  rosarians 
in  the  orthodox  sense,  owing  to  soil  conditions 
or  locality,  might  enjoy  the  growing  of  hundreds 
of  Roses  whose  charms  are  every  bit  as  fascinating 
(some  think  a  good  deal  more  so)  as  those  of  our 
Hugh  Dicksons,  Chatenays  and  Testouts.  To 
take  our  own  case,  we  once  tried  a  good  many 
of  these  double,  or  decorative,  sorts,  and  none 
of  them  ever  proved  that  "  the  game  was  worth 
the  candle,"  They  are  miserable  in  our  hot, 
shaly,  unretentive  soil.  So,  having  struggled 
through  the  novice  stage,  in  which  one  is  so  apt 
to  try  to  achieve  the  impossible  instead  of  con- 
centrating upon  plants  for  which  the  soil  is  really 
fitted,  practically  all  the  double  Roses  were 
scrapped  and  singles  introduced.  From  that  da\' 
we  have  enjoyed  abundant  success,  for  the  con- 
ditions which  the  bedding  Roses  rejected  happened 
to  be  just  what  the  others  liked. 

If  the  National  Rose  Society  does  not  cater 
for  our  single  Roses  at  its  shows,  which  I  am 
assured  is  the  fact,  it  matters  little.  I  very 
nearly  wrote  "  so  much  the  better  !  "  N'ot  that 
I  have  any  animosity  against  the  N.R.S.  in  par- 
ticular, but  a  long  experience  of  shows  and  shewing 
impresses  upon  me  the  belief  that  the  "  fancy  " 
exhibit,  whether  it  is  a  Smithfield  ox,  an  01>Tnpian 
Orpington  or  a  prize  Pansy,  is  a  vain  thing ;  but 
that  is  by  the  way.  What  I  mean  to  say  is  that 
it  matters  little  what  the  attitude  of  organised 
Rose  culture  happens  to  be  towards  the  single 
Rose,  because  the  latter  already  has  hosts  of 
admirers,  and  they  are  increasing  year  by  year. 
The  wish  may  be  father  to  the  thought,  but  I 
believe  that  the  star  of  the  single  Rose,  and 
especially  the  species,  is  rising,  and  that  we  are 
not  far  from  witnessing  in  this  country  a  cult  of 
this  class  of  Rose  which  I  read  is  already  firmly 
established  in  .\raerica. 

The  introduction  of  the  Penzance  Briars,  with 
their  wonderful  range  of  choice  colours  and  ease  of 
culture,  doubtless  gave  a  great  impetus  to  the 
popularising  of  the  single  Rose.  Whether  these 
Penzance  Roses  are  glowing  with  the  wonderful 
tints  of  R.  lutea  on  the  one  side  or  reminding  us 
of  the  incomparable  rose  pink  of  our  own  wild 
Briar  on  the  other,  they  are  always  irresistibly 
attractive.  Many  of  them  have  fragrant  foliage, 
and  they  produce  an  autumn-winter  crop  of  gaily 
coloured  fruits.  Pruning  they  are  better  without, 
and  the  majority  of  them  will  make  large,  sturdy 
bushes  which  will  hold  themselves  up  without 
support.  If  the  individual  blossom  is  soon  over, 
the  long,  arching  branches  fully  compensate  for 
this  by  producing  an  almost  interminable  succes- 
sion of  bloom  during  the  pleasantest  part  of  the 
gardener's  year,  and  not  a  few  varieties  will  often 
again  break  into  partial  flowering  in  autumn. 
These  Roses,  as  1  have  suggested,  will  flourish 
where  the  average  bedding  variety  would  do  no 
good.  In  our  gritty,  sharply  drained  soil,  for 
example,  they  are  simply  given  a  little  old  manure 
and  semi-decayed  vegetable  compost  under  and 
around  the  roots  at  planting-time  and  left  alone. 
The  mention  of  R.  lutea,  or  the  Austrian  Briar, 
reminds  me  that  in  this  species  we  have  a  single 


Rose  of  large  size,  perfect  form  and  most  magnifi- 
cent colouring,  one  that  is  an  ideal  plant  for 
warm  banks  on  any  light  soil.  There  are  two  well 
known  forms  of  this  superb  species  called  the 
.■Austrian  Copper  and  the  .-Austrian  Yellow.  The 
latter  is  a  good  rich  yellow,  the  former  a  fiery 
blend  of  orange,  copper  and  scarlet  with  a  reverse 
of  real  old  gold.  R.  lutea  makes  a  loose-habited, 
elegant  bush  of  medium  height,  and  the  flowers 
are  borne  in  profusion  on  the  gracefully  arched 
and  pendulous  branches. 

fc  Quite  the  most  lovely  single  Rose  of  recent 
introduction  is  R.  Moyesii,  of  which  there  has 
been  so  much  written  of  late  that  one  hesitates 
to  add  to  the  eulogy  of  this  enchanting  thing. 
R.  Moyesii  has  so  many  good  features  that  it  is 
difficult  to  say  which  is  the  most  charming.  There 
is  the  peculiarly  thick  and  velvety  te.xture  of  the 
petals  and  their  fascinating  colour — a  very  deep 
blood  crimson  with  rich  ruby  lights  is  as  near  as 


most  delightful  features  of  the  Scotch  Rose  (R. 
spinosissima),  which  is  an  offset  of  the  mid  Burnet. 
There  is  now  a  long  list  of  Scotch  Roses,  all  of 
which  make  first-rate  plants  for  dry,  hot  banks, 
while  the  colours,  if  one  includes  the  doubles, 
range  from  a  good  deep  rose  to  blush,  and  from 
yellow  to  white.  Perhaps  the  best  of  the  singles 
is  R.  altaica  (spinosissima  maxima),  whose  abun- 
dant white  flowers  (May)  are  about  Jins.  across, 
but  there  are  various  forms,  all  of  them  dwarf 
and  useful  for  grouping  where  most  other  Roses 
would  fail  to  exist.  The  fruits  are  almost  black 
and  the  size  of  Sloes. 

Another  species  which  does  remarkably  well 
here  in  the  meagre  soil  of  a  woodland  slope  is 
R.  alpina,  at  once  distinguished  by  its  thomless 
stems  and  sea  green,  or  emerald,  foliage.  This  is 
also  an  early  bloomer,  the  bright  rosy  red  single 
flowers  opening  in  May.  These  are  followed 
by  long  and  narrow,  orange-crimson  fruits.  In 
some  soils  this  Rose  appears  to  grow  to  a  con- 
siderable height,  but  it  remains  a  medium-sized 
bush  where  the  land  is  none  too  good  and  probably 


THE    RAMANAS    ROSE,    ROSA    RUGOSA. 


I  can  get  it — and  this  centred  by  a  conspicuous 
mass  of  almost  saffron  yellow  stamens  whose 
anthers  shed  their  contents  in  a  scintillating 
dust  of  gold  upon  the  crimson  velvet  beneath 
them.  Yet  another  very  characteristic  feature 
of  this  handsome  Rose  is  the  durable  nature  of 
the  blossoms,  which  remain  untarnished  for  several 
days,  perhaps  a  week  or  e\'en  more.  The  curious 
tilt  of  the  flower,  which  is  slightly  inverted,  as  if 
looking  downwards,  has  doubtless  no  little  influence 
in  prolonging  its  life  and  making  preparations 
for  the  enormous  bottle-shaped  fruits  which 
follow. 

Then  we  have  R.  Hugonis,  another  Chinese 
introduction,  and  one  that  was  raised  at  Kew 
from  seed  sent  over  by  Father  Hugh  Scanlan, 
after  whom  it  was  named.  This  lovely  species, 
whose  foliage  and  prickly  stems  suggest  the 
Scotch  Rose,  is  also  admirable  for  any  light,  even 
poor,  soil.  It  is  usually  a  very  vigorous  grower, 
throwing  up  6ft.  to  8ft.  canes,  which  branch  freely 
and  sweep  over  in  ropes  of  bright  yellow  blossoms. 

All  who  have  ever  enjoyed  the  delicious  fragrance 
which  blows  across  sandy  heaths  and  seaside 
Unks,  where  the  creamy  yellow  Burnet  Rose  grows 
so    profusely,   will    have   experienced  one   of    the 


flowers  the  more  abundantly.  The  dwarfer 
R.  pyrenaica,  with  thorny  stems,  is  a  form  of  the 
above. 

R.  nitida  is  an  excellent  little  species  of  about 
i8ins.,  the  blossoms  (summer)  being  a  good  bold 
pink.  The  stems  of  this  Rose  are  thickly  covered 
with  crimson  spines,  of  which  the  colour  is  bright- 
est during  winter,  and  the  fine  glossy  leaves,  which 
are  entirely  deciduous  here,  assume  rich  autumn 
tints  before  they  fall.  R.  indica,  another  dwarf, 
said  to  be  the  original  China  Rose,  is  a  parent  of 
many  of  our  bedding  and  Monthly  Roses,  and  one 
that  possesses  some  of  the  most  valued  attributes 
of  these  latter.  The  colours  in  some  of  the  best 
singles,  for  example  (notably  Miss  Lowe),  are 
remarkable  for  their  purity  and  depth,  and  R. 
indica  is,  perhaps,  the  most  perpetual  bloomer 
among  the  singles  we  possess. 

When  many  of  these  Roses  are  going  out  of 
flower  (July  or  later)  R.  lucida  opens  its  lovely 
fresh  pink  blossoms.  These  are  borne  profusely 
on  estabhshed  plants  ;  they  open  flat,  are  over 
3ins.  across,  and  could  hardly  have  a  more  effective 
setting  than  that  provided  by  the  copious  and 
very  glossy  foliage.  The  flowering  season  may 
extend    until   autumn   is   approaching,    when   the 


656 


THE     GARDEN. 


[December  30,  1922. 


truits  become  a  bright  red  and  the  falling  leaves 
develop  generous  shades  of  yellow  and  bronzy 
purple.  This  is  quite  an  easy  doer  in  any  average 
soil,  even  in  the  woodland  where  its  red-brown 
branches  have  a  pleasing  effect  during  winter. 
R.  lucida  makes  a  large  bush,  spreading  by 
underground  suckers.  There  are  several  varieties. 
For  a   warm,   sunny  spot   R.  berberifolia  Hardii, 


its  yellow  cistus-hke  flowers  being  blotched  with 
crimson,  can  be  recommended,  but  it  is  not  in 
our  experience  a  "  good  doer,"  as  most  of  the 
others  here  mentioned  are.  It  is,  however,  well 
worth  a  trial.  "  Hebe's  Lip,"  said  to  be  a  form 
of  R.  b.  Hardii,  and  bearing  white  flowers  with  a 
picotee  edge  in  carmine,  is  tolerably  easy  tempered. 
R.  sericea  is  one  of  the  most  distinct  and  desirable 


of  all  wild  Roses,  its  four-petalled  flowers 
being  arranged  in  the  form  of  a  Maltese  cross. 
The  very  dark  green  foliage  and  red  spines  are 
also  distinctly  uncommon  features.  It  is  another 
of  the  May  bloomers,  and  related  to  the  curious 
R.  pteracantha  with  its  strange  armature  of  spines 
North    Wales.  A.  T    J. 

[To   be  continued.) 


ZENOBIAS      AND      ALLIED      GENERA 


THE  many  ericaceous  plants  still  com- 
monly known  to  gardeners  as  species 
of  Andromeda  are  now  divided  by 
botanists  into  no  fewer  than  nine  genera. 
These  are  known  respectively  as  Andro- 
meda, IPieris,  Lyonia,  Leucothoe,  Cassine, 
Cassiope,  Zenobia  and  Enkianthus. 

Of  these  genera  Pieris  and  Zenobia  stand  out 
"  head  and  shoulders  "  above  the  rest  as  valuable 
garden  plants.  Zenobia  speciosa  is  a  hardy 
deciduous  or  sub-evergreen  shrub  with  a  rather 
thin  habit  of  growth.  The  flowers,  which  are 
pure  white,  are  produced  in  June  and  July  on  the 
terminals  of  the  previous  year's  growth.  The 
accompanying  illustration  will  give  an  idea  of 
their  arrangement  and  beauty. 

The  variety  pulverulenta,  also  illustrated,  is 
very  distinct  and  by  some  botanists  considered 
a  distinct  species  (Z.  pulverulenta).  It  is  really 
even  more  beautiful  than  the  typical  plant.     The 


picture  shews  some  essential  differences  between 
the  two  plants,  but  pulverulenta  is  readily  dis- 
tinguished in  the  garden  by  its  very  glaucous 
foliage.  The  young  shoots  are  also  glaucous. 
Neither  of  these  two  interesting  and  beautiful 
shrubs  is  grown  nearly  as  much  as  it  should  be. 
Both  kinds  may  be  raised  from  seed,  but  propa- 
gation under  glass  from  cuttings  of  half-ripened 
wood  is  not  difficult. 

The  genus  Pieris  is  better  known  in  gardens, 
P.  floribunda  being  a  fairly  common,  very  hardy 
and  exceedingly  early-flowering  species.  The 
glossy  ovate  evergreen  leaves  arc  about  3ins.  long, 
and  the  hanging  pitcher-shaped  flowers  are  borne 
in  erect  terminal  panicles  each  consisting  of  several 
slender  racemes.  This  is  a  slow-growing  shrub, 
but  it  ultimately  attains  a  height  of  6ft.  or  so. 
..^t  its  best  in  March  or  .\pril,  it  is  not  uncommon 
for  some  of  the  blossoms  to  expand  in  mid-winter. 
Gardeners  often  call  it  the  Lily  of  the  Valley  shrub. 


Pieris  japonica  is  a  larger  and  more  rapid 
grower,  which  attains  in  favourable  situations 
a  height  of  about  loft.  It  is,  however,  not  nearly 
so  hardy  as  P.  floribunda,  and  the  graceful  pendent 
racemes  are  very  liable  to  be  damaged  by  frost. 
The  western  edge  of  woodland  is  a  good  place  for 
it  or  a  western  exposure  in  the  rhododendron  dell 
should  suit.  This  is  a  particularly  beautiful 
shrub  where  it  succeeds,  being  less  formal  in  out- 
line and  more  graceful  in  flower  than  P.  floribunda. 
Pieris  formosa  is  even  more  handsome  than  P. 
japonica.  It  makes  a  larger  shrub,  has  finer 
foliage  and  much  larger  and  handsomer  flower 
panicles.  Unfortunately,  it  is  only  really  at 
home  near  the  sea  coast,  though  it  grows  outdoors 
at  Kew.  Pieris  taiwanensis,  which  this  year 
received  an  award  of  merit  from  the  R.H.S.,  is 
closely  related.  This  was  illustrated  in  The 
Garden,  page  142.  Soil  which  suits  Rhododen- 
drons will  grow  all  the  plants  mentioned. 


A    SPRAY    OF    ZENOBIA    SPECIOSA    VERA. 


THE    VERY    DISTINCT    SUB-SPECIES    Z.    S.    PULVERULENTA. 


The  Garden.] 


[December  30,  1922. 


AN 


Illustrated  Weekly  Journal 


OF 


Horticulture   in   all   its   Branches. 


Founded  by  W.  Robinson  in  1871. 


Edited    by    R.    V.    GIFFARD    WOOLLEY. 


VOLUME     LXXXVL— 1922 


LOU^DO^. 

Office:     20,  TAVISTOCK  STREET,    COVENT   GARDEN,   W.C, 

Published  by  "COUNTRY  LIFE,"  Ltd.,  30,  Tavistock  Street,  Covent  Garden,  W.C,  and  by 
GEORGE  NEWNES,  Ltd.,  8-1 1,  Southampton  Street,  Strand. 


The   Garden.]  [December  30,  1922. 

THIS    (THE     EIGHTY-SIXTH)    VOLUME    OF     "THE     GARDEN" 

IS   DEDICATED,   BY   PERMISSION,   TO 

LEONARD     G.    SUTTON 

MR.  LEONARD  SUTTON,  the  present  senior  partner  in  the  great  Reading  seed  firm,  is  the  youngest 
son  of  the  late  Mr.  Martin  Hope  Sutton.  Born  in  1863,  and  thus  in  his  sixtieth  year,  he  was  educated 
at  WeUington  College  and  the  Royal  Agricultural  College,  Cirencester.  On  his  return  from  Ciren- 
cester to  take  up  business  with  the  firm  of  Sutton  and  Sons,  which  he  entered  in  1884,  Mr.  Sutton 
interested  himself  in  agricultural  work  in  connexion  with  Grasses  and  Clovers.  In  1901  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Departmental  Committee  appointed  by  the  Government  to  report  on  the  conditions  under  which 
agricultural  seeds  were  then  sold.  "  Mr.  Leonard  "  ultimately  relinquished  this  side  of  the  agricultural 
business  to  his  nephew,  Mr.  Martin  H.  F.  Sutton,  the  son  of  his  eldest  brother. 

As  a  5'oung  man  Mr.  Sutton  resided  for  some  time  in  the  seed-growing  districts  of  Germany.  On  his 
return  he  devoted  himself  enthusiastically  to  the  culture  of  flowers  from  seed.  If  one  of  Messrs.  Sutton's 
catalogues  of  date  prior  to  1883  is  compared  with  that  of  the  present  year,  it  shews  the  marvellous  technical 
developments  that  have  been  made  in  the  illustration  of  flowers,  whether  from  drawings  or  photographs. 

In  1890  Mr.  Sutton  paid  a  long  visit  to  the  United  States  and  Canada,  and  stayed  in  the  seed-growing 
districts  of  California,  where  seed-growing  was  then  in  its  infancy.  The  predictions  he  then  made  as  to  the 
development  of  the  industry  have  been  abundantly  fulfilled. 

Mr.  Sutton  has  been  closely  identified  with  the  development  of  the  Agricultural  and  Horticultural  Depart- 
ments of  University  College,  Reading,  and  has  for  many  years  been  on  the  Council  of  the  institution.  In 
1910  he  helped  to  organise  a  deputation — -consisting  of  himself,  the  Principal,  the  Director  of  the  Agricultural 
Department  and  the  Professor  of  Botany,  Professor  (now  Sir  Frederick)  Keeble — to  those  Universities  of  Canada 
and  the  United  States  of  America  in  which  horticulture  and  agriculture  formed  an  important  part  of  the 
curriculum.  It  is  largely  due  to  the  knowledge  acquired  there  and  the  consequent  report  on  the  subject  that  such 
important  developments   have   taken  place  in  our  own  higher  education  in  this  important  branch  of  science. 

Mr.  Sutton  has  been  a  member  of  the  Corporation  of  Reading  for  many  years,  and  was  Mayor  for  two 
successive  years  during  the  war.  His  labours  during  those  sad  and  trying  times,  for  Red  Cross,  for  the  War 
Pensions  Committee  and  in  other  directions,  will  always  endear  him  to  the  townsfolk  of  Reading.  He  is  at  the 
present  time  Chairman  of  the  Reading  Education  Committee  and  of  the  Berkshire  Territorial  Army  Association. 
He  is  also  a  representative  of  the  diocese  of  Oxford  on  the  National  Assembly  of  the  Church  of  England. 

It  will  be  seen,  therefore,  that  Mr.  Sutton's  activities  are  by  no  means  confined  to  the  great  business  of 
which  he  is  senior  partner.  To  be  the  head  of  a  business  so  well  known,  admirably  organised  and  highly 
respected  as  that  of  Sutton  and  Sons  is  in  itself  a  distinction  of  the  first  rank.  "  Suttons "  is,  rightly 
considered,  more  than  a  business — it  is  an  institution.  It  is  known  and  respected  throughout  the  English- 
speaking  world  and  in  all  foreign  countries  of  any  importance.     Its  best  testimonial  is  its  world-wide  trade  ! 


December  30,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


657 


EUROPEAN    MARTAGON    LILIES 


WHEN  I  was  a  boy,  I  found  once, 
on  the  slopes  of  the  Jura,  some 
disagreeable-smeUing  dark  flowers, 
hanging  from  a  long  spike  and 
giving  altogether  a  candelabra-like 
efiect  which  astonished  me.  My 
schoolmaster  said  it  was  the  Martagon 
Lily,  but  I  could  hardly  beUeve  that 
a  Lily — I  only  knew  the  Madonna  Lily, 
which  my  father  had  in  his  garden — 
could  have  such  an  appearance — and  such 
an  odour.  The  master,  none  the  less, 
was  right  and  I  was  wrong. 

Later  on,  I  found  in  my  mountain 
rambles  several  other  Lilies,  all  belonging 
to  the  same  type  as  the  Martagon.  Of 
these,  some  of  them  being  treasures,  I 
will  write  a  httle  for  the  benefit  of  readers 
of  my  dear  old  Garden. 

First,  I  will  recount  a  curious  coinci- 
dence, proving  the  possibility  of  auto- 
suggestion to  an  enthusiastic  botanist. 
I  was  once  saying  to  one  of  my  sons 
that  I  had  never  in  my  life  found  the 
white  form  of  the  Martagon  Lily  and 
that  I  would  immensely  like  to  find  it 
once.  This  I  said  when  I  was  climbing  on 
a  green  slope  near  Bourg-St. -Pierre  in  the 
Valais  just  below  our  alpine  garden  "  The 
Linnaea."  Some  two  or  three  minutes 
afterwards  only,  we  found  three  superb 
plants  of  it,  the  flowers  showing  above 
the  herbage !  I  have  never  found  it 
since  that  occasion  —  it  was  in  1890. 
The  white  form  is  very  rare  in  Switzer- 
land and  is  often  considered  as  a  garden 
variety.  Of  course,  it  was  not  so 
luxuriant  as  those  of  which  you  have 
pubUshed  photographs  (pages  494  and 
572),  grown  in  an  Irish  garden  and  at 
Kendal  by  the  Hon.  Mrs.  Cropper.  I  know 
that  there  are,  in  EngUsh  gardens,  other 
clumps  which  are  equally  fine.  I  could 
never  get  them,  however,  and  I  fear  I 
shall  die  before  possessing  the  pure  white 
form.  The  late  Leichthn  introduced  some 
forty  years  ago  from  the  Montenegro 
mountains  a  form  of  Martagon  with  dark 
brown  and  shining  flowers,  which  is  called 
dalmaticum  by  Visiani  and  which  is  seldom 
seen  in  gardens  now. 

At  the  end  of  June,  1904,  I  had  the 
brilliant  sight  of  an  immense  field  of 
Liliiun  camioUcum,  the  beautiful  red 
Martagon  of  the  South  Austrian  .^Ips.  I 
was  climbing  the  Monte  Sunimano  {where 
war  has  since  brought  distress  and  ruin), 
and  after  ha\ing  traversed  fields  of  sky 
blue  Lithospermum  graminifoUum  mixed  with 
Linum  viscosum  and  Serapias  longipetala,  I  came  to 
the  top,  where  an  ideal  view  shewed  us  to  be  near 
the  boundary  of  Austria  and  the  gold-coloured 
Dolomites.  Then,  suddenly,  we  came  upon  a 
pasture  as  red  as  the  fields  of  Poppies  in  England. 
What  is  it  ?  said  I  to  my  guide.  He  did  not  know, 
but  when  we  came  to  it  it  proved  to  be  a  field  of 
Lilium  camiolicum.  It  grows  in  a  rich  meadow 
with  a  north  aspect,  the  soil  being  deep  in 
humus. 

Last  year,  at  the  end  of  May  and  beginning  of 
June,  I  was  rambling  in  the  Maritime  Alps  and 
found,  between  the  stones  of  the  Var  Valley,  nice 
patches  of  Lilium  pomponium,  that  marvellous 
red  Martagon  which  is  the  brightest  coloured  of 
all  Lilies,  brilliant  as  are  Lilium  chalcedonicum 
and  L.  tenuifolium.  I  had  never  before  seen 
Lilium  pomponium  in  its  wild  state.     I  had  got 


it,  of  course,  and  cultivated  it  fairly  well,  but 
the  sight  of  these  masses  of  crimson  spikes  adorning 
the  dark,  stony  and  barren  slopes  and  overhanging 
the  railroad  seemed  to  me  to  be  a  picture  of  the 
greatest    beauty.        The    graceful,    slender    stalk 


A    SPIKE    OF    LILIUM    MARTAGON   DALM.\TICUM. 


(30  to  50  centimetres  high)  bears  three  to  five 
Martagon  flowers  of  the  deepest  vermilion — 
almost  as  deep  as  L.  chalcedonicum,  which  it  so 
greatly  resembles — glowing  under  the  powerful 
and  hot  sunlight  of  the  Maritime  Alps.  To  my  great 
surprise,  the  bulbs  were  sunk  in  rocky  crevices 
or  among  broken  stones,  and  very  hard  to  get. 
We  could  get  nothing  but  the  young  ones,  as 
the  oldest  were  too  deep  in  the  rocks,  seldom  in 
any  soil — and  how  diflicult  the  flowers  are  to  dry 
for  the  herbarium  ! 

I  returned  last  summer  in  the  month  of  July, 
hoping  that  I  could  take  some  of  these  bulbs 
from  the  ground  when  at  rest.  But  alas  !  it  is  im- 
practicable in  such  stony  ground  to  go  deep  enough 
to  secure  them.  They  are  impossible  to  reach. 
Later  on,  however,  in  the  Tinee  Valley,  and  also 
in  the  Roya  Valley,  I  came  upon  them  in  grassy 
slopes,  where  it  is  easier  to  collect  them.     In  that 


habitat,  always  on  very  steep  slopes  in  half  shade, 
they  grow  in  light  soil,  but  they  are  very  deep 
there  too.  Sometimes  the  understalk  is  horizontal, 
like  a  stolon  :  in  this  case  it  makes  from  three 
to  six  Uttle  bulbs  one  after  another  along  the  stalk, 
and  each  of  these  bulbs  gives  a  Uttle  plant.  It  is 
not  quite  the  same  method  of  increase  that  we 
find  with  some  North  ."American  Lilies  (see  in  Dr. 
Wallace's  "Notes  of  Lilies,"  pages  iio-iii), 
for  they  are,  I  think,  bulbils  of  the  same  nature 
as  those  we  find  on  LiUum  bulbiferum  and  L. 
tigrinum  :  only  that  the  bulbils,  instead  of  being 
along  the  stalk  are,  in  this  case,  in  the  soil  and 
only  on  the  under  part  of  the  stalk. 

Lilium  pomponium  is  the  glory  of  the  vegetation 
of  the  Maritime  Alps.  It  seems  to  me  to  be  not 
so  rare  as  is  commonly  supposed,  and  I  know  more 
than  twelve  stations  in  the  country.  Above  Mentone 
it  covers  some  extensive  meadows,  and  in  the 
Vallon  de  Cairos  a  friend  of  mine  found  fields  of 
it.  It  is,  of  course,  the  Western  form  of  Lihum 
carniolicum  and  the  famous  and  still  more  violently 
coloured  Lilium  chalcedonicum  is  the  Eastern 
form  of  both.  The  first  goes  from  North  Italy 
to  Macedonia  on  the  Monte  Orbeli,  and  chalce- 
donicum is  the  Grecian  species.  There  is  an  inter- 
mediate one  called  Lilium  Heldreichii  by  Freyn, 
which  grows  in  the  Attic  Mountains. 

At  last  Chelsea  Show  Messrs.  Wallace  exhibited 
a  lot  of  Lilium  tenuifoUum  from  Siberia,  which 
was  one  of  the  most  brilliant  things  in  a  fine 
collection.  It  is  a  dwarf  plant — I  think  the  dwarfest 
of  all  LiUes — and  has  very  narrow  leaves  ;  the 
flowers  are  of  the  deepest  imaginable  crimson. 
I  grew  it  forty  years  ago,  but  lost  it  more  than 
twenty  years  ago,  as  it  is  difficult  to  keep  here. 
The  three  others  are  easier  here,  and,  some  fifteen 
years  ago,  LiUum  chalcedonicum  adorned  numerous 
gardens  in  our  Jura  country.  Now  it  is  very 
seldom  seen. 

In  the  Pwenees  Lilium  Martagon  is  common,  but 
here  and  there,  especially  on  the  Spanish  side, 
one  may  find,  in  very  shady  places,  the  Yellow 
Martagon,  Lilium  pyrenaicum.  It  is  distinguished 
from  the  Common  Martagon  by  its  leaves  being 
distributed  along  the  stalk — not  in  whorls  as  they 
are  in  the  Common  Martagon — and  by  its  yellpw 
flowers  with  red  anthers.  The  plant  has  been  sent 
out  in  such  quantities  by  the  plant  merchants 
there  that  it  is  now  rare  in  the  High  Pyrenees 
district.  You  can  see  it  in  some  inaccessible  rock 
walls,  near  Bagneres-de-Bigorre,  always  facing 
north,  and  in  certain  damp  woods.  Its  culture  is 
very  easy  ;  it  likes  just  such  a  shady  corner  in 
the  garden  as  does  the  Martagon. 

Floraire,  Geneva.  Henrv  Correvon. 


SPRAY  FLUIDS  AND 
SPRAYING 

spray  early,  spray  thoroughly,  but  spray 
with  forethought  and  judgment. 

THERE  are  many  ways  in  which  spraying 
may  bo  rendered  ineffective  and  useless, 
and  there  are  circumstances  that  may 
render  spraying  unnecessary  and  therefore 
extravagant,  the  whole  pith  of  the  subject 
being  that  spraying  is  not  a  matter  of  conforming 
to  charts,  programmes  and  cut  and  dried  rules,  but 
must  be  made  a  matter  of  careful  study  and 
practical  judgment. 

During  the  early  part  of  the  dormant  winter 
period  the  spraying  with  caustic  wash  of  old  trees 
that  are  choked  with  lichens  and  alga;  is  an  urgent 
necessity,  but  that  does  not  mean  that  because 
it  is  December  or  January  we  should  spray  healthy, 


658 


THE     GARDEN. 


[December  30,  1922. 


clean  younc:  trees  with  caustic  soda,  nor  e\'en  that 
it  must  be  annually  used  on  old  trees.  It  is 
probable  that  when  a  tree  has  become  badly 
smothered  with  moss  or  slime,  one  season's  spraying 
will  be  insufficient  thoroughly  to  cleanse  the  whole 
of  its  trunk  and  limbs,  and  a  second  year's  spraying 
is  then  necessary.  When,  however,  the  tree  is 
cleaned,  caustic  soda  has  fulfilled  its  mission,  and 
its  use  on  clean  trees  is  superfluous.  It  is  erroneous 
to  suppose  that  the  soda  kills  the  eggs  of  insect 
pests.  ^Vhat  it  does  do  is  to  burn  away  the  moss 
and  slime  that  afford  harbour  in  which  the  eggs 
may  pass  the  winter.  There  are  few,  if  any, 
sprays  which  may  be  safely  used  on  living  trees 
that  will  kill  the  eggs  of  destructive  insects.  To 
combat  the  insect  pests  we  must  either  use  spravs 
that  will  kill  by  contact  or  that  will  make  the 
feeding  ground  of  the  pests  so  obnoxious  that  the 
pests  are  held  at  bay.  Therefore  most  insecticides 
are  for  spring,  summer  or  autumn  use,  the  last 
named  being  used  with  the  object  of  preventing 
female  moths  and  flies  from  laying  their  eggs  where 
they  would  be  detrimental. 

Caustic  soda  is  by  no  means  either  pleasant  or 
easy  to  use.  Both  the  dry  powder  and  the  fluid 
will  burn  the  skin  if  allowed  to  come  in  direct  con- 
tact with  it,  and  the  operator  should  have  his 
face  thickly  smeared  with  vaseline,  and  should  wear 
leather  gloves.  Old  clothes  or  overalls  are  an 
absolute  necessity,  and  one  should  take  care  to 
work  with  one's  back  to  the  wind,  but,  of  course,  a 
very  windy  day  should  not,  in  any  case,  be  chosen 
for  spraying. 

Burgundy  mixture,  which  is  a  combination  of 
copper  sulphate  and  soda,  is  effective  as  a  fungicide 
as  well  as  an  eradicator  of  lichen  and  alg«,  and 
either  this  or  the  familiar  and  well  tried  Bordeaux 
mixture  should  be  used  during  the  leafless  period, 
w^here  such  fungoid  pests  as  apple  or  pear  scab, 
brown  rot,  and  even  canker  have  taken  a  hold.  For 
such  pests  it  is  highly  probable  that  spraying  will  be 
necessary  for  two  or  even  three  successive  seasons, 
but  the  obvious  deciding  factor  should  be  whether 
the  trees  and  their  crops  the  season  after  spraying 
are  completely  or  only  partially  freed  from  the 
pest.  The  task  of  dealing  with  aphides  is  not  only 
a  summer  operation,  but  an  all  the  year  round  task. 
Millions  of  eggs  nestle  in  the  cracks  and  chinks 
of  trees,  bushes  and  plants,  and  if  by  burning 
away  their  protective  lichen,  etc.,  we  can  shift 
the  eggs,  that  is  an  accomplishment  worth  the 
effort. 

In  January,  or  at  the  latest  February,  lime- 
sulphur  may  be  used,  and  relied  upon  materially 
to  reduce  the  number  of  aphides  that  hatch  out. 
Exactly  what  the  action  of  hme-sulphur  is  may  be 
ajmatter  of  conjecture  rather  than  certainty,  but 
it^is  very  probable  that  by  sealing  over  the  eggs, 
necessary  air  is  excluded,  or  that  the  air  which  does 
enter  the  egg  is  impregnated  with  sulphurous 
vapour  that  renders  the  life-germ  within  too  weak  to 
hatch  out.  A  great  deal  of  confusion  of  ideas  exists 
in  regard  to  lime-sulphur  spray,  probably  due  to 
the  frequency  with  which  sulphur  is  recommended 
as  an  antidote  to  mildew  on  Roses,  Vines,  etc.  I 
have  heard  a  traveller  for  a  firm  of  horticultural 
sundriesmen  announce  with  ready  confidence  that 
lime-sulphur  will  do  as  much  as  any  spray  toward 
ridding  trees  of  fungoid  diseases.  Used  in  spring 
it  may  be  and  undoubtedly  is  very  effective  in  this 
direction,  but  I  have  not  seen  anything  to  justify 
placing  lime-sulphur  in  the  place  of  Bordeaux 
mixture  for  winter  use.  It  has  not  the  power  of 
the  latter,  but  for  that  very  reason  it  may  be 
used  during  the  leafy  period  when  Bordeaux  would 
ruin  the  foliage.  One  great  advantage  about 
using  lime  sulphur  as  a  deterrent  to  the  hatching 
of  aphides  quite  early  in  the  New  Year  is  that  when 
trees  are  thus  treated  birds  do  not  damage  the  fruit 
buds.      That  is  a  phase  of  spraying  which  is  not 


frequently  dealt  with,  but  it  means  a  great  deal  to 
the  owners  of  fruit  trees,  especially  in  districts 
surrounded  by  woods  and  fields.  With  these  two 
main  facts  regarding  lime-sulphur  in  view — firstly 
its  efficacy  against  aphides,  and  secondly  its  pre- 
servation of  fruit  buds  from  damage  by  birds — there 
would  seem  to  be  a  very  good  ground  for  advocat- 
ing that  this  spray  should  be  used  regularly  and 
liberally,  even  to  the  extent  of  spraying  healthy 
as  well  as  unhealthy  trees  and  also  bush  fruits  ; 
but,  to  get  the  full  benefits,  the  application  should 
be  quite  early  in  the  New  Year,  not  held  over  until 
mid-spring  as  is  so  frequently  advised.  We 
h.ive  quite  other  objects  in  view  and  other  pests  and 


diseases  to  combat  at  that  season  of  the  year.  So 
far  as  lime-sulphur  is  concerned  it  may  be  applied 
to  small  trees  and  bushes  by  means  of  a  small  hand 
sprayer  or  a  good  fine-nozzled  syringe,  but  caustic 
washes  call  into  requisition  well  constructed  spraying 
machines  fitted  with  long  lances,  enabling  the 
operator  to  stand  a  good  distance  from  the  jet. 
Look  well  to  the  spraying  machines,  and  see  that 
pumps,  washers  and  nozzles  are  aU  in  good 
order.  Never  put  the  sprayer  away  after  using 
caustic  wash  without  thoroughly  cleansing 
the  machine.  Carelessness  in  this  detail  may 
soon  cause  the  wastage  of  shillings  or  pounds 
in  repairs.  A.  J.   Macself. 


SOME 


SHRUBS     OF     A     WINTER 
GARDEN 


THOUGH  my  enthusiasm  for  the  winter 
garden  is  not  warm,  being  largely 
measured  by  the  degrees  of  the  ther- 
mometer, one  is  grateful  to  those  rare 
occasions  which  afford  a  ray  of  bright 
colour,  a  whiff  of  fragrance  or  some  brave  promise 
vouchsafed  by  a  breaking  bud. 

It  is,  alter  all,  rather  a  survival  of  autumn 
than  a  note  of  winter  that  induces  me  to  open 
this  subject.  Seen  in  the  low  sun  of  a  December 
day,  what  is  finer  than  a  good  specimen  of  Bcrberis 
vulgaris  ?  With  its  pendent  bunches  of  fruit  fired 
to  a  dazzUng  scarlet  by  a  touch  of  frost,  this  fine 
old  Barberry  is  a  spec'acle  to  be  remembered. 
About  8ft.  high  and  nearly  as  much  through, 
the  gracefully  htmg  branches  are  ladeu  with  their 
brilliant  crop,  a  crop  that  is  usually  untouched 
by  birds,  save  in  times  of  great  severity,  and  one 
that  retains  its  splendour  of  colouring  from  the 
time  the  last  golden  leaves  are  shed  until  signs 
of  the  lengthening  day  are  unmistakable  in  the 
western  skv.     We  cannot   afford  to  overlook  the 


merits  of  this  none  too  familiar  old  shrub,  for 
they  are  unique.  Here,  at  any  rate,  it  is  a  winter- 
fruiting  species  without  rival,  and  the  type  i' 
still,  I  think,  superior  to  its  varieties. 

Among  the  earlier  Daphnes,  D.  Mezereum  is 
a  splendid  thing  where  it  does  well,  its  rich  purple 
or  the  ivory  white  of  the  variety  alba  being  un- 
spoiled by  the  worst  the  weather  can  do  ;  but 
although  the  cottagers  hard-by  can  grow  this 
species  to  perfection  in  the  old  soil  of  their  little 
plots,  there  is  something  about  our  woodland 
loam  that  it  does  not  like,  repeated  plantings 
languishing  without  an  efforL  However,  there 
is  some  consolation  in  the  fact  that  we  can  satisfy 
D.  Blagayana,  and  as  I  write  (December  12) 
its  big  buds  are  bulging  with  promise.  Daphne 
pontica  is  one  of  the  good  old  things,  and  its 
lily-like  fragrance,  so  generously  disseminated 
in  the  garden  air  of  the  early  year,  is  alone  enough 
to  claim  for  it  a  place.  Though  much  like  D. 
Laureola  (Spurge  Laurel),  the  tubular  flowers 
of  pontica  are  a  better  yellow,  their  perfume  can 


LONG    AND    ELEGANT    BRONZY    LEAVES    AND    CRIMSON    FRUITS    OF    COTONEASTER 

S.-iLICIFOLI.A 


December  30,  1922.] 

easily  rival  that  of  D.  Blagayana,  or  the  much 
later  D.  Cneorum,  and  the  shrub  is  one  that  will 
do  in  a  shady  place  or  under  the  drip  ot  trees. 
D.  pontica  usually  flowers  after  the  Spurge  Laurel, 
but  it  is  often  in  full  bloom  by  mid-Februar>-. 
To-day  the  peculiar  green  of  its  foliage  is  very 
attractive  against  the  prevaiUng  brown  of  the 
woodland  floor. 

Berberis  Aquifolium  (Mahonia)  can  always  be  re- 
lied upon  to  give  colour  when  the  first  Snowdrops 
are  appearing  and  the  buds  are 
already  breaking  ;  but  not  many 
forms  of  this  species  make  me 
very  enthusiastic.  Their  flowers 
are  welcome  enough  in  mid-winter, 
but  they  are  produced  in  a  bunchy 
manner,  the  clusters  seem  to  lack 
form  and  appear  at  a  time  when 
the  foliage  is  apt  to  look  shabby 
and  mean.  Of  B.  nepalensis  I  cannot 
speak  from  experience,  for  the  speci- 
men we  have  has  not  yet  over- 
looked the  root  disturbance  to 
which  it  was  subjected'  three  years 
ago,  an  interference  to  which  all 
members  of  this  clan  seem  pecuUarly 
sensitive.  B.  Bealei,  howevr,  made 
an  exceptionally  good  -  tempered 
recovery  after  planting,  and  is  now 
a  fine  bush  some  4it.  or  more  in 
height,  growing  vigorously  and  flower- 
ing regularly  every  January.  This 
species  is  copiously  furnished  with 
very  large,  homy  leaves  of  a  pleasing 
shade  of  green,  and  the  many  blos- 
soms, bright  yellow  and  scented  like 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  are  arranged  in 
a  bold  and  elegant  cockade  at  the 
tip  of  every  leading  branch.  Though 
somewhat  susceptible  to  severe  frost 
in  the  bud  stage,  these  blossoms 
appear  to  be  perfectly  hardy,  and 
£u-e  followed  by  plum-coloured  fruits 
which  are  soon  discovered  by  the 
blackbirds. 

Beneath  deciduous  trees,  thinly 
disposed,  our  Rhododendrons  usuallv  escape 
their  worst  enemy  —  white  frost  ^  and  also 
derive  considerable  shelter  from  wind.  Among 
them  R.  nobleanum  in  rose-crimson  is  one  of 
the  first  to  flower,  but  it  does  not  often  precede 
the  excellent  R.  prsecox,  ol  which  a  dozen 
plants  or  so  form  an  irregular  group  on  the 
woodland  bank.  The  delicately  tinted  flowers 
of  this  charming  hybrid  are  extraordinarily  hardy, 
and  the  rich,  glossy,  myrtle-green  fohage  singularly 
attractive.  R.  Silberrhad,  which  I  first  saw  one 
early  February  day  in  Mr.  E.  C.  Buxton's  beautiful 
garden,  where  it  grows  to  perfection,  is  also  one 
of  the  forerunners  of  its  race,  its  buds  beginning 
to  swell  soon  after  Christmas.  The  medium- 
sized  trusses  of  this  splendid  variety  are  produced 
with  great  liberality,  the  pretty,  crimped  blossoms 
being  a  lovely  silver  pink,  and  the  bushes  are  in 
bloom  for  many  weeks.  This  season  R.  Silberrhad 
has  been  rather  marred  by  being  thrown  out  of 
its  reckoning  early  in  the  autumn  of  last  year, 
when  many  flowers  opened  in  response  to  the 
rain  which  followed  that  baking  summer.  The 
bushes  now,  however,  have  sulBciently  settled 
down  to  promise  a  fair  shew  of  colour  presently, 
closely  to  be  followed  by  the  superb  crimson- 
Ecarlet  R.  Jacksoni,  which  is  still  one  oi  the 
most  charming  and  reliable  of  the  early  ones, 
the  buds  often  shewing  their  ruby  tips  in  Feb- 
ruary here  (North  Wales). 

Most  of  the  conifers,  great  and  small,  are  seen 
to  fullest  advantage  in  winter,  and  that  not  only 
because  they  now  have  the  field  so  much  more 
to  themselves.     I  can  do  no  more  here,  however. 


THE     GARDEN. 

than  refer  to  one  little  grouping  which  occupies 
an  elevated  position  on  grass  above  some  rock 
walls.  It  consists  only  of  three  shrubs,  Juniperus 
prostrata  spreading  over  a  lichened  boulder, 
by  which  stands  the  dwarf  and  golden  form  of 
the  Scots  Pine,  while,  a  Uttle  detached  from  these 
is  a  small  upright  specimen  of  the  common  Juniper 
of  the  Scottish  hills.  The  rich  green,  the  gold 
and  the  blue-grey  of  this  trio  are  never  quite  so 
good  as  thev  arc  at  this  season,  and  the  informality 


659 

hedgerow  and  hillside  in  the  locality,  other 
berrying  plants  should  carry  their  crop  un- 
usually far. 

Viburnum  rhytidophyllum  is  yet  another  shrub 
that  will  not  escape  attention  in  a  winter  garden, 
its  large,  deeply  veined,  velvety  leafage  being 
exceedingly  handsome  and  weather-proof.  Though 
often  despised  because  it  has  been  overdone  and 
is  so  frequently  ill-treated,  the  Common  Portugal 
Laurel    (Prunus    lusitanica)     is    a    goodly     thing 


MOST    WELCOME    IN    WINTER    DAYS,    THE    MEZEREON,    DAPHNE    MEZEREUM. 


of  the  group  gives  some  character  to  a  portion  of 
a  turfed  terrace  of  very  poor  soil  which  might 
otherwise  have  appeared  flat  and  uninteresting. 
As  good  fortune  would  have  it,  some  plants  of 
Gentiana  acaulis,  which  happen  to  be  by  the  little 
Scots  Pine,  have  now  several  flowers  fully  expanded, 
the  deep  blue  and  the  gold  being  a  particularly 
telling  contrast — as  witness  the  Gorse  and  wild 
Hyacinths  on  the  hillsides  in  May. 

It  is  in  winter  that  one  can  perhaps  most  fully 
appreciate  the  glossy,  bronzy  green  and  ruddy 
stems  of  Cotoneaster  rugosa  var.  Henryana  and  C. 
sahcifoha,  their  long  and  elegant  bronzy  leaves 
seeming  too  delicate  for  so  rough  a  world,  are  the 
more  valued  in  consequence  ;  but  of  the  winter- 
fruiting  Cotoneasters  none  can  equal  the  evergreen 
C.  pannosa.  The  grey-green,  downy  foliage, 
ruddy  stems  and  long,  gracefully  arched,  whip- 
like branches  of  this  fine  species  are  admirable  at 
all  seasons.  It  is,  however,  from  late  autumn 
throughout  the  winter  when  those  branches  are 
copiously  hung  with  clusters  of  brilliant  crimson 
fruits,  that  C.  pannosa  excels  as  one  of  the  hand- 
somest species  of  its  attractive  race.  Only  in 
the  severest  weather  do  birds  touch  the  berries 
in  this  garden,  and  that  much  may  also  be  said 
of  those  of  C.  Francheti,  also  an  evergreen  with  a 
foliage  much  like  that  of  the  foregoing ;  but 
having  compared  many  specimens  of  these  two 
shrubs,  there  is  no  question  as  to  which  is  the 
more  beautiful,  C.  Francheti  appearing  angular  and 
coarse  beside  the  refinement  and  elegance  of 
C.  pannosa.  As  there  is  such  an  extraordinary 
abundance   of   Holly  berries   this  season   on  every 


to  look  upon  at  this  season,  affording  a'shade  of 
deep  green  which  is  uncommon  and  which  seems 
to  blend  peculiarly  well  with  the  purple  stems. 
Left  to  grow  naturally  the  Portugal  Laurel  is 
of  no  mean  worth  as  a  flowering  tree.  The  most 
cheerful  of  the  Broom  family  to-day  is  the  hardy 
Genista  monspessulanus,  which  might  easily  be 
mistaken  for  Cytisus  racemosus  (Genista  fragrans). 
G.  monspessulanus  (sometimes  hsted  as  G. 
candicans)  is  almost  an  all  the  year  round  blossomer, 
and  even  during  the  short  winter  period  when 
there  will  be  no  more  than  a  sprinkling  of  blossoms, 
it  takes  advantage  of  every  mild  interlude,  putting 
out  fresh  shoots  and  regarnishing  its  soft,  delightful 
green  in  readiness  for  the  flood  of  yellow  with  which 
it  will  be  covered  in  spring.  The  afore-mentioned 
G.  fragrans,  planted  out  on  a  warm  shaly  bank 
some  two  or  three  years  ago,  has  thus  far  proved 
hardy  enough  to  withstand  considerable  frost. 
The  trouble  with  this  pretty  thing,  however,  is 
that  it  mistakes  a  few  mild  winter  days  for  the 
coming  of  spring  and  immediately  hastens  to  put 
forth  its  delicate  racemes  of  flow'er-buds,  which 
are  consequently  liable  to  be  nipped.  Still,  the 
vitality  and  optimism  of  this  plant  are  so  abound- 
ing that  it  takes  httle  heed  of  these  temporary 
checks. 

The  Caucasian  iorm  of  G.  tinctoria,  which  grows 
to  about  4ft.,  is  another  member  of  this  race 
which  is  apt  to  misunderstand  our  climate.  We 
have,  for  example,  a  specimen  of  this  Broom 
now  bearing  a  number  of  fine  heads  of  bloom, 
which,  with  average  weather,  will  be  in  flower 
at  Christmas  and  after.  J.  W. 


660 


THE     GARDEN. 


[December  30,  1922. 


NOTES    ON    TRAPPING    VERMIN 

A  few  hints  on  simple  and  inexpensive  means  of  destroying  pests  which  injure 

and  devour  crops. 


NO  garden  is  free  from  the  unwelcome 
attention  of  sucli  pests  as  rats,  mice, 
moles  and  voles,  and  there  are  often 
enquiries  in  the  gardening  Press  for 
information  as  to  their  destruction. 
There  is  nothing  surprising  in  this  when  one 
consider?  the  knowledge  and  skill  required  to 
capture  the  more  cunning  of  them.  The  successful 
trapper  must  be  a  keen  observer  of  the  habits  of 
wild  nature,  and  must  possess  an  intimate  know- 
ledge of  their  ways.  A  few  hints  on  simple  and 
certain  methods  may  be  welcome  to  many  who 
have  suffered  loss  and  damage  by  their  ravages. 
To  most  amateurs  the  capture  of  the  mole  presents 
the  greatest  difficulty,  and  without  skilled  help 
or  advice  it  is  certainly  difficult  to  trap  it  in 
the  loose  soil  of  a  garden.  The  common  iron 
trap  is'' generally  used,  and  preference  should 
be  given  to  one  made  of  wrought  -  iron.  The 
cast-iron  variety  is  too  clumsy.  The  mole  usually 
has  its  retreat  in  a  dry  hedge-bank,  shrubbery 
or  among  the  roots  of  large  trees,  and  between 
these  places  and  its  workings  or  feeding  ground 
the  main  run  must  be  sought  for.  For  this  nothing 
is  better  than  a  small  pointed  iron  rod  with  a  good 
handle — an  enlarged  iron  skewer,  in  fact.  By 
pushing  this  into  the  ground  at  very  short  intervals 
the  run  will  be  found  by  the  point  dropping  in 
easily.  If  the  run  is  under  a  grass  path  and  is 
an  old  one,  a  slight  depression  mil  be  seen  above 
it.  The  main  runs  are  used  for  years  and,  once 
found,  should  be  remembered.  A  neat  hole 
should  be  dug  with  a  trowel  just  large  enough 
to  take  the  trap.  It  must  be  fitted  centrally 
so  that  the  mole  does  not  come  in  contact  with 
the  trap  until  it  reaches  the  trigger.  Place  two 
thin  pieces  of  closely  cropped  turf,  grass  side 
downwards,  on  the  jaws  of  the  trap  and  cover  all 
with  grass  or  leaves  to  exclude  light. 

Another  good  trap,  not  generally  known,  is  the 
pitfall.  It  may  be  used  in  the  main  runs  with 
great  advantage,  and  is  about  the  only  one  of  much 
use  in  soft  earth.  Deep  earthenware  pickle  jars 
or  tins  may  be  used.  I  prefer  deep,  narrow 
biscuit  tins  if  they  are  to  be  had.  The  receptacle 
used  should  be  sunk  until  its  upper  edge  is  exactly 
on  a  level  with  the  bottom  of  the  run,  and  this 
must  be  made  quite  smooth  to  the  edge.  Pieces 
01  slate  or  tile  are  now  laid  on  the  sides,  leaving  an 


WHERE    TO    SET    A    BREAK-BACK    TRAP 


aperture  not  less  than  the  width  of  the  run.  The 
sides  of  the  run  must  be  built  up  with  brick  or 
pieces  of  wood  and  the  whole  covered  with  a  slate 
or  flat  stone  to  keep  out  all  light.  The 
pitfall  is  now  complete  and  may  be 
examined  once  a  day.  Do  not  place  this 
trap  near  fresh  workings  or  the  mole 
will  fill  it  with  earth  pushed  along  the 
run.  When  I  took  charge  of  these 
gardens  several  years  ago  the  place 
was  infested  with  moles.  By  a  free  use 
of  this  trap  in  the  main  runs  their  numbers 
were  quiclUy  reduced,  and  in  two  or 
three  years  they  disappeared  altogether, 
and  the  main  runs  went  out  of  use  and 
gradually  filled  up.  This  proves  the 
trap  to  be  well  worth  the  trouble  taken 
in  making  it.  It  is  a  pity  one  has  to 
destroy  the  creature,  for  in  its  proper 
sphere  it  does  an  immense  amount  of 
good  by  destroying  vast  numbers  of 
injurious  larvre  underground.  '  There  are 
some  who  would  like  to  see  it  banished 
from  their  gardens  without  destroying 
it,  and  I  would  advise  them  to  open 
main  runs  and  workings  and  place  a 
handful  of  Alphol  or  Vaporite  in  them 
and  replace  the  soil.  This  will  be  found 
a  good  preventive,  and  must  be  repeated  when- 
ever the  mole  makes  a  fresh  attempt. 

The  long-tailed  field  mouse  (Mus  sylvaticus) 
is  a  serious  pest  in  most  gardens,  working  sad 
havoc  with  sprouting  Beans  and  Peas,  eating  ripe 
Grapes  in  the  vinery  and  digging  up  Crocus  bulbs. 
Nothing  is  safe  from  its  ravages,  up  or  down,  for 
it  can  climb  like  a  squirrel  and  dig  well  too.  For  its 
destruction  I  would  like  to  make  more  widely 
known  a  trap  which  is  at  once  simple,  certain  and 
humane.  To  make  this  trap  two  bricks  "and  a 
piece  of  small,  stiff  wire  are  required.  I  use  19- 
gauge  galvanised  wire,  which  does  well.  Cut 
off  a  piece  of  wire  4^ins.  in  length  and  bend  the 
ends  into  open  curves  like  an  S  with  a  long,  straight 
shank,  making  it  when  finished  exactly  sins,  in 
length.  Now  take  some  peas  which  have  been 
soaked  in  water  for  one  or  two  days  or,  better 
still,  sprouted  in  damp  moss,  and  thread  four  or 
five  on  to  the  straight  shank  of  the  wire.  If  the 
ends  are  sharp  and  nicely  curved,  the  peas  will  go 
on  without  breaking.  This 
is  a  deadly  bait  for 
these  mice,  and  in 
autumn  and  winter  will 
often  last  a  fortnight  or 
more  without  being 
renewed.  Now  place  one 
brick  on  edge  and  make 
the  soil  in  front ,  firm 
and  level,  then  lay  the 
other  brick  in  front  of 
and  fitting  close  up  to 
the  upright  one,  raise  it 
on  its  edge  away  from 
the  upright,  and  place 
one  end  of  the  baited 
wire  in  the  centre  and 
ijins.  from  its  upper 
edge  and  the  other  end 
Jin.  from  the  lower  edge 
of  the  upright  brick. 
This  is  the  point  of 
lightest  balance  if  the  wire 
is  the  correct  length,  and 
the    lightest    pull    on    the 


bait  will  bring  it  down.  Tlie  larger  slugs  are  often 
victims.  The  bricks  used  must  be  fairly  smooth 
ones.  If  set  against  a  wall  only  one  brick  is  used, 
but  a  smooth  place  must  be  selected.  Another 
excellent  trap  is  the  break-back,  and  the  pattern 
with  the  small  trigger  should  be  chosen,  not  that 
which  has  the  front  half  cut  through  to  form  a 
trigger.  These  traps  can  be  used  with  or  without 
bait.     Place   the   trigger  end   against    a   wall   and 


THE    BRICK    TRAP    AND    ITS    VICTIMS. 

place  a  tile  or  length  of  board  on  either  side  to 
form  a  V  with  a  space  between  the  ends  and  the 
wall  to  aUow'  the  mice  to  pass  on  to  the  trap. 
When  rows  of  Beans  or  Peas  are  attacked  use  a 
trap  in  the  same  way  at  each  end,  the  V  pointing 
inwards  and  the  trigger  end  of  the  trap  across  the 
small  space  left  at  the  apex.  No  bait  is  needed 
and  the  marauders  are  soon  caught.  To  prevent 
the  loss  of  the  traps  I  drill  a  small  hole  near  one 
of  the  rear  corners  and  secure  to  a  small  stake 
with  string. 

The  field  vole  or  short-tailed  field  mouse 
(Microtus  agrestis)  is  a  common  pest,  and  in  some 
seasons  will  attack  growing  crops  of  Beet  and 
Carrots,  and  work  havoc  among  Cauliflowers 
and  winter  Broccoli  when  lifted  and  stored  in 
sheds.  It  will  eat  almost  anything  in  the  way  of 
fruit,  nuts,  seeds,  grass,  and  root  and  stem  vege- 
tables. In  grass  land  they  are  easily  caught  in 
pitfalls  dug  across  their  runs  Holes  about  iSins. 
or  so  in  depth,  with  the  bottoms  much  wider 
than  the  tops,  are  made,  as  the  voles  are  unable 
to  climb  up  the  inward  sloping  sides.  When 
growing  crops  are  attacked,  place  boards  on  edge  on 
that  side  of  the  plot  where  they  enter.  Short 
lengths  are  best,  with  ijin.  spaces  between  the 
ends  and  a  break-back  trap  set  with  its  trigger 
across  the  opening.  Some  can  be  driven  into  the 
traps  by  walking  slowly  through  the  crops  towards 
them.  Examine  the  traps  often  through  the 
day  and  reset  where  necessary  and  their  ravages 
will  soon  cease.  If  the  garden  is  near  a  stream 
or  pond,  the  water  vole  is  often  very  destructive, 
especially  in  the  winter.  These  may  be  taken  in 
the  same  way,  but  the  stronger  break-back  made 
for  the  rat  is  necessary.  The  wire  cage  traps 
baited  with  Apples  are  also  good.  A  small-bore 
shot-gun  is  useful  for  shooting  them  at  the  water's 
edge. 

Of  that  offensive  and  voracious  pest,  the  rat, 
I  much  regret  to  say  there  is  no  simple  way  of 
taking  it  It  is  far  too  cunning  for  that  and 
is  about  the  worst  four-footed  pest  we  have, 
doing  damage  of  every  sort — nothing  coming 
amiss  to  its  appetite.  It  takes  toll  of  every- 
thing,   from    ducks    to    green    peas,    and   acts   as 


December  30,  1922.] 


THE     GARDEN. 


661 


scavenger  besides.  I  am  no  advocate  of  steel 
traps  and  poisons  on  account  of  their  cruelty  and 
danger  to  friend  and  foe  alike,  but  against  such 
a  cunning  and  destructive  pest  as  the  rat  one 
feels  entitled  to  use  any  and  every  means,  whether 
fair  or  foul,  to  destroy  it.  A  good  substitute 
for  poison  is  to  feed  with  meal  in  a  dry  place  for 
a  few  nights  and,  when  it  is  taken  freely,  mix  a 
quantity  of  plaster  of  Paris  mth  the  meal  and 
place  saucers  of  water  near.  It  is  well  to  wear 
leather  gloves  when  setting  any  kind  of  trap,  as 
the  rat's  sense  of  smell  is  very  keen.     Wire  traps 


should  have  the  bottom  wires  hghtly  covered 
with  soil,  as  the  rat  will  rarely  tread  on  bare 
wires  or  metal  of  any  kind.  A  plank  leant  against 
a  wall  with  two  steel  traps,  jaws  pointing  out- 
wards, is  often  successful.  When  rats  change 
their  quarters  they  generally  do  it  on  moonlight 
nights,  and  traps  should  be  freely  set  on  these 
nights,  as  rats  are  more  easily  caught  on  strange 
ground.  A  good  sharp  terrier  is  invaluable,  and 
his  work  may  be  assisted  by  a  gun  and  ferrets. 
Lmgfield.  H.  C.  Wood. 

[To  be  continued.) 


CORRESPONDENCE 


STRAWBERRIES     AND     ASPARAGUS. 

■pjESPITE  the  long  and  severe  drought  of  last 
summer,  we  managed  here  to  get  our  new 
Strawberry-bed,  from  runners  laid  into  small 
pots,  finished  the  first  week  of  August.  Our  date 
in  average  seasons  has  been  the  last  week  of 
July.  The  runners  are  always  taken  from  a  small 
separate  bed  of  one  year  old  maiden  plants,  i.e., 
which  have  not  been  allowed  to  fruit.  This  makes 
all  the  difference  in  the  world  to  the  strength  of 
the  ensuing  plants.  They  are  set  out  only  ift. 
apart  each  way,  which  gives  room  enough  for  the 
first  year's  fruiting.  If  we  keep  them  a  second 
year,  we  cut  out  every  other  plant  with  a  sharp 
spade.  But  if  labour  and  fresh  gromid  are  avail- 
able, we  grow  all  our  Strawberries  as  amiuals 
only  :  the  crop  is  heavy  enough  and  the  quahty 
very  much  better.  It  is  a  strange  fact  that  well 
rooted  plants  are  unobtainable  from  the  trade 
until  well  on  in  .\ugust,  and  sometimes  not  before 
September.  I  suspect  that  the  maiden  plant 
system,  which  gives  runners  much  earUer  than 
from  fruiting  stools,  is  not  generally  in  use.  In 
vain  do  advertisements  tell  me  that  Straw- 
berries supphed  in  September  or  October  "  fruit 
well  the  first  year."  They  don't  and  can't. 
It  was,  I  think,  my  very  competent  friend 
Mr.  J.  D.  Pearson  who  replied  to  a  fonner 
note  of  mine  that  the  objection  to  such  early 
planting  Ues  in  the  necessity  of  watering.  But 
who  can  say  when  rain  will  come  in  our  cUmate 
and  when  it  won't  ?  Here,  our  plantation  was 
well  settled  in  by  heavy  rains  immediately  after 
the  making,  and  now  we  have  had  scarcely  a  drop 
for  the  last  two  months.  I  have  never  had  reason 
to  repent  of  my  practice  of  planting  as  early  as 
possible  and  trusting  to  luck  for  rain.  Asparagus 
surely  tries  to  tell  us  by  its  great  resentment  of 
root  disturbance  that  transplanting  violates  its 
nature  and  the  rational  way  is  to  grow  it  from 
seed.  It  is  difficult  to  understand  why  and  when 
transplantation  came  into  fashion  otherwise  than 
to  sell  plants.  Here  we  always  sow  seed  where 
it  is  to  remain  unmoved.  The  gain  of  time  by 
transplanting  is  only  one  year,  with  the  large 
per  contra  of  outlay  on  bought  plants  and  loss  of 
vigour  and  durability. — G.  H.  Englehe.\rt,  near 
Salisbury. 

THE    LOQUAT. 

T  SEE  that  a  gardening  friend  in  New  Zealand 
writes  saying  that  there  they  do  not  eat  the 
Japanese  Medlar  or  Loquat  when  cooked  !  There 
is  no  accounting  for  tastes  we  all  know,  but  this 
is  especially  surprising,  for  the  raw  fruit  is  rather 
acid  and  has  very  large  seeds  in  it,  so  much  so 
that  there  seems  very  Uttle  flesh  for  so  much  seed. 
But  when  stewed,  the  big  seeds  taken  out 
and  some  sugar  added,  it  is  a  welcome  addition 
to  the  table  in  spring,  coming  in  as  it  does  before 
the  Cherry  and  Strawberry.     Properly  cooked  it 


tastes  so  like  stewed  Apples  that  I  think  a  bUnd- 
folded  man  would  never  find  out  the  diiiference  ! — 

E.    H.    W00D.\LL. 

THE    WEEPING    WHITE    JIULBERRY. 

T  WAS  very  interested  in  the  article  on  Weeping 

Trees  (The  G.^rden  for  November  i8,  page  379), 

'n  which  reference  is  made  to  the  Weeping  White 


THE    WEEPING    MULBERRY,    MORUS    ALBA    PENDULA 


Mulberry,  Morns  alba  pendula.  I  enclose  a  picture 
of  a  young  tree  at  Lingfield,  Surrey,  which 
shews,  I  think,  its  value  as  a  lawn  tree.  It  is, 
I  think,  a  little  strange  that  there  should  be  so 
many  varieties  of  the  White  (Silkworm)  Mulberry 
in  cultivation,  whereas  the  Common  Mulberry 
(M.  nigra)  appears  not  to  have  varied  from  the 
type  despite  its  long  history  in  cultivation.     The 


Weeping  Mulberry  needs  careful  training  until   an 
adequate  length  of  trunk  is  obtained. — A.  R. 

THE    "HUNTINGDON"     WILLOW. 

TX  "  .Answers  to  Correspondents,"  issue  Decem- 
ber 16,  you  say  you  have  not  heard  of 
"  Huntingdon "  Willows.  I  have  been  familiar 
with  this  name  for  fifty  years.  Many  nurserymen 
catalogue  Salix  alba  under  this  name,  Messrs. 
Thomas  Perkins  and  Son,  Limited,  Northampton, 
and  Messrs.  Benjamin  Reid  and  Co.,  Aberdeen, 
are  two  among  them. — Chas.  A.  Brunning. 

TN  your  reply  to  your  correspondent  "  W.  W.  T.," 
(The  Garden,  December  16),  re  cricket- 
bat  Willow,  you  state  there  must  be  some  con- 
fusion in  the  name  Huntingdon  Willow.  We 
have  grown  the  Huntingdon  Willow  (Sahx  alba) 
for  a  number  of  years.  It  is  one  of  the  best  growers 
we  have. — K.  and  J.  Hill,  Willingdon. 

[Salix  alba  is,  of  course,  a  well  known  tree, 
but  as  far  as  our  experience  goes  the  English  name 
is  White  Willow.  The  true  Cricket-bat  Willow, 
S.  coerulea,  is  by  some  botanists  considered  only 
a  form  of  the  White  Willow,  but  Bean  ("  Trees 
and  Shrubs  ")  appears  to  agree  with  Henry  that 
it  is  probably  a  hybrid  between  S.  alba  and  S. 
fragilis.  However  that 
may  be,  the  timber  of 
Salix  alba  is  useful  enough, 
though  not  first-rate  for 
cricket- bats. — Ed.] 

CHRYSANTHEMUM 

TOKIO. 

^NE  would  have  thought 
that  Mr.  E.  H.  Woodall 
had  been  a  reader  of  The 
Garden  long  enough  to 
know  that  the  space 
allotted  in  it  for  show 
reports  has  for  many 
years  been  restricted  to 
bare  necessity.  To  discuss 
or  even  to  criticise  the 
Paris  Show  from  an 
artistic  point  of  view 
would  require  far  more 
time  and  space  than  even 
the  most  indulgent  editor 
could  be  expected  to 
permit  under  existing 
circumstances.  It  is  true 
\\'e  might  learn  some- 
thing from  French  methods 
t'f  arrangement.  I  have 
preached  that  for  a 
generation  at  least,  but 
it  is  equally  certain  that 
our  English  growers  and 
exhibitors  can  teach  the 
French  something  too. 
If  Mr.  Woodall  had  been 
at  Le  Mans  and  seen 
Mr.  Jones'  exhibit  there 
last  year,  or  if  he  had 
been  to  the  Paris  Show  in 
I  q  I  I  and  seen  Mr. 
Thomas  Stevenson's  grand 
display  when  the  show 
was  held  on  the  Cours-la- 
Keine,  he  would  have  had  ocular  demonstration 
of  the  truth  of  that.  To  take  indi\-idual  groups, 
there  is  very  Uttle  as  a  rule  to  learn  from  the 
ordinar>-  French  exhibit.  They  are  often  too 
low,  too  flat  and  painfully  monotonous  in  their 
uniformity.  The  great  charm  of  a  French  Chr\-- 
santhemum  show  is  the  total  absenct  of  long 
tables,  in  place  of  which  is  the  design  of  the  whole 


662 


THE     GARDEN. 


[December  30,  1922. 


show,  in  which  the  various  groups  are  tastefully 
filled  into  a  kind  of  artistic  framework.  Excep- 
tionally, like  that  of  Paul  Feron  this  year,  we 
get  a  glimpse  of  originality,  but  surely  some  of 
the  great  stretches  of  low,  fiat  groups  such  as  we 
saw  last  October  in  the  Palmarium  need  not  be 
imitated  in  England.  The  covering  up  of  the 
pots,  the  hiding  of  the  receptacles  in  which  the 
cut  blooms  are  placed,  the  green  turf  edgings  to 
the  groups  and  the  frequent  laying  down  of  grass 
lawns  on  which  to  display  their  gains  are  all  of 
some  decorative  value  to  the  French  exhibitors, 
and  might  be  usefully  introduced  here.  But  the 
Palmarium  of  the  Jardin  d'AccUmatation  is  not 
by  any  means  an  ideal  site. 

My  chief  concern  is  to  congratulate  Mr.  Woodall 
on  his  having  discovered  Tokio,  the  Chrysanthemum 
I  mean,  of  course,  not  the  place,  which  is  properly 
called  Tokyo.  It  is  not  apparent  whether  he 
first  saw  it  this  year  or  last,  but  it  is  evident  that 
although  he  is  resident  in  France,  Mr.  Woodall 
has  not  had  much  experience  of  the  Paris  Autumn 
Show.  As  an  exhibition  flower  Tokio  is  absolutely 
unknown  in  this  country,  and  it  is  not  difficult 
to  say  why.  These  thin,  tubular,  stift-petalled 
Japs  of  the  hedgehog  type  have  the  colour  inside, 
and  only  shew  that  of  the  reverse.  There  has 
been  quite  a  number  of  them  raised  in  France 
from  the  days  of  Simon  Delaux,  if  not  before, 
but  they  have  never  appealed  to  British  growers. 
They  are  useless  in  the  cut  bloom  classes,  and, 
to-day,  trained  specimen  plants  are  no  longer 
grown  here  for  show  as  of  yore.  In  spite  of  that 
I  have  always  regarded  Tokio  as  one  of  the  most 
telling '  varieties  for  specimen  plants.  To  my 
knowledge  it  is  one  of  the  oldest  varieties  in  culti- 
vation— it  is  not  a  modern  one  as  Mr.  Woodall 
might  lead  his  readers  to  suppose.  Tokio  has 
been  shewn  in  Paris  for  sixteen  years  at  least, 
so  that  by  no  effort  of  the  imagination  can  it  be 
described  as  a  novelty.  I  saw  it  for  the  first 
time  at  the  Paris  Show  of  1905,  and  referred  to 
it  in  my  report  for  the  Gardener's  Magazine  at  the 
time.  Two  years  later  Vilmorin's  group  was 
staged  in  the  corridor  which  linked  up  the  two 
large  greenhouses  on  the  Cours-la-Reine,  previously 
known  as  the  Palace  of  Horticulture  in  the  great 
Universal  Paris  Exhibition  of  1900.  This  is  what 
I  wrote  of  it  in  my  report  after  describing  the 
Vilmorin  exhibit  in  the  Gardener's  Magazine 
for  November  23,  1907  :  "  In  the  middle  of  this 
lawn  was  an  immense  trained  specimen  of  Tokio, 
a  pale  pink  variety  of  Japanese,  peculiarly  suited 
for  this  kind  of  culture.  The  plant  must  have 
been  not  less  than  8ft.  or  9ft.  in  diameter,  and 
bore  738  fully  expanded  blooms."  A  picture  of 
that  group  was  given  in  the  Gardener's  Magazine 
for  November  23rd,  1907  ;  in  the  American  Florist 
for  the  30th  of  the  same  month  ;  and  in  Horti- 
culture, of  Boston,  U.S..\.,  for  the  same  date, 
shewing  Tokio  as  a  prominent  plant  in  the  Vilmorin 
exhibit.  We  certainly  did  not  see  Tokio  in  any- 
thing like  that  form  at  the  recent  Paris  Autumn 
Show. — C.  Harman  Payne. 

[We  should  not  ourselves  describe  a  variety  of 
Chrysanthemum  sixteen  years  old  as  "  one  of  the 
oldest  in  cultivation  "  when  we  remember  that 
such  old  stagers  as  George  Glenny  and  Mrs.  Rundle 
are  still  grown. — Ed.] 

THE    TWELVE    BEST    SHRUBS. 

T  ENCLOSE  two  Hsts  each  of  a  dozen  shrubs 
which  have  grown  in  my  garden  for  the  last 
ten  years  and  are  quite  hardy,  and  may  be  of 
interest  to  readers  in  the  North  of  Scotland.  My 
garden  is  in  Glendevon,  Perthshire,  on  the  Ochil 
Hills,  about  700ft.  above  sea-level,  and  shrubs 
flower  fully  a  fortnight  later  than  those  near  the 
sea,  such  as  Edinburgh  Botanic  Gardens.  I 
have   not   included   Rhododendrons   and   Azaleas, 


which  I  may  say  do  well  with  me.  The  soil  is 
rather  light,  with  a  little  peat  and  very  stony. 
Being  near  the  hills  we  get  a  good  deal  of  moisture 
even  in  a  dry  summer,  and  all  varieties  of  conifers 
grow  well,  also  the  Himalayan  Gentians- Farreri 
and  sino-ornata,  and  the  different  species  of 
Himalayan  Meconopsis.  List  i. — Ribes  sangui- 
nemn  atrosanguineum,  Forsythia  suspensa,  Berberis 
stenoph5-lla,  Spiraea  arguta  multiflora,  Deutzia 
crenata  magnifica,  Osmanthus  Delavayi,  Lilac 
Mme.  Lemoine,  Rubus  deliciosus,  Philadelphus 
Virginal,  Viburnum  plicatum  (on  wall).  Viburnum 
Carlesii  and  Hypericum  patulum  Henryi.  List  2. 
— Cydonia  Maulei  atrosanguinea,  Cytisus  prsecox, 
Hydrangea  paniculata  grandiflora,  Potentilla 
Farreri,  Spirjca  Veitchii,  Prunus  triloba  fl.  pi., 
Escallonia  Philippiana,  Cistus  laurifolius,  Genista 
virgata,  Weigela  Eva  Rathke,  Cotoneaster  multi- 
flora  and  Andromeda  floribunda. — A.  H. 

A    USEFUL    TRAILING    CAMPANULA. 

TN  "  A  Selection  of  Fuchsias,"  which  you  published 
in  The  Garden  dated  December  2,  I  notice 
an  error  in  the  name  of  one  of  the  varieties  men- 
tioned, probably  due  to  my  bad  writing.  "  Pink 
Paul "  should  be  "  Pink  Pearl,"  and  although 
the  mistake  is  not  of  great  importance,  perhaps 
you  will  insert  a  note  correcting  it  in  a  forth- 
coming issue.  I  should  like  to  draw  attention 
to  a  very  beautiful  little  Campanula  called 
haylogensis.  This  variety  is  of  delicate  growth 
and  trailing  habit,  while  from  July  onwards 
until  late  autumn  it  bears  pretty  violet  blue 
flowers  in  great  profusion  which,  though  small, 
are  very  effective  for  the  greenhouse.  Campanula 
haylogensis  is  oiifered  in  the  hardy  plant  catalogue 
of   Messrs.    John   Waterer,   Sons  and   Crisp,   and. 


while  it  is  probably  at  its  best  on  a  rockery,  I 
would  strongly  recommend  anyone  who  requires 
a  plant  for  the  front  of  a  greenhouse  stage  to  give 
it  a  trial.  The  illustration  of  the  flowers  and 
fruit  of  Fuchsia  procumbens  on  page  607  is  very 
interesting,  and  I  hope  you  will  see  your  way 
to  publish  illustrations  of  different  types  of  the 
Fuchsia    family    from    time    to    time. — Cecil    M. 

B.\ILEY. 

THE    SCOTCH    MARIGOLD. 

^F  the  value  of  the  Scotch  Marigold,  Calendula 
officinalis,  as  a  bedding  annual  I  have  been 
long  aware,  but  not  until  the  middle  of  last  month 
did  I  discover  its  worth  as  a  flower  for  lasting  well 
when  cut  for  vase  work,  the  flowers  keeping  fresh 
for  nine  days  to  a  fortnight,  according  to  their  stage 
of  development  when  put  in  the  vase.  I  ascribe 
my  belated  discovery  to  the  fact  of  there  being 
so  many  choicer  plants  from  which  to  gather 
during  the  earlier  part  of  the  year  that  the  Marigold, 
like  many  another  plant,  gets  passed  by  when  one  is 
looking  for  something  fragrant  or  more  attractive 
for  the  special  table  or  desk.  The  gathering 
of  the  flower  under  notice  was  made  from  a  large 
bed  of  Calendulas  (among  which  had  been  inter- 
spersed Eschscholtzia  caUfornica)  and  which 
formed  part  of  an  arrangement  of  beds  containing 
brown  and  gold  flowers.  In  the  cut  state  they 
associate  well  with  bronze  and  terra-cotta  single 
Chrysanthemums.  The  colour  of  this  Marigold 
always  seems  richer  or  deeper  in  tone  in  autumn 
than  it  does  in  summer,  but  I  suspect  such  a 
notion  is  an  illusion,  the  reason  being  that  the 
flowers  look  brighter  on  account  of  the  greater 
greyness  of  sky  at  this  season  and  the  much 
diminished  strength  of  light. — C.  T. 


I 


GARDENING    OF    THE    WEEK 


GREENHOUSE    AND     CONSERV.\TORV. 

Epiphyllums  are  generally  regarded  as  requir- 
ing more  lieat  than  the  average  green- 
house affords.  It  is  true  that  they  enjoy  a 
higher  temperature  while  growing,  but  when  in 
flower  they,  like  many  other  plants  that  enjoy 
similar  conditions  during  their  growing  season, 
stand  quite  well  in  an  ordinary  heated  greenhouse. 
These  plants  are  valuable  as  they  usually  flower 
during  the  winter  mouths.  They  were  at  one  time 
much  more  commonly  cultivated  than  they 
are  at  present,  being  in  fact,  grown  in  con- 
siderable quantities  for  the  London  market ; 
then  there  were  quite  a  number  of  varieties 
which,  at  the  present  day,  seem  to  have  disap- 
peared from  cultivation.  The  two  species,  E. 
truncatum  and  E.  Russellianum,  and  E. 
Gaertneri,  which  is  supposed  to  be  hybrid,  are  still 
frequently  met  with,  and  large  specimens  are  not 
uncommon  in  out  of  the  way  gardens.  Their 
drooping  habit  renders  them  specially  suitable  for 
baskets  or  for  growing  as  small  standards.  They 
root  quite  readily  from  cuttings,  but  are  usually 
grafted  on  stocks  of  Pereskia  aculeata,  especially 
when  standards  are  required.  The  operation  of 
grafting  is  quite  easy  ;  the  stock  should  be  cut 
over  at  the  required  height  and  a  slit  made  on  the 
top.  into  this  insert  a  piece  of  Epiphyllum,  the 
bottom  part  of  which  is  cut  to  a  wedge-shape, 
bind  with  raffia  or  soft  cotton,  or  simply  run  a 
spine  or  two  of  the  Pereskia  through  the  stock 
and  scion  and  the  operation  is  complete.  Being 
rather  spare  rooting  plants,  ample  drainage  must 
be  given,  and  the  compost,  which  should  consist 
of  good  medium  loam,  should  have  a  quantity  of 
broken  bricks  or  old  mortar  rubble  added  to  it. 
Beyond  careful  watering  at  aU  times,  their  cultiva- 
tion is  not  at  all  difticult. 

Succulent  Plants. — In  its  widest  sense  the 
term  "  Succulent  "  includes  a  very  wide  range  of 
plants,  varying  from  giant  Euphorbias  to  tiny 
Mescmbryanthemums  and  Sedums.  At  one  time 
these  plants  were  very  popular,  and  there  were 
many  good  collections  in  gardens  up  and  down 
the  country.  They  have  always  been  favourites 
with  amateurs  ;  this  due,  no  doubt,  to  the  fact  that 
a  small  greenhouse  will  house  quite  a  large  collection 


of  the  smaller  and  choicer  species.  They 
also  require  very  little  attention  in  the  way  of 
watering,  even  during  the  sunimer  there  is  little 
chance  of  their  suffering  if  they  are  not  watered 
every  day.  One  must  not  infer  froni  this  that 
they  should  be  neglected  in  this  respect.  During 
the  winter  months  they  require  very  little  water, 
and  in  a  cool  greenhouse  many  of  them  will  stand 
for  several  weeks  without  it.  Care  should,  of 
course,  be  taken  that  the  plants  do  not  shrivel. 
As  damp  is  their  chief  enemy  during  winter  a 
buoyant  atmosphere  should  be  maintained.  If 
any  re-potting  is  required  it  should  be  done  early 
in  the  New  Year.  The  plants  then  have  a  good 
chance  to  get  well  estabhshed  during  the  summer  ; 
on  the  other  hand,  if  plants  are  in  bad  condition 
at  the  root  they  may  be  safely  repotted  at  any  time. 
After  re-potting  very  little  water  should  be  given 
until  they  have  made  fresh  roots.  Quite  a  number 
of  sorts  are  excellent  for  growing  in  a  sunny  window 
and  two  at  least,  viz.,  Aloe  variegata  and  Cereus 
flagelUformis  (the  Rat's-tail  Cactus),  are  usually 
seen  in  better  condition  in  cottage  windows  than 
in  greenhouses.  Cereus  grandiflorus  and  C. 
nycticalus  are  both  night-flowering  and  are  well 
suited  for  training  on  the  wall  or  under  the  roof 
glass  of  a  warm  greenhouse.  Among  Cotyledons, 
Sempervivums,  Crassulas,  Mescmbryanthemums, 
.\loes,  Agaves,  Mamillarias,  Phyllocacti,  Gasterias 
and  Haworthias,  there  is  ample  choice 
for  anyone  who  is  interested  in  this  class  of 
plants. 

Clematis     indivisa     lobata.  —  This    beautiful 

climber  is  a  native  of  New  Zealand  and  in  Cornwall 
is  hardy  on  warm  walls,  but  generally  it  requires 
the  shelter  of  a  cool  house  and  in  my  experience 
it  always  does  best  in  a  house  from  which  frost 
is  just  excluded.  If  the  house  is  too  warm  this 
plant  is  generally  attacked  by  mildew.  When 
doing  well  it  produces  its  starry  white  flowers  in 
wonderful  profusion.  As  the  flowers  ha\e  long 
stalks  they  are  very  useful  for  cutting.  The  plant 
can  easily  be  increased  by  layers  or  by  means  of 
internodal  cuttings,  which  should  be  inserted  in 
pots  of  sandy  soil  and  stood  under  a  bell  glass  in  a 
cool  house. 

Ro)'al  Botanic  Gardens,  Kew.  J.  CotJTTS. 


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