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THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



•well if planted id two feet depth of 

 turfy peat, and supplied "with plenty of 

 water from the 1st of May to the 24th 

 of June, after which they need not have 

 another drop. A grand sheet anchor for 

 such a spot is Solomon's Seal ; when it 

 has stood in the same spot some years, 

 it becomes quite grand in its growth, and 

 blooms most freely. It would greatly 

 improve such a spot to plant patches of 

 Solomon's Seal here and there all over 

 it, and take care not to disturb it for 

 some years. The common blue squill, 

 the Roman hyacinth, Narcissus of sorts, 

 Cyclamen europeum, primulas of sorts, 

 hardy lilies, border Polyanthuses, and 

 varieties of Iris germanica might bo 

 planted in clumps now, and would well 

 repay for the little trouble and expense 

 occasioned by their beautiful appearance 

 next season. No doubt Dielytra specta- 

 hilis would grow and flower finely in this 

 shady spot, but it is certain all the 

 others named would answer admirably. 

 If the soil were taken out and replaced 

 ■with peat and loam from Wanstead, and 

 the rock-work made up again, it would 

 he a grand thing towards rendering the 

 spot beautiful. Of course you would 

 take care not to injure the trees in so 

 doing, for you want all the trees you 

 can get in Holloway. 

 Miss B. M. — It is our rule never to re- 

 commend dealers. Apply to some of those 

 who advertise in these pnges. 

 Calceolakias Dying. — T. H. W. — One 

 way to prevent Calceolarias dying 

 off is to plant them deep, which 

 causes them to throw out roots from 

 above where the original roots com- 

 mence. Another help is to strike the 

 cuttings in a bed in a frame, and from 

 this frame to transplant them carefully 

 in spring to the places where they are 

 to bloom, never allowing them to go 

 into pots at all. 

 Lilacs not Blooming.— 0. M. IT. would 

 be obliged to the Editor of the Flobal 

 Would if he would suggest anything 

 likely to prevent the flowering of the 

 common lilac. They have been tried 

 in all soils, and all situations, in 0. M. 

 H.'s garden ; young trees have been 

 planted, older trees transplanted, but 

 none ever flower. One young tree put 

 up a spike of blossom, but it fell off 

 without optning, and none have since 

 appealed. The trees come into good 

 le f, seem perfectly healthy, and grow 

 well. The lilac flow r ers profusely in 

 all gardens near. Do they like a rich 

 soil or poor; a sunny or shady situa- 



tion ? It seems a very rare case, unex- 

 plained at present by any person, gar- 

 deners included, 0. 31. H. has consulted. 

 The flowers of so beautiful a shrub are a 

 great loss in the spring. The Persian 

 lilac blooms well, and flowering shrubs 

 in general. [It is a pity 0. M. H. did 

 not say in what district she resides, 

 what sort of aspect the lilac trees are in, 

 and what is the sort of soil to be dealt 

 with. Nine tenths of the inquiries that 

 come to hand are put in such a form 

 that to give definite replies is impos- 

 sible. As the common lilac blooms in 

 all the gardens near, it must be con- 

 cluded that the management in this 

 particular caso is wrong. In regard to 

 soil, the common lilac is not at all par- 

 ticular, and generally it scarcely matters 

 what situation it is in. But a deep, 

 loamy soil, with dry warm subsoil, a 

 warm climate, and a sunny position, are 

 the conditions most likely to favour the 

 production of an abundant bloom. Every- 

 where, and in all seasons, the common 

 lilac is much less free to bloom than the 

 Persian ; but wherever it has plenty of 

 sun, and is sheltered from the north, it 

 usually blooms well. Now, perhaps if 

 0. M. IT. will have a little patience, hers 

 may bloom as well as other people's. 

 Perhaps they are not yet so well estab- 

 lished in their stations as to ripen their 

 wood well. But supposing that they 

 have had a good chance in that respect, 

 we should, as a last resort, recommend 

 the adoption of the following plan. Pre- 

 pare, some time in September or October, 

 stations for planting lilacs. At every 

 station take out the soil a yard square 

 and a yard deep. Fill the hole with 

 a mixture of three parts good loam, one 

 part rotten manure, one part sandy road 

 scrapings or road drift, and one part 

 bricks and old mortar broken to the size 

 of potatoes. When finished, let these 

 stations be somewhat above the level. 

 Early in November obtain from a good 

 nursery (if any difficulty, send to Mr. 

 Rivers) as many as needful of the fol- 

 lowing varieties of Lilac : — Charles X., 

 Lark lied, Lark Blue, Red Siberian, 

 Valteteana, and White French. Plant 

 these firm, and next May send us word 

 how they look. 

 Roses.— W. L.— The best twelve are- 

 Jules llargottin, General Jacqueminot, 

 Mrs. Rivers, Emotion, Gloire de Dijon, 

 John Hopper, Charles Lefebvre, Sou- 

 venir de la Malmaisorj, Victor Verdier, 

 Anna Alexieff, Senateur Yaisse, Madame 

 Domfige. 



