THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 159 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



Feuns. — E. C. M. — The gymnogrammas cannot be grown successfully in a 

 sitting-room, for they would not have sufficient warmth. Adiantuni farleyense 

 also requires more warmth, and a more genial atmosphere than would be possible 

 in a room. 



Potatoes. — Amateur. — Your soil must be most unsuitable for potatoes, for the 

 varieties alluded to in your letter, although not really first-class in quality, are 

 not usually so bad as represented ; they are remarkable for their productiveness ■ 

 and where quantity is of prime importance, they can be recommended. The copino- 

 should be removed from the wall when all danger from the frost is past. 



Raising Seedling Clematis. — F. W. — The flowers of clematis are hermaphro- 

 dite, that is, the male and female organs are contained in the same flower. If you 

 examine the flower narrowly, you will observe a bunch, of thread-like appendatres 

 in the centre of the flower ; these are the stamens or male organs ; and in the 

 centre of tlie cluster of stamens you will see several small white threads, which are 

 the female parts. If you dust the pollen upon these you will have no difficultv in 

 obtaining plenty of seed. "Watch the seed and gather as soon as ripe. If the seed 

 is ripe early enough sow in the autumn ; if not, sow the following spring in liwht 

 soil, such as loam, leaf-mould, and a little peat. When the young plants are up 

 pot them into small pots, and treat in the ordinary way. Young half- ripened side- 

 shoots will strike readily taken off' with a heel and kept close, with the advantage 

 of a little bottom-heat. Layering is best done in July and October ; select shools 

 that have finished their growth, cut them partly through in a slanting direction 

 close under a joint, and fasten them in the pot with a stout peg to keep them in 

 their place ; put a little sand round the cut part to facilitate the rooting process. 



Plants fob Rustic Baskets.— G^.£.— The following are the most" showy and 

 interesting plants for rustic baskets of a large size, they will all bear full exposure 

 to the sun without injury : Antirrhinum Unariafolia ; Campanula Barleri ; Con- 

 volvulus mauritanicus ; Crassula procumbens ; Li.sandra prostrata ; Ivy-leaved 

 geraniums; Linaria cymbalaria ; L. alba; Lobelia speciosa, and others ; Liisi- 

 machia nummtilaris ; Mikania scandens ; Nierembergia gracilis ; Petunias of sorts - 

 Folygonum complcxum ; Haxifraga sarmentosa ; Seduni Sieboldi ; Sibthorpia 

 enropcea ; Verbena Maonetti ; T'inca elegardissima fol. variegata; variegated Ivies 

 Hedera latifolia maculata, a beautiful and distinct ivy ; variegated leaved Straw- 

 berry ; Eccremocarpus scaber ; Calystegia pubescens Jlore-pleno ; C. pubescens 

 simplex ; Cobcea scandens ; C. folds variegatis ; Lophospermiim Sendersoni • L. 

 scandens ; L. spectaVde ; Maiirandya alba ; M. Barlcleynna ; M. kermesina • 

 coerulea ; Pylogine suavis ; Rhodochiton volubile ; Tropceolum canariense ■ T. 

 Passiflora elegans. 



RHonoDEXDUONS IN PoTS. — M. — As they have done flowering supply them 

 liberally with water and keep them in the shade from this time till they have set 

 their buds for next year's bloom ; then let them have sun morning and eveninn- but 

 be shaded from the midday heat, and keep only moderately moist. A little 'weak 

 liquid manure will benefit them while they are in full growth. As to re-pottinc or 

 turning out, that must depend upon their condition. If they want more pot-room 

 one or the other must be done. 



Red Flowers on Cupp.essus L.4.wsoniana. — R. Williams. — The brilliant 

 appearance of the tree is the result of its abundant production of male flowers. 

 There are few trees so beautiful as this Cupressus is when smothered with these 

 flowers, and they have been quite common this season. 



Mignonette Culture. — G. 31. — Sow the mignonette any time this month 

 on a bed liberally enriched with rotten dung ; when the plants are up, thin them 

 to sis inches apart, and a fortnight after thin again, so as to allow from nine to 

 twelve inches between them throughout. Give plenty of water morning and even- 

 ing in dry weather ; and before it comes to bloom nip out the centre of "each plant 

 and very soon the side shoots will touch each other all over the bed ; after which' 

 continue to water as needed. You will thus have as good a bed as mignonette will 

 make. For pots and boxes, sow where it is to bloom, in a mixture of rotted turf 

 and cow-dung, one-third of the latter to two-thirds of the former. Give plenty of 

 May. 



