i88i.] WALL-BORDERS IN KITCHEN-GARDENS. 55 



light increases, and plants naturally unfold their blooms better than 

 during the two preceding months. But for the dullest months there 

 need be no break in the supply of flowers, and the conservatory may 

 be kept as gay during the whole winter as any time in the year. This 

 may scarcely seem feasible to those who fail to maintain a supply. 

 But failure in this respect is due to more causes than one, and not 

 the least important is carelessness in the selection of suitable 

 varieties for early blooming. Amongst Zonal Pelargoniums, I must 

 still cling to Vesuvius, Prince of Wales, and Wonderful ; these are not 

 surpassed for freedom of flowering during winter : a good light one 

 will be found in Apple Blossom, although as a florist's flower it is poor. 

 These will continue to flower, and profusely, in a temperature of 45° to 

 50°. Many of the large-trussing kinds require a much higher tempera- 

 ture in which to expand their blooms properly ; they are not to be 

 condemned on that account, because if more heat is given, sonae kinds 

 do well. Harry Turner, a good pink, and Leopold, a good dark, both 

 large -trussing kinds, promise well in the same temperature as the 

 Vesuvius type. Vesuvius, although " weighed in the scales" by some 

 growers and "found wanting," cannot be dispensed with for any large- 

 trussing kind with which I am acquainted. A selection of plants is 

 needed for winter work, and to a large extent success depends upon 

 this matter. When proper kinds are grown, even of Rhododendrons, 

 ^zaleas, and the like, much of the difficulty of forcing is reduced, and 

 the work is accomplished with ease and certainty. There can be no 

 doubt that to maintain a blaze of bloom and abundance for cutting, 

 and plants for room decoration, a good deal of forcing has to be 

 attended to, not only in autumn, but in spring, as stated in previous 

 notes in the ' Gardener ; ' and unless this system of growing plants 

 purposely year by year entirely changes their nature, as far as their 

 flowering period is concerned, it is useless to force in early autumn 

 before the various plants have enjoyed a natural rest. 



Wm. Bardney. 



HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF WALL - BORDERS IN 

 KITCHEN-GARDENS. 



NO. II. 



When commencing these papers, I intended to treat of each border 

 separately, making suggestions in detail both upon the first and suc- 

 cessional crops. This would have been much the simplest ; but the 

 conclusion I finally arrived at was, that, for my remarks to be in- 

 structive, they must be seasonable — that is to say, if hints were given 

 in the April or May number of the ' Gardener ' upon work that should 

 be performed in February or March, they would certainly miss their 

 mark. Another idea was to advise upon the breadths or quantities 



