526 THE GARDENER. [Nov. 



"With regard to the flowers named in No. 2 list, I will act upon Mr Perry's 

 advice, with one exception — viz., Chairman — which I cannot grow to any pur- 

 pose. I am quite aware it is a first-class kind, but I have tried it so often, 

 obtained from various places, and with the same result— i.e., the first bloom 

 or two good, and all the rest "seedy." I am happy to state that last year 

 (having seen it advocated in the ' Gardener') I, for the first time, trenched 

 and ridged my ground as recommended by Mr Perry, and the result exceeded 

 my most sanguine expectations, as the plants produced larger and better blooms 

 than ever they did before, and there is no fear of my neglecting this opera- 

 tion during the coming winter. In conclusion, I trust other Dahlia-growers 

 will give the benefit of their experience also. — A Four Years' Subscriber. 



Seedling Delphinium (T. S. W.) — Your seedling from D. formosum is a 

 lovely flower, being of an intense bright blue, with a pale dull red-lilac spot 

 on each segment, the double lip and crest in the centre being pure white. It 

 is also quite as large as the parent. Some of the pale-blue flowers sent are 

 very pretty, and well worthy another season's culture. 



PiEONiES (G. M.) — Pteonies grow best in a light sandy loam, and need but 

 little attention — digging round and manuring in the winter, and some care in 

 tying them up neatly in the spring, being all they require. They soon increase, but 

 it is injurious to divide the roots too often, as the constitution of the plant 

 is by this means weakened, and they generally take some time to recover their 

 usual vigour; nor should they be dug up and removed frequently, as this is 

 apt to check their growth for a season at least. 



Preparation of the Ground for Roses (Rosarian). — The following direc- 

 tions are given by Mr Keynes, and they will no doubt prove of service to you : — 

 "When they are to be placed out singly on law T ns, a hole should be made 2 

 feet deep, and large enough to contain a good wheel-barrowful of compost, two- 

 thirds of which should be strong turfy loam from an old pasture, and one-third 

 well-decomposed animal manure. When beds are to be planted, the ground 

 should be thoroughly trenched 18 to 24 inches deep, as the nature of the soil 

 may admit, intermixing some of the above compost. If this be done well the 

 beds will last several years, with adding a dressing of manure yearly ; it is diffi- 

 cult to give the Rose too rich a soil. 



" If a piece of ground is set apart for the exclusive cultivation of Roses, the 

 most open situation should be selected ; if wet, it should be drained well : this 

 done, the ground should be trenched the depth as recommended above ; the beds 

 may then be formed according to taste and circumstances. November is the 

 best month for transplanting. It is not advisable to prune at the time of plant- 

 ing. If planted in November, about the first week in March for Hybrid 

 Perpetuals, and the last week in April for Tea Roses, would be the best time to 

 prune. 



" In pruning, if they grow vigorous and thick, some shoots should be cut out 

 entirely and others left long, varying from 6 to 18 inches, in proportion to their 

 growth ; the moderate growers should be pruned back close, say from two to 

 three buds to 6 inches." 



Manure for Hops. — Land and water are laid under contribution to supply 

 manure to the Hop-garden. To obtain manure from the nearest towns, teams are 

 daily upon the road ; the railway brings rags from all parts, clothier's and fell- 

 mongers' waste from the west of England and Yorkshire, clippings and scrapings 

 of hides from the tan-yards of Bermondsey. At the same time, artificial manures 



