170 



THE GARDENERS* CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



ered lane and at the same time 3-ielding hundreds of 

 dollars' worth of nuts each season. 



It is the custom in England and Germany to lease the 

 trees to companies which pay so much for the privi- 

 lege of harvesting the nuts, thus attaching to the trees 

 a value similar to that of gilt-edged Jjonds, yielding a 

 steady income to the owners with no work involved. 



Besides the demand for the English walnut as a 

 table and confectii.mery delicacy, they are often used 

 for pickles, catsup and preserves, and in France, many 

 tons a year are made into oil, furnishing a splendid 

 substitute for olive oil. 



EDGING MATERIAL FOR THE PLANT HOUSE. 



As with the outdoor department so is it indoors, 

 suitable and well kept edgings to stages and groups of 

 ornamental plants add to their general eiiect and mani- 

 fest the taste and care of the grower. A window box 

 or hanging basket is a crude aiifair without its hanging 

 material, similar to the conservatory or show house 

 with elevated benches, that present a show of piping 

 underneath and other unsightly obstacles. Cement 

 too, is playing an important part where some ferns or 

 other green material not fit for pot room could be 

 planted out under benches. Loads of cement is used 

 in many a small garden to make broad walks and 

 clean yards where flowers and grass could l>c utili;;ed 

 just a trifle more. 



Edging plants are like taking full advantage of the 

 fuel, as the plants themselves are out of the way, hang- 

 ing down the sides of the bench, writes A. V. Main. 

 Wlien May arrives it is generally the scarcest plant 

 around, as it is wanted so much for baskets, verandahs 

 and boxes. For indoor purposes it is hard to beat 

 Panicum Variegatum, and it lasts longer than most of 

 them. The various variegated forms of Tradescantia 

 are worth}' edging plants. Their use is preferable to 

 a display of rusty pipes and rickety piers, supporting 

 a fine show of orchids, begonias or cyclamen. The 

 lovely Abutilon Megapotamicum, with beautiful green 

 and mottled leaves, likes the stove temperature. Ficus 

 Repens and F. Radicans and Ruellia Portellae are but 

 a few of the plants that have a tendency to droop. 

 These are all so easily rooted in four or three-inch pots 

 that frequent renewals are but right to replace old 

 material that gets shabby and root-bound twice over. 

 Vincas. Japanese Honeysuckle, Campanula Isophylla, 

 Ghechoma Hederacea Variegata and Lobelia come 

 more into prominence and general utility for summer 

 baskets and window lioxes. Tn winter these hardy 

 common trailers wlien used for decorating the fire- 

 place, facing up bare palms, brightening up some cor- 

 ner in the mansion or conservatory, add a final touch 

 to decorations. — Canadian Florist. 



EUPHORBIA (POINSETTIA) PULCHERRIMA. 



I-"ur bright culor the Poinsettia has no rival during 

 the Christmas season, and when the weather is mild, 

 as it has been this season, it may be used with advan- 

 tage either cut or as a pot plant. For the latter pur- 

 pose, however, it is not all growers who succeed in 

 ha\'ing plants witli good foliage down to the pots. In 

 many instances the plants are propagated too earlv in 

 the season, and before the time of de\-eloping the bright 

 red bracts tliey have become too tall and also have lost 

 their foliage, or at least all of tlie lower leaves, leaving 

 a length of bare stem. I like to commence to pro]ia- 



gate as soon as good strong cuttings can be obtained, 

 and then take the tops from these later on. Strong 

 tops taken any time during August will, with care, root 

 freely; they must be kept quite close where there is 

 a good bottom-heat. Either a hotbed or the stove pro- 

 pagating-pit will answer, but at the season when the 

 fires are not kept up it is perhaps better to rely on a 

 hotbed. Shading is essential until the cuttings have 

 taken -root, and I should mention that as the strong 

 tops are hollow between the joints, they must be cut 

 quite close below a joint. These late-struck plants 

 should be kept in heat throughout, but must be as close 

 to the glass as possible, and exposed to all the sun- 

 shine. As soon as the bracts are beginning to develop 

 manure may be used freely. It is only where careful 

 treatment can be given that these late cuttings succeed. 

 Those propagated early may be grown in pits, or dur- 

 ing the summer they may be placed in a sheltered, 

 sunny position. They will show no sign of losing the 

 foliage if left out until the nights get cold, but they 

 will, when placed in heat, lose nearly all their leaves, 

 and the bracts will not develop properly. As soon as 

 they begin to show color the more heat and light that 

 can be given the better, and after they are well devel- 

 oped they may be gradually hardened ofif. When cut 

 tiiev should have the base of the stem dipped in nearly 

 I)oiiing water, which will drive the sap up and prevent 

 bleeding, 'i'iius treated they will last in a room for 

 several weeks, even longer than on the plants. 



— ILvcliaiige. 



ENGLISH IVY AS A COVER PLANT 



The advantages of the English Ivy as a cover plant 

 have not been fully appreciated and when known it will 

 be planted more. 



Its freedom from insect pests together with the ease 

 with which it can be grown will appeal to every one 

 who wishes to grow something that does not require 

 much care, and which always looks green. The sliade 

 of green is very restful to the eyes and with the clean 

 foliage makes it very desirable. 



For shady places and among trees, where it is so 

 hard to get anything to grow without large amounts of 

 water, the ivy is very satisfactory. In such places it 

 makes a heavy mat of green, which is ver}' useful on 

 sloping ground where the soil is liable to wash. 



On parkings to take the place of law-n, it fills a long 

 felt need. Outside of an occasional watering, and 

 trimming where the runners creep o\er the edge it 

 requires no attention. 



The English Ivy does best in a moist shady place, 

 but will grow anywhere if it gets enough water to give 

 it a good start. Plants grow readily from cuttings, 

 l5ut it is better to get plants already rooted, .^.fter 

 planting cover the ground with a thick cover of well 

 rotted horse manure (care being taken not to cover 

 the leaves) and then water thoroughly. If the mulch 

 is thick enough watering once in ten days is sufficient, 

 jiroviding the soil is level. A\'here the ground slopes, 

 dig a trench above each rovv' of plants. Do this before 

 planting, as the young plants must not be disturbed 

 once they l^egin to grow. Do not cultixate around the 

 voung plants as it keeps the rumiers from taking root. 

 The Ivy will take root anv place it touches the ground. 

 If these rootlets are continuallv iM'oken oft" the run- 

 ners become sunburned and hardened. Everv place a 

 runner takes root serves as a new means to gather food 

 and moisture, so the jilant is able to grow more rapidly. 

 — The Pacific Garden. 



