32 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



Amateur Gardener. — Will the Editor of the Floral World assist an 

 Amateur Gardener with his advice ? The shrubs round her garden are grown very 

 hiah, consequently the lower part of the hedge is very thin, leaving the garden 

 much exposed. The hedge is a thorn one, and the shrubs are planted inside ; in- 

 deed, they are grown so high that they may fairly be termed trees. An Amaleur 

 Gardener wishes to know what low-growing shrubs she could plant, as some shrubs 

 will not grow under the droppings of other trees, while some particular kinds will 

 thrive. Would Rhododendrons answer ? An Amateur Gardener objects to cutting 

 the high trees, as they are really handsome, and her object is to thicken the lower 

 part so as to render the garden more private. [If Amateur Gardener had given us 

 particulars respecting the extent and situation of her shrubbery, we should have been 

 better able to advise ; as it is, we subjoin a list of shrubs, etc., which we think will 

 answer her purpose : — Yellow Azalea grows about three feet high, and bears a 

 yellow flower in May and June ; Common Berberis bears an abundance of small 

 oblong red berries, must be cut back occasionally to ensure a bushy habit ; Double- 

 flowering Gorse ; Box — this will thrive under the shade and drip of trees better 

 than any other shrub ; Alexandrian Laurel grows about two feet high, and bears a 

 yellowish flower in June, succeeded by beautiful red berries. We would also advise 

 Amateur Gardener to plant clumps of Chrysanthemums at intervals between the 

 shrubs, as they will make a handsome show at the latter end of the year. Rhodo- 

 dendrons might do well, but the hardiest sorts only should be selected ; we cannot 

 speak with certainty, not knowing the aspect of the garden. — Ed. F. W.] 



Porch to Cover. — B. C. F. — Sempervirens roses are very beautiful for this 

 purpose j they grow fast and arc abundant bloomers. Put one to each pillar. They 

 will require plenty of water, and the ground should he well manured at planting. 

 Hedera regneriana would also be suitable, and would run up quick, and its large 

 leaves would be rich and shady. Clematis ccerulea would also go to the top of the 

 pillars at a rapid pace, but perhaps the quickest, safest, and cheapest covering 

 would be Virginian creeper. 



Lilitjm lancifolitjm. — G. F. — Lilium lancifolium is quite hardy in the soutb 

 of England, and will do well in the same compost as used for bulbs generally. 



Soil tor Bhododendrons.— H. G. — Turfy peat is the best. There are some 

 silky loams in which they grow well, and a mixture of thoroughly decayed leaves, 

 rotten wood, and sharp sand will do where peat is not to be obtained. Animal 

 manures are not needed as a rule, and if the peat is good, the addition of dung is 

 more likely to spoil it than to improve it ; but old American beds may be refreshed 

 with top-dressings of quite rotten cow-dung. Chalk lime and clay are materials 

 they dislike. They may be planted at any time even when in full flower, but the 

 Dest seasons are September and Octuber, and February and March. We advise 

 you not to proceed with your bed for another month. 



Plants in Pots.— C. Y., Sussex. — For the proper cultivation of plants in pots 

 it is necessary to have such soils for them as are suitable to their growth. The soil 

 that wouldihe suitable for a fuchsia or a cocksccmb would not suit an epacris or a 

 heath ; therefore to grow plants with any degree of success, a collection of such soils 

 as are necessary should always be kept ready for use. Good sandy loam is required 

 more or less for nearly all plants in pots. This should be selected from a common 

 or meadow ; about tour inches of the surface soil will be found best. Next in 

 importance is peat, for such plants as heaths and tpacrises. This variety of soil 

 has generally to be purchased. These two sorts of soil, with the addition of sand, 

 leaf-mould, vegetable mould, and rotten manure, in smaller quantities, are sufficient 

 for the growth of nearly all plants. Leaf-mould is a valuable adjunct in plant 

 growing. 



RosE-Brns not Expanding. — S. H. C. — Your roses evidently last year were 

 not suffciently nourished. Give a good top-dressing of half-rotten manure, the 

 rain will carry the juices down, and the plants will pro! ably make more vigorous 

 growth. 



Old Asparagvs Beds.— Amateur. — We do not think it will pay to transplant 

 asparagus at eight years' old. We should advise you to make the new beds of 

 young plants and destroy the old cues. 



