62 GARDENING DIFFICULTIES SOLVED 



A. The best time to plant is during April. The best plants to buy 

 are rooted runners. A border should be prepared by digging 

 and mixing with the soil well rotted manure and leaf soil. It 

 is not advisable to have the border in a shady spot as is often 

 advised ; the plants should get several hours' sunshine. Plant 

 the weak growing doubles 8 inches, and the strong growing single 

 sorts 10 to 12 inches apart. They need little further attention 

 during the summer months. Give water in dry weather and a 

 dressing of manure to keep the border cool and moist. In August 

 runners or growths will appear ; these must be cut off. By Septem- 

 ber the plants will have formed good clumps ; towards the end of 

 that month is the best time for planting Violets in frames for 

 winter flowering. The frame should be in a sunny position. Violets 

 are most successful when grown fresh annually. Some of the 

 single sorts do pretty well if left alone for two or three years, but 

 most sorts thrive best if fresh beds from rooted offshoots are 

 planted every April. Princess of Wales, Princess Beatrice and 

 Czar are among the best of the large blue-flowered singles. Marie 

 Louise is. a good double, lavender coloured ; Lady Hume Campbell, 

 lavender blue ; Comte de Brazza, white, and Mile. B. Barron, 

 blue, are other good double sorts. 



Best Plants for Shady Border 



Q. The best plants for a shady border with rather heavy, moist 

 soil. G. K., Kent. 



A. Anemone Japonica and varieties, Kniphofia (Tritoma), 

 Liliums candidum, Martagon, and croceum, Senecios clivorum and 

 Veitchianum, Primulas Japonica and denticulata, Aquilegia (Colum- 

 bine), Sedum spectabile, Foxgloves, Primroses, and Violets, hardy 

 ferns in variety. 



Plants for Dry Border 



Q. The best plants for a dry border under trees. S. T. M., Oxford. 



A. Solomon's Seal, Hypericum calycinum, Doronicum Plantagi- 

 neum, Lychnis coronaria, Funkia Sieboldii, Saponaria officinalis flore 

 pleno, Foxgloves, Periwinkle (Vinca). 



Plants for Warm Wall 



Q. I have a brick wall, 2 feet 6 inches wide, 10 feet high, side of 

 bay window facing south, now occupied by Virginian Creeper 

 Could I train Ivy Geranium or Solanum in place ? R. T. 7 7 ., Fulham. 



A. You must take out every bit of root of the Virginian Creeper, 



