Gardening for Amateurs 



503 



Odds and Ends of Interest 



A USEFUL Plant for Poor Soil. 

 Amateur gardeners having what is 

 termed a poor, hungry soil to deal 

 with are often heard to say that a good 

 show, even of easily grown flowers, is 

 only possible after a heavy application of 

 manure has been given. Yet there are 

 several very pretty flowers that give better 

 results in poor than in rich soil. Among 

 these the Portulacas deserve a foremost 

 place, yet strange to say it is so unusual to 

 see them in beds or borders that they are 

 often looked upon as novelties. Both double 

 and single flowers may be had in a wide range 

 of colours : although the blooms are not long- 

 lived they are produced with great freedom. 

 Some growers raise the seedlings of this ex- 

 actly as other half-hardy annuals, by sowing 

 the seed under glass in March. Good 

 results, but later flowers, follow on another 

 sowing in April. The chief point to be 

 observed by those who would enjoy the full 

 beauty of Portulaca; is to guard against over- 

 watering in the seedling stage, and allow the 

 plants ample room for development. 



The Value of Moss. In many low-lying, 

 damp districts there is frequently an abund- 

 ance of nice green moss in shady places, and 

 owners of small greenhouses should not fail 

 to take full advantage of the opportunity of 

 gathering some of it. A little dry moss is 

 most useful for placing over the crocks in 

 seed-pans or when potting a choice plant 

 that will thrive only when free drainage is 

 secured ; it is far better than old manure or 

 decayed leaves. Where large panes of glass 

 are not always on hand for the purpose of 

 covering newly -sown seeds in the greenhouse, 

 a little moss placed on the surfactf makes a 

 very good substitute ; it should, of course, 

 be removed as soon as the tiny seedlings 

 appear. For lining baskets filled with Gera- 

 niums, etc., for summer display, moss is not 

 only lighter but answers better for most 

 things than anything else, while, when 

 arranged among bulbs in pots it much im- 

 proves their appearance. Where Geraniums 

 have to be kept in boxes until the time 

 arrives for bedding out, it is a capital plan to 



wrap the roots of each plant in moss contain- 

 ing a little fine soil, keeping this in position 

 by means of raffia. Plants treated thus may 

 be put back into the boxes much closer than 

 usual, and always lift with a mass of roots 

 attached. 



A Creeper for the Greenhouse Wall. 

 A fine creeping plant for covering any un 

 sightly greenhouse wall is the well-known 

 Ficus repens. This will, in a very few years, 

 cover the wall with a perfect mass of small 

 foliage, and it is so adaptable that only the 

 most unreasonable conditions will do it any 

 harm. The only cultural detail that requires 

 mention is the annual pruning operation ; 

 like the Ivy, this creeper benefits from being 

 closely clipped every year, and the work is 

 easily carried out by means of the hedge 

 shears. Cuttings are easily " struck " under 

 glass in a gentle heat, and the work can 

 be successfully carried out any time in 

 spring. 



Sterilising Leaf-mould. Leaf-mould is 

 an essential substance in every well-regulated 

 garden, but it must always be remembered 

 that it occasionally harbours active or dor- 

 mint pests which will do much damage to 

 plants at a future date. The removal of all 

 potential trouble is, therefore, most desirable, 

 and it should always be seen to some time 

 before the material is needed. Boiling water 

 poured over the heap until it becomes too 

 hot for the hand to be passed through it, is 

 satisfactory, while increasing the efficiency 

 of the mould ; soot may IK mixed with it 

 also, and in some cases a little lime can be 

 employed. More effective methods which 

 can be adopted when the leaves will not be 

 wanted for a long time are sometimes pre- 

 ferable. Pour a quantity of water containing 

 household ammonia over the leaves and cover 

 them with a \n\g. or use a solution containing 

 a gill of formalin in '2 to .'{ gallons of water. 

 Petrol or carbon disulphide ran lie jxmred 

 into the heart of the mass for a similar pur- 

 jio>e. l>iit in all <MM'S cover with a bag to 

 conserve the fumes and do not use the mould 

 until it ha^ lieen turned over a few times and 

 thoroughly ailed. 



