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Gardening for Amateurs 



Notes of Practical Interest 



Sand and Charcoal. Sand anci charcoal 

 are valuable substances for potting purposes. 

 Charcoal sweetens the soil and absorbs evil 

 vapours that might damage the tender 

 rootlets of seedlings ; young plants root very 

 freely round the rough charcoal and they 

 seem to withdraw such nutritive matter as 

 may have been conserved by the absorbent 

 charcoal. Sand (ordinary builder's sand 

 serves) ensures porosity and at the same 

 time keeps the soil firm. Seeds will germinate 

 freely in damp sand, and perhaps no better 

 way of growing from seed under glass can 

 be advised than this, especially when the 

 seedlings must be transplanted at the earliest ; 

 bury the seeds twice their diameter in a layer 

 of sand scattered over a box of soil, and 

 germination will be rapid. Damping off is 

 lessened by a free use of sand over the surface. 



Viola Cuttings. Towards the end of 

 July it is a good plan to cut hard back a 

 plant or two of each kind of Viola in order 

 that young shoots, suitable for cuttings, may 

 grow from the rootstock. Such shoots are 

 ever so much more satisfactory than others 

 selected from amongst the flowering growths, 

 therefore it is well worth the sacrifice of a 

 few flowers to obtain them. September is a 

 good time to insert the cuttings. Make them 

 from 2 to 3 inches long, and insert in sandy 

 soil in a cold frame. Keep the frame closed 

 until the cuttings are rooted, then admit air 

 during all favourable weather, even in winter. 

 Put the plants out of doors late in March. 



Calceolaria (Slipper Flower). The 

 shrubby or bedding Calceolaria is essentially 

 an amateur's flower, needing only the pro- 

 tection of a cold frame, handlight or bell- 

 glass in winter. As a rule propagation is 

 by cuttings, though plants for bedding are 

 sometimes raised from seeds. Insert the 

 cuttings during September in a prepared 

 bed of well-drained, sandy soil. Make the 

 cuttings about 2 inches long, and put them 

 2 \ inches apart. A few cuttings may be 

 covered with a handlight, but for a large 

 quantity make up the bed in a cold frame. 

 Keep this closed for a few weeks until the 

 cuttings are rooted, then give abundance 



of air on all favourable occasions. During 

 severe frosts protect with mats and light dry 

 litter. The young plants will not progress 

 much during winter, but in spring they will 

 commence to grow freely. Take out the 

 tips of the shoots once or twice, and early 

 in April plant out on a sheltered border 

 where a little protection can be given on 

 cold nights. The first week in May, or as 

 soon after as convenient, transfer the plants 

 to their flowering positions. One cause of 

 failure is late planting ; if this is not prac- 

 tised until the end of May or early June, the 

 Calceolarias will not be established in their 

 flowering quarters when we may reasonably 

 hope to have plenty of bright sunshine and 

 dry weather. Calceolarias thrive best in a 

 moist soil, heavy rather than light. If the 

 soil in the garden is light, choose a position, 

 if possible, sheltered from the midday sun. 

 North and west borders, where the plants 

 get little sun but plenty of light, are ideal 

 for Calceolarias. They may be grouped 

 with good effect in the small front garden 

 of the town or suburban house, and are 

 suitable for putting in window-boxes also. 

 There are numerous named sorts, the follow- 

 ing being the best : Amplexicaulis, lemon- 

 yellow ; Angustifolia (Gaines's Yelknv), golden 

 yellow ; Bijou, bronzy-crimson ; Camden 

 Hero, crimson ; Cloth of Gold, dwarf, deep 

 golden yellow ; Golden Gem, golden yellow, 

 the most popular bedding variety grown ; 

 Kayi, deep yellow ; Prince of Wales, crimson ; 

 Prince of Orange, bronze-yellow ; Sultan, dark 

 crimson. Two lovely tall-growing Calceolarias 

 for beds and borders are Burbidgei and inte- 

 grifolia. The former is tender, and can only 

 be kept safely in a heated greenhouse during 

 the winter. Burbidgei will grow 6 feet or 

 more in height. Calceolaria integrifolia, on 

 the other hand, will stand out of doors in 

 winter in warm, sunny corners in the south- 

 west counties, but in the London district and 

 farther north the protection of a cold frame 

 is necessary. C. integrifolia grows in time 

 to a considerable height, but plants obtained 

 from cuttings rooted in September flower 

 when from 2 feet to 3 feet high. 



