Gardening for Amateurs 



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of inserting the cuttings, the plants should be 

 set out in the border where they are to 

 remain. If planted 18 inches apart in a 

 line, Lavender plants make a delightful 

 hedge. After the blooms are cut late in 

 July or early in August, the hedge should 

 be trimmed into shape with shears. After 

 about five years Lavender bushes usually 

 become bare and straggling, and it is then 

 advisable to replace them by young plants 

 raised from cuttings. In warm gardens on 

 light soil Lavender is a long-lived plant, 

 and forms striking bushes. 



There are two kinds of Lavender in cul- 

 tivation. Lavandula spica is the plant com- 

 monly cultivated in gardens. Of this there 

 is a white variety, alba, which may be grown 

 as a novelty, but it is not so useful, and 

 a variety, nana, a dwarf Lavender about 

 1 foot high when in flower, and valuable as 

 an edging. The Lavender grown exten- 

 sively in the Mitcham district for commercial 

 purposes differs from the common garden 

 Lavender and is known as Lavandula vera. 

 To ensure that Lavender shall retain its 

 fragrance throughout a long period, some 

 care is necessary in cutting and drying the 

 flower spikes. These should be cut when 

 fully expanded, but before the blossoms 

 begin to fall, and when they are quite dry. 

 Spread them out to dry in a cool, shady 

 place, not, as is often done, in the full sun, 

 for the drying process must be gradual. 

 When dry tie them up and hang in a cool, 

 dry cupboard until required for use. 



Those who do not possess plants from 

 which to take cuttings can raise Lavender 

 from seeds, sowing from April to June on 

 a border out of doors or in a cold frame. 

 Lavender is a native of South Europe, and 

 appears, according to records, to have been 

 first introduced to Britain about the middle 

 of the sixteenth century. 



Rosemary. Rosmarinus officinalis is, 

 next to Lavender, chief favourite among 

 flower garden herbs. It is an evergreen shrub, 

 from 2 to 4 feet or more in height, native of 

 Southern Europe and Asia Minor. The 

 flowers, which appear in spring, are white 

 tinged with pale blue, and the leaves are 

 fragrant. Rosemary is propagated by seeds 

 sown on a border out of doors during spring 

 or summer, by cuttings inserted under a 



handlight or in a cold frame from August to- 

 October, and by layering the lower branches 

 during July and August. The bushes will 

 grow freely in most garden soils that are 

 well drained but need a rather warm and 

 sheltered position ; in cold gardens they 

 should be planted in a border at the foot 

 of a south or south-west wall. In spring, 

 when in flower, the bushes are very attrac- 

 tive. 



Rue. There are many sorts of Rue 

 (botanists list as many as forty), but the 

 only one worthy of mention here is Ruta 

 graveolens, the Common Rue. It is an 

 evergreen, somewhat shrubby plant, growing 

 2 to 3 feet in height, with grey-green leaves, 

 and yellow flowers, which are freely borne 

 from June to August. The presence of a 

 volatile oil gives the Rue a very strong 

 odour and an acrid taste. Choose a fairly 

 warm and sheltered position, and plant in 

 well-drained soil. Propagation is by seeds 

 sown on a border out of doors in spring and 

 early summer, also by cuttings inserted in 

 a cold frame or under a handlight in late 

 summer and autumn. 



Sage. The Common Sage (Salvia 

 officinalis) is a familiar garden herb having 

 bitter and aromatic properties. Propagation 

 is by seeds sown on a border out of doors 

 during March and April, and by cuttings, 

 which will root readily in a closed frame or 

 handlight during the summer. A rather 

 light loamy soil is the most satisfactory. 

 It is preferable to renew Sage bushes every 

 second or third year, for after that period 

 they become of straggling and untidy appear- 

 ance. The grey tint of the foliage and the* 

 rich blue flowers of Salvia officinalis are 

 distinctly ornamental, and this plant might 

 with advantage be more frequently used in 

 shrubbery and garden borders. During 

 summer the Sage leaves should be gathered 

 fresh as required. In autumn cut off the 

 branches, dry and tie up in bunches for winter 

 use ; or the leaves may be stripped off when 

 dry, rubbed between the hands and kept in 

 a tin. 



Lavender Cotton. The botanical name 

 of this plant is Santoh'na chamoecyparissus. 

 It grows from 1 foot to 2 feet high, and 

 forms a compact, close-growing bush with 

 grey stems and leaves. Towards the end 



