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Gardening for Amateurs 



a valuable class of greenhouse flowering 

 shrubs. They are free-growing bushy plants, 

 the flowers being produced chiefly during the 

 autumn months. The flowers are disposed in 

 bottle- brush-like spikes, and vary in colour 

 from white to deep crimson and purple. A 

 few of the best are Admiration, rich purple ; 

 Attraction, deep violet ; Conquete, lavender ; 

 Diamant, rich crimson ; Eveline, salmon- 

 pink ; Favourite, violet-purple ; La Seduis- 

 ante, rich violet ; Mont Blanc, pure white ; 

 and Valerie, rich blue. In favoured parts of 

 the country these Veronicas are hardy, but in 



most districts they must rather be regarded 

 as greenhouse plants. They strike freely 

 from cuttings put in sandy soil in a closed 

 frame in spring, and grow freely afterwards. 

 In the summer they may be placed out-of- 

 doors. Grown in 5-inch pots, pleasing little 

 specimens full of flower mav be obtained ; 

 while, of course, if shifted on they will form 

 good-sized bushes, which are very effective 

 in the conservatory, or for placing out-of- 

 doors in suitable districts. 



Wallflowers. (See Annuals for the 

 Greenhouse.) 



The Value of Mulching. Mulching 

 the roots of plants, shrubs, or trees is carried 

 out with the object, first of all, of protecting 

 the roots against fierce sunshine when they 

 are close to the surface of the soil. It is 

 easv to understand that without this pro- 

 tection the smaller and all-important fibrous 

 roots would become dried up in periods of 

 drought. But by mulching they are kept 

 cool and moist, and the escape of moisture 

 from the soil by evaporation is greatly 

 lessened. Thus less water needs to be given 

 than where the covering has not been 

 applied. Partly-decayed manure is chiefly 

 used for mulching, and it has the additional 

 advantage of providing nutriment for the 

 roots of the plants. But lawn-mowings, 

 spent hops, leaves, and other waste may be 

 utilised. The best time to apply a mulch 

 is in spring. 



About Pelargoniums. Pelargoniums, 

 especially the Zonal and Show kinds, are 

 immensely popular as pot plants, being 

 easy to cultivate, and not much affected 

 by insects or disease. The Show Pelar- 

 goniums, which flower in late spring and 

 early summer chiefly, are liable to attacks 

 by greenfly, it is true, but if fumigation by 

 one of the numerous nicotine compounds is 

 occasionally carried out this pest can easily 

 be kept in cheok. The treatment of these 

 plants is in many ways unlike that needed 

 by most soft-wooded plants. The Show kinds, 

 after their first flowering, are usually placed 

 out-of-doors in a sunny position, and less 

 water is given them than previously. In 

 wet weather they may be laid on their sides. 



When the stems have become brown, 

 indicating ripeness, they are cut back, and 

 afterwards syringed frequently. When new 

 shoots are an inch or so long they are shaken 

 out and repotted in small pots, subsequently 

 being repotted as required. This treat- 

 ment can be repeated annually, and fine 

 plants will be obtained in a few years. 

 The Zonal Pelargoniums, or " Geraniums," 

 are more adaptable, as by rooting cuttings 

 at different times plants may be had in 

 bloom practically throughout the year. 

 For summer-flowering insert short -jointed 

 cuttings in August and September, but to 

 obtain plants for winter-blooming spring 

 propagation is best. If very sandy soil is 

 used and little water is given, a large per- 

 centage of cuttings will root. The plants 

 intended for winter display need to be well 

 prepared by undergoing open-air treatment 

 from June until early autumn, as this results 

 in well-ripened growth, so essential to free 

 flowering. The potting is important, inas- 

 much as the use of rich soil, too large pots, 

 or failing to make the soil firm, tend to 

 produce soft, sappy growth and plenty of 

 fine leaves, but blossoms will be few and far 

 between. The only manure added to the 

 sandy loam used for potting should be bone- 

 meal, though feeding with liquid manures 

 may be carried out with care a few weeks 

 before the flowering period. Very firm 

 potting should be practised to produce 

 short, sturdy growth, while 5-inch, or at the 

 most 6-inch, pots are large enough for ordi- 

 nary purposes. Big specimen plants must, 

 of course, be repotted in larger pots. 



