ITEMS OF INTEREST 529 



before the crinkled petals burst open. At least three varieties are 

 grown out of doors, namely the type, the big double-flowered variety, 

 with petals margined with white, Picotee-like, and the dwarf variety 

 known as nanum. There are other forms besides these, including a 

 white-flowered one which I have seen in Paris gardens, where old 

 very old standard plants are grown and treasured. The dwarf variety 

 is cultivated as a pot plant in some continental countries. I have seen 

 it in the Hamburg florists' shops, pretty little pyramids in 5-inch 

 pots, covered with flowers. Fruits are rarely produced by the Pome- 

 granate in England." 



Scum on a Pond. A well-known correspondent of The Garden 

 in replying to a question about freeing a pond from scum on the 

 advent of hot summer weather writes : " I used to be troubled in the 

 same way in a cemented tank of still water, which would keep clear 

 until after two or three days of hot summer, when it would be com- 

 pletely covered with green scum. It had vegetable life in the shape 

 of Nymphaeas, and animal life in the golden carp, but the scum ap- 

 peared in spite of them. A few years ago I collected a large number 

 of water snails and put them into it, since which time I have never 

 had to complain of this scum. Although it would be rather too hasty 

 a generalisation to quote these facts as cause and effect, I mention 

 them as a suggestion for what they are worth, and I believe others 

 have had a similar experience. At any rate, the experiment is worth 

 trying. I suspect also that the introduction of tench would also prove 

 useful for keeping down vegetable growth, for which they are better 

 than carp." 



Sticks and Stakes. Many a garden is sadly disfigured by the 

 clumsy and unsightly way the plants are staked. In dressed grounds 

 the stakes that are necessary for the support of the plant should never 

 show; they should be sufficient for their purpose, but must never 

 obtrude their presence. Often they are much too tall, overtopping 

 the plant by a foot or more. Sometimes it comes from the want of 

 a little foresight, but oftener from an insensibility to much of the 

 ugliness that ought to be obvious. Plenty of stakes of all lengths 

 should be provided in the winter, so that there are enough and to spare 

 of all heights. Where this adequate provision is not made perhaps 

 it happens that there are stakes of short Dahlia height, but none 

 provided for Pseonies ; it seems a pity to shorten a good Dahlia stake, 

 so in it goes for the Paeony and sticks up ij foot above it, entirely 

 destroying the beauty of the flower and all the poetical aspect of the 

 garden. As a rough rule, it will be enough if the stick comes up 

 two-thirds the height of the plant, especially in the case of graceful 

 things like Lilies. Most Lilies arch over or bend a little one way, 

 and to see them tied up rigidly to a straight stick taller than their 

 fullest height is a grievous sight to the true lover of beauty in a 

 garden. The Bamboo sticks that are so cheap and handy are often 

 used in an unsightly way; they are so very straight, and their light 

 colour makes them conspicuous, though they are excellent if they are 



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