530 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



cleverly used. The stick itself cannot be made beautiful. Sticks 

 painted green with gilt tops appear in the lists of some dealers in 

 horticultural sundries. Such things are never seen in good places ; 

 they belong to that category of horrors that includes grasses dyed 

 magenta, moss dyed a most unmosslike green, and the coloured glass 

 balls of small continental back gardens. Many gardeners use strips 

 of deal laths carefully rounded. These have a certain neatness in 

 themselves, but are much too conspicuous. No sticks for pot plants 

 are better than Hazel suckers, whether of large size, as for 6 feet 

 high Chrysanthemums, or such as suit a pot of Tulips or Hyacinths. 

 Next to these in merit are Apple prunings; if they are looked over 

 as soon as they are cut and tied together in bundles they dry straight 

 and are extremely useful, the larger ones doing admirably for Carnations 

 of the next season. Plants of a feathery way of growth, like Gypsophila 

 and Michaelmas Daisies, are best supported with branching spray, such 

 as may be cut out of the tops when trees are felled. It is most 

 important to have all these accessories prepared in good time, so that 

 when they are wanted they are ready at hand. But the thing to 

 remember is, that though the sticks must needs be there, they must 

 never show so as to mar the beauty of the garden. 



Tub-Gardening. This is a form of gardening which is rapidly 

 becoming popular. As the name suggests, it means planting in tubs 

 for the decoration of lawn or terrace. It is often possible to grow some 

 handsome plant in a tub and not in the open garden. Tubs of plants 

 may be placed upon the terrace, by the garden path, or on each side of 

 the hall door. Sometimes the foliage is very fragrant, and when brushed 

 against gives off a warm and powerful odour, such as the Lemon plant 

 and the Cape Pelargonium. These tub plants, when no better accommo- 

 dation exists, such as a conservatory or large plant house, may be stored 

 away in cellars and kept safe from frost by coverings of straw or similar 

 material. The Agapanthus is one of the best of tub plants, and a choice 

 may be made from the following : Myrtles, the Lemon plant or Sweet 

 Verbena (Aloysia citriodord), the fragrant-leaved Cape Pelargoniums, the 

 fragrant Choisya ternata or Mexican Orange flower; Heliotropes, the 

 Coral tree (Erythrina Crista-galli\ Plumbago capensis, and the Yucca. 

 Tubs can be purchased, or made from paraffin casks and beer barrels 

 cut in two in the centre. Nail a bit of half-round wood in each circle, 

 or nail stout zinc on the outsides of them. Two coats of paint will do, 

 but a third one is an advantage. The two first should be lead colour, 

 and the third green. A coat of black afterwards should be given on the 

 black hoops. As soon as the tubs are cut in two get some shavings or 

 dry straw and upturn each tub over them. Then set fire to them and 

 leave the tubs sufficiently long on fire so that the inner surface is well 

 charred over. For the smaller sizes not less than five holes bored with 

 an inch auger should be made in the bottom of each tub. Larger ones 

 should have more. For the smaller sizes two stout box handles should 

 be screwed on to each one. They can be purchased cheaply from any 

 ironmonger. For the larger tubs stouter ones are best. 



