S3 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



lilac wilh golden throat. The cloth of gold Crocus 

 is C. susianus, the flowers being golden yellow, deep 

 brown on the outer segments, whilst include too the 

 familiar European C. vermis, ranging from white to 

 violet in colour, and C. versicolor, purple to white, 

 the segments being often streaked or feathered with 

 colour. 



Autumn - flowering Croci should be more known in 

 English gardens. It is often forgotten that in this group 

 are splendid colours, which gladden the garden at a 

 time rich hues overspread the landscape. Taking the 

 autumn-floweiing kinds alphabetically, C. cancellatus is 

 first, its flowers lavender white, and appear in November ; 

 C. iridiflorus is very handsome, in form much resembling 

 an Iris, and purple in colour, C. lsevigatus, lavender 

 white, C. longiflorus, purple with golden throat, C. 

 medius, purple, C. nudiflorus, purple-blue, C. ochroleucus, 

 ivory white, C. pulchellus, pale mauve, C. sativus (the 

 Saffron), deep purple, C. seiotinus, bright lilac, C. 

 sreclosus, purple-blue, C. Tourneforti, lilac, orange 

 throat, ar.d C. zonatus, rose lilac. Of this group none 

 is richer than C. speciosus, which should be planted in 

 the same free way as the spring-flowering kinds, watching 

 the bulbs, however, to prevent mice devouring them. 

 Mice seem more partial to this bulb than any other. 

 This is a Crocus worth planting freely near trees, in the 

 shrubbery, upon the lawn, and, indeed, any place 

 where in the light of an autumn day its rich purple- 

 blue flowers can open widely and show their rich 

 orange stigma. It is very fiee, and fairly reasonable 

 in price. Such a flower should be used well in the 

 pleasure garden. 



Crown Imperial.— -S'tv Fritillary. 



Cutting's. — When one speaks of a cutting it is intended 

 to convey that certain plants are propagated by taking 

 moderately ripened shoots of varying length, usually 

 3in. or aim, and after cutting just beneath a joint 

 with a sharp knife, removing the lower pair of leaves to 

 allow a clear stem for insertion in the soil. In the 

 descriptions of plants a note is given as to the best way 

 to increase the family mentioned. The operation is very 

 simple. 



Cyclamens, Hardy.— An exquisite family is this, with 

 flowers like those of the Persian Cyclamen, but smaller 

 and more fragrant. The best time to plant is the spring, 

 and to sow seeds early summer, the seed germinating 

 freely in a cold frame ; but exercise patience, as the 

 seedlings appear irregularly. Cyclamens may be planted 

 in various positions. If there are shady walks or 

 woodland, where ferns grow, the plants are pleasing 

 here, the bright cheery flowers peeping up from the 

 coveiing of grass and stray leaves at all seasons. A 

 pretty picture is a colony of hardy Cyclamens in bloom 

 on an early spring or winter day, but where no woodland 

 exists, then plant upon the rock garden. A light shade 

 from hot sun is desirable, as the plants succeed under 

 trees, at least where the ends of the branches cast 

 shadows. The soil must be what gardeners call a 

 " vegetab'e " compost, that is a spongy giound, made up 

 of tree leaves, loam, and peat, the kind of soil one 

 gets when leaves and sweepings have accumulated in one 

 place for years. Many grow the plants in a cold frame 

 in a compost of this description, and a wealth of 

 colour is the reward early in the \ ear. It is not everyone 

 that can afford to give them this protection, but a frameful 

 of Cyclamens in bloom is a fair sight. C. Atkinsoni, C. 

 coum, C. europ<eum, C. hederiefolium, or repandum, 

 C. neapolitanum, and album are the hardy kinds. 

 Of these there are varieties, some white and tender 

 shades, making the family more interesting and 

 beautiful. 



Cypripedium speetabile (Mccasson flower). — The 



hardy Cvpripediums, or Lady Slippers, are mentioned in 

 the chapter upon "Rock Gardens.'' C. speetabile is, how- 

 ever, the most beautiful of all, and should be planted 

 wherever suitable conditions can be found. Plant when 

 the roots come to hand, and in a moist soil, partly 

 shaded, a bed, for example, in which Primula rosea, 



Trillium 1 ;, and Marsh Marigolds are happy, giving each 

 year a mulch of well-decayed manure. Groups may be 

 formed also in the woodland, wheie a ma*-s of the pink 

 and white flowers is full of charm and colour. 

 Reference, too, will be made to the hardy Orchids 

 in the general chapter upon the family, but C. 

 speetabile is too precious to leave out amongst the 

 hardy flowers. 

 Dlffodil. — See Narcissus. 



Dahlias. — See chapter upon " Tender Plants for the 

 Summer Garden." 



Daisies. — The Double Daisy is a quaint, bright flower 

 used as an edging, or in beds with similar dwarf plants. 

 Unfortunately, the plant dies in some soils ; it is uncertain, 

 and has to be renewed in places to which it does not 

 take kindly. When the soil is cool and the tufts are 

 not half-killed by drought in summer, they spread 

 freely, and if an increase of stock is desired, it is a 

 simple matter to pull them apart in spring or in the 

 autumn. The double red and the double white are the 

 commonest kinds, and may be used in association, as the 

 colouisare decided. But there are also such forms as 

 the "Hen and Chickens,'' so-called because the flower 

 sends out lateral blooms, so to speak, suggesting the 

 curious name. Snowflake is a fine white variety, very 

 pure, and with flat petals. Also of good colour are 

 Lord Beaconsfield, rich crimson ; Rob Roy, a charming 

 red Daisy, perhaps the brightest and best of its colour ; 

 and Queen Victoria, red mottled colour. A variegated 

 variety named Aucubasfolia is in a measure pretty, as the 

 variegation is bright, but is apt to damp off, and fogs 

 are fatal. 



Delphiniums. — These are also called Larkspurs, of 

 which there are two distinct groups, annual and perennial, 

 but it is only the perennial kinds that are consideied 

 here. These are glorious summer flowers, noble in 

 growth and in bloom, brave masses of colour for many 

 weeks when the principal stems are removed to encourage 

 a succession of side growths. During recent years such 

 raisers as Messrs. Kelway and Son of Langport have 

 striven earnestly to greatly improve the race, and with 

 success. Many of the newer forms are of splendid 

 colour, rich blues, purples, and other shades, sometimes 

 while in the centre with intense blue outer florets, and 

 perfectly double, whilst we have, in such varieties as 

 Beauty of Langpott and Primrose, flowers almost white, 

 so faint is the yellow tinge. A pure white variety is 

 suie to follow. A selection of varieties is not given, 

 because all are so beautiful, and it is advisal le to see 

 the plants in bloom if possible. The blue varieties are 

 very effective, especially when a sheaf of blossom is 

 thrown into relief by a background of shrubs. Del- 

 phiniums are very easy to grow, and may be planted at 

 almost any lime, but the best seasons are early autumn 

 and spring, when new growth commences. The great 

 point is to plant them in rich, well dug and manured 

 soil, and strew coal ashes about, for the reason that slugs 

 are very partial to the plants. Ample space must be 

 allowed for full development, as with age the roots 

 increase greatly, so that 2§ft. apart is none too much. 

 Purchase the newer varieties, which are finer in eveiy 

 way than the old kinds, being taller, stronger, and more 

 varied. 



Delphiniums are always striking, even in poor 

 soil, but it is only a rich ground that can support the 

 strong growth. In many English gardens the massive 

 leafy clumps are the glory of the place, tall strong stems 

 being sent up many feet and thickly crowded with 

 splendid flowers for colour, perhaps self blue, as blue as 

 the Gentian, or relieved by white segments, sometimes 

 blue and salmon pink — indeed, it is not easy to 

 enumerate the shades found in a good selection — whilst 

 there are perfectly double kinds too. When shrubs are 

 thinly placed, an unusually rich effect is gained by 

 planting Delphiniums between ; the sheafs of blossom 

 brighten up shrubberies and last for weeks in beauty, or 

 they may be planted in the back row of the mixed 

 border ; indeed, in any place where robust growth i. 



