^ 



June 22, 1912. 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



473 



will 



STOVE PLANTS. 



HIBISCUS COOPEKI VAEIEGATA. — 

 This is a stove species well worth growing 

 for its compact habit and beautifully marked 

 leafage; but, as far as my experience goes, 

 the plant is seldom met with in private col- 

 lections at the present day. To bring out the 

 rich colouration of the foliage, which is its 

 real beauty, the roots should be restricted 

 iu rather small pots. Being of a shrubby 

 character the plant is very accommodating, 

 as it may be pruned hard back in winter to 

 whatever shape is desired The compost 

 most suitable is three parts good friable 

 oam to one part each of peat and leaf-soil, 

 with plenty of sand and mortar-rubble 

 added Propagation is readily effected by 

 cuttings of the young shoots m spring, and 

 essential points to bear m mmd are hrm 

 potting avoidance of over-pottmg and feed- 

 ing, and removal of flowers. 



GIRBENIAS.— Established plants 

 now be flowering, or approaching that stage 

 if started into growth as advised. \Mth 

 proper management gardenias will provide a 

 wealth of their fragrant flowers succession- 

 ally over a long period, and especially will 

 this be ensured if two or three batches are 

 grown High feeding is necessary directly 

 the flower buds are formed, and all weak 

 lateral growths should be removed m order 

 to concentrate the whole energies of the plant 

 upon the blooms. When these are all cut 

 ^ive every encouragement to the plants to 

 Lain break by maintaining a stronger heat 

 than was desirable whilst in flower, and 

 syringe freely twice or thrice daily. Provided 

 the plants were given a liberal shift early in 

 spring no further potting will be necessary, 

 except' in the case of young plants being 

 grown on. A top-dressing of good maiden 

 soil, to which should be added a sprinkling of 

 bone-meal, soot, and artificial manure, 

 should be given immediately after flower- 

 ing. Tlie blooms should be cut before fully 

 expanded, and placed in water in a tem- 

 perate room; if allowed to open fully on the 

 plant they quickly turn yellow. 



FOLIAGE PLANTS FOU TABLE DECO- 

 RATION.— Well-grown specimens, m small 

 pots, of crotons, dracainas, pandanus, and 

 aralia of the elegantissima type, are of im- 

 mense value during the dull winter months, 

 when flowering plants suitable for table de- 

 coration are scarce. Among the first-named 

 the narrow and twisted leaved varieties are 

 best^ such as Chelsoni, Countess, Warreni, 

 Johannis, and others of like habit. As- 

 siduous attention should be given to the pro- 

 pagation of sufficient numbers of these from 

 now onwards. Cleanliness, both of the struc- 

 ture in which the plants are grown, and 

 the plants themselves, with plenty of light 

 and a humid atmosphere, with top-ventila- 

 tion on tine days, are important factors in 

 success. Where much table decoration is 

 carried out, a goodly number of plants in 

 small 60-sized pots may be grown and 

 utilised, as well as those in larger pots; for, 

 if turned out and neatly massed up they can 

 be artistically disposed in a variety of ways 

 about the table and sideboards. Some growers 

 dibble small pieces of the close-growing 

 inellas, such as denticulata, apeda^ etc., 

 on the surface of the soil some time before 

 the plants are needi'd tor use, where they 

 quickly root and form a ])k'aying set-oft" to the 

 plants; small pots of Ihese subjects may be 

 grown separately, and tlien placed on the 

 surface when the plants are takt'ii indoors. 

 — H. T. Martin, Warren Wood Gardens. 



FRUITS UNDER GLASS. 



EAELY PEACHES AND NECTARINES.— 

 The crop of fruits will have been gathered 

 from these trees, and immediate steps should 

 be taken to cleanse the foliage from insect 

 pests. Where red spider has been trouble- 

 some, the trees should be dusted several 

 times with flowers of sulphur when the foli- 

 age is wet. Thoroughly syringe the trees 

 regularly with the help of the garden engine 

 for several weeks. It is absolutely necessary 

 to apply the water forcibly to eradicate 



red spider and thrips, but, at the same time, 

 sufficient care should be exercised, so that 

 no damage is done to the leaves in any way. 

 Give the roots several good soakings with 

 clean water, and allow the ventilators to 

 remain fully open night and day. Examine 

 the trees, and remove all surplus growths 

 that are not required for next season. 



MID-SEASON AND LATE TREES.— Con- 

 tinue to tie in the young growths as re- 

 quired, and admit plenty of air, both at 

 night and in the daytime. At this season of 

 the year copious supplies of water should 

 be administered to the roots; syringe the 

 trees thoroughly every morning and after- 

 noon to keep the foliage in a clean, healthy 

 condition; trees that are carrying heavy 

 crops of fruit will require frequent applica- 

 tions of both liquid farmyard and chemical 

 manure. Pull aside the foliage to expose the 

 fruit to the sunlight and air, and maintain 

 a moderately dry atmosphere in the house 

 during the ripening stage. 



PINE APPLETS. — Where the successional 

 plants have filled their pots with roots, they 

 should be shifted into fruiting pots, exer- 

 cising great care not to break the ball of 

 soil during this operation. Spray the plants 

 over lightly on bright afternoons, and close 

 the house early. Supply liquid manure twice 

 a week to plants that are swelling their 

 fruits, but as soon as they commence to ripen 

 stimulants of all kinds, as well as syringing, 

 must be discontinued. 



CUCUMBERS.— These will require con- 



stant attention to regulate and tie in the 

 growths. Remove any leaves that have per- 

 form^ their functions, and show signs of 

 decay. Frequently damp down the houses 

 to maintain a humid atmosphere, and 

 thoroughly syringe the foliage once a day 

 to ward off the attacks of red spider. This 

 pest has been a great source of trouble to 

 many large growers in this locality. Give 

 copious supplies of clean tepid water, and 

 stimulants as required; top-dress the roots 

 with a good rich compost when necessary. 

 It is a good plan to damp down the paths 

 and walls, late in the evening, with weak 

 liquid farmyard manure; tliis will not only 

 promote a healthy foliage, and the produc- 

 tion of finer fruits, but it will also assist to 

 keep red spider in check. 



TOMATOES.— The earliest plants have 

 produced heavy crops, and will still be in 

 a good fruitful condition where the cul- 

 tural details have been carefully followed 

 out. Dryness at the roots should not be 

 allowed at any time. When applying water 

 see that sufficient quantities are given to 

 well soak the whole bulk of mil. Stimulat- 

 ing manure can be u&ed more freely now, 

 and soot water, liquid manure, and chemicals 

 should be used occasionally to assist plants 

 that are bearing heavy crops. Top-dress the 

 plants with a rich loam and a sprinkling of 

 bone-meal when necessary. Later plants will 

 require to be carefully tied in; remove all 

 side laterals as soon as they appear; admit 

 plenty of air night and day, and pollinate 

 the flowers daily— Henry R. Farmer, Car- 

 diff Castle Gardens. 



THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



ORNAMENTAL VINES.— Many of these 

 are very beautiful and effective climbers, 

 and, owing to their quick growth, they very 

 soon create a decorative appearance. They 

 are especially suitable for planting against 

 arches and pergolas, and when the more 

 vigorous kinds are allowed to ramble freely 

 o\^r forest trees in the wild garden, they 

 are seen in all their natural beauty. Owing 

 to their brilliantly-coloured foliage m 

 autumn they are particularly effective at 

 that season of the year. They succeed 

 in any good garden soil, but copious water- 

 ings are necessary during dry weather i± 

 they are to make luxuriant growth, while 

 they derive considerable benefit by being 

 damped over with the syringe after a hot, 

 sunnVday. Vitis vinifera purpurea, V. Coig- 



netii, V. Thunbergi, are ^'^S^^'>'^^^^^^ 

 white V. armata, Y. flexuosa, V. ^\ ilsoni, and 

 V. hedracea are all lovely kinds. 



THE WATER GARDEN.— This feature is 

 now becoming attractive, and some of the 

 nymphaeas are expanding their flowers. The 

 foliage is so far very free from aphis, but 

 should this appear the leaves must be sprayed 

 with insecticide in the evening, when the 

 flowers are closed. When the plants are in 

 full bloom they present a really charming 

 sight. Any growing at the water's edge and 

 becoming too large can be carefully reduced 

 at the present time. The masses of spiraeas, 

 Japanese and other irises, growing on the 

 banks are commencing' to make a gorgeous 

 display. The showery weather has suited 

 these admirably, and also the gunneras, 

 which are fast developing their huge leaves. 

 These are assisted in their growth by having 

 some artificial fertiliser well ' washed into 

 their roots, and a mulching of decayed 

 manure is of material assistance to them. 

 The flower spikes should be removed as they 

 rob the plants of nutriment very consider- 

 ably. 



THE WILD GARDEN.— This is at all 

 times attractive, more especially at present, 

 while the rich and varied colouring of the 

 trees is fresh and brilliant. Japanese maples 

 add not a little to the beauty of this portion 

 of the grounds. These are very effective in 

 beds, or planted singly. The ground around 

 them should be kept" carefully cleaned and 

 free from weeds during the summer. This 

 is also essential treatment for the various 

 colonies and beds of plants in the wild gar- 

 den. It is necessary to mow the long grass 

 now, and gather it up carefully to avoid in- 

 jury to any of the shrubs and plants. Every- 

 thing should be kept as natural and informal 

 in appearance as possible, and groups^ of 

 plants should always be of irregular outline. 

 The wild garden is a place where self-sown 

 seedlings are to be encouraged. For in- 

 stance, masses of foxgloves, evening prim- 

 roses, paeonies, poppies, and other subjects 

 are extremely charming growing in natural 

 masses as they do here. — J. Gardner., Bats- 

 ford Park Gardens. 



flowered 



Com- 



plaints are sometimes made that these do not 

 flower with the same freedom as the single- 

 flowered kinds, and in the case ol small specL 

 mens this frequently holds good. When 

 large this same feature cannot be urged 

 against them, as they then bloom profusely. 

 I have had under my observation a veritable 

 tree of the white-flowered variety IMadame 

 Lemoine, which has been a mass of flowers 

 and admired by everyone. — K. 



Hippeastrums.— Tlicse are, in most 

 gardens, reicrred to as amaryllis, it being 

 an exceedingly difficult matter to change a 

 once thoroughly-established name. While 

 differences of opinion may exist on this point, 

 and also as to the best season in which the 

 bulbs should be repotted, there can be no 

 question as to the high ornamental qualities 

 of the different garden forms, and their value 

 for decorative purposes during the spring 

 months. Various species have played a part 

 in the production of the hippeastrums of to- 

 dav but that Veitchian publication, " Hortus 

 Veitchii,'' gives to Hippeastrum Leopoldi 

 the credit of having exercised the greatest 

 amount of influence on the present-day race. 

 That beautiful and distinct species, H. par- 

 dinum, whose flowers have a cream-coloured 

 ground dotted more or less with crimson, 

 though so attractive in itself , has not proved 

 of great value to the hybridist, while the 

 distinct Hippeastrum procerum (known popu- 

 larly as the blue amaryllis) has not up to 

 the present proved fertile, either as a seed 

 bearer or pollen parent when crossed with 

 the garden forms. Considerable changes have 

 of late years taken place among the hip- 

 peastrums, there being a great 

 ment in the shape of the flower, while the 

 ffreen centre is now almost elinunated. 

 \dded to this are the decided breaks in 

 colour which are now to be found among the 

 newer forms, of which the variety Rose du 

 Barri, which was given an Award of Merit 

 by the Royal Horticultural ^ocietj on 

 March 19, m^J be quoted as an example.-K. 



