592 



THE 



GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



August 3, 1912. 



A SEVEN-FLOWERED SWEET DAHLIA CULTIVATION FOR 



PEA SPIKE 



EXH'BITION 



I am setKlinn; a photograph of a s\v<H^t p^a, 

 Hanlcast lo Svk^'S which I thoiitrlit 

 might be ot" iiitorc^st to yimv rracU^rs. The 



Mrs 



a big tank or tub as a ''distillery/' and 

 placo in it, when full of soft water/ a ba? 

 of animal manure and a hag of soot, Tie 

 manure may be renewed frequently and 



that 



During early August the dahlia grows _ 



with great rapidity, especially after rain given too strong, providing the^'pTantrr'^ 



— -'-^ J -V..,....,. ..tv. or during damp, warm weather. Those • i . ^ 



seven flowers were produetKl on one stalk, who have grown dahlias for any length of 

 which divided some loin, from its base, time can look ' ' 



this IS a 



j^^.^^^ K.^.v..x^, j^.^.^^ixij^ pianxs re- 

 quire the water, and are on well-drained 

 soil. During a really dry spell t^ive two 



each f>f tli*^ hranelH\s liaviiiii thrro flowers, 

 whih* tilt' s( \'4'nth hlooni u i> [ilacfd pxaetly 



at the <liv 

 Nighti ng; 



ii>n ! ixrt'w ;i •^[>ik»* <it Klorence 

 uiili .->evi'n ijluoins on it, but 



climatic conditions (not that 

 matter confined to dahlia growers only), 

 and whereas in one season it has been a 



case of ceaseless watenine:, another stands 



gallons per plant twice a week, *or even 

 three times in exceptional circumsta-K-os 



f 



FLOWERED SPIKE OF SWEET PEA MRS. HARDCASTLE 



the arraiigement of the flowers was not 

 nearly so efi'ective as in this case. 



A- E. Protheroe. 

 Bourne House, Purlev. 



Tuberous-rooted Begronias.— 



The tuberous begonia of the present dav has 

 now reached such a state of perfection"' that 

 it is difficult to say how a further improve- 

 ment can possibly take place. We used to 

 have several forms of double flowers, but 

 the tendency now is towards the develop- 

 ment of blossoms in shape like a perfect 

 rose, and which, at the same time, hold 

 their heads up well. To oDe who has 

 watched the progress of these begonias 

 trom their early stages, the development 



01 the present-day race is most surpris- 

 ing.— S. W. ^ 



out in ones memory chiefly on account of 

 wind and ram, and consequent wettings 

 to the skin when attempting to do any- 

 thing to the plants. These differences 

 make it ampossihie to say what shall or 

 shall not be done in the way of watering 

 and feeding, ^ 



In wet seasons feeding is not so neces- 

 sary as m dry, and the only way to apply 

 manure is to put it on top of the ground 

 and let it wash in. Taking an average 

 there are few years that are either very 

 wet or very dry, and feeding by means of 

 liquid manure is usually possible during 

 some portion of the growing season. It 

 is of no great consequence whether artifi- 

 cial or natural manures are given, but the 

 latter are lesg likely to spoil the plants. 

 No better plan can he adopted than to use 



but it is folly to give \vater a little aid 

 often, as this merely damps the sarfa^^e 

 w^hich dries away at sunrise, and the lower 

 roots get no benefit whatever. I r.'ight 

 add that diluted sewage is a good stmiu- 

 lant, but perhaps rather inclined to cause 

 coarse growth and flowers. I have not 

 used it personally, but have noted the re- 

 sults in two or three country places, where 

 no other manure Avas used. 



We now ccme to thinning and dis^bud- 

 ding, and as previously pointed out, pom- 

 pons and singles require very little actual 

 disibudding. In the case of pompons, the 

 side buds are seldom very full in the oen- 



- lA-'kJ *t VJ,L tlO 



the old flowers, while singles mnst have the 

 seed pods removed. Doubles may be dis- 

 buddedl freely, la,nd^ the side shoots for 

 some distance down the stem must be re- 

 moved also. ITiis will also prevent the 

 plants getting too bushy, as hy removing 

 the little side growths when disbudding 

 very few remain to flower. 



In the case of cactus varieties, a more 

 elahorate system is often necessary, as 

 the individual shoots are more numerous 

 and not so robust. Hed Admiral, for in- 

 stance, produces quantities of growths often 

 from below ground and near the base, but, 

 on the other hand, Irresistible and Ivernia 

 need hardly any thinning, and only require 

 disbudding. The finest flowers are ob- 

 tained on the six or eight main stems, 

 and upon thefee heinjg dis/budded the 

 strongest of the lower side shoots are al- 

 lowed to remain, tied in, and left to de- 

 velop. Thus the six main stems now be- 

 come the supporters of other young shoots, 

 which, in their turn, carry on the system, 

 and ensure a continual display of flowers. 



easy matter to over- 



It is a 

 thin the 



quite 



and 



a 



heginner 



in 



plants, 



his zeal to produce big flowers, may over 

 look the fact that he is leaving no young 

 growth to follow on later. I have seen 

 plants so badly thinned that, although dis- 

 playing six or seven very fine flowers, yet 

 after these had developed and been cut, 

 there was not a shoot left which would 

 flower inside three weeks, and as the 

 flowers were too early for the show they 

 had been grown for, the exhibitor was left 

 a wiser if a sadder man. 



All weakly growth, either from the base 

 or higher, may he cut out, and when old 

 flowers are no further use, cut them off 

 with as manv joints as have previously 



as many 

 been disbudded 



Having grown a good flower is only part 

 of the battle when exhibiting is the object 

 in view, and the part that often proves the 

 undoing of the would-be champion is tak- 

 ing the flowers to a show in first-rate con- 

 dition. Flowers which were perfect ex- 

 amples the day previous to the show are, 

 at the time of judging, either badly flag- 

 ging or open in tlie centre, and, although 

 perhaps twice the size, vet count less 

 than younger flowers on 

 stand. 



Those who adopt some means of sli idl- 

 ing the blooms are liable torise older flowers 

 than would he the case if all had heen left 

 out in the sun and rain; old blooms flag 

 quickly or drop the whole of their back 

 florets. A friend once said to me, 



yet 



a competitor s 



Why 



