ABSTRACTS. 



118/ 



from participating in the delights of gardening, by reason of their environ- 

 ment ; yet since roof-gardening has been proved to be possible, the citizen 

 without a square yard of land may, if he will, enjoy the sweets of home- 

 grown flowers. This article shows how these flowers may be grown in 

 the roof garden, and gives the most suitable ones for the purpose. 



E. T. C. 



Roof-gardening". By C, Hinze (Die Gart. p. 42, 25/10/1902). — A 

 most exhaustive and very interesting article, with illustrations, treating 

 landscape gardening on the flat roofs of town houses or mansions. The 

 houses with roof gardens are nearly always those of the working or middle 

 classes, recently built in wide streets with all the newest improvements, 

 and of course not " jerry-built." The rocfs are usually covered with zinc 

 on which wood, cement, and asphalte are put to prevent the water from 

 entering the building. On the top of this first gravel is put and the soil 

 of whatever depth is permissible — or necessary — from a few inches to a 

 foot depth. Early in the summer previously prepared plants, either 

 annuals or bedding plants, are planted, with here and there foliage plants 

 in pots, such as Dracaenas &c. 



In the suburbs of such model towns as Berlin, Paris, &c, roof-garden- 

 ing is done quite on a large scale. The houses are usually several stories 

 high, substantially and in many cases artistically built, but, though 

 having wide streets, have very small courtyards. — G. R. 



Root-grafting*. By G. T. Grignan (Rev. Hort. No. 21, Nov. 1, 

 1902, pp. 508-9). — A description of the process employed by M. W. Geucke, 

 of Reutlingen, for propagating species of Ficus by means of portions of 

 living roots, detached from pot-plants, being inserted, graft fashion, just 

 below the eye of the buds, from year-old wood. These buds are separated 

 with about half an inch of the wood below the bud, and in fifteen days, 

 with bottom heat of 30° to 38° C, they become well rooted.— C. T. D. 



Rose Garden, The University. By C. A. Keffer (University of 

 Tennessee Record, January 1903, p. 61). — A new garden formed of what 

 was, two years ago, a patch of Wild Onion, and now " the most attractive 

 place in the grounds." 



The treatment accorded to the Roses — a very representative collection — 

 is as follows :— Spring finds the beds heavily mulched. This is forked in 

 when the buds begin to swell. In June, when hot weather begins, a 

 mulch of farmyard manure, three or four inches thick, is applied. A 

 weekly inspection, when dead blossoms are cut off and judicious dis- 

 budding practised, keeps the flowering more evenly distributed. 



A second mulch is often necessary in September owing to the 

 repeated hoeings which have incorporated the first with the soil. The 

 Ro.se garden is at its best in autumn, having, when the notice was written 

 (October 24), about 3,000 blooms in it. When frost comes the plants are 

 littered with pine boughs and corn stalks (Indian), and in March pruned 

 somewhat severely. 



A list of varieties follows, hybrid teas being the favourites. — C. II, ('. 



Rose 'Mme. Jules Grolez.' By Arthur R. Goodwin (Garden, No. 

 1611, p. 232, 4/10/02). — A description of this lovely Hybrid Tea, with 



