I 4 2 



GARDENERS' 



MAGAZINE. 



March 



5« M 



Climbing Roses for Southern Gardens.-; 



As climbing roses can be grown in southern gardens under so many 

 pleasing forms of training, there is not a garden, even the smallest, but 

 what some means might be employed to see them in full beauty, and, 

 moreover, for one important reason, they should be selected m preference 

 to the more massive hybrid perpetuals, as by selecting suitable varieties, 

 a longer season of bloom can be obtained from these than is possible to 

 secure from plants whose growth is more restricted. Those who are 

 ' anxious to plant a few climbing roses round their residence, or to cover 

 pillars and archways, do not always make a wise selection, and are more 

 often tempted to plant what will cover the given space quickly than to 

 select probably less rampant growers, and more continuous in flowering. 



Hence it is that we so frequently find the old favourites, Gloire de 

 Dijon and Aimee Vibert, running almost wild over different positions 

 which would make the finest possible sites whereon to establish some of 

 the choicest varieties in the tender tea section, which are never seen in 

 full beauty owing to the unnecessary and harmful pruning they are sub- 

 jected to. The two varieties named above are not to be discarded — far 

 from it ; but it should be remembered that, beautiful as they both are 

 when in full flower, their season is a very short one, and it is a mistake 

 to allow them to occupy so much valuable space, and to exclude others 

 which, in ordinary seasons, will give a wealth of buds for five months in 

 the year ; these, in my opinion, being more pleasing in shape, shade of 

 colours, more fragrant, and in every way^ more useful for cutting. 



Although not recommended for planting in all positions and localities, 

 and at the same time admitting that it is not a perpetual bloomer, 

 Marechal Niel is still far away the finest yellow climbing rose in cultiva- 

 tion, and certainly deserves more attention than it receives. The pale 

 small buds and puny foliage so frequently seen is the result of mis- 

 management rather than of constitutional weakness. It must also be 

 admitted that fine vigorous trees sometimes collapse suddenly, causing 

 much disappointment, and an unsightly blank space for some time ; but 

 we know fine trees in different parts of the country which are in the best 

 possible condition. This we attribute to their being budded on the 

 Gloire de Dijon stock, the young shoots being kept free from greenfly 

 and mildew by early and frequent syringing, and not being over- 

 crowded with small weakly growth, which in a great measure prevents 

 the sun maturing the strongest wood early in the season. They also 

 have the advantage of the roots being in a well drained border, which is 

 kept in a sweet condition by an annual surface dressing of fresh loam, 

 crushed bones, and wood ashes, and the exclusion jf heavy dressings of 

 rank manure in the autumn. The hardier hybrid perpetuals may revel 

 in such dressings, but for the varieties under notice they either produce 

 rank sappy growth, which does not become well ripened in the autumn, 

 or render the soil unfit for many of the more delicate, but none the less 

 beautiful, varieties. Next to Marechal Niel, Cloth of Gold must be 

 mentioned as an exquisite rose, but seldom grown because of its shy 

 flowering habit. I would strongly advise any one to insert a few buds of 

 this on an established but not over gross Gloire de Dijon, 

 made would be less vigorous than that produced on its own' roots, 

 especially if these had the run of a rich border. If it is found that 

 flowering wood can be produced in this way, which we have proved can 

 be, the shoots should be gradually increased, and those from the stock- 

 reduced. Among other varieties that may be selected for the purpose 

 named are Madame Caroline Kuster, Reve d'Or, Narcisse, Lamarque, 

 Celine Forestier, Belle Lyonnaise, and Solfaterre. With the exception of 

 Belle Lyonnaise these belong to the noisette section, and are of different 

 shades of yellow, and as this colour generally denotes a certain amount 

 of tenderness in roses, a south aspect or warm wall should be given them 

 if possible. As yellow roses, when well grown, always command favour, 

 we have formed a group of them, though those named do not exhaust the 

 list by any means, and there are others that might be added. 



Many of the varieties belonging to the tea section are most suitable 

 for covering verandahs, arbours, and the like, as being allowed to grow 

 at will, they not only cover these quickly, but as each new shoot pro- 

 duces a cluster of delicate buds, they might rightly be termed the true 

 perpetuals. As an instance of this I may mention that we have growing 

 against south walls several very large trees of Safrano, and there has 

 hardly been a day throughout the winter but what we have been able to 

 gather nice bunches of perfect buds. Of course, allowance has to be made 

 for the locality and the unusually mild winter we have experienced, but I 

 mention this to show what a natural free-flowering habit this variety 

 possesses, and can therefore recommend it for a south wall or warm 

 corner. Mention must also be made of Madame Lambard. In connec- 

 tion with this variety it is interesting to note what effect soil and position 

 has upon the shade of the flowers ; thus they vary considerably from 

 creamy-pink to bright-rose sometimes on the same plant when the 

 branches are trained round different angles of a building. It is certainly 

 most desirable, and its glossy foliage is not so subject to greenfly as 



7?S. y ™ The V h . ere is that exquisite soft flesh-tinted variety 

 Catherine Mermet which is most profuse in producing buds of the finest 

 form, which together with its pleasing colour and scent, makes it a 

 favourite with all. We have had fine plants of this coverinTa south 

 wall, and the blooms obtained late in October were quite eqial to those 

 gathered in June. It may be suggested that this is not a dim binVrose" 

 admit t is not ; but any choice variety which can be induced to tW 

 the greatest amount of bloom by being allowed to occupy Sfferem 

 positions generally given up to climbers of less merit, the object of The 



riSSLJFH l na ^ bund ?nce of fragrant blossoms. It is hardlv 



The growth 



VEGETABLES FOR EXHIBITION. 



EARLY POTATOS. 



Undoubtedly the potato {Solatium tuberosum) is the m 



important vegetable cultivated in the kitchen garden an /° pukr »«i 

 many farms where the soil is suitable, it now form* V n ! ie «U 



profitable crops. Nevertheless, much care and forethought ■ 

 to produce tubers of the highest quality even on the best land m k eCes, T 

 be selection, preparation of the ground, proper planting atw*" m * 

 growing crop, lifting and storing, &c. Though popular and r **** 

 the potato is, I feel sure after long practical experience ihT^? 

 general crops and exhibition my notes will prove interesting a Si * 

 to the cultivator. s and 



We will commence with forcing for early supplies. New not 

 generally much appreciated in all establishments, and where mT** 

 available they should be brought forward as early as possible in th * 

 year, and a continuous supply kept up till the outside crop i s JS "? 

 lifting. For some years I have practised growing the earliest sudd? 1 • 

 ten-inch pots, a very easy and simple plan ; the pots can be moved? 1 

 one place to another with little trouble, which is a consideration in? 

 early months of the year. About the middle of December medium«2 

 sets' should be selected of a suitable variety, and there are none ta» 

 than Sharpe's Victor for this purpose. They should be placedk 

 shallow boxes in a warm pit or greenhouse, fully exposed to the lw£ 

 on a shelf quite close to the glass but safe against frost. " 



After _ 



they will be ready for potting. A light compost of two pans"lerfaj 

 and one each of old mushroom bed manure and light fibrous loam aj 

 passed through a sieve with half-inch mesh, should be prepared and 

 made nicely warm before using. The pots should be moderate 

 drained and filled half full with the soil, on which should be placed 

 two sets, carefully removing all the growths but two. Fill the pots tine 

 parts full, which will just cover the sets nicely, and leave room fat 

 earthing up after the growth has reached just above the top of the pot 

 They may be started into growth in any warm structure and in any 

 part, but as soon as the growth is above the soil they mus: 

 placed in a position where the shaws can enjoy the benefit of the 

 light, and an intermediate temperature only must be given them 

 A strong, sturdy growth should be aimed at, and in top- 

 dressing them I have found nothing better than finely sv 

 old spent mushroom bed manure. Excessively liberal supplies a 

 water must not be given at any time, but just sufficient only to keep 

 them growing steadily. To finish them off they may be stood along the 

 paths of a greenhouse, orchard house, or late vinery, and fine crops ti 

 be the result. 



For a succession to the above grow a second batch in heated pits 

 or frames placed on hot beds of leaves and half spent horse mm 

 thoroughly mixed together and turned several times. Before form| 

 the bed allow all the rank steam to escape, after this the frames may k 

 placed in position upon the fermenting materials, but the soil in no case 

 should be added until it is quite certain that the bed is in a $«* 

 condition, and that the heat is on the decline, otherwise the compost n 

 become baked and worthless. I much prefer deep brick pits with »flo« 

 and return of two-inch hot-water pipes running all round near the** 

 The bottom part should be filled with leaves, oak or birch if poss* 

 and when the heat from these is on the decline a good light coop* 

 should be spread over the surface to the depth of about a «« 

 allowing plenty of room for the tops to attain full devcopc- 

 without coming in contact with the glass, as in very severe wea..^ 

 even with the aid of hot water pipes, the foliage may become damafl» 

 The sets should be prepared exactly as advised for pot culture, m 

 many varieties are suitable for this planting. My favourites, no*"% 

 are Sharpe's Victor, a good type of Ashleaf, and Snowdrop, the law 

 very excellent kind for pit and frame culture. A little more , 

 required between the rows for the last named than for tne 

 eighteen inches being necessary, and fourteen inches from set to « . 

 Ashleaf and Sharpe's Victor may be planted fifteen inches fromroj w 

 and twelve inches apart in the rows. They should be covered to meg 

 of about three inches, and in large establishments successions p> 

 should be made in this way about every ten days. It is a goo rj^ 

 have a crop of radishes in each plantation. If sown tetiwen 1 * 

 no harm will be done to the potatos, and very excellent ra u ( 

 obtained in this way as thev will be drawn in time to allow «e 

 be earthed up, which should be done with the same kino 01 ^ 

 as is used for planting. Little other attention will be requ. ^ 

 careful ventilation and judicious watering. Too much tire -. us ^ 

 be employed or the growth will be weak and drawn, in tne ^ 

 beds much more attention is required and additional fermeniu b ^ ^ 

 needed around the frames as may be necessary to mar ^ 

 heat. Efficient covering of the glass in severe weather »sn Vr 

 nothing is more tender than the potato, especially wn ^ n , 

 excellent tubers for exhibition are generally obtained irom u _jg 

 for early shows, and, each day, when lifting all the n™ r ^ 

 tubers should be carefully placed on one side, and as quiij j ^ & 

 put in boxes and covered with some of the soil W wn ^ 9 

 been growing and kept till wanted. The less they are . 

 the air the fresher and better will be their appearance on 

 table. 



necessary to recommend such wel known and f nardly Unless an unlimited amount of glass is at comm ~- ^ & 

 Homer, Climbing Devoniensi L tSSZ* S tl £ { * v ™"}™ as must be resorted to for keeping up the supply till the oui . 

 Allen Richardson, and ^^^T^Si^^S Turf pits o ? n f ^t^^J^fel 



kinds 

 C 



ii Richardson, and the likp* kt*+ ™ ~ „ ' * i r» i^uy iur mun?. l urt Dits on a suum wtuu, *~- 0 nrQW" 9 ^ 



s may occur to those who ha've?ailed TwithTem bCaUtiful ^ teet in width > which any handy labourer can make ° r ? ^ 



loodwood Gardens. * a ' Ied WIth ^ foot of a south wall, will be found convenient In . ^ 



KlCHARn I'lDi-rn . ■ ... *. i . . i thorn f nil's 



flies- 



Richard Parker. 



protecting material can 'be easily placed over them during 



