33 



GARDENERS' MAGAZINE 



springing 



R. Parker, Goodwood. 



«t Supply 



as it is n 



often 



THE FLOWER 



The next few weeks will, in the majority of gardens, be an unusually busy 

 time in this department. Where the stocks of such plants as ageratums, coleus, 

 alTernantherasrand iresine are still deficient cuttings may yet be struck in time to 

 make plants for June. The easiest and quickest method is by * tome « 

 on a hotbed of leaves or manure on which two or three inches of light soil is 

 placed, a little sand sprinkled over the surface, and the whole pressed firm ; into 

 this the cutttrgs may be thickly dibbled just as cut from the stock plants, as at 

 this season they strike most readily. Alternantheras form roots in a few days if 

 kept close, and great quantities may be struck in a few weeks m this way by a con- 

 tinual topping. Hardening off should receive due attention, and any plants 

 coming from a warm house into frames should be kept rather close for a 

 few days | with bedding pelargoniums full exposure, after gradually har- 

 dening off, should be given for a week or two before planting out, 

 otherwise the foliage will be liable to suffer from bright sun or 

 cold winds. Where the beds in the flower garden are filled with spring-flower- 

 ing subjects bedding out for the summer will be somewhat late unless the spring 

 occupants are cleared out before really past their best, the cold and somewhat sun- 

 less weather of the last two months having considerably retarded their blooming. 

 If the beds are empty, many subjects may be planted forthwith, especially the 

 hardy groundwork of carpet-bedding arrangements, where these are still carried 

 out. A more pleasing style of bedding is now, however, more generally practised, 

 and plants of a less formal nature used. Edgings of hardy sedums may be made 

 up, and the variegated grass, Dactylis glomerata variegata, quite hardy, makes a 

 capital edging plant. Old clumps, if lifted and pulled up into small pieces, make 

 good planting material, and form an effective edging to beds filled with 

 crimson, scarlet, or pink pelargoniums ; and is also useful for covering the surface 

 of a bed as a groundwork where taller subjects are used. Fuchsias, heliotropes, 

 pelargoniums, palms, &c, of four to five feet or more in height, may be used 

 thinly dotted over large beds, with a carpeting of some low-growing or creeping 

 plant, as sedums, mesembryanthemums, and violas, with others of intermediate 

 height, from one and a half to two feet, of tuberous begonias, pelargoniums, or 

 other subjects that may be to hand. - f J 



attractive and now much in vogue. 



Violas being quite hardy, should be planted out early, and given a chance of 

 becoming well established before hot weather sets in. These also form a good 

 groundwork in mixed bedding, where tall plants are used as mentioned above, 

 while the blue and purple varieties may be associated with variegated leaved 

 pelargoniums only, and make pretty beds. The old Manglesi variegated 

 pelargonium, and the dark blue viola Archie Grant, the former being allowed to 

 retain its small pinkish blooms, makes a charming combination of a simple nature. 

 Stocks and asters should be planted out from where raised in frames, before 

 becoming drawn : I sow rather late and transfer direct from the frame to the borders 

 or beds where they are to flower. Zinnias, marigolds, scabious, gaillardias, salpi- 

 glossis, and others are treated in a similar manner, and invariably grow away quickly 

 and do well. Roses are makinc slow growth, and already maggot and green fly are 

 in evidence. The former must be destroyed by hand picking, or squeezing the rolled- 

 up leaf with maggot. Green fly may be easily kept in check by syringing with a 

 solution of Bentley's quassia extract, a most useful insecticide that may be quickly 

 prepared for use l»y simply mixing with clear water to the strength advised in the 

 direction*. Delphiniums and other plants now growing fast in herbaceous borders 

 should be staked and tied l>efore they become long enough to fall over and grow 

 into a twisted shape, as, when this occurs, they cannot be easily tied erect again. 

 One of the prettiest subjects now in bloom in these borders is Tiarella cordifolia ; 

 others, including German iris and paeonies in variety, are fast opening, and the 

 borders will soon assume a gay appearance. — C. IIRRRIN, Dropmore Gardens. 



HARDY FRUITS. 



THE cultivator will have plenty to do among hardy fruit trees for the next 

 few weeks, as, owing to the genial rain we have had since my last notes, new 

 growths have made good progress. The earliest strawberries on a south border 

 are blooming freely, and with nice weather fruits will be very early in the south. 

 So far, our earliest variety is Laxton's No. I, and this is very strong also, but 

 Royal Sovereign promises grandly ; in fact, our young plants have been such a 

 mass of flower spikes that it will be necessary to thin out for very early supplies. 

 Mulching, as previously advised, should not be long delayed, and if not done 

 before the flowers expand, it is best left till they are set ; there is a great gain, 

 however, in early mulching. Raspberries are now showing great quantities of 

 suckers, and these must be reduced ; the plantations must be mulched at this 

 season, and some rich food may be given ; in our light soil we give cow manure 

 that has been prepared by placing it in bulk for a>hile. Old raspberry quarters 

 will need food, and given now it conserves the moisture and builds up strong 

 canes. Newly planted raspberry canes should not be allowed to fruit the first 

 season ; indeed, the canes should be cut down almost close to the soil, and if this 

 is done strong shoots will follow. After a dry period, followed by warm rains, 

 weed growth will be difficult to keep under in fruit quarters, so that the hoe should 

 be kept going vigorously upon all favourable occasions. I do not know how the 

 severe weather may have affected the crop of some fruits in the north, but with 

 us goosel>erries are scarce, and it will behove the cultivator to pay attention to 

 those left. I find wood pigeons take the fruit when about the size of horse beans : 



cne supports, aim iu«^ n**v uucu uc tied to the old har* ~**-wJ or tied \* 

 ceeds. Stopping shoots near fruits will need attention, as *t22 rt! gI0Wth 



pped previously, shoots push forth new growths ? • hesc ma V bait 



It is well to note at this season that Cch« St X* necd *3i 



cut by ties given at their earlier training, as thcThoote I g 

 and the bark, once injured cannot be remfdied, whHc ^ 

 the wounded portion as the trees attain age. It will not F ~ 

 thinning the fruits much longer ; indeed, I have already removed^ 15 **!* to 



— 1 -4. -11 TTorlv thinner, ,7' iCIHOVeCl ? — — 



been sto 

 treatment. 



where at all thick. Early 

 dropping during the stoning period. This 



as 



goodly 



our 



dang 



trees' never suffer in this respect ; indeed, I find we do not thin'pn 7 T' 5 '. 01 



varieties, as young trees bear so freely that they may be overcSnS — * 



ning it is well to examine the trees several times, and it will soon h ihin ' 



the trees can carry ; in no case should a lot of fruit be left on nn SCen wlut 



tree and only a little on others, but every attempt should be made to ^ u 



evenly over the trees. The pear crop promises well, and the culhvV .,, tc li 

 3 - - r\A flr.^vr \JU^ 9 . . Lne cultivator will soon 



Prevent 



be able to clear off the old flowers, which at times stick to the frS a 

 swelling; with cordon and wall trees stopping will be needed freqSmlT'" 1 ; 

 removal of useless spray will facilitate fruit swelling. Newly-planteH t and 

 now need a mulch of good manure should they show any sign of fiW '- S l' 11 

 weather, while a dewing overhead after hot sunshine will heto to fof * 

 growth. Trees recently grafted should be examined, and any that : have fin a** 

 form a union should be allowed to make a new growth, as budding mav htv? t0 

 later on With grafts grooving freely the binding may soon be loWnS 



AN EXPERI 



to Induce Sporti 



The references made some time since In the Gardeners' Magazine 

 the subject of sporting in chrysanthemums have suggested to me that 

 the following account of an experiment I made in the season of 1806 

 „ may be interesting, even if it does not throw any additional light on the 



This style of bedding is more generally subject. It was in the dark days of the winter previous, while lamenting 



the hard fate of sundry flower-heads of chrysanthemums, which, alter 

 being carefully fertilised, had given up the struggle to produce ripe seeds 

 and hung down helplessly, a victim to " damp," the wish being father 

 to the thought to produce new kinds suggested an experiment in grafting 

 to gain the desired end. The idea may not be new, but as I have never 

 heard or read of anything similar, perhaps it may possess a little merit 

 of originality. My desire at first was to induce an artificial sport from 

 the plant, but neither my reading nor my experience gave me a clue a 

 to the best course of procedure. I had, so to speak, the material, but no 

 tools or formula. Then the thought presented itself of graft hybridising, 

 and though this is no new scheme, the method, so far as I know, 

 is new. 



Two plants of similar size but of very opposite character were chosen. 

 These were in three-inch pots at the time, and were potted in pairs in six- 

 and-a-half inch pots. After the roots had taken to the new soil the top 

 of one plant was taken off about five inches from the tip, and a slit was 

 made with an upward cut in the other at the same height. The point of 

 the first was shaped into a long wedge, and inserted carefully in the slit 

 of the second. They were then carefully bound with fine shreds of 

 raffia, and some moss fastened round to insure moisture. Placed in a 

 cool, shaded place, they united perfectly in about a fortnight. The plants 

 were now growing two roots to one plant, and each was contributing an 

 equal share to the maintenance of the growing foliage and resultant 

 blooms. This was evident from stems of each stock swelling through- 

 out the growing season. They were finally shifted into ten-inch pots 

 and were placed with the rest of the collection. The varieties chosen 

 were selected with an idea of ascertaining what effect the union would 

 have on the colour and shape of the blooms. For this purpose Mdlle 

 Therese Rey was united with Charles Shrimpton, the lead being taken by 

 the first-named, so that any tinge of colour would show most distinctly on 

 the white flowers. In No. 2, Mdlle. Therese Rey was again used in con- 

 junction with J. S. Dibbens, the former being again the leader. In No. 3, 

 Etoile de Lyon was coupled with Brookleigh Gem ; in this case the 



see if the coarse reflexed blooms 



incurved was given precedence, to 

 would influence its co-partner. In 



No. 4, Louis Boehmer and Mrs. 



F. A. Spaulding were wedded, the latter taking the lead ; this was to 

 try if the hirsute petals would tell on the smooth ones. No. 5 was 



J 



and No. 6, Charles Shrimpton with 



birds 



appears 



pillars. The latter it is well to guard against at this season ; we use lime mixed 

 with dry wood ashes as a surface dressing, and find it answers thoroughly, indeed, 

 it is much better given now than when the pest appears on the foliage. Of late 

 ^in " ,ore .B oosel)e "ie5 have been grown in an upright position, either trained 

 3" • s ° r a Wlre support. Last year I saw some trees in a quarter growing 

 !£f... I i fen ^ n K'„ in rows «»* «eet apart, the wires being strained to posts about 



than 



ease, and keeping 



nectar 



need 



»ts are V n 7 n^' , wnh a » s P«« crop of fruit on the earliest kinds, 

 ? n0 o t £2212 " n l ed ear 'y 5357 Much may be done to keep^ 



to give principal shoots more teedom %P 7 "S^S*? ° ld "i?** D0W 

 branches, andl would adv iL T hu refers to stron S shoots on the »*in 



from canker If young tree. Be 1°™ °J g ^°T' th ' for we suffer much less 



•pace yearly. Fw C ?/" ^ Ded ton hard hut a,,owed to cover a good 

 i- y iy. rar better remove intermediate trees than crinnl, ™„n„ 



Madame Charles Molin, the last-named in each case leading. 



The results certainly were not very encouraging ; in only one case 

 could I see any variation from the normal. This was in No. I, in which 

 some petals were a decided pink. In all the other cases I could not 

 distinguish anything from those under common conditions, the blooms, 

 however, being exceedingly large and fine for their particular kinds. This 

 hint may prove serviceable to big bloom growers, and prove a useful help 

 to some beautiful but delicate kinds which have feeble root action ; and 

 perhaps might correct the deplorable bud-producing habit of others, as 

 no patent rights have been secured for the process, I make chrysan- 

 themists a present of the idea. Cuttings were taken above the union 

 from the plant which showed a slight pink tint and grown on last season, 

 but they showed no variation from the true variety, and so I suppose tne 

 experiment ends, and I am as far as ever from producing sports Dy 

 artificial means. 



To my mind, however, it seems to prove that the roots have little or 

 nothing to do with the colouring of the flower, for although two root stock* 

 were assimilating material and mingling the resultant sap all the summer, 

 yet nothing of a colouring nature could have been collected by wen. 



n i s » ?f course, may be nothing new to those versed in colour scient 

 and plant structure, but perhaps the experiment may have other teac 

 mgs to them, and this must be my excuse in taking up so much space 

 record it. 



Wtllatofiy Notts, 



R. E. RICHARDSON, 



