GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



J21 



Tarcre beds, or those occupying central positions in flower 

 acwu- J° n : ■ Jff* size , may be thinly planted with small retinosporas, 

 ffis of considerable size ^ aur / a> P R . eri coides, R. squarrosa, and 



R ; P f !!! of Capressus Lawsoniana and thuias in variety Among 

 u several fo ™ s hfl ? , hou f d be planted well set with flower buds, hybrid rhodo- 



5hr ^Pmo? important, and others that may be used are the early 

 f H Smeda floribunda and A. japonica, Lauristinus, Berberis Darwmi, 



to*^ i ?c o Pernettya mucronata. Euonymus in variety are also admis 

 berried plants 01 j . 



sibk 

 then 



^ rhV «lv-flowering heath, Erica herbacea carnea. The small conifers, 

 ^ d ; e 3 v do not increase materially in size for some years, and form 

 - Q US€d E mas St£t render transplantation easy. The beds may be edged 

 »*K Z°i hand of violas of suitable colour or other spring flowering subjects, as 

 ■V ^B^til Silene pendula compacta, and, if sparingly planted with 

 nllnowers, myoso > /groundwork may also be used of similar materials, 



^rflowering plants should be in their permanent quarters as soon as pos- 

 fflte Ke where not yet planted ; the same remark will also apply to 



' \ 0 f all kinds used for this purpose. 



*h tropical and all half-hardy plants, as fuchsias, abuti ons, cannas Aloysia 

 1^ soecimen heliotropes, and other such like subjects that it may be 

 ESS D eserve for another season, should be housed for thwith or placed in 

 JSempS ary[shelter out of the reach of frost, for, although > extremely mild up 

 X Ze of writing, frost may now set in any night sufficient to kill tender 

 IS Tuberous begonias also should be lifted, and laid close together in boxes, 

 £L a little of the soil to adhere to the tubers, and these may be stored in a 

 ST^nhouse out of the reach of drip and away from hot-water pipes, avoiding 

 SLfextreme of dryness or damp, and they will take care of themselves until the 

 «fa Gladiolus in variety may also now be lifted, the foliage having matured. 

 Sarins should be dug up and laid out in a shed, or on the floor of a green- 

 Lse or vinery, until the tops part easily from the corms, when the latter should 

 be stored out of the reach of frost, and may be placed in their varieties in bags or 

 fawtrs until the spring. Some varieties, as Colvillei, Byzantinus, and the old 

 Imchleyensis, may remain in the ground if desired, provided they are planted at 

 i depth of four inches, and in the event of severe frost some coal ashes are spread 

 om the surface as an additional protection. 



Where rose planting is contemplated preparations should now be made for this 

 operation, as the present month is the most suitable time, if the weather remains 

 open, for planting roses of all descriptions ; and, if early planted and mulched 

 tuh half-rotten manure, the trees become partially established before severe frosts 

 occw. Also where existing beds have become impoverished the plants should now 

 he lifted and laid in by the heels elsewhere while the beds are trenched and 

 ■mred, and some new loam also incorporated, if circumstances permit, removing 

 i cocresponding part of the old soil that the beds be not over-full. Make the soil 

 coapact by well treading over the beds before planting, and when this is done 

 aftow ample space for development, according to the strength of the variety. 

 Renove any broken roots and shorten others that are long and fibreless, planting 

 it i depth similar to that at which they have previously been growing. Make the 

 msd firm about the roots, and stake and tie if necessary to prevent any swaying 



"f &'A.nd. Most roses flourish in a good retentive loam approaching to brick 

 , in<l where the staple is light means must be taken to make it heavier by 



•oikiog in loam of a clayey nature, removing some of the lighter to make room 

 bit If the soil is generally light and porous a six-inch layer of clay may with 

 liuntige be placed about eighteen inches under the bed, which will assist in 

 wiining moisture. — C. Herrin, Dropmore Gardens. 



HARDY FRUITS. 



Most hardy fruits will now be in the store-room, though in spite of the heat and 

 •Hht fruits have matured later than usual. We have only this week cleared 



Utest pears ; the trees are somewhat sheltered, and we always allow the fruits 

 £i"»*in as long as possible, so that they may keep good till after Christmas. 



Blaine the siored fruit often, and remove bad fruits, so that they do not 

 others. It is full late to write about plum?, but much the same remarks 

 ypjy to these as to late pears, as the trees of Coe's Golden Drop and Wyedale 

 ■••Only just been cleared, though, of course, it has been necessary to keep them 

 ■ : • IMM plums will keep a considerable time if each trait is wrapped in 



^■paper and placed in a close drawer ; indeed, I have had Coe's good at 



totes u 



pot trees indoors. I recently saw some splendid crops from such fruit trees 



{■u treated thus. It happens sometimes that one has a batch jA fruit 

 fmm pots that were grown in houses recently planted, but now there is no room 



*thi 



n a sheltered border between some span- roof houses, as in that position it 

 ^^i*^ matter to protect them when in bloom. In many parts of the country, 



^ * est » excellent crops may be had from standard peach trees, i 

 W of excellent quality, as the exposure to full air and light is so fav 



and the 



ftfon' r\ v— «» ^posure to iuii air ana light is so favourable 



■JtelSilj*! course i grown thus, only early kinds are advised, and to these 

 IftLtL ii the new nectarine Early Rivers ; indeed, this excellent variety 



out to let the rain moisten it. In heavy land of a clayey nature drainage will be 

 an important detail ; this may be secured, and at small cost. When in the North 

 I could not grow some kinds of fruits until a regular system of drainage was adopted 

 for all young trees. Such materials as old mortar rubble, burnt refuse, wood 

 ashes and road scrapings are of great value for mixing with heavy soils. It will 

 also be advantageous to trench and dig the quarters for fruit trees. In the case of 

 wall or border trees it is well to plant new trees in different positions to what older 

 ones occupied, but if necessary to fill the same spot it will be well to wheel out a 

 large portion of the old soil and replace with other of a better nature. I am greatly 

 in favour of autumn as against spring planting, for having a very light soil to deal 

 with, and on a gravel subsoil, late-planted trees suffer much in hot, dry summers. 

 Gooseberry quarters should receive a good mulch of manure at this season, and if 

 my advice earlier was carried out as to thinning out crowded wood when the crop 

 was cleared there will be little pruning to do ; the same remarks as regards food 

 will apply to currants.— G. Wythes, Syoti Gardens. 



Australian Grasses. 



The marvellous abundance of beef and mutton in Australia is largely due not 

 only to the enormous extent of the area devoted to pastoral purposes, but also to 

 the rich luxuriance of the native grasses, of which, so far as is at present known, 

 there are one hundred and ninety-eight species and thirty-three well-defined varie- 

 ties indigenous to New South Wales. Out of this number are sixteen species 

 which, when old, are somewhat dreaded by pastoralists in the interior districts, 

 on account of their long seed awns, or sharp-pointed seeds or leaves. Most of 

 these undesirable grasses are really good pasture plants while young, and it is only 

 at the season of ripening their seeds that they become troublesome to sheep. 

 Among the more valuable of the native grasses is the " bent grass," a slender, 

 tufted grass, growing from six inches to one and a-half feet high, which, together 

 with two other species of the same genus, forms a considerable percentage of the 

 herbage in some pastures on the high table- lands, more particularly in the southern 

 portion of the colony. During the summer months these grasses yield a fair 

 amount of rich herbage, which sheep eat with avidity. The 11 blue grass 51 is 

 generally found growing, from one to two feet high, in the coastal districts and in 

 the colder parts of the colony. It grows on various soils, but it appears to succeed 

 best and yield more herbage on those of a moderately strong loamy nature. In 

 sheltered situations it makes considerable growth during the winter months ; 

 therefore it is doubly valuable to the grazier. Kangaroo grass and Mitchell grass 

 also enjoy a good repute for their fattening qualities. The seeds of the latter at 

 one time constituted an important food of the aborigines. Oat grass is found on 

 the southern mountains, where it forms a considerable proportion of the alpine 

 herbage. It generally attains a height of from four to five feet. 



The wallaby grass is common throughout the colony. The love grass, of 

 which there are several varieties, grows from one to four feet in height, both on good 

 and on poor soils. When growing on good land these grasses yield a great amount 

 of rich, succulent herbage, of which all herbivora are remarkably fond, and 

 fatten on. The seeds usually ripen during the summer months. Twelve other 

 species of the grass are found in the pastures in varying proportions over nearly the 

 whole of the colony. Stockmen call certain of them M never fail," on account of 

 their drought-enduring qualities. Many will withstand a phenomenal amount of 

 dry weather, and most are excellent pasture grasses. The Australian millet is 

 found over nearly the whole of the colony, from the coastal districts to the far 

 interior, and in some places is very plentiful. In moist places, and by the side of 

 watercourses, this grass grows four feet high, but on the plains it rarely exceeds a 

 couple of feet in height. In all its varied forms it yields a valuable herbage. At one 

 time the aborigines used to collect the seeds in great quantities, grind them between 

 stones make the meal into cakes, and use them as an article of food. The yellow- 

 flowered panic-grass, growing 



on the western plains. On good soils it gives a great quantity of rich, succulent 

 herbage and is said to be one of the best fattening grasses in the interior. It pro- 

 duces an enormous amount of seed ; in fact, the panicles are often so full and heavy 

 with grain that they are weighed down to the ground. 



Twenty-eight other species of the grass are found in the colony, and they form 

 a large percentage of the herbage in the pastures in the coastal districts, on the 

 high table-lands, and in the interior. The sugar grass is most common in the 

 interior districts, and when in flower is easily recognised amongst other grasses 



— ' " It is generally found growing on the richest of 



.1 Hats bordering rivers and creeks. 



by its rich, brown, silky spikes. 



_ During the 



sons, --"ordinary season, it produces a great bulk of rich, succulent, 



r w r e LX g mXeHshed'by all herbi?ora. It aLins a height of abo* four 

 f t The wild sorghum is found principally m the coastal districts, and in the 

 i j i e „r thr rolonv, where it attains sometimes a height of five feet. In the 

 N^SLd^S it is, when in flower, quite a fcatureTn^he pastu^, and is 



t »«entultg 



w dl. I need not dwell upon this mode of culture other than to note that 

 pay the trees ample attention, and 

 budding, thinning and feeding, for 

 *fce"on 5 e ° tly , thin t0 admit light and air. Figs in cold localities do not 



ft i. 1Q ui- irrass Horses are said to eat the seeds with avidity, and 



, . . _ . regarded as a valaaDie g . ^ rf ^ q ft . % & 



and to be a success there must be to thrive on them, in . ^ & { ^ ^ q( ^ 



but elsewhere »tgro« ^ abundance explains the general excellence 



*?W ^ 2 braised in the colony, the use of oil cake and other arti- 

 of Ac beef and muttony infrequent in Australia, where, during 



ficial foods » M ^ mn ?u" i s plenty .>f forage in the shape of hay made from the 

 the winter montns } rted ^ seeds are em ployed in renovating old pastures, 

 younger grasses • J w;iys plentiful when the land is not systematically 



overstocked. 



ing, for it is important to have the trees 



could PCn Wa ^' k ut w i& some little protection they would do well in pots. 

 **otdin ih°* - tllUS W k° cannot devote a house to their culture, and if 

 ^rfktef ^ Wl ° ter or early spring and placed out in May they give a good 

 ( ^ u \ . i Ult ' (Jf Wi only one crop can be taken, and the plants, to save 

 ^UaA f P lun ged due south, and well fed. Now is a good time to pot up 



*cpot older ones, and top-dress any not potted. 



IS usual v . j r . w ;„.v r . 



usually the month advised for lifting such fruit trees as need a check 



***k, oei " 



*fckeontheV° ^ l ^ at was delayed. In many cases it is not necessary 



*>l|h j Qwn .«ees, but merely to work under them, and cut coarse roots going 



" **fatftfu| growth, but until now the soil has not been in a fit state for 



ing was < 

 ly to woi 



- t ^ ^bsoil. This tnly applies to older trees, and with such 



■* Uci fi° i e tW ° seasons to d° the work, as by so doing the crop 

 ekrl^at! • any one y ear ' Peach and nectarine trees on walls should 

 jfcfcUr, ^ *^ *? f l l . on > a nd at the time of penning these lines, the last week in 

 tifcy ar^ n ? a 6°°dly number of trees, some to fill up gaps, and others 

 lad itd ° Wlng l °° stron B- This latter evil is soon rectified at this 

 . -OleitBd *• mean mut * lat i n § roots, but preservicg all the small 

 •^t that it 8lV "kL ^ V strong ones a clean cut at a suffi cient distance from 



1^ **B be induced to make a fibrous growth ; by so doing fruiting 



!5* ** lea? tt fan 10 ? Cad ° f gross B rowth - Caches and nectarines are best lifted 

 S^^AouM K at lhis date an >' other trees may be transplanted. Cherries 

 2?" p toms ar^ the earliest attention, as these are the first to start in the 

 S***md»J!i makln g a late growth and may be left till last, but even these, 

 J^^Wtathei ■ ' n ° W m,)V< d safely ; indeed, the work is best done 



x i J >'. :.... t : 'X Tl >ptn * T } ie soil for fruit trees is an important matter ; now 



Sydney 



[OIIN I'l.UMMKK. 



%m n-mn Weather.— With rainy weather following a prolonged 

 Vineries in heal wi u be necessary in vineries, as also will very 



drought an increase o ^ ^ lhoU £ h an g^imc necessity, will be an evil if 



careful top ventilall0 , n r rnm t h c house at once* A strong neat, wun a correspona- 

 damp is not remov „ the correct thing. Grapes will steam and 

 ing increase ol top ^ ouisu \ e temperature, especially at night, much 



gather the damp, ana w if U p to this date all has been done that is 



damage may be qui ^ m0V j n g the supertluous ties, with also the smaller sub- 

 required in the way o lbe bunches, the right thing hat been attended to, 

 laterals below ana j ^ want of at(ent j on in sma n ma tters. Cleanliness 

 but too often failure han ging grapes, and of course no unnecessary water 

 is essential ! ?.% ^ t t h c path or borders. Keep the front ventilators tightly 

 should be spilled aD0 ghoU id be taken away daily, at nothing holds damp more 

 closed. Falling lea v T /.>.- rC are" cold houses of crapes these will want cutting 



than decaying foliage 



If there 



i \\>~ hpst of circumstances. 



be comfortable 



grapes 



Without making the vinery a 



and dry. —-Stephen Castle, 



laterial together, and if at all dry this should be spread * 



Dthouse, it juries. Notts. 



.R.H.S., Botttsford I merus 9 



