JANUARY. 



5 



IN-DOOR GARDENING. 



I AGAIN attempt a social homily for the New Year on this subject. I write for those 

 who are in the lowest stage of this pleasing recreation, not for those who have plant-cases, 

 window greenhouses, small conservatories, and such like appliances that modern inteoductions 

 are rendering facile for such a purpose. Higher disco ursinga than mine must bo perused by 

 these. A window-sill or two, inside and out, a table, a fow pots and glass dishes, two or 

 three dinner plates, any odds and ends that can bo pressed into such a service — these arc my 

 agents, simple and not difficult to obtain. Supplement to these soil and moss, some charcoal 

 and sand, and, easiest of all to provide and not the least important item — a constant round of 

 attention, manifested with the fidelity of a sentry, that will come to the worker by a persistent 

 everyday doing to be a thoroughly joyous occupation; and here is employment that will 

 lighten evon the pressure of trouble, break in upon tho monotony of a comparatively cheerless 

 life, as does sometimes a momentary gleam of sunlight through the fissures of one of our 

 gloomy winter fogs, present a welcome engagement to thoso who, perchance by affliction, 

 may be rendered incapable of out-door recreation, and certainly, by a simple appeal to the 

 love of the beautiful that will well-up from somewhere in most men's natures, dons touch a 

 chord that makes the best music ring out from a satisfied heart, and cause a floricultural 

 Crusoe to find some contentment in the isolation of his own house. 



First, a few words only as to what was done during the summer months before passing 

 on to a review of present enterprises. 



My main endeavour was directed to blooming a few Gladiolus in pots ; but I was too 

 late in planting to achieve much success, owing to the pots being occupied by other tenants 

 till the early spring. And let it be remembered that, for out-door attempts, I have only a 

 small yard flanked on three sides by high buildings, and about 4 yards square. Within the 

 precincts of this mannikin domain do I experimentalise. I unfortunately planted mostly 

 late varieties, and this, combined with a wet and inclement spring, did not improve matters. 

 I got a few, and they small spikes ; but I gained some experience by the failure — that is a 

 set-off against the small results. 



I failed with Japan Lilies too. I planted three fine bulbs in large pots, and got some 

 manure from a west-end florist, which became the abode of a herd of maggots, which ruthlessly 

 attacked the bulbs. I had a promise of four large flowers from one plant ; but, on the eve of 

 the buds bursting, the enemy destroyed the promised flowers and my hopes together. 



I led off my winter series with Snowdrops in pots, and the red and white autumn- 

 flowering Cyclamen in plates of sand. The former I cannot succeed with in sand only, it 

 causes them to rot ; the best plan is to start them in a pan, and then transplant to the vessels 

 in which they have to flower. The Cyclamens were very pretty, and have thrown up a 

 profusion of leaves that are handsomely marked. I have the Double Roman Narcissus in 

 flower in a plate, surrounded by the single Italians that are close in its wake. I have for 

 an outer circle single Van Thol Tulips that are fast starting into growth ; but as their taller 

 colleagues will have shed their gay apparel ere the dwarfer occupants don theirs, I must 

 endeavour to restore the balance by introducing one or two Hyacinths to be companions for 

 the Tulips at the time of flowering. Next to these I expect to have in bloom Tulips and 

 Crocuses in plates and pots. I am using soil and sand separately in the plates, to ascertain 

 which suits best for the purpose ; but I invariably employ a few small pieces of charcoal as 

 drainage^ Hyacinths in pots and in glasses also are rapidly developing themselves. I put 

 charcoal in the latter, and they seem to thrive on it mostunmistakeably. I always allow the 

 water in a glass to be high enough to submerge the base of the bulb from which the roots 

 start out, not almost to touch it. I think the roots start sooner in consequence, and with 

 greater regularity. The next stratum in my horticultural formation is made up of Jonquils in 

 plates, in sand ; and another arrangement in plates of Hyacinths surrounded by Scdla sibirica 

 and Winter Aconites. I use for the centre red colours — the blue Scillas will form a contrast 

 with the Hyacinths, and the Yellow Aconites form the circlet for all. I confess that I am 

 somewhat apprehensive about the latter : I fear they are decaying faster than they vegetate. 

 I saw last spring a circular glass dish some 7 inches in depth, filled with Hyacinths growing 

 in moss, that pleased me vastly, so well had they flowered. 1 procured two of these this 

 season. The smaller, about 12 inches in diameter, is filled with miniature Hyacinths planted 

 in moss, and having for drainage about three-quarters of an inch of charcoal. Close to the 

 edge of the vessel I have a ring of Snowdrops. The bulbs have rooted beautifully, and, 

 attracted to the sides of the dish, almost entirely obscure the moss, and are feeding "on the 

 charcoal with a thorough zest ; a larger dish has superadded to the moss some soil. On this 

 I planted some Tulips, still lining with moss. On these again I placed Hyacinths, leaving 

 spaces for the Tulips to throw up their flowers. All are starting admirably, and a delicate 

 network of roots is likewise encircling the dish, and penetrating the charcoal. Even with 

 the addition of the soil, these dishes are light; they occupy but a small space, and will make 

 quite a display when in flower. 



