April 17, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
299 
This, of course, is the fault of the workman, not of the system. 
Those who advocate having the grass uncollected also recommend 
more frequent mowing. As one who has practised this for 6ome years 
I shall briefly state my reasons for doing so. In the first place the 
work is much lighter. Secondly, there is no stoppage to empty the 
grass-box, nor time lost in wheeling it away, consequently the work 
is much sooner done. Our mowing (without collecting) takes five 
hours’ steady work, but when we put the grass-boxes on to the same 
two machines, with the same three men, it takes seven hours’ hard 
work. Thirdly, the more frequent mowing keeps the grass in better 
condition. We mow every fifth day, consequently it is always in 
condition, and the little grass is scareply ever noticed on the surface ; 
but even this little scattered so frequently on the sward must benefit 
the lawn to some extent as a manure. Fourthly, although more fre¬ 
quently used there is really less wear on the machines, because there 
is never any strain put upon them, as is the case when mowing a 
very thick sward of some eight or ten days’ growth. A day's work 
at this sort of mowing will sometimes do more harm to a machine 
than three or four days’ light mowings. It is not necessary that only 
a certain make of machine be used for scattering the grass. I have 
long used Green’s for this purpose, and though it certainly would be 
better if it was modified for the purpose of distributing the grass, 
still there is not much to complain of in this respect. 
For mowing banks and round flower beds we use a small 14-inch 
“Coventry,” and for this purpose it is admirably adapted. When 
mowing steep banks a rope is fixed to the centre of the machine, 
where the height of the handles is regulated. A lad by means of 
this rope keeps the machine from slipping down the bank, and at 
the same time assists to pull it along, while the man at the handles 
guides it. Where a rope cannot be used on account of shrubs or 
other obstacle on the top of the bank, the lad may hold it in position 
from the bottom by means of a stick with a hook in the end of it 
applied to tiie same part of the machine as the rope. It is a mistake 
to mow anywhere with a scythe when it can be done with a machine. 
—A 'Working Gardener/ 
ASPARAGUS PLUMOSUS. 
Two more beautiful plants for the stove and warm fernery than 
Asparagus plumosus and A. plumosus nanus cannot well be imagined. 
They are quite distinct, so much so in fact that I consider no collec¬ 
tion complete without plants of each of these elegant South African 
Asparagus. The older A. plumosus is climbing in habit, and is 
particularly well adapted for furnishing pillars as well as the lower 
portion of the rafter of the houses At one time we grew it in the 
form of a bush, but found when the growths could encircle pillars or 
strong stakes they grew to a much greater length, and formed a 
greater number of elegant and beautifully green sprays. A pillar 
furnished with a strong plant covered with its diminutive white 
blossoms is pleasing to the most indifferent observers, while small 
plants in 4-inch pots are particularly pretty and serviceable for 
associating with flowering plants in the rooms of dwelling house and 
elsewhere. The sprays in a cut state are also much valued for using 
in bouquets and vases, as in addition to their lightness they are very 
durable, remaining fresh much longer than the fronds of any Adi- 
antum with which I am acquainted. It can be rapidly increased, as 
the tiniest piece of spray when about three parts matured and older 
strikes like a weed, especially if placed in a moist heat and kept close 
either under bellglasses or a propagating frame. From one plant we 
quickly raised fifty, and the second season we could easily have struck 
five hundred if they had been required. I still consider it the better 
vaiiety of the two. 
A. plumosus nanus also grows most vigorously ; and the peculiarly 
flattened formation of the growth which it invariably assumes at a 
proportionate height from the soil renders it very attractive and 
distinct. The fine foliage is more dense, which gives it a richer 
green shade than the climbing variety, but those constantly observing 
the two sorts tire soonest of the formal habit of the dwarf form. 
Unfortunately nothing will induce the spray of A. plumosus nanus 
to strike root ; and as a careful division of the crowns is the only 
alternative propagation is both slow and risky. At any rate I advise 
those in charge of small plants not to be in a hurry to increase the 
stock, or they may find they are losing ground. 
The cuttings in one case and the divisions in the other are best 
potted singly into small 60’s, or if extra strong into any size into 
which they will fit readily, any light sandy soil suiting them. They 
must be kept in a moist heat, and shaded from bright sunshine lill 
well established, and be gradually potted before they become much 
root-bound. Both varieties as they gain in strength will at regular 
intervals push up strong shoots, and if extra large plants are required 
they should be given liberal shifts and a rough rich compost. I find 
the best time to repot is when the last-formed growths are nearly 
matured, and also that they delight in a compost consisting of two 
parts of roughly broken fibrous loam, one of turfy peat, with the 
addition of a little manure, charcoal, and silver sand. When well 
established the plants require abundance of moisture at the roots, and 
will be benefited by frequent supplies of liquid manure. 
At the outset I was informed that the older variety would succeed 
in a greenhouse, but found they grew very indifferently in a cool airy 
house ; in fact to have them in perfection they must be kept in a 
moist, warm, and shady position. Bright sunshine is ruinous to them, 
causing the eventual loss of the foliage, this being a check from which 
they do not quickly recover. The only insect pest to which they 
appear to be liable is mealy bug, but as these are very conspicuous no 
difficulty is experienced in getting rid of them by hand-picking, pro¬ 
vided they are not allowed to get thoroughly established. In this 
case the paraffin mixture would be necessary.—W. Iggulden. 
NARCISSUS INCOMPARABILIS JAMES DICKSON. 
The Peerless Daffodil has yielded great numbers of handsome 
varieties, which have taken their place amongst the finest of the whole 
genus, and in popularity are inferior to none. A glance at one of the 
catalogues devoted to Nareissi or a visit to the London flower markets is 
sufficient to prove this. Of the few double Daffodils that arc really 
appreciated, too, the forms of N. incomparabilis are pre-eminent, and 
with the double Poet’s Narciss are most useful, the flowers lasting 
exceedingly well in rooms, and they have not that heavy and malformed 
appearance which is so noticeable in the N. Pseudo-Narcissus double 
varieties. There is, however, much less diversity in the double Peerless 
Daffodils than in the single forms ; as in the latter there are not only 
