Jun. si, 1883. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 515 
flower. How exquisitely beautiful these dark seifs look, with their 
bright golden, centres sparkling in the sunshine. Many laced 
flowers grow side by side with them, but are not nearly so effective. 
Ranunculus acris fl.-pl. and R. aconitifolius are making a grand 
display just now, while the gorgeous blooms of the Pooonias are 
very conspicuous and are fine for distant effect. Clumps of 
Aubrietia grandifiora are completely covered with flowers in many 
shades, of blue and purple. Anthericum Liliastrum is a lovely 
plant, its spikes of pure white flowers beiDg very chaste. The bright 
golden flowers of Trollius europoeus are most effective, but they 
do not last long. Veronica gentianoides, with its delicately shaded 
flowers, is a mass of loveliness. Lupinus polyphyllus, with itsloDg 
symmetrical spikes of blue flowers, is grand in the back row just 
now, while many of the Delphiniums will soon contribute their 
noble spikes. Saxifraga granulata fl.-pl. and S. Wallacei are in 
full bloom ; and the simple but lovely Anemone sylvatica, with its 
pure white flowers, contrast strikingly with that most gorgeous of 
all the Anemones, A. stellata fulgens. The intensely bright scarlet 
colour of this flower renders it quite conspicuous among the 
other occupants of the border. Campanula glomerata is most effective 
now,, while 0. turbinata, C. Hendersonii, C. persicifolia, and C. 
peraicifolia fl.-pl. are following fast. The whole of this family are 
grand border plants, the pure white flowers of some of the varieties 
being very useful for table decoration. Saxifraga pyramidalis is a 
gem of the first water, with its long branching spikes of lovely 
epotted flowers, the spikelets being most serviceable for cutting. 
Large clumps of Narcissus poeticus fl.-pl. and beds of Lily of the 
Valley fill the air with a most agreeable and refreshing perfume. 
All the above 1 have noted specially; but what with Forget-me-nots, 
Violas, Daisies, large-flowering Pyrethrums, Cheiranthus alpinus, 
perennial Candytuft, the display is most delightful, while the 
foliage, clothed in all the verdant greenery of spring, gives to the 
whole that natural fresh appearance which is so sadly wanting in 
our bedding systems of decoration. 
I would advise all those who are commencing to form a collection 
of herbaceous plants to raise as many as possible from seed. 
Seed of almost all kinds of hardy perennials can be had at a very 
reasonable price, and with good attendance and acting in accordance 
with the proverb, “ What is worth doing is worth doing well,” in 
less than two years each packet will have produced a hundred 
plants. .1 generally sow all hardy perennials as early in spring as 
possible in well-drained boxes of equal parts of loam and leaf soil, 
with enough sand to make the whole porous. The soil is well 
watered through a fine rose, and a covering of moss laid over the 
top of the box ; they are then placed on a shelf in the greenhouse, 
where they stand generally without further attention until the seed 
germinates, then the moss is removed, and as soon as the plants are 
ready they are pricked off into boxes also. Those having cold 
frames to spare will find it more convenient to fill the space 
required -with the compost recommended for the seed boxes and 
prick the seedlings out there, give a gentle watering, keep the 
frame close and shaded for a few days, gradually inuring the plants 
to the light and air, until the sashes can be removed altogether 
during the daytime. About a fortnight before planting out the 
seedlings should be exposed day and night; sturdier plants are had 
in this way than by the coddling which generally falls to the lot of 
those that are brought forward in boxes. In the month of May 
they are planted out in nursery rows on a spare piece of ground, 
where they spend their first winter, transferring them in spring to 
the borders. For the benefit of those that require a different soil 
from the ordinary border soil a pit is made, and the compost suitable 
for the intended occupant is filled in. 
I may mention here that the packet of Auricula seed from 
“ Single-handed” has germinated very well indeed. I shall have 
upwards of two hundred plants from it, and shall look forward to 
the flowering stage with some degree of interest.—W m. MARSHALL, 
N.B. 
APRICOT BRANCHES DYING. 
(Continued from page 443.) 
Stocks for Apricots are of several kinds, but taken altogether 
there can be no question that the Mussel is the most suitable. 
But the whole question of stocks is uncertain, nothing more need¬ 
ing to be advanced in proof than that so many have been recom¬ 
mended. The Breda and Brussels varieties of Apricot from their 
hardiness have of late years been used as stocks for the choicer 
description of Apricots, and the result so far as the immunity from 
gum is concerned is very favourable ; indeed, seedling Apricot 
trees do not exhibit the tendency to gum in anything like the 
same degree as those budded on Plum stocks, and this description 
of stock is, I think, likely to supersede others, for of all stocks 
those raised from suckers or layers are most likely to induce gum 
or canker. It may be said the Apricot is too tender as a stock. 
To this I demur, for the temperature of the atmosphere is the same 
as the earth at a foot depth, and if the branches of the Apricot 
can live and thrive in the atmosphere, why not the roots in the 
soil at its foot ? What little experience I have had with Apricot 
trees budded on seedling Apricot (Breda) stocks is highly 
encouraging. There is no gum, which I believe is the experience 
of those who have resorted to the practice as a means of inducing 
the early fruiting of seedlings, whilst seedlings seldom gum when 
on their own roots or on stocks raised from stones. 
Allow me before proceeding further to thank “ W. K. W.” for 
his friendly criticism and recording his experience with the Moor¬ 
park Apricot under glass, which is extremely valuable, as showing 
the tenderness of that variety, as well as that this choicest of 
Apricots can be successfully cultivated under glass. The secret 
seems to rest on “ free ventilation,” as the Apricot “ will not 
endure a close atmosphere.” “ W. K. W.’s” experience places 
beyond question that gumming in the Moorpark Apricot is “the 
result of cold,” which is also the dictum of the author of the 
“ Fruit Manual.” See page 177 of that work. It is questionable, 
however, whether the tenderness in question is due to the over¬ 
vigour of the trees, induced by the stock, or to the variety, for 
“ W. K. W.’s ” trees on the open wall made growth which could 
not have heat enough to ripen it thoroughly, and in consequence 
suffered from cold—tissues ruptured, and gumming ensued. How 
would it have been had the trees been root-pruned or the food 
supplies restricted ? Would not the wood have been shorter- 
jointed, firmer in its growth, and more perfectly ripened ? I 
think the trees would not have gummed any more than the very 
vigorous specimen under glass, which had a more favourable 
climate for ripeniDg its growths, as the more vigorous the trees 
the more heat and time they require to ripen their fruit and 
wood.— Gr. Abbey. 
(To b« continued.) 
GALLS AND GALL-MAKERS. 
Mb. P. Tnchbald, F.L.S., published some time ago in the 
Entomologist the result of his observations upon the small four¬ 
winged and two-winged flies that are concerned in the produc¬ 
tion of various galls occurring upon wild and cultivated plants. 
From his article we select a few facts that are likely to be of 
interest to gardeners. 
Salix Caprasa.—Upon this shrub were noticeable two kinds of 
rosettes. The upright ones yielded in April the little fly Cecido- 
myia rosaria. From the deflected rosettes, which sometimes have 
the appearance of a loop, emerged another Cecidomyia, the name 
of which is at present uncertain. 
Common Birch.—A small gall-gnat issued from the catkins 
about the end of March, at an early hour in the morning, pupation 
having lasted through the winter. 
The Dog Rose (Rosa canina).—From the peculiar mossy tufts 
that sometimes adorn the twigs and stems of this species the Bede- 
guer Cynips (Rhodites Rosse) appeared at the beginning of June. 
It is very liable to be ichneumoned, but few seemed to be attacked 
this season. 
The Common Pea.—In the tendrilled leaves are driven the mines 
of the fly called by Curtis Phytomiza nigricornis, the pupa case 
being at the end of the mine ; the species is on the wing in June. 
The Onion.—About Harrogate the particular “ fly ” that affected 
this plant in 1882 turned out to be Chortophila platura, coming 
forth on the wing during July. The grub reduces the plants to a 
foetid mass, and then becomes a pupa in the earth close to the 
bulb. Another observer reports that he has bred from the Onion 
two more species of Chortophila, and it is now amply proved that 
there are several species of Onion fly. 
The Carrot.—Early in August the grubs of the Carrot fly (Psila 
Rosie) were very apparent in places where the insect had been 
left undisturbed. The numerous tunnels on slight examination 
revealed the presence of the grub at their openings, preparing to 
quit and become pupae. It is evidently a matter of uncertainty, 
depending upon the season, whether these yield flies in September 
or remain dormant until the succeeding spring. But Mr. Inch- 
bald thinks it is highly probable that each year witnesses several 
generations of the Carrot fly.—J. R. S. C. 
Strawberries. —These should receive a final heavy watering 
forthwith, and then be thoroughly mulched with grass, rushes, 
or other suitable material, to keep the fruit from the soil and the 
roots cool and moist. This mulching is very important, and ought 
always to be done, even if Strawberry tiles or wires are used to 
elevate the fruit. Plant Strawberries that have been forced as soon 
