October 21, 1888. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
357 
i 
using varieties which branch freely, as an extra number of flower 
spikes are obtained, which is an acquisition ; but in this much 
depends upon the way in which the plants are grown preparatory 
to planting finally into the beds. Of doubles the German variety 
is very fine in flower when grown from a good strain, but they are 
not suitable for massing in beds, as they grow so unevenly. The 
best position for them is a single row in front of the shrubbery or 
herbaceous borders, where uniformity of height is not of so much 
consequence. 
The time of sowing the seed of all the sections should be varied 
according to the soil in which they are to be grown. For a heavy 
soil the seed should be sown from the middle to the end of May, 
as the plants should be grown almost to their full size prior to 
planting in the beds, for the reason, owing to the retentive charac¬ 
ter of the soil, the plants do not grow freely after the autumn rains 
have chilled the soil. On light sandy soil from the beginning to 
the middle of June is early enough to sow the seeds, as the rains do 
not affect plants in the same manner when growing in sandy soil. 
Previous to sowing the seed, if the ground be at all dry, thoroughly 
soak the beds, which should be in size according to the require¬ 
ments of the place. Sow broadcast thinly, and lightly cover with 
fine soil : attend carefully in giving water, thoroughly soaking the 
soil when the plants are well above ground. The Turnip fly seems 
partial to the tender leaves of the Wallflowers, and should be 
checked by the application of soot over the leaves. An cast or a 
west border suits them admirably, the former being preferred. 
When the seedlings are about 2 inches high they should be trans¬ 
planted into rows 1 foot wide and 10 inches apart in the rows ; in 
such a manner they will grow freely and preserve a stocky habit, 
which is much preferred to that tall weakly growth which is pro¬ 
duced when the plants are allowed to remain in the seed beds till 
wanted for final planting. Some light manure, such as the mate¬ 
rials from spent Mushroom beds, is best for the heavy soils. This 
should be dug into the beds just previous to planting. It is better 
if the digging and the planting can be done in the same day, as the 
soil at this time of the year works so much better when freshly 
dug than when it becomes wet. Lift the plants with as much 
earth to each as possible, place them as near together that the 
leaves touch each other. This is the best guide I can give, as so 
much depends upon the size of the plants. 
Myosotis dissitiflora. —This is the best variety of the blue 
Forget-me-not. It is dwarfer in habit, blooms more freely, and of ex¬ 
cellent colour. From a good strain carefully selected plants should 
be grown annually from cuttings, which are more to be depended 
upon than those raised from seed every year, which vary in height 
considerably. The best way to procure a stock of cuttings is the 
following :—When the old plants are taken from the beds after 
blooming, the flower spikes should be cut off and the plants laid in 
in rows in a west border or in an orchard among the fruit trees. 
Suckers will soon commence growing from the bottom of each 
plant. These should be taken off early in August and inserted in 
a cold frame in sandy soil under a north wall. In this position 
shading is dispensed with ; or under handlights they will succeed 
equally well as in the cold frame. If well watered when inserted 
the cuttings will require very little more until they are rooted, 
which they soon will be if the frames are kept close, admitting no 
air until roots are formed ; then some should be given, increasing 
it until the lights can be taken off altogether. This prevents the 
plants becoming drawn weakly. When well supplied with roots 
the plants should be placed in rows on any open piece of ground, 
first forking in some well-decayed manure or decayed leaves with 
refuse soil from the potting bench, from which material they lift 
so much better than they do from ordinary soil. They will have 
made strong bushy plants by the time they are required for the 
beds, in which they should be planted so that the leaves touch one 
another, as if the winter is at all severe many of the largest leaves 
will be spoilt, and require removal before the young growth starts 
jn the early spring. 
Polyanthuses. —Showy free-flowering plants when well grown, 
A laige number of plants can be procured from seed for a start 
selecting a good strain. The first year the best should be separated 
from those not so good. These latter will be useful to plant in the 
front of the herb iceoui or shrubbery borders, while the more choice 
varieties should be reserved for the annual display in the beds, 
and from which the future stock shall come. To commence, then, 
sow the seed about the end of March in a gentle hotbed, removing 
them to cooler quarters as soon as the seedlings appear ; transplant 
them thinly into boxes or, what is better, into a cold frame, and 
when they have become well established plant out on a west border, 
and by early in October they will be strong plants ready to be 
placed in the beds, and will make a good display the first year, after 
which when blooming is over they should be removed from the 
beds, cutting off the flower spikes, dividing the plants into as many 
pieces as have roots. Plant them on a west border, pointing 
in some manure. Attend to them with water if the weather be 
dry until they commence to grow, when no more will be required 
except it be a very dry season. By the time they are required in 
the autumn they will be strong plants furnished with plenty of 
roots, and can be planted without any check. Place them in the 
beds at such distances that the leaves just touch each other. A 
better effect is produced when the plants are placed in a mass in 
one bed ; the contrast in the colours is better, and, what is more 
important, they bloom simultaneously. 
Double Primroses. —The lavender, white, and yellow varieties, 
with the purple P. acaulis platypetala plena, are the best, and are 
showy favourite spring-flowering plants ; but they are not well 
suited for associating with other plants in the beds, as they bloom 
earlier than those generally employed for the decoration of the 
spring garden. If all the beds are not expected to be all gay at 
the same time they may be used, but otherwise they should be 
planted by themselves—for instance, along the fronts of the her¬ 
baceous borders. The treatment required to provide a supply of 
plants is the same as for Polyanthus. 
Single Primroses. —These assist much in the embellishment 
of the flower garden in the early spring. The front of a shrubbery 
or herbaceous border, or even on rockeries, they flourish and make 
a good show, now that they are so readily raised from seed, and 
of such improved colours. Dean’s strain is the one I like best. 
The plants are dwarf, and bloom profusely. In order to have 
plants ready to place in the beds in October it is necessary to sow 
seeds of them early in June in a cold frame under a north wall. 
In such a position the seeds germinate freely, and when the young 
plants are large enough to handle prick them out in sandy soil 
liberally enriched with leaf mould. Keep the frame over them 
until they begin growing freely, when the lights may be dispensed 
with altogether. In hot weather water them freely. They, too, 
are more effective when planted in masses. 
Double Daisies. —Where spring bedding is done these are 
indispensable, so useful are they for planting either in designs, 
edgings, or masses. They are easily increased and grown to a suit¬ 
able size ; they are quite hardy and bloom profusely that they may 
be classed as everybody’s plant. Red, white, and pink are the 
principal varieties. A newer variety is Rob Roy, but not quite so 
hardy as the others. It is admired for the rich colour of its flowers, 
contrasting well with the white variety ; it is dwarf in habit of 
growth. The best method of increasing the stock of plants is as 
follows :—In May, when the beds are cleared to make room for the 
summer occupants, the plants should be divided. If a large number 
is desired every piece that has roots will grow, tut if the stock 
required is not large then they need not be so severely cut. Pre¬ 
pare any open piece of ground by digging it and adding some well- 
decayed manure. Plant in rows 10 inches apart, the plants about 
8 inches asunder in the rows, and keep them regularly supplied 
with water. If the sun should be very powerful a little shade 
given to the plants would be an advantage until they commence 
making fresh roots, when they will take care of themselves. So 
grown they will at planting time be good stocky plants with plenty 
of roots. Some people simply lay the plants in rows when taken 
from the beds, and divide them when removing them to their 
winter quarters ; but this method causes too great a check to the 
plants, and at this time of the year they do not recover so quickly 
as in the spring, when the ground is warmer. They make a much 
better show in the beds when planted thickly together, as it is a 
thick mass or patch of the various colours that is required. 
Iberis corifolia.—A plant particularly well adapted for 
spring bedding, being of easy growth, very hardy, and, what is of 
more importance, its flowers are white, which renders it extremely 
useful. I. Tenoreana has a larger and better flower, and it is also 
more compact in its growth ; but its fault lies in its blooming too 
late to be of any use as a bedder. In the borders or on the rockery 
it is much appreciated.—E. M. 
(To be continued). 
CATALOGUES. 
The season of nurserymen’s catalogues has commenced with its usual 
severity. On seeing the size of some of these productions, and the coloured 
plates, and musing on the money expended on printing and publishing 
(for one well-known firm informs us on the first page that the cost ot 
their catalogue is over £1000 a year), we cannot help wishing it were 
possible to share this money somehow bt tween the nurserymen and their 
customers—to keep it to ourselves, as it were. But I am afraid it caDnot 
be done. Advertising does pay; and a flourishing business in one trade 
will help other lines of business, and I suppose we oug'ynot to regret it. 
Being more than ordinarily annoyed one day by the coolness and per¬ 
sistence of a wine merchant’s tout, I wrote to the head of the firm, with 
whom I did deal occasionally, asking him if he thought I would buy 
