282 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 9, lt91. 
and capable of supporting itself. It is a mistake to allow them to 
grow thickly together until they are 1 or 2 inches high. Few plants 
are needed in 5-inch pots—one at every inch distance round the 
rim with four or five in the centre will be ample ; in fact, more 
than are really required. But this is a guide for the first thinning, 
as odd plants may fail. If the plants finally stand 2 inches 
apart when housed for the winter they will be thick enough. A 
few plants in each pot with large heads of bloom are much more 
effective and more highly prized than a crowded mass of weakly 
plants that fail to produce one good spike of bloom. We invariably 
place four or five short sticks r jund the sides of the pots, and one thin 
thread of matting near the base to keep the plants from falling 
about if removal becomes necessary. The pots sometimes become 
green, but we prefer leaving them in this condition to moving 
the plants about in order to wash them. 
Mignonette that has passed the winter well and looks promising 
now needs attention. If slightly crowded remove some of the 
weakest plants, and much can be done in giving those that 
hive taken the lead every chance by the removal of those which are 
weak. However well they may be attended to, some will not 
advance so freely, and rather than allow them to spoil the sample 
we advise them to be pulled out, for few good plants at the 
present time can be made to furnish the pots. After thinning all 
that are useless place another thread of bass round the stakes for 
support. Remove the point from any plants that are taking the 
lead, or any that may be needed to branch more. The few good 
plints remaining in each pot, supposing there are only three or 
four, may be tied down over the surface. When the pi^int has 
been removed lateral growths are produced quickly, and under 
good culture they grow strongly. Sufficient lateral growths will 
be produced to furnish fine bold spikes, and some of the best pots 
of M gnonette I have ever seen were the result of three or four 
plants being bent down on the principle described. 
The position of the plants from the present time and their 
subsequent treatment is important if success is to be accomplished. 
They must not be returned again to the shelf. For a time all 
would go well, but as the sun gains more power shelves are then 
too drying for Mignonette. Frequently the plants become woody, 
and assume a sickly yellow appearance, and when once they are 
brought into this condition all attempts to restore them to a healthy 
robust condition will prove fatal. From the present time the 
plants should stand on a bed of ashes, or some other moistuie- 
hold'ng material with a cool base. The pots must stand suffi- 
c ently far apart that light and air can have free access to every 
plant. When large spikes are produced the plants must have dark 
green large foliage down to the rim of the po‘s. To accomplish 
this they must be grown without a check, so that their shoots 
resemble stout heads of Watercress. The nearer the glass the 
plants can be kept the better ; but this is not so important as suit¬ 
able atmospheric conditions and careful applications of water. No 
artificial heat need be used except to keep out frost, and abundant 
ventilation should be given whenever the weather is favourable. 
During rnild weather too much air cannot be admitted, but during 
cold cutting winds keep the ventilators closed. 
It is necessary never to allow the plants to become dry at their 
roots ; if once the soil becomes dry the growth of the plants is 
rendered woody, and small spikes and yellow foliage then only need 
be expected. On the other hand, they must not be overwatered ; one 
evil is as great as the other. Care and judgment only are needed 
in the accomplishment of this task. As the plants commence 
growth soot water in a clear state may be given once or twice a 
week with advantage. This acts quickly, and imparts to the foliage 
a fine dark hue. A little artificial manure may be applied to the 
surface of the soil now and at intervals of three weeks until the 
spikes appear. Too much at one application will do more harm 
than good ; very little should be given each time. Mignonette m 
pots dislikes either strong doses of artificial or liquid manures. 
Except soot water we never apply the latter. We have found 
artificials to be more suitable, and to keep the roots working on the 
surface abundantly. — Wm. B.ardney. ° 
FLOWERS FOR CUTTING. 
Half-hardy Annuals. 
Where many of these are grown it pays to set apart several 
sashes of frames, and to sow the seeds in prepared beds of soil. 
The first or second week in April suits well as a rule, for there is 
then a genial temperature, which brings on the young seedling 
at a sufficiently rapid rate to have them ready for transplanting 
into the open quarters by the middle of May or the third week of 
that month. First of all a perfectly hard base must be prepared 
on which the 3-inch bed of soil is to lie. The benefit of this will 
be found in the greater number of roots which can be lifted in 
good condition. A light open compost is best, for on this the seeds 
are sprinkled thinly, and a slight covering of soil is thrown over all. 
If the soil is in fit condition no water will be required, but the 
sashes must be shut down close and covered with mats until the 
seeds have germinated. A dripping day is chosen in which ta 
plant the seedlings out. Where only a few plants are required 
ordinary cutting boxes should be used. Keep these in a warm, 
house until the seedlings are well through the soil, and then 
remove them to cold framts closed for a few days, in due time 
transplanting in the manner advised above. Extra strong plants- 
are secured by transplanting into frames, and lifting the plants 
with roots. 
No flower of this section obtains a greater popularity than the- 
Aster in its various sections. It may be added with truth that 
no flower is more deserving. At the same time for cut flower 
purposes only a limited number are suitable. Taking all points^ 
into consideration the reflexed Victoria is the best that can be 
grown. I endeavour to purchase seeds in separate colours, not as 
collections. The white is the most useful, though, perhaps, the- 
best white Aster of all is the Emperor form. The quilled section 
is also deserving of culture. The flowers can be cut with lorg^ 
stems, having buds and half-opened flowers attached, and in this 
condition they are capital for vase furnishing. But better still 
than the quilled Asters for the litter purpose are the single 
varieties. Unfortunately we have either to send to the Continent 
for these or to invest in the penny packets sold at small shops,, 
when a fair proportion of singles may be expected. 
Phlox Drummondi grandiflora deserves culture for the purpose- 
under review. The flowers are most suitable for flat glasses. 
Zinnias, especially the singles, are useful, and a few of these should 
be cultivated for the smaller glassfs or vases. Salpiglossis are- 
capital, though not much known ; it is one of the best for cutting,, 
and is perhaps always best employed by itself. It requires no 
other setting than its own foliage and buds. Scabious also is not- 
very well known, and of this the dwarf form should be eschewed,, 
as it is worthless compared with the tall-growing varietiesv 
Scabious flowers may either be mixed with others or arranged by 
themselves. 
Marigolds, French and African, although generally despised,, 
perhaps on account of their odour, are both fine autumn flowers.. 
The douUe varieties are good, but the singles in both are very 
much better. There are indeed few more telling than the single- 
striped French when arranged with other flowers. The African 
Orange is a shade by itself. I have never found it necessary to- 
sow seed from single flowers of either of these, as there is always, 
a percentage of single ; and when sufficient room is allowed each 
plant a large quantity of flower is procurable from a few specimen®.. 
Sunflowers have sufferel from the aesthetic craze. Nevertheless, 
they must be occasionally used. In addition to the ordinary single 
and double forms, the new dwarf Miniature, which I have grown, 
for the past few years, is on its merits one of the best plants for 
cut flowers. Flowers, buds and foliage are alike good. 
Dianthus Heddewigi and D. chinensis are very suitable for 
furnishing small glasses, either by themselves or in mixture with 
other flowers. Nicotiana affinis, if for no other purpose, ought to 
be cultivated for the production of a few flowers for cutting. It. 
does capitally treated as a half-hardy annual, a good plant, pro* 
ducing an abundance of pretty sweet-scented blossoms.—N. B. 
GREEN FLY ON PEACH TREES—SETTING FRUITS- 
WITH THE SYRINGE. 
I AM not in the least surprised, that your correspondent “ J. J. C.’' 
(page 266) should take exception to my advice to syringe Peach trees- 
when in full bloom, for the clouble purpose of fertilising the blossoms ami 
keeping green fly away, because I am aware that any attempt to depart 
from the “ beaten track ” is usually met by strong opposition, and not- 
unfrequently by prejudice. Let it not be supposed by this that I wish 
to claim as anything new the practice of setting Peaches and Nectarines, 
with the syringe, as I know it has been successfully practised for years, 
but the benefit the trees derive by adopting this method of fertilisation 
has not been sufficiently acknowledged. As my opponent so emphati¬ 
cally declares that he fails to see the point, and then goes on to say that 
syringing Peach trees in full bloom he does not approve of, I feel temptel 
to ask if he has ever tried the plan ; because these objections are some¬ 
times mere conjectures rather than facts borne out by practice. I do- 
not dispute the fact that trees well managed in other respects -wdll not 
suffer much from the attacks of green fly if the house is fumigateii with 
tobacco paper just before the trees come into flower and again as soon 
as the flowering is over ; but there is plenty of room for improving 
upon this plan when a broad view is taken of the subject. For instance, 
when a perfect set of fruit can be obtained by syringing when in flower 
and the fumigating dispensed with, a great saving is effected, as the 
quantity of tobacco paper used in extensive gardens is an item of 
some importance. It sometimes hajipens that on a few shoots clcsj Ui 
