352 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 4, 1893. 
variety, £7 10s. ; Cypripedium Spicerianum, 7 guineas ; Odonto- 
glossum Alexandrse, hybrid £5 ; Cypripedium superbiens (Prince 
Deraidoff’s variety), 7 guineas ; Cymbidium Lowianum, £4 ; Lselia 
purpurata alba, £5 ; Laelia anceps (white), 4 guineas ; Odonto- 
glossura Alexandra, A1 variety, £3 10s. ; and Sobralia macrantha 
alba, £3 5s.—R. P. R. 
SUPERFLUOUS GROWTHS. 
The necessity of “ thinning ” crops has been repeatedly brought 
under the notice of readers of the Journal. As a phase of garden¬ 
ing, it is indeed one of the points which has been advocated for 
so long as I have read its pages, and that embraces a long 
series of years. To add anything further may therefore 
appear superfluous ; but, as there are always new readers, an old 
tale is fresh, and, moreover, I hope to show that the last word has 
not yet been said on the subject under review. I shall pass over 
the thinning of Vine growths, not because I do not realise its 
necessity, as I am persuaded the well-being of Grape Vines depends 
very much on the foliage being fully exposed alike to air 
and light ; and in the same connection other kinds of fruits 
which are sometimes seen too thickly leaved through neglect in 
thinning out spurs and branches are not referred to at present. 
The particular “crop” I wish to draw attention to is the large one 
of plants grown in pots. 
I do not think I exaggerate in saying that no young man of his 
own initiative ever attempts to thin out the shoots or foliage of 
pot plants. That, at least, is my experience. On the other hand, 
most young men have a good idea as to the need of thinning in 
the case of fruit trees. Tell an assistant to thin the shoots of a 
Vine or a Peach tree, and in most cases he knows how to set about it; 
but set him to thin a Pelargonium, and invariably he has to be 
told whrt to do. The obvious reason is that in the former case 
thinning is a matter of routine ; while in the latter it does not 
appear to obtain to any great extent. 
At first sight it appears somewhat peculiar that the removal of 
a few weakly growths and leaves from a plant in good health should 
exert so palpable an influence on the future of that plant. The 
immediate result is an increased vigour in the foliage and growth 
of the plant, and ultimately more bloom of better quality. One 
would naturally think that so long as growth is not, I will not say 
overcrowded, but simply not close, there would be benefit to the 
plant from the greater amount of foliage ; but in practice it is not 
so. Every weakly growth, whether it crowds a stronger one or not, 
is a task on the energies of the plant, and there is an immediate 
improvement in the general development of the other shooia 
directly these are removed. There is something more than merely 
an increase of light and of air to be reckoned with, for in many 
cases which have come under my notice there were absolutely 
nothing like crowding of shoots or of foliage ; yet the removal 
of weakly shoots, and sometimes of small leaves alone, had a pro¬ 
nounced effect on the plant. It would appear that a concen¬ 
tration of the energies of the plant on the best placed shoots 
possessed an equality of vigour, the chief factor in achieving this 
result. 
I confess that when I at first began to thin plants in this way it 
was not with any idea of improving them, or of gaining an increase 
in vigour. I merely saw no good in leaving shoots which in no 
case could be expected to flower, but the result, as already said, is 
a marked improvement in all kinds of plants. As examples of 
what I mean, we take for example a Tuberous Begonia, which at 
present is producing a score of young growths from its crown. 
There is space for only a fraction of these growths ; it may be 
one-half, perhaps a quarter. The result, if all are left, is that a 
few take the lead, and possibly no harm may be apparent from 
allowing all to remain ; but if all the weaker growths are removed 
the vigour of those left will be enhanced in a remarkable degree. 
And suppose, as is sure to be the case, that young side shoots are 
developed as the first crop of flowers begins to go off, by the 
simple method of removing all growths which have done flowering 
the plant will become as vigorous and as flcriferous as ever. I 
have treated p.ants of Begonia Gloire de Sceaux twice during 
the past winter to this cutting-out process, and they are still in 
beauty. 
Again, let us take a very common plant—the Fuchsia, and 
instead of letting every weakly growth remain, and pinch-in every 
strong one to increase the strength of those which by no possibility 
can be strengthened, let us adopt the drastic method of removing 
every weakly shoot, and we secure vigour at once. Perhaps the 
most remarkable effect is exhibited by Carnations. The strongest, 
most floriferous, and largest-flowered flower stem is produced when 
the “ grass ” or the young shoots are thinned out. These, apparently. 
can have no effect on a stem towering above them ; but it is a 
fact that removing a thick growth of young shoots round the 
base of the plant has a great effect for the better. Bush Chrys¬ 
anthemums furnish another example. Though there may to all 
appearance be plenty of room for the development of strong and 
weakly shoots, it will be always found better to remove the latter 
at an early period of their growth. The difference is made up by 
those left producing a larger number of flowers, and all of a better 
quality. I might add examples, but merely notice Crotons, which 
are improved by the removal of growths in the case of the small 
foliage sorts ; while in those with large leaves all small ones taken 
off help others yet to come. —B. 
HARDY FLOWER NOTES. 
It is well nigh impossible to write of the flowers of April 
without, to some extent at least, referring to the glorious weather 
we have had while the month of smiles and tears has been with us. 
She has falsified her proverbial reputation for once, and the bright 
sun and clear air have harmonised well with the beauty of the 
flowers which responded to the wooing of the sun and genial air. 
The season has, indeed, been a veritable “ bridal of the earth and 
sky,” as George Herbert says, and those who admire the flowers of 
spring have enjoyed a rich banquet of beauty. It is delightful to 
gaze on the garden’s beauty, glowing as it is with golden Alyssum, 
with gleaming Tulips glancing in the sunlight; alpine Phloxes 
covering the stones of the rock garden with mossy carpets covered 
with flowers of varied tint ; spikes of Honesty, varying through 
shades of purple or of snowy whiteness ; stately Crown Imperials, 
Chapman’s Emperor of Flowers, starry Saxifrages, drooping Lyre 
Flowers, or Bleeding Hearts, as Dielytra spectabilis is called ; 
Welsh Poppies, Lungworts ; Primulas, from the ever-popular 
Primrose of the hedgerow to the rarer species from other lands ; 
Arabis, Aubrietias, and the many other flowers which gladden our 
eyes and by their number bewilder our thoughts. 
Few of these have been finer than the varieties of Primula 
Sieboldi, a number of which from seed from one of the best strains 
in cultivation are brightening (if brightening were needed) a range 
of rockwork of some length. Here they are planted at the base, 
where they receive the benefit of the overflow from the terraces 
above, and where they are flourishing in great beauty. Very 
attractive are they with their flowers of varied form or colour, 
some being nearly round and others deeply cut and fringed, while 
the colouring is still more varied, some being pure white, others 
white with the backs of the petals rose, and others again ranging 
from pink to deep purple. Planted in sandy peat they are 
increasing rapidly, and although various pieces have been given to 
other flower lovers nearly all have filled their allotted space. They 
are so hardy and so beautiful that no one need hesitate to include 
these beautiful flowers in their collections. It is well, however, to 
remember that they die so completely down that they are difficult 
to perceive when at rest, and are thus at times destroyed by care¬ 
less digging. 
Very beautiful, too, have been the various Anemones which 
are so numerous both in species and variety that a lengthened 
notice would be required to do them justice. Our ordinary Wood 
Anemone A. nemorosa, when seen in masses in our woods is most 
attractive, and near me many beautiful examples of its decorative 
effect may be seen. It is not our purpose, however, to speak at 
length of the ordinary form, but to call attention to some of the 
varieties of this flower which, as Lord Lytton says, is 
.“ fashioned so 
Like to the stars of the winter snow.” 
One of the most recommendable varieties and one of the best 
known is A. nemorosa fl.-pl., the double form, which is very pretty 
with its button-like blossoms, not so unlike the flowers of the 
“ Fair Maids of France,” but if anything of still purer whiteness. 
Always interesting, too, although not so readily appreciated by the 
ordinary frequenter of gardens is A. n. bracteata, “ the Jack in the 
Green ” of Anemones, with its leafy bracts and its neat flowers. 
Then we have the rosy coloured varieties and several others with 
flowers larger than the ordinary kind. Doubly welcome, however, 
although not perhaps so much appreciated since A. apennina 
became more widely grown, and since A. blanda made its appearance 
in our gardens, are the varieties of A. nemorosa with bluish or blue 
flowers. Perhaps the one of these most frequently seen (if 
frequently can be used where a flower is only seldom seen) is 
A. n. coerulea, with pale blue flowers. A rare variety which, 
through the kindness of the finder, I have flowered this year has 
been named A. n. purpurea. This was discovered in France some 
years ago, and is quite distinct in colour from the ordinary bluish 
