90 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
[ January 31, 889. 
poorly done. Now one of the things most apparent to the traveller 
abroad or at home is the beautiful and luxuriant manner in which 
Nature manages her planting near water. It is near to rivers or 
streams, or in the oft inundated plains, that herbaceous vegetation 
reaches its most majestic proportions, and this is so even in what we 
call temperate countries like our own. Nature, however, only does 
what she can, but in the garden we can do what we will, and so 
we can focus the waterside or moisture-loving plants of many 
countries side by side with those native of our own shores. It is, 
however, necessary that such planting be done boldly and well. 
The old “dot and carry one” style of planting is most un¬ 
satisfying, and the best modern idea is to make natural groups 
of the best things so placed that each group or colony is not 
only beautiful in itself, but shall also add to the effect of the others. 
Only the very largest and boldest of plants should be used as single 
specimens, such as Pampas Grass, Arundo conspicua, Polygonum 
sachalinense, and Bambusa Metake, which are noble as seen tower¬ 
ing and waving above spreading masses of low-growing things. One 
■of the finest of all fine-leaved plants for a pond or stream side is 
Gunnera manicata, which is a far more luxuriant plant than 
G. scabra, a single specimen which I have seen being 27 feet across, 
and its largest leaves 9 feet long by 7 feet broad. It has a low dip 
of lawn to itself quite near to a pond, and no plant I have ever seen 
in tropical countries surpassed its ample grandeur of leafage. 
Bambusa Metake grows best on a highish bank from which its 
roots can descend to the water, and it forms a graceful mass 10 to 
20 feet high. The large-leaved but low-growing B. Raga monski 
is good for a broad spreading patch, and B. Mazelii is a tall kind 
that may replace B. Metake here and there with good effect. 
After Gunnera manicata, the Japanese Giant Knotweed (Poly¬ 
gonum sachalinense) is one of the boldest plants I know for a 
moist sheltered spot by pond or lake. Plant it in good, deep, well 
manured soil, and its shoots reach 12 to 20 feet in length, and as 
seen waving in every breeze its great leafy stems are very effective. 
In shallow reaches, or even in wet soil at water level, the great 
“ Banshee’s Rod ” (Typha major) and the wild Irk Pseudo-acorus 
look well in groups mingling together here and there. Of course 
no quiet pool or slow stream should be without Water Lilies ! 
The White Nymphsea alba should always be grown, and if possible 
its rosy flowered forms should be added also. There are several 
varieties of N. alba, some much finer than others, and a good top¬ 
dressing of heavy manure applied over the tubers in the winter 
does much to strengthen their growth and flowers. The finest 
Water Lilies I ever saw grew near a weir in a shallow stream, and 
their owner told me they were only the common kind, but added 
that cartloads of dead leaves and other were washed down to them 
every autumn, and to the manurial effects of this he attributed the 
fine large blossoms. A good breadth of Osiers here and there gives 
a very warm and bright wintry effect, and there are but few things 
more useful and profitable if well grown in suitable soils and 
situations. The best for effect are the “ Golden Osier ” and what 
is called the Red or “ Cardinal Osier,” the glowing blood-red wands 
of which quite put the shoots of the brightest “ Dogwood ” into 
the shade. These two fine Willows are far too rarely met with 
in gardens, and for landscape effects near water they are quite 
unique in their way. Brook sides, near walks or drives, or marshy 
places near to ornamental water offer facilities for the growth of 
many lovely things Here a mass of our native Caltha palustris 
(with a few double flowered plants among the wild ones), Iris 
laevigata (Kaempfer’s Iris) in variety, or a colony of Spiraea venusta 
or S. palmata may be grown. But above everything do not “ dot ” 
small or low growing things here and there along the margins. 
Plant a bold group of any good plant and have done with it. 
Sometimes a quick running brook or stream can be widened so as 
to form quiet places for some good things such as “ Water Haw¬ 
thorn” (Aponogeton), “BogBean” (Menyanthes), or “Arrow Head,” 
single and double native, and also the great Chinese kind. For 
moist patches near water and in the grass the bog Primroses are 
useful. P. rosea and P. sikkimensis are lovely in masses as thus 
seen. Amongst trees we have the “ Golden-leaved Poplar,” the 
silvery Birch, the “ Weeping Willow,” all of service in waterside 
effects. Of all things we can least complain of any lack of 
material in our gardens to decorate water margins, we have plenty 
and to spare ; but in all sorts of planting for effect pray let the 
“ dot and dribble ” or “ mixed medley ” plan be discarded once for 
all, and let us make bold and effective groups of our good things 
in the positions most fitted for their healthy and vigorous growth. 
—F. W. Burbidge. 
TREE CARNATIONS. 
In many establishments Carnations are held in high esteem) 
especially during the winter season, when they are not easily had in 
quantity, especially in low wet districts, as a damp sluggish 
atmosphere is very injurious to them. It will be unnecessary to 
particularise the history of these justly popular plants, which is 
supposed to be one of the oldest of cultivated flowers, as we 
frequently find them mentioned by ancient as well as modern 
authors, so we may conclude the very name had the same enchant¬ 
ment centuries ago that it has to-day ; but these, we may presume, 
were the summer flowering varieties. In recent years we have a more 
serviceable type in the Tree or Perpetual flowering varieties, and a 
brief description of our mode of cultivation may be acceptable, as 
the time is at hand to commence propagating for next winter. As 
cuttings we prefer the side shoots split off with a heel, inserting 
five or six round the edge of a 4-inch pot, using light gritty soil 
consisting of leaf soil, silver sand, and a little loam sufficient to 
hold the cutting firmly in the pots. These are placed under hand- 
lights and plunged in gentle bottom heat, where they root freely in 
about three weeks, but some root more quickly than others. When 
the cuttings show signs of new growth air may be gradually ad¬ 
mitted, and when well rooted remove them into a light airy 
position, such as a Strawberry shelf or frames near the glass, as it 
is very important to keep the plants short-jointed and stocky. For 
this purpose the centres may be pinched out, and just as new 
growth begins from the axils of the leaves is a good time to place 
them singly into 4-inch pots, using as before light gritty soil. 
When potted return them to a comfortable position for a few 
weeks, then harden them by removing the lights. By the middle of 
April they may be stood outside in a sheltered position. Early in 
May they may be transferred into 6-inch pots, using nearly all 
sound fibry loam, a little coarse sand, and a dash of bonemeal. If 
manure is used it must be old and well decayed. Care must be 
taken to pot firmly and not to earth up the stems. Suitable stakes 
may be placed to the plants as soon as potted to avoid injuring the 
roots, which they would do if placed some time afterwards. The 
plants require to be well grown in a sunny position, otherwise they 
are very disappointing. In bad seasons we place ours at the foot 
of south walls. Some growers half plunge the pots, but we fancy 
they receive a check after they are taken out of the plunging 
material. 
Strong plants will begin to produce flower spikes early in 
July. These may be left, and if the flower buds are likely to open 
before they are required the former may be pinched off as they 
appear, but we rarely have to adopt this measure in a locality like 
Derbyshire, for if the plants are not fairly advanced by the middle 
of October they are next to useless. They are better under cover 
before the soil becomes soaked with the autumn rains. If this 
cannot be done they may be turned on their sides. If well rooted 
they may have very weak liquid manure occasionally from the 
farmyard. Patent manures should be avoided. Unless the plants 
are in a good light airy house the flowers are inferior in substance, 
size, and colour. Varieties are too numerous to be described here, 
but some of the best are Purity (white), Miss Joliffe (pink), and 
A. Alegatiere (scarlet). Souvenir de la Malmaison reigns supreme 
for spring flowering, and it sometimes gives a few autumn blooms. 
—J. H. Goodacre. —Elvaslon Castle Gardens. 
THE GARDENERS’ ROYAL BENEVOLENT 
INSTITUTION. 
From the publication of the result of the election of the new 
pensioners for the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution it will be 
seen that of the nine elected five female candidates were successful. 
The ray of golden sunshine that penetrates the scant surroundings, and 
in some measure relieves the helpless necessity of the aged, affords 
to them comfort that words cannot well express when considered in 
connection with their retrospect of, it may be, a decade or more beyond 
the allotted threescore years and ten. There is food for reflection here. 
The affluent philanthropist may desire an ideal institution to which may 
be accorded substantial support—one, perchance, that practically would 
not present a better record, or would be, it is certain, more deserving of 
supplemental aid. There are, notably, occasions that might be taken 
advantage of from time to time with a view to benefiting such an 
institution as this without involving very much trouble or responsibility. 
The names of many places suggest themselves where permission, under 
certain restrictions, is granted by the owners that admits of the oppor¬ 
tunity for the public to view them. Now, if for one day in the visiting 
season a charge for admission were made, with the understanding that 
the proceeds would be devoted to the aid of a fund for the benefit of 
aged necessitous gardeners, or their widows and orphans, in the course 
of time it is probable the result would be highly pleasing to all con¬ 
cerned. Again, in cases where the public is attracted to a given centre, 
owing to the visit of some national, county, or district association, if 
there be within a reasonable distance a demesne of historic interest or 
renown, collections of anything either in or out of doors, numbers of 
persons would fully appreciate the favour that would enable them to 
view them, and at the same time willingly contribute to so good a cause. 
The season is approaching when the suggestion, in some form or other, 
