492 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ jun? so, j8:a. 
we rejoice in the signal success that has been achieved at the last 
anniversary festival of the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institu¬ 
tion. For the next we predict success also, for the Chairman of 
the year will be the Treasurer, Mr. H. J. Veitch, whose energy 
and resources are proverbial, and as applied to the good object in 
view will not fail to bring a satisfactory response. 
PLANTING TUBEROUS BEGONIAS. 
AYheRE it is intended that Tuberous Begonias are to take an 
important part in the decoration of the flower beds or borders this 
season, now is the time to lay such a foundation for their future 
welfare that success can be ensured provided the weather is favour¬ 
able. In fact, Tuberous Begonias are not so particular in their 
growth as regards the weather as are many other plants. It is 
in this respect that these Begonias are so valuable for bedding, 
as with good treatment they are successful either in a wet or a dry 
season ; the wonder is they are not more freely employed, especi¬ 
ally in small gardens, where there is much difficulty in storing a 
large number of Pelargoniums through the winter. 
In no way are Begonias so effective when in bloom as in a mass, 
either keeping the colours apart or mixing them judiciously, and 
white is particularly useful. However, the matter of arrangement 
is to be regarded as purely of personal taste, the planting and 
after cultivation is the same. Whether the edges of the beds are 
to be raised and planted with some of the numerous low-growing 
carpet plants will be for the cultivator to decide ; but in my opinion 
all beds should be treated in this way, so much better effect is 
obtained. For this purpose there is no plant equal to Hermaria 
glabra, as it contrasts agreeably with the surroundings, whether it 
be gravel paths, grass plots, or whatever plants are employed in the 
beds. More than this, the chief point in its favour is the little 
attention needed during the summer. When once planted it takes 
care of itself, and quickly covers the soil. Where it is in lines all 
that is needed is a clipping now and again with shears. 
The beds should be deeply dug, not because the plants are of a 
deep-rooting habit, but with a view to retaining moisture in a dry 
season, and in a wet one of allowing a free passage for the surplus 
water from heavy and continuous rains. If the soil in the beds is of 
a light sandy nature a dressing of half-decomposed cow manure 
worked in from 6 inches to 1 foot below the surface will be of 
great service ; but should the soil be heavy and retentive some 
partly decomposed horse manure will be the best, or a dressing of 
bone meal may be added. Whatever manure is added to the soil it 
must not be buried too deeply, or the roots will find little benefit 
from its application until quite late in the season. The more 
vigorous the growth at the start the more likelihood is there of 
obtaining an abundance of bloom at an early stage of the season. 
If the plants have been in frames, either planted out or in boxes, 
with ample space to develop, they will be well supplied with roots 
which will cling to the soil, forming a mass from 6 to 8 inches in 
diameter. Planted in this manner no check through removal can 
possibly take place, as the soil in the boxes will have been thoroughly 
watered previous to planting. By this means new roots are made 
much quicker after planting than if the balls of soil about the 
plants were dry and needed watering directly after planting to 
keep the leaves from flagging. The plants should not be put in 
too deeply^—just enough to cover the roots, thoroughly working the 
soil around the roots. Press this down firmly with the hands while 
planting, and leave the soil between the plants loose, not hard by 
treading upon for the operation of planting. It is much better to 
use boards to stand upon than to tread the soil down hard, which, 
if at all wet at the time, is liable to run together, much to the 
detriment of the free growth of the plants. 
If the plants have not been standing out of doors for a short 
time previous to planting, and the sun is powerful at the time 
when they are placed in the beds, some damage may be caused to 
the foliage of the Begonias by the sun scorching them directly 
they are planted. If there is the least suspicion of the soil being 
dry at the roots scorching is most likely to occur, which not only 
disfigures the plants, but causes a check to growth, which is much 
better avoided by timely shading than by after coddling in any 
manner. 
■ J ^ ave se en plants taken direct from the greenhouse to the beds 
without any preparation as to hardening. The first hot sun 
blistered their leaves so much as to seriously imperil their chance 
of future success. The remark then was made, “Begonias will 
not do here on this place, it is too cold it being not the fault of 
the climate, but of the method of treating them. 
I am a strong advocate of covering the surface of the beds with 
a low growing carpet plant for three reasons. First, such a cover¬ 
ing forms a contrast between the blooms and the soil much more 1 
pleasant than the bare earth ; the flowers then show to much 
greater advantage by reason of the contrast obtained. Secondly, 
the covering obtained prevents the blooms becoming splashed with 
the soil consequent on heavy rains. The third reason why I con¬ 
sider the carpeting of the beds beneficial is that should the weather 
be hot and dry the moisture is retained in the soil longer to the 
advantage of the Begonias. Sedum glaucum I consider the best 
plant to employ ; its colour agrees with the largest number of 
colours of the Begonia.—E'. M. 
GARDEN ALLOTMENTS—THEIR ADVANTAGES 
AND UTILISATION. 
TRead at Nottingham by Mr. J. Wright. 1 
(Continued from page 4737) 
Exhibiting. 
Reference has been made to showing garden produce for 
prizes. This promotes wholesome rivalry, and stimulates to better 
culture. Not less important, but perhaps more, is the excellent 
practice of awarding prizes to the best stocked, best cultivated, and 
most orderly gardens. I have had hard yet pleasant days’ work in 
judging small gardens, and have been delighted to see the splendid 
crops in them, and the extreme neatness prevailing. Such admir¬ 
able results could only have been attained by the exercise of sound 
judgment and diligent endeavour, and wrnuld never have been 
accomplished without the spur of competition. All honour to 
those who give and those who win prizes for gardens and garden 
produce, as well as to those who try, even if they fail : their turn 
will come in time if they profit, as all should profit, by experience 
gained in losing. Men who have achieved the greatest success in 
gardening, as in other occupations, are men who have surmounted 
the most obstacles by persevering effort day by day, week by week, 
and year by year—losing no time, and making the fewest mistakes, 
through well thinking cut the plan of action before entering on the 
campaign. It is most important, too, that judges of gardens be 
competent, painstaking, absolutely impartial, and unprejudiced 
men, who never think who the owners are of whatever may be 
under inspection, but only of the work or produce in competition. 
Every award should be a lesson, and only just judgments teach 
sound doctrine in indicating the right standards at which com¬ 
petitors should aim in their endeavours to share in the honours 
provided. 
Fruit for Small Gardens. 
I wish to say a little on this important branch of useful garden¬ 
ing. I should like to say a good deal, but clocks and watches keep 
going, and there is a limit to the patience of their owners. For 
small plots, where bush fruits and vegetables are to be grown 
between trees, the trees should be standards, which bear heavy 
crops on compact heads—not wide-spreading branches. That is an 
important condition in planting very small plots. Here are a few 
compact growing free-bearing Apples: — Early Julyan, Manks 
Codlin, Domino, Duchess of Oldenburg, Cellini, Stirling Castle, 
Potts’ Seedling, Ecklinville Seedling, and Lane’s Prince Albert. 
Dessert Apples, for home use or sale—Irish Peach, Cox’s Orange 
Pippin, and King of the Pippins bear well aDd are of moderate 
growth. A larger number would perhaps bewilder. If only six 
are wanted out of the dozen choose the third, fourth, eighth, 
ninth, and two last named ; if only three the third, fourth, and 
ninth. They all answer well also as dwarf trees on Paradise stocks 
when such are preferred. Next to Apples come Plums for useful¬ 
ness. The first is Rivers’ Early Prolific, then follow the Czar, 
Victoria, White Magnum Bonum, and Damsons. The most certain 
of all in bearing is the Victoria. Pears are less profitable as 
standards. A few of the most reliable are Williams’ Bon Chretien, 
Hessle, Fertility, and Marie Louise d’Uccle. 
If only one or two Cherry trees are grown birds usually have 
the fruit ; they, however, leave the Morello, or Brandy Cherries, 
till the last, and bush trees grown in the open bear well. Carter’s 
Prolific is one of the best Raspberries, and can be grown without 
wires or stakes if needed. Red and Black Currants give a good 
return, as do Gooseberries, productive sorts being Crown Bob’, 
Whitesmith, Lancashire Lad, and Industry. The most extensively 
grown midseason Strawberry was raised in Nottinghamshire—Sir 
Joseph Paxton. I have known crops sold for £50 an acre, the 
purchaser taking all risks and doing all the picking. President is 
also productive. A new variety, well named Noble, is highly 
worthy of attention ; it is one of the earliest of all, and on that 
account valuable, while the fruit is of the first size and of g< od 
quality. It will be largely cultivated, because, to use a colloquial 
ihrase, it is believed there is “ money in it.” Strawberries may 
be grown along the sides of paths, making a neat bordering. 
Planting .—A few hints on management. The sooner fruit trees 
