1877. ] 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
213 
hardy annuals may be sown now for flowering in early spring ; they bloom with 
unwonted fineness when grown all the winter in good soil. Chrysanthemums in 
pots for winter blooming—and there is no other plant that comes in so useful at 
that season of the year—will now require regular attention; the shoots must be 
tied out, and the plants well watered. Towards the end of the month, when the 
bloom-buds begin to form, strong manure-water should be given twice a week, to 
promote the swelling of the buds, and in dry weather the plants may be watered 
overhead morning and evening. 
Cold Frames. —As these would now contain many plants in a state of semi¬ 
rest, they must not be allowed to become too dry. Auriculas are now making 
growth, and should be kept free from green-fly. A few Roman and other 
Hyacinths, Crocus, and Early Tulips should be put into pots towards the end of 
the month, for blooming early in the greenhouse. Bulbs of this character do 
well in good turfy loam, rotten manure, and some silver-sand. 
Kitchen Garden. —The Potato crops will now be ready for lifting, excepting 
the very late varieties, which may remain a little later. In small villa gardens, 
where garden space is limited, it is usual to plant only a few early varieties, and 
lift them for eating as they ripen. The potato disease has seriously affected the 
crops, and perhaps it will be well to get the tubers lifted as quickly as possible. 
Winter Spinach should be thinned out to six inches from plant to plant; rows of 
Lettuce may also be thinned out where they are to stand. A little Spring Cabbage 
should be planted out; and all crops that are exhausted should be cleared away, in 
order to have the ground dug and manured for other subjects.—D. 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
HE use of the Tree Mallow {Lavatera arhorea) for sheltering sea-exposed 
gardens, young plantations, and other grounds, is strongly recommended by 
Mr. W. Gorrie, in a paper published in the Transactions of the Highland and 
Agricultural Society. A hedge-like belt of the plant on the side of a garden 
or plantation exposed to the sea-blast has been found to answer the purpose admirably. When 
thus employed, it is advisable to sow the mallow-seeds in nursery drills or beds towards the end 
of June, so that they may not flower next year, and transplant them as soon as they are four to 
six inches high. For succession, another planting of like-sized mallows should be made in 
July or August following, to remain green, and so maintain the shelter after those first 
planted have seeded and been harvested. Afterwards the seeds that will get scattered 
annually, even with careful harvesting, will sufiBce to keep up a sufficient succession as long 
as the sheltering aid of the mallows may be needed. 
- a Climling Kose.^ Keve d'Or lias been strongly recommended (for 
tlie South of England) for covering tlie walls of bouses. Planted seven years ago, 
at Westwell Vicarage, it now covers a space 24 ft. high by 12 ft. broad on tlie 
east aspect, and has gone round to the north side, covering a space there nearly as large; 
the stem is 12 inches round, and from within a foot of the ground to its very outmost branches 
it is covered with bunches of blooms, thousands upon thousands, in all stages of develop¬ 
ment. It is in colour very like Madame Falcot. The description of Madame Falcot would apply 
also to this. There has been no peculiarity of treatment, it has been allowed to run away as 
it liked, but its most vigorous habit has led every year to the thinning-out of an immense 
quantity of shoots. 
- ^HE want of knowledge of the fundamental principles of Floral Decora- 
iion often leads to error. Notwithstanding the number of exhibitions of floral 
decorations which we have had of late years, the majority of the exhibitors are 
' often very much at fault. They err, by using expensive and elaborate receptacles in which 
