1870.] 
DOUBLE STOCKS. 
61 
have sown some seed of Beddinrj Pansies and 
Violas in boxes in autumn, wintering them in 
cold frames, will now enjoy the reward of their 
thoughtfulness, for they will be very acceptable 
in the flower-garden. A bed of seedling Prim¬ 
roses under a south wall is full of nice plants, 
growing away strongly, that are being put into 
the decimated beds and borders. We can 
hardly compute our losses among hardy plants. 
Our collection of Ilepaticas^ that we had calcu¬ 
lated on to be charmingly bright and pleasing 
this spring, have suffered much, and they are 
classed amongst the hardiest of plants. Those 
who have lost their stocks of ordinary bedding- 
plants can fall back upon such useful things as 
Petunias^ Phlox Druinmondii; dwarf Nastur¬ 
tiums^ Dianthus HeddewiejU., and the double 
Indian Pinks, Centaurea raejusina, Lobelias, 
Zinnias, Stocks, Asters, &c. Seeds of these sown 
at once, if not already looked after, will make a 
lot of very useful plants for putting into the beds 
at the end of May and the beginning of June. 
In the mixed border. Crocuses, Ilepaticas, Scilla 
sibirica. Anemone fuhjens, Violets, Pulmonaria, 
Primroses double and single, Daisies, &c., are 
supplying vernal tints, and along the lines of 
plants many other things are coming on to 
succeed them. By stirring the surface-soil, 
and adding a little top-dressing here and there, 
the progress of things will be accelerated, and 
their well-being assisted. 
Cold Frames. —The cold frame should now 
bo a great feeder to the Conservatory and 
Greenhouse. Those who grow a iowPansiesm 
pots will find them very pleasing subjects just 
now. In early spring a few plants of what are 
termed the Show andFanc}' Pansies, if in a cool 
frame, flower very finely, and with that regularity 
in the marking one misses in the open air on 
plants exposed to the sun. Primula amama 
and its new varieties—some of the latter are 
decidedly novel and very beautiful-—are now 
coming on fast in cool frames, where they can 
remain till they throw up their flower-stems, 
and be removed to the greenhouse. Double 
and single Primroses, Polpanthus, Triteleia, Nar¬ 
cissi, Myosotis dissitiflora. Anemonefidgens, these 
and others are among the hardy subjects that 
can occupy a cold frame at this season of the 
year, and yield great enjoyment to the cultiva¬ 
tor. Violets in pots should have a prominent 
place also. 
During the time cold raw winds are blowing, 
and the heavens are dull, the lights may be 
kept close. Watering must be looked after, 
as the plants are all growing fast, and need 
to be kept moist at the roots. By the exer¬ 
cise of some forethought, the cold frame 
can be turned to excellent account, as a feeder 
to the Greenhouse nearly all the year round. 
Some plants of Harrison's ]\Insk should be 
grown on, and clumps of Mimulns that have 
been kept through the winter can be broken 
up, potted, and kept growing, to flower in the 
cold frame during the summer, when the 
weather is too hot and sunny for them to do 
well in an ordinary Greenhouse. 
Kitchen Garden. —Sowing is still the order 
of the day. A sowing of Veitch's Perfection 
or Premier Pea for small and of the Ne Plus 
Ultra Pea for large gardens can be made for 
succession twice during the month. Villa 
Gardeners often say that it is preferable to pur¬ 
chase plants of Broccoli, Cauliflmuers, Borecole, 
Savoys, Brussels’ Sprouts, and other round seeds, 
than to sow the seed and raise a crop for 
themselves. We advise them to sow for their 
own use ; small beds of each will do, and the}’- 
will be certain to get something worth planting 
out. Carrots, Parsnips, and Beet should be 
sown in drills for main crops ; and Radishes, 
for succession. A little Turnip may be thrown 
in on a warm border; not forgetting the useful 
Parsley. Those who have raised a few early 
Cauliflower and Lettuce plants in heat should 
now harden them off, for going out of doors 
by-and-by. The principal crop of Potatos 
should be got in. The hoe must be got to 
work while the Aveather is warm and drying; 
the act of stirring the surface-soil is very bene¬ 
ficial. In showery weather, if slugs are trouble¬ 
some, a little lime scattered over the crops will 
check their destructive work. 
Fruit Garden. —All the pruning should have 
been completed, but if any remain, let it be 
done without delay. It will do no harm to 
lightly dig or fork the ground between Rasp¬ 
berry, Gooseberry, and Currant trees; indeed, 
it Avill do much good. It also imparts to the 
garden a tidy appearance. Straivberry beds 
and rows of plants Avill be greatly benefited by 
some top-dressing, stirring the surface soil first, 
and then adding the mulching. Wall trees 
will soon be in full bloom, and arrangements 
should be made for covering the trees when 
frosty clear nights are imminent.— Subuebanus. 
DOUBLE STOCKS. 
(I^ERESPEOTIVE of any kind of selection or 
^ rib manipulation for the purpose of specially 
promoting the production of double 
floAvers, there is not a strain of double Stocks 
in existence that naturally produces more 
double flowers on the average than does the 
old Purple Queen, or, as it is here locally 
termed, the Twickenham Purple. From 70 to 
75 per cent. I have regular^ found to be the 
proportion of double flowers. The Scarlet 
Queen does not give such a high proportion of 
doubles, as its average is about 65 per cent. 
These kinds are much appreciated by market 
growers for cutting from to succeed Wallflowers, 
