54 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September 26, 1885. 
from all else of the “Marguerite” type in its shining 
coriaceous leaves, and pure white flowers, with yellow 
disc. It is also much more vigorous and robust in 
general habit, growing about 2 ft. 6 ius. high, and 
forming a fine self-supporting bush, which is smothered 
during late summer and autumn with flowers nearly 
3 inches across. As a hardy perennial it is first class, 
and for cutting invaluable. More than this need not be 
said of so good a plant, except that it is increased most 
rapidly either by cuttings or division of the root-stock. 
Linum flavtjm. —Here we have an invaluable rock 
or border plant, growing about 1 ft. high, hence adapted 
for a front row or position where it may be seen to 
advantage. In it we find a neat bush, symmetrically 
formed, which is literally smothered, for about two 
months, with its canary-yellow flowers. It is quite 
hardy, and easily cultivated, and moreover, is most 
freely reproduced from seeds. 
Lobelias. —Quite a distinct race from the bedding 
section of Lobelias, which are greenhouse or half-hardy 
annuals, are these handsome flowering perennials, 
which grow from 2 ft. to 3 ft. high. At the former 
height we have L. syphilitica, with spikes of blue flowers, 
and which delights in damp situations. The cream of 
the group, however, is to be found in fulgens, splendens, 
cardinalis, and Queen Victoria, any or all of which are 
admirably adapted for associating among bedding 
plants ; and very pleasing effects may be produced by 
a mixed arrangement of Salvia patens and the dazzling 
crimson or scarlet spikes of these Lobelias. Give them 
a generous soil, and they commence flowering in July, 
and continue till frosts arrive ; all are quite hardy, 
and do well in boggy or damp situations. Not the 
least attractive feature is their bronzy foliage, which 
contrasts so well with many plants ; and very con¬ 
spicuous they are among autumn-flowering perennials. 
They seed freely, and may be increased in this way, 
and also by division.— J. (To be continued.) 
■ --- 
Scottish Gardening. 
Notes ox Vegetables. — This remarkably dry 
season, which has tried the resources of many cultivators 
in various parts of the kingdom, will not pass without 
leaving its lessons behind. "While some in low-lying 
parts, and having heavy land under their charge, have 
been delighted with the season, the extreme absence of 
rain having suited their peculiar soil, others have com¬ 
plaints from the opposite cause, viz., shallow, dry, 
light soil, which can scarcely have too much moisture 
during the growing season ; and the past season has 
been one of the driest on record. In this fine agricul- 
rural district, with high-class farming, Wheat, Oats, 
Barley, and most green crops are over the average ; 
but we notice on some upland spots, where the soil is cul¬ 
tivated with a minimum amount of tillage, that all crops 
are poor in the extreme. The rule which applies to 
agriculture applies also to horticulture. Where manure 
is scantily applied, and the ground is shallow, or not 
trenched, the crops are inferior, and much difficulty 
has been experienced in combating the drought. Dry 
land and a parched atmosphere are trials which have 
to be met with fortitude. 
It has always been noticeable that where cultivators 
break up the ground deeply they are rewarded with 
success. Mulching is always very serviceable, but it 
■will not accomplish everything. If moisture is not 
really in the land plants cannot draw nourishment from 
the soil, and what are mere apologies for watering does 
more harm than good ; the moistening of surface soil 
while the roots are struggling down in the ground, like 
ashes for dryness, is very conducive to premature seed¬ 
ing. We would, therefore, advise all who wish to have 
their gardens invulnerable against both drought and 
extreme wet, to trench deeply. The sun does not burn 
up deep land, and wet does not lodge in it when the 
bottom is broken up. It is also purified by the action 
of air ; and the free healthy growth of plants on such 
deep soil does not require strong powers of distinction 
to decide what is the wisest course for cultivators to 
pursue. This certainly has been the most trying 
season of our experience, and yet the general appearance 
of most of the crops is such as suggests extra luxm'iance. 
The starting of young plants almost defied us, many 
not having vegetated in the parched soil. By covering 
seeds with kindly soil in well-watered drills was the 
only meins by which we could make headway, some 
kinds succumbed to the drought after they had grown 
through the soil. A peculiarly diy winter (such as we 
always like), followed by absence of rain, and drying 
winds during spring and summer, are experiences which 
one seldom meets with. “All’s well that ends well,” 
however, and when one has every square yard of soil 
covered with useful crops there is much cause for thank¬ 
fulness. As there is much difference in the habits and 
qualities of vegetables in different localities, we offer a 
few remarks on such as have found most favour with 
us this season. Most seasons we grow a few new kinds 
for trial, but rarely have we had to discard the old for 
the new, and at present we have little to present in the 
way of novelties. 
Among French Beaxs Ne Plus Ultra and Osborn’s 
Forcing have been by far the best for growing under 
glass, and they are difficult to beat; but outside a 
sowing of Newington Wonder and Negro Long-podded 
offered to be very serviceable. They were sown simul¬ 
taneously, the former coming in early, and the latter 
being hardy is expected to last longer. Frost was 
severe enough to check them, and we fear that for 
autumn supply we. may have to depend on sowings 
(the first of which is in flower) made under glass. 
Broccoli. —We have this season adhered to kinds 
of Broccoli which have done well with us in the past. 
While new sorts are having a trial, the main supplies 
are, for autumn, Walclieren and Veitch’s Protecting. 
Cauliflowers being easily had in quantity to the end of 
the year, in ordinary seasons, a quantity lifted fit for 
use in November will last in good condition for a month 
at least. For winter Snow’s and Osborn’s are the kinds 
which long have found most favour. Gordon’s Niddrie 
and Knight’s Protecting are among the best for spring 
use, and for latest supply (till June) Lauder’s Goshen 
and Cattell’s are two of the most useful. The time of 
planting has something to do with late supplies. 
Brussels Sprouts are very erratic some seasons. 
The lot which we raised last autumn, and planted early 
in spring, are of great height, and fit for use, but more 
open than we have been accustomed to. We trust more 
for good sprouts to sowings in March than to such early 
sowings as enable us to plant out in March. Firm 
Sprouts of moderate size are such as are most valued by 
those who know good Brussels Sprouts when cooked. 
Dalkeith Improved, Aigburth, and Scotch saved are 
what we have most of, and are growing in three 
successions ; but we are puzzled to find out the difference 
in their characteristics. 
Borecole are extra good ; Yeitch’s Improved, and 
some of our own saving arc ■what we have best at 
present. It appears to us that good kinds of Kale were 
easier to purchase a quarter of a century ago than now. 
Chou de Burghley does not seem to have fair play from 
the cooks ; for spring use we found it good, and with 
the small Broccoli in the heart was a peculiar novelty. 
Of Cabbage, a kind we selected two years ago is 
our best. Early Dwarf York, Little Pixie, McEwans, 
and Etamps are all good and very useful as they 
heart without taking up much room ; we plant a foot 
apart each way in drills which, after the hoe is put 
through them, need no earthing up, and every other 
plant may be cut out in early spring for use, leaving a 
full crop. It is a practice we have long believed in to 
give an extra dressing of manure for Cabbage, and put it 
well under the top spit so that the roots of the plants do 
not reach it till spring, they then grow apace and are 
tender when used. A good watering to the roots with 
clear lime water keeps grubs in check, and a puddling to 
the roots with soil, cow-manure and some soot generally 
keeps all right. 
Carrots have few additions in the way of novelties, 
and where they can be grown clear of the grubs, which 
renders Carrot growing almost impracticable in some 
parts, we think that none are more satisfactory than 
James’ Scarlet. French Horn, and Early Nantes are 
the best for forcing and for growing late to give supplies 
of young Carrots during winter under protection— a 
quantity which we are turning in now promise to be of 
much service. 
Cauliflowers have given us more trouble this 
season than usual by drought and vermin, a kind of 
green-fly havingattacked the leavesofthe brassiea family. 
Soot, lime, and soap-suds does not destroy it, but we hope 
the drenching rains falling while we write will destroy 
the pest. The kinds of Cauliflower which we have 
grown this season are Snowball, an early kind which 
has been more inclined to bolt than the others ; Early 
London, still a good one; "Walclieren, Dwarf Mammoth, 
Yeitch’s Autumn Giant, though not the best flavoured, 
is a most useful kind, and can be had from August well 
into the winter in good condition. 
Celery offered to give some trouble during the drv 
times, but when planted a good soaking of water was 
given (no surface dribbling) then a coating of grass 
mowings was spread thickly over the roots. The 
growth has been steady and the plants are now firm and 
robust. Major Clarke’s Solid Red we consider the most 
reliable for general use, and Turner’s Incomparable 
Dwarf, as a white, is decidedly the best when one can 
get the old sort true. Some are very anxious to get 
large Celery but solid crisp produce of medium size we 
always find the most serviceable. 
Leeks have not multiplied into kinds very rapidly. 
The Ayton Castle kind seems to be the parent of many 
named sorts, and which are only selections from this 
fine kind. The Lyon seems to be largely grown this 
year, and is said to be the largest extant. The fine 
blanched examples which we noticed in the excellent 
first prize collection of vegetables at the Edinburgh Show 
lately, seemed to be Ayton Castle, and the finest Leeks 
we ever remember seeing in September. Early solving 
and growing on with the same care as Celery, ensures 
great size, but an abundance of solid manure to grow 
them in is very essential to success. 
The Lettuces which have found most favour with 
us for some years are Bath Cos, Hick’s Hardy Cos, and 
All the Year Round among Cabbage kinds. Did we 
grow only one Lettuce, Brown Cos would be the chosen 
kind. It is hardy, of excellent flavour, and not liable 
to “bolt.” To keep Lettuce successfully through the 
winter, they should be in an airy position, growing on 
deep soil, and elevated if possible, as damp does a deal 
more mischief than frost. "\Ye prefer growing them on 
a steep ridge in preference to any other plan. 
Onions are a most useful crop with us this season ; 
but in the early stages of growth maggots seemed to 
take possession of the whole stock. Dustings of lime and 
soot defied them, however, and light sprinklings of 
Thomson’s vine manure, after a few showers which fell, 
sent them off into rapid growth, and they are a fine crop. 
"We have tried most of the Onions named in catalogues, 
and find none really inferior ; but the most satisfactory 
kinds for keeping, size, and handsome appearance, are 
Bedfordshire Champion and James’ Keeping. The 
Banbury selections are all good. "\Ye never saw finer 
Onions anywhere than those grown at Banbury. 
Oxfordshire all over is one of the best counties in 
Englan l for the production of fine Onions. At Banbury 
we had once the task of judging 105 lots for four prizes, 
and every exhibit was of the highest excellence. A 
great many Onions are selected from the good old 
kinds, White Spanish and James’ Keeping. 
Parsnips are few, and none have (in our opinion) 
excelled for general use the hollow-crowned. Unless 
the ground for Parsnips is deep, moderately rich, but 
no rank manure in it, good Parsnips cannot be had. 
Small starved roots are stringy and inferior. 
Potatos are difficult to criticise, but Mona’s Pride, 
the old Aslileaf, and Veitch’s Improved Ashleaf are 
among the best early kidneys, and may be succeeded 
by Myatt’s Kidney. The best round kinds which we 
have seen this season are Schoolmaster and Dalmahoy. 
Peas we have already commented upon, but may now 
add that Yeitch’s Perfection holds its own as the best 
late sort. 
Of Radishes for forcing we find Short Top and 
French Breakfast the best. 
Tomatos have done well. The earliest have been giving 
fine supplies from Hackwood Park Prolific and Acme— 
two of the best. They are grown in pots at the back of a 
succession Pine-house. One large pot is placed (with 
the plant in it) on the surface of another larger pot, 
which is filled with rich soil, and when the whole is 
matted with roots, vine and plant manure is given, and 
frequent waterings of liquid manure are applied. At 
Dunkeld we noticed extra fine crops at the backs of 
narrow houses, and the favourite was a fine strain of the 
old red—the freest bearer of all kinds. The roots were 
confined in brick troughs, and well watered with liquid 
manure. 
Turnips have been very regular in their successions 
this year. The earliest in pits were Milan and Munich 
(both great acquisitions to this useful kind of vegetable) 
