October 24, i885. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
119 
Mr. James Connon, East Seaton ; “ Dinner-table Deco¬ 
ration,” Mr. J. M’Kay, Westwood. December 18th, 
“The Lessons and Experiments of the Year 1886.” 
January 15th, 18S6, “Should Science or Practice 
obtain most Prominence in Discussions on Horticul¬ 
tural Subjects ?” Science, Mr. A. Robson, 18, Market 
Street ; Practice, Mr. J. Henderson, Wellwood. Feb- 
ruary 19th, “Rose Propagation,” Mr. A. Innes, 
Ruthrieston ; “ The Construction of Fruit and Kitchen 
Gardens,” Mr. J. Forrest, Haddo House. March 19th, 
“The Origin and History of a Few of the More Inter¬ 
esting Cultivated Plants,” Prof. Trail, Aberdeen Uni¬ 
versity. April 16th, “ Formation of Hardy Fruit Tree 
Borders and Management of Trees,” Mr. P. W. Fairgrive, 
Dunkeld Gardens. May 21st, “ The Action of Light 
and the Colour of Flowers,” Mr. J. Taylor, Clashfar- 
quhar ; “Peas,” Mr. R. Farquhar, Fyvie. June 18tli, 
“An Hour Among the Lichens,” Mr. G. Murray. 
The secretary is Mr. William Reid, 8, Hadden Street, 
Aberdeen, and the meetings are held on the third Friday 
in each month, at 198, Union Street. 
Tuberous Begonias.— These are now very popular; 
the varieties are endless, and some of them extremely 
fine. Messrs. Ireland & Thomson have some particularly 
fine varieties set aside for propagation, the flowers im¬ 
mense, and of the brightest red, the deepest crimson, 
and the most lovely yellow colours. Being so little 
trouble, in ordinary circumstances so free from insect 
pests, and lasting so long in bloom, there can be little 
wonder expressed at their coming rapidly into popular 
favour. Some of the double ones are very showy, but 
lack the grace of the single ones, being too stiff.— Scotia. 
-- 
The Amateurs’ Garden. 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
Taking up and Potting Hardy Plants.—To have 
a good stock of plants to make a greenhouse gay and 
keep up a succession of bloom, it is necessary to make 
use of some hardy plants, and among these none are 
more showy and useful than Rhododendrons and 
Azaleas, which lift with large balls without feeling much 
check, and flower profusely if well set with buds. The 
best kinds of Rhododendrons to get, are those that are 
early, of which there are many that come in naturally 
about March, some of them, such as R. altaclarense, R. 
Nobleanum, R. caucasicum, and the numbers of seed¬ 
lings from them are very brilliant and fine, and produce 
a striking effect in a house. 
Among the Azaleas, the A. mollis varieties are the 
most desirable as they have large blossoms of various 
shades of colour, and are dwarf and compact in their 
habit, but one thing against them is, that they lack the 
sweetness of scent of the old Ghent varieties, which are 
very fragrant, especially some of the yellows, which 
are highly perfumed. The soil most suitable for 
potting these plants in, is good fibry peat, but they 
succeed well if grown in peat and loam mixed. 
After potting, the plants may be plunged out-doors, or 
better still stood in a cold pit or frame, there to remain 
and come slowdy on till they are ready to flower. 
Lilacs, Guelder Roses, and Wiegelias, are also valuable 
for pot culture, but to have them good they must be 
taken up at once, so as to give them time to form fresh 
roots before they bloom, when they will stand without 
flagging, and last long in perfection. 
Begonias, of the tuberous-rooted class will now be 
fading, and to give them every chance of ripening off 
properl}', they should be kept dry, and stood on a 
shelf at the back of the house up near the glass, or in 
a light airy pit or frame till their tops die away 
naturally, when they may be stored for the winter in 
any frost-proof cellar or shed. 
Violets.— Although not showy in pots, the delicious 
perfume the flowers exhale commends them for the 
greenhouse, and if a few plants are taken up and re¬ 
moved there they will flower profusely, and continue 
on for months to come. Those who desire to have 
blossoms for picking will find that the plants will do 
best in frames, but the frame to receive them must be 
prepared, and made up by having some rough littery 
stuff at the bottom, and on that a good layer of half- 
rotten dung, the top being finished off with light sandy 
soil, and the plants lifted and put in it with large balls 
at such a height as to bring their heads well up to the 
glass. This done, the next thing is to water so as to 
settle the soil about the roots, after which the lights 
should be put on by night, but as Violets are impatient 
of confinement, it is necessary to give them plenty of 
air whenever the weather is favourable, or they draw 
and become weak in the crowns. 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
Frost, AVet, and Wind have played sad havoc in 
the flower garden, and as most tender things have been 
made shabby or destroyed, they should at once be 
cleared away, and the beds and borders rendered neat and 
tidy, and prepared for winter and spring plants, both of 
which ought now to be got in, that they may have a 
fair chance of becoming established before sharp weather 
begins. The things most suitable for producing a 
cheerful effect during the dull season immediately 
before us are the variegated shrubs, of which there are 
many having bright foliage that quite light up a place. 
Among the best of these may be mentioned the gold 
and silver Hollies and Yews, Euonymus, and Aucubas, 
ahd to contrast with these and others of like character 
dark-leaved plants are telling if judiciously used. The 
positions where they show off to the greatest advantage 
are the centres of beds, where they can be surrounded 
with Daisies, Forget-me-nots, Violas, Hyacinths, Tulips, 
or other hardy flowers, and a grand display made. As 
most of the plants last named are liable to suffer from 
wet, it is advisable to raise the beds high before planting, 
that the rain, when it falls, may pass quickly away in¬ 
stead of making the soil sodden and rotting the roots. 
Arranging the Colours. —The colours and shades 
of Hyacinths and Tulips are so many that it is best to 
have them mixed, as then more variety can be had in a 
small space; but the Daisies, Forget-me-nots, and 
Violas should be arranged in lines or broad bands, in 
which way they are very pleasing and harmonise well. 
Planting in Borders.- In cases where spring¬ 
blooming plants are planted in borders, the most satis¬ 
factory plan of having them is in clumps or masses, 
placing three Hyacinths or Tulips triangularly at about 
6 ins. apart, and Narcissus, Daffodils, Crocuses, Snow¬ 
drops, Scillas, and other small bulbs a little closer, with 
strong patches of Daisies, Forget-me-nots, Violas, 
Anemones, Stocks, and Wallflowers between, behind, 
or in front, according to height and the room at com¬ 
mand. 
Lawns and Walks.— Worms are now becoming a 
nuisance on lawns and walks, which must be frequently 
rolled to keep them in order ; but on lawns worms may 
to a great extent be got rid of by giving the turf a 
watering now and then with lime-water, which should 
he done when the ground is wet, as then they are near 
the surface and turn out at once, when they may be 
swept up and carried away and destroyed. 
Transplanting Trees and Shrubs.— It is getting 
full late now for the removal of evergreens, but it is 
just the time for transplanting all kinds of deciduous 
shrubs, which, if taken up carefull}', are sure to succeed, 
as they will be able to make fresh root before winter 
sets in. 
THE FRUIT GARDEN. 
Vineries. —The glut of rain after such a dry time, 
has been very trying for Grapes, which, unless closely 
watched, and every attention given to drying and air¬ 
ing the house, will mould and rot; but by frequently 
looking over the bunches and cutting out any that are 
decaying, and keeping a slight warmth in the pipes, 
with the ventilators just open at the same time, the fruit 
will remain sound and good for weeks yet to come. 
Apples and Pears. —As this is the season for plant¬ 
ing Apples and Pears, it may be of use to many to give 
a list of a few of the best kinds to grow, and starting 
with the last named first, I should advise the following to 
be got, all of which are given in the order of their ripen¬ 
ing :—Jargonelle, William’s Bon Chretien, Beurre 
d’Amanlis, Beurre Superfin, Louise Bonne, Compte de 
Lamy, Marie Louise, Doyenne du Comice, Glou Morceau, 
General Todtleben, Bergamot Esperen, and Josephine de 
Malines. The Glou Morceau, Bergamot Esperen, and 
Josephine de Malines should, if possible, have a west or 
east wall; but the others will do well as pyramids, cor¬ 
dons, or espaliers, the two last mentioned modes of 
growing and training being well adapted for small gar¬ 
dens, as the trees may be planted along the sides of 
walks, or other positions where they occupy but little 
room, and as the sun gets full access to the fruit it 
colours up fine and comes a good flavour. For walls, 
or where there is much space to cover, the trees should 
be on the Pear stock, but where they are wanted small 
they must be got on the Quince, as that stock has a 
dwarfing effect, and brings the plants quickly into 
bearing. 
Apples. —These are so numerous that many good 
ones must be left out of a short list, but for all that it 
is better to have several of a sort than to grow 
numbers for the sake of variety. Among dessert 
kinds, Kerry Pippin is the first to ripen that is 
worthy of notice, and next comes King of the 
Pippins, Ribston Pippin, Cox’s Orange Pippin, 
Blenheim Orange, Mannington’s Pearmain, and 
Court Pendu Plat. For cooking, Keswick Codlin, Lord 
Suifield, Cox’s Pomona, l’easgood Nonsuch, Waltham 
Abbey Seedling, Blenheim Orange, Mere de Menage, 
Tower of Glammis, Warner’s King, Ecklinville Seed¬ 
ling, Bedfordshire Foundling, Alfriston and Dumelow’s 
Seedling. The most suitable stock for small gardens, 
or where the trees are required dwarf and in the best 
form, is the paradise, which stunts the heads the same 
way as the quince acts on the Pear ; but for orchards, to 
plant as standards, the Crab or Seedling Apple are the 
best, and on these all the varieties grow freely, if the 
soil suits. _ 
THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 
Saving Seeds. —Although it is as well to buy the 
greater portion of seeds required in a garden, there are 
some that give little trouble to save, and among these 
ripe and hanging now are Scarlet Runners, the pods of 
which should he picked before sliarp frost comes and 
injures the Beans. The way to treat them when 
gathered is to lay them in some light airy place to dry 
when they may be shelled and put away till wanted 
for use. 
Onions. —If Onions are not roped and hung up, no 
time should be lost in doing it, as when lying together, 
even in small quantities, the air does not circulate 
among them sufficiently to keep them from rotting. 
When tied up in bunches or roped, the best place for 
them is an open shed, where they should be hung on 
nails driven into the walls or rafters, as frost does not 
injure them, and the cold prevents them from growing. 
Celery. —This has made great progress, and all the 
plants should now have a piece .of matting run round 
them and tied, so as to keep them close and compact, 
when they will be ready for earthing-up at any time, 
and the soil may. be put .to them easily and quickly 
without fear of its going into the hearts. Any that is 
fully grown, and likely to be required for use soon, 
should be banked up high, that it may be blanched 
thoroughly before it is dug. 
Cauliflowers. —Veitch’s Autumn Giant is invalu¬ 
able at this season of the year, as heads continue to turn 
in grandly ; but as we may now get sharp frost any 
night, they should be protected by bunching the leaves 
together or bending them down over the hearts, and 
the doing of this will answer a double purpose, as the 
heads will be kept white and good. The best way of 
wintering young plants is to pot them singly in small 
pots in rich light soil, and standing or plunging them 
in a cold frame, where they should have their heads 
close up to the glass, and be kept with plenty of air 
whenever the weather is favourable. Managed in this 
way they keep stuidy and strong, and go out in the 
spring without feeling a check. Those who have hand- 
lights to spare may plant out under them at once, and 
prick or dibble in under a south wall any plants left 
over, as they will live there if the winter is mild. 
Lettuces.— Any Lettuces that are now getting 
forward should he lifted at once and put under cover of 
old lights, where they can be protected from frost and 
kept dry, and any young ones that are to come on in 
the spring ought to be planted on a warm sunny border 
in ground that is rich, as their quality depends on the 
quick growth they make. 
Hoeing Among Crops. —Nothing does so much good 
at this time of year as a gentle stirring of the surface 
among growing crops, as not only does the hoe let air 
into the soil and thus favour healthy root action, but it 
destroys slugs and other insects that feed on the plants 
and lurk under the clods. 
Peasgood’s Nonsuch: Apple. —At the Pear show 
at Chiswick, Mr. Austen, Witley Court Gardens, 
Stourport, exhibits a specimen of this handsome and 
most valuable Apple weighing 23 ozs., and which was 
an ounce heavier when gathered. It is a beautiful 
specimen, and certainly the largest we have seen. 
