March 6, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
428 
Scottish Gardening. 
♦ 
Roses now require attention. Many plant Roses at 
this season with the view of not risking the young 
stock in their new quarters during the winter ; deep 
tilth and careful mulching are two important matters 
with Bose growing. Where soil, manure, leaf-mould, 
old tan, or other protection is round the collars of 
dwarfs, we should not be in a great hurry to remove 
it. If such must be done for the sake of appearance, 
we would let the soil come well over the junction of 
stock and scion. It is there where the frost does its 
fatal work. Often Roses may be seen to start freely 
into growth, and about May or June will die off; in 
such cases the mischief is often done during March, or 
even April, by frost laying hold of the portions -which 
have been protected and suddenly exposed ; such 
injuries are very generally done during severe winters, 
while frost has had complete power over the plants, 
especially after warm and dry summers, succeeded by 
moist growing autumns. The plants being tender and 
in a growing state are liable to injury by frost. 
The pruning of Roses is generally performed onwards 
from the middle of March to the end of April ; the 
latter period I have long favoured, after taking note of 
a remarkably clever Rose grower’s experience in a 
midland Scotch county ; I felt convinced that his late 
pruning notions were sound, and attended with such 
success, which brought large numbers to see his display 
in July. Pegging down strong shoots, cutting out 
weakly ones, or pruning the latter to an eye or two 
gives a good show of large Roses. Roses may be 
pruned, according to their vigour. Cutting back 9 ft. 
shoots to one or two eyes, gives wood minus flowers. 
Teas, Chinas, and others, which are best when grown 
with stiff short growths, when possible, require thin¬ 
ning only. Shortening back gives wood, and to get 
the plants well established, such pruning does well for 
one season. Most growers have to lift and put under 
protection their Tea and Noisette Roses, frost soon 
disfiguring the plants, if it does not kill them 
outright. 
The Stock of Hardy Plants, such as, Pansies, 
Phloxes, Wallflowers, Sweet Williams, &c., under 
protection, should be looked over, cleared of litter, 
made firnffat the roots, surface stirred and adjusted, so 
that they may start freely into growth when planted 
out; but it is not w'ise to do so till ground is sweetened 
and warmed by sun. All the usual stock of plants 
which are not hardy—such as Dahlias, and bedding 
plants in general, should be got forward in strong 
condition. In northern and late districts this is more 
essential than in warm early parts where growth is 
more rapid, and the flowering period less distant. 
The preparation of the ground for flowering plants, if 
not already done, admits of no delay. In flower beds 
where shrubs, bulbs, and other plants were put in to 
clothe the ground during winter and spring, may 
cause a delay, but if the ground was prepared in 
autumn for the winter occupants it will be easily 
managed in May.— M. T. 
Scottish Horticultural Association.— 
The annual meeting of this Association was held in 
Edinburgh on Tuesday night—Mr. W. W. Walsh, 
vice-president, in the chair. The Secretary read the 
annual report, stating that during the year nineteen 
members had joined the Society, making now a total 
membership of 400. Papers to the number of twelve 
had been read during the session, and about thirty 
collections of plants, fruits, &c., had been exhibited. 
These included a collection of Narcissus of seventy-two 
varieties, a collection of Ivies of thirty-three varieties. 
There had also been exhibited specimens of Crinum 
from Newbattle Abbey, and specimens of Monstera 
deliciosa from Dalgleish Palace Gardens, and Mr. 
Lindsay of the Botanic Gardens, sliov r ed a specimeii 
of the Kei fruit of the Cape, which was new to Europe. 
The financial statement for the year showed that the 
income of the Society had been £34, and the expendi¬ 
ture £34 9s. 9 d. The meeting then elected the follow¬ 
ing office bearers for the current year :—Hon. President, 
Dr. Paterson, Bridge of Allan ; President, Mr. Alex. 
Milne, of Dickson & Sons, Edinburgh ; Vice-Presidents, 
Mr. Goddall, Pinkhill Nursery, and Mr. Mackinnon, 
Melville Castle Gardens. Mr. Robertson Munro and 
Mr. Alex. Mackenzie were again elected secretary and 
treasurer. 
THE WINTER AND PLANTS. 
There is too much reason to fear that the later 
visitation of frost, snow, and bitter east winds has been 
productive of great harm to many plants, usually 
termed hardy. That we have had a very lengthened 
period of frost there can be no doubt, for it began as 
long since as the middle of October, and so far has 
continued with intervals of higher temperature down 
to the end of February. Though the later frosts have 
been only of moderate severity, yet following upon the 
severe check vegetation received, when the severest 
frost visitation with snowfall prevailed, they have been 
productive of great mischief, plants of all kinds suffer¬ 
ing, the foliage withered or burnt up, and myriads of 
Stocks, Wallflowers, Forget-me-Nots, Golden Feathers, 
and similar things killed, and hardy green stuffs 
terribly withered. That a sharp and speedy reversion 
to growth and activity may be looked for the moment 
the weather improves there can be no doubt, for it is 
quite in the order of nature that severe depression 
should bring about very speedy reaction. Still that 
activity cannot bring to life dead plants, or rejuvinate 
withered branches and foliage. 
The most hopeful aspect of the winter is seen in its 
comparative restfulness, and as compared with many 
preceding seasons’ lateness, we may well hope that for 
once the winter’s cold will exhaust itself at legitimate 
times, and has no reserve, which will be flung abroad 
upon nature just at the moment when all the warmth 
and sweetness the season can give is needed to bring 
the bloom into a state of fertility. Should the general 
anticipations that a severe winter and a late spring are 
conducive to fruitfulness be realised, then we may well 
hope for a bountiful season, for the trees generally 
wear a most promising aspect, and show that they are 
in a prosperous mood. 
-- 
The Amateurs’ Garden. 
THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 
There will be plenty of work in the kitchen garden 
during this month, for, owing to the severe weather and 
lateness of the season, much has to be done to bring it 
into proper condition. Advantage must be taken of 
every interval of fine weather to dig and finally prepare 
the ground for the seeds of the numerous crops that 
must be sown as soon as possible now. If the present 
and succeeding months prove favourable, there will not 
be much occasion to regret lost time, as the sun is fast 
gaining power now, and as the soil gets warmer the 
seedlings will make rapid progress. For all the smaller 
seeds get as fine a surface asl possible, breaking the 
lumps of soil and removing the largest stones ; and 
when sowing, whether broadcast or in drills, do not be 
too liberal; thin sowing is not only more economical, 
but it is much more beneficial to the plants that are to 
form the crop. When sown thickly, the practice of 
thinning has to be resorted to, and this is often done 
in a very careless way, the surplus plants are pulled up 
roughly, disturbing and checking the others more than 
might be imagined. 
To prove the matter, however, try a few rows that 
have to be thinned, and some in which the seedlings 
are to remain undisturbed, and the difference will soon 
be evident. It often happens that the thinning cannot 
he done just when it is required, and in the meantime 
the young plants are crowding each other, and be¬ 
coming weakened in consequence. Another point is 
that seeds are often covered too deeply with soil out of 
doors ; yet when sown in pots under glass, the greatest 
care is taken with them, and it is strange how often 
the necessity for this attention is overlooked in sowing 
seeds for out-door crops. A row or two of Peas for 
succession may be sown; also early Turnips, and 
Carrots with Radishes ; and as the weather improves, 
follow these with Spinach, Parsnips, Beans, and 
Onions. 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
The signs of spring are yet very few, for in most 
districts the frost has returned with some severity, and 
a slight fall of snow has also occurred. Almost the only 
floral attractions that we have just now are a few 
Snowdrops and Winter Aconites, but these are doubly 
welcome, and might be much more largely planted in 
gardens than is customary. Under the shade of trees 
the little Eranthus succeeds admirably, producing its 
bright yellow flowers with a collar of green even 
through the snow, and very cheering they are. An 
early Primrose or two are showing flowers, and numer¬ 
ous other occupants of our borders are making slight 
progress which will be quickly accelerated by brighter 
weather. In the meantime employment will be found 
in renovating paths, relaying box edgings, or placing 
in tiles, if these are preferred. 
Box forms an excellent edging to walks and borders, 
hut it requires to be well kept or it looks much worse 
than the tiles; and if the time and labour necessary to 
do this thoroughly cannot be spared, it is better to 
employ the tiles, as they require no attention after once 
placed in a position, and they can be purchased 
cheaply. Box edgings must be annually and neatly 
trimmed to keep it in shape, and if bare spaces appear, 
or it becomes irregular it must be lifted and replanted, 
work which an amateur will not find easy to perform 
satisfactorily. The soil must be rendered firm, and a 
line stretched according to the shape of the walk, then 
make a clean trench with the side next to the walk 
nearly perpendicular, and even the box cannot he laid 
in regularly, it must be arranged upright and evenly, 
both as to height and thickness, firmly treading the 
roots in on the border side and filling up with the soil. 
If fresh gravel is going to be applied to the paths it 
can then be put on, otherwise, some of the old gravel 
should have been drawn back from the line where the 
trench is to be, and after planting it can he replaced 
evenly up to the box so that no soil is seen to discolour 
the walk. 
If lawns have to be relaid or repaired the present 
month is a suitable time to undertake the work ; this 
is preferred by some to sowing seeds and waiting until 
the lawn is in a fitting condition to be used, as though 
a good sward can soon be obtained if reliable seeds are 
purchased and they are sown liberally on well prepared 
soil, yet some time must of necessity elapse before the 
lawn is as firm as could be wished. On the other hand 
if care is exercised in selecting the turf, if it is well 
laid and subsequently attended to in rolling, a handsome 
lawn is quickly formed. The soil must be prepared 
and enriched with a little old manure, then trod firmly 
with the feet and raked as even as possible ; the at¬ 
tention paid to this matter will give the best results 
later on, for nothing can look worse than depressions 
or irregularities in the surface of a lawn. Having 
ascertained that the soil is even and firm the turves 
must be placed closely together, and then well rolled 
several times. After the grass has grown and been cut 
once or twice, the lines where the turves join will be in¬ 
visible if they have been properly arranged.— ScoJytus. 
-»$£&<—- 
ENGLISH OR BRITISH. 
The letters which my unintentional transgression 
have brought out afforded me much amusement, and 
forcibly reminded me of an incident which occurred 
some years ago at an election in Scotland. A distin¬ 
guished statesman (himself of Scotch descent) addressed 
a large audience in Edinburgh one night, and the next 
morning a leading paper came to hand with a long 
article commenting in the severest terms upon his use 
of the word English instead of British. If that gentle¬ 
man read the article in question, lie must have felt 
utterly crushed when he saw his delinquency exposed 
in its true light, but though I have not yet become 
fully conscious of the enormity of the offence, I have 
the satisfaction of knowing that I have erred in good 
company. 
Seriously, however, I had not the remotest intention 
of depriving my northern brethren of their honours as 
raisers of Grapes ; 1 used the term English in a general 
sense, and as it is very commonly employed, and I fail 
to see why “ Imperias ” should object to its use in that 
way, any more than he could object to it as applied to 
the language. The English nation is a compound like 
the language, and the Scotch element is at least as 
strong in England as it is in Scotland. I am glad to 
to be able to inform “Imperias” that I count some 
Scotchmen amongst my best friends, I admire them as 
a nation, and believe that the more firmly the north 
and south are united, the better it will be for both. If 
the adoption of the term British will facilitate this, I 
will most willingly substitute it for that which I 
employed, and trust that “Imperias” will then be 
satisfied. — Vitis. 
