April 24, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
53? 
FLOWERS FOR THE POOR. 
Would you permit me, through the medium of your 
valuable paper, to ask those of your readers, who enjoy 
the pleasures of a garden, to think of the many cheerless 
homes in East London which have neither this luxury 
nor even the fresh air and bright sunshine that usually 
accompany it. The Bow Emmanuel Worker’s Society, 
wishing to help the more unfortunate who live in this 
anything but picturesque spot, and to brighten their 
dark and dreary homes by the introduction of nature and 
art, have undertaken to receive gifts of flowers, roots, 
cuttings, seeds, pictures, or any other suitable ornament 
to give to those who otherwise could not afford to obtain 
them. We feel certain, that if men could he made to 
take a pride and find comfort in their homes, there 
would be less temptation for them to leave their wives 
and children to go to public-house and low music-hall 
gatherings. It may be a pleasure to those who can 
often gather wild flowers, and obtain roots of Ferns, 
Primroses, &c., or cuttings from the garden, to know 
that they will be carefully treasured by, and cheer 
many while they sit at their long hours of work. Some 
friends have kindly put their gardens at our disposal, 
ing to the directions given for the large-flowering 
varieties on p. 438 ; but their great usefulness being 
for cut-bloom and decorative purposes, we treat them 
as follows :—Our first batch of cuttings are taken in 
February, and inserted around the sides of 3-in. pots ; 
the pots are then plunged in cocoa-fibre refuse in a 
frame, which is kept shut up close till they show signs 
of having rooted. Some are also struck in a warm corner 
of a house, and lightly sprinkled once a day to keep 
them from flagging. As soon as they are rooted, air is 
freely given for a few hours in the daytime for a few 
days ; they are then removed to a frame and stood on 
ashes, and plenty of air is given on all favourable 
occasions. Plants struck in February will require 
8-in. pots to bloom in, and should be stopped and 
grown as directed on p. 438. 
But excellent and equally useful plants can be 
obtained from cuttings struck in April or May ; and, 
in fact, if cuttings are put in in June and twice stopped, 
they make nice useful plants for decorating the con¬ 
servatory and will not require pots larger than 4J ins. 
After the cuttings are struck, the directions given for 
the cultivation of the early-flowering varieties on 
sown from February to the end of April for succession, 
but the present is a good time, as the seed will germinate 
more readily now than earlier in the season ; and if 
there is a mild hot-bed at command, no difficulty will 
be experienced in getting an ample supply of seedlings. 
For this purpose a compost of half light loam and leaf- 
soil should be prepared and placed in pans, sowing the 
seed thinly on the surface, and lightly covering it with 
the finest portion of the compost. Place the pans in 
the hot-bed, or, if that cannot be done, a Vinery ; the 
coolest end of a stove or any similar house will suffice. 
"Water with a fine-rose can and shade for a week or so, 
until the seedlings appear and are gaining strength, 
when they must be gradually exposed to more air and 
light, being very careful, however, not to check them. 
When well clear of the soil, dibble them out into pots 
or boxes, 2 ins. or 3 ins. apart, and arrange these in a 
cooler position, so that the young plants may become 
sturdy. These can be then either planted out in borders 
in May, or potted singly and grown for flowering in 
that way. 
Seed can also be sown in the open ground from now 
to the end of the month, but a rather warm sheltered 
Pzsoxy Perfection Astee. 
ClIEYSANTHF.M'UM-FLO'WERED ASTEE. 
so that we hope to be able to keep the cuttings-from 
dying, and make up window-boxes to lend or give 
away. All this, of necessit 3 T , costs a little money. 
We shall be glad if any of your readers would feel dis¬ 
posed to help by a small donation towards getting mould, 
window-boxes and flower-pots. All gifts will be ac¬ 
knowledged by letter, and in the yearly report which 
will be sent. Letters and parcels to be addressed to 
A. TV. Bevis, Secretary of the Bow Emmanuel JVorker’s 
Society, 115, Malmesbury Road, Bow. 
-- 
ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE 
CHRYSANTHEMUM. —VIII. 
Single Chrysanthemums are, without doubt, a most 
useful addition to the varieties of Chrysanthemum. 
They come to perfection in a shorter time, and last 
longer in a cut state than the other varieties, and being 
easier to grow than the large-flowering varieties, they 
should become great favourites with all who grow 
Chrysanthemums for cut bloom or decorative purposes. 
They are the most free-blooming varieties we have, 
possess a variety of colours, and can be had in bloom 
from early October till January. Quantities of bloom 
can he cut from plants grown in 6-in. pots. 
If large plants are desired, cuttings should be put in 
during the month of December, and be treated accord- 
p. 486, will apply to these varieties. Single Chrysan¬ 
themums also make good plants for planting in the 
borders, as they bloom well out-doors, for which 
purpose they should be planted out about the end of 
April. After the first blooms are cut, the plants will 
throw out lateral shoots and bloom again. 
The following are a few of the best varieties :— 
Alba, Brunette, Coachman, Dr. Kellock, Henry Irving, 
Magenta King, Miss Rose, Mrs. Capei, Mrs. Deane, 
Mrs. Langtry, Mrs. John Wills, Mr. Toole, Monte 
Cristo, Sims Reeves, Single White, Queen of the 
Yellows, and White Daisy.— TV. E. Boyce, Archway 
Road, Highgate. 
--- 
ASTERS. 
These popular plants have become great favourites 
in most gardens now, both for out-of-door culture and 
for growing in pots, as they yield their variously- 
coloured flowers late in the summer, when most others 
are losing their beauty. Large numbers are now grown 
for market, being planted out of doors during the spring 
and early summer months, then taken up and potted. 
The plants suffer so little with ordinary care that the 
practice can be safely adopted in private gardens as well 
with good results, and a good supply of such Asters are 
particularly welcome in the conservatory. Seed can be 
position should be selected and the soil carefully pre¬ 
pared, lightening it and raking very fine. The seed 
may be sown either in beds or lines, the latter being 
preferred by most of the large growers for market. 
Asters, when advanced beyond the seedling stage, thrive 
in a heavier soil than most half-hard}^ annuals, if it be 
well dug and preparedfor them before they are placed in it. 
They are also benefited by a small proportion of well- 
decayed manure incorporated with it, but they need 
good drainage and liberal supplies of water. Grown in 
pots they make effective plants for decoration ; but if 
not well exposed to the air and kept W'ell watered 
during the summer, they are liable to become drawn 
and infested with green-fly and other insects. 
These several types of Asters, which may be reduced 
to three large groups, according to their habit—namely, 
the tall pyramidal, the dwarf, and the miniature Asters, 
the first reach 2 ft. in height, the second rarely exceed 
1 ft., and the third are about 6 ius. high, some being 
even less than this—quite diminutive, in fact. The 
colours include all shades of blue, purple, crimson, rose, 
and scarlet to white, the leading types being as follows, 
the flowers differing in form :— Pyramidal group, 
Victoria, Quilled Victoria, Cockade, Betteridge’s Prize, 
and Truffaut’s Pieony-flowered ; dwarf group, Chry¬ 
santhemum-flowered, Dwarf Victoria, and Diamond ; 
miniature group, Dwarf German and Bouquet.— B. S. 
