724 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
July 17, 1886. 
TEN-WEEKS STOCKS. 
The cultivation of Ten-weeks Stocks at the Forest 
Hill Nursery of Messrs. James Carter & Co., as noted 
in our last, is of a specially interesting character, as 
being conducted on the system followed by the famous 
German growers, which, so far as our experience goes, 
has not before been tried on such an extensive scale in 
this country. The system may be briefly described as 
consisting of sowing the seeds in the usual manner in 
spring, and when large enough, potting them off in 
good loam, &e., to the number of seven plants in 32- 
sized pots ; after potting, the plants are kept in frames 
until they can be safely put out of doors, when a 
specially constructed set of staging is brought into use. 
There are seven of these sets at Forest Hill, each of 
considerable length, and following the German style of 
construction ; the stages are about 4 ft. wide, 2 ft. 6 in. 
high in front, and 12 in. higher at the back, with the 
slopes facing due south. On iron framework fixed over 
the stage, wooden shutters are placed during unfavour¬ 
able weather, and wholly removed when favourable 
climatic conditions prevail; and along the front canvas 
curtains can be hung, to protect the plants in case of a 
driving rain or gale from the south rendering such pro¬ 
tection necessary. 
The number of plants under cultivation is about 
10,000, classed in four divisions, i.e., large-flowered, 
pyramidal, Wallflower-leaved, and dwarf German 
(which is about a fortnight earlier than the others), 
and these again are subdivided into what are regarded 
as decided colours ; thus the large-flowered section 
comprises eight well-defined colours, the pyramidal and 
"Wallflower-leaved twelve each, and the dwarf German 
fourteen, and the seeds obtained are sold in colours, 
and not by any distinguishing name. During the past 
fortnight they have been singularly attractive, the 
percentage of double flowers being about sixty—quite 
large enough, or it need scarcely be added the crop of 
seeds would not amount to much. The plants having 
been carefully proved true to character, the next step 
is to cut off the whole of the spikes of double flowers, 
in order to favour the growth of the single-flowered 
varieties from which the seeds are obtained, and this, 
we understand, will be done in a few days, the sweet¬ 
smelling blossoms being sent to various public insti¬ 
tutions, such as hospitals, where cut flowers of any 
kind are always gladly welcomed. 
"We understand that the cultivation of Stocks, on 
the same system, though on a less extensive scale, was 
earned out here last season, and with results that must 
be regarded as of a gratifying character, judging from 
the first-rate percentage of double flowers obtained 
from last year’s crop of seeds. In a short time, the 
collections of Balsams and Petunias, all raised from 
own saved seeds, and containing some 7000 plants of 
each, will be in fine condition for inspection. Among 
the Petunias in bloom at present, we noted a strain of 
what are called “veined flowers” as being very showy, 
the blossoms being self-coloured, in various shades, 
and the veins distinctly marked of a deeper shade. 
By selection from year to year, the firm are also 
endeavouring to fix a good strain of blue Petunias, 
and with every prospect of succeeding in the under¬ 
taking. 
-- 
GLADIOLUS COLVILLI ALBA. 
This is at the present time one of the most elegant 
and chaste flowers in the garden ; in point of purity it 
is such as commands for it a place in all choice floral 
arrangements, either in a cut state, or as a pot plant, 
in either of which it holds an unique position. 
Grown in pots for conservatory decoration, it may be 
had in flower from the middle or end of March to the 
end of July, the latter month being its natural flowering 
period out-of-doors. Of its perfect hardiness there re¬ 
mains no doubt, since no winter of late years has been 
more trying to plants generally in the open ground 
than that of 1885 and 1886, for we experienced frost and 
thaw nightly and daily for weeks, and that just as they 
were beginning to grow. The hard winter frost will not 
harm them, it is the nipping frosts of spring, when they 
are young and tender in leaf, that seems to injure them 
if left unprotected. 
Fortunately a goodly portion of my stock is planted 
in a turf pit, so that, if necessary, a slight protection 
can be afforded them. This was done by placing Some 
old pea sticks across the pit, and then lightly shaking a 
little straw litter from the stable upon them ; this 
carried them safely through, and for a fortnight past 
they have been yielding quantities of their pure white 
spikes of flowers. These lend themselves admirably to 
the many and various requirements of the bouquetist, 
and are extremely handsome, either alone, or in 
company with other suitable flowers. It may be forced 
with impunity, but when thus treated, it should be 
remembered that this Gladiolus is of equal service 
another year, provided it be grown on and cared for, and 
not regarded as an outcast and worthless as many forced 
plants are, simply because they cannot receive accom¬ 
modation at the time they need it most. 
It is a true example of multum in parvo, simply 
because a 48-sized pot, will accommodate five good sized 
corms (which are only equal to a good sized Crocus), 
and each of these will produce from three to six breaks, 
according to individual strength, and each break under 
good culture, a spike bearing from six to ten of its pure 
white blossoms ; moreover, it will stand almost pot thick 
on the stages, which cannot be said of many flowering 
plants. To the bouquetist who can utilise the indi¬ 
vidual blossoms as they expand, it is simply invaluable. 
It delights in rich light loam, grows 2 ft. high, and 
should be planted from the end of August to the end of 
October. — J. 
-->S<-- 
ON THE MANAGEMENT OF THE 
CHRYSANTHEMUM IN VIEW OF 
COMPETITION.— III. 
All who have grown the Chrysanthemum are aware 
that the watering forms a very important feature in 
its cultivation. To a great extent, it is a water-plant, 
and most probably its proper habitat is a sort of bog of 
fertile soil; therefore, when under pot culture, it 
should never be neglected. Of course, the season has 
something to do with it. In the long sunny days of 
summer, when the atmosphere is dry and the sun very 
powerful, the plants should at least have two good 
waterings a day, morning and evening ; but I give 
mine three and it does not seem at all too much. If 
the drainage be perfect, there is no fear of hurting 
them by too much moisture. Of course, I would not 
water so copiously at mid-day as at night when the sun 
goes down ; just enough to keep them from drooping. 
In the evening, and especially after a very hot day, in 
addition to water at the roots, the plants should all be 
syringed with water that has stood exposed to the sun 
in a tub all day. This will be most grateful to the 
foliage, and is almost as essential to the well-being of 
the plants as water at the roots. Never water or 
syringe with that fresh from the tap ; it is likely to 
cause a chill, because it is of a much lower temperature 
than the soil among which the roots are growing, 
especially after hot sunny days. Always keep a large 
tub full in some corner of the garden where the sun has 
full access to it, and as you empty out for watering, 
fill up again immediately after, so that it wall be 
getting warmed and softened before you require to use 
it again. 
Now with regard to stimulants, and when to apply 
them, and on this matter I would say do not begin with 
anything powerful until the plants become pot-bound 
in the 10-in. pots. If the soil in which the plants are 
growing has been skilfully prepared, there is no need 
of any extra stimulus until the flower-buds begin to 
show themselves, at which time a few applications of 
strong cow or sheep liquid manure may be given with 
water, weak at first, gradually increasing in strength 
as the buds enlarge. It is not well to apply the same 
matei ial on every occasion ; plants appreciate variety of 
diet quite as much as animals. I never give the same 
material twice in succession. If liquid manure from 
the cow or sheep be used at one time, then the next 
time I should try a handful of guano in a large canful 
of water, then, probably, a little pungent soot dissolved 
in water. By varying it in this manner, each material 
is likely to produce a better effect than as though you 
adhered exclusively to one thing, because the plants 
would become accustomed to it, and, as a natural con¬ 
sequence, would to a certain extent be unaffected by 
it. About a dessert spoonful of sulphate of ammonia 
dissolved in a large canful of water is not amiss when 
the buds begin to swell, but it should not be often 
repeated. 
I will now speak of the pests which most commonly 
attack the Chrysanthemum, during the period of its 
growth, which are chiefly the green-fly, and occasionally 
a small green caterpillar, whose colour is so identical 
with that of the foliage of the plant on which it feeds, 
that you must make up your mind that you are search- 
ing for a caterpillar and nothing else, or it is more than 
ten to one you will overlook it. They are very des¬ 
tructive to the leaves, and in a single night one 
individual will leave disagreeable traces behind him, 
as eating is the favourite employment with him during 
this period of his existence. By and bye he will “enter 
into his closet ” where he will remain for a few months, 
after which he will emerge therefrom, having acquired 
more ethereal tastes, and being endowed with a superior 
means of locomotion, instead of eating and crawling, 
flying and sipping will form his chief characteristics. 
The earwig, so troublesome and annoying to Dahlia 
growers, is also often found trespassing on the foliage 
of the Chrysanthemum, but I have yet had no reason 
to suspect that it is there for any felonious purpose ; 
probably, he is seeking protection in some curled leaf, 
which is his favourite hiding place. I do not for a 
moment believe that it eats or in any way injures or 
destroys the foliage ; the time when he is most to be 
dreaded is when the plants are blooming, as he will 
often let down the outside petals by biting them 
through at the base, though not with an intention of 
feeding on them: it seems to be a bit of wanton 
mischief which he likes to amuse himself with, for the 
petals so cut are invariably dangling to the flower. It 
is safest, therefore, after the plants are housed for 
blooming, to make a diligent search for them, lest a 
few may have been carried in as stowaways. The 
green-fly is certainly the greatest pest to the Chrysan¬ 
themum, and should be kept under at any cost. They 
are always found on the extremities of the shoots where 
the leaves naturally afford protection by their curling 
tendency. 
They may be removed by a stiff feather, or by 
an ordinary gum brush, and when once dislodged 
it is seldom that they acquire any other fixed position; 
their existence depending largely upon being able to 
retain the position on which they were generated ; this 
is also true with regard to many other minute insects— 
if once displaced, confusion and death is the sure 
result. Some kinds of Chrysanthemums are far more 
liable to become badly infested than others ; this I 
have proved beyond a doubt, for in two plants standing 
in a fixed position, the one has been literally covered 
with them while the other was unmolested. The weak 
growers are in most danger, and have less repelling 
power than the vigorous kinds, and should consequently 
be often examined.— Geo. Kidson, Hull. 
( To be continued.) 
-->X<-- 
SHADE IN GARDENS. 
The improver’s axe, as well as the hand of time, 
have lain heavily on the shadows that abounded in 
ancient gardens. So deep, dense, and long were the 
shadows at times, that they reminded one, says 
“D. T. F. ” in The Field, of the great dreamer’s des¬ 
cription of that valley of which all of us have read. 
Still, such shadows were full of poetry and feeling, and 
most suggestive of rest and security. They furnished 
safe retreats alike from storm and sunshine throughout 
the changing year. Nor June sunshine, nor March nor 
October winds, could pierce through the crowded ranks 
of tall \ ews or other trees that formed the garden 
shadows of the olden times. These ancient shadows in 
gardens were as durable as they were efficient. The 
old lew hedges never died ; but what could never have 
happened through the decay of nature was brought 
about by a violent revolution of national taste in gar¬ 
dening. 
An age of clearance succeeded to a long age of 
shade in British gardens. While the former lasted, no 
shade, however venerable, was safe. On the contrary, 
the more venerable the age, unique the beauty, and 
efficient the shade, the more certain to be rooted up 
and destroyed. The growth and culture of centuries 
were too often levelled in a day. Landscapes clothed 
with verdure, ancient halls buttressed round with a 
secondary basis of venerable trees, were stripped bare 
and left bleak and bald as if a mansion had been cut 
out of a London square and set down in the middle of 
an open park, without a shred of verdure to tone down 
the glitter and glare of large masses of brick or stone. 
Fortunately, a few examples of the old style were 
spared ; but these have had but few imitators of late 
years. Nor must it be inferred that all the clearances 
