August 21, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
807 
beds in all cases being avoided, and such care exercised 
in planting, that plants soon take up their quarters as 
though in a -wild state. 
The glass department at Heatherbank is as interest¬ 
ing as the outdoors, a great number of rare plants, in¬ 
cluding bulbs and Orchids, being there grown. Among 
the Orchids in bloom are some good specimens of Cym- 
bidium elegans, Maxillaria venusta, Odontoglossum 
Phalfenopsis, Cypripedium niveum, Govenia fasciata, 
Peristeria elata (The Dove Plant), Masdevallias, &c. 
In the conservatories are a bright display of tuberous 
Begonias, Pelargoniums, and Fuchsias, with Tacsonia 
Exoniensis and mingled red and white Lapagerias on 
the roof, the white one especially being found to do 
best in the very coldest house. In the other houses, 
all of which are kept cool, we noted among many 
other objects of interest some grand Montbretias in 
flower, viz., M. Pottsii, scarlet; M. roseum, rose; 
M. Gerbe d’Or, yellow ; M. Bouquet parfait, yellow, 
with scarlet tips ; M. Etoile de Feu, scarlet ; these 
all do well in an unheated house, and the two first 
are even better in the open ground at Wisley. Other 
fine plants are Cypripedium spectabile, which has 
borne over twenty spikes; Diospyros Kaki (The 
Japanese Persimmon), covered with fruits soon to 
turn scarlet; a blue Lactuca from the Himalayas, 
altitude 7—9,000 ft. ; a fine specimen of our Bog Myrtle 
growing in the rock in the tank with other good plants, 
and the dark-flowered Apios tuberosa, which is also 
grown in the open at Oakwood. The Plums and Pears 
in pots, we do not ever remember having seen equal to 
those at Heatherbank, which, although only grown in 
12 in. or 14 in. pots, have large heads covered with 
from fifty to one hundred fruits of unusual size and 
quality, the whole collection of finely fruited bushes 
being a sight worth seeing. Of course it is needless to 
say that a judicious course of feeding when making 
growth and fruit is pursued with these. 
As the last object we can now note in Mr. "Wilson’s 
novel garden, we must mention a novel cheap house ' 
formed by placing a four-light span frame (such as 
Halliday or Messenger supplies) over a pit dug to form 
the body of the house, a portion being left for staging ; 
to this a sloping walk is cut as an entrance, and many 
rare bulbs, Lilies, Filmy Ferns, terrestrial and other 
Orchids, may be grown in such a contrivance placed 
in a sheltered spot, better than in one of the hot-houses 
they are often placed in. 
-- 
Scottis h Gar dening. 
The Vegetable Garden. —In the latest districts 
such roots as Shallots, Potato Onions, autumn sown 
Onions, and Garlic, in most parts will be ready for 
removal, and it is well to have them out of the ground 
as soon as their state of maturation will allow. A wet 
time causes a second growth, and after this their keep¬ 
ing properties are at an end. In many districts 
cottagers and gardeners alike have much difficulty in 
raising good Onions—grubs and other vermin destroying 
the crops in their early stages—notwithstanding 
that ordinary lime, gas-lime, soot, and other things 
have been used as antidotes. Shallots seldom suffer 
in this form, and take the place of the more populaf 
bulb. “Potato” Onions are excellent as substitutes 
for autumn-sown bulb, as in many soils it is almost 
impossible to keep them from “bolting ” to seed. We 
already notice that quantities of the above kinds of 
bulbs are pulled, and hung up in front of dwelling houses 
in the sun. It is a mistake to pull them up before 
they are fully developed in growth, as instead of keep¬ 
ing late they become pulpy, and readily decay. The 
usual plan of twisting the necks, and laying down the 
tops of Onions, hastens to some extent the ripening 
process. 
A sowing of French Beans for late autumn may now be 
made on a spent Melon or Cucumber bed; He Plus Ultra 
has with us out distanced all our old favourites. Where 
frames, handlights, or other protectors can be spared to 
place over portions of French Bean crops nearing to 
their time of bearing, and the glass only used at night, 
much may be done to continue the outdoor supplies 
late in the. season; hoops and mats and similar con¬ 
trivances for use, when frost may appear, may be 
serviceable to the same end ; also for Ghirkins, Vege¬ 
table Marrows, &c. Last season’s experience of early 
frost should make us increase our efforts this season to 
escape injury. The drying of herbs, taking seeds before 
they fall, thinning crops such as Lettuce, and trans¬ 
planting the thinnings in sheltered quarters, doing the 
same with Spinach (Prickly Spinach stands.the winter 
well when transplanted), thinning of Turnips before 
they become drawn up weakly, transplanting Coleworts, 
which have been pricked out till Potato and other crops 
are cleared off, and topping Scarlet Runners before 
they become matted. We never saw these do better than 
they are this season, they are kept dwarf, as market 
men do, by topping, and, therefore do not crowd up 
other crops, or take up unnecessary room as they do 
when the expensive practice of staking is adopted. 
Timely attention to the above items are some of many 
amenities, which result in success. 
It is a fixed principle with northern growers to make 
sure of their Curly Kale, Savoy, Cauliflower, Brussel 
Sprout, and Lettuce seed, being sown by the middle of 
this month. Loose rich land is objectionable, for this 
gross growth being thus encouraged, while firm ground 
givessturdy frost and damp resisting growth. The earth¬ 
ing of early Celery must soon be completed, and all late 
crops are the better for having a little earthing done to 
keep the stems compact; a dusting of lime among the 
plants before earthing is done may be serviceable in 
eradicating slugs. 
Fruits.—Strawberries should be planted as soon as 
the ground can be spared for them, and as most of the 
earlier kinds have fruited they should be cleared of 
their runners and litter, and neatly mulched with good 
manure. Where the plants have grown too much to 
foliage they should be reduced, so that each plant stands 
clear of its fellow. Crowding at this season of the year 
has much to do with failure of the crop ; severe muti¬ 
lation of foliage has much to do with this also. We 
never remember having seen plants turned out of pots 
from the forced stock fail in giving abundant supplies 
during the first season after being planted ; we know 
some great growers who strip off all foliage quite close, 
manure heavily, and secure the best of crops without 
failure. When such was common everywhere in the 
north, seasons were more conducive to success than they 
are now. 
In some parts of England (we visited one lately in 
Worcestershire) the practice of making a clean sweep of 
all foliage is closely adhered to, and liberal manuring 
follows. We have tried this against many other 
systems simply for the sake of experiment, but with no 
marked success, and yet we have seen that Keen’s 
Seedlings and British Queen’s grown where this 
mutilation was practised, and with the addition of 
deeply digging in the manure between the rows, as we 
have never seen elsewhere. Where Keen’s Seedling goes 
all to leaf, minus fruit, with the usual care taken to keep 
roots intact, might take an opposite course if they under¬ 
went root pruning. Raspberries done fruiting should 
have all old canes cut out, and young rods thinned if 
necessary. Whatever trimming to wall trees is left 
undone such work should be completed to let sun and 
air to the fruit and current year’s growth. Ripening 
of both are enhanced by proper attention, and the less 
growth is made in northern parts after this period, suc¬ 
cess will be proportionately increased next year. Hon 
fruiters may be checked and forced to form fruit buds 
by careful attention to partial root-lifting this month. 
The finest crop and healthiest growth of Apples with us 
at present, are on old trees which were three years ago 
full of dead wood with foliage quite rusty at midsummer, 
and canker all over the bark. The whole of their lower 
roots, which were very unhealthy, were cut clean off 
during the growing season. — M. T. 
„ jt *. 
Manufacture of Oil from Wood in Sweden.— 
A new industry has lately sprung up in Sweden, and 
promises shortly to become a most important one. Oil 
for illuminating purposes is now manufactured in that 
country from the stumps and roots that remain in the 
forests after the timber has been cut. These are sub¬ 
jected to a process of dry distillation, and besides wood 
oil, many other products are obtained, amongst which 
turpentine, creosote, acetic acid, wood charcoal, tar oils, 
&c. This oil cannot be used in ordinary lamps, as con¬ 
taining a large proportion of carbon it gives off a great 
deal of smoke during combustion. When mixed with 
benzine, however, it may be used in ordinary benzine 
lamps ; but when burnt alone, a special lamp must be 
adopted. The trees that furnish the greatest amount 
of oil are the Pine and Fir. There are now about forty 
establishments engaged in this manufacture in Sweden. 
—Society of Arts Journal. 
The Amateurs’ Garden. 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
The majority of the occupants of the flower garden 
have been doing well this month, the ordinary bedding 
plants, such as Pelargoniums, Calceolarias, Iresines, 
Lobelias, &e., have improved wonderfully and are now 
in first-rate form ; rather later than usual, but with a 
fine season they will last proportionately longer. Carpet 
beds have not been quite so bright as might be desired 
or expected, but this is principally due to the Alter- 
nantlieras lacking colour, as they are apt to do in moist 
or cool seasons like the present, hot dry weather, which 
ruins other plants, bring out their colours to perfection, 
and without them carpet-bed designs are comparatively 
dull. Most plants are now growing vigorously, and will 
need frequent attention in stopping and picking to keep 
them within due bounds, and preserve the outlines of 
the respective designs. It is a good plan to utilise the 
shoots removed from Pelargoniums, and such plants as 
cuttings, the tricolor, 'silver variegated, and bronze 
varieties, being very readily propagated by inserting 
the cuttings in fine soil out of door at the present time. 
They will be well-rooted stout little plants by the time 
it is necessary to lift and pot them, or they can be 
placed in boxes, but the pots are better, as the plants 
are less likely to suffer from damp, when sufficient 
space cau be afforded them in a house. These summer- 
struck Pelargoniums are much the best provided the 
soil in which the cuttings are inserted is not very rich, as 
in that case they make too much growth, which does not 
get well matured before winter. Rather poor sandy soil 
is the best in a moderately dry position, and water should 
not be supplied too liberally, an occasional sprinkling 
from a rose pot being sufficient, and in damp weather 
that will not be needed. The zonal varieties with green 
leaves can be increased in a similar way, but a later 
period will suit them. 
Roses are lasting w r ell this season, and with a very 
slight cessation we have been gathering blooms and 
buds out of doors since June. If it is wished to increase 
the stock of plants, cuttings can now be inserted either 
under hand-lights or in the open ground if a moderately 
sheltered position be chosen, and of all the stronger 
free growing varieties they will strike readily. La 
France, for instance, can be increased to any extent by 
means of cuttings, and with very few losses, the plants 
so obtained being fitted either for potting or growing 
on as dwarf bush plants. The Tea varieties are the 
most uncertain, and they are more likely to succeed 
placed under hand-lights in a cool moist position, but 
with such protection they give little trouble. 
The lawns require frequent mowing, and the margins 
both of walks and beds should be kept neatly trimmed, 
for nothing gives a garden such an untidy appearance 
as weedy walks and rough edgings. Collect seed of any 
herbaceous or other plants that it may be desirable to 
preserve iu that way, and many can be increased with 
less trouble from seeds than by division or cuttings.— 
Scolytus. 
-- 
PAIR LAWN, LYTHAM. 
The seat of H. Fildes, Esq., is situated close to the 
sea-shore, and enjoys almost invariably a pleasant and 
delightful climate. The grounds are well filled with 
the usual shrubs, trees, &c., and a capital herbaceous 
border adds much to the interest and attractiveness of 
the place. Mr. Thornber, the gardener in charge, has 
many plants now in the numerous structures, and very 
creditably are they all coming on. Additions are con¬ 
tinually being made to the collection of Orchids, and 
at the present time there are several very nice things 
in flower. The pure white Cattlej’a 'Wallisii is one that 
flowers during summer, immediately after the showy 
Mossiaes and Mendelii, &c., and though not quite so 
large and attractive, is, nevertheless, a beautiful thing. 
Mr. Fildes plant is a very fine form. C. gigas is also 
in bloom, a variety with a large and high-coloured 
labellum. C. Dowiana was just past its best; this is 
always a most beautiful plant. An Odontoglossum 
crispum promised very shortly to make a capital dis¬ 
play ; the stout bulb had thrown up a spike 3 ft. long, 
bearing two laterals each 8 ins. long, carrying six 
flower-buds apiece, the main spike having sixteen buds 
—in all, twenty-eight flowers would very soon be open. 
It is not often this species will branch in this manner. 
Here is evidence that under some conditions it will 
certainly branch and bring a fine number of flowers.— S. 
