September 18, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
39 
Coquette des Alps (hybrid Noisette) is not only first- 
class in pots, but will give satisfaction as a vigorous 
grower and bloomer when planted out. It is surprising 
that it is not more largely grown. Coquette des 
Blanches is also distinct and good. American Beauty 
promises to be very valuable, but has not yet been 
sufficiently tested as a market pot Rose. Of one thing 
I am thoroughly convinced, and that is that tlie 
operator confining himself to eight or ten varieties in 
the hybrids, and to twelve or fifteen in the Teas, will 
realise more money than one endeavouring to grow a 
great number of kinds. 
-- 
Gardening Sotes from 
to ZX-n 
Scotland. 
_ 
Vegetables in Stirlingshire. —It is a notable 
fact that where liberal prizes are offered for exhibits in 
any class, numerous exhibitors readily show an emu¬ 
lative spirit and come to the front with really fine 
produce. This was manifested lately at Stirling on 
the occasion of the annual horticultural exhibition, 
several cups and liberal prizes being offered, which 
brought forth a really creditable display. Vegetables 
were, perhaps, the most striking feature of the show, 
and to see the excellent collections of twelve sorts, im¬ 
pressed one with the idea that the gardeners in that 
district had little to learn in the production of edi¬ 
bles. We have seen no such produce this season. 
Adjudicating was a most difficult matter, all the lots 
being of the highest excellence. Onions, of perfect form, 
solid, and ripe, 13 ins. to 16 ins. in circumference ; 
Leeks thick, solid, and well blanched, from 10 ins. to 
15 ins. long ; Celery large, but proportionately solid 
and finely blanched ; Carrots, several kinds, long and 
short, were remarkably fine, clean, and free from the 
mischief frequently done by grubs ; Peas, about the 
finest in quality that I have ever seen ; a green high- 
flavoured kind with from nine to eleven Peas in each 
appears to be a great favourite in the district. I wish 
some of our horticultural friends would say what kind 
this is that is so well adapted for the exhibition tablo, 
and, no doubt, a favourite on the dining table. Tele¬ 
phone, Telegraph, and others were well represented, 
but not at all equal to the indomitable green one referred 
to. I noticed the same Pea at Camelon and Falkirk 
in the same county, also of the highest excellence. 
Potatos were remarkably fine, the Village Blacksmith 
(in appearance somewhat in character with his 
namesake) was represented in nearly every class. I 
gave a description of this Potato last year, which has 
sprung into favour very rapidly. Cauliflowers were large, 
and in most cases sound and good. Cucumbers were 
not remarkable ; in fact, we rarely see these fine in 
quality at any exhibition, so unlike the perfect pea- 
green, bloom-covered, baton-looking examples which 
were more common a quarter of a century ago at great 
shows. Along with vegetables of high-class culture 
were some fine Hamburgh Grapes, Buckland Sweetwater, 
very perfect, good Muscats, and others, but the earlier 
kinds very properly predominated. Tables of plants, 
and an excellent assortment of cut flowers mado up a 
creditablo show.— M. T. 
Garden Walks. —It is very seldom one meets 
with walks in Scotch gardens which are either smooth 
or firm, or elegant in appearance. The reason in most 
cases is that good gravel can scarcely be found, the 
staple article being generally loose, free from binding 
material, and dull in colour. In the western counties 
of England the same difficulties are often experienced, 
while in the southern counties one invariably sees 
walks of the most desirable character. While we look 
upon walks in any place as necessary evils, and should 
not be formed except where it is desirable to peram¬ 
bulate the grounds, yet where they are wanted the 
greatest pains should be taken to make them sightly 
and enjoyable ; and we need hardly remark that badlyj 
kept walks and ragged edgings gives any place—how¬ 
ever well managed in other respects—a very offensive 
appearance. 
Salting to kill weeds answers for the time being, and 
to some extent cleanses the gravel ; but this method of 
keeping things in order is very difficult to follow up, 
and though it saves expense in labour, yet we know 
well from experience that a few tons of salt for weed¬ 
killing costs more than hand-weeding of several miles 
of 6 ft. walks, especially if women are employed, who 
are very much better adapted for weeding than men ; 
I never could endure the sight of men on their knees 
pulling tiny weeds. Turning walks in the neighbour¬ 
hood of London is a common practice as well as a good 
one, and I know some squares at the West-end which 
have been turned annually for many years, and are now 
looking well. They are well rolled after the turning 
and levelling, which is followed up frequently after 
rain during the season, which almost keeps weeds ex¬ 
tinct. The turning process we strongly adhere to, but 
it does not always suit the kind of gravel. 
Hoeing and finely raking the surfaces of the walks 
is often seen to make a fine, smooth surface ; but 
rolling soon after rain has soaked the walks is necessary, 
and must be followed up. On some parts where we 
have used salt it is now acting—as it always does in the 
course of time—as a potent manure. We have good 
gravel, which was shipped from Southampton by a 
vessel chartered for the purpose ; but now we find that 
the best Kensington gravel from London can be 
delivered at a sixth less cost. It is very remarkable at 
how comparatively little more expense one can get 
consigned to such a distance Kensington gravel to the 
actual cost of the same article dug, sifted, and carted 
in the county in which it is found. A few hundred 
tons goes a long way spread on engine ashes, and the 
trouble of keeping a clean, smooth surface afterwards is 
very little.— M. T. 
Protecting Tender Vegetables.— It may not 
be out of place to recall the fact that during last 
September on several nights we experienced severe 
frost for the season, and many who might have pro¬ 
tected some of their tender crops and favourite flowers, 
were “caught napping,” French Beans, Vegetable 
Marrows, Ridge Cucumbers, Tomatos, &c., were among 
the list of vegetables. Tomatos. which have set fruit 
and are likely to swell it off to a size which can be cut 
and ripened under cover of glass, may have all lateral 
growths trimmed off, extra large leaves reduced so that 
the fruit may be'well exposed to sun during the day, 
and mats or similar protective material may be placed 
over the plants at night. It takes several degrees of 
frost to reach the plants when they are secured to w-alls, 
but by protection as indicated, they are safe for some 
time to come. Plants which are in the open ground, 
such as French Beans, Vegetable Marrows, &c., may 
have sticks stuck in the soil, and others placed cross¬ 
wise to keep protecting material clear of the foliage. 
Dahlias and similar tender plants can have their 
blooming period prolonged by placing sticks round the 
plants, and taking trouble to cover and uncover. It, 
however, requires a little enthusiasm to have patience 
with this. We know, however, anxious amateurs who 
expend a vast amount of labour on their Stocks, Asters, 
Pansies, Roses, and many other pets, to be in condition 
for the exhibition table. Many who have shewn these 
on exhibition tables in our district know with what 
pleasure, anxiety, and suspense too, they have worked 
and are working to keep their pets in order for showing ; 
if we are to prolong the existence of our useful and 
ornamental plants, we must now take precaution against 
frost.— M. T. 
Seedling - Tuberous Begonias.— Some very 
fine flowers of seedling Begonias were exhibited by Mr. 
Thomson, Drumlanrig, at the flower show in Edin¬ 
burgh last week. Many of the flowers were of enor¬ 
mous size, and the colours very rich and beautiful. 
There is every prospect of these very free-flowering 
plants becoming more and more cultivated every year, 
and certainly they have much to commend them. 
Easily grown, providing endless variety of shade and 
colour, lasting months in bloom, and keeping free from 
insect pests, tuberous Begonias are invaluable for green¬ 
house and conservatory decoration. To my mind the 
single varieties are more graceful and pleasing to the 
eye than the double ones, though there are some very 
fine things among the doubles. All amateurs and 
others possessed of conservatories or greenhouses to be 
made gay, should go in for tuberous Begonias. Such 
things as Cinerarias, Calceolarias, &c., that are especi¬ 
ally subject to green-fly, should be less grown when there 
are so many shades and colours, shapes and sizes to bo 
obtained from a few dozens of Begonias raised from 
seed with little trouble and expense. Pelargoniums, 
too, though so varied and beautiful, are always a source 
of trouble in a conservatory, as they must either be 
removed to another house for fumigation or else the 
conservatory must smell of stale smoke for a week or two 
after a needed fumigation. Begonias have everything 
to commend them, and it is satisfactory to know that 
Messrs. Laing and others are making specialities of 
them.— Scotia. 
Ducbess of Buccleuch Grape. —It is some 
time since this Grape was shown as well, or in such 
quantity, as it was at Edinburgh last week. Several 
very large and finely coloured bunches were exhibited. 
One especially fine bunch, was said to be about 6 lbs. 
in weight ; the berries being golden, it presented a 
splendid example of this exquisitely fine flavoured 
Grape. Several other very good bunches, all well- 
coloured, were staged, and also a very large bunch not 
so well up in colour. Though looked down on by 
some growers because of its small berry, there can be 
no doubt, that all who value high qualit}-, in regard 
to flavour, should cultivate the Duchess of Buccleuch. 
Scotia. 
-- 
The Amateurs’ Garden. 
THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 
Ground is still being cleared of summer crops, and 
will thus give space for planting from the seed beds in 
preparation for the winter supply. We have repeatedly 
given some hints on this subject, but it is of consider¬ 
able importance and it is one that is too often neglected 
by amateurs ; many failures with crops in the dull season 
being attributable to want of care in matters connected 
with autumn planting. • It should always be borne in 
mind that to have vegetables which will endure 
exposure to a severe winter, they must be grown 
sturdily and hardily, for if “drawn up” weakly and 
soft they will certainly be unsatisfactory, and probably 
when supplies are most in demand, the stock will 
be almost destroyed by frost. It is a mistake to grow 
the seedlings in very rich soil or too shady places, as 
they are then liable to make a strong growth that does 
not become properly hardened, and when placed out in 
their permanent quarters they either receive a check, 
which has an injurious effect throughout the season, or 
they continue so sappy that the first more than usually 
sharp frost renders them useless. Seedling vegetables 
in the beds for winter should have a rather poor soil ; 
they should be well thinned (or, preferably, sown 
thinly), and when planted out the ground selected 
must be rather firm, and should not have been manured 
recently. It will be found that all winter crops are 
the most hardy and satisfactory in open fields than 
in sheltered gardens, and applying this to practice, in 
the latter, the most exposed postions should be always 
selected. These remarks apply to all vegetables grown 
out of doors, but those of an exceptionally tender 
character, such as Cauliflowers, cannot be trusted out 
unprotected, however well they are prepared, and it 
will be necessary to employ hand-lights for covering 
two or three together, or they may be placed in frames, 
but the lights are the best, as they can be removed at 
pleasure, when the weather is fine, and the plants are 
by that means, more fully exposed. 
Earthing up Celery will need attention now, and 
this is an operation which requires some care, or the 
results will not be what are desired. The leaves 
should be drawn round the heart of the plant, so that 
the soil does not get into it and cause decay, which is 
very liable to occur. The object is to obtain solid, 
heavy, well-blanched “ heads,” and this cannot be done 
unless tho plants are well grown and properly earthed. 
If once decay commences the finest specimens are 
quickly spoiled. The soil should not be wet when the 
earthing is done ; but it is not difficult at this time of 
year, before the September rains commence, to choose 
a suitable period when the soil is moist enough to bind 
together as it is banked up, and yet not so wet as to 
form a brick-like mass if it becomes dry. 
Tomatos have been fairly successful against walls 
out of doors this year, but are rather late in ripening, 
and it is very likely that frost will be experienced before 
they have all finished colouring. The early morning 
temperatures have been very low several times lately, 
and no doubt slight frost has been felt in some parts ; 
it will therefore be advisable to cut Tomato fruits that 
are nearly ripe, and hang them in a dry, warm house, 
or placo them on shelves near the glass, where they 
will soon ripen. Lifting Potatos and gathering fruit 
are still in progress, the crops of both being excellent 
with us, and also in most other districts. Apples and 
Plums are remarkably abundant.— Scolytus. 
