April 16, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
519 
anil in connection with, one of the outside drains, so 
that superfluous water can be carried away. In this case 
the base of the border should slope gradually from the 
sides to the centre. Over this half bricks should be 
arranged to the depth of 6 ins. or 8 ins., and on the 
surface a layer of a smaller size should be arranged to 
the depth of 10 ins. or 1 ft., which will be found ample, 
and if carefully arranged, durable. Over the drainage 
whole sods should be placed grass side down, and the 
bed filled to within 6 ins. of the top of the walls, care 
being taken to make the compost firm about the roots 
as the work of planting proceeds. Plants intended for 
planting out should be established in pots, and the best 
time to do it is when they are starting into growth in 
spring. (To be continued). 
-- 
Hardening ffoTES from 
§ GOTLAND. 
Seasonable Notes. —It is often considered in¬ 
dispensable that Beetroot must be sown in northern 
parts early in April, and some have dates in March on 
which their main crop of Beet must be sown ; except 
for early use, the main supply is in good time from the 
middle to the end of the month. Coarse large roots 
are inferior in quality, but it is a mistake to raise this 
crop on poor, hot soil—stringy roots with inferior 
flavour is likely to be the result. Ground well trenched 
and broken finely, on which some crop was well cared 
for last year, is very suitable. It is evidSntly difficult to 
save a pure stock of Beet, as one seldom sees a good ■ 
breadth grown free of “ rogues.” Those who save one 
kind will get the purest stock ; and now it is a good 
time to plant roots to yield seed, choosing a warm 
sheltered position. 
Early-sown seeds should be examined in order that 
no sowing be allowed to result in failures ; if they have 
not come up it may be found the seed was to blame, 
but more likely it has perished from the damp and cold 
experienced during a part of March. We noticed that 
Cauliflower, Kale, Cabbage, Radishes, Turnips, &c., 
have come up with a yellow tinge. Now that earliest 
Broccolis may be sown a good preparation for the seed 
should be made, and light soil of kindly nature should 
be used for covering when the ground is heavy or of a 
damp nature. Broccolis have suffered more this year 
than usual. The usual precaution of planting in 
hard poor soil has not, with us, been a complete success; 
and where a brake of short stiff plants were laid 
on their sides facing the north during last October, 
they have suffered worst. Some very late plantations 
have stood almost uninjured, and the kinds almost 
entire'are Knight’s Protecting, Gordon’s, and Cattell’s 
Eclipse. 
Asparagus.— It is now time to prepare for new 
plantations, and deep trenching is closely followed in 
northern practice. Good drainage is a most important 
matter when roots are kept in active growth till late in 
autumn on damp soil, where it is certain a large per¬ 
centage will perish. We know of some good plots in 
our district which have been established by sowing 
seed where the crop was to remain ; others cannot save 
their roots under any treatment. New plantations 
should have plenty of sand worked into the soil, and 
not too much manure at first. 
Sea Kale is more easily managed, either from cuttings 
or seeds. It is well to soak the latter in water before 
sowing. We notice that Jerusalem Artichokes which 
were not planted till late in April last year were quite 
as good, or better, than those planted in March. 
Turnips have kept remarkably well in the ground 
during the past winter with soil drawn over the roots. 
Yellow kinds, perhaps, kept best ; but Red Globe and 
several of the white kinds have done fairly well, and 
will be useful to the end of April. We have seen no 
forcing kind do so well as Milan. Munich is good, but 
not equal to the former, though neither of them are 
very choice kinds for later work. They are affected 
very readily by heat and drought; but pinches of seed 
sown weekly on a border during April will come in as 
useful successions after those under glass have served 
their purpose.— Caledonian. 
Effects of the Late Frosts in East 
Lothian. —After the hard winter and late spring, it is 
surprising almost to see anything in bloom, but we seem 
to be especially favoured here. I think suitable and 
well-sheltered situations have a good deal to do with 
successful spring gardening, and our situation appears 
especially favourable to the early flowering of Primroses, 
and the double as well as the single white and pink are 
a perfect sheet of bloom. Polyanthuses are also 
blooming freely ; and while some people are complaining 
of having lost all their double whites, we have not lost 
one. Hepaticas have stood the late frosts very well. 
Alyssum saxatile is just coming into bloom. Wallflower 
Harbinger is in good condition, and is very welcome at 
this season. It is a pity that there is not more done in 
the way of spring gardening, but I think the taste is 
on the increase, and I am sure all true lovers of nature 
will welcome it gladly ; for what are all the beauties of 
the blazing parterre to the gentle sweetness of the 
herbaceous border. Old flowers have a charm about 
them still which all lovers of plants seem to appreciate. 
Our Apricots were just coming into bloom when the 
late frosts came on, in fact many flowers were fully ex¬ 
panded, and they certainly suffered a great deal ; but 
still to-day I find many fruits of the size of a wren’s egg, 
■which is rather remarkable after 22° of frost, and the 
trees only covered with hexagonal nets. Peaches and 
Plums on walls are in full bloom, and promise a good 
crop. The late Edinburgh show brought out a great 
display of bloom. Azaleas were fully up to the mark; 
hardy spring flowers were exceptionally fine ; Deutzias 
were scarcely so good as usual, but still were very fine, 
taking the season into account. There was a limited 
but excellent display of vegetables. The show was as 
good if not better than usual in regard to quality, while 
exhibits were fewer. Orchids were a special feature, 
and the table shown by Messrs. William Thomson & 
Sons, Clovenfords, Galashiels, was a most creditable 
display considering the northernjlocality. — J. Holmes, 
Winton Gardens, Pencaitland, Haddingtonshire. 
Flowers of Spring.—-Miscount Melville, in 
opening the late exhibition of the Royal Caledonian 
Horticultural Society, said that spring had already 
come, and with it had come many flowers. This was 
especially the season for Lilies, which came forth in 
great variety, and which they had all been told to 
consider from their youth up. They were now already 
in the month which Shakspeare had called “the proud 
pied month of April,” and with it had come those 
Yiolets, with regard to which the great dramatist had 
said—and they would agree -with him—you will not 
chide the forward Lily.” As they approached summer, 
they would find themselves nearer that event which 
was to be celebrated—he meant the Jubilee of Her 
Most Gracious Majesty the Queen. He was afraid that 
this society had scarcely existed long enough to join 
hands -with Her Majesty in celebrating her Jubilee ; 
but if the society continued to prosper as it had done, 
it would by-and-bye be celebrating a Jubilee of its 
own. He might refer to the floral beauties they saw 
around them, and say in the language of the poet, 
“ Here blushing Flora paints the enamelled ground.” 
Amongst the vast mass of literature which flooded the 
world at the present day, he knew of no book which 
had been written upon the subject of the influence of 
flowers upon the history of mankind. He thought 
that a most interesting and even romantic work of that 
description might be written. Flowers had been used 
as emblems of every description—of peace, of war, of 
love and even of death—and he gave the hint to some 
of his literary friends that they might set themselves 
to a work of the kind he had indicated. 
-—- 
The Amateurs’ Garden. 
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♦ 
The Greenhouse.— This structure should now be 
very gay, notwithstanding the lateness of outdoor 
vegetation, and the continued cold and backward nature 
of the weather. Those who have a sufficient command 
of fire-heat are able to keep up a supply of flowering 
plants during great part of winter and spring by a 
judicious selection of suitable forcing subjects, and in¬ 
troducing them to heat at the proper season. But the 
time has now arrived, or in other words, spring has 
advanced sufficiently to supply any quantity of flowers 
independently of artificial heat, and the possessor of an 
unheated greenhouse or conservatory, if he grows a 
judicious assortment of spring-flowering plants, must 
now have the house quite gay. Many hard-wooded 
plants are amongst the freest flowering and most hand¬ 
some for conservatory work, and where properly cared 
for all the year round, are now repaying the care and 
trouble bestowed upon them. 
Camellias, when the amateur has learned their re¬ 
quirements, constitute a source of unfailing attraction 
for many weeks, or even months, by a selection of 
varieties that naturally flower at different seasons. 
When grown in pots or tubs they are removable at any 
time, so that the show house can be occupied with 
flowering plants only. At the same time, however, all 
things considered, Camellias when planted out are 
much more profitable, easier grown, produce the greatest 
amount of bloom, and are easier kept in health. Every¬ 
one, however, cannot command the convenience for 
planting out. They look most natural and ornamental 
when allowed to grow untrained and unpruned, except 
what is necessary to keep them in reasonable shape ; 
but it need not be forgotten that they permit of training 
in numerous ways, and may be made to cover a trellis 
or the back wall of a conservatory in the manner of a 
climber with good effect, and yield great quantities of 
bloom. 
Azaleas. —In order of merit, probably, the popular 
taste would place the Azalea next to the Camellia as a 
useful and handsome spring-flowering plant. The 
Indian Azalea and its endless profusion of varieties 
certainly receives a great amount of well-merited at¬ 
tention at the hands of both amateurs and professionals. 
Although several of the well-known varieties have been 
flowering regularly, or more or less spasmodically all 
through the winter and spring, there will now be many 
forms in flower, and the chief difficulty will be in 
keeping some of them back, so as to ensure a succession 
of bloom as long as possible. Azaleas, like Heaths, 
must never be allowed to become dry, otherwise they 
are almost certain to get killed, or, at least, lose their 
leaves, disfiguring them for some time to come. At¬ 
tention must be given them at all times to keep them 
clear of their inveterate enemy, the thrips. 
Miscellaneous subjects, besides the above, may now 
be reckoned upon to produce a great quantity of bloom 
without the aid of artificial heat. Hyacinths, Tulips 
and Crocuses will now be at a discount indoors, seeing 
that tliosein the open ground, in spite of cold east winds, 
are struggling bravely to expand their blooms. Several 
Heaths, such as Erica hyemalis and E. melanthera 
continue to prolong the season, and many varieties of 
the closely allied Epacris keep them company. In 
many large gardens the shrubby or woody greenhouse 
subjects, almost universally designated New Holland 
stuff, have been greatly neglected of late years, or 
almost eliminated from collections to make room for 
the at present more popular soft-wooded plants of 
various kinds. This is a grand mistake, which it is 
hoped will be rectified before long by admitting a due 
share of such things into collections of winter-flowering 
plants. The deliciously-scented Boronia megastigma, 
B. heterophylla, and the bright-coloured B. elatior add 
value to any collection of conservatory plants, while 
endless variety is contributed by Cytisus, Coronilla, 
Acacias, Bauera, Metrosideros, Hardenbergias, Ken- 
nedya, besides such shrubs as Forsythia, Syringa, 
Prunus Pissardi, and even hardy herbaceous plants. 
Melons, Cucumbers, &c.—Now is a critical time 
with plants of this class which have been forced on to 
furnish the main crops, or one somewhat in advance of 
it. In many cases these have been sown with the 
intention of planting out in prepared beds, in pits that 
are generally used as forcing-houses for various purposes 
in the early part of the season. Melons and similar 
things are sometimes sown too earljq and suffered to 
stand in small pots, or even the seedling pots, until 
such time as the beds can be cleared of their winter 
and spring occupants to receive them. During this 
they are not only losing time but often get into a 
stunted or unhealthy condition, which is afterwards 
difficult to overcome. This may partly be avoided by 
shifting the plants into a larger size, to keep them 
growing steadily till the beds can be prepared for their 
reception. If they are intended for pot culture, the 
young seedlings may be put into their fruiting pots at 
an early stage. Put no more soil into the latter than 
is necessary to give them a start, filling up subsequently 
with rich well-manured soil as the plants grow and 
the roots thoroughly permeate it. Keep a watchful 
eye on the young seedlings, whether planted out or not, 
and guard them against the attacks of wood-lice, black- 
beetles, cockroaches, slugs and all vermin of that 
character, by laying phosphorus paste, hollow slices of 
Turnips, Carrots, Potatos, or even Cabbage leaves. Visit 
the plants also at night, when the depredators may 
be surprised and caught.— F. 
