424 
THE HARDENING WORLD. 
March 3, 1888. 
the reception of seed, it struck me that I could not do 
better than embody a few remarks on the subject for 
publication in The Gardening 'World ; and although 
I am aware that this matter has received, from time to 
time, ample consideration in the pages of your useful 
journal, yet by virtue of the fact that new subscribers 
are always cropping up and would-be amateurs are 
continually coming to the front in search of advice, I 
will endeavour, at the risk of being charged with pre¬ 
sumption, to indicate some of the rudimentary princi¬ 
ples involved in this subject. 
Most observant persons must have remarked that in 
gardening a few well-understood scientific rules are a 
sine qua non to successful cultivation. Let these rules 
be mastered and good results will ensue ; let them be 
ignored and no amount of afterthought will compensate 
for the neglect of first principles. Gardening, in all 
its branches, is an attempt not only to imitate but to 
improve upon natural phenomena by artificial means. 
In no department of garden work is this more import¬ 
ant than in the preparation of soil for the reception of 
seed ; a nice light sandy loam that has been pulverised 
and sweetened by the action of frost and sun is a 
happy medium into which to consign the germs of the 
future plants. V ith this compost well incorporate a 
small quantity of leaf-soil or thoroughly decayed hot¬ 
bed manure, not forgetting to add a reasonable amount 
of silver sand. It is found that too much moisture in 
the soil is invariably inimical to the welfare of the seed, 
while on the other hand a moderate degree of moisture 
is absolutely necessary to ensure germination ; there¬ 
fore err rather on the dry than the wet condition of the 
soil. 
This may best be accomplished by attention to the 
following details :—If a pot be the chosen medium, it 
will be necessary, to ensure complete success, to at least 
half fill the same with broken cinders, bricks, or pot¬ 
sherds, to allow the free escape of any surplus moisture 
which may be administered. On the top of this the 
rougher parts of the compost may be placed, the re¬ 
maining space, up to within 1 in. of the rim, being 
reserved for the composition described above. This 
should never be sifted, except in the case of very fine 
seed, such as Lobelia, Mimulus, Primula, &c., and then 
only for the top layer, say to the extent of | in. At 
the same time care should be exercised to break up the 
nodules of soil, which can be effected with the back of 
the trowel, so as not to interfere with the solidification 
of the whole. After this process has been forwarded, 
take another pot or circular piece of wood, and gently 
but firmly compress the soil so as to render the surface 
level and solid, otherwise when watering takes place, 
there will be little subsidences, which will materially 
affect germination. Next proceed to water thoroughly 
with a fine-rosed can, so that every particle of soil 
receives its modicum of moisture. Allow an hour or 
two to elapse before sowing the seed, which should be 
accomplished as evenly and regularly as possible, so 
that two seeds may not find themselves side by side, and 
thus act and re-act one to the detriment of the other. 
Having done this satisfactorily, cover the seeds lightly 
with a little sifted soil—which may be done effectually 
by means of an old flour dredger—put a pane of glass 
over the top, shade from bright sunshine, and abide the 
rest. I have thus entered somewhat minutely into this 
matter, as I consider these are most important aids to 
the successes which we are all striving to obtain. 
Although pots have been dealt with in this paper, 
the same remarks will also apply to pans or boxes, with 
the exception that the drainage may consist of spent 
tan, coco-nut fibre refuse or flaky manure. Boxes or 
pans are preferred by some, inasmuch as the condition 
of the soil, as regards moisture, by reason of its larger 
bulk is rendered more uniform and general, and con¬ 
sequently requires less attention. 'When the seedlings 
appear, as assuredly they will if the conditions be 
favourable and the seed obtained from a reliable source, 
tilt the glass to admit air, ultimately removing it 
altogether. As the little plants advance and assume 
proportions big enough to appreciate, prick out or 
transplant into similarly prepared soil, and return to 
the same place and temperature, gradually hardening 
off for the final shift. Those who cannot command 
artificial heat had far better wait until a natural rise in 
the thermometer occurs, than expose their seedlings to 
the vicissitudes of our fickle climate. Where only 
frame or cold greenhouse accommodation exists, the 
middle of March will be early enough for, say, Stocks, 
Lobelias, Mimulus, &c.; and the middle of April for 
such things as Asters, Zinnias, Phlox Drummondi, and 
other similar annuals of a half-hardy description._ 
C. B. Green , Acton, W. 
FERTILISING MOSS. 
Will you allow me to advise your correspondent who 
inquires about growing plants in fertilising moss ? 
Perhaps if I were to give a list of those I have assisted in 
growing for sale it would be of use to some of your readers, 
as well as to “Crow’s Nest,” Por bedding-out purposes 
we used to moss off such things as Heliotropes, Cupheas, 
Carnations, Calceolarias, single and double Dahlias, 
Zonal Pelargoniums, Balsams, Petunias, Coleus and 
others. These would stand when packed into shallow 
boxes until they were properly hardened off, and sold 
or planted out. 
Of greenhouse plants the majority were grown singly 
in small pots, and they included such things as 
tuberous-rooted Begonias, fine-foliaged varieties of the 
Rex type, Caladiums, Gloxinias, Liliums, &c. The 
above and others of a tuberous or bulbous character 
were planted in a mixture of equal parts of old fibrous 
loam, and the moss and water were applied very 
sparingly to them at first, as they were not started in a 
high temperature. Of fibrous-rooted soft-wooded stuff 
such as the Coleus, Balsam, Petunia, Eupatorium, &c., 
we allowed about half a peck of leaf-soil to each bushel 
of moss and loam. 
The fibrous-rooted hard-wooded plants, such as 
Fuchsias, Lantanas, Genistas, Bouvardias, Libonias, 
and Acacias, were potted in two parts of loam that had 
been stacked for about six months—good yellow fibrous 
loam this was, such as a Rose-grower might envy—one 
part of leaf-soil, and one part of moss. We did not use 
sand, it not being necessary owing to the openness of 
the compost, and I think it would have been as well if 
we had left the leaf-soil, or at least a great part of it, out 
too. I am sure that the leaf-soil hastened the decom¬ 
position of the moss—an undesirable consequence. 
Visitors, and those who saw these plants at a flower 
show, where a group of them were set up “not for 
competition,” were amazed at the vigour of many of 
them, and at the wonderful quantity of bloom produced 
by others. 
Of Ferns, varieties of the Scolopendrium, Pteris, 
Adiantum, Lygodium scandens, and many others that 
I cannot now mention, did remarkably well in the 
fertilising moss. For Ferns to be grown in pots, about 
one part of loam to three parts of the moss was used, 
or, instead of the loam, an equal quantity of sifted 
fibrous peat of a rather soft quality. Generally Ferns 
would do as well when placed in the moss without 
pots, if only a pinch or two of coco-nut fibre refuse, 
or of the sifted peat, were placed in the middle next to 
the roots. I cannot just now recall any of the hard- 
wooded fine-foliage plants, such as Crotons, being 
grown in the moss, nor yet Dracaenas or Palms ; I 
believe the impression was that the moss did not suit 
them, but I never saw it tried.— J. E. B. 
-- 
SUNFLOWERS. 
A neighbour of mine every year fills his little forecourt 
garden with Sunflowers ; some of them grow very tall, 
and they appear out of place in such a circumscribed 
space, but they are very gaudy and attract the attention 
of passers-by to a great extent. Of all bold, striking 
and showyjannuals, theSunflower is one of the most 
gorgeous. 
The fashion for growing Sunflowers that prevailed to 
such an extent a short time ago appears to have died 
out; but this showy^plant will always be grown, because 
there are many places in which it can be used with 
great effect. In the case of broad shrubbery borders 
flanking carriage drives, the Sunflower, when used as 
a back-ground against the green drapery of shrubs, 
with Hollyhocks, Dahlias, &e., is seen to the best 
advantage. Rightly, it should only be planted in 
places suited to its height and grandeur, but a con¬ 
sideration of that kind cannot always be kept in view, 
and so it is placed where the cultivator thinks fit, 
without much]regard to harmonious surroundings. 
How did it get the name of Sunflower ? It is said it 
was so named in reference to the tendency of the flower 
to turn towards the sun, but this is a poetic fancy, a 
delusion fostered by Moore, Thompson and others, the 
latter of whom tells us that unlike most of the flowery 
row— 
“Thejlofty follower of the sun, 
Sad when he sets, shuts up her yellow leaves, 
Drooping all night, and when he warm returns, 
Points her enamoured bosom to his ray.” 
It is generally considered that the Sunflower is 
derived from the resemblance of the bloom to the 
radiant beams of the sun, and there is a Sunflower of 
classic history—the flower into which poor Clytie was 
transformed when heart-broken at the desertion of her 
lover Phcebus, she remained rooted to the ground, and 
became, according to Ovid, metamorphosed into a flower 
resembling a Violet. ‘ ‘ Held firmly by the roots, she 
still turns to the sun she loves, and, changed herself, 
she keeps her love unchanged.” 
But our Helianthus annuus is a South American 
plant; it was introduced to this country in 1596. So 
it can hardly be termed a classic plant, and certainly 
not the blossom mentioned by Ovid. It is no doubt 
a Peruvian subject, and is much reverenced by the 
Peruvians on account of the resemblance borne by its 
radiant blossom to the sun, which luminary they 
worshipped. 
It is scarcely necessary to say much about the culture 
of the Sunflower. The seeds can be sown in the open 
ground, or the plants may be reared in pots and trans¬ 
planted to the open. It is a plant that should be grown 
in good soil, and then its flower-heads will be fine and 
striking. Particularly is this remark true of the large 
double variety, which when well grown is a veritable 
peer among garden flowers. Therefore let it be planted 
in good soil if it be an object of stately magnificence in 
the garden. 
But the Sunflower has certain economic uses; it is 
said to produce the finest honey and wax. When the 
seed is crushed, as linseed is, it will produce the finest 
oils in larger quantities in proportion to any other seed, 
for the table as well as the painter, particularly in 
mixing green and blue paints. The cake is superior to 
linseed for fattening cattle ; the oil makes the finest 
soap, being very softening to the hands and face ; 
sheep, pigs, pigeons, rabbits, poultry of all sorts, &c., 
will fatten rapidly upon the seeds, and prefer them to 
any other ; and it is stated that pheasants in particular 
are improved by them, the seeds causing them to have 
a much more glossy plumage, and to become plumper 
in body. 
An old gardener has remarked that when the Sun¬ 
flower plants raised from seed in the open are about 
1 ft. in height, they should be earthed up, when they 
•will require no further attention. He particularly 
recommends that they should be grown in any odd 
corners of the garden, and especially so on farms. 
And then what a prolific plant it is ! The main 
head of bloom generally produces from 800 to 1,000 
seeds, there being generally four lateral flowers, which 
produce fifty or sixty seeds each ; and it is to be noticed 
that while the latter are ripening the head is turned 
downwards, consequently little or no rain can fall 
upon it. Really, the Sunflower appears to be a much 
more important plant than is generally supposed.— B. D. 
-- 
TABLE DECORATIONS. 
Has our contemporary, * The Daily Kews, been in¬ 
dulging in a Rip Van Winklean nap of some ten or 
twelve years duration, that it should just now publish 
an article upon dinner-table floral decorations, which 
leads to the inference that it was either penned several 
years since, and has been well preserved, or else that 
the writer has but just awakened from a very long 
slumber 1 Why, we are told that floral decorations 
now form a brilliant feature in the houses of the rich 
as though it was a notel subject! Somehow we had 
got to think that this feature in domestic life—so long 
terribly exaggerated and overdone—was now, if not 
dying out, at least reduced to sober aspects, and that 
none of those complex and absurd overweightings 
which some time since marked costly dinners were now 
tolerated. 
The writer positively glows with enthusiasm as he 
tells of the table of some wealthy parvenu, in which 
wheelbarrows, of all absurdities, were introduced 
(toy barrows, of course), and these were filled 
and dressed with flowers of the most gorgeous and 
costly kind. It were a pity that some bold visitor 
had not suggested that the best use to which to put 
the barrows was to wheel all this rubbish away in. 
In another case the table was decorated with Roses of 
every colour. "What vulgarity of taste and extra¬ 
ordinary quantity ! Indeed, the room must have been 
painfully ablaze with egregious floral colouring, and 
the atmosphere oppressively overflowing with perfume. 
The writer terms this sort of dinner-table decoration 
“exquisite,” and as something in which only millionaires 
can indulge, utterly forgetting that so far from being 
desirable or fitted to any repast, it is but a vulgar 
display of not less vulgar wealth, and must have been 
intensely disgusting to all refined minds. This sort of 
thing, too, is referred to as “a love for nature.” 
Heaven save the mark ! 'Wherever was nature found 
committing anything so absurd ? Happily, a love for 
flowers, combined with an elevated taste for floral table 
decoration, demands no such displays as these. 
