714 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
July 7, 1888. 
The Highland Pine (Pinus sylvestris) does fairly well 
on the usually dry soil of this part of Kent, but attains 
to largest dimensions where a quantity of decomposed 
vegetable matter is incorporated with the chalk or 
gravel. There are two beautiful, though formal, 
clumps in the grounds at Hollydale, one near the top 
of the larger lake, consisting of six trees planted in the 
shape of an oval, the longest diameter being 33 ft., and 
the shortest 18 ft. The trees are planted at 9 ft. apart; 
their average height is 62 ft., and the stem-girth at a 
yard from the ground 6 ft. 
The other clump stands in almost the centre of the 
same park as that just recorded, and consists of eight 
trees planted in form of a heart and at 9 ft. apart. In 
this the trees are about 55 ft. in height, and with stems 
girthing on an average 4 ft. at a yard from the ground 
level. The length of the clump is 38 ft., and the width 
at the widest part 21 ft. 
IVhat surprises one most is how uniform of growth 
are the trees, for even after a full half century the 
formal method of planting is quite discernible. 
Of the common Yew (Taxus baccata) there are 
several stately and far-spreading specimens, particularly 
near the lake opposite Keston Lodge. One of these 
has a gnarled and distorted stem, which at a yard from 
the ground measures 8 ft. 8 ins. in girth. The branch- 
spread is unusually wide in proportion to the height, 
and the foliage full and healthy, thus clearly pointing 
out that both site and soil are suitable in every way 
for its wants. Hot a score of yards from this tree may 
be seen one of the Holly, the proportions of which far 
exceed the generality of those usually seen in our 
parks and grounds. The clean and well-formed stem 
girths 7 ft. 4 ins. at breast high, and rises to 45 ft. in 
height. As would be inferred from the name of this 
place, the Holly is fairly abundant; indeed, turn in 
what direction you will, this favourite English ever¬ 
green confronts you with its bright glossy foliage, 
which is so well fitted for imparting a bit of green to 
our winter landscape. Judging from the numerous 
patriarchal remnants of stems, the Holly must at all 
times have been abundant at Hollydale, the gravelly 
loam being peculiarly well suited for its perfect de¬ 
velopment. Another nearly allied tree—allied in so 
far, at least, as its evergreen foliage is concerned—is 
the Evergreen Oak (Quercus Ilex;, and of which there 
are some handsome though not unusually large speci¬ 
mens scattered over the grounds and throughout the 
woods. This is a capital tree for planting in exposed 
situations, and does fairly well when shaded by other 
taller-growing deciduous subjects. 
The Silver Fir (Abies pectinata) can hardly be relied 
upon as a suitable tree for planting on the Kentish 
downs, for although in a few favourable situations it 
attains to large dimensions, yet under ordinary con¬ 
ditions it dies olf prematurely before perfect develop¬ 
ment has been effected. There are two large landmark¬ 
like specimens in one of the Hollydale parks, but these, 
although fully 80 ft. in height, are unfortunately 
showing signs of distress, as are most of the others all 
over the Holwood property.— A. I). Webster. 
( To be continued.) 
-- 
The Amateurs’ Garden, 
-- 
CUCUMBERS AND VEGETABLE MARROWS. 
As soon as Cucumbers in frames have filled the latter 
or nearly so, ventilate more freely, so as to induce a 
sturdy habit of growth, and give substance or firmness 
to the leaves. It will be well, however, to see that a 
moist-growing atmosphere is maintained during warm 
and dry weather. This can of course be kept up by 
giving the soil in which they are planted an abundance 
of water, and by syringing morning and evening on 
bright days. TThen fruits commence to be formed, 
give an occasional dose of weak liquid manure, which 
will greatly assist the plants in the production of a 
good crop. Unshapely or otherwise useless fruits may 
be at once removed, to enable the others to be brought 
to perfection. Peg down Vegetable Marrows so that 
they may root in the soil, thus giving the stems a fresh 
impetus by drawing nourishment from different sources, 
and truly occupying the ground. By training or 
laying the primary stems in particular directions the 
ground may be covered in less time than if simply left 
to their own resources. "Water well in dry weather. 
Tomatos. 
In the open ground where Tomatos require to be 
trained to stakes, the energies of the plant should be 
directed to the production of a crop on the primary 
stems. "With this object in view cut away all 
laterals that generally spring up abundantly from the 
lower part of the stem. In staking, make sure that 
the support will be strong enough to carry a crop 
without being borne down in rough weather. On walls 
in well-exposed sunny positions the fruit will ripen 
earlier, and two stems may be allowed on a plant, 
provided there is plenty of space without unduly 
crowding the foliage. Assist with liquid manure when 
the fruits are swelling. 
Cabbage eop. Autumn Planting. 
In late districts it will be necessary to sow earlier by a 
week or a fortnight than in the more southern counties, 
where the sowing may be made in the last week of the 
month. In order that the plants may get strong 
before cold weather puts a stop to their growth, the 
seed should be sown during the second week. Should 
they germinate freely and come up crowded in places, 
thin out the weakest, as nothing is more injurious than 
to allow the seedlings to become drawn and spindly 
before being planted out. Net from birds in districts 
very much troubled by those unwelcome visitors, 
amongst which the house sparrow is one of the worst, 
being particularly annoying during dry weather, 
and in times of scarcity. 
Herbs. 
As these make their growth and commence to bloom, 
they may be cut and hung up or placed in some 
position to dry, where the sun cannot bake or render 
them brittle and easily rubbed to dust by unduly 
hastening the process. Neither should they be exposed 
to rain during the drying, otherwise the quality will be 
much deteriorated. This applies to Mint, Sage, Eue, 
Marjoram, Thyme, "Wormwood and other aromatic 
subjects which have been grown in cottage gardens, as 
well as in those of the great, from time immemorial. The 
tendency is in these days to neglect such good and 
useful old things. 
Late Planting in Borders. 
After the usual bedding out has been accomplished 
there is generally a surplus of material which may as well 
be devoted to a useful purpose. Vacancies generally 
exist in the herbaceous borders proper, in mixed 
borders alongside of walks or in front of shrubbery 
borders. The modern practice adopted at some places 
of planting the shrubs thinly, with the strictly dwarf 
ones in front, is much to be commended, as it affords 
an opportunity of introducing various subjects from 
time to time, and of keeping up a display from the 
earliest plants that flower in spring—such as Lenten 
Roses, Snowdrops and Crocuses—till the Chrysan¬ 
themums and perennial Asters are killed down by 
severe weather, when Christmas Roses again assume 
the leading position. At the present time the gaps 
that exist may be filled up with Stocks, China Asters, 
seedling single or other Dahlias,.Marigolds, Sunflowers, 
Zinnias, and, in fact, anything that may have been 
left over after bedding has been completed, and which 
is not required to be kept in store pots. 
Saving Seeds of Canterbury Bells and Poppies. 
The many beautiful varieties of Papaver nudicaule, 
P. umbrosum and others, of which it is desirable to 
preserve seeds, should be closely looked after as they 
ripen, to prevent them from being scattered about by 
wind. The capsules ripen quickly and then open, so 
that it is necessary to collect seeds at various times, 
otherwise they get lost. A sowing of P. umbrosum 
may be made immediately, and the plants will get 
established before winter and flower early next summer. 
The Canterbury Bell (Campanula media) is now in full 
flower, and opportunity should be taken to note all 
the best varieties, at the same time marking them ac¬ 
cording to their colours for the purpose of seed saving. 
Antirrhinums. 
The varieties of Antirrhinum majus have now become 
so plentiful in cultivation that few take the trouble of 
growing named sorts, but trust to seeds of a good 
strain for getting all they want. This method of 
raising them always results in the production of a great 
mass of rubbish, and in small gardens space cannot 
profitably be occupied in this way, especially knowing 
that the very best varieties only can be grown with a 
comparatively small amount of trouble from year to 
year. This is effected by propagation from cuttings of 
the best that make their appearance in the seed beds, 
after which all the others may be discarded in autumn 
when they have done flowering, and the cuttings only 
retained. Seed saving from the best varieties may also 
be done with the view of selecting improved kinds. 
The cuttings may be inserted round the sides of 5-in. 
pots in a light sandy compost, and stood under hand- 
lights till they take root, after which they may be 
gradually hardened off, and stood out in the open to 
ripen their wood, when they will keep much better in 
cold frames during the winter. 
Pelargoniums. —The earliest batches of the show, 
fancy, and regal or decorative types are now out of 
flower or soon will be so, and when this has happened 
stand them out of doors in the full sun till they get 
partly dried up, when they should’be cut down within 
a bud or two of the base. During rainy times the pots 
may be placed on their sides to prevent the soil 
getting wet. The cutting down should be effected 
when the plants have parted with their moisture to 
some extent, and they should be re-potted after the 
buds again begin to push. 
-->X<-- 
PLANTS OP GRACEFUL HABIT. 
{Concluded, from p. 696.) 
Brexia chrysophylla. 
This is a plant rarely seen in collections at the present 
day, but in a small state it is a very useful decorative 
plant, possessing an erect-growing habit, with strap-like 
leaves, slightly toothed on the edge of the leaf. The 
plant may be grown to a very considerable height, and 
still maintain its foliage to the base of the stem. 
Should it lose its bottom leaves, the top may be taken 
off and placed in a strong close heat to root ; or if time 
can be allowed, the side shoots—that afterwards will 
break up—if taken off with a heel to them, root much 
quicker. In a small condition, when about 12 ins. to 
18 ins. high, it makes a good table plant for decoration, 
and, perhaps, this size is the most useful at which to 
have the plant. It requires a good stove temperature 
to grow it to perfection, but plants when they attain 
the height of over 18 ins. may be graduaUy inured to 
a conservatory temperature during the summer and 
autumn months of the year, after which time it must 
be put into warmer quarters, or it will be likely to die 
from cold. 
CoSSIGNIA BORBONICA. 
This is a very handsome stove shrub, with ornamental 
pinnate foliage of a dark green scabrous appearance, 
distinctly marked with bright orange-yellow veins. 
It is a handsome plant, with a good habit, but requires 
very careful attention in its management. Its drainage 
must be perfect, to carry off the water quickly from its 
roots ; but at no time must it suffer from either too 
little or too much moisture—in fact, it delights in an 
abundance of water, provided it can be carried quickly 
away from its roots. A soil composed chiefly of good 
fibry loam, with a liberal addition of sharp sand, suits 
it admirably. It is not one of the best plants to pro¬ 
pagate ; but cuttings inserted in a very strong heat, and 
covered with a bell-glass, may be induced to root in 
time. This matter causes the plant to be scarce and 
not often seen, except in very good collections. It is 
a subject deserving of the highest cultivation, and will 
impart a fine contrast amongst other plants of a similar 
character. 
Pandanus. 
Pandanus of sorts are a grand class of plants where 
room can be given to their cultivation, but in most 
cases they may be had in a small condition for a time, 
and when grown out of bounds for the use of a small 
stove or for decorative use, they can be utilised in the 
conservatory during the summer months till the 
approach of the winter, when they will invariably die 
from the cool temperature they will experience in such 
a structure. 
P. graminrefolius is one of the most compact of the 
genus, and is a very elegant little plant in any 
condition, from the cutting pot upwards. It has narrow- 
toothed leaves, gracefully recurved, and extremely 
dwarf in habit ; the foliage is produced in abundance, 
thus giving the plant a very dense and compact 
appearance. It roots freely from side shoots taken off 
with a heel, and the cutting will soon establish itself if 
placed in a sharp bottom heat, but need not have a 
bell-glass put over it. 
P. utilis is a very pretty and elegant plant in a small 
state, and is very effective and ornamental when in 
that condition. It also makes an admirable decorative 
plant either for rooms or for mixing with other subjects 
before it becomes too large, and being readily obtainable 
from seed, there should be no difficulty in keeping up 
a stock of it in a useful size, so that the plants may be 
dispensed with as they become too large. 
P. Veitchii is a fine variegated form, and when well 
coloured is a very distinct and striking ornamental 
plant, with a graceful habit combined. Its variegation 
