794 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
August 11, 1888. 
The Amateurs’ Garden, 
—— 
Pansies from Seed. 
The diligent worker can find something to do in the 
garden at any period of the year, and the enthusiast 
may follow up his favourite pursuit, whatever his 
hobby may be, in a way that only those who engage in 
it can understand. Those who grow Pansies and Violas 
will find that the rain of the past summer, although 
detrimental to most things, has been very favourable 
to the growth and flowering of these favourite flowers. 
Seeds may not, however, ripen so freely, but generally 
there will be no difficulty in getting an ample supply. 
When the object is to improve stock and get up a col¬ 
lection, seeds should be gathered from the very best 
kinds only, selecting those that give promise of some¬ 
thing new and some improvement upon old or existing 
varieties. The plants should be carefully examined 
from time to time, so as to make sure of getting the 
seeds. If the capsules are allowed to burst, the seeds 
get scattered far and wide. A little practice will 
enable the collector to determine when the capsules are 
on the point of bursting. Now is a good time to sow 
the seeds in boxes in a compost of friable loam, leaf- 
soil, and a good proportion of sharp river sand. Winter 
the boxes in a cold frame, and the seedlings will 
germinate from time to time, bu'E all will be ready 
next spring to plant out where they are to bloom. 
Auriculas. 
Those who have deferred potting their Auriculas till 
August should not longer delay the operation, so that 
the plants may have ample opportunity of filling the 
pots with roots before winter. This is the more neces¬ 
sary for their safe keeping through the dull winter 
months, when damp is abundant and light is deficient. 
Show Auriculas are more particular in this respect than 
Alpines, because their constitution is less robust and 
hardy. A good compost consisting of two parts mellow 
loam, one part cow-dung, some coarse or sharp sand to 
give sufficient porosity, and a small quantity of leaf- 
soil will suit them admirably. Drain the pots carefulty, 
placing a quantity of moss over the potsherds to prevent 
the soil choking up the bottom of the pots. When 
completed stand the pots on ashes in a cold or unheated 
frame facing north. Keep the frame close for a day or 
two till the plants have taken to the new soil. Water 
immediately after potting, but give no more till 
absolutely necessary. They may afterwards be fully 
exposed night and day, leaving off the sashes except in 
very wet weather. 
Mignonette for Winter Flowering. 
If sown immediately, a batch of Mignonette may be 
had in flower during the dull winter months, when it 
will be much more appreciated in the greenhouse than 
at present. Sow the seeds in light rich sandy soil in 
4S or 32-sized pots as may be thought desirable, and 
no transplantation is necessary, nor is indeed of any 
advantage. A few seeds only need be sown in each 
pot, but allowance must be made for bad ones not 
germinating, and the seedlings may be thinned out to 
the required number afterwards. As soon as the 
seedlings are up, keep them as near the glass as 
possible in a cool frame. In fact, the lights may be 
left off altogether, night and day, except during heavy 
rain. As the plants gain some size they may be 
assisted with weak liquid manure, and be staked when 
they become tall enough to require it. 
Cropping Vacant Ground. 
Many amateurs, and professional gardeners as well, 
are content to receive one crop a year from their 
ground, while the latter is capable of doing much more 
than this if a proper rotation is observed. By a proper 
rotation it does not necessarily imply that a certain 
number of crops are to be grown in regular succession 
during a definite number of years. This may be easily 
carried out in a market garden where comparatively 
few kinds are grown ; but the amateur has to deal 
with a multiplicity of subjects, for all of which he 
must find room. The object of these notes is simply 
to direct attention to the fact that Potatos should not 
follow Potatos, nor Peas after Peas, although any of 
these crops miy be allowed to follow the other. 
During the present month and part of the last, vacant 
pieces of ground are, and have been, occurring by the 
cutting of Cabbages, Cauliflowers, Lettuces, the lifting 
of Potatos, Shallots, Onions, and so forth, all of which 
ground should be planted again with something. As 
Potatos are dug, some of the earlier kinds of Cauli¬ 
flower, or Cabbages for Coleworts should immediatelv 
occupy the ground. These will afford useful vegetables 
for late autumn and winter use. Lettuce, Endive, 
Radishes, and other crops of that nature may profitably 
occupy small pieces of ground. Plantations of Straw¬ 
berries that should now be made without delay where 
sufficient ground may be had, may follow any of the 
above crops. If the ground has not been trenched for 
a considerable number of years, it would be much 
benefited by trenching two spades deep, loosening up 
the soil in the bottom, but bringing as little of the 
bad soil on the top as possible. Allow the soil to 
settle and then plant. Cropping in this energetic 
manner prevents weeds from seeding and needlessly 
filling the ground, giving rise to no end of labour for 
years to come in clearing it. 
Turnips. 
For table use these are most appreciated when large 
enough, and before they get old, spongy and tasteless. 
This soon happens in the case of garden Turnips com¬ 
pared with Swedish Turnips which are grown in the 
field, and are fit for use till spring by those who like 
them. Owing to the superabundant rain the garden 
kinds are plentiful and good, but cannot be expected 
to remain so throughout the winter. A sowing made 
now will have time to make considerable growth before 
winter, and should the latter not be very severe, the 
plants will keep growing slowly throughout and be fit 
for use in spring. The exact time when they will be 
ready depends, of course, upon the nature of the 
weather. Should the autumn remain open there is yet 
a good length of time to make considerable progress 
before November. White Stone and Yellow Finland 
are good useful kinds that may be depended upon at 
this season of the year, as well as some of the newer 
kinds. 
Potting Strawberries. 
There are few that attempt the cultivation of Straw¬ 
berries in pots outside of establishments where pro¬ 
fessional skill is employed ; but this need not deter 
the amateur from trying his hand if he has a sprinkling 
of knowledge of plant culture under glass. If he 
knows how to grow greenhouse plants with tolerable 
success, and possesses a few shelves near the roof of his 
greenhouse, he may have a quantity of ripe fruit before 
the outdoor crops are ready. If he has a few dozens of 
plants that have been layered in small pots, they may 
be shifted into 32’s before the end of this month, so as 
to give them time to become thoroughly established 
before winter. After potting in rich soil they may be 
stood out of doors again till the advent of severe 
weather. 
--- 
HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 
That was a well-tuned note on this useful class of 
decorative plants which “ Caledonian ” gave in a recent 
issue. Like most of the contributions from his pen, 
it contained practical information, which is of the 
greatest value to those who are seeking knowledge. 
Having had eleven years experience with a very large 
collection of herbaceous plants, I may say that I was 
struck with “Caledonian’s” idea of converting apiece of 
wet waste land into a herbaceous border, and shall 
adopt it the first opportunity I have of doing so. I can 
imagine what grand spikes he would have of Delphi¬ 
niums ; grand clumps of Potentillas and things of that 
class in a damp situation such as he mentions. Having 
had to grow our large collection on a hot, gravelly soil, 
with a bed of gravel underneath, I know to my cost the 
amount of labour and thought it takes to keep them 
going, in a hot, dry summer like the last. Watering 
was constantly the order of the day, and in addition to 
this, we gave two very heavy mulchings with coco-fibre 
refuse and old spent Mushroom-bed manure ; but with 
all this, the plants were not kept in such a thriving 
condition as they would be under such conditions as 
“ Caledonian ” speaks of. 
I presume that “Caledonian” has many of the 
Spirreas, and, no doubt, the beautiful S. palmata and 
S. p. alba. The latter is lovely in our garden just now 
at the foot of a rock bank ; indeed, both do grandly in 
this position, as does also the lovely S. astilboides. 
Should “Caledonian” not have tried these in his 
border I would advise him to do so, as they would 
thrive well in such a situation. I imagine before me a 
sight such as he will have, no doubt, with the tall 
late-blooming Phloxes, Pentstemons, the perennial 
Sunflowers, Michaelmas Daisies, &c., all treasures in 
themselves, and doubtless at home in such a climate 
and situation as “ Caledonian’s.” 
We cannot grow the autumn-blooming Phlox with 
any dpgree of satisfaction. Water and mulch them as 
we may in a dry season, they are at the very best poor, 
only last but a brief period, and get eaten up with 
thrip. It is the hot dry air and light soil which they 
do not like. It is in the cool moist climate of the 
north where these are seen to perfection, and nothing 
is more beautiful.— Con. 
fARDENING MISCELLANY. 
The Fruiting Duck-weed. 
Such is the name sometimes applied to Nertera 
depressa, which has, however, no real affinity with the 
Duckweed of our ponds and ditches, and which has 
very rarely been observed either to flower or fruit, at 
least in this country, although a natiye. The subject 
of this note, known also as the Bead Plant, is a member 
of the same natural order as the Coffee. When seen in 
good condition, a well-fruited plant is a very attractive 
object, and has induced many to undertake its cultiva¬ 
tion ; but although it has been in this country since 
1868 we more frequently see it in a bad state of health 
or else entirely fruitless than otherwise. Many would- 
be growers subject it to a temperature that is altogether 
injuriously high. When the creeping stems are divided 
in spring and stuck over the surface of pots or pans, a 
moderately high temperature is beneficial for a time till 
re-established ; but after then a cool airy atmosphere, 
where the light is subdued, is essential to flowering and 
fruiting. A liberal amount of water is also necessary 
during the growing period. About six species are 
known, but at present this is the only one that has 
been introduced. They are natives of mountains, N. 
depressa coming from the Antarctic uplands. There 
are some specimens in fine condition in the Rhododen¬ 
dron house at Pendell Court, Bletchingley, where the 
conditions have been highly suitable. 
Campanula fragilis. 
As a trailing plant for growing in a hanging basket, 
there are few more beautiful subjects than this, which 
is, however, but little grown. This is much to be 
regretted, seeing that it is so easily managed, like so 
many other members of the genus. C. fragilis likes to 
be potted in sandy loam, not to be disturbed too often 
as its roots are very brittle, and to be protected from 
severe frosts in winter. It likes to be well supplied 
with water and to have the assistance of liquid manure 
when making its flowering shoots ; also to have an airy 
position and no coddling. When recently passing 
down Victoria Road, Aldershot, I saw hanging in the 
front porch of one of the villas, a plant of C. fragilis in 
a basket about 12 ins. across, with drooping shoots from 
1 ft. to 2 ft. long, which were literally covered with its 
beautiful blue flowers.— Con. 
Frame Cucumbers. 
Which is what ? This was the exclamation I made 
when going through the Cucumber house at the Priory, 
Warwick. Mr. Greenfield has the following five 
varieties under cultivation, and I carefully looked 
over them to see if I could detect any difference 
between them. They were Cardiff Castle, Perpetual 
Bearer, Stourbridge Glory, White Ne Plus Ultra, and 
Sharpe’s Epicurean. Probably Mr. Greenfield, who 
is constantly among them, can perceive points of 
difference between them that I could not distinguish, 
and they all seemed to me to be good strains of Tele¬ 
graph—nothing more. In habit of growth, size, shape,- 
and colour of the leaves and fruit, they appeared to 
be identical. But perhaps others can see a difference 
in them which I am unable to discover. — Visitor. 
The “ Plumbugger.” 
Save us from the infliction of this horrible thing 
(p. 776), even though it may take no worse form than 
that of a name ! The Colorado beetle would be bad 
enough; but a “ Plumbugger ! ” However, I maybe 
able to throw some light on what was meant. I have 
found that manufacturers of what they consider popular 
names—prompted, perhaps, by the same ideas that make 
persons talk idiotic nonsense to a child, or broken 
English assisted by violent gesticulations to a Frenchman 
—often twist the scientific name into something worse 
than meaningless, and call the parody a popular name. 
In the present case the “Plumbugger” is possibly the 
vulgar of Plumbago, and the notion of the resemblance 
of a Geranium to it would not be very far-fetched. A 
good head of Plumbago rosea var. coccinea, or the 
turning or older flowers of P. Larpentse, if the crimson 
of the Geranium had a bluish tint, would represent it. 
Market growers are untiring in the manufacture of 
home-made names for plants, and which generally have 
the merit of being brief. I once received an invoice 
from a market grower, every line of which was of the 
home-made description—viz., “Tubies” (Tuberoses), 
“Steff” (Stephanotis), “ Pellies ” (Pelargoniums), 
“ Calcies ” (Calceolarias), “Fusies” (Fuchsias), &c. 
So far all was plain sailing, but there were some double 
Fuchsias. How were they to be particularised ? But 
