December 22, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
259 
and fast line laid down on which to proceed. I 
believe in suiting the arrangement so far as we can 
with the material at our disposal to the varied sur¬ 
roundings. We shall never find two rooms alike—the 
windows, niches, pedestals, epergnes, vases, and other 
ornamental designs in glass, pottery-ware, rushes, 
shavings and wicker-work, manufactured in numberless 
forms and colours, oftentimes made rather to sell than 
for usefulness—so that it is really a matter of taste and 
judgment on the part of the person on whom devolves 
the duty of arrangement, what best suits the purpose 
and position. 
The amount of glass we have will rule us as to the 
extent we can meet the demand and indulge in our 
object, because nearly all of our plants require pro¬ 
tection through some part of the year, and especially 
is this the case with all our fine foliage plants and 
most of the Ferns. The latter I think we must place 
first for their usefulness, attraction, and beauty, for 
who does not admire the graceful and refreshing 
appearance they possess ? Their good-natured adapta¬ 
bility suits almost any position assigned them. We 
can command the approval of the ladies when there is 
an abundance of Fern in arranging flowers and plants, or 
when as single specimens they are placed in favourite 
positions. The Adiantums stand well to the front for 
this purpose, A. cuneatum scutum, A. Williamsii and 
A. Capillus-Veneris suiting for small vases ; then Pteris 
argyrea, P. serrulata, P. cretica and P. tremula, also 
several Lomarias and Davallias, are among the most 
useful, and can be grown in the greenhouse, though 
they will flourish and develop themselves to greater 
size and beauty in the warm stove or fernery. 
In the stove and greenhouse we have a large selection 
of Crotons and Dracienas in variety, though these 
should not be allowed to stand long, as, delighting in 
an abundance of light and heat, they soon lose their 
foliage. Pandanus Veitchii can do good service, and 
then we have many really good Palms, such as Cocos 
Weddelliana, Euterpe edulis, Geonoma gracilis, Kentia 
australis and sapida, Areca aurea, Phoenix reclinata and 
rupicola, and Latania borbonica. For constant change— 
which is very desirable for the health of plants, as well 
as for carrying out the motto that “ Variety is the 
essence of life, and gives it all its flavour”—may 
be mentioned Azaleas indica and A. mollis, Camellias, 
Aspidistra lurida variegata, Coronilla, Cytisus, Aralia 
Sieboldii, Ficus elastica, Hydrangeas, Grevilleas, 
Solanums, Richardias or Callas, Rhododendrons, 
Isolepis gracilis, for small vases and edging ; Primulas, 
Cinerarias, Spiraeas, Deutzias, and Tulips. 
Last, but not least, the Chrysanthemum adapts 
itself as an all-round decorative plant. To show off 
our plants to the best advantage, the soil surfaces 
should be covered. For this purpose use Selaginellas of 
the Kraussiana type, dibbled in the soil soon after the 
plants are potted. This gives a fine appearance to the 
plants while indoors or on the stages. Some may object 
to this method, but I have not seen any ill results to 
the plants through adopting it. Where this is not 
grown, or if it be thought objectionable, Saxifraga 
caespitosa is a useful substitute, and growing, as it will, 
in any corner of the garden with little attention, I 
would heartily recommend it to anyone who has deco¬ 
rative work to do. Let me say here that I believe a 
fortnight indoors is long enough for most plants 
that are intended to be used from time to time, though 
where one season’s plants are in hand, have attained 
full maturity, and are not required for future use, they 
may stand a longer period ; but experience of plants 
and positions will be the safest guide. 
A great deal of our success depends on the way we 
grow our plants for this purpose, because unless we 
have the proper size and height to suit the position, 
our arrangement must be more or less out of harmony, 
and will afford room for criticism and remark, spoiling, 
to a large extent, the good feeling it should be our 
main duty to foster, for in place of the “ Oh ! how 
beautiful!” and kindred notes of satisfaction—always 
welcome to the ear, and encouraging to the heart in the 
midst of the wear and tear of life—there may crop up a 
sort of neutral spirit, giving the impression that after 
all we read, hear, and see, gardening is, in a great 
measure, an expensive affair, with little recompense- 
brought on from a want of tact, energy, thought, and 
judgment on the part of gardeners. I know how 
keenly many of us prize the plants we grow, and the 
thought of this or that favourite, carried away indoors 
to suffer the premature loss of foliage and flowers, creates 
quite a struggle within ; yet it behoves us to make these 
sacrifices continually when the happiness and grati¬ 
fication of our employers are in the balance together 
with our interests and the welfare of our profession. 
Those gardeners who have ample room to grow many 
plants of the same variety will not feel these losses 
so acutely as others with more restricted space. 
Plants grown in pots measuring from 5 ins. to 8 ins. 
I find the most serviceable. These sizes will generally 
hold plants sufficiently large to fill the positions allotted 
them, though occasionally much larger ones can be 
utilised, especially when the foliage or flowers are in 
such profusion as to hide the pot, and command 
admiration. It is quite possible to grow really fine 
plants in small pots, and keep them in good health 
for a long period, by careful watering, to which may be 
added from time to time a little weak manure-water 
when their pots are full of roots. To this treatment 
they respond readily, but the details as to growth and 
previous management of the various plants enumerated 
does not come within my subject. Still, it may be 
well to bear in mind that success will depend upon the 
degree of perfection we can attain in symmetry of 
growth, quantity and quality of foliage and flowers, 
healthy and vigorous throughout. To the same extent 
may we expect our work and attention to be appreci¬ 
ated, not forgetting the gradual hardening-off process 
to all plants that have been subjected to heat, in order 
to meet the temperature of the rooms for which they are 
intended. Hanging baskets of Ferns are useful for 
special occasions, though for general use the dry atmo¬ 
sphere of rooms proves very detrimental to them. 
Table decoration calls forth all the skill and taste a 
person possesses, but oftentimes taste is a very unre¬ 
liable hand-maid, dressing herself in all varieties of 
colours ; and even in those for whose gratification we 
labour, taste is often very fickle—in fact, fashion is the 
goddess before whom successful table decorators must 
bow. The blending of suitable colours has much to do 
with table work. We have seen tables bearing all 
sorts of flowers, there being apparently no thought 
exercised as to the propriety of discriminate^ filling 
centre-pieces, vases or small glasses with the choicest 
flowers at hand. I am convinced by experience that 
one or two distinct colours make the most effective 
display, except perhaps in the case of Roses, for this 
flower heads the list, and whatever the colour may be, 
provided their own foliage be used, they generally 
command admiration. Camellias also stand high ; the 
pure white, or white mixed with red looks beautiful. 
Allamandas are noble flowers, set off with Maidenhair 
Fern, and relieved with any pure white flower ; scarlet 
and white zonal Pelargoniums make a good striking 
table, and a display of beautiful white Chrysanthemums 
on a maroon cloth, with slips to be removed when 
dessert is brought forward, though, perhaps, a some¬ 
what old arrangement, still proves a decided and 
welcome change ; Gloxinias, Stephanotis, Azaleas, 
Bouvardias, Marguerites, and for pendulous work 
Lapagerias and Passifloras. Poinsettias for laying on 
the cloth or on moss, or arranging in vases are very 
acceptable. Of spring flowers Snowdrops, Daffodils, 
Primroses, and Tulips, each in turn form pretty 
arrangements, placing the spring flowers in beds and 
clumps of woodland moss or Saxifrage, having their own 
foliage to set them off. 
So far, I have alluded principally to flowers, hut 
foliage must also take a prominent part. Light 
feathery grasses which may be gathered and dried in 
autumn will assist us when flowers are scarce, and 
what is usually known as tracing or laying out designs 
on the cloth, with neat and even foliage, such as the 
common wood Ferns, small pointed-leaved Ivies, the 
current season’s growth of Yews, autumn foliage of 
Ampelopsis Veitchii and Azalea mollis, Adiantum 
cuneatum, A. Capillus-Yeneris, and Panicum varie- 
gatum for the maroon cloth especially. Holly leaves 
and berries for Christmas, Coleus leaves for edging 
centre-pieces and ornaments on the table, and also 
Yine-leaves, are not to be despised, those of Lady 
Downes and Gros Colmar affording pleasing tints for 
this purpose. The plumy growths of Asparagus 
plumosus nanus must not be overlooked, as without doubt 
it is one of the most beautiful additions for this work. 
With such an array of good things before us, table 
decoration would lose much of its difficulty ; but, un¬ 
fortunately, plants and space to grow them are often 
wanting, and we have to construct an arrangement with 
meaner subjects. 
For shooting parties the forests will supply materials 
applicable to the occasion, such as the foliage of Maples, 
the common Oak with its Acorns, or points of various 
Conifers may be utilised. For family rejoicings, mottoes 
and congratulations may be worked in flowers—in fact, 
there will be a constant flow of ideas and improvements 
that should be noted, thereby allowing frequent change 
of design. On no account must we forget that careful 
and neat arrangement is indispensable ; never let it be 
a hurried job. If possible, have a well-defined object 
before your mind, and throughout let correctness of 
measurement and equality of size be the marked 
feature. My subject is far from being exhausted, but 
I must conclude by urging that as gardeners we should 
not forget the important part we have to play in the 
drama of life—how it falls to our lot to animate, afford 
pleasure and thought, and call forth the high appre¬ 
ciation of the beautiful, thereby planting a deeper and 
lasting love for the production of nature’s beauties in 
the breasts of our esteemed employers, and ever striving 
to assist nature to put on her choicest dress, certain 
that to whatever extent we succeed, so far are we pro¬ 
moting the welfare and extension of our profession. 
-- 
BERRY-BEARING PLANTS. 
I cannot help thinking that berry-bearing plants are 
sadly neglected, their place being far too often taken 
up by worthless and already too common shrubs and 
trees. Of course, where plenty of space is at command 
Privets and such-like plants are quite suitable, and for 
certain purposes of great value, but what I want 
particularly to note is this, that in small gardens and 
lawns only trees and shrubs of interest and value should 
be widely cultivated. They arc as easy of culture, 
quite as readily procured, and a hundred times more 
pleasing and valuable than many commonly seen 
shrubbery occupants. The following are a few of the 
best berry-bearing shrubs, with colour of fruit ap¬ 
pended :— 
Pyrus Aria, red and gold. 
Crataegus Pyracantha Lelandii, deep red. 
Hippophae Rhamnoides, yellow. 
Daphne Mezereon alba, white. 
Skimmia japonica, red. 
Symphoricarpus racemosus, white. 
Berberis Aquifolia, deep purple. 
Euonymus Europaeus, red and yellow. 
Arbutus Unedo, large, and red-cheeked. 
Cotoneaster (various;, red and pink. 
Ilex Aquifolium fructo-aureum, golden yellow. 
Yiburnum Opulus (single-flowered) light crimson. 
— A. D. TVcbster. 
- — >X<- - 
otes from Scotland. 
Useful Zonal Pelargoniums. — In any 
structure from which damp can easily be expelled by 
artificial heat Pelargoniums make a brilliant display. 
The Rev. H. Atkinson and Henry Jacoby are among 
the best I have seen for autumn and winter use ; 
with others (white and pink) they are very telling 
during the short dark days, being remarkable for size, 
and retaining their petals well to the last. The first 
named I have found more suitable than Henry Jacoby 
for planting out in flower gardens. Little David 
appears to be about the freest flowering kind, as well 
as the hardiest we possess. It retained its brilliancy 
well into November, and even early in this month 
it was not unsightly, as its foliage was a dense mass 
of deep green, and perfectly fresh. A collection 
of the newer Ivy-leaved kinds are of special merit for 
decoration at this season. Grown in baskets where 
they can hang down a yard or more they attract 
attention, and branches of them are very serviceable to 
mix with cut flowers. For the decoration of rooms 
they are invaluable—when grown naturally, of course— 
and not set upon “crutches” to deform them.— 
Caledonian. 
Pine Apples at the Edinburgh Chrysan¬ 
themum Show. —“ Caledonian,” in his remarks 
in your last issue, hints that it would be interesting for 
the readers of The Gardening World to know if I 
use Thomson’s Vine and Plant Manure with the soil 
when potting our Pines, and if so in what quantity ? 
I must say that we use the Vine Manure very liberally 
for our Pines, and have done so for the last three years 
with the best results. When potting the suckers and 
fruiters we use about a 6-in. potful of the manure to 
every barrow-load of soil, and as soon as the plants show 
fruit, we take off a few of the bottom leaves, and remove 
any surface soil that is not made use of by the roots. We 
then fill up the pot with fresh loam, adding about a- 
third of the Vine manure to the compost, and this 
treatment seems to greatly help the plants in swelling 
the fruit, and keeps them in a robust healthy state. I 
consider this manure a real boon to gardeners, as all 
plants and crops that I know of are benefited very 
much by its use .—David Murray, Culzcan Cardens, 
Maybole. 
