890 
THE GABDENING WOBLD. 
February 16, 1889. 
The Amateurs' Garden. 
Cuttings of Bedding Plants. 
In many cases there will be a deficiency in the number 
of cuttings required for bedding out. The winter has 
been comparatively mild and damp, with the frequent 
recurrence of fogs, so that in greenhouses where no fire- 
heat has been used except to expel frost, many of the 
cuttings struck in autumn as well as old plants will be 
found to have damped off. There is yet, however, 
plenty of time to obtain a sufficient number by propa¬ 
gation. Get some pans or boxes, and after draining 
them well, fill with light sandy soil, placing them over 
the flue or as near the hot-water pipes as can con¬ 
veniently be done, while the cuttings are favourably 
situated with regard to light. Make the soil moderately 
firm, and after properly preparing cuttings of Pelar¬ 
goniums, Lobelias, and similar things, insert them 
firmly, and water down with a rose watering-pot. 
Strong heat is by no means requisite provided care is 
exercised in watering, neither keeping the soil sodden nor 
yet too dry. A square of glass may be placed over the 
Lobelias. The rooting process will not be so quick 
as where there is a proper pit for the purpose, but it 
will be none the less sure. Seeds of the Golden Feather 
if sown now will have time to attain a good size before 
they are required for bedding-out. It grows very 
slowly compared with most other kinds of plants used 
for the same purpose, and should therefore be sown 
in advance of them. 
Pruning Window Plants. 
It is the experience of many that window plants soon 
get too large for the space provided for their accommoda¬ 
tion, and tend greatly to darken the room when they get 
tall and crowded. At certain times of the year they get 
scarcely enough of ventilation, while the weather is 
sufficiently mild to keep them growing. Another 
thing is that amateurs, as a rule, are afraid to handle 
the knife when it might be done with great advantage 
to the plant, as well as to the greater convenience of 
the owner. The Jiest time to effect this necessary 
pruning is in spring, before the plants start into fresh 
growth. The buds are now moving in most cases, and 
the sooner that such things as zonal Pelargoniums, 
Fuchsias and Lemon-scented Verbenas are pruned the 
better. If left till a month later it has the effect of 
making the plants late in coming into bloom. The 
buds near the apex of the shoots are always the most 
forward, and after they are pruned away fresh buds 
have to be pushed, which were hitherto resting in a 
dormant condition near the base of the shoots. 
Pelargoniums should be pruned to within a few buds 
of the old wood, leaving some shoots longer if necessary 
to get the plant into a close bushy shape. Lemon- 
scented Verbenas (Aloysia citriodora) should be treated 
much in the same way. There are different ways of 
pruning a Fuchsia, either as a globular or conical bush, 
according to taste ; but large plants never look finer 
than when pruned and trained in pyramidal form. 
The least experienced grower can easily do this himself 
at the present time if he has large plants to operate 
upon. Any irregularities that may occur in the 
perfect outline of the plant may be rectified as the 
shoots grow, by tying some of them into position. 
Pelargoniums should be kept dry some time before 
cutting them down, and until the shoots commence to 
grow again. The others being leafless may be cut at 
once. 
Potting Feens. 
The present is a convenient time to re-pot such of the 
Ferns as require it in the greenhouse. Many of them 
are showing signs of starting into fresh growth, 
and should be potted before the young fronds get far 
advanced, otherwise there is danger of breaking them. 
Before commencing the operation all necessary material 
should be ready to hand, such as compost, clean pots, 
clean crocks, and whatever may be requisite. Where 
the supply of pots is limited it is, of course, necessary 
to frequently wash a batch that has just been emptied 
before the rest can be proceeded with. The matter of 
soil is all important for most kinds of Ferns, and 
unless it be sufficiently porous, many will altogether 
fail to give satisfaction. In some cases it may be con¬ 
venient to order from some salesman the particular 
kind wanted ; but, as a rule, those who have gained a 
certain amount of experience prefer to mix their own 
composts. Most Ferns delight in a fair proportion of 
good fibrous peat, as in the case of Asplenium, Pteris, 
Lomaria, Lastrea, and others. Adiantums will do 
well in loam alone, and if properly managed, the fronds 
will be firmer when so treated. For general purposes, 
however, a good compost will consist of two parts good 
fibrous loam, broken into a lumpy condition, one part 
each of peat and leaf-soil, with a quantity of crocks 
broken rather small, and a good quantity of silver sand 
to keep the whole porous and open. Those who can 
get it would improve their soil considerably by using 
sphagnum chopped up fine, or clipped with the garden 
shears. More loam may be given to the Adiantums. 
In view of the amount of water required during the 
period of growth, the pots should be carefully drained, 
and a layer of moss or sphagnum be placed over the 
crocks, to prevent the soil from being w T ashed down 
amongst the drainage. 
The Hoot-Petticoat Daffodil. 
This is the popular title which has been given to 
Narcissus bulbocodium, with its varieties, several of 
which are so distinct that they have been honoured 
with specific names. The type has been cultivated to a 
greater or less extent in this country since 1629, but 
really ought to be more common than it is. A tuft of 
it on the rockery, with its golden yellow flowers, is an 
object of great beauty, and when the bulbs are undis¬ 
turbed they flower regularly every year. The blooms of 
N. b. citrinus are rather larger than those of the type, 
and sulphur-yellow. For horticultural purposes, the 
above two, together with N. b. monophyllus, are the 
best of the group. The last is somewhat tender out of 
doors, but succeeds well under glass. The whole of 
them are amenable to cultivation in pots, and suc¬ 
ceeding very well, are beautiful and most interesting. 
Azalea pontica, a Good Plant for Town Gardens. 
Mr. James Percival, Smithy Bridge, near Rochdale, 
writing to the Manchester City News, says :—On the 
second Sunday in May of last year, while walking up 
Higher Broughton along with my friend Mr. Thomas 
Rogers, my attention was drawn to a plant of this 
species which contained at least 100 flower buds, which 
would have been developed in a few days, and no doubt 
were a splendid sight, and within a mile and a half of 
the Exchange. I am not aware that there is any other 
plant that will stand the smoke of large towns and 
flower so profusely as this one. The plant has grown 
in the same situation for at least twenty years. Its 
flowers are beautifully formed, and the heads are similar 
to the Rhododendron, but yellow. Some few years ago, 
when the late Mr. Glover lived at Smedley, I recollect 
seeing in his garden plants of this Azalea 6 ft. high 
and the same across, literally loaded with its yellow 
flowers. They are as sweet as the Honeysuckle. I am 
not aware that there are many varieties of this plant. 
There is a white variety mentioned in books, but I have 
never seen it. Another Azalea, called nudiflora, would 
be worth trying with A. pontica, for I think it is, if 
anything, more beautiful, and there are at least a dozen 
distinct varieties, varying in colour from white to 
scarlet, but seldom seen except in old gardens. The 
plants are not very expensive. 
-- 
Gardening ITiscellany, 
Private Market Gardens. 
Upon reading your comments on this subject in last 
week’s issue, it occurred to me that it was not only 
Pines and Peaches from the Duke of Bumpshire that 
plain Jones or Smith had to contend with, as the 
following will show :—A certain gentleman is in the 
habit of keeping a few pigs ; they are fed as all other, 
or mostly all other pigs kept by amateurs are, viz., on 
the waste of the kitchen and garden, and “finished ” on 
barley-meal. When the pigs are ready to be turned 
into pork, they are bought by a local butcher at 12s. 
per score (the market price is 9s.), and when killed, the 
gentleman sends notes to his friends, General Blank, 
Colonel So-and-so, and so on, stating that Butcher 
“Sharpun” has killed one of his pigs, and will be 
pleased to supply them with the pork, &c., &c. Some 
may ask why the butcher pays 3s. extra per score for 
this very ordinary pork, but the reason is obvious, the 
consumers consider the pork fed by their friend Squire 
-is superior to all other, and are content to pay 
from 2d. to 3 d. per lb. more than for that fed by any 
dairyman. I need hardly say it pays the butcher well, 
for no trade mark is put on the pork, and he has only 
to use the name of Squire-to get the extra pence 
per lb. ; but it must be “noted” amongst Mr. -’s 
acquaintances, for ordinary mortals fail to find anything 
superior in the pork in question. Market gardeners 
here have to compete with the Lord of the Manor, 
whose gardens and glass-houses rank amongst the finest 
in the country. His surplus produce is handed over to 
a costermonger, who regularly hawks the town two or 
three times a week with Pines, Grapes, forced vege¬ 
tables, &c., and will not disdain to do a bit in Violets 
and other small flowers, thus robbing to a certain extent 
some of the villagers of the means to earn a few pence 
by utilising their bits of gardens in growing hardy 
flowers for sale.— Fair Play. 
The Brown Man Orchis. 
Orchis fusca is a rare and pretty native plant, one of 
easy culture, and an acquisition to any collection of 
hardy plants. It grows well with me in silky loam, 
with just a little decayed vegetable matter added, and 
flowers freely from year to year. When the flowers 
are fully expanded, the Brown Man Orchis presents a 
most interesting and curious appearance from the 
unusual colouring of the sepals and petals, as also 
the strangely-shaped flowers as a whole. It used to be 
found in some quantity in the southern English 
counties, but alas ! like mauy another of its kind, its 
day is well-nigh past. I should like to hear from any¬ 
one who cultivates it successfully.— A. D. Webster. 
The National Chrysanthemum Society's 
Statement of Accounts. 
I notice in your issue of the 9th inst., in the report 
of the annual meeting of this society, under “receipts,” 
that the Sheffield and Hallamshire Gardeners’ Mutual 
Improvement Society is credited with having paid 
£102 9s. I rather doubt the payment, especially since 
I, as honorary secretary to the Sheffield and West 
Riding Chrysanthemum Society, hold receipts for the 
like sum. It is also worthy to note that the Hallam¬ 
shire Society is not affiliated to -the N. C. S. I think 
it is the duty of the compiler of the accounts to explain 
the matter, and at least to give credit to the society 
from whom the amount has been exacted.— J. W. 
Jarvis, 101, Barber Road, Sheffield. 
In the financial statement recently presented to the 
members of the N. C. Society, I recorded £102 9s. as 
having been received from the Sheffield and Hallam¬ 
shire Society. This is a clerical error ; it should have 
been the Sheffield and West Riding Chrysanthemum 
Society.— William Holmes, February 11th, 1S89. 
Our Native Hellebores. 
For naturalising in semi-wild places our two wild 
species of Hellebores are excellent plants. About a 
good-sized specimen of H. fcetidus there is something 
remarkably noble and taking, particularly when in full 
flower, as it is at present in many of our woods and 
copses. Usually it increases rapidly from seed, indeed 
1 have counted in a square yard of ground fully a 
hundred specimens. When full grown this plant 
reaches a height of 3 ft., and a diameter of spread of 
sometimes twice as much. The stinking Hellebore, as 
H. fcetidus is usually designated, being poisonous, 
should not be planted in positions to which children 
have easy access. H. virides, the green Hellebore, is 
of less stature than the former, with more slender stems, 
and fewer flowers. It is interesting as a British plant, 
and may, for this reason alone, find a suitable place in 
our collections of hardy, rough-growing perennials. 
Generally it is of slower increase than the better-known 
H. fcetidus, and rarer as a wild plant.— A. D. Webster. 
“Some Curiosities of Diet.” 
The following extract is from an article by Dr. Crespi, 
in a recent number of the National Review, and can 
hardly fail to be read with interest by the gardener of 
to-day:—How much of the greater vigour and better 
health of our times is due to more wholesome food 
would be an interesting question to discuss ; and that 
a well-arranged dietary has a great deal to do with the 
increasing longevity of our generation cannot be denied. 
As recently as the time of Queen Elizabeth vegetables 
were little cultivated, and still less used ; and some of 
the kinds, which are now seen in every house half-a- 
dozen times a month, were absolutely unknown. The 
breakfast of the Maiden Queen commonly consisted of 
salt meat, bread, and strong ale. It was not till the 
introduction into England of artificial Grasses from 
France that much live-stock could be kept through the 
winter. As lately as 1724 Dr. Cheyne wrote that no 
distemper was more common, fatal, and obstinate than 
scurvy, one of the most easily prevented of all diseases; 
and Dr. Cullen lamented that women, from their 
indoor and sedentary lives, suffered greatly from the 
effects of bad diet. Sir John Hawkins introduced the 
Potato into Ireland in 1565, and twenty years later Sir 
Francis Drake introduced it into England ; and in 
1586 Sir 'Walter Raleigh also brought it over here, but 
two centuries passed before it became a common food. 
Rhubarb is quite of recent introduction, and is said to 
