October 17, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
97 
WHAT IS A HARDY 
PERENNIAL ? 
In answer to the enquiry of a “ Lover of Hardy 
Flowers,” I am sorry to say that at the present 
moment I do not know. I have had a number of 
years’ experience in growing, exhibiting, and judging 
them, and I thought I did know, but the judging at 
Chiswick last week has shown me that I am wrong ; 
whether the judging was right is another question. 
I was under the impression that a plant that can 
stand out without any protection for more than two 
years and flower yearly was a hardy perennial, in 
contradistinction to annuals and biennials. 
Now, as to the judging ; in the eighteen that took 
the first prize there was a bunch of a seedling 
Pentstemon. I never knew that this was considered 
a hardy plant; mine certainly all died last winter. I 
should have disqualified that entry. The next col¬ 
lection of eighteen was disqualified for showing 
Liliums. I maintain that the exhibitor was justified 
in so doing, but should have been disqualified for 
showing a single spike of L. auratum ; perennials are 
always shown in bunches, by which I understand 
three or more spikes. The third eighteen was the 
one that ought to have received the medal; that col¬ 
lection was quite in order. As regards the twelves, 
as I previously remarked, if Colchicum variegatum 
is not a hardy perennial, I am most anxious to know 
what it is. The other twelve that received the 
second prize ought certainly to have been disquali¬ 
fied for showing the fruiting spikes of the Cape 
Gooseberry (Physalis). I cannot see how that could 
be considered to represent a bunch of flowers. The 
eight was quite in order. I am glad the question 
has been raised as it ought to be, settled once and for 
all.— W. Marshall, Auchinraith, Bexley. 
I was much amused that a correspondent should, 
under existing and very peculiar circumstances have 
invited the excellent chairman of the Floral Com¬ 
mittee of the Royal Horticultural Society to define 
what is a Hardy Perennial. I think it is prob¬ 
able Mr. Marshall's reply would be, " Prior to the 6th 
instant I thought I knew, but now I don’t know, 
neither do I think any one else can give a satisfactory 
answer.” 
It is very evident that when such an excellent 
authority as Mr. Marshall finds his box of twelve 
bunches of hardy flowers disqualified because one 
bunch is composed of flowers of a Colchicum, or 
autumn Crocus, one of the very hardiest and most 
persistent of all garden bulbs, there must be some 
very varied ideas as to what is a hardy perennial 
afloat. That the Colchicum is hardy cannot be 
disputed. The same may be said of most of the 
Lily roots, and many other bulbs also. No one 
who grows Colchicums probably takes the trouble to 
lift the bulbs regularly after the foliage dies down. 
It is far more likely that every one allows the bulbs 
to remain where planted and thus continue to leaf 
and flower for many years. Hence to a certain 
extent the Colchicum is both hardy and perennial. 
But it is evident that in the particular case in 
question, the adverse decision was given not from a 
gardener's but from a botanist’s point of view, and 
therefore we must assume that the botanist does 
not admit bulbs to be perennials. The decision 
looked at hastily seems absurd; still there is ground 
for it. All bulbs so far as my knowledge of them go, 
are annuals (I say so much of course subject tocorrec- 
tion), that is they produce new bulbs from the old 
ones every year, and as both root and growth, even 
though continuous, are yet annual, such things as 
ordinary bulbous plants cannot be classed as peren¬ 
nials. If that be not the reason for excluding Col¬ 
chicums and Liliums then I fail absolutely to 
understand the basis of the Chiswick disqualification. 
— A. D. 
TOP DRESSING VINE 
BORDERS. 
When Vines show signs of failing vigour it is not 
always in the power of the gardener to rcot them 
out, make new borders, and plant young canes, 
though evidently that is the best course to pursue 
where it can be done; but where the bunches are 
small a good deal can be accomplished by training 
in young rods and top dressing the borders. The 
non-colouring and shanking of Grapes is in my 
opinion due to ineffective root action, though I admit 
that both evils may also result from oyer-cropping, 
but a case that lately came under my notice inclines 
to the correctness of the former supposition as to the 
cause of non-colouring and shanking. 
In a lean-to house situated in a garden that stands 
high and dry above the surrounding ground the rods 
are much crowded, quite half want cutting out, 
but as it is the custom to sell the produce, quantity 
stands before quality. The vines are planted in an 
inside border, with the opportunity to root outside 
as well. The Black Hamburghs were rather small in 
the berry, but well coloured, considering the heavy 
crop they carried ; but if that vinery were situated in 
a low-lying garden with a wet cold subsoil, I do not 
know what the crop would have been like this wet 
summer ; as the excessive rainfall saturated, and in 
some instances stagnated, vine borders situated on 
clay, consequently many roots rot instead of perform¬ 
ing their proper functions towards shoots and 
bunches. 
When the Lambton Grapes were so famous some 
years ago, I was surprised to read in one of the 
Gardening papers an account of the thousands of 
gallons of water that was applied to those borders ; 
evidently the drainage was good, probably the bor¬ 
ders were on gravel; and it may be due to the hilly 
and rocky formation of Scotland that such splendid 
Grapes are produced there. 
If the surface of borders are now pricked over 
carefully with a fork and receive a top dressing of 
fibrous loam and finely crushed bones, they will be 
greatly benefited, as that will induce the formation 
of young fibres near the surface, and when the 
leaves begin to fall cover the outside borders with 
those of the Oak, Beech, or Spanish Chestnut to a 
depth of two or three feet, sloping from the vinery, 
thatching with straw or long litter to prevent the 
leaves blowing about. Such a covering will keep 
the border warm, and ward off the cold rains, frosts, 
and snow that we may experience during the winter. 
The covering should be removed when warm weather 
sets in. I have removed it in May and utilised the 
material for making up beds for Vegetable Marrows. 
Do not clear it off too close as I have generally found 
that the young fibres have started working into it 
when they have not received a top dressing of loam. 
Another thing very detrimental to the well being 
of Vines is the cropping of the borders; in some 
instances we find them carrying a crop of early 
Potatos or turned into a flower border, by planting 
such soil exhausting things as Dahlias, and other 
rampant growing subjects, and after they are cleared 
off the border receives a coat of manure, which is 
dug in with the spade 1 Poor fibres ; but such culti¬ 
vation is absolutely necessary to cope with the 
requirements in many instances. In my own case I 
am glad to utilise the borders for early Lettuce, 
Radishes, etc. I do not believe in it—the practice is 
bad; but we cannot always render unto Vines the 
conditions they ought to receive and which are 
necessary for the production of first-class Grapes.— 
George Potts, Herondon Hall Gardens, Tenterden, Kent. 
' 
SCOTTISH NOTES. 
The Education of Gardeners. —We are exceed¬ 
ingly pleased to learn that the Horticulture class 
at the Heriot-Watt College, Edinburgh, which 
was instituted in 1888, continued the following year, 
but for want of support had to be dropped in 1890, 
has been re-instituted, and we hope will now go on 
and prosper. The lecturer, Dr. J. H. Wilson, 
formerly of St. Andrew’s, is now located at the 
Edinburgh Botanic Garden, a circumstance that will 
be of the greatest benefit to the class in keeping the 
students together. The class meets on Fridays, 
7.15 to 8.15 p.m., commencing Friday, October 16, 
and terminating March 19, 1892. “ A Gardener’s 
Training ” will form the subject of the introductory 
lecture. 
The lines to be followed in the course are briefly 
indicated in the following syllabus:—Good and Bad 
Soils—The plants which grow on them naturally. 
The effects of cultivation on the soil and on the 
plant. The introduction and “acclimatisation" of 
exotics. Vegetables, Fruits, and Flowers.—The 
history, uses, and peculiarities of varieties commonly 
grown. A Flowering Plant.—Its structure and life 
history. Conditions conducive to healthy growth. 
Natural and Artificial Regeneration of the Soil. 
Diseases of Garden Crops.—Methods of prevention 
and cure. Choice of Site for a Garden.—The 
Physiography and Climatology of the Garden. 
Landscape Gardening—its various Schools. Land 
Surveying.—The application of Geometry, Mensu¬ 
ration, and Levelling in the Laying-out of Grounds. 
Hothouses.—Their design, construction, and uses. 
Heating and Ventilating.—Culture of Culinary 
Vegetables. — Growing for Market. Culture of 
Fruits.—Pruning, Thinning, and Training. Culture 
of Herbaceous and Pot Plants. Principles of Pro¬ 
pagation.—Cuttings, Layers, and Grafts. Sports. 
The Fertilisation of Flowers. The reproduction of 
Ferns and Selaginellas. The " improvement ” of 
Plants by hybridisation and selection. A Review of 
the Progress of Horticulture.—A gardener’s edu¬ 
cation. Horticulture as a recreation. Town 
Gardens. School Gardens. 
Scottish Horticultural Association.—A meet¬ 
ing of this association was held on the 6th inst., Mr. 
W. Welsh presiding. There was a good attendance 
Mr. P. W. Fairgrieve, Dunkeld, read a communi¬ 
cation on “Shrubs: their cultivation and arrange¬ 
ment.” Discussing the preparation of the ground, 
he urged that it should be first of all well drained, 
then trenched thoroughly, and, if possible, depth 
should be added to it during the process. If the soil 
was poor it shold be manured, and for American 
plants peat and sand should be added. Mr. Fair¬ 
grieve then touched on the various modes of arrang¬ 
ing shrubs, and described the varieties which seemed 
to him the best suited for each style, and in this con¬ 
nection remarked that, thanks to Scottish nurserymen 
at no time could so many choice and beautiful shrubs 
be obtained so cheaply as now. Coming to the sub¬ 
ject of pruning, he declared it most important not to 
prune or shorten more than one-third of the shoots 
at one time. By this means, he said, the plants 
would be kept flowering every year and not in ex¬ 
cess ; secondly, they would be kept in shape and 
prevented from getting bare ; and thirdly, the size of 
the flowers would be improved, and the plant would 
not be able to overflower itself, while an annual dis¬ 
tribution of fine, young, healthy wood would be 
created. Some discussion followed Mr. Fairgrieve’s 
paper. A small exhibition of plants and fruits was 
on view during the evening, including a Magnolia 
grandiflora, Exmouth var., which has only flowered 
twice in fifty years, sent by Dr. Paterson, Bridge of 
Allan; and a fine Crinum Moorei, sent by Mrs. 
Lyle, North Berwick. A Dracaena (Duchess of 
Portland) and an Asparagus plumosus cristata, from 
Messrs. Laird & Son, received certificates ; an Apple, 
“ James Grieve," from Messrs. Dicksons & Co., also 
received a certificate. Mr. John Downie also con¬ 
tributed a stand of very fine seedling tuberous 
Begonias. 
Hawick Horticultural Mutual Improvement 
Association.— The usual monthly meeting was held 
on Friday last, Mr. Geo. Wood presiding. Mr. S. 
Johnstone, gardener, Sillerbithall, read a paper on 
“ Vegetables of to-day, and how .to grow them." 
There was a large muster of members present, as Mr. 
Johnstone is a well-known and successful grower of 
vegetables. The paper proved to be one of the 
best of the session, and met with a very favourable 
reception. To illustrate his subject, Mr. Johnstone 
had the following vegetables on the tables in prime 
condition. Brussels sprout — President Carnot ; 
Beet—-Pragnel’s Exhibition ; Cauliflower—Eclipse, 
and Dean’s Snowball; Cabbage—Winningstad; Celery 
—New Yellow and Dobbie's Red ; Carrot—Wrench's 
Main Crop ; Cucumber — Lockie’s Perfection; 
Marrow—Johnstone's Golden Drop; Tomato—Per¬ 
fection ; Turnips—Golden Ball and Petrowskii ; 
Onions—Ailsa Craig and Ruckston ; Leeks, Peas, 
Beans, etc., in all twenty-seven varieties. Mr. 
Johnstone was heartily thanked for his valuable con¬ 
tribution. 
The Royal Horticultural Society of Perth¬ 
shire (Literary Branch). —The monthy meeting 
of this society was held on the 7th inst., Mr. Gallo¬ 
way, Ballendrick, in the chair. Mr. Fender, Culto- 
quhey, read an interesting and practical paper on 
•' Growing Vegetables.” Being a very successful 
grower of vegetables himself, Mr. Fender was able 
to give some useful hints as to the manner in which 
the many different sorts ought to be treated, both 
for exhibition and kitchen use, including particulars 
as to soils, manures, and time for sowing and plant¬ 
ing. After the reading of the paper, a friendly dis¬ 
cussion took place amongst the members, when 
regret was expressed that, considering the great 
benefits to be derived from the meetings, they were 
not more taken advantage of by gardeners and others 
in the district. A hearty vote of thanks having 
been awarded Mr. Fender, the meeting was brought 
to a close. We understand the next meeting will be 
held on November 4, when a paper will be read by 
Mr. Cfopcher, gardener at Ochtertyre, on Coniferae. 
