44 
September 21 , 1895 . 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 
Tomatos. 
In dealing with these early in the season, we gave 
directions for their treatment which, if they have 
been acted upon, should have procured for the 
cultivator good crops. Taking it altogether, the 
summer of 1895 has been a most suitable one for 
Tomato growing, and we question very much if 
heavier crops of better fruit have ever been harvested 
before. Plants which were put out early and got the 
full benefit of the almost tropical weather of June 
and the fore part of July, fruited well and heavily, 
and gave excellent returns for labour expended. 
August was a comparatively wet month it is true, 
although no complaints as to the appearance of the 
disease to any extent have reached us. Now, how¬ 
ever, the season, in so far as it relates to outside plants 
is well nigh over, and we must turn all our atten¬ 
tion to the maturing, as far as possible, of the fruit 
remaining. 
On the higher portions of the early plants, as well 
as upon the lower branches of the later ones, there 
are sure to be several trusses of fruit yet in a green 
state. Naturally enough, the cultivator wishes to 
reap the full reward of his labours, and to ripen as 
much of this fruit as possible. Of course we are 
now at the mercy of the weather in a very great 
degree, for should a severe frost supervene good-bye 
to all farther growth on the part of the plants this 
season, as both plants and fruit are exceedingly 
sensitive to the effects of frost. In that case the 
trusses of fruit may be cut off and hung up in a dry 
room to ripen out of harm's way. Of course, the 
flavour of fruit thus artificially ripened is not so 
good as that which has been matured naturally upon 
the plants, but still it will be found to be very eatable. 
But, supposing that we are fortunate to escape a 
visit from the frost until the end of the present 
month, it is astonishing what an amount of progress 
may be made with a week or two of sunny Septem¬ 
ber weather. 
Let us now see what we can do to assist the plant 
in the natural work of ripening its fruit. First of all 
the water supply may be considerably curtailed. This 
must not be taken to mean that sudden and complete 
drought is to be allowed to overtake the plants, but 
rather that they may be allowed to get drier than 
usual and allowed to remain longer in this state 
before water is given. Feeding with artificial 
manures, if not stopped altogether, may likewise be 
reduced considerably. The foliage should receive a 
rather severe trimming out. We do not mean this 
to convey the idea that the plants should 
be denuded entirely of foliage. Quite recently we 
saw a field full of Tomatos in which the foliage had 
been removed so carefully that there was none at all 
left, and the bare stems, with their few clusters each 
of small fruit, were scattered about the field in a 
sufficiently curious way. Of course, the fruit on 
these ill-treated plants would ripen, but in quality it 
would be little or no better than it would have been 
had it been cut off the plants and ripened within 
doors in the manner previously suggested. A large 
portion of the leaves may be removed, however, 
including, of course, all growths that are not bearing 
fruit. All flower trusses, and the smaller fruits which 
would scarcely be likely to reach any size, may like¬ 
wise be cut clean out, leaving a single stem garnished 
with a few leaves sufficient to carry on the work of 
the plant. 
Indoor Plants. 
The ordinary system of summer treatment may still 
be practised with those plants which, sheltered under 
glass, are independent in a greater degree of the 
weather than are their less favoured relatives out of 
doors. If properly treated, these may be confidently 
expected, in connection with the fruit obtained from 
the outside ones, to keep up a supply until December. 
The lateral growths must now be kept carefully cut 
out, and the fruit as it ripens may be gathered and 
placed in a dry place, where it will keep as well as it 
will upon the plants, whilst the latter are relieved of 
the strain of carrying it. As the nights begin to get 
colder, the house should be shut up early enough to 
imprison a portion of the sun’s rays, and thus keep 
up the temperature through the night. With the 
colder nights, too, less water must be given the 
plants, for, favoured by cold and damp atmospheres, 
the disease usually puts in an appearance some time 
during the autumn. If the house is heated, how¬ 
ever, with hot water pipes, the disease may be kept 
outside easily enough. The plants may be kept until 
well on into the autumn, and until growth appears 
to be nearly or quite at a standstill. Then the 
fruit may be cut off, hung up to ripen, and the plants 
thrown away. By adopting this method of dealing 
with them the most will be got out of the plants, 
and the fruit kept in condition as long as possible. 
Saving Seeds. 
This is an operation to which the majority of 
amateur growers do not pay very much attention, and 
indeed we question very much if there is sufficient 
attaching to it to make it worth while to bother about 
saving seed, as enough for the 'ordinary amateur's 
needs can be purchased from the seedsmen at a com¬ 
paratively trifling cost. Still there is a certain 
amount of satisfaction in the cultivator being able to 
say that “ my plants are produced from seed I saved 
last year.” A good fruit or two should be selected, 
and the seed and the pulp surrounding it taken out 
and washed thoroughly in tepid water. Repeated 
washings will be necessary to cleanse the seed 
properly from all impurities, and afterwards it must 
be dried thoroughly before packing it away. The 
best plan to dry it is to sprinkle it on very fine 
muslin and spread the latter out in full exposure to 
ihe sun’s rays on bright days, keeping this up until 
every particle of moisture has disappeared.— Rex. 
--t-- 
THE BEDDING AT HAMPTON COURT. 
There are few places probably in the country which 
possess such a variety of bedding and such a vast 
assemblage of plants in so limited an area of ground 
as Hampton Court. The sombre Yews, planted in 
straight lines and at regular distance apart, may be 
in keeping with the character and antiquity of the 
place, but they seem in strange contrast to the gay 
assemblage of flowers beneath them. It would be a 
pity if such trees were rooted up, for no such 
another sight is to be seen in London; but the 
flowers in their gaiety and variety appear in direct 
antagonism with the Yews and the places with which 
they are usually associated in the minds of most 
people. As the visitor is walking through the 
grounds, the olfactory nerves are assailed with the 
soft but pleasing fragrance of China Roses, and 
yonder, again, with the clammy though inoffensive 
smell of Petunias, especially when the sun is 
shining upon them. In another quarter the seem¬ 
ingly distant but penetrating sweetness of Helio¬ 
tropes draws the attention to ascertain from whence 
the delicious perfume emanates. As the sun sinks, 
and the evening air becomes cool, the night-scented 
Tobacco plants assert their influence upon those who 
may be quietly strolling over the velvety turf, and all 
unconscious, it may be, of the presence of such 
plants. During the day they offer no particular 
attraction, but behave quite differently in the dewy 
coolness of evening. 
The brightness of day has most attractions for the 
bulk of the visitors, and when the sun is shining 
upon the flowers they then seem to glow most 
brightly and draw the attention of the casual visitor. 
The Pelargoniums are still grown in great abun¬ 
dance, and since the dashing rains again gave place 
to sunshine they have assumed all their previous 
brilliance in the case of the scarlet varieties and the 
crimson Henry Jacoby, which still maintains its 
fioriferous and long-lasting qualities. The rose and 
pink varieties are as fioriferous, but they [are quieter 
in tone, and always bear inspection even while the 
sun is upon them ; but Henry Jacoby, to be enjoyed, 
must be admired from a distance at all times by 
those who have respect for their eyes. Nor do I say 
this in any recriminating spirit, for it is desirable to 
have beds of flowers that will appear gay and effec¬ 
tive as far off as one can easily see them as well as 
close at hand. A quiet bed, for those who admire 
yellow foliage, consists of Crystal Palace Gem, 
mixed with blue Violas. The gray-foliaged varieties 
are also pleasingly attractive, associated as they are 
with the contrasting blue Violas. 
The beds of mixed Fuchsias near the front of the 
Palace appear charming at a short distance off, 
owing to the variety of colour and the gracefully 
suspended flowers. The large plants of Begonia 
worthiana in the same bed are seen to the best 
advantage, because the wealth of flowers has a 
chance of being seen. The large beds of light- 
coloured Fuchsias, mixed with the groundwork, so 
to speak, of large-flowered scarlet Begonias, Sweet 
Alyssum, and pale mauve or lavender Violas, are 
certainly charming, notwithstanding the injurious 
effect exercised by the dry weather upon the Violas 
during the early part of the season. Close by these 
beds, but a little nearer the river, is a most effective 
bed of mixed plants. At a short distance off, 
purple Fuchsias, about 2$ ft. high, seem the most 
predominant occupants of the bed, but on closer 
inspection a wealth of other plants may be noted, 
particularly Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums, Viola Blue¬ 
bell, and a line of crimson tuberous Begonias, 
mixed with small Fuchsias and other subjects, form¬ 
ing as it were an inner edging. The Begonias consist 
of large plants, and hitherto have been most flori- 
ferous. A line of Pelargonium Madame Sallery, 
unusually strong for this variety, forms the outer 
edging. 
Some beds of Begonia worthiana, planted 2 ft. 
apart each way, on a ground of Herniaria, and sur¬ 
rounded by a double line of Iresine Verschaffelti, are 
most effective only when viewed at a short distance, 
but this is certainly the best way of employing all 
varieties with drooping flowers. A large obloDg bed 
of a bicolor Pelargonium, intermingled with Viola 
Bluebell, and surrounded by the bronzy-leaved 
Iresine Herbsti, is as good as a carpet bed when 
seen from a distance, for it then appears a solid 
level-topped mass. Scarlet Begonias and Bluebell 
Viola certainly go well together; and the brilliancy 
of the two are toned down by the gray foliage of the 
Sweet Alyssum. The flowers of the Begonias are as 
large as Shirley Poppies, and more brilliant and fiery 
than the ancestors of the latter, the Corn Poppy. 
A bed of crimson Begonias is the most fioriferous in 
the ground, and large tubers must have been planted, 
for they have overpowered everything else in the 
bed, and nothing else scarcely can be seen but 
Begonias at a short distance off. More space might 
have been given such large plants when the bedding 
was done. I was even more pleased with the dwarfer 
and brighter-coloured scarlet varieties, but that may 
be a matter of taste. I should venture to suggest 
beds of pink or rose-coloured Begonias in place of 
some of the Pelargoniums of those beds so largely 
employed. Variety pure and simple would be my 
motive for the suggestion, for the Pelargoniums, such 
as they are, have certainly done well. 
Several large carpet beds are still maintained in 
orderly and effective condition at Hampton Court, 
and they occupy positions close to the long walk 
running along the front of the Palace towards the 
River Thames. Alternantheras, as usual, make up 
the bulk of their constituents, for few plants are 
more suitable for this purpose. It would be hard to 
say which is best, but one near the north end of the 
Palace is as good as any. It consists of an elevated 
oval in the centre filled with Echeveria Peacocki and 
a central patch of Sempervivum montanum. There 
are four scrolls of Alternanthera magnifica, in the 
shape of points of interrogation, lying in the body of 
the bed, surrounded and separated everywhere with 
a narrow band of variegated Mesembryanthemum. 
At either end of the central oval is a crown-like 
figure of Alternanthera versicolor ; and at the four 
corners are large triangular masses of A. major 
aurea. At either side of the bed is an oblong patch 
of Leucophyton Brownii outlined w’ith Alternanthera 
paronychoides. A few other patches of different 
shapes together with the edging forms a neat and 
attractive arrangement for those who delight in this 
style of gardening. The whole bed is elevated above 
the level of the grass, so that the edge is rather steep 
and formed of a double line of Echeveria set in Sedum 
glaucum. 
Independently of the bedding, one cannot but feel 
delighted with the greenness and velvety character 
of the turf, which feels as if it yielded to the tread of 
the foot. The tall Lime trees with light green 
foliage, and forming the boundary of the grounds, 
stand out in pleasing contrast to the sombre and 
umbrella-headed Yews. Since the needed accession 
of rain everything seems to have taken a new lease 
of life, and the late-flowering herbaceous subjects are 
now reaping the benefit of it. The Sunflowers, late- 
flowering Phloxes, Pentstemons, Chrysanthemums, 
and Violas in the borders are flowering profusely 
and seem likely to do so for some time. The large 
Tecoma radicans on the wall near the entrance to 
the vinery and the Elizabetham garden, has bloomed 
splendidly this year, and will continue so for some 
time to come .—Fiat lux. 
