60 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
September 28, 1895. 
HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 
The Greenhouse. 
As the dull months of the year are now fast 
approaching, when the under-glass space that the 
amateur has at his command will be crowded with 
the usual heterogeneous collection of subjects that 
require artificial protection to enable them to pass 
through the winter safely, it is high time that pre¬ 
parations for the expected cold weather were made. If 
possible, the greenhouse should be emptied of what¬ 
ever plants it contains. These may be stood out of 
doors until the house has received a thorough clean¬ 
ing and washing. Then their pots should be washed, 
the surface soil cleaned of moss, and the plants, if 
they are to be kept, put back into their places. As, 
during heavy fogs or sharp frosts, it will not be 
possible to air the house to any extent, everything 
should be made as sweet and clean now as possible. 
The heating apparatus, which will possibly have 
been in disuse through the summer, will also need a 
thorough overhauling to see that it is in working 
order,and that it may be depended upon when needed. 
It is a good plan to empty the pipes and boiler at 
least once a year of the water they contain, especially 
where the water that has been used to fill them has 
been chalky and dirty, for under such circumstances 
a certain amount of sediment is sure to be deposited, 
and the apparatus will work all the better for its 
being cleaned out. 
Early Chrysanthemums.— These have become 
decidedly popular of late years, especially those of 
the Madame Desgranges section. The reason for 
this is not far to seek, for, blooming so early in the 
year, they may be grown out of doors with but little 
fear of frost overtaking them. They are, besides, 
very dwarf in stature as compared with the majority 
of Chrysanthemums, and this is a point that renders 
them particularly suitable subjects for the amateur 
to lavish his attention upon. As a rule, the taller 
plants cannot be accommodated for lack of the 
necessary room. A plant or two of well-flowered 
early Chrysanthemums look exceedingly pretty in 
the conservatory, and, besides, the partial shade 
which they get there is of great service in keeping 
the blooms in condition for a much longer time than 
they would were they allowed to get the full glare of 
the sun outside. With very few exceptions, they 
will now have gone out of bloom, and should, there¬ 
fore, be cut down, so as to favour the production of 
cuttings from the base. The pots containing the old 
stools may be stood out of doors for the present, as 
two or three degrees of frost will not harm them, 
but when the winter really sets in they must be 
given the shelter of a cold frame, covering the same 
up on frosty nights. 
Azaleas. —As a rule, but few amateur growers 
possess very large plants of these, but, whether large 
or small, they are all greatly benefited by being 
turned out of doors during the summer to ripen 
their growth and set their buds. It is now quite 
time, however, that they should be housed, as 
nothing whatever is gained by leaving them out too 
long. Before bringing them in look them carefully 
over to see if any thrip is to be found upon them 
If not, a syringing with clear water will be sufficient, 
but if any trace of the little pests is discovered, 
more decisive measures must be taken. A solution 
of Nicotine Soap, a speciality prepared by Messrs. 
Corrie & Co., Ltd., and easily obtained at a small 
cost of all vendors of horticultural sundries is as 
effective as anything, and, moreover, perfectly harm¬ 
less if washed off soon after its application with 
clear water. After the foliage of the plants is 
thoroughly cleansed the pots should be washed, and 
then they may be transferred to their under¬ 
glass quarters. Although it is not advisable to excite 
the roots too much at this season of the year, a little 
soot water may be given the plants about once a 
week. This will serve to keep the foliage green and 
healthy, and thus in a measure will prevent insects 
obtaining a hold. 
Camellias that have teen placed out of doors to 
set their buds will also need to be brought in now. 
If time can be spared, the leaves of these may be 
sponged, using as a washing mixture a piece of soft 
soap about the size of a walnut dissolved in a couple 
of gallons of warm water. It is astonishing how 
much brighter and cleaner the leaves look after such 
an application. 
Richardias.— The most approved method in 
dealing with these during the summer months, and 
one that has stood the test of years of trial, is to 
plant them out after they have finished blooming in 
the spring in a border well manured in readiness for 
them. Treated like this they seldom fail to make 
strong, vigorous growth, and will now be quite ready 
for lifting. The soil should be first loosened all 
round them by means of an ordinary digging fork, 
and then the latter may be carefully inserted under¬ 
neath the plant, which may then be lifted gently out 
without injury to the roots, and with sufficient soil 
attached to prevent it receiving a serious check. 
The size of pots used will necessarily depend upon 
the size of the plants themselves. Two parts of 
loam mixed with one part of well-dried cow manure, 
and with the addition of a goodly sprinkling of 
coarse river sand will answer very well. If the cow 
manure cannot be obtained, road scrapings will 
answer nearly as well, as they always contain a gocd 
deal of manurial matter. After potting do not 
deluge the plants with water immediately, particu¬ 
larly if the compost has been fairly moist, but, 
instead, shade them from the direct rays of the sun, 
but still giving them plenty of diffused light, and 
dewing them over now and again with the syringe. 
If kept close for a few days, with jtbese regular 
syringings, the plants will soon pull themselves 
together, and will suffer but little injury from the 
change of quarters. 
Salvias.— These are very useful winter-flowering 
plants, being both showy and easy of cultivation. 
It is usual to plant these out in the open ground, as 
has been mentioned is generally done with Rich¬ 
ardias. As they are very sensitive to frost, they 
must be lifted and potted up upon the first signs of 
its making its appearance. A soil similar to that 
recommended for Richardias will suit the Salvias 
perfectly. A few of the very best for the amateur’s 
greenhouse are S. azurea grandiflora, S. involucrata 
Bethelli, S. rutilans, S. splendens, and its charming 
variety, S. s. Bruantii. S. patens should also be 
grown, for its flowers are of a bright vivid blue, a 
colour that is not only distinctly uncommon amongst 
winter-flowering subjects, and hence all the more 
valuable on that account, but one which affords a 
pleasing variety when grown with the rose, crimson, 
and scarlet-flowered kinds. 
Berried Solanums.— It would be almost im¬ 
possible to overrate the beauty and value of these 
well-known and popular plants. They are easily 
contented subjects moreover, and ask only for very 
ordinary attention. Their great suitability for win¬ 
dow decoration is one of the most important points 
in their favour, and one which has undoubtedly had 
a great deal to do with their present widespread 
popularity. They always do best when planted out 
in a prepared spot duting the summer months, for 
the young plants, whether they be raised from cut¬ 
tings struck or seed sown in spring, make better 
growth and set their berries more freely when 
growing in the open air than they do in pots. Of 
course, the value of the plants lies in whether they 
carry plenty of berries or no, for in the absence of 
these they are useless. Now it often happens that 
not all of the plants grown evince an equal tendency 
to set their berries plentifully ; therefore, growing 
them in the open border, as suggested, has this great 
advantage attaching to it, that it allows of a selection 
being made, the most symmetrical and best berried 
plants alone being potted up for winter use, the rest 
being consigned to the rubbish heap as valueless.— 
Rex. 
BATTERSEA PARK. 
None of the parks I have visited afford so much 
shelter for the occupants of the flower beds as Batter¬ 
sea Park. This shelter is afforded by the surround¬ 
ing trees which now form a relatively close screen 
against the winds on all sides. As far as I can see 
this has its advantages and disadvantages. The 
sub-tropical plants for which the park has been 
noted for many years are amply sheltered from rough 
weather, and it must be admitted that the trees give 
the whole place a secluded and romantic appearance, 
especially when one considers the proximity to 
densely populated neighbourhoods in the vicinity 
and on both sides of the river. At the same time the 
close proximity of umbrageous trees to the flowering 
plants isdetrimental to the sun-loviDg subjects whcse 
•beauty chiefly depends upon the quantity of flowers 
they produce. Pelargoniums look best where 
farthest from the shade of trees, while the drawing 
effect of the trees, combined with the recent down¬ 
pours of rain, have been deleterious in their effect 
upon them in other beds. A bold and effective bed 
is that in the middle of the sub-tropical garden, and 
in which the Blue Gum trees constitute the leading 
feature. They are well supported in their tropical 
effect by some vigorous Trees of Heaven and tall¬ 
stemmed Dracaenas. A massive edging of scarlet 
Pelargoniums and Gazanias are handsome in the 
sunshine and just sufficiently subdued by the various 
tints of leafage. The massive plants of Gunnera 
scabra in the hollow are very healthy and robust 
looking, though scarcely so tall as last year. Nearer 
the walks a circular bed derives its chief attraction 
from the bronzy-purple foliage of Castor Oil plants, 
mixed with tall, spiny Hollyhocks with double 
flowers of various colours. The variegated Japan 
Aralia is also noticeable on the outskirts of the taller 
subjects ; and Veronica Andersoni variegata makes a 
fine contrast with the velvety green grass. The 
Wigandias, and large leaves cf the spiny Solanum 
macrophyllum, with three tall-stemmed plants of 
Ailanthus constitute the raison d'etre of another bed 
and a rampant-growing appearance they have, and 
which is scarcely in keeping with our erratic clime. 
The stems of the Ailanthus are clothed with climbing 
gourds. Some blue perennial Larkspurs and a pro¬ 
fusion of Stocks around the sides of the bed have a 
relieving and brightening effect upon the whole. The 
" coffin beds ” here situated are gay with a mixture 
of tuberous Begonias in several colours, blending 
with the yellow of a golden-leaved Fuchsia and the 
gray of a bicolor Pelargonium. The mixture of 
colours is bright and varied, and certainly a change 
upon the carpet tedding that has occupied this 
situation for so many years. 
The large angular bed on one corner of this piece 
of ground where two walks converge or diverge, 
according to the direction in which the visitor is 
travelling, is occupied as usual with the tall 
specimens of Datura Knighti, but the rain had 
apparently dashed the heavy flowers to the ground 
when I visited the place in the end of August. The 
groundwork of Helichrysums, Lantanas and Salvia 
splendens had made vigorous growth, and com¬ 
pletely occupied their allotted space. Looking at 
the sub-tropical garden from this point of view, the 
visitor for the first time to this, the most varied, 
perhaps, of the London Parks, cannot but be charmed 
with the abundance and variety of the foliage of the 
trees, in endless tints of green, the gray of the 
Poplars, the blue of the Blue Gum tree, and the 
bronzy hue of a copper Beech. The light green of 
the London Plane forms a cheerful contrast to the 
more sombre hues of Horse Chestnut, Holly and 
Holly Oaks. 
A bed of a dark-flowered Heliotrope, mixed with 
the black Coleus fulgens, and some taller Chinese 
Hibiscus, is sufficient to arrest the attention, if only 
by the delicious odour emanating from it. The large 
leaves of Abutilon Thompsoni, heavily blotched with 
gold, brightens a circular bed or two on the shady 
side of the garden and have almost hidden the dark 
leaves of a Coleus beneath them. A bed I have seen 
occupied with succulents as rendered gay with a 
mixture of Fuchsias, 3 ft. to 4 ft. high, on a base of 
Heliotrope. A line of the bronzy-red Amaranthus 
melancholicus ruber, in front of the Fuchsias is very' 
effective and telling even from a distance. The plants 
have made a wonderful growth, much more so than 
any of the Coleus. Succulents occupy the bed on 
the other side of the walk. Tall plants of Datura 
Knighti are planted at intervals along the centre of 
the bed, and stand in lozenge-shaped panels of 
Mesembryanthemum, edged with the variegated 
form cf M. cordifolium. Between these are four 
circles of the mahogany-coloured Coleus Ver- 
schaftelti studded around the margin with the rigid 
and metallic-looking Echeveria metallica. The 
centres of the Coleus beds are occupied with 
candelabra looking specimens of Opuntia. The 
panels on either side of the bed are carpeted with a 
small leaved, green Mesembryanthemum and Sedum 
sarmentosum variegatum. Studded all through these, 
and around the margin of Alternanthera, are stubby 
little specimens of variegated Yuccas, American 
Agaves, Brachyphytons and Canary Island House- 
leeks. The perpendicular edging of Sempervivum 
tabulaeforme is very neat and looks like green 
saucers laid up against the raised bed. 
The large, shield-shaped leaves of Alocasia 
esculenta look like giant Lords and Ladies of English 
