64 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September 28, 1895. 
PENTSTEMONS AT HAWICK. 
In the nurseries of Mr. John Forbes, at Hawick, I 
saw amongst other fine things a very large breadth of 
Pentstemons, which to me came quite as a revela¬ 
tion. I was prepared to see something good in that 
line, but had no idea that the improvement of late 
years had been so great until I saw those now under 
notice. One sees capital spikes occasionally at 
flower shows, but they never look their best unless 
you see them growing. Here I saw over 200 of the 
leading varieties now in commerce with a great many 
fine seedlings not yet sent out; the flowers of many 
of the varieties are now approaching the Gloxinia in 
shape and quite as large. These, thickly set on a 
spike from 18 in. to 2\ ft., are no mean sight. I noted 
down the names of some of the best, which I here 
give, as it may be of interest to many of your readers 
who get bewildered wading through a long list in 
nurserymen’s catalogues. 
Some of the best are Brian Wynne, rosy-scarlet; 
Buccleuch Gem, rosy-pink; Charles Dickens, 
scarlet, large white throat; Emile Deschauel, clear 
carmine, extra; Hugh G. Oliver, purplish-violet; 
Jean Mace, rosy-scarlet; John McHattie, rosy-violet; 
J. M. Troupp, purplish-crimson; Jules Sandeau, 
bright rosy-scarlet; Leonidas, rich rose; Lord 
Ravensworth, bright rosy-purple and scarlet; Neil 
McKinnon, rosy-scarlet; President Carnot, brilliant 
scarlet, enormous flowers; and Victor Hugo, dark 
lilac. These would indeed be hard to beat. Some 
of them are new for this year and are of enormous 
size ; I measured some 2 in. across. 
Amongst the older varieties I might name the 
following as being not much behind the times:— 
Emile Paladilhe, Juvenal, Joanne Chatin, LaBorda, 
La Superbe, More De Venice, Mrs. Bosanquet, 
Matamore, M. Bouley, Oliver Payne, Surcouf, 
Tissandier.etc.; many of these varieties are now well 
known to Pentstemon enthusiasts, and need no word 
of mine to recommend them. They stand head and 
shoulders, as the saying goes, above the varieties 
we were accustomed to, not so many years ago ; and 
yet while inspecting a very fine lot a short time ago, 
in one of our leading shows, I was told by a fellow 
critic they were good, but that they had quite as 
good twenty years ago. This, of course, ended friendly 
criticism, and proved the worth of the old saying 
“ Where ignorance is bliss, ’tis folly to be wise.” 
Should this meet the eye of my casual friend, 
perhaps he will let us know more about the good old 
sorts of twenty years ago. 
The only drawback about Pentstemons is that they 
do not stand long in a cut state, which deters many 
from growing them, but as an autumn flower 
for beds, borders, etc., nothing is more effective, 
lasting as they do in many cases into November. 
Cuttings may be put in now with a good heel in a 
cold frame, kept close for a time. Gradually admit 
air as they form roots, after which give air whenever 
possible, if not actually freezing. Many a good collec¬ 
tion is lost through matting up the frames for days and 
weeks on end in the case of a protracted storm, 
thereby weakening the plants ; whereas if left ex¬ 
posed to the light with no protection whatever but 
the glass, they will pull through the hardest 
winter without fail. This at least is my experience 
after many years’trial. Mr. Forbes I notice puts 
each cutting in a small 6o-pot, many frames being 
used to store the large quantities required to meet 
the wants of his trade. 
Before leaving the nurseries I had a short time 
amongst the Phloxes, which I have so often read 
about in these pages from time to time. The best 
spikes had been cut, but I was able to see from side 
shoots that the collection contains many startling 
varieties of great size and charming colours. 
Amongst the new varieties of this year, I was struck 
with the general excellence of the following, namely : 
Beranger, rosy-white ; Corillon, bronzy-rose; Kos¬ 
suth, rose, suffused scarlet ; La Neige, pure white, 
15 in. high ; Le Donon, bright rose, as large as a 
crown piece ; Madame Pope Carpentur, pure white. 
Amongst the general collection, the following stood 
out prominently :—Cendrillon, bright scarlet ;Corne- 
ville, dark violet ; Embarasement, salmon-scarlet ; 
Etna, deep orange-scarlet; Grevin, rosy-scarlet; Iris, 
bluish-violet ; Le Siecle, salmon-rose ; Le Vengeur, 
deep carmine ; Liberte, orange-salmon ; Neptune, dark 
salmon ; Pencheur DTsland, salmon and carmine, 
white eye ; Parachute, dark scarlet ; Sesostris, 
amaranth ; Roxelane, dark carmine ; Sylphide, pure 
white, really grand. All the above are of faultless 
form, and should be in every collection. 
I was shown one of the first Phloxes introduced, 
of a pale lilac colour, with small rayed petals, which, 
when placed alongside of the present day varieties, 
looks a puny thing indeed; yet it is interesting to 
have it, connecting as it does, in a very marked 
manner, the past with the present. The recent trials 
at Chiswick have done much in bringing the Phlox 
into prominence, and within easy reach of the horti¬ 
cultural press, which keeps its readers well posted 
up in all the good things going. We in the provinces 
appreciate their efforts in this direction, trusting the 
Chiswick authorities will still further extend their 
labours and take up the PentstemoD, as, like the 
Phlox, it is everybody's flower, and well deserves 
recognition from the powers that be.— Coila. 
-- 
HARTON CEMETERY. 
South Shields during the last few years has come 
rapidly to the front as a seaside resort. It has a 
splendid pier and a fine stretch of seashore and two 
beautiful marine parks, which draw forth expressions 
of admiration from its visitors; but the prettiest spot 
in the neighbourhood, and one that receives perhaps 
the least attention, is the cemetery at Harton. It is 
more like a private park than a public burial ground. 
The cemetery is approached by a handsome avenue 
of trees which terminates with a stone archway, on 
the right of which stands a neat little villa, the 
residence of the superintendent, Mr. Bernard 
Cowan, F.R.H.S , who has laid out the grounds 
with such skill and taste, and who spares no time or 
trouble in adding to the beauty of the place. The 
carpet bedding in front of the house is a picture ; 
and the main avenue south is laid with very fine 
beds of crimson Pelargoniums and blue Lobelia; 
while the pretty borders of Carnations and Chrysan¬ 
themums cannot but be admired. In the centre of 
the grounds are the two handsome chapels for 
Church and Dissent, while at the side is a pretty 
little chapel for the Catholic body. In front of these 
buildings are some splendid beds of East Lothian 
Stocks of this year's growth, which emit a pleasing 
aroma ; and the various plots are artistically laid out 
with a choice collection of Alpine plants. A good 
idea too is the asphalte roads, which in fine weather 
are free from dust, and in rainy weather dry rapidly. 
The burial plots are laid out in square blocks, sur¬ 
rounded by trees and shrubs which completely hide 
the cold and melancholy-looking gravestones, which 
are such prominent features of so many cemeteries 
Mr. Cowan, who has had charge of the cemetery 
during the five years of its existence, has proved 
himself a master in the art of horticulture and a 
skilled artist. Harton must be seen to be appre¬ 
ciated. 
---- 
ISCELLANY. 
TACSONIAS DROPPING THEIR BUDS. 
On page 47 of the issue of The Gardening 
World for September 21st, Mr. W. Hayward 
complains of his Tacsonia dropping its buds, and 
asks to be furnished with a reason for this 
regrettable tendency on the part of the plant. As 
the plant has recently been consigned to its present 
quarters the soil is possibly of too rich a nature. 
This has resulted in over luxuriant growth and a 
corresponding diminution of floriferousness. No 
stimulants whatever in the way of liquid manure 
must be given, for to do so will only aggravate the 
evil. Clear water will answer all purposes. The 
plant may be spurred back pretty severely during 
the winter months, indeed it would be a good plan 
to thin out the growths to a considerable extent now. 
Next spring, when it is making fresh growths, 
carefully refrain from giving manure of any kind, but 
simply keep it well supplied with clear water. This 
will check the over-luxuriance of growth and will 
most likely put a stop to the casting of the flower 
buds complained of.— P. P. 
DANGERS OF NICOTINE. 
The article od the above subject appearing on 
page 47 of the last issue of The Gardening 
World deals with a subject that may well 
receive the careful attention of the gardening 
fraternity generally. It is impossible to deny that 
nicotine in a more or less highly concentrated con¬ 
dition is much esteemed by gardeners as a valuable 
assistant in their warfare with the insect pests that 
attack our plants. That the practice may be 
attended with very real and tangible dangers, the tale 
of the poisoned Grapes is sufficient evidence. But 
this is not all. F'umigation with tobacco and tobacco 
paper or rag is extensively practised throughout the 
country. In many places it is the rule that the 
operator has to stay in the noxious and deadly 
atmosphere for some time, often an hour or two. 
How many youDg gardeners have been injured by 
this it would be hard to say. Certain it is that 
although some have become so used to the poison as 
to be able to stay in houses that are being smoked 
for some time with comparative impunity, still to by 
far the larger number it is intensely disagreeable and 
even dangerous. I should be very pleased to see the 
subject taken up and handled thoroughly, in which 
event I doubt not a great deal of useful information 
would be brought to light.— W. S. 
QUEEN ANNE’S POCKET MELON. 
In growth and foliage, this does not differ markedly 
from the ordinary cultivated form of the Melon, of 
which it is a striking and markedly distinct variety. 
Both are really forms of Cucumis melo. Queen 
Anne’s Pocket Melon is seldom met with in culti¬ 
vation, but might well be grown in warm conserva¬ 
tories for the decorative effect of the fruits, which 
are, roughly speaking, about the size of a cricket ball, 
or occasionally larger, and tawny orange-red, beau¬ 
tifully marbled with dark brown blotches, forming 
broad longitudinal bands. The blotches often 
coalesce to form a broad band of wavy outline, 
giving the fruit a highly ornamental appearance. 
Unfortunately the fruits do not hang long after 
reaching maturity. They have the strong and 
agreeable odour of Melons, and some consider them 
edible, while other authorities distinctly state that 
they are not edible. It is considered to be of 
African origin, and until quite recently it was fruitiDg 
abundantly in the Water Lily House at Kew. 
CLEMATIS FLAMMUL.A. 
This is one of the very finest late-flowering 
Clematises in cultivation. In early situations it 
flowers about the end of July, but in other quarters 
where it is not so much exposed to the sun it maybe 
seen in bloom as late as the middle of October. 
What a glorious picture the large panicles of pure 
white flowers, backed by the dark green hue of the 
leaves, form in the dewy autumn mornings, and how 
delicious is the fragrance exhaled from them. 
Probably C. Flammula is one of the oldest of the 
Clematises to be found in our gardens, for it was 
brought from Southern Europe about the end of the 
sixteenth century A hardy, vigorous climber, it is 
seen at its best when allowed to ramble at will over 
some old arbour, trellis, or other piece of rustic 
work, and should be extensively utilised for that 
purpose, as once planted it is quite able to take care 
of itself. There are several forms of it supposed to 
be more or less improvements upon the type, but 
they vary but slightly from the original, which, after 
all, is good enough for anything without any improve¬ 
ment. 
MULCHING STRAWBERRY BEDS. 
The Dutch hoe should be kept at work amongst 
planlations of Strawberries now in order to keep 
down the weeds and encourage growth. Some 
make a practice of digging the weeds in between 
the rows, but this I do not believe in, as Strawberry 
plantations should not have the soil between the 
plants disturbed at all deeply, simply keeping the 
soil stirred by means of a hoe. I also give my 
plants a good mulching of short rotten stable 
manure each autumn, say about the end of October 
or the beginning of November. Care is of course 
taken not to bury the crowns too deeply. Many 
growers advise mulchiDg in spring instead of autumn, 
but I much prefer to apply the dressing at the latter 
season, and always find it productive of as good 
results as could be desired.— Invicta. 
STRATIOTES ALOIDES. 
It may be very truthfully said of this aquatic 
without in the least stretching or directing the truth 
that it is rather more curious than pretty. Still the 
