466 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
March 21, 1896. 
hearted gardeners, he had come there with the 
fullest and most earnest desire to promote, to the 
utmost of his ability, the best interests of the institu¬ 
tion. 
On the proposition of Mr. Rowland, the president 
(Mr. C. R Collins) and vice-presidents of the 
Gardeners' Association were appointed to similar 
offices in the new Auxiliary Branch. Upon the 
motion of Mr. Powell, Mr. W. Mackay was elected 
hon. secretary and treasurer of the branch ; and the 
committee of the Gardeners’ Association were again 
chosen, with the addition of Messrs. F. C. Smale 
(hon. secretary of the Torquay District Gardeners' 
Association).\V. Bale (Torquay), T. Pender (Cocking- 
ton), F. Hannaford and G. Foster (Teignmouth), D. 
C. Powell (Powderham Gardens), W. J. Godfrey and 
W. Swan (Exmoutb), G. Lock and R. Mairs 
(Crediton), E. J. Butt (Barnstaple), H. Solman 
(Tiverton), G. Baker and C. Cooper (Plymouth), and 
H. Berwick (Sidmoutb). Cordial votes of thanks 
were passed to Messrs. H.J. Veitch, G. J. Ingram, and 
]. H. Vallance; Mr. Andrew Hope, whose services 
were very highly spoken of; Mr. P. C. M. Veitch 
for presiding ; and the Right Worshipful the Mayor 
for the use of the Guildhall.— From the “Devon and 
Exeter Gazetteof March 5th, 1896. 
-- 
SOWING DOWN LAWNS, TENNIS 
COURTS, BOWLING GREENS, &e. 
The beauty of our well-kept lawns in the cool and 
humid atmosphere of the English climate, is at once 
the admiration and envy of foreign visitants. “ Oh !" 
remarked one of these when visiting one of "the 
stately homes of England ” years ago, “ this is 
fine, green-green, gie me plenty of green; that’s the 
way to relieve and set a building as well as a posy 
off." Lord Rosebery, delivering a speech lately at 
Scarborough, when rallying his downhearted forces, 
pointed an illustration from the answer given by the 
gardener in charge of one of the University grounds, 
when asked by another foreigner how he managed to 
have such smooth, velvety turf, replied “ keep on 
mowing and rolling for 500 years." Of course there 
must be perseverance in weeding, watering, and 
sustenance, as well as in centuries. 
Lawns that are surrounded by parks and fields, 
especially when left for crops of hay, are most 
difficult to maintain free from Dandelion and other 
obnoxious intruders that blow therefrom. Even the 
solitary little Daisy, which anon, adapts itself if left 
perchance unawares, will be a source of endless 
labour and trouble. The flower heads are kicked 
over by the machine box when mowing, and if not 
at first arrested, you are confronted with that 
standard of negligence—a star-bespangled lawn, or 
may be an order to Watson's, as a relief, and a 
necessity. 
April, the best time for sowing, will soon be upon 
us, and many readers like ourselves will be on the 
outlook for some good reliable seed firm, who can 
supply the best possible mixture of ever green grasses 
consistent with the variability of the soil which should 
always be communicated when ordering. 
Samples sometimes are asked for and submitted; 
but unless the receiver be a pretty good expert it is 
best to rely upon “ faith." A good price for a good 
article will insure success, as, in proportion as we 
"canter" a good firm down, so are coarser kinds of 
grasses substituted. In any case a good plan is to 
weigh the samples bulk for bulk, selecting the 
heaviest and purest, throwing in the seedsman who 
values honour and prestige. To the curious, or 
anyone wishing to make their own selections the 
following may be added or discarded according to the 
will of the purchaser, and his ideas of his own soil, 
whereon the seeds are to be sown. Reckon about 
50 lbs. or 2 bush, to the acre, although we sow a 
good deal more, as a set-off for emergencies and the 
birds. 
A good mixture consists pf Lolium perenne tenue 
20 lbs., Trifolium repens 8 lb., Cynosurus cristatus 
6 lb., Festuca duriuscula 4 lb., and 2lb. each in the 
case of Festuca ovina tenuifolia, Poanemoralis (shade) 
Poa n. sempervirens, Poa trivialis, Trifolium minus 
(choice opeD), and Avena fiavesceas (choice open). 
The two last are rather tender, and if the soil be 
strong exclude them, adding the more vigorous sorts, 
as denoted by the highest figures. 
The species of grass bracketed shade is the best 
for sowing under trees. Ia hot, dry, scanty soils, 
where little else but the stronger sorts will grow, the 
common Yarrow (Achillea Millefolium) is not to 
be objected to; as a mixture, indeed I have seen a 
very nice “pile ” [sward— ed.] where this noted weed 
has been rampant on some lawns. White Clover is 
very often included by many firms, as it forms a good 
bottom in no time ; but it has a tendency to smother 
the young blades of grass just emerging from the 
seel, or at least to drive them at an angle instead of 
allowing the blades to grow erect. Clover, then, 
should be sown later on, when the grasses have made 
a couple of inches of growth or at least have fairly 
started. — B. Lockwood. 
CELERY. 
This is the "Apium graveolens " of botanists, a 
native of Britain, " found in marshy places, not un¬ 
frequent in England : rare in Scotland.” Celery in 
a state of nature is said to be extremely poisonous, 
belongs to that suspicious order, the Umbelliferae, 
and is a biennial. Cultivation and use have 
reduced its noxious qualities to a point tantamount 
to total extinction, as in the case of many other 
plants. It is extolled, even in its cultivated state, 
for its medicinal virtues, and is said to be good for 
rheumatism, insomnia, and nervous affections 
generally. Doubtless it owes any virtues it may 
possess to the peculiar and pungent aromatic oil it 
apparently contains, the odour of which is so well- 
known to all who have come in contact with the 
leaves of the plant. The seeds also, evidently, 
possess the same essential properties, and much of 
the favour the plant receives as a vegetable, no 
doubt, depends on the presence of the same principle. 
Either for culinary or salad purposes, Celery is 
practically unrivalled. There is no other vegetable 
which, perhaps, has the quality of giving to soups such 
an exquisite flavour as the subject of our sketch. So 
much is this flavour in demand that often, when the 
plant is out of season, the seeds are substituted. A 
plant, therefore, with so good a record, deserves a 
wider and more general attention at the hands of all 
who have a spare corner in their gardens for its cul¬ 
tivation. Its cultivation is by no means a difficult 
matter. It may, however, be difficult enough for 
those whom I wish more particularly to address, and 
though the subject is well nigh being exhausted in 
the arena of the profession it may not be so in that 
of the amateur. In consequence, a few remarks may 
not be amiss just now. 
In large gardens it is often found expedient to 
make three sowings of Celery,each having an interval 
of three weeks or more between them, and the first 
to be made about the middle of February. The 
first and the last are not necessarily of much account 
to the amateur. A sowing made early in March in 
moderately warm quarters will suit the amateur 
very well. A hot-bed, if available, suits admirably 
for pricking the young seedlings in as soon as they 
are large enough to bear handling. The-advantages 
to be gained in this are obvious. The heat is 
regular, moist, and the most natural; and the lights 
can be removed as well, to inure the plants to the 
outside atmosphere when suitable occasions occur. 
The " hardening off," however, ought to be made 
with discretion and care. Though no evil effects 
should be seen from an injudicious exposure of the 
plants at this stage of their existence, they will most 
likely show themselves later on, at a period when 
any remedial measures are out of the question. A 
chill, so to speak, at this time will cause the 
plants to run to seed. Neglect in watering will 
evidently bring about a similar state of matters To 
none more than a beginner—should this be his first 
attempt at the cultivation of Celery — would the 
difficulties attending the management of this 
vegetable appear more intractable. With the 
general caution of being careful against the plants 
receiving checks of any kind, there is little danger 
of meeting with anything but success. 
As it is desirable to have this vegetable blanched, 
this is generally effected by planting the seedlings in 
trenches, dug in the most friable soil of the garden ; 
and as growth proceeds the soil is from time to time 
placed against and between the plants till, when late 
in the season, growth may be said to have cca'ed. 
As might be expected in the case of this nature, the 
depth of the trench is a variable quantity ; but put, 
ting aside all conventionalities, most sensible persons 
consider that, to use an Irishism, the nearer the 
bottom is to the top the better for the welfare of the 
plants, There can, however, be little objection to 
the depth of a trench, provided it is filled up to with¬ 
in 6 in. of the surface with plenty of rotten dung, 
for with this article Celery cannot be over supplied. 
Without this precaution deep trenches are decidedly 
objectionable, and seldom can be said to be produc¬ 
tive of any good. Earthing up is of vastly more 
importance for the production of good eatable 
Celery than earthing down. In consequence, what¬ 
ever may be the difference of opinion regarding the 
initial depth of a trench, there ought to be none 
respecting the wisdom of having the plants set as 
near the surface as possible. 
The single or double row trenches produce the 
best Celery, and besides, have the advantage of 
being more manageable, which is always a matter of 
prime consideration. For single rows, trenches 
should at the least be 18 in. wide, and for double 
rows not less than 2 ft. A space sufficient to contain 
the dug-out soil must be left between every two 
trenches and must be determined in terms of the 
depth required. For ordinary trenches, 1 ft. deep, 
2 ft. in the first instance and 3 ft. in the second 
ought to be an ample ridge for the dug-out soil. 
The trench ought to be filled to within a few inches of 
the original surface, with good decomposed dung, 
moderately trampled down, and covered over wdth a 
sprinkling of the best of the soil; then raked 
smoothly down, it is ready for the plants. The 
plants should be placed at about 6 in. apart, and 
where more than one row is grown the rows ought 
to be not less than 1 ft. asunder. Planting being 
completed, copious supplies of water (unless the 
elements are specially favourable, which is not 
always the case when wanted) must be given to the 
plants daily for a few weeks, at the end of which time 
they ought to be fairly able to look after them¬ 
selves. With the exception of an occasional run 
through with the Dutch hoe, the next item of import¬ 
ance in the cultural history of the plants is the 
process of “earthing up.” 
The general rule in this case is to make a series of 
operations during the season, and in proportion to 
the growth of the plants. Another method claims 
superiority over the last, inasmuch as it assures 
exemption from concavity of the leaf stalk, which 
of course reduces the value of the Celery next to 
being worthless. This method recommends the 
“ earthing up ” to be deferred until such time as it 
will become necessary to be completed in one opera¬ 
tion. Meanwhile, the plants are tied up and cleared 
of suckers, but fully exposed to the surrounding 
atmosphere. 
In any case, the operation of “ earthing up ” must 
be conducted in the most favourable weather. The 
soil must be thoroughly dry, and pressed firmly 
round the plants. Slugs, worms, canker, and the 
Celery Fly are about the only enemies this valuable 
vegetable has to contend with.— D. Chisholm. 
-.5-- 
READING AND DISTRICT GARDENERS’ 
MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ASSO¬ 
CIATION. 
Mr. T. Neve, chairman of the above association, 
presided over a largely-attended meeting on Monday 
evening last, the 9th inst., to hear a paper on " Some 
little-grown but meritorious Hardy Flowers,” by Mr. 
Frank Tufnail, head of Messrs. Sutton & Sons’ 
Flower Seed Department, which proved to be of an 
exceedingly interesting character. Mr. Tufnail began 
by saying that in selecting this subject for the mem¬ 
bers’ consideration and discussion, it was not his 
intention to give a list of plants that were going to 
revolutionise the present flower garden and displace 
well-known favourites,but rather bring to their notice 
some little-known, or rather little-grown, hardy 
flowers deserving of equal favour and culture. Some 
are of recent introduction, others are kinds which 
once graced the gardens of our forefathers, and were 
banished by the carpet-bedding craze, but the pendu¬ 
lum of fashion is happily swinging in the opposite 
direction, and herbaceous and other hardy subjects 
are being looked upon with greater favour, so that in 
a few years we may hope to see more and more some 
of the "good things” that give our old-fashioned 
gardens so great a charm during the most pleasant 
months of the year. Many of the kinds which will 
be brought to your notice are especially selected for 
cutting and table decoration which, at the present 
time, is becoming an important feature in the life of 
the gardener; others are chosen for certain 
situations and seasons, but all are worthy attention, 
being simple of culture, require no coddling, 
