September 7, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
7 
ditions are Horsefield’s Prelude, Chiswick Hybrid, 
King Humbert, Surpassee, President Cleveland, Acme, 
and others, which are even shorter jointed when grown 
out of doors than under glass, and the fruit is conse¬ 
quently more aggregated. 
Amongst the earlier kinds are the first three above 
mentioned, together with Chemin. About twenty to 
thirty fruits are borne by each plant of Chiswick 
Hybrid, on stems about 3 ft. long—a fact which testifies 
to its prolific nature. Chemin is a new kind of great 
promise, with very deeply globose, almost sub-conical, 
smooth fruits of good average size. The fruits of 
President Cleveland, although smaller than under glass, 
are generally of better 3hape and less corrugated. Old 
Bed is well known as a heavy cropper out of doors, but 
the ridged and uneven surface of its fruit will always 
tell against it when pitted against the finer kinds, and 
can hardly command the same price in the market. 
The same objection applies to Hurst’s Little Beauty, 
which has dwarfness and hardiness perhaps, chiefly 
in its favour, the stems being only about 18 ins. to 
2 ft. in height. Wiles’ Prolific might also be men¬ 
tioned as an early kind, as the fruits have already 
commenced to colour. It is, as the name implies, a 
prolific variety bearing a heavy crop of medium-sized, 
globose, somewhat corrugated fruits. It is also well 
adapted for pot culture, as the exhibit from the gardens 
at the Drill Hall on the 13th inst. amply testified. 
Several varieties exhibit distinct characters in the foli¬ 
age, and when grown out of doors the test is a good 
one. Amongst others The Peach is very distinct in the 
rich dark colour of the foliage, as well as in the pale 
greenish white colour of the fruits. It crops only 
moderately heavy in the open border. Amongst yellow 
kinds, Golden Queen may be noted both for the size 
and numbers of its fruits, none of which are yet show¬ 
ing colour. 
-- 
JAPAN ANEMONES. 
Amongst border flowers in autumn none is productive 
of a finer effect than Anemone japonica and its two 
well-known varieties. The type was introduced from 
Japan in 1844, and rapidly got disseminated over the 
greater part of Britain ; but although the flowers are 
much darker than those of its varieties, it does not 
seem to be much grown in the South of England at 
least, its place having been taken by its more favoured 
rival progeny. The sepals are also most numerous in 
the type, and the plant is dwarfer, being generally 
about 18 ins. in height. In some of the northern 
counties of Scotland it is more or less extensively 
grown in the borders and along the sides of the flower 
garden, when a fine display is produced from August 
onwards. 
The white variety, A. j. alba, very often known 
under the name of Honorine Jobert, is year by year 
being recognised as a most valuable subject for out-door 
culture, as it proves so hardy, so able to take care of 
itself, and is productive of a grand effect when grown in 
beds or large clumps. When planted under the latter 
conditions, some cultivators insert dark - coloured 
Gladioli, of the Brenchleyensis or Gandavensis type, 
amongst them for the sake of contrast. Those to whom 
such a contrast would be too violent might employ the 
different varieties of Japan Anemones, only planting them 
in alternate lines or alternately in the rows. In doing so, 
however, it must be remembered that it will be difficult 
or impossible to keep the different varieties distinct 
when grown in proximity, from the fact that their long 
rambling roots develop buds that may spring up 
anywhere all over the bed. By this very means, how¬ 
ever, they are readily propagated without having 
recourse to seeds, and without breaking up the old 
plants, except on special occasions. 
A noticeable fact about this variety, is that the 
sepals are few in number when compared with the 
type ; but then they are very much broader and well 
imbricated. Individual blooms measure from 2 ins. to 
3 ins. in diameter, and are pure white, with a central 
button-like mass of lemon-coloured stamens, that 
serves considerably to give character to the whole. 
There is some reason to believe that this plant is the 
result of a cross between A. japonica and A. vitifolia, 
a Himalayan species from Upper Nepaul, having lobed 
and Vine-like leaves, and white flowers, consisting of 
six to eight sepals, whereas the sepals in the typical 
A. japonica are about twice that number. 
Another meritorious variety is A. j. elegans, also 
variously known under the names of A. j. hybrida and 
A. j. rosea. Under favourable conditions the stems 
attain a height of 3 ft. or 4 ft., or even more. The 
leaves are also of great size, and the rose-coloured 
flowers about 3 ins. across. As in the case of A. j. alba 
the sepals are few in number, but very broad and 
overlapping. It is also a hybrid, and probably between 
A. japonica and A. vitifolia. 
Iu choosing a position for planting any of the Japan 
Anemones, it may be sheltered, especially from the 
north, so that the stems may not be driven about, nor 
the flowers destroyed by the rough equinoctial gales 
which generally occur before the flowering season is 
over, especially in cold districts and towards the north 
of this country, where flowering, as a rule, is consi¬ 
derably later. Full exposure to sun, air and light 
from the other three quarters of the horizon is, however, 
essential to their well-being. A deep rich soil is the 
best where it can be obtained. This should be trenched 
two spits deep, digging at the same time a large 
quantity of old hot-bed manure into the ground. The 
labour may seem excessive, but this will be more than 
amply repaid by the quantity of bloom produced 
during several of the autumn months, and which is 
extremely useful for cut-flower purposes. 
Any after culture that may be required will consist 
of keeping the beds clean, forking them over in autumn 
or winter after the stems have died down and been cut 
away. Light soils, and those in localities with a dry 
climate, should be well mulched with farmyard manure 
in winter, both by way of a top-dressing, and to assist 
in retaining the moisture. The flowering period will 
also last longer under the above conditions, provided 
the plants are well watered during dry weather.— J. 
-— >X< -- 
LINARIA TRIORNITHOPHORA. 
Although strictly speaking a perennial, this beautiful 
species may be sown amongst a collection of annuals 
and flowered equally early as truly annual species under 
the same conditions in the open border. It also fruits 
very freely in this country, so that there is no difficulty 
in dealing with it if one should prefer treating it as an 
annual. Spain and Portugal are its native homes, from 
whence it was introduced in 1710. Considering the 
demand for beautiful hardy flowers one would have 
expected to find it plentiful in every garden of any 
note ; but such is far from being the case, which is all 
the more to be regretted. The stems vary from 12 ins. 
to 18 ins. in height, but are more often intermediate. 
Clumps of it in the herbaceous or other borders would 
be very effective during the latter end of July, also in 
August and September. Whether sown in clumps or 
lines it should be well thinned out in order to give it a 
chance of attaining its best development. The name 
Triornithophora means three birds bearing, and refers 
to the arrangement of the flowers in the axils of the 
leaves, which are whorled in threes. The long purple 
spur appears like the tail of the bird, while the other 
parts of the flower are comparable to the body and 
head ; the likeness is perhaps best when the flowers 
are yet in bud. The general colour is rosy purple, with 
two large, elevated ridges on the mouth or palate of 
the corolla. There is also a variety named L. t. carnea, 
in which the general colour is pink or flesh. Both may 
be seen in a floriferous condition in the gardens of the 
Boyal Horticultural Society at Chiswick, amongst the 
trial collection of annuals. 
K--] 
The Amateurs’ Garden. 
_ - ♦. _ 
■ ♦ - 
African Marigolds. 
The fine effect produced by well-grown specimens of 
the African Marigold (Tagetes erecta) can hardly be 
imagined, except by those who have seen them. The 
usual method of growing them—planted close together in 
the same way as French Marigolds—may be productive 
of a quantity of more or less pleasing flowers ; but the 
heads never attain such a size as when planted suffi¬ 
ciently far apart to allow of the plants making a 
vigorous development. A fair amount of bloom will 
be produced from plants about 15 ins. or 18 ins. high, 
but this species is capable of growing 3 ft. or 4 ft. high 
in the course of our summer under good treatment. 
They should be raised in heat, and grown to a fair size 
before planting them outside, as the weather becomes 
sufficiently warm to make it safe to do so. Then, if 
great size is desired, plant at 2 ft. or 3 ft. apart in rich 
well-tilled soil, and water occasionally till well estab¬ 
lished. By September they will have formed huge 
bushes like shrubs of good size, bearing many large 
heads of orange or lemon-coloured flowers according to 
the variety. So far only these two shades of colour 
have appeared in the African species, and the doubles, 
of course, are mostly admired by cultivators generally. 
The wild single type is, however, very fine for those 
who like single flowers, and the broad bifid ray-florets 
really render the heads very effective for cut-flower 
purposes. 
Zinnias. 
Like Dahlias and Marigolds, both French and African, 
the Zinnias are natives of Mexico, and by no means 
distant allies. Similar conditions as to soil, climate, 
and treatment necessary for African Marigolds will also 
serve in this case. The seeds should be sown in heat, 
say in March or April, and transplanted or potted up as 
convenience shall direct. In any case they should 
neither be starved nor drawn up into a spindly or leggy 
condition, either for want of proper moisture, venti¬ 
lation or light. When established, after being trans¬ 
planted or potted off, they should be transferred to a 
cold frame and be well ventilated, to keep them dwarf 
and stocky until all danger of fro3t is gone. Within 
comparatively a few years a vast improvement has been 
made in this class of plants, and a packet of mixed 
seeds of double kinds will supply a sufficient amount of 
variety for any small garden. Good doubles produce 
flatly conical heads of good size, beautiful shape, and 
of all shades from pure white, through cream, yellow, 
buff, rose, purple, scarlet, and crimson. A bed of such, 
when the plants are well grown, is really a beautiful 
sight. About 1 ft. apart each way will allow of a good 
growth being made, while the surface of the ground 
will at the same time be well covered. In fairly good 
seasons they produce seeds freely, so that those who 
object to the price of the seeds need only do so at the 
first outlay, so as to secure a good strain. Any little 
trouble that may be incurred will be repaid when they 
come into flower. 
Annuals for Present Sowing. 
The flowering season for annuals may be greatly pro¬ 
longed by sowing both in autumn and spring. For 
present sowing they must of course be hardy. This 
highly desirable property is possessed by Limnanthes 
Douglasii, Sweet Alyssum, Candytufts, Silene pendula 
compacts, and the Wood Forget-me-not (Myosotis 
sylvatica). The Limnanthes produces a great pro¬ 
fusion of bright yellow flowers tipped with white, and 
is really a showy annual, but soon runs to seed and 
dies. By sowing at different seasons, however, a 
succession may be obtained during greater part of the 
summer from spring onwards. There is a white 
variety, but it is less interesting than the type. There 
is also a white variety of Myosotis sylvatica, which is 
very choice in association with the blue one. It is 
obtainable from seed in the same way as the blue one. 
When once sown and left undisturbed they sow them¬ 
selves annually, and require no attention, so that they 
constitute beautiful subjects for naturalising in wood¬ 
land walks. 
Window Plants. 
A fine display may be maintained in window boxes for 
some time yet dependent upon the state of the weather, 
by means of Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, Marguerites, 
yellow Calceolarias, Lobelias, and Petunias. The 
latter are becoming more and more popular, as their 
merits are recognised for this purpose. Single varieties 
are, of course, the most suitable, aud the drier the 
weather the more profusely will they flower. The 
striped ones, which may now be obtained of any 
good seedsman are very showy, and productive of 
a lively effect when grown in a mass. Growing 
to the height of 12 ins. or 18 ins. they are best 
suited for forming the back line in the box. The 
most of the subjects mentioned will flower until de¬ 
stroyed by frost. If necessary some China Asters may 
be brought from some reserve bed in the garden with 
good balls of soil, and planted in the boxes. Amongst 
climbers the Indian Cress (Tropaiolum majus) and the 
Canary creeper (T. aduncum) are now in full splendour. 
Hyacinths. 
Those who desire a display as early in the season as 
possible, should lose no time in getting a batch potted 
up. Eoman Hyacinths are of course the earliest, and 
have the additional recommendation of being pure white 
and sweet scented. They are now in the market, and 
if good samples are desired, no time should be lost in 
ordering the necessary quantity. A good compost 
consists of fibrous loam and well-rotted manure in 
about equal proportions, with a good sprinkling of 
silver sand. Place three or fonr in a 5-in pot, just 
covering them with soil, and pressing the latter 
moderately firm. Stand them out of doors and cover 
with coco-nut fibre or coal ashes until roots are well 
developed, when they should be taken indoors to hurry 
them into flower. 
