186 
THE GAKDENING WORLD. 
November 23, 1889. 
ing to the variety. There is a rich violet-purple variety 
named V. A. imperialis, which is equally hardy and 
appreciated in maritime towns, where its masses of 
bloom are simply magnificent. The variety V. A. 
variegata is very distinct, with broad creamy white 
margins to its leaves, and is often grown with very 
good effect in summer flower beds, as well as in sub¬ 
tropical gardening designs. Unfortunately, however, 
it is rather tender. V. decussata and a number of 
hybrids with short obovate leaves very densely arranged 
on the stems, are largely grown to supply the markets 
during the autumn and winter months in the metro¬ 
polis. They are largely used as window plants, either 
inside or out, in the same way as Conifers, Hollies, and 
the varieties of Euonymus japonicus are used, and are 
appreciated for their fresh and green appearance during 
winter, when flowering plants are scarce or unprocurable 
by the poorer classes. 
A reserve stock of all the above should be maintained 
in pots, protected by cold frames in case of accident or 
deaths during severe winters. All of them may readily 
he propagated from half-ripened cuttings, which strike 
freely during the summer months either under glass or 
in a somewhat shady place out of doors if kept watered 
during dry weather.— Taxus. 
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The Amateurs’ Garden, 
Christmas Roses. 
In order to get the flowers of a pure white, and that they 
may enjoy them the better, some growers lift their 
plants and put them in large pots, tubs or baskets. 
Whether they are afterwards placed in a warm house, 
or merely a cool structure, the plants come into bloom 
earlier, so that when they cease flowering they are no 
longer required, and are consequently placed out of 
doors or somewhere out of the way for the time being, 
until they can be re-planted in spring. Now the 
lifting, and the consequent injury to the roots, and the 
temporary excitement induced under glass are all 
unfavourable to the well-being of these naturally slow- 
growing plants. The results are that half or more of 
the clumps are killed, or so materially injured that 
they make no show the following year. A better plan 
would be to grow them in large pots or tubs all the 
year round, standing them in a somewhat shady 
position during summer, and taking them into a cool 
house during winter. Injury to the roots is avoided 
by this means, and the results are far more satisfactory. 
Should this procedure not be convenient, flowers of 
great purity can be obtained simply by placing over 
them hand-lights or bell-glasses. The leaves may 
remain outside if too long to be accommodated under 
the glass. 
Liliums. 
The present is a good time to re-pot Lilies for indoor 
culture, including such as L. auratum, L. speciosum, 
L. longiflurum, and their varieties. The so-called 
Easter Lily is a variety of L. longiflorum—namely, 
L. 1. eximium, better known under the name of L. 
Harrisii. The compost used should consist of loam, 
leaf-soil, peat, and a quantity of sand. Drain the pots 
well with broken crocks, placing a quantity of moss 
over the top. In turning out the old bulbs, see that 
L. longiflorum has not commenced to grow, which it is 
liable to do, being an early kind. This objection will 
not, of course, apply to bulbs that have just been 
obtained, and are yet in a dry state. Injury to growing 
roots should be avoided as much as possible. Place 
some soil over the moss, and after arranging the bulbs, 
cover them with some silver or even river-sand, which 
will keep them from rotting should the soil be over wet 
at any time. Do not entirely fill the pots, but leave 
space to give a top-dressing of some rich material after 
some growth has been made. This will assist them 
greatly to flower well. 
Hardy Ferns for Windows. 
The value of such of our native Ferns as are evergreen 
may now be recognised by those who grow them 
moderately well. A fresh and pleasing appearance can 
be maintained in windows and dwelling rooms by in¬ 
troducing fresh specimens from the greenhouse or cool 
fernery from time to time. This does not necessarily 
mean that their endurance in dwelling rooms is short¬ 
lived ; for, with a fair amount of care in the matter of 
watering and general cleanliness, the same set of Ferns 
may be kept in good condition all through the winter, 
or, for the matter of that, throughout the year. Ever¬ 
green kinds are, of course, meant, and there are several 
very pretty, graceful or pleasing sorts that might be 
much more extensively grown than they are at present. 
Amongst them may be mentioned the innumerable 
and often beautiful forms — crested, proliferous or 
otherwise—of Aspidium angulare, with its long plumy 
leaves and rusty scale-covered stalks. Several of the 
varieties of the common Hart’s Tongue (Scolopendrium 
vulgare) come in very serviceable in winter; the 
crisped form (S. v. crispum) and several of the crested 
or branched-leaved kinds are very pretty. The neatly 
cut and leathery-leaved species of Asplenium, including 
A. marinum, A. Trichomanes, A. Adiantum nigrum, 
and others, as well as the Hay-scented Fern (Nephro- 
diurn spinulosum), will be found very serviceable and 
pretty. 
-->>X«- 
Hardening Miscellany. 
-- 
Miniature but Elegant Asters. 
Mere size does not always please, nor does it constitute 
true beauty unless there is something chaste, elegant, 
or attractive to the eye about it. There is something 
in regularity that commends itself to most people, but 
when everything becomes reduced to geometrical 
exactness and smoothness, the appetite for such ever¬ 
lasting sameness becomes satiated. There is a desire 
for size in most flowers, but there is a danger of 
coarseness. Some of the larger-flowered Asters are 
showy and effective, but the same may be said of the 
smallest, owing to their numbers and chaste colours. 
Foremost amongst these may be mentioned A. ericoides 
and A. multiflorus, but especially the former. Both 
of them flowered gaily up till quite recently. The 
stems are very profusely branched and covered with 
small leaves, resembling a Heath in the case of A. 
ericoides, hence the specific name. The flowers are 
pure white, very minute, but elegant and star-like, and 
densely arranged in sprays that are very useful for cut- 
flower purposes, hence the plea for growing it. A. 
diffusus pendulus is less floriferous, but pretty, while 
the variety A. d. horizontalis is much more so, 
owing to its dwarf, compact habit and numerous closely 
arranged flowers, which have white rays and a rosy 
purple disc. Now is the time to divide and transplant 
these perennial Asters, to the exclusion of the rubbishy 
kinds which are but too plentiful in gardens.— Scotus. 
Lilium neilgherrense. 
I CAN recommend Lilium neilgherrense as a conservatory 
plant, having observed one here for about a month ; 
it is in a pot near a door usually open, is 5 ft. 4 ins. 
high from bottom of pot, and has three flowers, the first 
bud opening on 10th October. The plant has been 
brought into the house several days to be painted, but 
notwithstanding this the flowers are still (12th 
November) in beauty. I doubt this Lily or L. Walli- 
chianum ever being satisfactory as out-door Lilies in 
this country; they bloom so late that buds are usually 
spoilt by frost, and I think that we must be content 
with L. polyphyllum and L. giganteum—of the 
Indian Lilies—for this purpose.— George F. Wilson, 
Heatherbanlc, TVeybridge Heath. 
The Education of Gardeners. 
In the short editorial note on the 9th inst. relating to 
gardening at Syon, there was one remark which stands 
out prominently— i.e., that instruction is provided for 
the young men two evenings a week. This foresight 
and consideration for young gardeners is very com¬ 
mendable, and the example might be emulated in other 
large gardens with considerable advantage—not only 
individually, but to horticulture as a whole, while the 
spirit shown towards che subordinates could not fail to 
bring the two into better harmony. The pleasure to 
afford, and the appreciation to receive, would bring 
about such a desirable end. This instruction could not 
fail to be advantageous, presuming, of course, the 
subjects akin to horticulture were not only learned but 
acted upon in after life. If this is not the case, labour 
and time are wasted—time, too, which can be ill 
spared, especially to young men who have a future 
before them ; although at no time can a plea of idleness 
be set up for lack of good and useful work to do, at 
whatever time of life it may be. The want of facilities 
for acquiring higher knowledge is keenly felt by 
hundreds of young men at the present moment, 
especially in remote districts. Many have a desire to 
improve themselves, but cannot have it gratified. The 
consequence is, in many cases, that this desire is lost— 
literally starved—through want of proper attention, 
and this must be a loss to horticulture. Some are 
content to move along indifferent to all improvement, 
but, in after years, when too late, they will regret it. 
In these times of keen competition, however, it behoves 
us all to be keenly alive to our necessities, to cultivate 
our mental faculties, and improve and add to our 
knowledge, both practically and scientifically. Such a 
course being an onward one, will bring its own good 
rewa-d. The gardening papers are perhaps hardly appre¬ 
ciated as they should be by young gardeners. Valuable 
as they are, they do not seem o interest them to any 
great extent, a glance down the columns being all the 
attention that is vouchsafed. It may be that apathy 
in this instance has not a little to do with it. Apart 
from that, is it possible to make the papers more 
attractive without being any the less instructive and 
useful? This subject is worth serious thought and con¬ 
sideration, and The Gardening World, not ignoring 
it in the past, will doubtless give it prominence in the 
future.— F. 11. S. 
Root Pruning 1 of Fruit Trees. 
Notwithstanding all that has been written in years 
past on the beneficial results of judicious and system¬ 
atic root-pruning of fruit trees, in many gardens, large 
and small, much profitless fruit-tree management may 
be witnessed. Long, strong, unripened wood may be 
seen which is cut off annually to keep the trees to a 
certain size and form. Canker, from this cause, is by 
no means rare, and much labour is expended with the 
most insignificant results as a reward to the proprietor. 
It is not always the cultivator’s fault. A case in point. 
A single-handed gardener wished to do what any skil¬ 
ful man naturally would, but received a severe reprimand 
for daring to manipulate on such luxuriant espaliers, his 
employer actually charging him with want of skill 
in not making the old gross trees bear, they having 
been in that state for many years ! Young trees should 
be prepared for lifting next year by cutting away now 
all gross outward roots, which will emit a dense mass 
of rootlets before the autumn of next year, when they 
may be lifted bodily and transplanted. The trees will 
retain their green leaves as if they never had been 
lifted. We have lifted and re-planted many this year 
which had formerly been prepared, and they have re¬ 
tained their foliage as late as those untouched. With 
huge trees it is different, as they have to be treated 
with greater caution than the young ones ; but if 
they are to be lifted and re-planted, preparation by 
cutting round them is attended by the best results. 
A number of trees of great age, examined lately, which 
were headed down and allowed to break, and their 
roots cut back, are now in capital condition.— Stirling. 
The Water Hawthorn. 
Aponogeton distachyon might be more frequently 
planted than it is in open-air tanks and ponds, in 
positions where the water as a rule does not much 
exceed 1 ft. in depth. The leaves and flower spikes 
will rise to the surface from a greater depth, but the 
plant seems to increase more freely if the mud in which 
the roots are fixed is at no great depth. Before plant¬ 
ing it out the most satisfactory results are obtained if 
the roots have previously been established in pots, 
when the whole ball should be sunk in the mud, and 
the plant left to take care of itself. It delights in 
perfect freedom, such as it can get in a large pond with 
plenty of air and light, and room to increase, which it 
will do by offsets and seeds. In all the southern 
counties at least it may be considered perfectly hardy, 
and in mild seasons flowers all the year round, and 
may so be seen at present. The flowers possess a mild 
fragrance like that of the Hawthorn, hence the 
applicability of the popular name. There are at least 
two other half-hardy South African species suitable for 
aquaria, but although very pretty are inferior to the 
species under notice for decorative effect. The Lattice- 
leaf plant, it may be remembered, is really Aponogeton 
fonestralis, and differs only from the more typical forms 
in having the leaves reduced to the skeleton-like 
venation. It, however, requires stove treatment.— F. 
Amasonia punicea. 
Prominent amongst stove-flowering plants of recent 
introduction that may be classed as good and useful 
all-round subjects, which give brilliancy and attraction 
to the stove for a good length of time during the 
winter months, stands the above-named plant. The 
brilliant crimson terminal bracts are at once noticeable 
when mixed with other plants, and form an attractive 
feature for a long time after the pendulous creamy 
white tubular flowers have fallen away, and this fact 
alone should ensure for the plant a prospect of being 
widely distributed amongst plant growers. Flowering 
as it does in a very dwarf state, the bracts being 
terminal and pyramidal, gives to the plant quite a 
