THE GARDENING WORLD- 
205 
January 11, 1890. 
we should roughly classify them into fire groups, which 
for gardening purposes are quite distinct. These are 
doubles, broad-leaved hybrids of the jasminifloro- 
javanicum type, small-leaved hybrids of the multicolor- 
javanicum type, hybrids with some of the above and 11 . 
malayanum, and with R. iudicum. The latter two 
types are not very numerous, and at present are most 
interesting botanically. Of two seedlings, of which R. 
iudicum (the Indian Azalea) is one of the parents, one 
has moderate-sized leaves, and the other has small leaves 
like an Azalea, and although several years old, is only 
3 ins. high. An unnamed seedling raised from a 
large-leaved variety named Monarch, fertilised with 
the pollen of R. malayanum, has taken after the pollen 
parent in all the most important particulars. The 
flowers are small, deep red, and the leaves are small, 
dull dark green, and scurfy on both surfaces, like R. 
malay'anum. 
The doubles have rather an interesting history. 
There are five of them, and all, together with a number 
of semi-doubles were raised from a single capsule of a 
pink-fiowered variety. One of the flowers in a truss 
had some of its stamens in a monstrous and petaloid 
condition. All the others were cut away, and the 
abnormal one was fertilised with pollen from its own 
anthers, which had not become petiloid, with the 
results stated. Amongst those now flowering are R. 
balsamaeflorum alba, like a double Tuberose in form ; R. 
b. roseum, with double rose flowers, and R. b. Rajah. 
The latter is not quite so double as the rest, and the outer 
or true corolla is yellow, suffused with salmon, and 
having a deep rose-coloured margin to the segments. 
The inner and supernumerary segments are much darker. 
Many of the broad-leaved type are now in bloom. R. 
jisminiflorum and R. javanieum were chiefly concerned 
in the origin of this group, although, strange to say, 
few or none of them take after R jisminiflorum in its 
small and peculiarly-shaped leaves. Of the resulting 
progeny, R. Princess Rryal was the first put into com¬ 
merce. Princess Alexandra followed ; its blush-white 
flowers are moderate in size, but still acceptable. 
Maiden’s Blush is a great improvement, and has large 
flowers of a deeper tint. Those of Princess Frederica 
are salmon-yellow, equally large, or nearly so, and very 
choice. R. Taylori, with large clear rose flowers, is a 
variety that can hardly escape observation, because 
nearly always in bloom and in several parts of the 
house at the same time. R. Primrose, with pale 
uniform yellow or dark primrose-coloured flowers of 
large size, will be included amongst the choicest or 
standard varieties for many years to come. It was 
raised from R. Teysmanni and R. javanieum. 
A few years ago a dwarf, slender, anl bushy species, 
named R. multicolor, was introduced from Sumatra. 
The flowers are deep red, but there is a bright yellow 
variety which the Messrs. Veitch distinguish under the 
name of R. Curtisii. The leaves are small, lanceolate- 
elliptic, smooth, and very distinct in appearance from 
most Rhododendrons. This species has been hybridised 
with the existing hybrids of the jasminifloro-javanicum 
type, the cross having been made both ways. Strange 
to say, the progeny in both cases is dwarf, twiggy, and 
floriferous like R. multicolor. In this type then we 
have a strain which obviates the legginess of the tiller- 
growing and large-leaved kinds ; but it must be re¬ 
membered that the flowers are much smaller as j'et. 
A good plan with the tall kinds to make large or tall 
plants break at the bottom is to frequently syringe the 
stems in order to keep them moist ; but the wetting of 
the foliage and flowers is to be avoided. 
Amongst these interesting and elegant pigmies a 
number are flowering. Hypolite has reddish scarlet 
flowers of fair size. A very brilliant variety is Eelatant, 
with rich crimson flowers of medium size. Ruby is 
another reddish crimson variety that was certificated 
last year. It is floriferous and dwarf, with small leaves 
like an Azalea, and this might be said of all of them. 
An unnamed seedling, with deep rose flowers, also 
belongs here. 
-=•£$««=-- 
THE VALUE OF PAPER AS A 
PROTECTING MATERIAL-. 
It may be of service to some among your numerous 
readers to be reminded of the value of paper under some 
circumstances as a protection against frost. No doubt 
there are many among them possessing partially or 
wholly unheated structures in which they endeavour 
to keep a few half-hardy things during the winter, and 
a timely hint to such, if acted upon, may prove to be 
a boon. As an example of what may be accomplished 
in this way, I may state what I am doing myself. In 
a lean-to pit without fire-heat or any external covering, 
we have some Chrysanthemum cuttings which are 
rooted, and are plunged in ashes. Besides which there 
is in the same pit a number of pots with seedlings of 
Shirley Poppies, which were sown owing to the partial 
failure of those sown in the open during the autumn, 
due, 1 think, to the prevalence of slugs. The young 
plants have only lately shown themselves, so not liking 
the thought of their perishing from frost, I cover them 
up at night the same as the cuttings. Since this has 
been done we have had 13° and 15° of frost, and on 
each occasion it did not affect them. 
My practice is to remove the paper as early in the 
day as the frost permits, and should it prove frosty 
and cloudy, with fog, so that there is no chance of 
doing it with safety, I let it remain on, and if from 
drip it gets damp, it is dried every day. This may 
sometimes necessitate during a severe frost, with dull 
weather, a relay of paper, because it may not be advis¬ 
able to let the plants remain uncovered while it is 
drying. We use from one to three thicknesses of paper 
according to the severity of the frost ; and on all occa¬ 
sions when the papers have been removed we replace 
them quite dry and early in the afternoon, while the 
sun is still shiniDg.— JF. B. G. 
-- 
CONCERNING MOWING 
MACHINES. 
These most useful labour-saving machines are often 
put away for the winter without receiving the amount 
of care they deserve, and for want of which the physical 
powers of those using them are heavily taxed during 
the first few mowings in the following spring. In some 
cases this leads to a breakdown through some part of 
the machine giving way, with a result not seldom 
detrimental to the worker’s morals and the manufac¬ 
turer’s reputation. If not already done, t!ie machine 
should be carefully taken to pieces, and all parts care¬ 
fully scraped and well oiled. A good plan, as we find 
it, is to put the separate castings into a moderate but 
bright fire until the clotted accumulations of oil and 
dirt are burnt off. This can be easily detected by the 
absence of flame when the parts are withdrawn. Leave 
them on the floor of a shed or on the potting-bench 
until they can be wiped with a rough cloth and well 
oiled. On no account must water be used as a cooling 
agent. The steel parts should be scraped, and not 
submitted to heat. After cleaning the several parts, 
and putting them together, place the machine in a dry 
position away from sulphuric acid gas—an agent 
deleterious to all garden tools, and which is often found 
in close proximity to stokehole fires. Doubtful or 
unsound parts should be replaced, or if a thorough 
renovation is requisite they may be despatched to the 
makers. It is much better to do this now than to 
leave it until nearer spring. 
Ox Sharpening. 
Various ways are resorted to, such as reversing the 
cylinder cutter-blades, or by fixing them in a lathe and 
applying an emery-stone. The bottom or fixed blade 
is the most important part of the cutters, as it 
encounters all gritty obstacles in skimming over the 
lawn, usually getting a notched surface, and, moreover, 
wearing out much faster. It should be noticed whether 
the steel on its edge be worn out or not, as this is of 
vital importance, for such blades without a steel edge 
can never cut well, being always blunt. This applies 
only to blades not wholly made of steel. In sharpening 
these, files are often used, but are not to be recommended, 
as a true bevel cannot be assured. 
In places where steam power is available, it is an easy 
matter to sharpen one’s own, all that is required being 
a gut band, or narrow strap, and a small wheel 3 ins. or 
4 ins. in diameter, and 2-in. surface. The machine, with 
two exceptions, should remain intact. First remove the 
connecting chain, or cog wheel, whichever it is driven 
by, and secondly, the small cog wheel which is attached 
to the end of the cylinder blade shaft, replacing this by 
the small wheel above stated. Fix the machine at some 
convenient distance, weighing down the shafts on the 
floor so as to resist the connecting pressure and to give 
elevation to the front blade, set all the blades even and 
true, and then couple the strap on the small wheel, drum, 
or grooved cone pully of existing machinery. It will at 
once be seen that the principles are exactly the same as 
if driven by hand. Of course, the cutting cylinder 
must revolve the contrary way, or inwards, towards the 
machine-handles. At first the cylinder must be lightly 
screwed down, or the bottom blade screwed up to the 
cylinder, as in the case of an Excelsior. With plenty of 
oil dropped on to the blades, and repeated screwings, 
notches will soon disappear, the finest tissue paper being 
cut when tested ; time, 4 to 6 hours, according to the 
size of the drum or the number of revolutions per minute 
made by the cylinder cutter.— B. L. 
RUBBISH-HEAPS. 
Gardens, whether large or small, must have a rubbish- 
heap, and in places of some extent there is no difficulty 
in finding a suitable spot on which to deposit the 
various conglomerations that go to makeup a rubbish- 
heap, which, although so named, and looked on by some 
as of no value, can be kept tidy. I have smiled at the 
rubbish-heaps in some gardens, merely shot down 
barroivload-thick, and from their all-over-the-place 
appearance were probably the accumulation of years 
—dead wood, shrub and tree prunings, old stalks of the 
Brassica tribe, and other refuse which takes some time 
to decay, mixed and buried with lawn-mowings, sweep¬ 
ings, and refuse from the potting shed. Now, if all 
those hands that help to make such a heap had the—I 
w-as going to say pleasure, but they would find it any¬ 
thing but that—job of turning it over at the present 
season, they would doubtless say, if they never gave it a 
thought before, that the first-named rubbish should be 
kept to itself. Quite right, too ; but I think the pre¬ 
vailing feeling with many when they consign anything 
to the rubbish-heap, is to get it out of hand as soon as 
possible. Success in garden matters greatly depends on 
method, which should extend even to the rubbish-heap. 
At the present season, when general clearing up is 
prevalent, and primings of fruit bushes and trees have 
to be got rid of, a fire should be started. Make a 
beginning by getting a good foundation, as it were, to 
your fire, so as to be able to burn it up quickly, as the 
smoke is not pleasant, and not always tolerated in 
some places. Rubbish of a woody nature should be 
got rid of first, and when there is some body of fire, 
weeds, leaves, &c., may be put on. The ashes of 
rubbish fires are very useful in a garden, a good dressing 
on ground intended for Onions and Cirrots tending 
to prevent the ravages of the maggot and wireworm ; 
in fact, vegetable gardens of some 3 earn’ standing are 
often overdone with manure, and a good dressing would 
greatly benefit such ground. 
Such rubbish as is not intended for burning—short 
stuff that could be conveniently dug into the ground, 
should be turned over, giving it a good dusting of 
newly slaked lime during the operation if it is to be 
applied to heavy ground ; should its destination be 
light sandy soil, 1 would prefer salt to lime, as it would 
retain more moisture, and thus make its presence 
appreciably felt during dry weather. The dressing 
of lime or salt would destroy' many slugs and grubs 
that are always plentiful among such material. So 
rubbish heaps are valuable, or rather their remains, 
some of which I like to add to my Tomato and “ Mum” 
compost. When practising in a suburban garden, I 
had to pay 2 s. a load to have rubbish carted away, as 
it was impossible to have a fire, it being offensive to 
our neighbour.— Geo. Potts, junr., Elmside Gardens, 
Northiam, Sicssex. 
-- - 
THE SEASON AND FLOWERS. 
We heard more about fine culinary produce in gardens 
last year, from south and north alike, than we ever 
remember before. Flowers have also had a good time of 
it in northern gardens, and we are glad to read of cul¬ 
tivators at a distance being able to report as favourably' 
of their garden pets as some are nearer to our own 
district, in the valley of the Forth. The report from 
Messrs. Fergusson & Monroe’s nursery establishment, 
which recently appeared in The Scotsman, is most 
gratifying at this season of the year, and is a strong in¬ 
ducement to lovers of hardy flowers to extend th 
cultivation of these charming plants. We have been 
working in that direction for some time past with good 
results, but are still a great way behind what it is our 
desire to attain as cultivators of these gems, which are 
so much admired by true lovers of flowers. 
Reverting to the mildness of the weather, ive had 
this season a fine display of Stocks until Christmas 
on an open border, and those who take the trouble to 
grow the East Lothian strain for winter flowering in 
pots have something to come in most serviceable when 
the season of the “ Mums ” draws to a close. 
Pompon Dahlias were doing good service until the 
middle of November, and have not long been lifted from 
the ground. Roses were in great abundance till the 
middle of December. We have been able to cut about 
ten dozen a week (half-open flowers) easily, and none 
have been more useful than the good Gloire de Dijon, 
doing well as dwarf bushes on pillars and on walls. 
Polyanthus (Downie’s Selected) have been plentiful, 
but the late frosts checked them. Violets at the base of 
walls have been more abundant than usual. Pansies 
were in abundance from April to November, and Pent- 
stemons, which are barely over yet, are among the 
most useful of summer and autumn flowers.— Stirling. 
