538 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
April 26, 1890. 
display is expected, plant them out of the reach of 
these vermin. Gladioli also now require attention, and 
a soil as recommended for Stocks will suit these very 
well, planting them about 2 ins. deep. Hardy carpet 
bedding subjects are all the better for being early in 
position, and may be proceeded with simultaneously 
with the above. These may comprise Pyrethrum 
Parthenium aureum and P. P. selaginoides, Semper- 
vivum tabulieforme, S. arachnoideum, S. calcareum, 
and others, as well as the species of Sedum, Arabis, 
Mentha Pulegium gibraltarica, &c. ; while Eeheverias, 
Agaves, and plants of like hardihood may be planted 
towards the end of the month. In planting carpet 
beds, the soil should be well firmed, and no rank animal 
manure applied, as this not only sinks into inequalities, 
but also detracts from the character of those succulents 
by imparting a gross growth. 
Pelargoniums, Petunias, Verbenas, and Lobelias 
may, in most cases, be safely planted from the middle 
to the end of May ; although in some districts where 
late frosts are troublesome, their planting may be 
deferred for a week or more with impunity. There is 
nothing gained by being over rash in planting the 
more tender parterre subjects early, as a check at 
planting time with many of these means crippling 
them for the greater part of the season. Verbenas are 
very impatient of any check in their young state, and 
if once given, the stems harden and the foliage becomes 
discoloured, and it is, perhaps, the end of July before 
they quite recover from it, at which time they should 
be approaching their best. The same caution respecting 
rabbits, as in the case of Carnations, is applicable to 
these ; and from this fact alone these once popular 
bedding plants have been entirely discarded in many 
country gardens. They are inclined to be gross 
feeders, and therefore must have liberal attention in 
this respect. In light soil it is, perhaps, as good a 
way as any to strip the soil off the bed (or any position 
they are to occupy) to the depth of 6 ins., and then 
place a layer of well-decomposed cow manure of a few 
inches in depth, replacing the soil and planting thereon. 
The roots very soon find out this layer of manure, and 
are not slow in showing their appreciation of it. A 
fairly rich soil suits the others very well. Sunflowers 
may now be planted, and the foliage and general 
character of the plant will show the intelligent culti¬ 
vator that they require very liberal treatment. 
From the first week in June to tbe end of that month 
is the busy time among the sub-tropical section, and 
the first of those to receive attention—although not 
altogether ranked amongst the so-called sub-tropicals, 
except by their being an easy prey to late frosts—are 
Nasturtiums, Ageratums, Heliotrope, Perilla, and 
Dahlias. These all require soil fairly enriched ; the 
latter will even be benefited by having the soil liberally 
enriched. Iresines, Coleus, Ricinus, Palms, Tree Ferns, 
Dracienas (such as D. rubra, D. gracilis, and D. congesta), 
Alternantheras, Mesembryanthemum cordifolium varie • 
gatum, &c., bring up the rear, and if well arranged 
make the most conspicuous appearance of the whole. 
Care should be taken to select the most sheltered parts 
for these tender subjects, yet studying to have them 
as much as possible under observation from nearly 
every point. Alternantheras are very shy growers in 
the north ; in fact, they often fail to make a bit of 
growth after being planted. It is well, then, to plant 
them close, and I find Standen’s or Thomson’s Manure 
very stimulating to them, as well as Iresines and 
Coleus. In choice carpet-bedding, Alternantheras, from 
their telling colours, their-curiously-blotched foliage, 
and compact neat habit, are quite indispensable for 
filling in panels, and all tracings. Mesembryanthemum 
cordifolium variegatum is another useful plant for the 
same purposes, as also for carpeting, specimen, and dot 
or rosette plants, and may safely be planted in a moder¬ 
ately dry position ; indeed, in such a position it colours 
best, and produces numerous bright pink flowers, which 
though small enliven it very much when the sun shines 
brightly. 
Tree Ferns, Palms, and Dracaenas are most useful 
for centres to large beds for dotting, or for relieving the 
flat monotony, in carpeting, of any colour that may 
harmonise with them, at the same time paying careful 
attention to the balancing of the whole. They are 
sometimes used in unsuitable positions, and hence their 
effect is often lost. Planting stately Palms, Tree 
Ferns, Dracaenas and even Aralias on the grass, turning 
them out of the pots and tubs for the time being, and 
turfing over their roots when planted, gives a permanent 
appearance, and is quite an agreeable change, if due 
attention is paid to position and other matters of trifling 
detail. This latter mode of using these plants imparts 
an ease and grace to the parterre which no quantity of 
pots or tubs can ever do, and gives all a really sub¬ 
tropical appearance.—J. Proctor, Glenjinart, N.B. 
DAFFODILS AT LONG DITTON. 
A field of Daffodils would be a grand sight even if 
they were all of one kind ; but those who like variety 
should pay a visit to the bulb grounds of Messrs. Barr 
& Son at Long Ditton, Surrey, in the rich alluvial 
soil of which are now grown the Daffodils, Preonies, 
Irises, and other herbaceous plants which used to 
be cultivated in a more confined area at Tooting. Of 
the yellows, whites, bicolors, long, short, and medium 
crowned Daffodils there is practically no end, and 
all different. This soon becomes apparent in the 
company of Mr. Barr, who has seen Daffodils in pro¬ 
fusion in their native habitats, both on the mountains 
and in the plain, on limestone, and on granitic forma¬ 
tions. 
The paler forms occur on the limestone, and 
the question arises whether the particular formation 
determines the colour of the flowers. Of wildings 
imported from their native habitats, and of improved 
garden forms, there is no end at Long Ditton ; and 
the samples with which Mr. Barr supplied us 
enabled us to make comparisons and draw inferences 
as to the relative distinctness and decorative value of 
the different kinds. In order to judge of the suitability 
of different kinds for different purposes, the field is the 
best place to come to a correct opinion, for there is con¬ 
siderable diversity, not only in the stature of the plants, 
but in the colour and breadth of the leaves, which 
certainly add largely to the effect of a mass of any 
particular kind. They are grown in long parallel 
beds, each about 4 ft. wide. Some of the sorts 
are past, some in their prime, and the latest are coming 
on. 
Yellow Daffodils. 
Under this heading may be arranged the varieties of 
the N. Pseudo-Narcissus types, or improvements along 
the same lines as the wild Daffodil of our meadows. 
It is impossible, in the space at our disposal, to describe 
each of the good kinds. Maximus, M. J. Berkeley, 
and Countess of Annesley are giants of their kind, and 
sufficiently distinct from one another to deserve a 
place in gardens for extensive cultivation. Maximus is 
orange-yellow, and the darkest of the three. Equally 
intense in colour, but somewhat smaller in size, are 
Santa Maria, and Bastamil with shorter segments. 
Similar in size are Captain Nelson, John Nelson and 
Her Majesty, all beautiful Daffodils of a clear bright 
yellow, and good in substance. The wild N. Pseudo- 
Narcissus of Old Castile is a beautiful little Daffodil, 
but still a great improvement upon our native form. 
Much larger and darker in colour are Eliza Turek, 
Shirley Hibberd, J. G. Baker and Alfred Parsons, all 
beautiful forms, but of small size compared with such 
as Maximus and M. J. Berkeley. A pretty Daffodil is 
Daniel Dewar, with spreading and slightly twisted 
white segments with a yellow base. 
Muticus and Bicolor Types. 
From the vigour and breadth of their leaves, the breadth 
of their segments, and the substance of the corona it is 
convenient to group these Daffodils together, although 
they do not exactly agree in colour, nor, strictly 
speaking, do they belong to one type. The segments 
of N. muticus are oblong and sulphur-yellow, while the . 
corona is bright yellow. Here may be classed Edith 
Barber, Rugilobus, Yarieformis, George Barr and Dean 
Herbert. All show variation from N. muticus, and 
Dean Herbert is a giant of the latter type, but there is 
a gradation towards the true bicolor types, leading 
perhaps through Yarieformis and George Barr. N. 
bicolor of Haworth is a beautiful and dwarf Daffodil, 
of much greater substance than N. breviflos, with its 
flimsy sulphur-yellow' segments, and which is said to 
be the N. bicolor of the Botanical Magazine. The 
giants of this group are N. bicolor Horsefieldi, Empress, 
Grandis, Emperor and P. R. Barr. All have very 
broad imbricated segments and a large golden yellow 
trumpet. The first three have white segments, the latter 
two primrose-yellow ones. Emperor and P. R. Barr are 
classed among the yellow kinds, but their affinities are 
clearly with this group. All are admirably adapted for 
planting in large beds in public or in private gardens- 
and parks. Grandis is late, remarkably dwarf, and, 
in our opinion, has the finest flowers of the three white- 
kinds. Dorien Smith and John Parkinson are bicolor 
types, with flowers but little inferior in size to those 
just given. Harrison Weir is of the same robust type, 
but the broadly oblong segments recall those of a 
giant N. muticus, only they are white. Emperor, 
Empress, Grandis, P. R. Barr, Bicolor Horsefieldi,. 
Harrison Weir, or Dean Herbert should be in every 
garden. 
White Daffodils of the N. moschatus Tyte. 
As imported, N. moschatus is a tiny little thing, but 
exceedingly pretty, and white, with pale lemon corona. 
The same may be said of the garden forms, as far as 
colour is concerned, but they are all much larger, and 
differ in the relative length and breadth of the 
segments and the corona. We noted N. moschatus 
tortuosus, Albicans, Pulcher, andWm. Goldring. The 
latter is notable for the length of its segments, which 
exceed the crown. All are beautiful for private gardens. 
Eucharis-flowered. 
These are garden forms, intermediate between N. pocu- 
liformis and N. incomparabilis, with long white 
segments, and a bell-shaped corona of some shade of 
yellow. Elegans, Amabilis, Duchess of Westminster, 
Hon. Mrs. Barton, and Princess of Wales are some of 
the fine kinds we noted. Minnie Hume has a very 
wide corona, and is fragrant, while Palmerston is 
deliciously so. Gem should not be omitted, as it is 
one of the most distinct, with broad white segments, 
resembling those of N. poeticus. 
Nonsuch or Peerless Daffodils. 
These are forms of N. incomparabilis, tbe garden var¬ 
ieties of which number 100 or more, so that we shall 
only name a few of the best. Sir Watkin is the largest 
and finest of all, but for real beauty can hardly exceed 
C. J. Backhouse, Beauty, Gloria Mundi, Queen Sophia 
and Princess Mary, tbe crown of which is more or less 
ornamented with orange, or appeals to the lover of 
flowers from its great size and beautiful regularity. To 
these we shall add Autocrat, Frank Miles, Fair Helen, 
Flora Wilson, Queen Bess, Lady Jane, General 
Murray, Goliath, and Figaro. 
Miscellaneous Types. 
The collection is so exhaustive that collectors might 
find the best of almost every type with which to enrich 
their collections, however extensive. The best of the 
N. poeticus type is indispensable in a garden, and 
includes such as N. p. ornatus, N. p. poetarum, N. p. 
recurvus and others. The hybrid N. Burbidgei, 
between N. incomparabilis and N. poeticus, includes 
such fine forms as Etta, Edith Bell, and Baroness 
Heath. The finest of the hybrid N. Barri, are Barri 
conspicuus and Crown Prince, both of great beauty. 
Of the broad-leaved, dwarf types, N. Nelsoni major 
and Mrs. C. J. Backhouse are very beautiful. We 
noted some eight types of N. tridymus, and the largest 
flowered and best of them were A. Rawson, S. A. de 
Graaff and Robert Ormiston Backhouse. 
N. Johnstoni is a small but beautiful Daffodil of the 
N. Pseudo-Narcissus type, and Queen of Spain and 
George Cammell are greatly enlarged and improved 
forms of graceful and attractive habit. The miniature 
and beautiful Daffodils, such as N. Bulboeodium, N. 
B. citrinus, N. triandrus, N. juneifolius and N. mutieo- 
juncifolius, are all so pretty that we cannot ignore 
them, with their elegant but quiet beauty. 
--—- 
FERNS AND FERNERIES. 
By E. Booker. 
(Continued f rom p. 523 ). 
Filmy Ferns. —These Ferns are, perhaps, amongst 
the most beautiful and interesting of the whole family. 
In consequence of their requiring a closer and moister 
atmosphere than can be supplied under ordinary condi¬ 
tions in the stove or greenhouse, they must be grown 
in frames, bell glasses, or wardian cases, and as these 
cases are now made in so many handsome designs, one 
of them properly filled with a good variety of 
filmy Ferns is no disgrace to the most elegant dining 
or drawing room. Care must be exercised in selecting 
a case to see that the bottom is perfectly lined and 
sound, and the outlet for the water perfect. On the 
bottom of the case place plenty of thoroughly clean 
broken crocks, and on these place a thin layer of 
moss or sphagnum, to prevent the soil washing down 
and choking the drainage. The drainage is a very 
important point in the cultivation of Ferns in cases. 
The compost should be free and open, consisting of 
good fibrous peat, a small quantity of loam, leaf-soil, 
and sand ; this should be sifted and the finer particles 
used for other purposes. Some broken charcoal, sand¬ 
stone, or pumice stone, should be well mixed with the 
soil after it is sifted. The object of such an open 
compost is to secure a free passage for water through 
the whole body of soil, and the free admission of ah to 
the roots of the plants. Where such a compost is 
used, it will be found that the best roots are those 
which lie in the crevices between the pieces of compost. 
