66 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
September 30, 1893. 
near the edge and the whole is surrounded by a band 
of A. aurea major. 
Near the Rosebery Gate is some more bedding. 
A mixed bed of variegated Maize and Abutilon 
Thompsoni, on a ground of Begonia semperflorens 
atropurpurea, edged with Centaurea ragusina shows 
plenty of contrast. A small Pear-shaped bed is 
occupied with Pelargonium Queen of Queens, mixed 
with a blue Viola, and edged with the floriferous 
Cuphea platycentra. Close by is a much larger bed 
of similar shape, and filled with various coloured 
Castor Oil plants, Solanum pyracanthum, Cannas, 
and Perilla nankinensis, on a ground of Heliotrope, 
edged with Cuphea. It has certainly plenty of 
variety, and has done well. A bed of the old Pelargo¬ 
nium Vesuvius has also done well. A circular bed of 
Dahlias in floriferous condition consists of a mass of 
a tall maroon variety in the centre, surrounded by a 
zone of a dwarf white one, edged with Perilla and 
Heliotrope. Very pleasing also is a mixed bed of 
tall Cannas, Castor Oil plants, Lavatera arborea 
variegata in massive plants, Solanum pyracanthum, 
and S. laciniatum. 
A refreshment pavilion was built about the middle 
of the park in summer, and several large beds had 
to be formed around it. Into these a great quantity 
of clay had to be put, to get rid of that taken from 
the foundation of the building, the drains, and that 
from the broad walks that had to be made. These 
beds had to be planted with something available 
about the second week of July, and no preparations 
having been made for this unforeseen work, the best 
had to be made of what was on hand at that inopor- 
tune time. The beds are intended for planting with 
shrubs ; but as soon as they were made they were 
planted with flowers. One contains single Dahlias, 
another Celosias, and a third is filled with Balsams 
and early Chrysanthemums, which are now flower¬ 
ing freely, and look fresh. A fourth bed is occupied 
with perennial Asters, whose stems were laid down 
to make them appear dwarf. A. Amellus , A. acris, 
A. Novi Belgii densus, A. Novae Angliae pulchellus, 
and A. N. A. roseus are now flowering freely. 
Herbaceous Plants. 
The rockery plants, mostly spring-flowering sub¬ 
jects are quiescent at present. Here and there a 
few may be seen flowering irregularly for a second 
time, owing to the abnormal character of the season. 
A great amount of labour has been expended in 
watering them during the heat of summer. The 
numerous shrubbery borders are, however, gay along 
the front vfith herbaceous plants, including the 
Asters already named, as well as A. Novi Belgii, 
Robert Parker, and A. Shortii. Gaillardias and 
Sedum spectabile are also floriferous and used with 
fine effect. Funkia subcordata grandiflora with 
fragrant white flowers is frequently so late as to be 
cut down by frost, but this year has flowered 
grandly. The Pampas Grass (Gynerium argen- 
teum) is now becoming conspicuous. Oenothera 
biennis is flowering finely on the bank of the lake. 
Rudbeckia speciosa is one of the finest of compo¬ 
sites now very common, but Phloxes constitute a fine 
contrast. 
Near the Court Lane Gate is a large elevated bed 
surrounded by rockwork at the sides. This has 
been gay for a long time with Sunflowers of various 
kinds, including Helianthus rigidus, H. multiflorus 
plenus, H. annuus, and Love Lies Bleeding. More 
interesting, perhaps, are the numerous varieties of the 
Marvel of Peru (Mirabilis Jalapa) with rose, 
reddish-purple, white, and yellow mixed with white 
flowers, exhaling a fragrance similar to that of 
Hedychium coronarium. The spaces at the base of 
the rockwork near the gate are gay with China 
Asters, Begonia semperflorens atropurpurea, dwarf 
Antirrhinums, Tropseolums, Marguerite Carnations 
still in bloom, and Cupheas. In spring these places 
are occupied with various spring-flowering subjects. 
Near the Dulwich Common or Snake’s Lane 
entrance, similar spaces by the rockwork are gay 
with Dianthus sinensis Heddewigii, Phlox Drum- 
mondi, Viola Countess of Kintore, Harrison’s Musk 
and China Asters. Auriculas are flowering a second 
time, as well as Sedum stoloniferum, S. s. ibericum 
and S. s. splendens. 
Besides the above, the borders everywhere are gay 
with Zinnias, Night-scented Tobacco, Pentstemons, 
Ageratums, Candytuft, Maize, Cannas, Chrysanthe¬ 
mum Mrs. Hawkins, C. Piercy’s Seedling, Scabious, 
and redolent with the odour of Mignonette. Many 
of these had to be raised in boxes and planted out. 
for it was impossible to germinate them in the clay 
soil in such a sultry and arid season. To these may 
be added Violas, Petunias, Pelargoniums, and other 
bedding subjects. Some of the large beds of 
Rhododendrons are gay with Dahlias, including 
Brunette, crimson and pink centre. Rosy Blush, 
almost of the same colour as the old German 
pompon German Favourite, and Empress of India, 
dark crimson. 
Shrubs. 
Many of the shrubs or small trees that flowered 
beautifully in spring are now in fruit, including the 
red and the yellow fruited Siberian and other Crabs, 
including Pyrus floribunda. A prominent feature of 
the place is the numerous large bushes of Sweet 
Brier now laden with red fruit. Rosa rugosa is also 
in fruit. Some of the kinds of Bladder Senna, such 
as Colutea cruenta are loaded with their curious 
bladder-like fruits and still flowering. The Corse is 
in full bloom, Cotoneaster Simonsii in fruit, and the 
foliage of Prunus Pissardi and Negundo aceroides 
variegata is still in fine condition, contrasting well 
with other kinds. China or Monthly Roses in rose 
and velvety colours are most floriferous, as they were 
in the early part of the season. Other Roses grown 
in some quantity are Mrs. John Laing and La 
France, flowering well for the second time, while 
the Bourbon Rose, Souvenir de la Malmaison, is in 
season. Amongst the latter, Lilium speciosum 
album is still flowering, while L. candidum and L. 
tigrinum, as well as Galtonias and Gladioli, have 
served their time and been cut down. Other hybrid 
perpetual Roses are competing with Mignonette for 
flavour by ther fragrance. Tamarix gallica, with 
its pink sprays, and Spartium junceum, with its 
yellow broom-like flowers, are extending their season 
very late. The fragrant Clematis Flammula is 
loaded with bloom and likely to be so for a long time 
to come. The Hop, although not a shrub, is a fit 
associate and is now laden with its catkins as it 
clambers up amongst the bushes. The American 
garden is full of promise for another year, and some 
of the bushes look as if they would soon burst into 
bloom so forward are they. Rhododendrons and 
Azaleas are the most important and form large beds. 
They were planted two years ago last spring, Have 
made steady growth, and bloomed well ever since, 
and are new bearing thirty to sixty bloom buds 
each. Fine tufts of Daphne Cneorum round the 
sides of the beds are also well set with buds. 
In the private grounds large quantities of various 
hardy, half hardy, and tender subjects are being 
propagated for another season, including seedling 
Carnations and cuttings of Pinks in large quantities. 
A large batch of seedlings of Begonia semperflorens 
atropurpurea for next year’s bedding are now flower¬ 
ing profusely, although they are only 3 in. to 6 in. 
high and in small pots. Occasionally white and 
pink varieties turn up amongst them, but the per¬ 
centage that varies from the type is very small. The 
foliage under glass does not take the same brilliant 
colouring as it does out of doors. A good collection 
of large flowering Chrysanthemums in pots are pro¬ 
gressing favourably ; but unfortunately there is no 
house at Dulwich Park in which they may be 
exhibited to the public during the Chrysanthemum 
season. The whole place from one end to the other 
is scrupulously clean, without a neglected corner, 
and reflects great credit upon the care and attention 
of the active and diligent superintendent, Mr. J. W. 
Moorman. 
-- 
LILIUMS. 
These are so popular, and have been so particularly 
good during this dry summer and autumn, that a 
few notes upon them cannot fail to be acceptable. 
Their varied forms and colours, added to the delicious 
perfume, are only a few of their attractions. In the 
majority of species the scent is a little too over¬ 
powering for indoors, but in the open it is very grati¬ 
fying. 
Several of them will do in almost any soil and 
situation, while others need a prepared compost. An 
open soil, with a cool, moist bottom for the roots to 
revel in, while allowing the bulb to lie fairly dry 
when dormant, will suit almost all Lilies equally 
well. 
Many of the most showy sorts may be grown in 
windows, while almost all of them are much more 
amenable to outdoor cultivation than is generally 
imagined. 
Grown in borders among shrubs, or in the front of 
Rhododendrons and other evergreens, they are seen 
to great advantage. The dark green foliage of the 
Rhododendrons throws out the colours of the Lilies 
well, and the soil suited for the former is admirable 
for the latter, especially if a little thoroughly rotten 
manure be worked in about a foot below the bulb. 
It is diflScult to imagine greater splendour than that 
shown by Lilium candidum, tigrinum, auratum, 
Chalcedonicum, and the various forms of the Marta- 
gon Lilies. These are perfectly hardy, and if left 
undisturbed in a suitable soil, soon form grand 
masses of bulbs. As most of the Lilies bear heavy 
heads of flowers, and are consequently easily broken 
by wind and rain, proper attention should be given to 
staking the strongest and tallest growers. Bamboo 
canes are light, strong, and very lasting. 
All Lilies are suitable for steady forcing, and the 
following is a short outline of pot culture. With a 
little care, some sort or other may be had in bloom 
the whole year through. Foremost among those 
suited for pots, we must place L. auratum and L. 
Harrisii. These are invaluable for the conservatory, 
where their regal splendour is seen to great 
advantage. 
Pot Culture. 
October is a good month for potting up the bulbs. 
Use good turfy loam, with a little leaf soil and 
manure. Having well drained the pots, fill them 
about three-parts full with the compost. A 6, 7, or 
8-in pot, according to the size of the bulb, is most 
suitable. Before placing the bulb on the soil, I like 
to put a small handful of sharp sand in the centre of 
the pot, and rest the base of the bulb upon this. 
With this little precaution there is no fear of the 
bulb rotting, and the roots break more healthy and 
numerous. Now make the whole fairly firm together, 
leaving half of the bulb above the surface. As the 
bulb pushes into growth, you will notice a quantity 
of fleshy roots form at the foot of the growth, and 
immediately above the bulb. It helps the growth 
very much if these are mulched with the potting 
compost, more especially if a few pieces of dry cow 
dung be placed among the roots. This is much 
better than filling the pots with soil at first. 
When potted, stand them on a cool, damp bottom, 
so that the soil may remain moist without the 
necessity of watering before the young roots are on 
the move. After the pots are full, and while the 
flower spikes are growing freely, no amount of water 
will harm them, provided you paid proper attention 
to their drainage. After flowering is over, gradually 
lessen the water supply until the bulb returns to its 
semi-ripened state, when the pots may be stood 
under the greenhouse bench, or in any position 
where they will not become dust-dry. From June 
until the end of September, they may stand out of 
doors while in this state; indeed, the process of 
ripening will be carried on more efficiently if they 
can be stood in the sun from the time their bloom is 
finished. 
General Out-door Culture. 
If it is intended to cultivate these Lilies near shrubs 
or in any borders occupied by other subjects, it is 
best to dig out a hole about 2 ft. square and as deep. 
This should be filled with a mixture of leaf soil, 
peat, turf, dry cow dung, and road scrapings in about 
equal proportions. Do not tread this down, but let 
it sink naturally ; the following season the bulb may 
be mulched with a rich compost. You can plant 
the bulbs singly or in two’s or three’s, according to 
the size masses you desire. A litttle sand at the 
foot of the bulb is even more useful here than in the 
case of pot bulbs. Plant the bulb 3 in. deep, and 
cover over with a little rough litter as a protection 
from frost. Next season after they have been mulched 
they will be deep enough to stand without this, 
especially if among other subjects which do not die 
down annually. I do not advise lifting any of the 
hardy varieties more than once in every five years ; 
and then only with the object of enriching the lower 
strata of soil, where the roots gain their chief 
nourishment. Hardy Lilies keep a large quantity of 
their fleshy roots alive all the winter, and however 
carefully they may be lifted many of these are 
unavoidably broken off. 
I will now pass on to a brief description of a few 
of the best sorts, omitting the newer kinds, which 
are too expensive for the average grower. In the 
following list “H” stands for hardy and "G” for 
greenhouse varieties. 
L. CANDIDUM (H.) has been cultivated in this coun¬ 
try for nearly three hundred years. A native of south- 
