April 28, 1894. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
553 
THE AURICULA. 
These, although meeting with very general admira¬ 
tion, are not grown and tended with so much care as 
their great beauty should secure for them. Their 
requirements are of the most simple character, and 
when properly attended to they give a rich reward to 
those who grow them, having a beauty and dis¬ 
tinctiveness about them which is peculiarly their 
own. The Polyanthus comes nearest to them in 
appearance, yet how very unlike both in foliage and 
flower ! The older florists held them in high repute, 
and lavished the most unremitting attention upon 
them. A first-class collection of show varieties is 
still a somewhat expensive indulgence to those of 
limited means, but I may say in passing that I have 
met with working men who, having a fancy for them, 
would often pay a good price for a choice variety to 
add to their collections till they got together a frame 
full of sorts which many a professional gardener 
might envy them the possession of. 
One great advantage they possess is that those 
having limited accommodation can grow a great 
variety in a small space. As regards cold,- I have 
never had any killed by the most severe frost when 
kept fairly dry through the winter. As to the 
Alpine and border varieties, there is nothing hardier 
among the whole range of hardy herbaceous plants, 
and in addition to the chaste beauty of their colours 
many of them are most deliciously scented. Although 
so hardy, no one can ensure seeing them in full 
beauty unless they have the protection of glass 
during the flowering period, because the flowers are 
so readily damaged by rain ; besides, they will last 
longer in flower under a glazed shelter, and the 
flowers will be brighter and cleaner for it. The 
varieties are numerous, and for general purposes 
may be divided into five classes, the green, grey, and 
white edged, seifs and Alpines. Of these the edged 
varieties are the scarcest and more difficult to grow, 
but notwithstanding the high esteem in which they 
are held by florists, the seifs and Alpines often prove 
the most attractive to the outside public. 
Those who admire them, yet have no particular 
fancy for named varieties, may, by obtaining seed 
from a reliable source, establish for themselves a 
collection to meet their requirements at a trifling 
cost. Sow either in September or March in pans or 
boxes, using light soil. Cover the seeds about one- 
fourth of an inch deep ; keep the pan moderately 
moist and free from weeds, and when the seedlings 
have four or five leaves transplant into rows, placing 
them from six to eight inches apart. There let them 
remain till they flower, marking all thought good 
enough for pot culture, and the others may be 
planted about the borders. Those selected for pot 
culture should be potted up when the bloom is over, 
using fibrous loam and well decayed cow manure, 
with enough coarse silver or other sand to keep it 
open. Remove all side shoots that have roots, shake 
off the old soil, drain the pots well with crocks or 
shells, putting about an inch of these in and cover¬ 
ing them well over with some of the coarser parts 
of the soil. 
Pot moderately firm, leaving the plant slightly 
elevated in the centre of the pot, say, level with the 
rim and falling down to the sides, so that there is 
one-fourth of an inch left for wafer. When potted 
place them where they will get but little sun after 
ten o'clock, on either a bed of coal ashes, or if boards 
or slates are available it will be better to place them 
on these, as the worms often after a time find their 
way through the ashes. For good sized well-rooted 
plants use 32-pots, those which are weaker will do 
better in 48-pots. Put the offsets singly into small 
pots or three or .four round the sides of a No. 48 ; 
water when dry in fine weather and protect from 
heavy storms of rain. They may remain in their 
summer’s quarters till the close of September, unless 
the season should prove exceptionally adverse for 
them. When the cold nights and heavy rains of 
autumn set in remove them to their winter quarters ; 
nothing is much better for this purpose than a 
wooden frame set on bricks or a cold pit. I prefer a 
frame because if set on bricks it permits of a circula¬ 
tion of air being obtained from the bottom as well as 
the top, and an abundance of air at all times except 
during very severe frost should be given. 
Elevate the plants to within 6 in. of the glass, and 
water very sparingly through the winter, and when 
water is given let it be done in the morning so that 
the plants may be dry by evening. Remove the 
lights entirely on all favourable occasions, and keep 
a sharp look-out for slugs and any other insect pests. 
The surface of the soil must also be kept free of 
moss by slight stirrings of the surface. Beyond this 
little will require doing till the end of February, 
when the annual top-dressing is given. For this 
use a mixture of very rotten cow manure, light loam 
and leaf soil made a little sandy, and use the com¬ 
post in a medium condition as regards moisture. 
Remove a portion of the old soil and all dead leaves, 
press the fresh compost firmly round the plants, and 
give a gentle watering. Replace in the frame and 
continue the same course of treatment till they 
throw up their trusses. Then only give air freely 
on very fine days, keeping them somewhat warmer 
by closing earlier and covering up on cold nights. 
Those who have a greenhouse would do well to 
flower them in it, as they are more under command, 
and although requiring in the flowering stage an 
abundance of water, neither the foliage, and more 
particularly the flowers, should be wetted, and they 
ought also to be shaded from bright sunshine. 
When out of flower remove them into their summer 
quarters and continue the same course of treatment 
as before. Sometimes they die off with canker ; this 
is mainly owing to unsuitable conditions of the soil 
from improper drainage, or being allowed to get into 
a soddened condition. When any are noticed going 
yellow, examine them, cut away all decaying parts, 
and repot in suitable soil. Green-fly is sometimes 
troublesome, but it can generally be brushed off with 
a soft brush — IV. B. G. 
- 
DYSON’S LANE 
NURSERIES. 
Fine foliage plants constitute the leading feature of 
Mr. H. B. May's Dyson's Lane Nurseries, Upper 
Edmonton. Ferns, Palms, Crotons, Aralias, and 
kindred subjects receive great attention, but Roses, 
Camellias, Carnations, Intermediate Stocks, Calceo¬ 
larias, bedding plants, and others in season receive 
due attention. Palms of the leading and more 
popular decorative kinds occupy a considerable 
extent of glass. The young leaves of Geonoma 
gracilis are now of a beautiful bronzy tint in the 
case of seedling plants about 10 in. or 12 in. high. 
The ever popular and useful Kentia Fosteriana and 
Belmoreana may be seen of all ages and sizes. 
Seedlings of the latter often turnup with red petioles 
of greater or less intensity, and are very pretty. 
There is a large stock of Latania borbonica about 
18 in. high. The small leaves and compact form of 
Corypha australis make it a very serviceable Palm. 
Cocos Weddeliana, always indispensable, is grown in 
quantity and in various sizes. The broad segments 
of Geonoma Schotii stand out in bold relief to the 
better known species already mentioned, as well as 
to Areca lutescens, A. Baueri, Phoenix canariensis, 
and P. reclinata. Many others are grown in 
quantities to meet the respective demands made 
for them. 
The collections of Crotons and Caladiums are well 
worthy of inspection, as they contain the cream of 
those worthy of general cultivation. The dwarf 
habit of Caladium Argyrites and C. erubescens 
minus make them suitable for a great variety of 
purposes, for they are very neat and pretty. Ficus 
elastica and F. e. variegata are much in demand, and 
the stock of the latter has been greatly reduced. 
The three most popular Aralias are A. Veitchi, 
A. V. gracillima, and A. elegantissima, for they are 
grown everywhere, and the popular choice cannot 
be said to be much at fault. A. Reginae, A. 
leptophylla, and Kerchoveana are, however, hand¬ 
some in their way. For covering unsightly walls in 
moist houses, there are few plants more suitable 
than Ficus repens and the very small leaved F. r. 
minima. Asparagus tenuissimus and A. plumosus 
nanus may be seen in various stages from the 
seedling or cutting onward. The variegated 
Pandanus Veitchi is remarkably well coloured, 
and the same might be said of Cyperus alternifolius 
variegatus, the green form of which is extensively 
grown. Useful flowering subjects are Allamanda 
Williamsii and Clerodendron Balfourianum. A 
large stock of brightly coloured Dracaenas are in 
fine form and clean. The green D.australis in some 
variety is also duly taken in hand. Akin to the 
Ferns are the Selaginellas, numbers of which are 
well grown, but particularly S. amoena and S. 
Emiliana, the dwarf and compact tufts of which are 
very handsome. 
Ferns have always been the leading feature of Mr. 
May’s establishment at Dyson's Lane, and the 
former reputation is more than maintained. A large 
number of species of Adiantum are not merely kept 
in stock, but cultivated and grown in the best 
condition of which they are capable in moderate 
sized plants. One house is almost occupied with 
A. Farleyense in various sizes. A. caudatum, A. 
ciliatum, and A. dolabriforme are pretty basket 
plants, bearing young ones at the tips of the drooping 
fronds. The deep rose tints of the young fronds of 
A. rubellum are very attractive, and so are the pink 
tints of Ihe young fronds of a large number of others. 
A. Reginae, A. Legrandi, like a compact A. gracilli- 
mum, A. mundulum, A. Pacottii, A. Weigandi, and 
A. cuneatum elegans, more erect and elegant than 
the type, are all handsome garden ra’sed Ferns. A. 
cuneatum itself is grown by the houseful, as is A. 
decorum. The compact and bushy A. setulosum, 
about 8 in. to 12 in. high, is a picture of health and 
beauty The variegated Pteris Mayii, P. Reginae, 
P. Victoriae, and P. tricolor are not better done 
anywhere. P. serrulata is grown in a bewildering 
variety of forms, including P. s. major, P. s. 
undulata, P. s. gloriosa, and P. s. gracilis, the latter 
being so slender and graceful, yet so compact as to 
resemble a tuft of grass. Many other species of 
Pteris receive their due share of attention, including 
P. leptophylla princeps. All the leading species and 
varieties of Nephrolepis are kept in a sort of tropical 
luxuriance. The climbing Lygodium dichotomum 
and L. japonicum in useful young plants are trained 
up stakes. Pteris tremula Smithiana, i ft. to 2 ft. 
high, shows what may be done with this bold Fern. 
P. nobilis is well known, but the variegated P. n. 
variegata will before long be a familiar object in 
collections. Gold and silver leaved species ot 
Gymnogramme include the silver G. Mayii, G. 
peruviana, the golden G. Alston! and Parsons!, and 
the green G. schizophylla gloriosa, and others. 
Aspleniums, Polypodiums, Lastreas, Acrostichums, 
Platyceriums, Lomarias, and Davallias in endless 
variety of form, habit, and colour, would occupy a 
great extent of space to merely mention. 
In the cooler houses are large quantities of 
variegated Ivies, Aralia Sieboldi, Ivy-leaved Pelar¬ 
goniums, Aspidistra lurida, A. 1 . variegata, 
herbaceous Calceolarias, in quantity, Statice 
Butcher!, and British Ferns. Many of the latter 
are grown in the open air, and are now pushing up 
their fronds. Intermediate Stocks in variety now 
coming into bloom in pots are stood in the open air. 
Some of the colours, including the crimson, are 
remarkably rich. Mignonette, grown in the market 
style and in excellent condition, is also relegated to 
the open air. Tree Carnations occupy a considerable 
area of glass. The crimson Winter Cheer is as well 
grown as we have seen it. Other popular varieties 
are Miss Joliffe Improved, Mrs. A. Hemsley, 
Delicata, and Duke of York. The latter is a large 
and bold flower of a deep crimson, and highly 
fragrant. 
-- 
SUMMER SPORT IN HOME & GARDEN. 
Having learned that wasps are already very 
numerous, and as I and many others have been 
puzzled how to find any sport in the summer, it 
entered mj head one day last August that some 
might be had by catching wasps, of which there 
were then so many. So I at once took to my village 
blacksmith a large pair of scissors, and had them 
converted into a pair of tongs, like, but larger, than 
ordinary sugar tongs, and with the ends flattened, 
and as large as a sixpence. Armed with this, I went 
one morning into the garden, where I found a great 
number of wasps intent on eating the Apricots, 
Plums, and other fruit, and in a short time I killed 
(but did not bag) “ fifteen brace and a half ” before 
luncheon, and a great many more since. I cannot 
say that this sport was quite equal to what may be 
enjoyed on the grouse moors, still it was exciting. 
So I advise those who have a fruit garden to try 
this “ sport," and those who have not have only to 
place on a table outside some ripe fruit, or even some 
sugar and water smeared over it, and they will soon 
have plenty of game on the table if not in the field, 
and for the use of gardeners in greenhouses the.se 
“ tongs ” will be very useful, and will save many a 
fine bunch of Grapes and other frvit.— A. 0 . M., in 
Land and Water. 
