694 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
July 4th, 1885. 
SCOTTISH GARDENING. 
Notes ox Hardy Flowering Plaxts. —Where there 
is a desire to have a display of showy and useful 
flowers during spring and the early summer months, 
it can be easily accomplished, and for the growth 
of many kinds the cooler and later the district the 
better will be the display, and the longer will the 
plants continue in flower. The nature of the soil, 
and state of its cultivation, has also much to do with 
their successful cultivation. Heavy clay land when 
only turned over one spit deep gives a short season 
when drought prevails, such as w T as the case last 
year, at this time ; and we are barely exempt from 
suffering by drought at the present time. W here a 
proper system of trenching and careful preparation of 
the land has taken place, the difference of growth is 
very remarkable. We never had better opportunities 
for proving the fallaciousness of the practice of surface 
tilling than at present. We often have to do the best 
we can with the labour and means at our command, 
and do that which we would avoid were adequate 
•means allowed to do justice to the plants. 
Whatever classes of plants may be cultivated, it is 
always essential that provision for free and healthy 
root action should be made. Never having had such 
ample means at our command as at present, we should 
certainly be blameworthy did we neglect to do justice 
to the cultivation of the land. It sometimes happens, 
when one is pressed with a quantity of plants out of 
the soil, and lateness of the time of planting, that the 
amount of cultivation due to the ground cannot be 
given. We will give, as an illustration, the benefits 
derived from deep trenching for shrubs and trees 
to shut out buildings from view, to provide shelter, 
and to yield a good supply of flowers on the same 
space. Selections of suitable plants were made, and 
the ground (a damp, tenacious clay) was to have extra 
care and attention. To raise the surface above the 
ordinary level some 3 ft., great quantities of material 
were required. Ashes at no great distance were 
plentiful, so trenching began, and each trench was 
filled up with them, leaving a depth of about 3 ft. of 
the clay resting high and dry on the mass of ashes. 
The work of planting was. followed up closely ; some 
hundreds of shrubs and trees being chosen. The kinds 
selected for flowering, to mix with a few tall-growing 
trees, were Laburnums, Crategus, Brooms (white 
and yellow), Golden Elders, Berberis, St. John’s 
Wort, Cotoneasters, Bibes, Ligustrum japonica, 
Lilacs of sorts, Double Gorse, Mezereons, Wiegelias, 
&c. These and some others, mixed with a fine 
collection of Rhododendrons, and a choice assort¬ 
ment of Evergreens with remarkable foliage, give a 
display of colour and beauty during spring and 
summer, such as would attract the attention of the 
most casual observer. 
It is worthy of notice that the plants placed on the 
deeply-trenched soil have made more than double the 
growth of those which were planted on the same kind 
of soil which was only turned over one spade deep. 
All had light soil added at planting time, which was 
carefully mixed and placed round the roots. We 
have been where we had to put trees and shrubs in 
large quantities into the solid ground, which was a red 
clay, and no digging afterwards allowed. Under such 
conditions plants may live—these did, but two or 
three seasons had to elapse before a start into fresh 
growth was made. It is not uncommon for inex¬ 
perienced proprietors to look upon the proper mani¬ 
pulation of the ground, where planting is being done, 
as labour and time lost. The makeshift system is 
false economy with a vengeance. 
Flowering plants of another class at this season, 
which we have placed in clumps in vacant spaces 
among shrubs, have given much pleasure, both for 
cutting and for clothing what would otherwise have 
been vacant ground. While we can cut our Orchids, 
Eucharis, Gardenias, Stephanotis, Ac., among stove 
plants, and there is a large host of New Holland shrubs 
which produce flowers during spring, besides the almost 
innumerable variety of plants which are forced for 
cutting, we have felt sure when packing these in 
quantity for transit that the homely flowers from the 
open ground were not inferior to the gems from under 
glass, but quite on a par with them. The perfume of 
many of the hardy flowers is, in our opinion, not sur¬ 
passed by any exotics we know of. The Wallflowers, 
for example, have a very rich perfume ; Polyan¬ 
thus, Primroses, Auriculas (of the finer kinds), and 
Violets, have qualities which render them favourites 
everywhere. They can be grown easily and well in the 
most untoward positions ; but they well repay any 
extra attention afforded them. In cool positions they 
stand longer than when more exposed to sunshine ; 
strong moist soil (when drained and enriched) suits 
most of these well, and great quantities of many kinds 
can be raised by a few shillings’ worth of seed. 
In the herbaceous ground there is no lack of beau¬ 
tiful flowers, even at this early season. WTiere cut- 
flowers are much in request a collection of herbaceous 
plants is of immense value. To get the full benefit of 
them, attention must be paid to the preparation of the 
soil by deep cultivation and enriching. Rotted turves 
and leaf-mould, where such can be had, give fine healthy 
support to this kind of plant; rank manure induces 
gross growth, but is not conducive to abundant inflor¬ 
escence. Keeping each kind free from their neighbours, 
not chopping off pieces and burying them, thorough 
cleanliness by removal of weeds, Ac., frequent surface 
stirring, staking in time to prevent breakages, and 
watchful attention to trapping and destroying slugs 
and other vermin are some of the simple requirements 
of a herbaceous ground. The best of gardens without 
such an auxiliary as a collection of herbaceous plants 
are very incomplete. Rather than have a collection 
for mere novelty, we would prefer a selection of the 
kinds which would be useful for cutting, and be attrac¬ 
tive in the ground. Great numbers of herbaceous 
plants might, with much satisfaction, be confined to 
the Alpine ground—or wild garden—if such a thing 
existed. Rockeries, as they are called, are too often 
burlesques, and only fit to be ranked among things of 
the past. Imitations of nature are rarely seen among 
masses of stones, roots, Ac., which are huddled 
together; and where we have had such under our 
charge we endeavoured to cover the whole surface with 
plant life as far as we were able, and at the present 
time where a space has during the last few weeks been 
filled here with such an erection we are cramming 
every cranny with plants. 
Herbaceous grounds are seldom formal, and a few 
such plants (of dwarfed proportions) as Retinosporas, 
Myrtle-leaved Laurels, Double Cherries, Laburnums, 
Golden and Silver Hollies, Ac., which are not insig¬ 
nificant in winter, as well as at the present time, in 
company with Irises, Pyrethrums, Tritomias, Pteonies 
(some of the new double kinds are sweet-scented), 
Spirseas, Dielytras, and others such as we have on 
a large border which was a little over a year ago 
the abode of Nettles and Docks growing in great 
luxuriance. 
The gayest of all plants at the present time are the 
Violas and Pansies, and the variety of colour in this 
class is very great. Some of the newer strains are 
so strong in the flower stalks that they can be cut for 
room decoration, and last for a considerable time. A 
packet of seeds which we received from a nursery friend 
for trial yielded plants which are beginning to flower. 
The colours embrace almost every shade, and partake 
more of the fancy Pansy class. These already offer to 
be something new, and as yet none are worthless; 
they were sown in early spring and planted out in rich, 
well prepared soil. It is often said that Bedding Pan¬ 
sies are only fit for cool northern districts. It is true 
they do best where the power of the sun is not allowed 
its full strength on them; but it is well known that 
much of the most successful Pansy-growing known in 
England has been far south. In the neighbourhood 
of Bath, for instance, we have seen them in great 
abundance, and flowering almost continuously. We 
found them great auxiliaries to the usual bedding 
plants, and when a young stock is propagated annually, 
and planted on thoroughly well-prepared ground to 
allow the roots to get away from the surface heat and 
drought, a floral display can be had from Pansies 
longer than almost any other flower.—J/. T. 
New Potatos for Market. —Messrs. James Lyburn 
A Sons despatched from Maypole Station, on June 
23rd, twenty barrels of early Potatos, being the first 
from Ayrshire this season. They were grown by Messrs. 
Lyburn on their own farm, Balehriston, where they 
have 100 acres ready for market, mostly raised on the 
box system introduced by them into Ayrshire several 
years ago. 
SELECT HARDY PERENNIALS. 
(Continued from p. 679.) 
Cataxaxche c.erulea. —Among hardy plants this 
is one of those which needs no care, so to speak, 
as it takes care of itself when once planted, by 
seeding freely, and seedlings invariably spring up 
in numbers in the vicinity of the plants which flowered 
last season. Though numbered among very old- 
fashioned flowers, it must not be overlooked, nor 
must it, since it seeds freely, be regarded as a weed. 
It is a useful plant for cutting, and lasts a long time 
in this state; its flowers are produced in great 
profusion through June and July, and I strongly 
recommend the plant for the herbaceous border. 
Besides this kind, which has large blue flowers the 
size of a crown piece, there is another called bicolor, 
which is equally useful and free. These usually 
attain not more than 2 ft. in height, and may be well 
grown in ordinary garden soil. 
The Cextaurea, or “ Perennial Corn Flower.''— 
A useful free-flowering and effective group of perennials 
growing 18 ins. high, and producing numerous spikes 
of flowers from amidst compact tufts of woolly leaves ; 
very hardy, and very showy among border plants just 
now. The best kinds are C. montana, blue; C. 
montana alba, white, invaluable for cutting or for 
market purposes ; and C. montana rubra, with rosy- 
red flowers, thus providing the “ red, white, and blue ” 
of the British flag in one group. 
Cheiraxthus Cheiri luteus plexus.— This name 
is too long to be used in ordinary conversation, and a 
much easier and more appropriate one is the “ old 
Double Yellow Wallflower,” by which popular name 
the majority, if not all, of the readers of The 
Gardening World will recognize, not only a very old 
acquaintance, but an universally admired plant; a 
plant, too, which at one time was common, but has 
now become scarce, though with pleasure I make the 
observation that it is finding its way into cottage 
gardens again. I have grown it in quantity, and had 
some fine plants, but none which I have seen equalled 
a specimen I met with a short time since, and which 
was fully 3 ft. high, and as much through. It 
occupied a centre bed fronting a cottage, and was 
one mass of bloom. Its powerful fragrance caused 
me to look around to find from whence it came, and 
as I took a parting glance, I thought I had never 
before known what double Wallflowers were—it was 
indeed very fine, and I shall not easily forget it. 
Then there is the old double purple, which is equally 
as valuable, but still rare, indeed difficult to obtain 
true, a brownish-flowered kind being substituted for 
it. These all delight in warm, sunny, somewhat dry 
positions, and in such spots will continue to flourish 
for years ; they do not, however, like a cold or clayey 
soil. While speaking of doubles, I must not forget a 
variety, the acquaintance of which I made some time 
since at Belvoir, and of which Mr. Ingram speaks 
very highly. It is more compact in habit, and 
produces dense pyramidal spikes of yellow flowers, 
possessing, if memory serves me rightly, the fragrance 
of the Violet. I do not think it is named, or in 
commerce ; it came originally from Wardie Lodge, 
Edinburgh, where it was much prized by the late 
Miss Hope. Cuttings of these may now be had in 
plenty, and to ensure success they should be stripped 
off the parent plant with a heel attached, and dibbled 
in sandy soil at the back of a north wall, or in any 
shady and cool position ; these will form roots more 
freely than if placed in handlights or cold frames. 
They cannot endure much moisture about the tops 
when in a cutting state, and they are capable of 
enduring far greater hardships with impunity when 
located in the walls of old ruins and the like than 
they are in a rich border soil. 
Passing from the doubles, I will for a moment call 
attention to two of our finest spring bedding-plants, 
the single Wallflowers, Cheiranthus alpinus and C. 
Marshalli. These both form compact tufts of leaves 
close to the ground, and are admirably adapted for 
spring gardening, for massing, for the rockery, or the 
border. The former is covered with fragrant sulphur- 
coloured flowers, and the latter with those of an 
orange shade. These may also be increased in the 
way I have named above, both kinds growing from 
6 ins. to 9 ins. in height, and thus making serviceable 
spring plants, which only require to be more widely 
known. 
