July 25th, 1885. 
747 
Dry-Weather Flowers.— There is much difference 
between flowers that will thrive well under ordinary 
conditions of culture—moisture in the soil, and sun¬ 
shine overhead ; but such a season as the present and 
last year also test severely the powers of many things, 
and we find great merit in some and little in others. 
Thus one of the very best dry, hot-weather plants, 
without doubt, is the Antirrhinum, for it blooms freely 
and grows almost luxuriantly even in soils that are as 
dry as a bone. A grand bed of these plants is in fine 
bloom at the Bedfont Seed Grounds, which from the 
time of planting out in April has scarcely had any 
moisture till lately. Snapdragons should be specially 
grown for July and August blooming, as they stand 
drought so well. Petunias are also capital dry- 
weather plants, for they flower profusely, and seem 
above all things to enjoy heat above and drought 
below. There is always danger with these, that 
should the soil be good and the season moist, they 
will grow too profusely and be less productive of 
bloom. 
Seedling plants, especially of the striped strain as 
grown at Bedfont, show how they thrive and bloom in 
hot soil and sunshine. Balsams too seem to like 
fairly dry weather, as they are thus induced to flower 
early and far more pleasingly than if grown in mois¬ 
ture and on rich soil. Dibbled out in the month of 
May the plants received just a watering or two to give 
them a start, and have been taking their chance ever 
since and seem to like it, for they are stout and sturdy, 
and coming full of bloom, and that bloom of very fine 
quality. Then the Dwarf French Marigolds thrive 
admirably too in drought; indeed, these seem as if 
they almost abhorred wet. Perhaps they are floral 
abstainers. In any case they not only do admirably, 
making stout dwarf growth, but bloom superbly, and 
carry also flowers of the finest quality, striped-edged 
and self, in several colours. It is well to have plants 
in our gardens that like drought as others that do 
not. 
Rogiera gratissima. — Some well-grown and 
well-flowered specimens in 5-in. pots of this much- 
neglected plant were exhibited in the collection 
contributed by Messrs. Fisher, Son & Sibray 
to the horticultural show held at Sheffield, last 
week. Some of them bore as many as a dozen 
trusses of its lovely rosy-white flowers. It is well 
worthy the attention of growers. 
Hardy Flowers.— From Mr. H. Jones, Hope 
Nursery, Lewisham, we have received some blooms 
of the Maid of Essex Pink, and also of a German 
variety, which is considered a well-marked improve¬ 
ment on the dark-coloured Anne Boleyn. Both are 
good growers and very free bloomers. Mr. Jones also 
sends a very neat yellow Carnation named Miss 
Gladstone, in the way of Pride of Penshurst; and a 
seedling Fuchsia, with white tube and sepals and a 
red corolla, raised by Mr. G. Fry. 
Rosa Lucida Rose Button.— What a lovely 
button-hole Rose this is. It was shown by Messrs. 
Veitcli & Sons at the exhibition of the Chiswick and 
Turnham Green Horticultural Society, on the 15th 
inst.—a large box full of it, charming little fleshy 
Rose flowers, admirably adapted for button-holes and 
bouquets. It should be made a note of, and grown 
in this special purpose. 
Chrysanthemum coronarium.— As there is a 
rage for Marguerites, let me commend this to your 
readers. We are familiar with the double forms of 
C. coronarium, but not with the single type. It is 
not common. It would be difficult to find it in a 
seed-list, but it is very pretty indeed, and well adapted 
for cutting from. Those who prefer single flowers 
will like this type; those who favour double blossoms 
will favour the double form ; but both are very useful 
for cutting. I put the single form of Chrysanthemum 
coronarium a long way before any of the single varie¬ 
ties of Chrysanthemum carinatum, pretty as they 
are.— E. D. 
Pelargonium, Queen of the Whites. —This 
new Zonal variety, of which we saw a good batch in 
Messrs. Veitch’s Nursery the other day, promises to 
take high rank. It has a compact, robust habit of 
growth, and freely produces good trusses of pure 
white flowers, which individually are all that can be 
desired in shape. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
The Kitchen Gardener’s Calendar. — Seed 
Sowing : Next week will be a good time to make sow¬ 
ings of the following kinds of seeds, viz., Ellam’s 
Early Dwarf, or Wheeler’s Imperial Cabbage for early 
spring use, Black-seeded Bath Cos, Hick’s Hardy 
White Cos, and Lee’s Immense Hardy Cabbage Let¬ 
tuces, and Batavian and Curled Endive, to supply the 
autumn and winter salading. Another sowing of 
French Beans may still be made on a warm border, 
trusting to the chance of a fine autumn to complete 
their growth. Also a sowing of early Nantes Horn 
Carrots, for drawing young, should be made in a like 
situation. 
I may remark here respecting seed-sowing in 
July and August, that the seed should be sown as 
soon as the ground is dug, and before the soil becomes 
dry. The ground should be trodden and raked, and 
the seed sown, covered, and watered (if necessary) in 
the ordinary way, and a mat or two be placed over 
each bed, which will prevent the soil and seed im¬ 
mediately under from being parched up. Moreover, 
the more equable temperature and condition of the 
soil thus ensured will be the means of hastening the 
vegetating of the seeds. 
Planting, &c. — Further plantings of Broccoli, 
Savoys, Coleworts, Yeitch’s Autumn Giant Cauli- 
flowers (good breadths for late use), Lettuce, Endive, 
and Cabbage should be made forthwith. The early 
plantings of Broccoli, Savoys, Borecoles, and Cole- 
worts, will now require to be earthed up. Advancing 
crops of Cauliflowers, French and Broad Beans, will 
also require attention in the same direction. Neither 
must the destruction of weeds among crops and on 
walks in this department be forgotten, else they will 
quickly establish themselves, however distasteful their 
appearance may be to those who delight in the pos¬ 
session of a clean and neat garden. The hoe should 
indeed be kept going now as much as possible among 
all growing crops, as much to promote a free growth 
as to keep down -weeds.—H. IF. Ward, Longford 
Castle, Salisbury. 
Propagating- Lettuces. —It may be an object 
with some to propagate Lettuces without waiting for 
their more tedious production by seed. Everybody 
know y s that when a Lettuce is cut the stump sends 
up a parcel of shoots; but it may not be known to 
everyone that each of these shoots possesses its own 
peculiar root, and that by slipping it off, with a 
portion of the skin and stalk below it, a perfect 
Lettuce plant will be obtained. It is said Cabbages 
are thus propagated in India. A Lettuce, however, 
has much the advantage of a Cabbage in this matter ; 
for it is much easier to slip off with the Lettuce shoot 
a small portion of the old root, which may probably 
assist the rooting of the plant. We have frequently 
propagated Lettuces in this way, and the result has 
been most satisfactory. We proceed thus :—We take 
up the stump when the shoots are about an inch 
long; but we have often taken some even 3 ins. or 
4 ins. long. We slice the stump for about an inch 
or so down, so as to form a small, triangular-shaped 
slice of old stem to each shoot, and tear this off so as 
to bring a small portion of the old root with it. We 
dibble them out on well-manured ground, about twice 
as thick as we propose them to stand, lest there 
should be any failure; and as we can transplant the 
spare ones afterwards, we put them in pretty deep, 
so as to have the entire stem slice below the surface, 
and give them plenty of water. Of those so treated 
notone will fail .—Irish Farmers' Gazette. 
-- 
Hew Peas. —At a meeting of the Fruit Committee, 
held at Chiswick on the 10th inst., First-Class Certifi¬ 
cates were awarded to the following new Peas:— 
Autocrat (Messrs. Veitch & Sons), a dwarf wrinkled 
blue Marrow; Prodigy (Messrs. Veitch & Sons), a 
tall green, wrinkled, very prolific, and handsome Pea ; 
Shropshire Hero (Mr. H. Eckford), a dwarf white 
wrinkled variety ; and Quality (Mr. H. Eckford), a tall 
green wrinkled Pea, of fine quality, and a most 
prolific bearer. 
REVIEWS, 
Greenhouse and Stove Plants, Flowering and Fine¬ 
leaved, Palms, Ferns, and Lycopodiums. — 
By Thomas Baines. London: John Murray, 
Albemarle Street. 
Mr. Baines’ work is one which was much needed 
and which will prove of inestimable benefit to the 
gardener and amateur as a reference and guide in 
all the more important details of culture and manage¬ 
ment of the occupants of our greenhouses, stoves, and 
conservatories. The author in his preface says: 
“ Success in the cultivation of the large number 
of stove and greenhouse plants, now known in 
British gardens, to a great extent depends on an 
acquaintance with the particular wants of each 
individual kind, as not only do many allied species 
require different treatment, but it frequently happens 
that individual varieties of the same parentage 
want something in their management quite differ¬ 
ent from each other, without which they fail to 
thrive. With this view, in preparing the accompany¬ 
ing treatise, the intention has been, so fan as possible, 
without resorting to unnecessary repetition, to avoid 
giving directions that are too general in their 
application, but rather to state fully the treatment 
which each species or variety has been found to do 
best with. In such cases, where several kinds of 
plants succeed under like conditions, the details are 
given to one, the others being referred thereto. 
“ In describing the general character and appear¬ 
ance of the plants treated of, botanical details have 
been omitted, but the purpose to which each is best 
adapted, whether for planting out, growing in pots, 
as roof climbers, or trained specimens, ordinary 
decorative use, the supply of cut flowers, &c., &c., is 
given, and this it is hoped will assist those but little 
acquainted with plants in the selection of the kinds 
best suited to their requirements. 
“ The best new plants that have appeared up to date 
are included, as well as the large numbers of older 
kinds possessing sterling merit. When any plant 
holds a relatively inferior position, this is stated in 
the description accompanying it. Notes are given of 
the particular kinds of insects each species is subject 
to, and instructions as to the safest means for their 
destruction; also hints on the form, construction, and 
heating of greenhouses and stoves.” 
Mr. Baines thus fairly and lucidly explains 
the plan of his book, and a careful perusal of 
it shows that he has most thoughtfully and intel¬ 
ligently carried it out. The work commences 
with general remarks on greenhouse plants, their 
treatment, and the management of the houses 
in which they are grown, potting, tying, watering, 
&c. Next, follows the general remarks on stove 
plants, which are given in a similarly able manner. 
Then comes a lengthy article on the culture of 
Ferns, which is followed by one on Palms. From 
this point the general collection of plants, whether 
greenhouse, stove, Ferns, Palms, or whatever they 
may be, are arranged alphabetically, so that by 
reference to the complete index at the end of the 
volume, any particular plant may be turned to in 
an instant and its requirements ascertained. Besides 
the cultural instructions given, Mr. Baines in most 
cases mentions what insect pests are liable to 
attack the subject under notice, and we regard these 
details as not the least important which the book 
contains. Throughout the whole book the best 
things have the greatest space given to them, and 
those of inferior merit are cut short, and this is done 
in such a discriminating manner that the intimate 
cultural knowledge of plants which the author is 
well known to possess is brought into play, for the 
benefit of his readers in innumerable instances. 
We venture to say that if all who ought to have Mr. 
Baines’s book buy it, it will be a great success, and 
certainly every one gardening under glass ought to 
have it. 
Exterminating Rats. —Baron von Baekhofen has 
discovered a cheap and simple method of extermi¬ 
nating rats. It consists of a mixture of two parts of 
well-bruised common squills and three parts of finely- 
chopped bacon made into a stiff mass, with as much 
meal as may be required, and then baked into small 
cakes; these are put down for the rats to eat, and 
are said to effect their complete extirpation. 
