810 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
entirely dependent on the spring-sown plants, 
whereas by this arrangement he may have them 
ready for use before he can plant the others or 
yet sow them in the open ground in generally cold 
districts. 
Once or twice I lifted some out of the open ground 
and planted them in frames in the end of January, 
but from some cause or other, which I could not 
determine, they decayed just above the soil to such 
an extent that I have not tried it since, and I feel 
sure that the method I have detailed above will super¬ 
sede the antiquated practice of lifting the plants in 
spring as well as autumn. I am still restricted to grow¬ 
ing nothing but the Cos Lettuce, and the' only sorts I 
grow are the Alexandra White Cos and the brown- 
seeded Bath Cos ; of the latter, only one sowing is 
made, and that the last. We grow only the Curled 
Endive, which is appreciated by the cook for garnish¬ 
ing purposes. When the centre leaves begin to 
blanch, to perfect them we take a box or boxes to the 
beds, and lift the plants with a portion of soil and 
drop them into the boxes without packing anything 
round them. 
We then convey the plants into the Mushroom- 
house, and in a week they are quite ready. The 
boxes are only such as we use for bedding plants, and 
the object of employing them for this purpose is to 
avoid damaging the plants by frequent handling, as 
well as to economize labour, for it will be seen that by 
this system they are handled only once from the 
taking up till the roots are thrown on the rubbish- 
heap.— North. 
Fruit Culture under Glass. — Vines: Young 
Vines which were planted and subsequently attended 
to as recommended at p. 730, will now be making rapid 
growth, and in order to maintain this to the end of 
the season a genial atmospheric temperature of from 
65 degs. to 60 degs. at night, and 5 degs. higher by 
day with fire-heat, should be aimed at, and from 
85 degs. to 80 degs. with sunheat and a free circula¬ 
tion of fresh air, running the temperature up to 
90 degs. at closing time (about three o’clock), with 
a liberal distribution of atmospheric moisture at the 
same time. 
The Vines and the house generally should 
also be syringed in the morning, and the pathways 
and staging be damped over twice—say, at eleven and 
one o’clock—between then and closing time in the after¬ 
noon during bright sunshiny days. And with the same 
object in view, the promoting of a free and healthy 
growth in both root and branch, the Vines should be 
kept sufficiently moist at the roots by frequent appli¬ 
cations of clear water, and weak liquid manure occa¬ 
sionally. The latter should always be given after the 
former, when necessary. These remarks, as regards 
the giving of liberal supplies of water at the roots, are 
also applicable to Vines, Peaches, Figs, &c., in every 
stage of growth; and Vines from which the crops 
have been taken should have the foliage thoroughly 
syringed morning and afternoon, and have an abun¬ 
dance of air day and night.— II. W. Ward, Longford 
Castle. 
Proposed Exhibition of Plums. —It has been 
suggested that, as a great variety of Plums are 
fruiting this season, it would prove extremely interest¬ 
ing as well as instructive if examples of as many 
sorts as possible could be sent to the meetings of the 
Fruit Committee on Tuesday next, and on the 8th of 
September. An excellent opportunity would thus be 
afforded of comparing the merits of the varieties of 
Plums in cultivation, and also in the correction of 
their nomenclature. 
It is felt by pomologists generally that many inferior 
varieties of Plums are grown throughout the country, 
whilst many new and greatly improved sorts are 
comparatively unknown. Intending exhibitors who 
cannot be present should address their packages to 
the Secretary of the Fruit Committee, Boyal Horti¬ 
cultural Society, South Kensington. The carriage of 
the same will he paid by the Society. It is very 
desirable that young shoots with foliage should 
accompany the fruit, so as to facilitate identification. 
August 22nd, 1885. 
Seasonable Work in the Plant-houses.— 
Many of the plants that have been grown on during 
the summer in pits may now be removed to the houses 
at any time, and the pits will come in useful for the 
Cinerarias, single Primulas, &c., which should now 
be ready for potting on. Double Primulas should be 
in a position where they can have a little artificial heat 
in case we get dull, damp weather, but while the 
weather keeps bright they will be better without 
artificial heat. Cyclamens should be gone through 
occasionally and any bad leaves taken off, or they are 
very liable to damp if not attended to. Tuberous 
Begonias that have done flowering should be stood 
out-of-doors and kept dry, so as to ripen the tops off 
before cutting them back; at the same time any that 
require it should be re-labelled, and any of the inferior 
seedlings discarded. 
Francoa ramosa. —Few hardy plants are more 
deserving of pot-culture than is this pretty herbaceous 
plant, its long racemes of pure white flowers being 
very effective, especially for conservatory decoration, 
and we have seen it used in exhibition groups, where it 
has shown to great advantage. It is also very useful 
for cut-flowers when grown under glass, but the flowers 
do not come so pure when grown out-of-doors. It is a 
plant of easy culture and should be found in every 
establishment wffiere flowering plants are grown for 
decoration. It may be raised from seed, which if 
sown at once and the plants are kept growing on 
through the winter will make nice plants for next 
season’s flowering. The best position to grow 
them in will be a pit where they can be protected 
from frost, but they should be well exposed during mild 
weather. Although hardy, yet when plants have been 
kept in a growing state they are easily damaged by 
frost. 
Catalpa syringiaefolia. —There isnowa very fine 
specimen of this North American tree in flower in the 
pleasure grounds at Canford Manor, and has it happens 
to be one of those good things more often read of 
than met with, I have thought fit to bring it before 
the notice of your readers. The tree in question is 
from 20 ft. to 30 ft. high, and with its gorgeous white 
flowers, which at a short distance resembles our com¬ 
mon Horse Chestnut, forms an attractive object when 
seen, as it is here, surrounded by various other trees 
and shrubs. It certainly deserves to be more largely 
planted than it is, especially in our southern counties. 
— J. II. 
-- 
Bignonia purpurea. —This elegant South Ameri¬ 
can climber is just now a beautiful object in the stove. 
The climbing stems are very slender, and from them 
hang numerous graceful branches, clothed with bright 
purple flowers, and leaves with three small leaflets. 
A light rich loam is a good soil in which to plant it, 
and when well grown it attains a considerable height 
and is very effective. 
How to Grow the Lilac. —Everybody knows the 
Lilac ; and thanks to its easiness of propagation, one 
meets with it oftener than any other shrub. Common 
as it is, who does not love the shrub at Lilac-tide ? 
As commonly seen, there are a few branches of an 
older growth, with here and there a flower scattered 
over them, with a wilderness of undergrowth of all 
ages, from the sprouts of a year’s growth to that of 
the age of the bush in its present position. To be 
seen in perfection, they should have clean stems, 
either as a single plant, or, if a bush, three, or any 
number desired. Every sign of a sucker is to be kept 
away. The result is, that the bush or tree exerts its 
strength in forming a head to the stems left to grow, 
instead of exhausting itself in a mass of sprouts of all 
ages, with nine out of ten too weak to furnish a 
flower-bud. Trained to single stems, the whole head 
should be a mass of flowers every year. To attain 
this, it is necessary, as soon as the flowers have 
dropped, to go over them and cut out all the old 
flower stems ; otherwise seed-pods will form and the 
bush exhaust itself forming seeds, instead of preparing 
flower-buds for the coming spring. This is the reason 
that, as mostly seen, the great mass of flowers come 
every other year, instead of every year, a 3 they will do 
if given a chance .—Prairie Farmer. 
Salvia Blue Beard. —This is a very handsome 
hardy annual, growing about 18 ins. in height, of free 
branching habit and Sage-like foliage. The flowers 
are produced in a series of whorls of a bright purplish 
colour, with white lower lip. It makes a very effec¬ 
tive and free-blooming border plant, and it is quite 
distinct for its peculiar hue of colour. Sown in light 
soil in the open ground, the seeds germinate freely, 
and the plants grow strongly. It is now very pretty 
in Messrs. Sutton & Sons’ nursery at Beading, and it 
merits the attention of the readers of The Gardening 
World.— R . D . 
Clethra arborea. —This handsome member of the 
Heath family attains the size of a large bush, but 
is very effective for the greenhouse when grown in 
medium-sized pots. The leaves are shining green, 
and the flowers are bell-shaped, and borne in branch¬ 
ing panicles. The corollas are pure white and the 
sepals pale pink. 
Ceanothus Veitchii. —As an out-door plant suit¬ 
able for covering a west or south wall, the above can 
be highly commended. Its beautiful bright azure-blue 
flowers, which commence to open about the middle of 
August and last far into or beyond September, are 
extremely useful for cutting for decorative purposes ; 
and, being quite distinct from anything else, it is 
greatly admired by most lovers of flowers who see it 
for the first time. It does not appear to be at all 
fastidious, but I would not recommend its being 
planted outside except on a west or south aspect, and 
in northern counties it should receive greenhouse 
treatment.—J. H. 
-*-$<-- 
Gentiana asclepiadea. —This handsome species 
is now in flower on the rock-work, and very effective 
it is when seen in a large clump. It grows to 2 ft. 6 ins. 
high ; the leaves are sessile, and narrowing upwards 
from a broad base. The flowers are of a most intense 
blue, and are borne in long, leafy spikes. There is a 
white variety also in flower, which forms a good com¬ 
panion plant, though perhaps hardly as showy. They 
should be planted in a good loamy soil, and not be 
much disturbed, as many of the Gentians are rather 
impatient of removal. 
Crocus Scharojani. —This handsome Crocus 
seems fully entitled to be considered as the earliest of 
autumn-flowering species. Looking round the grounds 
at Kew on the 16th inst. we came across a clump in 
the Crocus collection bearing over a dozen of its hand¬ 
some deep yellow flowers. It is a native of Armenia 
and the Caucasus, and is of comparatively recent 
introduction. When it becomes better known it will 
doubtless be in request for the herbaceous border or 
rock garden, the more so as it is the only autumnal 
species with yellow flowers. 
Vaccinium rugosum.— This is a neat little bush, 
and very suitable for greenhouse cultivation. The 
leaves are small, and narrowly lanceolate with small 
serrations. The flowers are borne in drooping umbels 
from the leaf-axils ; they are an inch long, somewhat 
inflated in the middle; and bearing five very strong 
longitudinal angles. The colour of the corolla is dull 
brownish-white, with irregular transverse pencillings 
of a dark brown tint, and the sepals are dull crimson, 
giving quite a peculiar aspect to the flowers. It 
requires a peat soil. 
Slugs, and How to Trap them.— Seeing in your last 
issue some remarks on “ Slugs, and How to Trap them” 
with beer or grains, I am induced to relate my plan, 
which has answered well in keeping clear of these 
pests a small rock garden in a damp corner. If 
saucers of milk are placed at intervals and examined 
occasionally, they will be found covered with slugs, if 
there are any about, and which may then be easily 
killed by putting them in a bowl of hot water.— E. M. 
