508 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
April 6, 1895. 
none, but on being pressed to explain himself, 
however, said they had only received " samples.” 
In the face of all these unfavourable climate condi¬ 
tions the gardens of the princely establishments of 
this country are expected to look as orderly and to 
work as smoothly as a well-built and well-oiled piece 
of machinery. 
In the flower gardens and pleasure grounds the 
lawns and grass edges have to be kept neatly and in 
order, the gravel paths clean and free from weeds 
and fallen leaves, and the flower beds and parterres 
must present a furnished appearance at all seasons 
of the year. In the kitchen and fruit gardens 
supplies of vegetables and fruits of all kinds have to 
be continually kept up. Be the seasons bad or 
good, wet or fine, favourable or unfavourable, it 
matters not, the gardener is supposed in some 
curious kind of way to be superior to the weather, 
and to be able, like the witches of old, to produce 
an abundance of fruits and vegetables from nobody 
knows exactly where. The under-glass department 
is usually of greater or less extent, and always of 
considerable importance ; for here it is that the 
requisite furnishing material for the enlivening of 
the flower garden and the decoration of the mansion 
have by hook or by crook to be produced. Rare 
and beautiful exotics, that would shrink in dismay 
from the rude bluster of a brutal British wind, have 
here to be nurtured and cared for, their loveliness 
intended but for one purpose—the gratification of 
those who live in the big houses. Successions of 
summer vegetables must be forthcoming in the dead 
of winter, and the poor gardener is often at his wit’s 
end to keep pace with the demand. Luscious fruits, 
more nearly characteristic of tropical climes, have 
often to be ripened under conditions which can 
only be described as being the reverse of favourable. 
Patience under difficulties, and increased enthusiasm 
under failures are the only alternatives open to the 
true and faithful servant of our great mistress. 
(To be continued). 
-*fi—- 
SUCCESSFUL TOMATO CULTURE. 
Another Tomato season has arrived, but whether it 
will be a profitable one or not has yet to be seen. 
No human power can dispense sunshine for certain 
lengths of time at a fixed sum, and I think no one 
will dispute the fact that sunshine is the one impor¬ 
tant factor in Tomato culture, without which 
anything in the way of a record is not to be thought 
of. At the same time, however, everything else 
except the weather we have more or less control 
over. This being so, it is my object to touch on a 
few of the main points. 
As regards sowing many growers have their plants 
ready now for their fruiting quarters, and averaging 
6 in. to 12 in. in height. These, as experienced men 
will know, must have had a lot of heat, the result 
being soft, sappy plants, which to my mind are 
useless for producing a good crop As an experiment 
this season I dropped an odd seed into a thumb-pot, 
about ioo potsin number. These were placed in a very 
slightly heated structure, and the difference between 
the two systems is hardly credible, the last-named 
being like pinwire and the picture of hardiness. 
There may possibly be some who think it late to get 
a crop, but my opinion is that the best crops are got 
from seeds sown at the present time, the difference 
betwixt the time of cutting ripe fruit being very little. 
As to the material for planting in, a most serious 
mistake is made when they are given a too rich com¬ 
post. Another mistake is to give them too much 
food at one time. Anything that causes unnatural 
grossness or excess of vigour tells against the 
setting and swelling of the fruit. Get your crop 
well forward, and if anything, let them show signs 
of want before extra stimulants are applied. A firm 
bottom to the bed should always be given the pre¬ 
ference, and compost in quantity just to cover the 
roots when knocked out of the pots is all that is 
necessary. Frequent top-dressing will always gauge 
the strength required, while withholding it will 
diminish it or subdue an inclination to run away. 
I also believe in firm planting. Lastly, as a timely 
warning, let me warn all and sundry against too 
thick planting. Let the plants have room to carry 
their foliage without unnecessary butting and mutila¬ 
tion of the leaves. Nothing in the end can possibly 
be gained by rushing Tomatos. Fancy a Tomato 
plant set out in a depth of good rich loam of un¬ 
limited root run, the result is strength in any 
quantity, so much in fact, that the unnatural vigour 
prevents setting altogether. I have said that the 
soil for them should not be rich ; any free-working 
garden soil, no matter how strong or even a trifle 
clayey, providing it will work, will suit. Perfect 
judgment in ventilating is required, according to the 
fire heat at command and the weather outside. 
Brockhampton King, Frogmore’s Selected, Lady¬ 
bird, Marvel, &c., should be tested by a few care¬ 
fully grown specimens, always, however, giving pre¬ 
ference to varieties that have, as it were, gone 
through the fire.— J. G. Pettinger, Strawberry Dale 
Nursery, Harrogate. 
-- 
NOTES ON HARDY 
PLANTS. 
Saxifraga oppositifolia. — Although at one time a 
native of Britain, this pretty Saxifrage is very rarely 
found in a wild state in this country ; but in the 
Pyrenees it is very common. Under cultivation it is a 
very charming plant at this season of the year.its moss¬ 
like creeping growths being covered wiih its large 
purplish-red flowers, which are produced in great 
profusion. It is by no means a difficult subject to 
grow, its requirements being a sunny and well 
drained position on the rockery, and when such a 
place is given it will grow and flower freely. Being 
of neat habit and of such easy culture it deserves to 
be more largely grown than it is at present. There 
are also several varieties of this species, notably the 
white-flowered form which is equally as beautiful as 
the type and forms an agreeable contrast to it, while 
S. oppositifolia superba is a large flowering form, 
later in flowering and more compact in habit. Both 
of these will flourish well under the same conditions 
as the ordinary species. Some large specimens of 
these have been flowering freely at the Woking 
Nursery, and have been greatly admired by visitors 
to that establishment. 
Saxifraga Bdrseriana. —This is another pretty 
species and like the preceding is now flowering freely. 
In growth it forms compact silvery tufts of foliage, 
the flowers being large and pure white in colour. 
The buds before expansion are of a bright red colour. 
It is very easily grown on the rockery in a half 
sunny position in soil consisting of loam and sand, 
and when well established it forms an attractive 
plant. It is a native of Carniola, and was introduced 
to this country in 1826.— E. Scaplehorn, Woking. 
-- 
fARDEN1NG fflSCELLANY. 
ALLIUM NEAPOLITANUM. 
A couple of batches of this beautiful plant are at 
the present time affording a brave show in the 
greenhouse at Kew, and no one interested in plants 
or one that has an eye for the beautiful could 
possibly pass them by without bestowing upon them 
a look of admiration. The flowers are white with 
green stamens, and are produced in large, rather 
loose, many-flowered umbels, borne upon stout 
stems fully 18 in. in height. The leaves, two or 
three in number, are of a rich green colour, sheathe 
the flower stem at its base, and do not apparently 
possess the well-known smell so characteristic of 
many of the members of the genus. A. neapolita- 
num is indeed one of the finest plants of the group 
from a gardener's point of view, inasmuch as it is 
exceedingly easy of culture, and is a free-flowering 
and a handsome plant withal, and as such well 
worthy of any attention that may be bestowed upon 
it. It is a native of Southern Europe, and the date 
of its advent to our shores is probably about the 
year 1823. 
EUPATORIUM IAN THINUM. 
No one who has ever seen any good specimens of 
this beautiful Eupatorium could fail to be struck by 
its great beauty and high degree of merit as a 
decorative subject for the adornment of the green¬ 
house and cool conservatory. And yet for all this 
it is comparatively seldom that we meet with it in 
anything like condition. In private gardens where 
it is known it is usually found under its older name, 
Hebeclinium ianthinum, although it is rightfully a 
member of the genus Eupatorium. The flowers, 
which are of a soft purplish hue, are abundantly 
produced in large, many-flowered, terminal corymbs. 
The leaves are very dark green, almost black in 
colour when the plant is in a healthy condition ; in 
shape broadly ovate, the surface hairy, and the 
margins deeply serrate. Like the rest of its con- 
genors, E. ianthinum may be readily multiplied by 
means of cuttings taken in spring and rooted in a 
gentle heat. The plants resulting from these 
cuttings, if grown on during the summer without 
being stopped, will produce a single flover-head the 
following winter or spring. In this state the plants 
present a most attractive appearance, and a few 
young plants of this kind should be always on hand 
as well for the sake of their own beauty as to take 
the places of older ones which have reached too 
large a size. After flowering the plants should be 
cut well back and repotted as soon as the breaks 
have sufficiently developed to warrant the perform¬ 
ance of this operation. 
CELSIA ARCTURUS. 
Amidst the fifty species or thereabouts which are 
grouped together in the genus Celsia, none are more 
worthy a mention than this time-honoured favourite. 
We say time-honoured advisedly, for it was introduced 
from Candia or Crete as far back as 1780, so that it 
has been under cultivation for considerably more 
than a century. Its natural flowering season usually 
extends from July to the end of September, although 
it may be had in bloom with us at almost all seasons 
of the year if cuttings -which strike best when taken 
from the young wood are put in at suitable intervals. 
The flowers are large and of a rich bright yellow 
colour, whilst the appearance of the filaments, which 
are clothed with purple hairs, is both pretty and 
distinct. Young plants in small pots always come in 
useful for the greenhouse, and their long graceful 
racemes of bright flowers produce both a light and 
graceful effect when suitable positions are accorded 
them. 
BEGONIA GLOIRE DE SCEAU. 
As this beautiful garden-raised form of Begonia 
becomes better known it is almost certain to be ex¬ 
tensively grown for winter and spring decoration, as 
it is suitable for either, and comes into bloom earlier 
or later according to treatment. Useful little plants 
may be had only 10 in. or 12 in. high, but vigorous 
specimens 18 in. to 2J ft. high may be seen in the 
Begonia house at the present time. They are laden 
with blossom which contrasts beautifully with the 
bronzy, olive-green foliage. The leaves are as large 
as the hand, obliquely orbicular, heart-shaped at the 
base, glossy and red beneath. The flowers are 
plentifully produced in terminal and axillary cymes, 
of medium size, rose coloured in bud, but of a lively 
pink shade when fully expanded. The specimens in 
question are grown in 24-size pots, but smaller and 
younger ones would not require so much root-room. 
The intermediate house would seem to be the most 
suitable for it, as the atmospheric moisture that can 
be maintained keeps the foliage in healthy and fresh 
condition. As the weather gets milder in spring it 
could doubtless be utilised in the conservatory or 
greenhouse where a night temperature of 45 9 or 508 
is maintained for the sake of the flowering plants 
grown there. A position somewhat shaded from 
direct sunshine would doubtless be conducive to the 
well-being of the bronzy foliage. 
- 4 *- 
oasscions add aq$ujgr$. 
%* Will our friends who send us newspapers be so good 
as to mark the paragraphs or articles they wish us to see. 
We shall be greatly obliged by their so doing. 
Soil for Roses. — M. M. : It is true that Roses 
thrive best in heavy soils inclined to clay, but parti¬ 
cularly when budded upon the brier stock. The 
Manetti is a more suitable stock for light sandy 
soils. Anyone particularly fond of Roses should not 
be debarred from growing them simply because the 
natural soil is gravelly, sandy, and poor. Rather 
than regret their absence from the garden we should 
prepare a bed or border specially for their benefit. 
Dig out the best of the surface soil to the depth of a 
foot, then remove the sandy subsoil to the depth of a 
foot or eighteen inches and cart it away. Then the 
surface soil may be thrown in the bottom of the hole 
and other soil brought to make up for what was 
taken away. This may consist of the scourings of 
muddy ditches that has lain for a time for the grass 
to decay, also the top spit taken from rich waste 
ground, near water-courses it may be, also old potting 
soil, the humus from decayed vegetable matter of the 
rubbish heap, or, in fact, anything of that nature 
which you can get together. Throw a good sprinkling 
of lime over it and mix the whole together before 
throwing it into the hole. Use plenty of manure, 
putting it well down, as you can always dig more 
