540 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
April 20,1895. 
PLANTS FOR A BALCONY. 
Foliage (especially that of sub-tropical plants) is 
now recognised as essential in grouping flowers ; in 
fact, we have of late years so enlarged our list of 
foliage plants that but little more is needed to fur¬ 
nish our windows and balconies with brilliant colour¬ 
ing as well as graceful greenery. Flowers, however, 
never look so well as when draped with plenty of 
handsome leaves and Fern fronds, which add elegance 
and distinction to flowering plants, showing off their 
delicate tints to the greatest perfection. 
Perhaps the most valuable selection of plants for 
a balcony in spring may be made amongst the Rho¬ 
dodendrons, the Kalmias, and Azaleas from America, 
all these adding lovely blossoms to their fine foliage 
at a season when out-of-door flowers are still rare. 
The Catawbiense group of Rhododendrons is the 
most suitable for a balcony, with rose-coloured blos¬ 
soms in many shades; Azalea pontica, Azalea mollis, 
and the beautiful hybrids which claim both these as 
their parents, being usually tinted with some shade 
of apricot, toned with crimson, most decorative in 
effect against the fine dark foliage of the Rhododen¬ 
drons ; while the neat sprays of the Kalmia, crowned 
with waxen pink blossoms, are very lovely ; all these 
being useful as foliage plants after their blooms are 
faded. 
Eucalyptus plants, from 4 ft. to 6 ft. in height, are 
largely grown for their health-giving qualities as well 
as their silvery glaucous foliage, the usual variety 
chosen being E. globulus. But a still more valuable 
plant is E. citriodora, with leaves which are almost 
equal to lemon-scented Verbena in fragrance. This 
variety is not quite so hardy as the more common 
E. globulus, but both do well in the open air from 
April to October, only lifting them indoors in case 
of late and severe frosts. Both these Eucalypti 
(being forest trees in their native countries) require 
large pots and plenty of water, or they may be 
grown in boxes, to fill the corners of the balcony, 
standing well in a staircase recess (or in any position 
free from gas fumes) during the winter, until they 
become too large to be manageable, when seedlings 
can easily be substituted, raising them in a hotbed 
in April. But the young E. citriodora seedlings 
need a moist warm atmosphere during their early 
stages ; while E. globulus soon needs hardening, and 
may be grown in the open air when a few inches 
high. 
As a contrast to these tall plants, the broad 
crimson-brown fans of the Castor-oil plant (Ricinus 
Gibsoni), are invaluable, its singular blossoms (of the 
same shade with creamy touches), being followed by 
bunches of prickly pods containing seeds, each very 
like a small beetle. These seeds will germinate in a 
greenhouse, or even in a sunny window ; the dark 
red seedling looking at first as though it were made 
of indiarubber, and growing with surprising rapidity 
in moist warmth. The plants do well, however, in 
the open air from the beginning of June, being care¬ 
fully hardened off before that time, and placed in 
large pots of rich soil. A remarkably handsome 
plant, both in form and tint, is Solanum robustum, 
being powdered with gold dust, almost metallic in 
its brilliancy. Its shape is very symmetrical, each 
leaf taking singularly elegant curves, the golden 
central spray bearing soft mauve and white flowers, 
not unlike Potato blossom. It does not attain its 
perfection, however, during the first season after 
being raised from seed ; and it is therefore desirable 
to procure plants of this handsome Solanum which 
are about a year old. 
Another fine Solanum is the species Warscewiczii, 
with gigantic leaves of dark green,the whole plant 
reaching the height ofabout5feet. Solanum margina¬ 
tum is equally desirable, but as a contrast to the others, 
for its foliage is of the softest silvery velvet,crinkled and 
crimped at the edges, the smaller shoots being the 
most distinct in this way, for which reason the young 
plant (easily raised from seed in a hot bed) should 
have its points pinched out once or twice as it grows. 
Grevilla robusta (the silky Oak of Australia) is a 
valuable plant, either for a room or a balcony, as it 
does not object to a little gas in winter, though it 
enjoys the outer air in summer time. It is extremely 
graceful and Fern-like in growth, the young leaves 
being of a rich bronze, while the older foliage is bright 
green, so that it is singularly decorative in effect. 
As it requires the shelter of glass during its earlier 
stages, well-established plants should be procured 
for the balcony, unless it can be raised in warmth 
for twelve months. But for quick effect there is 
nothing like Japanese Maize (Zea japonica variegata), 
which throws up its elegant striped ribbon-like 
foliage (in the form of a fountain) very quickly, and 
germinate in a window from the end of April, soaking 
the seeds in tepid water for six hours before planting 
each separately in a thumb-pot, from which it must 
be transferred to a large pot, with rich soil, when 
about 6 in. high. Foliage plants (in contradistinction 
to flowering plants in pots) require ample room for 
their roots, the effect being to ensure a quantity of 
large leaves, where flowers are not needed. This 
Zea, however, is crowned with a fine feathery spray 
of male blossom, below which the silky tassel of the 
female flower will appear, to be followed by the 
Indian corn in autumn. 
Another family of splendid foliage plants, also 
producing blossom, is that of the Cannas (Indian 
Shot), now so largely grown. The seed of this plant 
is almost as hard as the shot from which it obtains 
its name, and needs soaking in tepid water for 
twenty-four hours before planting each singly in a 
small pot, which must be plunged in a hot bed. 
The handsome sheaths of large leaves (bronze, 
striped, or bright green) grow quickly when they 
appear, and should be potted on, in rich soil, to 
flower in August. The dwarf Cannas, lately intro¬ 
duced, are far superior to the taller and older 
varieties, having large spikes of brilliant red and 
gold flowers and fine sturdy foliage. They are 
invaluable for decorative work all through the year, 
for, if given a moderate amount of heat in a con¬ 
servatory, they will throw up fine spikes of bloom as 
well in winter there as in summer on the balcony. 
For wreathing the ironwork of a balcony, the 
Japanese Hop (Humulus japonicus) is very useful, 
as it grows quickly, and can be raised from seed in 
April. The variegated Japanese Hop is also very 
handsome; but against a house of a light tint the 
rich green of the first-named variety will have the 
best effect. 
A pot Vine, too, may be employed to wreath a 
balcony with its elegant sprays ; those who have 
admired the Vine-covered pergolas of Italy will 
readily admit that there is no more beautiful foliage 
than that of a Vine, with its delicate tendrils and 
broad transparent leaves. A Buckland SweetWater 
Vine may even ripen its Grapes well in the shelter 
of a warm corner, and a stout young plant in a 
large pot or box will be an interesting study as it 
grows. 
The best Ferns for the open air are some of the 
beautiful British kinds, which have of late years 
obtained the attention they deserve, and are now 
very popular. These hardy Ferns can be cultivated 
in a town garden, or even in an area (the cool moist 
air of which suits them extremely well), and well- 
established pots of Fern are invaluable in all kinds 
of floral decoration. Even the splendid flowering 
Fern Osmunda regalis will do well in a box of peaty 
soil in an area (if kept constantly damp), while 
Hartstongues (Scolopendrium) of many handsome 
new types (S. cristatum and S. fimbriatum), crested 
and crinkled, are evergreen, and therefore useful 
even in winter. Polypodium vulgare, a very grace¬ 
ful Fern, which is also evergreen, does best when 
rotten sticks are mixed with the soil for its roots to 
fasten on ; baskets and low boxes of this Fern have 
a very pretty effect in grouping flowering plants; 
and smaller pots of the exquisite French Fern 
Asplenium adiantum nigrum (which is so largely 
sold in Covent Garden) may also be added. The 
larger British Ferns (such as the Lady Fern, 
Athyrium filix foemina, and many of the Lastreas) 
are very beautiful throughout the summer, and 
therefore valuable for a balcony, especially where 
the aspect is not very sunny, as they enjoy a semi¬ 
shade. 
Many other (fine hardy Ferns may be selected from 
the collections of our Fern growers, including hand¬ 
some varieties from New Zealand and Canada. 
With plenty of these, and a selection of good foliage 
plants, it will be easy to decorate our balconies, 
windows, and rooms throughout the year.— I. L. 
Richmond, in “ The Queen." 
The Amateur Orchid Grower’s Guide Book. By H, A. 
Burberry (Orchid Grower to the Rt Hon. J. Chamberlain, 
M.P.). Containing sound, practical inlormation and advice 
for Amateurs, giving a List with Cultural Descriptions ot 
those most suitable for Cool-house, Intermediate-house, and 
Warm-house Culture, together with a Calendar of Operations 
and Treatment for each Month of the Year. In Cloth (Crown 
8vo. 5 by 7^), price 2s. 6d.; post free, 2s. gd. Publisher, Gakden- 
inq World, i, Clement's Idd, Sttand, London, W C. 
PROPAGATION OF 
SEAKALE. 
The great value and importance of Seakale as a 
winter and early spring vegetable has been so amply 
demonstrated this year in face of the exceptional 
scarcity of all kinds of green stuff that any further 
remarks upon its value would at present be super¬ 
fluous. But while every gardener has had enforced 
upon him the necessity for having a good stretch of 
Seakale, it is not every one perhaps who knows the 
way to obtain a good stock of crowns for forcing 
with very little trouble and practically no expense. 
While it is pretty generally admitted that the Seakale 
obtained by forcing the crowns as they stand in the 
open ground is of slightly better flavour than that 
obtained when the crowns are lifted previous to 
forcing and potted up—five or six in large pots, and 
placed in heat as required—still, the labour conse¬ 
quent upon the shifting of the Seakale pots and the 
heaping around them of a sufficient quantity of 
fermenting material is so great as to militate con¬ 
siderably against its extensive adoption. Upon 
lifting crowns for forcing all the small whip-like side 
growths, which they always bear in greater or less 
quantity, should have been cut off and saved, for 
every one of these if planted out now will produce 
a good crown by autumn. These little sets should 
be dibbled into the soil 5 in. or 6 in. apart and about 
a foot between the rows, after which but little trouble 
will be needed except to keep the beds free from 
weeds and an occasional watering if the summer 
prove to be a dry one. 
--•*-- 
VENTILATION, 
Of all the thousand and one operations with which 
the gardener has to make himself familiar that of 
ventilation is perhaps the one that needs the most 
careful attention. All the more so because no hard 
and fast rules can be laid down with regard to it, 
for the principles once learnt these have to be very 
considerably moderated according to locality, the 
time of the year, the weather, and the particular 
class of plants involved. Accordingly the young 
gardener who has learnt how and when to give air, 
and when to take it off, has progressed considerably 
in the pursuit of his profession and must be regarded 
as something more than a novice in the practice of 
his chosen calling. The last few weeks have been 
an exceptionally trying and anxious time for the 
gardener, for, late as things are outside, indoors it 
is a very different matter. 
At the beginning of last month the want of sun 
was severely felt by the occupants of the plant and 
fruit houses, and in several gardens where weather 
records are kept, an almost total absence of direct 
sunlight for a period of three weeks was registered. 
This, of course, could not fail to be producive of 
immense damage, and weakened and flimsy plant 
tissues have been the inevitable result. During the 
last few weeks a change has occurred certainly; but 
whether it is a change for the better is, to say 
the least of it, a matter of very great doubt. We 
have had plenty of bright sunshine it is true, but 
this instead of bringing with it the genial and balmy 
airs, which rightly or wrongly the most of us usually 
associate with the month of April, has been accom¬ 
panied by keen cold winds, as searching as those of 
the bleakest day of February or March. The warm 
sun of course causes the temperature of the houses 
to run up dangerously high, and however desirable 
and indeed necessary it is to give air it is scarcely 
possible to do so without generating those cold 
draughts which every cultivator who has from 
practical and perhaps sad experience found out the 
harmful results of tries his hardest to avoid. 
Thus, just at this season of the year, when the 
occupants of the houses are usually in a critical 
condition, the gardener finds himself seriously handi¬ 
capped, and scarcely knows what to do for the best. 
Many a novice in the art of ventilating, for that this 
is an art everyone will I think confess, on finding 
the temperatures of his houses up rather higher 
than they ought to be, is apt to fall into the mistake 
of rushing too much air on at once in a attempt to 
remedy the evil which a few minutes' neglect may 
have occasioned. Such a proceeding whilst at all 
times fraught with considerable danger is, during the 
prevalence of the cold winds that we have of late 
been experiencing, doubly perilous. Especially with 
regard to vineries is it imperatively necessary that 
