664 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
June 15, 1895. 
HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 
The Rose. 
The queen of flowers and empress of the garden 
needs no further advertisement for her charms than 
she already possesses, so widespread and well known 
are they, and to such an extent does she receive the 
homage of all those who love flowers. As a result 
of the labours of the florist we have hundreds of 
varieties exhibiting a wealth of colours, from pure 
white to rich, dark,velvety crimson, so deep as almost 
to appear black unless the sun is shining on them. 
Not only is there an immense variety as to colour of 
flowers, but the habits of the plants are various. 
Thus the lover of Roses may, if he pleases, adorn 
the walls of his cottage or villa with a profusion of 
beauty unsurpassed by the effects produced by any 
other hardy climber, and it is perhaps when trained 
to a wall that the glorious beauty of the Rose is best 
exhibited. Then we have them as standards of 
different heights budded on Brier or upon the 
Manetti stocks, as well as upon their own roots. In 
fact, the Rose is so completely in the hands of the 
cultivator that it may be made to assume almost any 
form he likes. The growing of Roses in pots under 
glass is both a popular and profitable way of obtain¬ 
ing the much prized flower when outside conditions 
do not admit of its development, and of making it 
possible to obtain Roses all the year round. But 
the question of pot Roses is quite sufficient to deal 
with by itself, and we will only endeavour to convey 
a few seasonable hints to the amateur who has a few 
bushes of some sort or other in his garden, and 
naturally wants to know how to treat them to obtain 
success, which, of course, we take to mean the pro¬ 
duction of plenty of bloom. 
Wall Trees. 
If proper attention has been paid to the pruning 
and training of these last winter an abundance of 
bloom should now be forthcoming. The winter 
tying must now be followed by a series of like atten¬ 
tions as growth proceeds, laying the shoots in so as 
to cover any bare spaces that may occur. The roots 
of the trees must likewise be seen to, as from the 
long continued drought they will be standing greatly 
in need of liquid refreshment. If access can be had 
to a farmyard and plenty of fresh manure water 
obtained from thence copious drenchings of liquid 
manure may be given, the beneficient results of 
which will soon be apparent in the rich dark hue of 
the leaves and the size and colour of the flowers. 
Although the numbers of good climbing Roses -which 
possess a sufficiently hardy constitution to stand our 
winters with impunity are not so numerous as those 
suitable for growing as standards, we have yet some 
very fine sorts which are everything that could be 
desired. 
As a splendidly hardy and free flowering sort the 
palm must be given to Gloire de Dijon, which will 
grow almost anywhere, no matter how bleak the 
situation may be. It comes into bloom early’ in the 
season, and keeps on flowering later than most; as 
gcod blooms may often be picked late in the autumn 
when the frost has not made its presence too severely 
felt. Niphetos, another tea-scented Rose, is well 
worth growing ; for, although it is not nearly so hardy 
or so vigorous a grower as Gloire de Dijon, its large 
pure white flowers are exquisitely lovely. Given a 
rather sheltered position Niphetos will acquit itself 
admirably. Marechal Niel is too well known to 
need an extended notice. Very hardy, a vigorous 
grower, and a profuse flowerer, it is immensely 
popular, and well it deserves to be. Reve D'Or is 
another fine climbing variety, bearing rich yellow 
flowers of fair size. William Allen Richardson is 
remarkable on account of the peculiar orange-yellow 
colour of its flowers, which when in the bud stage are 
exceedingly useful for button-holes, and are, in fact, 
in great request for that purpose. Another variety 
of quite a different character but not the less valu¬ 
able is Turner’s Crimson Rambler, as those who 
saw it in all its beauty at the late Temple Show will 
all agree. Although a comparatively recent intro¬ 
duction this sort bids fair to become a general 
favourite, carrying as it does such huge trusses of 
rich deep crimson flowers. Other good climbing 
varieties are General Jacqueminot and Climbing 
Jules Margottin. 
Standard Trees. 
When these are planted two or three of a sort 
together in small round beds dotted here and there 
about the lawn they look exceedingly pretty, and 
should now if they have survived the effects of the 
late Arctic-like winter, be filling the garden with 
beauty. The same instructions as were given for 
the watering of the wall plants will apply here with 
equal force during this spell of dry weather. As the 
bare stems of the trees, rising some three or four 
feet above the soil, look somewhat ugly, steps may 
be taken to plant some dwarf-growing plants around 
them at the base. It is not advisable to plant tall or 
coarse growing subjects, as they rob the Roses of 
too much nutriment. In the spring very bright 
effects can be produced by little patches of Eranthus 
hyemalis, Chionodoxa Luciliae, Scilla bifolia, or one 
or two of the Muscaris. These, however, will have 
died down now, and their places may be taken by 
the well-known sweet-scented Mimulus moschatus, 
its larger flowered variety, M. m. Harrisoni, or some 
of the brilliantly coloured and spotted varieties of 
the Monkey Musks, Asters of various sorts, or even 
Pansies. 
Removal of Suckers. —This will require con¬ 
stant attention, for it savours of bad gardening to 
see Rose bushes carrying Briar suckers three or four 
feet in length, and of proportionate thickness. As 
soon as they are seen they should be taken out by 
cutting them off as far below the surface of the soil 
as it is possible for a knife to reach. Rub off also 
any breaks that may be observed to spring from the 
stem below the point where the bud has been origin¬ 
ally inserted, and which would only serve to curtail 
the vigour of the tree. 
Insect Pests. 
There are very few indeed of our favourite flowers 
but what at some stage or other of their existence 
are subject to the attacks of one or more of the 
numerous species of insects which prey upon vege¬ 
table life, and the Rose is certainly not amongst the 
number of happy plants so exempt. Green fly, for 
instance, is often a veritable nuisance, clustering 
thickly upon the young tender growths, and covering 
the older leaves with their sticky glutinous excre¬ 
tions. It is manifest that it is impossible to fumigate 
these outdoor plants, and therefore the only remedy 
is to syringe or dip the affected parts with some 
insecticide. Tobacco water, which may be obtained 
by soaking tobacco or tobacco paper in warm water, 
will be found to be of service. If this is not obtain¬ 
able a pound of Quassia chips may be boiled in four 
gallons of water, the solution strained after it has 
been allowed to cool, and a pound of soft soap added, 
stirring the mixture until the latter is completely 
dissolved. We have also found a solution of nico¬ 
tine soap to be efficacious. Two or three consecu¬ 
tive syringings or dippings as the case may be of 
one of these mixtures, followed by a good washing whh 
clear water, will soon rid the trees of this trouble¬ 
some insect. If the use of a garden engine can be 
obtained for an hour or two the trees, whether 
affected with fly or not, will benefit greatly by a 
good washing with soft water. In this case the 
flowers that are pretty w’ell open may be cut to save 
them from becoming injured by the syringing, others 
that are not so far advanced will take no harm 
whatever, as in the open air they soon dry up. 
Moths and Caterpillars of various kinds will 
often cause trouble, some of them rolling up the 
leaves of the plants in order to form a shelter for 
their larvae. Where these deformities are observed 
to exist a light pressure between thumb and finger 
may be given in order to kill the grubs. Sawflies of 
several species often cause ugly brown marks upon 
the leaves by burrowing under the epidermis and 
there depositing their eggs. These may be treated 
in the same way as recommended for the leaf-rolling 
caterpillars, and this course of treatment, if carefully 
and consistently carried out, will soon rid the trees 
of these mischievous little pests.—Rev. 
-- 
FANCY PANSIES FROM HAWICK. 
A box of fancy Pansy blooms has been sent us by 
Mr. John Forbes, Buccleuch Nurseries, Hawick, 
Scotland ; all of them were named varieties and 
many of them were of a high order of merit for this 
particular section of the Pansy, which has now been 
cultivated in some form or other in this country for 
more that 300 years. The fancy section would date 
back to 1855 in this country, and is now more widely 
popular than the exhibition varieties. The varieties 
sent us were so numerous that we can only find 
space for the best of them ; but they certainly furnish 
evidence of the richness of Mr. Forbes' collection. 
There were twelve of them which for colour, form, 
substance and handsome appearance we should place 
in the first rank without prejudice to any of the 
others which might not have been in their typical 
and best form. Deliciously scented was Wm, 
Watson with large violet blotches, sulphur yellow 
lacing, and a broad, well defined and bright violet 
border to the upper petals. Scarcely inferior were 
James Campbell and Mrs. John McConnell, the 
latter of which had bronzy oraDge streaks below the 
eye ; the colours were mostly well defined, however, 
and rich. Mrs. John Bolton was a glorious golden 
self with blackish maroon blotches. The broad, 
golden lacing of Seedling 25 was also very 
fine. The violet blotches of Ed. Polland were hand¬ 
some. The upper petals of Emmeline and James 
Drummond were noted for the richness of their hues. 
The velvety, blackish violet blotches of Mrs. F. 
Irvine were beautifully contrasted by the creamy 
white lacing. The purple lacing and upper petals of 
A. H. Murray constitute the distinctive feature of 
this flower. Small but exceedingly pretty were the 
blooms of George Lyndin and Seedling 24 but 
the latter is not always small when in its true 
character. 
Another dozen would include the undermentioned 
kinds which had much to recommend them from 
various points of view, but in our opinion they would 
take a second place for absolute and intrinsic beauty, 
though they were all perfectly distinct from those we 
should place in the first selection. The principal 
fault we had against them was that the colours of the 
upper petals were less distinctly defined. We do not 
place great stress on this fact, knowing as we do the 
great variability that takes place in the flowers of the 
same variety at different seasons of the year. Some 
of them will most likely improve as the weather gets 
cooler and the atmosphere moister after the turn of 
the summer solstice. 
A fine flower was that named Bouncing Bess, the 
dark violet blotches of which were beautifully 
defined. The blue-purple band on the upper petals 
of Andrew Frater added considerably to the beauty 
of the bloom. Thomas Laidlaw might well have 
been placed amongst the first lot, for the form of the 
flower and the brown-orange lacing and upper petals 
were really fine. Large and conspicuous flowers 
were Jessie Ford, Seedling No. 20, Allan Ashcroft 
Mrs. G. P. Frame and Romeo ; we should describe 
Allan Ashcroft as the best of the five in our opinion, 
for the colours were rich and handsome, and, on the 
whole, better defined than in the case of the others. 
The yellow ground of the upper petals of Mrs. 
Freeland and Mrs. Hugh Weir is largely character¬ 
istic of these two varieties. Very distinct in their 
way were Mrs. Browelland Peter Henderson, though 
the purple lacing and the upper petals would 
generally be considered less attractive than the 
brighter hues of various others. This of course is 
only a matter of opinion, for either would furnish a 
very distinct type on the show boards. The other 
varieties sent had the colours of the lacing and the 
upper petals somewhat run or mixed, but this might 
have been due to the reason above stated. Most of 
the varieties were more or less distinctly fragrant. 
-+■- 
TURNERA ULMIFOLIA ELEGANS. 
The typical form of Turnera ulmifolia was intro¬ 
duced from South America in 1733, but apparently 
by way of Jamaica, where it is known as the West 
Indian Holly or Sage Rose. A figure of it is given 
in the Botanical Magazine, t. 4,137. These several 
forms have been introduced to cultivation at one 
time or other, and have been occasionally looked 
upon as distinct species, as was the case with T. u. 
elegans, of which a figure was prepared and 
published in the Botanical Magazine, t. 2,106. The 
accompanying illustration of two flowering sprays 
will give an idea of the general aspect and relative 
size of the leaves and flowers as prepared from a 
specimen which flowered in the Royal Gardens, Kew, 
last year. The plant is of upright habit, of biennial 
duration, and flowers when about 12 in. or 15 in. high, 
and does not exceed 2 ft., so that it is suitable for pot 
work. The flowers are creamy-yellow deepening to 
yellow in the centre, which is streaked with dark 
maroon or purplish-brown lines. This variety was 
originally introduced from Brazil in 1812, and is also 
known under the name of T. trioniflora, which 
reminds us that the flowers may be compared to 
those of Hibiscus Trionum in several respects, 
