July 27, 1895. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
761 
make as if they would close in order to shield 
their pollen from the rain which their sensitiveness 
warns them is impending. The plant thus gets a 
weather forecast from one part of its environment and 
acts accordingly. A well known fungus (Coprinus) 
under normal conditions, has a short stem and a well- 
developed cap. Grown in the dark, however, it 
produces a stalk one or two feet in length, and the 
cap is often not developed at all. This is all the more 
inexplicable as a fungus has no chlorophyll, but we 
may take it that it is waiting for the signal of light. 
Again, a Narcissus growing in the dark produces loDg 
flower scapes, which action is only a desperate 
attempt on the part of the plant to reach the light 
where alone its flowers can be developed. 
With regard to what in the beginning of the lecture 
Mr. Darwin had termed the second form of etiolation, 
viz., extreme elongation of leaves as exhibited in the 
cases of many Monocotyledons, the same rule would 
hold good. It was simply adaptation on the part of 
the plant to abnormal environment and could not 
be accounted for on any purely pathological grounds. 
The lengthened petioles and leaves common to an 
etiolated plant putting on this form, on the advent 
of the stimulus of light began to broaden, whilst the 
elongation ceased. Cactuses also when grown in 
Mr. Darwin pointed out the need for more facts in 
connection with the subject, for said he facts are the 
food of hypothesis, and it is only by their means that 
the latter can be dwarfed into insignificance or 
nourished into a natural law. 
-- 
A FIRST-PRIZE COTTAGE FLOWER 
GARDEN. 
The Acton Horticultural Society has for over twenty 
years offered prizes for the best kept cottage flower 
gardens and allotments, with a view to promote 
gardening among the poorer classes ; and for the 
last two years in succession the coveted prize has 
been awarded to Mr. James Cleaver, a slaughterman 
in the employ of Mr. Richardson, butcher, High 
Street, Acton. But this year, in addition to the 
society’s prize, an extra special prize was offered by 
Mr. Blick, a well-known local man, for competition 
between the first prize winners in Ealing and Acton, 
which, we are pleased to add, has also fallen to Mr. 
Cleaver's share. As the competition in these classes 
is usually very keen, it follows that Mr. Cleaver’s 
success has not been attained without a good deal of 
exertion and taste The position of the cottage and 
its fore-court is not without its disadvantages, while 
(which are very fine), tall Nasturtiums, Canary 
Creepers, and such-like subjects, cover the wall and 
fence, thus rendering ugly places gay and beautiful. 
The picture is taken from the window of the 
cottage, which is also prettily decorated, while the 
cottage itself is covered with a Black Hamburgh 
Vine. At the bottom of the garden is a bit of rock- 
work and some vases, which are appropriately 
planted. Behind these is an arbour or " restful 
bower,” before which Mr. and Mrs. Cleaver may 
be observed surveying with satisfaction the scene of 
their success. 
The Irish terrier which Mr. Cleaver is nursing is 
a regular cat scarer, and is valued accordingly, 
because, but fpr the services of " Pat,” his labours 
might be entirely wasted The trees in the background, 
although they belong to other proprietors, still act 
as a foil, and serve to increase the effect, which is 
surely that of a miniature, nobleman’s garden. The 
proprietor himself, however, can hardly be desig¬ 
nate a " miniature ” nobleman, seeing that he stands 
over ” six-foot two ” in his gardening boots. The 
professional judges were Mr. White, of the Boys' 
Training Home, Hampstead ; Mr Edwards, of The 
Elms, Castlebar, Ealing ; and Mr. Simpson, of The 
Beeches, East Acton.—C. B. G. 
A First-prize Cottage Garden. 
darkness, failed to produce those wing-like expan¬ 
sions of the stem which serve as leaves as far as 
function is concerned. The lecturer then went on 
to say that some climbing plants w'ere exceptions to 
this rule. Sachs in his paper on etiolation in 1863, 
said that in the case of Hops forced to produce 
shoots in darkness we do not get shoots very, 
different to those produced under normal conditions 
but which yet bear a great resemblance to the 
elongated growths of other plants growing in a dark 
place. This led the great physiologist to describe 
the Hop as a case of natural etiolation. Now, Mr. 
Darwin went on to say, this is by no means a happy 
term if we consider it as a pathological condition, 
but on looking at it from the point of its beiDg a 
natural adaptation on the part of the plant to its 
environment it is a most suitable one. Marchantias 
and their peculiar mode of reproduction were also 
referred to, and the lecturer stated that the minute 
tubers or masses of cells absolutely refuse to 
germinate if kept without light. Having regard to 
the lowly habit of theplant, it is evident that it would 
stand but little chance of outgrowing such unfavour¬ 
able conditions as complete darkness, and hence 
with a desire to save itself it awaits the signal of 
light before commencing to grow. In conclusion, 
the approach thereto is of the roughest description ; 
but, notwithstanding these drawbacks, the owner 
and his " better half” have contrived to transform a 
rubbish yard into a little paradise. 
The accompanying illustration is the result of a 
photograph taken by Mr. Upjohn, High Street, 
Acton ; and which will enable the reader to form a 
better conception of its character than a mere 
detailed description. Some general remarks, how¬ 
ever, may not be out of place, inasmuch as this 
little floral retreat is only about forty-five feet long 
by fifteen feet wide. As to the style and contents, 
the photograph will also show that while the garden 
is not overcrowded there is a sufficient number of 
plants to produce an effective display. In the centre 
beds these plants consist mostly of Petunias, Cal¬ 
ceolarias, zonal Pelargoniums (” Geraniums ”), 
Coleus, &c., the oval beds having each a half 
standard Rose, and edged with Lobelia and Golden 
Feather, while the diamond-shaped ones are fringed 
with seedling Pansies, which have been pinched 
back to keep them dwarf. In the borders on either 
side, the edging and several of the plants above- 
mentioned have been repeated; while Carnations, 
Clove Pinks, seedling Verbenas, &c., with others of 
an annual character like Sutton's Champion Stocks 
LAYERING CARNATIONS. 
To keep up a healthy, vigorous stock of Carnations, 
a constant supply of young plants is a necessity. 
These should annually be raised by layering the bloom¬ 
ing plants, and the best time for carrying out the 
process is when they are in full bloom. Should the 
weather be hot and dry at the time give the plants a 
thorough soaking of water a few days before start¬ 
ing operations, as this renders the shoots more 
pliable. Immediately before commencing stir the 
earth about the plants, break it up well and finely, 
and add some leaf mould or rotten manure. This 
must be sifted fine, and all the coarser parts rejected. 
On some soils a better plan is to surround the plants 
with 2 in. of finely sifted soil, old potting-bench 
refuse sifted being generally suitable material. 
Select for layering the strongest of the growths 
which do not show for flower, too many of which 
should not be layered from one plant, because if 
overdone both the parent and the layers will be 
weakened. Two or three layers from each is ample, 
and this number can be taken safely. 
In layering use a thin-bladed, very sharp knife. It 
is well to have two at hand, the one to be used for 
the necessary trimming, and the other reserved for 
the layering. Have a sufficiency of pegs at hand. 
