491 
• April i. 1099. the gardening world. 
Under glass single and double tuberous Begonias 
are great favourites, and the excellence of the double 
forms is especially commented on. Gloxinias, too, 
are well grown ; probably as well as they are in the 
old country. Orchids of all sorts are well looked 
after, but the craze for high prices is not so marked 
as it is in the old country. Ferns and Palms are 
beautiful all the world over; and it is not surprising 
to find that the Africander loves them as well as the 
Britisher. Mention is made of a hundred species 
and varieties of Ferns, and our old friend Adiantum 
farleyense finds itself called " a lovely great drooping 
ostrich feather Fern," after which aggregation of 
adjectives it ought to be well pleased with itself. 
The Messrs. Smith Bros, have a big name for Ferns 
and Palms, and the trade in them is annually 
increasing by leaps and bounds. Strobilanthes 
dyerianus is another prime favourite; indeed, it 
seems to have caught on better with the Africander 
than in our island home. It is said that the plant is 
not expensive ; so we assume that it has been pushed 
by various members of the trade and is now a well- 
known occupant of the warmer plant houses. 
What would be a novel feature, perhaps, to the 
British grower is “the shade bed." In a space 
120 ft. by 40 ft. are multitudes of Bcuvardias, 
Azaleas, and Camellias, as well as a big stock of 
young plants of Solanum Wendlandii, which is a very 
great favourite with the general public. Other shade 
beds contain hundreds of yellow Richardias, and 
various forms of Aucuba japonica. There is also a 
big batch of imported trees and shrubs, including a 
lot of the finest Rhododendrons. 
Fruit trees form a speciality of the firm, but these 
are located in another nursery known as The Vine¬ 
yard, which is situated on the other side of the hill, 
which shelters the floral nursery. The Vineyard 
slopes gently to the south, and embraces a square 
plot of ground some 100 acres in extent, and running 
right down to the Graaf-Runet railway line. This 
nursery, too, is well irrigated, as is very necessary in 
such a climate. The land formerly belonged to the 
Vineyard Company, who planted a lot of Vines 
only to find that they could not be made to pay. So 
that company went the way of all companies whose 
expenditure is greater than their receipts. Since 
Messrs. Smith Bros, took over the land the Vines 
have been gradually weeded out to make way for 
large breaks of Pears, Plums, Peaches, Apricots, 
Quinces, Oranges, Lemons, and Figs. 
The collection of Apples includes the cream of 
the varieties in cultivation, and so far excellent re¬ 
sults have been obtained in the way of fruit. The 
stock of Apples in hand to cover estimated demands 
alone cover many acres, and as the demand is 
steadily upon the increase this area of stock trees 
will perforce increase too. 
What Vines remain are made full use of, and their 
crops are annually turned into wine. The big old 
wine vault is not the least interesting feature of the 
place to a thirsty soul on a thirsty day. 
Roses, too, are well looked after, for they sell 
well, and the Uitenhage collection can vie in point 
of completeness and comprehensiveness with the 
best in the British Islands. 
The acting manager of the Uitenhage establish¬ 
ment is Mr. G. Cartwright. 
-- 
Kllcnen Garden calendar. 
The severe weather of the past week has sadly 
interfered with work in this department, and in 
many places seriously crippled the growth of many 
vegetables, for it is seldom indeed that the ground 
has been frozen so hard in the month of March. 
As soon as the weather is favourable vegetables 
that have been brought forward under glass should 
be planted out, taking care to thoroughly harden 
them off previously to so doing. Peas ought to have 
the sticks put alongside the rows as the work 
proceeds, as these will in some degree help to ward 
off the cold winds. Cauliflower too should be lifted 
with balls of earth attached, and planted sufficiently 
deep in the soil to prevent them being rocked to and 
fro by the winds. Onions that have been growing 
on hot beds, after being thoroughly hardened, may be 
transferred to the open quarters. In planting be 
careful not to injure the roots more than cannot be 
avoided, and make the holes sufficiently deep to 
allow the roots to go straight down. Do not plant 
too deeply, as such has a tendency to cause the bulbs 
to be thick-necked. Lettuce and other plants oflike 
description ttiat have been brought forward under 
glass may now safely be transplanted in the open. 
It is, however, advisable to choose showery weather 
for so doing if possible, as growth does not then 
receive any serious check. 
Potatos. —Many make a practice of planting too 
early, but from past experience we have found that 
the second week of April is quite soon enough for 
all except a few of the early ones that can be pro¬ 
tected in case of frost. It is by far the better plan 
to work the ground and thoroughly get the planting 
done when the soil is in good condition, than to 
plant too early and have the sets remaining in the 
ground during such weather as we have been experi¬ 
encing of late. If the sets are properly prepared as 
previously advised, planting need not take long, and 
a more regular growth will be the result. We would 
here further impress on the minds of those who 
have not hitherto taken a deep interest in the culti¬ 
vation of this, the most important of all our kitchen 
garden crops, the necessity of allowing ample space 
between the rows; and where a number of varieties 
are grown, that of keeping those producing strong 
haulm by themselves, otherwise they may overgrow 
the weaker ones and spoil them. In many places 
the bulk of this crop is grown in the field, and here 
as a rule the soil not being so rich as in the kitchen 
garden, there is not that necessity for allowing so great 
a space, as the shows do not make such rampant 
growth. When grown in a field where the soil is 
poor the better plan would be to apply artificial 
manure, consisting of two pounds of kainit, two of 
nitrate of soda, and one of sulphate of iron to the 
square rod ; where lime is deficient [a little super¬ 
phosphate may also be added. 
Small seeds such as Borecole, Savoys, Cauliflower, 
and early Broccoli may be sown in the open. As the 
young plants of these are frequently attacked with 
the Turnip fly, a dusting of newly slaked lime, 
super-phosphate, or basic slag, when the foliage is 
damp,will usually prevent them doing much mischief. 
The great secret is to promote a rapid growth by the 
use of stimulants until the plants are large enough to 
take care of themselves. Plants of the above raised 
in boxes or on hot beds should be pricked off as soon 
as they are large enough to handle, to prevent them 
becoming drawn. 
Carrots of the larger varieties may now be sown 
in the open quarters, but as it is far better to make 
several small sowings than one large one, only a 
few rows should be sown at present. 
With warmer weather growth of all plants will be 
more rapid, particularly that of weeds; therefore, in 
favourable weather the hoe must be kept at work 
amongst growing crops to keep them in check. 
Small salads must be sown to keep up a supply and 
as they go over so soon when the weather gets warm 
it will be necessary to make smaller sowings at short 
intervals. Pay particular attention to vegetables 
growing in pits and on hot beds, as both air and 
water will be required, the latter more frequently 
should the sun be bright, with such as Carrots, 
French Beans, Cauliflower, and Turnips, while 
Potatos must have an abundance of air on all favour¬ 
able occasions, though cold draughts must be 
avoided .—Kitchen Gardener. 
It is to be feared that the late severe frost has done 
a great deal of damage amongst bulbous and other 
plants that the mild weather had urged into 
precocious appearance. Hyacinths and Tulips that 
were not protected have had the tips of the young 
leaves cut up, and this must make some difference in 
the flowering, more especially in the case of the 
Tulips. Crocuses have had but a sorry time of it, 
for the flowers were frosted as fast as they came up. 
Break up the surface soil between the plants, and 
keep it stirred occasionally so as to give them every 
chance. If the soil is naturally hungry a sprinkling 
of “ artificials ’’ may follow presently but it would 
be too early to excite the plants now as they have 
not yet got over the check of the wintry March. 
Moss on Lawns. —This may be caused in two 
ways—first, by insufficient drainage and conse¬ 
quently damp, sour soil, and second, by poor and 
hungry soil. In the event of the first cause obtain¬ 
ing the remedy is obviously to look to the drainage. 
Moss arising from the second condition may easily 
be got rid of now. Go over the lawn with a sharp- 
toothed iron rake, and pull out all of the moss that 
the rake will touch. This rigorous scarifying may 
make the turf look rather ragged for a while, but if a 
dressing of fine, rich soil mixed with one fourth its 
bulk of lime be given, a sprinkling of seed sown in 
the worst spots, and the whole surface well rolled, a 
thick tough sward will soon result, and the moss will 
have no room to grow afterwards. A mixture of 
bone meal, wood ashes, and fine soil also makes a 
good dressing, while many gardeners like some 
special lawn sand mixed with the soil. All of these 
dressings produce excellent results, and assist the 
turf greatly in keeping up a thick, and an even sur¬ 
face year after year. 
Hardy Fernery. —In most establishments where 
large quantities of leaves have to be gathered up in 
autumn for tidiness’ sake there is always plenty of 
leaf soil of more or less good quality ; in fact, in not 
a few cases there is more than it is known what to 
do with. A little of this abundant supply may well 
be turned to account for the hardy fernery, for it is 
just the kind of rooting medium that the Ferns love. 
A good dressing should now be given, as far as it is 
possible to do so without disturbing or burying too 
deeply any bulbs that may have been planted 
amongst the Ferns.— A. S. G. 
-- 
©leanings from the Dnrtlir 
of Stienc^. 
The undermentioned subjects were discussed at the 
Scientific Committee meeting of the Royal Horticul¬ 
tural Society on the 14th ult. 
Dahlias Diseased.—Some roots were received 
from Messrs. A. Lister & Son, Rothesay, with the 
following communication :—" First, we started our 
roots in the manner we have done for years with the 
best results—namely, on a hot bench, taking cuttings 
within three weeks of their insertion, and gradually 
lessening the heat as time went on. Secondly, the 
first batch this season was somewhat soft, and all 
failed ; not, however, by damping off, but from the 
effects of the disease. Thirdly, last season we had 
magnificent strikes, but near the close of the season, 
the “ spot ”—as on the specimens sent—made its 
appearance, but was very limited. Fourthly, the 
bottom heat was maintained at about 70°, while the 
top was about 15 0 less. Fifthly, can the Tomato 
disease have become incorporated with the soil, as 
Tomatos had been grown there; and has this any 
relation to the disease or cause of the trouble ? 
Sixthly, all the roots were placed in comparatively 
new soil, although some of the old may have been 
mixed with it. Seventhly, the house is well aired, 
and the cuttings were firm when taken off. As to 
remedies, we have applied sulphur with satisfactory 
results ; so far as it killed the fungus at the root and 
allowed fresh, clean growth to be made, but it had no 
apparent effect on the cuttings. They went off by 
the score. We have hitherto been most successful in 
Dahlia cultivation, and have had misfortunes, too, 
but this disease completely baffles us. The result is 
the same, both with hard-grown forced exhibition 
roots, and those grown without forcing." 
The following valuable report on the preceding 
was received from Dr. W. G. Smith, Yorkshire 
College, Leeds, to whom a vote of thanks was 
unanimously accorded. 
" The Dahlia cuttings when received showed 
various stages of blackened discolouration, where 
they had been in contact with the soil, and also on the 
older leaves, especially where they joined the stem. 
Where the blackening was worst the tissues were 
filled with bacteria, and fungus filaments were 
present. After a few days in a moist chamber the 
cuttings became black and rotten, the bacteria were 
more abundant, and the fungus bore colourless spores 
of two kinds. Your correspondent suggests infection 
from Tomato disease, previously present in the same 
house. We find that the two forms of fungus 
conidia (and only two are present) occurring on this 
Dahlia material are almost (but not exactly) 
identical in form with those figured by Mr. Massee 
(Gardeners' Chronicle, June 8th, 1895,) in connection 
with the Tomato * sleepy disease.’ Whether this is 
a coincidence or a connection, it is as yet too early to 
say. There is, however, little doubt that this Dahlia 
disease affects the cuttings in the same way as the 
above Tomato disease. It has its origin in the soil. 
