June 17, 1899. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
m 
pleasing was the Mutual Improvement Societies, in 
which he took part, as well as the competitions 
connected therewith ; and that connection he is 
pleased to own is not quite severed yet. At the 
annual show of the now defunct Chiswick Horti¬ 
cultural Society he was a formidable competitor, 
taking leading prizes for groups of plants, groups, 
and cut flowers of Chrysanthemums, Selaginellas, 
specimen Fuchsias, &c. 
During the last year or so of his stay here he did 
not eDjoy so good health and decided to change. 
He was then appointed horticultural lecturer for 
Berkshire, but resigned before he had begun work, 
to take charge of the gardens at Falkland Park, 
South Norwood Hill, then being laid out by T. 
McMeekin, Esq., and during the seven years he was 
in his service he experienced nothing but the greatest 
kindness at his hands; and when he suggested 
leaving him shortly before he sold the estate, he told 
Mr. Wright he did not see why he should leave 
them ; for during the seven years they had been 
together they had never had a cross word. On 
the contrary, they spent many pleasant hours 
together, both in the arrangement of hardy plants 
outside, and the collecting of all the finer exotics 
for inside. The laying out of the grounds had 
been a worx of much pleasure and it is most 
interesting to notice the effect produced by each 
year’s successive growth. The collection of Orchids 
that has been got together now contains some good 
things, the thousands of seedlings show happy hours 
of anticipation for the future; and the series of 
photographs he has taken at different times will 
be a lasting remembrance of days happily spent. 
The present owner of Falkland Park, C. Hay 
Walker, Esq., kindly asked him to stay on with 
him. Although Mr. Walker has not yet had much 
time, he is now further improving the place, and 
the garden is coming in for its due share. In the 
short time that has already elapsed a new range 
of vineries has been built, and a forcing house 
erected. At present the place is in fine condition, 
the trees, shrubs and well-kept lawns being rich in 
their varied hues of flowers and greenery, the grass 
being now well established on the dry hill-top at 
Falkland Park. 
- »l- 
NOTES FROM EDINBURGH. 
Spring Flowers at the Botanic Gardens. 
At this season of the year it is well to make note of 
some spring flowers for our own and our friends' 
guidance. If we desire to make any addition to our 
collection of rock-work and other spring flowering 
plants, now is the time to keep our eyes open and 
note the names of plants which may take our fancy. 
ODly last year I planted up a small garden, which 
included a rockery, and even now I could wish I had 
added a few more things I have since noticed in 
various gardens. With that end in view we made a 
visit to the above-named gardens; and being a 
beautiful afternoon it was a treat in itself irrespective 
of the profit and instruction which may be had by 
any lover of flowers who visits the place. I think 
no better place could better lend itself for such a 
purpose than the position in which these gardens 
are placed for diversity of surface, rising, as it does, 
in some parts to a considerable height and exposure. 
We are yet led by pretty winding walks to shady 
nooks and sheltered glades, which to a stranger 
visiting them must prove a delightful and pleasant 
surprise. 
Although evidence of the lateness of the season 
fend of May) are very marked (the trees, &c., being 
barely in full leaf yet), there is a freshness and beauty 
all around which is very pleasant, the Beeches, 
Sycamores and Horse Chestnuts (just bursting into 
bloom), with the double Cherry, a mass of white, 
and many of the earlier Rhododendrons, showing 
bright in many a corner. It is very cheering to look 
upon these spring flowers, always commending 
themselves to us, coming as they do after the dark 
days of winter. 
Time will not allow me to go into detail, but I may 
add in a word that a great work has been going on 
in the above place for some years past. “ Men may 
come and men may go," but they (the successive 
directors) go on for ever, it would seem, making 
alterations and improvements. The whole place has 
been under a process of re-modelling, and I under¬ 
stand that in connection with those alterations some 
interesting experiments have taken place in the lifting 
and transplanting of huge trees and shrubs. I 
noticed a very large Yew which evidently had been 
lifted but lately, and which was promising well, a 
decided growth having begun. The beautiful new 
range of glass-houses which have now been finished 
for some time are a sight in themselves, and viewed 
from the main walk beyond the herbaceous ground 
look very fine. 
But I have diverged from my subject; as I said 
the end in view was a visit to the rock garden. Here 
the variety in flower at present is not so great as one 
might have expected. All the same this is not the 
least pretty spot in these extensive grounds, rising as 
it does in tiers with circular walks around to a 
goodly height, the plants being arranged in stone 
squares for convenience in naming. I must now 
conclude with the names of a few things we noted. 
First to attract attention is the well-known Alyssum 
saxatile, one of the showiest of spring flowers, one 
mass of bright yellow ; A. benthamianum, canary- 
yellow, compact and free; and Trollius (Globe 
flower), a most useful class for cutting. We noted 
T. asiaticus, bright yellow; and T. americanus, 
orange-yellow. Saxifragas, a well-known class, were 
also very fine. S. aquatica, requiring a damp place, 
as its name implies, was very fine. We noted also 
Aubrietias in variety; and Corydalis Dobilis, a 
pretty plant with foliage somewhat like the Dielytra, 
flowers in whorls, yellow, with dark centre. We 
may further mention Phlox subulata, P. The Bride, 
and P. reptans, all pretty varieties for the rockery. 
The Gentians are a pretty class, and one we very 
seldom see in our gardens, yet where can we find a 
blue like Gentiana verna ? Give it a moist place in 
the rockery and it will do well; its height is 4 in. 
PolemoDium (Greek Valerian) is a fine class and 
dwarf. P. humile we noticed as very fine. Tulipa 
pulchella, a hardy species, has creamy-yellow flowers. 
But enough ; if these few notes will tend to awaken 
the interest of your readers in spring flowers, my 
object will have been gained.— Richard. 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
There is no work more arduous and binding than 
to be responsible for the proper care of a range of 
plant houses at this season of the year. We have 
pinching, disbudding, pruning, cleaning, syringing, 
watering, and scrubbing; shading, ventilating and 
some stoking. The weather has been such as makes 
crops uneven in crop and form, for after a long 
continued shivering or in places, damp spring, the 
the close heat typical of July opened out suddenly. 
The Stove. 
To those who know how and when to employ the 
syringe it becomes a brother to use the water can. 
Applied in thoroughness, with force, yet with judg¬ 
ment, clear water alone will be the hardest barrier 
for the establishing of insects' infestations which 
these creatures ever find. We always dew the 
Asparagus plants lightly, even though this is contrary 
to rule. I do not find it in the least to disagree with 
the freshness or quality of the plants. On the con¬ 
trary. Why are such plants deleted from the other 
sections which receive the freshening, cooling, 
cleaning influence got from judicious syringing? The 
veil-like foliage shoots do retain a dewy coating, but 
in the warm atmosphere the leaves become dried 
before night-fall and seem all the glossier for the 
wetting. All the foliage of stove and other plants 
should be dry at least once a day and that at evening. 
Ventilating is not now so precarious as it was at the 
time when growth was in early development. Strong 
draughts, even though they are mild, are not beneficial 
to the best growth. Shading is a duty demanding 
knowledge of a representative embracement upon 
the habitats and likings of the plants grown by the 
man in charge. This is substantiated by the results 
of our best cultivators, for though many may confess 
an ignorance in regard to what is termed scientific 
acumen, it will at the same time be found that their 
erudition is more liberal and intricate than they 
agree to. 
Potting is more or less always in operation. The 
finer and more delicate Coleuses may be shifted on. 
Pinching and regulating are points to attend to. 
Young Crotons, Dracaenas, Strobilanthes, and 
other stock will be the better for attention in this 
respect. Keep Allamandas, Hoyas, Stephanotis 
floribunda, Thunbergias, &c., freely regulated, tied- 
in, and kept clean. Bougainvillea glabra and its forms 
are handsomest when free and loose. They should 
be kept dry and somewhat starved until the flower 
bracts appear. Such plants as Gloxinias and 
Achimenes, as well as all fast growing established 
plants, will be helped by weak liquid manure. 
The Greenhouse 
Callas (Richardia africana) may or may not be turned 
out into the open borders at this time. I grew them 
for years without a shift, and they did almost as well 
as those repotted or planted out. The pots should 
be plunged in the soil of a damp shady border. After 
putting them out, rest them for three weeks, then 
they will start away quite freely. Cyclamens and 
Bouvardias will now oe ready for their flowering 
pots, after which a place in an airy-shaded frame 
will suit them. Be cireful to have them always 
clean, and ti syringe the Cyclamens early in the 
afternoons, closing the frames for a short period 
after this, and opening them again later. The lights 
might advantageously be removed in the evenings to 
allow the dews to have their influence. Seeds of 
herbaceous Calceolarias may be sown now. They 
must be sown on the surface of fine soil and lightly 
covered. The soil may be kept moistened by plung¬ 
ing the pans to the rim in water. Pot Chrysanth¬ 
emums into their flowering pots, and syringe them 
twice a day. 
Pits and Frames. 
The Melon fruits should now be in need of support. 
Syringing must be given up once the fruits are in the 
way of colouring. In the frames the plants are 
doing vigorously. Top-dressings must be regularly 
applied to Melons, Cucumbers, and Tomatos. 
With the Melons in frames, every second day they 
should be looked over and regulated. Water must 
be carefully kept from the base of ths stems, and sun 
heat utilised to the most advantage. Retain a warm 
clear air in the Tomato houses, and do not force the 
crops too much.— J. H. D. 
PEACH HOUSE. 
I am pleased to learn that L'AUegro’s employer 
begins to see that it is impossible to grow Peaches in 
a house that is altogether unsuitable for that purpose, 
both with regard to the deficiency of light, owing to 
an unsuitable aspect, the lack of proper ventilation, 
and the wet undrainable conditions of the subsoil in 
winter. Peaches like plenty of moisture within 
reach of their roots at all times, but they must not 
be submerged in stagnant moisture or water for 
weeks together, because they cannot properly 
perform tbeir functions, much less ripen their wood 
to that degree necessary for the production of flowers 
and fruit. The only way that L'Allegro can improve 
the house in the matter of ventilation is to make 
short ventilators at intervals in the low brick wall 
below the wall plate. Peach houses should have a 
low wall, above which there should be a perpen¬ 
dicular front of 3 ft. so that proper ventilators could 
be fixed there. It would then be easier to get at the 
trees in order to clean and tie the shoots as well as 
disbud the trees at the proper seasons. In the event 
of a new house being built, the trees, if not too old, 
could be removed there. The old house could then 
be utilised for keeping Ferns and greenhouse plants 
in pots. This would get over the question of 
drainage, because plants in pots could always be 
independent of the soil or subsoil. Azaleas might 
be kept there during their flowering period, Camellias 
and Fuchsias all the year round, keeping them near 
the glass in summer. Many greenhouse fine foliage 
plants might also be grown in the house.— Rex. 
WORMS IN LAWNS. 
A very effective method of disposing of such disfigur¬ 
ing creatures as worms are in lawns, is found in the 
application of lime water, watered in when the 
weather is damp. A quantity can easily be secured 
by placing 20 lbs. of fresh, unslaked lime in a hogs¬ 
head and then adding 30 gallons of water. This 
done stir it briskly, and allow it to stand undis¬ 
turbed for 24 hours. This brings the worms to the 
surface, and the able use of a broom will soon get 
them collected. For a remedial measure, however, 
to be used when the worms become too numerous, 
we find it in one ounce of corrosive sublimate 
dissolved in a little hot water and added to40 gallons 
or so of soft water, which is then ready as a solution 
for applying in wet weather. This requires very 
careful treatment as the corrosive sublimate is a 
virulent poison. 
