552 
May 1, 1897. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
Hints for ||mateurs. 
Where what is known as "spring bedding" has 
been indulged in, the beds in the flower garden are 
now very gay and bright. The earlier Tulips such 
as Keizer's Kroon, Cottage Maid, Artus, Standard 
Royal, Prince of Orange, and the Due Van Thol and 
Pottebakker varieties have been making a brave 
display, and have resisted the stress of weather 
wonderfully well on the whole. Hyacinths, too, 
with their stately spikes of variously coloured flowers 
have been loading the air with their delicious 
fragrance and filling the eye with their dignified 
beauty. Our old friend the Wallflower must not be 
forgotten, for its rich and varied shades of orange- 
yellow, and ruddy brown are a host in themselves. 
Besides, there is the delightful perfume of the 
flowers to be reckoned with, and this always seems 
most powerful in the first hours of the morning and 
at eventide. As " Clare ” says : 
" The single Wallflower hath a luscious smell— 
Old-fashioned flowers which housewives love so 
well." 
Old-fashioned the Wallflower may be with regard 
to the length of time during which it has been an 
honoured occupant of our gardens, but not old- 
fashioned where the term implies out of fashion. 
The owners of cottage gardens are very conservative, 
and thus do not easily lose sight of an old favourite. 
Thus it would be difficult to find a cottage garden ol 
the old stamp that did not contain a few Wallflowers, 
which, however, may not be treated so well as they 
might be. On the other hand the larger gardens 
usually hold considerable numbers, for in the Wall¬ 
flower we have both the brilliant colour and delicious 
fragrance, and both are lavishly produced. The 
utility of the plant for bedding purposes is recognised, 
although not to the extent that it might be. 
"Moir,” the "Delta” of Blackwood's has thus 
compared it to other well-known and favourite 
flowers:— 
" Rich is the Pink, the Lily gay ; 
The Rose is summer’s guest; 
Bland are thy charms when these decay,— 
Of flowers first, last, and best.” 
To some the comparison may appear extravagant, 
but there is certainly a good deal to be said for the 
Wallflower, and although we may not be able to 
endorse “ Delta’s," words when he says " To beauty 
give the flaunting Rose," we think few will quarrel 
with the immediately succeeding statement that 
" The Wallflower is sublime.” Planted in masses of 
one colour in small or medium-sized beds of various 
shapes, they are very effective; and scarcely less so 
when seen in long lines in the border. This, by the 
way, is a very favourite method of disposing them, 
and we will not attempt at the present to quarrel 
with it. 
Assiduous cultivation and careful selection and 
propagation of desirable types have done much to 
improve the Wallflower, which naturally is much 
inclined to vary. In thus directing Nature into 
various paths, florists have had a congenial and a 
moderately easy task. There is now a good deal of 
difference in the habits of the plants as well as the 
colour of the flowers. The double-flowered section 
alone has a good many admirers, but we must 
confess to a sneaking regard for the single forms as 
being less heavy, and quite as effective in the mass. 
Another point that must not be lost sight of is the 
difference in the flowering seasons of the several 
varieties. Sutton’s Earliest of All, for instance, well 
justifies its title. The plant runs to about 12 in. in 
height, and by sowing in May it may be had in 
flower by the end of September. If the winter 
proves a mild one, flowers are produced con¬ 
tinuously ; but if the frost applies the closure, this 
would naturally not be expected. Anyway, a little 
March sun and a few showers will soon start them 
going, again. Earliest of All thus steals a march 
on the old but useful Harbinger, but the flowers are 
yellow instead of brown. 
Parisian Early is also in evidence at an early 
season. It commences to bloom in December, 
unless the winter has set in by that time, when it 
lies low until frost has passed. The flowers are some¬ 
what variable, passing from yellow to light brown. 
Veitch's Dwarf Dark Red is a gem of its colour. 
The plants are naturally dwarf and bushy and very 
free-flowering. In masses, whether in beds by them¬ 
selves or introduced in clumps amongst taller 
varieties of lighter hue, they look very rich and 
effective. 
Sutton’s Dwarf Bedder is one of the dwarfest, for 
it usually runs to about 6 in. in height. The flowers 
are brilliant yellow, and the plants are marvels of 
symmetry. This is a very suitable variety with 
which to fill small beds, and it may also be utilised 
as edging material for larger beds. We have 
employed it with the best effect, however, in the 
form of panels let in, as it were, amongst other sorts. 
There is also available a brown form that is the 
exact counterpart of this with regard to size. Both 
are well worthy attention, and we can confidently 
recommend them as being certain to give satisfaction. 
The great point, as with all Wallflowers, is to sow 
early enough to give the plants a long growing 
season and allow the lower part of the stems to 
become well hardened and matured. We will take 
care to give a gentle reminder in the columns of 
" Hints " when the sowing season arrives. 
We have already stated our preference for the 
single flowered varieties as against the double ones, 
but the latter must not be ignored, and indeed claim 
a certain amount of attention. The Improved 
Double German strain sent out by Messrs. Sutton & 
Sons, marks the latest and best development in this 
direction, and those of our readers whose tastes lean 
towards double flowers will doubtless know how to 
appreciate plants which produce large and very 
double flowers in numerous shades of orange and 
brown. The fragrance is nearly or quite as marked 
as in the single varieties. They need a little more 
attention than the latter, however, for from their 
very heaviness the racemes of flower are apt to twist 
and break the stems carrying them. It will thus be 
necessary to afford artificial support, in order to 
avoid disaster, for at the time of blooming we expect 
heavy rains, and not infrequently a little wind comes 
with it. 
-- 
Correspondence. 
Questions asked by amateurs on any subject pertaining 
to gardens or gardening will be answered on this page. 
Anyone may give additional or more explanatory answers 
to questions that have already appeared. Those who desire 
their communications to appear on this page should write 
'Amateurs' Page " on the top of their letters. 
Sweet Peas. —It is quite possible to keep these 
down to 3 ft. in height, Enquirer, and you will find 
that it will not do for you to let them get much 
higher than this in the place you mention. The 
idea of using a row of Sweet Peas as edging to a walk 
is not a new one, while at the same time it cannot be 
termed a common practice. Use neat stakes of 
sufficient length for them to stand about 3 ft., or 
3 ft. 6 in. high, after their ends have been securely 
inserted in the soil. Let the Peas alone until they 
have reached the top of the sticks, then pinch all the 
points out. You will then get plenty of flowers, and 
by an occasional pinching of other strong growths 
that may make their appearance, you will keep the 
plants well within bounds. 
Potato Onions— R.N .—The name of Potato Onions 
is applied to bulbs of Allium aggregatum, which are 
planted (in the early part of February usually) for 
the sake of the young shoots which they send out. 
These shoots reach a respectable size, forming, 
small bulbs. Underground Onions is another name 
given to them in rural localities, owing to their pro¬ 
ducing clusters of bulbs or offsets just beneath the 
soil. 
Agapanthus umbellatus. —I have several large 
plants of Agapanthus, but as these take up a good 
deal of room under glass I want to put them out of 
doors if possible. Would it be to early to do this ?— 
James Muir. 
It is certainly rather early yet, but you may 
manage it by standing the plants beneath the shelter 
of a wall or thick hedge. Here they will take no 
harm except a severe froV intervenes. Further pro¬ 
tection will then be required. 
Clematis indivisa lobata —A plant of this which 
is growing in my greenhouse has the leaves quite 
white with mildew. It was the same last year. 
Will you tell me how to stop it.— F. C. 
This Clematis seems particularly liable to mildew. 
You may dust the leaves with flowers of sulphur 
for the present to keep the fungus from spread¬ 
ing to the other plants in the house. The cure, how¬ 
ever, really lies in the direction of prevention. Do 
not give the plant too much root-run, and be careful 
not to give too much water. A lot of cold stagnant 
soil about the roots is sure to cause mildew. In 
ventilating the house try and avoid draughts as far 
as possible. 
Yine Border. —The advice your friend gave you 
was good, S. L. R., and you do not go wrong in acting 
upon it. The back half of the border may be filled 
up in the ensuing autumn. The half that is already 
made up to the proper level will be quite enough for 
the Vines for this season. 
Young Yines. —We should strongly advise you to 
take up a good strong shoot from near the level of 
the stage to form a cane. This shoot will make a 
great deal of growth during the season, and you will 
be able to depend upon it better than you would upon 
the old cane if you allowed it to break and trained 
its shoots out laterally in the same way as permanent 
Vines. The cane may then be shortened back next 
winter according to its strength and degree of ripe¬ 
ness. 
Beetroot. —You should be able to grow Beetroot 
easily enough, Geordie, since it will do in almost any 
soil except clay. Naturally it prefers a light loam, 
and it is from such a medium that the cleanest and 
most shapely roots are obtained. It is a mistake to 
dress the soil with a lot of rank manures near to the 
time of sowing, for this will only result in producing 
gross ugly roots, more like Mangel Wurzels than 
anything else. What manuring is necessary must be 
seen to in the previous autumn, a deep digging being 
given at the same time. Seaweed is a most valuable 
manure, and those who live near to the sea-side 
and can procure it easily should use it. Nothing is 
gained by sowing Beetroot seed too early. The 
end of April is early enough at any time, and from 
the beginning to the middle of May, according to 
locality, is even better. If your soil is fairly light 
Geordie, you may sow at once. 
Mushrooms.— I have a quantity of horse droppings 
with which I want to make up a Mushroom bed. 
How long will it take to prepare them for use ? and 
must they be put under cover ? Johnson B. Cummings. 
The droppings must be placed under cover, other¬ 
wise a shower or two of rain will go a long way 
towards spoiling your chance of mushrooms. The 
exact time that the manure will take to get in readi¬ 
ness for use depends upon its condition now. If 
this is fairly good, that is, not too wet and not too dry, 
three turnings, at intervals of three days will suffice. 
In turning see that the outside of the heap is turned 
into the middle, and that the whole is well shaken up 
and mixed together. If the material becomes too 
dry, a light sprinkling of water may be necessary, 
but this watering must be conducted with caution. 
Shading Begonias —You must shade your young 
plants T. Jenkins, otherwise the sun’s rays will 
scorch them. In pricking the seedlings off do not 
select only the strongest and throw all the small 
ones away, for by so doing you may be throwing 
away some desirable varieties. The weakness in the 
seedling stage is not always followed by constitu¬ 
tional weakness in the more mature stages. The 
seed giving rise to the smaller plants may have been 
longer in germinating and the apparent weakness of 
the plants will then be due to insufficient room. 
Large Flowering Plants for Greenhouse. —The 
term large is rather indefinite, Reader, and is usually 
fixed by individual ideas, which vary. You will find 
the following easy to grow, and amenable to pot 
culture for flowering in the greenhouse during the 
winter and early spring months :—Camellias of sorts 
(the old Alba Plena being as good as any) Acacia 
armata, A. dealbata, Polygala dalmaisiana, Cytisus 
racemosus. 
Tacsonia Yan Yolxemii.— F. D. has been rather 
unlucky in his experience with this beautiful green¬ 
house climber, and wishes to know if it is really 
difficult to gro v, or in other words if other people 
are as unfortunate as he has been. 
This is usually a very easy plant to please, and 
grows and thrives under the same conditions as will 
Passifloras. If F. D. will write again and tell us 
exactly how he has treated his plant we may be able 
to help him to a solution of the difficulty. 
