584 
THE GARDENING WORLD- 
May. 15, 189?, 
||ints for ||mateurs. 
The Doronicums.—The genus Doronicum contains 
about a dozen species of rather dwarf free-flowering 
hard)’ herbaceous perennials found distributed in 
Europe and temperate parts of Asia. The origin of 
the name of “ Doronicum " is somewhat obscure 
but it is supposed to come from an Arabic word 
meaning poison. Some of the plants are supposed 
to be poisonous, more particularly D. Pardalianches, 
to w ild beasts ; and leopards are said to be especially 
fond of the roots and leaves which have the effect of 
stupifying them. Hence the popular name of 
Leopard's Bane which is tacked on to the plants. 
Whatever doubt there may be about the origin and 
significance of the name, however, there can be none 
with regard to the value of the plants from a horti¬ 
cultural point of view. There are several forms 
that are well worthy of being in every garden, for 
although yellow is a pretty common colour through 
the latter part of the summer and the autumn, it is 
none too plentiful in the spring and earlier part of 
the summer. Then again, we have to consider the 
hardiness of the plants and the happy way in which 
they adapt themselves to almost any soil and to 
nearly any kind of treatment. Naturally enough 
they do best on deep rich soils, and it will always 
pay to give them this if possible, but they will bloom 
with freedom even on shallow and poor soils, unless 
they are absolutely dried up. Then again their 
propagation is so simple that the veriest tyro need 
not be afraid of trying his hand. All that is necessary 
is to divide the roots and plant the divisions straight 
away. 
D. austriacum.—This is to be recommended most 
of all on account of its earliness The bright yellow 
flowers are unfolded early in spring. As it varies in 
height from r ft. to ft., but never exceeding the 
latter, it may be turned to good account in a variety 
of ways, its dwarfness here being of service. The 
leaves are large, cordate (heart-shaped), and more or 
less hairy. 
D. plantagineum, or the Plaintain-leaved Doroni¬ 
cum is now looked upon as being wild in this 
country, although it is doubtless an escape from 
cultivation since it is not really a native of this 
country. It is rather taller and stronger growing 
than D. austriacum, as it reaches a height of about 
3 ft. when it is doing well. It commences to flower 
in-March, and lasts for some time in condition. 
D. plantagineum excelsum is perhaps the finest 
of all the Doronicums. It is really, as the name 
signifies, a variety of D. plantagineum, although it is 
much taller, of more vigorous growth, and what is 
still more important, since it lasts in condition from 
March till October, has a much longer flowering 
season The leaves are very large but not quite so 
broad in proportion to their length as those of D. 
austriacum. Bushy specimens from 4 ft and 5 ft. 
in height, and 3 ft. through are very noble objects in 
the herbaceous border. It will do equally well in 
the open and in partial shade, although, naturally 
enough, it grows rather taller in the shade than it 
does in the full sun. This Doronicum is thus a great 
favourite with lovers of herbaceous plants, some of 
whom are probably better acquainted with it under 
the name of D. Harper Crewe. 
D. Pardalianches, commonly known as the great 
Leopard’s Bane, is like D. plantagineum now 
regarded as a wild British plant, and also like it is 
an escape from cultivation. Escapes of this kind are 
going on to-day, but the long time that has elapsed 
since Doronicum Pardalianches betook itself to the 
woods has justified its inclusion in the British Flora of 
to-day The plant is not of so tall a habit as D. 
plantagineum ; in fact, it is intermediate in height 
between the latter species and D. austriacum 
Hardening Off.— Within the next fortnight a start 
will doubtless be made with the bedding out, that is, 
if the weather turns out at all promising towards the 
end of May. Just now there will be a constant shift¬ 
ing of plants from warm quarters to cooler ones until 
finally they are placed outside. The hardier sub¬ 
jects such as zonal Pelargoniums, for instance, 
should be turned out-of-doors at once, but as we are 
not yet out of the wood with regard to frosts they 
should be stood in a place where protection can be 
easily given if desired. In many large gardens a 
permanent wooden framework is considered part of 
the requirements. This is of about the same height 
as an ordinary greenhouse, and is boarded up at the 
sides for about 4 ft. in height, the roof being open. 
Such constructions usually cover a considerable 
area, and are capable of containing vast numbers of 
plants, which while they will take no harm as long 
as the thermometer keeps up a little above freezing 
point would be ruined if the mercury dropped a little 
below it. 
Now it is not necessary, nor would it even be ad¬ 
visable for an amateur, who grows but a few plants 
to go to the expense of putting up a contrivance of 
this sort, although there is no doubt that it would 
prove very handy during both the critical seasons of 
the year, i.e., spring and autumn, when we may 
expect frosts any evening. A shift may be made by 
standing the plants against a wall. Spars of wood 
may be tilted against the latter, and mats or tiffany 
thrown over the spars. Such a protection will keep 
away all the frost that we are likely to get now. Be 
careful to stand the pots level, for neglect of this 
simple precaution will result in many of the plants 
being starved for water, which the pots being on one 
side cannot contain. 
Stocks, Asters, Pyrethrum Golden Feather, Mari¬ 
golds, Tagetes, Sunflowers, and other similar 
material, which, by this time, should be fairly strong 
and sturdy, may remain in the frames for about 
another week during which they must be put 
through the last stages of their hardening-off drill. 
Pull the lights off the first thing in the morning, and 
leave them off until the last thing at night when they 
may be drawn on and blocked up at the back. If 
the night is very warm they may be left off alto¬ 
gether just before the shift, but May evenings are 
rather treacherous, and too much must not be 
risked. 
Alternantheras, Tobacco and Castor Oil Plants, 
Perilla, Coleuses, Iresines, and other of the tenderer 
plants which will not be transferred to the flower 
garden until the hardier element has been attended 
to should not be hurried out too soon. With Helio¬ 
tropes again it often, and, in fact, usually happens 
that the latest batch of cuttings have only just 
rooted, and have been just potted off singly into 
small 60-sized pots. These plants would naturally 
receive a sincere check if taken out of the heat now, 
and they would not make sufficient growth to 
render them of any service. They must, therefore, 
be kept growing away up to the end of May or the 
beginning of June if necessary, and then gradually 
hardened off when they will be ready for service by 
the middle of June, which will not be very late for 
them. They will require to be pinched once at 
least. 
Tulip Couleur Cardinal.—Of the many fine April 
flowering Tulips which made their appearance at the 
last Drill Hall show none were more conspicuous 
than Couleur Cardinal. The flower is large, com¬ 
pact, and of great depth. In colour it is a rich crim¬ 
son-red, which needs to be lighted up by the sun to 
develop its true beauty. Then it literally glows with 
colour Planted in bold masses it is at once striking 
and effective, and we know of no other variety of the 
same section of colour to equal it at the time of 
year. 
Sedum acre aureum.—The great fault of spring 
bedding, as usually practised, is that although a 
great flush of floral colour comes with the spring 
months, finding its culminating point some time from 
the middle of April to the middle of May, for the 
greater part of the winter months the beds are dull 
and uninteresting. Something may be done to 
obviate this by employing to some extent plants that 
are always handsome. Of this section Sedum acre 
aureum is a most conspicuous member. The tips of 
the growths are bright golden-yellow, and as the 
plant like its type, S. acre, naturally takes on a 
carpet-like habit, a very fine result is obtained 
throughout the dull time. Although not so hardy as 
our native S. acre it will put up with a good deal of 
bad and cold weather. 
Narcissus Glory of Leiden.—This Narcissus is 
valuable not only on account of its beauty but also 
by reason of the fact that it lasts well until the fag 
end of the season. Messrs. Barr & Sons showed a 
number of bunches of remarkably fine blooms at 
the last Drill Hall meeting. Despite stormy weather 
the flowers were seemingly untouched, and the 
colour rich and vivid. The trumpet is very large, 
spreading towards the mouth where the margin is 
deeply cut and frilled in a charming, and deep full 
yellow. The segments are rather dwarfed in size by 
comparison with the huge trumpet. Those amateurs 
who have only room for a few good varieties should 
at least include Glory of Leiden in their collection.— 
Rex. 
-4.- 
Correspondence. 
Questions asked by amateurs on any subject pertaining 
to gardens or gardening will be answered on this page. 
A nyone 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. 
Azaleas— Y .: You must keep the plants under glass 
to make their growth. Syringe them well, and give 
them occasional doses of liquid manure. Soot water 
is especially good. You may put the plants out of 
doors about the end of June or the beginning of 
July. 
Chrysanthemums —Last autumn I saw some 
pretty little Chrysanthemums about 1 ft. in height, 
and each carrying a single flower. They were in 
very small pots. The variety was the white Elaine. 
Please tell me how these are grown, and when the 
cuttings have to be struck, as I should like to grow 
some in this way.— T. Perkin. 
You must take the tops off growing plants and 
insert them as cuttings in July. You may put four 
or five cuttings in a pot, and when they have rooted 
pot them off singly into large 6o’s. You will find 
the cuttings strike readily at that time of the year in 
a cold frame facing the north, but they should be 
covered with a small hand light, otherwise they will 
become drawn if the frame is very deep, and they 
are far from the glass. Disbud each plant to one 
bud, and you will obtain what you require. 
Tying Peaches — RO.: You werequi'e right not 
to tie the newly planted Peaches, for no matter how 
firm the soil is made at the time of planting it is sure 
to settle a little. There will be no danger in tying 
them now, however, three months having elapsed 
from the date of planting. 
Thinning Peaches.— R.G. : We are quite aware 
that some books advise a fruit to the square foot of 
area as a good crop, but a fairly strong tree is 
capable of carrying a good many more than that 
without overcropping. We have seen fully double 
the quantity on some vigorous trees. Thinning 
must be done gradually. About two turns would be 
necessary before stoning, and another look round 
should be given after stoning is completed. 
Rhubarb Flowering.— C.A.: Yes, you mnst cut 
away the flowering stems as soon as they are 
observed. To allow the plants to flower would only 
be weakening them to no purpose. 
Tuberous Begonia Cuttings.- I have several very 
nice double flowered tuberous Begonias which I should 
like to increase. Will cuttings strike easily ? I 
have a small propagating box in which I can get a 
good heat. Will cuttings struck now flower this 
year.— R.J. 
Begonia cuttings will root quickly and well in a 
propagating frame, with a temperature of not less 
than 6o° Fahr. The cuttings should be about 4 in. 
long. Insert them singly in small thumb pots, and 
plunge the pots to the rims in cocoanut fibre in the 
frame. Theplants will flower this summer although 
naturally they will not make such strong plants as 
those that have good sized tubers at the base. 
Yines — Please say what is the cause of the spots 
on the enclosed Vine leaves and the best remedy.— 
Subscriber. 
The leaves have been scalded or scorched by the 
sun. For the cause of this scorching and the remedy 
look at the answer to Amateur on p. 568 of our issue 
for May 8th. Act upon the advice there given. 
Strawberry Laxton’s Noble. — T.B.: The great 
value of this variety is its earliness, for it is one of 
the first to ripen its fruit in favourable localities. In 
quality, however, it is decidedly inferior to Royal 
Sovereign, although it boasts of a good appearance. 
Sir Joseph Paxton is a thoroughly good and reliable 
variety, but British Queen is only a moderate doer, 
although its fruits are magnificent quality with 
regard to flavour. 
