316 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
January 13, 1900- 
SWANLEY HORTICULTURAL COLLEGE. 
While down at Hextable, Kent, on a matter of 
business, I found time to pay a flying visit to the 
glass houses at Swanley Horticultural College. The 
number of additional students to this college 
guarantees the fact that the teaching of elementary 
science and practical gardening, the teaching of the 
former to be made evident in the latter, is in worthy 
hands. The laboratory work and the lectures come 
more directly under the superintendence of the 
Principal and his staff, while out in the fruit and 
vegetable gardens, and in the glass-houses, the 
energetic Mr. Budworth " rules the roost." Crops 
of all sorts have been satisfactory during the past 
summer and autumn. At this season the students, 
with guidance, are erecting new houses, repairing or 
seeing others repaired. Fruit borders are being in 
cases renovated, pruning has been well advanced, 
and all the necessary work of the present period is 
being seen to. Blooms, of course, are scarce, but for 
market supply there are two long span’s stocked 
with various late flowering Chrysanthemums, 
notably the pure white. 
Houses of Adiantum cuneatum are filled with 
capital stuff for furnishing the much needed greenery 
for the lighter forms of floral decorations. Besides 
Maidenhair Ferns, they have a serviceable growth of 
the various decorative varieties of Asparagus, 
A. plumosus, A. tenuissimus, A. Sprengerii, &c. 
Callas, Bouvardias, Zonal Pelargoniums, winter 
Cucumbers, and such-like marketable stock were 
seen in numbers of neighbouring conservatories. The 
idea is to have things well advanced and good, so as 
to secure a hold of the market, which the college 
folks seem very successfully to have so far ac¬ 
complished. A more extended visit was promised 
for a further date.— Harrison, D. 
——- 
CULTURE OF ASPARAGUS. 
Asparagus is now known all over Europe. It is 
perennial, and its rootstocks often acquire a breadth 
of 19 to 29 in. ; the roots are numerous and very 
long in suitable soils, especially when soil and sub¬ 
soil have been deeply dug. There are, however, 
Asparagus gardens in land with permeable sub-soils 
where the arable layer is only 6 in. thick. Notwith¬ 
standing this, the nature of the soil has a great in¬ 
fluence on the vegetation of this plant. It is in soil 
of average consistency, more loose than compact, 
that it is most likely to thrive. 
Asparagus grows badly, and is not productive in 
soil when there is stagnant water or excessive mois¬ 
ture. It dees not, however, suffice to remember 
that Asparagus should be cultivated on well-drained 
permeable soils, for the plant requires abundance of 
manure, particularly nitrogenous, calcareous, and 
potassic. The beauty of the shoots is generally due 
to the fertilising substances which are applied 
copiously every year or two years. Night-soil, so 
rich in fertilising principles, has great influence on 
growth of the shoots. It is then with reason that 
people ascribe to the elements of this manure, the 
excellence of the Asparagus grown in the depart¬ 
ments around Paris, particularly in Argenteuil and 
the neighbouring communes. 
As a rule Asparagus requires more nitrogen and 
potash than phosphoric acid and lime. Old sulpha- 
ted and nitrated plaster applied pulverised at the 
same time as barn-yard dung in a very advanced 
stage of decomposition greatly increases develop¬ 
ment of the young shoots. 
Asparagus is grown from seed ; you can raise the 
roots you need yourself or buy them from 
horticulturists who speculate in their propagation. 
Sowing is performed in March or April in rather 
loose soil, well prepared and dressed with abundance 
of partially decomposed dung. The seeds are sown 
in lines 9 in. to 12 in. apart, and 1 in. to in. deep. It 
is well to spread fresh litter or mould over the 
ground when drought is feared. By these operations 
you provide for watering, which is not always easy 
to execute. After hoeing to keep the soil neat and 
loose, you must thin the plants so as to leave a space 
of 2 in. or so between each. It is by repeated atten¬ 
tions that vigorous plants are grown. 
The varieties to cultivate are three in number. 
The most common is the " Holland Violet Aspara¬ 
gus; then the *■ Early Argenteuil" and the " Late 
Argenteuil," varieties which give very fine shoots 
when grown in tilled, fertile, well-dunged soil. The 
late variety gives crops longer than the others. Let 
us add that the green or common Asparagus is an 
inferior sort worth little in the market when the 
other three are abundant. 
Asparagus gardens are formed with vigorous well- 
developed plants one year old. In localities where 
culture is thoroughly understood it is preferred to 
the two year old plant which is less sure in taking 
root. The roots in the nurseries should be pulled up 
carefully so as not to injure the tip of the roots. 
Asparagus is usually planted in trenches of slight 
depth, and 20 in. to 25 in. apart; each trench is 20 in. 
wide. These trenches are opened at the end of 
winter on ground which has been dug and dressed 
in autumn with half decomposed barn-yard dung, or 
night soil or street mud ; they are 6 in. or 8 in. deep. 
The places where the roots are to be planted are 
marked with small sticks. 
According as the trenches are opened you must 
form, at each spot where a root is to be planted, a 
little conical heap of of good soil or mould about 
2 in. high. Lay the plants on these little hills and 
spread out the roots and cover them with soil con¬ 
taining plenty of mould. Finally level the trench 
with some of the soil which has been dug out and 
left on the side slopes. 
Asparagus can also be planted on beds 39 in. to 
58 in. wide. When planting is finished the slopes 
are all a little higher than the trenches, owing to the 
amount of mould employed to bury the roots. Once 
planted the Asparagus cannot be left to itself; dur¬ 
ing the first year they must be hoed when necessary. 
There must be great drought to make watering 
essential. 
It is well not to remove the sticks which mark the 
spots where the roots were planted because they will 
indicate the places where the hoe must be used with 
care, and manure applied. 
Before the cold weather arrives cut the dry stalks 
8 in. or 10 in. above the soil, and cover all the 
trenches with a light layer of mould, well-decomposed 
dung, or divided night-soil. At the end of winter in 
the following year incorporate the manure, applied 
in autumn, with the soil by aid of the fork. During 
the second and third year the plants need the same 
care as during the year after planting. Every year 
from March to September the soil of the trench 
slopes is utilised for growing dwarf Haricots. 
In the third year you begin to hill up the Asparagus, 
covering the roots with 8 in. or 10 in. of mould, or 
rather light soil taken from the slopes ; and in the 
fourth year the first crop is gathered by aid of an 
Asparagus-cutter, care being taken not to injure the 
shoots beginning to grow. The hilling-up executed 
every year, and removed after the crop, is intended 
to lengthen the young shoots, and give them a length 
of at least 8 in. The crop is gathered from March 
to June, according to localities .—Journal d'Agri¬ 
culture Pratique, December jth, 1899. 
THE SEA BUCKTHORN. 
The above, which is so much used, and properly, as 
a sea-coast plant, furnishes us, nevertheless, with a 
very pretty shrub for our pleasure grounds. In the 
parts of an arboretum,where light should be the order 
of things, the Sallow Thom, which is another of its 
popular names, may well be chosen. The species 
known as Hippophum rhamnoides is dioecious, one 
plant male, the other being distinctly female. Now, 
of course, unless the two sexes are wiihin reach the 
beautiful cochineal-coloured berries can never be ex¬ 
pected. A well fertilised tree is to be seen at the 
north-east corner of the temperate range at Kew. 
Flowering sprays of the male trees were brought 
from a distance to pollenate the stigmas. The result 
has been most successful; each branch of the female 
tree is laden with the ornamental fruits. The Sea 
Buckthorns can be propagated by layers, by suckers, 
by cuttings of the root, or from seeds. Layers or 
suckers are probably most suitable. On the north 
side of the Earl of Wemyss’ estate, of Gosford, in 
East Lothian, this plant is largely planted, and a 
capital illustration of natural pruning is to be wit¬ 
nessed there. The boisterous waves from the North 
Sea dash upward to the shore and send their salted 
spray high over the skirting Buckthorns, killing back 
the young shoots. 
PELLIONIA PULCHRA. 
It may seem strange to say that the little Pellionia 
which decorates so many of our stove stages where- 
ever a footing can be got, belongs to the same order 
as does our stinging Nettles. Far greater difference 
of course than exists between these two plants, are 
apparent in nearly all other natural orders. But this 
is not the point. One sometimes wishes to have an 
additional creeper for the edges of the stove stage, 
one to look fresh, pretty, and of a habit such as will 
either droop over the edge, or raise itself to clothe 
the too great nakedness evident at times on our 
stages. Pellionia pulchra answers the purpose. It 
is easily propagated by cuttings, and requires no 
other treatment when rooted than those of pegging 
into crevices, or indeed, merely covering up the 
roots in the shell, sand, or gravel which should cover 
the stages. The moisture and heat about and around 
the plants are ample to sustain them. P. daveauana 
is suitable as a climbing species for the basement 
covering of low walls and ledges. 
THE BABY PRIMROSE. 
The blossoms of P. Forbesii are very dainty and 
graceful, of a pleasing rose colour with eye or centre 
of a pale yellow hue. The stems are 10 in. or 12 io. 
long, and remain in bloom for several weeks, fresh 
buds opening from day to day. For cut flowers 
they are particularly valuable on account of their 
great staying qualities. The plants begin to bloom 
when quite small, and throw up dozens of flower 
spikes from a dense clump of foliage. The plant 
requires about the same treatment as the Chinese 
Primula. The Baby Primrose is one of the most 
desirable introductions of recent years. 
BEGONIA HAAGEANA. 
In B. haageana we have a very pretty stove-flowering 
plant, but one which is inferior as a pot plant, I 
think, when closely compared with those which it 
most nearly resembles, namely, B. metallica and B. 
incarnata. The plant is altogether more lanky in its 
parts, larger, indeed, it may be said. It flowers very 
satisfactorily when planted out in unconfined bor¬ 
ders, so that it has merits for such use. Id pot cul¬ 
ture it may even flower more freely. The culture is 
the same as for B. metallica and for those of the Rex 
type, by cuttings preferably. Its great leDgth of 
flower stalks are in its favour. 
THE LARGE CONVOLVULUS. 
Ipomaea purpurea, the major Convolvulus, is an 
invaluable plant for covering trellises, arbours, and 
out-of-tbe way small buildings. It grows fast and 
spreads persistently. In fact, so much at 
home does it make itself that it becomes quite 
troublesome in places. The plant is hardy enough 
to recommend outdoor sowings during May. Varie¬ 
ties with distinct colours, such as blue, crimson, 
purple, white, and rose can be bought. For trailing 
over sunny hedges around country cottages few 
things are prettier or more adaptable during 
summer. 
CHAMAEPEUCE OR FISH-BONE THISTLE. 
The merits of the above lie in its spiny, spreading, 
gray-coloured foliage. It may be seen used as an 
edging plant in many of the fine summer beds in 
Hyde Park and elsewhere. The plants usually grow 
evenly, and when placed at regular distances apart 
in straight lines they form a very effective outer 
limit. They can be raised annually from seeds. 
CARNATION LIZZIE McGOWAN. 
We had occasion to mention this white winter 
bloomer once before. At Swanley Horticultural 
College we saw a whole houseful of plants in 5 in. 
and 6 in. pots, and their appearance bespoke a good 
variety, giving grand returns of marketable flowers. 
White Carnations are generally welcome at any 
time. 
CANTERBURY BELLS. 
It only requires one to look back to the early spring 
shows whereat Campanula calycanthema and its 
varieties were exhibited as pot plants to ensure a 
batch of similar plants in one’s own houses in the 
coming spring. Well grown plants are among the 
most charming of our flowering members in the 
early spring when grown in pots or in the borders 
in early summer. They last a long while in good 
condition. They are easily raised from seed and 
have few fancies. 
