472 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
March 24, 1900. 
INTS FOR MMATEURS. 
Hardy Plants. 
The hardy herbaceous biennials, perennials, bulbous, 
or shrubby plants may well receive a notice at this 
time. Gardening is extending ; the class (a widely 
increasing one) of flower and plant lovers who are 
not in a position to erect hugh glass ranges ought to 
know that among what are called " common ” garden 
plants, which often means any plant found outside a 
glasshouse, there are subjects of extreme beauty and 
merit. TheLiliums, Irises, Carnations, Delphiniums, 
Daffodils, Pyrethrums, Aquilegias, Paeonies, Asters, 
and Gladioli, are but a few names of plants which 
are hardy and with which any amateur should 
succeed. Then among the plants less suitable for 
cutting purposes than some of those just mentioned 
we have Saxifraga umbrosa, the London Pride, than 
which nothing is finer for massing beneath trees. 
The Erigerons, Doronicums, OeDotheras, Mon- 
ardas, Anthericums, Hemerocallis, Incarvillea, the 
long list of Sunflowers, Pansies, Geums, Potentillas, 
Antirrhinums, or Pentstemons, are only a few selec¬ 
tions from a great army. But to be more precise a 
few classes will be slightly described below. It will 
be made a point only to include plants of universal 
adaptability and first-rate worth. 
Iris family.—There you see we have at once a 
genus whose very varied sub-divisions almost seem 
enough of themselves to satisfy us for our summer 
gardens. A little classification will be necessary. 
Xiphions or bulbous Irises include the Spanish 
Irises, the Enflish Irises, and such well-known 
species as I. Danfordiae, I. Histrio, I persica, 
I. reticulata, and I. bakeriana. These all agree in 
requiring a light rich soil, deeply worked if possible. 
Then there are the broad-leaved species with creep¬ 
ing rhizomes, known as German Irises. Iris german- 
ica possesses some extremely handsome varieties, 
the following being among those best known 
Flavescens, Primrose coloured; neglecta, pale 
lilac, with darker falls; pallida dalmatica, large 
pale blue flowers ; violacea, dark violet; Irisiberica. 
comes from the Caucasus; and I. sibirica, from 
central and southern Europe, known as the Siberian 
Flag Iris, extends northwards to Siberia. They have 
both numerous varieties, and agree in having 
appreciation for plenty of sunshine. The Irises do 
not last very long in flower ; but this refers to the 
sections individually. It is not impossible to have 
Irises in flower throughout the greater part of the 
year. The dwarf little bulbous Iris reticulata has 
received the euphonious panegyric of “ companion 
to the Crocus.” I. stylosa and I. Histrio follow on, 
and before these and their varieties have done 
flowering the earliest of the German, Siberian, and 
other sections have begun to enliven the garden. 
The soil for the broad-leaved Irises should be a 
thoroughly good loam, porous and deep. An open 
position is also very essential to success. They 
should be left very much alone when once planted, 
especially if seen to be doing well. Disturbance 
they resent. The Xiphions may be raised from 
seeds or by plantings of young bulbils. The 
rhizomatous section are most easily increased by 
division. 
Primrose Family.—Between our common Primula 
vulgaris, which grows almost in every glen and wood 
in the British Isles and is a universal favourite, to 
the tall growing P. sikkimensis with drooping umbels 
of lemon flowers, there is a vast amount of inter¬ 
mediate forms and colours Some of these are not 
hardy and, of course, will not be treated of in this 
paper. One of the earliest species to flower, other 
than P. vulgaris, is P. denticulata, which throws up 
straight stalks bearing lilac coloured flowers. P. 
capitata, also of a blue shade, begins to flower in 
April, by which time the varieties of P. vulgaris 
Sibthorpii are to be seen in more or less amount. 
These latter varieties only differ from the common 
specific form in their individual, numerous colours. 
Their shades of hue are being added to every season. 
We are indebted to Mr. G. F. Wilson for a section 
of blue Primroses. Once these become better known 
and commonly grown regard for them will wane, and 
the rich maroon and crimson colours will continue 
as first favourites by lovers of the single stemmed 
and richly coloured Primroses. The Polyanthus or 
bunch-flowered Primroses are now very widely dis¬ 
persed. Sufficient has been said about these on a 
past occasion, so that they will be omitted now. By 
the Polyanthus Primroses I mean those varieties 
which are supposed to have come from the common 
Primrose alone or by crossing with the Oxlip. Of 
the P. officinalis or Cowslip varieties some charm¬ 
ingly sweet yellow and orange flowered forms have 
been evolved by that ardent florist and gardener, 
Miss G. Jekyll. 
Reference was made just now to P. cortusoides. 
This is another of the hardy Primrose gems. It is a 
very distinct species bearing clusters of deep rosy 
flowers on stalks of from £ ft. to § ft. high. The 
leaves are large and pliable, cordate at the base, 
crenately margined and wavy. It also has varieties, 
the most of which are well worth a place in the 
garden. Others which are certainly equal with any 
which we have mentioned are the sweet little rosy 
Himalayan Primrose, P. rosea, which is so adapt¬ 
able for the rockery, the flowers being borne in 
heads like the Polyanthus. Primula viscosa and P. 
Stuartii, the former purplish, the latter larger in 
growth and bright yellow, conclude the list of first- 
rate Primroses suitable for any ordinary garden soil 
where a fairly open space can be allowed to them. 
The half shady ground beneath lines of fruit trees is 
a position I have before advocated as being very 
suitable. P. sikkimensis is one of the finest plants 
for a water edge (not in boggy soil, however) that I 
know of. 
Trollius or Globe Flowers are all of them yellow 
or oraDge. For rockery pockets they are extremely 
useful, their culture being simple. T. asiaticus, T. 
europaeus, T. e. Orange Globe, and others may be 
included in a selection. They can be raised from 
seeds. 
Lupinus.—The Lupines are rather a wide class, 
consisting of annuals, herbaceous perennials, or sub¬ 
shrubs. All of them agree, however, in being of 
easy cultivation, and the return of floral beauty 
which they give is more than commensurated with 
the space they occupy. The perennials may at this 
time be divided or raised, as is the ca-p. with the 
annuals, from seeds. The Tree Lupine (of which 
the variety Snow Queen was figured in The Gar¬ 
dening World the other week), L. arboreus itself 
has fragraot, pale yellow flowers which are borne 
freely in summer. L. Cruikshankii is a tall growing 
form, which is possibly a hybrid, and is at the same 
time one of the very finest of the Lupines, which 
also means one of the best hardy border flowering 
plants. The upper petal or vexillum and a beautiful 
blue and white ornament, having a yellow mark in 
the centre. The wings are white, the keel also 
white with some blue. 
L nootkatensis should on no account be omitted, 
the combinations of blue, purple, white, and yellow 
being exquisitely chaste There are other species 
and nursery forms of good standing, such as L. 
platyphyllus albus, L. p. Purple King, and L. p. 
Foxii. 
Hemerocallis.—The Day Lilies being graceful in 
foliage as well as beautiful in flower, are popular 
hardy plants. H. aurantiaca major is the best of 
the newer varieties, having received a F.C.C. from 
the R.H.S. a few years ago. The older Hemero¬ 
callis flava or yellow flowering species, and the 
brick-red H. fulva are always to be found in gar¬ 
dens. They are remarkably well adapted for good 
borders, or for a position between widely planted 
shrubs, such as Rhododendrons and dwarf Conifers. 
A deep soil is what they like. The old plants in¬ 
crease and establish themselves readily by division. 
Hesperis matronalis, the Rocket or Dame’s 
Violet, is a fine old-fashioned flowering plant, having 
pale lilac or pure white flowers. The double white 
variety develops into conspicuous specimens in good 
garden soil. It is also sweetly fragrant at evening 
time. The type is readily raised from seeds. 
The Heucheras form a varied class of border 
herbaceous perennials, although some of them are 
more curious than pretty. H. Richardsoni is most 
meritorious in spring, from the fact of its having 
rich, bronzy foliage. The flowers are very dull. H. 
sanguinea does not succeed well on all soils, and re¬ 
quires careful treatment. A deep, moist, firm soil in 
a sheltered position seems to suit it well. A little 
shade is no deterrent, but this can easily be over¬ 
done. The plant when seen in really good form 
with its coral-red racemes of bloom is one of the 
finest sights in any garden. The plant increases 
and spreads by means of rhizomatous stems, and 
if these are properly divided and re-planted young 
plants for new clumps are readily obtained. H. s. 
splendens is supposed to be an improved form. H. 
ribifolia or pubescens (it having two names like 
many other plants just for the sake of confusion), 
though not at all a brilliant subject, is, nevertheless, 
very useful for providing something out of the com¬ 
mon in colour selection. The flowers are greenish- 
buff, borne on long stalks, which are adaptable for 
decoration by use in vases. 
Present Work.—Outdoors pruning of ornamental 
wall plants may be done. Paths should be mended. 
Turfing and tree planting, though still continuing, 
must soon be brought to a close. The rock garden 
should be looked over and cleaned. Vegetable 
seeds may be put in, such as Onions, Cabbages, and 
Leeks. Celery in boxes should be pricked off. 
Cuttings must be watched and seeds of various 
annuals should be sown.— Beacon. 
- 4 »- 
Correspondence. 
Questions ashed 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 ol their letters. 
Bulbocodium, Merendera and Colchicum .—Quiz : 
As you say the differences between these three 
genera are seemingly so scrimp as to be entirely 
puzzling to a novice. Season of flowering has little 
to do with the classification, and trifling differences 
in foliage is sometimes made too much of. The 
three plants and their species all belong to one order, 
the Liliaceae. They are all very nearly allied, the 
Bulbocodium and the Colchicum being grouped in a 
sub-order or tribe—the Colchiceae—the latter having 
larger and broader leaves than the Bulbocodium. 
Compared with Colchicum, the chief difference be¬ 
tween them and Merenderas is that the latter have 
contracted and clawed petals, whereas in Colchicum 
they are bread and flat. The systematists may ulti¬ 
mately have to re-arrange their present classifi 
cation of these plants. True Crocuses are distinct 
in having only three stamens and an inferior ovary, 
compared with six stamens and a superior ovary in 
Liliaceae. 
The Crinoline Narcissus.— F.A.C.: Narcissus 
Bulbocodium monophyllus bears the popular name 
of Crinoline Narcissus. The latter refers to the 
hooped or crinoline-shaped pure white corona This 
is a pretty little plant which flowers at the present 
time. It is best when treated to pot culture. 
Blechnum braziliense.— F. L. : The demands of 
this serviceable stove Fern are few. Moderate 
warmth and moisture it should always have, a peat 
loam and sand compost being given for rootage. It 
may be kept to a single stem or used as a corner 
plant to a stage, the main stem being taken up the 
back, the younger offshoots which duly appear being 
allowed to spread out at the base. In appearance it 
resembles Lomaria gibba, but is larger. 
Salt for Soils.— Sodium: On heavy land top- 
dressings are beneficial and sometimes on light dry 
land in summer it is used probably to attract 
moisture. The following crops favour it in minute 
quantities ;—Beets, Turnips, Seakale, Asparagus, 
Carrots and Cabbages. 
Blood as a Manure for Celery.— Sodium : Blood 
is a poor fertiliser, used in the fresh state. What 
you should do is to pour it over the refuse heap and 
cover it up with old potting soil and some lime. It 
will then dry, leaving the best and most valuable 
elements or compounds as phosphates of potash, 
sulphate of lime, nitrogen, &c. This refuse matter 
can be dug into the trench before planting the Celery. 
Worms in Lawns.— M. C. : Cures are often given. 
Go over the lawns with a long and supple besom 
made of hazel or birch. Then nothing would be 
better for the surface of the lawn than that it should 
get a good sound rolling at this time. The rolling 
and persistent sweeping are practices which will 
trouble and possibly aid toward the final eradication 
of the worms. All lawns should be rolled now. 
Watering with lime-water also acts as an eradicator. 
