iVTarch 01, 1S0O. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
489 
cure a male plant from some nursery firm. Place 
the male plaDt near by the berry-bearers and attend 
to artificial fertilisation. The Aucuba japonica 
maculata, A j. longifolia and A. j limbata make 
nice subjects for pots. 
Propagating Osmanthus.— S. Salter : Patience 
is required, but if nicely made cuttings are inserted 
in pots and these placed in either warm or cool pits, 
rooting plants will eventually reward your efforts. 
Plan to Eradicate Cockroaches.— M. T. G.- 
Wooden box traps having a concave glass lid or 
upper side, with a central vacuum or opening to 
allow a cockroach to pass inwards, can be obtained 
from horticultural sundriesmen. The cockroaches 
mount upon the sloping surface of the top side and, 
in scrambling along, lose their footing and pass in¬ 
side, from which they cannot escape. Jars contain¬ 
ing treacle are employed with effect. Ordinary jam 
jars may be used, and it is necessary to place a piece 
of stake against the jar to allow the pests a means of 
gaining the top edge. Poisoned pieces of Potato, 
Carrot, or bread may be laid about, but this should 
be done with care. 
Tulip Tree for Suburban Garden.— A. Thomson : 
PARSLEY AT MIDWINTER. 
Near large and smoky towns there is always a great 
difficulty in keeping up a supply of fresh Parsley 
for domestic use in winter. This would apply to 
districts even where climatic conditions are usually 
favourable to the successful cultivation of this 
popular herb. Near smelting furnaces and in dis¬ 
tricts given over to the coal and iron industries, the 
atmosphere is usually so impregnated with chemical 
impurities that gardeners have great difficulties in 
keeping healthy green vegetables through the winter 
months. In northern districts, on the other hand, 
the gardener has also to contend with the severities 
of climate. 
The accompanying illustration, sent us by Lady 
Macleod, Finnary, Shandon, Dumbartonshire, at the 
end of January last, shows a fine bed of Parsley 
that stood the winter unprotected in any way. Close 
proximity to Gareloch, ah [inlet of the sea, may, in 
part, account for the signal success of the Parsley ; 
but even for that district it was considered very use¬ 
ful for the time of year. The variety was Austin’s 
West of Scotland Prize Parsley, a sowing of which 
was made by Mr. Alexander Lyon, the gardener at 
Finnary, in a box, about the end of March, 1899. 
The seedlings wereplanted out about the end of June, 
on a border that was manured in March, 1898. The 
that before sowing time came some of the thousands 
of wriggling gray worms, &c., might be destroyed, 
and the land made sweeter.— D. 
AN OUTLINE OF CHARACTER AND 
CULTURE OF THE HERBACEOUS 
AND ALPINE FLORA. 
(>Concluded from p. 474.) 
Propagation. 
This may be effected by seeds which are produced 
in large quantities or limited to a given number. 
Germination takes place with some in a few days; 
others remain dormant for one year or a period of 
years. 
Sowing of the seeds should be accomplished as 
soon as possible after the seeds ripen from early 
summer to late autumn, especially where large 
collections of alpines are kept in stock. Many of 
the seeds are better when sown at midsummer, in 
order to ripen and to complete their growth before 
winter. Seeds of a hard texture which take the 
twelve months or longer periods to germinate are 
better for the autumn sowing, placed outdoors so 
that the soil and effect of atmosphere underneath 
snow coverings can react on them. 
Parsley at Finnary in Mid-winter. 
We have observed very shapely and healthy Tulip 
trees in suburban districts having a pure atmosphere. 
There are many around Edinburgh and LondoD, for 
instance. It is hardy. Liriodendron tulipifera is its 
botanical name. Any porous but good garden soil 
will suit the Tulip tree. It needs little or no pruning. 
For effect, associate it alongside of a Weeping Birch, 
such as Betula alba Youngii, or some taller flowering 
shrubs or trees, as Acacias, Crataegus. Its wood is 
used in cabinet making, carriage building, and for 
shop fittings. 
Acacia dealbata.— J. C. S.: The origin of the 
trade name of “ Mimosa,” which this Acacia bears, is 
probably identified with “Mimosa bark,” a com¬ 
mercial article of export from various Acacias in 
Australia, among which A. dealbata is included. 
The “ Mimosa bark,” we believe, is used in dyeing. 
Mimosa is a common name for. various leguminous 
plants of this class in their native habitats. 
Polypodium aureum glaucum.— T. S. S .: Though 
very seldom used as a basket Fern, you will find it to 
succeed when its roots are confined and well 
established in a moderate sized basket. Plenty of 
space is required, 
Parsley was grown on that border, and stood the 
whole winter without any cover whatever. The 
photograph, from which the illustration was pre¬ 
pared, was taken on January 12th, 1900. 
Whatever the severity or otherwise of the winter in 
the neighbourhood of Shandon, the Parsley must be 
admitted as evidence of the purity of the atmosphere 
and its wholesome effect upon plant life. There is also 
other evidence of its healthiness in the presence of 
a hydropathic establishment. All the same, the 
fact that a full crop of Parsley may be had in 
healthy vigour at mid-winter in the open is not of so 
frequent occurrence as hundreds of gardeners could 
desire. 
Over Manuring.—It is possible to do quite as 
much harm to crops by enriching the soil too heavily 
as it is to stunt growth by starvation. I lately aided 
a friend in the digging of his little garden, and never 
before had I turned over land so gorgeously fat. In 
fact, it was fetid from the exposure of decomposed 
remains of dogs, cats, and manure itself. We dug 
as deeply as possible, and left the soil loose. As an 
antidote and reclifier I ordered my friend to put a 
bushel or two of unslaked lime upon the strip, so 
Where seeds fail to develop, other means are re¬ 
sorted to, such as leaf cuttings in Ramondias, of 
stems and shoots in PenstemoDs, Mesembryanthe- 
mums, and others ; and by root and crown divisions 
in the many Androsaces, Saxifragas, Thymuses, and 
others. 
Many re-produce themselves in quantities by elon¬ 
gating root stems (rhizomes), as Tropaeolum 
speciosum, Linum narbonense, and L. alpinum ; by 
tuberous root stems, as in Tropaeolum polyphyllum. 
By sections of roots made into cuttings, Statices and 
Eryngiums can be procured in large numbers, 
besides Paeonies, Acanthus mollis and other species. 
Sometimes a mode of grafting is used particularly in 
tree forms of Paeonies and among alpines between 
Statices and Acantholimons. 
Great difficulties are experienced at times in raising 
a stock of plants from seed, owing to its length of 
time fn germinating, as in the case of Romneya 
Coulteri and many choice alpines. Others take long 
after germination to grow to any size as plants; 
Cuttings sometimes damp off with mildew. 
Plants get affected with too much moisture on 
their crowns or planted in too exposed position to 
sunlight, or very often spoilt by the continual chang¬ 
ing of an English winter, so that the many modes 
