684 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
May 12, 1900 
mints for mmateurs. 
Hardy Ornamental Conifers.—Tbe notes on the 
above section of our ornamental vegetation are none 
too numerous. The following subjects are hand¬ 
some, pretty, or serviceable as the case may be, and 
many are suitable for even the smaller gardens of 
amateurs. As an introductory, a few notes on the 
classification of the section or class will not delay us 
long, and may lead to increased interest from the 
possession of a further and clearer knowledge of 
what we are considering. 
The word Conifer means cone-bearing. All our 
evergreen shrubs, &c. which bear cones, be they 
cones large or small, may broadly be included under 
Conifers. This, then, is the natural order to which 
they belong. We now divide the cone bearers into 
tribes, the members of which have some amount of 
agreement between them. There are four tribes, as 
follows: The Cypress tribe, Taxodium tribe, Fir 
tribe, and Araucaria tribe. Once again division is 
made, and we get a genus of trees, as Juniperus, a 
genus of the Cypress tribe, in the order Coniferae. 
So the divisions go on to species and then to varieties. 
We shall now devote, some special attention to the 
genus Cupressus. For a long time Cupressus, 
Retinospora, and Chamaecyparis were regarded as 
distinct by all botanists. Then Chamaecyparis 
came to include Retinosporas, that is, all the 
Retinosporas were called Chamaecyparis. And now 
we find both Chamaecyparis and Retinospora have 
merged into Cupressus. Why such changes and 
shifts take place need not here be explained. 
Cupressus lawsoniana or Lawson’s Cypress.— 
So well known (from reputation if not by experience) 
is Lawson's Cypress that I need say nothing in its 
praise. For gardens with a few roods of ground 
surrounding the house, this is one of the first 
Conifers which can be chosen. Its hardihood no 
one doubfs, and its handsomeness also is undisputed. 
It succeeds on a variety of soils and in various 
situations, attaining a height of 40 ft. and over. Thus, 
the true C. lawsoniana, furnishes us with what is a 
species, a species of the genus Cupressus. Some 
of its more serviceable and better known varieties 
are C. 1 . erecta viridis (green and upright), an orna¬ 
mental variety of neat and erect growth very fre¬ 
quently used for the centres and other parts of beds. 
Another pretty variety is Col. lutea. The tips and 
other parts of the Dranches are tinted with a bright 
yellow hue, which is merit enough in itself. C. 1 . 
stricta is also neat and erect. C. 1 . filifera and C. 1 . 
argentea must also be named. 
C. macnabiana—This is a special favourite of 
mine. The tree grows slowly when once it has 
gained a height of 20 ft., but for the middle part of a 
belt of shrubbery or out upon the lawn few Cypres¬ 
ses make finer specimens. On light soils it does 
well, and produees abundance of deep green close 
growing branches. 
C. nootkatensis.—This is a very hardy species 
frequently employed for the purpose of shelter 
hedges. It is known under the name of Thuyopsis 
borealis, but the proper name is now very widely 
applied. The leaves emit a pungent odour when 
brushed upon. In colour they are dark green, the 
general outline of the tree being pyramidal. At the 
same time it possesses a certain amount of grace, and 
is certainly one of our most useful and most fre¬ 
quently planted Conifers. Of its varieties, of only 
ornamental value, C. n. pendula is probably the 
most elegant, and C. n. lutea is distinct and hand¬ 
some. 
Cupressus (Retinospora) obtusa. — Though I 
would not select this speces for inclusion in small 
collections, there are nevertheless some fine varieties 
worthy of note. Of these, C. o. filicoides is a desir¬ 
able variety. It has Fern-like masses of bright 
green foliage. C. 0. filifera is well known, and some¬ 
times titled the whip-cord Conifer. C. 0. lycopo- 
dioides has this advantage, that it occupies little 
space. It grows more or less upright, is dark green, 
the branches being compact and the leaves crowded- 
like masses of a Moss or Lycopod. C. o. nana grows 
compactly and is only a dwarf plant. It is planted 
on rockeries and at the edge of shrubberies. C. o. 
pygmaea is also suitable for parts of the rockery, as 
it remains under 6 in. in height fjr many years. 
C. pisifera, or Retinospora pisifera, as it is better 
known as, is one of the most commonly planted ever¬ 
green trees we have. It is a graceful tree, having 
somewhat drooping branchlets of a light colour, not 
exactly of a green hue. C. p. plumosa, C. p. p. 
argentea, or silver coloured, and also another which 
is golden tinted (C. p. p. aurea) should receive atten¬ 
tion from those who are on the lookout for pretty 
evergreen shrubs. C. p. squarrosa must receive 
special notice, it being so pretty and so very desir¬ 
able for a small garden. The habit is bushy and 
dwarf, the foliage being feathery and very light, 
glaucous green. Seen with d^w-drops upon it this 
presents one of the finest sights in outdoor gardens. 
But tbe above list must conclude the meritorious 
varieties of Cupressus ; and also these notes for the 
present. 
The Garden in Spring-time.—Probably we get 
enough of written advice upon the] practical culture 
of plants, and sometimes we weary for a cessation of 
the explanatory and directive rules so copiously 
supplied. Yet it is very certain that if we relax 
vigilance vengeance vaunts in the van. Our future 
joys largely depend upon present industry. The 
more steadfastly we employ ourselves when at work 
the greater satisfaction will be ours, when the leisure 
time comes. A slovenly gardener cannot have a 
pleasant garden, consequently neither doth he fully 
extract pleasure from his toil nor earn the right to an 
interval of rest. But were he to pause for recupera¬ 
tion and recreation (both again supplied through the 
agency of that upon which our past vigour was 
expended) he could certainly not expect to find it in 
his own estate. After a winter’s planning and wait- 
ting the great joys of the garden are opening out for 
us. We ought now to know the inner and less 
obvious points of interest and loveliness which our 
garden contains. For instance, we see there the 
sweet flowered Mahonia (Berberis Aquifolium). Its 
stamens are sensitive to touch. When the flowers 
are open to the sun you may try them with a pencil 
and prove the truth of it. In an instant they will 
close inwardly, just as a hedgehog does. The purple 
fruits are eaten by birds, but should not be taken by 
children. Their juice furnishes a violet-purple 
staining. 
Then there are the Primroses with their differ¬ 
ences in the positions of the anthers and stigmas, 
about which Darwin had so much to say. Some 
bear a little knob in the mouth of the corolla tube, 
others have a number of anthers. The first repre¬ 
sent the " pin-eyed ” Primroses ; the latter are what 
are called “ thrum-eyed.” It has been found that 
this arrangement of the sexual organs exists for the 
purpose of securing cross-pollination and fertilisa¬ 
tion. The " thrum-eyed ” Primroses having the 
anthers with their pollen at the mouth of the tube, 
fertilise the pin-eyed ones, which have their stigma 
high up, and their anthers toward the base. In like 
manner, the low situated anthers fertilise the short- 
styled stigmas. 
Newly opened Rhododendrons and Crown 
Imperials contain lovely drops of nectar within their 
corollas at the base of them. In both plants there is 
quite a lot of nectar. At the base of the petals of 
Buttercups you may also find a very minute nectary 
cup. Pull off the petals and observe the base of the 
“ claw ” or narrowed portion. Violets or Violas 
have two of their stamens prolonged to form a spur ; 
these spurs bear nectaries. 
Place a narrow pencil well into the mouth of the 
corolla of the Sage flower and observe its arrange¬ 
ment for fertilisation. There are many flowers open 
just now whose petals are arranged in the form of a 
cross—a Saint Andrew's cross. The little white 
Arabis is one, the Aubrietia is another, the Wall¬ 
flower is a good sample, and the Iberis or Candy¬ 
tuft can a Iso be compared. There are six stamens, 
two shorter than the other four. These plants are 
crucifers, that is, they belong to the order Cruciferae. 
All the Brassica tribe are members of the same 
natural order. 
Magnolias have been in flower for some time, but 
where there are fresh blooms, it would be interesting 
to watch when the stigma becomes fully matured, 
and also the time when the anthers ripen. It will 
be found that the stigma and anthers in the same 
flower do not develop and ripen at the same period. 
The pollen of one flower may be ripe for shedding, 
while the stigma is fast closed. But in another 
flower a stigma will be found ready for fertilisation, 
while the anthers are un-opened. This dichogam- 
ous development is meant to insure, in another way 
from that already described, the cross-fertilisation of 
the flowers. The result is we have better seeds and 
more of them. Later on there will be much more to 
point out in connection with the fertilisation of the 
flowers, of their structure and of their various 
arrangements for different purposes. It is such little 
points of interest like these that make the garden 
and the flowers so enticing to us, and make the 
garden such an enchanting place. 
Daffodils.-—The planting of the tenderer species 
and sections of Daffodils, such as the poeticus 
section, the Burbidgei, and the Barrii types, com¬ 
mences within a few weeks from the time the last 
flowers of this year's Narcissi wither and disappear. 
While there is yet a fair number of kinds to be 
seen, amateurs and others should make out lists of 
those they most prefer, and if the price is within the 
reach of one’s means an order should be made out 
and sent very early, that is, whenever the bulb 
dealers begin to advertise for orders, otherwise the 
best value will go to some one else. 
Present Work.— In the warm plant stove damp 
down the stages or lightly syringe the plants early 
on all bright mornings. Again, about two o'clock in 
the afternoon, repeat the light syringing, and close 
the house. Let down the blinds about half-past nine 
in the morning. The greenhouse should be kept 
cool and freely ventilated. Whenever the weather 
sets in warm the whole of the house should be 
shaded. Fresh plants or batches should be substitu¬ 
ted for those going out of flower. The outdoor garden 
claims a deal of time, for hoeing, weeding, mowing, 
edging, thinning of crops, watering and staking must 
all be kept in mind. In the fruit garden attend to 
the thinning of fruits where they have set too 
thickly, and also to disbudding of young growths. 
Syringe to prevent attack from greenfly, and water 
if necessary.— Beacon. 
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. 
Daffs in Beds.— J. Broomev, Many a thousand of 
Narcissi and other bulbs have to be lifted before 
their time, to allow of the summer bedding being 
substituted for bulbs. Leave them alone so long as 
you can, which should be for three weeks yet. Then 
lift and place them in lines closely together, covering 
up the bulbs with soil and firming them. In any 
warm border not required, they can thus be dealt 
with and matured. 
Yiolets in frames.— J. W.: We pointed out three 
weeks ago that runner plants should be taken and 
separately planted in good turfy loam, in the open. 
You, of course, must select the best and plant now. 
Temperature of Vinery.— Vitis\ For a house in 
flower 55 0 at night, up to 70° during the day. For 
a heuse with swelling fruits, which have been 
thinned, 60^ minimum up to 70° with sun heat 
Cautious ventilation is necessary in the early morn¬ 
ing to prevent scalding. Always ventilate by smal, 
degrees, beginning by opening the ventilators on the 
sunny or lee side, and the top ones before the 
bottom ones. 
Dahlias —W. Smith : A 5-in. pot is a suitable size 
for young Dahlias to be potted into for growth 
previous to their being planted out. Very often. 
3 in. and 4 in. pots have to do service for a larger 
one. You should have them in a pit, frame, or 
gre jnhouse, and near the glass if possible. Water 
copiously when well rooted, air freely whenever the 
atmosphere is mild, and soon you may prepare the 
land for their reception. Make it rich. Old tubers 
which were started a short while ago, must now be 
undergoing the hardening off treatment. 
Pot Roses Mildewed.— J. A.: We have checked 
the spread of mildew on Roses by a persistent use of 
warm soapy water. This sprayed over the leaves 
and stems does effectually check the fungus. The 
following solution might be taken. It appeared in 
The Gardening World for May 15th, 1897 : 
" Boil nine pints of water for ten minutes, turning 
into this 250 grammes of flowers of sulphur, and the 
