June 23, 1900. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
Removing Grafting Clay.— Will : If the grafts 
have " taker),” and if growth is now in action, the 
clay around the graft, with advantage, may be re¬ 
moved. A few smart knocks with a hammer upon 
the clay (having a support at the opposite side from 
where you strike) will soon cause it to fall asunder. 
Planning a “Carpet Bed .”—A scot: Dig the bed 
deeply, make up the sides and smooth the surface of 
the bed. Then, having drawn a plan of your bed on 
paper, proceed to map it cut upon the soil. 
Measure according to scale, first working out the 
central and less intricate parts, because from them 
the other features can be drawn. Rough compasses 
will be needed, and a narrow measuring rod, neat 
stakes and lines. In tracing out the lines follow on 
with yellow or white coloured sand, for upon the 
exactitude of the curves and lines depends the 
finished effect. After having planned the whole affair, 
proceed first to dibble in the carpeting bands of 
Alternanthera, Saxifraga, or whatever it may be. 
Then the dot plants follow, and lastly the edging 
lines. 
-« » ■ - 
THE RAREST FLOWER IN EUROPE. 
yellow band is much admired. Still, we do not 
recommend such planting, to see it once in a while is 
quite often enough. 
Poplars for Small Gardens.— Jas. Steele : For 
a garden less thin four or five acres in extent we 
would say that Poplars should find no place In 
some exceptional gardens, or with suitable surround¬ 
ings, they might heighten the effect of the garden 
composition as a whole. But as a rule they only 
spoil the perspective, which they ought to enhance. 
Populus nigra pyramidalis is a spiry handsome tree 
that does not take up much space, and might be 
used to advantage. We would also recommend some 
of the fastigiate Cupressus although these have not 
the same lightness, " danciness,” and change which 
the Poplars have. The following could be looked 
up, and those that please you, choosing :—Biota 
orientalis, Thuya occidentalis, T. o. lutea, T. o. 
Victoria,” a very handsome variety of pleasing 
habit; T. orientalis, T. o. pyramidalis, Larix 
occidentalis, and L. europaea pendula. These are 
all graceful and elegant, of moderate height and 
medium rate of growth. They are more in keeping 
with the limits of small gardens. 
arrive at perfection within a month. The in¬ 
florescence is constituted of eight branches, each 
bearing some dozen flowers, which measure nearly 
12 in. across. In colour the blossoms are crimson, 
bearing in a great measure a resemblance to a large 
Red Cabbage on the summit of a straight Aloe-like 
stem. The petals open in succession, for, as the 
flowers shrivel and die off, others open, and expose 
the inside of the petals, which is of the most delicate 
rose-pink, shading into the purest white, whilst the 
outside is, as already stated, a deep crimson. It is 
expected to remain in bloom several weeks, if not 
months. 
In its native habitat the Australian Spear Lily 
Removing Trees — Geo. Wood : Gardeners from 
necessity have often to perform certain operations 
at seasons other than that which experience 
says is the most proper. But large trees may be cut 
down now, and after digging out the root,the ground 
may be levelled and turf placed thereon. To save 
your lawn, you should cut down the tree bit by bit, 
first the lesser branches, then the larger limbs, and 
by doing so the minimum of damage will be done. 
Patience and perseverance will be required to get 
under the stump of the tree, but it ought to be taken 
up. When the turf is well placed jou should 
thoroughly water it all in the cool of the evening, 
repeating the operation every other night till a 
steady growth starts. The turfed place should be 
staked off to prevent people from trampling it. 
An exceptionally rare curiosity in floriculture is to 
be seen in the nurseries of Mr. William OweD, 
Greenbank, Northwich, Cheshire. It is an 
Australian Spear Lily (Doryanthes excelsa), a 
singular plant, of which there are very few speci¬ 
mens in the country, beautifully in bloom. It is a 
native of New South Wales and nearly twenty 
years ago was purchased from the celebrated nur¬ 
seryman, Louis Van Houte, of Ghent, under the 
designation gigantic Australian Lily. The small¬ 
ness of the plant, at the time, may be gathered from 
its being in a 4-in. pot. It continued to develop 
under the fostering care of its owner, but year after 
year he was disappointed, looking in vain for the 
much-delayed bloom. Nearly twelve months ago, 
however, the heart of Mr. Owen was cheered by 
noticing an abnormal appearance which led him to 
believe that at lastr he was going tohave a flower. 
Time proved this surmise to be correct, for gradually 
a stem began to display itself, and by slow degrees 
it has now attained a height of 7 ft. This is crowned 
with a head of bloom which commenced to unfold 
i self about a fortnight ago, but it is not likely to 
LECKMILM GARVE, ROSS-SHIRE. 
The Highland seat of A. G. Pirie, Esq., is one of 
the most delightful residences one could well think 
of, situated on the northern shores of Lochbroom 
with a southern exposure gently sloping to the Loch, 
which is here about t£ miles wide. Twenty years 
ago, there was nothing on this side but a few small 
fields with some scrub, and here and there a crofter’s 
hut of which some still remain in the vicinity where 
the inhabitants are unwilling to remove even into one 
of the many beautiful cottages the proprietor has 
erected for all on the estate who will occupy them. 
Now the grounds are stocked with one of the best 
collections of evergreen shrubs, Couiferae, and 
takes about seven years to bloom, and it may be 
remarked that true to its natural habit began the 
operation of blossoming in winter, which, of course, 
is the midsummer of Australia. Mr. Owen, how¬ 
ever, has had to wait nearly three times that long, 
and now considers himself rewarded for the care 
and patience exercised, for, as the result of careful 
enquiries at Kew and other important floricultural 
centres, be is in a unique position, by being the 
possessor of a plant of which there is not another of 
its kind in bloom in Europe. The Lily has become 
the source of considerable attraction. 
Most bulbs like sandy soil. So do Magnolias. 
deciduous trees it has ever been our lot to inspect 
Rhododendrons in their thousands are all over the 
place, in all the finest varieties the proprietor could 
collect, with Azalea mollis, and Ghent Azaleas, in all 
their lovely shades ; and at the time of our visit were 
all in full bloom, everything growing in the greatest 
luxuriance. The soil (a very free sandy clay or heavy 
loam), as well as situation also, seem well suited for 
the growth of such subjects, although many loads of 
peat have been incorporated with the soil for such 
plants as are benefited by it. It also seems just the 
place for Roses, which are here in their thousands. 
Mr. Park, the able superintendent, has already in 
his short time made many improvements to the satis¬ 
faction of his employer. No wonder the old inhabit- 
Doryantbes excelsa 
