June 30, 1900. 
693 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
average, while Red and White Currants are very 
heavy; Raspberries medium; Cherries and Plums 
are good average crops ; Apples and Pears are very 
little grown in the district, but what is of them 
are fair. 
All vegetables except early Kidney Beans are 
looking well; Peas and Potatos exceptionally so. 
All the Brassica tribe are growing away freely. 
Tomatos are looking well; of course they are only 
grown under glass here. Laird's Supreme and Stirl¬ 
ing Castle have again proved themselves to be of the 
very highest class. Their free setting qualities are 
above all praise, while the quality is unsurpassed by 
any other variety I have ever grown. 
Flowers are exceptionally fine this season. Rho¬ 
dodendrons have been magnificent, as also most 
other flowering trees and shrubs. Bedding stuff 
never in all my experience got a better chance. I 
have never once required to use the watering pan 
not even at planting time. The result is eminently 
satisfactory, everything growing freely. Among 
herbaceous plants Pyrethrums make a brave show, 
while the Scotch Rocket, Dianthus of sorts, Iris, 
Paeonies, &c., are much finer than usual. Roses are 
very strong, clean and healthy, and ere long will 
doubtless make a grand display. Rose Gloire de 
Dijon is exceptionally fine just now. To sum up, I 
think I am safe in saying that as far as the present 
promise goes it is an exceptionally fine season for 
the gardener in this locality.— Black Watch. 
HUMEA ELEGANS 
Makes a highly decorative subject for the green¬ 
house or as isolated specimens in the flower garden. 
A good way is to remove a piece of turf and take out 
the soil large and deep enough to receive the pot, 
sinking same a little below the level, placing a piece 
of slate at the bottom for the pot to rest on so 
that water may pass away quickly, securely staking 
the stems as they take the wind rather much. The 
plants under good culture reach six to eight ft. high, 
are graceful in the extreme, whose leaves when 
touched emit a very strong peculiar odour, rare in 
plant life. The reddish-brown blossoms, too, are 
very graceful and feathery. Seeds can be sown from 
now to the middle of August, placing the pan in a 
cold pit or frame, and shading until germinated, 
pricking off the seedlings into boxes when large 
enough to handle, potting into 48's before crowding 
takes place, shifting on as they require it. For 
their final potting in March or April into 10-in. pots 
use loam, leaf soil and coarse sand with a good per¬ 
centage of well decayed manure at each potting ; and 
aid with weak liquid manure when established, 
guarding against over-watering, as they are ticklish 
subjects to deal with. Keep as near the glass and 
as cool as possible at all times to prevent the plants 
from getting drawn. For out-door use, harden grad¬ 
ually, and place in position early in June.— Grower. 
"■S*- 
PSILA ROSAE. 
With the advent of the present warm weather, 
comes this marauding fiend, devastating that which 
recently gave promise of a remunerative crop of that 
esculent, umbelliferous plant—the Carrot — whose 
yellow, drooping foliage only too evidently portrays 
the fact that again the cultivator is baffled, and the 
insect has once more gained the ascendancy. Cur¬ 
tailed, its life history and description may be given 
in a few words. Early in spring, the black, slightly 
downy, imago emerges from its pupa case wherein it 
has hibernated. The eggs, which are deposited on 
the root, hatch in a week. The small yellow larva, 
aided by means of two tunicated mouth hooks, bores 
into the Carrot, and throws a yellowish dust to the 
surface, erroneously termed " Carrot rust.” After a 
period of three weeks of this destructive life the 
larva returns to mother earth, wherein, for a space 
of fourteen days, it pupates, and finally the imago 
appears. Several generations occur annually. To 
eradicate the larva is thus impossible. Pages have 
been written in favour of deterrents of sorts, which, 
although not effective, are to a certain degree 
preventive. Amongst the many, the use of nitrate 
of soda is seldom enumerated ; and it is in its favour 
that this article is written. Applied during the 
thinning period, in showery weather, the use of this 
salt resulted in a crop of excellent clean roots, in a 
garden greatly addicted to attack where for years 
deterrents had been applied without satisfactory 
results.— A Ipine, 
“ NERIUMS OR OLEANDERS.” 
It is sometimes difficult in the management of 
Neriums to get them to flower well, and to get large 
fully expanded blooms, as a great many of the 
smaller buds often drop off. The following method if 
taken up by anyone interested will be found to be a 
successful one. They prefer a sunny position, and 
must be kept soaked with water after the flower buds 
are formed. Plunge the pots inside seedpans, 
giving them liquid manure twice a week, as well as 
a drenching occasionally with tepid water. They 
like a high temperature at this stage, but the roots 
must never get dry at any time, as Oleanders are 
moisture-loving plants. In propagating them put 
seven good strong cuttings in an 8-in. pot or pan, 
using three parts sand to one leaf mould. Put a bell 
glass over them and plunge in a propagating pit or 
stove, keeping them moist. They will soon root, and 
when young growth begins take off the glass and pot 
in the ordinary way. They do not flower freely in a 
small state, so that the above remarks on flowering 
refer to year-old plants and older. When potting, 
give plenty of drainage, using a mixture two parts 
turfy loam, one fibrous peat, or old sphagnum, one 
leaf mould, with a dash of sand and stick ashes. 
Thus treated they will be found to flower freely.— 
John C. Dick, Gardener, Cliampfleurie, Linlithgow. 
GLADIOLI AND CANNAS. 
These, when used together for bedding purposes, 
form such a pleasing combination, that it is a pity 
they are not planted together more often. The 
brilliant flowers of the Gladioli, when seen with the 
bold foliage of the Cannas, is not soon forgotten. 
The hybrid Gladiolus Childsii and its varieties, are, 
I think, the best that can be used for this purpose, as 
they grow so strong and there is such a beautiful 
variety of colours; but should scarlet be preferred, 
the well known variety Brenchleyensis cannot be 
beaten. As it is most convenient to plant the 
Gladioli and Cannas at the same time, usually about 
the first week in June in this locality, the former 
should be prepared by potting three bulbs in 24-size 
pots, and placing them in a cold frame early in April. 
They will then be found nicely rooted by the time 
they are wanted, and are not likely to be smothered 
by the Cannas. Of course it is well known that 
Cannas make a beautiful show by themselves, now 
that there are so many splendid varieties, but still 
the Gladioli take up so little space and add so 
greatly to the beauty of the bed that anyone who has 
not done so would do well to give them a trial.— G. 
Robins, The Gardens, Dudley House, Springrove, Isle- 
worth. 
CINERARIAS. 
To obtain a batch of these useful and showy plants 
during winter, seed should now be sown in shallow 
pans, well drained. Cover the seeds with a thin 
layer of fine soil and water in carefully with a fine 
rose can. As soon as the seedlings show a rough 
leaf or two prick them out carefully in the same pans, 
using a fine, light soil ; and should the weather be 
bright they will need to be lightly shaded. A frame 
under a north wall will require less shading. As the 
young plants become rooted, pot them into small 60- 
sized pots. Care should be taken in watering, as 
they are liable to damp at the collar. Pot on as re¬ 
quired, using a slightly rougher soil at each potting. 
As soon as they need larger pots use a mixture of 
two parts fibrous loam, one part each of peat and 
well decayed leaf soil, with a little rotten cow 
manure and sand. They should be kept syringed 
daily to keep them clean. If fine specimens are 
desired, use an 8-in. pot for the final potting, and a 
rather coarse soil. A little cow manure water twice 
a week will greatly benefit them at this stage. A cold 
frame will suit them best at all stages of growth, but 
care must be taken to exclude frost in winter. Faff¬ 
ing this, a cool greenhouse is the most desirable, 
using little or no fire heat, and allowing the plants 
all possible light and air.— R. Thatcher, Lockinge Gar¬ 
dens, Wantage, Berks. 
—-- 
Covent Garden Market—In the Florists' Exchange 
for June 17th there is a fine photograph of the 
Central Avenue, Covent Garden, London, together 
with a few very interesting notes about its origin. 
CARPENTERIA CALIFORNICA. 
This is a comparatively new plant, but a lovely one. 
Its pure white flowers, and shiny dark gray-green 
foliage are highly ornamental. When I first got it 
I was told that it was perfectly hardy. This may 
be so in the south of England, but here the first 
winter (and it was a mild one) killed it. I have 
therefore grown it for several years in pots in a cool 
greenhouse. It roots easily enough, but takes a con¬ 
siderable time to do so, and in its early stages, grows 
tut slowly. However, it is well worthy of a place 
in any greenhouse, and to those who care to give 
it a trial, the following hints on its culture may be 
interesting. It does not seem to be over fastidious 
as regards soil, but good fibrous loam, leaf mould and 
sand seem to suit it best. Do not give too large a 
pot, and drain well, as it is somewhat intolerant of 
water, especially after repotting. After it shows 
flower buds, frequent doses of weak liquid manure 
may be given with the very best results. It is not 
much troubled with vermin, but greenfly sometimes 
attacks the young shoots in spring. It has been in 
flower here for the past three weeks, for although 
the individual blooms last only a short time, they 
come in succession for several weeks. The plants 
should be neatly staked, and that in brief is about 
the whole of their \ requirements.— C. Blair, Binny, 
Uphall, N.B. 
- ♦ 
PILLAR ROSES. 
We have now a great variety of climbing Roses, and 
few things can be more beautiful in the summer than 
these when properly treated. To see them to the 
best advantage they should be trained to Larch poles 
15 ft. to 20 ft. high, which they quickly cover, and 
very little attention is required at any stage. In 
spring, a mulching of half-rotten cow manure will 
greatly benefit the plants, and thorough soakings of 
water must be given in dry weather. A careful 
selection is of great importance, and the following 
will prove to be some of the best. The charming 
and now popular Sweet Briers, raised by the late 
Lord Penzance, lend themselves most readily to this 
mode of treatment, and, indeed, I have never seen 
them more beautiful or so effective as when treated 
in this way. We have pillars here fully 15 ft. high, 
at this moment studded from top to bottom with 
their delicately tinted flowers. Among other suit¬ 
able kinds are the well-known Turner’s Crimson 
Rambler and Paul’s Carmine Pillar, two of the very 
best; Royal Scarlet, very bright and free flowering ; 
Mdme. Plantier, white; SiDgle Crimson, Alister 
Stella Gray, yellow ; Fortune's Yellow, orange- 
yellow ; and Alba, pure white. They should be 
syringed about three times during the season to kill 
the green aphis. Keep the growths nailed in as they 
continue to grow.— A. Thatcher, Aldenham, Elstree. 
-- 
AMARYLLIS AND CRINUM. 
These two genera of plants are grown under the same 
treatment, and by retarding their growth, they can 
be had in flower for several months of the year. 
Their easy cultivation and most lovely blooms 
should make them favourites with gardeners and 
amateurs. There are very few plants that have such 
a telling effect when placed in a collection at some 
of our local shows, standing so well above the foliage 
of other plants. Their large Lily-like blossoms are 
of various colours, embracing crimson, white, white 
and red, and striped white and crimson. The 
Amaryllis bulbs are expensive at first, but they soon 
increase by forming small bulbs at the base of the 
flowering bulbs. Crinums can be bought at a much 
cheaper rate, and although Crinum capense album 
is classed as hardy, it will repay if grown in pots. 
It makes a grand show as a plant for house decora¬ 
tion. The soil we use consists of half good fibrous 
loam, one of leaf soil, and the soil from a spent 
Mushroom bed with a good quantity of sand. The 
bulbs are shaken out of the pots where they have 
been resting, all decayed roots removed, and then 
repotted into 6-in. pots, allowing the bulbs to be 
half way out of the soil They are then started in a 
gentle beat. The flowering stem will soon show 
itself from the side of the bulb, and when in flower 
the plants must be kept well shaded. They do well 
in a vinery, and look well intermixed with Ferns. 
The small bulbs should be grown on in small pots 
according to the size of the bulb.— J. Wallace, King's 
Lynn. 
