696 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
June 30,^1900. 
I NTS FOR ||mATEURS. 
While the subjects of the flower garden (aot the 
formal flower garden) are at present so numerous 
and so beautiful, a notice may fittingly be given to 
some of the finer sorts suitable for the amateur, yet 
are not very frequently found in his garden. 
Lotus corniculatus.—The amateur may excuse 
him or herself for omitting to grow this in the garden 
by referring to the fact that this pretty plant can be 
seen freely growing in the sunny banks and meadows 
in any part of the country, and so it can. Yet it is 
worth a good deal of space even in well kept and 
choice collections. Or it might still be kept to the 
lawns or banks, not where smooth green grass is 
desired, but in rather unkempt or corner spaces, in 
which it could be duly encouraged and planted so as 
to form spreading masses all alone. The cushion 
of short grass which may be allowed to grow with 
it will only “ set off ” the brilliant yellow and crim¬ 
son of the flowers. It goes by the commoner name 
of Bird's-foot Trefoil, and in Scotland is locally, at 
least, termed Craw's-taes (Crow's-toes). Dry sunny 
banks suit it best. 
Onosma echioides.— Here also we have a yellow 
flowering plant, sweet in its way and suitable for a 
little rockery, or a border. It is a Borage-wort with 
the usual hirsute stem and leaves, branching habit, 
and the clusters of funnel-shaped flowers. The 
species in question inhabits the sandy flats of 
Armenia and South Europe, and is perennial. No¬ 
thing finer than a broad spreading sheet of this plant 
and that other nearly allied blue flowered plant— 
Lithospermum prostratum, could be imagined. Tnis 
latter plant flowers somewhat earlier, however, but 
if grown for contrast, let the Lithospermum be 
placed on a higher level, as it is dwarfer, and delights 
in plenty of light. Onosma echioides should be pro¬ 
pagated from seeds sown early in the year, and the 
young plants pricked out permanently at a later 
date. 
Polygonum affine.—This neat little subject is more 
common in gardens than the plants I have just 
mentioned. It is one of those subjects which give an 
appearance of luxuriant vegetation to rockeries, or io 
shady borders. It spreads about in a rampant 
manner, covering the ground with its red stems and 
handsome lanceolate green leaves. All over its broad 
surface too, the redd’sh spikes of flowers crop up. 
They are not tall, but they are pleasingly beautiful. 
Chrysogonum virginianum.—Yet another yellow 
perennial, but still different in habit and appearance. 
It is a busby growing plant attaining to a height cf 
from 15-in. to 18-in., and succeeds well in any good 
garden soil. The flowers are bright yellow, the 
foliage and stems being somewhat hairy. It is a 
desirable plant and one to be recommended. 
Inula hirta.—The Inulas are all plants of easy 
culture, so easy indeed that, as a rule, they can be 
naturalised in most open spaces. I refer to I.hirta, a 
hairy species with tough wiry stems, which grows 
freely even on poor soil in exposed positions. 
This genus of Composites is by many des- 
paraged, but I warrant there are few better plants 
for an amateur's garden, more especially 
if select culture is net a great desire. The flowers 
are the size of a crown piece, having an orange 
coloured disc, and a pretty fringe of lighter yellow 
ray petals. As a cut flower it lasts fresh for weeks. 
Geum montanum.—Not so much for the flowers 
of this little Geum is the present notice made, for 
these soon fall off, but in this we have another of 
those subjects that develop a fine " mop-head " of 
silky brown hairs. Other good examples on a very 
similar fashion are to be found in some of the 
Anemones. These hairs are out-growths from,' or 
around, the carpels and they are persistent, that is, 
they do not easily drop off. 
Silybum marianum.—It is not as a flowering 
subject that this plant is recommended, but as a 
bright and beautiful ornamental leaved type which, 
though growing a few feet in height, is yet suitable 
for an odd corner in smaller gardens. From first to 
last it is an interesting plant. The leaves are tough, 
smooth, thrown in close succession from the ground 
upwards, are large in size, most remarkably crinkled, 
undulated, variously cut, and marked all over with 
bands and blotches of white which enliven the deep 
green. The leaves also are slightly spinous. It is a 
native biennial plant, and grows freely in any well- 
drained good garden soil. Associated with Rumex, 
Sage, Dame’s, Violet, or Sweet Cicely it is 
charming. 
Meum Athamanticum.—A plant of fine foliage, at 
least, is this species of Meum. It takes after the 
Ferulas in its finely dissected foliage, and throws up 
umbels of white flowers. It is indeed very much 
like a dwarf Fennel, and must come very close upon 
this genus. It is interesting to note that the species 
named is the only one in the genus ; it being what is 
termed a monotypic genus. Bawd Money and Spig- 
nel are common names for it. A young stock can 
soon be raised by dividing the plants in spring, or by 
sowing seeds indoors in March for planting out later 
on. It is highly aromatic. It seems to have few 
wants. On a rockery it grows very finely, and, not 
being more than 2 ft. high, is quite suitable for small 
places. As a border plant it may likewise be recom¬ 
mended, or, indeed, in slightly favoured situations it 
may be naturalised. Occasionally, it is found grow¬ 
ing wild in elevated parts of Britain, but it is chiefly 
found on the mountains of France and Spain. 
Valeriana pyrenaica.—This Valerian is some¬ 
what of an old favourite, though perhaps not so well 
known as V. officinalis. But there are a number of 
plants which go under the name of “ Valerian,” as, 
for instance, Greek Valerian, which is Polemonium 
caeruleum, also commonly called Jacobis Ladder; 
and two species of Centranthus are termed respec¬ 
tively Spur and Long-spur Valerian. 
The subject under special notice here grows over 
3 ft. in height, has a branching habit, and is 
terminated by many flat-headed umbels of reddish 
or lilac coloured minute flowers. The plant is hand¬ 
some, though not altogether showy. 
Anthericums.—These Liliaceous flowering plants 
are extremely graceful, both in flower raceme and 
grassy foliage. In warm, rich sandy borders they 
succeed admirably. They are worthy of careful 
attention. The flowers which are pure white with 
yellow siamens in the centre, and borne profusely on 
a long slender central axis, are frequently used in 
floral decorative display. They are propagated 
chiefly by division. A. Liliastrum (St. Bruno’s 
Lily) is the one most often seen in gardens. A. L. 
major is a variety of the above, having larger 
flowers ; L. ramosum is very fine, and A. Liliago (St. 
Bernard’s Lily) is another exceedingly popular 
species. 
Present Work.—Sowings of various plants for the 
decoration of the greenhouse in winter must now be 
made. A sowing of East Lothian Stocks should be 
made in pans or boxes, placing these in a mild tem¬ 
perature (6o°) to germinate, but remove them when¬ 
ever the seedlings are through the surface soil, and 
grow them as steadily and firmly as possible. Do 
not over-pot, nor be unduly lavish when watering. 
Celosias may also be sown and treated much in the 
same way. The following other subjects which are 
raised from seeds may be sown in the open air on a 
sunny border :—Wallflower, Aquilegia (Columbine), 
Pansy, Primroses, and Polyanthuses, and mo it 
biennials and perennials may be sown now. By 
sowing perennials now, plants fit for yielding a small 
amount of bloom next year are thus secured. Be¬ 
gonias may also be sown in pans, and these placed in 
the propagating house. 
Bedding plants in the formal flower garden should 
not be neglected in the water supply. Give a thorough 
soaking when you do water, 2^ gallons per sq. yd. 
is the quantity according to law which ought to be 
given. Thin out and do some pinchiDg of the shoots 
of Currants and fruit trees.— Beacon. 
-— - f- - 
Correspondence. 
Questions asked 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 of their letters. 
Moles troublesome.— St. Andrews : Moles are 
difficult things to exterminate when once they make 
their home in a garden. And especially when they 
burrow through Asparagus beds, the difficulty is 
very great. A good and thoroughly experienced 
mole-catcher could clear out the wretches, or by 
using Garlic roots (which moles are said to detest), 
you yourself may dislodge them. Cut the Garlic 
roots into pieces, of the size of a Walnut, and drop 
these here and there along the runs and into the 
mouths of the mole hills. Authorities state this to 
be a perfectly reliable method for clearing them. 
The Pearl Bush.— P. Wilson.: The above, botan- 
ically called Exochorda grandiflora, is a beautiful 
flowering shrub, but one which requires a fairly 
mild temperature for successful growth. In London 
districts it is grown on walls and lawns flourishing 
very well, especially if the soil is sandy and dry. In 
the warmer south-western counties it grows as open- 
air bushes and flowers finely. It is propagated 
by seeds, layers or suckers. One would expect it 
to be hardier, seeing it comes from North China. 
Heuchera sanguinea.—/. T. : Sometimes this 
beautiful hardy plant takes a while to succeed or do 
well. If you find that your plants are not doing as 
they ought to in their present position, do not 
hesitate to shift them, or part of them at least, to 
another site somewhat different from the one they 
now occupy. We have known plants of the above 
to do admirably under pot-culture, and yet when 
planted in the open borders of the same garden 
they made no headway. To have it in perfection, 
we advise you to choose a slightly shaded sight, say 
on the north side of a loose shrubbery belt, and to 
allow the plants a cool, moist loam. The rhizomes 
should not be planted deeper than to allow the 
crowns to rest at the soil level. If you can allow 
the bed (for they should be massed in beds) a mulch 
of strawy manure during winter so much the better 
for the plants. There are other fine Heucheras, 
very ornamental for the borders, such as H. micran- 
tha, H.m. rosea; H. pubsscens syn. ribifolia, and 
H. glabra. H. sanguinea is far the best. 
Ramondia pyrenaica .—A Ipine : The conditions in 
which it is found in Nature, and which have to be 
adopted in gardens to attain success are : —Moderate 
exposure to light, coolsomeness, a vertical surface to 
grow from, such as between the clefts of rocks or 
stones, and a fibrous, peaty soil should be given. 
Under such conditions, with a free and ever-circu¬ 
lating supply of root moisture, the plants grow and 
flower beautifully. You should try to obtain the 
white variety also. 
Paulownia imperialis.— Sylvia : This large leaved 
tree is sometimes grown in beds, being yearly 
pruned down to the ground, leaving only one bud to 
throw up a shoot for the following summer’s growth. 
The Ailanlus, or Tree of Heaven, may be treated 
as a standard, and, indeed, many other ornamental 
shrubs are pruned hard back with the aim to 
secure extra stout shoots, and it succeeds. Where 
one bud alone is left the chances are that it may 
perish, and so the plant is either spoiled or greatly 
thrown back in growth. A sheltered position 
should be chosen for the Paulownia. 
“Lily” to Name.— W.D.: The flower you send 
is not a Lily, but an Iris, a variety of I. squalens. 
Many plants receive the common appellation of Lily, 
though they are not at all Lilies (or Liliaceous 
plants), many of them, indeed, far removed, as, for 
instance, Arum “ Lily,” or Lily of the Nile; Yellow 
Pond Lily, which is Nuphar lutea ; Wood Lily, i.e., 
Trillium grandiflorum; Lent Lily, i.e., Narcissus 
Pseudo narcissus. In fact, when one comes to think 
over them all they form a respectable list. The follow¬ 
ing “ Lilies ” may be interesting to yourself and others 
(L. stands for Lily) : —African L. (Agapanthus um- 
bellatus), Day L. (Hemerocallis), Plantain L. 
(Funkia), Guernsey L. (Nerine), Scarborough L. 
(Vallota purpurea), Peruvian L. (Alstroemeria), 
Mariposa L. (Calochortus), Cape L. (Crinum cap- 
ense), St. Bruno's L. (Anthericum), St. Bernard’s 
L. (ditto), Belladonna L. (Amaryllis), Atamasco L. 
(Zephyranthes), Madonna L. or White L. (Lilium 
candidum), Orange L. (L. croceum), Scarlet Marta- 
gon (L. chalcedonicum), Swamp L. (L. superbum), 
Tiger L. (L. tigrinum), White Trumpet L. (L. longi- 
florurn), Turk's Cap L. (L. Martagon), Valley Lily 
(Convallaria majalis). 
Propagating Austrian Brier.— J. S.: Suckers 
are more a nuisance than anything else; they are 
seldom or never desired, at least not for propagating 
a good Rose from. You should bud your Brier on to 
a common Dog Rose stock in August. Hints on the 
subject will appear before then. Or you may strike 
cuttings of half-firmed wood at any time, autumn 
preferably, and place them singly in small pots filled 
