760 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
July 28, 1900. 
INTS FOR WMATEURS. 
Eremuri.— The Eremuri are somewhat fickle to do 
well. Moderate success can generally be attained, 
but a poor spike of Eremurus compared against a 
tall and beautiful one is apt to canker our regard for 
anything that is not just perfection. A little shelter 
is necessary, more especially where spring frosts are 
likely to do damage. The flower spikes appear 
early, and, like Yuccas, soon become damaged unless 
care is taken. A friable loamy soil, thoroughly well 
drained and well exposed to light, is the site 
generally found to suit them best. The flower spikes 
attain from 3 ft. to 12 ft. when grown to their 
greatest development, Eremurus robustus generally 
getting highest. They are natives of the northern 
parts of India, and extend to the north regions of 
Asia. Thus they are quite hardy, but, as a means 
of surety, a covering of straw or bracken may be put 
around the young stems in spring. The tubers 
should be planted 1 ft. deep (or deeper in dry soil) in 
October. The spikes are strong enough to uphold 
themselves without the need of support from stakes, 
and it is to save them from violent gusts that plant¬ 
ing in a sheltered spot is recommended. One of the 
newest of the Eremurus is E. Bungei, a pretty little 
species growing 3 ft. high and having moderate 
spikes of yellow flowers. At present, while it is still 
tare (though none of the Eremurus are plentiful), it 
will be highly appreciated. Still, I would rather 
have Senecio macrophyllum, which flowers at the 
same-lime (July) as E. Bungei, and in the appear¬ 
ance of the flower greatly resembles the Eremurus, 
although the spike is much larger. S. macrophyllum 
was mentioned by me when I wrote a few weeks ago 
about fine foliage hardy plants. E. robustus has 
been repeatedly figured in the gardening press and 
in trade catalogues. It is probably the finest of all, 
and has enormous spikes of pink flowers. E. r. 
elwesiaDus is a dwarfer variety, very vigorous, and 
also has pink flowers. E. himalaicus attains a 
htight of 8 ft., and has white flower spikes. It is a 
fine variety. E. Kaufmanni and E. Olgae are not 
quite so well known. 
Arundo Donax.—The Great Reed is a fine plant 
to grow in a clump for the ornamentation of a lawn. 
The foliage and stem growth is superior to that of 
the Pampas Grass (Cortaderia jubatum), but the 
flower spikes are much inferior. The Arundo 
requires a deep rich soil. Some surface protection 
should be afforded during winter when the plant is 
grown in northern gardens. It is propagated by 
division in spring or from seeds. Another very fine 
plant, very much resembling the Great Reed, is 
Miscanthus sacchariflorus, the treatment here being 
similar to Arundo. Other Grasses of a like nature 
might be mentioned, yet I would prefer to give 
prominence to the two just named. 
Gloxinias.—Gloxinias for seed should now be kept 
on the dry side. This will cause the seeds to develop 
and ripen while other growth is retarded. A cool 
and buoyant atmosphere should be maintained. 
Shade is required during a large part of the day. 
Young seedling Gloxinias, on the other hand, must 
be given abundance of room to allow them to 
develop ; they also like plenty of water at the roots 
and moisture on the stages, shade being given as for 
the older plants. The temperature may be let down 
to 6o° during the day. Of course, on some of the 
days, lately, the shade temperature has been higher 
than this. 
Ferns and Palms.—Shade, heat, and moisture, 
these three factors go a long way toward the 
development of fine, healthy plants. Shade is 
necessary under glass, and heat, of course, is always 
required for the tropical species. Space out the, 
plants as they develop, turning them round occa¬ 
sionally, else they are apt to grow one-sided. Keep 
the gravel on the stages clean by frequent shifting 
and brushing up. Do not let the edging plants 
become long and entangled, but pluck off dead leaves 
and keep growth a-going by stimulants when water¬ 
ing. Cool house Ferns need just the same attention 
as the stove species, only fuller ventilation should be 
given. 
Heaths. — Where Heaths are making their growth 
out of doors, the roots in the pots are apt to receive 
injury from burning unless some means of protection 
is adopted. They may be plunged or they may be 
mounded round with ashes, sack, or anything that 
will keep the soil more moist and the roots cooler. 
Attend to pinching as needs require. 
Carnations.—Examine plants in pots for green 
and black fly and thrips. Syringe or wash with 
warm soapy water if any pests are seen, care being 
taken to save the blooms from injury. Fumigation 
may more safely be done, only I never like to fumi¬ 
gate plants in full bloom. Plants in beds and 
borders should be protected from rabbits, which 
devour the leaves and thus cripple them. Where 
peacocks are kept and allowed to walk about they 
too should be warded against for they have little 
respect for Carnations. Attend to the watering of 
the plants in the evening. Water the roots, but 
keep it off the flowers. The calyx of some of the 
blooms is often not strong enough to hold the 
flower, so that bursting takes place. A band of 
matting tied neatly around this part will save it from 
falling loose. 
Dahlias.—As mentioned a week ago, heavy 
evening waterings are beneficial and necessary 
indeed to the proper growth of Dahlias. They are 
just beginning to flower, and may be watered over¬ 
head. This will clean the foliage and wash off 
Aphides. Liquid manure is very helpful. 
Pansies and Violas—Nothing is sweeter or more 
loved in spring time than a well flowered potful of 
Pansies or Violas. If cuttings be taken now and 
struck in small pots of sandy soil, these being 
placed in hand-lights, plants for potting-up to 
winter in a greenhouse or even window case, will be 
obtained. If they are infested with insects plunge 
them into soapy water and thus wash them. 
Yiolets.—Violets in the open air do best if let 
alone. All that they require is to be freed from 
weeds, and to have a deep cool bottom. Their own 
leaves will cover and keep the surface roots cool. 
Too much puddling about is wrong in Violet culture. 
Indoor fruits.—Peaches, Nectarines and Vines 
which are in full course of growth require, constant 
attention. There is the watering to see to, the 
foliage to syringe, thinning, tying, and pinching to 
do, and a steady temperature to maintain. Do not 
allow the berries of the foliage to become scorched 
by neglect to put on air during one of these fine 
mornings. 
Poinsettias.—A late batch of cuttings may be 
taken now, but if they be left any later they will be 
comparatively useless. Place them in thumb pots 
and strike them in a propagating pit with a little 
bottom heat. 
Salvias in pots should be staked. Do not pinch 
them. They require a liberal supply of water when 
growing vigorously. Keep them clean by means of 
the syringe or by fumigating. If they are in frames 
afford them slight shade and free ventilation. 
Heliotropes.—There are few choicer plants in pots 
for spring conservatory decoration than Heliotropes, 
and they are liked by everybody. The difficulty is 
to get them to the height of their perfection,—it 
takes care and knowledge. It is not too late if 
cuttings be taken at once and rooted quickly in a 
warm case, otherwise large plants may be lifted 
from the open in a little while and potted up into 
6-in. pots or larger as the case may demand. Pinch 
off the flowers and induce the plants to make new 
growth. This should be firm. From such plants 
an early spring display pay be expected. 
Winter Flowering Begonias.—There are some 
charming new varieties of winter flowering Begonias 
now offered. Every encouragement should be given 
to the raisers of such strains. Young plants for 
winter blooming are now doing well in 52-size pots. 
They require cool conditions with moisture kept 
plenteously dewed between the pots and over the 
stage. Do not water them carelessly else they are 
apt to make lank and soft growth.— 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. 
Showy Plants for Dry Grounds.— A. B. C. . 
Many plants succeed fairly well in light soils, includ¬ 
ing Lysimachia punctata, yellow, very showy, vigor¬ 
ous, and growing 2 ft. or more in height; Epilobium 
angustifolium, 5 ft. to 6 ft., with tall racemes of 
bright purple flowers; E. a. album, a white variety ; 
Inula hirta; I. britannica; Centranthus ruber and 
its white variety ; Salvia virgata does fairly well; 
Stachys alpina, tall but not very showy ; Lychnis 
chalcedonies; L. coronaria, and various others of 
the genus. Such foliage subjects as Negundo acer- 
oides variegatum, Golden Elder, Cornns and Ribes, 
the golden forms, and such like, would also do well. 
Annuals and Biennials for Autumn Sowing.— 
" Spring Display" : The undermentioned annuals may 
be sown on open, snnny borders during August. 
Most of them will transplant if good care is exercised. 
A selection might be obtained from Asperula azurea 
setosa, Silene pendula compacts, Candytuft, 
Clarkia, Collinsla bicolor, Fhacella tanacetifolia, 
Limnanthes Douglasii, Virginian Stock, Godetias, 
Eschscholtzias, Violas, Centaurea Cyanus major, 
Nemophila insignis, Antirrhinums, &c. 
Summer Pruning of Wfell Trees.— IF. H. : The 
nsnal course of procedure is to thin out or cut out 
the shoots not required, to lay in young shoots in 
pllace of old, and to shorten back the breastwood. 
Scirpus species.—A.D.: Scirpus lacustris is the 
Bullrush found native in some of the streams and 
ponds in Britain. It grows 5 ft. high, having dark 
green, round, terete stems generally quite erect 
a nd bearing dark brown spikelets at the apex. It is 
very handsome and worth securing. On the Conti¬ 
nent this " Rush " is largely employed for chair 
bottoms, mats, &c. S, riparius is the little green¬ 
house edging grass better known as Isolepis gracilis. 
S. triqueter is a species about 3 ft. in height with 
erect bright green stems. S. Tabemaemontani 
zebrina usually called Juncus zebrinus, is a dwarf but 
very bright member. They are readily increased 
by division, or from seeds. In all cases a boggy or 
wet soil suits them. 
Budding Apples.— J. H. D .: In large fruit nur¬ 
series where there are a great many young stocks to 
bud it is necessary to start early. Some of the 
growers have already budded hundreds in the 
southern counties. Whenever the bark is firm 
they begin. Young stocks a year old are budded 
mostly in the T fashion, and are bound firmly with 
broad bands of bast or matting. Nothing else is pot 
round, and, of course, the bud itself is not covered. 
Budding is an operation that requires experience. 
If possible you should secure the advice of an ex¬ 
perienced fruit grower in your neighbourhood. 
Yine Border Surface hard —IF. IF., Chester : To 
aid the Vine roots, which no doubt find the hard 
soil difficult to glean nourishment from, you might 
here and there bore a hole about 2' ft. deep, or 
deeper, and fill this with rich good soil Make it 
firm and cover in. This plan is tried with success 
in cases where the roots of Vines or other fruit 
trees happen to be below paved paths. If the 
stones or " flags ” be lifted and some holes picked 
up, returning good soil in place of poor stuff, the 
roots soon find these places, and benefit therefrom. 
Green Foliaged Climbers for Back Wall of 
House .—A. Edgar : Ampelopsis in variety ; Ivies, 
Hablitzia tamnoides, Smilax rotundifolia, S. aspera, 
S. tamnoides, Tamus communis, Bryonia dioica ; 
Liquidambar formosana, Ficus Carica, Jasminum, 
Periploca graeca; Muehlenbeckia varians; Poly¬ 
gonum cllinode; Stauntonla hexaphylla, Vitis 
orientalis, Vitex Agnus-castus, and other things, all 
of which succeed so far north as London, and most 
of them in well-sheltered spots will stand through 
the winter much further north. Most of these are 
interesting and decidedliy ornamental. 
The Logan Berry.— IF. Fraser -. You will not find 
any mention of this " large Raspberry " in such 
books as you have named. The best description 
will be found in the fruit catalogue of Messrs. Geo. 
Bunyard & Co., Maidstone, who figure it and describe 
it thus: " A new American fruit likely to prove a 
valuable addition for cooking or for jam. It bears 
very freely treated like a Raspberry. The fruit is 
borne in clusters, and is long and dark in colour, 
with a sharp acidity when half ripe, but of rich 
flavour when black-ripe, when It is fit for dessert. 
It may roughly be described as a Raspberry x by a 
Blackberry. A. M., R.H.S., to Messrs. G. Bunyard 
& Co., July 13th, 1897." The Messrs. Bunyard are 
