790 
tHE GARDENING WORLD 
August 11, 1900. 
a successful cultivator of Strawberries, Mr. Scougal 
was no mean cultivator of serviceable vegetables, as 
his crops of young Cabbages, Savoys and Peas 
(Duke of Albany) portrayed. Incidentally I may 
mention, without abstracting anytbiag from Mr. 
Scougal's honour, that this productiveness on maiden 
soil is nothing new to us. A fitting example is to be 
found in many of the Strawberry fields in the Blair¬ 
gowrie district, where the crops of the present day 
are as nothing, when compared with the ptoducts 
of the same fields when first cropped. After two 
hours of careful study and pleasant conversation, I 
bade my host adieu, wishing him every success in 
pleasant yet arduous employment.— Visitor. 
MIGNONETTE 
Is acceptable at all times of the year, but never 
more so than in the depth of winter and early 
spring, when sweet smelling flowers are not over 
plentiful, and to have good pots of this at the date 
mentioned a sowing should now be made. I prefer 
48 and small 32-sized pots, carefully crocked, and, 
above all, clean. Good fibrous loam, a fair percent¬ 
age of old lime or mortar rubble knocked up fairly 
small, and a little soot make a good compost, 
placing over the crocks 1 in. of well decayed 
manure (sheep or deer will do nicely) filling with soil 
to 1 in. of the top, making same firm, leaving an 
even surface for the seed, which should not be sown 
too thickly, and lightly covering the same. Place 
them in a frame, pit, or on a shelf, protecting the 
pots from the sun until the plants appear above 
ground, when all the light and sun possible should 
be given them, thinning out to three and five 
respectively. I pinch half the batch once, which 
comes on as a succession to those not so treated. 
Before the plants get long enough to tumble over 
place three neat stakes around each pot with a strand 
of raffia around to keep them in place. They enjoy 
plenty of air, and the cooler the quarters and nearer 
the glass the better. Guard against over watering 
at all times. Miles’s Spiral, Sutton's Giant, and 
Selected Matchet are all good. —J. Mayne. 
PRESENT WORK. 
At this date a host of summer bedding plants will 
readily root if taken off in the usual way and placed 
in 4f-in. and 5^-in. pots filled with light, sandy soil, 
and stood in a cold frame, kept close and shaded 
from the sun’s rays, and the occupants bedewed 
overhead three or four times a day. I allude to 
Fuchsias, Iresine, Mesembryanthemum cordifolium 
variegatum, Lobelia, Ageratum.Alyssum variegatum, 
Heliotrope, &c. I have rooted all these in the open, 
placed under a north wall, and standing the pots of 
cuttings in shallow pans of water,sprinkled overhead 
when a' all dry, and though they take longer to root 
this way it proves quite a success, and the plants are 
much hardier and withstand the winter far better 
than those rooted in heated cases or hot-beds. 
Pelargoniums as well root much better if taken off 
now than a month later, but of course these should 
be stood where a certain amount of sun can reach 
them, though I have seen them rooted in the open 
ground at this date, just placing a few branches over 
them during the brightest part of the day.— Grower. 
--- 
DAHLIAS. 
Now the shows are approaching these flowers will 
require some attention. The first thing is to get 
them securely fixed. To do this place a stake, 4 ft. 
to 5 ft. high, to the main stem, then four at the 
corners, 2 ft. 6 in. from the centre one. Round these 
tie tarred string, to which all side shoots can be 
securely fastened. Singles and pompons do not 
require thinning, but Cactus and double show 
varieties must be severely thinned, especially the 
latter. Do this gradually as the plant grows. Then 
ten days or a fortnight before the show, having fixed 
on your bud remove all companion buds and most of 
the laterals. Frequent waterings must now be given 
and an occasional one with manure. Syringing 
overhead will also be beneficial. Earwigs, the most 
troublesome pest, can be caught by placing a pot 
filled with dry moss on the top of the centre stake 
and emptied each morning. Large Cactus and 
double show blooms will require a support. To give 
this, drive in a stake by the bloom, on which has 
been fixed at right angles a piece of thin wood, 9 in. 
square, with a slit in for the stalk. This will allow 
a flower pot to be placed over the bloom to protect 
it from rain and sun, and also help to retard it if too 
forward. When showing, remember that it is not 
always size that wins, but an even set of a good 
colour. — F. S. Sillitoe, 310, Kew Road, Kew. 
BEGONIA GLOIRE DE LORRAINE. 
The propagation of this beautiful Begonia has 
proved a troublesome matter to many of our best 
propagators. I have always been successful with 
stem cuttings, and have also succeeded with leaves, 
but do not find them quite so easy to manage, 
damping being the great source of evil. For this 
reason it is advisable to commence propagating early 
in the autumn or any time after well matured leaves 
can be had. The failures recorded by your several 
correspondents appear to have been caused chiefly 
from this evil, and partially from not preparing the 
leaves in the proper manner. Although they will 
root from any part of the petiole they never form 
buds except at the base of the lamina, or on the 
main ribs where they are cut through. In preparing 
the leaves the stalk should be cut off quite close, 
leaving the main ribs free (as shown in the sketch I 
send you). Peat and sand in equal parts is the best 
material for rooting them in. They may be fixed 
with a small peg, and a little dry sand shaken over 
the surface. Bottom heat will cause moisture to 
rise and condense on the underside of the leaf. A 
humid position where temperature is equal is best; 
and a shady corner will be better than the close 
frame. Any sign of premature decay should be 
removed at once. It is safer to keep them too dry, 
than to have a damp stagnant atmosphere.— A. 
Henisley. 
LANTANAS. 
Few will deny their utility as subjects for embellish¬ 
ing stages of greenhouses and conservatories. Their 
liability to shed their flowers causes them to be at a 
discount with some for the decoration of the man¬ 
sion, but this slight defect is more than counter¬ 
balanced by the amount of flowers they produce 
over a lengthened period, due to their indefinite in¬ 
florescence. The flowers are produced in two 
axillary heads from each node, and open centri- 
petally This centripetal mode of production adds 
greatly to their charm, as exemplified by Dan Carnot 
and many other varieties. The flowers in this in¬ 
stance when they first open, are of a bronzy-yellow 
hue, verging into a mauvish-pink as they become 
older, so that in an individual head we have, begin¬ 
ning at the centre, a yellowish colouration which as 
we approach tne periphery becomes diffused with 
pink till we arrive at the outermost whorl of mauvish- 
pink. Although so desirable as pot plants it is when 
grown against a wall or on a trellis that one realises 
their exceptional floriferous capabilities. Those who 
are near at hand and can aflord the time to visit the 
Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh, will be amply 
repaid by a view of a specimen of L. alba which 
covers a large expanse of the back wall of the corri¬ 
dor, which is at present, as it is annually, one mass 
of blossom from roof to floor. A few of the best 
varieties are Eclat, Diadem, Favourite, with the two 
already named.— Alpine. 
■ --- - 
CONSERVATORY DECORATION. 
To assist in the decoration of conservatories nothing 
can surpass well-grown pots of half hardy annuals. 
Schizanthus is one of the best. Seed should be sown 
now to flower in the spring. Sow a pinch of seed 
in a 6-in. pot that has been filled with some old 
potting soil, passed through a J-in. sieve. Place it 
on a shaded shelf in the greenhouse with a piece of 
glass over it. When the seedlings are large enough 
to handle, prick them off into flowering pots ; 6 in. 
and 7-in. pots are quite big enough. These require 
to be filled with soil of a light nature. From eight 
to niDe plants in a pot will be quite sufficient. Add 
neat stakes to support the rather delicate stems. 
S. pinnatus is the one mostly used in pots. It 
flowers incessantly for weeks. The Rhodanthes are 
superb for decorating, either in pots or in a cut state. 
They are all everlastings, there being at least three 
varieties, maculata, Manglesii, and atrosanguinea. 
The same treatment as the above will agree with 
them, but confining the plants to 5-in. pots. Avoid 
over-watering at any time, especially in their young 
state. These will be found to be the most useful and 
charming plants for intermingling with the other 
flowering plants of the conservatory. A few seeds 
sown at intervals of four weeks will keep up a 
succession of bloom throughout the summer.— 
A. V. Main, The Gardens, Morton Hall. 
LAING’S TUBEROUS BEGONIAS. 
It is not so long ago since double tuberous 
Begonias were novelties, a set of flowering plants at 
first only taken in band by a few, but lately every 
gardener worth his salt has grown them more and 
more liberally. At the present time the exception 
is to find a garden without its batch of the double 
flowering tuberous Begonias. 
For a long number of years Messrs. John Laing & 
Sons, Forest Hill, London, S.E , have striven to keep 
their motto of " Nulli secundus," at its original 
height of honour, and their efforts have truly kept 
them at the very front rank. 
There are quite a number of large Begonia raisers 
In the field in these days, but this but serves to incite 
the veterans to more assiduous and careful effort. 
Messrs. J. Laing & Sons are at present giving 
attention to a semi-double strain of Begonias, called 
by them the “ Duplex ” type. So far the seedlings 
are unnamed, but from a large number seen at the 
Forest Hill nurseries at a recent date, the raDge of 
selection is widely varied. The advantage of this 
■* Duplex’ 1 strain is chiefly this, that a more 
“ artistic " flower is secured. What is meant by 
"artistic" is that style of bloom of flowing lines, 
rounded contour, freedom in the build, and possess¬ 
ing just the merits of a flower that pleases the 
highest artistic sense. Many of the double 
Begonias are too double, and they in such a form are 
the opposite from beautiful. All things considered, 
we think this " Duplex " strain in the perfection 
which the Messrs. Laing havs it, is likely to be 
largely patronised. 
The true double Begonias last a long time in 
perfection, and indeed, they are now indispensable 
for summer conservatory decoration. 
Of the newer varieties worthy of attention may be 
included Mrs. Laing, a deep, smooth-petalled 
golden-yellow variety of first rate merit, both in 
form and habit; Lady Pearson, a salmon-apricot, 
is a distinct and good introduction. 
E. Sparshot is a pure white variety of large size 
and good substance. One of the foremost among 
new double Begonias is the variety named Lord 
Roberts. This is a deep glowing scarlet flower of 
splendid form and substance, and has smooth 
petals. This is certainly worth taking a note of. 
Queen of Sweden is a crimson-pink variety of more 
than ordinary size and fine build. Lady Audrey 
Buffer is another of the gems. 
Among catalogued varieties the Dowager Lady 
Williams Wynn, a magnificent deep yellow, stands 
out well. Duchess of York, a charming light orange, 
flushed with peach, and having broad reflexed 
petals and splendid habit, is also among the best. 
Duke of Fife holds a high position. It has received 
two F.C.C.’s. The colour is a beautiful rosy- 
salmon, with flowers well held up, and is exceedingly 
floriferous. It is recommendable for all collections. 
Countess of Craven as a pure white has few rivals ; 
Countess of Dartmouth, however, runs it closely. 
This latter is very fine. Another of the Countesses, 
viz., Countess of Halsbury, is also a white variety 
with large, freely produced blooms. Countess of 
Leicester is distinct and fine, being of a bright 
apricot colour. Few of the double Begonias excel 
Duchess of Marlborough for perfection of form. 
The Salmon-pink blooms are borne erectly, and the 
habit is all that one could desire. Ariel, of fine 
Camellia shape, is a good white sort. Among dark 
glowing crimson varieties, with large well-shaped 
flowers, there are few to beat Ernest T. Cook. It is 
described by Messrs. Laing as the best in this colour. 
Lady Dorington, a lovely blush-pink ; and Lady 
Fred. Fitzroy, a superb apricot, of good habit and 
floriferous, are of more than passing excellence. 
Lady Theodora Guest is a finely tinted apricot with 
fringed petals. It is the bearer of an Award of 
Merit. Another of the frilled varieties is Miss 
Dorothy Hardwick, the colour being flesh-pink. It 
is altogether a lovely variety. Mr. John T. Bennett 
Poe is a variety which should be grown by all. In 
colour it is an intense crimson; in shape like a 
Camellia, and of good habit. Laing’s Picotee among 
lovely tuberous Begonias we should think stands on 
the highest pinnacle. The ground colour is yellowish 
