822 
THE GARDENING WORLD. August 25, 1900. 
jgINTS FOR AMATEURS. 
Aquatic Plants.—I had only space enough to men¬ 
tion a few of the more conspicuous water-plants last 
week. The following may be included by those 
wishing to planl-up water scenery. 
Ranunculus Lingua.—For marshy ground this is 
a tall and handsome plant. It is, indeed, a true 
aquatic. Standing 4 ft. high, it bears large-sized 
yellow flowers of the ordinary Buttercup form on 
slender stems. The plant is a native of Britain. It 
has large, bold, finger-like leaves. R. aquatilis may 
also be planted. . This, of course, is well known as 
the Water Crowfoot. 
Rodgersia Podophylla.—In general appearance 
this noble-leaved, water-edge plant resembles the 
Gunneras referred to on page 808 Its leaves 
measure a few feet across, and are cleft into five 
broad divisions, becoming bronze-tinted as the 
season advances. They are borne on stalks from 
2 ft. to 3 ft. high, according to the goodness and 
suitability of the land in which it is grown. A 
humic or peaty soil suits it best and shade is much 
appreciated. Early in summer it throws up fine 
panicles of creamy flowers. The plant is readily 
propagated by division. Those who may not have 
this really handsome plant cannot go wrong if they 
go by this recommendation of it. 
Mimulus luteus.—For damp ground all the 
Mimuli are adapted and are largely used. They 
are easily managed herbaceous perennials, raised 
either from seeds ; or by division. M. luteus is the 
yellow Monkey-flower, and M. cardinalis is the 
reddish or crimson variety. 
Myosotis palustris.—It will be seen, I am not 
classifying the plants here noticed on any system 
whatever. The marsh Forget-me-Not grows only 
about 1 ft. high and may very well be described by 
s lying that it differs little from the wood species of 
Myosotis, being less hairy and slightly more succu¬ 
lent, as is natural. It may be raised from seeds and 
should be planted in wide masses in places some¬ 
what sheltered and protected from being in any way 
broken down and destroyed. 
Alisma Plantago.—It is not so long ago since 
Ijjlisma and Alisma were one and the same. Now, 
however, the systematists would seem to have 
classified them separately. They are distinct in 
Index Kewensis. Alisma Plantago or Water Plan¬ 
tain is not attractive nor in any way calling for 
much notice. It is generally found in collec¬ 
tions of wa er plants, and that is the principal 
reason for referring to it here. When fully-developed 
plants are seen, this Alisma Plantago has a measure 
of dignity about it, and its pinkish inflorescence also 
renders it an additional merit. Its leaves are said 
to be poisonous to animals, so that it will not do to 
plant it just anywhere. 
The plant and other members of the genus, not 
quite so well known, are suitable for the margins of 
pools, streams, lakes, and for any damp ground. 
Elisma natans.—This is a pretty little subject, 
with leaves which float on the surface. They are 
somewhat oval and not larger than a Haricot Bean. 
The flowers are star-like and white. For quiet 
corners of pools or for the aquarium this true 
aquatic is much to be commended. 
Arundo conspicua. — Here we are amongst the 
class of Reeds. The New Zealand Reed, which is 
the one named, the Great Reed (A. Donax), the 
Common Reed (A. Phragmitis or Phragmites com¬ 
munis) and others are popular and handsome marsh 
and aquatic plants. Arundo conspicua bears a near 
resemblance to the Pampas Grass (Cortaderia 
jubata) and is in full flower at the present time. I 
have seen it doing well on the banks of somewhat 
sheltered water-courses. Possessing, as it does, 
strong, fibrous roots and forming a crown, it is 
readily propagated by division, and also from seeds, 
although cane is required in planting. The Common 
Reed dees well all over England. Arundo Donax 
has foliage § in. broad, deep green, and arches 
beautifully, attaining a height of 5 ft. or 6 ft. They 
also do well on lawns, and in all cases enjoy deep, 
moist, loamy soils. 
Phormium tenax.—So well known is this, the 
so-called New Zealand Flax, that I only need to name 
it. Both P. tenax and its smaller-leaved variegated 
variety are quite hardy. They succeed at the edge 
of a pond or other piece of water, preferring deep 
loam. Though I have never seen them divided for 
propagation, I believe this is the method employed. 
Glyceria aquatica.—This was recently described 
in The Gardening World under the name of G. 
spectabilis, the two being very similar. G aquatica 
is a pretty grass, which, in damp soils, spreads 
quickly. It is dwarfer and broader-leaved than the 
Gardener’s Garter. 
The leaves are soft yellow or cream coloured. It 
is readily established anywhere in fairly damp soil. 
Apart from its suitability as a water plant it is com¬ 
mendable for beds The Gardeners' Garter may be 
used in similar places to that of the Glyceria. 
Caltha palustris. — Anyone who has seen the 
common Marsh Marigold of the damp meadows, 
ditches, and swamps in any part of Britain, when in 
full flower, will know how to appreciate this golden 
flowered, dark leaved Buttercup plant. It verily 
glows like the rising sun seen over the horizon on a 
frosty morning or evening. It likes a thoroughly 
moist piece of ground, and does well in water. The 
numerous varieties of Marsh Marigold are easily 
grown or propagated from division. 
Calla palustris.—Though not very frequently 
found in gardens, this pretty little subject is worthy 
of notice. It bears small white flowers and has 
rounded leaves. It is grown in water, though in 
boggy land it succeeds even better. It is worth all 
the necessary trouble to try to cultivate this plant 
to perfection so beautiful is it when seen at its best. 
It is sometimes grown in water but it is stated by 
others who have grown it, to succeed best treated as 
a bog plant. Rich muddy soil will certainly satisfy 
its wants in this direction. It flowers at this time of 
the year, the height of it being about 12-in. Calla 
aethopica I know to have stood through the hard 
winter of 1894 * n an °P en pond (though thoroughly 
sheltered on all sides by forest trees) in Haddington¬ 
shire. It too, may thus be included among the list 
of aquatic plants. Both of these may be Increased 
by division of vigorous plants. 
Cyperus longus.—This is a very handsome and 
desirable plant, quite hardy, free and vigorous, and 
is not unlike the Arundo conspicua mentioned in a 
preceding note. It is suitable for the edge of water 
and grows over 3 ft. in height. 
Osmunda regalis or Royal Fern is one of the best 
plants for a shady damp position by the side of 
water or elsewhere, that one could choose. Given a 
deep peaty soil and firmly planted, this noble Fern 
with its bright green spreading fronds will grow 
5 ft. high and cover yards of space. It should be 
liberally grown. 
Menyanthes trifoliata.—The Buck-bean or Marsh 
Trefoil is a dwarf spreading plant with trifoliate 
leaves of a distinct colour They are somewhat 
succulent and glabrous about the size of those of a 
French Bean but scarcely comparable in any other 
respect. Sometimes it flowers freely and sometimes 
it does not, but when it does appear the flowers are 
of a pretty white colour and fragrant. 
Very wet ground or even shallow water may be 
choosen to establish this native plant in. To be seen 
it would require to be planted in an open space on 
the water margin and not to be hemmed in by taller 
plants. *It produces creeping rhizomes or fleshy 
roots. 
Solomon’s Seal. — This fine plant should be 
planted in expansive sheets near-by water, or directly 
at the edge of still water. Its treatment is pretty 
generally understood. 
Purple Loosestrife.—Though often grown in the 
hardy plant border this is really a waterside plant 
and may be found by the margins of many of the 
rivers in our land. Ly thrum Salicaria, as it is called, 
is a conspicuous and decidedly ornamental plant, 
growing freely anywhere and under almost any 
conditions. It attains a height of 5J ft., and produces 
close racemes of bright purple flowers. 
Pontederia cordata. —This must conclude the 
list at the present time. The Pickerel Weed, as it 
is called, is not so well known as its merits deserve 
it to be. It is one of the handsomest of aquatic 
plants in cultivation. The leaves are somewhat 
arrow shaped, erect and about i£ or 2 ft. high, and 
in early August it produces abundant spikes of deep 
and showy blue flowers. It grows readily in any 
sheltered place, given muddy soil and may be 
increased by division in spring. 
There are many fine plants which one might include 
in this article as suitable for water or by its edge, 
such as the Mocassin flower, Primulas of kinds, 
Campanulas, Houttonia palustris, a pretty little 
thing ; Saxifragas, Oponogetons, Sedges, Parnassia, 
Orchises, Trilliums and Insectivorous plants. These 
may well be left for a separate and fuller notice, 
when Nymphaeas and Water Irises will be fully 
treated of.— Beacon. 
Correspondence. 
Questions asked by amateurs on any subject pertaining 
to gardens or gardening mil 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 tot of their letters. 
Lifting and Potting Heliotropes. — L., Sunderland 
It is a common enough practice to lift trained 
specimen Heliotropes from the beds in which they 
have been growing during the summer, and pot 
them up. They sometimes continue to flower for 
the greater part of the autumn and early winter, 
and are appreciated accordingly. Young plants may 
be treated exactly in the sqpie way. Lift them 
when the soil is moist, with as much root and ball 
as possible, and pot them, not hurriedly but care¬ 
fully, into as small a size as they can conveniently 
be got without too much knocking or squeez¬ 
ing. Provide good drainage. Place the newly 
potted plants in a cool, shaded house, or if they are 
lifted shortly from the present time they may be 
placed in cool frames. Do not water much for a 
while. When they again prick up they may be 
placed in your greenhouse and will continue to 
bloom, with due care, up till Christmas. They may 
then be spurred in and rested till March, when a 
re-pot will start them off. 
Crops not Swelling. — L. M. : You can scarcely 
expect trees or bushes of any sort to develop large - 
sized and finely flavoured fruits when the crops are 
so heavy. This is just where the skill and applica¬ 
tion of the gardener comes in. The Apple trees 
ought now at the latest to be thinned out, and the 
Plums which are yet firm and may be expected to 
grow yet more may also be radically thinned. Far 
rather have a moderate crop of the best flavoured 
fruits than a numerous crop of inferior fruits. 
Feeding and Top-dressing Chrysanthemums.— 
L.S. : These are two points which all good cultivators 
know must be attended to. If your plants are in 
somewhat small pots you must now " feed ” them at 
least four times a week with diluted cow-wash cr 
other such nourishing liquid manure. The water 
should be the colour of weak tea, though later on 
more of the liquid manure may be added. According 
to the instructions in " Hints,” at the final potting, 
space should be left for top-dressiDg the roots with 
rich soil. If your pots will allow of it, mix some fine 
soil and artificial manure together, at the rate of one 
teaspoonful of the manure to each 10-inch pot. Make 
this firm, first slightly easiDg the surface soil. Water 
with a rose-can. Soot in bags and steeped in water 
along with a bag of Dight soil, and sheep-droppings 
will provide a rich liquid Thompson's manure, or 
Clay’s, or Canary Guano, may be used as the arti¬ 
ficial stimulant. Little and often, or weak and often 
are rules worthy of attention. Be careful, above all, 
not to overfeed, and see that the wood firms as it 
grows. 
Rumex crispus.— ti. Harris : Rumex crispus is a 
common perennial, herbaceous weedy plant, as are 
most of the Dock species. There are at least three 
species of Rumex which bear the specific name of 
crispus, but the one described by Linnaeus is the 
proper one. It would be of no Ornament and no 
service upon your rockery. 
Best Six Annuals for Exhibition. — R. M. P. 
From the names you allow us to select from we 
choose the following in their order of merit Sweet 
Peas, Zinnias, Salpiglossis, Sweet SultaD, Phlox 
Drummondii, and Callidpsis Drummondii. 
Peach Stones Bad.— Reader: Syringing would 
scarcely be the cause. It is more often a case of 
faulty fertilisation or some disturbance at the ston¬ 
ing period. As a rule, the flesh of the fruits is good 
eatiog even though the stone is bad. Examine the 
border, and apply a dressing of lime when the trees are 
dormant in the winter. Meantime, keep the borders 
on the dry side. 
